INT. PALADIN - HALL ADJ. TO HANGAR

Paul is dressed in a radiation suit with the hood hanging behind his back, working on the hangar entry panel, punching in codes and algorithms.

A pair of pilots round the corner and spot Paul working on the panel. They walk up, helmets in hand, curious expressions on their faces.

PILOT ONE: We heard there was a problem in the hangar. What’s…?

Paul drives a side-kick into Pilot One’s abdomen without looking up from his work. The man folds and drops to his knees, expelling a small amount of vomit. Paul fires a hook kick across Pilot Two’s jaw, the thick boot from the rad. suit jarring his head sharply to the left and spinning his body to the ground. Both men are still conscious.

PAUL: In a moment, this door is going to rise, allowing Radion emissions to seep into this hall. I suggest you two grab that dolly around the next corner and push it as far away as you can manage.

The men shakily climb to their feet. Paul points down the hall. They limp away, concerned looks between them.

Paul continues working on the panel. With a nod of satisfaction, a familiar green glow returns to the panel. Paul presses another button and the heavy door begins to rise.

INT. PALADIN - BRIDGE

The tech slams both hands down on his panel.

TECH: Sir, someone's broken the encryption! They’re opening the aft Hangar door.

MADSEN: Shame. How we looking, Powell?

POWELL (typing furiously): Twenty-five seconds.

Madsen nods.

MADSEN: Now, the only two places the exterior bay doors can be opened are Hangar Observation and here, by your voice command. So, (cocks his pistol) release Serenity.

GIBSON: No.

INT. PALADIN - HALL ADJ. TO HANGAR

Paul hits the panel again, halting the door once it’s a foot open. He flips his hood closed then jumps up and presses himself into the upper corner, digging his boots into the wall to support himself.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River flips a couple more switches, maneuvering the yoke at an odd angle. Mal’s eyes widen a bit. The view through the windshield reveals the hangar passing by from right to left at a gradually increasing speed. Within seconds the view becomes blurred.

INT. PALADIN – HALL

Paul watches as a glowing yellow cloud seeps under the door and snakes its way in both directions down the hall.

INT. PALADIN - HANGAR

Wide view of Serenity, her port engine aimed backward and partially down, her starboard engine directed forward and partially down. The ship is spinning like a top, radion emissions spiraling outward.

Serenity’s thrust begins to push the other vehicles in the hangar against their moorings. They begin to snap free and rocket into other vessels, some exploding in spectacular fashion.

INT. PALADIN - BRIDGE

Everyone on the Bridge, except Powell and Madsen, stares at the viewscreens with horrified fascination.

TECH: Radion emissions are leaking into the superstructure. Their containment is still dropping.

MADSEN (to Tech): If you attempt to seal off that zone, I’ll shoot you in the head.

The tech’s eyes widen, but his hands remain on the console, unmoving.

Gibson’s gaze shifts rapidly between Madsen and the viewscreens.

POWELL: Done, Mads.

MADSEN (single nod): Send it. Now.

Powell hits the enter key.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Mal is clinging to the console for dear life, the g-forces pulling him into the port panel. River’s legs are locked into the armrests of her seat, her hands gripping the yoke with white knuckles.

INT. PALADIN - BRIDGE

The techs look desperately at Gibson, eyes pleading.

TECH: Sir, please! This is no way to die.

MADSEN: Ah, the voice of reason.

GIBSON (staring with vehemence at Madsen): Why are you doing this?

MADSEN: Any explanation will be lost on you, sir. Suffice to say, my loyalties were decided a long time ago, the first time I was ordered to fire on a defenseless Independent town. (moves the pistol closer to Gibson’s head) You do not want to further test my resolve.

TECH (pleading): Sir…

Gibson watches the chaos on the viewscreen for another beat. His gaze shifts to the pleading looks of his crew, then down the barrel of Madsen’s pistol.

GIBSON (eyes closed): Open exterior hangar doors.

MADSEN (cold): Open them fully, or I will empty this entire clip into your brainpan.

Gibson shoots him a malevolent look, but remains silent.

EXT. PALADIN - UNDERSIDE

The mammoth underside doors open, the radiation cloud expelling along with the scorched hulks of numerous craft and miscellaneous debris. Serenity can be seen spinning just inside the hangar.

INT. PALADIN - HALL

Paul is clinging to the upper corner as the radiation cloud is sucked under the door. As the last of the yellow fog disappears, he leaps from the wall, slamming a hand into the door control panel. The door slowly begins to close as Paul fights being sucked underneath it.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

River fights the g-force and clicks the intercom.

RIVER: Kaylee, max containment, now!

INT. SERENITY - ENGINE ROOM

Kaylee struggles against the harness she’s strapped to the wall, flips a couple switches.

INT. PALADIN - HANGER

The large doors continue opening, debris billowing around the deck, the maelstrom of conflicting forces causing a storm of equipment and debris within the hangar. Pan up to Serenity continuing her revolutions at an impossible speed, her engines screaming at near full burn.

As the doors near the proper width, Serenity’s body begins to tip forward, her nose tilting toward the opening, the engines maneuvering to keep her hovering in the same position within the hangar as she continues her blazing revolutions, now looking like a huge drill bit aimed into the black.

INT. SERENITY - BRIDGE

Mal watches in amazement as the view through the windshield changes. He glances at River whose concentration is rock-steady and calm, her pretty face looking very small inside the suit hood.

INT. PALADIN - HALL

The hangar door clicks closed. Paul collapses against the wall, a big grin on his face. He then bolts down the hall.

INT. PALADIN - BRIDGE

All eyes are on the viewscreen as Serenity settles into a vertical position, still spinning like a top.

GIBSON: Activate keel weapons array!

Madsen cracks his pistol butt against Gibson’s temple. The Captain stumbles, falls to one knee. Madsen shoots the console, but is too late.

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