Since We Found Serenity (A Firefly Fanfiction)

Chapter 3: At Your Service

Six Weeks Prior... (*Immediately following the final scene of "Serenity")

Inara slumped in her seat as she heard the engines wind down. They had made it off the moon, so why wasn't Mal gunning on the course to Sihnon like he said he would? She heard Mal shouting from the bridge, and a few minutes later, his voice echoed over the ship's comm system.

"Change of plans, everyone! It appears we weren't as patched up as we thought, so it seems we'll have to make an emergency stop on Haven for reassessment and repairs."

Inara sighed and closed her eyes, retreating into her mind, since her services would not be required for some time.

The conversation from only minutes ago replayed in her mind.

"Ready to get off this heap... Back to civilization?"

Just the sound of his voice when he said it... If anyone else in the Verse—on any other ship ever to exist—had asked her, she would have responded in the affirmative with no reservations.

So why did she choke here and now?

"I don't know." Since when has she deigned to give anybody on the Serenity a non-answer? They knew how she felt; they respected what she thought.

So what did she think? Inara sat up, positioned herself in front of her mirror, gazed deep into her own reflection, and chanted, "Serenity, Serenity..."

What feelings did it evoke? Safety or danger? Love or distaste? Comfort or annoyance?

"Serenity... Serenity..."

Inara had been so lost in soul-searching that she had not realized she was still chanting. She fell silent and looked at herself.

Herself; not sorrow, not joy, not home, not pain—she felt herself when she thought of Serenity.

So what did that mean for her future?

Outside the windows of her shuttle, Haven's rugged landscape came into view. The rubble and bodies still lay scattered about, in spite of the few survivors trying to clean up the mess that was The Operative's calling card. Inara remained inside, even as she heard the main bay doors open so that Mal, Jayne and Kaylee could inspect the hull. Purely because of boredom, she opened the terrestrial communications channel and accessed the messages designated for her personal account.

Two messages since their departure for Miranda.

"Greetings, Inara; I just received word that you had expressed interest in a scientific endeavor centered on Miranda. I am sending you the contact information for a senator who might be able to share some information on the subject. I have also taken the liberty of providing him with your contact information, in case he would prefer to initiate contact. I hope this was not amiss. Best of luck, and I hope you find what you need."

The second message was screened through a very secure network; undoubtedly the senator.

"Greetings, Inara Serra; I understand you made inquiries on the subject of the Miranda Project, specifically the personnel involved. Since it was not a widely-published study, I would be very interested to know what prompted the inquiry. I can only imagine it is because one of your most recent circle of acquaintances, if those rumors are to be believed, was someone intimately involved with the project. Hence I have applied for your services, beginning with dinner two days from now. That should give enough time for you to arrange passage to the Core. Meet me on Bellerophon. Ask for Abaddon. I look forward to our conversation."