Prologue

Trails of dark smoke rose high into the air. Pieces of wreckage were scattered around the forested landscape; plating and pipes were embedded in trees that had been snapped, their bark charred and leaves scattered. The eerie groan of settling metal echoed through the crushed remains of the ship, but there were no sounds of life within until a slim, bloodied hand reached upward from beneath the twisted console. It waved about slowly, deliberately, testing to see how truly trapped beneath the rubble the body connected to it was.

River groaned as she pushed all her weight against a large piece of metal and cried out in frustration when she couldn’t get it to budge. Her body trembled as the pain from the crew rushed into her distracted mind, dull though it was since most of them were unconscious. But one cry, one intense jolt of anguish could be felt far above the others, and River strained with all her might to free herself. “Hold on, Kaylee. Please,” River whined, tears sliding down her cheeks partly because of the discomfort caused by her own injuries, and partly because she knew she would not be able to free herself without help.

And by then, she knew it would be too late.

Just as she opened her mouth to let out a frustrated scream, a strong, solid hand grabbed hold of hers and squeezed it tightly.

“Hold on, there, Albatross. Let me find what’s got you pinned.”

The voice was strained, but a welcome sound to her ears. River closed her eyes with relief. She could hear the pain in the captain’s voice, but she could also sense his intense determination, so great it nearly overshadowed all of the other pain – almost. He was injured, but it would not deter him from freeing her. She pushed as he pulled and after far too long a time, she was free.

She knelt briefly at his side as he leaned against the remains of what used to be the control console, panting, eyes closed for just a moment to regain some energy, some strength for the task she knew to