The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in the sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the ehad of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thights, while all abou tit
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
W.B. Yeats
Things Fall Apart – Chapter 1The banquet hall was ablaze with light, ceiling and walls hung with banners and the tables along the walls covered in flowers. Groups of people in formal attire mingled, a good number of the men in dress military uniform. A band was playing traditional music, barely audible over the hum of conversation. At one end of the room the ceiling disappeared and a wide vista of stars was visible, partly eclipsed by the curved hull of a space station. A ship moved gracefully across the field of view, lights glimmering over its surface. The station is Nexus 7, a hub of trade and transport between the Alliance worlds and the Rim, considered by many to be the last bastion of civilization in a galaxy that becomes progressively more lawless the further from the Core worlds you go.
Inara Serra stood at the top of a wide flight of stairs at the entrance to the banquet hall, staring up at the view port, entranced. The handsome young Chinese man in uniform who's arm she held stared at her with almost the same expression.
"It's quite breathtaking, isn't it?" he said.
Without taking her eyes off the view, Inara replied, "That it is."
The young man followed her gaze. "I see it from the deck of our ship almost every shift and it still has me awed. Imagine, human beings built all this. It seems impossible."
Inara glanced at him with a smile. "Isn't it amazing what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it?"
He smiled back at her, and there was a moment's pause. Eventually she suggested, "Shall we join the festivities, Lieutenant?"
He cleared his throat and looked around. "Yes, I suppose we should." But he searched the floor below with some trepidation, making no move to do so. Puzzled, Inara glanced at the crowd.
"Is there someone you were hoping to avoid?"
At first the Lieutenant was surprised, then rueful. "There's little that escapes a Companion, is there?" He murmured, adjusting his hat in an unconsciously nervous gesture. "Actually, I was hoping to avoid my mother. She has this disturbing habit of introducing me to prospective wives at any given opportunity, and this would be a perfect one. She's determined to have me married before my next promotion."
Inara smiled a little in understanding. "You do not want to be married just yet?"
He turned a look on her that was suddenly a lot more serious. "None of them could ever compare to you."
Years of practice kept her surprise from showing, produced the charming smile and the casual, "You flatter me, Lieutenant. Thank you."
"I meant it," he said, not allowing her to brush the remark aside.
Before she could reply he flinched and fumbled at his belt. Inara became aware of a soft beeping sound, one that seemed to be coming from several directions at once. More than a little relieved at the interruption, she watched the Lieutenant as he scanned through the message on a small receiver he held in his palm.
"Damn." He frowned and pocketed the receiver, looking annoyed and contrite. "I'm sorry Inara, but I've got to go. Please forgive me for leaving you like this."
She touched his arm, "Don't apologize, I understand. Shall I wait for you?"
The Lieutenant grimaced and shook his head. "I'm afraid you'd be wasting your time."
"You don't expect to be back?" She asked, surprised.
"They've cancelled all leave," he glanced over his shoulder as another man in uniform brushed past them, heading for the door. Several others could be seen hurrying towards the exits. "But I want to finish our evening together. Can we rearrange for another time?"
She smiled and nodded. "Certainly. Call me when you can."
He took her hand and bowed over it, then turned and hurried out of the hall.
Inara watched him leave, hearing several people speculating on what could be happening to prompt the recall. Guards appeared at the main hall entrance and on other exits around the room, and she saw them shaking their heads at those who asked questions. When she noticed that the guards were armed, Inara felt the first touch of real fear. Others noticed too, and there was a palpable change in atmosphere. From the conversations around her, Inara heard the word 'attack' and 'terrorists', although it can only be speculation. She said a swearword under her breath, and predictably her thoughts turned to Mal and the crew of Serenity.
"Tyen-shiao duh is going on," she muttered under her breath. "Mal, I could really use your insight about now."
He would've had some idea of what was happening, he always had an instinct for danger. No doubt he would already have had a plan for making it past the guards and out of the hall, back to Serenity and off to safety. He didn't enter a room without checking all the exits, and by long association neither did she. Inara gritted her teeth, torn between longing for the comfort of his presence and annoyance with herself for succumbing to it. She had managed not to think about him for a full three days, which was something of a record considering her success rate over the last four months. Then, just when she could begin to think she was putting all that behind her, something like this had to happen.
The band started up again, a cheerful tune to distract the crowd from unquiet thoughts. Since it was obvious that no-one would be going anywhere for now, Inara turned away from the door and made her way down to the main floor. Likely she'd be as safe here as anywhere else on the station. She glanced up at the view port, but nothing appeared to be moving. Uncertain and not knowing anyone else in the room, she made her way to the buffet tables that stretched along the walls behind the staircase. There was an exit there too, and a guard who watched her coldly as she walked over. But there were also fewer people to fight should she have to reach the doors, and there was a clear view of the view port.
Looking for a distraction, she took a plate from the table and allowed the waiter to serve her several small delicacies, reminding herself that she hadn't seen food like this once on board Serenity. But then, it hadn't really seemed to matter. This was window dressing, luxury, and she hadn't missed it one bit. It was nothing compared to the void that was left by the friends she'd abandoned. Nothing compared to the pain she'd felt walking out on Mal. She could barely forgive herself for that, and she knew that he'd never forgive her for leaving him. Mal did not deal well with loosing people.
"Are you the Companion Inara Serra?"
Startled, Inara turned sharply. A Chinese girl of about ten years old stood staring up at her with a frown, hands clasped behind her back.
"I am," Inara replied, "and who are you?"
"I'm Xuan Wai-Lan. My brother is Lieutenant Xuan Yuxi."
"Ah," Inara's eyes widened, and she nodded. "Lieutenant Xuan, my escort. You are his…." she looked momentarily puzzled.
"Little sister," Wai-Lan replied, bowing. Inara mimicked the gesture.
As she straightened, Wai-Lan fixed that same stare on Inara and said matter-of-factly, "I'm not supposed to talk to you."
Taken aback, but amused by the girl's manner, Inara cocked her head slightly. "Really? Why is that?"
"Because my mother doesn't like you. She says you're a distraction for Yuxi, and that he should be concentrating on finding himself a wife."
"Oh," Inara kept her features composed. This wasn't much of a surprise to her, and it was a common enough complaint. "Then why are you talking to me?" She asked, taking a mouthful of a small pastry.
"Because I think you're beautiful." Wai-Lan said without guile, studying Inara intently. "And I wanted to know what a Companion does."
This time Inara did raise an eyebrow, because the girl's honesty demanded some honesty of expression in return. "A Companion's services are confidential, Miss Xuan. I cannot discuss them with you, even if you are his sister."
"Oh I know about the sex," Wai-Lan said with a shrug. "My friend Kai told me that Companions sleep with people for money." She grimaced. "Sex sounds icky, so I figured that there must be more to it than that. He doesn't believe me. We took a bet on it. I'm right, aren't I?"
Inara couldn't help it. She laughed out loud. She could just imagine Mal's expression if he'd overheard this conversation, and it was only the hurt frown on Wai-Lan's face that made her control her amusement.
"I'm sorry, Wai-Lan, I didn't mean to laugh at you. It's just that not many people are as outspoken as you are. It took me by surprise."
Slightly mollified, Wai-Lan was self-conscious enough to blush. "Mother is always telling me off for saying what I'm thinking. But if I didn't ask you, I wouldn't know. How'm I supposed to find stuff out if I can't ask people about it?" she demanded.
"That is very true," Inara agreed. "And you are right, there is more to being a Companion than just the sex." She firmly banished any thoughts of Mal's likely response from her mind. "We learn about people, how to understand them and predict their reactions. We learn about culture, and how people relate to each other. And we learn about art, history, theology, music, theatre. There are many skills a person has to acquire before they can become a Companion."
"I thought so!" Wai-Lan said triumphantly. "My brother said that you have to go to Companion school for years first. So howcome anyone else I ask only says Companions sleep with people for money?"
Inara smiled wistfully, wondering if she'd ever been this innocent. "Well, sex is a very important part of what we do, because it is one of the most intimate ways in which two people can relate to each other. It's an aspect of human nature that many people have difficulty talking about, and it makes them very uncomfortable. They find it strange that we Companions think differently."
Wai-Lan looked unconvinced. "Well, I think it sounds disgusting."
Inara smothered a smile and asked casually, "So who told you about sex?"
"Kai," Wai-Lan said blandly. "He had these pictures, and they just looked silly."
Then suddenly the girl's head snapped around and she looked back over her shoulder. "Oh no, my mother's looking for me."
"Will you be in trouble if you are seen talking to me?" Inara asked her.
"Probably. But I'm always in trouble anyway," Wai-Lan replied. She looked back at Inara and smiled. "Most people won't answer my questions, you know. My brother was right, you're much more interesting than any of those girls mother wanted him to marry."
Inwardly, Inara flinched. Oh, that was bound to endear her to Lieutenant Xuan's mother. "Well, perhaps you'd better not mention you've been talking to me. I wouldn't want you to be in any more trouble."
Wai-Lan shrugged, "OK. I have to tell Kai if I'm going to win the bet, but I'll tell him I'll beat him up if he ever says how I found out."
There was the faintest of shudders felt through the soles of the feet. Glasses on the tables tinkled and the lights flickered. Several people cried out in surprise, and Inara felt something cold congeal in her gut. A space station didn't suffer earthquakes. The guard on the door was looking nervous, and he touched his earpiece. She saw his eyes widen.
"Wai-Lan, I think you should go and find your mother quickly."
Puzzled, the girl asked, "Why did the lights do that?"
"Go to your mother now, mei mei."
It was dawning on Wai-Lan that something was wrong. Inara could see the fear in her eyes as she searched the crowd. "I can't see her!"
There was another muffled sound, like a distant explosion. Abruptly Inara felt the air pressure drop. Wai-Lan clapped her hands over her ears and cried, "What's happening?"
"Mei mei, be calm. Look at me." Inara caught hold of the girl's shoulders. "Do you know where to go if there's an emergency? Do you remember?"
Wai-Lan looked around wildly. "I don't know! My mother was with me. Where is she?"
"Miss! Miss!" It was the soldier, gesturing with his gun as he held open the exit door. "They've called an emergency! Go to the nearest center point now, take the girl!"
The waiter who had served her moments before scrambled towards the door, and several people nearby began running in their direction. The lights flickered again and there were screams. Wai-Lan whimpered and flung herself against Inara's hold, screaming for her mother. Struggling to hold onto the child, Inara caught sight of the banquet hall, which was a sea of panicking people. The exits were crowded and the guards were struggling to keep control. Wai-Lan would be trampled if she got lost in that.
High above them the view port was shrinking as massive metal doors slid across, barricading them from space. As the view beyond was eclipsed, Inara caught sight of ships moving much faster than the one she'd watched a short time ago. Then suddenly one of them was banking, coming straight for the station. Inara gasped and tugged Wai-Lan back towards the exit. Seconds before the view port's doors slid into place she saw light flare along the nose of the ship, and the glass of the view port frosted. The station shuddered, and they were plunged into chaos and darkness.