Heart Transplant

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based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

Kaylee worked quickly as she inspected both of the firefly catalysts before tossing the other in the pile. It slid down the stack of salvaged parts as she grabbed a few fuses as well. "Now these are hard to find, 'specially ones still workin'. Think he'll miss 'em?"

"Just stick 'em in your pocket and no one's the wiser. Besides, we're not sure Shep is gonna live much longer." Cat tossed a look back toward the shack.

"How'd you meet him anyway?" Kaylee asked, "if you don't mind me askin'?"

"I needed a pilot. He needed the money." She smiled. "He's the best there is. I've seen him drive a Excalibur class boat through an asteroid field."

"Ai ya! That's a big boat and she's got an even bigger ass." Kaylee sighed. "Well, I don't feel so worried now 'bout him taking Serenity's helm."

"Believe me, he'll take good care of her." Cat placed a hand on Kaylee's shoulder. "Got what you need?"

"You bet."

"Good, let go see if 'Ski has negotiated a..." Cat was interrupted by a shot and 'Ski emerged from the shop smiling. "Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-tze."

"My wife would never use that kind of language." 'Ski smiled at her.

"What the fuck?" Cat yelled back at him. "You were suppose to agree on a price, not a damn bullet to his gorran head."

"That's my baby." 'Ski was always a bit giddy after killing someone. He blamed it mostly on his past and maybe a bit on the fact he was just plain mean. "He stood on twelve thousand. I offered him a bullet in the head. He lowered it to a thousand and I realized I left all my money in my other pants. So I shot him. Easy enough and all we're out is a bullet. Come on, Babe, he was a piece of shit."

"He was just gonna rob some other idiot blind." Kaylee came to 'Ski's defense, even though she wasn't quite sure why.

Cat shook her head and then gave up. It was pointless being mad at 'Ski. She should have known better than to leave h