The Fish Job

by mal4prez

A simple but smelly job goes wrong in the usual way. Until things get... unusual.

3. Part 3

The Fish Job: Part 3 (Chapters 10-14)

The Firefly verse belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy,
and the rest. I'm just playing with it, and not making any money.

---

Chapter 10.

Simon had a hard time holding his tongue as he watched his little sister fidget. He wanted to ask her what had happened in the flower shop to get her so upset, but he couldn't talk freely in front of Marone. He had to play the servant, not the big brother.

River sat across from him in the Prefect's private transport, one hand under her veil so she could chew her thumbnail. Marone fussed over her, offered chocolate turtles, but she shook her head impatiently. Her eyes flicked from the window to Simon, and he could see her impatience. She appeared to be having a harder time keeping silent than he was.

Though it felt like forever, the ride to Chairman Yeng's residence took barely ten minutes. River was out of the transport as soon as the door opened, leaving Simon to gather her gifts, murmur an apology to the Prefect, and rush on his sore leg to follow. She moved amazingly well, considering that her borrowed shoes were two sizes too big.

The door to Inara's shuttle was open, and River ran in without pausing. Simon caught up just in time to see Inara catch River in her arms.

"It's okay honey," Inara was saying. "We just need to leave a little early." She saw Simon enter and threw him a look of concern.

Simon just shrugged helplessly, then he noticed the tousled bed and used tea cups on the table. It appeared that Inara'd had her day interrupted as well.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"I was just going to send someone to find you," Inara explained. "Apparently, the captain has gotten himself into another mess and the ship is leaving already." Inara sighed and shook her head. "That man can't even deliver a few fish without hitting a snag."

"Worse than that," River muttered into Inara's shoulder. "Planning, they're planning."

Inara looked down at River and lifted the veil off the girl's face. "What happened? Are you all right?"

Simon dropped his bags carelessly when he saw River's face - she was nearly hysterical, eye makeup running in smears down her cheeks. "No knives," she said. "Wires. Burn from the inside. Turn everything bad!"

He took River out of Inara's arms. "She was doing fine and then suddenly…" He shrugged. "…she just said we had to go."

Inara turned to seal the shuttle hatch. "She was right about that. I got a wave from Wash about ten minutes ago; they're leaving the station - in a hurry, of course - and we're to meet them in wide orbit." She paused on her way to the cockpit. "Is River all right?"

"She'll be fine," Simon replied. "It's been a long day. Too many new experiences." He guided River to the sofa. "You did very well mèi mei."

River stared at him, eyes wide with horror. "Don't know what it's like. Everything seems real but isn't how it's supposed to be." Her focus turned inward. "Everything goes wrong, exactly how it shouldn't."

"What goes wrong?"

"Everything! They want… what they want to know. It's not there. Doesn't have it. But they'll dig up other things."

"Who?" Simon asked, but River's face screwed up in frustration. She buried her head in his shoulder.

Simon turned to Inara, who was watching with concern. "I'm not excusing the captain for getting us into another botched job," he said, "but I am glad to be getting her back to the ship early. This has been a lot for her to take."

"He's lucky I have you two along," Inara said, "or I might consider staying here and keeping the shuttle as payment for all the headaches he's caused me." She didn't say it meanly though, and Simon returned her frustrated smile.

The shuttle was still warming up when the comm chimed. A half minute later, Inara shut off the engines and returned to the main room, an expression of worry on her face.

"Simon?"

"Yes."

"I just talked to Wash. We're not going back to Serenity yet. We're to stay here."

"Why?"

"Mal's disappeared."

.*. .*. .*.

Book stepped into the ship and shut the hatch in the airlock door with a clang.

"Nothing," he told Zoë. "There could be video monitoring, but there's no one out there keeping an eye on us."

"Any sign of trouble?" she asked him.

"I found the stairway door where the captain must have been when he talked to you over the comm. Doesn't appear to have been a scuffle there. And I had a chat with the folks at the nearby platforms; no one saw anything out of the ordinary."

"Or they saw it and don't wanna talk about it," Jayne said sullenly. He was sitting on a crate next to Kaylee.

"Those folks figure what you were askin' about?" Zoë asked Book.

"No one is surprised at a knock from a clergyman," Book said with a small smile. "They make their own assumptions as to why I'm bothering their peace,"

"As long as they won't trace you back here."

"He couldn't a' just disappeared," Kaylee said. "Not without any trace."

"Apparently that's just what he did," Zoë replied.

"So what're we gonna do?" Jayne asked.

"Find him is what," Zoë told him. "Anyone got any contacts on this world? Old friends?"

They looked at each other uncomfortably, and no one answered.

"Right," Zoë said, and took a turn across the cargo bay with her head down. She didn't look up until Wash came clattering down the stairs from the bridge.

"I waved Inara," he said. "She says they're in a safe spot and she can stay put. Do we have a plan yet?"

Everyone looked to Zoë.

"OK," she said. "He was most like grabbed by the same Feds that came into that bar. Alliance is new on this world, so could be we'll get some folks to talk to us about what the Alliance has been up to today. Maybe find out where they hold prisoners. We got well paid, so there's bribe money if we need it."

"What if they tied you and Jayne in with Mal when you were out before?" Book asked.

"It's been near a half hour since we heard from him. If they were interested in me and Jayne we'd have heard a knock by now." She turned to Jayne. "You saw the fellow that closed the deal with Mal?"

"Yeah."

"You heard his name while Mal was talkin' to him?"

"Uh… Kamath. Somethin' like that."

"That's what I heard. Kamath. You need to find him."

"You think that's like to happen?" Jayne asked.

"It ain't that big a station, see what you can do. Start at the place we met the guy. Ask around."

"I do know how to conduct a search," Jayne said with injured dignity.

"You better. Ain't none of us leavin' this station without the Captain." Zoë looked around at them all. "Dŏng ma?"

"I can go with Jayne," Kaylee said tentatively. "Folks might be a little more chatty about a man's whereabouts with a gal than with, well…" She bit her lip and glanced at Jayne doubtfully.

"All right. Take a comm unit, stay in contact with Wash and don't get separated. If you find this guy, call it in but do not talk to him. They came for Mal right after he talked to Kamath. I don't want the same to happen to you. We need to go at this real careful."

"I'll do some walking about myself," Book offered. "Keep my ears open."

"All right," Zoë said. "Everyone check in every fifteen. Wash, if you go a half hour without hearing from someone, you call us all back and we'll mount a new rescue. Times 'a tickin' and every minute the trail gets colder. Let's move."

.*. .*. .*.

Inara changed the bedding while Simon wiped River's face clean with a wet towel.

"I'll tell Chairman Yeng our ship is having mechanical trouble," Inara said. "I'm sure he won't mind hosting us, but I'll insist on leaving the shuttle for you and River."

"Sleep will help her. Won't it River?"

"I can sleep now," River said distantly. "Nothing to listen to yet. Don't need me."

"Of course we need you. But you're tired." Simon finished removing her makeup and kissed her on the forehead. Inara offered her a satin nightslip and robe, and River went to the shuttle's head to change.

"Do you need anything?" Inara asked Simon.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine."

Inara pulled a shawl over her shoulders and walked to the hatch.

"Inara?" Simon called. "They'll find him." Her reply was a smile that didn't conceal the fright in her eyes.

On the way down to the station's entertainment level, Jayne filled Kaylee in with the 'Kamath' guy's looks. "Won't be hard to spot," he said. "Ain't many Hindu type folk hereabout."

The place was, amazingly, all cleaned up. The only difference Jayne could see from when he had been there less than an hour ago was the clean floor: recently swept and mopped to get up the glass. The lights were replaced and there were even a few patrons settled in like they'd been there all day. Jayne tried to start up a chat with a drinker at the bar, commenting on the ruckus they'd had earlier, but the guy claimed to have just landed and pointedly turned back to his glass.

Kaylee turned on all her charm with the bartender. The man at least admitted to the fuss, but he didn't have much to tell her about it.

"Raids of this type been happenin' since the Alliance got here," he told her. "Guess they want to make sure people learn who's in charge now."

"You know who they was after?" she asked.

"Probably some poor fool who don't know some little bitty law. This one today was pretty excitin' though. People make a run for it a lotta times, but I never seen someone shoot out the lights before. Not a bad idea. I hope they got away."

"Yeah, me too. Say, I heard there was this Indian type guy in here just before the shootin'. You know, black hair, little mustache. Wearin' a loose tan robe kind of thing and a little cloth hat?" Kaylee held her hands up as a model of the hat.

The bartender gave her an amused look. "Little lady, I think maybe you got some personal interest in this."

"I do. Please, it's important."

"I didn't see the fella."

"You sure?"

"Sorry missy. Wish I could help."

Kaylee shook her head at Jayne and they moved on.

"Nothin' useful there," she said once they got outside. Jayne quickly relayed this to Wash, then put the comm back in his pocket.

"So now we do a door-to-door, check all the eateries. Then we can go down a level and check the shops." Jayne took a look around the concourse before he continued.."This level's all arranged in circles. Crappy places inside, nice places toward the outside where the proper folk can look out the window. We start inside, and work our way out. You go in and do the askin' of the people what work there, I'll scope the customers." Jayne narrowed his eyes at Kaylee. "So what's your story?"

"My story?"

"Yeah, what are you gonna tell people?"

"Um, I'm just lookin' for this guy…"

"No!" Jayne gave her a look of disgust. "You got no idea how to do this." He thought a minute as they worked their way in to the most central circle. "OK – you tell them this guy was supposed to meet up with you for a little assig-nation."

"Jayne!"

"What? He probably has buddies, and no one's gonna help us find a guy if they think we're gonna beat him up or somethin'. But they will help him get hooked up with you." Jayne raised his eyebrows suggestively. "That story'll work for these first few circles. I'll think a' somethin' classier once we get out a bit."

"Jayne Cobb, I do believe you have a talent for this."

"Glad someone gets that."

.*. .*. .*.

Inara was led to Chairman Yeng where he sat in a dark den with the Prefect. She could tell what they had been discussing from the way they looked at her.

"Chairman, I apologize for intruding -" she began.

"Fèi huà! No intrusion!" he jumped up. "I was unhappy to lose you so early. To what do we owe this fortunate change of plans?"

"My host ship has had a mechanical problem. I'm afraid I won't be able to return to it tonight. I can move to a public landing pad, if you could recommend something appropriate."

"Nonsense! You will dine with us and you are welcome for as long as you need to stay. Trevor was just telling me about the Novice Daphne."

"Were you?" Inara inclined her head at the Prefect, whom she hadn't yet met. "A pleasure. Prefect Marone, I believe?"

"The lovely Inara Serra." The Prefect kissed her hand gallantly.

"Thank you for entertaining Daphne this afternoon. She would have been disappointed to stay inside and miss seeing the sights."

"How is she? She seemed quite distressed."

"She's resting. It's best she stay on my shuttle for the night. A world like this is new to her; I'm afraid she was overwhelmed." She turned to the Chairman. "I would be happy to accept your invitation for dinner. Perhaps afterwards we can continue our appointment where we left off?" The man flushed with pleasure that Inara would make such a statement in front of his friend. An easy one to please, she thought.

.*. .*. .*.

Zoë managed to get chummy with a pair of men wearing the light gray suits of Alliance workers. They were nursing their coffee at a greasy spoon diner on the same level as the station's recently opened Alliance office. It didn't take them long to start in on their new employer.

"Guess I shouldn't be complainin' 'bout it," the larger of the two men said. He spoke in a slow, calm drawl. "It's good to have regular pay for a change, but a man's gotta wonder what they're up to."

"How d'ya mean?" Zoë asked from her stool next to him at the counter.

"I mean they're lookin' for somethin'. Been takin' people since the first week they got here."

Zoë looked at him sharply. "Takin' people?" she asked.

"Do it planetside too. Purplebellies always out on the prowl." He sipped his coffee thoughtfully.

"What happens to the people who get taken?"

"Lost someone?" the big man's friend asked. His face was tight and drawn into a perpetual frown.

Zoë gave him a hard look. "Someone I mean to get back."

"Take it easy, hon," the big man said. "You'll get him – him?" Zoë nodded in response. "You'll get him back. Way I hear it, people turn up a couple days after they get nabbed, lookin' confused but none the worse for it."

"You know that, do ya?" the frowning man asked his buddy, then he turned to Zoë. "I heard a lady got taken more'n a week ago and nobody heard a thing since."

The big man countered: "I know a fella planetside, said his wife's brother went away for three days, then walks back in the house actin' kinda lost. Then he goes to bed, and gets up next mornin' with nothin' more than a headache and he's been goin' 'bout his business ever since."

"That ain't nothin'," frowning man started in on another tale. "I heard -"

Zoë interrupted, "Do either of you gents know where they take these people?"

Big man answered, "Nah. Ain't you listenin'? Just sit back and wait, he'll show."

"Or could be he won't," frowning man said with a look of warning.

"Do you know what the Feds are doin' with these people?" Zoë asked.

"Just askin' questions, most like," big man said patiently.

"Experimentin' on em, I say," claimed frowning man. "Doin' somethin' unnatural. Somethin' they can't get away with in the Core."

Zoë decided to go with big man's theory. "What're they after with the questions?" she asked him.

"Somethin' or other 'at pisses 'em off. Never can tell with the Feds." big man set down his mug. "Lady, you ought'a leave this alone. Alliance is here now, they'll do what they do. No good makin' a fuss over it. Didn't do no good in the war, won't do no good now."

"That is the truth of the matter there," frowning man agreed.

Zoë took advantage of the their moment of agreement to buy them refills of their coffee, then she moved on.

.*. .*. .*.

The Prefect lingered over brandy and a cigar, seeming oblivious to his host's broad hints that it was time to retire. Inara found her creative skills put to use as Trevor questioned her about the Novice Daphne's background. The man seemed taken enough to be satisfied with a fairly basic account, but Inara kept track of her story so she could fill in River and Simon later.

…belle of a small town on a backwater world, parents tragically died, her brother came to Inara and begged her to take the girl to be a Companion. Inara was happy to have company, and the girl showed promise, so…

"Do you know how long you'll be staying planetside?" the Prefect asked.

"I'm not sure. I hope to hear from the ship's mechanic in the morning, then I should have a better idea."

"What a fortunate chance that you were delayed. I hope you both can spend a few more days here; there is so much to see."

"Yes, it is a lovely world," Inara hesitated to be too chatty. Chairman Yeng had begun to stare at her body and sigh heavily.

"What did you say the name of your ship was?" the Prefect asked.

"Oh… I didn't." Inara realized that Marone was watching her closely - her face, not her body. She couldn't sidestep the question without being obvious. "She's called Serenity."

"Interesting name. What kind of ship is it?"

"A cargo ship. Firefly class transport."

"Ah yes. Good design." He sipped his brandy, but his eyes didn't leave her face. "Yet, it's a strange vessel for a Registered Companion to choose as her base of operation."

Inara felt a pang of alarm at his continuing questions, but hid it behind a smile. "One can never guess the path one will tread."

"Indeed. What does the crew do?"

"Transport cargo, mostly." Inara glanced at the Chairman as another loud sigh escaped him.

"And they had cargo to deliver here?"

"I believe so. I don't involve myself in the day to day operations of the ship." She finished with a smile of dismissal. Marone seemed the type of man to understand that message.

He did. "I imagine not," he said, and he rose to his feet. "I believe I've overstayed my welcome. I'll be on my way to bed. Arthur, lovely dinner. Miss Serra, truly a pleasure to meet you."

Inara returned his bow with a smile and a nod of her head, but she didn't much care for the calculations she could see behind his eyes.

.*. .*. .*.

Four hours after the search had started, the remaining crew of Serenity assembled in the dining room. Wash had prepared a late dinner while they combed the station; they shared the little bits of news they'd heard while they ate.

"I didn't get anything about Mal," Zoë said. "Anyone else?" She got a chorus of no's in response.

"And we didn't hear a thing about Ricky's pal," Jayne said.

"But this ain't been the first Alliance trouble here," Kaylee said. "They been raidin' a lot. Takin' people."

Zoë nodded. "Yeah, pretty clear the Alliance is up to no good out here. Could be there's some information they're lookin' for that they think Mal has. But that don't help us get to him."

"We could go back to New Melbourne, talk to Ricky," Wash suggested.

"We do that, we can't be back for four days, maybe five. Mal could be anywhere by then."

"Sweetie," Wash said, laying a hand on Zoë's shoulder, "he could be anywhere by now."

Zoë didn't seem ready to concede the point. "You been monitorin' traffic?"

"I have. Nothing big has left the system, but there's been all kinds of movement between the station, the freighter, the cruiser, and the planetside base."

"All right," Zoë said. "We know that Mal ain't the first person to disappear. Must be a central place they're takin' these folks for questionin', if that's what's happening." She pushed her plate back and checked her watch. "We can't go out again now. Everything's shut down, and we've probably already drawn enough attention to ourselves as it is."

"I believe no one will be surprised at a preacher wondering the complex during the sinful hours," Book said. "And you never know what stories come out in the middle of the night."

"Good idea preacher. Thank you. The rest of you get some sleep, I'm gonna comb the cortex. Maybe there's somethin' in the news."

Wash didn't like that idea so much. "You get some sleep too, honey. You can't help him if you're exhausted."

"I will. Later." She left for the bridge.

.*. .*. .*.

Inara rose as soon as she heard snores from the Chairman. Thankfully, he hadn't taken long to finish their appointment, and she wasn't in a frame of mind to draw out the experience for him. She couldn't shake her uneasiness with the Prefect's questions, and she was eager to get to her shuttle and talk to Zoë. Hopefully there would be good news.

She put on a robe and left the Chairman's quarters, winding her way through the rambling house to the hall near the landing garden.

"Miss Serra?"

Inara jumped at the man sitting on a dark bench at the entryway.

"You startled me," she said.

"You were going somewhere?" the Prefect asked.

"Just… to check on Daphne. I was worried about her."

"As was I. However, she can wait a few minutes. Would you have a word with me?" It wasn't really a question; it was a polite directive.

"Now isn't the best time," she said.

"I'd like to talk to you about Serenity."

"Oh?"

"There's no mechanical problem."

He sounded completely confident of that. Inara was grateful for the training that allowed her to keep her face calm. "Indeed? Our pilot told me-"

He cut her off and took her elbow in a solid grip. "Your captain has been taken into Alliance custody, and deservedly so. If you don't mind..."

He motioned toward a dark doorway and guided her through it.

.*. .*. .*.

Translations
mèi mei: little sister
fèi huà: nonsense

---

Chapter 11.

Prefect Trevor Marone led Inara into a dark saloon and flipped on a small glass lamp.

"Please, have a seat, Miss Serra," he said with a gesture toward a richly upholstered wing back chair.

"Thank you." Inara pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she sat down. "How... why do you think the captain's been taken by the Alliance?" she asked him.

He settled at one end of a settee and leaned back with one foot crossed comfortably over the other knee. "Captain Malcolm Reynolds," he announced. "Or should I say sergeant?" He paused to study her reaction.

Inara swallowed her alarm. "Captain will do."

He watched her for a seocnd longer, then began again. "Captain Malcolm Reynolds. An Independent who probably holds a bit of a grudge. Now a small time brigand, with his very own Companion who visits with planetside dignitaries. Tell me, Miss Serra, what exactly was he bringing to Oeneus?"

"I explained to you already, it's not my business. And I was told nothing about the Alliance taking him. Where did you hear such a thing?"

He uncrossed his legs and leaned toward her with a grave look. Suddenly he appeared to be much less the dandy than he had at dinner. "Let me explain to you that I have lived my entire life on this world, working to change it from a barely habitable desert to what it is today. I will not have my home turned into a battleground." His voice turned threatening. "I am no lover of the Alliance, but I agree with them on this: profit hungry arms smugglers have no place here."

Inara switched tactics; there was nothing to be gained by continuing to play stupid. "Prefect, it was food. The ship's cargo was several crates of food."

He gave her a disgusted look. "You can't really believe that's what your ship was carrying. Or why would they go after your captain?"

"He never has been a favorite of the Alliance."

"And what else do you suppose they'd be interested in?"

Inara cursed to herself, this was not a good direction to take this conversation. "Prefect Marone, the crew of Serenity may not comprise the most law abiding citizens, but I assure you, they are not weapon smugglers, nor lovers of war. They have a strong sense of morality, as twisted as it may seem at times. They are good people, every one of them."

"You're very protective of them. Why is that?"

Inara met his stare. "They're my crew."

"Which brings me back to wondering: why would a registered Companion join such a group?"

"The fine food and witty banter. Now, if you would permit me to ask you a question: how do you know so much about Serenity and the Captain?"

The Prefect sighed. He pulled a thin cigar from his vest pocket and took his time about lighting it. He gave her a long look as he puffed on it. "Companions are, by training, fine actresses."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Is she really a Novice?"

Inara could see the this was a test. It would be best to answer truthfully, he already knew. "No."

"Who is she?"

"That is not important. But it's true what I told you, that she has lost her home. She's had a difficult life, and she looks on the captain as a father. That's why she's so upset now. She knows he's missing."

"Does he treat her like a daughter?"

"He protects her with his life. As he protects all his crew."

"You're fond of him?"

Inara answered without hesitation. "Yes."

He took another draw off his cheroot, then exhaled as he came to a decision. "The Alliance hasn't been here long. They are understaffed and security measures haven't been fully implemented. I have a number of people working inside the new base, and, until they get their protocols up and running, I have full run of their computer system. After I left you earlier, I looked up your ship, and your captain."

Inara looked at him hopefully, then composed her face with an effort. "You know where he is?"

"He's been transported to the planetside base for questioning."

"Questioning about what?"

"That wasn't stated in his file. I thought it might have something to do with your cargo, which I was hoping you could clarify for me."

"I told you already. Seafood. Ready to rehydrate gorram seafood dinners!" Inara's frustration found its way through a crack.

"Obviously there's a bit more behind it than that. What's your crew doing to find him?"

"I don't know."

"They won't. Find him, that is."

"But you know where he is?"

He nodded. "And I'll help you get him out."

Inara couldn't hide her surprise. "Why?"

He smiled and his charm returned in full force. "Your captain's situation provides me with an opportunity I simply cannot pass by."

"Oh? How so?"

"I think it best I discuss that with your whole crew."

She matched his charm with ease, relaxing back into her chair with a soft smile. "Don't you think it would be unwise of me to bring my crew, my dear friends, into a situation about which I know so little?"

He gave Inara a measuring look. "Touché," he said. He paused to tap his cigar in an ashtray, then settled back again. "The fact that the Alliance is building a base here, now, is no accident. Seven years ago there weren't many people on this world, but the few of us who were here solidly supported the Independents. We sent out what money and people we could. The fact that it amounted to almost nothing didn't prevent the Alliance from coming down on us hard after the war ended."

His jaw tightened for a moment, then he seemed to remember himself and continued. "It left a lot of ill will. The past year the ill will has gotten focused, and it's gotten armed.

"That, Miss Serra, is why Oeneus is the lucky world chosen as the site of the Alliance's newest base. And it's why they're taking people, like your captain, for questioning. They want to know who's arming insurgents on an out of the way border world."

When he didn't continue, Inara asked him, "And where is the opportunity in this for you?"

"I too am curious about the source of these weapons. This is not the place nor the time for warfare." He sighed and shook his head, then stabbed out his cigar in the ashtray. "It would only lead to loss on both sides, and destruction to Oeneus."

"My ship is not a part of it, Prefect," Inara said softly.

"Oddly, I find myself willing to believe you about that." He raised his eyebrows as if surprised at his own attitude, then he looked at Inara and continued in a friendly tone, "Of course, if you're lying and your crew is trying to make money by starting a war here, I will see to it that you all end up locked up somewhere very dark for a very long time." He finished with a smile.

Inara ignored the threat, it didn't apply. "If you believe we're not involved, how do think we can help you?"

"I want to know what kind of questions they're asking your captain. And, if we get him out soon enough, he might prove helpful in another matter."

"Which is?"

"I want to know how they're interrogating the people they take. It appears to be highly effective." He folded his hands together and leaned toward her. "Now, I'll be happy to go into more detail about that, but it would save time if I didn't have to do it twice. Is it possible that you could trust me enough to call your crew down?"

Inara studied him and considered her options. "Is there anything else about Serenity that is of interest to you?"

He smiled. "Companions are said to be perceptive. I have a certain fondness for your non-Novice, whatever her name is."

Inara straightened in her chair. "She's seventeen, and she's not available."

"Not that kind of fondness." His face softened more, and he looked almost like the fop she had initially taken him for. "My own daughter would be sixteen now, if her transport hadn't been shot down after the war. By the Alliance."

.*. .*. .*.

"Everyone wake up and get to the galley NOW," Zoë's voice barked over the comm. She'd already called Book back from his late night prowling on the station, and wanted the rest of them together to hear the news.

Kaylee was the first to arrive, coming from the direction of the engine room with a worried face and a fresh smear of grease on her forehead. She obviously hadn't been sleeping. The rest trinkled in looking groggy.

As soon as they were all gathered, Zoë announced, "I just got word from Inara. She's got a lead on Mal."

"Inara?" Jayne asked in confusion.

"What'd she say? Is he all right?" Kaylee asked.

"She thinks he"s at the planetside base. We're goin' down to meet her and her contact."

"Her contact?" Book asked.

"I don't know who it is, she couldn't say much over a public wave. She told me what she did carefully. But it's all we got. Wash?"

"Warming her up now." Wash jogged toward the bridge.

.*. .*. .*.

At Inara's urging, Zoë agreed to meet them at Chairmen Yeng's house. The Chairman had government duties that day, which the Prefect encouraged him to attend. Marone was fond of his friend, but explained that the Chairman was at his best when faced with hand shakes and cocktails at official soirees, rather than clandestine dealings.

Simon and River changed back into costume before returning to the sitting room where River had found both amusement and boredom the day before. They settled at a corner table and Simon kept an eye on River, closing his hand over hers whenever she started mumbling. Inara sat half the room away with Marone, feeling quite at ease, sipping tea, nibbling scones, and chatting like old friends. He really was an agreeable man.

Zoë and Jayne arrived just after sunrise. "Let's get to business, time's a-wastin'," Zoë said after nodding a curt hello to Marone. Jayne stretched out on a sofa with his dirty boots up on the antique table, muttering about having to get up so early to visit a tea parlor with no guards that needed fightin' and not even any decent grub. Zoë paced the room, throwing doubtful looks at the Prefect while he repeated what he had told Inara the night before.

"So you're sayin' that the Alliance has our captain, and you mean to help us get him out?" she asked when he was finished.

"That's what I'm sayin'," he mimicked her drawl with an easy smile.

Zoë frowned at his attempted charm. "Because you wanna know what they're doin' to him."

"What they're doing to him, and what questions they're asking him," he replied with a nod, giving up his humor.

"Doin' to him as in torture?"

"That would be illegal," he said with a hint of irony. "The Alliance is too principled for that."

"Drugs, then?"

The man sighed and settled back into his chair. "This is how it goes," he began. "I'm sure you've heard that the Alliance has been taking people, yes?" Zoë nodded. "I've been trying to find out what I can about this, by meeting with the people who are released. Some recall being questioned, but they never say they've been hurt, threatened, or even strongly pressured. A few aren't even aware of being taken; they wake up afterwards with a bit of a headache, but that's all.

"I've had drug tests run on a few; I've found nothing but sedatives. But any secrets they might once have had are no longer secret. For instance, one of Chairmen Yeng's top aides was taken during the first week the Alliance was here. Shortly afterward he was formally charged with embezzling money from a company he had worked for in the Core more than a decade ago."

"There any point to this?" Jayne asked as he sniffed a scone and made a face.

Marone continued without missing a beat. "All he remembers is waking up in a cell shortly before an Alliance attorney showed him records of his crime, records that he claims they could not have found unless he told them exactly where to look."

"He told you all this?" Zoë asked.

"We go way back," the Prefect said with a polished smile. "Played golf." He turned to Jayne. "My point is, they have a highly effective interrogation method."

Zoë looked at him skeptically. "An interrogation method they're usin' to cut down on corporate crime?"

"Not a bad use for it," Jayne said with a snicker. "Go after the suits for a change."

Marone ignored Jayne. "That was just an unhappy chance for my friend. But you see how effective it is: they got information from him which they weren't even after."

He was swirling the last of his tea; Inara hoped that he didn't notice Jayne and Zoë both glancing at River when he said this.

"You think you know what they're after?" Zoë asked.

"As I told you already, there's some kind of a resistance group forming here, which has recently begun aquiring some very high tech weapons, the kind of weapons that make the Alliance very unhappy."

"And they think Mal is part of it?" Zoë asked.

"He does fit the profile, enough to be worth checking out. After all, they haven't been very selective; they've been questioning quite a few people."

"We didn't ask to be part of this," Zoë said in frustration. "All we brought here was food."

"As Miss Serra assured me. In that case, you have nothing to worry about." He watched Zoë's reaction. "Or do you?"

Zoë finally sat down next to Jayne. "Could be there's a few things the captain shouldn't be talkin' about."

He glanced at Inara. "I was lead to believe you were something more than common criminals."

"It's about me," River jumped into the fray, pulling her arm out of Simon's hand and turning to Zoë. "It's okay Zoë, he wouldn't turn me in." River turned back to the Prefect. "The captain's protecting me. They'll hurt him because of me. Lock him up forever, or kill him."

"If it's as bad as that, maybe you should be getting as far from this system as you can."

"We're not goin' anywhere without the captain," Zoë said, her voice allowign no argument.

Marone took in Zoë's determination, then he turned to study River. "You don't look like much of a criminal," he said.

"You ain't never lived on the same ship as her," Jayne commented. "She's fēng le. Crazy as a gorram loon."

"Jayne!" Zoë gave him a threatening look.

Inara answered the Prefect, "She's not a criminal. She's a victim. Whatever else Mal may do with his life, he has protected her, at great risk to himself."

"They were hurting me," River said. "The way they'll hurt him."

He considered River for a moment. "You must have an interesting story," he said softly.

"That's one word for it," Zoë said. "You said you got all kinds of connections at the base. That mean you have some idea of how as to how to get the captain out?"

"I believe so," he looked around the room with a smirk. "All I need is the help of a few daring miscreants."

"Well then, ain't you lucky we came along," Jayne said.

"Indeed. Here's what I have in mind…"

.*. .*. .*.

The Prefect had the good beginnings of a plan, but there were gaps to be filled. Before they began working those out, Zoë suggested that the Companion's servant had some helpful technical knowledge. Marone plainly wasn't buying into Simon's assumed role, but he didn't pursue the matter. Simon was given a cortex terminal and connected to the Alliance's network.

While Simon sorted through all the maps, schedules and supply lists he could find, Zoë and the Prefect returned to polishing up the details and Jayne made peace with the idea of scones as food.

After a while, Zoë called to Jayne, "Are you payin' attention to any a'this?"

"Fàngxīn," Jayne said coolly around a mouthful of scone. "I'm all over it."

"Are you even listenin'?" Zoë asked him. "It's a tricky part, and you're the only one to do it. You need to set down those fancy biscuits and start studyin' up on these maps and this timetable, cause there's a lot ridin' on you."

Jayne shrugged. "Can't be that hard."

"You mess it up, Jayne, your face may find itself havin' a talk with a few of my fists."

"A man can't get a bit a' respect around here," Jayne mumbled as he washed his scone down with tea from a delicate china cup.

"We'll get you some respect, young man," the Prefect said. He rang for the house mistress, who led Jayne away to visit a barber and Chairmen Yeng's personal tailor.

Zoë continued with the planning. "You're sure you can arrange to have an Alliance NCO meet Jayne on the inside? Someone with a uniform who won't be askin' too many questions?"

"I'll find a man and send offical orders over the cortex," he assured her.

Zoë studied her notes. "Wash and I can get the transport. The only problem left is how we're gonna get patched into the surveillance system – and we'll need to be able to do more than just watch the feed."

"I think I may be able to help with that," Simon said, looking up from a map on the cortex screen. "Well, not me personally… but have a look at this." He motioned Zoë over to the screen and showed her what he meant. "Book should be able to take care of it, with a little help," Simon explained.

"Jīngcăi," Zoë said with a smile.

Jayne returned a while later sporting a cleanly shaven face and neatly trimmed hair. He complained loudly about how looking so clean-cut was unhealthy, and less loudly about the places a tape measure shouldn't be allowed to go. The Prefect promised to have Jayne's fancy new outfit sent over to Serenity as soon as it was ready.

Before they left, Zoë pulled the Prefect aside. "There's one more thing I need," she said quietly. She explained in a low voice; she didn't want anyone on the crew arguing over this. Some of them might not think it was necessary, but it needed to be done, added risk be damned.

"You're going to risk going onto the base for that?" the Prefect asked her.

"Yes," she said firmly. "It's important."

Marone shrugged. "I'll bring what you need over with Mr. Cobb's suit," he said without further comment.

.*. .*. .*.

It was well past noon when Inara, Zoë, Jayne, and the Tams returned to Serenity. The crew gathered around the dining room table to have a late lunch while Zoë caught Kaylee, Book, and Wash up with recent events, then explained the plan. Simon finished by sharing some of his findings.

"We know the base is new and understaffed," Simon began, "but there's one area that's been fully staffed and heavily used the whole time. It's a medium security detention center directly connected to the new medical facility. The hospital is still partly under construction, but one thing is done already. In fact, it's the first thing they finished, and, coincidentally, it's located right next to the detention center. It's also been used nearly nonstop for the past two and a half weeks." Simon paused to make sure everyone was following him.

"Well, don't keep us waiting," Wash prompted.

"It's a 3D holo-imager, the kind they had at the hospital on Ariel. It's an unusual and very expensive thing to include in such a small hospital on a border world, and I can't imagine they have enough patients to need to have it running for more than two weeks nonstop."

"Do you know what they're doing with it?" Book asked.

"I'm not sure. But I also found a supply list for the imager prep room. They're using a lot of a few particular drugs."

"What, like truth serums?" Zoë asked.

"No. Sedatives, stimulants, nothing exotic. But they're going through so much of it… I'll keep looking around, see if there's something I'm missing – "

"So what you're sayin' is, you don't know a gorram thing," Jayne said.

"No, what I'm saying is that I don't know any particular details. But, given the quantity of drugs they are going through, the holo-imager, and what the Prefect told us, I think it's highly likely that they've found some way to get into people's minds. Explore or even control their subconscious."

"We all know that's something the Alliance is willing and able to do," Book said with a small nod toward at River.

"No matter," Zoë said, "what we need to worry about is gettin' Mal out. Jayne knows his part, don't you Jayne?" She gave the merc a hard look.

Jayne rolled his eyes. "I do, and when I pull it off smooth I expect y'all to quit treatin' me like some fēng le shăguā."

"You pull this off, Jayne," Kaylee said, "I'll lay a big juicy kiss on ya. Right after I'm done kissin' the captain."

"You know I don't kiss on the mouth, so you'll have to pick out someplace else." Jayne grinned at her. "I can make a few suggestions."

"Ew! How about you bring him back and I won't go messin' with the circuitry in your bunk," Kaylee countered. Jayne curled his upper lip at her, but Zoë cut off their bickering.

"Shepherd Book, have you looked over that map Simon found?"

"I did. The layout is quite convenient."

"Yes it is. Are you okay with doin' this? It don't break any rules?"

"I can bend a few rules," Book replied with a benevolent smile "Actually, I'm looking forward to it. I haven't had a chance for peaceful contemplation in a house of worship for some time."

"Thank you, Shepherd. Kaylee, you think you can deal with the surveillance system?"

"No problem," Kaylee answered with a confident smile. "Simon got me all the diagrams."

"Good. You go grab any tools you need, then you and Book head to town and get you outfitted. The sooner you two get into the base, the sooner we can get the whole thing rollin'. Inara?"

"Yes, Zoë?"

"After we move the ship away from the city, I'll need you to give me and Wash a lift. Then can you stay on Serenity to keep an eye on River while Simon does his research?"

"My pleasure," Inara replied with a smile at River.

"The plan is a'flight, people. Let's move."

.*. .*. .*.

Kaylee continued studying the diagrams Simon had given her as Book piloted Shuttle Two into the center of the city. The Prefect had recommended a costume shop rather than taking more time to custom tailor something for her. Her role didn't require as much authenticity as Jayne's; in fact, it was unlikely that anyone she encountered would have seen her like before, not in person anyhow.

Kaylee found the costume shop easily. She picked what she needed out of their electronic catalog system and sent the shopkeeper to get it, then she let her eyes wonder over the colorful gowns and headpieces on display. The one she was getting was just so frumpy, she thought mournfully.

"But it's for the cap'n," she told herself firmly. She paid her credits and headed back to the shuttle. Book flew to a small landing pad on the edge of the city as she changed.

.*. .*. .*.

The Prefect arrived in person to drop off Jayne's new attire and a last bit of information. Zoë met him in the cargo bay. "I've found a man on the base who fits the requirements perfectly," he told her. "He'll be waiting in the central office to be called on by your Mr. Cobb."

"How 'bout the other thing?"

He handed her an official looking form. "This should do it. They'll find the request in their computer system as well."

"I 'preciate it Prefect. If it all goes smooth, we'll be seein' you in a few days on New Melbourne."

"Zhùfú nĭ," he replied, then turned and made a sweeping exit through the airlock. Zoë sealed the hatch and called up to the bridge, telling Wash that it was time to go.

Jayne was busy at the weight bench. Zoë was tempted to scold him for wasting time, but she noticed the stack of maps sitting next to the bench. The man was just working off nerves the best way he knew how. She set his bag of new clothes next to the maps with a terse nod and left him alone.

River and Inara were sitting quietly in the common room. Zoë walked past them and stepped into the infirmary. "Anything new?" she asked Simon.

"Maybe. I've been reading up on this drug medrazepan. It's the one they've been using most heavily."

"What about it?"

"It's primarily a sleep aid, with some minor theurapeutic effects. It's sometimes used as a smoother for trauma victims. But, used in high doses and in combination with certain stimulants, like this one here," he pointed to a supply list on the cortex screen, "which they've also been using a fair amount of, medrazepan is known to produce a remarkably vivid dream state."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm not sure, but – " Simon was interrupted by a loud gasp from River. Simon and Zoë went out to the common room to find River sitting up with wide eyes.

"He's awake," she said. "Spider's awake too. It's starting."

.*. .*. .*.

Translations
fēng le: insane
fàngxīn: don't worry
jīng căi: brilliant
fēng le shăguā: loopy-in-the-head idiot
zhùfú nĭ: blessing on you

---

Chapter 12.

Book and Kaylee parked the shuttle on the edge of the city and approached the base on foot. They arrived at the front gate without prior notification, but were courteously shown the way to an inner waiting room.

Kaylee sat still and tried to think tranquil thoughts. Her sweet smile was framed by white: a bandeau across her forehead and a coif wrapping down one cheek and up the other. A black veil covered the back of her head and hung down past her shoulders, covering the top part of the heavy black robe.

It wasn't long before a dark haired young soldier with deep set eyes and an obviously solid build met them. "Shepherd Book, Sister Kay," he said with a polite bow to each of them. "I'm Corporal Watson. It's a pleasure to have persons of the cloth visit the base."

"Thank you," Book replied. "We are eager to visit the base chapel. It's been a long road out in the black, I…" Book paused and turned to Kaylee, "I mean, we… haven't had a proper place to worship in some time."

"I'll show you the way," the young man turned and started down the corridor.

"Amen," Kaylee said softly, her eyes traveling lower than any proper nun's should. Book cleared his throat and she smiled innocently at him.

.*. .*. .*.

Wash landed Serenity on a inaccessible hillside a few kilometers above the remote town of Arcady. They had caught and passed the sunset during the quick ride over from Meleaguer; it was nearly midnight local time when they landed. Inara used the shuttle to drop Zoë and Wash off just outside the green valley where Arcady nestled, then she flew back to Serenity.

As explained by the Prefect in his formal lecturing tone, Arcady occasioned the visit for three reasons. First, it was currently being visited by Alliance auditors who would be updating the local tax laws over the next few days, hence their transport would be sitting unused. Second, the local residents had insisted that the town's local air field be separated from their village by a small rise so that their sky would be free of traffic, noise and exhaust. No one would notice said transport lifting off in the middle of the night. Third, the woman in charge of landing pad security was a personal friend of Prefect Marone's. The visiting Alliance accountants would never hear about the temporary absence of their transport.

"You're sure about this, petunia?" Wash asked Zoë as they approached the gate in the fence surrounding the landing pad.

"Dāng rán," Zoë replied. She pushed on the gate; it swung open easily and they passed through. "See, there it is." She nodded toward the small craft with Alliance markings parked at the edge of the tarmac.

They approached the transport stealthily, Zoë with her carbine in hand in case they encountered anyone unexpected. As it turned out, Wash could have pulled it off without her company. It took him five minutes to get through the outer hatch, another ten to override security in the cockpit, and then they had themselves an official Alliance transport to use free of charge.

.*. .*. .*.

Inara docked her shuttle and returned to the common room to find River laying sideways across a chair, shoulders against one arm of the chair and knees folded over the other, eyes closed and hands clasped over her ears. Simon sat near her studying a handheld cortex screen.

"Is River all right?" Inara asked.

"She was talking about artichokes, what do you suppose that means?" he replied with a confused shake of his head.

Inara sat down next to him. "Have you made any progress?" she nodded to the screen.

"I just don't know enough."

"Idiot!" River yelled with her eyes still closed.

Simon frowned. "That's a little harsh," he said, then he realized that River wasn't talking to him. He set down the cortex screen so he could reach and put a hand on her ankle. "Who's an idiot, mèi mei?"

River dropped her hands from her ears and looked up. "I can't believe he'd think that. Simon wouldn't do that! Never!" Simon looked at Inara and shrugged. River continued, "And Kaylee wouldn't even consider it! Not even… fanciful talkin'." River pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Where does he get these ideas?"

"Who are you talking about?" Simon asked.

River ignored his question, but she tilted her head at him and smiled. "You would make a good couple, though. He's right about that."

Simon's mouth fell open. He glanced at Inara, blushing at her knowing smile. "Um, I should… look at some more medical journals," Simon stammered. "Can you keep an eye on her?"

"Of course," Inara replied. "We've been enjoying each other's company the last few days, haven't we River?"

River didn't reply. She balled up in her chair like a cat as Simon disappeared into the infirmary. The girl might have been sleeping, except she occasionally sat up, mumbled a few apparently random phases, then settled down again. Inara passed the time idly looking over a few of the new toys that River had picked up on her afternoon out with the Prefect. River had brought them out earlier to show them off, then promptly forgotten about them.

Inara looked up when she heard River moan. The girl's eyes were open, her face flush. "River, are you okay honey?" Inara asked.

River lifted her head and cast a wide-eyed look at Inara. "On the sofa," she whispered. "Not the bed. Too much history on the bed."

"What do you mean?" Inara shifted to sit in the chair next to River's. She immediately knew what the darkened eyes, flushed skin, and short breath meant, but seeing them appear so suddenly and so intensely confounded her. She set a hand on River's shoulder.

River stared at Inara's hand, then up into her eyes. "Want more. More than this." River pressed her palm against Inara's wrist, then pulled her hand back and hugged herself. Sweat glistened on her forehead as she closed her eyes.

Inara dropped her hand, not sure what to do. One didn't need years of Companion training to interpret the look of lust the girl had just given her, but she had never picked up anything like it from River before. The rest of River's adolescence had been interrupted, Inara thought, her discovery of sex was also not likely to follow the usual path. Inara had plenty of experience with guiding girls through this phase, but she didn't think Simon was likely to approve of her interference. The common room was certainly not the place for it, in any case, she thought with a wry smile.

But River appeared to have forgotten about Inara's presence already. The girl clenched her teeth and held her breath. Then she exhaled. "Over, all over now," she said with relief.

"What's over, băobèi?"

River drew a few deep breaths, calming herself. "Not enough." She looked at Inara again, sadly this time. "Can't be satisfying when you're not really there."

"Where?"

River was still flush but all desire was gone from her face. "Shhhh. It's a dream now. Dream in a dream. I think it's important. I need to hear." She closed her eyes again.

Inara sat back for a moment, watching River silently. The girl's eyes moved, her head rocking side to side as if she was watching a conversation. Inara rose and went to the infirmary to find Simon seated on a stool by the counter, bent over the cortex.

"Simon, you should come out here."

"What's happening?"

"It's River. She's okay, she's just acting… a little odd." Saying that River was acting odd was a pretty strong statement, Inara figured.

Simon followed her out. "What is she doing?" he asked.

"It's as if she's dreaming, but she's not asleep. At least, I don't think she is."

"River?" Simon kneeled in front of his sister. "River, can you hear me?"

"They want to know about the shipment," River said without opening her eyes.

"Shipment?"

"It's not just fish. They don't think so. This isn't a dream - he's remembering it. It happened already."

"What happened?"

"They asked about Ricky. And the cargo."

"Are you talking about Mal, honey?" Inara asked.

"Wait – shhh! It's the next morning now. I want to see what happens." River put her hands over her ears again.

Simon looked up at Inara, who tilted her head toward the infirmary. They stepped just into the room, where they could still see River, and spoke quietly.

"Simon, could she be in contact with Mal?"

"I… I don't know. That's doesn't seem possible."

"We all know what she's capable of."

"No, actually, I think we don't." They both looked over to River. Her posture hadn't changed.

"She's been talking about 'he', things happening to 'him'," Inara explained. "Maybe she can see what they're doing to Mal."

"What has she been saying?"

Inara recalled the girl's lusty look and considered who the real source of that look might have been. She was surprised to feel her cheeks heat with a blush. "Nothing… clear. No – remember earlier, she said 'he' was awake. And a spider was too."

"And she said I'd 'never do that', whatever that is. And something about Kaylee."

Inara smiled. "And about you and Kaylee."

River's voice suddenly filled the room, "No, don't talk like that. That's not true!"

Simon and Inara exchanged a look. They went back to sit on either side of River. "Don't look at him like that! It's so cruel," River said.

"What's cruel?" Simon asked gently.

River opened her eyes wide, but she turned to Inara, not Simon. "You have to be nice to him when he gets back."

"Of course," Inara said, taken aback.

"No matter how he acts. No matter if he's mean and calls you names. It hurt. It's not your fault, but he doesn't know. You have to be nice."

"Of course I will," Inara replied in confusion.

River looked away from Inara. They waited while she looked at nothing for a few moments, eyes sad but unfocused. Then she put her hands over her face. "Don't believe it," she said in a determined but distant voice. "Don't believe any of it."

"Are you talking to Mal?" Inara asked.

River started crying behind her hands, but kept talking in the same faraway tone. "It was so mean. She's not really that mean. You should know that."

Inara reached out to stroke River's hair. "Mèi mei, is Mal all right?"

River sighed and sat still for a while. Then she whispered: She cares.

The loud rush of an engine drowned out further conversation as the 'borrowed' Alliance transport landed in the open cargo bay. Wash stayed in the transport to set up the comm system and wait for word from Kaylee, but Zoë got pulled into the infirmary by Simon and Inara so they could have a talk about River.

.*. .*. .*.

Kaylee sighed as the comely Corporal left her and Book alone in the silence of the chapel, but she didn't waste any time finding the grating in the side wall. The nun's costume was quickly pulled off and tucked under the nearest pew. She removed a power screwdriver from the bag of tools hanging from a strap around her neck and fit the proper bit to it.

"Awful nice of 'em, puttin' all the switchboxes for the surveillance system right next to the chapel," she commented as she unscrewed the cover from the grate.

"It has been said that He works in mysterious ways," Book said with a smile.

Kaylee straightened the receiver in her ear. "You got the relay box on, Shepherd?"

Book took a small silver box out of his pocket, extended the antenna, and flipped a switch. He set it in the shadows under a window. "All set," he told Kaylee.

"Wash?" Kaylee said. She listened for a few seconds, then smiled. "Wash, I hear you nice n'clear." She kept talking while she put the screwdriver back in her tool bag and strapped it tight around her waist. "I'm just goin' in. I'll need some time to get everything set up, then I'll let ya know when I'm ready." She looked over at Book and gave him a thumbs up. "Have nice prayer time, Shepherd Book!"

"Have nice… hacker time, Sister Kay."

After her feet disappeared through the opening, Book used a few screws to put the grating cover back up, then settled in a pew.

.*. .*. .*.

Inara and Zoë stood outside the infirmary, trying not to stare at River. They were like people at a zoo, waiting for a bored animal to do something entertaining. River considered roaring or swinging from the pipes to see if they'd throw treats.

Instead she sat up and began unfolding a thick sheet of what appeared to be paper. It was one of the gifts the Prefect had bought her on the day she got to be a doll. A doll who looked at pretty things outside her eyes, instead of the strange things that currently played in her head. She found she could easily follow what Mal was doing. She smiled at the question he overheard Kaylee asking as he left the dining room. River knew what 'struck out' meant, she'd actually been to a baseball game once.

In her mind, River followed Mal down the stairs toward the gun locker. In her body, she leaned forward to look into the cargo bay, to see if she and Mal would pass by. No one did. It was tricky, being in two realities at once.

She returned to the paper in her lap. When it was fully unfolded, she shifted the hard plastic rods around the edges of it until it snapped into a rigid sheet. Then she triggered it on with her thumb, and the paper filled with a menu of programs. She chose a fairy tale cartoon that she remembered from her childhood on Osiris. Simon came to sit next to her and shared her smile. "Saturday mornings," he said softly, "if we were up early enough, and mom and dad didn't catch us."

"The shăguā screen, they called it," River said. "But everyone else watched it. I never knew what people at school were talking about, because mom and dad wouldn't let us watch."

"Maybe they knew what they were talking about. You didn't turn out to be such a shăguā, did you?"

"No. Just crazy."

"You're not crazy."

She looked away from the dancing ducks on the viewscreen, focusing on something far away. "The walls are getting thinner. I can get in easily now."

"What's happening?"

"He's sorting bullets. Thinking." She shook her head. "Not thinking about the right things."

"Sorting bullets?"

"To distract himself."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. But he thinks he's out there." River pointed toward the cargo bay.

"River – is he dreaming?"

"Could call it that."

"Is he all right?"

"Just sad. Hurt and sad. Not crazy. The walls are still up. Won't be for long."

River was quiet for a few seconds, her lips moving. Suddenly she sat up, and stared unseeing straight ahead. "You can hear me? Really?" she said in a shrill voice. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then closed her eyes and sat still. After a moment she made a high pitched buzzing noise, then she cursed. "Huài le, Book, not now!" Her eyes snapped open and settled on the viewscreen, where barnyard animals were singing and frolicking. She put her hands over her ears to block it out. "Focus River!" she said to herself, but a few seconds later dropped her hands in exasperation. "Oh, I lost it. Too many distractions!"

"What happened?" Inara asked anxiously.

River looked up with excitement all over her face. "I talked to him! He heard me! I told him about the sound!"

"The sound?"

"Can't explain now. Turn it off! Turn it off!" River slapped the viewscreen off of her lap. Simon picked it up and it shut itself down as he folded it.

"You really believe you can talk to the captain?" Zoë asked.

"I don't just believe." River glared at Zoë. "Now be quiet! I have to try again, and it isn't easy."

They all were still while River sat in a ball with her head tucked against her knees, rocking slightly. After a minute she spoke softly: "I have to wait… he's saying goodbye." Then she grunted in disgust and started aping someone sarcastically. 'Easily overwhelmed by the service…' What a load of feìwù!" She peeked at Inara, then squeezed her eyes shut again.

"OK, he's alone." Her voice fell to a whisper. They only caught a few words: …going to get weird. Weirder. Just hang on. I'll keep an eye on you when I can…

Zoë tapped Simon on the shoulder, and they stepped away from River. "You care to explain any of this?" she asked quietly.

He took a breath. "It must be those drugs. Mal thinks he's on the ship still."

"The drugs that make him dream? What are they after, doin' that?"

Simon replied with a bewildered shrug.

Zoë returned to River and knelt in front of her chair, waiting until the girl's eyes focused on her. "River, can you see where the captain is?"

"No. I can see where he thinks he is."

"Are you sure?" River tipped her head to the side and exhaled impatiently. "All right, where does he think he is?"

River pointed at the infirmary, then her finger traced a path to the stairs and up. "Just left the infirmary, going to the bridge," she said.

"Is he hurt?" Inara asked.

"No. Just headaches."

"But you can talk to him?" Zoë asked.

"Didn't know I could do that. Must be because the walls are so thin."

"The walls?"

"In his mind. They're trying to break down the walls."

Zoë glanced at Simon to see if he heard that, and her face grew taut with anger. She kept it out of her voice. "Is there any way you can help him, or let him know we're comin'?"

River looked doubtful. "I'll try, but I don't think he'll let me."

"Let you?"

"I have to play by his rules, and he thinks it's real." River tilted her head and looked away from Zoë. "I'll wait till he's done talking to Wash."

"He's talkin' to Wash?" Zoë asked.

"On the bridge."

"What are they sayin'?"

River frowned and bit her lip. "I don't think I should say."

"Why not?"

"What's in his mind is private. I shouldn't be looking either, but I'm scared for him."

"River, you do whatever you need to help him," Zoë told the girl.

River nodded, then her focus turned inward again. "He's alone now." She was silent for a bit, then she shook her head. "He doesn't look good. He needs to get out."

"Can you tell him we're comin'?"

"I tried, but he thinks I'm just being crazy."

"Can you help him?"

"It's so hard to get through, to talk. I can see but talking is hard. I need to be closer to him."

"We'll get you there," Zoë replied firmly. She turned to Simon. "Go tell Jayne to get his multi-purpose new suit on. I'll talk to Wash, see if Kaylee is plugged in yet. This is goin' down right now."

.*. .*. .*.

Inara held River tucked under her arm, guiding the girl through the cargo bay and into the transport. "It's so bright," River said, although she had both hands over her eyes. Wash and Simon carried a chair from the common room to the transport and Inara settled River into it.

Simon tucked a blanket around his sister. "I think I should come to keep an eye on her," he said over his shoulder to Zoë.

"Simon," Zoë responded, "it's bad enough I'm takin' River into an Alliance military base. Cap'n will have my hide. I can't have you there too. Just leave the med bag."

"But Zoë–"

"No arguin'. I need you to stay on the ship with Inara. If they're playin' with his mind I need you to figure out how to help him, dŏng ma?"

Simon nodded, and turned back to River He pushed the hair back from her face; she was wiping her mouth with a shaky hand. How could it be the same gorram kid? she mumbled in a bewildered tone.

"I've prepared a few sedatives, just in case," Simon told Zoë with a nod at the red bag next to River's chair. "The syringes are in the front flap."

"Thanks doc. Don't worry, we'll take care of her."

Jayne entered the transport outfitted in a pair of black trousers and a plum colored silk blouse. He looked like an upstanding businessman, or he would if he could wipe the look of disgust off his face. Wash waved him to the side and ran a check of the receiver nestled in his ear, then handed him a forged Alliance military ID.

"You tellin' me you couldn't come up with a better name than this?" Jayne complained as he looked at the ID.

"Kaylee helped me come up with it. I did the first name and she did the last," Wash explained with a proud smile. "We think it suits you real nice, you big lug." Jayne grunted in reply and tucked the ID into his brand new briefcase with a few other items he'd be needing.

"We all ready?" Zoë asked. She had changed into something appropriate for an Alliance civil servant, dull and respectable, hair tucked cleanly away. Carefully she held the official form the Prefect had supplied, mindful to keep it crisp and clean.

Wash stepped out of the cockpit. "I'm ready when you are. I've got Kaylee on the comm, she's patched in to the base's surveillance system."

Zoë took a look around at the crew. "All right. Simon and Inara, keep Serenity locked up tight till we get back. Anything happens, you wave Wash. Let's go get the–"

She was cut off by a scream from River. "No! Kaylee!"

Simon stooped next to River. "What's wrong with Kaylee?" River didn't even look at him.

"That húndàn got her! Mal can't help her! They have him!"

Wash ducked into the cockpit, then returned with a shrug. "Kaylee's on the line, she's fine."

River fisted her hands in frustration. "I can't get in - there's too much happening!" Then she flinched and put her hand to her temple like she'd just been hit. Simon started to ask if she was alright, but she shushed him impatiently. She sat still with her head cocked to the side, as if she were she were listening to something they couldn't hear.

Finally Rover focused on the people around her. "We have to go. The walls are coming down." Her eyes settled on Simon. "I heard them talking. They're using electrodes, and they said they're going to 'debrief' him later. They'll tear down all the walls, burn him up so he doesn't know where he is. Then they'll ask him the questions again. I have to be closer. Now!"

.*. .*. .*.

Inara and Simon stayed on Serenity while Wash set the transport on a course toward the base. Jayne looked over maps of the base one last time as Zoë talked quietly with her husband. She finally told him what she was out to get with the fancy form the Prefect had brought her.

"Are you sure you need to do that?" he asked her.

"Absolutely."

"It won't be pretty," he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I've been though a war," she said with a smile, and set her forehead against his. "I can take it."

"If it gets too much for you, just imagine I'm there with you, doing shadow puppets. Juggling goslings. Imagine me naked if it helps."

"Honey. I don't want to give myself away by rolling on the floor laughing hysterically."

River interrupted their affectionate kiss with a horrified moan. "He doesn't know," she whispered. "He believes it, he believes all of it."

Their moment broken, Wash returned to the cockpit to check their course. "We'll be there in five," he called out.

River drew further into herself. "Poor Kaylee. I can't let him believe this. I have to tell him."

They landed the Alliance transport at the base using the clearance the Prefect had acquired for them. Wash shut down the engine and came back into the main room. He nodded toward River. "I'll keep an eye on her. You two do your thing. And be careful."

"I was born careful," Jayne said as he followed Zoë out of the transport.

Wash stood next to River's chair. "It's too much…" the girl whispered. Her mumbled comments become quieter and quieter as she huddled into a tighter ball. Wash wanted to comfort her, but it was clear her mind wasn't in the transport anymore. He shifted to the floor and sat against her chair to wait.

A few minutes later River startled him when she suddenly yelled "Focus, Captain!" Wash turned to see her body go limp and her head tip back. "He's awake," she said with relief, "really awake." Without moving her head, she rolled her eyes as far up as they'd go. "Oh – I've seen this," she said softly. "He knows this." Her eyes flickered back and forth, then fell closed.

"What are they doing to him?" Wash asked.

"Sedative. They gave him a sedative. Made him go to sleep again, but for real, no dreams."

"So he's okay?"

She sat up and looked at Wash, shaking her head sadly. "No. They'll question him next, and Jayne won't be able to get to him there. I have to help." Her face set with determination. "Don't know if I can to get in when he's awake. I'll have to concentrate really hard. He'll need me."

.*. .*. .*.

Translations
mèi mei: little sister
dāng rán: of course
băobèi: sweetheart
shă guā: idiot
huài le : shit on my head
feìwù: junk
dŏng ma?: understand?
húndàn: bastard

---

Chapter 13.

"We've never had anyone wake up. It's not possible."

"Clearly, it is possible. Was enough done?"

"The subject was under considerable duress, but a full breakdown was not achieved."

"Can you continue?"

"We had to sedate him. The delusion would completely lose continuity if an attempt was made to return him to that state now. Suspension of disbelief is vital to the process. We recommend debriefing him as soon as possible."

.*. .*. .*.

A rush of wind swirled through his aching head. He tried to sink back into the quiet darkness, but the storm wouldn't let him. Images followed in its wake, bad images. A few good ones too. He remembered Inara, remembered how she had pulled his head onto her shoulder, stroked his hair, kissed his forehead. He clung to that, tried to make all the bad memories fade away.

It didn't work.

"Reavers got her," Mal whispered.

"Got who?"

He answered the voice in the dark automatically. "Inara."

"Inara?"

"She was leavin' me."

"Why is that?"

"I told all this already."

"You can tell again."

Mal sighed. "She didn't like me. She was playin' me."

"Why?"

"I'm petty. I call her names."

Mal became aware that he was sitting on something soft. His head was tipped back on a cushion that felt good on his sore neck.

"Do you know where you are?"

Mal shook his head slowly.

"I think you do. Try harder."

"Hell," Mal mumbled.

"Interesting."

The wind pushed him further up out of the deep. He couldn't stay down, hard as he tried. Couldn't forget the things that had been stirred up.

"You kill Zoë?" he asked.

"Did you see her die?"

"No. Don't think so. Heard a shot though."

Mal couldn't keep his eyes closed any longer. He lifted his head, and found himself sitting in a cushiony chair in a dimly lit office. He wasn't wearing his own clothes, but the kind of pants and shirts you got in hospital. A hospital or a prison.

A man was sitting on the other side of a desk, watching him intently. He didn't look friendly. Mal wasn't bound, but he knew he wouldn't stand up, wouldn't try to fight. His mind didn't belong to him. Something foreign swirled in there, something to make him awake, and maybe a few other things too. Definitely a few other things.

"You a Fed?" Mal asked.

"Yes, I am."

"That's what the smell is."

Mal half laughed. The Fed didn't answer, so Mal leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling, waiting for the questions to start. He waited while the quiet in the room grew, until the things in his mind became unbearable and he had to break the silence himself.

"How could you do that to her?" he asked.

"Who?"

"Zoë."

"Why wouldn't we?"

"She was pregnant. Kinda obvious she was pregnant."

Mal could see it as clearly as if she was standing in the room. Zoë, hands cuffed over her swollen belly, turning her face away from the barrel of a gun.

"How long have I been here?" he mumbled. "She was so big. Supposed to have seven months left, that's what Wash said."

"She was full term?"

Mal nodded. "Guess I been here a while."

"Do you remember being captured?"

"Barnards World. Morristown. Broke that kid's arm. Broke his face too, but that was before. That was on New Melbourne. I didn't mean to." He found it easiest to just keep mumbling, letting the memories spill out of his overfull mind. "I beat up on all those kids. Stupid kids." More memories stirred up, and his eyes opened wider. "Tiān! Kaylee. He took her." Mal tried to sit up in the chair, but ended up tilting a bit sideways.

The Fed was impassive. "Kaylee?"

Even with his eyes open Mal could see a hand spread flat; the flash of a knife. "How could you do that to 'er?" The Fed didn't answer, so Mal kept mumbling. "She was already so hurt."

"And we hurt her more?"

"She's a mechanic. She needs her hands. Rotten bastard. Bèn tiānshēng… " His voice trailed off as he tried to push himself upright again.

"We also threatened to kill a pregnant woman."

Mal focused on the Fed. "You blew up my ship."

"And we blew up your ship." Mal noticed that the man was scribbling on a notescreen on the desk. "Do you know why we did all these things?"

"To make me talk."

"And you did."

"Yeah."

"We can make you talk more."

"I know."

"You can save yourself and your friends the trouble. Tell me everything again."

Mal tried to close his eyes but the rush in his head forced them open again. "What d'you wanna know?" he asked.

"How about your cargo?"

"Cargo?"

"From New Melbourne."

"The fish?" Mal's voice rose in disbelief. "You're askin' about the fish?"

"What else was there?"

"Just fish. Oh - rice. Make sure n' write that down."

"What else?"

"Spices." Mal smiled. "Veggies."

"Who hired you to take this cargo?"

"I already told you. Or was I dreamin'?" Mal's eyes wandered to the window in the wall to his left. It looked familiar, but it was black outside. It hadn't been black when he'd seen it before. "Crazy girl said she saw it too," he mumbled.

"Crazy girl?" the Fed prompted.

"Ain't quite right is all." Mal settled into a memory that was less painful than the rest. "Ya know, she told me it wasn't a dream. It was a memory; that's what she said. 'cause it was blue. Memories look blue sometimes." He smiled again. "Quack, quack, quack-o. Crazy girl." Mal laughed, then he focused on the Fed. It was familiar: the window, the desk, his comfortable chair, and the Fed.

"Was that you I was talkin' to before?" Mal asked

"Yes, it was."

"It looked all blue last time. I didn't recognize you till just now."

"I'm not offended."

"So why you askin' me stuff again?"

"Because you didn't tell me everything."

This was confusing. "Oh." Mal finally replied.

"Let's get back to your cargo."

Mal shrugged. "Okay, if you want to."

"What was it?"

"Fish. Fish and rice and fish. Sauces. Tas-tee spices, Ricky said. He was right. Good spices."

"Ricky?"

"Big Ricky. Ren-ren. Sea Delights."

"How did you meet him?"

Mal was silent for a few seconds. "Let me ask you somethin', Mr. Fed. Have you been murderin' my crew over a bunch a'seafood dinners?"

"You tell me."

Mal began to laugh softly. "I tell you this – I'm startin' to believe in luck, and I ain't talkin' about the good kind." His laugh trailed off; he was tired. His head fell back again and he stared at the ceiling, letting himself drift with the storm in his head.

"Who was the man you met with on Atalanta station?"

"Kam- somethin'." Square ceiling tiles…

"Kamath?"

"That's the one." …with little squiggly patterns.

"What did he give you?"

"Money. For the fish. Got a bonus." Square tiles in offset rows.

"What else did you talk to him about?"

"Offered me a job. I said no." How boring is that?

"Why did you say no?"

"Didn't want it." Like every damn ceiling in the Core.

"What was the job?"

"More cargo." Why does every ceiling have to have these tiles?

"What kind of cargo?"

"Wouldn't tell me. I did ask." Ain't there no other way to do it?

"Was it illegal cargo?"

"Most like." How do people live under these ceilings?

"You didn't want to carry illegal cargo?"

"I'm a righteous man." Mal smiled. Every day of their lives.

"Mm-hmm. How did you meet Ricky?"

"Had word out. Transport needed." Don't they ever look up?

"Where?"

"Fish market in Sydney." Ought'a paint some fish on it. Ha – fish!

"No, where did you get the word about Ricky?"

Mal smiled again as he chanted: "Blowfish, spiderfish, blue fish, Jayne fish…" He stopped drifting like he'd hit a rock. "Jayne. Húnqiú."

"You don't get along with Jayne?"

Mal stared at the Fed again. "How much you pay him?" he asked, and he caught the confused look that crossed the man's face for just an instant.

"Who?"

"Jayne."

"That's… none of your concern."

"Yeah, don't concern me at all. You ever tell that yúbèn de wángbādàn what happened to Kaylee 'cause of him?"

"No, we didn't. You'd like him to know?"

Mal managed to straighten up a bit, and aimed the most intense look he could muster at the Fed. "I'd like that. Like to tell him myself, if ya don't mind."

"Who else was on your ship?"

The question made Mal deflate, and he leaned back again. "Shepherd. He left. They all left, or wanted to. Knew where I was goin', didn't wanna come along for the ride."

"Where were you going?"

Mal laughed, this time bitterly. "Hell. Lay down in the mud and die."

"Who told you about Ricky?"

"Got word awhile back, bartender on Pacquin, said it was a straight up transport job. Never met the guy before. I should know better."

"Know better?"

"Than to take the job."

"It was a bad job?"

"Got me here, didn't it?" Mal looked at the Fed again, then rolled his eyes. "Dumb ass."

"Who is crazy girl?"

"You know – " Mal stopped abrupty as another memory forced its way to the top of his mind, like someone had put it there. Cool hands, holding his aching head, brown eyes boring into his. Don't tell them anything, and don't stop fighting. Ever.

"Crazy girl," Mal said slowly. "Girl in my dreams. Tellin' me what to do."

"Who is she?"

Mal hesitated. "Ren-ren runs a fish stall. Tastee fish." He grinned. "You should try it."

"Maybe later. Who else do you sell goods to here on Oeneus?"

"Never sold nothin' here."

"Sergeant, you fought in the war."

"I did."

"Do you have war associates here?"

"Not a one."

"The kid with the broken face, the one on New Melbourne. Why'd you do that?"

The question caught Mal by surprise. He had to consider it for a few seconds. "Cause I'm crazy."

"Were you upset about the deal?"

"Huh? No deal. Kid just bothered me. Not his fault. I got issues."

"Tell me about the business arrangement you have with the weapons shop."

"I got an arrangement with them?"

"Of course. To ship their weapons. Tell me about it."

Mal thought about it. "I don't recall an arrangement. You sure?"

The Fed gave Mal a hard look, perhaps waiting for him to mumble on, but Mal was thinking now. It was slow going, trudging through the storm that kept blowing behind his eyes, but there was thought happening. He struggled to connect the thought to his mouth.

"You don't know, do you?" Mal finally asked.

"About what?"

"I told you. I told you people everythin', but you don't know. Maybe I didn't tell you." Mal saw the lines at the corners of the Fed's mouth tighten. He'd just said something the man didn't like hearing.

"What is it you think you never told?"

"What'd you guys do to Kaylee? You tell me that."

The man looked at the screen on his desk. "We hurt her."

"How?" Mal insisted.

"Were you not paying attention he first time we hurt her? Shall we continue?"

Mal's thoughts scattered as a remembered voice blew through his head: Ten fingers. It could take a while to get through them all.

"You wouldn't," Mal said.

"Try me. What don't I know about? The weapons?"

Mal shook his head. "No weapons. You searched my ship, you know that."

"Maybe. How about crazy girl? Who is that?"

Mal struggled to form an answer. He knew he'd had an important thought, but now he'd lost it.

The Fed looked at his notes again. "We have Zoë," he said. "And her baby. Shall I bring them in and do what we did to Kaylee?"

Mal felt a familiar rush of horror. His head dropped forward; he couldn't breath right. Distantly, he heard a high pitched whine come out of his throat.

"Answer me, Sergeant," the Fed insisted. "Who's crazy girl?"

When Mal looked up, River was standing behind the Fed, holding a finger to her lips. Mal stared at her. Did this make any kind of sense? River standing in this office? Guĭ, she was showing up everywhere else lately.

The Fed followed Mal's shocked stare, then turned back. "What do you see?" he asked. "Tell me what you see!"

River shook her head at Mal, and he looked from her to the Fed. No sense, it made no sense, but there was a message that he needed to hear.

Then River was gone, but Mal got it: This isn't real. Kaylee is fine. They are playing with your mind.

Mal's eyes narrowed. "You never told me what you did to Kaylee."

"I thought I didn't need to. I can show you -"

"You don't know,' Mal interrupted the man. "You don't know what you did to her 'cause it never happened."

The Fed cleared his throat. "You're hallucinating. You've lost your mind."

"Could be." Mal tilted his head to the side. Another memory came back, much blurrier than the others. "But it ain't my fault. There were drugs. From the IV. And somethin' in my head." He remembered what Simon had shown him. "Wires. Silver bendy wires." His voice got stronger. "I was in some kinda machine. You were lookin' at my brain."

"You can't possibly remember that," the man said in disbelief just before a door slammed open.

"Not another word, Lieutenant!" a hard voice ordered from the doorway and the Fed questioning Mal snapped his mouth shut.

Suddenly, Mal couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Didn't get me, ha!" he told his interrogator.

Rough hands grabbed his arms and he was pulled out of the chair. "Nice try. Almost got me!" Mal said, and he doubled over with laughter. The hands held him up and started dragging him toward the door.

"We do have you, Sergeant Reynolds." Mal looked up at a tall Alliance officer standing in front of the flustered interrogater. "Make no mistake about that," the officer said in a hard voice. Mal found that funny.

He was still laughing when they pushed him onto a cot in a small, bright room and left him laying there, with the drugs and the memories swirling in his head.

He snickered ten minutes later when two Alliance soldiers entered.

He tittered when one of them drew a gun.

.*. .*. .*.

Translations
tiān: god
bèn tiānshēng: stupid inbred…
húnqiú: no-good bastard
yúbèn de wángbādàn: stupid SOB
guĭ: hell

---

Chapter 14.

Zoë was used to high stress situations. As she'd smugly reminded her husband, she'd been through a war. She'd faced down gun barrels and 300 pound thugs, torture minded gangsters and missile carrying tanks, inevitable defeat and angels raining down fire out of a black sky. Still, Wash's suggestions as to how to get through this particular mission were more useful than she cared to admit.

The line at the requisition department stretched around the corner and down the hall.

.*. .*. .*.

Jayne stepped out of the stall in an out of the way men's bathroom to check himself in the mirror. Kaylee had looped the surveillance camera feed; he had privacy for his first costume change. The businessman's outfit was expertly tailored, and when turned inside out not a bit of the plum silk showed around the Alliance uniform. He took his ID and an Alliance issue handgun and holster out of the little black briefcase, then dropped the briefcase in the trash.

He turned to the mirror for a final check, smoothing out the wrinkles in his uniform and pinning on his ID. He realized he hadn't had a chance to share his opinion of his assumed name with Kaylee, so he turned to the surveillance camera with a sneer, tapped the ID a few times, and gave the camera the finger.

His first task was to find a spot near a window where Wash's signal would be sure to reach the receiver in his ear. Jayne took a casual stroll through the cafeteria, sternly keeping a serious look on his face as he perused the menu. His self control was in top form. Still, he figured he better blend in. He bought a meatball sub and settled at an empty table by a window to munch on it as slowly as he could. The need to pass time while impersonating an officer on an Alliance base was one of few things that could make Jayne Cobb eat slow.

It was a good hour before Wash spoke up in his ear: Kaylee had spotted Mal, and it was time to get going. Jayne stopped at the central office first, flashing his ID card. The desk worker checked the orders over the cortex, then called for the private that Prefect Marone had selected from the personnel files. The choice had been based on the man's height, weight, and his lack of experience in combat, athough Jayne had insisted that last one wouldn't matter.

"Welcome, Major Grace," the private said with a sharp salute.

Jayne held back a look of disgust at the name and returned the salute, something he'd practiced extensively over the course of the afternoon. "Private," he replied. He didn't explain what he needed man for. It was one of the advantages of the military: an explanation from a superior officer was never necessary.

Jayne led his recruit to the detention section. A bored sentry at the entry desk checked the cortex screen. "Reynolds, huh?," he said "They just brought him in a few minutes ago."

"We won't be taking him anywhere, just have a few follow-up questions," Jayne replied.

"Don't be makin' a mess. Cell 15."

The electronic lock on cell 15 beeped as they approached it, and the door clicked open. Jayne almost ruined his cover with a swear word the Alliance would not have approved of when he heard an insane chuckle from inside the room. He paused to let the private lead the way in.

Mal was laying on his back on a small cot, unbound but wearing light blue Alliance prisoner pajamas. He looked up at Jayne and the private, and continued to cackle. Jayne considered Mal's smiling face for a few seconds before he realized that, though Mal was unbloody and unbruised, the smile and the laugh weren't quite right.

Jayne glanced at the camera high on the back wall of the cell. The reciever in his ear wouldn't get any reception this deep in the base; he just had to hope that Kaylee was getting her part done. He pulled out his gun, garnering a fresh set of giggles from the captain, then brought the butt of it down hard on the back of the private's head. Couldn't shoot him: besides the noise, it wouldn't do to have blood on the spiffy uniform. They'd be needing it.

Jayne got right to work on the plan. He shut the door to the cell and turned to the still jovial captain.

"Cap'n?" Jayne said with a shake of Mal's shoulder, but he got no response. "Mal? You gotta cut it out."

"Almost got me," Mal muttered as he rolled away from Jayne. "Play again later."

"Shit, this ain't in the plan," Jayne said to himself, and he sat back to consider the situation. He couldn't do this with Mal off the deep end. Only one way to handle it - he pulled the captain up by the front of his prison suit and propped him against the wall. The captain's eyes weren't quite in focus, so Jayne gave him a sharp slap. It didn't have much of an effect.

"Captain - it's Jayne."

Mal's eyes snapped into focus and suddenly Jayne found himself on his back on the floor, staring up the barrel of his own Alliance gun at a very angry, very scary Mal.

"I'd shoot you right now but that's a little quicker than I wanna see you dyin'," Mal said in a dangerously low voice.

"Uh… Cap'n? It's me, Jayne. I had a shave, that's all – "

Mal cut him off. "I should'a spaced you, huh? Damn right I should'a spaced your ass." He grabbed a handful of Jayne's uniform collar in his left hand. "All they're gonna do is send her home? They cut her thumb off, Jayne. That sunovabitch dragged her off and had his way, and I couldn't get there to help her, and then they cut off her gorram thumb!"

Jayne held his hands out beside him, palms up. He wasn't liking this situation at all. "Who you talkin' 'bout, Mal?"

The gun pressed into Jayne's furrowed forehead. "You never will get it! You thought you were turnin' me in but they got Kaylee! They got Kaylee!" The grip on Jayne's collar tightened.

Mal shoots me, Jayne thought, the whole plan'll go south and everyone'll think I screwed it up. "Mal, you hearin' me? I'm just tryin' to get ya back to the ship."

Mal didn't move, but his hard stare wavered. "Serenity's blown up."

"No she ain't! I don't know what they been tellin' ya – "

"I saw 'em do it." Mal clenched his jaw and looked full scary again. "Wouldn't 'a happened if you hadn't turned me in."

"I didn't turn you in!" Jayne protested. He looked around, trying to figure a way out of this, and caught a glimpse of the dark grey sleeve of his uniform. "You see what I'm wearin'?" he asked.

Mal glanced at Jayne's uniform. "You got a point?"

"You think the Alliance would sign me up?"

Mal's eyes left Jayne's as he thought about this, and Jayne felt the grip on his shirt loosen just a bit. "And look here…" Jayne focused nervously on Mal's trigger finger as he slowly moved a hand to the collar of his uniform. He pulled a bit of fabric free from Mal's grip, then twisted it until the inside showed. "Plum silk, Mal. I had to walk onto a gorram Fed base wearin' plum silk. You think I'd do this to get you out after I turned you in? Doc'll never let me hear the end of it."

Mal stared down at the fabric in disbelief, then back up at Jayne's face. He snorted a short laugh and the gun backed off an inch. Jayne took this as encouragement. "And look… look at the name on my ID: Rex Grace. Kaylee and Wash come up with it. Guess who picked what name?"

Mal snorted again. He took a few shallow breaths, let go of Jayne's shirt, and sat back against the cot. Jayne stayed where he was: the gun was still pointed in the general direction of his head. "Kaylee?" Mal asked in a small voice.

"She's runnin' the security vid. She's watchin' right now." Jayne pointed to the camera.

Mal tipped the gun back as he looked up at the camera. "She's watchin'?"

"She got all dressed up like a nun. Sister Kay, you believe that?"

Mal gave Jayne a skeptical look. "I got Sister Kay watchin' over me?"

"Guess so." The gun was still pointed at the ceiling, so Jayne figured it was safe to sit up. He did it slowly just in case.

Mal was studying him. "You don't look right," he said.

"Had to shave." Jayne grinned uncertainly and lifted his ID off his chest. "I'm a Major, gotta look the part."

Mal's mouth curled in annoyance, which Jayne found a mite alarming until Mal said, "You sayin' you outrank me, Jayne?"

"That hadn't occurred to me yet," Jayne said with a wider grin.

"Gorram, Major Rex Grace and Sister Kay," Mal said under his breath. He started to laugh quietly, then he folded his arms on his knees and buried his face in his elbows. Jayne didn't know what to do about that. He checked his watch; they should have been gone by now. But this part of the schedule wan't so tight - he could take another minute. He sat still and waited until Mal lifted his head with a quietly muttered, "Lăotiān yĕ."

Jayne started to get nervous again when the smile faded off Mal's face and he stared at the floor, eyes going blurry again. "Mal?" Jayne said hesitantly.

Mal pulled his attention back to Jayne

"I got a schedule to keep, and if I screw it up Zoë'll give me a black eye and Kaylee'll be doing some kuáng rén electrical work in my bunk. Try and help me out some. Okay?"

Mal gave Jayne a long measuring look, then he seemed to remember the gun in his hand. He let the barrel of the gun turn upwards so that the butt was held out. Jayne took it carefully, backing away before he put it in his holster.

Mal rubbed his eyes. "Where's Zoë?"

"Got some secret mission, won't tell us about it."

"Inara? She okay?"

"Whole crew's lively as ever, long as we get out a'here sometime soon. You gotta change outfits with this guard. We got a plan. Zoë come up with it, with this other guy. Total shàng liú húndàn, but he's got connections. It's a real shiny plan."

Mal looked around the cell like he hadn't seen it before. "We're goin' to Serenity?"

" 'at's right. But we don't got a lot a'time."

"I need to put on that uniform?" Mal glanced at the unconscious private.

"That's the plan."

Jayne tried not to fidget as Mal studied him again. Finally, Mal asked, "Everyone's okay?"

"That's right."

"River said you'd help."

Jayne frowned. "River does say a lot of things."

Mal's face slowly broke into a smile, not quite a normal smile, but not such a crazy one as before. "That she does." He nodded. "Dìyù, let's do the thing."

Not much later, two Alliance guards left a man in prison garb laying unconscious on a cot in detention cell 15. The sentry at the entrance to the detention area didn't look up as the bigger guard signed them both out.

Jayne led the way straight to the cafeteria. After a brief pause by a window to get an update from Wash, he and Mal joined a short line of soldiers, civilian employees, and medical staff getting a late dinner.

"Uh, Jayne?"

"Yeah, Mal?"

"It's awfully nice of ya to think of it, I haven't had a square meal in, well gosh, I guess I've lost track. But is this really the time?"

"Good a time as any," Jayne replied, then lowered his voice. "Can't loop the security cameras in here. Once Kaylee interrupts the feed, we gotta be goin' quick, and we can't do that till Zoë's done with whatever she's doin'. Anyhow, there's a little wiggle room in the schedule. Just in case somethin' goes wrong." Jayne lowered his voice again, almost to a whisper. "Say - like if someone got nutty and screwed things up by almost shootin' me. "

Mal frowned at Jayne.

Jayne inched forward in line, looking at the display case eagerly. "Hey, since we got some time – I ain't had good tapioca since my momma used to make it back home." Jayne pointed to the cellophane wrapped paper bowls in the rack just ahead of them. "Mind if I grab one?"

.*. .*. .*.

Zoë handed the form to the clerk. He tipped his head back to look through the bottom half of his thick glasses, and took a deep breath through his nose. "Hmmm. Unusual." He glanced over his glasses at Zoë.

"Don't ask me, I just run the errands," she said with a shrug.

The man frowned, but he stamped the form and picked up the phone.

"You can pick it up at the counter to your left," he told her after he hung up, then he called out, "Next?"

.*. .*. .*.

Jayne scraped the last little bit of pudding out of the bowl, then slurped his drink through a straw. "I'm just sayin', the Alliance may be a mean set of wáng bā dàn, but it sure is good to have a real snack. And this is only hospital food. You sure you don't want nothin'?"

Mal shook his head slowly. He was sitting with one hand on the back of his neck. His fingers drifted up just into his hairline; the skin was rough there, and tender.

Jayne put a finger to his ear, then checked his watch. "OK, Zoë's clear. We're almost good to go"

"Zoë? Is the baby OK?"

Jayne frowned at Mal. "Baby? What're you talkin' about?"

"The baby. That Fed said he had Zoë, and the baby. I ain't leavin' them here."

"Mal, Zoë ain't got no baby."

Mal sat back in his chair and didn't answer.

"This ain't no time for the crazies." Jayne checked his watch again, "We gotta go." He looked back up at Mal. "You got your head on straight?"

"Not too sure. Appears my rescue involves the all important step of Jayne Cobb eatin' tapioca. I'm thinkin' maybe something ain't quite right."

"Figure it out later, it's time to go. Can you handle followin' me?"

Mal rolled his eyes and nodded. Jayne got up and wound through the tables, looking back at Mal once before ducking into a storage room near the kitchen. He turned on the light and shut the door behind them. "We got three minutes till the surveillance goes back on," Jayne said as soon as the door closed, "and we gotta be out'a this cafeteria by then. Get rid of the guard outfit." Jayne was already stripping off his own guard uniform; he had civilian trousers and shirt underneath. The uniform he reversed again to the business man's suit. It was a little roomy for Mal, but it worked.

As they changed, Jayne explained the plan. "We gotta leave here like we ain't together. The cameras're still on outside a' the mess hall, and they'll be checking the tapes later on to track us down. Oh – which reminds me." Jayne grinned and pulled a flat brimmed felt hat out of his pocket and unfolded it. Frighteningly enough, it wasn't far from current fashion trends in the Core. It would serve to block Mal's features from the security cameras.

"Well, don't you look sly," Jayne said with a grin after Mal pulled the hat on.

"Don't be getting' any ideas, I'd never form improper relations with anyone on my ship."

Jayne looked at Mal with a mixture of alarm and confusion. "Yeah, whatever. I know the way down to the docks, so you gotta follow me without lookin' like ya are. The ship's an Alliance transport that Zoë and Wash borrowed. I'll lead you to it, then you get on. I got another way out." Jayne gave Mal a long look. "You ain't gonna go all bugshit crazy, are ya?"

"I try to keep that to once a day. Uh, I mean, twice." Mal adjusted his hat. "No baby, huh?"

"No gorram baby. Now get a grip and keep it, cause if you get lost, I can't go lookin'."

"I'll be a good sheep. Baa."

Jayne grimaced at Mal and wrapped the Alliance gun up in Mal's borrowed uniform, then checked his watch. "All right, we gotta go." He dropped the uniform and gun in a trash bin on his way out of the cafeteria.

Mal tailed Jayne through the nearly empty corridors. It went fine until he passed a large viewing port. Serenity was out there, drifting in space. She looked abandoned, dark and empty, but she was all in one piece. Mal paused and raised a hand to the glass. It was so good to see his ship. None of it had been real, he thought with a smile.

Then his smile fell; green balls of fire were streaking out toward her.

"Mal!" He heard a harsh whisper from a distance, and looked down the hall to see a casually outfitted beardless Jayne studying a large plastic plant in an alcove. Mal looked back to the view port. His hand lay against an empty white wall.

Mal kept his eyes fixed on Jayne's back the rest of the way to the docks. Jayne glanced back once to make sure Mal was getting on the transport, then he continued toward the main exit of the base.

.*. .*. .*.

Zoë waited in the transport, one arm around Wash and the large gray and blue bag the she'd carried back from the station on the deck next to her. She'd done her part, the less important task. The real mission was out of her hands, had been from the start, really. The real burden was on Jayne's shoulders. She had to admit, she was nervous as hell about that.

She watched River climb out of her chair and go the transport's hatch, but only had a few seconds to wonder what the girl was up to. There were footsteps outside, then the hatch opened, Mal stepped through, and Zoë blew out a relieved breath.

"I told you we'd come get you," River told Mal.

The captain's reaction was odd; he didn't say any thanks. In fact, he didn't look at all pleased about being rescued; he only studied the girl impassively, then nodded. "Yeah, you did."

River jumped up to snatch the hat off his head and put it on her own, then returned to her chair.

"Welcome back, Captain," Zoë said.

"Hey, Mal," Wash added. "Good to see you in one piece."

Mal looked toward them, but again, he didn't look happy. "Wash," he replied with a nod.

Zoë walked over to check the seal on the hatch behind Mal, then nodded to her husband. Wash disappeared into the cockpit. She turned back to give Mal a long look over, taking in his gray face and bloodshot eyes.

"You look like hell, sir."

"Thanks," he said, and his mouth curved into a hesitant grin. "You lost weight since I saw you last."

She gave herself a long look over, then arched an eyebrow. "Um, OK. Sir."

"How's Jayne gettin' out?"

"He's got creds we borrowed from a construction contractor. He'll be able to walk out the front door and ride back to Serenity with Book and Kaylee."

Mal gave her a doubtful look. "Serenity's really okay?"

"Of course she is." Zoë studied him more closely. "Are you all right, sir?"

He looked around the small room. "Where's everybody else?"

"Kaylee and Book are on their way out, should be clear by now. Simon and Inara are waitin' for us on the ship. We should be clear of the system in an hour or less, hopefully before they even realize that it ain't you in that cell."

"Inara?"

"Yep. She's still with us."

Mal tilted his head like he was hearing something, or maybe remembering something, then he looked at Zoë sharply.

"What about the Reavers?" he asked.

"Reavers?" Zoë put her hand to her hip automatically, but her civil servant outfit didn't include hardware.

"Captain, that never happened," River said, and sure as hell Zoe wanted to know what the girl meant by that. But she didn't ask, she was too busy trying to work out what was eating at Mal. She'd learned long ago to trust his instincts. He was looking around the room, his eyes wide and breath coming fast like he was expecting some kind of danger.

"Zoë, you hear that?" he asked.

She didn't, but she wished like hell she had a gun on. "Hear what?"

Mal held up a hand for silence. His eyes settled on a hatch that opened to a small storage room at the back of the shuttle. He walked cautiously toward the hatch, then shoved it open. His face went pale as he stared into the empty space. For a few seconds he leaned on the door frame, then he fell to his knees and lost what little there was in his stomach.

.*. .*. .*.

Mal heard the voices as if from a distance, but gradually they came closer.

"I had to sedate him."

"I really wish you hadn't. His blood is drug soup right now. The sedative you gave him, a stimulant, the medrazapan, one of the Alliance's favorite talkative-making drugs, and a few things I'm not even sure about. It's a mess."

"I had to - he was hearin' things. Then he got sick and and started talkin' about Reavers and blood and…" Zoë hesitated before finishing, "body parts."

Mal lay still and listened, afraid of what might start happening if he opened his eyes. He could feel the comforting hum of Serenity's engines, but he didn't quite believe that. He listened for a high-pitched buzz, and couldn't find it.

"River?" he whispered, although he hadn't been intending to speak out loud.

"Captain?" Zoë replied. "You awake?"

"No. Where's River?"

"Here, Captain." Mal opened his eyes and saw the girl standing in the doorway to the infirmary, peeking around Zoë and Simon.

"You really here?" he asked.

"Yes," River replied. "You are too."

"That so?"

"Some of the monsters came back with you. They'll go away." River came to the side of the bed and touched Mal's arm gently.

"Monsters?"

"The walls aren't solid yet. The doors swing. Open, closed. Monsters sneak out."

"How are you feeling, Captain?" Simon interrupted his sister. He stepped in front of a light shining down from the ceiling, a sight Mal recognized with alarm. He sat up a little more quickly than he should have.

Zoë was by his side, steadying him. "Easy there," she said. "No hurry."

Mal looked at the IV line in his arm, and immediately yanked it out. "No drugs, no needles, no pointy things," he told Simon. He checked the doctor's hands for deceptively innocent looking silver wires.

"It was just to rehydrate you," Simon said. "To help flush the drugs out."

"It's okay, Captain," River said. "None of that was real. Do you understand now?"

"I…" Mal rubbed his forehead. "When did it start not bein' real?"

Zoë answered him. "They picked you up on the station, after we got the money from Ricky's contact. You talked to us from the stairway, said you'd be on board in a few minutes, but you never showed up."

"You didn't come out lookin'?"

Zoë hesitated. "Well, we did after a bit, but there was nothin' to be seen."

"I ain't blamin' you, I just… I thought you told me… There was two of 'em, they knocked me out. Then you and Jayne got to them…"

Zoë shook her head. "Never happened sir."

Mal tried to draw a line between the real and the imagined events. It was a blurry line and things wouldn't stay on one side or the other. His head ached. "It's just a little confusin' is all." He slid off the table to his feet. "Everyone on board?"

Zoë nodded. "We've been underway for a bit now."

"From?"

"Oeneus."

"Uh-huh," He looked down, saw he was still wearing the clothes Jayne had given him in the back room at the Alliance cafeteria. Plum silk with scratchy uniform material on the inside. His mouth tasted terrible. "I should go to my bunk. Clean up, get changed."

"Captain," Simon said, "if you could just tell me what happened, what you remember, it would help me treat you."

"When I want your damn treatment, doctor, I will come askin' for it."

Simon opened his mouth to reply, but then turned away. Mal held the edge of the bed for a few more seconds before he began to make his unsteady way out of the infirmary. Zoë tried to take his arm to help him, but he shook her off.

The rest of the crew was in the common room, waiting to welcome him back. Kaylee ran to him with a smile and arms outstretched. Mal let her hug him, placing his hands hesitantly on her shoulders. His little Kaylee, right here, whole in hand and body and mind. Let this part be real, he thought. If it wasn't, if he had to see her like that again…

"Morning, Captain," Mal looked up at Wash's cheery greeting.

"Welcome home," Book said more sedately, but with a warm smile. He was stretching out a hand.

Inara rose beside Book. "Mal, it's good to have you back."

There was the earnest relief in her eyes, but Mal didn't trust that. He didn't trust any of this. He tightened his hands on Kaylee's shoulders and pushed her away.

"Cap?" Kaylee asked. Mal shook his head at her.

"What, you got the crazies again?" Jayne asked from a chair behind Book.

Mal glanced around at each of them. Without saying a word, he turned and climbed the stairs.

.*. .*. .*.

Translations
lăo tiān yĕ: Jesus
kuáng rén: lunatic
shàng liú húndàn: upper class bastard
dìyù: hell
wáng bā dàn: SOB