All Aboard!

"Hey there Captain!" Mal strode past, quickly ascended the cargo ramp and continued intently into the bay. A sinking feeling in her belly ensued. As long as she'd known him, worked with him, been given this very job by him.., and now not even a howdayado... She sighed and engaged the airlock doors. "Huh..?" Mal spun around as the doors snapped shut behind him. "'Scuse me, but not everyone's back aboard yet..." He went back to the control panel and reopened the doors for the 'others'. "Thank ya kindly." He said with a flashed half-smile, then turned and headed for the catwalk stairs, paying her no more heed. "Jeez, not even a little 'alone time'!" she snorted, then turned her attention back to the myriad lot of vendors and caustic life ensuing outside. She liked this planet, 'Persefonee'. The crew seemed to like it too, the Eavesdown Docks were always a regular stop off point for resupply, jobs, parties, badgers, etcetera. It didn't matter that she had to stay put while the others went galavanting, this was a nice job, better than her last one (what a dump), and the view from here was quite to her liking. "How was it actually spelled though.., Persefonee, with one or two 'F's..?" The thought enertained her momentarily. She'd have to research that further, so as not to appear uneducated or anything. Her own encyclopedia had been damaged during their last job, so she couldn't just look it up. Hell, she hadn't even been a part of that job when it went all haywire! (Her encyclopedia, not the job.., well.., okay, both.) She was just left back at the LZ, unable to lend her various mechanical skills to the daring caper, requitted to simply whiling away the hours with Book, Simon, and River.. hey! Maybe River would know, sure.., yes, she'd ask her! It wasn't like anyone else was lining up to talk with her own self: She mentally pictured an extended central digit in Mal's direction as he tromped up the stairs to the front hallway. "No..," she calmed, found her dignity. "That's just how he is sometimes, no need for fussing." "Hi, I'm back!" the mechanic smiled widely as she almost skipped up the ramp. "An' look what I got fer us!" Kaylee presented an armload of cylindrical metallic objects. "Oh boy! Synchronizers!" she replied with feigned gusto. "We have dozens you realize." Kaylee pranced past, unheeding the sarcastic tone in her voice. Always cheerful that one. Usually Kaylee kept her in good spirits, kept everything and everyone running smooth, but the Captain's aloof greeting must have dampened her own mood unduely. Still, she lazily smiled and watched Kaylee on her trek to the engine room, snickering just a bit at the frequent slips and clangs of overabundant synchronizer tubes. "Can't ever have enough of these puppies." Kaylee mused as she scooped them back up again and went merrily on her way. The day wore on as Perseffonee continued revolving, the Docks rising and falling in their own sway of turbulent life. Inara's shuttle slowly drifted into view across the hazy horizon, and Wash's voice sounded over the comm: "Inara, welcome back! Everything okay on your end..? Well, I mean.., not specifically YOUR End per se, but.. hey are ya ready to dock?" Wash drove her kind of batty with his insane comedic overtures, and to be honest, his high volume shirts sometimes gave her an ache in the bridge of her nose. "Thanks Wash. Yes, everything's fine. Careful Zoe doesn't hear you talking like that..." came the bemused reply over the comm. "Nahh..," Wash continued as he threw three switches, "It's just you an' me, sugar!" She watched as the smaller craft sidled up and began its sequential docking procedure. The 'Companion', off and at it again, now back again. She envied the woman her lifestyle, but at the same time jealousy crept in. Her and Mal. Mal and Her. Her incense incensed her quite regularly, too, ..made her armpits itchy. The Captain and his own personal Companion... The thought deepened her morose demeanor. She'd always kept a leery eye on that prissy shuttle, especially at night. Inara sometimes wondered why her shuttle doors were mysteriously uncooperative in the morning... "Man, I gots me a Kan-Tankerous appetite!" boomed Jayne, shaking her from her seething, as he and Zoe marched up the ramp. Zoe grinned, rubbing her hands together, "I think Book mighta found what he was lookin' for, and if so, we're in for a mightily fine treat tonight!" "Honey, I'm home!" Jayne roared into the echoing cargo hold, his arms swinging out in grandiose fashion, one fist banging into her. Inara's shuttle locked in with an uncharacteristic shudder. Damn, everything at once crashing in. "Ow." she breathed, and favored her newly aching shoulder. "Yes, what ever would we have done without you..?" Jayne ignored it, her, and basically everything as he made for the dining room, mind set on the upcoming chowtime. Zoe glanced and smiled knowingly, warming her tremendously. "When Jayne's stomach's talkin'.." The Shepherd followed closely behind their arrival, said a quick blessing accompanied by a strange series of hand gestures at the base of the ramp, adjusted his collar, then a small wooden box cradled in the crook of his right arm. He had a satisfied smile beneath his greying moustache as he ascended the ramp and went inside. "Hi." she mustered, shoulder still throbbing. "Blessings all around." Book smiled lovingly, took his treasured box and went to join the others. The time bled on into evening as she waited. Her feet were getting tired, and she wanted to be back up where things were lighter, even though it was actually darker out in The Black. She stretched her legs, and hummed to herself. The sound of universal bewilderment filled the upper deck as she settled back impatiently, still scanning the ramshackle stalls and tents of the marketplace. "Here they are at last..." Simon led River quickly through the dying bustle of the lane, steering her finally up and into the bay. The sun was setting. The cargo ramp slowly lifted and the airlock doors sealed behind them. Everyone was home. Simon released his sister's hand, smoothed his shirt slightly, and proceeded to the rear bulkhead. "Quite a day," he offered. "C'mon River, I'm sure dinner will be ready soon. Let's get cleaned up." "Boob." they both said in unison. River giggled, as she looked up into the lofty expanse of the cargo bay. "Hi Serenity." she whispered. "Hi River." Serenity whispered back. "Hey, I have a question for you..."

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