Disclaimer thingy: Firefly/Serenity are owned by other folks and not by me, though I appreciate being able to write some stuff purely for fun inspired by the Firefly 'Verse.

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Second episode in three-part prequel to Hard Times. Angst aplenty. But if you can handle dark and gritty, let me know how you like it…

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Jake climbed up out of Mawu’s engine compartment and headed into the cockpit. He glanced out of the screen and frowned at the changed light lying across the landscape, where shadows were beginning to stretch long across the rocky ground. “Goddamnit, Leon, where the hell are you?” He triggered the chronometer in the console, and frowned again at what he saw. “Six hours… You better not be hustling a poker game in some bar.” He sat back in the pilot’s chair, still frowning, unease beginning to crawl over him. Leon wouldn’t be on a spree. He knows we need to get fixed and away as quick as we can. He’d be on his way back soon as he could. Jake looked down at the console, thinking of the powered-down engine. Unless he’s had to dodge some local trouble. In which case we might need to make a swift exit when he gets here, and put off fitting the new converter to another day. He hesitated, then rose and headed back to the engine compartment, to reconnect the power. Come on home, partner. I’m getting to worrying about you.

* * * *

Leon woke slowly in the darkness of his cell, letting out a muffled sound of protest. His eyes opened: he was lying on his side on the bed, wrists still cuffed, arms curled around his head. Unsteadily he tried to raise himself up, getting his elbows under him. The muscles in his shoulders and back shook and he let out a gasp, bowing his head down. Slowly he was able to straighten up then push himself into a sitting position, bare feet finding the floor.

For a long time he did nothing except sit there in the darkness, looking into the