“Well, well, Malcolm Reynolds.”

Ah, Badger, still a slime ball after all these years. “Badger. Good to know me and mine can still get an audience with a respectable businessman like yourself.” Mal smiled at him tightly and he was pretty sure Badger hadn’t noticed the insult.

Jayne and Zoe flanked him on either side, both of them more than uncomfortable at being back here. The trip in had been uneventful and despite River’s growing protestations, Mal had insisted they take the job. Of course, the kid had insisted just as strongly that she come along and Mal relented, in spite of Simon’s twisted lip. Truth was, it tickled him to annoy the doc and River could be useful. Now, she was out with the mule; Mal didn’t fancy someone like Badger getting any ideas.

“Ahh, now, Captain, what would this ‘verse come to, if two men like ourselves couldn’t still meet for a friendly chat?” Badger’s voice was full of a warmth that Mal knew was fake. Gesturing that they should sit, Mal took the offered chair as did Jayne, while Zoe maintained her standing position, between her crew and the door. Good old Zoe, always the soldier.

“Can I interest you all in a drink,” Badger asked, pouring a foul-smelling and no doubt fermented beverage into a shot glass. Jayne took the offered liquor greedily, his own private stash having run out on Serenity a little over three weeks ago. Of course the wood whiskey was bitter and dry and it burned going down, but Jayne didn’t mind.

“What you can interest me in is a job,” Mal told him, letting his voice adopt an edge. He really wasn’t going to sit and break bread with this weasel. “Me and my crew need the coin.”

“Manners, Malcolm,” Badger tsked, taking a seat behind his obscenely large desk. “But you’re right, you do need the coin and so do I. I think I might have something to interest you.”

Mal leaned forward eager for business to be over so they could get off this rock and back into space where he felt safe. “I’m listenin’.”

***

River sat stock sti