Abulurd grimaced in pain, his blood soaking his shirt, red life draining from his being. His face was paling a mite rapidly, which meant not much good for all of them.

Abulurd staggered around a bit, not looking at all well. He tripped on a small twig, which showed how fast he was becoming weak. He fell practically on top of the headless hundan.

Sampson looked down on him with a feral grin, a hunter over its dying prey. "You've lost your touch, Abulurd. Never would this have happened in your old life, before you went soft." He raised his bloody sword over his head, ready to bring it down on the fallen mans innards.

This, of course, was Abulurds que to take up the operatives gun and roll to the side. It came to Mal as no real surprise when he shot Sampson in the left eye.

He looked over at Mal. "Well, captain, I think that I have saved your life yet again. Now, get the mule back running, if you please. I am a bit weak now. We need to be back in the black soon."

"What 'bout Ricky?"

"Hes dead. The alliance can't aford any more 'loose ends.'"

Mal obeyed, still in shock at what had happened. He got the mule off of the tree, with Zoe and Jayne still groaning in the back. "River-"

"Here I am." Damn, but that crazy lil' un had a way to set a man off balance.

"Uh, right. Well, help him in. I'll get Billy in." River looked sadly down at the boys broken body. He had had a crush on her, which happened rare enough. Never, actually.

Abulurd looked at Mal meekly. "Mal, we don't have time for this."

"No, I made him a promise, an I'm keepin' it." To his credit, the former operative aceppted it quietly. Zoe chose that moment to come awake, followed by Jayne. She looked right at the operative-cum-savior, and looked like she wanted to shoot him. For good reason, mind.

Mal, not particulary liking the look in her eyes, said "Zoe, stand down." She took the order stoically enough, but gave him her your-my-captain-an-I'll-do-as-you-say-but-I-don't-h