Disclaimer: I don't own any AFI lyrics mentioned in this chapter or any other chapters after this one.
Rose was fascinated by the ship. Now she knew why she had always wanted to see the inside of a firefly. The ship that took her away from her home so long ago was nothing like this. After that day six years ago she had never wanted to be on another ship except a firefly. Now this firefly was her home. She sighed thinking of her mother and father. They had died six years ago when Rose was thirteen. She remembered their smiles, and laughs. She missed them all so much, it was unbearable. Rose was jolted out of her reverie by Kaylee.
"Rose, this is where you'll stay. Make yourself at home." Kaylee said. Rose nodded and went in. Her bunk was pretty big. Bigger than at the orphanage. Bigger than the eave under which she slept when the orphange had kicked her out at eighteen. But Rose had survived, and she would keep on surviving. Rose walked over and sat on her bunk. She reached into the small pouch she wore by her side. It was a small leather bag with a thin strap that went over her shoulder. She pulled out a pair of small headphones and drapped them over her neck. She had an ancient portable cd player. Rose had taken extra good care of it and had rewired it so that it accepted new technology. Rose had always been good at that sort of thing. The outside might have been ancient but the inside wasn't.
Rose jumped when she heard a knock on her door. She opened it slowly and Mal dropped in. Rose looked over at him and smiled. "Hey Captain." She said. "What's up?"
" Is your bunk suited to your liking?" Mal asked. He didn't really like to have Rose on board, but the rest of the crew did. But still Mal had to admit that Rose was a very pretty girl. He looked her up and down, hoping that she wouldn't notice his interest.
"It's perfect. Thanks Captain. I really do appreciate you letting you me join your crew. I promise you won't regret it." Rose clapsed her hands in front of her, sort of embarrassed and lacked anything to say. She had noticed Mal looking at her, but she was used to it. Rose thought it better not to say anything. Mal just nodded and walked back out. Rose sat on her bed and put her headphones on. She pushed the play button and A.F.I started to play.
This is what I brought you this you can keep. This is what I brought you may forget me. I promise to depart just promise one thing, kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.
Rose leaned against her pillow and and listened to the music. Her bunk was next to the cargo hold and when Rose heard a loud noise over the music. She jumped up and rushed out of the room toward the source of the noise. It was coming from the cargo hold. She went in just in time to see Mal open the doctors metal crate. He gazed inside and jumped back. Inside the crate was a naked girl.
"No! She's not supposed to wake up until next week. The shock alone could kill her..." Simon rushed foward. At that moment they heard someone scream. It was the girl inside the crate. Simon rushed over to her.
"Who is that!" Mal exclaimed clearly shocked. Apparently he wasn't the only one who was a smuggler.
"This is my sister. her name is River." He mumbled a few words to calm her and helped her up. He put his arm around her shoulders and led her out of the room. Rose just watched it all happen, her mind numb with confusion. Everyone stared at each other and followed Simon out. There was just one person missing, but no one noticed.
Simon got River some clothes and began to tell what happened. It took him awhile to tell the story, but no one interrupted. they went back to the cargo hold when Simon had finished to see if any other stow aways were on board. After two, the supposed anything was possible. They were stopped by the man Innora had brought with her. He was holding a gun, ready to fire. Rose and everyone else froze. The man with the gun smiled. Rose looked at the man wide-eyed. She wondered what would happen to them all.
Just when they thought nothing was going to happen, the man started to speak.