Disclaimer thingy: Firefly/Serenity are owned by other folks and not by me, though I appreciate being able to write some stuff purely for fun inspired by the Firefly 'Verse. All constructive comments and feedback from you shiny readers out there much appreciated!

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After Leon had felt the ship undock and move off from the prison, relief had rushed through him like strong drink, filling his head with fog. Sitting hidden in the space behind the panel, feeling the pulsing hum of the ship’s engines, his body had become suddenly weary: he slid down until he lay on his side on the floor, head pillowed on one hand. Even the pain from his injured arm wasn’t enough to keep him awake. He sank into exhausted sleep and let everything fall away into darkness.

It was pain that woke him at last. He must have turned in his sleep, twisting onto his other side and jarring his arm. He woke suddenly and uncomfortably, taking a gasping breath as a sharp ache made him shift his weight away from his left side. For a moment he didn’t know where he was: the blackness around him felt choking and panic sent him scrabbling into a sitting position. His shoulder knocked into a wall and he jerked away from it, tried to stand. The top of his head hit the ceiling of the compartment and he crouched down again, his hand going to his head. Shit. Slow down, yu bun duh. He sat back against the compartment wall, putting out a hand to steady himself. His fingers touched metal gritty with dust. Okay. Sit still. Remember where you are now? Stowed away on that ship? So it might be a good idea not to go pounding on the panels with your head and letting the crew know you’re hiding in here.

Leon waited for his thudding heart to slow down, leaning back against the wall. He listened hard for any sounds beyond the panel of his hiding place, but all he could hear was the low hum of the ship’s engine, a comforting gentle vibration. We’re still moving. Goi