TITLE: "APPEARANCES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash, Kaylee/Simon.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "TRAUMA".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: None. All Firefly stories archived at Fireflyfans.net

SUMMARY: "Inara makes a wave. The Captain tells the crew

of a slight change in plan. A change that threatens to divide

loyalties between Captain and crew."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"APPEARANCES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

She stared at the screen, her face a mask devoid of all expression. For an irritated moment Inara thought she would have to repeat herself.

"You must not get off on Sihnon."

"Don't you think I know that?" The Companion snapped. There was an awkard silence, two pairs of cunning eyes locked on each other over the encrypted wave. "*Duibuqi*. The man is just so infuriating, *dong ma*? Why can't I can kill him? There are a thousand ways to make it look like an accident."

The other pair of eyes stared back, all steel now. No emotion. Inara eased out a long breath to take the pressure off. She had not felt this wound up about something in a dragon's age. That the reason was Malcolm Reynolds was even more galling. And yet. A tiny, small, infinitesimal part of her didn't like the path she walked. The dark places she must travel to achieve her goal. Correction. *Their* goal. She must never forget that she was part of something bigger than herself. This was not about revenge but there was no rule that said she could not savour an element of that too. Inara was a Companion and a damn good one. Top of the hierarchal tree so to speak. This assignment was supposed to be her crowning glory. The last step of many.