Disclaimers: Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

As regards that character - hopefully she's not so much of an obnoxious Mary Sue that she turns people off, but the story basically wrote itself in my head and needed to get out. This is my first fanfic ever, and the first writing of any sort I've done in awhile, so all comments are appreciated!

Rated PG for most of the story, mostly for salty language. There is some sex, but not for a few chapters yet. I'll try to put a warning at the beginning before it happens! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Passenger? Where we gonna put a passenger?” Jayne spat his question sourly at Mal as Serenity came to rest on the dock. Mal, waiting to open the airlock, did not answer or even look at him. Kaylee entered the cargo bay, shrugging out of her mechanic’s coverall to reveal the jeans and floral top she wore beneath. “Whaddya mean where we gonna put one, Jayne. In the passenger dorm, where we always do!” Jayne snorted. “Awful gorramn crowded in there.” He glanced at Shepard Book standing, arms folded, a few feet away. “Present company excluded, Preacher.” He addressed Kaylee again. “I was referrin’ to the fancy doc you got yer panties in a bunch over, and that bugshit sister’a his. We been from the head end of the ‘verse to the ass and back again and passed through a million good places for ‘em to disembark—but for reasons I ain’t been able to wrap my brain around, they’re still here.” He shot Mal another look, which was once again disregarded. Kaylee opened her mouth to respond, but Jayne stalked off, shaking his head and mumbling. They needed a passenger badly. Their last job had gone south—way south—when Niska’s goons kidnapped Mal and Wash. Not only had the job been aborted, but both the money and the goods had been lost; and all the money that was left from their previous job had been turned over to Niska in Zoë’s attempt to rescue the men. So money was in very short supply. And since then, it seemed, the captain was in no shape to seek out any meaningful work. He had not been himself since being captured and tortured; understandable, perhaps, if it were anyone but Mal Reynolds. But Mal was a survivor, used to tough times and an uncertain existence. The life he had chosen was a risky one. He knew that, accepted it, and took things in stride. But this time seemed to be the exception. At first he seemed all right; suffering physical pain, but emotionally fine. He joked with the crew and continued to needle Wash about his jealousy over Zoë. But over the next few days, he withdrew. The crew heard him up during the night, at times screaming from nightmares that woke those around him out of sound sleep. During the day he was tired and preoccupied. When Zoë gently suggested that finding a job might be in order, the best Mal seemed able to come up with was taking on a passenger. And one passenger was all they could handle with three of the four rooms already occupied. So they had come to Persephone, which was, indeed, an excellent place to take on fares. It was also where Simon and River had first come aboard, and they had been instructed to lay low and stay quiet during the stop. Mal opened the airlock and let the ramp down, and he, Zoë and Wash prepared to head into town to pick up what meager supplies they could afford with the money they had. Jayne moved to join them as they started out, and Mal put a hand against his chest, stopping him. “You stay here with Kaylee,” he said. Jayne immediately began to protest. “Wha—Mal! I gotta get off this ship for a bit!” Mal patted his shoulder and flashed him a condescending smile. “I need you here. That winning personality of yours is sure to snag us a rider!” He and the others started away. He turned back as they reached the dusty road. “Kaylee, you’re in charge,” he called. Kaylee nodded uncomfortably, glancing sideways at Jayne, who was staring at Mal’s retreating figure, lip curled, shaking his head. She quickly grabbed a broom and busied herself tidying up the entrance to the cargo bay. The Docks were busy, and crowds of people carrying luggage walked up and down the rows of parked ships. A few stopped and inquired of Kaylee, but no one came aboard. It seemed as though the plan to take on a passenger might not happen after all; there were a lot of available rides, and, as beloved as Serenity was to her crew, she was not the prettiest ship around. There were also many very persistent barkers about, and Kaylee’s laid-back approach was being outdone. When Mal, Zoë and Wash arrived back after a couple of hours with food and supplies, Kaylee still had no one. “Sorry, Cap’n,” she said regretfully. “Jayne smiled as pretty-like as he could at everybody, but ain’t nobody wanted to ride with us.” “It’s okay, Little Kaylee.” Mal sighed and ruffled her hair as he walked into the cargo bay. “We’ll hit somewhere else in a day or so, try another world.” His manner was reassuring, but he seemed resigned. In the sunlight he looked pale and drawn, and the bruises and cuts from Niska’s torture stood out in bold relief. Kaylee watched him trudge through the cargo bay and up the stairs toward the bridge, missing the usual boldness in his stride. Wash and Zoë tossed cartons of supplies into the bay, and Kaylee took one last look around before closing the ship up for flight. She had noticed a lone woman walking the row of ships with her bags before; now, the woman was approaching Serenity. As she neared the ship, Kaylee could see she looked weary and discouraged. Kaylee called out to her. “Need a ride?” The woman approached, shading her eyes from the sun. “Yeah, but I doubt you can help me. No one else will.” Kaylee walked down the ramp to meet her. “Yeah, well, we ain’t ‘no one else’!” She flashed the woman an award-winning smile. “Where y’ lookin’ to go?” “Zargon,” said the woman. Kaylee looked at her quizzically. “Zargon? Where’s that? I never heard of Zargon.” The woman started to answer, but Kaylee had turned toward Jayne, who was watching them from the hold. “Jayne, y’ever hear of Zargon?” Jayne scowled. “Zargon! You mean, Zargon the prison moon?” The woman nodded. “That’s the one.” Kaylee’s eyes widened. “A prison moon? Where? I didn’t know there was a prison moon!” Jayne snorted and tossed another box into the hold. “Yeah, well, yer lucky, then,” he growled. “Ain’t a place you wanna know about.” He spat over the side of the ramp. The woman started away. “Thanks anyhow.” “Wait!” Kaylee called after her. “Let me ask my captain.” She trotted up the ramp and pressed the intercom button, with Jayne staring at her, ‘you’re nuts’ clearly written on his face. “Cap?” “Yeah?” came the muffled response. “Will we take somebody to Zargon?” There was a pause, and then, sounding incredulous even over the ‘com, “Zargon?” A moment later Mal appeared in the bay. “Miss?” he called to the woman, “You lookin’ to go to Zargon?” The woman nodded as Mal approached. “I guess it ain’t my business why you’re wantin’ to go there, but it’s a fair piece away from here. It’s a long ride and ain’t a popular destination.” “So I’ve been told,” she sighed. “No one else will touch the job.” The corners of Mal’s mouth turned up slightly. “Well, we ain’t ‘no one else’,” he said. He paused to think. “We can take you,” he finally said, “But there will be extra fare, seein’ as how it’s a distance, and it’ll put my ship out of commission a few extra days. Can you do it?” The woman looked clearly relieved. “I’ll pay whatever I have to pay. I just need to get there.” Kaylee looked from the captain to the woman, and smiled again. Mal smiled too. “In that case, I’m Captain Malcolm Reynolds, and this is Kaylee,” he said. “Welcome aboard Serenity.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Go to Chapter 3. Back to Chapter 1.