Hello. Iverik here. Just a reminder: This story uses characters created by someone other than me.
Facing the Black
Kaylee didn't think herself a hero. What kind of hero faints when being shot at after all? But she was the only one aboard who didn't have a price on her head. So she was the only one who Lieutenant Philio could be allowed to see during his rescue. Consequentially, he thought she had rescued him single-handedly. And then there was the matter of the Autodemarch ship and what it contained.
Kaylee hit the floor with a thunk. Simon automatically went to her side. River finally got to the controls. Another EMP attempt. River half-smiled. Pathetic really. But still dangerous. Now. She focused.
On the other ship, there was a scream. River casually lifted the pilot of the other ship into mid-air and waited. It was probably good that Simon was too worried over his fiance to notice what his sister was doing- he would have been astonished. There were many things he didn't know about her.
Serenity's power returned. In an instant, River tossed the unfortunate pilot aside. Steering Serenity towards the warship, River expertly docked. Simon finally looked up. River ignored him, as usual, and hurried to the airlock. She was across and into the other ship remarkably quickly- she had to hurry.
The other pilot already was reaching for the controls when River stepped into the room. Her eyes widened, and she backed away. River advanced.
"You are a Psyonic Weapon," River observed.
"Who are you?"
"A fugitive. Like yourself."
"How did-?"
"You improperly armed your torpedoes. The effect was minimal. You are not a combat pilot."
"No," the other admitted.
"What is your name?"
"Esperelda Gonzalez."
"You are from the Autodemarchy."
"Yes." Esperelda looked distressed. "You don't know what it's like over there."
"Then tell me."
"We set out from Earth years ago. Generations really. No one remembers it. I suppose we left at the same time you did, but your ships were faster. You got here first."
"It wasn't long ago that the Autodemarchy came to power. My father told me about the takeover. He cooked for the first Autodemarch, Caspar Brenian." Esperelda looked distressed.
"As we approached the system, the Autodemarchy learned about people planning to join the Alliance. Conditions under the Autodemarchy were bad. Food was mismanaged, and even the air we breathed... well, it was bad."
"After the 'plot' was discovered, though, things got very bad. Hundreds were killed. We all suffered."
"So you got this ship and ran," River prompted.
"Yes. I thought, if I could just tell the Alliance what we really are..."
"There is not as much hope in the Alliance as you think," River observed.
"But under the Autodemarchy, we have no hope. They plan to enslave us when they're done conquering the system!"
River read Esperelda's mind, and found it truthful.
"They'll come after you."
"They're already after me," Esperelda admitted.
So it was that it was no coincidence that Lieutenant Philio had found five gunships on his way to Serenity's location.