Chapter 8: Let's Get This Party Started.
"What are we waiting for?" Jayne asked after they stood in between the entrance of the party and the metal detector. Before they had even left for the place everyone made sure that he was not carrying any type of weapon. The only thing they each had was a plastic based transmitter so they would know where everybody was during the party. Mal had even given him a pat down which prompted Jayne to wonder why Zoe wasn't doing that task and earned a few eye rolls from Inara and James, a warning from Mal and a threat on his little buddies from Zoe.
"We have to wait to be officially announced," Inara said and pointed to the people in front of her "And there is a line."
"Why do we have to be announced?" Jayne asked. He wondered where they kept the food in the place. That was gonna be his first pursuit, and then check out the ladies. "I don't care if people know I'm here. I wanna get to the eating and drinking and looking for the tasty dirty gals."
"Because other people do care," James said as he gave Jayne that annoyed glare of his. "The ladies here who are of high taste will not be dirty, nor should they be leered at, This is a polite high society ball and not some beer swilling hootenanny."
"Ha ha, hootenanny," Jayne chuckled and pointed at him. "That sounds funny coming from ya."
"I like being announced," Kaylee said while she ran her fingers through her bangs. During the ride to the Hammond estate she was extra giggly with words popping out of her a mile a minute "It makes me feel special."
"You are special," Simon told her.
"Oh," Kaylee said as she blushed and tapped his shoulder with her homemade wand. "Me and my ninja prince."
Jayne had to say something about the two of them and the words were forming, but before he even had a chance to open his mouth he felt a tight grip on his shoulder and he turned to look into Zoe's eyes.
"Listen to me, Jayne," Zoe said in a cold tone. "You are to be on your best behavior tonight. You will not be crude to any women, you will not insult anyone, you will not start any fights, in fact try not to talk to anyone. You will not ruin this event for the rest of us. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am," Jayne said after gulping. He knew not to push too hard when Zoe makes the threats.
"Sorry if I stepped out of bounds, sir," Zoe said as turned to Mal.
"No that was good," Mal said as he adjusted one of the belts on his costume.
"Everyone wants the magic to happen," the girl said. "To feel like royalty. We will all have the best night ever."
"I will assure you of that," Jimbo said to her. He reached out to grab her hand and stopped at the last second. He looked up and blinked. "That chandelier is not really attached to the ceiling."
"Yeah," Mal said as he looked up. "It's hovering. I still don't know why."
"Aesthetics, Captain," Jimbo answered. "I know why but how did they manage it is what perplexes me."
"Magnets. River can explain better." He turned around. "Ah here we go." He handed the invites to the guy dressed a man dressed in full wizard get up with sparkling star printed purple gown, long white wig and fake beard and pointed hat.
"Malcolm Reynolds as a pirate," the wizard announced as he read from the list. The guy doing this gig was like the butler or something to the Hammond estate.
"Miss Inara Serra as Marilyn Monroe, Mrs. Zoe Washburn as Medusa, Doctor Simon Tam as Dyne Cosmo, Mrs. Kaylee Tam as a fairy queen, Mr. James Norrington as Elvis Presley, Miss River Tam as a 1950's bobby soxor and Mr. Jayne Cobb as Spiderman."
Jayne just stared at the guy for a few seconds. Why couldn't Jonas remind that guy that he hated the formal titles and crap, and he wondered why their costumes were being announced. It took all the fun out of guessing.
"A pirate," Mal said and stared at his sleeves and his feet. "I thought this guy was known in the history books like those beards and Anne Bonney." He removed his hat and examined it, shrugged and placed it back on his head.
"Not as well known," Jimbo said in satisfied tone. "Almost wish I could travel back to just deflate his ego with this bit of information."
"Maybe I missed something," Mal said as he checked himself out again and paused when James' grabbed his hand and pushed back the sleeves.
"Missing the brand and his tattoo," Jimbo told him. "Slight oversight to be certain, but next time, and pray to god there isn't a next time you dress as Sparrow, you will remember. There is also the fact he had brown eyes and not blue."
"I'll remember that."
"Yo fellow Avenger," Melchior greeted Jayne. He was dressed in red and gold metal armor that made him look like a toy robot and flipped back the face mask to show off his well groomed goatee. "Nice threads."
"Glad you like," Jayne said as he gave the techno geek a high five. "Where's the grub?"
"Over there," Melchior said as he pointed to the long tables at the back of the ball room. "Past Brusque. Enjoy big guy."
"Thanks," Jayne said as he followed the direction of where Mel was pointing. He could see several tables covered with actual cloth and loaded up with goodies and Brusque who was wearing what looked like a leather skirt a leather harness that ran diagonal ways on his body and not much else.
"Nice outfit Cobb," Brusque said when Jayne approached him. "You found your old jammies?"
"At least I'm wearing something," Jayne said as he pointed at the body guard. "You almost naked there."
"Roman gladiator," Brusque explained. "Original sporting event back then they were all death matches. You that web slinger?"
"Yeah." Jayne pointed at the table. "So what is good?"
"Everything, boss only has the best, but you gotta try the sausages on the little toothpicks, and they brought out the fondue pot, but remember no sticking your ringers in there."
"I only get burned once," Jayne said as he selected a toothpick with a miniature sausage on it and plopped it in his mouth.
Inara felt like she could relax for a few minutes now that Jayne had been reunited with one of his old loves and as long as Jayne kept his mouth full of food it meant that he won't say something stupid, or rather nobody would be able to understand anything that he said. She glanced back to the others. Mal and Zoe were talking to Jonas while Ophelia Hammond as asking James about how he was adjusting. She had appeared to be wearing a dress made out of monarch butterflies and had more butterflies in the curly puffball that served as a wig for her. River had selected a crab ragoon from one of the passing servants carrying platters with other different kinds of food on them and Kaylee was following after a serving robot with strawberries on it and followed by Simon.
"Inara Serra?" The voice belonged to her old friend Endora and the last time Inara saw her was on the skyplex.
"Endora Rojavek?" Inara greeted her old friend. "It is wonderful to see you again."
"Your costume is beautiful as the classical lady who you are dressed as," Endora complimented. She was dressed as farm girl with her hair in pigtails. "Are you with a client?"
"With my crew." Inara glanced down to see that her friend was indeed wearing ruby slippers. "The Hammonds are a client to the entire ship."
"The Hammonds are one of the most wealthy and friendly and generous families to live on this part of Persephone," Endora said. "This is the second most sought after ball to be invited to and I have to say a bit more fun."
"The costumes do add that bit of extra enjoyment," Inara said. "Are you with a client?"
"Yes second youngest son of the Peng Yin family." She pointed to the young man dressed as a scarecrow that was part of the group that Kaylee and Simon had just greeted. "The own Yin Creedance corporation."
"I can see why you accepted the young hopeful," Inara said and smiled when Kaylee waved at her.
"It's not just the money or the legacy," Endora said. "He loves building machines and fixing anything that is broken. He also likes to make art out of old spare parts. He just loves to create with his hands and well he is skilled in many other ways with his hands."
"Endora if you are trying to make me jealous I am going to have to say…that it's working." She laughed along with her friend.
"I have to say I loved the idea for your costume," Endora said before she selected a small finger sandwich that was served on a tray carried by the small serving robots that resembled footstools on wheels.
"She was an icon and so is Dorothy. Those can't be real rubies."
"They are not," Endora said as she finished chewing. "Very realistic plastic gems. Took me forever to glue them into place." She took another bite from her sandwich.
"Did you make the whole outfit?" Inara asked in awe.
"Most of it, but what about yours?"
"I did sew the gown myself. Nearly everyone in the crew made their costumes, even Mal."
"Captain Reynolds?" Endora asked as she studied Mal who was in a deep conversation with Jonas and Ophelia Hammond "That appears quite complicated. Did he come up with this design himself or was it inspired by something?"
"A portrait of a real pirate from the history books," Inara explained as music for a slow song picked up and Endora's client had approached them.
"Endora would you care to dance with me," the young man asked.
"I am your date for the evening," Endora said. "But I do appreciate you asking me." She turned to Inara. "You don't mind?"
"A ball is not a ball without dancing," Inara said as she stepped back to make room for the dancing couples. She glanced around the spacious room and watched as Simon led Kaylee into the dance. She looked for Mal and was surprised to see that he was dancing with Mrs. Hammond and moved with perfect grace. She felt a small pinch in her heart to see Mal dance with someone else
"You don't mind to dance with me?" Jonas Hammond asked as he held out his hand to her. "I promise I won't bite." He chuckled.
"I would be delighted to," Inara said as she accepted his hand.
Zoe was thankful there were people and robots on wheels carrying around serving trays with food and drink. It meant she didn't have to approach the buffet table where she was pretty certain Jayne was still parked and she could swipe what she wanted as it passed by. She wasn't sure if she should leave River and James alone not when the two were very nervous around each other, even after the spirited group dance that had followed that slow song. She had selected a small champagne flute. James had selected the same while River chose a water glass.
"This has been quite the bit of enjoyment," James said after he finished taking a small sip. "Everyone seems to be having fun." His voice was wavering and his breaths were deep and shallow while he kept his eyes on River unless he turned to look at him
"Nice to take a break from talking about work," Zoe said as she glanced towards the Hammonds and her captain.
"Perhaps the next dance would be a bit more rocking and rolling?" James asked and glanced down at himself. "I did practice some moves for my character and I wouldn't want it to go to waste."
"Twelve," River spoke up after glancing around the room. "There are twelve different affairs going on. In eight of the cases only two people on the other side know. The other four are swingers and have permission. It's not exactly an affair if they know."
"Read that off everyone already?" Zoe asked, somewhat impressed with the girl's skill.
"Only seventy eight percent of the room."
"Did the captain give you permission?" Zoe asked.
"He said it was fine, always be on the safe side. The security system is flawless and Brusque has a team of strong ones, men and women, but it still not enough. The captain has bad luck, always has and prevention is the key. Doesn't want to be stabbed again."
"Good point," Zoe said and nodded. "Keep an eye out and we will stay alive."
"Staying alive song of the shiny ball era. Sequel to movie where you can see too much of the male growth sticking out."
James drained his glass from that bit of information and Zoe nearly coughed from drinking and listening to that little tidbit of information.
"There was too much in my words again." River stared at her feet. "They fall, cant hold back sometimes. I need to work on that, to be better, to be perfect."
"You are perfectly fine the way you are," James said.
"I am?" She stared at him. "You think I'm perfect."
"Yes you, well you are and-" He swiped another glass of wine and started to drink.
"Might want to slow down there, Commodore," Zoe told him.
"Sorry," James said in a weak tone and smiled again when Malcolm and the Hammond's returned. "Captain I am glad you have returned."
"So am I," Zoe said.
"Don't tell me you three are bored," Mal said. "I heard the next song is gonna start a conga line. Always a bit of fun there."
"Just the air is a little thick," Zoe said and sidled closer to her captain. "Very tense as in the unresolved sexual type." She whispered and pointed out the two with her eyes.
"Oh that," Mal said. "We can start to talk about business."
"Captain Reynolds?" Jonas spoke up. "Sir Warwick Harrow wishes to speak with you."
"Hey how about that?" Mal asked. "That's mosey on over and see how he's been, maybe get some work, maybe those beagles we discussed once."
"Sounds good, sir," Zoe said and followed after her captain through the crowd not looking to see if River or James had decided to follow them.
"So the rash was spreading to the medical staff?" Simon asked. The dances were over and he and Kaylee were amongst mechanics, doctors, nurses and engineers. They have met the McDougal's, a young couple who have been married a couple of years. Doctor Tatum McDougal was a doctor and her husband, Dennis was the mechanic.
"Young medical students mostly and a few on the nursing team," Tatum said she was dressed in a white leotard with a blue skirt and sailor color. Her costume had light blue bows on the chest and back of skirt and was completed with ballroom gloves, blue boots, a tiara and a blue wig. "Started at the fingers and worked its way down the limbs to the chest, even with masks and prevention it was still spreading like a wild fire. We had to place the original victims in one containment area and the infected staff in the other. We had to analyze everything they had used and touched while in hazmat suits and it turned out to be this protozoa that was spread via the cotton swabs."
"The original victims were near the cotton also?" Kaylee asked.
"They were cotton farmers, apparently there was this new protozoa strain that mutated in the pesticide used on the cotton and it infected the farmers and we were using the same cotton," Tatum continued before she took a sip from her cocktail. "The fact was that it wasn't spreading from victim to medical staff but it took time for the microorganisms to take effect. Everybody in the hospital was put into quarantine until we found the cure which only took one day and we administered the medicine to everyone."
"Did they stop spraying the crops?" One of Kaylee's mechanic friends asked.
"Damn straight," a different doctor said. "Less they wanted to be sued. The thing is that particular pesticide had yet to be tested on any kind of crop. They decided to start out on textiles first before food crops."
"That is quite the story," Simon said and a part of him was relieved he wasn't in that particular hospital at the time and yet a bit jealous since he didn't get to help solve a medical mystery.
"That was the most interesting thing that happened to me since becoming a doctor," Tatum said. "What about you, Doctor Tam?"
"Lets see there was a bit of a battle recently," Simon said as he tried to think of something to say. "Backwater planet mostly ocean, some say it was similar to Earth that Was." He noticed the way Kaylee was looking at him and gave him a knowing smile. "After the battle I had the task of healing several people in the firefly. There were a few other doctors but not as well skilled in more modern medicine. The wounds were mostly scrapes and bruises and sprains, a few stab wounds and deep cuts that required stitching. There was one broken arm a man had his hand crushed, Zoe needed stitches and our newest crewmate was stabbed in the appendix and I had to surgically remove it. I know it is not exciting as pretty much a daily occurrence in a hospital but that was the day I had the most patients."
"The people were very unique," Kaylee added. "I was there and they dressed and talked a whole lot different. I think that planet was colonized by people of British ancestry. I didn't like one them."
"And why is that?" Dennis McDougal asked like the captain he was dressed as a pirate but he had a brightly colored bandana around his head, striped shirt, leather vest, gray baggy slacks and a traditional black eye patch.
"He called Serenity a beast."
"Wait that sweet little firefly ship of yours?" An engineer asked. "How could he?"
"They didn't really know any better," Simon brought up.
"Simon's right. Those guys wouldn't have known a 380 calibrator from a 295 model." Kaylee's response earned several laughs from the group of mechanics. "Oh one of them had a pet monkey."
"There was a monkey?" Doctor Tatum asked. "Did it have all its shots, all clean?"
"It didn't have any diseases if that is what you mean," Kaylee said. "But it was more polite that some people I've met."
"Sometimes the patient is more interesting that the medical file," a different doctor said. "What else have you done?"
"I helped deliver a baby and sewed the ear back on my captain," Simon said as he remembered some of his accomplishments. "I saved the life of a man from cardiac arrest and it wouldn't have happened if the moron was paying attention."
"The medical school story," Kaylee said. "The girl with the hamster."
"Well it wasn't in medical school just after I graduated I saved a young girl's leg and she named her hamster after me," Simon said with a smile. "That was pretty much it."
"Wow," Tatum blinked. "Attached the whole leg perfectly while you were fresh out of medical school?"
"That is pretty much accurate," Simon answered.
"I've only reattached a finger," one of the other doctors, a man named Hendricks said. "Door slammed shut and cut it clean off. It was pretty easy to reattach but I had to put him under cause the man would not stop panicking."
"I thought that some places would frown on such a waste of anesthesia," Tatum said.
"Small town on the outskirts of New Washington."
Simon was barely listening to them. His focus fell on a woman dressed as a 1920's flapper who was several feet away talking with other people. Simon wasn't sure if it was the same person until he heard her laugh.
"Simon what's wrong?" Kaylee asked and stared at the direction Simon was looking at. "Who is that?"
"My mother."