Archangel – Chapter Forty-One

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

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Serenity broke atmo in the clear, for which Mal was grateful. His worst fear was that reavers would see them, and pursue. With River out, and Kaylee near hysterical, there wasn’t much of a way for them to outrun a determined pursuer.

“We’re in the black, Mal,” Inara told him quietly. He looked over at the regal woman he had come to love more than anyone, and nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak.

“How is Kaylee?” Inara asked, her voice breaking.

“She was still screamin’, I left to come up here,” Mal told her softly. “‘Spect that’ll go on for a while.” His voice was heavy with both fatigue and sadness.

“It isn’t your fault, Mal,” Inara said gently.

“I know,” he replied. “But. . .it just feels wrong, Inara. Leavin’ Jayne behind. I know that’s what he wanted, but. . . .”

“It wasn’t wrong, Mal,” Inara told him. “It was what he wanted, and you had more to think of than just one man. And you helped them all you could.”

“If only Monty had got here. . . .” Mal began, only to be cut off by the sensor alarm.

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“There are at least eighteen ships in orbit, sir,” the sensor officer reported to Monty. “Three are cruiser size, though I haven’t been able to identify them, as yet.”

Monty nodded, and turned to Gerald Book. The former Operative looked serene in his battle dress.

“You sure you aim to go along?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Book smiled.

“Best get to the shuttle, then,” Monty ordered. “Good luck.” He turned to the man next to him.

“Captain, carry out your orders.”

“Yes, sir.” He turned to the comms officer.

“Advise all ships, commence Downfall. Repeat, Commence Downfall.”

In the black, the troop transports and drop shuttles separated from the rest of the fleet. Surrounded by nimble gunships and corvettes, they broke for the planet below, ferrying troops who were straining at the leash to get on the ground