CHAPTER 3

Jayne sat in his bunk trying to conjure up a good plan. He knew that that he wasn’t much for plan making, which’s why Malcolm and Zoë always made the decisions and he carried the guns. “Jayne? Could I come in?” Mal opened the shaft and climbed down the latter into Jayne’s bunk before he got an answer. “How are you holding up?” Jayne starred blankly at his four-inch blade he had in his hand. “This wasn’t supposed to happen Mal. The reason why I brought her here was to get her away from her abusive father.” Jayne looked up into Mal’s eyes, tears rising up in his own. “Well, you know as well as I do, plans have a way of going a stray.” Mal walked over to Jayne’s bed, moved a few of his clothes over and sat down. “Would you like our help?” Jayne looked up again with red eyes. Slowly uttering Chinese swears under his breath. “How are we going to do this?” “Let me and Zoë worry about that, you just make sure that Vera is loaded.”

Willow sat at the kitchen table just starring at the leftover food on her plate, thinking weather or not it was a good idea to tell Jayne about their daughter. “You look like you could use a prayer?” Willow looked up, startled at the deep voice of Shepherd Book. “How could a person like yourself even think about sharing the word of god with a woman of sin like me?” Book just smiled for its been too long since he even mentioned the word prayer to anyone other than those who lived on the ship. “God works in mysterious ways. I’m sure we’ll get your daughter back.” Book pulled back a chair across from Willow and started to read a passage from his bible. Willow looked to him with kind compassion and put her hand on the shepherd’s hand. They sat in quiet for a few moments with their head bowed in prayer.

“You can’t be serious Mal. We don’t have enough weapons to take on the Alliance, or the people for that matter.” Zoë looked at her captain impatiently “Yeah, here’s a thought cap, why don’t we let Jayne walk in here with a goramm granade and blow this ship and this crew to pieces.” Mal looked at Wash with much sadness but knew he was right, it was a suicide mission and there was a good chance that the crew or himself may return fatally wounded. “If it had been any of your kids, I’d jump at the chance to shoot some Alliance ass, but since it’s my kid….” Jayne felt the tears coming again and couldn’t find the words to continue his sentence. “What Jayne is trying to say is, we are a team, and I’d like to hear some suggestions.” The captain put a hand on Jayne’s shoulder in comfort and squeezed lightly. “But Mal, we don’t even know what this kids name is…” “Her name is Judith, and personally I don’t care if you want to go or not. All I want to do is go in, grab my daughter and get out.” Jayne starred down at Wash wishing he could just nock him out but he wasn’t about to let his anger get the best of him, not right now save it for when it’s necessary. “I have a suggestion Mal.” The voice came from the back, almost inaudible. “The man who helped me and River escape, I’m sure he’d be willing to help again but it’ll cost a fortune.” “They’d be expecting that from you kid. And don’t forget that you and your insane sister are fugitives.” Jayne fiddled with his knife only looking up occasionally. “I could help, I’ve been inside. I know where everyone will be.” River peered inside the crowded cockpit but did enter. “River? I’m not letting you go back there. It’s too dangerous.” Simon rushed to his sister’s side and looked back to the crew for assurance. “I think the best way would be go in, guns blazing, until I get what’s rightfully mine.” Malcolm just stared at Jayne, as crazy as it sounded it was the best plan of action, whether or not it’ll work is another story.