Zeus Central Police Station
An Alliance police officer on Zeus receives a call from the two Blue Sun agents in search of Simon and River.
Police Officer: What can I do for you?
Agent 1: We have confirmed that the Firefly carrying Jayne Cobb and the fugitives will be landing on Zeus sometime today.
Agent 2: Send a man to each docking area on the planet. Landlock any Firefly that arrives.
Agent 1: Take anyone onboard into custody, but if you find the fugitives, under no circumstances may you talk to them.
Agent 2: We will be there by the end of the day.
Police Officer: I'll see what I can do, but I don't have too many men to spare. There is a rumor that Andrew Jameson is here, and I have some of my top officers looking for him. He has been on the lam too long, and it is about time that he was brought to justice.
The Blue Sun Agents look at each other.
Agent 1: This may work to our advantage.
Police Officer: How is that? That is, if you don't mind my asking.
Agent 2: The captain of the Firefly is wanted fugitives, yet he is coming to a core planet.
Agent 1: The last time he was in the core, he was conducting a robbery. The only reason he will be coming back to the core so soon is to do something that must be done here.
Agent 2: There is a high probability that he is coming to offer asylum to Jameson.
Agent 1: If this is the case, we will make sure that you will be able to use any methods possible to bring these criminals to justice.
Police Officer: Thank you. I shall do what I can.
The Police Officer clicks off his transmitter.
Olympus Docks, Planet Zeus
Serenity lands at the docks. The time is about 9:15 a.m., fifteen minutes after the designated meeting time with Jameson. Mal, Zoë, Jayne, Wash, and Kaylee get off the ship to do various tasks. Wash and Kaylee go to town to get supplies while Mal, Zoë, and Jayne search for Jameson. Andrew comes up from behind the trio.
Andrew: Mr. Malcolm Reynolds?
Mal: Yes, I'm Capt. Reynolds. Andrew Jameson I presume.
Andrew: Yes, I am Mr. Jameson. You're late.
Mal: Only about 15 minutes, I reckon. So what? Don't worry; we have a shuttle available for you. I look forward to having you aboard our ship.
Jayne: Don't you think you're using your language a bit loosely?
Mal: What? Nara's leaving as we speak. The shuttle is available.
Jayne: I meant about the "we" part.
Andrew: I take it he's not your tactician.
Mal: (Rolls his eyes.) Great, puns. No, this is Jayne. Don't listen to anything he says. I think his mother may have dropped him on his head a couple of times when he was a kid.
Jayne: Hey, they were part of a game we used to play.
Zoë: You know, that explains a lot.
Mal: This is Zoë, my first mate.
Andrew: Good to meet you both, now let's go. You're late.
Mal: Yes, you already stressed that fact.
Andrew: You obviously don't understand. I need to get off this planet.
Zoë: Gee, I can't imagine why. Place seems nice enough. Could it be that the Alliance wants you almost as much as the Tams?
Andrew: I think you're on to something, Sherlock. (Chinese grumblings.)
Zoë is not amused by this comment. She pulls out her rifle and places it at Andrew's throat.
Zoë: Let's get one thing straight before you start sailing with us, Mr. Jameson. The Captain and I, we are your superiors. You pay us to live on one of our shuttles, which could have as easily gone to someone with a more respectable background. Are we clear?
Andrew is smiling.
Andrew: Crystal. Come on, can't you take a little ribbing once in a while? Geez.
Zoë lowers her rifle.
Andrew: Can we get to your ship, now?
Mal: Yeah, come on.
Andrew and Mal pick up his luggage, and the four turn toward the ship.
The Shuttle
Inara, Book, and Simon are getting her things together. They load all of her baggage onto the Mule in the cargo bay, but they accidentally leave one bag behind.
The Cargo Bay
Book: And you're sure that's all of it, my dear?
Inara: Yes, Shepard, I do believe that these are all my effects. Thank you for your help.
Simon: It's our pleasure. Are you sure you have to go, though?
Inara: Sadly, yes, I must go. There are just some people who can't live together. It is sad how one person ruin things for everyone else.
Book: Good luck, Inara. I hope that your new life will provide you with all that you could ever want and more.
Inara: Thank you, Shepard.
Inara kisses Book. He does not know what to make of the kiss.
Book: Um, thank you.
Inara: I know that you don't approve of what I do, but thank you for never giving me a hard time about it. And you, Simon. You never passed judgment against me. You are one of the few males who has neither shunned me nor advanced on me.
She proceeds to kiss Simon. While in the embrace, Kaylee and Wash arrive at the ship. Only Book noticed their arrival.
Kaylee: (Sarcastically.) Huh. Well I guess I should have expected this. After all, she's a companion. She'll do anything for the right price.
Simon quickly pulls away from Inara, causing her to trip. He runs up to Kaylee to try to explain things.
Simon: Kaylee! It's just, just a kiss goodbye.
Kaylee: You're going to have to do better than that.
Simon: It didn't mean anything! I was just saying goodbye, honestly.
Inara: (Piffed.) Didn't mean anything? Well, now I know that if we ever meet again, I won't have to give you a parting gift.
Simon: Nara, I didn't mean it like it sounded.
Kaylee: So what did you mean, Dr. Tam?
Simon: Um, well…
Kaylee: Screw it. (Walks over to Inara.) I'm sorry to see you go Inara. You always were my favorite person on this ship.
Inara: Thank you, Kaylee. I hope that we shall see each other again someday. Goodbye.
Inara leaves.
Simon: Come on, Kaylee. You know as well as I do that it was only a gesture of parting. I have feelings for no one but you.
Kaylee: Good to know. Maybe you'll be thinking of me during the lonely nights to follow.
Book: Kaylee Frye! Whatever happened to the little girl I knew who could see the bright side to every situation?
Kaylee: Not in the mood right now, Shepard.
The Docks
As Mal, Zoë, Jayne, and Andrew walk back to Serenity, they pass Inara. Mal, Zoë, and Jayne all give a slight wave to her. Inara acknowledges Zoë and Jayne, but she just looks past Mal. Mal just shrugs his shoulders.
Andrew: Who was that?
Mal: No one.
As Inara walks away, she puts her bags down to rest for a second. Suddenly, she realizes that she left one bag behind.
Inara: Dammit.