STORY: He waves a hand and the dozen AIs who surrounded you become red mist, floating away. You are alone, and a fifty-foot tall armored chieftain stands before you.
ALEJO: Alejo squares up, next to Tueller, shoulder to shoulder.
STORY: He takes a knee, looking down at you.
STORY: “Little humans.”
STORY: “Even now, you think you can battle us.”
STORY: “We have won.”
TUELLER: “We didn’t come here to battle.”
ALEJO: Alejo nods and shakes his head all at once.
STORY: “You have lost anyway.”
TUELLER: “So have you.”
TUELLER: “You just don’t know it yet.”
MILLICENT: Millie nods.
Chapter 97
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.”
Chapter 91
CIRCE: “Mr. Hanaka, they’re guards.”
ERWIN: Erwin’s eyebrows shoot up as he passes the guards. He mouths “Wowsers”
RYO: Ryo frowns. “How very astute of you, Circe.”
CIRCE: “They don’t deal with the appeals.”
RYO: “Again. Can’t pull one past you. But they do have keys to the cell.”
ERWIN: “Oh, I thought he meant if they wanted a bribe they would let Loll out so they wouldn’t have to deal with an appeal.”
CIRCE: “So just offer them the bribe, rather than pretend you’re saving them work.”
CIRCE: “Is…is this your first bribe?”
RYO: Ryo laughs at both of them. “I’d rather not wind up in a cell myself.”
RYO: “And if they’re too dense to understand that I was offering one, then they aren’t going to take one.”
ERWIN: “It’s my first bribe.”
ERWIN: “But you probably knew that.”
RYO: “I guessed.”
Chapter 63
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.”
Chapter 62
ALEJO: Alejo is there, sitting, with a bottle and two glasses. As Tueller walks in, he pours a glass for him and slides it across the table without looking up. Then he pours his own.
ALEJO: “Time for a talk.” He raises the glass.
TUELLER: “I didn’t see what happened, but it looks to me like things got bad and you went off and made them worse. That about right?”
ALEJO: “No,” he takes a modest sip and then a deep breath, collecting himself. “No, what happened is that everyone except Thasht did exactly what I said not to do. Tux wanted to play hero, though he should have never been on a field op. Kahn followed me even though I told him to go back to the ship. You and Millie didn’t leave with the most important item in the fucking galaxy when I told you to.”
ALEJO: “And now Chandra has Millie, Noma, and the deck.”
ALEJO: “Oh, and probably Kahn.” He drinks again.
Chapter 61
ALEJO: Alejo nods at Kahn and starts towards the gift shop. “You cover me at a distance when we get there. Run and get back to the ship if anything goes south.”
ALEJO: Alejo moves very fast but expects Kahn will keep pace.
STORY: Kahn takes one step with you but puts a hand on your arm, trying to stop you. “Captain.”
ALEJO: He pauses but doesn’t look at him. “Yeah.”
STORY: “Let’s go. You don’t need to do this.”
ALEJO: He spins and looks at him. His jaw is clenched tightly. He’s about to say something, then he stops. “You’re right.” He says this softly. “Lead the way. The ship.” He gives Kahn a quick smile.
STORY: Kahn relaxes, then heads off for the ship after Thasht.
ALEJO: As soon as Kahn has taken a few steps, Alejo slips away at top speed the other direction, towards the gift shop.
TUELLER: “I’m on my way. Where’s Alejo?”
TUELLER: Tueller skitter-walks the Gregor out of the Peregrine and aims for the thinnest walls between him and Millie.
STORY: There are three, Tueller!
TUELLER: “Listen for the sound of property destruction. It’s probably going to be me.”
STORY: You Kool-Aid Man through two of them. Millie, there are some faint destruction noises coming from your right.
MILLICENT: “He won’t tell me. What’s going on with him? He’s. Cold.”
TUELLER: “Tux. He takes death badly. Does stupid shit in response.”
MILLICENT: Millie taps Thasht and indicates that they should not be in the path of the tank.
STORY: Thasht gets the message and steps back as the third wall is blasted out and the Gregor greets you. It’s a little tight in these hallways, but obviously Tueller is making it work.
TUELLER: “Don’t know if it’s rage or if he goes suicidal but he makes bad choices even by his standards.”
TUELLER: “Oh, hi guys.”
MILLICENT: “Hi.” Millie waves, kind of dejectedly.
MILLICENT: “Let’s go save the day, I guess.”
Chapter 60
ALEJO: “Doc, how’s the deck going?”
MILLICENT: “We just got out of the research rooms. On our way to the prize.”
ALEJO: Alejo waves to Jenny. “Let’s see if we can catch up to the idiot. I’ll take point. You got our backs.”
ALEJO: To Millie: “I think Tux is headed your way. Try not to shoot him. Punching his dumb ass is okay though.”
MILLICENT: To Tueller, “Let’s keep our eyes peeled for Tux. He might have slipped away to try and get the deck.”
STORY: The four of you haul ass towards the Earth exhibit, a long hallway with various small rooms on each side focusing on major Earth scientists and historical figures. You come in from opposite ends, seeing each other as you all run for the door you all know holds Minaaki’s room, close to the middle of the long hallway.
STORY: A figure emerges from the room, looking exhausted but smiling, and holding a small tablet-sized black case. Tux looks up, noticing the four of you running for him, and grins at Millie. “Got it.”
Chapter 56
STORY: “Your business partner, Sergio Ndrangheta.”
STORY: “I need him.”
TUELLER: Tueller perks up.
TUELLER: “In what sense?”
STORY: “Intact.”
TUELLER: “In what sense intact?”
TUELLER: “He’s already missing a limb.”
STORY: She looks at you patronizingly.
STORY: “He is CJH section chief on the Ark. I can’t simply send A-Sec to pick him up. I need you to bring him to me.”
TUELLER: “I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m asking…do you need him compromised, or just standing in front of you?”
STORY: “He’s already compromised. I simply need him present.”
STORY: “Will you help me?”
TUELLER: “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know our help was ever in question on this.”
TUELLER: “Of course.”
STORY: He makes sure there’s enough space between you two and Millie before lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I want to talk about how you blew it with the doc.”
STORY: “How bad was it?”
ALEJO: Alejo sighs in answer. Then shrugs. “Complicated.”
STORY: Tux throws back his head and laughs. “What isn’t with you?”
ALEJO: “Yeah. I know.”
ALEJO: “I’m trying to reform.”
STORY: “So does that mean…” He points to her and himself, questioning.
SWEET: “He’s asking if you mind if he takes a shot at it, buddy.” Sweet says as he walks past them.
ALEJO: Alejo does a double take as he walks by. “Uhm. I mean. . .” he hesitates. “Sure,” he finally says, unconvincingly.
STORY: Tux tilts his head to you. “That doesn’t sound like enthusiastic consent, Soto.”
ALEJO: “I mean, she’s remarkable. You’re remarkable. So . . .” He swallows. “Makes sense.” He keeps his gaze forward.
STORY: Tux tries to make eye contact with Sweet.
STORY: Pointing between Alejo and Millie, mouthing, “WHAT HAPPENED HERE?”
SWEET: Sweet points at Alejo.
Chapter 54
STORY: Sweet, you find the stairway you took up to the control room earlier! But! You encounter a seven foot tall Minotaur who is blocking your way – seemingly camping the stairs up.
STORY: Alejo, you follow Millie’s directions and your gut and end up across a long hallway that terminates in a set of stairs, upon which sit a man you can assume is Millie’s minotaur.
STORY: Sweet, you do not see Alejo and Millie; Alejo and Millie, you do not see Sweet.
MILLICENT: Whispering, “Ink doesn’t work.”
ALEJO: Alejo gives her a wide-eyed stare. “Surprising,” he finally whispers back flatly.
Chapter 53
STORY: Loll turns to face Sweet. “Sweet. I met this man.” She gestures to Tux. “He is ridiculous.”
STORY: “But he is a good man, and this child obviously knows nothing. He needs his father.”
STORY: Erwin, from the corner, “Hey!”
STORY: Loll continues, ignoring him. “I believe you can help Millie. And I will be here to help you when you return.”
SWEET: “Okay.”
SWEET: Sweet’s smile returns like it never went away.
SWEET: “Okay, dear.”
SWEET: His smile is up like a shield and his expression gives nothing more away.
STORY: “Now.”
STORY: “Who can make a hole in your spines?”