Andromeda (2000–2005): Season 4, Episode 12 - The Spider's Stratagem - full transcript

Emissary ship
now docking.

The universe
is unequivocally

a safer place
with you in it,
Captain Hunt.

Moldar doesn't
make that easier.

Viceroy Moldar
is dedicated

to mending this vicious
misconception of him
as provocateur.

This is why he wishes
to see you.

Well, then he should let me
enter his star system first.

See, that would be a good step
to build trust.

It is to be arranged
as per the Viceroy's wishes,

but, Captain Hunt,
you understand.



These wars we're subjected

to make detente
markedly difficult.

Especially if you're
a sweet-talking gun runner.

Mr. Harper's right.

Selling war and destruction
does have a way of coming back
and biting you.

I disagree.

We are a peaceful,
loving race,

drawn into conflict by--

Captain, I'm picking up
a cargo vessel

with no signature
departing Phrynia system.

This must be an example
of how you're drawn into wars
you don't want.

Let's haul them in, Beka.

Following into slipstream.

We won't find arms smuggled
on a ship out of your system,
would we?



I mean, that would be
destabilizing,

and you're from a peaceful,
loving planet.

Incoming
Transmission.

Transmit and begin scanning.

Ship-wide scan
initiated.

Captain, that's intrusive
and highly inappropriate.

Uh, two things
you don't know
anything about, huh?

Unless there's a profit in it.

Hello.

Finally, something new
to look at around here.

Identification.

Known smuggler
Captain Rox Nava.

I assure you,

this person
in no way represents
the Viceroy.

Well, then you have nothing
to be worried about, do you?

This is Captain Dylan Hunt
of the Andromeda Ascendant.

You have been identified
as a smuggler ship.

Prepare to be boarded.

Captain, is the Commonwealth
always so forward?

Oh, this is starting
to get exciting.

My ship is not subject
to your laws.

Besides,
none of the specious
charges against me

have ever been proven.

Specious?
Did she just say "specious"?

I think I'm in love.

Perhaps
they've never been proven

because no one's been able
to catch you.

Until now.

Regardless,

you know you have to catch me
with my pants down, Captain,

and unfortunately
for both of us,

I appear
to be totally dressed.

Dylan, preliminary scans
pick up no contraband
of any kind,

just basic equipment
and the life forms
of the crew.

I told you.

Nothing untoward
being smuggled
out of our system.

If you have nothing to hide,
why are you running?

Maybe I like the chase.
How about you?

Prepare to be boarded.

Search my hold,
as long as you're here.

Dylan,
Deeper scans reveal

further life forms
aboard the vessel

in a protective
radiation hold.

Wait a minute. Is it just me,
or does that look like...

Hundred...
100 life forms.

She's not smuggling weapons.

She's smuggling people.

The universe
is a dangerous place,

but in our future,
my crew and I
fight to make it safe.

I am Dylan Hunt, Captain
of the Andromeda Ascendant,

and these are our adventures.

Captain, Rox Nava's ship
has just brought weapons
online.

After inviting us on board?
That's rude.

What kind of arsenal
could they possibly have
that could harm us?

Well, whatever they've got,
they seem ready to use
every last bit of it.

Beka?

Missiles locked on.

Perhaps we should save
their cargo?

If it's...
if it's people, and all?

Rommie, hail Captain Nava again.

Aye.

Oh. I'm disappointed, Captain.

Thought you'd already
be on your way.

Yeah, well, change of plans.

Since you've
engaged your weapons,

you'll be coming over here
to my brig.

Uh, I'm afraid that's no place
for a woman like me.

And neither
is oblivion.

You have to know
this is a fight you can't win.

Perhaps, but I got famous
by being reckless, you know.

All those weapons,
they're for us.

Try and apprehend us,
and we will blow ourselves up.

Rommie, cut audio.

Aye.

She's bluffing.

- Probably.
- Definitely.

A woman like that is used
to getting what she wants
and getting away with it.

So?

So, if this ploy
doesn't work,

she's just going to move on
to the next one.

I mean, look at her.

The woman
has never met a man
she couldn't play.

Play here, boss.
I'd let her play me.

Rommie, audio.

Aye.

Goodbye, Captain Nava.
I have my orders.

Target GFG lens
on the cargo ship.

Thank you.
Targets locked.

Captain, the cargo.

You have five seconds
to surrender yourself.

Andromeda, initiate
missile tubes 1 through 25

in five,

four,

three,

two, one.

All right, Captain.
I'm all yours.

Got to warn you, though.

Usually I'm not such a sucker
for a man with all that muscle.

Well, actually,
I'm not as big as I used to be.

Viceroy Moldar
has one request

after he grants you
passage into his star system.

That I hand over
Rox Nava.

Yeah, not going
to happen,

and whatever
her cargo really is,

it stays on Andromeda
until I say otherwise.

But, but, but
Viceroy Moldar
will not approve.

Well, then,
when he gets here,

I'll just have to
change his mind,
now, won't I?

They're really starting
to bug me.

Captain Hunt, I do believe
you owe me an apology.

For?

I told you
I wasn't smuggling people,

you accuse me of lying,
and now you discover
it was true.

You know,
you are a thief
and a liar,

and you're going spend
the rest of your life
in a Commonwealth prison.

Apology accepted.

The life forms
we scanned

in the containers
from your cargo

appear to be body armor.

Is that correct?

Mm-hmm.

Analysis of the armor indicates

it's made from some kind
of bio-thread.

Commonwealth files
show no known material
quite like it.

All right, I want to know
where it came from
and where it was headed.

Great, you know what?
You're free to go.

But I keep your cargo.

You can explain everything
to Moldar when he gets here.

That's a death sentence.

You know what?
It's not my problem.

That's very good.

Oh, come on.

Is he really worth protecting?

Viceroy Moldar
gets his armor from,

I don't know.

Well, gee,
that's very clear.

I feel so much better now.

The encrypted maps
on my ship

will give you the coordinates
to where we were headed,

the Atol Pi system.

As if they haven't already had
enough killings there
with the civil wars.

I didn't start the fight.

Since the armor is living,

is there anything
we need to know
for stowing it?

I pick it up, I deliver it.
That's what I know.

Be careful.

Be lucky.

Thanks, Rommie.

Mm-hmm.

You can't do this
without me.
You know that.

Look, I have done things
for Moldar that I hated.

I did them to survive,
but I've got a score to settle.

I'm sure you do.

But for now, you're going
to sit here quietly.

I'll check in on you later.

Entering
the Phrynia star system.

Keep scans
on high alert.

From every bit of info
I can gather,

this whole system's
total anarchy.

Many cultures have tried
to have us destroyed.

This is the debris
of their attempts.

Couldn't have anything
to do with the bio-armor,
could it?

Hmm. Let's find out.

Is this delay intentional?

I'm sure not, Viceroy.

I could have this ship,

or one just like it.

It would become you,
Viceroy, to perfection.

Well, I hope
we didn't keep you waiting.

May I introduce
to you, Captain,

His Eminence,
the bountiful leader
of Phrynia system,

herald to the new coming,
Viceroy Moldar.

Viceroy,
Captain Dylan Hunt.

I warn you, Captain,

if you think cooling my heels
is something I will tolerate,

well, you will be sadly
and abruptly mistaken.

Look, don't try
the tough guy talk.

It doesn't work with me.

Shall I show you
what I can do?

It's a neat trick,
but I'd rather have you show me
what you're up to.

I'm not up
to anything.

Rommie.

A quick review?

You are king
of this.

You smuggle out goods
to the highest bidder.

I don't need to.

In this system,

I am all-powerful.

In reality, you're afraid...
afraid you'll lose power.

You barely have a hold
of what you already have.

You see, I can make it so that
you're free to do as you please

and not hide anything.

I have nothing to hide.

Rommie.

The Andromeda Ascendant
controls the corridors of space

in and between three galaxies,

military and inter-political
planetary nexus.

Conversely,

any and all
who oppose my preeminence
face one end.

Ruin.

I've sent two of my crew
to deliver the armor.

See, my mission here
is to prevent you
from shipping weapons,

and clearly,
all armor is defensive.

Your point?

You know what I'm offering.

Protection.

You let me do as I like
for a price, correct?

Moldar, a guy like you
doesn't pick sides.

You benefit from wars.
You stoke them for profit,

and there is enough
to go around for everybody.

So,

look at the ship,
think about it,

cool your heels.

You can give me
your answer

at dinner tonight
as my guest.

Maneuvering
the Phrynia system.

I'm supposed to be
this Rox's delivery girl?

Rocks in Dylan's head
is what.

My concern
is what the buyer
will say

when we show up
instead of Rox.

We promise we'll
make it up to them big time.

No bait like greed.
I can handle that.

I admire your instinctive
insight into smuggling, Beka.

That'd be experience, Rhade.

Not all of us
are goody-goody
academy pinheads.

Oh, um...

I wasn't talking
about you, Rhade.

Lighten up.

Irony.

Something's a little funny
with this.

That thieving wench
better not be sending us
into a trap.

Dylan trusts
Captain Nava's
coordinates,

and I think
Captain Nava as well.

Our only concern
is to make the rendezvous
on time.

Well,

all cliches
of human females aside,

I've never once been late
for a date. Even a bad one.

Which, come to think of it,
is practically all of them.

I've heard.

The way Harper
often teases you.

Yet I never seem
to hear details.

Maybe now that there's this time
together, we could change that.

You want to be friends?

If we share stories
from our past,
it would be possible.

Even interesting.

Yeah.

Yeah, that'd be nice.

If you live that long.

I will live that long.

I assure you.

Captain?

My system
has detected a problem
with the armor

in the secure cargo hold.

Either someone
has moved it,

or, defying logic,
it's moved itself.

You've got
to be kidding me.

Tell me what the cargo
supervisor said.

She saw nothing unusual.

Her exact words were,
"I believe I'd know

if there was anything
out of the ordinary."

That sounds like
a bit of attitude.

It was unusual.

She also attempted to access
my monitoring systems.

Review shows
some material lost
due to possible accident.

She contends
she was concerned

so many organic life forms

in a confined space
would trigger
attack alarms.

So she went on-line.

And accidentally
erased some data.

It could account
for false readings.

Yeah.

This was no accident.

Confine the supervisor
to her quarters,

and I want a recount
on that body armor.

Come on.

You're going to let me
deliver my cargo?

Sort of.

Oh, well, this truth thing
isn't so bad after all, is it?

Yeah, but don't get
too comfortable with it
just yet,

because now I'm going
to need you to lie.

To whom?

Moldar.

Forget it.
Oh, don't worry. You won't
have to lie to him by yourself.

Really?
Yeah.

And who would be
psychotic enough

to accompany me
on such a doomed mission?

Your new
smuggling partner.

So on the eve
of my graduation
from the academy,

recruited top cadet
for the ESO,

asked to address
the entire assembly,

and suddenly,
I'm forced to realize

how little I know
about the real world.

I go blank.
Couldn't speak.

Could you imagine that?

You know,
it's so amazing,
I can't.

I have been doing
all the talking.

Hadn't noticed.

Why don't you tell me
something about your past?

Why don't we zoom ahead
into the present
and stick to you?

What would you like to know?

What do you really want from us?

From the Andromeda?
From Dylan?

Same as you.
I want to be on the right side.

And by "right,"
you mean "winning."

Occasionally,
the two happily coincide.

I know Nietzscheans, Rhade.

Don't pretend
you're on a mercy mission.

You cannot generalize
about all of us

based solely
on your experience with Tyr.

I'm not, unfortunately.

Well, perhaps,
if you'd told me
about your past

as I've requested
more than once,

I would know this.

You know why
they call it the past, Rhade?

Because it's passed.
It's over.

I see no need to relive
what I've already
lived through once,

especially if that once
was more than enough.

I see.

The Nietzscheans
have an old saying,

"The past is gone,
the future yet to be,

the present just that.

A gift,
wrapped for us to enjoy."

Well, that is lovely,
but I think what stays with you
in the present,

is knowledge.

And if I know one thing,

it's that a Nietzschean
will always put himself first.

Who does he think he is
to keep me waiting for dinner
and not allowing me to leave?

Perhaps we should have
them send out for something?

Well, excellent.
Everyone's getting along.

I will tear you to pieces!
Pull you seam from seam!

Once is too much, Captain.

Twice is an invitation to die.

He seems
a bit flustered.

Or confused.

Maybe we should
come back later.

Hmm, maybe for dessert.

Perhaps something
light and frothy?

You are very wise.

Hey, excuse me,
excuse me, Captain,

I , if I may,
by your virtue, intercede.

What the Viceroy means is,

is dinner ready?

You...

it is just like you
to do something like this.

Oh, I see. Okay, fine.
Play it that way.

Let's get out of here.
Blow the hell out
of this planet.

Um. If that's what he wants.

Viceroy, Viceroy...

Dylan Hunt.

I dislike surprises,

so I will
overlook this as--

As an indication
of the magnitude
of abstract parturition

involved in being
the preeminent

Commonwealth
Starship Captain.

Yes.

Apology accepted.

Apology?

And just to show
that there are
no hard feelings,

you tell him, Rox.

Meet our new partner.

Ta-dah!

Partner?

You no longer want
a percentage
of my business.

You're trying
to take it over.
Is that correct?

I have taken it, Moldar,

because, frankly,
what are you going to do
about it?

Now, look.
I know all about the armor.

He forced me.

But what I want to know,
only you know.

Now, tell me
where the armor comes from.

Not on your life.

On yours, then.

I've analyzed the area
Moldar comes from.

Sodium, toxic to his species,
is in the soil.

It's a good thing
we brought him along.

I've isolated a small area
where the gravity is denser

than the rest
of the planet.

Now, what would cause that?

Forces that don't like
things light.

You're a heavy worlder, Dylan.
You could move around
down there no problem.

Hmm,
you're a heavy worlder too.

I had Rommie weigh you
in the shower.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Well, next time,
join us.

Send a squad. Suicide.

Make sure that Rox and Hunt
never get off the planet.

As you order, Viceroy,
it is done.

Rox is right.
This place
is a war zone.

Incoming hail.

This is it.

You are in violation
of the Atol Pi.

State purpose and destination.

This is the Eureka Maru.

I have a multl-signal
broadcast code.

Key sequence
for silent authorization.

If Rox was lying to us,
we'll be dead
inside of a minute.

Authorized for entry.

Corridor passage
transmit begin.

Hmm.
Drift off-load Zaarth Fourteen.

Nice meeting you too.

And 15, 16, 17, perfect.

So, you can take
the rest of that
back to your boss

and tell him not only
will Moldar sell him

twice the amount of armor
next time for half the price,

but, in fact, that'll double
the value to him

at less
than twice the rate,

so, in fact,
this is a really good thing.

So, uh, 44 suits,
17 packs, we're in biz.

Thanks
for bringing
me here.

Nice place
for a murder.

Ah, actually,
it reminds me of a...

reminds me
of a fairy tale.

Really?

Yeah, it's...
it even has mention
of a magical armor in it,

though, I've got to say,
I do prefer the fairy tale
to this.

Captain Hunt, when I imagined
getting sweaty with you,

this is not
what I had in mind.

Really?
What did you have
in mind?

Kicking your ass.

Oh, wait a minute.

You came with me
because you knew
it was the right thing to do.

Now, I don't need you
kicking my ass to impress me.

I am grateful
for your help.

Good, because unless I have
some latent flying skills
I'm totally unaware of,

I have no idea
how I'm going to help you
with this one.

I think
I'd rather have you
kicking my ass.

Phew.

Any thoughts?

Well, several,
none of which
should be said aloud

in the presence
of a lady.

So what's stopping you?

Just my inner female,
of course.

Someone's up there.

Contrary to what most men think,

there are certain situations

in which even the most majestic
of Force Lances is useless.

There is nothing useless
about my Force Lance.

My turn to be impressed.

I'll show you
its other uses later.

Promises, promises.

Just watch my back
or in this case,
my bottom.

Let's get out
of this hellhole.

They have their armor.
I see no reason to stay longer.

We're being hailed.

A courier from Andromeda.

This is Andromeda courier,
Lieutenant Kent.

I have an encrypted message
from Captain Hunt.

Transmit.

Beka, Rhade.

The bio-thread
you're transporting
may act in unpredictable ways.

You have to make sure that--

What the hell
are you doing?

It's a little late
for that message,
don't you think?

We've already delivered
the armor.

Delivered, yes,
but one suit of armor
is missing.

What are you talking about?

One is missing.

Miscount.

Of what kind?
I don't know.
You counted wrong.

You don't believe me.
Search the ship.

I already have.

Then you already know

there isn't another suit
of armor on board,

which means we loaded
as many as we gave them.

Now, if you're finished
obsessing over a simple
math error,

let's get out of here.

Don't worry.
I won't hurt you.

Everybody hurts,
unless I obey.

No, I'm here
to help you.

No. You've come here
for the armor.

That's all anybody wants.

I'm not just anybody.

Why wouldn't you want the armor?
It gives power.

The power to kill.

Ultimate power.

Ultimate power
rests in life.

If the old woman appears...

The old woman?

Who keeps me here.

She controls everything.

There's a myth
from Tarn-Vedra.

It's a place like this,

someone like you,

and the old woman.

It's very, very strong.

It's strange to me.

All right, she's coming.
We have to leave.

I'll get you back
to my ship
where you'll be safe.

Yes. I...

Right.

That is...

Is that...

You know, I'm going to cut that
unless you say otherwise.

I don't know anymore, but...

I'm willing
to take the risk.

Come on.

So, I never did get
your name.

Cavava.

Nice to meet you, Cavava.

I'm Captain Dylan Hunt.

Damn.
Party crashers.

Oh, so, guys,
tell me about those
slick suits, huh?

But, you know, first,
I've got to warn you
that you really...

you don't have a chance.

So, which one of you
wants to take
the licking first?

I, I could take all of you
at the same time
if you'd like,

because it really
makes no difference to me.

I don't want to die.

Well, that makes
two of us, Cavava.

Hey!

Whoa, whoa, whoa,
wait, wait, wait.

I've got to warn you, guys,
in about 10 seconds,

you're going to be
in a lot of trouble.

One,

two,

three, Dylan!

Hold on tight.

I'm going to make this go
a little bit quicker.

Five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten.

That's for you,

that's for you,

and that's for the god
you rode in on.

Stay here.
I'll be right back.

They're wearing the armor.

Yeah, I noticed.

Hey!

The eyes.
Shoot for the eyes.

Thanks for telling me.

I just figured it out.

Good work
for a little girl.

Don't get me started.

Uh, we should get back
to the ship,

but first,
I've got a fairy tale
to pick up.

Does it have to be
so cold in here?

I'm afraid so.

It's the only way
to keep the armor
in check.

It slows its metabolism
and any other change
it may go through.

You want them to never know,
what they could be?

Some potentials
better left untapped.

Do you realize the fate
you've consigned
my children to?

Yes, I do.

Same as yours.

Never to leave this room.

Never is a long time.

You were wrong
about one thing.

Expecting something
and being prepared
for it,

two very different things.

Aah.

Are you saying
I'm a prisoner on your ship?

I'm remembering
a lesson from my childhood,

who the old woman really was
and what she really wanted.

That was what?

Chaos.

And you would be that woman.

A child's tale.
A dream.

No, a nightmare,

and this is where it ends.

Don't make me kill you.

You mean like this?

Why make a threat if you
can't follow it through?

Well, age sure hasn't
mellowed you.

Aah!

You were saying
you didn't want to kill me.

Like, if you were to push
on my chest

this, here,

until you reached
into my chest cavity

and ripped out my heart,

is that what you mean?

Andromeda,
freeze cargo hold
in five seconds.

Five,
four, three, two, one.

The Eureka Maru
has returned.

The armor's strength
comes not from the bio-thread,

but from the intricate weave.

"There's magic
in the web of it."

It's a line from
a childhood story.

The magic here
is pure science.

The interlacing living cells
are able to absorb

and distribute whatever energy
comes in contact with them
in a very simple manner.

Worth a fortune.
Moldar's wealth and power.

Being hit, the armor acts
like a muscle,

contracts all its mass
at the point of impact,
making it impregnable.

So, what about the other armor?

Beka's.
Yes, very odd.

Though she was several
slipstream jumps away,

her armor ceased
any biological function
when I froze its creator.

A psycho-physiological
connection.

Hmm, one which knows
no such boundaries
as space or time,

instead traveling
like consciousness
beyond forms we can measure.

But the armor,
its ability to shape-shift

comes from bio-chromes
in its exoskeleton,

not unlike animals
that can change
their appearance

in relation
to their environment.

The ultimate camouflage
for the deadliest of hunters.

Tell me.

Who's the hunter
and who's the prey?

You wanted to see me?

Excuse me.

I know I defied orders, Dylan,
and I wish I could tell you why,

but I can't.
Not won't, can't.

I really just have no idea
what made me put on the armor.

I did.

All right.
Let's move past that
for a moment.

Is there anything else
bothering you?

Like what?

I don't know, Beka.
You tell me.

Perhaps something personal,

a problem
with someone on the crew?

Well, right now, uh,

the only person on this crew
I seem to have a problem with
is you, Dylan.

I have been loyal to you

beyond the call of duty,

beyond the call of friendship.

I've saved you, Dylan,
more times than I can count.

Me. You owe your life to me,

and if you can't
figure that out,

everything I've gone through
on this ship,

was a mistake.

Whoo-hoo.

Trouble?

I don't know yet.

You look bothered.

And since you were so kind,
making sure I wasn't arrested
for my...

past indiscretions,

I could repay you.

You know,
just oversee the disarming
of Atol Pi system,

and that's how you'll make up
for your past.

Yes. I did agreed
to do that, didn't I?

But there's still
your troubled mind.

Captain Hunt,

in my experience,
which isn't small,

I've always been able
to tell when a man
wasn't thinking just of me.

Well, I'm a complicated guy.

Hmm.

But I guess I could give you
an hour to figure me out.

I'll take that.

Hmm.

No, let's uh,
let's make that two.

Okay.

Um, you know,

it's going to be
over six hours
before we reach

the next
slipstream portal.

Oh.
Oh.