“I Hate All This Subterfuge!”

Inara sat straight but as gracefully as a willow limb in the elegant chair. Mr. Okeida sat across from her mixing sugar in the tea he’d offered. Paintings filled the walls of the oak room adding to the smell of leathers and wood that already permeated the chamber. Inara smiled faintly, just enough to let a man like Okeida know she was trained in certain political arts and not some overzealous girl trying to use her body for gain. “I am pleased to receive your company Ms. Sara,” Okeida handed her the fine China cup and saucer. “Your reputation with the Guild is impeccable. I still find it somewhat surprising that you travel with such a, shall we say, uncultivated group.” Inara took a small sip from the excellent tea, never taking her eyes off the man in front of her before she replied. It was a small gesture to the casual observer, but it said volumes. In that one moment she communicated to Okeida that she was calm, unafraid of her current situation and in control of the conversation. She knew it. He knew it. “Many people find surprises refreshing,” Inara answered, slowing her normal speech down, “And I find freedom refreshing. Thus, I work within the Guild guidelines but outside their normal structure.” Okeida put his cup back on it’s saucer, “Still, the kind of places a man like Malcolm Reynolds takes you are less than culturally legitimate. Does that not limit your profits to a degree?” Inara took another sip, letting him wait, then smiled brightly, “Certainly it does limit my profitability. But we must all pay for our freedoms.” “Indeed,” Okeida smiled like a snake and leaned his elbows on the oak desk, “Is that what you are here to do Ms. Sara? To buy your freedoms with your companion training?” Okeida expected indignation or some sign of mild disclosure in the young woman’s face that he knew she was plotting. He searched her hands for movement of the veins there, and her face for any flushing of anger. What he got was calmness and the pleasure of watching Inara take another sip of tea. “This is excellent tea Mr. Okeida,” Inara said calmly. Okeida sat back in his chair, more tense, “It is not wise to play games in your situation. It would be most unwise to test me.” Inara smiled only a half-smile this time, “Likewise Mr. Okeida.” Okeida felt dual emotions rifle through his body. There was anger that a mere girl would challenge him, in his office no less. But stronger was sheer exhilarating excitement of the woman who sat before him. Okeida took a deep breath, “I can see that this meeting will be quite different than I anticipated.” The cup was raised. Inara tiled it slightly until the hot tea touched her ample lips. Her tongue let a small taste of the liquid fill her palate, tasting the strength of the brew. She swallowed. The cup was lowered back to its exquisite, matching saucer. Inara’s hand was placed slowly on her lap. Her movements were slow and purposeful and reminded Okeida of watching an ocean tide come in. Finally, Inara spoke, “Oh most certainly Mr. Okeida.” ______________________________________________________ “Son of a bitch,” yelled the man in the orange jumpsuit, “that lucky whore caught the straight again!” A short man with thick fingers was laughing as he raked in the pot, “It’s called skill Ted, skill! You gotta know howta play this game!” “Sonofawhore,” Jayne slapped his cards down on the felt-covered table. “I’m the one who oughta be pissin’ mad here Frank. Cao! I’m down two-fifty!” Ted was a tall wiry man with a bad complexion. He worked on power systems down in bay twenty. Jayne had been sitting at the table in the cantina for two hours now playing poker. The bar was clean and had a great stock of burbon though the room itself was not all that large. About twenty or so people milled around, played games or chatted at the bar. All of these people worked for Acre and were mostly techs with a few mechanics and service people. Jayne had met Ted at the bar while he was complaining about his wife leaving. After a few drinks Frank came in and said hi to Ted. Jayne bought more drinks and soon the trio were buddies and a poker game broke out. “You still in this game Cobb,” Frank was grinning broadly, “I like your money. I hope they pay you well over at hull maintenance!” Ted downed a shot of cheap bourbon, “Watch that fat little bastard Cobb, he’s a crafty one. He really likes taking his friends’ money.” Franks cheeks were rosy as he dealt the cards with fat hands, “Hey, hey now Ted. You know I am drinking off my wife so let me be! That lousy cho ji bai!” Jayne told them his name was Cobb and he’s just arrived on the last crew rotation two days ago. He was careful to try and pry information and lose enough money without letting on he was dumping. Jayne had no idea how smart these two were, though it was becoming apparent with each hand they had absolutely no sense at poker. “I hear ya Frank,” Jayne said loudly and poured anther round of drinks for the table. “I’m gonna get my money back you turds, just hang on!” “Ha ha,” Frank laughed and Jayne noted he sounded a lot like a pig. Ted’s eyes were staring at the cards he was dealt. “Heyyyyy Jerryyyyyy,” Frank called out to a short man walking to their table, “come get a drink!” Jerry walked over and Jayne noted his coveralls were sweaty and dirty. He plopped down in the chair between Frank and Ted and sat back. Ted poured a drink. “What’s up guys,” the voice Jerry put out was nasal and irritating, “whose winning this horse race?” Ted was still bitter, “Oh you know this lucky pile of pi hua is! I mean flushes are falling out of his ass!” Jerry took a drink and looked at Jayne, “Who’s this fish?” Frank waved his plump arm towards Jayne, “This is our new friend Cobb. Works in station maintenance; just got here two days ago with his bonus pay. Lucky me, ha ha!” Jerry extended a small hand and shook Jayne’s, “Nice to meet ya Cobb.” “Likewise,” Jayne nodded his head. “Jerry here works in weapons systems,” Ted was frowning at his cards again. “Where ya been anyway Jerr?” Jerry propped his feet on the table and sighed heavily, “I was pulling freakin’ overtime on a Firefly.” Frank bobbed his corpulent head a bit, “A Firefly? What the hell were you doin’ on onena those old shoes?” “Can you believe they fitted some Parkins A-5600 particle cannons on that old tub? I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing, but they were there in retractable bays and all. They wanted is to strip em off.” Jayne cocked an eye and tried to play cool, “Why the hell would anyone pull that off? Some superrich Alliance asshole doin’ it just because, or was it some black ops group?” Jerry leaned in close to the table and lowered his voice below the music, “You may be more right than you know Cobb. Word is, this little bug was sent on some deep space secret mission. Nobody’s talkin’ and the supers warned us against tellin’ anybody! Something’s weird about that thing. Hell I even saw the man himself leavin’ the boat!” “Who, Appledon,” Frank asked. Jerry was irritated, “No you idiot, Okeida!” Ted whistled, “No shit! Okeida came outta his bug hole?” “I aint just tuggin your pole man,” Jerry let out then realized his voice was too loud. “Who’s Okeida,” Jayne asked with as much sincerity as he could muster. All three turned to him with amazed faces and Frank finally spoke, “Well, since you’re new here we might as well tell ya. You know that Oman Industries is one of the few corps left not owned by Blue Sun don’t ya?” Jayne hadn’t the slightest idea what he was talking about but raised his eyebrows with indignation, “Well…yeah, everybody knows that. It’s one of the reasons I went to work out here.” “Yeah, yeah,” Frank continued, “Well a guy named Samir Ibn Al-Faqwa is listed as the CEO of Oman ink. But nobody’s ever seen this guy see. Ted here was working at Janice shipyards before he got transferred out here.” Ted nodded, “Sure did.” Frank continued without a pause, “So one day there’s a big to-do at the place and Samir is supposed to be visiting the yards to dedicate the new Simmons Class battle cruiser.” “Biiig deal it was,” Ted shot in. “So when it’s time to smash the champagne bottle,” Frank looked around nervously, “who do you think is firing the bubbly?” “Not Samir I can tell ya,” Ted was looking at the table as if thinking about that day. “No siree,” Frank was talking lower but was more animated, poking the table in front of him, “it was none other than Mr. Okeida! Now who do you guess has arrived here about two months ago?” Jayne shrugged, interested now, “Okeida?” “OKEIDA,” Ted shot out in a coarse whisper, lowering his head. Frank looked at Ted and shushed him then turned to Jayne, “Pulls up here in a big humper of a ship that nobody ever seen before. A one-off pulling about half-a-mill tons at the least! He couldn’t even come into the dry dock the bitch was so big. I was on refueling duty and suiting up to attach lines when guess who comes striding through the gangway! He had an armed escort…mean lookin bastards too!” Jayne’s jaw dropped, “Nooooo shit huh?” Jerry finally chimed in, “He’s right. Seems the little guy is really running things around here. He was in a pretty sour mood when he was leaving the Firefly. I don’t rightly know what’s going on but everything was hurry, hurry.” “Was there a crew,” Jayne asked. Jerry took another sip of his liquor and made a sour face, “Not that I saw. Jim Hawthorne was inside and said that right before I showed up Okeida was showin’ a man around. Tough-lookin customer too. Guess he’s a potential customer.” Jayne leaned in closer, “Whuddya mean customer?” “Well the dockmaster says she’s for sale,” Jerry said flatly, then shook his head, “I dunno what they are asking, but someone’s gonna get a sweet deal any which way.” “How’s that,” Jayne was pressing now. “Well Jim told me there was a Cenco A-500 power plant and a Sven Systems S-34 engine custom fitted and all. That little firefly may be the fastest ship out there! She’ll certainly fold space easily enough. Got all knew power conduits and computer systems. Like a said a real cherry on the inside.” Ted whistled, “That’s a lotta power and engine for a ship that size. Who could afford it I wonder?” Frank poured another shot, “Probably some big-time smuggler or Alliance spook. I mean what would be the use in havin’ all that under the hood in a Firefly class?” Jayne rubbed his chin, “I wonder how much she’s goin’ for?” Frank laughed and banged the table, “HAH, Cob you couldn’t afford that one! Hell the engine alone would run you 600,000 platinum.” “Well hey, I been savin some money,” Jayne looked around the table, “Maybe they’ll deal.” Ted punched Jayne playfully, “I doubt it!” Jerry shook his head, “I don’t know what they paid to fix her up but I can’t see a ship like that going out for less than a mil five. Maybe twice that!” Frank pointed suddenly at Jayne with a look of astonishment, “You know if you do get her you’ll be…Captain Cobb!” The entire table rolled in loud laughter. Frank beat his round fists on the card table while Ted slapped Jayne’s back. Jayne grinned at the comment and fingered the pistol in his holster. So Serenity is being sold eh? Jayne rubbed his chin and looked over at River who sat at the end of the bar watching intently. She nodded for him to come over and Jayne shot her a look. He had to gracefully get out of this poker game first. A plan began to form in Jayne’s head.