The ship heads to Ariel to drop off Inara for her yearly companion health check-up. Simon realizes River's condition is getting worse and decides to sneak her into an Alliance hospital in Ariel for a brain scan. Mal and the others agrees to help him with his plan, but also takes this opportunity to steal some valuable medical supplies in the hospital and sell it at the street market.

A bounty hunter boards the Serenity hoping to capture River for the Alliance.