Chapter: 10
Mal never left the bridge as soon as the Serenity skimmed into upper orbit around the gas giant that was the only thing from protecting them from the long range passive scans from the Alliance capital ship. The Eclipse class destroyer was one of the new additions to the Alliance fleet after the defeat of the Independents at Serenity Valley. A battle that Mal fought in for nearly two months. It happened on the planet known as Hera. And it was a costly battle for both sides. If the Alliance had destroyers such as the one that was in their system, the titanic starships during the War, than the independents would had been over run the first few months of the War. A To Mal, as he closed his eyes envisioning the capital ship with its full squad of attack flyers in escort formation, the ship looked more like a mobile space station, or a city in space than your average run of the mill battle carrier. Mal had seen these destroyers several times in the past. And every time he did, a piece of Mal wanted to scream and run the other way. They even docked in one such vessel on their own decision to save Shepherd when Simon and River were missing action. "Every time one of those are in the same system as me, I get nervous," Wash announced as he sat back in his chair as the gas giant loomed overhead through the canopy. "Don't much care for 'em myself," Mal responded as an alarm sounded from Wash's terminal. "What?" Mal asked as he stood up for the first time in an hour and moved to Wash's side. "Flyers are coming this way," Wash announced, with fear in his eyes. "Can they pick up our exhaust trail?" "If they know what to look for. But the speed their going, they should zip past us without knowing we were here." "Should," Mal breathed. "Always love it when should is placed in the same scenario when it could end life in prison or death." "Wouldn't be the same universe without it," Wash smirked as he powered down the Serenity's systems. Sitting breathless as Mal stood silent, as they both looked through the view ports to see if they could catch a glimpse of the flyers. And by any chance they did see the flyers, there was no doubt that the flyer pilots would see them. "And exactly how do we know the flyers past us with our systems off- line?" "Good question. Answer is, I don't know." Wash responded. "I guess until we decide to take a peak out the window." "I can take my shuttle," a voice sounded that startled both of the men as they turned their attention from the stars to the beautiful and stunning star that they had onboard. "No way," Mal answered flatly. "I can adrift in orbit around the planet, give you the go ahead that they're gone." "And if your caught?" Mal asked as he moved to stand in front of Inara with his hands folded across his chest. "Don't do that." "Do what?" "Cross your hands over your chest like I'm one of your subordinates." "Out of the question. Now drop the topic." "I will not," Inara said, standing her ground firmly against the man that she possible loved. "You never answered my question. What if your caught?" "I thought you told me to drop the topic." "Damn it, Inara!" "If I'm caught, I can say I was captured from Delphi 9 and I managed to arrange a way off the boat. It would look presentable on the captain's record that he rescued a registered Companion." "There's no guarantee they'll pick you up. Hell, look what they did when Shepherd was inured. They nearly turned us away and kicked us out." "It's a risk." "A risk we're not going to take," Mal said as he turned away and moved to his seat where he sat. The whole time Mal and Inara collided, Wash, who was sitting silent like a shadow, came to one conclusion that he had wanted to make for the past year and a half. They love each other, he said as a cautious smile formed on his face. Can't wait to tell Zoe! But the smile faded away. If I see her again. "Look," Wash said trying to keep his mind of the fact that he may never ever see his wife again. "If they don't find anything suspicious, they'll just move onto the next system. "And what about the Rising Star?" Mal asked. "Think about that?" "They're adrift, and will be ignored," Wash volunteered. "But have you forgotten, that we've been in trouble with the Alliance a numerous of occasions in the past two years. One notably our little heist on Aerial." "There's no guarantee they know what we look like, Mal! River and Simon are onboard Serenity. Jayne, Shepherd, and Zoe are on the Rising Star." "Oh, that's right. Shepherds onboard," Mal stood up from his seat and began t pace the deck. That's not good, Wash thought. I never see him pace. This, is really not good. "Hell, he'll just flash his credentials and the wonderful, caring, God's gift to the fushan universe, the almighty Alliance, just in case your lost, will just turn away." "What's wrong with you, Mal?" Inara asked. "I'm having a bad day. Okay?" "Apparently so. But do you have to take it out on Wash and me?" Mal sat silent, considering his next move. He always had a next move. And the only move that he had in his deal was just to wait. Wait, and hope for a happy ending.
Chapter: 11
Kaylee steeped slowly and cautiously as her magnetized soils of her EVA suit came in touch with the hull of the Rising Star as she led the way to the region of the boat that was experiencing decompression. Jayne not to far behind her. "I get to drop from a fast moving boat onto a fast moving train," Jayne said as I tried to keep control over his breathing. But every time he looked at the stars, or over the side of the ship the breathing began to accelerate. "Your point is, Jayne?" 'I never signed on to being dropped on a fast moving train from a fast moving boat. And I sure as hell never signed onto walking outside in a EVA suit doing, what exactly are we doing?" "Looking for a hole," Kaylee replied as her analyzer was in hand as she examined the readings the small compact tool was giving her. "Looking for a damn hole in a boat. Why can't they just look for it from the inside?" "They have," Kaylee replied as they reached the region. "And?" "And apparently they didn't find anything. Or why else would we be out here?" Jaycee's bickering stopped as he heard the tone of voice in Kaylee's voice. "What the hell is wrong with you?" "What do you mean, what's wrong with me?" "You've never talked to me like this? Two years we've known each other and---" "And what, Jayne?" "This, you, what your doing." "It's personal, Jayne. So, go play cards or something." "I can't very well play cards in space, sweet heart." "You can mentally. You do have a brain, you know?" "Damn, Kaylee. I'm sort of liking this side of you." "Shut up, Jayne. Please." Jayne raised his eye brow slightly as he casually glanced to his side and before he realized what he had done, began breathing fast. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. "So, how are you and the Doctor coming along? Heard there was quite a ruckus in your quarters, this morning." "What are you doing, Jayne?" "Just trying to have a civilized chat." "Involving my personal business?" "Hey, it's keeping my mind off the fact that I'm on the hull of a boat in the middle of nowhere in space. Sue me." "Jayne, please just go back inside or something." "I can't be doing that. Zoe would have my head." "Then get Zoe out here. Because I need peace and quiet. You trying looking for a hole possibly the size of a pen on this ship. It ain't going to be easy." "And we only have so much air to breathe. I say we go back." "Then go back, Jayne. I'm not stopping you." Jayne stood silent, considering entering the airlock and throwing his EVA suit to Zoe. Here, you deal with her. Must be that time or the month or something, womanly, Zane would tell Zoe. No, I ain't doing that. I've never ran away form anything in my damned life. No, well, okay, may be I have once in a while. But that ain't the point. The point is, Jaycee's thoughts paused as he realized something frightening. I'm loosing it. I'm thinking to myself. Having a conversation with myself. Hell! He lifted his right foot and kicked at the air. But he realized that there was no air. And before he knew it, the magnetized sole in his left boot failed and he began to drift off. "Kaylee!" Kaylee's head turned around and when she was about to tell him to leave her alone, he saw Jaycee's EVA suit begin to float away. "Jayne! Hold on!" "Onto what, Kaylee?" Kaylee activated her suits comm. "Zoe, there's a problem!" "We see it. I'm on my way out with a grapnel launcher." In two minutes, Zoe emerged from the airlock and rushed as fast as she could with the grapnel launcher. She raised the launcher and aimed at Jaycee's direction. "Hey, don't shoot me!" Jayne cried out. Zoe gritted her teeth as she gazed through the sights of her launcher and squeezed the trigger. The grapnel launched from the chamber and rocketed towards Jaycee's direction. The grapnel came up short and as soon as it reached the end of the tether stopped and sat floating in space. "Damn it!" Zoe barked. "Help me!" Jayne cried. "What happened to your tethers?" Zoe asked Kaylee who was standing at her side now. And when Zoe looked at Kaylee she could see the young girl shrinking. "I forgot to hook in." Zoe tried to keep her calm as she was going through scenarios to get Jayne back. But she knew that there were no reasonable means to rescue Jayne. "How much air does he have left?" Zoe asked as she stared as Jayne grew smaller and smaller. Kaylee who looked at the readout on the wrist of her suit. "I've got two hours. He should have about that. Jayne, I'm so sorry!" "I heard ya'! You don't have to yell." "My fault. Everything was my fault." "Zoe," Jaycee's voice came over her comm in her helmet. "Yeah, Jayne." "I want to talk to Book." "I'll get him. Just hang in there." "Not like I've got anywhere to go," Jayne remarked as he realized that the stars weren't making him anxious. In fact, he was feeling nothing. Nothing, but peace.
Mal never left the bridge as soon as the Serenity skimmed into upper orbit around the gas giant that was the only thing from protecting them from the long range passive scans from the Alliance capital ship. The Eclipse class destroyer was one of the new additions to the Alliance fleet after the defeat of the Independents at Serenity Valley. A battle that Mal fought in for nearly two months. It happened on the planet known as Hera. And it was a costly battle for both sides. If the Alliance had destroyers such as the one that was in their system, the titanic starships during the War, than the independents would had been over run the first few months of the War. A To Mal, as he closed his eyes envisioning the capital ship with its full squad of attack flyers in escort formation, the ship looked more like a mobile space station, or a city in space than your average run of the mill battle carrier. Mal had seen these destroyers several times in the past. And every time he did, a piece of Mal wanted to scream and run the other way. They even docked in one such vessel on their own decision to save Shepherd when Simon and River were missing action. "Every time one of those are in the same system as me, I get nervous," Wash announced as he sat back in his chair as the gas giant loomed overhead through the canopy. "Don't much care for 'em myself," Mal responded as an alarm sounded from Wash's terminal. "What?" Mal asked as he stood up for the first time in an hour and moved to Wash's side. "Flyers are coming this way," Wash announced, with fear in his eyes. "Can they pick up our exhaust trail?" "If they know what to look for. But the speed their going, they should zip past us without knowing we were here." "Should," Mal breathed. "Always love it when should is placed in the same scenario when it could end life in prison or death." "Wouldn't be the same universe without it," Wash smirked as he powered down the Serenity's systems. Sitting breathless as Mal stood silent, as they both looked through the view ports to see if they could catch a glimpse of the flyers. And by any chance they did see the flyers, there was no doubt that the flyer pilots would see them. "And exactly how do we know the flyers past us with our systems off- line?" "Good question. Answer is, I don't know." Wash responded. "I guess until we decide to take a peak out the window." "I can take my shuttle," a voice sounded that startled both of the men as they turned their attention from the stars to the beautiful and stunning star that they had onboard. "No way," Mal answered flatly. "I can adrift in orbit around the planet, give you the go ahead that they're gone." "And if your caught?" Mal asked as he moved to stand in front of Inara with his hands folded across his chest. "Don't do that." "Do what?" "Cross your hands over your chest like I'm one of your subordinates." "Out of the question. Now drop the topic." "I will not," Inara said, standing her ground firmly against the man that she possible loved. "You never answered my question. What if your caught?" "I thought you told me to drop the topic." "Damn it, Inara!" "If I'm caught, I can say I was captured from Delphi 9 and I managed to arrange a way off the boat. It would look presentable on the captain's record that he rescued a registered Companion." "There's no guarantee they'll pick you up. Hell, look what they did when Shepherd was inured. They nearly turned us away and kicked us out." "It's a risk." "A risk we're not going to take," Mal said as he turned away and moved to his seat where he sat. The whole time Mal and Inara collided, Wash, who was sitting silent like a shadow, came to one conclusion that he had wanted to make for the past year and a half. They love each other, he said as a cautious smile formed on his face. Can't wait to tell Zoe! But the smile faded away. If I see her again. "Look," Wash said trying to keep his mind of the fact that he may never ever see his wife again. "If they don't find anything suspicious, they'll just move onto the next system. "And what about the Rising Star?" Mal asked. "Think about that?" "They're adrift, and will be ignored," Wash volunteered. "But have you forgotten, that we've been in trouble with the Alliance a numerous of occasions in the past two years. One notably our little heist on Aerial." "There's no guarantee they know what we look like, Mal! River and Simon are onboard Serenity. Jayne, Shepherd, and Zoe are on the Rising Star." "Oh, that's right. Shepherds onboard," Mal stood up from his seat and began t pace the deck. That's not good, Wash thought. I never see him pace. This, is really not good. "Hell, he'll just flash his credentials and the wonderful, caring, God's gift to the fushan universe, the almighty Alliance, just in case your lost, will just turn away." "What's wrong with you, Mal?" Inara asked. "I'm having a bad day. Okay?" "Apparently so. But do you have to take it out on Wash and me?" Mal sat silent, considering his next move. He always had a next move. And the only move that he had in his deal was just to wait. Wait, and hope for a happy ending.
Chapter: 11
Kaylee steeped slowly and cautiously as her magnetized soils of her EVA suit came in touch with the hull of the Rising Star as she led the way to the region of the boat that was experiencing decompression. Jayne not to far behind her. "I get to drop from a fast moving boat onto a fast moving train," Jayne said as I tried to keep control over his breathing. But every time he looked at the stars, or over the side of the ship the breathing began to accelerate. "Your point is, Jayne?" 'I never signed on to being dropped on a fast moving train from a fast moving boat. And I sure as hell never signed onto walking outside in a EVA suit doing, what exactly are we doing?" "Looking for a hole," Kaylee replied as her analyzer was in hand as she examined the readings the small compact tool was giving her. "Looking for a damn hole in a boat. Why can't they just look for it from the inside?" "They have," Kaylee replied as they reached the region. "And?" "And apparently they didn't find anything. Or why else would we be out here?" Jaycee's bickering stopped as he heard the tone of voice in Kaylee's voice. "What the hell is wrong with you?" "What do you mean, what's wrong with me?" "You've never talked to me like this? Two years we've known each other and---" "And what, Jayne?" "This, you, what your doing." "It's personal, Jayne. So, go play cards or something." "I can't very well play cards in space, sweet heart." "You can mentally. You do have a brain, you know?" "Damn, Kaylee. I'm sort of liking this side of you." "Shut up, Jayne. Please." Jayne raised his eye brow slightly as he casually glanced to his side and before he realized what he had done, began breathing fast. He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. "So, how are you and the Doctor coming along? Heard there was quite a ruckus in your quarters, this morning." "What are you doing, Jayne?" "Just trying to have a civilized chat." "Involving my personal business?" "Hey, it's keeping my mind off the fact that I'm on the hull of a boat in the middle of nowhere in space. Sue me." "Jayne, please just go back inside or something." "I can't be doing that. Zoe would have my head." "Then get Zoe out here. Because I need peace and quiet. You trying looking for a hole possibly the size of a pen on this ship. It ain't going to be easy." "And we only have so much air to breathe. I say we go back." "Then go back, Jayne. I'm not stopping you." Jayne stood silent, considering entering the airlock and throwing his EVA suit to Zoe. Here, you deal with her. Must be that time or the month or something, womanly, Zane would tell Zoe. No, I ain't doing that. I've never ran away form anything in my damned life. No, well, okay, may be I have once in a while. But that ain't the point. The point is, Jaycee's thoughts paused as he realized something frightening. I'm loosing it. I'm thinking to myself. Having a conversation with myself. Hell! He lifted his right foot and kicked at the air. But he realized that there was no air. And before he knew it, the magnetized sole in his left boot failed and he began to drift off. "Kaylee!" Kaylee's head turned around and when she was about to tell him to leave her alone, he saw Jaycee's EVA suit begin to float away. "Jayne! Hold on!" "Onto what, Kaylee?" Kaylee activated her suits comm. "Zoe, there's a problem!" "We see it. I'm on my way out with a grapnel launcher." In two minutes, Zoe emerged from the airlock and rushed as fast as she could with the grapnel launcher. She raised the launcher and aimed at Jaycee's direction. "Hey, don't shoot me!" Jayne cried out. Zoe gritted her teeth as she gazed through the sights of her launcher and squeezed the trigger. The grapnel launched from the chamber and rocketed towards Jaycee's direction. The grapnel came up short and as soon as it reached the end of the tether stopped and sat floating in space. "Damn it!" Zoe barked. "Help me!" Jayne cried. "What happened to your tethers?" Zoe asked Kaylee who was standing at her side now. And when Zoe looked at Kaylee she could see the young girl shrinking. "I forgot to hook in." Zoe tried to keep her calm as she was going through scenarios to get Jayne back. But she knew that there were no reasonable means to rescue Jayne. "How much air does he have left?" Zoe asked as she stared as Jayne grew smaller and smaller. Kaylee who looked at the readout on the wrist of her suit. "I've got two hours. He should have about that. Jayne, I'm so sorry!" "I heard ya'! You don't have to yell." "My fault. Everything was my fault." "Zoe," Jaycee's voice came over her comm in her helmet. "Yeah, Jayne." "I want to talk to Book." "I'll get him. Just hang in there." "Not like I've got anywhere to go," Jayne remarked as he realized that the stars weren't making him anxious. In fact, he was feeling nothing. Nothing, but peace.