CHAPTER ONE

SERENITY

SHIN-YO

Shin-Yo was a “nearly deserted” world according to its description on the cortex. With no official population even listed, it wasn’t the type of place you wanted to find yourself alone. Made up of 85% water, it was one of the Alliance’s first attempts to terraform a water world. The process had been unsuccessful, with repercussions ranging from severe and unpredictable storm seasons to seismic instability. This made it a haven for smugglers, thieves and fugitives. It was also quite appealing to the occasional Reaver ship! To function on Shin-Yo a ship either had to be retrofit for a fluid environment, or a new ship had to be obtained. These two options were very expensive, with few who could afford such luxuries. This made the guest list a veritable who’s who of intergalactic criminals.

It was here, among the thousands of tiny islands doting the surface of the planet, that our big damn heroes lurked. Cruising under the surface of the choppy water, Mal sat scrutinizing his instruments arrayed in front of him. If everything went according to plan, he said to himself. That very thought made a small smile dance across his lips, as his plans were notorious for running afoul despite his planning. With Kaylee in the co-pilot position to Mal’s left and Jayne sitting behind her, they were beginning their descent into the black waters of shin-Yo. However unfit for mass population the Alliance may have made the planet, it sure made a fun place to visit.

Testing out his new purchase was their real reason for today’s little cruise, but Mal couldn’t help but stare in wonder out the shuttle’s portholes. As many times as he had blasted through the atmosphere to reach space, he hadn’t expected to find himself quite so spellbound in the depths. They cruised on a bit further, banking port and starboard. In the silence of the murky half-light, Jayne spoke up from the back and effectively broke the spell. “Hell, at least up in the black you got the stars to guide ya’. Down here, you got no l