Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of its characters or places.

Chapter 1

"Hey, Mal?"

The speaker crackled and Malcom Reynolds rolled off of his bunk with a spastic thud and curse as he hit his knee.

"That was creative one, Sir. I can honestly say that not even our fair and rose-petal-mouthed Jayne could have come up with a curse as nice and descriptive-"

Mal cut the pilot off. "What, Wash? What is so gorram important that I had to be woke up just after I finally start to get some shut eye?" To be fair, Serenity's captain had been awake for nearly three days straight due to worry over his crew and finding a job that would pay the crew he worried about. His second in command had finally told him that if he didn't get some sleep, she would personally give him a beating that would ensure he got plenty of shut eye. Mal had gone to his quarters soon after, with the standing order that Zoe was in charge and that he was not to be bothered unless it was of utmost importance.

But now, only five hours later, Wash was calling him again.

"I know, Cap'n, and I'm sorry about that, it's just…"

"It's just what, Wash? Spit it out." Mal scrubbed a hand over his face.

"It's Badger. Sent a Wave, says he's got a job for us."

Mal snorted. "Does he now?"

"Yep. Says it's got a shiny payload, too."

"And where would this job be located?"

Wash hesitated, which told Mal all he needed to know.

"I ain't flyin' near Alliance. Forget it. I don't need money bad enough to put my crew in danger." Wash paused, knowing as well as Mal that this was a lie. The crew hadn't been paid in over a month, and food was almost a memory.

"Well, to be fair, it isn't near Alliance so much as it is Alliance now, and-"

Mal cut him off. "What planet, Wash?"

Wash sputtered. "Wha-wait, we're gonna do it? I thought you said-?"

"I haven't changed my mind, but you're mighty chatty, which tells me this planet Badger's got in mind is important. So which planet is it?"

The speaker was quiet for so long, Mal thought Wash hadn't heard him, but just as he opened his mouth to ask the question again, Wash's voice came over the comm.

"Hera."

Mal went silent.

Hera. The Battle of Serenity Valley. Serenity Valley Graveyard. His doomed charge that lost the largest amount of lives of the entire war, with hundreds of thousands of unmarked graves. And now Badger had a job for them to do on the very planet where he'd abandoned his faith in God and led his fellow man to die.

Mal began to shake, overcome with fury and outrage at Badger's callous suggestion, and fought to keep his voice steady. "Put Badger on."

"Sir, I know how you feel about-about Hera, but-"

"Put. Him. On. Dong ma?" Each word was coated in fury, and Mal waited until the comm popped to life with Badger's face.

"Well, if it isn't the infamous Malcom Reynolds. How's life, Captain?" Badger grinned.

Mal stood and walked over in front of the comm. "You've got some nerve, you Hun Dan." He spat, fighting the urge to put a fist into the monitor.

Badger simply steepled his fingers, seemingly unperturbed. "Whatsa matter, Mal? You're not still hung up over a little genocide, are ya?"

Mal said nothing, and Badger's smile widened. "Hmm. Shoulda known you wouldn't be able to do it. Maybe I shoulda asked some other, brave crew to do this job." He paused. "Or maybe not crew, but a braver captain."

Mal ignored the jab. "You weren't there, Badger. You got no idea what special kinda hell that was."

"No, I don't, but I can tell you what I do know." Badger leaned forward. "I wouldn't be stuck on some battle that happened back durin' the war. I'da moved on by now, Mal. I'd be lookin' for jobs to do."

"Then you go find somebody who'll do your gorram job Badger, 'cause I won't." Mal moved to turn off the monitor, but Badger stopped him.

"Whoa, Mal, wait. I'm not sendin' this wave to get you wound up. I understand you're a bit tetchy about Hera, but-"

"A bit tetchy?" Mal growled. "You got no idea how tetchy I am. When you send thousands of good men and women to their graves, you can preach all you want about tetchy."

"Listen, Mal," Badger's smile had vanished and replaced by seriousness. "I got no one else to do this job."

Mal shrugged in indifference. "Looks like you got no one to do the job then."

"Mal," Badger was solemn, almost pleading. "You're the only one who could do this job. You're the only one with a crew that's got the skills."

"And I told you, I'm not doin' it."

"Mal-"

Mal lost his patience. "What part a 'no' is hard for you, Badger? I ain't takin' the gorram job!"

Badger watched as Mal got his temper back under control. "You need this job, Mal." Mal started to open his mouth, but Badger cut him off. "Don't bother tryin' to lie to me, cause I got contacts everywhere, and word is you haven't had work in over a month. I reckon you're about outta food, if you ain't already, and your crew's likely wonderin' when they're gettin' paid." Badger locked eyes with him. "You take this job, Mal, and it'll be enough to keep you from needin' a job for months. Maybe years if you do it right."

Mal stayed silent, thinking. His crew needed to be paid desperately. Jayne'd said the other day about how the next stop they made he was getting off, because a mercenary without a job might as well be a preacher. Shepherd hadn't taken kindly to that.

"Mal," Badger prompted. "I'm gonna need an answer."

Mal swallowed the lump in his throat. Taking this job felt too raw, too much like betrayal, even after all these years after the war. But his crew needed food and payment, and Serenity wouldn't keep flying much longer without fuel. It was a miracle Kaylee had kept her in the air as long as she had.

"Mal." Badger prompted him again.

"Fine. We'll take the job."

Badger's face melted in relief. "Thanks, Mal. I owe you one. You know, for a second there, I didn't think you'd t-"

"But I got some conditions." Mal crossed his arms.

Badger stopped mid-sentence and gave him a measured look. "Conditions?"

"Thanks for asking." Mal said. "One: I need the assurance me and my crew don't come to no harm. I want your word on this Badger, 'cause even a sniff of trouble, and I'm coming after you with a bullet with your name on it, special."

Badger nodded, his face blank. "Done."

"Two," Mal pulled himself to his full height, dropping his arms back down to his sides. "We split 70/30."

"70/30?!" Badger spluttered. "There's no way I'm giving you seventy percent-"

"70/30, or no deal. And the way I see it, Badger, I'm the only one willin' to do the job, and I'm not even that willin'."

Badger's face was red, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times before grinding out, "Fine. Anything else?"

"If I think of any more, I'll let you know."

"Fine." Badger started to turn off his end.

"Whoa whoa whoa, wait a minute, what and where exactly is this job, Badger?"

Badger stopped and the smile was back. "You know where to find me, Mal. You should know you never talk business over wave." And Badger was gone.

Mal breathed out hard in frustration. That slimey, ching-wa tsao du lio mang. Of course he would find a way to tip the scales in his favor. He may need Mal and his crew to do a job, but Badger would make them come to him. He turned back to his bed longingly, wondering if he could slip in a few more hours of sleep.

"Cap'n?" The speaker blared to life with Wash's voice.

There went that idea. "Yes, Wash?"

"Um, not to be bothersome, but-"

"You hit that already."

"Right. But, what do you want to do about Badger? I know you said you don't want to take the job, what with Hera and all, but-"

"We're taking the job. Call everyone to the bridge. I'll be up there in a second." He could hear Wash sputtering over the speaker, and gave him a command. "Now, Wash."

"I-yes, Sir."

Scrubbing his hands over his face again, Mal made his way over to the sink and turned on the cold water, splashing his face in an effort to motivate his brain back into action.

Badger sighed and pressed his thumb to the bridge of his nose. Dealing with Mal and his pigheaded stubbornness always gave him a bloody headache.

As did the fucking Fed lingering to his right.

"How was that?" Badger removed his hand, slid a pleasant look on his face, and turned to look at the Fed, just out of shot of the camera.

"Malcom Reynolds seems to be reluctant to take your bait."

Badger pushed a smirk onto his mouth. " He just needs a bit 'o leading is all. And I've always been good at makin' him go where I want him. Really, you should be payin' me extra, bein' the expert that I am."

The Fed looked at him with dark, steady eyes. " We'll be more than willing to negotiate your price after the product is delivered." The Fed watched him, calculating. He cocked his head. "Are you certain he'll bring them?"

Badger sighed, and leaned back in his chair. "Look, don't worry. He'll come. Malcom Reynolds is not one to turn down a job when he needs it as desperately as he does right now. And the Tams will be with him."

"You should hope so. It would be a shame if your…" The Fed turned his head slightly to give a disgusted glance at the hovel Badger called home. "...establishment was burned to the ground with you still inside, wouldn't it?" The Fed's face was void of emotion, and Badger felt the blood drain from his face.

"You can count on me." Badger promised. "Well, I mean, so long as you keep up your end of the bargain." He smiled in what he hoped was a confident manner and laced his fingers over his stomach.

The Fed had turned his back, but now whipped around so fast, Badger barely caught the movement. The Fed invaded his personal space in seconds. "Do you see my men, Badger?" he asked quietly. Badger took a quick glance around the room at his lackeys, doing his best to keep the Fed in view. "N-no, sir. I don't see no men other than me own."

The Fed smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Badger broke out into a cold sweat but fought to keep the fear from his face. "That will be your downfall should you cross me."

Badger's brow furrowed, and he swallowed hard. "Sorry?"

The Fed leaned closer. "You do not see my men. But my men see you, Badger. And should you decide to make your way out of our agreement, they will be the last thing you never see."

"But Sir, it's on Hera."

"I know where it is, Zoe!" Mal closed his eyes a moment and took a deep breath, working to unclench his fists.

Everyone was on the bridge. Jayne had taken up position by the doorway, leaning on it as he sharpened one of his favorite knives. Kaylee was sitting cross-legged on the floor near the console with Simon standing beside her and Inara on his other side. Wash was in the pilot's seat with his wife behind him; Shepherd had made himself at home next to the lockers with River. Mal stood in the center of the Bridge, hands on his hips, the fingers of his right hand favoring his gun.

Zoe stepped forward. "All I'm saying, Sir, is that we haven't been back there since the battle. I'm worried it might be harder for you than you think."

"And that's a kindness Zoe, but we need the money."

"You damn right we need the money." Jayne broke in. "I ain't doin' this for free or 'cause I get all warm 'n fuzzy inside."

"That's enough, Jayne." Mal cut him off with a stern look, and Jayne glared back. "Well I ain't."

"Mal," Shepherd spoke up. "I realize we need the money,-"

"You talk an awful lot for somebody who don't do nothin', preacher." Jayne said.

Shepherd sent an irritated look his way and continued. "But should we really be taking this job? From what you and Zoe have described about the Battle of Serenity, it sounded like a nightmare. And even if you've decided to continue on," Shepherd held up a hand as Mal opened his mouth. "Should we really trust Badger to come through? I mean, 70 percent, that's….well, forgive me if I'm doubtful of his willingness to part with that much of the payment."

"He'll come through." Mal said firmly. "Cause if he don't, we're gonna have a problem."

"You're going to have more than one problem soon." River said suddenly, a distant look on her face. "She's coming."

Everyone froze, confused. Simon moved away from his place by the console. "...River? Are you okay?"

"She's coming," River repeated, turning a glassy gaze onto her brother. She walked forward a few steps, a hand held out as if touching something the others couldn't see. Simon swallowed and cautiously approached her, one hand held out to her. "Who is? Who's coming, River?"

River smiled a little. "She's coming to help with the Alliance. Far away. River's End, River ends."

"The Alliance?" Jayne stood up straight from the doorway and tensed, looking as if he expected Feds to pour onto the bridge at any moment. "What's the Alliance got to do with any a this?"

"River, what are you talking about?" Simon put a hand on her shoulder. "The Alliance is far away from here. We're safe."

River's gaze had been wandering, but suddenly it snapped back to her brother's face, filled with fever. "She made them do it, Simon. Made me like this, made me questions, made me like a planet, lost, no technology, can't even find the moon."

"What do you mean, made you question?" Simon's brow furrowed, and he held her shoulders, making her face him. "Question what?"

River's face contorted in frustration. "No no no! Made me questions, Simon! The technology, the planet doesn't have it, I'm lost!" Her gaze wandered again. "She doesn't know I'm here, but it's a secret and-I-"

Simon caught her as she started to fall, and she gripped his forearms tightly. "River, calm down. It's okay." His sister whimpered and shook, looking around the room with dazed eyes.

"Right." Mal looked a little unnerved and traded a look with Zoe. She nodded slightly in understanding. "Well, anyway, back where it ain't fulla oddness," he continued. "We're taking this job. I don't know where it is on Hera, and I don't know what this job is Badger's got for us, so we're gonna have to pay Persephone a little visit."

Shepherd started to say something, but Mal held up a hand. "I ain't sayin' I trust 'im, preacher, 'cause I don't. But I am sayin' that we're gonna take this job. Me, Zoe, and Jayne'll go see Badger. Wash, you and Kaylee will stay onboard in case we need back up."

"What about me and River?" Simon asked.

Jayne eyed him derisively. "You and your creepy sister'll stay here outta the way."

"That's enough, Jayne." Mal said sharply. He tuned to Simon. "He's not wrong, though. You and River'll be here with Wash and Kaylee."

"What about me?" Shepherd asked. "Do you want me to go with you, or stay here?"

"You're free to go wherever, preacher, so long's you're onboard when we leave."

"Well where's 'Nara goin'?" Kaylee asked, looking slightly worried. "You ain't said nothin' 'bout her."

"Don't worry, Kaylee. I'll have a client scheduled during our stay on Persephone." Inara said, smiling to reassure her. Kaylee smiled back, relieved.

"Right, well, that's everyone settled. Wash, take us in."

Mal, Zoe and Jayne stood together in the middle of the room of Badger's hideaway. The air hung hot and heavy with dust, and the fans Badger had installed weren't moving fast enough to give a fly a refreshing breeze. Five or so of Badger's lackeys stood around the room, hands on guns, watching the three of them. Badger sat behind an old, honest-to-God wooden desk in a black high backed chair, eyes locked on the tall, brown haired captain.

Mal had his arms crossed, the picture of indifference, but was tense and on high alert; nothing about this job sat right with him, and what with Badger's lackeys circling around, he wasn't sure what to expect. Jayne had insisted on bringing Vera, and at first Mal had put his foot down, saying that there was no need to go in guns blazing. Jayne had responded that he'd rather shoot first and ask questions later than walk in and have his brainpan emptied. In the end, Zoe had made them compromise, telling Jayne he could bring Vera, but she was for show only, unless things went south. This had prompted muttering from the mercenary, and Mal caught words like, "plans always go tits up", "double-crosser", and "best damn gun there ever was".

Badger had given them the details and coordinates of the job, and was waiting on an answer.

"Well?" he asked, giving his signature slimeball smirk and steepling his fingers. "What do you think? Are you up for the job?"

Without looking, Mal knew Zoe had given Badger one of her famous glares, the one she reserved solely for Badger, because his smirk slowly died. "Dunno, Badger." He said. "Few parts a this don't sit right with me."

Badger cocked his head. "Like what?"

"Like payment. How do I know this job's gonna pay what you say it is?"

"Oh, come on, Mal. You know me." Badger spread his hands in a placating gesture.

Mal nodded. "I do know you. That's why I wanna make sure you ain't tryin' to swindle me."

"What, you don' trust me? You don' trust ole Badger?"

"Not as far as I can spit."

"Well that's good; you shouldn't. But you can rely on me to come through with this."

Mal cocked his head. "And how's that?"

The smirk returned. "Let's jus' say I got incentive."

"And what incentive might that be?"

Badger's smirk widened. "Oh, don' you worry your pretty little head about that, Mal."

"I ain't playin' games here, Badger. What incentives, or we walk."

Badger nodded once, as if he'd expected as much. He stood leisurely and walked lazily around to the side of his desk. "The meds I'm sendin' you for are A-grade. They're goin' for a shiny price, and if I can get a thousand of it to my buyer, he's willin' to pay extra."

"So that's your incentive? You get extra on the side from the buyer?" Zoe crossed her arms, doubtful.

"Well, that's not all. With what he says he'll give me, I'll have enough to buy me own fancy rock. No more havin' to live in this hole in the ground. 'Course, that means you'll be out of jobs Mal, but I can live with that."

"Of course you can. So you're tellin' me you're getting more'n 30 percent?" Mal asked, irritation creeping into his tone. He placed his hands on his hips. "I don't see how that's fair, seein' as we're ones doin' the job. No, if you want our help, we go 80/20."

"80/20?! Bollocks! I ain't goin' 80/20 with you!" Badger spat. Mal shrugged as Jayne's fingers tightened on Vera. Badger's lackey's shifted their eyes to their leader, waiting for a command.

"80/20, or we walk, Badger."

"Not bloody happenin', Mal."

"Well, without me n' my crew, you ain't got nobody to do the job needs doin'. 'Sides, you're gettin' a little extra anyway, so the way I see it, you're still gettin' 30 percent, same as you was."

Badger opened his mouth, furious, but Mal cut him off. "Think real careful now, Badger. You can either take this deal or leave it, but if you decide to leave it, me n' my crew are gone. We'll find work elsewhere."

Badger's face was still red, but he smirked. "I doubt that very much, Mal, but you're welcome to try."

Mal said nothing, levelling his blue gaze on the short man. Badger leaned back a bit with a smirk and walked back around to his chair and dropped like a stone into it. "Alright, Mal. I'll take the deal. But you have to get me my thousand, or we go back to 70/30."

"No way." Zoe said.

"Deal." Mal said at the same time.

Zoe turned to her captain, incredulous. "Sir, that's hardly a deal. I'm pretty sure Badger's gettin' paid extra on the side whether we get that thousand or not," she hissed, stepping to him. "Going 70/30 isn't a good idea."

"Zoe, I know what I'm doing." Mal began. Jayne snorted, and Mal shot him an irritated glance before turning back to his second in command. 'Sides, we're getting that thousand, so it won't be 70/30, it'll be 80/20."

Zoe sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Mal gave her a look that said he was mildly insulted by her lack of faith and was about to tell her so when he caught Badger watching them with high interest. He turned back to him.

"You got yourself a deal. Now, what's the plan to get these medicines?"

Badger barked a laugh. "Oh, I don't have one. That's your problem. But I can tell you it's a basic second story job."

Mal frowned. "How much security we talkin'?"

Badger pondered for a moment, shrugging. "Dunno. Prob'ly basic Fed security, likely no more'n 20 or 30 of 'em. Medicine's on the first floor, middle of the hospital. How you wanna get it out's up to you, so long as it's easily transported."

"We'll take care a that. Where's the drop?"

"Serenity Valley, middle of a gorge. I'll give you the coordinates."

Mal clenched his jaw to keep from putting a bullet through Badger's head. He was really pushing his luck with this job. First Hera, and now the drop in the Valley. Mal made a mental note to catch Badger alone sometime in the near future to tell him exactly what he thought about this job. Preferably using Vera.

"Fine." He said finally, noting that Badger was watching him closely. He walked over to where Badger sat and took the paper from the man's outstretched hand, glancing quickly at the paper.

Without another word, Mal began striding toward the door, Zoe and Jayne moving behind him.

"Oh, Mal?" Badger called. Mal stopped short and turned to face him.

Badger smiled. "Don't get caught."

"That Badger's got hisself a plan, Mal, I can feel it." Jayne muttered as they wove through people.

Zoe snorted and gave Jayne an amused glance. "Now wherever did you get that idea, Jayne? Couldn't be 'cause he's done it before."

Jayne ignored her, but his face darkened. "This plan a yours better work Mal, 'cause if it don't, I'm gon' let Vera here give Badger a little kiss, right between the eyes."

Mal squinted the bright sun. "This plan goes amiss Jayne, and I'll shoot 'im my own self." He brushed past a man heading the other way and glanced at the crowded stalls to his left. A quick movement caught his eye, and he strained to see what it was. Someone, what looked like a girl, had suddenly whipped out of sight. Despite the hot sun and the body heat from the congested street, Mal felt a sliver of ice slide down his spine. Someone was following them. The same someone he'd glimpsed on his way in to see Badger.

"...right, Sir?" Zoe's voice came out of nowhere. Mal had stopped in the middle of the street and was staring off in the alley way where the figure had disappeared.

"Sir?"

Mal jumped a little and swallowed, glancing from his second in command back to the alley. "Uh, w-what?"

Zoe's brow furrowed, and she tilted her head, holding a hand up to her eyes. "I said, 'Everything alright, Sir?' You're lookin a mite peaked."

Mal gave one last look at the alley way and turned away, resuming his brisk pace back to the ship. "I'm fine. Let's get back to the ship and figure out what we're gonna do about this job."

Zoe glanced at Jayne, but the mercenary simply shrugged and followed the captain through the throngs of people.

dong ma?: understand?

ching-wa tsao du lio mang: frog-humping son of a bitch

hun dun: bastard