The ride from Serenity to Eden Station was quick. No one spoke they entire way and the streets were completely empty. Once there the five of them were put into a holding cell and left.

“Anyone else think it strange that the entire town was empty?” Kaylee asked after a few minutes silence.

“Probably to scared to come out,” Zoë added.

“Not like it was very full to begin with,” Jayne said in a huff, but he had thought it odd.

Mal had been pacing the cell since the moment they’d been placed inside. No one lacked the sense to bother him except Inara.

“You really should let Zoë look at that gash Mal,” she said for the third or forth time. They’d all lost track. Mal, as usual, glared back at her but said nothing and kept moving.

“Why do you suppose they were wearing those suits?” Kaylee asked.

“Don’t know,” Zoë said staring at the door they’d entered through, “it’s not airborne. We’d all be sick by now if it was.”

“You mean dead,” Jayne corrected.

“Mal,” Inara began again, “really. You’re bleeding.”

Mal finally stopped and turned to her.

“I know that. You don’t think that I don’t know that? It’s my head, I know when my head is bleeding.”

If the remark had stung her at all she didn’t let on. She just glared right back at him until he finally caved and continued pacing.

“Sir,” Zoë said drawing Mal’s attention to the door as it opened.

Dr. Kellerman and a man they weren’t familiar with stepped inside. Kellerman looked nervous, even more so then he had aboard Serenity just hours ago. There was no trace left of the arrogant know-it-all asshole they’d encountered over the feed several days back. Here was a man who was terrified. His companion on the other hand was the polar opposite. Calm and collected with an air of command. Clearly he ran this show.

“Captain Reynolds,” Kellerman began somewhat hesitantly, “we’re nearly ready to release you and your crew.”

The other man hung back with a smug half smile on his face.

“Where’s my pilot?”

The others tried not