Mal looks at them.
"What the hell's that behind you?" says Jayne to Riker.
With a bit of a look of displeasure, "That's Lt. Commander Worf, chief of security. Are any of you injured"
GLUNK. Worf and Riker spin around with phasers pointed. Inara looks shocked to their presence.
Riker eyes her.
"Inara!" calls out Kaylee. Inara runs passed them.
Riker looks at Beverly and she nods. They follow.
"Doctor," he signals for her to get in.
Beverly presses through the crowd. She opens the medical tricorder and removes the scanner from atop.
"Don't touch my sister!" Simon grabs Beverly's wrist.
Work puts his arms under Simon's and holds his back tightly.
"It's all right, I'm a doctor"
Book looks at her, "I'm afraid you've all come a bit too la"
"She's still alive," says Beverly.
The shadows on Simons face are lifted as he raises his head in shock.
"But barely. Commander, if I don't get to Sick Bay immediately, she's not going to make it"
"Where's you shuttle? I didn't hear any docking clamps?" asks Kaylee.
Riker taps his comm badge, "Captain, we got a seriously injured person here. Recommend transport"
"Go ahead," he hear Picard's voice.
"Crusher to transporter room 3, two to beam directly to Sick Bay"
"I'm not leaving her!" says Simon.
"Make that"
"Me too," adds Kaylee.
"You not; things need fixin'," says Mal.
Looks at River in her arms, then at Mal, "Stuff it. I'm coming with you guys"
"Four to beam up"
"Acknowledged. Stand by for transport," says O'Brian.
"Aren't we going to get her to your shu ...," Kaylee looks down and feels her stomach, "Wuh go-se"
And they disappear in front of everyone's eyes in a silver shimmer.
Riker turns to see a gun barrel pointed at his head.
"You better pray that was the greatest vanishing act ever, or I'm gonna die the rest of that uniform red"
"Mr. Worf! Hold! Are you the captain of this ship"
"Owner, operator. But those aren't quite the words I was lookin' to hear come from your mouth"
Riker raises his eyebrows at the brash manner he was spoken to in.
"I assure you, they're safely onboard our ship"
"Talk is cheap"
Taps his comm badge, "Riker to Sick Bay"
"Go head," replies Beverly.
"Can you put one of the crew beamed with you on"
"Sure."
Beverly takes her comm badge off and gives it to Kaylee, who watches the surgery. Beverly goes back.
"Neural stimulator"
"Just talk into it," Owgawa comments while passing by.
Kaylee holds it up to her mouth like a walkie-talkie, "Captain"
"Kaylee, you guys all right"
"Yeah, they're operating on her now"
"Simon"
"He's observing"
"You in any danger"
"No, they're good people," she replies.
"All right. You sit tight and keep an eye on the doc. That's an awful but ship to get lost in. Don't need anymore witch trials"
"Okay"
Mal lowers his gun, "Well, looks like you've earned yourself a reprieve"
"Is this how you treat all people who help you?" asks Riker.
"Last help shot me, so"
"Captain, everythings' fine here. Geordi and I are going to assess the situation. Riker out."
On the Enterprise bridge.
"Go head. Keep me posted number one"
"Yes sir"
"I sense a lot of agitation. These individuals are very high strung," says Troi.
"Are they dangerous"
"Yes and no. I get the sense three of them would do what is necessary to protect themselves, but that -- at the moment -- they intend no harm toward the away team"
"Good. Mr. Data, has there been any response to our hails from the pursuing vessel"
"None sir"
"Very well. Put a tractor beam on it and tow it into shuttle bay two"
"Ay, sir"
Looks over at Troi, "It appears we'll be having guests."
Riker stand stands next to Geordi.
"How is it"
With an agitated tone, "I've never seen such a configuration like this. There's so many patches and re-wiring. It's going to take some time to figure out. It would sure help if we had some schematics"
Riker talks to Mal, "Do you have anything like that"
"I don't even have clean hair. And funny enough, someone let me mechanic poof into air"
"There wasn't time for argument -- you heard out doctor"
"Does you doctor know how to fix out engines"
"You know, you could be gracious you didn't just lose one of your crew"
He quips, "Without a ship, there is no crew"
"Our engineer is working on it"
"Can he fix it? Especially with that coverin' his peepers." asks Mal.
Geordi looks directly at Mal, "Given time, I can have it like new"
"You're generosity is much appreciated, but each one of you is wearing clean cloths and silver and gold, so I'm afraid I don't got any recompense"
"We aren't asking for any," replies Riker.
"There are no hand-outs in the black. Everyone wants something"
"Our scans showed you were all human"
"As opposed to a chip monk"
"Look, maybe your colony reverted to old ways, but the federation still believes in helping those in need. We'll patch you up, and have out doc check you out"
"I wanna see my crew"
"Geordi, you have things here"
"So far. I'll call if I need you"
"I take it you're people don't have transporter technology?" asks Riker.
"Our people don't even know what that means in reference without flippin' through Webster's dictionary"
Riker shows with his hands, "We have a technology that can move you from one spot to the other without aide of a shuttle or other means of physical travel, instantaneously"
"The silver sparkles"
"Yes"
"Is that how I'm gonna get there"
"It's not painful"
"Can we just take a nice little constitutional to your ship"
"We're several kilometers apart in space"
"So…," taps the wall, "we travel through the hull"
"It'll be over in a second. Riker to transporter room 3 – two to beam up"
"Ah, Riker"
Riker looks at him, "Yes"
"Am I gonna feel a tingling sensation in my manly parts"
Grins, "Energize."
Mal comments to Riker as they enter Sick Bay, "I haven't even seen rooms on Alliance ships this clean and cozy"
"Captain!" Kaylee exclaims; she runs across the bay and hugs Mal tightly. Her soft, free-flowing hair falls upon his upper right sleeve.
"Not so tight, gorram it"
Mal eventually just pats her head a few times, and secretly enjoys the hug. After a minute he tries to pry her off but instead gives up and drags her along like a kid clung too a parent's leg. He stops at Simon.
"Doc. How is she"
"She's going to live"
"Well, that's peachy. Ow, Kaylee – my nuts," squirms. She eases off, but still holds him.
"You don't understand," replies Simon, "the type of trauma and injury she received isn't curable in even the highest of Alliance medical tech. They've done things which even I don't understand"
"Don't have to understand doc, just appreciate it"
Picard comes walking in. Worf is in tow.
Picard stands in front of Mal and speaks, "I'm captain Jean-Luc Picard, commander of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I understand you are the captain of the vessel"
Extends his hand in greeting while commenting, "Malcolm Reynolds, the Serenity"
"Captain, your ship is not familiar to us. Can you tell me where you came from"
"Well, Piccerd," he mispronounces, "we're more a hodge-podge; no specific planet"
"I see. And the attacking vessel"
"Actually, we didn't quite figure that out ourselves"
"Do you have any idea why they were pursuing you"
"Nah, they were hiding on the planet's surface and followed us out"
"They've been put into custody and shall be questioned later"
"Save some questioning for me," looks at Picard in a you understand type of glace.
"I saw some symbols on your ship. Old Mandarin if I'm not mistaken.
"Yeah, says Serenity. One of my crew painted that. You speak any"
"No, I'm just an archaeologist at heart. I take it your colony spoke it though? I was unaware it was still in use"
"Why does everyone keep saying 'my colony"
"I just assumed"
"You assumed incorrectly. I was raised on the Earth that was"
"That was"
"Look, did those brains of your fall out with most of your hair? Kaylee, get off me"
Picard takes a stern tone and look, "Captain Reynolds, I'd like to have a moment in private with you"
While checking on River, "Anything you can say to me, you can say in front of my crew; believe me, I've said far worse"
"Mr. Worf," nods over at the lieutenant.
Worf confronts Mal in a direct-path stance, "You will obey the captain"
"Or?" reaches for his gun, but finds it's not there; he looks back up.
"Or else"
"Else sounds good. Kaylee, you let me know if anything happens".
Jayne hovers over Geordi; Geordi scans and moves parts around.
"Why do you wear that thing over your eyes"
"Because," picks up another device, "without it I'm blind"
"You mean you can't see anything"
"It looks like an expensive gold hairband"
Geordi stops and looks at Jayne, "You know, this would move along a lot quicker if I didn't have any interruptions"
"Fine," and with that Jayne walks off.
Geordi goes back to scanning. He presses some buttons. Another shadow moves over the work area.
"You'll have to forgive him. He may not be the brightest, but he means well. On occasion," says Shepherd Book.
"Yeah," says while eying a part closely, "but he's got the social graces of a Ferengi"
"What is a Ferengi?"
"I got to admit," Zoe says in Wash's arms, cuddled together on the cockpit navigation char, "that when those last few hits struck, I thought it was over.
Wash kisses her head, "You kidding? With me at the helm? Even with the most turbulent of winds, I can steer this leaf down safely"
There is a moment of no speaking. But then Zoe finally comments what was both on their mind, "You think River will make it"
"Inara said their doc looked pretty confident"
"Shouldn't have let him go alone"
"Hey, this is us time; that special time of the month where we get to pretend we're husband & wife"
Zoe smiles and puts a hand on his chest..
Picard stands behind his Ready Room desk.
"Fish? On a spaceship? What – midnight cravings"
"I don't know how things run on your ship, but over here we expect a certain level of respect"
"So you can't take a joke, that's my fault?" motions with his hands.
"I can laugh, I can even be merry, but what you just demonstrated in Sick Bay was inexcusable. You don't like me, fine. But do that in front of me only"
"Should I be writing this down? Will there be a pop quiz later?" Mal throws out, without any kind of phasing from Picard's authority.
Picard re-evaluates for a minute while Mal taps the glass on the tank repeatedly to scare the fish.
Picard sighs longly, "Mr. Reynolds, perhaps you can I got off on the wrong foot"
"Why captain – are you asking me to dance?" with a grin.
Picard almost cracks a smile, remembering his more boisterous days as a youth in Starfleet Academy.
"Captain, do you live on your ship?" asks Picard.
"It's where I make my home, yes"
"I can't imagine living on a ship half the size of a Daedalus class vessel. Perhaps you and your crew would like to make use of our accommodations while repairs to yur vessel are underway. Have a warm bath and food, and"
"Did you say warm bath? This ship is huge – where do you find – how do you afford the gas to power it"
"Our engines are powered by a matter/antimatter mixture which last … quite a long time. The Federation does not use currency"
"No coin? How do you get paid"
"Barter, exchange, work. Our technology allows us to feed and cloth everyone on Earth. I'll arrange for you to have access to the computers to learn more about it"
Mal shakes his head and laughs before commenting, "Two paths diverged into the woods, and I took the one less traveled. I totally should have taken the gold-platted one you trotted along"
"Robert Frost"
"Yeah"
"You read a lot of poetry?" asks Picard.
Mal looks around the room, even the ceiling, then moves closer to Picard and replies in a low quick tone, "Yeah, but don't tell anyone"
Picard smiles.
"Do you have a favorite"
"I do not see why I should e'er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track,
To overtake me, who should miss me here,
And long to know if still I held them dear"
"Into My Own"
"Some things hold true, even a thousand years later"
"Indeed," replies Picard.
"Look, perhaps I was a bit out-of-line with that bald stuff"
"And maybe I was too snappy"
"we're hungry, tired, and I almost lost River back there. It's been a couple years now since we came across a people not bent on gyp'n us"
"You'll find nothing but good intentions here".
Worf enters Shuttle Bay 2. A large green shuttle, with armaments, sits in the bay. Two men stand at attention near the ship. Both appear to be wearing blue gloves.
"Are you"
"-in charge?" the second finishes the first's sentence.
"I am Worf, chief of security"
"Why are we here"
"Why are we being detained"
"You fired on an unarmed ship in Federation space"
"They are"
"-fugitives"
"That may well be, but they were unarmed fugitives. Firing upon someone who cannot defend themselves is very dishonorable"
"The Alliance would compensate you for the recovery of River and Simon Tam"
The seconds adds, "Such help would generously be remunerated"
"Maybe on your world such is the standard, but I cannot be bought!" Worf barks with anger.
The bay lights up and fills with static noise after one of the men slams into the force field in an attempt to strike Worf.
Walks to the marked barrier, "And know that even if we were not separated by the force field, I would snap your neck like the petaQ you are," and turns and heads toward the bay exit.
"Inform me if they try anything," he commands to an officer.
"Yes sit"
The two blue-gloves look back at each other..
Beverly sits back in her office in Sick Bay. She breaths easy. Simon knocks on the wall beside the entrance.
"May I?" he asks.
"Yes, go head," she replies.
"You're very skilled. I haven't met many doctors who truly know what they're doing"
"Thank you. It's not often I get complimented"
"It's not ever for me," he says. He twiddles his fingers and the boyish smile fades. He looks down.
"She's going to recover perfectly. Another quarter of an inch to the right and that piece of metal I removed from her skull, would have pierced through the glabella into her cerebrum. She's a very lucky girl"
"Selfless too. I don't know if I could have done what she did"
"Hey – don't let it eat away at you. You wan to hear one thing that makes it better?" she asks.
"What"
"Not doing it would help others. If someone else had been injured and you're the only doctor on the ship"
"Dead men don't stitch"
"Precisely"
He smiles, "Though River used to tell me zombies do. Then she would take a straw and try to stick it in my ears. Said she was going to suck my big brain out"
Beverly smiles as well, "You love you sister. Quite commendable"
"It hasn't always been so nice"
"I hate to ask, but when out computers scanned her, I noted several cracks and tissue scarring on the top of her cranium. What the hell happened"
"Who are you affiliated with?" asks Simon.
"The Federation"
Simon signals with his hands and facial expression that he didn't understand.
She adds, "The United Federation of Planets. It's an organization where like-minded races can converge in peace and expand their knowledge. Over a hundred different races hold current membership"
"Races? As in … extra terrestrials"
"Yes"
"River was right. She told me again and again they exist. I'm sorry, I've gone on a tangent. They Alliance held her captive and cut into her brain. I still don't know why. But it's left her borderline psychotic".
"Captain to the bridge," says Data.
Picard and Mal exit his Ready Room. Picard heads toward Data, and Mal heads toward Troi. Her eyes her as he passes by. She smiles. Mal presses down on the captain's chair before sitting down. He feels the hand rests. He then brings a couple of fingers to his head and says to her, "Howdy"
"What is it Lieutenant?" Picard asks Data.
"Sir, the rift the two vessels emerged from appears to be in a state of flux"
"Back us off a hundred kilometers. If there is any change in readings, don't wait for me – get the ship away as fast as possible. I think we've had enough close encounters with special rifts, don't you think"
"Ay sir"
"You sit here often?" Mal asks.
"When I'm on duty"
"Duty? I'd sure love some duty where I get to sit. I believe that would do me fine"
"Deanna Troi – ship's counselor"
"Malcolm Reynolds – cosmonautical brigand"
"You love big words"
"They're my play things"
"Captain, I am detecting Verteron particles"
"Verteron? Aren't those particles created only by artificial methods"
"Yes sir," taps some buttons and reads the display, "they do not occur naturally"
"Then how did they appear"
"I am attempting to find out"
"Captain Reynolds"
"Gosh that
S an awfully … tight body suit you have on there," says Mal.
She grins a bit, sensing his want.
"Captain Reynolds," Picard turns to see him sitting in his chair, "comfy"
"Indubitably so"
"I think the captain wants to speak to you," Troi comments.
"Oh," he jumps up and walks over, "Jean-Luc"
Data turns his head slightly and raises an eyebrow.
"Captain, maybe you can assist us. Commander Data here"
"Whoa! I got one word for you: tan. Really, the sun won't kill ya"
"I am an android; I do not … 'tan"
Mal scratches his unshaven whiskers and leans in to Picard, "And that is exactly"
"I am an artificial life form, capable of learning and adapting"
"So, you're a robot"
"No. Robots process information and perform simple tasks. I think; I am self aware"
"Now that is my kind of awesome – a machine that isn't trying to kill people, but better itself"
"Thank you," Data says.
Mal nods his head.
"The reason I asked you here is that Commander Data has detected Verteron particles. Would you happen to know anything about that"
"Not even a little. In fact, it may be possible to know less than that," says Mal.
"Did you see anything unusual?" asks Picard.
"Well yeah, that darn ship was firing purple lasers at us! I swear those things were outlawed"
"Sir, I believe I have an explanation; I detected diaocilene from the pursuing vessel; if their weapons were verteron based, the mixture would cause a visible spectral violet hue in the beam, which would otherwise be white in appearance"
"That's bad?" asks Mal.
"Verteron particles are generally best left avoided. Some races have outlawed their use"
"Yes, the Breen, the Bandian, the Bajorins, the"
"Thank you Mr. Data, that'll do," says Picard.
"The Alliance like to experiment with all kinds of stupidity".
Riker stands inside a quarter; Kaylee, Jayne, and Inara walk about.
"Each of you will get your own quarters"
"No ruttin' way!" This is gorram luxury!" exclaims Jayne.
"Jayne, the cursin'," says Kaylee.
Jayne walks off.
Riker speaks loud enough for Jayne to hear, "You aren't prisoners here, you're guests, but certain sections of the ship are off limits to non-personnel"
"Guys – check out this fancy head!" we hear Jayne call out from an adjoining room.
Riker continues, "Each of you have been assigned a comm badge," he walks over and clips each one on them, taking extra long with Inara. She looks at him. "You need anything, just tap the badge and ask for help. You can reach me or anyone else. Just say by name. Incase you've forgotten, I'm Commander William Riker. My quarters," looks at Inara; Kaylee looks away when she notices the exchanged looks, "Are on deck 8. The black computer interfaces on the halls will give you directions; just ask. On deck ten, section four, we have ten-forward. It's a casual meeting place where you can have drinks and get to know people"
"That sounds nice…" says Kaylee.
"Over here," walks toward the left wall as Jayne steps back in from admiring the bathroom, "are the replicators. They can make just about any type of food you want, and clothing"
"Anything?" asks Jayne.
"Yes, just ask. Say 'Computer' and specify what it is you need"
Jayne looks at the unit and commands, "Computer, grenades"
There is a beep, "That item is prohibited"
"I said give me some grenades, gorrom it; a couple dozen full"
"That item is prohibited," the computer prompts him again.
Jayne turns to Riker, "I thought you said anything"
"Anything you need"
"I NEED grenades"
"The replicators won't produce weapons other lethal substances. In fact, I'm going to have to ask you for your knife"
"Eh, take it. No danger on this ship anyway"
"Jayne, you say that like it's a bad thing," says Inara.
"Heck, the walls are probably padded"
"Miss…" Riker says to Kaylee.
"Kaylee," she says.
"Kaylee, this is your quarter. Make yourself at home. Mr. Cobb, Miss Serra, if you'll follow me, your quarters are next door.
Inara looks about her room. Riker admires her from the doorway.
"Miss Serra"
"Please, call me Inara"
"Inara … that's a beautiful name. Kind of a sensuous feel to it"
"I've always liked it"
"What is it you do for a living"
"I'm a registered companion"
"I don't quite understand what that is"
"I provide certain … adult company"
"You're a prostitute?" he says with some concern. Riker did always fancy a women of equal stature.
"Not exactly; prostitutes sell themselves to just anybody. I pick and choose cliental and run a more, sophisticated business. I've had years of training"
"Really?" smiling and holding hands as he walks up to her.
She looks into his eyes, "I've spent years learning how to please a man. How to touch, when to touch. Where to touch"
His eye bros raise.
"It's my job"
He breaths more heavily and with more frequency, "I see. So if I slapped down the proper currency, you'd be mine"
"Only if I except you"
"I'm quite the catch I've been told"
"Probably fishing with your own stick"
"Hey now," laughs.
She smiles softly, "Not often my cliental is so"
"Handsome?" in a cocky tone with a grin.
"Properly aged"
This just makes Riker smile even bigger.
"Perhaps you'd like to join me for a drink in ten-forward later tonight at, say, 2030"
"It would be my pleasure"
Riker continues with his boyish grin and hopes.
"I promise you a time you won't forget".
The blue-gloved men watch the guard. One touches the force field. The guard looks over. The second he looks away, one of them removes a thin, long cylinder-shaped device from his suit pocket. He squeezes it and two rods shoot out from each end of the metallic device.