"Mal." Shepherd Urie greeted the Captain of the ship Serenity, "How are you?"
"As hansom as ever, how did you catch our wave?" Mal replied, having nothing new to report to his friend who he had re-homed with a group of his followers to the late Shepherd Book's planet. It was perfect, and he would rather see it used as Book saw it than used as a graveyard.
"I've been looking for it. You couldn't help some paying travellers could you?"
"As long as they're paying."
"Of course, when can I expect you."
"A few days from now, a week at most if something goes wrong."
"Have faith Captain."
With that Urie was gone, and all that was left in the cockpit was a stinging sensation in Mal's chest. It hurt to hear Urie use Book's phrase, even though Urie meant no more by it than the habit he had of saying it.
Serenity landed on the planet as planned. Not gracefully, but it made it to the ground. All of the crew filed out, Mal first, Zoe and Jayne second, Simon and Kaylee waiting for River who had landed the ship. She was enthusiastic about flying, and Mal tried to teach her what she didn't already know. Which, as a psychic, there wasn't a lot.
Urie jogged to meet the crew and shake each of their hands.
"Come this way," he said to Mal once he was done and Mal, Zoe and Jayne followed.
"They have been traveling for a year, keeping away from the Alliance." Urie explained. "A brother and sister but they won't give us their real names."
"You sure it'll be safe for us to take them?" Mal asked, his tone thick with reservation.
"I wouldn't put you in danger captain." Urie assured him, too honest to be lying. As they approached the door of a hut, it flew open and a woman, average in height, her long hair in a high pony tail that revealed the sides of her head to be saved. She wore brown leather over soft cream fabric over tanned skin that made even Zoe pause to take her in for a minute. Her eyes were an intense brown, and her darker still eyebrows were knotted together in anger. She swore in Chinese at the door as she walked.
"Lan!" Urie tried to interrupt her stride. She stopped, even faced him but failed to lose any of her rage.
"Yes Urie!"
"This is Captain of the ship Serenity as I-"
Lan moved to Mal and company, "Very nice to meet you," she barked, "Thank you for your assistance. Please excuse me."
Mal turned to Urie with an expression that read, 'The money better be worth this.' As Urie tried to explain, a young man came from the door to shout back at his sister in english. As he did so, the crew took note of his leith structure, the same darkness in his short hair as his sister's, and the contrast in how loose his grey clothes were.
"Don't mind her," he assured everybody else quietly, "She's pissed I won't tell her where her neice and nephew are."
Mal scoffed, "Kid you're no father, you're still a boy."
The kid shot him a stern look, "Close; the name is Cai. Talk about my family in that way again it'll be your last; favour or none."
Mal perked up and turned to his crew, "I like him," and back to Cai, "but Orchid and Colourful? Kinda sissy fake names."
Cai's features relaxed and he smirked.
"I'll go and get my sister, sorry about this Urie."
Urie turned back to Mal with an apologetic smile. First impressions counted. Mal put his hand on Urie's shoulder. The gunshots started.