The Last Spartan – Chapter Twenty-Seven Once again I point out that I do not own any rights to Firefly et al. Of course if there’s anyone out there who thinks I do, I have some wonderful ocean side property for sale in Iowa, if you’re interested :) ***************** The guests began arriving early, despite the rain. The attraction of attending a purely social event at the famous Sapor Parco estate trumped even the nastiest of weather. Men and women attired in formal wear costing more than many working families made in a year on the rim worlds streamed into the house, flowing along the bottom floor of the mansion into the Great Hall. Inara and Prim greeted each guest in turn, introducing themselves. Inara eyed Prim almost constantly from the corner of her eyes. The ‘assistant’ to Lord Janos was attired in an exquisite tuxedo, his grooming immaculate as always. River had been right, Inara decided. He was a handsome man. And there was certainly more to him than met the eyes. River had hinted at Prim’s secret to her, Inara realized in hindsight. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that she’d known. Even if Jayne hadn’t told her, which he certainly would have had she asked Inara was sure, River could no doubt sense it about the man. But a Roman Centurion! Inara has once again fallen back upon the Cortex for historical references. Prim had to be in the neighborhood of two thousand years old. And despite the fact that he referred to himself as Janos’ personal assistant, nothing could have been farther from the truth. Prim Vatorian was likely Janos’ most trusted friend. More like a brother, perhaps, than a friend. The two had shared Bhudda only knew how many adventures together. Shed no telling how much blood at each other’s side. For he who shed’s his blood with me shall be my brother, she thought, recalling a line from a famous Earth-that-was play. “Something troubles you, my Lady?” Prim asked quietly during a lull in the arrivals. “No,” Inara replied, startled from her thoughts. “Just thinking.” “I see,” Prim smiled. “Worried about the festivities?” “No, I think things will go well,” Inara assured him. “I was thinking about something else.” Inara looked at him for a moment, then blurted, “I was thinking about you, actually. You look very handsome this evening.” Prim smiled. “It’s the company I keep,” he replied smoothly, and Inara felt her face heat. “You are simply radiant, Inara. I’ve never, in all my years, encountered a more beautiful, nor graceful, woman.” Inara’s face grew even more heated, if possible. “That’s very kind of you, Prim,” she said quietly. “Do not mistake simple truth for an act of kindness,” he grinned. “I say these things not merely to be kind to you, Inara. I say them because they are true. You are the rarest of gems. You outshine them all, tonight.” Inara’s reply was halted by the arrival of more guests. As the stream continued, Inara went through her duties on auto-pilot. Her head was literally swimming. She wondered, idly, if there was some inherent ability among ‘them’ that cast that effect on others. She’d have to ask River. ***************** Hiram Nettles activated the small comm unit as he prepared to leave his ground car. “Set?” was all he said. “In position,” Phin’s reply was equally terse. Nettles nodded in satisfaction. Tonight would be his crowning achievement, and make his career. Or see him dead. Plastering a smile on his face, he turned to the Companion he had hired as an escort for the evening. “Come, my dear,” he crooned. “Let us partake of Lord Janos’ hospitality.” **************** Neera Trivett walked into the Bunkhouse, peering at her assembled team members. “I want us ready in five,” she ordered tersely. “We’re moving.” “Trouble, boss?” one of her sub leaders asked. “Intuition,” she replied. “Something’s not right. I want us on the move, and out of sight.” “You heard the woman, on your feet,” the man growled to the rest. “Equipment check in two minutes. Weapons in three. Move.” The twelve man security team moved. No one wanted to argue with Neera. She enjoyed it too much. And it was almost always fatal. **************** A gong sounded in the great hall, and Prim moved to the podium. “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Sapor Parco. I give you, Lord and Lady Janos.” Applause erupted as the side door opened, and Jayne and River walked into the room. Jayne was attired in a tuxedo, as were most all the other men, yet his carriage made it seem so much more. His only affectation was a large brooch on his lapel. Only Prim knew that it was the same brooch that had once held his tunic clasped. In the days when he wore the crimson of a Spartan warrior. River’s gown, however, was unlike any other in the room. A shimmering thin strapped gown that clung to her everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Depending upon how the light hit it, it appeared to be golden fabric with silver thread, or vice versa. A small, heavily jeweled tiara sat lightly upon her head, the crowing piece that denoted her status as Lady Janos. The women cooed over her looks, while the men cast appreciative glances at River, then nodded at Janos’ luck. There was no doubt that River was absolutely stunning. Janos and River took the podium, her hand clasped tightly in his. As the applause and admiration died out, Janos spoke. “Welcome, visitors, to Sapor Parco. This is the last time that you will hear those words spoken, for tonight there are two very special announcements I wish to make. The first, as your invitations indicated, is the announcement of my engagement, and forthcoming marriage, to River Andrea Tam.” He bowed slightly to River, and she blushed at the attention, but stood regally by his side. Inara smiled at her young friend’s poise. She was made for this. “The second announcement is the renaming of Sapor Parco. This estate has been known by that name since it’s establishment by my ancestors. After tonight, however, it will bear a new name. One that reflects the changes taking place. As the sun rises tomorrow, it will do so over Flumenea Somnium, in honor of the woman at my side. For she is, I assure you, the River of my Dreams.” River’s startled face was enough to tell everyone attending that she hadn’t know of this. For a moment she simply looked awestruck. Then, slowly, a tear trickled down her cheek. With no thought to the people watching, she flung herself into his arms, and the crowd went wild with applause. Inara’s own cheeks were wet as she watched, and a glance at Zoe and Kaylee found them emotional as well. Zoe’s smile was lit by faint tears, and Kaylee was almost bawling. Inara smiled again, and wiped delicately at her face. “Allow me,” Prim said from beside her, and gently dabbed at the moisture with a silk handkerchief. Inara stood, spellbound, as Prim’s hands carefully wiped the tears from her face. She’d never noticed before, how large his hands were. Strong, scarred. Man’s hands, she decided idly. “Thank you,” she murmured, when he’d finished. “It was my pleasure,” Prim bowed slightly, then went to move away. “Prim?” Inara said quietly, freezing him in his tracks. “My Lady?” he asked formally, eyes shining. She’d never noticed that he had grey eyes, either, she realized with a start. Grey, like steel, yet so soft when they rested upon her. “I. . .” she started, but found herself unable to finish. She was so lost in those grey eyes, that her thought had flew away from her. Fortunately, Prim came to her rescue. “May I have this dance, My Lady?” he asked formally, as the orchestra began a waltz when Jayne had finished. “I. . .” Inara still couldn’t speak, it seemed. What the hell is wrong with me? “I’d love to,” she finally managed, and took Prim’s offered arm. Beaming with pleasure, Prim escorted her to the floor. Prim was a very good dancer, Inara discovered. *************** Mal watched Inara dance with Prim, and frowned. Hadn’t taken her long to leave him behind, had it? He had a good mind. . . “Don’t even think it, sir,” Zoe warned from behind him. He whirled around to find his first mate and best friend eyeing him caustically. “Don’t think what?” Mal demanded, caught. “You know very well ‘what’,” Zoe shot back. “You had your chance, Mal,” she continued softly, using his first name, something she rarely did. “You blew it. Let it lie, and move on.” “Like she is?” he snarled, despite his best intentions. “Yes,” Zoe nodded simply. “Like she is. There’s no one to blame here but you, sir,” Zoe pointed out. “Learn from it, and let it go. Move. On.” “Ain’t so easy, watching her like that,” Mal said, defeated. “We’ll be leavin’ in two days. You can make it until then. Find someone here to dance with.” At that moment, a rather tall young man with shoulders as broad as Mal had seen, walked up. “Would you care to dance, miss?” he asked Zoe formally. Zoe eyed him carefully, and shrugged, the elegant motion seemingly out of place from the warrior woman. “I’d love to,” she smiled, and took the offered arm. As she followed her partner to the dance floor, she cast a final glance over her shoulder at Mal. “Behave,” she admonished, and Mal nodded. He would. *************** “Jayne,” River breathed quietly. “Why did you. . .” “Rename my estate? Ask you to marry me? Offer you my life?” Jayne was smiling. “If you have to ask me that, River, then I’m doing something wrong. Am I doing something wrong?” “No,” she whispered, her hand tracing his jaw. “You are doing nothing wrong, my love.” The two made an odd pair, dancing on the floor. Yet, they looked perfect. Like they were meant to be. *************** “Boy, River looked like she coulda been knocked over by a gentle breeze,” Kaylee gushed as she and Simon moved around the dance floor. “I know,” Simon smiled. “I don’t know how he managed to keep it a secret. Someone had to know.” “I don’t think so,” Kaylee argued. “‘Cept maybe Prim,” she amended, after thinking about it. “He seems to know everything in the world,” she laughed. “And be everywhere at once,” Simon agreed. “I think, or suspect, I suppose would be a better word, that Prim is a very old friend of Jayne’s indeed. No telling how old.” Kaylee’s eyes widened at that. “You mean. . .?” She trailed off, suddenly conscious of the other people around her. “I mean,” Simon nodded to her unfinished question. “It would explain a great deal.” “Well, he’d a nice man, s’all I know,” Kaylee declared a few seconds later. Then she squeaked. “And looks like I’m not the only one that thinks so,” she said, nodding to where Prim and Inara were dancing. Simon saw them, and smiled. “I imagine Mal’s not taking that well,” he grinned. “”But look at Inara!” *************** Inara Serra was breathless. Prim Vatorian’s slender build hid a great strength. She felt like a butterfly in his powerful arms. Yet, for all their strength, the arms that wrapped about her were gentle. The feeling was. . .unusual for her. She found that she liked it. As the song ended, she felt as if her world had fallen. Prim stepped away slightly, and bowed. “I thank you, Lady Inara, for the pleasure of your company,” he said formally. “Perhaps, before the night is over, we can do this again?” “I’d like that very much,” Inara said at once, trying valiantly not to gasp for air. She was nearly breathless, light-headed. “I shall look forward to it.” She watched him go, not caring that everyone in the room could see her. There was, indeed, so much more to Prim than met the eyes. ****************** Jon Dixon was twenty-three years old. He’d been working for Lord Janos’ for the last two years, and counted himself the luckiest man in the verse. The young mercenary had been offered his job out of the blue, via Cortex. It seemed that his father had somehow done something for Lord Janos, and Janos was now looking after the son. The job was demanding, make no mistake. But the pay and benefits were great, and included a retirement pension. Something he’d never have gotten working for the people he’d hired on with before. As he neared the end of his circuit, Dixon caught a flash of movement in the corner of his eye. Acting as if he’d missed it, Dixon walked onward, but surreptitiously toggled the mike for his radio. “Jersix Nine,” he said softly. “Go nine,” the answer was immediate. “Movement on the perimeter, twenty yards south my posit,” Dixon reported. “Source unknown.” “Roger that. Continue patrol. Mobile enroute.” “Nine copies,” Dixon sighed in relief. He had half expected the dispatcher to bawl him out, or order him to abandon his post to check on the movement. And normally, he’d have done just that. But Jax Jersix, his team commander, had been adamant about security this evening. Report in, don’t abandon your own area. Dixon continued his patrol as if nothing had happened. ****************** “I know he saw me,” Karl Durgen whispered a snarl to Nam Phin. “Or at least he should have!” “Perhaps the vaunted security of Lord Janos’ estate is a bit. . .over rated,” Phin mused. “We will simply try again, when he returns. This time, if he doesn’t take the bait, we’ll go get him.” ****************** Neera Trivett sat quietly while the battery powered ground car eased around the perimeter. She and half her team were responding to a call from a sentry about movement along the perimeter. Even as the whisper quiet car eased along, one of her men was eyeing the area through thermal imagers, while another employed a night vision scope. “Bingo,” she heard in her head set. “Seven thermal sources, fifty yards ahead. Now eight sources,” the voice added as the car slowed to a halt. “I see five individuals,” the man on the NVG reported. “Three are certainly armed, weapons visible.” “Right then,” Neera sighed, glad she’d followed her hunch. “Five meter spread, four up, three back. Contact Nevill,” she ordered the driver. “Tell him to take up a position between these people and the house. And order all sentries alerted. These may not be the only ones.” “Yes ma’am,” the driver whispered, turning to his own comm unit. Neera looked at her people. “Let’s move. Anyone makes noise, I’ll feed you to the wolves.” Silent as death, she disappeared into the night, her troops following. ***************** “Did you hear that?” Phin asked quietly. Durgen shrugged. “Didn’t hear nothin’, boss,” he replied. “I think. . .” Phin didn’t get the chance to finish. Harsh lights suddenly hit him and his men from three sides. “Lower your weapons to the ground, and step slowly into the clear,” a slightly amplified voice ordered calmly. “This is your only warning. Comply, or die.” Phin felt Durgen stiffen beside him, and nodded. There was no profit in surrender, and they were here to cause a ruckus, after all. Phin uttered a code word, just loud enough for his men to hear, and for the comm unit to pick up and carry. “Downfall.” All seven men moved at once, firing as they left the ground. ************** Nettles swore under his breath when he heard the code in his ear. Damn it! He wasn’t ready! He looked to the others he’d managed to get inside the ball, and found them looking to him, awaiting orders. He nodded once, firmly, and they moved at once toward River Tam. Early or not, there was no going back now. **************