Serenity floated in the vast emptiness of the ‘verse, the cold dead silence of space somehow reflecting itself in the ship. Book, Inara, Simon, and Kaylee were gathered together at the dining table. The silence was oppressive and the four just sat there not saying a word, none felt like they had the strength to break the silence that weighted them down. Each was reflecting in their own way upon the events of the past couple of weeks leading up to the horrible events of the past day.

Zoe slowly made her way into the dining area with Wash reluctantly following. All eyes turned towards the couple expecting the explanation that would set everything right again. Wash moved to pull out a chair for his wife, but Zoe quickly shook her head and motioned that she didn’t wish to sit. Wash shrugged his shoulders and sat.

“Zoe, what is going on here?” Book finally broke the silence. His eyes steady on Zoe, watching and gauging her reaction.

Zoe leaned forward on the chair at the head of the table, the one that Mal usually sat in. She looked over at Book. “I don’t rightly know preacher. The cap’n is not makin’ the situation any easier, neither.”

“Something has to be done,” Inara defiantly blurted out, and then realizing as such blushed slightly, an unusual gesture from the always composed companion. She straightened her shoulders a little, trying to settle herself. “I’ve done some research on our Alliance guests.”

“Research? This ain’t no school yard picnic. We’re talkin’ about full blown out, puffed up, porcupine quill Alliance intelligence. I don’t know if ya all haven’t noticed but we’ve got ourselves into a right pickle.” Wash wasn’t happy at all with what was going on, and he was frustrated at Mal because Zoe wasn’t happy. And usually when Zoe wasn’t happy it meant Mal wasn’t doing something he ought.

“Thank you, honey. I think we’ve figured that one out by now.” Zoe said, a slight smile tugging at her mouth. That was one of the reasons she loved her husband so much, no matter how dangerous or dire the situation