BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - SUSPENSE

SHINY

Orphaned Soul, Epilogue
Friday, February 18, 2005

Inara and Shephard Book try to help a troubled girl who has lost her brother, and perhaps her mind.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 4013    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Read: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Part 9 - Part 10 - Part 11 - Part 12 - Part 13 - Part 14 - Part 15

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Jaz sat nervously in the opulent waiting room. The high priestess of House Madrassa was legendary even within the sheltered halls of the academy. It was said that she had slain countless Reavers, that she had single-handedly destroyed an Alliance cruiser, that even The Directors themselves feared to directly confront her.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to convince herself the shivering was a residual effect of the cryo. Something about the room seemed familiar. She brushed lightly against the memories of warm dreams that had offered her an occasional escape from the cold terrors of her waking hours, then abruptly withdrew. She knew better than to linger, knew well the punishment for improper thought, the pain of – someone was coming!

She crouched in the corner, waiting. The gilded doors creaked open. A gray-haired shepherd stepped through, winking affectionately at her as he passed. She looked down at her clenched fingers. They were shaking. She closed her eyes in shame – for nearly killing the only person who had ever showed her any kindness, she told herself. Not for hesitating. She almost believed herself.

“Jasmine Winifred Lea. The high priestess will see you now.” Unlike Shepherd Book, the stern-faced administrator made Jaz uneasy. She felt watched and judged just following the woman through the doorway. A vast chamber opened up before her, but the administrator led her down a side corridor into a small indoor garden. “Your visitor, priestess.”

“Thank you, Badyn. You may go now.” The high priestess sat alongside an ancient amphora fountain, holding back a long golden sleeve as she ran her fingers gracefully across the surface of the water. A slender young woman sat beside her, staring into the fountain. Neither spoke. Impatient, Jaz tried probing the women’s thoughts, but could sense nothing.

“I hope you don’t expect me to curtsy, your highness.”

The high priestess rose, laughing without a trace of pretense. “Of course not. And please, call me Inara.”

“Why have you brought me here?”

“I’m probably not the best person to explain that,” she replied, nodding toward her companion.

As the young woman stood and turned toward her, Jasmine’s breath caught in her throat. It was her. She closed her eyes, surprised that she could now embrace the memory without fear. It was the girl from her dreams. The one who had kept her strong, kept her sane. The one who had stolen away her pain and reinforced her shattered will. Trembling, Jasmine re-opened her eyes. A small group of children had gathered around the fountain. She thought she recognized some of the faces from the academy.

The young woman approached her, tracing long fingers along the polished stethoscope that hung from her neck. She could not tear her gaze away from the girl’s achingly beautiful face. Jasmine wondered how she managed to maintain that carefree smile despite the familiar shadows that haunted the depths of her eyes.

“Hi, my name’s River. Welcome home.”

---

This concludes the short fiction, Orphaned Soul, inspired by the wonderfully nuanced performance of Summer Glau as River Tam in the short-lived but long-loved television show, Firefly. Thank you for taking the time to read it.

Rob Cheng (shiny@browncoats.com)

COMMENTS

Friday, February 18, 2005 1:55 PM

KAYSKY


Wow...that was pretty gorram quick! Guess my post in the previous chapter was worth it!

I'm happy and I'm sad. Happy to have been able to read such a wonderful story, but sad because it is over.

Hopefully you will think up another story to entertain us all with!

Friday, February 18, 2005 1:55 PM

SHINY


I'm going to take a little a break from writing, as my wonderful wife is due to deliver in a few weeks (Woo-hoo! Shiny's gonna be a daddy!!!) :) I hope this epilogue gives you a bit of an idea about where I am thinking of taking this storyline next.

Thanks for reading everyone, and please keep sending me your comments! I really appreciate the feedback!

Friday, February 18, 2005 2:39 PM

AMDOBELL


Congratulations on the new baby! Hope the stories you will be telling your baby will be longer, this was a good story and I enjoyed it but boy was it frustrating to read a few lines then have it end. I am sure you will be a perfect Daddy, Ali D :~)

Friday, February 18, 2005 5:15 PM

KAYSKY


Hmm...like a baby is some kind of an excuse! J/K

I'm really happy for you. CONGRATS!! I'm sure you'll enjoy all the wonderful things parenthood entails. I wish I could tell you what some of those are, but not being a parent myself, I have no clue.

Best of luck to you, the Mrs., and the little one!

Saturday, February 19, 2005 6:42 AM

SOULOFSERENITY


This was a great story, Shiny! And congrats on the baby!!

I hope to see more great quality fics like this from you in the not too far future.

- Soul

Thursday, February 24, 2005 3:42 PM

MYORANGEHAT


More! NEED more! (not to sound ungrateful or anything. :P)

Shiny, you have blown me away with every chapter. Amazing! Thanks for sharing your writing with us!! :D

Monday, February 28, 2005 3:59 PM

TZEGHA


Well,

*slap upside the head*

You killed my Simon, jerk!

Okay, I must admit, I really really hate alternate 'verse fics. But once I got past my fury of ten thousand suns because you killed Simon (you bastard!) and for riffing on Mal's threat to space him, thus totally assassinating him in my mind, I have to say

Well done.

Very clean crisp writing, no frills without losing any heart or emotion. I'll have to set aside some time so I can go back chapter-by-chapter and give you more detailed feedback.

[small voice] Simon-killer [/sv]

Thursday, May 19, 2005 7:31 AM

KIZZIECSTARS


hav 2 agree with Tzegha. big simon murderer.
still, v. good, couldnt stop reading!

Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:51 PM

GIRLFAN


Very nice take on might have beens.


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