Firefly, Serenity, and all related proprietary characters are the intellectual property of Joss Whedon and corporations with whom I have no affiliation. Said property does not belong to me, and the fictional story below is of my own creation. (I don’t own ‘em, just like to play with ‘em!) ********************** Patience seemed almost amused as she cast her eyes over the mule. “Welcome back, Reynolds. Not that you’ll be leavin’ again, but nice to see you all the same. I see you brought your daughter this time… something happen in the last little bit to whatever fēng kuáng dì whore you knocked up to create such spawn?” Mal pushed down the anger boiling in his blood as he stepped off the mule. “Same old cretin as the last time I left you for dead. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Now why don’t you let these nice people go? Then you an’ I can have our thing out, an’ maybe if everyone’s real lucky, nobody ends up dead.” Zoë and River got off behind him, but stayed a step back to either side. Patience laughed aloud. “Seems I’m not the only one who hasn’t changed. It’s too bad really, when Badger told me some off-worlders were coming down, doing some business behind my back, I was thinkin’ I could just shoot someone as an example, shake both sides down for most of the loot, be on my merry way. But then your contact said the seller was Lord Harrow of Persephone, so I thought I’d see who was carryin’ for that almighty jackass and re-evaluate. Man has some power behind him. This is turnin’ out to be a lot like actual work.” “Much as I love this palaver, me an’ mine got places to be… so why don’t you just tell me what it is you want me to relay to Lord Harrow, and leave us the gorram alone?” Mal’s temper was beginning to get the better of him. Patience only smiled in response, then motioned something to one of her escort. A second later, one of the six buyers had a bullet through his leg. “What were you saying, Reynolds? I thought you just said to kill your contacts, but I could have misheard you.” Mal bristled. This is not going smooth… things are about two seconds from pear-shaped, and I don’t like pear-shaped. “You did indeed. I was asking what it is you want us to do for you, if you would be so kind?” “Better. Now I am in a generous mood today, so here’s how things are going down. You can leave that mule right where it is, your contacts can walk on back to your sorry excuse for a ship, all three of you can lay your fine weapons down on the ground where I can see ‘em, and then we can negotiate as to how many of you three can join those idiots who are trying to cut in on my business, and how many get a nice funeral pyre on your mule after I take those goods.” Zoë stepped level with Mal, which was the pre-arranged signal for Jayne to prepare for imminent hostilities. “Sir, I’m thinkin’ that seems like a pretty raw deal. But they have us covered five to one. What’re your thoughts on the matter?” “I think I do the job, and then I get paid. Don’t recall gettin’ dead as being part of that arrangement, and I sure as gŏu shĭ ain’t lettin’ you or Albatross take any bullets. What do you think, nī zi?” “Propose a counter-offer.” River stepped even with Mal, and now Jayne was clear to fire if anyone raised a weapon. River raised her voice level to get Patience’s attention. “I will offer myself in exchange for the lives of all others, and the cargo. Is this acceptable?” She tossed her sidearm on the ground in front of her. Mal raged internally. What the gorram is she doin'? This ain't part of the plan! Patience studied the girl for a moment. “Selfless. Just like her old man. You’ll make a good whore. Come along then.” Then she noticed Mal’s angry glare, directed not at her, but at River. “What’s the matter, Reynolds? She’s walking in your footsteps, I’d have thought you’d be proud.” In contrast to Mal’s silent anger, Zoë remained stoic. “Let them go, Patience. You have what you want.” “So I do.” Patience waited for River to reach her side before nodding to her men. The contacts slowly got to their feet and made their way to the mule. “Nice doing business with you, Reynolds. Say goodbye now!” Mal waited for everyone to get behind him and Zoë before responding. “Goodbye then.” The captain drew his gun so fast that Patience didn’t have time to even flinch. But unfortunately the speed also affected Mal’s aim, and the bullet that had been intended to land in her chest instead hit River’s arm. And an instant later, the clearing erupted in gunfire. Jayne was quickly mowing down the escort, and Patience had taken up cover behind the rock she had been sitting on, River lying on the ground moaning in agony as the bullet had ripped completely through her left bicep before lodging in the rock. With some help from Zoë, Mal quickly finished off the other guards, neither taking so much as a graze. Quality of her guards has gone down quite a bit. Lucky us… The clearing quieted for a moment, as none of Patience’s guards were breathing any longer, and the gangster was pinned down under her cover. “Alright, Reynolds, you win. Tossin’ out my gun.” The old revolver clattered to the ground at Mal’s feet as he approached the rock, and he motioned for Jayne to hold fire, but stay ready. “Puttin’ my hands up, comin’ out to talk.” But River got between the two, her breath slightly ragged. “You stupid… pō fù… my biological parents may have been whores for the Alliance.” River snapped off a lightning-fast kick that shattered the old woman’s right knee. “But chuán zhăng and piào liang fū ren are my guardians now.” Another kick to the left knee produced similar results, and the staggering woman fell face first into the dirt. “No one calls piào liang fū ren a whore, whether she’s my mother or not.” River grabbed Patience by the back of her hair with her injured arm, pulling her up slightly. With her right arm, she held Patience’s right arm out from the side of her body, and landed another kick to the upper arm, the bone crunching as it snapped. “And no one calls me a whore either.” River reversed her grip and flipped Patience over to face her, before duplicating the kick on the only appendage not yet broken. Struggling slightly, River motioned for Mal to back away, and she laid the gangster out over the rock, writhing in pain but unable to really go anywhere. “A bully, a coward, and a manipulator. But you couldn’t get enough, and no one would stand up to you. Today, River Tam stands up for those that could not.” River slammed her right hand into Patience’s face, driving the cartilage in her nose up and back into her brain, killing her on impact. River turned to Mal and Zoë. “It’s done.” And the teenager collapsed, partially from blood loss, but mostly from her exertion. ************************************ River’s eyes fluttered open to see the entire crew gathered around her, all with anxious expressions. “Did we get paid?” Mal suddenly had her jaw in an iron grip. “Don’t you ever pull that kind of gŏu shĭ again! You could have got yourself killed, and you scared us all to death!” Jayne immediately reached over and grabbed Mal’s wrist, squeezing until Mal was forced to let go. “Keep yer gorram hands to yerself! Nobody’s gonna touch her like that… ever!” Mal’s other hand flew to his sidearm and suddenly tensions soared as the two men stood over River on her medical bed, Mal’s gun trained on Jayne’s face. “Maybehaps you should remember who’s the gorram captain on this boat, and let go of my wrist.” Nobody moved at first, until Zoë carefully stepped next to Jayne and slowly reached out to take Mal’s gun with one hand, while taking Jayne’s wrist with her other and twisting, forcing the mercenary to let go. “Sir, are you two quite done? If not, might I suggest you take this to the bay? You’re scaring River.” Jayne scowled as he shook off Zoë’s grip, leaning down over the now extremely pale teenager, the mercenary lightly pushed some of her messy hair away from her eyes. “Sorry, xiăo hè, just worried was all. Everything is just shiny though. Right, Mal?” Jayne turned away from River to hide his facial expression, before fixing the captain with a vicious glare, completely oblivious to the fact that River would have no trouble discerning the truth if she wanted to. “We got paid, nobody we care ‘bout’s dead. Guess we can call that a win.” Mal scrutinized the teen’s arm, which Jayne was carefully avoiding. “Sorry ‘bout that bullet, Albatross. Was tryin’ to hit that pō fù in the chest.” Mal winced as he realized for the first time just how much he had missed by. For some reason completely indiscernible to anyone else, River smiled. “Forty feet, shooting from your hip. Only missed by eight inches, not the worst shot in the world.” River’s eyes took on a malicious glint for an instant. “Besides, couldn’t let her talk that way about piào liang fū ren, or you… her actual death was far more appropriate.” Then just as quickly as it had appeared, the look in her eyes faded, and it was just River’s smile again. Mal, Zoë, and Jayne had agreed before heading back to Serenity that the manner in which River had executed Patience would be a secret that Inara, Kaylee, and especially Simon, would never hear. But they had not yet agreed on exactly what would be said to account for the fact that the gangster was indeed no longer a living inhabitant of the ‘verse. Mal was quite disappointed that Simon was every bit as sharp as advertised. The doctor squinted as he examined River, then Mal, as though he was looking for what didn’t make sense. “Mèi mei, what do you mean? The captain didn’t tell us how she died yet, and he said you were unconscious for the fight after he accidentally shot you. And by the way, thank you, Mal, for the two hours I had to spend making sure she didn’t bleed to death.” River was about to answer when Zoë cut across her. “Cap’n may have told a bit of a fib, doc. Your mèi mei is the one that put Patience out of commission. Fairly impressive, considering she had a hole through her arm about an inch wide.” Simon sighed in exasperation, but he and Kaylee missed what Inara did not. The companion had been around the first mate long enough to know when she was purposely omitting information, relevant or otherwise. I suppose I will need to speak with River… perhaps Jayne as well… this is becoming far more complicated than I ever imagined. What she didn’t say almost makes it sound like River executed Patience… I truly hope that is not the case. “What’s done is done. Now that River is awake, I think we can all go about our business. I will stay, if that’s alright with River, and the rest of you should go. Jayne, go get cleaned up, I’d like to speak with you later.” Mal grumbled audibly, but a glance from Inara shut him up, at least for the moment. As the crew filed out of the infirmary and Simon reached back to shut the door, Inara could distinctly hear Mal complaining about how no one ever listens to the captain, but the minute Inara wants something, everyone jumps to comply. The companion rolled her eyes before turning back to River. “Bǎo bèi, what happened back on Whitefall?” River spent the next five minutes detailing the entirety of events, and spared no graphic details. Inara waited patiently until she finished, although she inwardly cringed as River nonchalantly described breaking the legs and arms of the gangster and her eventual demise. No wonder Zoë didn’t want River to tell Simon or Kaylee. Simon would probably have a coronary, and I cannot even begin to imagine how Kaylee would react. “River, I know that what Patience said was upsetting… but what you did to her… it wasn’t an appropriate response. You toyed with Patience before you killed her, made her suffer. I realize that you have been exposed to far more violence than your average person, even participated in it. But you don’t seem in any way penitent for your actions.” “Why should I be remorseful for the death of someone who has brought nothing but pain to the universe?” River seemed almost angry. “For someone evil and malicious at their very core, a person who has tried to kill chuán zhăng on more than one occasion, and would not have hesitated to kill you or anyone else on this ship if she could have got away with it?” “I think you realize that if you had simply shot Patience, in an honorable fight, we would not be having this conversation.” Inara stroked her hand through River’s tangled hair, a frown affixed to her face. “You should feel contrite for having to take life in most cases, but I can understand why you would not feel bad that Patience is dead. Especially after what she said, but that does not justify torturing her. River, even someone like Patience did not deserve to die in agony, you must at least recognize that, no person does.” River studied Inara for a moment. “Why do you care how she died? She was evil, and she tried to kill us. I had to defend us.” “That’s just it, bǎo bèi. I don’t care how she died, I care how you killed her. I’m scared for you, what you might become, if this is how you respond to every person that offends you.” River shook her head. “There are only two people left in the universe for which I hold the same hatred, that I would kill in such a visceral way, and both of their deaths belong to chuán zhăng. You need not worry for me.” Inara didn’t need to be a mind reader to realize who the teen was referring to. Atherton Wing and Adelai Niska were the scum of the earth, that was certain. It was equally certain that Mal would be the one to kill them, and heaven help anyone who stood in his path when that time came. But Inara was still unclear if River was being completely truthful, so she decided to play her last card. “Then you will not mind if I share this information with your brother. If you have no shame for what you have done, and you believe you are completely in control of yourself, then there truly will be no cause for concern.” Much as Inara expected, River immediately panicked, quickly sitting up in bed. “You will not! Not gē ge, and not jiě jie! They are the only ones who do not know that I am still a monster on the inside, just like Patience and those other two. Hù wèi zhĕ has known for a while now, and he understands. Today chuán zhăng and nǚ zhàn shì saw for the first time. They were scared at first, but now they only fear how gē ge, jiě jie, and you would react. And now you know as well. Do you fear me, do you feel unsafe? Do you wish to be rid of me?” Inara could not respond verbally, so she simply embraced the young girl, carefully avoiding her wound, and hoped she would understand. She does understand my concerns, and she doesn’t want Simon or Kaylee to know she’s capable of such atrocities. They believe she is pure, and she wishes to maintain that illusion. River thinks she’s no different than Atherton or Niska, but she doesn’t want others to know. She wants to hide her dark side away, master it, and until today, she had. “Bǎo bèi, why did you do it? Just tell me why, I need to understand, the way Jayne does.” Inara’s voice had fallen to a whisper. River responded in kind. “I lost control. Before chuán zhăng ruined my plan, I was only going to break her neck. But when he shot me… I remembered what she said. It made me hate her. When she conceded defeat, it only made me angrier. She denied me the opportunity to kill her in honorable combat, but she had to die.” River choked back tears, burying her face in Inara’s soft tresses. “Gē ge may be my only blood, but you and chuán zhăng… you are my guardians. The horrible things she said, I wanted so badly to forget. But I couldn’t, and it fueled my hate.” River fell silent for a few minutes, then she suddenly stopped crying. Pulling back for a moment, River stroked Inara’s cheek. “Would you and chuán zhăng be my mŭ qīn and fù qīn? I know I am not your blood, nor his, but this is something I need, something gē ge can’t give me.” “Oh, bǎo bèi, you will always be my rú nǚ ér zhĕ… always!” Inara was now the one choking back tears, barely maintaining her composure. “And Mal, you know he loves you like you’re his… but River, you have to realize, I can’t adopt you and you can’t change your name. It would be too dangerous to expose you to someone who could recognize you, turn you over to the Alliance again.” River looked crushed. “I do not need or seek the approval of anyone who does not reside on this ship. But I understand. You do not wish to bear such a responsibility, and I cannot expect you or chuán zhăng to do so. I apologize for putting you in such a position.” Inara pulled River back into her embrace, whispering in her ear once again. “Don’t be sorry, River. Don’t ever be sorry for what you cannot control. It isn’t that I don’t want the responsibility… but this is something serious that deserves consideration. Would you let me think about it for now? Would that be alright with you?” “That you would even consider is more than I can ask. If you would… be my mŭ qīn… would you ask chuán zhăng… to be my fù qīn?” River felt Inara tense a little. “I fear it would be unfair to ask him myself. Chuán zhăng is so impulsive that either he would agree without considering the consequences… or he would refuse without considering the merits. That’s not something I would want, for either of us.” Inara found herself perfectly content not to say anything, to just relax sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the teenager close. But before she could embark on the original topic of conversation that she had intended to discuss before the incident on Whitefall, Inara needed to make sure River knew that she understood, and that it would be alright. “I trust you, bǎo bèi, so before we discuss anything else, I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that you won’t repeat what happened today ever again. Not even if someone kills one of us and you catch them, not even if they torture us to death. You are a better person than they are, and I do not want you to succumb to that kind of darkness, the kind that will make you a monster if you let it. You aren’t one yet, but you could become one, and I don’t want that for a rú nǚ ér zhĕ of mine. Will you promise me?” River pulled back to look Inara in the eyes. She wanted to be sure Inara saw the truth in her own eyes. “Yes, piào liang fū ren, I promise.” As the pair held each other in silence, elsewhere the mechanic was trying to distract the doctor. “C’mon, Simon, ya need to loosen up some!” Kaylee playfully tugged on Simon’s arm as they headed towards their bunk. On the trip from Persephone to Whitefall, Zoë had suggested that they all settle into their new living arrangements, and Kaylee had been very excited to heed. “We got three weeks ‘til we hit Greenleaf, not a ship or soul in the ‘verse ‘cept Serenity and us all the way there.” A quizzical look from Simon as he turned around to descend into the bunk indicated she should explain further. “Cap’n wanted us to coast on minimum fuel. No call to waste fuel gettin’ there in three days when we can save money coastin’, since we ain’t got a job lined up there yet.” Kaylee dropped down the ladder behind Simon, swinging the hatch down as well, and locked it. Simon had resumed unpacking, carefully putting clothes away in the drawers under the bed. “At least he hasn’t decided we need to cut back on food money. I’m not sure I can stomach anything cheaper than reprocessed protein.” “Don’t let Cap’n or Zoë hear you say that. Heard tell that army rations are loads worse.” Simon only nodded in acknowledgment, so Kaylee tried again. “Not so bad that we got three weeks in the black… I can think of a couple things that’d pass the time well enough. Now if only I had someone to do them with…” That finally got the young doctor’s attention. Simon put down the pile of clothing he had been working with on the floor before wandering over behind Kaylee to whisper in her ear. “Do you really think you can keep me occupied for three weeks? Not that you bore me… but I’m fairly sure you’ll pass out after a few hours.” Kaylee shivered with anticipation. Up to that point, the newly blossoming couple had “fooled around,” so to speak, and neither were strangers to sex, but their first time together had yet to occur. “Sounds like a certain someone thinks pretty highly of himself. Is that a challenge, Dr. Tam?” But Simon not a chance to answer, as Mal’s voice came over the com. “Kaylee, where the gorram are you? It’s almost dinner time, and ya ain’t even started cooking yet!” Kaylee summoned up a mental image of punching Mal in the stomach before peeling away from Simon to answer the com. “Be right there, Cap’n!” Even with her fun interrupted, Kaylee was still a ray of sunshine, and it showed in her voice. “You just keep thinkin’ on all the fun things we can do in three weeks. See ya in thirty for food…” Kaylee’s voice trailed off a bit as she climbed the ladder out of the bunk and made her way to the kitchen. Simon grimaced in frustration as he looked longingly at the ladder for a moment. He had forgotten it was Kaylee’s turn to cook. Collapsing onto the bed, Simon stared up at the ceiling. One would think that every once in a great while, I would be the beneficiary of some good luck… guess I used up my quota already on River… and yet given the same choice a million times, even knowing the outcome, the answer would always be the same. Simon’s lips formed a wry smile as he continued to gaze upon the shiny metal over his head. Maybe I should tamper with the lock for the hatch the next time Kaylee’s asleep… if we’re locked in, no one can disturb us, and we have nothing to distract us… too bad that Kaylee would probably forget I was even here in her rush to fix the stupid lock. Oh well… Simon’s musings were interrupted by the alarm he had left on the bedside table, indicating that in five minutes, dinner would be served. So when he arrived in the kitchen a few minutes later, he was slightly confused to find that the table was set, but dinner was, in fact, not being served. As Kaylee was finishing the stew she had thrown together, Mal was standing at the head of the table, while Jayne, Zoë, Inara, and River were sitting in their usual seats, and the captain gestured for the doctor to follow suit. “Now that we’re all here, got some business to be takin’ care of. Seein’ as it was brought to my attention that nī zi needs to be independent money-wise, an’ not reliant on the doc here, and the fact that we got some changes in crew structure, I figure it’s ‘bout time I re-evaluate payouts.” Mal nodded to Zoë, who had always been in charge of calculating costs and payroll, and the first mate took over. “Twenty percent will be put in the general pool to pay for things for Serenity. Seven of us, each take in ten percent, last ten percent gets divided up by rank. Cap’n gets an extra four, three for myself, two for Jayne, seein’ as Cap’n has decided he’s gonna be third in command from now on, and one for the rest of you to split amongst yourselves.” Inara raised an eyebrow in skepticism. “I’m sorry, Zoë, did you say seven? I believe you meant six.” But Mal answered for her. “You get a cut too, same as the rest, ‘Nara.” The former companion wasn’t quite sure what just happened. “Not that I do not appreciate the offer, Mal, but as both of us have pointed out on numerous occasions, I am not crew. Furthermore, I have no purpose here, and nothing to offer in exchange for pay. It is quite enough that you allow me to continue staying in your shuttle, and you refuse to accept any rent money.” “Remember that part of our deal when you started rentin’ where I reserve the right to revisit the terms and revise as necessary? Well I’m exercisin’ that right, an’ I’m revisin’ the terms. Ya ain’t gonna pay one gorram credit in rent anymore, yer gonna be crew just like the rest of us, an’ that means as long as ya do as the captain says, ya get paid like the rest of us. Dŏng ma?” Mal set his shoulders and put on his best “no nonsense” face, but on the inside, he was frantically praying that Inara would not put up a fight. Inara was considering just that, but for some reason even she didn’t understand, she nodded in acquiescence. “Alright, Captain. But I expect to take an equal share of responsibilities, and we will need to determine how I can help on jobs.” Mal was about to argue, but Zoë recognized a good compromise when she saw one. “Sir, I think we can reconfigure the duty roster before we reach Greenleaf. Maybe find somethin’ for Inara to do on jobs too.” The first mate knew exactly how to make her words sound like a suggestion out loud, but still send Mal a message that this was not something he should fight. Mal shrugged. “Alright then. Now let’s pass out this cash-y money so’s we can eat before dinner gets cold.” Funds were then distributed, and after River unsuccessfully tried to give her share to Inara and Jayne to pay them back, a fun dinner followed, in which everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Even the usually stoic Zoë was laughing as the crew finally dispersed. “At peace now, knows he would have wanted her to be happy.” River glanced after the departing first mate as she disappeared from earshot before turning back to Inara, who was sitting beside her on the couch in the common area. “Still sad sometimes, won’t love anyone again, but mostly happy. Likes being part of something bigger.” Inara took out the brush she had slid into the pocket of her dress and beckoned for River to turn around. As she brushed the teen’s perpetually unruly hair, Inara frowned slightly. “You shouldn’t do that, River. It’s no one’s business but Zoë’s.” The pair sat in silence for a few moments until Inara finally conceded defeat. Perhaps if I cut her hair shorter… well, that will have to be another time. “Bǎo bèi, do you remember what we were discussing the night you stayed on the ship with Jayne, while the rest of us were at Lord Harrow’s?” River winced a little before partially turning around and laying sideways against her guardian. “Thought I scared hù wèi zhĕ away… or perhaps chuán zhăng found out somehow and killed him. But you told me he was only sleeping, and you gave me dinner. Said we would talk later, but I fell asleep in your shuttle after that.” River seemed somewhat embarrassed by the entire episode. “Well, I believe this would be a good opportunity to finish that conversation. Rest assured that I want to help you, River, so why don’t you tell me exactly what happened, then perhaps you can tell me how you feel about it?” Inara’s voice was soft and reassuring; it would not do to frighten the poor girl. “But first let us go to my shuttle, where we need not fear being overheard.” River was silent as she followed Inara until the door to the shuttle was shut and locked, and the curtain slid back across the entryway. But as soon as Inara gestured for River to sit beside her on the bed, the teen curled up next to her and quickly related the entire evening’s events, including a few details Jayne had left out, seemingly without stopping to breathe. Only when River finished her tale did she relent, and only long enough to dry her slightly moistened eyes before continuing. “Hù wèi zhĕ understands me, even when the words come out wrong. When we converse, I feel… like I never want to stop. When I see him hurt, it makes me angry, but scared as well. I like him… maybe more than like… but I do not know for sure, and I do not wish to cause him harm. Very likely that chuán zhăng or gē ge would react unfavorably if informed of my thoughts.” This last bit brought a frown to River’s face, a reminder that not all was well in her world. Inara pursed her lips as she contemplated her response. “You need not worry about your brother or Mal. No harm will come to Jayne, or you, by their hands, regardless of whatever course you and Jayne should pursue. But if it is alright with you, perhaps I can discuss matters with Jayne, to discreetly facilitate an opportunity for the two of you to talk about this?” River’s enthusiastic nod was all the answer Inara needed. “Bǎo bèi, you realize how serious this is, and I appreciate that you are willing to work with me, but I need you to tell me something. Are you certain that your interest is in Jayne? Certain that you are not looking only for someone to teach you those things you should have been learning before the Alliance interfered? Jayne may be your friend, but he has a very troubled past, and if something were to happen, I want you to understand that there may be dire consequences, the kind you cannot ever make up for. If you want someone to teach you those things, help you to become a woman, I can understand that, and I may be able to discreetly find someone appropriate for doing so.” The vehement defiance in River’s face told Inara all she needed to know, but that was not enough for the young girl, her voice steely. “I will learn whatever I need to learn from the person who wins my heart. I have no wish to experiment, because I am no innocent girl, longing for attention. I am a monster, for I have stared into the abyss, yet did not succumb.” River faltered slightly as she thought of what Jayne had seen her do to Patience. “Hù wèi zhĕ is capable of winning my heart, the only person I have ever met who could. He knows inside and out, the truth of me. But he does not fear, because I am his to protect. I do not know if what I feel for him is more than ‘like,’ but if he would allow, he will be mine to protect as well, even if there is nothing more.” Inara pulled River tightly into an embrace. “You chose well, River, to confide in me. I will protect what Jayne cannot.” Inara let go and the teen looked up, her eyes red. “It’s late now, and good pilots need their rest. Run along now, and if you should see Jayne, find a discreet way to inform him that he should come to my shuttle. Otherwise, I expect I will find him later.” River smiled as she scampered out of the shuttle, gliding effortlessly towards her new room at such a high speed that she nearly crashed into Jayne and Kaylee. “Sorry! Oh, hù wèi zhĕ? Piào liang fū ren said to tell you her curtain fell down, and she is not tall enough to put it back up.” Jayne grumbled a little as he nodded before heading off to Inara’s shuttle, and Kaylee definitely heard something about “usin’ a gorram chair like anybody else” as he stalked off. Kaylee was so preoccupied with this that she forgot River was standing there, and was completely unaware that she was blocking River’s path. “Oh sweetie, what’s wrong? You look ten kinds of awful!” River shook her head dismissively. “All better now, jiě jie. Just tired, need to sleep.” The teen even managed to pull off a little smile for her friend. Kaylee finally realized why River was still standing there and promptly stepped aside. “Well, shoot, don’t let me stop ya! You just hurry on to bed then.” A flash of a grin later, the mechanic was looking after the back of the retreating girl, going just as fast as before they had nearly collided. Kaylee shook her head in disbelief before heading off to the engine room, wanting to check on Serenity one last time before turning in for the night.

********************************************* gē ge – brother (older); jiě jie – sister (older); mèi mei – sister (younger)

piào liang fū ren – pretty lady; chuán zhăng – captain

nǚ zhàn shì – female warrior; hù wèi zhĕ – bodyguard

bǎo bèi – precious; nī zi – little girl; xiăo hè – little lotus

mŭ qīn – mother; fù qīn – father; rú nǚ ér zhĕ – daughter

Dŏng ma? – understand?; gŏu shĭ – shit

pō fù – bitch; fēng kuáng dì – crazy