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Consequence of Actions
Firefly Fanfiction
By: Redelflady
Chapter 2
"Priestess?" Benu called as he walked in the sanctuary.
She looked up from her prayers and smiled, "Is it time?"
He nodded. "All is prepared, would you like to change into your formal gowns now?"
"Yes, thank you." She started to rise from the pillow she was sitting on and felt dizzy.
He was quickly at her side with a steadying hand. Her health had worsened over the past few days. Benu tried to always be within her range of voice or mind. He felt how weak she was through contact with her hand.
Without a word between them, he picked her up and carried her delicate frame to her the bedroom and placed her on the bed. At 5'9" tall she had always been thin, but she had lost weight in the past month. Her already pale skin had an unhealthy pallor. Her long black hair usually hung down instead of being decorated with pins or put up in intricate buns and braids. Her usually dark and emotion filled green eyes were tired.
Yet he still thought she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on.
"Rest Priestess. Once they are here, I will make sure you are prepared for audience." He sweetly brushed his fingertips along her cheek.
"I will be fine. Please send in Salas and she can help me get ready. You need to be the one to make sure our guests arrive here safely."
He leaned over and kissed her lips as she ran her fingers through his hair, "You know I love you Benu."
"Almost as much as I love you my Esmel." He whispered.
She smiled at him, "Go get our guests and I will be ready when you get back."
In a moment he was gone and Salas was there, drawing a hot bath and arranging her robes.
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"Alright, Kaylee, Zoe and Wash go get parts for the ship. Jayne and I will get ammo and drop off this data disk. Shepherd, River and Simon will get food. We will meet back here in 1 hour. I see too many Alliance marks around here for me to feel comfortable. The first one of you that says 'Told you so' is dead. Understood?" Mal stood with his hands on his hips.
They disbanded and headed their separate ways, each group ready to be done and safely back on the ship. They all managed to get their shopping done and Mal delivered the data disk as they were paid to do. They hustle of the city was unnerving for Jayne, he liked the smaller, more backwards planets. Less Alliance and not so much noise.
"Jayne what is wrong with you?" Mal growled at him, "You are jumping at every sound."
"Don't know. Maybe I need a woman. Yeah, we got time for me to make a visit?"
Mal sighed, "Not right now, let's meet up and then we'll see what we want to do. But it won't be on this planet that's for gorram sure."
He was still nervous at all the Alliance signs and there were a few troops around, which they had managed to avoid. Jayne nodded, there was something about this whole trip, this planet, this day that had him on edge.
They all managed to meet up at the arranged spot, everyone with their supplies. River slipped up behind Jayne as he was scanning the crowd, she whispered, "Boo."
Jayne turned to her, eyes large and nostrils flared, "Do it again, little crazy person and you and me.."
"Your identification please?'
They all turned to see a small group of Alliance soldiers standing there. The leader had his hand out. "I need to see all of your identifications please."
Mal put on his most charming smile, "We are just on our way off planet after a little shopping, sir. We will get right out of your hair." He tried ushering the crew on towards the ship.
"Stop! Show us your I.D.s or you will come with us to headquarters." The lead officer put his hand on his gun.
Mal could see Jayne getting itchy, his hand hovering around his gun as well. This wasn't going to end well.
"Well, we certainly don't want you to go to any trouble for us sir…"
A tall man wearing a long blue robe approached the stand off. "Captain Rogers. These people are the guest of the Priestess." The young man spoke in a clear and commanding voice.
Captain Rogers looked at the young man, "Savant Benu. These people are here to see the Priestess?" His voice was suspicious.
"Yes, I was supposed to meet them and I was delayed in prayer." He turned to Mal, "I am sorry for my delay Malcolm."
Mal flinched at the use of his full name, he had no idea who this man was, but if it got them away from the soldiers he was willing to play along. "Well, it has caused us some issues, but I think we will be alright. Should we follow you to the…..Priestess?"
"Yes please." He handed Wash a slip of paper. "Please move your ship to this location Wash. We will be there when you arrive."
Captain Rogers was not at all happy with this turn of events. "I still want to see there I.D.s. Just because they are here to see the Priestess doesn't mean we don't have the right to ask."
"When they are done with their audience, you are more than welcome to ask. Right now we are late and I am already in trouble. So, please, let us go about our way." Benu smiled at him.
Mal looked and Wash and nodded, he took the parts from Kaylee, Shepherd took the food and medical supplies and they both jogged to the ship.
Benu waved the rest of the crew to follow him. They moved quickly before there were more protests. Mal observed Benu as they followed him, weaving in and out of the crowds. He was fairly tall, tanned and long wavy black hair. He seemed to be someone that was used to being in charge. After a few minutes of walking in silence, Mal cleared his throat, "Um, Benu was it? How is it that we have a meeting with your Priestess? Do we even know your Priestess? I think I would have remembered meeting a Priestess at some point."
Benu kept walking and smiled. "She knew you were coming last week."
River chimed in, "She is beautiful! I saw her last week, but she isn't feeling well." River frowned. "Jayne will be…..unhappy."
Jayne growled, "What are you talking about?"
Benu stopped, "River, wait till we are there. The Priestess is looking forward to meeting you all."
"Just how is it you know all of our names?" Jayne stood close to Benu trying to intimidate him.
"The priestess knows most of you. She saw your visit and we have been preparing. So please let's hurry before the Alliance has more questions." Benu was hardly intimidated by Jayne. He turned and started walking again. Mal glanced behind the group and Captain Rogers was following at a safe distance.
"OK people let's move it. We have to meet with a priestess!"
