TITLE: "NOT SO DUMB"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "INSIDE OUT"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Inara is close to all out panic, frantically trying

to think of some way to help. Shepherd Book discovers that

sometimes you don't need to pray for God to hear you."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"NOT SO DUMB"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Above Savanna, Inara Serra stared in horrified fascination. The sight of her friends trapped with no way out was constricting the walls of her heart in ways that made her light headed and beyond anxious. But it was the arrival of the Alliance ship that stunned her most. The Senator did not speak and Inara could not bear to turn around and see the smug expression that she was sure would be plastered on his disingenuous face. Tightening her hands into fists she was oblivious to her nails cutting into the palms, her heart beating so fast and with such tension that it was a wonder she managed even this poor excuse for calm. But it was all she had. Now the Companion had to trust that Leylani knew what she was doing and that help was on the way.

* * * * *

It was with a great deal of trepidation that Charlie Harding looked out from the observation room of the old mining transport and got his first glimpse of the proto-moon but it wasn't Savanna that made the breath catch painfully in his chest. "*Wode ma*! What the good gorram is this?"

John-Joe Rae hissed through his teeth, alarm making his response sharp. "This is suicide!"

Charlie muttered something dark and unintelligable under his breath, easing their bulky vess