"Who did you sell it to, a travelling zoo?" Simon asked, attempting to breathe through his mouth. The stench had brought tears to his eyes when they first entered the cargo bay, despite the protestations Mal and River had given about the amount of time they'd spent cleaning.

"Circus," River responded with a grin. "Sparkling lights, painted faces, high wire and trapeze. Feats of daring and danger, skills so amazing they've been outlawed by common folk on four planets already! Generations leading back to Earth That Was taught talents to their children's children's children - all for your benefit! And all of this spectacular, wondrous, spectacle yours to view for a fair price of only--"

"River came close to joining them if I hadn't promised she could choose and name the new ship," Mal interjected. At Simon's look of horror - his sister wanted to join the circus?! - River laughed and took the children to explore the room they were to share during the "little adventure" they were about to embark upon. Simon overheard her say something about previous occupants including a sword swallower, a fire-juggling unicyclist, and a renegade doctor on the run from the law.

"You mean t'tell me," Kaylee was saying, near tears when Simon looked back at her, "That my girl Serenity , my home and yours, was...a clown car?"

Mal had the sense to look ashamed.

"Was better than letting her go to junk," he said softly. It was Kaylee's turn to look horrified. "There weren't many options at the time."

"Did they at least keep her in good shape?" the mechanic asked, not very hopeful.

"No one could keep her happy like you could," Mal managed a smile as he led them to the engine room. "But they seem to have tried."

Kaylee wouldn't let them take off until she had investigated nearly every nook and cranny in the engine room. Her scrutiny wasn't unappreciated - Simon remembered more than one occasion where Mal had been in a hurry and they had paid the price later (usually mid-getaway). Of course, then, Serenit