Chapter 11

"Ms. Wu?" the deep professional voice sounded from the mysterious woman's handset.

"Report," the woman ordered into the unit as she boarded her luxury shuttle.

"The Doctor and the crew have safely boarded the Firefly Class Transport believed to be Serenity. The vessel took on a few containers of foodstuffs, broke atmo, and laid in a course for Londinum."

"It is highly unlikely those foodstuffs will even pay for the fuel required to travel to Londinum. They must be going there for another reason," Ms. Wu spoke into the handset. "Have they taken on any passengers?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am, a registered companion by the name of Inara Serra and one Galen Sushruta who are scheduled to attend the Sapphire Ball on Lundinum."

"Galen and Sushruta were famous surgeons in the ancient world of Earth-that-was. This is likely Dr. Tam's alias, but why would a wanted fugitive risk exposure by attending 'the social event of the season'?"

"Very impressive Lien Wu, it took my team hours to discover that ID was a very clever forgery. Of course, we did not have your expert knowledge concerning ancient doctors at our disposal. As for why he would risk this appearance, perhaps he misses his former life and longs to experience it once more?"

"I suspect he does, though I doubt that is his reasoning," Lien Wu responded. Simple Simon rarely did anything without solid reasoning. "Set up a mobile command center on Londinum. I will attend the Ball and see to this personally."

"Yes ma'am."

Lien sighed as she took her seat and allow her mind to wander back to a simpler time, almost two decades ago.

"Why do we have to go? It's going to be boring," a young Lien whined to her father.

The older man laughed, "Because Daddy has important business with the Tams, and it won't be boring this time. They have a little boy about your age so you'll have a playmate."

"He's six years old! He's practically a baby!"

"Have you forgotten, you're only two years older?"

"And he's a boy," little Lien pouted, "boy