- 8 -

The Mule stood waiting just in front of Serenity’s port engine. The ship itself was closed except for smaller airlock door located on the cargo bay ramp.

“Mal, where are you boy,” Patience called from her horse about fifteen meters from the ships entrance.

Malcolm Reynolds stepped out of the doorway, the bottom his long coat fluttering from the step down and the steady breeze, “Right here, Patience.”

The old woman looked around, she was flanked by four of her men, each armed with a rifle, “I think you’ve grown dumb, Mal. What’s to keep me from putting you down right now…other then my sense of charity?”

Mal smiled, “They are,” he stated as he motioned up with his head.

Patience and her men looked up to see Jayne Cobb with the gun he called Vera perched atop one of Serenity’s wings. River Tam was on the other armed with Lux, a man portable minigun.

“…besides you have that sense of charity to deal with,” Mal finished.

“Okay, let’s do this,” Patience said as she dismounted.

“Zoe,” Mal called.

Zoe Washburne and Kaywinnit Lee Frye stepped out of the ship and headed over to the Mule.

“Remember, there are two frag grenades and a flash bang under the seat,” Mal whispered to Zoe as she passed.

“Shouldn’t need them, Sir,” she answered spinning around to do so.

“Patience, if you would step inside,” Mal called, “let’s just leave that street howitzer outside.”

Patience walked over to Mal and handed him the shotgun she carried, “You want my Colt, too?”

“You can keep that, since I’m keeping mine.”

With that Patience stepped inside with the Captain while Zoe and Kaylee followed Patience’s men to recover the projector and a few other items.

“Let’s have a seat and just wait,” Mal said as he and Patience entered the galley.

“Hello,” Inara said as they entered, “Would you like a drink?”

“Inara?” Mal asked quizzically.

“Why yes, fancy I would,” Patience said seeing the bottle of booze on the pretty young women’s tray.

Patience took a seat at the head of the table. Ma