Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 213: Misapprehensions, Part 2

Part 1 is done. Part 2 is incomplete. More to follow. Stay tuned.—Maer

Jump to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Epilogue

Poco: (growling) … Where is that little asshole …?

Poco pulls Baron from his waistband and Rachel's eyes go wide as she starts worrying about our ship. At that point, everyone else catches up. Brother James sent us on a fool's errand so he could grab our ship and escape off this rock. We locked our girl up before we left and James might be delayed getting aboard her. If we hurry, we might save our ship yet.

Valentine pauses long enough to verify our dawning suspicions. After all, taking things at face value was what got us out there in the first place.

Valentine: It's beginning to look like you might have gotten set up. Do you know anybody back at the penitentiary—
Carrows: I don't feel particularly set up, unless you're plannin' on hurtin' me.
Valentine: Well, here's the thing. We were here because we were told you had plans to make a big escape of it all.
Faria: I would not put it past you to organize some sort of insurrection.
Carrows: And yet I didn't. Although now that mention it, it sounds like a good idea. I just don't like people.

Valentine can see that Carrows really doesn't want to be around people. This place out in the middle of nowhere would be a good place for someone like him to hole up. Everything we've seen about this place makes sense in that context. We'd stumbled upon Carrows' haven in the wilderness. As far as being a prison, the environment is prison enough. The man isn't going anywhere and in fact, seems singularly desirous of being in the middle of nowhere, so long as it's unpopulated by all but him.

This is not someone bent on getting the hell off this rock.

Valentine steps outside. If he gets shot, then he gets shot. But he's got a feeling that he might not be in danger. Carrows steps out and the two stand in the yard of the shelter.

Valentine: Okay. So, here's the deal. I'm beginning to think we got played but not by you.
Carrows: m'Flattered. You thought it was me.

Carrows pauses and nods at something past Valentine's shoulder.

Carrows: I do have … something … some business with this man.

Sighing, Valentine knows he means Poco. He turns and asks his engineer:

Valentine: Do we have to do this now? Is this the kind of this business we have to do now?
Carrows: (angrily) Alone.

We all know Poco's track record with that kind of business. Before Valentine can frame a reply, Vikki beats him to it and stares at Carrows.

Vikki: What are you going to do to him?
Carrows: (curt) None'a your business.
Vikki: (back at ya!) He's our crew. It's our business.
Carrows: Our business precedes that.

Valentine cuts a look at Vikki. He taps his shoulder at her.

Valentine: I didn't notice the Captain's bars on yours.
Vikki: We're family. We stick up for each other.
Valentine: I understand that.
Tian: (undertone) But now is not the time,Vikki.
Vikki: (quieter) All-right-all-right. I don't like this.

Tian pulls Vikki back and Valentine turns to Carrows.

Valentine: She's right in that, that I can't let you … What's the business. How're you going to handle it?

Carrows calls to Poco.

Carrows: You want me sharin' your business with them?
Valentine: (to Poco) How long is it going to take?
Poco: Uh … well … Depends if it takes two rounds or three.
Vikki: (alarmed) Bullets?!
Tian: Vikki. Shut up.
Carrows: Yeah. You let'im have a gun. A little guy like me … ? 'Gainst a marksman like him? What're th' odds?
Valentine: All right, clearly there's bad blood.
Poco: Not particularly. Not that I recall.
Carrows: (softer) Just some old business needs be taken care of.

Valentine makes a decision.

Valentine: We have a potential insurrection back there that we kinda wanna get back to.
Tian: We do?
Valentine: Damn right.
Carrows: You can take care of that an' come back for … whatever's resolved.

Vikki doesn't want to leave Poco behind with someone who is obviously angry (or worse) with him. Valentine offers Carrows a ride back to the mission so he can take care of his matter with Poco there … but that's a non-starter. Poco agrees to stay and waves off any offer of help or chaperonage. Nuri wants to stay and watch what happens. She senses there's a fight in the making. Valentine vetoes her. Out of the question.

Faria: Ben. Don't forget all the progress you've made.
Carrows: (grim) I'll try not to.

As Valentine herds his cats—erm, crew— and Faria back to the shuttle, Poco turns to Carrows.

Poco: So. How's it goin'? Nice digs. Some trappin'.
Carrows: So. Last time we met, back on Regina. Remember what happened?
Poco: (cautiously) I vaaaaaaguely recall lots of drinking …
Carrows: Some things were done. I think at the time …. if I'd killed you, I probably would have been happy … (frowns) … For a little while.
Poco: I seem to recall it the other way around. I think it was—you cut and run on me! Pretty easy to recall how things go, cuz it always goes the same way.

Carrows frowns and continues.

Carrows: Point is, after that time ... whether it was me betrayin' you or you betrayin' me … things got bad.
Poco: Yeah. Well. That's Karma for ya.
Carrows: And I think you're responsible.
Poco: For … (incredulous) … What? You think I have any pull with anybody? The only pull I got is people wantin' to pull triggers at me.
Carrows: Point is, if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't be here. Tipped off to Faria and his gang … (long beat) … So I wanna thank you. I apologize for the way I treated ya … I probably messed up your plans a little bit. I don't know what they were, entirely, but … when you wrong someone, it's not a deed to go unpunished.

Now that's an interesting twist and it's one Poco didn't see coming. Carrows wanting to apologize to him? Instead of beating him to a pulp, which is usually the reason people from his past want to talk to him alone.

Karma, indeed.

Poco: I got picked up by another freighter. It wasn't too bad.
Carrows: Well … that doesn't make it okay.
Poco: Because you did betray me.
Carrows: And that's why I'm apologizin' for what I did.
Poco: Well, all right.

No need to get all maudlin over it.

Carrows: Now, that said, if you want—you don't have to—but if you want to forgive me, that's something you can do as well. But you don't have to. I'm just apologizin', but it would make me feel like there were no hard feelin's if you would forgive me. I'm tryin' to turn over a new leaf here, Poco.

Carrows is dead serious about this. Poco gives the man's offer serious consideration. It's the least he can do.

Poco: You ain't the first, that done what you did. Probably won't be the last. I don't bear ya any particular ill will. Wouldn't have shot ya on sight or nothin'.
Carrows: I would'a shot you on sight a couple'a months ago.
Poco: Yeah, well … (shrugs) … I get that a lot.
Carrows: You know, I think that … well, I'm not sure exactly why it that way but … livin' here is good for me.
Poco: Good to hear that. It looks like you ... (coughs) … done well for yourself.
Carrows: Well, I still don't like people. But .. you know, I guess … maybe some of my problems were caused by my end, too. I tend to break a lotta fingers. I don't know if you remember that or not.
Poco: Yeah … that's why we called you "Fingers".
Carrows: I don't do that anymore.
Poco: (sincerely) That's good. That's good to hear.

More than good, actually.

Poco: That's progress.
Carrows: (breathes a laugh) I expected to get killed by Reavers out here, quite honestly.
Poco: That's still a high possibility of that happenin'.
Carrows: Somehow, though, I'm not as afraid'a that as I thought I would be.
Poco: No, it is … Actually, it is fairly terrifyin'.

Poco would know. Just the other month, we ran into a bunch. They tried to eat us.

Poco: But listen, it's good that you're doin' … better. Always glad to know that there's one less person gunnin' for me. Appreciate it.
Carrows: So, now, we're all good?
Poco: We were always good on my end. You were the shootin' kind. And the fingerbreakin' kind.
Carrows: Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd kinda like to break one of your fingers. So other people won't know that I've gone soft. Is that all right? And a black eye, maybe?

Uh … what? Poco sighs. Just when he thought things were getting good, the Universe has to slap him again. Figures. Poco cuts him an amused look and winks at him.

Poco: Heh-hehhhhhh, now that's funny.
Carrows: These are a pretty tough group'a people here. And it wouldn’t be out of anger. I'd be real appreciative. It would be a big favor.
Poco: How about I shoot you … and you can say that you got shot tryin' to break my finger. That's still menacin'-like.
Carrows: We could do both.
Poco: How 'bout I pretend to break my finger and shoot you twice.
Carrows: Nahhhh …. (shakes head) … See, I'm not that good a liar. I dunno …

Poco surreptitiously eyes the shuttle. Yup. Still there. Valentine hasn't left yet.

Poco: How 'bout … I give you a cigarette? Maybe one for now and one for when the Reavers come to kill ya.
Carrows: Nah, I need ya to … I don't want my reputation totally shot here, so …
Poco: Do you want to be totally shot?
Carrows: No … (a beat) … You're not a killer.
Poco: I'll lie. And I'll say I was real scared.
Carrows: Now, just if you'd … a couple'a punches. C'mon. Just a couple'a punches. You been beaten up a lot.
Poco: Now, listen. I don't got no ill will toward you. But I offered you cigarettes and that's about as far as I'm willin' to go.

Poco starts very slowly edging toward the shuttle …

Poco: I'm not a charity firm.
Carrows: Well, I guess I'll have them, then … Okay.
Poco: All right.

Poco hands him two cigarettes, nonchalantly backs away and … and sprints for the shuttle! Valentine delayed taking off, reckoning correctly that whatever business Carrow had with Poco would be short. Poco runs aboard and Valentine closes the hatch. Rachel lifts off in a cloud of dust and turns back for the mission. As the shuttle flies, Valentine greets his engineer aboard.

Valentine: Glad to have you back.
Vikki: (relieved) Thank goodness we didn't leave you.
Poco: All right. Let's go.
Vikki: Are you okay?
Rachel: (from the pilot's chair) He ain't full'a holes. Or a busted nose.
Valentine: It's just business. We're all good.
Vikki: Okay. I'm glad you're all right.

Ever since Meridian, she's been … kinda worried about everyone's welfare. Valentine doesn't reprimand her for it. Right now he's got other fish to fry. He turns to Faria as Poco lights up a cigarette and takes a calming drag.

Valentine: What do you know about James, Faria?
Faria: James? He's been … I'm somewhat confused. I'm generally a very good judge of character. He's been really penitent and a hard worker and …
Tian: How long's he been with you?
Faria: About three months.

Tian and Valentine trade a look.

Tian: So the basic story that he gave us was that … ?
Vikki: Carrows and six guys left. With a radio. So they can summon Trane.
Tian: So … why would he tell us that Carrows and half a dozen guys left?
Valentine: Because the best of lies incorporate a kernel of truth.
Tian: How about ….? (shakes head) … We just didn't find anything. Which six guys are we looking for? James doesn't think that we know anything and that we're still convinced that it's Carrows.

Obviously she's trying to come up with a good story for our return.

Valentine: I'm actually more concerned that it's all happening right now and that there isn't a need to spin a story.
Tian: I just don't want to get us shot when we go back there.
Valentine: We're not going to get shot—no offense, Shepherd.
Poco: Oh, now everyone's concerned about being shot.
Valentine: No, I'm actually not concerned about it. But I'm just saying that if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. Just trying to minimize how that happens. After all, you didn't get shot by that guy.

He points aft at Carrows, now far away as Rachel flies us out of there.

Poco: He didn't have a gun!
Valentine: But. That's the point. You didn't get shot. That's a bonus.

As we near the mission, we see people standing in the field, looking around with a puzzled look. Even though they saw us arrive earlier, they're still surprised to see us. Apparently they don't get a lot of ships through here, much less visitors.

Valentine debates how to Delilah. If hostiles have already boarded her, we'll be walking right into their hands. He has Rachel circle our ship so we can inspect her from the outside first.

Tian: Poco, you're not carrying the spare, are you?
Poco: The spare …?
Tian: Pistol.
Poco: No. Don't have a need for one.
Rachel: I got my ankle pistol.

Rachel completes the first sweep. Delilah looks much like we left her … save for the open door.

Poco: Hey, Nuri. Can you sense any life forms aboard?
Tian: What, you think she's a set of sensors?
Poco: I don't know. I'm just askin'. (to Nuri) So if you hear me thinkin' about askin', you tell me, and I won't.

Rachel suggests making one more pass close to the bridge windows. We could see if anyone was on the bridge trying to start our girl up. Valentine checks our sensors and sure enough, he's getting power signature.

Rachel: Aww, hell!
Poco: Awww hell, I just got that engine room back. I swear I'm gonna shoot me some sonuvabitches …
Valentine: Tacticians: Dock? Or land away and approach?
Rachel: Dock. We wanna be on her. I can't exactly flap my arms and catch up with her.
Poco: If she takes off while we're tryin' to get on, I'd rather be docked.
Valentine: That's why I'm asking.
Nuri: But once you're docked there's only one way out.
Poco: Yeah, but we can shoot at 'em a lot first.
Rachel: Which is into the ship. Let's go.
Valentine: Any other opinions before we dock?
Rachel: Bringin' her in, Cap'n.

Part 1 is done. Part 2 is incomplete. More to follow. Stay tuned.—Maer

Jump to: Part 1 | Part 2 | Epilogue

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