Disclaimer: all things Firefly/Serenity are the property of Whedon et al. I’m not making any money off this, just playing with the toys.

“Go away.”

A low grunt sounded next to him.

“Fun is comin’. Now stop your grumblin’.”

Another grunt.

Mal snapped his eyes open and looked around him. He could have sworn he’d felt some little bug thing flitting about his face and when smacking it didn’t work, he just told it to leave.

But then it talked.

Talked?

Carefully turning his head, the Captain could see the mule lying at an awkward angle with a faint bit of smoke rising from the engine. He shut his eyes remembering how he’d been flying along just fine, a light flashed on the console and then the sky became ground and the ground became sky.

Ta ma de.

“Jayne?” he croaked. His throat was very dry.

Grunt. “What?”

“You okay?”

“No.”

Mal rose up onto his elbows, his body protesting. When did it get light out? “Jayne, you hun dun, what’s wrong?” The Captain blinked a few times to try to clear out the pounding that was building inside his brain.

“Come with me and you’ll soon see!”

“Huh?”

A little man, corn cob pipe and big green pants, bounded up to him. “Come with me and we’ll be free!” The thing had an accent, kinda like Badger’s, but more sing-songy.

“What in the seven hells...”

“Up and over th’hills, we’ll fly away, without anymore spills!” It was dancing some little gig on the Captain’s legs.

Mal heard the shifting of sand and dirt and could see Jayne slowly begin to rise. “Fucking mule crashed. ‘Course I ain’t okay.” He stood a little wobbly, shook his head and winced. “Yesu.”

“Hurry, hurry! Can’t be late. Don’t want to miss our date.” The little green thing was grabbing at Mal’s hand, dragging him into a sitting position.

“You reckon on how far- Holy shit!” Jayne stumbled back, only now seeing the green panted man tugging on Mal’s hand. He grabbed for his gun.

“Liar, liar. Gun won’t fire.”

Jayne’s eyes widened and he bl