Life’s Too Short- Part Five

These characters, as always, aren’t mine.

Author’s Note: Okay, here it is- lots of shooting, running around, and everything else that makes life interesting. Please comment, though!

* * * * *

“Excuse me, but are you- Inara? Inara Serra?” Inara turned from admiring Kaylee in the pink dress to see a middle-aged gentleman in a finely tailored suit.

“Micah Hughes? It’s been too long!” She stepped forward to give the man a light, formal embrace and two air kisses to the sides of his face.

“Inara. If possible, you look even more radiant than when last we met.” Micah smiled at her, his round, well-featured face creasing as he looked her over. Rather than the act seeming lecherous, it was more like a proud father who hadn’t seen his daughter for many years. Micah Hughes had been a client of Inara’s four years before, but had been one of the rare clients who wanted just what the job was called: simple companionship. He’d contracted her two months after his wife died, leaving him alone on the small moon with all his wealth. They’d enjoyed each other’s company, and Inara had missed him when she’d gone.

“Thank you,” she said. Kaylee stepped up beside Inara, giving Micah her normal wide smile.

“And who is this fine young lady? A Companion, like yourself?” Kaylee giggled, pleased to be compared to Inara.

“Oh, no, sir, I’m Kaylee Frye. A friend of Inara here.” The older man gave a little dip of his head.

“Well, any friend of Inara’s is a friend of mine. Can I treat you two ladies to lunch?”

“Certainly,” Inara replied after a quick glance at Kaylee, who looked delighted.

* * * * * Mal, Zoe, and Jayne took the second shuttle as a precaution. They were going to land on Whitefall in the shuttle and have River land Serenity nearby but out of sight behind a mesa. She would then join the others in time for the rendez-vous. The shuttle would act as a place to run to if they couldn’t reach Serenity in time, and if all else failed, River had spent the last two h