Simon and Kaylee were asleep after their night of passion in the engine room. Simon was hugging Kaylee protectively, and Kaylee was smiling the smile of someone in the prime of their life and enjoying it. Everyone on board was asleep. Everyone…except Jack. He was standing in the engine room doorway, listening to the sounds; the spin of the engine, the buzz of power, the soft, sleepy breathing of Simon and Kaylee. Jack walked in, and opened the engine compartment. He put down his bag, and unzipped it, taking out the item inside. He waited until the right moment, before grabbing the engine. It had already been moving slowly, saving power while they slept. There was a sound of resistance, before the engine stopped. He looked back at the two lovers, still soundly asleep. His face emotionless, he impaled the engine with the item, hiding it from view. Jack watched, expressionless, as the engine started up again. When he was sure it had worked, Jack walked back to his room.

River looked over from the bridge. No one was awake. Strange. She'd felt something moving around. Oh well, she thought, she wanted the surprise ready by morning. With that happy thought, she got back to work.


Simon yawned. Kaylee was standing over by the engine with her ear against it. He puzzled. She didn't usually do that unless something was horribly wrong. He wrapped the blanket around himself, and walked over. When he got behind her, he wrapped the blanket around her, too. Kaylee's body was warm next to his.

'What's wrong, my little mechanic?' He asked, after giving her a morning kiss. How it differs from normal kisses, I've never been quite sure. Maybe because it's in the morning. Just maybe. Kaylee hugged him before answering.

'Hmm, I don't know. Serenity's acting up again.' She said, snuggling in close to him. 'Probably nothing.'

'Well, check it out later. Could be something.' Simon told her. She laughed.

'Yes, boss!' She said playfully. Simon grinned.

'How about a kiss from my favourite employee.' He said. She pouted.

'I'm not an employee. I don't get paid for what I do.' She said, teasing him.

'Fine. Volunteer. Whatever. Just kiss me.' He said, before Kaylee granted his wish.


Mal woke with a headache. He didn't know why, he just had one. It was a morning thing. So when the com screamed a high pitched static note, he had just about enough. He had to have a chat with River about this. Suddenly, the it stopped and was replaced with music. Mal sighed. What was that girl doing?
"She's Electric, she's in a family full of eccentrics-" As people made their way to the bridge, tired, confused, and mostly half-naked, River stood back to admire her handy work. Simon was the first one to the bridge, Kaylee right behind them, both wearing dressing gowns. Simon stared at River's creation. She had affixed his CD player to the bridge, and rewired the com system to accept it as a channel. She looked up at him. "She's got a sister, God only knows how I missed her." The Gallaghers droned on. Jayne, on the other hand, was more interested in Kaylee's shockingly pink dressing gown with added floral design.

'River?' Mal asked, after a good long mental rant, 'Could you explain?' He had good reason for one. Wires dangled from the ceiling, the co-pilot and pilot terminals had been ripped open and extensively rewired. There were a few new screens. It was worrying.

'Thought we could use some music.' She said. 'Why, don't you like it?' Simon smiled.

'Just my style.' He said, taking Kaylee's arm in his and walked off to the kitchen. Mal sighed and followed them. Sometimes, he just couldn't control his crew.


Jack woke up. He felt tired.
'GOOD MORNING' Jack blinked. It seemed…cheerful. This worried him to no end.

'What have you done?'

'ME YOU MEAN YOU WHAT HAVE YOU DONE' Jack understood.

'You took control-'

'DURING THE NIGHT YES'

'Why?'

'THINGS NEEDED TO BE DONE'

'I asked you why!'

'DIVINE POWER WAITS FOR NO MAN'

'Well, I'll just stay here then.'

'JACK JACK WE BOTH KNOW WE ARE MUCH MUCH MORE THAN JUST MEN' Jack reached for his bedside table. They weren't there. 'I GOT RID OF THAT LITTLE PROBLEM'

'Why are you doing this to me!'

'THE PEOPLE OF THIS UNIVERSE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR GODS THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS GODS BUT I NO WE SHALL MAKE THEM SEE'

'You're insane.'

'BUT I AM YOU YOU ARE ME DO NOT DENY THE TRUTH NOW LET GO JACK YOUR TIME IS OVER' Jack tried to scream, but the sound never reached his mouth. He fell back on his bed, watching the shadows, closing in, feeling the vulnerability, the fear growing. He started to cry.

'Leave me in peace, demon!'

'JACK MY LAD TIME FOR SLEEP' Jack shook violently, as if having a fit. His muscles bulged, he drooled, his eyes spinning. Without warning, he stopped, and got up, and walked out the room.

'TIME TO WAKE UP'


Mal ate his breakfast, actually quite pleased with the morning's events. For starters, no one had been injured, always a good sign. Also, even though River had ripped apart and put back together near enough the entire bridge, the Earth-That-Was music was actually quite good. He liked Wonderwall. Mal stopped eating suddenly. He'd someone walking along the corridor. Turning around, he saw no one. Just my imagination, he thought.

'And all the roads that lead you there are winding…' He sung to himself.


Rive slowly walked into Jack's room. If she was going to find out anything about him, she needed to search here first. She looked in the drawers. Nothing of interest. A strange insignia on his jacket, a strong, muscular man holding up - River tilted her head for a better look - the Earth, and above that were three flags. Huh, she thought. How odd. She tried looking under the bed. Nothing. She looked in the sink. Nothing. In the toilet. Ew. And also, no- Hold on, hold on. She tried pulling the handle. Nothing. It was blocked. She got the plunger and started bring it back up. Eventually, something came. A small plastic container and some toilet paper. She hesitantly picked up the container and looked at the label, clear as day even though it had just gone through toilet. River stared at it, and slowly realised what it was. Without a seconds thought of searching the room more, River ran to Simon.
Meanwhile, Kaylee was sitting on Simon's lap in the Engine room.. They were singing.

'-There's no time for running away now, hey now, hey now!' They laughed, and had a quick kiss.

'I can't believe you never played this to me.' Kaylee told him, pouting.

'I didn't know if you'd like it or if thought I was weird for liking the old stuff.' He said. They were about to kiss again, when River ran in. Simon was embarrassed. 'River, what have I told you about running in on me and Kaylee?' Kaylee laughed and kissed him anyway.

'Oh, leave her alone.' Kaylee said laughing. River interrupted their happy moment.

'Simon, you have to look at this!' She said, showing his the plastic container that she'd made sure to clean. River knew Simon wouldn't like it if she gave him a container that had just been in the loo. He took it from her, looking it over.

'River,' He asked apprehensively, 'Where did you find this?'

'Jack's room.' She told him. 'It was already empty.' Simon turned it over and read the label. His eyes widened in horror.

'Clozapine. Oh, Christ.' He said. Kaylee looked at him oddly.

'Simon? What's wrong?' She asked.

'Kaylee, I need you to go and find Mal and the others. Hurry!' She hopped off his lap and went off. Before she left, he grabbed her arm. 'Kaylee, stay clear of Jack. You see him, you run, okay?' Kaylee nodded. Simon gave her a big hug. 'Be careful.'


Eight minutes later, the crew bar Jack were sitting in the Kitchen. Simon locked all doors leading into the kitchen, looking through the portholes for him. Mal watched him, annoyed.

'What's this all a-' He began before Simon interrupted.

'Have any of you made contact with Jack today?' He asked.

'No,' said Mal, 'I don't think so. Why?' Simon put the container down in the middle of the table.

'River found this in his toilet when she was searching his room.' Mal stared at it.

'What is it?' He asked.

'Clozapine.' Simon told him.

'Yeah, okay, what is it?' He asked, emphasising the 'what'.

'It's medicine. An antipsychotic drug.' Simon explained.

'What does this mean?' Inara asked.

'While I worked as a Doctor, I only ever saw this drug given as medication for one disease.' Simon breathed deeply. 'Jack has schizophrenia.' Mal stared at him.

'What does that mean?' Mal asked Simon.

'Jack's insane. I mean as in completely. Delusions, voices, distorted reality, the whole shebang.' He told them.

'So, what, is he going to kill us all in our sleep?' Mal asked, laughing. Simon didn't laugh. 'You can't be serious.'

'River had a closer look at the insignia on his jacket. I've heard it described before by the people who helped me get River out. It's the logo for a top-secret military organisation. They didn't tell me what it was called, but they gave me a description. According to him, they are essentially teams of Operatives on steroids. These people are devastating.' Simon shuddered. 'Add to that the schizophrenia, and the fact that his medicine container' Simon shook the said container, 'is empty, we have psychotic episodes.' He looked up at the others. 'We need to get him off this ship.' This time, he looked at Kaylee, genuine fear in his eyes. 'None of us are safe.' The ship began to shake. Mal looked at the window above him. He could see the flames building around his ship.

'We've just entered atmo.' He turned to Kaylee. 'Can you fly this thing?'

'Think so, Captain.' Kaylee told him.

'Right, you and Simon lock yourself on the bridge. Do not open the door unless you hear us.' Kaylee nodded. Mal turned to Jayne, Zoe and River. 'You three, get whatever weapons you can. If you find Jack, don't attack him unless you have to. Lock rooms behind you.' Mal looked around. 'Well, what are you waiting for! Move!'


Schizophrenia is a real disease, and real people have to fight symptoms similar to those described every day of their life. If you would like to find out more about schizophrenia, go to my profile to find the website.