She lives! OH GOD DONT KILL ME. Take this chapter as a peace offering.

Mal didn't really know what to make of the mess sitting in Serenity's hold. Nine black armored soldiers and one jolly green giant occupied any empty space there might have been. Half of them were injured in some way.

His crew exited the seats of the mule. Jayne's grip instinctively went to Vera, and he held the gun close like it was a sort of anchor against the strangeness of recent events. It sure wasn't the fighting that was the odd part. The big man didn't trust or like anyone of the men they'd picked up, but he really didn't like anyone.

"Wash, get up there and do your job." Mal pointed to catwalks that lead to the cockpit.

"Aye aye, Captain my Captain."

He offered a mock salute to Mal and took off up the catwalk stairs. Zoe and Jayne stood there, along with Simon, unsure of how to proceed. The vibe of the room was uncomfortable, at least for the crew. How would you even begin to address something like this?

Kaylee remained at the hatch controls, looking at the room, confused look still plastered on her face. "Captain, whats going on?" Her voice wavered slightly, an effect created by the odd situation they were in.

"I need Serenity's mechanic in the engine room Kaylee. We need a hard burn away from this place." .

She didn't say anything, but nodded. The confused look stuck. She offered a half smile at the Master Chief when she passed him.

Mal planted his hands on his hips. The was a migraine headed his way.

"Alright, now what are we supposed to do?"

Cortana spoke. " Tatsuo took the liberty of enacting his information control protocols and setting the Tam to blow after a thirty minute delay. After what I've seen of their tech capabilities, they won't break the firewalls before it blows. We won't have to worry about the Alliance getting their hands on any sensitive information."

Mal's eyes darkened. "Information is the last thing you want those people to have. And who's this 'Tatsuo?"

"Another AI, like me."

"Oh I'm sure he doesn't have your charms."

"You never know, and I do love a challenge." The smirk in her voice was almost visible.

John looked at the captain, and then back to the troopers. The ODST's were between laying on the floor, standing, or leaning on the cargo crates. A couple of them stood up straight when looked at. Manning pulled his helmet off and shot the captain a look.

The Spartan turned back towards Reynolds.

Sarcastically the captain said, "Well you wanted to talk to your people. I got ya a hold full'vum."

Stoically he said, "We still need to make contact with the UNSC command. This situation just got a lot more complicated."

"You're like a bad date that can't be pleased."

The Spartan wasn't amused.

There wasn't much room to answer, as Wash interrupted them over the PA system.

"Mal, we're getting waved by Karyn and Inara."

"Lao Tien Fu, just what I need right now. " His tone was casual and calm as he spun on his heel and started up the metal stairs. Jayne let out a less than polite grunt and disappeared through one of the doors, but not before tossing a dirty look over his shoulder.

John suppressed any urge to assert authority. There were still too many variables in their situation. Cortana whispered in his ear, almost as if she had sensed his thoughts. "He is going to be problematic in the future."

"It doesn't matter," John answered, " We don't have enough information yet."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it. You need to get me back into their system. If I can connect to the cortex again, I may be able to find our next lead."

Simon cleared his throat, tightening the grip on the black medical bag and moving towards Doc Leth, who was already stripping off his armor and outer layer of clothing.

The Irishman practically threw the head cover off; it was making him feel claustrophobic. Now that they were out of a combat zone he could try to get a real idea about how bad his injuries were. He tasted blood in his mouth, from where he had chomped the inside of his cheek pretty bad. Ross knelt next to him and helped him undo the clasped for the armor plates, and pulled them off slowly. It was instant relief from the constricted feeling that had been plaguing him. The stun rounds were effective. When he unzipped the front of the uniform top, blue and black bruises were already forming and blossoming up his chest to the collar bone and above. The doc didn't even want to peak inside the muscle shirt underneath. He already had an idea what it looked like. Ross informed him several optical blood vessels were broken and dark bruises were creeping below his eyes. The pain was going to be bad once the adrenaline and pain killer wore off. A nearby crate made a fine seat and he waved off Simon when the doctor approached him.

"Go look at Bassik, Dupre or Raines. I'll be fine."

"Im good." The sniper muttered. His statement was contradicted when he pulled his helmet off and leaned against the bulkhead. It was clear blood had been free flowing from his nose. It was at the sticky-drying stage and stained all the way down his chin, disappearing into the collar of the uniform top. The man's eyes were dilated and slightly unfocused. He kept his composure trying not to show outward signs of injury. He knew if he tried to move he'd probably fall over. Concussion probably.

Cooper looked his squad mate up and down before remarking "Yeah, and I'll be white when my sunburn peels."

When Simon took another step, Raines rolled his eyes and mumbled something about Bassik's broken bones. He was reminded of someone repeating instructions to a disobedient child.

Leth dug an alcohol wipe out of his pockets, and whizzed it towards the sniper, who caught it, but with a dizzy clumsiness. It did not go unnoticed by his squad mates. "You're an arsehole Kev."

The other declined a response, but ripped the foil packaging, promptly scrubbing the coagulated mess on his face away.

"Leth, look at him when you feel up to it. " Manning ordered. When Raines flicked a look back, he said," And you'll shut your mouth and like it."

Simon felt very much like an intruder amidst the gaggle of soldiers. The uninjured ones casually checked their weapons or curiously examined their surroundings. He had to put himself into hospital mode. It was a comforting mental shift when ever he was in high stress situations. The sergeant rubbed his face with a gloved hand and said " If they give you any shit I'll take care of it."

Manning tapped the top of his helmet with one finger, chewing on the inside of his lip and thinking of what to do next. The Sergeant was going over everything that had just happened, trying to understand why men from one of the greatest fighting forces humanity had to offer had been smacked around so badly. They'd been caught off guard, unprepared and kicked while they were down. It was unacceptable and one of the worst moments in his career.

Master Chief stood not far from him, but was silent. Manning suspected he was having a conversation with Cortana internally. It made Tatsuo float to the top of his mind. Cooper was still holding the AI's crystal data chip, along with the drives from the Alliance ship. The information would have to be analyzed.

Movement stole his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, Manning watched the Spartan turn towards an open door way across the bay. He inclined his head slightly at the NCO and said, "Stay in this area, I'll be back. Keep confrontations from arising with the crew."

Manning bit back the urge to buck at the Chief's order. The Spartan had rank, but these weren't his men. He hadn't fought with them, coming close to death numerous times, picked them back up while each was at a low point and pushed them ever forward. It was not anything that any other survivors of wartime didn't have, but it their's personally and the Spartan was the outsider here. A higher ranking outsider.

Mal expected heavy foot steps to follow him. He didn't hear or feel them. The entire situation was bust. By all accounts he should have just left them on that planet. But would his get away have been so clean? Now that he'd seen the Master Chief in action, with back up, he had a feeling there were still more surprises. If this squad could take down two armored skiffs full of Alliance feds like it was an everyday occurrence, what else were they capable of? And why had it felt like there was another voice in his head, advising him against abandoning the soldiers?

The whole thing stunk. Wash was at the controls and waiting for him, and having small talk with Inara. He whirled out of the chair and started down the hall way, giving Mal some privacy.

"Did you think we'd forget you?"

"I could only hope sometimes."

"Cute. We'll be back to grab you soon. Ran into a little hiccup here."

A perfectly shaped eyebrow rose. "Hiccup?"

"Yeah, ya know, something small. Not a big deal."

"You wouldn't have happened to be in the Lilac system Mal?"

"No?" He tried his best innocent face.

"Then you've been on the cortex recently."

"Not really. Mind enlightening me?"

"It might be a little much for me, but the Alliance has an all bulletin alert for a list of ships, including a Firefly class transport, for terrorist attacks on Lilac. They've got photos all over the Cortex, and your big green friend is in several of them. What the hell did you do?" Her voice was strained, like she was holding back.

He frowned, deeply. "Not any gorram 'terrorist' attacks!" Gorram Alliance. Mal could feel his heart start to pound and the frustration threatening to overflow. It was just one thing after another today.

"It doesn't matter. Don't land Serenity anywhere near the Eaves Down docks."

"Then what do you suggest we do? You want us to leave you? Never made this out to be the spot you'd want to call your home." His tone had a clipped end. He still had a massive cargo of pilfered Alliance goods in his hold that Karyn had never claimed.

"I might be able to pull some strings. Don't do anything stupid, again."

"You don't need to get wrapped up in any of this…"

"I didn't necessarily look innocent after being on Miranda with you and the crew. Someone's got to clean up after you once in a while."

She cut the transmission after that, before he could tell her that he never asked her to get involved. It made Mal want to rub his eyes out. That is how it had been between them. He never asked her to help him, yet there she was doing it and being flippant at him simultaneously. The level of stress in her voice was not easily covered up either. A light was blinking, and he remembered Karyn. He slammed the receive button out of frustration.

"You just look like one big ball of sunshine."

"Must be all the peace and quiet I've been getting." He remarked sarcastically. "What are we gonna do about your cargo? You still owe me half, and I want it off my ship. If I go through a check point I'm humped." Cause they'll ignore the alien squad of soldiers sittin in my hold.

"What crawled up your ass?"

"What hasn't?"

"I'll rent a dump warehouse on planet for you to drop it in. Work for you?"

"Fine. This has taken more effort than it should have already. Check the cortex too."

"Why?" She raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Got told we made the news back on that planet. Something about terrorist attacks on that town. There something you're not telling me?" His tone was edged.

"Mei Yong Ma Duh Tse Gu Yong. That's horse shit."

"Course it is. Alliance propaganda. Problem is now my ships back on their radar. I avoided 'intresting' after Miranda for a reason."

"Like those tag alongs you picked up?"

"Everybody's a critic."

"Keep your head low. Wave you when I have a spot."

The screen blinked off and the bridge was illuminated from the control panels. Things just never seemed to go right. He fell back into the chair with a huff. Stuck in the middle of someone else's problem, again. The silence of the cockpit and view of the black was soothing. Mal was tempted to get lost in thought, but a small movement of shadow slid across the panels. He spun the chair and watched the Chief walk into the area. Silently. In all that armor.

"Well I'm not gonna say that isn't slightly disturbing. What do you want?"

"I want to know if you're going to open the airlock on those men in the hold at any point and time."

"Why would I pull something like that?"

Cortana's words were frank. "You have a cargo of stolen goods, and you were just involved in a confrontation with authority that you don't agree with and have openly rebelled against, making you a target for law enforcement. You have a cargo hold full of soldiers from an enemy of the established government that also represent the kind of authority you despise. The crew and your lively hood are in a red zone as of right now"

Mal's arms were crossed and he looked up at the giant. "You got a point. However , you're missin several things."

"Enlighten us." She said.

"I'm no fan of the Alliance, and you and your little pep squad just put a serious hurting on them without a second thought. It counts for something. There'll be no airlock issues because I don't leave soldiers behind. Ever. Next, you must be in some kind of similar disposition 'gainst them because they sure as hell knew something about you. What ever it was put you in the same boat as me, figuratively, and literally. Rival nations? There's a connection here and you better believe I'm starting to see it. So I think it's time someone connected the rest of the dots for me, see'in as I'm harboring state fugitives on my ship."

"Chief?"

"Do it"

The Spartan crossed his arms while Cortana gave the brief history lesson. The Alliance was nothing more than the descendants of the first great rebellion on Earth, before faster than light technology was even possible. The fighting only ended when they left, millions of them on great ships. Somehow, their colonization of the current system of planets had gone undetected because of scientific phenomenon. There was a wall of nebula that kept the planets hidden. Cortana had discovered the data on it through her trip into the cortex.

Mal's thoughts through the little lecture only went faster and faster. The entire thing was a giant lie. The Alliance had lied to them all. About earth, about what happened. It was surreal. Generations of men and women had grown up on a massive conspiracy. His blood ran cold. He couldn't take some computer programs word for it, and wouldn't. There was no denying however that things seemed to fit just a little too perfectly. How else would the Alliance know who these men were? How would they know enough to call them a 'rival nation'?

"This is one of the tallest tales I think I've ever heard, and believe me, I've been around this piece of the verse one or twice."

"You don't believe us?"

"I didn't say that, but you have a LOT that you need to back up before I can just accept this. Some of it fits, but some of it is pretty gorram out there."

"You want facts first?"

"You better believe it. Not that I wouldn't put something like this past the Alliance. I've had more than enough of an education of what those people are capable of. This, this is just beyond life changing. You've got billions and billions of people out there that know a different truth."

"What if we can get you that proof?"

"Really now?"

"As of that encounter the Chief and myself are bound to enact Protocol 46738-00072KA."

"Which is?"

"Until our departure or retrieval, gather intelligence. That's the gist of it."

"That's what you're allowed to tell others."

"A girl can't give away all her secrets."

"Some things are best left unsaid. We're heading back to Persephone."

"I need to jack into the cortex again."

"That's fine, but keep you're digital fingers away from anything on this ship."

"Care to clarify that captain?"

Mal stood up. The effect was lost because the Spartan was so damn big, and Cortana was nothing more than a computer program, but he was still going to get his point across.

"I know you were all over this ship that last time you jacked in. If you can hack Alliance programs, you can hack this ship. Don't do it again."

"And were did you learn this information Captain?"

"A lil albatross told me. If I'm going to be takin you lot into my home, and this ship is my home, then I expect there to be some respect. You can put a hurting on the Alliance. That tickles my fancy. That feeling goes away, then we will have problems. Think we can make this work?"

There was no malice or attitude detectable in his voice. The man was being plain and truthful. Jon, Master Chief held out his hand. "We have some middle ground."

Mal took it. Couldn't ignore that it felt like a kid shaking hands with an adult.

"Now'a question that's boggin down everyone's mind, artificial and scientifically suped up alike."

Cortana raised an eyebrow. "What next?"

I am in full riot gear to protect my self from all of you. Here is my list of explanations, please read them slowly so that I may have time to properly hide.

1. Lost ALL my files when my laptop crashed. A family member decided to visit a less than savory site using my toshiba, and.. well... it died on me.

2. Work. Bartending sucks the life and energy out of you. I worked all night and slept all day.

3. School. I needs my ed-Umacation.

4. Time with the husband. He's deploying soon, and cuddle time is of the utmost importance.

5. Writers block snuck up like a ninja in the night and debo'd my brain before beating the living crap out of my imagination.

Please forgive me, this story is NOT dead. I intend to finish it up before Halo 4 is released and totally blows my plot line out of the water. This chapter is bland, but it was the hump that was haunting me. Starting on a fresh chapter has reawakened the electrons in my cranium and I've been cranking out a few paragraphs a day for the last week. I want the next one to be longer and have some action and character development in it. I'm not sure what else to write, but I hope this will salve some worries that I had died... or somehting. Ciao!