Nightingale's Song

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based on the World of Firefly by Joss Whedon

Cat had been down the halls of the north wing only once, but she had found her way through the air vents several times escaping her captives and just being a normal teenager girl. She had been one once, though her memory of those times was vague. If it wasn't meant to assist in the hunt, it was either pushed to the back of her mind or forgotten altogether. She remembered though something here had made her happy for awhile, but it had been too long ago. Besides now, she was here for an entirely different reason, she was searching for the one they had missed...the Companion, Inara.

Her group had fallen to 'Ski, Mal, and Simon. The first two didn't surprise her at their want to come, but River's brother had caught her completely off guard. He wanted answers and some of the questions he asked even she didn't know. Strangely, she wished he had gone with Zoe and Jayne back to the ship. Mal and 'Ski were apt at the weapons they carried, but this doctor they called him seemed as unfamiliar with a gun as she was with human contact.

"Why do you think they'd take her here?" 'Ski whispered, Cat's unsettling nature evident in the way she walked.

"My creators had little use for a Companion, but there has been cases where they have gone to the Academy a season. Think maybe this Inara might have gone here." She almost growled the woman's name.

"She's one of his crew, Babe." He tried to calm her, but dealing with jealousy was new to his partner and she was not doing well with this new development.

"Don't try to make me feel better, Husband. We both know you suck at it." Her voice carried only to 'Ski's ears as Mal came up beside the two.

"You sure we're still in the same place?” The Captain's eyes roamed the beautifully decor that hung on the walls and the live plants that stood in every corner.

"Oh, ya." Cat muttered, a shiver of something crawling over her back causing h