This was a job just like any other. They sat in the back corner of a dingy bar, the glow of the lights fighting to filter though the smoke that curled around the ceiling and the dirt that coated every surface, including the light panels and some of the patrons. One of the panels near the bar seemed to be short circuiting, adding a flickering element to the establishment.

Jayne was a little tetchier than usual, playing with a knife under the table and drinking his alcohol. Mal and Zoe were outwardly more tranquil, but their drinks remained untouched in front of them as they played a game of cards. It really was a job like any other, though, with one blinding exception. Said exception was sitting across from Jayne with his back to the room, looking like he would rather be back on Serenity.

“Remind me again how I work into this… plan,” Simon said, hesitating a moment before the word plan as if doubting its existence.

“Relax, Doctor,” Mal said, dropping a pear card onto the table next to his stack. “High card down,” he said to Zoe before continuing. “It would seem our contact here has smarts. You have smarts. Maybe you two will… you know…” Mal gestured around a moment before finishing. “… relate.”

“Yes, I understand that,” Simon acknowledged, enunciating carefully and frowning. “I’m just having trouble seeing how this will be beneficial to you.”

Zoe stepped in here. “We’re hoping you’ll make her more comfortable. Comfortable contacts make for more honest contacts. She may tell you more about this rebel sect than she might tell, say, Jayne.”

The bigger man scoffed, but made no other comment on this slight to his character. Instead he said, “So we’re taking on another one of these purple-bellies?”

Mal rolled his eyes. “If the sect isn’t on this moon then yes. We going to have a problem?”

Jayne grunted as he brought his stained glass back to his lips. “Nope. Just so long as she stays in her part of the boat, and I’ll stay on mine.”

It would seem that the captain was about to reply, but he was interrupt