Serenity floated in the vast emptiness of the ‘verse, the cold dead silence of space somehow reflecting itself in the ship. Book, Inara, Simon, and Kaylee were gathered together at the dining table. The silence was oppressive and the four just sat there not saying a word, none felt like they had the strength to break the silence that weighted them down. Each was reflecting in their own way upon the events of the past couple of weeks leading up to the horrible events of the past day. Zoe slowly made her way into the dining area with Wash reluctantly following. All eyes turned towards the couple expecting the explanation that would set everything right again. Wash moved to pull out a chair for his wife, but Zoe quickly shook her head and motioned that she didn’t wish to sit. Wash shrugged his shoulders and sat. “Zoe, what is going on here?” Book finally broke the silence. His eyes steady on Zoe, watching and gauging her reaction. Zoe leaned forward on the chair at the head of the table, the one that Mal usually sat in. She looked over at Book. “I don’t rightly know preacher. The cap’n is not makin’ the situation any easier, neither.” “Something has to be done,” Inara defiantly blurted out, and then realizing as such blushed slightly, an unusual gesture from the always composed companion. She straightened her shoulders a little, trying to settle herself. “I’ve done some research on our Alliance guests.” “Research? This ain’t no school yard picnic. We’re talkin’ about full blown out, puffed up, porcupine quill Alliance intelligence. I don’t know if ya all haven’t noticed but we’ve got ourselves into a right pickle.” Wash wasn’t happy at all with what was going on, and he was frustrated at Mal because Zoe wasn’t happy. And usually when Zoe wasn’t happy it meant Mal wasn’t doing something he ought. “Thank you, honey. I think we’ve figured that one out by now.” Zoe said, a slight smile tugging at her mouth. That was one of the reasons she loved her husband so much, no matter how dangerous or dire the situation he always managed to turn a phrase that amused her. “Inara? You were saying you might got us some useful information?” Inara nodded slightly. “I did some searching on the cortex last night. Actually, I tried doing some right after they boarded, but didn’t find much, and I wasn’t too alarmed. But after what happened…I tried again, and dug deeper. I couldn’t find anything too detailed.” “You wouldn’t. Alliance military keeps their secrets closely guarded.” Simon quietly interjected. “Yes, but any information helps at this point.” Inara continued. “I finally found some files that had personal descriptions and I matched two out of three. The tall man, is Lt. Phil Guliv. A distinguished war veteran, with hardly any tarnish on his record. The file said that he served with the ground troops during the beginning of the war, and then finished out the duration of his service in the Intelligence.” “Duration of his service?” Zoe quickly caught the slight of words. “They’re dressed in full gear, showing they still are in the service.” Inara nodded her head. “Exactly. According to the file, Lt. Guliv is retired and living on one of the core planets.” “Well, that don’t make no kind of sense. How can he be retired and still active?” Kaylee spoke, puzzled by everything that was going on. “Technically he can’t.” Zoe spat. “It gets better.” Inara quickly said. Zoe raised her eyebrow and nodded for her to continue. “Asha’s full name or rather her real name is Ashlina DelGurmova.” Simon and Book’s heads snapped up and stared at Inara. Simon was the first to speak. “DelGurmova? That is a very wealthy and very political Alliance family. What would one of the DelGurmova’s be in this region of the ‘verse?” Book nodded his head. “The DelGurmova family is an old Alliance family, their ties to the political center stretch far back. The children usually become politicians or go to the military. But it is rare that a daughter is allowed to do so. Usually they are used to marry into other families to extend political ties.” “Used being the key word,” Inara muttered. Book looked over at her. “During my companion training there were two DelGurmova women there. They were just like stock animals. They had no opinions or thoughts of their own. All they were interested in was becoming proficient in how to pick the richest husband.” “Not surprising to learn.” Book added. “They are a family to not be messed with.” “Wait a minute.” Simon said. “I think we’re missing a big piece to the puzzle.” He paused taking a deep breath. “If Asha really is DelGurmova then what is her connection with the captain?” Zoe looked straight at him. “That is an interesting question. And I don’t have an answer. The cap’n has never mentioned anything of the like to me before.” “There is one more bit of information that confuses it even more.” Inara took a break and then finished all she knew. “According to her file, with which our Asha does match, she was with the Intelligence for only a short time, and then was killed during active duty. Ashlina DelGurmova is dead.”