Serenity glides through the black at Full Burn, she seems to shimmer with a magical glow as she powers forward. A little way off a large dull gray ship floats in space. From outside she looks beaten and battered, a stranded, broken down vessel in the vast expanse of the black.
On the bridge, Wash is sat in the pilots seat, holding course towards the powered down ship. Along the side of the old ship in faded, slightly burnt paint is her name, The Horizon. Wash looks worried and tense with every second that they draw closer to the ship. He checks the scanner again, unsure.
"It just doesn't make any kind of sense," he looks back up at the ship, "No sense at all."
Mal enters and his eyes are immediately drawn to the ship that fills the full view of the windows of the bridge. He leans on the back of the pilots seat and peers at the scanner.
"Muh…" he mutters looking confused and concerned by the results, "No life signs on board."
"You don't think it could be Reavers do you?" Wash asks looking a little panicked.
The two of them look back up at the ship as they approach, closer and closer.
"I think we should turn around. I don't like the look of this. Haven't forgotten the last time we boarded a ship like this, you know." Mal shudders as he says this and turns to leave, but comes face to face with Rem.
She looks at Mal intently then carefully steps around him to look at the looming ship through the windows.
"You will continue course, Captain." she says not turning.
Mal looks over his shoulder at her and smirks.
"The ships dead, scanners saying no life," Mal suddenly looks hard faced, "And nobody orders me around on my own gorramn boat." he turns back around to look at Rem properly, who looks back at him calmly.
The Wave monitor crackles into life and Wash twists a dial, an old voice fills the bridge clearly.
"Firefly Class ship, Serenity, you are cleared for docking with The Horizon." Mal looks over at Wash who is also wearing the same puzzled expression.
They both look to Rem for guidance and she moves swiftly over to the Wave monitor, leaning across Wash to get to the microphone. She flicks a switch and speaks clearly into it.
"This is Rem, Horizon you are good to power up."
The ship before them powers up in a blaze of coloured lights. The bridge is filled with a bright green flashing light from the docking bay.
"See you on board, Rem." the voice cuts out and the Wave fades to black.
Rem carefully untangles herself from Wash and turns back to Mal, who looks suitably impressed.
"The ship has a sort of cloaking device. Cuts out all life signs and heat signatures on other ships scanners. Universe cooked it up for us a while back. The perfect disguise, as long as you don't move 'bout too much. To any none friendly ship approaching, it looks like Reavers hit it and anyone with their head screwed on right steers clear." Rem explains looking a little smug at Wash and Mal's impressed smiles.
Wash shakes his head, staring up at the ship as Serenity docks smoothly.
"Tyensai…" he mutters under his breath.
Serenity's engines power down and her behind stops to glow. As she cools down two large metal arms with large suckers descend and hold the ship in place, cradling it gently and locking it in place. The lights aboard Serenity slowly flicker out as the two ships are once again plunged into darkness.
The crew stand in the cargo hold, facing the huge doors. Rem is stood before them all her hands on her hips. Mal folds his arms and leans against the stairs waiting for the cargo doors to open.
The doors open very slowly, the ramp descending equally as slow. A gust of heavy air flows through into the cargo hold, making Rem and Mal's coats billow a little in the sudden breeze. An old, bearded man, dressed in a rich looking waistcoat that is a few sizes to small for him, judging by the strain on the big brass buttons, walks up the ramp and into the cargo hold as fast as his little fat legs let him. He beams at the crew and Rem walks forward, smiling, speed in her pace.
"Daddy!" she hugs him tightly which is no mean feet as she has to crouch a little to get her arms around him properly.
They pull away and Rem takes a step backwards, turning to the crew.
"Daddy… father, this is the crew of Serenity. And this," she turns her father towards Mal, "Is Captain Malcolm Reynolds."
Rem waves her hand toward Mal, who moves forward and shakes the mans hand, studying him closely.
"Daniel Lewis at your service." the man says in a booming voice, bowing slightly to Mal.
"Malcolm Reynolds at yours," he doesn't return the bow, but turns to his crew "This is my crew. Kaylee Frye, mechanic. Jayne Cobb, hired gun. Simon Tam doctor and his sister River our…chef. Zoe Washburne and…I think you know Wash."
Mal looks back at Daniel who is studying Wash and Zoe closely, they're holding hands.
"Did you say Zoe 'Washburne'?" he asks looking the couple up and down with his beady green eyes.
Zoe gives him a stiff smile, a smile reserved for people she would like to sink a bullet into.
"Yes Sir, that'd be correct." she looks at him coldly as Daniel judges Wash.
He moves towards him and, surprisingly, slaps a hand on Wash's shoulder, beaming.
"Well I… smack my behind and call me Buddha! You got yourself a wife! See now Rem you should stop-"
"Daddy," Rem cuts across him, "Do you want to show the crew to the board room?" she asks her eyes menacing as she looks at her father.
Daniel looks at her carefully, studying her expression, which is very sour. He nods slowly and leads the crew onto The Horizon without another word.
The crew are lead through a large dirty corridor. They pass several doors leading to different areas of the ship. The rest of the crew don't pay any real attention, except maybe to glance in for a second as they pass, however River slows down and peers into each one, taking everything in. The crew don't notice her slip away down a service corridor.
The crew continue on, none the wiser to River's disappearance. Kaylee pauses suddenly and looks down a small corridor, at the end of which the engine room resides.
"Captain can I…" she gestures toward the engine room.
Mal glances sideways at her.
"Best stay together little Kaylee, recon Mr Lewis and his friends would like to talk to the lot of us." he replies.
Kaylee narrows her eyes. Daniel stops suddenly and Jayne nearly walks into him.
"Well little lady, you wanna take a look at my crates engine be my guest!" he says, cheerfully waving towards the engine room.
Jayne dodges round him and hit's the wall with a dull thud. Wash smirks. Daniel ignores this and leans towards Kaylee to whisper to her.
"Tell you the truth, she's in need of a bit of attention. We haven't exactly got the best mechanics in the 'Verse." he smiles warmly.
Kaylee looks at Mal pleadingly, she flutters her eye and tilts her head in a puppy dog fashion, trying to look as cute as possible. Mal sighs, realising he is fighting a loosing battle.
"Fine," he says quietly, "But you brake anything and you think 'bout who'll have to pay for it." he gives her a warning look.
Kaylee smiles broadly and claps her hands together in happiness.
"You're the Cap'n, Cap'n!" she smiles hugging Mal round the middle quickly and running off.
Daniel watches her go, Mal looks uneasy at her disappearance. Daniel leans towards Mal.
"Bright one you got there Captain Reynolds." he says quietly, he continues to watch Kaylee hurry towards the engine room "And pretty too." he adds under his breath.
Mal gives him a cold sidelong look. Daniel takes a sharp intake of breath and leads them on. As the crew rounds the corner, Kaylee's voice catches up with them.
"Well ain't you in a pickle?"
The group finally enter the board room, a large dimly lit room. There are several mismatched chairs curved round in a semicircle, pointing towards a small plinth. Daniel waves the crew into the room. Rem enters last and she throws her father an embarrassed look. Daniel pats Mal on the shoulder and gives him another little bow.
"If you and yours would like to make yourself comfy, we'll be with you in a moment." he gives Mal another obnoxious bow and hurries off through a second smaller side door.
Rem lingers at the main door in the shadows, she looks sullen and doesn't make eye contact with any of the crew as they look around. The walls are plastered with old Independence propaganda from the war. There are small artefacts behind glass displays set flush into the wall. The largest artefact, bar the large Independence flag on the ceiling, is a map of Serenity Valley placed in prime position behind the plinth. Mal walks slowly and reverently up to it and runs his hand over it while the other seat themselves. The map crackles as Mal runs his hand over it. Zoe glances over to him concerned by his silence.
"Sir, are you okay?" she asks sitting forward in her seat.
Mal turns to her for a second and then turns back to the map.
"Yeah… I'm shiny." he replies in a small, distant voice.
He runs his hand over the map again, like he feel the contours of the Valley under his fingertips. He closes his eyes and turns away, seating himself in an empty seat next to Zoe. She looks at him concerned by his silence, Mal doesn't meet his eyes.
"Sir are you sure you're okay," she asks, but Mal continues to stare at his hands "Mal? Malcolm?"
Mal look up at her at last his eyes a little out of focus, he's looking at a point somewhere above her head.
"I'm fine Zoe, I'm… I'm fine." he assures her in his far away voice.
The small second door opens again and Daniel strides through, followed by a tall willowy woman with long golden blonde hair, tied up into an elaborate knot atop her head. She wears a tight cream coloured dress threaded with gold. A circlet of gold twists around her head giving her a medieval look. Behind her a short balding man in Independence Military regalia. He can barely keep up with the willowy woman as she practically glides across the room, the contrast between the two is almost comical. They stand facing the crew, hiding the map of Serenity Valley from view.
"Captain Reynolds, I'd like you to meet Naomi Zindi and General Peter Logan." Daniel gives the two new comers a small smile.
Naomi moves forward and nods to Mal, who looks at her blankly.
"A pleasure and an honour. I believe that you were a soldier for the Independence, Captain Reynolds?" she asks in a quiet almost mournful voice.
Mal doesn't reply and just continues to stare at her blankly. Naomi and the General glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes, doubtful of how to continue.
"Well, Captain Reynolds, we're here to give you the co-ordinates for the drop point." Daniel says smiling in Mal's direction.
Mal stirs, he looks sullen and irritated by Daniel's cheeriness.
"It takes three of you to tell us the drop point?" he asks snappily.
Daniel licks his lips nervously, a bead of sweat runs down his plump pink cheek. He carefully replies to the comment.
"Well to tell you the truth you're quite the legend, Captain Reynolds. After all you and your First Mate are two of the only survivors of the Battle of Serenity Valley." he licks his lips nervously again.
Mal flinches and looks down at his feet. The General moves forward to speak this time. "Your presence here is-"
"I'm just doing my job," Mal says rising his voice over the General, "I'm here to get the drop co-ordinates and leave. That's all. I don't want to reminisce about the old days." Mal gets to his feet.
"That's all well and good, Captain Reynolds," the General attempts to start again "But I'm-"
"You were a General in the war right?" Mal suddenly asks cutting him of again.
"That's correct." the General replies cautiously.
"A big old General in that war we failed to win. Tell me did you ever see the front line, General?" Mal retorts anger building up inside him.
The General flounders for a second.
"Well, ah… no I didn't… I didn't. I wasn't stationed-"
"Then you have no idea what its like. You sit in here with all the old propaganda and the dusty relics, hanging maps of the old battle grounds on the walls like trophies, and you haven't the slightest clue of what its like to be stood there," Mal gets to his feet and his eyes swivel to the map, "Having to use your dead friends as cover. Pining your last hope on one thing that gets snatched away from you at the last moment… when all it would have taken was one gorramn air strike." he shakes his head as his voice trails off into silence and, without another word, he walks out into a troubled look on his face.
Zoe, who was sat completely still during Mal's tirade, keeps looking down at her hands. A heavy silence fills the room. Wash puts a comforting hand on Zoe's shoulder and she takes a deep calming breath and stands up. Rem slips out of the room silently behind her without a sound.
"We would like the co-ordinates of the drop." Zoe asks coldly.