Editing Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Five

<br>
'''Parts:''' [[Episode 606: Fireworks|1]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Two|2]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Three|3]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Four|4]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Five|5]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Special Features|Special Features]]. <br><br>



The man's got a point. When he has Joshua in his hands, what could they do that wouldn't make things worse? Sullivan is powerful. They haven't anything but a beat up ship to their name and a misguided sense of loyalty. What could they possibly do to trump his play, thwart his wishes, and ruin his plans? <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Cause a lot of trouble. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' They can't. What, how many are on that ship? Half a dozen? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Maybe. But still. I don't think you begin to understand how much trouble they can be. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' So you're saying that maybe I should take care of them first? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Okay …. ''No''. Do not kill my friends. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I think this might be an important lesson for you Kiera, because you're letting your emotions interfere with your business sense. That's not admirable. That's not something we … I'd be remiss as a parent if I let you make that mistake. <br>
'''Kiera:''' That is one thing I've worked hard to try and find again, Father. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Your business acumen? <br>
'''Kiera:''' No. My humanity. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well. There was a time where humanity was good enough. But I think we all know that time has long passed. Your very friend is evidence that it's not good enough to just be  … human. <br>
'''Kiera:''' So you want to make more of him. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well, I suspect we'll devalue that property once it becomes commonplace, but …<br>
'''Kiera:''' But you'll have the initial patents on the processes, so it doesn't matter. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Oh, patents. Nobody cares about that with regards to this sort of activity. This couldn't be out in the open. I'm just saying that once we have a few, undoubtedly other companies will get them and then corporate espionage will take a new turn. But—<br>	
'''Kiera:''' But you'll still have the first. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well, no. I obviously don't, because he's already here. There must be others. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I don't think the others are as stable as he is. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well, what the Academy turned into … it's been selling its services. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Well, there's one less. I shot him. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' You shot a … ? <br>
'''Kiera:''' One of the people that you can change their faces. I don't know if he had any of the abilities. <br><br>

The man who came to her for reverse plastic surgery on Yan Wo. <br><br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I'll tell you what. I'll let you talk it over with him. Let's see if you are at— <br>
'''Kiera:''' We need to start drawing up it out as a contract, though. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' If you are concerned about the well-being of the people on that ship, you can factor that into your calculations. But as I say, it weakens your hand.  But we'll leave it on the table for now. I'll see if we can get you … (pause) … I don't know if we have guest quarters here. I'll see what we can find for you. Do you want to bring them? Inside? They aren't out there in that little ship, are they? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Yes. You kept us waiting for a day and a night. I think—your secretary inadequately conveyed to you that I'd been out there a day and a night and that I was getting ready to leave. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I would never sit out there all by yourself. You know that. You're my daughter. I care about you. That would be heartless and cruel. <br>
'''Kiera:''' And yet you let me ''walk'' to the ship. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' You ''walked''? <br>
'''Kiera:''' I did walk. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' You should have said something. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Tell what? The ''sand''? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' No. Tell my people. <br>
'''Kiera:''' You could fire your secretary. I think I talked to her repeatedly. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I'll make a note. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Humph. You oughta fire that useless thing. She knew it was me. <br><br>

On that note, the interview ends. Sullivan has someone escort Kiera down to the scanning room. The scan eventually ends. Joshua gets fed a hospital-style meal. Kiera is scandalized. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Is that what they gave you? <br>
'''Tech: ''' It might have some barium in it. It's all we had. <br>
'''Kiera:''' People didn't bring you anything from the kitchen? Grah! (a beat) We need to talk. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (calmly) Oh, God. Whenever you say that, it never works out well. <br>
'''Kiera:''' No, it never works out well. <br>
'''Joshua:''' So are we here? Is there a room they're going to give us or something? <br>
'''Kiera:''' They have guest quarters and they want to take you and, um… test you. Father would like to find out what makes you tick. <br>
'''Joshua:''' All right. Is it something like two plus two equals four? Or two plus three … ? <br>
'''Kiera:''' No. He wants to make more of you. He wants to make more. He's in the biological business. This would be a nice product to add to his line if he can make more. My evident fondness for you and the rest of the crew is a liability. So he wants you to think carefully about his offer, and me doubly so. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (quietly) Okay. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Rina is not your girlfriend as much as a motivational tool. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Understood. <br>
'''Kiera:''' And I am in a weaker position leveraging their lives, because indirectly, they need to be shifted. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Understood. And so what? he does this and … he's taking me? That's it? <br>
'''Kiera:''' He's going to let you go once he finds out what he needs to find out. <br>
'''Joshua:''' And I get what out of this? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Not much of anything. We might get this ship repaired one-hundred percent. <br><br>

Joshua sits and thinks for a moment. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' I'm assuming they're listening to all this right now. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Oh probably, absolutely. (eyeing the ceiling) I'd say so. He thinks it will be easier to find the source of how you do what you do if you're compliant. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Chempliant? No---just kidding. I'm kidding. If I can't have a little gallows humor, then what am I allowed? <br>
'''Kiera:''' That and I don't know where he's taking you and I'm still arguing whether or not I can go with you. <br>
'''Joshua:''' That sounds like that's already been decided. That he's taking me. Is this already a decided fact? Have we decided on the whore and now we're just arguing about the price? <br>
'''Kiera:''' (fatalistically) Yes. <br>
'''Joshua:''' All right. (to the ceiling) ''Not gonna happen''. It's a stupid idea to begin with. You don't want to think about the doors you're gonna open. (to Kiera, softly) Really? Whole new world out there. <br><br>

Joshua slides off the scanner bed. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' So, what kind of capabilities does his ship have? Is he going to flatten them, swipe into them … ? <br>
'''Kiera:''' I don't know. I honestly don't remember him ever attacking something. I'm sure the yacht is perfectly safe. (breathes a laugh) I don't know what else he has contact with. In a kinder moment, he just may leave them here until the ship falls apart. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Wait a minute, that's the ''positive'' outcome? I just wanted to make sure that I had that right. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Relatively positive, yes. <br>
'''Joshua:''' All right. This ain't gonna work. <br>
'''Kiera:''' On a more positive note, you can take Rina with you. Come … willingly. <br><br>

Joshua just stares at her. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Have you … ? I'm sorry. Have you met Rina? I'm sorry but could I introduce you to her? Because I'm reasonably certain that that's not gonna work out for anybody involved on either side. <br>  
'''Kiera:''' I know. A good part of my conversation was about how much trouble a certain half dozen people tended to cause. He does not seem to be bothered by that. That was an indication of why he should remove them. As a problem. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay. So how do we get out of here? <br>
'''Kiera:''' We could just walk bold-facedly out the door. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Sounds like a plan to me. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Of course, he is going to lock it but we can try. It's up to you. I'm willing to walk with you to the ship. It should still be there. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I know. <br><br>

Of all the times we could use a telepathic link to the crew, now would be it. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' You could sit with me and try to Read him when we negotiate. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I can't. I won't. Look, negotiating with him—if his end goal is what he says it is, that's a non-starter. It's not going to happen. If he wants to negotiate for something less than—(yells to the ceiling)—if he wants to negotiates for something less than that, we can talk! (quietly) But if that's where he's going to want to end up, which I'm guessing by  the hard line attitude that you seem to feel he is drawing, then it isn't going to happen willingly. Maybe I'll get tortured to death and that would really suck, because I'm pretty sure—(to the ceiling again)—I'm pretty sure that old torture thing would be really painful and bad. (to Kiera) But I can't. I can't let it—I can't let him have it. Let's walk. If you want to walk with me, that's fine. If you don't, I can certainly understand not wanting to walk away from your father. <br>
'''Kiera:''' No. Let's walk. <br><br>

Joshua and Kiera have to determine if they're locked in. On the chance that they're being overheard, they keep a conversation going. Yes, they're locked in.  The glass viewing walls are shatterproof. No amount of banging a chair into them makes a single scratch. They are quite effectively stuck. Kiera and Joshua have a seat and wait it out. <br><br>

Eventually, Sullivan comes down to see them. <br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' So you had a chance to talk it over? <br>
'''Kiera:''' The answer is no. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' So what part of it didn't you like? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Being taken away. Experiments. <br>
'''Joshua:''' The end result is unacceptable. Sorry. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' What do you think the end result is? <br>
'''Joshua:''' Let me make sure I've got this clear. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I may have misunderstood. <br>
'''Joshua:''' That's true. If I'm giving myself voluntarily to be tested, what are yo doing with those test results? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well, years ago, somebody figured out a way of building a ship that could sail underwater. A submarine. Then somebody figured out how to build a sonar device to see the submarines underwater. The advantage was rapidly reduced. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yes? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' There are already people like you out there. What do they call them? Readers? I aim to make that advantage not so much an advantage. So I can learn how you work, then I could learn to counteract it better than we already have. <br><br>

Is that why he came back rubbing his arm, in the initial interview? <br><br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' So you will be less of a threat. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Oh I can answer that. Just give him a good heart and let him follow a crazy Russian girl and they tend to do really stupid things. It doesn't activate ''quite'' so quickly ... <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' It's hard to know exactly who is the one we have to do that to if we're out in the wild. <br>
'''Joshua:''' So. Absolutely no interest in creating more of … You know. Of giving this—(taps his head) <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I don't know what you can do. But I'll be honest. This is quite a business. Transhumanity making people better. It's what we do.  It's not all we do. It's just one of the things we do. And it's been going on for … a while. That whole Miranda fiasco was, of course, one of the larger scale experiments. Well, it was more Blue Sun than us. <br>
'''Joshua:''' And that worked out. <br>
'''Kiera:''' And what about the society Core sort of thing? Mother's looking surprisingly good. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' We've been working on anti aging for a long time. That's already paid for itself. <br>
'''Kiera:'''  It's paid off for you really well. I was wondering if she was one of your crop. Experiments? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' (scoffs) Experiments. You know, Kiera, if you were in the Core, and you had the means, you could look like her. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I like looking like I do. <br><br>

Sullivan has already moved on to other business. He turns to Joshua. <br><br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' So what do these tests involve? We have to activate your abilities, test the physical parameters, neurochemical traces, that sort of thing. It will probably be unpleasant. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Uh-huh. <br>  
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' You said you were interested in finding your parents? <br>
'''Joshua:''' It's why I originally came, yes. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I'm sure once the data comes back form Sophie we will be able to track that down at least, as well. <br>
'''Joshua:''' So you're offering me that information in exchange for a series of tests that will produce a multi-trillion credit piece of biogenetic information? <br>
'''Kiera:''' It always comes down to money. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I understand it always comes down to money. It seems like I'm getting the raw end of the deal. <br>
'''Kiera:''' What does he get out of this, Father? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I'll tell you what, M. Drake. There might be a place for you at Viridian. Once you've been tested, your abilities might be useful. We might be able to give you a life that few could aspire to. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I've ''got'' a life. That I love. In every shape, respect, and form. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I understand you're engaged to be married? <br>
'''Joshua:''' (evenly) That is correct, yes. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' And so presumably you want to afford nice things for your family? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I want ''her''. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Her. And you want safety for both of you, I'm sure. Money can help provide those things. But I understand you have a ship, which is more than what many people can do. Especially out here on the Rim. So I'll tell you what. I'll let you go back. <br>
'''Joshua:''' You'll let me go back? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Why don't you fix the ship as a good faith effort? To show us that you're serious. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' (chuckles) Oh, Kiera. Sometimes you remind me of when you were growing up. No. There will be no such thing happening. But …<br>
'''Joshua:''' You were saying? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I will be happy to grant you passage. But your ship … if that's the life you want, as you’ve said many times it's what you want, perhaps you should have that life as it is, not a false version of it where I bail you out whenever you're in trouble. <br>
'''Kiera:''' So far we haven't gotten anything out of the deal yet. <br><br>

Well, besides our lives, thanks. <br><br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Really? I seem to recall five thousand credits I had to give you to get for some—<br>
'''Kiera:''' That was a previous deal. You can't recall old deals. You taught  me that when I was a little kid. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Oh. I thought you said I had never done anything for you. <br>
'''Kiera:''' No, that was for ''this'' deal. You haven't paid for this deal. <br>
'''Joshua:''' ''Okay''. You were saying? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' I'm intrigued as to what will happen to you. In  many respects you're more valuable to me as a … lure … to see who will bite in this day and age. Blue Sun's been gutted. They're still a megalith but now they've  been split into so many different subgroups it's hard to know what they're working on. I don't think Aegis would … (thinks) … well, they just might be interested. That might actually be worth it. Perhaps I should just let you go. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Great. Now he gets to wave you around like bait. And what would happen if Aegis gets him? And they do torture as part of what they're doing. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Oh, I don’t think Aegis would be interested in that. They have a vested interest in keeping these things secret. Aegis is a group that the Academy—<br>
'''Kiera:''' Morphed into? <br><br>

As we'd found out from Kappa before she died. <br><br>

'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Yes. <br>
'''Kiera:''' So basically, you're going to sic the hounds on him. Delightful. Don't consider it coercion? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Because you are my daughter, I won't resort to physical coercion. If you wish to leave, I would leave soon. If things get scary, you know my option. (to Joshua)  And of course, in a few hours, I'll have the information you want. But don't romanticize yourself too much. There are countless endeavors for the betterment of mankind since before you were born. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I don't doubt it. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' And there are many underway right now. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'm sure there are. (evenly) I have no doubt in my mind. <br>
'''Kiera:''' (to Joshua) He's blowing cold right now. He wants you. He's trying to be disinterested. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (to Sullivan) You say you'll be here a few hours. While you're waiting for the data? <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Well, I'm not going to just hand over the data. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I know. I didn't say you were. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:'''  If you want a few hours to think about it, of course. <br>
'''Joshua:''' That would be nice. I appreciate that. Okay. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Are you going to stay here or return to your ship? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'd like to talk to my friends. <br>
'''Mr. Sullivan:''' Of course. I hear they are quite powerful. A half a dozen of them are more powerful than all the security that this station can muster. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (smiles) It's not really that they're more powerful, it's just they have a way of being unexpected. But that's neither here nor there. I will talk to them and I will be in touch. It's a pleasure doing business. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Unless you think it's better I stay? <br>
'''Joshua:''' No. You're coming with me. <br><br>

And that's that. Joshua and Kiera walk out the door and back into the crippling heat of the outdoors. They manage to make it aboard ''Lagniappe'', stunned and hurting, but they make it back alive. As he and Kiera climb aboard, he quips sarcastically: <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Well, that went smoothly, I thought. <br>
'''Nika:''' (from cockpit) I hate it when you use that tone. I ''really'' hate it when you use that tone. <br><br>

Kiera sits down and puts her head in her lap. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' I'm sorry. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Oh, don't be so sympathetic. If you realized what happened. <br>
'''Joshua:''' He's an interesting guy. <br>
'''Nika:''' (drawling) Oh my word. You used that word: ''Interesting''. <br>
'''Rina:''' Joshua? <br><br>

''Tell me what's wrong'', her tone says. Joshua tells everyone what happened. Sullivan wants Joshua to hand himself over for testing for a few weeks, either to produce more of him or a counter to what he can do … or both. In theory, there's money in the offing for this. There's information on his family coming his way too.  In theory, Sullivan won't let the newly-morphed Academy know where he is. And not wipe this ship down to the ground. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Why on earth—Why on ''Earth-That-Was''—does he know what you can do to start with? How did he find that out? <br>
'''Joshua:''' We … (pissed off) … ''For God's sake'', we went there asking about my family. There was a whole point of going there. <br>
'''Nika:''' I understand that. <br>
'''Joshua:''' If I'm going asking about my family, the reason we're asking him is because he had access to information about the Academy and what people can do at the Academy. If he didn't know, there wouldn't have been any point in asking. <br>
'''Nika:''' (through her teeth to Kiera) That is not what you told me. All you said was that he had contacts that we could tap. You did not tell me his contacts had anything to do with the Academy whatsoever. <br>
'''Kiera:''' They may not have anything to do with the Academy. He did not say that.
'''Nika:''' And now we've taken Joshua to your father and exposed him to more trouble, because now your father will continue to come after him and potentially after us. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I asked Joshua if he wanted it that bad. <br>
'''Joshua:''' It's still open to the board. It's not a 100% I said no. It's not a 100% I said yes. Oh and by the way. <br><br>

Joshua looks at Arden. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' It may or may not interest you but he's wiring Sophie. For the information, so to speak. <br>
'''Arden:''' For the information on you? <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yes. For the data. <br>
'''Arden:''' (sour grin) How nice. We may be brothers. <br>
'''Joshua:''' The data on my family is on Sophie. What that means, I don't know. <br>
'''Nika:''' It may mean that maybe there's an old database sitting on Sophie that has all the genetic information—<br>
'''Arden:''' Maybe? No. It's a given there's a computer on Sophie that has all the genetic information. Those are my bloodlines. <br>
'''Nika:''' For the Verse? <br>
'''Arden:''' No.  <br><br>

But it does sound like there's some sort of connection. Perhaps Arden's people on Sophie store records on a per-hire basis? Or is the connection proof of deeper involvement in something else? Was Arden's home colony instrumental in developing the Readers at the Academy in the past? Or are they in bed with Sullivan now? Either? Both? One could make the argument for the latter, if only by pointing to Arden's crechemates. They'd been genetically altered to be instinctively driven to Miranda, there to live and die in an experiment to test their resistance to Pax. Arden is the only known survivor because for some as yet unknown reason, he was resistant to the push for Miranda. Still, it doesn't fully explain Sullivan's call to Sophie for information on Joshua's family. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Something about that is niggling at me and I don't like it. <br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah, I don't like him having his grubby little fingers anywhere near you. Not even for all the money in the Verse and a brand new ship. <br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah, no. Is there a reason we're still sitting here? I'm the engines up and gettin' us the hell outa here. I'm not likin' this at all. <br>
'''Joshua:''' No! <br>
'''Rina:''' (quietly) Joshua, there are other ways we can get that information. <br> 
'''Joshua:''' The information is the least of my concerns at the moment. I would ''love'' to know who my family is but that is the least of my concerns at the moment. <br>
'''Rina:''' Well, it's good to hear you say that. <br>
'''Arden:''' Then what are you concerned about then? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'm mostly concerned about—well, we're pretty much screwed either way—but I want to make sure that we're screwed in the least possible way and … (weak laugh) <br>
'''Nika:''' And what are you suggesting that we do? Sitting here? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I don't know. I'm just trying to—I've had about ten minutes to actually think about the whole set of possibilities. I just want to make sure before you spin up—<br>
'''Nika:''' Let's go back to the ship and you can think there. I don't ''like'' sitting this close to his vessel. And his control. And …<br>
'''Kiera:''' At least he won't bomb it if I'm on it. <br>
'''Rina:''' Captain? <br>
'''Nika:''' ''I'm'' not convinced of that. <br>
'''Rina:''' Captain? <br>
'''Nika:''' Entirely not convinced of that. <br>
'''Rina:''' Captain? <br>
'''Kiera:''' No, he's not going to let go of an asset and in the end, he's still a valuable asset. It comes down to money. <br>
'''Nika:''' We're just going to be in dock at the port. <br>
'''Rina:''' I—<br>
'''Joshua:''' We can't. I mean, spin up. But I can't—<br> 
'''Nika:''' ''What?''<br>
'''Joshua:''' I can't do what he wants for me. I can't go through with what he wants. <br>
'''Rina:''' (relieved) Oh, thank God. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (to Rina) What? Did you think I was going to? I wanted to think about all the possibilities before—<br>
'''Nika:''' (angry now) Did I think that you would trade yourself so the rest of us could go free? ''Yeah, Joshua, I sure as hell did.''<br>
'''Arden:''' That did cross my mind, as well. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I hate all of you. But while I would love to do that—<br>
'''Arden:''' And would. <br>
'''Joshua:''' It goes against everything that I stand for to let him basically try and change people into what he thinks is the better way to do it. That's what Blue Sun did with me. It's what—<br><br>

Anything else he meant to say is lost when Rina lands a big smacker on him. It takes only a second but it does put an end to the discussion. Nika nods at her engineer. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Get us off the ground. <br>
'''Rina:''' I agree with you 100% but our main sticking point here is our attachment to the ship. What if we cut our losses and run? ''Now''. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Of what? This ship? <br>
'''Rina:''' No. ''Equinox''. <br>
'''Joshua:''' We can't. <br>
'''Arden:''' We can't fly. Not now. <br>
'''Joshua:''' We can't run. I mean, well, we could. But … where would we run to? <br>
'''Rina:''' We could sell it for scrap. Take the money we earn off of her and get the hell off this rock. Pay cash. It's untraceable. <br><br>

Rina is ditching the ship? Rina? Ditching? The SHIP? <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Wow. <br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah. I know. <br>
'''Nika:''' (to Rina) You're seriously considering it? <br>
'''Rina:''' He's more important than a hunk of metal. <br>
'''Joshua:''' No, actually—well, beside that point—(to Kiera) The thing about it is, how much money does your Dad have? <br>
'''Kiera:''' A lot. <br>
'''Rina:''' Six people in the Verse? The Verse is big. He'll never find us. <br>
'''Nika:''' (gobsmacked) Pod people came and took her away. Holy Frick, the whole damn universe is upside down. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Then he has a whole lot more money than I like to think about. <br>
'''Rina:''' This ship is holding us hostage to circumstances that we can't live with. We get rid of the hostages when we get rid of the ship—<br>. 
'''Joshua:''' No. Rina. ''Rina''. Focus with me. He's got more money than we can spit at. <br>
'''Arden:''' I can spit at an awful lot of money. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah, and he's got an awful lot more than that, I'm reasonably sure of that. Leaving the ''Equinox'' is not the answer. I got the impression that he wasn't all that—<br>
'''Kiera:''' He is not uninformed about us, let's just say that. <br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah. I was gonna say. He keeps tabs on where Kiera is. It isn't like he hasn't known all along where to find us. <br>
'''Rina:''' What is she, lo-jacked? <br>
'''Kiera:''' I don't think so. <br><br>

Preposterous on the face of it, but given Rina's experience, it's a completely viable scenario. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Right now, his threat has been to turn the old Academy on us. <br>
'''Nika:''' (shrugs) Yeah, well, they've already chased us down a few times so that's okay. (off Joshua's look) I'm kidding. I'm kidding. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Better the devil we know and are aware of than—<br>
'''Arden:''' I have to disagree with you on that point. <br>
'''Rina:''' I have to disagree as well.  I—(off Joshua's look)—''No.''<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, no. I don't mean him. (points outside to Sullivan's yacht) I mean the agents. <br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah, the agents that have been after us and stuff. I'd rather deal with them than with this guy.  I don't like this. <br>
'''Joshua:''' We've dealt with them before. I'd rather be running and having them chasing us than giving myself over to her father. <br>
'''Rina:''' (tartly) I need a score card. How many devils are chasing after us now? <br>
'''Joshua:''' He isn't chasing after us right. He's waiting for me to hand myself over to him. <br>
'''Rina:''' ''Then why make it easy for him?''<br>
'''Joshua:''' ''I didn't say I was.'' Everybody's reading an awful lot of stuff into me. <br>
'''Nika:''' Then he can just wait until hell freezes over. <br>
'''Arden:''' According to Dante, the sixth level of hell is already frozen over. <br>
'''Nika:''' I don't care. <br>
'''Rina:''' But only because I fixed the air conditioning down there. I'll never do that again. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Spin her up? <br>
'''Nika:''' ''Yes.'' Get us off the ground. (climbs into cockpit) ''Jesus God.'' <br><br>

Rina spins the engines up and Nika flies ''Lagniappe'' out of there. It's an uneventful ride back to ''Equinox''. We find her where we left her, unmolested by any inimical parties, and Beglan meets us as if nothing is wrong: <br><br>

'''Beglan:''' So, did ye get what you were lookin' for? <br>
'''Joshua:''' (weak laugh) In some ways … (cuts a look at the crew) … yeah, Beggar, I did. <br>
'''Nika:''' At least we know where we're lookin' now. On some levels. Still, there's people on Sophie tryin' to kill Arden. I'm not sure I'm goin' there, either. <br>
'''Joshua:''' If you want to go to Sophie, I'll go to Sophie and see if we can't raid yet another database but ….<br><br>

While there might be information on his family waiting for him on Sophie, it's not worth risking Arden's life over. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Joshua, you realize already got a large part of what he wanted to look at. That's why he ran that scan. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I know. <br>
'''Rina:''' Then he can brute force the code. We're not giving him the key to it. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Then what are you suggesting, Kiera? That I turn myself over? <br>
'''Kiera:''' I'm on the wrong end of it all. He got something for nothing again. <br>
'''Rina:''' You still got us. <br>
'''Nika:''' Well, darlin', you learned a lesson, didn't ya? Family'll stab you in the back faster'n anybody else. <br>
'''Arden:''' I'm glad I don't have a family. <br>
'''Beglan:''' You have a huge family. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I'm glad you went off and said that cuz, mentally, a few months ago that would have just solidified a state of mind that would have been very dangerous and fatal. Thanks. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'd like to know who my family is, but it's not worth ….(gestures) <br>
'''Nika:''' (groks) It's not worth losing your other family. <br>
'''Joshua:''' That. It's not worth that. It's not worth putting us through it. <br>
'''Arden:''' I don't think anyone's arguing with you. So why are we continuing to discuss this? <br>
'''Joshua:''' Because what are we going to do? <br>
'''Arden:''' How about we go get naked and get in bed? (wags a brow at Nika) <br>
'''Joshua:''' Oh, Beggar. You got something? <br>
'''Beglan:''' Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't have a chance to tell ye. There's a wave waitin' for ye. I got the holoscreen workin'. It wasn't too badly damaged but i's still a little twitchy. <br>
'''Rina:''' That's good news. <br>
'''Joshua:''' A wave? For me? Or for us? <br>
'''Beglan:''' For all of us. <br>
'''Joshua:''' For all of us? Okay. Whew.  That was close. Maybe it's our Browncoat friends saying he's got something for us. <br>
'''Nika:''' Please, God. From your lips to the Universe's ears. What do we got? <br>
'''Rina:''' Let's open the mail before we go. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Good work, Beggar. <br><br>

The hologram image is a little twitchy, like Beglan said, and the color has everything shifted toward blue.  Beglan adjusts the controls. The image flickers and buzzes before it stabilizes on the message menu. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' (undertone) Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope. <br><br>

The playback on the message begins and we see Christian Edge, ethereal and holographic, looking back at us. Nika gives a little squeal of pleased surprise. His image speaks: <br><br>

'''Christian:''' Hello. I spoke with Beggar and he tells me that you're in some need. I should be able to wire some funds to Sho Je Downs to at least get you as far as over here. Then we can see about making some real repairs. I'll expect you in a week. <br><br>

We're saved. Amen, y'all. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Ohhhh, Christian. <br>
'''Kiera:''' That man's a very pretty one. Who's that? <br>
'''''Rina and Nika together: ''That's Christian.'''''<br>
'''Kiera:''' Ah, very comely. <br>
'''Arden:''' And he'll be the first to tell you so, too. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Companion. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Pardon? <br>
'''Joshua:''' He's a Companion. Or was. I guess he still is. <br>
'''Nika:''' He's still licensed as far as I know. <br>
'''Arden:''' I wonder if he gets some business on that sand rock. <br>
'''Rina:''' Oh, you'd be surprised. <br>
'''Nika:''' He was the XO for a while but I'll bet he keeps his license up. <br>
'''Rina:''' (grins) He keeps other things up too. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Oohh. <br>
'''Arden:''' Let's not go there. <br>
'''Joshua:''' So. Money. And then we figure out what we're going to do. <br>
'''Nika:''' I might take advantage of him this time. <br>
'''Arden:''' Wow. <br>
'''Rina:''' I'm sure he'll be happy to. <br>
'''Nika:''' (laughs) Dirtside. We have not been dirtside in … forever. <br>
'''Rina:''' Well, no …<br>
'''Arden:''' We're dirtside now. <br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah. Not where we can have ''fun.''<br>
'''Joshua:''' This is not dirtside. Trust me. 160 degree weather in the desert? I'm sure it's not that way at the spaceport but this wasn't as pleasant as the last time. <br>
'''Rina:''' (focus!) He's going to wire us money. We'll get us spaceworthy and get to Angel. And then I say we disappear. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Disappear ''where''? <br>

Before she can answer, Nika jumps in. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Beggar, what made you think to call him? <br>
'''Beglan:''' I didn't. <br>
'''Nika:''' Oh. <br>
'''Arden:''' He called here and he talked to Beggar and then he called back. <br>
'''Beglan:''' I told him where the ship is at the space port. <br>
'''Nika:''' That's fine. He's a partner in the ship. Well, he was. <br>
'''Arden:''' He's a partner in the corporation. <br><br>

In fact, he runs the corporation out of Angel. Morningstar Enterprises. It's to him our earnings less expenses go. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' And we've been very good not asking Daddy for money. (facepalm!) I can't believe I said that. God …<br>
'''Kiera:''' No, it's all right. <br>
'''Rina:''' (softly) That was insulting. <br>
'''Kiera:''' No, it's all right. <br><br>

Rina really hates asking for money from anyone. And the crew understands it. But sometimes you have to ask and technically speaking, as a ship in a corporation running ships, we're supposed to take money from the company in order to run our vessel from time to time. We did it with ''Summer's Gift''. We'll do it now with ''Equinox''. We've a lot of work to get our girl up in the air again and at least now we know what's waiting for us at the far end of our journey—family and home. We break up our crew meeting and get ready for repairs once the money from Christian wires in. <br><br>



'''Parts:''' [[Episode 606: Fireworks|1]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Two|2]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Three|3]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Four|4]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Part Five|5]], [[Episode 606: Fireworks, Special Features|Special Features]]. <br><br>

----
Go back to: '''''[[Episode 605: Devil's Compromise| Devil's Compromise]]''''' | Go Foward to '''''The Next Episode'''''<br>
Go back to '''''[[Mutineers Season Six | Season Six: Franc-tireurs]]'''''<br>
Back to [[EPISODES]] or [[Mutineers Timeline|TIMELINE]]<br>