Mal looks behind him and sees echo-like reflections of himself all doing pretty much the same thing. The room fills with while lights, then dies out. The Mals are gone. He turns to see Wash sighing with relief while steering.
"Hey now -- I don't appear to be missing any limbs; that wasn't so bad," looks back at Wash, "thank you Wa-" ZOOVM! The ships shakes.
"How in the hell?" he declares.
"Don't know; they're engines weren't that type. They shouldn't be with us," turns to the alarm, "proximity alert. Another vessel comin' up fast. Big one too"
"Alliance"
"No. Funny looking --- never seen anything like it"
"Good -- maybe they'll be inclined to help. Send an S.O.S.."
Kaylee exstinguishes a fire. She suddenly sees River.
"River! You got to get out of here, you might hurt yourself"
"You're face"
"My what"
River runs over and slams Kaylee across the room. River look over and the engine explodes in her face.
The power goes out. Lights cut.
"I've lost engines and steering," comments Wash.
ZOOVM! A panel bursts nearby. Mal covers his face from the sparks.
They see the trailing ship pass and come about. Wash is speechless.
Unblinking, and as if his heart had stopped, Mal utters, "Not with regrets"
Wash ducts to the floor and Mal just stares out.
SSSHUAAAAA! An orange beam of light hits the enemy vessel; the impact knocks it into a spin.
Wash stands up and feels himself, then sees the ship spinning off, "I'm not dead. Zoe..." he takes off.
Mal looks back at him, "Yeah, don't worry about me"
He's about to sit.
"Kaylee ... KAYLEE!" and runs toward the engine room.
"HELP ME! GOD, HELP ME!" we hear Kaylee cry out.
Mal runs over and stops cold. Shaking, Kaylee looks up crying uncontrollably.
"No," her chest heaves, "she's dead..." and in her cradling arms, they all see River. A bloody gash in her head and a piece of metal sticking out of her chest.
"Somebody!" we hear Simon call out from his bunk.
"Jayne," says Mal in a mono tone.
"Right," runs off to Simon.
Simon, tied to a chair, struggles. Jayne runs in; he removes a knife and starts cutting the ropes.
"Is Kaylee all right"
Jayne shakes his head "yes.
"Where's River"
Jayne stands there too emotionally struck to speak. But his eyes tell all. Simon's eyes go dead.
Simon shoves everyone aside.
"Out of my way!" and kneels down.
Kaylee shakes her head while trying to speak, "I"
"No ... no ... no," Simon stops his hand short of the shrapnel, "River, wake up"
"Saved my life"
Simon grabs his chest.
"Son, calm down," Book leans in, "where's she's at, she doesn't feel any pain. Quite the contrary -- she's smiling own upon you"
"Ruttin' hell!" exclaims Jayne.
"No, I imagine Heaven," says Book.
"Captain," yells Jayne, "we have company"
Mal looks over too see four people, adorned in three colors and uniforms. The main one walk forward.
"I'm Commander William Riker of the U.S.S. Enterprise. We picked up your distress call."