Chapter Text
Inara was seated comfortably in her shuttle. She had rearranged it back to how she had liked it when she first took flight on the Serenity. It had been sad to see it so bare not so long ago. Now all the drapery, carpets and pillows were back where they belonged as well as her four poster bed. Inara felt like she was home in a way she had never felt about any of the guild houses and like she had not felt about her family all those years ago. She was scouting out new clients and checking messages, trying to find some decent, well-paying clients this far out on the rim when she noticed a message from the Companion House Madrassa. She had not heard from any of them for a very long time. They had been disappointed in her decision to leave and had told her she would regret it. It had left a bitter taste in her mouth, so she had never reached out. She thought of deleting the message but curiosity got the better of her and she opened it.
In the video there sat the smiling face of Gong Li, a woman that Inara had not had much dealings with who had been a rising start at the guild house and was likely in charge of it by now. She had her golden chrysanthemum pinned prominently on her dress, a symbol of a special, elite order that worked only with the most prominent alliance members. What on earth could she want with Inara, particularly now? Did she know what the crew, and Inara herself had done?
“Hello Inara, I suspect you are surprised to see me. I certainly did not see myself contacting you after you had left, however circumstances change and I find myself reaching out to you for your help. Well not specifically you I suppose. Rumors abound that you found yourself a crew that works outside of the law and I find myself in need of some of that kind of help. The pay will be substantial, I can promise that, it will also all be under the table. Wave me if you think they might be interested.” Then the call cut off.
Inara immediately brought it to the attention of Malcolm Reynolds. “So what’s this, another one of your friends found themselves in trouble?” he asked.
“That’s just it, we were never friends. She’s a companion that serves exclusively top alliance officials and it is no longer a secret that I travel with former Browncoats.” Inara explained.
“So you’re thinking, trap?” he asked.
“I am not so sure. No matter our allegiances, I am still a registered companion, as is she, we value each other over all political alliances. Companions are not supposed to be involved in politics, no one wants to fear a companion’s input into government dealings. It is part of our code, we are meant to appear neutral.” She said.
“Huh, don’t mean it’s not a trap.” Mal said.
“Still, it couldn’t hurt to hear her out. Jobs are slim what with a lot of contacts being killed by the alliance and others too scared to deal with us. Hell, the only reason Jayne stays loyal is because no one else will have him.” Zoe said.
Malcolm nodded, “Wave her, we’ll see what we can work out.”
Mal and Inara went to Inara’s shuttle and she waved Gong Li, the woman picked up immediately.
“Ah, Inara thank you for getting back to me so soon, and I see you have added in Captain Malcolm Reynolds onto our call, your reputation proceeds you sir.” She said.
“Shiny, all good things I’m sure.” He said.
“All things that are good for me that is, I have a job for you that would be good for your particular skill set and should fit in with your sensibilities.” Gong Li said.
“What sensibilities would that be?” Malcolm asked.
“The kind that doesn’t like to follow rules and comes to the defense of women, even whores.” She said.
“Inara here tells me time and again you don’t take too kindly to that term.” He said.
“Whether I take to it or not, I know how people feel. It is a strange respectability. No one sends their favorite children to be companions.” She said. “Besides the person I want you to help has been banished from the order and lost her license to practice, she is freelance as it were and thus, a whore.”
“There’s a bit of that about, what’s going on in your guild that keeps happening to people.” Mal said thinking of the Heart of Gold.
“More than we let on. The life of the Companion is a lot of glamour, fancy parties and the like but there is a dark underbelly. Rape happens for instance, and although we put the black mark in the registry, that victim is still effected and the Law is little help since they consider the Companion taking the client as proof of consent. There are also drugs, many a Companion has fallen for that temptation and gotten addicted and had their lives fall apart. Which brings me to the current job. Lily, a young woman from my guild house got hired on as a permanent Companion, well, the client got her hooked on narcotics, he stopped paying, she missed her dues and well she is now out of the guild and held in this man’s house as little more than a sex slave. As she is no longer a Guild Member, the guild won’t step in to help her, but she appealed to me not long ago and I am willing to spend my own credits to get her out. You Captain Malcolm Reynolds can name your price.” Gong Li said.
“Well I have never heard anyone be so frank about the Companion guild.” He said with a side-eye to Inara. Trying to hide that he was a bit taken aback by what he had just learned of it. “Tell me a bit more about the job and what you want us to do.”
“The Job takes place on Bernadette, in one of the more expensive districts.” Gong Li explained.
“That’s one of the Central Planets, we tend to avoid those.” Captain Reynolds interrupted.
“Yes, it is also home to a bustling slave trade of which we believe the man who is holding the girl captive is a part of, that was unknown to us at the time of the deal, but I have done some digging. Anyway, the girl’s name is Lily, she is around five foot two and is blonde with blue eyes. Other features are unknown although she did look rather thin the last time I spoke to her. Her captor is a man named Winston Bates. He had a difficult start with several failed business attempts and then about ten years ago claimed to have success with a shipping company. Likely covering for his slaving operation. I was hoping you would not mind messing with this particular man.” Gong Li said.
“It’s not that I mind messing with him. He sounds like he is due to be messed with, I just worry about my crew and their safety. Not much sense in taking a job if we can’t work another one.” He said.
“That is true and I will give you as much information as possible, I can get pretty much whatever you need. Contacts, information about personnel, if I try I can probably figure out the layout of his place.” She said.
“Now how did you come across all of this information.” He asked.
“The rules about not revealing clients secrets no longer apply here, Lily is no longer a companion and he is no longer a client. Whatever information gleaned is fair play.” She answered.
“Well now, we just have to talk about price, a job taking place on Bernadette with a known criminal who is in good with the alliance, well that is going to be pricy. We are risking our necks, we can’t be doing this for cheap.” He said.
“I can offer you up to one million, a quarter up front.” She said.
Malcolm had to steady himself and control his face, but given Gong Li’s slight smirk made him think he had not quite been fast enough. “That should be enough.” He manage after a moment.
“I thought it might. Also, this job is a test, if you do it well, there will be more work for you at higher prices, I can guarantee.” She said.
“Well just send over your data and we will see what we can do.” He said, and the wave ended.
Malcolm looked over at Inara and then at his crew gathered around him. “I gather you heard that.” He said. Jayne and a now visibly pregnant Zoey were standing just around the corner listening.
“We did sir.” Zoe said.
“Yup we did and you’d be a damn fool to turn down that size of payday.” Jayne said.
“What do you think Zoe?” Malcolm asked.
“Sir, I’m thinking there is some kind of catch, maybe not with this job but with the other ‘jobs’ she mentioned wanting you to do. Something doesn’t smell right.” She said.
“Aww Zoe’s only saying that cause she gone and got herself knocked up it’s them pregnancy juices messing with her brain, she don’t know a good deal when she sees it.” Jayne said.
Zoey made direct and unbroken eye contact with Jayne and then she moved slightly, brushing her hand past the gun on her hip and Jayne jumped back.
“Hey, Mal did you see that?” He asked.
“All I saw was you running your mouth again against a pregnant woman with, what was it you said, pregnancy juices messing with her brain, I’d advise you watch your mouth. I agree with you Zoe something doesn’t smell right.” Malcolm said.
“But I also agree with Jayne, this money is awfully good, could keep us afloat for months, get us the repairs we need, even get a little retirement for you Zoey. I know you don’t want to be running with us when that baby comes. I say I am going to look at the first job and see what comes of it. We are only agreeing to the one job anyway, besides it’s not like we have many other contracts lining up to hire us.” He said.
Jayne smiled triumphantly and Zoe’s face was unreadable. “Yes, sir.” Was all she said. He knew her well enough that he knew she didn’t approve, but he also knew that he was captain and she would take orders, whether or not she approved.
“So you’re going to take the job?” Inara asked anxiously.
“I am going to look at the information she gives me and if it is impossible I will wave her back and tell her so, but with that kind of money I am really looking to take it.” He said.
“I know Gong Li, I’ve known her a long time, we may not have been friends, but she wouldn’t trap you. I don’t know what other jobs she has planned for you, but I can guarantee they are on the level.” Inara said.
“Well, we’ll just have to see about that. I know you’ve got your companion way of reading people, but she’s a companion too, and it seems a little higher up the chain than you, maybe she’s just better at lying to people.” He said.
Inara could think of nothing else to say, at least nothing she dared to say. Now that she was back on the ship things had gone back to the way they were before. Well, not exactly, there were a lot more awkward silences and the bickering they used to do before now petered out awkwardly as if each of them was afraid of where it would lead. This was one of those times. She simply walked back to her shuttle without engaging while he frowned at her retreating back.
It was not long before he was pinged as the file transfer came through. True to her word, Gong Li had sent over a bunch of information. She had information on the man’s daily routines, his regular contacts, she had even included backgrounds on personnel if he found it useful. Malcolm somehow doubted she was keeping to her code of secrecy but he found that refreshing. Companions could be normal people after all.
Once he had a chance to go over everything he gathered his whole crew into the kitchen with everything laid out. His crew now consisted of Zoe, his first mate, Jayne, the muscle, Kaylee, the mechanic, Simon, the doctor and River, the pilot and also muscle.
Malcolm laid out all of the information. “Now we could just break in there, get past all the guards and grab our girl, but I am thinking that might be too complicated. Our man Winston Bates has himself a criminal enterprise, and as known criminals ourselves, I thought it might do well to pretend we’re in business.”
“Like we did in Canton.” The Doctor offered, still not so fondly remembering his time on that moon where Jayne was a bona-fide folk hero.
“A little bit, but we won’t be getting your pretty face involved doctor. This is a core planet, too much risk. That Operative fellow may have scrubbed our records but you are still known as a wanted man and the Alliance would not turn you down if you walked into a trap.” Mal said.
“Are we sure this is not a trap? That one of her clients isn’t asking her to lure us to a Core Planet?” Simon asked.
“She wouldn’t do that. She has always been a friend to me, she was a friend to all her charges, it is within her character to spend her own money to rescue someone even if they are no longer a guild member. I have heard she has done it before.” Inara said.
“I’ll trust your judgement and if she was trying any of that companion trickery, you would have caught it.” Mal said.
“Companions don’t…” Inara began but caught herself, it felt wrong to argue somehow. Like that time had passed and it meant something different now. “She seemed fine, genuine, companions do have real emotions Mal.” She said.
“I know that.” He said softly, and they exchanged a look. Malcolm was the first to look away.
“Anyway, we have the contact information of his right hand man, a Eugene Doppler. He would be who we would contact if we wanted to establish contact. He could maybe set up a meeting, get what we want.” Malcolm said.
“Then what?” Zoe asked, “I don’t much like going in there without a proper extraction plan. I know we usually fly by the seat of our pants, but I have things to consider…” She said meaningfully touching her belly.
“I’m getting there, I’m thinking similar to what we did with Patience. Set up someplace to meet, you and Jayne scout out first, disable their men, they are bound to have men there and we get the drop on them.” Mal said.
“If I recall, that deal with Patience didn’t exactly go smooth.” Zoe said.
“Still got paid though.” He said with a smirk. “Also reavers are no where near core planets, don’t imagine I’ll run into any of them today,”
“They are hungry creatures, always wanting, always hurting, always causing pain.” River said.
“That they are little girl.” Malcolm said, ruffling her hair, “But they won’t be here.”
“They are expanding territory, hitting more settlements. Time might come we’ll only be able to do jobs on core planets.” Kaylee commented.
“Well, we’ll get to that when we get there, for now let’s focus on the job at hand.” Mal said annoyed. Zoe I want you to look into good ambush spots. Jayne, prepare your weaponry, no grenades, we want to be subtle. Everyone else should be staying with the ship on standby. We will regroup when we are ready to land.” Malcolm said.
“Yes captain.” Zoe said.
Malcolm had an exchange with the Mr. Eugene Doppler and he had to wheel and deal quite a bit on this one. No one quite seemed willing to trust Malcolm, but he talked of clients and coin enough to wet their appetite. Finally he got the man himself, Winston Bates, onto the vidcom. The man who appeared on the screen had a thin, gaunt face and dark circles under his eyes, he looked a little worse for wear, but malice twinkled in his eyes and Malcolm knew that he was not a good man to cross. He intended to cross him anyway.
“Well, my my, If it isn’t the notorious Captain Reynolds, your reputation precedes you my friend and might I express my surprise that I am hearing from you. I always thought you believed my trade to be beneath you.” Winston said with a smile.
“Well, my world got smaller, and I have to take the jobs that are available, and morals don’t fit in this line of work.” Malcolm said.
“I see you still look down on me while also begging to make a deal, interesting barter tactic Captain. I can only assume you are desperate. I am aware that practically all of your other ‘business associates’ are dead, I can’t help but wonder if that had anything to do with you.” He said.
“Can’t rightly say, I’m no more afoul of the alliance than anyone else in my line of business. Probably just a crackdown, Alliance is not too keen on those making their own bit of scratch.” Mal said.
“Oh I know your feelings about the Alliance, and your history. Particularly your history with an Adelai Nishka, he is still eager to get his hands on you and ‘take you apart’. Are you sure you are up for dealing with me? I don’t want you to have another monster chasing you.” Winston said.
“I’m up for it, my buyer just wants one girl, he’s willing to pay your price. You have a companion with you by the name of Lily, he was real specific.” Malcolm said.
“I have no companions, those women are free to ply their trade where they will. I only have whores.” Winston said.
“I apologize, a former companion then, one of your whores, name of Lily.” Malcolm said.
“Lily, Lily, I believe I do have such a prize. A former companion, part of my own personal collection. I can’t just part with her, not for any price.” Winston said.
This was a lie and both of them knew it. Winston may have been possessive, but he was also greedy, everything and everyone in his life had a price. It did not matter much to Malcolm though, he was not actually planning on paying anything, he just had to make the negotiation sound believable so Winston did not realize that this was a trap. They bickered back and forth for a while, arguing about price before finally settling on one.
“Well for that price, I would be willing to let her go. I will arrange an exchange and tell you where to meet. When you’re docking identify yourself as part of my crew, they won’t let just anyone land, you could be some filthy criminals.” Winston laughed at his little joke and ended the call.
The meeting place that was decided on was a warehouse. A little difficult to pull off their caper, they were more used to open spaces, but through some careful scouting they determined that there was an entrance through the roof if they broke out a window, which Jayne did real quick. He had no trouble crawling through the broken glass and did not even cut himself once. He was near the roof of the warehouse, hanging in the rafters, set up with his gun, ready to spring their trap. River went in next, sliding in easily and she positioned herself on the opposite side of the warehouse roof. Zoe went in with Malcolm as his tough right hand man, or woman rather. She was wearing full bullet proof vest, she would not take any risks here.
Winston entered later, flanked by six men. He was a tall man, he looked as though he had been well-muscled once, but there were only remnants there, flabby flaps of skin, there were the dark circles under his eyes he had seen before, still with that look of malice. Malcolm could guess that the drugs he gave his companion were being sampled by himself as well. The woman he brought with him, had long matted blonde hair and she never looked up. She looked utterly broken, Malcolm hoped she knew that they were actually there to save her, but he was unsure. Winston dragged her along by the wrist and held her close to him.
“Are you all here? You seem to have brought an entourage to a simple exchange.” Malcolm said cheerfully.
“Just making sure this exchange is on the level. You’ve got a reputation Captain Reynolds of being an upstanding man who looks down on my business. I need to make sure you are serious.” Winston said stroking Lily’s hair.
“Well as I told you earlier, times have been tough and you have to take the jobs you can and can’t be too picky about morals. The ‘verse keeps getting smaller.” He said.
“I see you still have an attitude problem. I thought with getting all your friends killed you would have learned a lesson.” He said snidely.
“Lessons learned all around, no attitude from me, just friendly banter. No judgements here, just want the goods and to get paid.” Malcolm said.
“Right, well give me the money and I’ll give you the girl.” He said.
Malcolm tossed him a sack at his feet. The man let go of Lily to pick it up and he opened it. “What the…hey…” The rest of what he said was cut off by a shot and he crumpled to the ground dead. Before the rest of his men had time to react, guns were drawn and the six men lay dead at Lily’s feet. She stood there in wide-eyed amazement.
“Don’t hurt me!” She pleaded, shielding her face.
“We’re not here to hurt you, we’re here to get you out of here. Gong Li sent us to rescue you.” Malcolm said.
“You’re here to rescue me?” She asked looking up for the first time and Malcolm could see her sad brown eyes and his heart sank.
“You’re not Lily.” He said almost defeated.
“Y…yes I am, I’m Lily!” She stammered.
“Fuhn Pi” Mal swore, “No you’re not, who are you?” he demanded.
“Okay, okay,” The girl said, “My name is Melinda, I was a settler that this man thought looked pretty enough to pass off as who you were looking for. I know where she is being held and I can show you, but you have to take me with you.” She said.
“Alright, but no funny business, or I will leave you here.” Malcolm said. It was an empty threat, but he was in his role as the ‘big, bad outlaw’ and she did not need to know that.
Melanie stepped over the pile of corpses and went to the deceased Winston’s jacket and rifled through the pockets. She pulled out a key fob. “The real Lily is still at his estate, his own personal pet, he keeps her in his rooms, we can get in with this.”
Malcolm pocketed it and lowered his gun. He no longer needed the threat, she was plenty motivated on her own. “Alright, let’s get to this estate.” He said.
There were several transports waiting outside, each of them could hold a maximum of five people. Malcolm pointed at one of them, “Jayne, you and River take that one.” He said.
“Awesome, I’ve got crazy girl.” Jayne responded. He meant it too, he had taken a new liking to River ever since she had saved them all from reavers and wanted to be paired with her on missions. He really respected her ability to kill people. He still called her ‘crazy girl’ but now it was a term of endearment. Simon hated it, River did not seem to even notice. They climbed in. Malcolm turned to Melanie and gestured towards the driver’s seat. “You’re leading, I got shotgun and Zoe will get our back.” He said as they climbed in.
The transports were preprogrammed to navigate back to the estate, and with a wave of the key fob and a few button presses, the crew were on their way back to Winston’s estate. Malcolm noticed that with the tinted windows the security teams guarding the place were none the wiser, thinking the man was just back after a successful exchange. They might cause trouble on the way out though. Getting into places was always easy, it was getting out again that caused a challenge.
The transports ended up in a garage, with no other people or personnel around. “Gorram it, I didn’t even get to drive. The Feh Feh Pi Goh thing just drove itself.” Jayne complained. “I was looking forward to driving for once.”
Malcolm silenced him with a look as Melinda took the key fob and used it to gain access to the house. Once inside things went smooth, some other people turned round the corner approaching them, tough looking people and the group reached for their guns, but the other group passed them by, unaware. It was a little like a beehive the tough part is getting in, but if you manage to get inside, everyone else just assumes you belong.
Melinda led them expertly around, weaving through basement corridors and then they turned a corner into one large, open room. Malcolm paused in horror, it was filled with cages. Each cage had dozens of people and it was standing room only. He looked at their desperate, pleading faces, many streaked with tears. Some of them their hands clasped in prayer.
“Come on, upstairs is this way.” Melinda said gesturing to a door.
Malcolm and Zoe both exchanged a glance, and a nod and drew their guns in sync. River joined them, the only one off was Jayne who had to hurry to prep Vera once the rest were already firing.
“Damn it Mal, I thought you wanted things to go smooth.” He said while firing shots at some of the guards.
“Plans change, Jayne.” Zoe answered coolly as she shot a guard in the head.
In mere moments, the guards, of which there were only a handful were dead. “Are you insane? What did you do that for? The rest of them are going to be on us in minutes, we could have just snuck out!” Melinda shouted.
Malcolm didn’t answer, he grabbed a key ring from a dead guard and started unlocking cages. Zoe stripped the dead men of their weapons. People came pouring out of the cages and Zoe started handing out guns to those that said they were capable. Others armed themselves with what they could find.
“I don’t need to tell you that all manner of Hell is about to be released down here, I think you know what to do.” Malcolm said to the armed former prisoners.
The prisoners ran as a group screaming down the hallway. Gunshots followed and more screams and Malcolm led his crew where Melinda had beckoned, to the elevator.
The place was on alert, alarms were blaring now and there was much shouting. People shoved the crew out of the way as they came out of the elevator in an attempt to get out of the house. No one suspected that they were the cause. The people here were no mercenaries or thugs, they looked more like housekeeping staff, normal folk that they let leave. He suspected that most of these folks had started out down in those cages in the basement.
Once past the first floor, the climb to the third floor was quiet and easy. Malcolm could not help but admire what Winston had done with his ill-gotten gains. The staircase was marble and the chandelier glass and it sparkled as they marched up the stairs. The railing was made of mahogany and at the top of the steps was a plush white carpet. Melinda led them down the hallway to a bedroom.
“She’s in there.” Melinda said.
Malcolm nodded and tried the door it was locked. He knocked, “Hello?” came a shaky answer, the woman sounded young and scared.
“Ma’am, are you being held here against your will?” He asked.
“Did Gong Li send you?” she asked.
“She did indeed, now can you open this door, we are in a bit of a rush.” Malcolm said.
There was the sound of a click and the door swung open. The woman who stood there was wearing a pink silk bathrobe off of one shoulder and was barefoot. She was blonde and had the blue eyes that Gong Li had described but she must have been the shadow of her former self, she certainly did not look like a companion. She was gaunt and her nails were chipped, her hair looked thin and falling out, there were sores on her skin.
“You’re Lily?” Malcolm asked.
The woman nodded.
“Come on then, we’re here to get you out of here.” Malcolm said, “Stay close, there could be trouble.”
She followed them down the stairs and they paused a moment. “Melinda, is there a back way out of here?” Malcolm asked.
“Yeah, through the basement ya’ll came up.” She said.
“Front door it is then.” Malcolm said as they slipped out into the garden. “Just got to keep out of the way of the Alliance, you know how it is.”
They need not have worried, the prisoners that they released poured into the streets and made an excellent cover and distraction for them to slip away and get back to the ship, all six of them. They boarded the ship and Kaylee’s smiling face greeted them.
“Welcome back Captain! Ohh did you rescue two companions?” she asked.
“That and a whole lot of other folks, shut down that whole operation I about think.” Malcolm said as he eyed Inara who was standing there ringing her hands in anxiety. He watched as she fell upon the two women, looking them up and down and talking to them softly.
“We should get you to our doctor, we have one of the finest doctors on this ship.” Inara said to Lily as she led her away.
Melinda turned to Captain Malcolm. “Thank you for getting me out of there, and for what you did for those people. You didn’t have to do that, it would have been easier for you not to do that.” She said.
“It’s what I do.” Malcolm said, “Anywhere in particular I can set you?”
“I don’t know, my family was sold off ages ago, they kept me on as a maid because Mr. Bates liked blondes, he only picked me to trade because he thought he could pull it off.” She said.
“Well we’ve got quarters for you here until we find a good place for you.” He said gently.
Later that night Malcolm sat alone in the cockpit, River had long since gone to bed. He was lost in thought, when he heard a shuffling of footsteps behind him. He looked up and saw Inara standing in the doorway.
“I hope I’m not interrupting…” She started.
He shook his head, “Naw, just enjoying the quiet. What brings you up here?”
Inara took the co-pilot’s seat next to him. “I just, wanted to thank you for what you did for Lily and for that other girl, for all those people.” She said.
“I didn’t do it for you.” Malcolm said.
“And you didn’t do it for the money, you did it because it was the right thing to do. You are a good man Malcolm Reynolds.” She said.
“No I’m really not.” He answered.
“No, you are and the sad thing is you don’t even know it.” She answered.