Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own ’em. (Except for Allan and the kids. they're mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

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This story takes place nine years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Takes place five years post “The Bash” -

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Thanks again to Woonsocket and Chris for the Beta work

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Relics

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Chapter Fourteen

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“This is some piece of work,” Sid Higate, Monty's mechanic, said as he examined the device carried by the man his captain had shot a few hours previously.

“I agree,” Fred Cobb said.

“Don't look like much?” Monty observed.

“Doesn't have to look like much, Cap'n,” Sid replied. “Thing's got a timer and a power sensor. Set the ETA of the trip into the keypad here. Put it next to the Fusion initiator and when it senses the throttle up for take off, it starts the timer. Once the ETA passes, the next time the engine pod throttles up like you do to enter atmo... boom.”

“Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze fuh ur-tze,” Monty swore quietly.

“Got that right,” agreed Fred. “We still heading to Jubilee?”

“Liftin in about half an hour. Soon's we pick up the crew from the Cirrus, we hightail it for Londonium, full burn. Then we pick up your intended and few other folks and head for Boros. Allan wants a palaver.”

“Man's got a full plate,” Fred remarked. “Board is staring to squirm about the lost ships and cargo. Then the fact Allan damn near got himself killed safin the reactor on that Mayfly on Deadwood.”

“And if I hear right, that ghost ship they found out near Angel had survivors. More folks in cryo from Earth-that-was.”

“If I didn't know for a fact that Allan's really that old, it'd be hard to believe,” Fred replied.

“Ain't that the truth,” Monty agreed. He turned to his mechanic, “Sid, get us ready for the black. We got places to be.”

“On it, Cap'n,” Sid replied before heading for the Walrus' engine room.

“You gonna call Allan?” Monty asked.

“Soon as we break atmo,” Fred replied.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Thanks for the information, Fred,” Allan replied to the young woman on the cortex screen. “No ID on the men Monty shot?”

“Local thugs. According to the local law. Strange that one ate his gun rather than get pinched.”

“Doesn't make any sense to me either,” Allan replied.

“I wanted to thank you, Allan. Not for you... well I'd a lost my Ma and my Brother.”

“Your boss, too.” Allan replied, “And your other brother.”

“Still, thanks.”

“Your welcome, Fred,” Allan smiled.

“Are you going to be alright?”

“I got a little toasted and I don't quite glow in the dark, but I'll be okay. I just don't feel like it at the moment. Simon says I'll be back up to par by the time we get back to Boros.”

“Glad to hear it,” Fred smiled.

“Keep a close eye on the boat once you hit Jubilee. Whoever is doing this missed you on Harvest. Doesn't mean they won't try again.”

“Already planning, Boss. We can handle it.”

“See you on Boros in a few weeks.”

“See you then,” Fred replied before cutting the wave.

With a groan, Allan settled back in the pilot's seat and stared off into the black. He turned in the chair when he heard someone behind him.

“You okay?” Sylvia asked.

“Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine. If I'd gotten zapped like that back on Earth and I'd be six feet under right now.”

“That part is kind of amazing,” Sylvia admitted.

“Wait till you see the core worlds. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry has a hover car. And I don't mean one like the truck hanging in the bay. More like an old Sci- Fi movie. Mile high skyscrapers and flying cars.”

“Should be interesting,” Sylvia replied.

“You seem a little down there, Syl.”

“I'm having a bit of a hard time adjusting. When I took your job offer, I thought I would spend the rest of my life on Kansas. Train up a new Captain in my dotage and die in my sleep in one of the assisted living cabins.”

“And then a big chunk of ice changed all that.”

“Yeah. I had just gotten around to the notion I was pregnant. Then I thought I was going to die. I was ready to do it myself and that bastard George threw me in that cryo chamber. Just as I was ready to die, I get to live again. Just been a roller coaster... you know?”

Allan smiled slightly, “I know what you mean. When I woke up on Free Bird with Mal standing over me, and him telling me what year it was... well, shocked doesn't quite cover it.”

“You've adapted well.”

“Took a while. And if you want a roller coaster ride, that first year was one for sure. Gunfights, keeping River from the clutches of Blue Sun agents, more gunfights, rescuing Zoë's sister and the girl who would become Mattie's wife from slavers. Retaking Blue Sun, marrying Zoë...”

“Sounds like a ride and a half.”

“Even more stuff happened after that. I got kidnapped by an old enemy of Mal and Zoë's. Son of a bitch tortured me. Took the whole crew and and a a platoon of Special Forces to get me out of that little situation. Then, I had hardly gotten back on Serenity and Kaylee and Inara went into labor at the same time. I ended up delivering Jeff.”

“No way,” Sylvia replied, shocked.

“Yup. About a year later, I was shot while I gave a speech at a company function. That one nearly got me.”

“Wow,” Sylvia replied, shaking her head.

“Until this all started with Kansas... things were getting a bit boring.”

“I think I'd prefer boring.”

“I think you're right.”

Sylvia settled into the co-pilot's chair. “The Admiral said my commission was still active...”

“Well I think you can retire, if you want.”

“That's it. I don't know what to do.”

“Sylvia, you've been out of cryo less than three weeks. You're almost five months pregnant. You'll have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life.”

“I feel like... I'm wasting time, now that I have this... second chance.”

“Take the time to smell the roses. You've got friends and family here on this ship.”

“Family?”

“Well, I sorta count and you do have a foster daughter for at least the next year.”

“Melissa.”

“She's going to need help too.”

“So do I,” Sylvia replied.

“That's what the rest of us are for.”

Sylvia's smile was all the answer Allan needed.

XXXXXXXXXX

“We have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“One of our teams on Harvest failed in their mission.”

“Are they dead?”

“Yes... but from what my law force contacts tell me, one of Blue Sun's security operatives now has an example of the device.”

“No matter. We knew going in this part of the plan might be discovered.”

“It's worse, before the team was discovered, another one of the ships crashed on Deadwood. Bryant himself was present.”

“Interesting. What was he doing that far out, I wonder?”

“I believe he was assisting the government in the salvage of that reported 'lost' Exodus ship.”

“That makes sense, doesn't it.”

“It does.”

“Initiate phase two. I will begin work on phase three personally.”

“As you wish.”

XXXXXXXXXX

In deep space, near Aberdeen, a medium sized Jade Class transport cruised through the black. Deep in her night cycle, her crew slumbering in their bunks. The lone crewman on watch wasn't a pilot and could do nothing but call a warning over the intercom when he spotted the incoming missiles. The first hit the hull near the cargo bay and the vessel began to vent atmo. The second missile struck the engine room and in a flash of light, the ships fusion reactor blew.

Ten miles away, the old pre-war Sentinel class gunboat peeled off and began hunting for her next target: another Browncoat owned freighter on contract for Blue Sun.

Phase two had begun.

Over the next three days, four more ships died in that sector. And all across the 'Verse, more ships began to disappear.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Inara, there's wave for you,” River called over the com system.

“I'll take it in the shuttle, River,” She replied. Inara rose from her seat at the table and handed Mal his daughter.

Mal smiled at his wife and went back to eating his lunch one handed while Emma sucked noisily on her bottle.

Entering the shuttle that was her and Mal's quarters on board Serenity, Inara pulled back the silk curtain that hid her cortex terminal. With a smile on her face, Inara answered the wave.

“Ni hao.”

“Inara, darling,” smiled the woman on the small screen.

“Angelique! Goodness, I haven't seen you in forever,” Inara replied to her friend.

“I know. I missed you on Shinon last month... Guild business.”

“I wanted to stop by the training house but we didn't have time.”

“That's understandable. How is married life treating you?”

“Very well. Since we last spoke, Mal and I had a daughter.”

“A girl? Congratulations, Inara.”

“Sie-sie.”

“Perhaps I can come visit you on Boros. I understand it's not as rough and tumble as it once was.”

Inara chuckled, “Far from it. I've actually been contemplating opening a clothing store in the new shopping mall recently built near our home.”

“Tired with being a housewife already?”

“Mal's idea, actually.”

“Really?”

“Surprised me too.”

“You're a lucky girl, Inara.”

“I am.”

“When are you going to be home? I tried there first but when I got no answer. Then I tried Serenity.”

“We're about thirty hours out.”

“Excellent. I'll wave you at home later so we can chat longer. I have a meeting this afternoon.”

“Still running the business end of the Guild?”

“Yes. It is not as... diverting as taking clients, but necessary.”

“I understand.”

“I will call soon.”

“Tzoo-foo-nee, Mei-mei.”

“You as well,” Angelique replied as Inara cut the wave.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan awoke in the middle of the night with a splitting headache. A side effect of the anti-radiation medications that Simon had him on. Carefully, as not to disturb Zoë, he slipped out of bed, pulled on some sweats and a t-shirt and climbed out of the bunk. After padding down to the infirmary to get a smoother, Allan decided to sit on the bridge until the meds kicked in.

Climbing the stairs, he found Vonda sitting in the co-pilot's chair, staring off into the black. Allan cleared his throat softly.

“Oh, Allan. I didn't think anyone was up?”

“Woke up with a headache,” Allan replied as he slid into the pilot's chair.

“Annie snores,” The young woman replied.

Allan snickered, “Zoë did when she was pregnant, too.”

“Is that Boros?” Vonda asked, pointing out through the glass to the blueish point of light visible.”

“Yup. We should be arriving in about six hours.”

“It looks so far away.”

“It is. But we are going really fast too. Mater of fact, we've been decelerating for the last three hours.

“But we're pointed at Boros. The engine is in the back.”

“Radion core engines can operate in a sort of... 'reverse'.

“Reverse?”

“It's like a thrust reverser on a jet engine,” Allan replied. Putting it into terminology that the young woman pilot would understand. “It's nowhere near as efficient as the standard drive setting, but it slows us down. There's also a small pair of forward firing engines on either side of the neck, aft of the bridge. They provide additional thrust to slow us down.”

Vonda smiled, “Now I understand.”

“You'll get it.”

“I hope so. I kind of like this space flight idea.”

“You'll do fine. With River and me teaching you, you'll be able to land a pilot job with no difficulty.”

“Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

A beeping noise from the console drew Allan's attention, “That's strange.”

“What is it?”

“We're being painted by radar. There's no ships within... wait a second... shit!”

Allan's hands flew across the console. An alarm began sounding throughout the ship and Allan suddenly wrenched Serenity into a roll. From the ships aft end, chaff and flares exploded in her wake.

Seconds later, two smoke trails streaked by the windows.

“What is it?” Vonda asked.

“We're under attack,” Allan replied.

Before Vonda could do so much as register what Allan said, a barely dressed River Cobb appeared on the bridge and ushered Vonda from the co-pilot's seat, “Allan?”

“Just dodged two missiles. Ship that shot must be stealthy. I only picked up the radar from the missiles,” Allan replied quickly.

“I can't feel anything,” River replied.

“Drone,” Allan said.

“A what?” Mal said as he and Zoë stumbled onto the bridge.

“Someone just shot at us, Mal.”

“Who?”

“No clue... crap!” Allan swore again as he jammed the control yoke to the left, “River, ECM at full power. Stand by on the cluster launchers.”

“Baby?” Zoë asked.

“Get the kids to the shuttles,” Mal ordered. “Zoë, take Shuttle Two with the civilians and Sara, Make sure Doc, Jayne and Kaylee get the others to 'Nara in Shuttle One.”

“Sir?”

Do it!” Mal bellowed. Reluctantly, Zoë left the bridge, dragging Vonda with her.

“Got something,” River called out.

“What?”

“Hard to hit with the radar. Low cross section and it's small. Has to be a combat drone.”

“Where?” Allan asked.

“Five miles behind us. Power spike! Laser or a mass driver!”

Allan slammed the yoke forward while simultaneously shoving the power to full burn. Boros began to get much larger in the window. Mal activated the ship to ship com and began broadcasting a distress message.

Twisting and turning, Allan dodged another missile.

“What are you doing, Allan?” Mal asked.

“Gonna be a hot reentry. Let's hope that drone doesn't have the heat shields Serenity has.

Serenity covered the distance to Boros quickly at full burn. Just before they hit atmo, he killed the burn, flipped the ship end for end and went full burn again. Slowing them just enough to prevent burning up on entry.

“We're taking laser fire,” River called out.

Allan began rolling serenity, trying to keep the beam from lingering on any one spot.

“Atmo in ten seconds,” said River.

Serenity flipped again into the optimal entry angle and the engine pods swiveled into position.

“Albatross?” Mal asked.

“Still behind us. Laser has ceased fire.”

Serenity began vibrating heavily as she slammed into the upper atmosphere of Boros. Flames licked around the window.

“Hull temp,” Allan asked.

“Four hundred and rising.”

Allan nodded. He kept plowing Serenity into the thickening air.

“Five hundred.”

“Tell me when we hit six fifty.”

“Affirmative,” River replied tersely. Serenity's hull would start to burn through at six seventy five.

“The drone?” Mal asked.

“It has backed off some. Still following, though.”

As they dropped deeper into the atmosphere, the hull temperature began to drop. Now merely supersonic rather than hypersonic, Allan dove Serenity towards the ground, the drone following every move. Allan swore under his breath.

A voice crackled across the com system, “Firefly Transport, Serenity. This is Raptor Lead. Headed your way with three gunships, what is your status?”

“Got some kind o' combat drone on our pi-gu,” Mal said in reply.

“Nothing on our scopes.”

“It's stealthed,” Mal replied into the microphone.

“Copy that, closing on your position.”

Allan spotted the three alliance gunships climbing towards them.

“Hold course, Serenity, we're getting weapons lock now... missiles away!”

Six smoke trails shot past Serenity heading in the opposite direction. Everyone on the bridge held their breath.

“Direct hit!” said another voice on the com.

“Confirm. Serenity, this is Raptor Lead, you're clear.”

“Copy that, Raptor,” Mal acknowledged, “Much obliged.”

“We'll escort you to New Edmonton.”

“Thanks fellas. Drinks are on me.” Mal replied with a relived grin.

The three gunships formed up in formation with Serenity. The sun was just rising over New Edmonton when they broke off and Serenity began her landing sequence to the pad at Serenity Acres.

They were home.

As the engines spun down. Allan looked at Mal and River. “Okay... now I'm pissed.”

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TBC