Later Rain wandered into the dining area. She found her cousin there, perusing the cabinets. "Find anything good?" she asked him.
He looked over. "Not yet. Most of it's protein, which doesn't surprise me. Hard to have real food for any time on a ship."
"Good thing I thought ahead then," she told him, then showed him the small bad she held.
"You brought some from home!" His eyes lit up. "You really are a genius."
"Don't need no more geniuses round here," Jayne grumbled as he walked in the opposite side. "One's too ruttin' many."
Mal followed behind him. "It's alright Jayne. They make things more lively." Then he started eyeing the bag Rain held. "What ya got there, bao-bei?"
Rain smiled. "This? Some food from home." She watched as Jayne became interested. "I brought what I could. If we work it right it could last week. And I have some dried seasonings and the like to make the protein taste… edible."
"See Mal? We need more like her," Jayne said.
"You said you knew your way round a galley. Mind showin' us what you can do?" Mal asked her.
She nodded. "Sure. I'll fix up enough for dinner." She went over to the stove and started about making dinner. The various members of the crew came and went as she diced and chopped and stirred.
River walked into the galley. Rain looked up from what she was doing, remembering their brief conversation from before. "Hungry?" Rain asked while she cooked.
The girl wandered over to look in the pot. "It smells good," she said, then looked up at Rain. "What is it?"
"It's like a stew, and you serve it on rice." She checked and saw that the rice was ready. "I used a bit of the protein in your stock, and what I could bring of fresh vegetables. There's also some seasonings to cover the… taste of the protein." After tapping the spoon on the side of the pot she went over to the cabinets and took out enough plates and utensils for the crew.
River took them from her. "I will set it."
Taken aback, Rain only nodded. "Alright." She watched her set all the places precisely.
"Who taught you?"
"Hmm? She shook herself back. "Oh, my mother taught me to cook when I was younger. It was our way to bond for awhile." she began to fill the serving dishes.
Slowly the crew filed in, following their noses. "Real food?" Kaylee asked, her voice wistful.
"Something smells wonderful," Inara said, following the mechanic in.
"Sit, eat. There's plenty for everyone." Rain brought the large bowl of stew to the table. Before she has the chance to get the rice Simon had already grabbed it. "Merci. You and your sister are extremely helpful."
Simon looked embarrassed, but Kaylee laughed. "It's in his breeding."
Everyone sat down at the table and began passing and serving. Rain didn't take much. She tended to let others have their fill first. Jade noticed this, but said nothing.
"This is delicious Rain." Inara smiled at her. "You're a very good cook."
Cursing her red hair and fair complexion, Rain looked down as a flush spread across her skin.
Jade grinned. "She learned from my aunt. Lana's the best cook back home." Of course, he'd never say that to his own mother's face.
"It's great to have some real food for a change," Kaylee piped in.
"Well, I knew how hard it was to come by in space, so I made sure to bring some. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll last much more than a week."
"You'll both get used to protein," Mal said. Then he scowled at the looks Kaylee and Inara shot him. "But thanks all the same." He went back to eating.
"So what brings you to space?" Simon asked Rain. He sat directly across from her, with River on one side and Kaylee on the other.
"This one was dead set on being a pilot," she said, pointing to her cousin, her face full of affection. "But I don't trust him being out of my sight."
"Love you too, Red," Jade added.
She smiled. "Not mention I just needed to get off that moon, see a bit of the 'Verse. Reading about it's great, but seeing it's even better."
"What about those?" Zoë nodded toward Rain's sais. "Not often you see people still carrying them around."
"These?" Rain patted the hilt of one. "These babies are my specialty. I designed them myself. Would've made 'em too, but I'm not too skilled as a blacksmith."
Mal became interested. "Mind if I see one. Can't really tell their design while they're in the sheath." Rain obliged him and slide one out, handing it to him gently. The thing was a piece of beauty. The blade was shaped like a long drop of water, curved and lethal. The hilt was a half moon, and the grip etched with a spiral pattern. The entire sai gleamed with love. "Quite a beauty."
Rain took back the blade and slid it home. "Thanks."
"You should see her with 'em," Jade commented. "She's a natural."
Rain scowled at him. "Would you quit bragging about me. I'm not the only one with skills."
"But that would make me selfish."
Exasperated, she picked up her plate and brought it to the sink.
-----
Later, after dinner had been cleaned up and Jade had taken the helm again, Rain sat in the cargo bay. She couldn't really think of a better place to go, other than her room, and she wasn't in the mood for the enclosed space.
Footsteps behind her made her turn, and she saw that it was Simon coming into the hold. "I seem to be seeing a lot of you today."
"Well, hopefully it's only in this time of situation. I'd rather you not be on my operating table. Mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead. And don't worry, I intend to avoid that. Though you'll probably see me for some cold or another. I tend to get them a few times a year without fail."
Simon smiled. "They're easy enough to fix." He settled on the rail beside her. "I can't help but wonder if the captain told you everything that you were getting into." Seeing the confusion on her face he sighed. "I was afraid of that. What did he tell you?"
"Not much really. All Jade and I knew was that he needed a pilot. Why?"
"Do you know what Mal, Zoë, and Jayne do for a living."
"He never specified."
"They're… How to put this politely?"
"Just be honest Doc. We're thieves." Mal walked in from below. "He always thinks he'd gotta dance around everythin'."
Rain was silent for a moment, watching the two men. Finally, "Am I supposed to be shocked and appalled?"
Mal smiled. "Well, I don't rightly know darlin'. Though by the looks o' things ya aren't."
"I know how hard it is for Browncoats to get honest jobs these days. It doesn't really surprise me."
"But will you have problems with these not so honest jobs?"
Her eyes twinkled. "The law's always been rather lenient out on the rim. I think this should be rather interestin'."
"Good to know. Now were you plannin' on tellin' her 'bout you and your sister Doc?"
"Yeah, but I thought she should know about that first."
"Now that I know, can I here the rest?" She was getting impatient with the secrets.
"River and I… we're fugitives. Both of us are wanted by the Feds, though not so much as before."
Rain let nothing show. "Why?"
"My sister, she's a genius. Probably one of the most intelligent people in the 'Verse." Then he went on to explain about the Academy, and getting her out. How they'd come here, and Mal had given them a home. When he brought up Miranda, Rain tensed a bit. It wasn't something anyone would forget anytime soon. Finally, after he'd wrapped up the story, he asked, "So?"
Rain stood. "I guess I was right after all," she said happily. "This entire boat is psychotic." Simon looked stunned as she smiled and walked toward her room, Mal's laughter rolling behind her.
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Chinese Translations:
Bao-bei - darling
Other Translations:
Merci - thank you