"Something bad is going to happen, something very, very bad."
"What's that, River?" Simon asked, distractedly, watching Kaylee load up the mule.
"Something bad is going to happen today." she repeated.
"Ah, don't start talkin' like that, girl! Nothin' bad is gonna happen." Mal said, walking past her and down the ramp that was opened to a bright, sunny day on a planet on the outer edge of the core.
"It's a lovely day, and more importantly, there be money to be made. Ain't nothin' bad gonna happen. You can trust, I am the Cap'n after all."
Six hours later
Mal and Zoe stood back to back, firing at their numerous enemies.
"In which way is this not a bad day, sir?"
Two hours earlier
"See what I mean? The same duck-swan carving in every gift shop!" Inara complained, casting a critical eye over the shop's stock.
"I think it's kinda nice, y'know," Kaylee piped up, "Where ever you go in the 'verse you'll always find somethin' familiar."
Simon smiled, and wound his arm around Kaylee's waist, "That's really sweet. Do you want me to buy you one?"
"Nah, they ain't worth wasting money on. I just like seeing 'em now and again is all. Weren't it you who said it was all a pile of gos seanyway?"
"Ah," Simon went crimson, "Well, I was a snob back then."
"And you still are, that's why I love you..."
Simon stared at Kaylee, shocked. Inara shifted uncomfortably, "I'm just going to go and..." She quickly exited the shop.
"I'm sorry," Kaylee said quietly, "I'm takin' things to fast."
"No, no. I think it's about time things went a little faster. I love you too."
Kaylee grinned as Simon pulled her in for a kiss.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Zoe had fast lost the other crew members. She'd told the Cap'n she was wantin' some alone time, and he could hardly refuse the grieving widow. Since Wash's death, nobody had even mentioned his name. 'Ceptin of course, River. One day they were all round the kitchen table, and the Cap'n was waffling on abut some such, and River suddenly come out with; 'Wash would have loved this!'. Everybody had given her that 'shutupshutupshutup' look, but honestly, it warmed Zoe's heart to hear his name spoken. It'd been a hard few months, what with everyone skirting around, thinking she'd start bawling if'n they talked about her late husband. She didn't like being treated like this. As if she were fragile or somethin'.
She hiked up a small hill, from her viewpoint she could see the most of the small village they were visiting. Below her, a fair was in full swing, and she could just make out Simon and Kaylee holding hands, swaying gently with the music of the fair entertainers. Among the dancers was River. She'd joined them even though she wasn't supposed'ta, and they'd accepted her, as was the way of people around River. They accepted her when she danced, or did one of the other million things she could do perfectly. Truth be told, it was a lovely sight. Of course, things never stay lovely for long when it concerned the crew of Serenity.
Simon was happy. He had his arms wrapped round Kaylee, the girl he'd just told he loved, and he was happy. He felt like he had found his home, and it was a clapped out bucket of bolts ship, and a small female mechanic. In front of him was his mei-mei, having the time of her life. She always liked dancing.
Quite unexpectedly, River stopped dancing. She just stood, as if frozen, amid the twisting and turning bodies. He'd only seen her afraid once before, when she thought a spider was going to eat her when she was three years old. But now, he could see the fear etched on her face. She watching something beyond, and as he turned to see what it was, someone grabbed his arm.
"Simon, where have you been! River come here!" a man in his fifties or sixties yelled at him.
"Excuse me sir, what do ya think ya doing?" Kaylee asked, holding tight to Simon.
"It's none of your business, little girl."
"Might be mine though."
The whole area was quiet, but for the ominous click of a semiautomatic. Zoe approached them, her gun pointed squarely on the man's forehead.
"Just let go of the good doc's arm, and we'll all be happy."
The man was going red with anger now. "This is between me and my children."
"You're Simon and River's dad, huh?" Zoe asked, withdrawing her radio, and clicking it on.
"Sir, are you reading me?" she said into it.
"Loud and clear, Zoe. What's the trouble?" Mal voice drawled over the crackly radio.
"It's the doc, and River. Think you could give us some backup?"
"Isn't it always? Where are ya?"
"You see all the people running away in a group? Walk against them."
"We're on our way."
Zoe, Kaylee, River, Simon and their father stood absolutely still. Zoe had her gun trained on Mr Tam. Mr Tam held on to Simon, Simon had one arm around Kaylee and River watched the scene from a couple of metres away.
"Well, looky here," Mal announced as he and Jayne walked up to them. "what do we have here, then?"
"Meet Mr Tam, sir. Simon's dad."
Mal looked him up and down.
"Shiny. Always wanted to meet the parents. Now we've met. Go away."
Mr Tam sneered at Mal, "What are you going to do, shoot me? I am a very well-connected member of the core community."
"Oh no, I wouldn't dream of hurting you. He would though." Mal gestured to Jayne.
Jayne grinned, "This is Vera, she's my very favourite gun. She ain't seen no action for nigh on seven days, and ma' finger is feelin' mighty itchy."
"This is a family matter, please leave us alone," Gabriel Tam spat out, "Come here River!" he demanded.
River looked at him with one of those patented 'I don't like you very much' stares, and walked over to Zoe. She carefully slipped one of Zoe's spare gun out of it's holster and pointed it at her father.
"Well, I think that decided things. She obviously ain't going with you." Mal smirked slightly, "And as for family, everyone in my crew is my family, that includes your son and daughter, even if she is crazier than a bag of snakes.
"Now let the doc go, 'afore I blow a hole the size of my fist in your head."
Gabriel reluctantly let go of Simon's arm. He and Kaylee quickly ran over to the others.
"You sure do have a knack for gettin' your self into trouble, don'cha?" Mal asked as they walked back to the ship, leaving a fuming Mr Tam behind.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
There was a surprise waiting for them when they got back to Serenity. The old ship was surrounded by feds. They were everywhere.
"Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia soy ya duh ren doh goy swa, where the guay did they come from?" Mal swore, pulling out his gun.
A couple of feds noticed him, and started firing shots his way. He dived behind a bush, and let off a hail of bullets.
Zoe suddenly appeared at his side, shooting down anyone in her line of sight.
"In which way is this not a bad day, sir?"
gos se - crap
mei-mei - little sister.
Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia soy ya duh ren doh goy swa - Fuck everyone in the universe to death.
guay - hell