Fast-forward six years, and Mal is now the captain of Serenity , an obsolete . Along with a ragtag crew—including the optimistic mechanic Kaylee , the quirky pilot Wash , and the mercenary Jayne —Mal ekes out a living through petty crime and illegal salvaging on the fringes of space. The Plot: Hot Cargo and Hidden Secrets

The episode opens in the midst of the , six years prior to the main story. We meet Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds and Zoe Washburne as they desperately try to hold Serenity Valley against the Alliance . When their side surrenders, Mal’s faith is shattered, setting the stage for the cynical, independent captain we follow in the present day.

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Needing cash after a botched salvage job, the crew takes on several passengers: