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.

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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.

A/N:

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New Blood

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Chapter Twenty

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Office of the CEO, Blue Sun Corporation. Capital City, Osiris:

“Sir?”

“What is it Chou?” The CEO asked in a bored tone of voice.

“I... I think you need to see this,” The younger man said as he laid a flimsy on his boss' desk

The scrolling headline Immediately caught the CEO's attention.

“Blue Sun Labs Killing Children. Sanctioned by Parliament.”

“What the hell?” the CEO thundered.

“River Tam is mentioned several times in the article. Also the retrieval team sent to Meadow and Boros has gone missing.”

“What do you mean... missing?”

“The team reported a mechanical anomaly with their vessel. They stopped at the Wayborn Skyplex for repairs. Records show that the ship departed but then disappeared.”

“And why wasn't I informed of this?”

“I just got the information this morning.”

Before the CEO could yell a reply at his underling, the door to the office burst open.

Standing in the opening stood a single dark skinned man Dressed simply in a tunic and dark pants. In the outer office, the two security guards could be seen laying in pools of blood.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” the intruder said in a calm voice.

“Who are you?” The CEO yelled.

“I have no name,” the dark skinned man replied evenly, “But since my fall from grace, I have been trying to atone for my many sins.”

“And what sins were those?” The CEO asked nervously.

“They are many. Foremost, however I followed blindly. My pride was my greatest downfall. I intend to set things to rights.”

While the dark skinned man stood calmly, the CEO slowly moved his hand across his desk towards his top drawer where he kept a small pistol. Before he could reach it, the man withdrew a sword from a sheath slung across his back.

“Do you know what your sin is?” The dark skinned man asked. The words froze the CEO's hand.

“My what?”

“Greed.”

In a blur, the man began to move. Before he could even cry out, the CEO's head separated from his shoulders. On the back swing, the man formerly known as the Operative, sunk his sword deep into the chest of the CEO's assistant.

His work done for the moment. The former Operative calmly wiped his sword on the assistant's expensive shirt and calmly headed for the elevators.

He had more targets to attend to before he slept that night.

XXXXXXXXXX

“Xue?” Zoë called as she entered the passenger dorms.

“In Jess' room!” The teenager called back.

Zoë grinned as she poked her head through the doorway, “And what are you two troublemakers up to now?”

“Nothing...” Jessie trailed off.

“Likely story,” Zoë replied with a grin, “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”

“Okay, Zoë,” Xue replied.

In the two weeks since she had been rescued and brought aboard Serenity, Xue had opened up. She and Jess had become fast friends.

Zoë was glad that both girls had bonded. Next closest in age was River. The psychic spent quite a bit of time with the girls. Mostly determining just what their individual gifts were. And their level of natural power.

Jessie seemed to be a genuine natural reader. She and River could have silent conversations using their minds only. Jessie wasn't adept at understanding normal peoples thoughts but River was sure that with time and some coaching, Jessie would be nearly as powerful as she was.

Xue on the other hand seemed to just seem to feel machinery. Much like Kaylee could 'hear' Serenity. Xue seemed to as well. She spent quite a bit of time with Kaylee, learning the ships various systems.

It was when Xue first set foot on the bridge that her gift seemed to shine. River let the teenager run some simulated flight profiles on the co-pilots console and had been amazed.

River realized why Wash had been such an exemplary pilot. It was simply hard wired into his genes if his daughter was any indication.

Xue had worked through all five problems in less than twenty minutes. Then calculated four different courses in the computer nearly as fast as River could.

River had joked with Zoë that Xue, in a few months might put her out of a job.

“You seem distracted tonight,” Maxine said as she rubbed Zoë's shoulders. The two women had retreated to their bunk shortly after dinner.

“Still adjustin to bein a step mom,” Zoë replied, rolling her neck trying to work the kinks out.

“Xue's a good kid. Sounds like her mother raised her right,” Max replied.

“She is,” Zoë agreed, almost lost in thought.

“Will you relax?” Maxine chided her lover, “You're worse than the Captain before a meet.”

Zoë snickered, “That bad huh? And how would you know how tense Mal's shoulders get before a meet?”

“Me an 'Nara discus the proper care and feeding of our respective Ai-ren's while you're gone.”

“Long as it's just discussin, “ Zoë replied over her shoulder.

“Only got eyes for you, Boa-bei,” Max smiled, “But 'Nara has been givin me some tips...”

“Tips, huh?”

“Oh yeah,” Max purred.

“Best you show me then, girl...”

“Your wish is my command,” Maxine grinned as she pulled her shirt off.

XXXXXXXXXX

Josiah Reynolds was nervous. Ever since he had published his story, Josiah felt like he was being followed everywhere.

His bosses at the Daily Mail had been furious with him. Blue Sun was a large shareholder in the company.

Josiah knew that the go-se flowed downhill and figured that his job as Editor of the City Desk was probably forfeit. If not his life.

When the news broke about the assassination of the Blue Sun CEO, Josiah knew he had to get out of town... quickly.

His time during the war as a roving reporter had prepared him well. He had a locker at the spaceport filled with clothing, passable fake ID's and of course money. Knowing that once they discovered him gone, the Alliance would crash his accounts. He withdrew as much cash as he could carry. Most of it he then moved to one of his fake identities. The one he was now going to use to board a transport heading for Persephone.

He needed to disappear for a while.

After purchasing his ticket, Josiah waited for the call to board. It was a three day trip to Persephone and he was traveling under the radar. Josiah hadn't shaved in a few days and he wore an old pair of glasses. The polarized lenses should keep scanners from reading his retinas.

Hiding in anonymity was his best bet.

The boarding call came and Josiah joined the shuffling masses as they made their way onto the small liner.

Carrying only two hundred passengers, the Persephone Express was a converted troop transport. One hundred, small two person rooms had been installed in a space that had at one time held three times that many racks for Alliance troops. It was spartan but clean.

Food service was cafeteria style and the kitchen was always open. Since he was traveling alone, Josiah had been assigned a roommate by the purser. Another man traveling alone.

Josiah was just settling in when his roommate knocked. He looked up. The man standing in the door was well but simply dressed. A blue tunic over black cargo pants. Polished black boots and and what looked like a map case slung across his back.

“Good afternoon,” The dark skinned man said.

“Howdy,” Josiah replied, slipping into the Shadow Accent of his youth, “Reckon you're my roommate for this trip.”

“I am,” the man smiled.

“Come on in,” Josiah said in a friendly tone while looking the man over for any threats.

The once over did not go unnoticed. The new arrival closed the door behind him, “It is good to meet you at last, Mr. Reynolds.”

Josiah did his best to hide his shock, “Name's Clayton, Josiah Clayton.”

“No, you are not,” the man said, his voice still polite and cultured, “You are Josiah Reynolds, City Editor of the New London Daily Mail. Formerly from Shadow and uncle to one Malcolm Reynolds.”

Josiah's hand flinched for the gun he wasn't wearing at the moment. It was secured in his luggage.

“Fraid you got me messed up with...”

“Please, Mr. Reynolds. I know exactly who you are. I also mean you no harm. We are both on a quest. You for truth and myself for redemption.”

“Who are you?” Josiah asked.

“I have no name. I was an Operative of Parliament. I see by your face you know what that means. Had I wished you harm, we would not be having this conversation since you would be dead. We are not at cross purposes here. You wish to see the truth about the Academy. Your article is just the tip of the iceberg, in point of fact. The corruption goes much deeper than just the CEO of Blue Sun and few key members of Parliament. Much deeper.”

“What do you want?”

“The same as you... freedom for all citizens of the 'Verse.”

“Tall order,” Josiah scoffed.

“Indeed. But tell me this. Isn't it worth the effort?”

“Reckon so...”

The dark skinned man smiled slightly, “The perhaps we can work something out then.”

“Maybehaps.”

“Good. May I sit?”

“Still a free 'Verse... sorta.”

The operative chuckled and sat on the other narrow bunk across from the reporter, “Let me tell you a tale. One involving Simon and River Tam, the Academy and... your nephew, Malcolm.”

“Afore you start... You said you ain't got a name... what do I call you?”

“You may call me... Damien.”

XXXXXXXXXX

Xue paused before knocking on the hatch to her step mother's bunk. That was a strange thought. Xue never considered she would ever have another mother. Of course she never expected to be virtually kidnapped by men who don't exist who wanted to cut into her brain either. The stories that River had told her had chilled the fifteen year old to her core.

She felt like she was on a some wild amusement park ride and wanted off. Still Xue was on a spaceship. The same spaceship her father had flown. The father she had never met because he didn't know about her. A father who if he had, Xue knew he would have loved her.

Now the only connection she had was the woman who had been her father's wife. A stranger. She felt very alone. Or was she?

The crew was wonderful. Jessie was friendly and open. They talked clothes, boys and the other things teenage girls talked about. Kaylee was like a big sister. Always happy and showing her how serenity worked.

River was like the slightly creepy cousin that you loved anyway. The Captain was nice even though he denied it. Maxine was like another big sister even though she slept with her step mom. That thought slightly squicked her out.

Jayne was turning out to be like a big grumpy uncle. Constantly complaining about everything except when River was in the room. Then he was a big teddy bear. Inara was the beautiful aunt you went to for advice on boys and clothes.

Xue suddenly realized she had a family here. For the first time in her life, Xue felt like she was... home.

As she raised her knuckles to knock, a scream could be heard from Zoë's bunk. Xue kicked the hatch open and clambered down as fast as she could...

And immediately regretted it as her step mom and her... partner scrambled to cover up with a sheet.

“Oh my god... I'm... I'm so sorry... I...” Xue stammered out.

Maxine's pale skin turned about as red as her hair. Zoë at first looked surprised, then angry and then she started to giggle. Followed momentarily by Maxine.

“I thought you locked the door...” Max said between giggles.

“I thought you did,” Zoë replied in kind.

Xue looked like she didn't know weather to run, hide or cry.

“I'm sorry sweetie,” Zoë said to her step daughter.

“I'll just... go...”

“It's okay, Xue,” Max smiled as she wiggled under the sheet, trying to disentangle something from around her hips.

“Just turn around for a second, Ni-zi,” Zoë smiled.

Xue turned around, feeling the blush run up her face.

Quickly, Zoë grabbed her robe and Maxine disentangled herself from the sheets and the harness around her hips, slipping the latter back into the case, Inara had given them. She quickly donned her own robe a moment later.

“You can turn around now,” Zoë said.

Slowly the teenager turned around, looking quite embarrassed, “I'm sorry...”

Zoë smiled and shook her head, “It's okay. We were almost done anyway...”

“I wasn't,” Maxine grumped, causing Xue to giggle. Zoë threw a pillow at her lover.

“I heard a scream and I thought...”

“That one of us was in trouble,” Maxine finished for the girl.

She simply nodded.

Zoë tentatively pulled Xue into a one armed hug, “Don't worry about it. Ain't the first time someone walked in on us.”

“Last time it was the Captain,” Maxine grinned.

Xue giggled.

“So I'm guessin you wanted somethin?” Zoë asked.

Xue nodded, “I was wondering... well. I... need some clothes. I can't keep borrowing Jessie's...”

Zoë grinned, “Soon as we get to Persephone in two days, Max and I are takin you shoppin. Get your own stuff. Things to fix up your room too.”

The girl relaxed slightly, “Thanks.”

“Gonna get you new ID too.”

“A new ID?”

“Yep. That way you can move about easier. Got a new one comin for Jessie too. Academy wants you two bad. Need to keep you safe. Jessie is gonna be Maxine's Mei-mei on paper and you... are going to be my stepdaughter.”

“Aren't I already?” Xue asked, confused.

“You are. But we're changin your last name to Washburn. Makes it a might easier to explain that way.”

“I understand.”

“Xue, why don't you give me a hand with lunch,” Maxine smiled.

“I don't know how to cook,” Xue said.

“Don't make you any different than Simon,” Max grinned. Your lessons start today.”

“Okay,” Xue replied, visibly brightening.

“Now scoot along to the galley and I'll be there in a jiff. Cap'n don't like it when I cook naked,” Maxine giggled.

With a matching giggle, Xue turned and climbed out of the room.

Zoë leaned over and kissed Maxine, “Looks like you're not that bad of a mother either.”

“Nahhh,” Max grinned, “Leave it all up to you. I'll just help out.”

“You better get dressed. Xue is waitin.”

“Why? Don't want me to give Mal a heart attack when he walks in for dinner and finds me starkers?”

“No, I just don't want to have to face River after I have to kill Jayne for ogling you.”

“Well in that case...”

XXXXXXXXXX

Josiah was stunned. What the former Operative had told him was deeply frightening.

“So they planned to use these... kids to kill anyone who might be a threat to this plan.”

“Correct.”

“And a wrench got thrown in the works when Doc Tam busted his sister outta that place.”

“Yes.”

“So... the CEO of Blue Sun along with a few members of Parliament, a couple of admirals and generals were planning on setting themselves up in some kind of empire. Eliminate Parliament, impose martial law. And any world that doesn't like it gets Pax'ed?”

“In summary... yes.”

“Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiouh doh sai-jin wuh duh pee-goo!”

“My sentiments... although not in just those words.”

“What's the next step, Damien?”

“When we reach Persephone. We will make contact with your nephew. His ship frequents the planet and it is the safest place in which to contact him.”

“And Malcolm was the one to get the Miranda wave out?”

“He was. Despite my best efforts to thwart him. That is one of the many things I have to atone for...”

“He gonna be happy to see you again?”

“I seriously doubt it. Mal said if we ever crossed paths again he would kill me.”

“Well, I'll see what I can do to prevent that.”

“It would be most appreciated.”

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TBC