Unifinished Business

Chapter Twenty-Two

“This,” the young inspector said, his lip curled in an arrogant sneer and his voice dripping with contempt, “is easily the most morally repugnant, least organized, and most misbegotten ship of horrors it has ever been my sad duty to inspect. If I were you, I would care a good deal less about my qualifications and credentials, and spend a good deal more time considering the ramifications of a legal defense, a ruined career, and a long, long prison term. I have yet to decide if this . . . chou ba guai situation is due primarily to gross incompetence or to blatant dereliction of duty, but either way the balance of your life lies in my gorram hands. I suggest you keep that in mind each and every time you choose to open your mouth and enlighten the ‘verse with your opinion.” The voice was low, calculated, and deadly serious, and a similarly dark expression cloaked his face. It was a look of pure intimidation, twice as sharp for appearing from such an unexpected quarter. The inspector was by no means physically imposing. “Are there any more questions?” he spat out, each syllable dripping vitriol.

Silence hung in the air as the force of his reply filled the room. Finally, someone spoke.

“Damn, that made my nipples hard just watchin’!” Kaylee said, enthusiastically.

“Kay-lee!” Mal said, rolling his eyes, “that’s ‘need-to-know’ intel, and I purely don’t!”

“Sorry, Cap,” she said, apologetically. “He’s just so darn . . . adorable when he gets all serious like that!”

“Not exactly the effect I was going for,” Simon sighed.

“Don’t let the, um . . . nipples fool you,” Rachel said, swallowing a chuckle. “That was an excellent response to an off-the-cuff question – just the sort o’ thing that trips agents in the field. What do you think, Mal?”

All eyes turned to the Captain, who was rubbing his jaw in contemplation from atop his perch on the relay they were delivering. “Did right well,” he admitted, at last. “Just like this second lieutenant I knew once. Da