Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, except for Carter Lang and Rosemarie Velaine, and John and Marina Alder, who are mine. Mainly because I haven't the courage to stick in a Mary Sue. Also because Joss is awesome. Will continue to live vicariously through Mal. *******************************

I have a paper due in a week or so, so there will be a slower pace in getting this out for a while. Must remain in the top 3% of my class...

******************************* This is Chapter 7 of the story that began here:

Part 1

and continued here:

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5 Part 6

and is a continuation of Our Co-Pilot Tam, which can be found here *************************************

Once more the Tams' living room was full, but this time a tension hung in the air. Simon and Kaylee sat on the couch, holding hands, while Jayne sat on Simon's left, looking decidedly uncomfortable in a black vested suit, opening and closing a pistol and glaring at the others in turn. Zoe stood by the window frame in her new dress, looking distracted. Inara sat in a large stuffed armchair, nearly invisible to the others, her legs crossed, fingers tapping on her thigh. River sat cross-legged on the floor next to her, leaning on the chair's armrest. And Gabriel and Mal stood in the open space before the crew, glaring at one another. “I cannot stress this enough,” Gabriel said. “This is a very important event. Tonight Simon will make a first impression on his rivals and on many of the most important voters.” Mal clapped his hands, interrupting. “So I want all of you on your best behavior.” Inara broke into laughter. “You won't punch anyone who offends you?” she asked. “Malcolm won't--” Gabriel began. “I ain't coming inside,” Mal said. “I'll be playing Simon's driver, and seeing what I can learn from the other serving folk.” Gabriel took the floor back. “Zoe, Jayne, you will be Simon's bodyguards and enter the fete with him.” Zoe crossed and uncrossed her arms. “Are two bodyguards normal for a party like this?” she asked. “Politics can be a dangerous business,” Gabriel explained. Jayne grinned, snapping the pistol closed. “I'm starting to like Osiris politics,” he said. Gabriel continued. “I have engaged Inara for tonight. She will enter with me, just before Simon and Kaylee are announced.” “What about River?” Simon asked. Gabriel glared meaningfully at Mal. “River will not attend this fete,” he said. “But it sounds so fun,” River sulked. “Trust me, nyen ching-du, you would be bored there. Nothing but politics and drinking,” Gabriel said. “There will be dancing,” River protested. “Besides,” Gabriel continued, “Someone must remain behind to watch Alexandra.” “Babysitting,” muttered River. “I placed Alexandra in the care of several of my Sisters for tonight,” Inara said, glancing up. “She is, after all, property of the Guild now, Mr. Tam.” “Very well,” Gabriel grumbled. “I just don't want any madness--” “I'm sitting right here, Dad,” River said. “I mean no disrespect,” Gabriel sighed, “But nothing can be allowed to go wrong.” “I'll stay,” River said with a shrug. Mal smiled at her. “I'll take you dancing another time,” he said, winking at Gabriel's iron face. Turning to Zoe, he added “You can't hide a gun in that dress, Zoe.” “I believe I can,” she said, drawing a pistol from the small of her back. “I stand corrected,” Mal replied with a bow. “Let's do this.” He strode toward the door, bending down to embrace River and place a quick kiss on her cheek. “My cousins are coming,” River whispered. Mal stopped in his tracks. “What did you say?” he asked. “My cousins are coming,” River repeated, eyes unfocused. “I'll entertain them while you all are away.” “What?” asked Gabriel. “My cousins,” River said. “They'll be glad to see me. I don't think they'll miss you.” “We don't have time for this,” Gabriel said. “We're already running fashionably late.” Kaylee rose, straightening her skirts and stepping over to River. “What do you mean, mei mei?” “River follows her own logic,” Simon said, rising with Kaylee. “I think we should listen to her.” “We can't bring her, if she's like this,” Gabriel replied. “It's okay,” River said. “I have to be here to meet them.” “I'll stay,” said Mal. “Zoe, you drive.” Gabriel shook his head. “You're not staying behind with my daughter, Reynolds.” “I'll stay back, then,” Zoe said. Kaylee turned back at her. “But your dress--” she began. “It's all right,” Zoe replied, an edge to her voice. “There will be other parties. I'd like to meet River's cousins tonight.” She turned back to Mal, who was standing by the door already. “It'll be fine, Mal. I'll look after your Albatross.” Mal nodded gravely and held the door open for Gabriel, then Simon and Kaylee, Jayne, and lastly Inara.

*******************************************

“John, this is my son Simon and his Intended, Kaylee,” Gabriel said. “Simon, John and Marina Alder.” The Alders were an older couple, Mal figured in their seventies. John had once been a powerful man, but age had withered him, and now he seemed gaunt and shrunken. Marina was short and slight, her hair still thick and dark, now put up into a complex array of curls. She beamed with the air of a satisfied hostess as she took Simon's hand. “It's so good to have you back, Simon,” she gushed. “I remember when you were this small, and you would come upstairs at our parties and sleep on the guest couch. Weren't you a darling? Wasn't he, dear?” she added, looking back up at her husband. John swooped in to rescue Simon. “And this is your lovely Intended?” he asked, taking Kaylee's hand and raising it to his lips. “If I was forty years younger,” he said graciously, “You'd have some competition for her.” Kaylee blushed, and he continued, “There will be dancing later. If I may beg a dance ahead of time?” Kaylee looked at Simon for guidance. He smiled back. “Of course,” she said to John. “I don't know many of the dances, but I'd be happy to.” “And you are a Companion,” Marina asked Inara, standing by Gabriel's right. “A proper one, not like the,” she whispered the curse, “po-fu General Lang always brings about.” “I have not had the honor to meet General Lang's po-fu,” Inara replied courteously. “You'll have the chance now,” Marina whispered. “They have just arrived.” “General Carter Lang and Rosemarie Velaine,” the steward's voice boomed across the hall. Entering from the foyer was a solidly-build man of medium height and middle years, dressed in an elaborate Alliance uniform, of grey silk and velvet, with a line of medals pinned down the left lapel. His round face bore a disdainful expression as he glanced about at the guests and decorations. Not a wisp of his sandy-blond hair was out of place, nor did his feet miss a step as they crossed the floor toward the gathering around the Alders. Behind him marched two Alliance soldiers, each with his hand on a pistol and a hard look on his face. At his side strode the woman who must be Rosemarie. As Alexandra had described her, she was short, shorter than Kaylee, with skin so pale as to be almost white. Her hair was long, black, and straight, falling in a loose braid to below her waist, blending with her black gown. As the couple drew closer Inara could see the truth of Alexandra's description—a bruise, expertly covered, stretched from her collarbone to her right shoulder. Marina's expression changed from conspiratorial to welcoming as she turned from Inara to the General. “General Lang, welcome,” she said. “And Rosemarie...you look wonderful as always.” Rosemarie gazed past her to look at Inara, then froze. Inara stared back, impassively, as Lang finished greeting Marina. “Come, Rose,” he said, taking her arm again and leading her past Marina to approach Gabriel. “Gabriel Tam, what a pleasure to see you again.” Gabriel shook his hand vigorously. “And you, General. I've someone for you to meet,” he said, putting his hand on Simon's shoulder and pulling him over. “Simon, I'm sure you remember Carter Lang and...Rosemarie, was it? Carter, Rosemarie, Simon.” “I'd been meaning to speak with you,” Lang said to Simon. Gabriel stepped back, nearly treading on Inara. “I'll leave you to get reacquainted then,” he said, taking Inara's arm and looking about for the bar. Inara walked with him, glancing back over her shoulder at the sternly impassive face of Rosemarie. “You're planning on running for Parliament, I hear,” Lang said, drawing Simon out of the center of the floor. Rosemarie and the two soldiers followed him, Mal, Jayne, and Kaylee following Simon. “I am,” Simon nodded, looking back at Kaylee. “Oh, let me introduce you,” he continued. “General, Rosemarie, this is Kaylee, my Intended.” Lang made a courtly bow, Rosemarie a brief smile. Kaylee smiled back, then glanced over at Mal and Jayne, who were exchanging glances. “Very charming,” said Lang. “I'm glad that you have decided to throw your hat in the ring. I was afraid your adventures in the Outer Moons would keep you away.” “Adventures in the Outer Moons?” Simon asked, glancing over his shoulder at Mal. “If you've been speaking with my father, then--” “I haven't,” Lang interrupted. “No need. I knew you'd gone to rescue your sister a week after you freed her.” “How?” Simon asked, suspicious. Lang smiled. “Certain of my colleagues in Parliament ceased their incessant bragging about the potential of the Academy. And your father made no secret about your banishment. It took little effort to have a man follow you.” “That crazy fed?” said Simon. “But he--” “Book,” mouthed Mal, standing at Simon's right shoulder. “Precisely,” said Lang. “A medal for the bodyguard...who must be the famous Malcolm Reynolds.” “You knew,” said Simon. “But you let us go on.” “Of course,” replied Lang. “How, could I find out what the Academy was up to, save by letting you do the legwork? Its supporters in Parliament weren't saying anything—they didn't need to.” “Book...he was getting close to River, we let him watch her on Higgins's Moon,” Kaylee mused. “How did you get a Shepherd to work for you?” “Derrial was one of my best agents,” Lang explained, “Before he retired to the monastery just before the war. One of the few I could trust with my plans. When he learned the truth of the situation, he knew how essential it was to keep you and River out of harm's, and my colleagues', way.” He looked back at Mal. “It's not what you're thinking. He was a Shepherd through and through. That was not a cover.” “Why'd he leave before the job was done?” Mal asked. “Sadly, his cover came near to being blown. Certain Federal officers learned his identity, and his presence became a liability to his mission. But no, you were never truly under Alliance radar—only under the radar of your enemies.” “Shepherd can't have been too close to him,” whispered Kaylee to Jayne, “'Cause if what Saffron said is true, he belongs in that special hell for sure.” “Our enemies,” Mal said, stepping ahead of Simon. “So the Butcher of Verbena claims to be friends with a Browncoat.” “The events of Verbena were lamentable,” said Lang. “Despicable, even. But not ordered by me. I am a General, not an Admiral, and the bombs were fired from one of our supporting dreadnoughts.” Kaylee saw Mal's fists clench, and she grabbed his shoulder. “Please, not here,” she whispered. Mal relaxed. “A lot of good folk died there,” he said with forced calm. Lang nodded. “And more at Serenity Valley. Which was a ke-wu-de disgrace. Thousands of soldiers killed unnecessarily for being on the wrong side of the war.” “Losing side,” Mal corrected. “Not wrong side.” “I'm not entirely sure of that,” Lang replied. “In fact, I'm sure of the opposite. Look at China. Before the exodus, China had been united for twenty-two centuries, except for that little seventy-year adventure in Taiwan, and for twenty of those centuries, it was the most powerful nation on Old Earth. Look at America. America's greatness dates from the victory of the Union in its Civil War. And we speak Chinese and English.” He fixed Mal with a penetrating gaze. “I know you are surprisingly educated, for a smuggler captain. Have you read One Thousand and One Nights?” Mal nodded. “That book was written at the height of the Arabs' 'Abbasid Caliphate,” Lang continued. “They did not fight for their unity, and so within a hundred years of that book's publication, the Caliphate was in ruins, and within two hundred its lands were a patchwork of tiny squabbling states. And so we do not all speak Arabic. I fought for Unification that the System could survive in peace and prosperity, not so a few corrupt old men could tell the folk of the border what holidays to celebrate. That,” he said, turning to Simon, “Is why I seek a true reformer to back.” Mal was stunned into silence. Simon looked over at him, then at Kaylee, then back to Lang, and began to speak. Before he could utter a word, however, he was interrupted by the steward announcing a new guest: “Miss Yolanda Haymer!”