Shepherd Book was afraid. He did not often feel fear, not in the direct, panicky way he was feeling it now. He did not fear death, for he believed in a loving and just God, who would judge him not only on the things he had done, but on the remorse he felt and the amends he had tried to make as well. What Shepherd Book did fear was his life before he was either a shepherd, or called Book.

He feared it rearing its ugly had and bringing misery to the people he cared about. And, admittedly, he feared the seductive charm of the man he used to be.

That was why it seemed wisest to him to stay hidden. He had only ever once before met men of the ilk of those in Serenity’s cockpit, extracting information from both the ship’s computer system and an unfortunate mechanic, but there was no doubt that they were part of the world of which he had once been a part as well.

The world hunting River Tam.

A world of violence, that he so desperately wanted to remain free from, lest it bring out the worst parts of him.

He looked up in surprise when he heard Inara’s voice. It took him a second to realize that it was only a recording. A message.

“Simon, it’s Inara. Now, please don’t worry too much, but…” There was a sigh. “I guess… I guess you should be worried. I know I am. River has had some kind of seizure, Simon. She’s out of any immediate danger, but the doctors… We have three of the best doctors on New Canaan here, Simon, and they’re all working River’s case. But they don’t know what’s happened to her. They don’t know her like you do. Please… get here as fast as you can. And Simon… I’m so sorry. I know I promised that… Please just get here soon.”

And now those hunting River Tam had found her trail.

TEN YEARS AGO

All around him, the Browncoats lay asleep.

Was a good thing, too, because if any of them looked up at him more than half-awake, they would quite easily been able to tell that the uniform he was wearing was not his. It was a risk, but it couldn’t be helped.

Mission control had screwed up—the uniform they given