**A note regarding this FanFiction**
This was thought as the general scripts of the show, with the teaser [cut to credits] act 1 [break] 2 [break] act 3 [break] act4 /epilogue.
When we decided to publish it here, we gave it a lot of thought and decided to publish each of these parts separate of all the episodes (at least 6 episodes, though we also have a sequel/S4 in the works).
I know it's odd but we're nerds =P
PS: I wanted to make an entire chapter as if it were an actual script, with POVs and everything but... let's stick to narration! :)
Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Firefly, I just love the characters and the show. This is our take on what could've happened after Serenity.
Please review, I'd love to hear what you gotta say about this story!
Teaser
Persephone felt cold and damp; there hadn't been a good job for months now. It was time to move.
They packed the little they owned; she adjusted his brown dusty coat. It almost didn't fit no more, he was growing so fast. In three years or so and he'd be as tall as she was.
He grabbed her by the hand even though he felt way too old for it, but she needed it. He knew that made her feel better, especially in cold rainy days like this. She didn't like rain. He didn't like it much either, but he was quite sure there was a story behind it. One day he'd feel old enough to ask, just not today.
They started walking through the dusty streets; in there you could find old folk selling dogs, mementos and every day must-haves. Soon the small vessels that became so familiar came into view. "Hello sir, where is your transport going?"
The sturdy tall man came near her. She could smell the cheap local beer and didn't need to read minds to know this was a bad idea already. "Anywhere you wanna go lady, I'm sure we can work something out…"
She took a step back from him. "I have money, we'll need 2 beds"
He came closer to her once more "Well, the kid can go in a bunk, he looks sturdy enough for work, and you…" he tried to touch her face, measuring her possible price.
A small knife pushing in his belly made him stop. "Thanks for the offer sir, but I think your marvelous vessel is far beyond our expectations. Goodday." She put the knife away carefully and smiled and walked away.
"You're one tough cookie mama". She giggled and kissed him in the forehead. "I didn't like that ship anyway, it had no soul". She snorted "No soul? Ships must have souls now, don't they?"
"Juéduì mom! Look at that one, the bug-looking one! That has a soul Yīdìng!" She looked at a Firefly vessel with disbelief. "That cannot possibly have a flight permit C, c'mon."
"Qǐng mom, I have a good feeling about it, Qǐng?" He was begging in that way he knew would get to her. No, she just couldn't say no to those eyes. "Alrighty then, let's see."
As they came closer to the ramp cold shivers run through her spine. The girl sitting there, unsuccessfully trying to close deals with potential passengers was smiling with her eyes, seemed sweet, innocent and had light brown hair. Only the boy's little hand pushing her made her talk, "Goodday miss, are you up for passengers?"
"We sure are. The girl's got plenty o' room for a fine pair like you." They measured each other for a while. The girl's looks kept on shocking her. She took a deep breath. The girl talked again "We're heading for Ariel for a few days and then to the Rim planets, Blue Sun moons for the most." Perth and Haven, maybe this is a sign. "You like this ship hun?"
He was so excited he couldn't really talk, he was beaming. "About our fees… They're pretty standard really. 2 meals and comfy rooms and you have the cargo, well, maybe not, but you'll be comfortable. We're not expensive at all. Could you pay a decent fee?"
"If it's reasonable, sure." The girl smiled. "Well you won't find a finer ship in this port that I can tell ya. Or a safer one."
"I told her your ship has a soul, I can tell" he blushed and hid behind his mom once he realized he was talking out loud.
"She sure does, Serenity's the finest. She's not just a ship, she's our home." Serenity. Serenity Valley. A cargo ship. A Firefly cargo ship.
"Serenity? Like Serenity valley?" she tried to hide her feelings. Still working on that one.
"Oh, you're a war vet, aren't ya? Were you in the Valley too?" The girl looked keen and knowledgeable, but she wasn't old enough to have lived it, no. She heard about the war somewhere else. Possibly from the Captain. Please let me be wrong, please be wrong.
"I was with the independents yeap, but no, I was in Hera just once. How- how did you guess?" The girl put a smart look on her face, and half a grin. Both the boy and his mom decided in that moment they liked her.
"Well, your coat is kinda of a giveaway, brown and with the medic badge and all."
"Yeah well, having a browncoat is not so frown upon anymore these days. We'll see how long it lasts. Now about your fee, not sure we can afford it"
"But mom! What you mean? You have-""-Bizui Cole" He was shocked, she never shut him up before.
The girl wasn't sure of what had happened, but something wasn't right. She had a good feeling about this woman and her son, he looked familiar in a way, and she looked decent. A bit battered and sad, but decent folk. "I'm sure that we're cheap enough, and if you squeeze a bit I can convince the Capt to charge less, plus if you help with cooking or something I'm sure we'll be OK".
"Who's your Capt?" Tama de. Tama de. Tama de. What are you thinking? What are the odds? Just walk away while you still can!
The girl started answering, "Oh! You may know him,-" but was interrupted by a figure that was coming back from the town, along with some very noisy folk: the rest of the crew no doubt. "Capt. Malcolm Reynol-" as she turned around with what seemed shock and shame, she looked right into his eyes.
With his hand still extended he went silent. A thousand emotions came to his face: surprise, happiness, shock, anger, but mainly confusion. "Evelyn?" She nodded and he held her in his arms, almost choking her. She hugged him back. She could feel his breath in her hair, in her neck. The rest of the crew, Cole, the girl, everyone disappeared in that moment. She wanted to hold on to this moment but she knew it'd end in a second and the last 8 years will come rushing, right in between them.
"You alive?" He grabbed her by her face, standing so close they could feel each other's breath. He wanted to bring her closer to him, to hug her close to make sure she was real, that she was really alive and well and back. His hands still on her, bringing her closer to him and taking her back, checking if she was real or not. He started caressing her face slowly. Could that be a tear in her cheek? "They told me you and Lou died, Shadow was devastated, your ship was-"
"Malcolm." she said pulling away from him. "Malcolm" She cleared her throat, trying to keep the tears inside. She looked at his eyes again, he had tears and wasn't doing much to hide them "This is my boy, Cole. Cole this is Malcolm Reynolds, from home".
Malcolm then realized the entire crew was staring at him. He guessed they were all in shocked about him showing affection to someone. And maybe tears. Tama de. Hell, he was shocked! But she was back from the dead. She was back. She… He shook hands with a very flushed and excited-to-meet-him Cole. A thousand thoughts run through his head when the little kid's blue eyes stared back at his own.
Zoe then cut in with her regular severe tone, bringing Mal to reality "Evelyn, I'm Zoe Washburne, the ship's First mate. We met at war". Evelyn nodded "People call me V now, hallo". The rest of the crew wasn't getting the hint. "And this beauty here is little Hope, Zoe's daughter. And I'm Kaylee." The girl finally had a name. "Hello Kaylee, I'm Eve Moonstone".
Zoe then talked through the intercom and asked River to take them up. Mal grabbed Evelyn's bag assuming she was coming in "Mal, wait".
"You're coming with us. Jayne, take them to the Tam's old bunk". He rushed out of everyone's sight.