One More Reason

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based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

Something wasn't right, there was something she had missed, and for Cat, that was unaccepted. She had played the events up 'til now in her head so many times. and each time, the feeling got worse. It was just one more reason for her to be distracted. What was this nagging in her gut that wouldn't let go?

"What's on your mind, Babe?" 'Ski spoke beside her, something only he could pick up on.

"We missed something." She said matter of fact. Her eyes gazed above her as the shadow of an enormous metal door loomed above them. It seemed a silent guard for the room they approached next. Light, bright as the sun itself flowed over each facet of the prstine white walls and decorative tiled floor. It was still circular, but bigger in size. Cat's foot rested on the sizable multifaceted star, which was inlaid in the middle of the floor. "Welcome to the crossroads."

She spun on her heel and pointed down the first hallway. "To our left, we have the north wing, housing offices and housing for Academy staff. To our right, the south wing, aptly named the Education Wing...yes, this place actually does have students and teachers."

"Well, I'll be damned." 'Ski shook his head.

Cat turned to 'Ski and smiled. "Not all parents ditch their kids. Creating a cover for their work keeps noses out and profits in. For them, it's a win win situation. You would be surprised who went here."

"Behind us is the east wing, you got a good idea what goes on there and then, there is the West WIng. We have prisoner quarters and where I once was roomed."

"So why no students? Or no one for that matter?"

"Students are on summer break, at least their summer. Other than that, they are watching us and waiting. Remember they like to watch their experiment take shape, watch it grow. Soon they will expose it to another batch of problems and see exactly how it will handle them."

"Was that the hardest part in all