Pleased with his work, the Operative moves to the door behind Mal in order to retrieve his sword. All Mal can focus on however is his gun under the altar.

Why do I never remember to shoot them in the head...

"Nothing here is what it seems." Mal can hear the Operative's footsteps coming to his side. "He's not the plucky hero. The Alliance isn't some evil empire, this isn't the grand arena."

Inara chimes in, "...and that's not incense."

Good girl.

The flash bomb goes off, and with Mal on the floor and Inara against the wall, it has just enough force to knock the Operative out across the room.