Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL

The Fish Job: Chapter 18

Thursday, February 2, 2006

Inara and Jayne put their skills to good use

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 5244    RATING: 10.0 (PG)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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* * * * *

Shuttle Two set down at a public landing pad a few blocks up the hill from the fish market in Sydney. Zoe locked up the shuttle and sent Simon and Book off to meet the Prefect, then she followed Jayne downhill.

She was hoping not to need the guns hidden under their clothing, but wasn’t too sure what would be waiting for them at the Delight of the Sea. The Alliance had asked Mal about Ricky, and he’d told all.

When they got to the fish market, Jayne led Zoe through the crowd without pausing. He wasn’t so interested in the seafood displays on this visit; he had business to settle, and he meant to do some talking of his own this time around.

They slowed down as they approached Ricky’s stall, scanning for uniforms or smashed doorways, but nothing appeared to be amiss. Zoe nodded to Jayne and followed him to the counter.

“Jayne Cobb and guest to see Ren-ren Lu,” Jayne told the worker.

“Sorry,” the worker replied. “Ricky very busy. May I ask what matter is?”

The man stepped back in alarm as Jayne pulled up the hinged section of the counter. “Matter is, your boss needs a little educatin’.” Jayne grabbed the worker by the collar and pushed him through the door in the back of the stall. Zoe checked the crowd for any watching eyes, then closed the gate and followed. She found Jayne in a shabby kitchen, tossing aside a large wooden cutting board. The hapless worker was slumped unconscious in a corner.

Ricky was sitting by himself in the small office behind the kitchen. He rose with a startled look when Jayne crashed through the door, but tried to make the best of it. “Mr. Cobb, pleasure to see–” The man found himself lifted off his feet and shoved against the wall. Zoe shut the door and sat down to give Jayne a moment to work the edge off of his bad mood.

* * *

Inara pulled Mal into her shuttle and led him to the sofa

Comments
Thursday, 02 February 2006 21:49
WOOO!
Came home to chapter 17, and then refreshed when I was done to find 18! Perfect's the word goin' through my mind too!

oooh... nice what Inara's doin' for Mal, but I've a bad feelin' that thing's are gonna take a bad turn when he wakes up again, but I hope not!! And that kissin' that the end, was that real, or a 'memory', and if it's real, just what is Inara doin'?? Wonder who hurt her in the past... hun dan...

and what is that shady Prefect up to?? Not quite so squeaky clean soundin' as we all thought!

great stuff, as usual... can't wait for more!

Thursday, 02 February 2006 21:51
Anxious...relaxed...anxious... relaxed... I was so nervous about him going to her shuttle, but now I'm so happy for him - I think - anxious...relaxed... you've been playing with our brains too much! Waiting for the big finish...but feeling pleasantly...relaxed.
Thursday, 02 February 2006 22:05
It was totally a placebo.

She gave him a placebo first and a sleeping pill later.

"Mal shrugged to himself and leaned back, waiting for the drug induced peace to come."

This line kind of made me think that.

(Don't tell me if I'm wrong, because the sheer brilliance of that is making me grin like a flood light!)



"The wealthy politician and the grubby fishmonger studied each other doubtfully, but Zoe nodded with satisfied approval of her own matchmaking skills."

And I'm nodding along. Wonderful almost-business-as-usual day for Zoe and Jayne.


But to be honest, I was so dazzled by the warm-water-foggy-could prettiness of Mal and Inara that I had to tear myself away to pay attention to the actual, you know, plot.

And now I need to either take a hot bath or a nap. Your powers of description are downright mind-controlling.
Thursday, 02 February 2006 22:27
I always thought the Prefect was accepted just a little too easily. But then, didn't River vet him? Still, one more very shiny chapter - Thanks!
Thursday, 02 February 2006 23:18
Yay! It's odd I had exactly the same thought as 2x2, I woke up, read a chapter, went out, came back, and there's another! Perfect way to start and end a day!
Thursday, 02 February 2006 23:29
Or something like it at least...I'm going weird :( Too many fanfics :(
Thursday, 02 February 2006 23:31
So totally love this, at last Mal is getting help sleeping and it is wonderful to see Zoe and Jayne work together to sort out what really happened and then actually trying to help, Ricky get his son safe. But oh my, I don't like that Prefect. I was suspicious of him in the beginning but now my extra loud sensor alert is blaring danger, danger and making my heart race just a little bit with apprehension. I really hope our shiny crew gets off this gorram rock before the Prefect can spring a trap. I was also interested in Simon's awkwardness around the Prefect as if he suspects the man's motives too. Can't wait to see what happens next. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
QUILLSCRIBE
Friday, 03 February 2006 03:29
Goodness! You took Mal from a state of anxiety I wasn't sure he'd ever be able to unwind from and turned him into a puddle. Very believably done - Inara's willingness to risk Mal's wrath to get him to rest, since Simon and she both have clearly realized the only way Mal would be able to relax by that point would be to collapse, and the bit of trickery she had to employ to get his cooperation was well played.

I wasn't sure how Mal would recover from the things 'dream' Inara did, but this definitely is a step in the right direction. It's ironic how disturbed he is to learn she had to take those pills herself without talking to anyone when he's doing the same thing.

Loved avenging Jayne, although I was a bit surprised at Zoe's mercy to the fish monger. No matter how they coerced him, the damage done to Mal is significant, but then again, considering what was done, how could anyone resist?

I'm hoping the Prefect will be sending a bit of kindness in either monetary or another way rather than anything sinister.

Fabulous work! I can't wait for tomorrow! I find myself refreshing the site all the time, and will definitely grieve when this story is done. Thank you!
Friday, 03 February 2006 04:23
Aaagggghhhh! It ended! More, more, hurry!

I sure hope you have your next story lined up after this finishes, or you're going to have some readers in serious withdrawal pains. . . .
Friday, 03 February 2006 17:24
I do not know how you are able to write both psychological stress and the lovely physical relief.

Your ending was so touching and a well-needed bit of rest for the protagonist and the reader.

Thanks so much!

Anxiously....and not too patiently awaiting the conclusion!

Caper
Friday, 03 February 2006 17:25
Oh - forgot to mention - I like Jayne in vigilante mode!
DARRELDOOMVOMIT
Sunday, 05 February 2006 06:21
dood, this can not be the end. i love love this fic, and this is a very very unsatisfying ending. very very. you need to write a sequel or something. please???
Tuesday, 07 February 2006 11:12
Yay. I like melted Mal, but what's the Prefect up to?
Love Jayne...what's the payment?
Thursday, 09 February 2006 16:46
I recognized this scene right off for BSJ. You did wonderful with it! I had a lot of great visuals of a naked Mal in Inara's bed. Very nice.
Thursday, 13 July 2006 11:43
“It’s been taken care of. The Guild takes abuse very seriously.”
-The horrors an antire Guild of Companions could inflict on someone would probably leave even Jayne Cobb wimpering for his ma.

The scenes with Ricky, Jayne, and Zoe were spectacular.

“Those pills have some… physical effects.”
-HAHAHA she gave him ecstasy

Ai-ya tien-ah @ the Companion treatment Mal got from Inara, especially with the 'heightened sensations' (and you describe this feeling almost as if you know about it from some personal experience, I'd know because I have that same experience)

“And get it done quickly,” he finished. “I doubt they’ll be staying on-world long.”
-Ruttin' hwoon dan, I hope he dies slowly.

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