At the morning meal, Mal issues some unusual orders: “I want ya’ll to pack up anything that might take to rollin’ around. Kaylee’s sure the controls will work fine, and what from we’ve been able to test, it seems she’s right. But once we hit atmo, we could have a whole peck of ugly if there’s anything hangin’ loose outside. So everybody lock up their belongings, then see what you can do about cargo.”

Zoë mutters; “Checking cargo shouldn’t take long – ain’t nothin’ rattlin’ around down there but a few echos and a whole big bunch o’ empty.” Then after seeing Mal’s glare, she announces in a much louder tone; “Yes Sir! I‘ll see to it. It’ll be done, in lots of time for landing.”

Simon adds, much more quietly; “Wherever that may be.”

As Serenity spirals down, the crew packs everything, and is just about finished when the ship comes to a sudden halt. Sure something serious has happened, they all race to the bridge… To find Mal arguing with a picture of a very officious Eavesdown Dock Controller.

“What d’you mean, there’s no spare Docks for landing? I can see five empty pads from right up here!”

A small voice comes up from the panel; “I assure you Captain, I have checked with all of the Dock owners, and every one assures me that their Docks are either full or reserved, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.”

River tugs on Mal’s sleeve; “Mal, ask about Eavesdown Dock 17. He’s holding something back.”

Mal turns back to the picture; “Did you talk to the owners of Pad 17? I think they’re willing to let us land. Maybe I should call them personal?”

The controller snorts; “Go ahead, if you can find them.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

River looks up suddenly; “That’s it! Bankruptcy! There’s no one to ask, and they cannot even afford keep security guards at the site!”

Now the light comes on for Mal! With an insincere smile, he looks back at the picture and says; “Thank you for all your help sir. Now, we’ve done our own checking, and we’re sure no one will object if we set down on Pad 17. Thanks again for all you’ve done for us.”

He reaches for the off switch on the com link as a sputtering little voice says; “Wait! I can’t let you – you can’t just –“

Mal says; “Well people, we have a Gorram landing spot! Let’s go, River!”

As the entire crew laughs and cheers in relief, River sits up very straight, says “Aye Aye, Sir!” and salutes – they’re on their way.

The landing turns out to be smoother than anyone expected, even Kaylee. And there’s no one there to meet them – or shoo them away. But landing never was their real problem.

Now that they’ve landed on the abandoned pad, it’s time to start working on being able to take off again…

Mal muses; “Well, I could always go talk to my old friend Badger – He’s usually got some shady deal on the go what pays good credits.”

Even ever-optimistic Kaylee can see the problem with that plan; “Which he collects in full just before he turns us over to the Feds. Don’tcha remember how he set us up the last time?”

Chaos breaks out, and the opinions are evenly divided. Either Mal is stark raving insane, or when he got hit on the head by the Reaver he completely lost his memory.

As they debate, a much disheveled Badger shows up – alone, unlike other encounters – with bowler hat literally in hand.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I’ve had a few business reverses here, and I’ve decided perhaps there would be better opportunities elsewhere. And the thought occurred to me that since my old friend and business associate has just landed, perhaps I should discuss with him what sort of arrangements could be made.”

Mal is understandably skeptical; “Gui tou gui nao (Conniver), just when did we become ‘old friends’? As I recall, most of our ‘business associations’ were a mite tetchy, involvin’ guns and such.”

Badger looks like a man who would rather be anywhere else; “Yes. Well, It won’t be coming to that this time. I already said business is bad, but I know you’ve had a spot of trouble your own self, because our problems are one and the same – the Alliance has not only been hounding you, but they found out about some of our previous associations, and have made it difficult for me as well. So in a way, you owe me.”

“Owe you?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’m here. To make a genuine bargain.”

Mal is even more skeptical; “Bargain? Wu ming shao zu (Small fry), what sort of bargain can you make if ‘business is bad’? You wouldn’t be here like this if you had any choice, so I’m surmising you’re worse off than you’re lettin’ on, and we ain’t got a chance at a real money makin’ deal.”

Badger straightens a little; “I may not have any money, but I do have something I know you need.”

Badger can see that Mal is still listening, so he makes up his mind to go all in. He sets his bowler squarely back on his head, straightens to a semblance of his usual cocky self, and makes his pitch; “Here’s what I’m offering: I know you’re short of food supplies, and I can help. In return for a ride to Whitefall, I’m prepared to make available to you some top quality supplies, the best, freshest food in the ‘Verse, enough for at least two years. What say you?”

Mal is impressed in spite of himself; “Two years? That would be a mighty pile of food. You got it in your back pocket?” “Yes, it IS a mighty pile of food, and it’s all mine, sitting in a hidden warehouse. All you have to do is go get it. Have we got a deal?”

Mal still has some suspicions; “If you have all that food, why haven’t you sold it your own self? I’m conjuring you ain’t got no way of getting to it, and want us to risk our necks instead!”

Badger looks a little less sure of himself. “Well, yes, but the food is there, and you need it. It’s all part of the deal.”

Mal turns and walks back to his crew, who have heard the whole exchange; “What say you, gang? All that food is powerful temptin’, but do we trust Badger?”

The discussion is heated. Jayne states; “We ain’t never come out even on any ruttin’ deal with that gui tou gui nau( swindler). Why don’t I just shoot him instead? Maybe there’s a reward.”

Zoë looks like she’s seriously considering Jayne’s idea; “That’s got somethin’ to be said for it, but unfortunately, how would we collect? We’d probably get locked up ourselves.”

Simon points out another drawback in Badger's plan: “Dealing with Badger’s bad enough, but do we also want to meet Patience again? It seems each time we do, someone gets shot.”

But Mal makes a key point in the plan’s favour; “All very true, but we’ve come out on top with her lately, and two years’ supply of top quality food is tempting, especially considering what we’ve been eating lately.”

Kaylee asks the question most on her mind: “Are there any Strawberries? - - Twenty pounds?” It’s settled! Kaylee’s in favour!

Inara adds one thought that settles it for most of the rest of them; “Badger may be a scheming little man who’s always got an angle for himself, but his deals always involve the real thing. And all that food would be a godsend!”

Mal turns to Zoë and asks for her opinion; “What say you? Do we take Badger’s deal, or look for another?”

Zoë looks a little unsure; “Well sir, it sounds like something we need bad, but what good is the food if we can’t take off? I have a vision of us sittin’ here eating until the food’s all gone, with the Feds pounding on the door and Badger looking for a way to let ‘em in.”

Mal has reached a decision; “Well, it’s risky, but it does solve one problem…” He turns to Badger; “I guess we have ourselves a deal.”

While Mal, Zoë and Badger work out a plan to sneak past the guards already looking for them on the Docks, and how they will retrieve the food and bring it on board, Kaylee wanders outside, watching the usual crowds pass by.

One rather pretty little Chinese woman isn’t passing by. She walks purposefully up to Kaylee and says, “What is this ship’s destination?”

Kaylee answers perhaps a little too honestly, “I don’t rightly know as the Feds is goin’ to let us go anywhere. They’ve been ridin’ our tail somethin’ awful lately.”

The woman nods; “I’ve heard some of it… Well, if your Captain will agree to take me where I want to go, I’d be willing to do what I can. I have some experience dealing with Alliance procedures.”

Kaylee looks at her with a wary expression; “We have a LOT of experience with ‘Alliance procedures’, and none of it shiny. Your name would have to be Merlin the Magician to get us out of this one. But if you end up helpin’ at all, I have a feelin’ the Cap’n would look kindly on takin’ you just about anywhere. Where is it you want to go?”

The woman smiles slightly, then her expression turns serious. “My name is Diana, and I’m no magician, but I think I can help. And I want to go out to the scrap belt.”

Kaylee thinks that over, and then says, “Well, maybe that’s a good place for this ship, in the condition it’s in. But I don’t know if she can get there. In fact, if we don’t find a Drive Coupler cheap, we’re not likely to be going anywhere.”