Persephone

Eavesdown Docks, Repair Berth 2

Eight days after the Miranda wave

The extensive repair job on Serenity was going well, Mal had to admit. Of course, the fact that it was being bankrolled by the Alliance probably had a good deal to do with that, but he had decided to swallow his pride for once and not complain.

Unlike Kaylee, who’d had issues more than once with the repair foreman, who seemed to think Serenity could stand to have a redesign here and there. It was the first time he’d seen Kaylee actually angry, but he’d only actually intervened when she got just a little too close to the guy with a rather large wrench and an expression on her pretty face he’d liked not one bit.

“She gets repaired as is , or I’ll do the gorram job my own self!” Kaylee cried. “Cap’n, these sloppy rùnhuá zhī hóuzi don’t know a catalyser from a fuel infuser, and -”

“I get it, I get it,” Mal interrupted, trying not to laugh. “Day I don’t trust your judgement is the day I pack up an’ retire, an’ I don’t conjure that’s happenin’ any time soon.” He gathered her into a hug and kissed the top of her head; she smiled happily, cheered as she always was by the gesture. “You all just take charge and do it the way you reckon it should be done, little Kaylee.”

She did. It was.

Given Kaylee’s expertise and almost instinctual know-how, it would’ve been nearly two days ahead of the repair foreman’s original schedule, in fact, if not for certain...interruptions...which kept occurring in the engine room. And Kaylee’s bunk. And Simon’s. And one or three other places.

Every stroke of the brush was applied with elegance, precision and, most importantly, with love and the utmost care, not a single drop of paint out of place. That was only right and proper. Serenity deserved no less.

She had been much abused in the last few days, asked to bear indignities and horrors no ship should ever have had to endure. The pitiful remains of the Haven settlers had been removed first, and buried decently.

At lea