Chapter 4

As Mal made his way to the infirmary, he felt fire rage in his belly. Inara was in Niska's hands. He won't kill her – yet, but that wouldn't stop the sadistic Wong Ba Duhn from hurting her in the time it takes him to get to her.

Mal burst through the infirmary doors with such force that Saffron literally jumped when he entered.

"Yeh Su Mal. Head trauma here! I would hope the charity you have bestowed upon me-"

"Saffron-" Mal said slowly, calmly.

"-would at least extend to seeing me well enough-"

"Saffron-" She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to pick up on his menacing tone.

"-to dump on some Yeh Su forsaken lump of rock to be-"

"Saffron!" he snapped. The force of his tone had her sitting up just a little straighter. Something about him was off, she could tell. It was no secret that they were not bosom buddies, and he was not averse to kicking her ass when the moment called for it - literally kicking her ass - but even then, it was done with a measure of humour. Mal was in no mood to be playing any games.

"Mal, what's going on?" Saffron's palms started to sweat. "You're not throwing me out the air lock are you?" she asked tentatively.

Mal fought for calm. He spoke clearly and directly, "There's been a change of plan. You might'a noticed that Inara 'aint with us any longer. She was supposed to be back on her home world, safe and unfettered by galactic troubles such as we encounter here on the outer rim of the great black. But so some old enemy can settle a nigglin' score, Inara 'aint where I left her. She's been take an' might already be, or soon will be, injured or worse. This here boat is going to get her. And by God, not me or any one of my crew has the time or inclination to be watchin' whether you're bout to stab us in our sleep. So I am givin' you a choice. You behave till we get to Ezra, and we can take our leave of you, or you be givin' me the opportunity to shoot you where you stand. Decide."

Mal took out his gun, cocked it, and aimed it at her head.

Saffron knew that this was no idle threat. "No need for that Mal. You can trust me." She tried to smile at him, but the smile faded just as quickly as it had appeared. For the first time in years, she felt uneasy and out of her depth.

"No need to be makin' idle promises either. I catch you so much as havin' thoughts about doin' anythin' that puts this crew or this ship in danger, I won't be thinking' twice about layin' you to ground. You remember this moment."

With that, he left. He didn't lock the door behind him. He didn't have to. He had made his point crystal clear.

Saffron closed her mouth – her jaw had literally dropped – and swallowed a few times to alleviate the dryness in her throat.

Striding purposefully to the common area, Mal didn't rightfully know what to expect. He knew Zoë would be there, he knew Wash would be there. Wash tended to err on the side of caution, but he was fiercely loyal.

When he walked in, every single member of Serenity's crew sat waiting in silent contemplation. Even River sat beside Kaylee, their arms wrapped around each other.

Mal needed to say it, "Nobody needs to feel any kinda pressure to be here. This 'aint your fight."

"Niska tortured my husband. I love my husband. 'Aint nothin' to be thinkin' over Sir." Zoë added flatly.

"Damn straight! That coming from me, the once tortured husband," said Wash. "We're in."

"I love Inara Mal," was all Kaylee said.

Mal looked Book in the eye. The Preacher just nodded.

Mal looked at the Doctor, "Simon? You an' your sister 'aint parta this."

"Inara was one of the first people on board this crew who made me feel welcome. She would never abandon me. Or River. We're in."

And lastly, "Jayne, 'aint no money to be made on this caper."

Cradling his weapon in his arms, he said quietly, "I know." In his usual brisk manner he continued, "But Vera here seems to be feeling mighty testy lately. Feels she 'aint had enough action o'late. Seems to me this is the perfect workout."

Pride engulfed Mal. One hell of a crew, he thought.

"I want to help."

Mal turned to see Saffron enter the room.

"Want me to knock her out again Sir?" asked Zoë, already rising.

Saffron lifted her hands in a pleading motion, but continued into the room. "D'un Yi Shia, please. I have skills. Stealth being one of them. Hello, thief! I'm sure I can help here."

"And just why would you be helpin' us?" asked Mal. "Last I checked, I had a gun trained on your little brain, with serious thoughts of pullin' the trigger."

Book released a heavy sigh, "how unfortunate I missed that show."

"Not forgetting that fact that we don't trust you!" quipped Wash.

Ignoring the comments, Saffron said, "look, Niska doesn't know me. He knows all of you. Making me one of the only people who won't be recognised on Ezra or the Skyplex."

Mal breathed deeply, "Which still don't answer my question. What's in it for you?"

"We make it off Ezra, you guarantee me safe passage to Persephone. I'm not locked up, I get to eat, move around freely. I have a better chance of scoring some decent work there-"

"Or swindlin' some poor fella of his fortune," said Kaylee disgusted.

Saffron ignored her, "In return, I help with saving your friend, and I promise not to try anything… funny."

"Jien Ta Duh Guay. Don't trust her," said Jayne, stroking Vera lovingly.

River walked up behind her and sniffed at her hair. "What the-?" Saffron shrugged away.

"She's a liar," said River.

Zoë rose, "Knock her out it is then."

River looked at Jayne and Zoë, "But she's telling the truth about this. She'll help."

"Are you sure River?" asked Simon concerned.

"She's afraid her brain will explode if she tries anything." This time she looked straight at Mal, which to his mind meant the little one had heard his exchange with Saffron in the infirmary.

"Well then, you're in." said Mal, to which Saffron squealed in delight. "Rules, try anything, you're dead. Anyone here has permission to send her on to the next world, no questions from me," he added. The squealing had died down.

"Now, let's get to work at figuring out how we're 'gonna take this Liu Kou Shui De Biao Zi He Hou Zi De Er Zi down. And keep him down."

Jayne added menacingly, "Looks like we got us some imminent violence."

Five hours later they were close to entering atmo around Ezra, and the crew were all briefed and ready to go. Everyone had gone off to see to their own private affairs. Some time alone is generally what anyone would be seekin', knowin' what they're headed into.

Mal put down the weapons he'd been checkin' for the hundredth time, and lowered himself to his bunk. Hunching over, he rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. He couldn't show the crew, but deep down, he was worried. Gorram worried. Niska will be takin' every precaution to ensure Mal and everyone aboard Serenity don't make it off the Skyplex in one piece. And then there is the chance that Inara might already be seriously injured – or worse.

Mal swallowed hard. He couldn't be thinkin' like that. There was a job to do, best focus on that. Anything else was just too much right now.

Too antsy to sit any longer, Mal took a final survey of his quarters. Not much in the way of creature comforts, but it was all he had ever needed, and once he found Serenity, all he really ever wanted.

Walking over to the desk in the corner of the small space, Mal plucked through the items strewn haphazardly across the surface. Ledgers and journals – somewhat up to date – he never was one for writin' everything down. A few odd trinkets he had amassed over the years were also strewn randomly.

There was one thing he reached for though. The wave Inara had sent Kaylee a month after she'd left Serenity. Kaylee had shown everyone on board, and had given it to him last. She never did ask for it back, something he suspected she'd done deliberate. Watching the holographic message Inara'd sent, telling of the beauty of Sihnon, how much she missed everyone, and that she was not unhappy with her choice to move home, Mal felt the now familiar curl of dread at the thought of any harm coming to her. Mal didn't leave the hologram out on the table, instead stowed it in his desk drawer, and climbed the ladder out of his quarters to reach the upper deck of the ship.

Instead of heading to the control room, he moved in the opposite direction, glanced towards the engine room and saw Kaylee talking softly to the engine – she always seemed to be talkin' to Serenity, as if the ship could hear her. Walking down the stairs, Mal moved through the common area, the kitchen and paused to remember the moments shared here. No matter what was goin' down, when they dined here, they dined as family. Battles and arguments were generally pushed aside.

Exiting the kitchen, he veered down the last flight of stairs and stood in the hanger bay of the ship. His gut wrenched a little. He remembered see'n his baby, docked on that dusty moon, no one able to be see'n her potential. But he had, and she had always served him good and well. He remembered the ball games the crew would play when they weren't runnin' for their lives, he remembered the arguments, the celebrations and the laughter. Mal didn't know too much about love, but he knew he loved Serenity.

Wash's voice announced over the intercom, "Mal, breaking atmo in five."

Mal took one final glance around, and jogged back up the stairs.

Entering the cockpit, "Wash, what's our status?"

"Urm… we're entering atmo a little hot Sir. So I suggest you buckle up?" he said with his usual drollness.

"Well when in hell will we ever be enterin' at the right speed? Seems to me we're always comin' in hot!"

"And 'aint it just so much more fun?"

Mal ignored that, "And in case your eyes have taken leave of their home, I don't have a seat to be strappin' myself into."

Wash, who was fighting with the steering, but seemed to be completely in his element said, "oh right! I knew there was a perk to being the pilot after all!"

Mal snorted and lifted the microphone to make an announcement, "Crew, your Capn here. It shouldn't be comin' as any surprise to any of you that our fair pilot here is takin' us in a little hot. Strap in and make sure your valuables are stowed away. That is, any valuables you hope to be see'n if we make it to landing without blowing somethin'." He shot a good-natured scowl Wash's way.

"Oh, and Kaylee, best be checkin' the engine coils – just in case. Thankin' ya kindly."

Ten minutes later they landed smoothly on the planet Ezra.

Jayne stuck his head into the cockpit enroute to the hanger bay, where the crew was gathering, "Time to be thinkin' about bein' damned heroes again Sir."

Glossary:

Wong Ba Duhn: Son of a bitch

Yeh Su: Jesus

D'un Yi Shia: Wait

Jien Ta Duh Guay: Like hell

Liu Kou Shui De Biao Zi He Hou Zi De Er Zi: Son of a drooling whore and a monkey

Gorram: A form of God Dammit!