It isn’t long until the Deep creates a crisis on board, as for the first time, the crew faces real black - essentially empty space – no planets or moons, and the only stars tiny dots in the distant sky. For the first time ever, the crew is totally alone in a much bigger universe than any of them ever expected to experience!

The emptiness is scary enough as they sit, apparently unmoving, pointing toward a tiny dot that looks no different from any other as space on both sides takes on a distorted, multi-coloured appearance. But what’s worse is that it brings out thoughts of four more years of nothing before they reach Oasis. No stopovers to meet new people, no place to land in an emergency, no communication with anyone outside the ship, and no place to pick up supplies.

That last point begins to sink in. Zoë decides it must be confronted head on; “Mal, have you given any thought as to what we’re goin’ to eat? I know we have holds plumb full of Badger’s food, but even he claimed it was only about two years’ worth. Any idea how we’re gonna survive the last two years? And how do we know what’s available at Oasis? And how would we pay for it if we get there?”

The entire group is silent, trying to absorb the reality. River sits totally still almost hypnotized. Zoë suggests mildly that they should consider going back, but Jayne and Simon begin to lobby fiercely to return. But Mal just keeps saying, “To what?”

Mal brazens it out; “I think there’s enough to make it, if we don’t go to eating big the whole time…” But it’s clearly something that he hasn’t thought through, and he looks distinctly uncomfortable as he speaks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Then River, sitting in a back corner staring out the window, starts a singsong verse;

Einstein discovered that time

Varies so much it’s a crime

Travel nearly at light,

And to your delight,

You'll get home while still in your prime.

Jayne is exasperated; “There she goes with those ruttin’ songs again!”

Simon suddenly