Red Run Chapter 11

Suicide by Jayne

10 hours out from Ita Moon

The group meeting broke up a little before 3pm Earth Standard. Leaving a part of the day remaining and some chores still to be done.

Mal climbed to the flight deck and made sure all the controls checked out, as well as catching a sneak peek to make sure no ships were following, or in near proximity. Not that he distrusted the long-range scanner alert to notify them, he just liked to be cautious. Luckily, Serenity ran all alone.

Working his way down to the galley at evening meal, he’d been unsurprised to find Jayne, and River absent. He was mildly surprised to find Inara absent, but he learned that she had appeared long enough to construct a sandwich before departing back to her shuttle, reportedly intent on carrying out some chores of her own.

Zoë and he therefore shared a meal with Simon and Kaylee. Kaylee and Zoë ended up making a mutual pact that involved the complete isolation of Jayne Cobb from any and all activities on the boat. Mal stepped in when they threatened to not feed Jayne. That was too far he reckoned. But he didn’t tell them they couldn’t stop talking to Jayne. Understanding their feelings because he’d once shared them made this decision easy for Mal. In the future, maybe they would come around and forgive the merc. Considering Zoë’s ability to hold a grudge though…

Kaylee and Simon, of course, also talked about River. Simon appeared alternatively delighted about the revealed nature of his sister’s improvement, but then despondent at the further revelation that some of the safety nets designed to keep herself from harm were removed.

Zoë contributed to this by saying that she found herself worried about subliminal signals that might be directed at the ship in the future. More of a danger now that River was the pilot, and therefore the first person to receive any Wavecasts when they came through. Zoë suggested that someone else might need to become the communications officer.

Mal, of course, then immediately voluntee