This was going to be my entry for Halloween horror crossover thingy, but other things came up and I didn't finish it when I wanted sorry, hope you read and enjoy it anyway.
The port was bustling. Tramp freighters, passenger liners and even the occasional Single ships were coming or going every few minutes. The constant set of new exhaust made the already hot climate even worse. In fact Mal might have described it as stifling. Which made him want even more to conduct his business and be off. He tried to sneak his fob out of his pocket when Inarra elbowed him in the ribs.
“What was that for Inarra. I was just checking the time.”
“You’re fidgeting Mal. That and your apparent obsession with your watch are making us standout, which you said was ‘very not good’.” She stopped haranguing for a moment as she got a good look at the watch. “Where did you get that ridiculous thing anyway?”
“Will you let me take it all the way out without hitting me this time?” At Inarra’s exasperated nod Mal removed the object in question. Superficially it might be seen as gold, but any closer inspection would reveal flaking paint. Mal did his best to cover the worn spots, but Inarra only rolled her eyes. “Pretty isn’t it. Badger was reluctant to part with it, but I believe that bit of cattle moving we did must have softened his more miserly instincts.”
“You stole it didn’t you?”
“No I wouldn’t dream of it. I think ‘Borrowed’ is more appropriate.”
“Mal! Won’t he be upset when he finds out?”
“Inarra, he’s a fence. He moves stolen goods. He deals with thieves. It shouldn’t surprise him at all that his clients sometimes steal things. As a matter of fact he should come to expect thieving and all matter of unsavory acts from his clients. I’m fairly convinced that all of what he leaves out is meant to be taken, so his clients can keep their skill sharp. Also I consider it more than adequate compensation for previous services rendered. You’ll recall that Badger managed to get me stabbed? Besides the watch wasn’t even working when I took it.”
“You’re wearing a broken watch? Won’t that blow our cover the first time some one asks for the time? And why on earth would you try consulting a broken watch for the time? And lastly, I thought the stabbing was entirely your fault.”
“As to the stabbing, I think an argument about who stabbed who…”
“Whom.” Interrupted Inarra.
“I was stabbed, weren’t you paying attention?” Inarra’s mouth was open and at this she shut it, and wisely offered no comment. “Leaving aside the stabbing, I had Kailee take a look at it. She thinks she’s got it running right. So when you elbowed me in the ribs, I was about to check what time it was on a functional watch.”
“I’m sorry Mal. I’m just worried because the whole package seems to be a bit… eccentric.”
“Oh that’s all a matter of where you’re standing Inarra. I thought your rich Lordlings were quite famous for eccentricity. I mean if you don’t have some sort of quirk, then you’re just a jumped up peasant.”
“Mal, I don’t even want to try to argue this point. I’ll concede. It’s Badger’s fault you were stabbed, rich people are strange, the watch is appropriate to your current outfit, and you didn’t steal it from Badger. Now to change the subject, what time is it and when are we meeting your business people?”
Mal made a show of opening and reading his watch. “It’s 2:30 ship time Inarra.” Before apparently quite pleased with himself he deposited it back in his pocket.
“How about now Mal. What time is it now?”
Again the show of removing the watch. “Oh Gosa!” Inarra smiled her own little smile. Mal sounded a little sheepish as he read the watch again. “It’s apparently 2:55 now. I guess Kailee will want to spend a little more time tinkering.”
Inarra might have continued the verbal sparring match, but Mal laid a hand on her arm and pointed at two figures. “I think those are our business partners”.
“How can you tell? There are so many people here. I doubt I could recognize out my oldest and best clients in all this mess.”
“Because they’re dressed all respectable. No one dresses like that in this weather. Unless they have business. And that business is probably us. Let’s go.”
“I think you should let me talk” Whispered Inarra.
“What? Why? I’m a very pleasant fellow.”
“Well it’s just you tend to get offended when people waste your time by being this late. And when you’re offended situations arise which tend to involve stabbing, shooting, or fisticuffs.”
“Well I won’t deny I’m a trifle boisterous. But most folks tend to appreciate a little release every now and again.”
“And I won’t deny that some people appreciate your antics. But these customers are ‘dressed respectable’. And I think rough language might cost you a very lucrative contract. Just consider it the perks of traveling with a Companion.”
“Fine, you do the talking, I’ll just look pretty, but do try and convey how we don’t like to be kept waiting.”
The walk turned out to be anything but pleasant repeated jostling and bumping made things very uncomfortable. But at last the pair managed to reach their prospective clients.
“Well I guess you’re on Inarra"
Firefly Horror Crossover (Part 3)
Moderator: LadyTevar
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Gerald Tarrant
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Firefly Horror Crossover (Part 3)
Last edited by Gerald Tarrant on 2007-12-21 05:04am, edited 3 times in total.
The rain it falls on all alike
Upon the just and unjust fella'
But more upon the just one for
The Unjust hath the Just's Umbrella
Upon the just and unjust fella'
But more upon the just one for
The Unjust hath the Just's Umbrella
-
Sidewinder
- Sith Acolyte
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- Location: Feasting on those who fell in battle
- Contact:
Let me guess: the watch is cursed, haunted, transforms the wearer into a werewolf, or something. (Waiting for chapter two...)
Please do not make Americans fight giant monsters.
Those gun nuts do not understand the meaning of "overkill," and will simply use weapon after weapon of mass destruction (WMD) until the monster is dead, or until they run out of weapons.
They have more WMD than there are monsters for us to fight. (More insanity here.)
Those gun nuts do not understand the meaning of "overkill," and will simply use weapon after weapon of mass destruction (WMD) until the monster is dead, or until they run out of weapons.
They have more WMD than there are monsters for us to fight. (More insanity here.)
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Gerald Tarrant
- Jedi Knight
- Posts: 752
- Joined: 2006-10-06 01:21am
- Location: socks with sandals
Well my goal of finishing this in any kind of timely manner completely vanished, other stuff popped up, sorry for the delay.
“Wait a moment Mal.” Hissed Inarra. “I don’t know their names or even what I should call our ‘job’.”
“Well, I don’t know their names either. But they said I was to call them Smith and Jones respectively, and going left to right.”
At this Inarra looked surprised, Mal shrugged and said “They were… thorough in describing themselves.”
“They said which side they would be standing on? That seems more like a mania than thoroughness.”
“Well let’s talk about how strange my clients are after we complete this little transaction, when they are my clients. So why don’t you introduce us?”
Inarra shot a glare at Mal, which promised that they would talk about it again. And then she turned a dazzling smile on to the prospective clients. “Good day Messieurs Smith and Jones.” She said identifying them in the correct order. “My pilot and I understand that you have some items you’d like us to transport.”
“I’m sorry Miss, but I believe you’re suffering from a case of mistaken identity. We have nothing we need transported.” The tone of the two businessmen was brusque and off-putting. And their stance could only be described as… tense.
At this point Mal let out an explosive and probably phony sneeze. He took out a lurid blue handkerchief and wiped his nose. He also took out his watch. The businessmen surveyed her briefly then mercifully directed their attention back to Mal. Inarra would later be hard pressed to describe what it was like to be looked at by the men in the suits, the only fitting words she had was that their gaze was… clinical. “Excuse me Mr. Smith, you wouldn’t happen to have the local time would you?”
Surprisingly those simple acts seemed to change the entire demeanor of the businessmen. Instead of their previous tense postures they adopted more relaxed stances. “Yes. It’s 11:30 local. Actually we might have something to transport. But I think we need to know more about your itinerary.”
“Well I can’t speak as to where we’re headed Mr. Smith. But I was coming from St Ives, and I met a man with seven wives.”
Inarra was completely bewildered, but her training meant the only sign of surprise was a widening of her eyes. “Good to make your acquaintance Mr. Reynolds, and friend.” The businessmen tried to adopt a more jovial mien.
“Well shall we conduct our business then? I understand you wanted this package of yours moved someplace quickly.”
“Of course Captain.” Mister Smith passed over a small black credit chit. “Where shall we deliver the cargo?”
Mal took a moment to inspect the chit. “Shiny. You can find us in Berth 94. It’s a Firefly class. And can I invite you gentlemen for a drink?”
“Shiny. Bay 94. It will be there. Unfortunately we must decline your offer of a drink. Thank you for your business Captain Reynolds.” Mal would later deny it, or shake it off as fevered imaginings but he could almost swear that the final s on his name was drawn out almost like a hiss. He mentally shook his head and chocked it up to one of the wacky in-world accents that you’d occasionally run into. Inarra a better student of language and social nuance notied the stiff usage of “shiny”. It almost seemed grafted on, an afterthought, a poor imitation of normal conversation.
“Well Inarra, thanks for helping me with my little business trip.”
“Mal. I’ve got to ask, that conversation you had with those men; it didn’t make any sense. Why did you quote childhood riddles?”
“Well sometimes smugglers and the people they work for can get a little paranoid. So unless they know you they’ll insist on certain recognition signals.”
“And what were those signals?”
“Well we had four actually: knowing their names, the handkerchief, the watch, and that funny little nursery rhyme. It’s actually kind of odd, normally you only insist on one or two. These guys actually wanted to be even more elaborate. It was sort of paranoid.”
“You go to work with a gun on your waist Mal. I hardly think you have room to call anyone paranoid.”
“Well actually people are out to get me Inarra. I’ve seen guns bared on my ship before.”
Inarra ignored the interjection. “Also if one recognition code isn’t paranoid how can two or three or even four be all that strange?”
“Well I never did well in school, but I do recall that there was in fact some difference between the numbers. And if one recognition symbol is odd then oughtn’t requiring four recognition symbols indicate four times the oddness?”
“So are there rules that help you decide how eccentric someone is?”
“Well they’re more like guidelines. And it’s kind of a sliding scale. As I remember now four does put these fine gents somewhere towards the loonie side of the bosses I’ve had. Actually, they’re a little stranger than Niska ever was if you can believe that.”
At this Inarra actually shivered somewhat. “Speaking of unpleasant individuals; I’m sorry to spoil an otherwise healthy business relationship. But those businessmen just don’t seem right to me.”
“Where’d you get that? Woman’s Intuition?” Mal said with a laugh and an almost but not quite please-slap-me-I’m-being-condescending-tone.
Inarra chose not to be offended, it was her night to cook, and she could probably get him back in other less verbal ways. “Mal, Companions work around people all the time. We’ve seen whole ranges of human reactions. We’re trained as psychologists, and our work makes us very good at reading people. I haven’t ever worked for anyone like your clients, but I’ve met a few. And the experiences have always made me uneasy. They just didn’t react like people. The smiles didn’t seem real. It was like they were pretending to have emotions. It seemed like some computers pretending to be men. I’m sorry Mal, maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I don’t want you to do this job.”
Mal was pensive for a while before responding with his normal smile and joke. “Well that’s good Inarra you’re starting to develop some healthy paranoia. Maybe we’ll make a smuggler out of you yet.”
The mood was considerably lighter, and Inarra’s indignant reply made no more mention of Mal’s associates. Instead the pair argued back and forth about the merits of Mal’s work as they made their way back to the ship.
“Wait a moment Mal.” Hissed Inarra. “I don’t know their names or even what I should call our ‘job’.”
“Well, I don’t know their names either. But they said I was to call them Smith and Jones respectively, and going left to right.”
At this Inarra looked surprised, Mal shrugged and said “They were… thorough in describing themselves.”
“They said which side they would be standing on? That seems more like a mania than thoroughness.”
“Well let’s talk about how strange my clients are after we complete this little transaction, when they are my clients. So why don’t you introduce us?”
Inarra shot a glare at Mal, which promised that they would talk about it again. And then she turned a dazzling smile on to the prospective clients. “Good day Messieurs Smith and Jones.” She said identifying them in the correct order. “My pilot and I understand that you have some items you’d like us to transport.”
“I’m sorry Miss, but I believe you’re suffering from a case of mistaken identity. We have nothing we need transported.” The tone of the two businessmen was brusque and off-putting. And their stance could only be described as… tense.
At this point Mal let out an explosive and probably phony sneeze. He took out a lurid blue handkerchief and wiped his nose. He also took out his watch. The businessmen surveyed her briefly then mercifully directed their attention back to Mal. Inarra would later be hard pressed to describe what it was like to be looked at by the men in the suits, the only fitting words she had was that their gaze was… clinical. “Excuse me Mr. Smith, you wouldn’t happen to have the local time would you?”
Surprisingly those simple acts seemed to change the entire demeanor of the businessmen. Instead of their previous tense postures they adopted more relaxed stances. “Yes. It’s 11:30 local. Actually we might have something to transport. But I think we need to know more about your itinerary.”
“Well I can’t speak as to where we’re headed Mr. Smith. But I was coming from St Ives, and I met a man with seven wives.”
Inarra was completely bewildered, but her training meant the only sign of surprise was a widening of her eyes. “Good to make your acquaintance Mr. Reynolds, and friend.” The businessmen tried to adopt a more jovial mien.
“Well shall we conduct our business then? I understand you wanted this package of yours moved someplace quickly.”
“Of course Captain.” Mister Smith passed over a small black credit chit. “Where shall we deliver the cargo?”
Mal took a moment to inspect the chit. “Shiny. You can find us in Berth 94. It’s a Firefly class. And can I invite you gentlemen for a drink?”
“Shiny. Bay 94. It will be there. Unfortunately we must decline your offer of a drink. Thank you for your business Captain Reynolds.” Mal would later deny it, or shake it off as fevered imaginings but he could almost swear that the final s on his name was drawn out almost like a hiss. He mentally shook his head and chocked it up to one of the wacky in-world accents that you’d occasionally run into. Inarra a better student of language and social nuance notied the stiff usage of “shiny”. It almost seemed grafted on, an afterthought, a poor imitation of normal conversation.
“Well Inarra, thanks for helping me with my little business trip.”
“Mal. I’ve got to ask, that conversation you had with those men; it didn’t make any sense. Why did you quote childhood riddles?”
“Well sometimes smugglers and the people they work for can get a little paranoid. So unless they know you they’ll insist on certain recognition signals.”
“And what were those signals?”
“Well we had four actually: knowing their names, the handkerchief, the watch, and that funny little nursery rhyme. It’s actually kind of odd, normally you only insist on one or two. These guys actually wanted to be even more elaborate. It was sort of paranoid.”
“You go to work with a gun on your waist Mal. I hardly think you have room to call anyone paranoid.”
“Well actually people are out to get me Inarra. I’ve seen guns bared on my ship before.”
Inarra ignored the interjection. “Also if one recognition code isn’t paranoid how can two or three or even four be all that strange?”
“Well I never did well in school, but I do recall that there was in fact some difference between the numbers. And if one recognition symbol is odd then oughtn’t requiring four recognition symbols indicate four times the oddness?”
“So are there rules that help you decide how eccentric someone is?”
“Well they’re more like guidelines. And it’s kind of a sliding scale. As I remember now four does put these fine gents somewhere towards the loonie side of the bosses I’ve had. Actually, they’re a little stranger than Niska ever was if you can believe that.”
At this Inarra actually shivered somewhat. “Speaking of unpleasant individuals; I’m sorry to spoil an otherwise healthy business relationship. But those businessmen just don’t seem right to me.”
“Where’d you get that? Woman’s Intuition?” Mal said with a laugh and an almost but not quite please-slap-me-I’m-being-condescending-tone.
Inarra chose not to be offended, it was her night to cook, and she could probably get him back in other less verbal ways. “Mal, Companions work around people all the time. We’ve seen whole ranges of human reactions. We’re trained as psychologists, and our work makes us very good at reading people. I haven’t ever worked for anyone like your clients, but I’ve met a few. And the experiences have always made me uneasy. They just didn’t react like people. The smiles didn’t seem real. It was like they were pretending to have emotions. It seemed like some computers pretending to be men. I’m sorry Mal, maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I don’t want you to do this job.”
Mal was pensive for a while before responding with his normal smile and joke. “Well that’s good Inarra you’re starting to develop some healthy paranoia. Maybe we’ll make a smuggler out of you yet.”
The mood was considerably lighter, and Inarra’s indignant reply made no more mention of Mal’s associates. Instead the pair argued back and forth about the merits of Mal’s work as they made their way back to the ship.
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Sidewinder
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 5466
- Joined: 2005-05-18 10:23pm
- Location: Feasting on those who fell in battle
- Contact:
Was there a reason the clients used four recognition signals? (In Chinese and Japanese, the words for death and the number four have similar pronounciations, i.e., "shi," so the four is considered an unlucky number.)
Please do not make Americans fight giant monsters.
Those gun nuts do not understand the meaning of "overkill," and will simply use weapon after weapon of mass destruction (WMD) until the monster is dead, or until they run out of weapons.
They have more WMD than there are monsters for us to fight. (More insanity here.)
Those gun nuts do not understand the meaning of "overkill," and will simply use weapon after weapon of mass destruction (WMD) until the monster is dead, or until they run out of weapons.
They have more WMD than there are monsters for us to fight. (More insanity here.)
-
Gerald Tarrant
- Jedi Knight
- Posts: 752
- Joined: 2006-10-06 01:21am
- Location: socks with sandals
Sidewinder wrote:Let me guess: the watch is cursed, haunted, transforms the wearer into a werewolf, or something.
I wasn't really going for supernatural. Actually I was just trying to be true to the series. My recollection of the series was a great deal of teasing between Inarra and Mal about each other's chosen professions and lifestyles.
Sorry about the delay. I was originally planning this thing for halloween (oops)(Waiting for chapter two...)
I actually didn't know that at all. I just picked four. The clients are just paranoid even for people that work with smugglers. I'm just trying to get more of the Mal/Inarra interaction, and trying to explore a little bit more of the Smuggler/Pirate/Illegal Salvage subculture that Mal inhabits. We'll get to the story eventually. It's just one of the fun parts I liked about Firefly was the little stories that would sometimes precede an episode. Mal's bar-room brawl with the slavers, other little things that went on that weren't really about the episode, but just the character interactions that made Firefly so fun. And that's what I'm trying to emulate, because I like these characters and want to "enjoy their company" a bit before the horror sets in.Sidewinder wrote:Was there a reason the clients used four recognition signals? (In Chinese and Japanese, the words for death and the number four have similar pronounciations, i.e., "shi," so the four is considered an unlucky number.)
As for the Chinese, unfortunately I know none, so I can't promise any of the funny little Chinese inserts that Firefly or Serenity had
.The rain it falls on all alike
Upon the just and unjust fella'
But more upon the just one for
The Unjust hath the Just's Umbrella
Upon the just and unjust fella'
But more upon the just one for
The Unjust hath the Just's Umbrella
-
Gerald Tarrant
- Jedi Knight
- Posts: 752
- Joined: 2006-10-06 01:21am
- Location: socks with sandals
“I don’t see how that was my fault. How was I to know that he’d react to theft with violence?”
Inarra snorted. “What were you expecting, kind words and flowers?”
“Well it would be nice for a change. We normally get fists and knives which isn’t so neighborly.”
Inarra laughed until they came around the corner into Serenity’s docking berth. Her laughter cut off the moment she got a good look at the interior of the ship’s cargo space. The exterior of the vents had been stripped and all the wiring and internal structure of cargo bay was exposed. Several sets of walls had also been stripped to reveal the interior of the bulk heads. For a minute both Mal and Inarra gaped open mouthed at the disorder. At the last second Mal spotted Kailee trying to sneak out of the docking bay.
“Kailee what did you do to my Ship?” Mal bellowed.
“Well technically it’s not the entire ship, just the docking bay part of the ship” she said in a small voice.
“Don’t dissemble, it’s not polite. What did you do to the docking bay part of my ship?”
“Remember those cows we moved for one of Badger’s friends?”
“Yes. But don’t change the subject!” Mal snapped.
“Well, if you remember that herd left something of a mess inside Serenity. The smell was giving everyone trouble for weeks.”
“Yes. And I’m hoping you can explain what that has to do with your sudden desire to strip Serenity to her unmentionables.” Mal demanded
“I’m getting there Captain. But your shouting doesn’t help. The smell didn’t go away and you told me to fix it. I did that by shutting off most of the air circulation to the cargo bay. It wasn’t actually ever cleaned all the way. The only way I can scrub the thing is to open up the area and get a ladder.”
Mal was somewhat mollified but he still had some questions. “But did you need to open the vents to the top of the bay?”
“Yeah Captain. You remember we lost gravity part way through that haul. The cows didn’t take to kindly to it, and they expressed their upset from both ends. Furthermore Kailee’s Laws tell us that if something can get somewhere inconvenient it will get to the most inconvenient possible place.”
“Kailee’s Laws?”
“Well it’s just the things that you pick up while trying to keep a ship running.”
“Alright, that’s a fine explanation. But you’re going to need to fix this in the next 15 minutes. Or at least make it look somewhat presentable. We’ve got a rich contract. And if our clients get a good look at the current state of Serenity’s innards they may cancel a lucrative job.”
“I’ll help her Mal.” Said Inarra. She had the perfect thing to cover up those engineering spaces.
“Alright, well carry on” said Mal. That sounded pompous even to his own ears, and he stopped and turned, but realized he had nothing else to say. And so instead he went bellowing Wash’s name.
“I’m in Sickbay Mal. But try and keep it down the Doctor tells me our patient needs his rest.”
“What? Did Jayne eat something he shouldn’t have again? I swear if Kailee has to unclog the plumbing one more time…”
He was surprised to see both the Doctor and Wash grinning. The Doctor motioned at Mal to be quiet, and turned towards the intercom. “Yes Jayne. It’s quite survivable, we just need you to get plenty of bed rest and drink plenty of fluids.” A pause. “No, I don’t think you need to see a specialist. Mal de Pullus has a nearly 40% survival rate. But there is little modern medicine can do to improve that. We just need to wait for you to overcome this on your own.” Another pause. “Yes, yes we are all very concerned about you. Unfortunately we don’t want to expose the rest of the crew. We’ll make sure to come by and give you our best wishes.”
Mal waited until the Doctor finished his conversation before asking “This sounds serious Doc. Should we send him to a hospital?”
Wash laughed a little, and Mal gave him a strange look. This didn’t strike him as all that funny. The Doctor saw his confusion and tried to clarify the situation. “Mal he’s fine. It’s Chicken Pox. We just don’t want him wandering around the ship. I’m not sure if everyone has had it. And I’d rather not expose us all to an irritating virus. Besides we think the general well being of the ship will be improved if we can have a little break from Jayne.”
Mal opened his mouth to object, then he thought a little about Jayne’s normal contributions to dinner table conversations. He shut his mouth, shrugged and said “If you think it’s medically advisable, we’ll do whatever is in the best interests of the crew.”
“Captain we’re done in the cargo bay.”
“That was fast Kailee. Remind me to give you a raise.” Mal turned to head back to the cargo bay. He was in for his second shock of the day.
“Is that…. bunting?”
“I’m sorry Mal. But we had to work as fast as we could. I had some leftover supplies in my shuttle. Besides this will give Kailee a little more time to scrub the vents clean of cow… products.”
Words failed Mal. So instead of speaking he just gazed silently at his suddenly more festive cargo bay. He identified red, blue, and green banners. And unless his eyes were deceiving him, something that was covered in little sparkly bits.
“Did you use glitter?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
Fortunately both Kailee and Inarra were spared any embarrassing questions by the early arrival of Mal’s clients.
“Good day Captain Reynolds.” The speaker glanced up at the colorful decorations of Serenity’s hold before speaking. “You were expecting us I see.”
“Just trying to be neighborly Mister Smith. The cargo?”
“It’s being brought in by the porters right now. I have an additional request. I know our itinerary called for five days. But if you can reach Vee in three days we will add a significant bonus.” As the suited man spoke four dock workers deposited the package in question into Serenity’s hold.
"Hold on a sec there Mister Smith. How big is this bonus of yours?"
"Ten thousand. Four thousand now, if you agree to our updated itinerary. And Six thousand when you reach Vee."
Inarra who had been watching from the railing let out a muffled gasp. And Kailee, who had been making a pretense of tightening some bolts, dropped her spanner. Mal looked annoyed and glared in their general direction; to no effect since both Kailee and Inarra had now fixed their attention on Mr. Smith who appeared to be ignoring the interplay.
“Well do you have any more questions Captain?”
“Nothing springs to mind.” Mal said in a strained voice.
“Very well. Then my associates will expect you in three days. The recognition signals will be sent to you on the CoreText. Good day Captain.” And just that fast the men left. Mal took that as his own cue and turned towards the intercom. “Wash warm up the engines. I’d like to be in the Black as soon as we can.”
"Sure thing Captain. Did I understand that we were getting a bonus?"
"Did everyone listen in on this conversation?"
"No I don't think Jayne's in the loop Mal."
Mal was ashamed for it, but the calculating part of his mind started dividing their take by seven instead of the normal eight participants.
At this point Kailee added her tenth of a credit to the conversation: "10,000 Captain, can you imagine? They could almost buy their own ship for that."
"Yeah and who's going to fly it for them you?" Mal retorted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry for the delay in getting this thing up.
Any comments or criticisms are appreciated. Also if you notice things that look different from the series let me know. I'm trying to be as true as I can to the characters.
Inarra snorted. “What were you expecting, kind words and flowers?”
“Well it would be nice for a change. We normally get fists and knives which isn’t so neighborly.”
Inarra laughed until they came around the corner into Serenity’s docking berth. Her laughter cut off the moment she got a good look at the interior of the ship’s cargo space. The exterior of the vents had been stripped and all the wiring and internal structure of cargo bay was exposed. Several sets of walls had also been stripped to reveal the interior of the bulk heads. For a minute both Mal and Inarra gaped open mouthed at the disorder. At the last second Mal spotted Kailee trying to sneak out of the docking bay.
“Kailee what did you do to my Ship?” Mal bellowed.
“Well technically it’s not the entire ship, just the docking bay part of the ship” she said in a small voice.
“Don’t dissemble, it’s not polite. What did you do to the docking bay part of my ship?”
“Remember those cows we moved for one of Badger’s friends?”
“Yes. But don’t change the subject!” Mal snapped.
“Well, if you remember that herd left something of a mess inside Serenity. The smell was giving everyone trouble for weeks.”
“Yes. And I’m hoping you can explain what that has to do with your sudden desire to strip Serenity to her unmentionables.” Mal demanded
“I’m getting there Captain. But your shouting doesn’t help. The smell didn’t go away and you told me to fix it. I did that by shutting off most of the air circulation to the cargo bay. It wasn’t actually ever cleaned all the way. The only way I can scrub the thing is to open up the area and get a ladder.”
Mal was somewhat mollified but he still had some questions. “But did you need to open the vents to the top of the bay?”
“Yeah Captain. You remember we lost gravity part way through that haul. The cows didn’t take to kindly to it, and they expressed their upset from both ends. Furthermore Kailee’s Laws tell us that if something can get somewhere inconvenient it will get to the most inconvenient possible place.”
“Kailee’s Laws?”
“Well it’s just the things that you pick up while trying to keep a ship running.”
“Alright, that’s a fine explanation. But you’re going to need to fix this in the next 15 minutes. Or at least make it look somewhat presentable. We’ve got a rich contract. And if our clients get a good look at the current state of Serenity’s innards they may cancel a lucrative job.”
“I’ll help her Mal.” Said Inarra. She had the perfect thing to cover up those engineering spaces.
“Alright, well carry on” said Mal. That sounded pompous even to his own ears, and he stopped and turned, but realized he had nothing else to say. And so instead he went bellowing Wash’s name.
“I’m in Sickbay Mal. But try and keep it down the Doctor tells me our patient needs his rest.”
“What? Did Jayne eat something he shouldn’t have again? I swear if Kailee has to unclog the plumbing one more time…”
He was surprised to see both the Doctor and Wash grinning. The Doctor motioned at Mal to be quiet, and turned towards the intercom. “Yes Jayne. It’s quite survivable, we just need you to get plenty of bed rest and drink plenty of fluids.” A pause. “No, I don’t think you need to see a specialist. Mal de Pullus has a nearly 40% survival rate. But there is little modern medicine can do to improve that. We just need to wait for you to overcome this on your own.” Another pause. “Yes, yes we are all very concerned about you. Unfortunately we don’t want to expose the rest of the crew. We’ll make sure to come by and give you our best wishes.”
Mal waited until the Doctor finished his conversation before asking “This sounds serious Doc. Should we send him to a hospital?”
Wash laughed a little, and Mal gave him a strange look. This didn’t strike him as all that funny. The Doctor saw his confusion and tried to clarify the situation. “Mal he’s fine. It’s Chicken Pox. We just don’t want him wandering around the ship. I’m not sure if everyone has had it. And I’d rather not expose us all to an irritating virus. Besides we think the general well being of the ship will be improved if we can have a little break from Jayne.”
Mal opened his mouth to object, then he thought a little about Jayne’s normal contributions to dinner table conversations. He shut his mouth, shrugged and said “If you think it’s medically advisable, we’ll do whatever is in the best interests of the crew.”
“Captain we’re done in the cargo bay.”
“That was fast Kailee. Remind me to give you a raise.” Mal turned to head back to the cargo bay. He was in for his second shock of the day.
“Is that…. bunting?”
“I’m sorry Mal. But we had to work as fast as we could. I had some leftover supplies in my shuttle. Besides this will give Kailee a little more time to scrub the vents clean of cow… products.”
Words failed Mal. So instead of speaking he just gazed silently at his suddenly more festive cargo bay. He identified red, blue, and green banners. And unless his eyes were deceiving him, something that was covered in little sparkly bits.
“Did you use glitter?” His voice was dangerously quiet.
Fortunately both Kailee and Inarra were spared any embarrassing questions by the early arrival of Mal’s clients.
“Good day Captain Reynolds.” The speaker glanced up at the colorful decorations of Serenity’s hold before speaking. “You were expecting us I see.”
“Just trying to be neighborly Mister Smith. The cargo?”
“It’s being brought in by the porters right now. I have an additional request. I know our itinerary called for five days. But if you can reach Vee in three days we will add a significant bonus.” As the suited man spoke four dock workers deposited the package in question into Serenity’s hold.
"Hold on a sec there Mister Smith. How big is this bonus of yours?"
"Ten thousand. Four thousand now, if you agree to our updated itinerary. And Six thousand when you reach Vee."
Inarra who had been watching from the railing let out a muffled gasp. And Kailee, who had been making a pretense of tightening some bolts, dropped her spanner. Mal looked annoyed and glared in their general direction; to no effect since both Kailee and Inarra had now fixed their attention on Mr. Smith who appeared to be ignoring the interplay.
“Well do you have any more questions Captain?”
“Nothing springs to mind.” Mal said in a strained voice.
“Very well. Then my associates will expect you in three days. The recognition signals will be sent to you on the CoreText. Good day Captain.” And just that fast the men left. Mal took that as his own cue and turned towards the intercom. “Wash warm up the engines. I’d like to be in the Black as soon as we can.”
"Sure thing Captain. Did I understand that we were getting a bonus?"
"Did everyone listen in on this conversation?"
"No I don't think Jayne's in the loop Mal."
Mal was ashamed for it, but the calculating part of his mind started dividing their take by seven instead of the normal eight participants.
At this point Kailee added her tenth of a credit to the conversation: "10,000 Captain, can you imagine? They could almost buy their own ship for that."
"Yeah and who's going to fly it for them you?" Mal retorted.
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Sorry for the delay in getting this thing up.
Any comments or criticisms are appreciated. Also if you notice things that look different from the series let me know. I'm trying to be as true as I can to the characters.
Last edited by Gerald Tarrant on 2008-01-24 01:22pm, edited 1 time in total.
Minor quibble... I do believe that Mal would ask "How significant of a bonus are we discussing, here?" Or something to that effect.
"This is supposed to be a happy occasion... Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who."
-- The King of Swamp Castle, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
"Nothing of consequence happened today. " -- Diary of King George III, July 4, 1776
"This is not bad; this is a conspiracy to remove happiness from existence. It seeks to wrap its hedgehog hand around the still beating heart of the personification of good and squeeze until it is stilled."
-- Chuck Sonnenburg on Voyager's "Elogium"
-- The King of Swamp Castle, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
"Nothing of consequence happened today. " -- Diary of King George III, July 4, 1776
"This is not bad; this is a conspiracy to remove happiness from existence. It seeks to wrap its hedgehog hand around the still beating heart of the personification of good and squeeze until it is stilled."
-- Chuck Sonnenburg on Voyager's "Elogium"