Part IX

“Can you get through it? Find some way?”

The pilot was running experienced fingers over the controls. “I don’t know, Mal. Maybe. If I can bounce the signal somehow –“

“Do it. Whatever you need.”

“I’ll get right on it. Could maybe use Kaylee to help.”

“Get her if you do.”

“Mal –“ Hank turned concerned eyes on his captain. “They don’t put a quarantine order on a planet without good reason.”

“Sickness,” River said, having ghosted up the steps.

“You can see it, little one?” Mal asked.

She nodded, her face pale. “Lots of people. Sick. Dying.”

Mal swallowed. “Frey?”

“You dreamed right.”

It was the last thing he wanted her to say, even though he expected it. Closing his eyes briefly to try and regain some control, he swallowed hard, and glanced back at Hank. “Start work. And get us to Persephone soon as you can.” He looked at River. “Can you … look to Ethan? He’s likely to be picking up on this.”

“I will.” She ran silently back down into the corridor and climbed down the ladder into the captain’s bunk.

Hank had already input new co-ordinates, and the stars were swirling past the window. “Full burn?” he asked.

“Can Kaylee drop those safeguards again?” Mal asked. “Like she did before? When Ethan –“

“We can get more out of her, Mal. She’s been working on making sure we can without blowing us up.”

“She’s a good girl.”

“That she is.”

“What’s going on?” Simon asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he stepped onto the bridge. “Bethie’s in a state, keeps saying something’s wrong.”

Mal span on his heel. “Those records Hank found. Have you got anywhere?”

“Well, no, not yet. I haven’t had a chance to –“

“Frey’s sick. Back on Persephone. They’ve quarantined the whole gorram planet.”

“Quarantine?”

Hank turned up the volume.

“ …first and only warning. Persephone has been placed under quarantine by Federal order. All vessels are ordered to stay at least 20,000 kilometres distant until further notice. Any vessel ap