"Well, Sir, that could have gone better." Zoe said, plopping down on a crate. She reached down and pulled a long shard of glass from her calf. A few seconds later, they felt Serenity move under them, taking them away from the planet.
"We got the goods, dint we? I say it's a win." Jayne replied, pulling the crates together on one side of the cargo bay.
"We got less than what Badger wanted. We won't be paid enough to keep afloat." Mal said, eying his hired gun. "Have to pull a few strings to even get another job."
They got Zoe to the infirmary for Simon to stitch up, even though she insisted she was fine. She had a habit of not taking very good care of herself since Miranda. Sure she kept herself looking and smelling nice, but she never got the medical care she needed.
~oOoOo~
Mal was walking down from the catwalk to the cargo bay when Rivers small voice came over the intercom. "It may be a bumpy landing."
"Bumpy better not mean crashy." Mal grumbled as he stepped off the last step.
They landed on Persephone without a bump at all. As Mal, Zoe and Jayne got the goods together, everyone else was getting ready. Kaylee came down just as they were ready to leave.
"Now remember, only if they can pay, and if they don't look like a fugitive." Mal told her. "Or a fed." He added, remembering their first time taking on passengers.
"Yes sir, Cap'n." She smiled hugely at him, and waved as the three of them left her with Serenity. She sat in a yard chair and smiled at passers-by. She watched an old man pass, staring at Serenity with awe. She would have asked for him to join them if he hadn't been carrying a bottle of what looked like blood.
As she sat there, she wished Simon could sit with her. But he and River were still wanted fugitives. They couldn't show their faces, even on Persephone.
"This is a beautiful ship. Firefly class, correct?" A woman asked, coming to a stop in front of Kaylee.
"Yeah, names Serenity. Where ya headed?" Kaylee asked. The woman reminded her somewhat of Inara. She was taller and wore the same sort of dresses. All pretty and flowy.
"I haven't really decided. The transportation is more what I'm looking for." The woman said, her voice soft.
"Well, Paquin is our stop. If that sounds pleasant for you, it's great for me!" Kaylee smiled.
"Paquin sounds lovely. I'll just fetch my things." With that, the woman walked away.
Kaylee found a man who looked tired. "Looking to go to Paquin. You headed that way?" The man asked.
"I sure am. You can pay, I can take ya." Kaylee replied.
"Sounds like a plan." The man said. He carried his cart up to Serenity. "This is a lovely ship." He said.
"She is. This is Serenity," she gestured to the ship. "And I'm Kaylee, her mechanic."
"My name is Buford Tamas. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Kaylee." He tipped his hat to her.
Kaylee watched as a couple walked past. They were pointing different ships out to each other. Kaylee smiled as the woman laid eyes on Serenity. Her whole face lit up and she grabbed the mans arm and pointed to Serenity. The man smiled too, and led her to Kaylee.
"Where ya headed?" He asked.
"Paquin. But I see you haven't been looking at destinations, so much as ships, and my Serenity is the nicest." Kaylee responded, her pride in Serenity coloring her words.
"Does look like a nice ship." The woman said. "And Paquin doesn't sound too bad." She turned to the man. He nodded, making her smile.
"We'll take a ride to Paquin, if that's alright with you and Serenity." The man said, making Kaylee smile.
"That sounds great!" Kaylee said.
She showed the new arrivals to their bunks, and went back out to wait for Mal, Zoe and Jayne. They arrived a few minutes later, and Mal didn't look very happy.
"How many did you get?" He asked Kaylee.
"Four. There is a couple, didn't get their names yet. And a man named Buford, he's nice. And a woman." Kaylee replied.
"They all can pay?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, Sir." She smiled. "Oh, here they are." She said, gesturing to the group of newcomers.
"Well everyone, this is our Captain, Malcolm Reynolds." Kaylee made his introduction. "Cap'n, this is Buford Tamas. And, I didn't catch the rest of their names." She looked at the floor, pouting slightly.
"I am Orry Oak, and this is my wife Katheryn." They smiled at Mal, who nodded in return. Then he turned to look at the last passenger, and his eyes widened slightly. She was beautiful. Her dark hair curled down to her waist and her green eyes held an intelligence that he had only ever seen in River's, but her intelligence was masked with her psychotic-ness.
"Hello, Captain Reynolds. My name is Camille Clare. It is a pleasure." She smiled politely at him.
Mal nodded at her then turned to Kaylee. "Have River get us off this rock." He left them then, going to his bunk. He sat on his bed, and felt Serenity move, telling him they were leaving Persephone. He laid in his bed, thinking of his new passengers. How strange the crew must look to them. And they hadn't even met all of them.
Mal didn't think the trip would be eventful until he woke to screaming and very high pitched laughter.