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Author	Topic: Blue Sun Down: A SW/Firefly XO--Winner, Best Crossover, 2008 Fanfic Awards
The_Face Title: Fan Fic Manager, currently away Registered: Feb '03	Date Posted: 4/22 7:39pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	The Operative Strikes Back I’m embarrassed as a nerd by how long it took me to get that. He turned and looked back at River, then Vos. “What’s that Force of yours say to do?” “It says to veer hard to starboard,” River said. “What?” Wash looked. “Oh crap. Oh crap oh crap oh crap!” He jerked the control wheel hard right and slammed both feet down. Everyone grabbed what they could as Serenity’s nose shot up, then the whole ship cork-screwed around a missile fired from the nearest Alliance ship. I love it. Vos hit the switch and the ramp started to lower. Then sparks flew, and the ramp simply dropped uncontrolled to slam with a loud crash against the deck of the hanger. Oh Mal’s poor boat… Great little moment though. Another great chapter! Thanks for the PM. -----signature----- If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor Dear Father, I will see you there on distant shores
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Thumper09 Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 4/23 6:00pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	Great update! Those were some pretty bad odds Mal was facing against Walsingham, and I think it says a lot about him that he chose to surrender and protect his crew instead of trying to fight a losing battle to escape. “I reckon I am a mighty fine catch,” Mal said with a tight smile. “But I’m a captain without a ship.” “You’re a leader with your crew,” she said. “This isn’t over.” I loved these lines. Simple but powerful. That was an ominous ending. I know I'd be pretty nervous if the Jedi were feeling pessimistic about something coming down the road. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the crew who don't already know about River's pregnancy react to it (especially Simon). Great job! -Thumper -----signature----- "Like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method." -Karen Eiffel The Way--Imperial pilot OCs, OT: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28104637 OC X-wing fics: http://www.coronasquadron.com/corona.html
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Laine_Snowtrekker Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 4/26 6:52pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	Oh, I have a bad feeling about this... Thanks for the PM. -----signature----- Stealth and subtlety work well, but for making lasting impressions, a blaster does just fine. -Han Room full of gold and jewels, and Dr. Daniel Jackson finds the one book. -Cam Palso's #1 Fan JO: RS1, Admiral Fanfic link in bio (esp. 08 Diary Challenge)
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Independence1776 Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 4/27 5:56pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	[quote=Darth_Marrs]Chapter Seventeen: The Operative Strikes Back I just have to say this made me laugh. He turned and looked back at River, then Vos. “What’s that Force of yours say to do?” “It says to veer hard to starboard,” River said. snickers Trust River to deliver something that important in a calm voice. The grappler lines pulled the crippled ship into the brightly lit bay. A moment later the bay doors closed below the ship, and Serenity was laid to rest on the bay floor. Doors opened to either side, and dozens upon dozens of Alliance soldiers spilled out to surround the ship. The walls themselves opened as large caliber barrels poked out. I love the description of the hanger bay. They're really not taking chances. Mal bowed his head a moment, then turned back to Vos. “There’s been enough blood shed by this crew,” he said softly. He jerked into motion, striding down the ramp until he stood before the Operative. Very slowly, he pulled both pistols from his holsters and dropped them at the man’s feet. “You won this time,” he muttered. This had to be very, very hard for him, surrendering to the Alliance again. Walsingham smiled. “I usually do.” He's scaring me. “We’re off the ship,” Mal said darkly. “Don’t much care.” Definitive Mal. “I reckon I am a mighty fine catch,” Mal said with a tight smile. “But I’m a captain without a ship.” “You’re a leader with your crew,” she said. “This isn’t over.” Very wonderfully said. She was turning to go back when she saw Book standing in the middle of the room, staring at her. “You’re pregnant,” he said, stunned. He isn't the only one stunned... She looked down at her now visible bulge, which so far she’d been able to hide with loose clothing, then shrugged. “I told you I was going to have his baby.” Yes, but! “I know,” she said. She touched his cheek. “I found my place. The Force made me whole. Quinlan made me happy. My child will be born in a time of bitterness, but she’ll come from a moment of happiness. It’s the best I could hope for.” It's sad that it's the best. "Yes. Third month. She is four inches long and one ounce. She is growing her teeth.” Comes from her talent or her having a doctor for a brother? River placed her hands over her stomach and looked down. “There will never be another time,” she whispered. She looked up, her eyes suddenly wet with tears. “The end is coming so fast. All I have is hope.” [face_tears] Behind them, a door opened and Vos stepped out. River looked over Book’s shoulder with tears in her eyes, and Book too turned. The Jedi regarded them somberly. “The future will come regardless,” he spoke softly as he held out his arms. River drifted to him. “Live in the now, Little One. Be mindful of the living Force. We will face the end together, when it comes.” Love this paragraph, but it worries me. Simon (and Jayne and Mal) are going to freak out. Oh, I can't wait to see her brother's reaction to the news. It won't be pretty.... -----signature----- "Independence forever." John Adams Padawan to Luna_Nightshade Fics in bio Mostly lurking at the moment
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Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 4/27 6:46pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	Vaderlvr64—You might say what’s coming next is the beginning of the end. Golden_Jedi—Thank you. I’m glad you liked that passage. TigerofRobare—Somehow I don’t think Simon would be ready. He is going to need a good year or two before he’s able to settle down. As for Book’s hair—I think she did finally get over it. Maybe. It was pretty scary. Dianethx—I frankly was worried about River’s transformation into a Jedi initiate. I was afraid that I would love the slight cookiness that was central to her character even as a little girl. I’m glad that hasn’t happened yet. There is most definitely heartbreak in this story, I won’t lie. But there is also hope and redemption. You’ll have to finish it all before you know what I mean. The_Face—However, you did get it in the end, so the nerd in my congratulates you! Rest assured, Serenity will rise again! Thumper09—I’m glad you saw it that way to. Mal’s willing to take risks, but he’s not willing to commit suicide, especially if he knows it’ll take his crew down with him. Laine_Snowtrekker—Bad things are definitely coming, no doubt. Independence1776-- Vos doesn’t know the full extent of River’s vision, but he knows it is bad. He also knows that what they are sharing won’t last forever. -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light; Heaven Falls Legacy of the Red Sun; Children of the Red Sun Blue Sun Down; The Boy Who Fell
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Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 4/27 7:02pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/20/2008
	Chapter Eighteen: Meeting the Wizard According to popular history, humans made landfall on Londinum only two hundred years ago. Like Sihnon, Londinum’s orbit took it in a leisurely path around the massive sun, providing a 558 day year with moderate seasonal changes. It was never very hot except for three months in high summer, nor was it very cold except in three months in deep winter. For the remaining 12 months of the year, temperatures hovered between 50 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the majority of the planet, with a reasonable polar region for those who liked it colder. This ideal clime was the reason why the vast majority of humans from Earth’s Western societies swarmed to Londinum first, and why those from the Eastern block moved to the similar Sihnon. It was simply more comfortable. In two hundred years, the planet went from being devoid of human life to the capital of the known human universe, with a population approaching 12 billion. Although the planet was not yet consumed by its cities, the wilderness between urban areas was dwindling very quickly. Walsingham stood on the observation platform of the command deck as his ship made orbit around the planet. On the horizon he could see the first of the new defensive platforms, but wondered what good they would do should the Reavers attack. Warships of every size and description, from the newest models to ships that hadn’t flown since well before the Unification War floated ready in geosynchronous orbits over the planet, while civilian traffic continued undaunted by the machines of death sharing their space. A man cleared his throat and Walsingham turned to see Samhael Afolabi standing calmly on the edge of the platform between two guards. Both the current and former Operative knew that the guards were a formality for the sake of the rest of the bridge crew. “Samhael,” Walsingham said calmly enough. Afolabi stepped further onto the platform until he too could behold the beauty of Londinum. “I always thought it was worth anything to protect this place,” the former Operative said. Walsingham’s smile was wan. “I still do. Should they give the order, I would kill the whole lot of you, starting with you. There is a cold place in hell for such as you.” “A lake of ice under which suffer the traitors,” Afolabi said. “I’ve read Dante as well, my friend. I suspect much of our leadership will end up in such a place. Is it betrayal when those you serve betray you?” “They do what they have to do to ensure the survival of the society,” Walsingham said. During the whole conversation, neither man looked at the other nor spoke in anything other than a casual tone. “We will be landing within the hour. Please make sure those in your party keep their tongues in check. It would be a shame if we had to execute the whole lot of you just for being rude.” “Especially when there are so many other reasons to do just that,” Afolabi said. Walsingham said nothing and cradled his chin with his right hand in thought. “The girl is pregnant.” Afolabi nodded. “I noticed that.” “The Jedi is the father.” “That would be a reasonable assumption.” Walsingham nodded decisively. “Have them ready. For your safety and ours, you will all be bound. Any attempt to escape will be dealt with most harshly.” “The Captain gave his word. You’ll find Reynolds is many things, but an oath-breaker is not one of them.” “Just be ready.” * * * Mal stood in front of his crew when the appointed hour arrived. He took a last look back at River, who made no effort now to hide her pregnancy. Simon was staring from his sister’s bulge to the tall Jedi beside her with narrow eyes. Jayne had a slightly oafish expression. Neither took the news of River’s pregnancy well. Mal—well, as Inara put it, River did warn them all the moment she first saw Vos that she would have the man’s baby. He nodded to the rest and held out his hands first as Walsingham and his soldiers bound them. The eleven of them were led through the halls of the ship toward the shuttle that would take them to the surface. Two lines of ten men each flanked the prisoners, drawing a great deal of attention from the other crewmembers of the ship. They rode the shuttle through the hazy atmosphere of one-half of the human capital over gently rolling hills bristling with towers, or occasionally a large estate. The only open grasslands Mal could see were the occasional parks, and a wide river surrounded by trees and shrubs that ran through the area. When they reached it, there was no mistaking the Parliament Building for anything other than the seat of government. The building was a massive rhomboid of reflective glass rising a hundred stories above the surrounding structures. Odd platforms like fungal growths spurted from the sides of the building to form landing pads. It was to one of the top such pads that the shuttle flew. As they walked out of the shuttle, Mal watched another squad of twenty heavily armed soldiers line up on either side of the platform as the first squad escorted the crew down the shuttle’s ramp. Mal looked back over his shoulder at River. She walked with her chin up but with a lost glaze in her eyes, much like she did in the days before Vos helped her recover her control. The wind blew brisk around them and overhead, lost clouds drifted across a painfully bright blue sky. He took a deep breath and ducked his head a little as they entered Parliament. The halls inside were lined in real wood. The carpet was an expensive Berber that muffled the sounds of their boots. Hanging from the walls were pieces of art from Earth-that-Was, artifacts of such overwhelming value that the sale of even one could destabilize the whole art industry. They continued down a seemingly endless hall until they reached the one and only door. Walsingham stopped just inside. “You will have a hundred energy-beam weapons pointed directly at your heads at all times in this room,” he warned coldly. “Any action considered threatening will result in the immediate deaths of all of you, not just the offender.” He turned cold eyes on Vos. “Except for you. The weapons that would normally cover you will be turned instead on Miss Tam to insure she is the first to die.” Without another word, Walsingham stepped past them back up the hall. The two squads of twenty soldiers each made a parade-ground turn about and marched away after him, leaving the small group alone in the hall. “Huh,” Mal muttered. “Seems a bit odd,” Wash noted. “Hey, think they’re gonna let us go?” “Think cows’ll come flying out your butt?” Jayne said. “They ain’t gonna let us go. Gorram bastards’ll shoot us moment we get in there.” “I don’t think so,” Vos said. “There’s only one person in there waiting for us. And I know who he is.” The door opened. “Please come in,” a deep and cultured voice said in Corlingua. They stepped into a smallish conference room holding a single table with twelve chairs. One chair sat on the far side of the table, while eleven similar chairs filled the near side. A single man sat in the lone chair, watching them calmly. He appeared to be in his late seventies, with thinning white hair. However, his bearing was ram-rod straight as they shuffled in. “Please have a seat,” he said. His voice sounded reassuring and strong. “You have no idea how long and hard I have been trying to meet with you.” Mal nodded and they took their seats. River sat between Mal and Vos near the center directly opposite the old man. Only when they were all seated did Quinlan Vos speak. “Sajé Tasha assassinated you, Chancellor.” Former Republic Chancellor Finis Valorum smiled wanly. “It is good to see you again as well, Master Vos,” he said. “Ms. Tash showed that even Anzati can be bought. I offered three times what my enemies were paying her and promised I would fake my own death. I had very few friends left, but those I had were very effective.” “I absorbed her thoughts,” Vos said. “She saw you die.” Valorum smiled again. “Did you know that Jedi Master Gallia and I were close? I know Jedi were forbidden romantic attachments, but I think we both know that rule was bent more often than not.” His eyes fell on River. She stared right back with just the hint of a smile. “Evidently Adi had quite a gift for memory, especially other people’s memories. After she received her payment, Ms. Tasha agreed to let her memories be altered for all our sakes. All it took was half of my family’s fortune.” Vos accepted the story with a nod. “So you’re an alien like Vos?” Mal asked. “Alien is such a strange word,” Valorum said. “You are baseline humans. In a way, I am your descendent. We are your future.” “My head hurts,” Jayne muttered. The Chancellor leaned forward as if to share a conspiracy. “When I found this place, I was amazed! So many baseline humans together with a unique culture and history completely removed from the galaxy. We may have evolved on Earth! We believe now that the Celestials transplanted humans onto Coruscant, just as they made this wonderful star system.” His eyes gleamed with an intellectual excitement. “After I made contact with the leaders here, I discovered just what Palpatine was doing. This place was more than just a breeding ground for dark Jedi. It was to be an endless supply line for soldiers to keep the rest of the galaxy under control. The people here were subjected to chemical and educational conditioning that would never have been accepted in the Republic.” “G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate,” Mal said. “An offense against sentient creatures,” the former Chancellor confirmed with an emphatic nod. “But that was just one of the many approaches. You have heard of the Blue Sun Corporation?” Everyone save Vos nodded. “It was started by a Sith Lord named Plageius forty sixty ago. It makes everything from food stuffs and medicines to weapons systems. This corporation has been responsible for the general increase in technologies in this system, but those technologies have been available only for the central government use. The war you fought, Captain Reynolds, was un-winnable for you. You never knew, but the Resistance faltered when a warship entered the battle and destroyed four-fifths of the Resistance fleet in less than half an hour using heavy turbolaser cannons from the Republic.” “Never did hear ‘bout that,” Reynolds said. “Of course not,” Valorum countered. “There were no Resistance survivors from the encounter. The remaining ships found the wreckage and received an ultimatum to surrender. They chose to do so. Without your fleet, your ground forces had little choice but to surrender as well.” “What is your role?” Vos asked. “What are you doing here?” “After I arrived and learned what was happening, I approached a few key members of Parliament to alert them to the other side of Chancellor Palpatine’s agenda. The PAX was the final straw. You see, Miranda was a Blue Sun initiative, not a Parliamentary one. Oh, to be sure, key member’s of Parliament knew about the project, but they did not formulate it or have a hand in its execution. They were afraid if the truth of Miranda escaped into the general population, enough questions would come about that the true extent of the Republic’s infiltration would be discovered. Realizing everything I told them was true, they elevated me to the position of Defense Minister. It is from that post that I reached out to you, Samhael.” Afolabi nodded. “I recognize your voice, now. It was you who got me into the restricted cortex bands.” Valorum looked at Simon. “I also reached out to your father when I learned of his inquiries. I’m sad to say that I am the one that helped him gain the answers he sought. I’m so very sorry those answers drove him to commit the act he did.” He leaned back and sighed, then stood slowly. “Walk with me,” he said. “I am an old man, and sitting for too long is bothersome.” He proved to be a tall, slim figure as he led them out of the conference room through a door opposite the one they came in. They emerged in a room furnished with nothing more than two tables, on which all of their weapons rested. Mal studied the older man. “It is no trick,” Valorum assured him. “You are in no danger around me.” Vos wordlessly lifted his two lightsabers and attached them to his belt. River did the same, and following their example the rest reclaimed their weapons. Valorum stepped through yet another door and the party emerged on a platform overlooking a cavernous room filled with cortex and wave screens of varying sizes. There were hundreds of such screens. “This is the center of the Alliance government,” Valorum said softly, as if in a holy place. “We’ve upgraded the cortex communication using holonet transceivers to ensure real-time images and communications across the system. We’ve deployed observation drones to every moon and planet in the system, inhabited or not. And we ringed the outer perimeter of the system with similar sentinels. It was these that alerted us and Palpatine’s agents to the Far Outsiders.” Mal felt a ball of cold form in his stomach. “You mean Reavers?” Valorum’s chuckle was utterly devoid of humor. “Oh, I wish it were only Reavers. Mindless, brutal animals we can handle. No, these creatures are the true aliens. The Reavers worship them as gods. They are just as evil as the Reavers, but with a cunning and terrifying intellect to match their atrocities. They’ve swept away even our turbo-laser equipped ships. They use the Reavers as cannon-fodder, but when they come up against Alliance cruisers there you can see the brutes themselves. Their ships are organic, and powerful.” “Did Palpatine know about them?” Valorum shrugged. He pointed to one of the larger wave screens that showed the exterior shot from an Alliance cruiser. Unlike previous encounters, this ship was shooting blasts of green light at a chitinous object larger than any ten cruisers. Blasts of molten plasma shot back. “We don’t know what they are called, but every world they land on is dead just days after. The few refugees that escape describe wanton torture and mass killings on a scale beyond even the worst of what the Confederacy did during the Galactic civil war. Yet they crush all organized resistance. At the rate they are passing through the system, they will have conquered every world within ten months. Maybe sooner.” “So what do you want with us?” Vos asked. Valorum turned and looked over them all. “Somehow, you evaded not just our best Operative, but that Operative’s entire fleet, just by yourselves. You evaded a dark Jedi. Your cunning, Captain, has flabbergasted even our best military experts. It is not just the Alliance in danger here, but every living soul in this system. And that is why I am asking for the help of you and your crew. Help me find a weakness to these creatures. Help me fight them.” “And if we don’t?” “Then one of two things will happen,” Valorum said. “Either these creatures will sweep through our worlds and kill everyone here as a prelude to invading the greater galaxy, or Emperor Palpatine will be forced to send in his forces to combat them, ending any semblance of freedom for these people. And there is no guarantee the emperor’s forces would be successful.” Mal turned and looked back across the room. “What about those crazy folk chasing us off Shadow?” “Those are the Emperor’s personal agents ,” Valorum said. “It is a subtle game I play, Captain. I can stall and misguide. If you say yes, I will tell Lord Cain that you have been killed. If you say no, then I will let you go and say you escaped. But I cannot stand up to him. If Palpatine learns I am alive, he would quickly correct his mistake.” “My ship’s awful beat up.” “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, captain. Subtly or otherwise, I do command considerable resources. By the time I’m done, you’ll be able to get from one end of the system to another in mere hours and days instead of weeks and months.” “I still need to think about it.” Below, on the screen, the exterior mount of the alliance cruiser recorded a wall of plasma streaking toward it before the image was lost in static. “Think fast, Captain,” Valorum said. “The storm is fast approaching.” He then looked at Jayne and smiled. “Plus, of course, we would pay you quite well for your trouble.” “I’m in,” Jayne said. -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light; Heaven Falls Legacy of the Red Sun; Children of the Red Sun Blue Sun Down; The Boy Who Fell
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 4/28 4:49am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	You did a great, great job of explaining things from Palpatine to Blue Sun to the Vong. I loved how it all fits together. I have to wonder how Mal and his crew are going to be able to figure out how to beat back the Vong but I'm sure you'll think of something. Loved the last line. LOL. That's sooooo Jayne. Wonderful. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 8/16/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
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Golden_Jedi Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 4/28 8:47am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	Oooh, the fog is clearing... Smooth chapter! -----signature----- The country is that place where chickens walk around uncooked - Julio Cortázar Unexpected Blossom http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28693266 Sailing Little Boats http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28747916
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TigerofRobare Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 4/28 6:39pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	I was not expecting Chancellor Velorum. Nor would I ever imagine Mal working for the Alliance Defense Minister! Great update, wonderful chapter. -----signature----- Darth Hipster--Vader becomes a hippie!: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=27316525&brd=10476 Tu ne cede malis--Do not give in to evil, but procede against it ever more boldly. UMass-Amherst class of 2011!
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LadyLunas Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 4/28 8:55pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	And after DRL has let go of me for now, I come back to . . . River's pregnancy, the revelation of the Vong's existence, Valorum alive, and the explanation of just how long the Sith have been meddling in the Firefly side of the 'verse. Lovely stuff, and it quite makes me want to read more. -----signature----- Darth Real Life hates me. Therefore, I battle him constantly. On hiatus from fanfic. See profile for fics. Padawan of SakuraTsukikage.
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 4/29 6:34am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	We got some answers! I love how flawlessly you tied it all together. -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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callista_gseran Registered: May '06	Date Posted: 4/29 3:35pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	Very nicely done Can't wait for more -----signature----- Callista Gseran Adoptee of Dev_Binks
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Laine_Snowtrekker Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 4/30 9:52am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	Nice tie-ins and explanations. Great chapter. Thanks for the PM. -----signature----- Stealth and subtlety work well, but for making lasting impressions, a blaster does just fine. -Han Room full of gold and jewels, and Dr. Daniel Jackson finds the one book. -Cam Palso's #1 Fan JO: RS1, Admiral Fanfic link in bio (esp. 08 Diary Challenge)
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Independence1776 Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/1 7:25pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	Mal stood in front of his crew when the appointed hour arrived. He took a last look back at River, who made no effort now to hide her pregnancy. Simon was staring from his sister’s bulge to the tall Jedi beside her with narrow eyes. Jayne had a slightly oafish expression. Neither took the news of River’s pregnancy well. Nope... They continued down a seemingly endless hall until they reached the one and only door. Walsingham stopped just inside. “You will have a hundred energy-beam weapons pointed directly at your heads at all times in this room,” he warned coldly. “Any action considered threatening will result in the immediate deaths of all of you, not just the offender.” He turned cold eyes on Vos. “Except for you. The weapons that would normally cover you will be turned instead on Miss Tam to insure she is the first to die.” I do not like him. Not at all. Mal nodded and they took their seats. River sat between Mal and Vos near the center directly opposite the old man. Only when they were all seated did Quinlan Vos speak. “Sajé Tasha assassinated you, Chancellor.” Former Republic Chancellor Finis Valorum smiled wanly. “So you’re an alien like Vos?” Mal asked. “Alien is such a strange word,” Valorum said. “You are baseline humans. In a way, I am your descendent. We are your future.” “My head hurts,” Jayne muttered. That's Jayne for you. The Chancellor leaned forward as if to share a conspiracy. “When I found this place, I was amazed! So many baseline humans together with a unique culture and history completely removed from the galaxy. We may have evolved on Earth! We believe now that the Celestials transplanted humans onto Coruscant, just as they made this wonderful star system.” His eyes gleamed with an intellectual excitement. Interesting guess. Valorum turned and looked over them all. “Somehow, you evaded not just our best Operative, but that Operative’s entire fleet, just by yourselves. You evaded a dark Jedi. Your cunning, Captain, has flabbergasted even our best military experts. Of course. That's what they're best at- they have nothing much to lose. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that, captain. Subtly or otherwise, I do command considerable resources. By the time I’m done, you’ll be able to get from one end of the system to another in mere hours and days instead of weeks and months.” Serenity hyperspace capable! Kaylee's going to have a ball. He then looked at Jayne and smiled. “Plus, of course, we would pay you quite well for your trouble.” “I’m in,” Jayne said. Jayne... Well, I think I know what their answer is. Whatever else Mal is, he isn't heartless. -----signature----- "Independence forever." John Adams Padawan to Luna_Nightshade Fics in bio Mostly lurking at the moment
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Kevin_Solo Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 5/3 11:07am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008 - Date Edited: 5/3 11:12am (1 edits total) Edited By: Kevin_Solo
	It hasn't been since Chapter Ten that I've commented here; and I have to say that the updates have been very good so far, Darth_Marrs! The characterisation of the Serenity's crew has been very good, though I do wonder about River's relationship with Vos, and the rest of the crew's reaction to it. Mal/Inara: However, there were always a few hours of free time every day, and Mal found himself spending that free time with Inara. The Captain was still nonplussed about the Companion. While she had not taken any clients since Miranda, he knew that was always a possibility. The thought at once enraged and terrified him, and he simply didn’t know how to handle it. “Stop thinking, Mal,” she said. She always did that. With that hint of a smile, she seemed to be able to look into him during their quiet moments. He could frustrate her so easily, and she him. But in those quiet moments, like now, she knew him better than he knew himself. Nice! Jayne: I particularly liked these two bits about his feelings for River. First: When others got sexed and he didn’t, Jayne got irritated. It wasn’t fair that Simon and Mal had the two prettiest girls in the ship, and that Quin fellow had… Jayne stopped. Contrary to popular belief and overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Jayne was capable of profoundly deep thought. However, it just so happened that when his brain kicked into overdrive, everything else stopped. Second: Jayne liked River. He even…well, he really liked River. More than he would have imagined possible. The fact that she seemed to put him in the infirmary all the time really didn’t matter. In a way, it even made her even more attractive. Jayne suddenly had a flashback to when she went nuts back on Beaumonde when they were meeting the twins. The way she moved, the lethal grace of her kicks and the way she could swing her whole body, pulled at him with animalistic desire. As realization struck, Jayne forced his eyes up from the path and saw the two of them fighting with their laser swords: River and Quinlan Vos. She was smiling with joy, laughing as she flew over the tall man’s head with impossible speed and power. That gorram Operative was there too; good guy or not Jayne didn’t trust him any more than he trusted Vos. Jayne liked the one girl he could never have. His bad mood turned homicidally black. He stalked down the path toward the quarters the crew shared, muttering curses to himself. If a naked woman dropped into his path demanding his attention, he would have walked right around her, he was so mad. Well, probably, anyway. Maybe. These good battle scenes: The Battle of New Melbourne: “All fighters have been launched. The Alliance fleet is returning fire with missiles, rail guns and directed energy weapons but with little effect. Oh no, another ship has been lost! And…The captain has just informed me that the Dortmunder is now under fire as well. We are attempting to evade the fire, but you can feel the decks shaking. It looks like we’ve….” The scene from the ship’s sensors showed a swarm of bumpy, tear-drop shaped fighters swarming forward, spitting out balls of fire from strange protuberances in their noses. The balls seemed to fly directly toward the sensors, and a moment later, the screen went blank. A full minute later, it blinked back to an image of the same shaken young woman with Asian features and blonde hair who first reported the story. “We will provide more details as soon as they are available,” she said. She then began the slow, lingering babble of news people with nothing to report. The Battle of Whitefall: Missiles, torpedoes, lasers, x-ray beams, EM pulse guns and rail guns erupted throughout the Alliance fleet, all directed at this new enemy. The directed energy weapons seemed to disappear before even touching the ships. Missiles and rail guns sometimes broke through to shatter and break off like brittle pieces of a clam’s shell, but still it continued firing its balls of plasma. “Sir, fighters have engaged the enemy fighter vessels. Five enemy ships destroyed.” “And our casualties?” the captain asked. “Approaching eighty percent, sir.” Campanelli closed his eyes and stepped down from the window into the command deck where he belonged. “No help for it. Continue to concentrate all fire on the large ship. Is it showing any sign of weakening?” “Yes, sir. It’s firing rate has slowed. However…” The whole bridge flashed red. Tactical gasped. “Incoming fire from the enemy vessel. Brace for…” He never finished the sentence. The meeting between Cain and Jorj Car’das: It was suitably creepy, particularly with the former described as a young man with all the power of the Sith, but with a mind easily as unbalanced as River Tam was at her worst. So this is what Palpy wants River to be like. I hope not, particularly when I saw Cain punishing an innocent person to get at Jorj. The revealing of Book as an agent of Palpatine: Shepherd Book sat on his knees, his head bowed, before what looked like some fancy type of hologram of the same creepy old man that scared River so bad back on Osiris. “Prepare the girl for delivery, my Hand,” the grizzled old voice said in Corlingua. “It is my command.” Book bowed to the image and said, “Yes, my master.” \| \| Book drew himself and slowly turned to stare at each one of them. Finally, he said, “Okay, you caught me. I’m one of the bad guys.” \| \| “Derrial Book, ExGal 13 Xeno-anthropologist.” “What now?” Jayne grunted. “He’s a researcher from the Galactic Republic,” Vos said. “Was this system your assignment?” “It was,” Book said. He sighed at the memory. “I’ve studied it for thirty years, since we first made contact with the Anglo and Sino coalitions. Senator Palpatine thought it might be useful for us to guide the primitives here to higher level of technology and society. Then Chancellor Palpatine insisted on it. The first step of that was unification.” “Whoa now!” Mal said. He looked at Quin. “You mean to tell me Book is one of you gorram aliens?” “He is,” Vos confirmed. To Book he said: “You said the first step was unification?” “The civil war,” Book said. “And then social engineering,” River continued for Book. “Corlingua. The language of the Core. It’s Republic Basic.” “Wouldn’t be much use to the rest of the galaxy if you couldn’t speak a civilized language,” Book said bluntly. His face was impassive, but his eyes glistened. “So you’ve been studying them this entire time? Studying us?” Afolabi said. “That’s why you’ve been able to obtain medical assistance from Alliance cruisers even after you ran off with this crew.” “My security ranking was higher than yours,” Book said to the former Operative. “But I stopped actively studying you for the Republic when the Clone Wars started.” Vos stood near the shepherd, imposing not only with his height, but with the fearsome power that seemed to ooze from him like musk. “Explain.” “I received news of the wars, and the Jedi fighting in the middle of it. I realized what was happening, and why the Chancellor sent such a large force of Social Engineers out to this little slice of the Unknown Territories. I believe he wanted to use the people here for cannon fodder for the wars. Imagine, Master Jedi, a single super-massive solar system with hundreds of worlds and moons and a purely human, possibly even base-line human population. The people around you are pure descendents of the original human stock. You are their descendent, in a way. And there are billions of them. Over thirty billion humans, just waiting to be unleashed on the galaxy. Can you imagine?” “So what did you do?” Inara asked. “I tried to resign,” Book said. “The Chancellor not only refused my resignation, but told me I’d be killed if I tried again. So instead I entered a monastery, and became a shepherd. I sought comfort in faith, since I lost all comfort in the world.” “Is this Chancellor fella behind the Reavers?” Zoe said. Book shook his head. “I don’t think so. He’s put too much work into trying to get the Alliance on a level to join his new little Empire to risk blowing them all away. No, I think the Emperor’s afraid of what’s happening with the Reavers. That’s why he’s so determined to get River.” He looked at her, and she looked right back. “Why me?” “The Emperor is Sith,” Book said. “Master Vos knows what that means, but none of you do. It is a religion of sorts, but a dark one. And there can only be two-the master, and the apprentice. I understand he has a new apprentice now. But even he knows that isn’t enough to rule the galaxy. So he’s seeking out Dark Jedi. And where he cannot find them…” “He makes them,” Vos said. “Yes.” Nasty! But we are talking about Palpatine after all! “Give them?” Book said. The glistening in his eyes turned to open moisture. “No, child. I was going to die. They’re not just coming to take you, but to kill us. All of us, myself included. Palpatine didn’t say as much, but he didn’t have to. I betrayed him when I found my faith. No one betrays a Sith Lord and lives.” Good! I was wondering if they were going to kill him. River Tam/Quinlan Vos: Why would Kaynee be 'thrilled' with it, according to Inara? I wonder why she and other people would like a relationship where the man was cheating on his pregnant girlfriend. While I can see River's point of view here, “I love you, Simon,” she said. “You saved my life. And I will always thank you for that. But Quin…” She turned and looked back at the house. Quin stood there, watching them from a distance. “Quin saved my soul, Simon. I love him.” Her eyes took on a liquid sparkle that he realized were tears. “I know I won’t be able to keep him long. But while I have him, I will love him as much as I can.” She looked back to her brother. “Please don’t try to stop that. Don’t judge. Be happy that I found happiness, even if only for a little while, before the darkness comes.” I don't believe love excuses behaving badly. She later talks to Book, who sees that she is pregnant: She looked down at her now visible bulge, which so far she’d been able to hide with loose clothing, then shrugged. “I told you I was going to have his baby.” “Just like you told me Armageddon was coming.” She nodded. Book took a step closer. “I haven’t ever told you this, but you should know I never wanted you to be hurt. I didn’t join the ship because you were on board. I really was trying to escape my past. I’m sorry my past caught up to me.” “I know,” she said. She touched his cheek. “I found my place. The Force made me whole. Quinlan made me happy. My child will be born in a time of bitterness, but she’ll come from a moment of happiness. It’s the best I could hope for.” “A girl?” “Yes. Third month. She is four inches long and one ounce. She is growing her teeth.” “River, it’s such a terrible time to have a child!” River placed her hands over her stomach and looked down. “There will never be another time,” she whispered. She looked up, her eyes suddenly wet with tears. “The end is coming so fast. All I have is hope.” Is she saying that the Force made her and Vos get involved? This relationship is going to have serious political implications. I can well see Palpatine cackling at the wonderful sex scandal revealed by those paparazzi on his payroll. The relationship would be a great opportunity to really discredit the Jedi Order. I can see the tabloid headlines: JEDI BREAKS VOW OF CELIBACY WITH OTHER JEDI, THEN WITH 18-YEAR OLD GIRL!! Mal's mother: I can really see her in the series: The voice was harsh and barely recognizable as female. Mal’s lips twitched with a humorless smile. “It’s your prodigal son returning for a feast,” Mal answered. “Only son I got is with me,” voice came back. “Others died with the rest of them angels at Serenity Valley.” “Must ‘a got better, Mom, ‘cause it’s Mal.” “Fei hua!” the woman snapped back. “Mal’s dead. And if he ain’t, then he damn well should be.” Simon leaned over. “Not quite the happy reunion,” he said. Mal glared bullets. “Mama, this wind finally drive you fong luh? Would I park my boat right in front of your very large gun if I weren’t your son?” “Way I see it,” the woman snapped back, “only some one who wasn’t my son it’d be fool enough to do that.” “She doesn’t know you very well any more, does she?” Zoe said. The audio signal crackled. “Was that Zoe? Zoe Alleyne?” “It’s Washburn now, Kat, but yeah, it’s me,” Zoe said. “Married?” “Yes, ma’am.” “He a good fella?” “I try,” Wash said. “Better’n Mal’s Pa, I reckon,” Kat Reynolds said. “All right. Door’s to the right of your ship. Come in single-file. If I don’t like what I see, I’m gonna kill the whole lot of you.” “Love you too, Mama,” Mal said. “I’ll shoot you first you ungrateful little brat,” Kat said. “Now get your butts in here.” And she likes Zoe better than her son! A well thought up character, Darth! I also liked how she told Mal that she knew about him and Inara: Kat slapped his cheek, albeit gently. “You take care of that pretty woman of yours. And don’t come back here ‘less you’re bringing me grandbabies!” Just as she left, Inara and the rest joined him. “What was that about?” she asked when she saw the captain’s bright red face. “Err, nothin’,” Mal lied. A great original character! River recognising Cain after he is killed by Vos: She nodded, and then covered her face as she bent over. Vos rested a hand on her back and looked up as the others slowly approached. When River straightened, her eyes were red and moist. “He was on the bus with me when we first went to the Academy. His name was Derek Wonsowski. He liked geometry and had a real cat named Hooky. He told me he would take me to an Opera one day and that we would get married.” Her whole body shook. “He was so angry.” “The Dark Side consumes its own practitioners, until the man is gone and only the darkness remains,” Vos said. There was a catch in his voice—a memory too intense for even the Jedi master to articulate. Sad! All being revealed: So they all eventually surrender to Walsingham, who takes them to Londinium. I liked the description of the planet: This ideal clime was the reason why the vast majority of humans from Earth’s Western societies swarmed to Londinum first, and why those from the Eastern block moved to the similar Sihnon. It was simply more comfortable. In two hundred years, the planet went from being devoid of human life to the capital of the known human universe, with a population approaching 12 billion. Although the planet was not yet consumed by its cities, the wilderness between urban areas was dwindling very quickly. Walsingham stood on the observation platform of the command deck as his ship made orbit around the planet. On the horizon he could see the first of the new defensive platforms, but wondered what good they would do should the Reavers attack. Warships of every size and description, from the newest models to ships that hadn’t flown since well before the Unification War floated ready in geosynchronous orbits over the planet, while civilian traffic continued undaunted by the machines of death sharing their space. I was certainly surprised about who they met in the Parliament Building: A single man sat in the lone chair, watching them calmly. He appeared to be in his late seventies, with thinning white hair. However, his bearing was ram-rod straight as they shuffled in. “Please have a seat,” he said. His voice sounded reassuring and strong. “You have no idea how long and hard I have been trying to meet with you.” Mal nodded and they took their seats. River sat between Mal and Vos near the center directly opposite the old man. Only when they were all seated did Quinlan Vos speak. “Sajé Tasha assassinated you, Chancellor.” Former Republic Chancellor Finis Valorum smiled wanly. “It is good to see you again as well, Master Vos,” he said. “Ms. Tash showed that even Anzati can be bought. I offered three times what my enemies were paying her and promised I would fake my own death. I had very few friends left, but those I had were very effective.” “I absorbed her thoughts,” Vos said. “She saw you die.” Valorum smiled again. “Did you know that Jedi Master Gallia and I were close? I know Jedi were forbidden romantic attachments, but I think we both know that rule was bent more often than not.” His eyes fell on River. She stared right back with just the hint of a smile. “Evidently Adi had quite a gift for memory, especially other people’s memories. After she received her payment, Ms. Tasha agreed to let her memories be altered for all our sakes. All it took was half of my family’s fortune.” HA HA! So he escaped? Interesting. Nice to hear some backstory from him: “An offense against sentient creatures,” the former Chancellor confirmed with an emphatic nod. “But that was just one of the many approaches. You have heard of the Blue Sun Corporation?” Everyone save Vos nodded. “It was started by a Sith Lord named Plageius forty sixty ago. It makes everything from food stuffs and medicines to weapons systems. This corporation has been responsible for the general increase in technologies in this system, but those technologies have been available only for the central government use. The war you fought, Captain Reynolds, was un-winnable for you. You never knew, but the Resistance faltered when a warship entered the battle and destroyed four-fifths of the Resistance fleet in less than half an hour using heavy turbolaser cannons from the Republic.” “Never did hear ‘bout that,” Reynolds said. “Of course not,” Valorum countered. “There were no Resistance survivors from the encounter. The remaining ships found the wreckage and received an ultimatum to surrender. They chose to do so. Without your fleet, your ground forces had little choice but to surrender as well.” “What is your role?” Vos asked. “What are you doing here?” “After I arrived and learned what was happening, I approached a few key members of Parliament to alert them to the other side of Chancellor Palpatine’s agenda. The PAX was the final straw. You see, Miranda was a Blue Sun initiative, not a Parliamentary one. Oh, to be sure, key member’s of Parliament knew about the project, but they did not formulate it or have a hand in its execution. They were afraid if the truth of Miranda escaped into the general population, enough questions would come about that the true extent of the Republic’s infiltration would be discovered. Realizing everything I told them was true, they elevated me to the position of Defense Minister. It is from that post that I reached out to you, Samhael.” That makes sense. And the Vong get explained, and why Vallorum thinks Mal and the others can deal with them: “We don’t know what they are called, but every world they land on is dead just days after. The few refugees that escape describe wanton torture and mass killings on a scale beyond even the worst of what the Confederacy did during the Galactic civil war. Yet they crush all organized resistance. At the rate they are passing through the system, they will have conquered every world within ten months. Maybe sooner.” “So what do you want with us?” Vos asked. Valorum turned and looked over them all. “Somehow, you evaded not just our best Operative, but that Operative’s entire fleet, just by yourselves. You evaded a dark Jedi. Your cunning, Captain, has flabbergasted even our best military experts. It is not just the Alliance in danger here, but every living soul in this system. And that is why I am asking for the help of you and your crew. Help me find a weakness to these creatures. Help me fight them.” “And if we don’t?” “Then one of two things will happen,” Valorum said. “Either these creatures will sweep through our worlds and kill everyone here as a prelude to invading the greater galaxy, or Emperor Palpatine will be forced to send in his forces to combat them, ending any semblance of freedom for these people. And there is no guarantee the emperor’s forces would be successful.” I hope he's wrong! I was amused at his use of bribery to win Jayne over: Below, on the screen, the exterior mount of the alliance cruiser recorded a wall of plasma streaking toward it before the image was lost in static. “Think fast, Captain,” Valorum said. “The storm is fast approaching.” He then looked at Jayne and smiled. “Plus, of course, we would pay you quite well for your trouble.” “I’m in,” Jayne said. Well written, Darth! Although, as I said, I have misgivings about the River/Vos relationship.
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