A bit of background on this. This is an AU that takes place around the time of the series. Book is on board Serenity, as is Simon. However, Simon has yet to find his sister (as explained in "Prologue"). The Fed who came on board at first was looking for Simon.

The main story takes place several months after Simon first comes on board. The story is told from a few different points of view, which I will mark at the beginning of the post. --------

Jayne

“It’s not exactly radio silence,” Wash said. Jayne realized he had been talking to Kaylee for a few seconds. He wondered if he had fallen asleep. “It’s just radio quiet. If we don’t absolutely need to contact them, we don’t. We’re pretty much on our own out here. It will help the image of the stranded pilgrims.”

Jayne folded his arms. “And what makes you so sure that the Alliance ain’t coming to the rescue of them ‘stranded pilgrims’? One of them decides to launch their own mercy mission and finds Serenity parked on that rock with thousands of dollars in bounties just waitin’ to be collected? Fugitives? Criminals? Men of the cloth? Couldn’t have better luck if you tried.”

“Book said they wouldn’t,” Wash shrugged. “He says the planet’s too small. If we have the situation under control, they’re not going to use resources or manpower to run a mission they don’t need to.”

“And you think he’s right?”

Wash grinned as he adjusted his trajectory. “Never been wrong before. And he knows things.”

“Things he shouldn’t,” Jayne said, determined to stay irritated. Wasn’t hard with Wash and Kaylee both in the shuttle, but he thought he’d keep up the effort. Guy had to keep his edge.

Another shrug from Wash. “We all know things we shouldn’t. Coming in range now.” He sent out a wave, requesting permission to land. Within seconds, a young officer in Alliance greys answered.

“Shuttle Orpheus, you are cleared for landing,” he said imperiously. “We are currently uploading the coordinates to your landing pad. A liaison will meet you there. May I ask the nature of your visit?”

Visit, Jayne inwardly snorted. Like it’s a gorram tourist trap.

“Engine troubles,” Wash replied mildly. “Ran into a bit of trouble, so now we’re looking for some spare parts. One of our passengers had heard you folk might be able to help.”

The Alliance officer held up a finger, the signal to wait. His head turned to speak with someone out of the wave image, then nodded and turned back. “We’ll do our best,” he said to Wash. “Our parts shop isn’t the best in the ‘verse, but we may be able to find the things you need.” He smiled, looking awfully young and idealistic to Jayne. “Welcome to Quan.”

“Thank you, Corporal,” Wash replied in his guileless way. “Glad to be in your skies.” Signing off the wave, he checked the coordinates and adjusted the shuttle for the correct entry angle. “See, Jayne? Alliance are people, too. Get out to the raggedy edge, and it turns out we’re all the same.”

Jayne rolled his eyes. “’Ceptin those that ain’t. Let’s just get this done.”

***

The shuttle’s path led them to what appeared to be a network of metal boxes, gleaming in the dusty sunlight. A few discreet satellite dishes and what looked like a comm tower nestled around the edges of the complex, and a large landing field lay next to a hanger of some kind. Jayne was surprised to find out that they weren’t parking in the hanger, but actually in the landing field, which turned out to house a series of deep shafts. Wash dropped expertly down one, touching down at the bottom with barely a thump. The shaft had obviously been created to house much bigger ships, and so Jayne found himself looking at meters of smoothed metal before his eyes finally found an edge in the dark. An automated voice came up, asking them to please watch their eyes, as the lights would be activated in three, two – Jayne fought the urge to cover his eyes with his hands, still adjusting to the dark after the bright sunlight overhead. As promised, the lights came on, but instead of the harsh fluorescent glow he and the others were expecting, natural, almost warm light filled the shaft. A door opened on the section of shaft closest to the cockpit, and a figure emerged into the light.

Though he knew exactly what they were doing, Jayne still found it difficult not to reach for a weapon as the woman in grey crossed the expanse to the shuttle, her boot heels clicking on the hard, polished floor. Jayne couldn’t see any insignia from that range, but from her carriage, she was fairly high up. Great, he thought. Just great. Following Wash and Kaylee down the ramp, Jayne did his best to look pious and non-threatening. He failed miserably at both.

Wash and Kaylee, however, seemed to have no problems. Wash was his usual self, smiling and reaching out to shake the greyback’s hand, and Kaylee was looking around with an interested look on her face.

“Welcome to Quan,” the greyback said. Closer up, Jayne could see that she was younger than he thought. She wore her field uniform with a practiced casualness, giving the impression of efficiency and helpfulness. She wore a nearly invisible earpiece, and carried no weapons that Jayne could see. He noted from the insignia that she was a sergeant, at least. He hadn’t brushed up on his ranks in a while – they all bled the same. Still, it was a mite odd to have someone so high in rank greet their shuttle, when any Alliance worth their salt would send someone else to do the job for them. “I’m Lieutenant Hunter. I understand you’re having trouble with a Morningstar class transport?” She shook hands with Wash and nodded at the other two.

“Yes’m,” Wash replied. “Hagen panel blew. Fried all the circuitry surrounding it. Pretty orange glow all around the back end of the ship. One of the passengers thought that you might be able to lend a hand.”

Hunter clasped her hands behind her back. “Well, as my technician told you, our machine shop is… outdated at best. However, we do get some traffic out here from pilgrims and the like, so we may have what you need. You’re the pilot?”

Wash nodded, gesturing to Kaylee. “And this here is our lovely mechanic.” Hunter took in the grease stains and coveralls in a glance. “And this,” Wash finished, “is… well, do I really need to explain what he is?”

A faint smile flickered over the greyback’s face. “It’s good to see that the pilgrims are finally learning that cloth only protects so much. Some of the travelers from within the Core don’t seem to realize that although the word might be mightier than the sword, out here, neither one holds up too well against a scavenger with a repeater.”

“Too true,” Wash said. “He comes in quite handy.”

“Great for other things, too,” Kaylee said before realizing how that might sound. Jayne felt a smile almost crack through his “deadly yet pious” face until she recovered by saying, “You know… reaching things on the top shelf, opening mayonnaise jars, that sort of thing.” She slapped the back of her hand into Jayne’s stomach. “That’s our John!”

Jayne inwardly rolled his eyes. Double meanings, mayonnaise jars, and now his name was John? How idiot could one girl be in a day? He felt rather than saw Hunter’s eyes on him. He met them, seeing the flicker of humor in them. Gorram it, he thought fervently. She knows. She knows it’s all a sham and we’re all gonna get pinched and there goes that great heap of a plan. The greyback didn’t say anything, though. She merely turned back to Wash. “Will you be coming to the shop? Or do you prefer to stay with your shuttle?”

Wash gave her that hee-haw grin. “A pilot’s place is with his ship,” he said. “Kate and John will be going with you to the shop. You know, in case those panels are heavy. Or something.”

This time Jayne couldn’t stop his eyes from rolling heavenward. “Lord give me strength,” he muttered under his breath. “This here is the last time I go anywhere with these two.” Wash and the Alliance officer paid him no heed. The Alliance officer led them over to a small panel on the wall.

“I’ll need all three of you to register. It’s always good to know who’s visiting in case of emergency. We like to make sure everyone is accounted for. And since this is an Alliance facility, you may pass areas that are off-limits to civilians. For this reason, the shuttle will be landlocked on my signal, and the two that visit the shop will be accompanied at all times.”

Kaylee spoke. “Don’t Wash get company?”

“If he’d like some,” the greyback answered. “But I don’t see any harm in his staying here by himself. He seems pretty attached to your shuttle, anyways.” She smiled at Wash, who grinned back. Hunter pulled an electronic pad from the wall and handed it first to Kaylee. “Sign there, please. You can use the pen attached.” Kaylee signed, then passed it to Wash, who also signed. He in turn passed it to Jayne. The pad felt tiny in his hand as he gamely scratched “John Cobb” into its surface with the light pen. He handed it back to Hunter, feeling oddly sheepish. She slipped the board back into its slot on the wall for a second, then removed it again, slipping it into her jacket. She turned to Wash again. “Would you like one of my people to bring you anything to drink? Food? I don’t know how long we’ll be. Shouldn’t be long, but you never know.”

Wash shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”

Hunter nodded. “Feel free to call the Hub. They’ll be able to help you with anything you might need.” She was turning back toward the door when Wash suddenly spoke.

“Why so deep?” he asked. Hunter raised an eyebrow, curious. “Your landing pads,” he explained. “Why hide them so deep underground?”

“Storms,” replied the Lieutenant. “The planet seems pretty peaceful now, but we get frequent storms. Come at you unaware, tear your ship to shreds before you even know it’s come. And then-” here she blew across the tips of her fingers – “they’re gone.” She smiled. “Stay inside.”

Wash nodded, looking a little uneasy but interested. Jayne tried to quell the nerves tickling in his own stomach. If they got stuck on this rock… he let the thought die as Hunter gestured to him and Kaylee.

“If you’ll come with me,” she said, “we’ll try to get you on your way.”