Buffy rolls onto her back before standing and smirking "You're getting better." She says to Mal.
"I'm a fast learner." Mal runs towards her but Buffy brings her leg up kicking him in the chest, she then swings out her fist hitting him in the face. She turns and delivers another punch to his face, she raises her hand again but he catches her arm as she swings. Mal smirks "You're getting slower."
Buffy smiles before kicking him in the stomach. He groans in pain and tries to pull her to the ground however she lets him pull her, as he does she does an side aerial. Once she lands she uses the hand, still connected to his to flip him onto his back.

Once he lands Mal swings out his own leg catching Buffy's feet, causing her to fall. She quickly recovers and pins Mal to the mat "Smart. But I still win." Buffy says.
"Not having a problem with that at the moment." He tells her.
Buffy stares at him confused before remembering she is sitting on top of him "Settle down, Esmeralda. Not gonna happen." She tells him as she moves to stand. Before she can stand however she finds her self pinned by Mal.
Mal looks down at her "You sure bout that?"

"Commander Summers, Sergeant Reynolds!" General Hammond yells as he walks into the room.
Buffy quickly shoves Mal off her and to the side before flipping her self up "Sir."
The general glances between the two for a moment for sighing "You leave for Serenity Valley at 06:00. I suggest you stop whatever this is for the moment. Get a good night rest. Cause tomorrow... we go to war."

Present Day:

Buffy is watching the crew play their game with Simon when Inara makes her way over "Whose winning?"
"I can't really tell." Simon says "They don't seem to be playing by any civilized rules that I know."
Buffy chuckles "It's because there are no rules. They're making them up as they go along."

Buffy looks over at River and slowly walks over "Hey River you okay?"
River stays focused on the game, "River you wanna see a trick."
River grins and nods, Buffy chuckles before looking over at Mal "Mal!"
Mal looks up and see Buffy gesture towards the giant tire their using. He chuckles before going over and getting the ball off Kaylee, Buffy quickly climbs onto the banister and does a triple tuck in the air landing right in front of Jayne, Mal throws her the ball which she quickly gets into the tire.
"Oh come on!" Jayne calls "No fair, she's all...gorramit."
"That's how it's done Jayne." Mal says.

As they are playing an alarm goes off "Proximity alert." Zoe realizes "We must be coming up on something."
"Oh, my god." Wash says "What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?" Wash breaks into a smile "Oh, right. That would be me. Uh, back to work."
Wash tosses Mal the ball and Buffy takes it off him "Mine now."
Mal reaches for the ball "Give me the ball, crazy."
Buffy shakes her head "No."
"Gorram woman" Mal says as Buffy chuckles, Mal quickly lifts her up and throws her over his shoulder.
"Hey!" Buffy exclaims but can't stop laughing.

Buffy from her place looks over at Kaylee who looks up at Simon "Say, Doc, why don't you come on down, play for our side. Inara won't mind."
Buffy tosses Kaylee the ball and twists herself so that she flips off Mal's back.
As she lands the ship begins to shake.

"Wash, you have a stroke or something?" Mal asks as he and the others make their way into the bay.
"Near enough." Wash tells them
"What happened?" Zoe asks.
Buffy looks out the window and notices the ship "I'm gonna put my money on that happened."
"Wo de ma!" Jayne exclaims seeing the floating ship.
"Anybody home?" Mal asks Wash.
"I've been hailing her." He informs them "But if whoever's there is as healthy as the guy we just ran over, I can't imagine anybody's gonna be picking up."
"Bring us in a little closer."
Wash nods "Get you close enough to ring the doorbell."
"So, what do we figure? Transport ship?" Mal asks the group.
Buffy shrugs "Gateway to hell?"
Wash chuckles "May look like one but no. Converted cargo hauler. Maybe a short-range scow."
"You can see she don't wanna be parked like that." Kaylee observes and she stares at the ship. "The port thrust's gone..."
"It's why it's spinning like a carousel." Buffy finishes causing Kaylee to smile "Knew I liked you for a reason." Kaylee says.

Simon looks at the ship skeptically "A short-range vessel this far out into space?"
"Retrofitted..." Wash explains "to carry passengers."
Buffy looks over at Simon "Used a lot now. Easy way to travel."
"Travelers pick them up cheap at government auction. A few modifications, and they serve well enough for a one-way push to the outer planets." Zoe explains.
"Settlers." Book realises.
Wash nods "Cram 15, 20 families on a boat that size, you pack 'em in tight enough."
"Families." Inara asks stunned.
Buffy nods "Typical, parent loses work can't afford to stay on the Central planet's so they ship out their families to the outer planets hoping for work."
"Tell you what I think." Jayne interjects "I figure that fella we run into did everyone on board. Killed 'em all. Then he decided to take a swim to see how fast his blood would boil out his ears."
"You're a very 'up' person." Wash tells him sarcastically.

"Shouldn't we report this?" Book asks Mal.
Mal smiles "To who? The alliance? Right. They're gonna run right out here lickety-split and make sure these taxpayers are okay."
Buffy continues to stare out the ship as she speak "Alliance don't care Shepherd. Unless it's got something to do with them they'll leave it hanging there like a kitten in a tree."
"Then we'll have to." Book tells them.
"If there's folk in need of help, why aren't they beamin' no distress call?" Jayne asks.
Zoe nods "It's true. There's no beacon."
"Which means it's likely no one's looking to find her." Mal points out.
"All the more reason for us to do the right thing. As Ms. Summers put it 'save the kitten'."
Buffy chuckles slightly but the smile leaves her face when she hears Jayne "How's about you just say a prayer when we slide on by?"
"Shall I remind you of the story of the good Samaritan?" Book asks.
Buffy cuts in "Already heard it. Mom told me when I was 5. I told Mal, he fell asleep, so better if you don't."

Mal chuckles "We'll check it out." He tells them "Could be survivors, and if not, well, then no one's gonna mind if we see if there's something of value they might've left behind."
Jayne sits up in his seat and nods happily "Yeah—No, uh, someone could be hurt."
Buffy rolls her eyes "You're really big with the empathy huh Jayne?"

"Remind me again why I have to go?" Buffy asks Mal as he helps her get into the suit.
"Because you Blondie are freakishly strong, which is hot but also useful." Mal tells her as he zips up the suit for her.
"I hate these suits and you know that." Buffy says as she pouts.
Mal chuckles "I know. It just makes it that much funnier."
Buffy punches his arm "Jackass."
Buffy helps Mal put on his helmet "So what do you think we'll find out there."
"Can't be sure. We'll know once we're on there."
Buffy thinks for a moment "Do you think I could find a new knife, mines rusted."
"Girl, if the place is empty, raid all you want."
Buffy smiles "Awesome."
"You ready?" Zoe asks as she walks over to them.
The two nod and then the three of them head for the cargo hold door.

"Wo de ma - my mother