III

Mal's trust in River's flying skills was not misplaced, as she managed to maintain a very narrow distance between the two ships without any incident of damage. While not the ideal, this would make it easier for the three to transport whatever salvage they could, and keep the Serenity out of the debris ring that had sense floated away from the wreak. Mal, Zoe and Jayne made their way out of the airlock, each shining a light in a different angle of the large gash they were using as an entry point to check for any possible hazards. Safely inside the three made their way down the long corridor as Zoe and Mal scanned for the strange energy source, while Jayne trudged ahead several hundred feet to look for physical salvage. Something caught his attention it seemed to the other two, as he stopped and backed up, staring at the wall to his right.

"Hey, Mal. Think we may have a problem." Jayne called over his com. "This junk heap just got a bunch more creepifyin;."

The two caught up to the mercenary, as he stood staring at a message in black: "THE LADY SHALL BE OUR SALVATION". However the words "lady" and "salvation" were crossed out in red and replaced respectively with "demon" and "doom".

"I will agree, Jayne that does qualify as creepifyin'" Mal said.

"I ain't one to like messin' demons that much, Mal. Let's get what we're gettin' then get to getting'"

"I don't know, Jayne. May take a liking to you" Zoe quipped. Jayne was not amused.

"Look, whatever happened here, it's not happening anymore." Mal said. "I don't think we have much to worry…" He paused as something strange pinged on his scanner. Zoe confirmed that she got the same thing on hers. A second energy source appeared back the direction that they had just come. The source was weak, but still enough to show something.

"Want me to scout that one out, sir?" Zoe asked. Mal shook his head.

"Nah. I'll take this one. You keep Jayne safe from monsters and see what the light is at the end of this tunnel." Jayne grunted as he started to make his way further down the corridor, albeit cautiously.

"Aye, sir." Zoe responded, and moved to catch up. Mal turned back to the words on the wall, as if trying to deduce this surreal scene of an incredibly advanced looking ship looking centuries old, and what this lady had to do with it. After some pause, Mal put it out of his mind and moved towards the mysterious signal.

Its source was on the other side of the entry point was a stately looking door. Captain's quarters, Mal suspected. It took a little muscle and some cutting gel, but Mal managed to budge the door just enough to see in. But all he managed to see was darkness. While he continued to work on the door he got notice from Zoe that they had found the energy source.

"It's an extremely strong reading, sir." Zoe said. "But it's strange."

"Strange in what way?"

"It's a wooden crate. Completely undamaged"

"Wooden crate? Undamaged? How can anything organic survive in this ship?" Mal thought to himself.

"That is strange," Mal said over his com. "but if it's about all we can get outta this thing then so be it. Let's bring it on and we can take a look at it back on the ship."

"Aye, sir. What is your status?"

Mal grunts as he yanks hard on the door, pulling it open enough that he can float though. "About to figure out what this other energy source is." Mal pulls his way through the door and immediately collapses on the ground with a thud.

"Gravity. Wasn't expectin' that." He said. "Zoe, you read?"

Nothing.

"Zoe? Jayne?"

Still nothing. Mal slowly righted himself and looked about the room he had entered. This can't be possible…

Before him was not the pool of darkness that he was staring into before entering the door, but a well-kept captain's stateroom. Large bed, decorative chandelier, and a statesman desk positioned in front of a large window staring out into the black. Even stranger was his scanner was registering a sustainable level of oxygen and nitrogen.

Mal's trance was soon broken by a gunblast taking out a chunk of the wall inches from his head and the frothing screams behind him.

"No more, you harpy! Leave me in peace!"