TITLE: "POISONED GIFTS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: No specific pairing.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "FRIEND OR FOE"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The crew discover Simon's secret not understanding

the repercussions. Meanwhile Councillor Tam is painstakingly

hunting him down."

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.

"POISONED GIFTS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Commandant Austin could feel his mouth go dry. It was not finding the craft adrift that scared him but the look on Councillor Tam's face when they found it was empty. The Commandant had the interceptor searched from top to bottom, inside out, but there was no one on board and not a single clue as to where the occupant had gone. Reluctantly he had to face the icy blast of the Councillor's displeasure. "I want to know what happened here and where the pilot is, *dong ma*?"

"Ma'am, we have no way of tracking..."

She cut him off. Cold imperious anger all but nailing his tongue to the roof of his mouth. "I have no interest in your plans for failure, Commandant."

He could not swallow. Austin felt as if he was seeing his death in her dispiteous eyes. His heartbeat racing so fast he was sure he would never be able to catch it. *Wode ma*, how could he have thought this would be an honour? "We have no way of knowing what happened. Our sensors..."

"Are not as useless as you would claim."

The bite in her words stopped him in his tracks. He blinked. Confused. "Ma'am?"

"This ship is the newest one off the line, do you know what that means?"

Mutely, he shook his head. Too afraid that anything he said would come out wro