Well, that didn't take quite as long as I thought it would. Back on track then, no? While physically, the crew and sole passenger of Legacy are all on the mend, Sylvia sets about seriously disturbing Jacob's calm. He finds himself wondering whether he can really share the ship with her.

All your Firefly are belong to Joss

GIVE ME FEEDBACK, GORRAM IT!

Conflict of Interests

Happy birthday to me, Jacob thought, as the clock ticked over midnight. Anne turned over, rolling off of his chest and dragging most of the covers with her. Knowing he was not getting any sleep naked in the chill of space, he silently pulled his pants back on and climbed up the ladder exiting his room. The night was still long ahead of him, and since he didn't think he had it in him to wake Anne again just to get some covers, he began his near nightly tour of this ship. His ship. The cool of the night played across his bare chest as he wandered into the kitchen.

It was such a simple thing, a simple place, on a simple ship. A table flanked by ten chairs. A hotplate, a sink and a wall covered in cupboards. A tiny nook with its wall bench. Simple components, but often enough, it was the most alive place on the ship. People didn't simply eat here; they lived here. They spread their lives on the table along with their fare. They spoke of things Jacob had never seen. Things he would never see.

He thought of their simple lives, almost wishing he could live them. But the call of the Black was strong. And this was his home. He hadn't thought it possible. It certainly wasn't so on the BlackJack, with its far too many people packed into far too little space. That was a job, something to pay his bills until he could pull free of Niska. Legacy was different. The small room was his and Anne's. He finally had time alone with her, free of the dozens of others.

His meanderings took him past the table, into the corridor toward the engine. He could hear it humming contently, spinning slowly in its mounting. He also heard a snoring drifting from t