Striding into the sunlight, Macavity shaded his eyes as he looked over the bustling spaceport. "Alright, here's how it goes. Tugger, Jems, you and me are taking these damn goods to Genghis. They've been burning a hole in my deck too long. Pounce, you go find the supplies we need. Misto, four hours planetside. Get us passengers."

The smallest of the group perked up as he stepped forward. "Passengers? Really Capt?"

Tugger rolled his eyes and muttered something but Mac just nodded. "Need the extra money. Find us good ones."

Pounce touched his brow in a sort of salute, "Right, supplies and then come back and make sure we're set to leave in four hours. Got it."

"Good," Mac said, pleased that for once it looked like his ship was running smoothly. Striding down the gangplank, he paused in front of the electronic placard in front of their ship, inputting some data. Mistoffelees trailed after him.

"I'd really love to be able to pick up a new compression coil," the mechanic started.

"And I'd love to be king of all Londinum and wear a shiny hat. Find us them passengers that can pay, all right?"

"If that dies, we're going to be drifting," the mechanic told him with a slight frown.

"Best not bust then," Mac said, stepping away and nodding to Tugger and Jemima to follow him as Mistoffelees rolled his eyes and muttered something in Chinese under his breath.

Pounce watched them start off, "Jemi!" He called after his wife, switching to Chinese mid way through, "Watch your back."

Offering him a smile, she nodded. "Always am," she replied, before following her captain and Tugger into the shouting, haggling, and teaming crowd.

He sighed, shaking his head and murmuring something before descending the ramp. He glanced at the mechanic, "Anything you want me to pick up?"

"Compression coil?" Mistoffelees attempted, sighing. "No, I think I have everything else of use, you go pick up those supplies. Though, oh, if you happen to find a new hardcopy of a book or something we don't have yet..."

Pounce offered him a grin, "If I have anything left over for anything of that sort I'll grab it, alright?"

"They're cheap!" Mistoffelees said with a grin and waved him off. "Go, I have to hunt up some passengers."

"Good luck," Pouncival responded before heading off to see what supplies he could find.

Grinning after him, Mistoffelees looked around the dusty world, retreating back into the ship to grab a folding chair, setting it up on the gangplank and watching the people walking by.

Cohen made his way along the docks, his green gaze sweeping over each shift as he ignored barker after barker. He was dressed plainly in the simple garb of a minister, a Shepherd. The older man offered a quiet word to one persistent salesman that left the man in confusion. He glanced at the latest ship, a firefly class, but started to continue past it.

Twirling a brightly colored parasol that he had picked up from some fair years ago, Mistoffelees grinned as he watched him walk by. "You're gonna come with us," he declared.

That brought Cohen to a stop as he glanced at the young man, "Excuse me?"

"You're looking at ships," Mistoffelees explained, still twirling the parasol. "You ain't looking at the destination so I assume you want to find a ship you like. And mine's the nicest."

The Shepherd tilted his head back slightly to look over the ship, "Serenity" painted on her hull, "She doesn't look like much."

Mistoffelees laughed, shaking his head. "Doesn't have to. Ever been in a Firefly?"

"Long before you were crawling, lad. Now an aught three, though. Didn't have the extenders, tended to shake." Cohen leaned against his small cart of luggage, casually conversing with the younger man.

"Please," he snorted. "If you're looking at shaking, that ship there will do you," he said, tilting his chin toward the ship the Shepherd had just passed. "Serenity's been under my care enough to sail smooth."

Cohen offered a bit of a smile at that, "No doubt. The aught three still use the trace compression block?"

"Til they make something better," he said with a shrug. He considered the man another long moment, shifting the parasol. "So how come you don't care where you're headed?"

"Because I feel that how you get there is the worthier part."

"You a missionary?" Mistoffelees asked, a slight frown forming between his brows.

"In a way, I suppose. I'm a Shepherd, from the Southdown Abbey. Cohen is what I'm called. I've been out of the world for a spell and would like to walk in it awhile again. Maybe bring the word to them as need it, but only if guided to do so."

"Oh, that's good," he said with a nod, thinking about how much fuss Mac was going to put up as it was. The captain was not afraid of loudly declaiming religion. "I'm Mistoffelees. This here is Serenity, and I swear she's a smooth ride for anyone who can pay." Suddenly he looked really worried. "Um, can you pay?"

That garnered another smile, "I expect we could come to terms. I've got a little cash, and, well..." He withdrew a small wooden box and opened it, showing the contents to Mistoffelees.

Tilting his head at the appearance of the box, Mistoffelees' eyes widened. "Oh. Yeah, that should do it. Welcome to Serenity."

Cohen's smile brightened, "Thank you."

s-s-s-s

Mac and his crew strode into Genghis' office, Mac trying not to make a face at the attempts to look respectable the place presented.

Genghis Selkirk barely glanced up from his desk as they entered, "You're late."

"You're lying," Macavity replied. "You know we've landed two hours earlier than planned. So what's going on here?" He eyed the guards lurking around.

Genghis leaned back in his chair, a thin smile on his lips, "You're later than I'd like."

Mac blinked. "I'm sorry to hear that." Behind him, Jemima and Tugger shifted as well, looking as displeased as Mac was feeling.

Their planetside contact picked up a digital paper, "If you'd gotten here sooner, you might have beaten the bulletin that came up saying a rogue vessel, classification 'Firefly', was spotted pulling illegal salvage on a derelict transport."

Macavity let out a long breath. "No ID. It doesn't lead to you."

"No, but the government stamp on every molecule of that cargo might just," Genghis' blue gaze locked with Mac's.

Mac's mouth twisted and Jemi's eyes snapped to the back of his head. He'd failed to tell the rest of the crew about that fact.

Genghis' lips curled upward, a sharp, mirthless, smile gracing his features, "Oh, you noticed that. I have to wonder if you were just going to hand over imprinted goods and let me twist, or what you were thinking with that?"

"You picked the cargo," Mac replied. "I trusted your ability to deal with the issue."

"That was before you flashed your ass at the gorram law. No deal."

"That ain't fair," Jemi said, taking a step forward.

"Crime and politics, dearie. I'm not aiming at fair, I'm aiming at profit. The situation's always fluid. No deal," Genghis said.

Tugger growled, shoulder tensing. "You little gorram filth, refusing to pay us our wages." Mac shot him a harsh look and he shut up.

Stepping forward, Mac paused as everyone suddenly had a hand on their guns. "You know you can still unload the cargo. So something else is at work here. What's up, Genghis?"

Genghis rose smoothly, waving his men to stand down, "Frankly? I don't like you."

"Hell's that got to do with business?" Mac asked.

"Everything." He looked the other over, "What were you in the war? A Sergeant? Sergeant Macavity Hollister, Balls and Bayonets Brigade. Now six years later you've got yourself a ship, and my goodness, you're a captain! Only, you see, I think you're still a Sergeant at heart. Still a soldier. A man of honor, in a den of thieves."

He circled his desk, coming closer to Mac, tilting his head back to look up at the other, not quite in his space, but close, "Well, it's my den, and I don't like the way you act in it, the way you seem to look down on me more than I care for. I'm above you here. Businessman in the community. You're just a scavenger. You're a bagman. You come and go at my beck and I say you go. Get out."

Mac blinked at that, jaw tensing. "I may not be a fancy gentleman like yourself," he glanced over Genghis' ensemble, which was trying to look respectable. He wore a tie but no collar, an old style hat perched on his head. "With your very fine hat. But I'm here for business. Let's do it."

"Try one of the border planets," came the response, "they're a lot more desperate out there. Of course, they might kill you, but if you stay here I just know the Alliance'll track you down. I have one of those feelings, you know?"

Macavity's lips drew back but he didn't bother saying anything else, just turning and stalking out, Jemi following and Tugger lingering for a moment, willing to fight before following.

"Hey, Mac," Genghis called as he returned to his chair behind the desk.

He whirled. "What?"

"That war of yours, how'd that turn out for you?"

Mac gave him a long look before turning again and this time really storming out. Genghis smirked before turning his attention to other matters.

s-s-s-s

Mistoffelees looked around after Pounce had gotten back. The other three were still out, but beside the shepherd, he'd only managed to find one more passenger. They could hold twelve, so he really needed another.

Coricopat Zimmerman made his careful way through the docking area, a large crate on a dolly with him. He paused at Serenity, looking it over from behind his tinted glasses. It would probably do. Perking visibly at the sight of someone else stopping, Mistoffelees beamed. "Where are you headed?"

He paused, considering, "Boros for now. From there, I'll continue my journey."

"Great," Mistoffelees chirped, taking in his clothes. "You interested in Serenity here then?"

"She looks a capable ship," came the noncommittal response.

Making a couple aborted sounds, as if he really wanted to protest, Mistoffelees finally nodded.

"How much for passage?"

"Well," Mistoffelees bit his lip. "How much can you pay?"

Coricopat glanced down the docks, thinking for a moment as he scoped over the faces of other people and the other ships. He finally stated a price, high, but it should leave him plenty to get a ship in Boros...hopefully.

Mistoffelees blinked and stuttered for a moment before knocking fifty off the price. "We have a shepherd on board too. All respectable like. And she's the best ship you'll find..."

The taller man nodded slightly, "Very good, can you see that the crate is brought on board? And do be careful with it?"

"Sure," he said, finally setting the parasol down. "I'll get Pounce to get it onboard with the Mule. I can't drive it so he's gotta."

Coricopat nodded slightly, "Thank you."

"Sure," he said, beaming and paused. "Erm, what's your name then?"

"Coricopat," he paused slightly, "Zimmerman."

"Great to meet you," Mistoffelees beamed, holding out a hand. "Mistoffelees Quaxo myself."

The other considered Mistoffelees for a moment before shaking his hand, "Charmed."

Giving him an even broader grin, Mistoffelees gathered up the folding chair. "Hey, I can show you the quarters on the way to getting Pounce if you want."

"I..." he shook his head slightly. "Thank you, but no, I'd rather wait until this is loaded."

"Oh, okay," Mistoffelees said and turned to go, glancing back. "And, erm, don't tell the captain I knocked some of your price, would you? He'd get all stompy and glowery and no one needs that, right?"

That earned a faint smile, "I won't. Wouldn't want you in trouble with your captain."

"You'll get a chance to meet him soon, I'm sure, he's not a bad sort, so long as he's not in a stomping mood," Mistoffelees said and ducked down. "Be right back."

Pounce was seated in the cockpit, behind his console, a pair of dinosaur toys in hand, "Everything looks good from here." His voice shifted slightly as he moved the T-Rex in his left hand, "Yes, this is a fertile land, and we will thrive." The stegosaurus in his other hand replied, "We will rule over all this land, and we will call it...This Land.' 'I think we should call it...your grave!" The stegosaurus moved away slightly, "Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!' 'Ha ha! Mine is an evil laugh! Now die!" He made them fight, the stegosaurus crying out in agony as it was mercilessly eaten.

Mistoffelees paused in the doorway to the bridge. "Am I interrupting anything?" he asked with a fond smile.

The pilot startled slightly, setting the dinosaurs down, "A tragic betrayal on par with the death of Caesar."

"I'm sure it was quite poetic," Mistoffelees agreed. "So, a passenger needs some help getting stuff on board. You think you can break the mule back out?"

"Me? Why me? I wanted to see how this turned out when the family discovered the brutal murder."

"I'm sure there was lamenting and it turned into a blood feud that went down in the history books," Mistoffelees replied. "But I can't drive the Mule, remember?"

"It's not that hard, you back it out, you load the stuff and you pull it straight back in," Pounce managed, only just, to keep the whine out of his voice. "I don't know why they don't leave Tugger here to drive the damn thing."

"You want to explain to Mac why the thing's crashed?" Mistoffelees asked with an arched brow. "And Tugger had to go look intimidatin'."

"Right, sure, yeah. Alright..." He rose, "So, how many passengers?"

"Two so far," Mistoffelees replied brightly.

"And do we have a vetting process? I mean beyond 'oh hey that one's cute'."

"That wasn't what I was looking at!" Mistoffelees protested. "Only one of them is cute. And he's rich."

"And the other two?"

"One's a shepherd-don't give me that look I'm aware Mac will freak but he had a good payment and seemed a nice sort!-and some other guy. I don't know, he doesn't have much going for him." He paused a beat. "But the cute one's really cute."

Pounce sighed, "So we have no vetting process and we're smuggling goods, probably...possibly...okay, hopefully not. But still!"

"We're putting danger on top of danger?" Mistoffelees grinned. "Aren't my feelings enough of a vetting process for you?"

"I'd trust you with my life, but sorry, no." He sighed, "But we need the money, so I'll go get the mule."

"Thanks," Mistoffelees said with a grin.

Pounce offered him a grin, "You know, this could be solved by just letting me spend the time with you while you find passengers."

"Solve what?" Mistoffelees asked with a blink. "Besides, we don't want them being scared off, remember? They're not supposed to realize we're all kinds of crazy on this boat until it's too late."

"My inherent distrust for the idea of passengers. And I'm not crazy. I'm quirky."

"I'm quirky," Mistoffelees returned. "You're what ever's beyond that. At least we're not letting Tugger near them yet..."

"Tugger would shoot them rather than entice them. And I take personal offense at the fact that I am beyond quirky."

"You had a blood feud going between toy dinosaurs," Mistoffelees said. "Maybe you're just, I don't know, quirky modified? Like, especially quirky or particularly quirky?"

"We'll go with particularly quirky. But I'm not crazy. The toy dinosaurs needed to be played with. And you can be incredibly cruel in your quirky hierarchy."

"Me?" Mistoffelees protested again as they reached the cargo hold, a hand over his heart. "Me, cruel?"

"Yes, you," Pounce suppressed a smile. "Slave driver, making me drive the mule, and then calling me more than quirky." He made his way over to the mule, an old yellow vehicle designed for heavy towing.

Mistoffelees glanced to where Coricopat was still standing, offering him a grin. "I am no such thing. I do however have to run out and grab a couple things before the captain comes back." He paused, leaning toward the other. "Oh! Did you happen to find any books?"

"I don't know if I should tell you..." Pounce grinned slightly, "Yeah, I picked up a couple."

Grinning, Mistoffelees leaned back and clapped. "Excellent. I'll be back in just a few minutes," he said, scampering to the gangplank. "Oh, Pounce, this is Coricopat! He's the one whose stuff you're moving."

Pouncival eyed the taller man, not liking the looks of him one bit, "Great, what am I moving exactly?" Coricopat indicated the crate and a trunk. Pouncvial smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes, "Fantastic. Hurry back, Misto."

"As quickly as I can," he said, eying Pounce's reactions before swaying down the gangplank with a jaunty wave.

Coricopat watched Mistoffelees leave, having to step abruptly out of the way as Pounce cut it a bit close with the mule, not caring for how he was looking at Misto, or how he might be looking at Mistoffelees. The dark glasses made it hard to see.

s-s-s-s

"I can't believe we just ran away," Tugger was complaining as they weaved their way from Genghis' toward the ship.

"We didn't run away," Mac replied, striding through the crowds, which obligingly parted for him.

"And you call this...?" Tugger started and was cut off from an abrupt hand motion from Jemi.

"Do you think he'd sell us to the feds?" she asked.

"No, he's just a bag of air," Mac said.

"What about Boros?" Jemi offered. "Could unload the goods there."

"Way too big," Mac dismissed it. "Crawling with feds, that might be warned we're coming."

"I thought you said he wouldn't sell us out," Tugger muttered under his breath.

"No, but they're on the lookout for Firefly ships. We run a Firefly. It's askin' for all sorts of trouble we don't need."

"We could dump the cargo," Jemi offered.

"No ruttin' way!" Tugger yelped.

"Your mouth is moving, see to that," Mac snapped at him. "But we need the money. We dump the cargo, we can't fuel and we're dead in the water."

"Are we running to the border planets then?" Jemi asked.

"Whitefall, we can talk to Patience-" Mac started and Jemi intercut him.

"Sir, we don't want to deal with her again."

"Why not?" Mac asked, stopping enough to turn and look at her.

"She shot you, sir."

"Well, a bit, but, still-" Mac protested.

"We find someone else," Jemi held her ground against her scowling captain, Tugger taking a wise step backward.

"Like who?" Mac demanded, running down the list of their contacts, who were either broke, dead, or in too much trouble to take on questionable goods taken from a wreck. "Now, it's been a long time since that woman shot me, and she's currently the safest bet. We were having a perfectly legitimate conflict of interest, and now we don't. She can afford what we got, and she probably needs it."

"Still don't like it, sir."

"That's why I'm the captain," he said, turning and striding the last several feet back toward his ship.

Pounce drove the mule on past them, rolling his eyes as Coricopat spoke, "Please be careful with that."

"I thought I'd drop it off the gangplank..." the pilot muttered.

Mac blinked at that. "What's all this then?"

"Passengers," Mistoffelees said, coming up behind him. "Ready and accounted for. Here, I even picked up another one," he said, motioning to the somewhat plain man behind him, who was carrying two bags.

The man shifted one of his bags to under his other arm, extending the hand to shake, "Name's Plato, Captain."

"Great to meet you I'm sure," he said, shaking the offered hand, distracted already. "Any other passengers?"

"Two, capt," Mistoffelees replied, stepping between Macavity and Coricopat. "This is Coricopat, and this is Captain Macavity."

Taking one look at the glasses the other was wearing, Macavity arched a brow. "Just as charmed," he drawled, slinging an arm around Mistoffelees as Tugger and Jemi went to make sure things were stowed down for landing. "Anymore?"

"One more, I think he's already tucked away though," the smaller chirped.

Coricopat's gaze flickered over the captain, his eyes hidden behind the shaded glasses he wore. He nodded slightly to Macavity before slipping into the hold to make certain Pouncival had taken care of his crate.

Macavity led Mistoffelees back inside. "Hey, anyone hear from the ambassador?"

"I think she just checked in," Jemi said, leaning over the railing of the walkway that spanned the cargo hold.

"Full house then?" Macavity called up and his second confirmed. "Lock it up then and get that husband of yours flyin' this boat."

Once the hold was closed and the ship was locked up, Pouncival guided her out of the docking station and from there out of atmo.

Tugger was muttering something as he made sure the passenger's belongings were stored. "What we gotta take on civilians for anyway?" he growled.

"I like meeting new people, hearing new stories," Mistoffelees said, leaning against the railing for the wire stairs.

"Captain!" Tugger complained. "Can you get him to be less cheerful like?"

"I don't think there's a power in the verse that can do that," Mac replied, going over a list and flipping the page. "Though, sometimes, I gotta admit, I just want to ducktape his mouth and lock him in the hold..."

Coricopat's brow rose where he was part way up a staircase, staying out of the crew's way, but keeping a careful eye on Tugger.

Mistoffelees pushed off and leaned up to kiss Macavity's cheek. "I love my captain," he said, drawing back with a grin.

Their passenger beat a hasty retreat at that.

Macavity glanced up, blinking. "So, we gonna to give the passengers the tour?"

"Can I?" Mistoffelees chirped.

"You can come," Macavity admitted. "Alright, let's gather them up in the kitchen. Tugger, keep working."

"Aye, aye," Tugger said, rolling his eyes.

A handful of minutes later found crew and passengers assembled in the dining area, attention on Macavity.

"Meals taken here," Macavity was explaining, standing at the table with his hands on the back of a wooden chair. Mistoffelees was standing to one side, nearer the kitchen. "Kitchen's pretty self explanatory, standard fare which means protein in all the colors of the rainbow. We have sit down meals, next one being about eighteen hundred."

Cohen glanced around the table, "If any help is needed with preparation of that meal I am more than willing to assist..."

"That-" Macavity paused, giving the shepherd a long look.

"I'm usually the one that cooks," Mistoffelees said. "And thank you for that. Oh, and the herbs and stuff of course."

"You're a shepherd?" Mac demanded, turning his full glare on Mistoffelees.

Cohen nodded slightly, "Is that a problem?"

"Course not," Mistoffelees said, "Cause it's not." He stepped on Macavity's foot.

"Course not," Mac said. "So yes, you're welcome in this area any time but you are otherwise confined to your quarters. If you need to go to the cargo hold at any point, ask a crew member to escort you."

Coricopat cut in at that point, "Some of my personal effects are in the cargo hold."

"Yeah, so are a lot of the passengers," Mac said. "So, you ask a crewmember, they get you want you need. It's not like it's a big boat, plenty of us to find around." He paused, glancing at Mistoffelees and cleared his throat. "One more thing. We've been asked to do a run to Whitefall, drop off some medical supplies for the Alliance."

That earned a long look from Coricopat, "What medical supplies?"

"Didn't ask," Mac said, giving him a long look.

"Just usual things, they need them out there on the border," Mistoffelees replied.

"Alliance says jump," Mac started.

"Right. Of course," the passenger fell silent at that.

"Wanna run them to the cargo bay in case they want anything?" Mac said, glancing at Mistoffelees. "I think Jem should be in there."

"Sure, Capt."

It was a clear enough dismissal. Those that had been seated rose and started for the door toward the cargo bay. Pounce hung back to check in with the Captain.

Mac glanced at his pilot. "Hear anything from Patience yet?"

"Not yet." Pounce arched an eyebrow, "Didn't she shoot you that one time?"

"Everybody's makin' a fuss," Mac muttered.

Of all our adaptations, VS will admit this is the one I'm the most frightened of posting, for knowing the sheer fan following this series holds. Firefly has intense loyalty from it's fans and I can hope we do it justice (Being some of those intensely loyal fans ourselves). But the idea of Mac as Mal was just too good to pass up.

Our usual disclaimers for re-writes apply: Things will go off script, and relationships will be done differently. The episodes in this one get pretty scrambled and re-ordered and there are some scenes we had to let go: so much of the writing on this show is almost flawless so we can tell you now how hard it was to let some scenes go but we could hardly keep all of them.

Thank you very much for reading! Please leave us a line and let us know what you thought of it, we love hearing from our readers!