This is the second of the three part collaboration between Archer and I, using the brilliant characters who are the children of his pen. He created them and placed them in Joss Whedon’s ‘verse. I just get to play with them for awhile. It has been a great experience. Archer is a tremendously generous co-writer and I am flattered he let me participate in the Ghosts of Serenity stories. For those of you who haven’t already dipped into this series do yourself a huge favor and start with The Other Side of Serenity and read forward. All his stories are listed here:

http://fireflyfans.net/showprofile.asp?un=Archer

These characters are his, the universe belongs to Mutant Enemy and no infringement of their rights is intended. Many thanks to Wulfhawk for his very fast and insightful critique. Please do not archive without permission.

Gentle reader if this story pleases or offends please feel free to let us know. If you want a response, it will be better to message me for the next couple of weeks, as Archer will be on the road. [See his hugely funny pastiche Serenity, Inc.}

Chinese Glossary

Nien ching duh [Little girl]

PART TWO--

It looks good, "Cafferty said, pulling off the ML-set eyepiece that had allowed him to closely inspect the stump of Jian-ku's arm. "You've been taking pretty good care of it."

"All the things you told me to," Jian-ku said. "Keep it clean, rub it down, keep working with what's left of it." Yinna offered him the soft-cap that covered the stump and kept it clean, and he swapped her for the eyepiece set.

Jian-ku glanced at the girl again, noting that as usual she made even the modest dress she wore for nursing look glamorous. Jian-ku wondered what the girl was doing here. She knew why Caff had come out. He was worried about her and he figured the hook might make a difference. He knew Steven was worried and that worried him even more. So he was out here trying to pretend that once she got used to it, the hook would make her the same as befo