Finally, we get to see what's going on inside Friday's head, a peek into Early's redemption, and a daring plot to defraud the Osirian medical system.

Also, a group of old enemies make an appearance, in a manner of speaking, at the end. Of course, this admittedly being pure speculation, I could be completely off my rocker. Bear in mind telepathy is hard to write for.

All your Firefly are belong to Joss.

GIVE ME FEEDBACK, GORRAMIT!

Trauma

Kaylee was happy with life, at the moment. She hummed herself a little song she'd picked up while at that neat little shindig on Persephony as she danced around the engine room. She wished that Simon was here to be her partner, but he'd gone off to do doctory things at the nearby town. Sometimes she just wanted to strangle him, but he had a good heart. If only he'd show it to her more.

Serenity's heart was still, and laid open, its inners as visible as its outers as she deftly tightened, replaced, cleaned and tuned. In the last few months, she'd rarely had a two-day stretch where she could strip down the engine and give it the once-over Serenity really deserved.

She plucked up the catalyzer that Mal had got shot for, turning it over in her fingers. There was still blood on it. Funny how she never got around to cleaning that off. She plunked herself down with a rag and began working at the stain. Most of this ship had someone's blood on it, she realized. Jayne's was in the kitchen, Shepherd Book's was in the commons, Simon, dear sweet Simon, his was in the corridor right next to Kaylee's bunk. And Mal. His blood was everywhere. It flowed through the ship like coolant. Sometimes, Kaylee had a bit of trouble figuring where the man ended and the ship began.

She hefted the asymmetrical device in her hands; good as new, and shiny besides. She leaned in and attached the part, taking extra care not to overtighten the connecters and strip the threads.

When she stood up, she wasn't at first sure she wasn't in the midst of that old nightmare.

Early was standing next