Xiăo Guĭ: Little Devils, an affectionate term for children.

***

“It’s a cargo container, drop off crew left it there, week ago give or take. It was supposed to be picked up immediately, but the ship makin’ the pick up got into some trouble with the Feds and it’s just sittin’ there.”

“Just sittin’ there? No protection of the sort?”

“Simply in a grove, sealed up tight. Ain’t no one breakin’ into it unless they got themselves a hull cutting torch.”

“Alright.”

“You gonna ask what’s inside?”

“The less I know the about the cargo the smoother things tend to run, so no.”

“Good call Captain Reynolds.”

“How much is this little pick up job pay?”

“Five hundred, Platinum.”

“Wŏ cào. Five hundred? You accidentally add a zero?”

“No my boy, And that’s just half upfront. You get the other half when I get my container. A full one thousand.”

“Wà... Lotta coin for such a little job.”

“All I ask is I get in two days time at the latest, and you don’t jostle it too much. Got some breakable cargo in there and it’s expiration date’s a comin’ up. So Captain, we gotta deal?”

Mal’s eyes snapped open.

He drew in a lungful of air, wincing some as he lifted himself up off of his bunk. Landing on his feet, he grabbed his shirt and carefully slid it on, stepped into his boots, grabbed his sling, then climbed up the latter and left his quarters. Buttoning his shirt, he made his way to the helm.

“How are we doin’?” He asked, tucking the shirt in.

“We’re okay, we gotta stop though and fix the left turbine.” The pilot swiveled the chair towards him.

“How bad?” Suspenders were gingerly pulled up onto his shoulders.

“No planet side landing until it’s fixed. Kaylee went outside and took a look, might be totaled.”

He rubbed his hand across his stubble, letting out a deep breath as he put on the sling Simon had given him. “How much is this gonna cost us?” Tucking his arm into the sling, he used his free hand to smooth out his hair.

“Probably what we took when you s