CHAPTER 2

“Wash? Are we hit?” Mal demanded.

“Gou shi,” Wash muttered, his hands flying across the controls. “Let’s see… we are… blind. Yes, definitely blind.”

“Start up the engine,” Mal said quickly. “Let’s come about, figure out what hit us, and get out of the way.”

Wash initiated the engine. It gave a half turn and died.

“Must have tripped the drive,” Kaylee said woozily, holding gauze to the gash on her forehead.

“Well can you fix it?” Mal asked when she didn’t move.

Recognition lit her eyes. “Oh, right.” She scrunched her face with concentration and made her way to the engine room.

“Captain,” Zoë shouted, running up the stairs to the bridge nearly plowing over Kaylee. “Sir, we’ve got an Alliance scout aft port.”

“Jen dao me,” Mal muttered.

“Captain, we’re receiving a wave,” Wash said.

Mal reached over and turned on the com, then patiently waited for them to speak first.

“Firefly vessel. Prepare to be boarded for inspection of your cargo.”

Mal sighed. He’d hoped this day would be good. “Zoë, you and Jayne get to the cargo hold, put all our freight in plain view. We’ve got legitimate papers on this one. Nothing to hide.”

“Nothing, sir?”

“Well, nothing that don’t know how to hide themselves.”

Book entered the bridge. “Trouble?” he asked in his deep, soothing voice.

“Alliance scout,” Zoë answered. “Wants to inspect the cargo.”

“Are you sure?” Book asked, sounding surprised.

“I’ve seen hundreds,” Zoë answered, offended but keeping her voice level. “I’d know an Alliance scout a world away.”

“It’s just that this isn’t a typical Alliance greeting,” Book answered appeasingly. “Did they identify themselves?”

Mal and Zoë exchanged a glance. “I didn’t ask,” Mal answered.

“Hold on,” Wash said. Firing the starboard thrusters, he rolled Serenity and the offending vessel came into view. Mal recognized it immediately as an Alliance scout. With a single look, he dismissed Zoë to the task of moving the cargo. As Serenity continued to roll, the ship’s ID came into view- a bl