Chapter 18

Before Inara returned to the Ball, she borrowed a few of the 'gadgets', built by Kaylee or smuggled via rice and Mal, and carefully integrated them into her complicated outfit. The last item she added was a tiny earpiece, which she effectively concealed with a slight change in hairstyle. Once satisfied with her appearance, Inara asked Kaylee to inform her as soon as the job was over as she left to rejoin Simon.

"Simon, where have you been? Are you okay? What's happened to you?" Lien asked.

Simon's stance wavered under the emotional barrage. Lien's thoughts were coming dangerously close to overriding his own, much as Kaylee's had in the engine room. Simon prayed Inara would return soon. Her closely guarded consciousness was not a danger to his own. "Lien," Simon began tentatively, "I… we should sit down."

"Of course dear, let me help you," Lien said as she took his arm and led him to a nearby table.

Simon gingerly took a seat and attempted to fortify his mind against the next wave of interactions, only to find the feeble walls collapsing as he noticed that Lien was wearing the engagement ring he had given her almost three years ago. "You… still… the ring… wearing…" Simon stammered.

"Why of course, dearest, we are engaged," Lien answered with a smile.

Her emotions ran unchecked across Simon's meager defenses and he found himself smiling stupidly back at her with longing that was not his own. "I… we…" Simon began.

Lien giggled, "Simple Simon. Some things never change. Let's take this conversation somewhere more private. I have a suite nearby…"

Simon lost the rest of what she said when the image of two suited men wearing blue gloves flashed across his mind. It could be the solution to tracking down your wayward fiancé as well as his sister, River Tam.

Simon shook his head as if to clear it. "Yes, of course. We should take this conversation to your suite," Simon agreed.

Simon may have been the easiest mark the 'verse has ever known, but he had no illusions concerning the saf