The Last One

by

22 Claws

After Miranda, Serenity and her crew came to a time of uncommon prosperity. With the Alliance busy with general civil unrest, the aftermath presented them with a wealth of opportunities. The crew’s reputation grew. River proved to be very useful being now more in control of her amazing mind. Simon of course stayed on as ship’s doctor and River’s physician. Along with their prosperity, came the resources to make Serenity the ship she deserved to be. That and the challenges of her new relationship with the doctor kept Kaylee happy and busy.

Zoe decided to take some time off, joining Inara on holiday at the Companion’s favorite resort moon. Jayne, after everything, has become a friend to the captain and family to the rest. Everything seems pretty shiny. As for the captain, he’s waiting for the catch.

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Chapter One

The Garden

Serenity tears through the black, faster and stronger than ever. River is at the helm. She loves flying when the rest of the crew sleeps. Her mind quiets. It’s just her, the stars, and Serenity.

In the last few weeks she’s learned to read the ship like she learned to read people. It’s been an interesting and rewarding challenge. She’s really part of the crew now. An important part. Like Simon.

She is the pilot. And, she’s amazing. She doesn’t have a license, of course. She didn’t require formal training. She learned from Wash. He didn’t know she was learning, but she was. She watches everything. What she doesn’t see, she hears. The rest she either knew already or she learned from Serenity.

Alone in the bridge she gets something suddenly she hasn’t had in a long time. A bad feeling.

Captain Reynolds walks onto the bridge with a bounce in his step. He turns to regard River and stops abruptly. River sits in the pilot’s chair, slouched over, with her knees pulled to her chest and both hands on the wheel, eyes looking ahead, intently. She is wearing only a blue and black silk slip.

“What the hell is that?” He says,