Sailing On, Mini-Episode #1

[Serenity]

The Black Somewhere Outside Greenleaf Airspace:

Serenity hung against a brilliant sun, a silver shadow on the face of an uncertain future.

From their adventure on Greenleaf, Zoe and Book have returned, and with them, Jingo Gage has come along. The trio hold few memories of the events on Greenleaf, each slowly coming convinced that they left the children with authorities there.

Inara has gone on to Sihnon and the Companion's Guild, to stand with her sisters and brothers of soul in their moments of farewell for the matriarch they have all alternately feared and loved.

Inside Serenity, conflicts rage. Emotions are raw and worn. Eyes stray to River's empty place at the table with shadowed glances. Sorrow. Worry. Anger. Relief. Like solar waves, radiating through the ship, and through her walls, reaching out to the cold distant planet where they've left their albatross, radiating warmth and fire.

And love.

And Mal slips up to the bridge and closes the door, sealing it shut. Knowing Wash will check the logs, he covers his tracks, backing out of the S.O.A.R.S. system and sending the wave using a long-unused alias account.

"Mal."

The voice he heard sent a shiver down his spine, begged him to smile, even though he knew his tendency to make light would go unappreciated in the moment. The picture cleared, and Inara's face, devoid of make-up, her hair down, eyes slightly reddened, appeared. He returned her nod with a polite, "How's Sihnon?"

"Sad." Inara answered truthfully, "And hopeful. If that makes any sense."

"You get what I wired?" The real reason for his call. The reason he wasn't ready to let the rest of the crew know about. Not yet.

Inara grimaced now, dark eyes narrowing, "Yes, but I don't understand. If that's dirty money, I don't want..."

"It ain't." Mal interrupted, holding up a hand, "You always think the lowest of me."

"No," Inara's deep brown eyes rolled as she interrupted this time, a touch of a smile on her lips, "I've just learned to anticipate it."

"That money belongs to River." Mal clipped, getting the words out while he still could, "I got no way to keep it safe. You do. You can store it away, put it where it'll maybe gain some interest, even. She came on this ship with nothin', not even the clothes on her back." Malcolm shook his head, "I don't want her leavin' the same way."

Inara's smile lit the universe that stretched between them, and Mal didn't know why it mattered so much that she approved. It didn't. Did it?

"Be careful, Mal." Inara leaned close to the screen, her lips nearly touching the lens, "I'm going to start thinking you have a heartbeat under that chest somewhere."

"Huh. Just don't tell Jayne. He still thinks we're gettin' paid." He clicked the connection closed before she could see him smile.

Shepards and Whores, Mechanics and Mercenaries, Surgeons and Soldiers: Each carries a story in their hearts, in their futures. And Serenity holds them close. Those remaining within her walls, she cradles them with steel and ceramic and her churning engine hums them to sleep. And those without, she transmits her heartbeat through the void of space, angel wings to their hearts.

What does the future hold for Serenity? Will her children all come home again? Or has her family been split up, never to return? These are the questions every mother must ask at some point. The Universe is an uncertain place. Will lovers find love? Will fighters find peace?

There are few things she knows for certain. There will always be another job. There will always be another challenge. And there will always be love.

Because love keeps her in the air...

[Serenity]

Post Script:
DECEMBER 31st, 2519
2:45PM STANDARD SHIPS TIME

Shredding winds throw walls of snow thirty feet into the air. Ice crystals sharp enough to shred skin blast across the skies. Above St. Alban's the air is black and grey: No threads of distant sunlight pierce the violence of Alban winter. Clouds thick and roiling find no compromise between snow and condensing ice. Jack Frost's chaos has purchased a murderous onslaught to bring in the new year.

Any ship would find itself torn apart in those blistering winds. Any ship would break up as the ice scraped away its ceramic coating.

Any pilot would turn and fly the other way. Any pilot would never risk the lives entrusted to him in that maelstrom of passion and power.

But Serenity is not just any ship. And Hoban Washburne is not just any pilot.

Working together, they fly through the blackened clouds, buffeted and tossed, but holding steady and true.

With Wash at her helm and Mal at her back, with Shepard Book's prayers and Zoe's strength, with Kaylee's sure hands on her engine, Jayne at her airlock doors, and Simon's courage and fears, there is nothing the storm can throw at her that she cannot weather.

Nothing can keep her back now.

Her youngest daughter awaits.