Night Alarum

It was late evening onboard Serenity. Mal was on the bridge, checking the settings for the

auto pilot. 'Most everyone else had settled into their bunks for the night.

The lights flickered, then blacked out completely. The ship bucked, then settled as her

main drive died.

Kaylee's voice cut thru the dark silence. " Doctor ,to the engine room. Doctor , to the--

Help!" There was a note of fear beyond fear in her voice, almost total panic. Mal turned,

trying to find his way in the dark, cursing. Then the emergency lights cut in.

Zoe got to the engine room first, buttoning one of Wash's shirts around herself, but

carrying her mare's leg, loaded and cocked. Mal pushed Wash out of the way: the pilot was

hobbling on one foot, trying to pull on a pair of pants, and barefoot, limping and cursing

about a stubbed toe. Book and Inara were there before him, and Jayne, checking out Zoe.

Simon came running up the stairs, carrying his medical bag, with River following.

Kaylee was standing on tiptoe, one arm dragged into the frozen engine up to the shoulder,

the other hand grabbing at an Emergency Stop button just within reach. There were

disturbing blood stains on the engine casing.

Kaylee was crying, little mewling sounds, mixed with faint mumbled Chinese curses. Her eyes

were wide and blank, staring off somewhere light years into the black. Simon stepped up.

"Kaylee? Kaylee? Kaylee, can you hear me?" She made no response.

Simon had dealt with hysteria before, in fact since his first year at MedAcad. He drew back

his arm to slap her, then hesitated. There were too many armed folk in the compartment,

friends of hers. The question was not would he be shot if he slapped her, but how many

times, and how much would it hurt before he died.

Another idea struck him. He leaned forward and kissed her, hard and prolonged, on the mouth.

After a moment , shortness of breath silenced her, then her awareness snapped back.

Disturbin