Chapter 3
Musings and Misunderstandings

"Now we're unarmed, why don't we talk about this?" implored Jack.

"We came in peace, we're.. we're not here to harm anyway, we're explorers" Daniel urged.

"I'd suggest you be quiet. Now back up, against the door," Mal instructed, his face stale with anger.

Jack's eyes squinted, he saw no other way out of this, they would have to bide their time and think of a plan. Once SG-1 was backing towards the doors Mal closed the air lock doors and considered what to do next.

"I want someone watching them at all times. Sheppard you watch 'em first." Mal's eyes were wild.

Once the crew of Serenity were all assembled, apart from Sheppard Book, discussion began.

"Okay, we got a problem," Wash said, stating the obvious.

"What's the problem?" Kaylee inputted, clearly confused, "I thought they were coming to look round the ship?"

"Somethin' isn't right," Mal said, "they don't talk like nothing I've heard from around these parts."

Zoe was also at a loss, "I don't recognise the designs of their uniform, it's not alliance, it's not independent… I say they're bounty hunters."

"Assassins?" Wash said incredulously, "why are there four of them? We should jump ship now before they look in our draws and don't like what they see,"

Zoe turned to Wash and raised an eyebrow with a cruel smile, he smiled nervously and sheepishly touched her arm.

Jayne pitched in his ludicrous evaluation next, "I don't like 'em. That big guy, with the gold tattoo, we can't trust him," Jayne was evidently unhappy with their new dilemma.

"Oh gee, is Jayne scared of the big scary man?" Wash added mockingly, but taking a small step towards Zoe for protection.

"I'm not scared!" said Jayne, taken aback by this insinuation, "He just kept giving us all funny looks," Jayne now came to his conclusion, "He didn't blink once." Jayne gave Wash a serious look here, like this proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Teal'c was definitely going to cause trouble.

Mal looked at Simon and River now, "Until they are off Serenity, you need keep a watchful eye on that sister of yours. Don't be going in the cargo bay for anything'," Mal insisted, a stern look about him. "Okay, we need answers. Wash, get us out of here, I don't want them gettin' any ideas about openin' our front door."

Wash agreed with a forced smile, and hurried up the stairs to the bridge.

"Zoe, Jayne, let's go talk to our new friends. Rest of ye, stay out of trouble, ye hear me."

Mal, Zoe and Jayne armed themselves, positioned in front of the doors. Sheppard opened the air lock and the questions began.

"Really can't we do anything without violence?" Jack asked disbelieving, his arms outstretched in a pleading gesture, though he wasn't expecting much response.

"Where'd you come from?" Mal asked matter-of-factly.

"Earth," Daniel replied quickly, clearly not liking the confrontation.

An extremely confused look crossed Jayne's face.

"Don't mess with me, I am not in the messin' mood," Mal assured Daniel who was taken aback at this point.

"It's the truth!" said Daniel, looking around Serenity's crew members, as if trying to read on their faces why they didn't believe them.

"We came through the… large ring, back on the planet," Carter explained.

Zoe and Mal exchanged a silent look, neither knowing what SG-1 was referring to.

"It's a-a portal between planets. We travelled from Earth, using this device," Carter looked hopeful that they would understand.

Mal was not convinced. "Earth That Was… Well it was. It ain't even in this solar system. So don't be tellin' me no lies."

"Now hold on a second," Jack said abruptly, "Are you telling me that Earth," he turned to give Carter a sceptical and questioning look, "is no longer there?"

Everyone was baffled now, but Serenity's crew, who weren't as used to this recurring situation as SG-1, weren't letting their guard down.

"Did you say… we're in a different solar system?" Daniel asked, Carter's eyes were wide with anticipation.

"Course we are," said Mal who was losing his patience, he swore in Chinese under his breath.

SG-1 huddled together now, "I've got nothing," said Carter who was blown away by this point, at the thought of a new system to map and explore.

"Could be some sort of rouse by a group working for a Goa'uld?" suggested Jack, though clearly sceptical about this.

SG-1 all turned and looked the crew up and down. They turned back.

"I believe this to be extremely unlikely O'neill," said Teal'c. Jack gave him a sarcastic nod of thanks.

"Captain, I don't get why we ain't shootin' 'em yet?" Jayne asked, perplexed. "The doc and his sis ain't gonna be safe much.."

SG-1 turned back at this point.

"Jayne!" Mal growled, "kindly keep your mouth shut," Mal gave him a firm look.

Mal still didn't have the answers he wanted. "Are you here to steal from me or take any of my crew?"

Daniel replied calmly, "We aren't here to steal from you,"

Jack decided to input an answer to the latter question "Why on earth would we want any of your crew?"

Mal surveyed Jack's face, sizing him up again, "Look, despite me thinking you ain't telling the whole truth about where ye came from and frankly I think you talk a mite strange and I don't care for the unsettlement you're causing me and mine. I'm gonna ask you real simple, why're you on my ship?"

"We came for the chitchat and delightful company," Jack retorted, he was beyond humouring this escapade.

Daniel shot him an urging look and spoke quickly. "We are peaceful explorers from a-another galaxy and we came to learn about y…"

Mal sighed and cocked a second gun. "I ain't asking again."

Zoe leaned over to Mal and turned her head, she gave Mal a inquiring look, "Sir, what if they're tellin' the truth? They could be real useful to us in bringin' in the next load," Zoe stood for a moment, shrugged and returned to her original menacing stance, guns at the ready.

Mal let out a long breath and rubbed his neck, "Okay, here's how it's gonna go down, we're gonna lower our weapons, you're gonna leave yours here, you're gonna come with us and finish the 'chitchat' we started earlier. Now I ain't saying I trust ye and I ain't keeping you on Serenity any longer than need be… but since you're here, we may as well… talk."