Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made. The situations come from my own twisted mind as do my original characters.

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AN: Getting closer to the end of the arc folks. I'm guessing two or three more to finish this up.

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Quest - Chapter Twenty five

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Not many people knew that Inara dyed her hair. It was some ingrained need left over from her days as a Companion that led her to color her hair. Hiding the gray creeping in. At age fifty three, Inara still looked to be barely forty. Many times when they went out together, casual bystanders thought that Emma was her little sister rather than her daughter.

But right now, she didn't think there was enough black hair dye in the 'Verse to hide the gray she could almost feel appearing on her head.

The former Companion's fingers drummed on the pilot's console of Tranquility. She shot a nervous glance over to Kaylee who sat in the other seat, “How do you think it's going?”

Kaylee shrugged, “Cap'n didn't do the plannin...”

Inara nodded, “True. Allan's plans do tend to go a bit more smoothly than my husband's.”

“I'm just worried about, Simon and Jack.”

I know, Mei-mei. I mean, your husband and son are just guarding the ships with Monty's crew...”

“Not out fightin like Jeff, Emma and th' Cap'n are.”

Inara could only nod. Suddenly the cortex screen in front of Inara sprang to life, “Attention Firefly vessel. This is the Alliance Destroyer, Navajo. State your intentions and reason for docking at the Altair yards.”

Startled for a moment. Inara composed herself and then addressed the young officer on the screen, “This is the Firefly Transport, Tranquility. Were are here on a rescue mission.”

“Rescue?” the officer replied.

“Correct,” Inara replied.

“Rescue of whom?”

“Every one of the dockyard workers.”

The officer looked confused, “Why do they need rescue?”

“Because,” Inara replied, “They are all slaves.”

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The Navajo's executive officer turned from