BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

CBSTEVE

The Return Home - Part 25
Monday, November 10, 2008

The crew is scattered across the galaxy as new twists in their lives send them on different paths.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2557    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

The Return Home – Part 25

Kaylee’s emotions were on a roller coaster, going from defiance of Admiral Byrd, to sheer horror and terror as the Admiral ordered Major Grace to shoot Simon, to elation as her Capt’n suddenly appeared seemingly out of nowhere with his gun in his hand and was confronting Major Grace.

Other emotions were present, tension most of all and as Mal’s gun came out and was pointed at Grace several Alliance weapons turned from Jonathan and pointed at Mal. But Mal’s gaze or concentration never wavered as he pointed his pistol at Grace who had his pistol pointed at Simon and Kaylee.

“Major, I ain’t gonna ask twice,” Mal send in his don’t mess with me or face the consequences tone of voice.

“Shoot this son-of-a-bitch!” Admiral Byrd ordered his soldiers and just as all hell seem to break loose a voice of reason came like a soothing balm to all. Kaylee was surprised to find it came from an Alliance officer.

“Stop! Nobody move!” said a man standing next to Mal in the fore hall doorway to the dining room. He was tall and well built and had grey hair and the markings of a colonel on his uniform. His voice was commanding and even Admiral Byrd looked at him and hesitated. Byrd knew him, all the soldiers knew him. He was Colonel Justin Powers and he had been a hero in the war.

“Everyone just calm down,” Powers said. “Men, lower your weapons.”

Immediately the soldiers lowered their weapons, included Major Grace, who let out a long sigh and seemed about to collapse. Kaylee hugged Simon tighter and just kept staring at Mal, whose pistol was still up and whose gaze didn’t leave Grace.

“Colonel, you better have a good explanation for this,” said Byrd in a commanding tone.

“I could ask the same thing, Admiral,” Powers replied and Byrd just glared at him. “Here are my orders.”

Powers stepped into the room and handed over a piece of paper which Byrd snatched away and quickly scanned. His angry turned to surprise and then indignation.

“This is an outrage!”

“When I report you were about to kill a freeman who has not broken any laws, I believe the Prime Minister will have similar feelings,” said Powers in a calm tone. “Or perhaps we should just forget all this and do as the Prime Minister asks.”

Many of the officers and men present knew Powers had no care for authority of any type. He would never rise above his present rank and he would not be given any significant command. His sin was that he had voiced his opposition to the war and then had fought like a lion and came out alive, and covered with laurels.

Byrd just stared at Powers and then turned his eyes toward Mal. “He can’t be trusted.”

“I’d say that makes us even, Admiral,” Mal said in a calmer tone and he finally lowered his pistol.

“Admiral, you are expected back on the Dortmunder,” Powers said and with a red face Byrd finally left with one of the officers he had come with.

“You, too,” Mal said to Grace. “Any man pulls a pistol on my crew best be outta my sight mighty fast less he wants to feel the sting of hot lead.”

“I…I…wasn’t going to shoot him!” Grace protested.

“I think you had better go too, Major,” Powers said and Grace nodded and turned to Simon and Kaylee.

“I’m sorry….I didn’t want things like this.”

Simon finally found his voice. “I understand, Major.”

Kaylee wasn’t so ready to forgive them and was now angry. “Well, I sure as hell don’t understand. You all want my help and you threaten my family!”

“Take it easy little Kaylee, “Jonathan said. “Ain’t no one gonna hurt us now. Ain’t that right Mal?”

“Yes, sir,” Mal answered and Kaylee finally stood and looked at her Capt’n, not quite believing he was standing there.

“What’s going on Capt’n?”

Mal grinned. “I’m in charge now.”

*****************************************

Patterson was in trouble, no doubt about it. He had helped those people on Serenity, and befriended a prisoner under his supervision, and had shot some of his own people. With a non-lethal stun gun mind you but it was still enough to get him in hot water. After those soldiers from the gunfight inside the other Firefly had been returned to the fleet, an inquiry began and it wasn’t long before fingers were being pointed at Patterson. He was placed under close arrest and then his fate was decided. One year in a penal colony on Farscape Moon, stripped of all ranks, and stripped of his citizenship in the Alliance. He was outcast and would never be allowed any position in any organization remotely tied to the Alliance.

Now he sat in a small cell on a prison barge that was making its way toward Farscape Moon and eventually Londinium. He knew that because he was one of the guards scheduled to go on this trip prior to his arrest and hasty trial. During his brief hearing he told them the truth, about how Book was a representative of the Prime Minister and he was illegally arrested by Cutter. He told them about Book’s suspicions about Captain Billingsworth death and how he suspected his assassin in the chapel had been an agent of Cutter. Yes, yes, the three officers of the tribunal panel said, we’ve heard all this. That did not excuse his actions on board the Firefly and his sentence was handed out in less than an hour.

His cell was bare but functional. It had a steel door, not laser barriers like on the Dortmunder, a small toilet and sink, and a hard bed built into the wall. There was a slot in the door where a food tray could be passed through. Patterson had just been given his lunch of a ham and tomato sandwich, dried apples, and a glass of milk when he heard some commotion. There was gunfire, and then screams, shouts, and the sounds of a struggle. He quickly wolfed down his food, not knowing when he would get a chance to eat again if things went badly on the ship. Perhaps they were being attacked…by Reavers!

Then there was a long silence. After about ten minutes he heard the key in his doorway and slowly the door opened. He looked at the figure before him and couldn’t believe his eyes.

River Tam held a pistol in one hand and the keys in the other. She had a trickle of blood coming from the corner of her lip and more blood on her hands. In her eyes was a far away look, the combat stare any veteran of war could tell Patterson, if he lived long enough to hear the tale. She seemed about to shoot him when suddenly recognition came.

“I know you,” River said, as she lowered the gun.

Patterson gulped and started breathing again. “River?”

“Yes. You are….Patterson?”

“James….call me Jim.”

“Yes. Jim. Come.” She waved her pistol for him to follow and he stepped out into the corridor.

On the floor were three dead bodies, all shot and one also had his head twisted around.

“What’s going on? Are we under attack?”

River just stepped over the bodies, turned and looked at him. “Not anymore. The ship is mine.”

***************************************

“How in the hell did you convince her to do that?’ Jonathan asked Mal as they sat at the dining table having a cup of coffee, Kaylee, Simon and Colonel Powers nearby.

“She said she needed someone who had no agenda to keep an eye on things. Only agenda I got is to keep my crew safe. So here I am. Just in time it seems.”

Kaylee just beamed at him. “Oh, Capt’n, I’m so glad you’re here. They been giving me an awful time. I guess…I ain’t cut out to be a leader.”

She felt some shame as she said this and Simon gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Everyone has their talents Kaylee. Mine are best seen in the infirmary and yours lie, well, yours are in the engine room, not the bridge.”

She just gazed at Simon. “He was gonna shoot you…I…I…”

She couldn’t say the words. “I’m still here,” Simon said and gave her a hug.

Powers cleared his throat. “Ah, there are some details to take care of. The Prime Minster wishes you to sign exclusive contracts to only work for the Alliance and no one else.”

“For how long?” Jonathan asked.

“Forever,” said Powers. “That is the only binding condition on the deal.”

Kaylee looked to her father and then to Mal. “Capt’n, I’m sorry. I shoulda wrecked the thing.”

“Let’s forget all that,’ Mal said. “Plans are out there, everyone has a fair chance now. This might be good for the galaxy.”

Kaylee looked back to her father. “I hate them much as Mal does,” said Jonathan. “But we have a chance to make things better for lots of folks. This drive will make it easier for supplies to get to the rim, people to get to hospitals faster, move if they needed to, whole lot of things.”

Kaylee just sighed deeply and then looked at Powers. “Okay. Where do we sign?”

The contracts were produced and after more negotiation over money and other small details Kaylee and Jonathan finally signed the contracts.

“One more thing,” said Powers. “The Prime Minister and Admiral Shin told me they know where you got the knowledge to build the engine. Not the details or how they know, but they know.”

“So I guess you want to know too, do you?’ Mal asked.

“No, no, you misunderstand,” Powers said. “They told me to tell you under no circumstances are you to reveal this knowledge to anyone else, not even me. As far as the galaxy is concerned you built the Frye Drive.”

“The what?” Simon asked in surprise.

“The Frye Drive. That’s the official name. It also seems to be a name floating around the Cortex.”

Kaylee smiled slightly but then a frown crossed her pretty features. “Colonel, we…I mean….I had help building it…and the theory ain’t mine… those folks deserve some credit.”

“That’s not possible. If you mention those names, people will want to meet them, know where they are. And for now, that location is to be kept secret.”

“You know, don’t you?” Simon said to him.

“I have an idea. Let’s leave it at that. If people find out, there will be a push to go there. And the administration is not ready to deal with that. Not yet anyway.”

“Fine and dandy,” said Mal. “Now if you all excuse me I gotta go send a wave to the Prime Minster. Meantime, you all work out some kinda plan for examining the engine, testing it, and then…whatever else needs done.”

Mal went toward the bridge and in a second Kaylee was at his side, outside her old bunk.

“Capt’n. What happened? You hate them purple bellies and now you’re working for them?”

Mal had a look of disgust on his face. “Don’t remind me. Makes me want to choke on my own puke. But I did this for you. You have to know that.”

Kaylee smiled and hugged him. “Thanks. For everything.”

Mal kissed her forehead. “Now go make me proud. Soon your name will be all over the galaxy and you’ll be famous. Don’t forget who gave you your first job when they start interviewing you on the vid shows.”

She just stared at him, stunned. “What? Me on a…talk show? Ah, oh dear, I…need some new clothes, and ….oh, I’m no good at this.”

“You’ll do fine.”

“Capt’n, Inara and Wash and Zoe and Jayne…where are they?”

“Heading to Ariel right now I reckon.”

“And River? What about River?”

Mal just shook his head. “There was nothing I could do for her. They want their scapegoat in this and she’s it. But don’t fret none. She ain’t a child anymore. By now I’m sure she’s making a plan to escape.”

***********************************

The plan had already taken place and River was in command of an Alliance gunship. She only had to kill five of the crew of fifteen, including the commander, and the rest, mostly technicians and the bridge crew, had surrendered. She locked them in the cells which had been empty except for her and Patterson

She had spent over an hour reading the mind’s of the crew, knowing who was who, what their weaknesses were, and she discovered they had no idea exactly who she was or why she was a prisoner. They did not know her abilities and that had been a mistake on the Alliance’s part. When her lunch was brought she faked an illness by cutting the inside of her mouth with her teeth and then filling her mouth with blood. As soon as the tray was slid inside the door she fell to her knees and spit up blood all over the food. She lay on the floor and moaned in pain and in a few moments the guard had opened the door to check on her. He was dead from a blow to the throat in seconds and then she had his weapons and moved down the corridor in kill mode. Two more guards fell to her kicks and pistol shots, a fourth when she reached the bridge and finally the lieutenant in command as he moved to shoot her.

The rest of the bridge crew looked on in terror. “I’m in command now. Get up unless you want to die,” River commanded and they followed her words and soon found themselves looked in the cells with two men from the engineering section.

“River, why did you do this?” Patterson asked as they reached the empty bridge and River sat in the pilot’s station. He was in shock, still not quite believing the twists his life had taken in the last few weeks.

“They were going to kill me.” She quickly explained her crimes.

“An FTL drive? I think Mr. Frye mentioned that when he was prisoner on the Dortmunder. He said his daughter Kaylee built it. But it sounded fantastic."

“It's all true. Look.”

River had brought up a Cortex screen and in a few minutes she and Patterson were looking at a multitude of stories about the mysterious plans for an FTL drive that had appeared on the Cortex a day ago. Already there were stories that they were fake, or they wouldn’t work. The Alliance had put out one story saying that any ship that tried to use such an engine would explode. Leading experts were lined up and said that in 500 years no one could make an FTL drive and no one ever would because it was impossible. Scientists explained the impossible physics, engineers explained the impossible engineering, and the Alliance fed the rumor will. There were also numerous stories from top engineers claiming the plans had possibilities and they would try to make them work.

“What are you going to do now?” Patterson asked.

“We will land on a remote moon and set the crew free.”

“We?”

“Yes. You are a criminal. That’s why you are here.”

“But I only received a year long sentence on Farscape Moon. I will be free in a year. ”

“What do you know about Farscape Moon?”

“Ah, not much.”

River said nothing but punched buttons. In a few seconds a screen appeared on the Cortex with information on Farscape Mon and its penal colony.

“It’s a mining colony?” said Patterson in surprise.

“With a prodigious death rate. Most of the prisoners work in the mines. Very few survive their sentence. The great Alliance civilization has not eliminated hard labor from its law books yet.”

Patterson just stared out the windows of the bridge. “What am I gonna do?”

“You are welcome to join me and my ship.”

“Your ship?”

“Yes. I’m Captain River Tam. And this is my ship now.”

“Join your ship,” Patterson said slowly and then he thought he had very few choices. Death in the mines was almost guaranteed. They would surely add some years onto his sentence for this fiasco, no matter how much he protested his innocence.

“Ah, River, what’s the name of the ship?”

She looked at the systems and finally found a name. “Gunship 23-098,” she said. “That sort of….”

“Stinks?” Patterson suggested.

“Really stinks,” answered River. “We need a better name.”

“Well, it’s your ship. You decide.”

She thought for a long moment and only one word came to her, the word that had started it all, a long time ago in a gymnasium on Athenian Island on Osiris, a word that cane from the mind of one of the galaxy’s most evil men.

“Miranda,” she said. “The ship will be called Miranda.”

***************************************

The Alliance took Jayne, Inara, Zoe, and Wash first to Persephone where they planned on booking passage to Ariel. They arrived after a four day journey and after finding a small hotel near the Eavesdown docks Jayne immediately went off to see Abbot Parsons at the Southdown Abbey, telling him of Book’s death and delivering the letter as promised. In the letter Book had asked Parsons to tell Jayne the truth about him.

“The truth was told to me in confession,” Parson said and Jayne just nodded.

“Yeah, I thought so. Guess you can’t tell, can you?” Jayne asked as they sat alone in Parsons small sparse office inside the abbey.

“Yet he has passed on so perhaps there is no harm done and he did request it. So against my better judgment, I will tell you,” said Parsons and Jayne leaned forward in his chair in anticipation.

“He was an Operative, for the Alliance,” said Parsons and Jayne suddenly had all his and the others’ suspicions confirmed.

“We thought so, something along those lines anyways. You heard about a place called Miranda?”

“Of course. The Alliance did not wash every brain in the galaxy.”

“What’s his connection with Miranda?”

“He told me he spent time there in his youth, helping to colonize the planet. He fell in love but she spurned his desires for marriage and they drifted apart. He was recruited after his mandatory military training period by the special Operative branch of the Parliament. Book rose in the ranks of the Alliance, in the shadows of course, doing the deeds such men do, evil for the most part. He never gave me details, but he was burdened by the things he had seen and done.”

“I can guess most of the rest,” Jayne said. “When did he come here?”

“Just after the war. He had no papers, no ID, nothing. Claimed his name was Derrial Book and we accepted that on faith. After six months of silent meditation he came to me and confessed his sins. That’s all I know.”

Jayne stayed for lunch and the Abbot held a special service for Book with the other Shepherds. As he prepared to leave, Jayne handed over a heavy bag to Abbot Parsons.

“What’s this, my son?”

“Something I’m sure Book would want you to have. Don’t think on where it came from. Just think on what good it can do for the abbey and the people you help.”

After Jayne had left Parsons took the bag to his room and opened it. Inside were ten small gold bars and twenty small silver bars. On all was stamped “Bank of Australia”.

“Good heavens!” Parsons exclaimed and then he looked to the heavens. “Lord, please forgive me for taking this sinful gain. I’m sure you will understand that the poor and needy of Persephone will be most grateful for this unexpected bounty.”

When Jayne returned to the Eavesdown docks and the small hotel they were staying at he was surprised to see Warwick Harrow sitting down to tea with Inara, Zoe, and Wash.

“This neighborhood ain’t exactly your kinda digs, is it?” Jayne said to Harrow as he pulled up a chair.

“Indeed,” said Harrow as he sipped tea. “But in the circumstances I will stoop to your level to make a deal.”

Jayne was instantly suspicious. “What kinda deal?”

“We were just getting to that,” said Zoe as she drank some coffee.

“The FTL drive,” Harrow said. “I want the details. For that I will pay a handsome sum.”

“You saw the plans on the Cortex,” said Wash. “Just like everyone else.”

“Actually, I received them from Badger before they were widespread on the Cortex,” said Harrow. “He wants me to finance him and his cousin building a factory to build Frye Drives on Hera.”

“Build what?” said Jayne.

“They’re calling it the Frye Drive,” said Inara with some pride. “I think someone began asking questions and Badger’s cousin is the source of the plans. He told someone about Kaylee, they told someone and so on.”

“So what do you want from us?” Zoe asked Harrow, all business like now.

“I need your word that the thing exists, that it works, and that Badger is not trying to swindle me with some fantastic scheme.”

“It works alright,’ said Wash and Zoe gave him a sharp look.

“Hold on one second,” said Zoe. “That’s it? Just our word that it works?”

Harrow smiled. “No, of course not. I would also like to buy Serenity.”

Jayne laughed. “Too late. Alliance already bought it.”

“That’s a shame,” said Harrow. “Then I would like to speak to Miss Frye please. I would like to contract her as my chief engineer. Where is she?”

“The Alliance has her also,” said Inara sadly.

“I think you have just answered my question about Badger. If the Alliance has Serenity and Miss Frye then no doubt they believe the drive to be real. I am afraid you have nothing to offer that I need,” he said to Zoe.

“Well, there’s always the future,” Zoe said. “Plan on having my own ship soon.”

Harrow smiled and handed over a card with his wave address. “When you are ready to do business, please call.”

He then stood and took Inara’s hand and kissed it. “You are too beautiful to live a rancher’s life on Shadow. Please reconsider.”

Inara smiled in her dazzling way. “That’s very kind of you, Sir Warwick. But my heart lies with another man.”

“Then he is a very lucky man and I will say no more. Good day to you all. The next time we speak I will either be much more wealthy or Badger will be walking around with a severe limp from the kicking I will give him.”

With that, Harrow was gone from their lives again.

“What’d I miss?’ Jayne asked and Wash laughing told him how Harrow had asked Inara to be his mistress, not even being shy in front of Zoe and Wash.

“A man with his dough don’t need to be shy about nothing,” said Jayne. They asked him about the abbey and he told them all Parsons said.

“An Operative?’ said Inara in surprise. “I mean…we thought he was military or police…but an Operative?”

“I got the feeling Book weren’t his real name either,” said Jayne and they talked on these things for a while before finally turning in for the night. The next day they boarded a small cargo ship bound for Ariel and settled in for the long voyage ahead. Inara had wanted to take a larger cruise ship, but they would not allow guns on board and Jayne and Zoe both said no way they were giving up their guns. As they set off Inara received permission from the captain to use the Cortex screen and she sent a message to Mal explaining all that had happened.

**********************************

Mal received her message late at night on the bridge of Serenity just before packing it in for the day. They had spent four days sitting on a remote part of Haven, with Kaylee and her father taking the engine apart and explaining everything to the Alliance engineers, and then putting it back together again. With fingers crossed they did a quick run to Miranda to test that the engine still worked and everything went fine.

Mal smiled as he read how Harrow tried to get Inara to be his mistress. Mal quickly recorded a message and sent it back to her, telling her all that had happened. Out of curiosity he scanned the news stories and was even happier when one item caught his eye.

“A prison barge bound for Londinium was taken over by the convicts who escaped from their holding cells and killed five members of the crew. The remaining crew were taken prisoner and later released on Sutter’s Moon nearby Greenleaf, where they were found three days later. The ship has been commandeered by the convicts and it escaped to an unknown destination. Initial reports claim that only one female prisoner did all the damage but that was said to be false by the Alliance information bureau. A full investigation is under way.”

“River,” Mal said and then he almost smiled. He checked the time difference between Haven and Londinium and realized it was time to report into the Blakely. After a few moments there was a chime and he opened the connection and the face of Prime Minister Blakely appeared on screen

“Good day, Captain. All is well I trust.”

“Just fine.”

“Good. Admiral Byrd has reported that the engineers are satisfied that Mrs. Frye is not withholding information. He seems a little angry with you however. Why is this?”

“Guess I ruffled his feathers a little. I ain’t the most diplomatic fellow in the verse.”

“Well, try to keep on his good side for now. He is still in command out there.”

“Can’t make any promises.”

“That’s the best I can expect. Captain, there has been a new development with River Tam.”

“How is she?” Mal asked, pretending he had no knowledge of her doings.

“She has escaped. Unfortunately, not before killing five men on the prison ship. There is a new warrant for her arrest and she will be killed on sight now as a dangerous criminal.”

“You all put her in that position by giving us no choices.”

“Captain, I did not ask her to leak the plans of Serenity’s drive. Her crimes are much too serious now to ignore”

“She did what she felt was right for the whole galaxy.”

“She will pay with her life. Her father has already been informed and he and his wife are in anguish. They request their son contact them immediately.”

“I’ll let him know. Is that all?”

“For now. The same time tomorrow. Good day Captain.” And then she was gone.

So River had escaped. Killing five guards, taking over a ship, all done as Mal had expected from her. The only question now was how long she could hold back the demons. Without Simon there to help her or give her a daily dose of her medicine, how long would it be before she went woolly and she was picked up by the Alliance.

*****************************************

River knew what Simon had given her every day and knew she would need more eventually, but for now she was fine. There was just her and Patterson on the ship she called Miranda so the emotions were few and she was at peace. Most of her demons associated with the planet Miranda were gone also and she knew she could sleep with fewer nightmares.

“What’s our plan, River?” Patterson asked as he sat in the navigator’s chair on the bridge. In the last four days he had learned a lot about space travel and was picking it up fast. You either learned fast or died out here.

“I’ve already disabled the transponder but they still might be able to track us some how. We can’t land an Alliance gunship at just any place. We need to refuel and we need to paint over this ship’s Alliance markings and get a civilian transponder. And sweep it for possible tracking devices.”

“Where can we do all that? The Alliance has both our names on the wanted posts by now.”

“I know just the place and just the guy for the job. Let’s set course for Hera.”

**************************************

Simon was glad River had escaped but was shaken by the news that she was to be shot on sight.

“All of this is my fault,” Kaylee said forlornly and Simon shook his head.

“We’ve been over this,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you had destroyed the drive or not. They would have come for you anyway.”

“I know, just…feel so bad for River.”

They were on the bridge, sitting snuggled up in the pilot’s chair. It was late the next night and they were waiting to speak to Simon’s parents. Blakely had her technicians set up a connection with the Alliance superior wave technology from Osiris, to Londinium and hence to Serenity.

“What am I going to say to them?” Simon suddenly asked. “It’s been so long.”

“Just be yourself. Tell them the truth,” Kaylee said.

Suddenly there was a chime and they both were startled. Kaylee gave him a quick kiss. “It’s time,” she said and Simon gulped and opened the wave as Kaylee moved over to the co-pilot’s chair.

There was a moment of mutual stunned silence as both parties looked at each other. Finally Gabriel Tam spoke. “It’s good to see you…son.”

Regan Tam started crying immediately. “Oh, Simon! It’s been so long!”

“I know mother. I’m…so sorry…for all that has happened.”

“It’s not your fault, Simon,” Gabriel said as he held his wife. “Things have been explained to us. We know what kind of school it was that we sent River to. We understand what she has…become. If anyone is to blame we are. You were very brave for helping her. I…misunderstood, for years. I thought you had ruined your life. But you were saving River’s.”

Simon felt the tears welling up in his eyes, hearing these words from his father, words he had longed to hear. “She’s gone. I can’t find her. I don’t know where she is. I thought it was the best way, but now…I don’t know.”

“We’ve heard she has escaped,’ his father said. “They would have sent her to prison or worse. It’s for the best son. At least she is alive.”

Simon now knew Book had told Blakely and she had told his father. Thank you, Shepherd Book, Simon said in his mind. I wish I could have done more for you.

Regan regained some of her composure. “Simon,…where have you been? Why has it been so long?”

“I can’t explain everything,” he said. “Things have happened to me, to us, that are just too fantastic to believe. I scarcely believe it myself.”

“You look…well,” Regan said gently, a concerned mother. “You’ve made friends on this ship…Serenity?”

Simon almost smiled. “Yes. Some…more than friends.” He motioned to Kaylee to sit with him and she hesitated at first, feeling she didn’t look so presentable after tinkering with the engine all day, but then she came over and into view of the Tams.

“Hi,” Kaylee said and she smiled her bright wholesome smile and the Tams tried to be cheerful but it was difficult.

“This is Kaylee…Kaylee Frye,” said Simon. “My…wife.”

That brought a shock. “Oh,” said Gabriel.

“You…got married?” Regan asked in disbelief and Kaylee felt like a little girl again who had done something bad.

“Yes, mother. We met on this ship and we fell in love and have been married almost one month now.” Well, not quite, but Simon intended to make it so as soon as possible.

“Well, welcome to the family, Kaylee…did you say Frye?” Gabriel asked in astonishment.

“Yes, sir,” said Kaylee. “I’m Kaylee Frye.”

The Tams looked at each other in shock. “My word,” said Regan. “You are becoming quite famous my dear.”

Now it was Kaylee and Simon’s turn to be surprised. “I am?” Kaylee asked.

“Yes, if it’s true that you made this…this…Frye Drive,” Gabriel said and then he started putting two and two together. “Simon, is this what all this is about, and about River, too?’

“I can’t explain,” Simon said again. “I’m sorry.”

“Well, never mind,” Gabriel said. “Now, when can we expect you two on Osiris. We must have a proper wedding party.”

“Father, we are, at the moment, employed by the Alliance on a …special project. I don’t know when we can get away. I can’t even tell you where we are now.”

“Say no more, say no more. I can image what this “special project" is. We’ve waited this long, we shall wait some more. Well, son it’s been good to talk to you and to meet you Kaylee.”

Simon sensed his father wanted to end the wave but his mother wanted to say something else. “Simon, about River. You’ve been out, in the galaxy. Do you know…people? People who could find her?”

Simon hesitated, knowing someone was listening to his conversation. But he needed to reassure his mother. “I know people. I will do my best.”

“Thank you,” was all she said and after a few more words they said their tearful goodbyes.

“She doesn’t like me,” Kaylee said with a pout.

“Give her time,” Simon replied. “They’ve been through a lot. Besides, most mothers are wary of the woman who steals their son’s heart.”

Kaylee smiled and snuggled up to him. “About River? Are we really going to look for her?”

“Of course.”

“Simon, this time….this time…she did kill people. And there ain’t much chance of a pardon for that.”

“I just can’t let her go. I have to know how she is.”

Kaylee said nothing and for a long time they held each other, staring out at the stars through the bridge windows, wondering where in the verse little River was.

*************************************

River was at the moment asleep in the pilot’s chair on the bridge of the Miranda, the ship passing close by a moon of Paquin on its way to Hera. The nav coordinates had been inputted and the auto-pilot set, River trying to avoid as much of civilization as she could, but their fuel levels didn’t give her much room for any long side trips. Patterson had gone to bed in the crew’s quarters and River stayed on the bridge in case of trouble. Exhausted, she finally dozed off.

Beep, beep, beep, came the warning from the control panel.

River awoke with a jolt and immediately saw the ship was locked by a missile control system from another ship.

“Fugitive Gunship 23-098, this is the cruiser Saratoga, surrender immediately or you will be destroyed,” came a stern voice from the comms.

River calmly searched the nav charts and saw a moon nearby that had a farming colony. She didn’t even reply but turned off the auto-pilot and headed immediately at full speed toward the moon.

“Gunship, this is your last warning. We will fire unless you surrender.”

Again River ignored them and locked the auto-pilot again and then swiftly moved to the crew quarters and woke up Patterson.

“What…what’s going on?” he said in a groggy voice.

“Time to leave,” said River. “Alliance cruiser is about to hit us. Take some food and water. I’ll get the weapons and ammo.”

“Leave? We’re in space! Don’t we have ship to ship weapons?”

“That’s a cruiser out there. We don’t stand a chance. We’ll take the small shuttle. There’s a moon nearby.” The prison barge had a small shuttle to transfer prisoners back and forth. River went to it in the lower levels of the ship and began loading guns and ammo. Patterson soon joined her and dumped in bottles of water and packets of food.

“No more time,” River said, as she closed the hatch and started the launch sequence from the pilot’s chair.

The Saratoga waited long enough and was about to fire a missile when the Captain got suspicious. Maybe no one was home and he would sure like to recover that gunship. He ordered a strike team in a shuttle accompanied by two fighters to approach and board the gunship.

Just as they were launching from the Saratoga, River’s shuttle launched from the small bay on the gunship. Immediately the fighters took up the chase while the strike team boarded the gunship.

River piloted the shuttle with skill and headed for the surface of the moon. Proximity warnings told her of the approaching fighters and then, BOOM, a missile streaked past and exploded in front of the shuttle. They were tossed about and thrown off course. The shuttle began to skip on the atmo of the moon, heating up, and then River adjusted course and entered atmo at the correct angle.

“I knew I should have gotten off with the others!” Patterson yelled.

“You still can,” River replied and gave Patterson a look that shut him up.

In seconds they were in a lower altitude and then the sounds of hammering hit the shuttle as heavy metal slugs from the fighters hit in a stream that sliced through the thin skin and bounced around inside the ship. Neither River nor Patterson was hit but the ship’s vitals were shattered and trailing a column of smoke and flame, the shuttle headed for the moon’s surface, out of control.

*******************************************

“He died last night,” said Brenda to Mal as they stood outside Professor Drummond’s empty hospital room on the Dortmunder. “We heard you were back and he called for you but that son-of-a-bitch Byrd would not pass on the message. Colonel Powers heard and…well, you know the rest.”

“I’m so sorry,” Mal said and he gave her a hug.

“Thanks,” Brenda said. “We had many good years together. He did so much for the people of Miranda.”

“How’s Angela?”

“Still in shock. So much has happened to her. She’s strong, but it’s been too much. They are treating her like an animal.”

“What?” Mal said in angry surprise.

“She’s a Reaver, as far as they are concerned, who needs to be studied and explained. She’s been confined to a cell and prodded and poked endlessly.”

“Bastards. I’ll get…” but Brenda stopped him.

“There’s nothing we or you can do. We will return to Miranda, all of us, Angela, too. She will be studied until they need her no more. Then I hope they set her free. We will help with the clean up and the cure.”

“It’s been approved?”

“For trials. The Prime Minster has put Colonel Powers in charge. He will make sure they try to cure, not kill our people, who are still Reavers.”

“There aren’t many left.”

“Enough to matter. And we will return Stanley to his home.”

Mal was there when they took Drummond’s body to the shuttle and he said goodbye and wished them and Colonel Powers luck.

“Don’t worry about Byrd, Captain,” Powers said to Mal. “He’s been put in his place and he will play ball as long as you don’t push him.”

“Long as he stays off Serenity we got no quarrel. You know, you ain’t too bad for a purple belly.”

“Even for one who fought you at Serenity Valley?”

Mal just stared at him, all the old feelings stirring inside of him.

“The name of the ship, it intrigued me so I decided to check your record, one of few we managed to capture. You were commended for defense of a knoll in the center of the battlefield. My division attacked you there. I lost a lot of good men.”

“So did I,” said Mal, his anger easing a bit. “I lost a lot more than men in that valley. Part of me is still there.”

“As is part of me,” said Powers and nothing more needed to be said between two warriors who were once enemies. “Good day to you captain. I’ll be in touch.”

Powers stuck out his hand and after a brief hesitation Mal shook it and wished him good luck on Miranda.

*********************************************

Kaylee had a good cry when she heard Drummond was dead but there was no time for many tears as the order was given for a long test run, all the way to Londinium. Kaylee set the engine and briefed the pilots and then all was set. The run went smooth and within minutes they were in deep orbit around Londinium.

Immediately a wave came through from the Prime Minister congratulating them on their success.

“Captain Reynolds, I would like to come aboard Serenity,” she requested and Mal was in no position to refuse, since the Alliance now owned the ship.

Several hours later the ship was spruced up and all were in their Sunday best as the Prime Minister’s shuttle docked. A guard of ten soldiers came on board first and Mal was politely asked to set aside his pistol which he did so with some reluctance. Then Blakely came on board.

She was more handsome than Mal had remembered from his Cortex conversations with her, taller and thinner, and her hair was fuller. Guess she spruced up, too, Mal thought. Next to her was an Oriental man, in an Admiral’s uniform, and Mal guessed he was Admiral Shin. A second man, in a suit, was next to Blakely and Mal knew this was her husband from photos on the Cortex. The guards stood back as the party approached Mal and his team.

“Captain Reynolds, we meet at last,” Blakely said as she shook Mal’s hand. “You have been a most…troublesome adversary. And an unexpected source of help.”

Mal grinned at that one. “Well we both had a thorn in our boot and I just took care of it is all.”

“Yes. A thorn. This is Admiral Shin, commander of the fleet and my husband Thomas Blakely, attorney at law.”

After pleasantries we exchange, Shin’s manner a touch colder than the others, Mal introduced his team.

“Mr. Jonathan Frye of Taos, Dr. Simon Tam of Osiris, and Mrs. Kaylee Frye, also of Taos.”

Kaylee was all blushes and shyness as she was introduced and everyone just looked at her. “Mrs. Frye,” Blakely began. “I suppose a great deal is owed to you.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I didn’t do it all myself. My daddy helped and then there were those folks on…well, just other folks.”

“Yes, We must talk on that matter some more, at a more…private…meeting. Now to business,” Blakely said. “Captain, our engineers are satisfied that Serenity is what was suspected and they are fairly confident that they can duplicate Mrs. Frye’s work, with her and her father’s assistance of course. Since the Frye’s have signed exclusive contracts to only work for the Alliance, we will have a decided edge over civilian engineers who will make use of those plans that were, unfortunately, leaked on the Cortex.” As she said this last she looked at Simon.

“My sister…” but he never finished as Shin interrupted.

“Is a criminal and will be treated as such when she is found.”

“You all want this to remain friendly,” Mal said with some anger to Shin. “Let’s just leave off talking about River.”

“Agreed,” said Blakely as she also gave Shin a look. “Now I must ask the Frye’s where they would like to work. We have the best facilities here on Londinium…”

“Taos,” said Kaylee and Jonathan as one and they both looked at each other and smiled.

“Taos?” said Blakely as she turned to Shin.

“It is remote, away from prying eyes,” the Admiral said. “It may take years to perfect the drive for the fleet.

“And I already got a factory there,” said Jonathan. “My own tools, people I trust, and our home is there, too.”

“Then Taos it shall be,” said Blakely. “Now, as to this publicity and the rumors going about what you have done, you will deny all, make no public appearances, and no speeches or interviews. In due time we will make sure all credit goes to you. You will work with Admiral Shin and your goal will be to make the drive for large vessels at first and eventually for vessels of all types where possible. Is that all we need to discuss?”

“Ah, dear?’ said her husband as he handed over a document.

“Oh, yes. Mrs. Frye and Dr. Tam. You claim to be married, yes?”

Simon and Kaylee looked at each other, a bit wary. “Yes, we were married by Shepherd Book in a religious ceremony several weeks ago before he died,” Simon lied.

“There is no record of a marriage license,” Thomas Blakely the lawyer said.

“At the time I was a fugitive and did not think it wise to apply for one,” replied Simon.

“Well, now you have one,’ said Blakely as she handed over the document to Simon and it was indeed a marriage license. “Sign it and you are legally married.”

Thomas produced a pen and then with some blushes and smiles Simon and Kaylee signed and Mal and Blakely signed as witnesses and Jonathan said the magic words.

“You may kiss the bride,” which Simon did, just a quick kiss, and he and Kaylee both knew they would have a better ceremony in front of their families.

“Now I have much to attend to,” said Blakely. “Captain Reynolds, your duties as my representative are hereby at an end. You may go where you wish.”

“And Serenity? What’s to become of her?”

“She is to remain with the Fryes and my people until we have no more use for her. You did sell it to us after all.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

After a brief inspection of the ship and the engine, more words and goodbyes were exchanged and the Prime Minister and her party left, leaving only the Alliance engineers, their few guards, and Mal’s team on board.

“So, Capt’n,” said Kaylee with a grin. “Need a lift anywhere? I got me the fastest ship in the verse you know.”

“You know, I got half a mind to steal this ship right back and keep the money,” Mal said as he strapped on his pistol again and Simon, Kaylee and Jonathan looked at him with wide eyes.

Kaylee spoke first. “Inara will kill you!”

“There is that,” said Mal with a sigh. “I’m gonna miss her.”

Simon was puzzled. “Inara or the…”

“The ship, of course I mean the ship!” Mal hastily said and they all heaved a sign of relief.

“I’m too old for any more crazy adventures,” said Jonathan.

“Guess I am too,” said Mal, feeling a touch sad now that his old life was coming to an end. "Time I headed to Shadow."

Kaylee and her father went off to make some food for them and Simon and Mal sat in the cargo bay, Simon wanting to talk over things with Mal.

“I need to find River. Do you know anyone who specializes in finding people?”

“Sure. Just they’re the type that would turn her in for the bounty, no matter how much you offered. You know, Jubal Early’s kinda folks.”

“I was afraid of that. Is there anyone who can help me?”

***********************************************

“A Firefly?’ said Jayne in disgust. “Gorramn it, Zoe, why can’t we get something with more flash!?!”

They were at a shipyard on Ariel, looking over an old Firefly. Inara had helped them get to the accounts and they withdrew 100,000 credits to go ship shopping. Inara told her to take more but Zoe refused and told Inara to tell Mal that she would pay it all back. After some sad goodbyes, they saw Inara off on her ship to Sihnon.

Wash was in agreement with Jayne. “Babe, we can get something nicer, and with more modern systems, for the money we got.”

“I know. Just…feels like home.”

They went inside and she was right, it did feel like home, and the lay out was the same. A lot of small things were missing, like the dining room artwork and a Kovalev Drive. But they knew someone who knew how to make both.

Wash sat in the pilot’s seat and looked at Zoe with a big goofy grin. “Ok. Let’s do it.”

“Jayne?” Zoe asked the big merc.

“I get a bigger bunk.”

“Deal.”

“Your money,” he said and then they went off and got the dealer, took it for a test ride and sealed the deal after Zoe talked him down from 75,000 credits to 65,000.

“We need a name for the paper work and to get you a transponder,” said the dealer as they sat in his office.

Zoe didn’t even hesitate. “Serenity,” she said and Wash smiled and Jayne just rolled his eyes as the owner wrote it down and then gave Zoe her one copy of the contract and the ship's up-to-date space worthiness inspection papers. After a few minutes on a government Cortex site to make sure no other Firefly’s had a transponder in the name of Serenity, he had her new transponder code and gave her a transponder for free.

“You’re all set,” he said. “You got two days to get her off my lot or I start charging fees.”

“Nice doing business with you,” Jayne said sarcastically as they left.

Back at their hotel on the edge of Ariel’s capital city, a message was waiting on the Cortex screen in Wash and Zoe’s room. She had contacted Serenity as soon as they landed here and now Serenity was calling back and had left a recorded message. They were surprised to see Simon’s image come up on screen, expecting to hear from Mal.

“Zoe. I want to hire you for a job. It’s dangerous and it will mean going against the Alliance again. But… I don’t know who else to ask.”

“What the hell?” Jayne said. “A job for the Doc?”

“Wait a sec!” Wash hushed him as Simon was about to speak again.

“I will pay whatever you want but I need you to do this for me. I want you to find my sister. Please, find River.”

THE END

of “The Return Home”

BUT – More adventures in the Firefly verse will continue with “River’s Run”, where we follow River’s adventures trying to elude the Alliance and Simon’s attempts to find her. What, you didn’t think she was dead, did you? Stay Tuned!

COMMENTS

Monday, November 10, 2008 3:02 PM

CBSTEVE


Thanks to all who patiently waited while I finished this story. It lasted much longer than I intended it to and took twists and tunrs I didn't expect. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. I just couldn't find a resolution where all ended happily so I've set myself up for more adventures with "River's Run". No telling when it will be up but I've plotted a lot of it and the first chapter is being written. Thanks again for your support.

Monday, November 10, 2008 3:42 PM

AMDOBELL


Liked the way you wrapped this up but still hate it that Mal had to sell his ship to the gorram Alliance. I don't trust Shin and when you had Patterson being taken to Farscape Moon? I laughed out loud, half expecting you to have him share a cell with John Crichton! Poor River, a wanted criminal and murderer and everyone having to adjust to changes all round. Did smile at Zoe buying a Firefly and calling her Serenity but baffled at the dealer checking to make sure there wasn't another Firefly registered with that name before giving her a new transponder for the ship. So what happened to the transponder for the original Serenity? I'm sure the Alliance would have picked that up right quick if it didn't have one. - Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Monday, November 10, 2008 3:53 PM

CBSTEVE


Farscape was a name that just popped into my head. I've heard about the show but I've never seen it, but I thought it would be a nice sci-fi reference. Serenity never had a transponder, since they were introduced while they were on Earth. Remember when they appeared out of the wormhole in front of the cruiser and they had no transponder? The transponders they "bought" were first for a ship named Calypso and then for Constellation. The dealer was checking so he could use the name "Serenity' on the forms. And do you really think Mal is going to retire and not get his ship back? Mmmmm, we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for all your comments, good and bad.


POST YOUR COMMENTS

You must log in to post comments.

YOUR OPTIONS

OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR

River's Run - Part 19
Things come to a head on Londinium as the plan to win Mal's freedom begins to unravel.

River's Run - Part 18
Mal’s heading for a hangman’s noose. Will a rescue party come in the nick of time?

River's Run - Part 17
As the crew rests and heals, Shin and his confederates take a step closer to power, and Mal faces a new, deadly dilemma.

River's Run - Part 16
As Simon patches up the crew, Mal and his lawyer make plans, and Badger and his cousin have some unexpected visitors.

River's Run - Part 15
Mal finds a new friend on Londinium, his crew makes contact with River and Zoe, and events come to head on Whitefall.

River's Run - Part 14
Battle rages through Serenity as the crew tangles with an Alliance boarding party.

River's Run - Part 13
Shock and a sense of tragedy fill Serenity as the crew struggles to deal with Derek's betrayal. Meanwhile, the Operative comes a step closer to finding Serenity.

River's Run - Part 12
Mal strikes back at the Alliance, a little trip to the bank doesn't go as planned, and the Operative reaches out to River and Derek.

River's Run - Part 11
The Operative makes a plan to trap Serenity, escape plans are made, and those long separated are together once again.

River's Run - Part 10
Inara makes a date with Paulo Chase, Mal gets back his first love, and Shin plans the next move in the galactic chess match.