NOT SO SHINY

A/N: This is becoming more of a study in description and character, it may not ever have a true plot, but I'd appreciate suggestions. Thank you very much for the ones given already and that you all for the reviews. I really will try to finish a story for once in my life. Help me out here.

Book looked at the bench for a bit, feeling a fleeting longing. His spotter was missing. He sat down on the bench, a thought suddenly occurring to him. He stayed seated for only a moment before regaining his feet and walking off in search of the captain. He found that the captain was already engaged in conversation with Simon Tam.

"But, Captain, he knows things!" Simon protested something previously said. "He could ruin us. You know I bear him no love, but we're all going down because our fate is in the hands of that yu bun duh pee-goo."

"Believe it or not, Doc, I am actually aware of that." Mal hissed. He looked up at Book at the hatch. "Can I help you Shepherd?"

"Oh no, Captain, I was just making sure I was not the only one who realized the imminent danger."

"Fine. Danger. Don't y'all think I can handle this? Don’t I always." Book stared at Mal calmly, but Simon was forced to turn away so as not to roll his eyes directly at the captain. "Go on now, it's late, and I have captain-y things to do." Mal more-or-less shoved the two from the bridge. After they left, he slumped into the pilot's chair. "Go se!"

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River was still playing with the beetle, but it was dead now. She pushed it along the floor with her bare toe mumbling softly to herself. She bent slowly to investigate the departure of one of the insect's legs. She then picked the dead creature up by another of its appendages and carried it delicately to the hallway. There she deposited it neatly in front of her brother's bunk door. She sat facing the same door.

A few moments later Simon came from the bridge. He was preoccupied and only gave River a fleeting smile before sliding open his door. He was startled when she let out a cry.

"Stop!" She yelled, pointing to his foot.

Slowly Simon raised his shoe from the floor to reveal the crunched remains of the beetle. "Aw, mei-mei, I'm sorry, I didn't see it! It's ok, it's just a bug." He crouched down in front of her.

"You don’t understand." She said calmly, looking into his eyes, "You didn’t kill it, you just destroyed it. Look." She held up the intact leg. "A keepsake." She turned and skipped off down the hall, leaving Simon to ponder.

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"Gorram it." Mal sat stoically, staring out into the vastness of space. Zoe watched him, saying nothing. "What can I do? I mean, he deserved it!" Zoe still remained quiet, knowing that Mal was ranting to himself. "What do they 'spect I shoulda done? I couldn’t jist put him in the airlock forever. We have to use it sometimes!" He gesticulated wildly.

"There is a security problem, sir." Zoe finally added.

Mal turned a brief glare on her. "True. Gorram it!"

"You know, we could always just go back and kill him." Wash stated, interrupting them from the door. "I mean, I think we all could take him." He began to look slightly apprehensive.

"I'm not gonna kill him." Mal's eyes glinted. "But… Yeh, I think we do need to go back."

Wash nodded and took the controls. "Back to Osiris then." He flipped the obligatory three switches before entering the coordinates.

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Jayne had not left tavern for the two days since Serenity left. After retrieving his crate, he immediately drank himself into a stupor and passed out. He was aroused by someone trying to break into his crate. The man had retired with a cracked jaw and Jayne ordered more to drink. However, at the end of the second day, the keeper told him to leave. Uncharacteristically, Jayne complied. Perhaps it was because he was drunk, but maybe, just maybe he was brooding on his current disposition. He slumped outside the tavern for a few moments until he regained most of his senses, then he rummaged in his crate and strapped on as many of the weapons as he could. As the final touch he places his ragged orange cap upon his head. He then strode away, leaving the crate and its few remaining items.

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"So, whatcha thinking'?" Wash looked expectantly at his wife.

"Why do you ask?" Was her terse reply.

"Well, you just take things in. You don't ever discuss your personal thoughts. I mean, obviously I don't even know what happened back there, but here we are going back. To do what? Talk to me, woman." The last sentence was his way of lightening the mood.

She had that look that was both understanding and annoyed. "I don't guess it matters much what I think. Captain made the decision."

"There you are, pulling that again. I don’t care what Mal thinks. I want your opinion. Stop being the soldier for just one minute please!" The look in his eyes told her everything.

"I think it's a bad idea." She stated simply.

"But you'd never tell Mal that."

"I'd never tell him."

"That's what I just don't get. You can disagree with me, and anyone and even him sometimes, but when he gives an order, you just close down."

"You don’t understand."

"No, you're right. I don’t. But I do understand one thing." Wash lifted a finger. "You have as bad a feeling about this situation as I do."

Zoe could only nod.

"So, what are we gonna do about that?" Wash's voice began to get a bit high and desperate.

"We do as the captain directs. We have to. In the meantime…" She moved toward him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll be in our bunk."

Wash watched longingly as she paced off down the hall.

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