Serenity, eh?

"Right there."

Sal had her hands on the controls.  True to her word to Howlett, she hadn't disclosed their destination to anyone except Vanya, who was sitting beside her, watching the route they were taking.  The rest of the crew were there too, but they'd learned to shut the hell up and just go with what the captain had said.

From afar the planet had looked impassable: a tiny jungle-covered moon in an asteroid belt.  But the directions were true and now Serenity was in low orbit around the place.

"This should be fun."

From above Lady Howlett's estate looked like a small city, homes and animal barns and what appeared to be office buildings laid out in an orderly manner amongst groves, meadows, gardens, and parks. It glittered softly in the waning light, differing from most cities in its lack of glare and bustle.

The landing feild they'd been directed to was only a few meters from the main house, separated from it by a high thick sound barrier. As Serenity flew toward it a shuttle with a red cross in a circle landed and was met by a party from the house.

Vic took all this in from where he was blearily propped in the co-pilot seat, then got up and turned to walk to the door as best he could with his brains making like tidal waves in his skull.

Vanya had put the ship down on a little rim planet primarily known for its bars and its nightlife, and now Serenity stood on an out of the way patch of meadow, looking the very epitome of peace in the late morning light. Vic sprawled on his face a few feet away from the raised ramp, a smile on his hairy mug as he dreamed about the girl who'd kissed him the night before.

Inside, the motif of peace continued with Aiden and Vanya curled up on the couch and Jeimu sleeping quietly in her chair next to Joe's table in the infirmary. Sadri sprawled comfortably on her bed in her cabin.

A soft sigh came from the captain's cabin, and Kurt murmured in German and nuzzled closer to the woman in his arms without waking, a soft smile lighting his face.