Serenity: Deception

Chapter Three: Part 1

"I believe you've been waiting for me," the man said. "My Name is Nathaniel Holliman, call me Nate, everyone does. Would've come in and made introductions but I'm not so well liked among some o' those fellas."

"I understand that all too well," Mal said.

"Who's the lass?" Nate asked.

"This here's River, Serenity's co-pilot and this is Jayne," Mal told him.

"Big bugger, ain't ya?" Nate said to Jayne. "Some ugly too."

"Can I shoot 'em Mal?" Jayne asked.

"Let's head back to the ship," Mal said walking away with River and Nate at his side, leaving Jayne standing still.

"Well can I?" Jayne called out. "Wait, I'm comin', hold on," he said, starting out after them.

Later, they sat around the dining room table, Jayne chewing on some protein and washing it down with something cheap and with a high alcohol content-the same way he liked his women coincidentally.

"I don't understand why we can't let the girl pilot the rutting ship," Jayne said. "No offence or nothin' Nate, it's just that the last thing we need 'round here's another mouth," Jayne continued. "Plus, I don't much like you."

"Now Jayne, that ain't no way to treat our guest," Mal said. "Don't worry Nate, he grows on you."

"Who grows on you?" Kaylee asked, entering the dining room with Simon.

"Jayne," Mal replied.

"Don't count on it," Simon said.

"This here's Kaylee our mechanic and Simon, the doctor," Mal said. "This here's Nate, he's considering flying this bird."

"Really?" Simon asked, "But I though River ...'

"Little sister's a mighty gifted lil' pilot; I'll give credit where it's due but all the same Nate comes highly recommended by Joseph Hill."

"I knew you were meeting someone but I hadn't realized you were replacing Wa...' Simon let his voice linger off when Zoe entered the room.

"Zoe!" The Captain said loudly in an attempt to mask Simon. "This is Nate. Nate this is my second-in-command Zoe."

"Nice to meet y'all, really," Nate said, smiling broadly. "So you're the sweet young thing's big brother, huh?" he asked Simon.

"That's right, River's my sister."

"How 'bout I take y'all folks out to the Green Valley in the mornin'?" Nate suggested.

"That sounds good. It be good t'get off the ship and explore a lil' bit," Kaylee said, cuddling up closer to Simon.

"You'd love it. It's really something this time of the year. Plus there's a place to take a swim," Nate replied.

"Hell, most the planet's made of water and there's a place to take a swim. What a shocker," Jayne said.

"I think that's a fine idea," Zoe told Nate, standing up. "I'm goin' to bed," Zoe left the dining room and disappeared around the corner.

"It's too bad Inara won't be back, she'd love it," Said Kaylee.

"Inara's got her own business to handle," Mal said, stone-faced