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Author	Topic: Blue Sun Down: A SW/Firefly XOver--Summer Fanfic Nom Completed 6/29/08
Golden_Jedi Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 5/12 7:55am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	Argh, I hate the Vongs... At least they got out in one piece... this time. -----signature----- The country is that place where chickens walk around uncooked - Julio Cortázar Perfection (H/L mush/humor) http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28447492&brd=10477&start=28454331 Diving (H/L, intertrilogy AU) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b1
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Independence1776 Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/12 3:45pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	Eep! Oh, I really don't like the Vong. But River naming her lightsaber Sting! -----signature----- "Independence forever." John Adams Padawan to Luna_Nightshade Fics in bio Ever wondered what would happen if some Padawans attended a normal school? Come find out: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28037486
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TigerofRobare Registered: Jan '06	Date Posted: 5/13 11:26am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	I like Durendal better--I'm descended from Charlemagne. I like how Jayne named his blaster rifle Beulah. Great 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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Thumper09 Registered: Dec '01	Date Posted: 5/14 5:13pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	“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. hee hee. Great line by Zoe. Wow, I wonder what Simon is going to make of the Vong body and the girl they rescued. I'd say they learned quite a bit on their intel mission, though it'll probably lead to even more questions for them. It was lots of fun seeing Wash playing with all the new toys, especially the shields. LOL. Kid in a candy store. Somehow I don't think that the Vong will be too happy that they got away... Great job with the action, and great post overall! -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 Turnaround--Rebel pilot OCs, OT: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28668512
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dianethx Registered: Mar '02	Date Posted: 5/14 5:23pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	Great action sequence. I loved that River was telling them what to do. “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.” At least now they know what they are up against plus they have one of the ones with the bone implants. 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 6/22/08 Freeze frame - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b10476/27820434 Master to jedidas3 Impeach Bush!
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Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/18 6:00pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	VaderLVR64—They are a pair of alpha males, aren’t they? I can’t even say they like each other. But they seem to respect each other, and that’s enough for both of them. Golden_Jedi—This time is right. It goes downhill from here. Independence1776—Honestly, I don’t either. Didn’t care for the NJO at all. But they’re canon, and I tried to fit these events as much within the GFFA cannon as I could, so there you go. TigerofRobare—From what I understand, a sizable portion of Europe is descended from Charlemagne. He was labeled “The Great” for more than just his combat and leadership prowess (I believe he’s in my family tree as well.) Thumper09—Thank you, yeah, Wash is having a ball. But like I said to Golden_Jedi, things start going down hill from here. Dianethx—Thank you. She has the Force, and a preternatural intellect. A dangerous combination. -----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
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Darth_Marrs Registered: Feb '06	Date Posted: 5/18 6:11pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/11/2008
	We're setting the stage.... Chapter Twenty-One: Messengers of Doom “Still feels wrong to just fly up to an Alliance ship,” Mal said. “They have to know what’s happening,” Vos said. The two men stood alone on the bridge with Wash in the pilot’s seat as they approached Walsingham’s Alliance cruiser. The Operative did not fly one of the towered city-ships, but rather one of the beetle-shaped cruisers Afolabi himself favored during his term as Operative. “We’re cleared for docking,” Wash said. Mal patted the pilot’s shoulder and turned to leave the bridge. Quinlan followed. As they emerged into the gantry over the cargo hold, they saw Inara walking toward them. She held a wickedly curved piece of bone in her hand. “What is that?” Mal asked. “A bone spur,” Inara said. “Simon removed it from the girl’s shoulders. They were grafted directly onto her skeleton. Someone cut her and put a seed in her bone so it would grow into this.” Her voice thrummed with outrage and her eyes flashed dangerously. Mal touched the spur a second before meeting her angry gaze. “That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.” They heard the metallic thud of the docking rings. Down in the cargo hold, Mal could see Zoe opening the air lock. Walsingham and a pair of Alliance intelligence officers stepped aboard. “We have a whole buffet of scary stuff for you today,” Mal announced as he walked down the stairs. “So you’re report said,” Walsingham said. “I understand you’ve liberated a victim?” “She’s in the infirmary,” Inara said. “That’s just the start,” Mal said with a smug grin. “We got one of the bastards done it to her, as well.” Walsingham and both officers stared as Mal and Quinlan both finished coming down the stairs. They led the Operative and his escorts across the bay until they reached a cryo-unit. Mal opened it up and the Operative stared in open disbelief. “They call themselves the Praetorite Vong,” Quinlan said. “This creature was faster and stronger than a normal human. In fact, he would be a challenge to most Jedi knights. Your soldiers will be hopelessly outclassed if all their warriors are like this.” Mal pulled the data crystal out of his pockets. “Recordings from New Melbourne. They’re building something big out of Whitefall’s parts. Broke the gorram moon like an egg. And they have a lot of fighters.” “How many?” Walsingham said. “I counted an average of sixty per square kilometer multiplied by the entire terrestrial surface of New Melbourne,” Vos said. The two intelligence officers visibly paled. “Then it’s no longer a matter of defeating them,” Walsingham said. “Now it’s a matter of trying to contain them.” He nodded to the two men, who started wheeling the cryo-unit to the airlock. Above, Inara, Simon and Kaylee were helping the captured girl walk down the stairs. She moved slowly and winced with each step. “You’re not going to kill her, are you?” Mal asked. Walsingham looked up at her, then down at Mal. The others stared at Mal as if he were insane, all but Vos. “Dissecting her will be of little value,” the Jedi said. “She has first-hand knowledge of the invasion. I should hope that should be enough. Doctor Tam has made a recording of all his findings.” The Operative nodded. “Very well, she won’t be harmed. I can see she was heavily traumatized.” “Good,” Mal said. “Have these critters gone any further?” “They appear to have stopped advancing at the moment,” Walsingham said. “Based on your findings it’s safe to assume they are stockpiling materiel for a final thrust into the core worlds. We’re going to have to start being more creative in our response to the invaders.” * * * Three weeks later, Serenity dropped from hyperspace on the edge of the New Melbourne planetary system with a suite of advanced sensors aimed at the terrestrial giant and its’ moons. A few moments later, an Alliance heavy cruiser ripped out of hyperspace on the edge of the gravity well. The moment it appeared, it launched a hundred dart-shaped fighters and fired thousands of missiles at the planet surface. The Vong response was stunning. Tens of thousands of fighters erupted from the many habitable moons of New Melbourne and opened up a savage barrage on the Alliance ship. As they engaged this first enemy, a second Alliance cruiser, this one the more common beetle-shaped heavy cruiser, also dropped out of hyperspace. This cruiser also launched a bevy of fighters and missiles at New Melbourne. A third ship dropped out of hyperspace a few minutes later, just as the first Alliance vessel erupted in a plume of short-lived fire. As vast and dramatic as the Vong response was, they could not stop all of the missiles or fighters. Each fighter also carried a single weapon, and as Mal and the rest of the crew of the Serenity watched, mushroom clouds began to blossom across the surface of the terrestrial giant. In time, the battle ended. No Alliance personnel made it out. The whole system buzzed like a kicked ant hill with tens of thousands of fighters and larger ships searching for more enemies. In the meantime, New Melbourne itself burned. “That’s containment, huh?” Mal muttered. “That’s what the bastards did at Shadow.” “There were no humans left on New Melbourne,” Vos said. “It was already a dead world.” “Still not right,” Mal said. “We’ve been spotted,” Wash said. “We’re bugging out.” And so the next few weeks went. Planet after planet, always the same. They found human populations vastly depleted, and those that survived were mutilated and enslaved to serve in massive fields. Not all the fields were dedicated to ships, but they knew everything growing was going toward the war effort. Always they left under heavy fire. On two separate occasions, they could not even land as the Vong increased their patrols. The more they saw, the more somber the crew became. They spoke with muted voices. Mealtimes became quiet affairs. The laughter that was known to ring through the ship in the past was no more. They could find nothing to laugh about. All this time, River grew larger. She was at six months now and her bulge was unmistakable. Her face glowed with a radiance all her own, and for the first time in her life she seemed utterly at peace. The men on the ship stumbled over each other waiting on her. “It’s sweet, really,” Kaylee said to Inara as the two watched Quinlan Vos, Jedi Master, and Jayne Cobb, semi-literate mercenary, competing with each other to bring River Tam a glass of orange juice. “Just proves that all men are nothing more than teddy bears,” Inara said. “Bears, at least,” a new voice intruded on their conversation. They turned to see Afolabi step between them. “It is natural instinct to protect something one cherishes. Whether it be property or loved ones. But that instinct is easily overridden, and we see proof of that every week. Men are bears, ladies. Capable of gentleness and loving, or of the most savage acts imaginable.” The former Operative continued walking away toward his quarters. “That was depressing,” Kaylee said. “Now I’m depressed.” “Have some strawberries,” Inara said. “That usually makes you feel better.” “Hmmm,” Kaylee said with her eyes closed. “Strawberries and Simon would be even better.” Inara shrugged. “I think they’re both available.” The young mechanic squealed in delight. “That’s right. Bye!” Suddenly Inara found herself alone in the galley, but not for long. Book shambled in and noticed her with a start and a guilty frown. Since Shadow, the shepherd was quiet, going about his chores in silence. He told the crew everything he could about the larger galaxy, but never again felt like a part of the family. “Excuse me,” he said as he turned to leave. “Derrial, wait.” Book stopped and straightened his back. He slowly turned to face her. “Please, sit with me. Talk for a little while.” With a nod, Book stepped to one of the cushioned benches lining the galley and sat down. “So how old were you when you came to the System?” Book smiled wanly. “Too young, I’m afraid. I was young and arrogant in the superiority of my society. It took me many years to see that your society had things of value to offer me.” “Like your faith?” “Faith,” he agreed, “and other things. I wasn’t allowed to participate in the Unification War, but I witnessed it first hand. For all the atrocities I saw, I also saw courage and determination, strength of character the likes of which seemed lost in my life. Do you know why the galactic civil war was called the Clone War?” Inara shook her head. “It was fought primarily between armies of robots we called Droids, and a vast army of clones. They called it the Army of One, since they were all clones of a single individual. Granted, there were a few officers who volunteered for service, but primarily only the Jedi and the clones fought. Whole worlds burned to cinders, and yet all the people of the galaxy fell back in cowardice and let the Jedi and clones fight. And when Palpatine turned the clones on the Jedi—the one group with the moral courage to lead—it left a galaxy full of sheep under the control of one man. No one stood up to him, Inara. No one had the courage to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong!’ Those few who tried were cut down. Yet, I think if something like that happened here, men like Mal would stand up, and they should shout, ‘This is wrong’ even if it meant their lives. And that’s why I stayed here. And would have died in peace here, if not for the Vong.” It was the longest speech she had ever heard the Shepherd make, and it left her quiet. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry for what your emperor made you do.” Book’s wan smile faded before a flash of pain. “There is a special place in hell for traitors. I betrayed him first for all of you, and then was forced to betray all of you for him.” “And yet you have shed your blood for us,” Inara said. “You don’t understand what Mal meant by that. I am just now understanding myself. Zoe knows. I think Master Vos knows as well. You are our brother now. For good or ill, no matter what horrors come, you are our brother. And you will always have a place on this ship.” Book’s eyes took on a sheen and he had to look away a moment to compose himself. “Thank you, dear.” He forced his smile to return. “So when will I finally get to have a role on this ship and marry you and Mal?” Inara’s smile grew sly. “I’ll let you know.” -----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
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callista_gseran Registered: May '06	Date Posted: 5/18 7:09pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	Awwww that was sweet Stinks ghat the Vong are taking over everything, but they always were good at that.... -----signature----- Callista Gseran Adoptee of Dev_Binks
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GraceSolo Registered: Oct '06	Date Posted: 5/18 7:32pm Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008 - Date Edited: 5/18 7:32pm (1 edits total) Edited By: GraceSolo
	Wow, look what happens when you are out of the loop for a little while….All kinds of updates!!! This story is really taking off, You are so spot on with the characterizations that I can totally see the Firefly Crew speaking the dialog. It is such a believable tale, and your descriptions of the ships and planets are great… I guess you can see, I think this is great!! Please forgive me for missing so many updates, DRL is the worst taskmaster. Keep up the great work…I am really, really, really looking forward to seeing what happens next!! GraceSolo
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Golden_Jedi Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 5/19 8:35am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	The plot thickens... Things don't look very good for our heroes... Wanna have a laugh with a 'translation fault'? The first time I read the sentence “So when will I finally get to have a role on this ship and marry you and Mal?”, the first thing I thought was: "Whoa! Book wants to get married to Inara AND Mal???? Where did that come from???" Then I realized it was only my over-active imagination jumping ahead of my translation processes... -----signature----- The country is that place where chickens walk around uncooked - Julio Cortázar Perfection (H/L mush/humor) http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28447492&brd=10477&start=28454331 Diving (H/L, intertrilogy AU) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b1
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Laine_Snowtrekker Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 5/19 11:02am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	Great two chapters. River naming her lightsaber 'Sting' was great! And Book's sly statement to Inara about marrying Inara and Mal. Thanks for the PMs. -----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: 5/19 11:15am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	War and the choices it forces on people are never easy. As for marriage.... -----signature----- "Independence forever." John Adams Padawan to Luna_Nightshade Fics in bio Ever wondered what would happen if some Padawans attended a normal school? Come find out: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28037486
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VaderLVR64 Title: Fan Fic Who Runs w/ Scissors Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 5/20 7:22am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	Another superb update! “It was fought primarily between armies of robots we called Droids, and a vast army of clones. They called it the Army of One, since they were all clones of a single individual. Granted, there were a few officers who volunteered for service, but primarily only the Jedi and the clones fought. Whole worlds burned to cinders, and yet all the people of the galaxy fell back in cowardice and let the Jedi and clones fight. And when Palpatine turned the clones on the Jedi—the one group with the moral courage to lead—it left a galaxy full of sheep under the control of one man. No one stood up to him, Inara. No one had the courage to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong!’ Those few who tried were cut down. Yet, I think if something like that happened here, men like Mal would stand up, and they should shout, ‘This is wrong’ even if it meant their lives. And that’s why I stayed here. And would have died in peace here, if not for the Vong.” It was the longest speech she had ever heard the Shepherd make, and it left her quiet. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry for what your emperor made you do.” Book’s wan smile faded before a flash of pain. “There is a special place in hell for traitors. I betrayed him first for all of you, and then was forced to betray all of you for him.” “And yet you have shed your blood for us,” Inara said. “You don’t understand what Mal meant by that. I am just now understanding myself. Zoe knows. I think Master Vos knows as well. You are our brother now. For good or ill, no matter what horrors come, you are our brother. And you will always have a place on this ship.” Book’s eyes took on a sheen and he had to look away a moment to compose himself. “Thank you, dear.” He forced his smile to return. “So when will I finally get to have a role on this ship and marry you and Mal?” Inara’s smile grew sly. “I’ll let you know.” I love seeing these characters brought to life like this. -----signature----- “The smaller the mind the greater the conceit” – Aesop A Light from a Window http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28625076/p1/?10
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cggunnersmate Registered: Jul '07	Date Posted: 5/21 9:33am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	Another great chapter and I'm all caught up now! Sorry for taking so long to reply but I've been across the country for the last month taking a course at one of our training centers. Looking forward to more, as always. -----signature----- "I got one!" Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker "Great Kid! Don't get penisy!" Peter Griffin as Han Solo (Blue Harvest)
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Kevin_Solo Registered: Jun '07	Date Posted: 5/21 11:42am Subject: RE: Blue Sun Down: A Star Wars/Firefly Crossover --Updated 5/18/2008
	I've a couple of chapters to catch up with here! A nice, though nasty, description of Whitefall: “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. Sad! We have an idea what Vos is talking about: “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.” Guess who? I liked this bit: 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.” Then we have to leave the humour behind: 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. Of course, the Vong could claim that their weaponry is ecologically friendly. I liked River's name for her lightsaber. Regarding that poor girl's story... Our heros find out what us readers have guessed for a while, and have a pointless conversation with one of the Vong: “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.” Pointless! Good that they got off the planet and away from the Vong ships safely. Of course, the hyperdrive had to activate just after the shields failed: 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. So they now have an idea of who these people are; but can they devise an appropriate strategy? “They call themselves the Praetorite Vong,” Quinlan said. “This creature was faster and stronger than a normal human. In fact, he would be a challenge to most Jedi knights. Your soldiers will be hopelessly outclassed if all their warriors are like this.” Mal pulled the data crystal out of his pockets. “Recordings from New Melbourne. They’re building something big out of Whitefall’s parts. Broke the gorram moon like an egg. And they have a lot of fighters.” “How many?” Walsingham said. “I counted an average of sixty per square kilometer multiplied by the entire terrestrial surface of New Melbourne,” Vos said. The two intelligence officers visibly paled. “Then it’s no longer a matter of defeating them,” Walsingham said. “Now it’s a matter of trying to contain them.” He nodded to the two men, who started wheeling the cryo-unit to the airlock. A scorched earth strategy is being tried here: In time, the battle ended. No Alliance personnel made it out. The whole system buzzed like a kicked ant hill with tens of thousands of fighters and larger ships searching for more enemies. In the meantime, New Melbourne itself burned. “That’s containment, huh?” Mal muttered. “That’s what the bastards did at Shadow.” “There were no humans left on New Melbourne,” Vos said. “It was already a dead world.” “Still not right,” Mal said. “We’ve been spotted,” Wash said. “We’re bugging out.” And so the next few weeks went. Planet after planet, always the same. They found human populations vastly depleted, and those that survived were mutilated and enslaved to serve in massive fields. Not all the fields were dedicated to ships, but they knew everything growing was going toward the war effort. Always they left under heavy fire. On two separate occasions, they could not even land as the Vong increased their patrols. Sad! Another nice humourous exchange: “That was depressing,” Kaylee said. “Now I’m depressed.” “Have some strawberries,” Inara said. “That usually makes you feel better.” “Hmmm,” Kaylee said with her eyes closed. “Strawberries and Simon would be even better.” Inara shrugged. “I think they’re both available.” The young mechanic squealed in delight. “That’s right. Bye!” I particularly liked the conversation between Inara and Book, particuarly his take on the Alliance's society, and his tale of the Clone War: Book smiled wanly. “Too young, I’m afraid. I was young and arrogant in the superiority of my society. It took me many years to see that your society had things of value to offer me.” “Like your faith?” “Faith,” he agreed, “and other things. I wasn’t allowed to participate in the Unification War, but I witnessed it first hand. For all the atrocities I saw, I also saw courage and determination, strength of character the likes of which seemed lost in my life. Do you know why the galactic civil war was called the Clone War?” Inara shook her head. “It was fought primarily between armies of robots we called Droids, and a vast army of clones. They called it the Army of One, since they were all clones of a single individual. Granted, there were a few officers who volunteered for service, but primarily only the Jedi and the clones fought. Whole worlds burned to cinders, and yet all the people of the galaxy fell back in cowardice and let the Jedi and clones fight. And when Palpatine turned the clones on the Jedi—the one group with the moral courage to lead—it left a galaxy full of sheep under the control of one man. No one stood up to him, Inara. No one had the courage to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong!’ Those few who tried were cut down. Yet, I think if something like that happened here, men like Mal would stand up, and they should shout, ‘This is wrong’ even if it meant their lives. And that’s why I stayed here. And would have died in peace here, if not for the Vong.” It was the longest speech she had ever heard the Shepherd make, and it left her quiet. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand. “I’m sorry for what your emperor made you do.” Book’s wan smile faded before a flash of pain. “There is a special place in hell for traitors. I betrayed him first for all of you, and then was forced to betray all of you for him.” “And yet you have shed your blood for us,” Inara said. “You don’t understand what Mal meant by that. I am just now understanding myself. Zoe knows. I think Master Vos knows as well. You are our brother now. For good or ill, no matter what horrors come, you are our brother. And you will always have a place on this ship.” Book’s eyes took on a sheen and he had to look away a moment to compose himself. “Thank you, dear.” He forced his smile to return. “So when will I finally get to have a role on this ship and marry you and Mal?” Inara’s smile grew sly. “I’ll let you know.” Very sad, but with a nice ending!
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