Mel found himself meandering a bit on the market street in Whitfall’s main town. Kaylee and Simon were searching for supplies for Serenity and Zoë was with River on provision duty. Jayne was on watch and Mel found himself with a bit more time on his hands than he was used to. Just for once things had gone smoothly with his delivery to Patience, probably since he had met her here in town and she seemed glad to get whatever was in the three crates – for all he knew it was feminine frippery, if it had been ammunition he might have been shot again. He stopped in front of a whatnot dealer and began to flip through a pile of prints of places in the ‘verse. He picked up one and let out a low curse. “Ding gow ….” He was staring at an aerial photograph of “Skylar Ranch – Shadow” He tossed the price to the merchant and walked off with a tiny bit of his past under his arm. Zoë and River brought in the boxes of provisions and began to unpack them in the galley – they didn’t even notice Mel in the seating area, lost in thought at he stared at the photograph until River dropped a can that rolled over to his chair. She peered over his shoulder and then studied the captain as she retrieved the tin of peaches. “It’s not right, it’s not like that” “Hey little albatross, I didn’t hear you come in. Zoë, you here too?” He called over to the galley. Zoë stepped over toward the far end of the table “Here sir, we got a few fine fixing’s for supper and – hey, what have you there?” “A rare antique –a true an actual view of my past.” He stood and walked to the galley. “Sir, I didn’t think that really existed.” “Zoë, I did come from somewhere you know – not that it exists anymore and I never knew this view was captured.” He set the print on the table. “River’s right – that place ceased to be close to the beginning of the war.” Zoë and River took a long look at the print – a blue lake stretching out and meeting the sky – a picturesque main house, outbuildings and fencing down the side of the mountain, almost looking like toys. “They broke it. They broke it Captain and you are the only one left to tell the tale.” River looked troubled as she traced her finger across the image, from the rim of the lake down to the buildings and beyond. “How true, how true you are,” he stood and began to help put out the provisions.

Later that evening, sitting on his bunk he stared at the image he had affixed to the bulkhead. While drifting off to sleep memories long buried circled in his brain. Riding the fence and the house filled with hands and visitors during market week. His mother’s cobbler and other smells coming from the kitchen. Staring at the stars and learning the names of the constellations with his brothers. Leaving home for school on Ariel. It had been a warm day for early spring on Shadow and he, Dan and Ceryl, and Jen had celebrated the end of the term – graduation for him from Ariel’s school of agribusiness and commerce. He convinced them to climb with him to Table Rock to watch the sunrise – he’d provide the caf and treats. The stars were beginning to wane as they settled themselves on the rock. He suspected that Dan was considering settling down with Ceryl from the way they sat together. Jen asked for a mug of caf – and he realized he had left the tucker in the back of the mule at the trailhead. Apologizing to all and promising a quicker trip than the original - he sprinted down the trail – stopping just a moment to notice the pale pink edging the horizon as he grabbed the food. He‘d just reached the first turn back up when he heard what sounded like the boom of thunder, a rumble in the ground and then a sharp crack! The rest moved in super slow motion – the feeling of slipping – the sound of water roaring in all directions and the shriek and silence from above. He could only turn and see the rain of destruction continue down the side of the mountain – straight down and onto his home – without a blink to warn a soul. After a pause he found himself along the edge of the slide – slipping, tumbling and rolling toward the flats west of the ranch. He found himself near Ceryl – no sign of Jen or Dan, and she wasn’t long for the world. She held a bit of plastic case in her hand. “Someone was watching this, not the hand of God but the hand of man Mel" She gasped "done to us.” He had held her as she slipped. He searched and called for about an hour in the debris field to no avail. Finding his mule still parked at the trailhead, he'd headed for Mile city – the closest settlement and spaceport. Malcom Reyonolds enlisted in the Independents that very afternoon and had never looked back.

When he awoke he found that bit of plastic he’d saved. Perhaps River was right, time to figure beyond the official explanation of “Terafom fault” Time for some hunting.