Serenity’s mechanic stood in Columbine’s engine room, her trusty Autoline no. 4 wrench in her hand, and she shook her head.

“Kaylee, I ain't liking the look on your face,” Mal admitted.

“Well, I ain't liking this piece of fei-oo .” She looked almost apologetic as she spoke, as if it was hard for her to be uncomplimentary about any engine. But this time … “It’s a Capisson 45,” she explained. “And it don’t look like they’ve made it much better than the 38 version.”

“Are those the ones that …” He lifted his hand and mimed a ship crashing.

“That’s the ones.”

“Can you fix her?”

Kaylee pursed her lips. “If I had a week or so, and a lot more parts –“

“You got maybe a couple of hours, and nothing more’n what you can find around here.”

She shook her head. “It’s gonna take work, Cap’n. And that’s before I get inside and take a look.”

“Can you get her to limpin?” He stepped closer to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “We ain't that far from Hera now, but it could be the other side of the ‘verse if I can’t get there. I need to know now, since there’s a decision to be made.”

Alex shook his head. “I don’t want to leave my ship here, Mal.”

“I know that. But time’s wasting, and if she can’t make the trip, then I'm putting everyone on board Serenity and doing it alone.” He looked back at Kaylee. “Well?”

She bit her lip. “Well, if it’s just to Hera … yeah, I can do it. She won’t go full speed, a’course, but fast enough to keep up with Serenity.”

“Good. How long?”

“An hour? Hour’n a half?”

“Shiny. You need any help?”

“No, not really. Although Breed can stay and hold my hand if he likes.” She smiled at Dillon’s partner hanging in the doorway.

“I don’t think I've ever had such a sweet request for my presence,” the black-haired man said.

“Should I be worried?” Dillon asked, exchanging an indulgent look with his lover.

“Maybe,” Kaylee said, grinning widely. “Need to see how he does with an engine ‘fore I decide.”

---

Kaylee was as good as h