Session Four: Play the Game

"Wash has a job?" Janyne repeated.

"Is it really so hard to believe?" Wash asked.

"Yes," Simon said.

"Kinda," Kaylee agreed.

Wash scoffed and leaned back into his chair, folding his arms across his chest. Zoe put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. The crew were gathered in Serenity's dining room, save for Book and Inara, who were taking care of River.

"Now, now, credit where credit is due," Mal said. "It's a good gig. Just listen to the man." Damn lucrative, too. Hmm, lucrative. That's a funny word.

"I have contacts!" Wash insisted. "All sorts of...people. On the underbelly of...things."

"What underbelly, dear?" Zoe asked.

Tears swelled in Wash's eyes. "Marriage!" Wash exclaimed. "You're supposed to-!"

"Wash, we don't have all day, " Mal said.

Wash grimaced. "Contacts!" he repeated.

"Those are kind of outdated," Simon said. "Eye surgery's pretty easy, I could take care of that for you."

"Simon?" Kaylee asked.

Simon shook his head. "Sorry," he said. "Got distracted."

"A little focus!" Mal said, raising his voice. "Wash, get on with it."

Wash nodded. "Alright. I have a friend-we served together when we learning to fly. He made some way better career decisions-"

"Don't think we need the commentary," Mal said.

"-and got involved in piloting luxury liners around. You guys know the Soryev Gambling Company?"

"Gambling?" Jayne repeated, perking up.

"Way out of your price range," Inara said, sweeping into the kitchen and digging around for food. Mal glanced back at her, got a fleeting impression of swirling skirts and flowing fabric, and then swallowed and looked at Wash.

"How's she doing?" Simon asked.

"Very well, Simon," Inara replied. "Book's teaching her the finer points of cards."

Simon stared at her for a moment. "River went on a gambling streak when she was eight," he said. "Took my dad for two hundred credits and got grounded by my mom when she found out."

Inara laughed. "That's probably why he's getting cleaned out."

"Can we please cut the chitchat!" Mal exclaimed.

"Soryev runs a series of luxury casino ships that tour exotic locations," Zoe said to Jayne.

"Thus putting them in a fine position to take the hard-stolen cash of rich Alliance folk," Mal said.

"And this month is the grand opening of their newest ship, the Geppetto," Wash said. "It's the first of its kind-save for pilots and security, it has absolutely no staff. Every system is automated."

"What's the fun in that?" Jayne asked.

"Well, wouldn't want to have the cream of society mingling with the less fortunate," Mal said.

"The tech running the place is all top-of-the line," Wash said. "It can't be hacked, and the vaults which keep the money can only be opened by licensed Soryev personnel or by the use of chips to retrieve your winnings from otherwise-unbreakable machines."

"Doesn't sound like much of a job," Jayne said.

"Oh, but it is!" Wash said. "Because those chips will release the money-in Alliance notes, if requested-to anyone who happens to put chips into the automated banking machines."

There was a moment of silence from around the table.

"Anyone?" Kaylee repeated.

"Anyone," Wash said.

"And for a thirty percent fee," Mal finished. "The higher-ups in Soryev will happily look the other way, long as we ain't too greedy."

"What's too greedy?" Zoe asked.

"More than 1.5 million," Mal said.

The silence that hung over the table was much more powerful this time around.

"1.5 million?" Kaylee squeaked.

"No ruttin' way," Jayne said.

"Well, minus the 30%," Mal said.

"Honey, you did good," Zoe said.

"Always do," Wash replied.

"We get in," Mal said. "Take as many of the chips as we can, and get out before security gets to us. Have to sit on the money for a bit afterwards-don't want anyone getting too suspicious-but..."

1.5 million. Could do a lot with that kind of money. Could overhaul the ship and float on comfortably for some time. Take the strain off.

"Why don't we play our way through?" Simon asked.

They glanced towards him. He was looking toward Kaylee. "If we could rig one of the tables, we could take most of the money," Simon said. "You're pretty good with machines, I figure-"

"With machines, Simon," Kaylee said. "Hardware. I can't just slide under a table and go to work. I think they might notice."

"And software-wise it can't be done," Wash said. "The security systems on the all the tables are really good."

Simon looked a little downtrodden. Mal cleared his throat. "Not a bad thought, doctor," he added. "But it'd take too much time to implement. Best we get in, pay off who we need to, and get out."

Inara left the kitchen. Mal breathed a little easier.