Chapter 15
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The next morning everyone heads to breakfast. Alexis, Inara, Zoe and Kate act normally though Alexis and Inara are sitting on one end of the table while Kate is at the other. No one notices that even though all three engage in conversation they don't talk directly to each other.
"We should be arriving in Ariel in about an hour." Wash tells everyone.
"I got something to tell y'all anyone who doesn't technically exist or is a wanted fugitive can't leave the ship." Mal tells everyone.
"Isn't that technically all of us?" Wash asks as they are all in less than good graces with the alliance.
"I mean Simon and River." Mal informs Wash.
"Lexis and I were talking about exploring Ariel at some point as we both have ident cards is it ok that we do?" Kaylee asks the captain curious and Alexis smiles remembering the conversation from a couple of days ok.
"No, you girls aren' to walk around alone." Mal tells the girls.
"Dad"
"Captain"
"No I'm sticking to that, you two aren to walk around alone." Mal tells the two girls as he knows that they could get in danger on a core planet especially with the Alliance less than happy with him.
"I just have to do the exchange and then I'll be back then how about the three of us go for a walk I'll show you some of the best places on Ariel, places you wouldn' be able to find on your own, would you be ok with it then?" Inara asks Mal hoping that he would say yes as she knows that Alexis needs some time away from the ship.
Mal takes a few minutes to think "If you three stick together and be careful then I guess it would be ok, but you have to be on the lookout." Mal tell them as he has to admit to himself that Inara can protect herself and them and she is basically the only member of the crew who is still in a good standing with the Alliance.
"Thank you Dad/Captain." Alexis and Kaylee say giving Mal and hug.
"Thank you Inara." They say once they have given Mal a hug as they go and give Inara one two.
"River can't come can she?" Alexis asks wanting to be sure.
"Sorry Lexis, I can't." River tells Alexis and Kaylee.
"We'll bring you back something cool." Kaylee tells River.
"So now that is figured out, Inara you can go and exchange the money then come back here, after that Zoe, Jayne the three of us will go and do the job that badger has set up." Mal explains. "Nara how long will the exchange take?" Mal asks curious.
"At the most an hour." Inara tells him.
"Ok, then you bring everything back here then Zoe you and Jayne come with me to talk to contact of badger." Mal tells everyone.
Everyone continues to enjoy there breakfast. As they get closer to Ariel Wash leaves to land Serenity. Once they land Mal turns to Inara.
"Inara come with me I 'll give you the money." Mal says as he gets up and Inara follows him.
Mal climbs down his hatch grabs the briefcase that he has kept hidden and goes back up the hatch and hands it to Inara.
"Exchange all of it, we need the coin." Mal tells her.
"If you're sure you know my opinion on the matter." Inara reminds him once again.
"You've made yourself perfectly clear." Mal tells her. "You sure you're not goin to get in trouble?" Mal asks once more to be sure.
"Positive Mal I told you that." Inara tells him and he hands over the briefcase.
Inara walks back to the kitchen to where Alexis, Kaylee and River are.
"I'll be back soon you girls be good." She says to them giving them all a hug.
"We will." They say together.
Inara smiles at them before starting to walk in the other direction to leave serenity.
"I'll walk you out." Mal tells Inara, which is what he does.
"I need to tell you guys something in my bunk." Alexis tells Kaylee and River.
As Alexis, Kaylee and River head back to Alexis's bunk Zoe walks down from the bridge.
"Alexis can I talk to you for a second?" Zoe asks.
"Sure I'll be there in a second." Alexis tells Kaylee and River who nod and head to Alexis's bunk.
"You doing ok after last night?" Zoe asks concerned.
"Yeah, I wanted to say once again thanks." Alexis tells her.
"No need to thank me Alexis." Zoe responds.
"Can I ask you something." Alexis asks and Zoe nods.
"Can you not tell Dad what happened. I may have issues with Kate but she makes my Dad happy and I don't want to be the one who destroyed that." Alexis tells Zoe.
"First let me make one think clear no matter what happens you can't destroy your Dad's happiness you make him happy. Second I was planning to talk to you about that, I told Kate last night that I wasn't going to tell you dad for the same reason but then I realised I should have talked to you first, are you ok with you Dad not knowing?" Zoe asks hoping she made the right decision.
"Yeah it's for the best." Alexis says then they are both silent for a few minutes before Alexis asks "Do you think Inara is going to tell him?"
"Unless you told her to tell him then I don't think she would she is always saying that all she wants is your Dad to be happy so no I don't think she is going to tell him unless it's what you want." Zoe tells her.
"I better go, Kay and Rivi have been waiting a while." Alexis tells Zoe.
"Your right, you going to tell them what happened?" Zoe asks curios.
"Yeah, there my friends." Alexis tells Zoe.
"Good choice." Zoe says smiling before heading to the dining area.
Alexis smiles before opening her hatch and heading down to her bunk where her two best friends are waiting.
Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle
Inara makes her way through Ariel to the building her associate works from. When she enters the office she sees a woman who looks to be in her mid-adulthood is tall and has light brown straight hair.
"Inara this is a pleasant surprises." The woman says walking over.
"Claudia it's been too long." Inara tells her giving her a hug.
"That's what happens when you ship out on a pirate ship." She tells Inara.
"It's not a pirate ship." Inara objects.
"The rumours and stories say differently." The woman tells Inara.
"You have spent too long in this verse to believe stories and rumours." Inara informs her.
"Yes, your right about that though story of you being a part of that message that was broadcasted through the verse isn't a story is it?" The woman asks.
Inara sighs realising that this isn't going to go as easy as she wants it to "You are correct that is true."
"Why were you apart from it from what I have heard it puts everything you have worked on in jeopardy." Claudia asks eagerly wanting to know.
"There are things more important than one's own success I believed that that getting that message one was one of them." Inara tells her.
"Brave of you, now what can I do for you?" She asks curious.
"About a year and a half back I was attended several events with a client over a week, this client had a thing for collecting earth that was artefacts some much in fact that he payed his fee in earth that was money." Inara explains to her.
"And you need someone to exchange it." Claudia realises.
"Yes, you are the only person I know who does."
"You do know that the exchange rate is low correct?" Claudia asks.
"Yes I am aware that is why he gave quite a lot." Inara answers.
"Would you like the credit to be added to your account?" The woman asks.
"No, were going to be heading back to the outer planets it's better for it in notes." Inara tells her.
"I can do that do you have the money?" The woman asks.
"Of course." Inara says handing over the briefcase.
The woman collects the brief case and opens it "You weren't wrong about him paying a lot" she says seeing all the notes.
"We'll you are aware of companions prices." Inara says to her.
The woman nods and start the exchange process she enters some data into the cortex and then puts the money into a tray next to it. "Would you like the money put back into the briefcase?" she asks.
"That would be appreciated." Inara tells her.
After about 5 minutes the exchange process is done and the time current money is put into the brief case and handed back to Inara.
"Thank you Claudia." Inara tells her.
"You're welcome Inara, please come see me again soon." Claudia tells her.
"I will." Inara says before turning and exiting the building and heading back to Serenity.
Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle
While Inara is exchanging the money Mal is talking to someone on the cortex about their next job.
"I understand wanting to meet in person, where can this meeting take place?" Mal asks the man.
"I have an office area just outside the centre of the city it is called the monocracy building, I understand that you have a big crew Captain, you are allowed one person with you but that is it." The man tells Mal.
"I understand what time?" Mal asks.
"2 pm." The man tells Mal.
"See you then." Mal says turning off the cortex.
"Zoe you will be coming with me the rest of you will stay here." Mal says turning to face everyone who is standing behind him.
"Of course Sir." Zoe says.
"How long has Inara been gone?" Mal asks curios trying to keep the worry out of his voice as he knows it may be dangerous for her to walk around with as much money as she is holding.
"It's only been 40 minutes Sir she said an hour, no need to panic plus Inara knows how look after herself." Zoe tells the captain.
"Right." Mal says nodding "Zoe we leave at 1:30." Mal says before leaving the bridge.
"So Rick what planet we heading to after this?" Kate asks interested.
"Don't know depends where the work takes us." Mal tells Kate, who nods as they head down to the cargo bay.
"What are you three up to?" Mal asks as he sees Kaylee, Alexis and River sitting on the platform above the cargo bay.
"Nothing we like sitting up here." Alexis yells back down.
"It's a nice view of everything." River adds.
"Plus its quite." Kaylee says.
"Ok then." Mal says confused.
"You don't understand the adult woman Mal I doubt you can understand the teenage." Inara says walking into the cargo bay.
"Ah Inara, you timing is perfect." Mal tells her smiling.
"Yes it is." Inara says smiling back at him and handing over the brief case. "Here"
"Did you exchange all of it?" Mal asks.
"I said I would didn't I." Inara tells him.
"Good I better go and put this away safely, don't go to I get back." Mal tells Inara as he quickly runs off.
Alexis, Kaylee and River all climb down from where they are.
"Is it cold out there do we need jackets?" Alexis asks Inara.
"No you'll be fine." Inara tells her.
"Finally I get to spend some time on a core planet without digging through a junk yard." Kaylee says happily.
"Junk yard?" Kate asks confused surprising the others as they had forgotten that she was there.
"Yes and Junk yard, we needed to collect some items for a job the last time we were on Ariel." Kaylee explains and Inara can tell that she knows what happened because she is being pleasant but not Kaylee pleasant.
Mal arrives back in the cargo bay unaware of the tension.
"So Zoe and I have to go meet a contact at 2 that's an hour away the latest we should be back is around 3, 3:30 how long are you going to be?" Mal asks Inara.
"We'll make sure we're not back any later than 3:30." Inara tells Mal.
"Ok I want the three of you to be careful we are on a core plant meaning that it is Alliance heavy and there not too happy with us, so keep your eyes open and if you feel like something isn't right get back to Serenity clear?" Mal ask his daughter the person he considers his little sister and his best friend.
"We will." They say together.
"Bye." River says giving them a hug to before heading back to her room.
Mal gives Alexis and Kaylee a hug before leaving.
"Rick why are you so worried I thought that Inara was a woman of standing with the Alliance?" Kate asks confused.
"She is but they do know that she was on my boat for a while, that she was there when we realised the information so they do know she has a connection to me and River." Mal explains.
Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle
Inara, Kaylee and Alexis walk around Ariel as they do Inara shows them the park and other nice places that she thinks they will enjoy. Alexis and Kaylee are both so surprised about all they see, Alexis because she isn't used to such advance technology and Kaylee because she has never been on a core planet before. After they spend a bit of time exploring Inara takes them to a restaurant she found one day when she was enjoying Ariel when she was a kid on a family holiday before she went to the house.
Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle Firefly/Castle
While Alexis, Kaylee and Inara are enjoying spending time exploring Zoe and Mal are on their way to the meeting.
"Sir what do we know about this person?" Zoe asks as they walk.
"That he has a job for us and that he has worked with badger in the past." Mal explains simply.
"So nothing that says we can trust him." Zoe realises.
"We can't trust most the people we work with Zoe, you know that." Mal tells his second in command.
"I would like to know who was on each side of that." Zoe tells Mal.
"So would I." Mal says as then enter the building that was described to them.
"Malcolm Reynolds." The man who was talking to Mal on the cortex says.
"Thomas." Mal says simply to the man.
"You only brought one person good." Thomas tells the man.
"Zoe my second in command." Mal tells him.
"Nice to meet you." Thomas says pleasantly to Zoe.
"So what would you like us to do?" Mal asks the man.
"It's simple we need someone to take a box to Dyton." Thomas tells Mal.
"How do we get it to my ship, you can't walk around Ariel with a big box." Mal reminds the man.
"I'll have it in your ship by nightfall. " Thomas tells Mal.
"Good doing business with you." Mal tells him.
"Badger has told me that you are reliable I choose to believe that though if It turns out not to be true you and I will have a problem." Thomas threatens.
"We won't have a problem." Mal tells Thomas.
"Good to know nice seeing you Captain Renoylds." Thomas tells Zoe and Mal and they leave.
"Sir, Dyton is over month away." Zoe reminds the captain.
"I know," Mal tells Zoe then says "Goram."
"What's wrong sir?" Zoe asks concerned.
"It's Alexis's birthday in 3 weeks, we won't be on Dyton by then." Mal explains.
"Plan something for her on the ship, talk to Inara, Kaylee and River they should be able to help you." Zoe says to the captain.
"Your right I'll do that." Mal tells Zoe.
The two walk back to Serenity and they arrive back into the cargo bay where they see Jayne, Esposito, Ryan and Shepard Book working out as they often do.
"Inara, Alexis and Kaylee back yet?" Mal asks them as they walk in.
"Not yet bro." Esposito tells them.
"What's the time?" Mal asks curios so he knows whether or not to begin panicking.
"Just after 3." Martha says as she walks into the cargo bay with Kate, Simon, Lanie and Jenny.
Mal relaxes a little realising that he has no reason to worry there not meant to be back for another half and hour.
"Mal there's a wave coming in that you and everyone else is going to want to see." Wash's voice says over the intercom.
Mal looks at everyone and runs up to the bridge closely followed by everyone else. When they get up there they see a man who is clearly Alliance just by what he is wearing on the screen.
"Malcolm Reynolds." The man says.
"That's me."
"You're a hard man to find." The Alliance man says to him.
"I like it that way." Mal tells him.
"Unlucky for you I am also a hard man to find." He says and Mal begins to realises that he isn't liking where this conversation is going to go "You wouldn't hand over River Tam now I have someone more important." The Man says and Mal begins to panic realising where this is going and who he must be refereeing two.
"You see I worked for the Operative who came after you but let you go, and you can imagine my shock when walking down the street in Arial I saw the person who said would be you weakness walking with two other girls. The plan was just to grab her but then the other two tried to fight my men, so I grabbed all three and that turned out to be the best outcome, how surprised was I when not only did I grab the person who is meant to be your weakness but I also grabbed you daughter and a member of your crew, grate day for me." The man says smiling.
"You son of a bitch." Mal says to the man realising that his fear has been confirmed he has Alexis, Kaylee and Inara.
"Now no need to resort to language this can be worked out without any harm, or anymore than has already happened." He corrects himself
Mal worries about that worrying how hurt the three are. "I'm listening."
"It simple you hand over River Tam and you get all three back, bargain if you ask me."
"How do I know they are even alive." Mal asks as his years of working with the police are telling him that proof of life is the best thing to ask in this situation before any deals can be worked out.
"Bring her in." The man says to someone off of camera.
Everyone sees Alexis being dragged in she looks ok apart form a little cut on the side of her face "Alexis." Mal says worried.
"Dad relax I'm ok we all are the three of us always survive even if were in the centre of a dark storm." Alexis says to the confusion of everyone.
"Take her away." The man says
"You've seen for yourself, River Tam for you daughter, and two others, you have an hour to decide though it shouldn't really take you that long to make up your mind." The man says Mal before the cortex turns off.
Everyone stands in shocked silence in the bridge "Malcolm." Martha says walking over and standing next to her son worried about her granddaughter.
"I know where they are." Rivers voice says.
Everyone turns to her surprised allowing themselves to hope that everything is going to turn out ok.
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