Editing Episode 410: Search and Rescue, Part Two

<br>

Air Date: 24 Aug 2010<br>
Present: Kim, Maer, Terri, Andy, and Bobby<br><br><br>


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[[Episode 410: Search and Rescue | Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 410: Search and Rescue, Part Three | Part 3]]<br><br>

Joshua examines the boat from  the airlock and he informs Nika they have to find a way to speed the evac  process up.  They don’t have much time  left.  The boat is starting to go down,  her bow is lifting clear of the water as her stern continues to sink. On <em>Lagniappe</em>’s bridge, Nika hails Rina.</p>
<p><strong>Nika: </strong>Rina, we’re going to  try to bring all three of you up at once.</p>
<p>She gets no answer.  There’s no time to lose.  Nika flies <em>Lagniappe</em> as close to the boat as possible, aiming for the raised  deck of the bow.  If she can shorten the  distance between the two craft, the time saved traveling down the lines can be  used to evac the people aboard.  </p>
<p><em>Lagniappe</em> hovers.  The boat lifts.  Joshua jumps … and nails his landing on the  deck.</p>
<p>Onward.  </p>
<p>Joshua comms Rina and gets no  response. Down in the engine room, Rina starts to choke, desperately swallowing  water to avoid inhaling it. The last remaining passenger, Oliver, runs out onto  the deck. </p>
<p><strong>Oliver:</strong> I’m here to be  rescued!<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Stay there!  </p>
<p>No answer. He switches  channels and comms <em>Lagniappe</em>.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> I don’t see her.  We’ve got one more person and I don’t—<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (over comm) You can’t  wait. Bring him up and then go back down.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Is the ship sinking?</p>
<p>Actually, the airfoil masts  are doing a valiant job in keeping the boat from going completely under.  Even so, Joshua can see it’s only a matter of  time—and soon—before they are overcome by the power of the sea. When that  happens, the boat will go down and if Joshua doesn’t find Rina, it’s going to  take her down with it.  Time is running  out. He has two people to save.  One is  here, the other missing. Who does he save first?</p>
<p>Joshua chooses Rina. He tells  the passenger to hang on and starts off to find her.  He doesn’t go a dozen steps when a strange  feeling hits him:</p>
<p> <strong><em>:: over here :: </em></strong></p>
<p>Joshua reverses course,  skidding on the deck, and makes his way below decks.  The gangway to the engine room is flooded to  the top.  Joshua intuits an alternate  route and takes it, making his way to the engine room. Most of the deck is  awash at this level and the engine room is completely underwater.  Miraculously, the lights are still on and in  their gleam Joshua sees Rina struggling for the surface.  He thrusts an arm down for her, she grabs  him, and he hauls her clear.  She’s a  sputtering, choking, gagging mess, but she’s alive, she’s still on her feet and  they have to get moving. Joshua drags her up to the deck and the wind and the  rain.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua: </strong>Can you go up?<br />
<strong>Rina:</strong> (coughs) … yeah …  (choke) … ’ll take more’n a ruttin’ <em>bliatz</em> to take me down … (spit) </p>
<p>The airfoils are keeping the  ship just steady enough that Joshua manages the rescue of all three of  them.  Once aboard, they don’t linger to  watch the boat go down but make best possible speed back to civilization.  </p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Oliver has gone aft to check  on his brother and draws up short when he sees who the attending physician  is.  Arden likewise recognizes him:  Oliver Samson, brother of Valerie.</p>
<p><strong>Oliver:</strong> <em>Arden?</em><br />
<strong>Arden: </strong>Hey. Small Verse. Get  out of the way.</p>
<p>Arden turns back to his  patient.  Some bedside manner you got  there, Arden.  Oliver is not put off.</p>
<p><strong>Oliver:</strong> (urgent) We need to  talk.<br />
<strong>Arden:</strong> (working) Yeah. </p>
<p>Joshua, meanwhile, gets Rina  settled in one of the passenger seats.  </p>
<p><strong>Joshua: </strong>You okay?<br />
  <strong>Rina: </strong>(sniffs, coughs) …  uhhnnn … ask me later … (cough) … What’s going to happen to the ship? The one I  nearly died trying to save? <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> You died? You nearly  died saving <em>them</em>. (points aft)<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> (from the bridge) It’s <em>staying</em> there. If it survives, you can  take a fishing vessel out there and pull it back in.  I don’t care.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (coughs) … You mean,  we’re just <em>leaving</em> it there … ?<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> We have the people  and you. That's the important thing.  </p>
<p>Arden calls back to get a  blanket on her, have someone sit next to her, keep her warm.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Let’s get you  warm.  You almost drowned.  <br />
<strong>Rina:</strong> Dammit!</p>
<p>She strikes the bulkhead in  frustration and regret: <em>so damned close!</em>  And that makes Arden turn around.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> What?  <br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>(low) She’s pissed  about the ship. If that tells you anything.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Not really.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> She wanted the ship.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (incredulous) It’s  fish food.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>I know it is.  I don’t have any problem with that.<br />
<strong>Arden: </strong>Okay.</p>
<p>Kiera leaves von Braun to  tend to Rina.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Sit still.  Take a deep breath.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (cough) A what?<br />
<strong>Kiera: </strong>A deep breath. I need  to see if you took on water in your lungs.</p>
<p>Oh yes, she did.  Kiera can hear it plain as day through her  stethoscope. And there’s no telling what was in that water, either.  The engine room would not have been  antiseptically clean.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Hey Arden, while  you’re having Old Home Week, can you pass me some antibiotics so we can get it  in her?  She went and breathed ocean  water.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>You make it sound like  I’m just, you know, hobnobbing, and I’m not.  <br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Oh no, I figured you  were ogling the hot girl but that’s okay … You’re welcome, but that’s okay.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Now that there’s  someone pretty on board … <br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Ow! I’m not the pretty  doctor anymore? (dramatic facepalm) My heart breaks!<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (husks) I’ll gut him  for you. Just gimme a knife.<br />
<strong>Kiera:</strong> I don’t need you to  gut him. That’s okay, because I could guide back to life what he almost  lost.  (pats Rina’s arm) It’s okay,  you’re in better hands, dear.</p>
<p>Joshua shakes his head over  this and climbs up to the bridge.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Nika? <em>Fantastic flying</em>, Captain. We couldn’t  have done that, in any form, without you—<em>fantastic</em>.  (a beat) And that was totally invigorating, I would like to say. <br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>(pleased) You’re  insane. Go kick Arden in the ankle. That’s a direct order.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (from below) Why? What  did I do?<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> You haven’t handed me  any antibiotics yet.  Rina, bare a breast  at him so he’ll give me the antibiotic patch to stick on you.<br />
<strong>Rina:</strong> Not on your life.</p>
<p>Arden gets kicked-albeit gently—on  the Captain’s orders and so it goes.  Things  are back to normal with the crew.  Nika  flies us back to Mystic with the bickering and the bantering drifting up to her  ears.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Mystic, New Canaan</strong><br />
  <strong>A little later</strong></p>
<p>Once we’re all back on dry  land and dry, we settle down and introductions are made.  The stunning woman is Adele Campion, a Registered  Companion to Frederick von Braun, the ex-husband of the late Valerie  Samson.  The two other men are Oliver  Samson and Armand Khan.  Von Braun and  Khan are of the upper class.  Von Braun  has his ship parked in orbit above New Canaan and we debate flying him there to  give him access to the  medical  facilities aboard it.  There seems little  point, not after we’re told that our facilities aboard the <em>Gift</em> are comparable and we have more doctors, to boot.  We decide to care for him aboard the <em>Gift</em> and get him installed in our med  bay. Rina’s restricted to med bay with Kiera monitoring her lungs. Oliver is  also up for an exam, since he was exposed to the water and crap in it,  too.  Joshua hands Adele into a chair and  starts asking questions.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua: </strong>Adele?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> (weary) Yes?<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>What the hell were you  doing out there?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> Well … We were whale  watching for a while and there were some weather reports coming in.  Frederick was having a fight with the crew  over whether or not it was safe enough to go. He thought it would be another  day before the storm blew in. The crew demanded more money first and then he  got angry and fired them, and said he could sail the boat without them.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Lovely.<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> At that stage, had I  thought about it … I found about some of this after the fact, after we were  already at sea before I discovered the crew was gone. I requested that we  return, he refused.  The predicament we  got into was the natural course of events.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Sure.  I’m just happy everybody is relatively okay.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> So … who owns the boat?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> It’s Frederick’s.<br />
<strong>Nika:</strong> Oh, well. He’s the only  one out any money.  Cuz it’s a lost  cause.</p>
<p>Adele says he probably has  insurance but she doubts he’ll be pleased.   He’s alive. That’s something.   Right?  It’s at this point that  Arden reveals he knew Frederick von Braun in college and that von Braun married  Valerie.</p>
<p><strong>Nika:</strong> What? Oh, God.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Small Verse.  Incredibly small Verse.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> And this is Valerie’s  brother. <br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> Yes … Hi.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Nice to meet you.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Hi. </p>
<p>Maybe Kiera wasn’t that far  off when she said it was Old Home Week.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> It’s a pleasure. It  actually is.<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> Do you … do you trust  these people?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes.<br />
<strong>Arden: </strong>I’ve been travelling  with them now for what? Five years?</p>
<p>More like three.</p>
<p><strong>Adele:</strong> I’d like to say it was  purely coincidence that we ran across you, but … <br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> It wasn’t?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> No.  When Frederick found out about Valerie’s  death, he went off the edge. He wanted to seek you out. <br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I thought they were  divorced. Weren’t they?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> That doesn’t change the  way people feel about it.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>It wasn’t Arden’s  fault.<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> They weren’t divorced.<br />
<strong>Arden:</strong> Oh.  Valerie told me they were.</p>
<p>Huh.  We all look at the unconscious von Braun on  the next bed over.  Rina starts to put  the pieces together.  Valerie was in  prison.  Von Braun was in prison.  He was let go and went missing. She wasn’t  let go and she—  Kiera tells her to stop  talking, she’s trying to listen to Rina’s lungs. Arden’s looking over Oliver in  turn.  Hell, Nika is having everyone  looked over.  Just in case. Nika lounges  in the doorway of the wardroom, taking everything in. Adele picks up the thread  of the conversation when we’re settled again. </p>
<p><strong>Adele:</strong> I knew there had to be  a good explanation for what happened to her and I was hoping to dissuade him,  but … I don’t know what he thinks is going to happen.  Maybe now since you’ve saved him, he may have  a change of heart.  But you know Frederick  …<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> <em>Yeah</em>.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (to Arden) So.  Is this guy an ass?<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>I wouldn’t go <em>that</em> far.<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> Oh yes, he’s an ass.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Okay.<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> And unfortunately he’s  become a bit unhinged after her death.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> How <em>unhinged</em> are we talking about?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Is he going to wake up  and be a danger to my crew?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Or me?<br />
<strong>Adele:</strong> Well, I imagine you  can prevent him from being a danger but once he’s awake and functional, he  might … All I can say is, he’s brought his dueling gear.</p>
<p>Kiera’s got Rina on an inhaler  and at the mention of the gear, Kiera’s head whips right around.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Dueling?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> What?!<br />
<strong>Joshua: </strong>But this wasn’t  Arden’s fault.</p>
<p>Kiera laughs heartily and  apologizes.  Nika tells us how it’s going  to be.</p>
<p><strong>Nika: </strong>You know what? Make  sure he’s stable, make sure he’s okay.   Drop him off at the clinic in the town.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Who cares? And what  clinic in what town?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Isn’t there a clinic in  town?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> There’s a doctor who  lives there.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> So there is a doctor or  something. There is somebody.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Better hope he’s not  the vet.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> I don’t <em>care</em>.   If he’s stable and he’s okay, he doesn’t need to be aboard while someone  tries to <em>run a sword</em> through our  doctor.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I would really  appreciate a sword <em>not</em> being run  through me, thanks.<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> You could strap him  down.  He doesn’t have his sword with  him.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> No. Just dueling  pistols.<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> Oh, he doesn’t have  them. They’re on his ship.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>You mean the ship that  just went down?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> No, the ship in space.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Oh.  Well then we just won’t take you there.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> We <em>won’t</em> take him there?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Look, we can’t drop him  off if the only doctor in town is a vet.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> But that’s okay. He  just needs to stay unconscious so he can heal.<br />
  <strong>Adele: </strong>And it will be some  time before he’s well enough to fight a duel.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Dr. Kiera can be his  main medical contact. And I’ll just avoid him.<br />
<strong>Nika:</strong> All right. That would  be a good plan.</p>
<p>After all, von Braun doesn’t  know Arden’s even here.  He was  unconscious by the time Arden got to him. </p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> Uh-huh. And besides,  if worst comes to worst, sometimes you need to be put into a light coma to  heal.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> No that would be a bad  idea. His heart stopped once already. Inducing a coma would kill him.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> All right, but you  know sometimes these sorts of things happen.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>We want him okay. We  didn’t save him just to kill him or anything stupid.<br />
<strong>Kiera:</strong> All right. We’re good.</p>
<p>Good? Are we? </p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> So far, we only got  two people we need to keep away from other people. We have one guy on the ship  that needs to stay away from the sheriff, and one guy on the ship that needs to  stay away from Arden.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (to Adele) How long  are you on contract for?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> Oh, I’m off contract  with him. As soon as he refused to take me back to shore, we were done.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Well, let me show you  to a room where you can rest and clean up.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> (stepping in)We have  a first class cabin.</p>
<p>Kiera’s fussing with Rina  with an inhaler and the engineer is resisting, slapping the damned thing  away.  She coughs and clears her throat  and addresses the room.</p>
<p><strong>Rina:</strong> Wait. Wait. Could I ask  just one question?  Last I heard of  Valerie’s husband, he was taken into custody on … on Osiris in summer of  … ’18.   So, how did he get here? Why is he not still in custody?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> <em>One</em> question?<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> All right. There’s <em>three</em>! So sue me. (coughs)<br />
<strong>Kiera:</strong> (to Joshua) You’re  making her strain her voice. (to Rina) Suck on that thing again. </p>
<p>Kiera slaps the inhaler mask  over Rina’s face and holds it there.</p>
<p><strong>Adele:</strong> He’s <em>Frederick von Braun</em>.  Do you think they could keep him in custody  for more than a few hours?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> He is one of the  richest men on Osiris.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> And why would they  continue to keep him in custody, quite frankly?   We weren’t interested in him, he knew nothing about us and he couldn’t  give them any information.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Wait a minute. They  had—?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> They were holding him  hostage to make Valerie do whatever they wanted.  And they brainwashed her.  And once that was done, they didn’t need him  anymore.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> (through the mask) <em>And he didn’t try to get her out?</em><br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> How was anybody going  to know that except him?<br />
  <strong>Adele:</strong> Besides, you can be  killed with impunity because you’re nobodies.   Killing him or keeping him in jail for an extended period of time would  be hard to explain to all the Admirals and government people.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Money buys power. <br />
  <strong>Rina: </strong>And doing something to  his wife wouldn’t have repercussions, either?<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>Not necessarily.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Not necessarily, if he  agreed to it.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> She’s not the one  with the money and the power.<br />
  <strong>Rina: </strong><em>If he agreed to it? </em>(coughs)<br />
<strong>Nika:</strong> He clearly didn’t raise  hell about it, did he?</p>
<p>Rina looks about ready to  kill him. Nika’s not too far behind her.   Joshua tries to smooth Rina’s ruffled feathers, telling her to  rest.  Adele is quick to remind us that  she was made personal physician to an MP. </p>
<p><strong>Adele: </strong>It wasn’t like she was  thrown into jail to rot. I mean, yes, she was used as a mole but she wasn’t  publically flogged or anything.  She went  on to have a career.<br />
<strong>Rina:</strong> (groaning) My head  hurts.</p>
<p>Rina flops back on the bed  and finally lets Kiera minister to her without resistance. Adele is escorted to  the first class cabin. We all take a breather while Joshua rustles up some grub  for everyone.  Nothing like a good meal  to ground you after unsettling events.   Kiera makes sure the patients are settled and she takes the precaution  of strapping von Braun down against his waking up agitated and disoriented.  She straps Rina down for good measure, forcing  the engineer to stay on the inhaler.  Adele  retires to her cabin and everyone else—minus Kiera—gathers in the forward  lounge, taking up the couches and chairs at the table.  It’s not long before the aroma of a good  chowder drifts out of the galley and Khan approaches Arden.</p>
<p><strong>Khan:</strong> Dr Arden.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>Yes.<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong>I feel awkward doing  this but I am bound by honor to do this.   Because I am a Second for von Braun …<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong> I am afraid I must challenge you to a duel.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (puzzled) You can … if  you really want, considering I saved your life but … hey.  (shrugs)<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong>And that’s why I feel  somewhat—<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> You don’t have to  challenge me. That’s not the second’s job.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>(leaning in to Arden)  Actually. Yes, it is.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> No it isn’t. Seconds  take the First’s place if they <em>can’t</em> duel.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> As yet, you haven’t  been challenged officially.<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong>I feel it would be  inappropriate for me to not <em>issue</em> it,  at least.  Now if you will give me your  word of honor that you will stay around long enough for Frederick to wake up  and decide if he wishes to pursue this, then I would step back. As a gentleman.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I go where my ship  goes. If my ship leaves before he recovers, then I’m sorry.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> Do you have any  influence over your ship?<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>Some. Not a lot. But  some.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>(to Arden, quietly)  More than you think.<br />
<strong>Arden: </strong>(right back) I know.</p>
<p>Khan just stares.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> I will do what honor  demands. However I do not think that there is an honor offense here.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> It’s not here that is  the offense. This has to do with the man’s … wife.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>I was under the  impression they were no longer a couple.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> I don’t know what you  think I believe what the offense was.   I’m referring of course to her death, not any other … things you may  have done.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I have not done  anything else.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Or even <em>that</em>.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> (to Joshua) <em>Stop</em>.   (to Khan)  And just what are the  circumstances of this death, as you understand it?<br />
<strong>Khan:</strong> From what we  understand, she … died on Colchester during some sort of … terrorist activity.</p>
<p>Oh, really? Arden and Rina’s  eyes both widen at this one, before we both bust out laughing.</p>
<p><strong>Khan:</strong> I believe that’s an  accurate description.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>Yeah, that’s actually  100% accurate.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>Yeah! Bu that’s exactly  what we expected too, which is why I was laughing.<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong>Wasn’t she in your  presence for that time?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Because she was under  arrest the same time as we were. Yes, she was in my presence.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> She was arrested with  you?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> She was under arrest  for being the assassin of the Prime Minister.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>I think we were all  under arrest at that point.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> But we weren’t there  when she got arrested.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> But that’s not where  she died.  She died on Colchester.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Despite my trying to  save her life.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong>  Perhaps if you explained the circumstances to  Frederick he will change his mind.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong>  Yeah. And maybe the sun will come up in the  west.<br />
  <strong>Khan: </strong> I will attest that you saved his life.  Or at least, by their comments, your  crewmates seem to think you did. I didn’t see it, so I don’t know. Somebody on  the ship did.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>(steamed, muttering)  Antiquated farkin’ rituals … <br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>Now just <em>assuming</em> you and I had a duel, and <em>assuming</em> you were dead, who’s going to  take care of him? (points to Frederick).   That doesn’t serve anyone’s honor.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> You mean, if I were to  die?<br />
<strong>Arden:</strong> Uh-huh.</p>
<p>Khan looks Arden over with a  critical eye.</p>
<p><strong>Khan: </strong> Well, I suppose that is a possibility. Were I  to die, then I imagine the crew of the ship would have to take him to safety  somewhere<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong>  (oh really?)   You think, huh? You mean the crew of this ship or the crew of your ship?<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> The crew of our ship.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>So let me get this  straight.  This antiquated ritual of  yours requires that you in lieu of the gentleman who <em>wants</em> to issue a challenge, which technically isn’t your job to do  but you feel it necessary to go ahead and issue the challenge.  Well, being your First is out of commission,  I believe it’s also your responsibility to be the person who partakes of the  challenge. Yes?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes, that’s what he’s  saying.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Yes.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>So who gets to choose  when that happens?<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> In honor of your …  position as Captain of this ship, I will … ignore the tone that you took. If  you want to school me on what my responsibilities of <em>honor</em> are—<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong><em>Get him off my ship. Now.</em><br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> He’s not my  responsibility.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> <em>Joshua.</em><br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes, ma’am. (to Khan)  Come with me.</p>
<p>Joshua promptly takes the  appropriate steps.  Step One: Move Khan  away from Nika.</p>
<p><strong>Khan: </strong> Arden, if you value the lives of your  crewmates, you might wish to consider this duel.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong><em>Shoot him</em> on his way out the door.  <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I will not doing that  but … (to Khan) … Come with me.<br />
<strong>Khan:</strong> If he can’t meet you in  honorable combat, he’ll find another way.</p>
<p>Joshua gets him out of there,  taking the stairs to the airlock. Step Two: Figure out what to do next.</p>
<p><strong>Khan:</strong> If you would—<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes, sir?<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> I don’t know if this town  has adequate communications to reach orbit but if you would contact our ship, I  would appreciate it.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> And what would you  like me to tell them?<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> Tell them that we are  stuck on this little … city, this little place.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>Okay. I’ll do that.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> Thank you for rescuing  us.  If we can compensate you in some way  for your lost time—<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>We’ll be in touch  with you about that. <br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> I know you’ve lost  money.<br />
<strong>Joshua: </strong>We’ll be in touch.</p>
<p>They step off the last tread  of the airlock stairs and stand on the dirt of New Canaan.  Joshua helpfully points out the Mystic’s  single inn, The Albatross, and waves the man on his way.  </p>
<p>Step Three: Smooth things  over with the Captain.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Arden checks with  Oliver who has remained quiet throughout this entire episode.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> You okay?<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> So … we’re all off  your ship? Is that what you’re saying?<br />
<strong>Nika:</strong> Oh, no. Just <em>him</em>. (hooks a thumb toward the airlock)  I told Joshua to escort him off. Period. What Joshua does with him from that  point on is on him.</p>
<p>Nika stalks off to her  quarters and shuts the door.  Joshua  walks back into the lounge in the middle of Oliver declaring that perhaps they  all should get off the ship, it might be better for everyone.  </p>
<p><strong>Oliver:</strong> If Frederick is safe  to move, I think we should all go down.   There’s no sense in—<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I think he should be  kept under observation for at least a night. You can move him tomorrow, I’m  sure.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Stay.<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> I don’t think we’re  very welcome here.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I don’t have a problem  with him being here. I have a problem with him wanting to duel with me.<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> I can’t leave Lord  Khan down there by himself.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Lord Khan? Lord of  who? Lord of what?<br />
  <strong>Oliver:</strong> He’s just a  lord.  They throw these titles around  like … I can’t—<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>So you feel like you  can’t leave the ship?<br />
  <strong>Oliver: </strong>I can’t leave him  there (points to med bay), but I can’t leave him there either. (points outside)<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Okay.</p>
<p>And  he turns right around to go outside and talk to Khan.  Khan’s already walked away from the <em>Gift</em> and Joshua catches up with him.                                                                  </p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Stop. (a beat) Come  back. </p>
<p>Khan stops and waits for  Joshua to explain.<br />
  <br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong> My honor, my duty aboard the ship—I’m  actually torn between two duties— Oliver feels he can’t stay on board if you  can’t stay on board.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> He’s a good man.  <br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Yes, and if he can’t  stay on board, then he’s not leaving von Braun behind, and that could possibly  kill him. So I think it’s my duty to say “Come back on board.” We have a cabin  we can put you in and we will contact your ship and get things straightened out  as quickly as possible. I would strongly suggest for everyone’s sake that you  stay out of contact with the Captain and let me take the beating I’m about to  take.<br />
  <strong>Khan:</strong> Spoken like a true  gentleman.</p>
<p>Khan turns back for the <em>Gift</em> and Joshua walks with him.  Meanwhile back on the Gift, Oliver is telling  Arden what’s involved in a duel. It’s either swords or guns.  You know, twenty paces or stabby-stabby.  And it’s hard-core: to the death. Others  might leave off after first blood or satisfaction served … but Arden won’t be  so lucky.  Oh, and it’s legal, right? Oh  no. Not really.  If there were witnesses,  it most definitely would be a matter for prosecution.</p>
<p>Lovely.</p>
<p>Joshua sets the guests up in  the first class accommodations. Done, he goes to find Nika in her cabin.  He knocks on her door.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua: </strong>Captain.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> (from inside) <em>What?</em><br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> He’s back on board.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>Stop there.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I don’t care,  Captain.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>Come in.<br />
<strong>Joshua: </strong>Thank you.</p>
<p>Joshua steps inside and  closes the door.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Back on board because  otherwise everyone was leaving and that was going to kill him. (off her look) I  don’t care. I know it’s against a direct order.<br />
  <strong>Nika: </strong>So, I’m the Captain  when it suits you.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>You’re the Captain.  I’ve no problem unless you give an order that might kill somebody. In that case,  I might have one.   (a beat) You  wouldn’t’ve given this order anyway.   When you calm down—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Don’t give me face.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>What face did I give  you?<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Don’t give me  face.  Cuz you’re not gonna—No. No.  Hn-uhn.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> You can do what you  want to me. I’m not letting somebody else die because we’re gonna ship them off  because you’re pissed at him and he’s pissed at you.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> We <em>saved</em> those ungrateful bastards’ lives.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I didn’t say if it  was fair or not—<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> No. You know what? I  have zero interest in listening to your justifications for any of this.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Fine. As long as he  stays where he stays.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Find him a place in  town, Joshua.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I’ll do that  tomorrow.<br />
  <strong>Nika:</strong> Get out.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> (nods) Captain. </p>
<p>Joshua leaves and shuts the  door.  Step Four: Reprimand given, ass  reamed.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Whew.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Arden is in the med  bay checking up on Kiera’s course treatment of Rina.  She hands him the readouts of the past hour  and he flips through them as they quietly confer out of earshot.</p>
<p><strong>Arden:</strong> How is she? Has she  got a bad case of water on the lungs?<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Just a little bit.  I’ve got her on that medicated inhaler.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I can give her  something in the inhaler to clear up the lungs if it gets bad.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>I’d figured you’d do  that.  She’s coughed up enough water but  it’s going to strain her.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> I’m sure her lungs are  inflamed. (flips through the pages)<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Oh, yeah. Now that  you’re here to take over, I’m going to wander over to look at the guy who can  pay me a lot of money. <br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>You mean the guy who’s  unconscious?<br />
<strong>Kiera:</strong> Yeah the one who can  pay me lots of money for taking care of him.</p>
<p>So, what’s the story with  this guy and you, she asks Arden.  </p>
<p><strong>Arden: </strong>Valerie.  Valerie was an old flame of mine in college.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> (groks) Ohh.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>But she married him  instead of staying with me.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>And this is causin’  problems.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> It’s not causing  problems with me but … Valerie was with us several months ago when she died.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Oh, she’s dead.<br />
<strong>Arden:</strong> Now. After she got  turned into the Manchurian Candidate and assassinated the Prime Minister.</p>
<p>And then Arden tells her  about it.  At the end of it, Arden says  that von Braun has always been jealous of Arden’s relationship with Valerie,  even though it was von Braun who introduced them.  At some point in all this, Joshua walks into  med bay.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> What’s his condition?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> He’s unconscious, he  needs to be kept on the ventilator until he wakes up.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> You have any idea how  long?<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>It depends on how much  sea water he took in and how long he was in it.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> A few hours, a few  days?</p>
<p>If we got him to a real  hospital, it would still be weeks before he was restored back to full  health.  And such hospitals aren’t  exactly thick on the ground hereabouts.   But he’ll be conscious in a day or two.   We’ll know his condition better by then. When he wakes up we can take  him off the machine and after that, it’s all rehab.  Joshua states we need to get him off the  ship, as soon as possible.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera: </strong>Why?<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>Cuz Nika’s going to  kill him. Or … (points to Arden) … he’s going to get killed. Or Nika’s going to  kill me. So either one of those options are a possibility.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>Or he’s going to kill  me. (Points to von Braun)<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Why is he going to  kill you?<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>He wants to duel me.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> He wants to what?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> He wants to duel me  over Valerie.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>With pistols.<br />
<strong>Arden: </strong>Or swords, probably.  Who knows.</p>
<p>Arden tells her about the  duel. He’s not sure if the crime addressed by the duel was the fact that  Valerie died when she was with him or because of the great shame that was  brought upon von Braun from her assassination of the Prime Minister—an action  we indirectly helped her accomplish, however unwittingly, by delivering her  into striking distance. As Arden tells her the whole tale, Kiera upgrades von  Braun’s restraints from arm straps to leg straps.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> You all don’t have  this place miked, do you, at all?<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong><em>I</em> don’t have it miked. I don’t mike anything.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> All right. Then I got  a question. How much does he know about injuries—the people with him, what  injuries he had?<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> I gather not a  tremendous amount other than he’s unconscious and that we in theory saved his  life although he did not see that himself so he cannot attest to it. (mimics Khan’s  voice) I say, I cannot attest to that.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Arden, you know him  better than I do. What’s the likelihood that he’s gonna be monetarily grateful to  us for saving his life as opposed to “I will name something in your honor”?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> He is your typical snotty  noble.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>All right. Highly  unlikely.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> Lord Khan did say he  would compensate us if necessary. He didn’t say specifically how much and I  didn’t ask, leaving it open.  I told him  we’d be in touch.</p>
<p>Kiera flips through her  mental social registry looking for the name Khan. The Khans are minor rich.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera: </strong>Hmm.  Rina what kinda tools do you have down in the  room? You can take it off your mouth, you can talk.<br />
  <strong>Rina:</strong> What kind of tools to  you need? What’s the job?<br />
<strong>Kiera:</strong> I need some blunt  trauma, about this big or so.  (measures  with her hands)</p>
<p>Rina immediately gets it and  barks out a laugh.  She doesn’t do too  badly for someone whose lungs were filled with water an hour ago.  Kiera explains to the men that von Braun’s  party have no way to know that von Braun didn’t brain himself on the hull of  his ship when he went overboard and the blunt trauma would gain us some time. </p>
<p><strong>Rina: </strong>A shovel will do.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> That’s all I need.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> (to Rina) Please say  you didn’t suggest that we kill him on the sly.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Kill him? Oh no. Just  a little blunt force trauma to knock him out for another month and a half.  See, this is why you let him heal for a day  or two and then wait when he’s in the room where nobody can see him.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Okay, you know that  point where you get angry at me for saying, “No, don’t do that.”?<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Mm-hm.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> “No, don’t do that.”  We are not doing that. By the way, you’re a doctor. (turns to Arden) And also  so are you. But you’ve been doing a good job. (turns back) You’re a doctor. You  don’t hurt people.  That’s the way that  works. At least, that’s the last time I understood it. Right?<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Okay.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Good.  Don’t knock him over the head.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> I’m not going to knock  him over the head. I’m gonna knock him into the head.  Subtle thing.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>No, no. Spirit of the  Law, ma’am. Leave him be. The faster he wakes up, the faster we get him off the  ship and the less likely—Look. I mostly just want him off the ship.  If Khan is right in the fact that if he  doesn’t challenge you to a duel and he starts doing other things, that’s in  some respects—I don’t want you in a duel but …. how much money does this guy  have?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Lots?<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>How much is lots?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> How much can you  imagine? Double it.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong>  I actually can’t imagine that much so maybe  we should ask Kiera. Who I imagine can imagine lots of money. How much can you  imagine?<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Oh, a frightening  amount.<br />
  <strong>Arden: </strong>Now double it.<br />
<strong>Joshua: </strong>Okay. Now the problem  is—</p>
<p>Kiera turns to Arden with an  upraised finger.</p>
<p><strong>Kiera:</strong> See, now if you’d’ve  recognized him sooner, I could’a shoved him out the other port, but you didn’t  tell me that an’ I could’a just let him roll out the other side when you about  lost it.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Hey now that’s your  psyche that’s bad, not mine.<br />
<strong>Joshua:</strong> I am <em>not</em> hearing this.</p>
<p>Rina could stand to hear a  little more.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua: </strong>I am not hearing  this. I am not hearing you rolling him out.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>Right now considering  he might get people killed, and right now they’re my family. It’s a mob thing.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> If his ship can give  him satisfactory medical care, then they can definitely take him and treat him  there.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Which is fine.  Just get him off. Whenever he wakes up, we’ll  take him back.  Assuming Nika says it’s  okay and she doesn’t kill me.<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>All right, then go  ahead an’ let Little Lord Fauntleroy in to look at him.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> Actually, I’d rather  not do that.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Well, he needs to  verify the care.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>No. No, he doesn’t.  He can do that tomorrow. (gestures to von Braun) Don’t kill him.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> (eyeroll) I’m not  gonna kill’im.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> He can stay in his  cabin. He can stay here.  Med bay. And  we’ll be happy, glorious, fun people.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Yeah, my whole opinion  was, he can want to duel me all he wants. Doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen.<br />
  <strong>Joshua: </strong>Yeah I get it. I’d  rather you not.<br />
<strong>Arden:</strong> I do too. </p>
<p>Kiera wants to know when  Arden thinks von Braun will be up and at reasonable strength.  Hmm.   For a drowning victim?  More like  a week. Minimum.</p>
<p><strong>Joshua:</strong> Just so he’s strong  enough to travel so we can get him—<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>If he’s strong enough  to travel, he’s strong enough to realize … (points to Arden) … that <em>he</em> is still down here and to proceed  with plans.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> So far, he hasn’t seen  me.<br />
  <strong>Joshua:</strong> So maybe you should  stay out of medical.<br />
  <strong>Kiera:</strong> Yeah. But what are you  gonna do. Erase yourself from the memories of the other two people who know  you?<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> You know of a way to  do that?<br />
  <strong>Kiera: </strong>(drawls) Yeah … it  involves a <em>shovel</em>, but that’s okay.  I’ve already been strictly forbidden from gardening work.<br />
  <strong>Arden:</strong> Gardening work. I like  that. That’s a new one.<br />
<strong>Joshua: </strong>We’ll figure it out. </p>
<p>If we can get them in the  shuttle and aboard the ship in orbit—named the <em>Valdric</em>—all to the good.</p>

<br><br><br>

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[[Episode 410: Search and Rescue | Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 410: Search and Rescue, Part Three | Part 3]]<br><br><br>
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