(Untitled)

[tightpantscapn]

There was all manner o' diān goin' on outside. Mal'd taken Shadow up the path t' the paddock near the compound where the goats n' other livestock were bein' kept t' water her when e'erythin' seemed t' go straight t' dì yù. Thin' Mal ain't e'er seen 'fore were runnin' 'bout the island causin' more havoc'n the Alliance bent on unification.

Comments

[gorramcheerful]

Why did it do this? Why did such terrible, strange things happen here. Most of the time it was so nice here. She liked it here.

Kaylee was practically tiptoeing about Serenity, as though someone was going to jump out at her, she'd heard about what was going on and she wouldn't leave the ship to see, she didn't want to see. Here it was safe, Serenity was safe. N'Cap'n would make sure no one could get in. He'd promised he'd come back when Kaylee looked horrified at the thought of him leaving them

[tightpantscapn]

Mal had been tyin' Shadow's reins t' the rail in the cargo hold when l'il Kaylee came in, lookin' for all the world a fright. 'fore she e'en said a word, Mal knew somethin' (other'n the obvious outdoors madness) weren't right.

He opened his mouth t' ask her what was vexin' her, but then she beat him t' the punch n' laid it all out plum clear. n' he didn't like what he heard, not one bit. Closin' his eyes, Mal felt his stomach drop considerably. If'n River weren't on board, that meant she was out 'mong all the gorram insanity.

A beat.

Mal's eyes opened n' fixed on Kaylee.

"Twice 'round Serenity n' no River. Y'r sure?" Eyes searchin' her face, Mal knew she were sure, but he still had t' ask, a small part o' him clingin' t' the hope she'd been wrong.

[gorramcheerful]

Kaylee hunched nervously, clutching her own forearm whilst she shook her head slowly as Mal kept his gaze fixed on her's, clearly he was hoping she'd say something else, or suggest somewhere safe she thinks River might be.

Instead she blinks quickly, her eyes looking a little glassy. She can hear what's going on outside. And she knows it's awful and worse that even River has faced before. "Cap'n, she's out there." Kaylee's voice suddenly a little strangled. She can't be helping his panic. She drew in a shaking breath. "But, she's tough, River is. Ain't she Cap'n? We'll find her safe n'sound, prob'ly keepin' other folk safe. Just like she done for us b'fore." She was offering this positivity, this optimism she could almost always conjure, but this time she couldn't manage a smile as best she tried, and her voice was still failing.

[nevermarried]

Book had heard Mal come in, the hooves on the floor of the cargo bay. Book walked up slowly, quietly. He listened to the conversation, his brow furrowing. River. He watched Mal get ready, could see the physical signs of the Captain gearing up for a fight. Kaylee, on the other hand... She was panicked, afraid.

Book took a step forward, laying a warm hand on Kaylee's arm, looking firmly at them both. "C'mon, Kaylee, let's make sure everyone is settled in." He glanced up at Mal. His voice lowered, serious. "The Captain knows what he's doing, and he'll go get River." He saw that fear in Mal's eyes. The man wouldn't stop until he had River back, and safe. He straightened up, his back military fierce, and his mouth a firm line. "Kaylee." He caught her eye, his face warm and strong. "We have to protect Serenity. Come on, now."

[mr_vera]

Man, Jayne had seen some crazy stuff on the island, but today things were going straight off the rails. He'd gone outside to do a little shooting and heard all the shouting and gunfire and crashing around, and went straight back inside to talk to Mal about securing the ship.

Except Mal wasn't in his cabin, and - even though he felt kinda weird about checking - he wasn't in River's cabin, neither. In fact, River wasn't around at all.

"Hey, MAL!" he hollered as he headed down to the cargo bay. "You down there? It's a gorram loony bin outside!"

[tightpantscapn]

After securin' Shadow in the hold, Mal looked up t' see Jayne not far 'ways. Tiltin' his head back so's he could get a good look at Jayne, Mal cupped a hand t' his mouth. "'m here!" he called back. "We'll be needin' t' secure the ship. I ain't inclined t' be lettin' no crazy folk take what ain't theirs. Not t'day, not any way."

[mr_vera]

Well, at least Mal was OK. (Although if he'd got messed up again, that'd mean Jayne was in command of the ship... but never mind.)

"Aye-aye, Cap'n," Jayne said, with an ironic salute. "Me an' Vera c'n help keep an eye on things." He was actually looking forward to getting a chance to shoot some stuff. It'd been a while.

"Kaylee's around here somewhere, heard her callin' a few minutes ago," he added. "You seen River anywhere? I don't think she's on th' ship."

[tightpantscapn]

"I'm hopin' y' n' Vera'll do more'n keep n' eye on thin's," Mal said sardonic-like. Almost reflexively, he reached for the gun in his holster, drawin' it. 'twas a comfort t' hold it, 'specially with all the noise from outside they could hear plain as day e'en in Serenity's depths.

"I ain't seen River since this mornin'," Mal 'llowed slow-like. "E'eryone else been 'ccounted for?"