Evil Angels


'So, like I said, this should all go pretty smoothly. We're just going to wait in the docks for a few days- long enough for our client to make contact and maybe to look for another job on the side if possible. No one's to make a fuss, or draw attention to themselves, but apart from that, you're all free to roam the town unless I got use for you… Inara, you got work here lined up?'

'I'll be gone as soon as we touch down.' She replied.

Mal nodded once then turned and headed out of the kitchen where he had been giving the debriefing, up to the bridge to see how Wash was doing bringing them into Greenleaf.

'Can I get Serenity a new cooler coil?' Kaylee yelled after him.

'We can't afford it Kaylee' he called back without stopping. The little mechanic sighed, then brightened. Even without the desired part, a few days on land looked filled with dazzling promise.

A few minutes later the ramp to the cargo bay opened, thudding softly onto the dusty pavement of the Greenleaf docks. They were in the planet's main trading port, having agreed over the cortex to meet a potentially well-paying client here.

Everyone apart from Wash (who had drawn the short straw to stay with the ship), Zoe and Mal, scattered down the ramp and disappeared into the crowds, headed out on various errands of their own. Jayne's birthday would be falling sometime on their next trip, so it wasn't hard to guess the general aim of the crew. 'Smooth, ya hear me!' Mal called to their retreating backs. He watched them go with a bemused look on his face then turned to his first mate. 'Shall we?'

She nodded, kissed her husband goodbye, then strode after Mal. They would be seeing what much needed supplies and parts could be bartered for on Greenleaf.

O0o0O

Mal was in a reasonably good mood, as he usually was when everything was going well. He has crossed paths with a few of the crew around the market place, and no one had gotten in to any trouble yet. Also, most of the things he had wanted were now spread out between the back pack his first mate was carrying and the sack slung across his shoulders. Yep, it had been a good day… until, of course-

'Sir, I think we're being followed'

Mal spun round, quickly scanning the bustling market square that they were just exiting. There were people everywhere, but no one looked overly suspicious. Well, anymore suspicious than people buying illegal goods usually did. 'Where?' he asked after a moment, continuing to scan the area.

'Down there sir.'

Mal directed his gaze downwards. A small brown terrier sat back on its haunches, cocked its head on one side and looked hopefully up at him with its tongue lolling out its mouth. 'It's a dog Zoe' he stated, deciding that perhaps it was time to insist on some shore leave for his second in command.

'It's been following us for a little while now.'

Mal sighed, shaking his head and deciding it wiser not to reply. Hefting the bulge of the sack a little higher on his back, he turned back in the direction of Serenity and began to walk. The corner of Zoe's mouth twitched upwards for a moment as the dog stood again and trotted after the captain, its head held high in a strikingly similar way. Looking forward to the amusement that would ensue when the captain tried to deny his new canine admirer, Zoe continued after the two.

Unfortunately for the captain, Kaylee returned at the same time as them.

'Hey cap, hey Zoe...' then she saw the little scrap of brown fur sitting at Mal's feet. 'Where'd you get the doggie?' asked the mechanic, instantly dumping her bag full of parts and crouching down to pat it.

'It followed me' replied Mal coldly, the words we're not keeping it hanging in the air.

Kaylee pretended to ignore the captain's tone of voice and began to baby talk to the dog. It rolled over so she could pat its stomach. Watching this spectacle, Mal rolled his eyes. Zoe smiled and walked past them both, into the cargo bay. Shaking his head, the captain followed after her. The dog immediately scrambled to its feet and followed after him. Kaylee grinned, but Mal heard its claws ticking on the deck plate and stopped.

'No' he said, partly addressing the dog, partly addressing Kaylee, 'no dogs on the ship.

'But Mal…' pouted Kaylee, giving him puppy eyes to match that of the dog at his feet.

'No' he repeated turning and stomping up the stairs. Tiny footsteps followed him. Kaylee and Zoe watched on with amusement as he put the sack down, turned, and, backing the dog against the wire railing, picked it up. 'C'mon captain. What's wrong with a ship's pet?' wheedled Kaylee as he strode back down the stairs, carrying the dog before him, who wiggled in his arms and tried to lick his face.

'Not on my ship' said Mal firmly, and, putting the dog down outside, he shut the door on it. There was the sound of quiet whining and a few half-hearted scratches, then silence. The captain headed back into the interior of the ship, stopping only to pick up his sack of purchases. Kaylee looked crest-fallen, but Zoe continued to smile, sensing that this was not over yet.

She was right.

As twilight on Greenleaf began to set in, Simon, Book and River returned. Mal was stowing some of the shopping in the mess when he heard the clang of the cargo bay door shutting. He continued doing what he was doing, knowing that whoever it was would probably make their way up to the mess soon enough. Moments later a small brown dog bounded into the room and bounced excitedly around him, as if to say 'found you!'

Mal frowned and stopped what he was doing, watching the antics of the exuberant little dog. Three sets of foot steps also entered the mess, and the captain looked up to aim an accusing glare at Book, River and Simon who had just returned from their tour of interesting Greenleaf monuments.

'He was sitting outside and dashed in when we opened the door. It seems he came running straight up here.' Explained Book.

'He's a nice looking little dog.' Commented Simon, bending down in a similar way to Kaylee. The dog bounded over to him to be patted, wagging its tail.

'Can we keep him?' Asked River, managing to say the right thing for the right place and time for once. Mal clenched his jaw. 'No, we are not keeping it. No animals on the ship.'

'What about those cows you took to Jiangyn?'

'They were cargo, that's different.'

'He does seem very attached to you' pointed out the shepherd.

'I can't blame it with my stunning good looks. Nevertheless…' as he said so, Mal scooped up the dog from where it was having it's ears scratched by Simon and headed back down to the cargo bay. River danced after him, spouting possible names for the thing.

'We're not naming it, because we're not keeping it.' The captain told her firmly as the entered the cargo bay, where both Zoe and Kaylee happened to be. 'Hey, it's the dog' exclaimed Kaylee happily, straightening and intercepting the captain's course so she could pat it. Mal didn't stop or acknowledge her, just kept walking and dumped the dog back outside. Ignoring the looks aimed at him from the three women, he returned to the mess to finish his task.

Jayne returned not five minutes later, and was preceded by a wiggling, licking terrier that came and found Mal right away.

'Hey Mal, there was this dog that came in here when I… oh, you found him.' The last part came as Jayne stepped into the mess and saw Mal glaring daggers at a grinning dog.

The whole of the crew and passengers were in the mess this time, and as the captain advanced upon the dog, there was a hail of protests.

'Look, I'm the captain on this ship, and I say he goes.'

'A good captain knows when to listen to his crew-'

'-and when not to. No Dogs.'

'He'll be no trouble.'

'We'll look after him.'

'Look how cute he is.'

There was a pause as Mal was assaulted from all sides by pleading looks. He rolled his eyes and sighed in defeat. 'He can stay until we leave port, since no one seems to be able to keep him out. But if I find any dog go se anywhere it shouldn't be…'

'Yes cap'n' agreed Kaylee quickly, grinning. Mal frowned, still not liking the idea of a dog on his ship.


O0o0O

Michael Rime leaned back in his chair, taking off his headphones and smiling. Things were going well indeed. The final conflict over the dog had occurred just a few minutes ago, and it appeared that the captain wouldn't be able to put his foot down hard enough to convince his crew not to keep the animal.

His brother Gabriel sauntered into the surveillance room, his well tailored clothes in contrast to Michael's own simpler, oil stained garb.

The brothers were almost complete opposites, yet their personalities crossed in their love for swindling people, and so they worked together, albeit reluctantly. Michael set up the tech that Gabriel needed to get the upper edge in the negotiations. Negotiations that he held over fancy dinners or other expensive settings to put the often simple or relatively poor targets off balance. It was a system that worked, and both of the brothers were happy with their places in it, yet at the same time were disdainful of the other's lifestyle.

'Have they accepted the bug yet?' asked the richly dressed Gabriel, flicking his long blond plait back over his shoulder.

'Just like I planned. Should only be a matter of time before some one mentions something that we can hold over the captain's head. Every ship has its secrets.' Michael didn't turn around as he replied, using the pretence of adjusting the surveillance dials to keep from having to talk face to face with his brother.

'I still think it's superfluous,' (facing the dials, Michael silently mimicked the use of the word 'superfluous'), 'we'll have the companion as a bargaining chip, and rumour has it that this Reynolds character is very loyal to his crew. He'll give us a good deal to save her skin.'

'Did it perhaps occur to you that you might not be a good enough lure for a companion? They choose their own clients you know.'

'I wouldn't worry yourself dear brother, she's already agreed to come.' So saying, Gabriel stalked out of the room, brushing imaginary dirt off his clothes as he went. Michael made a face at the dials.


End Chapter One