Zoe didn't like the new pilot. It just felt wrong, wrong having someone in Wash's chair and something wrong about him in general. Mal listened to her opinion and had been courteous enough not to point out that she'd said the same thing about Wash at one time.

But still there was something about him… Something that she couldn't quite place and it bothered her.

"Are you going to stare at me all day or do you have something to say to me?" The pilot, Peter, didn't look up as he said this and Zoe was reminded of River and how it felt like she already knew everything about you already.

"Kaylee says that dinners ready." It was the first thing that popped into her head and while it was true, it hadn't really been her reason for coming. "We usually eat together, especially when someone new comes on board."

Peter flipped a few switches then turn to look at her. The scar across his face struck her as incongruous with his personality and open face. His lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh and Zoe again felt like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

He walked past her and turned waiting in the doorway. "You coming?"

She nodded silently and followed him to the kitchen.

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She didn't speak to him again for two days and avoided him whenever she could, but on the third day she came into the cargo hold to find both River and Peter already there, standing side by side below her. River started speaking as soon as Zoe was overhead.

"The star is searching for the sun."

Zoe paused then started again trying to get away without being noticed

River continued in her usual incomprehensible speech patterns but in a louder voice calculated to carry up to her

"But the dark angel corrupted the bright sun. All living in darkness. Star called to the sun, blocking the angel."

Zoe paused again, knowing for certain that River wanted her here and had been waiting for her.

"Never seeing the darkness until it was too late. The sun was corrupted by the angel. All must meet again. History repeats. The hunger starts again."

Peter jerked away suddenly as if he'd been stung.

"The angel corrupts and kills. So the Star comes to River."

If Zoe hadn't guessed before she was certain now that the star River was referring to was Peter, but she failed to perceive why River wanted her here and listening.

Peter had an expression like all the universe was pressing down on him and he said in a strained voice "Will the Star see the Sun again?"

River frowned at him "Were you not listening? What does the Sun expect River to do if he doesn't listen?"

Zoe gazed down at them thoroughly confused and unsure of what was happening.

River just turned away and said "He's coming."

Almost before the sentence was out her mouth a shudder ran through the ship and alarms started going off. Then as suddenly as everything had started all the power shut off.

Wellll that was kind of short. It started out as a one shot but the plot that I had planned for it has gotten to complicated in my head and is going to take a couple chapters.... I actually know how I want this to end, which is unusual for me so I hope to finish it this time. It might end up being a PeterXZoe pairing, but I haven't decided for sure.