Chapter 6

“How are Jayne and Simon doing?” Mal asked from the pilot’s seat, his wet clothing replaced by a dry pair of sweat pants and tee shirt.

Inara handed Zoe and him cups of hot coffee, “Jayne is stable and Simon is still asleep on the couch. Gabriel is watching both of them,” she finished as she leaned against the nearby console.

“Well, the doc certainly had a big day,” Zoe said from the co-pilots chair as she sipped her coffee. She had donned one of Wash’s sweaters and an old pair of pajama paints after getting out of her own wet clothing.

“Simon is very brave. I wonder how Jayne will take owing the doctor his life?” Inara asked.

“I’m still wondering why Jayne’s life was at risk in the first place…and what the guay the Tams have to do with it,” Mal stated worryingly.

“Could be they were a distraction, so whoever wanted them could get samples from one of us,” Zoe said.

“That begs the questions who would want samples and for what purpose?” Inara asked.

“Have to be someone high enough on the monkey pole to get River’s parents released,” Mal added taking another sip of his coffee.

“That still doesn’t explain why they needed tissue samples,” Inara stated.

“I’m I alone in thinking this might have something to do with Miranda?” Zoe questioned.

“No,” Inara and Mal answered in unison.

“Sir?” Zoe questioned seeing Mal’s brow furrow in thought.

Mal looked up at them, “Doc, said a person takes samples to look for evidence of disease or the like. We might’ve been exposed to whatever it was they used on Miranda, could be what they’re looking for.”

“I thought the bio-scanners didn’t pick anything up,” Inara stated.

“They didn’t, but they only look for certain things,” Zoe replied.

“We don’t know what the operative told the government, but if he did tell them we were on Mirada why would they need proof?” Inara asked.

“Maybe he didn’t tell them, someone might have put some pieces together,” Zoe replied.

“…or maybe they want to see if the planet is safe now and li