I waited outside the holding cell while Mal and Zoe were talking to Shaw. It seemed like hours; I kicked the dirt at my feet, tried to eavesdrop, and counted as high as I could before I got distracted. I don't know why I was so anxious. I knew that Eric Shaw was a liar; Dax knew that Shaw was a liar, and Mal was more likely to believe me than anything Shaw said. But something was bugging me bad.
Finally Mal and Zoe walked out of the room, neither of them looking pleased.
"What happened?" I asked Mal, trying to hide my hyperactive curiosity.
"He wants to see you," Mal replied. "You don't have to go in there if you don't want, in fact, I'd probably prefer if-"
"I'll be fine, Mal," I said, as I walked toward the door. I wanted- no, needed to know what Shaw was saying to the others. I needed to know what he was going to say to me. Not that any of it really mattered. I just wanted to see how hard he was trying to split the crew.
The room was white, calm, and empty. Eric Shaw sat handcuffed to a chair in the middle of the room. I shut the door with a loud snap as I walked in. I paced around him for several seconds, trying to read his expression. Nothing. He seemed perfectly fine.
"What do you want, Eric?" I asked him after a couple of minutes. He sighed, still remaining very calm.
"Mackenzie Reynolds," he said. "I need to warn you." I couldn't help but laugh out loud when he said this.
"You warn me? Oh, that's grand. Since when have you cared about what happens to me?" I asked him. He made no reaction, keeping his face blank and breathing even. He wouldn't even let me tear him from off subject.
"You have no idea what you are doing. You have no idea what happened to you, what role you play in the Alliance's plans, or what's coming next. Mack, if you want to make it out of this little challenge alive, I suggest you start listening to me."
"Yeah, that'll be the day," I muttered to myself. Shaw was trying to scare me. I doubt he had any idea of what he was talking about.
"I know things, Mack. I know things about you that your friends would die to know," he said. I glared at him. I walked forward, grabbing his shoulder roughly.
"It's Mackenzie, you pig. And you can't know anything Alliance related about me. I have nothing to hide. The only time I was in contact with the Alliance was when you betrayed us." Eric laughed. I resisted the urge to break his nose.
"That's because you don't remember much about anything. While you were with the Alliance, they messed with you. You're just as screwed up as River." I let go of his shoulder quickly. I studied his face. He was still calm, which made me want to hit him even more.
"That's not true. I'm perfectly fine," I said, slightly worried.
"That's what you think. That's what the Alliance wants you to think. But you and River will serve your purposes." I lunged at him again, grabbing the collar of his shirt.
"I'm gonna kill you, Eric Shaw. You worthless coward!" I yelled. He started laughing again. I slammed him against his chair. "What do you know? What did they tell you about me?" He gave me a perturbing look.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" he said. I kicked his chair over and stormed out of the room. I was shaking with anger. Mal rushed to my side.
"Well?" he said. I looked up at him, and tried to slow my breathing. His blue eyes were searching my face. "What happened?" he asked me.
"Shaw says I'm just as messed up as River. Says that River and I are going to do something for the Alliance. Probably something that we won't be able to control," I said, folding my arms.
"Did he tell you anything?" he asked me. I shook my head. "I didn't think so. He didn't give us much information either. Maybe we should get Simon to take a look at you?"
"I feel fine," I said. I didn't want anyone fussing over me more than necessary.
"I would feel better if you'd just let him look over you. See if he notices anything…different." As much as I hated the idea, I didn't want to worry Mal. I nodded.
"Fine," I agreed. Mal walked off to get Simon. I just kind of stood there. I didn't want to end up like River. Everyone was afraid of her. They treated her different. If they even thought I was like River, they might start treating me like I would spontaneously combust, too. And I didn't understand how River and I were supposed to function together. The girl made no sense to me.
"Mack?" Simon said, interrupting my thoughts. He seemed curious and worried all at the same time. "Um, Mal said that I should probably take a look at you to see if I could find anything-"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Where to, Doc?" I asked him. Wordlessly, he led me to in infirmary. Rover was asleep in a corner. I sat in the large chair. I laid back and tried to relax. I hadn't seen a doctor in ages, but for some reason, I was really nervous.
"Everything's going to be fine," Simon comforted me, sensing my edginess.
(Simon Tam POV)
There was absolutely nothing abnormal about Mackenzie. It was the first time I'd been frustrated to have a healthy patient. I had hoped that, maybe, she did have the key to healing River. Lately, though, everything seemed to be dead ends.
I had Mackenzie sleep, and currently she was entering REM. River woke up several minutes ago, and watched me work in silence. I went and sat by her. She didn't acknowledge my presence, just stared at Mackenzie. Fluidly, River stood and walked to Mackenzie's side. She put her hand gently on top of Mackenzie's head.
"River," I warned quietly. River stood still, her hand still on Mackenzie's head, and closed her eyes. She stood there for several minutes. I expected her to say something, or to eventually move. But it wasn't River that moved. Mackenzie bolted upright. Her brain waves were still reading that she was in REM sleep. She began to talk. Her eyes fluttered. It was rather frightening. I moved toward her, unsure of what to do.
"Alliance Project 42272: River Tam," she spoke in a monotone. I stopped and listened. "Day one. Subject shows vitality, intelligence, and curiosity. She is learning far more rapidly than any of the other students. Her DNA fills all of the requirements for the procedure. After a few weeks we will begin the testing. This will give the Alliance the upper hand. Forever."
Mackenzie laid back down, and River's eyes opened. She quickly removed her hand from Mackenzie's head. She backed up quickly.
"She remembers," she said, in a quiet panicky voice. "Simon, she remembers. How can she remember and not me?"
"I don't know, mei-mei, but I promise I will figure this out." I walked quickly out of the infirmary. I searched frantically for Mal. I had just found something that would change our luck, and probably forever.