TITLE: “THINGS UNSEEN”

SERIES: THE DEVIL’S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 32. Sequel to “HIDDEN AGENDAS”

FANDOM: “FIREFLY”

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: “Lucy faces her worst nightmare.

Meanwhile the Captain’s plan has everybody on

Edge. Suzie and Davie find out some surprising

Things about their new benefactor.”

“THINGS UNSEEN”

A “Firefly” Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Nothing made sense. Her world was a muted grey, cold as old bones and empty of all sensation but that. Her eyelids felt odd. Sticky and reluctant to obey her need to see where she was, what had happened. Memory a fuzzy backdrop of out of focus images that made no sense and brought no recognition. Where in the nine hells was she and what had happened? Had she fallen asleep? The chill actually calmed her somewhat, it was the only sensation she had so she clung to it like a lifeline but knew not why. She must have fallen asleep outside. That was the only conclusion she could come to but outside where? As she struggled to remain conscious faint yawing sounds began to fog her ears as if she was trying to hear through cotton wool. Just as she began to grasp that the sound was a voice darkness clouded all her senses like a funeral shroud and she knew no more.

* * * * *

“That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard and since being on this ship that says a lot.”

The Captain glared at Inara but did not respond. He knew she thought him a *shenjingbing chunren* but her opinion would not get any of them out of the situation they were in. No. It was time for some lateral thinking and something Simon had said a while ago had sparked the seeds of the current plan. Not that any of his crew looked suitably impressed but then they didn’t know the half of it. Huh. Everyone was a gorram critic. Jerrod Perkins was at least polite enough not to question his sanity in such stark terms.

“*Qu*, we got spades a-pl