Dex slipped into the dining room and sat down on the lounge couch next to Mariah, eyes fixed on the closed door to the bridge. "How long they been in there?"

Saul turned, nodded to acknowledge the mechanic's presence, then looked back toward the cockpit. "Near twenty minutes."

Mona leaned around the edge of the door frame, as if the extra inch of distance would let her hear the conversation going on behind the door. "What do you think's gonna happen?"

Saul shrugged. "Captain's smart, she'll leave those ma fan tai zi men on the closest farm rock."

"Saul, 's that nice?"

He glared at the pilot. "Bullet hole in my leg says they ain't done nothin' to earn nice."

Mariah turned to Dex. "Still, we can't just abandon them. Especially if they're in danger."

Dex sighed. "Rachel'll do what's right."

Rachel had her arms folded as Sir Anderson finished his story, Leopold leaning against the sealed door. "So, short version, you got into business with the Yao Tong, lost their money…"

Sir Anderson raised a finger in protest. "I didn't lose their money. The project didn't come through, but that's hardly my fault—"

"'S a whole Osiris crime family says otherwise, your lordship." The nobleman shut his mouth and cast his eyes to the floor. He was at her mercy, now, and everyone in the room knew that. "Now, you got their killers come after you to settle the score. What makes you think you'd be safe with us? Found you on Paquin easy enough."

"The Yao have a club on Paquin. They didn't know we were there. One of their men must have seen us on the street."

"Now they know you're sailing in a Firefly. Might be could throw 'em off easier you got off and found another mode of transportation."

"Please, Captain, I have thought about this. Unlike most of the tongs, the Yao don't have a foothold on the Rim planets yet. We need your transport and…your protection."

Leopold stepped forward, breaking the silence as Rachel mulled over the facts. "Name your price, and we'll pay it. I'll keep serving as medic as long as you want me. Please