It was already dark as Mal, Kaylee and Zoe walked the short distance to the scrapyard.

“He won’t be there,” Serenity’s first mate said. “Do you know what the local time is?”

“Trying to get out of it?” Mal asked in turn, his lips curved.

“No, sir.”

“Zo, this is me. You’re wanting to do this about as much as I want to be an Alliance Fed.”

She glared at him, but her expression was lost in the gloom. “As you – and everyone else – has pointed out, I don’t have a choice.”

“You know,” Kaylee put in, “I wouldn’t’a minded doing it.” At Mal’s look, she went on quickly, “Oh, I know I can’t. But I’d’v’e stood up for women’s rights, same as men’s. Back on Phoros, men and women are equals. Just ‘cause my Ma stayed at home and brought us all up wasn't ‘cause it was expected. She could’ve gone into the factories, or whatever else was on offer, even if it was something that ain't traditionally women’s work.”

“I can’t see your mother as a gunhand,” Mal said, then winced dramatically as his mechanic thumped him on the arm.

She knew she hadn’t hurt him, and grinned. “If she’d wanted to be, she could’ve. Her choice.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it?” Zoe said, her voice low, thinking carefully before speaking. “Choice. That’s what freedom comes down to.”

Mal nodded. This was a conversation he’d had before with his oldest and best friend, and probably one they’d have again in the future. “Choice. Whether to say yes or no. Do or don’t. Become part of the Alliance or stay Independent.”

“Fought a war on those principles, sir.”

“Live or die.”

“Or keep flying.”

Kaylee stopped walking, and it was a moment before the other two noticed. They paused, turning back to look at her.

“What?” Mal asked.

“You’re enough to make a woman wanna take up arms, you know that? And not to kill purplebellies,” she added. “Whenever you get around to talking like this, I end up depressed.”

“You?” Mal couldn’t help smiling. “Depressed?”

“Me.” She crossed her arms over her swollen belly. “I