Communication - Part XIX
Monday, March 26, 2007
Maya. Post-BDM. A parting. A funeral. Please let me know what you think.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3613 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
Hank took Colm back outside while Domina opened a safe, hidden behind a family portrait, and removed an envelope, taking a single sheet from inside.
“My father was important in the Alliance, and when this was suggested, he …” Domina licked her lips. “We were at war. You have to remember that. That’s what he told me. We were at war, and the Independents were stronger than they had ever realised. They needed any advantage they could get.” She handed it to Mal. “They thought they were in the right.”
“ Hun zhang ,” Mal muttered under his breath.
The signatures were like a who’s who of the high ups of the Alliance. Josiah Delacroix, Xavier Wing, Damiana Popov, Ang Fu Long … names that encompassed Parliamentary members and the mega rich. Then three signatures he didn’t recognise.
Inara did, though. “The Triumvirate,” she whispered, appalled.
“As I said, everyone had a copy. Each signatory. They insisted.” Domina pointed to it. “The Guild weren’t happy about it, but –”
“Ain’t surprised. It’s a gorram timebomb.”
“No-one else was ever supposed to know about it.”
Mal carried the vellum sheet to the window in order to read it fully. It was surprisingly short for such a dangerous document …
‘This Agreement is made between the Allied Planets and the Guild of Companions. For the duration of the current conflict, and for any period thereafter, all Guild Houses shall be free from Alliance interference or damage, to be allowed to carry on their normal functions. Companions will be unmolested and allowed free movement. In exchange for this concession, any and all information gained during the performance of their contracts that is deemed relevant shall be passed to the Group for use as they see fit. Signed this day by …”
“A lot of the names on this Agreement are dead,” Domina said, shaking her head. “My father of course, Jason Kwang, Adeian Ross … and I heard Xavier Wing had been murdered a few weeks ago.”
“Really,” Mal said. “Must be something in the air.” He tap
And I think the result of Inara's story is all it could be. Although I really want Mal to comfort her, but that would be a bit troublesome with Freya in the picture ... *sigh* Maybe Freya can send Mal to Inara like Simon sent Jayne to River? Just saying ...
Can't wait for more!
You can't take the sky from me
What really got me was the whole scene surrounding Jethro's funeral, from digging the grave to filling it back in again. The imagery of Jayne digging relentlessly struck as me quite telling, since Jayne seems to almost want to dig himself right to Hell so that the Devil can mete out punishment for getting Jethro killed. That or he wants to immediately start working his self-assigned penance for his perceived act of betrayal.
Mal's recitation of the 23rd Psalm? Honestly would have given anything to see a moment in the series where Mal puts aside his pain and anger at God in order to properly honour someone who died to defend his crew from harm. I would bet anything Nathan would have just taken the material and owned it till it cried for its mommy...the perfect mixture of fury, sadness and barely-disguised hope that he will stop having to put good people who choose to follow him back unto whence they came.
And the final two scenes involving Jayne? Brilliant bits of writing, Jane...if only because they give us a chance to see a side of Jayne we once could not fathom: guilt-racked and broken at how he has seemingly caused the woman he loves to become shattered once again. That he failed to protect a loved one from suffering, which I think is the bigger sin in his mind (though the loss of Jethro in itself, I think, has hit Jayne harder than he knows right now)...
BEB
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