Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon. Mainly because I haven't the courage to stick in a Mary Sue. Also because he is awesome. Will continue to live vicariously through Mal.

This is Chapter 3 of the story that began here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5474

and continued here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5523

and is a continuation of Our Co-Pilot Tam, which can be found here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=5386

It would be very shiny if anyone could tell me how to stick in actual links. Also italics. (Bellona, that gorram yellow key ain't showing up)

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“White is close. Closer. Time and space are one,” River said. “I see it. It's here. You're grey,” she continued, pointing to Mal as he sat in the pilot's chair, guiding Serenity carefully through Osiris's upper atmosphere, eager to avoid Alliance attention despite Inara's reassurances. “Simon is white. Other people are here too. Some of them have faces. I don't. We're at a place...a good place. But we can't stay. Everything is too white. It will all have to change. Become grey. Or green. Or red. It's misty again, very misty. I don't know what—Ai ya!” she collapsed on the bridge.

Mal got on the com. “Paging Doctor Tam, we have a minor situation on the bridge. Paging Doctor Tam--”

“They don't want me to know,” River said, eyes clenched shut, curling up into a ball on the bridge. “Don't want me to see. But I can. My eyes closed, not even looking, I can see. I beat them before. I know my way around them. Not too hard. Know what they're thinking. Not too smart. Too much mist, everything's white...No. Blue. Should be blue. Two by two. But we killed them! Can't kill the mist. It's all around me...inside me...” Her hands began to rake at her head.

“Lao-tyen boo,” Mal said, leaping from the chair and kneeling by her. “Fahng sheen, you're on Serenity, it'll be all right.”

Simon burst through the door as River spoke