Never in his life had he seen Zoe like that. It was unnerving in the worst way to watch her come to terms with what happened. Even back in the war she handled the death around her with quiet determination just as she had the mess near the kitchen. This…
Mal glanced over at the sleeping warrior. The doctor had to sedate her to get her under control and assured everyone that the drug used was known for creating a dreamless sleep. Everyone wanted to ask for some but no one did - if there was enough to go around he'd have offered. As tired as he was, as heavily as the situation weighed on him, Mal wasn't sure it would be worth the trouble of dreamless sleep. Inara was gone, Wash was gone, Zoe was half out of her mind between shock and grief. Simon didn't look much better as logic and rational thought seemed less likely to apply with each death. Kaylee sat next to Zoe, stroking her hair and looking to be lost in her own world.
Jayne and River were nowhere to be seen and the preacher was off most likely praying for the lot of them. Frustrated and with no idea what else to do, Mal went to stand by Kaylee and rested a hand on her shoulder. Of the whole crew she was the only one who really needed any measure of what help he could offer.
She didn't look away from Zoe, just leaned against him. "Wo bu xiwang si."
"Ain't one of us wants to die." He sighed, hating how little encouragement he could give her. Normally he'd try harder but every time he thought of the look on Inara's face… had to remember she wasn't around to bicker with anymore, a weary hopelessness descended and all the fight drained away. It was a bad time to surrender but between the loss of two crew members and the possible nature of what killed them - what was he supposed to do? How do you fight something that ain't real?
"We can't stay awake forever." Simon said quietly, not looking up at him. "We have to figure out how to fight back. There has to be a way to survive."
"From what Zoe had to say about what she saw in that first dream if this guy is what he seems to be, he's been around since long before people left Earth-That-Was."Mal pointed out wearily. "Think we can do what no one else has in all that time?"
A small sob escaped Kaylee and Simon turned a glare on him. "You have never struck me as someone to give up, Captain. Your determination has won the loyalty of many good people in the past yet you act like we're already dead. I do think we have a chance to do what no one else has before. For one thing, no one else has had River. It's possible she may be able to do something. So far she seems the only one who is willing to believe all this and act on it. She's been keeping me awake. Maybe we can learn something from her."
Hope and frustration warred as he thought back to past conversations with the girl. It was true River had some unexpected talents but getting a straight conversation out of her was near impossible. Didn't seem she could voluntarily access everything she knew, anyway. It was a gamble at best.
"See if you can't get some sense out of her, then. We'll try whatever she suggests." He said, patting Kaylee's shoulder a few times before going in search of a strong drink and a stronger coffee.