Determined: Chapter Three

Author: hisgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belong to Joss. I got nada.

Paring: Jayne/Kaylee

Rating: PG-15, for profanity

Setting: Post BDM

Word Count: 1700-ish

A/N: Set on the same world as my Faith Trilogy . Hover for translation. Loved it? Hated it? Let me know what you think. Thanks.

X-posted from my LiveJournal

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DETERMINED

Chapter Three

First Evening, Serenity

Inara Serra knelt in a pool of candlelight before a low dark carved table. A sheet of handmade paper lay before her, along with the ceramic dish which held her ink block and a small dish of water. She studied the characters she had lettered, the very act of drawing them a meditation, and reflected on the circumstances that had brought her to Serenity. A soft knock on her shuttle door caused the Companion to look up.

“ Ching jin ,” she responded softly.

As soon as she saw Simon’s face, she knew that something was very wrong and silently offered a prayer for Mal’s safety.

Simon’s voice was polite but tense. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I thought you’d want to know. They’re overdue. River’s been scanning the local broadwaves and we have reason to believe that Mal and the others have been taken into custody and are being held at the Newhall lockup. We have to decide what to do.”

“Of course, Simon.” She rose gracefully and followed him to the cockpit.

River sat in the co-pilot’s chair, her bare feet tucked up under her and earphones pressed to one ear as she manipulated the radio dial with slender fingers, scanning for more information. Her luminous eyes darted to her brother and her face was filled with distress.

“Pigs in a pokey. All locked up, waiting for a ride.” She glanced at Inara. “Not much time.”

“They’ll have called in an Alliance transport unit.” Inara looked sharply at Simon. “I have an idea. Do you have any sort of stron