Before we start, I have a couple things I want to say –

One. I could not have done this without my alpha/beta/gamma betas (yes, there are three, bask in their glorious plurality). Silvy, Duo, Sarah – I owe you my life and this story, and also possibly my firstborn child.

Two. I have this idea in my head of getting really rich and giving Joss Whedon a ridiculous sum of money and saying, "GO." When that happens, I may very well end up owning part of Firefly, but for now… well, I have a part time job.

The New Freedom

Ch. 1

"Now, what'd you say that was? A moose?"

Krayner puffed out his chest and shoved his thumbs through his belt loops, mustache bristling with pride.

"Yup. Used to roam all over Earth-That-Was, I guess. I picked up this here beauty for a steal – a positive steal – of 130,000 credits from a fella on Ceres. This here moose-head is a good 200 years old, had Monty put it up here 'cause I ran outta wall space."

"Huh."

Mal gaped up at the stuffed monstrosity mounted on the wall. Inara, arm laced delicately through his, smiled beatifically at the oil tycoon in front of them and gestured towards it gracefully.

"Surely, Mr. Krayner, there cannot be two of such a thing in all the universe." Only the slight tilt of a perfectly shaped eyebrow betrayed her as less than enraptured.

Krayner bared a gap-toothed grin at her. "Well now, you can just call me Max. Don't like being any more formal than we have to."

Mal tore his attention from the thing's hypnotic glass eyes and once again focused on the man in front of him. "Well, ain't that nice. Good to see there's still such a thing as friendly folk round these parts."

"Think nothing of it! Speaking of," Krayner added, surveying the somewhat run-down saloon around them, "what brings you to 'these parts'? Don't get many visitors these days, most just swing right by to Persephone."

"Well, my ship decided it felt like taking the scenic route, all on its lonesome. We're grounded for a few days, but we'll be out of your hair soon enough."

"Now, now, there's no need to go rushing off! This town ain't got much to offer in the way of fancy entertainments, but I've got one or two attractions that might make your stay a bit more bearable."

Inara, who had been quietly studying the decapitated moose, graced him with a glowing smile. "Thank you for your kind offer, Max. We've had something of a trying journey, but we'd be honored to pay a visit tomorrow morning…?"

"That does sound nice," Max replied, stroking his moustache with an ill-concealed leer. "Y'all feel free to stop by whenever suits your fancy. My home is your home."

Mal's face broke into a cat-canary smirk Inara knew all too well. She sighed and shifted her grip on his arm.

"I am very glad to hear that, Max. We'll be stopping by."

--

"How'd it go?"

Zoe was waiting in the doorway when the hatch lowered, arms crossed over her chest. Mal strode past her into the cargo bay. "It went good. We got ourselves an in. Kaylee got that tracking device up and running yet?"

"Just about."

Inara drifted up towards her shuttle with a brief smile at Zoe. She'd been quieter lately, almost passive, and she didn't rile at Mal near the way she used to. It was enough to make Zoe wonder, but she'd never been one for girl talk – that was more Kaylee's forte. Having rationalized a course of non-action, she followed Mal into the dining room.

"So what's the cargo this time?" Book asked as he chopped the carrots he'd picked up at the market. Mal breezed past him to his bunk, jerking off the bow tie as he went. Zoe shrugged at the Shepard.

"Didn't he say something about a 'kerry-bow'?" Wash asked as he considered an apple carefully. Zoe leaned on the back of his chair with a smile.

Book raised an eyebrow. "Caribou? But they died out, before we even left Earth-That-Was."

"Frozen." River's voice rang out in the short pause.

"Hm?" Book – much like the rest of them – had gotten used to muddling through River's cryptic statements.

"Men like marshmallows." She puffed up her cheeks for emphasis and hugged her arms. "They need to feel warm again. Is there hot chocolate?"

Book blinked, perplexed. "I… perhaps we've a packet or two hidden amongst the coffee. Do you want some?"

River gave him an Are-You-Stupid? look usually reserved for Simon in his more ridiculous moments. "Not now."

"…oh." Book set the kettle back down.

"Have to save it. For later. For when we're marshmallows." She stalked out, leaving Book, Wash and Zoe staring after her in confusion.

"So, wait, when she says we're gonna be marshmallows, does she mean fat?" He looked up at Zoe anxiously. "You won't get fat, will you, honey?"

"I'm more interested in this caribou." Book interrupted. "Zoe, what do you know about it?"

She perched on the arm of Wash's chair, hand resting on his shoulder. "What do you know about Boreas?"

"Boreas? Not much." Book shrugged. "It's one of the outer planets, supposedly very cold. Why?"

"Not just very cold," Wash cut in, "freezing. Constantly. Almost year round, a couple of weeks for sunshine, then it goes straight back to frozen rock. Something wrong with the atmo generator, right pumpkin?"

Zoe nodded. "Exactly. There were some miner types dumped down there early on, and they've managed to do for themselves. One or two got really wealthy off of the iron deposits."

"So how does an extinct species fit into all this? For that matter, how do we fit into all this?"

"Do you know what taxidermy is?" Zoe asked. Book shook his head.

"'s dead animals, is what," Jayne chimed in as he entered the room, thumping into a chair. "Uncle used to be real keen on stuffing up coyotes 'n the like. Gave me the heebie jeebies."

"And these… stuffed animals, they serve what purpose exactly?"

"They used to be used as hunting trophies," Zoe answered. "Kill an animal, cut off its head, stuff it and mount it on your wall, and you've got–"

"Manliness on a plaque." Wash said knowingly, tapping his nose. Jayne looked interested.

"Later on, people started putting 'em in museums," Zoe continued, shooting her husband an exasperated look. "Sort of getting close to nature without the nature part, and instead of just the head, you'd get the whole animal."

"Amazing," Book said, sitting down opposite Wash and Zoe. "And they last? They don't decay?"

"Well, we're not saying they're not gonna be in bad shape, but this guy Kraynar keeps pretty good care of his toys. Plus, these things were freeze-dried, way back when – as long as it's been kept dehydrated, this thing should be pretty intact."

"Should be?" Jayne looked disgusted. "Hell, I ain't hauling around no rotting kerry-boo, job or no job."

"Well, don't you go worrying about that, Jayne." Jayne twisted his head to stare at Mal as he tramped down the stairs. "From all reports, this thing's looking pretty good."

"I must ask – what does the client want with this… freeze dried caribou?"

Zoe answered for him. "Most of that planet's money is made on mining, but every year it's getting harder and harder to find new deposits. Nothing grows on that planet; there's nothing to feed a herd even if you could keep one from freezing to death."

"Our guy's aiming to clone this caribou, make somethin' that can live on that planet," Mal cut in. "On Earth-That-Was, these things lived in ice most of the year round. They're built for the environment, just gotta get 'em started again. Now, where is that feng le mechanic of mine? Kaylee!"

"Try the engine room, Mal. Where she always is," Inara said, gliding past him into the room. Mal gave her a strained look – something Zoe had been seeing a lot more of lately – and disappeared.

At the table, the conversation had moved on to taxonomy – No, no, Wash was saying, that's when you name things, it's entirely different ­– but Zoe's eyes were still on Inara. With a thoughtful squeeze to her husband's shoulder, she stood and followed Mal out.