Truthsome, Part I: Shadows

Serenity chased the terminator around New Horizons for an orbit before grounding just ahead of sunset local time. With no real port available, the ship settled onto a flat valley out of sight of the settlement nestled in the hills a few klicks away.

"Looking good, looking good" Wash said as he flicked three switches overhead. Serenity purred into silence as her engines powered down. "No sign of any Alliance patrol ships--or any other ships, for that matter--on that whole orbit. Lookin' like we're all alone out here in the woods."

"Good," Mal said, scanning the low-lying hills through the cockpit windows. Scrubby trees already showed as black silhouettes in the growing twilight. No movement caught his eye. All appeared peaceful and still. He looked away from the treeline. "Zoe?" She halted her own study of the terrain, nodded briefly, then leaned to kiss her husband.

"Be careful," Wash called after them as they started out of the control room. Mal flicked a glance at Zoe; the message was clearly aimed solely at her.

"We will," he answered without expression.

"Always are," Mal added with a faint grin as he and Zoe strode down the passageway. River lounged in the doorway to the common area, staring at them wide-eyed. As sometimes was the case, she appeared not to really be seeing them.

"Careful, careful, careful," she chanted, moving up and down against the bulkhead in movements halfway between sensuous and innocently childlike. "Brown and red," she intoned, fixated by Mal's clothes. “Brown and red.” He watched as her stare turned inward. "Brown and purple. Purple and red. And blue." River suddenly became entranced by the blue corridor wall. She caressed the wall, then angrily pounded her hand against it. "Blue, blue, blue..." she cried, slamming her hand into the wall.

"Easy there, child," Mal said, catching her hand so she didn't bruise it.

River whimpered and twisted in his grip, her eyes locking onto his. "Beware the blue," she whispered, pulli