INT. SERENITY BRIDGE

Mal sits in the pilot's chair, lost in thought. His feet are propped up on the console, his hand covering his mouth as he stares out at the stars.

The same proximity alarm sounds, nearly startling him out of his chair. He rights himself and checks the scope.

MAL: Zao gao. [damn it]

Mal presses a button and punches on the keyboard. He looks at the screen with a furrowed brow, then reaches up to grab the mic.

MAL: River, please come up to the bridge.

He hangs up the mic, eyes never leaving the screen.

Zoe appears at the door, River on her heels.

MAL:(indicating the scope) Little one, could you make heads or tails of this for me.

River inspects the scope for a second, then punches some keys.

RIVER: The same ship has moved to intercept our course again.

MAL: That's what I thought. (off Zoe's look) Hey, I recognized the damn thing.

ZOE: Of course, sir. (to River) How far out are they?

RIVER: On our present course, two hours, six minutes.

Jayne enters the Bridge.

JAYNE: What's all the fuss?

ZOE: Just a gunship size of a small moon.

JAYNE: (unaffected) Alliance?

MAL: (ironically) Most likely. (to River)Think we can try dodgin' 'em again?

RIVER: I believe they have us triangulated.

JAYNE: You sure it ain't no coincidence?

Mal appears surprised that Jayne even knows what the word means.

MAL: Ship like that crosses your path twice in two days, it ain't chance or happenstance. We need to get around this thing.

RIVER: It is possible, over several days, at near full burn. (pulls up a metered chart on the screen) But we don't have the fuel.

MAL: Which is why we needed to drop anchor at Persephone. We'd 've been sailin' on fumes had we...

Zoe elbows him. Too late.

JAYNE: Had we what?

Zoe sighs. It's as good a time as any. She squares with Jayne.

ZOE: Had we tried making it all the way to Sihnon.

JAYNE: Sihnon? What in the gorram gui are we headin' there for? Unless gettin' pinched sounds like a right fine idea to ya