Disclaimer: Go buy the DVD. And fall in love with this damn fine show all over again.

HAWKS AND DOVES (part 4)

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Inara gave Simon a brief nod of encouragement as they entered the prison door. They followed a guard along a bare, echoing corridor and waited as he knocked on a battered wooden door.

“Come in!” A solid man in his mid-fifties who had squandered the good looks of his youth sat behind a desk that like its owner had seen better days. He scrutinized Simon with a cynical eye before turning his attention to Inara. It was apparent he found her a far more welcome sight.

“Say you're here to see our latest inmate?” he asked, with a hint of suspicion but without taking his eyes from Inara.

“Yes,” Simon's voice faltered at first but he reminded himself of what was at stake. “Yes. Alliance Prisons Inspectorate.” He flashed the fake ID card Book had laboured over but the governor wasn't interested. “You should have been notified.”

The governor reluctantly removed his gaze from Inara's legs and looked Simon up and down with undisguised disdain. Pompous young pup, turning up out of the blue to throw his weight around before heading back to his life of privilege. Meanwhile Marlon was condemned to this God-forsaken rock all because of a simple misunderstanding about a superior's daughter.

“Don't tell us much out here,” he grunted. “Not important enough.”

“Please feel free to call headquarters...” Simon said, praying that back on Serenity Book would be able to intercept the wave.

“No. Let's jus' get on with it,” Marlon interrupted him. “Though God knows why the top brass are wastin' your time with the likes of Trautmann. Man got no more'n he deserves.” He looked over at his subordinate. “Take 'em to his cell.” His chair creaked as he leant back and took out a cigarette.”Think you'll find everythin's in order.”

The guard opened the cell door and preceded them into a cold, bare room. A figure lay on the bare ground, his only cover a ripped, brown blanket. A touch of official i