Taking Back The Sky - A Firefly Continuation (Chapter 1 - Approach Vector)

 Firefly – Taking Back The Sky

Author's note: I'm trying something new style-wise. There will probably be more pictures than one is used to for actual fiction. It's my intention to do this like an old-style fotonovel; think graphic novel with actual screengrabs than hand-drawn art. Purely for texture and flavour, let me know if it works or not.
- Eli




3 months after the events of Serenity...

“I know that you need the practice, and I’m all for learning by doing.” Malcolm Reynolds said, trying not to let the anxiety show. He was a terrible liar and a worse actor. “It’s just that, does it have to be right this moment?”


 River Tam still stared directly ahead, fingers flying over the controls, pigtails bouncing as she did. “No time like the present. A stitch in time saves nine. But linear time doesn’t work like that.”

 “Okay, if you’re not all there right now -” Mal made to take control through his own manual override.   

 River cut him off. “I’m fine. I’ve got this. I know my own head.”

 Whole damn time, she hasn’t blinked. It was just one of the things Mal had to adjust to with his new co-pilot. It was unsettling, but she could take this boat nearly anywhere by sheer belief in herself. Book would have approved.   


 Mal’s stomach sank as Serenity passed through the first hurdle of the carbonaceous asteroid that Heartleaf Outpost was built inside of. Only way in was through a network of natural caves that used to be the planetoid core. Long since cooled, the cathedral-like maze now led to the heart.

 Still, it was unsettling to see his ship sink away from the stars.   


 River still focused ahead. “Sensors?”

 “Haiou kong jian.” If you could say that. 3 meters on all sides wasn’t exactly breathing room.

 Lit with Serenity’s floodlights, River turned and weaved the old girl in and around the path downward.

 Jayne was on the bridge, behind them. His burly arms were folded in front of him as he leaned against the bulkhead.

 Before them, the remains of another ship were seen with the forward floodlight. Only the boney superstructure remained; everything else had been picked apart by the local scavengers. It looked like the bones of an old corpse. Like the Elephant exhibit at the museum Mal remembered from his childhood.


 “I always think that this is the road to hell.” Jayne whinged.   

 “Can’t be.” Mal replied. “There ain’t any good intentions paving the way. Present company included.”

 Jayne snickered. Damned if they weren’t actually getting along lately. Maybe because Cobb finally figured out that his smartassery didn’t really stack up to Mal curmugdeonism.   

 Of all people, Zoe was now the biggest concern. She assured Mal in private that everything was fine, that she was dealing with the empty side of her bunk in her own way. But for the first time since Serenity Valley, Mal was genuinely concerned for her.   

 Maybe Heartleaf would do her some good. Change being as good as a rest kind of reasoning. Mal himself was eager to be rid of this cargo.

 “Here we go.” River’s big brown eyes focused directly ahead.   

 “Brace, brace, brace!” Mal called into the intercom. “Starboard sharp turn!”

 Everyone took hold of whatever was close and bolted to the ship. River wheeled the ship around, performing a complete roll through the last hurdle of Heartleaf’s obstacle course.   

 Before them, in the largest cavern in the asteroid, was Heartleaf Outpost. Originally a small life-support ecosystem that served as flophouses for the miners who took the asteroid for all the ores and precious metals it was worth, the near-planet level mineral wealth had attracted an entire population that made up the subterranean city. Vagabonds, soldiers of fortune, wanted men, and even a few select decent folk had gravitated to this city to make a life for themselves, as it was too far out for the Alliance to stake their claim.

 Of all the outer planets, Heartleaf was the bread and butter of the outer reaches of the system. All the metals, the minerals, everything that needed to be refined and manufactured that couldn’t be done by Jim Bob Cunningham or Two-Eyed Willy in their back yard came from Heartleaf in one way or another. Entire factories and shops sprang up to become the wildcat Capital city.

 But for all their technical sophistication, Heartleaf couldn’t really do much about its surroundings.   


 River held station above the entry portal. All ships were required to dock in select cradles to come and go.

 Mal changed the comms for vid broadcast. “Heartleaf Outpost, this is Firefly transport Serenity, requesting docking permission.”
 The vid screen crackled to life, and a harrowed old man in need of a haircut responded. “Transport Serenity, we have you cleared for Berth 19-Alpha. Tune your comms to 14.4 megacycles, landing lights will guide you in.”

 “Thank you, docking control. Out.” Mal hung up and began to reconfigure the console. The large metal airlock door opened before them, allowing them entry.   

 “Nice and easy, Little Soul.” Mal was nervous again.

 “I got it.” River said, in a singsong voice. The lights shone the way for Serenity to enter the spaceport, all the way to berth 19-Alpha.

 The occupant of 19-Beta, right next to them, had obviously less chops than River. Half their afterburner array was parked over the line into 19-Alpha.

 “Wait one.” River worked the controls, softly setting the ship down. According to sensors, she parked with less than 3 feet to spare from 19-Beta’s crooked landing.

 Mal let loose a long breath of relief. “It’s a good thing this boat likes you.” He said to River, releasing the safety harness on his seat.

 “We’re still getting to know each other.” River said as she got out of the high-backed pilot’s seat. She clambered over the headrest to climb down the back in her bare feet.   

 As soon as she skipped out of the cockpit, Jayne spoke up. “I still say that girl ain’t right.”


 “None of us are, Jayne. That’s why we’re here.”