Chapter 9

Simon rubbed his tired eyes as he typed in the message on his portable cortex unit. Visual communication wasn’t possible at this time, and he wasn’t surprised. These people didn’t know him, and he didn’t know them. He knew he needed to be careful. Up until now, he had been covering his tracks well. But now that all the groundwork had been laid, he needed to do something. He needed to make a difference.

Almost instantly, he received another message, coded to a non-existent ID, and he quickly read it before it was scrambled beyond deciphering. It was cryptic, and gave no time and place for a meeting. Only a simple sentence: will send someone to you.

He didn’t want to wait; he wanted to do something now. The message destroyed itself and Simon rubbed his tired eyes. It took a moment before he remembered there was something else he needed to do.

He quickly keyed in another account and tapped a few commands. He had other things that needed his attention and they were just as important as making contact with an Independent representative already placed within the government. With a sigh, he finished his transaction and cut the connection.

He had just slipped the unit into his lab pocket when someone walked into the lounge behind him.

“Lose your patient?”

Simon’s head swiveled toward the doorway where Mai Cheung stood, but he didn’t answer her right away.

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t get easier.” Mai stepped forward and joined him at the table in the corner of the staff lounge, and he briefly wondered if she remembered their past conversation on the subject.

“She looked like Kaylee,” he said softly, sadness evident in his tone. “If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought –“ He couldn’t finish. He didn’t want to discuss details of his life with Kaylee with his ex. He simply shook his head. “It will never get easier.”

“It’s never easy to see –“

“And what’s worse is that she was a bystander in some fight that had nothing to do with her.” The words just burst out before Simon could stop them. It was difficult having no one to talk to. He paused briefly at the similarities between this stranger’s death and Kaylee’s.

“I see.”

Simon rubbed the back of his neck and leaned back in his chair.

“Isn’t your shift over?”

It was, but Simon didn’t want to go home. He didn’t want Maddy to see him in this state. She’d know something was wrong. And Billy was a perceptive baby, he’d know too. So – he simply answered Mai’s question in the affirmative, not really in the mood to hold a conversation.

“Listen, Simon, if you want to –“

He stood, anticipating what she was going to say. Some part of him wondered just how and why she’d begun to treat him nicely – at their first meeting, one couldn’t have cut her cold demeanor with a laser saw. He’d known her very well at one time. He knew she wouldn’t remain angry for long, especially since he knew she’d discovered what had happened to him in the time he’d been gone. He didn’t want her pity, and he didn’t want her concern. He had work to do, and getting friendly with Mai Cheung again would only complicate matters. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I need to get home.”

“Then what are you still doing here?”

His eyes narrowed. He wasn’t in the mood for the third degree. Not from her. “I’m just – I needed a few minutes.”

She nodded slowly. “I see.”

“I’d like to do so alone.”

Simon could see her eyes flash and briefly regretted his dismissive words.

She leaned forward conspiratorially. “I’m afraid that isn’t possible if you want to help.”

Simon’s eyes widened and he sat up in his chair. She had his attention now. In the way she stood; how she looked at him. “What did you say?”

Mai pulled a small circular device out of her pocket and sat down. She covered it with her hand and met his eyes. “What’d they do to her?”

Simon swallowed thickly. There was only one ‘her’ in his vocabulary. Did this mean – Was Mai his contact?

“River was a troubled girl.” He needed to be sure so he kept his answers as unspecific as possible.

“Tell me everything.”

Simon hesitated and wondered if this wasn’t some Alliance trick to uncover his true purpose in returning to the Core.

~*~

“You understand that if you are caught, we will disavow any knowledge of your activities.”

A slight narrowing of her eyes was the only thing that gave away her irritation. “That seems to be a theme common within your organization.”

“Our positions have been secured for a long time, and we’ve got people deep under cover within the government. Your discovery could jeopardize our work.”

“As it could aid that work.” Inara didn’t want to play games. She wanted to help and she wasn’t going to be stopped by this paranoid man.

“We have not denied that fact.”

“Then give me my target so that I can begin.” She was finished trifling with him.

“Impatient.” The man seemed pleased.

“Deternined.”

After the connection terminated, Inara sat at the screen and composed herself. It had been a long time since she’d taken a client, but she was well trained in telling a man what he wanted to hear. If she had to sell her body for information, then she would do it, if it would bring the crew back together again.

~*~

It didn’t take long before Inara was requested.

“Colonal Radford, it’s good to meet you.” Inara extended her hand. The tall, silver-haired man did not smile, but simply took her hand and bowed over it.

“Miss Serra. Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

They stood on a private landing pad not far from an Alliance base. Shuttles came and went overhead, but Inara paid them no attention. The whine of engines could be heard in the distance as ships readied themselves for launch – for battle against the Independents.

“I was in the area and, I must say, I was curious as to the reason for such – urgency.”

“I have need of some relaxation before my ship leaves dry dock.”

“Well, then, shall we begin?” Inara curled her arm into his as he led her away from the shuttle and toward a very plain, unmarked building. She didn’t know what kind of work was done in these buildings, but she wanted to find out. If the most brilliant strategic minds in the Alliance worked in this place, then from here is where she would need to pick her clients.

As they walked, she paid careful attention to the Colonel’s mannerisms, the way he inflected some words, the way he talked about the Independents as uneducated Rim-world scum who were better off dead. That he could hold these opinions of real, living people was astounding to her, and she forced the bile that rose into the back of her throat down with a harsh cough.

“Everything all right, my dear?” Radford asked as they walked passed a lab full of technicians.

“Oh, fine,” Inara lied smoothly. “I’ve never been in such close proximity to the Alliance’s war machine. It’s rather – daunting.” She batted demure eyelashes at him and smiled sultrily.

“I find that hard to believe. You are a most beautiful woman.”

“Who has been out of service for the past few months.” Inara’s voice dropped shyly, playing on this man’s desires, hoping that he would take the bait she’d so casually tossed him.

“Oh, it shall be my pleasure to indoctrinate you once again.”

Inara met his eyes and pursed her lips prettily. “I am looking forward to it.”

They continued their journey and not one person batted an eyelash in her direction.

~*~

Radford rolled off her and sagged into the mattress. “Ah, that was good.” He turned sleepy eyes in her direction.

Inara smiled tightly, taking great care that he didn’t notice. He’d left her completely unsatisfied but that was common in her line of work. She was there for her client, for their satisfaction. If she got any in return it was always an added bonus. With a believable, sated sigh, she rolled to her side and rapped long, manicured fingers on his damp chest. “That’s what I’m here for.”

His eyes raked down her body, lingered on her well-shaped breasts for a long moment. “Mmm.”

“I trust I’ve relaxed you well enough for your journey?” her voice was saccharine sweet even to her own ears.

“Oh yes. If we weren’t flying into dangers unknown I would engage your services for the duration of my tour.” He lifted a large hand to cup her breast and squeezed gently. His thumb passed over a dark nipple, which pebbled slightly beneath his touch.

“Oh, what kind of dangers could possibly be out there to one who commands such a - large,” the implication was clear and the man smiled smugly, “contingent of well-trained soldiers.” Her fingers traveled across his chest, attended to one sensitive nipple and then the other, before sliding lower.

“Damn independents have some new weapon we’re been sent to retrieve.”

“I – see.” She couldn’t help but wonder if this new weapon had been constructed from the plans Serenity had delivered all those months ago. Skilled fingers manipulated his flesh and as it twitched against her, she shifted innocent doe eyes to his face. “Well, do come back to me. I very much look forward to seeing you again.”

“Oh, our time is not yet up.” He pushed his hips against her hand, wordlessly indicating that she should continue.

“Of course not.” She leaned over and pressed her mouth to his, not for the first time wondering when it was that she began to despise her chosen profession.

She braced herself against his chest as he rolled her onto her back. He wasn’t quite ready again, but beneath the skilful manipulation of her fingers, he would be soon. She would need to work quickly if she wanted to pry any more information out of him that would be useful to her cause.

~*~ She knew he wouldn’t leave without some sort of goodbye. As angry and upset as he was, there was a history, something between them that she’d hoped he wouldn’t let lie – and he didn’t.

“Please understand,” he said, his eyes clouded with rare emotion. “I have to do this.”

She didn’t want to spend their last moments arguing, not when she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. “I don’t understand, but you have to do what you feel is right.”

“Inara –“ The pain on his face made her heart ache. They’d all been through too much, felt so much pain, seen so much death.

She reached up and pressed a slim finger to his lips. “Don’t.”

They stood there, staring, each clearly willing the other to make the first move, but instead, Inara pulled a chain out of her pocket and affixed it around his neck. From it hung a symbol which represented something Mal no longer believed in, but she knew he would take it, if only because it had come from her.

“Bring it back to me.”

“Inara – I –“

She tried to turn away before the first tear fell, but he stopped her. Not with a hand around her arm, but with both hands wrapped around her cheeks; a kiss. In that one motion, she could feel all of the pent up longing, all of the desire and fear he’d bottled up inside for so long.

She deepened the kiss and felt his body tremble. Her mouth tingled as his tongue pushed its way inside. Her skin burned where he touched her. And when he pulled away, she felt a chill sweep across her body, shaking her with an intensity so strong she would have collapsed had his hands not been there to hold her upright.

When she met his eyes, they danced in the dim light, and there was a tight smirk split his lips.

“You’re insufferable,” she said.

He shot her that lopsided grin she hated. “That’s why you love me

She never answered him.

Inara opened her eyes and gasped. Her body trembled as her client touched her, as he moved within her. He grunted and panted in her ear, murmured words she often dreamed coming from another’s lips. His large hands gripped her hips and she felt the familiar shudder begin deep within his body that would signal his end.

She welcomed it, reveled in it, even cried out with him to keep up the appearance that she’d enjoyed this moment. When he finished filling her, he rolled onto his side and collapsed, breathing heavily. Once recovered, top secret plans would spill from his lips like water falling through the purest falls on Londinium. And she would drink them in as she wrapped her mouth around him to bring him to life again; to continue the cycle until he’d exhausted himself within her flushed body.

~*~

Beneath a large, camouflage tarp they waited. The handful of men were dressed so that one couldn’t tell one from the other. Jayne’s eyes scanned the two men waiting with him, before shifting toward the rest of the unguarded compound. He settled his headset and shifted the weight on his back. “We got accurate Intel this time?” he asked.

A man Jayne only knew as ‘Boomer’ responded. “Came from a source deep inside the government.”

Jayne snorted. He didn’t even want to know how such information was obtained. “Ain’t always the most reliable.”

“We’ve got to trust it if we’ve got any hope of success.”

Their headsets crackled to life. “Here they come.”

“Everyone to positions!”

“Initiate jamming!”

Jayne mounted the large heavy caliber weapon and flipped every switch but one. If he turned on the power, the Alliance’ sensors would detect that they were there. He settled the protective gear over his head and held binocs to his eyes to watch as the ships drew closer.

After months of training, months of failed intelligence reports, he wondered if this would be the day one of their plans succeeded. He grinned, his teeth glowing white in the semi-darkness. His hand hovered over the controls and his thighs flexed with tension. That was a lot of ships coming in their direction. If they were going to fire, this plan would fail. They needed to come just a little closer –

His hands shook and he flexed his fingers.

The ships inched closer. Small missiles launched from their bellies and he held his breath when they exploded in the center of the compound, away from any buildings, and away from those lying in wait.

He’d never been so nervous in his life.

No, that was wrong. He’d been afraid once before.

He crouched low as he stared in through the infirmary window. That prissy hundan fugitive worked on Kaylee, hunched over her unconscious form. Every muscle in his body was taut, tense, and he simply waited. As soon as the doctor stepped away from Mal, the boy was going to bleed out all over the deck.

Wasn’t fair that the little mechanic had been shot because of – well anyone. With a smile that could light up any dark space, she’d wormed her way into his hard heart and made him feel. He’d never shown it. Didn’t do no good. She was off limits from day one, and he’d abided by the captain’s rules. He’d had his fun teasing her, and no one realized that it was because he couldn’t do more. It chafed him something fierce to see her go all moon-eyed over that prissy doc. Maybe when she woke up, he’d – Didn’t do any good to think on it too much. She was hurt bad and he knew the ship’s infirmary wasn’t stocked for wounds like what she had.

So instead he kept vigil outside, waiting, watching, afraid that he would never see her pretty smile, or bright hazel eyes shine on anyone ever again.

The order to fire drew Jayne out of his reverie with a snap. He flipped a switch and braced himself against his seat as he depressed the trigger that would knock the acquired targets from the sky.

A toothy grin spread across his face and his body shook from the force of the gun turret sending dozens of rounds into the air. He had his own special brand of vengeance planned to bring to the Alliance.

TBC --------- Reviews before the hack. ---------------

wytchcroft Friday, September 14, 2007 - 05:59

maybe the intimacy won't be for everyone - but i thought this was a very strong chapter - weaving between characters and between thoughts and deeds. excellent. I like that the characters reveal themselves in different ways - and that the author is the one with the cards held back.

very nice. ---------------

mal4prez Friday, September 14, 2007 - 06:01

I love this chapter! One of my favorites. It totally took me by surprise that Mai is Simon's contact. That'll be interesting for him to deal with!

The section with Inara is absolutely heart-breaking. She's using her skills for the cause, but it's just crushing when she thinks about Mal. It's like she's really being a whore, using sex to get something instead of in service of her client. How awful for her! ---------------

LadySage Friday, September 14, 2007 - 06:20

Introspective and heartbreaking - a great combination. I really enjoyed the back-and-forth between characters' thoughts and actions. Nice work.

:-)

---------------

TamSibling Friday, September 14, 2007 - 07:06

My question is - when Mal and Inara are reunited will he get why she did what she did or just call her a whore and really mean it?

I feel terrible for Inara, but it's good to know that she seems the value in taking a stand and helping the cause. After all she's experienced, I'm really glad she joined the fight. And poor Simon ... that seems to be a common theme round these here parts. ---------------

epm0001 Friday, September 14, 2007 - 08:35

Nice job. I'm hooked. ---------------

AMDOBELL Friday, September 14, 2007 - 11:42

Nicely balanced characterisations. Like Inara I cant' wait for the crew to be reunited again though the journey until that happens is all manner of interesting. Ali D :~) You can't take the sky from me ---------------

Platonist Friday, September 14, 2007 - 13:32

Oh, no! I hope Inara doesn't get caught.

Excellent chapter with wonderful characterizations and the flashback format reminds me of Out of Gas.

Heartbreaking to read, but certainly believable in a post Miranda verse

Waiting on more ---------------

BigBadJayne Friday, September 14, 2007 - 14:05

I loved all of this. Simon's pain and Inara's sacrifices, Jayne's memories and Mal's kiss...this was just one mother of a good read. All of it, wonderful from start to end.

Now, I'm gonna send you another tissue bill, so don't be surprised...... ---------------

KiMbEr Saturday, September 15, 2007 - 05:32

Yay, Inara joins da mix LOL I hope that bastard doesn't catch Inara and that Mal won't make stupid comments once he sees her!! ---------------

cbsteve Saturday, September 15, 2007 - 14:59

Jayne, carrying a secret torch for Kaylee? Why that big old softy! Yeah, I thought about that too when he looked in the window in Serenity. But now she's dead and he has a big gun in his hands and Alliance targets a plenty...time for payback. Inara needs to leave her chosen profession that's for sure if she can't keep Mal off her mind while working, even if she's doing it for all the right reasons. Simon's old flame as an underground contact, I guess I read that right, but didn't see it coming. Can't wait for more.