(Generally the first two chapters set the tone. But I'm trying for a more serious fic. Doesn't mean there won't be Misfit insanity in it of course. It'll just take a little longer for each chapter.Also, in the heat of the moment I forgot to put Inara in. It was unintentional. )

As Mal and the rest stood watching the chaos, Inara walked down the ramp.

"Mal."

"Inara."

She smiled slightly. "You could have woken me."

Mal shook his head. "We didn't have time."

"Oh?"

"Well, in between going through some type of vortex and listening to Jayne screaming like a little girl from his room…."

"Hey!" Jayne snarled as he staggered back to the ship with the help of Xi.

Mal blinked. "Who or what…"

Xi shrugged. "I'm a genetically engineered assassin."

Mal rubbed his head. "Great. And I thought having to deal with a teenage girl with telepathic abilities who had been messed with by a government was bad."

Simon glared slightly. "Telling secrets?"

"Might as well. They don't know when they'll get the device fixed yet. And we're definitely not in Alliance territory."

Mal gestured at the surroundings. "The tech is low compared to Alliance core worlds. There's too much pollution for one thing. And the techs definitely too high for the outer planets."

River walked out with Kaylee. "Smarter than you look."

"Let me guess. You figured it out before we left the ship." Mal mock glared at her.

River smiled and didn't say a word.

Covergirl walked up with General Hawk.

Hawk looked around at the group. "I have a conference room set up. We can talk more in detail there."

Mal looked at his people. Then he looked back and nodded.

Jayne spoke up. "Have anything to eat?"

"Jayne…"

"What? I didn't have any breakfast!"

General Hawk rubbed his eyes as he stared at the people in the conference room. Then he glared at Forge.

"The transporter is down until you can get the problem fixed. Which means that our guests are stuck here for the duration. Have I got it right so far?"

"Yes."

Then Hawk looked at Mal. "As far as we can determine, you're from an alternate dimension. Right?"

"Don't ask me. All I know is that humans haven't lived on Earth for a long time."

Hawk nodded. "Right." Then he glared at Forge again. "Get it fixed."

"It'll take some time."

Hawk stood up and leaned close to the inventor. Then he pointed outside at Moe, Larry, and Curly who were attempting to paint the outside walls of one of the storage areas.

"I have a hard enough time with them being here. Do you have any idea how painful it is to look at some of the rooms they've painted? And let's not forget their attempts at cooking! B.A. is still taking sleeping pills."

Inara, being the only one capable of keeping Mal calm, had come along to the meeting. "We're not that bad are we?"

"No… but my sanity isn't exactly in stable condition thanks to some of the things that go on around here."

As he spoke, Mal and the rest watched in shock as a teddy bear in military uniform flew by the window with jets strapped to its back. A man in green with a mask over his face was screaming as he hung on for dear life.

Jayne twitched as he heard the maniacal laughter of the three teenage girls who'd dragged him away earlier..

"See what I mean?"

Inara smiled placatingly. "I'm sure we'll keep out of trouble."

"Gorram it!" Jayne snarled. "You just jinxed us!"

Hawk sighed. "Please. How bad could you possibly be compared to what we deal with?"

"Want a list?" Mal spoke with a slight smile.

Hawk blinked. Then turned to River when she spoke.

"Can't have Serenity without trouble. Peace has to be fought for."

Everyone stared blankly at her.

Mal sighed while glaring in her general direction "Apparently we can't have it without a little insanity either."

River smiled. "Goes without saying."

Hawk rubbed his head. "Let me guess. There's a longer story here."

"No s..."

SLAP.

"OW!" Jayne yelled and turned to look at Zoe.

"No cussing."

"I was just going to…"

"Can it!" Mal spoke sharply.

"Fine."

Covergirl groaned. "They might actually fit in with The Misfits."

River giggled.

Hawk nodded to himself. "Since there's no guarantee when the transporter will be fixed, is there anything specific we need to know? How to treat your needs etc."

SMACK

"INARA!" Jayne yelled. "I wasn't going to say anything."

Simon sighed as he attempted to speak to Hawk over the chaos. "It's complicated."

"How so?"

Simon stared sadly at his sister who had started staring into space. Hawk looked over too.

"What happened?"

"That's where the complication comes in."