Serenity Saved
an excerpt

A beeping from the console ended the moment, and Wash looked to see what it was. “The ship is hailing us.”
The pilot pressed a few buttons on the console, and the three leaned over the vid screen expecting to see the face of the person hailing them. All they got was static, and a female voice over the intercom.
“Firefly class starship, this is Captain Faolan of the pirate ship Revenge. Do you require assistance?”
Wash looked quickly at Zoe and mouthed, “Pirate ship?”
“Depends on what assistance you’re offering,” Mal said. “We need a part, a dampener for the grav boot.”
“As luck would have it, we just made salvage on an abandoned derelict. I recall seeing a dampener in the wreck, just have to look right quick. Give me just a moment to send my crew to find it.” Wash muted their end of the transmission, and both he and Zoe turned an expectant eye towards Mal
Mal sighed. This seemed too good to be true, which meant it was. And would only be trouble. But their oxygen would begin running out. He really wanted nothing more at this moment than to bury his head in his first mate’s lap and rest in her and Wash’s warmth. Mal blinked his eyes, and shook his head. Cold and fading oxygen was going to his head.
“That’s a lucky turn of events.” Wash didn’t seem overly confident of the situation. It wasn’t sitting well with any of them.
“Yeah, it is. What’s the nearest planet, Wash?”
Wash leaned over the console again, hitting a few buttons, bringing up schematics of the system they were traveling through.
“Looks to be. . .Shadow.” Wash and Zoe both looked at Mal, waiting for his response. Mal simply closed his eyes and sighed deep. “We’re definitely going to need a fuel stop soon. Should be able to find the part we need there.”
Mal opened his eyes, training his gaze on the black. “How long before we could get there?”
“A day. Maybe two if we don’t burn hard.”
“We don’t have two days. Kaylee said our oxygen is running out.” Zoe and Wash shared a quick look. “We need the ship fixed. If this ‘pirate’ ship has the part, we get it, fix the grav boot, and head to Shadow for refueling.”
A beep from the console caught their attention once again. Wash hit his usual buttons, and Captain Faolan’s lilting voice filled the bridge once again.
“I was able to find your part, Captain. . .I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
Mal thought for a very quick moment before responding. “Harbatkin. We’re much obliged for your assistance, Captain. How. . .?”
“Your problem may take a couple hours to fix. The part will have to be rewired to work with your ship. We can dock together. I’d be glad to lend my ship for warmth and my mechanic for assistance.”
“As much as I appreciate your offer, the last time I let a pirate on my ship I got shot in the stomach. So there will have to be another way.”
“I’m not asking to come aboard your ship, Captain Harbatkin. I’m offering you mine. I know it’s difficult to trust people out in the black. The decision is yours. I will wait for your response.”