Serenity landed haphazardly; narrowly avoiding the other vessels and businesses that were crammed around the untidy dock. The small country was not a bustling metropolis that was typical of Beaumonde; it held instead a mass of relatively small complexes and houses surrounded by bushland that blended with the urban life. Mal gripped the control console as the ship's engines cut and the last five centimetres of ground were squashed beneath the bulk of the vessel.
"We down?" he asked Wash.
"I'd say so," Wash muttered, casting a despairing eye over his fallen dinosaur models.
"Excellent. I'm gonna go check in with Shepherd; see if he's made contact yet. You right to get the mule up and runnin'?"
"Sure thing!" Wash clicked the controls into place; checking that the dock was secure and followed Mal downstairs. They passed Simon and Kaylee and River who were fussing around Madeline, trying to make sure she was warm enough.
"Its 26 degrees out there, she'll be fine!" Mal yelled to them. Kaylee looked up indignantly, but he was gone before she could reply. Mal knocked forcefully on Book's door.
"Shepherd, you in there?" he called. He heard Shuffling around before opening the door.
"Captain," Book was beaming, "I was just about to come find you. I've waved Justin- the man in charge," he elaborated quickly as the frown creased Mal's forehead.
"Ah, good new?" Mal asked hopefully. Book nodded.
"They're still in the same place. All we have to do is head-"
"They're in the same place?" Mal repeated, "You mean after all this time they haven't moved?"
Book closed his mouth as though ridding himself of his unfinished sentence before answering.
"Justin has always thought it would be suspicious for a large group of people and equipment to be moving around too often. So far this strategy hasn't led them astray." Mal shrugged but still looked as though he thought it was foolhardy.
"What I was saying," Shepherd quickly changed Mal's focus, "was that he's agreed to meet us… you and the others I mean. I'll be able to take us there; it's not too far. Seems he heard about us breaking Madeline out; he's excited to meet you. They have a very intricate connection Mal," shepherd regarded the captain seriously; "they'll be able to get you almost any information from inside the academy."
Mal nodded and crossed his arms.
"You sure these guys are on the level?" he asked solemnly, staring Book straight in the eye.
"I am." Book said with utmost sincerity. Mal exhaled through his nostrils.
"Alright. I trust you, which means I trust them. I hope you're right."
"I am." Shepherd said simply. Mal muttered to himself as he walked away.
The cargo bay was a mess of activity. Zoe and Wash had successfully organised the quad bike so it would run with their trailer and Simon was making sure River could sit down with the wheelchair rest lightly on her. Mal watched them amusedly before clumping down the stairs; his hands resting lightly on the railings.
"We almost all set?" he asked the crowd. Kaylee swung Madeline up onto her shoulders.
"Should be," Zoe slammed the gas valve on the bike shut and straightened up. "You're ready to leave."
"And you and Jayne?"
"Wash'll come back for us once he knows the way," Zoe confirmed. Mal clapped his hands together.
"Excellent. We'll wait for Preacher to get down and then we can head. You guys gonna resupply while Wash's out?"
"Yes sir," Zoe said, smiling at Wash. Mal rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, okay. Just make sure you're concentrating when you do that," he glowered slightly. Wash looked sheepishly up.
"Shepherd!" Mal cupped his hands around his mouth in an attempt to make his voice carry, "we're waitin' on you. Mind hurryin' yourself up?"
"I'm coming!" The Shepherd's deep voice floated down. Mal glared to himself. River was gripping the edge of the trailer. Simon was in too; his arms outstretched as Kaylee passed Madeline to him. The girl found her feet and scampered over to River. She wrapped her arms around her big sister and looked up with her wide blue eyes, hiding her mouth with her arms.
"It's alright mei-mei," River hugged her; "we're only going out. I'll keep you safe." Simon gripped Kaylee's hand and helped her over. She looked up gratefully.
"Thanks," she said, pushing her hair out of her face. Simon grinned.
"That's fine," He mumbled. Kaylee smiled back and the two sat down. Mal leant against the quad bike, staring grumpily up and waiting for Book. The shepherd came down the stairs shortly after and climbed into the trailer. Madeline whimpered and moved to hide between Simon and River. Book's face fell but he did not react more for fear of frightening her further. River looked apologetically over at him while trying to comfort her. Book motioned with his hand to say it was alright. Mal slid in next to Wash.
"Great. Let's not be dawdling no more." He motioned Wash to go. Zoe waved after them as the bike roared into the town and the doors of serenity slid shut.
The quad bike pulled up on the near edge of the town; outside a crumbling shack with folded wire fencing. Wash raised his eyebrows. Mal stared. The house backed onto the bush; trees brushed at the shattered windows and hang over the roof. Broken tiles littered the front yard and the wood of the porch was rotten and holes announced its usefulness.
"Huh." Mal tilted his head as tough it would make a difference.
"Yeah…" Wash imitated his motion.
"Preacher?" Mal asked, "You sure this is the place?"
"Looks the same as it did years ago," Book said, beaming. He pushed himself up and stepped down out of the trailer; standing and looking at the house. The others sat in shock for a moment before following suit.
"So… people actually live in there?" Wash asked, crossing his arms.
"Intelligent infiltrator-type people?" Mal mused. Book looked around.
"Of course not!" Book raised his eyebrows, "not in there! The real action's out back!"
Simon gaped uncertainly. Mal looked disbelievingly at the house. Madeline hid her head against River's knee and whispered that she heard ghosts. River lifted her.
"Can't say I blame her," Kaylee muttered. Mal grunted his agreement and moved to follow Book. Simon stepped carefully over the bent wiring as Kaylee and he lifted River over in the wheelchair. She gripped the wheels looking scared. With some bumping and do overs they eventually set the chair on the ground and hurried to join the others. Book led them through the front door; pausing as Mal helped lift River over the unstable porch. The house was dark and must made the air stuffy as it hit their noses. Kaylee coughed into her sleeve. Book stopped them all halfway down the hallway; holding his hand up over his shoulder. Mal stumbled slightly.
"Pure blue sky!" Book called into the house; cupping his hands around his mouth.
"And the sun made it dark!" A voice replied.
"So that we fight," Book concluded, suddenly solemn. The group minus Book jumped slightly as a man dressed entirely in black emerged from one of the crumbling side walls.
"Derrial!" he exclaimed happily. Book was laughing and met the other man gladly; slapping him on the back in greeting.
"It's good to see you too, Mark," he said happily. The crew stood in the background; feeling slightly awkward at the reunion.
"How long's it been?" Mark was beaming.
"Long enough," Book said. Mark laughed and nodded.
"And who've you dragged in here?" Mark looked around Book's shoulder; examining the crew. Mal stood straighter and attempted to look imposing.
"Oh, uh…" Book turned to him; still smiling, "you want to introduce yourself, captain?"
"Malcolm Reynolds." Mal leant forward and held out his hand. Mark took it enthusiastically, shaking it so much that Mal nearly fell over.
"Pleasure," Mark beamed.
"Yeah," Mal withdrew his arm, "and behind me there's Kaylee, Jayne, Wash, Simon and River." The crew acknowledged themselves when Mal mentioned them; Kaylee waved slightly.
"River?" Marl asked in disbelief, "You mean… the kid who got out?"
"The one and… well, not only any more-"
"That's amazing!" Mark strode past Book and bent down til he was eye level with River.
"I'm really honoured," he said, awed. River looked puzzled.
"Uh…" Simon muttered. Mark looked up.
"You must be her brother!" he stood up and shook Simon's hand, "you're the one who got her out, right?"
"Yes…" Simon raised his eyebrows.
"Wow," Mark beamed, "that's really… wow."
"Mark?" Shepherd called, freeing River and Simon from the man's gaze, "would you mind taking us to Justin? We need to talk to him."
"Oh yeah, sure!" Mark sprung back and headed down the hall. Mal watched him.
"They all like that?" he asked Book.
"Mark's young," Book whispered as they started down the hall. Mal nodded.
"I couldn't tell," he muttered. Book chuckled slightly. The crew followed Book out of the house. The backyard was full of spiny grass and small holes as the hardened clumps of dirt had been misplaced. Madeline looked over River's shoulders, squinting at the sunlight. Mark led them across the backyard into the bush. He looked behind him with concern.
"You guys might have a bit of trouble with that chair," he said worriedly.
"We'll get it," Mal signalled Jayne and the two of them took either side of the wheelchair.
"hold on there darlin'," Mal told River. Kaylee lifted Madeline into her arms. Mal signalled Jayne and they lifted the chair onto their shoulders. The group stomped through the bush.
"We're almost there," Mark said happily. The trees suddenly gave way into a group of kaki marquees. Masses of computers and wires hummed in the small space as people tended to them and Maps hung in trees with pins dotted all around them. Printers spat out sheets of paper and a whiteboard covered in notes fluttered in the machines exhaust. Mal and Jayne placed River's chair back on the ground as they looked around. Book gestured them to keep going as they wound their way through the narrow clear paths. Mark showed them through to a relatively empty tent with only one computer and a large poster of blueprints.
"Justin?" Mark called happily, "you got visitors!"
A man rose from the computer, his hair so dark that Mal hadn't even seen him. His face was roughly shaven; small flecks of black adorned his chin. His hair fell just past his shoulders but his face was friendly.
"Book!" he exclaimed, throwing his arm around Shepherd's shoulders, "Gee it's been a long time! How've you been? Keeping out of trouble?"
"As much as possible," Book chuckled.
"Fair enough," Justin slapped him on the back and moved over the Mal.
"And you'd be Captain Reynolds?" he asked.
"That I would." Mal grinned.
"Great, great. Lovely to meet you. Now I believe you folk have some questions for me?"
"We'd be after some info, if you're willin' to share," Mal stated. Justin nodded.
"Not a problem, we'll give you what we can. But I wouldn't mind hearing your stories if'n you've got the time and the want," Justin said hopefully, "I'd love to hear some of your ventures."
"Sounds like a fair exchange," Mal held his hand out. Justin took it.
"Great."
"Simon, if you wouldn't mind stayin' with me to help with your side?" Mal asked, "Wash you can head back and get Zoe, Kaylee you wanna take the girl and keep her clam-ish?"
"I'll do what I can. We'll have fun, won't we?" she sat Madeline on her hip and smiled at her. Madeline looked at her, blinking slowly.
"River, you mind stayin' with your brother and me?"
"No," River said quietly. Mal grasped her shoulder.
"alrighty then," Mal turned back to Justin. Book sat beside River and Simon slid the breaks down on her chair. Mal watched him before the two launched into their story.
