TITLE: "HEROES AND VILLAINS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Z/W. S/K.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "A STEP INTO A WIDER 'VERSE".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Zoe and Wash indulge themselves, Simon finds

a way to spoil Kaylee. Shepherd Book finds the solace he needs

and the Captain has a rude awakening. For Jayne things go from

bad to worse."

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.

"HEROES AND VILLAINS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was one of the most luxurious places either of them had ever seen. Wash turned slowly, his eyes trying to drink in as much as he could at once. Zoe smiled, not the fleeting small smile of transitory pleasure but the deep full smile of a woman knowing she was about to get exactly what she had been longing for. Wash's mouth flapped a couple of times before he managed to form coherent speech.

"Can we afford this, *bao bei*?"

The marble tiles on the floor alone probably cost more than the crew could have earned in a year, the place was huge but fortunately not cold. No, anything but that. Slowly they walked and took in the beautiful sculptured figures dotted around the cavernous room, life size anatomically correct men and women posing unashamed in their naked glory. Wash's eyes were wide as saucers until he looked up. Zoe had wandered off to check out the walls, long involved mosaics portraying the kind of life a body could only dream of. It seemed to echo tales of ancient Rome or Greece on Earth-That-Was. "If we can't," said the warrior woman, "this would be worth stealing for."

When Wash didn't answer she dragged her eyes away to look in his direction, her eyes liftin