Mal, in response to taking on passengers....
"The last two jobs we had were weak tea. If we don't get paid for this, we don't have enough to fuel the ship, much less keep her repaired... We'll be dead in the water."
With these words resonating...I begin. In my own way, I have became the Captain of my own version of the Firefly, a three bedroom apt I found myself with when my spouse of 22 years moved out - suddenly.
After a reasonable amount of time had passed, it became clear that this wasn't just a couple of months to think things out...I had to either "get paid" - or be "dead in the water" and so, I took on a couple of passengers... two roommates.
One a lady of my own age and reasonably similar circumstance. Hasn't turned out so very well, and she will soon be ending her journey with me. Lessons learned; lessons are costly. Now I know what to look for and what I can set out in my terms.
One - a young man - less than 1/2 my age. This has turned out rather well so far. And so, more lessons learned... For now, I'm juggling my cargo, trying to keep my craft in the air. Looking for opportunities...
Captain Reynolds suffered a jaw dropping defeat at the battle at "Serenity"...a battle that might have been won...but sadly wasn't.
Like Captain Reynolds, I too have suffered my own heart stopping, gut wrenching defeat. A personal battle, the taste of hard won gains squandered in the last moments...
Operative:
"You've done remarkable things. But you're fighting a war you've already lost."
Mal:
"Yeah well, I'm known for that."
