Time period: Just before ‘The Message’

Warnings: Altered timeline from 'Ariel', implied Mal/Simon slash-one sided, Mister Universe/lovebot

Thanks to lvs2read for the great beta and thunder_nari for the great beta and spurring me on.

~

“So you figure I can find who took this boy of yours?” Mister Universe is grinning at Mal through the wave screen, shaking his head slightly. “Mal, Mal, Mal, when are you going to learn the true depths of my talents?”

“Guessin’ that means you got another offer in mind?” Mal hates playing games, wants to get right to the point, but Mister Universe is one you have to keep sweet. Touch of flirting, few mentions of a reasonable amount of coin, and he usually takes interest.

“Well, the money you're offering is decent enough, but I figure maybe a touch more and I can find you not only who took him, but where they took him, too.” Mister Universe is looking smug, fingers tracing across the computer screen.

“Ain’t got much more’n that in all fairness, got to keep the crew flyin’.” And his offer’s a generous one, more so than the bounty on Simon to be sure Mr. Universe wouldn’t start playing them about, letting the wrong people know.

“Hmmm, well that is a problem.” Mister Universe looks thoughtful for a moment, as he considers it. He looks over his list of worlds that he can get messages to, the signals he can interrupt. “Okay, how about this. You do me a job on top of it, one I know your crew are more than capable of pulling.”

Well this is interesting. Mal’s known folks to do trade with Mister Universe before, but it’s been coin or parts he’s been offered, not something he’s agreed firsthand. Could be right for them to do a job, give them some more time to find a buyer. Wash’s heard noise over the cortex about a bazaar not too far from their position, one that’s sure to be covering a meeting place of various people Mal’s sure he can fence it to. “Now you got me listenin’, what kind of job?”

Mister universe grins, leaning forward to dance fingers over his keypad. He’s well aware of the bounty on Simon and guesses River is still aboard Serenity, close to Mal. It holds no interest for him, though. What does hold more interest is the unusual level of traffic he’s been seeing recently over the cortex. Encrypted, coded and, from the snatches he’s gathered, they tell of something he’s not sure he should want in on. But he wants to know about it, and Mal’s the best person to find what he needs to decipher it. Besides, getting into Alliance security files without leaving a trace is a challenge he looks forward to. So far his tentative searches have given him a name very close to that of Simon Tam’s and a place. Selecting the information he needs, he starts to compile it and lends himself to idle chat instead.

“This is a lot of money to be offering me for information on someone, Mal. This boy just a part of your crew, or is it more than that?”

"Shen me?” Mal blinks, eyes scrutinizing the man. “Should know me well enough to know I ain’t sly.” He’s had women folk alongside the men, some at the same time, some not so; but he doesn’t feel the need to be explaining that. He’s getting into business with the man, not rutting between the sheets.

“Oh, but you’re right, I do know you, Mal. Know more about you than you can possibly fathom me knowing. And I know you are just as likely to lean one way as the other.” Mister Universe glances back towards his lovebot, happily reclining on the side. “The heart wants what it wants, Mal, and that’s not been an issue for a hundred years now

Mal shifts uncomfortably; this isn’t something he’s discussed with anyone, even Zoe. Not had himself called on it, either. Simon’s on his crew, it’s simple as that; he can’t let it be anything more. He changes the subject, smile on his face as he sees the lovebot. “So when you gonna make that fine lookin’ piece of ji xiè an honest one?”

“You think I should?” The tactic works, though Mal’s not forgotten what he’s asked. Plans to have himself, and no one but, talking to Mister Universe-- just in case. Or Zoe, perhaps her, he always likes to flirt with her, could be he’ll be too taken with that to be talkin’ on me.

“Sure, why not. Can’t say you two ain’t been together a time.” It probably should strike him as odd, first time…mayhap it did, Mal can’t remember; but Mister Universe is quirky, isolated, makes sense for him to find his own pleasure. Can get lonely out in the black…

“It has been a while.” Mister Universe smiles, “Okay, add some wine to that job, then, and we have a deal?”

“Huh?” Mal shakes his head, wine now on top of it, serves him right for setting ideas in people's minds. “Still haven’t told me about the job yet, can’t be agreein’ ‘til I know it’s one for us.” Though he knows it would have to be truly out of their league to avoid taking it, they need the contacts to get Simon back, and from the widening grin on Mister Universe’s face he knows it too.

“Nothing fancy, just a couple of parts and as a show of good faith, get me one now, the other when I’ve given you what you need.”

That sounds fair, better than his normal deals if Mal’s honest and he nods, “You’ll get your bits, just send us the details and we’ll get the first.” They’ve pulled enough jobs before, likely Mister Universe’s won’t be too hard to procure.

“Good, all right. First one’s on Orion, easier one to go for first, and on the way to that bazaar you were heading towards--”

“Whoa, whoa, hang on.” Mal’s shot forward, eyes narrowing on the man. “Bazaar? My hearin’ you right?”

“Don’t get all tetchy, Mal. I’m monitoring everything that moves through the cortex, remember? And when it comes from someone I’m in business with, I look a little deeper.” He shrugs, “Purely precautionary and nosiness on my part.” He’s not apologizing for it, but his tone mollifies Mal some.

“Right…shiny.” Mal nods, “Orion it is then.” The information’s already coming through the link and he scans it briefly. Doesn’t look too difficult, usual crime, nothing special. “This all you're wantin’?” He can’t help the confusion in his voice, but Mister Universe doesn’t comment on it, merely nods.

“Be findin’ me that info for next time then.” Mal’s reaching for the connection when Mister Universe interrupts, forestalling him.

“You know these people have put a lot of fail safes in place trying to keep your boy in wherever he is. I could put you in touch with someone I know, probably has the know-how, well a lot less than I do, but enough to get you in and out of somewhere like that.”

No chance. Mal trusts his crew and no one more, he can’t be letting more people in, even if they are damned good and could give them a better chance of finding Simon, who likely was completely traumatized by now. Mal sighs, he isn’t wanting this, more complication, but it seems to follow him wherever he goes. “How surely can you trust him?”

“Them, Mal, and well enough to set your mind as much as ease as you can. Relax, they aren’t in it for the money, they have trust funds and assets miles long. They’re in it for the thrill, you give them that thrill and they won’t ask for much more--I guarantee it.” He’s not about to add that their brilliantness comes from his side of the family, he’s not sure that will make Mal trust them more or less. The man’s a funny one to figure out at times.

Them. Perfect, just what he needs. Core kids turned wannabe crooks. Mal has to think on it. “Send out some feelers, see if they’re willin’. Need to think some more on it afore I give you an answer, though.” Mister Universe grins, getting in last words before breaking the connection, “I wouldn’t doubt it. And Mal? You’ll have to bring the crew and your boy to the wedding.”

~

Translations:

Shen me- excuse me ji xiè - metal