Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL

The Fish Job: Chapter 13

Thursday, January 26, 2006

The Debriefing

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 4374    RATING: 9.0 (PG)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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* * * * *

“We’ve never had anyone wake up. It’s not possible.”

“Clearly, it is possible. Was enough done?”

“The subject was under considerable duress, but a full breakdown was not achieved.”

“Can you continue?”

“We had to sedate him. The delusion would completely lose continuity if an attempt was made to return him to that state now. Suspension of disbelief is vital to the process. We recommend debriefing him as soon as possible.”

* * *

A rush of wind swirled through his aching head. He tried to sink back into the quiet darkness, but the storm wouldn’t let him. Images followed in its wake, bad images. A few good ones too. He remembered Inara, remembered how she had pulled his head onto her shoulder, stroked his hair, kissed his forehead. He clung to that, tried to make all the bad memories fade away. It didn’t work.

“Reavers got her,” he whispered.

“Got who?”

Mal answered the voice in the dark automatically. “Inara.”

“Inara?”

“She was leavin’ me.”

“Why is that?”

“I told all this already.”

“You can tell again.”

Mal sighed. “She didn’t like me. She was playin’ me.”

“Why?”

“I’m petty. I call her names.” Mal became aware that he was sitting on something soft. His head was tipped back on a cushion that felt good on his sore neck.

“Do you know where you are?”

Mal shook his head slowly.

“I think you do. Try harder.”

“Hell,” Mal mumbled.

“Interesting.”

The wind pushed him further up out of the deep. He couldn’t stay down, hard as he tried. Couldn’t forget the things that had been stirred up.

“You kill Zoe?” he asked.

“Did you see her die?”

“No. Don’t think so. Heard a shot though.” Mal couldn’t keep his eyes closed any longer. He lifted his head, and found himself sitting in a cushiony chair in a dimly lit office, wearing an Alliance prison suit. A man across a desk

Comments
Thursday, 26 January 2006 13:59
I know, it’s a terrible cliff to leave y’all on, but no chapter 14 till tomorrow. I hope your fingers don’t get sore from hanging on! (insert evil cackling here) (you may of noticed, I cackle a lot)

PreachersSon you made my day – I drove a lurker out of hiding, WOOT-WOOT!!!

Of course, much love to the rest of you too!

xxxooo
m4p
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 26 January 2006 14:16
Oh...no. Now you're just being cruel, cruel as imaginary Inara. How am I going to keep my mind off of this until tomorrow? Clearly, I'm not! You continue to use River in a superb manner. And I love Mal figuring it out.

Homespun (too lazy to log in.)
Thursday, 26 January 2006 14:47
Excellent again! I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.
Thursday, 26 January 2006 14:47
Excellent again! I'm really looking forward to the next chapter.
Thursday, 26 January 2006 14:47
Doh.
Thursday, 26 January 2006 15:04
Hyterical manic crazy giggles, wheeeee!!

I loved it. Tense and tight and perfectly crafted to make one really feel Mal's confusion and dopey-mellow belligerence, while still giving the reader enough to further the plot. Love love love.

You really have a hand with original characters! I liked the little interrogator flunky, too! He had a sprinkling of personality!

Now: cliff-hanger pain. Eeeeeeeeeeeevil.
Thursday, 26 January 2006 15:48
*Dum-dum-dum* Dramatic sound effects.
I love cliff-hangers, as if I don't already bite my nails enough, this will leave me tense!

I love it though, it's wonderful, words fail me it's that brilliant!
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 26 January 2006 18:07
Drugged and maybecrazy Mal is wonderfully written. And River was lovely. Good work!
Thursday, 26 January 2006 18:12
I love how River is managing to get through to Mal enough to let him know it isn't real but can't help thinking it was a mistake for the Captain to let on that he realised it wasn't working. Am all kinds of afraid for him now. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
Thursday, 26 January 2006 18:20
Woke up to early... now Ive gotta wait alllll day... *insert heavy sigh*... excellent piece of writing.... and gorram you for the cliff youve left me hanging on.
Thursday, 26 January 2006 18:48
Crazy girl's working well in this story.
Hope tomorrow comes quickly.

Taya
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 26 January 2006 22:03
WOOOOOOOOH!!!

WOW. What a place to end it!
Thursday, 26 January 2006 22:49
I thing I have traumatized my dog from screaming so loud at the end!! You are an evil, malicious, genius!!! PLease for God sake post it quick!! I don't know if I can wait till tomorrow!!
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 27 January 2006 02:43
Oh you are a monster! I can't even do one pull up in gym class how the diyu do you expect me to hold on for a whole gorram day?! ::sobbs:: I want more! Poor mal, not fair, Poor Inara mals going to be all sorts of freaked out by her now! Gha! ::sobbs some more:: Please hurry! I am hooked!

-OldSoul1987 (lazy lazy lazy tsk tsk tsk)
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 27 January 2006 03:51
You're gonna owe me a manicure. Hanging on by the edge of my fingernails now.

Damn!
Friday, 27 January 2006 12:50
That's so not fair!

This was a great chapter, with Mal finally getting River's message.

Please are his crew going to arrive in time?
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 17:44
I loved that Mal got the giggles and was laughing at everything, and still holding out too. He is one tough sonofabitch.

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