Episode 510: St. Albans Secrets, Special Features

Special Features page in progress. A little more action oriented, the ep lent itself to a more condensed synopsis. Even so, there are elements in the episode to put here--Maer

DIALOGUE TO REWIND FOR

Part One:

Arden: Another quixotic quest?
Joshua: Actually I—well, I guess. But this one I feel like I owe.

Arden: Let’s go from the jungle to the bitter cold and see how many of us get sick.
Beglan: That’s a myth.
Rina: I’m strong like Russkie. Cold doesn’t bother me. It’s the heat that bothers me.
Arden: Yeah. Get used to hot weather and then go to cold weather, and then talk to me.

Nika: So we’re talking about possibly a bunch’a Readers who possibly need a lot of help which could possibly put the ship into some serious issues, so fix the ship.

Nika: I’m not taking a vote. I’m telling you I’m not doing it. We’re going to St. Albans.

Rina: (yanking his chain) You missed one. Over there.
Joshua: (sees it) You’re right. If the reverse vampire circuit was …

Arden: Since the really curious one is two decks away and immobile, what do you think about calling a bomb disposal unit to get rid of the hazardous materials?
Nika: (dryly) Yes, because calling the cops has worked SO well for us in the past.

Kiera: At least we don’t have to worry about them going ka-thudda-ka-thudda-ka-boom!
Arden: Not unless you botch the piloting.
Nika: If I botch the piloting, you won’t know. You’ll just be a smear somewhere.
Arden: I know. But I’m just sayin’.

Nika: I miss Rick. I do.
Arden: You remember? When we discovered the compressed air things? He would have conniptions.
Nika: Oh, Christ. Can you see Rick? (squeaks) He would have been like, ‘Air cannons!’ (mimes loading a canon round and firing it) I miss Rick.

From Cmdr. Wise to Joshua Drake. April 22

Son, I got your message. I understand you. I don't know what I did to spook you, or your crewmates, when we went to pulse. But you're gone, again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But, this time you found it in yourself to wave me. That means something. I don't know what you are thinking about now, you're obviously confused and uncertain. I think calling me was a way of keeping this door open, and know... it will always be open for you.

I don't doubt for a minute what you say you believe. And, for now I pray the Buddha is guiding your crew, and that they have no part in this.

I'm glad you are trying to get off the drugs. Whether you are my son, or just someone playing him. Whoever you are, you'll never really know until you are free of that and able to think clearly. I think you can do it. Maybe that means nothing to you, coming from some Alliance Doc telling you this because you look like his son, but if nothing else you can try... as Rex would have tried.

Once you are clean watch this again. Think about these things. You’ve had brain surgery, the likes of which no neurosurgeon I've spoken to has heard of. You’ve had memory loss. You hear voices. You've been taking Flomoxipan, a sedative, amnesic, hypnotic and hallucinogen. For how long, you can't remember. You've been exposed to things that could send anyone over the edge. I don't know who would set you on this course, but I do know that once afloat on this river, it could take you anywhere. You might be a Blue Sun agent, able to impersonate people due to some uncanny powers, or maybe you just remember things that way, maybe it’s all in your mind.

I've enclosed some links to a couple stories. I’ve been doing some research, thinking about this, since I got your wave. One I thought was interesting, about a mathematician back on Earth-that-was, brilliant like you, and afflicted as well, a man by the name of John Nash. I am not saying you’re exactly like him, but there are similarities. If you do see a little of yourself, know this, since the 20th century neuroscience has made great leaps. There is no need for you to suffer like him, untreated. There are other stories there as well. Of successes. There is one last link, that I’ll probably get in trouble if it’s discovered I sent to you. It’s a not-yet declassified program to create moles during the U-War. Both sides did it, to varying degrees of success. These moles were made resistant to torture and discovery by having their memories suppressed and replaced with new ones. Stories so real to them, that some of these moles were lost to the other side. It didn't take years, it took weeks. That technology didn't just disappear when the war ended, and for some, the war never ended. Think about that and what an asset a person like Lt. Cmdr Rex Wise would be to such a group.

You have plenty of reasons to reject these hypotheses. You have a life and a love. Things worth fighting for. And with Miranda and all the rest that has happened, it is hard to tell science fact from fiction. I just hope you can see that maybe it is worth keeping the door open to other explanations.

So… that’s almost it. Other than this: If you really are not my son, if you are some kind of Doppelganger, then I need your help. I need you to find my son, the one who was taken from me. If you were with those that took him, will you help me?

Part Two:
Joshua: But you are an awesome pilot.
Nika: (Damn straight!) I am.
Joshua: You can handle it. You can handle anything.
Nika: I can.
Joshua: So there we go. Off to the coordinates.
Kiera: (to Joshua) You are a horrible enabler.
Nika: He is. He’s kissing my ass very prettily.
Joshua: (archly) I am not.

Joshua: Is there a reason you think you can’t do it?
Nika: (drawling) There a reason you’re tryin’ to yank my chain, boy?
Joshua: (grinning) Cuz it’s fun.

Joshua: I love watching you work.

Nika: You didn’t think we were going out there without rifles, did you?
Joshua: I didn’t say anything.
Nika: Yes, you did.
Joshua: No I didn’t.
Nika: Your brain said—(makes a squeaky-snarky noise)
Joshua: You can hear my brain now? I didn’t say anything. For God’s sake I get yelled at more for not saying anything than for saying stuff.
Nika: You gave me the look.
Joshua: I did not give you the look.
Nika: You gave me the look.
Joshua: The guns are fine. I’m not going to carry one but the guns are fine.
Nika: (eyeroll) We oughta be married.
Joshua: I’m already headed down that path, you know.
Nika: That’s okay, I don’t wanna get married.

(Kiera comes skipping in. She’s carrying a couple of rifles. Arden’s right behind her.)
Kiera: I’m so happy!
Arden: (off Joshua’s look) What? You were the one who wanted to go tiger hunting.

Joshua: (muttering) Well, I’m gonna freeze. Or at least, refrigerate.

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