taxonomites | [holo] if you tell me where you're going i'll tell you where you're bound

Simon is dragged into Taxon mid-eyebrow raise. "Yes, of course, captain." There's no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone. "And would you like me to--"

He breaks off, looking around. It only takes a moment for his expression to shift from barely contained irritation and impatience to worry. "River?"

That worry is slowly ratcheting up into panic. "Mei mei, answer me."

When no answer is forthcoming, Simon sags just a little, his face going grey. They can't have captured them. There had to have been a warning of some kind; it's not as if the Alliance can simply... take them, without anyone realizing. He has to push away the thoughts of what they did to River, the havoc they wreaked on her mind; if anyone could do it, it would be the Alliance. But he can't have failed her again.

"Tiānsà de èmó," he mutters, panic hardening into anger and resolve. If the gŏushĭ bùrú Alliance is behind this, he'll find a way to get her out, again. He'll do anything to keep River safe.

Glancing around, he sees the tablet, and slips it in his pocket before heading down the steps and towards the door.

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More people that speak Chinese.

[Cassie muttered to herself, rolling her eyes.]

You're not Chinese, are you?

[HOSHIT Hi, Cassie, this is Simon straight up freaking the fuck out. Good thing you can't see him.]

I-- no. What?

[If only she could see it, she'd be laughing her fucking ass off.]

Just wondering. Lot of people have been coming through here, speaking fluent Chinese when they're not Chinese.

I take it you're from some crazy spaceship time where Earth went the way of the buffalo, the Dodo, enter another fucking extinct animal here.

[And then Simon would sulk. It's better this way.]

...Other people? [His glimmer of hope just got a little shinier.] What other people?

[...Though with his luck, it's Jayne. Or members of the Alliance. His father, God forbid.]

That's a reasonably accurate summation, if-- wait. Are you saying you aren't?

Um...there's this Gwen chick. Got a ship called 'The Cressi'-something or other. Sounded like 'credenza' to me. Met this Kaylee girl at a party a couple weeks ago. There might be a few others.

[Cassie pauses, grinning a little. Mind Blown, meet Simon Tam. I think you'll be getting along well.]

Really not. Your Earth-that-Was is still Earth-that-Is for me.

...Kaylee?

[Simon maybe needs to sit down, just a little.]

It... is. [Cassie, Simon is pretty sure you're a mental patient now. Earth is unlivable, everyone knows that.]

Dark hair, always smiling, seems to be unbelievably fucking happy for no reason?

[That may have seemed a little on the rude side, but that's just how Cassie talks. And it wouldn't be the first time someone thought Cassie was insane. Certainly won't be the last.]

Yeah. If I remember right, I'm from about...five hundred years in your past. It's, like, 2009 for me, last time I checked.

I wouldn't have phrased it quite like that, but essentially.

[Oh yeah, now Simon is sure she's nuts. But he ignores that in favor of--] There's a younger girl. Dark hair, slender. Very graceful. Her name is River. Is she here?

That's the one, then.

[Cassie tries to remember, and she grows quiet for a moment.]

I might have heard of her? Don't wanna get your hopes up, but there's people from all over here. It's possible.

So Kaylee is here. [Muttered] Wherever that is.

[Louder again] She'd need-- you're sure you haven't met her?

Taxon. This is Taxon. Crazy little city where everything's free.

I'm pretty sure. I haven't met a whole lot of people. Not big on the social.

Right.

What? You don't believe me? It's true.

Dude, why the fuck would I lie to you? I'm trying to help you here.

I didn't say I thought you were lying to me.

[Don't piss off the crazy people, Simon.]

I'm taking the tone in the way you said 'right' as 'bitch, you ca-ray-zay'.

Which I'm not.

I am a bitch, though.

[Simon is trying to decide whether to be terrified or indignant.]

I hadn't noticed.

[And snarky pulls ahead!]

Now who's lying?

[Cassie chuckled softly.]

Touche, Ms...?

Hack. Cassie Hack.

And you, Rocketman?

Ms. Hack.

...Rocketm--

Never mind. Simon Tam.

Do I have to call you 'Ms. Tam?' Figure I should, on account of you doing the same for me.

[Pause for a cheeky, silent grin.]

It's gonna be either Simon or Rocketman.

[Splutter, splutter, splutter, then finally:]

Simon works.

Might throw 'Rocketman' at you, now and again. But I'll stick with 'Simon' for the most part.

So you're from crazy space future too, huh? You a space pirate or something?

Please, just... stick with Simon. Or Dr. Tam.

...Space pirate. [Cassie, you will BREAK HIM.] No, I'm-- just a doctor.

Awww, but I bet your feathers get ruffled when I call you Rocketman.

[Waits, as if she's listening for feathers.]

Oooh. Future Space Doctor. They cure cancer yet? Cause if they haven't done that shit in five hundred years, that's a load of crap.