"Can you find him?" Mal demands as he paces his ship's cargo bay. He clenches and unclenches his fists while swinging his arms in a gesture which leaves no doubt that Mal is very, very angry.
"Yes. Are you sure you want to do this? I could take care of it for you." offers Max. He stands perfect still as Mal passes back and forth in front of him.
"My mess. I will clean it up." Mal replies sternly.
"As you wish." says Max.
Later
"I have to Inara. He went after you. He won't stop. I didn't start this fight but I will end." Mal swears.
Reflexively she replies "I don't need you to look after me." She instantly regrets her words but he has always been able to say the wrong thing at the right time. It is part of what she loves and hates about him.
"I know but he threatened you because of me and no one threatens my crew." Mal explains. It is as close as to I love you as he can get.
"Mal, just don't forget who you are." Inara pleads.
Mal pauses at the entrance to her shuttle, looks at her in a way that is both happy and tragic at the same time as he says "The universe might be a better place if I did." and he strides out of her shuttle.
She listens to the click of his boots on the catwalk. Once he is far enough away, she allows her self to cry. "Please come back to me." she begs. For a moment she hates him for making her so dependant on him but only for a moment.
River watches Max silently dress. She knows where he is headed but she no longer fears. She knows she needs him more than she does this night. She hopes he can help her. She likes her. Secure in a way she never expected, she puts her head back onto her pillow and wonders if she will dream of unicorns again tonight.
Max makes his way to Inara's shuttle late in the ship's night. He moves quietly but quickly as he knows she is waiting for him. She didn't need to summon him. He knew she would need him this night. With him she can be someone she can't with anyone else.
Inara is relieved to see him enter her shuttle. As soon as he closes with her, she drops her shields. He holds her as she cries for what tomorrow may bring but refrains from begging him to keep Mal safe. She knows it is an unfair promise to ask of him.
Max is strapping on his armor when River opens the case next to him to pull out a suit for herself. He pauses to look at her but her fiery return look makes it clear she will not discuss this again. Still, he wishes she wouldn't come. She has had enough death in her life. He wants to make sure she is safe but knows he can never promise such a thing.
Armed for battle, Max and River make their way to the shuttle Mal is prepping. As they pass Inara sitting in the entrance of her shuttle, River meets Inara's eyes for a moment and promises "We will bring him back to you."
Mal thinks it is an impossible promise to make but he will die trying to keep it. He hasn't known Mal or the others long but what they have done for River puts him in their debt.
Zoe paces back in forth in the cockpit. She is still furious at not going in with Mal but she will stick to the plan. Besides with River and Max at his side, it is Niska's people she feels sorry for. Death is coming at long last for that bastard.
Niska is practically jumping for joy at his good fortune. Niska was honestly surprised to get the wave announcing that Mal was being brought to him. The man bringing in Mal is well known to Niska. He has never met him personally but his reputation is impressive. Niska knew he was a person of importance but it is a true compliment that someone of that caliber came when he called.
"As I promised here he is." Max says as he presents a calm and collected Mal.
Niska always admired how Mal managed to stay so collected. Even as he was being tortured Mal held his composure. A man to admire no doubt. A broad smile forms on Niska's ice cold features as he thinks how his reputation will grow when words gets around how he made the great Mal beg to die. "It is good to see you again." he states.
"The feeling is not mutual." Mal says as the handcuffs restraining him fall away.
Niska stares stupidly as Mal brings his trustee service revolver into line with Niska's head and pulls the trigger.
As Niska's brains slide down the wall, Mal turns to Max and River standing over the remains of Niska's bodyguards to say "We're done here."
Nodding they follow him out of Niska's office. Dozens of station personal and security staff line the halls as they make their way back to their shuttle but not one dares to lift a finger against them.
As the shuttle clears the station, Zoe has Serenity waiting for them. As soon as they dock, Serenity hard burns out of the system leaving another nasty chapter in their journey firmly shut behind them.