Malcolm Reynolds Part 22: Serenity: Those Left Behind #3 (September, 2005)

 Remember the name of the guy Mal shot in “Serenity”? Me either, but he sure remembers Mal....

I have this issue in the Serenity: Those Left Behind Trade Paperback.

Mal, Zoe and Jayne enter the room of the ship where the money is stashed, and instead of finding money they find Agent Dobson…the guy Mal shot in “Serenity”. Dobson’s there for revenge, because after Mal and Jayne dumped his body off Serenity the law saw him as dead. He decided not to correct the mistake, and has been itchin’ for payback.

Zoe makes a move, and Mal gets the draw on Dobson and shoots out his other eye. After the rest of Dobson’s men are dead, Mal shoots him one more time – just to be sure.

Mal contacts Wash to tell him the trio are heading back to Serenity, but it’s not where it’s supposed to be. Wash brings the ship back to them and they have to grab onto the side because another ship is on their tail. Once Mal and the others are inside, he tells Wash to “step on it” and they get away safely.

Serenity finally arrives on New Melbourne and everyone says their goodbyes. Back on the ship, Mal’s caught talking to himself by Book, who tells him the shepherd is also planning on leaving. Mal admits that he didn’t care about Book hitting him, but the preacher explains that if he doesn’t leave soon he wouldn’t care either.

Later on, Mal’s sitting in his room when Zoe calls down to him asking what course Wash should set.

Mal’s reply?

“The same as always. Forward.”

Notes of Interest:

1) Well, for one thing, Mal learns Dobson wasn’t dead.

WTF? Moment: Mal (sort of) says goodbye to Inara, learns Book is leaving, has very little money at the moment and no longer trusts Badger enough to ever take a job from him again. Yet he continues. This really says a lot about the guy. He never gives up.

WTF? Moment #2: We never learn what Mal says to Inara, only what he wanted to say to her. Makes me wonder if he said anything at all.