The groans and creaks of entry still echoed through Serenity’s hull as she settled planetside for the first time in nearly three months. “Kaylee, you comin’?” Mal hollered into the engine room as he headed for the rear stairwell, River in tow.

“Keep your pansy-pants on, Cap’n. Gimme half a chance to get her powered down.” River tittered behind him.

“That ‘pansy-pants’ gou shi gonna get real old real fast.” He hustled down the stairs to the common area where the rest of the crew waited. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Paquin,” he announced. “As soon as our mechanic gets down here, I’ll fill y’all in on the plans.” Kaylee skittered down the stairs a few moments later, wiping a sleeve across her sweat and grease-stained brow. “’Bout time,” Mal eyed her as she passed. She glared back at him and threw herself on the couch next to Simon. Instantly she was her overly cheerful self again. “Okay, so here’s how it is. I know this is the ‘verse’s playground and such, but we are not here to play. We’re here to find work. I don’t think I have to remind you what we all went through. The Alliance could be lurkin’ round any corner. I don’t ‘spect them to show up this far out in the boonies, but no sense in riskin’ it. So, no shore leave.” Groans, mainly from Jayne and Kaylee, erupted. Mal held up a hand to still them. “Complain all you want. Ain’t happenin’. No one leaves the ship without my or Zoe’s express permission, and even then not by themselves. We’re set down on the edge of town where the meet with our contact’ll take place tonight. It’ll be Jayne, River, and myself. Zoe, you’ll have the ship.” A mildly surprised look settled on Zoe. She was not used to being left behind.

“Sir, are you sure?”

“Yes I am. You hold the fort.” Zoe folded her arms, a clear gesture that she did not approve, but she did not question Mal’s decision either. Her face darkened. “In the meantime, there’s chores to be done. I want lists of any supplies we might need so we can get ‘em ‘fore we depart.