AU - between series and film.

[likeswifesoup]

There were advantages to being the pilot. Being able to sit and watch the world go by out of the cargo bay was one of them. Mal, Zoe and Jayne were off on some deal, Simon and River were... somewhere, and Kaylee had gone to visit a friend of hers on this rock. It wasn't a great planet, their jobs had become harder and harder to get, having to hide

Comments

[bigdamnherosir]

Zoe hates this planet. She decided it before they ever landed, and her gut feelings were usually right. Even when their deal is going smoothly - not totally smooth because that'd be too easy, but smoother than she'd assumed it would - she's tense, just ready to get the hell out of there.

She's driving the mule and makes Jayne sit in the back as she heads back toward Serenity. There's Wash's chair, sans Wash, and she parks the mule inside, hitting the comm. "We're back," she announces, then waits, but gets nothing in return. "Bao bei, we're here." Still nothing

[makesusmighty]

As much as he didn't really like it, he knew Zoe and her instincts regarding Wash were usually spot on. "Jayne, find Kaylee, an' our wandering siblings. See if they know anythin'," he said. No need to panic just yet, but time to get the troops all together. "Find Book as well. He likely went to pray at that Abbey here."

Jayne opened his mouth to protest, but one look from Mal stopped that, and he headed up to the bridge to use the comm there.

[bigdamnherosir]

Zoe looks right at Mal as soon as Jayne's gone.

"Think the deal was a distraction'? Get us away from the boat, someone comes and picks up their brand new pilot?"

[makesusmighty]

Mal pulled a face. "Surely ain't gonna surprise me if that's the case," he said, looking around, seeing if there was anything that gave him any idea where his errant pilot had gone.

He bent down, picking a book up and showing it to Zoe's. "Wash tidies up after himself," he noted.

[bigdamnherosir]

She stares at it, like it'll give her all the answers.

"Yeah."

Because even if she's wrong, he's still gone and she has no idea where to start looking. She has no idea who took him or where they went, and she's stuck here staring at his book. Zoe goes silent, jaw visibly working until she finally looks back at Mal. "We ain't leavin' 'til we find him."

[makesusmighty]

Mal nodded. "I ain't takin' off without the best pilot I ever met," he said, heading up the stairs to check on Jayne, bellowing his mercenary's name as he did so. "Heard from Kaylee?" he asked.

"Yeah, she's on her way back, just goin' out to get Book," Jayne replied.

"You get Book, the two of you go into town, and you ask around, dong ma?" Mal said. "Find out who might need a pilot."

"You think he got pinched?" Jayne asked.

"I think he's like the good doctor - a useful commodity if needed," Mal replied.

[bigdamnherosir]

Zoe's already getting extra guns from the locker.

"I'm goin' out." Because there's no way she can sit and wait to find something out. "Kaylee gets back she can monitor the cortex, see if somethin' comes up looks suspicious."

[makesusmighty]

Mal took two of the guns from her, distributing them around his body so he could use them if he needed to. "I say we start with the crew we were dealin' with," he suggested. "Something weren't right about that."

[bigdamnherosir]

"Make sure the money's hid," she realizes. Because she was going to be shooting some people, and when she gets her husband back, they're still going to need credits.

She also knows enough to give the mule keys to Mal. Her mind is on Wash, she doesn't want to drive them into a ditch trying to find him. The look on her face though reveals her doubts. What if that's a dead end? If Wash is already off the planet? She knows they won't kill him, he's too good a commodity.

But she doesn't say any of this out loud, she's beyond words. Though if no one else, Mal knows this about her.

[makesusmighty]

"Money's safe on me," Mal said, catching the keys as Zoe threw them. "They ain't gettin' it back." Unless of course they wanted money for the return of Wash, but Mal would be negotiating with a rifle in the face.

He started the mule, heading back to where they had been doing their deal. The three men standing outside with guns said more than any words. They meant business.

[bigdamnherosir]

And so does Zoe.

She's immediately off the mule before it's even stopped completely. Though she walks up to the men calmly, it's very thinly veiled.

"Don't suppose you'd know where our pilot is."

[makesusmighty]

Mal walked behind her, his gun held ready to shoot if need be. When they didn't get an answer, he raised his gun, pointing it at the man who'd been in charge before.

"Gorram answer the lady," he said, staring the man down.

"He's ours now," the man said with a smirk.

[bigdamnherosir]

Zoe draws both of her guns, aiming one at a person each.

"You rethink that. Now." She cocks both weapons. She's ready to shoot, waiting for them to give a reason to. Then, she rethinks and fires her gun into one man's leg. She already has a reason to shoot.

"Where is he?" Her voice is still flat, very even, but she's a woman definitely not fucking around.

[makesusmighty]

The man who Zoe shot screamed out with pain, dropping to the ground as Zoe shot him. The leader pulled his gun out, pointing it at Zoe. "You'll regret that. But you'll still never get your pilot back."

Mal took a step forward, and shot at the ground beside the leader. "Where. Is. My. Pilot?" he asked.

The leader took in Zoe, Mal, and their expressions, and backed off. Mal pushed his advantage, getting close, and pushing his gun right against the man. "He's at the main port, taking off any time now."

[bigdamnherosir]

For good measure before they go, Zoe hits the man across the dace with her gun. If they get to the port too late, they can find out where the ship is going, but she's not wasting time here. Playing games.

She's going to get her husband back, otherwise a lot of people are winding up with bullet holes. Again, she lets Mal drive, her focus on her husband.

[makesusmighty]

Mal had the mule started as soon as he got on it, heading straight for the port. He was silent, knowing Zoe wouldn't appreciate any comment he might make.

They approached the port, and it was obvious which boat was about to take off. "That one," he said, pointing at it, and then heading there.