And that story just keeps on arcing. This chapter takes place only six days after the events of the last, so Anne's still laid up with a hole in her head and Syl's grasp on her mind is getting ever more tenuous. Near the end of the second 'part', I actually rolled out the encounter. It took six shotgun blasts.

Of course, none of these people belong to me, all your Firefly are belong to Joss, and all that. Do be kind and respond. Can't improve if I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Translations: mo yi di nao tan keh = worthless piss-tank

Wounding Whispers

Jacob flipped off the last switch and the craft settled down onto its extended legs, a giant cloud of dust wafting out in all directions. He didn't rightly know why anybody'd want to come to Whitefall, especially after the Reavers came through and tore the whole gorram place down. Course, having a tough woman like Patience in charge probably had a great deal to do with the reestablishment of the moon's population.

Leave it to Patience to be tough enough to survive the Reavers.

He turned off the engine and sauntered into the bunk that Anne had taken residence in. He slid down the ladder and gave her a smile.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Like I got a bullet in the head," she answered with a grin. "Real dizzy."

"Looks like we'll be saying goodbye to our passengers," he said softly, seating himself on the edge of the bed. "Noreen'll be settin' down roots in no time flat, 'specialy with Patience for fertilizer."

"Did you just call her gos-se?" she said. He leaned over. Yup, Friday still had her on the drugs. And he didn't blame her one bit. Not every day somebody took a bullet to the brainpan and walked away from it. "Yes," Jacob said. "Just don't you tell her I said it." She grinned, eyes sliding closed. They didn't open again, and her breathing evened out. Asleep. He leaned over and kissed her brow. Stay safe, he thought. Stay flying.

He quietly hauled himself up the ladder, pulling the hatch closed. He turned up the hall, and beheld Syl