Lurk and Libby saw not a single Shock Trooper on their slow, stumbling walk back to the Serendipity Sparrow. What few civilians they saw soon hurried out of the path of the two Rebels. They were both asleep on their feet by the time they finally reached the landing pad, and Shaggus half-carried them both aboard. Lurk managed to stay awake long enough to contact Arty Farty in the cross-wing, to tell the stubby 'bot that they were leaving. Then he passed out.
His dreams were troubled.
When he awoke, he was in the Sparrow's sick bay with a bandage around his head. Libby was seated across from him, facing him but fast asleep.
Comforted, he drifted back into sleep.
The second time Lurk awoke, they were on a planet—Lurk could tell immediately; real gravity always felt different from the artificial variety. He was alone. He pushed back the cool sheet which covered him, and discovered that beneath it, he was naked. He looked around. On one of the chairs, a pile of clothes—from Mal's wardrobe, judging by their colour—had been laid out for him.
Lurk picked up the brown trousers and stepped into them. They were a little loose, and a little short, but they would do. He shrugged into the brown shirt.
Barefoot, he left the small infirmary and headed for the cargo bay. The exit ramp was sealed tight, and when Lurk peered through the small porthole, he saw a dismal grey landscape. He also saw, a short distance beyond the Sparrow, the shape of his cross-wing fighter.
"We're on Elimb," said Libby from behind him, and he turned to face her. "How are you feeling?"
"Headache that won't go away," he told her, "but apart from that, pretty good. How are you?"
"Recovering." She shrugged. "Trying to forget." She moved over to a low crate and sat down on it, then patted the space beside her.
"What are we doing on ... where did you say? Elimb?" He sat himself down beside her.
She nodded. "Elimb is the second planet in Tibrogar's system. Far enough from the gas giant that the Imperium probably won't find us if it changes its mind; close enough that we could get here without a hyperdrive. That's what we're doing here: repairs."
"Looks pretty dreary out there," he said.
"More than dreary," she said. "It's toxic. Shaggus went out in it just long enough to pull the exotic energy focuser from your cross-wing to replace the Sparrow's, and despite his breather mask, he was coughing for the next hour."
"And Arty?"
"Yeah," Libby reassured him with a gentle smile, "we brought her in as well."
"How long till we're able to leave?" asked Lurk.
"Couple of hours, perhaps," said Libby. "Although, to be honest, I think I'd rather leave it for another day, to let Shaggus get some sleep too."
"Fair enough," agreed Lurk.
"We do have good news, though," she said.
"Mal?" asked Lurk after a short pause.
"Mal." said Libby. "Shaggus detected a scent he recognised when he was in Mal's cell. He says it must be from whoever took him."
"And?"
"He thinks he's on Ratatouille," said Libby.
"Ratatouille?" said Lurk with a puzzled frown. "Why would ... oh!"
"Yeah," said Libby. "The bounty that Flabby the Butt put on his head. We think somebody has finally collected on it."
"That's my fault," said Lurk miserably. "He was ready to leave weeks ago, to go pay her off, but I convinced him to stay."
"You're not the only one," she said.
"So what's the plan?" said Lurk. "I take it there's a plan."
"Sure there is," said Libby. "We go get him back! Simple. The details will work themselves out."
"I hope so," said Lurk. "They say the devil is in the details."
"Maybe," said Libby. "But we will get him back!"
Lurk nodded. They sat in silence for a while. Finally, Lurk half-turned toward Libby.
"You love him, don't you?" he asked her.
"Mal?" she asked. She bit her lip. After a moment, she closed her eyes.
Lurk waited patiently for her to reply.
Finally she drew a deep, shuddering breath. "I don't know what to do," she admitted. "I don't know what to think. I ... I love Mal, yes. But I love you too. I want him, but I feel a bond to you that I don't want to lose." She opened her eyes at last, and turned them towards Lurk.
"We do share a bond," he told her. He was still staring down at his hands. "And you will never lose me. But when we get Mal back, I won't stand in your way." He paused, licked his lips. "I have something to tell you," he told her, "and it won't be easy for you to hear."
"Perhaps you should speak up, then," said Libby.
Lurk grinned. He looked up at her, but his eyes were unfocussed as he examined the memory.
"I used that joke with Bent, once," he said. His smile faded. He blinked his eyes back into focus.
"So what do you have to tell me?" she asked. Her voice trembled nervously. "Are you married, is that it?"
"No," he said, "it's not like that. Libby..." He stared into her beautiful hazel eyes. "I'm your brother."
She snorted. "Yeah, right. Next you'll be telling me that Barth Vapour is our father!"
"Well, since you mention it," said Lurk, "he is. It's true, Libby. I didn't want to believe it at first, either, but it is true."
"Oh," she said. She blinked. "Eww," she added.
"Indeed," he said.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that," she said hurriedly.
"Don't worry," he told her, "I know how you meant it."
"But ... I don't know what to say."
"Say nothing," he said. "Take your time. Sleep on it."
She nodded wordlessly. Silence fell over the cargo bay of the Serendipity Sparrow.
"Oh my gods," said Libby suddenly.
"What?" asked Lurk.
"I've just realised. This means..."
"What?"
"My full name is 'Labia Orgasma Splitwhisker'!" she sobbed.