The bed upon which River slept seemed to bob along as it was swept downstream, following the current. She awoke as water splashed on her face, as she opened her eyes she was immediately drawn to two brightly coloured fish that were swimming alongside of her. River giggled and dipped her fingers into the water, enjoying the icy cold sensation it brought. On looking up she saw birds swooping and dipping towards the water, her eyes following one as it smacked into the water at incredible speeds. However, as River settled herself aboard her bed-turned-boat, she noticed another figure sitting with her. Her head snapped round, and she screamed when she saw Darcie’s ghostly visage resting next to her. She was tattooed on her arms and the visible parts of her legs, symbols and words. Blue Sun.

River violently turned in her bunk and was grabbed by Simon as she almost fell onto the floor. He hugged her tight and stroked her hair, muttering words of comfort to her. She heard nothing from him; she was instead drawn to the ghostly figure of a girl wandering about outside the room. River shook with fear, but found within herself the courage to pull away from Simon’s warm embrace. As her feet touched the cold floor beneath, the ship around her melted away to reveal a dark corridor.

Boldly she stepped forward, walking along until the air about her was filled with the sound of sobbing. The voice was Kaylee’s, River was sure. Breaking into a sprint, River tore down the hall, the darkness twisting into a deep blue that broke upon her like sunlight in the morning. She blotted out the light with a hand, and as the corridor bent River could hear the sobbing slowly ebb away. On slowing to a walk she came across a small, huddled figure sitting alone on the ground.

“Kaylee?”

The mechanic’s tear-stained face looked up at River, conveying such a sadness that River too began to cry. She dropped to her knees and, on examining her face carefully, stopped crying and instead smiled softly.

“Don’t doubt yourself Kaylee, you