I own nothing, I’m just borrowing it.

Chinese translations are found as mouseover.

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Zoë Alleyne waited stoically at the bottom of the entrance ramp to Serenity. The Captain had told her a hotshot pilot was on the way and that she was to make a good impression on him. How exactly she was supposed to do that standing in front of a ship that was older than she was, she had no idea, but the Captain wanted this pilot pretty badly.

She watched him approach, stop, examine the name on the hull. Must be the guy. Goofy and innocent looking, wearing a bright printed shirt. Obviously hiding something.

E nu shen! He thought as he laid eyes on the woman guarding Serenity. She put off an aura of power, tall and proud and fierce in a leather vest and hip holster. His eyes were drawn slowly up her legs to her dark, beautiful face.

This was definitely the boat for him.

“Ni hao!”

She just looked at him for a long moment. “You Washburne?”

“Uh, yes, yes I am. Please call me Wash.” He gave her his best smile.

Zoë moved her hand off her gun to his shoulder and spun him around. “Spread your arms.” She patted his sides and legs.

“Hey, now, don’t you think we should go out a few times, first? I mean, I wouldn’t mind or anything, but I don’t even know your name...”

She spun him back around to face her. He’d never seen anyone say “Shut your mouth now or I will slam my fingers into your throat so hard you’ll be dead before you hit the ground” with their eyes before. He wasn’t sure such a threat was even possible, but the fact that she made it without uttering a sound was scary enough for him.

“Captain is waiting at the helm. I’m the second in command. My name is Zoë Alleyne. Follow me.”

He straightened his clothes a bit and gave her a nervous smile. “Yes ma’am.”

She didn’t like him. He was too cheery, too happy, too goofy. No man was like that. It had to be a front. He wasn’t to be trusted.

She preceded him onto the bridge, w