.004 Video

[aint_comin_back]

[Mal is standing at a console, a translucent disc in hand. Hell, I'm gonna grant you your greatest wish. [There's a pause as he looks at the thing in his hand, then he solemnly places it on the console.] I'm gonna show you a world without sin.

[And playback begins, broadcast on every channel in the verse:]

These are just a few of the images that

Comments

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[chasindlegend]

[The only thing Morrigan notices: the weird contraptions around.] What interesting devices...

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[aint_comin_back]

[... What did you say, oh foreign voice that's not making sense? Mal's kind of in the middle of things here; distractions aren't good.

Still looking around for the source of that, though -- which he's blaming for the pummeling he's just received.]

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[chasindlegend]

[Because Morrigan is a horrible person she's just going to watch with slight interest as he gets beaten up.]

Perhaps you should be more careful.

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[aint_comin_back]

[Excuse him, oh annoying voice that is not helping; he has a screwdriver to shove into a man's foot.]

[Video]

[ofunquietwater]

Signal got through.

[Beat.]

You're repeating, Captain. Stuck in a loop.

[Video]

[aint_comin_back]

[Face, meet floor. Ow, ow, ow.]

You shot me in the back. I haven't made you--

[Stuck in a loop. River, darlin'. This is not a good time to be in his head. A loop; that's familiar, ain't it? His voice isn't as strong, an it's fairly obvious he's giving something some serious thought here.]

--angry, have I?

[Video]

[ofunquietwater]

This isn't real. Fight's already won. Time to wake up now.

[Video]

[aint_comin_back]

[And... sword. Ah, hell.]

Not the best time for a chat, River.

[But he's listening, all right? He's listening, mei mei, and he's trying to make sense of disjointed images.]

[roadhouse_mama]

[Ellen recognizes the voice and flips her tablet on. Damn. Another one got caught in the time loops that seem to be plauging the city. She still can't speak loudly, but enough fire has returned to her voice that she hopes it gets through.]

Mal, listen. It's not real.

[aint_comin_back]

[See, voices in his head while he's fighting this damned man is a little counterproductive. He's blaming that for the way the Operative manages to throw him around on that platform.

His gaze flickers around, brow furrowing at the voice and the memories it brings with it: a bar, first place he went even.

Then his gaze lands on the toolkit and he snags the closest thing at hand. Not much a match for a sword, but it'll do.]

[roadhouse_mama]

Mal, listen to me. It's not real. People are getting caught in time loops all over the damned city.

Focus, Mal. Remember. First thing you did was head over to the Roadhouse for a few cold beers. It's Ellen.

[aint_comin_back]

[Gorram sword. Mal pulls it free with a grimace.]

I'm going to have to go with wrath.

[He stabs downward, missing narrowly, and staggers as her voice reaches him.]

... Ellen?

[curseurbetrayal]

[Wash is just... watching the ass kicking go down. He doesn't usually get to spectate on this stuff and his job usually includes manning the get-away boat. He's a little in awe and oooow that stab there had to hurt.]

Wo de tian a, Mal, if you hadn't earned your roguish hero award in my heart already you certainly have now. And a screwdriver? Really? Points for ingenuity.

Though, hate to break it to you, Captain. This seems like something that should've happened... not in the Underworld. I'm thinking something wonky's amiss.

[aint_comin_back]

[... Wash. Oh, damn it all. Wash.

Mal's expression hardens at the voice and that blow to the Operative's throat? That's for Wash. Gorram fucking Alliance; it's been the cause of too much heartbreak. Dislocating the damn man's arms? That's for Zoe, you chiang-bao hoe-tze duh liou mahng.* It would be too damned easy to kill him for all the wrongs against his crew, but, oh God, does Mal want to run that sword right through the son of a bitch's throat.]

Bet you wanna say your famous last words.

[I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I-

Sorry, Wash. Wuh de tyen, ah*, he's so damned sorry.]

[[*monkey-raping son of a bitch, *Dear God in heaven]]

[curseurbetrayal]

[Blink. Blink. He's used to being ignored, but come on, Captain.]

Mal? You hear me, Mal?

[He appreciates that honorary beatings, but this is starting to get a little redundant.]

...Ai ya. Women wanle.* Mal, you've been over that part already. Then you do the whole 'grant you your greatest wish' line and it's all very poetical and appropriate while you stalk out looking like a big damn hero, but Mal, snap out of it! You've got one quarter of your crew in the Underworld that needs your captaining and we can't get that if you're stuck reliving the ass kicking past.

[[Ai ya. Women wanle, *We're in big trouble]]

[aint_comin_back]

[He's got a crew that needs captaining. Damn right he does. And right now, they're out there fighting for the greater good. (Somewhere, this has already happened and he's stuck in a cave with no stars with a dead Wash and a very much alive River.)

... Something's very not right. Do excuse him while he just stares down at the Operative, Wash.]