TITLE: "UNSEEN FORCES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash. Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara.

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "RUNNING THE GAUNTLET".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Inara is shocked by what she finds on Serenity and

decides to do all in her power to put things right. With the Alliance

battle cruiser breathing down their necks the last thing they need

is even more bad news."

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.

"UNSEEN FORCES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He felt heavy. Sluggish. A big weight pulling him down, down, down, darkness an inky cloak that was suffocating. He should be out of oxygen by now but no. Gorramit. He was still breathing, had to be in order to be thinking such thoughts. As his mind struggled to find coherence a semblance of calm flowed through him. Huh. Did it just get a mite lighter? He couldn't feel his body but right now that was shiny as he couldn't feel any pain either. The thick viscous fog clinging to him like a membrane was thinning out now, bits of light sequing from the darkness like smoke clearing. Streaming tresses of light leaking into his brainpan as if it was trying to tell him something only he was too detached to make sense of it all. Too fancified and creepifying though there was no panic, no concern and no worry attached to such thoughts. Odd. Shouldn't he be dying about now?

"Why isn't he waking, Simon?"

The doctor gave her a look she couldn't read and didn't answer. Inara felt irritation rise up but kept her emotions in check. As worried as she was for the Captain and as panicky as her first sight of him had made her being a Compani