(( Disclaimer: I own nothing about Firefly or Serenity. All love goes to Joss Whedon! ))
The hammock rocks gently, in time to her thrumming heartbeat. I sway in it, hands beneath my head, staring up at the cold gray ceiling above my head. It connects all the way around, a cocoon for my girl. In here, everything is safe. This is her domain and she only lets those in who she trusts.
She purrs gently as she spins on her chassis. I watch her spin, the life of the ship, around and around. She'd failed sometimes, but she told me it was never my fault. She'd warned me that she was going to fail, but Cap'n hadn't bothered to take notice half the time. In a way, she'd punished him. I wonder if he would remember how to install a catalyzer until he died, which was his fault for not listening to me. I just voiced the worries she presented to me.
Her heartbeat is strong now, so there's nothing to worry about. Everyone else has gone to sleep. Only I stay awake to her soothing melody. I reach out from my swaying harness and my fingers brush the cold metal of her cocoon. I smile gently and close my eyes. "That's my girl," I whisper, "That's my Serenity."
I don't remember falling asleep.