Disclaimer: This story is in no way meant to infringe on the rights of Joss Whedon, Universal Studios, Mutant Enemy, or 20th Century Fox. Just wanted to have a bit of fun with these characters is all. Please don’t sue me.

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Rated PG-13 for violence, a few Chinese cuss words, and just a wee bit of Star Trek-ish technobabble.

“Point of No Return, Part VIII”

*****

*****

Jubal Early’s visit was, in the long run, not necessarily a bad thing. Could’ve turned out much worse, of course, but it didn’t, and that was fortunate. Actually turned out to be beneficial because the crew had been able to not only download information from his ship, but also steal its navigational drive. True enough, it was the only piece of hardware that was compatible with the Firefly’s systems, but it was coming in mighty handy, especially right now.

It was because of this enhanced navigation and scanning system that Wash was able to see the Reavers coming long before they would to spot Serenity. Ample time to think of a plan.

Um, right. Plan, the pilot thought frantically. Which would be to do, what exactly?

“Hide!” River practically shouted.

“Good thinking,” Wash pointed out, and started to maneuver the little ship to the other side of the turbulent moon, getting Serenity as close as he could to Hecate’s atmosphere without having its gravity pull them down into certain doom. With any luck, the storms would muck up their scanners and they’d lose interest.

“Here goes nothing,” he said, and took a position that put Hecate between Serenity and the Reavers.

He held his breath as he said a silent prayer for Zoe, then looked up at River, who suddenly appeared to be woozy.

“Kai,” she slumped in the chair next to Wash. “Come back. You have to come back…”

*****

The soldier raised his hand and brought it down hard across Malcolm Reynold’s face. The corporal spat blood as he raised himself