PART TWO

*

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon

We could float among the stars together, you and I

For we can fly we can fly

Up, up and away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon

It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon

We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky

For we can fly we can fly

Love is waiting there in my beautiful balloon

Way up in the air in my beautiful balloon

If you'll hold my hand we'll chase your dream across the sky

For we can fly we can fly

*

Up, Up And Away – Fifth Dimension

*

“So, River; about this 'overflow' problem...”

River put her head on one side, “Well; I think everyone here is aware that the nerves in your body carry electrical impulses.” There were nods from most people on that, “And there's an electrical field surrounding you which some call the aura. When we were fighting the Reavers on the train, I was getting close to being ready to help Zhang transform his matter into energy and become part of me. I was, to use a very basic way of putting it, leaking power. I *could harness and control this ability in the future to help in all our fights and battles.”

Mal shook his head, “We turn into super soldiers – however briefly – even in a just cause, and anyone left of the old Alliance is going to notice sooner or later. We'd become lab rats or dead very quickly. Or people would take us for gods and goddesses or summat gorram like it and I've got experience of how being in charge is as boring as gorram hell. And when the gilt wore off the gingerbread, we'd be right back to the lab rat or dead scenario. You *know what that was like, River.”

She nodded, “I did *promise to stay hidden. And I will, until I 'become'. Way in the future, when Sam, Lee, Sarah, Clarry the rest are all grown up and have kids of their own, *then I will rise like a phoenix. Not an albatross any more.”

Mal nodded, satisfied, Well, till then; be our pilot and be as normal as you