Phase One

A/N: This fic just kinda popped up out of nowhere, in between adding the finishing touches to Job Satisfaction. I was originally gonna post it between Job Satisfaction and it’s sequel (tentatively titled Job Security) but I don’t want to fiddle with this anymore, so I’m posting it now. Here’s the prologue, and there are four more pretty short parts which I will post in the next couple of days. Please, comment, you know you want to.

Prologue

The ship was silent. Apart from the dull humming of the engine, there was no sound. Satisfied that everyone was secure in their bunks, the agent stalked noiselessly through the dark ship, moving in the shadows, undetectable, a result of rigorous training and not a little natural skill. His biggest asset, of course, was his determination. This mission was essential to the retrieval of River Tam. And River Tam was essential to Blue Sun.

He reached River Tam’s bunk easily, and slid open the door. He observed her sleeping for a few moments. She slept peacefully, probably drugged near to unconsciousness by her doctor brother. But the agent didn’t approach her, or attempt to hurt her. That part of the plan was very clear. Before River Tam could be retrieved, certain obstacles had to be removed.

This was Phase One, and the agent felt a fleeting surge of pride about it as he slid the door shut again. He was, after all, the brains behind Phase One. Moving over to Simon Tam’s bunk, he squashed the emotion down. Agents were not encouraged to feel such emotions as pride. Pride was a selfish emotion.

Simon was sleeping too, but unlike his younger sister, he was not doing so peacefully. He murmured inaudibly, jerking fitfully as he tossed and turned. The agent presumed he was waiting for River to have an attack, or at least dreaming about it. But he didn’t ponder on it. Pity, like pride, was a pointless emotion.

He removed the syringe from his pocket, and turned it over in his blue-gloved hands. He could, of course, simply inj