Kaylee’s Lament

Part I

Sophia was just another pissant backwater world on the Rim whose only distinction from the four other pissant terraformed moons around it was that it was about two light years closer to anyplace even remotely civilized than its neighbors. By default, that made it a transit crossroads and distribution point for goods coming in from the Core and a few meager commodities that the colonies might export. But it was still a pissant world, the capital of which was known as Wisdom City (Population 7,521) which boasted three bars, all of which were clustered around the sorry excuse for a “starport”.

It was saying something that Serenity was the third largest ship to come through in a year.

But the beer was good, plentiful, and affordable, and it beat the “reactor squeezins” Kaylee made for the crew. Kaylee thought so herself, and was already on her third beer. Jayne and Shepherd Book were also at the table, Jayne foregoing good beer for decent whiskey, and Book still nursing his first brew.

“How long we got to wait here? I was considering finding me a whore.” Kaylee didn’t even bother to blush around Jayne’s frankly crude manner anymore. Book likewise didn’t even blink. He knew Jayne was a walking phallus.

“They said it would be a while,” Book commented.

“Well, how long is that?” Jayne asked, mystified.

“A while.”

“That ain’t much help.”

“Noticed that?”

“How long is a while? Long enough for me to dip my wick?”

“Long enough for you to catch somethin’ nasty.”

“Not enough life on this rock for there to be anything nasty around. ‘Sides, any bug what ever bit me, died.”

“Well, then, by all means. Considering how long I hear you take to . . . well, we probably got that long. Go ahead.” Book looked more than half amused.

“Really?”

“Yes, you idjit, go get laid! If you don’t, I won’t be able to stand you for the next few weeks!” Kaylee surprised her own self with the outburst. But she swore to the Black that Jayne was about the slowest man alive when it ca