Can't Take the Sky From Us:
A Firefly Fanfiction Episode Collection
The Box Show:
Teaser
One night, in the Blue Sun Skyplex...
Simon somberly concludes, "River's heart is dropping. We're starting to lose her! !"
Mal urges, "Simon? Look at me now."
Simon takes some heavy breaths.
He tries hard to look at Mal while shakily standing there.
They're both teary eyed.
The view cuts back...showing a unconscious River lying on a bed of the Blue Sun Skyplex's diagnostic ward.
Hints of a dark red liquid soaked cast are shown around River's head.
River's open cryogenic chamber box is to the side of the bed. Some dark red liquid splatter is over the cryogenic chamber box and part of the floor.
Some Alliance Intelligence agents are lying dead on the floor of the diagnostic ward.
Loud whirling chones are going off across the Blue Sun Complex.
A 3D neuroimager shows a continuous 3D projection of a scan of River's brain.
A bullet sized hole is shown in part of her brain.
Mal determinedly says, "we ain't goin' to lose her. You did all you could. We come too far to lose now. She's comatose. She got to come back with doin' some of the work in her brainpan. And, knowing your sister? I figure she well knows how."
Simon's medical tools are back in his medical bag. The bullet is out of River's brain.
But... Both hemispheres in River's brain continue to fluctuate and vibrate like crazy in the 3D scan.
In River's mind...
River appears on the first moon of New Melbourne. This moon is called Maria.
There are green hills, thin waterfalls and streams, shiny glass studded white ceramic made bridges from distant towns, several farms with industrial styled metallic fencing...and several herds of monstrous cattle living peacefully with folks.
It's mid-afternoon before a bright blue sky.
With some mixed feelings... River murmurs, "not on the run, hills, cattle... Hard sniffle. It's too good to see. Why am I...? Hard sniffle. We ran from the angry scientist man."
The open cryo-box is seen not far from her. It's letting out cold steam like it was recently just opened.
River is wearing her mostly light pink dress with woven in storybook styled S's spiraling down in bright yellow cloth ribbons.
It's got some grass and mud stains. But, she doesn't care about that.
Suddenly... She hears a kind of loud questioning moo.
River soon realizes that a familiar looking monstrous bull is standing right in front of her.
With a faint smile... River apologizes, "I'm really sorry. Shh. I don't mean to confuse you so much."
At the same time... River has been blushing some in embarrassment.
She strokes the monstrous bull behind the ears and the side of his face.
The monstrous bull contently moos. So does River.
River lets the monstrous bull lick her free arm all over.
She continues to stroke the monstrous cow behind the ears and the side of his face.
With a smile... River assures, "you are safe here. You are. But... Hard sniffle. Have to be sure I am. Faint sniffle. Go with your herd while you wait for me. Okay?"
River moos a little. The monstrous bull firmly moos back.
River lets the monstrous bull lick her hand.
Then... River adds, "okay."
River skips kind of happily across a hilltop.
The monstrous bull kind of slowly moves back to his herd. They're on the other side of the hilltop.
The whole hilltop is a farm with industrial styled metallic fencing all around it. There's two gates, some trees, a red barn, a strawberry lined mostly brown Flying Mule, and a log cabin.
River smiles wide at a familiar face.
She lightly laughs.
She starts to run to the cabin.
Kaylee is standing in the open doorway to the cabin. She wearing her small darkish purple t-shirt, her rustic worn out blue overalls with the word Serenity traced over them, and a silvery necklace with a scale model of Serenity on it.
She smiles wide back to River.
River is almost there...when she hears someone else.
A second River cryptically tells River, "you have to walk the river. Not run it."
River gives her a nervous face.
River inquires, "who are you?"
The second River is getting teary eyed. She gives River a solemn look.
The second River answers, "a part of you. Even you can't run through everything."
River sticks her tongue out at her.
Kaylee can't help but ask, "River? We ain't alone?"
River just realized she unintentionally turned away from her.
River tries to explain, "not alone. Hard sniffle. Safe with you. She comprehends, but doesn't... Hard sniffle. Doesn't comprehend. So many memories flooding! Don't know where I...!"
Tears fall from her face. She violently shakes some.
A little teary eyed... Kaylee tells her, "shh. It's okay, sweetie. Let's get inside. I'll fix you up some oatmeal."
Kaylee also puts a comforting hand on River's shoulder.
River kind of nervously concludes, "thank you. She... Hard sniffle. She comprehends, but doesn't comprehend."
She lets Kaylee lead her by the hand into the cabin.
Kaylee closes the door behind them.
But... The Second River keeps solemnly looking toward the cabin door.
Act I
Soon, in the cabin...
River is sitting on a strawberry couch. The living room has carpeting modeled after Serenity's galley.
Kaylee offers, "here you go, sweetie."
She hands River a hot bowl of oatmeal.
River says, "thank you."
They both nervously smile.
River starts to eat the oatmeal.
River had recently got changed into clothes Kaylee offered her.
River is wearing a dark red T-shirt with a silhouette of River on it and the words "I can kill you with my brain" across it in blue letters. She's also wearing purple ripped jeans.
Kaylee had put River's dress by the engine styled washer to remind herself for later.
The open kitchen area is mostly brown to blue. The living room has metallic looking carpets.
Kaylee checks, "you feel like talkin' yet?"
She sits down next to River.
River states, "she... Hard sniffle. Try to understand me. Feels out of time and yet doesn't."
Flashes go by of a different timeline: Of her turning in Davis to The Alliance instead of Kaylee in exchange for keeping his credits to herself, of River getting enough resources from there for Simon and her to have their own well off farm on the moon Maria, of River winning two scientific awards under a different legal identity for advancing security measures for Genradiation plants and for monstrous cattle everywhere...and of Kaylee looking after River on Maria while Simon returns to Serenity to try to help take down The Academy for good.
Kaylee reflects, "ohh. I...I think I knowin' just what you mean. Hard sniffle. Months gone by...and still don't want to let go of the pain of... Hard sniffle. ...of losing our whole family. You know?"
River pauses from eating.
She looks wide eyed in shock.
Somberly... She murmurs, "S...Serenity?"
Somberly... Kaylee murmurs, "yeah."
Flashes go by of more of this timeline: Of a wave from a very shaken Simon explaining he and Wash are the only ones left alive, of Simon and Wash setting the ten Wraith Class ships in The Academy's cargo bay to explode in a cascade effect, of Wash trying to pilot himself and Simon out in time to outrun Alliance Intelligence reinforcements with Serenity...and Serenity destroyed by missiles and cannons from several Wraith Class ships.
Kaylee cries into her hands. River cries, doubling over.
After who knows how long...
They're snuggled close on the couch. The teariness in their eyes has started to dry up.
The bowl of oatmeal is empty. It's left on a wood side table to the side of the couch.
Kaylee voices, "River? I... Hard sniffle. I know it's gorram hard for you sometimes opening up. Hard sniffle. I ain't never thought of being into girls as well as guys 'till we got closer out here. So... Nervous chuckle. I'm saying yah really can tell me anything. Hard sniffle. What reminded yah today 'bout our family on Serenity?"
She kisses River's cheek.
River looks somewhat shook by that. But, she isn't pushing Kaylee off the couch either.
Kaylee lightly concludes, "I'm always gonna be here for you. Hard sniffle. Could be helping to keep on telling me what you're thinking."
Sounding unsure... River pieces together, "not...not eighteen. But, will be in ten, nine, eight months... She comprehends you're waiting for me?"
And... River is thinking to herself:
I never knew before I could be her girlfriend. But, in a light like this?
Nervous laugh.
I won't ever steal Kaylee from him.
But... If Simon was killed from Hands of Blue or...?
Hard sniffle. Moderate sigh.
There's much worse timelines it could follow. It would annoy and please Simon to no end if he knew over the grave stone.
Nervous laugh.
Kaylee always has smelled nice, looked pretty, and doesn't need as much looking after as she seems at first.
Nervous laugh.
Only... Is this reality or not reality?
Kaylee nervously laughs.
Kaylee awkwardly wonders, "you're...you're joking. Right? 'cause that...that's pretty much what we agreed on."
She lightly plays her fingers over River's hand on the last part.
With a wide smile... River blatantly lies, "I am. Thought it would help you feel better."
Kaylee laughs more lightly.
With a wide smile... Kaylee figures, "aw. That's sweet of you. I be mighty tempted to kiss yah myself now. But... Laugh. My parents would be tryin' to chase yah with a whip if they caught us. You could catch a whip. But... Well..."
River points out, "she knows. Hard sniffle. Just how you were raised. Would never want to make anything worse for us."
Kaylee compliments, "yeah. But, I always love to hear your calming words."
River compliments, "you're welcome, sweetie pie."
River is about to kiss Kaylee's lips.
But... She kisses Kaylee's hand instead.
Kaylee goes, "aw."
Kaylee chuckles some.
Kaylee implies, "you ain't even got to tell me: I know it ain't easy fer girls like us."
They both blush at that.
River puts a comforting hand on Kaylee's.
River tries to delicately tell her, "it's hard to remember everything today. Hard sniffle. But, she knows too. She does. How...how long was I...unconscious?"
Kaylee assumes, "wow. You really are mixed up today. Hard sniffle. You ain't even had a episode all morning. Just one of those days, ain't it?"
She leans her head some over River's shoulder.
River voices, "yes. But... I love you too, Kaylee. Even if something happen to you 'tween now and..."
With mixed feelings... Kaylee murmurs, "now you're sounding a little too much like Simon."
She starts to slightly glare.
With some mixed feelings... River voices, "I'm sorry. Kaylee? It's...it's been so hard to wait. Hard sniffle. But... Hard sniffle. Better than...running sometimes."
Thinking back to the Second River... River shakes nervously some.
River and Kaylee get a little teary eyed.
Kaylee says, "yeah. You just gotta trust me: It's all gonna be okay."
River nods.
Kaylee admits, "you know, I... Nervous chuckle. I'd still love yah even if you were a lot like Simon. But... Hard sniffle. Gets overwhelming some days to think of him. You know?"
River solemnly considers, "we've been through so much. So many days. Hard sniffle. She understands."
Kaylee adds, "thank you."
She kisses River's hand.
Then... Kaylee gets up.
She goes over to the kitchen area.
The teariness in both of their eyes is starting to dry up.
Kaylee wonders, "you...you want to play a game soon? Might help us take our minds off of worrying."
She nervously grins some.
River figures, "that would be good. I'd love to."
Kaylee cheerfully says, "great! After I finish my oatmeal, I'll get out the games."
They smile wide across from each other.
River suggests, "just... Just tell me something. Please. Moderate sigh. I promise not to worry you too much the rest of the day if you answer."
Kaylee lightly concludes, "sure! What is it, my dear sweet genius?"
River chuckles a little at that.
Teary eyed... River very nervously brings up, "was...was there anything we could have done to save our family?"
They solemnly look at each other.
Teary eyed... Kaylee voices, "oh, River. Hard sniffle. I've asked you that question a lot of times. Hard sniffle. But, I ain't mad at you. Hard sniffle. You got to understand. Hard sniffle. Some things we lose. And, no matter what we do... We can't out run it. Hard sniffle. We can only walk the river."
Just then... River sees the Second River standing in Kaylee's place.
With a slight glare... The Second River implies, "you should have listened to me first."
Suddenly... The scene is completely changing around River.
Teary eyed... River gasps.
Sparking off balls of lighting, DNA-RNA marked bouncy balls, fiery hairballs... They're all spiraling down in a cosmic whirlpool in the black of space.
River calls out, "not Kaylee: Not from this time! I...I don't comprehend! ! Hard sniffle. What are you...?"
But... The Second River has already vanished from sight.
River finds herself in a castle courtyard by a stone well.
River realizes she's carrying a baby in a dream.
The baby is making nervous baby noises at her.
River hears angry townsfolk coming. A lot of fall leaves rustling under their feet.
At a near whisper... River tries to assure the baby, "it's okay little Mal. It's okay: Just a nightmare from a angry God. Sleep to the sound of angry Unification Day men at a bar."
The Dream Baby Mal happily giggles.
River rocks The Dream Baby Mal back and forth.
She keeps telling him to sleep to the sound of angry drunk Unification Day men.
Several of the angry townsfolk call out, "there's the Academy witch! Get her! ! Burn her down! !"
They're coming with torches and electrified pitchforks.
River runs out of the courtyard with The Dream Baby Mal.
River tumble runs through a metal dark red back gate...still carrying The Dream Baby Mal.
The gate closes behind her.
The angry townsfolk rattle and bang on the gate. But, it doesn't budge.
The Dream Baby Mal waves his hand tauntingly at the angry townsfolk.
At the same time... He's sucking his thumb.
River laughs hard at the angry townsfolk.
And... With a smile... The Dream Baby Mal starts to fall asleep.
River runs through the forest up ahead.
She's almost to Serenity...when two Hands of Blue suddenly show up.
River gasps.
She looks wide eyed in shock.
One of the Hands of Blue says, "no one leaves The Academy." The other adds, "give up the baby."
With a angry glare... River shouts, "no! ! You're not taking Mal."
The Hands of Blue give each other a slightly nervous look.
They turn back to face River.
The first Hand of Blue says, "then you die with him."
The Hands of Blue pull out blue tinted rod shaped sonic devices.
River violently high kicks the first Hand of Blue away.
The first Hand of Blue coughs violently some against the ground.
But... The second Hand of Blue uses his sonic device...releasing silent and lethal sonic waves upon River.
Dark red liquid starts to drip from River's ears and eyes.
She tries to run out of range with the Dream Baby Mal.
But... The Dream Baby Mal has bizarrely vanished from sight.
River violently shakes.
She curls up against the ground.
She starts to scream.
Suddenly... The Second River cries out, "get away from her! !"
She punches out the second Hand of Blue by surprise.
River breathes a nervous sigh of relief. She's not violently shaking now.
The Second River helps River up to her feet.
River says, "thank you. But... What's going on?"
She's looking around. But, she sees no one else here.
Worriedly... River questions, "where is Mal?! Where's the others? Where's Serenity?!"
The Second River gives River a solemn look.
The Second River suggests, "if you're going to stop running from me... I'll help you see."
River looks nervously at her.
River concludes, "o...kay."
The Second River faintly smiles.
Out in the physical, back at the Blue Sun Complex...
Simon can't help but wonder, "captain. You... Hard sniffle. You really believe we're going to live?"
A lot of loud choos are going off from the other side of a closed door.
Some screams are heard.
Simon and Mal nervously gulp.
More lightly... Mal remarks, "for this job, Simon? We're takin' Blue Sun down: Even if'n mean I got to break every bone in my pretty body."
Simon can't help but smirk a little at the last part.
Simon solemnly adds, "let's hope it doesn't come to that either."
Mal figures, "you said it: Not me. But... Moderate sigh. That ain't make it less truthsome."
They both solemnly smile a little.
In River's mind...
River finds herself standing in a rectangular room made of fiberglass.
River sees her physical body with a certain cast around her head. Her physical body is lying on a medical bed.
Through the fiberglass walls... River also sees the scenes at the Blue Sun Complex replaying over and over.
The Second River reflects, "you have a deadly tendency to use your whole body as a weapon. Not everything heals as fast as you want."
River turns around to face her.
Somewhat nervously... River reflects, "but... But, we have no Academy voices in my brain. Hard sniffle. We have control. Shooting Niska's men was just to help save our family. She knew Mal the baby wasn't real. But... Hard sniffle. She still tried hard to save him."
They both get teary eyed.
The Second River implies, "I'm not saying that wasn't good of you."
River brings up, "Part of Me... What are you trying to tell me?"
She walks closer to The Second River.
The Second River puts a kind of comforting hand on hers.
The Second River pinpoints, "this body of yours isn't actually a dream. You're in a coma, honey."
River looks wide eyed in shock.
She gulps real nervously.
River starts to ask, "h...how did I...?"
The Second River insists, "it's not time now to tell you. Please trust me when I tell you that."
Between incredulous and not... River kind of delicately presses, "then when?! I want to go back. Please?! Hard sniffle. They must be so worried for me."
The Second River explains, "honestly? I'm worried you'll make things worse if you go back right now. I care so much for you because I'm part of you."
At a near whisper... River starts to argue, "but..."
The Second River tries to assure, "please: It'll only be a few hours longer in your brain. I'm a part of you. You know your brain is healing that much. Take a look for yourself."
River nervously adds, "o...okay."
The Second River presses some side buttons on the medical bed with her free hand.
A 3D neuroimager shows a continuous 3D projection of a scan of River's brain.
A bullet sized hole is shown in part of her brain.
Both hemispheres in River's brain continue to fluctuate and vibrate like crazy in the 3D scan.
River looks contemplatively at it all.
River tells The Second River, "I see what you see. Neural transmitters reconnecting, neurons...and rising neural oscillation taking me slowly to consciousness."
River smiles wide for a bit on the last part.
River deduces, "she...she comprehends you only want to help."
The Second River somberly smiles.
She hugs River tight. River hugs her back.
They kind of slowly pull away.
The Second River tells River, "yes. That's good. Now... Are you ready to continue walking the river?"
River says, "yes."
They somberly smile to each other.
Suddenly... The scene is completely changing around River.
Sparking off balls of lighting, DNA-RNA marked bouncy balls, fiery hairballs... They're all spiraling down in a cosmic whirlpool in the black of space.
River finds herself on Verbena...in the midst of civil war.
Independent Planets flags and Alliance flags still up on their planet sides, bee farms heavily cracked or shattered, cabins burning down in every town square...and screams.
Private Declan violently hurls Commander Tanaka away...and into the fires.
Commander Tanaka cries out, "no! !"
His body burns in the fires.
River breaks into a run.
Plenty of loud choos and low choos.
Through the smoke and fire... Shadows of figures are coming with shotguns.
Alliance and Companion police are trying to aim at the coming shadows with their sonic rifles.
Brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter. More loud choos and screams.
Suddenly... Four arms with assistive bars around them are smashing their way out from a cabin wall.
River tries to run past all four of them a row.
But... The third one grabs River.
She struggles to break free of the third sped up arm.
But... Before she can... It violently hurls her backwards.
River crash lands through a cabin wall.
And... Smoke and fire flares up from around the hole in the already burning down cabin.
Act II
River is violently coughing.
Her mind body has some bruises and cuts on her forehead.
River barely pulls herself out of the wreckage.
Suddenly... She sees fourteen figures coming out of the shadows.
She sees Wash, Kaylee, Jayne, Zoe, Mal, Inara, and Book aiming shotguns at mirror images of themselves.
Their mirror images are wearing more blobby and rainbow styled clothes. Yet, they and the original images are heatedly glaring at each other.
Black to purple neon signs of names are hovering over the mirror images:
Dry, Owwie, Yayne, Sue, Bonum, Outara, and Libel.
In spite of her teary eyes... River can't help but chuckle some at the silly names.
She smirks some in mixed amusement.
Then... The shots are heard.
River dives for cover.
Several loud choos and screams.
Shots fly above River.
But... Just as quick... The shots and the fourteen figures seem to just vanish.
River gets up.
She coughs violently some. She groans violently some.
The Second River calls out, "I'll cover you: Go!"
The Second River kicks and punches out several Alliance police officers.
River quickly nods toward the Second River.
More loud choos and screams. More falling dead bodies of Alliance police, Companion Police, and Browncoats.
River runs through the middle of a burning town square.
River pauses to catch her breath.
But... In seconds... She keeps running.
Several sped up arms come out from the shadows and smoke to try to grab River.
But... River outruns them all.
River runs out to a Verbena forest...leaving the burning cabins behind.
Out in the physical, back at the Blue Sun Complex...
Simon points out, "I won't rest until we bring River back."
Mal considers, "dong ma, doc. I know."
Simon kind of shakily nods.
The view cuts over to a corridor on the other side of a certain closed door.
Zoe is in a open silk black jacket over maternity clothing matching a tan orange vest.
Jayne is wearing his bright orange T-shirt with a box around a headshot of a faint green tinted woman with short hair. He's also wearing his hat.
Zoe has her custom made rifle drawn out. Jayne has Vera drawn out.
Many Blue Sun security guards are firing their Blue Sun sonic rifles. Zoe and Jayne are shooting back.
More loud choos and low choos are heard.
There are ten Blue Sun security guards lying dead on the floor.
Several Blue Sun crates are heavily dented all over from Blue Sun sonic waves.
Between the shots... Zoe and Jayne have been crouching behind some of the crates for cover.
Three Blue Sun security guards fall dead, with brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter.
But... Many Blue Sun security guards are moving closer and closer toward Jayne and Zoe's positions.
Jayne gulps nervously some at that.
Suddenly... Zoe groans hard and winces some.
She reactively clutches her side.
Over a earwig... Mal checks in concern, "Zoe? What was that?!"
With some mixed feelings... Zoe figures, "just a kick from the baby, sir. But... Faint sniffle. If River or the others ain't coming? We're all humped!"
Over his earwig... Mal adds, "yeah. Nervous gulp. I'm clear on that, Zoe."
In River's mind...
The scene of the Verbena forest is completely changing around River.
Sparking off balls of lighting, DNA-RNA marked bouncy balls, fiery hairballs... They're all spiraling down in a cosmic whirlpool in the black of space.
River finds herself in a mostly gray circular room.
A holographic projector is on a blurry looking stand. The cryo-box is left open in the middle of the next room.
And... River sees a lying dead Operative and a lying dead Mal on the floor.
Dark red liquid starts to seep from each of their sides. A sword and a pistol on the floor.
River somberly murmurs, "no. No! ! !"
Tears fall from her face.
She cries out to the ceiling.
Then... River feels a hand on her shoulder.
She sharply turns to face someone.
And... She sees Jaime Gosling standing there.
Jaime bitterly comments, "we never should've come here, River."
River reasons, "but... Hard sniffle. But, we always have our reasons Jaime. Often they coincide."
Jaime frustratedly mutters, "and I thought we were going to be free to our own life together. Scoff. I should've seen it: You blindly follow Mal! Now we're going to die."
River shakes her head some.
They give each other tense glares.
River mutters back, "nǐ zhège dà bù bù. That's not true!"
Jaime gets teary eyed.
Jaime is quick to point out, "don't misunderstand me, River: I liked the idea of getting a secret to crush The Alliance like any young rebel like you. But... Hard sniffle. That was before we got here...to this ruttin' world! !"
Some loud growls, loud footsteps, and thumping are heard outside.
Jaime is holding a small mostly wooden treasure chest in his hand.
He clenches it tightly in his hand.
He tries hard not to cry, doubling over.
With a somber look... River murmurs, "oh, Jaime..."
She hugs Jaime tight. Jaime hugs her back.
Tears fall from both of their faces.
Jaime whispers, "was it worth dying for, River? Hard sniffle. Reavers are coming through that door, and there no way out but death."
The growls of Reavers are getting louder.
River admits, "feels out of time and yet isn't. Hard sniffle. I wish we could really have dated, Jaime."
Flashes go by of a different timeline: Of Jaime sneaking aboard Serenity with River, of River not having a crazy episode around him until Mal and Zoe are around to stop her in time, of Jaime's parents putting up a dead or alive bulletin on the Cortex for the Serenity crew on the assumption Jaime was kidnapped, of River and Jaime very reluctantly parting ways after strong convincing from Mal and Kaylee that it isn't right to just take Jaime away like this, of Jaime and River meeting again months later on the planet Beaumonde, of Simon staying behind on Beaumonde to buy time for Jaime and River to escape to Serenity, of a certain Operative killing Simon...and of Mal and the Operative killing each other in a certain room.
Jaime says, "I know. Hard sniffle. I love you anyway."
With a faint smirk... River says, "I love you too."
Jaime kisses River.
Just then... There's a flash of bright white light.
And... River hears the Second River say, "you're close to the truth. It'll still be painful to see. But... Hard sniffle. I'll show you. Why you should've listened to me in the not too far past."
The mental images of Mal and Simon in the Blue Sun Complex's diagnostic ward, the gunfight with Jayne and Zoe in the next room... They all fade away from River's mind.
And... In it's place?
The view cuts back to show more of the real physical reality.
Out in the physical...
A unconscious River is tossing and turning in the cryo-box.
Monitoring equipment is all around the cryo-box.
The cryo-box is in a dimly lit Infirmary...on Serenity.
Hours earlier, on Serenity...
River and Kaylee were playing ring toss with wire coils in the cargo hold.
They were smiling.
The Serenity crew was on its way to finish a job. They were bringing crates of food and farming equipment to a group of new settlers on a Rim planet.
But... Suddenly... Two arms with assistive bars around them were smashing out of a crate.
Katen had smuggled herself in with the goods.
And... She was carrying two light blue lined mostly black machine guns with Blue Sun logos on them.
She was holding one in each sped up arm.
River called out to Kaylee, "can't stay: Go! !"
Kaylee quickly nodded.
River and Kaylee were diving for cover behind some crates.
Katen fired a round of bullets from her machine guns at River and Kaylee.
There were surprisingly only several loud choos this round.
But... Grain and wheat came spilling out of those shot in crates.
Katen was coldly smiling.
Katen was calling out, "ohh Captain Reynolds? Where are you? I want you killed. But, The Alliance wants the girl called River. Come out, come out! !"
River and Kaylee were just getting back up.
Worriedly... Kaylee was calling out, "captain! ! Nàgè cóng dìyù huílái de jìnǚ Katen is out here! !"
Soon... Mal, Zoe, and Jayne were coming.
Mal had his shotgun drawn out. Jayne had Vera drawn out. Zoe had her custom made rifle drawn out.
They were all heatedly glaring at Katen.
Mal was muttering under his breath, "ohh, tā mā dì dìyù yǔ wǒmen wànnòng."
With a faint smirk... Zoe remarked, "you seem be havin' trouble with women a lot, sir."
Mal sarcastically added, "thanks. Some help you're being now."
Zoe rolled her eyes in slight amusement. Jayne rolled his eyes in slight annoyance.
With a furious glare... Katen was crying out, "enough! ! I'll kill you! ! I'll break down your little ship too! !"
At the same time... Katen was firing her machine guns at Mal, Jayne, and Zoe.
But, just as quickly... Mal, Jayne, and Zoe were firing back with their guns.
A lot of loud choos. Bullets riddled more crates.
Jayne dived to the ground for cover. But, he still got Vera aimed straight ahead.
Farming equipment came crashing down to the ground from shot up crates. Plenty of loud clinks.
Grain came spilling down. A cloud of grain dust was circling for a bit.
Jayne and Kaylee coughed hard some in reaction to the grain dust cloud.
Mal and Zoe started to duck behind some somewhat splintered crates.
But... With Jayne and Kaylee distracted by the grain dust cloud at the time?
Katen ran jumped on top of one of the crates.
At the same time... The rest of the crate burst into splintering pieces.
More grain spilled over Mal and Zoe in a grain dust cloud.
They reactively coughed hard, doubling over some.
Katen was creepily smiling.
She was also laughing hard.
She was about to shoot Mal from above with one sped up arm.
But... River was jump running off of one of the mostly intact crates.
She got in the way of the shot from the machine gun...with it violently hitting her side.
River violently crash landed on the ground.
She was going into a violent coughing fit. She was falling unconscious fast.
And... Hints of dark red liquid were starting to seep out from a large wound in her side.
Zoe somberly said, "oh god."
Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, and Zoe were close to tears. They were sniffling hard.
Zoe told Jayne and Kaylee to find a mostly intact sack of grain.
They didn't even ask why: Jayne and Kaylee just started looking for it.
Incredulously... Katen was shouting, "what the...?!"
She was about to shoot one of her machine guns right at Mal.
But... In the midst of Katen's angry confusion?
Mal shot right into her machine gun.
It exploded...setting Katen and her other machine gun on fire.
Katen's body was burning.
She was screaming in her dying breath on the floor.
Mal looked on at her...with a coldly satisfied look on his face.
But... Mal then heard Simon.
Worriedly... Simon reported, "her pulse is dropping! We have to prepare River for surgery now, or she'll die. Hard sniffle! Hurry! !"
Mal was close to tears then too.
Without a second thought... Jayne had given a mostly intact sack of grain to Zoe.
Zoe and Jayne had dusted out as much grain as they could from that wrecked sack of grain.
Zoe was using it for a improvised cast to go around River's side.
Everyone quickly secured the cast around River's side.
Dark red liquid was starting to seep quickly through the cast.
But... It was holding well enough for the time being.
Then... Zoe insisted on putting out the fire in the cargo hold herself.
Mal and Jayne solemnly nodded to her.
Some tears were falling from Jayne's and Mal's faces. They were both sniffling hard.
Kaylee was holding a unconscious River in her arms.
Zoe was hurrying to the galley to prepare a bucket of water for putting out the fire.
It was no small fire. But, it wasn't big enough to need to depressurize Serenity's cargo hold to put it out.
Some tears were falling from Zoe's face. She was sniffling hard.
She was bringing out a full bucket of water to put out the fire in the cargo hold.
Mal, Simon, Jayne, and Kaylee were hurrying to the Infirmary.
Kaylee was sobbing.
But... She didn't break down crying on the floor.
She was thinking to herself:
River? Sweetie?
Please don't die on me.
Hard sniffle!
Please don't die...! ! !
Kaylee was continuing to hurry with River's unconscious body...to the Infirmary.
Act III
In River's mind...
Echoing loud chones. Dim lights across Serenity.
River pulls herself out of the cryo-box.
She hears a chorus of screams.
River gets a massive headache.
River groans hard. She's clutching her head.
Flashes go by: Of part of a certain nightmare months ago.
Ada Pinnock, Lemuel Zhang, Wilamena Xu, and Felix Sturgess.
In a creepy way... All of their distorted voices echo through in unison, "The Alliance...is mother. The Alliance is...father. Failure...is to give in to the voices...the voices in all of us. Hard sniffle. Hard sniffle! They...they speak of grave wrongs!"
And... The Second River echoes, "you have a deadly tendency to use your whole body as a weapon."
River's headache is kind of slowly fading.
She no longer has multiple wounds on her mind body.
But... She has a big purplish bruise on her forehead.
River sees a dead body on the floor by the open doorway to the Infirmary.
River bends down to take a look.
River gasps.
She looks wide eyed in shock.
Simon is lying dead on the floor. Dried dark red liquid is around his neck.
River is close to tears.
She shakes her head.
She somberly murmurs, "no. It doesn't make sense. Hard sniffle. It can't mean...! !"
She runs for the cargo hold.
When she gets there?
She sees dead bodies of the Serenity crew...lying across the cargo hold.
Saffron is sitting by the dead bodies of Mal and Jayne.
Saffron is shakily murmuring to herself...cradling her most favorite handgun.
River angrily cried out, "you liar! ! Hard sniffle! You killed my family! !"
She grabs Saffron by the throat.
Saffron is starting to choke.
Saffron's handgun falls to the floor. A loud clink.
Between the choking... Saffron cries out, "I...I didn't do this! !"
With a storm of mixed feelings... River looks very confused.
River lets go.
Saffron gasps for air.
She tries hard not to break down crying. She sniffles hard.
Between the tears... Saffron continues, "The...The Academy. They had another trick left. It...it was after Simon and Kaylee saved your life. They saved you from almost dying after Katen almost killed you. But... Alliance Intelligence gave you crappy visions the next day. Their... Their backup plan was experimenting with the brain of a cryogenically preserved test subject from The Academy...to get you to think the crew was replaced by androids: Androids that look exactly like them. I...I came back without a second thought. I tried to stop you in time with a concussion grenade. But, I...I was too late. Please! Please believe me! !"
She breaks down crying.
And... River is thinking to herself:
Without a second thought? She's usual more afraid of me.
This... Hard sniffle. This story isn't right.
I... Hard sniffle. I'm still in a comatose state.
Hard sniffle.
I... I know the truth now.
River gives Saffron a very suspicious look.
River realizes, "you're not Saffron. Just sound like her. Hard sniffle. Almost convincing in a way."
The mental image of Saffron looks stunned.
She realizes, "damn. You...you know who I really am?"
River explains, "took the form of one of the two I hate most. Hard sniffle. Other is Kalliav. Hard sniffle. You're the part of me that hurts most. Cold when it's not winter."
Suddenly... There's lighting flashes.
At the same time... The Second River's face flashes over the mental image of Saffron.
The Second River is a Nightmare Saffron.
The Second River tries to assure, "yes. But... Hard sniffle. It's what will keep everyone living."
Tears fall from both of their faces. They sniffle hard.
After a bit... River looks stunned.
River grimly realizes, "nightmare to nightmare... Ashes to ash... Hard sniffle. You want to run my brain."
With a creepily smirk... The Second River supposes, "is that really so bad of me? I just want to give you everything you wanted. It'll go easier if you let me just take over: Not doing it the hard way in real life. You... Hard sniffle. You've seen how it'll play out if you don't."
River gulps very nervously.
River tries to insist, "you gave me nightmares. Hard sniffle. None of this is reality."
The Second River figures, "fine. How about walking to a memory that you know happened? Would that convince you?"
With a smirk... River confidently figures, "it won't. You can try anyway."
The Second River somberly sighs.
The Second River says, "very well River. Faint laugh. You know I'm as stubborn as you."
River adds, "I know."
At the same time... River's big bruise vanishes.
The Second River smirks at that.
Suddenly... The scene is completely changing around River.
Sparking off balls of lighting, DNA-RNA marked bouncy balls, fiery hairballs... They're all spiraling down in a cosmic whirlpool in the black of space.
River finds herself in one of Saffron's getaway cabins.
It was the memory of Mal pinning Saffron down on the floor to restrain her.
Except... In River's mind?
River had taken Mal's place here.
River was pinning the Second River down on the floor to restrain her. River even had a Liberty Hammer pistol aimed at the second River's head.
The Second River tells her, "we play parts. That's all people like you do: Pretend we'll have peace, go on dates, and functioning like a normal girl. But, things are going to get much worse. Hard sniffle. Unless you give yourself up to The Alliance to save them. That was your backup plan before."
Thinking back to when River met the Hands of Gray in the galley on Serenity... River looks wide eyed and open mouthed.
She gulps very nervously.
River drops the pistol.
And... River breaks down crying.
The Second River hugs River tight...letting her cry over her shoulder.
The Second River tries to assure, "shh. I'm here for you, River. Hard sniffle. I'm always here."
They stay like that for who knows how long.
When they pull away... River and the Second River moderately sigh.
River goes to lie down on a nearby bed.
The Second River lies down beside her.
They briefly somberly smile to each other.
Then... River warningly glares.
River points out, "you look like Saffron and yet tell me you care for me? You know I've always hated her."
The Second River nervously laughs some.
The Second River recalls, "I know you didn't want to read pieces of Saffron's brain. But... Like yourself... Hard sniffle. You knew you can't not feel for pieces of her dark beginning you read of her: What she went through. Like it or not... Hard sniffle. You and she are survivors."
Flashes go by: Of Saphra piloting a shuttle real quick through a wall of incoming flames, of a loud crash, of Saphra finding circles of ash and burnt down woodchips where a all too certain town used to be...and of her crying over a burnt corpse of a child.
River realizes, "she...she cried?"
She looks fairly shaken.
The Second River puts a kind of comforting hand on hers.
The Second River adds, "yes. Hard sniffle. You don't have to forgive her for her sins if you don't want to. Hard sniffle. But... Hard sniffle. I'm at least not so bad of a liar like her. Am I?"
River very nervously gulps.
The Second River offers, "would it help if I changed my body to whoever you want?"
River quickly shakes her head.
River murmurs under her breath, "no. She...she knows too well now why you look like her. Hard sniffle. See and know truth and liars. Have to keep seeing and knowing."
The Second River smirks.
She admits, "I was hoping you'd say that. I'm glad for that."
Delicate sounding... She asks, "can I get closer now?"
River very faintly smirks.
River adds, "okay."
The Second River adds, "aw."
She hugs River tight. River hugs her back.
After a bit... River gulps nervously.
The Second River questions, "River... What's wrong?"
Tears fall from River's face.
River reflects, "you... Hard sniffle. You still want to take over my brain. You're cold. Hard sniffle. A strawberry shark with a tail full of teeth. Hard sniffle. Not to be trusted."
The Second River nervously laughs.
She pulls away some from River.
The Second River tries to assure, "I only gave you glimpses of the future to help you, you boob. Hard sniffle. I'd never want to kill you or Simon or Captain Reynolds's crew. We're a part of each other."
River tries hard not to giggle at the first part.
River gulps nervously.
River considers, "you sounded sweet at first. But... Hard sniffle. I know you too well to really trust these words."
Sounding nervous... The Second River argues, "yet you believe I just want to help you. Hard sniffle. Where's the sense in that, River?"
River answers, "I know why. You... Hard sniffle. You won't kill me unless you have no other way."
The Second River gulps nervously.
She finds it hard to look up. She tries hard not to break down sobbing.
The Second River admits, "I really hope I don't have to. Hard sniffle. It's why I went to all this trouble. I was hoping to get you on my side. Hard sniffle. We'd be stronger together. You know that we would be."
She puts a kind of comforting hand over River's cheek.
River starts to say, "stronger. She comprehends that. Hard sniffle. But..."
With some mixed feelings... The Second River supposes, "but what? What's left to tell other than yes: Let me run your brain so I'm less hard on myself?"
River nervously laughs at that.
The Second River laughs some.
River kisses the Second River's cheek.
They nervously smirk some.
With a storm of mixed feelings... River voices, "I... Hard sniffle. I'm really sorry, Part of Me. But... Hard sniffle. Can't be stronger your way. Teeth down the tail always hurt a girl and her family worse. Hard sniffle. I don't want to kill you. But... Hard sniffle. I run my brain: Not you."
The Second River looks stunned.
She very nervously gulps.
With a storm of mixed feelings... The Second River mutters under her breath, "well, crap! ! Hard sniffle. You know what I have to do now."
She tries to violently grab River by the throat.
But... Suddenly... River disappears.
The Second River looks wide eyed in shock.
She calls out, "River?! Where did you...?!"
River is heard giggling a little.
River lightly remarks, "my brain too. You can't catch me!"
The Second River frustratedly sighs into her hand.
The Second River goes, "get back here, River: I want your brain! !"
The whole scene is changing for the Second River and River.
Sparking off balls of lighting are all spiraling down in a cosmic whirlpool in the black of space.
The Second River and River find themselves in the cargo hold on Serenity.
Yet... There are no signs of anyone else here.
Echoing loud chones. A ticking clock sound. Dim lights across Serenity.
River bittersweetly smiles knowingly to herself.
She breaks into a run...heading for the cockpit.
With a wide smile... The Second River goes, "really? A race? Laugh! I just have to catch you now: Not kill you. I'm going to get your brain easy!"
The Second River breaks into a run...heading for the cockpit.
River lightly calls back, "you would have to catch me first!"
The Second River mentally conjures up rope nets flying from the walls.
But... River dodges them all.
River mentally conjures up rope nets dropping from the ceiling.
But... The Second River dodges them all.
River gets to the cockpit.
River says to herself, "hello Serenity. Faint chuckle. I'm on my way home."
She is about to reach for a button in the cockpit.
But... The Second River tackles her against the wall.
River groans hard.
The Second River concludes, "I caught you. Chuckle. You did pretty well. But..."
Suddenly... She hears a little whooing like chone.
Somewhat tense... The Second River questions, "River? What did you do?"
River giggles.
River admits, "not the buttons you first thought of."
The Second River glances down toward River's feet.
When the Second River tackled her?
River purposely moved her foot up and out to hit a certain button on the left side of a navigational control panel.
It's the big red button to call back any and all of Serenity's shuttles: Back from a certain time when Serenity ran Out of Gas.
The Second River looks wide eyed in shock at the big red button.
Then... River is slowly but surely vanishing from the scene.
The Second River puts her arms up.
And... She frustratedly cries out, "no! !"
Soon...
River is thinking to herself:
If things get worse? Running with Simon to save us both.
It would be the only way to keep them safe. Mal would comprehend too well.
Hard sniffle.
But...
Hard sniffle.
I have to see Kaylee in my brain first.
Hard sniffle.
Come as eighteen. Can't leave behind a wedding night.
If I can't really have her? I'll least have memories of a wedding night with her.
In River's mind...
River finds herself facing a Dream Kaylee.
They're both physically older by a year or so.
They're in a dimly lit bedroom.
Strawberry wax candles are lit. They're on a wood night table.
Dream Kaylee lightly figures, "well... Things have been going so well. We made it, my dear sweet genius."
River is a little teary eyed. But, Dream Kaylee just assumed it was because she was so happy.
River bittersweetly concludes, "it's our wedding night. I'm really happy tonight."
Kaylee adds, "aw. I am too."
They're both starting to grin.
Dream Kaylee wonders, "so... Which of us wants to sweep her off her feet pretty like a princess?"
They playfully grin wide to each other.
They both giggle a little.
After a bit... River concludes, "tonight is your turn, sweetie pie. Please take me. Make my engine soar."
Dream Kaylee blushes.
She goes, "aww! You're already getting my engine roaring. I love you, River!"
River blushes at that.
Before River can say anything... Dream Kaylee is making out with her.
River just relaxes her whole body into it.
They both sexually groan.
In seconds... Dream Kaylee pins River down and onto the bed.
Dream Kaylee checks, "I ain't bein' too rough on yah? 'cause I ain't ever want to hurt you."
They both awkwardly chuckle some.
River tells her, "you haven't hurt me. But... Thank you. You're so good to me."
Dream Kaylee adds, "aww."
River adds, "I love you too, Kaylee."
They playfully grin wide to each other.
They make out some more.
They sexually groan.
They take off each other's wedding gowns...letting them fall to the side of the bed.
River starts to feel up Dream Kaylee's sides.
Dream Kaylee sexually groans some.
She starts to feel up the back of River's head.
They're roughly making out.
They're getting light bruises across their mind bodies.
Yet... River isn't alternating her hands over Dream Kaylee's mind body to soothe out bruises to keep them lighter.
And, through the early dawn... Light laughter and groans of sexual volumes fill the room.
Dream Kaylee falls asleep in bed, snuggled close to River.
River is slowly but surely vanishing from the scene.
But... She's bittersweetly beaming wide to herself as she does.
Out in the physical...
River is kind of slowly waking up in the cryo-box.
She hears Simon.
Simon tries to assure, "mei-mei? We're really here. Faint sniffle. It's...it's going to be all right now."
The cryo-box is opening in the Infirmary on Serenity. Bright lights all around the Infirmary.
Tiny chones and beeps go off. A few trails of cold steam escape from the cryo-box.
River is still bittersweetly beaming.
She pulls herself out.
And... She sees Mal, Simon, Kaylee, Jayne, Wash, and Zoe gathered around the open cryo-box.
They're all bittersweetly smirking and smiling.
They're a little teary eyed. River still is a little teary eyed herself.
River lightly says, "Simon."
River hugs Simon tight. He hugs her back.
In the bright lights of the Infirmary... It's clear River has a dark red soaked body cast around her side.
She has a big purplish bruise on her forehead. But, it's gradually beginning to go away.
The teariness in everyone's eyes is starting to dry up.
River points out, "you're right. Faint sniffle. But, I... Faint sniffle. I want to know how I got there."
On the last part... River and Simon pull away some.
Suddenly... Almost everyone looks very nervous and awkward around River.
Jayne was about to say something.
But... Mal, Zoe, and Simon warningly glare at him.
Jayne gulps nervously at that.
Somewhat nervously... Mal explains to River, "it... Sniffle. It were 'cause you were near dying two ways, darling. Sniffle. We ain't could just tranquilize you to keep you from having a episode of unpleasantness. We had to conjure up another way to save you."
Several hours earlier...
River was tossing and turning in a medical bed.
It took Mal, Jayne, and Zoe all their might to keep her arms and legs mostly restrained.
Simon and Kaylee put away some dark red liquid covered medical tools.
They had quite a bit of dark red liquid around their medical gloves.
Zoe felt her baby kick.
She groaned hard. She fought the urge to clutch her side.
Mal checked in concern, "Zoe?!"
With mixed feelings... Zoe pointed out, "just my baby kicked in me, sir. Hard sniffle. But, I don't think we keep restraining River like this long."
Mal and Simon murmured some hard to hear Chinese under their breaths.
Wash awkwardly commented, "I could take over for Jayne. I'm muscular...enough."
Zoe, Mal, Simon, and Kaylee tried hard not to laugh.
Jayne gave Wash a very doubtful look.
Simon and Kaylee were putting away their medical gloves.
After a bit... Simon realized, "I...I have a idea. Hard sniffle. It's crazy. But..."
Mal pressed, "just tell us, doc. Presume we ain't got a better one."
Simon took a deep breath.
And... He knocked out River on the not bruised side of her head.
Kaylee gasped.
Tears were falling from her face.
With mixed feelings... Simon explained, "I'm really sorry Kaylee. But, I didn't kill her. Hard sniffle. There's only one way I know to help her."
River was tossing and turning less. But, she still was in a coma.
Kaylee slowly but surely nodded at seeing this.
Jayne, Mal, and Zoe relaxed their arms some.
Simon took a deep breath.
Then... He laid out his plan, "get the cryogenic box we kept on the ship. Hard sniffle. Every thing she did came natural to her like breathing. Hard sniffle. I'm hoping she will find a way within herself to escape from her own coma. Very awkward laugh. I know that it sounds crazy for me, a very scientific minded doctor, to think. But..."
Everyone else very nervously and awkwardly smirked.
Mal somewhat lightly remarked, "it's crazy talk worth tryin' anyhow, doc: 'cause I still ain't got another plan. Get the box."
Simon firmly nodded.
And... Soon... He was coming back with the cryo-box.
Presently...
River kind of slowly nods.
River reflects, "she...she comprehends. Thank you. Chuckle. I'm happy I didn't kill any of you."
Mal and Zoe smirk.
But... Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, and Wash look real nervous.
River gulps nervously at that.
Just then... Kaylee tries hard to smile in front of her.
Kaylee hugs River close.
River nervously smiles back.
Kaylee tries to assure, "well... Nervous chuckle. That's sweet of you to be confessin'. Now, ain't it? Ain't it?"
On the last part... She turns around to face everyone else.
Kaylee is also looking somewhat tensely toward Jayne, Simon, and Wash.
Mal, Wash, and Zoe can't help but laugh some over that.
Jayne just looks annoyed.
He mutters to himself, "all this cheerfulness on crazy talk... I'll be in my bunk."
He starts to head to his bunk.
Awkwardly... Simon is quick to say, "yes. Yes, it...it is sweet of River to tell us."
Kaylee lightly adds, "thank you."
Simon is kind of quick to head to his and River's bunk.
Mal, Wash, and Zoe kind of lightly sigh to themselves in mixed relief.
Kaylee and River start to slowly walk back to Simon's and River's bunk.
Soon... Kaylee and River are excitedly talking about River beating the Second River in her brain to the finish line.
The following afternoon, in the cockpit on Serenity...
Mal is nervously sitting by a Cortex screen by the control panels.
In spite of some static from the live feed... Mal and Badger are talking over the Cortex.
They're both teary eyed. They sniffle hard.
Badger is sitting in a wood chair on his end.
Badger isn't wearing his hat right now. He has a shirt with quite some dark red liquid over it.
Badger looks solemnly toward Mal.
Badger explains, "we were in a underground hub off Haven. The preacher dropped by to meet with me and discuss plans. But... Hard sniffle. Almost all my company in the hub were burned by The Alliance and several of their bloody assets from prison satellites. Hard sniffle. I don't know what that preacher injected in me. But... Nervous laugh. It worked."
Mal figures, "what? You took to the word of God? Faint laugh. Never thought you wanted to try bein' a saint."
In spite of his teary eyes... He looks slightly amused.
With a tense glare... Badger mutters, "no! ! I might not be havin' a gang on Persephone no more. But, I'm still a highly respected criminal."
Mal can't help but laugh hard some on the last part.
Badger bristles at that.
Mal concludes, "yeah. You can keep tellin' yourself that, Badger."
With a little unsettling smile... Badger implies, "the funny part is... Faint laugh. The preacher gave me the best plan to make my standing high in the Verse. No one, not even the gorram Hands of Blue themselves, can take that away from me."
Suddenly... Mal warningly glares.
Mal suggests, "Badger? If Book is dead 'cause of you, I swear I will...! !"
Very nervous... Badger insists, "méishénme tǎoyàn de huá'érbùshí de shì! ! I ain't killed the preacher nor any spies in his or Inara's network. You can ask River yourself to kill me if I had. Now, can I finish tellin' you my legend?"
He has also put his hands up.
With some mixed feelings... Mal smirks some.
Mal admits, "it's temptin' for me to. But... Faint laugh. I reckon you ain't lyin' none to me. I'm listening."
Sounding better already... Badger adds, "better."
He puts his hands down.
Badger goes on, "the preacher told me to tell the law I were the only one runnin' the whole spy network and to "come and try to kill me" in another room. Hard sniffle. It weren't none hard with me runnin' off after killin' one of them real proper mannered. Faint laugh. I couldn't turn down the chance to be respected for who I am, see. The whole underground will be talkin' for years 'bout me."
Mal winces some at the last part.
Mal remarks, "well... That's a mighty weird landscape you made for yourself."
In spite of his teary eyed... Badger widely smirks.
Badger adds, "you're jealous."
Mal laughs some.
After a bit... Mal admits, "yeah: A little bit."
Badger laughs hard, doubling over some.
All too lightly... Badger remarks, "yes. I have my legendary ass: I knew I'm better!"
They smile some in very mixed amusement to each other.
Mal questions, "so... What did Book inject you with then?"
Badger continues, "the preacher gave me a bloodied shirt and injected me with somethin' just 'fore he left the underground hub. It were slow to start in my body. But... It did the job. The Hands of Blue thought me dead 'fore they could kill me. The Alliance would be gittin' a Operative to go back and make sure. But, by then..."
Mal finishes the thought, "Book, you, and your girlfriend were out."
Badger remarks, "exactly. Hard sniffle. Wish I could gloat 'bout flashing my ass at the law. But... Hard sniffle. Bugger! They took my bloody powerful cane."
He slams his fist on his wood chair.
Mal laughs some.
Mal cuttingly reflects, "well, maybe there's a mite more justice out here than thought: Considerin' just how many times you left us out to dry and all at the end of some jobs of yours."
Badger tensely glares some at him.
With mixed feelings... Mal awkwardly reflects, "well... I can't help but, dare I say it... Hard sniffle. Moderate sigh. Sympathize with your loss. Hard sniffle. Soldiers, spies... Hard sniffle. Sometimes they just steps way from each other in war."
Some tears fall from both of their faces. They sniffle hard.
Somewhat nervous... Badger comments, "well... Don't think we more than just partners in crime. That's all we are to each other. Dong ma?"
Mal firmly comments, "I wouldn't have it another way, Badger."
The teariness in both of their eyes starts to slowly but surely dry up.
And... They solemnly smile some to each other.
That night, in the galley...
Mal and his crew are having supper.
It starts out kind of quiet.
But... River told Kaylee ahead of time she can tell them her own version of River's story.
So... Kaylee tries to cheer everyone up at the table by telling them her version of River's story.
Kaylee added forest critters to the story that magically reversed deaths in timelines wherever River walked.
Soon... The whole crew is chuckling and laughing along with Kaylee's version of the story: Even Jayne.
River also suggested to Kaylee to tell them the Second River looked like Yolanda. River knew Jayne would otherwise realize who she is really talking about, and that he would never let her forget it.
In the midst of Kaylee's story... Mal, Zoe, and River smirk to each other in a knowing way.
Mal and Zoe just had a strong feeling Kaylee's version of the story was happier than the original.
Late that night, in the cockpit on Serenity...
River is somewhat shakily sitting by a Cortex screen by the control panels.
And... She and Inara are talking over the Cortex.
Inara is wearing her very dark blue purplish dress with ocean waves patterns. She also wears her gold wind charm earrings.
Inara is wide eyed in shock.
Sounding stunned... Inara reflects, "wow. That's...that's a powerful set of dreams you've had, River. I understand why you didn't tell Mal or anyone else about your dreamed relationship with Kaylee."
They're both a little teary eyed. They sniffle some.
Yet... River is very awkwardly smiling.
River reasons, "I love Mal. But... He's not so graceful."
Inara nervously chuckles a little. River nervously laughs a little.
Inara very awkwardly smiles.
Sounding calm... Inara considers, "no: He doesn't always know when to step back. He'd tell Kaylee. She would tell Simon. The whole crew would be taking bets on who would sweep Kaylee off her feet. And, Simon wouldn't know what to do with himself at all."
At the same time... She lightly points to the left and right some.
With mixed feelings... River brings up, "Simon: He'd leave Serenity. Faint sniffle. She comprehends. No taking relationships away. I'm happy for you and Kaylee."
Inara beams.
Inara points out, "thank you. I'm glad we won't be fighting over Mal when you're eighteen."
River smirks a little.
She adds, "you're welcome."
After a bit... Inara voices, "I...I know that sometimes relationships don't work out: No matter what we try to keep them close. But... Faint sniffle. It's really Kaylee's choice who she wants to marry. Faint sniffle. We all don't want Simon to die. Sniffle. But, if he did... Sniffle. I'm sure you'd make Kaylee very happy: Whether as friends or as her wife. Simon in heaven would understand, and he'd sooner or later be glad. And, I'd be glad for you and her."
The teariness in both of their eyes starts to slowly but surely dry up.
They solemnly smile wide to each other.
And... Serenity keeps on flying through the black.