I own nothing. Fair warning, this chapter alludes to rape and is very heavy on the violence.

The shuttle doors opened with a hiss and Mal was quickly surrounded by armored Reavers. The one who stood directly before him was covered head to toe in bulky, black armor, his face completely masked from view. All Mal could make out was the bottom row of teeth in his mouth that was visible through the air slit cut out in the metal mask. His teeth were permanently stained red and filed to sharp points and the canines were inexplicably long for human teeth. Mal inadvertently took a step back as he looked up at the towering Reaver. It was the same Reaver that had howled at him from the skiff. He grabbed a hold of him with lightning speed, dragging him into the large ship and shoved him forward. There was a snarl of cruel laughter behind him-no it came from inside his mind. His entire body grew cold as the urge to run overwhelmed him.

Something moved in the shadows in front of him and he inwardly cringed when it came into view. How something so vile in appearance could be humanoid appalled him. Its skin was so pale, so white it was nearly translucent. The venous pathways were visible under the skin, almost resembling dark blue, lines as they ran the length of exposed skin. It flinched under what little light was provided within the blackened hallway, its vacuous pupils contracting and causing the bile-pink irises to grow. It's thin, purplish lips drew up in an almost sadistic smile, baring two rows of pointed teeth. It had no eyebrows, no eyelashes, no hair on the crown of it's pale, almost bone colored skull and Mal realized the skin of its head was so pale because he could make out the bone beneath the muscle. Its ear were holes in the side of its head, crowned by a pointed protrusion that was completely clear with fingers of purple capillaries running through.

"Captain Reynolds, brave of you to come us unaccompanied. Foolish as well, I might add." If it hadn't been for the male timber of its voice, Mal never would have been able to determine gender based on outward appearance alone, it was so completely disfigured. Mal had to fight to keep from letting his voice shake. "Couldn't endanger the rest of my crew."

"Ah yes, it was wise of you to order your first mate not to tell you where they would head once you left your ship to come here," it chuckled ominously. It held out its clammy hand. "I am Lord Arkham, Captain Reynolds, and I have been overseeing the care of your former crew mates-"

"They're still my crew," Mal interrupted and it grinned in malicious amusement. "Ah, yes. A man such as yourself would think that."

Mal opened his mouth to ask a question and Lord Arkham turned from him, his black robes swishing around him as he moved down the corridor. The Reaver shoved Mal into following. Lord Arkham spared a glance over his shoulder. "By now, I am sure you realize you will not be leaving and I am only going to impart what little knowledge I have gained from your followers because I believe it will help us to better force you to assimilate."

As they moved further into the ship, Mal was assaulted by the sound of thousands of men and women screaming both in pain and rage. Lord Arkham stopped suddenly and turned suddenly. "You know, I find it odd that while your kind fights to maintain dominance they show little concern with the well-being of the population at large. We Ascillians have made it a point to help one another to grow, become better- superior if you will."

"Seems every dominant species has their own Aristocracy."

Lord Arkham waved him off with a laugh. "You'll understand us soon enough."

Mal jumped in surprise as several men slipped by in purple suits, scurrying past Lord Arkham in a frenzy. "I was told not to terminate your male friend even though his behavior is...unpredictable."

He moved down several more narrow corridors before stopping next to two door. One was made of metal and locked from the outside while the other seemed less sturdy. Lord Arkham opened the second door and slinked over to a two way mirror. Despite his overwhelming sense of fear, Mal stepped up to the window in looked into the pitch dark room when something was thrown up against it without warning. Some dim light flicked on in the cell and Mal was finally able to see what had hit the mirror with such force. It was the body of a young girl, no older than River and there was blood-her blood- covering the mirror. Her lifeless body slid down the window and directly behind her stood Jayne.

Mal took a step back from the window as Jayne's eyes bore into his. Lord Arkham sighed. "That's the sixth female he's killed today."

He turned partially toward Mal as he continued to watch Jayne in analytical curiosity. "You know, while he is emotionally level with a Reaver, he does not participate in what would be deemed normal Reaver activity besides killing. No raping, self mutilation, cannibalism. He's mutated some as well. It's rather fascinating. He is the perfect warrior really." Lord Arkham turned to eye the Reaver standing beside Mal. "Perhaps, he will even surpass R-28678."

"A Reaver," Mal choked out. "You turned him into a Reaver?"

"Yes, it took longer than expected, but the transformation was successful," he said shortly. He turned to one of them men standing behind him waiting for orders. "The female? Is she ready?"

"Yes, my Lord."

"Send her in." He smiled down at Mal. "You're about to witness a reunion."

Jayne stilled on the other side of the window. He had begun pacing back and forth some time earlier, but he stilled immediately, eying the big door leading into his cell. The very bottom portion of the door slid away and a small shivering body was shoved into the room. The body scrambled back against the wall and Mal realized the wild eyed girl he was staring at-whose face was covered in black bruises-was River. She made to push herself closer to the wall when her legs gave out, the muscles under her skin visibly shaking from effort. There were several large, black bruises in the shapes of hand prints with half crescent cuts where someone's fingernails had dug into her skin.

"What did you do to her?"

"Sometimes, when breaking one such as a psychic assassin, we must use extreme force."

"What did you do to her," Mal repeated with more force. Lord Arkham's lips twitched. "She was restrained and given over to the Reavers."

Mal placed a hand on the window as he watched River rock back and forth against the wall, covering her face with her hands. "She's regressed mentally, but she has suffered no memory loss or-"

"Why don't she know who he is?"

"He's not who he was, Captain, it's as simple as that. Hopefully, once we're done with her, she'll be nothing like her former self-" Lord Arkham stopped mid sentence as he watched Jayne move closer to River, slowly. River shielded her face from him and held up one hand, as if to keep him away as she continued to sob hysterically.

River's body burned in pain. As groggy as she was from he tranquilizers given to her before the medical technicians had examined her for any signs of "permanent damage", she could still feel the homicidal rage that enveloped her once she was shoved into the room. Reaver. She tried to get her legs to move properly but it felt as though she were being stabbed with shards of glass with every moment she made. Her legs gave out as she leaned herself up against the wall and she covered her eyes with her hands so that she wouldn't have to see him when he finally attacked. She cried and waited. River waited, but nothing happened. She looked up to find him staring down at her, breathing heavily where he knelt by her feet, his eyes flitting over her body. He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring as he leveled what had once been the bluest eyes she had ever seen on her. His irises were a scorched red, small flecks of blue barely visible. River shook her head and moved forward slightly, causing him to draw back and growl. The arm she used to pull herself closer to him gave out and she tumbled forward, closing her eyes as she neared the metal grating. A rough hand pulled her up at the last second, stilling and righting her all at once. River opened her eyes slowly and focused on the blood soaked hand enveloping her her upper arm and cautiously moved her gaze to his eyes. He stared at her, never blinking for a long moment as she searched his eyes. River reached up toward him, her hand shaking as her fingers touched his jaw.

"I can see you," she breathed out in a ragged whisper. His eyes flashed as he jerked her even closer. River brought her other hand up to his face, cupping it as she trailed her fingers through his hair and she bit her lip to keep from crying. "I can still see you."

She let out a broken sob. "What have they done to you?"

He pulled her hands away and searched her face. She inhaled sharply. "They've been doing things to-I hear it. I hear them screaming, the growing, I can hear it. It's not human, but not like you. Like them."

He let out a low growl and she let her head fall against his shoulder. "You kill me before they use me, Jayne."

"Thousands of voices, touching me they keep touching," she babbled, "up for bid soon, all of us. We'll incubate-"

Jayne gave her a hard shake and she stopped. "All the men, they've done the same to them...not like you-"

Jayne turned away from her, his eyes locking on the large metal door. They were coming to take her away. They had believed they would fight, that one of them would die. Jayne turned back to River staring into her eyes intently. River's eyes widened. "No, Jayne, don't. You can't-"

He let go of her abruptly, turning to watch as the door swung open, the metal hinges grinding and shrieking. R-28678 loomed in the doorway flanked by four other Reaver soldiers. R-28678 stepped in to the room, pulling out a long blade. He rotated his shoulders as he stared down at Jayne. Jayne moved slowly, each muscle in his body tensing as he stood at his full height and round his fiery eyes on the Reaver General. R-28678 flinched and the Reavers flanking him hissed and howled nervously. The four Reavers scurried into the room, heading straight for River. Jayne grabbed one by his metal collar, gripping it so tightly it snapped before he twisted the Reaver's neck with such force that his head separated from his torso. Jayne reached for the second and jerked his arm, dislocating it. The Reaver screamed in pain and Jayne thrust his hand into the Reaver's chest cavity, blood spraying everywhere as dug further into its chest and its flailing died down.

River screamed as the third and forth Reaver grabbed a hold of her and pulled her from the room. Jayne stepped forward and R-28678 blocked his path, bringing up his sword. Jayne grabbed the end and R-28678 pulled it free, slicing Jayne's palms. Jayne snarled, bringing his left arm down over the blade while bringing his right arm up under it, snapping it. He grabbed the broken end of the sword just as he slammed his fist into R-28678's helm. R-28678 heard his knuckles as they cracked and dislocated. Jayne roared and shoved the broken end of the sword into R-28678's left shoulder. R-28678 stumbled backward and Jayne flexed his broken hand, the joints popping back into place. R-28678 stumbled out the door and used his full weight to shut it as quickly as possible. The moment the door clicked shut and was locked, came the furious pounding and howling. The metal of the door and the surrounding door groaned and those standing in the hallway back away.

Mal turned to Lord Arkham as the two watched Jayne pound a sizable dent in the door. "Y'all know what it is you created?"

Lord Arkham ignored him and turned to one of the men hovering behind him. "Call the Mark for an emergency meeting to request subject termination."

"Whoa, termination-"

Lord Arkham whirled on him. "I am about to do something very charitable, Captain Reynolds. I am about to set you free. I hope that in doing so, you will forget what you have seen here and will return to your remaining crew members. I hope that you will not attempt to contact us or engage us in battle. I will inform all personnel on-board the Shardak to keep a wide berth of you and yours."

R-28678 appeared beside Mal, ripping the sword end from his shoulder. He let the blade tip fall to the floor as he shoved Mal toward the door. Lord Arkham turned back toward the viewing glass. When they reached the shuttle, R-28678 put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from entering. He stepped aside and one of the smaller Reavers handed him a black box. R-28678 pulled a chain that had been obscured by his chest plate out, yanking it off and handed it to Mal. Attached to it was an odd shaped piece of black metal. Mal stared at the items for a moment and then back up at the giant Reaver. Mal nearly swallowed his tongue when the Reaver nodded at him and pushed him into the shuttle. The shuttle was jettisoned and Mal found that his course had already been set for him. He collapsed in the pilot's chair, staring down at the locked box. He held up the chain, studying the metal shard on the end and jammed it into the lock. The box clicked opened and Mal stared down into its contents, realization dawning.

Lord Arkham slammed his fist down on the stable. "The subject has become unstable and must be terminated-"

"We understand he has surpassed R-28678 in terms of tissue regeneration, skill, strength, sensory sensitivity, and he has even grown in size."

"Yes, but-"

"You say he reacts only with the girl," Lord Malefice asked. Lord Arkham nodded reluctantly. Lord Malefice leaned back in his chair. "There is evidence of a past relationship. Perhaps she is the female he requires-"

"No, she is to be used in the Hybrid-"

"I am well aware of this, however we have already begun the Hybrid Project and several of the human females are already being bred within the Mark. Several of the females with her abilities who were in the project showed resistance and were terminated." Lord Malefice clicked his yellowing fingernails on the table. "Of course, you may be right-a thinking Reaver does not bode well for the Ascillians. Especially, since we have increased the number of soldiers. Should one choose to lead a revolt..."

He slammed his hand down. "Gather as much information as you can within the month and then terminate them both."

R-28678 grabbed the nearest soldier and pushed his head back, letting the needle sink into its neck as he injected the orange vaccine. The soldier staggered away as the second one came forward and R-28678 repeated the process until every last soldier in the barracks was vaccinated. R-28678 moved through the barracks to the containment quarters where the cast-off females were held for disobedience. R-28678 walked down the to the very end of the row of cages, ignoring the sounds of the women who screamed as the soldiers pulled them from the cages. R-28678 came to the end and knelt by the last cage. The girl didn't bother to look up at him. "You saw the devil, too."

R-28678 held out his hand to her and she turned slowly to look at him. "I am not for you. "

She stared at him a long moment and her lip curled up in a small, disconnected smile. "Wish to play devil's advocate."

River took R-28678's hand as he led her from the cage and out into the barracks.

A/N: By now, you may have finally come to understand just exactly what the Hybrid Project is. What the Ascillians were planning on doing was creating a human/Ascillian race that could withstand the vaccine. How they would go about doing this, was to test certain males and females to see if they had the traits or characteristics the Ascillians were looking for, then they would literally be put up for auction to the Ascillian populus. The Mark and Quarter Mark would be given first choice.

any questions ask. please review.