Mal took a position behind a crate in the cargo bay. Jayne and Duncan were sniping through the open door.
"Could've closed the door behind you," Jayne yelled at Mal, in between shots. Mal ignored him, and tried to put a bullet between one their attackers eyes, but missed. He snarled, and reloaded.
Niska walked with purpose toward his office in the Drift. He could hear the gunfight echoing behind him, the bullets ringing like little bells as the ricocheted off the metal of the drift and Serenity. He smiled, knowing all those troubles would be over soon.
"Having a good day?" said a voice, followed by a figure stepping out of the shadows. With a flash of bright steel and a swish that sliced the air, any response Niska would've made was cut short.
"Any ideas?" Mal yelled. The gunfight wasn't going very well for either side, since no one would risk getting too close and getting shot.
Jayne swapped out an empty cartridge for a full one. "Not without a Mech suit," he said.
Duncan replied, "It's more likely that Niska has one than we do."
"Thank you for that small comfort," said Mal.
Suddenly, the shots from the other end of the docking corridor ceased.
"It better not be a gorram Mech," said Jayne.
A projectile bounced into the bay, and rolled to a stop just outside the cargo bay door. A small pool of blood surrounded it.
"Shemma?" said Mal. He felt completely out of his element.
Duncan risked sticking his head out from cover. "It's Niska," he said, "or, at least, his head."
"Ahoy the ship," said a voice that Mal thought he recognized. A man stepped out into view.
Duncan said, "Bart?"
"Bart? That pirate?" said Mal. "The hundan who tried to hijack my ship?"
Bart called out. "Is Malcolm Reynolds listening?"
Jayne and Duncan looked over at Mal.
"Yes, I am."
"I know I may not be a welcome sight," said Bart. "I took care of Niska. I will lift the lock on your ship. In return, I formally request transport off of this drift to anywhere you may be going. I'm willing to be placed under guard."
Mal looked over at Jayne and Duncan. "Just shoot him," said Jayne.
Duncan said, "we have enough people watch him, if you want to take him aboard."
Mal yelled out, "Lift the ship lock and come aboard." He looked down at the grisly package outside his ship's door. "Leave the head behind."
The trip back to Shadow was uneventful. Mal was feeling generous, and didn't lock Bart up in a storage locker. Bart offered to help Kaylee and Father Riley with the engines, and Kaylee ended up demanding he help keep the engines running, since he'd broken them last time he'd been aboard. Inara noticed that Bart got along well enough with the rest of the immortals, and told Mal. They both figured that the immortals had few people they could be themselves around, and would tolerate someone they didn't necessarily like.
"Why didn't you place him under guard?" asked Inara, when they were alone on the bridge together.
Mal shrugged. "If he wanted us dead, he didn't need to kill Niska. He was being paid before, now he's not." He smiled. "I do plan to search him when we land."
Inara laughed, making Mal's heart smile. "You are a wise man, Malcolm Reynolds, at least on occasion."
"I do my best," he said.
He leaned forward to kiss her, but a noise from the hallway distracted him. Duncan and Amanda appeared in the corridor.
"I'd like to speak to you," said Duncan.
Amanda collected her dress around her. "I'll leave you alone."
"Please sit," said Duncan. "I wished to speak with you, as well."
"Say your piece," said Mal, "but if this is thanks, you already paid, and I was more than happy to rescue your friend."
"More than thanks," said Amanda. "I feel I owe you all. Don't dismiss that, please. You lead a difficult life, Malcolm Reynolds… all of you do. If I can ever help in any way, do not hesitate to send a 'wave."
Duncan said, "speaking of the life you lead, I have a proposal of sorts." He hesitated, then said, "with people… like us," he gestured towards him and Amanda, "it can be difficult to trust, to find people to trust. Even a casual acquaintance might accidentally uncover the truth."
Amanda said, "I died in front of Nick, right next to his partner. I got up, and she didn't. Nick was destined to be an immortal, but that kind of thing has happened before with mortals, too."
Duncan continued, "…and will undoubtedly happen again. Something like that led Bart to making a deal with Niska, for example."
"You need bodyguards?" asked Inara.
"We need friends," said Duncan. "This is my proposal: you've seen my ranch. I ship cattle all over the 'Verse. I ship too much for one ship, but I could use a ship and crew like yours. I can afford to pay well for shipping, and I do. I know I can trust you."
Inara said, "it would mean getting involved in your lives."
Duncan tilted his head. "In general, our lives are fairly mundane. Profit, loss…."
"Thievery," added Amanda.
"…although my proposal would be strictly legal," finished Duncan.
"So, we'd work for you?" asked Mal.
"Not as employees," said Duncan, "but as a ship for hire. You'd be on retainer. You'd be completely free to take other jobs as long as you are available for my shipments."
"Sounds tempting," said Mal.
"Inara," said Duncan, "I understand from your crew mates that you are looking for another career. I think I will be staying closer to home for the next… many years. I could use a negotiator, a representative, and I think you would be more than adequately qualified."
"Representative is a step down from ambassador," said Mal, with a teasing smile.
Inara said, "only you ever called me that. Mr. MacLeod, what would be involved?"
"Travel, of course, which I would cover," he said. "You would come to Shadow and learn the business, so you could represent me to buyers. You would then travel with some shipments to meet my main buyers."
"Sounds more like you're setting her up to run things," said Mal.
"Not for at least two decades," said Duncan. "I'll have to leave the ranch to a fictional son or daughter by then. Inara may or may not be in charge at that point, but I envision her being involved."
"It's more than I ever thought I would be," said Inara.
"Is that a yes?" said Duncan.
Inara looked at Mal. He said, "let me talk… let us talk to the crew first, but I think you might have deal."
The crew ended up being more than willing. Zoe liked the idea of being in one place. Kaylee was happy that Serenity would actually get some quality parts. Simon would get a real office again, since Duncan did have many ranch hands, and injuries did happen.
River was happy to be near her brother, and to be far away from the Core, except for shipping runs. She was the pilot, and nobody else would take her place.
Michelle told Jayne that she lived nearby the ranch, and that was enough for Jayne.
When they reached Shadow and the ranch, Amanda took Nick Wolfe away with her, saying only that they would be back after she had nursed him back to health.
The rest of the immortals went their separate ways. Mal was happy to see Ben Adams leave. He still managed to kiss Inara's hand as he left.
Serenity shipped cattle, among other commodities, with Inara doing the negotiating. A beautiful, sharp-minded woman with an intimidating, mostly-silent gunslinger went a long way to convincing Duncan's buyers that everything was in good hands.
One night, Mal and Inara lay together outside, looking up at the stars. She snuggled in close, and asked, "Malcolm Reynolds, are you happy?"
"I'm very happy with you, Inara Serra," he said.
"Are you happy with everything?" she said.
He thought for a bit. "Mostly, yes," he said. "We're safe, we have enough money, and we don't have to work for people like Badger anymore."
"Or Niska," said Inara.
Mal blew out a breath, and said, "I never liked him much anyway. Duncan and everyone… they're good people. You seem to like your job, you're good at it, and you're getting better. Are you happy with it?"
"Mostly, yes," she said. "I do like what I'm doing. Sometimes, though…."
"Yes?" he said.
"It would be boring to be too well-behaved," she said.
He turned his head and kissed her, long and tenderly.
"Never be boring," he said. "We will misbehave."
THE END