Determined: Chapter One

Author: hisgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belong to Joss. I got nada.

Characters: Crew, omc

Paring: Jayne/Kaylee

Rating: PG-15, for profanity

Setting: Post BDM

Word Count: 1770

A/N: Set on the same world as my Faith Trilogy . Hover for translation. Loved it? Hated it? Let me know what you think. Thanks.

X-posted from my LiveJournal

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DETERMINED

Chapter One

First Day, Newhall

The Firefly Class transport Serenity hung in high orbit above the dusty rim world of Newhall. “Getting to be a right familiar sight, sir,” Zoë remarked to Mal as she and the captain gazed over River’s shoulder at the tawny orb. “Guess it’s a good thing Mr. Benning shares our views on the Alliance.”

Mal nodded. “Works out right well.” The refinery town of the same name had become one of Malcolm Reynolds’ regular stopovers, thanks to an ongoing ‘arrangement’ with the refinery manager, Chester Benning, to smuggle tantalum ore concentrate that he was diverting from the refinery’s production. Over the past six months Mal and Benning had become good friends. Despite the factory being Alliance owned, there was only a relatively small military presence on the rough border world, and it was this limited presence that made Mal’s involvement possible.

The old ship bucked and juddered slightly as she began the drop through Newhall’s atmosphere and Mal studied the flight vectors, still a little surprised that the younger Tam had proved herself so adept as a pilot. “Bring her in low, li’l Albatross. Same landing space as usual.”

Coming in obliquely over a high plateau, River parked the ship in the shadowy recess of a canyon as Mal had ordered. To the west, a snowcapped mountain range rose between them and town. The rough local terrain meant using the spare shuttle, but that suited Mal just fine. He’d just as soon maintain a low profile on this little world.

After