TITLE: "LEFT AND RIGHT HANDS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: No specific pairing.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "POISONED GIFTS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "With the arrival of an Alliance ship River does not

share the crew's sense of doom. Jayne worries about Kaylee and

the Captain tries to protect the siblings from Regan."

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.

"LEFT AND RIGHT HANDS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

"*Tzao goa*, what we gonna do?"

For a moment no one had a reply for Jayne. The blinking light damning them all to stunned silence. No one noticed River wheedle her way to the front, her eyes calming as she stared unblinking at the huge ship dominating their vision and their waking nightmare. "Don't answer."

Zoe clicked back into real time and stared at her. "*Shenme*?"

"Don't answer. It'll give us seconds we can use."

"To do what?" Snarled Jayne, his fear and anger turning on the slim girl as if to unload all the blame on her.

"*Ni bu dong*. This doesn't have to be a tragedy."

Inara felt her mouth go dry but didn't try to speak, give words of wisdom or caution. It was already too late for that. If Simon's gifted sister had a plan then she was willing to listen. The same thought seemed to hit them all at the same time.

"If it ain't a tragedy," Came a slightly breathless and laboured voice. "Then what in the nine hells is it?"

All heads turned to see the Captain leaning heavily on Simon at the back of the queue. As bad as things were his appearance seemed to steady them somewhat. Impending doom notwithstanding. River looked at the Captain, her eyes gl