I don't own the rights to much of anything, much less a story. This is the property of those whose its the property of, which isn't me. I suppose Joss Whedon is one of them, and fox is some, and I'm sure there's a bunch of others. I'm just kind of messing around here.
The plan at this moment is to have each chapter be a sort of scene. I can't seem to write this in any way that isn't reminiscent of a TV show, it just didn't feel right; so each chapter will be like a scene and when the stories finished It'll hopefully end up reminiscent of how a TV show would end up.
And yes, I realize this kind of thing is dorky but hey, judge lightly, we're all being kind of dorky here.
In the infinity of space a suited man stands firm upon the hull of a ship darkened with the dents and rust of age sailing between the stars as a reminder of man's own imperfection. The reflection of a spacious purple cloud projects onto the visor of his helmet. On the side of the ship are the golden words of SERENITY.
The mess hall is clean by contrast and the noise of the crew eating is severe.
"Say hi to all the nice pretty stars Mal?" The gun for hire, Jayne, asks.
"Actually I was greetin' that fair maid's whose yard we stumbled into."
"What do you think of it cap?" -The Engineer asks. Pretty thing, young, peppy, with striking hair of pure red.
"She aint gonna cause no fuss. Just a pretty lass."
"Won't even scream when we penetrate'er, eh?" Jayne again. He laughs the type of laugh that Mal reckons rapists would laugh.
"You're a pig, Jayne!"
"Huh, comin' from you Inara that means...nothin'."
"Well, if anyone needs me I'll be in my ship." Inara leaves.
"I'll be in my ship." Jayne apes a girl's voice for the mock, "Isn't that your ship Mal?"
"It doesn't matter. It aint no time to be stirrin' up trouble anyway."
"Stirrin', who's stirrin?"
"Jayne, go tell Wash to continue course."
"Shouldn't you've done that already?"
"Are you questioning my leadership?"
"Kinda."
"Just go!"
"Right, right, got it cap."
Jayne leaves and the engineer, Kaylee, follows soon after headed towards the engine room, "I wanna be with her when we hit that cloud. You know, just in case."
Mal smiles, "That's my girl."
The man is now standing in silence and imagines the cold depths of space washing over him. The emptiness comes into him and out the other side taking with it all that uncertainty and unidentified burdens that plague his heart.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were praying."
"Good thing you know better then. Say, you were being awfully quiet. Didn't Jayne offend your delicate sensibilities Shepard? I'm surprise you didn't speak up, a kind word from you just might've saved his dirty rotten soul."
"Oh there's no use in talking to that boy. He's got his nature, just as I have mine and you have yours."
"And just what exactly is your nature Shepard?"
"I'd like to believe it's godly."
"I was under the impression that was a recent affliction."
"Were all of us made according to God's nature."
"Even me? Tell me Shepard, what's my nature?"
The heavy silence harbored a peculiar pregnancy that led Mal to expect, against the wisdom of experience, that he was going to receive an answer to his question. And then a loud blare interrupted their moment accompanied by a violent surge of the ship that accosted him of both his moment and curiosity.
"Captain we got some trouble!" The pilot spoke.
"Yeah, Wash, I noticed!"
Then the voice of Jayne came through the speaker, distant, unaware that someone outside the room could be privy to that oh so soothing sound of his voice, "I thought he said the cloud was harmless with all that talk about rapin' her and such? Why do we listen to the captain? Who lets him make those kinds of scientific like judgements?"
"It's not the cloud Jayne its somethin' else."
"Come on Wash, I'm darkening here."
"Just give me a moment to test a theory."
Another voice came through the speaker, "It's test a hypothesis, dear."
"Why thank you darling, I'm going to test a hypothesis Mal."
The ship shook violently again, nearly toppling Malcom over.
"I don't care if your testing a gorram Cantonian tangerine mud fly just tell me what the hell is going on with my ship!"
"It's a neutralizer Captain."
"Bu Hao! Christ!" Malcolm didn't turn around to see the concerned look on the Shepherd's face at his outburst. "Ok, they're probably waiting for us on the other side of this cloud. Ok, Wash, are you sure we can't turn at all?"
"Left or right Cap."
"Ok, what about the other dimension?"
"I've tested out the plains of X, Y, and Z and it's a no go."
"Gorramit!" Although the frustration was hiding his mind from him he found a moment to turn to Book, "I hope you don't take to wrongly to my curses."
"I'd expect nothing less from you, Malcolm Reynolds."
"Of course you wouldn't, all right Wash, I'm coming up. If you can slow this boat down and if at all possible bring us to a stop. If someone wants us so badly to follow this specific course it might be best if, y'know, we don't."
"Awaiting you with baited breath Cap."
Malcolm rushed out of the ships mess hall and up to the cockpit fighting with a sudden fit of desperation on the way.