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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AN: I'm much happier with how this chapter turned out. One more to go after this one. There are still some loose ends to be tied up.

Warning for mature themes of sexual assault and it's aftermath.

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Thanks again to Woonsocket and Chris for the Beta work

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Relics

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Chapter Seventeen

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“Excuse me, Zoë?”

“What is it, Annie?” Zoë replied as the young woman entered the house.

“I was looking for Allan. I think I found something.”

Zoë motioned Annie to the breakfast bar, where Inara sat, sipping on a cup of tea. Sara and Jeff were playing a game in the living room.

“Allan's not here,” Zoë replied as she took her own seat. “Tea?”

“Sure,” Annie replied, sitting next to Inara. She placed a data pad on the counter. “I've been looking at the public tax records of the executives of the three shipping companies and I saw that all have something in common.”

“What's that?” Inara asked.

“I don't know what it is. But all three have declared payments to a certain account code.”

“May I see?” Inara asked.

Annie slid the pad across to the former companion.

Inara saw the account listed and smiled, “That is the code used when contracting with the guild. It affords the client some privacy but also makes sure the numbers match with what the guild files when they too pay their taxes.”

“Oh,” Annie replied.

“It is unusual though. The first six digits signify the guild but the last three are different. Regular companions use an eight or nine hundred series code. This is a seven hundred. That's an administrative code, if I recall correctly,” Inara said, deep in thought.

Zoë's face darkened, “Inara... your friend, Angelique. She's not a practicing companion anym