TITLE: "THE DARKEST HOUR"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: R for some torture sequences.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "THICKER THAN BLOOD"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Commandant Harkan is determined to get

what he wants no matter the cost. Meanwhile forces are massing to find the Captain before it is too late."

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.

"THE DARKEST HOUR"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The blank look was accusing. Silent condemnation that challenged him to back down. Withdraw the request, order, demand, whatever the *diyu* he wanted to call it. But the Commandant did not back down.

"They have the tracking device." Seeing no look of comprehension dawning he continued. "I was using it to track them, to follow the Captain. Now they have it. What if they find a way to do the same?"

A spark of interest glittered.

"For this reason we need him alive, *dong ma*? We can kill him any time."

Silence stretched across an unearthly abyss of understanding. At last a single solemn nod.

"You will stabilise his condition? I don't want him dying before we get what we want."

Another assessing look then a nod. He watched them leave and return minutes later with an assortment of medical equipment. He should have resumed his duties but he was curious as to what they would do to the Captain. As far as he could tell death was pretty imminent, yet when he had asserted the need to keep him alive a little longer the change in decision was accepted without addendum. Therefore whatever they had done to the Captain could be reversed or at least halted. Interesting.

They were followed by two mo