Continuing the story of the BDH's as they plan to rescue Jobe's daughter from slavers. Thank you to EngineAngel for the beta.

If you missed out on previous parts, see the links below. 'Choices of Serenity-Part 1'

and

'Choices of Serenity-Part 2'

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Choices of Serenity - Part 3

“Somebody set my face on fire, and put it out with a hammer!” Wash laughed. “Did I just hear Jayne Cobb convince us to do a job pro bono.”

“I didn’t say nothin’ about no bono!” Jayne snapped back.

“For free Jayne, it means doing the job for free,” Inara interjected.

“I knew that,” Jayne responded, embarrassed.

“Everyone just stop!” Mal shouted. “Think hard about this all of you. It ain’t like we’re gonna just break skids, fly off to Santo or wherever the kid is, pick’er up, and fly away all shiny and like,” he continued eyeing the crew as he spoke. “Slavers ain't the type to give up their stocks, just cause we say please. We can expect resistance, and that means there’ll be gunwork, and that means there's the likelihood of blood bein’ spilt. If we ain’t prepared for that, best maybe we rethink doin’ this.”

“Only blood to be spilt’s gonna be slaver blood as I see it,” Jayne boasted.

“There’s a mite more points of worry to be considered, Jayne. Not everyone on this boat is a gunhand,” Mal cautioned. “We set out on this, there can’t be any turnin' tail. I’m as befuddled as any of ya 'bout why Jayne here's takin' such a interest in the well-being of the little sprite, but ya’ll seem to be right on board. We do this, we do it together and each one does their part,” turning to Simon, Mal questioned. “I ain't heard your piece in all of this. You up for it, Doctor? You willin’ to put your little sister in harm's way ta save someone you don’t even know?”

“I…” Simon began.

“It will be bad,” River interrupted. “But there’s no other choice.”

All eyes were on the seventeen-year-old. Simon sat speechless, his mouth agape. In his mind he pondered his options. If we don’t go, we get left here. he thought to himself. If we do go, we risk getting killed.

Simon looked back up at Mal. “I’m not sure we do have a choice in the matter, captain. River and I can’t stay here…I suppose we’d be safer going with you all to Santo on this job anyway.”

“No other choice,” River reiterated to her brother.

“Are we all agreed then?” Mal questioned again looking sternly at his crew.

Each head nodded in approval, bonding the crew to the fate of young Shae.

“I spose’ someone ought to go fetch Jobe Dyer, he went back to town last night I suppose,” Zoe suggested. “If we’re gonna plan this right, we’ll need all the information we can get.”

“I’ll volunteer for that," Book said, raising his hand. "I expect he may need a bit of comforting right now. I’ll see what kind of information I can get out of him too.”

“Zoe, Jayne, lets take stock of arms and see what we’ve got to use,” Mal ordered. “Whatever it is, it’s all we got. There ain’t no means for more, and we need to plan accordingly.”

The crew disbanded, each person seeing to their task at hand.

****

Making his way through the streets, Book kept a sharp eye out for Jobe. He was happy Mal had relented and they were going to take up Jobe’s cause, but he wasn’t ignorant to the fact that the job was perilous and risky. There’ll be need of special blessings upon us for this task, he thought to himself as he walked along.

Turning a corner, he found Jobe sitting alone, his back propped up against the side of a building. In his hands, he held the picture of his daughter.

“Jobe?” Book asked, laying his hand on the distraught man’s shoulder.

“What’a you want with me? Come to pray my daughter back for me?” Jobe answered through tears.

“Jobe, I’ve come to find you. The captain has relented. We are going to rescue your daughter.”

“You are?” Jobe responded, sniffling. “But how? I can’t pay. I have no means to…”

“Doesn’t matter Jobe. Fact is, the whole crew thought it the right thing to do,” Book smiled. “Was the least expected that turned the tide Jobe, which makes it all the more important,” he continued.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Jobe sobbed, clawing at the shepherd's clothing.

“Jobe, pull yourself together. The most important thing is your young one,” Book reminded. “The success of her rescue rests on the plan to get her. That plan is depending on you giving the captain all the information you have about where she is and who has her.”

Helping Jobe stand, the shepherd took his arm and they slowly made thier way back to Serenity. “Now, tell me what you know about her captors……”

***

Knowing the condition of Serenity was less than optimal, Mal decided to pay Kaylee a visit and get her assessment of the ship. The Mechanic had been so patient with him, putting off repair after repair, sometimes using nothing more than her shiny disposition to hold the ship together. Mal knew Serenity was flying on borrowed time. His only hope was that Kaylee could keep it in the air for a couple more jobs.

“You gonna hold my ship together, Kaylee?” Mal inquired.

“She ain’t good captn, but I’ll do the best with her that I can. The catalyzer is darn near burned to a crisp, but I was able to re-route it to make it work for a few more hard burns. I figured we’d need at least one or two of those, 'specially helpin’ Jobe’s kiddo out,” Kaylee responded with a smile.

“Need your magic now mei mei. Serenity’s gotta hold together.”

***

Jayne and Zoe made haste with the inventory. Slavers were a slimy folk and not particularly smart, but they were usually well armed. Both Zoe and Jayne knew they’d need every advantage they could muster, and that meant bringing out just about everything they had.

“How many grenades you got Jayne?” Zoe inquired.

“I got two crates left,” Jayne replied. “I got plenty of full mags for Vera. Shotgun loads…Zoe, how many we got?”

“Hundred or so I believe, plus I've got a few grenades myself. Small arms ammo is a little thin, but I think what’s there’ll do. Never can have enough though. We took some stuff off Niska when we rescued my man and Mal. I ‘spect we’ve got enough to hold our own once we meet the tian sha de e mo ," Zoe answered, excited at the prospect of using the power she had for a task so noble.

“Jayne, I’m curious. Why the interest here? Ain’t like you to show compassion towards anything. It’s good, don’t get me wrong…but,” Zoe asked with a smile.

Jayne was beginning to become bothered by the actions he had taken and words he had spoken in the last twenty-four hours. Compassion? he thought to himself. Best be changin’ that perception quick. Don’t want everyone thinkin’ I’ve gone soft.

“I’ve run with a lot of baddies in the verse. There ain’t none worse than slavers, in my opinion,” Jayne surmised. “’Bout as close to Reavers as you can get. They just sell flesh rather than eat it an’ wear it,” he continued. “Ain't worth a spot of lead, but I’d gladly give a few of 'em a couple of early tickets to the hot place if’n the opportunity arrives.”

Zoe could tell Jayne was covering, but chose to keep the man’s sudden burst of toughness to herself as the two continued to inventory and organize the remaining weapons cache. Despite his temprament Zoe could think of plenty of times where Jayne’s skill with an iron had come to play and rescued more than one member of the crew. His abilities weren’t matched by many, and on a job like this his badness would be needed. When it came to the lot they were most certain to face, she hoped his new found compassion would stay put on Serenity.

***

Wash and Mal were talking basics on the bridge when Jobe arrived accompanied by Book. Jobe was still a step short of hysterical, both from the loss, and now the sudden turn of events that put his precious daughter a step closer to his arms.

"Jobe, you need to calm down. The captain needs you to give him all of the information you can so he and the rest of the crew can plan this right," Book said again, his tone becoming more direct.

"You say she's on Santo, right Jobe?" Mal questioned, beginning the inquizition.

"Yes, I think there's some sort of trading post there. Slave trading," Jobe replied, wiping his eyes and rising to the task in front of him.

"We know it Jobe. Ran into a bit of trouble there a while back.” Wash remembered. “I hope they don’t remember your little impromptu pickpocket job Mal. We barely got out of there.”

“Could pose a problem, but I don’t think we should plan on being there long enough to play a game of pool,” Mal replied, realizing the consequences if they were recognized. “Jobe, what about layout. Do you have any idea about where she’s being held?”

“I never got the name of the men who took her. Mr. Hubert’s men, that’s all I know, and they may’ve just been guns for hire,” he broke to tears again. “My only hope is that they’ve not sold her yet.”

“Mr. Hubert….now that’s something to go on, maybe. I’ll run his name on the Cortex and see if I can get anything on him,” Wash said, turning in his seat to his terminal. “Mr. Universe, I’ll have him run the name too.”

“We could plan a bust and run,” Mal commented. “We’d just need to find out where she is, bust her out, and run.”

“I suppose that’ll all depend on the intel we get, Mal. Can’t bust and run if we don’t know where to bust," Wash continued.

“Dunno, Wash. If we can get a layout of the complexes on Santo, maybe we can at least get an idea of what we need to do.”

***

“Doc, I gotta know you're on board with this,” Mal prodded. “If you aren’t, best maybe you and your sister get off right here.”

“Like we have a choice, Captain?” Simon replied. “I’m not excited about it, but we’ll be there, and you know I’ll do my job.”

“Best see to your med supplies then. If there’s anything you need….well, ain’t no sense in tellin’ me cause we don’t have the means to stock up anyway,” Mal remarked over his shoulder as he left the infirmary.

***

“Mal, Mr. Universe sent me some info on Mr. Hubert,” Wash commented excitedly. “He’s got himself quite an operation running on Santo.”

“Any intel on locations and the like?” the captain asked.

“Yeah, he has a compound. There’s a couple of pictures of his complex, course that’s not gonna tell us exactly where Shae is.”

“I think I might have a solution to that problem,” Mal mused as he turned to leave. “Do me a favor, have Zoe take a look at the layout. Once we locate where she is, we’ll need to know how to get in and out with the least amount of trouble.”

***

“Inara, can I speak with you a piece?” Mal questioned entering the companion’s shuttle.

“Mal, I’m proud of you for doing this. It’s the right thing to do. I’ve got some funds I’d like to….” She replied before being cut off by the captain.

“We'll need the funds, but what we'll really need is your involvment,” Mal cut in. “We need to locate the girl, and there ain’t a one of us on this ship that looks like we could afford us a slave, let alone a young one.”

“You want me to purchase Shae?” She questioned. “Mal, I’m not so sure…”

Cutting Inara off again, Mal continued, “No. I need you to go ask questions, see if you can find out where they’re holding her.”

“You need me to spy,” she returned.

“Well, yes, we’re gonna bust her out, but I need to know where she is. See if you can get a look at the inventory and such,” Mal continued. “You’re rich looking, someone who could pass as a person looking to make such a purchase. I know work like this isn’t something you’re used to doing…but you’re perfect for the part. Do you think you're up to takin' part in something like this?”

“I'm honored and surprised Mal." Inara answered, a little confused at Mal’s willingness to include her in the crew’s excursion. "I’ll need as much contact information as you can get for me,” She requested as Mal turned to leave.

***

Mal found Book and Jobe sitting in the dining area. “Jobe, you’re gonna have to understand, as we plan this thing, you gotta do what I say,” Mal said, his look becoming stern. “Just understand, you get spotted by these guys, you’re pretty much dead. You’re not gonna be able to participate in this. You’re gonna have to stay here.”

“The captain’s right, Jobe,” Book agreed, also looking intently at Jobe. “If you fail to follow his directions you risk not just yourself, but your daughter and the lives of those who are sacrificing so much to help you.”

“Thank you, thank you! I owe my life to you for this,” Jobe replied lifting his face to the men.

“You just remember, Jobe, when we do this, you stay on the ship. You do that, and things’ll be shiny,” Mal reminded the man.

*** Mal returned to the bridge and, using the com, called for the crew to join him there. Each arrived, ready to hear what their part in the rescue would be.

“Alright,” Mal began. “I’m makin’ it known now, again, I’m not all to shiny on doin’ this job, but since Jayne here’s gone and convinced you all that we’re righteous in it, I’m willin' to bend,” he continued, scanning the group. His eyes swept past the Shepherd, and he paused to look directly at Jobe. “And I want you to know, Jobe, this job takes the slightest turn south, I’m pullin’ everyone out, little one or no little one.”

Jobe’s head dropped. “Whatever I can do, just tell me. I’m in your eternal debt.”

“Don’t worry on this now, Jobe. The captain and his crew know what they’re doing. Things are going to work out just fine,” Book comforted.

“There’s plenty to worry about, Shepherd. This has to come off like clock work,” Mal rebuffed. “Wash, let everyone in on the plan.”

Wash began to detail the plan to the rest of the crew. “We’ll put down outside the city limits, hopefully undetected,” He continued. “Inara is going to go in first, begin inquiring about the need for a young girl to work at her estate.”

“She’ll stand out like a sore thumb in that place,” Jayne commented.

“She needs to Jayne, to keep up the ruse. She won’t be alone,” Wash continued. “Shepherd Book, you’ll accompany her as an indentured servant.”

“Inara’s agreed to do this, and I’m not too keen on sending her into that place by herself,” Mal added. "There’ll be no need for talkin’ preacher, Inara knows what she needs to say. Your task Shep, besides keeping an eye on Inara, is to get a look at the layout. We’ve got to know what we’re walkin’ into.”

“Fine then,” Book continued.

“As soon as you locate Shae, if you locate Shae, you come back to the ship and help us draw out a layout of the place and locate where they're holding her,” Wash continued looking at Inara. “We don’t have much coin to spare you, Inara; do you have items you could flash in trade?”

“I can round up enough to legitimize my inquiries,” Inara reported.

“Okay then,” Wash spoke again. “After we locate where Shae’s at, Mal and Zoe…my wife!” he continued, turning to Mal, “are going to attempt to go in casual…well, maybe shooting, but we hope casual…get the girl, and make their way back to the ship.”

“What 'bout me?” Jayne whined.

“Jayne, you’ve got to protect our escape,” Mal broke in. “You’ll follow us in and take a position where you can snipe if you have to. Can’t nobody follow us outta that place. Nobody.”

“Simon, you, River, Kaylee, and myself will stay on the ship and be prepped to break skids as soon as they arrive,” Wash added.

“Everyone understand?” Mal questioned, scanning the crew again.

“What’s my role?” Jobe inquired. “She’s my daughter. Shouldn’t I be doing something?"

“You stay on the ship, Jobe. Don’t even think about trying to involve yourself in this,” Mal ordered.

The order was given. Mal turned to Wash, telling him to plot the quickest, and most fuel efficient course to Santo. As the crowd dispersed he thought to himself, zhe ge ji hua zhen ke na.

Chinese translations:

mei mei – little sister

Tian sha de e mo - God damn monsters

Zhe ge ji hua zhen ke pa - there is nothing about this plan that isn't horrific