Chapter 2

As he put the throttle down, he watched as the pirate ship sit there, and then turn around and fly away.

"Nagase, do you read me?"

There was silence over the coms.

"Nagase!"

"Y-yes sir?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, just shaken."

"They're finishing up over there, lets get you home."

"Y-yes, sir."

"Malcom!"

"Yes?"

"I need a favor."

"What?"

"I've got a stranded wingman in deep space. Can you come and pick her up?"

"On it."

"Hurry up, we need to take down that ship."

"Yes sir."

He turned his ship around and headed back into the fight.

As Nagase sat there in the dissabled ship waiting for the Serenity to come and pick her up, she wondered how she had gotten caught in the blast? As soon as the order came out, she shoved the throtle down. On the other hand, it did fell awkwardly loose. Maybe something was wrong with it.

As she sat there pondering it, Captain Malcom's ship pulled up in front of her. The cargo bay doors opened and out came one of the crew with some cables to pull her in. After the cables were attachedthey pulled her ship into the cargo hold, with just enough room for the ship. When the doors had been closed and the bay pressurized, Nagase got out of the Hornet.

"Captain Malcom at your service. But please, call me Mal."

"Nice to meet you Mal. Private Kei Nagase. I go by Nagase, though."

"Well Nagase, what seems to be the trouble with your ship?"

"That's just it, I don't know. I think it may be the throotle though."

"Well then, let me introduce you to our mechanic, Kaylee."

"So this is you're ship?"

"Yes."

"Ian must really trust you to let you use one of the Supers."

"How many boogies did you bag on your first op?"

"5 sir."

"No wonder."

"Still not used to it though. I probably wouldn't have been caught in that blast if I had my ship."

"You have you're own ship?"

"Swordfish II"

"You have a Swordfish II?"

"Custom too. She's my baby."

"Wow. Love to get a look at her one day. Well, enough chit chat. Let's open her up, shall we?"

"Try the throtle first. It felt a little loose when I tried to accelerate."

"Ok"

"Let me take my helmet of and I'll help you."

"You know spacecraft?"

"Grew up around them. That's how I found my ship. I just woke up and it was sitting in front of the house. I begged my dad to let me have it."

"And it was there because?"

"My dad runs a junkuyard and someone brought it to be scrapped."

"Scrap it? Why?"

"Wanted an Origion 300 series instead. Hope the leather interior was worth it."

As they tore the ship apart, They discust all manner of ships. From the oldest classics to the newest military vessels. It was like they were twins that had been seperated at birth. Or at least that's what Mal thought.

"Well, I'm gonna wander away."

"Okay"

"Have everything under control?"

"Yeah."

"Alright then."

As he went back up the stairs, he saw Jayne and Simon leaning against the railing.

"How's it going guys?"

"Not bad. Who's the knew girl?"

"Who… oh her. She's one of Ian's people."

"Well why's she here?"

"Her ship got caught in one of the last blasts from the cannon."

"But isn't that a super?"

"Yeah, that's just the thing that I can't figure out. Something had to be seriously wrong with it in order to not be able to escape that blast."

"Wait, who's Ian?"

"Oh I'm sorry Simon, you've never met him. He's an old friend from a while back. He heads a mercenary group. The Ribbon Fighters to be exact."

"Oh I've heard about them. Don't they axcept any distress call and wait until you can pay?"

"Yes, and he also owed me a favor, which is why they're here."

"Alright then, but exactly who is she?"

"Acording to her she's Private Kei Nagase if I'm correct."

"Hmm…"

"Welp, I'm gonna go see what's happening at the bridge."

"Ok"

As Mal was beginning to leave, they heard a thump

"Nagase? NAGASE!

"She's smoking heavily boss!"

"Keep hitting her with everthing you've got! Don't give her a chance to warp!"

"There's explosions all over boss! She's breaking!"

"Pull out boys, you don't want to get caught up in that blast."

As the flew away, explosions became more comone on the outside of the pirate vessel. After a couple seconds, escape pods flew from the ship and after that, the whole thing blew up. Cheers went over the coms and the pirates started fleeing. A raspy voice came over the com.

"This isn't over yet Ian."

"I know Harlock. Go lick your wounds while you can."

As the pirate fleet fled, they all cheered. They had won a major battle against the pirates. They might even get an award and whatever bounty was on there heads.

"Alright everyone, lets get back to the Anderson, drinks are on me!"

"Ian."

"Yes Mal?"

"You might want to get over here quick, something's wrong with Nagase."