Author's Note: Thank you all for your very kind reviews. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
"First landing." River's breathing was ragged and she was gripping the steering wheel hard.
Mal looked slightly shaken from the pilot's chair. He glanced over at his co-pilot. "Been through worse." He spun the chair around and stood up. "We'll have to work on it." He gave her a small smile and then headed for the cargo bay.
"Ladies and Menfolk, welcome to Pecorino," Mal said as he trotted down the metal stairs to the rest of his crew who were preparing for their arrival.
"What the hell kind of landing was that?" Jayen barked.
"Everything's in tact," he replied. Mal peered up to the upper level and saw Inara standing just above him staring down. She looked annoyed and concerned. Mal let out a frustrated sigh. He looked around at his crew. His eyes fell on Zoe and then he glanced back up at Inara. "I must be out of my gorram mind," he muttered to himself. "Jayne. Inara. You're coming with me to pick up the job. Zoe, you have control of the ship. Kaylee and Simon I want you to go to town a pick up supplies."
Everyone froze and stared at Mal. Kaylee peered up at Inara who looked as surprised as everyone else.
Inara floated down the stairs and stood in the circle with everyone else.
Mal glanced her over and then sighed. "I don't suppose have any appropriate clothin' for crime, do ya?"
Inara looked down at her gold and red dress that clung to her body like second skin. "I might have something."
"All right, listen up. We're dealin' with a new gal. Her name is Coral. I only know her by reputation. She is strictly business but it sounds like she's good folk. We meet with her, get the job and we're all back on Serenity in two hours. Any questions?" Mal paused. "Good. Get to work."
Ten minutes later everyone was ready to leave, except Inara. "Every body wants to be a criminal," Mal muttered to himself, "but I ain't never heard of anyone taking so long to…" Every thought flew right out of his mind as he watched Inara step down the stairs. She was wearing a normal pair of pants that you would find Zoe wearing and a white cotton, sleeveless shirt that hugged her torso. Her raven tendrilswas tied in a pony tail and she was wearing calf high brown boots.
Mal had seen her a thousand times in her glamorous gowns and curve hugging dresses, but she never looked as beautiful as she did in that moment. Her eyes met his and he stayed with her as she sauntered toward him.
"Cap'n?"
Mal finally tore his eyes off of Inara and turned to see who was calling for him. "Huh?" Kaylee, Jayne and Simon all looked amused.
Simon stepped forward, looking serious. "You have a little drool." Simon tapped his chin to indicate where and grinned.
Kaylee and Jayne snickered.
Mal growled, "Can we get the show on the road? I would like to get this job done before I have to kill y'all."
Jayne finished loading the mule and boarded the small, yellow hover craft. Mal extended his hand toward Inara and helped her up. She sat passenger side. Mal double checked everything in his head and he hopped into the driver's seat.
The charged out of Serenity's belly.
Inara turned to the Mal. "All right, Captain, what is my job?"
"You're the one who thinks she got a brilliant criminal mind, why don't you tell me?"
Inara glared at him.
"You said you can read people and you're pretty observant. Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Don't do anything unless I tell ya to. If something goes wrong, you run."
"Run?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It's best you leave the gun slinging to the professionals. This is no place for bow and arrows or swords."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
"River, stay here with Zoe, Kaylee and I will be back shortly."
"Which one of us was brain washed to be weapon?" River questioned.
Simon shook his head. "You'll have to forgive me, nearly a year of taking care of brain washed sister, it not so easy to stop worrying."
River smiled, "Kaylee's waiting."
Simon turned and got in back Kaylee on the four wheeler. He wrapped his arms around her and she hit the gas. Once they arrived in town Kaylee parked the four wheeler and pulled out their list.
"Maybe we should've brought River, this is a big list."
Simon glanced over her shoulder, feeling her warmth surround him. "Let's start over there." Simon pointed and they headed toward the main strip. Simon cleared his throat. "Um, Kaylee?"
"Yeah, Simon?" she asked still studying the note.
"There's something I have to tell you." He opened the door to the shop for her and followed her inside.
"What's that?" she asked.
Simon grabbed Kaylee's arm and pulled her back. "We just interrupted a robbery."
Kaylee looked up to see four armed men holding up the clerk. "I have a feeling we're going to be late," she said backing up into Simon's arms as one of the men turned his gun toward them.
"I owe you an apology," Zoe stated as she entered the kitchen.
River looked up from her book. She hadn't been able to read for a long while and with the ship so quiet, she was enjoying one of her brother's books.
"No need," River replied.
Zoe sat down across the table from her. "There is a need; I had no right to hit you like that. I didn't want no one knowing about…" Her hand instinctively went to her stomach. "And it's not your fault you're a reader. It hit me wrong when I learned the sex."
River watched Zoe. "I shouldn't have said anything but there's so much pain and in a year you might be sorry that you didn't have her."
Zoe's expression darkened. "Without Wash…he's the one…I never used to be afraid, but now bringing something innocent into this world with the life I live, it's selfish and irresponsible."
"But she's already strong like you and only going to get stronger."
Zoe felt her body tremble with emotion.
"You'll keep her safe until she can take care of herself."
"I couldn't keep the father safe."
"Everybody dies. She may die before she reaches her first birthday or she may live until she's old and gray. Shouldn't she get a chance?"
Before Zoe could answer, River swung around toward the door to the cargo bay.
"What's wrong?" Zoe stood up.
River started for the door. "Trouble."
"You Malcolm Reynolds?"
Mal nodded as he approached the young, blonde woman. "You Coral?"
"That's right. Who you got with you?"
"This is Jayne and Inara." He gestured to the each one on either side of him.
"You have quite the reputation, Captain." Coral's hand was resting comfortably on her holstered gun on her hip.
"So I hear."
"Why don't you all sit and have a drink with me," she offered.
Coral sat at the round table, Mal sat across from her. Jayne and Inara sat on either side of him and two of Coral's women sat between them and Coral. The waiter brought a round of drinks.
"If they would've told me sooner that you were this pleasing to look at, I would've hired you long ago," Coral stated taking a sip of her drink.
Inara shifted in her seat.
"I'm sure an upstanding criminal with a reputation like yours has a woman on every moon or is at least hitched."
Mal smirked. "Flattering as that may be, I'm a one woman kind of fellow and single at that."
Coral's blue eyes flickered. "How is that possible? You make the women folk wear blind folds on that ship?"
Mal chuckled feeling his cheeks burn.
"No, we've all spent more than five minutes with him," Inara chimed in.
Mal gave her a sharp glance and then focused on Coral. "As much as I would love to sit around and talk about me, I believe we came here to talk about a job."
Coral's eyes met Inara's briefly. "You're right. Forgive me." She leaned forward and her demeanor changed from playful to business in the blink of an eye. "In two days time on Tourmaline there's going to be a transport ship. The goods on it is mine and I would like them back. A dozen black crates. Payment will be this," she tossed him a brown bag full of coins. "Plus another bag of the same weight when you return with my goods. We've never dealt together and I want to prove to you I'm good on my word just like you'll prove to me."
Mal opened the bag and stared at the money. He set the bag back down on the table. "Who are we taking from?"
"His name is Adelei Niska."
Mal cursed.
Coral replied, "You've heard of him?"
Inara and Jayne both looked concerned now.
Mal nodded. "Yeah, I've heard of him. "An unpleasant sort of fellow? He tried killed me once and tried to kill my crew."
She raised her eyebrows. "You are quite the man. He tried killing me once too, but instead he killed my mother…who was his wife at the time." Coral pushed back so she was leaning back in her chair, two legs off the ground. "He's on his eleventh wife now and I'm one of his fourteen daughters. Never the less, he took what's mine and I want it back. My group won't do this mission and I can understand if you don't want it either. But no harm in askin'."
"This kind of danger, I have to talk to my crew."
Coral nodded. "Good man." She finished off her drink. "I'll need it in the next hour or so, my time is short and if you're not going to do it, then I need time to find someone who will."
"Of course. I'll be back within the…"
"Captain?" Zoe's voice rang over the radio in Mal's ear.
"What is it?" Mal asked, everyone turned to him.
"River seems to think that the two in town are in trouble. We're on our way there now."
"Don't do anything until I get there." Mal turned to Jayne. "It looks like Simon and Kaylee have run into some kind trouble in town. Don't know what kind."
"If there's trouble in town, it probably means that Dennis and his goons are behind it. They're the local color around here. Seem to think that just because their father's rich and the law of this town that he can use it as his own personal playground. It don't help none that his father is scared to death of his own son."
"Terrific." Mal looked over at Inara. "You should go…"
"If you say 'back to the ship' I'm going to shoot you in your nether regions."
"With Jayne to the mule. I need a final word here with Coral."
Inara looked between the Captain and Coral and then followed Jayne out.
Mal turned to Coral.
"Tell you what, Captain, why don't I come along for the ride. I know Dennis pretty well; I might be of some use."
"That's a kindness. I got a ride right outside."
Coral followed him out. "Let me drive that thing, I know a short cut."
Mal gave her the wheel and helped Inara in the back with Jayne while he took the passenger side.
"Here, I-nara," Jayne handed her a pistol. "You know how to use one of these right?"
Inara checked the rounds and cocked the gun. "I can manage."
Jayne smirked, "You really are a helluva woman."
Inara looked over at Mal who was watching her. "Just remember, you don't do anything without an order from me, and I want you to keep to the back. You don't need to be gun-ho," Mal instructed.
She mocked a salute. "Yes, sir."
"You're a pretty girl."
Kaylee pulled away from the man who pulled her into him. His rotting breath make her sick and his hands felt like sand paper on her skin.
"Stay away from her," Simon growled.
"Gag the pretty boy," the leader of the men instructed. "Let's see to the loot and then to the girl."
Simon attempted to struggle as they tied him up, but the large man knocked him to the ground and the doctor fell unconscious.
"Simon!" she yelled.
The leader approached Kaylee. "Listen here, darlin', scream like that again and I'll put a bullet in your boyfriend."
Kaylee whimpered.
"Now to the loot. Mr. Carter, I believe you were about to empty the money into the bag."
"Dennis, I told you there's no money here."
"Look, grandpa, I'm startin' to get a might itchy. If you don't give it up, I'll have to come back there my…" Dennis stopped talking when he heard a commotion behind him. He turned around and saw a girl beating up the last of his men.
The girl rounded on him and he held up his gun to take a shot at the woman who was standing in the doorway.
"River, the Captain said to wait," Zoe said as she followed the girl to the shop.
"No time," River replied slipping through the door.
Zoe tried to stop her but the girl was slippery. She cocked her gun and followed the girl inside where she was already taking out the men. The leader was up at the front of the store. Kaylee was scared but unharmed and Simon was unconscious.
Zoe felt a flash of dizziness and nausea over come her. Her focus slipped and so did her gun. There was a shot and Zoe felt herself being pushed to the ground. Zoe opened her eyes. River was on top of her not moving. Then the last man standing came out and stood over them, aiming his gun.
Another shot, this time the man went down.
Zoe felt another wave of dizziness and just as it went dark she heard Mal say, "Find the doc, quick, she's gushin' blood."
To Be Continued...