The Great mace race - Matthew Harrison

Introduction

It has been many months since the passing of Sheppard Book and Wash, although physical scars had healed, the mental wounding they all suffered a long time ago had not. A great loss had been felt to all crew aboard Serenity in those few days when the hunt for River Tam had escalated. Things on that front had been much quieter of late, no longer were River and Simon’s faces plastered all over wanted posters throughout the verse, and their names attracted very little interest in the ports they frequented now-a-days. Available work was still sparse however stories of Serenity’s triumphant defeat against hordes of Reavers would get them right of passage in securing some jobs, just so their employers could find out if they were true. These stories meant little to Malcolm Reynolds, he felt his time would be much better spent actually doing the work he was being paid for, rather then sitting around telling ‘camp fire stories’ in backwater bars.

Chapter I: En Route

Space, the vast black nothing-ness with millions of tiny white stars flickering against a sombre back drop, a familiar sight for Malcolm Reynolds, captain of the Firefly class transport ship - Serenity', after frequent trips between planets, moons and space stations.

"Don't think these long trips will ever be interesting anymore..." Mal said to no one in particular.

The lanky brown haired girl, seated beside him at helm stated without a missed breath "If only they were credits" as if speaking out loud the exact thought that had just crossed his mind.

"If only darlin', although all the money in the verse wouldn't do a darn out here in the black" said Mal, but doubt crossed his mind as he wondered if he truly meant it. "Set the course to Borghanda and hit your bunk, I'll need you wide eyed when we break atmo, I can take care of her until then"

"Could do it my sleep..." stated the girl.

"I know, and that's what scares me... now, set your course and get out of here, that wasn't a suggestion" Mal insisted.

With the clicks of a few buttons and a cynical look, Serenity's onboard nav computer sounded its electronic confirmation that a course had been set and accepted. With that, she left the bridge without another word. That was River Mal though, a seventeen year old genius, psychic and military trained to boot. Once the prize possession of a secret government agency, and pursued to the ends of the verse by a parliamentary operative that he himself had foiled months earlier with a great expense to his friends, his crew, and his ship which was home to him, as well as quite a toll on himself. Although Jayne still gives him grief about their encounters with the operative, he'd never admit that he lost the fight. River, at least was mostly obedient and followed instructions perfectly, sometimes too perfectly, when he asked her to find out a way to get rid of the bad smell in the cargo bay, she promptly opened the airlock doors wide enough to suck out a couple of crates which were marked 'biological' which they'd salvaged from a wreckage stuck in the Cardatra moons gravity a week earlier, that they had been planning on selling that same day. At first he had been furious at her for dumping the goods into the black and she innocently defended her actions by telling him she thought that they 'smelled funny' when he had ordered her to turn the ship around so Jayne could go get them back he finally decided to have a look for himself what the crates contained, turns out it was organs destined for a transplants some 10 years earlier and being thawed out in the warmth of Serenity's belly hadn't done them much good, so they were quickly pitched back into the depths.

"We far from Borghanda now sir?" Zoë had just walked onto the bridge.

"Should reach Falcon outpost within 10 hours I'd think" Mal answered. "Hopefully it's a smooth flight from here on out, that Alliance sentry reported clear passage from here on out"

"Alliance?" Zoë asked quizzically and somewhat concerned.

"Don't worry about them, River confused the clerk with her own brand of lies and techno-babble, I only caught the end of it, she was questioning him about P-16 protocols, poor bastard didn't know which what to say" Mal said reassuringly "I swear it was reminiscent of that time Wash..." noticing the change in Zoë’s hardened expression. "...Um never mind" he finished.

"It's alright Sir, I know what you mean"

"Didn't mean to be bringin' up old memories" Mal added quickly

"It's really OK. Sir." Zoë said finalising that part of conversation. "What is the plan once we touch down at Falcon?"

"Our contact there is a fella by the name of Rodgers, representing the buyer or some such" Mal said with an air of confidence "never much liked to concern myself with the specifics of a what, where, when type job"

"Of course sir, He's a friend of Badgers, so should make for a good pay off" Zoë answered.

Mal thought for a second on the prospects of actually making the repairs needed to Serenity that Kaylee had been bugging him about for the last few weeks. "Have Kaylee prep the mule before we land, and get Jayne to check out those other crates we picked up that weren't on the list again, really don't want another stink like before, and get some rest before we're all run ragged"

Zoë nodded and walked away "Night Sir"

Chapter II: Borghanda

One of the prettier planets on the outer rim, cold winters and hot summers, but this time of year it was nice, the mild breeze that blew across the landing strip as they departed was a pleasant change from weeks of steel and mechanically generated atmo from Serenity's life support systems. Borghanda was popular amongst business men and labourers alike

Doctor Simon Tam blinked a few times and then squinted at the early morning sunlight cast between the buildings of the Falcon outpost. "Not really what I was expecting from the name" He said to the group.

"Some names just stick longer then others is all" Kaylee added to his left "I remember my folks talking about Falcon long before I was thinkin' about flyin' round in space ships, Daddy said he'd like to spend his last years in a place like this"

Falcon really wasn't a typical 'outpost', buildings were quite well developed and most were ten stories higher or bigger Simon had noticed subconsciously counting them.

"At least twelve stories average" River added emerging from the inside the cargo bay.

Mal looked across at River and asked "You get us tied down like I asked?"

"Is the sky blue?" River added rolling her brown eyes around.

Simon smiled; he liked it when River did that. She was the only one who could get away with it, although he never said anything out loud, he could tell the captain had a soft spot for his sister and it was One River took advantage of, consciously or not, it was amusing.

"Something you find funny Doctor?" Mal said shooting an eye at Simon.

"No, not at all" Simon said trying to stifle his grin.

"Shiny, then you lot stay with Serenity" he said looking at Kaylee, River and Simon "River, see if you and Kaylee can't find the source of that auxiliary port-side stabiliser problem". Inara had just emerged onto the platform wearing a robe of red satin, which glimmered in the morning sunshine. "Mornin' Inara, looks like we'll be here for a few hours, reckon there could be a few sailors in need of your... well... talents?" Mal asked cagily.

Inara responded without acknowledging his implications "Hopefully none that you know personally" then turning to River "I should be back before you leave, River sweetie, don't leave without me?"

Mal quickly interjected "She just flies the ship, don't go gettin' confused about who makes the rules around here!" evident his short fuse had just burnt out.

"No, I wouldn't want to deflate your enormous ego Captain" Inara added before turning and storming off. This was the relationship that they shared, obviously today wasn't a day for niceties she thought walking back up the ramp towards her shuttle, "at least I'll enjoy this climate!" she said to no one in particular. Sometimes she wondered why she stuck with her companion duties aboard Serenity, since she left the training house she had received at least two or three waves a week requesting her to come back and continue her teachings but she just couldn’t leave Serenity at the moment, not now anyway. She had fought for her place onboard before on more then one occasion, but the last battle was epic, the Alliance came and invaded her life, chased her to the ends of the verse and forced her hand in a deadly fight for survival against the Reavers, she fought, alongside her friends onboard Serenity. Worst of all she grieved over the tragic passing of Sheppard Book and Wash. She was part of the crew, whether she liked it or not, Serenity felt more like home, and the crew felt more like brothers and sisters than anyone and anywhere in the verse, but for now she had her job to concentrate on and she was looking forward to some fresh air.

"As much as I'd like to stand around here all day bickerin' about Mal's problems again, I believe there's a bag of money waiting for us and I'm mighty hungry, what say we do this?" Jayne said impatiently, whilst eyeing off some of the eateries that lined the shopping district a short distance ahead of the strip

"Sounds like a good idea Sir" Zoë added in agreement.

"Ok, Zoë bring the mule out... we got to get over the other side of town n' back before you can think about your stomach Jayne" Mal said "and I don't have any problems".

Jayne just snorted a short laugh and tightened his knife belt as Zoë walked back into the cargo bay and fired up the mule's engine

Mal just ignored him and said to the remaining three "Well you all know what you've got to do. Oh and doctor, how bout you save the fratenisin' with my mechanic until she's finished fixing that stabiliser? I'm mighty tired of being thrown outta my gorram bunk when it has an episode!"

Kaylee tried to hide her sudden blushing from Simon and River "Captain" she said embarrassingly, she still got all funny about the Captain bringin’ up her relationship with Simon in front of everyone.

Simon on the other hand just dipped his head and walked away, River and Kaylee followed suit just as Zoë was bringing out the loaded up Mule.

Mal took another look at Serenity, at that point Inara's short range shuttle had just launched from the side bay and it was time to go.

"Right, let's go make us some money!" Mal said climbing aboard.

Chapter III: Rodgers Proposal

Inside the tavern was like something you would be accustomed to seeing on one of the inner rim planets, well dressed and civil people enjoying a quite drink whilst watching the screens scattered throughout the building display various news feeds from the cortex. Mal, Zoë and Jayne found a table in the corner behind the bar and Jayne ordered a round from the automated bartender.

"Wow! This place sure is swanky!" Jayne said sounding impressed "I haven't seen an auto-bar since we robbed that rich guy on Hardoo"

"He was only kidding folks, go back to your drinks" as a few patrons heads started turning at Jayne’s comments. "Gorram-it Jayne! What have I told you about running your mouth in these types of places" Mal said sternly under his breath.

"Jayne’s Right Sir, this place sure has a lot of capital for such a back-water planet" Zoë said curiously

"Yeah, c'mon Mal, don't you wonder where they get all the money to finance these cities?" Jayne added

Mal had remembered hearing something about minerals and replied “Precious minerals or some such…” still looking at him sceptically "… and you know my feelin's on not getting involved in other folk’s dealings!"

"Might be opportunities to make some extra coin is all" Jayne countered

This wasn't a conversation he was willing to have with Jayne right now in the middle of a crowded up-scale tavern. "There are no jobs on this planet I'd want to take" Mal added.

"Jayne, have another drink" Zoë interjected raising her hand to the auto-bar signalling to purchase another round before Jayne could open his mouth to argue with Mal some more.

Jayne looked more then happy to accept free drinks "Don't mind if I do"

Mal thought about the prospects available on Borghanda, maybe it would be a good place for some easy pickin's. Then he remembered some other unpleasant experiences he'd had with money-men over the years, which usually involved blackmail and torture and having been on the receiving end of both in the last year, it wasn't a position he was prepared to step back into willingly again. Just then he noticed a thick familiar figure walking through the front door, he looked left and right, noticing them in the corner with a brief nod of the head he moved towards their table.

Pushing out a chair with his foot, Mal greeted the stranger with a hand shake and said "Hello Eshan"

"Hello Captain Reynolds, I trust you found the drop point without any problems?" Rodgers said

"We did."

"Excellent" he said looking from Mal to Zoë "Afternoon Zoë, good to see you again... you look well"

"Yes, well" Zoë replied

Jayne cut in "Hey Rodgers, how does an honourable man like you make a crust around..."

"Not now Jayne!" Mal interrupted banging his fist on the table "Shouldn't be meddlin' in other folk’s affairs" he added more calmly

"Tsk Tsk Captain" Rodgers said respectfully "You can't blame a man for being curious"

Mal started before Jayne could speak again "It's none of his business - gives him ideas he doesn't need, now I believe some sort of payment is in order" speaking as if Jayne was no longer in the room.

Rodgers turned back to face Mal and said "200 credits, as promised" pushing a small bag half-way across the table, stopping before Mal's outstretched hand.

"Problem Rodgers?" Mal asked quickly noticing Jayne and Zoë sitting more upright.

Rodgers hesitated "No problems, was just speaking to Badger earlier is all" he stammered, trying hard to maintain his businessman persona "Seems he's got a challenge for you"

This didn't impress Mal one bit, between Badger demanding jobs and Badger changing the rules at his own discretion, his patience was starting to wear thin with Badger, although curiosity got the better of him. "Oh yes, what does Badger have in mind this time and what could it possibly have to do with you not handing over that bag of money there?" he said in a demanding tone.

"Oh nothing really" Rodgers said now quite panicky, noticing all of their hands had reached under the table, for he knew that despite it's modern appearance this particular tavern had no weapons scanners as it was owned by men who quite frequently like dealing in black market items in the back rooms and therefore would not be in their best interests to install scanners alerting Alliance patrols to the tavern. "Badger has acquired himself a ship..."

Mal was not interested in hearing the tales of Badger anymore. "Look Eshan, I don't really care to be stickin' around these parts any longer then I need. Congratulate Badger on his new acquisition. Thank him for the work and tell him whatever challenge he has going through that pea-sized brain of his..." Mal said getting quite irate "...I'm not interested". He said grabbing the money bag as his stood, motioning to Jayne and Zoë who also stood and started walking towards the exit.

Rodgers said with a quite formal tone now back in his voice "Captain Reynolds, have you thought about entering the Great Mace Race?"

Mal Stopped.

I'd love to hear feedback on this story so far, I have much more written, and would like to know what the firefly/serenity fan community think about what I've got down already.

Look forward to comments.

Matt