Chapter 3

Simon rushed into the infirmary a minute later and looked in shock at his sister cowering on the floor.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Not quite sure. She's got the flu like the girls so I brought her in to get her some medicine. I turned around and when I turned back she was on the floor. She was talkin about the blue hands." Mal explained.

Simon's face visibly paled at the words 'blue hands' but he simply nodded and began to prepare a smoother for River. It kicked in a few minutes later and River relaxed against Mal's chest. He picked her up easily and laid her on the table so that Simon could examine her.

He ran the same set of tests he'd run on the girls and then gave her the same injection of antibiotics.

Simon picked up the results of River's scan as well as the results of the twins' as well. Mal became concerned when Simon frowned in confusion as he read the scans.

"Somethin wrong Doc?" He asked.

"Um no nothings wrong it's just a little strange. All three of them have the exact same virus." Simon muttered.

"Ain't they all supposed to have the same virus if they all got the same thing?" Mal asked.

"Well yes, but usually there are some differences depending on the person the virus is in. But all three of them have exactly the same thing. I've just never seen that before." He elaborated.

"Do we need ta be worried about it?" Mal asked.

"I don't think so. I mean they aren't seriously ill, it's just a little odd." Simon assured him.

The men grew quite for a few minutes and stood listening to the sound of River's steady breathing.

"I can't believe she had an episode. She's been doing so well." Simon said sadly.

"Wish I coulda understood what she was tryin to tell me. You're a reader too have you got any idea what it is that's upsettin her?" Mal asked.

Simon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He let his mind open up to read as much as possible. Instantly he was bombarded with the thoughts and emotions of every single person on board. Concentrating hard he tried to sort through the bedlam of noise to find what had upset River.

Sighing in frustration a few minutes later Simon opened his eyes and rubbed his temples. He had gotten nothing from the attempt except a splitting head ache.

"Sorry Mal I have no idea what upset her so badly." He said and continued to massage his temples.

"Thanks for trying. Sorry bout the headache. Do you think it has anything to do with what happened on Aberdeen?" Mal asked.

Simon winced at the mention of Aberdeen, but quickly wiped the look of pain off of his face.

"It's been over a year and she never had any episodes then. I can't imagine it would set her off now." He answered.

Mal felt guilty for bringing up Aberdeen to Simon. He should have known it would upset the doctor. One year before they had been planet side on Aberdeen for a few days to shop and for Kaylee to give Serenity's engine a tune up. River had been in town with Zoe shopping when a bar fight had broken out down the street. One man pulled a gun and was able to fire off a single shot before he was subdued. That one stray bullet had hit River from half a block away. Zoe had been able to get River back to Serenity soon enough for Simon to save her life.

Simon had been able to save his sister's life but he hadn't been able to save his daughter. River had been four months pregnant with Simon and Kaylee's baby when she was shot.

Simon cleared his throat and turned to get himself a pain reliever from a cupboard.

"Well hopefully when she wakes up she'll be able to explain what upset her." He said trying to change the subject.

"She ok to go back to our room?" Mal asked.

"Yes she should be fine, unless she's still having an episode when she wakes up. Then just come get me." Simon instructed.

Mal nodded and scooped River up from the table and carried her from the room.

Simon closed his eyes and leaned against the wall wishing that the pounding in his head would disappear.

"Simon ya got a wave coming in." Jayne suddenly said through the comm unit.

The doctor stiffened in surprise and wondered who in the Verse would be waving him.

"Thanks Jayne. Can you send it down here please?" Simon asked.

He waited a few seconds until he heard the beep of an incoming wave. He turned the Cortex screen on and then jolted in horror when he saw who was on the screen.

"Dr. Tam I trust you remember me." Captain Syler said with a syrupy sweetness that made Simon want to vomit.

"Remember the man who captured me and sent me to have my brain cut up? You really think I could forget?" Simon snapped. "How did you find us?"

"It wasn't hard. I just had a bulletin posted for a Firefly class ship. We got a hit six months ago on Three Hills." Syler explained.

"Six months ago? And you haven't come in with guns blazing to recapture us? I'm a little surprised, why are you waving me now?" Simon asked.

"I think I can admit to you that our attempts to reclaim you and your sister have not gone well. Apparently the Academy was a little too successful when they created the both of you, I must say you're very impressive."

"Thanks." Simon sneered sarcastically. "But you still haven't told me why you're waving me now."

"Has anyone on board come down with the flu recently?" Syler asked suddenly.

Wuh de ma! How closely have they been watching us? Simon thought in horror.

"I'll take your silence to mean yes." Syler replied with a small laugh.

"How did you know?" Simon asked.

"Dr. Tam do you really think the Academy didn't foresee that someday one of our subjects would escape? There have been contingency plans in place since before you were born in the event that you or your sister escaped."

Simon felt a chill run up his back and knew that whatever Syler was about to tell him was going to be terrible.

"When your genetic sequence was manipulated before your birth the Academy planted something in your DNA to be activated in the event of your escape."

"If there was something in our DNA that the Academy could use to recapture us why wouldn't they have done it years ago?" Simon asked suspiciously.

"Oh it isn't to be used to recapture you. It's used to eliminate you. I've activated a virus that has been dormant in your DNA. It should read as the simple flu at first, but trust me when I say it is designed to kill you."

"Why- why would you bother telling me this?" Simon whispered.

"Because I don't want to kill you, I want to bring you back to the Academy. If you and your sister will surrender yourselves I'll happily provide you with the antidote to the virus." Syler offered.

Simon had to swallow the knot in his throat before he could speak.

"Do you really think we'll just turn ourselves in? I've personally experienced what the Academy does, I think I'd rather die than go back to that."

"Oh trust me Dr. Tam I've considered that. But never the less I believe you'll do what I say." Syler replied confidently.

"Why?"

"Because it isn't just your life and your sister's that will end. Those sweet little twins of River's, Annabelle and Haven correct? River has passed the gene with the virus to them, just as you've passed it to your unborn son. You may be willing to sacrifice your life and your sister's but are you really willing to sacrifice your child?"

Simon felt his heart sink when he realized that the three innocent children in his family were in danger as well.

"I promise you Dr. Tam if you and River return to the Academy I guarantee you I will cure the children as well. And I will make sure they are left alone. The Academy isn't interested in them, their genes aren't pure the way yours are. If you return I can promise they will live out the rest of their lives without our interference."

Simon didn't know what to say and simply stared at the Alliance official in shock.

"I'll give you some time to think this through. We'll speak again tomorrow." Syler said and ended the wave.