The Peace of Marduk

By Fish & RSB

Jiolee@gmail.com

http://jiolee.tripod.com/

* * *

“And you’re certain that you’ll be able to deliver the cargo to Ananke on schedule, Captain Reynolds? You’re certain that there’ll be absolutely no interference from official channels? That my –“

“It’ll be fine,” Malcolm Reynolds assured the anxious businessman. “Allow me to put all your fears to rest, Mr. Neveu; my ship and I don’t have any kinds of dealings with the Alliance unless it can’t be avoided, and I think a simple delivery, such as yours, will go smooth as glass.”

Manuel Neveu frowned. “And, and you’ll be sure that everything will be intact, won’t you?”

“Very sure. Won’t no harm come to your cargo if I have anything to say about it.” He paused and turned to glance at Zoe over his shoulder, then cleared his throat. “Pardon me, if we have anything to say about it. Because, my crew will do their best to ensure that… uhm, it’ll be fine.”

“I just want to be sure, I don’t, I don’t uhm, usually resort to these measures, but with the tariffs on alcohol these days-“

Mal spoke up quickly over Neveu as Zoe raised her eyebrows. “Well, we really do need to be getting on our travels, Mr. Neveu, if we’re to get your goods to where they’re supposed to be on time. Bye now.”

“Yes, yes, thank you so much, Captain,” Neveu said gratefully. “It was so nice of Inara to introduce us. I hope she’s well?”

“Yes, uhm, very well.” Mal started towards where Serenity was docked at Neveu’s private landing. “We’ll send you a wave once we’ve made the drop. You have yourself a nice day now, and let me worry about the rest.” Mal and Zoe quickly boarded the ship and retracted the ramp with a wave goodbye.

“Sir.”

“Yeah, Zoe?”

“Am I correct in thinking we’re smuggling a load of alcohol to Ananke?”

Mal tried to school his face into a blank expression. “Might be that’s so, might not. Either way, I’m ordering you to make sure not a word of this gets back to Jayne. You hear me? Not even a whiff.”

Zoe nodded, amused.