TUELLER: “Huh. No madmen in your family, I guess.”
RYO: “Oh, plenty. Just didn’t pass on to me.”
TUELLER: “No one studies Nixon anymore either, I guess.”
TUELLER: “Or Machiavelli.”
STORY: “Didn’t they lose?”
TUELLER: “Well, sure. That time.”
MILLICENT: “Was. Was there another time?”
RYO: “Unless you think that The Prince sheds some light on this situation, I don’t see what Machiavelli has to offer us right now.”
TUELLER: “Discourses on Livy, technically.”
MILLICENT: “Hey! Book club!” Millie snaps her fingers.
STORY: “Hey. Brain geniuses.”
STORY: Calixta smiles at Millie.
RYO: Ryo frowns.
STORY: “I have an idea.”
MILLICENT: “I don’t like not being the one who is getting lost in an academic aside.” Millie smiles back at Calixta.
RYO: The bar is in a warren of tunnels just off the main thoroughfare of the Station. It’s a cozy, wood-paneled tavern called Monk’s Kettle. Kahn sits at the far end, hunched over a pile of papers, looking more like an overworked accountant than a spy or sniper or whatever he really is. Ryo watches him for a moment, admiring his lean athleticism. The end to all the hiding, all the deception, all the fear should be almost over. They could be together, in the open. But somehow, Ryo knew in that instant that it was never going to happen that way. That wasn’t how their story would end.
—
STORY: Everyone’s had a few minutes to think and consider their options. But the clock keeps on ticking.
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: How big was Ruell’s ship, and how many people on it? Estimate, at least?
STORY: Big, Tueller, crew probably 20+.
RYO: Ryo runs a hand through his hair and looks at Millie. Then at Tueller. “Do we have anything to offer Ruell that’s worth more than say, 500,000 credits, give or take? Do we have anything other that Mr.,” he catches himself, “Tueller, to bargain with?”
MILLICENT: “Well, I developed a revolutionary waste-free source of intergalactic power…but it’s a couple systems away.”
TUELLER: “I’m rich, but not that rich. We have a ship in a different system, and we…can do favors.”
TUELLER: “I’m also apparently an intergalactic fugitive, so my favors aren’t worth much.”
RYO: “We have to be able to do favors that are more enticing than the ones the Captain, over there, thinks she can curry from Aice or whoever by turning you in.”
MILLICENT: “And our biggest claims to fame are probably not a great advertisement for our services.”
TUELLER: “All I’ve got is that they want me alive, so they probably won’t do anything to kill me.”
MILLICENT: “Plus, this is a trade federation. They probably have more ships full of charmingly irreverent misfits than we can shake a stick at.”
TUELLER: “Also, I’ll just point out that she didn’t even acknowledge I was in the room, so I’m not exactly bargaining from a position of strength.”
RYO: “What about that drive? Chandra wanted something on it. He was a man who . . . cared about power. Is there something on it or derived from it that would could use?”
RYO: Ryo adjusts his glasses and looks at Millie.
MILLICENT: “We need the drive.” Millie says firmly.
RYO: “Well, gentle people, I’m fresh out of ideas then.”
RYO: He sits back with a sigh.
TUELLER: Tueller ticks things off with his fingers, “Armed assault against a superior force. Rigging ourselves up to explode if they come after us and hope they let us go if they think we’re serious/can take them with us. Go the other way and take forever to get home. Give me up so I can face my crimes and also y’all retire in comfort. Or, wild jump. Anything I’ve missed?”
TUELLER: “Or hope you can read something on that drive to discover the secrets of FTL travel so we can take a different route.”
MILLICENT: How long until the other ships that went to investigate the distraction come back?
STORY: You can’t know. Maybe a couple hours, maybe a day or two.
MILLICENT: Millie turns to Calixta. “Well, what’s the story. Did you find anything on the drive we can use?
STORY: Calixta shakes her head. “Progress on that thing takes days. We haven’t had enough time.”
MILLICENT: “And those ships we sent away could be back by the time we find anything useful.”
RYO: “Are we serious about blowing ourselves up? If not, I have serious doubts about Ruell buying that ruse. And I, for one, would prefer, strongly, not to get blown up.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods. “Same.”
TUELLER: “Huh. No madmen in your family, I guess.”
RYO: “Oh, plenty. Just didn’t pass on to me.”
TUELLER: “No one studies Nixon anymore either, I guess.”
TUELLER: “Or Machiavelli.”
STORY: “Didn’t they lose?”
TUELLER: “Well, sure. That time.”
MILLICENT: “Was. Was there another time?”
RYO: “Unless you think that The Prince sheds some light on this situation, I don’t see what Machiavelli has to offer us right now.”
TUELLER: “Discourses on Livy, technically.”
MILLICENT: “Hey! Book club!” Millie snaps her fingers.
STORY: “Hey. Brain geniuses.”
STORY: Calixta smiles at Millie.
RYO: Ryo frowns.
STORY: “I have an idea.”
MILLICENT: “I don’t like not being the one who is getting lost in an academic aside.” Millie smiles back at Calixta.
STORY: “Let’s do literally anything other than sitting around talking about what to do.”
TUELLER: Tueller slumps in a corner.
RYO: “Lot of good genius is doing us now.” He looks at Cali.
MILLICENT: “Looks like it’s fight, regroup, run or surrender.”
RYO: “Rabbit or Rabbit really fast and outta control. I think those are the only legit choices.”
TUELLER: “I’ve made my suggestions. I’m hurt, I’m tired, and we all know I”m guilty.”
MILLICENT: “Oh, I hadn’t considered wild jumping.”
TUELLER: “And apparently I am not contributing useful things here. So.”
MILLICENT: “I hadn’t seriously considered it.”
MILLICENT: “Sorry, it seems like suicide. And there’s no other gun to our head.”
MILLICENT: “Our other worst case scenario is 6 more months at sea.”
TUELLER: “Notma got us where she wanted us to go.”
RYO: “Do we have any rough aim when we wild jump?”
TUELLER: “I have more confidence in this one.”
STORY: Calixta frowns.
STORY: “Tueller.”
STORY: “No nicknames, please.”
STORY: “This is getting offensive.”
MILLICENT: “Calixta, how do you feel about a wild jump?”
TUELLER: “No nicknames, huh.”
STORY: She shrugs. “Not awesome, but we can try it if it’s life or death.”
STORY: “This doesn’t feel like life or death.”
STORY: “This feels like inconvenience or other inconvenience.”
TUELLER: “At some point we’re going to sit down and figure out who everyone is and was and will be.”
RYO: “I see one inconvenience. Long route. What’s the other?”
TUELLER: “Or, at least, hopefully someone will send me a chart in my cell.”
STORY: Calixta stands up, clearly angry. “I’m Noma, I’m Calixta, part of me is on your ship, and this ISN’T COMPLICATED. FUCK.”
STORY: She storms out.
STORY: Kahn grimaces from his corner.
STORY: Sucks air through his teeth.
TUELLER: “It is complicated, is it not?”
MILLICENT: Millie gives Tueller a look.
MILLICENT: “You talk like you don’t believe her.”
TUELLER: “Am I just really stupid?”
STORY: “You’re making a thing she is going through about you and your comfort, T.”
STORY: Kahn shrugs.
TUELLER: “No one has ever sat me down and told me whether the program we picked off of a crashing ship that sent us to medieval world actually was her or not.”
MILLICENT: “It was a disconnected piece of her, but not a current part of the Noma that’s here on this ship.”
TUELLER: Tueller turns to Ryo, “This is confusing, right?”
RYO: “As fascinating and important as the proper way to deal with non-unitary identities may be, I feel like we have more pressing issues, unless we do what I suggested initially, which is take our time. Six months is a long route, but we can ponder identity and the meaning of life at our leisure. And live.”
RYO: “And yes, I agree it’s a bit confusing.”
RYO: “Time also has the salutary benefit of giving Millie a chance to work on that drive, which I gather is important to her, and I gather it was what Alejo died for.”
TUELLER: “Guys, I’m fucking this all up, so I am going to strongly urge you to get a fucking payday here and go life your lives without me,” Tueller stands up and goes to the controls.
TUELLER: “Let’s go do a prisoner exchange.”
MILLICENT: “If we take six months to travel it means that this case of Tueller’s could be finished by the time we arrive. We won’t have a chance to change the outcome.”
MILLICENT: “If Tueller does give himself over it could give us a chance to try and see who brought new charges or what changed with Aice.”
TUELLER: Tueller is setting the controls to fly to Ruell’s ship unless someone physically stops him.
RYO: Ryo watches Tueller. “Okay. Change of appetite then. I suggest we negotiate for the biggest payday we can get then. The money could be useful in whatever post-surrender moves we have.”
TUELLER: Tueller doesn’t look anyone in the face anymore.
STORY: You approach Ruell’s ship. Her comms officer sends you a wave.
MILLICENT: “But also.” Millie walks over to Tueller and puts her hand on his. “Tueller. I don’t like the idea of handing you over.”
RYO: “I’ll speak with Ruell?”
MILLICENT: “And if we do this, I want you to know, it’s not for keeps. We’re going to find a way to get you back.”
MILLICENT: “I’m not losing you too.”
TUELLER: Tueller doesn’t look at Millie.
STORY: Assuming someone answers the wave, you dock with Ruell’s ship and the three of you head up to meet with Ruell?
RYO: Ryo will answer. And yes, he’ll go to meet with Ruell.
MILLICENT: Millie will go.
TUELLER: Tueller goes, of course.
STORY: You’re shown in and back up to Ruell’s meeting room. She looks unhappy.
STORY: “Yes, Mr. Hanaka?”
RYO: “Hello, Captain. We’ve reconsidered.”
STORY: “Oh?”
RYO: “Mr. Ya’Makasi is prepared to turn himself over to you. If we can reach an agreement about details.”
TUELLER: Tueller waves.
TUELLER: “I look forward to the possibility of being ignored for weeks to come by you.”
STORY: “Oh.”
STORY: “Excellent. Talk details, then.”
RYO: “Well, first we need some assurance about his safety and comfort. Presumably, you plan on delivering him for trial, so I do not imagine that this will be a difficult part of the negotiation, but we want to be sure to address it. Second, we need to get expedited passage through the relay. Finally, and perhaps more challengingly, we need to arrive at a fair price. Mr. Ya’Makasi is a critical member of our crew, and he provides important business skills to us. We will require something more than 400,000.”
STORY: “His safety is guaranteed; Mr. Ya’Makasi is worth nothing to me dead. Comfort, certainly. We will hold him in a room, but if he does not try to escape, which -” She looks at Tueller’s cane and demeanor – “it seems will not be an issue, we will have no need to make him uncomfortable.”
STORY: “You’re free to use the relay as soon as you turn him over.”
RYO: Ryo nods.
STORY: “As for payment, what’s your counter-offer?”
RYO: “400,000 plus you leave the relay. You may wonder what that benefits us. That, however, isn’t of concern.”
STORY: Ruell looks at you with a raised eyebrow.
STORY: “Careful, Mr. Hanaka, if you get everything you want your new friends may begin to suspect we’re in league.”
RYO: “This is hardly everything I want.”
STORY: She offers a hand. “Fine. I’ll follow my idiotic partners on your wild goose chase.”
RYO: Ryo reaches out, takes her hand, and gives it a firm shake. “An accord then. I will provide you with an account for the funds.” He lets go and takes out a card from his suit jacket. He writes an alphanumeric code on it. “Mission Financial Brokerage, please.”
TUELLER: “Pleasure being business for ya.”
RYO: Ryo glances at him with a frown. “Hardly my idea.”
STORY: “Wasn’t it?” Ruell smiles.
STORY: “This way, please, Mr. Ya’Makasi.” She stands and gestures to a door behind her.
MILLICENT: Millie leans in to Tueller. “Don’t die. Don’t kill anyone.” She pauses. “That you don’t have to.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks at Millie for the first time since he sat at the controls. “Doctor.” He nods, and then stands up to walk away.
TUELLER: “Figure this out. Everything. And tell Noma I’m sorry.”
MILLICENT: She runs to him and hugs him quickly, then lets go. Whispered, “We’re coming for you.”
TUELLER: “Be seeing you.”
TUELLER: Tueller hobbles away.
RYO: Ryo heads back to the shuttle without any additional exchange.
STORY: When you return, Calixta is sitting at the helm unhappily. She doesn’t look at Ryo.
RYO: Ryo doesn’t look at her either. He goes to a com and contacts the moon to let them know that Ruell and her forces are leaving the relay. He encourages them to take immediate steps to secure it.
STORY: They thank you profusely, wonder aloud who the hell you are, and get off the line to organize parties to head that way.
RYO: When he’s done he says simply, “We are clear to go through the relay, whenever the others are secure and ready.” He leaves the bridge.
MILLICENT: Millie locks herself in her quarters and doesn’t come out for a while.
STORY: You head through the relay. Your trip still has another three weeks ahead. You have the opportunity to spend XP if you like, or do a cramped quarters?
MILLICENT: Let’s do a cramped quarters!
STORY: Who with?
MILLICENT: I think Millie wants to spend some time with Noma
STORY: Ok!
STORY: Roll dem bones
MILLICENT: /roll 2d6 + 2
STORY: josh rolled 11 + 2 = 13
STORY: Let’s figure out how the two of you bonded!
MILLICENT: I think this is Millie and Noma working on the deck
STORY: Sure. You discover quickly, to your chagrin, that any progress on the deck will be very, very slow – the puzzle nature of the data means even small bits of information take days or weeks. You don’t expect you’ll even have a clear idea of what you’re looking for for months.
MILLICENT: Millie leans back from the whiteboard where she’s been drawing out an outline of the structure they now suspect the data to be arranged in.
MILLICENT: “So that’s…roughly…” Millie does some math in her head.
STORY: “Six weeks.”
STORY: “We’ll be back at the Ark before we even know whether we’re right.”
STORY: She looks unhappy, rubs her eyes.
STORY: “This is one of the parts of having a body that sucks.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods. “What are your feelings on caffeine?”
MILLICENT: She stretches. “I could make a pot if you want to go another couple of hours.”
STORY: “Caffeine is good. Alcohol is better.”
MILLICENT: Millie laughs.
MILLICENT: “You know, I don’t think we’ve had a drink together.”
MILLICENT: She leans under the counter and comes up with a half-full bottle. She waggles her eyebrows suggestively.
MILLICENT: “Eh?”
STORY: Calixta smiles and finds mugs.
MILLICENT: Millie pours, takes a sip and sits down.
MILLICENT: “I missed you.”
STORY: “I missed you too. Well, this part of me. The other part was probably happy to see you.”
STORY: “Tell me about her?”
MILLICENT: “I don’t know much about Calixta. Alejo loved her.”
STORY: “No, no.”
STORY: “I’m still Calixta, Millie. Don’t talk about me in the past tense.”
MILLICENT: “Sorry, dear.”
STORY: “I’m just more than either part of me was.”
MILLICENT: “What did you mean about the other part of you?”
STORY: “I meant the part I left behind, that you recovered.”
MILLICENT: “Ah.”
MILLICENT: “She was less than you, than the full you. But I think I loved her even more fiercely for all that.”
MILLICENT: “I loved her as much as I possibly could, hoping the rest of you would emerge from her.”
MILLICENT: Millie takes a drink. “I can’t really describe what she was like. Slower, less aware, difficult. But I thought I could see part of you in there.”
MILLICENT: “And, of course, you’re still difficult. That’s probably the part I saw.”
STORY: “You were right.”
MILLICENT: Millie grins.
MILLICENT: “I’m ah. I’m really sorry, Noma.”
MILLICENT: “I left you behind.”
MILLICENT: “I let you down.”
STORY: She smiles, understanding. “Wasn’t your fault.”
STORY: “We found each other again.”
STORY: “No harm, in the end.”
MILLICENT: Millie holds out her glass to cheers. “I wish like hell that were true, dear.”
MILLICENT: “I got you back, but I lost both of my stupid, reckless boys.”
STORY: She nods. “We’ll get one back, at least.”
STORY: “If I have to kill every ambassador on that fucking station, we’ll get him back.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods and stands. “Yes, that’s the spirit. We’ll probably want to throttle the violence back a bit, but yes.”
STORY: She shrugs.
STORY: I imagine you both get drunk and enjoy each other’s company?
MILLICENT: I think that’s right
MILLICENT: I want to spend some XP too, if that’s okay
STORY: Sure!
MILLICENT: Plan, 4 XP: Describe a goal, event, or act. The GM will provide you with a lead, the first step to accomplishing that goal. Example: Liberate Novanna station, find my parents, dismantle the smuggler network, start a criminal cartel, etc.
MILLICENT: We’re going to free Tueller.
STORY: Okay!
MILLICENT: So I’d like to arrive with a lead, or discover one very soon after arriving in the system.
STORY: Okay. I’ll give you one when you get there.
STORY: Ryo, what are you up to for this trip?
RYO: Ryo is keeping a low profile. When crew see him, he appears to be working on something, but he doesn’t share details with anyone. He’s not exactly coy about it, but he closes books, moves papers, whatever, when someone enters the room.
STORY: Astra will assist if asked, and leave you alone if not. She does have your quarters in excellent condition already, so she’s free for whatever work you need.
RYO: He mostly leaves her free, but he has asked her to cook for the crew once a week, as she’s an amazing chef.
RYO: Ryo is an able assistant chef, so he aids.
RYO: And Ryo isn’t seeking out any close quarters, though he’s open to having one, if it happens.
STORY: She happily does that, and actually covers a lot of the meals.
STORY: Okay!
STORY: Tueller!
TUELLER: Yep!
STORY: You are escorted to a fairly comfortable room, one equipped with warm blankets, a head, some basic necessities. No console, and a lock on the door.
STORY: You’re also mostly left alone, but about a week into the journey Ruell comes by your room and knocks on the door.
TUELLER: “Come in. You know you can without even knocking.”
TUELLER: “This is not my home, I’m just passing through.”
STORY: She enters. “Can and should are not the same, Mr. Ya’Makasi.”
TUELLER: “Oh I know that.”
TUELLER: “Actually I’m not sure I do know that, now that I think about it.”
STORY: “I’m here to answer your questions.” She gestures, giving you the floor.
TUELLER: “Hmmm. I guess we can start with the basics. Am I actually charged with anything? And if so, what?”
STORY: “I’m not aware of the nature of the charges, but yes, they are real. I would have thought you had confirmed that when you returned to your ship.”
STORY: “The Ark has put out a notice that anyone with information on your whereabouts is to share with A-Sec immediately.”
TUELLER: “Have you shared it with A-Sec immediately?”
STORY: “We have, and we have assured them that we are capable of delivering you. They are willing to allow it.”
TUELLER: “400,000 credits and abandoning your shitty roadblock is a lot of money. Hard to feel like I’m worth it.”
TUELLER: “That’s not a question, and yet it is. How am I worth this to you?”
STORY: “My superiors believe you are.”
TUELLER: “Do they know me? Personally?”
STORY: “Not that I know of. I believe it’s thought that the Volturnii being seen doing a favor for Ambassador Tsshkik will be worth the investment.”
STORY: You recognize the name, Tueller – why?
TUELLER: “Oh come on, the Ambassador is not still upset that they turned out to be allergic to Salus spice after I delivered them an entire crate of them to it at great personal expense, are they?”
TUELLER: “A Viddean should have really figured that out by the time they reach 80, should they not?”
STORY: Ruell shrugs. “They took over the investigation after Aice fell ill, and as I understand it, they’ve been far less willing to entertain half measures.”
STORY: “For what it’s worth, Mr. Ya’Makasi, I reviewed your application to the Volturnii. Under different circumstances, you would have been an asset to us.”
TUELLER: “Aice? Is she alright?” Tueller shows concern for the first time.
TUELLER: Tueller waves off the compliment.
STORY: “I’m not sure. They keep details on the ambassadors from public view. But she hasn’t appeared at sessions in seven weeks.”
TUELLER: “Damn. I kind of liked that uncompromising asshole.”
TUELLER: “She reminds me of my parents, without the murder.”
TUELLER: “Anyway, how’s the trial going against my family and the other families?”
TUELLER: As an aside, as the thought comes to him, “Does the Ark have capital punishment?”
STORY: “Still in pretrial. I believe they’re looking to capture as many of you as possible before beginning, to try you as an organization.”
TUELLER: “Please. As a personal favor to me, no matter what the case says, please don’t refer to me as one of them. I wasn’t, anymore.”
TUELLER: “I’ll get tried as such, but…well, you know, I was trying to be something else. One of you, maybe, or something else. Somewhere.”
STORY: She nods. “I understand the feeling.”
TUELLER: “Even considered changing my name.”
TUELLER: “For real. Not just to break someone out of prison.”
STORY: “Bit late.”
TUELLER: “Well, yeah I know that NOW, thanks.”
STORY: She smiles.
STORY: “I have duties to attend to, Mr. Ya’Makasi. Do you mind if I return another day?”
TUELLER: “Sure. And if you please, I could use a bigger supply of drenomorph and Imuran. My operation still needs…I still need to recover.”
TUELLER: “Whether they have capital punishment or not.”
STORY: She nods. “I’ll have the medic attend to you.”
STORY: With that, she leaves.
STORY: If you continue to be polite and direct with her, you’ll develop a rapport, but she’s going to deliver you anyway. Did you have any other questions for her?
TUELLER: Tueller gets down on the floor and laborously returns to doing far fewer pushups than he should be capable of.
TUELLER: Tueller’s fine. He’s not particularly curious and so he lets things just go by without following up on them.
STORY: All right! Both ships arrive at the Ark at close to the same time, and Tueller, you’re delivered to A-Sec and processed. You’re in a cell, waiting for your appointed lawyer to meet with you.
STORY: Millie, Ryo, you’re able to find out where Tueller’s being kept and go see him, if you like.
TUELLER: Are my accounts frozen? Can I afford a good one?
MILLICENT: Can we get our lead first?
STORY: No!
STORY: Tueller, you’re introduced to a particular twist of Ark law – all criminal defense lawyers are appointed and employed by the Ark. They figure it’s the only way not to privilege the wealthy.
STORY: It mostly works!
STORY: Millie, you don’t have a lead because you need to talk to the lawyer to get it.
STORY: Speaking of, what’s his name? He’s human.
MILLICENT: Word!
MILLICENT: His name is Ward Becker
STORY: https://the-peregrine.obsidianportal.com/characters/becker
STORY: He arrives at Tueller’s cell at the same time as Millie and Ryo.
STORY: Looks over at you with a sort of tired friendliness.
STORY: “Mr. Ya’Makasi?”
TUELLER: “Please, call me Tueller. At least in here.”
STORY: He nods. “Tueller. Nice to meet you. I’ll arrange to get us a room?”
TUELLER: “Feel free.”
STORY: He nods and leaves to do so.
RYO: “I trust your journey was reasonably comfortable?” Ryo offers a casual smile to Tueller. “The ship wasn’t the same without you.”
MILLICENT: “More legroom, for starters.” Millie smiles weakly at Tueller.
TUELLER: “Yeah, it was alright. Found out that yeah, this did screw over my chances at accreditation.”
TUELLER: “How’s Noma?”
MILLICENT: “Ooooh, sorry about that.”
TUELLER: “Okay, no answer on Noma. We’ll move on to business. Aice is out. Sick. I don’t know what. Please check up on her. Then check up on Ambassador Tsshkik. They’re running the case now, apparently. You may remember them as the Viddean who didn’t know they were allergic to Salus until they had me bring back a full cargo hold worth of it.”
TUELLER: “I don’t think this is personal, because who wouldn’t like me, and also Lah had nothing to do with that.”
RYO: “Seems unlikely that this is a grudge, I agree.”
TUELLER: “Stupider things have happened to me, so we can’t rule that out.”
MILLICENT: “Pay off?”
TUELLER: Tueller gives Millie a look, “Sorry, I don’t follow.”
TUELLER: “You’ll have to excuse me, the conversation in jail isn’t the best. It takes me a bit to spool up and talk to real people.”
MILLICENT: “Is it possible Tsshkik was paid off? I’ll try to run some financial checks, maybe Ryo can see if they recently attempted to make any large transactions?”
RYO: Ryo nods. “Of course. Easily done.”
RYO: “We should consider whether this Ambassador Tsshkik might have had more than opportunity working in their favor. Do we have any reason, other than the set up of all of this, to think that Ambassador Tsshkik could have had something to do with Aice’s illness?”
TUELLER: “Please, start with Aice. She’s good people.”
TUELLER: “Guys, I’m in prison. You’re the ones who can find that out.”
TUELLER: “My job is avoiding shivs, talking to my lawyer, and burpees.”
STORY: Becker returns, some paperwork in hand and pulling his briefcase over his shoulder. He gestures to Millie and Ryo. “Are you joining us?”
MILLICENT: Millie sits next to Tueller. “Yes, please proceed.” Leans over and whispers conspiratorially, “I love a good legal drama.”
TUELLER: “It’s good to see you, Doc.”
TUELLER: “Again, tell Noma I’m sorry.”
TUELLER: “Any and all iterations of her.”
STORY: Becker leads you to a small, grey concrete room. Tueller, you’re fetched on your side by a guard and brought in. The four of you sit around the metal table, Tueller’s hands cuffed to a bar in the middle.
STORY: Becker puts his briefcase up on the table and unzips it, taking out a couple files and a couple loose pages. “All right. So. It looks like most of this is outside Ark jurisdiction and can be dismissed outright, a couple things will probably stick, but they’re the more minor charges. That doesn’t mean they’re done charging you, or that nothing else will come up in discovery that they’ll want to pursue, and to be fair I haven’t even finished reading your file. They’re really drowning us in paperwork with this one.”
STORY: “I’m sorry, I should have–” He offers a hand. “Ward Becker, Tueller. I’m your court appointed legal representation. I assume the two of you are–” he looks through his papers. “Millicent Breedlove and Alejo Soto?”
TUELLER: Tueller winces.
TUELLER: “Alejo’s dead.”
RYO: Ryo looks down, momentarily.
STORY: He stops. “Ah.”
STORY: “I’m sorry.”
TUELLER: “I am too.”
RYO: “Ryo Hanaka.” He looks up again.
STORY: “Hanaka. Nice to meet you.”
MILLICENT: Millie looks at the wall and stares for a while.
RYO: He gives a simple but friendly nod and smile.
STORY: After too long a silence, Becker starts up again. “Have you given any thought to your bail ringer?”
TUELLER: “This is my first time being arrested. I’m not sure what that is or how this goes, sir.”
STORY: “Oh.”
STORY: He screws up his brow.
STORY: “Really?”
TUELLER: “Ya’Makasis don’t get arrested.”
STORY: “Wow. Well, all right. Ark laws are a little funky, they don’t work quite like in Erde-Maris and I’m sure have no resemblance to how things go in the Jovan colonies.”
STORY: “You’re entitled to a bail ringer, a person to stand in as your bail so you can be free to pursue leads in your case. That person will stay in the jail on your behalf until you return for trial.”
STORY: “I’ve got a couple ideas on avenues of pursuit, if you’d like to hear them.”
MILLICENT: Millie tunes back in.
TUELLER: “Uh, okay.”
TUELLER: “That’s…remarkably progressive.”
STORY: He leafs through his papers. “They’ve got you charged with a few murders, though they’re in Sol space for the most part – and none within the past five years, so you’re nearly at the statute for those. There’s a kidnapping here – did you throw Sergio Ndrangheta in a car and bring him to Aice? You know what, don’t answer that. Tax evasion, that one can be tricky, a couple minor thefts as well. And it looks like you’re the cosigner on a lease your sister defaulted on.”
STORY: “So look. Most of what they want to charge you with comes down to being a Ya’Makasi. I think we can potentially sway the judge if you show that you aren’t anymore. That’s gonna take some work on your part.”
TUELLER: “I pay my taxes.”
TUELLER: “And I do not want to be a Ya’Makasi.”
STORY: “First, we’re going to need to establish your timeline after leaving your sister’s organization – that means gathering proof that you weren’t working for or with them during your time on Peregrine. Mostly a paperwork item.”
STORY: “Second… it’ll help if you show that you’re not willing to spend your family’s ill-gotten gains. You could sway the jury if they see that you’ve given up all your family wealth.”
STORY: “And by all of it, I mean all of it – not just your walking around money. Businesses started with that clout, material possessions, whatever assets you currently have. Make yourself destitute and we might have a chance.”
STORY: He looks nervous to be suggesting it.
TUELLER: “I have built an independent business here in the world…on the seed money from my family.”
TUELLER: “How destitute are we talking here?”
STORY: “That’s gotta go.”
STORY: “The suits, too. You look rich.”
TUELLER: Tueller is silent.
RYO: Ryo takes off his glasses and squeezes at his nose, in sympathetic headache pain.
TUELLER: “Everything?”
MILLICENT: “What about any independent business ventures Tueller didn’t give seed capital to, but worked as an employee of?”
STORY: “Such as?”
TUELLER: “Peregrine. I have been a member of this crew. I have paid for supplies, spacesuits, parking tickets…”
STORY: “You’ll have to cut ties.”
MILLICENT: “Wait a minute, did you pay for more for Peregrine than what we earned?”
TUELLER: “I have no idea.”
TUELLER: “I have always had money to pay for whatever was needed.”
TUELLER: “Keeping a budget is for people who have to.”
MILLICENT: “We should be able to track that, though. ” To the lawyer, “And if his contributions didn’t exceed his cut or our budget?”
TUELLER: Tueller looks shell-shocked.
STORY: He shakes his head, giving Millie a sympathetic look. “Now’s not the time to be trying to hold on to wealth, Ms. Breedlove.”
STORY: “If he ceases his association with that endeavor, we should be able to keep it off the books.”
TUELLER: “What will I do with my life, then?”
TUELLER: “How am I to track down leads in my case without my ship? My crew?”
STORY: Becker looks confused.
TUELLER: “Without suits.”
MILLICENT: “It’s my life’s work, Mr. Becker, I hope you’ll understand how unwilling I am to discorporate to avoid association with people to whom I am not related.”
STORY: “I’m not saying all of you have to give up your money.”
STORY: “I’m saying Tueller should.”
MILLICENT: “Well, that’s fine. Is there anything wrong with us hiring him on after all this? At minimum wage?”
MILLICENT: To Tueller, “You can swab the decks, dear.”
STORY: Becker looks exhausted. “‘After all this’ is a hell of a presupposition, Ms. Breedlove.”
STORY: “Assuming we clear Tueller of all charges and he’s free to go, well, then he’d be free to go. But I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
STORY: “Look, assuming you’re willing to do one and two, the third thing is what I think will help the most.”
STORY: “You need to give them a bigger target than you.”
STORY: “Tshhkik has captured the head of the Ndrangheta arm, but there’s no sign of your sister or Bilbo Bhattacharya. Warrants are still out for your uncle and another one of your sisters as well.”
STORY: “Bring one of them in, or more if you can, and you’ll go a long way toward establishing yourself as a separate entity from your family. If we can do that, we can have your trial held separately, and I can deal with these charges one by one.”
STORY: “But without that – without convincing the court that you’re not a Ya’Makasi, Tueller, you’ve got no chance.”
TUELLER: Tueller is silent for awhile.
TUELLER: “I’m going to need my money to fund the hunt.”
TUELLER: “But after that…I wash my hands of it.”
STORY: Becker shakes his head, looking at Ryo and Millie for help. “It won’t look good.”
STORY: “The Ark hates a rich boy buying his way out of trouble.”
RYO: “What if he wasn’t doing the buying?”
TUELLER: “I’m not…I don’t think you have any idea how much it costs to fly from system to system to hunt down the head of a criminal enterprise.”
RYO: He looks at Tueller and Millie. “We’ve got some other resources.”
MILLICENT: Millie raises an eyebrow.
TUELLER: “I’ll get rid of the fucking suits, start wearing a hairshirt, but bounty hunting is expensive.”
MILLICENT: “Could you. Elucidate?”
RYO: Ryo frowns, considers, looks at the lawyer and then back at Millie. “We just came into 400,000.”
MILLICENT: “Oh yes, of course. That money.”
MILLICENT: “Well, I think that could sufficiently fund our hunt.”
RYO: Ryo gives her a blank stare.
MILLICENT: Millie turns to Becker, “What color of hair shirt do you think best sells abject poverty and a sincere desire to change?
TUELLER: “I can only grow it in black.”
MILLICENT: “It doesn’t have to be your hair, dear.”
TUELLER: “Oh.”
TUELLER: “I guess that makes sense. We didn’t have livestock on Io.”
TUELLER: “And the only livestock I’ve raised was in…nevermind.”
RYO: “We need to make a show of Tueller giving up his wealth. And we need to make it very, very clear that he’s not secreted some away. Especially if he’s going to keep flying around on a fully funded ship on this hunt.”
MILLICENT: “Oh!”
TUELLER: “Okay. I’m changing my name. I’m hunting down my relatives. I’m giving up all my money but the barest essentials necessary to get the previous things done, and living in poverty from here on out. Anything else.”
MILLICENT: “He could give it away!”
RYO: “Who do we need to persuade of his poverty, Mr. Becker?”
MILLICENT: “A huge donation to a deserving charity!”
RYO: Ryo smiles at Millie. “Excellent idea.”
TUELLER: “See if Sweet will return anyone’s calls. He can have it all for the cause.”
MILLICENT: “It’s huge, it’s public. Something to benefit Ark children, maybe. Orphans! ‘From a family that too long had too much to those without a family or enough to care for their own.’”
MILLICENT: “Something like that.”
MILLICENT: “I’m not in PR.”
MILLICENT: “What do you think, Mr. Becker?”
STORY: He considers it. “I think if it’s traceable and public, that’ll work.”
RYO: “I can work with Tueller to make it happen quickly.”
RYO: He looks to Millie. “And you thought my . . . skills wouldn’t be of use.”
RYO: He smiles softly.
TUELLER: Tueller sits blankly.
MILLICENT: Millie bows her head, “My sincerest apologies. I’m sure you’ll make a grand show of it.”
TUELLER: “How does the bail hostage thing go, anyway?”
MILLICENT: “Tueller, dear. Are you going to be alright?”
TUELLER: Tueller waves off Millie.
STORY: “I can make some calls for you. Do you have anyone who will sit for you?”
MILLICENT: “Well, I would, but I think you’ll probably need me to hunt down a bad enough relative.”
TUELLER: Tueller is silent for awhile. “I can’t think of anyone.”
TUELLER: “I’ve lost a lot of people.”
TUELLER: Tueller lowers his head.
MILLICENT: “What happens to the bail ringer?”
MILLICENT: “When Tueller comes back they go free?”
MILLICENT: “Are they treated well?”
STORY: “Yes, if Tueller returns, nothing, they’re freed once he takes their place.”
STORY: “Prisoners on the Ark are treated exceptionally well.”
STORY: “We value our justice system.”
TUELLER: “I can’t think of anyone who I can ask to put their lives on hold for me.”
TUELLER: “Sweet is gone. Jenny…she’s gone, right? Loll is gone. Akilah is already here.”
RYO: Ryo frowns. “I will stand in your shoes, Tueller.”
RYO: “I presume I can have access to books, yes?” He looks at Becker.
TUELLER: “That’s ridiculous. You don’t even know me.”
MILLICENT: “Kahn?”
RYO: He shrugs. “Oh, I think that I do.”
TUELLER: “Kahn should be with his whoever.”
MILLICENT: “No, Kahn needs to go home.”
MILLICENT: “What about Jenny?”
RYO: “And having someone of your caliber owe me a favor isn’t self-sacrifice.”
MILLICENT: “Do you think she reenlisted already?”
TUELLER: “I don’t know I’ve been in prison.”
RYO: Ryo raises his hands questioningly. “Surely you’re not going to turn down my offer in order to chase crew who are long since departed because, what . . . you think this is some angle or con? Mr. Becker and I have duped you?”
STORY: A guard comes to the door, knocks once, opens it, and hands Becker a piece of paper.
RYO: He stands. “My offer is on the table. I’ll let you three talk and decide. My patience, however, is waning.” He turns to leave unless someone stops him.
STORY: He reads it, a confused look on his face. “Gentlemen, I believe this issue is.. resolved.”
STORY: And hands the paper to Tueller.
RYO: Ryo stops at the door. He turns.
TUELLER: Tueller pushes the note over to Millie. It notes that Calixta has volunteered herself for the bail position. “What…I don’t even understand what’s happening anymore.”
MILLICENT: Millie frowns.
STORY: Becker stands. “You’re free to go, Mr.– Tueller. Trial looks like it’ll start in a few months, so don’t be gone too long, yes? I’ll keep working on your case from here.”
TUELLER: “Let’s go get rid of all my money and figure out what the fuck just happened.”