I don't own Firefly, nor sadly do I have the funds to get it back on the air! If I could I would...I also don't own Malcolm Reynolds, though it would be nice, even just for day ;) I hope you like my OC, I really wanted her to be different and I've tried to keep the fluff to a minimum. Of course, once they get involved that will be a little harder to do but I will try my best! I want to try and keep true to the character as much as possible, he has a cold hard exterior but I know he cares for his crew and will eventually care for the OC as well but he's still a Captain and doesn't show his feelings openly so I hope to portray that as well.
This story is based about six months before the episode where Mrs. Reynolds appears again. I really wanted to be able to include the naked Mal scene, who wouldn't! And I wanted to put a funny twist on it that involves the new character. Besides the chapter involving that episode, the rest will be independent chapters. It will have mentions of the Miranda incident, I'd really like her to be involved in the Serenity movie but I don't want this story to become a script turned story with all the lines from the movie. So I think there will be a chapter stating what has happened and what went through their minds etc. but the majority will be set after Serenity and be independent.
I have rated this T because although there isn't much swearing in the literal sense, there are words that are used in the Firefly 'verse that mean swear words in English, not to mention the curses in Chinese!
Anyway, I really hope you enjoy the first chapter and I hope you will review if you like it and want to know more. There IS more to come!
Alae-megallen
The dead of night shrouded Persephone in shadow. The milky glow of a waxing crescent overhead licked at dark alleys, casting them in a sickly dim glow. The streets were almost empty, a couple of drunken passerby stumbling slightly but continuing on in silence, eager to get home. The air was warm and thick, summer's on Persephone were hot and humid and even a few cold ales did little to alleviate the heat.
A lone female figure moved warily in the shadows of the buildings, keeping out of sight and edging soundlessly in the direction of the Eavesdown Docks, a hand kept at her pistol at all times, awaiting trouble. Sweat beaded across her face and the small heavy duffle at her shoulder pinched at her muscles as she adjusted it with her hand. Her name was Kali. At five foot eight, she stood tall for a woman and her stern, sharp amber eyes did little to soften her face. Kali had dark brown hair, its length pulled half off her face by a leather band as the rest of the waves curled languidly around her shoulders. She wore heavy black boots and brown long slacks, a white cotton shirt showing beneath the open front of her long, earth green jacket.
Kali kept moving, her eyes had finally completely adjusted to the dark now and she could just make out the large bulking shadow of the Firefly class ship settled just beyond the docks, the cargo door slightly ajar letting a small beam of light filter out into the dark. She crept along the outskirts of the nearest dock, the sounds of water lapping gently against the harbour somewhat comforting even as she stalked the vessel that held what was rightfully hers.
Those gorram fools!
Kali finally reached the rough looking form of the firefly cargo ship, automatically pulling the long barrel pistol from her holster and aiming it ahead of her, her eyes darting frantically as she searched for any of the crew loitering around the ship. She let out a soundless breath, having swept the entire area with no one in sight. Kali knew they would have left someone aboard to guard the ship, so she kept her gun trained ahead of her and eased open the small cargo door slowly, keeping her body planted firmly against it as she rounded the corner and into the ship. She blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the light around her as she swung to check behind the door before ensuring the cargo hold was empty and dropping her bag in a secure, hidden place.
Kali edged further into the ship, her footfalls quite and concise as she ascended the stairs and rounded the corner, checking for signs of life. She turned to her right, noticing a lone figure in the cockpit seated in the pilot's chair, his back to her as he hummed something softly beneath his breath. Kali quirked her eyebrow upwards when she noticed he was setting up a dinosaur figurine collection on one of the consoles before she cocked her gun. The man swivelled in his chair, his eyes wide like saucers as he stared down the barrel of her gun, swallowing hard.
"Uh, hi." He fumbled, a petrified grin flashing across his face before his expression grew serious again. He was a handsome man, if in a sort of strange, quirky way. His blond mop of hair stuck up haphazardly on his head and he was wearing a bright flower covered shirt.
"Where's the Captain of this here junkard?" Kali started simply, her gun still trained steadily toward the Pilot's head.
"Serenity ain't-" The man began but stopped himself short when she raised her eyebrow sternly and placed the barrel of the gun against his brow.
"Uh, what I meant to say is...he ain't here." -
"You don't say." Kali retorted, her expression annoyed. She rolled her eyes when the man merely thinned his lips and remained nervously silent. It was obvious he wasn't going to tell her any more, his loyalties were definitely with this ship and its foolish Captain.
"I'm gonna tie you up now." Kali explained simply, her tone light and matter of fact as she pulled a thick roll of duct tape from her coat and grabbed for his hands. He jumped forward suddenly, wrestling with her for purchase of her gun before Kali gained the upper hand, a swift fist in the gut making the man double over with a wheeze before she knocked him down, the barrel of her gun colliding with his temple before he grew still. Kali grimaced and got to work, wrapping thick wads of the tape around his wrists and ankles before slapping a piece roughly over his mouth. Kali stood up and exited the cockpit, gun in hand as always as she planned her ambush. She hid herself behind the joint in the cargo door, swinging it back into position so that it was only open a crack before readying herself and waiting patiently.
Fourteen minutes went by before the sound of muffled voices pricked Kali's ears and she turned her head toward the door, cocking her head to better hear what they were saying.
"Aiya Wash. Leavin' the rutting door open again! That man ain't right in the head!" A male voice pronounced, his tone slightly slurred from a few too many ales. Kali was not fooled though, his footfalls were steady and even and he was the first to step through the small space created by the open door.
The Captain, then.
Kali moved quickly, her gun raising in an instant to barely within an inch of his head before she cocked back the hammer and motioned for him to move further into the cargo hold.
"You're the Captain of this here heap of luh-suh, I assume." Kali spoke, the rest of the crew freezing as they entered the ship except for one bulky looking man who pulled a hefty looking rifle from his side and trained it at her face.
"What the gorram hell do you think you're playin' at, missy!" The Captain growled, his eyes dark and his expression stern. He spoke through his teeth, his anger and protectiveness of his crew as easy to read as an open book. And vice versa.
"What the hell am I playin' at? You're the one who stole my damn cargo!" Kali retorted, her voice impatient and annoyed.
"Gwai-gwai long duh dong, woman! We ain't stole no gorram cargo!" The Captain replied, his eyes filled with blind rage. It was obvious he didn't enjoy someone hijacking his boat and threatening him at gun point. Kali smirked and gestured behind him.
"Then what are those there crates, hmm?" She asked teasingly, the click of a gun making her eyes shoot up.
"Drop it, hero. Or your pretty lil' Captain here gets a bullet between the eyes. Ya here?" Kali said, her tone and expression beyond serious. She just wanted what she came here for. Then she would leave and they'd never see her again.
"Jayne." The Captain said steadily, the stocky man having yet to drop his weapon.
"Damnit Mal!" Jayne let out a string of Chinese curse words before dropping his gun to the ground with a sigh.
"You really think I'm pretty, girly?" The Captain 'Mal' chided, a small cheeky smile lifting up his mouth.
"As pretty as a baboon's ass crack." Kali retorted with a slight smile and the Captain scowled at her spitefully.
"Now you listen here, sonny. You and your folk are gonna give me what cargo I came here for. Then I'm gonna leave. And I expect no one to try no heroics, dong ma?" She stated, never taking her eyes off the Captain. In any other situation, Kali probably wouldn't have minded seeing this man in the raw but today was all business. She just wanted her cargo back and to get the hell out of there.
"Sure thing, missy." 'Mal' said with a bright grin and Kali stared at him, confused for an instant, before a heavy weight hit the back of her head and she was forced to the ground, her pistol skidding across the metal floor and out of her reach.
"Tah mah duh hwoon dahn!" Kali cursed, getting into a crouch and staring up at Pilot hotly.
How the hell did he get free!
"I take it this here chien huo gave ya that might doozy bruise?" The Captain stated, his gun raised and gesturing to the Pilot, Wash, who smiled proudly.
"That she did, Cap'n. I don't much enjoy being hit in the head. Tends to make me violent." Wash explained, eyeing off the strange woman at his feet. 'Mal' lifted his britches so he could crouch down in front of her, his eyes like fire and Kali instantly felt nervous butterflies in her stomach. She was in real shit now.
"And I don't much like some backbirth crazy broad hijkackin' my ship and aimin' a pistol at my head. You don't know who you're dealin' with, missy." The Captain said, his voice a low growl as he stared her down.
"Chur ni-duh!" Kali spat, lunging forward to strike him. He sprang back quickly and swung his gun around, the barrel cracking her across the temple, hard. Kali fell backwards and to the ground again before she lay still.
"Women." Mal muttered with a shake of his head, replacing his gun at his hip before turning from her and sauntering away.
"Mal, you can't just leave her here!" Inara protested, gazing down at the still form of the young woman sprawled across the floor with a mighty bump forming against her temple.
"Sure I can. She wants to run-afoul on my boat like a doxy on drops then I'll treat her as such." Mal replied, his voice cold and angry. Jayne stepped around the unconscious woman, 'accidently' kicking her with his foot whilst muttering "crazy broad" before joining Mal at the bottom of the stairs.
"Whatever your opinion of her is, she still doesn't deserve to be left here like this. What if she's telling the truth? What if the cargo is hers?" Inara queried, kneeling beside the girl on the floor and brushing hair back from her face.
"She looks awful pale, Cap'n." Kaylee agreed, staring down at her with an uncertain expression. It wasn't in ground into her fibre to be violent, even to someone who had just threatened their crew.
"Or she could be fuhn pi. Lyin' out her ass like a devil woman. I ain't about to just let her roam the ship." Mal stated in irritation.
"Sir, I think you should at least secure her. Til we know what she's up to." Zoe offered as a compromise as she examined her husband's bruised head.
"Indeed she may have caused us trouble but she still deserves a chance to explain." Sheppard Book agreed, calm as usual.
"Fine." Mal said in a huff. He walked back toward her, grimacing and stamping his feet as he went, none to happy about his crew ganging up against him. He knelt down beside her, grasping her arms before pulling her up and over his shoulder. She hung limply as he sauntered up the stairs, muttering "Jayne, get the cuffs" before laying her back down against the cool metal floor of the upper level before Jayne handed him the metal handcuffs before chaining her to the railing, standing back up and brushing off his hands smugly. He noticed that both Kaylee and Inara were eyeing him quizzically, though Inara just seemed more peeved than anything.
"You can be so cold sometimes, Mal." She muttered before walking off in a huff.
"Inara!" Kaylee called, smiling softly at her Captain before chasing after her friend.
"Sweet dreams, Hu Li Jing."
