Jayne, Mal, and Zoe were standing around the dining table prepping for their new caper. Zoe and Jayne still had no idea what job they were about to pull off. Mal had been unusually quiet about this one. The Captain laid out a map of a small town in front of them. He pointed right in the middle of the map, right on the Post Office.
"We're robbing a Post Office?" Jayne yelled in shock.
"Badger's got a buyer, we just need the package." Mal said trying to reassure his crew.
"Sir how come you didn't tell us about this before?" His second in command, Zoe, asked.
"He didn't say what the cargo was only that it was sensitive property. I figured best be cautious."
"Well the only thing I'm sensing is what a horse piss of a job this is." Jayne said in protest.
"He gave me his word the profit would be plentiful."
"Did he forget the part about us robbing a gorram post office?" Jayne once again protested.
"Can you really trust his word sir?" Zoe asked.
"No but right now it's the only thing we've got." Mal said as the ship shook around him.
"We've landed Mal." Wash said over the intercom.
"Good, lock us down and have Kaylee begin prepping the mule."
Mal was followed by most of crew down to the cargo hold. Kaylee was already there fiddling underneath the mule.
"Kaylee she ready to go?"
"Now I know money's tight Captain but this mule ain't gonna last much longer. I did manage to temporarily the axles and wheels on her though. Remember they ain't permanent so don't push her or she let go of them just like that." Kaylee said as she snapped her fingers.
Malcolm nodded as he pushed the button to open the door to the outside world. Kaylee was surprised by what she saw. Instead of a world blanketed with sand and rocks she saw a fertile land with a dense forest in front of her.
"Kaylee?"
"Oh sorry Captain I wasn't expecting it to be so pretty. No offense."
"Don't worry we've got our deserts too. Terraforming went well here, it's not like other planets we've been to."
"That's why they call it Shadow, it's a shadow of earth that was." Shepard Book said coming down the stairs.
"Now no one can know that for sure Shepard." Mal said.
"I have faith in that idea." Book said.
"You have faith in a lot of things." Mal said as he jumped in the Mule and started the engine.
"May God be with you, Captain." Shepard book said stepping in front of the mule
"My gun will be with me, Shepard."
"I can think of a far more effective weapon."
"It's all I need. Now if you don't mind." Mal said as Book got out of the Captain's way. The mule shot forward and out of the ship. Mal struggle with the steering wheel as the terrain in front of them was rough. The forest had few paths in it so they had to move through what was the thick of it. They stopped out in front of the post office as Mal turned off the engine. He checked his gun and made sure he had extra bullets. Zoe, Mal and Jayne got out and headed into the office. A lone clerk sat at the desk, Mal noticed how nervous the man looked.
"I'm here to pick up a package for Vera?"
"I'm sorry but a package can only be picked up by the person it's addressed too." The clerk stated.
"Well looks like I've got some introducing to do." Jayne pumped his gun, ready to fire.
"You got a package from Ariel a few days ago that's the one I'm looking for." Mal said leaning towards the man behind the desk.
"I can't get it for you."
"Maybe I can convince you?" Jayne said as he moved closer to the desk.
"No I mean it's not here. I was just robbed moments before you arrived, they stole that package."
Mal thought about this for a moment until he heard the familiar sound of the Mule's engine turning on.
"Zoe the mule!" Mal yelled as all three of them ran outside to see three people driving away in their mule.
Mal and Zoe spotted two horses tied to a post across the street. They ran to them and jumped on as fast as they could. Soon they had set off in the direction of the mule.
"Hey what about me?" Jayne yelled as Mal and Zoe faded into the forest.
They had just about caught up to the mule when they were fired upon. Mal got out his pistol and tried to aim for the tires.
"Zoe! Give me cover!" He yelled as he lowered his heard nearly dodging a bullet.
Zoe fired a round at the two shooters and wounded one in the shoulder. To dodge yet another shot Mal had to maneuver his horse off the path and into then dense forest. He was battered and bruised by the branches on the trees. They were all around him so there was no way to avoid them. He found an open spot in the tress where he could get back on the path. He took it to find himself closer to the mule. Zoe's horse was suddenly shot in the leg which threw both to the ground. Mal aimed once again for the tires hoping to shoot one out. On his third shot he did it. The back right tire blew, this cause the whole back axle to fall off. The mule then turned sharply running into a log. Mal brought his horse to a stop and looked back into the distance. He saw Zoe getting to her feet. He then turned his attention on the crashed mule. He walked up to a man pinned under the mule. Mal pointed his gun at the man's head.
"Who do you work for?" Mal asked.
"He works for me." Said a voice from behind him.
He heard the cocking of a gun which in turn caused him to turn sharply and cock his. They both stood there with their guns pointed at each other. The person across from Mal pulled down a bandanna that block her face. The woman had a somewhat shocked expression.
"Mom?" Mal said as he lowered his gun.
His mother approached him but instead of hugging him she hit him over the head with the butt of her gun. Mal fell to the ground; all he could see now was black.