The Inner Circle

by Jason C. Clement.

Based AFTER the events of SERENITY (2005). SPOILERS CONTAINED WITHIN.

Read at your own risk.

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Chapter I

"Remarkable!"

He only grinned. Before him, strapped to something that resembled a chair, sat a half naked man. The room was illuminated faintly, and readings of unknown and unimaginable proportions were being read on every monitor around the room.

"He's a super weapon."

The Alliance inspector grinned with great enjoyment. Somehow, the thought of a super human at his control made him giddy with joy. It wasn't right, he knew that much. But nothing about this job every was exactly right.

"When will he be ready for deployment?" he asked.

"Oh, he's ready. Physically. Mentally, he's as unstable as our last project..."

"But he will find her?"

"Yes, of course...that's what he's programmed for."

He nodded, and stared at the man with a blank look on his face. "Good...good. Just the way I like it."

The doctor, if you could really call him that, nodded. "I knew the Parliment would be happy with this..."

"Yes, of course. Our last man for the job was...a failure. Half our fleet is gone, and our name has been disgraced across the galaxy. But...now we will have our revenge. We will have her back."

****

Another explosion went off. And he ran further into the dark. Around him was only fire and misty clouds of smoke. What a horrible heist gone wrong. He saw his ship in the distance, coming towards him.

And then, he saw it burst into flames. Alliance ships were all over the place.

What in hell had his job been, he wondered? What was hidden in that complex that the Alliance wanted hidden so badly?

His crew was dead -- and somehow, he didn't seem to care at the moment. There was only one goal now; keep running. Keep alive.

Into the black he ran further, and further, until he couldn't see fire anymore. Even then, he continued to run.

He heard a noise behind him, coming up fast. He looked behind. Some kind of floating platform was c