Simon put his elbows on the counter and leaned in closer to the Cortex screen, staring intently at the blackness of it. His heart surprised him by skipping a beat when he heard the sound of the well-known voice coming through, "Ni hao?"

"Inara?" he whispered.

There was a short pause. "Simon?" she asked. "Is that you?"

"Yes, yes it's me. It's good to hear your voice, Inara."

"Yours too." She was smiling; he could hear it. "But why are you on audio only?"

"So he can't see you."

"Who?"

Simon glanced over his shoulder, looking at Badger hovering in the doorway, just out of earshot. Turning back towards the com he said, "I'm at Badger's."

He imagined how her eyes grew wide. "Badger?"

"Yes. He snatched me from the street. I'm… helping him out with something. Look, he doesn't know that I'm talking to you. I told him I was getting in touch with an old friend from Med-Acad and that I needed to talk to him alone."

"And he let you?"

"Yes." Simon couldn't quite hide the surprise from his voice. "It's strange. And a little worrisome. Something's not right." He looked over his shoulder again. "He's watching me though. Hence the black screen."

"Why?" She sounded a little frantic now. "Simon, what is this? Why are you calling me?"

"I need your help."

"Of course." There was another short moment of silence and then her voice returned, laden with worry, "Simon, does he know who you are?"

"I don't think so. He hasn't said or done anything that suggests that."

"What can I do to help? You want me to wave the captain? Tell him where you are."

"No, it's probably best if you don't. Besides, I think Mal already knows where I am. There aren't that many options."

"Then tell me wha