Blue Sun Room FICTION - DRAMA

The Losing Side, Ch. 67 - Bombshells

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Everything changes in the space of minutes when Mal is taken to Lee's office and confronted with two very different shocks to the emotions.

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3758    RATING: 9.0 (PG13)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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“I do seem to drop bombshells on you, do I not?” Mal looked at him, unspeaking. Lee extended the envelope. It didn’t look much different from the one containing notice of his trial.

“What’s this, my execution order?” asked Mal, taking it as a sudden chill spiked through him, making the question not as flippant as he’d intended. He relaxed as he forced himself to withdraw the documents. Lee was no coward; he hadn’t forced Mal to read the war crimes documents to learn their contents, hadn’t shied from anything.

“Bombshell one,” said Lee, his voice gentle and grave.

Mal unfolded the paper. He read the heading, blinked, looked away. He tried again, this time unable to tear his gaze away from the overblown script on the page.

Allied Planets Amnesty and Discharge

On this day of November twelve of the year two thousand five hundred eleven, the Army of the Allied Planets hereby takes command of all forces of the Independent Armies, restoring Unification.

Let it be known that Malcolm Reynolds, formerly serving the Independent Forces in the 57th Brigade, obtaining the rank of Sergeant, is hereby DISCHARGED from service.

In accordance with the Unification Armistice, and in the spirit of binding divisions, let it be known that Malcolm Reynolds is also hereby granted AMNESTY for service, duty, and actions performed against the government of the Allied Planets during the war for unification.

Mal gulped, trying to contain the wild hope that this pompous certificate meant what it appeared to. He knew what amnesty was supposed to mean, but what did it mean to the government with the gall to intertwine its insignia with the Independent military patch, his patch, in a downright revolting display of unification by graphic design? He turned to the next sheet, a plain white page with stark black text.

PRISONER RELEASE ORDER

0600259872-03 TONG YI CONTAINMENT CENTER

SPECIAL RELEASE ORDER MEN’S FACILITY C UNIT 325 REYNOLDS, MALCOLM

By order of the Admi

Comments
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 08:41
At last! The light at the end of the tunnel does indeed seem to be freedom, and not an oncoming train. But Mal's right ... Lee is a man willing to do anything to make things right, the way he thinks they should be. Truly Alliance.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 10:53
Wow! This chapter packed a true emotional punch! Very good work!
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 12:38
Thank God! There were so many times over the course of this huge story that I just sat staring at the words with tears running down my face at all the twisted forms of torture - both mental and physical - that you put Mal through. You can't see it but I am jumping up and down with both joy and relief, just hope this is REAL and not going to be rescinded the moment Mal gets to the gates of the prison. Really hope he gets to meet back up with Wash again. While I appreciate Lee's diabolical plan I can't quite forgive him for the brutality of it, all of which could have proved fatal. So gorram happy it didn't. Loved this chapter to little bitty pieces, *xie xie ni* for making it finally happen. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 12:39
“For those three men who were willing to hurt you, think of all the ones who hurt for you, and wanted to help and protect.”

Another awesome chapter, and another dramatic twist about redeeming your own soul back. Wow. Beautiful piece of writing, and wonderful study of humanity. Lee portrays the benign cruelty of the Alliance perfectly. Poor Cody - what a waste. Suffering can be tolerated if it has purpose, and now Mal was given his. No wonder he can now survive as a tougher and wiser unrepentent Browncoat who knows to avoid to Alliance.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008 15:40
Brilliant!! Loved it! So glad Mal is out. Now what about Zoe? LOL I really enjoy your story. Thanks so much.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008 14:15
I saw this coming, to an extent, so the pardon wasn't a surprise, and I think it wasn't meant to be. What you did with Lee was more of a surprise, yet in that absolutely "of course, it had to be that way" sort of way--a seamless progression. Bravo. What a wholly enriching aspect to Lee! Excellent, excellent.

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