Disclaimer: The Lost World and Firefly television series have not ever, do not, and will never belong to me (no matter how much I whine).
Even for an abstemious eater such as herself, Marguerite seemed to have a small appetite. She chased kaleidoscopic chunks of protein around her plate, cutting them into smaller and smaller pieces until a general mush had formed. The explorers, urged by the insistence of the occupants of Serenity, had joined their hosts for a meal. Whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Marguerite hadn't the faintest inkling, and she couldn't even begin to identify the mysterious colored blobs sitting in front of her. She stared at her serving of mush begrudgingly-- If you invite someone to dinner, the least you can do is serve something edible. But as long as she didn't have to put up with dinosaurs or ape-men or that infuriatingly strange girl, Marguerite was not about to complain. The man and woman had since returned, the female taking a longer absence than the male. They both were seated at the far end of the table, but River was nowhere in sight. Hmm, perhaps they keep her locked up in some sort of cage… mused the heiress with a soft chuckle. They probably just bring her out to scare away unwanted guests.
The majority of the company was discussing the mysteries of the plateau—a conversation Marguerite had very little desire to participate in—but in the back of her mind, behind all the qualms and complaints and suspicions, a different mystery was lurking.
"You see, in our world, dinosaurs are still extant." Challenger was seizing the opportunity to dote on their marvelous discoveries of the plateau. Three solitary years had isolated his findings from the outside world, thus humbling his glory somewhat, but this new, avid audience was enough to restore his enthusiasm. Twitching intensity surged through his figure, giving him the air of an ecstatic child trying futilely to behave.
"Are they mostly omnivorous, or do you meet a lot of carnivores?" inquired the intrigued doctor from the other end of the table.
"Oh we've encountered our fair share of carnivores and omnivores, alike…Mr…" Challenger was at a loss for his name.
"Simon Tam…"
"He's a doctor." Kaylee chimed in proudly with a grin, knowing Simon wouldn't reveal that fact himself due to his humble nature.
The young doctor hesitated before continuing. The crew had offered none of their names before River intervened, and Mal, taking on the role of spokesperson for the group, had not bothered to present anyone other than himself. The notion entered Simon's head to introduce the rest of the crew, but to do so would be to take on an authority silently reserved for the captain. A furtive glance at Mal convinced Simon to speak for only himself and his sibling.
"You met my sister, River, in the cargo bay."
Merely mentioning the incident in the cargo bay was cause for an uncomfortable atmosphere to pervade, but Kaylee was quick to chase it away.
"It must be so… amazing… Getting to see dinosaurs up close." Kaylee's eyes shone with the brilliance of her imagination. Her youthful innocence and vigor easily extracted a smile from the professor.
"Dinosaurs, apemen, tribes—lost civilizations," Roxton added, painting a broader picture on the canvas of Kaylee's mind, then proceeding to take a bite of protein. Unlike the heiress, he seemed to believe it was edible. Marguerite watched incredulously as the meal made its way breezily from Roxton's plate to his stomach. That man can eat anything… Raptor, Pterodacty, …this…She nudged the mush hopelessly once again.Yes, she had always thought the hunter possessed questionable tastes... and not just in food. That was one doubt that had constantly plagued her mind, as well as their budding relationship.
A breathless "wow" sighed from Kaylee's lips as she considered the Lost World.
"Yes, well it's quite the experience," Roxton assured her with a Cheshire grin.
"The first few times, maybe." Marguerite had, ever characteristically, spoiled the mood of awe and added her sour note of input into their allegro medley. "Lately we can't seem to get rid of the pesky beasts."
"Now, Marguerite, you don't mean that…" Roxton reviled playfully… "You can't say you haven't formed a bit of a fondness for our scaly friends." …but his levity was not reflected in her response.
"If I never see another dinosaur again, it'll be too soon."
Not wanting to intrude (and still unsure of their guests), the crew watched and listened, sizing up the strangers and forming careful opinions with every word that was spoken.
"I'm afraid you'll be seeing quite a few more reptiles, Marguerite" Challenger informed her. "As soon as I figure out what caused those atmospheric shimmers and how to recreate a similar effect, we will have to return to the plateau."
Marguerite's first thought was that of gleeful doubt. Sure… Let's see Challenger whip up an invention of his out in the middle of space. There was no way he could do that… But examples of his previous ingenuity came to mind, and the heiress realized there was no way he couldn't do it. Forcefully exhaling with a hint of bitter laughter, Marguerite rolled her eyes and proclaimed, "We finally get off the bloody plateau and all we can think of is going back."
"The sooner we leave, the better. Our presence here is not without repercussion—" He paused to meet the inquiring gazes of his audience. "Our very existence in this time period has interrupted the natural flow of events." Challenger felt a lecture regarding his viewpoint and theories on the space-time continuum coming on but was just able to suppress the puissant urge. He, instead, satisfied himself by concluding with: "We simply don't know what kind of catastrophic effects could ensue…"
Conversation ceased as each plate was slowly emptied. The tranquil silence allowed time for thoughts, as well as food, to be digested. For some, however, the silence was more awkward than calming.
"Well… uh… we're headin to planet to drop off some cargo--"
"Alien clothing ain't hardly cargo." Jayne uttered between a mouthful of protein and yet another mouthful of protein.
Mal continued, not bothering to counter the interruption. "…to drop off some CARGO. Pry get there in about fourteen hours or so. We can pick up some supplies--" Mal turned to Challenger "—anything you need that'll help you get back…. Soon as the jobs done an' we fuel up, we all head right back out. Don't need any delays this time." There was a collective grimace as the crew recalled all their troubled takeoffs from the past few months.
"You mean we ain't leavin' em?" whispered the mercenary, not quite softly enough. A few contemptuous glares shot his way, but he was unaware as ever. "Sure it's nearly a central planet, but they got no trouble with the Alliance," he persisted.
"Yea, but we do. They spot strangers outta place as them, Alliance is gonna track down where they came from, and we don't wanna risk them findin us."
Mal had failed to realize the explorers were completely new to the crew's 'verse and that they couldn't make sense of what he was going on about… but Finn soon drew his attention to this…
"What's 'the Alliance'?" Icy azure eyes prodded him unwaveringly.
"Our gorram government." He muttered, standing up to clear his plate in an attempt to dismiss the subject.
"And why don't you want them to find you?"
Her questions were sharply-- bordering on harshly-- suspicious. Mal's reply was that of an irritated adult wearied by a child's unbounded inquisitions.
"They just ain't too fond of—"
"The doc an his psychic sis'r runnin from the law. The Alliance wants to get River back so they can go play with her brain some more." Jayne butted in, trying to wiggle his way into the conversation, then shoveling a hearty forkful into his mouth and clearing his plate, as well.
This comment caught Marguerite's attention. Besides a hint of contemplation, her face was void of any expression. A soft whisper slid past her lips as she unknowingly thought aloud. "That's why…"
"Why what?"
"Oh…" She seemed in a daze as her eyes listlessly regarded Roxton. "I just… it's nothing." A look of worry pelted her with request for explanation. Not a word passed between them, but the singular expression was not fitting on a face so noble as Lord John Roxton's, and it soon persuaded Marguerite to speak.
She shrugged and shook her head, attempting to dismiss some of the attention now hovering around her. "It… makes sense—what she said back there." Met with puzzled looks from her fellow explorers, Marguerite commenced to translate. "'Ta xiang yao wo di nao zi'—'He wants my brain.'"
Interesting... aside from her, they don't speak Chinese, Simon observed.
"…So you think she somehow picked up on Challenger's scientific mind and tied it to her previous encounters." Veronica ventured. This was the first time she had spoken throughout the meal. Taking care to analyze the crew (just as they were analyzing her, as well as her friends), the jungle beauty had seen all she needed for her to know their personalities and intentions.
"Honestly I h—"
A flickering of lights and a slight rocking of ship crashed into Marguerite's reply and sent the occupants of the room to their feet (either standing above them or resting at their level).
"Kaylee din't you check the engine!"
She rose from the ground and brushed her hands on the sides of her pant legs as she answered. "Cap'n, I gave 'er a quick scan right after they all got here! I don't know why she'd be makin all this fuss." Though the lights were restored and no real damage had been done, Mal's temper was rising.
"Don't know? Don't know?" His lips pounded shut against each other and his nostrils flared as a heavy current took passage. The next sentence was shot as a poison tipped arrow from a violent archer's bow. "Well you'd do good to make quick and FIX IT."
Eight pairs of convicting pupils turned on the man, isolating him and condemning the sacrilegious tone he had spewed at the sweet young girl. Even then ship's newcomers could perceive that Kaylee was, by far, the least deserving of such brutality, and even a small sense of protectiveness brewed in their hearts at the sight of Mal's unjustified snapping.
Pain of betrayal burnt in within Kaylee, but a simple nod and a whimpered "OK" was her only response. She turned around and made way to her task, allowing strands of hair to fall upon her face and shield the light from treacherous, liquid eyes.
"Kaylee, wait--" The company lost another member as Simon launched from his seat after her.
"Was that absolutely necessary, sir. That's the second time today," Zoe blatantly stated in the cold 'war veteran' tone that had seen fit to become her since the death of her husband.
The fiery captain bit his tongue and turned his ear to the comment, not wanting to quarrel more. A deep breath and a twinge of regret just barely leveled his head.
A pause…
Addressing the guests…
"Jayne'll show you where your rooms are." Mal hesitated for a moment, then turned to Jayne. "Take 'em by the cargo bay first… let 'em grab some fresh clothes. I'm sure Shnike wouldn't mind a few missin sets."
Zoe observed this scene skeptically. Something was wrong. Mal's behavior was assuredly askew… or perhaps he was trying to make up for his earlier faults.
The mercenary's tongue rubbed at an imaginary flake of food pinched between his front molars. He leaned up against the kitchen counter, his arms crossed and his eyes wandering. Mmm that blonde was quite the looker. What a beaut! And that other one—kinda stubborn, but, then again, he'd always preferred them tough kind of women. As his mind expounded upon the endless possibilities, he caught one particular detail… or, more like—the lack of one particular detail…
"Hey guys, where's Inara?"
Author's note: Good question, ay?… It seems like there's a LOT of dialogue in this chapter—sorry if it's too much! But I thought it was necessary for some communication to occur! Please review!