Kaylee
Kaywinnit Lee Frye is the living heartbeat of Serenity. As the resident engineer, her task is to try and keep the ageing Firefly in the air with what frequently amounts to goodwill and wishful thinking.
More than that, it is often her happy demeanour that is needed in order to keep up the spirit of the rest of the crew. Or as Mal puts it: "I don't believe there's a power in the 'verse that can stop Kaylee from being cheerful. Sometimes you just wanna duct tape her mouth and dump her in the hold for a month."
Kaylee was hired by Mal after she was caught having relations in the engine room with Bester, the previous engineer who weren't much good at his job. Despite having no real experience Mal offered her the position as soon as she showed that she had a talent for fixing things.
She is constantly overworked and despite having her own cabin decorated with fairy lights, she often spends time in a hammock in the engine room. Kaylee gets on well with everyone although her relationship with the Tams can tend towards the rocky. She quite clearly holds the somewhat oblivious Simon in affection and although she gets on well with River, the latters violent history gives cause for much consternation.
