shoots him again, "just to be sure". While Mal, Zoe, and Jayne are fighting Dobson, the Hands of Blue attempt to sneak aboard Serenity. Due in part to River's psychic abilities, Simon, Inara, and Kaylee are tipped off to the intrusion. After going to the cargo bay to investigate, Kaylee is attacked by one of the agents. Simon knocks the agent down with one of Jayne's exercise weights, causing him to fall back into his ship. Kaylee closes the airlock and continually jerry-rigs it to keep out the agents (who are continually trying to bypass the lock). Wash then flies Serenity through the remains of a derelict ship, knocking the agents' shuttle off Serenity. Mal orders Wash to "step on it", having safely re-entered the ship along with Zoe and Jayne. The Hands of Blue agents and their ship are subsequently incinerated by Serenity's engine flame. Mal finally takes Inara to her original destination, where she leaves the ship for good, and he seems not to have given her the kind of goodbye he truly wanted to. Later, Shepherd Book stumbles upon Mal talking to himself, revealing his true feelings for Inara. Book tells Mal that he will also be leaving Serenity, fearing that his time on the ship has been corrupting him, without mentioning that he no longer trusts Mal. The Alliance, having learned that Dobson's plan failed, passes the assignment to retrieve the Tams to the Operative. He accepts the mission without hesitation. Notable occurrences Lawrence Dobson, shot and left for dead at the end of the pilot episode of Firefly, is revealed to be alive. The Hands of Blue are killed, and are described as "independent contractors". It is revealed that the blue material that gives the Hands of Blue their name also extends to (and covers) their torso. The purpose of this material is never directly revealed. Inara Serra leaves Serenity. Derrial Book also states his intention of leaving, believing his time aboard has corrupted him. The Operative makes his first appearance in the comics, although he wears his sword at his side, rather than across his back as in Serenity. The sword itself is also depicted as some form of cavalry sabre, with an ornate hilt, rather than the Japanese-style blade he uses in the film. The twins, Fanty and Mingo, are first mentioned by Badger aboard Serenity. They are responsible for providing the crew