TITLE: "A BETTER WORLD"

SERIES: THE DEVIL'S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 68. Sequel to "CHOICES"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "The Captain decides it is time to find

out what the girl from the escape pod is really doing

in the middle of No and Where."

"A BETTER WORLD"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was frustrating. When the creepy Reader left Rosalie thought she would at last be on her own but no, it was more like a changing of the guard. Or should that be guards?

"We know you're awake."

Perhaps she could just ignore them? Rosalie bit back a sigh and kept her eyes closed. Even without her ability she could tell they were settling around her, their tiny little minds making tentative reaches towards her own. It was laughable. Did they think they were up to her level? No. Not even the three of them acting in concert were able to make any headway unlike the one who had come before. That not only irritated her, it was also a worry. A different voice spoke up this time, a boy.

"Why are you here?"

Rosalie could continue to play dumb but they were just children. Maybe this could work to her advantage? Carefully she made an exploratory probe of the boy's mind. Immediately three Gate Keepers slammed down blocking her out. So. They knew enough to protect each other by combining forces. Interesting. They might be young and naive but at least they were loyal.

* * * * *

Shepherd Book was surprised and that intrigued him. He stared at the Captain for a moment. "What makes you think I would know something like that, Captain?"

Malcolm Reynolds watched him resume making himself a mug of tea. They were alone in the commons room but that was not like to last. Folk they had on board someone was