Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind.

Thanks to my regular readers for making it worthwhile to continue the story and special thanks to my Proof-Reader Landry.

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Transport Ship Serenity – Grounded on Revelation – 2520AD

‘Looks like the landing bay external airlock is sealed properly,’ Wash announced on the intercom. ‘We can open the hatches when you like.’

‘I’d feel happier toting iron,’ Jayne announced. ‘Feels naked being on the ground without a pistol on my belt.’

‘I think the locals would object. It took enough effort to get them to let us land,’ Inara replied. ‘Besides, this is a religious community. I can’t see them being a massive threat.’

‘Have you never heard of the word “Crusade” or “Jihad” for that matter?’ Steven commented. ‘Frankly, the thought of being surrounded by thousands of religious extremists gives me the creeps.’

‘Extremists might be too strong a word. They are more isolationist than they are radical judging from my conversations with their Leadership,’ Book said. ‘In their own words, they came here so they could live according to the rules laid down by God instead of the Laws laid down by man. They are a touch archaic in some of their attitudes though, I must admit.’

‘Not extremist you say? I’ll remind you of that when the local Inquisition is sticking a red hot poker up your… oh, hello girls. Ready to go?’ Steven said as his daughters entered the bay with their mother. ‘Where’s John?’ he asked.

‘He’s with Simon getting a plaster put on his knee. He scraped it going through a duct,’ Jennifer replied. ‘He’s starting not to fit in some of them as well as he used to, which may make Kaylee’s life easier.’

‘Kaylee says chasing John through the ship’s machinery keeps her fit,’ Claire-Marie said. ‘She flushed him out once with a pressure hose.’

‘Well he’d better be