Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind.

Thanks to my regular readers for making it worthwhile to continue the story and special thanks to my Proof-Reader Landry

* * *

Serenity/Granite Gorge – Going Nowhere (Fast) – 2520AD

‘River’s having a bad day’ Simon told Mal.

The Captain ducked as a bowl of noodles flew past his head and spread its contents all over the deck. ‘Ya think?’ he said.

River was looking for something else to throw. If she went for the cutlery draw Zoe was going to hit her with the stun-gun. It would hurt but a lot less than the prospect of a six-inch knife in the guts.

‘She’s getting far more resistant to the treatment. There will be more days like this until I can shift her over to the new one’ Simon told Mal. ‘I haven’t perfected it yet’

‘Qingwa cào de liúmáng’ screamed River throwing an empty mug at Simon ‘sticking me with needles. Taking my soul’

‘Calm down xiâo mèi’ Simon told his Sister ‘if you let me give you this shot you’ll feel a lot better’

‘Yaoguài’ River screeched ‘should have thrown you out the ship too’ she said ‘Too, two, Hands of Blue’ she said then giggled.

Simon took at step towards her. She bared her teeth and looked like she might attack him body tensing as it did before a fight.

‘Throw me the stunner’ Mal ordered. Zoe complied and threw it to him.

Mal aimed and shot River. She fell to the deck convulsing with the electrical charge ‘Sorry about that sweetheart’ he said.

‘That was unnecessary’ Simon said and glared at Mal before going in to retrieve his Sister ‘she might have calmed down’

‘She might have kicked your ass’ Mal said and threw the stunner back to Zoe ‘Give her the injection and I’ll help you carry he back to the Infirmary’

‘I can manage on my own’ Simon told him.

‘Your choice’ Mal replied and headed off for the cargo bay.