Editing Episode 311: Suckered, Part Three

We find Iskariot.  He didn’t go far.  He’s in the vineyard, walking and talking to himself. Rick was scouting ahead of Rina and the others, so Rick catches up with the errant Shepherd first.  They talk.

We find Iskariot.  He didn’t go far.  He’s in the vineyard, walking and talking to himself. Rick was scouting ahead of Rina and the others, so Rick catches up with the errant Shepherd first.  They talk.

Rick tells him about the cure for the Prion disease.

Rick tells him about the cure for the Prion disease.

   

   

The others have caught up with them and Arden hears the last half of Iskariot’s statement.

The others have caught up with them and Arden hears the last half of Iskariot’s statement.

Despite Arden’s earlier comment, Iskariot just now becomes aware that the rest of us as Rick replies.

Despite Arden’s earlier comment, Iskariot just now becomes aware that the rest of us as Rick replies.

It’s not a question.  

It’s not a question.  

''Nothing?''  He fed incapacitated people, ''alive'', to the ''Reavers''.  Is there a point more horrible, more criminal beyond that?

''Nothing?''  He fed incapacitated people, ''alive'', to the ''Reavers''.  Is there a point more horrible, more criminal beyond that?

Iskariot turns around and his eyes slide to Joshua. Recalling the accusations he’s thrown at Joshua’s head, everyone else tenses. Is he going to attack Joshua? Cue the creepy music….!

Iskariot turns around and his eyes slide to Joshua. Recalling the accusations he’s thrown at Joshua’s head, everyone else tenses. Is he going to attack Joshua? Cue the creepy music….!

Joshua starts to laugh, either from droll amusement despite the situation or perhaps from the tension.  Regardless, Rina slips into a ready stance.  She’s packing and her arms are crossed, her right hand inside her coveralls gripping her gun for a quick draw.  Iskariot’s gaze moves off Joshua and onto her and he regards her for a moment, as if sizing her up.  She stares right back, refusing to back down.

Joshua starts to laugh, either from droll amusement despite the situation or perhaps from the tension.  Regardless, Rina slips into a ready stance.  She’s packing and her arms are crossed, her right hand inside her coveralls gripping her gun for a quick draw.  Iskariot’s gaze moves off Joshua and onto her and he regards her for a moment, as if sizing her up.  She stares right back, refusing to back down.

    

    

Rick tries to defuse the stand-off.

Rick tries to defuse the stand-off.

Strong words, coming from Joshua. Rick pushes on, fastening on something that Iskariot had said back at the Sanctuary.  

Strong words, coming from Joshua. Rick pushes on, fastening on something that Iskariot had said back at the Sanctuary.  

Joshua’s kept his eye on Iskariot, reading all the subtle (and not so subtle) tells of body language and tone.  He goes into total defensive mode, certain that Iskariot is going to try something against him. Joshua’s not entirely defenseless.  He’s trained in Aikido.  

Joshua’s kept his eye on Iskariot, reading all the subtle (and not so subtle) tells of body language and tone.  He goes into total defensive mode, certain that Iskariot is going to try something against him. Joshua’s not entirely defenseless.  He’s trained in Aikido.  

Iskariot makes his move against Joshua.  Joshua dodges.  Iskariot misses.  Meanwhile, Arden is going through his medical bag, loading up a sedative for injection. Rina draws her gun and brings it up, sighting on Iskariot.

Iskariot makes his move against Joshua.  Joshua dodges.  Iskariot misses.  Meanwhile, Arden is going through his medical bag, loading up a sedative for injection. Rina draws her gun and brings it up, sighting on Iskariot.

Standing behind Iskariot, Rick again tried to talk the man down out of combat, stating that the other Reader, River, managed to resist her conditioning and did not turn into the assassin he’s accused Joshua of being.  If she could do it, then the chance exists that so could Joshua.  Iskariot tilts an ear in Rick’s direction but keeps facing forward.  There’s no real telling if Rick is making any headway against violence and stupidity, here.

Standing behind Iskariot, Rick again tried to talk the man down out of combat, stating that the other Reader, River, managed to resist her conditioning and did not turn into the assassin he’s accused Joshua of being.  If she could do it, then the chance exists that so could Joshua.  Iskariot tilts an ear in Rick’s direction but keeps facing forward.  There’s no real telling if Rick is making any headway against violence and stupidity, here.

Joshua moves backward and Iskariot’s mien changes.

Joshua moves backward and Iskariot’s mien changes.

And lightning fast, he grabs Rina’s gun.  Snatch! And now he’s got her gun trained on Joshua.

And lightning fast, he grabs Rina’s gun.  Snatch! And now he’s got her gun trained on Joshua.

Rina steps in front of Joshua to give him cover. No, Joshua tells her and neatly dodges her, pulling her behind him and reversing their position.  He won’t hide behind his friends, however well-meaning they may be.  He maintains his defensive stance and addresses Iskariot.

Rina steps in front of Joshua to give him cover. No, Joshua tells her and neatly dodges her, pulling her behind him and reversing their position.  He won’t hide behind his friends, however well-meaning they may be.  He maintains his defensive stance and addresses Iskariot.

It’s a standoff.  Iskariot has the gun but Joshua isn’t backing down.  Arden has his hands full, busy loading that sedative.  Rick is too far away still to tackle Iskariot and Rina cannot possibly shove Joshua out of range before the gun goes off.

It’s a standoff.  Iskariot has the gun but Joshua isn’t backing down.  Arden has his hands full, busy loading that sedative.  Rick is too far away still to tackle Iskariot and Rina cannot possibly shove Joshua out of range before the gun goes off.

Iskariot twitches at this.  The hand holding the gun shakes slightly, but Iskariot maintains his aim. Arden moves in with the syringe but Iskariot dodges out of the way.  It breaks his aim on Joshua and Rick continues talking Iskariot down.

Iskariot twitches at this.  The hand holding the gun shakes slightly, but Iskariot maintains his aim. Arden moves in with the syringe but Iskariot dodges out of the way.  It breaks his aim on Joshua and Rick continues talking Iskariot down.

Iskariot pauses as Rick’s words finally sink in.  The gun comes up.  The trigger is pulled and ''bang!'' Iskariot shoots himself through the head from below.  Blood and bone and brain matter spray up and out, spattering the vines and us.   

Iskariot pauses as Rick’s words finally sink in.  The gun comes up.  The trigger is pulled and ''bang!'' Iskariot shoots himself through the head from below.  Blood and bone and brain matter spray up and out, spattering the vines and us.   

Thwarted, Arden curses Iskariot and calls him a coward.  Joshua eyes the body narrowly.

Thwarted, Arden curses Iskariot and calls him a coward.  Joshua eyes the body narrowly.

Using her handkerchief as a makeshift glove against the gore, Rina spears her pen through her gun’s trigger guard to carry it.  No way is she touching it barehanded, nope.

Using her handkerchief as a makeshift glove against the gore, Rina spears her pen through her gun’s trigger guard to carry it.  No way is she touching it barehanded, nope.

We clean up on the ''Gift'' and return to the Mission.

We clean up on the ''Gift'' and return to the Mission.

Rick calls dibs on Iskariot’s sword and no one contests his claim.  We find it on the altar, actually, and Rick inspects it.  It’s a short sword, elegantly utilitarian and in good condition.

Rick calls dibs on Iskariot’s sword and no one contests his claim.  We find it on the altar, actually, and Rick inspects it.  It’s a short sword, elegantly utilitarian and in good condition.

Faria is ready to go.  As for Escobar, he’s staying behind at the Mission.   

Faria is ready to go.  As for Escobar, he’s staying behind at the Mission.   

'''Faria and Arden simultaneously:''' The General.<br>

'''Faria and Arden simultaneously:''' The General.<br>

And on that humorous note, we dock our shuttle back onto our ship, get Faria stowed comfortably aboard, and leave.  The ''Gift'' flies a little better with the shuttle on her, the weight adding a stabilizing element, and we fly on, grateful for whatever advantage we can muster.<br><br>

And on that humorous note, we dock our shuttle back onto our ship, get Faria stowed comfortably aboard, and leave.  The ''Gift'' flies a little better with the shuttle on her, the weight adding a stabilizing element, and we fly on, grateful for whatever advantage we can muster.<br><br>

We speculate who could have done the subsequent damage and why.

We speculate who could have done the subsequent damage and why.

Joshua’s been stretching his meds for about a month now, and the vibe off ''Orcus'' is grating on his nerves. His agitation level has gone up.  Joshua can hear odd sounds and starts sensing things just hiding past the nearest corner—like someone or something is hiding and ready to jump out at him.  Basically, the psychic residues of ''Orcus'' are pretty much affecting Joshua’s senses. And that residue has spread to the ''Gift'', until there’s no place Joshua can go to escape the ghostly effects.

Joshua’s been stretching his meds for about a month now, and the vibe off ''Orcus'' is grating on his nerves. His agitation level has gone up.  Joshua can hear odd sounds and starts sensing things just hiding past the nearest corner—like someone or something is hiding and ready to jump out at him.  Basically, the psychic residues of ''Orcus'' are pretty much affecting Joshua’s senses. And that residue has spread to the ''Gift'', until there’s no place Joshua can go to escape the ghostly effects.

It’s going to take us days, necessitating EVAs to get the deflector panels and airlock door installed at the very least, along with tearing away panels on the interior and exterior to get at the parts we need.   

It’s going to take us days, necessitating EVAs to get the deflector panels and airlock door installed at the very least, along with tearing away panels on the interior and exterior to get at the parts we need.   

As for Arden and his cut finger, Arden determines the blood sample is very old and chances are pretty good there were no active Prions to infect him with.  If he actually is infected, he at least has the advantage of knowing how to cure the disease with a combination of surgery and pharmacology.  We’d just have to find someone who can do the surgical procedure as well as he.   

As for Arden and his cut finger, Arden determines the blood sample is very old and chances are pretty good there were no active Prions to infect him with.  If he actually is infected, he at least has the advantage of knowing how to cure the disease with a combination of surgery and pharmacology.  We’d just have to find someone who can do the surgical procedure as well as he.   

After a much needed laugh we get back to work.  And the weird crap starts happening, above and beyond the jeebies the overall creepiness of the place engenders.

After a much needed laugh we get back to work.  And the weird crap starts happening, above and beyond the jeebies the overall creepiness of the place engenders.

Rina’s in ''Orcus''’s engine room, cutting away a panel to get at some much needed parts when there’s a flicker of the lights…and they all go dead on both ships.  Growling at the inconvenience, Rina digs her flashlight out of her pocket, turns the thing on and threads it through the coverall strap on her shoulder and comms the crew.

Rina’s in ''Orcus''’s engine room, cutting away a panel to get at some much needed parts when there’s a flicker of the lights…and they all go dead on both ships.  Growling at the inconvenience, Rina digs her flashlight out of her pocket, turns the thing on and threads it through the coverall strap on her shoulder and comms the crew.

   

   

Rick is in a vac suit dismantling the ruined outer airlock door off the ''Gift'' when this happens.  Joshua’s suited up and helping him.  Arden sees the lights go out and makes his way to the bridge, where Nika is sitting and thinking: this is strange. Arden checks engineering next.

Rick is in a vac suit dismantling the ruined outer airlock door off the ''Gift'' when this happens.  Joshua’s suited up and helping him.  Arden sees the lights go out and makes his way to the bridge, where Nika is sitting and thinking: this is strange. Arden checks engineering next.

The others comply.

The others comply.

With a stuttering hum, the lights on both ships flicker back on.

With a stuttering hum, the lights on both ships flicker back on.

Easy mark much, Joshua?

Easy mark much, Joshua?

Rina’s still working on getting the ITC valve free, hears the chatter over her comm and sighs.

Rina’s still working on getting the ITC valve free, hears the chatter over her comm and sighs.

As for Faria, he’s not of much use to us in salvage work, but he does what he can.  At the moment, he’s making coffee.  The comm chatter continues between us as we work to get what we need and get the hell out.

As for Faria, he’s not of much use to us in salvage work, but he does what he can.  At the moment, he’s making coffee.  The comm chatter continues between us as we work to get what we need and get the hell out.

There is a wiring schematic Rina can spin up via diagnostics but it doesn’t maintain a history of all damage. We’re not going to be able to see where the flare-up started and trace its path from beginning to end.  We can only see the aftermath.  Arden suggests checking the power coupling between our ships.  Joshua mutters to himself about another possibility.

There is a wiring schematic Rina can spin up via diagnostics but it doesn’t maintain a history of all damage. We’re not going to be able to see where the flare-up started and trace its path from beginning to end.  We can only see the aftermath.  Arden suggests checking the power coupling between our ships.  Joshua mutters to himself about another possibility.

Meanwhile, Arden and Rina are checking the power coupling and power path between the two ships.  They rule out a brownout.  They’re able to see the fuse and tracing the power lines running between the two ships we think we can trace the anomaly to a point roughly where the two ships are connected.  And it looks like a weird energy burst.  We don’t have any sensors up and running but based on the pattern of the damage ….

Meanwhile, Arden and Rina are checking the power coupling and power path between the two ships.  They rule out a brownout.  They’re able to see the fuse and tracing the power lines running between the two ships we think we can trace the anomaly to a point roughly where the two ships are connected.  And it looks like a weird energy burst.  We don’t have any sensors up and running but based on the pattern of the damage ….

She must have hit her head during the grav flux.  She’s got a small head wound and is bleeding buckets, as even small head wounds are wont to do.  Arden informs the crew via our comms what’s happened.

She must have hit her head during the grav flux.  She’s got a small head wound and is bleeding buckets, as even small head wounds are wont to do.  Arden informs the crew via our comms what’s happened.

She might sound callous, but if Arden is a people-doctor, then Rina is a ship-doctor.  And right now she’s got the ''Gift''’s liver transplant in her hands—the ITCV—and the ship’s putative breastbone cracked wide open: our faulty airlock door has been removed and the airlock stands exposed to the vacuum of space.  The eyes and ears of the ''Gift'' are getting replaced next—the sensor array is next on her list of operations.  And the deflector vanes?  God, don’t talk her about the deflector vanes.  Even working in the weightless environment of space, it will take three people working on it to get those transferred and installed on the ''Gift''.

She might sound callous, but if Arden is a people-doctor, then Rina is a ship-doctor.  And right now she’s got the ''Gift''’s liver transplant in her hands—the ITCV—and the ship’s putative breastbone cracked wide open: our faulty airlock door has been removed and the airlock stands exposed to the vacuum of space.  The eyes and ears of the ''Gift'' are getting replaced next—the sensor array is next on her list of operations.  And the deflector vanes?  God, don’t talk her about the deflector vanes.  Even working in the weightless environment of space, it will take three people working on it to get those transferred and installed on the ''Gift''.

Rick pulls Joshua aside to yank his chain even more with old war stories.  In fact, there was this one time when…..

Rick pulls Joshua aside to yank his chain even more with old war stories.  In fact, there was this one time when…..

Oh boy. Joshua’s already nervous but now he remembers a warning from his trainers about psychic residues.  There’s not necessarily a spatial limit to the residues, but there is a flow to psychic energy and they taught him how to focus on the atmosphere around him, the better to sense those with hostile intent coming toward him.  Or stepping onto ground where there’s been massive death.  Or sensing things as they actually happen.

Oh boy. Joshua’s already nervous but now he remembers a warning from his trainers about psychic residues.  There’s not necessarily a spatial limit to the residues, but there is a flow to psychic energy and they taught him how to focus on the atmosphere around him, the better to sense those with hostile intent coming toward him.  Or stepping onto ground where there’s been massive death.  Or sensing things as they actually happen.

Like anything that could be attracted to or affect our power and our grav and cause trouble for us there?

Like anything that could be attracted to or affect our power and our grav and cause trouble for us there?

As he turns to leave, the comm crackles to life and a voice stutters through the static.

As he turns to leave, the comm crackles to life and a voice stutters through the static.

Arden grabs the mike and thumbs it live.

Arden grabs the mike and thumbs it live.

They can’t hear Arden. Arden switches to all-ship and tells everyone he’s receiving some radio chatter.

They can’t hear Arden. Arden switches to all-ship and tells everyone he’s receiving some radio chatter.