Archangel Chapter Twenty-Four

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only.

-----------------------

Serenity touched down on Aberdeen on the third day after leaving Celeste. The ship was quiet as everyone was lost in their own thoughts about the information they had been given.

No one wanted to think about a reaver army, under the control of the Alliance. It was too much, especially for a group of people who had already lost so much to reavers, Alliance, and life in general.

Both Mal and Jayne were still edgy about the Operative, but neither said anything about him. Simon was worried also, but not as good as dealing with his fears.

“What if he knows we’re here?” he asked, as the crew gathered in the bay.

“He ain’t got no way o’ knowin’,” Mal pointed out. “Kaylee, you do that sweep I asked you?” he asked his engineer.

“Yes, Cap’n,” she smiled. “Me and River did a once over on the whole ship. We ain’t carryin’ nothin’.” The two women had searched the ship for any signs of tracking devices during their voyage to Aberdeen. Nothing had been found.

“Good,” Mal nodded. “We ain’t gonna be here but a few hours, then we’re in the black again. So anyone calls him ‘bout where we are, we’ll be gone long ‘fore he can get here. Don’t worry, Simon. We ain’t gettin’ near him. He’s got his war to fight, we got ours.”

“Okay,” Simon nodded. “I’ll work on it,” he smiled slightly.

“Okay, then,” Mal ordered. “Me, Jayne and River, will go see about our cargo. Zoe’s in charge till we get back. Anyone need anything?”

“I need to see about replenishing the infirmary,” Simon spoke. “We received the credits from the Alliance, but what I needed wasn’t readily available on Celeste. Not where we were.”

“All right,” Mal nodded. “Kaylee?”

“We’re good, Cap’n,” the mechanic promised.

“Simon, we’ll see to the infirmary once we’re back. Don’t want anyone off the ship alone, right now. And no one off without me or Jayne one present.” Everyone nodded.

“Let’s go then,” Mal orde