“Hey, Mal, long time no see,” Zerri laughed. “How we gonna rescue my ship? Of course someone would stick a bomb on my poor Kleodora.”

“How do you manage not to die on me?” Mal laughed, eying her. “Good to see you, mei-mei.”

“I’m just lucky. And brave and dumb,” she told him, and glanced at River. “Hi.”

“You were lucky. They didn’t know who you were, did they? When they asked, you made up a name. You cut and dyed your hair and came to the Rim again,” River murmured. “Sorry, I don’t mean to…..It just slips out.”

“It’s okay. I’m not a reader or anything, but sometimes I get that way,” Zerri said, laughing. “Then Keith hits me and we get into a tussle….” She gave an affectionate smile towards the man, which he gladly returned. River smiled to herself- she had found a new project. Jayne glanced at her satisfied smile and groaned inwardly. This was going to be an interesting trip. Kiri shot the guns on Jayne’s belt an appreciative glance, and opened her mouth to speak.

“Don’t, Kiri Annebella Lee. That man is mine,” warned River, not even looking away from Zerri’s face. Jayne smiled, and Kiri frowned. She, too, had found a new project.

“Oh, yeah, this is gonna go great,” murmured Staci, and Zoe was inclined to agree with her.

**

“This trip is gonna be interestin’, ain’t it?” Staci said to Zoe. The two were tucked away behind an empty crate in the cargo bay. Wash was flying the boat, and Staci needed someone to talk to, so there they were, tucked out of sight.

“You can say that again,” Zoe agreed.

“Why are you sittin’ here with me when you could be with your husband?” Staci asked curiously, tilting her head to study the older woman.

“You’re hiding something from Zerri,” Zoe stated. It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah, Zoe, I know. Never did get my life together after the war,” lamented Staci, and Zoe felt a shiver of familiarity at those words. “But you weren’t exactly up front with your captain about knowin’ me, were ya?”

“You were a high-ranking Alliance officer. I bet your captain doesn’