Editing Episode 404: Crucible, Part Four

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[[Episode_404:_Crucible| Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 404: Crucible, Part Two | Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 404: Crucible, Part Three| Part 3]]<br><br><br><br>

The Non-com is looking a mite weirded out over this new development.  This is clearly not the sort of thing he was expecting.  It sure the hell wasn’t what Rina expected, either.<br><br>

Rina silently mouths: ''Take care of him?''<br><br>

And she mimes putting a pistol under her chin and pulling the trigger.<br><br>

'''Mike:''' Yes.  Assume he’s armored. It’s … There’s no … It’s impossible that it’s a coincidence.  You have to focus.<br><br>

She can’t move.  She can’t breathe.<br><br>

'''Mike:''' You have to focus. You know the goal. You can’t let yourself be betrayed by emotion. <br><br>

All she can do is stare at the man she loves.<br><br>

'''Mike:''' I was able to do it. You can do it. I know you can.<br><br>

She takes a breath and then another and she can speak again.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' When?<br>
'''Mike:''' As soon as you can. (a beat) Obviously, not here.  But where it’s safe enough.  He’ll be suspicious.  So you have to convince him.  You have to … have to … (taps his temple) Two minds. Just like you did when you were Strachan.<br><br>

And she thinks: ''Dear God, what have I done?''<br><br>

'''Rina:''' I had a little more time to prepare for that. I had two whole days.<br>
'''Mike:''' Only your life depends on it. And possibly the lives of your crew.<br><br>

She’s trapped between two men: Mike. Joshua.<br><br>

'''Mike:''' And then, if we both survive this, then … we’ll try. We’ll just have to try to put this behind us.  And do it again if we have to.<br>
'''Rina:''' Who else is left to kill, Mike?<br>
'''Mike:''' Normally, you’re right. Normally we would leave fewer loose ends, but we’ve got a lot of people here.<br>
'''Rina:''' Where did you … Where did you get this intel, Mike?<br>
'''Mike:''' I’m not without my resources.<br>
'''Rina:''' How do you know your resource is good? How do you know it’s not a trick?<br>
'''Mike:''' Get me out. Or stick around, deal with him, and I’ll show you plenty of … evidence.<br>
'''Rina:''' From your jail cell?<br>
'''Mike:''' I can’t show you from my jail cell.<br>
'''Rina:''' Of course not, but … I … it …<br>
'''Mike:''' You’ll have to trust me.<br><br>

And that’s it, right there.  Does she trust him? Mike looks at her narrowly.<br><br>

'''Mike:''' How long has he been flying with you?<br>
'''Rina:''' 26 June, 2520<br>
'''Mike:''' You can’t … You mean you didn’t know any of this?  He never seemed … a little odd to you?<br><br>

That’s a loaded question.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Anybody looking at us on that ship would think we were all crazy as foxes.<br>
'''Mike:''' But if it’s anything like his MO, he will try to seem sympathetic, perhaps helpless, earn your trust.  Somehow try to gain your affections. But it’s … He’s just like us.  There’s nothing inside him that’s real. He’s on a mission.<br>
'''Rina:''' What is it?<br>
'''Mike:''' I don’t know but I can’t—<br>
'''Rina:''' What are we carrying that he would want us? And by us I mean the crew of Summer’s Gift. You weren’t even in the picture.<br>
'''Mike:''' Oh? Here you are. You brought him right here.<br>
'''Rina:''' If you’re saying you were the target, then why did you do the thing that would … call every—oh God, wheels and wheels and wheels and wheels—!<br><br>

Rina does a tight spin and stalks off three steps to the door, then three steps back, hands fisting in her hair. Kiera’s watching all of this from the entrance to the bay and leans over to Nika.<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Not comfortable, not comfortable.<br><br>

Kiera looks at the guards in the corridor and smiles brightly.<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Any of you guys know Pinochle?<br><br>

Meanwhile, back at Tanner’s office …<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' You seem to have legitimate responses to these questions. I’m a bit out of my league here. I’m a junior JAG officer.  I’m not a specialist in any sort of thing.  All I can say is, this is the first time anyone has said, “Hey, there’s a Blue Sun spy, right there”, who has the credibility to make me think about it. Now if it was some random person, if he was somebody who took a shot at You Ge at some parade, I’d say “Hmm, maybe it’s a crazy person.” But you understand my position.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’ll buy that. I’ll buy that argument. Sure.  He’s a what? some sort of spy? Is that what I gather? <br>
'''Tanner:''' Oh, you never heard of him, right?<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, I didn’t say I never heard of him.  They didn’t talk a lot about him except to say …<br>
'''Tanner:''' He did successfully assassinate one of the more powerful people in the Verse.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Right. I gathered that, yes.<br>
'''Tanner:''' And I’m getting the impression that this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Now that I didn’t actually know.<br>
'''Tanner:''' Well from what people have told me, he’s actually had a fairly successful career dating back to the War. To which we undoubtedly owe him considerable thanks.<br>
'''Joshua:''' So where’s that leave us?<br><br>

Tanner takes a beat to choose his words.  Then:<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' I’m a firm believer in the rights of people not to be under the heel of a government or a corporation.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay. I’m on board with that. Really, I’m on board with that.<br>
'''Tanner:''' The … Well.  There’s a lot of bad blood that’s going to get spilled and washed clean these next couple of weeks.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah. I kinda gathered that.<br>
'''Tanner:''' And one can hope that it can wash out and not ruin us all. <br>
'''Joshua:''' If it means anything to you, and it may not, but the last thing I want to see is blood spilled. On either side—if there’s a side to be involved, I don’t know—but the last thing I want to see is blood spilled.<br><br>

Tanner looks Joshua over.<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' You came from Decatur?<br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Tanner:''' All right.  You’re free to go.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay. I’ll let you show me out then.<br><br>

Tanner walks Joshua back to the others and asks on the way:<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' What do you think ought to happen to this man?<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’m a big believer in truth. Which sounds funny, since you were basically just accusing me of—<br>
'''Tanner:''' I wasn’t the one accusing you.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Sorry, sorry.  “You” as in the speaking voice for the moment of … of Mike Carter. <br>
'''Tanner:''' I know that sense.<br>
'''Joshua:''' You know that sense? Sure, I’ll concede you that. My point is, I believe in truth and I believe in–I hesitate to say—I believe in justice, and I’m … I don’t believe in killing. But if he did it, and if he’s proved to do it and he gets his time in a court of law then, then he should take whatever punishment is deserved to him for killing—I’d rather it not be the death penalty., since I don’t believe in it in general. I don’t believe in killing people to start with.  (undertone to self) Well, except for Reavers. But Reavers aren’t people, right?<br><br>

Joshua drags himself back on topic.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' If he’s guilty—prison. If he’s not guilty—freedom to walk free like any other innocent person would.  Everything I’ve gathered—and maybe you can correct me, right?—but everything I’ve gathered suggests that whether he’s guilty or innocent there are political things that play about what happens. I hate to see that but then again it isn’t my system.  I’d like to see justice done, is all.<br>
'''Tanner:''' All right.  <br><br>

Tanner and Joshua are even with the crew in the corridor now and Tanner’s voice takes on a more official tone. <br><br>

'''Tanner:''' Let us hope that justice is done and that truth is revealed.<br><br>

To the waiting crew, Joshua looks a little bit less … calm, if that’s the best word for it.  Tanner continues through to the plexiglass cage and the people there.<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' Are we done?<br>
'''Non-com:''' Yes, we’re done.  They’re done.<br>
'''Mike:''' I think so.<br>
'''Tanner:''' Mr. Carter.  Are you satisfied?<br>
'''Mike:''' I think I said all I care to right now.<br>
'''Rina:''' (to Mike) I’ll see you on the other side.<br><br>

Mike nods and rises and deliberately turns his back on everyone and lies down in his bunk.  Rina walks the long walk back to the corridor with her head high and chin up without another word. We regroup and Tanner escorts us back the way we came, up the long ramp to the surface. Kiera notices that the two people who would normally be talking to her are very very very quiet.<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' Well, there’s somebody who wishes to speak with you if you don’t mind a minute digression.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Why not? And who would that be?<br>
'''Rina:''' (undertone) Five will get you ten it’s Nguyen.<br>
'''Tanner:''' Ah. He says he’s a friend of yours.<br>
'''Joshua:''' (suspiciously) Of whose? The group? Her? Me? Him?<br><br>

The crew? Rina? Joshua? Mike Carter?<br><br>

'''Tanner:''' Yes.<br>
'''Nika:''' It’s fine. Settle down.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay, sure. But I’m not settling down.<br>
'''Kiera:''' I’m well disposed toward a lot of people. I didn’t think I’d meet anybody I knew but hey.<br>
'''Rina:''' You know, the hits just keep coming.  What’s one more?  Throw another log on the pyre. Let’s go.<br><br>

Sure enough, on the dirt outside our military shuttle we see another shuttle, one that wasn’t there before. It’s a small short range shuttle, but a nice one.  And by nice one, it’s moneyed-individual nice. It doesn’t appear to be armed.<br><br>

So, not military.  Huh. So who is it? Who do we know has money?<br><br>

The shuttle’s airlock stairs lower with a hiss of escaping atmo and touch down on the dirt.  Tanner walks us over to the stairs and motions for us to go up.  Rina climbs up first, resigned and only wanting to get this damned business over with.  Nika and Joshua follow Rina and Kiera brings up the rear.  At the top of the stairs, Rina stops, puts her hands on her hips and looks around.<br><br>

She sees a very nicely appointed shuttle. In the back is a figure partially shadowed and she cannot make out its face.  The voice when it calls out is male.<br><br>

'''Voice:''' Ah. Miss Sebastien?<br>
'''Rina:''' Yes.<br><br>

There is a rustle and the figure stands and steps into the light.<br><br>

'''Voice:''' Edward Gibbons.<br><br>

Member of Parliament Edward Gibbons of Osiris and more recently of Meridian, his Parliamentary jurisdiction.  Rina remembers him all right but what the hell is he doing here?<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Yes, sir.  You’re a long way from Meridian.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Come in, come in. Please sit down.  Well, not that very far, actually.<br>
'''Rina:''' Hm.  All right.<br><br>

She comes all the way in and the others follow and we all sit down. Gibbons notices Kiera right away.<br><br>

'''Gibbons:''' Hm, you’ve some new friends I see. <br>
'''Joshua:''' What do you want?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Well, I thought we’d have a chat. I heard you were speaking with Mr. Carter.  <br>
'''Nika:''' Briefly.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Not a word.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Not at all, actually, but ...<br>
'''Gibbons:''' I was hoping you could shed some light on what his plans were vis-à-vis testimony and such.<br>
'''Rina:''' He’s refused representation.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Yes. Is he planning on testifying?<br>
'''Rina:''' He didn’t say one way or the other.  I figure that’s out of his hands.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' It’s out of his hands whether he testifies or not?<br>
'''Rina:''' (angry now) How is he going to refuse to testify? They’re gonna drag him out and up there—<br>
'''Nika:''' It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to say anything.<br>
'''Rina:''' He didn’t say to me one way or the other.<br>
'''Joshua:''' True.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Ah, ha. It appears I was a bit late getting here than I was hoping.<br>
'''Rina:''' If you have a pardon in your pocket I would love to see it.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' I wouldn’t say a pardon … but there is a movement afoot to suggest alternate sentencing.  But it does require certain things remain, how shall I say? unsaid.  If his plan is to remain quiet, then that might be adequate.<br>
'''Rina:''' (very softly to self) ''Oh, God, I ''''knew''' it…'' (louder, to Gibbons) So. Things need to remain unsaid.  There’s a lot of ''unsaid'' going on around here.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' (sighs) Ah, yes. If only the wheels of democracy were … if only it were unnecessary to lube those wheels with crude oil, but things aren’t always as straightforward as they might seem.<br>
'''Rina:''' I was wondering when we’d get around to the oil angle of You Go Industries.<br><br>

Nika does a mental facepalm.  Her engineer’s running hot and is going to piss off a powerful politician if she doesn’t cool her jets.<br><br>

'''Gibbons:''' I assume you do want his—to do something other than—<br>
'''Rina:''' Absolutely. ''I want him to walk out of here alive''. <br>
'''Gibbons:''' Then you need to play ball.<br>
'''Rina:''' I don’t even know the rules of the game. Is the ball coming towards me?  Do I get a catcher’s mitt?<br>
'''Nika:''' ''Marina.''<br>
'''Rina:''' It’s … It … (bites her tongue)<br>
'''Joshua:''' (quietly) It’s okay.<br>
'''Rina:''' (calmer) Look. I’m willing to play ball to save his life. I just don’t know what the rules of the game are.<br><br>

Gibbons tells us.<br><br>

'''Gibbons:''' If he goes in, meek like a lamb and mostly silent, perhaps says something generally positive about Blue Sun independence, that’s all he needs to do. And it’s up to me and a few others to smooth things over with the mob.<br>
'''Rina:''' So, it’s court of popular opinion then?<br>
'''Nika:''' Someone’s hired you to represent him, then?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' No, I’m representing my own interests in this matter.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' But you seem to be interested in him. So, I’m interested in you.<br>
'''Kiera:''' So, in other words?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' If you have a way of connecting with him, you might be able to… ?<br>
'''Rina:''' (miserably) I think I’ve just blown my last card. I was ''just there'' with him. I don’t think they’ll let me in.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Well, there may be things during the trial. The trial will not take place in one afternoon, so there may be occasions afterwards when you may be able to get a message to him. I can speak with the Judges and the Magistrates about the order of the trial and that might give you some time.<br>
'''Nika:''' (to Rina) And Major Tanner might be willing to allow you to see him again.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Mm-hm. Especially since he seemed willing to let you see us here.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Are we really doing this again?<br><br>

Joshua holds up his hands.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' No offense—!<br>
'''Nika:''' ''You’re'' not.<br>
'''Joshua:''' You’re right. No, I’m not. Like, … No, I’m not. No.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' There is somebody who is another friend of Mr. Carter who suggested he might be of help. He told me to tell you that he was staying at the Garden Hotel in town.<br>
'''Rina:''' Friend of Mike’s. Garden Hotel.  In town.  Now?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' I believe so. <br><br>

Did this benefactor leave a name? Or do we just show up and start kicking down doors?<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Who should I ask for?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' He said he would recognize you.<br><br>

“You” as in Rina? Or the crew? Or … the color of our coats?  How?<br><br>

'''Rina:''' (going with it) Okay.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Actually, I’m sorry. (consults datapad) He said you were to go to the … oh yes. You were to ask at the desk for Mr. Tigranova. <br><br>

Gibbons pronounces it “Tie-grah-NO-vah”. <br><br>

'''Gibbons:''' Does this mean anything to you?<br>
'''Rina:''' Mr. ''Tigranova''?<br><br>

“Tih-GRAHN-oh-vah”, she says.<br><br>

'''Gibbons:''' Yes, I think that may be what he said.<br>
'''Rina:''' ''Mister''?<br>
'''Gibbons:''' That’s what he said.<br><br>

Wrong case for a male surname. Obviously an alias and a badly crafted one at that.  But still … It’s a lead. It’s help.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Okay. I’ll go.<br><br>

She looks at her crew.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' (pissed) Years of ''nothing'' and now everyone starts crawling out of the ''fucking woodwork''.<br><br>

Nika sniggers. Rina turns back to Gibbons, her expression and tone modulated with gratitude.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Thank you. I’ll do that.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' I’ll be around and fairly visible at the trial. If you need to contact me just give me a call.<br><br>

He gives us his Cortex ID.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Thank you, Mr. Gibbons.<br>
'''Rina:''' (heartfelt) Thank you so much.<br>
'''Gibbons:''' Yes.  I mean, don’t expect me to be of much help. My reputation has been tarnished by certain, ah, videos produced.<br>
'''Joshua:''' (wryly) No. Has it? Really?<br>
'''Kiera:''' I’m going to have to see these videos.<br><br>

Gibbons rises and thanks us for our time and we thank him for his and we part company.  Nika wastes no further time dusting off for ''Decatur''.  Once on ''Decatur'', she thanks Kramer for her help and gets us back aboard our ship and dirtside.  When we’re safe on the ground and ''not until we are there'', does Nika even call us to the passenger lounge to try to figure out what the HELL is going on.  She points her finger at Rina.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Go pull out whatever we have for alcohol and pour stiff drinks for him (points to Joshua) and yourself. <br>
'''Rina:''' (rising) I think a bottle for each would do it, yeah.<br><br>

Rina comes back almost immediately with a bottle in each hand. The vodka is for herself and the other she plants in front of Joshua.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' ''Scotch''.<br><br>

Rina doesn’t sit but stands, her mood ugly.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' (to Rina) That works fine. (to Joshua) Meanwhile, you tell me what the hell happened.<br><br>

Joshua’s mood isn’t much better.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' (pissed) Well, ''first'' of all, we were just in a ship with the guy ''who got Valerie killed'' and we just agreed to do stuff with him ''without even knowing what he wanted!'' <br>
'''Rina:''' (pissed too) He only asked me!<br>
'''Joshua:''' Well he asked you but we’re involved in the middle—<br>
'''Nika:''' '''''Stop'''''.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I swore—<br>
'''Nika:''' ''Tell me''.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I swore once again before that I wasn’t going to assent to anything if we didn’t know why we were making a choice.  If we’re making it for her (points to Rina), that’s fine. But think. We don’t know what he’s fucking got into play.<br><br>

Rina takes a swig and growls as it goes down, muttering something about liquid razors.  She takes another swig.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' And you want to know what happened? Mike gave me up to Tanner.<br>
'''Nika:''' What?<br>
'''Rina:''' ''He what?!''<br><br>

Rina nearly drops her bottle but manages to tighten her grip. Literally and figuratively.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' He gave me up to Tanner. He told Tanner that I was a Blue Sun operative who was there to infiltrate the facility, to potentially kill Mike, God only knows what else.<br>
'''Rina:''' He thinks you’re after him?<br>
'''Joshua:''' He … I’m having a … What’s really funny—what’s ''really'' funny is how I’m having this flashback. You remember how we were with the Operative and the Operative was talking about atonement all the time and then he tried to kill me? Mike was just talking about atonement and then he’s talking about getting me killed (through gritted teeth) ''so you can see where the flashback is kinda pissing me off!''<br><br>

Joshua looks up at Rina and spreads his hands.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' No offense ''but you didn’t even tell him you loved him''. I should slap you upside the head for that.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh yes she did.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Did she? Good.<br><br>

Well, in a manner of speaking she did. Joshua takes a swig of his scotch and Kiera pipes up.<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Just cuz I’m curious as to what I’ve gotten myself in the middle of—<br>
'''Joshua:''' You’ve gotten yourself into some really deep shit. Excuse the language.<br>
'''Kiera:''' No, it’s all right. Some really interesting flowers grow in stuff like that. So what I’m kinda curious is you said Mike gave you up, which infers by your words that you once really were who he says you were.  Therefore, because you should of said “I do not know what he’s talking about” which you haven’t yet said—<br>
'''Nika:''' He can’t exactly say that. Not to us.<br>
'''Kiera:''' But there is a large chance you might have been one of them there people.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah. I have. Yeah.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Oh. How very curious.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’m not anymore. It’s not of my choice.<br>
'''Kiera:''' So … you’re an operative to make people drink more soda?<br>
'''Joshua:''' Yes. In fact I was.<br><br>

And he actually gets a little off the wall and obscene in describing his job as a mass coercer of soft drink consumption.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' (shocked) ''Joshua!'' You need another drink.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Do you want me to still be talking?<br>
'''Kiera:''' So he is a “not-admitted but not quite sure but he may be if someone produces some film or otherwise on paper indistinguishable thing” an operative for soda who’s willing to kill.<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, no. I don’t kill.<br>
'''Kiera:''' But … the fact that he gave you up indicated you don’t walk up and tickle people. You don’t give up people who go up and hug them. You give up people who—<br>
'''Joshua:''' ''I didn’t kill people''.<br><br>

Nika puts her foot down.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Okay, the short-short version of that is that Blue Sun has a … Research and Development component of the Corporation that dabbles in enhancing the mental abilities of certain sects of the population.  And sent them out to take over the … What did they call it? Human Resources?<br>
'''Joshua:''' The part that you might actually grok a little more closely is their plastic surgery wing is pretty …<br>
'''Nika:''' Extensive.<br>
'''Kiera:''' No, actually I would understand very easily the whole R&D of the corporation, considering where daddy comes from.  So yeah, I can perfectly understand it.<br>
'''Joshua:''' My job was to be other people.  That was my job.<br><br>

Kiera nods.  Huh.<br><br>  

'''Kiera:''' So Mike might actually have something serious.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Well …<br>
'''Nika:''' (to Joshua) Okay, in any case, he’s now sicced Major Tanner on you.<br>
'''Joshua:''' He has, yes.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Well, now I’m not worried cuz I figure I’m low enough that you’re not going to kill me.<br><br>

Nika sighs. Focus people.  Please.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' So here’s point one: Mike has given you up to Major Tanner.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Now that’s not fair to Mike, you’re right, that’s not really fair to Mike—<br>
'''Nika:''' He doesn’t really know who you are, so …<br>
'''Kiera:''' Why are you talkin’ about this “fair”? Why?<br>
'''Nika:''' And ultimately? As far as I can tell, Rina’s pretty much the man’s life. Lookin’ at it from my perspective.<br>
'''Kiera:''' I was gonna say from a gambler’s viewpoint he played everything he had, you can’t argue with that.<br>
'''Nika:''' Therefore he’s just sicced Major Tanner on someone he believes to be a threat to ''her''. And potentially to her friends. (to Joshua) Talk to me about what you got.<br><br>

Meaning his Read off Mike.  Joshua pulls his thoughts together.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' It was … 100 % he was …<br>
'''Nika:''' Obviously we know he did it.<br>
'''Joshua:''' (quietly) Yeah.  He … <br>
'''Nika:''' He could be lying but he essentially—assuming he was telling the truth about doing it he all but said that he was on a mission for someone and that this was the plan.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Um-hm. But he kept talkin’ about redemption.<br><br>

Nika and Kiera are too busy talking to hear Joshua at first.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' (quietly) He hated doing it.<br>
'''Nika:''' Do what?<br>
'''Joshua:''' (louder) He hated doing it. Or it seemed like he did. He struggled to do it.<br><br>

Rina is pacing the passenger lounge, taking hits from her bottle and listening to the debate and the discussion going on around her.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Based on what he said to her, it sounded like he did this to try to get free.<br>
'''Kiera:''' So one last job before they let him out of the Business. So the question is one last job for whom?<br>
'''Joshua:''' Sounds like Gibbons.<br>
'''Nika:''' Or Nguyen.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Actually….<br>
'''Nika:''' We had that conversation before about what Nguyen might get out of that.<br>
'''Joshua:''' To be …<br>
'''Nika:''' The trick to that being of course we don’t really know who he might have worked for.  (to Joshua) Unless you got something off him.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Well, no. No. I just … the only reason Gibbons, other than the fact that I don’t like that slimy bastard—<br><br>

Rina draws up short at the table.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Which slimy bastard?<br>
'''Joshua:''' Gibbons. The point is Mike was saying something about he couldn’t talk because it would mess up the plan. Which is what Gibbons was saying. Now maybe it’s a happy-go-lucky coincidence Gibbons shows up and asks “Oh by the way has he talked? Is he talking?”  Or maybe, you know, there’s some direct connection there.<br>
'''Nika:''' And the other thing is he’s talking about atonement because they broke him. He gave up a number of operatives, they were Nguyen’s operatives and it is highly possible that in attempting to get them off his back, he agreed to do this job for them and keep his mouth shut. Period.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Possible. It is possible this way.<br>
'''Kiera:''' I was going to say, if they did it for Nguyen—like I mentioned before, they have control of the airwaves if they want to.  PR—especially if it turns out to be the soda company—PR is a major, major, major thing.<br>
'''Nika:''' It is.<br>
'''Kiera:''' And if he is being condemned by the ''vox populi'', all you gotta do is start pushing—and you don’t even have to do it over the tv and radio.<br><br>

And that puts Nika in mind of something.  Didn’t Kiera say she saw five guys picking up clothing and boots? That they might not be actual soldiers but picking up boots for them?<br><br>

'''Nika:''' So either we have a group getting ready to go in and attempt to take him out or we have a group getting ready to in and get him out.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Either way they’re—<br>
'''Nika:''' They’re a bunch of idiots.<br>
'''Joshua:''' How many did you say you saw?<br>
'''Kiera:''' Five.<br>
'''Nika:''' She’s talking about a small strike team.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Exactly.<br><br>

The other interesting thing is that they were all bearded and it’s hard to recognize somebody once they’ve shaved it off.  Rina stops her pacing and drinking and mentions that if they’ve had their beards for any long length of time, their faces would have tan patterns to outline the lack. Joshua suggests that it may be part of a plan to have the men attempt the rescue or kill and fail, or appear to fail, in order to give one side justification to hasten the judicial process and execute Mike.  But who would want that?<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' I don’t know, I don’t know. I’d say Gibbons but that’s because I don’t trust him any farther than I can kick him out into the Black.<br><br>

Kiera finds it hard to believe that anyone would infiltrate the bunker but suggests we try to find out their guard schedule, shift changes and whatnot.  Just because it’s curious and it seems to be important and if it’s five men, it’s an amazing coincidence.  Nika counters by saying she doesn’t know if she has a friend on the inside who can tell her that.  What about ''Decatur'', Kiera asks. Sure, they promised they wouldn’t do nothin’ but the Captain up there has already mentioned us being crazy in the past, what’s a few more crazy questions gonna hurt.  Nika warns that she might ask those questions and then it won’t be clear to ''Decatur'' that they still aren’t doing something they shouldn’t be doing.  How about finding some people to go drinking with and pumping them for information, Kiera wants to know. Kiera and Nika start planning an intel gathering mission disguised as a bar crawl.  It gets loud and silly as they go through come-on-sailor scenarios.  Kiera suggests they slap a patch on Joshua and Rina to spare everyone babysitting duties while they do their bar crawl. After all, it’s not fair to saddle Arden with those two while still conscious…<br><br>

Rina’s still pacing, drinking and almost halfway through her bottle and it still tastes disgusting.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' Gahhghahhh. God, this is horrible. (takes another swig) Gahhghaghhahh.<br>
'''Joshua:''' If it’s that bad, stop.<br><br>

Rina comes to a stop across from Joshua and says to the tabletop.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' I still have that special bottle.<br>
'''Joshua:''' What bottle? You mean the ''bad bottle''? <br><br>

Yes.  The bad bottle. The vodka bottle filled with clear acid that was anonymously sent to us on while docked at Pericles station.  Rina’s stare is boring right through the table and Joshua sees the engineer trembling, on the verge of breaking down.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Hey, hey-hey-hey… ''whoa'' … I don’t think drinking was such a good idea. Hey, hey hey.<br><br>

He takes the vodka away from her and makes her sit down.  She’s upset enough that she doesn’t put up a fight.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Things are going to be cool.<br>
'''Rina:''' (thickly) No. No, they’re not.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Ohhh … Drinking was not a good idea.<br><br>

Nika and Kiera finally notice what’s going on at the other end of the table.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Oh, dear.<br>
'''Kiera:''' See?<br>
'''Nika:''' Let’s knock them out.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Much easier.<br><br>

Kiera slips out two of the patches she’d smuggled into the holding facility and gives one to Nika.  They rip the paper off the patches, flank the steward and the engineer and ''slap!'' the drugs knock them out cold.  Kiera tells Arden it was medically necessary to tranq half the crew and could he please get Joshua and Rina into med bay so he can observe them for any adverse affects.  After all, drugs and alcohol are a dangerous mix.  And bye, now, she and the Captain are going off to party.<br><br>

With the two most upset and/or twitchy people effectively neutralized, the Captain and Kiera go off together to try to find a way out of this mess.  It’s a big mess and there’s going to be heartbreak coming from all sides.  Even though we’ve already gained a lot more intel than we had going in, it hasn’t cleared matters up, it’s complicated them even more.  With Gibbons telling us to resist anything precipitous and Kramer’s position made somewhat dicey by You Ge’s death, we’re not sure if there’s anything we can do until the trial is over.<br><br>

The clock ticks on and the media circus grows bigger, the court date approaches and with it, the future of an entire system hangs in the balance… and with it, the future of everyone on ''Summer’s Gift''.  One thing is certain: no matter the outcome, nothing will ever be the same again.<br><br>

<br>



<br><br>



Jump to: <br>
[[Episode 404: Crucible| Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 404: Crucible, Part Two | Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 404: Crucible, Part Three| Part 3]]<br>


Go back to: '''''[[Episode 403: Catalysts and Contraints| Catalysts and Constraints]]''''' | Go forward to: '''[[Episode 405: Precipitate | Precipitate ]]'''<br>

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