Look at me being all productive and shit! I know the last chapter was character heavy and lacking in plot. I promise plot in this chapter. Don't forget: reviews keep my will to write alive. Without it I wither away into a motivation-less husk. Keep the writer's block at bay and send me some friendly words. Or not so friendly. But friendly is better. Thanks so much! On to the next chapter!

Welcome to Serenity: Chapter Five

Presents

Mistress Fa had two favorite words: family and flexibility. They were also the two main principles she ruled her criminal underworld by. Every member of the Fa family—even the lowest thug—was just that: a part of her family.

This did not refer to blood relation. Only her sisters and their progeny were actually her kin. She'd never married herself, nor had she inclination to. Husbands were tedious creatures and she had no time for their nonsense. Despite the lack of shared genes, Mistress Fa personally knew every member of her organization. To work for her was to be a part of her family. Criminals were fickle by nature, and loyalty was key. She did everything in her vast power to make everyone feel that camaraderie. When someone did betray her they were betraying the family. The entire family. And the family took that kind of thing personally.

Flexibility was key as well. Holding an empire together for almost forty three years required extreme adaptability. The criminal market would never remain the same for long. Mistress Fa was ready to make any changes it took, make any alliances necessary, to keep her family thriving. She was also ready to cross or backstab whoever it took.

But things like drug trafficking and arms shipments were not her chief concerns at the moment. Instead she was focused on drinking from her cup of tea with her pinkie out. Her grand-niece, Tian Tian, watched her technique with sober approval. The girl was such a tiny thing, only six, and the absolute treasure of Mistress Fa's heart.

"Mmm. Delicious!" Fa informed her tiny host. The tea had been prepared beforehand, but Tian Tian liked to play things out to the fullest, which meant pretending the little girl had set up everything all by herself.

"Thank you ever so!" Tian Tian smiled up at her great grandmother. She'd gotten it from one of her mother's books, and decided that was what a proper young lady said.

One of her nephews interrupted the party.

"Ju-long! Would you like a spot of tea! It is delicious!" Tian Tian greeted her cousin and shoved a stuffed bear out of the chair next to her to make room.

"Um." He looked at Fa for an answer.

"Are you going to deny the lady's invitation to tea? Quit staring at me like a landed fish and sit." She gave him a critical glance.

"Yes, Aunt." He sat and took the offered teacup from his impatient cousin, fumbling to hold his pinky out when Tian Tian pouted. "Tasty! My compliments, miss!"

"Thank you ever so!" The girl beamed.

"Now, nephew, what news do you bring your Aunt?"

Ju-long glanced at his cousin, but proceeded. Fa let Tian Tian hear everything. "We have us some very interesting guests docked in the shipyard bordering us and the Sturges. A fella by the name of Malcolm Reynolds and crew. Best part is: Red's don't know yet."

Mal Reynolds parked in her shipyard, right under Kalashnikov's nose. She hoped that clunker of a ship had a big red bow already on it because the Fa family was about to present the Iron Bear of the Outer Rim with the Serenity and her captain like it was Christmas. Vladimira would owe her a favor of monumental proportions. It was nothing personal, she even liked Mal. But as of that moment, that icy Russian bitch owing her big time was too sweet a deal to pass up.

"Tell the Blue and Yellow squads to assemble, and put the ship on surveillance. I want a full report on the situation before we move in. Kalashnikov is going to owe me for the next ten years."

"Cookie!" Tian Tian ordered rather than offered the pastry to Ju-long. He grabbed it and ruffled her shiny black hair before standing, bowing to his aunt, and leaving.

"Tian Tian dear," Mistress Fa set down her own cup of tea before standing. "That's enough tea. I'm taking you into town and getting you any dress you like." The child shrieked with glee and bounced over to Fa, giving her a hug. "Auntie Fa feels like celebrating."

"I believe these are the weapons designs your men were in charge of retrieving."

The papers were dropped into Vladimira's lap. She turned to find the stranger grinning at her. He was tall, broad shouldered, and tan. His hair was cut in a military style and he wore an eye patch. This man was a fighter, a trained killer. One glance was all she needed to know.

"I shall not ask you how you managed to spirit yourself all the way into my throne room." She made a note to beat the shit out of whoever was on guard. "Mr?"

"Bradley." The man gave her a tight-mouthed grin that looked far too genuine to be anything but a farce. "Your boys took too long and scared off the seller. So I thought I'd pick them up for you. As a gesture of good faith."

"I appreciate a man who brings gifts and points out holes in my security." She unfolded one of the blueprints and gave it a once-over to make sure it was real. "But I also do not trust man to want nothing in return."

The man, Bradley, circled around the iron throne to face her fully. She kept a careful eye on his movements, just as he did to her. He chuckled and rubbed his mustache. "You are just as I was informed you were. The blueprints are a present. Merely to show you some of my capabilities, and an excuse to have your attention. What I really want is a mutually beneficial alliance."

"You need my help for something, da?" She pushed a strand of hair from her face and leaned forward, grinning. "And offer a service in return? You are stealthy, well-informed, and probably excellent with that saber on your hip. But what makes you think I will help you, and not have my sniper on the balcony kill you this instant?" Her grin widened as they both glanced at the barrel peeking over the railing.

"Because," Bradley smiled again. An actual smile, dark and twisted. "In return for helping me eliminate the two who attacked your men earlier, I will perform any task you wish of me. Anything."

"I think you overestimate your worth, Mr. Bradley." Vladimira scoffed. He was far too cocky, it seemed. Such a shame. He was just starting to be interesting. "No man is irreplaceable, no matter how clever or good with a weapon."

"How about a test?" He seemed unfazed. Like he had expected all of this. "Give your man the signal. If he lands a single bullet on me, the deal is off. If not, you help me and then I help you. Deal?"

She didn't bother agreeing, flicking her hand up instead. The blood splatter from his head exploding would mean her coat would require cleaning again. The bullet whizzed out of the sniper rifle.

And hit the floor.

Her naked eye never saw him move. It was like magic. Each bullet landed just inches off the mark. Yet each should have hit squarely in between his eye and the patch. When the clip was empty she gave the signal to cease.

"I don't know what that was, but I like it. I am sure it will be a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Bradley." She held a hand out, which he took.

"I'm sure it will be."

"But I must ask." Kalashnikov stood and led him down the hall. "Why go through so much trouble to kill two boys?"

His pleasant mask dissolved. "I promise those two are far more trouble than any two boys should be. Killing them will not be so easy. Let's just say, for the time being, that they and I have a surprising amount of history, and you will find that my… wrath…. Can be quite nasty when invoked."

Vladimira laughed. Whatever happened, this would be amusing.