Specific Warning: References to the Unification War, from both the perspective of people who had fought in it and those who live with them.

Author's Note(s): Not my record for time between chapters. That is currently growing for a different story. Still I know it's been a while and for that I apologize.

Author's Note (Terms of Interest): Shuĭ means water; Xīng means star; Wŭshì means warrior; Qízhì means banner; Lí means thread. That's all a mix of various dialects collectively known as Chinese. I pull from the standard sci-fi lingo for other terms, such as 'mets which is short for biometrics or personal information and vid for video. If you see a term that you're not familiar with and/or can't figure out from context, feel free to drop a comment/review asking.

Challenge/Competition Block:
Stacked with: Final Frontiers; Not Commonwealth; Terms of Service; By Any Other Name; Fem Power Challenge; Never Leave; The Real MC; Long Haul*; Ethnic & Present; New Fandom Smell (Firefly/Serenity)*; Overrated*;
Representations: BC Use; River Tam; Soldiers & Assassins; Crew as Family; Kaylee Frye
Bonus Challenges: Infinity; Lovely Coconuts; Under the Bridge; Second Verse (Bechdel Test; Not a Lamp; Ladylike - Threatening; Nontraditional; Found Family; Wabi Sabi; Middle Name; Nightingale; Tomorrow's Shade; Unwanted Advice; Some Beach; Fruit Fly; Zucchini Bread; Misshapen Pods); Future (Queen Bee; Where Angels Fear)
Word Count: 3423

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To Be Determined
Part 02: Gathering Parts
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"Come with me, where chains will never bind you." – Les Misérables
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Stolen Dirges and Sweet Songs

He had always known that he would eventually leave the Abbey. When he had entered the sacred hall, he had done so with that knowledge. He had needed the succor after the War and the Alliance had been willing to let him drift away into the shadows, a shame to be discarded and forgotten. His stolen name had never truly bothered him, serving only as a reminder of why he was hiding. It had not always been easy to hold to the lie, to keep the vows that served as a replacement for the orders he had previously followed so thoughtlessly. Men like him were never meant for peace and quiet; they were built for action. He knew that eventually he'd feel the need to wander the world again even as he dreaded it.

He never expected to be tempted away by a wisp of a girl who appeared on the end of his bed somehow without him noticing. They stared at each other, both acknowledging that the other was a dangerous predator and mentally factoring different plans to disable the other if needed. She gave him a tiny smile as she cocked her head as if listening to something beyond what he could hear. Slowly and reminiscent of a sleepy cat, she blinked at him and as if the action had been a command, he echoed it. Her smile transformed into a flash of a grin that showed too much teeth to be comforting to anyone outside of their line of work. Her steady gaze mesmerized him into remaining still as she straddled his hips in a move that was both innocent and seductive.

"Do you hear the song still, Shepherd?" she whispered as she leaned in close. "The People are singing. There are so many with broken faith, so many who could use a shepherd. Can you hear their cries, hidden in these walls? Or did you close your ears when you turned your gaze away?"

"I never looked away," he replied, knowing that it was his greatest shame and that his interrogator already knew it. "I never could."

"Dance with us, Shepherd, in the Valley of Death," the girl commanded. "The Shadow was blackened and took the bad soul with it. Evil must fear for the Light has been found and freed to shine once more. Will you dance with us?"

"How do I find you?"

She gave him a teasing lick on the nose before hopping away. Before he could maneuver himself into a sitting position she was at his window. The moonlight silhouetted her for a brief moment and then she was gone with all the sound of a stalking cat. Whoever had trained her had every right to be proud, even if she spoke only in code. He had no real idea where he was going tomorrow, but he was more than ready to face the world again.

He found himself wandering the Eavesdown Docks less than half a day later. He didn't know why he was there beyond a vague hope of righting all the wrongs he had done in his lifetime. He had stared down death so much that even the last decade spent in the serene surroundings of the Abbey had barely brought him onto an even keel. The girl was calling him back into the world, but amongst the shouting and demanding crowds of the Docks, her voice was easily lost. It was tempting to return to the Abbey, to hide away once more.

"You're gonna come with us," declared a happy voice. Turning back to the ship he had just looked away from, he saw the speaker—another slip of a girl but as different from his midnight visitor as day was from night. She was cheerfully sunny, and he could feel the warmth of her personality as easily as breathing. It took longer than he'd like to process her words.

"Excuse me?"

"You like ships," she said, barely hesitant over her observation with the chirpiness of youth. "You don't seem to be looking at the destinations. What you care about is the ships—" Her smile filled with pride. "—and mine's the nicest."

"She don't look like much," he countered teasingly. He did like the look of both the girl and the ship. The girl had a point when she mentioned that her ship was the nicest. The Eavesdown Docks were not known for their high-end carriers, which made the obviously worn but lovingly repaired ship the best one in the Docks currently. The girl's smile was crooked when she replied.

"Oh, she'll fool ya." A beat of silence flowed between them as the girl twirled her parasol. "You ever sail in a Firefly?"

"Long before you were crawling," he returned, feeling the weight of his long years for a moment. She was painfully young and her hopeful naivety stabbed at him like a knife. Her face froze momentarily as if he had just insulted her. It was wrong that she was not smiling but he could not take back his words. He offered a bit of history to compensate her. "Not an aught-three though. Didn't have the extenders. Tended to shake."

She rose with an awkward grace that only the young truly had. She approached him with her parasol spinning hypnotically. He felt the weight of someone watching him. There were too many eyes and he could not look around to see if one of the sets belonged to his midnight visitor.

"So, uh, how come you don't care where you're goin'?"

"Cause how you get there is the worthier part," he said with a wry twist of his lips. It had been a lesson hard won and far too long in coming. The girl watched him with sad eyes as if she knew the cost of those words.

"Are you a missionary?" she asked softly. Despite how long he had been lying, he couldn't bring himself to do it again, not to this ray of sunshine.

"I guess. I'm a shepherd from the Southdown Abbey—Book," he said. He offered his hand in a gesture he had since become unaccustomed to giving. He had stolen the name, but it was the only one he had anymore. "I'm called Book."

"Well, I'm Kaylee and this here's Serenity." Kaylee gestured to the ship behind her. Memories flooded him for all that he was not there that day—when the Alliance rained down fire upon the abandoned Independents. He had seen the remains and that was more than enough. The Battle of Serenity Valley had been the last of a long bloody war. Many a man's faith had died that day, when ideals were abandoned. What should have been a place of peace had turned into a bloodbath—a dark valley full of death. A Valley of Death. The buzzing in his ears almost drowned out Kaylee's next words. "And she's the smoothest ride from here to Boros for anyone who can pay." She paused as if just remembering an important criterium. "Can you pay or—"

"Well, I've got a little cash and, uh—" He reached into his stack of worldly possessions for what he figured would be the perfect bribe. Kaylee's eyes lit up predictably at the sight of the fresh strawberries he had picked just that morning from the Abbey's gardens. In truth, he could have easily afforded the passage with the bills he had stashed away, many times over, but hearing the girl's wondrous appellation towards him, he knew that this guaranteed not only passage but loyalty. He was teasing when he corrected the title she used. "I never married."

Her answering grin showed no confusion but maintained the same easy affection. Regardless of the missing visitor, he was certain that this was where he was needed the most. He could almost hear the voices of the long-lost soldiers singing as he boarded the ship with his little cart of goods and his sole suitcase. It didn't matter if it was a dirge or a hymn, only that it was serene.

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Shiny Edges

"Do you have room for four passengers?"

Kaylee forced her eyes away from where the shepherd had disappeared into the shadows of the cargo hold. The good shepherd had an air of sorrow about him, same kind as the captain, and it made her heart hurt. But she was to get paying passengers and here was a golden opportunity. The girl's clothing was lovely—almost too beautiful for the dusty heat of the Docks but practical in a way that Inara's finery wasn't. A dark blue shawl covered her black hair and slim shoulders despite the heat, and her boots disappeared under her floaty skirt—the boots were heavy like Zoe's, more than easily capable of a march over rough terrain. The girl was beautiful but it was a dangerous beauty like that of a venomous snake or a hunting cat. Kaylee could see the deadliness of her in the way that she held herself—so much like Zoe despite the lack of obvious weaponry.

"The Serenity can handle that many, but I don't think we're offerin' a group discount."

"We're not asking," the girl returned with a smile. She stepped closer and it took more will than Kaylee cared to admit to keep from backing away. The girl hesitated as if she could sense Kaylee's instinctual fear. Her head cocked to the side like the hounds back home would do when they were confused. After a beat, she straightened and bringing her palms together, offered a bow instead of coming any nearer. "This girl is called Shuĭ. My companions are bringing gifts befitting such a noble vessel." She released the bow to look past Kaylee, examining the ship. A tiny smile played with her thin lips. "Serenity is such a prized quality, after all, even when darkened by sorrow. This girl has heard one never leaves even when one does."

Shuĭ rocked from her toes to her heels and back again. Her shawl slipped off her head, revealing a riot of dark curls that fluttered in the hot breeze that weave its way through the Docks. Kaylee could see that Shuĭ truly was a girl, probably only sixteen or so, which made the aura of danger just wrong. To cover up her unease, Kaylee continued making the arrangements for their trip. It was nice to have some honest business for once.

"So, four rooms, then?"

"Just three, I think," Shuĭ said after a moment's thought. She turned suddenly, bringing Kaylee's attention to a man approaching from the direction of the shops. "Xīng, trouble?"

"I don't think so, but Bucky said he had something to take care of and not to worry. Your brother is a few minutes behind with the things you said were necessary. You gonna share why you need a compression coil? Because I don't understand and Bucky refused to explain."

His accent was soft compared to some others Kaylee had heard in her time traveling on the Serenity, giving just bit of a burr to the edges of his words. It was very attractive, especially in combination with the man's handsome face. His blond hair was cut close to his head and his eyes were the exact shade of the sky back on her home world. Beyond all that handsomeness, he had said the magic words, at least they were magical to the mechanic.

"You're bringing aboard a compression coil? And it's for Serenity?"

"Gift," the girl confirmed. She hummed a little, barely audible in the din of the crowd. Kaylee could hear Serenity's answering purr in that spot within where machines just spoke to her. Kaylee wasn't smart, not like Wash or Zoe with their Academy training or Inara with her Companion training. She didn't need any fancy learning to know that the girl was dangerous and balanced on the edge of a knife. She also knew that her girl wanted this girl and things may not always be smooth with her aboard, but she'd be good for them.

So Kaylee threw her arms around the dark-haired girl's neck as she would one of her brothers back home, not missing how Shuĭ's companion had surged forward as if to fend off an attack. Kaylee didn't know if she was happy that the girl had inspired such loyalty or sad about what it meant that Xīng had such protective instincts over the girl—it was so much like how the Captain and Zoe could be on the bad days. Kaylee gave the man an understanding smile over Shuĭ's shoulder, unwilling to let go until the girl hugged back. Kaylee understood machines; they just spoke to her sometimes, without saying a word. People are like machines, too, just harder to fix if they got broke. Slowly, the girl raised her arms to return the embrace and the triumph tasted like Granny's apples, sharp and sweetly delicious.

Kaylee liked the quartet that filled out their roster for the trip. The girl and the blond had been joined by Shuĭ's brother Simon and another man whose eyes tracked the blond like Zoe's did with Wash when she was stressed or there was trouble. Simon wore finery similar to Inara's and it marked him as a classy type just the same as Inara's did. He was clearly more used to comfort and quiet than the rough quarters he found himself in now—but he hovered protectively over his mèi-mei even more that the other men did. If Kaylee was honest, she was half-sweet on him already and ruing the day when they'd reach Boros.

The blond—Xīng was what Shuĭ called him—also hovered over the girl but unlike Simon, he kept out of the way usually, giving her space without appearing to think about it—like how the Captain did Zoe and Kaylee's heart was hurting again over it. Xīng didn't hesitate to help with any heavy lifting that needed to be done, like he was used to just doing what needed to be done. His clothes were similarly practical—he dressed like Jayne, really, all fitted pants and pullovers. His smile was crooked and charming but hardly ever reached his eyes. That was like her Captain, too.

To round out the group was possibly the scariest man Kaylee had ever seen. Despite being even bigger than Jayne, Bucky had a knack for blending into shadows all quiet-like. He would stay out of the way and never offered to help shift things as the group's effects were stowed and organized. Considering the way he wore the simple hanfu that covered him, Kaylee wasn't surprised. There may have been bulk in the tucked panel, meaning his left arm was still there, but Kaylee knew plenty of men back home who kept bits that didn't work completely, just so long as they weren't problems. (Kaylee didn't ask what had happened—not after the girl had called him wŭshì as if it was as much a title as a name. They all looked too young to have served in the Unification War, on either side, but that didn't stop them from having the look of having gone through a war.) Bucky didn't hover over Shuĭ, but Kaylee had noticed how the pair could synchronize without a word between them or any signal that Kaylee could pick up, so maybe he didn't need to. If Xīng was like the Captain, then Bucky was their Zoe, all dark and dry and dangerous.

They didn't give their last names, and the Captain didn't ask. It was like that out here in the black, Kaylee had found. People took to the sky to get as far from something as they could, usually. So everybody understood not to be pushy for the 'mets of those there just for a while. Kaylee used to do that with petting the curs back home. A body had to let them come closer on their own because pushing would only make them run away, even attack if they were in a pack. Kaylee understood that kind of mentality, understood that some families weren't made by being born to them. Serenity's crew were a family, after all, even with all the bickering and threats.

Later, when the passengers had been gathered into the galley for the Captain's welcoming speech, Kaylee could see the tension between them all. It was like watching the dogs circling each other back home—no one willing to be violent-like but testing each other just the same. Kaylee felt very outnumbered in that room, right then. With Wash on the bridge and Inara still in her shuttle, the only other person who didn't ooze restrained danger was Simon, who held still himself like he was expecting a fight to break out at any moment. Despite coming separate from the quartet, the Shepherd kept a weather eye on the girl as well, though he was more subtle-like about than the Captain. Zoe stood behind the Captain, gun in clear display in her thigh holster but her arms crossed like she couldn't reach it in less than a moment if needed. Jayne was the picture of relaxation as he sat at the table using his largest hand-knife to clean his nails. Occasionally, he'd look at Bucky or Xing with the squinty look he thought was intimidating.

"The way I hear it," Mal began after finishing his appraisal of the group, "is that in addition to payin' with cashy goodness, y'all are giving Kaylee a compression coil—used but just barely, almost like new even."

"No," Shuĭ denied. Kaylee felt herself droop in disappointment. Her girl really needed that coil. Simon made a noise in his throat like he was choking and Xīng gave him a helpful thump on the back. Bucky didn't react at all. The girl flashed Kaylee a smile, like they were sharing a joke. "I'm giving Serenity the compression coil. Kaylee's her handler."

"And what are you gonna want in way of compensation?"

"Same as you," she answered solemnly, as if the words held extra weight to them that required special handling. "Not to have to jump. To not lie down. To be too damn pretty. To make them choke on their words." Her eyes were growing hazy as if she was looking at something farther away than Mal's paling face. Zoe came to attention behind the Captain, arms unfolding to allow one to drop to her gun. Xīng shifted in preparation of defending the brunette. Jayne stopped cleaning his nails to watch the potential action. "To run, but crawlin' will do—"

"Shuĭ," Bucky interrupted. For all its softness, the word was sharp. The girl immediately went silent and so still she didn't even seem to be breathing. Kaylee had never seen Mal so angry. Zoe only looked thoughtful, her dark eyes examining the girl. Bucky's gaze stayed focused on Shuĭ while Xīng kept watching Mal and Zoe. The shepherd had his hands folded and pressing against his stomach while Simon looked like he wanted to hover some more but was holding back.

"Look, I don't know what you're playin' here," Mal snapped after a beat of silence, "or where you heard that stuff, but you best be stoppin' the game now. Dŏng ma?"

"The girl understands but does not comprehend," Shui replied, clearly confused about something. Kaylee watched as the girl turned to look at Bucky for the first time, even though doing so put her back to Jayne. Her tone was flat when she spoke. "Wŭshì?"

"They're secrets, Shuĭ," he replied. "Yours or not, remember you carry 'em, not the other way. Don't drift."

It was the most Kaylee had heard him speak since arriving. He had the same burr to his words as Xīng but there were strange edges to other words. It was like he spoke too many languages for his accent to be only one. There was a doctor who traveled through her town a few years before she joined Serenity's crew—he and the woman with him sounded the same way. Shuĭ spun to focus on her.

"She's seen them—Lí and Qízhì."

Kaylee had never seen eyes like hers before. It seemed wrong that they should be so empty and yet so full at the same time. Deep inside, Kaylee could hear Serenity weeping like she was being torn apart. Shuĭ's eyes swelled like the sky above the Frye family farm on a hot summer night. Kaylee felt like she was tilting forward off the cliff that the local kids liked for diving. Then Mal spoke shattering the effect.

"Huh."

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To be continued
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