Episode: Bushwhacked

In the Serenity cargo bay, the crew passes time by playing a game of basketball. When Kaylee notices Simon observing from a catwalk above, she gains control of the ball and performs an eye catching move, scoring a basket. But moments later, when Kaylee observes Simon speaking to Inara, she shoots and misses.

The game is halted when the ship's computers issue a proximity alert. On the bridge, Wash observes as the Serenity comes along side a derelict spacecraft. Wash leans forward to get a better look…just as a dead body pops into view. As the others gather in the bridge, River presses herself against a wall outside the cockpit and says, "ghosts." The crew hypothesizes that the derelict ship was being used to shuttle settlers to the outer planets. Though the ship's computers cannot detect signs of life, Mal believes the crew has an obligation to board the derelict craft to look for survivors and, in the process, salvage whatever valuables it contains.

The Serenity docks with the derelict ship. Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee and Simon board the vessel and find no bodies or signs of struggle. Meanwhile, River tells Simon she cannot sleep because of the screaming she hears in her head. The derelict ship's computers indicate that a lifeboat launched a week earlier. Assuming that everyone abandoned ship, Mal gives his crew instructions to begin the salvage operation.

Using a blowtorch, Mal and Zoe access a storage area, where they discover boxes of government-issue terraforming equipment. Meanwhile, River wanders onto the derelict ship and makes her way to the storage area, where she stares at something high above. Mal notices River and turns his flashlight in the direction of what she's looking at. On the ceiling are the remnants of bodies. Mal radios Jayne instructions to get Simon and Kaylee off the ship.

Moments later, a fast-moving creature attacks Jayne. Jayne fends off his attacker and, in the process, draws blood. Droplets of blood lead Mal to a wall grate, where a young man cowers in the shadows. Simon tends to the survivor's wounds. Mal tells the others that, based on what he's seen, the ship was raided by Reavers, and somehow the young man managed to escape. Jayne finds this difficult to believe, as Reavers don't leave survivors behind. The crew discusses the nature of Reavers, men who've been long removed from civilization and have reverted to savage ways.