Disclaimer: “Firefly” and these characters belong to Joss Whedon. And they're going to be in a Big.Damn.UniversalPictures.Movie.Yay!

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THE TRUTH OF IT

Gorramit, it's happened again. An' she's giving me that same plastic smile and looking at me from behind shuttered eyes. She thinks I've beaten her again and she's trying to keep all that sense of betrayal, disappointment and pain hidden from me. Might not be a Registered Companion no more, but I still read people pretty well. Wish she could read me better. See that I would never hurt her, never take anything from her. When this day's madness is over, I'm gonna tell her the truth of it.

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It wa'n't just the dulcimer that drove me out of Sihnon. It was the rutting tests as well.

Tests taken every three moons. All the trainee Companions would be paired off at random and then they'd be allocated two clients, each to be serviced by both girls. First time, we was all jus' baffled by it.

Next day the House Priestess had us all assemble in the dance hall where she read down a list of our names, each followed by a number. Ling, yi, er. Zero, one, two. Me and Inara exchanged questioning glances and shrugged. Had to do it furtive, mind. When the House Priestess was speaking you had to at least look like you was giving her your full attention.

“Suki Heston: yi.”

“Inara Serra: er.” Inara smiled weakly at me.

“Nandi Shang: er.” I smiled backed. Looked like we were on the same team then.

“Antina Tian: ling.” The list went on.

At last the House Priestess looked up and surveyed the room. She was so beautiful and smiled so warmly, you'd never have known what a hard, ambitious heart beat beneath those perfect breasts. “Ladies,” she paused as everyone gazed up at her on the stage. “Your clients were asked to choose between the two trainees who serviced them. If both clients preferred you over your ... rival,” here she smiled as she said the word, as though the idea of rivalry between Companions wa'n't nothing but a joke, “your ranking wil