“Where will we get nearly sixty-three thousand platinum out here?” Lady Vera rubbed her temple and sighed deeply. “What was I thinking?”

“My lady, if I remember correctly you informed me to make all the necessary arrangements for our trek into the outer rim,” Joon-mei said calmly.

“Yes... Joon-mei, are you trying to tell me you have sixty-three thousand credits on you?” her ladyship eyed her up and down as if to expect the money to fall out of her tunic.

“No. But I did bring with me two-hundred thousand platinum. I expected we might run into some money problems when you told me you'd be paying the Parthenon in credits. No doubt the captain was too polite to tell you they use mostly platinum on the rim, so he accepted. Of course, he probably has access to exchange credits to platinum easier than the captain of Serenity does.”

“Is this money of your own, Joon-mei or is it from credits you exchanged on behalf of myself?” Lady Vera asked suspiciously.

Joon-mei looked uncomfortable. “I do not have authority to do that, my lady.”

Lady Vera stood quickly. “I cannot allow you to use your personal money—”

“It is of no consequence my lady. If it will clear your conscious, you man repay me when we reach Persephone. If I may ask... why are we traveling to Persephone? ” She changed the subject.

“It's a ruse. I need some time with my son, I have an inkling he won't take the news of being my son well. Of course, I will be using that time to try and convince him to help Lord Adam. From the records I was able to acquire, he is a match for the operation my Adam needs. Once Jian—I mean Jayne agrees to the procedure, he will be able to help him. It's his—our only chance.” Her hands were fisted.

"And if he doesn't agree?”

Her mistress sighed. “He will, he can't deny his father. If I must, as a last resort, I shall do as I did with Captain Reynolds.”

“What do you mean? Threaten him into agreeing?” Joon-mei arched an eyebrow.

“No. Offer him a lot of money. It seems to be the one thing that makes people out