Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind.

Thanks to my regular readers for making it worthwhile to continue the story and special thanks to my Proof-Reader Landry.

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Serenity/Granite Gorge – Drifting – 2520AD

The scout pilot was the first person to break the stunned silence. ‘If I don’t get some answers soon you’ll regret it,’ she declared. ‘Who are you people and why do you have our codes?’

‘Reach for that pistol,’ Jayne stated, ‘and you’ll be the one with the regrets,’ he said swinging the barrel of his Callahan so that it was aimed squarely at the woman.

She looked deeply unimpressed.

‘She’s not thinking of pulling a gun on us Jayne,’ River announced. ‘Before she docked she started her reactor on countdown, if the right code isn’t entered in the next couple of minutes we’re all dead.’

The Scout Pilot’s eyes widened.

‘Same way I know the shutdown code is your father’s birth-year plus the total number of hours you’ve logged in a pilot seat,’ River said smiling. ‘And no you didn’t ask that out loud.’

‘Long story short,’ Wash interjected, ‘telepaths are real. Well some of them are but just the one’s they make.’ He paused. ‘By “they” I mean the Alliance Government, well kinda, but we aren’t anything to do with the Alliance they don’t like us at all so don’t worry about that.’

‘Your favourite colour is orange,’ River said, ‘you’re scared of spiders. The number you’re thinking of to test me is seventy-two and no you aren’t going crazy and believe me, I know because I’ve been there. Oh yes I also know your name rank and serial number Lieutenant Doyle so please dismiss the thought of starting to recite it in lieu of saying anything else because it’ll get old fast.’

The new arrival had the sympathy of all present because they had to admit it did take some accepting but they were all fairly amu