Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made. The situations come from my own twisted mind as do my original characters.

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This story takes place about a year after the conclusion of Heritage.

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AN: New story arc. Set approximately 19 years after the BDM (Serenity) This chapter is un-beta'd.

Cast of characters:

Parents: Malcolm Reynolds 53 Inara Serra-Reynolds 45 Allan Bryant 69 Zoë Bryant 49 Kaylee Tam 42 Simon Tam 44 Jayne Cobb 53 River Cobb 37 Kids: Jefferson (Jeff) Reynolds 17 Emma Reynolds 12 Sara Bryant 16 Rebecca Tam 17 John (Jack) Tam 13 Rachel Cobb 10 Jesse Cobb 8

Triad-Chapter Three

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“Finally awake huh?” Jayne grumbled to the young man handcuffed to the stretcher.

“Go to hell.” the young man snarled.

Jayne smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile, “Now to make all this official like. You're hereby bound by law. The charges are murder, attempted murder and since you did it in a public place, shootin indiscriminately... it falls under the terrorism statutes. Law says you ain't gotta talk to me and you can have a lawyer here iffin you want.” Jayne finished calmly.

“Tian xiz shou you de ren dou gai si.”

Jayne grinned, the youth's pronunciation was a little off due to his swollen and broken nose. “Now... you know that ain't nice.” Jayne's eyes hardened, “And neither am I,” He finished with a growl.

Jayne continued after a beat, “Since what you did constitutes a terrorist act. You're facin the death penalty boy. Now that can be mitigated a might iffin you cooperate.”

“I am dead if I speak,” the young man mumbled.

“How old are you, anyway boy?”

“No boy.”

Jayne grinned at him, “No, I reckon you ain't one anymore, Yong.”

The young man's eyes widened and Jayne grinned. “How...”

“Had your ID in yer pocket. You ain't a very smart criminal, Yong Su Chang of forty-five Elm street right here in New Edmonton. Yer Ma' know what you been doin?”

“Leave her out of this!”

“Kind of late for that. She's out in the waiting room with yer Mei-mei.”

Yong's eyes widened in fear. Jayne continued to smile.

“Scared o' yer Ma'? Seems you got a little sense left. Hell, I'm still scared o' mine too.”

“I don't want to bring her into this.”

“Too late for that, boy,” Jayne growled. “Way I see it, you got two choices. First, you keep your mouth shut and your Ma' can see you at the end o' a rope. Yeah we still hang little fengle shagua moron's like you here on Boros. Or... you tell us all about your friends and why you went on a shootin spree. And iffin you're lucky... Yer Ma' can at least send you letters and visit once in a while while you're in prison. Might not even get life since this is your first offense...”

“I...”

“You think on that a spell while the doc's fix that nose o' yours,” Jayne finished with a smile before turning and leaving the room.

Zoë was waiting outside, “Anything?”

“Not yet,” Jayne replied, “But I rattled him some. Already spoke to his Ma'. She's right pissed. Said somethin about some gang he's been hangin with the last couple o' months. Think you're right, Zoë... We got a Triad. Tong's don't do go-se like this.”

Zoë nodded. “Thanks Jayne. I know you ain't gonna be workin for me much longer...”

“Got me till the first o' the year Zoë... least in a official capacity,” he finished with a grin.

Zoë smiled back, “Glad to have you.”

“Some change ain't it. You and me chasin the bad guys instead o' bein the bad guys.”

“We never would have done something like this,” Zoë replied, seriously.

“Ain't wrong there. What's happenin with the armored transport company robbery?”

“Fed's are handling that. Falls under their jurisdiction. They got about three million in Fed script and platinum.”

Jayne whistled, “That's some haul.”

“Killed five o' the guards. Only left the girl in the office alive. She's over in the next ward. They thumped her pretty hard.”

“Say anything?”

“All Sinics and young.”

“Like the boy in there,” Jayne replied.

“Yes.”

Jayne's face darkened, “I think I know what happened.”

“What?”

“I'm thinkin that them that shot up the mall was a diversion. Somthin like that is gonna draw every lawman fer fifty miles.”

“It did too. Got deputies from Butte County, showed up.”

“With all the law at the mall, there's no one to get in the way at the armored company.”

Zoë smiled slightly, “Maybe you ought'a be Chief, Jayne.”

“Too much paperwork. And I would've shot that hundan, City Manager by now.”

“Don't think I ain't considered it myself,” Zoë chuckled.

Jayne's face grew serious, “How's the little bit?”

“Sara's with her father. I reckon she's gonna be upset. Hell, I am. She could've been killed. Damn fool girl, runnin into the middle o' that.”

Jayne patted Zoë on the shoulder, “You know as well as I do. Any o' our kids ain't gonna stand by while folks are bein hurt. That's the way we raised em' and you know it.”

“Still wanna yell at her.”

Jayne chuckled, “I know. 'Nara was givin Jeff and Sara, chapter and verse when I got there.”

“Guess I won't be too hard on her then,” Zoë replied.

“Them two kids saved a bunch o' lives today. We should be proud o' em'.”

“I am, Jayne... I am.”

XXXXXXXXXX

News travels fast. Mal was standing on the front porch of his house when his son, Jefferson pulled up in front. Kaylee was standing beside him. As soon as the car stopped, the mechanic sprinted off the porch. Mal had to grin slightly, despite the seriousness of the situation.

“Are you okay, Jack?” Kaylee asked her son as he climbed out of the back seat.

“I'm fine Momma,” Jack replied.

“Where's your shirt and how come you got blood on you then?”

“Jack was so brave,” Emma gushed, “As soon as the shooting stopped he started helping the folks who were hurt.”

“Used my shirt for a bandage.” Jack added. Normally he was impeccably dressed, just like his father. Now he was wearing just a t-shirt instead of his usual button down shirt.

Mal stepped up, “And where were you when the shootin was happinin, Emma?”

“Under Jack,” Emma grinned.

“Shen-me?”

“Jack pushed me down and protected me...” Emma replied.

Mal looked at his son with an intent gaze, “What happened... exactly.”

“I was with Jack and Emma in the game store,” Jefferson began, “When the shooting started, I told them to stay down and stay hid. I had my gun so I stuck my head out to see what was happing. Also to make sure Mom wasn't anywhere near. When I looked out I saw Sara shoot one of the bad guys. Then she got hit in the arm....”

Kaylee gasped at that revelation and Mal's eyes hardened.

“She had her jacket on so it really didn't hurt her,” Jeff continued, “But it kinda made me mad.”

Mal snorted. He knew the kind of mad, that would be. The same kind of mad he would be if someone had taken a shot at Inara. “Go on,” Mal said.

“Anyway, the three left were a bit pissed. They were trying to surround Sara. I did the only thing I could... I shot and killed two of them.”

Mal's face was stony and Kaylee was trying hard to not sniffle.

“I heard there was four o' em',” Mal said.

“Fourth one tried to run,” Jeff replied, “Sara tripped him and he kinda knocked himself out on the floor.”

Mal stared at his son for a moment until he was distracted by Emma, “Don't be mad at him Daddy.”

Mal took a deep breath, “I ain't mad, Emma girl. To be honest, I'm right proud o' your brother.” A slight smile began to curl Mal's lips. He looked his son in the eye, “How you fairin with taking a life, Son?”

Jeff looked down at his feet, “I don't know, Dad. I don't think it's hit me yet.”

“It will, Son... It will. Emma, get on in the house and start on your school work. Your Momma will be home soon. Jeff, come with me. We're gonna sit down and have a chat.”

“Okay, Dad.”

“Let's go get you cleaned up, Jack before your father sees you like that.”

“Already did,” Jack replied as he followed his mother back to their house.

“He did?” Kaylee asked.

“Dad was there doing triage. Said I did a good job helping people.”

Kaylee smiled at her son, “You sure did, Jack. Specially keepin Emma safe.”

“If I didn't, Uncle Mal would kill me,” Jack smiled.

XXXXXXXXXX

Allan heard a knock at his front door. He got up from the breakfast bar where Sara was absently picking at her dinner. Opening his front door, Allan found Mal and Jeff standing outside, “Come on in.”

Sara looked up and smiled for the first time since the shooting. Jeff slid in next to his girlfriend and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Mal and Allan shared a look and grinned. Allan noticed Mal had a bottle of something in his hand.

“What's that, Mal?”

“Figured you and me better have a chat bout things.”

“I'll get the glasses,” Allan replied and headed for the kitchen.

“How you doing, Sara girl?”

“Okay I guess, Uncle Mal.”

Allan pulled out two glasses and Mal discreetly shook his head. Allan nodded and pulled out another two shot glasses. He set one in front of each of the teens.

“Dad?” Sara asked.

“Just the one,” Allan replied. “You're wound up tight, Princess. Your Uncle Simon would prescribe a tranquilizer. Whiskey works just as well. You too Jeff.”

Allan and Mal sat across from their children. Mal poured a healthy slug into all four glasses.

Sara eyed the glass suspiciously. She'd had wine before, and snuck a beer or two from the fridge but she'd never had the hard stuff.

“Ain't gonna drink itself,” Mal said before he threw back his own glass. Allan followed suit.

Sara and Jeff shared a look, shrugged and emulated their fathers...

Mal and Allan shared a grin as the kids choked and gagged on the liquid fire running down their throats.

“How can you drink this go-se?” Sara gasped.

“It's an acquired taste,” Allan said smiling.

“If you say so,” Jeff coughed.

Mal cleared his throat, “Now I been thinkin. What happened today was a terrible thing. Lots o' folk got hurt. You two could have been included in that lot. We've all spent time making sure all you kids know how to take care o' yourselves. Seein that you two are the most comfortable with firearms, seems appropriate that you two acted like you did. The training we've given you all paid off today.”

“Uncle Mal,” Sara said, “I... I froze.”

“So I heard. You gonna do it again if something like this ever happens?”

“No,” Sara replied.

“There you go. You made it through your first battle... and that's what it was, a battle. And with your hide intact. That ain't nothin.”

Allan nodded in agreement, “Jeff. You saw the situation and acted. You got the other kids under cover and then protected Sara. Then Sara acted again to take out the last one of the shooters,” Allan looked over at his friend and smiled, “I don't think I'm speaking for just myself here. We're both very proud of you.”

“Damn straight,” Mal agreed.

“So... why don't the two of you go do whatever it is you usually do after dinner and take a walk or something,” Allan smiled.

The teenagers nodded and stood up. Jeff took Sara's hand in his and they walked out of the house.

Mal turned to Allan, “Scary, ain't it?”

“What's that?”

“Sara's turnin into a younger version o' Zoë. And Jefferson... well, he's not unlike me at that age.”

“I hear you, Mal,” Allan replied as he refilled the glasses.

“Make a cute couple though...” Mal chuckled.

“And either you've been hanging around Kaylee too much or you haven't had enough booze yet.”

“Little a both, I reckon.”

“A toast then,” Allan said, “To our kids and may they not make us grandparents... yet.”

“I'll drink to that,” Mal replied before throwing back his glass.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jeff and Sara sat side by side on top of Sara Jane's hull, above the galley. Nearly eighty feet off the ground, it was the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Sara leaned against Jeff and sighed. She felt a bit warm from the double shot of whiskey.

“You okay, Boa-bei?” Jeff asked.

“Yup,” Sara replied.

“Nice night.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you going to say more than one word at a time?”

“Maybe,” Sara replied before giggling.

“IQ higher than ninety percent of the people in the 'Verse and all you can say is, maybe?”

“I shut my brain off.”

“Ah-ha. You can say more than one word at a time,” Jeff grinned.

“When I feel like it,” Sara replied, “And right now I don't want to talk much.”

“What do you want to do then?”

“Show you how much I love you and thank you for saving me today.”

Jeff's jaw dropped. After a moment he regained his composure, “Sara... I...”

Sara rolled her eyes and came to her knees in front of Jeff, “You know I love you, right?”

“Yes.”

“You love me too... right?”

“I love you Sara.”

Sara put her hands on her hips, “Then what's the problem?”

“I'd like to live to see my next birthday, thank you very much.”

“Who's gonna know, sweetie? No one can see us up here on top of the boat. And there's always the bunks inside...”

“Maybehaps you're forgetting two things?”

“My shots up to date...”

Jeff sputtered for a minute when he realized what Sara meant, “Not that... I mean a certain busybody reader named Rachel. Not to mention Aunt River.”

“I wouldn't worry about Aunt River... I think she's been expecting something like this.”

“Maybe... but Rachel is a brat. She'd say something to Emma, or worse yet, Becca and then, the last thing I'll ever see is Uncle Allan's gun...”

Sara snorted, “You ain't scared are you?”

“Of your dad? Hell yeah! Let alone what Aunt Zoë would do to me...”

Sara leaned in and kissed Jeff. She could feel his resolve weaken a little. But it wasn't enough.

“You... you aren't ready... are you?”

Jeff shook his head, “Not yet. We will... I promise, but now isn't the time. I want our first time to be special.”

“Long as it's with you... it will be special.”

Jeff grinned. The grin that made Sara's knees weak, “What I mean is. I don't want to do this all haphazard and flung about.”

Sara nodded in comprehension, “Okay... we'll wait till we both feel it's the right time.”

Jeff sighed and grinned again, “Thank you.”

“Now that don't mean I can't kiss the stuffin outta you,” Sara said before tackling Jeff to the hull and kissing him hard.

A few hundred feet away, River smiled slightly and went back to the book she was reading. Next to her on the sofa doing her homework, Rachel shook her head. The mother and daughter looked at each other and giggled. Communicating without words.

XXXXXXXXXX

“That's what we have so far Captain Vincent,” Zoë said to the man sitting across from her desk. Jayne leaned with one hip on the corner of the desk and Jacob Buford sat in the other chair.

“Your conclusions jive with our own information, Chief.”

“Then you've known about this Triad activity?” Zoë asked. Her irritation evident in her tone.

“Nothing specific. But we have seen an increase of Triad activity spreading to the smaller cities on Boros.”

“So, when were you folks in the Federal Marshals office gonna inform us on the front lines, so to speak?” Jacob asked.

“We were keeping things close to our chest. This Triad. It's called the Lotus Blossom, by the way. Has very good intel on police activity and intelligence in cities where they operate. It looks like they have loyal member's who obtain positions where they can report back. Help the leadership single out the communities that are more susceptible to crimes such as these.”

“So, we're not the only place that's been hit?” Jayne asked.

“Not in the least. There was a large jewelry store robbery a month ago in New Tuscon on the southern continent. The gang staged a street brawl as the diversion in that case.”

“What kind of help can we expect from the Feds on this?” Zoë asked.

“We'll be sending more resources at the moment. As well as handling the Transport company robbery. Now I understand that Sheriff Buford is the lead on the mall shooting?”

Zoë nodded, “I have a conflict of interest. One of the civilians who killed the shooters was my daughter.”

“Your... daughter? How old is she?”

“Sixteen.”

“And she goes to the shopping mall, carrying a gun,” Captain Vincent asked incredulously.

“I'm sure you are aware of who my husband is, Captain. Sara was kidnapped a year and a half ago. She doesn't go anywhere without a gun.”

“Yes.. I can see that. What about the other one... Jefferson Reynolds?”

“Sara's boyfriend. And he's also the son of my best friend.”

“And he routinely carries a gun as well.”

“This ain't the core, Captain Vincent,” Zoë replied. “While I admit it's a sight more civilized now than even fifteen years ago. Boros is still a border planet and it can still be a little wild in spots.”

“Yes... I have noticed that myself. That's why we are seeing the Triads expanding on worlds like Boros and Hera.”

“Just as long as we can stop it here, I'll be happy,” Zoë replied.

“As will I, Chief, as will I.”

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TBC