Title: What was Lost in The Black

Author: Half-Human

Disclaimer: I own, nothing, I’m a poor undergrad :P

Summary: When an Alliance troops board Serenity, Mal is surprised to find out what the Alliance is truly after. POST SERENITY.

A/N: First FF fic so be nice! THANKS INKIE FOR the BETA-READ!

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Zoe sat silently in Serenity's cockpit, toying with the figurines of her late husband. After the required leave Mal put her on, she found herself often returning to her husband's pseudo-sanctuary to serve as pilot or to simply think. Mal currently had no mission but was intent on acquiring a quick job upon picking up Inara from her latest pit stop. Mean while, the rest of the crew was off in their own world. Jayne was lifting weights and polishing his beloved weapons, Simon was busy analyzing his latest test results, Kaylee was re-calibrating pressure conduits, and River… well Zoe wasn't sure what the young woman was up to. River was probably roaming around, just roaming around. Inara, of course was off ship, and Mal hadn't left his bunk for the entire morning. It was moments like these that Zoe felt most tranquil and at ease, because there was no fighting, or arguing, or tension--just silence. She loved these moments because she found time for herself and she knew that at no other time was Serenity's name ever so apt.

Zoe let herself sit back and enjoyed the soft beeps and chirps emanating from the machines around her. They were comforting. She wasn't much for sitting around all day doing nothing, but when she sat at the helm, she liked to think that she wasn't just idle, but somehow connecting with the ship, and in turn embracing the various sensations she received from sitting there, sensations that were common to her late husband. Zoe wasn't one to sit on the sidelines, but having lost the love her life, she knew that every so often, she needed to stop-- Stop and think.

Placing one of Wash's old toy dinosaurs down, she settled herself in the chair and felt sleep creep upon her.

BEEP-BEE