Grey sat at the table across from Mal. His massive pistol was in the middle between them, as was Mal's gun.

"It was Serenity Valley. I met you there, though you might not remember."

"I remember. I think you were the only Alliance officer I was ever thankful to see."

"Serenity...I couldn't take much after that. I was ordered on a few more missions, mostly clean up, since the surrender was already signed. I was promoted to Captain after Serenity. But two months after Serenity Valley, I was on Persephone, trying to route out a rebel pocket. I ran across the last one in Southdown Abbey. He was praying in the chapel. I shot him. In a church. With his dying breath, he didn't curse me. He was one of the ones I had saved in Serenity. He blessed me. After that, I couldn't take it any more. I deserted, taking the experimental gun with me. I entered into the priesthood. I fled from my guilt, my loss to God and His Church. As part of my training, I was sent to Osiris with many candidates for a few years for classes. While there I was approached by a man from a group called the Order of the Azure Sol. They were a part of the Catholic Church. They said I could continue to fight. They seduced me with talk of righteousness, divine wrath, and retribution. I was a soldier. More than that, I was gifted. See, I went to the same Academy that River did. Only, during the war, BlueSun's scientists were too busy building bombs and weapons to do much alteration in us. There were 10 of us in my class. I'm the only one left. None of us could have held a candle to River on our best days. But I joined them. I joined the Inquistion. I thought I was rooting out traitors and heretics. Dangerous criminals. And up until now, I had. But a young doctor and his even younger sister? I was sent to find Book. Book was last seen with the doctor on security cams in Niska's Slyplex. I was told that the doctor was some traitorous mastermind, and that his sister was a mad witch, a heretic. The order hadn't lied to be yet, so I believed them. I was also told to determine hoe 'corrupted' by the traitor and heretic Book was and punish accordingly. But then I saw River." Grey took a long gulp from his cup. "I knew immediately River was 'one of us.' I could feel it from her. I'm an empath. Just this afternoon, she told me everything. Everything they did to her there, everything she's experienced here. I ask that you not tell Simon any of this. But anyone will be comforted in the knowledge that in at least someways she was not violated. But I didn't know..." Grey trailed off into silence.

"Didn't know what?"

"The Order of the Azure Sol. The moment she said 'hands of blue' I knew. Which is why I fired. The Allied Planets, I have no problem with. It's the military and especially BlueSun I no longer trust. But you saw the shirts. They were BlueSun. Not Azure Sol."

"Azure Sol mean Blue Sun, Grey." Inara topped off his tea. Grey stared into his cup.

"How could I have missed that...anyway, I had to fire. She is worth the lives of three men. She is an amazing girl. But the best thing now is for me to leave. I'm going to take that Alliance fighter with me. You might want to sweep the ship a few more times before you leave. I found the bible they had put the transmitter in, so it was in my stuff. But who knows what those feds tossed on." Mal reached for Grey's gun. He spun the revolver chamber, then gave it back to Grey. Grey handed Mal his own pistol.

The whole of the crew turned out to see Grey out. Grey stood at the cargo door, a long grey woolen officer's coat around his shoulders, his bag in on hand, a hat in the other. He shook hands with Jayne. He made to shake Kaylee's hand, but she grabbed him up in a hug. He shook Simon's hand, clapping him on the shoulder. He gave Simon a quick blessing, commending him on his devotion and love of his sister. He gave a courteous bow to Inara. He shook Wash's hand and stood facing down Zoe. Slowly she extended her hand to him. He took it and nodded grimly. He embraced Book as old friends do. They traded blessings and well wishes. He stood in front of Mal. They stared at each other for a while. Mal extended his hand.

"Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds." Mal stated plainly. Grey took his hand.

"Captain Jed Grey." They shook firmly. Grey nodded to him and put his officer's hat on. Last was River. They stood there for a moment, not sure what to do next. Before Grey could do anything, she threw herself into his arms. He smiled. "It'll be ok, River."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I think I did. I sinned. My penance is taking unto myself some of the madness. In return I leave a small space of peace and order." He hugged her close and whispered in her ear. "Take care of them. They're good people." She stepped back and smiled at her crew mates, her family.

"I know."