Ominous lack of foreshadowing is ominous

[wolflord_andain]

While teleporting between worlds is not along the lines of something Galadan would describe as 'difficult', sometimes the simplest means of meeting are the best.

Which is why, he presumes, he will be joining the Tams for dinner in a location that belongs to neither of their worlds.

It seems sensible enough, at least at the moment.

Comments

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel glances at his daughter, noting the way she's suddenly watching Galadan, and a memory flickers.

In the next moment, he offers his datapad to the other man, meeting Galadan's cool grey gaze directly, without hesitation in either look or tone.

"Dāngrán. I trust your judgement."

The unspoken message in the simple statement is intended for them both.

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan's eyebrows rise briefly, in what might be mistaken for surprise to an outside observer.

He does hope River is not in the habit of refusing to use available resources just so she can do the job alone. Even he, in the height of his wrath, was not so much a fool.

"Wise of you."

The Wolflord is not much of one for gratitude, particularly in such circumstances as these.

He doesn't even glance in River's direction, merely turns his visible attention to the data that he will shortly begin scrolling through.

(Mental contact is a strange form of live feed, and with River there is always the trouble of extraneous noise -- but it does save time. In both directions, even.)

[river_meimei]

"It's a collaborative effort," River says quietly, her gaze following the motion of his datapad.

It might even be to both of them. River's never minded ambiguous conversation.

(She's not so much of a fool. And she doesn't, in fact, mistrust Galadan in this. Not unless the situation changes dramatically. He has useful skills, and cool and patient judgment, and an unassailable eye for strategy.

But this is hers.

The word 'jurisdiction,' perhaps, is applicable.)

[gabriel_tam]

This draws a quick, searching look from her father, followed by a nod.

"Yes," he says. "I've already started making inquiries myself, and Bajian and Magda are doing more, but..."

There's a dry acceptance to his words as he finishes,

"... I think we all know that Galadan has a great deal of skill in this particular sort of area."

[river_meimei]

...

Gabriel might not have previously seen River's taut, predatory intensity of a few minutes earlier, but he should know this look very well. It's the flat, disbelieving stare she gives when someone she's fond of says something extremely clueless. (River's childhood featured a lot of expressions like this.)

[gabriel_tam]

It's a very, very familiar look, oh yes, but he's not quite sure of the reason for it.

"River? What is it, sweetheart?"

[river_meimei]

"It's in the collaboration," River repeats, more slowly.

Her patience here is careful; she's trying to be clear. (She may or may not be succeeding, but she's trying.)

[wolflord_andain]

"Which is to say -- " Galadan breaks in smoothly.

There will be time for amusement on another day, but not when matters are this urgent.

"-- my habit of acting as an adjunct and consultant for the Tam family continues apace. And as River has a great deal of field experience of her own -- "

And, of course, this is her universe, and thus her sphere of influence.

" -- it would be rather pointless to work in tandem with someone farther removed from the action. As it were."

The eyebrow he arches at River seems to say 'do you find that clearer enough?'

"And her plans are hardly poor ones."

[gabriel_tam]

Gabriel gives Galadan a long, long look, then turns his now-wary regard back to River.






"... field experience," he says, at last.

[river_meimei]

"Gonna be okay, Dad," River says softly.

Gently.

She smiles just a little, crooked and apologetic and not quite sad. There's nothing childish in her bearing right now.

"I'll take care of it. Promise."

We is as accurate as I, in this specific circumstance, but in this instant that's not the point.

[wolflord_andain]

The Wolflord's eyebrows are arched, but more mildly than is his wont.

"We have neither of us, I think, broken one yet."

Promises, that is.

And this is unlikely to be the first time.

[gabriel_tam]

For once, Galadan might as well not even have spoken, for all the attention Gabriel pays him.

He's staring at his daughter, seeing her bearing, searching her face, even as his own pales and his expression grows bleak.

"Now, if there's nothing further--"

"There is. River is a gunslinger."

Very, very softly:

"Aid and succor, baobei?"

[river_meimei]

"No questions," River says softly, but her smile has quirked in assent.

Her eyes flick down, to the floor or to some other sight, and lift back to her father's face.

"Nobody's aiming but me."

"It's okay, Daddy."

[gabriel_tam]

Complex emotion surges through him with the force of a tidal wave, sorrow and pride and love all threatening together to overwhelm him completely.

He blinks back the sudden tears that threaten -- ridiculous, after everything, to find himself on the verge of such a collapse now -- and manages first a single shaking breath, then a nod.

"I know, River." Gabriel's voice is rough, but there's certainty in it.

"It's okay."

[wolflord_andain]

Family is one of the things that, even centuries on, Galadan has not begun to understand.

And now is most certainly not the time for him to begin to make an effort.

Which is why, when he speaks, his voice retains the same sharpness and clarity as ever.

"I suspect I shall have fewer quibbles with that terminology once we've recovered Mary Lennox."

Speaking of their objective --

"If you are quite prepared."

That last is directed toward River. They have a few travel options here. First among them --

"I'll need to obtain us a ship."

[river_meimei]

River doesn't shift away from her father even slightly -- if anything, she leans a little towards him, as her head turns away -- but her eyes cut to Galadan, and she nods.

"Got supplies."

On Serenity.

('Supplies' means, among other things, 'weaponry.')

[gabriel_tam]

The crispness in Galadan's tone snaps him back to the matter at hand, and Gabriel asks,

"What can I do?"

Because of course there's going to be something, one way or another.

[river_meimei]

If River had to come up with make-work, she probably would. One of the worst feelings in the world is sitting at home and waiting uselessly.

(Of course, River's personality doesn't lend itself well to that anyway, much of the time.)

But as it happens, she doesn't have to.

"You're the distance coordination," she says, with half a smile -- less complicated, now. This is purely cooperation. "Funnel the informational revisions. It's a confluence."

[wolflord_andain]

"Keep abreast of any additional information you and yours might find, then pass it along as and when you can."

In better times one corner of his mouth might twitch at this point.

But these are hardly better times -- though they are hardly the worst he has seen, either, in all his long years of life.

"I'll wave you with the relevant codes once I've obtained the ship of which I just spoke."

Again his gaze flicks to River and holds there.

"Milliways? Or more pedestrian modes of transport."

[gabriel_tam]

He nods, his demeanor firming with resolve.

"I shall. If anything -- and I do mean anything -- comes up where you think I might be of assistance, I trust you'll let me know. Until then..."

Gabriel looks at them; at both of them, addressing them together, as equals.

"... I leave it in your hands."

[river_meimei]

"We're in Heinlein's orbital coordinates," River says absently to Galadan.

In other words, by current planetary orbits, prohibitively far from Mary's last known location of Aberdeen. Milliways would be significantly quicker even if River convinced Mal to leave right away -- which she could probably do, but this is easier.

Her father gets a bright smile -- quick, and confident, and more than a little startled.

River knows she's capable here, and she wasn't going to accept any attempts at vetoing, but she still expected her father to take longer to come to terms with it.

And -- well. It's different, to know you're an adult, and to know your parents realize it too.

[wolflord_andain]

"Of course."

This could be directed toward Gabriel. Who is to say?

"Hmm."

Galadan does not sound absent at all, merely thoughtful.

"Milliways it is, then."

He takes another moment to estimate distances and projected durations, calculations piling up behind his eyes, and inclines his head one more time, toward the front door.

"Twelve hours?"

Doubtless she'll beat him back, but the waiting is unlikely to kill or seriously maim. This time.

[river_meimei]

River lifts her chin in a brief nod.

Got it, see you then.

She doesn't say anything like wave me if you see reason for me to bring anything in particular, because that goes without saying. It's just one more facet of share relevant information.

Which is a given.

[wolflord_andain]

All the logistics would seem to be taken care of then.

Galadan turns his attention from River to Gabriel, giving the Senator a brief nod.

"Gabriel."

And, with the social niceties taken care of (such as they are) -- the Wolflord rests his hand in the air over his heart, then fades into shadow and is gone.

Twelve hours it is.

[gabriel_tam]

Once River has departed as well -- he trusts, he has to trust that she'll inform Malcolm Reynolds of her intentions -- Gabriel Tam hurries his own steps back to his home.

Twelve hours.

That'll give him plenty of time to consult again with Bajian and Magda, to set searches going through more usual channels, to pursue every possible lead while Regan stands in for him where she can and Mark reschedules everything else.

And, of course, to do one more thing.

He has to tell Simon that in a way, it's happened again.