Mal, Zoe, and Jayne walked up to the fancy doorway. The beautiful green countryside was bathed in the red-orange glow of the sunset. Mal rapped on the door harshly, nervousness and anxiety setting in again. It was a rare event he was nervous about something that didn't involve his ship or any guns. His future scared him even more.
The door opened and in the doorway stood a homely looking woman. She wore the clothing of a servant or perhaps housekeeper. Her warm face held happiness and care; she smiled kindly.
"Welcome Mr…"
"Reynolds." Mal answered shortly.
"Ah, Mr. Reynolds, we've been expecting you. Won't you come in?" The three of them walked in silently. Zoe looked around, surveying the surroundings for any danger. But she smiled as she saw the beautiful paintings and decorations. It held something from every planet and culture. Zoe even saw some stuff from her own home planet. The kindly woman led them to a parlor on the side.
"Please have a seat, make yourself at home. I'll go and tell the headmistress you have arrived. Mr. Reynolds, Miss…" She prompted Zoe for her name.
"Washburn." She answered, her face neutral.
"Miss Washburn and Mr…?" She asked Jayne, but he wasn't paying attention. He was busy seeing who was staring at him from behind. In the hallway three teenage girls stood whispering and pointing and giggling at Jayne. As soon as they realized he was looking at them they all stopped dead and scurried off giggling even harder. The woman chuckled and bowed her head.
"You'll excuse them, they don't see full grown men much. You, forgive me sir, are a unique and sought after dance partner." Mal and Zoe exchanged looks of amusement. Jayne simply looked a little lost. Mal smiled.
"This is Mr. Cobb." He introduced Jayne who was at a loss for words. The woman nodded and bowed graciously.
"Perfect, My name is Mrs. Henley, I am the housekeeper and cook. Now, if you will please excuse me," She left the three to sit in the parlor alone.
"Well, looks like Jayne's got himself some admirers." Zoe said as she poured herself a glass of some golden colored liquid.
"Hey, it ain't my fault I've got good looks." Jayne said with a cocky smile.
"Yeah, just keep those good looks to yourself." Mal said, still pacing.
"Sir, why are you so tense?" Zoe asked, looking over her glass. Mal stopped and threw his hands up.
"I'm not tense. Who says I'm tense?" Zoe simply raised an eyebrow. He sighed and plopped down next to her.
"I dunno,"
"Is there something more to the invitation? Something you didn't tell us?" Zoe asked. Jayne walked over and sat in a chair across from them. Opening his jacket he inspected his guns he'd brought along, even though Mal had suggested not bringing any.
"No,"
"Then what is it?"
"Why would anyone summon me to one of these fancy training places? We steer clear of these kinds of things. And they didn't pull any favors. Why am I here?"
"Well, sir, I can't answer that myself. Maybe it's because you're a decent man underneath it all and you want to honor a proper invitation?"
"I dunno." Mal said absent mindedly.
Mrs. Henley returned shortly and ushered them up a flight of stairs and into another room. This new room held a beautiful desk, at which sat a rail thin and sharp looking woman. Mal took this to be the head mistress. She stood and reached her hand out to shake properly. Zoe eyed her up and down. Tall, thin, jet black hair combed into a severe coil, pointed nose, thin lips, this woman looked like an elderly twig. She introduced herself as Mrs. Smith.
"Captain Reynolds, thank you for coming." Mal didn't say anything, what could he say? "Please take a seat." Jayne plopped down in a chair and hung a leg over the armrest. Zoe cleared her throat and, with a frown, he put back in its intended spot.
"You mentioned a proposal?" Mal prompted, trying to blow over Jayne's mishap.
"Yes, you see every student here chooses a career path. And with the schooling they are required to gain first hand experience for six full months. The student in question has chosen to become an ambassador for the Alliance." Mal and Zoe stiffened slightly. "She has already gained her political experience; all she needs now is to gain her traveling experience. We let her choose her mode of transport and she has requested you." The woman paused, letting it soak in.
"Who is this girl?" Mal asked, a little skeptical. He wasn't going to play chaperone for six months over a prissy spoiled bratty teenager.
"Her name is Seion Alexius Jones. She has been here since she was a toddler. One of the staff took her in when her mother died." Mal and Zoe exchanged glances.
"What was her first name again?" Zoe asked.
"Seion, but she goes by Alexis, which is a slight deviation of her middle name." Mal didn't care about the girl's middle name. Her first name translated directly to 'Serenity'. This must have been a coincidence, it had to be.
"She has money and she is willing to pay. Believe me when I say this girl is the most responsible, respectful, and gracious young woman I've ever taught. It is why I have allowed her the choice of her transportation." This still didn't set Mal's skepticism to rest. And Mrs. Smith could see that.
"Would like to meet her? I'm sure she'd be more than happy to make your acquaintance." Mal looked to Zoe, who gave him a look that said Its your decision.
"Yes, I'd like to meet her."
"Very good. If you'll just follow me," Mrs. Smith opened the door and led them out. A few paces down Mrs. Smith stopped.
"I forgot. Tonight is the fall festival. There is to be a ball held soon. But before there is the Dance club's Exhibition Match. Would you hate it if you waited until afterwards until you were introduced?" Mal could almost laugh at all the fuss these people made. If he'd had to go here he'd be clawing at the windows and bolting at the first chance he got.
"No problem, we can wait."
"Oh thank you. Why don't you come and watch? I'm told this will be the best display of their works yet." Mal and Zoe just smiled. Jayne was bored and he wasn't afraid to show it with a loud sigh.
They entered a beautiful ballroom filled with light and laughter. Children, ranging in age from ten to twenty, all stood about the edge of the room. Interspersed between them adults, watched over the event. Probably staff, Mal thought. All were dressed elegantly. Nothing extravagant like the things Inara wore to parties, but more along the lines of simply beautiful. Zoe again surveyed their surroundings, looking for possible escape routes. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something to happen, something to occur.
Suddenly a band on the second level began to play a loud dramatic melody. The lights in the room dimmed which made the spotlight shine brightly over the stairs at the other end of the room. Mal raised an eyebrow to Zoe who just shrugged. Atop the stairs a couple appeared. The girl's dress was a creamy ivory with black accents while her partner, a dashing young man, had a black suit with an ivory vest beneath. He spun her around, grabbed her again and dipped her just as the music had built. Behind them more couples appeared, all moving swiftly and smoothly. All of them descended the stairs, their dresses and suits a blur of pastel colors intermixed with flashes of black. Their movements were in perfect synchronization. Every face held a different expression to match the mood of the dance. The first girl, though, had the most expression and passion in her eyes as she danced in her ivory dress.
Half an hour later, they concluded their exhibition with a great finale and bow. Mrs. Smith got up to say a few words.
"Ladies, and Gentlemen, students of Briolle Academy, please give a warm round of applause for our school's Dance Club." An eruption of applause filled the polished room. "And please give a hand to the Club President, Miss Jones!" The spotlight flipped from Mrs. Smith to the crowd of dancers. The girl in the ivory dress stepped forward and bowed modestly. The light was again on Mrs. Smith. "Now, I will not deprive you of any more of your Fall Festival Celebration any longer. Let this ball begin!" The band upstairs struck up a light tune and all the students cheered.
Mrs. Smith made her way back to Mal, Zoe, and Jayne. On her way she stopped at the girl in the ivory dress. Mal thought she was congratulating her, but a moment later the girl was excusing herself from her friends and following her Headmistress through the crowd.
"Miss Jones, I'd like you to meet Captain Reynolds. Captain, this is Miss Alexis Jones." Mal couldn't help but stare at this girl, this teenage girl. She had familiar tropical blue eyes that were playful and stern at the same time. Those eyes looked older than her 16 year old self. Her dirty blond hair was pulled into a standard updo for special occasions. It fell in perfect ringlets down the back of her head. Mal felt like he remembered her from somewhere. But why? Quietly, she stepped forward and curtsied, letting her hand rest out in front of her for the Captain to take. He'd been around Inara long enough to know what to do. He pressed his lips to the soft skin of her pale hand.
"Captain Reynolds, it is an utter pleasure and high honor to finally meet you in person. I've read all about your brilliant leadership skills in the Battle of Serenity Valley. You are a legend here." From the way she talked you'd think she was in her 30's, Mal thought.
"Why thank you… Miss Jones."
"Please, call me Alexis." She said with a winning smile.
"Of course, Alexis." Mal replied politely, he had noticed she didn't bring up that he was on the losing side of that battle. And she was training to go into the Alliance? He'd have to dig deeper in this case. Alexis offered her hand to Zoe to shake.
"Alexis Jones," She introduced herself to Zoe. If Mal didn't know any better he'd think Alexis was bursting with excitement while speaking to her. "You must be Zoe Alleyne? I must say it is a real treat to finally meet you. Sometime you must tell me what it was like to be a woman fighting for her freedom." Zoe couldn't help but smile. Mal got the feeling she liked this girl. But Mal didn't. Something about her bugged him.
"Actually, my name is Zoe Washburne."
"Oh, my mistake. I have to say my record books are probably outdated by now." She then turned to Jayne, who was watching a few girls who were staring at him and giggling. "And you are?" She held out a hand for a handshake to him, Mal was impressed. She could see that Jayne was no gentleman.
"Cobb, Jayne Cobb." He said gruffly, shaking her hand.
"A pleasure." She said cordially. "Many of my fellow school mates will be jealous with me. I've shaken the hand of the mysterious man." Her eyes danced with a sly cunning. Jayne simply smiled to Mal and Zoe.
"Captain, I suppose you have heard of my proposal?" She was back to business.
"Yes, I have."
"And?"
"I have a few questions."
"I am at your disposal."
"How long you gonna be with us?"
"I am required 6 months minimum." She answered straightly. Good, she was sticking to the story Mrs. Smith told.
"And how are you going to pay for all this?" She laughed melodiously.
"Captain, I'm not without my assets. I will pay you in full up front if you wish." Zoe was sold.
"Then it sounds like we have ourselves a passenger." Zoe's smile was warm and bright. Mal didn't agree in the least.
"Uh, would you 'scuse us a moment?" Mal took both Zoe and Jayne aside. "I did not say she could come."
"Sir, she's a paying customer." Said Zoe.
"Well I don't care she's paying, I don't want to be babysitter fer six months!" Mal argued.
"She ain't got nuthin' wrong with'er. And six month's pay up front?" Jayne's argument was true. It was a rare occasion he made a good point. Just then there was a small clearing of a throat. They all turned around.
"Sir, if you wish for a reason to trust me, I have none. I'm not going to prove anything to you. If you'd like my business, take it. Otherwise I can go somewhere else." Mal could see both Zoe's and Jayne's burning stares.
"Alright, we're docked in the north hangar of the port in San Marino. Be there tomorrow before 8." Mal hated having to give in.
"Expect me at 7, Captain." She curtsied low. "Now, if you'll forgive me. I must enjoy the last night of my schooling here. Miss Washburne, Mr. Cobb… Captain." With each name she nodded to each one. Then she caught up to a group of people and began chatting. Mal took that as the cue to leave. Only Zoe had the decency to thank Mrs. Smith.
"We appreciate your time." Zoe told the sharp woman.
"No, thank you. Alexis has been waiting a long time for this." Mal led the way out.
The morning dawned cool and crisp. The wet mists were clinging to the windows of Serenity. Mal woke up and groggily made his way to his ladder, pulling on his suspenders.
"Simon?" He called out, running his fingers through his hair.
"Captain?" Simon called back from the cockpit. He was always up early, doctor's habit.
"Let's get this baby airborne."
"Sure thing," But he didn't move. Mal walked up to the cockpit himself.
"Isn't there supposed to be some movement going on?" Simon turned around. He looked to Mal then cocked his head, confused.
"You mean now?" He asked. Mal looked around.
"Well, I don't see anythin' to say why not." Simon leaned forward.
"Captain, aren't you forgetting something? Perhaps the reason we landed in the first place?" Mal's face screwed up in concentration, and then it dawned on him.
"Oh yeah, ok. Scratch that. We wait until all passengers have boarded." Simon nodded and went back to messing with the controls. Mal didn't know if he was ready to take on a teenage passenger for six months. As he walked back to the cargo bay he contemplated what she'd be doing. She'd probably be following everyone around, asking obnoxious questions, looking sweetly to everybody to get her own way. Mal squirmed at the thought.
"Does something bother you, Malcolm Reynolds?" A small voice said from behind. Mal whipped around and trained his gun on the skeletal feminine figure. River Tam, resident genius, simply stared at the gun. She'd been doing very well at keeping her creepiness in check, but she still had the sneaking and inhuman qualities.
"No, why would you think that?" Mal said, holstering his gun. She looked at him inquisitively.
"According to normal human nervous systems when under stress or extreme emotion a human exhibits uncharacteristic movements as well as change in speech in relation to the brain signals. You just exhibited such behavior. Not to mention your body temperature is 3.4 degrees higher than normal." Mal took a deep breath. A genius, yes, but on a whole new level.
"We're waiting for a passenger and I am anxious to get under way." He explained. River accepted this and turned to run down the hallway.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were warming up to River, Captain." A soft, melodious voice said from above. Mal rolled his ocean blue eyes then turned them to see the goddess like figure. Inara, the Companion, was descending the stairs from her shuttle. She wore a beautiful forest green gown with a sheer wrap. It made her look like a woodland fairy.
"Nah, just gettin' sick of it." Mal said, approaching her. Inara chuckled.
"Mal, when are you going to swallow your pride enough to admit to being a softie?" She flashed her dazzling smile.
"Pride? If I remember correctly I was once called the most humble man in the 'Verse."
"Yes, by the village idiot who believed you to be returning stolen seeds when actually you were switching them out for protein packs, I do recall." Said Inara, flatly.
"Well… I mean, when you put it that way, but we still brought them food, didn't we?"
"After you knew you'd make profit out of depriving them fresh nutrition?" Inara said a little loudly.
"Hey, we were running on fumes with not enough money to buy gas, let alone our own food." Mal stepped closer and frowned.
"Why couldn't you, I don't know, take up a legitimate job and actually work for your pay?" Inara snarled.
"Are you saying what we are doing is not work?" Mal raised his voice.
"Possibly," Inara spat.
"You're one to talk! You're the prostitute!" Mal bellowed. Their heated argument continued so loudly then didn't even notice the door opening and admitting a small group.
"You're on my ship, honey. I could push you out the airlock anytime I pleased." Mal yelled.
"I'd expect that from you, you son of a -,"
"Hey!" A different voice entered the argument.
"What?" Both Inara and Mal shouted.
"If you'd like, you can carry on this little conversation after I've been checked in and we're off. For now can we please attend to the matter of passengers?" Alexis stood there, her voice stern, looking resolute. Mal looked at the ground for a moment. Mrs. Smith, Alexis, and a butler were standing in the cargo bay silently.
"Seion, darling, are you absolutely sure you want to travel with this man?" Mrs. Smith asked, her face worried. Alexis threw a look of look at what I have to put up with now because of you to Mal. Mal walked to the intercom.
"Jayne, Kaylee, Cargo Bay, now."
Alexis turned around to Mrs. Smith, her face smiling and happy.
"I am quite sure, Headmistress. It's adorable of you to worry so, but I shan't need your assistance much longer." Mrs. Smith held her arms out to Alexis. They embraced then kissed both cheeks.
"Be safe, and use good judgment." Mrs. Smith said as she waved from the doorway. Jayne hurried in.
"Somethin' wrong?" Then he saw the girl standing there and sighed. He was hoping for a fight.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Smith. I shall send you a wave in a month or so." Alexis still had that sweet angelic look on her face. The butler left the bags on the floor of the cargo bay and followed Mrs. Smith. The door closed slowly as Alexis waved goodbye.
The hissing of the airlock and clunk of the security lock signaled they were gone. Immediately, Alexis groaned.
"Finally, I've been trying to get that woman off my back for months!" She didn't look like the innocent, sweet faced, debutante. Suddenly she was a normal teen. She pulled a few clips from her hair and shook out the strawberry blond waves. Kaylee walked in.
"Sorry, Cap'n. Engine's runnin' a little sluggish." Kaylee saw Alexis and stared.
"Kaylee, Alexis, Alexis, Kaylee." Alexis walked up and shook Kaylee's hand.
"Hi," Alexis said, pumping Kaylee's fist. "Are you… the … mechanic?" Alexis looked over Kaylee's coveralls and guessed.
"Yes, I am, indeed." Kaylee beamed.
"Do you think sometime you could show me how the Serenity's fabled engine works? I've heard it's been heavily modified to out run anything." Kaylee continued to smile.
"Why, yes, I'd love to show you around." Kaylee looked happy to be making a new friend. Mal cleared his throat though.
"We need to move these bags to Cabin 3, next to River." Jayne raised his eyebrows at the statement.
"Are ya sure River'll like that?" He said slowly. It was Mal's turn to give a slow, meaningful look.
"She'd better." Alexis picked up a few of her bags, leaving two left for Kaylee, and none for Jayne. Jayne tried to take them from her, but Alexis moved away.
"I think I can carry this myself. But thank you for the gesture." Jayne only shrugged and headed for his ammunitions closet. It was gun cleaning day.
Mal made his way back to the intercom.
"Simon, take us out."
"Launch sequence commencing." Simon replied. Mal missed Wash's witty comebacks and one-liners coming back through the speakers. But he was sure he wasn't in as much pain as his first mate Zoe. Mal shook his head and walked up to the cockpit.
"Hey Simon,"
"Captain,"
"I'll take it for a little while. You go rest."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Positive, go." Simon left the chair and Mal relaxed into the vacated spot. Whenever he needed to think he liked to fly.
Jayne had laid all his guns out on the kitchen table and was inspecting Vera, his favorite gun. There was a knock on the wall behind him. He turned to see Alexis standing there, a small bag in her hand.
"Can I come in?" Jayne grunted an affirmative and she descended the stairs. Her white, ruffled school uniform swished as she entered. At the door she dropped the bag, probably wasn't finished unpacking. She saw all the guns on the table.
"Wow, you have quite the collection." She said, impressed.
"Thanks." Maybe this girl wasn't so bad after all.
"Which one is the easiest handgun to use?" She asked. The question was pure curiosity, as far as Jayne could tell. So he picked up one of the guns.
"This one is called a revolver. It-,"
"Grant 1500, shot radius 40 feet, also can be retrofitted easily." She said as she took the gun from Jayne's hand. The pale, delicate fingers curled strongly around the gun and she pointed it at the wall, pretending to aim. Jayne's eyes grew wide. This girl knew her guns.
For the next 10 minutes or so they talked over each of his guns. She was book smart about them, but not street smart. Jayne had a burning question though.
"If you was in that prep school, where've you learned your guns?" She picked up a gun idly and twirled it around her finger expertly.
"On my ambassador training, I stationed myself in the armory for a month. It was an Alliance ship though, not as many fun weapons as these. I only saw pictures of these ones."
"Well, yer right about one thing. These are the funnest toys around." Alexis laughed her musical laugh.
"Thank you for showing these to me, Mr. Cobb." She reached up on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek. Jayne's cheeks went fire red.
Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck. Everything around him became fuzzy. He looked to Alexis who was smiling adorably.
"Yes, thank you very much." Her smile turned horribly twisted. Jayne wanted to pull his gun but found he couldn't. He slumped to the ground, unconscious before he hit the floor.
Alexis took the syringe from his neck and put it in the kitchen incinerator. Quietly, she peeled off her frilly dress to reveal a blood red top and tight black combat pants. She pulled some boots out of the bag at the door and pulled her hair up into a pony tail. Strapping two holsters to her thighs she grabbed two of Jayne's guns and stuffed them in. With a disgusted look, she folded up her dress and shoved it into the bag.
Stealthily, Alexis walked up to the nearest computer port and punched in a few codes. Every lock sign flickered to a bright red, and all the other doors locked themselves too. Only Alexis knew how to open them again. She headed for the cockpit.
Mal watched the stars float by. They all seemed so tranquil. Even Serenity was quiet. Mal leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He knew he could never fall asleep, but it would help him feel better. Right by his ear he heard a fast click. Sitting up, he felt the cold metal of the business end of a gun pressed to his temple.