A/N: Nope. Just checked. Still don't own them.

Ooh! Double-sized chapter!

I take the movie version of Simon breaking River out to be the "proper" continuity, only because I think Simon dressed in Alliance officer garb and "making people nervous" is a hoot. Dr. Mathias won't be attending the meeting, of course, since the Operative filleted him while trying to pick up River's trail. Dr. James is based on the guy who said "Ooh, scary monsters" in the movie (the guy didn't have a name, but the actor's name is Peter James Smith). Yes, this somewhat hoses out the continuity with the AU vs. the canon 'verse, but meh. I do it all the time, anyway.

I also decided to make the Tams irrevocably evil. There's always the excuse that "we didn't know" or "we thought Simon was overreacting." Bull. Shit. Any good parent would take the concept of their child in danger VERY seriously. Or mine would, at least. So my explanation is a cross between a power-hungry mother and the War On Terror. I'm so political!

Please excuse my gratuitous use of physics. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I probably got it wrong, anyway. It's been awhile.

*******

"Jayne? Just how much ammo you bringin'? Thought I made it clear we ain't out to shoot folk. Kinda hard to make a clean getaway when you attract the whole gorram lot of 'em to you." Mal, hands back on his hips, was regarding the five crates of ammunition strapped to the mule with a critical eye. "Besides which, if you bring all that firepower, we ain't got room to bring the cargo back."

"Aw, hell, Mal. Just wanna be prepared in case we have to make a sudden run for it." Jayne sneered. "You know. Just like every other time we go out."

"Less ammo. More cargo. Even you oughta be able to figure that one out." Mal pointed to the crates. "Unload 'em. 'Sides, we need to be quick about this. Zoe and the doc are like to be back any time now, an' given how well our covert stuff tends to go, they'll have the whole army right behind 'em. Best be