The 'verse is vast and seemingly endless. In theory you could go an incredibly long time without coming across another vessel. This has never been the case for the crew of Serenity.
Mal knew they needed to pick up some type of work if they were gonna keep food in their bellies. Much as he might like the notion of lyin low for a tick, it just weren't meant to be. In his mind he'd already failed them too many times. Morale had been low, real low. His crew had been hit hard by first Book's death, and then Wash's. After they had sent out the broadcast on the evolution of the Reaver's they'd all thought it was going to be smooth and shiny. Inara had stayed with him and it had certainly looked as if they were on an upward swing.
For two months things had gotten better. Zoë was starting to sleep nights, Simon and Kaylee were almost inseparable, Mal and Inara seemed to be moving closer to something, and even Jayne seemed more settled. Then Inara had taken sick. Mal's hands clenched at his sides as he stared out at the control panel in front of him. Nothin' Doc had been able to do; the wasting sickness had spread too quickly. After two months of pain and suffering her death had been a terrible blow to them all. Mal could taste the bitterness in the back of his throat thinking of all the things he'd never say to the beautiful Companion who he'd come to care for. They'd never have the chance to see if they were meant to be anything more to each other. She'd been gone eight months now, the others just a little over a year.
"Time acts like glue on broken hearts." River's voice came to him softly from the co-pilots chair.
Mal looked over at the waifish girl next to him. She was still pale and still spoke strange some, but overall there seemed a settling or calmness to her now. "So they say Darlin', so they say." He sighed. "Wish I knew if we were wastin time." He didn't expect an answer, or maybe he did because when it came to River she rarely did what was expected.
They'd been docked in Persephone for two days looking for a pilot. There'd been a few feelers, but so far no one'd jumped out at him. Oh, they'd been plenty good, but he was hesitatin' about bringin' in someone new. Hard to trust people.
"You're making excuses." River said beside him. When he looked at her she continued. "Miss Wash, but Wash is flying his own ship now. Time moves forward not sideways or backwards, although there are theories…"
"You gettin' to the point Darlin'?"
She blinked at him once. "Get a new pilot." She told him bluntly.
Kaylee watched the passersby with little interest. Zoë, Jayne, and Simon were off getting provisions, and Captain and River were fiddlin' around in the cockpit. Hopefully the crew that was out would be bringing her back a much needed thermal transistor coil. In the meantime she was working on the cargo bay doors which seemed to be sticking some. So caught up in her task she was startled when someone cleared their throat behind her. Turning she was struck dumb by the handsome man grinning at her.
He was tall, probably around Jayne's height, and in the same age range as Mal. The man had broad shoulders and ebony hair which was cut short in an almost military fashion. He was tanned, had stormy gray eyes, chiseled features, and a gleaming smile. This was a man that would always get a second look from the ladies.
"Hullo there Miss. Might this be the fine ship that's led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds?"
When he spoke his deep voice resonated with an accent like none she'd heard. It wasn't the cockney accent of Badger, but it rolled and flowed almost melodically.
"Um, Yeah." She sputtered. "Sure is."
"Ah, that's fine then. Would it be possible to be seein him?"
"Who's askin'?" Both Kaylee and the man looked back to find Mal walking towards them. As he got closer and got a look at the man a grin broke out across his face. "Well I'll be humped! Sayer Wilde!' He strode forward and the two men shook hands enthusiastically. "Kaylee meet Sayer Wilde, one of the best fighter pilots the Independents ever had. Sayer this is Kaylee Frye, the best mechanic anyone could ever ask for."
"Ah, it's truly blessed you are Malcolm, to have such a flower working for you." He said and bestowed a kiss on Kaylee's hand causing her to grin and blush.
"Ignore this old Irishman Kaylee girl." Mal laughed. "What're you doin' on Persephone?"
"It's twofold really. I'm lookin' for me a job, and I've got a job for the crew I take up with." He explained. "I'm hopin' it's a trustworthy group I find."
Mal nodded. It wasn't like that would be the easiest thing. Which immediately struck him as funny. "Deng ye miao (hold on a second). Well isn't this just shiny. Sayer I think we might be able to help each other out old friend. Let's have us a drink."
The rest of Serenity's crew returned to ship with their purchases several hours later. Kaylee was in the middle of praising herself for fixing the bay doors. "Where's Captain?" Zoë asked.
Kaylee grinned at her good-naturedly. "He went out with an old friend. Someone he knew from the war."
Zoë quirked her eyebrow at this. She knew almost everyone that Mal knew from the war. "Have a name?"
"Sayer Wilde. He's shuai (handsome)." Kaylee sighed dreamily. She blushed when Simon gave her a mock glare. "Not as shuai as you are." She assured him.
"I remember Mal talking about him. I never met him." She nodded to herself. "He was transferred out the same time I was transferred in." Shrugging she grabbed several cartons and passed them over to Kaylee. "Your coils."
Kaylee clapped gleefully and grabbed the boxes. "Xie xie (thank you)!" She then hurried off to work on the installation. Simon watched her go, shared a bemused smile with Zoë, and then headed to the infirmary to unload his new inventory.
Zoë and Jayne were working on unloading the rest of the provisions from the mule when they heard singing coming into the ship. Bad singing. Lewd singing. They looked up to find their Captain; their grinning Captain; with a stranger boarding.
"Zoë! Jayne!" Mal yelled. "Meet Sayer. Sayer these are the two I was telling you 'bout."
"It's a pleasure to be meetin' the both of ya." He smiled winningly. "Jayne, I hear you're quite the weapons master, and Zoë, I hear you're Mal's right arm. If only the rest of him were as beautiful."
Zoë tensed waiting for the come on, but it never came.
"Sayer was a fighter pilot in the war." Mal informed them.
"Was you at Serenity Valley with these guys?" Jayne asked standing up taller, feeling smaller next to the big man.
"Captured like a butterfly in a spike filled net. The honey was a trap." River's voice came from the metal platform leading down to the cargo bay. "Locked up they tried to make the birdie sing, but it was mute."
Jayne shook his head in some disgust. "Sometimes the girl goes on a bit…"
"Nay, she's right." He looked at River with keen intelligence shining in his dusky eyes. "I was turned into the Alliance by someone I trusted. Niao shi de du gui (piss soaked pikers). It was right before Serenity Valley. I was kept in their 'interrogation' for six months; their prison for two years after. The only reason I got out of there was because my Grandmother paid their 'fines'."
Zoë knew what was coming before Mal ever opened his mouth, but it still hurt a bit to hear. "Sayer's gonna be our new pilot."
"Welcome." She said quietly.
"Ah, it's quite gracious you're bein'." He spoke to her directly and she knew Mal must've told him about Wash. "I thank ya, and only hope I'll be up to the task."
"Sayer also has a payin' job for us." Mal said with a grin. This sparked their interest. "Let's call the crew together and we'll talk about it."