Treat Yourself (D10, LA Neumark Mall)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I'm glad you got to keep that piece of him. When my dad got hurt mother sold her Awesome to make sure his medical bills could be paid and make sure I could keep going to school. As much as I love Gǔ what I really want is to pilot an Awesome like her."

[Alex Kovac]

"Awesome...huh? My dad had to pull some strings for me to get some education but he wouldn't give up Firefly for that... it had more sentimental value to us." Alex chuckled. "I remember he and I working on it... I asked for tools he would give them to me...ah yes."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"That's great that your dad was able to pass that on to you, do you think you would pass it on to your kids if you have any?

My mom didn't hesitate to sell her mech when she needed too. As a kid I was upset, I had hoped to pilot it one day so between my dad being injured and that I was pretty devastated but now I understand completely and would have made the same choice as her."

[Alex Kovac]

"Father was a warrior until the end..." Alex sighed. "He taught me much... even to help those in need... I honor his memory... thus... I have a gift for you." The Penguin smiled.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei turned her head in the sink to look at Alex, much to the hairdressers annoyance.

"You what?"

[Alex Kovac]

Alex chuckled. "I got you a gift... it is nothing much but you'll find it in the hangar." The Penguin just enjoyed the scrubbing of the head. "This is really nice."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"You aren't going to tell me what it is, you're going tell me about it and make me wait? You are such a tease." She said with a chuckle. "OK then, I can be patient, this isn't going to distract me the rest of the day or anything."

She tried to relax as she wondered what it was and why it was in the hammer of all places.

[Alex Kovac]

Alex giggled. "Well some assembly is required so perhaps in a few days. You would join me and have a blast." The Penguin teased. "I have been working so non stop on fixing Mech that haven't been able to assemble it."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Mei laughed.

"So I can't know what it is AND I can't have it yet. You are cruel Alex but I look forward to exchanging gifts with you as soon as you are ready."

[Alex Kovac]

"I look forward to seeing your face at the hangar when you see it." The Penguin grinned. "I hope the mani can soften my hands... they are a little rough." Kowalski stated.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"So what are your plans after this? Today is Richard's birthday and some of us are going to a bar for drinks, you should come join us."

[Alex Kovac]

"Maybe get a drink or two escaping from the cave that is the hangar... you know... I don't want to spoil these good people's work." Alex nodded annoying the lady doing the hair.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Yeah I needed to get out of that ship too, I'm so glad we came here." She looked up at the hairdresser and asked to have it dyed white.

"So what do you think we will do after this is all over?" Avoiding saying that they were mercenaries around the staff. "Do you think we will get a vacation or is the boss a workaholic?"

[Alex Kovac]

"I am the workaholic. So probably organizing things, helping those who wish my help... perhaps continue with some more studies until we are called again." The sergeant shrugged.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"You've gotta cut loose from time to time though, make time to relax and treat yourself like we are today. Go to a club, go skiing, gamble more than you can afford, spend the night with someone you just met. If all you do is fight and prepare for a fight then what are you fighting for?" She said confidently.

[Alex Kovac]

"You are telling an introverted nerd to do radical things..." Alex chuckled. "I will join you at Richard's party... but nothing more radical than just that... I should wear that red dress that awaits me in that closet..."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"OK maybe the gambling and one night stands are a bit radical. But you call yourself a nerd like it's a bad thing. My best friend is a nerd and so is his new girlfriend, Cat is a nerd and so is Gianna. There's nothing wrong with it, I don't even think it should be a word, you have particular interests just like anyone. The introvert part...well...I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it but just let it take over your whole life you know? Like, poor Gianna is so stuck in her own head that nothing can get through to her right now, she just sits in her room. But John is an introvert and bless his heart he's trying so hard for me. I know extroverts like me can be annoying as hell but just don't let your introversion turn into isolation."

[Alex Kovac]

"Mei..." the Penguin sighed. "Where I grew up many of the other pilots mad fun of my mix of skills... probably envy that I was smart and I could calculate where an enemy was without the need of a spotter." Alex explained. "The feeling of being accepted and not mocked started when Rico helped stop some of the bullying around me... it marked me. You understand that it is not easy to see the word other way than negative." Kovac closed the eyes and sighed. The stylist had blow dried the hair. Once the stylist finished drying the hair, Alex resumed the explanation. "John is a good person...and I don't mind extroverted people... I don't think I would be isolated much from the world... unless I grow to be a hermit and cranky old person." The pilot laughed.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Well I certainly hope that isn't the case, though the idea of you standing on a porch shaking a cane and throwing cats at people who get to close to your house is funny. I wish I could draw, I have an image of an old surly penguin in my head."

[Alex Kovac]

"Cats? Well that would not be nice. I doubt the cats would be very happy about that. I prefer tossing wrenches." The Penguin giggled.