"New Order"
Ch. 7
(Serenity, Infirmary)
Mal had been going to visit Abby every hour. According to Simon, Abby had lost a lot of blood, but continued to remain stable. Mal had a lot of questions he needed answered, but Abby is just too weak to speak.
Connor and Kaylee were in the Engine Room. The boy took one of Abby's tablets she had brought and hid away in the Engine Room and worked hard, with Kaylee's help. Mal had no idea what they were doing, but he concluded that it must be to help get the engines faster. So, Mal left it alone for the time being. Earth-that-was was still over a half a week's journey.
Mal stepped into the Infirmary while Simon had checked her vitals. Abby had opened her eyes, waking up for the first time since she had collapsed from exhaustion. Mal gave her a reassuring smile. Which she returned weakly.
"Connor has been the busy guy," Mal told her, answering her unasked question. "He and Kaylee are doing something to help Serenity's engines go faster."
Abby nodded in understanding.
"We should probably tell him," Simon told Abby suddenly.
"Soon," was all Abby could manage to say, hoarsely.
(Serenity, Bridge)
"Were ready down here," Kaylee said through the comm.
"Firing up the . . . What did Connor call it?" Wash responded.
"Hyperspace Engine," Kaylee supplied.
"Right. Firing up Hyperspace Engine . . . Now!" Wash pressed the recently installed button.
There was a violent jolt forward. Mal, Wash, and Zoe lunged forward a little, unaware of the jolt. The group looked out the window ahead. Purple and blue streaks past them.
"This is some kind of strangeness," Zoe commented, breaking the silence on the bridge. She turned to the two men beside her, "Have any of you seen anything like this?"
"Nope," Mal and Wash answered.
They watched the stars streaked by. Connor climbed onto the Bridge. He handed a tablet to Wash. The tablet had the current star charts.
"Mom says we need to stay in the Hyperspace Field for two hours. We should be at Earth-that-was by then," Connor told Wash.
"Talk about cutting your travel time," Wash commented, taking the computerized tablet from the boy.
Mal put a hand on Connor's small shoulder and said, "Let's go tell your mother."
"Aye, Cap'n',"
(Infirmary)
"I thought that's what I felt," Abby said after the two told them the news.
Abby looked paler than ever.
"In a few hours we'll get you healed," Connor told his mom confidently.
"I know, sweetie," She said with a weak smile.
"How come the Alliance doesn't know about this technology?" Mal asked suddenly.
Simon and Abby exchanged nervous glances. She had been anticipating this question as soon as they entered the Hyperspace Field.
But, before either adult could answer, Connor said, "We'll explain everything when Mom's better."
Abby put a hand on Mal's cheek.
"I promise,"
To be continued . . .
