BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BADKARMA00

The Last Spartan – Chapter Twenty
Thursday, November 29, 2007

Upheavals ensue


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2021    RATING: 0    SERIES: FIREFLY

The Last Spartan – Chapter Twenty Surely everyone knows by now that I don’t own Firefly. ------------------ Mal had stayed on the bridge as the others had left the ship. Only Inara had stayed. He wanted to be angry with them, and felt like he should be. But the things Jayne had said to him were still ringing in his ears. Was he such a control freak that he felt like he needed to be in charge of every aspect of their lives? Before today he would have laughed at the idea. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Not anymore. That Inara had chosen to stay spoke volumes about her love for him, and he felt guilty about that, now. She would endure his anger, his stubbornness, even if it meant that she alone left her with him. She deserved better than that. So did the rest. They had followed him through thick and thin, never hesitating when the chips were down, to do what needed doing. Had saved his life, and each others, more times than he cared to think on. And he repaid them how? By demanding that they live up to ‘his’ code, on ‘his’ ship. The ship was their home, as well. Yet how many times had he refused to even let them get off the ship, so great was his desire to be in the black again as soon as possible. How many times had they looked out the door, or window, seeing grass and trees and other people, knowing that he wouldn’t ‘allow’ them to go and touch, smell, and visit. Malcolm Reynolds hid in the black. He would admit it to himself, if to no one else. In the black, he was in charge of his own destiny. No one told him what to do. The Alliance didn’t rule him, not Malcolm Reynolds. He snorted at that, thinking about how many times he had narrowly escaped with his life, or his ship, from the Alliance. No sir, the Alliance didn’t rule him. When had he become so controlling? As he thought about it, a better question came to him. When haven’t I been so controlling? It rankled to admit that he’d been wrong. He made a point of never admitting it, in fact. He would splutter, stammer, and refuse to discuss a matter before admitting any wrongness. But the others? Yes, it was his ship. But did that make his behavior right in any way? He didn’t like the answer that formed in his mind to that question. Maybe it was time to think about what Malcolm Reynolds wanted. As he looked out the cockpit windows, he reclined slightly, and began to do just that. -------------------- “River, what do you mean? How have you ruined everything?” Inara held the crying younger woman tightly. Looking around, she spied a small bench, and guided River to it, sitting them both down. “Oh, Inara,” River blubbered. “Jayne practically told his servant that we were married, using an ancient phrase that indicated my status to the household. The saying is a part of his culture, but it shook me. He said that it would be death to slight me.” “Well,” Inara said, shocked at the words herself, “I can see where that would be. . .unsettling.” “No, that’s just it,” River looked up, her eyes red and swollen. “It’s just a ritual! He even told me that whoever was guilty of such a thing would likely find themselves fired, not dead. But he is so protective, and I pushed him about it, and he thought. . .” “He thought you didn’t approve?” Inara was becoming confused. “I don’t understand, sweetie.” “He thought that I meant I didn’t want him!” River almost wailed. “He thought that I had changed my mind about being here with him. And it hurt him so much, Inara! I could feel the walls come up between us.” She fell silent for a minute, composing herself. “He had told me,” she continued when she was calm, “that he knew that one day I would leave him. That when that happened he would die within. I promised I would never leave, but then I have to make such a big deal over something so stupid!” “Have you tried talking to him?” Inara asked. “Surely this is just a misunderstanding, mei mei. How bad can it be?” “I saw it in his eyes, Inara,” River told her mournfully. “I felt it within him. I’ve wounded him. He told me that I could. That I. . .that he had allowed me to get too close to him, that I was now able to hurt him like no other. And he was right!” River’s crying began again, and she buried her head in Inara’s shoulder. Not knowing what else to say, Inara held the younger woman while she cried. Even after three thousand years of life experience, men are still stupid, she thought angrily. She vowed, then and there, that she and Jayne would be having a talk. A very long talk. ---------------------- Unaware of the conflict raging outside, Simon and Kaylee were settling into their ‘room’. It was, actually, a suite, containing a large living area, small office, immense bedroom, and a bathroom that had Kaylee’s eyes goggling. “Simon,” she breathed, “I ain’t never even heard of anything like this!” The floor was polished marble, with engraved scenes from ancient Greece of epic battles, mythical monsters, and wonders of Grecian architecture. The walls were done in a similar fashion, thought the engraving was of vines there, leaves flowing all around the room. The huge bathtub looked to be made of solid ivory, though Simon wasn’t sure. The fixtures were all gold, trimmed in silver. Door handles, drawer knobs, and other trim fixtures were all in jade. Green jade. “The cost of this bathroom alone would buy an Alliance cruiser,” Kaylee exclaimed. “I. . .I can’t imagine the wealth,” Simon murmured. Kaylee nodded, at a loss for words. Then she smiled wickedly, and looked at Simon. “What say we try out that tub?” ------------------- Zoe had reacted in a similar fashion to the suite she had been given. While completely different to that of Simon and Kaylee’s, it was no less extravagant. As she pondered the credits involved in creating just this one room, she couldn’t help laugh at all the times ‘Jayne’ had bitched about his cut. Who’d believe a mercenary who didn’t bitch about money? His words came back to her. As she examined her surroundings, she realized Jayne had been truthful. He was wealthy. No, more like filthy, stinking rich, she amended. Once she saw the tub sitting in her own bathroom, all thoughts of. . .well, anything, were forgotten. Minutes later she was reveling in the feeling of being surrounded by hot water. Everything else could wait a while. ----------------- Prim had noted his Lord’s pensive attitude the moment he had reappeared. Alone. Prim’s eyes narrowed at that. “My Lord?” he asked quietly. When Janos turned to face him, Prim was shocked at the look on Janos’ face. “Prim,” Janos nodded. “It may be that I spoke out of turn, concerning the Lady River,” he said, voice conveying his sadness. “It seems that she may not be staying as permanently as I thought. That changes nothing, however,” he added, and Prim nodded. “Very well, My Lord,” Prim said softly. “If I may. . .?” No one else on the staff would have dared ask, but Prim took advantage of a relationship that was far older than the estate itself. “I fear that I am a victim to my own arrogance, Prim,” Janos sighed. “The ritual introduction did not sit well with her, I fear. It seems that she does not know me so well as she thought.” He looked at the ground for a moment, then looked up at the man who was his most trusted confidant. “Prim, do you feel I am too tied to the past?” he asked plainly. Prim looked carefully at his master. “My Lord, surely that is not for me to say,” he temporized, knowing that would not deflect the question. “It is if I ask,” Janos informed him. “And I am asking, Prim. What good does it really do me to cling to illusions that Sparta lives on here, and within me, when it costs me so much?” The pain in his Lord’s voice, on his face, was not a thing Prim was used to seeing. “My Lord. . .” Prim began, then stopped. This was not a time for formality. He sat beside the man to whom he owed so much. “Janos, my friend,” Prim started again, “I cannot answer such a question. Oft have I wondered if your refusal to leave Sparta behind was healthy for you. Even the estate is modeled, in many ways, after your life there.” “But Sparta, my Lord, is long departed. And she will not return. Perhaps it is time to lay her to rest, and move forward. You are the last Spartan, Janos. There will be no more. There will never be another Sparta.” Janos pondered that, and finally nodded in agreement. “It will take much work, on both our parts, Prim,” he said at last. “I think I know something that might help, however. You have, I presume, seen the Lady Inara?” “I have, my Lord,” Prim smiled. “A beautiful and graceful creature, to be sure. One whose poise is rare in this ‘verse.” Janos nodded. “Indeed, she is all that. What would you think if I offered her the position of hostess here at the estate? Placed her in charge of the house, answering only to you. Think you that she would have the kind of influence here that is needed to remove me from the pit in which I have placed myself. And those around me?” “I think she would be perfect for the job, my Lord,” Prim answered. “Assuming that the Lady River will not be. . .” “I think I have ruptured that wall for all time, Prim, old friend,” Janos sighed wearily. “And in any case, the Lady River and I will be quite busy for some time. You realized, I assumed?” “I did, my Lord,” Prim nodded knowingly. “I. . .I am sorry for the loss you feel, Janos. Could I repair it, I would.” “I know,” Janos said with a weak smile, and clasped the man’s shoulder in a rare show of affection. “And I thank you for that. And who knows what the future will bring? But in the meantime, let us look to dragging the estate, and myself, out of the past. Then we shall look forward, and see what beckons. Ay?” “I look forward to that, my Lord,” Prim smiled warmly. Janos looked at him for a moment, then smiled more warmly. “You know what, Prim? So do I.” And he found that he meant it. -------------------- Inara had accompanied River to the main house, where a befuddled maid had led them to ‘Lady River’s Suite’. Inara was stunned at the immaculate set of rooms, but she did not take the time to peruse them. She guided River to the enormous bed, and left her there, resting, while she went in search of Jayne Cobb. She had no more than descended the main staircase than she ran into Prim, who seemed to be everywhere. “My Lady Inara,” Prim bowed slightly. “Master Janos would like a word with you, if it is convenient. He awaits you in his study. Would you come with me?” “I certainly will,” Inara nodded, smiling. Prim guided her to the study, announcing her presence. Inara drifted into the study, and was at once assaulted by the smell of old leather binding. The ‘study’ was more of a library, with countless volumes lining the walls. Many were likely from Earth that was, she realized with a start. “Quite a display, Jayne,” Inara said, looking around. “They aren’t a display, Inara,” he corrected. “This is my private study. The books are mine.” Inara nodded, having suspected as much. “Please, sit,” Jayne indicated a pair of comfortable looking chairs. “May I get you something?” Inara shook her head, taking a seat. “I wanted to talk to you about a proposition, Inara,” Jayne told her, taking the seat next to hers. Inara frowned at that, and Jayne’s eyes narrowed. “Oh for God’s sake!” he snorted. “Must you always assume the worst? I do not mean to proposition you, personally, Inara.” She had the grace to blush at that. “Instead I wish to offer you a position on my staff,” he continued, and the look on her face was priceless. “What?” she stammered. “I have decided that both myself and this estate are too deeply mired in the past, Inara,” Jayne explained. “In an effort to drag us both into the present, I want to offer you the position of house manager. Day to day control of the main house, and all who work here, would fall to you.” “Any entertainment, dinners, and the like, would be your responsibility, as would the decor, decisions on staff, whatever. You would, in effect, become the hostess of the estate, as well as house manager. You primary mission, however, would be to guide me, and this house, into the present day, and help me overcome my. . .leanings toward ancient times and customs.” “It is a large undertaking, I know,” he told her. “But I know you can do it, and I will pay you well.” “Jayne, surely those duties would fall to River, as Lady of the House,” Inara breathed, not knowing what else to say. “I fear that she is no longer interested in that . . . duty, shall we call it,” Jayne told her sadly. “The fault for that is mine, alone, and one of the reasons we are having this discussion. I fear that my habits of culture have upset her, and forced her to rethink her attitude towards me.” “Did she say that, Jayne?” Inara asked. This was going better than she could have hoped. “It wasn’t necessary, Inara,” he replied. “Her eyes told me, quite clearly, that she felt she had made a miscalculation. One that I will not hold her to, I assure you. I promised Simon not a week ago that I would neither send her away, nor force her to stay. I will need to teach her how to . . . to be, I suppose is a good way to put it. After that, I will see to it that she lacks for nothing, and goes where she wills.” He sighed heavily. “I can do no more than that.” “You can’t be that stupid,” Inara said conversationally. Jayne’s head snapped up. “Really, Jayne,” Inara’s voice was scathing. “After three thousand years, surely you have learned something about women.” “Not as much as you might believe,” he smiled. “Once you have seen a lover or two grow old and die, you begin to pay less attention.” Inara started at that, not having thought that far into her speech. “I am sorry, Jayne,” she apologized softly. “I didn’t mean it harshly. But I came upon River crying in the garden, not long after you left her. She explained to me what happened, how she had been unsettled by your abrupt customs, and mannerisms. She fears that you have mistaken her confusion, her lack of understanding, for a sign that she no longer desires to be with you. She is heartbroken.” “What?” Jayne asked her, eyes wide. “What did you say?” “I said that she is heartbroken,” Inara told him. “Fears that she has wounded you, her words, in her confusion. She blames herself, just as you blame yourself, for what happened. She is upstairs now, likely crying all over again.” “Upstairs?” Jayne looked at her. “Now?” He came to his feet. “Yes,” Inara smiled, and thought about the differences between Jayne and Mal. Mal would never consider coming to her, as Jayne was now clearly thinking. . . “Inara, would you mind if we continued this later?” Jayne asked. “I. . .I need. . .” “Of course, Jayne,” Inara nodded gracefully. “Go to her.” And he did, leaving in a blur of speed that still took her breath away. Interesting times, indeed.

COMMENTS



POST YOUR COMMENTS

You must log in to post comments.

YOUR OPTIONS

OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR

Archangel Forty-Two
The battle ends, for all but one.

Archangel – Chapter Forty-One
Monty arrives, but is it too late?

Archangel – Chapter Forty
The battle takes a turn for the worst, and time begins to run out for defenders.

Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Nine
Things heat up, and not just on Osiris!

Unneeded
Jayne decides to leave after the damage from Miranda is put right.

Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Battle Rolls on, and friends and foes alike began to fall.

Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Seven
THe Battle for Osiris is joined

Archangel - Chapter Thirty-Six
The Battle Begins

Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Five
Simon and River reach an understanding, and the crew separates, starting their parts of the mission.

Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Four
The Crew decideds to help. River gets help from an unexpected source.