It had been two weeks since the deaths of Wash and the Shepherd. The entire crew was in morning. Kaylee and Simon's new relationship was the only way that they were keeping it together. Everyone else was on their own.
Serenity was herself back in tip top condition, or as near to it as possible. She was currently on her way to Persephone for refueling and a job. Mal was on the bridge silently watching the stars pass by when he received a wave. He pushed the button and was greeted by the smiling and once again bearded face of Monty.
"Hey Mal."
"Since when do you wave anyone, much less me?"
"Since I came across someone I need you to meet."
Mal winced, "Not another wife I'm hopin.'"
Monty frowned, "Hell no. Someone you've never met and this time I'm sure you haven't met. You headed to Persephone?"
"Yeah, who is it?"
"I'll let you see that for yourself. I want you to meet them for me. Will you?"
Mal grinned. Every time Monty asked him something the giant looked like a little kid. "I guess. Have them contact me."
"No they want to just meet you."
He paused, "You sure about this guy Monty?"
"Never been sure of anything in my life."
"All right, I trust you. Where?"
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Serenity set down on Persephone three hours later. As the crew filed out Mal and Zoe were arguing.
"Sir you don't even know who this person is. It could be a trap."
"Sure could, but I like to stay positive. Besides Monty was much more than convinced."
"If your sure then I should go with you."
"Nope, want's to meet me alone."
"Oh, yeah. That sounds good."
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Mal sat alone in the back of a little bar not even big enough to have a name. He had come early to watch the room. It was him and nine other men in the bar. All of which looked as though they had less than questionable reputations. The bar was dirty, small and a horrible place for either a trap or an ambush. It had no less than four exits, two that were concealed, and only what was absolutely necessary to run the business. Mal had already surmised his visitor was a lot like himself, and wondered if that was a good thing. He never suspected what happened next.
Just as he turned his head towards the door it opened. Mal's visitor had come, and she was beautiful.
She had short red hair along with her cargo pants, boots and grey tank top. She surveyed the room and when her eyes rested on him, she paused for breath and started towards him. He could tell she was confident but still nervous, sensual but innocent, and almost a what he liked to call a low class demeanor. Not some peasant but not a high class lady either. It was a combination he liked, but also a dangerous combination. She stopped at his table.
"Are you Malcolm Reynolds?"
"Possibly, Who's asking?"
"My father was James Mason."
That got Mal's attention.
James Mason had been a corporal during the war. The giant of a man had been a former boxer, a hero, and Monty's best friend. Mason had saved Mal' s life from both friend and foe many times. He had been captured two years before the war ended and never returned. He got waves constantly from home. James was most proud of his oldest daughter and talked about her constantly. Mal knew this had to be her. Now that she said something he could definitely see the resemblance. James' sharp features had been softened, and of course there was the hair. Mal also could now tell simply by her stance that she was the stubborn mule her father had been. Whatever she wanted it would be hard to talk her out of it. However, he owed James a lot.
"You must be Jia Li."
"I see my father talked about me just as much as he talked about you."
"He did?" Mal gestured for her to have a seat and she sat opposite him.
"Constantly. He said you were a man of integrity, and frankly I'm desperate. He told me that if I ever needed anything I should see you."
Mal blinked rapidly. What had James gotten him into?
"I need a job."
That was not what he had expected. It was one of the rare times when mal had only one thing he could say. "What kind of job?"
She took a deep breath, "I'm a cook."
Now he was really confused. "No restaurants anywhere else in the verse?"
"Not any that don't occasionally cater to Alliance."
Mal sat back, irritated. "I ain't runnin' some escapee camp. Anything you got in the way of law troubles you keep away from me."
"I'm not in trouble with them, I just..."
"What?"
"Do you know what happened to my father Mr. Reynolds?"
Mal's voice softened, "Actually no, just that he was missing."
"His body was returned to his family when the war ended."
"I'm sorry."
"So am I. My point is that I can't face them. Every time one of them comes in I think of him in that box. I heard you still don't care for Alliance."
"That don't mean I wanna start the war over."
"Neither do I." a voice that had up until now sharply spiked, but immediately softened again. "I'm sorry. I thought that if I came to you and asked you for a favor I would at least be given a chance to prove what I can do. I have wasted your time. Thank you."
She got up and waked out without another word.
Mal sat there for a while thinking, and then thought what Zoe would say if he told her he had sent James Mason's daughter away without even a chance or an introduction to the infamous Jia Li Mason. He swore under his breath and got up and quickly followed her. He wasn't gonna hear about this for another year.
He was lucky she didn't know where to go, because she was standing at the end of the street deciding. He caught her by the arm and spun her around. "How much of a chance do you need?"
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Mal was walking towards the ship with Jia in tow.
"I said I'm not going to inconvenience you if you don't want me here."
"And I said you already had."
He moved her toward the curious faces of his crew-all of which were standing in the cargo bay watching him pull her up.
Kaylee was the first to speak. "I didn't know we was kidnappen now."
Zoe looked more confused than the others. "We ain't are we sir?"
Mal still had a strait face. "Nope just auditioning them."
The crew looked on baffled as he pulled the suddenly silent girl towards the infirmary and up the stairs. River was the first to follow with a grin on her face. Simon followed River and Kaylee followed Simon. Inara stormed after Mal with a clear intention of what she was going to say. Zoe looked at Jayne and they both walked after the others.
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They walked in on a tour of the kitchen.
"... and that's about it. Got everything you need?"
"Since I do not have a choice, Yes."
"Good." With his final word said he sat at his usual spot at the table and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Jia started preparing what she needed. River skipped in and sat beside him with a grin still on her face.
She looked at Mal. "Angels make acceptable homemakers."
Mal gave her an unsure smile as the other five walked in.
Inara was the first to speak, "Have you completely lost your mind?"
"Maybe I like it that way."
Zoe was next, "Who is this sir?"
"I'll tell you later, maybe."
Kaylee went over to introduce herself but Mal stopped her. "Hey! No one interferes in her audition."
Kaylee stopped and turned to look at him. "You wasn't foolin' bout the auditions?"
"Not in the least."
Simon murmured, "I knew he'd lose it completely some day."