Jedi Council Forums - Blue Sun Down: A SW/Firefly XO--Winner, Best Crossover, 2008 Fanfic Awards

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » The Saga »

Post Reply | Active Topic Notification | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

« 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 » - Previous | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: Blue Sun Down: A SW/Firefly XO--Winner, Best Crossover, 2008 Fanfic Awards
Thumper09 Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 5/4 5:02pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	I agree, you've done a great job tying everything together here. And the last part with Jayne was awesome, LOL. “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.” Interesting tactic there, along with the info that Valorum can't directly confront Cain or Palpatine. Power balances can be tricky things. Because of this, Valorum is also taking a pretty large personal risk if Mal agrees to help with the Vong, but on the other hand if the Vong will overrun the systems in ten months then that's the bigger personal threat. Great update! -Thumper -----signature----- Geeking out. Be back soon. "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
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/4 7:16pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	Dianethx—Thank you. I was honestly worried that this would be my weakest chapter, since it was essentially all exposition with no action. But it was important to put all the pieces together before the final mad dash to the end. Golden_Jedi—Thank you! TigerofRobare—I admit I felt rather confident no one would see that happening. I needed an astute politician who was from the GFFA but who was also relatively honest. You can see how that narrowed my options down with the GFFA side LadyLunas—This incarnation of the story definitely got me where I wanted to go with this. River’s pregnancy is actually the main point of this entire mess, as you’ll soon see. I’m glad you’re still enjoying it! VaderLVR64—Thank you. The more I thought about it, the more I was able to make the pieces fit perfectly. Even down to the blue gloves on the contractors. Callista-gseran—Thank you! Laine_Snowtrekker—Thank you, and you’re very welcome! Independence1776—They are definitely going to help, and even they won’t turn down the tools Valorum is going to give them. Kevin_Solo—I completely understand the questioning of River and Vos. I wasn’t sure I was pulling it off entirely, and I may not be. What I was trying to convey is that River’s own awakening sexuality is in turn being urged on (forgive the pun) by the power of a Force vision she has had. It isn’t making her do anything; it is simply increasing her desire to be with Vos. As for Vos—at the beginning of this story, and in his actual cannon story, he was considering leaving the Order for love. HE HAD ALREADY SIRED A CHILD WITH KHALEEN HENTZ by the Battle of Kashyyk when he was captured, so celibacy is a non-issue with him. (I think I spelled her name right). Suddenly he finds himself separated from that love, possibly forever, and alone in the universe with no Jedi Order to fall back on. Then this beautiful, powerful creature approaches him with a crystalline-clear vision of the future with his and her child in it, and a need to be with him. I hope that least clears up where I was coming from, if nothing else. Still and all, I appreciate your reading and the great feedback. Thumper09—Thank you. Valorum is literally walking a tight-rope. He truly does want to help the people of the Firefly ‘verse, but he can only do so in secret. -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light Legacy of the Red Sun Heaven Falls: A Jedi On Earth Blue Sun Down
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/4 7:28pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 4/28/2008
	This is neither a large nor action-packed chapter. But it gets our crew out where they need to be. Chapter Nineteen: A Shadow of Serenity River Tam enjoyed meditating. For those precious few moments, she sank into a center of peace and tranquility that allowed her to truly see herself. She saw a young girl terrified and unbalanced. Who saw threats around her everywhere. A young girl who was so wounded she could not even communicate her pain to those around her because she herself could not understand the nature of the wounds. Then she saw a woman undergoing a metamorphosis. Changing from the wounded child to something else. She lowered her hand on her stomach and felt the life growing within. Strong, brilliant in the Force. Then she saw the future, and the uncertainty and terror that awaited them. She knew there was a possibility of happiness, but only a slight one. So many things piled up against her, so many voices cried out in agony. She heard them ringing out from the future, crying in pain or agony or loss. So many voices, so much pain. “I can’t see my way,” River whispered. “There is only one way through,” a new voice answered. “The difficulty is in finding it.” River opened her eyes and saw a young woman sitting cross-legged across the floor. She had mousy blond hair and kind, sad blue eyes. It was the young woman Quin found at the academy. The young woman whose memories flourished in River’s mind. “I always wanted to see you,” River said. “Even before I understood who or what you were, and why I carried your thoughts, I wanted to see you.” “I’ve always been there,” Lorana Jinzler said. “Your mind was too overwhelmed to see. But Master Vos has changed that.” “Did you know him during your life?” “He was well known in the Order,” Lorana said. “Did you love him too?” The ghost of Lorana Jinzler smiled shyly. “Most of the female human padawans my age harbored crushes. But attachment was not supposed to be the way of the Jedi. There is no emotion.” “Did you believe that?” “No, but my master tried very hard to force me too.” “I remember.” River did, too. Lorana’s memories of Jorus C’Boath were among the most vivid of the translated thoughts. “Am I wrong to love him Quin?” “To love is never wrong,” Lorana said. “What you are doing must be done. The road you have begun must be traveled. The daughter you bear must be born.” “Will she know happiness?” “In time, yes. Pain, happiness, joy.” River bowed her head. “You’re not just a memory.” A faint blue aura slowly emerged from around Lorana. “I never said I was. What other Jedi discovered through study and wisdom, I gained through self-sacrifice and dumb luck. I will be with you, always. Be strong, my little River. If you can weather this storm, there will be some peace.” “Will it be with Quin?” Lorana shrugged, and slowly faded from view. River looked up as Quinlan Vos stepped into her quarters. Since their meeting with the Defense Minister the crew stayed in sumptuous quarters in a nearby apartment tower. Each had their own spacious quarters—River disliked the large, empty space and longed for any moment with another human being. The Jedi sat easily into a cross-legged position exactly where the ghost of Lorana Jinzler was a moment before. “How do you feel?” “Like an expectant mother.” The bump was not large, but it was definitely obvious. She lifted her shirt and stared down at her still only slightly distended belly with awe. “I never thought something like this could happen. After Simon got me out of the Academy, I thought my life was over. I never dreamed I would live so intensely as I have since I met you.” Vos leaned forward and gently rested a hand on her stomach. “She is strong and healthy,” he said. “Strong in the Force.” “Yes,” River said. She placed her hands over his. “She will be a guiding light.” She closed her eyes. “Stay with me now, Quin.” He nodded, moved around until he sat behind her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she leaned back into him. “I will stay with you as long as the Force allows,” he whispered into the air. He did not see the tears that welled at River’s eyes and ran slowly down to her chin. * * * “Is that Serenity?” Wash asked. “Looks like someone stuck a rocket on the business-end of a bug.” “Not a rocket,” Defense Minister Valorum corrected, “a hyperdrive unit.” He looked at Mal. “Your ship has been updated in other areas as well, Captain. We’ve added weaponry and a more powerful reactor to power them.” On the other side of the captain, Kaylee looked at the ship with half-lidded eyes and lips ajar, as if caught in the throws of passion. “More power?” “The design of Alliance ships is basically sound,” Valorum explained patiently. His voice was mesmerizing. “It is simply a matter of power production. You can’t use a weapon that would drain the power of a small city with every shot. So, your ship has been given a new heart.” “Can I see it?” Kaylee said, as if in a trance. Valorum nodded gracefully and the self-taught mechanic strode up the open loading ramp into the cargo ship itself with an excited, girlish squeal. The ship and crew remained with the Defense Minister in an otherwise-empty room three weeks after their arrival on Londinum. Mal was looking at the mounted weapons on the engine struts and protruding from the nose of his boat. “What are those, again?” “Laser cannons in the along each wing and a turbolaser in the prow,” Valorum said. “We’ve also installed military-grade ray and particle shields and proton launchers. Unfortunately you have lost some cargo room, but I hope you’ll agree the increase in power and weapons makes up for that. You also are now a licensed independent Operative of the Ministry of Defense. Your ship has been renamed the Shadow Valley, in recognition of its original name.” “`Yea, though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death,’” River quoted. “A good name for what we have to do.” “Do we have any blasters?” Vos asked. “The best I could smuggle into the system,” Valorum said. “Blaster rifles, a few sniper rifles, and a portable laser cannon. It should help.” Mal nodded and hitched up his belt. “When I said I’d help, didn’t think it’d be like this.” “This war isn’t about independence any more, Captain,” Valorum said. “It is about the very survival of your people, and possibly of the galaxy itself. Nor are you alone. We’ve contracted with several independent freighters to aid us. But honestly, I hold more hope for you and your crew than with any of the other ships.” “I don’t know whether to be flattered or worried,” Mal said. He walked across the floor of the bay until he stood next to his ship. The vectored outboard thrusters looked the same, albeit much shinier now, but the hyper-thingy that replaced his gravity drive looked strange. It really did look like someone took the glowing dome that gave the Firefly class its name and replaced it with a long, flat tank roughly the shape of a slice of watermelon. He lifted a hand and touched the side of his ship, and after a long moment realized that, drive changes or not, this was his Serenity. He turned back to Valorum, who of all of them seemed to understand Mal’s thoughts. The Alliance Minister of Defense gave a slow, solemn nod. “Good hunting, Captain Reynolds. For the sake of all the people in this system, I wish you and your crew the very best of luck.” The crew of Serenity climbed aboard. Mal, Wash and Zoe made their way to the bridge while the rest of the crew went to check out their respective rooms. Mal noticed the bridge had been rewired extensively. “Oh, new buttons!” Wash said. “That sure does look like an Alliance fighter weapons station,” Zoe said as she looked at what was one the co-pilot’s seat. “Yeah, it surely does,” Mal said. He sat down and started looking at the firing controls. Although he and Zoe fought for the resistance, most of the Browncoats fighters actually came from the Alliance. Anyone who flew one, or was around one, recognized the targeting and weapons controls. “So button one is the laser cannons,” Mal said. “Button two is tubolasers.” “Shields are over here,” Wash said excitedly. He turned and glowed at Zoe. “Honey, we have shields. Isn’t that cool?” “I’m very excited for you, dear,” Zoe said. She turned her attention back to the weapons controls. “Looks like we have torpedoes of some kind.” “That’d be fun,” Mal said. “Shame we didn’t have these toys during the war.” “Bigger shame the other side did have these toys.” “A true statement if ever one be heard,” Mal said. He turned to Wash. “Well, think you can still fly her?” Wash nodded, though his eyes were still pouring over the controls. “What’re repulsor coils?” “Don’t reckon I know,” Mal admitted. Wash hit the button, and even with the vectored thrusters off line the whole ship lifted into the air. “Juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean jan,” Wash yelled. When the fright passed, he looked first at his wife, then at Mal. “Do you realize we are floating?” His voice rose an octave. “We’re really floating?” “Very interesting,” Mal said. “Maybe if you turn on the engines, we could try flying too.” “Oh, yeah.” Wash warmed the thrusters up, and the Shadow Valley soared out of the hangar. It took a good ten minutes to clear the atmosphere. As they did so, they saw newly arrived orbital platforms over the planet. “I bet those are going up over all the core worlds,” Mal said. “I wonder how long before they start to equip all the Alliance ships with alien weapons?” Zoe said. Just then River and Vos wandered in. The Jedi master caught sight of the platforms that he was not able to see during their arrival. “Those are heavy turbolasers,” he said, pointing to a set of wicked looking guns on one of the platforms. “Looks like they’ve had to rush the integration of technologies.” “Answers that,” Wash said. He turned to Mal. “So, captain, where to next?” “New Melbourne,” Mal decided. “We know that was one of the first planets to fall. It’s a big world, too, so we might be able to sneak in on them.” “I wouldn’t count on it,” Vos said. “Still, the larger the world, the more time to escape we’ll have when the enemy responds.” “There you have it,” Mal said with a tight smile. “So how fast can this thing go?” “I doubt we’ll be able to get a clear hyperspace lane for long in this distance,” Vos said. “In a clear lane a fast ship can cross the whole galaxy in a few weeks, months at worst. Here, without clear lanes, it will still take days.” The Jedi pointed to one of the new devices on the bridge. “This is a navcomp system. It’s designed specifically to compute safe passages for hyperspace travel. You may only be able to run the hyperdrive for a few minutes at a time, but those minutes will be enough to cross a system.” “This just get’s better and better,” Wash said. When they cleared the pull of Londinum’s gravity well, he turned and looked at Vos. “Okay, Quin, how do we do this?” Vos ran his fingers over the navcomp interface. A remarkable 3-D image of the system appeared. As he typed a dot appeared to represent them, and then another dot appeared toward the outer edge of the system to represent New Melbourne. A series of red lines appeared in a roughly circular path that led from one dot to the other. “It has computed our flight plan,” Vos said. “Just follow these instructions and it should get us there is just two days.” “Two days from Londinum to New Melbourne?” Wash’s jaw gaped. “I’m in love with a computer.” -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light Legacy of the Red Sun Heaven Falls: A Jedi On Earth Blue Sun Down
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Who Runs w/ Scissors Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/5 6:43am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	I love a tender Quinlan! “How do you feel?” “Like an expectant mother.” The bump was not large, but it was definitely obvious. She lifted her shirt and stared down at her still only slightly distended belly with awe. “I never thought something like this could happen. After Simon got me out of the Academy, I thought my life was over. I never dreamed I would live so intensely as I have since I met you.” Vos leaned forward and gently rested a hand on her stomach. “She is strong and healthy,” he said. “Strong in the Force.” “Yes,” River said. She placed her hands over his. “She will be a guiding light.” She closed her eyes. “Stay with me now, Quin.” He nodded, moved around until he sat behind her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders as she leaned back into him. “I will stay with you as long as the Force allows,” he whispered into the air. He did not see the tears that welled at River’s eyes and ran slowly down to her chin. A beautiful chapter! -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. I'm a Nana. 6 lbs. 9 oz. 18 1/2 inches long - Baby Vader
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Golden_Jedi Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 5/5 8:41am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	“Two days from Londinum to New Melbourne?” Wash’s jaw gaped. “I’m in love with a computer.” Same sensation I had yesterday when I installed Skype and talked to my brother (who is half the world away) as if we were in the same room... -----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
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
callista_gseran Registered: May '06	Date Posted: 5/5 9:24am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	Hooray! Wash has new toys! I was wondering what happened to Valorum. I mean, I would have thought he'd be hard to kill....:) -----signature----- Callista Gseran Adoptee of Dev_Binks
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
TigerofRobare Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 5/5 1:48pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	You renamed Serenity! You monster! (Cries) You chose a good name though. And what is death but a kind of serenity? -----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!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 5/7 9:40am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	I love Wash and his excitement over his buttons and Kaylee so happy for a new engine. Too bad they are going to be fighting Vong with them. But if any ship and crew can do it, they can. I hope River will have some happiness because it's not looking good for her and Quin. Great job. -----signature----- Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 6/28/08 Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 7/22/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Laine_Snowtrekker Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 5/8 9:19pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	Nice post. Thanks for the PM. You renamed the ship! Makes sense, though--and it's a good and fitting name. -----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)
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
The_Face Title: Fan Fic Manager Shelf of Shame Loser Registered: Feb '03	Date Posted: 5/9 1:27pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	Nice scene between the two Operatives. I really liked seeing the two of them interact, especially since Walsingham seems rather like “our” Operative before the events at Mr. Universe’s changed him. Valorum! Now that’s interesting. He’s in one of those positions of gray morality/split loyalties that I find compelling. On the other side of the captain, Kaylee looked at the ship with half-lidded eyes and lips ajar, as if caught in the throws of passion. “More power?” Kaylee and her ships… The vectored outboard thrusters looked the same, albeit much shinier now, but the hyper-thingy that replaced his gravity drive looked strange. “Hyper-thingy”! Good updates! Thanks for the PMs. -----signature----- The Shelf of Shame The RPF/FF Forum Feud bet What will I lose next? Stay tuned! * Galaxy of Suspects, a CorSec Mystery: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28083207&brd=10476
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Thumper09 Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 5/9 7:22pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	I liked the conversation between Lorana and River, especially River's realization that it wasn't all just a product of her memories. “To love is never wrong,” Lorana said. That was a nice line. Seems like a very Jedi thing to say. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or worried,” Mal said. LOL. The reactions from Kaylee and Wash were priceless. If anyone's going to get excited over the big upgrades made to Serenity, it would be them. Repulsors can make it even easier for Wash to be a "leaf on the wind" now. Great update! I'm looking forward to seeing how their sneaking attempt goes. -Thumper -----signature----- Geeking out. Be back soon. "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
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Kevin_Solo Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 5/10 7:47am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008 - Date Edited: 5/10 7:52am (1 edits total) Edited By: Kevin_Solo
	Thanks for your comments on what I wrote last time, Darth_Marrs. I still think that the River/Quin relationship shows neither of them in a good light. River, not a nice thing to seduce someone else's man. Vos is, however, more to blame. If he was 'considering leaving the Order for love', having already fathered a child with Khaleen Hentz, making celibacy a 'non-issue', he's not helping the case for Jedi by dumping her and their child for another woman. Being involved with one woman was bad; but he could have made a moral argument for Jedi being allowed to behave 'normally'. Cheating on her and their child with a second woman, however... Morality aside, I can see Palpatine having a nice warm feeling inside when he finds out about this; because it will be invaluable propaganda to discredit the Order for good. Who needs Anakin/Padme with this kind of sex scandal to hand? On to Chapter 19: A nice overview of River, though with the qualification I've given. Interesting that she talks with the ghost of Lorana Jinzler. A nice portrayal of the character, though I'm not sure about this bit: “To love is never wrong,” Lorana said. “What you are doing must be done. The road you have begun must be traveled. The daughter you bear must be born.” Hmmmm! Does this mean Lorana approves of all this? What would the reaction be if she said this in public, I wonder? I liked the talk about the Serenity (sorry Shadow Valley) with a hyperdrive unit, new weaponry and a more powerful reactor , particularly the reactions of the crew: “Is that Serenity?” Wash asked. “Looks like someone stuck a rocket on the business-end of a bug.” \| \| On the other side of the captain, Kaylee looked at the ship with half-lidded eyes and lips ajar, as if caught in the throws of passion. “More power?” “The design of Alliance ships is basically sound,” Valorum explained patiently. His voice was mesmerizing. “It is simply a matter of power production. You can’t use a weapon that would drain the power of a small city with every shot. So, your ship has been given a new heart.” “Can I see it?” Kaylee said, as if in a trance. Valorum nodded gracefully and the self-taught mechanic strode up the open loading ramp into the cargo ship itself with an excited, girlish squeal. Very nice! I can certainly see Kaylee acting that way. The new hardware has certainly made the ship a serious threat: “Laser cannons in the along each wing and a turbolaser in the prow,” Valorum said. “We’ve also installed military-grade ray and particle shields and proton launchers. Unfortunately you have lost some cargo room, but I hope you’ll agree the increase in power and weapons makes up for that. You also are now a licensed independent Operative of the Ministry of Defense. Your ship has been renamed the Shadow Valley, in recognition of its original name.” “`Yea, though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death,’” River quoted. “A good name for what we have to do.” “Do we have any blasters?” Vos asked. “The best I could smuggle into the system,” Valorum said. “Blaster rifles, a few sniper rifles, and a portable laser cannon. It should help.” Good! Valorum makes it clear to Mal what's at stake: “This war isn’t about independence any more, Captain,” Valorum said. “It is about the very survival of your people, and possibly of the galaxy itself. Nor are you alone. We’ve contracted with several independent freighters to aid us. But honestly, I hold more hope for you and your crew than with any of the other ships.” You get the point, Reynolds? I liked Wash and Zoe here: “Oh, new buttons!” Wash said. \| \| “Shields are over here,” Wash said excitedly. He turned and glowed at Zoe. “Honey, we have shields. Isn’t that cool?” “I’m very excited for you, dear,” Zoe said. She turned her attention back to the weapons controls. “Looks like we have torpedoes of some kind.” HA HA! And the ship can float, as well as go very, very fast! “It has computed our flight plan,” Vos said. “Just follow these instructions and it should get us there is just two days.” “Two days from Londinum to New Melbourne?” Wash’s jaw gaped. “I’m in love with a computer.” I can certainly see him reacting that way! A nice episode, Darth, with the above qualifications about River/Quin.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/11 6:29pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	VaderLVR64—He’s capable of rage bordering on the dark side and instant, stunning violence, and yet he still is desperate for love. Golden_Jedi—I hear you! Callista-gseran—According to cannon he was assassinated before the war really got started. But we all know better. TigerofRobare—She’ll always be Serenity to her crew. Dianethx—Those two were the soul of the ship. As for River and Quin—you’ll just have to wait to see what the future brings. Laine-Snowtrekker—Thank you, and you’re welcome. I appreciate that the renaming didn’t throw you—though again, it’s still Serenity to the crew. TheFace—Thanks, I needed to juxtapose their two evolved opinions of the situation. And doesn’t everyone want a hyper-thingy? Glad you liked it! Thumper09—Thank you. In the original version, Lorana was actually a primary character, until I realized everything revolved around Quin and River. Then she became redundant, and then actually started harming the plotline. Still, I’ve always liked her character and wanted to get something of her in the story. Kevin_Solo—What can I say? I admire your strong moral compass. Quinlan’s relationship to River is central to the story, as you’ll see if you continue reading. So, morality aside, there’s more of it. In a very real sense, this is a love story between them. As for Palpatine—his warm feeling has nothing to do with propaganda. He’s wiped the Jedi out, I don’t think he needs or cares about propaganda. He wants River. Or possibly the next best thing to River… Thanks for all the reviews and for your continuing to read! -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light Legacy of the Red Sun Heaven Falls: A Jedi On Earth Blue Sun Down
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/11 6:43pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/04/2008
	Chapter Twenty: Evil Wash flew on the edge of his seat. Mal saw this with a scowl. Usually his pilot sat far back in the chair as he flew. The last time Wash flew from the edge of his seat was as they made their way through the battle between the Reavers and Alliance toward Miranda. The second time was New Melbourne. Mal knew why, though. The moment they emerged from their short hyperspace jump, they all saw it. It was Wash who spoke, however. “They broke Whitefall,” Wash said with sublime awe. He was not lying. The whole moon of Whitefall had somehow been cracked in half. Where once an intact planet-sized moon orbited New Melbourne, they saw instead a disc-shaped clumping of massive rocks. From the middle of the orbiting mess, they caught images of something unimaginably large being built. “I’ll take pictures for Valorum,” Mal muttered. “But don’t get any closer.” The captain handled the high-powered optics that were part of the weapons suite Valorum added to the co-pilot’s station. “I can live with that,” Wash said. “The seas are wrong,” Zoe noted as she leaned over Wash’s shoulder. “The whole system is wrong,” Wash said. “Broken moons, strange colored oceans and lakes. Nothing about this is right.” Mal had seen that too, but said nothing. Vos and River were on the bridge as well, along with Afolabi. All of them were staring intently at the terrestrial giant that was New Melbourne. Around the massive planet swung a variety of moons. Those moons that had open bodies of water looked just as wrong, where they were not cracked open like eggs. The seas had changed from a dark, cobalt blue to a light shade of blue. “Anyone watching us?” Mal asked. “Not that I can see,” Wash said. “Should we go down?” “Let’s go,” Mal said. Behind him, the captain heard whispers. He turned his seat around and studied Vos and River. “No whispering in class,” Mal said. “The whole planet feels wrong in the Force,” River said. “Tell me something I don’t know,” Mal said. “I can sense people,” Quinlan added, “but their Force signatures are weak and strangely…flavored, if you will. It is as if they’ve been changed somehow. I sense pain and fear and rage. Lot’s of rage. But I don’t sense the attackers in the Force at all.” “Jen dao mei,” Mal muttered. “We wind up here and find the bad guys have all gone home.” “I don’t think so,” Quinlan said. “I don’t sense the Reavers, but I sense danger. We should proceed carefully.” “I can do careful,” Wash said as he spun the ship over to enter the atmosphere. They started bouncing on the upper mesosphere of the planet. Around them plasma began to light up the edges of the ship. Suddenly Wash grinned. “Say it, Captain.” Mal blinked. “Say what?” “Say ‘Shields up’!” Mal shook his head. “Why do I have to say it if you’re already gonna do it?” Wash looked like a kicked puppy. “Please?” “Okay,” Mal said with a mutter. “Shields up!” “Yes, Captain!” Wash said with a flourish. He touched a button on his panel, and immediately the plasma seemed to recede from the edges of the ship to a point perhaps a meter hour. “That is…so…cool!” Wash crowed. He looked up at Zoe. “We have shields!” Zoe kissed his cheek. “That’s nice, dear.” Eventually the worst of the turbulence passed and they emerged into a pale blue sky over a landscape completely alien. “I’ve been to this place many a time,” Mal said. “Fought two battles here. Never seen it like this.” The great seas of the planet were indeed a different color. More importantly, everyone could see pale beaches where the water levels had receded even on oceans larger than most planetary landmasses. The water was being diverted into massive fields, many as large as continents, where odd, lump-shaped objects grew. The closer they got, the better they could see. “Are those trees?” Wash asked. “They look a lot like those fighters we saw in the Cortex feeds,” Afolabi noted from the back of the bridge. All of them looked harder, and immediately saw what the former Operative meant. “You mean they grow their spaceships?” Zoe said. “Organic technology,” Vos said. “The mastery of biology required for something like that is stunning. In all the galaxy, there is only one other instance of organically grown ships.” “No, what’s stunning is that I can’t see the end of the field,” Mal said. The others looked forward, and the irrigated field filled with the strange starship growths extended for miles ahead, and miles to either side. “Tens of thousands,” Vos whispered. “Hundreds of thousands.” Eventually the field came to an end at the foot of a mountain range. There were a few clumps of coniferous trees, but mostly the mountain was rocky. “Any chance you can put us down?” Mal said. “Always a chance,” Wash said. He found a block of granite on the peak large enough for the ship and brought her down gently between a few clumps of trees. “Keep the engines warm,” Mal ordered. “I have a feeling we’re going to be leaving in a hurry.” “We usually do, sir,” Zoe said. The mountain range they landed on was volcanic in nature and rose in a narrow line between two vast plains. As they emerged from between the clumps of coniferous trees, they were afforded an incredible view of the plains to the east and west, both directions stretching out for as far as they could see. The lines of irrigation water ran in perfectly straight stripes for as far as they could see. The strange growths sprouted in even lines as well. In the far distance to the west, the growths changed shape, but even with the macrobinoculars provided by Valorum, they could not see exactly what the other shapes were. As Mal studied the fields, though, he did see something of interest. “There are people down there,” Quinlan said before Mal could voice his discovery. “Looks like they’re working the fields,” Mal said. He straightened. “Reavers.” He handed the macros to Quinlan. “Do Reavers carry whips?” “One way to find out,” Mal said. “We have to go down there,” Zoe added. “Time to play with some more of our new toys, then,” Wash said. “Not ‘we’, dear,” Zoe said. “She’s right,” Mal said when he saw Wash’s look of disappointment. “Me, Zoe, Jayne and the Jedi twinlets here. The rest stay with the ship and get ready to bolt first sign of danger.” Moments later, the Mule III floated down the ramp. Where the first mule was just a four-wheeled ATV and the second one a hoversled, Mule III was nothing less than a fully enclosed hover truck with an open bed in back for storage and transport. Vos and River climbed into the back with Jayne while Zoe and Mal rode up front. Jayne carried one of the new heavy blaster rifles. “Have you named it yet?’ River asked. “This here’s Beulah,” Jayne said proudly. “You name your light sword thingy?” “I was thinking Excalibur, but it didn’t seem appropriate,” River said lightly. “Then I considered naming it Durendal since we’re a small band that would almost certainly die trying to defend the rest of the galaxy, but I always hold out hope that some of us may survive. Then I finally realized I should call it Sting, since I am very small, and I face terrible foes.” Everyone in the hovercar turned and stared. Jayne closed his gaping mouth and shook his head. “Beulah sounds better.” “We’d better get moving before Jayne’s head explodes,” Zoe said. The hovercar hummed as it darted forward. They came to the edge of the volcanic cliffs and started gliding down the side of the mountain toward the field. “When we get down,” Mal said, “we’re going to stay behind the tree line. We only go far enough to see what we’re dealing with, and then we move on.” The tree line terminated just a few dozen feet from the halls leading up to the mountain. Mal brought the car to a quite halt behind the trees. The five of them climbed out without shutting the doors and moved to the very edge of the trees. This close, the strange growths towered as tall as the trees. They could see better details of the bulbs and knew without any question that they were looking at small, one-man fighters. Around the bulbs a pair of people worked, if the word “people” was used loosely. Both were stripped nude, and strange white, bone-like growths erupted from their bodies in odd places. One appeared male, the other female. “Are they human?” Zoe whispered. “They used to be,” Vos answered. Mal turned the macros to either side, looking along the edge of the fields that ran along the edge of the mountains. “Can’t see nary a soul ‘sides those two,” he said. “With so many ships growing, they couldn’t put someone on every one,” Vos said. “We can shoot ‘em from here,” Jayne said. “Well, yeah, we could, if we were stupid,” Mal said bitingly. “We’re here for intel, not to go corpsifying the locals.” “They’re coming back this way,” Zoe noted. Ignoring the others, Mal saw River and Quinlan talking. “What?” he demanded. “We’ll get them,” Quinlan said confidently. As the two twisted people came walking back, Quinlan and River stood together on the edge of the tree line and simply motioned. First the man, and then the woman, came flying through the air in response to the gestures. Both fell into heaps just behind the tree line. The man instantly jumped to his feet. His face was covered in the strange growths, including a gruesome one that seemed to cover his mouth with a single white spike. Other spikes and sickening growths sprouted painfully from his back, thighs and shoulders. He looked around at them and made an angry, howling sound. Suddenly he shot forward and attacked Jayne. Jayne responded with the butt of his blaster rifle. The man’s head snapped back, but he attacked again with his hands clawed forward. The white growths sprouted from his fingers as well, like talons. “Someone get this gorram tah mah de off me!” Jayne went completely still when a flash of light pulsed and the man’s head fell away from his cauterized neck. The body fell to the ground. “Gorram moon-brained witch!” Jayne screamed at River, who stood looking down at the body. “You dang-near killed me!” “No I didn’t,” River said calmly. “I thought we was wanting these hoon-dah’s alive!” “He wasn’t a man any more,” River said. “Like a Reaver. But he wanted to die.” Mal watched the exchange with wide eyes, then turned back and stared at the woman. She looked young, barely out of her teens. Like the man she had strange growths protruding from her body. Only her growths were much smaller, as if just starting. She had none on her face, however her once pretty face had been terribly scarred along her cheeks and her forehead. She crouched down in obvious terror as she looked at River’s sword. “P…p…please… don’t…kill….” She wasn’t able to get anything else out. Zoe knelt down beside the girl. “We’re not here to hurt anyone,” she said. “We’re trying to understand what’s happening.” “The monsters came,” the girl said, speaking slightly better now. “They kilt me mom and pa. Kilt me baby brother. They stomped his head and laughed. Made Ma and Pa and me watch. They laughed and stomped my baby brother’s head.” She looked up at those around her. “What kinda folks do things like that?” Mal knelt down to. “What’s your name, Mei-mei?” “I don’t have a name,” the girl said. “Monsters took me name away. Took everything.” “What’re the monsters called?” “Vong,” the girl said, her voice dropping in terror as if the enemies would be able to hear her. “Praetorite Vong.” She looked up at Mal. “Gonna kill us all. They came and took the whole world in a day. Those fought ‘em died. Those surrendered mostly died. Rest they cut and put..” She looked with horror at her shoulder and the spur of white bone protruding from it. “Made me a monster too.” “We need to take her with us,” River said. “She’s right,” Quinlan added. “First person testimony of an invasion. And now we have a name for our enemies. Not Reavers, but Vong.” “Reavers!” The girl sat up. “Reavers here too. Vong feed us to ‘em if we don’t do right. Reavers like the Vong. Don’t give me to the Reavers!” Mal stood and looked down at the terrified girl, and then at the others. Slowly, he slipped off his brown coat and put it over her shoulders. “Come with us,” he said. “We’ll get you away from the monsters.” The girl nodded and suddenly started weeping. The weeping turned to convulsive sobs as Mal helped her to her feet. Suddenly their coms beeped. “Mal, this is Inara. We’ve got problems.” “What kind?” “Something scary is about twenty feet from you.” They spun around, and they could see it. A lone figure strode through the muddy fields. It stood taller than a normal man with a sloped back head and a face so wreathed in scars it looked as if it wore a mask. It wore a black jumpsuit with what appeared to be claws digging into its neck. It did not appear to have a blaster, but it did carry a strange whip. The girl saw the approaching creature and screamed as she collapsed into a heap of terrified tears. Jayne knelt down, aimed his blaster rifle, and fired. The blaster bolt struck the figure dead in the center of his chest and knocked him onto his back. He slowly regained his feet, however, none the worse for wear. “Aim for his head,” Zoe said. “You think?” Jayne said acidly. “Don’t fire,” Vos said. “This is a fact-finding mission. Let’s find some facts.” Vos stepped from the edge of the trees with his lightsabers in hand. He moved forward to meet the approaching alien. “You defile this place, Infidel,” the creature hissed in stilted Basic. “You are not worthy to stand on this world.” “I have come to learn about you,” Quinlan said. “Why do you grow your ships?” The creature did not answer; rather he charged forward. His whip seemed to solidify as he swung it. Vos lit both his sabers and caught the charge in the cross of the two blades. “Why do you murder the innocents?” Vos said as he kicked the Vong off. The Vong stepped back, obviously surprised by the strength of the kick. “We show them the Truth of their lives. There is pain, and there is death. Those that are worthy die well as sacrifice to the gods. Those that are not die less well. But all will die.” He swung again. Vos parried the swing, stepped low, and brought his second saber around in a brilliant blow that bounced harmlessly off the creature’s strange armor. They exchanged more blows, and Mal felt the pit of his stomach drop when he saw how fast and how strong the alien was. Still, Vos was a match for it, blow for blow. “Perhaps you are worthy,” the creature said. “You fight like a warrior. Your blood shall ensure our victory over the infidels. And when we have taken these worlds, we shall grow our craft until the worldships come and we can sweep across the galaxy and shape you as you should all be.” “I believe the rest of the galaxy may take issue with that,” Vos said. The alien’s staff darted at his head and suddenly released a spray of chemicals. The Jedi master bent and then somersaulted backward to avoid the spray. He then reached out a hand. The nearest fighter groaned as its stalk snapped and the whole ship fell over toward the Vong. The alien warrior rolled clear. He came out of his roll exactly where Vos held his lightsaber, and impaled his head on the Jedi’s blade. As the creature died, his staff softened into a serpent of some kind that hissed at Vos. The Jedi shoved the tip of his second saber into the open mouth, and the staff-serpent fell as dead as its master. “Mal,” Wash’s voice said over their coms. “More company, on land and by air. A lot more company.” “We’re coming,” Mal said. “Jayne, help Vos carry the body. We’re taking tall dark and ugly with us too.” They threw the body in the bed of the hovercar while the young girl rode in front between Mal and Zoe. River, Jayne and Quinlan climbed in back and stared down at the alien. “That staff was alive,” Vos said. “Their armor appears to be insect chitin, and maybe alive as well. Everything is organic.” As the car climbed the side of the mountain, Vos turned and saw dark shapes speeding over the muddy fields toward the mountain. In the pale blue skies, he saw dots descending toward them. The Vong knew they were there, and were determined not to let them escape. They cleared the edge of the cliff and found Serenity already hovering with engines lit. Her cargo ramp was invitingly open and Mal drove the hovercar directly in without hesitation. They had not even sat down on the deck floor when the wind of their passage howled through the still closing doors. Inara ran toward them. “Wash says alien ships are coming from all over!” “Good thing he’s moving us then,” Mal said. “Zoe, Inara, get this girl to Simon.” Inara sucked in a breath at his tone, but then saw the girl herself. “Wu de tyen ah,” she whispered. She rushed to the girl’s side and helped Zoe get her up the stairs. The rest of them ran toward the bridge. They arrived to find Afolabi in the co-pilot’s chair and Wash humming. “Hi,” he said. He pointed to the horizon now crowded with incoming ships. “I don’t think they liked us being here.” “Apparently not,” Mal said. Afolabi stood, but it was Vos who took his place. “What are you doing?” Mal said. “I was a general,” Vos said. “I’ve been using weapons consoles like this since you were in diapers.” Mal started to say something when one of the approaching ships fired a ball of glowing…stuff at them. “Shields up,” Vos barked. There was no flourish this time as Wash hit the switch. The ball of plasma struck them almost head on. Almost immediately the whole ship reverberated with return fire under Vos’s competent hands. Large bolts of green energy poured out of the nose of the ship and struck the alien fighter directly. The fighter disappeared in a white plume of vapor just as Wash pulled the nose up and made for escape velocity. “Is that an asteroid?” Mal asked as they caught sight of an object in low orbit. Balls of light started showering down on them almost as soon as they saw it. “Answers that,” the captain muttered. Wash pulled Serenity into a corkscrew pattern and poured on the thrust. The whole ship shuddered as it jumped forward. “Wow, I like those new engines,” the pilot said. “With these I really am a leaf…” “…Don’t say it!” Zoe ordered. Wash stopped, gulped, and nodded. Other asteroid-shaped ships appeared from all over. “Those things are moving really fast,” Mal noted. “So are the fighters coming up on our tail.” From all the many moons around them, more of the rocky ships appeared, and all of them were firing. “There are more ships than the whole combined Alliance fleet,” Mal said as he counted them at a glance. “Plus that big thing they’re growing up from Whitefall,” Afolabi said. Wash ignored them as he swerved to avoid enemy fire. “It’s raining orange twinkle balls out there,” he said as two of the shots clipped their shields. Mal leaned forward and pointed at a small window of open space. “That’s our best bet.” “That’s where I’m going,” Wash said. “We’re going faster than she’s ever gone before.” River watched the enemy ships collapsing around them. The Vong seemed also to realize where the sole escape window was. The enemy ships flew desperately toward them. “We’re not going to make it,” she said. “Force tell you that?” Mal said. “No, physics,” she said. “They have a more efficient vector of attack. Continue in this direction for twenty more seconds, and then turn 58 degrees to port.” “There’s a ship right there.” “Won’t be when it’s time to go.” Ahead of them the enemy ships continued to grow larger and the plasma balls continued to rain down on them. “Almost like a game,” Wash said. “If it weren’t so damned scary!” Suddenly the ship holding place where River told them to go disappeared and appeared a moment later directly in the middle of their original escape path. Without hesitation Wash spun the ship around in a hard turn and darted for the now window just as all the enemy ships collapsed behind them firing. Plasma struck shields viciously as Serenity sped away. “They’re following us,” Wash said. He stared down at his controls. “And they’re catching up.” “As soon as you pass the gravity well you can jump to hyperspace,” Vos said. “The navcomp has it ready.” Enemy fire filled space around them. The whole ship shuddered with each impact on their shields. A red light began glowing on Wash’s panel. “I’m not sure,” the pilot said, “but I think that means we’ve lost our shields.” “We’re clear!” River said. “Wash, go!” Mal ordered. Without flourish or comment, Wash hit the button, and Serenity flashed away into hyperspace. -----signature----- "Spock!" "Yes Captain!" "Be one with the horse." "Yes, Captain." Gods of Dark and Light Legacy of the Red Sun Heaven Falls: A Jedi On Earth Blue Sun Down
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Who Runs w/ Scissors Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/12 7:48am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	It's so cool having Vos AND Mal in the same story! “Apparently not,” Mal said. Afolabi stood, but it was Vos who took his place. “What are you doing?” Mal said. “I was a general,” Vos said. “I’ve been using weapons consoles like this since you were in diapers.” Mal started to say something when one of the approaching ships fired a ball of glowing…stuff at them. “Shields up,” Vos barked. There was no flourish this time as Wash hit the switch. The ball of plasma struck them almost head on. Almost immediately the whole ship reverberated with return fire under Vos’s competent hands. Large bolts of green energy poured out of the nose of the ship and struck the alien fighter directly. The fighter disappeared in a white plume of vapor just as Wash pulled the nose up and made for escape velocity. “Is that an asteroid?” Mal asked as they caught sight of an object in low orbit. Balls of light started showering down on them almost as soon as they saw it. “Answers that,” the captain muttered. And they're so cute when they're being all "macho" with each other. -----signature----- If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories. I'm a Nana. 6 lbs. 9 oz. 18 1/2 inches long - Baby Vader
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

« 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 » - Previous | Next | Reload

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » The Saga »