Mal looked up at the ceiling of the cargo bay, an unusual sight before his eyes. As his brain slowly processed the image he was seeing a single word escaped his lips:
'Huh?'
The day had begun like any other, with the Serenity carrying an illicit cargo of items acquired from Badger for a collector on Bellerophon (who Mal hoped was not Durran Haymer).
This cargo was a special one, a collection of relics from the 'Earth that was', otherwise known as Junk.
As Mal looked through the collection, he noted that most of the stuff was worthless tat, a bunch of old cell phones and game consoles, broken and in complete disrepair. 'Do people really pay so much money for this crap?' he asked as the crew sorted through the assorted heaps of garbage-treasure. 'The wealthy will pay for absolutely anythin' Sir,' replied his first mate Zoe, 'so long as it has heritage like this.' 'But none of this Junk works,' came the gruff voice of Jayne as he tried to get a Game Boy to work by bashing it against a crate.
'This one does,' came a voice through the carnage. River was holding an old polaroid camera in her hands 'This one still works! It wants to be used, I can feel it.' The 18 year old girl raised the camera and looked through the viewfinder. She pointed it at Mal and pressed the button atop the camera. There was a blinding blue flash of light and then a wirring noise came from the machine as it processed and printed an image of Mal.
'Ooooh, take a picture of me next,' said Kaylee, a great big smile on her face. River grinned as she pointed the camera at Kaylee. However, she stopped to wave at Inara and Zoe so that she could tell them to stand next to Kaylee. The two women complied and posed with Serenity's mechanic as River took the picture.
Mere moments later their bodies began to expand and inflate. Their clothes tore and ripped open, exposing their bodies to the shocked crew. As they inflated more and more, they began to rise like balloons and float to the top of the cargo bay.
There was a moment of silence as everyone stared at the bizarre sight.
Jayne was the first to speak 'I'll be in my bunk,' before shooting off in the direction of his quarters and leaving the mess squarely in Mal's hands.
'So... what now captain,' asked Wash, desperate to get his wife down from the ceiling. 'Ah'm thinkin' on it,' came Mal's response. 'ZOE,' he called out 'How are you doin' up there?' 'I've been better sir,' she replied. 'Would be real kind of you to hurry in your thinkin'.'
'Wash?' he asked, not removing his eyes from the situation, 'how 'bout we turn off the Grav?' 'We do that Captain and we'll all be floatin',' Wash replied. 'Ah know, Ah know,' said Mal, 'But, if we're real careful, we could bring 'em down n strap 'em to the floor.' 'What, treat 'em like cargo,' Wash cried out incredulous.
'Did he say 'treat us like cargo?' Mal, I really must protest,' shouted down Inara, incensed at the suggestion. 'Yes, ah will treat you like cargo if it means bein' able to help you. Ain't doin' no good floatin' aroun' up thar.' 'Whatever you say sir,' Zoe responded and 'Ah'm with you Cap'n,' came the voice of Kaylee who had been quite silent the entire time.
In the infirmary, Simon Tam was busy strapping down everything loose and damageable, including River. 'Let me out Simon,' she wailed, 'I want to help, I want to join them.' Simon took a long look at his sister and said 'I know you do, but I have to keep you safe. I don't want you floating off as well.' As he said that he gave her a reassuring smile.
'You all set Doc?' Mal stepped into the infirmary. 'Almost,' Simon replied, 'I Just need a couple more things.' He reached down and picked up a small selection of items. 'I'm ready.'
Together, Simon and Mal made their way to the dining room where Wash and Jayne had already gathered. 'You ever see anythin' like this before, in the Capital?' Wash asked the young doctor. 'Surprisingly, I have.' Simon replied 'Capital youths tend to have a lot of time on their hands for pranks similar to this.' 'And what is the fix, Doc? I want my crew back to normal, and soon.'
'Right. Well, the solution is to let the air out,' Simon replied. 'You mean burst 'em?' Mal asked aghast. 'No no no, nothing that dramatic, but a controlled release of the gas trapped in their bodies,' came Simon's response. 'I have prepared a demonstration,' Simon showed the men a Latex glove that he had blown up like a balloon and tied off. In his other hand he had a needle from a syringe. 'If I were to stick this needle into this balloon as it is now, it would indeed burst. But if I put some tape on the surface of the balloon and stick the needle through the tape, the balloon does not burst and the air is able to escape.' As Simon said this, he gave a demonstration, proving his point.
'And this is what you did in the capital?' Wash asked. 'Essentially, yes,' Simon replied. 'We will stick a needle into Zoe, Inara and Kaylee and then pump the gas out slowly. I have the necessary tools in my Medkit.' 'You keep the tools on you?' asked Mal. 'It happened often enough,' Simon replied with a slight grin.
A few eventful hours passed during which the plan was set in motion.
Artificial Gravity was turned off and Mal and Simon proceeded to float over to Zoe, Inara, and Kaylee and bring them down to the deck of the cargo room. Once strapped in and covered by canvas, the Gravity was switched back on. As expected, the women stayed in place.
Simon began the operation with Kaylee (for no particular reason). 'Will this hurt?' she asked him. 'You may feel a slight prick,' he replied before jabbing the needle into her taped up stomach. '神聖的睾丸' She shouted 'that hurt like 熊貓尿!'
After about 45 minutes of deflating, Simon proceeded to repeat the operation on Zoe and then Inara, all of whom swore like sailors as the needles entered their bodies.
The ordeal was all over by the time Serenity landed on Bellerophon to unload this cursed cargo and pick up Shepherd Book. 'How was Persephone?' Book asked as he boarded Serenity, 'Did much happen while I was away?'
Mal looked at the shepherd for a brief moment before replying 'Nope, nothin' worth mentionin'.'
Tags: Inflation, weightless, clothes ripping, multiple expansions, science, TV
 |
Story by Gen-Awesome |
 |
Artwork by WantedWaifus |
High resolution (3000x4650)
Click to enlarge 
