Chapter Six:

*The characters and their world belong to Mr. Whedon and company; the mistakes and the follies are solely mine.

*Previously: Prologue and Chapters up to Four.

- Inara keeps her seat at the long table, keeps talking to those around her, keeps radiating calmness and joy. Easy enough, seated beside Mang, with Byron Park too far down the table to overhear, let alone need to speak with. The girl he has brought is in old-world dress, a veil across her mouth and cheeks. Her grace at the table, despite the veil what must be considerable fear and pain, convinces Inara that she is a companion. What brought such a young one to Lotus, she wonders, between conversations. Inara is still considering moves; she needs a chance to talk to the girl, sort things out, then disappear though a back door. Mang already has his staff on alert; there should be no problem spiriting her away. And she has his assurances Park would be contained. Inara wishes she could find some way in the plan to confront Park, but she opts for simplicity and safety over revenge. She would trust in the Guild, for that. A servant leans over Mang’s shoulder as another course is placed before his guests. With an apologetic gesture he tells them to continue, then steps out of room. - It is a strange sight that greets the crew, looking up at Book’s exclamation. Mal and Simon, soaking wet, are expected. It’s River that amazes them, walking carefully, both arms extended, with a bird perched on each shoulder, another two on her right arm and a fifth on her left wrist. Nightingales. “We got us a tree?” Mal asks. “Yes, sir,” Book answers. “Looks like you got us a bird.” “Thought the deal was for one,” “True, Jayne, but seeing how the pair just landed on River, I ain’t about to complain.” “Where did the others...” “Flew out of the gorram trees as we were walkin’. Strangest damn thing I’ve seen in a while. “Said I could help, Captain.” “That you did, little one. Ain’t no one to deny it. Zoe good to walk? Time we got the hell outta this rain and into some coin.” Jayne and Book haul the tree as Wash supports Zoe, still seeing more white space than ground. Mal keeps guard, not really knowing whether to watch the trees behind, the trees in front, or the birds on River’s head. In case they decide to leave as swiftly as they came. “Jayne, that you? Shepherd? Is everything alright? The comms. ain’t—” “Kaylee!” Mal lowers his gun, “what in the good gorram are—” “Comms. weren’t workin’ Cap’n. Had to find out what was wrong.” “I told you to stay with the shuttle.” “Hey there River, did you catch all those birds?” “Sang them out of the trees, worth more in the hand.” “That was right clever of you, honey. What were ya singin’ to ‘em?” “Kaylee, I said I told you stay with the shuttle.” “Cap’n the comms. don’t work. Did you set off an EMP blast? ‘Cuz the gate mechanism’s broke too. Completely fried.” “We did, at that. Could have mentioned that he had—“ “Sorry, Cap, he must have just put it in. Kinda a silly defense, though, ain’t it?” “Saved this sorry-ass plan if you ask me.” “Nobody did, Jayne. Now, Kaylee, just ‘cuz I don’t answer a comm. don’t mean you get to up and disobey orders.” “But Cap—” “No buts. Can’t have you wanderin’ about. What if—” “It’s Inara.” Kaylee lets those four syllables sink in. “Inara?” “She left. Got a wave from Park; he has a companion, and he’s holding her hostage.” “Slow down, mei-mei, Park’s holding Inara hostage? How did he—” “Not ‘Nara, some other girl. Hurt her, she said. ‘Nara went off in rescue.” Mal stops walking, turns, and heads to the lights of the compound.” “No, not there,” Kaylee’s tugging at his coat. “She said she set something up. A plan. With Mang Gong.” “She’s at his place?” “That’s what she said.” Mal looks at the gate they just reach, shut tight before them. Job almost done, and Inara’s got to throw a wrench in the... “Kaylee?” “Cap’n?” “If the EMP blast killed all the electronics, how’d you get the gate open to get in?” “Easy-peasy, Cap’n. Lockin’ mech’s all outta sorts itself. Ya just push.” She demonstrates, and the ten-foot tall metal gate swings open. “Wo de ma,” Wash says. Kaylee shakes her head and sighs: “Boys and their toys. Ain’t no one can teach ‘em that just ‘cuz it’s new don’t mean it’s worth two bits.” Mal doesn’t stop for reflection. “River, can you hand me one of—” As he reaches for a nightingale, it begins to beat its wing frantically, and takes off for the nearest tree. The others begin chattering, and not the melodious sound he was expecting after all River’s prattle about songs and poems. “Ai ya, shut those things up,” “Jeez, Cap'n you’re scaring the—” “Mal, I thought you were good with the livestock...” “Bee-jwah, Wash. Jayne.” “I didn’t say nothin’.” “Well don’t think it none, either. River.” “No touching birds, Captain.” “They ain’t gonna leave without you?” River just looks at him. If possible, it seems to rain harder. Mal decides he must have been a very, very much better criminal bad guy in a past life. “Jayne, get the mule. We ain’t carrying this tree across Lotus. Wash, you’re taking Zoe and Kaylee back to the shuttle and onto the ship.” “Zoe, what’s wrong with Zoe?” “Nothin’—she just caught too much of a flash bomb up close." “Oh Zoe, I’m sorry, I didn’t even notice...” Mal keeps talking. "Book, you find accompanying them?" "My pleasure, Captain." “Doc, can you do anything for Zoe?” “Not really. She’s just going to need time to re—“ “Good, then, you’re coming with us. Stay with River.” “Captain, are you sure that’s—” “We need River to keep the birds. We need the birds to finish the job. We need the gorram job to get in the gongzi hun dan’s door to make sure Inara’s rescue fantasies ain’t going all sideways for once. So it ain’t so much a topic for discussion, it’s a gorram order. Dong ma? Good. River, you got a hold on those things...” “Singing about her head as she rode by.” “A yes would work, there, little one. Let’s move, people. We’re not done with this yet.” - - Mang does not return in five minutes, but a servant reappears, whispers softly into Inara’s ear, and has her standing, almost too fast. She follows the man through a different door than Mang used to leave, through three rooms and to a carved wood, closed door. She notes the rooms they walk through: pale blue sitting, tapestried one, library. The blue one had doors opening out to the garden. There is probably one room between the library and where they were sitting for dinner. Pointless information, she thinks, as the servant opens the door, and she steps into a sunken study with beautiful wood floors. Wood floors slowly gathering puddles, as Mal, Simon, Jayne and River drip rain and mud onto them. Mal has his gun on Mang. As Simon looks only his usual frightened-dismayed-I’m going to have to sew people up again, Inara decides there must be no threat to River or himself yet. That means Mal is up in arms because of her. She looks Mal up and down, makes sure he sees it. Three remarks on his appearance go in and out of her head, (Did you leave any dirt for the tree?... You didn’t need to clean up for me, Mal... Monkeys, Mal? Terrifying garden monkeys?) but she chooses something neutral, as she walks down the five steps: “I take it things went well?” - Inara looks the picture of health, Mal thinks, and he lowers his gun a bit. But he didn’t see another companion about, which means his plan went better than hers. Ha. “Hear you got a friend about?” “Something like, Mal. What are you doing here?” “Dropping the goods, rescuing you, you know, the plan.” “I don’t believe I had a part in your plan.” “What our mechanic tells me, you went and wrote one in.” Mang, Simon and Jayne watch the exchange with varying degrees of interest. Jayne keeps his eye on Mang and the door behind him, besides, he’s heard enough Mal and ‘Nara fights to know which ones will get interesting and which don’t use live ammo. This one’s a dud. Simon wants nothing more than to cut in, remind them of the several illegal things they are doing, get the money and go. Maybe hit Mal with his own gun a couple times for flirting in the midst of a negotiation. “And you think I make things ‘not smooth’,” he mutters. Mang places a hand on Inara’s arm, and Mal is ready, again, to put a hole in the fanciful suit before him. “Capt. Reynolds,” he says, “I believe you mentioned completing the job? That is well ahead of our deadline. I thank you for your promptness. I would like to see the new acquisitions, if you don’t mind. Dealing with off-world traders for a score of years has made me suspicious. And would you consider lowering your weapon? Miss Serra has suffered no harm. Nor will she.” Mal looks around, looks at Jayne, and when Inara, biting back a similar request less kindly put, nods at him, he holsters his gun. Jayne follows suit. “As for the second companion, she is sitting at table with the young Park. She looks a little worse for the wear, but is in no danger. And Byron Park is convinced of his success, seated beside her with a small pistol strapped to his leg.” “You let him walk in here armed? How does that—” “When setting a trap, I have found a sense of security the best camouflage. Now, if we can complete our transaction, we can move on to settling Miss Serra’s complication, and I can rejoin my guests.” “Fine, then. We got both your items. Left the tree with your people, they wanted to get it planted and keep it from dripping on the nice...” he looks down and sees the trail they’ve already left across the floor, “...they have it. Don’t mind if you check. As for the bird, well, there you’ve got yourself a bit of choice.” Mang catches a servant’s eye in the back of the room, slipping in through a well-painted door. The branch in hand and his nod confirms Mal’s word. Mang’s attention pulls back to the captain at a rustle of wings. Five birds come off various bookshelves and ledges, to land on River. “You’ve collected a flock, Captain.” “Got lucky, I suppose.” “Luck?” Mang raises his eyebrows, but moves closer to the birds. “Their tag clips don’t work, EMP blast in the garden,” River says solemnly. “I see. Easily replaced, nyen ching-duh. Which would you advise me keeping?” “Reckon you can keep them all, Mr. Mang, if you like. We’ve got no need for feathered things on my boat.” “One is all I require, Captain. I think I choose her,” he says, extending a hand. “A female, yes?” he asks River. She nods, and dips her shoulder a bit. The nightingale is indecisive a moment, then, walks over to Gong’s finger. “They used to say angels sat on the right shoulder to whisper advice, did they not?” “Yes.” River herself is almost whispering. “But you should have two. A pair. Will be lonely.” “Poets sing best when lonely, little one. And I desire songs of beauty not contentment. The two rarely reside within the same song. Or soul. But perhaps you know that already?” River doesn’t answer; she whips her head around, startling the birds and sending them flying. Mang turns with her, and Mal and Jayne go for their guns. Inara moves towards River, backing away from Bryon Park, who standing in the doorframe, the girl in front of him. A gun is pressed to her temple. “Mang. Your servants look in bad shape. This how you run things? Miss Serra, you disappeared on us. Thought we might have that conversation now. Put your guns down. Or I will kill her. Ask Miss Serra if you don’t think I’m serious.” Mal and Jayne lowered their guns. “I ain’t feelin’ so secure, right now.” Mal says, edging towards Inara, noting Park’s feet on the stairs, and the girl’s weight. He tries to catch her eye. “Stop moving.” “Park Gong, put the gun down. You attempt to threaten me and my guests in my own home?” “Not attempting Mang. Doing. Now, Miss Serra’s gonna walk towards me—” “Like hell she is,” Mal says stepping forward. Park snaps his arm around to fire, but miscalculates his footing. Jayne gets a shot off, but the girl already has already sensed Park’s balance shift, and pulls herself forward. The combination pitches the two of them down the stairs. Park curses as he falls and lands heavily on the girl, who screams sharply. There’s a crunch of bone that Simon’s attuned ears pick up, and he is down on his knees, trying to get to the girl without walking into a firefight. But Mang raises a hand and guards appear from the back door and front, guns drawn and ready. Park, dazed at his fall, still raises his hand. River is flying now, down and twisting she kicks Mal’s feet out from under him. He falls heavily to his back, head slamming hardwood, but Park’s bullet shoot harmlessly overhead. After the shot, the guards don’t hesitate and have Park pinned to the floor in a moment. Simon is already looking at the girl’s leg, broken badly enough that a bone slips through skin. Inara moves the girl’s head into her lap, brushes hands through her hair, avoiding her bloody, puffy cheek and keeping the leg wound far from her line of sight.. “You see, Captain,” Mang says. “The best camouflage.” Mal’s slow to get to his feet. “Next time, try kicking a bad guy, little one.” “Saved you.” “Yeah. Remind me to thank you when I can see straight. Due respect, Mr. Mang, but that weren’t the smoothest plan I’ve seen.” “The girl is safe, the man apprehended.” “Girl’s well-being lookin’ in a mite precarious.” “True. Put a bullet in his leg,” Mang orders. “Ah, what?” Mal asks, watching as a guard shoots Park’s left leg at point-blank range. His face twists horribly, and Simon grimaces. But the doc recovers quickly, turns back to his patient. Inara dryly notes how fast he has learned. “I need something long and straight...two things,” he’s telling a guard standing nearby. “Broomsticks would work. But I need them now.” The guard looks at Mang, but he’s staring at the boy on the ground. The guard nods to Simon, and disappears in a hurry. “I take it you are responsible for the girl’s cheek, as well,” Mang asks, standing over the boy. Park can’t say anything; his hands twitch, trying to reach his bleeding leg, but there are three guards holding him down, and he can barely move. Straining, he gasps for air. “Repay that kindness as well,” Mang says, and now there’s blood on Park’s face. Much more than ever fell from the girl. It mixes with salt tears; the sting makes him nauseous. “You mentioned something about an EMP blast?” Mang asks. Jayne answers, thinking Park is a bit too occupied to answer questions on the protection forces of his compound. “Went off in back. Took out most security measures we seen.” “Then it should be easy to get in. Take him. In the far corner of the garden, I believe, is a small grove. There will be a large hole, recently dug up. Leave him there. He can find his way to the house.” “Ain’t like to make it without help,” Jayne points out. “Guards all took off.” “It is clear I was mistaken in the formation of my lesson,” Mang says, ignoring Jayne’s comment. “Subtlety only instructs the old. How quickly we forget. Violence, dislocation and pain are far better teachers of youth. Perhaps the only effective ones, would you not agree?” His eyes take in Mal and Simon, move to River and rest on her. Then they turn to Inara. But before anyone speaks, to contradict or affirm, he’s talking again. “Let us see what he might glean from this lesson.” A wave and they’re gone, guards carrying the boy, pale and crying. “Offer his bodyguards refreshments: good food and better wine,” Mang tells a servant. “You look a bit surprised, Captain.” “No, I... been awhile since I’ve seen eye-for-eye justice. But leaving him...” “Are you suggesting mercy, Captain?” “No... just... in the garden, we saw.... Possible, though, the boy might live. Young ones are hearty.” “I find myself no longer concerned. However, if he does survive, he’ll have a bullet through each eye within the week. Perhaps one of the guards he left behind. Test of loyalty. And marksmanship. Foolishness must be rooted out, just as any other weed. But that is later business. Now, Captain, your payment, as discussed. As for your bountiful hunting, ” he turns to River. She is backing away slowly, edging towards Simon and Mal, feeling cold. “Keep the others, nyen ching-duh, or send them back to sky. Though these are hand-raised creatures, not used to the wild. They are, however, yours. Consider them a finding-fee.” He smiles. “This concludes our business, Captain? There are no terms that would interest you in transporting one of my shipments? It could be ready in two days, and your demonstration here makes me think you well worth hiring.” “No, reckon we’ve best move on. ‘Sides we got enough trouble with the Alliance as it stands.” “Yes, I imagine,” he answers, eyes floating again to River. “I have guests to attend to. Miss Serra, I fear I will lose your company for the evening?” Inara looks a bit stunned to be asked. The girl’s hands are locked in hers. Simon is setting up a makeshift splint with strips of cloth from Inara’s dress. “I have to go with her.” “Livy,” the girl says through gritted teeth. “Olivia Wake, Miss Serra. I am honored to meet you.” “Livy,” Inara smiles. “You are so very brave.” She smiles back, but Simon has to move her leg, and the pain jumps across her face before her eyes fall shut in a faint. Mang Gong bows to the assorted crew. “You are assuming responsibility for the girl, then. Very well. You have transport to your ship, I assume. My servants will see you out, since my neglect of my guests now borders on inexcusably rude. Miss Serra, we will all miss your presence tonight. Capt. Reynolds, a pleasure to do business with you.” And with that he’s gone. - - *~*~* Translations mei-mei: little sister gongzi: gentleman/nobleman hun dan: bastard bee-jwah: shut-up dong ma: understand nyen ching-duh: young girl

EMP: electro-magnetic pulse