Chapter 23

Yvex's parlor was a small room, the walls open onto a vast expanse of stars. Simon swallowed convulsively and clutched Kaylee's hand, but River immediately drifted over to stare out, her wide eyes reflecting the starlight. Yvex smiled and joined her there. "It is beautiful, isn't it? This view is probably my favorite part of being Shadow Architect." He glanced back at the Doctor and pursed his lips. "My least favorite part would be old friends dropping me into the middle of centuries-old messes with no warning."

The Doctor shrugged unapologetically. "Sorry. Court procedure—I couldn't allow for prior knowledge, or Qorv could've claimed conspiracy."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "Wait, wasn't he the one who's been running this whole thing?"

Yvex sighed and poured himself a glass of water. "The intricacies of bureaucracy. It's enough to drive anyone mad." He took a sip and glanced around at the Serenity crew. "So, you actually live in this mystery system. What sort of measures do you think would be effective?"

Mal's jaw tightened. "We need to get that video out, that's for sure."

Inara shook her head, worrying at her lower lip. "That can't be all we do, Mal. This is bigger than the Alliance and the Independents—this is changing everything people thought they knew."

"So we tell 'em the truth, an' let them sort it out."

Book cleared his throat, glancing back and forth between Mal and Inara. "If I might interrupt, does the Shadow Proclamation have any military capabilities?"

Yvex shrugged lightly. "None of our own. We contract out with the Judoon—it works well enough. Why do you ask?"

"Well, if the Reavers are Blue Sun's main way of isolating the system, removing their threat would not only open up communication and travel, it would work well as a mark of good faith. After all, no longer having to live with their threat would do much to… open people's minds, so to speak, about extraterrestrial contact."

Simon spoke up, his brow furrowed. "What about those that have no contact with Reavers? After all, to those in the Core, it would be shadows fighting shadows."

"We start this off the way we did last time." Mal hooked his hands in his belt, and looked around at all of them. "We start talkin'. We get the information out there—what people decide to do with it's up to them, but there's no more lies, no more hidin'."

Inara sighed. "Looks like I'll be signing onto the Serenity again." Mal's mouth fell open, and she grinned a little, eyes dancing. "You have to admit, Mal, your most common way of connecting with people involves fists."

Zoe hid her laugh in a cough, and Mal glared at her. "She does have a point, sir."

Yvex looked around at the crew and opened a drawer by the door, pulling out several small, sleek comm units. "Whatever you decide to do, I must ask that you keep these on you. Blue Sun won't have a chance to hide this. The Shadow Proclamation can aid in recovery for Reaver-stricken areas, but we have to have contact if long-standing diplomatic connections are to be made."

"It can't just be Alliance or Independents." Yvex turned to look at Inara and she continued, her eyes on Mal. "We have to build communications with everyone, if we're to start a real dialogue. We can't let old ideologies interfere with diplomacy."

"Old ideologies? It was 'old ideologies' that signed off on goushi as what happened on Miranda!"

"What do you think will happen, Mal? That there'll be another civil war, and the Alliance will vanish into the ether? They're too much a part of people's lives for that to happen. I know you don't like what they've done—anyone with a soul won't like what they've done. But we can't just wish them away. " She stepped closer, watching him carefully. "If we want this change to last, we've got to work with people, not just against them."

Yvex smirked, watching Mal's wide-eyed expression. "Looks like you may have an ambassador already." He grinned at Inara. "Have you ever considered a career in diplomacy?" She flushed, momentarily flustered, and he raised a hand. "Just think about it." He strolled back to the window, his hands behind his back. "As for the rest of you, would you prefer accommodations or transport to be arranged while we begin proceedings?"

He watched the humans carefully. Kaylee was fighting to keep her eyes open by that point, and Zoe had curled into Wash's shoulder and closed her eyes. Mal glanced at the Doctor, his brow furrowed. "Well, I can't rightly say I know what our plans for the moment are, but I know a bed wouldn't go amiss." There were varying noises of assent from the rest of the crew, and Yvex called in a steward to guide them to their rooms.

Rose stepped out of the shower, wrapping a wide, soft towel around herself. The door to their bedroom slid open quietly, and she smiled as she noticed the Doctor leaning against the side of the TARDIS and watching the stars. "Happy to have her back?"

He glanced at her and smiled, his eyes shadowed in the dim twilight. "More than I can say. Nice as she may be, the Serenity's not my home." He paused and grimaced. "Well, I say nice…"

Rose laughed a little before leaning into his side, resting her cheek against the comforting warmth of his wool suit. "D'you want to go, then? 'S just… they could probably use some help, an' Lord knows you're got enough experience talking at people."

"Oi! At?" The Doctor caught her smirk and rolled his eyes, pulling her closer to him. "I'll have you know I once brokered a peace between two warring factions with five words, Rose Tyler."

She grinned. "Oh? What were they, then?"

"'The drinks are on me.'" He shook his head bemusedly. "Amazing, the power those words can have." She giggled a little, and he kissed her forehead absentmindedly. "And no, I'm quite happy to stay around here for a bit." He stared out at the stars. "After all, the adventure's just beginning."

(goushi- dog crap)