Mal had had enough. Enough of people telling him what to do on his boat, and it was time that it was going to stop. He darted to the side like lightning bracing himself for the gun shot. It tore threw the tip of his shoulder as he rolled to the right, swinging his left arm out and knocking a surprised Lt. Guliv square on the jaw. Mal’s anger and desperation fulled an adrenaline kick he hadn’t felt in years. As Lt. Guliv went down Mal pulled out his own side arm, cocked it and quickly put his foot on the downed man’s chest. Mal was breathing hard as the pain began to radiate down threw his body.

“This here is my gorram boat, and not nobody or nothin’ is a gonna take it from me or bloody tell me what ta do!” Mal roared. “You’re gonna get on this here fine intercom system and do some mighty fine negotiatin’ or you and yer buddy are gonna learn how ta swim in space.”

Mal looked up with fire in his eyes. “Zoe,” he snapped. “Gorram go down ta engineering and take care of Kaylee.” His eyes fell on Lt. Guliv again. “If anythin’ a happens ta her, you ain’t gonna get the pleasure of swimmin’ in space.” Zoe curtly nodded her head and quickly made her way to engineering.

“Um, cap’n?” Wash tentatively. “We still got us…”

“Shut it. This man is gonna do all the talkin’.” Mal had run out of any patience or feeling. Blood had soaked through his shirt sleeve and was beginning to run down his arm and to his hand. He knew that he needed to go see Simon or else there would be even more complications, but right now he had to make sure that this man got them out of the situation with the Alliance.

“That’s right, stand up nice and easy like,” Mal purred dangerously.

Lt. Guliv stayed at his with venom, he was embarrassed at being taken down so easily. There was a time when that would have not worked. He also knew that the angry man standing in front of him, probably wasn’t making light on his threats, and if he wanted to do as he had sworn in protecting Ashlina, then their best bet would be to try and do some fancy talki