TITLE: "SETTLING IN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Mal/Casey.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "WAITING"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain gets processed. Life inside the

prison becomes more about survival than living."

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.

"SETTLING IN"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The processing was bad but not nearly so terrifiying as he had expected. However, the lack of medical attention surprised him. As evil as the Alliance regime most certainly was Mal had never expected the complete ignoring of all human rights. It was as if this place was so deep in the pits of all nine hells that they could literally do whatever the good gorram they wanted. Torture, neglect, biological and genetic experimentation if the mood took them. The only limit was the one imposed by their twisted imaginations. Not that he intended on giving them any pointers. These people could do anything at all, no holds barred, and not no one would know because none of the subjects would leave this gorram *jianyu* alive. As the truth hit him he mentally recoiled, fighting the wall of depression from taking hold. His mind still working, racing through impossible permutations, trying to figure out just what was making his gut twist, his instinct telling him that more was going on than appeared on the surface.

Then it hit him, the incongruity so obvious he felt like a fool. They had no reason to keep him alive but more than he could count to end him. That being the case, what in the nine hells was he doing still breathing?

* * * * *

"Keepin' him alive might be a mistake, *shifu*."

"No." Came the