badinlatin | Mal-Operative, mid-repairs.

It's raining, and Mal loves it. Feels nice, new, clean.

He's checking around for the last of the tools just outside the open cargo bay door, moving things back inside and getting ready to close up.

All it takes is one footfall from the man that has been watching him for the past few minutes for his hand to fly to his gun. Without turning to face him, Mal shouts, "If you're here to tell me we ain't finished, then we will be real quick."

The Operative doesn't step toward Mal. "Do you know what an uproar you've caused? Protests, riots - cries for a recall of the entire Parliament."

Mal finally turns, adding, "We've seen the broadwaves."

"You must be pleased."

"'Verse wakes up a spell. Won't be long 'fore she rolls right over and falls back asleep. It ain't my worry."

"I can't guarantee they won't come after you," the Operative finally steps closer. "The Parliament. They have a hundred men like me and they are not...forgiving."

"That don't bode especially well for you. Giving the order to let us go; patchin' up our hurt."

"I told them the Tams were no longer a threat - damage done. They might listen, but I think they know I'm no longer...their man."

Mal picks up a rag from the toolbox he had been carrying and wipes his hands. "They take you down, I don't expect to grieve overmuch. Like to kill you myself, I see you again."

The Operative smiles, almost...human, to Mal's eyes. "You won't. There is nothing left to see." This garners him an odd look from Mal, and they almost turn their seperate ways, but then the Operative adds, "'Serenity'. You lost everything in that battle. Everything you had, everything you were...how did you go on?"

Mal continues walking up the cargo bay ramp and hits the button to close it, eyeing the man on the outside.

"You still standing there when the engine starts, you will never figure it out."

The door closes between Mal and the Operative, and Mal moves further into the cargo bay, toward Zoe walking to meet him.

To himself, almost accidentally, but ringing true: "What a whiner..."