TUELLER: “Well, you have a certain situational cowardice that will serve you well if you survive long enough to take the top spot here.”
STORY: “I have absolutely no interest in that.”
STORY: “And I think you know that. It would be suicide to take that job, especially as someone outside the families.”
TUELLER: “Is there an official order of succession, by the by?”
STORY: You hear a chuckle.
STORY: “You don’t want to know.”
TUELLER: “It’s not me, is it?”
STORY: “She had me update everything six weeks ago, when you got out.”
STORY: “Was going to talk to you about it. But that was during… a more cogent week for her.”
TUELLER: “Oh no.”
STORY: Ryo helps you into his shuttle and takes off, bound for the main compound. It’s quiet in the car, with only two seats. You’re a bit squished.
STORY: “It’s going to be an hour or so. How’s the pain?”
TUELLER: “If you had some drenomorph I wouldn’t say no.”
TUELLER: “This is a new break for me, actually”
STORY: “Ah. Well,” he opens a compartment, handing you a small bottle of gin. “This is… what I have here.”
TUELLER: “Excellent. Line em up.”
TUELLER: “Or, at least help me with the top.”
STORY: Ryo reaches over and unscrews it for you.
TUELLER: “Cheers big ears.”
STORY: “Look, I appreciate this, but I want to hear from you that you’re not going in there to kill your sister.”
STORY: “She’s not… well, not entirely who you think she is.”
TUELLER: Tueller motions with the bottle to see if Ryo wants a drink or if it’s all for Tueller. He doesn’t respond immediately otherwise.
STORY: He waves you off, it’s all yours.
TUELLER: Tueller finishes off a third of it in a go.
TUELLER: Wipes his mouth.
TUELLER: “On my way to the planet for…this shitshow…I wondered what I’d do if I came across her. If I’d go for her throat. If I’d run away.”
TUELLER: “The collarbone makes it easier. I’m not going for her throat. Even independently of what you’re saying about her. Prison worked on making me a better man.”
TUELLER: “I’m not a great one, as the last hour will definitely attest to.”
TUELLER: “What’s going on with her?”
STORY: Ryo wipes his cheek. “I have no idea, to be honest. She’s been deteriorating since I met her. Last month, when you saw her?”
STORY: He shakes his head. “Wasn’t her. That’s one of the decoys. She paid five women to be surgically modified to resemble her.”
STORY: “Briefed them on general attitude and relationships, let them follow her to mimic her.”
TUELLER: “Figures.”
STORY: “Since then she hasn’t left the compound. Not once.”
TUELLER: “Too paranoid for a doctor?”
TUELLER: “Actually, let’s step back.”
TUELLER: “In your amateur opinion, does she have something clinically wrong with her?”
TUELLER: “Either medically or someone has…affected her.”
STORY: “I have no idea, Tueller. She mostly sits in the dark and researches her enemies.”
TUELLER: “Okay. All of them?”
STORY: “Nobody can count that high.” He smiles.
STORY: “I imagine she’s limiting it to the top 50.”
TUELLER: “Any idea if I’m in the top 50?”
STORY: “Nah. You’re small potatoes since you became poor. And you’re family.”
TUELLER: “You must like your family.”
STORY: “As suspicious as you are of her, Tueller, I’d urge you to remember that. She hasn’t killed you for a reason.”
TUELLER: “And that reason is?”
TUELLER: Tueller takes another large hit of gin.
STORY: Ryo shakes his head.
STORY: That’s the extent of his answer.
TUELLER: “You know if she’s sleeping?”
STORY: Another shake.
TUELLER: “That a ‘no’ or a ‘dunno’?”
STORY: “Don’t know. I’m not sleeping with her.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks him up and down.
TUELLER: “How’s Astra handling it all?”
STORY: “Everyone’s scared.”
TUELLER: “She’s a scary woman.”
TUELLER: “My sis. Not Astra. She’s not scary at all.”
STORY: “She’s a woman, is the point.”
TUELLER: Tueller finishes the bottle, sets it down gingerly with his working hand.
TUELLER: “Not really thought of her as such for awhile. I’ll keep that in mind.”
STORY: Ryo nods.
STORY: And mostly sits in the quiet.
TUELLER: Tueller sits back, winces, then sits up straight and quiet for the rest of the ride.
STORY: Millie! Alejo!
STORY: How are you getting Thasht off that ship?
MILLICENT: We’ve been talking this over and we have a kind of plan.
MILLICENT: We’d like to go see Thasht
STORY: You do so! She’s sitting calmly in her cell.
STORY: “Have you come to release me so I may wreak vengeance on these fools?”
ALEJO: “Hi Thasht.” Alejo smiles and sits in front of her.
ALEJO: “We have a different proposal. If you’ll hear us out.”
MILLICENT: Millie waves and sits beside Alejo.
STORY: Thasht narrows her eyes.
ALEJO: “I know. I know. This isn’t conventional.” He smiles warmly. “You trusted me once. Will you again?”
STORY: “Make your offer.”
ALEJO: “I . . . honestly, I don’t get your code of honor. I know, I’m not particularly honorable. But you know that. But I am . . . well, I’ve become a person of principle. And, Thasht, believe me when I say that we have an epic battle ahead. One filled with honor. Or, at least principle. For every living sentient.”
ALEJO: “Will you, temporarily, set aside your need to . . . kill the pirate king? You have my word that what we have ahead, if you’ll join us, is something much, much bigger. But I can’t explain it here. You’ll have to trust me. If you can.”
ALEJO: “If we survive it, you can do whatever you need to do. I’m not asking you to give up your . . . honor. I’m just asking if you can be a little flexible on timing.”
STORY: Thasht thinks about it.
STORY: FA + Influence please!
ALEJO: /roll 2d6+2
STORY: ablair01 rolled 6 + 2 = 8
STORY: “If I leave this place, I may never find him again.”
ALEJO: “Maybe not. But, if you still need to find him again, when this is all done, I’ll do what I can to help.”
STORY: “Is this a trick?”
ALEJO: “No. It’s not. Honestly, Thasht, I think that this pirate king might not be someone you should kill. I’ll probably try to talk you out of it. But I give you my word. If you need it, and if we survive what’s coming, I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
ALEJO: “But, we might well die. Just saying. The fight ahead is a big one. You in?”
STORY: Thasht narrows her eyes at you.
STORY: She nods. “Agreed.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods once, solemnly. Then he smiles. “I’ve missed you.” He stands.
STORY: Thasht stands, and smiles. “That is a weak sentiment, captain.”
ALEJO: He laughs. “Come on. We’ve got to go get T.”
MILLICENT: Millie stands, silently applauds.
MILLICENT: Grins big.
STORY: All right! Tueller, you arrive with Ryo at the main island and approach the compound in his shuttle. You’re home! Describe it for me!
TUELLER: It is very angular. Sharp edges, like if Ikea design was filed down and sharped at every opportunity.
TUELLER: Mostly white with surfaces that pick up fingerprints immediately. Usually regularly cleaned by servants, it has become dingy since Tueller left.
TUELLER: Think a giant mansion done by Frank Lloyd Wright and left to accumulate dust.
STORY: It’s also vast – easily hundreds of people live there.
TUELLER: Oh yes, it’s a mansion compound.
STORY: Ryo takes you in past multiple rounds of security – each time flashing his badge and stopping them scanning or interrogating you. He gets more than one suspicious look but is waved through.
TUELLER: Do people recognize Tueller?
STORY: Not a soul. Esinam must have cleaned house – for her personal security, at least.
STORY: Given that most of the CJH families went to prison and the terms of their release must surely include disassociation with Esinam, that’s not exactly surprising.
TUELLER: Did Tueller know of anyone who got out before him?
STORY: Not that you know of, no.
STORY: You ride up the elevator to Esinam’s offices in silence. Ryo inhales. “I’m sorry to leave your shoulder like that – I think in this case it’s somewhat of an asset. She’ll be less threatened, less likely to preemptively…”
STORY: “You know.”
TUELLER: “Murder me.”
STORY: He shakes his head. “She was never going to murder you.”
STORY: The doors open.
TUELLER: Tueller gives Ryo a look but doesn’t respond.
STORY: One last security checkpoint and you’re through, standing before a ten-foot tall oaken door. Ryo taps on it.
STORY: There’s no answer.
STORY: He gestures to you.
TUELLER: Tueller takes a deep breath, and then knocks on the door himself, in a quick pattern that should be familiar to Esi as from him, and, not trusting her to recognize it, just says, “Esi, it’s Tueller.”
STORY: Another long silence.
STORY: Then, you hear latches being undone. Five or six bolts.
STORY: And the door opens an inch. It’s dark inside.
TUELLER: Tueller presents himself to be seen through the crack.
STORY: It opens further, and your sister stands inside, peering up at you with wide, shiny eyes. She has never looked smaller to you.
STORY: “Tueller?”
TUELLER: “Hey sis.”
TUELLER: Tueller waves weakly with his good hand.
STORY: “You’re alive.”
STORY: “You’re hurt.”
STORY: She looks at your makeshift sling.
TUELLER: “Both are my fault.”
STORY: She looks worried. “Are y–” then glances over at Ryo. “Oh.”
STORY: She opens the door, waving you two in. “Come in, quickly, quickly.”
TUELLER: Tueller does so immediately.
STORY: Then marches to her desk, across the large room. Stacks of papers teeter everywhere. The windows are covered in newspaper and blankets, and she has candles burning. Her consoles are all cracked, the wiring below emptied out. The office, once full of high-tech solutions, is now empty save Esinam and her “work.”
STORY: She sits down behind the desk, barely able to see over the piles of paper between you. The air stinks and smoke hangs in it.
TUELLER: Tueller takes it all in, and doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t sit unless she indicates he should.
STORY: “You’re back? To help with Sergio, yes?”
TUELLER: “Serj needs help?”
STORY: She looks like she’s half dreaming. You’ve never seen your sister this ragged.
TUELLER: “He didn’t mention when I saw him earlier.”
STORY: “WE need help. From him. He’s going to take over.”
STORY: “He’s going to take it all from us, little brother.”
TUELLER: Tueller looks at Ryo.
STORY: Ryo weighs the eyes of Tueller and Esinam on him and nods in agreement with Esi.
TUELLER: “Well, that wouldn’t be a surprise, at least.”
TUELLER: Tueller takes a moment and the weight of his relationship with his sister shifts in him. And he starts walking around the room, more casually than he’s ever been with her in at least a decade.
TUELLER: “What’s going on here, sis?”
STORY: She nods enthusiastically. “You like it? I’m outsmarting him. He can’t listen this way.”
STORY: “Stick with me, little brother, I’ll teach you how to beat him.”
STORY: She raises a finger. “Oh! You could kill him for me!”
TUELLER: “Honestly I don’t care at this point.”
TUELLER: “I’m out of this business.”
TUELLER: “If you had a terminal you would know I’m not even using ’Ya’Makasi” anymore.”
STORY: “That’s what makes you the perfect assassin! You can earn his trust. You can get close.”
TUELLER: “Epaphus dem Io bin Sol”
TUELLER: “That’s what I’m going by.”
STORY: She’s not listening. “And then!” She snaps her fingers.
TUELLER: “I’m not going to do that, Esi.”
TUELLER: “I don’t give a shit about killing Sergio anymore.”
TUELLER: “Sorry.”
TUELLER: “Actually, no I’m not sorry.”
TUELLER: “You look like shit, honestly, sis.”
STORY: Esinam looks briefly shocked, then stands up straight, facing you. “I could… I could have you killed for that.”
STORY: “Show some respect.”
TUELLER: “No.”
TUELLER: “You look like shit. That’s what you need family here to tell you.”
TUELLER: “You look like you need to sleep for a week and then to start taking some strong neuroleptics.”
STORY: “I’ve been fighting a goddamn war from within my own house!”
STORY: “He’s got SPIES sent after me -”
STORY: She looks around the room.
STORY: “Did he get to you?”
STORY: Then at Ryo.
STORY: “And YOU? I knew I couldn’t trust you.”
TUELLER: “Ryo actually wants the best for you. I don’t understand why.”
TUELLER: “Maybe you haven’t tried to murder him or take away everything he ever cared about.”
STORY: She’s spiraling, ignoring you. She pulls a shawl off her chair and wraps it around her. She hollers to the door. “GUARD!”
TUELLER: Tueller looks to Ryo.
STORY: Ryo puts his head in his hands, then lifts them both so they’re visible and empty as the door is thrown open and flashlights – ones you know are attached to the end of rifles – shine on both of you.
STORY: There’s some shouting about putting your hands in the air, and Esinam cowering with wild eyes in a corner.
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: Tueller raises one arm, “The other is in a sling, guys.”
STORY: They confirm you’re telling the truth, then tell you to kneel. Esinam points at you both. “Get them out of my sight! Put them in the cells!”
STORY: What do you do?
TUELLER: Tueller takes a beat, then resignedly…
TUELLER: “You don’t really want us in cells, Esi. You need us because you know that we’re the only ones you can trust between you and Sergio.”
TUELLER: “There’s no one he hates more than me. And Ryo by extension.”
STORY: Her mania is too strong now. She staggers back, pointing at the guards and the two of you. “Get them OUT OF MY SIGHT! NOW!”
TUELLER: Tueller goes with the guards.
STORY: The good news about the cells on Io is that the food is better than anywhere else you’ve been imprisoned.
STORY: However, you don’t get nearly enough of it.
STORY: Millie! Alejo!
STORY: Thasht is leaving with you. Dr. Bolano, though still mystified, is leaving with you. What do you do?
MILLICENT: Head to the ship!
MILLICENT: Once there I give it a once over and ask Noma to do the same, see if there are any trackers or something left behind
STORY: You’re clear.
ALEJO: Alejo goes to the bridge and works with Cali to set course for Io.
STORY: Course set, you’ll be there in six hours.
STORY: It’s nice to be home, empty as it is.
MILLICENT: Millie heads to the bridge. “We owe Thasht an explanation. Now or after we pick up Tueller?”
MILLICENT: “You talked her into it, so it’s your call.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. “We should get her up to speed, I think. We’ve got six hours to kill.”
ALEJO: “Cali, can you ask Thasht to join us in the galley?”
ALEJO: “What about the shrink?”
MILLICENT: “That’s a good question, but I think since Dr Bolano was providing care for Tueller first it should be up to him to determine whether and when. Fair?”
ALEJO: Alejo turns back to Millie.
MILLICENT: Millie leans past Alejo and hits the intercom button that’s right next to him. “Thasht to the bridge, please.”
ALEJO: Alejo smiles at her. “Smartass.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. He sits at the pilot’s console again.
STORY: Thasht comes to meet you. “I am dismayed at your changes to the gym. Where are the large weights?”
TUELLER: —He’s on Io!
TUELLER: —I’ll see myself out
ALEJO: Alejo shrugs. “Don’t ask me. I’ve been dead.” He smiles softly.
MILLICENT: “They’re in storage.”
MILLICENT: “I can get them back out, but for the last year I was conducting some experiments in there.”
ALEJO: “Doc, why don’t you explain things. You’re better at it than me.”
MILLICENT: Do you want to handwave and say she does or should we go through it?
STORY: I’m fine with handwaving! How much do you tell her?
MILLICENT: All of it. Millie trusts her. Alejo can interrupt if he wants.
STORY: After you are done, Thasht sits in the jump seat, nodding, her brow furrowed.
STORY: “…I don’t understand.”
ALEJO: He doesn’t interrupt.
ALEJO: “Which part?”
STORY: “What is the problem?”
MILLICENT: “They’re using you, without your knowledge. They’re raising generations of sentients into warriors for a cause they’re lying about and they’re readying them in case anyone has a problem with that. Additionally they’re enslaving probably tens of thousands of sentients to operate the relays and killing them if they step out of line.”
STORY: Thasht shrugs.
STORY: “It is their right.”
STORY: “They have given us unlimited travel.”
MILLICENT: Millie furrows her brow. “I understand that you would give them permission, but you haven’t been given a choice to. Besides that, isn’t a warrior owed the truth of the wars they fight in?”
STORY: “A warrior serves their leader.”
ALEJO: “Leaders shouldn’t have to hide what they’re taking, should they?”
STORY: “That is their choice.”
MILLICENT: Millie frowns. “I seem to remember a lot more questions about the battles we engaged in when you were a fulltime member of this crew.”
STORY: “I was Maraas.”
ALEJO: “Well. I’m not ready to cede my fealty, I guess.” He tilts his head at Thasht. “I’m surprised you are.”
STORY: “I do not serve their armies, I have ceded nothing.”
ALEJO: “You so sure? How would you know? They take what they want and don’t tell you about it.”
STORY: “Those are not me.”
ALEJO: “They are in your head, Thasht. Not just your copies’ heads.”
MILLICENT: “And the Maitri youth who are taken and indoctrinated with lies?”
STORY: “They are not Maitri.”
ALEJO: Alejo shrugs. “Well, you know the truth. If you’re okay with it, then that’s your call.” Alejo looks at her and then Millie. “I’m sorry for . . . well, I’m not sorry. I honestly thought you’d feel something different when you knew.”
MILLICENT: “This is a battle for us. We are not willing to let them take and take without an accounting. I’m surprised you are.”
STORY: “We are not the same, Dr. Breedlove.”
STORY: “I wish you strength in your war.”
STORY: “But I do not wish to join it.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods. “Thank you for hearing us out. I’d appreciate it if you would keep this quiet, for now. Our war will be short if our opponents get wind of what we’re going to do.” He takes a deep breath. “What can I do to help you on the next steps of your path?”
STORY: She nods. “Return me to my ship.”
ALEJO: “Which ship?”
STORY: “Mine. It is on Mercury.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods, spins to the controls, and adjusts the course. He checks to see how long the trip will be.
STORY: Another ten hours round trip.
ALEJO: “We’ve got a few hours. Drinks or a bit of sparring?” He smiles at Thasht. “As this is a shorter reunion than I’d hoped.”
STORY: Thasht smiles, and pushes up her sleeves.
STORY: When you drop her off, you’re very sore.
TUELLER: Tueller, however, is very hungry.
STORY: She leaves in a good mood and was happy to see you, but must rejoin her crew.
STORY: “If you need me again, Noma has my transponder codes.”
STORY: “I will return to the Tarrasque to rain hell on her captain.”
STORY: “Good luck with your war, Captain.”
ALEJO: “You too, Thasht. You too.”
STORY: She nods and departs.
ALEJO: Alejo rubs his sore ribs and waves as she leaves.
ALEJO: He turns to Millie. “Well. That sucked.”
ALEJO: “Let’s go get T. But ibuprofen first.”
MILLICENT: “I can’t believe she didn’t care.”
MILLICENT: “She gets stolen to do some good and it’s a death sentence. She might have another her enslaved for the rest of her life and it’s a shrug!”
MILLICENT: “There’s whiskey and anti-inflammatories in the galley.”
STORY: While you travel back to Io, Ryo chats with Tueller from the cell next door.
STORY: Tueller, you can’t see each other, but if he speaks up, you can hear his voice bouncing around the cell walls. However, it’s likely everyone else down there can hear you both too, so hatching a plan is unlikely.
TUELLER: “That go about how you expected?”
STORY: “You know I have a law degree?”
TUELLER: “Of course.”
STORY: “I’ve run orgs of five thousand employees.”
STORY: “Billions of credits in annual revenue.”
TUELLER: “As you’ve mentioned.”
STORY: “And I get outplayed by your fucking sister. Who isn’t even trying to play us.”
TUELLER: “Well, you have a certain situational cowardice that will serve you well if you survive long enough to take the top spot here.”
STORY: “I have absolutely no interest in that.”
STORY: “And I think you know that. It would be suicide to take that job, especially as someone outside the families.”
TUELLER: “Is there an official order of succession, by the by?”
STORY: You hear a chuckle.
STORY: “You don’t want to know.”
TUELLER: “It’s not me, is it?”
STORY: “She had me update everything six weeks ago, when you got out.”
STORY: “Was going to talk to you about it. But that was during… a more cogent week for her.”
TUELLER: “Oh no.”
STORY: “Yeah.”
TUELLER: “Go on.”
TUELLER: Tueller sounds resigned with whatever comes out.
STORY: “I mean, that’s it. It’s yours, if you want it. No court would disagree if you took her before them to argue against her mental fitness.”
STORY: “Better than Sergio, at least.”
TUELLER: “Oh god.”
STORY: “But I was hoping you could help her instead. I guess that’s a bust.”
TUELLER: “Oh god.”
STORY: “She was impressed with your progress. Said she always had hopes for you.”
TUELLER: There’s a loud thump of a man sitting down hard.
TUELLER: “Oh god.”
TUELLER: “Uh, does that give me any special rights or privileges right now?”
STORY: “I mean. Half these guards are on my payroll.”
STORY: “We can leave whenever. But where would we go?”
TUELLER: “Well, it would be nice if you could at least prevent Peregrine from being shot down whenever they return for me.”
TUELLER: “Or if I could.”
TUELLER: “Shit.”
STORY: “Oh, sure. Hey Hank!”
STORY: A guard comes down the hallway. You hear the murmur of a brief conversation between them.
STORY: “They’ll be brought down when they get here. Sorry. Should have handled that. It’s been a busy day.”
STORY: He sighs, loud enough for you to hear from the next cell over.
STORY: “I guess we need a plan after all.”
TUELLER: “Fuck.”