Chapter 3: "The Better Half"
Picard sits back, adorned in his grey shirt with open-front red uniform cover. He taps the glass cup he's holding to Mals'.
"Cheers," says Picard.
Mal sips back, "Yep, that's great stuff. You weren't exaggerating."
"My friend, Guinan -- she' the bartender in ten-forward -- on occasion managers to sneak aboard some rare brew indeed."
"What, alcohol is illegal? Sounds like a scary sober place."
"Not exactly; alcoholic properties are banned from consumption on any Federation starship, but we have something called Synthihol. It simulates some of thge affects, but without the hangovers or impaired judgment."
"I'm under the motto: any swill worth payin' a hundred coin for or more, is one worth the side affects. After all, something's got to justify all that money."
"So, how long have you been captaining your ship, Serenity?"
"Over six years now."
"You ever feel the need ... the need to stop, and just find someone to love, but find yourself unable to give up the journey?" asks Picard.
Swirls the liquid in the glass, "About once a month that one crosses through my head."
"And?"
"Maybe happiness just isn't mean for certain men," says Mal.
"Hum ... a rather bleak view."
"If there were chances in life, real chances for happiness, at least one of them would have reared it's pretty old head in and stayed. Mathematical probability; can't keep rollin' ones forever."
"True, that does seem a fair call to make. I've found, after decades of serving in Starfleet, that the old adage: home is where you make it, is indeed so. I have many friends in Starfleet and aboard this ship, and I wouldn't trade that for just a shot at possibly something better."
Mal replies, "A man can go unloved for only so long," and then realizes Inara.
Inara sits at the bar in ten-forward.
"You must be new here," says Guinan, who has just approached.
"What gave it away?"
"The fancy dress and non-regulation apparel. Can I get you something?"
"No, I'm just waiting for somebody."
"That somebody wouldn't happen to be over six feet tall and sprout a beard?"
"He brings women here often?"
"Commander Riker is what's known as a 'ladies' man'."
"That's okay, I'm sort of a mens' lady."
"It'll be worth the wait. He'll come strolling in here well groomed and baring a gift. And he'll be charming," and Guinan puts her hands on her chin to prop it up. "But you have someone else in mind?"
"No, not really. Not so much. I just ... wonder when his journey will be complete," says Inara.
"Sometimes people need help on their journey, even if they don't' want to ask for it. Speak of the devil -- and my oh my what a devil."
Riker, who has entered ten-forward, turns heads. Dressed in a black tux with a white shirt, his ensemble is complete with well-groomed hair and a red rose attached to his left lapel. He stops in front of Inara.
"Miss Serra," he bows his head slightly.
Guinan comments, "If you don't want him, just give me the word."
Riker offers his bent arm out and she sticks her left arm through the opening. He escorts her across the room to an empty section where a lone, lit table awaits.
"Riker to O'Brian: abracadabra."
Table cloth, diner plates, silverware and candles suddenly are transported into place on the table.
Riker's expression was that of a garish magician, but to let known that wasn't all, he snaps his fingers on his right hand and the candle's tips ignite.
"How very ... spontaneous," says Inara.
"I thought you and I would have a ... magical evening."
"Um," she nods her head slightly as she examines the meals, "I hope the rest of the evening is going to be more original than that. Though that beaming trick was the first I've seen."
He unwraps his arm and pulls a chair out for her. She seats herself. He walks around the table and sits as well.
"These are a couple of my favorite dishes, and the one under platter top is a delicacy. Out engineer says he found no replicators on your ship; I thought maybe you'd enjoy something different for a change."
…
Kaylee feels the soft, silky bed sheets with her hands. It was so nice that she wished she could take it with her.
Looking about the room she felt so small and a bit overwhelmed; she'd never known such luxury and riches. She felt out of place, but -- conflictingly -- wished she could be a part of it.
After a bit of pacing -- too excited to just sit -- she stops at the replicator.
"Computer?"
It beeps.
"Was that a 'yes'?"
"Affirmative," it answers.
"You can make me any type of clothing, right?"
"Starfleet uniforms are restricted to current personnel only; authorization is required for replication."
"Well, I don't need any of those, How about dresses?"
"Please specify style, period, and species."
"Something like a ... ballroom dress. Fancy like. Ah, human; for me."
Beeps, "Please specify time period."
"Old."
"Please specify."
"Like the 1800's."
"Please specify color preference."
"Blue. With fluffy ruffles."
"Processing," utters a few beeps, "Please place both arms out while a scan of your dimensions is completed."
She puts both arms out. Looks around, "So ... how long is this going to-"
The computer beeps, "Request completed."
The indented niche in the unit lights up and swirls of silver sparkles illuminate and then dissipate.
"Wow ... I got to get me one of these," and she picks up the folded dress and lets it fall into place as she holds it up.
Her eyes twinkle as she gazes upon her new found shinny.
"So mei. Computer, where does one got for fun around here?"
The doors to Holodeck 3 slide open. Kaylee walks in shyly, but with still the curious mind of an engineer.
"Where's all the tech? All's I see are a bunch of yellow stripes."
"Request not understood."
Kaylee looks out wide-eyed and holding the sides of her dress, "19th century gala ball."
The black walls with glowing yellow checkered lines go hazy and the room rills with people; all of whom are well dressed and of clearly a prestigious financial background. A huge chandelier hangs down from the ceiling with dozens and dozens of candles mounted on it. Well crafted and carved chairs and tables are about; some of them adorned with royal red slips and cushions. Fancy paintings, decor and even food -- she noted -- "Yes," she thought to herself, "I believe I can get to like this.".
Everyone was still, but some were fuzzy to the eye, as if stopped while in motion.
Confused, she asks, "Ah, computer?"
Beeps in acknowledgment.
"Why aren't they movin'?"
"Awaiting your authorization to begin program."
"Well, do it -- authorize this sucker."
And with that the room comes to life. The fires move, the people dance around as a small pit orchestra performs a waltz.
Kaylee's eyes light up and she can't help but grin ear-to-ear. Looking around quickly, she avoids people who are dancing about her, while holding her dress up a bit.
Noticing a man eyeing her, she takes the reigns and approaches him.
"Get over here and dance. Now."
"Yes, miss."
She grabs a hold of him and places her arms on him. he puts hands on her back and holds her other hand with his free one.
Kaylee reaches behind her and lowers his hand onto her butt, "There we go. Now, you don't be afraid to be a groupin' down there, 'cause that's what I aim to do to you. Are we gonna dance or what?"
He raises his eyebrows in surprise and they start.
Only a minute in and they are interrupted by a furious woman.
"Ernest, what on god's green Earth is it you think you're doing?" and she then turns to Kaylee, "And who's this ... cheap looking lush?" annunciating the last word.
Kaylee, looking like she's going to slug the lady, says, "Excuse me?"
"I know your filthy kind; runnin' around and whoring with other women's men. A blistering fester on the bottom of society!"
Kaylee turns to her dance partner, "Excuse me," and turns back to the lady, "nice har," and with that sucker punches her with a right.
The lady holds her face in shock.
"Computer, I'm the queen and she's my maid."
Beeps in compliance.
"Bitch," ads Kaylee.
And in a few seconds the woman's appearance blurs and comes back in lesser quality clothing; she bows to Kaylee, "Mistress?"
"Go clean the guest toilet."
"Yes, mistress. Right away," and scurries off.
"Oh, you're evil."
She turns around. there, in suit, is Mal.
"You gotta vent the exhaust every once and a while or else if explodes," she says.
"I'll say. That's a wicked right you got."
"And don't you forget it."
"May I have the pleasure?" he asks.
"I don't know about that, but we can do a little steppin'," she replies.
Mal pus his hands on her and she does the same.
"Computer," he commands, "Blue Danube Waltz; bigger orchestra."
The orchestra put size increases and they start playing the classical piece.
They start dancing slowly with the timeless piece; up and down slowly with the music. Mal takes her by one hand as a crescendo starts and twirls her about, then brings her back in.
"How come I ain't ever seen you dance before?" asks Kaylee.
"Well, you've not ever seen me piss either -- but I assure you it happens from time-to-time."
"So majestic," he teases.
"I follow by example," looking at her.
Eventually, nearing the end of the score, she just rests against him, placing her head on his chest.
"I'm not so good at doing this, so I hope you understand the gesture. When I heard that explosion back there, I thought ... it's just that I-"
"Thank you," she says crying. she holds tightly.
"I mean, someone's gotta pine over Simon and it's sure as hell not gonna be me."
She chuckles and squeezes him tightly some more.
"I love my captain tight pants."
After a few moments, when the music briefly pauses, he replies, "Kaylee, stop callin' me that."
Alarm sounds. They both look about.
"Computer, pause this thing!" yells Mal.
Everything stops and they can hear the alarm loudly.
"Computer, where the hell is the door?" and with that the Arch appears, "come one," he grabs her hand and they run toward the holodeck exit and into the hall. Red lights flash.
"Red alert, captain to the bridge," Riker's voice sounds over the comm.
Picard walks toward his chair. Riker presses some buttons on the panel in his command chair.
"What's the situation?" asks Picard.
"Our prisoners have managed to escape and killed the guard in the process."
"Mr. Worf, where are they?"
Reading his display on the crescent wooden arch, "Deck 12, section eight; not far from Sick Bay."
"Picard to Dr. Crusher, the escapees might be heading your way."
"Understood."
"Data, Worf -- take a security team and apprehe-"
"Simon!" Troi shouts.
Riker and Picard turn to her.
River stands up, tossing the silky sheet off her.
"Please, sit down -- there may be trouble in here in a minute," Beverly says to River.
"The boogeymen are coming," says River.
"Security is coming, they'll protect you."
River slaps Beverly's comm badge, "Simon!"
Simon's head shots up. He stands quickly and runs out of his quarters.
The two blue-gloved men enter Sick Bay.
"Commander!" shouts nurse Alyssa Ogawa.
The Vulcan nurse approaches them.
"Gentlemen, this is a place of medical aide, there need not be any violence in here."
"Give us-"
"-River Tam."
Beverly stands in front of River and commands, "No; these people are under my protection. I'm not going to let you or anyone else take her!"
"May I also ad that security is on it's way, so I advise you that the logical course of action is to-"
The push nurse Salar out of the way. He reaches over and does the Vulcan neck pinch on one of them. The blue-gloved man turns around, grabs Salar, and throws him against the wall; he collapses.
Beverly taps her comm badge, "Crusher to security, hurry!"
"Their hearts don't beat," says River.
Beverly pushes River to a bed as the men approach, "Computer, erect a level ten force field around Stasis Bed Four!"
BIZUN! It shines briefly.
"River!" Simon runs in.
"Mr. Tam, so glad you could join us," says one of the men.
Simon picks up a laser scalpel and an injector.
"Get any closer and I'll surgically remove your testicals."
River looks out from behind Beverly, "Ew."
Worf, Data, and two security personnel enter Sick Bay.
"I order you to stand down!" commands Worf.
They aim phasers.
"Please! Don't fire in here, I have patients!" warns Beverly.
"Lock and holster you weapons," they all do so, "let's see how brave you are now," says Worf.
Worf moves forward with Data and the guards. Worf gets in a fighting stance. With his twice-the-strength of human ability force, he punches one of the men upside the face. the man's head jolts to the side, then moves back. He smirks.
One of the security guards hits the force field and falls to the ground.
While Worf struggles with on, Data holts the other guard.
"Allow me," and Data Forcefully and quickly grabs both hands of the second blue-gloved man and holds him firmly, leaving the man unable to move.
the other backs off of Worf after yet another unsuccessful hit by the Commander, and pulls out a metallic, steel cylinder. He squeezes and two rods shoot out each end.
"WEAPON!" shouts Worf. Data looks over.
Worf shakes his head, then feels his nose. He pulls his fingers away and sees blood.
Data lets go and grabs the arm, twisting it until the blue-gloved man drops the device; its hits the ground and the rids retract.
One of the guards throws up, and the other grabs his head in pain, bending over.
The man Data had been struggling with reaches around and holds Data tightly in an arm lock. The other is about to smack Worf over the head when Mal comes running in. He shoves his issued comm badge down he inner shirt of the blue-gloved man and punches it. the man turns around.
"Transport him out of here!" yells Mal.
"Who is this?" comes O'Brian's voice.
"Worf to O'Brian -- lock on to that badge and transport the intruder into a brig!"
Just before the man is atop Mal, he vanishes in glittery light.
Worf brandishes his phaser, pointing squarely at the other man's head, "You WILL release the commander."
The blue-gloved man does so.
"River and Simon Tam are bound by Alliance law. I am authorized in their capture."
"The captain will decide that, but for now your poor use of judgment has earned you a lengthy stay in the brig. You will come with me. Commander," nods to Data. They get ready to escort him out.
"Computer, deactivate force field," says Beverly.
It shuts off and Simon runs over to River. She cries a little and he holds her.
"The boulders keep going down hill!" she says.
"Will my men be all right?" asks Worf.
Scanning one of them she replies, "There's some slight damage, but nothing to worry about. I expect to see you back here as well," points the medical tri corder at him.
"Understood. Move!" he commands the prisoner. They leave Sick Bay.
"Is everyone all right?" Simon asks Mal.
"I told Kaylee to go to her room; she said Inara was in hers. not sure about Jayne."
"Doctor Crusher, is everything all right in there?" Picard's voice sound over the comm.
She taps her badge, "This is Beverly. A member of my staff and two security officers have sustained minimal injury. If it wasn't for out guest here-"
"Malcolm Reynolds," ads Mal.
"-we might have had some trouble.
"Glad to hear. Captain Reynolds, please report to my Ready Room."
Turns to Simon, "Now I got to go do captainy things -- make sure you sister doesn't go all banana splits," and leaves.
"This is Shepherd Book, are River and Simon Tam okay?" he voice sounds over the comm.
Simon taps his issued badge like a Starfleet officer, "We're okay. Malcolm saved us. You?"
"Fine. Zoey and Wash are onboard Serenity. I believe Jayne is sleeping."
Simon's voice sound over the comm in Book's quarters, "Thank you for your concern, shepherd."
"No problem son," he looks side-to-side. The view pans out. Both Kaylee and Inara are snuggled up to him. "You know, there are times when other men envy me, but on occasion, there are times I envy other men," kisses Kaylee on her head, "clearly I am still struggling with the 'envy not' part."
….
Mal steps off the bridge turbo lift. He heads to the left, toward Picard's Ready Room. He pauses briefly, "Captain on the bridge," waits for a glance from anyone, which does not come, "Well, I always wanted to say that, so ... folks," puts his right hand up in friendly gesture.
The doors slide shut behind him. Riker half cocks a smile.
"Worf to Commander Riker," over the comm.
"Go ahead."
Mal slaps his hands together, "What can I do you for?"
In a somewhat stern tone, "Sit."
"Have I been a naughty boy?" asks Mal, who sits.
"I feel the need to ask you this question again: why were these people pursuing you?"
"My answer was an honest one, captain. I won't sit here and lie to you, your kindness has been great."
"But you also tell half truths. Three of my crew have each been told a different story about what it is you for a living. Now, the answer I was told you had given was an importer/exporter. Yet you carry no cargo nor a cliental manifest."
"We're more of a freelance; for hire."
"Hum," stands up. He straightens his uniform which has bunched up around his waist and walks slowly, "I have read a great deal many books, Mr. Reynolds, so stop me where I am wrong. Your crew consists of a pilot in Hawaiian attire, and his wife -- which I have found is is a rare case in cargo delivery. And according to my first officer, Inara Serra is a registered companion -- to dainty for the delivery industry. Then there's a Jayne Cobb -- who appears to serve no other function than hired muscle. Your doctor had been the only legitimate member of your crew, if it hadn't been for the fact he brought with him his underage, mentally troubled sister. And not even out vessel carries a Chaplin.
So when it is that I say that I believe you are nothing more than petty, common thieves, which is now, I expect your complete honesty. Is that understood?"
"You're gonna sit there and judge us? we're not common, and obviously you've had yourself a nice little Central Planets upbringing. Tell me, Jean-Luc, did you vote for Unification, or did you just tuck your tail between your legs and try not to piss?"
"Here we are again, at an impass," says Picard.
"Each time I stop in here, it becomes more and more apparent that we're just too different to be friends," says Mal.
"That could be so, but we needn't be enemies."
"Believe me -- I'm not looking for such either; I got plenty of those already."
Picard sits, "All right. Captain, I've heard you refer to several things which I am unfamiliar with: Earth that was, Unification, thee Alliance. You say Earth was your home, yet nothing about you, your people, or your vessel are familiar. Why is that?"
"Well, if it's any consolation, your the same to us. And my mistake captain, I wasn't born on Earth, in fact, I don't know of anyone who was, not since the migration."
"Migration?"
"You know, when we had to move. Don't tell the land lady -- we didn't leave a forwarding address."
"No mass migration has occurred on Earth," says Picard.
"Used up all the natural resources; no one lives there except some re-terrafroming crews, I hear," says Mal.
"Captain, what year is it?" asks Picard.
"2518, of course. I take it that's not i for you, huh?"
"Indeed. Our year is 2368. And Earth is fully populated; even the moon houses a million plus citizens."
"That just can't be, not even in 2368."
"I believe what has happened is two-folded: you've not only traveled back in time, somehow, but you've also managed to enter another dimension. Clearly out realities differ from one another."
"So, the Earth is good, all people live like this, and there's no Alliance?"
"Yes."
"Shinny. do I need to fill out paper work or something to stay here?"
"There will be certain requirements, but in the meantime I expect no thieving on my ship, understood?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
"Very well."
The doorbell sounds.
"Come," says Picard.
The door slides open and Riker enters.
"Can I have a moment?"
"Yes, we were just finishing here. Captain, you're dismissed."
Mal stands up, "Ta ta," and leaves the room.
The doors shut.
"Ta ta?" smiles Riker.