BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BRIGLAD

Out to the black Chapter 6
Monday, June 9, 2008

Dinner Conversations


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2841    RATING: 0    SERIES: FIREFLY

Out to the black Chapter 6

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This is my first Fan Fic ever. Constructive reviews are shiny.

This fic takes place two years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee and Mal/Inara along with a Jayne/River friendship.

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Out to the black

Chapter Six –Dinner Conversations

“You mean to tell me, none of you have ever had a French fry?” Allan asked standing by Serenity’s stove.

“Not’s that I know’s of… What’s a french fry anyway?” Kaylee asked as she and Simon sat down at the table in the galley.

Allan laughed, “They’re pretty simple, Take a potato, cut it into strips and fry it in oil. Well that how you make homemade french fry’s, the one’s I have are commercially made, partially cooked then. All I have to do is put them in the oven for a while to heat them up… That is, if I can figure out this damn oven…”

“Hang on there Allan,” Kaylee said with a smile, moving from the table to the kitchen to help. “Just hit this switch here,” the mechanic said, “then select’s the mode you want here, convection, regular or microwave, then the temperature ya’ want then how long your cookin.”

“Thanks Kaylee, I can design engines and gravity systems but can’t figure out a stove” Allan said with a laugh as he turned back to the task of making lunch for the crew.

As Allan continued the mundane tasks of cooking, he began to think back on the last eighteen hours. It had been busy for sure. He had woken from cryo sleep three hundred years (give or take) later than he had expected. After being rescued by a tramp space freighter crew. He had told an abbreviated account of his life story, met a nineteen-year-old space ship pilot who could read minds, been in a gunfight in which he and said pilot had killed five men. Then had escaped being arrested for said gunfight because the local sheriff was an old army buddy of the ship’s First Mate and since the men they had killed were wanted criminals, no one would miss them. Allan wondered what would happen after dinner. Maybe aliens would invade during desert, or he’s finally figure out how to make that faster than light engine out of a can of soup and two flashlight batteries.

Then there were the cryptic words River had said to him, “Seven becomes eight, welcome to the family.” Family? Allan hadn’t been in any type of a family in a long time. Not since his parents had died when he was twelve or when his grandparent’s had passed on in his mid twenties. He hadn’t really loved anyone either. Well not since Sara anyway. But that was thirty plus, no wait, four hundred and thirty plus years ago.

Allan felt a wave of loneliness wash over him. He gripped the counter looking at his hands, trying not to let on what he was feeling. Allan had focused all his energies on work. Burring his feelings. Designing the tools that would fulfill his dream to allow mankind to survive it’s own stupidity and greed by traveling to the stars. Now Allan wasn’t sure that it was for the best. Especially after finding out what the government… The leaders, entrusted with the public good, had done to River Tam.

“Damn” he muttered quietly. Looking up to see if anyone had noticed his small outburst, Allan was glad to see that Simon and Kaylee were too engrossed in each other to notice anything else. Therefore when he felt a small hand touch his shoulder, Allan nearly jumped out of his skin, letting out a small yelp.

“Not alone,” River said quietly standing next to Allan. “Not here, not now.”

Looking down at the slim girl, Allan smiled and said. “I think you’re right there.” Adding with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Will you please wear a bell or something? That’s the second time you’ve nearly given me a heart attack. I’m too old to be getting startled like that.”

River giggled, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, “Allan replied, “Just try to refrain from it if you can, I’m not sure if the ole’ ticker can handle it.”

“A good heart, a strong and brave heart” River said quietly. Perking up she said a bit louder, “When do we eat? I’m starved!”

“Food sure would hit the spot ‘bought now” Jayne said as he clomped his way into the room. “By the way there Gramps, good shootin there t’day, nice double taps. Where’d ya’ learn ta shoot like’s that?”

“I had good teachers, my granddad taught me to shoot. Later, my company’s chief of security taught me combat shooting. We used to partner up for shooting matches.” Allan remembered with a touch of sadness “We kicked ass too. Me, a richer than hell engineer and a retired Navy Master Chief. We kept showing up all the supposed ‘experts’ from the military and law enforcement.

“Yer’ company?” Jayne asked as Allan flipped the burger’s sizzling in the pan.

Yeah, after I invented my first spaceship drive system, I started a company out of my grandfather’s barn. Bryant Aerospace. As the company grew and after I started on the exodus project to bring people here, to this system,” Allan said, pointing around the room. “ I changed the name to match the systems primary star. Blue Sun Corporation…” Allan cut himself off when he saw the shocked looks on the faces staring at him.

Simon was incredulous, “You founded Blue Sun?”

“Uh, yeah”

“Blue Sun is the largest single corporation in the ‘verse. They are so intertwined with the Alliance that it’s hard to tell where one stops and the other begins.” Simon said still wide-eyed. Pausing for a moment, Simon finished in a low tone, “They are also responsible for what happened to River.”

“Oh my god.” Was all Allan could gasp out. His legs felt weak.

“This mean yer’ rich?” Jayne asked. Kaylee smacked him on the arm with back of her hand.

River was staring at Allan with a strange look on her face. She seemed to be trembling. Allan felt even lower than he had a few minutes before.

“I’m sorry River. Seems like it’s still my fault.” Allan said remembering his conversation with River on Serenity’s bridge.

“No!” River exclaimed, making everyone jump. “Not your fault” She said quietly, fixing Allan with a stern gaze. You didn’t do things maliciously. You wanted to help the human race survive. Not your fault that mankind squandered your gift.” River continued with a small smile creeping onto her lips, “You are a good man who has done many good things…”

“Like shooting two men down like they were paper targets”

“Seems to me like that was a good thing at that particular moment.” Mal said from the doorway leading to the aft hallway. He had heard the last few minutes of conversation. Inara stood beside him with a concerned look on her face.

Allan spoke again, “Well, tell that to men I shot.” He fumed. “I’m suddenly not very hungry anymore. Anyone mind finishing this? The potatoes will be done in five minutes. The burgers are almost done” Allan said dropping the spatula in his hand on the counter. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have some thinking to do.” With that he strode out of the galley, almost running Zoë over as she entered the room.

Mal looked dumbfounded for a moment, then reverted back to captain mode, “Kaylee can you see to the food, I think me’ an our guest need to have a chat.”

“Sure Capn’”

Mal turned to leave and follow Allan, but Inara laid a hand on his arm. Looking into his eyes. “I’ll talk to him. He is feeling very alone and betrayed right now. Perhaps a calmer voice might help.”

“I can be calm” Mal said.

“You and Allan are too much alike. It would not be calm for long I think” Inara said sweetly, “ I think my counseling skills might be warranted here.”

“Okay ‘Nara, but just use the counselin’ skills, the rest are off limits.” Mal said with a slight grin and a twinkle in his eyes. Inara shot Mal a dark glare, hit him on the arm and then smiled.

“Those skills are for you and you only now Bao-bei” Inara said with a wink as she turned and glided out of the room in search of Allen.

“Now let’s eat, can’t let this fine meal go to waste,” Mal said turning back to the rest of his crew, “but save Allan a plate.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Inara found Allan in the cargo bay. Looking at the older man from her perch on the catwalk, she could easily tell he was both angry and sad. She wondered what she could say to this man that she had barely met this very morning but who had seemed to become a member of Serenity’s little family, almost from the start…

“I can hear you up there” Allan said quietly, his back still to Inara as he sat on a crate in the bay, his hands doing something Inara couldn’t see.

“I’m sorry Allan, I thought you might want to talk. Would that be alright?”

A sigh, “Yeah, I think so” Allan replied not turning from his work.

Inara descended the stairs to the bay floor and moved over to where she could see Allan’s face. Not so close to crowd him but also not so far that he wouldn’t feel like he was being shunned. When Inara could see what Allan was doing with his hands she was a bit surprised. He was cleaning his guns.

“Mal does that too when he’s upset.”

“What’s that?”

“Clean his weapons.”

“I used them today, needed cleaning.”

“Yes you did. And I’m glad that you did. River most likely would have been killed, Kaylee and Simon as well. “I’m glad everyone is safe.” Allan said quietly, “You all are good people.”

Inara smiled at that, “I’m glad you think so.”

Changing the subject a bit Allan asked as he finished reassembling his Colt. “What’s your job on the ship Inara? Mal called you an ‘Ambassador’. I mean I’ve got pretty much all of you figured out. Kaylee’s the mechanic, Jayne’s the muscle, River flies, Simon’s the Doctor, Mal’s the captain and Zoë’s First mate. But you…don’t seem to fit somehow” Allan finished with a slight smile.

“Some day’s I’d agree with you” Inara replied with a warm smile. “Considering my previous occupation, running with this crew would be… unusual at best.”

“Previous occupation?”

“I was a Registered Companion”

Allan looked confused, “A Registered what?”

“Companion” Inara said still smiling, “I suppose the closest you would consider a companion is a Courtesan, or perhaps a Geisha. But with a bit more sex involved.”

Allan looked a bit shocked, “In the circles I traveled in my business life, a woman might be called an escort or a high end call girl doing that. Uh, not that I think that something like that is wrong you understand. I mean I might have employed…” Allan stammered out.

“A beautiful woman to be on your arm or in your bed” Inara said”

“Well, mostly on the arm. I mean, uh, for social functions and the like, to make me look more like the founder and CEO of a major corporation, rather than the former farm boy turned genius/geek with a bank account bigger than the gross national product of some small countries”

Allan thought a moment, “how did you come to be on Serenity?”

“At first it was a business deal. I rented one of the Shuttles to use a mobile base for expanding my client base. Mal gained the respectability that having a companion on board can gave a ship like this.”

“A companion helps huh?”

“Yes, Companion’s hold very high social standing. Having even a ‘retired’ Companion like, myself still is of benefit. I use my business contacts to help secure cargo jobs for the ship.”

“Retired?”

“Yes,” Inara replied with a bit of a giggle. “I gave up my life of wealth and sex for a certain Pirate, who for the first three years, called me a whore whenever we would argue.”

“I am not a Pirate, I’m a Gentleman Thief.” Mal said from the catwalk “And we stopped arguin’… well mostly”

Inara and Allan looked up to see Mal and Zoë walking down the stairs.

“Well I should hope so… Considering how Inara dragged you into the Shuttle a few hours ago” Allan finally laughed. Feeling like a weight had been lifted from him.

“Mal!” Inara exclaimed. “How long have been there?”

“From ‘bout the time Allan admitted uh, rentin’ some companionship”

“Do you always eavesdrop?” Allan asked.

“My ship”

“Point taken,” Allan said. “I suppose you wanted to speak to me about earlier today”

Mal and Zoë shared a look. ”The Captain did say to me that you mentioned that this wasn’t your first gunfight.” Zoë said looking in Allan’s eyes, face impassive.

Allan took a deep breath. “It was my third”

“Huh” was all Mal could say.

“Back on Earth, I was a very wealthy man. Unfortunately this made me a target. The first time was a kidnapping attempt. They were fairly inept. Just looking to make some money by snatching the fourth richest guy on the planet.” Allan took a breath and continued. “They thought I was a soft target since I always had light security. Just a driver and one bodyguard. Except for the fact that both of them were retired military commandos who had trained me up to their standards.” Allan smiled a bit. “Bad guys didn’t know what hit em’”

Mal laughed and Zoë smiled at that. Even Inara seemed a bit amused.

Allan continued more seriously, “Second time was an assassination attempt. Seems there was a group of religious zealots back on Earth that felt that it was the end of days, the apocalypse. The way the Earth was running out of resources, the famine, political unrest…”

“Seems like times were a bit tough” Mal commented.

“They were” Allan said. “Anyway they felt I was doing the Devils work with my plan to have mankind survive by going to the stars. Felt I was cheating God out of the souls destined for heaven by taking them away from the Earth”

“What happened next?” Zoë asked quietly.

“Well, since they were people of God, they couldn’t bring themselves to directly attack me but they were not above hiring mercenaries to do the dirty work so to speak. I had upgraded security a bit after the kidnapping attempt. I started traveling with a small detail of ex military types. Five or Six bodyguards well armed, body armor, heavier weapons. Even my car’s had armor.” Allan paused for a second. “David Chin was my Chief of Security. Good guy, Retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer. Spent most of his career as a SEAL…”

“What’s a SEAL?” Mal asked.

“Sea, air and land” Allan continued. They were special operations troops. Every branch of the American Military had spec ops troops. SEAL’s were the Navy’s Even after the Alliance formed, the US and Chinese military’s didn’t merge for almost ten years. These guys could kick some serious ass. An eight-man team could hit a target like a whole company of regular troops. All after swimming fifteen miles from a submarine offshore. And probably walking another ten with their gear.”

Mal whistled, “Can see why you had them fellas fer security.”

“Yeah, they were good. David and I became best friends… more like brothers actually.” Allan paused, sighing a bit at the memory. “Dave was the first one to go down.”

Allan continued. “Dave was in the lead car with three other men. The hit team blew it up with explosives buried in the road.” Allan’s eyes were starting to get a bit red. “My driver tried to get out of there but they disabled my car with a high caliber sniper round. We had to shoot it out. My driver, one guard and me. We were up against five Merc’s with automatic weapons.”

“Merciful Buddha” Inara gasped.

Allan coughed a bit, trying to clear the tightness in his throat “We just kept shooting at the muzzle flashes. We had dropped two of them on one side so we tried to make a break for better cover. Mike, my driver went down next, I took a round in my arm” Allan said while pushing up his sleeve showing the scar on his left arm. “We crawled to the ditch on the side of the road and kept on shooting. Ross, the last man left got hit twice but in his armor, he kept up fire while I made a break for the woods. I just kept running in the dark. I then heard the shooting stop. A moment later there was one last shot. They had executed Ross.”

“The Merc’s thought I was a some city boy and easy pickings, not a country kid raised in the woods. I was able to keep away from them until I found a house. I pounded on the door to wake someone up. The family there let me in, called the police and an ambulance. This was about three years before the Exodus ships left Earth. Killing me wouldn’t have changed that from happening but it sure gave me extra impetus to leave. I had too big a target on my back. I became a bit of a recluse after that, moved to back to my Grandparent’s farm, worked on my ship and once it was done… Well here I am.”

“That’s some story,” Mal said quietly.

“I haven’t really talked to anyone about that since it happened. I actually feel a heck of a lot better after telling that,” Allan said with a slight smile.

“Glad to hear,” Mal said. Suddenly looking a bit uncomfortable, looking at Zoë Mal asked another question. “I hate to be a Hwoon dahn here but you kinda said’s you were a monied individual, and I was uh wonderin’...”

“You were wondering if I could pay for my passage?” Allan said a small smile creeping onto his face.

“Well uh, it wouldn’t have to be much, I mean, I appreciate you helping save River and my boat and all…”

Inara shot Mal a hard glare, Zoë looked more uncomfortable than Mal. Allan looked between them for a moment then began to laugh.

“Not to worry there Captain, I think I can arrange something. And I think we can work compensating you for your trouble in rescuing me as well. I mean there are still such things as salvage awards, correct?”

“Uh, yeah”

“Well” Allan said popping the lid off of one of his crates in the bay, “let’s see what we can find, shall we?”

Allan reached into the crate and Mal heard the tink of metal on metal. His eyes flew open wide as he saw what Allan was pulling out of the box. Allan laughed when he saw the look on the three Serenity crewmembers faces as they realized what had made the metallic sounds. Gleaming on top of another crate were four ten inch long gold bars.

“I take it this will be adequate payment for a weeks passage and assistance in salvaging my ship captain? Allan said with a wide smile.

“Wuo de ma” Mal gasped.

”Not enough? I do have more” Allan said enjoying the looks on the others faces.

Mal felt weak, real gold was rather more rare in the ‘verse than it was on Earth. Each one of the bar’s Allan had pulled out was worth more than Serenity herself. Inara looked to be in shock, Mal was sputtering like an old engine, Zoë looked like she wanted to hug Allan.

“We have a deal Captain?” Allan asked grinning.

“I, uh, um. Yes!”

Regaining some of his composure, Mal started barking orders. “Nara, you an’ Zoë get those bars up to your shuttle, keep em’ outta sight. Allan I’ll help you move that there crate to your bunk, best be keeping it locked up in case Jayne gets curious about your stuff”

“Okay Mal, let’s do it. Then I’ll see about figuring out what I’ll make for dinner tonight.”

“After this you still wanna’ cook? We should be serving you your meals in bed.”

“Cooking is one of my hobbies, along with competitive shooting and playing guitar. I get bored easily.”

“Can’t have you bored then,” Mal said, smiling “gotta keep my passengers happy.”

“Hell, I’m happy that I’m still breathing, everything else is just gravy”

“Hmm, speakin’ of gravy, what you got in them crates along those lines?”

“All kinds Mal”

“I think this is the beginning of a be-you-ti-ful friendship”

Allan agreed.

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