For Zoe

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The one thing that Wash had an overwhelming sensation of was dark. It wasn't as if they were in complete darkness, but it was a lot less than what he was used to, especially as he missed the sunrises you could see nearing planets on Serenity.

When they'd been released from the central customs area (which was like no customs area he'd ever seen before), he and Zoe went exploring, walking through the guest quarters, but Zoe was on edge, like he'd never seen from her for a very long time, if at all. "Zoe, sweetie. That's the fifth room we've checked now," he pointed out. They were both exhausted, but Zoe showed no signs of stopping.

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The thing about this, for Zoe, is that she's trapped. And it's a different sort of trapped - it's not stuck on Serenity for weeks on end. It's unfamiliar with too many unknowns. She doesn't know anything about the people, the station itself, or what's next. She can't plan for anything, and she hates that.

For her, the only way to get familiar with their surroundings at the very least, is to explore. And not clunky loud exploring. That's why she hasn't bothered to pair up with anyone other than Wash. After finding those lights, she'd given one to Wash and kept one for herself. It's unsettling, the way she can't see ahead as much as she'd like, and the fact that she doesn't have any sort of weapon to speak of has her more aware of her surroundings than ever.

It's like the quietest dark ops missions she'd ever gone on in the war. The ones without Mal because he couldn't keep quiet to save his life. Literally. And she knows Wash has never really seen her this way, in near combat mode, but all she can think is that it's too quiet for something to not happen soon. The other shoe's gonna drop and she might not be able to stop it, but at least she'll be ready.

"So we check the sixth room," she says back to Wash. "We check every room but a couple? Those are the couple with the nice surprises in them." She is tired, but she learned a long time ago how to compartmentalize her exhaustion and keep going.