He feels the kick, well - more like an anvil jammed into his side. Then, the flying sensation. Then, at last, solidly landing into the emergency bulkhead, shoving the shrapnel deeper into an area that probably contains some sort of vital organ or other that Mal would hope to have later.

The stars... No. Just spots on his eyes from the busted capillaries from the landing. But now he can't even make out Faith too well.