19Can't Take the Sky From Us:
A Firefly Fanfiction Episode Collection
All-Tempted and Junk:
Teaser
It's night over Disraeli. The stars start to burn in a glare.
Disraeli may seem like just forest wrapped around it from space. But...there's almost as much ribbons of desert as there are half moon shaped stretches of forest.
Some ribbons of desert have junkyards with metallic ringed walls around them.
Cowboys on horseback are supposed to keep watch over all these junkyards. Yet, they're mostly just for storage for rich folk done up lazy like: Because all their junk won't even fit in their cabins.
Through a curved ribbon of forest... Scattered wood cabins are seen between many pine trees.
Owls hoo. Wolves howl. Disraeli has plenty of DNA bred wildlife for rich people to hunt.
Two figures go up to a cabin. They wear black cowboy hats and black formal overcoats over very light brown.
The deputy knocks on the door. The sheriff just waits there with him.
A figure with medium frontless black hair and a faint beard opens the door.
He wears a open dark brown leather jacket and a sky blue shirt.
A muscular figure with medium black hair is seen further back of the cabin. He has some hair spiked up in front.
He has cheetah spots tattoos on his upper arms. He also wears a very dark blue T-shirt and ripped black jeans.
There's a fire in the fireplace.
The mystery man acknowledges, "sheriff. Deputy."
He has a firm yet slightly soft sounding voice.
The sheriff asks, "Mister Reginald. You didn't happen to hear a scream. Did you?"
Mister Reginald concludes, "no. But, you know how vast these forests are. Sometimes folks get scared just 'cause."
He very faintly shrugs.
Dead serious... The deputy comments, "not several women gone missing in the same week. You'd think parents around here would go bollocks if that were common."
Getting teary eyed... Mister Reginald says, "maybe you're right. But, all I've heard are distant screams. Sniffle. Sorry to hear about that though. I hope you find them."
The sheriff says, "yeah. Sniffle. Me too."
There's a nervous silence.
The sheriff concludes, "well...we ain't like to trouble you again. Good night."
Mister Reginald tells them, "good night."
He closes the door.
The sheriff and deputy walk away into the night.
Mister Reginald disturbingly grins to himself.
There's a full view of the living room area of his cabin.
There's a dark green sofa, some bear skins on the wood floor...and a ring of ash around a burnt corpse in the fireplace.
Mister Reginald's thug looks right at him.
Nervously... The thug asks, "you real sure you ain't asking for the feds to arrest us? Pay is good. But..."
Mister Reginald grabs his wrist.
He turns it over...nearly violently snapping it.
Then... He lets go.
The thug groans violently quite a bit. He clutches his reddened wrist.
Mister Reginald mutters back, "nǐ gǔn kāi! I liked hearing her scream."
The thug nervously gulps. He says, "sorry sir."
Mister Reginald lightly pats him on the back.
He says, "good. Besides..."
He turns to face the door for a bit.
Then... Mister Reginald turns to face the thug again.
With a disturbing grin... He rants to him, "no one will dare stop me. No one knows I'm Lionel Dudayev! Who would?"
Lionel Dudayev puts out his hand kind of high and facing up as he does.
Early the next morning, on Serenity...
Mal is sitting a little shakily in a cockpit seat, facing a Cortex screen.
He's wearing his usual garb.
At the moment, no one else is in the cockpit.
And, over the Cortex... There's Nandi.
She is in a mostly blue flowery laced sleeveless dress, over a very dark tan violet sleeved dress. Her sleeveless dress has some light green and dark green swirls, and some curved lines of small diamonds embedded in.
With a almost stoic face... Nandi inquires, "how is your crew? Considerin' all that kind of swiftly happened?"
She's teary eyed. But, she's only blinking her eyes a little.
Teary eyed himself... Mal nervously sighs some.
He reveals, "still kinda shook. But...we did right by Daphne and her baby. We are sleepin' better late. Even..."
They somberly smile to each other.
Suddenly... Mal faintly laughs.
Nandi tilts her head slightly up.
Somewhat lightly... Nandi wonders, "what is it that has you amused slightly, Malcolm?"
Mal faintly laughs in growing unease. He puts his hands up some.
Mal concludes, "hey now! Ain't a need to get yourself worked up over this."
Nandi looks slightly amused.
She mostly assures, "wasn't. Just ain't been sure if'n needin' to teach you some manners or..."
Mal faintly laughs. He concludes, "no. No. Ain't no need. The doctor and Kaylee made up."
They both faintly smile.
Nandi is tilting her head back to look straight at Mal.
Nandi deduces, "as we both expected. I'm happy for 'em: Same as you are. But... Faint nervous sigh. There be more to tellin' me this. Isn't there, my child?"
Mal plays with his hands some.
Kind of shakily... He starts to say, "there is. But..."
Somewhat nervous... Nandi brings up, "what? You've never really held back with me: Long as I ain't none knew you."
Mal assumes, "Nandi Barone. I ain't holdin' back on you. Just...just tell me first what more there is to this wave. You ain't usual send a wave this early in the day now."
Suddenly... Nandi finds it hard to look up.
She sniffles hard some. Some tears fall from her face.
Mal very nervously looks on toward her. He gulps nervously.
After a bit... Nandi looks up.
She stands firm: Almost like nothing happened.
Nandi concludes, "well, Malcolm Reynolds...I'll get right to explainin'. I urgently need your help. And, well... Hard sniffle. This ain't easy for either of us. But, I...I hope you understand my position. I feel there ain't no better way here."
Mal looks incredulous.
He faintly laughs. He figures, "what crazy you talkin'? Faint laugh. Ain't no trouble helpin' you out. Not ever."
Nandi awkwardly smiles. She blushes some.
Nandi implies, "thank you. But... Sniffle. I'm sorry. I have to be disappointin' you this time."
Nervously... Mal concludes, "sorry now. But...I ain't sure what you mean. And, this is me: The best man that likely does know you."
Nandi nervously faintly laughs. But...her smile has faded.
Between some hard sniffles... She starts to tell him, "well, Malcolm Reynolds... Even... Even with knowin' things still ain't sittin' well with...with you and Inara and..."
The faint smile quickly fades from Mal's face.
He calls out, "ohh. Oh now. Nandi... You...you ain't mean...?!"
Nandi reveals, "I'm afraid I do, my child. Hard sniffle. The only way for us to catch this āng zāng de húndàn Lionel Dudayev 'fore he runs is with me coming aboard Serenity."
Mal practically shouts, "what?!"
Act I
In Nandi's mind... She hears it like a shot in a mirror.
Inara and her teary eyes reflected in a cracked mirror: Lined in elegant gold and darkish purple.
Flames and screaming families behind Nandi. A woman screaming. Mal's silhouette running like hell.
Mal and Nandi find it hard to look up.
Mal nearly slams his fist at the control panel before him.
He heavily sighs. He's teary eyed.
Nandi is blinking her eyes a lot. But, she's holding back tears.
Nandi sniffles loudly. Mal sniffles hard some himself.
After a bit... They look up.
They both stand firm: Almost like nothing happened.
Nandi wonders, "you...you ain't heard from Book or somebody else in...?"
Mal heavily sighs. He concludes, "no. Ain't heard from 'em. And, they like to send waves unsuspectin' to avoid Alliance Intelligence much as can."
Nandi concludes, "I understand."
There's a kind of brief and very nervous silence.
A few hours later, in the Infirmary...
Zoe is somewhat restlessly lying on a medical bed.
Her apparent baby bump is kind of easy to notice on her bare belly.
Why has Zoe not shown much side effects from her pregnancy until now?
Well... That goes back to a big part of Alliance history.
They wanted no vacations aside from the Dōngjì Holidays: Even for pregnant women running their military and city ships.
Billions of complaints from pregnant women came in that two weeks is not enough for maternity leave.
To avoid a Unification War of the sexes that would be too grave to turn back from... The Alliance quickly gave all pregnant women extra time off like they asked in the year 2512.
But, this was just for that year. The Alliance spent the whole year devising a two part Alliance solution.
The Alliance developed a medicine to counteract first trimester side effects of pregnancy with little to no complications. It's called Trimenopa.
Take Trimenopa every early morning, and not a stranger would know a woman was pregnant.
Unfortunately... It loses its effectiveness past the first trimester of a first pregnancy: Because a pregnant woman's accelerated bodily functions gone unhindered by a thing long enough develops antibodies to wipe out the Trimenopa inside her altogether.
Beyond that first trimester of taking Trimenopa... A pregnant woman's body is left either quite uncomfortably cold or hot in addition to a lot of mild side effects from pregnancy.
Not much folks on the Core Planets go for a second pregnancy. The high risk of getting fired for a pregnant woman unable to work for long would be too great.
Some rich families give a few million credits directly to The Alliance government just to have The Alliance reluctantly let them get maternity leave off the books. Most families on Border Planets and Rim Planets just get people to fake critical injury reports and say "but we got all the medical supplies we need to treat them" to The Alliance.
Even so... The Alliance invented a clever way to protect pregnant women's bellies past a first trimester: The Bellycatch.
It's a easily adjustable, round, and bulletproof metal harness in combination with Alliance maternity clothing.
It's kind of expensive. It doesn't help much with a pregnant woman's body temperature. But, it sure gets the job done.
Simon has been adjusting the Bellycatch's mechanical joints and knobs: Part by part to best fit on Zoe's body.
If it wasn't for Zoe shivering little by little, it'd already be adjusted to her body.
Simon points out, "I told you several times it would be cold and discomforting on your skin. But, you said you still wanted to use it past your first trimester. Heavy sigh. Zoe... You sure you still want to do this?"
Simon is wearing his mostly black long sleeved sweatshirt with a tan dark blue upper half to it.
Zoe nauseously groans a little.
But... Zoe insists, "damn sure, doctor. But...thank you."
They faintly smile to each other.
Simon concludes, "you're welcome. I hope these maternity clothes help with your shivers."
He pulls out some maternity clothes from the lower tray part of his mobile medical monitoring unit...which don't look really dissimilar from Zoe's typical clothes.
Only reason Zoe's maternity clothes are like this is from better days: Inara and River sewn some and bought some for her.
Simon politely hands Zoe some of her maternity clothes.
Zoe puts them kind of easy over her Bellycatch.
She faintly remarks, "sure as calm keepin' watch in a military bunker."
She gives Simon a amused look as she does.
Simon can't help but chuckle a little at that. Wash awkwardly laughs.
Wash is wearing his open buttoned shirt with a soap bubble like orangish red, yellow, and dark blue sunset.
Soon... Zoe has fully clothed herself.
She's still shivering a little from metal from the Bellycatch. But, she's sitting up like a statue on the medical bed.
She's wearing a double sized version of her shiny reddish orange leather vest to accommodate for her pregnant belly. She also wears maternity clothing that's a exact match for her very light blue long sleeved buttoned shirt.
Wash nervously brings up, "you know, Zoe... Nervous gulp. Simon has a fine point. Why...why the hell are you going to walk around in that belly cage?"
His voice sounds more distant on the last part.
Zoe sharply glares at him.
Wash gulps nervously. He is finding it hard to look at her.
Dead serious... Zoe tells Simon, "doctor... I'd like a word with my husband."
All the while... Zoe is still sharply glaring in Wash's direction.
Nervous sounding... Simon moderately sighs.
He puts his arms out some.
He figures, "all right. But, I'm still coming back to give you your medical exam."
Simon fast steps out of the Infirmary: Almost like he's diving for cover.
Wash kind of slowly looks up.
Zoe mutters under her breath, "it ain't a belly cage: It's my decision and my body."
Wash tries to assure, "honey...I'm not arguing that. Can...can I at least get out of this with both our dignity intact?"
She looks at her with hopefulness in his eyes.
Zoe's expression lightens.
She supposes, "ain't all sure. But, it startin' to. And, what happened to relaxin' 'bout the baby? We were damn happy 'fore this second trimester."
She raises a eyebrow.
Suddenly... He coldly glares right at Zoe.
Zoe gulps nervously some at that alone.
Wash practically shouts, "gwai-gwai long dee dong! That was before we lost our cruise ship to the feds and went back to being criminals of the damned with everyone else on the ship! Oh yeah! And, how about just before that part we were like rich happy little kids, we were even fighting about the relaxin'? What kind of gǎo zále future is that for our baby, Zoe?!"
There's a brief cutaway to the Stegohino flying in a circle around the White Sun.
Persephone, Londinium, Sihnon, Rubicon, Gonghe... All the planets in orbit of the White Sun seem to just whiz by.
The view zooms closer...to the cockpit of the Stegohino.
Zoe and Wash are kind of loudly arguing over passenger needs and trying to settle down themselves. Plenty of frustrated sighs and waving arms about.
Presently, back on Serenity...
Wash puts his hands over his eyes for a bit.
Wash somberly murmurs, "god! What...what kind of future is that?"
He's looking down and shaking like crazy some. He's on the verge of tears.
They both sniffle hard.
A little teary eyed... Zoe somberly highlights, "everyone fightin' The Alliance have damned lives, Wash. Hard sniffle. Some just get smart and lucky to keep fightin' 'till old 'nough to have grandbabies."
Wash faintly laughs. He lightly comments, "yeah. That's some future I'd like to have...have had if we live that long."
He finds it hard to look up.
With a little uncertainty in her voice... Zoe asks, "Wash?"
Wash looks up.
He supposes, "my warrior woman...even you aren't immune to sleep and extreme temperature. Right? I'm not too crazy to be thinkin' it?"
He cautiously puts a hand over Zoe's.
Zoe faintly smiles.
She brings up, "ain't said it would be easy. Damn far from it. But..."
She suddenly laughs.
In a low tone... Wash asks, "what? What's funny about being a human fire that burns up anyone that she touches?!"
He waves his arms out.
Zoe laughs hard some.
Zoe explains, "ain't that far gone, dear. I never been just fer takin' it easy when there clear is a war to be fightin'. You know it. I know it. And, the irony of it is that a Alliance catch keeps me going into war. Bein' a water bucket though ain't helpin' without arms. Understand me?"
She even kind of easily grabs Wash tight by the other hand.
At the same time... Zoe gives Wash a slight glare like it's obvious.
Wash goes, "ah! I hate it when you sneak up on my hand with those little spears."
Zoe just as quickly lets go of his hand.
She laughs.
Wash clutches his wrist. But...it's only a little red.
Wash groans some. But, he puts on a smile like it's nothing.
Zoe retorts, "only to remind you you can't win this one."
Wash looks wide eyed at her.
But, in seconds... Wash lets out a frustrated sigh.
Wash goes, "fine! Your body! I know when I'm beat. But, I'm sleeping with the EV suit under the bed tonight!"
Zoe laughs hard some.
Then... Zoe faintly shrugs.
She figures, "all right by me, dear."
In a long winded manner... Wash remarks, "well, all right then. I'll...just go do that before it gets a baby too."
He awkwardly points at the open doorway behind him.
He fast walks out of the Infirmary.
From just outside the Infirmary... Simon awkwardly laughs hard to himself, looking up some.
Zoe laughs hard, doubling over some.
Although, if it wasn't for the Bellycatch secured around her belly... She would've doubled over more so.
She's about to say something to Wash. But...Wash is already out of sight.
Zoe laughs hard some knowingly to herself.
A few hours later...
Serenity is flying off of a very familiar looking moon.
The Rim Planet Constance is slowly getting closer more and more in the black of space.
Around and through Serenity's hull... Kaylee is seen walking down the upper catwalk over the cargo hold.
And... She isn't kind of slowly walking alone either.
Kaylee brings up, "I still ain't understand why you got to be fightin' with my captain."
Kaylee is wearing her low cut tanish yellow top with white lined red flowers mostly all over.
Nandi firmly insists, "we ain't."
At the same time... She majestically motions her right arm out toward the catwalk.
Kaylee is looking down some: With her hands in her pockets.
Nervous... Kaylee assumes, "well...it sure does sound to me like you're fightin'."
Nandi starts to say, "Kaylee..."
Soft toned... Kaylee asks, "what?"
Nandi heavily sighs.
They've paused on the way down one of the set of metal stairs.
Kind of cryptic... Nandi sums up, "let's just say me and Mal have ended up on the same page with Inara since...since first few days she left Serenity."
Kaylee starts to go, "ohh."
Nandi mutters under her breath, "yeah. It's a gorram pain."
Kaylee apologizes, "I'm really sorry. I weren't meanin' to..."
Nandi insists, "doesn't matter. But, I know it does to you. Faint chuckle. Please don't worry on it."
Kaylee concludes, "thank you. Though... I think I understand a lot more now."
She starts to smile wide.
With a kind of cold glare... Nandi challenges, "ohh? You do now?"
She puts her hands over her hips with her arms out.
Kaylee gulps nervously a little. Yet, she's still smiling.
She continues, "yeah. Faint giggle. You don't got to tell me what happened that night on your Heart of Gold. But...I bet it was real kinky."
Nandi blushes quite a bit.
She laughs hard some, looking down some. Kaylee laughs hard some herself.
All of a sudden... Nandi looks up.
She kind of coldly glares.
She moves closer to Kaylee.
Kaylee gulps nervously.
But, just as quick... Nandi's expression softens.
She mostly assures, "now, now. I ain't goin' to harm you. Just...just caught me off."
Kaylee faintly smiles.
She says, "thanks." Nandi adds, "you're welcome."
Nandi looks straight faced. Yet, she's tilting her head down some to the left.
She puts hands on Kaylee's.
And... Nandi whispers, "now don't you go tellin' on us. Heavy sigh. Hard as is: Givin' Inara time she need for herself without ratting out our relationships to Malcolm Reynolds's crew."
Kaylee concludes, "aw. But, it...it's real hard to keep a shiny triad like that all bottled up in yourself. You know?"
Almost at the same time... They faintly smirk to each other.
Nandi shakes her head a little as she smirks.
A little teary eyed... Nandi reveals, "sad thing with this all is... Faint sniffle. Yes, Kaylee. I do know. Faint chuckle. Ain't much none one for holdin' back feelings of my own."
She lightly squeezes Kaylee's hands on the last part.
With some mixed feelings... Kaylee says, "ohh dear."
She can't help but nervously chuckle some. Neither can Nandi.
Kaylee wonders, "well...could I least tell River? Faint laugh. Pretty sure then she already knows...knowing her. She wouldn't much as tell me anyway before if'n did. She "was not wantin' to let out Mal and Inara's secrets from the lily pads dripping red in the Black"."
Nandi smiles wide for a bit.
At the same time... She somewhat firmly nods.
Nandi considers, "well... She take it on herself to be ain't much a tattler on me. That's a bit of relieving."
Kaylee lightly adds, "you're welcome."
Suddenly... Nandi finds it hard to look up.
She reveals, "I...I know River ain't ever mean to read forbidden sections of books of others. Faint sniffle. But, I...I ain't never can get myself used to thought of her reading my thoughts: Like a gorram checkout line at a Sihnon food market."
Kaylee tries to assure, "hey. It...it'll all be okay. Everyone 'side from Simon ain't used to it at first. But, as family...we got there well enough."
Nandi looks up.
She starts to solemnly smile.
Kaylee continues on, "I still keep my girl flying. We still keep flying..."
Suddenly... Nandi laughs hard.
She clutches her side as she does.
Kaylee can't help but wonder, "what? What's so damn funny?"
Sounding stunned... Nandi assumes, "I...I knew you're promiscuous. But, I ain't thought you swung there nor dominant."
She smiles wide.
She starts to move both her hands out more by the sides of Kaylee's hands.
Then... Kaylee laughs hard, doubling over.
After catching her breath... Kaylee explains, "oh god no. Faint chuckle. I ain't sly, and I ain't real much dominant. Serenity is my girl."
She points high up in the direction of the main hall on the last part.
She's smiling as she does.
Nandi fully realizes, "ohh. That's...that's sense with what Malcolm told me 'bout you. That's a certainty."
She really awkwardly pulls her hands back.
She blushes quite a bit.
She's playing with her hands a little.
Kaylee questions, "Nandi...you all right?"
Nandi mostly assures, "oh... Only thinkin' to myself. Ain't your fault or nothing. But...thank you."
She very faintly smiles.
Completely unphased... Kaylee adds, "sure."
Kaylee concludes, "I don't got a problem with girls that like girls and all. Just...just ain't me. You know?"
Nandi adds, "I do now."
She smiles wide. Kaylee smiles.
Soon... They've walked down to the foot of the stairs.
Kaylee admits, "to be honest...Saffron were mighty tempted to kiss me herself. But, I forgave her. Very faint chuckle. Ain't something I ain't forgiven her sooner or not. Hell, we still talk over the Cortex sometimes."
She blushes for a bit on the first part.
Nandi smiles knowingly.
She wonders, "it not that this ain't entertaining to listen to. It is. But...why are you telling me this?"
With a smile... Kaylee figures, "well... Just wanted to assure you you ain't the only one to be mighty tempted 'round me. What? Faint chuckle. You ain't thought I'd see?"
Nandi chuckles kind of loudly.
She puts comforting hands on Kaylee's shoulders.
Nandi tells her, "Kaylee...you're real close to my kind of Companion. Faint chuckle. You kind of ain't: Even if you went for men and women the same. Remind me not to ever doubt you."
Kaylee beams. She blushes quite a bit.
She goes, "aww. I think that's real sweet of you."
Nandi adds, "and I mean every word, Kaylee."
They hug each other close.
After a bit... They pull away.
Awkwardly... Kaylee figures, "all right. Ain't sure why you would want me to... You know...remind you of doubting myself that much. But...sure. Why not?"
Nandi chuckles.
Kaylee and Nandi casually hold hands.
They're now walking together down the hall...heading for the galley for lunch.
Soon, in the galley...
There's plenty of protein pack mix mixed and ready in metal bowls on the table. There are also a few apples, strawberries, and grapes: Left over from selling off AATS parts kind of recently.
Jayne is wearing his bright orange T-shirt with a box around a headshot of a faint green tinted woman with short hair: With a crayon like pizza in front of her and a messily scribbled green word bubble.
River is wearing her robe styled dress with light red flower bouquets of three and light pink.
Mal is sitting at one end of the table, with Nandi to his right. River sits kind of nervously to Mal's left.
Wash, Zoe, and River are sitting on one side of the table. Kaylee is sitting to the right of Nandi. Jayne is sitting to the right of Kaylee. And, Simon is awkwardly sitting opposite Kaylee.
Kaylee and River take the last strawberries. But, they're saving them for a little later.
They smile to themselves.
Wash, Zoe, and Jayne each take a apple.
They each take a bite from their apples.
River and Mal take the last grapes.
Mal was about to eat his grapes.
But... He suddenly notices that Nandi is being awful quiet.
Mal asks Nandi, "what? No good?"
Nandi faintly smirks.
Nandi voices, "no, Malcolm Reynolds. It's your ship: I ain't doubt it's all least a little good. Just...just ain't seen shined up fruit far from the Companion house that weren't tainted by men meanin' to...burn me or my girls out."
She gets teary eyed on the last part. She sniffles hard.
A very uncomfortable silence fills the galley.
In rapid fire... Mal comments, "nányǐ zhìxìn de! You and your wiles: All you had do was ask."
He kind of quickly hands over his grapes to Nandi.
River and Kaylee faintly and nervously laugh.
Nervous... Nandi points out, "thank you. But...I weren't lookin' to be constrictin' to you or anyone. Just...thinking back on..."
She's about to look down.
Then... Mal quickly goes, "yes. We know full well well enough. I least ain't complainin' now. Thank you."
Nandi sincerely adds, "you're welcome."
They're both teary eyed. But...they faintly smile to each other.
They put a comforting hand on each other's.
That is...until they hear Wash, Zoe, River, Simon, and Jayne murmur nervously some about them.
Nandi clears her throat a little.
She and Mal gulp nervously.
The quickly move their hands away.
Wash wonders, "what? Is there some elopin' we didn't..."
Suddenly... He feels someone kick him from under the table.
Wash mutters, "okay. Ow!"
River, Simon, Mal, and Kaylee can't help but chuckle a little.
Zoe comments, "the captain's love life is his own: 'specially if it ain't hurt our jobs and he want to keep as such."
Wash nervously nods.
Kind of sarcastic... Wash figures, "all right. All right! At least I get to keep a knee. Dear god!"
With a slight smile... Zoe adds, "good you know it."
Most everyone laughs and chuckles a little.
Then... With a glare... Zoe asks Jayne, "understand?"
Jayne huffs.
Sounding disappointed... Jayne mutters, "fine."
He crosses his arms.
Mal mouths out "thank you" to Zoe. Zoe just smirks wide back to him.
Everyone else but Jayne is faintly smiling.
Nandi starts eating her grapes. Everyone else starts eating.
Not long after...
All the food is gone: All except for the strawberries River and Kaylee saved.
Suddenly... Jayne turns to face Zoe.
Somewhat nervously... Jayne brings up, "Zoe... I know you still fixin' on shootin' dirty ass men, and I good with that much. Damn cunnin', I think."
Zoe says, "uh oh."
Zoe and Wash sigh a little. River and Mal annoyedly sigh.
Kaylee annoyedly sighs for a whole other reason.
Nandi assumes, "now I ain't understand. Seems he just bein' a gentleman."
With a slight grin... Jayne says, "thank you."
Nandi says, "you're welcome. Faint chuckle. Just ain't like a one bein' shot down that ain't should."
Zoe, Wash, and River try hard not to laugh hard. But, they're kind of failing to.
Kaylee is starting to heatedly glare toward them.
But, before she can say something... Mal says something first.
Mal addresses, "Jayne... You real sure that all it is? 'cause way I figure with what I'm collective hearin'... Best you answer me now."
The grin fades from Jayne's face.
He gulps nervously.
After a bit... Jayne slams his fists down.
He mutters out loud, "aw hell! Why you got to be blamin' me fer somethin' ain't said yet?"
Somewhat cold... Mal remarks, "figure it saves precious time of more yellin'."
Everyone is now looking suspiciously at Jayne: Even Kaylee.
Jayne voices, "well, 'cause we doin' that now...I'll just say it. Walking 'round with that them cage and stretch-ems on Zoe is downright unsettlin'."
Annoyed sighs fill the galley. Mal, Kaylee, and Zoe each sigh into their hand.
In a low tone... Zoe cries out, "oh my god! Not you too, Jayne!"
Mal, Kaylee, and River can't help but laugh.
Suddenly... Wash quickly puts a hand over his belly.
Half heartedly... Wash goes, "oh... Oh... I'm having a heart attack. Hold me!"
And... He jumps right into Zoe's lap.
In seconds... Wash is wrapping his arms around Zoe in a sideways manner.
Simon sighs heavily into his hands. Almost everyone else is laughing hard some at Wash.
Nandi just kind of annoyedly rolls her eyes.
River and Kaylee eat their strawberries.
Then... And, in a completely unphased way... Kaylee asks, "so...Nandi... How is whoring? Faint chuckle. Got to ain't be all dang horrible."
Little chuckles fill the galley. Mal chuckles hard himself.
With a wide smile... Nandi sincerely replies, "well, Kaylee...thank you so kindly for asking."
Kaylee says, "aw. You're welcome, Nandi."
Everyone is smiling now.
Nandi answers, "all my girls are doing good. Faint chuckle. Petaline is watching the other girls. I figure she's well up to it while we go after Lionel Dudayev and Bellamy."
In River's mind...
She hears the names Lionel, Bellamy, and Arleen like screams.
Lionel with a gold crown with burning and dripping liquid oil. Flames crackling and rising in oil around the whole galley.
Calls of guilty in shadows, over thirty violations, echoes of a metallic mallet...and over thirty screams above and below.
Burning photos of dead women...sickly forming a red tinted throne room forming around River.
One of the photos with a Companion with longish black hair running for it in the shadows. The name Arleen carved on the side of a fireplace in shadow in the photo.
A storm of tears falling from River's face. Echoes of Lionel Dudayev's laughter.
Over thirty burnt corpses piled up in fireplaces across the room.
And... River cries out, "no! ! !"
Out of the mental images...
Everyone's smiles quickly fade.
River is sitting with her knees up...crying and violently shaking on the floor.
Everyone else quickly rushes over. But, Simon reaches her first.
Simon puts a hand up to motion everyone else to get back: Even though they already have moved back a little.
Simon sits right by River.
Teary eyed... Simon whispers, "River... Shh. He's not here. It's going to be okay. No one is going to hurt you."
After a bit... River kind of slowly nods.
At a whisper... River recalls, "Dudayev."
Simon puts a kind of comforting hand on hers.
Simon confirms, "I know, mei mei. I know. I'll keep you safe."
River kind of slowly nods. Her violent shaking has mostly stopped now.
Then... Simon and River kind of slowly get up.
Fairly shaken... Mal inquires, "doctor... You mind tellin' us what...?"
In a low tone... Nandi says, "I hope it ain't a thing I said."
Simon explains, "no. It's going to be all right. I... Moderate sigh. She can't help but feel like he's here. But...but, he couldn't just have snuck on board. Right?"
Mal figures, "yeah. That...that be fair reasonin'. No. There no way he could without me knowin', doctor."
Awkwardly... Simon adds, "yeah. That's...that's good."
Everyone faintly smiles at that.
Kaylee starts to raise her hand. For, she's about to ask Simon something.
But... Simon continues to Mal, "um... I just need to take River back to her room. Calm her down."
Mal just says, "dong ma. Take long as you need, doctor." Simon adds, "thanks."
And, with that... Simon takes River back to their bunk.
Some sighs of relief fill the galley. Kaylee lets out a sigh of disappointment.
Mal and everyone else present in the galley sit back down at the table.
Mal gives Kaylee a faint hopeful smile. Kaylee faintly smiles back.
And... Mal and everyone else there start to make a plan for taking down Lionel Dudayev.
A half hour or so later, in Nandi's guest bunk...
Mal and Nandi are playing Xiangqi on the guest bed: Mal with black pieces, and Nandi with red pieces.
Mal has two Cannons diagonally in front of his General on the board. Nandi has a Guard in front of her General on the board, and a Cannon in front of that.
Nandi faintly chuckles. She observes, "putting cannons there ain't usual good strategy. You're setting yourself up."
She looks down some as she does.
Then... She smiles in a not so couth manner.
Mal laughs a little. He comments, "yeah. Well...I like cannons."
Nandi faintly chuckles.
Mal moves his second Chariot right to the right side of his General.
Nandi implies, "well... Ain't just war I'm thinkin' on right now...my child."
Impulsively... She starts feeling between Mal's legs.
Mal sexually groans some.
But, just as quick... A tide of mixed feelings washes over him.
He gets up fast from the bed.
Teary eyed... Mal mutters, "god! You... I mean...! I ain't mean...!"
He points shakily some at Nandi. But...Nandi keeps looking right at him.
Teary eyed... Nandi apologizes, "I'm sorry. Not a good complication?"
Nandi gulps real nervously. She's blushing.
Mal heavily sighs some. He figures, "yeah. Well... Only 'cause Inara is still takin' her dreadful time to think on things."
But... He is sounding a little better already.
Nandi moderately sighs while playing nervously with her hands.
Nandi is sitting there on the bed, looking down. Mal sits next to her on the edge.
Nandi reflects, "still ain't easy...is it?"
Soon... Mal and Nandi are pulling each other closer...with their hands over the sides of their heads.
They start to kiss.
Mal brings up, "not committin' something shameful sinful...?" Nandi finishes the thought, "and she ain't here?"
Nandi lets out a frustrated sigh.
Soon... They both let go.
Nandi is blinking her eyes a lot. But...some tears still fall from her face.
Mal looks about ready to storm off.
Instead... He goes and kicks the bunk wall hard.
Mal lets out a loud frustrated sigh. Nandi heavily sighs.
Mal says, "I'm sorry." Nandi says, "we both are."
Mal cautiously starts to reach out to her.
Nandi responds, "Malcolm Reynolds... Very faint chuckle. Wǒmen qiángliè de bù nàifán de ài chíxù cúnzài."
In spite of the teariness in their eyes... They faintly smirk to each other.
Mal reflects, "yeah. We're...we're that similar. Nervous gulp. Still... Ain't sure who ain't once in a while myself."
Nandi faintly laughs.
Mal sits next to her.
Somberly... Nandi starts to say, "my child..."
She puts a comforting hand on his hand.
Nandi takes a deep breath.
Then... She thinks out loud, "I know it won't make the complications go away. But... Moderate sigh. I ain't never found a man I would love to settle down with. Ain't did 'till you came. Looking to assist me and my girls in 'fending our home: With Inara and the rest of your crew. But... Heavy sigh. I know what you and Inara want, and I real ain't tryin' to lose either of you. We've all been close. But..."
Mal nervously gulps.
Nandi squeezes Mal's hand tight.
Nandi blinks some. But, she keeps looking right at Mal.
And... Nandi reflects, "I'm in the ride with you, Malcolm Reynolds. Doesn't matter if you take me to bed now or ain't. Sniffle. I'm coming back to you...to settle down on Serenity. I love you. I ain't going anywhere fer too long."
Mal looks real stunned.
Impulsively... Nandi feels up the back of Mal's shoulder with her free arm.
Mal sexually groans some.
But... A tide of mixed feelings doesn't wash over him now.
He realizes, "oh...my god. You... Very faint chuckle. You real mean it?"
Nandi mostly assures, "mean every word, my child."
At the same time... Nandi moves herself into his lap.
But, much to Mal's confusion... Her back is kind of to him in a leftward manner.
Nandi very faintly chuckles. She is quick to explain, "this is drawn back as can: My man. My legendary man."
From completely sideways... She's feeling all over Mal's back and shoulders without looking.
Mal very awkwardly chuckles a bit. He sexually moans quite a bit as well.
Mal says, "well...thank you Nandi. More...more'n kindly. You are remarkable."
Nandi chuckles a little. She says, "and, Malcolm Reynolds...you're really welcome."
Mal awkwardly suggests, "you...you ain't gonna tell Inara if I touch you similar?"
Nandi mostly assures, "ain't would: 'less you want to commit something really sinful and just take all of me."
She briefly turns back to him.
She smirks wide at him as she does.
Mal smirks back.
The teariness in his eyes is drying up.
Soon... They're both feeling up all over each other's shoulder and backs.
They both sexually moan quite a bit.
All the while... Nandi keeps her back kind of to him.
Their Xiangqi game seems to be a distant battle for them now.
And, yet... With mixed feelings... Nandi has a strained look on her face.
Some tears fall from Nandi's face.
Between sexual moans and heavy breathing... It's all too easy for Nandi's somber sighs and low toned sniffles to go unheard.
She tries hard to hold back her lips from puckering up in the air. But...she keeps failing to.
A half hour or so later...
Mal checks, "Nandi? You all right there?"
They've just stopped feeling each other up.
Some more tears fall from Nandi's face. She sniffles hard.
Nandi is still sitting in Mal's lap. But, she's looking right at him now.
Between some hard sniffles... Nandi tells a half lie, "I'm gonna be. I...I just still feel guilty about bein' tricked: 'long with the rest of the Verse."
Mal tries to assure, "Nandi... Heavy sigh. Everyone... Damnit. Even The Alliance... Hard sniffle. They thought Lionel was corpsified by poison 'fore they could execute him for what he did to those thirty four women. Ain't much shame just findin' out from Shepherd Book's and Inara's spy network Lionel bribed his own family's Companion Bellamy 'head of arrest to cheat his death. Hard sniffle. We kill the son of a bitch. And, we finish this. Dong ma?"
Lionel Dudayev is the disgraced son of founder of Kingoil Dylan Dudayev. Kingoil is a big company under Blue Sun specializing in engine oil and cooking oil for the Core Planets.
Nandi kind of slowly nods.
With a solemn smile... Nandi says, "thank you, Malcolm. I believe we will be sleepin' better that day."
She hugs him tight. Mal hugs her back.
Mal says, "you're welcome, Nandi."
They pull away some.
But... They faintly smile to each other.
Several hours later, on Disraeli...
It's mid-day. It's kind of cloudy out.
Serenity is by a wire fence modeled gate of a junkyard. Book's and Inara's spy network tracked Bellamy here.
The cargo ramp is open.
Zoe keeps shivering a little from her Bellycatch under her clothes. But, she acts like it's nothing.
Mal, Kaylee, Zoe, Jayne, and Nandi are about ready to get into Mal's Flying Mule.
Nandi concludes, "I ain't backin' out on not none doubtin' you. But... You good in a fight?"
She bunches part of her dress a little up with a hand to her right.
Mal smirks quite a bit at the gesture. But, he doesn't say anything.
Kaylee steps back a little to face everyone else in the cargo hold.
She's still smiling.
She highlights, "well... I believe in all of yah. Nervous chuckle. Real hopin' everyone don't need me to take up shootin'. Nervous chuckle. But, as I been tellin' Mal... I know damn plenty how to go all 'round a junkyard."
Everyone else smiles and faintly smirks at that.
Jayne and Mal laugh a little to themselves.
Nandi rests her arms down.
With a wide smirk... She figures, "I don't doubt that all none."
Kaylee adds, "thanks." Nandi adds, "you're welcome."
Soon... Kaylee is steering Mal's Flying Mule for the junkyard.
On the Flying Mule... Nandi, Jayne, and Zoe are all armed and ready.
Zoe has her custom made rifle. Jayne has his mostly darkish rustic brown Mossberg 500 Cruiser Mariner shotgun and his mostly dark goldish brown Widey Magnun pistol. And, Nandi has her gold-plated Walther PPK pistol.
With a moderately loud choo... Mal shoots the back gate padlock open with a certain nickel-plated Walther PPK pistol.
Nandi kind of recently gave it to him to keep. She thought it would soften her bittersweet arrival in his eyes.
The back gate reactively swings open on metal hinges.
Confidently... Kaylee adds, "yeah. There is the back way, just like I told yah."
She steers Mal's Flying Mule fast through...leaving the back gate in a cloud of dust.
Zoe feels a little dizzy and nauseous. But, she holds back the urge to gag.
She brings up, "way in is too easy, sir. There should be a cowboy or..."
Tensely all a sudden... Mal warns, "Zoe... Best to talk 'bout that when we back."
Kaylee is slowing down some momentum by circling Mal's Flying Mule hard around a big pile of junk.
And, around that same pile... There's several rotting decayed corpses of cowboys.
Zoe and Mal nervously gulp.
Jayne and Nandi make disgusted faces at the sight of the corpses.
Lionel Dudayev's first thug is not far. Neither are Lionel Dudayev's other thugs.
The other thugs have very dark blue to sickly green T-shirts and black ripped up jeans.
They mostly have short brown hair. They mostly have smoking cigars in their mouths.
Kaylee gasps nervously.
She brings Mal's Flying Mule to a grinding halt.
All the thugs are armed with mostly sleek black Fabarm Martial Pro Forces 14 shotguns.
Bellamy wears a black leather open jacket and a green dress with orange flowers.
She has slightly long and curly blond hair. She's armed with a mostly sleek black, gray, and sickly green Rexim Favor Mk5 submachine gun.
Kaylee asks, "captain... What we gonna do?"
She sounds real shook.
Teary eyed... Mal, Nandi, Zoe, Jayne, and Kaylee are now all looking horrified.
Lionel Dudayev is standing near...holding a couple at gunpoint.
The man has medium black hair, some gray hairs, a mustache, and a slightly long beard. The woman has long brown hair and a light pink flower in her hair.
They're both bound by chains on their hands and feet. They got some nasty purplish bruises on their foreheads.
They're violently groaning quite a bit. They're violently shaking some.
Lionel Dudayev is armed with a mostly rustic gray Daniel Defense M4A1 Carbine rifle.
And, with their mostly very dark green fancible clothes... The couple is unmistakably Lionel Dudayev's own parents: Dylan and Juliet Dudayev.
With a disturbing grin... Lionel Dudayev comments, "I were 'pecting feds to come askin' later. But... Faint laugh. I sometimes real can't complain with the aim of life."
Act II
Mal faintly laughs. He figures, "Lionel, you're completely off your nut. Ain't no one taking our Flying Mule."
He, Nandi, Jayne, Kaylee, and Zoe quickly get up.
Lionel Dudayev laughs some. He comments, "I weren't 'pecting my parents to question 'bout one stockholder that "happen" to look like me 'fore buying up the rest: 'cause I paid off the stockholders well. But, here we are."
At a near whisper... Nandi says, "Malcolm...his parents ain't tried to hurt anyone. Hard sniffle. I ain't like admitin' it in the matter. But, 'less you know something... Hard sniffle. We ain't real got a choice."
She blinks a lot. She's holding back tears.
Mal kind of whispers back to Nandi, "just...trust me on this. We too pretty to die now."
Jayne, Kaylee, and Mal faintly smile. Zoe and Nandi briefly and faintly smirk.
They're all putting their hands up.
With a slight glare... Zoe mutters under her breath, "Shījù zhōng suǒyǒu fēngkuáng de shìwù... Wǒmen ràng nín zhèxiē húndàn jiāng nín de qiāngzhī tuī xiàng wǒmen de lǘzi!"
Just then... She, Mal, Jayne, and Nandi drop their weapons on their seats on the Flying Mule.
Nervously... Jayne warns, "Zoe...ain't good to encourage 'em. They ain't..."
Zoe firmly interrupts him, "they ain't gettin' that chance."
With a disturbing grin... Lionel warns, "you're tā mā de yǒu xìnxīn. Not going to help long for you here."
He, Bellamy, and one of the thugs come onboard Mal's Flying Mule.
Lionel's parents are still held at gunpoint by Lionel himself. So, they're brought onboard too.
Bellamy and Lionel Dudayev smirk to each other.
All the thugs got their guns pointed at Mal, Zoe, Nandi, and Mal.
With a smug smile... Mal shoots back, "yeah. Well... Thinkin' sayin' it to you now."
Jayne, Zoe, and Nandi laugh.
The disturbing grin quickly fades from Lionel Dudayev's face.
Tensely... Lionel Dudayev calls out, "shut up! Just show me how to start this Flying Mule."
Kaylee shifts over to the co-pilot seat. Lionel Dudayev sits down in the pilot seat.
Bellamy points her gun at Lionel Dudayev's parents in Lionel Dudayev's place.
Kind of nervous... Kaylee offers, "sure. Faint chuckle. But, it's under my seat and all. So...I'll press it for yah."
At the same time... She's moving her finger to a little red button under the co-pilot seat.
The pilot seat ejects high up...taking Lionel Dudayev along with it.
His carbine rifle harmlessly flies out of his hands and high in the air.
Lionel Dudayev angrily cries out, "nǐ fēngkuáng de pìgu luàn gǎo!"
The thugs just look out toward his flying body...stunned.
Shook... The first thug murmurs, "ohh...Jesus!"
Jayne, Mal, Zoe, Kaylee, and Nandi are laughing hard some at the overhead sight.
Teary eyed... Bellamy cries out, "zhēn gāisǐ! I'll have you pay...in blood!"
Kaylee is already quickly duck diving for cover in front of the pilot seat.
Jayne, Mal, Zoe, and Nandi are quickly drawing back out their weapons.
With several loud choos... Bellamy fires her Rexim Favor Mk5 at Mal.
At the same time... Mal run jumps off of his Flying Mule with his arms out.
In seconds... He tackle lands on the first thug.
They both tumble land hard on their sides from the impact.
The first thug is clutching his side and his neck.
He groans violently. Mal just groans hard.
Around then... There's a lot of choos and several moderately loud choos all around.
Zoe has many shots ricochet off of her Bellycatch under her clothes...just by kind of casually walking past them.
Bellamy looks wide eyed.
She's stifling a violent groan. She's clutching her dark red liquid dripping shoulder from Zoe's shot.
She drops her Rexim Favor Mk5.
Two thugs fall dead. Several thugs cough violently, clutching their sides.
The second thug's scream is short lived...as Jayne violently hurls him off the Flying Mule.
There are brief flashes of a trail of dark red liquid from the second thug's forehead.
A sickening thud in the midst of the crossfire.
Dylan Dudayev and Juliet Dudayev's chains are shot off by several careful shots by Nandi's pistol.
Then... Nandi violently slams the back end of Bellamy's own Rexim Favor Mk5 into her stomach.
Bellamy groans violently...curling up on the floor of the Flying Mule.
Mal starts to get up.
With some loud choos... Two thugs fire their shotguns at Mal.
But... Mal fast tumbles forward.
The bullets harmlessly pass over him.
Mal quickly stands back up.
And, in a second... He fires his Walther PPK pistol.
Some moderately loud choos.
Both thugs fall dead: With brief flashes of dark red liquid splatter.
But... It wasn't just Mal's shooting.
Nandi's signature pistol is in her hand...still smoking off a little from the barrel end.
Nandi and Mal firmly smile to each other knowingly.
Jayne groans violently...clutching his dark red liquid dripping side.
His pistol falls.
He coughs violently quite a bit. His vision is blurring.
Kaylee and Zoe help Dylan and Juliet Dudayev off the Flying Mule.
All four of them break into a kind of fast walk...heading out the back.
The remaining two thugs try to chase after them.
More loud choos.
But... Mal shoots both thugs dead before they can fire.
Suddenly... He catches sight of Lionel Dudayev.
Lionel Dudayev is limping on the run.
But, before Mal can fire... Lionel Dudayev gets behind a pile of junk.
Teary eyed... Nandi calls out, "Malcolm! Jayne is near dying, and Lionel is runnin'."
By then... Zoe and Kaylee have already lead Dylan and Juliet Dudayev out the back.
Mal decides, "I ain't worried on Jayne. I'll take 'im back myself on the Flying Mule."
Mal is already fast walking on back for the Flying Mule.
And... He adds, "Nandi...go get the son of a bitch."
Nandi faintly smirks. Mal briefly and faintly smiles back.
Nandi leaves the Flying Mule...breaking into a run with her own shotgun.
Mal steers the Flying Mule fast...back for Serenity.
By now... The first thug is back on his feet and running for it.
He is already almost out the back gate.
Nandi swears in hard to hear Chinese.
She's about to fire at the first thug...when Lionel Dudayev jump tackles her from behind.
The shotgun goes flying from Nandi's hands.
They're exchanging fists on the ground.
Soon... They both have some bruises on their shoulders.
Suddenly... Lionel Dudayev clenches her throat.
Nandi starts to choke loudly under his grip.
Suddenly... A mobile yellow crate like crane's hook scoops Lionel Dudayev up by his belt.
Lionel Dudayev struggles to break free several feet in the air. But, it's no use.
And, in the crane's front seat...is Kaylee.
Kaylee waves to Nandi.
Nandi widely smirks. Kaylee beams.
Nandi chuckles some. She figures, "Kaylee...you have real good timin'."
Kaylee lowers the crane arm by three feet. But...Lionel Dudayev is still a few feet up in the air.
Kaylee comes over to Nandi.
Kaylee concludes, "you're welcome. None of his guys were comin' after me and Zoe. Faint chuckle. Thought you mightn't mind if I helped you a little."
Nandi concludes, "not this time. Just don't tell Malcolm I were near close to dying."
Kaylee lightly remarks, "I'll try. But, he is my captain."
Nandi puts her hands on her hips with her arms out. But...she also smirks.
Nandi reasons, "no. Ain't can argue with you now."
She hugs Kaylee tight. Kaylee hugs her back.
Soon... Kaylee starts to head back through the back gate.
Nandi just told her she'll be right there soon.
Nandi picks back up her shotgun.
Lionel Dudayev is just hanging there on the crane hook. He's struggling with exhaustion and everything.
With a furious glare... Nandi tells him, "this is for my dear friend Arleen...you xiàshuǐdào de húndàn!"
And, with a loud choo... She shoots him.
Lionel Dudayev lies there dead on the crane hook.
Nandi blinks her eyes some. But, she is only a little teary eyed.
She fast walks back for the back way...heading back for Serenity.
Late that night, in the cockpit on Serenity...
Simon is thinking to himself:
Jayne was resting in the Infirmary for hours. Now he's physically well again and sleeping.
That's good...because he's the last person on this ship I'd want to be teased by now.
Simon takes a deep breath.
He's very awkwardly standing there...when he hears the cockpit door start to open.
And, coming in through the cockpit door...is Kaylee.
She's beaming at Simon.
Kaylee wonders, "so... Simon... You wanted to get me up here alone to tell me something?"
Awkwardly... Simon starts to say, "yes. Well... Umm..."
They both nervously chuckle a little.
Simon admits, "there's...something I've been wantin' to tell you for months. Something bad always seemed to get in the way of me telling you. Moderate sigh. But..."
Kaylee concludes, "ohh. Just tell me what you fixin' to tell me. Please: I can't wait!"
Simon awkwardly chuckles.
He admits, "thank you. And...you're right. There...may not be a better time to tell you that I... I love you."
Stunned sounding... Kaylee asks, "what?"
Simon tries to explain himself more, "I...I'm sorry if that's too forward. But..."
Kaylee can't help but laugh a little.
Kaylee admits, "you...you sure I ain't dreamin', Simon? 'cause truth is...I loved you for long as we met. Been wonderin' hard when you would try to be not so damn proper and just ask me out."
She starts to lightly and playfully feel up and down Simon's sides.
They chuckle nervously some. They both blush.
Simon remarks, "well... I can give you a medical examination. But...I hope neither of us are just dreaming."
He starts to kind of slowly feel up Kaylee's sides. Kaylee keeps feeling up and down Simon's sides.
They both sexually groan some.
Then... Kaylee kind of deviously grins.
Kaylee declares, "Simon Tam... I ain't waitin' to get taken in a manly fashion: I want you now!"
Before Simon can anything... Kaylee is making out with him against a back part of the cockpit.
But... Simon just relaxes his whole body into it: He doesn't even put up a fight.
Simon can feel the edge of a control panel hit part of his hips hard. But, he clearly doesn't care.
They both sexually groan.
In seconds... Simon firmly feels up Kaylee's shoulders.
They're about to start taking off each other's clothes...when there's a knock on the cockpit door.
Simon quickly pulls away some. But...he's still grinning.
They both very awkwardly chuckle.
Simon quickly leads Kaylee by the hand over to the co-pilot seat.
Soon... Mal comes in to the cockpit.
Somewhat tensely... Mal asks, "Kaylee?"
By then... Kaylee is sitting on Simon's lap in the co-pilot seat.
Simon looks nervous as hell toward Mal. Kaylee is lying back against part of the chair all relaxed.
With a nervous smile... Kaylee asks, "captain? You...you sure ain't can wait 'till we have s...?"
Simon tries hard not to laugh.
With a faint smirk... Mal just assumes, "this is important. But, ain't ought to be much to trouble you two."
Sounding better already... Kaylee and Simon say, "okay."
Mal checks, "you know where Nandi is? I searched all the rooms 'cept for here."
Simon supposes, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude. But...you sure she isn't just with a client or...?"
Mal explains, "yeah. Kind of a funny story, doctor. She said she were in ten minutes. But...I ain't understandin'. I'm the captain. She would have least let me see this special man or woman of hers come in."
Simon adds, "right." Kaylee adds, "pretty much."
Mal looks dead serious now.
He concludes, "unless...a Operative or criminal snuck on my boat."
All three of them gulp real nervously.
Act III
Mal, Kaylee, and Simon go to check Nandi's guest bunk: Hoping to at least get some clues.
But, when Simon quietly slides the door open to Nandi's guest bunk... He, Kaylee, and Mal look shook.
Teary eyed... Simon cries out, "tā dàodǐ zài zuò shénme...?!"
River sharply turns to face the others. She's blushing bright red.
Teary eyed... River apologizes, "everyone... Deep sigh. Sniffle. Sorry. Sorry. Just...wanted to...help..."
River and Nandi were about to kiss...until River read the minds of the three people that caught her.
River and Nandi are sitting on the bed and down to their underwear and bras.
Just when River starts to apologize... Nandi puts a kind of comforting hand on River's.
But... Nandi also sharply turns in another direction...directly facing Mal.
She gulps real nervously. She's blushing.
Mal does not look amused one bit. Kaylee briefly and faintly smiles in quiet amusement to herself.
Mal starts to say, "yeah. "Okay." Let's go back to the part where..."
Simon incredulously exclaims, "captain!"
Nandi and River can't help but chuckle a little.
Kaylee puts kind of comforting hands on Simon's.
She tries to assure, "Simon...please. Don't worry now: He ain't meant to go back to..."
Mal points out, "well... Not the nearly kissing. God no! I know she's your sister, Simon."
He kind of throws up his hands on the middle part.
Simon says, "thank you. That's...that's quite a relief." Mal adds, "sure, doctor."
Both of them and Kaylee faintly smile. Nandi blinks her eyes some in nervousness.
Mal addresses River, "River... Just...go back to the part where you're hiding yourself away as a..."
Kind of cryptic... River explains herself, "16 on her moon of consent. Sniffle. I...I wanted to help her release in the bed way. Tried to hide the act in a box. Didn't mean to hurt everyone."
Nandi continues, "she's telling the truth. I...I found out myself 'fore she came to me that I couldn't draw back myself 'round you any longer. Sniffle. We...we knew how you would react though."
Mal admits, "well, now...I have to say. That's still downright more creepy than I sit well with."
Simon figures, "same here."
Nandi heavily sighs. Kaylee is on the verge of tears, looking down.
After a bit... Nandi asks, "doctor... Nervous gulp. Could I have the permission to say something?"
Coldly... Simon considers, "hmm. Well...I really don't see then why you shouldn't."
Nandi apologizes, "I...I want to tell you I'm sorry. Sniffle. Ain't remember consentin' age go differently on..."
Sounding a little better... Simon says, "thank you. I...I know what you mean now."
Kaylee looks up. She faintly chuckles in relief.
With a faint smile... Nandi says, "you're welcome doctor."
The teariness in everyone's eyes starts to dry up.
Mal sums up, "well... I ain't sure I'm of the same mind doctor. Is it crazy that you're now talking crazy now? 'cause I... Very faint laugh. 'cause I real ain't expected that from you: You of all women."
Nandi faintly chuckles. She continues, "Malcolm Reynolds... If you stayed on the same moon as I have for years? Forced yourself to forget most every thing the Guild tried to force down on you? Only now let yourself leave the comfort of your moon? I doubt you'd do most things differently."
She raises a eyebrow. Yet, she tensely looks toward him.
Awkwardly... Mal mutters, "gorram. I...I ain't got nothing to come back from there."
With a smirk... Nandi reasons, "except least to me, my child."
Mal smirks back.
Then... Mal addresses, "doctor, I...I think it a good time now to take River back to a teenage friendly room. Dong ma?"
Almost at the same time... Kaylee and Simon start to go, "all right. I..."
Everyone chuckles some at that. Simon though only chuckles a little.
Simon and Kaylee kind of fast walk out with River...heading for Simon's and River's bunk.
With a firm smile... Mal says, "you might be a mite crazier than known. But, you and Inara are remarkable women."
Nandi faintly chuckles. She determines, "why, thank you my child. Inara would love to hear that too."
Mal figures, "I'm sure she would."
They both nervously gulp some.
Nandi reasons, "and...you're right. Heavy sigh. I promise not to take to bed someone on your crew without tellin' you first and seein' if we can settle on it together."
Mal reasons, "yeah. That...that'll square it all away. Thank you."
They put comforting hands on each other's.
And... With a awkward faint smile... Nandi adds, "you're welcome."
Not long after, at a certain bunk...
River is sleeping in her and Simon's bunk.
Simon and Kaylee are standing outside of the bunk...with their backs to the closed sliding door.
Teary eyed still... Simon mutters under his breath, "shé hé ǒutù wù de wújìn dìyù."
Kaylee tries to assure, "Simon... We're all all right now."
She tries to pull Simon closer. But...Simon steps off a little to the side.
Glaringly... Simon mutters, "not including me? Sniffle. Yes. For now."
He's crossing his arms. He's finding it hard to look up.
Teary eyed... Kaylee murmurs, "Simon? What's wrong?"
Simon tries to say, "Kaylee, I... Nervous gulp. I can't think of a good way to say this."
With a very faint smile... Kaylee considers, "well...it be mighty worse on yah to keep it all in."
She plays with her finger on Simon's cheek some.
Simon briefly and faintly smiles. He uncrosses his arms.
Simon answers, "I...I know. I'm really sorry. I...I should have gotten off this ship with my sister months ago."
Kaylee starts to realize, "you sometimes say it and ain't mean it. That ain't all on your mind. You're so ruttin' tense."
She feels down Simon's arms a little.
Simon looks right at her.
Very nervously... He admits, "I...I mean it when I said I love you."
Kaylee figures, "sure. But...why am I sudden gettin' the feeling I'm about to wake up from dreamin'?"
Simon continues, "that's...that's what I'm really sorry for, Kaylee. I never meant for..."
Kaylee looks crestfallen.
She sniffles hard. She assumes, "you...you conjure now you ain't see much a future?"
Simon thinks out loud, "no! Yes! I... Hard sniffle. My god. I am a damned fool in love."
Suddenly... Kaylee looks real cold at him.
She realizes, "River. It always comes back to River. Don't it?!"
She starts to stalk off. But...she sharply turns back to Simon.
Kaylee loudly mutters, "I ain't know which is worse: Leadin' me on, or leadin' yourself to be a moron!"
A storm of tears are falling from her face. Tears start falling down Simon's face.
Simon cries out, "she almost had underage s...!"
Kaylee practically yells, "what?! You ain't think I saw too?!"
They both take some deep breaths.
Simon argues, "if...if someone lays a hand on my sister, and we were a second too late...!"
Kaylee gets a somber look in her eyes.
Kaylee reflects, "Simon, I...I'm really sorry I were yellin'. I know you care a lot for your sister with plenty of good reasons. Hard sniffle. Least of all what damn near happened."
Very awkwardly... Simon says, "thanks."
Soft toned... Kaylee pleads, "but...but, we weren't too late! I mean... Hard sniffle. Ain't...ain't that enough?"
Simon gulps real nervously. Some more tears fall from his face.
Simon breaks it down, "Kaylee, I... Hard sniffle. I wish I could really be with you. I wish I could not worry so damn much for River. But..."
Nearly inaudible... Kaylee asks, "...you can't?"
Simon says, "I...I'm really sorry Kaylee. Hard sniffle. I...I can't."
And... He starts walking away.
In complete disbelief... Kaylee calls to him, "Simon?"
But... Simon just keeps walking.
A trail of tears is left behind him.
And... Kaylee is crying into her hands.
Late the next morning...
Kaylee and Nandi are standing on the center catwalk over the cargo hold.
Teary eyed... Nandi apologizes, "I'm sorry, Kaylee."
Teary eyed... Kaylee voices, "thank you. But...I told ya: I ain't angry with you. Sniffle. Simon... Sniffle. He always is worryin'. And... Sniffle. We're just sorry things ain't ever goin' to go well with us in love."
She breaks down crying.
Nandi holds her tight.
Nandi mostly assures, "shh. Take it from someone who really knows Malcolm Reynolds. You least ain't should shoot it down now. Give him a few months. There is still time for a man like Simon to change his mind on you."
Kaylee stops crying midway through. The teariness in her and Nandi's eyes starts to dry up.
Nandi pulls away some.
Stunned sounding... Kaylee considers, "wow. You...you ain't just sayin' pretty? You really think so?"
With a smile... Nandi mostly assures, "I know I ain't just sayin' pretty. I mean it and feel it."
Kaylee beams a little.
She says, "aw. Thank you." Nandi says, "you're welcome."
They say goodbye.
Nandi starts her way down for the open ramp...and for the sight of her bordello The Heart of Gold up ahead.
Some weeks later, on Inara's shuttle...
Inara is sitting in front of her Cortex screen.
And, on her screen to the Cortex... There is Nandi.
With a faint smile... Nandi admits, "mei mei... I really wasn't expectin' a wave from you. "
A little teary eyed... Inara reveals, "I know. But...I heard straight from the Dudayevs you helped Zoe save them from their bastard son. Faint chuckle. I'm on route to a client. But, I... I wanted to tell you you were right all along: You're not burning out families who have done nothing wrong. You have become a better woman. And, well... Faint chuckle. We're still close friends."
They both smile wide.
Nandi sincerely says, "thank you. That is...is really thoughtful of you to tell me, Inara."
And... Inara says, "you're welcome, Nandi."
Part of the Episode Loosely Written But Still Based On:
Two parts with Kaylee and Simon from the initial 190 pages long script of the Serenity movie by Joss Whedon
Reference Side Note:
Multiple parts with Zoe, two parts with Wash, and a part with the epilogue from The Sting: The Better Days Cut
