-1Chapter 2

"Jessie I am sick and tired of her, we've saved her ass enough. It's about time she learned to stop being such a gorram troublemaker and find some use in the world."

"Now Darren you know she just wants the attention, and if you keep giving it to her she's gonna carry on doing it." Jessica Williams tried to lessen the rage of her husband Darren, father to their wayward daughter Felicity.

"Yeah well she's gonna get herself a whole heap of attention, pretty soon. They're calling for volunteers to fight the Independents and-"

"No, she's not fighting a war, do you have any idea what that could do to her?"

"Yeah. It'll straighten her out, that's what it'll do."

The conversation carried on in varying volumes as Felicity, usually known as Felix, sat on the stairs and listened. Not for the first time this week she'd been dragged home by an Alliance official for causing trouble in the precinct. She didn't always mean to cause trouble, she was just, in her mind, having fun.

"Well, I ain't fighting no war. Looks like me and you are leaving tonight." She whispered to her capuchin monkey, named Jingles. He looked back at her and appeared to make a face, as if to say 'here we go again'.

"Now don't look at me like that Jingle, you know I'm not a soldier, nor do I intend to be one. Ever. I just want to work simple." She sighed, looking into the kitchen where the argument had finally settled, and her father was now cooking tea for the family. She caught an angry glare from him before walking back up the stairs, where she could hear her brother Scott playing in his bedroom. It sounded like he was playing gunfights with his toys again. Felix smiled. He had always wanted to be a part of the Alliance Army, going out into space to get rid of pirates and the like. Felix just wanted to keep herself to herself, and make sure her life was filled with fun more than anything.

She walked past his bedroom, pretending to shoot him on the way past. Scott feigned injury before picking up a toy pistol and chasing her into her own bedroom, which she shared with her little sister Elle. Putting a finger to her lips, Felix smiled as Scott put down the toy and started to play with Elle instead. Felix adored her younger sister more than anyone else. She couldn't resist the button-nosed, curly haired cuteness that was Elle Williams.

"Felicity Annabelle Williams, get your ass down here young lady!" her father shouted loudly up the stairs, his voice carrying well through the stone walls of their modestly sized house.

"I'm coming Papa…" Felix sighed and kissed Elle on the head, ruffling Scott's hair as she went past, earning her a stuck out tongue.

She sloped slowly down the stairs, her hazel eyes looking down at the floor, her deep brown hair falling forward. She took her time making her way to her father's study, wherein stood both her father, and an Alliance official.

"Now Felicity, I'm going to tell you this only once. You're joining the Army. Most likely you'll be fighting in the war."

"No! No, this isn't fair, you can't do this to me!"

"You don't pay me no rent, and this is my house, you will do as you're told and make yourself useful, for once in your life Felicity Williams you will do as you are gorram told!" her father bellowed, bringing tears to her eyes.

"Now, young miss, you must come with me. We have a transport waiting to take you and a few other recruits to the training camp nearby."

"No, I'm not going, you can't make me!" she shouted back, wrenching her arm away from the grip of the official, designated Mark by his name badge, although she couldn't see his eyes, covered by the Government's Official Visor. As she turned to run, he grabbed her by the wrist, and pulled her so that she fell backwards, twisting her arm as he did. She landed roughly, and was picked up by her father, who handed her back to the official.

"Now, you just do as you're told for once." He said as she was halfway dragged, sobbing, through the front door, her eyes locking onto her mother's, begging to be let back in the house.

.::MONTHS LATER::.

"Move out!" Lieutenant Robin Mires shouted over the din of gunfire, looking ahead to the Browncoats nearby, who hadn't seen them arrive shortly before. Felix, now a Corporal, moved forward with the rest, keeping her rifle trained on the head of the nearest Independent leader, taking pint behind their group as she awaited the order to fire. She hated the way things were done. The Independents were being executed, for want of a better word, snuck up on and shot from behind, with little or no chance to fight back. It wasn't a fair, or clean war. As far as she could see, it was dirty, and every day she soiled her hands a little more with the blood of people just fighting to stay out of the regime.

"We don't have the right to do this…" she whispered to herself once again, aiming carefully. With any luck, she could kill him in one shot. At least that way, he wouldn't feel anything. It was the least she could do for him. She knew the others wouldn't pay their targets as much courtesy.

"Open fire!" Mires shouted, and Felix closed her eyes as she squeezed the trigger, opening them to check he was down. She crawled over to where his body lay, and took his hand into hers. She'd got him, he wouldn't have known he was dead. She squeezed his hand and uttered a quick but heartfelt apology to him before looking back to Mires and nodding, confirming her hit.

"You've done well Williams. We'll see about a promotion when we get back."

"I… Thank-you… sir." She hesitated, looking down at the man she had just killed. He seemed young, the more she looked the more she could see he was barely a man. A tear escaped her eye and ran down her cheek, wiped away quickly by a shaking hand. It always got to her, but somehow, nobody had ever noticed. So long as she did the job, nobody cared how she felt.

"That's what it is to live in the grasp of the Alliance… nobody cares just so long as you do your bit and don't grumble about it. "I can't live like this…" she mumbled to herself, falling behind as they moved forward, deliberately moving slower and slower until they were out of sight. She threw off her uniform and buried it, taking her gun with her. She got up and ran, as fast and as far as she could, not knowing or caring where she went, so long as she was away from the Alliance.

Eventually she was stopped, grabbed by the shoulder and hauled into a small makeshift bunker, a hand placed over her mouth.

"Now, don't you be makin' a sound young miss, we're just stoppin' you from getting' your ass killed." The man spoke quietly but firmly, his eyes first looking into hers, then around to make sure they were clear, at least for the moment. She nodded, her eyes wide with fear. If they had seen her in her Alliance uniform, she was in big trouble. The man lifted his hand from her mouth, and slowly released his grip on her.

"Now, we ain't got time for you to explain yourself, and that Alliance rifle you packin', so listen up. We're getting' outta here on a transport, it's not too far from here. You can stay or come with, your choice, but if you come with, you gotta stick to my rules, y'understand?"

"Y-yes"

"Right then. Let's go." He looked around, nodded to the rest of his group, and led them down a nearby trail to a small shuttle. He opened the hatch and watched as his now 4-man crew hurry inside.

"You know how to fly?"

"No sir… I never had to learn."

"Right… looks like I'll be flyin' then. Strap yerself in, this is gonna get a little hairy." He said with a somewhat menacing grin, a knowing look in his eyes. Unsure of him, she went with the rest of the group, strapping herself in just in time for the shaky takeoff and speedy ascent of the shuttle. She watched as they broke through the atmosphere, and wondered where the Magellan was. It should have been nearby, monitoring the Alliance platoons, but Felix couldn't see it anywhere. She felt relieved. She was away from them at last.

No words were spoken between her and the group for the remainder of the journey back to a well-built, medium sized ship. She didn't recognise the class, but she did see the name "Vermilion" painted on the side. Once docked and inside, she was led to the galley, where the crew sat down, joined by another man. Altogether now there were five people. Not many for a ship that size, but Felix didn't see any reason to ask questions. The man who had grabbed hold of Felix back on the battlefield stood opposite her, quite close.

"Right, so now we get to the part where you explain how y'got that fancy gun of yours." He spoke firmly, but not in a menacing way.

"I um… it's my gun…"

"This I can see, I got eyes. Where'd you get it?"

"It was given to me, by the Alliance."

As she finished her sentence, a gun was cocked behind her. She didn't look around, knowing she was putting herself in more danger should she appear weak.

"Alliance you say? To get a weapon like that, you need a rank, doncha?"

"Aye sir."

"Aye sir she says. You're definitely military, that's for sure."

"Corporal Felicity Annabelle Williams, if you really must know. I don't see the relevance, seein' as I'm not in their uniform no more, and hold no intention of going back."

"They'll be lookin' for ya. They'll kep searchin'"

"For a Corporal who deserted? They won't look too long. Got more important things to be doing, like poking their damn noses into everybody's business." She growled. This made the man smile.

"Sounds to me like you got a grudge too. That kinda tickles me. Fancy you can make yerself useful?"

"I know my guns, that any help to you?"

"Yep, that it is. Name's Miles, I'm the Captain of this here boat. This here's James, Jack and Geneva. She's a little unfriendly, but she won't harm ya." He added the last part in hushed tones, as Geneva gave him an icy glare.

"Rooms are down thataway, you'll take the one with Teddy's name on it. Just take it right off. He aint got no use for it no more. Shame too, he was a young lad, still findin' his feet. Now go on, get to it. I want y'all fresh for job-huntin' tomorrow." He waved his hand and dismissed the crew, holding Felix back by the arm, though not hard.

"You cause so much as one iota of trouble on my boat, and you'll be out the airlock faster than you can say boo, y'got that?"

"You threaten me again, and I'll point this here rifle at an unfriendly place, and open fire." She smiled sweetly.

"We got an understandin' then." He smiled and let her go.

The following day, the ship touched down on Persephone, alongside a few other ships. Felix stood just off the loading ramp, looking through the crowds. Miles had gone to meet a contact, not that Felix cared. She was too busy looking out for family. She knew they lived nearby. Knowing the Alliance, they had already been informed.

After a while of standing around doing as little as physically possible, waiting for Miles to get back, Felix spotted a fairly tall man walking towards the ship. She turned to see him properly, and noticed that he had a nice tan, clean brown hair, and the most alluring blue eyes she had ever seen. As he got closer, Felix had to double check, looking around. Nope, he was definitely heading straight for her.

"Nice lookin' boat y'got there." He spoke, his accent quickly becoming music to her ears.

"Not my boat. I'm just watching over it for a spell 'til the Captain gets back."

"Heh, alright." He smiled. That was the moment he won her over. Shame she couldn't do anything about it.

"We're not taking passengers…" she spoke after a moment of awkward silence.

"I'm not looking to travel, I'm looking to work. Got any need for crew on this here boat?"

"Might do. Seems we got the need for a pilot." She folded her arms, taking a quick look around. She could see Miles in the distance, moving rather quickly.

"Got one standing in front of you. So, can I come on board?"

"Not my call."

"Please?"

"I just told you-"

"Pretty please?" he grinned, just as Miles arrived. Felix nodded to him and then to the newcomer.

"This guy reckons he's a pilot."

"What you think of him?"

"I dunno, there's something I don't like…"

"Excellent. Sir, you're hired. Get yourself on quick, we gotta be leavin' sharpish. I done stole Badger's money and he don't seem too happy about it. Get to movin' then!" he shouted, walking rather quickly inside, not waiting for the rest of the crew to get on properly before closing up the airlock and turning to face his new crewmember.

"You got a name lad?"

"Yup. Reign Reid."

"Rain? That's a stupid name. I'm Miles. I'll let the crew introduce themselves. Bridge is thataway, best get to yer job. We're headin' for Boros soon as." He walked off, with an air of authority which Felix was still questioning. Reign walked over to her, and stood to her side.

"So, you got a name?"

"Yep."

"Gonna share it with me?"

"Name's Felicity. I'll let you call me Felix." She added, allowing herself to look his way. She smiled inside, but refused to let it transfer to her face.

-6-