Hello. Iverik here. Just a reminder: This story uses characters created by someone other than me.

Facing the Black

There is a distinct advantage in being able to communicate silently. Zoe and Mal had gotten to where they could more or less understand each other with a look a long time ago, in another war. Right now, though, it was coming in handy again. It was also driving Killer kwong-juh duh.

"Will you two say something!" He roared. The slightest of smiles tugged at Mal's face.

'You're enjoying this too much', Zoe's face said.

'Maybe a little,' his conceded, 'but you don't to give the plan away, do you?'

'Not at all.'

'Then keep your mouth shut, or he'll get suspicious whenever we're silent.'

'Got it, sir.'

"Gorram it!"

"Calm down Killer," Paul advised, "two days ago, you were complaining about how noisy we were being. Now you're roaring about how quiet they are? Make up your mind."

"Can't blame him for being a little jumpy, Paul," Aria interjected, "here on this dead-end moon with our electronics fried and no idea of where we are..."

Mal fingered a small device in his pocket. A small EMP to be precise. Zoe warned him once that his face was too easy to read, and he subsided.

The glances were lost on the Alliance troopers. Killer continued to curse and rave against all things brown. Paul had enough. So he started singing.

"I will praise you with my whole heart... before the lords I will sing praises to youuu... I will worship..."

"Will you stop that?!" Mal sputtered, heedless of Zoe's warning.

"Ah, the mute speaks," Killer laughed.

"It's just a Psalm," Paul began.

"And I don't care to be hearing it right now."

"Oh, like Killer didn't care to hear your silence?" Aria asked harshly.

'I told you so,' Zoe's eyes said, but she remained silent, scanning the horizon. She hugged her brown slicker closer. It was getting colder.

"Silence," Mal whispered, "is a good way not to let the enemy know you're coming."

"Oh, so the browncoat is lecturing us on how to fight now?" Killer fumed.

"What exactly does that mean? 'Cause..."

"Rain," Zoe said crisply. She half-turned to look at her squabbling crew. "Maybe snow."

"Oh." Mal looked out across the plain. Thick dark clouds roiled in the sky.

"This day just gets better and better," Aria groaned.

"Better snow than dropships," Paul said optimistically.

"Now that you said that," Killer growled, "we'll have snow and dropships."

"Okay. Then their black uniforms will stand out against the snow."

"You're an idiot."

"I think we'd better make camp before any of these fine scenarios happen..."

And so they did.