TITLE: "A CONFUSION OF LOYALTIES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "WRONG END OF THE GENE POOL".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Mistress Barbette has to face the crew with a not so

happy revelation. Simon and Mal find the 'verse is even more screwed

up than they thought. River and Jordan come to an understanding."

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.

"A CONFUSION OF LOYALTIES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Patience was not her forte when members of her crew, her family, were in danger and right now Mistress Barbette's cryptic comments were not helping. Zoe physically forced herself to take a few long deep breaths, her temper seething behind her teeth. Wash worried what would happen when she snapped but the House Mother seemed oblivious to the growing storm.

"He knows something."

The air in Zoe's lungs expelled with a force not born of nature. "*Shenme*?"

"I have known the Minister for many years." She said simply, her words as casual as if she were discussing nothing more innocuous than the weather. "He hides his thoughts well but not well enough."

Shepherd Book had purposely not involved himself in their plans, preferring to watch from the sidelines and pick up the undercurrents the rest of the crew were missing. Now he felt the shifting sands were getting too dangerous to leave to fickle fate. "Are you saying he *knows* where River is?"

The House Mistress shook her head. After the initial contact by cortex with Minister Tirrel once she had reached House Kermos on Helena, an invitation had been extended for them to