Chapter 13

There were moments when Mal wondered about deep things, times he hid well from a crew that he thought should be unsuspecting. Deep things such as why he chose to fly in a spaceship when he hated feeling cornered. Serenity gave him the warmth of a home and the freedom of being able to traverse more than hard rock—but then why did it always seem that she was unmovable and the last corner where he could hide from those that pursued him?

It’s all right , he whispered to her as the other ship latched on. No power in the ‘Verse, and certainly no half-baked lordling, is gonna take you away from me.

Soon he heard the airlock being forced open. Hidden behind the first row of cargo on the right, Mal focused all his attention on what he could hear instead of what he could see. The slap of boots in a cautious stride echoed a little around the bay. There was a clicking of guns being shifted in the hand, and one of them was cocked. Paying close attention, he even heard the swishing of silk upon silk—apparently his lordship himself had come to see the job finished.

“Captain Reynolds!” came a sudden sound, addressing and yet also questioning. Mal was starting to dislike that ever-so-slightly uncertain quality of Lord Tembriar’s voice, but he stood his ground. Hopefully Jayne was well hidden up on the catwalk and would signal if things got dangerous.

“I know that you know that I know you’re here,” came Lord Tembriar’s voice again, and Mal rolled his eyes. Why did Core folks have to talk so twisted anyways?

“I don’t intend to shoot you on sight—I could have found you and done so already.” No, I reckon not , thought Mal. At least not without losing some of your precious men. Still, Lord Tembriar didn’t seem like one to deceive from his pathetic way of trying to do so.

“I know you won’t start a shooting match, because you know you’re outnumbered,” continued Lord Tembriar. Just talk, let Kaylee fix that damn engine. “So why don’t you come where I can see you so we can t