Far below the plane of the ecliptic, over 30 light minutes from the rapidly retreating Dortmunder a lone mid-bulk freighter slipped silently through the blackness of space, two weeks from the moon of Constance and half a dozen AUs from the nearest ship.
She was obviously old, her hull battered and dented, but she moved through space with a grace that belied her scarred appearance. If the Alliance had cared to watch the empty skies above and below the plane of the ecliptic the Firefly would have stood out like a bonfire atop a dark hill.
But no one traveled out of the plane of the ecliptic, there was nothing there and a ship would have to decelerate to a stop, and then accelerate along a new vector to reach its destination. This was far too wasteful of fuel, especially for a lone tramp freighter. Such ships operated on a razor thin profit margin and couldn't afford to waste anything.
But other than her odd vector she appeared to be just another Firefly, one of nearly forty-thousand similar ships that plied the trade routes, moving cargo between the planets and moons of the system.
But the heart of a ship is her crew. And the crew of this particular Firefly were gathered in the ship's dining room, celebrating their new-found good fortune.
"Pass the strawberries, please." Kaylee asked Inara. Smiling the Companion handed the fruit to the girl.
"How does it feel to be rich Kaylee?" She asked with a bright smile.
"Right pleasin', ma'am. But it tastes even better." The mechanic popped a plump red fruit in her mouth and chewed with eyes closed.
Jayne Cobb snorted. "Strawberries. Ask me a party oughta have booze--like this here. Best damn drink in the 'verse." He held up a bottle of Mudder's Milk.
Inara shuddered. "You do know that's basically liquid bread mixed with alcohol don't you Jayne?"
The mercenary stared at Inara, slightly cross-eyed. "Bread? Tain't bread. It's beer. Good beer too. Put hair on your chest." He paused, considering. "Well, not your chest obviously but my chest." He thumped his chest for emphasis.
Kaylee giggled, bending over quickly to save the pulp she hadn't swallowed yet. Inara shook her head good naturedly, glancing over at Mal, who had a curiously shaped bottle of brandy in front of him. It had been a parting gift from Captain Picard, slipped in among the final supplies Enterprise had left them. He was sharing small glasses of the brandy with Book and Simon.
River was watching Wash as he was telling his wife Zoe a story, all of them were laughing and having a good time. Inara felt relaxed--for the first time in over a year.
Longer than that, she thought to herself. Ever since I found out I wasn't long for this 'verse. She sighed contentedly and wiggled deeper into the couch. She found herself reflecting that Enterprise had brought many miracles--technology bordering on magic, an impossible crew--many of them actual aliens, born under stars she would never see.
And it had brought one very personal miracle for Inara Serra herself, a cure for the incurable disease that had been slowly killing her.
No one on Serenity had known Inara was dying; she made very sure of that. Had anyone found out their pity would have driven her from the ship. And as crazy and dangerous as life aboard Serenity often was, this ship was a warm haven and a home to her.
Unlike the Guild, she thought to herself from the comfort of the worn couch she was ungracefully sprawled on. I was even happy, I suppose. All those years. They weren't bad years. I really liked parts of it. But it wasn't home. Not like Serenity.
None of the crew knew she'd gone to Dr Crusher in a last forlorn hope, not daring to believe--until the Federation doctor had cured her.
With three short treatments.
As far as Serenity's crew was concerned nothing had changed. Inara was as she had always been. But for Inara it felt like being rescued from a collapsed building. The feeling of lightness inside her was like returning to childhood, the 'verse was filled with wonder all over again.
"Penny for your thoughts, 'Nara." Kaylee spoke up, watching the Companion quizzically.
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about all the years I spent on Sihnon." Inara said smiling at her friend.
"Do ya miss it?" Kaylee asked leaning forward.
"Miss it?" Inara cocked her head. "No--no I don't think I do. Sihnon is beautiful, and peaceful. I enjoyed my time there, but I think I'm happier here on Serenity."
"Shiny." Kaylee broke in to one of her trademark smiles. "I always wondered what being a Companion was like. Not, you know, the clients, but the other stuff. You probably get asked about that a lot, huh?"
"Not really." Inara shook her head. "My clients are usually focused on the present. They tend not to dwell on the past. So what do you want to know?"
"Well, you started training young, right?"
"I was twelve when I came to House Madrassa. The Guild training starts off like any boarding school. You learn history and mathematics and language arts. There's music and dance and science and psychology. It's a very demanding curriculum. On top of that you're being steeped in Guild philosophy and even martial arts training. The Guild has very high standards."
"What happens to the girls who can't cut it?"
"Girls and boys." Inara corrected. "The Guild has been allowing men for nearly 30 years you know. The ones who can't make the grade are sent home. By the time I was 16 over half my classmates had either washed out or left voluntarily. Being a Companion isn't easy. The House makes sure children understand that as early as possible."
"Wow." Kaylee said, impressed. "So the early years are just schoolin'?"
Inara nodded. "A very demanding school. After an initiate's sixteenth birthday the training gets even harder. Self-defense classes add fencing, archery, and even firearms training. Music and dance concentrate on mastery, not just skill. You start learning the various ceremonies you'll use when dealing with clients, you start concentrating on politics and what we call the soft skills. How to listen. How to make a client feel better. The finer points of etiquette."
"What about, you know, the client--stuff." Kaylee paused, embarrassed.
"Why Kaylee, you're blushing." Inara teased the younger girl.
"Well--I don't wanna be nosy or nothin', but--" Kaylee said, her face red.
"I know--you're curious." Inara glanced over at Jayne, but he was concentrating on the story Wash was telling, ignoring the girl talk. Inara chuckled, thinking Jayne was going to be kicking himself for missing this particular conversation. Not that she was going to be particularly salacious but...
"You don't start the pleasure training until your eighteenth birthday. You start off by learning your own body, how to please yourself, what works for you and what doesn't. The Guild teaches children from the first day that being body shy is silly, so at least that part is easy."
"What about the--first--client?"
Inara smiled at Kaylee's wide eyes.
"My first client was a Guild member, obviously. As were the next dozen or more. They don't throw you into it cold, Kaylee. And they don't force you. It does get easier, of course."
"Wow." Kaylee looked like she didn't know if she should back off or try to brave it out. A bit like a fish gasping for air...
"Mal told me how the two of you met you know." Inara said gently. "Are you really that easily shocked?"
"Course not!" Kaylee rallied. "Though that day I have to say I was more interested in seein' the inside o' Serenity than seein' Bester inside o' me!"
Inara couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. Kaylee grinned at her.
"Whatcha laughin' at?" Jayne asked, the thirty-proof beer starting to get to him. He blinked at them owlishly.
"Kaylee made a joke, Jayne. And you missed a fascinating conversation." Inara caught his eye, using her training and tone of her voice to clue Jayne in on just how much he'd missed.
"Well, damn." Jayne said philosophically. Taking another swig of the turbo-charged beer he gave Inara a thoughtful look then turned back to listen to Wash. Kaylee started at Inara with wide eyes, shoulders shaking as she tried to keep her laughter quiet. Inara had had years of practice hiding her laughter, but she still rolled her eyes, though they were twinkling.
Over at the table Book addressed Mal.
"So, Captain. Any ideas on how you're going to keep your sudden wealth?" He asked as he sipped the brandy Mal had given him. He didn't drink ordinarily but considering this particular liquor had traveled ten times further than humanity ever had he thought the Lord wouldn't mind him having one small glass.
"Been thinkin' on that very subject, Preacher." Mal nodded. "I'm thinkin' it would be best to split it amongst different trustworthy folks and such. Maybe invest some. Hell, even convert some to Alliance credits, much as that thought chafes."
"How about you, son? You can't exactly put yours in a bank." Book asked Simon. Simon shook his head.
"I haven't really thought about it. River and I can't settle down obviously. If Captain Reynolds is amenable maybe I could use the same places he does."
"Not adverse." Mal admitted, feeling generous. "Course, findin' that many trustworthy folk may be a mite difficult. How 'bout you Preacher? What are you going to do with your share?"
"I thought I might set up a trust fund. See me through my golden years. Maybe do some charity for those as need it." Book answered. "Then once I'm done with it the Abbey can have the rest. Surely could use it to make the lives of the poor a mite easier."
"I've heard worse plans for makin' your way through life." Mal said. The brandy must be makin' me all mellow he thought to himself.
"Inara might know some folks that could help." Book said, deliberately casual. "That much money makes a loud noise when it moves around. Couldn't hurt to have powerful friends to help muffle the sound."
Mal looked at Book sharply, wondering yet again how a simple Sheppard knew so much about the rougher edges of Mal's business.
"I'll keep that in mind." He said mildly. "So what did you do aboard Enterprise? I imagine a large chunk of them bein' aliens might have been cause for some deep thinkin'."
"If you're asking if my faith was shaken Mal, the answer is no." Book smiled. "Sorry to disappoint you. It actually made it stronger, seeing how God made thinking beings in so many different places. Not to mention multiple universes. I was surprised to discover how secular their culture is though. Apparently the Federation is very tolerant of religion, but a lot of folks don't feel the need. And those who do keep it personal. Although I did hear there are some religious communities tucked away here and there."
"Seems to me that fits with their Prime Direction thingie." Mal said thoughtfully. "Never did meet a bunch o' folk more determined to live and let live. I'm gonna miss that the next time I gotta deal with the purple bellies."
"Well, thanks to their generosity I'd say we won't have to deal with the Alliance for a good long time." Simon commented. "Dr Crusher was extremely helpful with River's diagnosis and treatment. No more raids on hospitals." He leaned back and sipped the brandy.
"Pity." Mal said with the sly grin. "I kinda enjoyed putting one over on the Alliance like that. But won't hurt my feelin's none to steer clear of trouble for a while. Serenity's all fixed up, hate to see her get busted up if'n we don't gotta."
"Here, here." Simon agreed, raising his glass. "I'd hate to see any of the crew busted up, either. I really like staring at all the bottles in the infirmary knowing I won't have to use any of them."
"Why Doc," Mal commented grinning. "I do believe that was a joke. Might have to trade in that sourpuss for a new model, you keep that up."
"It's the brandy." Simon said. "Good stuff. What's it called again?"
"Saurian brandy." Mal answered. "Comes from a planet a couple of hundred light years away, Captain Picard said." Mal blinked. "Oh yeah, and that planet's in another universe, come to think of it."
Over in the corner Wash was starting to wind down, Zoe was actually smiling and River was laughing. She stopped and then said very distinctly.
"Coyote said to say hello to you."
Wash and Zoe exchanged mystified looks.
"Gee, that's great. You're talking about Q, right?" Wash asked with a faintly worried look. River nodded.
"Coyote was very insistent." She confided in a low voice. "I think you're part of the favor he did us. He told me to tell you not to be a leaf on the wind. It isn't worth it, he said."
"Am I the only one here freaked out that a god-like alien leaves me a cryptic message?" Wash asked thoughtfully. "I mean it's kind of cool but definitely creepy. And what's this about a favor?"
River shrugged. "Coyote said he did us a favor that we'd never comprehend."
"And that means?" Wash raised his eyebrows encouragingly.
"We won't be able to understand the favor." River said in a slow patient voice, giving him a look that spoke volumes.
"Yeah, but it could be anything." Wash complained. "If he did us this enormous favor, why won't he tell us what it is?"
"Because he thinks we're too stupid to understand it." River said serenely. "Coyote is very full of himself. Can I have the last yuebing please?"
Zoe silently handed the plate with the single moon cake to River, who contentedly picked it up and bit into it.
"I love red bean paste." She said, smiling happily, showing no sign that she'd just delivered an important and mind-numbingly cryptic message. Although Enterprise had helped stabilize the girl so she no longer had uncontrolled outbursts of manic energy her mood was still wildly mercurial, shifting from calm to creepily serious to lucid to happy, sometimes within the same sentence.
Wash eyed the girl uneasily. He knew she was a telepath and he genuinely liked her, but at times like this she reminded him she wasn't like normal people.
"I heard that." She said, moon cake in one hand, pointing at him. "Can't help how they made me, Wash. They opened up a hole in my head and the wind keeps blowing people's voices in. If I try really hard I can keep the wind out for a little while. But it's hard."
She watched him sadly.
"I didn't want them cutting on my brain you know. Thank you both for being my friends. I don't have that many anymore." Impulsively she hugged the tall black woman, making Wash grin. Zoe's stare promised her husband swift retribution over River's shoulder. He couldn't help chuckling. Stretching, he stood up.
"Well, I have to get back to the cockpit." He announced. "Even with her new eyes and ears Serenity can't fly herself for very long. Zoe, wanna keep me company?"
"Can't." His wife said with a shake of her head. "I have first watch. The Captain said he would probably be nursing a hangover so he pulled rank." She didn't seem disturbed by Mal's decision, but then she seldom showed much emotion. One reason Wash was so in love with her was her unwavering equanimity in the face of life's little injustices.
"I'll go." River volunteered. "I like watching the stars. They're quiet and they don't move around. They keep the wind from blowing so hard."
"Sure." Wash stood up. River had kept him company before; he liked the fact she could sit quietly for hours, but still stay alert. He had a sneaking hunch the young girl knew how to fly Serenity--which is silly, of course he thought as he made his way forward. River was walking behind him so he didn't see her smile at his back.
As the party wound down the others made their way to bed one by one. Mal was the last one in the dining room; he raised his glass in one final toast to the Enterprise, her crew, and most especially her captain before taking the brandy back with him to his cabin.