A New Friend?

By Biku

Firefly and its characters belong to Mutant Enemy ("Grr... argh") and to Joss Whedon-sama (may he live forever) and probably also to FoxTV and its Satanic alliances. MS (unfortunately) belongs to the world.

The cargo bay door to Serenity touched the desert ground with a gentle bump, causing small puffs of dust to dance upwards into the air.

"Okay, people," Captain Malcolm Reynolds said, gesturing to wide expanse. "Let's just do this job and get out of here."

"How are we supposed to find out our contact if'n we don't got a name?" Jayne Cobb growled as he stepped out into the desert sunlight. "He could be anybody."

"Except for the fact that there ain't nobody out here," Kaylee Frye, the ship's mechanic, replied. Jayne just scowled in her general direction and scanned the horizon. "How come we don't know his name, Cap'n?" she asked Reynolds.

The captain shrugged. "First, it's a she, and second, all she would give is her initials. M.S."

"M.S.?" Jayne repeated, suspiciously. "How's that supposed to help?" Reynolds just shrugged again.

"Don't rightly know," he admitted. "But I'm sure that--hello."

Jayne and Kaylee both looked to where the captain was staring to see a woman suddenly standing a few meters from the ship. Jayne drew his gun, instantly; as did the woman. Her reflexes were just as fast as his were.

"I'm not looking for a fight," she said in a low, husky voice. "But I'll give you one."

Reynolds stepped forward, raising his hands. He gestured with a quick nod to Jayne, who lowered his gun. "I take it that you're 'M.S.'?"

"Might be," the woman re