BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BRIGLAD

Big Blue -- Chapter 17
Monday, October 6, 2008

Zoe and Allan tie the knot, Play a joke and dodge missiles. Just another day in the 'Verse.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2520    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Big Blue Chapter 17

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan. He's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story takes place three years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Follows immediately after Out to the Blue.

A/N:

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

Big Blue

Chapter Seventeen – Vows

“You look troubled Bao-bei,” Inara said as she entered the shuttle.

Mal looked up from the small desk in the corner where he sat, “Might say that ai-ren.”

Inara looked over her fiancé's shoulder, “What are you working on?”

“My words for Allan and Zoë's wedding. I wanna have em' right. They deserve the best.”

“Isn't there a prepared text?”

“Sort of. There's not really anything chapter and verse...”

Inara kissed Mal on the top of his head, “I know you'll say the right thing.”

“How'd the checkup go?” Mal asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Very well. The Baby is fine and with that new scanner, Simon was able to calculate a better due date.”

“When?”

“Five months, three weeks and four days... approximately.”

“Sound like River when you say it like that,” Mal chuckled.

“There's one problem with that date.”

Mal's eyes widened, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing like that... It's just Simon may be busy if either Kaylee or I deliver a day or two early or late.”

“Why's that?”

“Our due dates are one day apart,” Inara replied seriously.

“Oh... Simon better get Allan up to speed on deliverin baby's then.”

“He's already working on that. River as well.”

“Good man.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan stepped into the engine room. A slight grin on his face as he saw Kaylee, standing at her workbench, her hands caressing her belly.

“You're not showing yet.”

Kaylee grinned at Allan, “Yes I am... Just can't see it when I'm wearin my coveralls.”

“Well, I can help out when you can't crawl under Serenity's engine.”

“Thanks ge-ge,” Kaylee replied, “River said the same thing.”

“Hey, she's helping her sister in law, I'm helping my adopted baby sis.”

“You think o' me like that?” Kaylee asked.

“Yep. You guys are all the family I've got. You don't need to be blood to be family.”

“I been sayin that for years on this boat,” Kaylee smiled.

“It's the truth,” Allan agreed.

XXXXXXXXXX

“You sure about this Allan?” Mal asked the older man.

“About as sure as I've ever been about anything in my life,” Allan replied, straightening his tie. Turning to the captain he asked, “How do I look?”

“Fair to middling,” Mal chuckled, “Now, lets go get you hitched to my first mate.”

Taking a deep breath, Allan nodded and replied, “Showtime.”

Climbing up the ladder from his bunk followed by Mal, Allan saw his best man leaning against the bulkhead, “Ready to go?” Simon asked.

“I think I am, Simon.”

“I best go fetch the bride so we can get this shindig on the road,” Mal chuckled as he brushed past the two men.

Simon and Allan proceeded to the galley. The table had been moved to one side of the room. The chairs in the small lounge had been removed to make room for the ceremony. Zoë and Allan had decided to keep things simple. Just Simon as the best man and Inara as maid of honor. Mal would pull double duty giving Zoë away as well as officiating.

As Simon and Allan entered the room, All but the rest of the wedding party were present. Gabriel and Reagan Tam wore the clothing they had been wearing that night when they had been reunited with their children all those months ago on Persephone. River in a simple dress, Jayne in his best shirt worn over his suit pants. Kaylee was dressed in a floral sun dress and Alisha was in her best slacks and blouse.

Reggie and Oso wore their 'bodyguard' dark suits minus the coats. When all were ready, Kaylee started the music on Allan's laptop.

As the music began, Inara entered wearing a gold and ivory dress, holding a small bouquet. Simon and Allan stood in the small lounge area. Allan thought that this was the best place on the ship. The observation dome showing the stars and the passing planet of Persephone.

As the music changed to the wedding march, Mal and Zoë entered. Mal in his best suit. Allan's jaw dropped. Zoë was wearing a gold trimmed ivory gown. Obviously one of Inara's 'companion' dresses. Kaylee and Inara had spent hours altering it to fit Zoë. On Inara, the dress fell to the floor. On Zoë it was mid calf length. A grin on her face, Mal escorted Zoë from the aft hatch. As the captain and first mate entered the lounge, Mal handed Zoe off to Allan, taking her hand in his.

Mal moved to his position in front of the couple. With a smile and deep breath the captain began.

“Friends and family. Since the days of wind powered sailing vessels. It has been the honor and privilege of ships captains to join couples in the bonds of marriage. The honor is even greater when a captain like myself is allowed to preform this ceremony for friends and family.”

Another deep breath and Mal continued, “Zoë, I am truly honored to wed you, my indispensable right hand to Allan.”

“Allan, You are one of the most honorable and just plain, best men I have ever met in my life. Again, I am honored to join you with Zoë.”

Allan and Zoë shared a look, grins on their faces.

“Now for the official part,” Mal grinned, “Do you Zoë, Take Allan to be your wedded husband. To have and to hold. In sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for however both you shall live?”

“I do,” Zoë replied.

“Do you Allan, Take Zoë to be your wedded wife. To have and to hold. In sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for however both you shall live?”

“I do,”

Mal paused. In the group standing behind them, Kaylee was crying as was Alisha. Inara's normally stoic calm was being tested. River was a bit misty eyed as was her mother.

“The rings?” Mal asked.

Simon nodded and opened the box he had held since the beginning of the ceremony.

Allan removed Zoë's ring and smiled at her, “Zoë, Throughout my life, I never thought that I would ever meet the woman who would make me whole. Long I had buried my feelings behind work. Shunned any opportunity to meet anyone with whom I might fall in love. Now I see that was all for a reason. It took me an extra four hundred years to find my soul mate, my love. It was worth the wait,” Allan finished as he slid the ring on Zoë's finger.

“Allan, I never thought that I would find not one, but two men who have loved me and made me whole. Wash healed the rift in my heart from Serenity Valley and you have healed the abyss that had swallowed my heart when I lost Wash. No one woman should be so lucky. And I for one, am glad it took you four hundred years to find me. I love you with all of my heart,” Zoë said as she slid the ring on Allan's finger.

“By the power invested in me by the fact that I'm captain of this here boat, I pronounce you husband and wife. Now get to lockin lips.”

A round of applause went through the galley as Allan and Zoë kissed. Breaking apart after a moment, their smiles echoing one another's.

“Enough with the makin out, got time fer that later. Good grub goin to waste,” Jayne grumbled, the big merc's smile in contrast to his words.

Allan and Zoë chuckled as River elbowed her husband in the ribs. Followed by a nod of approval from Reagan.

Jayne and Oso manhandled the big table back into the center of the room while the rest split the chore of replacing the chairs or setting the table.

Soon the crew and assorted family were seated around the table. Allan and Zoë crowded into the spot Mal usually sat. As best man, Simon sat to their right, Kaylee at his side while Mal an Inara were on the newlywed's left. Gabriel and Reagan sat opposite the new couple at the far end of the table. Crowded around the rest of the space sat the rest of the group. Jayne began to tap on his glass, the traditional signal for the newlywed's to kiss. Allan and Zoë agreed to another round of applause. Embarrassed a bit. Zoë was glad her completion hid the blush she could feel creeping up her neck.

With a flourish, dinner was served with Alisha of course as chef and Reggie and Oso playing the part of waiters. Alisha had scrounged up, honest to god prime rib. Served with all the trimmings and finished off with a real NY style cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries completed the meal.

As the final dishes were removed from the table and the engine wine came out, Zoë gave her new husband a sly smile and wink. Taking the hint, Allan and Zoë slowly stood and addressed the group.

“Before this descends into a drunk fest like it usually does... Zoë and I will be in our bunk,” Allan and his wife headed for the forward passageway.

“Zoë!” Kaylee called as the couple stepped up the stairs, “You still gotta throw your bouquet.”

With a grin, Zoë tossed the Bouquet over her shoulder, landing squarely in Alisha's hands. Alisha beamed and Reggie looked for a rock to crawl under. With a hearty laugh, Allan and Zoë departed the room, heading for their bunk.

XXXXXXXXXX

Zoë preceded Allan down the ladder into their bunk. Serenity's layout precluded the traditional carrying of the bride across the threshold. Moment's later, Allan climbed down behind his wife.

Wife... Allan never thought that he would ever say those words in that context. He had a stupid grin on his face as Zoë turned to face him, her expression matching his.

“Glad you did it?” she asked.

Allan reached out and pulled Zoë into his arms. A deep kiss followed, “That answer your question?” he asked after catching his breath.

“A bit,” Zoë grinned.

Allan gazed deep into her chocolate eyes, “God I love you Zoë.”

“I love you too Allan,” she replied, “Now get outta that monkey suit, there's sexin to be done.”

“Yes Ma'am.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“Think they're gonna come out of there?” Jayne asked at the breakfast table the next morning.

“Probably not,” Mal replied with a grin. Inara just giggled.

“I'm making a care package to drop down into their bunk,” Alisha commented as she put the finishing touches on breakfast.

“Most thoughtful,” River replied. A slight grin on her face.

“Morning!” Kaylee exclaimed as she entered the galley, trailed by a slightly under the weather Simon, “Any sign of the newlyweds?”

“None yet,” Reagan replied, “Simon dear? Are you all right?”

“Just had a bit too much to drink last night mom... I'll be fine after some food and the smoothers I took kick in.” Gabriel chuckled at his son.

Moment's later, the sound of a bunk opening in the forward passageway was heard. Followed by the purposeful sound of Zoë's boots on the deck.

“Zoë!” Allan called from the top of the ladder.

“Go away!” She called over her shoulder. All conversation stopped in the galley. Jaw's dropped all around the table.

“Zoë, be reasonable about this...” Allan trailed off at the look on his wife's face. The look she gave him should have melted the bulkhead.

“Som' thin tells me the honeymoon's over,” Jayne commented quietly.

“Why should I be 'reasonable',” Zoë shot back.

“I just thought...”

“That's it, ya didn't think.”

Zoë and Allan were nose to nose, trading you did's and didn't's back and forth oblivious to everyone else. As they progressed their voices continually got louder.

“You...you...” Zoë trailed off.

“What? What am I?”

“The most wonderful man I have ever known,” Zoë replied sweetly.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Allan kissed his wife and they turned to look at their gathered friends, “Gotcha!” they said in unison. Before dissolving into laughter.

Mal sputtered something unintelligible. River who of course knew what was up from the beginning couldn't hold it anymore and began to laugh so hard, tears began forming.

Jayne sputtered and then joined his wife in laughter. Suddenly the whole room broke into hysterics. Alisha walked up to her sister and while laughing, smacked Zoë on the arm with a spatula.

“You two are evil,” Inara sputtered out between gasps for breath.

“Ain't we just,” Zoë replied, still chuckling.

“What's for breakfast?” Allan asked, “Got a lot of exercise last night... need to recharge.”

Kaylee hurled a bagel at the couple.

XXXXXXXXXX

Late that afternoon, Allan and Zoë sat on the bridge. Despite the offer from Mal to let them have the rest of the trip to Osiris off, The newlyweds insisted on standing their watch.

“Getting crowded this close to the core,” Allan commented as he scanned the navsat and sensor screens.

“More people, more ships,” Zoë replied from her seat at the co-pilot's station, “Anyone close?”

“A freighter about a thousand miles to port, roughly same course, A few more closer to six thousand out, going in all directions. Looks like an Alliance destroyer about twenty k miles out, just on the fringe of the sensors.”

“Just another normal day in the core,” Zoë commented.

“You got that right hon... What the hell?”

“What is it?”

“Freighter just changed course, heading right for us... picking up speed, big time... Shit! Missile launch!” Allan yelled as he disengaged the autopilot and racked Serenity into a hard turn.

Zoë quickly engaged the radar jammer and opened the lower airlock door, allowing the weapons pod, still installed to deploy.

The missile was still tracking, Allan slammed Serenity into another turn, he thumbed the button on the yoke releasing chaff and flares from Serenity's stern. Suddenly the cortex came alive.

“Heave to and prepare to be boarded and we'll disengage the missile,” A man said on the screen.

“Fuck off!” Allan snarled in reply, simultaneously twisting Serenity into another turn.

Mal stumbled onto the bridge, “Report!”

“Someone just shot a missile at us,” Zoë replied, eyes on the sensors, “Wants us to heave to and surrender.”

Mal nodded and grabbed the overhead mike, “Kaylee, get to the engine room, set up for full burn! Reggie to the bridge, Oso, get the Tam's to Inara's shuttle! River to the bridge, Jayne get Vera and head to the bay!”

Allan wrenched the ship into another groaning turn, triggering the countermeasures at the same time.

“You doing okay Allan?”

“Took my meds.... no blood clots this time,” Allan said grimly.

“Can you shake it?” Mal asked.

“Don't need to,” Allan replied as the missile detonated harmlessly in their wake, “Just needed to run it out of fuel.”

“Can we outrun the ship?” Mal asked.

“I doubt it, faster than us even at full burn.”

“At least we can fight back,” Mal said, “Think it's pirates?”

“Slavers,” River replied from the hatch, “I can sense their captives.”

“This close to the core?” Reggie asked as he entered behind River.

“Can't just blow em' out of space,” Allan said as he jinked Serenity again. The other ship was now in gun range, “If they have captives...”

“I know I know,” Mal replied as another stream of tracers shot by the windows, “Tross, can you tell how many bad guys?”

River closed her eyes for a moment, her face twisted in concentration, “Six I think, hard to tell with the fear from the captives.”

“We out number em' then,” Mal mused.

“Maybe sir, but some of us ain't fighters,” Zoë commented, not liking the direction of the conversation.

“Yeah, but we got somethin they don't have.”

“What is that sir?

“River, Jayne and Oso.”

“Got a point.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan called the slavers back and agreed to cut thrust. Zoë rigged the weapons pod back in to avoid it being detected. The elder Tam's along with Simon, Kaylee and Alisha were hustled into Inara's shuttle. She had orders to leave Serenity and head for the Alliance destroyer that was now headed their way if things went wrong. While close, the warship was still over an hour out.

Oso and Jayne would lead the assault once the airlocks opened. Slaver's usually expected little to no resistance when they boarded, as most captain's didn't have the expertize or weapons to mount a decent defense. Serenity's crew would size the initiative and attack.

Just behind Jayne and Oso stood River, Mal and Zoë. Mal with his pistol and a shotgun, River carried her pistol and had her katana slung across her back. Zoë was carrying her mares leg and pistol along with the M-4 carbine, Allan had given her.

Reggie was armed with his government issued assault rifle and several pistols. He was the backstop along with Allan who was still docking the ships. Reggie was to defend the shuttle if things went sour in order to buy time for Inara to get away.

With a thump, the two ships docked. As soon as the ships were joined, Allan sprinted from the bridge carrying his colt pistol and another of the M-4 carbine's. His job was to protect the bridge and backup Reggie.

Allan was glad to see everyone was wearing their jackets. Even Mal was wearing his bulletproof flight jacket. Reggie and Oso had their own armor.

Soon a hiss of air was heard. Indicating that the airlocks were equalizing. As soon as the light turned green, Oso hauled the door open while Jayne threw two flash bangs into the other ship.

A scream was heard after the two flash bangs went off and in moments, the two big men were through the open door. River shot through the opening next, Pistol in her left hand and sword in her right. Zoë and Mal were next. Allan waited nervously from his perch on the catwalk, occasionally shooting glances to Reggie. A few muted gunshots were heard. Vera's distinct report being one of them. A few more shots and then all was quiet.

Allan nearly jumped out of his skin when Zoë's voice crackled across his com.

“All clear baby,” said Zoë's voice, “No friendly casualties but a couple of the bad guys are still breathin. Bring Simon with you. Cap'n wants Reggie to guard the ship.”

“On my way hon,” Allan replied. A moment later the shuttle door opened and Simon emerged, his med kit in one hand and his pistol in it's shoulder holster.

Quickly the two men made their way to the airlock. Still being cautious, Allan led the way weapon ready, Simon right behind the older man.

Two men were hogtied on the deck just inside the airlock, obviously they had been stunned by the grenades. River stood guard over them.

“Head aft ge-ge,” She told her brother,” Captain needs you there.” Simon nodded and headed in that direction. River looked at Allan, “Simon didn't need to see my handiwork forward.”

Allan glanced in that direction and even he paled a bit at the sight. A headless corpse lay in the passageway. There were blood spatters on River's dress.

All in all, there were seven slaver's on the ship. Only the two by the airlock had survived. In the hold, the crew found over thirty captives. Mostly young women and children. A few males had been taken as well. All were young, strapping boys no older than nineteen or twenty. Probably intended for work in mines or other dangerous and strenuous locales. It was obvious what the women were for. The children were a mystery to Allan until Zoë explained that they would probably been sold into domestic servitude or, for the lucky one's, taken in by rich families that couldn't have children of their own.

As the cells were opened, the crew of Serenity were hailed as hero's. A few of the women captured were reunited with their children, Other's mourned husbands and lovers killed by the slavers. Many of the children were now orphans.

Allan found himself playing babysitter to youngest of these children. Biting back tears, the engineer, told fairytales and stories to the kids. Keeping them focused on him rather than the horror they had just endured.

Behind her new husband, Zoë smiled as she listened to Allan tell a group of four to six year olds, the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.

TBC

COMMENTS

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 2:01 AM

JANE0904


Fluff and tension, all in the same package! I love Mal gets to officiate, and his version of the marriage ceremony is great. But slavers after them too ...


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