Inara sought out Freya, finding her on the bridge, staring out at the stars.

“Are we going to make it to Highgate?” she asked, stepping over the sill. “I’d hate for us to be drifting.”

Freya turned in her seat and smiled at the Companion. “No, we’ll be shiny. Mal’s arranged to refuel there, so everything’s fine.”

“Fine.” Inara repeated. She moved forward. “Could you bear for some company?”

“Sure,” Freya said, pointing to the co-pilot’s chair. “Take a pew.”

“We’ve never really talked, have we?” Inara asked, sitting down gracefully, her bright brocades in extreme contrast to Freya’s flannel shirt and serviceable trousers.

“Not really,” Freya agreed. “You want to now?”

“Well, I've nothing better to do. Do you?” She smiled kindly at Serenity’s pilot.

“What do you want to talk about?” Freya asked, sitting upright a little more, running her hands through her short dark hair to make it lay flat. She couldn’t help it – this woman always made her feel inferior.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Inara said, looking out at the expanse of space. “How about your ship?”

“My ship?” Freya laughed. “I don’t have one anymore. Not even worth towing to the scrap belt.”

“Do you miss it? Being captain, I mean. It must be difficult taking orders again, even from Mal.”

“He’s okay,” Freya asserted. “Better than some I've known.”

“Worse than others?” Inara suggested.

“No. Not really.” Freya laughed again, a deep throaty chuckle. “There’s a few I would cheerfully have put out the airlock, if you must know. It’s been a while since I felt that way about Mal. Not saying it won’t happen, but not so far.”

“Really?” Inara took a breath, wanting to stay on the subject in hand. “Wouldn’t you like your own ship again?”

“You mean leave Serenity?”

“Start afresh. New horizons.”

Freya looked at her. “You’re not talking about my boat, are you?” she asked.

“I'm just talking, Freya.”

“No, you’re not.” Freya turned the seat so she could look at Inara fully in the face. “You’re sugg