Browncoats

Hiding

I keep myself holed away for the next three days, choosing to break into the rations crate rather than deplete my meager food stores. I hear the bustle of a working crew through all hours, but notice a lull for about two hours after two in the morning. On my fourth day as a stow away, I venture out of hiding during this lull and explore this magnificent vintage firefly.

This quickly becomes my routine, and over the course of the next two weeks, I learn about every nook and cranny I can get to without discovery.

***

The girl tiptoes through the hold and slides back into one of the hidden compartments, unaware of our hovering shadows following her around. I motion for Luke to join me, and we silently make our way to the galley.

"And she does this every night?" I ask as soon as the door closes behind him.

"Every night, Captain," he answers with a crease in his brow. "I didn't see her for the first three nights, but she just about scared the pants off o' me that first time she came out. I only just barely kept from alerting her to my presence. I can't believe she got the drop on me."

Neither can I. Luke is the best at recon in the entire Academy, and his awareness is unparalleled. "This little bird must have quite a lot of skill to startle you," I think out loud. "What's your gut telling you? Is she Alliance, or did we just happen to end up with the stealthiest stow-away in the 'verse?"

Luke's been keeping an eye on the girl for the past fourteen days, and I am willing to bet the lives of our crew and our passengers on his opinion. He stays silent for a minute, gathering his thoughts and I appreciate that he's taking me seriously.

"She hasn't taken anything, and she seems to have a genuine curiosity about everything she finds." His eyes light up and he grins. "When she found my candy stash, she squealed like Gabe does when you tickle him. She picked up every piece and though I could see she was tempted, she put them all back." His face goes serious again. "I don't think she's a threat, Owen, but I feel that we should 'catch' her soon. She's got wounds all over her arms, and I'd bet my next paychip that they cover more of her than I could see." I frown at this bit of knowledge.

"Doc should see her then, and I'm thinking that she's too thin. Maybe she hasn't found the rations yet?" I scratch my chin and Luke shakes his head.

"No, Captain. She found them. She's taken just a few nibbles, and I get the impression that she feels guilty for even those."

I don't bother asking how he knows this. He's Luke. He knows everything that goes on on this ship. He's our resident Spy Master. I open the cabinet and pull Luke's bag of treats out from behind the steam pipe and toss it to him after taking a black licorice candy for myself. "Find a new spot for those. North knows they're there, and if I hadn't stopped him, he'd have thrown them out the airlock this afternoon."

A little bit of color drains from his face and he shoves the bag into his vest, muttering about North's uncanny ability to find anything with sugar. I dismiss him and think about the situation as I head to take the helm from Kota.

Who is this little bird, and how do we take her in without spooking her?

I pause, as a new thought breaks through.

And why am I so fascinated by her?

***

I hear the captain announce that all passengers will be let off for a one day delay on the small resort moon of Minas. He tells them that they're being rerouted by the Alliance, and that they'll need to stop for rations and supplies before taking the new, longer route. He apologizes for the inconvenience, and promises to try and make up the time in flight.

I don't really believe him, as my hideout is filled with rations, and I have a moment of panic when it occurs to me that they might be taking the time to deliver their contraband.

My heartbeat kicks up and my breathing becomes shallow. I don't know how long I'm gripped by this paralyzing fear, but by the time I'm able to stand without the room spinning, the ship is no longer in motion, and the sounds of a cheerful group of passengers fades as they disembark.

Crud. I've got to be more on alert!

I press my ear to he removable panel and don't hear anything. I slide it away soundlessly and quietly extract myself.

"And where d'you think you're goin' little bird?" A giant dark man asks, freezing me to my spot. I lift my eyes slowly, and then lift them some more until I catch a playful gleam in his deep brown eyes. He's very handsome, and his features are slightly more exotic than I'm used to seeing. He must be from the rim, because even his accent is unusual.

"I-" my voice fails me and I let out an exasperated sigh. I tap my throat and shake my head, upset that I'm still dealing with the repercussions of my family and their twisted morality. Another handsome man steps forward, this one with blond, unruly curls and green eyes like mine. His brow is pinched with worry, and it makes me feel special, somehow.

"Your voice not working, dumpling?" He asks, and I shake my head. Maybe it's for the best, since I'd probably just launch into how handsome they are and how much I love their ship. He steps forward, and I take a matching pace away. My eyes widen when I can finally see around the giant, accented man, because there are a lot more than the two of them...there's nine!

The blond one steps closer once more, and again, I match his pace away.

"No need t' worry, Pumpkin. I'm a doctor, and I just want to get a read on you. I see lots of bruises, and some gnarly scabs-" his dancing green eyes go sad, "let me make sure you're okay."

"I'll be fine," I sign automatically when he tries to get close again.

His eyes light back up, and his hands flutter with movement much faster than I can follow.

"Slow-" I manage to rasp out of my voiceless throat, but it's enough, and he signs at a much more reasonable pace.

"I'm Dr. Sean Green, and I'd like to get you to med bay to see what's going on with that voice of yours. You're safe with us, we're the good guys."

I fold my arms across my chest and lift a sarcastic brow at him.

"Yes, because good guys have smuggler's stashes on their ships..."

I close my eyes in embarrassment, not sure where my head is right now.

A new voice interrupts my internal struggle, and I open my eyes to meet two steel grey eyes boring through my outer defenses with ease.

"I'm the captain of this Firefly, Miss. You can hear us just fine?" I nod, and he firmly grasps me under the knees into a cradle style hold. "Then you'll understand that on my ship, my word is law." His voice is hard, unwavering, but something tells me that he's one of those "still waters run deep" kind of guys. "You will go to med bay with Sean, and once he's cleared you, we will have a family meeting in the galley. You will tell us why you're here, and then we'll vote on where to go from there."

His tone leaves no room for debate, and I wonder if he heard his own contradiction. His word is law, but they'll vote? Like a democracy? What alternative reality have I landed in?

***