"Get in, get out, get done."
Mal repeated these words to himself from behind gritted teeth as he pushed his way past the throngs to people crowding the streets of New Shanghai largest city. Just drop off the goods, and get back out into the Black. They almost hadn't taken the job. When the weasly looking man with the top hat had approached him, Mal had almost laughed in his face. Smuggle illegal bonsai kittens into New Shanghai? Couldn't be done. New Shang was too close to the Alliance core planets to be a safe smuggling drop off. But the money was enough to keep Serenity in the Black for months, and besides, it was getting boring keeping a low profile.
As he continued down the street, Zoe joined him, casually matching her pace to his.
"It done?" he asked.
She nodded.
"All the minis are safely in their new home."
"Payment?"
"Right here, Sir," Zoe handed him the small disk that contained their sizeable payment. It caught the light of New Shang's binary suns, and shone dully.
Mal pocketed the disk with a nod of relief.
"Let's get off this rock. I'm itchin' to be out in the Black. New Shang makes me nervous."
Zoe nodded, her springy curls bobbing with the motion.
"Know the feelin'. Never liked this place. Somethin' in the air."
"Where's everyone else?" Mal asked, as they turned the corner into a smaller street, one less jammed with people and vehicles.
"Jayne is headin' back from unloadin' the cargo. Kaylee went to look at engine parts, and Simon went to meet her."
Mal nodded at the information. Inara had left them a few days ago, and wasn't expected to return for at least a week, so that was everyone accounted for. Everyone left, that was. He spared a few moments of worry for the Albatross, who had flown the nest a few months back. They'd only heard scattered reports of River since she had left. Mal silently reminded himself that she was a big girl, and she could take care of her own self. She didn't need no captain looking after her, not any more.
They turned another corner, heading up the main market thoroughfare that led to the docks. Booths full of every type of goods imaginable lined the street, with the shouts of sellers rising above the din of the crowds. At the end of the street, Mal could see the space docks rising above the buildings.
"Cap'n! Wanna see what I found?" Kaylee appeared at his elbow, holding a large, and very beat up machine part in both hands "Calibrator! Looks almost new, just got a few scratches. What'd ya think?"
"Tryin' to spend our hard-earned credits already?" Mal complained half-heartedly. Kaylee knew what Serenity needed to keep flying, so whatever Kaylee wanted, she got.
Kaylee mock-pouted.
"Come on, Cap'n. You know I've been lookin' for a decent calibrator for a while now. Ours gets so hot you could make tea on it. Goin' to boil us one of these days and I'd rather not be cooked!"
Mal eyed the part with amusement.
"Looks like one good knock and that'll fall apart," he commented.
"Nahhh," Kaylee drawled. "It's got some grease on it. But a good wash and some lovin' from me, and it's just the thing."
"I'd trust her on that," Simon commented absently from nearby. "Or she'll never leave this stall looking for the perfect one. She's been here the whole time we were gone, digging through junk."
Kaylee shot him an exasperated look.
"Ain't junk! It's what's going to keep us flyin'."
Simon smiled affectionately at her.
"You sure? Cuz it looks like junk to me."
Kaylee rolled her eyes at him.
"That's cuz you ain't got no engine learnin'."
Mal reached into his pocket, bypassing the disk they had just been paid with, and fishing out a handful of credits.
"Here, see if you can bargain him down to that," he said, handing Kaylee the credits.
She took them, juggling the large part in her hands.
"Thanks, Cap'n," she replied, with a huge, sunny grin, she turned on her heels and marched back into the gloomy stall. From inside, they could hear the process of bargaining begin at once.
Simon watched her go with a small smile hovering about his lips.
"I'm going to see if I can find some medical supplies. We're running low," he said, turning to Mal. "Zoe's dealing with the food provisions, I presume?"
Mal nodded.
"Be sure'n be back on the ship in a half hour. We should be leavin' this planet quick-like, as soon as we're refueled."
The doctor nodded, and turned to go.
Mal scratched the back of his neck absently.
"I'm headin' back," he said. "You comin'?"
"Think I'll stay a bit longer," Zoe said. "I got a few credits to spend my own self. See you there."
Mal gave a grunt of assent, turning to thread his way back through the crowds towards the space docks. He spared a few moments and a few credits to buy a steaming cup of tea and a small bag of roasted nuts. A treat for himself, seeing as the job had gone off without a hitch. He took a moment to admire Serenity as he came around the corner. There she was, tucked unassumingly in her berth. No one would guess that she was a best ship in the 'Verse, just by looking at her. Mal punched in the access code to the docking ramp with one hand, the other balancing his snack. He slipped inside, headed straight for the kitchen.
Inside Serenity was peaceful. Jayne was around somewhere, he assumed, but the merc was as unwilling to make his presence known as Mal was to have company. A pot of water boiled quickly in New Shang's low altitude, and a handful of tea leaves, freshly purchased by Zoe, were all that Mal needed to have himself a nice little snack.
He settled back in his chair at the kitchen table, and took a sip of his tea, enjoying the hot, flavorful beverage on his tongue. It wasn't the cheap green tea they had on board, either. It tasted spicy, with just a hint of some unidentifiable fruit. It tasted just like Inara's perfume smelled, now that he thought about it.
Mal leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let his mind drift to Inara, his mind's eye roving over her form as it had been two days ago when she had left them in her shuttle. She had been wearing a red obi with gold accents, he remembered, and an exotic flower entwined in her dark hair. In his imagining, a smiled played across her full lips, and her hand reached to caress him. As he reached out for her in turn, a loud banging from the cargo bay startled him out of his guilty daydream.
"Zen shou caou!" he swore, the front legs of his chair coming down with enough force to jar his teeth. "What the…"
Running feet rang out against the metal floor of the hold.
"Cap'n! Simon!" Kaylee's voice echoed around the empty space.
Mal was on his feet before his mind could catch up with his body.
"Kaylee, in here!" he called out, his long strides meeting her on the landing outside the kitchen. "What is it? What'chu cryin' bloody murder for?"
Kaylee thrust the object in her hands at him.
"Look! I saw it on the vids and picked it up on my own padd. Jus' look at it, Cap'n!"
Mal turned over the padd that she had thrust at him, but didn't have time to look at it, as Simon came careening up the stairs.
"Kaylee! I heard you yelling. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Simon skidded to a halt in front of her, placing his hands protectively on her shoulders, his eyes roving over her, looking for injuries.
"Ain't that," said Kaylee impatiently. "Look at it."
"Look at what? What's all the hollerin' about?" Jayne was emerging from his bunk, eyes instinctively checking the exits.
"Kaylee?" Mal turned to her. She grabbed the padd from him.
"In the kitchen. So everyone can see," she marched into the lit room, the others in the crew following her small form like ducklings following their mother. Zoe quietly joined them, sliding in behind the group as silently as a gentle breeze.
"I saw it on a vid at first. You can't believe even believe how surprised I was! I had to check extra, to make sure it was true, and then I got it on my padd to show you." She activated the padd's screen, and held the lit surface up, so all of them could see.
Serenity's crew gaped at the lurid announcement splashed across the screen.
"Warning!" It announced in bold letters. "These are dangerous criminals and are to be treated with the greatest caution. Wanted in connection with the explosion at Facility 52, the burning of several government properties, and the murders of Alexia Shi Win, Kai Makepeace, and Xiao Lin Carter. If seen, please report to the authorities at once!"
Simon reacted first, letting out a sound that was between a gasp and a sob.
Below this headline were two large pictures, both of whom were familiar to Serenity's crew. One was of the strange man they had picked up several months ago. His signature worn leather jacket looked even more worn below his scowling face and bleached-blond hair. No one could mistake the sharp-angled face of Spike. And beside his picture, one they all recognized. The waif-like, dark-haired face of one they knew very well.
It was River.
Jayne let out a low whistle.
"Moon brain done what now?" he asked incredulously.
Mal couldn't help the small smile that formed on his face.
"That's our girl," he said.