A/N: I don't own them. Except the dinos, but only 'cause Joss and Alan did it so well.

This one is odd, and I think I'm losing my grip on the dino voices. Suggestions, anyone?

*******

Annie was inconsolable.

It was a tragic loss; a simple mistake that in hindsight was so easily avoided. Steggy had been so sure of his plan, so convinced of success. A simple matter to decompress the cargo bay and suck the lowly humans out into the void. Their weak mammalian physiology could not withstand hard vacuum, but the dinos were blessed by the cute and funny god and had no fear of decompression. Monroe and Julia had only to sneak to the cargo bay, cycle the airlock, and watch with glee as human after human succumbed to the perils of deep space. A plan so simple, so glorious that it could not fail. The laws of physics were absolute; no human meddling could thwart them.

But, oh, Monroe. Always capable, always enthusiastic, always ready to bring the fight to the oppressors with his stubby arms waving frantically in his excitement. Truly, he was a martyr to the cause. For in his moment of triumph, the glory of the battle won, Monroe raised his hands in cheer.

And forgot to hold on. Dinos were indeed immune to the cold of space, but they were still subject to the whim of escaping atmosphere.

And now Steggy was tasked with the worst of all duties for a commander: the eulogy of one of his best.

"My friends," he began, while Lucy hummed a dirge and Julia put one arm around a still sobbing Annie, "it is with a great sadness that we mourn the passing of one of our finest. Monroe was not large saurian. He was not the strongest nor the fastest. But he was our heart." Annie sobbed louder, gnashing her teeth. Julia removed her arm so as not to be bitten. "At every turn in our battles, who has been more willing, more able to do what must be done? Who among us can forget his stalwart bravery, his noble devotion, his tenderness with his comrades, his habit of grinning far too widely at inappropriate moments?"

"But he's still alive!," Annie wailed. "He is! The cold won't kill him!" She suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Steggy with her fore paws. "We must go back! We can't just leave him!"

Steggy shook his head, knowing the pain he was causing but having no choice. "I'm afraid we cannot, Annie. The lowly human oppressors still control this vessel, and despite the nurturing of our fertile land, we haven't the means of mounting a rescue." Steggy lowered his head. "We may now only watch the radar screen until he passes out of sensor range. But know this, my brethren: he will never pass from our hearts!" The other dinos lifted their heads and nodded solemnly, brave in the face of such sorrow.

Except Steve. "I may have a way, Steggy." Annie turned to him with such hope in her beady eyes that he had to swallow before continuing. "It's has a low probability of success, Annie."

"Anything!" she cried.

"Indeed, Steve. Please, give us a means to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!"

"It was during Plan M," Steve explained. "The crazy one was aware of our plan, and was able to influence the battle. Perhaps she can be called upon as part of a humanitarian mission. She holds sway with the tall one, and as he still controls the vessel, perhaps she could convince him to help."

"I appreciate your concern, Steve, but the cute and funny god was already unable to gain aide from the humans. I'm afraid that option has been closed to us."

But Annie wasn't ready to give in. "Please, Steggy. We must try," she whispered. Steve, Lucy and Julia all nodded in agreement. Steggy took a look around, swelling with pride at his troops, before issuing orders.

"Very well. We do have a saying among our people: leave no dino behind! Let no one, saurian or mammal alike, say otherwise! Steve, prepare the flag of parley and make contact with the crazy one! Our mission is far from complete!"

**

Mal continued to grumble into the comm as he hauled on the safety line, dragging River and her EVA suit back towards the airlock. River waved and held her prize aloft, allowing the anxious pilot to see his toy's fate through the window. Once all were safely aboard and Kaylee had taken custody of Monroe to slowly heat him up without cracking, Mal rounded on Wash.

"Let's get this straight. No more games in the cargo bay, 'cause the next time you 'accidentally' flush one of those gorram things out the airlock, we are NOT going back for it!"