The crew finds a derelict colony ship; Mal decides to check it out to look for survivors and potentially valuable loot. At first, the ship appears to be simply deserted, but when Mal and Zoey enter the cargo hold, they not only find the would-be settlers valuable supplies – they find their bodies as well. Mal recognizes the bodies as Reaver victims. They find a single survivor and bring him back to Serenity; Shepherd Book tries to lay the victims to rest while Kaylee works to bypass a booby trap that could destroy Serenity. All these chores take time, and before they can leave the derelict behind, an Alliance ship appears and boards them. The doctor and River hide outside Serenity, which unnerves him as much as it delights her. The Alliance captain suspects Mal of killing the crew as an act of spite and vengeance . . . until the tormented survivor demonstrates that he’s left his sanity behind and become a threat to both crews.
written by Tim Minear
directed by Tim Minear
music by Greg EdmonsonGuest Cast: Branden Morgan (The Survivor), Doug Savant (Alliance Captain Harken)
Notes: This episode features Book’s opening narration.
LogBook entry by Dave Thomer