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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

Simon. Please.

[Cassie, you make his head hurt.]

There are cures available for most degenerative diseases, yes.

[A heavy sigh.]

Why'd you have to say 'please'? Fine. Simon.

Well, one small step for man, huh?

Manners. And a deep desire to never be called 'Rocketman' again.

...Right. [That again is one of those pop culture references that didn't quuuuuite make it over.]

But you know it's gonna happen. "When's" the fun part.

[She can hear the 'uh-huh, okay' in his voice.]

...one giant leap for mankind? It's what Neil Armstrong said when he took the first steps on the moon?

1969?

Do they not even talk about that in history class?

Your definition of fun must be very different than mine.

[Pause here. What if she's not crazy?]

I knew the basics, yes. Though a thorough history of Earth That Was is less of mandatory learning and more... an esoteric knowledge base.

Oh, I'm pretty sure it is.

[What she's been trying to tell you, Rocketman. She es no loco.]

But then what's stopping you guys from making our mistakes? "History repeats itself", do they not have that saying in the bright and shiny future?

Good to know.

[...About this, maybe. In general? Simon's not sold.]

It's not one in the popular vernacular, no. [La la la not even gonna touch the subject of mistakes, no sir.]

[ES NO LOCO! Of course, he doesn't even know what she does for a 'living' yet. That might have to be saved for a in-person meeting. Just so she could see how scared she makes people.]

Well, we used it, a lot back in the day...which is the present for me. Man this is fucking weird. But, yeah. History repeats. Basically it.

[In Simon's mind, that remains to be seen. Sorry, Cassie.]

It's... not an untrue statement.

[Let's pause for a moment of...vulnerable Cassie.]

That's what I'm worried about.

[voice]

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