“Tetris?” Mal stared at him. “What the hell are you saying, Vinnie?”

“I thought I was pretty clear myself. I’ve been a guest of the mining company, Mal.”

“When?”

“I managed to get out ‘bout three months back.” Vinnie returned the look.

“Three months? That was – ”

“Yeah. I escaped using your little diversion,” he said, sitting back. “I guess I should thank you,” he added, but he wasn’t smiling.

“How did you figure it was us?” Mal wanted to know.

“Guards were talking about the new arrivals. There ain’t that many look like your mercenary, and the guards said there was a smart-ass man with them – I guess they musta meant you.”

“Thanks,” Mal said sarcastically.

“Once I got out I did some asking around, thought I might thank them. Imagine my surprise when I found out that a big man fitting that description worked for you, along with a couple of other panty-waist idiots. Didn’t take much to figure it, not since I know you.”

“How did you end up down there?” Zoe asked, sitting down at the table, her dark face implacable as usual.

“Got into a bit of bad business over on Santo. These guys thought I gypped them out of money in a card game, only I didn’t know they were slavers. Jumped me leaving the bar. Next thing I knew I was up to my ass in dust digging for that damn blue ore.” Vinnie picked up a stray piece of bread, chewing on it thoughtfully. “If’n I ever lay my hands on them again …” He brought his mind back. “Then the power went down, and I just took advantage. Busted the guard’s head with a lump of rock, deactivated the pacifier and ran. Managed to get to the surface, stowed on a transport and … well, here I am.” He put his arms out, indicating Serenity.

“You were damn lucky,” Mal said, shaking his head. “If it weren’t for my crew we’d still be there.”

“Yeah.” Vinnie studied him. “Guess you were the lucky ones, though. The kind of luck a lot of us didn’t get.”

“What are you talking about, Vinnie?”

For a long moment the other man didn‘t speak, then,