Inara a former Operative? by Fastmover

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Inara a former Operative?

POSTED BY: FASTMOVER
UPDATED: Thursday, January 18, 2007 16:05
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Friday, December 29, 2006 8:45 PM

I was just thinking some more about the whole mystery that has been built up surrounding Shepard Book's past and how many think he may have been a former Operative. Is it possible that Inara may have in fact been a former Operative? She openly stated that she supported unification and clearly has some aptitude with martial arts and weapons, plus she has an even more subtle mysterious edge to her. A little out there I know, but what do you guys think?

Josh Gray

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Friday, December 29, 2006 8:53 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I think the Operative took her down waaaaay too easily if she had anything like that training. Companions train with some weapons and some martial arts, it would seem, but nothing like professional assasins. Plus they start training at twelve (according to a deleted scene in Serenity) so I don't think she would have had time to become a Companion and an Operative.
However, I do think she knew what he was. But that makes sense, as Companions tend to be high-ranking people after they retire (according tot he visual companion) and they are high-status even before that. I'm sure the guild has some ties to the Parliment.

[]

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Friday, December 29, 2006 9:36 PM

FASTMOVER

Makes sense, but perhaps she was an Operative disguised as a Companion, Ahhhh.... ;) But that is true what you said about her being taken down by the Operative very easily and I was wondering that myself. Maybe he was a super-Operative or something, a prototype of what River was to become, sort of like the behaviorally programmed Jason Bourne in the Bourne Identity. :) Still, I understand this is far-fetched and I was just throwing an idea around.

Josh Gray

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Friday, December 29, 2006 11:54 PM

PIRATECAT

Its stuff like that is why I am loaden the water pistols I know where you live fastmover. True Inara is low down yankee that lies but she is no operative. Next you'll be saying Kaylee is not a virgin.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 4:52 AM

STEAMER

Now, now....Also, I think Inara's much too young. Given Morena's age while filming, figure Inara is in her early to mid-20s. At that age, the human mind is still rather impressionable to some degree. Remembering what Book said - "The sort of man they like to send believes hard, kills and never asks why" - it strikes me that such a strong believer in the Alliance would put in many more years of service until either death or failure (resulting in self-impalement). I also doubt the Alliance would release anyone from Operativity after such a short time.

Well, there's my two coin....

Wash ain't sure of
Starting a fam
Zoe don't give
A good gorram
FIREFLY

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 4:59 AM

ZZETTA13

Well, that gives a whole new meaning to the statement " I've been screwed over by the government!"

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 5:53 AM

JONGSSTRAW

The whole Inara thing...the "training house" etc etc is really a stretch for me ...I mean really, men don't want tea and music or poetry, they just wanna do it fast and then get the hell out. How much "training" does a girl need anyhow?

My wife never had any training, and she can fake it with the best of them.

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 8:20 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

nope, she was a companion

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 6:03 PM

FASTMOVER

Quote:
Originally posted by PirateCat:
Its stuff like that is why I am loaden the water pistols I know where you live fastmover. True Inara is low down yankee that lies but she is no operative. Next you'll be saying Kaylee is not a virgin.

Actually I think she is a virgin and was only dry-humping that guy in the engine room.

On a more serious note, I see where a lot of you are coming from and I especially agree with the question over how much "schooling" a companion would require. There are lots of people I know who only have a bachelor's degree and just read a lot who are as knowledgeable as Inara. I can honestly say that if I contracted with Inara I would be very anxious through that greeting ritual and would probably faint...

We must also remember that the average lifespan in the Firefly 'verse is 120 so people probably look younger than their respective age in current day. I read on the Fireflywiki that Mal is around 49. This thought just occurred to me when I was wondering about all the attention on Book's past and noticed that Inara has a somewhat gap-filled past herself.

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

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Saturday, December 30, 2006 9:24 PM

SIGMANUNKI

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:

Is it possible that Inara may have in fact been a former Operative?

No.

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:

She openly stated that she supported unification

So, did lots of people. Otherwise the war wouldn't have happened. Supporting Unification does NOT make one an Operative.

Hell, flash-backs from the Tam's household imply that they supported (or at least didn't oppose) Unification. Does that make every one of the Tam's an Operative?

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:

and clearly has some aptitude with martial arts and weapons,

This would be due to her Companion training. This info is explicitly from Shindig.

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:

plus she has an even more subtle mysterious edge to her.

This would be due to her Companion training i.e. mysterious women are sexy.

Not to mention that parts of her past have been left a mystery. After all, if we knew everything about our BDH's from the beginning, how exciting would that be? What would be the discovery? Pushing forward isn't really entertaining if we know exactly how the characters will react.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, January 2, 2007 10:36 PM

BROWNCOATCOMPANION

*Chuckles.* It would be fun if Inara -were- an Ex-Operative, but it's not likely. The Operative that attacked her in the BDM would have had a much more interesting surprise than a flash bomb in store.

However, you've made me think (yes, be afraid) about Inara's mysterious box and what's inside of it. Being the odd, obsessive puppy that I am, I keep wondering what it is, what it does, where she got it...what are the chances that she borrowed *Cough-Stole-Cough.* it from a high ranking Alliance officer, or maybe an Operative?

Just went a tad off topic there. *Hangs head.* But I did tell you I was odd.

"If I choose a woman, she tends to be extraordinary in some way."

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007 2:01 PM

FASTMOVER

Well at least you're giving this some good thought and being reasonable. :)

The flash-bomb and needle were also what got me thinking, and why does a companion need fight training at all, unless she needs to defend herself. I'm not sure if you saw the other thread, but apparently it has been confirmed by Morena at an interview that the needle was in fact a disease or poison that would kill anyone who had sex with her in case of rape. Oh, and just a bit of trivia, on Wikipedia it says that the computer voice that says "Parliamentary override. All access granted," in the beginning of the BDM was actually voiced by Morena. I agree with everyone that this is really unlikely, but just a fun thought. :)

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:18 PM

BROWNCOATCOMPANION

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:
Well at least you're giving this some good thought and being reasonable. :)

The flash-bomb and needle were also what got me thinking, and why does a companion need fight training at all, unless she needs to defend herself. I'm not sure if you saw the other thread, but apparently it has been confirmed by Morena at an interview that the needle was in fact a disease or poison that would kill anyone who had sex with her in case of rape.

No way!!! I gotta find that thread now.

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:
Oh, and just a bit of trivia, on Wikipedia it says that the computer voice that says "Parliamentary override. All access granted," in the beginning of the BDM was actually voiced by Morena. I agree with everyone that this is really unlikely, but just a fun thought. :)

*Silly girlie squeal.* I -thought- that voice sounded familiar! *Grins.* Want a sound byte now.

"If I choose a woman, she tends to be extraordinary in some way."

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007 5:52 PM

FASTMOVER

Yeah I forget where that thread was, but there were tons on that subject. I really wonder where Inara would have gotten such a weapon and it really seems very Operative-ish to me. It's just the whole thought of it that really gets me and crosses a line from just being well skilled. And I must say that she has a beautiful voice that is very feminine yet firm in an appealing sort of way. I remember re-watching the BDM just for that line and it sounded very crisp and curt.

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007 7:26 PM

PIRATECAT

The anti rape drug was discussed in Inara's true age thread. Over the years her age discussion I think comes from Cowboy Bebop. But Joss W has said he wasn't into. So since Zoe's carbine goes back to western's of the 50s with Steve Mcqueen and Briscoe County Jr. Sayings from BCjr. Stage hands and effects guys might have brought that to the table. Joss a known Bonanaza and Stagecoach fan you definitly see it in FF. Plus his work of other shows sneeks in. My thing is Inara's AR drug is just to hard for me to except my mind shuts down. I rather an age thing but that's AR drug is probalbly it. Geisha girl training would be similar to Inara's. She is not a common hooker for the average joe. Her duties include formal functions and state gatherings. Operatives are top assasins. Ancient middle eastern term from the king of persia for special assignments not a military commando unit.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Thursday, January 4, 2007 10:22 AM

FASTMOVER

Well, I think now maybe I might have gone too far with Operative, but I think she probably has some kind of 'unusual' past given the controversy over her age, the AR drug, and some of her lines.

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 11:14 AM

SPACEMANSPIFF76

Quote:
Originally posted by PirateCat:
(cut by SS76)... Next you'll be saying Kaylee is not a virgin.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

well she aint. in one of the flashback scenes in "out of gas", bester is doing her on the engine block. and tht presumably took place in a time before the show is set.

Wash> but thats like science fiction
Zoe> you live on a spaceship, dear

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 4:05 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Fastmover:
Well, I think now maybe I might have gone too far with Operative, but I think she probably has some kind of 'unusual' past given the controversy over her age, the AR drug, and some of her lines.

I am evil, I am sly, and if you get eaten no one will cry.

I agree with the whole unusual past thing, but she's definately not an Operative. She also has some weapons training because besides martial arts she used the bolt thrower(changed from a bow and arrow w/CGI) in the BDM.

I do agree that she's no older than mid 20's. Old enough to have experience in the world but still have some idealism.

I have a whole scenario for Inara worked out in my head and I'm trying to put in hints and explanations in some fanfic I'm working on.

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