The rendezvous point had turned out to be a highly secure warehouse complete with high, barbed wire fences and growling black dogs with orange eye brows. At a loss for the next course of action, Zoe, Jayne and Wash had returned to the ship.
There had ensued several hours of fruitless waiting. No one had any ideas, so they had all just sat, except for Simon, who went about the task of surgically removing the bug from the dog. Eventually Kaylee meandered down to watch. Out of unspoken agreement, they remained silent so as not to provide their unseen listeners with any ammunition.
The little device was sitting to one side as Simon sewed the dog up when Kaylee had an idea and dropped the bug into the hand-rinsing basin so they could talk. 'How long will it take him to wake up from the anaesthetic?' she asked the doctor, not quite daring to hope just yet.
'About an hour. He'll still be a little bit groggy for a while after that though. Why?'
'Because we might be able to use him to track the captain.'
'Of course. I'm so stupid.' Simon risked a glance through his lashes at the mechanic. She smiled coyly at him and sidled closer. 'I wouldn't say that,' replied Kaylee, 'no one else on this boat would have been able to get that bug out of poor Rover.' Simon blushed at the praise. 'I, uh…' he held up his hands in explanation, which were covered in dog blood from the surgery. Kaylee couldn't help but grin at this, and in reply held up her own grease covered hands. Working on Serenity was her way of keeping from stressing about the captain.
Simon took one of her hands in his own and led her over to the basin where they washed the blood and oil off each other's hands, before going up stairs to tell everyone else about Kaylee's idea.
So when the dog woke up, and after a few false starts, everyone save for River and Simon trooped out to go and 'rescue' the captain and Inara.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------O0o0O-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------So here they all were facing off against a rich looking ponce, without a very good explanation why. After all, they couldn't prove that the bug had belonged to Gabriel, and the captain and Inara weren't exactly tied up in the corner awaiting rescue.
'Pray tell dear lady, what is the reason behind this intrusion?'
Zoe ground her teeth at being addressed as 'dear lady.' They had just entered the room, with her in the lead. Luckily, no one had their weapons actually loaded and aimed, but they were still well in evidence. Two of the in-house security force flanked the invaders, having been unable to stop them at the door.
'We have reason to believe that our captain is in this house somewhere.'
'And why would you think that? I certainly have not seen him.'
'That doesn't mean he's not here.' Replied Zoe coldly. Gabriel spread his hands in front of him in a gesture of innocence. 'I would allow you to search for him, but I'm afraid it would be fruitless. My security system is excellent, and no one could have gotten inside without my knowledge.'
Zoe paused for a second, uncertain. The dog had still been a little woozy when he had led them here. If he had been wrong, and she insisted on searching, the man could get them all locked up for trespassing. She was also aware of the steady stares of the five other men that had remained seated at the card table. Witnesses, who could easily identify them all and testify against them.
'I apologise for interrupting your evening then' said Zoe evenly, preparing to back out of the situation. The beginnings of protests emanated from behind her, which were suddenly and unexpectedly eclipsed by a loud and semi-jovial voice.
'Don't think I've ever heard you apologise for anything Zoe, so don't start it with this scum.' To her credit, the first mate managed to keep a totally impassive expression as both Mal and Inara were suddenly there in the room, looking unharmed, and if anything, amused.
'Just trying not to get us all arrested sir,' she replied, noting that Gabriel looked just as surprised as she felt. There was also a definite mix of annoyance on his face.
'Captain Reynolds. It appears I am wrong after all.'
'Indeed you are, Gabriel Rime.' Mal's expression had rapidly become less jovial as he turned to address the blond haired man. 'On several counts. Firstly and most importantly is that I don't like being extorted. You cut a deal with me, you cut it the good old fashioned way, without hostages, or insider information.'
'I could accuse you of the same charges Mr Reynolds. Spying on private conversations between friends is a distinct breach of my rights.' He indicated the men, who, thankfully, looked more interested in the interruption than angry about a breach of their rights.
'I came here merely to warn my crew member of her imminent kidnapping. We hid not with the thought of spying on you, but only of our own safety.'
Although we soon enough turned to other thoughts, commented a very quiet voice in Inara's head. She kept her face carefully blank, then decided that that was too suspicious and put traces of icy righteous anger in there. This had nothing to do with the fact that she knew Mal thought she looked sexier when she was angry.
'But you will admit to the charge of kidnapping?' demanded Gabriel. Mal blinked, but then realised that Gabriel had come to the same conjecture as the two behind the holographic tapestry, about the origin of crew's knowledge of the location of Gabriel's mansion.
'Once again it is justified. My crew needed to know where I was.' Gabriel could find no immediate fault with this explanation so he and Mal both paused for a moment to lock glares. Book chose to break in.
'Perhaps, captain, we could overlook wrongs on both sides to proceed to a mutually beneficial business deal.'
Mal shot a brief glare at the shepherd, but turned back to Gabriel with a questioning look. The man nodded, finally letting reason enter his thoughts.
'Perhaps you could step this way Mr Reynolds. I have a room in which we may concentrate more completely on the negotiations.'
'Lead the way' replied the captain.
Gabriel looked about to protest when both Zoe and Jayne followed Mal, but he had already been shown up with all his other machinations, and kept his peace.
The rest of the crew were left to stand uneasily in the middle of the card room, under the piercing gazes of two guards and five card players. Kaylee pursed her lips for a moment then an idea struck her. 'Hey, while we wait, would you guys mind going a round of cards with us?'
The five men looked at each other, whole possibilities for swindling opening up in front of them. 'Sure, why not?' the spokesmen offered innocently, shuffling his seat to one side so the new players could join the table.
At the negotiation table, things had taken an unexpected turn. The starting price as named by Gabriel was five times what Mal had been about to ask for. Now Mal was attempting to bargain normally, as though he wasn't blinded by the giant dollar signs in his eyes. He was also trying to hide his suspicions about a far dodgier cargo than he had counted on, but his mother's philosophy had always been, 'get the money first, and then sort it out.'
Somehow he closed the deal without tipping his hand, and reached across the table to seal it with a handshake. Gabriel clasped his hand with a weak and insipid grasp, the satisfaction of a good deal seeming obscene on his face.
As Mal returned to pick up the rest of his crew, he may have noticed the disgruntled looks on the faces of Gabriel's mates, but he was still thinking of all the money too much to notice it. Inara helped Kaylee sweep the (gambled and won) platinum into their collective pockets, and they all stood up to follow their captain.
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'Captain-' started Zoe, worry in her tone.
'Not a word 'till we're out of here Zoe,' he warned his first mate as they strode towards the exit of Gabriel's mansion.
'Yes sir' she replied, biting her tongue. When they broke the night air, she let loose her worries about their being something weird about the cargo. 'It's the only reason he would have paid us so well.'
'Not the only reason.' Came a voice from the darkness. They all jumped as Michael un-blended himself from the shadows in the lee of the mansion.
Recognising him from the pictures off the cortex, the crew acted instinctively, the fighters moving to the front to surround the man, with Kaylee, Inara and Wash moved to stand in the protection behind them.
Mal spoke out of the side of his mouth to his first mate in a stage whisper. 'I thought you had this guy in custody.'
'Been meaning to tell you sir. Mike here wasn't at the warehouse. We used the dog to track you.'
'Dog?' mouthed Inara to Kaylee. 'Tell you later' replied the mechanic, equally quietly.
'I was meant to be at the warehouse,' volunteered "Mike" helpfully.
'What do you want?' asked Mal bluntly. Michael raised his chin, but did not take offence at the captain's tone.
'I just wanna say that I won't tell if you don't.' Mal decided he liked this man far more than his pompous brother. His hair was restrained to more a practical haircut; no long plait, and his clothes were simple and covered in evidence of real work.
'Tell what?'
'Well I won't tell Gabby' (Mal managed not to blink at the nickname, but Wash sniggered) 'that I recommended him way too high a market price on transport for contraband goods, if you don't tell him that I made the bug in the dog beep. And no one's to mention that I never tole you lot where his bloody mansion is.'
Upon hearing this tirade, Mal relaxed a little. 'Why are you working against your brother?' asked Jayne in confusion.
'Because he's an ass. Thinks he's better than me cos he's likes fancy clothes.'
Mal at that point had to restrain himself very hard from turning and staring pointedly at Inara, although he could feel her thoughtful gaze on the back of his neck. Instead he grinned, and extended a hand to shake with Michael. The man returned the grin, and his handshake was solid and genuine. They parted ways with the wayward brother and headed back to Serenity, the crewwith the comforting feel of money in their pockets, and Michael with the warm feeling of finally having got one up on his annoying brother.
End Chapter 3