It was a blanket of, gunmetal black, tiny specks of light dusting her dark canvas and shinning with their entire mite, just to prove they were as important. They shined like pieces of lint on black velvet. One could get lost out in the Black for there where no roads or signs, and never had a map been made to outline Her ever changing ways. Serenity flew threw the enclosed darkness with ease, it was home to her, a place she was always welcomed. Some people live their whole lives without really seeing the wonder that is the ‘verse, actually seeing it, the beauty etched in every blemish, nook, and cranny. For Wash that beauty lay just outside his window. The bridge was empty save for Wash and the thoughts in which he seemed lost in, absorbed completely by their contents. It was times like this Wash often confided his deepest secrets to Black for she was the closest one and always leaned in to hear. Wash had been thinking about babies, such fragile little creatures they are, but they were thoughts that frighten him most terribly. What he feared most of all was loving it too much, but by not even entertaining the idea out loud, he had already shown how this distant-mayhap-could-be-child affected him. He would make a great father even if he couldn’t see it, his great parenting would reflect in his distant-mayhap-could-be-child. A future full of possibilities waited for him. Wash was pulled back to reality by a steady voice that rang familiar in his ears.

“What’s the matter husband” Zoe offered, hands placed firmly but comforting on his shoulders.

“Nothin’ I was just thinkin’” “’Bout what”

“Nothin’ in particular” he answered not wanting to enter a discussion he knew would get the same end result it always did.

“Well dinners ready, I suggest you take big steps or at least run, I saw Jayne eyeballing your food. It may not be there when we arrive, at which time I give you permission to kill him.”

“Kill, why do we always have to kill, you know how I feel about that. Hows ‘bout we just take an eyeball or a leg. A man could live without either one of those, and you could still get your point across.”

“Husband your too polite”

“No, I’m just fair, in my situation everyone wins and walks away happy. Well except for the guy with no leg he probably hobbles away, and probably not so much with the happy.”

Everyone else was already gathered at the table, deep in conversation, when they entered. It was Kaylee’s turn to cook, which was a blessing in itself; she was the only one beside Book who could make a meal recognizable to food. Everyone had their fill, Jayne gladly finishing the leftovers on Inara’s plate, that’s after woofing down two plates of his own. They all still stayed seated long after the dishes were cleared, truly enjoying each other’s company. A low buzz hung in the air but was quickly silenced with Mal standing and clearing his throat, the universal sign for may I have your attention. They knew he wanted to talk business.

“It’s been a while since a good job came our way, I know the coin is thin, and we’ve all made sacrifices but our luck is ‘bout to change. Badger sent a job our way, said it was decent.”

“You’re really going to trust him sir, even after what he did.”

“I ain’t working for no two faced scum.” Jayne exclaimed. Mal eyed him knowingly.

“I agree cap’n. That man ain’t right, he probably scares puppies just for the fun of it.” Kaylee noted, a look of disgust on her face.

“Yeah your all right we don’t need the money, Serenity don’t need fix'n, and y’all don’t need to eat. I’m pretty sure with all the gorram beautiful people on this boat we can just get by on looks.”

That shut the lot of them up. Silence usually ensued when the captain was right, so you can imagine the constant noise that boomed throughout Serenity, he had a knack for not being right. Jayne finally broke the silence.

“So how much does this ruttin’ job pay so I can start calculating my cut. I am a businessman you know. God knows what will happen if’n I don’t figure out how much loot I get. My hands will start getting’ sweaty then anything’s liable to happen, might pick up a gun then…” Everyone turned to stare at Jayne. Just kidd’n ‘bout that whole gun thing, but seriously Mal how much does it pay, I got needs I need to tend to, needs that involve money, and girls and more money, and much, much more girls.”

“Now, Jayne there’s children and womenfolk about, what a sick, sick, sick image to place into our minds. For that I just might dock your pay.”

“For once I can say I’m glad they tampered with River’s mind, wouldn’t want her to understand the full meaning of Jayne’s statement.” Simon noted his eyes still fixed on Jayne.

“No need to worry about me not understanding I have a constant picture playing over and over in my head, it’s in color too. Never knew anyone could bend like that and ooh look is that a fuzzy…”

“River do not finish that sentence!” Simon shouted.

“Jayne Cobb you are a powerfully bad man and all sorts of hairy too.” River continued still immersed in the image playing in her head.

“Hey, now that ain’t right. Stay out of my head you moon-pie, your seeing things that ain’t fit for a child’s eyes. What I do with my spare time is up to me. Don’t go sharing my deepest most personal fantasies and pleasures with everyone. Dong ma?”

“Oh look leather chaps.” River added, the Jayne visual still playing in her head.

“If she don’t cut that out…” Jayne spat.

“You’ll what?” Mal questioned.

“Now River, honey, don’t go playing around in Jayne’s head, it’s a scary place. His evil-creepy-twisted thoughts should stay in his evil-creepy-twisted mind. Its bad enough we have to hear him speak, we don’t want to know what he’s thinking.” Inara protested.

“Now if Jayne is done bitcin’ and River is done probin’, lets continue with our work.” Mal supplied. “To answer Jayne’s question we’ll be getting’ 25% of the profits. It’s a basic pick-up and delivery job.”

“What exactly are we bringing back, sir?" Zoe asked.

“I don’t rightly know Badger didn’t give me all the details. Said he’d be sendin’ a wave when he thought it was safe enough.”

“I don’t want to point out the obvious, but what safety issues is Badger concerned with. Exactly how illegal is this job.” Simon whined.

“It’s ‘bout as legal as any of our other jobs, nothin’ to worry ‘bout.”

“Somehow you saying that doesn’t reassure me at all.”

“Badger’s just concern with the wave being intercepted, there’s been a lot of that happening lately.”

“Does it involve the Alliance they’d seem like the only ones interested in intercepting a wave from Badger. After all he does have a reputation. He’s probably on the top of their favorite people we liked to capture list.”

“Yeah, right behind you and your moon-brain sister.” Jayne added sinisterly. “Who knows maybe it’s the space pirates that gots Badgers panties in a bunch. He did do them in last year, payback is a bitch.”

“Pirates are primates with fancy eye patches and big guns. To stupid to think ‘bout interceptin’ a wave and takin’ the heist themselves, it involves the use of too many brain cells.” Wash joked.

“The wave should be arriving soon. We’ll know then what it is where after. Once we have the rest of the details we’ll figure out a plan.”

Mal clapped his hands together all captain-like then with great satisfaction announced. “Dismissed.”

No one moved a muscle. His order for dismissal had been lost on his crew they knew he was joking and just needed reassurance he was still captain of this damn boat. Everyone left but on their own time. Simon went to the infirmary to check and count his supplies as he often did. Kaylee went into the engine room to check the catalyzer it had been acting up. Book and Jayne where off talking, seemed as if Jayne had a confession of some sort. They had been approaching Gentian so Inara had taken her shuttle down to see to some clients. Mal told Wash to set a course for nowhere in particular, to wait for Badger’s wave, and to inform him when it arrived. So Wash and Zoe where catching up on um…martial privileges. So that left just Mal and River seated at the table.

Mal hated being left alone with River but he had no where else to be and River seemed mesmerized by a spoon on the table, the pattern of light the spoon reflected when she turned it this way and that reminded her of a dance she no longer remembered the steps to. The whole floor could have fallen from underneath her, and there be no moving her, the spoon and its dance of light is the only thing that held her attention. Mal always felt awkward being left alone with River and his level of awkwardness around her went up about a couple of notches, thanks to Jayne. Jayne had the notion that when left alone with River was when she was most powerful, she just had one mind to focus on and all energy was devoted to probing it. At first Mal tried not to be bothered by Jayne’s notion but he kept getting a powerful image of his brain being fried like an egg, and River thinking it was just a game. It didn’t help any that the spoon no longer held her attention and she was staring with great intensity at him. It seemed as if she could see his brain working at that very moment trying to avoid her in everyway possible. Neither said anything and the more Mal thought on it River hadn’t spoken that much through dinner, just the creepy stuff about Jayne. What irked at Mal most was the fact that River always had something to say no matter how unexpected, unneeded, unsolicited, and disturbing it was.

“It’s dark, everyone’s hiding, not themselves anymore. Hiding outside themselves. It’s dark and cold. Everyone’s hiding, but not so good. They can’t trick me I can see them their so close. Don’t you see them? They’re standing right next to themselves. What a silly hiding place. I can see them.”

There it was finally, Rivers ramblings, things just wouldn’t have set right with Mal if she hadn’t said anything. All things great in the world where put back into place, River has spoken, maybe everyone wasn’t doomed to die…ah wait there was still a possibility for that. Just like that River seemed to snap out of a comma, she got up from the table did a cute little spin before skipping off leaving Mal to decipher her cryptic message.

Simon sat on a stool in the infirmary his head buried in his hands. His breathing was slow and calm, his eyes where closed and there was a faint snore emanating from his nose. I guess counting and recounting supplies made him sleepy or maybe it was his RISKAY life finally catching up to him. Either way there he laid immersed in fancy dreams and weary thoughts and that’s where he laid until his summons sometime later.

Kaylee fidgeted aimlessly with the tools and parts in the engine room. The catalyzer was still acting up but she fixed it so it would hold until money allowed them a new one. Since Kaylee had no real objective she was allowed the sometimes unaquired privilege of letting her thoughts wonder. At first Kaylee’s wondering thoughts where still centered on Serenity, mentally making a list of all the parts she would need. Kaylee’s attention was caught by Simon’s med-kit, it was semi-hidden in a far off corner; probably River’s doing she hated needles and all things medical that ended with her feeling worse than she had. Kaylee's thoughts now refocused and drifted toward Simon, Simon’s hair, Simon’s hand, Kaylee holding Simon’s hand, Simon’s smile, Kaylee kissing Simon, and things of that nature. Kaylee was lost in the pure bliss that was the possibilities of all things Simon, a place her mind enjoyed going often. Still she hoped a future was in store for them and where there was hope there was always a chance.

Book and Jayne sat in the common room seems it was confession time. “So Jayne what is it you want to tell me?”

“Well, preach, now don’t go and judge me.’

“Judge not lest ye be judge. It’s a code us religious types live by. Mums the word.”

“Right anyway…on our last run when we where docked on that crummy-sorry excuse-wasteland-of a planet I had me a night of fun.” A smile stretched across his face as he remembered the distant moment.

“What type of fun, son.”

“You know what type of fun I mean. The type with nakedness and happy parts. Maybe you don’t know that type of fun, you are after all a Shepard, can’t believe you guys don’t get no trim. Not even a taste of the num-nubs.”

“I think I get your not so discreet biblical meaning. Even as a man of God I can clearly see you’re no blushin’ virgin, not by a long shot. So what about this act of love seems to be bothering you?"

“It’s just I had me 3 women…at once. That’s got to be some sort of sin, takin’ to many cookies from the jar, if you get my meaning.”

“Believe me Jayne I got your meaning, I was a man before I became a Shepard.”

“Even though it felt good as hell at the time somethin’ just seems to be buggin’ me ‘bout the situation. Can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Maybe son, your conscience got the better of you or maybe your realized you should be married and settle down first.”

“Nay that ain’t, it I’ve rode the horse on several occasions sometimes even bareback if you get my mean…”

“Yes, Jayne I think we establish the fact I understand your crude analogies.”

“Right.”

“Maybe it’s because you where thinking of these girls as objects and not as people.”

“Objects, huh, you mean like the ones requiring batteries and such. Nay believe me I thought of them as people. I thought of them as the fine women they where and believe me they where fine, fine women. Had all there parts and all, one even had an extra nipple let me suck it and everything?"

“Too, much information Jayne, way too much.”

“Sorry, I keep forgetting, you holy types are sensitive. But I think I figured out the problem though, I had so much pressure on me to please all three, it was a very demanding job. I was sore for weeks; so much shouldn’t be asked of one man. But boy did I please them all. Thanks preach, problem solved I guess I just needed to get it off my chest and tell somebody; share my glory. You can’t conquer a land and make history if no ones there to see it.” Jayne had a dazzle in his eyes as he reminisced.

Book wished he didn’t get Jayne’s last crude meaning and remained in a state of shock about the events that took place as Jayne got up and left probably looking for a new victim to share his twisted affair with. Not that any of them would be surprised; River had already given them an idea of what took place at dinner.

Inara was somewhere down on solid ground. Probably taking in all the scenery, her rich clientele beckoning to her every whim. She was probably enjoying herself as sure as someone else was enjoying her and all the exotic pleasures she offered.

Wash was on the bridge sitting in the pilot’s chair with Zoe sitting in his lap. They where kissing passionately embracing each other’s needs. Wash placed his lips against his wife’s cool skin, finding refuge on her neck and using all his manly charm to make her moan. He kissed her lips with such need and desire, and she return the favor by nibbling his ear making him all the more aroused. It had been a while since they had some alone time so they dared not waste the precious moments given to them. Wash began pulling off Zoe’s shirt, and in his eagerness to get it off he fumbled with the clasp.

In frustration he cursed, “Damn thing, made in China what a joke. You should invest in Velcro makes for easy access.”

Zoe just laughed. “Men.” And allowed him to take his time with the clasp his frustration making him all the sexier.

Zoe pulled off Wash’s shirt and he happily climbed out of his pants. Then he began kissing her again stopping a long time to kiss and fondle her breast then he moved southward from there. He began unbuttoning her pants the fun was about to began… “Beep, beep”…a light was flashing on the console. It was Badger’s wave. There would be no chopsticks in the noodle tonight at least not for Wash and Zoe.

“No ones home call back.” Wash yelled at the console.

“Now, now work before pleasure.” Zoe said buttoning her pants back up and pulling her shirt on over her head.

“I don’t want to work, I want to play. Who really needs money, not me, I’m fine with getting by on love.” Wash finished pulling in Zoe close for a kiss hoping to change her mind.

“Oh, husband if I where you I’d be more concerned ‘bout the cap’n seeing your polka dotted birthday suit. I just announced the incoming wave he’s headed this way.”

Wash hurriedly pulled on his clothes just barely getting his pants up over his butt before Mal entered the bridge followed closely by Jayne. Mal looked questioningly at Zoe and Wash then back over his shoulder at Jayne, who looked at Wash and announced. “Fly’s open.” Wash embarrassedly turned away from Mal and Jayne zipping up his pants. Mal walked over to the co-pilots chair stuck on a decision of sitting or not sitting in it.

“Is this chair safe to sit in or have you two love birds marked it up with your love makin’.”

Zoe couldn’t help but smile. “No, sir it’s safe to sit.”

“Yeah we weren’t fortunate enough to get any markin’ done.” Wash added.

“Good.” Mal said sitting.

Jayne leaned against a wall close to the monitor a nasty look on his face. “You guys are disgusting.”

“This from the man with leather chaps. Now Jayne play nice and I just might give you my seat.” Wash said pointing to the pilot’s chair. “Seeing how me and Zoe did a lot of markin’ up of that wall your leaning against”

“Ugh.” Jayne grunted deciding it best to stand with his feet firmly planted on the ground trying hard not to touch anything in the room.

Moments later Badger’s tired face appeared on the monitor staring back at them. He managed a crooked smile exposing rows of crooked teeth, and when Mal leaned in closer he could see some of them where missing. Although Badger wasn’t a man of beauty he had seen better days, so it took all of Mal not to turn away from the screen disgusted. It seemed as though he had been sent through the spinning blades of a running engine only to be tossed out looking half-dead. He had a black eye that was seeping a clear-looking puss, a swollen lip that covered the better part of the lower half of his face, and it took Mal’s squinting at the distorted figure just to know it was indeed Badger. The awkward silence final broke.

“I ain’t got all day spill it, Badger.” Mal said trying his best to sound normal and not at all disturbed by Badger’s gruesome new look.

“Is your line secure.” Badger probed his lacerated face cracking as he spoke.

“I put all the filters and blockers in earlier, it’s safe.” Wash said.

“You sure ‘cause…you sure.” He stammered.

“Yes!” they all exclaimed in unison.

Something was tugging at Zoe; it was unsettling really, when had Badger become the poster-boy for paranoid skitzos. And who the hell pummeled him into the man with half a face.

“Gorram it Badger, if you don’t get to the point I’m endin’ frequency now and finding employment elsewhere.” Mal said not leading onto the fact that their options where slim.

“ ‘Kay, ‘Kay I’m talkin’. A gentlemen came to me not to long ago askin’ if I knew anyone who was up for a run. Course you popped up first in my head. So I told him yeah I knew the perfect person. Your reputation proceeds you, he accepted without hesitation. He left me an attachment communiqué told me to give it to you if you took the job also said I wasn’t to open it. So I don’t know a gorram thing really I’m just the middle man.”

“But I’m bettin’ for all the knowin’ you don’t know you’ll still be getting a cut of the prize.’ Jayne added.

“Course.”

“Figures.”

Zoe turned to Mal. “Seems a mite fishy, sir.”

“That it does.” Then leaning in closely so only she could hear. “We haven’t got much choice money’s a little tight right now and it ain’t like no one else is jumpin’ at the chance to hire us. It would be best to know a little more ‘bout who where dealing with.”

“Right.” Then turning back to the monitor she asked. “So what exactly did this man look like?"

“Well he pretty much looked like a…a…a man.”

“Terrific description that narrows it down to about 50 billion potential suspects.” Wash said

“Whadidya expect, next time I’ll remember to take a snapshot. My mind was on the look of his weapon not the look of his face.”

“Speakin’ of faces what the hell happened to yours?” Jayne grinned unable to resist.

“None ‘o your no never mind.” Badger grumbled, his features becoming more distorted in his attempt to make a face at Jayne.

“Just wanted to give my congratulations to the sumbitches for makin’ you look manly, ‘fore they beat the snot out of you, you had some powerfully girlie features.”

Badger looked as pissed as bull trapped in a prison with ruby red walls, a fact one could not tell at glance alone, it took getting past the scraps, bruises, and puss to finally recognize the emotion.

“Now children settle down, this here is my gorram ship and that makes me Daddy, and daddy says shut up or he’ll shut you up. No fights will be started unless I start them, now hug, kiss, and make up or no supper…fine don’t hug or kiss, but shut up so we can get down to business.” Jayne opened his mouth to protest but stopped short with Mal glaring at him. “The attachment communiqué, Badger.”

“Here it is.” And just like that Badger’s ugly face was replaced by a strong chiseled one. The man who now appeared on the screen had a strong presence that gave Mal the impression that he was a military man. Mal had many questions that he would like to ask the man, but he would not get the chance due to the fact that what they where now viewing was not live feed; it was a recording. The man began speaking his voice strong and steady. Every word he spoke etched with authority a habit he picked up as a commander in the army, a habit that had become a part of him and would not fade easily.

If you are listening to this I guess it’s safe to assume you are Captain Reynolds or one of his crew. First and foremost I would like to start off by saying simply what a pleasure doing business with you will be. From the accreditation Badger gave me you are very effective in your line of work, the tales I hear about your abilities are incredible. You are the right man for the job. The job I am offering you is very simple. You will simply pick up the corresponding cargo and delivery it to me at the indicated rendezvous point. Do this successfully and I will reward you most handsomely. The cargo I am asking you to get is most dear to me, more valuable than any precious rock or vault of coin. There is no margin for error; if you fail me you will meet a most ill fated doom. Should occasion arise I find it benefits on the grandest of scales to know as little as possible about what it is I am asking you to transport for me. The instructions are as followed: you will simply pick up the cargo at the Silverton warehouse on Silver moon. Simply go inside the warehouse find the clerk named Sampson and give him the cargo ident-number: 774768. He will then give you the cargo, simply load it up then drop it off to me. Simple enough right. I have faith you will not let me down, it is imperative that you don’t. With that the screen went black. Something about this man gave Mal the uncomfortables maybe it was his overuse of the word simply.

Mal turned back to the rest. “This simply cannot do, we simply must have a plan. A simple one not to complicated. It is after all imperative if we don’t want to end up…um…what was it.”

“Simply, doomed to die ill-fatedly, sir.”

“I must say, I think he was simply the most interesting and in no way threatening man I have ever met.” Wash admitted, inhaling deeply.

“You guys are driving me crazy, now SIMPLY shut up.” Jayne grumbled, turning and walking away.

Everyone regrouped back in the dinning hall. Kaylee, Simon, and Book somewhat relieved when Mal told them they would be taking the job and how straight forward it was going to be. Simon was thrilled at the fact the job involved no risks and definitely no Alliance. All they had to do now was sit back and relax until they reach Silver moon. Then it was off to…to…to…well Mal didn’t know where they were off to after all the mystery man hadn’t said. In due time, I guess, in due time.

So everyone relaxed, happy thoughts dancing around in their heads like a ballet performed flawlessly, the distant jingle of nonexistent coin in their pockets a phantom of a job well done. But happiness is an emotion that sometimes fogs clear perspective, after all no person is immune to the natural causes the ‘verse often throws our way.