"Hwun dan!" Although the flash from the device Niska was holding temporarily blinded Serenity's crew, as well as the elder Tams, Jayne, Zoe, and Malcolm were all able to use muscle memory to pull their guns out of their holsters and point them at the crime boss before their sense of sight returned to them. At the same time, Kaylee pulled out a small wrench that she had stored somewhere on her person, and held it up towards Niska's head while trying to look as menacing as possible. Everyone else just looked startled or frightened, except for River, whose face had a blank look to it as she simply blinked until her vision had returned.
Malcolm snarled. "What are you playing at, you..."
But the captain's words were interrupted by those of Gabriel Tam. "Mr. Niska, I think you hit the flash button for the camera setting instead of video! Here, let me show you!"
While the rest of Serenity's crew was still processing the fact that Niska was trying to record them for some reason, not kill them, River rolled her eyes and chuckled softly. "Ha. You all made a face!" But the young woman then quickly turned her gaze towards Niska and started glaring at the crime boss.
A slight blush crept over Niska's cheeks, but it only lasted for a moment. "No, I have got it. My English is, shall we say, not so solid when it comes to written words. But I think I get it now. This is the right button for video, yes?" Gabriel Tam simply nodded as Niska prepared to press another button on the device in his hands, as he spoke to Serenity's crew without looking at them. "It would be...how do you say...prudent, for you to put your weapons away now, yes? I am not here to hurt you, but my men may feel differently if your trigger fingers get too...twitchy."
That was the moment that most of Malcolm's crew noticed that there were several armed men in the same room as them, Niska, and the Tams, and that said men were now raising their own weapons at the Firefly's crew. Malcolm, Zoe, Kaylee, and Jayne all let out a collective sigh as the lowered their weapons, while the rest of the crew drew back slightly, away from Niska's goons. Meanwhile, River just continued glaring right at Niska.
Gabriel and Regan Tam also sent their own glare in the crime boss's direction while Regan shouted. "You promised that you wouldn't hurt them!"
Niska simply gestured towards his men, who lowered their guns, before turning towards the Tam matriarch. "I promised your children, your offspring, and all their friends, safety, if they follow the plan, despite the...troubles they have caused for me and my operations in the past. And they are not dead. They raised guns towards me, and they are still alive. I am a man of my word, yes?"
Regan nodded when she saw the dangerous glint in Niska's eye after she had questioned his trustworthiness. The crime boss smiled. "Good. I am glad that you understand that I am man of my word. That my words, are, how do you say? Trustworthy. Solid. I do not like it when people question my honor, Mrs. Tam. It would be prudent not to do so again. But..." Niska raised up his right index finger. "A man must still be cautious. Keep himself safe, yes? That is why I brought these men along."
Niska pointed towards his henchmen as he looked right at Malcolm and Zoe. "I had to hire new crew, who I will introduce to you later, after that...unpleasant business between us at my Skyplex. That was an unfortunate time for all of us, me thinks. Although I dare I think I got the worst end of the deal that day."
Malcolm glared at Adelai, "Are you gorram kidding me, after what you did to me and Wash..."
Niska held up his hand, not noticing the way Zoe flinched when Wash's name was mentioned. "Is...unimportant. It all happened long ago, yes? I got my pound of flesh, then you and man you call Wash got away, and I have new men now. And I have a job for all of you no one else can do for me. So we should, how do you say...Let bygones be bygones. You all wish to hurt the Alliance, yes? Then do this job for me, and help me put an end to their...regime. The choice is yours, Captain Reynolds."
Malcolm shrugged while he looked at Niska's twelve gunmen. "Given that you have all the guns, I don't reckon there's much choosing to be done. You have us over a barrel here, Niska. We all know it. And not that I'm complaining, because I really ain't, but why are we still alive, and why do you want to hurt the Alliance so badly? Me and my crew have reasons a plenty to hate them purple bellies, but as far as I know, except for being a general nuisance to your criminal operations, they've never done anything to you. So why spare us and stick your neck out to hurt them?"
Niska snarled. "On the contrary, Captain Reynolds. I have as much reason as your crew to hate the Alliance. Perhaps more. I had a son. His name was Gregory. He was a strong, smart boy. A shame my wife had insisted on him staying out of the family business. He would have made a great heir to my empire." The old man sighed as he sat in the only chair present in the room. "Still, he had bright future. My wife and I sent Gregory to best schools in the Rim so that he could become a lawyer one day. It was at university that he learned more about the Alliance. The ways they were trying to, what is the word? Subjugate the outer planets, even before war. Gregory became very political then, very anti-Alliance." Niska's eyes had a far away look to them as he continued speaking. "When Gregory volunteered to be officer for the Independents when war started, we tried to change his mind. My wife and I were never political people. We told Gregory, 'Is crazy. You can't beat Alliance on the battlefield. They are too strong. Stay at university. Become lawyer so you can fight the Alliance with the law, from inside!' But he would not listen. So he went to war. And, just as my wife and I feared . The Alliance killed him. He died at the battle of Sturges."
The old man's face hardened as his jaw clenched "Worse, I later found out, through my organization, that entire battle of Sturges was fought over large cache of money that the Alliance never found. My son died for no reason. And that, Mr. Reynolds...is why you are still alive and I am willing to work with you again. To hurt Alliance. Because I hate them more than I hate you."
Malcolm and Zoe traded glances before the former party spoke to the Niska, who hadn't moved or spoken for several seconds. "Zoe and I knew your son. Captain Gregory Niska, wasn't it?" Adelai only nodded, so Reynolds kept speaking. "His company fought alongside ours several times. Saved our hides on more then one occasion. He was a good man, After Shadow..." Malcolm closed his eyes for a moment, then gulped, even as Inara put one of her hands on Malcolm's right shoulder for a brief moment before she removed it. "Well, after what happened, he even offered to introduce me to his father after the war, so I could work for your organization. Hell, that's the only reason I accepted a job offer from you, despite your rep. I thought if a good man like Gregory vouched for you, that you couldn't be as bad as people say. But I guess that even the best men can have blinders on when it comes to their family, even for someone like you..."
Niska got up from his chair and strode over towards Malcolm's direction, until he was uncomfortably close to the ship captain, "Our first two interactions were mutually disappointing for both of us, yes? However, I am willing to overlook past...unpleasantness, and help your crew, and the Tams, get revenge on Alliance. But only if you treat me some respect, yes?" Niska pulled out a pocket knife from his front shirt pocket, just enough for Mal to see the hidden blade and flinch. "And as long as you never insult my son's memory ever again. Is clear? Is understood?"
Niska lowered the blade all the way back into his pocket while Malcolm nodded. "Understood. And I wasn't trying to insult your son. Like I said, Gregory was a good man. You should be proud of him."
Niska nodded and backed away from Malcolm slightly. "I am. But the Alliance must pay for what they did to my boy. You all have a reason to hate them Hwun Dan almost as much as I do, yes? So... to business. Down to...how do you say? Brass tacks."
Niska gestured towards Regan Tam. "When this woman and her husband first contacted me about trying to find her offspring and Serenity, I was...word is...conflicted. I had just put my new crew together after you and your friends...dismantled last one, and I wanted to kill you all."
Everyone in the room, besides Niska and his men, looked nervous before Adelai ended his dramatic pause. "However, Dr. Tam..." Both Simon and Gabriel looked at the crime boss, causing the latter party to chuckle. "Dr. Gabriel Tam had saved my life. My people...we have a, how do you say...tradition, going all the way back to Earth that was. A tradition that states that if one man saves another, one whose life is saved owes a debt to the other man. A debt which I could not get rid of if I killed you. But, when Regan Tam told me her ingenious plan to cripple the Alliance, I knew had to put my..." Niska rubbed his hands together for several seconds before he added. "Enmity for you and your crew aside for the sake of hurting our mutual enemy."
"Mother!" Simon Tam choose that moment to glare at Regan Tam. "What kind of gorram deal did you make with this dangerous man? I want answers and I want them now!"
River and Kaylee both simultaneously put one of their hands on both of Simon's elbows, causing the doctor to visibly calm down as the Tam matriarch finally began to speak. "Well, Simon, River..." Regan looked at both of her children imploringly. "First of all, your father and I both wanted to bring you home, and after our official contacts in the Alliance government turned up nothing, we knew we needed to turn to Mr. Niska for help to find you. However, we also wanted to make the Alliance answer for all the harm that they have done, not just to the 'Verse at large, but to you too. Especially you, River. Gabriel and I are so sorry that we didn't believe Simon about..." Regan sighed. "Anyway we knew we couldn't let what was done to you go..."
River nodded with her eyes downcast. "The men in white coats broke her. She is beyond fixing now, so you want revenge for the daughter you lost."
Regan shook her head with tears in her eyes. "I still don't know why you are talking about yourself like that, nyen ching-duh, but you will always be our daughter. Nothing the Alliance, or anyone could ever do will change that. But yes, for what they have done to you. What they have done to the 'Verse...the Alliance needs to pay for that. But the deaths of colonies, planets...these things are just statistics for most people. Enough to make people resent the Alliance a little bit. But not enough to get people to break out of their routines and do something about it. No, to galvanize people to change things, maybe even over through the Alliance, it needs to be personal. People need to see the harm our government causes to individuals, families, friends, and lovers."
Regan looked right at Inara and Malcolm then, and only then did the two individuals in question realize that Malcolm had adapted a protective stance between Niska and the former companion as soon as the crew had entered the room and that Inara had put her hand on Malcolm's arm several times to calm him down during his discussion with Niska. The captain and the elegant dark-haired women both blushed slightly and lowered their heads for several seconds as they simultaneously spoke. "We're not..." "He and I aren't."
But Regan Tam talked right over the captain and the former companion with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, while River silently smirked. "So I thought...Why not show them? Show the people of the 'Verse a month in the lives of nine individuals who have personally suffered because of the Alliance. Catch it all on film for everyone to see! Mr. Niska has been kind enough to let us stay in one of his summer villas for this purpose, and offered to provide several camera men and the best pirate broadcasting equipment that money can buy..."
"Kao! Mother, please tell me you aren't suggesting what I think you are suggesting..."
The eyes of all the other crew members, except River, who just frowned while looking straight ahead, turned towards the Tam matriarch. Finally, after a moment of silence, Mal asked the question most of his crew was thinking. "Excuse me, ma'am. But I'm a bit lost. What exactly are you suggesting?"
River rolled her eyes and sighed. "Mother wants to turn our lives into a reality show. Force us all to live in one place and catch it all on film. Use our words and experiences to put a bee in the bonnet of the purple bellies and their puppet masters..."
"Exactly!" Regan smiled and made a grand gesture with her right hand, as if she was imprinting words on the very air in front of her. "People love a good reality show! I figure me, my husband, and our children can be front in center. The typical, core-world,, nuclear family torn apart by the Alliance's greed and lust for power, while the rest of you interact with us as our guest, friends of the family, and get to share your experiences of how the Alliance has hurt you via interviews with will take place throughout the single season of the show. We'll call it 'Walking Alongside the Tams'!"
Kaylee's eyes lit up as she smiled and spoke. "You mean we'll get to be on TV? Shiny!"
Zoe shook her head. "No. A lot of us, myself included, lead very private lives, and we won't submit to them being examined by a spyglass for all the 'Verse to see."
Niska chuckled. "I'm sorry. I think you are...not understanding situation you are in, Mrs. Washburne..."
"It's Miss Washburne now. My husband died some time ago. And since then, I have little patience for games. Speak plain. Are you saying we don't have a choice?"
Niska pointed at Zoe and smiled. "I knew you were intelligent woman! My condolences for the loss of your husband, and also that Shepard who I had also...rumors, you understand? Heard he died as well. But you are correct, Miss Washburne. You all have no choice."
Niska's men all put their hands on their holsters, but they didn't draw steel just yet, as their boss spoke. "I think Mrs. Tam's idea is a good one, but if you will not help me get my revenge on the Alliance, and get a little vengeance on the crew of Serenity by forcing them to live in front of the public eye for an entire month, where I know many of you will be, how you say? Fishes out of water, then I will have no use for any of you, and I might as well just kill all of you right now, yes?"
Regan opened her mouth to protest Niska's words, but Gabriel put his hand on his wife's arm and whispered into her ear. "Just stay calm, and everything will be fine. Let the uncivilized outerworlders talk this out and don't say a word!"
Malcolm looked at the smallish room he, the Tams, and his crew were in. It was small, had no cover to speak of, and the only exit to the room was a locked door several feet behind the captain and everyone he wanted to protect from Niska's large number of men and guns.. The Captain sighed, then spoke in a loud volume through gritted teeth. "Shiny! We'll do this yu bun duh show for you! But we'll still be expecting to get that large payday that was promised us, Niska! You being so intent on being a man of your world and all."
Niska smiled. "Glad you decided to make a sensible decision, Captain Reynolds. I enjoy reality shows. Enjoy watching others suffer..."
Malcolm whispered under his breath while glaring at the mob boss. "Never would have guessed." River smirked at Malcolm's comment, which she had heard quite plainly...but not with her ears.
Niska continued speaking. "And I will enjoy watching you all publicly suffer by your own hands while helping me get my revenge on the Alliance, yes? Is like, how do you people say? Killing two birds with one stone! And do not worry, Captain. If the words of your crew make trouble for the Alliance, I will see to it that you will all become very...honored. No, this is wrong word, very rich. Now..." Niska picked up the video camera, which had been lying on the ground. "Promo for show is almost done. Mr. and Mrs. Tam have already filmed introductory speech saying what show is about. Can film other individual intros later, But audience must see whole cast together at beginning. Greeting people of 'Verse, introducing show as one, yes? So, when I press the record button..."All of Niska's men stepped behind their boss, out of sight of the camera. "You will all yell, in happy, enthusiastic voices, 'This is Keeping up with the Tams!', yes? And don't forget to smile!"
The Tams and the crew of Serenity all forced a smile, while Malcolm whispered under his breath. "Well, isn't this just shiny!"
A moment later, Adelai Niska hit the record button. Then the 'cast' of the show said their prompted words, having no inkling of how much their choice to accept Niska's "offer" would effect the 'Verse. For good and for ill.
AN: And so it begins. Will the crew of Serenity be able to survive the horrors of reality television? Will they get through the show's one and only season with their sanity (or in River's case, what's left of it) intact? Will they be able to stand living with the Tams long enough to finish filming the first episode? Tune in next time to find out the answers to these, and other questions, as we join the crew of Serenity in their attempts at "Walking Alongside the Tams!"
Hello, readers! I would like to thank all of you for your continued interest in my story, especially bjq, who reviewed my last chapter! Thank you all for your support and input! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, but all manner of input on this chapter, via review or PM, would be greatly appreciated!
Also, a huge thank you goes out to my beta reader, without whom this story would be in even worse shape than Serenity during the episode, "Out of Gas"! Thank you for all of your help!
Until next time, I am...
-supercode
