Editing Episode 307: Cassandra Lockdown, Part Two
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Well. Now that she put it that way….. | Well. Now that she put it that way….. | ||
| − | + | Arden: I don’t know. That’s why I was trying to catch up with you.<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: I’m fighting this stupid…thing they drugged me with because of you.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Well. All those things are true. I apologize for….intruding. <br> | |
Meanwhile, Joshua is off to the side, trying to get a bead on her. Not Reading her, but reading her. The sense he gets off the woman is that she’s sincerely angry. At this point Valerie turns her attention to Joshua. | Meanwhile, Joshua is off to the side, trying to get a bead on her. Not Reading her, but reading her. The sense he gets off the woman is that she’s sincerely angry. At this point Valerie turns her attention to Joshua. | ||
| − | + | Valerie: Who are you?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: I’m with him. Don’t—<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: One of my crewmates.<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: (to Joshua) Be careful.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Trust me, there’s nothing he can do to me that could be worse than anything else than what’s been done to me so far.<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: You don’t know that.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Oh, I’m pretty sure I do. | |
The less said on that matter, the better. | The less said on that matter, the better. | ||
| − | + | Arden: I apologize for disrupting you.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: You may want to be careful, too.<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: What’s happened?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Nothing, other than the Parliament bombing—<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: Parliament was bombed? Where? What do you mean?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Londinium. You mean you didn’t hear the news yesterday?<br> | |
| − | + | Valerie: I gotta go.<br> | |
And she abruptly climbs into her car and peels out of there. | And she abruptly climbs into her car and peels out of there. | ||
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And as Valerie peels out, she holds up her phone to her window and takes a picture of Joshua and Arden without looking at them. | And as Valerie peels out, she holds up her phone to her window and takes a picture of Joshua and Arden without looking at them. | ||
| − | + | Joshua: That’s not good.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: What’s not good?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: She took a photo of us.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: How?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Cell phone.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: That’s odd for—<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: No. That goes beyond odd. That goes into Rina-paranoid level. The kind where we’re going to start wearing—<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Sunglasses? And a wig.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: We’re made. The point is, I know you’re not trying to hide but if she’s taking photos of us, that means that she wants to show them to somebody else. Which means that she’s involved. Or else she’s trying to keep you from stopping her.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Let’s just go back to the ship now.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Okay.<br> | |
Meanwhile, Rick has spent the balance of the day after talking to the other ship’s crewman by sunbathing on the hull of the Gift….with a pair of binoculars, the better to spy on the neighboring ship. He was sent that photo of bananas and tarantula for a reason. He wants to find out why. So he’s up there with his towel and other sunbathing paraphernalia and those binoculars. | Meanwhile, Rick has spent the balance of the day after talking to the other ship’s crewman by sunbathing on the hull of the Gift….with a pair of binoculars, the better to spy on the neighboring ship. He was sent that photo of bananas and tarantula for a reason. He wants to find out why. So he’s up there with his towel and other sunbathing paraphernalia and those binoculars. | ||
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Arden is trying to suss out why Valerie snubbed him. If it’s true she didn’t send him the message to meet her, who did? | Arden is trying to suss out why Valerie snubbed him. If it’s true she didn’t send him the message to meet her, who did? | ||
| − | + | Rick: You know what that could mean.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: No. Go ahead.<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: MY concern is if Valerie did not contact you people…<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: ‘You people’?<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: …then who did?<br> | |
| − | + | Rick: I’m hopin’ that it’s my girl.<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: In any case, if Valerie did not contact Arden, then my top guess is Arden’s brother, Otto.<br> | |
Otto, Arden’s clone brother. Operative of the Parliament and a figure Joshua remembers from the Academy. | Otto, Arden’s clone brother. Operative of the Parliament and a figure Joshua remembers from the Academy. | ||
| − | + | Joshua: Whoa. Really? <br> | |
| − | + | Rina: Oh, shit.<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: Yeah. That.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: This. like, all bad around. We can either have Blue Hand people, like, come for Rick and killing me, like we’re—<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: Or we could have Otto kill ya.<br> | |
| − | + | Rick: Apparently these Blue Hands people are pushovers because this’ll be the third time I’ve encountered them. Not including dreams, by the way.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Thank you for clarifying that.<br> | |
Okay. Moving right along! | Okay. Moving right along! | ||
| − | + | Joshua: So what’s our plan here?<br> | |
Our plan is to get the cargo loaded but it’s still in transit to Meridian. It’s expected to get here in two days. What we do in the meantime is pretty much for grabs. Rick suggests hanging out on the hull, catching some rays, making pina coladas. Maybe go into town and get supplies. If we’ve nothing else to do, Nika would like to take off and see her family on Decatur. Rick bemoans the loss of her sunbathing company. Initial plans are made to take her up in the Gift to Decatur and drop her off aboard, then go back down and reclaim our spot on the landing pads. Joshua’s reasonably certain that if she teaches him how to do it, he could handle the flying. | Our plan is to get the cargo loaded but it’s still in transit to Meridian. It’s expected to get here in two days. What we do in the meantime is pretty much for grabs. Rick suggests hanging out on the hull, catching some rays, making pina coladas. Maybe go into town and get supplies. If we’ve nothing else to do, Nika would like to take off and see her family on Decatur. Rick bemoans the loss of her sunbathing company. Initial plans are made to take her up in the Gift to Decatur and drop her off aboard, then go back down and reclaim our spot on the landing pads. Joshua’s reasonably certain that if she teaches him how to do it, he could handle the flying. | ||
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Harry is off to the side, looking bemusedly on, gauging everything. Then she goes up to Nika and gives Nika a salute, before turning to each member of our party and doing the same. | Harry is off to the side, looking bemusedly on, gauging everything. Then she goes up to Nika and gives Nika a salute, before turning to each member of our party and doing the same. | ||
| − | + | Harry: Earhart. Dr. Arden. Ms. Sebastien. I’m sorry—?<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: You can call me Joshua, Joshua Drake.<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: Mr. Drake. Welcome aboard. Captain Kramer is actually not on the ship at the present. She was called by our benefactor for discussions. She’s expected to be back shortly so hopefully you’ll get a chance to see her.<br> | |
Brian walks up and gives Nika a hail-fellow-well-met, ass-grabbing hug. Which she’s too surprised to evade or protest but it earns him a WTF? look. Brian gives Rina the same, she sees it coming and moves to twist his offending hand behind his back. Everyone gives the two some room. Move, counter move, and Brian ends up trapping her hand in his. He holds it as a gentle warning and lets go. | Brian walks up and gives Nika a hail-fellow-well-met, ass-grabbing hug. Which she’s too surprised to evade or protest but it earns him a WTF? look. Brian gives Rina the same, she sees it coming and moves to twist his offending hand behind his back. Everyone gives the two some room. Move, counter move, and Brian ends up trapping her hand in his. He holds it as a gentle warning and lets go. | ||
| − | + | Brian: Hey. It’s been months and this is the greeting I get?<br> | |
| − | + | Rina: (pissed, at Brian) The last time you greeted me it wasn’t hands-to-ass-first first.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Well, he has been in a coma for what? six months? a year?<br> | |
| − | + | Rina: The island, dude.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: What? He’s just greeting an old friend.<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: As I approached, you were going to do one of your ninja moves on me. It’s me, Brian. Don’t you remember me?<br> | |
| − | + | Rina: Yeah, I remember you.<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: Okay. What’s the problem?<br> | |
Seriously? | Seriously? | ||
| − | + | Rina: Grab-assing Nika? In front of God and everybody?<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: Maybe you don’t know our history. (To Nika) You told her about us right?<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Maybe we should find a place away from the command deck.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Why don’t we—why don’t we tone down the conversation a little bit and—<br> | |
Too late. | Too late. | ||
| − | + | Brian: Well, if it isn’t the Great Dr. Arden. How are you doing. Hey, I never got a chance to really thank you for saving my life. I appreciate that.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: Okay….no need to really thank. I was just…I’m glad you’re doing better.<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: Well….there are a few minor differences which are a little troubling. But don’t you worry about it. I’m sure you did a good job. Thanks for checking up on me.<br> | |
It’s clear from Brian’s tone and manner that he’s not anywhere near thankful. | It’s clear from Brian’s tone and manner that he’s not anywhere near thankful. | ||
| − | + | Arden: (warily) Okay….yeah. Um. <br> | |
| − | + | Arden: (to Harry) Lt. Cmdr, could you show me and Joshua around the ship while the old friends get acquainted?<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: I can send someone to do that if you wish.<br> | |
| − | + | Arden: I just don’t want to be in the way.<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: I wouldn’t say you were in the way. You would appear to be quite the target.<br> | |
Joshua laughs outright at this and says to Harry: | Joshua laughs outright at this and says to Harry: | ||
| − | + | Joshua: I like ''you''. (Really!) I ''like'' you.<br> | |
The tension eases somewhat. | The tension eases somewhat. | ||
| − | + | Nika: (to Brian) The last time we were to hang out, you said you were going to buy me dinner. That still hold?<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: Sure.<br> | |
| − | + | Nika: Let’s go find something to eat.<br> | |
| − | + | Brian: All right.<br> | |
Brian is reluctant to leave the deck, so she draws him off to the side a bit. | Brian is reluctant to leave the deck, so she draws him off to the side a bit. | ||
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Meanwhile, elsewhere on Decatur, Rick has successfully followed the four suspicious Blue Sun Crew to a less populated area of the ship. As he watches, one of the men plugs his databook to a secured door, taps some buttons and unlocks it. They go in and Rick has to move damned quick to make it inside before the door closes. | Meanwhile, elsewhere on Decatur, Rick has successfully followed the four suspicious Blue Sun Crew to a less populated area of the ship. As he watches, one of the men plugs his databook to a secured door, taps some buttons and unlocks it. They go in and Rick has to move damned quick to make it inside before the door closes. | ||
| − | Looking around, he sees he’s in a secured area, one not open to unauthorized | + | Looking around, he sees he’s in a secured area, one not open to unauthorized cxrew. It’s a munitions deck. Gunnery rounds. Missiles. Stuff you do not want to blow up. |
Oh, holy crap. | Oh, holy crap. | ||
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On the command deck, Joshua’s standing a bit amused and bemused at the odd reunion just played out. | On the command deck, Joshua’s standing a bit amused and bemused at the odd reunion just played out. | ||
| − | + | Rina: (murmurs) Brian never grabbed me. Or tried to.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: I actually have some idea of what’s up with all that…<br> | |
He doesn’t have a chance to elaborate before his comm sputters a beep in his ear and then goes dead. | He doesn’t have a chance to elaborate before his comm sputters a beep in his ear and then goes dead. | ||
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Back in the munitions compartment, Rick opens another channel on his comm. He has to whisper to avoid being overheard by the opposition. There’s hissing in his ear—interference from Decatur’s bulkheads—and Rick calls in anyway, hoping to get through. | Back in the munitions compartment, Rick opens another channel on his comm. He has to whisper to avoid being overheard by the opposition. There’s hissing in his ear—interference from Decatur’s bulkheads—and Rick calls in anyway, hoping to get through. | ||
| − | + | Rick: In a secure munitions area. Terrorists. Could be robots.<br> | |
On the command deck, Joshua hears only a static-laced message. | On the command deck, Joshua hears only a static-laced message. | ||
| − | + | Rick: In a sec-# mun-#-tion #-#-#. Terrorists. Could be robots.<br> | |
She is observing the entire reunion with a bemused look but her gaze sharpens when Joshua approaches. | She is observing the entire reunion with a bemused look but her gaze sharpens when Joshua approaches. | ||
| − | + | Joshua: Hi. I’m Joshua. We’ve never technically met but, um, can I talk to you for just a second?<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: Well..he…ah…(looks toward Brian)<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: I know they’re interesting, because …they are. But I actually really need to talk to you for a minute.<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: (decision made) Sure.<br> | |
Down in the munitions compartment, Rick sees that the data book is hooked up to the compartment’s computer now and something’s getting typed in. | Down in the munitions compartment, Rick sees that the data book is hooked up to the compartment’s computer now and something’s getting typed in. | ||
| − | + | Rick: (still whispering) Accessing computer system.<br> | |
On the command deck Joshua’s keeping tabs on the reports and carrying on his conversation with Harry. | On the command deck Joshua’s keeping tabs on the reports and carrying on his conversation with Harry. | ||
| − | + | Rick: (in Joshua’s ear) Ac_#-#-# computer #-#-.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: You remember Rick? You remember him from when you were there?<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: Mm-hm.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Okay. Well, after we landed and before we were taken to the command deck, he saw some men, something from the Blue Sun ship that was following us—<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: We get a couple of Blue Sun shipments a week.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: Yes, but the point is that Rick suspected something and he followed them. I usually trust him when he suspects something and my point is, if he’s following somebody and he’s in contact with us, he wouldn’t contact us unless something went wrong. And I just got a contact from him with the following words that I could make out clearly: Munitions. Terrorists. Computer. And..they might be robots. So I know it’s Rick.<br> | |
| − | + | Harry: We have a robot munitions loading machine.<br> | |
| − | + | Joshua: And I can give you the general direction he went from—<br> | |
Harry turns away and addresses one of the deck crew. | Harry turns away and addresses one of the deck crew. | ||
| − | + | Harry: Any security breaches?<br> | |
| − | + | Crewman: Systems are normal. Oh, wait—!<br> | |
'''BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH!''' | '''BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH! BRAAAAAAAAH!''' | ||
