The Return Home – Part 4

Mal limped his way down to the cargo bay and walked out into the cool night air of the spaceport. Serenity was parked at New Shanghai, Kaylee’s hometown on Taos Moon, and it was summertime but still a bit chilly out. Jayne was outside smoking a last cigar before he went to bed.

“How’s the leg?” he asked Mal between puffs.

Mal leaned on the cane Kaylee had fashioned for him out of two pieces of metal she had welded together just before they had landed. “Still sore. Awfully close to…you know.”

Jayne couldn’t help but laugh. “Ain’t like you got much use…”

“You said that already,” Mal interrupted him harshly. “And it wasn’t funny the first time either. How would you like it if you lost yours?”

That sobered Jayne up. “Hey, don’t be saying stuff like that. It’s bad luck.”

“We’ve had enough of that lately. Time to try to get some on our side. You got any of that bank swag on you?”

“What? Ah…just a trinket or two. Ain’t like anyone’s gonna miss it, all that we got.”

“Follow me and be prepared to hand it over.”

Mal start limping toward the port controller’s booth and Jayne tagged along, not sure what the hell Mal was up to now. There were only two other ships in the port, both small transports, smaller than Serenity. Mal knocked on the window of the controller’s booth and the sleepy man who was inside awoke with a start.

“Something I can do for you Captain Reynolds?” he asked in a groggy voice as he slid open his booth window.

“You report in what ships are here yet?” Mal asked and then Jayne understood what was going on.

“Nope, waiting till midnight, like always,” the man replied.

“I’m sure you noticed that we ain’t got a transponder when we landed.”

“Ah, yeah, that did seem kinda strange, but seeing as Jonathan Frye was meeting you, I guess he can vouch for you guys.”

“We’re gonna stay a few days hereabouts, get some repairs done, supply my ship. Anyone asks questions, you ain’t seen us and we aren’t gonna be on no report at midnight or any other da