Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of the characters.

Past, Present, & Future

By KaySky

Part Seven

He didn’t see it coming. The music was blaring, he was singing to the song in between bites of doughnut, and he didn’t have a care in the world. That was his first mistake.

“Hey!” He screamed as Jayne pulled him out of the hover car.

“Hey yourself.” Jayne grunted. “Got anymore of them doughnuts?”

“Take him upstairs with the other two.” Mal ordered Jayne. “When you get back you can have a doughnut.”

“Those are mine!” The man yelled.

“You’ve got several guns pointed at you and all your worried about are your doughnuts?” Zoe could hardly believer her ears. Surely Niska had to have more competent men working for him than this.

“I’ve been flying around for months. First time I’ve gotten to have anything other than protein.”

“Well then,” Mal began to speak, “Guess it’s a mighty fine thing then that your last meal turned out to be something you enjoyed.”

“Last meal?” His voice was panic-stricken.

“If you don’t cooperate it will be.”

“And how would you like me to cooperate?”

“How many men are with Niska?”

“Niska always has men around, maybe thirty or so.” His eyes starred at the ground when he spoke. A clear sign he was lying.

“So he’s got thirty men and yet he sends two of the stupidest I ever met to capture Kaylee?” Mal laughed for a second, but then an angered look appeared on his face. “Maybe you don’t know what cooperation means.”

“It means ya don’t lie.” Jayne provided.

“My mercenary’s right.” Mal took a step closer to the man. “You got a name?”

“They call me Bread.”

Not one person could withstand from laughing.

“Any particular reason why?” Mal said as he managed to control his laughter.

“I go after the money—the bread.”

“Oh well now it makes perfect sense. Jayne, why don’t you escort Mr. Bread to his friends?”

* * * *

“That was…”

“Incredible.” Kaylee was glowing. Simon didn’t let a little thing like restrict