Though I only had the privilege to bump into Mal once in-game, it's an encounter I'll carry with me for a lifetime.
Ozei: "I am not really certain on religion... It is something I tend to be conflicted about."
Mal: "And that is why you'd make an excellent Discordian."
His words have stuck with me, and I do wonder sometimes what might've happened had I made my main character a TAZ. Either way, he was a real pleasant man to have had the chance to meet - He even trusted me enough to show me the Orbital Skyhook, back when it was above the nebula in Baffin and restricted-access...
Here's to a Happy Birthday, Mal. I wish I had come to know you more, and hope you're havin' a grand ol' time in the cosmos beyond.