TITLE: "BITTER FRUIT"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "DARK PLACES"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Mal and Zoe get tired of waiting for Jayne to

come and find them. Not wanting to taste the bitter fruit of

defeat the Captain tries to come up with a plan."

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.

"BITTER FRUIT"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The small group of men were bound by a growing tension. The long abandoned church ruins like a broken crown on the head of some fallen king with the deep dark mist all around them like some foul sea. They could not even see the graveyard let alone any detail more than a few yards in front of them. The tall figure turned a handsome face twisted with disfavour in his companion's direction. His whole manner and demeanour suggesting exactly where the blame for this little fiasco lay. "What happened?"

The little man tugged on his lapels, so high and mighty for one so short. "*Wo bu zhidao*, how the gorram would I know? Delivered the message, not my fault if the *wangu shenjingbing baichi* of a Captain didn't fall for it now is it?"

The taller man's eyes narrowed darkly but Badger had been intimidated by far better folk than him. Plus he had his men, armed and watchful dotted about the place. Badger never went anywhere alone. "If Reynolds' suspected..."

"Don't look at me Wing, I done my part. Man's nothin' if not contrary but I'll say this for 'im, Reynolds always shows for a job."

"Except this time."

Badger didn't respond immediately, he had been looking forward to seeing the expression on Malcolm Reynolds' f