Determined: Chapter One Author: hisgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belong to Joss. I got nada. Characters:Crew, omc Paring: Jayne/Kaylee Rating: PG-15, for profanity Setting: Post BDM Word Count: 1770

A/N: Set on the same world as my Faith Trilogy. Hover for translation. Loved it? Hated it? Let me know what you think. Thanks. X-posted from my LiveJournal

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DETERMINED Chapter One First Day, Newhall

The Firefly Class transport Serenity hung in high orbit above the dusty rim world of Newhall. “Getting to be a right familiar sight, sir,” Zoë remarked to Mal as she and the captain gazed over River’s shoulder at the tawny orb. “Guess it’s a good thing Mr. Benning shares our views on the Alliance.”

Mal nodded. “Works out right well.” The refinery town of the same name had become one of Malcolm Reynolds’ regular stopovers, thanks to an ongoing ‘arrangement’ with the refinery manager, Chester Benning, to smuggle tantalum ore concentrate that he was diverting from the refinery’s production. Over the past six months Mal and Benning had become good friends. Despite the factory being Alliance owned, there was only a relatively small military presence on the rough border world, and it was this limited presence that made Mal’s involvement possible.

The old ship bucked and juddered slightly as she began the drop through Newhall’s atmosphere and Mal studied the flight vectors, still a little surprised that the younger Tam had proved herself so adept as a pilot. “Bring her in low, li’l Albatross. Same landing space as usual.”

Coming in obliquely over a high plateau, River parked the ship in the shadowy recess of a canyon as Mal had ordered. To the west, a snowcapped mountain range rose between them and town. The rough local terrain meant using the spare shuttle, but that suited Mal just fine. He’d just as soon maintain a low profile on this little world.

After breakfast, the captain pulled Simon aside. “I’m takin Zoë along for the meet-up with Benning, and Jayne an’ Kaylee will take care of restocking provisions and ammo.” He slapped Simon on the back. “You, Doctor, are in charge of the boat ‘til we get back this afternoon.” He glanced across the galley to where River sat perched on the counter, closely examining a can opener. “An’ maybe ‘tween you and Inara, you can manage to keep your sister outta trouble this time, dong ma?”

Simon sighed. Since their experience on Miranda, River was unquestionably calmer and more sane, although still prone to emotional shifts that kept Simon on his toes. It seemed like Mal gave him the same lecture every time he was left in charge and it was getting tiresome. “I can assure you, Captain, there will be no problems.” He looked across to River and prompted, “Right, mèimei?”

The slender girl tilted her dark head to look toward the corridor leading to the crew quarters. There, Jayne stood chatting with Kaylee who smiled up at the big man fondly. “Complimentary resources.” River’s liquid eyes darted back to Mal. “She makes him happy,” she pronounced firmly.

“I’m glad something does, considerin’ what a pain in the ass the man is when he ain't.” He pulled on his gloves and pointed at her. “And I’m takin’ that for a ‘yes’, li’l Albatross.”

River gave him a slightly sardonic smile and nodded.

Mal finished making sure his sidearm was loaded and holstered the weapon. “We’ll wave in once we take off from town.”

* * *

The late afternoon sun burned down and Jayne was hot and tired and cranky. “Gorramnit, Kaylee. I only got the two hands. How do you expect me to carry all this dui de wu?” Serenity’s big gunhand could barely be seen behind the heap of parcels, bundles and boxes in his arms.

“You got pockets, ain’tcha?”

Kaylee grinned up at him and held out a pair of filters for the hydraulic lines that activated the Firefly’s entry couplings, each about the size of a can of tuna. The girl mechanic had just spent the past twenty minutes rummaging through a heap of small ship parts at the Newhall junkyard and was delighted to have come up with the hard-to-find components.

Jayne struggled to shift his burdens into a more manageable configuration. “How come we couldn’t a done this part before you had me all loaded up like a packhorse? You said yerself you’d be lucky to scrounge them widgets and it would likely take you awhile. In the mean time, I’m standin’ around with a week’s worth of provisions and enough toilet paper for all Persephone.” It was clear from the merc’s tone of voice that he was not a happy man.

‘Oh, ai ren, I’m sorry.” Kaylee kissed his cheek. “I know them things is heavy, but we had to hit the farmers market early to get decent produce. Besides” -- she slipped behind him and reached around to slide her hands seductively down his belly and toward his groin – “this way makes it easier for me to tease on you.”

Jayne huffed and leaned back against her warm little body. “You do know there’s consequences for that, babygirl?”

Kaylee giggled and dropped the filters into the front pockets of his cargo pants, then quickly stepped away. “Ain't too worried. Besides, you make a great packhorse. You’re big and real strong, got long arms and big hands. Even got a big…”

“Shush, you! You’re cute as sin, but we better quit messin’ around and get that ammo Mal wanted so we can get our tails back over to the shuttle. Cap’n ain't gonna be so cheerful, we keep him and Zo coolin’ their heels, waitin’ on us. And besides, my hands’re gettin’ numb.”

* * *

Kaylee and Jayne threaded their way back across town to the rendezvous spot. It was hot and their purchases were heavy. “It figures we’d wind up right in the middle of shift change,” Jayne griped. The dusty streets of Newhall were filled with refinery workers headed to or from the plant and skiffs bringing in rough ore from the outlying mines.

They dodged a group of rowdy miners and then a bicycle messenger. “There’s the livery stable,” he pointed, “so we go left here.” As they turned down a side street into a section of bars and brothels, the going became a little easier for the pair.

“Ya know, this arrangement with Benning is a pretty sweet deal, so long as nobody squawks.” Kaylee shifted a box filled with produce they’d earlier purchased.

“Yeah. Kinda nice to have one fella on the up-an-up with us for a change.” Jayne adjusted his grip on the load piled in his arms. He looked down at the fresh food Kaylee was carrying and conjured up visions of the savory meals the girl would prepare, his stomach growling loudly.

Kaylee giggled. “Sounds like somebody’s hungry.”

“Ain't et since breakfast!” the big merc complained.

Kaylee knew full well he was always hungry. “Lucky for you, we ain't got far to the docks. I can see the maintenance hangers from here.”

They passed through the huge tanks of the fuel depot that accompanied every rim world landing dock and headed down the tarmac between a scattering of skiffs, shuttles and personal fliers. Maintenance crews swarmed some of the ships while others sat awaiting the return of their owners or crews. “Look there!” Kaylee pointed at one large vessel gutted like a giant whale, its whole propulsion drive out on the pad for overhaul. “What am I always saying about them Capissin 38 engines?”

As they rounded a hanger, Serenity’s shuttle came into view and what Jayne saw brought him to an abrupt halt.

“Hold up,” he hissed, and blocked Kaylee’s way, nudging her back behind the hanger. Quietly dropping their parcels, they edged forward to peek around the corner of the building. From their point of cover they could see Mal and Zoë standing back to back, hands zip-tied behind them.

The corporal in charge of the squad glowered self-importantly. “Hanson, Schwartz – you two check the docks. Our source said they landed with two more.” A second pair of purplebellies searched the shuttle while another grunt held Mal and Zoë’s sidearms.

“Sonuvabitch!” Jayne’s voice was low and furious. “Somebody musta ratted us out, and now them morons gone an’ got themselves pinched. Made!”

Kaylee clutched anxiously at his arm. “What are we gonna do, Jayne?”

The merc’s trigger finger itched as he palmed his revolver’s grip. His eyes darted back and forth, taking stock of the scene and calculating the odds. “If it was just one or two, I’d shoot em,” he whispered, “but there’s too many. They’ll kill the Cap’n and Zo ‘fore I could get ‘em all. We need to git our asses outta here, get back to the ship. We can come back for ‘em when we got more guns.”

Jayne glanced at the pile of parts and provisions. “Leave this fèhuà. We gotta find us a flier we can steal, get back to Serenity mǎshàng!” He nudged the girl mechanic away from the captives. “You notice anything might work for us on the way in?”

With a last apprehensive glance over her shoulder, Kaylee nodded. “If the canopy ain’t latched, that L-Span 250 near the entrance oughtta do. Easy to fly, got a decent range to it.”

“Good.” Jayne glanced warily over his shoulder. ”Let’s go steal ourselves some transport.”

* * *

Ten minutes into the flight, the fuel needle shuddered and then dipped sharply toward empty. “What the fuck?” Jayne blurted. His brow furrowed and he thumped the fuel gauge and altimeter. “Shitfire! Engine’s skippin’ out an’ I can’t get any altitude. Ruttin’ fuel gauge must be off.” The small two-man flier bucked and sputtered, descending fast. The mercenary pulled back on the yoke and fiddled desperately with the controls as he cursed.

“Musta been why it was on the service pad.” Kaylee’s voice was thin and strained. “Maybe I shoulda checked it.” The mechanic stared through the view-screen at the convoluted mountainous terrain below, naked panic etched on her face.

“Ain't like we had another option, ya know.” Jayne glanced sideways at her. “We had to get outta there.”

Kaylee’s hand went to her man’s arm as she tried to control her terror. “Uh Jayne – that ridge is comin’ up mighty fast…”

“…An’ we ain't gonna clear it. I know.” The mercenary craned his neck, scanning the mottled green, gray and white landscape ahead. His mouth tightened with concentration and his knuckles gleamed like bone against the yoke as he fought to control the vehicle in the buffeting winds rebounding off the mountains.

“Looks like a big clearing close to the snow line. I’m gonna try to put us down in a controlled slide. Tighten up your safety harness and then git yer head down between your knees with your arms over it. We’re likely to hit hard…”

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To be continued…