DISCLAMIER: I don't own anything. The characters of each show belong to their respective owner – MGM, Mutant Enemy, FOX (if they still have anything to do with it – damn them!), and good old Joss Whedon (though not so much good after that movie) :(

Takes place after Conversion for Atlantis and Objects in Space for Firefly (including those not aired on TV but are on the DVD), so anything before and during those episodes is fair game.

For anyone who doesn't know what Firefly is, don't worry, you don't have to have seen the show to enjoy this…I hope. Everything will be explained. Although I HIGHLY recommend the show and the movie that just came out (Serenity) and think everyone here should go see it. You'll love it…do it for me, it was my birthday a few days ago!

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Chapter One: What do you suppose that was?

"Well that was a waste of my very precious time." Dr. Rodney McKay said as he walked a few paces behind Teyla on their way back to the Stargate.

Teyla rolled her eyes, made mental note to speck with Lt. Col. Sheppard about always being paired off with him, before she spoke to him, "Major Lorne could not have known that the energy readings would be of no use." The next part she added to inflate his ego and hopefully get him to shut up, "They haven't a man such as you on their team."

"Yes, well…are we almost back to the 'gate?" he said as he pushed back the branches of the tree lined path they'd made through the woods. It seemed no matter where they went in the galaxy they had to carve a path through a ridiculously dense forest to get where they were going, yet the area surrounding the 'gate was wide and open. Not that he minded the last stretch of returning to the 'gate, he just wished the entire walk could be like that. Always.

Teyla sighed inwardly; she'd give anything to be with one of the others. Sometimes she wanted to just walk up to Ronan and tell him to take McKay, she was sure he'd not complain so much after a mission in his company. But then it would be just herself and John, and though they'd "talked" about it, the kiss he'd given her still weighed on them. No one noticed really, the awkward silences, the fractured eye contact. Maybe it would be good for them, she shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss him when he'd tried to speak with her before.

The great exhale she heard from behind brought her back to her present surroundings as they stepped into the 'gates clearing. The exhale from McKay was quickly followed by a groan, "We have to wait now?" he tapped the little radio in his ear so that he could talk to John, "Where are you?"

"We're on our way back. Something going on I should know about?" the tone of his voice told McKay he'd better not be calling to complain.

"No, just…" what could he say? "…just wanted to make sure you and Ronan are ok."

We're fine. Sit tight, we'll be there in a few. Sheppard out." and that was the end of the conversation. As he and Teyla approached the 'gate he pulled out a power bar and plopped down onto the hard ground and leaned against the stone of the Stargate. Teyla stood back, and watched him. Nearly two years she'd known this man now, gotten to learn his habits and hit ticks and what buttons to push to get him to do what must be done. She'd seen him do amazing things, risk his life for his people. He was an interesting person.

"What? Why are you eyeing me like that? I'm hungry." He said with little crumbs falling from his lips, she was about to respond when the gate suddenly sprang to life, the symbols rapidly locking into place. McKay quickly rolled away from the 'gate to avoid the balloon that would explode form the circle the minute the wormhole was established. Teyla watched the symbols, hoping to recognize the address, but she didn't. Then to both her and McKay's surprise an eighth symbol locked into the sequence.

McKay's jaw dropped, "But…it, it shouldn't…it can't – really – I mean…" the frantic rambling sentence continued in his head and he only vaguely heard Teyla telling John to get here soon. McKay's mind frantically searched for a way for this to be possible and was just about to say something when a great blast of energy came from the 'gate throwing them back and spit a large wave of energy up into the sky.

Sheppard and Ronan rushed into the clearing as the 'gate was shutting down. No sooner had he reached Teyla, and heard her assurance that she was fine, when he heard the unmistakable sound of something making its way quickly through the planets atmosphere. He helped Teyla up and looked up in time to see a great ball of flame dart across the sky, and shake the ground with its impact.

A few feet away Ronan pulled McKay to his feet and roughly dusted him off, "You're fine, shut up."

"Well that's easy for you to say – you didn't almost die!"

Ronan ignored the man and walked over to John and Teyla, "What do you suppose that was?"

"I don't know. McKay," John turned to Rodney, "dial Atlantis." He said, and then turned his head back to the sky, his eyes following the dark smoke trail left by the…thing. "I want to check that out."

"Yeah, no, I'm fine. I almost died, but it's ok, I'll move on – forget it ever happened…"he mumbled as he dialed the address for Atlantis.

After a few minutes spent convincing Elizabeth that everything would be ok, and that they were just going to look around, not touch anything, she gave them the go ahead with instructions to check back with her in three hours. The last remnants the blue wormhole disappeared into the air as John readjusted his pack, and looked around at his team. The ever graceful, dark skinned Teyla, whose gaze he could barely hold, the dread locked runner, Ronan, and McKay, the whiniest scientist he'd ever met.

"Ok, lets go." And sure enough, flanked by his warrior teammates, Rodney brought up the rear, muttering under his breath about the trees and rocks, and brush he'd have to climb through to see whatever had fallen out of the sky.

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Inside the yellow, flower lined walls of the Serenity's kitchen nine people sat around the wooden table, talking, laughing, and slowly consuming the different sized blocks of brown protein bars. It wasn't much, and it wasn't something you really wanted to eat everyday, but out in the black, when you're on the edge of the 'Verse you had to make do with what you had.

There was laughter coming from nearly every person at the table, River sat, her dark hair hanging all around her next to her brother, quiet as always. Jayne sat next to Book, trying to figure out exactly what kind of action he'd slept through the night before, but Book just sat there and smiled, and said how he'd disliked the violence and it wasn't something he felt he should speak on, but that wasn't likely to stop Jayne.

Zoë and Wash, as was usual, were all wrapped up in each other not much paying attention to the others. This was fine with Simon, the gunshot wound Early had left him with throbbed, sending pain from his thigh down to his very toes. He caught the occasional worried glance from Kaylee when she broke from keeping the Captain and Inara's conversation civil-like, if anybody realized he was hurting it would be her, or River, though River would never show it, she'd just say something obscure and he'd spend an hour wondering what she meant.

Captain Malcom Reynolds and Inara were having the same conversation they always had, Mal would comment on her job and the like, and she'd get to calling him a petty thief. But Mal did shoot Simon a look every now and then. He wasn't sure if was concern, or a look telling him he was a bai chi ben dan. He didn't much care either, just so long as no one asked how he was doing.

"Simon…" Kaylee said from her seat on the other side of him, he looked at, her sweet hazel eyes, framed by light brown hair. She cared so much for him, he could hardly find the time, or way to tell her how he felt, "…you doin' ok?"

He smiled, he wasn't sure why they kept asking him that, like they was trying to remind him that he ruined River's plan and gotten shot. Why didn't they ask Mal if he was ok, he'd gotten beaten a fair bit, or River for that? Of course River's answer would be the same, or something crazy. It hit him then that he wasn't ok, in the physical sense sure he was, the pain would go away, but he was angry.

Angry at him self, he'd gotten shot to save his sister, who didn't need it. Of course he hadn't known that. He thought she was turning her self in and that made him angry more than scared. He glanced over at River, he'd thought he'd given up his whole life to save her, and she'd been willing to leave him a fugitive and go back to her torture.

"I-" he didn't get a chance to finish before the ship lurched to the side a bit. The now quieted eyes flicked off him and to the entrance of the engine room, and the hallway that led to the bridge.

Wash and Kaylee stood and made their way to their second homes. Moments later Kaylee emerged from the engine room, a small amount of grease now smeared on her face and hands.

"Ain't nothing back there Capt'n."

On Serenity's bridge Wash looked over the panels and screen surrounding his fur covered pilot's chair. It didn't make sense, there were some ridiculous energy readings coming from somewhere. "Ai ya…" he whispered once he looked out the wide windows into the black. Only it wasn't black, there was a planet and something else.

"Captain, your gonna want to look at this! He shouted back down the hall, "Iche chaŭn ushe…"

"What is…" Mal trailed off and tilted his at the sight before him. Behind him the rest of the crew had followed, and taken much the same action as he had.

"It's kinda pretty." Kaylee said, as the smallish floating ring sprang to life with a bright blue bubble of sorts.

"What is it?" Jayne asked.

In the back of the room, close to her brother's side, River whispered. "Chappai." She didn't know what that was, but she knew that something was about to happen, and she shouted, "SIT! Sit, bumpy ride, bumpy. We're going far, Simon, far, far. Sit!" she pulled him back towards the kitchen, with its small common area where there were seats to strap into. Kaylee and Inara followed them out, trying to help him walk as fast she was pulling, or to get her to let go.

They hadn't even put to feet through the door to the kitchen when the ship shook violently, tossing about its inhabitant.

"Serenity…what's wrong?" Kaylee said, again making her way to the engine. But again the ship shook, and Jayne came stumbling through the doorway.

"Captain strap in!" he shouted, grabbing Simon by the arm, hauling him to a seat and strapping him in, "Cant have you scuffed up more'n usual now can we doc? What if someone gets 'emselves hurt?" in Jayne's own playful way he slapped the side of Simon's face before moving over to Kaylee. Inara helped River to a set and then herself. With the seats now all occupied, Jayne turned to go back to the bridge, when a blue light came rushing down the hall from the bridge and filled the room, then a violent, unrelenting variation rocked the ship. He was tossed back and forth, finally managing to grab hold of the square column that ended the countertop. Chairs had all fallen over, pots and pans, and various containers had fallen, spilled their contents and whisked past them on the floor.

"Gorramit…what the hell is going on."

"New world. Saying hello." River said, calm as ever.

"Shut – your- crazy-- moon---pie----mouth!" Jayne shouted moments before he flew up to the ceiling and back down. The ship had hit ground, hard, and was skidding to a halt, evidenced by Jayne's unconscious body sliding across the floor with everything else.

On the bridge, Wash let go of the controls, he'd set her down as smooth as possible for being a crash and all. He looked over to where his wife and captain sat, strapped in, and said, "What do you suppose that was?"

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End part one, hope you like it! Let me know, R and R please!