The crowded streets of Persephone displayed wares and bodies for sale, one for too much and one for far too little. The sweat dripping down her back, her sheer face guard blowing upward from the hot air steaming from the slimy quarters below, Inara was lost in thought. Even though she was used to the normal and not so normal commerce of Persephone, her attention was divided for other reasons today. The wav she received was encrypted and she needed her shuttle communication relays to decipher it. She was worried about the point of origin on the wav though. It could be coincidence, she prayed that it was only coincidence. He could not have found her, not after all this time. The thought quickened her pace toward Serenity. ----- “It’s true, we did take a doll shipment once. But we ain’t gonna again. It was a bit above our standards,” Mal tried to sound as pleasant as possible to the nicely dressed gentleman. His black trench coat and matching Stetson showed little dust on a planet full of the stuff. This meant distinguished in Mal’s mind and he was not about to cut future ties.

“I understand,” Evan Li smiled slightly at the captain and stepped to the side for a better view of the cargo bay. He saw crates shoved to each side and some large man smoking a cigar and sharpening a knife while enjoying the horrid air pilfering into the ship from the planet. Jayne barely noticed the inspection before he started picking the dirt from his boots with the knife. Evan strolled back to the captain with his hands clasped behind his back, “It is a nice ship. How many crew members are needed on this class?”

“As many as needed,” Mal said cryptically, inwardly eyeing the man with suspicion. He did not think the man’s interest in Serenity was on the side of genuine. “We got nine members including myself. One of them’s a bona fide companion, however, and don’t help too much with the jobs we take. Another’s a shepherd for, uh … spiritual guidance,” Mal said with only a slight pause.

Evan’s smile finally reached his eyes. “Is that so? And why would a shipping crew need spiritual guidance?”

“Well, don’t need it much myself. But, everyone else seems to take to it, so we keep the preacher around.”

“That seems a bit strange. How does this preacher like having a companion on board?” The man turned once again to look inside Serenity.

Mal took his time answering and closely watched Evan study the belly of his beloved ship. Not only was something tickling the hairs on the back of his neck but it felt like his gun wanted to pop right out of his holster and put this slick man out of his misery. “We all stay out of each other’s business,” Mal finally said, putting a lot of emphasis on the word ‘business’.

Evan turned back to the captain, noting the tone of his voice and backing off the inquiry. “Well, I wish and your crew luck with your endeavors, “ Evan nodded to Mal and glanced once more into the cargo bay and up to the shuttle entrances before he made his way down the ramp. Mal did not miss the dark look which came into the tall man’s eyes. He let out a breath he knew he was holding but still managed to make him mad. He hated being on edge. All he wanted was a gorram job and to get back to space. His mood only deepened when he spotted Inara walking towards Serenity.

“I hope you had better luck than I did. It seems no one on this forsaken planet wants dealings with genuine criminals, “ Mal smiled at that thought.

“Yes, it seems that way.” Inara walked right passed him and up to her chamber.

Jayne stopped picking his shoes and looked up to Mal watching her walk away. He took a puff of his last cigar for a good month and blew out the smoke. It wavered and finally lifted away while Jayne savored the aroma. “I guess she ain’t had no luck either. Maybe Persephone ain’t the villainy of work we come to expect.”

“Yeah, you may be right. Jayne, I would appreciate you don’t practice your personal hygiene in front of potential clients.”

“What? My boots needed cleanin’.”

“I wasn’t talking about your boots.” Mal walked up the stairs leaving Jayne as confused as ever. -- Serenity was quiet. She was asleep, tranquil, and cruising through space with nothing to stop her, oblivious to the turmoil aboard her first shuttle. It provided ample room for one person. It was private, save for Mal barging in every now and again, much to Inara’s chagrin. No, that was not entirely correct. She wished he would barge in at this very moment because she had no idea what to do. Her training told her to keep it to herself, to surreptitiously convince Mal to take a job on the Rim. Her heart and mind were telling her to panic. Practicing her breathing techniques, Inara lay on her back and closed her eyes.

He found her. The words sunk in and hitched her exercises. She curled to her side and hugged a ruby red pillow. Running was the only option. She could not rely on The Alliance. There was no information that she could trade this time. The war was over, despite Mal’s and Zoe’s bitterness. For the first time in ten years, she wondered how she could have sunk so deep. Again, she closed her eyes and heard the strike of his hand across her face. She remembered the sound more than the pain. It always confused her why. Perhaps it was a survival instinct to put the pain behind her. Perhaps, that was why being a companion came so easily. She could effortlessly hide her pain or her feelings.

Well, she would have to hide them again. Just because he knew her wavstop did not mean he knew where she lived or how to find her. She would ask one of her companion friends to buy a new address under a Guild alias and have her old one transferred. It would be impossible to trace with Guild scrambling. Satisfied with her decision but still restless, she got out of bed to make some tea.

As she walked along Serenity toward the kitchen, she caressed her bulkhead. Inara always thought Serenity was the perfect friend for a companion. Always on the move and never revealing her secrets. Mal used Serenity to hide his work and she used her to hide herself. She wondered what Serenity thought of her crew using her to conceal their own demons. Still, they never took her for granted. Kaylee was the ship’s best friend, keeping her oiled and greased and Mal had proved time and again he would go down with the ship if it ever came to that. She even cursed herself for being too attached to this place.

The whistling of the tea kettle brought her out of her thoughts and she sat down at the dimly lit table. Her mind wandering about using her contacts to find Mal a job and get him moving again, the captain walked into the room looking surly as ever. Their eyes met and he scowled as if she was the reason he was up so late.

“What’re you doin’?” Mal asked in a tone which matched his accusing manner.

“I am drinking tea. I could not sleep. Is there a problem with Serenity?”

“Nah. She’s about the only thing that’s goin’ right these days.” He all but fell into a chair at the other end of the table. “Jobs are scarce and the Feds are eagerly awaitin’ the next appearance of Miss. ‘I’m a genius but that don’t make me sane’ Tam. Meanwhile, the Doc is pussyfootin’ around my mechanic so she don’t do her work. Wash and Zoe are always in the middle of some high volume conversation ending up in their bunk and I am beginning to suspect there might be more to our preacher than just spoutin’ Bible stories. He and Jayne seem to have taken to each other which paints a scary portrait.” Mal scowled again and she wondered if he was just realizing he was confessing his thoughts.

“Actually, on the job search, I might know someone who could be of assistance,” Inara put forward with more faith than she was feeling.

“A client?”

“Let’s just say he is an associate with connections.”

“And your client don’t mind cohortin’ with reputable smugglers?” Mal said deliberately assuming she was speaking of a client. “We don’t want no trouble with the Guild nor do I want dealings with someone who smells purple.”

“I assure you this is off the Guild’s radar and he is not going to run to the Alliance. Contrary to your opinion though, Mal, members of the Alliance are not the worst people with which to make a deal.”

There was no questioning his trepidation at this last statement. But his eyes also held a deeper look which she thought was concern. Remembering her training and her plan, she forged ahead. “I think you will find my associate will suggest an appropriate agreement and give you a fair price.”

After a last look and a deep breath Mal stood up and said, “Alright, set up a meetin’. We’ll see what your client has to say and how much of his whore money he’s willin’ to pay.” With that, he left the way he came. For the second time that night, Inara heard a loud slap strike her face.