It took Simon three tries.

He attempted two other games before migrating back to the original booth where Kaylee had won the first prize. There, he managed on the second pitch to win her something he knew, but she had no clue.

“How does a deer represent Christmas?” She asked, examining the stuffed animal that was much more cuter as well as visually correct compared to the owl while the pair stood near a beverage booth.

“Back on earth that was, the original myth of Santa Claus included that he drove a sleigh through the sky with eight reindeer.” He explained astutely while taking out his wallet and pulling out a few credits, passing them onto the woman running the booth in exchange for a large blue travel cup of cocoa with the words ‘Ming Yu Winter Festival’ written on it. “I’m a little surprised the people of this city actually know that… Of course I could be just wrong and they’re randomly handing out whatever stuffed animals they can get there hands on.”

“Well he’s cute.” She had both of the stuffed animals in her hands as Simon walked over. “Thanks for the cocoa too.”

He gave it to her while taking the prizes. “You’re welcome.” The blue eyes landed on the plush toys in his hands and he studied them. “Perhaps we need to find a bag to carry these around in? I think I saw someone selling bags…” hishead swiveled around slowly to look for a vender.

Kaylee took a sip of the cocoa, enjoying the warmth as it slid down her throat and heated up the pit of her stomach. “I did too, it was by that stage ‘n the town square. Could pick one up before we see the play. But you don’t gotta buy a silly ol’ bag, I’ll carry ‘em.”

The doctor smirked. “And how are you going to carry these if you have a ridiculously enormous cup of hot chocolate you’re holding onto?”

“You just don’t want someone seein’ ya while holding our plushies.” She pointed out with a giggle, the large blue mug of cocoa cradled in her hands.

“Precisely, as I said this morning, the sensitive man always gets picked on. How do you think the sensitive man’s going to be treated when he comes back to the ship carrying a powder blue owl and a fluffy reindeer?” He quizzed in a joking fashion.

“I’ll stand up fer ya tough guy.” Kaylee took a sip and let out a deep breath. “Buy a bag if ya want, in the mean time do you want some of this? There’s a bit too much fer me to drink all by lonesome.” She helped him take a sip, and smiled as they headed towards the town square.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jayne, was well on his way towards being thoroughly plastered at two in the afternoon.

He and his pleasurable company had left his hotel room only an hour before. Upon racing off of the ship, large mercenary had found himself a fancy hotel that was a hundred credits a night, and found himself Daisy and Collette who were two hundred for the week. He bought some expensive booze, pricy cigars, ordered steak dinners room serviced up to his room for him and his ladies, and had himself the best night he had ever had in ages. Jayne was taking some time off from getting some trim as they were in the casino and he was playing the craps, smoking a twenty credit cigar and drinking even more expensive whiskey while his paid dates hung off of him.

“You blow on them dice fer me darlin’.” He told the blonde named Daisy with a large grin. Once she did, he reached over to the brunette. “You too, need all sorts’a luck. I win, I’ll git us a nice bottle’a champagne along with a big ol’ steak.” Hooking his arm around Collette’s waist he pulled her in and sloppily kissed her neck. “Cause I want ya ladies to have plenty’ a energy.” Jayne listened to her giggle and laugh coyly. However the moment was ruined when he felt a monstrous hand clasp his shoulder. The merc scowled and let go of her, turning around to see a massive hulk of a man glaring at him.

The man punched Jayne in the face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon tucked the ‘plushies’ into the bag he had purchased so they were well concealed from the eyes of teasing captains or mercs. “We better grab a seat, looks like this play is popular.” He noted from the crowds gathering in the wooden bleachers surrounding the large stage.

“You want some more?” Kaylee asked, gesturing to the cup as her date walked with her hand in hand.

“As soon as we sit down I’ll have…” Hearing shouting and scuffling, they stopped and glanced at a large, expensive hotel. Squinting, the two looked into the windows to see a very familiar merc pounding on four other men. Two sets of eyes became wide and round as they gawked. “No…” Simon put his hand to his slightly open mouth as his head turned slightly to the side.

“Is it just me…. Or is that Jayne?” Kaylee looked over to him for conformation as she was just as dumbfounded, tilted her head sideways while absorbing the site of the merc fight.

“It.. it can’t be… he’s… he’s not stupid enough to get in trouble while on….”

“It’s Jayne we’re talkin' about here.” She winced as someone was thrown into a piano. “But then again, maybe it’s someone who looks like ‘im?” Sounding hopeful, giving a slight, wary smile.

Just then, Jayne came flying through the hologram window.

He bounced on the cold ground, and rolled to stop right in front of them.

“Zi de yi hun-dan." Simon sighed dryly. “Yep, that’s him.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“NOOOO!”

Without any warning, River flung the Chinese checker board off of the table and into the wall, nearly hitting Mal in the process.

“WEI!" Malcolm ducked.

“It’s happening!” she wailed as Gambit rushed to her. River slid off of her chair and curled into the fetal position on the floor. “She’s stalking… she sees them and she knows the secrets… she knows about them… SHE KNOWS!... She knows about the lion… and the girl… sees the couple… they’re a bonus to her plot… plan… revenge… greed… turn them over to the rat! GUN!”

“River what are you talking about?” Gambit gathered her skinny frame up and held her close as he had seen her brother do many times before. While he did, Zoe and Wash came out of the bridge while Ru was heard hurrying up the stairs.

“They’re the plot now…” She shivered.

“Who?” Zoe asked urgently as they all knew that whenever River had a fit large proportions, it was a time to worry as she often sensed things they couldn’t see.

“THEY ARE.”

Gambit’s eyes shifted to a much more intense mixture of anger as he set River down in a chair and bolted towards the cargo bay.

“Wu dai gong he dai.” Mal pieced it together and grabbed his coat off of the chair. “Zoe, getta portable com, Wash, stay in the bridge, Ru!” He raced after Gambit, his gun hand following as they saw the blonde land on all fours as he had jumped over the railing. Gambit tore out of the cargo bay, flinging the small door open and rushing out into the cold without even the thought of a jacket. Mal, Ru and Zoe followed to find him running down the street, and jumping onto a fast moving truck to disappear towards the festival. “Ru, if you would use your special talents and conjure me uppa ride it would be mightily appreciated.”

Ru looked around and saw a hovercraft parked down the street. Jogging over, she took a flat head screwdriver out of her tool belt before leaping into the front seat.

“Are we believin’ somethin’s wrong with Kaylee and Simon?” Zoe asked as they walked fast towards the hovercraft.

“Or Jayne, either way Gam’s riled up and that means we got ourselves a fight.”

Ru jammed the screwdriver between the cracks of one of the metal panels and popped the panel out. Reaching in, she pulled out the wiring and traded her screwdriver for a wire cutter. Cutting two lines, she crossed a blue wire with a black wire, wetting her fingers with her tongue and twisting them together.

With a quick spark of the wires, hovercraft hummed to life.

“Good job.” Mal told her. “But I need you ta stay, take River with you to the engine room and just keep an eye on her while you get the engine keyed up. I know Kaylee taught you how, and if we gotta run I wanna be able to as soon as I git everyone back.”

“What about Inara?” Ru jumped out and the other two got in.

Mal put the craft in gear. “Tell her that it looks like somethin’s amiss and we’re bein’ cautious, so wrap it up and git back early.”

He floored the accelerator and sped off.

*****

*****

***** TRANSLATIONS

*Zi de yi hun-dan: Son of a bitch

*Wei! Hey!

*Wu dai gong he dai: My stupid mechanic and doctor