The Christmas Run - pt 1...
Thursday, 27 December 2007 12:17:00

[I] Typical, thought Malcolm Reynolds as he stared into the muzzle of an Alliance issue rifle – and heard the heavy booted feet of the squad swarming in behind and filling the loading bay of Serenity. Typical. Always the simple jobs - He would never learn. Uh huh? – And how many people had already told him that? Well, let’s be hoping for more to come… The gun he was looking at whirred with the nasty electric hum of a wasp all too keen to get on with some mean minded wilful stinging. Yep. The simple jobs. Always. [/I] ……………………………………………….. “It’s pretty” Gazing out from Serenity’s windows, looking across the dark vacuum of space and into the long field of winking lights, Kaylee had smiled. The trailer park was huge. Each stationary vehicle meant a home, people - family maybe. Any sense of regimentation long ago lost to an organic sprawl of out-houses, generators – communal areas and such. The metal conurbation hung across the void like tinsel across a black wall. Broken solar panels, storage containers, ancient oxygen cylinders and pieces of indeterminate defunct machinery – all floated around like snowflake decorations. “I lived in a place like that once.” She smiled. Simon Tam leant in close beside her, peering for a moment intently through his new glasses. He was frowning, watching a battered repair ship off in the distance as it manoeuvred alongside one of the trailer homes. It was hard to tell which of them was actually the most damaged. It was a while before he spoke. “I thought they cleared all these… places.” Kaylee caught something in the tone of his voice, concern? Disgust? She opened her mouth to say something but Jayne Cobb chose that moment to interrupt, striding into the cockpit and slamming down a large flight case. “Kaylee – Doc’…” He was smirking. “That IS the Doc’ right? Thought maybe Mal had got us transporting owls or – or – I’m sorry, is my Library book overdue?” Scowling self-consciously Simon whipped his glasses off. Kaylee muttered something but Jayne was still laughing even after she thumped him across the arms. Gorram it – the giggles could be infectious… Simon sensed something. “Oh. Kaylee, you don’t think they…?” “Hey, no!” The redhead’s reply was quick. “I think they’re… shiny.” “Been watching too much TV?” In the Pilots chair, Malcolm Reynolds had been watching the three [I] hoe-tze[/I]s bantering up his flight deck for a while now. He smiled at the Tam boy. Simon looked relieved as he turned to the Captain. “It’s a Doctor’s lot – close work… runs in the family too…” Mal nodded. “Can’t outrun your genes huh?” He didn’t mean to – but he had flashed a look towards his co-pilot before he could stop himself. River Tam nodded eagerly. “A flaw – should be corrected – ruled out of the program – they could’ve…” She was staring now at her brother. Simon held her gaze. “Yes they could…” Jayne snorted. “What – you telling me your rich and mighty parents decided to go natural with their first born? And there was me thinking they made you in a jar.” He yelped as Kaylee thumped him again - harder this time. “That’s not funny.” She said. ……………… Zoe Alleyne and Shepherd Solomon Face were fighting again. Fists and feet and all. The damp patches on their vests and the heavy humid air bore testament to their work out. Already in his short time aboard, Shepherd Solomon Face had made an impact on Serenity. He had converted one storeroom into a kind of chapel and the empty shuttle bay, (empty since Inara’s departure) into a full time gym. “Helluva lot safer than than the damn loading bay”, he had said forcefully after one too many bruising collisions with River and Kaylee. He had looked pained, looked at the running women, looked at Mal. “They always like this?” The Captain had played it deadpan. “No, on occasion they can actually be a little high spirited.” “Dear Mother of God…” So the Shepherd had done his work. Only Jayne had objected, and for why? – Face couldn’t figure. Cobb never even came down and worked out with him. Odd. Still, that was hi