TUELLER: Tueller turns, “My associate just wonders, as friends, if we can ask what the Trirubidium was for?”
TUELLER: “As former inhabitants of Sol, we have a certain curiosity.”
STORY: “You may not.”
STORY: “Thank you for asking.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “Thank you.”
TUELLER: “May I ask what, if anything, you may share with us if we are able to find the Trirubidium that Proog was unable to provide to you?”
STORY: “My gratitude.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods, “Thank you for your time, your grace. We must leave now; the authorities gave us only 10 minutes to discuss with you. Is there an easier way to reach you than talking our way through the police cordon outside, for our further conversations?”
STORY: The Antaam looks you up and down. “Why would you desire an easier way?”
JENNY: Jenny nods. Under her breath, understanding Thasht a little better, “Ohhhhh.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods, “Indeed, your Grace. Until the next time.”
TUELLER: Tueller continued to treat Amitābha with disdain. Despite having virtually been raised by her, he barely acknowledged her existence, as he had for the previous 13 years. She’d helped him have his first steps, to dress for school, to prepare for his first day at boarding school, and he treated her with barely a sneer, much less a kind word. It was the only way he knew to keep Esinam from taking Amitābha away from him.
—
STORY: You arrive back at the Ark, and things are understandably tense. Alejo immediately disembarks to hire on more crew. Figgan slips away with Erwin to introduce the kid to nervous gambling, leaving the two of you and Thasht to occupy yourselves.
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: So, what we know is that Millie went away with Chandra, but we don’t know where. We don’t know what his ship looks like?
STORY: All correct.
TUELLER: But we can guess that it would have come back via Ark-space and made for Earth. Or that’s a likely guess, at least.
STORY: Memory-Alpha and the Ark are about 8 hours apart by standard travel, no jumps necessary – so if they were headed back to Sol, they could have gone straight to the jump relay and skipped the Ark.
JENNY: Does Jenny have any contacts left at Erde Maris that could help keep an eye out? Or maybe let her know in Chandra is on their radar?
STORY: Jenny, sure! You can contact your old CO if you like.
TUELLER: Who’s a friend of Millie’s, correct?
STORY: Admiral Randd, yes.
JENNY: Jenny makes eye contact with Tueller, nods to indicate she has something to say.
TUELLER: Tueller waits expectantly.
JENNY: “I could call the Admiral. See what Erde Maris knows about Chandra and Exodus.”
JENNY: It’s a question
TUELLER: “I was going to recommend that you call Randd to see what those mudballs know about Chandra and Exodus.”
TUELLER: “So this works out rather nicely.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “I would drop ‘mudballs’ when we get the Admiral on the line.”
TUELLER: “…you want me on the message?”
STORY: Thasht follows the two of you to a console. Tueller, when you log in to check your messages (Peregrine still can’t access the SectorNet after Tux’s modifications), you have one waiting from Akilah asking for a quick word. It’s not marked urgent, but you can tell from the terseness – it’s one line – that it’s important.
TUELLER: “I’m going to see if my sister is still in-system. Check in regularly, kid.”
TUELLER: “Sorry, forget the ‘kid’ bit. That’s…just check in.”
STORY: Jenny, you’ve got the Admiral’s message box – what do you leave her?
JENNY: “Message begins, eyes only Admiral Randd. Admiral, respectfully request info on Exodus and current leader w/r/t relationship w/ EM and Sol main players in general. Hope you’re well, keeping as well as can be expected. Message ends.”
TUELLER: Tueller heads off to find Akilah.
STORY: You head up to her office, where she’s busy, with three paralegals and an associate crowded around her desk. She waves you in and hands you a small pink card.
STORY: “Maitri want to see y–”
STORY: She reads your face.
STORY: “What’s wrong?”
TUELLER: “The job went bad. Worst a job’s gone since…Nandini, really. Chandra got Millie, and the deck.”
STORY: She stands up. “Shit.”
TUELLER: “And Kahn is either dead or lost.”
STORY: “Shit. T.”
TUELLER: “Ejo left him to die.”
STORY: She closes her mouth and stops herself from responding.
TUELLER: “Things are bad Lah.”
STORY: She puts her hands on her desk and takes a deep breath.
STORY: “Where is he?”
TUELLER: “Hiring an entire replacement crew before we go after Millie.”
STORY: She nods, looking down.
STORY: “You’re going?”
TUELLER: “Of course. Gotta rescue the Doc.”
TUELLER: “And the deck, of course. Fate of the universe and everything on the deck.”
STORY: She holds up her hands. “I don’t think I want to know.”
TUELLER: “But mostly for the Doc, and Kahn, if he survived.”
STORY: “We’re at a really sensitive time in this case, T. I need to get back to it. Don’t get fucking dead.”
STORY: “Okay?”
TUELLER: Tueller gives her a look–one of about five different thoughts and emotions hitting him all at once.
TUELLER: He settles back into a neutral expression “Yeah. Sure. Make sure you nail the bastards.”
STORY: She nods.
TUELLER: “At least we’ll have that.”
STORY: The crowd of legal assistants gets back to it and Akilah issues a few instructions.
TUELLER: Tueller goes for a walk to clear his head. With no clear destination in mind.
STORY: You’re still holding the pink card – it’s an invitation to meet with the Maitri Antaam. They’ve requested an audience.
TUELLER: Actually, what Tueller has to do first is go get his broken hand checked out.
STORY: Good idea!
STORY: While you’re at the medic, Jenny, how do you occupy your time with Thasht?
JENNY: I think
JENNY: hmmm
JENNY: Knowing that Tueller has a bunch on his plate, Jenny asks Thasht to take a quick inventory of their supplies and sends her on a trip to the grocery store
JENNY: —truly looking forward to dinners for the next couple of months
STORY: She does so
JENNY: Jenny herself arranges for an Ark mechanic to come by and change the oil, rotate the tires, and do routine maintenance
JENNY: She could run into Tueller somewhere if you like?
STORY: He’s at the medic!
STORY: But sure, you go get your bad knee looked at and see him there.
JENNY: Good idea!
TUELLER: Also that concussion, to make sure you’re not getting CTE.
STORY: Oh right! You had a concussion.
STORY: That’s a good thing to get medical attention for.
STORY: You’re fine, it turns out.
STORY: Tueller’s hand is bandaged, it’ll heal in a few days.
JENNY: How’s Jenny’s knee?
STORY: Also fine!
JENNY: Can I get a cool brace out of this?
STORY: Sure, but only if you stop fixating on details that don’t matter
TUELLER: “Akilah’s up to date on the broad outline of the hell that was the heist. She’s so invested in the case though. Nothing really of interest there unless you’re deeply invested in her relationship with me or Ejo.”
JENNY: Jenny shrugs. “It would embarrass me to admit that, so I’ll let it slide for now.”
TUELLER: “Oh, and I’ve got an invite with the Antaam. So that’ll be fun. Want to come with, if Loll weren’t enough overly literal warrior race for you?”
JENNY: Jenny nods. Deadpan. “Sounds like a real chill afternoon.”
TUELLER: “Cool. Let’s do it.”
TUELLER: Tueller leads the way.
STORY: You head to the hotel that serves as their base of operations.
STORY: There are three layers of A-Sec security outside.
STORY: The standoff has continued over weeks and months, and the Antaam and her people are still holed up inside.
JENNY: Jenny nods to the A-Sec cops, professional courtesy.
TUELLER: Tueller goes to walk past them.
STORY: They’d like some ID, ma’am.
STORY: Sir.
STORY: Shaking their heads, “No one allowed inside, sir, sorry. Not safe.”
TUELLER: Tueller shows his invitation from the Antaam and also his actual ID.
TUELLER: “It is not safe to keep me from an invitation from the Antaam.”
STORY: One cop looks at the other, they mutter to each other.
STORY: “Can’t allow it, sir. The Antaam is wanted for questioning.”
JENNY: Jenny shrugs at them over (scratch that) under Tueller’s shoulder
TUELLER: “On what grounds?”
STORY: “None of your business, sir.”
TUELLER: ’None of my business?!” Tueller scoffs.
TUELLER: “Oh Christ I’ve been all over this business. I freed Ambassador Aice from prison to clear the name of the Antaam, I’m not going to be dicked around by patrolmen who thinks they know better than me what my business is here.”
JENNY: Jenny puts a hand on Tueller’s elbow.
TUELLER: “Now I have an invitation from a goddamn head of state who is incredibly touchy and powerful who wants me to go over there so you figure out how to make that happens before I have to find someone else to do so for you.”
STORY: The cop puffs himself up with a deep breath. “I think you’ll find you are going to be dicked around, sir.”
STORY: “Now clear the fuck out before I haul you in for questioning.”
JENNY: Jenny steps from behind Tueller, “Could you point us at your least favorite CO so he,” indicating Tueller, “can bug them instead of you?”
STORY: He looks at you through narrowed eyes.
STORY: Let’s have FA + Influence!
JENNY: oh boy
JENNY: /roll 2d6 -1
STORY: josh rolled 8 – 1 = 7
JENNY: phew
STORY: He cocks his head. “You talk to her.” Points at Jenny. “You stay here, dickface.” Pointing at Tueller.
STORY: He points out a harried-looking sergeant across the plaza.
TUELLER: He’s sending Jenny off to talk and Tueller to stay?
STORY: Yep.
TUELLER: Tueller hands over the invite to Jenny.
JENNY: Jenny nods, leans in to Tueller, “Don’t get arrested.” Takes the invite
TUELLER: “No promises.”
JENNY: Jenny heads for the harried-looking sergeant at a brisk, but unthreatening pace.
STORY: She’s busy looking at some paperwork.
JENNY: Jenny coughs politely to announce her presence
STORY: A middle-aged Odh turns and looks at you, lowering the phone from her ear. “Help you?”
JENNY: “Yes, please.” Jenny shows her the invitation. “I have a formal invitation to visit the Antaam. Who, I know,” she says, raising her hands in a deflecting motion, “is wanted for questioning. Understood. But I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but if the Antaam hasn’t been cleared of charges, they will be soon. A rescued judge, I believe. And I think we all might prefer the official statement to be A-Sec diligently followed the law and not, well, anything else.”
STORY: She looks at the paper. “Your name Tueller?”
JENNY: Jenny points, “That’s his name, but he’s the irritating one, if you can believe it.”
TUELLER: Tueller stands back, smiling at the dickhead cop.
STORY: She nods. “You been off-Ark?”
STORY: “The Antaam killed one of my guys.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “Ah. That’s a different situation then.”
STORY: “They’re claiming cultural protection, say he stole from them and that’s their law.”
STORY: “But here, they follow my laws.”
JENNY: “Just arrived and started stocking up, we weren’t aware of the new charges.”
STORY: “You think you could get her to come out and talk?”
JENNY: Jenny shrugs. “I’m not sure I’d be able to make the Antaam do anything, if you want the truth. But I think letting us through will go a long way to show the maitri that you intend to give them a fair investigation.”
STORY: The Odh rolls her eyes. “What’s your name?”
STORY: Let’s have another FA + Influence, Jenny
JENNY: /roll 2d6 + 1
STORY: josh rolled 9 + 1 = 10
JENNY: hahahaha
JENNY: “Nilsson, sir. Jennifer Nilsson.”
STORY: “Nilsson. I can give you ten minutes. If you don’t come out, that’s on you.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “Thank you. May I bring my irritating friend?”
TUELLER: —Do you have to describe me as irritating to people who have never met me?
STORY: She looks back to her clipboard and waves you both in.
JENNY: —yes
JENNY: Jenny turns and gestures with her head toward the door to Tueller and heads in
TUELLER: Tueller waves toodle-oo to the dickhead cop and continues on.
TUELLER: “Good job, Ensign.”
JENNY: Jenny nods and smiles, knowing she just called him irritating twice in a minute. “Not an ensign.”
TUELLER: “Anything I should know?”
STORY: Inside, you find the same situation as before – dozens, maybe a hundred, maitri line the halls, idle in the stairways, and generally exude a threatening aura as you walk up to the Antaam’s penthouse.
JENNY: “Antaam was charged with killing a cop. They say he stole from them so he’s fair game under their law. A-Sec disagrees.”
TUELLER: “Did they say it was Proog?”
JENNY: “They didn’t say.”
TUELLER: “Okay. Well, that seems possible. Proog was a dirty cop who wanted to impress the Antaam but didn’t seem good at doing it. He was also an asshole.”
TUELLER: “You may remember his son attacking Loll at dinner.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “Guessing that’s our body.”
TUELLER: “Okay, well. Let’s do this. Keep to non-threatening gestures.”
TUELLER: Tueller proceeds through the hotel towards the Antaam, as steadily as they’ll let us proceed.
STORY: You find yourself, a nerve-wracking minute later, seated opposite the Antaam at her dining table.
STORY: She looks over at Jenny. “You did not bring this one last time.”
JENNY: Jenny puts on her best nonplussed face
TUELLER: Tueller bows and says, “No, but she has been a member of our crew, your grace.”
STORY: The Antaam nods. “I need you to find something for me.”
TUELLER: Tueller keeps his hands palm down on the table, fingers splayed, and nods briefly.
TUELLER: “What are you looking for?”
STORY: “Trirubidium.”
STORY: “Someone stole it from our mine. Proog knew where it was. He wouldn’t tell us.”
STORY: “Proog is dead.”
STORY: “You understand?”
TUELLER: “I believe so.”
TUELLER: “What mine was it stolen from?”
STORY: “Mercury.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods. “And do you know how Proog knew where it was?”
JENNY: Jenny raises her hand.
TUELLER: Tueller looks at Jenny and shakes his head, “No sudden movements, please.”
STORY: “He did not say.”
JENNY: Jenny lowers her hand. “Sorry, was it a mercury mine or a mine on the planet Mercury?”
STORY: The Antaam looks at Tueller meaningfully.
TUELLER: Tueller turns back to the Antaam. “The authorities outside would like to speak to you about Proog.”
STORY: “I suspect they would.”
STORY: “We have explained.”
JENNY: “It was a serious question.”
TUELLER: “The planet, Jenny.”
JENNY: “Thanks.”
JENNY: “A-Sec doesn’t agree that, culturally, you have a right to kill thieves. At least as long as you’re on this station.”
JENNY: “Did Proog do anything else? Was it in self-defense?”
STORY: Antaam ignores you. “Do you have questions?”
JENNY: Jenny looks to Tueller
TUELLER: Tueller is quiet and contemplative for a moment as he looks at the Antaam. “I’m sorry, I am trying to phrase this most respectfully, but why do you turn to us for this?”
TUELLER: “We are not detectives, nor are we diplomats.”
STORY: “Sol is your home. And you have helped us in the past.”
STORY: “We are friends.”
STORY: She says the last word with no idea what it means.
TUELLER: Tueller looks surprised, and then hopes that the Antaam cannot read his surprise.
TUELLER: “Is the Trirubidium why you came to this station?”
JENNY: Jenny literally bites her lip to keep from talking
STORY: “Yes. We were sent away.”
TUELLER: “Okay, your grace, I will look into it. I must warn you, though. The authorities are…perturbed right now, and…I do not have the diplomacy to know what will happen with them. That is beyond my abilities.”
STORY: “I do not need diplomacy. I need trirubidium.”
JENNY: Jenny pokes Tueller. Whispers, “Side bar?”
TUELLER: “Later, soldier, please.”
JENNY: Jenny shakes her head twice, real seriously.
TUELLER: Tueller pauses, then leans it close.
JENNY: “Why, though?”
STORY: The Antaam is looking at you unhappily.
JENNY: “The maitri put a power plant capable of destroying the system next to the sun.”
JENNY: “You could call that an aggressive move. So, why do they want the Rb3 in the first place?”
TUELLER: Tueller turns, “My associate just wonders, as friends, if we can ask what the Trirubidium was for?”
TUELLER: “As former inhabitants of Sol, we have a certain curiosity.”
STORY: “You may not.”
STORY: “Thank you for asking.”
JENNY: Jenny nods. “Thank you.”
TUELLER: “May I ask what, if anything, you may share with us if we are able to find the Trirubidium that Proog was unable to provide to you?”
STORY: “My gratitude.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods, “Thank you for your time, your grace. We must leave now; the authorities gave us only 10 minutes to discuss with you. Is there an easier way to reach you than talking our way through the police cordon outside, for our further conversations?”
STORY: The Antaam looks you up and down. “Why would you desire an easier way?”
JENNY: Jenny nods. Under her breath, understanding Thasht a little better, “Ohhhhh.”
TUELLER: Tueller nods, “Indeed, your Grace. Until the next time.”
TUELLER: Tueller upturns his palms from where they were on the table; it’s the only indication he is preparing to leave.
TUELLER: “Well met, then, and may your hunt continue on, Antaam.”
STORY: The Antaam nods a goodbye to you.
STORY: Back on the street, you breathe a full breath for the first time since entering the hotel.
STORY: Where to?
TUELLER: Away from the hotel.
JENNY: “Intense.”
TUELLER: “Yes. Very.”
STORY: You find the hotel room Thasht booked for you to sit down and discuss.
JENNY: “I like Thasht better.”
TUELLER: “Oh so do I. So do I.”
JENNY: “After that, I mean.”
TUELLER: “They’re here because of us, though.”
JENNY: “So, we need to investigate. Without the mega brain.”
TUELLER: “Investigate what? We’ve got what they’re looking for in our engine room.”
TUELLER: “How did Proog know we had it? That’s…well, that’s a disturbing question.”
JENNY: “Oh! We’re the thieves.”
JENNY: “I, sorry. You. You are the thieves.”
TUELLER: “Or did Proog not know we had it, and was bluffing.”
JENNY: “I don’t think I’d joined at that point.”
JENNY: “I was wondering how you’d ended up with a trirubidium core.”
JENNY: “Well, that’s.” Jenny pauses.
JENNY: “That’s a lot.”
TUELLER: “Well, sure, yes, it’s a lot. And it’s kept our fuel costs non-existent, and gotten us through the system.”
TUELLER: “But it also brought an army of cranky aliens onto the Ark.”
JENNY: “Oh, this is all your fault.”
JENNY: “Just grasping the magnitude of the problem here.”
STORY: Figgan comes in with Erwin, who is looking a little tipsy. “What’s his fault?”
JENNY: “I might need a moment.”
STORY: “E, go lay down.”
JENNY: “Oh, just. A lot.”
JENNY: Jenny paces.
TUELLER: “I wish the Doc were here.”
STORY: Figgan corrals Erwin to one of the bunks and slides his door shut, then comes back and takes out a mug, then just holds it a second, looking confused.
TUELLER: “She’s got lots of experience handling the aftermath of a truly galactic screw-up.”
STORY: “Is it morning or night?”
JENNY: “So, you idiots STOLE a power reactor core to act as your FUEL SOURCE from the most violent alien race in the galaxy? Is that about the size of it?”
TUELLER: “Mind your tone, Jen.” Tueller looks irritated.
STORY: Figgan nods and reaches for the bourbon.
STORY: “Doesn’t matter, you’re right.”
JENNY: “I’m not wrong, T.”
TUELLER: “Yes, our charter is to appropriate the technology of alien races that oppress us. That is exactly what we did.”
JENNY: Seething, “Fair.”
TUELLER: “We went down there and took something from an outpost set up in OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, and we destroyed the base and took it.”
TUELLER: “It was a successful mission and we profited on it and it brought us Loll and now there’s some unintended blowback here.”
ALEJO: Alejo walks in, looking tired and stern.
TUELLER: He walks in on a weirdly tense scene from two people who aren’t normally tense to each other.
ALEJO: He glances back and forth at them. “Hi.”
JENNY: “Fine. Pour me one.” She slides a paper cup to Figgan.
STORY: Figgan obliges.
TUELLER: “Hi. Our Maitri core is the reason the Maitri have invaded the Ark. The Antaam doesn’t know that and wants us to give it back, and they killed Proog.”
TUELLER: “That’s what’s going on here, if you must know.”
ALEJO: He looks blandly at Tueller for a beat. “Huh. Sounds about right.”
TUELLER: “That is, the Antaam doesn’t know we stole it; we’re hired for no money to find it and return it. Because we’re friends.”
ALEJO: “Neat.” He wanders over to whatever Figgan is pouring and gets a paper cup.
STORY: She fills one up for you too. “Find anyone who wants to go get killed on Sol?”
ALEJO: “We’ll have some new muscle tomorrow. But not as much as I’d hoped.”
ALEJO: “Three . . . future dead folks.”
JENNY: Jenny paces. “Let me know when we get to blue sky engineering. I’ve got a bad idea.”
ALEJO: Alejo drinks slowly. “What’s your idea?”
ALEJO: He looks at Tueller wearily and then at Jenny. “Got a suggestion for what we’re going to do with the core?”
JENNY: Jenny sips. “Tell them. Didn’t you conquer them fair and square? You killed almost everyone at the facility, you took the RB3, you even took a prisoner. You won. Tell them and make them face it according to their code.”
TUELLER: Tueller laughs.
ALEJO: Alejo’s eyes open wider and he smiles at this. “Spoken like a true pirate.”
TUELLER: “Well, that’s the spirit. Though I wouldn’t brag about taking prisoners.”
ALEJO: He looks at Tueller. “We should ask Thasht what she thinks.”
JENNY: Jenny shrugs.
STORY: Thasht steps in, sliding the door closed behind her.
STORY: “Prisoners?”
TUELLER: “Let’s run that by Loll when she’s…”
TUELLER: ’Oh, hi.”
ALEJO: Alejo turns to her. “You’re not a prisoner. Just as a point of clarification.”
TUELLER: “So, in brief, the Antaam is here for the Trirubidium that we stole from Mercury. She doesn’t know we have it. She asked us as ’friends,” to find it for her and return it.”
ALEJO: “Jenny has suggested telling them the truth — that we stole it and killed everyone except you. Thoughts?”
TUELLER: “The mild-mannered Ms. Nilsson here has just recommended we be forthright and tell them it’s ours, no take-backs.”
STORY: Thasht thinks about it, nodding.
ALEJO: Alejo smiles at Tueller’s more diplomatic overlapping explanation. He gives him a weak nod.
STORY: “Yes, that should work.”
STORY: “She should recognize your victory.”
ALEJO: “I’m guessing we’re gonna lose that ‘friend’ status?”
TUELLER: “She won’t immediately kill me and destroy the Ark?”
STORY: Thasht shrugs. “No, probably not.”
TUELLER: “I like those odds.”
STORY: “I should come.”
STORY: “You’ll have a few moments to explain why I’m there before she kills me.”
TUELLER: “I do not want you killed.”
ALEJO: “Yeah, I don’t love those odds.”
STORY: “She’ll believe me.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks at her. “What will she do after she believes you?”
TUELLER: “I will not have any part in your death just so we can keep a fuel cell.”
STORY: “Concede, or fight, most likely.”
JENNY: “But which is most likely?”
ALEJO: He closes his eyes and sighs. “Our luck?” He mutters this almost imperceptibly.
ALEJO: “Just to play devil’s advocate, what if we don’t tell her the truth? What if we just kick that can down the road?”
STORY: “You seem uncomfortable with risk.”
STORY: “The honorable thing to do would be to confront the Antaam.”
TUELLER: “Oh fuck it.”
TUELLER: Tueller goes to his room, leaving the door open, and pulls out the case where he keeps his Maitri armor.
TUELLER: “Let’s claim our prize. Maybe we’ll get lucky and those assholes will leave the Ark and we’ll be heroes.”
JENNY: Jenny paces. “You know, it’s not that I don’t miss her. I love her, in my fashion, it’s just that’s it’s so like Millie to be gone for this.”
ALEJO: Alejo laughs and throws his hands in the air. “That’s not my problem, whatever my problem is. I’ve just lost more people than I care to think about right now. I don’t . . . I’ve grown to rely on you, Thasht.”
STORY: Thasht looks at you sympathetically, Alejo.
STORY: “Captain, reliance is weakness.”
ALEJO: Alejo smiles weakly. “Maybe.”
TUELLER: “We’re going to be two Maitri walking into a police cordon, so anyone have any ideas how to get across it?”
ALEJO: He looks at Tueller. “I’m not sure why . . ” He stops himself and shakes his head. “I’m going to trust you because I do.”
TUELLER: Tueller straps the greaves around his legs.
ALEJO: He raises his paper cup and downs it. “I don’t know that this is smart. But I trust you.”
TUELLER: There’s a smooth hiss of the hydraulics as they kick in.
ALEJO: “What do you need from me? Us?”
TUELLER: “We need to get in.”
ALEJO: He nods thoughtfully. “Okay. I’ll do whatever I can to help with that.”
ALEJO: He looks at Fig. “You have the ship.” He looks at Jenny. “I know you’re not taking orders from me, but, you know. If you feel like it, I’d be forever grateful if you kept an eye out, if you decide to stay on the ship.”
TUELLER: “This is her plan, Ejo.”
JENNY: Jenny glares at Alejo. “I’m coming.”
ALEJO: He shrugs absently. “I’m catching up.”
STORY: What’s your plan for getting past the barricade with two Maitri?
STORY: After the last time when you didn’t get her any results, the Odh sergeant isn’t disposed to let you by again.
ALEJO: He looks at her. Closes his eyes momentarily and sighs. “Fig. You and the kid have the ship, I guess.” He shakes his head.
TUELLER: Well, she didn’t deal with Alejo.
STORY: Plan?
STORY: You have to get through a three-layer-deep police barricade with two people who look like maitri
TUELLER: “Why don’t we just ask Ambassador Aice to let us try?”
JENNY: Jenny brightens. “There’s an idea.”
TUELLER: “I mean, we can be honest. I think she owes us a favor?”
TUELLER: “Antaaaaaam! We need to talk to you about your Trirubidium!”
TUELLER: “It is I, your friend Tueller.”
STORY: You grab a quick give minutes with the Ambassador, and though she is exhausted by the prospect of having to clean this up, she owes you one, so she gets you a hall pass and a ride to the roof of the building so you don’t have to take the elevator in what she calls “that ridiculous getup.”
TUELLER: Roof of the hotel?
TUELLER: All four of us?
STORY: Yep!
STORY: There are three maitri standing guard up there who look very unhappy about your arrival.
STORY: One leaves without a word and goes into the stairway.
TUELLER: Tueller has the helmet popped open so they can see it’s him.
ALEJO: Alejo readies himself for whatever might happen.
ALEJO: By the way, I’m assuming he’s gotten some medical attention?
STORY: Alejo has gotten medical attention! His shoulder is bandaged and the wound closed, it’ll heal fully in a few weeks.
TUELLER: As long as we are still alive then.
STORY: The remaining maitri absolutely hate seeing a human wearing their armor, and it’s a tense minute while you wait.
TUELLER: Tueller projects strength rather than weakness this time around.
STORY: Finally, the Antaam steps out onto the roof, cocking her head as she looks at you curiously.
STORY: “That does not belong to you.”
TUELLER: “It does by right.”
TUELLER: “But that is not important now. I have come to speak to you about the Trirubidium.”
STORY: “You have found it.” It is not a question.
TUELLER: “We have always had it. Since you entered our solar system, we attacked your base and took it. It is ours, and it will remain ours. We killed your team there, and wiped the base out of our system.”
STORY: The antaam doesn’t look as surprised as you’d expect.
STORY: “Proog,” she calls, and Captain Proog steps out of the stairway.
STORY: “You said they would fold.”
ALEJO: Alejo tilts his head at this.
ALEJO: “Huh.”
STORY: Proog looks unhappily at you. “I thought they would.”
STORY: “Guilt not much of a motivator for you folks?”
TUELLER: “No, it is not.”
ALEJO: Alejo stifles a laugh.
TUELLER: “I was raised to claim what is mine, and what is yours.”
JENNY: Jenny turns her head to the side in echo of Alejo.
STORY: He gestures to Thasht. “Who’s this?”
TUELLER: “This is our Maraas.”
STORY: Thasht steps menacingly toward him, and he takes a step back.
STORY: Tries to look brave, but clearly isn’t.
STORY: Thasht looks to the antaam. “Where is the setaar?”
STORY: The antaam watches Thasht carefully. “You do not have right to speak to me, maraas.”
STORY: Thasht stamps a foot down, shaking the ground. “Where. Is the setaar.”
TUELLER: “Answer her!”
STORY: None of you have any idea what’s going on, but it’s tense.
STORY: The antaam weakens, almost imperceptibly. “We are without a setaar.”
STORY: Thasht narrows her brow, then turns her head to call over her shoulder. “Challenge her, Tueller.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks at Thasht. And then back. “I challenge you!”
STORY: Thasht and the antaam both smile.
TUELLER: Tueller steps up and takes on the stance that Loll would take when they would spar.
STORY: Every maitri but the antaam takes a step back, and the antaam reaches out a hand as one of her soldiers hands her her battle mask. “You will die well, human.”
STORY: Tueller!
STORY: What are you doing?
TUELLER: Yikes!
ALEJO: “Oh fuck.” Alejo steps back and shakes his head.
TUELLER: Looks back to Loll, “To the death? Any rules?”
TUELLER: Tueller drops down his mask to protect his face.
ALEJO: Alejo looks wide-eyed at Tueller. “Remember I said I’m trusting you.” He says this more to himself than anything.
STORY: Thasht steps back. “Kill her.”
STORY: She looks utterly confident in you.
ALEJO: He looks at Jenny instinctively and then remembers they are fighting and looks away.
STORY: She probably has forgotten about your broken hand.
TUELLER: Tueller charges and does his best to kill the Antaam!
JENNY: Jenny looks at Alejo and looks away, maybe a second after he looks at her.
STORY: Tueller! Launch Assault!
TUELLER: I’m going to use a Close up!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+3
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 4 + 3 = 7
ALEJO: Anything Alejo can do to assist. A slight distraction possibly?
STORY: Alejo can assist, but what you know of Maitri culture suggests this would invalidate the results of the combat.
STORY: Tueller, what happens?
TUELLER: Tueller wins, but gets hurt!
ALEJO: Alejo will stand very rigidly. He will refrain from getting involved.
TUELLER: Tueller charges at the Antaam, aiming at immobilizing her lower set of arms first–Loll would always fuck him up using those when Tueller would focus on her upper arms…He smashes into where the Antaam’s arms meet with both of his fists with a thundercrack, knocking them both off balance as they tumble towards the ledge of the hotel. There’s huge thunderstrikes as Tueller punches the Antaam, and before anyone can hardly blink, the Antaam goes over the side.
STORY: She falls without uttering a sound, and you watch her bounce sickeningly off a lower balcony before landing on the front promenade.
STORY: There’s no question that she’s dead.
ALEJO: Alejo takes a deep slow breath. He smiles.
TUELLER: Tueller stands for a moment at the ledge, and then crumples onto his back. There is blood seeping from his armor.
STORY: Three of her soldiers watch her go over the edge, pause, and look up at the sky to howl. Others join in.
STORY: Thasht kicks the nearest one in the kneecap and hip-throws him to the ground.
STORY: “She does not receive the toloom! She is maraas! YOU are maraas!”
STORY: “Submit before you dishonor yourselves further!”
JENNY: Jenny turns until she’s back to back with Alejo
ALEJO: Alejo squares up to Jenny’s back and prepares to fight.
STORY: The maitri on the roof look at each other hesitantly, then one at a time, they kneel, lowering their heads, resting their four hands on a knee.
TUELLER: Tueller stands back up—there is definitely a fair amount of blood coming out from under his right armpit.
STORY: Thasht looks back and sees Tueller bleeding, then rushes over to help him stand. “You fought well. Are you dying?”
STORY: Roll Brace for Impact on a severe wound!
TUELLER: /roll 2d6+3
STORY: chris.stuart rolled 5 + 3 = 8
STORY: It’s bad, but you won’t die, you just really need to get some stitches and a nap
ALEJO: Alejo looks over to them, keeping a vigilant eye on the other threats in the space.
JENNY: Jenny keeps an eye on all the maitri, watching their eyes, their joints, looking for a sign of violence
TUELLER: Tueller tries to shrug. “Am I king of the Maitri now?”
ALEJO: At this, Alejo grimaces and shakes his head slightly.
TUELLER: His right arm dangles uselessly.
STORY: She shakes her head. “They would never accept a human.”
STORY: “But they must return to Mait for trial. The setaar are our spiritual leaders. No tribe travels without one.”
STORY: “They are all maraas. They must be judged.”
TUELLER: “Okay. Then tell them to fuck off and also that I might need a pint or two of O-negative soon.”
TUELLER: Tueller sits down suddenly, only half controlled.
STORY: Thasht stops. “Tueller.”
STORY: “They are a threat to the safety of the Ark.”
STORY: “And they must be brought to Mait for judgment.”
STORY: “You understand.”
TUELLER: “I’m not sure. Explain it to me like I’m lightheaded from bloodloss.”
TUELLER: “Are you saying you’re leaving me?”
JENNY: Jenny swears and tears a strip from her shirt and starts to tie around Tueller in the toughest way possible.
STORY: She nods.
TUELLER: “Can you just not?”
JENNY: She makes eye contact with Alejo, giving him the watch on their potential enemies.
TUELLER: “I vanquished the Antaam and I would prefer you not leave.”
JENNY: She’s passing some additional trust to him.
STORY: “They must have justice, Tueller.”
ALEJO: Alejo acknowledges her reluctantly, but he moves to keep watch over the three of them.
STORY: “Captain,” she says, turning to Alejo.
TUELLER: “Yes, but I would prefer to have you here.”
TUELLER: “That seems more just, to me.”
ALEJO: Alejo looks at her. “I understand, Thasht. Thank you. For everything.”
STORY: “Captain, I request your leave to depart with these maraas and return them to Mait. I will rejoin you when my task is finished.”
TUELLER: Tueller closes his eyes for five seconds, and then opens them again.
ALEJO: He nods. “You are freed, Thasht, from whatever obligation you feel you have. You have more than paid your debt. You are a true friend, and I am in yours.”
ALEJO: He nods at her solemnly.
STORY: Thasht nods to you, a quick movement. This is as sentimental as she’s ever been.
TUELLER: —In my head I pictured it raining while this scene goes on, but we’re inside a spaceship.
STORY: — it’s foggy
STORY: — don’t ask what the fog is
STORY: “Tueller, there is one more thing. You must pass command to me.”
TUELLER: “You don’t need to fight me for it? I’m pretty sure you can take me.”
STORY: She shakes her head, and holds out an arm.
ALEJO: Alejo watches this, still keeping a moderate attention open to threats.
TUELLER: “Okay. The command is yours. I could not have won that fight without you. Without all of our time together. This is your victory as much as mine.”
TUELLER: “What do you need…” Tueller pauses, breathes deeply once, “what do you need from me.”
JENNY: Jenny grunts and ties off his tourniquet
STORY: She waggles her hand, waiting for you to take it, and says, “Do as I do.” When you do, she pulls you up to standing, and tilts her head towards yours, maintaining eye contact as your foreheads touch. She takes a deep breath and screams, as loud as she can, into your face.
STORY: It’s a bellow that shakes your skull.
TUELLER: Tueller screams back as loud as he can in his weakened state. It’s a bellow.
STORY: She smiles as she finishes and embraces you.
TUELLER: His voice turns raw at the end.
ALEJO: Alejo winces at all the bellowing.
STORY: “Be well, Tueller. Do not falter.”
TUELLER: He holds her very tightly.
TUELLER: “Come back to us. If you want. When you have done what is necessary. This is a place you belong. Not the only place, I hope, but one of them.”
STORY: She nods, then departs down the stairway to give orders.
TUELLER: Tueller does not cry.
TUELLER: He just stands there and watches her go, for long after she’s gone.
ALEJO: Alejo watches her go, his face blank. He moves to Tueller after a long beat. “Time to go.”
JENNY: Jenny makes eye contact with Tueller, sliding into frame. “Doctor? You need a doctor.”
TUELLER: “I really need a doctor can we do that now?” and he slumps down.