Our Heroes - and Our Villains - try to figure a way out of the mess they're in.

( Malcolm Reynolds was loyal to his crew. )

River finds out what's really going on; Simon and Zoe fall into the wrong hands.

A/N: I may be slow getting 18 and 19 up, since both of those need extensive revision. Because of the rearranging I've been doing, 17 is a bit on the short side.

( River's dreams were troubled aboard this ship. )

Our Heroes go from the frying pan to the fire, in the space of a single chapter.

( She had to get back to Simon. )

(missed posting yesterday, so, two chapters today)

An old enemy -- or is he an ally? -- makes a reappearance

( River wished for a crystal ball, so she could know whether this mess would come out okay, too. )

Inara gets some good news; River gets some bad news

( Persephone was no low-tech border world, but neither was it Sihnon, or Osiris. )

Mal has to tell the client the job's gone bad; River finds a hiding place; Wash has an idea that upsets Jayne and Kaylee

( Something glinted; Mal realized that it was a tear, falling from Kaylee's face to splash against the deckplates. )

River sees a ghost.

( One of the blue-handed men turned toward the broadwave screen. His eyes locked with Simon's, and he smiled a wintry smile. )

Mal tries to square away the cargo; Inara tries to warn Mal; Zoe and Simon go to ground.

( Wash turned far enough to glare at Jayne through his faceplate, and Jayne gave him a carnivorous smile. )

Blue Sun are hunting River; Wash cannot find This Cat; River touches down.

( The ship continued to shudder and creak as the air roared past her hull. )

River, Simon and Zoe remain at large; Mal makes a troubling discovery.

( Hypoxia, he seemed to remember, was something the body could adjust to -- to a point, anyway. )