"Bad Business"

Annie M (trekgirl@blueyonder.co.uk)

Part: 4/6

See part one for disclaimers and summary

~~/\~/\~~

"We'll see you in a week or so," Wash called over the comm as Serenity broke orbit at first light the following morning. "And don't worry so much. Anything that hit that moon is probably long gone by now," he said confidently.

"You're probably right, but watch yourselves anyway, okay?"

"Sure thing, 'Nara. See you soon."

Wash cut the link and concentrated on flying the ship, feeling Serenity responding to him as he guided the controls. "Here we go, boys," he whooped to his herd of plastic dinosaurs adorning the flight console.

Flicking the internal comm button, he called down to the engine room. "Kaylee, we good to go?"

"Everything's shiny, Wash," she replied. "Go for full burn whenever you're ready."

Turning his attention back to the ship, Wash purred at Serenity. "Come on, baby, show poppa how much you've missed him."

Finally clearing the atmosphere of Talos, Serenity's rear end lit up and the ship streaked away from the planet into the welcoming black.

"God, it's good to be flying again," Wash beamed.

/\~/

As soon as Morfan had come into sensor range, four days after leaving Talos, Wash had called the captain to the bridge. Mal had arrived quickly, Zoe following close behind, and all three watched as the small grey-brown moon drew closer.

"Keep your distance, Wash, circle around," Mal instructed as he stood next to the pilot.

Zoe, needing no instruction, worked behind her husband monitoring the rear vid.

Wash set a course, checking the helm as he steered. The space around the moon seemed calm enough, no ships in range and no debris in the outer atmosphere.

"Take us in," Mal ordered quietly, eyes still glued to view outside their windows.

Serenity rumbled and shook as she dove down into the moon's atmosphere, levelling out and returning to a smooth glide once Wash had eased her through the turbulence.

Checking his scans of