.020 [Video]

[aint_comin_back]

[The footsteps are urgent. There's smoke rising into the bright sky. Smoke and dust and death: in the background, the settlement is what amounts to a war zone. Mal rounds the embankment, skidding as he turns to see the thing he almost expected and never wanted. He stops long enough to bark an order at Jayne, behind him:] Get the Doc. [He doesn't

Comments

video;

[notquitegeisha]

[Inara is just staring at the screen in horror. Her mouth moves to say something, but she can't even find the words she wants to say. Doesn't know what to say. That can't be real... Can it?

She swallows and finds that her hands are shaking and she's blinking back tears.]

W-What is that? Mal, tell me that's not real.

video;

[aint_comin_back]

[There's a few minutes before he answers. At first his voice is thick, then turning harder in realization.] Yeah. It's real. ...You and I. We ain't from the same time, are we?

video;

[notquitegeisha]

How...? [She shakes her head slowly, trying to wrap her mind around what she'd just watched being real. Shepard Book, dead.

Her gaze drops down and then it snaps back up.]

I- I. I guess. Mal, when did that happen?

video;

[aint_comin_back]

The Alliance came down on us, lookin' for River. They were tryin' to flush us out. Did a damn good job of it, too.

audio;

[wasinnocent]

[This is awkward.]

Mal?

audio;

[aint_comin_back]

[Awkward for you. Hurts like hell for Mal.] Yeah?

audio;

[wasinnocent]

You okay there?

audio;

[aint_comin_back]

Yeah. Ain't a thing.

[Audio]

[yearrounder]

...captain?

[Audio]

[aint_comin_back]

[His voice is hard.] You got questions, you ask 'em now. Ain't answerin' later.

[Audio]

[yearrounder]

Are you okay?

[Audio]

[aint_comin_back]

Was hopin' I'd never see that again.

Audio;

[griftering]

I think I'm buyin' the Underworld a round. You in?

Audio;

[aint_comin_back]

Most definitely.

Audio;

[griftering]

Perfect. I'll keep the barstool warm for you. [Not that he's drinking. The last thing he should do is get drunk today of all days, but he can be there as a fellow man who knows what it's like to lose a friend in combat.]

Audio;

[aint_comin_back]

Where ya at?

[nurse1701]

I know what it's like to lose one of your crew.

If you need to talk, or just sit quietly, I'm around.

[aint_comin_back]

'm all right.

[nurse1701]

Alright. Just take care of yourself.