Captain Malcolm Reynolds quickly sidestepped to avoid getting caught in the middle of a brawl.
"A fight!" Jayne said from behind Mal. "Can we join?"
"That drunken argument has no place for us."
"But we haven't seen any action in days!" Jayne complained. "I got an itchy trigger finger and an even itchier fist."
Mal sighed slightly. Sometimes, he didn't understand the 'logic' in Jayne's mind. The stuff he said usually didn't make sense, but he always had something to say.
It was true that the crew hadn't had too many issues with jobs lately. But Mal counted that as a blessing. He turned back to his crew. "Y'all don't have to follow me. Go on, get. Do whatever you want. But stay out of trouble." Mal looked at Jayne. "We're leaving at ten. If you ain't on the ship, don't expect us to come lookin' for you."
Mal watched as the group split up. He was a little uneasy about Jayne, but he passed right by the fight. Mal turned and continued on his way.
As he walked, he thought. His style of living wasn't perfect, he knew that. But it was one he'd become accustomed to. The thrill of doing a job, the feel of money being put in his pocket, the search for a new job. It was simple and it kept him flying.
Caught up in his thoughts, Captain Reynolds lost track of his surroundings. Suddenly, Mal was pulled into a darkened alley, something poking him in the small of his back.
"Don't make any sudden movements." said a voice behind him.
Mal reached for his gun, but found an empty holster. 'Wait a second,' he thought to himself. He felt the pressure on his back lessen. He slowly turned around.
"Hello, Diamond."
"Captain." The girl said with a nod. She held his gun out to him.
Mal hadn't seen the girl in months. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "This ain't the planet we dropped you off on."
"Come now, Captain. Surely you of all people understand the want to travel. I couldn't stay on one planet for the rest of my life."
Mal nodded. He certainly did understand. "Well, you look good. You look-" At that moment, Mal happened to look away from Diamond's face. "Whoa."
Diamond's hand subconsciously shot to her swelled stomach. "Well," Mal said. "That's different." He stared at her stomach a minute longer. "So." he finally said. "When are you due?"
"No idea." Diamond said. "I haven't seen a doctor since… I was on Serenity."
"Well." Mal said. "I'm sure Doctor Tam wouldn't mind giving a look to your… situation."
"As much fun as that sounds," Diamond said. "I've got to get going. I have to get to my shift at that bar over there." She motioned with her head. "Boss doesn't like it when workers are late."
Mal then noticed a strange pattern of bruises on Diamond's wrist that looked like fingers. "Surely a strong girl like you can take him if he tried to touch you."
Diamond smiled slightly. "I just want to blend in, Captain. And in my present condition, fighting isn't so easy."
"You want out of this."
Diamond looked startled. "I have to save up money for when the baby comes."
"You're not happy here. Do you really want to bring your baby into a world you hate?" Diamond remained silent. "Go to your shift." Mal said. "We'll come get you in a few hours."
"You can't just walk in there and take me away." Diamond said. "Boss'll come after you."
"Which is why we create a distraction."
"What are you going to do?"
"Don't you worry about that. Just grab some of your stuff and keep it behind the bar." With that, Mal walked away.
"Capt'n, where we goin'?" Jayne asked.
"I'm feelin' a might thirsty."
"We've passed three bars already."
"We're here." Mal entered the bar, followed by Jayne and Zoë. Wash had headed back to the ship with the others to get ready to leave.
"Sir, what are we doing?" Zoë asked. She always seemed to know when Mal wasn't giving all the details.
Mal scanned the bar. He found Diamond in a corner, serving drinks to a bunch of guys. From their movements, Mal guessed that they were harassing her. Diamond looked up and caught Mal's eye. With the slightest movement of his head, Mal motioned to the bar. Diamond nodded and headed over to the bar.
Mal took a drink from an empty table and drained it. "Follow my lead." he said. Then he walked over and punched a guy in the face. When the guy turned back around to face Mal, the captain said "Oh, sorry. Thought you were someone else."
The guy took a swing and Mal ducked. The fist landed on another patron's face. And just like Mal had hoped, a fight broke out and spread through the bar like wildfire.
Zoë looked at Mal like he was crazy. Jayne jumped into action.
"Meet me out front with Jayne in five." Mal said. He turned and crept behind the bar.
Diamond was crouched behind the bar, bag hugged to her chest. It was the same bag Mal had found her in, all those months ago.
"Is there a back way out of here?" he asked.
Diamond nodded. Mal followed her and they found a hidden door. Outside in the alley, Mal turned to Diamond.
"See?" he said. "Distraction."