TITLE: "MIRROR IMAGE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "ANOTHER MAN'S POISON"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Not everything viewed in the mirror of life is shiny. But the Truth always exacts a price."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly' are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"MIRROR IMAGE"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

They were spinning out of control and there was nothing Inara or Simon could do to halt it. Inara looked at the doctor, eyes wide with fear. Companion training be damned, they were going to die. "What hit us?"

Simon swallowed, hanging on to one of the consoles while he gazed in shock out of the main viewport. "That Alliance ship... it struck us."

"It did what?"

He could appreciate her sense of shock. It made no gorram sense. "Maybe they have engine problems or..."

Inara's look hardened. Pieces falling into place. "Or maybe he just wanted to finish the job."

It was not often that Inara Serra could render Simon speechless. Of all the people on Serenity she was the one he had most in common with. Their backgrounds, the circles in which they moved, the oiled wheels of the monied classes that provided everything from health and education to the exotic foods that crowded their tables. "I'm not sure I follow..."

"Carlin Ferris."

"I don't think even Thomas McCardy's son would be crazy enough to ram the Goose on purpose, Inara."

"Ferris wants his father dead, Simon."

"But you said he poisoned him."

Inara nodded, her beautiful face pale. Their impending death momentarily pushed to the back of her mind while she probed the problem anew. "*Qu*, but Carlin i