Touched in the Head

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based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

River had shown up right on time as Cat and 'Ski carried Mal down the steps. Never stopping from the skipping, she had found a hospital bed. Together they maneuvered Mal on it and then started for the ship.

"He's not here all the time," River whispered, the still small voice carrying with it more knowledge than man should be given. "But he's thinking about you."

Cat nodded as the bed's wheels squeaked. Her mind, though be it sitting on worry over Mal, also took in another memory, and this one could make even the strongest a bit faint.

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'The bed wheels squeaked under her as she pulled madly against the straps that were laid across her badly damaged arms. She had tried to escape again, through the force field which had bordered the compound so that little ones like she could not go wandering. It would do little good for a parent to see her and start asking questions. Especially why someone so young was permitted to wander the complex alone.

A hand on her head made her fight more, its cold presence only magnifying hatred and desire to be free. Fangs, which had only recently presented themselves when she got angry, flashed in the low hanging lights as they turned, yet, another corner. Her senses had already begun processing and if she ever got free, between the distinct sound of every few meters and the particular pattern of dots on each ceiling tile, Cat could find her way back to salvation.

They had wanted only a little humanity to shine through the nightmare procedure they had done to her. Just enough for her to get attached to her creators and obey their wishes. it would have worked to, if it wasn't that they picked a woman first.

Emotions were her downfall and the taste of freedom her bane. Now, they had threatened the Machine and now that she was a perfect age, it could be implemented without residual damage, or at least