Zoë was close to falling off her chair when Eis said this. Mal however...

“Gorramit, who put that table there!” he gasped as he righted himself upon his seat again. “So, you are to tell me that Wash is still breathin’?”

Eis smiled. “I do. He is not, however, lying in his grave next to Shepherd Book and Mr. Universe.”

Jayne grunted, picturing a very bored Wash in the coffin over on Jedot’s Moon.

“And where will he be then?” Zoë asked, remaining surprisingly calm. Eis could still here the confusion, surprise, and excitement in her voice.

The boy took a deep breath. “The same facility that my sisters body is in. That’s the payoff people. We give my sister a proper cremation, you get your beloved pilot back.”

The silence was the weirdest part. There was happiness, shock, and disbelief all in the simple silence. Zoë was to first to speak.

“So, where is this facility?”

***

And now, we pause for a brief look into the mind of Zoë:

##################################

noway,noway,noway... He is telling the truth...

WHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHH!!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHHE!

(>^^)> (>^^<) <(^^<)

o o

*

U

#####(shocking!)###################

This concludes the look into Zoë's mind... Thank you

***

Zoë's face was showing no emotion. Almost everyone in the room was still. River, however, was giggling. Mal couldn’t figure out why...

“The only problem is...” Eis continued. “The compound is not in the solar system, I fear to say. Rather, somewhere very far away.” Mal looked like he was about to speak up. “No, Mal, I will not be talking in rhyme the whole time.” Mal put his and down, and looked mildly disappointed. River started a new fit of giggles.

“It is on a planet known only by the name of AFOUT. Alliance Facility Of Underground Testing. A good two month journey. Anyone who is-” all of them raised their hands. Eis smiled. “-Not willing to go-” all put their hands down, “...Should not raise their hands.” Just glares now.

***

Mal was talking to Eis in the kitchen. Everyone else had