Shepard's shuttle descended upon the landing pad before Hock's estate. The doors swung upward and he climbed out. Then he walked over to help Kasumi out. She refused his hand and said through tight lips, "I'm here to serve you, remember? You'll blow your cover with your gentlemanly manners!"
"Right," Shepard whispered back.
Kasumi climbed out of the vehicle, then took Shepard's elbow and lowered her head slightly. She certainly looked the part of a very traditional companion. The ornate fabric of her dress hugged her curves from the top down to her hips before splaying out into a flowing skirt. A transparent veil of sorts covered the top part of her face, her white face makeup and bright red lipstick still visible.
"Remember," She whispered. "You are one of the masters of the universe. Women are just objects to you and the other men: inferior."
Shepard squeezed her hand gently to acknowledge her reminder. The two passed by a guard who was scanning their gift to Hock: the larger-than-life sculpture of Saren. Shepard looked longingly at the sculpture. Despite the semblance of an old enemy, his weapons and armor were hiding in the base. He felt naked carrying only a sidearm, but Kasumi had assured him that was the only amount of weaponry that he would be allowed to enter with.
The two approached the stairs behind another group whose gift, some form of traditional weaponry resembling a katana, was being moved down to the vault. The party guests filed in past Donovan Hock himself, who greeted each personally. Guards on either side of the doors stood ready to handle any unwanted visitors. As Shepard ascended the stairs, he was surprised to find Hock was not standing alone, but had a companion of his own holding his elbow. She beamed when she saw him. Their eyes met and Shepard looked momentarily perplexed. Inara smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.
"Donovan Hock!" He said, purposefully breaking his gaze to look at the host of the party. He stuck out his hand. "Solomon Gunn."
Donovan shook his hand. "Ah, Mr. Gunn. I am glad you were able to make it. I read you have been very busy as of late."
"True, but I wouldn't miss it." Shepard said. "Who is your lovely attendant?"
"Ah, this thing of beauty is Inara Serra." Hock gestured at her, but didn't speak to her. "A renowned companion."
"Indeed," Shepard said. He took her hand and kissed it. "A pleasure to meet you."
Inara studied his face searchingly. Hock cleared his throat loudly and she glanced up at him. He glared at her.
"Oh!" Inara started. "Yes. It is certainly a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Gunn." She stated his name like a question.
"Do enjoy the party," Hock said, ushering his guests onward to make way for the next group.
"Certainly," Shepard said and entered with Kasumi.
"That's not treating women like objects!" Kasumi whispered a scold. "You'll blow your cover being too nice like that."
Shepard shrugged and whispered back, "It's going to take a little time to get used to my role, I guess."
The pair entered the main room and Shepard was impressed by Kasumi's accuracy in describing the situation they would be walking into. The man's wealth was evident by the architecture of his home. The room was immense in size, with the far wall comprising almost entirely of an equally immense picture window. Grand staircases flanked either side. In addition, Hock owned any number of genuine fine art canvases. The whole picture was an incredible sight in a world of digital images, cramped spaces, practical but unaesthetic architecture… Shepard, who knew nothing of fine art, found himself naturally drawn to the canvases. He led Kasumi to an abstract piece with vibrant colors and geometric patterning.
"Wassily Kandinsky," She marveled under her breath. "Nice." Kasumi looked around. "Hock must be a fan of Expressionist works from the early twentieth century."
Shepard followed her gaze around the room. The art was certainly impressive, but so was the crowd. He saw other well-dressed scoundrels, some with elegant companions, some with ruthless-looking business partners, and a few couples. He noticed a mustached man in a cowboy hat standing before the painting adjacent to the Kandinsky work. He and his partner, a very attractive woman who was obviously not a companion, were murmuring to each other in low voices. About the painting, he assumed.
Leaving the mule far behind under the protective cover of the forest foliage, Jayne traversed the terrain of the forest as best he could. The same vines and branches that concealed the mule and himself also threatened to entangle him. He approached the back entrance of Hock's mansion slowly.
"We're in," Jayne heard Mal's voice in his ear piece.
"Already?" asked Jayne, incredulously.
"That be a fact." Mal responded. "Where are you?"
"Still in the gorram jungle." Jayne griped. "I'm… I'm making progress. Actually, I see the back door now."
"Shiny." Mal said. "Update us when you're in."
"Will do." Jayne whispered gruffly.
Jayne approached the back entrance, where he could see one guard posted. The man wore full body armor and carried a heavy pistol. Physically, he appeared to be a formidable enemy. Jayne watched him for a minute, trying to determine the best way to approach. The weapon given to Jayne would be rather conspicuous for a few minutes.
He decided to stick to basics. He groped around under the dense fern patch underfoot to locate a sizeable rock. From behind a vine-covered tree, he threw in the other direction to redirect the guard's attention. It thudded loudly on the concrete. The guard instantly perked up and readied his weapon to shoot in the opposite direction of Jayne. Jayne pulled the pin of his chloroform bomb and tossed it behind the man. The gentle hissing sound caused the guard to look back, trying to locate the source of the sound. He hit the ground before he could find the metallic sphere.
Jayne remained behind the protective foliage waiting to see if anyone would come, or if an alarm would sound. Had anyone noticed? The minutes of silence which followed declared the act unwitnessed and the victim completely unconscious.
Huh, Jayne thought. That fugie doc may have a nutjob sister, but he sure is a clever wang ba dan himself.
Simon had designed the weapon himself, preferring that as few men be injured as possible. He had told Jayne to wait ten minutes for the bomb's contents to disperse before approaching, otherwise he'd be victim, too. The time passed slowly for Jayne, who was itching to go, but he didn't want to miss the excitement on account of his impatience. After the allotted time, he dragged the guard into the woods and stripped him of his armor. Jayne suited up. He picked up the new M-3 Predator pistol with reverence and looked it over. He smiled mischievously at the first of his anticipated pillage. He left the man tied and gagged albeit still unconscious.
Jayne radioed in to the anxiously waiting Serenity crew, "I've taken down the guard and suited up. Y'all get ready to get me in."
"Was the chloroform bomb effective? We had no way of testing it." Simon asked Jayne over the ear piece. His voice was solemn as always.
"That it was, Doc." Jayne responded.
"Have you detained the guard in any other way? Remember, the chloroform will only render him unconscious for…"
"Oh, don't worry." Jayne gave a gruff laugh. "That poor ben dan ain't goin' nowhere."
"I sincerely hope you have no injured him…"
Kaylee interrupted to bring the conversation back to the task at hand. "You at the door yet?" she asked. She sat next to Simon, both starting at the computer screen showing the schematics of Hock's extensive estate.
Jayne donned his new helmet and walked over to the door, as casual as possible. He looked around one final time to ensure the event had been unseen. He turned toward the door and surveyed it.
"I see a keypad," Jayne said. He waved his hand in front but nothing happened. "I think I need a code."
"A code… A code." Kaylee thought outloud.
Simon stated something inaudible to Jayne.
"What?" He demanded. "What's the code?"
The radio waves were silent minus a few murmured words.
"Stand alert and 'guard' that door while we figure that one out. It is possible you need that guard's omni-tool in order to scan it." Simon said.
"Son of a…." Jayne started, when he heard the door open behind him.
"Swinford." A man's voice called. "You're relieved of this post. Most of the guests have arrived and they want more eyes inside."
The man wore the same black and white armor that Jayne wore now. Jayne's own helmet offered him the necessary concealment to pull off the deception. Now to fool him with his voice...
"What're ya starin' at, dumbass?" the other guard asked before Jayne could respond to the original request.
"Yeah." Jayne said, distorting his voice to be gruffer than usual. "Nothing. Yeah. I'm on it."
"Swinford?" He asked. "You sound like hell."
"Yeah…" Jayne continued. "I'm just, huh, you know, huh… Recovering from a cold."
"Whatever." The other responded. "Just get your ass inside."
"Uh, roger!" Jayne awkwardly saluted and then scurried inside past.
Jayne walked quickly down the corridor. The hallway was empty save for a few dim lights and secure doors. When we felt he was a safe distance he radioed in.
"I'm in," he whispered to the crew.
"Excellent! But how?" Simon responded.
"Shiny! Who cares?" Kaylee said.
"You're doin' good." Mal affirmed. "Kaylee will guide you to the back of the vault."
Jayne followed the voice of his overly enthusiastic mechanic deeper into the hidden underbelly of Hock's estate.
