He knew he was going to have bruises, but knocking on the cargo bay door was the only way he could figure of letting them know he wanted in. If he’d been sensible, of course, he would have gone back to the office, waved, or maybe even jogged to Gilford’s and used the Cortex link there. If he’d been sensible. Trouble was, he had the feeling the time for being sensible had just about run out.

Lifting his hand to bang again he paused, getting the distinct feeling that someone was just inside.

The small door creaked open, and he was met with a hand holding what suspiciously looked like a Mare’s Leg.

“Don’t shoot!” he said quickly, stepping back so the person with their finger on the trigger could see him clearly. “It’s Dan Jefferson.”

The tall, dark-skinned beauty he recognised as Zoe Mills appeared in the doorway. “Sheriff.” Odd how her gun hadn’t moved though.

He wasted no time on pleasantries. “Where’s Mal Reynolds?”

-

“Well, this is an interesting development,” Mal said, his hands raised.

He and Freya had exited the tunnel into the bright Ezra sun, but despite their best efforts hadn’t seen the men hiding either side of the entrance until they felt cold metal pressed into their necks.

“Sorry,” Freya said, her own arms likewise lifted. I didn’t feel them in time. Jayne’s still projecting.

“Not your fault. I figure this is just one of those things we can’t do a thing about.” I didn’t see ‘em either, ai ren. Light was in my eyes.

“I'm still sorry.”

“Then you can apologise in private later.” He flashed her a smile.

Chester Lau stared at them. Despite the fact that his men had divested them of their firearms in short order, they still looked far too comfortable, as if this sort of thing happened a lot. Perhaps it did. “Captain Reynolds,” he said to get their attention.

“That’s me.” Mal turned to the man standing in front of them, trying for friendly. “Chester Lau, isn’t it?”

“I am.”

“And your brothers.” Mal nodded at the other two men,