Leaving Jayne to gather some assemblance of dignity, as well as undoubtedly his personal armory, Zoe and Mal headed towards the cargo bay to prepare to meet Badger and his crew while continuing the conversation they had started in the bridge.
"I just don't know what gets into that girl sometimes, actually a lot of times. Sure Simon was truthful when he said she takes to just about any task easy as a duck to water. And hell she does know her way around a consol and can calculate a course better than anyone else here, but there is more to piloting than that. Wash was schooled as a pilot, and there are just some things River can't learn from theory or calculations. She just doesn't understand parts of piloting that require a certain touch which can't be calculated or quantified like some figure rattling around her scrambled genius of a brain. Wash now; he had that special touch, that certain ability to intuitively feel Serenity. To be able to feel her energy and flow. To make her faster and stronger than just the sum of her parts, to…"
"Sir, you seem to be not entirely aware that I am familiar with those very same extraordinary skills of my husband which you have mentioned, although somehow I doubt you have them experienced in quite the same capacity as myself but your point is what Captain?" Zoe queried.
Clearing his throat he continued awkwardly, "As I was saying perhaps we need to rethink the current piloting situation. We have River filling in, admirably may I add since she no doubt reads how I feel and could kill me with her mind while I sleep, but I think we need to be looking to signing on a real pilot, as in one with a background in aviation, instead of a psychic psycho. Or would that be a psycho psychic? Hmm..." Looking around the corridor cautiously Mal replied to no physical being in particular, "Of course I only meant that in the best way River, you knew that though, right?"
"Sir," Zoe began in a critical tone.
"No now hear me out, we aren't replacing Wash, as though we ever could, but when we are this far out skimming the edge we can't afford a mistake which a seasoned pilot could know to avoid."
"Sir, somehow bringing on a new hand whose loyalty and skills are untried right when we are trying to avoid Alliance retaliation doesn't seem to be the wisest course."
"Well, when do you suggest it would be wise? Does it seem to you that ever in the foreseeable future we won't be in the middle of one crisis or the other? I'd thought you of all people would understand that the most."
"Yes sir, that I do but it still doesn't seem like the time is right."
"The time will be right when I say it is. We need a pilot who knows their trade and that is what we are going to get. You aren't the only person who lost Wash. Still, Serenity needs a pilot whether you are ready for a new one or not. Right now we have a job to see to; otherwise we can't afford the crew we have already, much less attract a skilled pilot who has both eyes and any sense of depth perception. We need this job and I need you aboard this with me too Zoe."
"Right sir, then to the job as always".
"To the job indeed, let's see just what that goramm Badger has in mind for us this time around" Mal cringed imagining exactly what depths of hell this job would drive them to. With Badger it was always a surprise, and never was it pleasant.