Chapter 22

"Time to get ready, Simon, we're going back to the Ball," Lien said as she entered her private quarters on her luxury yacht, Golden Lotus. "I've had a tailor prepare some suits for you. You're old clothes don't fit you quite right anymore."

You have no idea how true that is, Simon thought as he slowly got out of bed. Despite the fact that is was mid-afternoon, Simon had yet to crawl out of bed for the day. Earlier that morning, he convinced Lien to allow him the extra rest to aid in his recovery. "Thank you Lien. Do they… um, do they have pockets?" Simon asked tentatively.

Lien giggled and assured him, "Yes, they have pockets. I remember how nervous you used to get, shoving your hands in your pockets to keep them from fidgeting about."

"Thanks," Simon said with a blush, thankful she would jump to that particular conclusion. Simon still had no idea where the meeting would be held, but he was reasonably confident that he could steal or at least destroy the Alliance tech if he could smuggle in a few flash bombs to serve as a distraction. Though, Simon was not one of the regular 'petty thieves.' He was more than a little worried he was forgetting something. Something besides escaping, he was well aware of that little deficiency in his plan of action.

***

"Cap'n I'm getting a visual feed!" Kaylee said excitedly.

"What ya got lil' Kaylee? Can you tell if he's dirt-side or not?" Mal asked.

"He's on the ground and…and he's with that ji nu core witch," Kaylee said irritably. "She's all dressed up so I s'pose we can assume he is too. Wonder how she got 'im past them guards and D.N.A. scans?"

"The rules never apply to the wealthy," Mal answered bitterly. "Though, I suppose that's a good thing this time. Let me know soon as you see a good landmark might show us where they are. I'll fill in our-"

"Stop looking at him like that you ta shi suoyou diyu de biaozi de ma!" Kaylee shouted at the monitor.

"Um… Kaylee… you know she can't hear you, right?"

"That si san ba better hope she ain't nearby when I… when we get 'im back," Kaylee said in an almost adorably threatening manner.

***

Atherton Wing stood impatiently as port security scanned his fingerprint and took a sample of his D.N.A. Once he had learned that Inara Serra was attending the Sapphire Ball, he chartered the fastest transport on Persephone to take him and his… assistants… to Londinum. As soon as this worthless peon was through verifying his identity, Atherton would proceed with his plan to capture the lovely companion and exact his revenge on the 'captain' Malcolm Reynolds for destroying his reputation.

***

"Zoe," Mal's voice called from her personal com.

Zoe pulled the device from her belt and answered, "Sir?"

"Kaylee's found Simon… sort of," Mal said, "He and Lien were headed towards the ball when she lost his signal. I need one of you to come and get her in the shuttle. Kaylee thinks she could set up her equipment and reacquire his signal closer to planet-side."

"Understood, Sir," Zoe spoke into the com. She turned to Inara and Jayne and relayed the information.

"I'll return to the ball. Perhaps I can intercept him there," Inara said. "But I'll need to change first. It's a good thing we rented that hotel room."

"Jayne, why don't you escort her to the hotel," Zoe said. "A man's just gonna slow us down way things are at the port. I'll pick up lil' Kaylee on my own."

***

"So, uh, 'Nara?" Jayne said.

Inara let out a weary sigh and replied, "Jayne, for the last time I do not discuss my business or my clients with anyone."

"Aw, why not? I ain't gonna tell nobody!"

"Professional courtesy."

"I already knew you was professionally courteous-"

"Why don't you focus your mind somewhere more productive?" Inara complained, "If the next words out of your mouth aren't related to our current objective, I will only ignore them."

"Hmm… In that case I have another question."

"Yes?" Inara deadpanned, doubting the ape-man-gone-wrong-thing's ability to say anything intelligent or relevant.

"Ain't that feller behind us one of your clients?"

Inara whirled on Jayne, prepared to give him a verbal lashing despite her promise to ignore him, when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face she hoped never to see again. "Yes, Jayne," she answered, "and we should hurry."

"That's that Mal got in a swordfight with ain't it?"

"It's probably just a coincidence, but we should be careful none the-" Inara interrupted herself when she saw Jayne grab a random passerby and slam him into a nearby wall.

Everyone near them scattered and the mercenary landed a well placed gut blow on the innocent man for good measure. Jayne shouted, "Get the hell outta my face!" and the bystander was quick to comply, running away before he was even capable of standing up straight.

"Jayne, what the hell are you doing?" Inara asked irritably. "Pummeling innocent pedestrians is not how we avoid notice."

"Did ya see how everyone scattered?" Jayne said as if he were proud of himself.

Inara sighed and resumed walking, "I don't know why I even try…"

"Now we know if someone follows us, it ain't by coincidence."

Inara was not about to admit it openly, but the mercenary did have a point…

***

"Kaylee, you about ready?" Zoe asked Kaylee as she furiously packed away tools and equipment.

"Yeah, just about," Kaylee said as she swiped her arm across her brow. She favored Zoe with the most awkward smile the older woman ever saw grace the young mechanic's features. Zoe had never seen Kaylee's smile looking so unnatural. "If you could just get this in the shuttle, I got one more thing in my bunk," Kaylee said and ran away before Zoe gave her answer.

A few moments later Zoe was storing the last of the equipment in Inara's shuttle when she turned to see Kaylee carrying that massive pink monstrosity of a dress she wore to the shindig on Persephone. Zoe arched an eyebrow and asked, "and just what do you expect to be using that for?"

"What if Simon needs me?" Kaylee argued, "I'll need a dress so I can get in the Ball and help him."

"Kaylee, it won't…" Zoe did not have the heart to tell her how ridiculous the dress looked. Thinking quickly Zoe reminded her, "You have to have an invitation or be on the guest list. Remember?"

Clearly unconvinced, Kaylee hung her dress carefully next to a few of Inara's and said, "Well, I'd rather have it an' not be needin' it than th'other way 'round."

Zoe sighed and began prepping the shuttle.

***

"Dr. Galen Sushruta and Lien Wu," the herald announced as Simon and Lien entered the ballroom.

Simon was a nervous wreck, and Lien's concerned grip on his arm was not doing him any favors. He quickly turned to the guard stationed near the barrier and began asking, "If you would be so kind as to…

The guard waved him off and used his override, "Not a problem, sir. I remember your cane."

Simon released a heavy sigh as he and Lien walked through the barrier. In hindsight, it turned out to be quite fortunate Simon's cane set off the barrier the night before.

"Simon, are you ok?" Lien asked him quietly, pulling him from his musings.

"I um… just a little nervous," Simon stammered.

Lien giggled, "Simple Simon. Has anyone ever told you how adorable you are when you're nervous?"

Simon swallowed a lump in his throat and thought of Kaylee. Kaylee had told him just that, sometimes moments before he ruined things but putting his foot in his mouth. Simon sighed dejectedly, thinking, I've done worse than stick my foot in my mouth this time. She may never forgive me. If Kaylee would not have him, Simon almost hoped he would not make it out of this alive.

"Simon?" Lien called to him again, more than a little concerned.

"I'm fine, really. It's just my injuries," he said lamely.

"Injuries plural? Simon we're going to have to talk about this later."

"Yes, later," Simon agreed automatically before asking, "When and how are we going to this meeting?"

"We'll board an Alliance shuttle in the courtyard in about an hour," Lien explained. "The shuttle will take us directly to the meeting place." Simon tensed and Lien continued soothingly, "Don't worry, they won't be checking identifications. These are not official events and those invited take great pains not to remember each other. We will just be two anonymous attendees with the appropriate documentation. That is all they will need to know."

Simon almost laughed at the irony of the situation. In effect, the alliance's own secrecy and security was making it easier to infiltrate. All he had to do was not screw up for the next couple of hours. He needed something else to occupy his mind before the stress tore him apart. "Lien," Simon asked, "Would you car to dance?"

"Simon, what about your leg?" she responded.

"Honestly, I'm more concerned about my heart," he said sincerely. He regretted his words instantly as he saw the way they lit up her face. Apparently, Lien though Simon was speaking in the metaphorical sense.

"I do believe that is the most romantic thing you have ever said to me," Lien said as she took his hand, "and I would be delighted!"

***

(More action coming soon, but it might be like half a week before I get a chance to sit down and work on this some more and I wanted to leave yall a little somethin' a'fore I went.)