Firefly Fic Guide
Dec. 13th, 2008 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wytchcroftGuide to my firefly fan fiction
Notes on a fic timeline - narrative and context
(note - this guide is spoiler heavy and also treats as 'fact' many things merely hinted at or suggested in my fics)
pre-Firefly
RNRZ: Simon and River on the run and before she gets boxed. The fic speculates that the Tam family as a whole may be culpable in regard to River’s fate.
Firefly
A Day at the Races: set during the show – most likely right after Trash or Ariel. The crew got some coin for once.
Words On A Wing: Set not long after OiS (Book is onboard and Inara has not 'officially' left – The Crew agree to transport two children, one a Companion in Training, at her request. This fic speculates that River can, under extreme circumstances, become ‘The Weapon’ she is seen to be in the near future of the BDM. The outcome has potential repercussions for Blue Sun.
SOLACE: The crew recover the hulk of another Firefly with serious repercussions for both Shepherd Book (soon to leave for Haven after all) and River. As with the previous story – River’s psychic abilities are highlighted.
Bell, Book and Candle: Serenity sets down on the township of Candle for a simple job that turns out to have serious repercussions for Shepherd Book...
Those Left Behind
The BDM
Darkest Hour: This fic, set during the BDM, shows Simon on Beaumonde – he meets the Underground and a mysterious man who suggests to him that he should become more an active agent against the Alliance.
POST BDM
LockJaw : The crew establish themselves on Mr Universe’s moon. Simon decides to become the ‘new’ Mr Universe - with help from the underground – to further resist the Alliance.
About Face: The crew meet a new Shepherd, apparently sent by the Abbey. Solomon Face. His immediate mission would seem to be to help Mal adjust to life after ‘Victory’ after The Wave. The Crew also meet a Space Circus and a colourful con man, Jefferson Feng whilst uncovering some nasty facts about the Alliance in relation to the citizens of Seleni Station.
Quicksilver: is a coda featuring quite possibly The Operative in his new life. He assists Serenity through a hazardous area of space – whilst his listening post would seem likely to become part of Simon Universe’s info web.
To Have and To Hold Up: Following events in About Face, Simon again sends the crew on a mission to uncover Alliance secrets and bring a particular individual, Renway Stenner, to justice. Saffron helps.
Uriah’s Heap: This fic concentrates on Monty and therefore arcs back to Firefly though being set, in the main, post BDM. It asks the question – if the Operative has burned down all the places of sanctuary… where now? And what do people think of Mal as a consequence? Oh and a little matter of Saffron of course.
The Christmas Run: Playing Doctor for once – Simon convinces Mal to take Serenity to an interstellar ‘Trailer Park’ to assist a house of women (in the Nandi sense). Again nasty secrets about the Alliance/Blue Sun are revealed.
Spiritual: Serenity goes on a mission at Mal’s insistence to chase down a debt. However more evidence of Blue Sun chicanery is the result after revelations concerning an ex-working girl from the trailer parks. An epilogue suggests that there may be malign forces enabling Simon (ignorant of the fact) to more easily uncover dirt on Blue Sun/Alliance activities. By now, Shepherd Face is a full member of the crew and he regards Serenity as home.
The Wages of Sihnon: Inara is called to the Guild Temple and finds herself in the middle of a mystery just as a delegation of Shepherds from The Southdown Priory arrives as well.
Independently Blue: This Coda wraps up the arc for Inara and the crew of Serenity.
…………………………………………………
Key Locations:
The Sanctuary Moon – visited by Simon and River while running from the Feds.
BuMali – a core resort and tourist shopping paradise.
Candle - A distant yet prosperous Rim colony. Apparently one of a clutch of 'Beacon Worlds' that the first colonists from The Earth-That-Was established.
Endeavour - a large and old craft with many secrets...
The Independence Moon – previously owned by Mr Universe.
Seleni – a far off moon in a dangerous quadrant of disturbed space, the Mekong Delta meets New Orleans.
Navaha – a humid little rock and home to many a racketeer. Away from the main drag is the port of Hades where Mal hangs his hat for a spell.
The Trailer Park – is actually in space and was previously Alliance maintained now… not so much.
Regis – A harsh world and home only to a mining colony.
The Heap - a large section of old Alliance Blockade and owned by Uriah Sallow. Monty is considering purchasing it.
Merrion – never visited often mentioned… the site of brutal trench based battling during the war. Also it makes whiskey.
The Justice and The Judgement - two small ships manned by Captain Lancy's posse.
Sihnon - home to the Guild and it's temple. Inara is involved in some complex and dangerous business when recalled there.
Scudder518aa54C a nowhere noothing of a moon - ergo, secret base.
Serenity – still flying:) we know the story of at least two similar vessels ‘Solace’ and ‘Sanctuary’…
Context:
The Alliance
Post BDM the verse appears to be shrinking some. Even as the Independence Moon resumes transmitting damning anti-Alliance/Blue Sun signal, it is clear that the Purple has responded to the Miranda/Pax revelation by tightening up on the Core, cleaving to its power base and leaving as much of the Rim as possible to go hang. The repercussions within the Parliament itself are less clear – but probably dramatic.
Significant propaganda damage may well have been done by Serenity’s uncovering of the Alliance mal-treatment of the Seleni citizenship and by the revelations regarding Renway Stenner and the ‘Academies’. Whilst more concretely the Parliament has directly lost members – killed by Quicksilver.
However – The Alliance may reap the benefits of a structural overhaul, its power in the verse may yet spread anew. The use of an Operative – the sheer open scale of the massacres under his command – and the use of military force to blockade Mr Universe’s moon demonstrate the lengths that the Alliance will go to, quite openly.
Blue Sun Corporation
May well be a spent force. Miranda and the Pax debacle aside - after bungling the recapture of the Tam’s (TTB) and in the kidnap of Ryadni (mistaken identity) Blue Sun’s field agent competency looks rocky.
Rennway Stenner appears to suggest that the era of the Blue Glove Man is over and they have been securely implicated in controversies surrounding Elite Academies and covert human experimentation. Recently their stock value has plummeted toward free fall… but it would appear that others are waiting to take Blue Sun’s place.
The Shepherds
It would appear that the Shepherds are aware of Book’s fate and have directly ordered Solomon Face to join Serenity. Such a move may be damaging to them – it is hardly politically ‘neutral’.
The Guild
Although undoubtedly aware of current events – the Guild’s response is as yet unknown.
The Independents
Still fragmented, infighting or just too damn busy surviving… a post-pax verse does not seem to mean the inevitable rise of the Browncoat.
Characters – Crew :
Mal – after struggling with the complex emotional aftermath of the BDM and his role in those events, Mal is seen to adapt to a new more actively resistant life. He decides Serenity will use Mr Universe’s moon as a base and re-names the place Independence. He still sleeps in Serenity of course. During his experiences in the strange ‘storm’ zone near Seleni we see his dream-life and the complexities therein in regards to the crew (and especially Inara), Atherton Wing, Tracey – and himself.
He seems to be undergoing a few subtle changes as time goes on, e.g. going alone to revisit Haven and the man he shot there, allowing the new Shepherd to build a ‘chapel’ in Serenity. No evidence yet that he uses it any but he is less confrontational with the new Shepherd than previously with Book.
Recently however, mixing with Saffron turned out to be a more emotional experience than he had predicted.
Zoe – after weathering the grief of Wash’s death and Mal’s typically brusque responses to it, Zoe too is seen to return to Serenity life. She has taken to her position as chief Pilot and she gets on well with the new Shepherd, despite the fact that he ‘unsettles’ her… Lockjaw suggests that she comes from a proud family whose members were divided by their loyalties during the Alliance/Independents War. That war may also have claimed her homestead and its rich orchards.
Jayne – after initially leaving the crew due to boredom, Jayne is seen to have at least one thriving life away from Serenity – as he visits the rambunctious home of Magdelena on Seleni station. Now though he is back in his old role and much the same.
Kaylee – re: Simon: though she may well be sat ‘on the shelf’ in LockJaw she is seen to still be ‘carrying a torch’ in Spiritual. In About Face she finds some fleeting but warm physical satisfaction (i.e. she gets it on) with a member of the Space Circus.
Her abilities as mechanic and such – are still vital to the crew (see esp LockJaw & About Face) and appreciated by the Captain.
Inara – leaves the Crew again after events on the moon post-BDM, her absence all the more noticeable for the crew’s silence about it.
Wash / Shepherd Book – though a definite influence still, they too are rarely openly mentioned.
Simon – struggles to understand his relationship, responsibilities and feelings regarding River after Miranda – but carves a role for himself as the new Mr Universe with a definite anti-alliance/resistance agenda. That role causes friction at times however – and is not without personal cost.
The fic RNRZ suggests he may’ve been more complicit in River’s fate than previously suggested.
River – Still an enigma. On the positive side she now flies Serenity from time to time and has a more independent life than previously. However, she is still very much RIVER and has many issues still to sort out and conditions to adapt to. If she can still be a Weapon, she can also still be a brat.
Words On a Wing and Solace both describe events that may affect River emotionally beyond the individual narratives. She effectively mimics Inara and Badger at different points.
Shepherd Solomon Face – younger than Book and apparently onboard at the direct behest of ‘the Abbey’. Face is seen to enjoy action and he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Somewhat shiny at first he is finding that experiencing life with the crew carries a price. He has settled in – even as far as sparring sessions with Zoe and River and converting part of the ship into a chapel of sorts. He loves to cook. He is a little more ‘hellfire’ than Book.
We know very little of his past – but I’ll state here and now that he is definitely NOT an Operative.
Other Characters
MEN:
Joshua Xiang aka Joshua X. – Medic and pilot of a firefly now converted into a fixed hospital on the Sanctuary Moon.
Mr Universe – friend of Luka’s, helped to fake Simon’s ‘death’ in RNRZ while his own phoney virtual-self nearly killed the crew after the BDM. Now, Simon has taken Mr Universe’s role as the ‘Signal’ man.
Gabriel Tam – key member of the Denmark Corporation and father of Simon, first lead to believe his son was dead now refusing to admit his son is alive. His corporation was swallowed by Blue Sun even as his family were manipulated into self-destructing.
Professor Selby Adams – a respected, if controversial, Alliance mathematician and one time client of Inara’s. Still attempting to prove ‘The Fundamental non-connectedness of things’, that “Relationships are perceived where none exist”… a concept that the Serenity crew often fail to appreciate.
The Player (and his associates) – expert in the galactic ‘game of words’.
Jossiah Bell
Owner of an emporium specialising in clockwork figures in the township of Candle. Apparently an Alliance scientist in his earlier life.
Captain Lancey
Head of a vengeful posse whose target is Mal.
Sebastian
A Lovebot(tm)
‘The Man in the Chair’ – another mysterious figure, linked to the Underground and met by Simon on Beaumonde.
J D Noakes - a grizzled salvage hunter with an interest in ancient history.
Dayton Ferral – member of the Underground.
Sheriff Gobruk – grim and embittered de-facto head of Seleni Station… but also a veteran, fought hard for the Independents during the war, saw action in the Merrion trenches.
Jefferson Feng – an eccentric and mannered charlatan of dubious and incorrigible note.
Max the Mighty Midget MC, The Fates Woman, Doonican Boys etc. – members of the Solar Circus and encountered by Kaylee and River.
The Operative – might just be using the name ‘Quicksilver’, manning a listening-post in the nether regions of space and working against the Alliance – or at least The Parliament. Hmm… like Mal says, “Just don’t be expecting a thank you is all.”
Renway Stenner – architect of elite Alliance Super-schools and Academies and, during the war, a freelance torturer for both sides.
Albert Square – Stenner’s henchman.
Badger – will always be Badger.
‘Sergeant’ Louis, Collins and Dekker – three vaguely inept pirates from the Trailer Park.
Xavier Clem – the man likes his mines. Sometime before the BDM, Clem hired Mal and the crew for a job that went dangerously south - as Zoe remembers, it was Jayne that saved the day - and didn’t pay. Described by Shepherd Face as a Buffoon and tracked by Mal to the Regis Colony.
Marshal Ryder – experienced and well intentioned. His home is the Regis Colony.
Pastor Nehru – The noisy leader of Regis’s church.
Dr Brink – Dr and amateur Astronomer on Regis.
‘The Cheese Man’ and his associate – mysterious figures… Apparently Blue Sun’s loss is their financial gain.
Monty Reynolds - A bomber in the War and seen in flashback with Mal on a hill outside Serenity Valley. Also seen with the Sanchez Brothers. Also seen to help Inara when her shuttle is broken. Known to be considering purchase of a large piece of interstellar real estate. His many rescues of Mal may be driven by guilt at the air-cover failure in the battle of Serenity Valley.
Uriah Salllow - Real estate broker and salesman.
The Abbott
Head of the Southdowns Abbey. A mature indivdual, well liked by his Shepherds. He attempts to face up to the varied issues the Shepherds face post-Haven, post-Miranda.
He is solidly built with a rough voice but smooth manner.
He is very possibly also The Man in the Chair I...
The Man in the Chair II
A much more villainous apparition - a Blue Hand man.
Shepherd Neame
One of The Abbott's most trusted Shepherds.
Neame is uncomfortable amidst the finery of Sihnon
but he is keen to learn and engage with others.
Kris Tamora
Detective Tamora works for the same private security firm as Phil Yip.
A youngish man - lover of sports and intense experiences in general.
Philip K. Yip
Detective for a private security firm on Sihnon. A big crude man but also a war-veteran and a shrewd thinker.
Hammond - a war veteran also, one who knew Mal - but in the post-BDM 'verse there's no love lost come Unification day.
Dr Huxley - a scientist from the secret site on Scudder 518aa54C.
Dr Wilder - another scientist and ambitious.
Chauncey Roberts - a guard at the site.
Women and children
WOMEN:
Luka DeVorres – as a young girl Luka was a runner in the war and, as such, a veteran of the bloody Merrion Trenches. In her Vole class ship, Luka aids Simon and River in their flight. Known to Mr Universe, his moon still has her belongings on it.
The Captain of the firefly Solace – veteran of the war, fought for the Independents.
Lucill Drayton - Head of a large 'family' in the town of Candle.
Shawn/Paige - mechanic for The Justice, misused cruelly by its crew.
Lenore – Mr Universe’s LoveBot ™ proved to be more central to the running of the lunar base than might’ve been expected. The Bot is now with Inara’s trainees.
Magdelena – the one-eyed, knife-wielding, urchin lovin’ mama on Selini station and some time partner of Jayne.
Saffron. Her relationship with Serenity is more overtly complex now – but she is still Yo/Saff/Bridge… and anyone who doubts it is like to wind up on the floor.
Dorothy Stenner - wife of Renway Stenner.
Erren, Amora, Kaytee-Li – 3 women from the Trailer Park where the only rule on sexual work is ‘No Children’, a rule that has been upheld very strictly down the years…
Annabelle James – ex working girl from the Trailer Park now on Regis.
Ma Cobb – the fierce but elderly mother of Jayne and still on the grift.
Radha Brook
Works for the Guild Inquiry Agency on Sihnon, finds herself working the same case as Phil Yip. Radha doesn't like unfinished business or unresolved cases.
Akiko Jones
A sometime 'journalist' and possible GIA Agent.
Constance Jong
House Priestess of the Sihnon Guild Temple. She takes her responsibilities very seriously... and worries about the issues facing the guild post-BDM.
Gloriana Khan
The High Priestess of the Sihnon Companions' Temple.
Head of the Guild in many respects. Described as 'gifted'.
CHILDREN:
Ryadni – a young companion in training, her life is testament to the Sihnon teaching that “Everything of value can be exchanged – and every exchange can have value’.
The Boy (1) – also a Word player.
The Boy (2) ‘Medium’ – worked for Ma Cobb and now claimed by Annabelle James as her own.
The Reaver Boy – now in the custody of the Underground movement.
Young Luka De Vorres – seen in action as a runner during the war.
Young Simon Tam – shown to have a hobby as a Magician, performs (with River) before his family
Street Children of Seleni Station – a rude gang of urchins looked after by the fierce woman Magdelena.
Notes on a fic timeline - narrative and context
(note - this guide is spoiler heavy and also treats as 'fact' many things merely hinted at or suggested in my fics)
pre-Firefly
RNRZ: Simon and River on the run and before she gets boxed. The fic speculates that the Tam family as a whole may be culpable in regard to River’s fate.
Firefly
A Day at the Races: set during the show – most likely right after Trash or Ariel. The crew got some coin for once.
Words On A Wing: Set not long after OiS (Book is onboard and Inara has not 'officially' left – The Crew agree to transport two children, one a Companion in Training, at her request. This fic speculates that River can, under extreme circumstances, become ‘The Weapon’ she is seen to be in the near future of the BDM. The outcome has potential repercussions for Blue Sun.
SOLACE: The crew recover the hulk of another Firefly with serious repercussions for both Shepherd Book (soon to leave for Haven after all) and River. As with the previous story – River’s psychic abilities are highlighted.
Bell, Book and Candle: Serenity sets down on the township of Candle for a simple job that turns out to have serious repercussions for Shepherd Book...
Those Left Behind
The BDM
Darkest Hour: This fic, set during the BDM, shows Simon on Beaumonde – he meets the Underground and a mysterious man who suggests to him that he should become more an active agent against the Alliance.
POST BDM
LockJaw : The crew establish themselves on Mr Universe’s moon. Simon decides to become the ‘new’ Mr Universe - with help from the underground – to further resist the Alliance.
About Face: The crew meet a new Shepherd, apparently sent by the Abbey. Solomon Face. His immediate mission would seem to be to help Mal adjust to life after ‘Victory’ after The Wave. The Crew also meet a Space Circus and a colourful con man, Jefferson Feng whilst uncovering some nasty facts about the Alliance in relation to the citizens of Seleni Station.
Quicksilver: is a coda featuring quite possibly The Operative in his new life. He assists Serenity through a hazardous area of space – whilst his listening post would seem likely to become part of Simon Universe’s info web.
To Have and To Hold Up: Following events in About Face, Simon again sends the crew on a mission to uncover Alliance secrets and bring a particular individual, Renway Stenner, to justice. Saffron helps.
Uriah’s Heap: This fic concentrates on Monty and therefore arcs back to Firefly though being set, in the main, post BDM. It asks the question – if the Operative has burned down all the places of sanctuary… where now? And what do people think of Mal as a consequence? Oh and a little matter of Saffron of course.
The Christmas Run: Playing Doctor for once – Simon convinces Mal to take Serenity to an interstellar ‘Trailer Park’ to assist a house of women (in the Nandi sense). Again nasty secrets about the Alliance/Blue Sun are revealed.
Spiritual: Serenity goes on a mission at Mal’s insistence to chase down a debt. However more evidence of Blue Sun chicanery is the result after revelations concerning an ex-working girl from the trailer parks. An epilogue suggests that there may be malign forces enabling Simon (ignorant of the fact) to more easily uncover dirt on Blue Sun/Alliance activities. By now, Shepherd Face is a full member of the crew and he regards Serenity as home.
The Wages of Sihnon: Inara is called to the Guild Temple and finds herself in the middle of a mystery just as a delegation of Shepherds from The Southdown Priory arrives as well.
Independently Blue: This Coda wraps up the arc for Inara and the crew of Serenity.
…………………………………………………
Key Locations:
The Sanctuary Moon – visited by Simon and River while running from the Feds.
BuMali – a core resort and tourist shopping paradise.
Candle - A distant yet prosperous Rim colony. Apparently one of a clutch of 'Beacon Worlds' that the first colonists from The Earth-That-Was established.
Endeavour - a large and old craft with many secrets...
The Independence Moon – previously owned by Mr Universe.
Seleni – a far off moon in a dangerous quadrant of disturbed space, the Mekong Delta meets New Orleans.
Navaha – a humid little rock and home to many a racketeer. Away from the main drag is the port of Hades where Mal hangs his hat for a spell.
The Trailer Park – is actually in space and was previously Alliance maintained now… not so much.
Regis – A harsh world and home only to a mining colony.
The Heap - a large section of old Alliance Blockade and owned by Uriah Sallow. Monty is considering purchasing it.
Merrion – never visited often mentioned… the site of brutal trench based battling during the war. Also it makes whiskey.
The Justice and The Judgement - two small ships manned by Captain Lancy's posse.
Sihnon - home to the Guild and it's temple. Inara is involved in some complex and dangerous business when recalled there.
Scudder518aa54C a nowhere noothing of a moon - ergo, secret base.
Serenity – still flying:) we know the story of at least two similar vessels ‘Solace’ and ‘Sanctuary’…
Context:
The Alliance
Post BDM the verse appears to be shrinking some. Even as the Independence Moon resumes transmitting damning anti-Alliance/Blue Sun signal, it is clear that the Purple has responded to the Miranda/Pax revelation by tightening up on the Core, cleaving to its power base and leaving as much of the Rim as possible to go hang. The repercussions within the Parliament itself are less clear – but probably dramatic.
Significant propaganda damage may well have been done by Serenity’s uncovering of the Alliance mal-treatment of the Seleni citizenship and by the revelations regarding Renway Stenner and the ‘Academies’. Whilst more concretely the Parliament has directly lost members – killed by Quicksilver.
However – The Alliance may reap the benefits of a structural overhaul, its power in the verse may yet spread anew. The use of an Operative – the sheer open scale of the massacres under his command – and the use of military force to blockade Mr Universe’s moon demonstrate the lengths that the Alliance will go to, quite openly.
Blue Sun Corporation
May well be a spent force. Miranda and the Pax debacle aside - after bungling the recapture of the Tam’s (TTB) and in the kidnap of Ryadni (mistaken identity) Blue Sun’s field agent competency looks rocky.
Rennway Stenner appears to suggest that the era of the Blue Glove Man is over and they have been securely implicated in controversies surrounding Elite Academies and covert human experimentation. Recently their stock value has plummeted toward free fall… but it would appear that others are waiting to take Blue Sun’s place.
The Shepherds
It would appear that the Shepherds are aware of Book’s fate and have directly ordered Solomon Face to join Serenity. Such a move may be damaging to them – it is hardly politically ‘neutral’.
The Guild
Although undoubtedly aware of current events – the Guild’s response is as yet unknown.
The Independents
Still fragmented, infighting or just too damn busy surviving… a post-pax verse does not seem to mean the inevitable rise of the Browncoat.
Characters – Crew :
Mal – after struggling with the complex emotional aftermath of the BDM and his role in those events, Mal is seen to adapt to a new more actively resistant life. He decides Serenity will use Mr Universe’s moon as a base and re-names the place Independence. He still sleeps in Serenity of course. During his experiences in the strange ‘storm’ zone near Seleni we see his dream-life and the complexities therein in regards to the crew (and especially Inara), Atherton Wing, Tracey – and himself.
He seems to be undergoing a few subtle changes as time goes on, e.g. going alone to revisit Haven and the man he shot there, allowing the new Shepherd to build a ‘chapel’ in Serenity. No evidence yet that he uses it any but he is less confrontational with the new Shepherd than previously with Book.
Recently however, mixing with Saffron turned out to be a more emotional experience than he had predicted.
Zoe – after weathering the grief of Wash’s death and Mal’s typically brusque responses to it, Zoe too is seen to return to Serenity life. She has taken to her position as chief Pilot and she gets on well with the new Shepherd, despite the fact that he ‘unsettles’ her… Lockjaw suggests that she comes from a proud family whose members were divided by their loyalties during the Alliance/Independents War. That war may also have claimed her homestead and its rich orchards.
Jayne – after initially leaving the crew due to boredom, Jayne is seen to have at least one thriving life away from Serenity – as he visits the rambunctious home of Magdelena on Seleni station. Now though he is back in his old role and much the same.
Kaylee – re: Simon: though she may well be sat ‘on the shelf’ in LockJaw she is seen to still be ‘carrying a torch’ in Spiritual. In About Face she finds some fleeting but warm physical satisfaction (i.e. she gets it on) with a member of the Space Circus.
Her abilities as mechanic and such – are still vital to the crew (see esp LockJaw & About Face) and appreciated by the Captain.
Inara – leaves the Crew again after events on the moon post-BDM, her absence all the more noticeable for the crew’s silence about it.
Wash / Shepherd Book – though a definite influence still, they too are rarely openly mentioned.
Simon – struggles to understand his relationship, responsibilities and feelings regarding River after Miranda – but carves a role for himself as the new Mr Universe with a definite anti-alliance/resistance agenda. That role causes friction at times however – and is not without personal cost.
The fic RNRZ suggests he may’ve been more complicit in River’s fate than previously suggested.
River – Still an enigma. On the positive side she now flies Serenity from time to time and has a more independent life than previously. However, she is still very much RIVER and has many issues still to sort out and conditions to adapt to. If she can still be a Weapon, she can also still be a brat.
Words On a Wing and Solace both describe events that may affect River emotionally beyond the individual narratives. She effectively mimics Inara and Badger at different points.
Shepherd Solomon Face – younger than Book and apparently onboard at the direct behest of ‘the Abbey’. Face is seen to enjoy action and he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Somewhat shiny at first he is finding that experiencing life with the crew carries a price. He has settled in – even as far as sparring sessions with Zoe and River and converting part of the ship into a chapel of sorts. He loves to cook. He is a little more ‘hellfire’ than Book.
We know very little of his past – but I’ll state here and now that he is definitely NOT an Operative.
Other Characters
MEN:
Joshua Xiang aka Joshua X. – Medic and pilot of a firefly now converted into a fixed hospital on the Sanctuary Moon.
Mr Universe – friend of Luka’s, helped to fake Simon’s ‘death’ in RNRZ while his own phoney virtual-self nearly killed the crew after the BDM. Now, Simon has taken Mr Universe’s role as the ‘Signal’ man.
Gabriel Tam – key member of the Denmark Corporation and father of Simon, first lead to believe his son was dead now refusing to admit his son is alive. His corporation was swallowed by Blue Sun even as his family were manipulated into self-destructing.
Professor Selby Adams – a respected, if controversial, Alliance mathematician and one time client of Inara’s. Still attempting to prove ‘The Fundamental non-connectedness of things’, that “Relationships are perceived where none exist”… a concept that the Serenity crew often fail to appreciate.
The Player (and his associates) – expert in the galactic ‘game of words’.
Jossiah Bell
Owner of an emporium specialising in clockwork figures in the township of Candle. Apparently an Alliance scientist in his earlier life.
Captain Lancey
Head of a vengeful posse whose target is Mal.
Sebastian
A Lovebot(tm)
‘The Man in the Chair’ – another mysterious figure, linked to the Underground and met by Simon on Beaumonde.
J D Noakes - a grizzled salvage hunter with an interest in ancient history.
Dayton Ferral – member of the Underground.
Sheriff Gobruk – grim and embittered de-facto head of Seleni Station… but also a veteran, fought hard for the Independents during the war, saw action in the Merrion trenches.
Jefferson Feng – an eccentric and mannered charlatan of dubious and incorrigible note.
Max the Mighty Midget MC, The Fates Woman, Doonican Boys etc. – members of the Solar Circus and encountered by Kaylee and River.
The Operative – might just be using the name ‘Quicksilver’, manning a listening-post in the nether regions of space and working against the Alliance – or at least The Parliament. Hmm… like Mal says, “Just don’t be expecting a thank you is all.”
Renway Stenner – architect of elite Alliance Super-schools and Academies and, during the war, a freelance torturer for both sides.
Albert Square – Stenner’s henchman.
Badger – will always be Badger.
‘Sergeant’ Louis, Collins and Dekker – three vaguely inept pirates from the Trailer Park.
Xavier Clem – the man likes his mines. Sometime before the BDM, Clem hired Mal and the crew for a job that went dangerously south - as Zoe remembers, it was Jayne that saved the day - and didn’t pay. Described by Shepherd Face as a Buffoon and tracked by Mal to the Regis Colony.
Marshal Ryder – experienced and well intentioned. His home is the Regis Colony.
Pastor Nehru – The noisy leader of Regis’s church.
Dr Brink – Dr and amateur Astronomer on Regis.
‘The Cheese Man’ and his associate – mysterious figures… Apparently Blue Sun’s loss is their financial gain.
Monty Reynolds - A bomber in the War and seen in flashback with Mal on a hill outside Serenity Valley. Also seen with the Sanchez Brothers. Also seen to help Inara when her shuttle is broken. Known to be considering purchase of a large piece of interstellar real estate. His many rescues of Mal may be driven by guilt at the air-cover failure in the battle of Serenity Valley.
Uriah Salllow - Real estate broker and salesman.
The Abbott
Head of the Southdowns Abbey. A mature indivdual, well liked by his Shepherds. He attempts to face up to the varied issues the Shepherds face post-Haven, post-Miranda.
He is solidly built with a rough voice but smooth manner.
He is very possibly also The Man in the Chair I...
The Man in the Chair II
A much more villainous apparition - a Blue Hand man.
Shepherd Neame
One of The Abbott's most trusted Shepherds.
Neame is uncomfortable amidst the finery of Sihnon
but he is keen to learn and engage with others.
Kris Tamora
Detective Tamora works for the same private security firm as Phil Yip.
A youngish man - lover of sports and intense experiences in general.
Philip K. Yip
Detective for a private security firm on Sihnon. A big crude man but also a war-veteran and a shrewd thinker.
Hammond - a war veteran also, one who knew Mal - but in the post-BDM 'verse there's no love lost come Unification day.
Dr Huxley - a scientist from the secret site on Scudder 518aa54C.
Dr Wilder - another scientist and ambitious.
Chauncey Roberts - a guard at the site.
Women and children
WOMEN:
Luka DeVorres – as a young girl Luka was a runner in the war and, as such, a veteran of the bloody Merrion Trenches. In her Vole class ship, Luka aids Simon and River in their flight. Known to Mr Universe, his moon still has her belongings on it.
The Captain of the firefly Solace – veteran of the war, fought for the Independents.
Lucill Drayton - Head of a large 'family' in the town of Candle.
Shawn/Paige - mechanic for The Justice, misused cruelly by its crew.
Lenore – Mr Universe’s LoveBot ™ proved to be more central to the running of the lunar base than might’ve been expected. The Bot is now with Inara’s trainees.
Magdelena – the one-eyed, knife-wielding, urchin lovin’ mama on Selini station and some time partner of Jayne.
Saffron. Her relationship with Serenity is more overtly complex now – but she is still Yo/Saff/Bridge… and anyone who doubts it is like to wind up on the floor.
Dorothy Stenner - wife of Renway Stenner.
Erren, Amora, Kaytee-Li – 3 women from the Trailer Park where the only rule on sexual work is ‘No Children’, a rule that has been upheld very strictly down the years…
Annabelle James – ex working girl from the Trailer Park now on Regis.
Ma Cobb – the fierce but elderly mother of Jayne and still on the grift.
Radha Brook
Works for the Guild Inquiry Agency on Sihnon, finds herself working the same case as Phil Yip. Radha doesn't like unfinished business or unresolved cases.
Akiko Jones
A sometime 'journalist' and possible GIA Agent.
Constance Jong
House Priestess of the Sihnon Guild Temple. She takes her responsibilities very seriously... and worries about the issues facing the guild post-BDM.
Gloriana Khan
The High Priestess of the Sihnon Companions' Temple.
Head of the Guild in many respects. Described as 'gifted'.
CHILDREN:
Ryadni – a young companion in training, her life is testament to the Sihnon teaching that “Everything of value can be exchanged – and every exchange can have value’.
The Boy (1) – also a Word player.
The Boy (2) ‘Medium’ – worked for Ma Cobb and now claimed by Annabelle James as her own.
The Reaver Boy – now in the custody of the Underground movement.
Young Luka De Vorres – seen in action as a runner during the war.
Young Simon Tam – shown to have a hobby as a Magician, performs (with River) before his family
Street Children of Seleni Station – a rude gang of urchins looked after by the fierce woman Magdelena.
