By the time Mal got to the cargo bay, dressed only in a hastily donned pair of black sleep pants and carrying his gun, Jayne had Betsey trained on the man using River as a shield. He could see panels were open on three of the four containers, and rubble was strewn across the floor, but Mal was more concerned that there were at least four other men in positions ready to fire amongst the cages.

“ Gos se ,” he breathed, a little piece of him thankful that Jayne hadn’t picked up Vera instead. A hull breach would be all they needed.

“You’ll be wanting to drop that gun, Captain,” the man standing behind River said, his own weapon not half an inch from her cheek. “Unless you’d like this little lady here to meet her maker.”

Cursing the fact that Zoe and Frey were otherwise engaged, Mal spoke quietly to Jayne. “Think we can take ‘em?”

“Yeah. But not ‘fore they hurt moonbrain.”

“It’s all right, Jayne,” the young woman in question said. “They won’t hurt me.”

There was a snigger from someone on hearing the big man’s name, but the leader pushed his gun harder into River’s face. “Wouldn’t be too sure about that.”

A sound below indicated Simon was standing in the common area doorway. “River …”

“Don’t,” Mal said warningly, only taking a glance to see the doctor was armed.

“It’s my sister,” Simon pointed out, his natural calmness taking over.

“I know that.” Mal felt rather than heard Hank arrive behind him, out of breath from anxiety rather than running. “Just don’t do anything stupid. Least, not ‘til I say.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Come on, Coombs,” one of the other men called. “Let’s get this done.”

“You try anything and you’ll be the first with a bullet in your head,” Jayne warned.

Albatross? Mal thought. You okay?

Shiny. And I'm sorry.

What for?

Letting them out.

I’m figuring they were planning on taking over the ship anyway.

Yes, but I'm still sorry.

Not your fault.

River gave a half smile. Or yours.

His lips twitched.