What happened in the editing cut between the stand down order and the funeral? Josh and Mutant Enemy et al own the sand box, they just let us play here. Enjoy.

Interludes V

Simon was concerned the next morning when he discovered that River was not in her bunk. Concern grew to panic when she was not in the galley or the cargo hold. Panic grew to terror when he discovered the top hatch was open. Maybe rigging an alarm to sound when it opened would be a good captainy thing to do? Maybe he should mention it to Mal.

"What's the deal," Jayne wondered why as he stumbled into the galley looking for food, and maybe a little coffee. "Moon Brain woke up and went looking for an Alliance patrol to kill? Better she go all 'crazy woman' on them than us."

"She ain't gone out killin anyone. Tell him, Cap'n. We're not believin' she's doin' any killin' ... are we?" [Yeah ... Kaylee-anna, the eternal optimist.

"First thing the Doc is gonna do is relax. Its not the first time she's gone wandering off; and if she had done any mischief with any Alliance folk, well, I reckon they'd be already banging on our door. Jayne, she went out the top. You're the tracker, track 'er."

"Aw, Mal ... I ain't even got any breakfast yet." "Didn't say it was up for discussin'."

"She just went for a walk." Everyone turned to see River's head poking down through the open hatch. "Did a little mischief," she smiled at Mal. "And no 'little assassin' stuff," she glared at Jayne until he grumbled something about crazy girls and looked away. None of them liked it when River talked about herself in third person. “The stuff for the job, its all packed up at Mr. Universe's, stacked in crates by the elevator. We'll have to get it before the Alliance comes poking around the place.

"C'm'on, Kaylee, there's playin' n