Bringing Down Dragons

On-Board Serenity

Mal grabbed onto the back of Wash’s chair as his pilot jerked the controls yet again, sending Serenity into a nosedive and eliciting a string of curses from Zoe.

“Language, dear,” Wash said simply, his calm tone a sharp contrast to the insanity of his flying.

Mal couldn’t help but grin, but even as the smile cracked his lips, he saw the exhaust of yet another missile stream past them, and he remembered the seriousness of their situation. Over the ship-to-ship intercom, he could hear Destiny ’s pilot Hesh yell out as the Reaver-filled Trans-U bore down on them, followed by Etris’s eternally calm voice issuing a series of orders. Mal then issued his own orders, and Wash adjusted his course to try to draw the Trans-U away from the other ship.

The sky around them was filled with nearly a dozen other ships, all trying to evade the massive Reaver ship. The ground beneath them was littered with the burning carcasses of at least another dozen ships that hadn’t been as fortunate. As Mal watched, a missile from the Trans-U ripped through a ship to their starboard, a Magpie, like Monty’s. The Magpie listed to one side and began to fall, dropping only a few meters before it’s main engine exploded, taking the rest of the ship with it. Mal closed his eyes. No one deserved to be slaughtered like that.

He grabbed the intercom mike and spoke briefly to Etris. Ignoring Wash’s glances, Mal laid out his plan.

“Do it,” Mal said.

Wash pushed the controls forward, and Serenity dove for the burning tarmac. On the radar screen, Mal could see Destiny following behind them, and then the large shape of the Trans-U. Apparently, out of all of their options, the Reavers had decided the pair of Firefly’s would be the juiciest treats.

“Okay Wash,” Mal said, “let’s see if you are as good as you claim.”

Wash looked shocked. “How could you ever doubt me?” He flicked a series of switches above his head. “Hold on tight!