Book Smart, Serenity-BDV Season 1: Episode 4

[Serenity]

* Lifting off very soon...*

[Shepherd Book]

The disoriented shepherd struggled in vain to pull himself off the cargo bay floor, shortly succumbing to vertigo and the sharp pain now erupting from leg. Ears ringing, Derrial Book collapsed back onto the floor, next to an unconscious Malcolm Reynolds. He examined the source of the now excruciating pain, expecting to see a limb riddled with lead of the variety currently zipping by his head. Instead, to his horror, a piece of shrapnel filled the rip in his pants and the gash in his leg.

He became vaguely aware of the vulgarities erupting from Jayne Cobb's mouth and the high-caliber blasts erupting from Vera on the opposite side of the room...all directed towards the mass of smoke, flames, and rubble formerly known as Serenity's inner cargo bay door. Book instinctively grabbed Malcolm Reynolds' pistol, haphazardly emptying the remaining rounds into the smoke filled cargo bay. More vulgarities from Jayne, but this time they seemed directed at the vicinity of Mal's now empty sidearm. Book was certain the words "gorramit" and "shepherd" had pierced his still ringing ears, but didn't have much time to be sure as another explosion ripped through the cargo bay. Jayne Cobb...and Vera, fell silent.

The shepherd began falling in and out of consciousness, unsure of the elapsed time between blackouts.

" 'Clear' over here..."

Book heard another voice repeat the signal, then the sound of boots clanking slowly along the metal floor. Steel-toed boots stopped in front of the shepherd and Serenity's captain. Book peered up at the cigar smoking, impeccably dressed man in the black coat and slightly tilted brimmed hat, started to speak, but was interrupted by a distinct New Savannah drawl.

"What DO we have here gentlemen? Looks t'be a pious man of the cloth?"

"Please, there is no need for more of this insanity...I believe what you want is over there," Book said, motioning to the cargo he'd regrettably talked Mal into transporting.

The man glanced at the cargo, chuckled, then surveyed the Firefly's cargo hold. "Oh, no suh, you apparently misunderstand the nature of your predicament. There is nothing of intrinsic value residing on this wretch of a vessel. Except of course, " the man paused, tossing the butt of his cigar on the floor, then pistol-whipping the helpless shepherd with the butt of his revolver, "YOU..."brother"."

FADE TO OPENING CREDITS

[Serenity]

[Shepherd Book]

72 HOURS EARLIER

Derrial Book calmly looked at his winning hand, smiled at the anxious Jayne Cobb, then calmly laid the cards down on the table. "Been a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen," announced the shepherd to a chorus of groans from Jayne, Clancy, the Captain, and Doctor Simon Tam.

Book scooped in his winnings as the voice of Hoban Washburne on the intercom announced the arrival of Serenity at the Shin-Tu space station.

"And just in time I see...my 'tailor' sends his blessings to you all...and your coin."

[Jayne Cobb]

Jayne snorted,
”I seem to recollect there bein’ a passage ‘bout not stealin’ in that there book you’re always totin’ about. Cause if you ain’t runnin’ quicks on us, Shepherd…I might have to find myself some religiosity. Seems the man upstairs has a fondness for makin’ impossible hands possible.”

The big man stood and stretched his arms over his head, pinwheeling his left to work out a kink,
”Hell, if I’d known today was Shitty Card Player day, I’da dressed up like the Doc…figure all I need is a sly blouse, a cup of pompous, and a crazy sister.”

Not bothering to push in his chair, Cobb grabbed his fatigue jacket and headed in the direction of the cargo bay.

<<running quicks – card based cons>>

[Inara Serra]

Inara was seated in front of her Cortex screen, absently thumbing through the pages of clientele. Some she hadn't seen in months, a few, in years. Some were people she considered friends, not dear, exactly. But friends. She clicked on one, and smiled as Rupart Fellaro's grinning face appeared on the screen, "Miss Serra, I do hope you'll return my call! We've the Opera Festival opening here on Paquin next month, and I would love to have you ..."

She swiped it off. Next month was plenty of time. No need to think about it right now. A familiar looking blond man, ruggedly handsome, perhaps in his forty's. He looked familiar, yet was marked as a new contact. A faint brush of her fingertip, and his voice, rich and surprisingly deep, filled the air, "Miss Serra? I'm John Wallace, you may have heard of me," Oh yes. The Singer. "I'm performing a Rim Tour, and will be in the Dakota System on the following dates. I see in your profile that you travel and if your schedule and mine happen to coincide, I'd be hon..."

A touch and he was gone.

A dozen respectable, interesting, good, honest, fun and intrigueing clients, and she'd replied to none of them. There were perfectly reasonable excuses for not answering them. For example, she couldn't be sure that Serenity would be near Paquin next month. John Wallace would be touring the Rim for six months. Surely there would be later dates that could fit into her schedule. The beautiful young Bellerophon newlyweds looking for an instructor would be fun and eager, but that was a two week long contract. What if Mal's schedule suddenly changed, and she had to abandon them mid-lesson?

So this is Mal's fault now? Inara's frown scowled at her for a moment before she soothed it into something more proper. You know why you aren't working. Antoine won't try to come through a client again. He's not that stupid.

No. He was clever. Like a fox.

Wash's message rippled through the com, and Inara switched off the screen and dropped the drape over it.

She entered the galley just in time to catch Jayne's departing words and watch his broad back disappear through the hatch towards the cargo bay,

”Hell, if I’d known today was Shitty Card Player day, I’da dressed up like the Doc…figure all I need is a sly blouse, a cup of pompous, and a crazy sister.”

With a raised eyebrow and a soft smirk, Inara took in the smug smile on Shepherd Book's face, and the rather defeated appearance of Mal and Simon. A teasing smile graced her face, "If I were a gambling woman, I would lay odds that the mighty have fallen to the hand of God. But..." Mischief illuminated her eyes, "a Companion doesn't partake in games of chance, so I'll just offer my condolances to the losers."

[Kaylee Frye]

Until the landing sequence, Kaylee had been in her hammock, listening happily to the saved recording of music from a long ago dance and remembering when she'd worn ruffles and bows. As Wash mentioned their approach, she rose and got to work, the two working together to bring the ship in smoothly. As they worked, she remembered Mal's comment prior to the race. "...best pilot and mechanic a protein bar can buy..." Wondering if the Cap'n would still feel that generous, Kaylee started searching out an unfamiliar sound.

Once the ship had safely landed, Kaylee relaxed some. Things seemed to be running pretty well, after all, and she'd never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Still, there was no need she saw not to investigate before a potential cough or hiccup in the system became a serious problem and got Mal back here...though it was likely that could get him shelling out some coin to replace a few older parts...

Before she could fully consider that comment, she buzzed the bridge. "Keep her runnin' a tic or two, Wash. I need to check somethin.'" With luck, this wouldn't take long and could be fixed before they took off again. Keeping an ear out for the comm or the Captain, Kaylee moved further into the engine room, studying each section lightly.

The large section containing the spinning turbine couldn't have been the source, she decided easily as the large fans in the engine room slowed further in their already lazy whoosh, whoosh, whoosh spinning. The ventilation made more of a steady hum in the dorms and tended to whine a bit in the common area. Reminding herself to check the fans in the galley, brown eyes zeroed in on the problem area. Minutes after the ship had landed, she returned to the comm. "I found what I needed; feel free to shut 'er down."

Though she knew questions would come from the pilot, Kaylee couldn't make herself stay put to answer them. Instead, she grabbed her toolbox and settled in on the floor, opening the wall plating to the right of the door. If she stretched for it, she'd be able to just reach the comm and keep in touch with Wash if it was needed, though the job looked simple enough to the mechanically minded girl. Looking easily past the handful of wires, she reached in and started working. Just a minute or two and everything would be shiny again...

[Simon Tam]

”Hell, if I’d known today was Shitty Card Player day, I’da dressed up like the Doc…figure all I need is a sly blouse, a cup of pompous, and a crazy sister.”

Ignoring Jayne had become a quickly-adapted reflex from Simon, but some days he couldn't help himself.

"First, you don't make enough in a year to afford this "blouse," and second, I order my pompous by the carafe."

He nonchalantly sipped from the tin cup full of engine-distilled alcohol without bothering to look at the big man. Jayne was right about his facility with cards, though. If the Alliance hadn't already seized his fortune, he'd have lost most of it by now in these regular sessions of Tall Card. Watching the Shepherd scooped up his wages of sin, a thought occurred that made him blanch. He turned to Mal.

"Captain, if you don't mind my asking, this space station... what can you tell us about it?"

Simon was sure that Mal knew what he was really asking. Is there a heavy Alliance presence? Would he have to keep an eye on River, again? He loved his sister, but the thought wearied him. How long could they keep running, when the specter of imprisonment lurked at every new port? He would spend the rest of his life in a cell, and her fate would be far worse. During his moments of low resolve, this fate seemed inevitable to Simon. They couldn't remain fugitives forever. It wasn't possible.

[Shepherd Book]

"Cause if you ain’t runnin’ quicks on us, Shepherd…I might have to find myself some religiosity."
The shepherd began to reply "My door is always open...", but the big mercenary stomped off after his customary bad-hand accusations of divine cheating. And of course, Book thought, it wouldn't be a game of Tall Card on board Serenity without Jayne's almost obligatory jab at the mild-mannered doctor.

Book chuckled at Simon's razor-sharp retort as the lumbering stomps of the disgruntled Jayne quickly gave way to the graceful glide of Inara Serra, "If I were a gambling woman, I would lay odds that the mighty have fallen to the hand of God..."

"Now, now. A wise man once said, 'God does not play dice'," Book replied, humorously quoting the great ETW physicist out of context. "But just in case, I'll be sure to see that most of the proceeds go to restocking Serenity's depleted galley."

[Hoban Washburne]

"No." Her expression didn't change, but Zoe still gave the impression of rolling her eyes back at Wash as she moved down the forward passage, unconsciously shortening her long-legged stride to match his own quickened step. "We don't have the time right now. Didn't exactly get paid with that last thing, and we burned up fuel for no ai ya reason thanks to that race. As much as I would love to take time away, we can't afford it right now."

Wash deflated a little at that, but he was scowling now, unwilling to back down. They needed this. Zoe needed this. She needed a chance to relax a little without having to worry about being more than the woman he saw past the stiff tension in her shoulders. "Look," he said, quickly seizing upon the idea of money, "it's just a night or two," away from Mal, "at a hotel. Clean sheets, thicker walls... well, more of them anyway..."

She laughed at his comment. "Thicker walls might not be such a bad thing," she agreed. "Wouldn't need to hear the engine turning all night." She gave him a sly smile, as if to say along with other things. Then, "I'll talk to Mal. See how long we're gonna be planet side next time. Might be we can fit it in there if we get good pay."

"Next time?" He echoed in dismay, then cleared his throat and blinked to smooth away his frown--just a frown and not a glare--and tried again. "Oh, good," he answered smoothly as they entered the kitchen. "Next time. And if we're really lucky, we might even have enough left over after to pay for those mint things they put on the pillow."

[Zoe godmodded with permission by Zira]

[Zoe Washburne]

She couldn't help it. She had to laugh at his comment. Zoe placed a hand on his arm, stopping his forward movement a moment. Then she quietly told him, "Promise you, Wash. I'll talk to Mal. And, if there is more time in between now and then, more money to be saved up so maybe we can spend longer. Or, you know, get the mint."

[Glenn Clancy]

Galley

"Been a pleasure doing business with you gentlemen," "And just in time I see...my 'tailor' sends his blessings to you all...and your coin."


Glenn grumbled as he lost to a man of the cloth. Perhaps next round he'd get his money back, but the way luck was favoring him, he'd have better luck turning lead into gold.


”I seem to recollect there bein’ a passage ‘bout not stealin’ in that there book you’re always totin’ about. Cause if you ain’t runnin’ quicks on us, Shepherd…I might have to find myself some religiosity. Seems the man upstairs has a fondness for makin’ impossible hands possible.”


Glenn rolled his eyes as the mercenary, who was as strong as an ox and just as dumb, whinged like a baby over spilled milk. "Don't know how the captain can stand this incessant whingin' of his and not toss him out the nearest airlock." Glenn thought to himself. "Man like that has my utmost respect."


”Hell, if I’d known today was Shitty Card Player day, I’da dressed up like the Doc…figure all I need is a sly blouse, a cup of pompous, and a crazy sister.”


"First, you don't make enough in a year to afford this "blouse," and second, I order my pompous by the carafe."


Glenn gave the doctor a look and chuckled to himself. It wasn't really that funny, but Glenn found some humor in the fact that the doctor was able to insult the man-ape's intelligence, or lack thereof, and still be living and breathing.


"If I were a gambling woman, I would lay odds that the mighty have fallen to the hand of God. But..." "a Companion doesn't partake in games of chance, so I'll just offer my condolances to the losers."


Glenn sat back and watched as the mercenary departed. The crew seemed to attack the mercenary's poor sportsmanship in a way that was part dysfunctional family and part wildlife documentary.


"Now, now. A wise man once said, 'God does not play dice'," "But just in case, I'll be sure to see that most of the proceeds go to restocking Serenity's depleted galley."


Glenn turned to the Shepherd and asked, "So is he always whingy like this, or just in the presence of passengers?"

This post has been edited by Jonestein on Feb 17 2008, 12:53 PM

[Mr_Universe]

The following broadcasts over every frequency of every broadband comm array and every channel of the cortex. The voice of the mysterious Mr. Universe is indecipherable, morphing from a young child to a mature woman to a man with a Londinium accent to a dozen other personas with every word.

The screen transitions from darkness to a capture shot of Serenity Valley…the bodies of seemingly thousands of Browncoats laid out for categorization and burial.

”Remember Serenity Valley…the birthplace of Unification and the death of Independence.”

The screen dissolves to a still capture of the Battle of Fort Necessity, when Colonel Harlan Jessup and Major Isaac Terrell led the final charge against Adam Man’s forces.

”Remember Fort Necessity…the reawakening of Independence.”

The screen dissolves for a final time, ending with the last stand of the 666th against the Reavers…the camera slowly zooms in on the face of Harlan Jessup, roaring his final command.

”Remember Andersonville…the birthplace of the New Independence.”

The screen fades to black, but the eerie voice of Mr. Universe offers one last cryptic message,
”Find Mei-mei…rise again.”

Regular transmissions and communications resume.



<<I know that the various ships and settings are not technically synched up time wise, but I wanted to use this cross ‘Verse broadcast as a way to draw all the stories into a similar moment. Damn you paradox…I’ll hear none of your complaints.>>

[Malcolm Reynolds]

"So is he always whingy like this, or just in the presence of passengers?" Clancy asked the Shepherd.

"Jayne thinks 'tact' is somethin' you use to pin up naughty pictures in your bunk," Mal replied, deciding to field the question himself, "...and speaking of naughty, hello Inara."

"Captain, if you don't mind my asking, this space station... what can you tell us about it?" inquired the Doc.

"Nothing t'get your fancies in a wad about, Doc. Just a tradin' post on the rim. Shepherd seems to think his boss may have a job for us here. Oh, by the way Shepherd, you did mention my rates to his Almightyness, didn't you?"

[Inara Serra]

"...and speaking of naughty, hello Inara."

Naughty? Inara gave a tight lipped smile, but her voice stayed light as she returned the greeting with a polite nod, "Mal."

"This trading post wouldn't happen to have more than a rag doll and a wood carving of a duck, would it? I could use a few supplies." Aware that her tone had turned something less than Companionable she tried to cushion it with a smile. "I doubt they'll have Sihnon grown Sencha Karigane, but I can at least hope for Southern Paquin Gyokuro."