The Game of Life and Death

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based on the World of Firefly by Joss Whedon

Her stomach tightened the moment she saw him, the conductor of this nightmare, the one who had controlled her before her heart chose different. Cat, for a moment was afraid. Liken to a scared child, she realized that he could take it all away and send her back to her doom, making the emotions disappear.

A movement behind her woke the assassin from her trance. Mal, his hand resting on the gun she had given him and 'Ski beside, the trademark shotgun flung over his shoulder like a baseball bat. These were the reason she fought because neither would abandon her to this master of horrors unspeakable.

Her eyes flashed as she reached to her side, hand cupping a decently sized throwing knife. With only one chance, her wrist flicked, the blade going airborne. The doctor gasped as the large blade broke in the air, five fanning out to do more damage. Inara could be heard gasping behind Cat as one by one the smaller blades seemed to stop in mid air and stay. Something around the spot then began to shimmer, each blade embedded in the neck of an invisible solider.

"Holy mother of God..." Cat heard Simon say, but her attention was on the Dr. Green's reaction.

"Not even a hello, before you attack."

"Enemies don't deserve the air we breathe. let alone the time it takes for a conversation. Isn't that what you taught us?" Cat paced like a tigress protecting that which was rightfully hers.

"All I want is you and the girl, River Tam. The rest can leave."

"To hell with that." Mal spoke , but a hand from 'Ski stopped him from saying more.

"So you can turn her into me. A full fledged walking time bomb." She turned so the doctor could get a full view of her body and so she could catch the eye of her partner, who reached into his pocket for something. "Were you too busy to grow another one or just too lazy?"

"Now, Cat, you know we have not completed her sessions. A few more a