At around eight in the evening, the yellow sun was low enough in the sky such that travel wasn't sure heat-stroke. Also made the garden before them look like some kind of Eden; expensive fèng huáng genmod birds set loose amid cinnamon, roses, and local citrus in bloom. Pathways lined with mistsprayers, winding around fountains and other impractical desert water works. Everything neat and orderly despite frenzied workers bringing in tables and hanging lanterns.

And between them and fortune, a gate covered in enough precious to make the greediest devil jealous, solid gold humming with enough electricity to send any thieves right to their waiting jaws.

"Okay then," Captain Reynolds clapped his hands, rousing his two crew members from their splendor induced trances. "Let's break it." His mechanic made a Kaylee noise and happily scurried over to the crumbly sandstone wall to listen for wires, eager to play with a new toy. Jayne moved to help. Compared to the riches in front of them, his crew looked raggamuffin, out of place. He felt a sort of pride at the thought.

"Mal!" Shock, dismay, then indignance from Inara. It was worth it, the teasing, to see her all flustered and huffy, one hand planted on her hip and her spirited dark eyes flashing at him. She'd put her curls up in some kind of twist as a defense against the wind, a few strands had escaped anyway. "This is completely unnecessary. The councilor is a client of mine and a friend. Could you act like a civilized human being for once?"

No matter how many times she reminded him, it still stung. He blamed the borrowed dress, the dark wisps drifting around to the emphasis of her long neck. Made it too easy to imagine a different life, that she might belong out here. "I am being civil!" he argued, kept the hurt out of it. Mostly. "This is just a little honest burglary to get us in." He stabbed a thumb over at the gate. "Unnecessary would be stealin' that bit of