A/N: Just in time to meet the monthly deadline! Next update in 2-4 weeks. Reviews/comments appreciated.
Chapter Two: Connection
"Unidentified starship, this is the USS Enterprise. Please state your purpose in this sector…"
Wash gripped Serenity's control yoke. "Do we run, sir?"
Mal shook his head. "Constitution-class'll outrun us even if we go for hard burn, or they could just blast us out of space. We'll have to bluff our way through. We ain't done nothing illegal…at least, not today. They got no cause to come in here."
"That ever stopped the Alliance before, sir?" said Zoe.
"Good point."
"Unidentified starship, respond or you will be boarded by force."
Mal switched on Serenity's videophone. "Good morning, Enterprise, this is Captain Malcolm Reynolds, aboard Firefly transport Serenity. We're running some wheat from Triumph to Beaumonde."
"Duty-free," Wash whispered into Zoe's ear.
"Quiet," she admonished. "He'll hear you."
The man on the other end of the call was middle-aged, with close-cropped light brown hair. "Captain Reynolds, this is Captain Kirk of the Enterprise. Why did you fail to respond to our hail?"
"Yeah, sorry about that," said Mal. "You called us while we were away from the bridge."
Kirk frowned. "Thank you, Captain Reynolds. We ask that you stand by, pending further action."
"Affirmative. Serenity out." Mal shut off the video and grabbed the intercom. "Jayne, get two space suits ready. Doc, get your sister and bring her to the cargo bay, right now." He shut off the intercom and turned to Zoe. "If these Feds board us, I want those two out of the way. Preferably outside the ship. Give Jayne a hand with the suits."
Zoe nodded—getting caught with wanted fugitives like Simon and River aboard would mean life imprisonment at least. She charged down the corridor to the cargo bay.
Aboard the Enterprise,Kirk watched the image of Captain Reynolds fade from his screen. He turned to Spock. "He seems awfully shifty."
Spock frowned. "I don't see how his emotional state makes a difference, Captain. However, his refusal to immediately answer our hail raises the probability of his involvement in illegitimate activity. Though I cannot be certain, I strongly suspect his guilt."
"He did cut off our conversation quite rapidly," said Sulu. "It seemed like he had something else on his mind."
Kirk thought for a moment, then nodded. "I've thought the same." He nodded to Uhura. "Open ship-ship."
"Firefly transport Serenity, we're concerned that you may be involved in illegal operations. We're going to have to make a search of your vessel."
The young man on the screen smiled. "Of course you do. Just give us a moment, and we'll dock with you—"
"Oh, that won't be necessary," said Kirk. "Just give us a moment and we'll beam over."
"Beam?" said Mal.
"Yes," said Kirk. "We'll be aboard momentarily."
He motioned to Uhura to close the comlink. "Mr. Sulu, assemble a sweep team in the transporter room. Mr. Spock and I will beam aboard Serenity first." He stood and left the bridge.
Sulu keyed the Enterprise's public address system. "Security teams One through Three to the transporter room. Prepare for a search of suspected smuggling vessel…"
"River!" Zoe called, climbing the catwalk towards her. "Get down here!"
River shook her head, dodging away. Book and Kaylee moved to head her off, boxing her into one section of the catwalk.
Jayne looked up from helping Simon unbuckle a bulky space suit. "Crazy girl. We ain't got time for playing games!"
"Mei-mei, come down," Simon called. "We need to hide."
River pouted. "I hid last time. It's my turn to seek." She covered her eyes. "One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight…"
Mal's voice crackled over the intercom. "Hurry it up! The Feds are going to board any minute!"
"What?" said Jayne. "That can't be right, we ain't even docked yet."
"Oh, my," said Book. "They're going to use a matter transport."
"A what now?" said Jayne.
Book frowned. "It's an experimental Alliance teleportation system. I've only heard rumors…"
"Nah, that's can't be right," said Jayne. "Captain's gone moon-brain, that's all."
At that instant, a bright beam of gold particles appeared in the cargo bay. River screamed and jumped from the catwalk, landing on Simon and Jayne.
"No time for the suits!" Jayne shouted. He dashed over to the cargo bay's wall and pulled at the door to Serenity's smuggler's hold. A complete section of the wall came loose, revealing a hidden compartment just large enough to hold two small people.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Simon.
"No choice," said Zoe, pushing him down into the tiny space. River went in right after him.
Jayne reattached the wall just as the transporter beam solidified. A sandy-haired man in a gold shirt and a sullen-looking, dark-haired man stood in Serenity's cargo bay.
The man in the gold shirt stepped forward. "I am Captain Kirk. May I please speak to Captain Reynolds?"
"Hello," said Mal, appearing in the door. "I'm Captain Reynolds."
"I'm sorry to put you to an inconvenience, Captain," said Kirk. "I'm sure you want to get to Beaumonde. I promise that this will take as little time as possible."
"I'd take that as a kindness," said Mal.
The transporter beam glowed again. Mal frowned. Instead of the usual squad of heavily-armed Alliance soldiers, the cargo bay was filled with a half-dozen young men in red shirts.
"We have another group on the way," said Kirk. "It might get a bit crowded on board. Might I offer you dinner aboard the Enterprise?"
"That's very kind of you," said Mal, "but I'd prefer to stay with my ship."
Another squad of security personnel beamed onto Serenity. Jayne waited until they had dispersed before nervously approaching the spot where they'd arrived and sweeping his hand through the air, trying to find the door.
"Oh, come now, Captain, I insist," said Kirk. "Call it tradition. I won't accept your refusal."
Mal grunted. "Well—Alliance Captain insists on something, better off to give him his way."
"Excellent," said Kirk, as the last batch of security men arrived. "I'll give you a few minutes to get ready. My first officer, Spock, will beam back with you and bring you to dinner." He pulled a small device from his hip and flipped it open. "Kirk to beam up."
"Right," said Mal diffidently as Kirk disappeared. "We'll just…go get prettied up."
Spock nodded.
"Back here in two shakes."
Spock nodded.
"Well…all right then." Mal turned and left the cargo bay.
Jayne was a half-step behind. "What happened to the Alliance? I don't recall them being near as courteous."
"I don't rightly know," said Mal.
"Don't any part of this seem odd to you, sir?" said Zoe. "The Alliance abusing its power to make us…attend a gorram tea party?"
"It does seem a might unusual," agreed Mal. "But I ain't averse to bit of free Alliance grub. All the same, keep your eyes open. And Jayne tastes everything before we eat it."
Stay tuned!