A Bed Time 'Verse Chapter 1

Warning: This has not been beta read. Anyone with grammatical and or other general story suggestions or comments please feel free to let me know. If you like it I may just add another part to it. If you don't like it, too bad..... I'm probably going to post the next part anyway.

Spoilers: There are probably references to several if not all episodes somewhere in this thing. Mal/Inara implied, Wash/Zoe duh!, Other ‘ships possible as the story progresses.

Translations: Wang ba dan = bastard Zhu tou = pig head Chun zi = moron

“Once upon near five centuries hence. There lived a family of thieves on a grand spaceship named Serenity.”

“A spaceship? But, Mama nobody lives in space.” said a small sleepy voice.

“Hush, sweetheart, it’s part of the story. In fairy tales, you can live anywhere and do anything your heart and mind desire. Now just try and relax and listen closely to the story.”

“Mama, what’s centereeze?”

“It means many, many years in the future. In the future, there lives a family. Not a family from birth like you and I, but a family formed by strange ties that brought all of them together. A family that worked hard and played a bit too. A close-knit clan that loved and cared for each other fiercely.......”

************************************** Serenity rumbled along amidst the infinite black. The entire crew having just settled down to relax a bit after a highly unusual, but nonetheless uneventful few days.

“So, Mal, where you wanna head to next?” asked Wash lounging back in his mess chair.

“Well, we don’t have nothin’ solid lined up as of yet. Much as I hate to looks like were gonna have to get ourselves back to Persephone, ‘n hit up Badger for somethin’ worthwhile .” he said with no small amount of disdain.

“Can I hit him first?” asked Jayne smirking, earning a simultaneous unamused look from Mal and Zoe.

“Sir, I hate to remind you of what happened last time Badger “helped” us out. Possibly your not recallin’ the massive ego trip and even more massive amounts of blood. Maybe’d be better to do some researchin’ on the cortex. Surely we got contacts what can do better for us than that wang ba dan.” Zoe said.

“It's Possible your not recallin’ the load a coin that we earned with that blood. “If we can earn half that much this time ‘round I might be able to stop worryin’ about rations, and fuel and all those other captainy things for a spell.”

“Zo, honey, I reckon we could use that cut to maybe catch up on some well deserved r and r. What’s a little more danger and possible blood spillage when there’s nude beaches at stake?” Wash asked.

“You want danger, dear? I can give you danger.....” Zoe replied slowly giving in to Mal’s inevitable plan.

“All right, enough sex talk at the table. Wash, you set us course for Persephone. Zoe you try and contact Badger, see what the little chun zi might have in store for us. The rest of you do whatever it is I’m payin’ ya to do. Who knows things might even go smooth if we....

Suddenly, the ship trembled violently, lights flickered and everyone stumbled about in the midst of trying to vacate the kitchen.

“What in the name of psychotic space monkey’s just happened ?” Mal asked regaining balance with the aide of the door jamb.

“Time to go back. She sees, believes and calls us to her.” River mumbled mysteriously .

“Is everyone all right?” Simon asked as the lights returned and the ship was once again moving with a quiet hum.

“Looks like were all in one piece.” Book spoke up. Everyone nodded in assent still looking a bit shell shocked. There was a momentary silence as they all shuddered, thinking back to the last time Serenity had broken down.