EPILOGUE
Mal slowly walked up the sandy knoll. He looked down at the burning punk in his hands and then back at the unlit rocket waiting. Glancing around he paused at each of the holographic images. Book. Mr. Universe. Wash. Then back at the latest image... The image of the most beautiful woman in this universe... Inara.
"I am so sorry, Inara. Sorry for not being a better husband, not being a better lover, not being..." His voice cracked and faded away.
"I know you said this was your only chance at a cure. I understood you when you said this is what you wanted. A chance. But I can't help the thought, what if we just kept looking. Just kept..." His voice fading again.
He knelt down and lit the rocket.
"If we just kept flying".