This one is a might shorter than the others {I can feel writer's block creeping up on me like a reaver mid-hunt.} Any ideas or feedback is welcome as I'm not sure how much farther or where to go from here. I'm thinking it might be time for some thrillin' heroics. Thanks!

***

”Well, boys, looks like it’s time for us to go hunting,” Sterns said proudly, cocking his own gun. “Tonight’s the night.”

A cheer went up from the small assembled band of criminals and Sterns smiled tightly. He was set to profit handsomely from this little arrangement with the gentleman Tam.

Sterns had been looking for these two fugees for quite some time; ever since he had gotten word about some hospital heist on Ariel a few months back. The news had spread on the cortex like wildfire that there was a bead on them and the dollar signs that flashed in Sterns’ eyes had almost blinded him. He’d heard Early, a decent enough bounty hunter, had almost had them and then got spaced, so the door was once again open for Sterns to cash in.

It had been the pure luck of fate that he’d managed to hook up with the siblings’ parents. A chance encounter on a transport cruiser, ferrying between Ariel and Osiris and Sterns had had all the info he needed to dangle a pretty enticing carrot in front of the father’s face: the promise to bring his children home, safe and sound for one-quarter of the asking price.

Of course, the fact that he would bring them home and then spirit them away to be delivered into the blue hands of the Alliance was another matter entirely. And a part of the plan Sterns had neglected to tell Gabe about. Must have just slipped my mind.

***

It was dinner on board Serenity and no one was hungry. Well, no one except Jayne was hungry. The mercenary stood at the kitchen counter – no use sitting to eat by yourself – and shoveled some re-heated protein into his mouth. He could have killed Mal for making him stay behind to protect that {worthless} doctor and his moonbrained sister.

But it ha