Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Maxine and the rest of my OC's. they're mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

-

A new story line to recharge my Muse. Set outside my “Allanverse.” Just to see what happens. Set about a year and a half post Serenity. Story line has the standard pairings of Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee. Also has River/Jayne. Zoë/Maxine -

Warning: This story line from here on out will include 'gasp' fem slash (Like you didn't see it coming). It won't be graphic but I know some are offended by any depiction of homosexuality. If you don't like this kind of thing... stop reading right now.

-

New Blood

-

Chapter Twenty Two

-

The crew gathered around the table except for Jayne. The big man stood off to one side so he could keep an eye on their old 'friend' the Operative.

Everyone sat with shocked expressions on their faces as the dark skinned man finished his story.

“Direct rule... what little rights we have now, taken away?” Simon breathed.

“And if any world does not capitulate, Pax will be used,” The operative said darkly, “Elimination of Parliament, the court system. Enforcement of mandatory military service... the list goes on.”

“Merciful Buddha,” Inara whispered.

“The Guild will loose it's independence as well,” Damien continued, “Companions will no longer have autonomy to pick and choose their clients. If this comes to pass, they will become nothing more than sex slaves.”

“Ain't gonna happen,” Jayne growled, “Folk ain't gonna stand for it.”

“That, therein lies the problem. This is why the Academy project is suddenly surging forward after a nearly three year hiatus. They need psychics to root out those dissenters who have the resources to mount a real revolution. I fear war is coming and it won't just be fought on the rim like last time... it will be in the streets of Shinon and Londinium.”

“Make the last war look like a skirmish,” Zoë observed.

“It's powder keg already,” Josiah commented, “There's been riots on the border planets like Boros and even pro Alliance rim worlds like Greenleaf. Protests on Ariel and Osiris...”

“All it will take is one wrong move by someone in the government and things will explode,” Simon said.

“I sure as hell don't want to fight another war,” Mal said while staring at the table top, “But I will fight to protect me and mine. That is everyone on this ship. Including you, Uncle Josiah.”

Damien nodded at the statement, “I understand, Captain.”

Mal sighed, “Ain't like that. I sure don't like you. The word hate comes to mind. But you're tryin to fix things. I ain't gonna kill you. Sides, you might come in handy. All your knowin o' stuff.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“So that's it... we're gonna let him get away with what he done?” Jayne growled.

Mal's face hardened, “Until I say different... yes. Man's more use to us right now alive. He understands that if that changes, his life is forfeit.”

Josiah sat back and tried to hide the grin on his face. Long gone was the naive boy he knew on Shadow. In his place was a man he was proud to call his nephew.

“You haven't said anything, River,” Inara said.

“Calculating,” She said in a quiet voice, “Blue Sun CEO was a start. But it is like the Hydra. Cut off one head, two more take it's place. Need to kill the body.”

“How do we do that?” Maxine asked.

“The academy is key. Without that, they will be blind,” River replied, “Need to destroy it...”

“Impossible, Mei-mei,” Simon began, “We can't do that.”

“Things are in motion. We won't have to... alone.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Simon's prediction came true sooner than anyone thought.

It started on Osiris. Nearly one hundred thousand people. Mostly students and young professionals had gathered at a rally in the center of Capital City.

They carried signs that said, 'Remember Miranda' and 'Parliament's the real Reavers.' Leaders made impassioned speeches and the crowd applauded.

A battalion of troops surrounded the gathering. They were under orders to arrest the organizers and disperse the crowds.

Tensions were on a razors edge.

The commander of the troops ordered everyone to disperse. He was laughed off the podium.

What happened next would be forever seared into the public consciousness for a years to come.

Someone in the crowd threw a rock at the departing officer. Struck in the head, he fell to the platform, unconscious. His troops, outnumbered a hundred to one... panicked.

Stunners were forgotten as the troops opened up with automatic weapons and even lasers.

Innocent people died by the thousands. Then the troops began to fall and weapons found their way into the hands of the now incensed protesters.

By nightfall, Capital City on Osiris was in flames. All carried live on the cortex.

Marshal law was declared and the body count began to rise. There was open warfare on the streets. And the government troops were loosing.

Three cruisers were dispatched to provide reinforcement to the garrisons. They also had orders that if order could not be restored in a timely manner, the ships were to commence orbital bombardment and wipe Capital City from the face of the planet.

Two of the ships mutinied and attacked the third that tried to carry out the commands from fleet headquarters. The space battle was short and deadly. In the end, only one of the huge cruisers was operational. The other two, reduced to battered hulks with huge loss of life.

As word of that spread. More planets began to openly revolt. More riots broke out on Persephone, Hera and a dozen other worlds. Once again, the orders to the fleet were the same. Reinforce the garrisons and if unable to contain the situation, bombard the site of the unrest.

With nuclear weapons if necessary.

More and more ships mutinied. Soon over half the Alliance fleet was refusing orders.

All of this happened in less than four days.

XXXXXXXXXX

“My fault...” River whispered as she watched the cortex with wet eyes. She was curled in Jayne's lap in the co-pilots seat on Serenity's bridge.Watching as the images of carnage flew between the worlds.

Jayne hugged her close and shook his head, “Ain't your fault, Baby girl. They done brought this down on themselves.”

River shook her head, “No. Miranda, the Academy... death. All because of me...”

“Jayne, why don't you take her down to your bunk,” Mal suggested, “Watchin all this go-se ain't helpin none.”

The big man nodded and gently lifted River into his arms and left the bridge. Maxine snuggled deeper into Zoë's arms as they leaned against the bulkhead at the back of the bridge.

“What's the plan, Sir?” Zoë asked.

“No rutting idea,” Mal sighed.

“Never thought it would blow up this bad,” Josiah muttered from his perch next to his nephew.

“Tell me about it, Uncle Joe,” Mal replied.

“Three more worlds have declared independence,” Inara said as she settled into Mal's lap in the pilot's seat, “That makes fifteen so far.”

“Verse is fallin apart,” Maxine commented.

“Least when we fought the war, the Independents had their own government. Tried to work together. This is headin on towards anarchy,” Mal said.

Any further conversation stopped as the proximity alert sounded.

“Go-se,” Mal growled as Inara slipped from his lap and moved quickly to the co-pilots seat.

“Sir?” Zoë asked as she disentangled herself from Maxine.

“Cruiser... damn, damn damn...”

Outside, two gunships flew by. There was no way the Firefly could outrun fighters.

“... Firefly transport. This is the cruiser, Magellan. Heave to and prepare for docking...” crackled a voice over the ship to ship com.

“Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiouh doh sai-jin wuh duh pee-goo,” Mal swore as he aligned the ship for docking with the immense flying city now visible outside the window.

XXXXXXXXXX

Everyone gathered in the bay, unarmed. Mal knew that if the crew showed up armed, the troops aboard the cruiser would simply overwhelm them.

No one would survive.

All he could hope for was that River's hacking had done it's work.

Mal also knew that he would die before he let anyone take River, Xue or Jessica to the Academy.

Mal also knew how Jayne would react if a single purple belly laid a hand on his girl, more than a few would feel his wrath.

With a hiss, the airlock equalized. Zoë stepped forward and pulled open the door. Seconds later, four marines entered serenity, their weapons held low. That in itself was unusual. Boarding parties tended to shoot first and ask questions later. These men looked like they were simply there to watch.

A moment later, Mal was surprised to see a familiar face arrive. One he hadn't seen for nearly four years.

“Captain Reynolds,” said the officer.

“Well ain't this a surprise, Commander.”

“Admiral now,” Robert Harken replied.

“Congratulations on the promotion,” Mal replied icily.

Harken placed his hands behind his back, “I have to commend you. How you hid Dr Tam and his sister last time we met, still amazes me.”

River stepped forward, “Took a walk.”

Harken grinned, “Well done.”

“What do you want?” Mal snarled, “Far as I know, the Tam's ain't wanted no more and I reckon from the news waves, the fleet's got more to worry about than a little old Firefly.”

“Correct Captain. I am here for a different reason. I need your help.”

Mal's jaw nearly hit the floor, “Shen-me?”

Standing to the rear, Damien stepped forward slightly. Curious as to what the Admiral was about to say.

River had a slight grin on her face. She knew the secret but wanted to see the Captain's reaction.

“I need your help Captain,” Harken repeated.

“Doing what?”

“First off, perhaps you could inform me where I could trade this gray and purple for a uniform a little more... brown?”

River smiled wide. That was the expression she wanted to see on the Captain's face.

XXXXXXXXXX

The Galley table was beginning to get a bit crowded. Xue and Jessica had taken over two of the chairs in the lounge while Admiral Harken was joined by the crew including Josiah and Damien.

“Let me get this straight... you mutinied?” Mal asked.

“Correct,” Harken replied, “I swore an oath to protect the citizens of the Alliance from all threats. Right now, Blue Sun and the Cabinet are the threat. Many of the rank and file Parliament members are as opposed to what has been happening as I am.”

“You actually had orders to use nukes?” Zoë asked.

“That's why so many ships have mutinied. Many of the crews of those vessels would be murdering their own families.”

“How many ships you got?” Josiah asked.

“Eight Unification Class cruisers. Twenty Longbow Class Destroyers and one Maelstrom Class heavy cruiser.”

“Against what?”

“Twelve Unifications, Eighteen Longbows and a good number of smaller vessels.”

“Sounds like you're a might out numbered,” Mal commented.

“I might have a way of evening the odds somewhat, Gentlemen,” The former Operative spoke up.

“What might that be?”

“The military has it's own data links. Separate from the civilian cortex and other systems. With the information Miss Tam acquired from the contractors, combined with my own information. If the entire military system were to be provided with this data. I am sure many more ships and even garrisons will come over to our side.”

“And what side is that?” Simon asked.

“The side of righteousness.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Mal never thought he'd see this day. A day when he would be standing on the bridge of an Alliance cruiser... at least not unless he was in handcuffs.

Now, he stood next to Admiral Harken watching over River's shoulder as the young woman's fingers blurred across the keyboard before her.

“Amazing,” Harken remarked as he watched River work.

Mal grinned like a proud father, “Albatross is a right wonder. Makes you wonder what she might have been, Academy hadn't messed with her brain.”

“Wouldn't have Jayne. Simon wouldn't have Kaylee, Captain, Inara... Miranda would still be a secret,” River remarked as she worked, “Now is not the time for the might have beens... time is for the what will be.”

River glanced to her left where Damien sat at a similar console, “Input your codes please.”

The former Operative placed his left hand against the screen, and with his right, entered a code into the system. River grinned when data began scrolling across her screen.

“Apparently, my former superiors were not intelligent enough to locate the back doors I had placed into the network,” Damien remarked, “With my clearance, River will now be able to run amok throughout the entire government computer system.”

River slid a data stick into a reader and grinned as she hit the last few keys, “In twelve hours, the Virus I just uploaded will cripple the command and control computers on all the defense platforms around Londinium, Shinon and other core worlds. Also, the main archives to all top secret programs will suddenly send themselves to every news agency in the 'Verse.”

“Good lord,” Harken breathed.

“The 'Verse will realize it is not wise to make me mad,” River remarked.

XXXXXXXXXX

“So now what?” Jayne asked as he stuffed a hunk of steak into his mouth.

“We wait,” Admiral Harken replied. The crew of Serenity was dining in the Admiral's quarters aboard the Magellan.

“Despite the brutal tactics, Order is being restored on Osiris and Ariel,” Inara commented.

“And on the worlds that have declared independence, Coalition governments are popping up,” Simon added.

“What about the Academy?” Zoë asked.

“From what I have been able to discern, They have two student's nearly ready for deployment. I was the best and Simon's breaking me out set them back years. Particularly because they had to move the entire facility for security purposes,” River said.

“Where is it now?” Simon asked his sister.

“New Alexandria on Osiris.”

“We could bombard it from orbit,” Josiah suggested.

“No!” River exclaimed, “Too many innocents. They have been recruiting heavily. From what records I have been able to find. There are nearly twenty children being held. All like Jessica or Xue... like I used to be...”

“Could go in... get the kids out,” Jayne suggested.

River smiled at her man, “My Jayne needs a white charger.”

“A rescue mission?” Zoë asked.

“Now hold on here Albatross...” Mal began.

“I'm in,” Maxine said, drawing a look from Zoë.

“Suicide run,” Simon commented.

“Not with me planning it and the Admiral's support.”

Harken nodded his head, “What do you need?”

“Two platoons of Marines. Guns mounted on Serenity, gunships for support and a couple of cruisers in orbit for support.”

“Done.” said the Admiral.

“Now wait a minute, River...”

“With that kinda firepower, It would work,” Zoë interrupted, “And I know you've thought about something like this if the Academy ever got their hands on River again, Sir.”

“What about the girls?” Mal asked.

“I'm staying,” Xue stated firmly.

“Xue...” Zoë began.

“River's gonna be fighting. Inara, Kaylee and I can handle the ship. If Jessie stays with us, we'll have an un-jammable communications link between River and the ship,” Xue proclaimed.

“I can assign extra security to the ship,” added the Admiral.

“Now wait a gorram minute,” Mal began, “We need to think this out...”

“I'm going,” River stated.

“Where she goes, I go,” added Jayne.

“Someone needs to keep them out of trouble,” Maxine said.

“We need to do this,” Inara commented.

“I'm with 'Nara,” Kaylee agreed.

Mal sighed, “Zoë?”

“Needs doin, Sir.”

“Uncle Josiah?”

“Just get me a gun, Nephew.”

“Doc?”

“You'll need someone to treat the gunshot wound you will inevitably get.”

“Very funny. How about you?” Mal asked, looking directly at Damien.

“I'll need my sword back.”

Mal rubbed his face tiredly. After a full minutes consideration, he turned to Admiral Harken, “I do this, I'm runnin the show.”

“Your combat record gives me more than enough confidence to let you do that,” Harken agreed.

“Tross, get to work on your plans. Kaylee, Jayne? Get with the Admiral's engineering staff. See what we can rig on Serenity for firepower. Nothing permanent. Just till this is over, dong-ma?”

“Dang-ran, Cap'n,” Kaylee nodded.

“Simon, we're gonna get you some help. If the Admiral can spare another doc and a couple of medics...”

“You'll get whatever support you request.”

“Agreeing to this awful quick, Admiral.” Mal noted.

“I received a message from my sister a few weeks ago. It seems my nephew is attending a special school on Osiris... called the Academy...”

-

TBC