The I.A.V. connected with Serenity quickly, there was no escape now. Colonel Dedham directed the operation from the bridge, watching the moment of connection on a screen. At last, all this running across the ‘verse would be at an end. Once the Agents had their prize, whatever it was, they could go on their merry. Ye Soo! Now he knew he had been in the black too long, he was starting to talk like a spacer. He flipped another monitor which showed him the airlock. The Agents were already there, their smugness practically oozing from inside their dark suits. He got up and went down to join them, he would not miss this for anything.

The hands of blue had finally found her and had come to take her back - there was nowhere to hide any more. They were probing and searching, looking for weakness, Serenity was her weakness. The blue hands were touching her. NO! GET AWAY! You cannot have me. She wanted to stay with Serenity .

“River. Wake up!” cried Kaylee anxiously shaking her.

“They’re here!” she replied, sitting upright with eyes wide and she knew what they were going to do. “To kill us with their brains.” Kaylee gasped in fear, and looked up at Simon. They had rushed to her first, but still did not know why the proximity alarms were going off. River got out of bed and ran from the room, pushing past Bane and the others in the corridor. She had to find Mal, he was in the cargo bay with Zoe and the others. “You need to hide!” she said, still half wild with fear. Mal looked towards the ship’s entrance and then back at her.

“What’s coming, Albatross?” said Mal, hand on the holster at his side. He was flanked by Zoe and now Jayne, they were armed and ready to fight. To fight for her. She could not let them die.

“Two by two ...” she did not finish, but trailed off, looking terrified towards the door. Zoe was getting impatient, the Feds were about to board Serenity and she needed to know how to play the game.

“River -” she warned, but Mal interrupted, s