"Niska? Gorram it to hell. When I get my hands on that filthy little...." Jayne steamed.

"Watch your mouth around the baby." Kaylee was fast to chastise, her hand sliding protectively around her swollen stomach.

"Ain't been born yet."

"Don't mean he ain't gonna hear you." She frowned and waddled off, a smile creasing Cat's face before turning back to the discussion at hand.

"Well, we said it was a bad idea." Zoe spoke as Mal sighed heavily. "You're not seriously thinking..."

"Lot of innocent people will die we don't go. Planet suffered once because of us and Patience just barely made it through that scrap alive. She's rebuilt it and I for one. ain't gonna let it get all blown up again on my account." He ran a hand through his soft brown hair, it dripping a little from sweat.

Cat was quiet. She had heard stories about Niska from both Mal and others through out the galaxy, but had never had the pleasure of working for him. Ski had warned her before to stay away, mostly though because she was his perfect minion. Able to heal and a bit of a monster....okay, a lot of a monster. Only good thing about her was...the monster was on the outside for everyone to see.

"Man tried to kill you, Mal. In fact, he actually got a piece of you had we not gotten it back." Jayne used his knife to motion to his ear lobe.

"He didn't and we got the advantage since we know he'll be there." Still, the captain rubbed his ear. It wasn't something he wanted repeated either. There was enough things in his life to have nightmares about, then to start those all over again.

"Badger will tell him. Warn him." Zoe spoke and Cat perked up.

"No, he won't. Niska might scare Badger, but not as much as betraying me does."

"Afraid of what you'll do to him." Jayne smiled, but she shook her head.

"Not me, he's worried about." She didn't hint as to whom, but none of them needed translation when Cat spoke of her former partner. Ski.

"I still don't like trusting him." Zoe stood as a shadow darkened the bay