The Return Home – Part 1

Having just been sucked clear across the galaxy through Gregori Kovalev’s wormhole, Serenity and its crew were confronted by two startling facts. Four years of their lives had somehow disappeared while they traveled to Earth and back again and right now a very large and ominous looking Alliance cruiser was filling the cockpit windows, asking for Serenity to identify itself, and launching small fighters towards her. This might have been just another routine inspection for any other Firefly class transport, but Serenity had four things on board that if found might just put everyone in deep, deep trouble, the kind of trouble that gets you killed.

First, they had the Kovalev Drive, hooked up to Serenity’s engine, which was responsible for this mess in the first place. Next, all the gold and jewelry and stuff they had stolen from Earth, which might take some explaining, especially since some of the gold bars were mark “Bank of Australia”. Of course, there was the continuing problem of the Tam siblings, wanted fugitives that they were. And worst of all, a shipment of arms. It was the cargo of arms that was the worst because shipping weapons other than those needed for defensive purposes was a death penalty offense under Alliance law.

Everyone was on the bridge except Kaylee and they all just stared out the windows, too shocked by this sudden change in events to speak for a moment. Simon put a protective arm around River as their worst fears about the Alliance were suddenly coming true. Then Kaylee’s voice came through the intercom from the engine room, breaking the silence.

“Bridge, what’s going on? We home?”

Mal snapped out of it, grab the intercom mic. “Kaylee, get ready for full burn.”

“But Capt’n. What’s happening? We still….”

“No time to explain, Kaylee. Get ready!” Mal shouted as he looked at his pilot next.

“Wash, plot us a course out of here.”

“Where to? I mean, I don’t even know where we are right now!”

“Suss it out and then get us anywhere!” Mal shouted,