Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me. Until Joss's movie comes out, I'm just entertaining myself and others.

*One word of note, I made some changes to Chapter 4 -- don't really need to read them to follow this, but realized I'd never explained why someone's behaviour changed.

Chapter 6

Chinese glossary

Xin gan – darling

Gunkai – fuck off

goushi buru – lowest of the low

***

"Sir?" Zoe questioned as Mal rejoined his crew at their camping spot. He had to admit, that was one piece of good luck that had come their way during this ordeal. The nights they'd had to spend in this camp had been rain-free and not too cold. He finally met Zoe's gaze when she repeated her question.

"What?" he replied tiredly. Despite having done nothing all day but sit and listen, he was completely drained from all the revelations about Book's past.

Zoe scowled at his false obliviousness. "You were in there a long time. Anything important I should know?"

Mal looked around the fire. He must have lost track of time. Everyone else around the fire was asleep. He really wished that Zoe was too. He didn't feel like replaying his conversation with the preacher right now. "If you are wondering if we're trying the wrong man, we're not. Don't know that Inara isn't right though."

Zoe looked at Mal stunned. Before she could say anything, he held up his hand to stop her. "Look, I'm not saying I'm fine with what the man did. But he's right, it was war. Even if he'd refused, like as not all those worlds would still have been attacked." Mal lay down on his bed roll. "I'm sure we'll get into this tomorrow again. Try and get some sleep." With that, he rolled over and left Zoe with her questions.

--

The trial recommenced bright and early the next morning. A little too bright and early for both Mal and Zoe who had both spent the night wrestling with their memories. Mal's mind was blank as he stood betw