Can't Take the Sky From Us:
A Firefly Fanfiction Episode Collection
Better Days, Part 2:
Act IV
Roughly a hour later...
Simon wakes up...in a dark red soaked body cast.
Medical tubes are in his chest. He's lying in a wheeled gray Alliance medical bed.
His vision is still blurry some. But...something about the near dark red curtains seems very familiar.
Simon very faintly smiles. He says, "hey."
Kaylee is standing there, with a sympathetic hand on his.
Kaylee widely smiles. She says, "hey yourself. You scared us. But, you're okay now."
Kaylee's eye makeup is all messy from tears from earlier. But, neither of them seem to care.
Simon says, "thank you."
Kaylee admits awkwardly, "well...Inara did most of the work. But, I helped steady you."
Simon awkwardly laughs a little. Kaylee laughs cheerfully some.
Simon suddenly realizes, "this is Inara's shuttle."
Kaylee brings up, "yeah. Inara told them about Jubal kidnapping River, and that that's all she knew. She said she'd bring you in soon as you're awake, and they..."
Glaringly... Simon asks, "what?"
Trying to be assuring... Kaylee tells him, "Simon! Please: Don't worry on it. She ain't real planning to turn you over. It were just buying time to escape and get in touch with everyone to look for River. That's all it were."
Kaylee puts up her hands as she says it.
Simon breathes a nervous sigh of relief.
Suddenly solemnly... He brings up, "okay. That's good. But...River isn't. How can I be okay when she isn't?"
Thinking back to Jubal... A faint tear falls from Kaylee's face.
Kaylee sighs nervously. She insists though, "the captain will find her Simon. We'll find her."
Nervously... Simon concludes, "I hope we can."
Just then... Inara nervously says, "we don't have to wait long. He just left us a message of where to go."
She's just pulled away some of the curtains around her Cortex screen.
Before Simon can ask... Kaylee asks, "where is River?"
All of a sudden...Inara nervously sighs.
With concern... Kaylee asks, "Inara? What's wrong?"
A faintly teary eyed Inara finds it hard to face her. But, she does so anyway.
She explains, "that hunter bastard is at Frye Airworks, and I don't think he cares if it's still there or not. I'm sorry. I know how much you want to keep your business."
Kaylee sniffles hard. Some more tears fall from her face as she shakily stands there.
Knowing how Kaylee is feeling... Simon gets teary eyed some.
Inara hugs Kaylee close.
At a whisper... She says in her ear, "shh. Me and Mal will rescue River. We'll be okay."
Kaylee somberly nods.
Around then...
Book gulps nervously some.
Sounding almost mysterious... He realizes, "how much do you know?"
With a know-it-all kind of faint smile... Saffron answers, "I know what Jayne told me: That if you can't do something smart, do something right. That you were a double agent for the Browncoats all this time. But, I take it now you know how I feel about The Alliance. Now you answer my question, or I kill you right here."
Book very faintly smiles back.
Calmly... He says, "I understand. I have seen many enemies on my path with God. Might this convince you to have mercy for a damned but well meaning preacher?"
Book interestingly takes out a dark gray Personal Cortex Access Device. He holds it out with one hand.
Saffron raises a eyebrow.
With lingering faint amusement... She takes the Personal Cortex Access Device with her free hand.
But, as soon as she starts looking through the images on the screen... She starts to get teary eyed.
The images are of Mal, Zoe, Simon, River, Inara, Jayne...and her own face on Alliance arrest warrants.
Book asks, "Saphra?"
There's a brief nervous silence.
Then... Saffron looks up.
Sounding somewhat shaky... She asks, "you sure you're not going to take me in, Derrial?"
Book just firmly insists, "no. I came to help Mal, his crew...perhaps you too."
Saffron faintly laughs at that last part. But, she still pockets the Personal Cortex Access Device.
With a faint smirk... Saffron figures, "good. But, you know, I still am not sure about you."
Completely unphased... Book concludes simply, "that is fair. You seem very odd yourself."
Saffron rolls her eyes kind of amusingly. But, she doesn't say much.
They're not walking hand in hand. But, they start to fast walk together along some shipment crates.
Not long after, at Frye Airworks...
Saffron and Book are coming up a dirt path to the left. Mal, Inara, Zoe, and Jayne are coming up up another.
Everyone except Inara have their guns drawn and ready.
Bordering on nervous... Zoe asks, "where's Kaylee and Simon?"
Inara moderately sighs. She explains, "they're going with Wash to get to Serenity before The Alliance. It was the only way I could be certain Simon wouldn't come and make his injuries worse trying to save River."
Mal and Zoe faintly chuckle to themselves. Saffron kind of annoyedly rolls her eyes.
With a faint smile... Mal is in the middle of saying, "good...plan."
Just then... There are two explosions.
They all turn to look.
They see the neon sign over Frye Airworks burning...and the two open levels starting to burn.
Two big tan blue garage doors have fallen from them.
They're charred and burning on the ground. The color from the doors is burned away.
With mixed feelings... And, teary eyed... Inara mutters, "oh my god."
Everyone else is silent and tense.
A all too familiar voice calls down, "that was your new beating heart? Oh well. Faint laugh. Well, you left me in space. I like this space now. The rooms are solid, even in fire. The walls can really..."
He feels his head some with his free hand. He groans some in his unhinged state of mind.
It's Jubal Early, standing on the edge of the second level.
He's in his special space armor. But, he wears no helmet.
He has already drawn out his all too shiny pistol.
Jayne laughs amusedly. He goes, "that is Jubal? Gorram, he ain't there 'nough to kill a cow."
Almost worried sounding... Mal warns, "Jayne..."
Jayne asks, "what? He does."
Everyone else is suddenly noticing Jubal reaching for something.
Before Mal can call it... Saffron calls out, "get down!"
Jubal throws a grenade down at them.
The explosion kicks up a storm of dust and rocks.
Most everyone dives for cover. Saffron tumble ducks on her side to get out of the way.
Mal jump dives further out for the burning down entrance.
Even on his side though... Book shoots back with a loud choo.
The bullet hits Jubal's hand. His pistol flies out of his hand.
Jubal groans violently some as he clutches his hand. Some dark red liquid is seen dripping from it.
He steps back behind the rising smoke behind him.
Everyone is getting back on their feet.
Mal, Zoe, and Book almost get clear shots at him. But, Jubal is already out of sight of them.
Zoe mutters to herself, "damn." Mal mutters to himself, "gorram."
Soon, they're all fast walking through the entrance to Frye Airworks.
Inside... Parts of ships and Frye Airworks are crashing down and burning down around.
But, in the midst of the smoke and fire... Saffron breaks away when she spots something.
She pulls along some thick line of rope with a hooked end. It's from a burning mostly crisp brown Flying Mule.
Saffron throws up the rope line.
It latches onto a tail end of a crashed down and burning rundown ship sticking up through the ceiling.
She climbs up to the second floor. She makes it up.
Saffron very faintly grins to herself. But, she's glaring toward Jubal.
He's not far, looking around the burning wreckage. He's got his pistol back in its holster around his leg.
But, he has a dark red liquid soaked piece of mechanical jumpsuit wrapped around the wound on his hand.
In just a few seconds... Jubal turns her way.
With a all too cool headed smile... Jubal observes, "Saffron. Or, is it Saphra? You have many names."
Still glaring... Saffron mutters, "Saffron."
Jubal wonders, "what happened? Did I shoot your boyfriend's brain out or something?"
With a very faint smirk... Saffron comments, "Jayne is good. I want to kill you myself to keep him from you."
Jubal looks a little stunned by that. But, he faintly laughs it off.
Teary eyed... Saffron points out cuttingly, "you know, you're not good. You tried to get on top of Kaylee and hurt her. You like to hurt good people."
Jubal closes his eyes. He shakes his head like mad.
Agitated... Jubal mutters under his breath, "no. It's...part of my job! Killed a bounty hunter...for the job...when he found me floating in space cause he were trackin' me."
He takes some heavy breaths between words.
In a creepy kind of way... Saffron looks kind of amused now.
The teariness in her eyes is starting to dry up.
Tempted to play him along... Saffron figures, "all right. If you're a good bounty hunter, tell me: Why haven't you tried to grab me for a bounty or kill me?"
Meanwhile...
Jayne turns down a corner.
He suddenly realizes who's gone missing.
Somewhat nervously... Jayne calls out, "Saffron? Saffron!"
He tears through some of the wreckage with his bare hands.
But, he doesn't find anything. Only a burnt off fallen hook.
Jayne gulps nervously. For, he's now alone.
That is...until he hears someone.
A familiar voice pierces through the flames, "Jayne Cobb, you reptile!"
A loud choo goes off.
Jayne runs.
A aflame compressor coil explodes from the shot in a burst of fire and smoke.
Jayne circles back around.
Jayne mutters, "what gorr...am..."
A figure coming out from the smoke is pointing a shotgun at him.
Jayne is pointing Vera at him.
The figure has a much shorter beard and medium hair now. But, there's no mistaking that face.
With a intense glare... Jayne realizes, "Stitch. Gorramit, I killed ya! How you still holdin' a gun?"
Stitch wheezes and lowly laughs. He mutters, "ain't care. I want to cost you every last bit of ya! Seem I get turned to a reptile to cut you down. I ain't asking 'em gloved men how. I just gonna cut you down!"
Jayne fires.
But... It just ricochets off of the metal plating under Stitch's clothes.
A loud metal clink.
Stitch lowly laughs.
Jayne gives a nervous grin.
Then... He makes a run for it.
Several loud choos. Flaming ship parts with bullet holes in them exploding left and right.
Jayne runs left and right between them.
Jayne heads up the blocky stairs to the second floor.
But... He pauses a bit to fire back at Stitch.
Stitch groans violently. He's tempted to clutch his arm.
Dark red liquid drips from his arm. But, from years of sitting in a hot-box, it's nothing much to him.
Stitch keeps running after Jayne.
Jayne ducks to the side of a set of shelves with half burnt engine parts. He's breathing real nervous.
Meanwhile...
Inara, Zoe, Mal, and Book have already gotten up to the second floor.
River's unconscious body is chained to two silvery foldout Alliance umbrellas, wedged in two broken windows.
A empty discarded gold rimmed light red tranquilizer gun is on the floor.
Inara looks shocked. She sniffles.
After a bit... And, teary eyed... Inara realizes, "Atherton. I know you don't like to lose. But, you sure you want to be involved in all of this? River was experimented on: She just wants to be a girl."
Atherton Wing is standing between them and River. He has his dueling sword drawn out and ready.
A mostly silvery plated humanoid robot guard stands by Atherton Wing. It has a light orange built-in fencing helmet, hints of dark blue tubes laced with fancy sensor wires under glass for one shuttle shaped eye, a all too shiny black hand, and a built-in black rimmed fencing sword with a light orange hilt instead of a hand in its other arm.
Zoe and Mal get tenser. Their guns are still drawn out and ready.
Atherton gets a little teary eyed. But, he just as quickly glares intensely at Inara.
Atherton insists, "I got nothing left to lose, you whore! Jubal turns in River. I turn Reynolds and Zoe in. My black mark is then gone: Courtesy of The Alliance. You still got a problem with that? Ask them."
Firmly and tensely... Inara points out, "well then, I guess we're done with talking. You'll have to kill me first."
Zoe and Book look nervous some.
With mixed feelings... Mal argues, "Inara, what Sǐ de fēngkuáng de shì are you...?!"
Kind of sarcastically... Inara comments, "well, you've beaten him before Mal. How hard can it be?"
Atherton angrily calls out, "why, you whore!"
He charges straight for Inara and Mal with his sword.
Very nervous all a sudden... Inara mutters out loud, "gos se!"
At the same time... She knocks Mal down.
Atherton's sword misses them by just a few seconds.
A little stunned... Mal adds, "thank you."
With a very faint smirk... Inara adds, "you're welcome of course."
They're both just getting up.
Atherton charges for Inara.
But, even while mostly crouched over... Inara pulls out her fencing sword just in time.
Their swords clink loudly against the other's sword.
With a fierce glare... Zoe gets ready to shoot Atherton a little further back.
Book gets ready to shoot the robot guard.
But... The robot guard's sensor system detects the guns about to be fired.
In defensive mode... The robot guard electrically whirls around.
It hard punches at Book with its hand.
Book almost doesn't duck in time to avoid it. But, he crouches down fast enough.
The robot guard then whirls into Zoe's side with its sword's hilt.
Zoe doubles over. She's coughing violently some.
She almost drops her custom made rifle. But, she's still holding on to it.
Not caring much about the robot guard just by her... Zoe gets ready to shoot Atherton again.
Inara is standing up to face Atherton.
With a smug look on his face... Atherton thrusts at her side with his sword.
Inara turns fast off to the side. His sword misses her.
Atherton catches his breath some. He's coughing violently by the smoke.
The robot guard is about to stab Zoe in the chest.
Just then... There's a slice.
Mal is just drawing out his shotgun then.
But... The robot guard's sliced off head is lying on the ground.
The robot guard's robot body is sparking off like mad and going up in fire.
And, standing behind it...is Book: With a gray sheeted looking but sharp machete.
Looking concerned... Inara kind of cautiously walks over to Atherton.
In seconds though... Atherton stops coughing easily.
He thrusts at her ankle.
Inara groans violently. Her ankle is dripping dark red liquid.
She's struggling to still stand.
Atherton mutters, "goodbye, Inara."
Mal and Zoe turn to shoot Atherton.
But, just before they can... Inara knocks the wind out of Atherton with the hilt of her sword.
Atherton doubles back. He's no longer smiling.
He's clutching his side...wheezing and coughing violently for real this time.
Mal smirks in relief.
He punches Atherton out himself.
In concern... Mal turns to Inara, "how you holdin...?"
Inara groans violently some.
With a faint smile though... Inara insists, "I'm fine Mal. I just need first aid as soon as we can get some."
She takes out a fancy dark purple handkerchief. She bends over to wrap it around the wound.
Mal just faintly nods to her.
With a wide smile... Zoe says, "Book."
Book remarks calmly, "there's no place in hell for things like this. Keep River safe."
He puts his machete away like it's just another day for him at a farm.
Zoe figures, "right Shepherd. But, Jubal has to be up here too."
Feeling pressed for time... She carefully shoots off the chains around River's body with her custom made rifle.
Sounding off put some... Mal realizes, "yeah. And, he ain't none alone."
Meanwhile...
Stitch calls out, "come out, you dirty low-down shingle! Or, I'll start cutting on your girl 'till you come out."
That got Jayne a little teary eyed.
In sudden realization though... He faintly smiles to himself.
He puts away Vera.
Before Stitch can turn around... Jayne violently pushes the set of shelves down on him with his bare hands.
Stitch cries out.
He's now lying motionless under all the hints of dark red liquid splatter, engine parts, and splintered shelves.
Jayne starts to rush over to the others. But...he pauses.
He takes out Vera again.
He shoots Stitch in the head.
Then, with a grim satisfied look... Jayne walks over to the others.
Jayne thinks to himself as he does:
Stay gorram killed, Stitch Hessian. Just stay like that there.
Meanwhile...
Sounding better all a sudden... Jubal laughs.
He's looking up: With open eyes and a all too cool smile.
Jubal reveals, "I didn't need to spy on you to know a good bounty hunter when I see one. I just went through security footage and pieced it all in my mind. I know your tragic story, Saffron. It weren't right. Your story after... What's the word? Respect: That's the word."
He strangely kind of points to her on the last part.
Looking disturbed... Saffron comments, "that's not the word I'd go with."
Jubal figures, "sorry. It's just..."
He faintly laughs.
Saffron is quick to ask, "what?"
All too casually... Jubal figures, "you let yourself be played to become a player. I respect that. We could get a lot of figures together, you and me."
Saffron's glare is quickly returning.
Saffron mutters back, "well, how is this for a answer?"
She violently up spin kicks at him, trying to get him by surprise.
But... Jubal just grabs her by the leg and throws her down.
Saffron's handgun falls. It clinks hard against a intact section of floor.
Saffron groans violently some, clutching her leg.
Jubal shakes his head.
He figures, "it's a pity. If I have to kill you to get the bounties on the crew, I will. Don't make me."
He has a hand near his pistol.
Suddenly... Saffron puts her hands up.
Breathing nervously... Saffron suggests, "no guns? Violent groan. You just took me down easy. I'm worth more alive one way or another to you. So, if you take me down again, I'm yours."
Jubal laughs loudly. He figures, "all right. I'll play this game. But, you don't have a damn chance."
He moves his hand away from his pistol.
Saffron barely gets up. But, she's not trying to steady herself either.
Jubal looks somewhat nervous now. But, he still stands ready with his arms and fists out.
Saffron violently kicks up with her other leg.
Jubal spin kicks fast while spinning his arms out.
Their legs hit each other just as fast...knocking themselves back violently against the floor.
Saffron tumbles kind of easily back on her feet. But, she's still groaning violently some.
Jubal is groaning violently some himself as he tries to get up.
Seeing a chance... Saffron run charges for him.
Saffron grabs both of his arms.
She tries to tackle grapple slam him against a flaming section of wall.
But... Jubal still manages to slam spin punch one of his arms violently into her side.
Saffron doubles over. She's coughing up some dark red liquid.
Soon, Jubal pulls her up.
Just then... Mal catches sight of them.
In a morbid way... He looks amused.
Casually and a little loud... Mal calls out, "looks like you're in a peck of trouble. Need my help?"
Jubal is starting to put a choke hold around Saffron's neck.
Defiantly... Saffron calls back, "no! I got him."
She tries to jump back to slam Jubal back for the fire anyway.
But, with the sudden momentum... They end up side tumbling on the floor.
They exchange fists. But, they keep missing.
That is...until Jubal grapple pins her down.
She tries to break free. But, his grip is too tight on her arms. And, there's no room to kick either.
Saffron frustratedly sighs. She calls out, "all right! Violent cough. I give."
Jubal smiles confidently.
He moves off of her. But, he's getting ready to punch her out.
Thinking he's already won... Jubal doesn't even see Mal coming from the side.
Mal punches him violently down...for a hole in the floor.
He falls through the hole in the floor...right for the fire below waiting for him.
Jubal cries out, "no! !"
A gust of smoke rises from the hole.
And, just like that... His body has gone from a body with a all too shiny object to a burning up corpse.
With Mal's help... Saffron awkwardly gets up.
She holds onto him to keep herself steady as they started walking.
Kind of nervously... She says, "are you... Violent cough! ...going to tell anyone else... Violent cough! ...about me needing your help with Jubal?"
Mal faintly chuckles. He comments, "are you kiddin', Saffron? It's too damn good not to."
Saffron sharply glares back. But, she doesn't really feel like arguing over it either.
Inara faintly smiles to herself.
She almost looks up.
But, even with how she feels about Saffron... She doesn't want to start anything.
By now... Book and Zoe are carefully carrying River out the back.
River is just starting to open her eyes. But, she doesn't fight back.
She reads their feelings.
She closes her eyes again. But, she faintly smiles to herself: Knowing she's safe now.
Back upstairs... Mal asks, "what took you, Jayne?"
Getting real restless... Jayne mutters, "aw "nothin'": I had to kill Stitch 'fore he came up shooting...again. What the ruttin' hell happened here, Mal?!"
There's a nervous silence.
Whirling sirens are faintly heard. But, they're getting louder rather quick.
With concern... Inara interrupts, "sorry to interrupt. But, this isn't a good time. Now, we got to go."
Without another word... Mal, Jayne, and Saffron start walking out with Inara.
Kind of assuringly... Saffron says, "I'll tell you later, Jayne. Violent cough! You can tell me about Stitch."
Not sure what else to say... Jayne just says, "okay."
Not long after...
It's late afternoon. The White Sun shines glaringly in the sky.
A forklift styled rustic tan yellow Flying Mule is speeding down the stacked up highways. It has red and black construction site like lines front and back, black escape pod like hovercraft engines, gray hand railings to the sides and front, a double windows windshield, a gold rigged buckler like detail on both sides, four black cushion rimmed seats with light green plating with holes, a tan gray maintenance kit built on one side, and Serenity's symbol on the back.
There's no cargo in the back now. But, that's what Mal recently bought it for: Custom made and all.
Inara is sitting in the back. River is faintly smiling across her lap with her eyes closed.
Inara very faintly smiles to herself.
Jayne and Book are standing. But, they're holding on the hand rails to keep themselves steady.
Saffron has a available seat. But, she's holding onto the hand rails to steady herself instead.
Zoe is piloting. Mal is sitting next to her in the co-pilot seat.
Zoe is looking real nervous. But, she concentrates on the highway.
A handful of shuttle styled hovercars speeds past. But, most of the hovercars are avoiding the center lane.
Coming up behind Mal's Flying Mule in the center lane...are two Alliance All Terrain Skiffs.
The AATSs each have a red camera eye with a laser sight, faint coal red metal studded ceramic plates and purplish indicator lights, a domed shuttle shape to it, some gray metal studded ceramic side plates, extendable heavy duty wheels for storm conditions in desert terrain, and tripod like gray doors for the wheel compartments doubling as extra built in antenna to strengthen Cortex connection reception in storm conditions.
They seem automated. But, mostly dark blue Cortex screens on their front fiberglass panels indicate another thing entirely.
Some carefully picked out Alliance officers are manually controlling them from the Alliance security room from earlier. But, audio from their moving mouths is not being broadcast.
With loud and moderately loud choos... Jayne and Saffron fire their most favorite guns at the AATSs.
Jayne keeps steady, despite not holding much to the handrails now.
Mal asks, "Jayne, Saffron...any thing?"
Frustratedly... Jayne mutters, "nothin' Mal. Not one damn scratch!"
Saffron curses under her breath, "liánméng wú rén jī bèndàn lǘ!"
Mal chuckles hard.
Inara looks disturbed at Saffron. But, Saffron doesn't turn around to notice.
But, Inara thinks River is just sleeping. So, she doesn't say much.
No scratch on the AATSs. Just bits of loose ceramic dust particles around them.
The AATSs electronically whirl their camera eyes on gyro oriented 3-axis gimbals toward Mal's Flying Mule.
Gray side plates of theirs suddenly whirl open...revealing extending out machine guns on gryo oriented 3-axis gimbals.
Zoe calls out, "everybody, hold on!"
She steers the Flying Mule hard up right...crashing through the back ends of some hovercars.
A pileup of hovercars starts to form behind them. But, some hovercars just hover off over the pileup.
Up the highway... The Flying Mule hovers diagonally sideways off the side of a gray pole.
The AATS fire.
A lot of loud choos. Bullets riddle the nearest two poles.
One pole explodes in a dust storm of concrete...covering one of the AATSs in concrete dust.
Its circuits are sparking off like crazy with little fires.
It jerks around and whirls full circle down. But, most of the concrete dust doesn't come off.
It crash lands against the side of the highway...taking down a chunk of highway with it.
It explodes in a pillar of smoke and fire.
Some hovercars are caught in the explosion. Screams from drivers.
Alliance police hovercars and ambulances are speeding to the crash. Whirling sirens.
Meanwhile... The Flying Mule steadies itself upright.
It's about to land on a monorail track.
Jayne faintly laughs. He figures, "yah! Let's see those puffed out fay tyeh follow us...now."
The second AATS is flying over them. It's whirling down its machine guns.
Annoyedly... And, with gritted teeth some... Mal comments, "damnit."
The AATS fires down on the track. A lot of loud choos.
A little teary eyed all a sudden... Zoe mutters under her breath, "gorram!"
Zoe is speeding the Flying Mule down a long curve in the monorail track.
More and more track inches behind them is riddled with bullets.
More falling debris is crashing down behind them. Kicked up concrete dust and electromagnetic sparks.
Then... The AATS whirls its machine guns forward.
There's a rustic pipes styled monorail station just up ahead on the track. Only a few folk are there now though.
The AATS fires...bringing down the monorail entryway in a pile of debris and kicked up dust.
The Flying Mule turns hard back around.
Sounding worried... Zoe asks, "what now, sir?"
Most everyone looks fairly nervous to Mal.
Mal nervously sighs. He admits, "I ain't got a plan now."
All the while though... Jayne takes off one of the magnetic latched custom grenades from Vera.
He loads it into the black mounted grenade launcher.
From the security room's Cortex screen... The AATSs's target locks are over the track around the Flying Mule.
It's about to fire.
Then... Jayne launches the grenade.
There's a big explosion of flash, acid, and smoke.
Near everyone reactively bends down and covers their eyes. Only River already has her eyes closed.
The AATS is burning down fast.
Before it crashes down on the debris back along the track... It explodes in a pillar of fire and smoke.
Everyone except River opens their eyes.
Most of them faintly chuckle and laugh in great relief.
Saffron faintly smiles knowingly to Jayne. She is quick to add, "good shot."
Jayne is looking relieved himself. He concludes, "thanks."
Saffron adds, "sure."
Kind of shook... Inara suddenly realizes, "wait. You knew he had those?"
Saffron tilts her head slightly up.
In a all too casual kind of way... Saffron just says, "yeah. I thought you all knew that. Oh well."
Mal faintly sighs. But, he looks amused.
Most of them faintly chuckle and laugh again.
Soon... The Flying Mule is starting to head back for the docks.
Then... There's some faint static coming from Saffron's pants.
Most everyone kind of stares at her.
Kind of annoyedly... Saffron insists, "I got it. God."
She pulls out the modified two-way radio.
She then realizes she's breathing hard...which is the real reason why most everyone is staring.
Exhausted from standing too long... She finally decides to sit down.
Jayne goes over to her.
He asks, "you all right?"
Saffron briefly puts a sympathetic hand on his.
With a very faint smile... Saffron mostly assures, "thank you gunny. But, I'm okay."
Mal and Zoe faintly shake their heads. They faintly smirk to themselves.
Saffron then presses a button on the two-way radio. A click follows.
She answers the two-way radio, "Kaylee? Are we good to get out of here?"
From the other end... Kaylee is standing in a familiar cockpit.
She's crying. Tears fall from her face.
Between the tears... Kaylee murmurs very nervously, "they...they..."
In concern... Saffron asks, "what's wrong Kaylee?"
Kaylee breathes in and out heavily. She sniffles hard.
Somberly... She explains kind of loudly, "they took Serenity. Hard sniffle! We couldn't got there soon enough. The feds ruttin' took her!"
Zoe stops the Flying Mule.
River is teary eyed and sniffling. But, she opens her eyes.
Teary eyed herself... Inara holds her closer in her lap.
There's a chilling silence in the Flying Mule.
Everyone is looking real nervous. Even Book, Mal, and Saffron are.
Act V
As day is giving way to night...
Mal, Jayne, Inara, and Saffron are back at Saffron and Jayne's residential suite. Or...what's left.
The furniture, wolf skins, and kitchen appliances are gone. The fiberglass wall sections have all been shut down.
All that's left is one view out to the fiberglass window lined hall and one out to the setting sun.
Not long before they came up... Saffron has taken out her Personal Access Cortex Device by the circuit breakers to hack into the security cameras.
She turned off light yellow lines for sections of security cameras to clear a way up for them.
Meanwhile... Inara's shuttle and the Flying Mule are on the docking pad on the roof.
More than a little irritated... Mal presses, "okay Saffron. No crazy time. Why are we back here?"
Jayne looks at Mal funny. But, he doesn't seem to care.
Surprisingly... Saffron doesn't seem phased a bit by Mal's question.
Sounding kind of playful... Saffron answers, "well, that's easy. I still got sixty four million in this room. Faint laugh. You don't have to trust me. But...see for yourself."
Inara and Mal look suspicious at her. But, they don't argue.
Turning to Jayne... Saffron is quick to assure, "I know you love me Jayne. Please don't worry over it."
Jayne faintly smiles. Saffron grins back.
Interestingly... Saffron places her mostly silvery cylinder on a fiberglass wall section.
She pulls back the apparently very light glass wall section, with her hand on her mostly silvery cylinder.
Behind it is a smallish closet.
A thin built mostly light blue black lined wall safe is there. A very light glass wall section behind it makes up a back wall: With a dim 3D printer copy of part of the lit fiberglass wall section from earlier, and turned off brighter color coded lights.
Saffron turns the wall safe dial several times.
It clicks open.
Inside the safe... There's several near whitish blue computer discs with dark red circuitry in plastic sleeves.
Each has a different bank account number. They're each worth fifteen to twenty million credits.
Jayne's grin widens. Mal and Inara look wide eyed in shock.
Mal murmurs, "whoa. Good safe."
Saffron nervously sighs. She suddenly admits, "okay. It's not that easy."
Sharply... Inara says under her breath, "gos se. I knew you couldn't be trusted!"
Solemnly... Saffron tries to be assuring, "please. I'd never do that again to a part of Jayne, and it's with you and your crew Malcolm. I just..."
She nervously sighs. She seems to be getting more nervous by the minute.
Saffron continues, "some of you are really not going to like my plan. But...it's better than just going on the run."
Mal cautiously looks to her. He's crossing his arms as he does.
Inara deeply sighs. But, her expression lightens a little.
Really reluctant... Inara says, "okay. What is this plan of yours I'm not going to like?"
Teary eyed... Saffron explains, "I'm...in good with some corrupt Alliance federal men on Bellerophron. I keep their operations quiet. They give me a backdoor to wipe clean my arrest records. Not past a day. Nervous sigh. They arranged the discs ahead of time for me in case there were arrest warrants for us and Jayne's riches were taken out. But, I had to promise they could keep one with a million credits."
After a bit... Saffron explains more, "after what happened with Durran... Faint sniffle. It's how I kept ahead of The Alliance for so long. I didn't want to tell anyone. Faint sniffle. Please try not to take it a bad way. I really don't like the idea of helping anyone that is Alliance: Even if they like money so much. No one is forcing me. But, if I don't keep working with them...I'll be locked up for good."
She sniffles. Some tears fall from her face, despite her trying to close them away with her eyes.
A little teary eyed... Jayne mutters, "aw hell. You didn't got to go hidin' that. Not from me."
Overcome by her very mixed feelings... Tears keep falling from Saffron's face.
She hugs him close. Jayne hugs her back.
Saffron is looking down over his shoulder. She's hiding most of her face from Inara and Mal.
Some more tears hit the floor.
Solemnly and kind of nervously... Jayne tells her, "it's okay. I love you. That ain't gonna change. All right?"
Then, slowly but surely... Saffron's tears start to stop.
Still not looking out... She very faintly smiles down by his shoulder.
Saffron whispers to him, "thank you Jayne. Thank you so much. Faint sniffle. Always so thoughtful."
Jayne faintly smiles awkwardly to her.
With very mixed feelings... Mal very faintly smiles to himself.
Inara is glaring fiercely Saffron's and Jayne's way. She can't hold back anymore.
Bordering on creepily cheerful... Inara exclaims, "good! I'll lock her up myself if I..."
Jayne whirls around, keeping Saffron behind him.
He draws out Vera.
With a heated glare... Jayne threatens, "I ain't want to kill you Inara. But, if you ain't moving, I ain't joking."
Not even looking away a bit... Inara draws out her pistol.
Mal quickly gets in between them. He puts his hands up.
Mal calls out, "whoa, whoa! Before we all start somethin' we'll mighty regret... Put the guns down now!"
He's shouting very loudly on the last part.
Without a second thought... Jayne nervously puts Vera away.
Inara hesitates.
But... She puts her pistol away.
Saffron breathes a nervous sigh of relief. She's still close by Jayne from behind his shoulder.
Inara deeply sighs. She gets teary eyed.
After a bit... She comments, "unbelievable. Why do you always have to complicate things with her, Mal?! She is corrupt, and you're still protecting her! Stop believing the gos se lies that are her, or I'm leaving."
Breathing hard... And, very frustratedly... Mal mutters back, "I am not takin' sides, damnit! I'm on the side of me and my crew surviving, which I'm not all keen on right now my self on account of what near done happened here. Don't you tell me what to do now."
Undeterred... Inara suggests, "well, if we turn her in, the rest of us could get off easy."
Coldly... Mal shoots back, "and is that going to make Simon, River, me, or Zoe better? Is it now?! 'cause The Alliance already had it in for us long 'fore you got onboard my ship. Is that what you want? Very faint chuckle. 'cause I got to say now: That really don't sound like you, Inara."
Inara looks real stunned. Some tears fall from her face.
Then... Inara storms off...slamming the door shut behind her.
Somewhat uncomfortably... Mal comments, "well...that weren't mighty terrible as I reckoned it was."
Jayne and Saffron are staring at him like he's just gone nuts.
Mal pretends to not notice them staring, turning back to the safe.
Not long after...
A contact of Saffron's from Bellerophron has already brought her a ASREV to borrow.
A shipment crate at the docks was emptied to accommodate the Flying Mule: Until Mal's crew could come back for it.
But, when they and Saffron got to the ASREV... The contact was nowhere to be seen.
No lingering doubt who he or she likely is.
Saffron got in the pilot seat of the ASREV. Jayne got in the co-pilot seat next to her.
Inara, Simon, Kaylee, and River elected to stay on Inara's shuttle. But, Inara's shuttle flew into the black with the ASREV.
The trip to Bellerophron got very quiet very quick.
Late that night, on Bellerophron...
Stars are in the night sky. But, the stars glimmer against the black cast over the Bellerophron Estates.
The ASREV and Inara's shuttle are by a Bellerophron Estate.
The island hovers over the sea waves. The Estate has red tinted window drapes and a massive grass lawn.
Inside the Estate... There's dusty pillars with dark yellow banner with white swirled Alliance symbols.
There's a wide open living room with a stark gray floor, some guest rooms reeking of sweat and dried dark red liquid drips, two mostly white marble bathrooms, and a all too clean looking big bedroom with two silver sheeted beds.
For completely different reasons, Kaylee and Inara want to be alone.
They're in separate guest rooms. But, they are both crouched on beds: Shook and teary eyed.
From the other side of the metallic gray door to Kaylee's room... Nearly everyone tried to talk to her.
But... She just kept saying, "I'm real sorry. Sniffle! I ain't going to feel like comin' out."
Jayne, Saffron, and everyone else very reluctantly let her be.
Mal knew he'd get the same answer from her. So, he didn't even try to talk to Kaylee.
Not long after that... Mal, Wash, Zoe, and Jayne are sitting on the very dark blue couch.
A red lined black Alliance dedicated source box is on a small wood table in front of them. Its almost watery screen isn't up.
Saffron and Book are sitting at a wood table off to the side of the living room. They're just talking.
River is by some bookshelves behind the couch, sitting on the floor. Simon is sitting by her.
River is kind of bent over. Her head is tilted to her right.
She's shivering uncontrollably some. But, she's drawing okay with a purple color pencil on parchment paper.
Sounding calm... And, with a faint smile... Wash remarks, "here's a wacky thought. We're sitting in a big special hot-box, and Saffron is getting ready to turn the heat on us when we're sleeping to kill us. Then, she goes and gets some bounties. Jayne might be too sweaty to chase her. But..."
Not being in a good mood lately... Mal stifles the urge to chuckle hard.
Zoe laughs.
With a faint smile... Zoe comments, "well, now my troubling thought is losing ground."
Glaringly... Jayne says, "now that ain't funny."
Real uncomfortably... Mal is quick to bring up, "this gorram place ain't neither Jayne. She could hear us. But we're all still standing now, and that tells us something."
With a somewhat uneasy look... Jayne offhandedly asks, "thanks?"
Overhearing them... Saffron faintly smirks to herself.
Book wonders, "is something funny?"
Sounding a little amused... Saffron insists, "it's nothing, Book."
Book just says, "uh-huh."
Then... He asks, "did you ever see Paper Trail of the Hollows?"
Saffron very faintly smirks.
A little awkwardly... Saffron says, "I'm sorry. I really like playing parts: It's just more thrilling than a theater."
Book looks kind of amused at her.
He pinpoints, "people perform parts in the theater, Saffron. They just aren't usually around lust."
Saffron shifts her eyes some.
In a mostly serious tone... Saffron asks, "what's your point?"
Book sighs in disbelief. He faintly laughs.
Addressing Mal... Zoe says, "you're right sir. But, if it ain't Jayne and Saffron...who do you think tipped them off?"
Mal says, "I don't mean it ain't possible. But, you think it'd already catch up to them if it did."
Uneasy for another reason... Jayne wonders, "you think it were that big Buddha statue we took, Mal?"
Zoe dryly remarks, "you stole a big statue? Well, that explains everything."
Zoe, Wash, and Mal look kind of amused at Jayne.
Mal concludes, "yeah. Here what is more important: Why couldn't you tell us?"
Jayne explains, "she said it were good insured. Oughta be one like it in that rich folk's pagoda back of his there house."
Sounding a bit better... Mal considers, "maybe. But, he could be carryin' a grudge. We should check it out."
Slightly off circles of high purple peaks come together to form three overlapping circles for River's drawing.
Simon wonders, "they're high frequency soundwaves?"
River is shivering more. But, she faintly nods.
Nervously all a sudden... River says, "hers. Not mi..."
Then... Mal checks, "what about Simon?"
Jayne laughs. He points out, "aw, him? He ain't the kind to go off shootin' people, Mal. That's me."
Wash adds, "you're right. He's not."
Somewhat uncomfortably... Mal highlights, "right. He ain't that kind of man. But...he did go to a heap of trouble to get River out. Wouldn't be the only time he mooned The Alliance for someone he really cared for."
Zoe is in the middle of saying, "that is...true."
There's a loud scream.
Mal, Zoe, Wash, Jayne, Book, and Saffron swiftly get up.
They look behind the couch.
Simon calls out worriedly, "River?!"
The colored pencil has fallen on the floor.
River's shivers have turned to shaking. Violent uncontrollable shaking.
She's still screaming. She's reactively covering her ears to something.
Simon is already rushing for his med kit.
Zoe murmurs in shock, "oh my god."
Everyone looks shocked.
Mal and Zoe go to River's side.
They restrain River down and facing up to try to keep her steady. But, it doesn't seem to be helping much.
Simon is coming fast with his hypo-gun.
Then... River stops screaming.
She has some dark red liquid dripping from her ears. But, the violent shaking stops.
River sniffles hard. And, she starts to cry.
Tensely... Simon asks, "what happened?"
Suddenly... Saffron cries out, "god!"
Everyone except River turns back to her.
A audio Alli-ray disc has just been ejected from the Alliance dedicated source box. It's on the floor.
Saffron is bent over it, shaking. She sniffles hard.
Some tears fall over the Alli-ray disc.
Fairly shook... Jayne calls out, "Saffron?"
Saffron doesn't answer.
Jayne tries to catch up to her. But, she fast walks faster down the hall.
She goes through a bedroom door...slamming it shut behind her.
Jayne mutters something in hard to hear Chinese.
He takes his frustration out on part of a wall. But, it just makes his fist sore.
Mal, Zoe, and Book look to the hall. They notice the hall floor wet with Saffron's tears.
In mixed feelings... Mal mutters, "Wèishéme zài zhè jié jīng wénzhōng tā lā zhège húndàn jìliǎng?"
River's tears are falling less and less now.
Teary eyed... Simon checks, "River? Are you okay now?"
River sits up. She very faintly nods.
She moves her hands down from her ears. They're covered in most of the dark red liquid drips.
Somberly... River realizes, "she's afraid: Of me. Faint sniffle. Was only trying to protect her brain from mine. Don't know if... Faint sniffle. ...if she's less of a liar."
Simon very faintly smiles in acknowledgment. He faintly sniffles.
He goes to one of the bathrooms to get a towel wet. It's to help wash away the dark red liquid on River's hands.
Interestingly... Zoe and Wash seem to have vanished from sight of the others.
There's a very nervous silence between Mal, Book, and Jayne.
Addressing Jayne... Mal asks, "Jayne. Did you know of this?"
Jayne moderately sighs. He uncomfortably admits, "she told me not to tell anyone, Mal."
Mal heavily sighs.
Kind of nervous... Book points out, "left alone long enough, her fear will make her worse. Someone has to talk to her."
Dead serious... Jayne figures, "I oughta talk to her. I could go with her Mal. We ain't would be near trouble to your crew."
Mal very faintly smiles. But, it just as quickly fades from his face.
With some mixed feelings... Mal considers, "that's a mighty good gesture, coming from you. But, I don't think it has to come to it Jayne. 'sides, you still with a "legendary" bounty your self. I ought to least go in 'fore you do."
Sounding shook still... Jayne just says, "okay."
And, with that... Mal walks to the closed bedroom door.
From the other side of the door... Saffron is sitting on the edge of the backmost bed.
More silent tears fall from her face. She's bent over, still shaking something fierce.
Mal knocks on the door.
Bordering on casual... Mal calls, "Yo-Saf-Bridge..."
Sounding solemn... Saffron murmurs lowly, "go away!"
Mal concludes, "I could kick the door in. But, I don't think neither of us is keen on the idea. So..."
Saffron sighs kind of defeatedly. She sniffles loudly.
She goes over to the door. She cautiously unlocks it.
Mal comes in. He closes and locks the door behind him.
He sees her back on the edge of the backmost bed: Bent over, shaking, and silently crying.
A little teary eyed... Mal heavily sighs.
He uncomfortably sits next to her.
Without looking up... Saffron says, "you loving seeing me like this? Sniffle! I'm not."
Silent tears keep falling.
Mal tries to be assuring, "River says you only did it to try to protect your self. But, it seem that's all she read."
Saffron faintly laughs. She comments, "really? Sniffle! I'm not sure of that."
Saffron sits up straight. But, she looks straight ahead at the door.
Saffron thinks out loud, "I'm really sorry. Sniffle! I don't hate her. It's hard to imagine what The Alliance did to her. But...she could kill me easy. Sniffle! How the hell does your crew keep well: Around her, knowing that?"
Mal faintly smiles. He reflects, "my crew has been down this road. But, River ain't never shot us. What does that tell you?"
Saffron concludes, "sorry. Sniffle! It's thoughtful of you to try Malcolm. But...it's not helping."
There's a very awkward silence.
Mal says, "well, Saphra...you have a choice to make. You can be weepy with Jayne to comfort you for a while...much as that's still mighty painful for me to be admitting to..."
With a sharp glare... Saffron mutters back, "please don't make me kick you. Sniffle! All this time, and I still love you hunny. But, I don't love you enough to not do it."
Some silent tears fall from Saffron's face as she says it.
Mal looks somewhat stunned. He nervously gulps.
Like he didn't just hear that though... Mal continues, "...or you and me can go back to get Serenity 'fore Alliance checks her come afternoon. I still really ain't sure of trusting you. But, it better than stayin' near someone you don't want readin' you and near murdering each other."
Saffron nervously sighs. But, the teariness in her eyes starts to dry up.
She faintly smiles. She laughs.
Sounding better... Saffron says, "thrilling. When do we go?"
With a very faint smile... Mal figures, "we go soon as I conjure we does. But, I'm piloting."
Saffron just says, "all right."
Mal gets up.
He walks out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He finds Jayne, Zoe, and Wash gathered in the living room.
Zoe looks frozen. She's teary eyed.
With concern... Mal asks, "what the hell are...? Zoe?!"
Wash looks concerned too. Jayne looks really tense and kind of nervous.
Wash is about to say something. But...the late night news wave beats him to it.
Over the Bellerophron Estate's dedicated Source Box's almost watery screen... A ANS news announcer with medium silver dyed hair is reading off of a black dedicated Source Box.
The newsroom is done up in a gray lantern styled plaza: With bright Japanese and Chinese lantern styled sunlamps oriented sideways.
On Chinese, Japanese, and dubbed in English tracks... The announcer is in the middle of reading, "...killed many good people. But, for the good of The Alliance, we cleaned out the military factories on Verbena first."
All the while... And, in a almost watery side screen... Black and white security camera footage was playing...of assembly lines of second generation Alliance skiffs exploding in a fireball of wrath.
Shards of metal, chains, pulleys, and conveyor belts were strewn at Companion police and Alliance police.
Screams came from burning bodies. Static from the security footage takes up the side screen more and more.
Through the smoke and fire... Shadows of figures were coming with shotguns.
Alliance and Companion police were trying to aim at the coming shadows with their sonic rifles.
But...the shadows were aiming faster.
Some dark red liquid splatter hits the camera footage. More screams.
The announcer looks shaken.
Teary eyed... The announcer is adding, "but, fortunately... Faint sniffle. This war with these terrorists is over. Thanks to the quick work of our good Alliance soldiers and operatives, there were very little deaths."
By the side... The security camera footage gives way to a full color news broadcast from several hours ago.
From government complexes in Londinium to fancy government meeting rooms of Shinon... Two hundred fifty Graycoats and Browncoats were drawing out their copper lined dusty brown repeating rifles with armor piercing shells.
Tens of former Companion police and former Companion Bodyguards were with them: With silk pink to brown sleeveless dresses, and copper lined dusty brown repeating rifles of their own.
They were all looking creepily satisfied.
Panic and security alarms swept the streets and halls.
But, just as the terrorist movement was about to fire... There were very low choos.
Most of them were knocked hard to the ground by sonic rifles. Their guns went flying with loud thuds.
Some fled back into the shadows.
Some Alliance police were shot dead on the ground as they fled.
But... Alliance police and Alliance agents were forcing most of the movement up to be taken into custody.
Zoe very nervously sighs. A silent tear falls from her face.
Looking away from the screen... Zoe somewhat slowly turns to finally face Mal.
And... Zoe reveals, "I know what tipped the feds off unintended. That weren't never my plan. But... Sniffle. I take full responsibility, sir."
Mal is wide eyed and open mouthed...completely shocked.
Act VI
Then, with a dead serious glare... He draws out his shotgun.
Tensely and teary eyed... Jayne asks, "what the ruttin' gorram are ya doing Mal?"
Without even looking to him... Mal tells him, "Jayne: Go talk to Saffron."
Jayne interestingly hesitates.
But... He kind of fast walks to the left unlocked bedroom door.
All the while... Zoe hasn't even gone to draw out her custom made rifle.
She nervously looks down. She nervously gulps.
Glaringly... Wash argues, "first off, I'm reasonable certain I take her at her word that any dying 'cause of her was not intended. And second... Oh right. I don't care what she has done Mal: She's still my wife!"
Mal is still aiming his shotgun at Zoe. But, he nervously gulps himself.
Dead serious... Zoe insists, "honey, I love you. But, I take full responsibility."
Incredulously and teary eyed... Wash shoots back, "Gāisǐ de suǒyǒu xíngxīng hé tàikōng rén! He will kill you. Am I sudden the only one who cares for you?!"
Near a week earlier, in Inara's shuttle...
Inara was standing over a muscular Alliance soldier.
His name was Ephraim. He had medium frontless sandy blond hair and was down to his light green shorts.
He was lying on the edge of her bed.
Inara was massaging a nerve cluster by the back of his neck as he was lying on his back.
The bed sheet seemed to be a wave of melted down faint red candles. Smoke from incense was all the cloudier.
With no hidden contempt... Ephraim muttered, "still hunting the same Independents for the same "unified peace". Not that the Dust Devils ever bother to wear one uniform."
Somewhat nervously... Inara asked, "Dust Devils?"
Ephraim groaned in pleasurable relief by Inara's hands.
Ephraim was saying, "thank you. I feel a world better."
With some mixed feelings... Inara was adding, "you're welcome. Would you prefer to talk now?"
Ephraim faintly nodded. But, he didn't go to get up either.
Inara moved her hands away.
Then... Ephraim was recollecting, "radicals who see arresting Private Declan and making a third generation military skiff as unforgiveable. They killed Lieutenant Quillian and many other good people in their way. Now, the Dust Devils are making it known by wave they'll blow up factories across the Verse if they go ahead with the AATSs."
He deeply sighed.
Teary eyed... Inara just stood there: Not wanting to interrupt the rest of his thought.
But, in his presence... She couldn't help but let a deep sigh escape from her lips.
After a bit... Ephraim continued, "I'm one of the special soldiers being sent out to not forgive: To bring something of a unified peace out of a always changing battlefield."
Inara was admitting solemnly, "I hope for peace as well Ephraim. But, I wish there wasn't any war."
Ephraim faintly chuckled. He was commenting, "don't we all in The Alliance?"
With a very faint smile... Inara was concluding, "don't we all in the universe."
Presently...
With very mixed feelings... Zoe explains, "you ain't understanding me, Wash. I...was aiming to take down The Alliance for good before they could shoot their military skiffs first. I were one of the Browncoats the Dust Devils asked for more weapons. But, I volunteered takin' it further with my money. Got them access codes, Graycoats, fake IDs, even custom rifles I designed to carry it out. Sniffle. I knew Mal wouldn't take kind to the idea: 'cause to him, it ain't war when they ain't shooting at you. I was going to keep it from him. But... Sniffle. It didn't work out as planned."
Four days earlier, off by the Eavesdown Docks...
The dust was all the dustier. The White Sun above was all the more blindingly bright.
Zoe was meeting with a former Companion police officer with medium dark brown curly hair, a silk brown sleeveless, dress, a gold stone necklace, and long gray boots.
Zoe was faintly smiling.
She was opening a faint red shipment crate to show her what's inside.
The Dust Devil disturbingly grinned.
For, inside...were hundreds of copper lined dusty brown repeating rifles with armor piercing shells.
Presently...
Very coldly... Mal says, "you're damn right it didn't, Corporeal."
Shook with it all... Wash murmurs, "oh god."
There's another nerve wracking silence.
Then... Slowly but surely... Mal lowers his shotgun.
Wash breathes a heavy sigh of relief. Zoe breathes a moderate sigh of relief.
Sounding somber now... Mal reflects, "crazy thing is plain murder didn't happen: Not the way I see it anyhow. I honest really hope there ain't to be a next time, Zoe: Cause then I will shoot you. I hate The Alliance too. But, you didn't even think to warn much anyone else 'side from me. Did you now?"
Zoe concludes firmly, "to your regret and mine, sir. I was careless. The money got too good."
Wash puts a sympathetic arm around her side. He kind of loudly sniffles.
Mal very faintly nods. He faintly sniffles.
Mal says, "it's good you can admit to it. It could have been one of Inara's friends in The Alliance, one of our contacts... Could have been another Browncoat caught in the line of fire."
After a bit... Mal decides, "you could still be part of my crew. But, you are no longer Corporal. Dong ma?"
Zoe finds it hard to look up.
She's a little teary eyed still. She heavily sighs.
Unwaveringly firm... Zoe concludes, "I ain't to be this careless next time. I still want to serve with you, sir."
Sounding a little better... Mal just says, "good. Stay with Wash. I'm goin' back to get Serenity."
Not feeling like saying much else... Zoe just says, "okay."
Mal kind of fast walks back to the bedroom door.
With some mixed feelings... Mal comments, "you been peerin' the whole gorram while."
Kind of awkwardly... Saffron and Jayne are standing out in the doorway: Ready with their most favorite guns.
Suddenly... Saffron faintly laughs.
With a faint smirk... She suggests, "please don't blame Jayne. I'll take the credit for worryin' about you."
Jayne faintly smirks to himself.
Mal annoyedly sighs.
He says, "let's go, Saffron."
He's already starting to walk down the hall as he does.
Soon... Mal and Saffron are walking out to the ASREV.
Mal starts piloting the ASREV back into the black. Saffron is sitting next to him in the co-pilot seat.
There's a nervous silence.
Surprisingly solemn... Saffron concludes, "you don't got to tell me, Malcolm. But...I understand. It must be hard on you: With you war buddy bonded."
Mal doesn't say much. But, he very faintly chuckles over it.
Saffron just very faintly smiles to herself.
As night is giving way to the dawn of day...
Serenity is docked in a mostly tan blue construction site styled warehouse, not far from the Evavesdown Docks.
Alliance agents haven't even been guarding Serenity more than a minute...when some loud explosions go off.
A hole is blown through the wall with some grenades.
Then... Mal's Flying Mule comes speeding in.
Mal stops the Flying Mule.
Mal draws out his shotgun. Saffron draws out her handgun.
One of the Alliance agents starts to call out, "stand down, or we will shoot!"
Mal glares. And, he says, "not the plan."
He speeds the Flying Mule one handed...right through several Alliance agents.
They double over on their heavily bruised sides. They're coughing violently.
Saffron creepily widely smiles. She remarks, "yeah. Now it's like old times."
With some loud choos... The several Alliance agents left shoot at them with gray pistols.
But... Most of the bullets hit the side of the speeding around Flying Mule instead.
With a loud choo and a moderately loud choo... Mal and Saffron shoot back.
All the Alliance agents fall dead, with hints of dark red liquid splatter.
Not long after...
Saffron and Mal have the Flying Mule in Serenity's cargo hold.
Mal is in the pilot seat in Serenity's cockpit. Saffron is sitting in the opposite seat from him.
They checked Serenity's systems. It's all in good condition.
Mal pilots Serenity out through the wide open warehouse garage styled door.
There's a calm silence.
Without even looking to the side... Mal comments firmly, "we still ain't married, Saffron."
A little put off... Saffron concludes, "I'm not exclusive and neither is Jayne. But, it's okay. Although I don't really understand why you would, you love Inara and not me."
Mal faintly chuckles. He kind of sarcastically says, "yeah. Good clearing up."
He briefly turns to her as he does.
Saffron rolls her eyes amusedly at him. She faintly smiles.
Serenity keeps on flying through the black...coming back out to a clear blue sky over Bellerophron.
Late that day, back in the Bellerophron Estate's living room...
Inara is sitting on the couch. Saffron is sitting on the other end.
Between them is a laminated flat light green folder filled with papers.
Really uneasy... Saffron asks, "I thought you really hate me. Now you're looking at me like I'm your new best friend. Just tell me: Why are you really here, Inara?"
All the while, Inara is smiling confidently.
Inara concludes, "well, as I'm soon to become Mal's first mate on Serenity..."
Inara suddenly deeply sighs. The smile fades from her face.
Inara admits, "it hurts for me to admit to. But, we're still in the middle of a Alliance crackdown. I looked. But...you're the best person we can turn to now."
With a very faint amused smile... Saffron adds, "really?"
With her returning confident smile... Inara highlights, "yes. We want compensation for our crew to get by for a month: Out of the five million Mal gave you. But, for certain, you get to keep sixty eight million credits. We want your help in arresting those federal officer bastards. Oh. And, it also looks like you don't have all the credits you require for your graduation from a secret life as a Companion...Verity."
A washing wave of mixed feelings floods through Saffron's teary eyes. The smile fades from her face.
Saffron exclaims lowly, "you Māmā dì dìyù! You got blackmail on me!"
Inara faintly chuckles at the first part. She says, "yes. But, it won't have to be for the first two things."
A little teary eyed still... Saffron murmurs under her breath, "oh god! What is the third thing?"
Inara explains, "two weeks with me for psychological observation under the appearance of applying to be a Companion: Even though it won't be to the Academy. Me and Mal still aren't sure about trusting you. I thought this was the best way we could know. He thought it was a good idea."
Saffron goes on, "augh! I'm actually okay with turning in those bastard Alliance guys. But... God: I hate this!"
Saffron nervously sighs into her hands.
After a bit... Saffron looks up.
Cuttingly... Inara says, "I know honey. But, how often do I get to play you?"
Saffron sharply glares back.
But, interestingly... Saffron says, "fine! I promised Jayne I won't go after his crew. That's why I haven't just taken you out. You'll get everything you want. Although, for the third thing...I have three easy conditions."
Inara looks somewhat shook by the first part. But, it seems short lived.
Inara wonders, "yes Saffron?"
Saffron proposes, "that this is just a one time thing. That you don't lock me in a fei-oo trash bin again. And... Faint sniffle. Please: You and Mal keep your psychological guffaw to yourselves."
A little uncertain... Inara concludes, "all right. We just made a deal. But...you sure I shouldn't even tell Jayne?"
Real nervous... Saffron insists, "please don't. If he knew it all... Sniffle! He'd look at me like Durran did."
Some silent tears fall from her face, despite her trying to hold them back with closed eyes.
Inara thinks out loud, "I understand. I won't tell him." Saffron says at a near whisper, "thank you."
Inara gets up.
She starts to walk out of the room. But, she just as quickly turns around with a hand out.
And... Inara says, "I'd still like that folder before I go. Please."
Saffron frustratedly sighs. But, the teariness in her eyes has started to dry up.
She takes back out a certain laminated folder she just hid from under the couch cushions.
She reluctantly hands it back to Inara.
With a faint smile... Saffron comments, "still...you can't blame a hot girl like me for tryin'."
Inara just rolls her eyes annoyedly back at Saffron before leaving the room.
That night, in Inara's shuttle...
Inara and Kaylee are sitting on Inara's couch. They're facing each other.
Kaylee heavily sighs. But, she isn't much teary eyed now.
Nervously... Kaylee wonders, "Inara...you sure I could still give him love proper? One day was all it took for our riches to be all gone."
Inara very faintly solemnly smiles. She points out, "I don't send a wave of Companion lessons to just any one, Kaylee. When that day comes, you'll be ready to. Believe me: I know you will."
Inara puts a sympathetic hand on hers as she does.
Kaylee faintly smiles. No more hints of a tear.
Kaylee says, "that's pretty of you to say, Inara."
Inara smiles brightly. She assures, "it's my pleasure, Kaylee."
Meanwhile, in a wide open pipe of bent full circle pipelines...
The wide open pipe looks out to stars in the night sky.
A downward dome of gray pipelines holds a jungle gym, full of spiraling around wide open pipes just like it.
No young folk are around this time of night. But, dried mucus and cobwebs lie here and there.
Jayne and Saffron are sitting on the edge of the wide open pipe above, looking out.
They're both sweaty some from playing around the pipes.
They very awkwardly smile and smirk. It's like bad news was coming near and they didn't want to see it.
Trying to lighten things more... Saffron asks, "how is Kaylee?"
Jayne smirks. He concludes, "she all right now. She don't like what ruttin' happened with her business. But, she's happy for helping folks with her business while it were runnin'."
Solemnly all a sudden... Saffron adds, "good."
Saffron sighs nervously. She gets teary eyed.
Uncomfortably... Jayne asks, "we got to talk now 'bout why you ran off?"
Saffron admits, "I'm really sorry. It was idiotic. Faint sniffle. I'm... Very faint laugh. I'm so used to getting out good on my own...I don't really think about it 'till you or Malcolm are looking at me like that."
Jayne comments offhandedly, "another thing to ruttin' watch out for. Faint laugh. Still..."
Sounding curious and a little better already all at once... Saffron wonders, "yeah gunny?"
She turns to face him as she does. The teariness in her eyes starts to dry up.
Jayne faintly grins. He reveals, "when I grown up, I dreamt of getting to be captain: Wearin' a fancible green and gold uniform, big damn ship, and plenty of women on it."
Saffron playfully smiles. She comments, "I'd love to be on that ship. Even if it's just playing parts with me as your lieutenant."
Jayne kind of creepily grins. He laughs.
They're soon pulling each other close. And, Saffron gets her arms wrapped around his side.
Jayne continues, "It were good 'nough with the crew you got. Least I thought it then. Faint laugh. Hell, when we were talking 'bout security codes with the Lassiter, I couldn't stop thinking on ya."
Saffron blushes a little. She adds, "thank you. That is touching."
Kind of awkwardly... Jayne concludes, "thanks. Today...there somethin' I ain't real saw before."
Lightly... Saffron wonders, "what is it, gunny?"
Jayne voices, "well...I thinking we might ain't need a crew. Faint laugh. Hell, we could run any...gorram ship."
Saffron grins wide. That is...until he sounds very nervous on the last part.
Sounding nervous too... Saffron kind of assures him, "I know: The bounty. Sniffle. We can't stay together one on one as flesh without gettin' caught. But, I know this: I love you. I never ever want to survive long without you. But... Faint laugh. But, if Malcolm can't find one, I will find a way to take all the bounties I can away. Hell, I will take over the whole ruttin' Alliance and run it to the ground if I got to!"
Jayne creepily grins on the last part.
But, for some reason... He suddenly starts looking very annoyed.
Before Saffron can say anything else... Jayne figures, "aw hell! At this here rate, the crew will be up and bringin' me out 'fore we can get sexed already."
Saffron laughs in amusement. She remarks, "all right gunny. Let's have ourselves a "wedding night"."
She undoes her bra right there. She lets it fall off the side of the wide open pipe.
Forgetting much else... They soon have their most favorite guns aimed at each other's heads while making out.
But, just before they start making out... Jayne thinks back to something Mal recently told him:
The arm of the Alliance could be gotten longer: Faces like ours. But, I know somethin' now.
Keeping Serenity flyin'... Keeping my crew together... Faint chuckle. That's the only fantasy I real need.
It ain't just from a place of wishes Jayne. It's working and hopin'...living for better days.
Loosely Written But Still Based On:
The comic mini-series Better Days by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews
Post Wave Episode Disclaimer:
Paper Trail of the Hollows is a made up title. Any resemblance of a pop culture reference is pretty coincidental.
Loading... Recovering from the Cortex...
Credit for the 2-parter pilot episode Dead or Alive for Can't Take the Sky From Us Goes To:
Even More Loosely Written But Still Based On(promise):
The unaired Dead or Alive episode transcript by Cheryl Cain; but only never got into production because of Firefly's cancellation by Fox(tell 'em we ain't coming back, 2002 Fox executives trying to get Lost in Space instead)