Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan. He's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

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This story takes place nearly four years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Follows after Big Blue.

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A/N: Warning for some four letter words... Swearing if you will.

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

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Birthday

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Chapter Five

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Mal was a bit nervous. Not about the impending fight but about the docking. River had programmed Serenity to make the approach to the docking port and even dock with Niska's skyplex. He was along for the ride.

River had been explicit in telling him that all he was to do was make sure Serenity was lined up and then shut down the engines when they made contact. Only intervening if there was a problem.

Looking out through the bridge windows, it sure as hell looked like it was going to be a collision rather than a docking. Mal's hands tightened on the yoke, wanting to do something.

Suddenly, Serenity's braking engines fired and the old Firefly slowed down.

“Thirty seconds!” Mal yelled into the com.

The hull of the station loomed larger as he felt the ships thrusters fire, lining Serenity up perfectly.

'That girl is a wonder,' Mal thought as Serenity's airlock made contact with the skyplex's docking bay.

Mal grabbed his assault rifle and ran for the cargo bay.

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Adeli Niska had decided to enjoy a leisurely lunch at his desk before sending the wave to Bryant's wife. He was sure that she and Reynolds were tearing Boros apart looking for the man.

Wiping his mouth with a silk napkin, Niska turned to his cortex screen. Typing in the address, he frowned.

CORTEX CONECTION UNAVAILABLE

Niska tried again.

With the same result. Swearing something under his breath, Niska activated the internal com.

“Yes sir?” replied the voice of one of Niska's technicians.

“Why don't I have a Cortex signal?”

“I... I was about to call you si