Into the Blue Chapter 20

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

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This fic takes place just over two years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/OC and Jayne/River.

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A/N: Getting closer folks

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

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Into the Blue

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Chapter Twenty – Plans

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“Are you sure about this Sir?” Zoë, asked as she and the Captain sat on a bench outside Durin Haymer's home.

“I ain't Zoë, but I don't see any other way o' doin this,” Mal admitted, “Agreein to be a Purple Belly... even temporarily makes my skin crawl.”

“I tend to agree with that Sir.”

“Thing is, this seems like the only way we can be free to do as we please again. Simon and River won't be getting chased, we can go anywhere in the 'verse we want for work... even the core iffin we want.”

“It is an opportunity Sir... I just don't know if it's the right one.”

“I know... besides,” Mal said with a grin, “This all works out, you'll be marryin one o' the richest men in the 'verse. You and Allan discuss that yet?”

“A bit,” Zoë replied, “Kinda playin it by ear.”

“I don't want to lose you offa Serenity Zoë, but I won't stand in you an Allan's way.”

“Don't think I'll be goin anywhere permanent Sir. Might be away for a spell till things are settled but I think Allan wants to stay on Serenity if he can.”

“She's right Mal,” Allan said as he walked up to the pair, “Serenity's my home. Zoë's too, so thats were we will be.”

“What about runnin Blue Sun?” Mal asked.

“There will be some absences of course,” Allan said, “But I intend to stay with the ship as much as I can.”

“Glad to hear it Allan,” Mal replied.

“Now if you would excuse us, I'd like to take a romantic stroll through the gardens here with my intended,” Allan said grinning.

“Now thats a right fine idea. Maybehaps I need to find Inara and do the same,” Mal said with a smile.

XXXXXXXXXX

Zoë and Allan walked slowly along the paths that wound their way through the extensive gardens surrounding the main structure. The air was warm and dry, with just enough of a sea breeze to keep it from being uncomfortable.

“Nice place,” Zoë commented.

“A bit over the top for me. I mean if it were a luxury hotel it wouldn't be all that bad... but as a home for a couple with no kids... or even a herd of kids... it's bit much,” Allan replied.

Allan and Zoë made their way to the edge of the floating estate where they could get a view of the ocean. In the distance several other floating estates could be seen as well as the shoreline about five miles away.

Allan looked at Zoë as her hair drifted about in the breeze, “I can't quite imagine a prettier sight,” he said as he turned and casually leaned against the railing.

“What's that?” Zoë asked.

“You with the wind in your hair,”

Zoë smiled at her fiancé, “Sweet talker.”

“That I am but it's the truth,” Allan said a wide smile on his face.

Zoë leaned in and kissed Allan deeply. After a moment Zoë pulled back, “Good thing I already agreed to marry you or I'd swear you were gonna propose again.”

“Had crossed my mind since it's a might more romantic here than our bunk on Serenity.”

“You're up to something,” Zoë said, a slight smile on her face.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Allan replied, “I just wanted to give you something...”

Allan pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it where Zoë could see the contents. Inside was a gold necklace and solid gold pendant about an inch across, formed in the shape of Serenity. A piece of amber representing the main engine and two pale blue sapphires mounted in the engine pods.

“Where did you get that?” Zoë gasped.

“I waved Ari on Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago. He had it made for me. It was delivered this morning.”

“It's beautiful,” Zoë said quietly.

“Just like the woman who's going to be wearing it.”

“I love you Allan.”

“Love you too Zoë.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Plans for the Gala as well as the arrest of the board members of Blue Sun continued with almost daily waves between the Prime Minister and the Haymer estate. Two days before the party, a courier arrived from Londonium with a sealed case. Upon receipt, Durin called the crew of serenity together.

“Richard, sent some document's for all of you,” Durin said without preamble to the group.

“What kind of document's?” Simon asked.

“For starters, new Ident cards and licenses,” Durin replied.

“Licenses?” Allan asked.

“Yes,” Durin said as he handed a large envelope to the engineer, “This contains a new Identity card as well as Federal Navigation Authority pilot's, engineer's and ships master's credentials for Allan, Ident card and pilot's certificates for River and official ships engineer credentials for Miss. Frye.”

Mouths fell open around the table.

“There's more,” Durin said smiling as he handed a packet to Simon, “That is a new ident as well as your newly reinstated medical license Dr. Tam.”

“I... I... I never thought I'd ever be able to officially practice medicine again,” Simon stuttered.

Kaylee let out a quick squeal of delight when she looked at her card, “Look at this, I'm an official ships engineer. That mean I can have a raise Capn'?”

“We'll talk about it later lil' Kaylee,” Mal chuckled.

“Xie-xie Capn'.”

“The rest of you have new ident cards. Zoë's also includes ships master credentials.”

“Why are we getting all this stuff?” Mal asked.

“To legitimize the arrests Captain,” Durin replied, “If you are not citizens in good standing, your temporary status as deputy marshals can be challenged and that will mean that the arrests can be disputed in court. Leading, most likely, to acquittals for all those arrested.”

“Got it all planned out then,” Mal said grudgingly.

“I hope so Captain, I truly hope so.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Sir, do you have a moment?”

“Certainly Mr. Johnson,” The Blue Sun CEO replied to his underling.

“There has been a great deal of coded traffic between Durin Haymer and the Prime Minister the last few days. Also a special courier was dispatched from the Prime Minister's office to Belepheron.”

“That is troubling,” The CEO replied, “Any idea what was sent?”

“All we have been able to gather from our contact in the Prime Ministers office was that it was ident cards.”

“Ident's for whom?”

“We don't know all the names but our agent in the office was able to see two of the names.”

“And they were?”

“Allan Bryant and River Tam.”

“Say that again?” the CEO asked incredulously.

“Allan Bryant and River Tam. Apparently the reason the names were even seen by our agent is because the cards had to be registered with the Federal Navigation Authority.”

“Why was the FNA involved?”

“Because the cards included pilot credentials.”

“This is a most distressing development,” the CEO replied, “Didn't the Academy staff assure us that River Tam was insane?”

“That was my belief as well sir.”

“This makes me think that River Tam has recovered her sanity... This is most... disturbing.”

“I agree sir,”

“Having Allan Bryant in the same location as River Tam is a great threat to us. How they came together will be interesting to find out. Once they are both in our custody that is.”

“Are you sure that it's the Same Allan Bryant sir?”

“I'm sure of it. The man is too smart for his own good. His intellect is nearly on a par with Miss Tam's. If anyone could find her it's Mr. Bryant.”

“You seem to know a great deal about him sir,” Johnson commented.

“I have studied him a great deal.”

“What about the Gala?'

“We will attend as scheduled. I want to catch Durin Haymer red handed assisting a known fugitive and a man who has treason charges against him.”

“Those charges are four hundred years old sir.”

“They were issued by the Alliance and there is no statute of limitations on treason.”

“Very good sir. Anything else?”

I want four troubleshooter teams to Accompany us to Belepheron.”

“An excellent idea sir.”

“That will be all Johnson.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“How are you feeling River?” Allan asked the young pilot as she dropped into Kaylee's hammock holding her head.

“You don't want to know,” she growled.

“Sorry River, but with the information I got last night from our experiment, I can finish building a jammer to block the Blue Sun agent's weapons.”

“And I had to get drunk for that?”

“You can't read when your drunk, remember?”

“I'm having trouble remembering anything this morning,” she groused.

“Sorry Kiddo, did Simon give you a smoother?”

“Yes, but it hasn't become effective yet.”

“Give it time.”

“Riv! Baby girl, where you at?” Jayne called from the passageway.

“Go away ape man... you think too loud,” River hissed from her perch in the hammock.

Allan chuckled softly from where he stood behind the workbench in the engine room.

“Come on Boa-bei, you need to get some fresh air and leave Gramps to his work,” Jayne said softly as he entered the room.

“Your fault Jayne.”

“My fault?”

“You talked me into Allan and Simon's plan.”

“Jus wanna keep ya safe girl. Sides, why you yellin at me? Shouldn't ya be yellin at Allan and yer brother?”

“You will forgive my outburst in our bunk,” River replied, a slight grin on her face.

“Huh?” Jayne asked.

“Make up sex.”

XXXXXXXXXX

A day before the gala, Allan and Kaylee began installing jammers into the security system located in the ballroom, as well as in all adjoining areas. The devices Allan had built were designed to block the dampening field emitted by the Blue Hand's weapons. The defenses also included sonic jammers for the ultrasonic effects of the weapons.

“Why we installin these Allan?” Kaylee asked as she handed a small component to the older man.

“The Prime Minister thinks he may have a security leak in his office. I'm just trying to cover all the bases in case we get some unwanted guests. The kind that wear blue gloves,” Allan replied from the top of the stepladder he was standing on.

“How is the installation going Allan?” Durin Haymer asked as he walked up to the the two engineers.

“This is the last one Durin,” Allan replied. “This one projects the dampening field for the whole room and I have jammers covering all entrances and the patio outside.”

“Excellent,” Durin replied, “I just hope they will not have to be used.”

“I hope so too,” Allan replied.

“Miss, Frye, have you been fitted for your dress yet?” Durin asked.

“Not yet, I gotta go get fitted once we get done here,” Kaylee replied eagerly, “I don't think I've ever seen so many pretties in one place.”

“You must look the part of a woman of means my dear,”

“I know, just so's I don't open my mouth and mess it up.”

“Nonsense Kaylee. You are a highly intelligent young woman, besides your accent is very much like Yolanda's, our guests will be told you are a relative of hers.”

“I don't know...”

“It will be fine Kaylee,” Allan interjected, “Your hair has enough of a red tinge to make you look like a cousin of Yolanda's. Now why don't you go get fitted and I'll finish up here.”

“Okay, See ya' later Allan,” Kaylee replied as she headed for the room she and Simon had been given while they were staying at the estate.

“A most remarkable young woman,” Durin commented after Kaylee had exited the room.

“That she is,” Allan replied, “If she had the education to match her natural talent's, she would make me look like an idiot.”

“I do not doubt your word Allan.”

Allan climbed down the ladder and began picking up his tools, “Everything going as planned?”

“Yes,” Durin replied, “River moved Serenity to the lower docking bay beneath the estate. Twenty five member's of the Prime Minister's security detail arrived this afternoon as the backup team. The caterers have all been security scanned and Zoë's sister is overseeing the food preparation.”

“Handy having our own chef on the team.”

“It is,” Durin replied. “I understand she is an excellent shot as well?”

“Alisha is Zoë's sister after all.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“Wow!” Allan exclaimed as he entered the guest room he and Zoë were sharing.

“You like it baby?” Zoë asked.

“Like it? The only thing that would be better then that dress would be you naked.”

“That can be arranged ya know.”

Allan pulled his fiancé into a hug, “Yeah, but it would be kinda hard to hide your gun and River would have to remove Jayne's eyes.”

Zoë laughed, “You sure you like it?”

“You will be the belle of the ball,” Allan said as he admired the dress and it's wearer.

Zoë was wearing an ankle length indigo blue gown. So dark that it was almost black. A plunging neckline, open back and a side slit showed almost as much skin as was hidden. Inara had loaned Zoë earrings and done her makeup. Zoë Also wore a tooled metal bracelet on her right wrist in place of the leather one she usually wore. Around her neck was the necklace Allan had given her. Zoë's hair was free and flowing instead of in the loose ponytail she usually wore.

Even though they were not married yet, Allan and Zoë had to pretend to be married as part of their cover during the Gala. Zoë had donned an ornate wedding band to go with the engagement ring that Allan had given her. Allan's band bore a matching design.

“You're not that bad yourself Baby,” Zoë commented.

“I guess I clean up pretty well,” Allan replied.

Zoë stepped to Allan and straightened the lapel of the Dark blue suit he wore. Allan tugged a bit at the high stiff collar of his off white shirt and adjusted his tie. Completing Allan's suit was a deep blue silk vest.

“These shoe's are damn uncomfortable though,” Allan said.

“I'm glad I wore these then,” Zoë replied as she showed the rather comfortable looking slippers she was wearing.

“I'll try not to step on your feet when we dance.”

“You better not.”

“Where's your gun?”

With a wicked smile on her face, Zoë pulled aside the slit in her skirt revealing a garter belt that held a small Automatic pistol against her thigh.

“Good spot,” Allan replied.

“Thought you'd like it... where's yours?”

“Got two. Small of my back and left ankle... cross draw.”

“Good set up dear.”

“Are you ready to knock em' dead Boa-bei?”

“Let's go.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan and Zoë met Mal and Inara in the foyer before entering. A gun scan system was set up for the guests but would be disabled each time a member of the crew entered the ballroom.

“Are we all set people?” Mal asked.

“We are,” Allan replied for Zoë and himself.

Mal was wearing a suit very similar to the one Allan wore except his vest was a dark crimson. Inara was wearing a deep red silk gown. Her hair loosely piled in a spiral atop her head.

Next to arrive were Jayne and River. Their roles were to portray private security personnel. Jayne had shaved his goatee. He wore a simple dark suit and an obvious com unit was visible in his ear. River was dressed in a similar suit, her hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head. A com in her ear as well. Both had obvious bulges under their jackets from the weapons they carried. Slightly tinted glasses completed their outfits.

“Jayne, River, you two all set?” Mal asked.

“Yep Captain, we are, Jayne replied.

“Best be getting to your spots then, guests will be arriving soon.”

“Yes Captain,” River replied as she and Jayne entered the ballroom.

Simon and Kaylee were the next to arrive, Kaylee was dressed in a knee length Chinese styled emerald green dress while Simon wore a dark gray suit with a multicolored vest.

“I gotta say Kaylee, you sure do look pretty,” Mal commented.

“Ain't this dress shiny?” Kaylee bubbled.

“You have the ECM gear Kaylee?” Allan asked.

“Got it right here,” Kaylee replied, patting the matching green clutch purse she held.

Allan and River had cobbled together an anti jammer system to prevent the loss of coms like the incident that had nearly killed Zoë on Whitefall. If someone tried to jam communications, the device Allan and River had built would disrupt the jamming signal. About the size of a large late 20th century scientific calculator, it would be easy for Kaylee to conceal in her purse. It also had the capability to jam other com signals.

Simon carried a small pistol in an ankle holster but if any shooting started, he was to drop to the floor and protect Kaylee. Mal, Allan, Zoë, Jayne and River would handle any shooting. Inara Carried a small revolver in her purse but it was only for self defense.

Heavier weapons had been placed in hidden locations around the room. Alisha would be located at the buffet table portraying the head chef. She had a large caliber pistol as well as one of Allan's M-4 carbine's clamped under the table where she stood.

Durin entered the foyer with Saffron/Yolanda on his arm. Durin wore an expensive dark blue silk suit while Yolanda wore a revealing dark green cocktail dress.

“Are we all set?” Durin asked.

“I think so,” Mal replied, “Jayne and River are set up in the ballroom and so's Alisha.”

“Excellent,” Durin replied, “You had best take your places outside, the CEO and the first guests should be arriving soon.”

“Very well,” Allan replied. Offering Zoë his arm, they made their way outside into the gardens. Mal and Inara following behind with Kaylee and Simon.

XXXXXXXXXX

“What is our ETA?” the CEO asked his pilot.

“We will be arriving in approximately five minutes sir.”

“Very well,” the CEO replied, “ Are the teams in position?”

“Yes sir. Team's one and two are on a shuttle standing by. They can be on the estate five minutes after you signal them. Team's three and four are already on the grounds.”

“Excellent.”

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TBC