Night
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?
It’s nighttime.”
Mal turned around in the
pilot’s chair to find Book
standing behind him. He
looked back out to the
black, his nose wrinkled and
shaking his head. “Nah,
preacher… it’s always
nighttime in the black.”
“We do work on a proverbial
time schedule though,
wouldn’t you say?”
“Conjure you’re right.” Mal
conceded with a nod, as he
stood up. “Ain’t really
much for schedules though.”
Book chuckled lightly and
shook his head. “You never
were. We all have our time,
Captain. You can’t
continually blame yourself.”
“Sure he can. The man needs
something to brood over.”
Mal turned at the familiar
voice to find Wash next to
Book. “Y’know, I ain’t
rightly sure how you’re both
here.”
“We’re dead.” Wash nodded,
giving Mal a playful smile.
“And yes, you led us into
that fight but we’re not
blaming you… not openly.”
“Give the man a moments
peace, Wash.” Book crossed
his arms over his chest.
“Be at peace Captain. The
only one blaming you… is
you.”
“Openly…” Wash added with an
emphatic nod.
**
Mal jerked awake, the sharp
movement almost causing him
to fall out of the pilot’s
chair. He’d fallen asleep
while waiting on the wav
from his contacts on
Shadow. Now he ran a hand
over his face and flipped
the switch.
“Captain Reynolds. The
cargo is good to go. You
can pick it up at these
coordinates we’re sending
your way now. The funds
have already been
transferred to your account
for payment, but I assure
you that if the cargo isn’t
delivered on time, our boss
will be very unhappy. We
don’t like for him to be
unhappy, and neither will
you.”
“Don’t guess that I would.”
Mal shook his head.
“Pleasure doin’ business
with you. As I am of the
business sort, your cargo
will arrive on time.”
“See that it does.”
The wav ended and Mal
checked the coordinates.
This would put them on the
East end of Shadow in the
daytime. Normally, he
wasn’t much for the light,
but lately… the night had
brought too many voice, too
much guilt and anger.
He set the coordinates, and
the felt the slight movement
of Serenity coming to life.
Like a drug addiction, he
would get in shot of the
daytime and then hurry back
to the night. It was where
he wanted to be and deep
down, he knew that it was
where he deserved to be.
