[alexk]

The inevitability of contemplation...
PART 1

Malcolm Reynolds stood on Serenity's deck and stared out into the black of space. It was late, he knew that very well. Yet, he couldn't find the will to drift into slumber and that frustrating fact had led him on an after-midnight stroll that ended here. Or, in a way, began.

He sat down on the chair and sighed. He and his crew were utterly alone in deep space, between no and where, as he liked to put it. Flying under the radar, illusion of non-existence. Sometimes he liked it, and then sometimes...

Again he sighed and succumbed to the inevitable soul-searching that accompanied these midnight wanderings. He thought back to the previous missions and shook his head with a wry smile. The good and the bad. Always side by side yet they were sworn enemies. Somehow, things never went according to the grand plan.

He heard a low clunk of falling metal and grinned. Kaylee was up. God, this girl lived for nothing else but engine grease. He didn't care, hell she could bathe in the damn thing. All that was important to him was that she kept Serenity in the atmo, keep her flying. Anyway, he loved Kaylee, she was the...light on the ship. Always seeing the bright side of things, always with the ready smile. Where would Serenity be without the brilliant, spunky mechanic?

Mal looked around at the ships controls. Wash was an excellent flier, no denying the obvious. He had got them out of more than a few tight spots before. Cheery, lively and full of hope. And very methodical when it came to flyin', concentrated and calm. Mal was lucky to get him aboard Serenity. He found a pilot and Zoe found a husband.

Zoe, long time friend from the war, and first crew member. Zoe he respected very much. She had a no-nonsense attitude and had a unique tranquility in any situation, good, bad or ugly. Yet, her sense of humor was plain as day. She knew of love, too. He would never say it out loud, but she and Wash made a good couple, regardless of the splitting of loyalties issue. Mal laughed softly.

Then there was Jayne. Ohh boy, he was a handful. Guns, knives, sex, sarcasm. The embodiment of Jayne. But he was part of the crew, a part that Mal trusted, like the rest of them, so as long as he didn't turn his guns on them, Jayne was shiny in his books.

Recent additions to his crew included Simon, River and Book. He didn't know them all to well but such was life. New people, new journeys, new stories to reflect on. And if this was the direction destiny was sending him, who was he to deny it.

He nodded to himself and out of the corner of his eye saw someone standing in the doorway. He didn't even have to look to see who it was. Her divine scent gave it away.

"Good morning," Mal yawned, "Can't sleep?"

Inara smiled and stepped onto the deck, "Third night this month Mal. Anything wrong?"

"Yeah, I can't sleep either. Big job tomorrow. I expect you have a job too."

They both looked out into the inky, starry void. Inara, the one person on the ship he loved with a burning, heated passion. A desire that was well hidden by his hatred of unnecessary complications. But his conscience always came back, what if this complication was the one thing that could help him, complete him and mend his tortured soul.

"I'm going to get some sleep. You should do the same." Mal locked eyes with Inara for a few seconds, hating what the feelings did to him, and then walked back to his bunk, a regretful expression on his face.

Inara watched him go, felt her heart rate go out of sync. Her eyes welled slightly. Malcolm Reynolds. The source of...so many things for her that she could no longer decipher between the feelings.

Mal drifted into an uneasy sleep. He hated waking up with dark circles under his eyes, just as much as he hated what his weekly reflections come midnight meetings with Inara did to him.

[BrwnEyedHoney]

I'm new here and I read your story. It's very nice. I like the story. Keep posting. I bump this 3 times.

[Serac]

Impressive. Now that you've gotten the characters estabilished, it's time to build off of the nice foundation you've created. From what I've seen so far, it'll be worth reading.

[Storiesmaniac]

nice work i enjoyed what there was. Now expand. lol.

[jason]

I'm looking foward to reading the rest. The original use of words kept me intrigued. Your settings are very imaginative as well.

[Serac]

It's been a lo-o-ong time since the last time I read this. I just re-read it and I'm wondering why on earth you would stop? You did very, very good in introducing every character through his thoughts, and even establishing a believable love interest? I don't even like sci-fi/space stuff, but this was great. You were dealing with people in general more, which you could go a long way with, it looked. If I was able to enjoy everything you wrote in a genre I don't like, without even knowing what this was a fanfic of, then you've done a great job, and I'm sorry to see you're not going anywhere with it.

Love Firefly and Serenty, thought this was a nice fan-fic. From the looks of it you haven't posted anymore, which is a shame.

For those who don't know, it's of a series called 'Firefly', which was never shown on TV and put straight to DVD (unrightfully), the film 'Serenity' continues and concludes where the series left off. Excellent sci-fi action, with some good attention to detail.

[Syrah]

Duncan. You are wrong... it never showed on tv in England... but it did show here in the US. Great show. Got it and Serenity. heh.

This is very true to the show.. but it doesn't give enough, in my opinion, to really give people who have never seen the show a good tidbit to how fabulous the show is.

didn't they show like 2 episodes or something?

[Syrah]

Eleven out of the fourteen were aired.

ah right. I love that show, just got the box set

[Nephilim]

great story, followed the feel of the show well, more than the movie i think. fox has gotta stop the "quantity over quality" approach with their shows, just making as many as they can and hoping some stick. it just means we lose great shows like this and titus, but are stuck with crappy ones like the oc...damn fox...but great story, and i hope there is more to come.

[jeremyurban5]

could have had a better opening in order to grab the attention of readers

[Aldo Rossi]

I liked it, I think you should develop this into a longer story.

[~HorseHeart~]

wow if you kept going this story is going to get get greater and awesomer it was good but it could have some more life to it a but mroe drama you know whatim saying? but anyways it was still really good!!

[crackdaddy]

i enjoyed it. you got the way malcolm talks down pretty well.

I expect you have a job too.

great job

[Ameasha]

I enjoyed the read and agree with the other members, that you need to lengthen and expand your story. Great possibilities.
Ameasha