Serenity sat down just outside a thriving Alliance metropolis on an Alliance planet. "Why are we doing this again, sir?" asked Zoe, Mal's right hand woman who had been with him since the war.

"Much as I hate workin' for the Alliance, Serenity's got some necessary repairs needin' done, and this was the closest n' easiest job," answered Serenity's captain, though he didn't seem too thrilled with the idea. "'Sides, Inara has an appointment to keep." River came running out to them, her dark hair flowing behind her, her feet making no sound despite her heavy combat boots.

"Bad traffic, busy streets. If you don't go now, we won't get off-world for awhile." Without another word, she turned round and left them.

"All right, Zoe, Jayne, you're with me, rest o'ya, take care of the ship," he said as Zoe, himself, and the big mercenary for hire boarded the mule. He saw no reason to close the Firefly's airlock, since they were on world, and enough out of the way not to attract unwanted attention. They weren't aware of being watched by a nineteen year old girl.

The girl snuck onboard, and slipped off her heavy boots, which were much like River's. She ducked behind some of the crates in Serenity's hold when she heard people coming. Upon seeing that Kaylee, the ship's mechanic, and Simon, it's doctor, were otherwise occupied, she went in search of a better hiding place. She found herself wandering toward the cockpit when she was confronted by River. "Zhòu mà!" the girl shouted, both startled and upset that she had failed to sneak on unnoticed.

"The other shuttle is hardly ever used," said River, taking the girl by the hand and leading her to it. The girl was about to thank her when she said "You're welcome."

Mal, Zoe, and Jayne soon returned, a few dollars richer and a few new parts for Serenity in hand. "Kaylee, get to work," Mal said. "Sooner you're finished, sooner we're off-world again." Inara had arrived just before them, so everyone was present and accounted for. Kaylee got to work without saying much. He's a mite tetchy, she thought, and didn't want to make it worse. River, however, did have something to say to him.

"How's your family?" she called to him from one of the walks that made the upper level of Serenity's hold. She left before he could answer.

"What in the hell was that about?" asked Jayne gruffly, feeling like he'd missed something important.

"That's what I'm wantin' to know," answered Mal.