Blue Blood – Chapter Six A

Author owns no rights to Firefly and no copyright infringement was intended.

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Mal paced the bridge as Astra grew in the screen. He’d pushed Companion fairly hard, trying to make up the time. They needed to arrive as near to on schedule as possible to avoid arousing suspicion. Even as he looked at the clock, seeing they were only a few hours off estimate, his mind was swirling with other concerns. Like would Jayne control himself and not go after Grippen the minute that Serenity hit the ground. He’d had a quiet talk with River before leaving, and the little assassin had promised that she would keep Jayne under control.

Mal hoped that wasn’t just wishful thinking.

“Astra control, this the Firefly transport Private Companion, out of Argo with agricultural cargo, inbound for Capital Dockyards, by way of Guilford pad,” he heard Inara say over the cortex. Mal gave his attention to the goings on around him, pushing thoughts of a homicidal Jayne aside for the moment.

“Companion, be advised you are requested to set down at Astra Control Authority,” the controller called back. “Please have all paperwork, manifests, and crew logs available upon landing.”

“Ai ya,” Mal muttered. “Now what?”

“Astra control, this vessel was just inspected three weeks prior,” Inara called back after checking Companion’s listings. “Is there a problem? Or is this routine?”

“Looks like a routine request, Companion,” the controller responded.

“Affirmative,” Inara replied, looking to Mal, who nodded again. “Companion is inbound for ACA. ETA is twenty-five minutes.”

“Roger, Companion. Astra control, out.”

“Three guesses as to who ‘requested’ our inspection.

“Our Blue Hand friends, no doubt,” Inara nodded. “Have you briefed Holly and Greggs on this?”

“No, I haven’t. If it gets that far, we’re done for, anyway.”

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“This is the transport vessel Private Companion?” The dock controller turned to see who was asking, and was startled to see four men, all loo