Prompt: Emancipation
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tamingthemuseTitle: Emancipation Anticipation
Fandom: Firefly
Prompt: Emancipation
Warnings: Post BDM
Rating: G
Word Count: 1,049
Disclaimer: Borrowing someone else’s toys. I promise not to break them
Summary: Varying degrees of freedom
*****
The warden cleared his throat importantly, though there was no sound from the hundreds of prisoners in the yard. It hadn’t taken even a week to learn that silence was demanded by their keepers, and these men and women had been trapped behind the walls and barbed wire for five months.
“Parliament just issued the Emancipation Exclamation – for all you uneducated back-planet hundans, that means you can go home.”
“If home is still there,” the guard on the warden’s left said with a cruel laugh in Mal’s direction. “You might as well stay, Reynolds. Least you’ve got breathable air here.” Announcements and verbal torture taken care of, the guards and warden left the yard to the hundreds of people still clothed in raggedy brown outfits.
Mal rolled his shoulders, hoping to ease the tension that had gathered there at the guard’s taunting.
“You okay, sir?”
Mal didn’t need to look to know Zoë was standing at his side, eyes scanning the yard. They’d learned pretty fast that some of their fellow prisoners hadn’t taken too well to being locked up. It was best to have someone watching your back.
“Surprised I didn’t try and take him out, Zoë? I’d hope I’ve learned my lesson by now. Besides, we’ll be on the outside soon. Long’s I keep my temper, soon they won’t be able to touch me.”
“Very pragmatic, sir.”
*****
It’d taken two years of working for Monty (and whoever else would take them), keeping their noses clean (or at least off Alliance radar) and saving (or stealing) every penny to buy the ship. It was another three months before she was fit to fly and crewed enough to get her off the ground.
Now they sailed silently through the Black. The pilot Mal’d found had lit out for the galley and a bit of supper, and Zoë and Mal had the bridge to themselves.
“Now this is Emancipation,” Mal said in satisfaction.
“Not sure I follow, Sar… Captain.”
“The order that got us all out of jail, Zoë. Warden called it the Emancipation Exclamation. Damned stupid name for something that just means you’re free to go.”
“We both know the Alliance loves their big words, sir. It keeps us ‘uneducated back-planet hundans’ in our places.”
“Aww, you do remember!”
“I remember a lot from back then, Captain. Doesn’t mean I particularly want to talk about it.”
Mal fell into an awkward silence. Captain or no, there were times when Zoë called the shots. She was just subtle about it.
Zoë sighed. “What does that have to do with this, sir?”
“Out here in the black is real freedom. No laws but the laws of physics, no rules but the Captain’s rules. We decide our jobs, our routes, our schedule.”
“And if our schedule disagrees with the folk that hired us?” Zoë asked cynically. “Or our routes pass a little too close to an Alliance base, our jobs a little too illegal for whoever’s keeping the peace? There are laws even in the Black, Mal.”
“All right Zoë, I’ll give you that. But at least there aren’t any walls.” The stars filled the viewports as they traveled silently through the night.
*****
Serenity was in even worse shape than the first time Zoë had seen her, but she still couldn’t remember seeing anything more beautiful. They all seemed to be moving slower than usual. Those that made it through physically unscathed wore their hurts on the inside and slowed their steps to match those more obviously damaged.
They walked up the ramp together, entering their home as one unit.
And then, without discussion or even a speaking glance, they separated in the cargo bay, ramp grinding closed behind them.
Mal avoided the bridge as long as he could. He’d seen Kaylee in the engine room, lamenting over the state of her girl even as she reached for a wrench. Simon was easily found in the infirmary, silently sorting out the mess. Jayne was in the galley, righting the chairs with one hand, the other filled with a sandwich. He hadn’t seen Inara, but silks and brocades were airing on the railing near her shuttle. In contrast, he’d seen River everywhere. She always smiled and she always left as soon as she saw him coming. The only person he’d had no sign of was Zoë.
He joined her on the bridge without speaking. She never turned her head or spoke to him, but he could tell he was welcome. She’d stood so she couldn’t see the empty place where Wash’s chair had been. Instead, she gazed out the window. The repair yard was busy, filled with strangers and Alliance personnel.
They remained silent for a long time, Mal unwilling to press Zoë into conversation before she was ready and unsure what he would say anyway. Finally, Zoë reached a hand into her pocket and pulled out a tiny dinosaur. She clasped it tightly for long moments before gently placing it on the console. That seemed to break the spell, and she finally spoke.
“We should be back in the Black in a week or two, Captain. Really emancipated this time, with clean records and no warrants for anyone on board. A little bit of breathing room financially, too, if I understand what the Operative had to say.”
“He’s made sure Serenity is ‘verse-worthy again and her fuel tanks full. We’ll be able to just sail free for a while.”
At that moment, River poked her head through the door. “Hey Captain, Zoë. I’m taking Kaylee and Simon back to our quarters. They won’t admit it, but they’ve had about all they can take.” She turned to leave, her irritated commentary still audible as it floated back. “Work too hard, too tired, too sore. Boobs.”
Zoë allowed a tiny smile at River’s frustration. “I suppose that was a hint that you should be resting too, Captain.”
“I’m fine, Zoë.” Her look betrayed her disbelief. “There’s work to be done and planning to get to. I’m the Captain, I need to be here.”
Zoë pushed him gently out the door. “The sky’ll still be free tomorrow, Captain.”
“I’ll rest today, Zoë, but tomorrow I’m making an Emancipation Exclamation of my own.”
“Best start with River, then Captain. She’ll let you know if you’re allowed.”
Fandom: Firefly
Prompt: Emancipation
Warnings: Post BDM
Rating: G
Word Count: 1,049
Disclaimer: Borrowing someone else’s toys. I promise not to break them
Summary: Varying degrees of freedom
*****
The warden cleared his throat importantly, though there was no sound from the hundreds of prisoners in the yard. It hadn’t taken even a week to learn that silence was demanded by their keepers, and these men and women had been trapped behind the walls and barbed wire for five months.
“Parliament just issued the Emancipation Exclamation – for all you uneducated back-planet hundans, that means you can go home.”
“If home is still there,” the guard on the warden’s left said with a cruel laugh in Mal’s direction. “You might as well stay, Reynolds. Least you’ve got breathable air here.” Announcements and verbal torture taken care of, the guards and warden left the yard to the hundreds of people still clothed in raggedy brown outfits.
Mal rolled his shoulders, hoping to ease the tension that had gathered there at the guard’s taunting.
“You okay, sir?”
Mal didn’t need to look to know Zoë was standing at his side, eyes scanning the yard. They’d learned pretty fast that some of their fellow prisoners hadn’t taken too well to being locked up. It was best to have someone watching your back.
“Surprised I didn’t try and take him out, Zoë? I’d hope I’ve learned my lesson by now. Besides, we’ll be on the outside soon. Long’s I keep my temper, soon they won’t be able to touch me.”
“Very pragmatic, sir.”
*****
It’d taken two years of working for Monty (and whoever else would take them), keeping their noses clean (or at least off Alliance radar) and saving (or stealing) every penny to buy the ship. It was another three months before she was fit to fly and crewed enough to get her off the ground.
Now they sailed silently through the Black. The pilot Mal’d found had lit out for the galley and a bit of supper, and Zoë and Mal had the bridge to themselves.
“Now this is Emancipation,” Mal said in satisfaction.
“Not sure I follow, Sar… Captain.”
“The order that got us all out of jail, Zoë. Warden called it the Emancipation Exclamation. Damned stupid name for something that just means you’re free to go.”
“We both know the Alliance loves their big words, sir. It keeps us ‘uneducated back-planet hundans’ in our places.”
“Aww, you do remember!”
“I remember a lot from back then, Captain. Doesn’t mean I particularly want to talk about it.”
Mal fell into an awkward silence. Captain or no, there were times when Zoë called the shots. She was just subtle about it.
Zoë sighed. “What does that have to do with this, sir?”
“Out here in the black is real freedom. No laws but the laws of physics, no rules but the Captain’s rules. We decide our jobs, our routes, our schedule.”
“And if our schedule disagrees with the folk that hired us?” Zoë asked cynically. “Or our routes pass a little too close to an Alliance base, our jobs a little too illegal for whoever’s keeping the peace? There are laws even in the Black, Mal.”
“All right Zoë, I’ll give you that. But at least there aren’t any walls.” The stars filled the viewports as they traveled silently through the night.
*****
Serenity was in even worse shape than the first time Zoë had seen her, but she still couldn’t remember seeing anything more beautiful. They all seemed to be moving slower than usual. Those that made it through physically unscathed wore their hurts on the inside and slowed their steps to match those more obviously damaged.
They walked up the ramp together, entering their home as one unit.
And then, without discussion or even a speaking glance, they separated in the cargo bay, ramp grinding closed behind them.
Mal avoided the bridge as long as he could. He’d seen Kaylee in the engine room, lamenting over the state of her girl even as she reached for a wrench. Simon was easily found in the infirmary, silently sorting out the mess. Jayne was in the galley, righting the chairs with one hand, the other filled with a sandwich. He hadn’t seen Inara, but silks and brocades were airing on the railing near her shuttle. In contrast, he’d seen River everywhere. She always smiled and she always left as soon as she saw him coming. The only person he’d had no sign of was Zoë.
He joined her on the bridge without speaking. She never turned her head or spoke to him, but he could tell he was welcome. She’d stood so she couldn’t see the empty place where Wash’s chair had been. Instead, she gazed out the window. The repair yard was busy, filled with strangers and Alliance personnel.
They remained silent for a long time, Mal unwilling to press Zoë into conversation before she was ready and unsure what he would say anyway. Finally, Zoë reached a hand into her pocket and pulled out a tiny dinosaur. She clasped it tightly for long moments before gently placing it on the console. That seemed to break the spell, and she finally spoke.
“We should be back in the Black in a week or two, Captain. Really emancipated this time, with clean records and no warrants for anyone on board. A little bit of breathing room financially, too, if I understand what the Operative had to say.”
“He’s made sure Serenity is ‘verse-worthy again and her fuel tanks full. We’ll be able to just sail free for a while.”
At that moment, River poked her head through the door. “Hey Captain, Zoë. I’m taking Kaylee and Simon back to our quarters. They won’t admit it, but they’ve had about all they can take.” She turned to leave, her irritated commentary still audible as it floated back. “Work too hard, too tired, too sore. Boobs.”
Zoë allowed a tiny smile at River’s frustration. “I suppose that was a hint that you should be resting too, Captain.”
“I’m fine, Zoë.” Her look betrayed her disbelief. “There’s work to be done and planning to get to. I’m the Captain, I need to be here.”
Zoë pushed him gently out the door. “The sky’ll still be free tomorrow, Captain.”
“I’ll rest today, Zoë, but tomorrow I’m making an Emancipation Exclamation of my own.”
“Best start with River, then Captain. She’ll let you know if you’re allowed.”
no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 04:20 am (UTC)Loved the dinosaur!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 04:38 am (UTC)As for the Sar - I was trying to show that Zoe wasn't used to calling him Captain instead of Sergeant.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 06:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-20 06:44 am (UTC)