INT. PALADIN - BRIG

Mal sits on the edge of his cot, looking more coherent than before. He stands gingerly, walking slowly toward the cell door. Jaxx snaps to attention, raising his weapon slightly. Kayner's hands also adjust their grip on his rifle.

Mal holds up his hands in surrender.

MAL: Just lookin’ to get the blood flowin’, son. I got no bluster left in me.

JAXX: Let’s keep it that way.

INT. PALADIN - HALL (ADJ. TO BRIG)

Four members of Bravo Team are spread out in both directions down the hall, closely guarding both corners.

INT. PALADIN - BRIG

Bravo One enters the Brig and steps close to Jaxx, saying something too soft for the prisoners to hear. Jaxx adjusts his grip on his rifle and scowls. He follows Bravo One out the door, leaving Serenity’s crew with curious looks at Kayner, who turns to face the door as well, weapon at the ready.

JAYNE: What’s goin’ on?

KAYNER: Seems your pal is hell-bent on gettin’ himself killed.

Most of the crew furrows their brow at the comment.

INT. SERENITY - CARGO BAY

The cargo bay is eerily bathed in a red glow, more shadows than light.

Echo One descends fore/starboard stairs to the catwalk, slowly walking along the starboard side with Echo Two following. They split up at the cross-catwalk, Echo One holding while Echo Two crosses to check the port catwalk. Echo Three descends to the main deck.

Echoes Four through Six creep in from the rear entrance, immediately fanning out. They snake between the crates, checking all corners.

A loud clang and hum breaks the quiet, yanking the Echoes’ heads toward the center of the cargo bay. The floor is splitting, revealing the second set of doors beneath. The Echoes slowly creep in that direction...

BOOM! Five flash bangs erupt from within the void now exposed beneath the doors. Echo Team roars in pain, hands shooting to their helmets to deactivate their night vision.

River appears behind Echo Two, kneeing him in the lower back and using that mome