PART NINE

*

The sirens are screaming and the fires are howling

Way down in the valley tonight

There's a man in the shadows with a gun in his eye

And a blade shining oh so bright

Theres evil in the air and there's thunder in the sky

And a killers on the bloodshot streets

And down in the tunnel where the deadly are rising

Oh I swear I saw a young boy

Down in the gutter

He was starting to foam in the heat

Oh baby you're the only thing in this whole world

Thats pure and good and right

And wherever you are and wherever you go

Theres always gonna be some light

But I gotta get out

I gotta break it out now

Before the final crack of dawn

When the day is done

And the sun goes down

And the moonlight's shining through

Then like a sinner before the gates of heaven

I'll come crawling on back to you

*

Bat out of Hell - Meatloaf

[So I'm an old rocker chick – so sue me!]

*

Vera cocked her guns, “Thinking the Reavers isn't the only reason you got Mal and Inara back.”

Grayson inclined his head, “No, but it's a gorram pressing one and we could use every gun and weapon hand we can get.”

Zoe gave Grayson a hard stare, “And the children? How are we meant to keep them safe?”

Grayson gestured under the dais where Mal and Inara were sitting. “Hidden compartment right there.” Under the sound of pounding on the roof and screams getting closer, Zoe and Kaylee hurried their children to the space. Sam and Lee began to cry, Sarah was protesting loudly.

“Don't want to go in there.”

Zoe grasped Sarah by the shoulders, “It's far too dangerous out here, sweetheart. Reavers are worse than the big bad wolf and every evil stepmother you've ever heard about in fairy tales. I'm trying to keep you safe, along with Sam and Lee. *Please; imagine you're playing hide and seek.”

At that moment, one of the windows was smashed in and a couple of Reavers swung in on chains. They were still wearing tatters of Hunter uniforms.

Sarah took one look and screamed, “Bad, ugly men!”

“You got it; in there, please!”

*

As she was