A/N: Okay, so for those who read and enjoyed Born To Be Wild and its sequel, I will definitely be writing at aleast a third part if not a fourth as well for that series; however, this has been bouncing around in my head since I recently re-watched Jaynestown and it just had to be written! So, here is the re-write of the Teaser and Act One, three more acts to follow. Bear with me, because these two parts aren't the most interesting ever, but the rest of the fic will be, I promise ;-)
Disclaimer: Firefly and all recognisable characters belong to Joss Whedon and other important persons that aren't me.
Teaser
As the crew of the Serenity walked down the ramp and faced the view of Canton laid out before them, no-one was particularly impressed with what they saw, or smelt for that matter.
"Well, Canton really, really stinks" said Simon pointlessly, as if anyone needed telling!
Mal pretty much ignored him as he explained the particulars of the job.
"Kessler's our man, he's holding the goods we're to deliver. We go in, we make contact. Easy peasy" he told his crew, turning to Zoe he continued, "Zoe, you're holding down the fort. Call ahead to Bernoulli, tell him we'll have his merchandise there end of the week" he told her at which she nodded her agreement.
"Don't I usually stay with the ship?" her husband asked with a slight frown as he glanced between Zoe and Mal who rolled his eyes.
"It's a simple job" he sighed, "You both have a hankerin' to stay behind, you do it, doesn't bother me none" he told them, as the couple looked at each other with a gaze that said they certainly wouldn't be bored alone together.
"Hey, Cap'n?" Kaylee piped up then, "Don't you think Simon should come with us?" she suggested, as the others looked a little uncertainly at the mechanic and doctor both, "You said yourself this was an easy one, and he's got to get a little outlaw field experience sometime" she shrugged, unable to say anything else she might've used as a reason, as River ran down the ramp to stand between them.
"Yes, we agree" she said with the biggest grin on her face, "We both should go, see the sights, learn of this mud making procedure" she smiled widely as Mal looked vaguely amused by her enthusiasm.
"Er, this ain't a family picnic, nyen ching-duh" he told her, scratching the back of his head as he looked back at her, "We got us some business to do"
"Won't get in the way" she promised, "Besides, Simon is more qualified to pose as a buyer here" she told the Captain plainly, "Lily-white and pasty with fancy clothes - looks like a man of business with money" she pointed out.
"River!" Simon was indignant at his sister's way of describing him and yet she looked honest and innocent as ever she had as she looked back at him without a hint of a smile now.
"Huh" Mal looked thoughtful a moment, "Could be your sister has a half decent plan there" he nodded, as he looked the Doctor over, "Should've thought of it my ownself" he considered, "Fine, the Doctor and River come with me, Kaylee, and Jayne. Preacher, I assume you're happy enough stayin' behind with Wash and Zoe"
"Yes, I shall revel in the peace and quiet for a while" Book smiled amiably as the crew parted company at last.
"Now we gotta take the Doc and the Crazy girl on mission?" grumbled Jayne as he stomped down the ramp, fastening his hat and goggles on tight for fear of being recognised here, "Day keeps gettin' better and better"
* * * * *
Simon had seemed like a good choice to pose as the boss making a deal for mud, but under the pressure the boy cracked too easy. Even River had found it amusing, though she, along with Kaylee, had assured her brother he did just fine.
"Boy's gonna get us killed" muttered Jayne to Mal, clearly less than impressed by the boy's performance, "Let's just do the deal and git" he suggested, something that River clearly overheard.
"Jayne-man's disguise is drawing much more attention than brother's shameful acting skills" she noted, wide eyed and innocent even as the mercenary turned and glared at her.
It didn't bother River. She knew very well what went on in Jayne's head, sometimes a little more than she needed to know, but that was fine. He acted like he hated her and Simon, and perhaps where her brother were concerned that were true, but River knew very well that whilst her fugitive status and crazy outbuurts made Jayne Cobb nervous, her physical appearance was at least alluring to him. Strangely, of all the crew, he was her favourite. Somehow she knew she was safe when he was there, and the voices that crowded her head were often quieter in his company. She hadn't found a logical explanation for this yet, she just knew she liked it.
"You ain't been here in years, Jayne" the Captain was telling him, as River tuned her ears back to the conversation around her, "You really think you need that get-up? Ain't not a one of these folk gonna recall you was ever here..."
"Uh, Cap'n?" Kaylee interrupted, gesturing in front
Mal turned his head slowly around, taking his eyes off Jayne only to find a copy of the man's face staring back at him. A whole statue stood there on a pedestal, an excellent likeness in mud and clay. All the five members of the Serenity crew could do was stand and stare a long moment, before River suddenly spoke;
"Hmm, this could prove problematic..."
To Be Continued...