Can't Take the Sky From Us:
A Firefly Fanfiction Episode Collection
A Mixed Blessing On Us All:
Teaser
The Georgia star is bright out.
There's a Border Planet called Prophet. The moons Perdido and Dunny orbit it.
There's plenty of desert and storms. But, the worst of the storms stay in clusters.
The storm clusters can be seen from orbit, giving off a yellowish tint from the lightning flashes.
Right past the lightning flashes though? There's moderate heat on Prophet and quite some patches of grass.
The planet is mostly desert. There are western towns, horses, cattle, a thriving glass trade, and four mostly wood and crate styled water towers over the most centered patch of grassland.
Prophet's two moons have more desert and no storm clusters. But...that's not where lightning is striking soon.
On Prophet, in a rundown bar...
Mal brings up, "you can check. We delivered the goods."
The view cuts back...showing a man standing from behind the bar counter.
His name is Raymond. He's facing Mal.
Raymond is wearing black pants, a black cowboy hat, a green vest, and a yellow and white striped buttoned shirt.
Mal is wearing a tan brown undershirt and his usual trousers.
Raymond's gang, Mal, Jayne, and Zoe are the only ones gathered in the bar at this hour of day.
Zoe is wearing her dark blue buttoned T-shirt. Jayne is wearing his hat, his dark green open army jacket, and his T-shirt with a hurled army boot shrouded by a sand storm on it.
Two more men in all black pry open two crates with crowbars.
One of them has a smoking cigar in his mouth. He also has medium frontless black hair.
The other wears a white lined darkish green cowboy hat.
The two of them force open the top of the crates.
The crates have plenty of wine and liquor bottles, some shotguns, and two piles of hay around them all.
The second gang member informs, "everything be shiny, Raymond."
The third gang member laughs. The second gang member faintly grins. Raymond faintly smirks.
Raymond adds, "good."
Mal is in the midst of saying, "yeah. Good...business."
Suddenly... He, Jayne, and Zoe notice the third gang member aiming a Blue Sun sonic rifle at them.
Before they can fully draw their weapons... A loud choo is heard.
A woman from behind the bar counter has just shot someone in the side with a rustic very dark brown shotgun.
Raymond falls with a sickening thud...slumping against the back of the bar counter.
He's coughing up dark red liquid.
A trail of dark red liquid starts seeping through his clothes.
His vision is getting blurry.
The woman is a gang member that goes by the name Daphne. She has medium straight very dark brown hair.
She has a very light gray puffy sleeved dress, with white handkerchief like sashes woven around the shoulders and back. She also wears a brown studded leather belt and light brown leather shoes.
Mal has his shotgun drawn out, Zoe has her rifle drawn out, and Jayne has his custom made LeMat Revolver drawn out.
Jayne gulps nervously.
A little tensely... Mal goes, "hey, hey! Thought we was business friends."
Raymond deduces, "looks though... Violent cough! They turned on... Violent cough! ...me."
The second gang member has a light brown shotgun pointed at Mal, Jayne, and Zoe now.
Grimly... Mal comments, "well...least our misery got company."
Solemn sounding... Zoe brings up, "ain't good to be pressin' our luck, sir. We keep losin' more with more feds movin' in."
Mal gives her a side glance of a solemn look.
Daphne looks incredulous.
She figures, "what? Laugh. They don't want a single bar in this town. They just want to collect."
With a faint smirk... She all too elegantly turns her hand up.
Jayne mutters under his breath, "gorramit! It's them bounties on us."
Zoe and Mal gulp nervously some.
Zoe faintly remarks, "does fit too well with the color of that rifle."
She's looking right toward the Blue Sun sonic rifle as she says it.
Between violent coughing... Raymond asks, "why?! We...we had enough. And even...even you turn on me, Daphne?!"
Some tears fall from his face.
With a sneer... The second gang member mutters back, "enough for you and the bar. Not us! It's never been for us!"
Daphne laughs. But...she also gets teary eyed.
Solemnly... Daphne reflects, "you're right. I'm not doing this for myself. But... Faint sniffle. The Border planets are a tough place. I want my child to survive on plenty credits. I'm sorry Raymond. But... Sniffle. This is goodbye."
Raymond lets out a loud deep gasp.
And... He's dead.
Just then... The third gang member calls out, "fire!"
A lot of loud choos and a low choo.
Zoe mutters under her breath, "damn!"
At the same time... Zoe knocks Mal down.
The sonic wave misses them by seconds.
A table and a bunch of chairs crumple to wood splinters and dust before the sonic wave.
Jayne diagonally fast walks back some to dodge it...almost stumbling over a wood chair.
At the same time... Jayne fires some bullets from his custom made LeMat revolver.
The second gang member violently groans. The third gang member violently coughs. Both are clutching their sides some.
The third gang member reactively lets the Blue Sun sonic rifle roll out of his hand some over the bar counter.
He's coughing up quite a bit of dark red liquid...just before he falls dead.
Mal and Zoe are just getting up by then.
A little stunned... Mal adds, "thank you. Now...let's get these sons of bitches."
He heatedly glares some on the last part.
Zoe just firmly nods.
Jayne rushes over to the Blue Sun sonic rifle.
He starts cradling it.
He says, "ohh. I gonna add you to my gun collec...tion."
From behind the bar counter... Daphne has just smashed one of the wine bottles over the back of his head.
Daphne mutters, "no! Sniffle! This... Sniffle! This don't ending like this for me none."
Tears are falling down her face. But...she very quickly draws back out her shotgun.
Jayne groans hard.
He quickly falls unconscious...with his head in a big puddle of wine and broken glass on the floor.
The Blue Sun sonic riffle rolls away some from Jayne's arms and onto the floor.
Mal is about to shoot at Daphne. But...they both hesitate a little bit.
They're both teary eyed.
Mal tries to assure, "it...it don't have to, miss. Sniffle! Walk away from..."
The second gang member is about to shoot at Zoe. But...Zoe is a little faster.
Zoe shoots him right in the chest.
With some brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter... He falls dead in front of the bar counter.
In the midst of Mal talking... Daphne hears the second gang member fall dead.
Daphne cries out, "no! ! !"
With a loud choo... She shoots.
Mal barely moves off to the side in time to avoid being shot in the chest.
The bullet hits his side instead.
He groans violently. But...he fights the urge to clutch his side.
On impulse... Mal shoots back from a diagonal angle...reaching from behind the bar counter.
The bullet hits Daphne's side.
Daphne groans violently...and reactively screams.
She drops her shotgun.
Her vision is quickly blurring.
She screams.
And... She blacks out.
She lands down on her back against the floor.
There's a loud thud.
Zoe and Mal both look spooked now.
A little teary eyed... Zoe asks in concern, "Sir... Nervous gulp. Nǐ dàodǐ zài nǎlǐ qiāngshā tā?"
Mal gulps very nervously.
He lets his shotgun fall from his hands.
Dead serious... He admits, "I...I real don't know, Zoe."
Some tears fall from his face. He sniffles hard.
Mal orders, "check on Jayne."
Mal rushes over to the back of the bar counter. Zoe goes over to check on Jayne.
Zoe checks Jayne over.
His pulse is steady.
All of a sudden... Mal calls out worriedly, "Zoe! Get the doc!"
Zoe rushes over to where he is without a second thought.
She stands ready with her shotgun. But...she very quickly puts it away.
Solemnly... Zoe realizes, "ohh...gorram."
She and Mal are on the verge of tears.
Past the bar counter... It's all too clear now that Daphne has a big pregnant belly.
Past Mal... There's hints of a trail of dark red liquid dripping from Daphne's side.
Mal is bent over Daphne's body.
He has covered up most of her side wound with two bar towels. But...dark red liquid is all too easily seeping right through.
Mal calls out, "I ain't askin' again. Hard sniffle. Get the doc now!"
Zoe quickly and solemnly nods. She sniffles hard some.
Zoe hurries out of the bar to look for Simon.
Some tears fall to the floor behind her.
Daphne keeps groaning violently.
Mal checks Daphne's pulse.
Her pulse is getting weaker by the minute.
Mal murmurs under his breath, "hold on. Hold on damnit! Hard sniffle! Least long enough for your baby to live."
Some pained tears fall.
He's breathing heavily himself.
And, as he does...Mal checks Daphne's pulse again.
Act I
Soon...
Simon and Mal are carrying Daphne out on a stretcher. Zoe and Wash are carrying unconscious Jayne over their shoulders.
Simon is wearing his darkish brown almost plaid looking vest over a long sleeved white shirt. Wash is wearing his dark gray tan vest over a undershirt.
Serenity is just half a block away in the town square: Because the crew had thought this would be a quick job.
Many a townsfolk in town are coming.
Quite some loud commotion of worry is among them. Thirteen of them have pitchforks or shotguns drawn out and ready.
Some growls from a dog are heard.
There was no time left for Mal and his crew to grab up the Blue Sun sonic rifle or the left open crates.
In a minute... Mal and his crew are back in Serenity.
In the engine room... Kaylee is flipping switches and pressing little buttons on the walls to get Serenity to go at high burn.
In the cockpit... Wash is at the controls.
Kaylee and Wash are teary eyed. But...they know they can't tear away from their crew duties right now.
Serenity takes off fast...beginning to clear atmo for the black of space.
Soon, in the Infirmary on Serenity...
Jayne is lying unconscious on a medical bed.
The back of his head has a nasty purplish bruise and some cuts. But, the cuts are easy to cover with a head cast.
His head cast only has some dark red liquid seeped in. And, he's breathing well.
With Mal and Simon busy right now... Zoe begrudgingly tended to Jayne's head cast herself.
Mal and Simon carefully get Daphne off the stretcher and over to the other medical bed.
Daphne's vital signs are beginning to rapidly flatline.
Casual sounding... Simon calls out, "clear!"
He shocks Daphne with his defibrillators.
A sharp muffled shock is heard. No change to the vital signs.
Simon calls out again, "clear!"
He shocks Daphne with his defibrillators.
A sharp muffled shock is heard. Some low rounded beeps are heard.
And... Daphne's vital signs are slowly stabilizing.
Mal and Zoe breathe nervous sighs of relief.
Simon gulps nervously.
He briefly opens Daphne's eyes.
Simon quite nervously sighs.
Daphne starts violently seizing up.
Tensely... Mal asks in concern, "doc?!"
Simon concludes, "it's...it's just as bad as I thought. Her pupils are equally round and reactive. You shot her in a section of her abdominal wall. Non-rebreather mask. Ativanil. My bag."
Simon is getting the IV into Daphne's side near the side wound with some surgical tubes.
Zoe and Mal quickly get a liquid pack of the medical drug Ativanil and a non-rebreather mask from Simon's bag.
The Alliance issue non-rebreather mask was a keepsake Simon and River got from better days.
It's red lined stark black, voice responsive, wireless, rechargeable, has two circling back breathing tubes, and ventilation holes in grayish blue metal side plates. It vacuum sucks air in from around the patient to the patient directly via ventilation.
Mal puts the non-rebreather mask on Daphne. Zoe attaches the Ativanil pack to the IV.
Zoe tries to assure Mal, "ain't all your fault, sir. Hard sniffle. None of us knew 'till the shot."
Simon instructs, "non-rebreather on."
The non-rebreather mask whirls to life: With little yellow lights around it and tiny motors heard.
At the same time... Simon turns on the overhead lamp.
The IV is quickly sending Ativanil down into Daphne's body.
Daphne's body starts to stop seizing up.
Solemnly... Mal reflects, "I know. But... Heavy sigh. Hard sniffle. It still feel dreadful near that gorram bad."
Grimly... Zoe considers, "hmm. Know that feeling too."
They solemnly glance to each other.
Daphne's vital signs are slowly but surely stabilizing. But...her body is still seizing up quite a bit.
Everything goes blurry before the bright white light of the overhead lamp.
Simon uses his extractor to find and pull out the bullet shards.
There's some kind of loud clinks.
Bullet shards with dark red liquid all over land in a metal tray on a side table.
Some red and black suction cupped monitoring wires over and by Daphne's shoulders.
Mal and Zoe hold the wound open. Simon surgically works with a laser, a scope, and a vacuum extractor for extracting deadly excess of bodily fluids in Daphne's body.
Quite a bit of dark red liquid are seen over all three of their hands. But, only Mal didn't put on surgical gloves.
The vacuum extractor is a stark black fold out telescope styled mini-vacuum with two mechanical joints, a stark black button, a stark white button, a small screen to show how much excess bodily fluids are being extracted per minute via a red line graph with blue lining, two surgical tubes going to two filling up liquid packs on the side table, and two long surgical tubes connected to both sides of Daphne's body.
A brief panned out shot goes by of a laser sewing up the wound in Daphne's side.
Simon sews Daphne's side wound shut. Zoe holds bandages and applies them on.
Mal is by the sink, washing his hands.
Not long after...
At least by now... Kaylee, Wash, and River are in the Infirmary.
Kaylee is wearing her mostly bright blue open leathery jacket with watery waves across over her mostly white laced low cut sleeveless top with pink to darkish purple flower gardening icons. River is wearing her yellow top with dark blue diamond petals woven in at the elbows.
Zoe has taken off her surgical gloves. They're now in the trash can.
Jayne has recently come to. He's wearing his hat back on over his head cast.
Real nervous... Kaylee asks, "so...how is Daphne? Hard sniffle. Hope they both all right."
Jayne recalls, "yah? Remember her smashin' a bottle over my head?"
He glares heatedly some on the last part.
Wash looks real amused.
He remarks, "I don't know about everyone else. But, it sounds like a good party game."
Zoe and River laugh hard, doubling over.
Mal glares warningly toward Zoe.
Somewhat tensely... Mal calls out, "Zoe! Jayne! Ain't near a good time now."
Getting teary eyed... Kaylee scolds, "Wash! That's mean."
Wash sighs. He says, "sorry Kaylee. Birthdays get me all-riled."
Kaylee and River very faintly smile.
River giggles a little.
Kaylee quickly adds, "sure. Sure."
Zoe starts to say, "sorry sir. Hard to resist any day to..."
She still looks real amused though.
Mal is quick to say, "there. Now everyone is sorry. Doc?"
His glare has faded. But, he sounds dead serious.
He turns back over to Simon.
Simon is about to say something. But...someone interrupts by saying something first.
Jayne mutters, "yeah? Faint laugh. Ain't much to settle this but some wine bottles."
He's leaning back on the side of his medical bed with both arms as he does.
Wash turns right back to him.
All too casually... He comments, ""just drinking"? Laugh. No, no. This is you. This ought to be whacky."
He points to Jayne a little on the next to last part.
Jayne creepily grins.
He's now standing there, swinging his arms out a little.
He concludes, "damn right there, little man. Get me a wine bottle to smash on yah head, and we'll..."
At the same time... Mal and Kaylee call out, "Wash! ! Jayne! !"
Kaylee stands right between Wash and Jayne, and Mal stands right in front of Wash. They're blocking Wash and Jayne from going after each other.
Jayne and Wash just as quickly pause.
At the same time... Jayne and Wash casually call out, "what?"
Zoe heavily sighs into her hand. Simon moderately sighs.
Simon is looking down nervously while leaning back on the edge of Daphne's medical bed with both arms.
Kaylee is on the verge of tears. But...River quickly picks up on her feelings.
She hugs Kaylee tight.
River whispers, "shh. It's okay. Sniffle. Captain got them ready to put down their guns."
Kaylee sniffles hard some.
River pulls away a little. But, only a little.
Kaylee incredulously starts to say, "what?! Last thing we wantin' by the doctor were...!"
Her voice starts to get louder as she does.
River whispers kind of loudly, "shh! Not those. These."
For a bit... Kaylee looks confused.
Then... She notices what River is doing.
River is now hand motioning up and down a little over her own two legs.
River playfully grins like a schoolgirl that was just caught with cheat sheets.
Kaylee tries hard to stifle some hard laughs. But, she's kind of failing at it.
Most everyone is about to ask what's so funny. But...Zoe says something.
Zoe firmly brings up, "don't matter what any of us think of Daphne, Jayne. We least need her alive long enough to deliver her baby. And, if anyone can save Daphne, it's Simon. Now...everyone..."
She sharply glares toward everyone else but Mal on the last part.
Everyone else but Mal gulps nervously some.
All of a sudden... Simon interjects, "thank you. But... Nervous gulp. You're giving me too much credit."
He's finding it hard to look up.
Everyone else asks, "what?"
Their voices are cracking a little.
Simon explains, "the Ativanil has relieved Daphne of seizures. All things considered, the baby is in good health. But..."
Impatiently... Mal wonders, "so it's good. Why are we gettin' all-fired having this conversation?"
Jayne uncomfortably mutters, "yah. I ain't like this going nothin' myself."
With a faint smile... River suggests, "then let Simon tell. My birthday after."
A tense silence fills the Infirmary.
Simon adds, "thank you River." River adds, "you're welcome Simon."
They share a solemn look.
Then... Simon heavily sighs.
He continues, "the Ativanil and the resurgence of fluids in the abdominal wall is pushing the baby out sooner than expected. But, the umbilical cord isn't. If we don't deliver the baby tonight... Hard sniffle. Neither of them will survive."
Everyone is on the verge of tears.
Mal solemnly murmurs, "dong ma. Do...do what you can, doctor."
Jayne solemnly murmurs, "I'm going prayin'."
He starts to leave the Infirmary.
Everyone but Kaylee looks stunned.
Jayne turns back to face them all.
He just figures, "what? Preacher would be doin' the same on this boat if were here."
And with that... He's walking all the way over to Book's left empty bunk.
River looks very shook.
She puts some of her hand over her forehead.
And... She remarks, "all...all grown up. She doesn't believe it."
Simon, Mal, Wash, and Zoe can't help but chuckle hard over that.
Kaylee lightly figures, "ohh. I've been tryin' tellin' you for...months."
She puts a comforting hand on River's as she does.
A little tensely... Kaylee calls out, "hey! He tries."
Mal, Simon, Wash, and Zoe apologize, "sorry."
River reflects, "they needed emotion stress release with laughter. Can't blame them."
She looks real amused now.
Kaylee comments back, "well, you can't."
But... She gives River a slightly amused smile.
River giggles a little with her hand over her mouth.
Mal orders, "all right now. Everyone clear so the doctor can work."
Wash, Kaylee, and River kind of quickly leave the Infirmary.
Zoe is about to leave too. But...she sharply turns back to face Simon.
Zoe asks, "wait! How sooner than 'pected you mean?"
Simon informs her and Mal, "by a few days."
Zoe gulps nervously some.
Zoe inquires, "sure there ain't not a alternative to cutting her open?"
Mal faintly laughs. He supposes, "what? You were raised together?"
Zoe slightly glares.
She explains further, "ain't that. Hard sniffle. Just don't sit right cutting open any one's mother."
Simon thinks out loud, "hmm. I can't say I don't disagree."
Very uncomfortably... Mal adds, "nothing about this does, doctor."
All three of them moderately sigh.
After a bit... Simon continues, "well...there is a more unorthodox way to deliver her baby. But, with her medical condition now...it will cause massive internal bleeding."
Mal realizes, "so... She's dying one way or 'nother."
Simon fully admits, "I'm doing all I can. Hard sniffle. I wish I could do more to help. But...yes. Hard sniffle. She will."
Zoe considers, "still...she might get a few minutes. Has had herself massive internal bleeding already."
Nervous... Simon reasons, "right. That's...that's right."
There's a chilling silence.
Mal openly considers, "okay. What is this other way of yours?"
Simon explains, "I...I give Daphne adrenaline in her abdominal muscles. I'll have to time it exactly right to dope her. Or, the physical stress will be too much on her and the baby. But, that won't be a problem for me to do. We'll also have to restrain her arms and legs tight."
He sounds very nervous on the last part.
Mal and Zoe very uncomfortably look toward the medical beds.
Mal gulps nervously.
Zoe can't take it anymore.
Teary eyed... She just fast walks out of the Infirmary.
Mal concludes, "I'll fix up some restraints after dinner. Then, you start the procedure. Wouldn't want to be puttin' much too a damper on your sister's birthday now than already is."
Simon adds, "yeah. I...I understand."
Mal tries to assure, "good. I'll...I'll see it get squared away."
He goes to step out of the Infirmary. But...he kind of quickly turns back to Simon.
Simon solemnly adds, "and captain? Thanks."
With a firm look... Mal just adds, "you're welcome."
Then... He leaves the Infirmary.
Soon, in the galley...
It was a more solemn mood than anyone expected.
But, for River's 17th birthday... Mal insisted on not moving the day.
Zoe and River were quick to not object to Mal's insistence. The three of them knew all too well days out in the black came and went too quick for the crew these days.
Everyone solemnly sang happy birthday for River.
Kaylee made a protein cake with slices of strawberry frosting and chocolate frosting.
The candles are mismatched. But, even Jayne and River were happy with how the cake turned out.
Before Jayne could complain about waiting... River blew out the candles.
River smirks to Mal.
Mal just confusedly and faintly smiles back.
River briefly and annoyedly rolls her eyes. She knew instantly Mal doesn't know what she was thinking.
Confused himself... Simon asks, "River? What was...?"
He's sitting next to River to the right. Kaylee is sitting next to River on the left.
River mostly assures, "nothing. Just...happy to have family."
Just about everyone faintly smirks and faintly smiles.
Sounding nervous... Jayne questions, "all right. Could we be happy 'nough to start eating?"
Mal and Zoe faintly smirk. Simon and River smile.
Kaylee wonders, "Jayne...what got you so nervous? Faint nervous chuckle. It's cake."
Amused... Wash concludes, "yeah. I kind of want to know now."
Jayne mutters under his breath, "nothing. Just ain't want the ship to catch on fire 'gain just 'fore we...we eat the cake."
He's looking down as he does.
A bunch of murmurs of agreement fill the galley.
A little teary eyed... River cryptically says, "no fires. But, cold...cold spin about."
She shivers some as she does.
There's a bunch of nervous gulps in the galley.
Mal reasons, "fair enough. But, I ain't think we're 'bout to Jayne."
Jayne adds, "thanks." Mal adds, "sure."
Most everyone very faintly smirk and very faintly smile over that.
And... They all eat cake.
Soon...
There's some presents on the table. But, the crew couldn't afford to gift wrap them with wrapping paper.
Wash, Simon, and Zoe pooled in some of their own credits from last month to get River a mostly orange Alli-ray disc and a mostly very light red Alli-ray disc. Both are for a new music album for River's collection.
With a smile... River says, "thank you."
Zoe says, "you're welcome." Simon says, "you're welcome, mei mei."
Most everyone faintly smiles.
Then... River picks up a interesting necklace.
She's turning it over with her turning hand to study it.
River figures out, "a pink necklace designed carefully to look like castle wall. Custom job left..."
Mal recalls, "...from Inara just 'fore... Well... Hard sniffle. She ain't felt any other time could leave it on Serenity."
The galley got quiet. But...it didn't last long.
River tries to assure, "was good to. Sniffle. Wouldn't been another time. Thank you."
She puts on the custom made pink necklace Inara got her around her neck.
Everyone very faintly smirks and faintly smiles.
Then... Kaylee gives River some new drawings she recently did.
They're of yellow and blue stick figures of Kaylee and River running in a strawberry orchard and picking strawberries.
Kaylee nervously apologizes, "sorry River. I ain't could afford to get you anything else. Sure nothing as shiny as the necklace. I...I would have if..."
River puts a comforting hand on hers.
River looks right at Kaylee.
And... River mostly assures, "it's okay. Heart of objects still with beating hearts. All matters is thinking warmly in cerebral cortex with what you give. Not the rib cage."
Simon and Zoe can't help but laugh hard some. Mal laughs a little himself.
Zoe concludes, "well...ain't that a image."
Kaylee doesn't even seem to notice the laughing. She just blushes.
She says to River, "ohh. Thank you. Got my heart all warmed up."
Kaylee and River smile wide.
Tensely... Jayne suddenly mutters, "yah. There's psychotic. And, there's...!"
Mal warns lowly, "Jayne!"
Jayne gulps nervously.
Jayne apologizes, "sorry Mal. Hard sigh. None this day easy on me."
Everyone else heavily sigh and moderately sigh in mixed relief.
Mal outright admits, "you ain't the only one. But, we'll keep on flyin'. Hard sigh. Usual like."
Just about everyone faintly nods and very faintly smiles.
Then... River brings over a large reddish orange scrapbook closer to her.
She looks sideways at it with a raised eyebrow.
She gets teary eyed. She sniffles hard some.
Mal, Kaylee, and Jayne share a very awkward look across the table. Simon, Wash, and Zoe look concerned.
Kaylee kind of quickly shifts the scrapbook over to herself.
A little teary eyed... She concludes, "Jayne... Moderate sigh. Maybe this ain't a good time. I could least of all hold onto it for yah."
The cover just says Mrs. Reynolds in goldish yellow font. But...it's plenty for about everyone to gulp nervously.
Simon, Kaylee, and Mal find it hard to look up. Zoe and River look wide eyed.
Jayne very faintly nods to Kaylee. Kaylee gives a faint hopeful smile to him.
Then... Jayne deeply sighs.
He just realized all eyes were on him now. And, most all of them were full of scrutiny.
Very uncomfortably... Jayne outright admits, "it's...it's from Saffron. Moderate sigh. Sorry doc. I...I ain't thought of anything better to give River myself that wouldn't get you comin' after me. So..."
Simon, Mal, and Kaylee very awkwardly smile. Zoe, River, and Wash smirk a little.
River sniffles hard some.
And... River solemnly says, "she forgives Jayne."
Jayne faintly smirks back. River faintly smiles.
Plenty of faint smiles all around really.
Simon concludes, "hmm. Yeah. That's saying something. A lot, actually. But..."
Uncomfortably... Jayne asks, "yeah?"
Simon solemnly brings up, "thanks. For not giving River a gun."
Jayne adds, "sure, doc."
Solemnly... River just says to Kaylee, "thank you."
Kaylee puts comforting hands on River's.
They faintly smile knowingly to each other. Everyone else solemnly smiles a little.
The teariness in River's and Kaylee's eyes starts to dry up.
A very mixed sense of calm fills the galley.
Zoe kind of quickly turns toward Mal.
She inquires, "what 'bout you, sir? Least you would already got River something for her day of birth."
Mostly casual... Mal insists, "hey now! I ain't forgot. It...it just be best to save it for after settling things."
Wash points out, "you know, Mal? That don't sound like you." Kaylee figures, "yeah. It...it doesn't."
Simon adds, "yeah. I'm surprised myself. I hope it's good though."
Mal mostly assures, "don't worry, doc. It will be."
River smiles wide in a knowing way. Mal smirks back.
Zoe and Simon firmly smile. Wash smirks.
Kaylee puts a comforting hand on Simon's. Simon puts a comforting hand on top of Kaylee's.
And, for a moment... They awkwardly smile to each other.
Not long after, in the Infirmary...
Daphne is restrained by two cables strapped around the sides of the medical bed: One right over her left wrist and left ankle, and one right over her right wrist and right ankle.
She's groaning hard and tossing a little. But, she's still unconscious.
Simon brings out a ready adrenaline shot in a big ass needle.
He stands ready over a side section of Daphne's then bare pregnant chest.
Mal gets out Simon's hypo-gun.
Mal gulps nervously.
Zoe firmly nods to Simon. Simon somewhat nervously nods back.
Simon injects the big ass needle into the side of Daphne's side.
Daphne's body reactively jolts about some like crazy. But, the restraints hold.
She starts tensing up and shaking something fierce.
At the same time... Simon calls out lowly, "now!"
Daphne is groaning violently. Her eyes begin to open.
Her fingers clench the bed sides tight.
Mal quickly changes hands with Simon: The hypo-gun for the big ass needle.
Daphne cries out, "ohh my god! ! !"
Built up tears escape from her eyes.
For a second... Zoe looks real nervous.
With the hypo-gun... Simon injects something into Daphne's neck.
Daphne keeps violently groaning.
Yet, slowly but surely... She stops shaking.
And... Daphne falls unconscious again.
Act II
Everything goes blurry before the bright white light of the overhead lamp.
Blurry flashes go by fast: Of Daphne's chest contracting faster and faster, of her breathing hard more and more, of the IV pumping more Antivanil in her body, of violent groans, of violent coughing fits, of a wave of sweat running down her whole body, of hints of dark red liquid splatter from between her legs, of her fingers clenching the bed more and more...and Simon bringing out the baby from between Daphne's legs.
The baby has little strands of very dark brown hair. There's quite some dark red liquid around him.
He coughs up some abdominal fluids. He cries.
But, soon enough... He's making little baby noises in Simon's arms.
Hours later...
It's late at night.
The baby is in a bundle of very light blue towels, over on the second medical bed.
The lower part of Daphne's medical bed is all soaped and sponged.
Simon insisted on it. And, Mal and Zoe didn't dare argue about Daphne's dying wishes.
Given the circumstances... Mal and Zoe left their weapons back in their bunks.
Daphne's restraints are taken off. They're bunched up on the floor for the time being.
Simon is standing by Daphne, checking her vital signs.
Her vital signs are beeping fainter and fainter.
Simon heavily sighs.
Suddenly... And, just as quick... Daphne opens her eyes.
With a somber tone... Daphne asks, "my... Violent cough! My baby?"
Zoe adds, "he lives."
Daphne sighs heavily. She says, "oh good."
She simultaneously puts a hand over her now swollen chest. She leaves her other hand flat on the bed.
Mal, Zoe, and Simon look solemnly toward her. All four of them are teary eyed now.
Mal reveals, "the doc had to dope you to stop you from straining yourself more than you had to. Hard sniffle. Reckon you'd be dead sooner if..."
Daphne tells them, "Mal? Zoe? Violent cough! I...I'm really sorry. You... Violent cough! You're good people."
Mal, Zoe, and Simon very faintly smile on the last part.
Mal casually figures, "well, I'm alright."
Zoe figures, "you ain't though. You... Hard sniffle. You dying."
Mal apologizes, "we'd do more for you if could. But... Hard sniffle. I'm sorry."
Daphne shakily and faintly nods.
She sniffles hard. Some tears fall from her face.
She starts to reach out to Mal.
But... Suddenly... Daphne is going into violent coughing fits.
Mal bends over some to reach back to her hand.
He puts both his hands on her violently shaky hand.
Between the violent coughing... Daphne pleads, "just... Just promise me..."
Mal asks, "what is it?"
Several more tears fall from Daphne's face.
Daphne tries to notify, "Carol Lan... Violent cough! Hard sniffle! Langan. Take my baby to..."
She deeply and loudly gasps.
Worriedly... Zoe calls out, "doc!"
Daphne's pulse flatlines.
Simon calls out, "clear!"
He shocks Daphne with his defibrillators.
A sharp muffled shock is heard. No change to the vital signs.
Simon shocks Daphne with his defibrillators again.
Daphne's pulse is still flatlined.
And... There's a sudden loud beep.
Simon, Mal, and Zoe find it hard to look up.
Simon says, "I... Hard sniffle. I'm sorry. She's dead."
Mal and Zoe try hard not to cry in front of the doctor. But...some tears escape from their faces.
They sniffle hard.
Mal leans forward against one of the countertops...struggling to hold a storm of feelings all in.
Zoe fast walks out of the Infirmary.
Simon heavily sighs to himself while looking down.
He sniffles hard. And...some tears fall from his face.
Late the next morning...
Serenity is kind of slowly flying back around for Prophet.
Prophet and its two moons get closer more and more in the black of space.
Around and through Serenity's hull... Simon sighs in mixed relief to himself.
He has just turned off monitor readings on the baby's vital signs with a touch.
He just found out were only little traces of adrenaline left in the baby's blood. No other complications.
Mal looks solemnly outward...facing everyone else by the open doorway to the Infirmary.
The teariness in everyone's eyes had already faded away by now.
The baby makes gurgling sounds. A bunch of built up smelly saliva foams up from his mouth.
The baby even is playing with his hand in the little puddle of saliva. But, Kaylee doesn't look phased a bit.
Kaylee just keeps cradling the baby in the bundle of towels in her arms.
She faintly laughs.
Kaylee smiles wide. Jayne, Zoe, and Wash smirk wide.
Mal suddenly clears his throat loudly.
And... Everyone awkwardly turns to face him.
Mal plans out, "well...seein' as how I got your attention... Kaylee, Zoe...you'll take the shuttle mite 'head of us. You get us a day's stuff for our baby passenger."
Zoe and Kaylee faintly smile.
Casually... Zoe just says, "okay."
Kaylee considers, "sure. Could be a nice trip. But...how we gettin' the credits for it? We ain't got much."
Jayne asks, "damn right that ought to be concerin'. And, what 'bout the shotgun?"
With a slight glare... Zoe mutters back, "you ain't sellin' Daphne's shotgun. I am. 'sides..."
Everyone else but Jayne smirk and faintly smile. Jayne grumbles a bit.
Then... Jayne lightly argues, "naw. I ought to go with you and Mal to..."
Interestingly... Zoe, Wash, and Mal faintly smirk.
Mal explains, "thanks. But, this ain't a job. We ain't needin' a third gun hand, Jayne. No one comin' after us long as none but Daphne's sister Carol knows. And, it seem mighty apparent she is our best way to do things right by Daphne."
Everyone else faintly and solemnly smiles. Even Jayne does at the mention of Daphne's name.
Jayne realizes, "so it's just you and me? Faint laugh. You know Mal, that sudden ain't bad."
Mal adds, "thank you." Jayne adds, "yah. Ain't no problem here."
There's a calm silence.
Kaylee wonders, "sure you don't want to come with us, doctor? You and River? Fresh air could do us all good."
She beams a little in hopefulness.
Wash moderately sighs as he waves up his arms.
He comments offhandedly, "yeah. Right. Leave me by my lonesome to watch the ship like a old man while the "kids" play in town without me."
Simon and Kaylee chuckle hard some. Zoe and Wash faintly laugh. Mal laughs hard some, doubling over.
Kaylee lightly murmurs, "oh dear Wash. You feel old."
Sounding a little annoyed... Wash adds, "thank you! Someone gets it."
Zoe and Mal smirk a little.
Mal remarks, "well, someone has to. It's my ship. And, I ain't fixin' to retire any a time soon."
Wash defeatedly sighs. He says, "yeah. Boring work, work."
Everyone faintly sighs in a knowing way.
Zoe kisses Wash.
She then quickly puts a comforting arm around his side.
Zoe whispers, "ain't gonna be too long husband."
Wash adds, "great. I...I'm gonna hold you to that."
He kind of points to Zoe as he does.
Zoe and Wash chuckle.
Awkwardly... Simon concludes, "I'd like to come. But, there's a baby. And...well..."
The view cuts down toward the floor.
River is making baby noises and gurgling spit on the floor. She's on her side and flailing her arms too.
Sounding unsure... Simon considers, "today, she's acting more...crazy?"
Jayne asks, "how could yah tell?"
Everyone else glares at him.
Jayne asks, "what? You ain't all thinkin' it?"
Zoe goes right up to him and punches him in the side.
Jayne goes, "oww."
He's clutching his side now.
Everyone else faintly smirks and faintly smiles: Starting off with Mal and Zoe.
After a bit... Kaylee's smile quickly fades.
She moderately sighs. She concludes, "it's all right. She's your sister. I understand."
Mal mostly assures, "yeah. We all do, doc. Much as Jayne ain't want to say it straight out."
With a smile... Simon sincerely adds, "thank you."
Mal figures, "sure."
Distant sounding... Kaylee says, "you're welcome Simon."
Awkwardly... Simon tries to ask, "I'm...I'm sorry. Is there another medical emergency or...?"
Kaylee shakes her head.
She leaves the baby and the bundle of blankets on a medical bed.
A little teary eyed... Kaylee insists, "no, no. I'm okay."
But, before anyone can say anything... She rushes on ahead for the shuttle.
Simon heavily sighs into his hands.
By the time he looks back up... Almost everyone except River has vanished from sight.
River is dancing on all fours in a creepy squirmy squid like dance.
Simon deeply sighs. He deduces to himself, "I don't think I'll ever understand talking to girls."
Zoe firmly reasons, "I ain't blaming you much. You're good friends. They don't leave you 'less you point a gun at..."
She's been very recently standing by the doorway with her hands over her hips.
A little teary eyed... Simon quickly goes, "yeah. That's...that's fair. Moderate sigh. Please don't talk about that now. I already still have some mixed feelings bottled up from..."
A little teary eyed herself... Zoe solemnly smiles.
She figures, "I know, Simon. Just want you to know it ain't real terrible as you believe."
Very awkwardly... Simon adds, "thanks."
The teariness in his and Zoe's eyes starts to dry up.
Simon continues, "it's just... Moderate sigh. Why don't girls say what they mean? Why are they not more like you?"
With a wide smile... Zoe lightly adds, "thank you. But, I already married. Good luck gettin' there."
Wash casually calls back, "you'll need it!"
Simon blushes some.
Wash and Zoe just lightly wave back to him.
Soon... Wash and Zoe walk off arm in arm all the way to the shuttle.
And... Simon just very awkwardly laughs to himself.
Soon...
Wash and Simon are left on the ship.
Wash drags his feet around as he walks down the hall.
He pretends to throw something.
He then annoyedly sighs.
He figures, "yeah. Just me and no...fun."
He suddenly hears baby noises up ahead of him.
Wash grins a little.
He rushes toward the sound.
But, out of view... He loudly calls out, "tzao gao! Ohh...not good!"
Around then, in the Infirmary...
River is having a temper tantrum on the medical bed: Arms flailing and all.
Simon tries to put some suction cupped monitoring wires on her head. But...she just swats the wires away without looking.
The suction cupped monitoring wires dangle over the medical bed.
Simon whispers River's name to try to calm her down.
But...nothing.
Teary eyed... Simon heavily sighs.
Sounding calmer all a sudden... He recollects, "River... Moderate sigh. You haven't been neglecting playing your music, and you haven't been touching knives or... Hard sniffle. What...what is going on, River? Sniffle. You have to tell me."
At the same time... The teariness in his eyes starts to slowly but surely dry up.
Almost like magic... River instantly stops her temper tantrum.
She's now sitting all quiet like over the edge of the medical bed.
She very faintly smiles toward Simon. Simon briefly and very faintly smiles back.
Kind of cryptic... River says, "I hear music. Pretty, pretty. Wanted him to hear it too, Simon."
Simon asks, "River? Who is him? It's...it's just me, Wash, and..."
River thinks out loud, "...and him. You think he's all right. But... Hard sniffle. Traces of biochemical experimentation. Hard sniffle! The Academy."
Simon looks incredulously at her.
Simon calls out, "what?! River, I..."
Simon heavily sighs into his hands.
Then... He starts to say, "River...we're both geniuses."
Somberly... River voices, "we are. But...you're a little fallible. Hard sniffle. A boy to be rescued from crashing waves needs calm in the brain now, Simon."
The whole ship shakes.
Then... It all suddenly hits Simon.
Simon is realizing, "oh god. Oh my god! That's why you've... River! The traces of adrenaline are just from the adrenaline we gave Daphne to deliver the baby. He's not from The Academy."
River shrinks back some on the medical bed.
She's close to tears.
At a near whisper... She murmurs, "how do you know the mother isn't? Sniffle. How do you know he isn't? Sniffle."
The whole ship is rocking side to side.
Simon and River reactively grab onto parts of the medical bed to keep themselves from falling over.
After a bit... Simon tries to say, "River... Sniffle! We don't have time for games. I..."
River is bent over...and crying into her hands.
Simon gulps very nervously.
After a bit... He puts a kind of comforting hand on her upper arm.
Simon mostly assures, "I'll protect him. I'll give him another exam. You don't have to, mei mei. Just...just stay here."
He starts to fast walk out the door.
River stops sobbing. But...tears keep falling.
She murmurs, "okay. Hard sniffle. Sorry if I...if I made things worse."
Some sobs escape from her lips.
Simon turns back to River to give her a solemn look.
Simon says, "I...I know you don't mean to. Thank you."
Then... He turns back for a certain open doorway.
He hurries out of the Infirmary...heading for the cockpit.
Around then, in the cockpit...
A switch here, and a switch there are switched on by little hands.
Soft humming chimes play in a certain part of River's music album collection.
The baby is bouncing and swinging around like crazy...in a brownish cloth sack held up by black duct tape and two chains.
All the while... He's making excited baby noises.
Wash has a worried look in his eyes.
He loudly calls out, "tzao gao! Ohh...not good!"
The whole ship shakes.
Wash goes over and fast flips the switches back off.
Wash goes, "phew!"
He's leaning over the edge of a control panel in front of the pilot seat.
Then... The baby high swings up to some switches and buttons on the ceiling.
Annoyedly... Wash mutters, "hēi! This is my cockpit, little man! And, you are very grounded."
He points a scolding finger at the baby.
Just then... Serenity starts rocking from side to side.
It's starting to take off in a rocky way.
Wash slides hard against the edge of one of the control panels.
He groans hard some, clutching his side.
After a bit... Wash pulls himself up.
He sighs nervously.
He realizes, "...if I can...ground him."
He struggles to keep the sack down with his bare hands.
But, in the sack... The baby grabs all around.
The built up momentum alone is straining Wash's muscles. And, he's getting sweaty.
He groans hard some more.
All the while... Serenity keeps flying straight up...higher and higher into atmo.
Just then... Simon runs into the cockpit.
Simon is wide eyed. He calls out in concern, "Wash?!"
With a faint smile... Wash sighs in great relief.
He says, "oh, dear god! Thank you man."
Very awkwardly... Simon adds, "thanks. But, what am I supposed to do?!"
He puts his arms out as he does.
Wash confidently says, "hold this little man for me. I have a ship to save! Thank god almighty! I'm free to crash myself!"
Simon gives Wash a very scared look on the last part.
Wash kind of shoves the swinging sack over to Simon.
Simon reactively catches the sack.
In the sack... The baby kicks some.
But, in spite of a loud wince... Simon holds the sack in place.
Wash rolls up his sleeves.
He flips every switch and button on the ceiling around him fast.
Serenity turns about on its engines: One spinning up engine after another.
Serenity is fly spinning back down fast.
A whole minute goes by.
The ground is coming back up fast.
Wash steers Serenity hard up.
He presses a few buttons and switches on a control panel in front of the co-pilot seat.
And... Serenity's engines completely flip back down.
Serenity hovers above some patches of grass...just before it crash lands back down.
The whole ship shakes. Little bits of the hull fall off all over.
But... Serenity has landed back down on Prophet.
Wash and Simon both sigh in great relief.
Then... They hear fainter excited baby noises from inside the sack.
Simon and Wash make nervous faces.
Simon hurriedly carries the baby out over his shoulder.
No matter how much the baby struggles to break free... Simon carries him all the way back to the Infirmary.
Forty five minutes later...
Kaylee and Zoe make it back on Serenity. Wash is there in the cargo hold to greet them.
A little teary eyed... Wash cries out, "Kaylee, Zoe...thank god you're back!"
He hugs Zoe tight. Zoe kind of awkwardly hugs him back.
Wash is looking over her shoulder.
And... Wash keeps murmuring, "I'm not ready, Zoe! I'm not ready!"
Zoe rubs his back some.
She whispers, "shh. Kids ain't all carryin' pecks of trouble with 'em. It's all right. It's all right."
Kaylee asks in concern, "is Wash okay?"
With a faint smile... Zoe mostly assures, "just...just leave us be for now. We be ready for flyin' out soon."
Kaylee very faintly nods.
She smiles wide for a bit.
She waves back to Zoe.
Then... She leaves Wash and Zoe be.
In a brief cutaway...
River and Simon solemnly smile knowingly to each other.
The teariness in River's eyes is drying up.
She's now lightly cradling the baby back and forth in her arms.
The baby relaxedly sighs.
His vital signs came back normal. No more traces of adrenaline in his blood.
Around then, back in town on Prophet...
All too casually... Mal says, "good place for a gun."
He and Jayne are cautiously looking about in a rundown wood house.
The view pulls back a little...revealing they're in a living room.
There's two very worn and torn branching leaves themed cushioned fancy chairs. There's a fireplace, some wood nighttables, a small metal ashtray full of cigars on a nighttable, a bunch of scattered bottles of alcohol and medium sized wood boxes, a wall mount of a wolf head, some windows, and a black lined rustic lantern on the wood floor.
Carol Langan is standing right by a cushioned chair, facing Mal and Jayne.
She has medium straight black hair. She wears a slightly open darkish blue overcoat.
She is smoking a cigar.
After a bit... She puts it down: With it facing up on the edge of the ashtray, and a trail of smoke coming off it.
With a faint grin... Carol Langan figures, "yeah. You see one you like?"
She opens her overcoat wide...showing off a black pistol and a rustic very dark brown shotgun on her belt.
She's wearing no bra or shirt. Her breasts are showing.
Jayne eyes light up. He goes, "aw hell yes."
Sternly... Mal deduces, "Jayne? Ain't got time for cleaning up another one of your messes."
Irritatedly... Jayne starts to wave a finger at Mal.
Just then... Carol Langan faintly chuckles.
With a grin... She comments back, "ain't a one. My husband sometimes watches."
Jayne grins.
He comments back, "real damn good sport of 'im. Not keepin' a pretty girl like yah to himself."
Jayne and Carol Langan faintly chuckle.
Mal sighs frustratedly into his hand.
Jayne starts feeling up Carol Langan's breasts. Carol Langan starts feeling up his clothed chest.
They sexually groan some.
Irritatedly... Mal says, "Carol..."
Jayne and Carol Langan stop feeling each other up.
Carol Langan blushes a little. Jayne gulps nervously.
With a little scowl... Carol Langan recalls, "but... You want to talk business, right?"
Mal solemnly nods.
He stands by one of the cushioned chairs, with his back kind of to it. He also has his arms crossed.
Carol Langan kind of lightly pulls Jayne in a little by the back of his shoulders.
Jayne and Carol Langan faintly grin.
Carol Langan is now kind of slouch sitting in the cushioned chair opposite Mal.
She picks back up the cigar from the ashtray as she does.
Jayne is about to lean close toward her breasts...when Mal verbally interrupts.
Real nervous... Mal apologizes, "sorry to spring this all on you. But... Heavy sigh. It's Daphne."
Carol Langan's and Jayne's grins quickly turn into slight scowls.
Carol Langan mutters loudly, "tā mā de liǎng gè yuèliàng zài qiú! What did my sister do now?"
She takes another smoke from her cigar. Then, another.
All the while... Mal explains further, "well... There was a shooting. We...we tried to save her and the baby in our infirmary. We kept her stabilized enough to deliver the baby. But...she didn't make it. Heavy sigh. Her dying wish. The baby and your name came up. We was figurin' you were to..."
Carol Langan gets teary eyed on the first part. She sniffles hard.
Yet... Her expression lightens on the last part.
She lets the cigar completely fall from her hand and onto the ashtray.
Nervous... She starts to say, "ohh. I'm sorry. But..."
She suddenly trembles and breathes hard. She's rocking back and forth.
Carol Langan mostly closes her overcoat tight around her.
Suddenly... She's gets to her feet.
She's checking things around the room in a hurry.
She's thinking out loud, "oh god! They're coming. Daphne! Take the baby! Go through the back. Don't argue! I'll hold them off. God! God! Where's the blanket, my tā mā de pills...?!"
Irritatedly... Jayne mutters, "gorram, Mal. She is gone crazy!"
Sounding calm... Mal figures, "ain't rulin' none that out. Just...just stay there."
Jayne just huffs impatiently some.
Mal helps search the room with Carol.
Soon... He finds a small fancy red and white card deck styled pill box on top of one of the medium boxes.
He opens the top of the pill box up.
Playing along... Mal concludes, "better take one whilst you can, Carol. Whole place is gettin' all shot up."
He offers the open pill box to Carol Langan.
Carol Langan puts one of the very few pills left into her mouth and swallows.
With a very faint grin... She tells him, "thank you. Let's go!"
Mal escorts her outside the house without a second thought.
Jayne is just standing about, looking bewildered.
A few minutes later... Mal escorts Carol Langan back inside.
Carol Langan deeply sighs in a wave of relief. Yet, she finds it hard to look up.
Carol Langan quickly apologizes, "I'm...I'm sorry. Usually..."
Mal finishes the thought, "...your sister Daphne or your husband keep you on your meds."
Carol Langan solemnly nods.
She kind of slouch sits back down in the cushioned chair as she does.
Some tears fall from her face. She sniffles hard some.
Carol Langan explains, "schizophrenia. Deep sigh. Course, it's treatable. But, none cheap."
A little teary eyed himself... Jayne puts a sympathetic hand on her shoulder for a bit.
Before he can move his hand away... Carol Langan puts a comforting hand on his.
She very faintly grins. Jayne very faintly smiles back.
Mal can't help but ask, "so what you figurin' on doin' now?"
Carol Langan continues, "we still can manage if'n I go into whoring on Persephone. Faint nervous sigh. Ain't I mind that much none. Much folk ain't would recognize us there anyways. But... Moderate sigh. You real see me as care for a baby?"
Mal gulps nervously. But, he tries hard to keep straight faced.
Carol Langan adds, "I ain't thought so."
After a bit... Carol Langan considers, "but...with you legends... You could catch him."
Confused... Jayne wonders, "catch what? Your husband?"
Carol Langan kind of slowly lets go of his hand.
Carol Langan chuckles. She explains, 'no. Our only brother...after the war. Heavy sigh. Nick Von Langan. Six days ago, he took off for Ares with some guys in gray coats. Just told me and Daphne he were sticking it to Alliance big. If Nick is still alive... Heavy sigh. He ain't mightn't. But...he could care for the baby. We both knew he has it in him."
Jayne and Mal seem shook at the mere mention of Ares.
But... They soon solemnly smile.
Dead serious all a sudden... Mal concludes, "shouldn't be right for 'im to gettin' himself killed too. Hard sniffle. Ain't can promise much a thing here, Carol. But... Heavy sigh. We do what it takes to find him."
A few tears fall from Mal's face. But, he acts like it's nothing.
Carol Langan mostly assures, "I do know. Sniffle. Good luck to you. You'll need it."
And... There's a very nervous silence in the room.
Act III
Eight hours later...
In the Sunner with Boros... Ares is the safest place to go for both mercenaries and Alliance military.
Mud farms, junkyards, grassy plains, and military shipyards cover the land. Ares is known for city ship construction, civil war brushes and skirmishes, scrap metal, and expensive fancy ceramics.
The military shipyards have very tan brown to gray walls, big blocky grate styled lights, dark yellow cranes, dark blue tan stairs, very dark brown refineries, black doorframes, and very dark gray machines with Cortex screens and electric meters.
It's night out.
Serenity touches down in the cover of darkness. But...it looks like they weren't the only ones.
Four crude mostly metallic shuttles are taking off for atmo.
And... Several Graycoats are heading off in a hurry on horseback.
Mal, Zoe, and Jayne are coming down Serenity's then open cargo hold ramp.
Mal faintly chuckles. He is saying, "well...that ain't the welcome I was...expectin'."
He and Zoe mutter some hard to hear Chinese under their breaths.
And, standing there now with a rustic very dark blue rifle aimed right at Mal...is a guy with medium very dark brown hair.
Mal and Zoe put their hands up. Jayne though still has a hand over a gun on his belt.
The mystery figure has a black eyepatch over his eye. He wears a pale green T-shirt and ripped blue jeans.
He says, "well... Faint laugh. Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Washburne. You sure ain't dumb as some say."
He just as quickly puts down the rifle.
Mal and Zoe smirk wide at this while they lower their arms.
Jayne sighs some in disappointment.
And... With a faint smile... The mystery guy says, "name's Nick Von. You here stickin' it to Alliance yourself?"
Now even Jayne is smirking wide.
Soon...
Nick Von Langan and Mal are riding out on the same light brown horse. But, Mal has got the reins for now.
Mal calls out, "hyah!"
Jayne and Zoe are borrowing Nick Von Langan's shuttle. They take off in atmo for now.
Not long after...
Nick Von Langan and Mal catch up to the four Graycoats at the back door of a military shipyard. By then, Nick Von Langan and Mal told each other their stories.
Nick Von Langan is trying to steal the security software that goes into making city ships. He promised several Graycoats a cut of the millions if they pull off the job.
Nick Von has gone up to the third floor with three Graycoats. Mal is by the stairs with a fourth Graycoat.
Several Alliance military officers come charging in with military rifles. Then, several more.
A lot of loud choos up and down.
Mal and the fourth Graycoat dodge to the side of the stairs from the coming bullets.
In a second... They both shoot down some Alliance military officers.
Soon... All the Alliance military officers are screaming.
They're either dead or clutching their dark red liquid dripping sides on the floor.
Mal and the fourth Graycoat sigh some in relief.
Suddenly... Mal calls out, "get down!"
He and the fourth Graycoat dive for cover behind some grate styled lights.
A lot of loud choos. A ton of shattered glass. A lot of sparks flying and bursts of light.
In the dark... The fourth Graycoat reactively clutches his dark red liquid dripping side on the floor.
He groans violently by a grate styled light.
Mal breaks into a run up the stairs...when a AATS whirls its machine guns right at him.
Around then... A certain open shuttle comes about right behind the AATS.
Zoe steps right onto the AATS.
Determinedly... Zoe mutters under her breath, "that ain't happenin'."
With some loud choos... Zoe shoots out the AATS's fiberglass panel with three shots from her rifle.
The AATS is burning up fast.
Zoe jump tumbles off...as the AATS spirals and crashes into the floor.
The AATS explodes in a pillar of fire and smoke.
Zoe groans violently some over her knee. But...she's kind of quickly getting herself back up.
Mal calls out, "Nick? Nick?!"
He gets to the control room...to find Nick Von Langan and everyone else shot.
A bunch of loud deep dying gasps. Dark red liquid is starting to seep in the floor.
In the dark... Mal glares heatedly toward a Alliance operative in all black.
The Alliance Operative is walking away down another set of stairs.
Mal tries to chase after the operative. But...he suddenly stops.
Mal can't shake the sight of Nick Von Langan slowly dying right by him.
In that second... The Alliance Operative vanishes from sight.
Mal mutters some hard to hear Chinese under his breath.
After a bit... He rushes over to Nick Von Langan.
Mal is now bent over Nick Von Langan's body.
Nick Von Langan violently coughs and violently coughs. He's clutching his chest.
Nick Von Langan asks, "Mal?"
Solemn... Mal mostly assures, "right here."
He puts a kind of comforting hand on his.
Nick Von Langan tells Mal, "the... Violent cough! The barkeep back in... Violent cough! Back in town. Always wanted a baby. Tell 'im I... Violent cough! Tell 'im I sent you."
Without hesitation... Mal assures, "I will."
With a very faint smile... Nick Von Langan murmurs, "thank...you."
Then... His head rolls back.
He's dead.
Tears fall from Mal's face. He sniffles hard.
Soon... Zoe kind of quickly escorts Mal out of the military shipyard.
They had to ditch the shuttle to flee from another AATS. But...they and Jayne made it back to Serenity.
Soon enough... Serenity flies back through atmo...heading into the black of space.
The next day, back in town on Prophet...
A bright sun is coming out on the horizon.
Over thirty townsfolk are gathered around the entrance to the bar from earlier. And, lying right there...is Daphne's dead body with a white blanket over her face.
A mostly white and brown sable Husky mix dog is with the townsfolk. Everyone has their heads down in silent prayer. Most all them with cowboy hats hold their hats close to their chests.
Daphne's baby is in the hands of a barkeep with blue overalls and a light blue cowboy hat.
The baby sighs relaxedly in his hands.
And... As the scene cuts back through atmo... Mal's narration is heard:
You know... Living out on the run...
Faint nervous chuckle.
It too simple like sometimes to forget we all got family back home.
Some might be ghosts. Some still ain't dyin'. But...
We weigh in, pitch in...do what we have to to keep ourselves going out here. We're pretty much family too.
If weren't for Jayne sneakin' and fetchin' some AATS pieces... We'd soon be...bankrupt ghosts ourselves.
Heavy sigh. Faint sniffle.
Some things mighty change. Some don't. I'm going to hell whatever comes our way.
Sniffle.
Some people just chose hell for themselves. But, sometimes...
Faint nervous chuckle.
...they surprise you. They surprise you with a small bit of what is right.
Just around then...
The scene briefly cuts over to Mal and River, sitting alone to themselves in the cockpit.
Mal is going over flight basics with River in the cockpit.
Mal keeps almost flipping buttons and switches to help explain stuff to her.
And... River just smiles wide and listens intently.
The view cuts back...to Serenity keeping flying on in the black.
And... Mal finishes narrating:
Is it blind faith?
I still struggle with the question myself.
Very faint chuckle.
But, faith or ain't... It still is a bit of comfort. Knowing family can usual like be together for each other.