The Morning After
Mal sat in the bridge
looking out over the docks
that Serenity was resting
in. Although he would never
admit it to anyone, fear had
kept him awake all night.
The fear that the hazed
memories in his mind would
become more vibrant and full
of life was almost tangible
in the surrounding air.
Wash with a metal bar
through his chest, Book
dying in his arms, his crew
fighting a battle that
should have been only his…
not theirs.
He itched to get Serenity in
the air, away from
civilization but the repairs
she needed weren’t
completed. Part of him
expected what was left of
his crew to get off now.
The ship already had a
desolate feeling about it.
He wouldn’t blame them if
they wanted out and away
from him.
His life had become one
fight after another, and he
was a dying breed; those who
sought freedom to do, think,
and be as they please. The
Alliance’s arm would
continue to stretch. The
core would continue to
expand. The verse would
continue to become more and
more crowded. And he would
continue to fight it all
without bringing what was
left of his crew… friends,
if he could still call them
that, down with him.
“Y’know, you’re a ruttin’
shabī.”
The voice broke the silence
of the darkened reverie Mal
had been drowning in.
Without turning around, he
lowered his booted feet from
the console to the floor.
“Speak your mind Jayne.
Just be ready for a good
punch if I start feelin' the
inclination.”
Jayne stepped into the
bridge. “Just sayin’… you
run all over the verse to
save that moonbrain girl,
almost get us all killed,
and now you’re sittin’ up
here like it never
happened. Everyone’s walkin’
on eggshells about ya’, and
I ain’t gonna do it.”
“You’re welcome to leave at
anytime. No one and
nothin’s tyin’ you here.”
Mal said calmly, still
looking out at the docks.
“Now see that ain’t fair.”
Jayne said with a tilt of
his head. “I got ties same
as anyone else.”
That caused Mal to turn and
finally eye the larger man
through the one eye that
wasn’t bruised and swollen
shut. “What’re you getting’
at? Say what you came in
here to say.”
Jayne crossed his arms over
his chest. “You still got a
crew. Lost some of us but
you ain’t stupid so you knew
it was a possibility. I
ain’t stupid either so I
knowed it too. The rest of
us is lookin’ to you to see
what we’re gonna do next…
how things’re gonna be. You
got my respect, Mal. Hell,
I think you got the respect
of half of the Alliance now,
but shuttin’ off and cryin’
about what’s past ain’t
gonna help nobody.”
Mal narrowed his eyes and
stood up. “And just what
are you wantin’ me to do?”
“‘Nara and Kaylee made
breakfast.” Jayne said with
a shrug of one shoulder.
“S’what I came to tell ya
anyways. Could eat with the
crew ‘stead of sittin’ in
here cryin’ like a gorram
baby.” The punch came
before Jayne realized it
was, in good Mal style;
unexpected, hard, and to his
jaw. He grinned past it for
only a second before he
tried to look confused as
the captain passed by him
and walked away through the
corridor. “What the
gorram hell was that
for, Mal?”
“Felt the inclination and
seemed like the thing to
do.” Mal called back, a
barely noticeable grin
ghosting over his lips. Now
there were other things to
do. He still had a ship and
a crew.
shǎbī – dumb cunt
gorram - goddamn
