It was love at first sight. The luscious color drew him. He reveled in the moment he put it on; in the weight of it across his shoulders and the feeling of its hem brushing his calves. He ran his hands down the front. Smooth as silk, but much more durable.

It wasn’t just the look or the feel, though. It was what the garment represented. The practical durability of the Independents. Not flashy, but useful, sturdy and strong. Wearing it made him feel as if he belonged to something, stood for a cause. It empowered him to do what he knew was right and to stick to it to the end.

From that day forward, the brown coat became Malcolm Reynolds' second skin.