"If someone doesn't keep her quiet, I will terminate her," Cameron threatened.
"What do you expect, Cameron," Kaylee whined. "You scared the crap out of everyone!"
"Not everyone," Cameron replied. "John was scared. Neither were Sarah or Derek."
"Because they know you can mimic," Mal snapped. "I declare, I was of a mind you'd cut Reagan Tam's head plum off!"
"Well, I didn't." Cameron replied. "But if she doesn't stay quiet in that bunk, I'm going to make sure that woman stays quiet for ever."
The group watched as Cameron walked away, climbing the stairs to the catwalk leading to the shuttle she and John shared.
Leaning back in his chair, John put his hands behind his head. "Jayne suggested we rattle Gabriel's cage. I would say Cameron did that."
"You think?" Jayne chuckled.
"In case y'all didn't hear Cameron," John added, "she means what she says about Mrs. Tam staying quiet."
"I can't see Cameron just killing my mother," Simon snapped.
"Then you really don't understand Cameron," John told him. "I'm her first priority, then Kacy. Then comes River, my mom, and the crew. Anyone who threatens any of us, in that order, Cameron will kill them, no questions asked before or afterwards."
John watched Simon carefully, hoping the doctor understood. Sensing Simon truly didn't understand, John cleared his throat.
"Let me try one last time. Cameron cannot help herself. She's a terminator. Skynet designed her to kill. It took reprogramming and years of effort on her part to develop to the point Cameron's at now. Your parents took Kacy. They kidnapped Emma and Zoe."
John paused to let his words sink in.
"Do any of you realize just how close my wife is to snapping and killing both of the Tams? She wants to, from her very core, Cameron needs to kill them. Once she crosses that line, Cameron's going to terminate them both and nobody, not even I can stop her."
Surprised to hear his last words echoing in the cargo bay, John realized he'd been shouting.
"Simon, sedate mom," River ordered. "Twin's going to be glitching if you don't."
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"I want to see my wife," Gabriel demanded.
Mal shook his head no.
"Captain, whatever you are, I demand to see my wife!"
"First," Mal answered, "You are in no position to make demands of any kind. Second, it weren't a pretty sight. I'm pretty sure you don't want that to be the last memory you have of your wife, her lookin' like that. 'Sides, Cameron spaced the remains."
The last comment got Gabriel Tam's attention. His mouth fell open and he just stared at the Captain.
"She's gone?"
"Floatin' in the black would be my definition of gone," Mal answered.
"You let that monster just butcher my wife?"
"I didn't let her, Cameron just lost it. Course, given her upbringing or lack thereof, kidnapping her baby was not the smartest thing to do."
"You let that monster live with you?" Gabriel sobbed. "How do you sleep?"
"Just fine actually," Mal answered. "We love on Cameron. Serenity here is Cameron's home now. That monster as you call her would give her life to protect any of us. She's gentle and caring."
"Impossible!"
"If it weren't for Cameron, despite Simon's best efforts, River wouldn't be healing in her mind." Mal stared at the man, letting the elder Tam feel his hate
Gabriel stared at Mal in disbelief.
"Want to know what River calls Cameron?"
Gabriel nodded slowly.
"Twin."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mom, you must not provoke Cameron," Simon pleaded.
"I promise." Reagan whispered, her eyes heavy from the sedation.
"Good," Simon answered. "Answer a question for me, please."
"Anything, just keep Cameron away from me. She terrifies me," Reagan pleaded.
"Why did you agree to send River away? The truth, mother."
Reagan's eyes lost their focus as her mind went far away to some place else, some place in a different time.
"I was poor when I met your father," Reagan answered. "My family had been well to do when I was young, so I was reasonably well educated, mannered, I knew how to act appropriately."
"You never told me that before," Simon said softly.
"I was to ashamed to tell you."
"Why, mom? One thing I've learned living on the Rim is poor people can be some of the best individuals you'd ever want to associate with. There's no shame in being poor."
Reagan laughed. "There is when you were once well to do. My father drank it all away. He even tried to sell me to a Companion's Guild. But your father saw me. Gabriel desired me so much he overlooked the fact I was poor. I saw my chance and I took it."
"You married father for money?"
"Among other things," Reagan whispered. "He wanted my body and I gave it to him. He was kind to me, attentive. Gabriel made me feel safe, secure, like I was somebody again."
Simon's mother's eyes focused again and she looked at her son directly in his eyes. "I fell in love with your father. He saved me. I can never go back to being poor."
"So you do whatever father tells you?"
Reagan began to cry silent tears as she nodded yes to her son's damning question.
"Why did father want to give River away to the Alliance?"
"Power, a chance to ascend to the high council. Stock in Blue Sun Corporation."
Appalled by the truth, Simon turned away.
"Your sister was such a brat, so uncontrollable and she was becoming a teenager. I couldn't cope. When the Alliance told us she was a reader, it terrified me. They promised us they would help River. Teach her to control it, to manage her bad behavior."
"Mom, you have no idea what the Alliance did to her. None. You don't know how River has suffered!"
"You don't know how your father suffered when you broke her out of the Academy! I was terrified we'd lose what we had!"
"Mom, they cut into River's brain! She unable to not hear other people think! The Alliance turned River into an unthinking assassin. She can be triggered by words or symbols. Do you have any idea the horrors River has suffered?"
Reagan turned her face away from her son.
"You have no idea what your father went through when River revealed the secret of Miranda."
"Mother, the people had a right to know!"
"Miranda was an accident! The Alliance couldn't let people know! Nobody would trust the terraforming process anymore if the truth of Miranda got out!
Simon shook his head in disgust. "I should have let Cameron kill you." Without another word he stood up and left his mother lying on the bunk, her restraints still tight.
"Don't make a sound mother," Simon said softly as he began climbing the ladder. "I won't stop Cameron again."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"We're close," Mal said. "I can sense it."
"I'd be happy to intimidate him," Cameron offered.
"No, it's my turn, Twin," River said with surprising confidence.
Everyone looked at River in surprise.
"I'm not as fragile as I use to be." River assured everyone. "I need to face him. Make my father see what he threw away."
Everyone looked at Derek much to Simon's irritation. He nodded. "River got a good six or seven hours of sleep last night. She wants to do this." Derek looked at Simon and then Cameron. "River needs this and she has her support system here with her. Now is the time."
Simon sighed. "I suppose from a psychological view, this is the time to do it. I would even say closure would help River in her overall healing process much as revealing the secret of Miranda made such a big difference for her." He looked at everyone to make sure they took him seriously. "But if she has an episode, don't say I didn't warn everyone."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
River entered the common area where Gabriel was still confined. Holding her hand was Derek and following close behind was Cameron. Simon at River's insistence remained with the other members of the crew, waiting to see what would transpire.
Derek seated River in a chair near Gabriel. The crew's dinning table had been moved away to allow River to be as close to her father as she wanted. Derek moved chairs each side of River, one for himself, and one for Cameron. He waited for Cameron to seat herself before take his own seat.
Gabriel watched all three closely. Cameron noted his heart rate had become elevated and his senses heightened. Wanting to place River's father on edge, Cameron pulled out the large knife she'd threatened Reagan with and began wiping it with a cloth as if removing dried bloodstains.
Beads of sweat began to form on Gabriel's forehead. He turned his vision on River and began rocking back and forth as the nervous tension in the room grew more tense.
Leaning back slightly, River slipped both hands down to her abdomen. "My child is right here," River said softly, focusing in order to talk in first person. "As you are well aware, you had Cameron's child kidnapped."
River looked into her father's eyes directly. "This is my husband, Derek. He is a wonderful man, strong, protective, and decent." River redirected her gaze to Derek and looked at him lovingly. "You would like him father. Even if he's not wealthy or powerful."
River sighed. "Then again, you might not. Derek is not likely to have helped you climb your way up the political ladder nor would he have helped you to gain wealth at the expense of others."
The sound of a metal blade striking the palm of a hand broke the moment as Gabriel's head snapped around to watch an emotionless Cameron fiddling with her butcher knife.
"Simon approves of Derek though and so does the Captain. That was good enough for me. Twin and Derek get along so a marriage was possible."
Confusion spread across Gabriel's face as uncertainty of what River was up to.
"You should be worried Father," River told him. "The Captain, at the encouragement of the crew, has left your fate in my hands. Twin here is eager to terminate your existence and now that I'm an expectant mother, I find her desire more understandable."
"You let that monster kill your mother?" Gabriel looked at River in disbelief.
"It was unfortunate, but yes," River answered. "How could our mother kidnap her own grandchild? To have allowed my twin to be taken away from me was reprehensible. To take my twin's child was even worse. You and mother demonstrated no concern for the welfare of your children."
"We provided you with…"
"You turned your back on us!" River screamed coming out of her chair and lunging for her father. Just as she would pummel Jayne in a fit of insane rage, River beat her father about his head and shoulders.
Derek took his time reaching for River to restrain her. River finally grew tired and let Derek return her to her seat. Instinctively, River's hands went to her belly to protect her child.
"I could end him know for you if you wish," Cameron offered.
"No! I am not done, Twin."
Cameron nodded while River closed her eyes and focused, slowing her breathing down to regain control of her emotions and thoughts.
"You must make amends," River announced. "Repentance is necessary. It is good for the soul. Sheppard Book taught me that."
"A Sheppard? You listen to that foolishness?"
The insult sent River into another wild rage. Again Derek allowed his wife to batter he father, not stopping River until blood began to flow from Gabriel's nose and mouth. His left eye showed signs of swelling shut in a short period of time.
"Never… never criticize Sheppard Book or his Abbey again!" River hissed. "I was wed in that Abbey by the Bishop himself! Not that you care, father!"
Taken aback, Gabriel looked at his daughter.
"What do you want from me?"
"Honesty!"
The realization he had no chance to survive unless he cooperated struck Gabriel. Cameron had already killed his wife. River was as unstable as Simon had claimed and truthfully Gabriel no longer knew who he feared more, Cameron or River. The man sitting next to River, holding her hand had married his daughter. The man was either as insane as River and Cameron or more lethal than the deranged twins.
"I suppose I owe you that," Gabriel finally said.
River stared at her father for a moment. "Understand, I can tell instantly if you lie."
"I understand." Gabriel said weakly, defeated.
"Why did you give us away?"
"River, I had no idea your mother gave berth to Cameron," Gabriel said. "Men are not allowed in the delivery room on Core worlds." Gabriel looked at Cameron. "I'll be honest. I wanted Simon, I did. Your mother wanted you girls and seduced me."
"Good for Reagan," Cameron monotoned. "Doesn't speak well for you."
"I wouldn't have given you away," Gabriel promised. "For a man, the birth experience is different. We don't carry the child inside for nine months. Our children become real to us when we hold you for the first time as an infant."
River looked at Cameron and nodded, indicating she believed Gabriel. They had finally sold River's father on the idea the girls were truthfully twins.
"If Cameron was stolen at birth, which for the moment we'll agree you are being truthful, why did you give me away?"
River's words struck her father harder than her fists. She watched as Gabriel wilted before her eyes.
"Greed, plain and simple. Lust for power and wealth. Perhaps even more important to me was social status. It was very important to your mother."
Tears rolled down River's cheeks.
"That's it?"
"You were so difficult, River. When the Alliance came to us about you, it was easy to let go."
"I was a teenager," River whispered. "My body was changing and I was confused like most girls are when they reach puberty. I know I was a brat, but I didn't do anything that was outlandish enough to be given away!"
"I realize that now," Gabriel said. "It's stupid I suppose, but I regret what I did now."
"Too late," River snapped. "And why did you decide to kidnap Kacy, who's not my daughter as you well know."
It took Gabriel several minutes to finally answer.
"I lost so much when Simon stole you from the Alliance. It was humiliating for both your mother and me. Then you pulled that stunt with revealing the secret of Miranda. I had to find a way to regain the power and status I lost."
"Your wealth wasn't enough?" River asked. "We all saw the mansion you moved into after Simon and I were on the run from the Alliance."
Defiance crept back into Gabriel's face for a moment. "The home you and your friends burned to the ground."
"You deserved it," Cameron monotoned. "I was talked out of terminating you the moment I laid eyes on you. The destruction of the symbol of your wealth and status was a necessary first step in punishing you for kidnapping my daughter."
"You never loved me. Not really," River sobbed. "Not like a real father would." She took Derek's hand and clasped it to her chest.
"I'm done. He is no longer my father." River looked at Cameron. "What do you say?"
"He was never my father," Cameron answered, standing up and brandishing her knife.
River stood and took Cameron's hand and the two women left the common area.
Gabriel's head fell in despair. "What happens to me now?"
"Now?" Derek rose from his chair and stared at his wife's sorry excuse for a father. "Now, River and Cameron will decide if you live or die."
"What about Simon?" Gabriel asked.
Derek snorted in disgust. "Simon washed his hands of you."