"Alright, try it now."

"But Commander, I'll have to pull power from the reactor core."

"I said do it airmen, did it sound like a question?"

"Yes, sir."

A sudden eruption of lights exploded about the mess hall, and down the hallways of the ship, thousands of tiny twinkling lights. Krill, having been walking to speak with the Commander paused at the entrance to the room and spun around in wonder. Lines upon lines of lights had appeared out of nowhere to be projected around the walls of the room and down the hallways of the ship. They weren't bright or anything, instead an almost delicate yellow in color gently twinkling like the light of distant stars.

"Get those overhead lights off,"

With a loud thud, the lights switched off, casting the room into the warm ambient glow of those thousand twinkling lights. He spun in a circle staring up at the ceiling, shocked to find a mosaic of falling snowflakes, which faded and vanished before hitting the floor,

"Give me more fall-off on that snow airman. Tomorrow better be magical or someone is getting their ass fired."

He turned his head again eyes widening in geater wonder as they fell on the center of the room. The flickering, projected hologram of a massive tree. It was one of those furry looking earth plants that could reach higher than thirty feet tall, though this one only nearly brushed the ceiling. It stood in the middle of the room decorated by hundreds more twinkling lights, yards of red ribbon and shiny glass balls. Atop the tree, there was projected the human caricature of a star glittering with firelight.

Tongues of phantom fire licked against the far wall, under a mantle of stone and brick.

Krill turned in another wide circle as the strange lights flickered around him, reminding him strangely of the space walk he had gone on with the commander so long ago, stepping out into the darkness surrounded by stars, alone in the vastness of space, but where that had been cold and distant, this was a close warmness that filled him up from the inside and made him feel oddly warm.

Soft footsteps behind him and then a pause.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"What is it?'

"Realistically, more than four thousand years of pagan-christian and corporate tradition." Krill looked up to find the array of glittering lights reflected against the human's bright green iris. His voice grew soft, though it stayed warm, "More romanticized.... This is.... Home. This is childhood and imagination, and family wrapped in a box and tied with a bow. This is being warm when its cold and loved when you're alone. This is comfort on the edges of space when earth is a trillion lightyears away and you may never go back."

"Feeling a bit poetic today I see?'

The Commander shrugged, "Maybe a little.... Kind of homesick too." he sighed, "This is the first year I won't be celebrating Christmas with my family."

"Christmas?"

"Yeah, I'm not exactly sure what it meant to other people, but when I was a kid, it was mostly just a day to celebrate our family.... Mom loves Christmas, she goes all out every year, even when things were tight.... She always managed to make things special. One year dad snuck out in the middle of the night and left reindeer tracks in the snow to convince us they had been there."

"Er, Reindeer?"

"Ah, never mind. I'll tell you about it later. Important thing is getting everything ready for tonight. If you want to see the real magic."

Krill stared at the commander as he walked away not entirely sure what the hell that was supposed to mean. He was trailed by a rather grumpy looking Glados. In the past few months the adaptid had grown to the size of a medium sized dog, and the Commander was, more and more, forcing her to walk on her own, Which she didn't much like.

Krill glanced around at the lights one last time before returning down the hall and towards the medical bay. All across the ship crew members were busy putting up decorations, stringing strange fluffy streamers over the exposed piping.

One crew-member, in a red and a green hat with a bell on top was hanging strange plants from the tops of doorways. He looked on in confusion before stepping into the medical bay greeted by Dr. Katie, who was wearing a red and white dress with a matching hat and striped leggings. She looked like a peppermint stick...

"Good evening krlll, are you ready for christmas?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Other than it's some sort of human holiday."

"Yeah, it's the one day of year where people get together and give each other gifts and stuff. To some people it means different things, simply a family day or to celebrate religious figures. Just sort of depends. Some people don't celebrate it at all, but the Commander seems pretty big on christmas, so why not."

"Why are you dressed up like that?"

She winked at him, "Because I'm an elf silly."

"You know this is almost the first time in half a year in which I have no understood a single word coming out of your mouth. She simply winked and continued on her way whistling happily."

Of course the night came, and out of Character Dr. katie curled up on one of the hospital beds and fell asleep leaving Krill alone in the half darkness. He spent the rest of his time on the internet looking up information on the so-called holiday. What he found was a tangled mess of pagan-cristian-and corporate traditions just like the Commander had suggested. A lot to do with saints and demons and more information than he was willing to read all the way through at this moment. He wasn't a xeno historian after all.

The night wore on, and he sensed a strange stillness in the air around him caused by the ambient light leaking in from the hallway, warm and fiery.

It was close to two in the morning when a knock came on the door to the medical bay. Dr. Katie stirred and sat up adjusting her dress as she ran over motioning Krill after her. Curiously he followed after her, stepping into the hall to find..... More than a strange sight. There was Conn, draped all over in glittering tinsel to add to his flowing ribbons. A couple other humans were dressed in the strange red and green costumes with pointy hats and bells on their shoes. Waffles, the dog, was sitting just before the door wearing a fake pair of antlers, her tongue lolling happily from one side of her mouth. Sitting with her were the three adaptids in similar states of dress glados looking cowed but a little more than miffed to be there. Both of them were covered in bells as well, and all of that strangeness arrayed around the weirdest thing of all, a very large fat man in a blindingly red suit, and big white beard.

He moved forward ad Dr. Katie hopped over to join the strange party grinning and giggling as she patted waffle's head. The dog licked her hand, "You make such adorable reindeer." She reached down to pat Glados next, and the adaptid sulked, but didn't try to bite her as she might have done with someone else.

"HO HO HO, Merry Christmas!" Said the big fat man, and looking up into his eyes, Krill suddenly grew very suspicious. He had only ever seen a shade of green like that on one human.

"What the hell have you done to yourself." he demanded.

Adam raised an eyebrow, though most of his face was covered by a beard, "I have no idea what you're on about."

Krill was horrified, "Look at you.... How.... how do you gain that much weight in such a short amount of time. Are you mad? Are you ok? Are you going to die of a heart attack in the next fifteen minutes because something tells me this can't be healthy." He glared at the human, "When were you going to tell me that humans could just spontaneously gain an enormous amount of weight. Whatever this is, it is an immediate medical emergency. Plus the beard, some serious hormonal dis-regulation I can't even begin to imagine what sort of-"

"KRILL! Its a suit, a costume, I didn't just spontaneously gain weight." The human adjusted his beard voice sounding more normal now that he wasn't trying to make it deeper, "I'm Santa Claus?

"And who is that supposed to be?"

"Well, he is the physical embodiment of the spirit of Christmas. Legend says, he lives at the north pole, and works with the elves making toys all year round. He keeps to lists, and on one list appears the name of all the well behaved children, and on the other list appears the names of the naughty children, he will check both lists twice, and there is no point trying to trick him because he sees everything. And then on the night of Christmas, he gathers all the presents into the back of his sleigh, which is pulled by nine magical flying reindeer. Then, he takes all night to to fly all around the world delivering presents to kids. Most of the time he comes down the chimney, if you have one. He will fill stockings (socks) hung over the fireplace with small toys and then put the big presents under the Christmas tree. If you were a bad kid than he wouldn't leave a present, but a lump of coal instead. Generally it is recommended that one leaves some cookies and a glass of milk out as a thank you, oh, and carrots for the reindeer."

....

There was silence for a long moment, "What in the name of beelzebub's balls kind of story is that."

Even through the beard he could tell that Adam was frowning, "Stop being such a Grinch. It's a great story, to help kids behave, and keep the magic alive for a little while before you become and old cantankerous adult that doesn't believe in anyone or anything anymore."

"And what is a grinch."

"A grinch is an angry green person who hates to see other people happy..... Arguably they also hate corporate Christmas, but I digress. Scrooge is also someone who doesn't get the point of Christmas, and both are definitely insults, now come on. You are joining me and my elves while we go deliver presents."

Before he could protest, he was presented with pointy hat with a bell on it, and forced to follow as they wandered silently off down the halls.

Adam pulled out a clipboard, "Alright everyone, our list here says that approximately 85% of the crew celebrates Christmas, but we will still be delivering presents to everyone because we are nice and that is what we do. Nobody is expected to join in tomorrow but everyone is invited because we aren't trash humans." Glados and Waffles walked at his heels as the rest of the humans followed behind lugging large bags over their shoulders, "Alright Katie, you're with me in filling the stockings, the rest of you are charged with leaving a trail to the mess hall where the actual presents will be, one for everyone at least, no one is left out. Corporal, you get the people who don't celebrate Christmas, and just leave the gifts outside their doors. Make sure to leave the notes for them as well so they know they are invited if they want to come."

"Yes s.... Ur Mr. Claus?"

"Damn Straight."

"What about the Drev?"

"I am including them in the list of people who celebrate simply because I want them to have the experience once before they decide whether they like it or not. Everyone should get the chance to at least choose."

It too nearly the next few hours to get things done. Krill Accompanied the Commander, Conn, waffles, and the Adaptids as they jingled quietly up the halls slipping into rooms where crew members had been instructed to leave socks hanging from their bed frames.

On more than one occasion Krill watched as a very confused human, light sleeper, sat up and watched blearily as they exited the room with a confused look on their faces. Some seeming even amused. The heavier sleepers didn't notice a thing.

They reached the Drev and Marine quarters at some point towards the end of the night, making it through one relatively quickly, but just as he was about to step into the last room, Glados growled and snapped at his boot.

Commander.... Santa? Looked down and harrumphed, "Someone here is going on the naughty list." Katie and Krill leaned forward as a light shined down on the delicate silver trip wire cut across the door.

Katie snorted, "Coal."

Quietly, he stepped over the line and into the room Glados leaping behind him. "Alright which one of the naughty children is trying to capture St. Nick?"

Krill turned on his thermal vision and could see the vast majority of the marines were not sleeping."

He turned to look over at Krill and Conn, who motioned in the direction of one of the beds. He walked quietly over leaning next to the ear of the 'supposedly" Sleeping marine, "I see you when you're sleeping Ramiez ."

There was an eruption of uncontained giggling around the room, which was rather strange coming from the large, muscular humans.

"Oh.... kinky." A muffled voice whispered from somewhere.

More giggling.

"Is that you Santa?"

"Guess who's getting coal for Christmas."

He turned towards the door.

"Wait, wait, Santa, wait! I have a question. "

He paused in the doorway raising his eyebrows at the marines who were sitting up, "What?"

"How did you get here without reindeer?"

He wagged a finger at them, "Very carefully. You better thank my elves, they had to get degrees in engineering, physics and rocket science to get me here. And what is worse, my Star-sleigh was pulled by a bunch of snarky starborn led by that one." He pointed towards Conn, "he almost guided us into a black hole, so you better be nice and leave me out some cookies next year."

He stepped over the tripwire and back out into the hallway allowing the door to shut closed behind them.

Outside there was a trail of tinsel and strange footprints leading away from the doors and down the halls. He left the bag just outside the door with the rest of the stocking stuffers in it, not ever having intended to leave the marines with just coal.

They took one last jingling run up and down the halls for effect before retreating to the mess hall where they promptly passed out on bean bags by the holographic tree in front of the holographic fire.

Glados crawled up onto the fake belly and curled up there glowering at anyone who got to close. Waffles and the other adaptids curled up just to the side.

***

Sunny woke up early the next morning thinking how odd it was, that strange tinkling sound in the middle of the night. She sat up looking over at the sock she had been asked to place in her room. She had been forced to borrow it from someone considering she didn't wear socks, and was surprised to find something sticking out of it.

She wandered over and tipped the contents into her hands surprised to find an earth flower, and some miscellaneous items of use for her work down in engineering.

Curiously, she opened the door into the hallway idly munching on the flower, and found a trail leading from her door and down the hall. The scene surprised her, and she wasn't entirely sure what to think. It clearly had the intention of being followed, and curious, she followed finishing off the flower as she came around the corner dropping the stem in surprise when she saw the room before her.

Hundreds of holographic lights, a tree, fire, piles of blankets and beanbags and lounging humans half asleep. Conn was floating up near the ceiling trailing tinsel. Krill was hovering beside the tree looking more than a little confused. Dr. Katie was moving wrapped gifts below the tree dressed like a peppermint stick.

Adam..... Well Adam was peeling off a suit that added about two hundred pounds to his frame. It seemed as if there had also been a fake beard and massive coat, as far as she could see. Took him a few seconds to wriggle out of the boots and oversized pants dumping them on a chair close by leaving him in a white shirt and military issue olive green pants.

He looked up from where he had dumped his costume and grinned at her.

She walked closer.

"Merry Christmas."

"Erm.... Merry Christmas?.... What's a Christmas."

"Apparently it's a human holiday perpetrated on the idea that a magical fat man in a red suit, flies around the world on a magical sleigh pulled by magical non-flying flying mammal to deliver presents to children who were good.... Oh also he watches you when you sleep." Sunny stared at Krill in confusion.

Overhead Conn was mimicking voiceless laughter.

"Don't mind him, he's being a little grinch as usual. Come on, we're just waiting to give people time to show up, and then we are gonna open presents."

"How did you manage to get something for everyone?

"Well I asked for help number one, but number two, what else am I supposed to do with my money. I mean I have a place to live, a place to sleep, entertainment, food, anything a guy could as for, so I just threw a paycheck or two at it. Otherwise its just sitting in my bank account collecting dust until I can find something dumb and nerdy to spend it on.... I thought.... Well I thought this would mean more than getting myself a light-saber or something."

She stared at him for a long moment, "You are such a.... Sap."

He smiled, "Maybe a little. I mean it's not much, anyway, but it made me feel good."

She paused, tilted her head, and then hugged him. He seemed a little surprised one eye peering up at her from a four- arm embrace. He didn't say anything until she let him go and he stepped back to look at her, "What was that for?"

"You.... well. You... deserve it. And I don't think you get reminded enough."

She thought she saw a little bit of red creeping up his neck and he looked down at his feet, waving it off, "Nah, if you knew what went on inside my head, you wouldn't say that."

She decided not to argue with him, humans were horrible with accepting compliments sometimes. Instead she found herself sharing music with him as they lay on one of the beanbags waiting for the others to arrive.

He had his eyes closed appearing as if he was sleeping through she knew he probably wasn't . At some point he adjusted himself so that his head was resting on one of her arms, using her like a pillow. A few more people started to trickle in, including the marines, one of which, Ramirez, was wearing bright red footie pajamas and walked over to claim a bean bag just to the wide.

Adam opened an eye and looked over at him, "What the hell are you wearing."

"My footie pajamas."

"Yeah I got that....."

"Don't diss the footies.."

" Yeah sure, anyway what would have happened if I stepped on the trip-wire?" Sunny lifted her head at the mention of a trip wire.

Ramirez grinned, "it would have been pretty glorious, that's what, but guess you will never know."

"Rude."

A few of the other marines wandered in blearily, CJ, Davis, and maverick who took a seat cross-legged on the floor her short blond hair sticking up in all directions like the open wings of a bird.

Finally The commander determined it was time and began handing out the presents, first to the more introverted people, who he figured could take their present and head off if they really wanted. A few of the non-Christmas-people showed up just to hang out causing a sort of slow trickle in and out of the room almost constantly.

Krill and Conn were both presented with gifts, Krill who just happened to get a little cube that was advertised as holding about a million different puzzles of all different types and at varying levels He seemed pleased, though he insisted on his patrol through the room to make sure the humans weren't doing anything stupid.

Conn was presented with some sort of hand-held gaming system, actually relatively cheap compared to what they used to be.

He loved it.

ANd based on Commander Vir's smug expression, he had done it on purpose, probably to keep the starborn out of his head.

Sunny was standing at the back of the room watching the humans rather fondly, as well as the other Drev, who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the humans. Her brother and Maverick were causing trouble across the room and nearly giving krill a conniption. Watching all of this, she still noticed Adam approaching from the side holding one last box.

He held it up, "One more present left."

She turned to face him, "For you."

He held it out, "Well you, obviously..... I sort of waited till last because.... Well you technically got more than everyone else. My Mom sent a few things up, and I just added her gift to mine."

Sunny took the box and looked up in surprise, "Your mom.... But she.... She hates me."

A small smile, "I think she's come around. It's just taken her a while. I think this is supposed to be an apology. It's pretty cute, I think you should wear it."

Out of curiosity, she opened the box and looked inside to find a piece of fabric neatly folded on top. With her upper hands she reached to unfold it, whatever it was it was made out of very warm material, "What is it?"

"I guess it's called a cowl. She thought it would be something she could make that wouldn't get in the way of you wearing armor, and, since you guys sometimes wear capes, it would also go with that. Here try it on." He took it from her hands standing on his tip-toes to pull it over her head and shoulders. Turned out it was pretty much just a hood, unattached to anything and that really only covered the head and shoulders.

She peered out form inside, to see him grinning.

It was a funny picture, though she could see out, really the only think everyone else saw was the end of her snout/beak peeping out from under the hood. She lifted her head, and the hood fell a little further over her eyes.

He laughed, and helped her pull it back a bit, "She thought since you guys are more... warm weather creatures, that you could probably use one of these on our expeditions."

"You should tell her thanks, from me."

"I will."

She looked back down inside the box and was surprised to find it was full of different kinds of flowers. She looked back up at him in surprise, "How did you get these out here."

"Wasn't easy, tell you that."

She leaned down snapping one of them up rewarded with a very light fragrant flavor. It was pretty nice, but then she looked back at Adam to see him smiling nearly dropping the box when she realized, "You! Where is your present. Didn't you get anything?"

He just broke into a smile, "Sunny, I'm friends with like seven different kinds of aliens, I Command an entire FLEET of spaceships, and have like 300+ friends. I got my childhood dream, so what else do I need?"

She paused sure he was right, but also feeling bad.

They stood there together, looking out at the room when Ramirez glided past still in his footie pajamas. As he did his eyes widened a bit and he paused a slow grin spreading over his face. Adam gave him a very confused expression, but Ramirez just shook his head and pointed up before gliding away.

In confusion both Sunny and Adam looked up.

Sunny tilted her head.

"What is that?"

She turned her head down to look at Adam and found the man's skin changing color again. "Er..... it's.... That appears to be.... mistletoe ."

She lifted her head again to stare at the strange plant, "Oh..... like in that Christmas movie...."

"Yeah.... Like in that.... Christmas movie."

"Oh."

They both looked down at about the same time. The way the Christmas lights interacted with the UV patterns on his skin, turned the usually blue, turquoise pattern on his skin almost electric lightning blue. The green in his eyes was more potent with the way the light refracted in them. Little twinkling lights danced over the polished surface of her bright-blue carapace.

He didn't look away.

Neither did she.

And then a small brown shape came screaming from nowhere cutting between them. They both stepped back in shock, and Krill roared past grabbing the plant from where it hung, "Reeeeeeeeeeeeeee! NO, NO, NO, NO STUPID IDIOTIC HUMANS HANGING POISONOUS THINGS WHERE ANY OTHER STUPID HUMAN MIGHT EAT THEM! I WILL NOT HAVE IT YOU HEAR ME. I WILL NOT" and then he went roaring away trailing laughter in his wake. Slowly Sunny and Adam turned to look at each other before doubling over racked with fits of laughter. Adam ended up on the floor leaning against the wall, just below where Sunny propped herself.

Just when they thought they'd stop laughing, they started up again.

"Damn.... Crazy.... Bastard." Adam Wheezed crawling to his feet

"Did you hear that sound he made?"

"Yeah, classic Krill..... Anyway." He paused shuffling his feet, "Wanna go, push Ramirez over or something?"

"Sounds fun, I'm in."

"Sweet."

By the end of the hour, Ramirez was upside down in a pile of bean bags everyone laughing at his expense.

All in all, it was a pretty good Christmas