TITLE: "THE DEVIL'S CRADLE"

SERIES: THE DEVIL'S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 34. Sequel to "THE WORLD TO COME"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

SUMMARY: "Commandant Urquart begins to learn

the consequences of his actions. Simon is unsettled

by questions he cannot answer and Commandant

Urquart discovers something he cannot ignore."

"THE DEVIL'S CRADLE"

A "Firefly" Story"

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was not the fact that the man was having such a hard time breathing that was such a shock but the fact that part of his trachea was simply missing. Commandant Urquart stared through the reinforced transparasteel window of the ship's biohazard room and knew with a certainty that this was not the end of the problem only the beginning. Without taking his eyes off the unedifying drama unfolding in that room he questioned Dr Gordon.

"What happened to his containment suit?"

"It was reduced to dust, *shifu*."

Even though he had been expecting the answer it still made him turn his head to stare at the man. "What did you do with the dust?"

Dr Gordon blinked at the Commandant. Seriously? He had three men dying in the most awful and excruciating agony and Urquart was asking him about DUST? When the doctor did not answer immediately the Commandant leaned in close to the man, his voice pitched low and icy cold. It sent more than chills down Dr Gordon's spine.

"The dust doctor, did this. Now. I ask you once again, what did you do with it?"

* * * * *

She stopped suddenly, a strange sensation prickling through her senses. Davie ran on a few yards before he realised she was not following. He turned and frowned at the arrested expression on her face, not knowing what it meant. '*Shenme shi*?'

'We're bein' hunted'

He frowned.