Author’s Notes:

I wish to give everyone fair warning, the view of the Firefly ‘verse I’m taking with this fic is decidedly darker than what’s been presented on the show (save, perhaps, for the episodes “Bushwhacked” and “Objects in Space”). The characters may seem to you to be different, although I pray not entirely so. Certainly, there will be those (Dutch, in particular *G*) who will dislike where I take various people and what I do with them. Just don’t say I didn’t tell you so.

Also, you may notice a distinct lack of Chinese in this fic. I do this because I’ve been involved in other fandoms (as a reader, only) where Japanese is used heavily in stories. If you don’t know what’s being said, or how to pronounce it, the appeal of the language is lost. I find that no integrity is tossed to the wayside by using phrases such as, “Wash cursed vigorously in Mandarin.” We’ve all seen the show, and we all know what it sounds like. I’m sure almost everyone can fill in the gaps. :]

The Firefly universe is largely incomplete. Certain questions remain unanswered, and as such I’ve taken the liberty of filling in the gaps that I want to discuss with my own assumptions. I’m not, in any way, in the ‘know’ about anything ‘according to Joss.’ Don’t take my word as the end all be all on certain things, please.

Thanks to HotForKaylee for Beta reading.

And, lastly, feedback is welcome, scathing or otherwise.

Strawberry Road, Chapter I

The transmission was garbled enough that Wash had to work hours to get as much as he did, which he was quite ready to admit wasn't much at all. The image on the screen presented a worn and tired man, one who might have been very rich if tragedy hadn't struck him down. His eyes were sunken and his hair unkempt. A greenish tinge reached around his face, smothering him in ill pallor. Wash was tempted to tell Mal he couldn't salvage anything from the distress call.

"What've you got for me?" Speak of the devil, Wash thought to himself. Or would that be think of the