MILLICENT: “You’re okay, Tueller. You’re here with me. Alejo and Noma cleared out the other Nikaus. They’re headed down to the basement to get the last one.”
TUELLER: “Oh shit.”
TUELLER: “I just sent the entire security force down to the last one.”
MILLICENT: “…”
TUELLER: “To get here.”
MILLICENT: Millie is speechless
MILLICENT: “Buh buh buh”
MILLICENT: She shakes her head, reaches her hand behind her ear and activates Alejo’s speaker, “ABORT ABORT OH GOD ABORT”
STORY: Alejo!
STORY: You step into the cafeteria on B1 and see the following:
STORY: Manaaki, dead, sprawled on the counter.
STORY: An open deck, still running some kind of program.
STORY: Roughly twenty security guards, who are all standing in this room and in unison turn around when you enter.
STORY: What do you do?
STORY: Oh also, Millie’s yelling in your ear about aborting, and you’re pretty sure you know why.
ALEJO: Alejo does the Han Solo slide to a stop. “Oh, hiya.” He says weakly and waves as he takes a very quick pause to look around for the nearest cover or exit, which he moves towards at top speed.
STORY: There are a few tables just to your right.
ALEJO: He puts it between him and all of them, and assesses what sort of weapons they have.
STORY: All standard issue, they’ve got stun batons that will also hurt a lot if you get hit with one. No guns, from what you could see. You hit the deck behind a table to the sound of most of them removing said batons and powering them on, and then one guy in the back saying, “isn’t that the guy who cleans the toilets?”
ALEJO: Alejo shuffled the cards, keeping his eyes forward and watching the table. He couldn’t help but notice Trey, however, standing two meters away, impatiently clicking one heel down in her completely insensible shoes for this op. He had practiced the move hundreds, probably thousands of times, but this was going to have to go perfectly or the security guard, with his cybernetically-enhanced eyes, would clock the con. Alejo wished that Trey would at least stand outside of his peripheral vision. Even if she wasn’t annoyingly tapping her heel, she was far too distracting. He took a deep breath and made the play, slipping the Ace to the top of the deck and dealing it to the mark. It seemed to go perfectly. But the guard tilted his head, then whispered something into his com. This wasn’t good. Alejo set his jaw and took inventory of the other security in the room, preparing for the worst. When the guard abruptly stood, Alejo almost did as well, but, fortunately, the guard turned and rushed to the other side of the casino floor. Alejo glanced at Trey who simply raised her glass briefly in his direction and then sauntered off.
—
STORY: The three of you put together a plan, complete with multiple contingencies, to save Hannigan, and split up back to your quarters to await your chance. Alejo, you arrive at your empty conference room with its sad cot in the corner and chairs pushed all around to find a pair of dog tags laying on the conference table.
STORY: Hannigan’s. It’s too late.
STORY: They’re laying on a piece of paper, handwritten: “Let’s talk. B1 cafeteria, now.”
TUELLER: Is Tueller escorting him?
STORY: Sure.
TUELLER: Alejo doesn’t have free rein, right?
STORY: Nope!
ALEJO: Alejo closes his eyes briefly and shakes his head, picking up the dog tags and turning back to the door. He looks at Tueller and shakes his head once, saying nothing more.
TUELLER: “What’s up, skel?” Tueller is in We Might Be Overheard mode.
ALEJO: “I haven’t eaten all day. Any chance I could go to the cafeteria? I think B1 has some soup, which sounds about right. If, that is, it’s alright with you, sir.”
TUELLER: “Oh right, they’re not feeding you in that penthouse visit. Let’s get you taken care of.”
ALEJO: He puts the dog tags in his pocket, allowing Tueller a quick glance at them as he does so.
ALEJO: “Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
TUELLER: Tueller purses his lips at the sight and says nothing more.
STORY: You head down to basement level 1, which is honestly kind of weird that a basement exists? Because you’re on a starbase? There’s no ground to be under. It’s a weird remnant of earth culture and definitely not Jess forgetting that you’re in space.
TUELLER: Not weird at all!
STORY: Anyway, it’s nearly abandoned at this time of night. You pass one or two people in the hallway and start walking to the cafeteria when Tueller, you get a call over your intercom – not the Millie one, the security one.
STORY: “Epaphus, you’re being asked for in the director’s office. Better move.”
STORY: It’s Conrad, your CO.
TUELLER: Off comms to Alejo. “Get back to your cell quickish, so I don’t get killed, please.”
TUELLER: On: “Sir yes sir.”
TUELLER: And Tueller heads to the director’s office.
ALEJO: Alejo nods. “Be safe,” he mouths as Tueller turns to leave.
TUELLER: Tueller laughs ruefully.
TUELLER: “Sure.”
STORY: Millie, what are you reading in your quarters/cell?
MILLICENT: Slim pickings, so she’s got a biography of Lou Gehrig
STORY: Interesting!
MILLICENT: The Iron Horse himself!
STORY: You’re not that committed to reading, I’d suspect, what with being mid-rescue-plan, but either way you’re interrupted when the door slides open and Manaaki steps in. He quickly puts down the bottle and small basket of fruit he’s carrying and shows you his open hands. “Can we talk?”
STORY: Tueller, you knock on the director’s office and are given a curt instruction to enter. When you do, you note the absence of Manaaki in his desk, and are surprised to find sitting there instead your friend Tux, barely conscious, his face bloodied. Manaaki sits on the side of the desk, looking down at Tux. “Dismissed, Diego, thank you.” Your partner leaves quietly as Manaaki turns to you. “Mr. Epaphus, I’d like a word, if you don’t mind. Please, sit down.”
STORY: Alejo, you step into the empty, dark cafeteria, closed hours ago at the end of the dinner hour. Manaaki sits at the bar, his back to you, a half-full glass of brown liquor next to him. He shifts in his seat, not turning towards you, but gestures an empty hand to the bar stool next to him. “Did you bring the gun?”
TUELLER: Tueller does so, with a look of confusion on his face.
TUELLER: “What’s this about, sir?”
STORY: Manaaki gestures to Tux. “You arrived the same day as your current charge, did you know that? What a coincidence.”
STORY: “She managed to circumvent the arrival protocols and avoid raising any attention from the automated systems.”
STORY: “Human eyes, of course, are keener.”
STORY: “Would you believe Tux here says he’s never met you or Calixta prior to a few days ago?”
STORY: “Any idea where she is, incidentally?”
TUELLER: “I haven’t seen Calixta for days. And Tux has never met me prior to my arrival.
STORY: Manaaki lifts a finger, playing with you. “And yet – he has a longstanding relationship with Soto. As do you.”
TUELLER: “I haven’t quite figured out what their relationship is, to be honest. I think they may have dated at some point.”
STORY: Manaaki laughs, enjoying this.
STORY: “So what am I to do with you, then?”
TUELLER: “I assume you’ll probably attempt to kill me, judging by the certain harshness in your laugh.”
TUELLER: “Or at least tell innocent slaves to try.”
STORY: “You’ll have to admit, it’s looking like my only option.”
TUELLER: Tueller tilts his head, genuine confusion, “Why?”
TUELLER: Tueller interrupts himself.
TUELLER: “I mean, I know that it often feels like killing people is the easiest option. Believe me I know that. But, not to get too philosophical about it, but…“Tueller runs out of steam. “It actually isn’t?”
STORY: Manaaki narrows his eyes at you for a moment.
STORY: FA + Influence please!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 4
TUELLER: Yikes.
STORY: He sucks in air through his teeth. “An elegant argument, poorly delivered, I’m afraid. Death it is.”
TUELLER: Tueller kills Manaaki.
TUELLER: Or tries!
STORY: As you stand to do so, the door slides open and a tech laden with bags full of tools steps in.
STORY: Launch Assault please!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 6 + 2 = 8
STORY: What happens?
TUELLER: The tech is coming there to kill me?
STORY: You’re not really sure, but it seems weird that a mechanic would be coming to kill you with her tools. You just catch a glimpse of her before you spring.
TUELLER: I’ll go with Target Suffers a Lesser Fate. Tueller springs across the room, covering the grounds before Manaaki can even respond. Tueller smashes his fist right into Manaaki’s face. But Tueller hasn’t spent his time charging his gloves, and so it’s just a very strong punch. Manaaki falls to the floor. Tueller springs to grab Tux’s arm, not checking on Manaaki at all, and reaches to his comms, “We’re blown.”
TUELLER: He turns to face the tech and leave the room with Tux.
STORY: Manaaki collapses against the bulkhead. You turn around as you throw Tux over your shoulder and see a wrench whip inches past your face, then follow its trajectory as it smashes into Manaaki, the handle crunching against his forehead and caving in part of his skull. If he wasn’t dead before, he is now.
STORY: You turn back to see Calixta standing before you, an “oopsie” look on her face.
STORY: “We’re more than blown.”
TUELLER: “Hi.”
TUELLER: “Good to see you”
STORY: “Good to see you alive.”
TUELLER: Tueller stops for a moment “It really is.”
TUELLER: Tueller back on his comms, “Sorry, Millie, ‘blown,’ means we’ve been found out.”
TUELLER: “Which is what happened.”
STORY: Calixta looks up at you, rolls her eyes up as if making a calculation. When you jump back on comms, she abandons it, nodding.
TUELLER: “Sorry, Noma, I’m back with you in the moment here.”
STORY: She squats next to her bag to dig around for a more useful improvised weapon.
TUELLER: “That was a thing, wasn’t it, and I skipped it.”
STORY: “Nah, we got time.”
STORY: Alejo!
ALEJO: Alejo takes a seat next to Manaaki. “Hi.”
STORY: He looks over at you, sees you’re not armed. “Shame.”
STORY: He pulls the glass closer to him. “I’m afraid I can’t share a drink with you.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods once. “So, why am I here, if I may ask?”
STORY: “Hannigan. That wasn’t how I wanted it to go.” He shakes his head. “I was outvoted.”
STORY: He can’t look at you, and keeps his eyes on the counter, leaning over his drink.
STORY: “I’ve been trying to understand why the version of me who stayed behind… why he ended it. What information did he have that I didn’t? I chose this, I accepted the duty. But something happened to him to make him lose faith.”
STORY: “It was in front of me all along, of course. He had Millie. She showed him. She showed me.”
ALEJO: He looks at Manaaki, listening.
STORY: He shakes his head, takes another drink. “This is wrong, all of it.”
STORY: “Of course what we’re doing is monstrous. I’m a monster. I know it. I just… I thought it was worth it, for what we gained.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods once. Then he takes the dog tags out, sets them on the counter, and slides them over, next to Manaaki. “We’re all monsters. Question now is, what are you going to do next.”
STORY: He chuckles softly, then coughs, holding his stomach. “Oh, it’s not about what I will do, Mr. Soto. It’s about what you will.”
STORY: “6-6-2-7-1-9. The door in my office. There are eleven more. I’ve tried to convince them; they won’t see reason. Come to me when they’re dead.”
STORY: He puts a hand on your shoulder. “I know you’ve no reason to trust me, Alejo. I swear on my love for Millie, on yours too, this is no double cross. Do this for me.”
STORY: He finishes his drink.
ALEJO: Alejo tilts his head, evaluating Manaaki for a moment. Then he stands. “How long do I have?”
STORY: He glances down at the glass. “Oh, I’d appreciate it if you hurried.”
ALEJO: He nods again. Then he turns and starts to go. He stops. Over his shoulder, “I’ll take that drink with you when I get back.” Then finishes walking out and heads towards Manaaki’s office.
STORY: He coughs. “I really can’t recommend you do that, Mr. Soto.”
STORY: Millie!
MILLICENT: Space Marster!
MILLICENT: “Did you know Lou Gehrig played 2,130 consecutive games? Of baseball?”
STORY: “I didn’t.” He steps tentatively in.
MILLICENT: “He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis soon after.”
MILLICENT: She shuts the book and sits up. “They called him The Iron Horse.”
STORY: “That one I knew.”
MILLICENT: “What can I do for you, Nikau?”
STORY: “I thought we could call a truce and discuss your living arrangements.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods, indicates the chair in her room. “By all means.”
STORY: He gestures to you with the wine bottle, offering you some.
MILLICENT: Millie accepts the handoff, takes a pull. How is it?
STORY: Really good!
MILLICENT: Millie makes a pleased sound. “This is quite good. Where is it from? I don’t think I ever asked. How are you getting rations on board?”
STORY: “Boring!” He answers vigorously, reminding you just a little of the old, energetic science maniac Nikau you knew.
STORY: “Our little debates have been invigorating. I’d like to know whether you intend to continue with them.”
MILLICENT: “It seems to be about the only intelligent conversation I’m likely to have while I’m here, so I hadn’t planned on stopping.”
MILLICENT: “What’s bothering you, Nikau?”
STORY: He pours you a glass of the wine, tilting the bottle at you for emphasis. “Another boring question. Are you pleased with your quarters?”
MILLICENT: “Now who’s asking boring questions?”
MILLICENT: “Boring, but polite. The quarters are fine, but my confinement is growing tiresome.”
STORY: “Fair enough. You tell me, then, why have I come?”
MILLICENT: “Well, that’s harder to say until I know which Nikau I’m talking to.”
MILLICENT: “Are you the one I last conversed with?”
STORY: “Consider us the same man.”
STORY: “We’re in close contact.”
STORY: Millie, you can smell wine on his breath.
MILLICENT: “Hmmm. That must have been some adjustment. But I suppose when you just can’t trust ordinary minds with delegation…”
MILLICENT: “You’re telling yourself you’re here so you can have some more fun banter with me. To shoot down my naivete. To bandy words with an equal.”
MILLICENT: “But you’re really here because you want me to talk you into changing your mind.”
STORY: He chuckles. “Close.” He sits down next to you on the couch. Too close for a mentor, surely.
STORY: “I get plenty of intellectual stimulation on my own, Millie.”
STORY: He’s waiting for you to acknowledge his absolutely clear intention.
MILLICENT: Millie rolls her eyes.
MILLICENT: “Surely not this, Nikau. You used to have a modicum of dignity.”
MILLICENT: “Let me make my position clear. The Nikau I thought I knew hung himself in his lab. I found him. My relationship with any version of that man ended that day. And if it hadn’t, it would have ended the moment I found the truth.”
MILLICENT: “Go to your quarters and get some sleep.”
MILLICENT: Millie stands.
STORY: Millie, your intercom comes in.
STORY: Tueller: “We’re blown.”
STORY: Nikau looks heartbroken, and also he’s definitely drunk.
STORY: Everyone can be active at this point
STORY: Millie, what do you do?
MILLICENT: Millie takes the bottle, pretends to study the label to give Nikau time to gather himself and leave.
STORY: He’s just watching you, like a sad puppy, thinking about how to convince you to relent.
STORY: Definitely not taking the rejection.
TUELLER: Comms: “Sorry, Millie, ‘blown,’ means we’ve been found out.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods to herself, oh.
ALEJO: Alejo moves through the hallways quietly. As soon as he is clear, he reaches up to his com. “Millie, one of the Manaakis just asked me to kill the eleven others. You convinced him. The others outvoted him. We don’t have much time. I think that my Manaaki has poisoned himself. I need to get this done and get back to him before it’s too late.”
MILLICENT: Millie looks at Nikau over the bottle, studies him.
STORY: He’s drunk-horny
MILLICENT: “Good night, Nikau.”
MILLICENT: Millie smashes him in the head with the wine bottle.
STORY: Launch Assault!
STORY: Good luck!
MILLICENT: Thanks, gonna need it
STORY: Remember you’ve got a data point
STORY: oh but it’s for tech. Nevermind
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6 – 1
STORY: josh rolled 11 – 1 = 10
STORY: EYYYYYYY
ALEJO: –Yes!
TUELLER: Wow.
MILLICENT: I’m doing a damn happy dance!
STORY: Is your intention to knock him out or kill him?
MILLICENT: I think that’s my first Launch Assault, if I’m not mistaken
MILLICENT: Millie lands an awkward blow upside the head with the bottle. He tips over her bunk and lands on his ass, squawking a protest as he tries to rise. “I loved you, Nikau, if it’s any comfort.” Millie smashes his head in, quite inexpertly, with the bottle.
MILLICENT: She collapses to the floor, crying. Finally she manages to hiccup into Alejo’s comms, “One down in my quarters.”
TUELLER: Tueller in again, “Noma and I are on the move.”
TUELLER: “Hope you’re alright, dear.”
ALEJO: Alejo stops in his tracks. “Oh gods. Are you alright?”
MILLICENT: “Tueller, help Alejo kill the remaining Nikau’s.”
TUELLER: “Noma got one.”
TUELLER: Comms: “remaining?”
MILLICENT: Back to Alejo, “Never.”
ALEJO: “I’m sorry, Millie.” He says this quietly. Then keeps moving.
TUELLER: To Noma: “Doc’s alive and alone but doesn’t sound great.”
TUELLER: “Wants us to meet up with Alejo and quote ‘kill the remaining Nikau’s.’”
STORY: She nods, spy-ly. “Where?”
MILLICENT: Tueller, “That’s three down, less than a dozen remaining. I think they’re in his office. If someone could come get me at some point I’d be grateful.”
ALEJO: “I’m on my way to Manaaki’s office. Have Tueller meet me there.”
TUELLER: “His office.”
TUELLER: “How you doing, Tux?”
TUELLER: “Don’t answer that.”
STORY: Tux groans.
TUELLER: “I know you’re bad, but we’re getting better.”
TUELLER: Tueller hands his stunner back to Tux. “If you have to, poke someone with this.”
MILLICENT: To Tueller, then Alejo, “I’m going to radio for our ship.”
MILLICENT: Millie starts working on the kettle, grateful to have something to do with herself.
ALEJO: “Good plan,” he replies to Millie.
STORY: Millie, as you start to pull apart the kettle and think about radios… the Collective has an ansible.
STORY: And tech that lets them fabricate bodies instantly.
MILLICENT: Millie gets the kettle as close to ready as she can without doing anything that will alert the Collective.
MILLICENT: Then she washes her hands and changes her clothes and then just sits on her bed and stares at Nikau’s body.
STORY: Tueller, you meet Alejo with Noma and Tux in Manaaki’s office.
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: “Noma, how do we get into the inner sanctum?”
STORY: She looks at the lock. “Give me… an hour?”
STORY: She drops her bag of tools on the deck.
ALEJO: “I have the code.” Alejo smiles at Cali as he sees them. “Hey buddy.”
STORY: She gives Alejo a quick butt pat. “Good hustle.”
TUELLER: “That’s…oh, that’s useful.”
ALEJO: He says at Tux. “T, good to see you.”
ALEJO: Alejo says this as he enters the code.
TUELLER: “Tux, give Alejo that stunner.”
STORY: Tux is barely conscious; he collapses into a chair, the stun baton dangling from his hand.
STORY: He really got beaten pretty bad.
MILLICENT: To Alejo, “I.” Her voice breaks and she turns off her comms for a minute. Again. “Our comms are as ready as I can make them without alerting the Collective. Could you spare someone to come grab me? I imagine Tux doesn’t want to help with the. Your work.”
TUELLER: “Tux, why don’t you go down to the Doc’s room?”
TUELLER: “You don’t want to hang out here.”
STORY: “Mmm?” He’s bleary.
STORY: Tux cannot really go anywhere on his own.
TUELLER: “Tux needs a breather, sorry Doc.”
TUELLER: “He’s just going to hang out up here.”
MILLICENT: “No problem.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks over at him. “Yeah, he’s . . . not in great shape. I can come and get you, if you . . . .” He trails off. Swallows.
MILLICENT: Millie sits back down, then stands up.
MILLICENT: “Wait a minute.”
MILLICENT: She walks over to the door and tries it.
STORY: It’s open!
STORY: A security guard stands on the other side.
STORY: He looks at you calmly and curiously.
STORY: “Ma’am?”
MILLICENT: Millie plays drunk and puts a finger to her lips. “Shhhhhhh.” She closes the door again.
STORY: What now?
MILLICENT: Millie braces herself and searches Nikau
TUELLER: Tueller’s ready to go in and kill old exes of Millie at any time.
ALEJO: Alejo is as well, though he’s sort of stalled, waiting for Millie.
TUELLER: He’s got that bad old look in his eyes.
TUELLER: Bouncing on the balls of his feet, flapping his hands to charge his gloves up.
STORY: Calixta notices, and gently touches his arm. “Tueller?”
TUELLER: “Yes dear?”
STORY: She glances at Alejo. “We got this. Take Tux down to see Millie, will you?”
STORY: “He needs medical attention.”
TUELLER: Tueller shakes his head like he’s waking up. “Sure?”
STORY: Millie, assessment + Mettle please!
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6 + 1
STORY: josh rolled 7 + 1 = 8
STORY: You find a handheld device that looks like it does… well, probably a lot of things. It’s a tricorder? And a key!
TUELLER: “Okay.” Tueller reaches out and almost pats Noma on the shoulder but doesn’t. “Watch out for each other.” He turns around almost embarrassed without waiting for a response. “Tux, buddy, we’re going to go see the Doc.”
MILLICENT: To Alejo, “Sorry, yes, I could use a pick up. There’s a guard outside my room, but the door’s open.”
ALEJO: Alejo smiles at Tueller. “Take care of them, will ya.” He nods at Cali and gets ready to enter the office.
TUELLER: He picks Tux up and walks down to Millie’s.
ALEJO: “Tueller is on the way with a patient. Tux. Cali and I are going to finish this.” He stops. “Be safe, Millie. I . . . Be safe.”
ALEJO: He nods at Calixta again. “Ready?”
STORY: She nods, a smile dancing on her lips.
STORY: “Old times.”
ALEJO: “Old times.” He opens the door and readies for action.
STORY: Tueller! How are you getting Tux down there?
TUELLER: Picking him up and walking with him in my arms Bodyguard style!
STORY: Diego’s outside the door, having recently beaten Tux into confessing.
STORY: Thoughts?
TUELLER: “Oh hi, what are you doing here?”
STORY: He looks genuinely confused at you carrying a grown man that he just beat into submission.
STORY: “Wh–”
STORY: “Tueller?”
TUELLER: Headbutt.
STORY: Launch Assault!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 7 + 2 = 9
STORY: Tell me what happens!
TUELLER: Tueller headbutts Diego, knocking him out, while also breaking his own nose.
STORY: Ouch. That’s a minor injury, and also it’s gonna bleed rather a lot.
STORY: But he’s unconscious.
STORY: Let’s see how you fare getting down to Millie. FA + Mettle?
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+1
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 4 + 1 = 5
TUELLER: Damn bloody nose.
STORY: You turn the wrong corner and find Antonia Conrad, standing in her slippers and jammies, toothbrush in her mouth as she paces. Apparently she likes to walk the halls at night. This is bad news for you.
STORY: Her eyes widen and she slaps a console on the wall. “Security alert, deck 3!”
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: “You gotta help us! The Director’s been attacked. He’s down in the basement cafeteria, and I think he’s been poisoned.”
TUELLER: “I tried to help but we got jumped.”
STORY: Such a lie is this! FA + Influence.
TUELLER: I’m going to use a close up.
STORY: Good luck!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+1
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 9 + 1 = 10
STORY: Dang!
MILLICENT: ah hell yes
ALEJO: –Whoa!
MILLICENT: Great use of a close up
STORY: She immediately believes you, and punches into the console to redirect the security forces to B1, heading down there herself. You’re free to proceed, and make it to Millie.
STORY: Alejo!
STORY: You step out of the Manaaki crew’s quarters, dusting glass shards off your pant leg. Cali flinging the first one into that mirror came in handy, turns out.
STORY: She drags the bodies to a central pile behind you. “I’ll clean up here, go get the others.”
STORY: There’s more than a little blood on you, but there’s a pile of dead scientists in the other room and the superspies are fine. Cali did take one good knock to the jaw, but you’ve seen her brush off worse.
ALEJO: “Alright. I need to get to the remaining Manaaki in the B1 cafeteria first.” He turns to go then stops. “Not that it’s any of my business, but you and T . . . yeah?” He smiles. “Nevermind. Don’t answer that. I support it, though, if it’s a thing.”
STORY: Calixta pointedly does not answer you.
ALEJO: He leaves.
ALEJO: On coms to Millie: “You alright, Doc?”
MILLICENT: “Tueller just arrived here with Tux. I’ll check back in a moment.”
ALEJO: He nods as he keeps moving.
MILLICENT: Millie checks out Tux
STORY: He’s badly concussed, and probably his jaw is broken, but he’ll live.
MILLICENT: Millie patches him and Tueller up so they stop bleeding everywhere.
ALEJO: Coms to Millie: “I’m on my way to the last Manaaki. B1 cafeteria. I’ll meet up with you as soon as I can.”
TUELLER: Tueller’s armor is streaked with blood, his nose is crooked, and he’s got a weird sort of smile.
TUELLER: “Sorry, I blew it Doc.”
TUELLER: “He saw right through me; I didn’t have a chance.”
STORY: There’s a dead Manaaki in there with Millie, Tueller.
MILLICENT: “You’re okay, Tueller. You’re here with me. Alejo and Noma cleared out the other Nikaus. They’re headed down to the basement to get the last one.”
TUELLER: “Oh shit.”
TUELLER: “I just sent the entire security force down to the last one.”
MILLICENT: “…”
TUELLER: “To get here.”
MILLICENT: Millie is speechless
MILLICENT: “Buh buh buh”
MILLICENT: She shakes her head, reaches her hand behind her ear and activates Alejo’s speaker, “ABORT ABORT OH GOD ABORT”
TUELLER: Tueller looks over at the Nikau as this happens, finally noticing that it’s face has been Midsommared.
STORY: Alejo!
STORY: You step into the cafeteria on B1 and see the following:
STORY: Manaaki, dead, sprawled on the counter.
STORY: An open deck, still running some kind of program.
STORY: Roughly twenty security guards, who are all standing in this room and in unison turn around when you enter.
STORY: What do you do?
STORY: Oh also, Millie’s yelling in your ear about aborting, and you’re pretty sure you know why.
ALEJO: Alejo does the Han Solo slide to a stop. “Oh, hiya.” He says weakly and waves as he takes a very quick pause to look around for the nearest cover or exit, which he moves towards at top speed.
STORY: There are a few tables just to your right.
ALEJO: He puts it between him and all of them, and assesses what sort of weapons they have.
STORY: All standard issue, they’ve got stun batons that will also hurt a lot if you get hit with one. No guns, from what you could see. You hit the deck behind a table to the sound of most of them removing said batons and powering them on, and then one guy in the back saying, “isn’t that the guy who cleans the toilets?”
MILLICENT: hahaha
MILLICENT: At home, watching this, my favorite show, I’m texting friends who don’t watch to chide them
ALEJO: He raises his hands from behind the table. “Guys, I . . . ” he puts on his most scared voice, which isn’t a stretch at the moment, “something terrible has happened upstairs. I . . . I have no idea what’s going on but there’s a lot of blood.”
ALEJO: Meanwhile he readies his own stun baton and starts trying to gauge if he can make an exit before they get to him.
STORY: They sort of look around at each other.
STORY: Let’s make this FA + Influence.
STORY: I hope Alejo’s lucky!
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: ablair01 rolled 2 + 2 = 4
ALEJO: Nope!
ALEJO: Shit!
TUELLER: Well, at least he’s fast.
STORY: That may be your worst roll in 85 episodes.
ALEJO: Seriously. Ouch.
STORY: They look at each other and simultaneously decide to fuck you up. Four dive toward you while the rest get ready to join them once there’s an opening.
STORY: What do you do?
ALEJO: Alejo fights, with an eye towards getting an opening to run for the door.
STORY: I’ll give a free Close Up to whoever comes up with the best fight scene music for this. I was thinking Ramones, but I bet you can do better.
STORY: Ramones!
ALEJO: Pixies!
TUELLER: Violent Femmes!
MILLICENT: Dorothy!
STORY: Close Up for Tueller, assuming we start around 0:33
STORY: Alejo! Launch Assault
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+1
STORY: ablair01 rolled 9 + 1 = 10
STORY: At least the boy can fight.
STORY: Tell me what happens!
ALEJO: Alejo steps deftly to the side as the first two make their lunge. They go flying past him. At the same time, he drops to a knee and sweeps the legs out from under the third while swinging the baton at the fourth. They both drop. Alejo rolls and grabs the fifth’s arm as she tries to bring the stun baton down on him. He uses his momentum to drag her to the ground with him as he rolls again, knocking the baton free from her hand and hitting her in the face. He’s back to his feet and out the door before the rest arrive.
ALEJO: As he runs, into his coms: “I’m in some serious shiiitt! On my way to you coming in hot.”
STORY: You hear them stumbling over each other as they give chase, Alejo, but you’re ahead of them enough to make it to the stairs before they see you.
STORY: Where are you headed?
MILLICENT: “So, the good news is that he’s still alive, but the bad news is that he sounds like he’s trailing security guards.”
TUELLER: “Where? I”ll help.”
ALEJO: He glances back. Back into the coms: “Nevermind. I’m leading them away. Get someplace safe. There’s a door in Manaaki’s office we couldn’t get through. And there’s a deck in the cafeteria that the last Manaaki left for us. I couldn’t get to it. Send Cali to get it.”
MILLICENT: “How? Noma isn’t on comms?”
ALEJO: Alejo heads in the opposite direction of the others and makes sure that he’s not so far ahead that the guards completely lose him. He’s the fox in the hunt.
MILLICENT: To Tueller, “He’s leading them on a goose chase. We’re going to Nikau’s office.” She brandishes the key she found.
MILLICENT: Where is Noma now?
ALEJO: “She should be on her way to you,” he says back into coms. “I think we need that deck. Manaaki wanted us to have it.”
STORY: She’s in Manaaki’s office
STORY: Alejo, FA + Mettle to lose the guards.
TUELLER: Tueller follows Millie and protects her.
MILLICENT: Millie leads the way to Nikau’s office
ALEJO: I think I have a closeup? Can I use it here?
TUELLER: Tueller looks terrifying..
STORY: Sure!
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+3
STORY: ablair01 rolled 5 + 3 = 8
STORY: You can lose them, but you’ll have to abandon your stun baton to bar a door as you pass through it.
STORY: Proceed?
ALEJO: Yep.
STORY: Groovy.
STORY: You all reach Manaaki’s office at the same time. Tux is left behind in Millie’s quarters, sleeping safely.
TUELLER: Across from the corpse.
STORY: Right.
MILLICENT: “Were you followed?”
ALEJO: “Hi,” Alejo runs around a corner and up to them. He gives Millie a soft squeeze on her shoulder.
MILLICENT: “Hi.” Millie doesn’t make eye contact with anyone.
ALEJO: “No. It should be a little while before they figure out we’re here.”
MILLICENT: Millie pushes through the door and brandishes the key she took off Nikau
MILLICENT: She opens the locked door using the key
TUELLER: Tueller shuts the door behind them but keeps himself close to it to take the first wave.
TUELLER: If it happens.
STORY: You find Calixta, sweating as she piles the last of the Nikau corpses into a pile in the middle of his communal quarters.
TUELLER: (from the hall)
STORY: No sound from the halls, Tueller.
ALEJO: Alejo glances at Millie as they enter and see Calixta and the bodies. It’s very brief.
TUELLER: Tueller comes and joins them.
TUELLER: “We good, Noma.”
TUELLER: “That is, need a hand?”
STORY: “Nope, good here!” she calls as she wipes off her hands.
MILLICENT: Millie looks. Bad.
MILLICENT: She takes in the scene for a moment.
MILLICENT: She bows her head, closes her eyes.
ALEJO: Alejo moves to stand beside her, but he gives her space. He stays close enough for her to know he’s there.
TUELLER: “Doc…” Tueller stops. Pauses, and doesn’t continue.
MILLICENT: She turns and faces Alejo and Tueller, head up. Her voice is raw. “I don’t have time to feel like this. What do I do?”
TUELLER: “We do the job.”
TUELLER: “Then we hurt afterwards.”
ALEJO: Alejo meets her eyes, smiles softly. And nods at Tueller’s words.
TUELLER: “Figure out the next step in the job, and do it. Then figure out the one after that.”
MILLICENT: Millie takes a deep breath.
MILLICENT: “Where’s the locked door?”
MILLICENT: “Tueller, are you blown?”
STORY: It’s on the other side of the pile.
ALEJO: Alejo steps back and points over the pile.
MILLICENT: “Your cover, I mean.”
TUELLER: “I don’t know.”
TUELLER: “If I’m seen up here I am.”
MILLICENT: “Let’s assume yes, but I want Noma to have some backup anyway. Take Noma downstairs and retrieve the deck from the cafeteria. Stay in contact. Move fast. Alejo, you’re with me.”
MILLICENT: Millie moves for the door, extremely Not Taking Questions Right Now.
TUELLER: “Yes Doc.”
TUELLER: Tueller leaves with Noma,
MILLICENT: Millie opens the door.
ALEJO: Alejo goes with Millie.
STORY: Millie, the key doesn’t work on the door.
ALEJO: Alejo frowns. “That’s disappointing.”
STORY: You hold it up to the door and the display flashes: 000000
STORY: then, scrolling: SET CODE
MILLICENT: Millie scans the door with the tricorder.
STORY: It’s been reset, somehow?
MILLICENT: Someone got a code this session. Was it me?
STORY: It was Alejo, but that code didn’t work.
STORY: Noma hangs back, seeing that you’re having trouble with this door.
MILLICENT: Does the tricorder gives us anything?
MILLICENT: Over her shoulder, “Wait Did anyone get a code while undercover? We need to get through this door.”
ALEJO: Alejo tries the code again.
STORY: No dice.
STORY: Millie, there’s a console nearby in the wall.
ALEJO: He frowns again.
MILLICENT: Millie jumps onto the console, starts hacking it
STORY: Millie, you start to type and the screen says:
STORY: >Hello, Millie
STORY: >Please set a passcode
ALEJO: Alejo keeps an eye out as she does this. And he looks for a new weapon.
STORY: Calixta’s got a whole bag of hard metal things. She hands you a pair of pliers.
ALEJO: He takes the pilers. Looks at them. Then looks back up to her, eyebrows raised. Then he shrugs.
ALEJO: He opens and closes then a couple of times. Then makes a mock stabbing motion with them.
STORY: She shrugs, a “like you have a better choice” shrug.
MILLICENT: Millie thinks for a second. 041365
MILLICENT: Millie sets the passcode to Nikau’s birthday
STORY: It’s set.
STORY: You have access to everything, Millie.
STORY: He turned the base over to you.
TUELLER: “So do I still need to grab the deck or not?”
MILLICENT: Millie rolls her shoulders back, then her neck.
STORY: Noma stands slowly, watching the screen.
MILLICENT: “Wait for me.”
MILLICENT: Millie accesses the exterior scans, looking for her ship.
STORY: No exterior scanning available.
MILLICENT: Millie pushes open the door. “I need a proper tool. This wall mount won’t do.”
STORY: The heretofore unaccessed door?
MILLICENT: Yeah
STORY: It slides open, and you find an enormous, dark, quiet bay that from what you can see spans the entire height and length of the ship and is easily twice as deep as any of the areas you’ve accessed so far. Along every surface of this vast empty space are lined six foot tall pods, with tiny consoles in front of each. Noma steps through and inspects one. “Oh god.”
MILLICENT: Millie steps forward, looking for controls
TUELLER: Tueller stands next to Noma.
STORY: Millie, they’re people inside the pods. You glance back, there are easily thousands of pods. All sleeping people inside.
TUELLER: “Congratulations on your new job, Doc.”