Can't Take the Sky From Us:
A Firefly Fanfiction Episode Collection
Devil's Work Knows No Rest:
Teaser
Serenity gently moves through the black of space.
Around and through Serenity's hull though... It's darker somehow in Book's bunk.
The lights are on. But, the dimness around the lights seems darker than the other bunks.
Book is bent before his bed, praying with his hands cupped together over the ruffled bedsheet.
Some Alliance officer gray boots are under the bed. They're burnt and worn out under the looming shadow.
Book faintly sniffles. But, his eyes are closed.
Book says, "almighty and eternal lord, please hear my prayer. I believe. But..."
In his mind...
He sees himself struggling to crawl out of flames.
Screaming. Punches echo. The gray escape pod burns around him.
He crawls out.
The desert soil burns in the heat.
It burns through his Alliance military uniform and matching boots.
His eye burns more. Yet, there's no smoke or flames there.
He walks on, almost like it's nothing.
But, he's shaken up: Pausing every two minutes.
Faint sniffling. Muttering of purple-bellies.
He's tempted to just fall down and lie there forever in the soil. But, he keeps walking.
The flames keep following his footsteps in the desert soil. The screaming and punches echo on.
Out of the mental images...
He faintly sniffles.
In his prayers... Book laments, "the captain, Jayne, Inara... Faint sniffle. Our brushes with lawmen are worsening. We keep moving. Very faint laugh. I've taken to that philosophy myself. But...will we have enough strength to protect ourselves and keep moving? Can I stay on this ship for long...knowing operatives could try to arrest me? The lawmen know I'm with them. Faint sniffle. Malcolm Reynolds and the crew...they're legends. In a manner of speech... Faint sniffle. ...I too am a legend. But, what ever happens... Faint sniffle. They're good people. Watch over them, God. Keep them safe long after I'm dead."
Meanwhile...
Most everyone is sleeping.
But, in River and Simon's bunk... River gets up with a startle and a faint shiver.
She sighs somberly to herself, crouched on the bed. She gets teary eyed.
She can see the mental images from Book's mind, burning through.
She can see mental images of herself strapped to a goldish operating chair...and Book strapped to another.
Injections. Screaming. Desert soil under their feet.
River lies face down over the bed, shivering and sobbing like crazy.
After several long minutes... She sighs with great relief as the mental images mostly fade.
She gets up to get some water from the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Then, after she drinks some water... River very faintly smirks.
For, she's noticed Simon standing in front of her.
In concern... Simon asks, "you couldn't sleep?"
River very faintly laughs. But, she's still teary eyed.
She's still holding the glass.
Simon looks at her, somewhat nervous.
With mixed feelings... River insists, "it's not sleep. Sniffle! It's us. Him. See much care in the sand particles."
As she says it... She holds up the water glass sideways, peering through it like a magnifying glass.
The water starts dripping on the floor.
Simon gets a white cloth to cap the water glass.
He whispers, "shh, shh. We're going to be okay, River. We'll still wake up. Right now, we should sleep."
River kind of reluctantly nods.
She hands Simon the cup.
Simon dries off the water drops on the floor before putting the white cloth by the sink.
Then, they both go back to their bunk.
River holds his hand the whole way.
But, just as River is finally falling asleep under the cover... River points to the ceiling.
And, she whispers warningly, "Preacher! Can't stop moving. Please be...okay."
Simon looks very nervous in his bed.
Not wanting to think on it much now... He thinks to his sister sleeping okay now.
With that mental image lingering in Simon's mind... He soon falls asleep.
Act I
In the late morning...
River is thinking back to a few days ago.
Inara finally told Kaylee about her epidplasa.
She cried when she found out.
But, Inara and Kaylee comforted each other well enough to get through the day.
River found out easily just by reading Simon that same day.
And, well... Soon the whole crew knew of Inara's medical condition.
They were fairly shaken. Even Jayne was for a day for that alone.
Winter wind. Snow falls and melts into spring puddles in the galley.
With River's thoughts on Book though... This feels different.
Screaming. Flaming desert sand making a trail by her feet.
Mostly on just feelings... She finds herself knocking on the cockpit door.
She is in a yellow top: With dark blue diamond petals woven in at the elbows and one across the front.
She weaved it herself.
The flames and desert sand disappear. No scorch marks.
The screaming mostly fades. But, River can still hear it.
Mal is standing in the cockpit by himself.
He's in a light tan blue undershirt under the straps of his trouser overalls.
He's looking out to the black, with his arms crossed and deep in thought.
With a bit of a startle... He stirs away from the sight.
He opens the door to find River there.
He very faintly smiles.
Mal wonders, "hey darling. What's got you lookin' worked up?"
Still teary eyed... And, somewhat nervously... River concludes, "Mal... It's preacher. He can't stop moving."
Kind of cuttingly... Mal remarks, "what of him? Faint laugh. Don't none figure he'd be having shouting words with God. So...I got to tell you: I'm kind of lost here."
River faintly smiles.
Thinking to Mal's figuring... River tells him, "that's another story. But, you won't always..."
Mal has his hand over his eyes, rubbing them some.
Sounding annoyed... Mal says, "River."
River says kind of quietly, "sorry."
Mal concludes, "just...just tell me plainly. Plain as you can anyhow."
River faintly laughs.
Kind of cryptic... She says, "hard. But, I try to dance straight and not out of step."
More casually... Mal just says, "all I'm asking."
He very faintly smiles.
River reflects, "he can't stop moving. It's not sleep. Us...him... See much care in the sand particles. Not really a shepherd. There's no flock. Faint sniffle. Landed him inside a safety model can. Class code 06-ACP72-Cortez."
Mal looks kind of amused and yet not.
After a bit... Mal starts to say, "River..."
Looking quite confused... River murmurs, "I...don't understand. Your feelings jumble. Hard to read."
Mal comments offhandedly, "yeah well, that's always had. But, I'm surprised you would think it."
Kind of bitterly... Mal explains, "he was with Alliance. Still don't know his tale much. The Ident card kind of gave that away. But, I never figured to ask him. I've come to trust him: Much as any on my crew."
River very faintly smiles.
River mostly assures, "I like him. Not saying I don't. Just... Moderate sigh. I worry for him. Can't stop moving longer, he get hurt. But, he can listen to you."
Mal's expression changes over to concern.
With the bitterness in his voice gone... He asks, "what? You think he goin' get shot?"
River concludes, "so many possibilities. Can't tell his past from future."
Mal looks kind of stunned.
In his assuming... Mal asks, "wait. You reading the future now?"
River admits, "subconscious state of the brain could be read. I read some of the brainwaves. But, watercolors. Not clear. Sorry. Can't be more straight of it."
She involuntarily shakes some.
Mal puts a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
Mal insists, "no, it's okay. As okay as can. No one on Serenity blames you for what went on in the Academy."
With a wide smile... River adds, "thank you."
She starts fiddling with his overalls, much to Mal's confusion.
Just as quickly... River pulls her hand away.
River says, "bad we're not close in age. Wish it weren't Inara you..."
Kind of glaringly... Mal mutters, "gorram reader peering. Where did you pick that up?"
River looks embarrassed, finding it hard to look up.
She blushes.
She quickly says, "nothing. Don't mean to take you there."
Before he can say anything... River leaves the cockpit through the door, kind of in a hurry.
Mal shakes his head.
He's faintly laughing nervously over the whole thing.
But, as River reads his mind from the other side of the door... She very faintly smiles to herself in relief.
Meanwhile, in the galley...
Kaylee and Wash are sitting at the corner of the table, playing Tall Card.
Kaylee is in a long sleeved reddish pink sweater like low cut top over a white undershirt. She also has her tan army styled low cut jeans on.
Wash is in his usual tan orange vest over a long sleeved very tan black shirt. He also has his dark tan pants on.
Two piles of Platinum coins and some small open brown cloth bags are by them. Wash has twenty more coins so far.
Wash is looking contemplatively at his round and not so round cards.
The round Tall cards have medallion styled mostly solid colored face down sides of rustic light orangish brown. The rectangular cards have burnt pages styled mostly solid colored face down sides of rustic darker orangish brown.
On the table... There's a very dark purple spade Tall card face up, with some hard to make out white inked Chinese writing.
Book is behind the kitchen counter, pouring himself some water in a glass.
He puts back the water pitcher in the refrigerator.
Kaylee notices him from the corner of her eye.
She puts down her hand of cards face down.
She turns around, cheerfully looking over to Book.
Kaylee says, "hello Shepherd."
Book very faintly smiles.
He acknowledges casually, "Kaylee."
He drinks some of the water from his glass.
Just after he does... Book goes, "ahh."
Kaylee wonders, "how come water always look better when you're drinking it?"
Wash very faintly laughs to himself.
Sounding distant and solemn... Book concludes, "I appreciate it is all."
With surfacing concern... Kaylee wonders, "you all right, preacher? You ain't sounding so good."
With a almost completely cold tone... Book insists, "thank you. But, I'm fine."
Wash puts down his hand of cards face down.
He casts a fairly concerned look Book's way.
But, before Wash can say something... Book holds up the glass of water.
Book very faintly smiles. Yet, he's a little teary eyed.
A bit more casual... Book reflects, "this is life's foundation and its fuel. The most important divine substance in the Verse. It flows from the mountains. In a time of war and in a time of peace, seeing it is a divine blessing of God."
Kaylee faintly smiles. She faintly chuckles.
Sounding better... She says, "well, you sure got a pretty way with words."
Book adds, "thank you, Kaylee."
Wash wonders, "you sure you definitely are fine?"
Book insists, "yes, Wash."
He then leaves the galley, taking his half empty glass of water with him.
Looking incredulous... She kind of sternly says, "Wash."
Kind of cluelessly... Wash says lowly, "what?!"
Kaylee just faintly rolls her eyes annoyedly as she picks up her hand of cards.
As the morning gives way to late afternoon...
Out of the black... Serenity is coming about in a sharp descent, towards a moon around the planet Three Hills.
It was named for the three wealthiest families that founded this border planet.
They lived on mansions on hills. Or at least, the immediate families at the time did.
Rain comes down often down the valleys.
Flooding has turned most of the land around the rocky hills into mud for mud farming.
The lower class folk got so tired of the three wealthy families looking down on them and leaving them to be flooded out that they made their own cities: Out of purplish gray to pale blackened ceramic medieval keep styled homes, animal hide hammocks, and high risen mounds of dried gray mud higher than the sea level goes.
Three Hills has been in a cold war since.
Not even the Alliance or the Browncoats came here in the Unification War to fight.
Leaders on both sides thought it best to leave the planet alone. So, outlaws coming and going have mostly gone unchecked: Ironically including the Browncoats.
As for Three Hills's moons?
Three moons circle around in space.
The first moon is New Lafayette.
French, American, and Chinese folk live there.
Wrought iron lattice towers and Chinese pagoda towers touch the constant cloudy skies. Mountains and desert go on for miles.
The second moon is Conrad.
Folks on Conrad boast they have the highest population and tourism of the Border Planets. Most retired Alliance folk, and folk with Hawaiian and Russian ancestors would agree.
It has mildly cloudy skies at worse and sunny days most days. Small grassy islands, ceramic huts and strongholds, and mined out volcanic hotspots are scattered across the mostly ocean covered moon.
And... The third moon is Bob.
It rains constantly with storm clouds. But, winds are usually mild.
Constant thunder and lightning has discouraged most animals from coming. No farms or easily spooked horses.
Electrical system manufacturing and telecommunications are major trades on Bob: For all manner of ships.
Medieval towers and Chinese pagoda towers of rustic red to very dark brown tower over lightning rod studded streets.
Waterproofed wires run down the lightning rods, all the way from marketplaces to electrical systems through the towers.
There's rarely ever been a power outage, and there's been no need for a on and off switch.
But, changing out bulbs and generators can burn up folk's hands if they aren't careful: Even with oven mitts.
Serenity comes to land on the docks.
Serenity's bright white lights flash brighter, over the thunder and lightning flashes.
Not long after...
Serenity's cargo ramp is opened up.
Zoe and Jayne are carrying out blackish gray crates one by one to the back of some blackish gray mule bikes.
Zoe's overcoat and Jayne's army jacket are buttoned up.
The rain pounds on. But, they barely seem to notice.
Some folk in the driver seats of the mule bikes look impatient, ready to drive off. They have slightly metallic looking gray driver jumpsuits, with a Alliance flag badge under each of the front pockets of the upper halves.
Further in the cargo hold... Mal is haggling over coin with some folk in burnt overalls and red and blue striped buttoned shirts.
One of them says, "fifteen a part."
Mal very faintly chuckles. He faintly smiles awkwardly.
He comments, "I don't know. I ain't going to like standing out counting these parts more than we ought to. We stay out long enough, lightning hits. How 'bout twenty?"
Thunder and lightning flashes are heard.
After a bit... The second guy concludes, "ten a bulb, twenty a navigation panel."
Mal concludes, "just as simple like. Done."
He and the first guy shake on it.
Looking kind of annoyed... The second guy quickly counts out five bags of platinum from his pockets.
He hands them over two by two for Mal to pocket.
His pockets are bulging, looking ready to burst open.
Mal just holds onto the last one, faintly smiling awkwardly over it.
Around then, in the cockpit...
Book is sitting by himself.
He's looking at a Cortex screen by the control panels.
Aged looking pictures of Three Hills cycle through on the archival feed.
As the feed cycles past a yellowish animal hide hammock over a random alley... Book gets faintly teary eyed.
Suddenly... Mal asks, "looking to get dropped off, Shepherd?"
He's kind of hunched over as he reaches the pilot seat. His feet seem a little sore from standing for a long time.
He moderately sighs, slouching in the seat.
Book slightly turns, noticing Mal.
With a faint smile... Book concludes, "no. Just...looking. The history of Three Hills is particularly of interest."
Kind of casually... Mal wonders, "is it now?"
Book lightly remarks, "their civil war is well documented. But, much outside of their civil war is a mystery."
Somewhat nervously... Mal comments, "yeah. You like your mysteries, Shepherd."
A little off put... Book wonders, "have I said something wrong?"
He turns completely to face Mal.
Mal faintly chuckles. He gets teary eyed.
He insists, "no. You ain't. But... Heavy sigh. River has been worried somethin' awful about you. That makes me worried."
Book goes, "ah."
There's a nervous uneasy silence.
After a bit... Book supposes, "Captain... Have you been to Three Hills?"
Mal recalls, "not for resting none. Only with stolen goods. Why you asking?"
Cold sounding all a sudden... Book answers, "I grew up in one of the cities."
Mal comments, "don't seem to be a good one to be resting in, I reckon."
Solemnly... Book figures, "it wasn't. Times wore hard."
Many years ago, when Book was nine...
His name was Henry Evans. He was wearing a orange T-shirt and gray pants.
The living area had some gray sleeping bags. A ragged green curtain hung over his sleeping bag.
The living area smelt of beer cans and bottles of alcohol with mud stains. Plenty laid scattered on the floor.
The back wall had stringy cobwebs and large cracks over the decayed over wind fans.
Flies and spiders crawled and flew over the decay and beer stains.
A discount Alliance dedicated source box was in the corner.
It had slots for computer disks and archival recorded Alli-ray discs. It had old fashioned antenna in the four corners. But, a old fashioned TV styled gray bordered screen was part of the heavy box.
Sometimes all it got was static through the rainstorms. No holographic screen. No altar shape.
Henry's dad was sleeping on the faintly decayed yellow couch. He was wearing a sleeveless white shirt and blue pants.
He was mostly bald with black sideburns. He had a thick beard and mustache.
His hand wandered subconsciously over one of the bottles.
Henry faintly sighed with relief.
He pulled over the curtain.
Henry picked up some corded black headphones by the discount Alliance dedicated source box. It was kind of hiding in the dark corner on top of a box.
He plugged it in.
Soon, he was lying back in his sleeping bag with his arms behind his back.
His hands were behind his head. He was wearing the headphones.
Mysterious rhythm and faint religious chants play in the instrumental music playing.
In a sea of tearing away green curtains... The living area seemed to just blow away.
And, Henry was thinking to himself:
I can climb behind my eyes…and let it all blow away. The world drops out from under me and I'm free. Drifting on the breeze, up…and away. Away.
His father suddenly threw off the headphones.
He glared moodily at him with one narrowing eye. His other eye is fatigued.
He attacked Henry...choking him.
He struggled to fight back. But, his arms just flailed aimlessly as he struggled to breathe.
And then... His father punched him in the face.
The sea of green curtains faded.
Henry coughed violently...as the living area faded from under him.
He fell unconscious.
That night...
Henry had a heavily bruised cheek. But, he was standing firm.
He had a light gray sack strapped over his shoulder.
His dad was lying on the couch, sleeping.
Henry moderately sighed in mixed feelings. He got teary eyed.
But, with a determined look... He walked out.
He closed the yellowish gray door behind him, heading out for a alley.
He walked on over the dried gray mud ground, past the rock sculpted sidewalks.
He walked past a yellowish animal hide hammock hung high up between two windows.
He walked past some drunk folk in pale blue overcoats sitting by the street corner.
And, Henry was thinking to himself:
This life is a fight. And if you sit still, someone will get the drop on you.
They'll pin you down.
I won't let it happen.
I'll protect myself, take what I need, and keep moving: Because it's every man for himself.
Get out of my way! This life is mine.
Presently, on Serenity...
Book finishes the thought, "my father was abusive. Faint sniffle. Soon as I could, I got out. Never came back."
Mal nervously gulps.
After a bit... Mal says, "I appreciate your story, shepherd. The son of a bitch had to had it comin'. But...I know you ain't being all honest."
Neither of them finds it easy to look up now.
There's a very uneasy and tense silence.
But, before Book might've said something... A little whooing like chone is heard over the Cortex screen.
Mal wonders, "did you go touch something?"
Book answers, "no."
There's static from the live feed. Probably due to weather interference though.
Mal goes over to the Cortex screen. Book stands back some by him.
On the screen... Over the static... A man in a gray coat and a gray cowboy hat brings up, "Captain Malcolm Reynolds. I heard you were in town."
Fairly stunned... Mal addresses the man, "this is Captain Malcolm Reynolds. What I'd first like to know is how did you heard. This job we on was supposed to be quiet."
The man faintly laughs.
The feed starts to cut out more.
He supposes, "you ain't the only...one on a quiet job. This...will be short and nice. Truth is, our boss...wants to get out of town real shiny 'fore the feds come to arrest him. Could use a mechanic to patch up his ship soon 'fore midnight. Could...make it worth eight thousand credits. No feds. How that sound?"
Mal very faintly smiles.
Sounding in a better mood... He figures, "it seems shiny. But, she ain't coming alone. Not in this weather and not with feds kind of expectin'."
The man concludes, "done. We...sent a second wave with the coordinates. Thank you for...your time, Captain."
Then... The feed is cut off.
Book looks nervous for a whole other reason.
Mal turns back to him.
He wonders, "what's wrong now?"
Book points out, "most of us are still in the midst of finishing a job. I also don't readily trust this man. Everything 'bout it seems it could be a trap."
With a faint smile... Mal figures, "which is why you just volunteered, shepherd. Figure you could take on a Alliance agent again if it come to it."
Somewhat nervously... Book concludes, "let us hope it doesn't."
Mal starts to look real annoyed. He's about to say something.
But, interestingly...he drops it just as quick.
He faintly uneasily chuckles to himself.
Book is already heading out of the cockpit door.
A short while later...
Book is in his overcoat, letting the rain drench his hair.
Kaylee is in her wintery coat with the hood up. She's carrying some of her tools in the pockets.
The kind of easily spooked folk in slightly metallic gray and red overcoats are coming back home on horseback.
Some folk were closing up shop in the marketplaces. They're heading down underground to their living areas for the night.
Despite the rain, thunder, and lightning... Kaylee seems to be cheerful.
She keeps silently admiring the lightning rods and wires coming down the towers. Only the thunder shakes her some.
Kaylee and Book walk on toward the back of a tower. The coordinates given led here.
Book looks somewhat nervous.
The folk closing up shop, nervous calls to the horses from folk coming back on horseback, the lightning... All Book can really think back to is the mental images in his mind of walking away in a desert.
Screaming. Massive fiery explosions over tactical Cortex screens.
Debris of ships floating in space. Punches echo.
Worriedly... Kaylee suddenly asks, "you all right, Shepherd?"
She's paused, standing in front of him.
Somewhat confidently... Book insists, "yes. It's...just reminiscent of my childhood."
Kaylee figures, "well, even if you ain't much for talking 'bout it...I'd still like to know your story."
Book very faintly smiles. He gets a little teary eyed.
He concludes, "it's a long story. Besides... Very faint sniffle. It is not a happy story, Kaylee."
Kaylee solemnly nods. She gets a little teary eyed herself.
Kaylee concludes, "still...I'd like to."
In a somewhat distant tone... Book is quick to say, "perhaps."
Kaylee is a little disturbed by that. But, she doesn't say anything.
She just kind of looks down as they keep walking.
After a bit... They're at the coordinates for the very dark red medieval tower.
The wooden back door has a knocker with a gold Chinese dragon head.
Thunder and lightning flashes.
Just then... Some figures in gray coats and cowboy hats come out of the shadows.
They have their crowbar shaped blackish brown rifles drawn out and ready.
Book starts to draw out his long tipped gun.
Kaylee reactively gets behind him. She's breathing nervously.
Book concludes, "I take it to mean there is no...job."
Then, with his best eye... He catches sight of a figure on a balcony a few floors up.
He has a gray coat and a cowboy hat too. But, his rifle is blackish and very dim red.
A set of black binoculars is on his belt. A earwig is in his ear.
He laughs to himself as he hears Book over his earwig.
Half heartedly... One of the mystery figures says, "sorry. We have our boss to look out for."
Book is cautiously backing further away, trying to cover Kaylee.
The mystery figures on the ground don't fire.
Book calls out, "I'll get back to the ship. Go!"
Kaylee breaks into a run down a alley.
Thunder and lightning flashes.
Book is aiming for the figure a few floors up. But, with his rifle...the figure shoots faster.
A loud choo goes off.
Book stumbles over.
Dark red liquid seeps into part of his overcoat. Dark red liquid is dripping from his side.
He groans violently.
Even so...he hasn't taken his hand off his long tipped gun.
He's about to shoot up...when two of the figures in gray coats shoot it out of his hand.
Some loud choos go off.
Book's gun loudly clinks against the ground.
Book coughs violently.
More dark red liquid drips from his sides. He's losing consciousness.
And...he can hear Kaylee sobbing and whimpering.
The third figure in a gray overcoat has come back around the alley to cut off her escape.
Kaylee looks terrified and teary eyed, shakily standing there.
Some tears fall.
She cries out, "no! ! !"
A loud choo goes off.
And, as it goes off... Book falls into the dark.
Act II
When Book wakes up...
The rain is gone. But, storm clouds still loom over the dim night sky.
The bedroom is dark.
Through some open white wooden doors, only the view from the balcony brings some star light in.
Book is hanging from a gold chandelier with long burnt out light bulbs.
He's tied up in spare wires over a body cast.
The body cast has a Christian cross crossed in drops of his dark red liquid. Dried dark red liquid is around most of the cast.
Kaylee is tied up in a wooden chair.
She's tied up in spare wires. But, she doesn't have a single shot in her.
She has a nasty bruise on her forehead.
But, soon as she got up... She had found a ice pack tied up over it.
Despite being teary eyed... Kaylee greatly sighs in mixed relief.
And standing in front of them...is the mystery figure from the balcony.
His cowboy hat is off by his very dim red sheeted bed.
From a closer look, he has medium dark blond hair.
Some long strands of hair are over his face. Some gray is in his hair further back.
With a icy voice... He laughs.
With a vicious glare... The mystery figure mutters, "Derrial Book. I been waiting years for this."
Somewhat nervously... Book figures, "I'm sorry, son. I don't believe we met."
The mystery figure concludes, "oh right smart we ain't have. I'm under a different name out in Three Hills. Dealin' in pharmaceutical plant clippings are awful good for more than decent surviving. But now, that ain't mattering. I'm Jalil Claypool: The young brother of Hope Claypool...who you bloody well had done in!"
Kaylee looks wide eyed in disbelief.
Book is looking real nervous. He gets teary eyed.
Blurred images of a woman creeps into his mind.
She has slightly curly medium dirty blond hair. She wears a sweat filled sleeveless top.
Both of her hands are handcuffed to the wooden chair. A dim light is on in the militaristic dark orange room.
A loud choo. A loud scream.
She falls dead against the chair.
Dark red liquid starts to seep in her top.
And, in distorted echoes... A officer's voice says, "he wants...wants...this war...this war...ended like no one...no one...I've ever...ever met."
Soon though... The mental images are replaced by another kind of pain.
Jalil violently punches Book in the side several times.
Book coughs violently. He coughs up some dark red liquid.
Some held back tears fall from his face.
Jalil laughs.
He mutters viciously, "remember now? Remember the interrogation you...?!"
Kaylee cries out, "no!"
She's sobbing in the chair, looking down.
Jalil turns to her.
He moderately sighs.
Solemnly all a sudden... Jalil says, "yīndào xiàshuǐdào shǔ. You're no soldier."
Teary eyed still... Kaylee looks up somewhat shakily.
With mixed feelings... She nervously looks right at him.
Kaylee says, "no, I ain't. Sniffle! But, as soon as the Captain knows we're gone..."
Kaylee breathes in very nervously.
After a bit... She points out, "I'm sorry: I ain't known your sister got killed. Sniffle! But, who ever killed her, the captain will come for yah."
Jalil faintly laughs.
He paces a little.
Then... He admits, "I was expectin' more soldiers. Bloody hell, I was kinda hoping Alliance would. Faint laugh. I was snatching you so Derrial would come out of hiding. But, now... Moderate sigh. What do I do with you?"
Interestingly, Kaylee very faintly smirks.
She comments, "well, you could just let me go back to the captain. You were gonna anyhow."
Jalil faintly laughs. He concludes, "sorry Kaywinnet Lee Fyre. I kind of still like survivin'."
Kaylee looks stunned.
After a bit... Kaylee murmurs, "h...how did you know my proper name?"
River once unintentionally read it from her mind.
She apologized. But, it didn't seem to bother Kaylee much.
Still...she never told anyone outside of Mal, Inara, or folk off in her hometown her legal full name.
Jalil explains coldly, "I been collectin' Alliance records for years on Derrial's whereabouts. Copies of Alliance records are kind of easy to get ahold of if you got the credits. And, with how he were all-out gone...it weren't all hard."
Nine to ten years ago, on the I.A.V. Cortez...
It was in the middle of the Unification War. The year was 2508.
Book had mostly gray matted hair. But, he had it dyed black along with his mustache to appear much younger.
This was to look more intimidating to other officers.
But, on a particular day...it was different.
He was in a Roman styled Alliance Commander's office.
3D printer restorations of Roman vases and statuettes even decorated the dark gray pillar pedestals.
Past the four rectangular windows... Burnt debris of ships floated in the black of space.
A grayish looking planet was past the debris. But, with how distant it was, it could just be a lifeless asteroid.
Book was in a Alliance military uniform. But, two Alliance MPs had their rifles drawn and ready toward him.
The Alliance MPs were standing in the back of the room. They were smirking.
A Alliance Commander with medium frontless platinum blond hair glared at Book.
Sternly... The Alliance Commander muttered, "soldier, you just masterminded the single greatest disaster in Alliance history. Four thousand men, Derrial Book. Does that mean anything to you?!"
He slammed his open hand on the desk, by some legal Alliance papers in blue ink.
Half convincingly... Book was insisting, "this isn't my fault, Commander."
He turned away some as he did. He was getting a little teary eyed.
The Alliance Commander commented, "you keep telling yourself that."
After a bit... The Alliance Commander said, "I spoke to Alliance Command. They wanted you shot. But, in your case, Parliament and Alliance Intelligence ruled differently."
With some relief... Book very faintly smiled.
With contempt in his voice... The Alliance Commander explained, "there was a new legislative ruling to please all branches of The Alliance. You will be discharged without trial. This will be swept under the gorram rug, as we do with any embarrassments. But, you won't be shot. Over Alliance Command's objections, you'll keep your badge and your Ident Card. But, if you try to command any Alliance officer from now on, the Hands of Blue will deal with you...immediately."
Book gulped nervously at the last part.
The Alliance Commander cruelly smiled at his nervousness.
The Alliance Commander said, "you'll be escorted to a sabotaged escape pod. We'll blame it on a mole with the Browncoats. No one will think you're alive. But, you might as well not be."
With a heated glare... Book argues, "if it's proven in a trial that it wasn't my fault, that would be murder. But then, I wouldn't expect that you would sign off on it."
The Alliance Commander faintly laughs. He sharply comments, "a happy coincidence for Alliance Command. Get him off the ship."
He turned to face the window, his back to Book.
He started to get teary eyed. But, he'd never want to show it in front of him.
The two MPs were forcibly escorting Book out.
He struggled. But, it wasn't doing much good against their armor.
But, as he was dragged out of the office... He was still glaring at the Alliance Commander.
Presently...
There's a chilling silence.
Then... Kaylee asks very nervously, "shepherd? Is it true you were with The Alliance?"
Book heavily sighs.
He concludes, "I... Faint sniffle. I might not make it. But, I guess there is a divine justice in this."
At a near whisper... Kaylee says in disbelief, "what?"
Jalil very faintly laughs. He adds, "yes. Humility before you're done in. I'd expect it from a shepherd. But, not from you."
In a cutaway... A teenage Jalil is in a meeting place resembling a underground mining tunnel.
Some adult Browncoats in white blackened lab coats are talking to him.
One of them tries to reach out.
But... Teenage Jalil cries, "no! Bloody hell with you!"
He runs crying...leaving his browncoat behind.
Back in present Jalil's tower...
Book comments cuttingly, "you don't really know me, Jalil. You just looked at legal papers."
Not sounding sure... Kaylee starts to ask, "I...don't get it. What's so damn...?"
Then... Book somberly confesses, "I...was a double agent for the Browncoats."
In a brief cutaway... A young adult Henry Evans is wearing a brown coat, a stretched out orange shirt, and dark gray pants. He has crew cut lines of black hair, a mostly bald head, and a thin matching mustache.
He's by a fenced off edge of a marketplace...tackling and high kicking two Alliance officers without even breathing hard.
In another brief cutaway... Henry is lying unconscious on a gray operating table.
There are surgeons in white blackened lab coats with white surgeon masks and sunglasses.
In the bright examination light, they are inserting a biorobotic eye in him that looks creepily exactly like a human eye. It has many wires and nano-transmitters built together in a pillar like stem.
Brief hints of a dark red liquid lined eyeful of past identity are seen on a gray pan nearby.
In a third brief cutaway... Henry takes someone's identity: As instructed by the Browncoats.
In a dark alley, he sneaks up on a man with medium frontless black hair.
Soon, he slits his throat with a wire.
And then...he very nervously walks away with Derrial Book's Ident Card and papers.
Back in present Jalil's tower...
Book continues, "I had to work my way up to cause a big enough disaster to keep the Browncoats resisting in the war. But..."
He sniffles hard. He closes his eyes, holding back tears.
Book confesses, "no day comes and goes I don't think of the innocent men and women I killed. I wish I hadn't had to do those damn things. But... Hard sniffle! We thought it was the only way to fly high: Keep as many people as we could safe and let God judge us after we did for our great sin. Hard sniffle. In a few years, the war ended in stalemate. Hard sniffle. I...was trying to protect you and everyone else on the ship from my great sin. God, I'm sorry."
Then... He can't hold back anymore.
He breaks down...sobbing from high up.
Jalil just laughs hard. He clearly doesn't believe a word of Book's confession.
Kaylee is sobbing in the chair. Pained tears just keep falling.
Then, all of a sudden... Shots are heard.
Jalil draws out his rifle.
He fast walks over to the balcony.
In frustration... He calls out, "bloody hell: What now?!"
Act III
Just then...
On the ground before the tower... Horses come charging in.
With some loud choos... Shots are heard.
Mal, Zoe, and Jayne are riding in on horseback.
With Jayne's other hand on his Goncz GA-9 pistol... And, with Mal's other hand on his Liberty Hammer pistol... Jayne and Mal are firing at Jalil's privately gathered guard of Graycoats.
The Graycoats duck fast to the side, landing on their sides.
The bullets nearly hit them. But, they groan violently some on the ground.
Soon... Mal, Zoe, and Jayne have gotten off the horses.
With a very faint smirk... Zoe draws out her custom made rifle.
Jayne puts away his pistol.
With his army jacket open... Jayne's mostly orange T-shirt is showing.
It has some hard to make out Chinese writing in black ink on a tan yellow hexagonal patch on the left shoulder, black lining around the sleeves and neckline, and a white flamingo balanced on one leg on it.
With a intense glare to the Graycoats... He draws out Vera from who knows where.
With icy glares... The Graycoats get to their feet.
They draw out their rifles, ready to fire.
All around... Loud choos go off.
One of the Graycoats almost reactively clutches her arm. She's groaning violently.
Hints of dark red liquid are seen dripping from where Zoe's shot hit her.
The Graycoat fires back.
Zoe duck tumbles down to the ground, landing hunched over on her feet.
The shot barely misses her.
One of the Graycoats is shot dead by Jayne, with hints of dark red liquid splatter.
Mal is about to shoot at one of the Graycoats.
But, then... He catches sight of Jalil aiming for him from the balcony.
Frustratedly... Mal mutters, "gorramit!"
He runs out to a nearby alley.
Several shots are heard behind him. They make splashes in puddles on the ground.
Zoe mutters under her breath, "gorram!"
Jayne and Zoe split up, running for cover from Jalil's shots.
On opposite sides, they stand against the walls of the tower.
They're catching their breath some.
The left standing Graycoat back in the back is running hurriedly through the back door.
She slams it shuts it behind her.
Mal pauses in the alley, catching his breath some.
Three Graycoats are coming around the other side. They're armed, ready to fire.
Mal then notices a trash bin, some lights, and some wiring connecting the lights.
Just as they're about to corner him... Mal very faintly smirks.
He lightly remarks, "hey now. Didn't your mommas tell you you ain't cut out for them shiny light handiwork?"
And, with his pistol aimed from behind the trash bin to cover it from plain view... He shoots off the wiring.
A loud choo goes off.
Sparks dance over the wet trash bin and nearby lights.
In seconds... The lights burn out and explode in shattering glass.
The three Graycoats double back, temporarily blinded from the blinding light.
They cry out from the sharp pain in their eyes.
They were firing their rifles. But, they just aimlessly shoot bullets into the alley walls.
Mal fast walks back further down the alley.
One of the shots hits him.
Hints of dark red liquid are seen dripping from his side.
He coughs violently some. But, he's walking fine.
Soon, the three Graycoats start to rub their eyes. Their sight is slowly coming back.
But, just then... Mal shoots all three of them from behind.
With a splash from hitting the puddles below them... They fall dead.
With a satisfied look... Mal starts to fast walk out of the alley.
Meanwhile, up in Jalil's tower...
Jalil walks back in from the balcony, lowering his rifle.
He mutters some hard to hear Chinese under his breath as he does.
With a pause... Jalil looks back to Kaylee.
She's still sobbing.
For a long second in his mind... Jalil sees Hope sitting in that same chair.
Many a shot is heard from behind the wooden door further back. Several thuds are heard soon after.
With a solemn hard sigh... Jalil says, "I ain't want to get a innocent woman done in. You're free to git."
With his bare hands, he tears off the spare wires around Kaylee's body.
With her arms kind of numb still... Kaylee barely catches the ice pack to hold back up against her forehead.
Stunned, sad, and confused all at once... Kaylee murmurs, "thank you?"
From behind her... Jalil is determinedly aiming his rifle at Book.
Book has gone cold silent.
He closes his eyes...praying silently to God and expecting the worse.
Then... A very familiar face comes barging in through the door.
It's Inara...armed and ready with her Ruger Mk II pistol.
Inara is in a very dark blue purplish dress with ocean waves patterned on it. She's wearing a necklace of yellowish orange stone sized beads and a necklace of bluish red stone sized beads.
Kaylee in the chair, Book over the chandelier, Jalil with the rifle... Inara looks too shocked for words at it all.
She gets teary eyed. She faintly sniffles.
Inara says nervously, "oh mǎxì tuán hóuzi fènbiàn. What is going on?!"
There's a brief very awkward silence.
Interestingly... Jalil puts down his rifle.
He very faintly laughs, much to Inara's and Kaylee's shaken unease.
Jalil suggests, "good. Graycoats came to try to stop us. But, from the sound of it, the worst is done."
Overcome by sadness with everything that's happened... Kaylee doesn't even catch much of Jalil's lies.
Sounding a little calmer... Inara figures, "please. Moderate sigh. Just tell me what happened. I'll get Kaylee out of here."
Starting to really stir from the chair... Kaylee very faintly smiles.
Inara offers her hand to Kaylee. But, she doesn't lower her pistol.
Forgetting anything else... Kaylee just very thankfully rushes to Inara's side.
She's holding her close with her free arm. Her other arm is still holding the ice pack over her forehead.
With a bold faced lie... Jalil says, "ain't it real painful? Shepherd tried to kill himself. But, he's with us. The worst is done. Very faint laugh. All those funerals. Preachers can bloody well work themselves to dìyù."
Inara starts to turn slowly to leave with Kaylee.
Jalil is still holding his rifle.
But, just as Inara is about to close the door behind them... Inara pauses.
Inara whispers somberly, "Kaylee, it'll be okay. Faint sniffle. Don't you look."
In the dim light past the door... She's holding Kaylee close with her free arm.
Kaylee just faintly murmurs, "okay."
Jalil is about to shoot Book.
But, then... Through the slightly open door... Inara shoots Jalil in the side.
Jalil doubles over, coughing violently.
With a loud thud... His rifle drops out of his hands.
Dark red liquid starts to seep through his gray coat. But, he's still breathing.
Then... Mal comes fast walking in, right past Inara and Kaylee.
He very coldly looks at the sight before him.
And, without a second thought...Mal shoots Jalil dead.
By then, the shooting has stopped.
From several floors up... Dead bodies of Graycoats line one of the halls.
In kind of a hurry, Jayne and Zoe are coming down the wooden stairs.
In a creepy kind of way... Mal concludes, "it's done."
Not sure what to think about what he just did... Inara just looks shaken and teary eyed.
With her arm still around Kaylee... She puts away her pistol.
Some bittersweet pained tears fall from her face.
Still in the room... Mal cuttingly remarks, "shepherd... Faint chuckle. Never thought a Man of God could feel judged."
And, under the body cast and wires around him... Book can't help but very faintly laugh.
Not very long after...
Serenity is clearing atmo for the black of space.
In the cockpit... Wash is piloting.
He faintly laughs.
He comments, "quiet. But, I can't say I'll miss Bob soon. What the hell kind of name for a moon is that? Bob?"
Mal faintly chuckles. He comments back, "a half damn more sense than your back-berth planet's governin'."
He starts to walk out of the cockpit.
Wash suddenly turns to him.
Wash adds solemly, "yeah well, it's Deadwood Mal. I can't say I miss it. I'm glad though Book didn't become deadwood."
Mal pauses. He very faintly nods.
He solemnly says, "yeah. Good thing."
With a faint smile... Wash then turns back to the controls.
Mal walks out through the open cockpit door, heading down the hall.
Soon, in the ship's infirmary...
Book is in a medical bed. But, he's conscious.
Medical tubes are in his side. A new cast is around his body: With some dark red liquid seeped in all over.
Simon is standing by his side. Mal is standing facing Simon.
Looking dead serious... Mal asks him, "could you give us a minute, doctor?"
Simon moderately sighs. He reluctantly says, "all right. He still needs rest. But, his vital signs are surprisingly good for losing a lot of blood. So..."
Mal just adds, "thank you."
Simon steps out of the Infirmary. But, he stands out by the open door in case.
A little teary eyed still... Book looks up.
He says, "hello."
With a very faint smile... Mal says, "hey Shepherd. We're gonna have that talk with what happened with that send off."
Book knew all too well what time he was calling back to.
Book heavily sighs. He starts to tell, "I haven't been fully honest. I'm sorry. Hard sniffle! Hidden operatives in law can..."
Kind of sudden... Mal figures, "you ain't need to be tellin' who you killed to get up there, shepherd. You were a fancible double agent for the Browncoats. Knew you had to be a double agent since The Alliance gave us that kind of send off. But, after crashin' on that ancient forgotten rock...I got to think on what side you must real be on."
With a very faint smile... Book concludes solemnly, "thank you. I was hoping there was never a time to ask: Protect you from knowing my great sin. But... Faint sniffle. I wouldn't blame a good man if there were a need."
Mal gets teary eyed. But, he acts like it's nothing.
Mal decides, "you're welcome. Faint sniffle. But now on, you check if there awful bad blood 'tween you and our contacts. I ain't want more than need to hear. But, I ain't havin' one on my crew get snatched again by awful bad blood. Dong ma?"
Book says, "I understand." Mal adds, "good."
Book thinks out loud, "to be honest...I was truly thinking you would throw me off: Soon as I could walk."
Kind of too firmly... Mal concludes, "no, no need. You ain't without humanity. I'm a mean old man."
Book starts saying, "thank you. But..."
Mal is quick to ask, "what is it?"
With a storm of mixed feelings... Book voices somberly, "you think you are damned for life? I've done things, Mal. Sins I can't even begin to tell you. Hard sniffle. Yes. It was to save as many innocent Independents as we could. But... Hard sniffle. I think I'm damned more than you, son."
Some tears fall from his face. But, he doesn't close his eyes.
Mal very faintly smiles. But, he sniffles hard himself.
There's a brief awkward nervous silence.
Then... Mal faintly chuckles.
He faintly remarks, "pretty words, shepherd. But, I know what colors you flyin'. I just had Serenity's colors."
With a concerned look... Book challenges, "is that all there is?"
Bordering on real nervous... Mal says, "shepherd... Moderate sigh. You go down this road, you ain't like what you find."
Solemnly... Book considers, "in time, you might think different. There are many roads to forgiveness and decent living."
Mal concludes cuttingly, "still...no way in hell I'm gonna find it. My crew can aim for decent living. I just got Serenity."
With a faint smile... Book reflects, "that's very odd to say for a man like you."
With a very faint smile... Mal concludes, "no. Serenity is my ship. Don't think on it much. I ain't."
With that, he walks out of the Infirmary.
Late that night...
A little teary eyed... Book stirs from his sleep.
His eyes open...to see Jayne standing there.
Tensely... Jayne figures, "yah, its me. The doc said you oughta sleep. But, I ain't waitin' to saw the next guy snatch up Kaylee. So, you oughta start talkin' preacher."
He has his fists clenched by his sides. Yet, he doesn't look eager to raise them.
Book deduces tiredly, "I understand how you feel. But, we're not expected anywhere tomorrow. Now let me sleep."
Book yawns some.
Sounding a bit better... Jayne presses, "then you'll tell me how you know so much 'bout crime?"
Book implies, "could you listen to the full truth?"
Jayne faintly laughs. He says outright, "I know neurotic and psychotic. I ain't scared of no war."
Thinking back to the story of how Jayne joined Mal's crew... Book very faintly smiles.
Book says, "all right. Tomorrow."
Jayne very faintly smirks.
He just says, "all right."
He then walks off, leaving Book to go back to sleep.
Meanwhile, in Inara's shuttle...
Mal and Inara are sitting on the couch.
They're both looking awkward and nervous. They're both a little teary eyed.
Thinking back to Mal's story about Book's Ident card... Inara realizes, "you think Book told her?"
Mal somberly assumes, "yeah, I reckon he had. Why she go straight to her bunk all quiet a sudden if it ain't?"
With a faint sniffle... Inara recollects, "just like with River."
Looking down... She deeply sighs.
A tear falls from her face.
Inara holds Mal's hand in hers. He firmly holds hers back.
Inara says, "I just... Faint sniffle. I wish we could do more to help her, Mal."
Mal concludes, "lettin' her be is helpin', Inara. It ain't shiny. But, it's plenty."
Inara very faintly nods.
With a very faint smile... She adds, "maybe."
Meanwhile, in Kaylee's bunk...
Thinking back to when Book first came onboard... Kaylee has in her hands a faintly familiar wooden box he gave her.
She's lying in her bed under the sheets. But, she can't sleep.
Teariness lingers in Kaylee's eyes. She sniffles hard.
The top of the sheets is kind of wet still from all the crying.
Then... She hears someone climbing down.
Off sounding... Kaylee asks, "River?"
She seemed alone.
But, all a sudden... River is standing by her bed.
She's teary eyed. But, she's only a little shaky.
Kaylee moderately sighs in mixed relief.
With a faint smile... Kaylee says, "hey sweetie. You couldn't sleep?"
A little cryptic... River figures, "you were there for me. Sniffle. You took care of me when Simon can't have. Came for you."
Thinking back to when she was comforting River for several days... Kaylee blushes a little.
She very faintly chuckles.
After a bit... Kaylee kind of reluctantly says, "okay. But, I ain't going to feel like talking much at all."
With a faint smile... River tries to assure her, "don't got to say what is in your brain: Can't not feel."
Kaylee very faintly chuckles. She wonders, "okay. What am I thinking, River?"
River climbs up on to the bed.
Soon, she's lying down face up by her on top off the sheets.
River gathers, "good days with preacher. Me. No different than seeing me shoot. Feel close to how you were."
Looking fairly stunned... Kaylee says, "wow. I...I think you're right."
Confidently... River goes, "hm-hmm."
Sounding a little better now... Kaylee realizes, "then this will all be okay."
The teariness in her eyes starts drying up.
River concludes, "you'll be okay. Can sleep now?"
With a yawn... Kaylee starts to say, "I can try. But..."
Eagerly... And, with a big smile... River is quick to say, "I'll help."
She turns over, kind of lying down face down very near Kaylee.
All a sudden... She pulls out two paddle like deliberators from who knows where.
Teary eyed for a whole other reason... Kaylee looks terrified.
She's breathing very nervously.
But, even with her nervousness... Kaylee puts her hands around River's hands to try to move them away.
At a near whisper... Kaylee cries out, "River! Hard sniffle. Please. Please don't."
Some tears fall from her face.
Picking up on her feelings... River drops the defiberators away by the bed.
There's a somewhat loud thud.
Some tears fall from River's face.
River somberly murmurs, "sorry. Sniffle! I was..."
Trying to smile... Kaylee assures, "it's okay River. You were only trying to help."
They hug each other tight.
There's a shaky silence.
Then... They kind of pull away.
With some lingering nervousness from the shock of what almost happened... Kaylee offers, "you could sleep with me. I'm sure that would help."
A little more cheerfully... River says, "okay."
They awkwardly very faintly smile to each other.
River starts to get under the sheets.
The teariness in their eyes start to dry up.
River gets comfortable on her side.
With their arms casually around each other... They're falling fast asleep.
And, as they are... Serenity keeps on flying through the black.
References Side Notes:
1) The comic Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale by Zack Whedon and Joss Whedon
2) Firefly: Tall Card Game; game details from BoardGameGeek