Finally arriving back at Serenity they stood outside of her giant doors waiting for them to open and to board the ship. Normally the wait was never long, just another benefit of having a precognizant pilot who knew exactly when they arrived, but today it was as though Serenity herself knew exactly what Dr Wyman's presence signaled and she was loath to put him any closer to her crew. As soon as the four arrived outside of the giant doors in question, Mal heard the characteristic hum of machinery engaging to open the massive gates, yet a harsh grating noise quickly halted any progress towards those doors actually opening.
"Kaylee," Mal bellowed to the com-link. "Why in all the moons in the 'verse aint this door opening. Seems to be makin' me a mite grumpy and you don't want a grumpy Captain."
"Got me Cap'tain, I checked all the circuits and lathered down the gears just this week." She replied, not sounding in the least bit worried that her sweet ol' Captain was stuck right on the other side of those noncompliant doors, her mind was totally focused on her baby and figuring out just what was wrong with her. The sound of rummaging through panels, metal clanging and tools clattering as Kaylee sorted through circuitry and machinery trying to pinpoint the offending part came through loud and clear via the com-link to those held at bay by the cargo bay doors.
"I don't see nothin' wrong Cap'ain, it's like she just don't want to open. I can't figure out why she…"
"Keeps out those who would lead to hurt those close, dear, special to her, Doors. To keep out the ends which justify the means with no thought to what that involves. To themselves or others. A shell on the beach, dried and brittle. The animal which once lived in it plucked from its home by a gull. Can you hear the polite knocking of the gull? Nothing left of life, just an empty husk, abandoned yet the outer shell still remains. It wants in" River whispered yet her voice carried through the com-link to reach the outside world.
"That goramm girl's at it again, ruttin' crazy's all she is. Mal I tell you she's more trouble than she's worth and I …"
"Not now Jayne, seems we have a bit more of a problem than a teenage girl with the urge to do some rambling on no particular tangent which our measly mortal minds can't get a grasp around. Now how's about we do something constructive about getting these doors open."
A shrug as Jayne reached around to deftly present his one of his dearest processions. "Grenade?"
"Grenade! Choo fay wuh suh leh. Is that all you ever think about? Grenades and guns?" Mal spat with indignant fury over the though of using that on Serenity.
"Well not quite the only thing Mal. I do have my softer side with the need for something a lil' lacey and racy with a bit of… trim… as often as possible. The grin which spread across Jayne's face succinctly answered Mal's question.
"Jing-tzang mei yong-duh," Mal muttered shaking his head, "Zoe,"
"Yes Sir?"
"What brilliant plan does my first mate have in a situation such as this? And please, don't say grenades."
"Well, me not being one for such elaborate plans as Jayne's, I suggest a back door, as in the hatch."
"You suggest the hatch now do you? As though we can just waltz right around and…Oh, the hatch! I knew I kept you around for something Zoe."
"Thank you sir" Zoe added dryly.
"Let's get on with it then, I ain't paying you two just to stand around and look useless." Mal hollered.
"Ya' ain't paying me for much about anything right now" grumbled Jayne as he passed Mal.
"After you Dr. Wyman, wouldn't want you behind me now, all the better to stab me from, right?" Mal said, stepping aside with a stilted bow as Wyman followed Jayne and Zoe towards the hatch.
"My offer does include the monetary funds capable of purchasing a fine new ship, one which isn't quite so…temperamental. Should you and your crew be so inclined to agree to my proposition." Dr. Wyman offered, pausing next to the Captain.
"Nope, my position still stands that Serenity and I are not ones to part ways with each other any time soon. Anybody being one to reconsider this job you're offering I'd say your name should be tops of the list. Tangling with a Reaver and trying to take 'em out, especially one that was your brother, that isn't something you can count on making it back from all in one piece, or in any likelihood at all."
Staring back towards civilization in the direction from which they came, Dr Wyman answered pensively. "That is a fact I am perfectly aware of Captain Reynolds, and I am counting on precisely that."