ANNOUNCER
This is Consortium Channel 5, Moonbase Reports and Broadcasts – Brought to you by the En-Soy-Ment family of products – En-Soy Yourself!
The Consortium interrupts this broadcast for the following sponsored message.
(NOTE – there may be an ad inserted at this point before the episode)
ANNOUNCER
Good day. This is a secured transmission – do not decrypt at any public terminal. As complications have been uncovered in the shutdown sequence for Moonbase Theta, Consortium Communications has been asked to provide archival files for certain active personnel. The following is a report on said personnel activities … Before the Moon.
The following is file BTM-E1, codeword “Revelations.”
(We are in an office on the outskirts of the Rio Enclave. We can hear faint noises in the background, including a rotating fan. A door opens tentatively as Michell enters. Note – ‘Ser’, a gender-neutral title, is pronounced ‘sair’, rhyming with ‘hair’.)
MICHELL
Ser? You had them pull me out of – you sent for me?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
What were you into, L’Anglois?
MICHELL
The gymnasium. Physical training.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Take a seat. Put your towel down, that’s a Tenriero chair.
MICHELL
Yes, Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Point that fan in your direction.
MICHELL
Yes, Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Relax, son, you’re not in any sort of trouble. Shit, I’m not supposed to call people ‘son’ these days.
MICHELL
It’s okay.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Can I get you a bottle of water?
MICHELL
No, thank you.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Well, the reason I had them bring you here is –
MICHELL
(nervous)
Do you have olfactory?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
I’m sorry?
MICHELL
Olfactory. It helps me to –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Sorry, can’t help you there.
MICHELL
Okay.
(he sniffs surreptitiously)
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Are you sniffing the inside of your pocket?
MICHELL
Of course not, Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
(after a moment)
How have things been lately out on the wall?
MICHELL
Oh. It’s been … fine. Just fine.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Nothing in particular going on?
MICHELL
Of course there have been several incursions, you were copied on the reports –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
I have your reports. Among others.
MICHELL
Well, then there’s … that’s it. The wall – it’s holding. We’ve held it, Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
You and the … personnel under your command.
MICHELL
Of course. With them.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
And everything’s been … all right there.
MICHELL
Of course, Ser.
(sniffs nervously)
Can I have that water now?
(he uncaps the bottle and drinks deeply)
ENCLAVE OFFICER
(while Michell is drinking)
I heard about another sort of incursion happening out there. Off the … reports.
MICHELL
(gulps)
Ser?
(drinks again)
ENCLAVE OFFICER
What I heard is that they fragged you.
MICHELL
(sputters)
I’m – I’m sorry?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
The personnel under your command … fragged you.
MICHELL
I don’t recognize that term.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Attempted, at least, being as you’re still here.
MICHELL
I don’t know where you heard that, Ser, but I – I promise you that I am in complete control of my … command. My command.
(there is no response)
I admit there was an incident, just rebellious horseplay among the personnel, but it was dealt with. I handled it, it’s fully taken care of and it was nothing at all, nothing to concern yourself with. The wall is secure. Everything is – it’s just fine now.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
That’s your position?
MICHELL
That’s my report. Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
And there’s nothing else to add.
MICHELL
(cockier, thinking the worst is over)
I can’t think of another thing.
(sliding his chair back)
If that’s all, I’ll just –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Be gentle with that chair, I’ve asked you already.
MICHELL
Yes … Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Sit back down, son. We’re still talking.
(we hear the chair scrape back into place)
I know this hasn’t been the easiest adjustment for you. You changed places a little bit late in the game, didn’t you?
MICHELL
I wouldn’t refer to it that way –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
You moved to Rio fresh out of school, not a lot of time to get used to the place. It’s okay, I’ve only been here a few years myself. I started out in northern Ontario, before the fires spread and the Conglomerate snapped up anything worth keeping. I jumped ship to the Consortium with any secrets I could grab. You came here with your family?
MICHELL
(startled)
Yes! Yes, Ser. My sister and I. Our parents were, well … they thought that …
ENCLAVE OFFICER
I know that story too – my folks were Separatists back in the day. Still, you made the right choice. I know you’ve been wondering, late at night on the wall, or when you wake up and your own are breaking down the door – but we’ve got a place for you. Don’t worry about that.
MICHELL
That’s … good to hear. Thank you.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
And believe me, their new CO is gonna bust their chops but good.
MICHELL
New CO? You mean I’m being – you mean they’re not being – I’d like to lodge a formal protest!
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Cool your jets, Officer. Didn’t you tell me five minutes ago that nothing officially happened? You don’t want to be out there anyway – we all know that wall is coming down, it’s just a matter of time. Negotiations are already underway – hell, you don’t need to know that. Wipe that out of your head, son.
MICHELL
(we hear the chair pushed back again)
Ser? I think I’m going to leave now.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
We’re not finished.
MICHELL
I think I might be.
(deep breath)
I’d like to resign from Security, official as of today. You can have my – my ID is in my locker, but I can get it and bring it back, no time at all.
(brief pause)
I tried to fit in. Je me suis battu pour ton foutu … I did everything I was told. I went through training, even with the Enclave’s shit transition program I made it through, you put me on the wall, I said okay, I’ll go up there, I knew what kind of command I was getting. I said to myself, Michell, you can handle this, everyone starts somewhere and I was Doing. That. Job. For. You. I was doing it, and if this is all the respect that doing that job gets, all I’ve got to say is, “Mettez-vous le au cul ! I’m done!
ENCLAVE OFFICER
(after a moment)
Are you done?
MICHELL
I just have to get my –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
You can go if you want, I can’t keep you from leaving.
MICHELL
All right. I appreciate the … whatever this was –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
But I wouldn’t have called you in here if you weren’t still worth something to the Enclave.
(he stands up)
I trained your sister, did you know that? She was … a lot like you when it came to people skills, but she was a goddamn superior candidate. I was proud to have a hand in shaping her.
MICHELL
Nobody made Maria what she is … but Maria.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Of course I mean, “they were,” standard protocol and all. But you’re right. She – They – became one hell of an officer. Their reports are still the high point of my week.
MICHELL
You know where she is?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Of course I do, son.
MICHELL
She wasn’t allowed to say. I get messages, but they’ve been bounced a dozen times …
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Maria L’Anglois is right where I put her, under my command, following my advice to the letter. She wasn’t so hot on the Moon when I first suggested it –
MICHELL
She’s on the Moon?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Head of security on Base Gamma.
MICHELL
I can’t believe she never said. She wouldn’t even give me a hint.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
(a harsh laugh)
We keep things locked down pretty tight here in Security. Communication with Earth is strictly limited.
MICHELL
You have to let me send a message. I’ll submit through the Protocol office, I’ll have it pre-censored –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Or you could bypass all that by following in your big sister’s footsteps.
MICHELL
On Moonbase Gamma?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Theta, actually.
MICHELL
Theta, that’s the one that’s on the –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
You’ll be replacing the current three-person team.
MICHELL
By myself?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
The crew is being … reduced, as well. But it’s a big responsibility, I don’t trust one of them. Other than you, of course.
MICHELL
Of … course.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
So, I can count on you?
MICHELL
I don’t understand why I’m the best choice. How much longer is Maria assigned to be …?
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Hard to say. Things have gotten a bit … volatile, on the moon. Every base is being scaled back, locked up tight. There’s … see that, I did it again. Can’t tell you more, son. Classified.
MICHELL
Unless I’m on the inside.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
There is that.
MICHELL
There is that.
(brief pause)
I’m still … I want to know what happens to … dammit. Je me sens pas bien comme ça.
(no response)
You can count on me. Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
I thought so. There’s a lot more we’ll need to talk about – who to keep a particular eye on, protocols for information gathering, but there’s time for that. Go and get yourself cleaned up, son.
MICHELL
Right away.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Oh, L’Anglois? You remember where I said I moved here from?
MICHELL
I think you said –
ENCLAVE OFFICER
Canada, while it was still a thing, had two official languages. Je parle le français. You may want to keep that in mind.
MICHELL
Oh. I’m … understood, Ser.
ENCLAVE OFFICER
You’re dismissed.
(We hear Michell walk out, close the door, walk through an outer office and into the hallway. He leans against a wall, breathing heavily.)
MICHELL
What the hell was that? Dans quoi me suis-je embarquée exactement ?
(suddenly, we hear an audio alert)
Receive, internal conduction.
AUTOMATED VOICE
You have a message from an unauthorized source. Do you accept?
MICHELL
Go ahead, play.
MARIA
(recorded)
Hey, mister, long time no hear.
(we hear Michell gasp as the message begins)
My fault of course, but now you know the reason why. Which I can finally talk to you about – congrats on the new gig! I’ll tell you right now, you’re gonna want a sweater, and I’d suggest your own body armour.
MICHELL
How the hell does she know?
MARIA
(laughs)
You know how it goes in our line of work, if you’ve got the right connections. Lucky for you when you get up here, you’re gonna have me, and that will make everything a whole lot easier. Don’t worry about anything, kid; I’ve got your back.
(there is some noise over the line)
I’ve gotta get to it here – they run wild if you’re not looking, right? Oops, might be a sore subject at the moment. Anyway, you’re gonna show those assholes! Welcome to the Moon, little bro!
AUTOMATED VOICE
Message complete. If you wish to record a reply –
MICHELL
Stop. Save for later.
(after a pause, his breathing has evened out)
Welcome to the Moon … I guess.
(The episode ends.)
D.J. SYLVIS
This episode featured Cass McPhee as Michell, and D.J. Sylvis as the enclave officer. With special appearance by Cat Blackard as Maria. It was written and edited by D.J. Sylvis. Theme music is “Star” by the band Ramp. You can find more information and a transcript of the episode on our website – monkeymanproductions dot com. Thank you so much for all your support. A million thank yous. Enough thank yous to reach up to the moon and back.
Back in two weeks, when we’ll be bringing you “Adjustments”, an episode about Wilder featuring Tina Daniels and Claudia Elvidge. Until then, moonbaseians!
ANNOUNCER
Consortium Channel 5 ends our broadcast day with a final message: honour all curfews, listen to Security, and KEEP WATCHING THE MOON.
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