Kaylee looked in horror and fear, gaze shifting fitfully between the man she loved and this shadow of a man. This Reaver. It may have spoken as a man, but that is what it could never be. And she hated it for that.

Kaylee didn’t hate many folks in the ‘verse. She thought everybody was shiny in their own way. Their were only two folk that she did hate. One was Cassandra, for trying to steal away her Simon. That cunt… And, the other was Federal Agent Jamus Smith. He was long dead, buried on Paquin. Along with Billy. He had stolen away her child, her first child. And for that, she cursed him to the fiery inferno that was the Seventh and last circle of Hell.

So, all in all, about two folks she hated. And this thing. She couldn’t bring herself to think of it as a man.

Yes, Simon had been one, but that was different. He was her soul mate !! She loved him, wanted to raise a child with him, spoil grandkids with him, wanted to grow old with him (with some mind blowing sex in between, of course). But he scared her. He had long ago learned how to control his rage, the Cold, as he called it. But it still scared her. She didn’t know if Simon would still be her Simon, the same Simon that she loved to death, after he dipped into his madness each time. He didn’t do so often, almost never… but once a day in a year was still too much, in her book. And, he hadn’t felt it for almost two years… until today. Damn, and it had to be on her home planet as well!!!

Simon got closer to the beast in mans skin. This imposter. She heard a rustling behind her, and quickly turned around. There was River, dragging a dazed looking Tommy behind her. She had a wild look in her eyes, searching for… something. She got right next to Kaylee, setting Tommy up beside her, where he shook his head to clear it.

Simon was almost standing on top of the thing, he was so close. The Reaver that sought redemption fell to its knees, a sinner repenting before the Christ. Simon looked down at it. Kaylee fel