Five...or is it four...ah, hell, I don't count, aside from paydays. So, it was about seven paydays ago that I'm out with my old gang. Pay was standard, planetfolk made good pickins...thought I was doing all right.

Try to rob these guys. We knew they were smuggling. Knew they were smuggling some high-grade whiskey, too. Right under Alliance noses and outta reach of their dumb tariffs. Figured whatever we couldn't drink would fetch a mighty nice price. Goonie, Dawdle, and I ambush 'em just as they are ready for take-off. There's three guns on Mal and Zoë, and I expected them to be spooked. Instead, Mal tells me I'm being cheated, and offers me a job. Well, I ain't one to turn down a good offer. Besides, Goonie couldn't keep his mouth shut.

I'll hand it to the captain of this boat, he doesn't flinch easy and he pays real good. Zoë's a knockout, though what she sees in that screwball pilot's anyone's guess. I have my pay, meals, and even my own bunk. All I gotta do is be the muscle when muscle is needed.

A'course, this job's proving to be a little more complicated than a lot of the others. We've got that high-class harlot aboard. Then there's the doctor and his crazy sister. Even better is that preacher who's got the room near mine. He's all quiet and studying his book. Serenity ain't like no other gang I've been with, so at least this isn't a boring job.

Did I mention the pay's good?