Read: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

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Book landed the shuttle a short distance away from the crash site to avoid the debris. He laid a comforting hand on Inara’s shoulder as he passed the weeping companion on his way out the airlock. Save the injured first, console the grieving later.

As he reached the door, an odd scratching noise drew his attention back into the shuttle. He turned to see River, awake and silently terrified, scrambling away from him and clawing desperately at the far bulkhead. He glanced down at Inara, but the companion was in no condition to tend to the girl.

“It’s okay, River. I’m just going to go see to the others,” Book reassured her. “They may be hurt, and in need of –”

“no! don’t…killers…murderers…run!” River was nearly apoplectic with fear.

Book considered explaining that not all of the crew were responsible for her brother’s death; that it was the result of one grief-stricken former soldier taking refuge in anger and violence. But there were more pressing concerns than even this girl’s tenuous mental state at the moment.

As he stepped out into the barren desert, he paused to survey the damage. It was worse than he had expected. Shuttle two lay twisted and smoldering, propped up precariously against a rocky outcropping. Black, smoking debris lay everywhere. It would be a miracle if even one of the crew survived the landing.

“wait! no! don’t…don’t…” River’s frightened whimpers followed him out of the shuttle. Book pushed up his sleeves. He had better get started.

As he approached the downed shuttle, he spotted a charred figure that had been thrown clear of the wreckage. The body lay unmoving, face-down next to the half-buried remains of the shuttle’s port stabilizer. The shepherd knelt next to the corpse, noting with distaste the revolver still strapped to the man’s leg. His calloused hands clenched in frustration, Book couldn’t decide whether to pray or curse. Was this what life was like, out here?

Setting his jaw, he reached out to turn over the body –

“MURDERERS!” River was clutching the shuttle door, her wide eyes darting erratically across the broken landscape.

Book started to rise. In her condition, the girl might actually be a danger to herself. As he turned back toward Inara’s shuttle, he caught a sudden movement out of the corner of his eye. Could someone have actually survived the crash? He turned back toward the wreckage. A figure was rising slowly out of the scattered debris. On his left, another. A third to his right. More emerged from the twisted remains of the shuttle itself. Every face horrifyingly pierced, scarred, and tattooed in grotesque patterns.

“murderers” River sobbed softly.

“oh.”

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Continue to Part 7