CHAPTER 8

At Mal’s command, River left Santo in the dust, ducking under the Alliance radar and the orbiting Tao Wu shark-ship. Without Cappy, the path to Persephone would prove far more perilous than they’d intended. Her hands shaking, she forced her mind on the stars before her and not the image of Cappy’s death. It was the first time she ever heard him. First time she ever saw him. And all he said was “Diana.” River’s mind swirled over who Diana could be. Perhaps she should find this Diana and tell her that Cappy was dead. On the other hand, a man so private should have a right to keep his dying thoughts to himself.

Angrily, River grabbed Cappy’s Rubik’s cube and threw it behind her.

“Whoa, watch it li’l albatross,” Mal chided, catching the cube as he entered. His arm was loosely bandaged over his shirt, but his face was all business. “We headed for Persephone?”

“Won’t be easy,” River promised as Mal set the cube firmly on the console.

“Never is,” he agreed. “But we’re still flying.”

*~*

Kaylee listened to the sound of Simon working in the Infirmary. By the variety of sounds he made, she could tell he was reading the latest medical journals. She smiled a little as he “hmmm”ed and “oh”ed at the text. She listened to the steady beep of the monitor attached to her finger. Then she listened to Serenity.

Her ship hummed and honed its normal tune, but something rang a little off key. She wished she could leave the Infirmary, find a better place to listen, but her body betrayed her and kept her captive in the bed.

“Simon,” she whispered when she’d identified Serenity’s complaint.

He looked over at her, probably surprised she was speaking to him.

“Do you remember how to replace the valve on the fuel pump?”

He shrugged. “You’ll be up in a few days time, Kaylee.”

Irritated, Kaylee shook her head. “No, this has to be done now.”

“Kaylee, listen to me –”

“No! Listen to Serenity!” Kaylee screamed. “If I’d listened to Serenity, I wouldn’t be lyin’ here! That valve needs to be replaced now