TITLE: "SYMMETRY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "NOT SO DUMB"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Small and seemingly random are the mysteries

of the universe, the large showy spectacular events are merely

seamless conglomerations of these little specks of brilliance.

Radiant energy illuminating the heart of Man."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"SYMMETRY"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Special Envoy Stephen Clarkson was not at ease though he hid it well. Meetings came and went, government policy and trade issues going back and forth around him like some irritating buzz on the periphery of his consciousness yet part of his distracted mind paid attention. Shoving the boring minutae to the back of his fertile mind while worrying about the past made flesh. It irked him that he could not be more proactive, that he couldn't simply walk away from these mean spirited simpletons who ruled entire worlds with all the finesse of a sledgehammer and make sure that Inara Serra was alright. He trusted Sir Warwick Harrow but the 'verse was a fickle mistress and no one one born of human flesh and spirit had ever tamed her to their will. Least of all an aging government official who had more skeletons in his closet than most graveyards. Should not be such a shock to him that every now and then they would rattle and rise up in his mind like ghostly apparitions demanding their due. Compensation wrought in flesh and blood and an agony of twisted conscience. Food for the soul had nothing on righteous indignation.

At last the meeting closed, PDAs and slimline monitors snapped shut. No pa