based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

They stood in a line, all a little more than human, but only one able to destroy them all with nothing more than a thought. Each one was given a packet, a manila envelope laden with their individual orders, something all were familiar with, well all but one. She carefully opened the tiny v shaped brackets and dumped the contents into her open palm, catching the six pictures as well a stapled set of papers for each. One the top of them was a single word, Independent.

Confused by this, her green eyes looked to the man who had offered the pages, his white lab coat barely covering the stun gun at his side. It was more for her than any of the others. It was to be her maiden run by herself, and after she had slaughtered each of her twelve partners from before, they had decided she was better working alone.

"These men and women are your mission. In each packet are known supporters and contributors to the Independent factions. We want to uproot and destroy the tree before it has time to become any stronger."

A round of 'yes, sir's followed, but it was not what escaped her lips. "I thought the Unification out numbered the Independents. An easy war and an easier defeat, if I remember the Commander's words correctly." She could tell her words angered him and for a moment, his hand flinched to the stun gun, her long legs ready to dodged the painful blast, but he thought better of it.

"True, but it is expensive and time consuming. This way, it is over and done with quick, without the blood shed of innocents."

"You mean without you having to get your hands too dirty." She snarled, fangs playing with the light. "Besides, in war, there are no innocents. Think you were the one who taught me that."

"Cat 1313, are you questioning my orders?" His voice grew in volume and she shook her head.

"I am only wondering why you send me. These assassins are good in what they do, but as with all the others fighting, they are soldiers. I am not, nor was I designed to kill humans."

"My dear, you are far from some solider and those in your packet are some of the more dangerous men that are either heavily guarded or have out smarted our attempts. We need them to be dealt with delicately."

"That still doesn't answer my other question. I am not programmed to kill humans, especially those that do not pose a threat to me."

He moved toward her, closing the gap so that they were almost face to face. "You will do as you are told. That is your programming." His spit splashed her face and the green eyes glowed in anger. With a quick thrust of her hand, she had the stun gun and it flew to his face.

"Back the fuck up." She growled, but pain laced her gut as guards around her released the payload they carried in their holsters. It drove her to the floor.

Picking up the discarded gun, he stood over her. "I fully expect a full report on each one you kill, Cat 1313. And don't disappoint me."

"I am not a solider." She gasped from the floor, rage like a demon filling her eyes.

"No, not a solider. You are a weapon and more importantly, our weapon to do with what we will." With a snap of his wrist, the envelope and its contents fell to the ground in front of her, one picture barely peeking out as a pair of kind blue eyes stared back at her.