Tendrils of steam curled off the box, disseminating their way around the stunned visages of Serenity’s crew.

“Who….What…” Kaylee attempted to ask, though came of it.

River crooned her head in further to gain a better look of the girl in the box. She was just as stunned as the rest of the crew.

Wash removed his stare from the girl in the box and placed it on Simon. “You got another sister you didn’t tell us about, doc?”

Simon was equally confused as the others, “I—I--.”

“No ruttin’ way she’s related to the doc,” Jayne cut in. “There’s no likeness.”

“Someone is being keenly observant,” Inara stated with a smirk.

Jayne gave his best attempt at an intimidating stare at the companion but instantly returned to being transfixed by the girl in the box.

Zoe shot her eyes to Mal as the others began to mumble and theorize amongst themselves. Mal returned her look with a bleak frown.

“I didn’t know Badger was into human trading,” Zoe stated.

“He ain’t,” Mal answered. “We would’ve heard something about it by now.” He paused. “Something’s off here.”

“Should we would notify Badger,” Zoe asked.

“Well if our high class friend is privy to the contents of his cargo and he finds out that we opened said cargo when he specifically said not to… well I’d doubt he’d take kindly to that,” Mal blanched. “And I am looking to get paid this time.”

“Still,” Mal began again, “We may want to get her and the box off ship…deny we ever received it.”

“No way in Hell,” Jayne said defensively.

All eyes darted to Jayne.

“Well, she’s probably in some sort of trouble, probably runnin’ from somethin’,” Jayne stammered. “We should….protect her, like we do for the doc and his sis!”

“Wow,” Inara said, impressed, “That’s not a bad idea.”

“And it could mean a boatload of more trouble,” Mal countered.

“Cap, you ain’t just gonna throw her off now are you,” Kaylee asked innocently.

“I didn’t say that!”

“Yes you did,” Inara spat back, “just a minute ago!”

“I implied it