Mal's a strong guy. May not be built like Jayne, but he could hold his own. With that said, he is straining under the weight of every emotion possible that is filling the cargo bay.
Everyone is there. His crew is there, minus Wash and Kaylee, who have already claimed their positions in Serenity. Susan has taken up her spot with Kaylee in the engine room, leaving Roland and his tet crew in the cargo bay. Friends of Mal's crew, of Roland's crew, of River, have all gathered; those that know, that understand what needs to be done. No matter what.
Mal's eyes last rest on the beaded chain and cross Inara is wearing before hitting the comm speaker and addressing everyone in front of him.
"I ain't one for too many words, and we all know we ain't got the time for 'em. And for all our planning, I can't tell you exact what's gonna happen once we hit the Academy. Can't speak for all o' you; can only speak for myself - I ain't gonna lie and say I don't got worries."
Mal again casts a glance in the direction of his crew, attempting to guage their reactions and failing.
"But I don't have worries about us.
I worry about them. 'Cause they will never expect this."Mal cuts himself off then. No more needs to be said, at least to his crew. They know him. For all that he ever hid from them - they know.
He walks through the others standing around him in the bay. Some stand silent, others react and connect with Mal somehow - eyes, a touch of an arm or a nod to affirm their readiness. Mal stops in front of Roland. The gunslinger and the sergeant. Browncoats.
Mal matches Roland's gaze. Not sizing him up, not forming a witty remark. Mal extends his right arm to the other dinh. A soldier's greeting. Equals.
"Let's go."![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
