Serenity Valley.

[bad_in_latin]

Everyone was off in their own corners of the ship as Wash started to approach the atmosphere around 60 miles above the Serenity Valley memorial's principal landing docks. Mal almost hopes that at least some of them are heading off toward Milliways at the moment, but he knows not to hope for everybody to do so.
And every name’s a father or a husband

Comments

Arriving

[bad_in_latin]

The cargo bay door is lowered by Mal's own hand without really focusing on what he's doing. It's easy enough to push a button to kickstart the mechanism without too much thought behind it, and this is probably why Mal jumps as the doorframe begins to whirr.

The tiny porthole that had been Mal's only view of the outside increases exponentially as the door opens. So does the number of shallow breaths he finds himself taking. The ramp finally clunks hollowly against the ground.

Does it keep you awake at night, Sergeant?

Mal doesn't move.

Re: Arriving

[righthandwoman]

Mal may not be moving, but someone is, to judge from the sound of approaching footsteps.

Zoe's not looking at Mal as she draws level with him. She's looking out at the valley, calm and composed.

One might even go so far as to say serene.

"So." Level, controlled. "We doing this or not?"

Re: Arriving

[bad_in_latin]

Mal snaps out of

You will always lose

whatever he'd been musing, shooting Zoe a glance. He shouldn't be surprised Zoe didn't leave him. She did follow him this far.

"Suppose we are. Naomi?"

Re: Arriving

[righthandwoman]

"Wash has her."

Simply.

"Wasn't too keen on th' thought of bringin' her along."

Re: Arriving

[bad_in_latin]

"I think I might have turned you back around if you'd tried," he replies pointlessly, knowing she'd never have tried something like that in the first place.

There are no more footfalls that Mal can hear at the moment, looking at Zoe, more friend and first mate to him than ever a corporal. He tries tugging upward on the corners of his mouth, probably a Thank you for this. She's never needed it said out loud, though, so he doesn't even try harder on the smile.

He just steps forward.

[simon_doctor]

Footfalls from the far end of the cargo bay. Two sets of them.

Simon and Kaylee, hand in hand, step into the room and start towards the ramp.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal hadn't gotten two steps down the cargo bay ramp when he hears the new arrivals in the back of the bay.

Head craned around and throwing a glance over one shoulder, "Gonna be bored, you know."

[gonna_live]

"Told you we was comin' with you," Kaylee says, quietly. Peacefully. "Don't mean to turn back now."

She's not sure if she could do this without Simon here. But he is. Therefore it's not a question.

Therefore, they're going.

[bad_in_latin]

Almost hoping that his crew was heading toward Milliways or staying camped out in their bunks is not the same as actually hoping, and Mal nods a hello at Kaylee.

It's good that Simon's there. Kaylee will need him, in this. If this is the principal reason he expected him at Kaylee's side at Serenity Valley, Mal makes no outward mention of it, and raises his hand in a hello to him as well.

[river_meimei]

There's a shadow of movement high in the corner of Mal's peripheral vision -- River, uncoiling from her perch high on a catwalk -- and then more footsteps. Slower, these, and softer. River's wearing boots, but she's drifting in meditative steps down the cargo bay stairs, sliding her hands along the railings, and it muffles the sound.

[ff_ambassador]

There's a hand slipping into Mal's. Inara's face is slightly pale, but she is where she is meant to be, beside Mal. There's no way he's going without her.

Quietly, "Are you ready, băobèi?"

[bad_in_latin]

Mal's eyes move from a direct focus on River - he had been the least sure about her, the past of this place possibly being too much - to Inara, nodding.

As ready as I'll ever be, I imagine.

Malcolm Reynolds and most of the crew of Serenity start down the cargo bay ramp, and along the main path to the edge of the Valley.