Chapter 1
River Tam sat at the kitchen table of the spaceship Serenity, her chin resting lightly on her clasped hands. She stared intently at an apple, only centimeters from her face.
Jayne Cobb walked into the room, his boots echoing on the metal floors. He saw River's back, but didn't stop to wonder what she was doing. He was getting more than sick of her craziness. Now there was talk she might be a reader. Jayne reckoned that some things were better left in the dark, his mind included.
He rifled around for a moment in the kitchen, in search of something that wasn't protein. Then he spotted the apple on the table. Slowly approaching it, and River, from behind he broke the silence:
"You gonna eat that?"
"I can see the atoms," River replied, an elvish grin playing on her features, "It's all made of atoms." She turned to him. "Can you see them? Can you see the atoms?"
Jayne huffed, "All I can see is an apple, and if you ain't gonna eat it, I am. Now, do you want it?"
"Yes I want it. This is my apple, my atoms."
He paused for a moment.
"Are you gonna to eat it?" he asked.
"No."
"Then why do yo-," he shook his head angrily, "Gorram!" He stormed out of the kitchen, bumping into Simon.
"Are you alright?" Simon asked.
"Gorram crazy girl, belongs in a bughouse, takin' my apples, doesn't even want to eat em, go-se atoms." Jayne continued to mumble as he stomped down the walkway.
Simon watched him leave confused. Shaking his head he turned to River, who was still staring at the apple.
"What are you doing mei-mei?" Simon said, helping himself to a glass of water.
"I'm watching the atoms."
"What do they look like?"
River hesitated for a moment, "Busy," she finally replied.
"Do you want to eat that apple?"
"No, you can have it," she said as she got up and walked out of the kitchen.
Simon watched her leave with a sad expression on his face, sometimes he wondered what River would be like now, if the Alliance hadn't made her what she was. Wistful thinking in the end.
Sighing he picked up the apple and walked out of the kitchen passing Jayne on his way to the passenger dorms. Jayne's face creased as he watched Simon munching on the apple, his apple. Maybe he should have let the Alliance take those two off his hands.
* * *
In the cockpit Wash, Mal and Zoe were observing the planet in front of Serenity.
"I don't like this Captain," Zoe remarked.
"What do you mean?" Mal asked.
"Why would Sully have us meet on this rock in the middle of nowhere. He's not based anywhere near the rim. It's just doesn't seem right."
"Look Zoe, this is Alliance stuff we're moving, and I can understand if Sully doesn't want the Alliance poking its nose into our business. They never come to this part of the verse anyhow, so I suppose that Sully figures here is as good a place as any for a drop."
"I'm afraid I'm with Zoe here Mal," Wash said, "This whole planet worries me."
"There's nothing wrong with the planet Wash. This is the dead side anyway. Ain't no settlers come this far across, so ain't no one going to disturb our peace."
"If you think it's all good Captain, how come we ain't heard from Sully yet?"
"He probably got held up with something. If I had a boat in as bad a shape as his, I expect I'd be late all the time."
"Uh, Captain, you do have a boat in as bad a shape as his," Zoe remarked.
"Well, he doesn't have genius mechanic working on his does he? Now, call me as soon as you hear from Sully."
Mal walked out of the cockpit and down the stairs, leaving Zoe and Wash alone. Wash sighed.
"One day, I hope we'll learn that while taking from the Alliance is fun, it's not worth what comes after."
"Learn? Come on baby, like that's going to happen," Zoe laughed as she kissed Wash on the head and rested her eyes on their next drop point.
"You think it's a trap?" Wash asked.
"I'd put money on it."
* * *
Mal hurried up to the cockpit, and sat in the pilot's chair. Wash and Zoe stood off to the side, outside of the view of the camera. The ugly face of Sully filled the screen in front of Mal.
"Ah Mal, so nice to be finally seein' you," he said.
"Well I have to say Sully, that I'd much rather it if I could be seeing you in the flesh. This drop was supposed to happen hours ago."
"Had some problems at our last stop with port control, but we're on our way now."
"How far out are you exactly, if you don't mind my asking. I don't want to be wastin' my time here."
"And you won't be. Believe me Mal, I'm the best price you is gonna get for that cargo, marked as it is. We'll be at Beylix in less than a day. Why don't you go ahead and park yourself on world, save the fuel."
"Now now, if we did that, how could you know where we were?"
"You could just wave us when you land with your location. That way, when we do get into atmo, we'll be able to mosey on down to you, make the exchange, and be out of each other's lives."
"While that is mighty appealing Sully, I can't help but be thinking that you're setting me up for some kind of trap."
"Trap? Where's your faith Mal? We might have had some troubles in the past, but there ain't going to be any troubles here, I can assure you."
Mal paused, ignoring Zoe shaking her head and signaling for him to refuse the offer.
"Ok then Sully, we'll make our way down and wave you with our coordinates."
He switched off the wave before Sully could say anything else. Sighing, he leaned back in the chair, then swung around to face Zoe and Wash.
"How's your feeling about this now Captain," Zoe asked, her arms crossed in front of her.
"It's going through a bit of a change I have to say. But, nothing we can do about it. We don't have the fuel to waste it floating up here without no purpose. Wash, bring us down."
"Yes sir," Wash said, sliding himself back into his seat as Mal stood up.
"Well," Wash said as Mal left the cockpit, "This should be interesting."
Shaking her head, Zoe followed Mal out of the room.
* * *
"Captain!" Zoe called, as she ran after Mal, "I need to talk to you."
"Zoe, I know you don't think this is a good idea, but the truth is, it's the only one we got." Mal turned to face her, "This cargo is burning a hole in my hull, and I want no more to do with it."
"I can see that Captain, but I don't want us to end up in a situation where this coin ain't the only thing we're fightin' for."
Mal sighed, "We've dealt with Sully before Zoe-"
"And that means you trust him? The only reason he didn't cut you up last time was because we had the advantage."
"Then I guess we better figure out a way to get the advantage again."
"Captain-" Zoe started, but Mal stopped her.
"Tell Wash to pick a place that's nice and open. I want to be able to see him comin'."
Zoe tightened her lip, "Will do Captain," she said, and went back the way she came.
