TITLE: "HONOUR, DUTY AND THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "SECRETS AND LIES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The clean up after the death of Niyan Shair goes into

high gear. Shepherd Book is distressed to hear about his friend.

Zoe wants nothing more to do with the control device but the

decision is out of her hands."

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.

"HONOUR, DUTY AND THE

COMPANY OF FRIENDS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

John Ridgeway Foster was not the kind of man to set worlds on fire with either his dazzling heroics or wit. An Alliance Captain of impeccable service record he was the last person among the unified planets to ever upset the status quo. At least that was what everybody who had ever known or had contact with him, in or out of his military career, had thought. But Captain Ridgeway was not only a good officer and military man, he was also very loyal. The unexpected and generous furlough given to himself and his men after Commander Shair had inexplicably been summoned to see Minister Rosenbaum had not seemed incongruous at first. He and the rest of the men thought it a reward for a job well done even if they had come too late to save the majority of the people who had died in the burnt ruins of the Tam Estate. So why did he feel so unsettled? A creeping feeling in his gut that kept him on edge and unable to relax as if an unknown danger lay just around the corner.

His wife, Mary, called him on it and forcing a smile to his face he helped her put the children to bed. Read a story to his yo