I have no excuses. I was working on my other stories and this one got neglected. For that, I am ashamed. I only hope this chapter can make up for it*
Jim Prichard emerged from the gangway alongside Mal and the rest of the crew. Minus Kaylee, Shepherd, Simon and River. Inara was away seeing a client. In Kaylee's place was Suzee who was walking alongside Jayne. Jayne had his arm around her and smiling. Jim shook his head and they all continued on to Badgers fort. When the fort was in view from down the road, Mal turned to the crew. He then looked at Jim.
"Jim I know I asked you ta come with us. But when we get there, I need you hang back in the waitin' area. You know this bunch though. A bounty hunters gonna make them nervous. Be ready though. If I holler fer you or the situation seems that I need yer help, than you head in and od just that. Dong Ma?"
Jim nodded and proceeded to follow. Ever so often glancing at Suzee and Jayne and slowly shaking his head. Once they arrived at Badgers, he leaned with his bank against the wall and put his right foot up against it with his knee bent. After watching the rest of the crew go down the hallway, Jim's attention went to the henchman standing in the room with him. He nodded and the henchman scoffed at him causing Jim to grin.
Not long after, they heard a banging sound. When they looked, Jim and the henchman saw Badger get in Mal's face. When he saw another henchman approach the doorway with a Colt .44 revolver pointed at Mal, Jim stepped back and drew his. He then clubbed the first henchman in back of the head with the butt of his revolver, knocking him out. He then made his way towards the end of the hallway. Two more henchman appeared with guns drawn.
Jim holstered his revolver as he dropped down and rolled forward behind them. He then spun around on one knee and low blowed both men with the bend of his elbows. When they fell to their knees in pain, he slammed their heads together and continued towards where the gunman was standing. Just as the gunman was had his shot lined up and was thumbing back the hammer, Jim placed the barrel of his revolver under the mans chin. Jim took away his gun, tucking it into his waistband and said, "Move it." The would be shooter carefully walked sideways into the room with Jim's revolver still pressed hard under his chin.
Upon entering, Badger looked over and shouted, "What the hell is this Malcolm?" as his other henchmen drew their guns on Mal and the crew. The crew then drew their guns while Mal just glared at Jim. He took notice they the numbers were even on both sides for men and guns.
Mal glared at the bounty hunter. "What the hell are you doing Prichard?" he angrily asked. "Xiànzài zìjǐ jiěshì yīxià, gāisǐ de!"
Jim shook his head. "No. How about instead, you have that sumbitch explain why his lackey was fixin' ta shoot ya from behind? We all know that wouldn't be happenin' unless the weasel was the one allowin' it," he said and looked at Badger.
Badger's eyes went wide as Jayne turned his LeMat to him. "Is that sumbitch one of yurs er not?"
Badger sighed and dropped his head. "He be one of me men. He only acts on me orders."
"So you told 'im to shoot Cap'n Reynolds over your little argument then?"
"What? No! Not over a disagreement like tha'," Badger answered.
"Then what the hell is this about?" Zoe demanded to know.
Badger looked away and muttered, "I dunno." With that, Jim thumbed back the hammer to his revolver and pressed it further under the gunman's chin.
"Yes ya do ya dumb mick. You best tell us why he had his gun pointed at Cap'n Reynolds and was thumbin' back the hammer when I got to him. Since you mentioned he only does what ya order him to do, you tell now if was he actin' alone or if he was actin' on orders."
Badger remained silent. Only glancing at them. Mal the drew his revolver and pressed over Badgers heart against his chest. Either you tell me now or I'll kill you and we'll ask yer friend there and get our answers from him. You got three seconds."
Badger took a deep breath and looked Mal in the eye. "I'm sorry Malcolm. All of you are wanted. But yer wanted dead or alive on every planet. Yer gonna have folks comin' fer you no what planet yer on."
Mal punched him and shouted, "Nǐ bèizhe yīgè biǎo zi de érzi." Guns cocked on both side and the stand off continued.
"So you told him to collect on me?"
"The truth is the best thing for you right now," Zoe added.
Badger took a deep breath, shook his head and looked up. "That bloke tha boun'y hun'er be holdin' up was sent by tha Alliance. I can't tell them no and be getting' locked away. If any of you kill 'im, they'll kill me and find out you was here anyhow. That'll leave you out of any future jobs on any planet."
Mal kept his posture stiff and turned his head to Jim. He slightly tilted his head sideways to the gunman the bounty hunter currently kept in place. Jim nodded, lowered his revolver and then hit the Alliance operative in the face with the side of his weapon. Knocking him out and breaking his nose. He then took the man's identification. Mal nodded in approval and lowered his revolver leading to Badger having his men lower theirs.
"We're done here fer now Malcolm. There's no business left to discuss. We're done and even," Badger said.
Mal looked at him and then shot him in the leg. Badgers men drew on them again. Suzee grabbed Alliance operatives revolver out of Jim's waistband and pointed it at the man holding a gun to him. Jayne had a revolver in each hand and stood in front of Suzee. Badger looked up and screamed, "What the bloody hell Malcolm?"
Mal glanced at him. "Now we're gorram even. Crew, let's go before we draw even more attention to ourselves."
The crew backed out with their weapons still drawn. They quickly rushed back to the ship. They were barely up the gangway when Mal turned Suzee towards him. She looked at him taken aback. She was unnerved by the intensity in his eyes.
"Get to the deck and hack Badgers com's now! He ain't bein' honest bout that supposed Alliance op. Prichard gave me his identification on our way back. Find out who sent him!"
When Suzee went to the deck, Mal turned to Jim.
"Good work in there Prichard. You definitely pulled your weight today. That was a good save. Now we gotta find out where that hundun actually came from."
"I'll help get to the bottom of that however I can," Jim said and started to walk away.
"Prichard," Mal said and he turned around. "I had the spare shuttle fueled up. If you happen to need it for a side job you can use it. I trust that you won't take off and disappear to the other side of the verse with it. Fer twenty five percent of each of your earnings of course."
Jim chuckled. "I'm glad you can trust me Cap'n. And that'll be fifteen percent."
Mal smirked and nodded. "Call me Mal. You've earned my trust and respect enough to have earned that. And I'll settle fer the fifteen percent."
They shook hands to seal the deal. Jayne appeared in the cargo bay. He was pointing towards the deck. Mal acknowledged him with a raise of his eyebrows. They both noticed the concerned and confused look he had.
"What is it Jayne?" Mal aksed.
"Yer goona wanta see this fer yerself Cap."
They met up with Suzee who was breathing hard in fear.
"What'd ya find out Suzee?" Mal asked.
She shakily exhaled before pointing at the screen. "His name is Philip Wagner. Yer right. He ain't alliance. I wish he were though. The Alliance at least stops lookin' after a while."
"Who the hell is he with then?" Jim asked annoyed and wanting her to get to the point.
She took another shaky breath. "He had money transferred to his account from a man named Andrew Tiposch. An underboss of... Adelai Niska."
Zoe dropped her riffle in disbelief. Kaylee had just walked into the room and stared at the computer screen with wide eyes. Jayne was indifferent. This time it was Jim's turn to glare at Mal in anger and asked, "What the hell have you gotten me into Reynolds?"
Mal ran his fingers through his hair and muttered, "Cāo wǒ."
Xiànzài zìjǐ jiěshì yīxià, gāisǐ de- Explain yourself now god damn it
Nǐ bèizhe yīgè biǎo zi de érzi- You backstabbing son of a bitch
Hundan- Asshole
Cāo wǒ- Fuck Me