Phoenix Rising

Serenity Valley, Hera

Nearly 7 Years Earlier

Bendis was dead. Just looking at him told you that. His helmet had failed to stop the bullet that had ended his life, and Mal’s promise had failed to stop the bullet.

What was that saying? I’m not worried about the bullet with my name on it. It’s all those that say “anonymous” that keep me on my toes.

There was no telling what was on the bullet that ended Bendis. All that Mal knew was that he had made a promise to the Private and he had failed to keep it.

Again.

How many promises had he made to the soldiers, the boys and girls under his command? And how many of them had died with the realization that Malcolm Reynolds had not kept his promise? Too many. Way too gorram many.

He sat in the bunker where the remainder of his squad had made their final stand. The body of Private Daniel Bendis laid beside him, his helmet still on to spare everyone the sight the hole in his head. Mal would have laid a blanket or something over the boy’s body, but they had no blankets to speak of, much less anything else. Gorram Alliance had seen to destroying all their re-supply shipments for the past three weeks. Mal didn’t even know if they had any food or water left.

He stood slowly, shakily, to his feet, his head turning from the body of Bendis to the small object cradled in his right hand. The gold cross that his Mother had given him so long ago lay in his palm. The symbol for faith, the token, the good luck charm that he had worn for so many years now; now all it spoke to him was failure and loss.

God had broken his promise, too.

Mal closed his eyes, remembering…

“Take this”, Ma said, handing him a small wooden box, no bigger than his fist.

Mal reached out and took the box, giving it a curious look before raising his head and looking at his mother, his eyes glinting with a smile.

“Wipe that mischievous look off your face, Malcolm Reynolds,” his mother ordered him, her hands on her hips and a