Author's Note:  Just so ya'll know, this takes place before Ariel.  There will be Chinese translations at the very end.  And all the Greek stuff was reviewed and approved by a leading classics scholar.  At least, the best classics scholar I know.  Ok, the only classics scholar I know, but hey, how many of you know a classics scholar at all?

Passengers

"Passengers?" Simon asked nervously.

"'Course," Kaylee said, smiling at the young man. "Don' you remember how you first came on?"

"I remember all to well," Simon said, taking a deep breath of the planet's air. It was hot and heavy and smelled like a host of unsavory things: engine exhaust, human body odor, and other things the doctor didn't want to contemplate. "I thought after such a nightmare Mal would avoid passengers."

"Well, fares is usually pretty good money," Kaylee said, setting up her lawn chair. "Plus now we can charge more on account'a you."

"Me?" Simon said. "What, the thrill of traveling with a wanted fugitive drives up the price?"

Kaylee laughed, "Naw, but havin' a good medic do. There's all sorts a hypochondriacs out there won't travel ta the next town, not ta mention the next moon, without knowin' there's a doctor near ta take care a them."

 "Ah," Simon said nodding. "Well, I suppose . . ." His voice suddenly trailed off as he noticed something in the distance. "You know, I think I should probably go, ah, inside."

Kaylee followed his gaze to see a small Alliance patrol, two grunts and an officer accompanied by a well-dressed woman. They seemed to be examining each of the ship's specs, and talking very briefly to whomever was sitting outside of this ship soliciting passengers. They were about five ships' away, working towards Serenity with typical Alliance efficiency.

"I think they've already seen ya," Kaylee said. Her own stomach was starting to twist into a knot, she was sure Simon was much worse off. "Probably be best fer you ta just sit tight and smile when they walk by."

"What if they're looking for us?" Simon said very softly. The patrol was only four ships away now.

"Then they found ya," Kaylee said, just as softly. "If you run they'll follow."

"If we don't run she'll be sent back and I'll . . ."

"But," Kaylee insisted, "If they ain't lookin' fer you, seein' the ship medic lookin' all timid 'n panicky might just make 'um suspicious."

The patrol was three ships away.

"Kaylee, I can't . . ."

"Ya ain't gotta lie," Kaylee said. "Ya just gotta make em believe the truth."

"Which is?"

"That you're this ships medic an' there ain't no place you'd rather be than Serenity."

Simon was somewhat surprised to realize that that was indeed the truth, and that he'd have no problem telling that to the Alliance patrol if they asked. All the same, he prayed they didn't ask.

"Huh," Kaylee said, "They skipped that Fant class transport."

They had indeed skipped one of the larger, newer looking ships in the row. They were now one ship closer to Serenity.

"Why would they skip that one?" Simon asked.

"I'da know," Kaylee admitted. "Guess it weren't what they were lookin' fer."

"What do you think they are looking for?"

"I'da know that neither," Kaylee said as the patrol turned away from the Pecker class ship docked next to Serenity and were finally turning their attention to the Firefly's many qualities.

"Can I help you fellas?" Kaylee asked kindly, not getting up from her warn folding chair.

The officer turned to Kaylee and offered her an official smile. "How many passengers can you accommodate?"

"We got room fer nine," Kaylee said. "Course if ya need more, we could have the crew double up. Anythin' fer the Alliance."

Simon glanced at Kaylee bewildered by her openness; he wondered if she'd forgotten they crew of Serenity was, with hardly an exception, criminal.

"How very refreshing," the officer said, taking a step towards the young girl and the ship. "But your friend here doesn't seem to agree." The officer, who had a clean shaven, pale, nondescript face, set his official gaze on Simon.

"He's just bashful," Kaylee said, whapping the doctor affectionately, trying to start him out of his terror. "Say hi to the nice Alliance man, Simon."

"Hi," Simon said, his throat was suddenly so dry he could barely speak.

"Do either of you own this ship?"

"Naw," Kaylee said, "This here ship is owned by Captain Malcolm Reynolds. I'm Kaylee, the mechanic and this here is Simon, ship's medic."

"Captain Reynolds has a very young crew," the officer observed.

Kaylee wasn't quite sure how to respond to that, "We are what we are," she said with a chuckle.

"If I told you I needed room for ten passengers, what would you do?"

"Like I said, some a us would double up."

"Who?  Do you have a protocol?"

"Protocol?"

"Captain Reynolds isn't really one for protocols," Simon observed.

"So you don't know what would happen."

"I'm sure somethin' . . ." Kaylee said, grasping a little.

"We need an answer Miss Kaylee."

"I, ah, I guess I kin see if . . ."

"I'd sleep in the infirmary," Simon said quickly. "I fall asleep there half the time anyways, someone could have my room."

Kaylee looked up and smiled at him. Seem open, seem willing to bend over backward, that's what governments expected; it's what they liked, what kept them from suspecting you of anything too nefarious. At least, in theory.

"I want to see the inside," the woman said. Her voice was high-pitched, thin, with a tone of aristocracy. She had very light blond hair, pulled tightly back in a stylized bun, and a thin, shallow face accented with extravagant yet tasteful make up.  She was probably in her late thirty's but she had the bearing of a woman twice her age.  She reminded Simon very much of his grandmother's friends, the kind that would criticize him as a young boy if his tie was not straight or his hair was not properly parted. In a more-or-less pavlovian response to her presence, the palms of Simon's hands started to sweat.

"We require a tour of your ship," the Alliance officer said curtly.

"A tour?" Kaylee said, her voice squeaking just a little as she turned to look nervously at Simon. "We don' usually give tours."

The officer sighed, "That was not a request."

"Well," Simon said, trying and failing not to sound nervous. "Then I guess we should give you a tour."

"Is there any reason you wouldn't want us to look in your ship?" the officer said suspiciously.

"Naw," Kaylee kept her voice light, her smile beaming. "It's jus' I'm not quite comfortable givin' a tour without the cap'in, ya know. I's his ship."

"I feel it's important that we tour it now," the officer said. The two grunts moved forward just enough to remind Serenity's youngest crew members that they were there, and they were armed, and they were going to get things their way.

"Kaylee," Simon said, not taking his eyes off the guns. "I think maybe I should get Wash. After all, he's been on the ship longer than either of us. He has seniority."

"Wash?" the officer said, looking suspicious.

"Tha's a great idea Simon," Kaylee said, feeling very relieved. Turning back to the officer she explained, "He's ship's pilot, married ta the first mate. He's been with Serenity ever since she's been flyin'." Kaylee turned back to Simon. "Why don't you go an' send Wash out here. Then you can get that thing ya need and I'll meet ya round back fer the little day trip we were plannin'."

Simon stared at her for a second before nodding, "That is a very, very good idea. I'll, ah, I'll go and, and meet you." He turned to the alliance patrol. "Sirs, Ma'am," he said, bowing slightly, before turning quickly and jogging in his awkward way up the hatch.

Kaylee watched him, smiling blatantly. He'd done so well, she thought. Yes, he'd been a little slow on the uptake, and he'd been very, very stiff, but he hadn't done or said anything stupid. There was hope for the zheng pai doctor. When she turned back to the Alliance officers, she could tell that they didn't suspect a thing. After all, what was suspicious about two very young crewmembers being afraid of doing something without their captain's approval? And what was more likely then the same crew members wanting to get off the ship and explore the city? She was extremely proud of how very probable, and really, how true, their lie had been.

"Are you two lovers?" the aristocratic woman asked so bluntly that Kaylee felt like she'd been punched.

"Me me m[i]?" Kaylee gasped.

"The question is fairly self-explanatory," the officer said. "I suggest you answer it."

"Why da ya need ta know?" Kaylee said. "I mean, what do it matter?"

"Why won't you answer the question?" the officer said.

"We're good friends," Kaylee finally said cautiously. "An' mor'in that I can't really say."

"I see," the aristocratic woman said dryly.

"Hey there little Kaylee," Wash called from inside the cargo bay. "Doc tells me that someone needs a tour."

"Hey there, Wash!" Kaylee said, relief flooding her voice. "Yeah, these here Alliance folk would like ta take a look 'round Serenity. I was hopin' you could show 'em."

"Ah, sure," Wash said, smiling falsely at the Alliance patrol and the woman as he meandered down the hatch. "Right, around."

"Thanks Wash, me 'n Simon are gonna go see the town, then, while ya do this."

"The town," Wash said, still looking at the Alliance patrol. "Yeah, right, you two wacky kids have a great time."

"Thanks," Kaylee said. She turned to the Alliance patrol and smiled at them. "Hope y'all have a nice tour."

"I'm sure it will be adequate." The officer said dryly.

Kaylee nodded before turning and scampering around to the other side of Serenity where, she prayed to God, Simon and River would be waiting.

* * *

"What I see you not comprehending, Captain Reynolds, is that you can not refuse."

"Is this the great freedom you Alliance boys are protecting?" Mal said tersely. "'Cause if it is I'm thinkin' some one needs to buy this government a dictionary."

"Witty," the lieutenant said dryly.

"Really think so?" Mal said, lightly. "'Cause no one on my ship laughs at my jokes. Bein' the captain and all you'd think they'd fall over backwards to flatter me, but no, all this wit seems lost on them."

"How very tragic for you."

"I'n it though?" Mal sighed, folding his arms over his chest and leaning back in his chair. "Ya know, sometimes I think I'm just life's punching bag."

"Perhaps you are," the Alliance lieutenant said with a perfectly straight face, as he'd said everything else in their 'negotiation.' Mal was starting to wonder if this man could even make an expression. "Perhaps that's why your ship was selected to transport the Kubats."

"I'm just wonerin' why one a your pretty new ships couldn'a taken the family to New Dallas. Don't get me wrong, I love Serenity, but she ain't exactly the kinda accommodations a Prefect's wife would be used to. And I'll be damned if I have to hear some spoiled princess complain 'bout how ruddy awful my ship is."

"That, Captain Reynolds, is not something you'll have to worry about," the lieutenant said coolly. "Mrs. Kubat chose your ship personally. She felt that such an environment would be 'educational' for her children."

"Shiny," Mal muttered, "I always wanted ta be a school lesson."

"Then I suppose you aren't really life's punching bag, now are you?" the lieutenant said, raising his eyebrow in what might have been a facial expression. "This is a list of Mrs. Kubat's requirements. She and her children will be boarding tomorrow morning at eight a.m. your ship will depart promptly at eight-thirty."

"Ahh," Mal said. "That ain't exactly possible."

"It is not only possible, it is what will happen," the lieutenant said forcefully.

"No, you see, we ain't scheduled to leave for another day."

"Your schedule has changed," the lieutenant asserted. "I thought I'd made that clear."

"Problem is," Mal said, putting an edge on his own voice. "Inara, our registered companion, she's got clients. She ain't supposed to come back ta the ship 'till tammara night."

"Her clientele have been notified of her early departure and we will include compensation for her lost income in your fee."

"Well," Mal said, suddenly finding his mouth very dry. "I guess you've got it all figured out."

"The Alliance is nothing if not thorough," the lieutenant said, collecting the massive amounts of paperwork that were required to commandeer a privet vessel for Alliance transport work.

"Oh, the Alliance is plenty of other things," Mal muttered.

"What did you say?" the lieutenant asked

"Just wonderin' at the great Alliance," Mal said quickly. "Somethin' you do often 'nuff I'd wager."

"Fine," the lieutenant clipped. "I advise you to return to your ship and prepare it for your passengers."

Mal nodded and stood. "If that's what the great Alliance wants . . ."

"Good day, Captain Reynolds," the lieutenant said, handing Mal his portion of the paper work. Mal took it, forced a smile, turned and stormed out of the room.

"Captain," Zoë said. She'd had to jog to catch up with him as he made a bee-line to the exit. Jayne followed, as always, ambivalent. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah, Zoë, yeah, just great," Mal said with sarcastic relish. "We got us a real good job. Government work. Woo-hoo."

Jayne laughed, "Fei hu, I could a sworn you were gonna walk outta that room without a ship."

"There was no call to think that," Zoë snapped, glancing at the groups of Alliance officers mingling in the barracks hallways. "Cap'in hadin' done a thing wrong."

Jayne grunted a laugh, "Right."

"Speekin' a wrong, we're ya able to convince Mr. Talbar we weren't narcs," Mal asked.

"'Fraid not sir," Zoë said crisply.

"Yeah, well, not surprised," Mal muttered as they reached the barracks exit. "Alliance humped us good, pullin' us outta a bar like they did, in the middle of a transaction. We'll be lucky ta ever get work in this town again. It's them or nothin'."

"So we did take the job, sir?" Zoë asked. There was a definite disappointment in her voice.

"As it's been explained to me, we never had a choice."

TO BE CONTINUED . . .