Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story is set fifteen years into the future from the story I have written called “Big Blue”

AN:

Cast of characters:

Parents: Malcolm Reynolds 51 Inara Serra-Reynolds 44 Allan Bryant 68 Zoë Bryant 48 Simon Tam 43 Kaylee Tam 40 Jayne Cobb 52 River Cobb 36 Kids: Jefferson (Jeff) Reynolds 15 Emma Reynolds 10 Sara Bryant 14 Rebecca Tam 15 John (Jack) Tam 11 Rachel Cobb 8 Jesse Cobb 6 -

Heritage-Chapter Fourteen

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Allan slept fitfully that night. Even with the smoother Simon had given him. He tossed and turned all night. Waking at five, Allan made his way to the galley for coffee.

As he started the machine, he heard a noise behind him. Turning, he saw his wife standing in the entry, dressed in a robe.

“Up kinda early,” Zoë stated.

“Can't sleep,” Allan mumbled.

“Me either,” Zoë admitted as she entered the room. She moved to her husband's side and wrapped her arms around him.

“I hope this works.”

“It will baby,” Zoë said.

“How do you know?”

“Cause the Captain didn't plan it.”

Allan snorted in amusement. This soon led to a real laugh.

“Thanks hon... I needed that.”

“So did I,” Zoë said with a smile.

“Come on, You can help me make breakfast since I'm already up.”

XXXXXXXXXX

The crew, kids and guests crowded around the table in the galley. The only reminder that all was not normal was Sara's empty chair next to Zoë. Allan was doing his best to keep a positive attitude this morning. River gave him a quiet smile.

“Sara's sleeping,” Rachel said quietly.

“You can feel her short stub?” Jayne asked his daughter.

“She's close... But I'm not sure where...” the eight year old suddenly began to cry. Jayne quickly grabbed his little girl and held her close.

“Shhh, it's okay Rachel girl,” Jayne whispered.

“I want her here!” Rachel wailed. It had been hard on her the last few days as she could feel her cousin's fear.

Allan stood up and moved next to Jayne and his daughter, “We all do little one,” Allan said, “Tell you what. As soon as Sara's back here with us and we know she's okay. I'll take you and her out for the biggest ice cream sundae on Persephone.”

“Bridgett too?”

“Of course... Might even bring Sam as soon as Uncle Durin brings him on his ship in a couple of hours.”

“No chocolate... chocolate is bad for dogs,” Rachel sniffled.

“That's right. Can you watch Sam for me today? Maybe explain what's happening to him? I know he's been sad since Sara's been gone.”

“I can do that Uncle Allan,” Rachel smiled.

“Thank you.”

Jayne winked at Allan while River just smiled.

“Let's finish up breakfast,” Mal said quietly, “Got lots to do today.”

Two hours later, Durin's small ship landed next to Serenity. As soon as the ship's hatch opened, Durin stepped out, holding Sam's leash. Allan had asked Durin to keep the dog with him until they reached Persephone.

Sam wagged his tail when he saw Allan and Zoë.

“I'll take Sam, Uncle Durin,” Rachel said as she accompanied her father, Allan and Zoë.

“Thank you Rachel,” Durin said.

Barking, Sam followed after the girl as she ran back to Serenity.

“How are you Durin?” Allan asked.

“Better... I still...”

“They'll be home this afternoon Durin,” Zoë stated, “That's the only way to think it's gonna happen.”

“You're right Zoë. I must keep a positive outlook.”

“Durin,” Allan began, “I'd like you to stay on Serenity for the ransom drop.”

Durin nodded. He had taken the news that Bridgett had been kidnapped badly. Despite his military training, Durin simply shut down for a several hours. Unable to deal with the crisis. After the death of his wife, Bridgett was his entire life.

“Time's getting short Allan,” Jayne said.

“I know,” Allan said quietly, “Lets go.”

XXXXXXXXXX

'Eleven thirty.' Allan thought. Nearly time. He slowly walked towards the huge fountain near the center of the park. His arms already aching from the weight of the money in the bags. He found a bench near the fountain and sat down, the bags at his feet.

“Com check,” Allan said quietly.

“Sniper one, loud and clear,” Audra replied.

“Sniper two, same,” Andy said.

“Oso and Fred, loud and clear.”

“Good here Allan,” Mal replied.

“Clear Gramps.”

“Shuttle two, loud and clear,” Came Inara's voice.

“Read you baby,” Zoë replied from Serenity's bridge.

“Team one ready,” Israel Schneider said.

“Team two, set,” replied Joss Maxim, the team leader.

“Everyone keep an eye out, nearly showtime,” Allan said.

“Countermeasures to command.”

“Go Olivia,” Allan replied.

“Just detected a jammer. No effect on our coms.”

“Very well.”

Alla looked around the park quickly. People strolled through the open space. Mostly sticking to the paved paths. A few people sat on the grass, reading or enjoying themselves. A group of children were kicking a soccer ball around. Allan looked at his watch again... fifteen minutes to go.

The second hand on Allan's watch seemed to crawl. Five minutes before twelve, Audra came on the radio.

“Possible target. East entrance to the park. Acting very nervous. White male, bad suit and a derby.”

“Did you say derby?” Mal asked.

“Affirm.”

“Badger,” Allan snarled.

With a frown, Allan stood up and took his place in front of the fountain, setting the bags in front of him.

“Ello' Allan,” Badger said. The little man was sweating like a pig even though the temperature was fairly cool.

“Didn't expect it to be you Badger,” Allan said neutrally.

“Ain't got me no choice.”

“Why is that?” Allan asked, looking down at the little weasel.

“Account of them hundan Wing boys strappin a bomb to me chest,” Badger said as he opened his coat showing a small explosive charge strapped to his chest.

“Son of a bitch,” Allan whispered.

“Tellin me mate. Bugger's shot me men and dragged me off three days ago. Strapped this thing to me chest and sent me here to fetch a ransom from you.”

“I'm guessing it's booby trapped.”

“Give the man a gold star.”

“What are your instructions?”

“Take the bags from ye' and give ye' this here portable cortex pad. I'm right sorry bout this Allan. Don't want nothin happen to your little girl.”

“Thanks.”

“I best not dally...”

“Take the bags Badger. If they disarm the bomb and let you go, head for the docks. Serenity is there.”

“An' if ey' don't?”

“I'll do what I can.”

“Aye... All a body can hope for.”

“Good luck Badger.”

“You too. Hope yer girl is okay.”

“Me too.”

As Allan watched the little man struggle with the heavy bags, he keyed his com.

“Everyone copy that?”

“Yep,”

“Affirm,”

“Snipers one and two... keep a close eye on him. If you see the hand off, do not... repeat do not engage. Olivia, if they don't kill badger, do what you can for him.”

“Copy boss.”

“Serenity to Allan.”

“Go River.”

“Rachel says, Sara thinks the ship she is on is airborne.”

“Damn,” Allan muttered.

Allan looked down at the portable cortex pad in his hand. He looked up again in time to see Badger exit the park and cross the street into an alley. Allan thumbed the power switch.

“Hello Mr Bryant,” said the same masked man he had seen before.

“This is a recorded message. By my reckoning, my ship should have just taken off from it's hiding place. Your daughter and Bridget Haymer are on board. Safe in their cell. The ship is on a preprogrammed course that will in approximately twenty minutes, land the ship in the park. You may then enter and retrieve your daughter and Miss Haymer. This concludes our business... good day.”

The message clicked off.

Allan shook his head. Something wasn't right.

“Sniper two to command!”

“Go Andy.”

“Lost sight of Badger...”

“Copy.”

Several long minutes passed. Off to his right, Allan saw a flash of light and a moment later heard the muted crump of an explosion.

“Fuck,” Allan swore.

“Olivia to Command.”

“Go.”

“Badger is okay... needs a change of underwear though.”

Allan actually laughed for moment. After regaining his composure, he spoke again.

“Command to Heracles, crank up the sensors. Look for a return from the beacons and keep an eye peeled for a ship heading for the park.”

“Copy Sir.”

“Jayne and me are headin your way Allan,” Mal said.

“Oso and me too boss,” Fred transmitted.

Allan acknowledged and sat back on the bench. He looked at his watch... another ten minutes...

XXXXXXXXXX

“We far enough away yet?” Rafe asked his cousin.

“Not quite... another five minutes should be enough.”

“You sure it's gonna hit the park?”

“I'm sure Rafe. Autopilot will take it right there. Those old Rapiers' are so automated, one man can fly em' easy. Autopilot is just as good.”

“What about the safety systems?”

“Disabled. I even dialed back the inertial dampers. Gonna bounce them girls around like a bean in a tin can.”

“Good.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Sara and Bridgett sat in silence in their little cell. Oblivious to the drama unfolding around them.

Sara kept her eyes closed, concentrating on the vibrations of the ship. The takeoff seemed bumpy to her, like a drunk was flying the ship. Also the turbulence seemed to be rougher than normal. Maybe they were flying through a storm.

The clue that Sara had that things were not right was when the ship began to reenter. She could feel the g forces begin to build. Her eyes went wide with the realization.

“Gorram dampers are off line!” she shouted over the increasing noise.

Both girls screamed as several large jolts suddenly pounded the ship and they were tossed about their prison. It felt like the ship was out of control.

The ship shook again. Much harder this time and they felt their cell actually jump off the deck and slam down again. Sara pulled Bridgett into a hug and did her best to shield both their faces. Food bars and other small objects were now projectiles in the small space. The lavatory sprayed water all over.

Another sharp jolt hit the ship. It seemed that the entire cell lifted into the air again and then slammed back down with a mighty bang.

Her ears ringing from the noise, Sara noticed that the cell door had sprung open...

“Come on!” She shouted to Bridgett.

“What if they're out there?”

“I doubt it... not the way the ship is flying. I need to get to the bridge.”

Grabbing hand holds where they could, the two girls worked their way across the bucking deck plates. Hoping to find the bridge quickly.

After what seemed like five minutes, Sara heaved herself onto the small bridge.

“Strap in,” Sara ordered as she herself began to pull on the belts in the pilot's seat. So intent at getting into her seat, Sara didn't look out the bridge windows until she heard Bridgett scream her name.

The view outside was a whirling pattern of ground alternating with sky. The ship was tumbling around all three axises.

“Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze fuh ur-tze!” Sara swore. Bridgett was frozen with fear in the co-pilots seat.

Quickly Sara's eyes glanced at the instruments. Every indicator that should be showing green was showing yellow caution warnings instead. The ship looked like it had reentered sideways at one point. The hull was scorched and showed a few small burn through's.

“Gotta get this spin stopped,” Sara shouted.

She grabbed the side stick and tried to maneuver.

Nothing happened.

Franticly, Sara looked at the instrument panel. The autopilot was still engaged and seemed to be fighting a loosing battle with the spin. Sara hit the disconnect switch and again, nothing happened.

“Go-se!” Sara cursed. Her fingers flew over the controls trying to disengage the autopilot. All to no avail.

Suddenly it seemed like a voice in the back of her head told her to pull the autopilot circuit breakers. With difficulty, she reached behind her and pulled the breakers.

The ship lurched. Sara grabbed the stick again and the ship began to sluggishly respond. Again the voice in the back of her head told her to null out each axis one at a time. First she killed the yaw. Then the roll. Soon she had the ship's pitch under control. Nose pointed straight down and less than three thousand feet over a city...

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan was getting impatient. It had been nearly fifteen minutes and no ship had arrived. He was about to call Heracles when River's frantic voice sounded in his ear.

“Allan!”

“River? What's wrong?”

“Sensors have a ship heading for the city. It's out of control... I can feel Sara's fear... She's trying to get it back under control...”

Allan tuned out the rest of what River had to say. He slowly stood and looked to the sky. A black dot trailing smoke was visible high in the air.

“Oh my god...”

The dot was getting larger by the second. Soon, Allan could make out the shape of a Rapier class yacht tumbling in the sky, shedding parts as it fell.

“No, no, no, no. no...”

Allan stood transfixed in place. His lips silently saying no over and over again.

Eyes locked onto the falling ship, his heart began to pound when he saw the ship try to right itself.

“That's my girl,” Allan whispered, “Thats it, get it stable, good... good...”

- - - - - - - - - - -

“We're gonna die!” Bridgett screamed.

“Not if I can help it!” Sara yelled back. 'Gotta get the nose up.... come on you piece of junk...' she thought.

“There's nowhere to land! It's all city!” Bridgett wailed.

“There!” Sara shouted, “Looks like a park!”

“Can you get us there?”

“Ask me again in five minutes!”

- - - - - - - - - - - -

“Too low!” Allan shouted. He felt his throat constrict as the ship struggled to pull out of the dive. His eyes registered the braking thrusters firing, the landing gear extending, adding drag to the plummeting ship, the nose began to rise towards level just as it went out of sight behind a pair of large buildings near the edge of the park.

Allan expected an explosion but suddenly the Rapier flashed between the buildings, still in a decent but under more control. It looked like Sara was going to be able to pull up.

An elevated expressway ended that possibility.

The ship clipped the expressway, shearing off the landing gear and pitching the ship up nearly vertically, the port side engine pod separating from the stub wing.

Unbalanced, the ship rolled onto its back, and struck the ground, tail low and upside down, mowing through a stand of trees at the edge of the park. The ship bounced into the air from the soft grass and rolled again, coming down on it's belly and plowing a furrow across the park before coming to rest less than fifty yards from where Allan stood.

He stood numb as the sound of the crash echoed back from the surrounding skyscrapers. A dust cloud rolled past Allan and he found himself running towards the wreckage, Mal, Oso, Jayne and Fred at his heels. As they got closer, they saw that the bridge windows were shattered and the framework twisted.

Dreading what he would find but determined to see anyway, Allan climbed across the twisted metal to the bridge...

A muted groan came to Allan's ears as he tried to hoist himself up to the shattered windows. His heart racing, Oso boosted Allan up to where he could see inside...

Bridgett was moving fitfully in the co-pilots seat, blood running down her face, she moaned again.

Allan looked to the pilot's seat and his blood froze...

Sara wasn't moving. She didn't even seem to be breathing. Her head slumped forward, blood visible in her hair.

Allan didn't remember ordering Oso to boost him higher but suddenly he found himself nearly thrown through the mangled opening.

Crawling across the shattered instrument panel, he reached out to his daughter. Sara coughed once and blood ran from her lips.

“Oh god,” he whispered.

Allan crawled further into the wreckage, finding himself on the bridge floor, between the two girls. Oso and Jayne boosted Mal in to help.

“Allan?”

“Check Bridgett,” Allan ordered.

Carefully, Allan tipped Sara's head back, keeping traction on her cervical spine. Sara took another ragged breath.

“Thats my girl,” he encouraged, “That's it, keep breathing.” Another ragged breath followed by a cough and more blood.

The next thing Allan knew, Blue suited Paramedics were beside him, Gently one motioned him outside with Mal. They needed the space to work in the small bridge.

Allan found himself sitting on the grass near the ship staring with blank eyes as rescue crews worked to free the girls from the wreckage. Sobs began to wrack his body as Sara was gently removed from the ruined ship. As she was loaded into the ambulance, Allan screamed in anguish while Fred held him tight.

Mal and Jayne had tears in their eyes as well. Oso just wanted to kill.

TBC