To Quote Inara

Chapter 5

Down in the cargo hold the new arrival to Serenity received her first opportunity to meet the crew of the small transport vessel………..well some of them anyway.

Jayne remained a little grumpy but after Wash and Kaylee arrived and Alex began helping them unload some rather hefty boxes full of engine parts she made friends easily. When all was done and the evening sun began to settle the group met up in the galley for the last meal of the day.

“ So Alex…. I hear that you have a brother and that he’s being kept in the tank down at Betsville prison!” Jayne spouted between bites of protein. Those at the table were a bit taken back by the point blank statement that had spilled forth from the big man’s mouth. But after a few moments of consideration all returned to normal because that was just Jayne.

“ What’s his name?” He continued.

The girl looked at him.

“Alex.”

Now everybody stopped. She looked around the table from face to face.

“ Alexander, his name’s Alexander what can I say?”

There were a few chuckles around the room and as the evening progressed Alex, Alexandria filled the crew of Serenity in on a lot of things about herself, but not everything.

“ We come from a moderately wealthy family.” Alexandria was saying,” Not that it does us any good. We’ve been disowned more ‘n once, and Alexander’s been in trouble so many times that father doesn’t even consider him as kin anymore.” She paused momentarily.

“ Still if we could find a way to get my brother out…..well we would be highly appreciative and be on our way not to be a bother to any of you.

“ You haven’t been a bother Alex,” Mal told her, “ no bother at all.”

“ Well thank you Captain Raynolds…..I mean Mal” She smiled a big smile at him.

There was another pause.

“Although we haven’t much in the way of finances I’ll go visit my brother and see if we can work out a deal for payment. Once he’s been freed from the confines of his prison cell I mean.”

“ That’s what I’m talkin about…!” Jayne piped in

“ Now wait a minute. No ones agreed to do anything as of yet.” Mal spoke, “Alex I know you and your brother may have been through some rough times but so have we all. We don’t run into things like this without a plan. Besides what’s he in prison for?”

“ Well nothing terrible if that’s what your askin. Minor theft. He goes by the name of Blinky Houlihan. Blinky because he has a nerves twitch in one eye and Houlihan is just a rogue handle of his.”

“Well let’s sleep on it and I’ll give you an answer tomorrow. Tomorrow evening at the latest. Now if we’re done……Jayne, you and I have wash duty in the kitchen and *Wash you have bridge duty tonight.

Mal looked over at his master mechanic.

“ Kaylee how about set Alexandria up in one of the guest compartments.”

“Aye aye cap..” Kaylee sported a smile as she motioned for Alex to follow her, “Now tell me about this brother of yours……?” She questioned as they walked from the room.

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To Quote Inara

Chapter 6

Time: Later that evening on Harvest

Place: Serenity’s bridge.

“Well that’s about it Mal.” Wash said as he swung around in his pilots seat to face the captain.

“ She’s telling the truth about Blinky Houlihan as being an admittance to Betsville Prison. From viewing the inmate log of Betsville Holding’s prison records on the cortex it’s Just minor stuff, but it’s a list as long as my leg. I’m a little shamed to say that his criminal record is nothing we haven’t done ourselves.

Mal looked at him.

“Ok maybe I’m not ashamed but if his crimes were credits he could get plenty of frequent flier miles.” He grinned.

“Well Ok…….maybe we can work something out. Have you gotten a hold of Zoey?” Mal queried about his last conversation with the pilot.

“Yep… told her things have changed as per your instructions. We might be here a few days.” He paused, “ Good to hear her voice.” He looked at Mal. “It’s the married man coming out in me, you should try it. Alex certainly has eyes for her new captain.” He added with a smile.

“ Yeah right, I ain‘t her captain! Like I need someone half……a few years young’r ’n me to be tied to my holster strap.” Mal chuckled.

He turned to walk off the bridge. Stopping at the portal he looked back and queried. “ She’s really been looking at me?”

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The next day Mal told Alex that he and his crew had reached an agreement in helping her rescue her brother from the lock-up.

The girl jumped for joy and gave Malcolm a big hug and a kiss.

Jayne was a little miffed he hadn’t given her the news himself.

“Great!! If I can catch a shuttle ride I’ll visit my brother and we’ll see if we can come up with a way of maybe working out a payment!” She was happy as a lark. She gave Malcolm Reynolds another big hug and it was as plain as the day is long that their intimate contact might be more to her than just simple grateful glee.

Mal felt it too and although he was a little uneasy with her closeness it sure wasn’t un-pleasurable for him.

“ Good,” He said. “ We can use the time to make repairs and upgrades to the ship. I’ll get Kaylee and Wash on it. Jayne……….how about take the shuttle and give Miss Alex here a ride into Bestville. Scope out a few things and get some ideas so that we can start formulating a some plan once you get back. I’d like this thing to go smoothly.”

End Block 3