Archangel Chapter Twenty

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only.

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“We ready?” Mal asked, as he descended into the bay. Jayne nodded. He had already lowered the mule, and loaded the cargo. He was standing by now, fully armed and ready to go. River was sitting on a crate, likewise prepared to go.

“Well, let’s get this seen to, then,” Mal ordered. “Maybehaps we can get off this planet without having anymore difficulties.”

“Don’t count on it,” Jayne muttered. River just snorted.

“Mei mei, lock her up soon’s we leave,” Mal ordered Kaylee. The engineer nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed Jayne lightly.

“Be careful, bao bei,” she said softly. “And take care o’ the Cap’n,” she added with a smile.

“I will,” he winked. “You don’t open that door for no reason till we get back, dong ma?” She nodded.

The three of them loaded onto the mule, and Mal set off into town. It should be an easy piece of work, he hoped. Just drop some dry goods at a store in town, and get paid. Easy peazy.

But it ain’t never like that, he told himself.

They were in town in only a couple minutes, and Mal drove to the rear of the store, rather than take the main road. No sense making things harder. He dismounted, Jayne and River following. Jayne took up a position where he could watch everything, and River stood close by Mal.

Mal looked at them, fighting the urge to shake his head. Then he knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” a voice asked from inside.

“Name’s Reynolds,” Mal answered through the door. “Gotta delivery for ya from over Persephone way,” he added. “Dry goods and such not.”

He heard the sound of a dead bolt sliding, and the door opened slowly to reveal an older man with a shotgun.

“I’d as soon not get shot, you don’t mind,” Mal said calmly. The old man lowered the weapon, looking chagrined.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured, setting the gun aside. “Had a mite o’ trouble last night, and we’re all a bit spooked.”

“I can understand t