"Ma jung hwa! What do ya mean his back Zoe?"
Mal had decided that since it looked like the boy was finished speaking, then he'd leave well enough alone. But then Zoe had to go and say a thing like that.
Simon just sighed. He had frozen about halfway through putting his shirt back on when Zoe spoke up.
After giving Simon what could pass as an apologetic look, at least for Zoe that is, she spoke up. " The Doc's got what looks like whip marks all over his back. Looks to be layers upon layers of 'em."
"Some of them can't even be a year old, barely healed at all it seems." Wash spoke up for his wife.
" Simon you want to tell me what in the dìyù they're talkin' about?" Less asking then when they all arrived in the infirmary, now demanding answers.
Sighing Simon pulled his shirt back off, shifted the table so the back of it was down but remained sitting.
"Go ahead might as well, you've seen the front might as well get it over with."
Slowly the rest of the crew circled the infirmary to see what had Zoe and Wash so spooked.
Horror, and dismay flooded through every member of the crew.
Kaylee started crying and ran off saying she couldn't listen to another explanation if it was anythin' like the first.
Inara's Companion mask broke, letting a solitary tear travel down her face.
Book was horrified and disappointed in whoever did this.
Jayne and Mal were both a study of stone masks. They were both hard on the boy because of their assumptions. Both regretting their actions.
With a voice not quite as steady as he would have liked Mal spoke first. "You gonna tell us what happened boy." Not even pretending to ask anymore.