A/N: Happy National Hangover Day ^_^

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*FLASHBACK*

She struggled.

She clawed and screamed and gasped, crying for help, crying for them to stop. However they said nothing, they did nothing but continue.

"River." He called out, Dr. Mithias, she knew his name, she fixated on the little calligraphy of it embroidered on his smock. it was the only thing she could focus on, for his face frightened her as he reached out and stroked her hair as if to soothe her.

It did the opposite.

"River, relax, I want to fix your problem." he reassured, standing by her head as the surgeon applied an anesthetic. Reaching out, as if empathic he held her hand. "River you said it hurts, it's uncomfortable, just relax ."

One slid the needle into the IV port and dispersed the drug, it burned through her veins, it relaxed her muscles, yet it did not dull her senses.

She would feel, see and hear it all, without being able to react.

They took it out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was in her mind.

They put her there, on the outside she was in a chair, things strapped to her, monitors buzzing, scientists buzzing as well like an intellectual hive. However in her mind, in her mind she was free. Free and floating through other pcyhes, gleaning, knowing everything that was occurring.

There was a connection.

She found herself in a white room, it glowed as she stood there in a uniform that hugged her skin. Suddenly in front of her was a girl. As young as she, plain, yet scared.

River Tam's eyes narrowed.

A barefoot step forward, then the other. She circled the girl projected so clearly in her mind, studying her, knowing her. Plain and simple. Not a reader, nothing special, ordinary and scared as her hands fidgeted and she followed the Tam girl with wide, scared eyes.

A connection.

River stalked up close, learning everything.

Slave.

Expendable.

Vessel.

The slave girl, in her sterile smock, trembled as the reader was so close their noses nearly b