Chapter 3:

Independence, thought Simon Tam. The Captain had been the one to rename the former Mr Universe’s moon. Independence – yes, it was pure Malcolm Reynolds. The man had a way of hitting a nerve even while viewing all around him through the single eye of his war experiences. Independence – Reynolds had fought, near died – watched many, many others die – for a confused cause rallied together under the banner of… Independence.

And it was a joke too – a pun on so many levels.

There had been a moment – a turning point – for Simon it was Beaumonde. Racing into the devastation of the maidenhead bar – too late to save lives – too late to prevent his own sister from taking them – snuffing out the motley denizens of the bar as if it was just a workout at the gym – or a puzzle, fitting the pegs into their holes. A game.

He had done what he could – brought sister back from the brink – using a particular phrase to make her sleep, hypnotic suggestion? Magic charm? But that was not the turning point exactly – there had been a moment – a single and precise moment – it transformed all the moments after – running through or beneath every decision, every argument – every choice, every conversation – like a sort of electricity. Even now it still made the hair on Simon’s prickle like gorse.

And it had been the Captain. Malcolm Reynolds – hard hearted, smooth faced, gun totin’ space piratical ex-soldier Malcolm Reynolds… picking Simon’s sister up – picking River up from the floor where she lay unconscious – picking her up in his arms .

And so - change.

………………………..

Things never seemed to change much, thought Zoe as she leaned in close behind Mal – as she inclined her head – as she straightened her gun arms out, fanning in two directions and as she whispered into the Captain’s ear. “We still walking softly Sir?”

Mal shrugged. “I’ll admit that running softly just entered my mind but…”

We must make quite a sight and there’s a truth, the Captain thought to himself.

It was indee