MOONBASE THETA, OUT – S4 Episode 13 – “Too Too Real”
by D.J. Sylvis
ANNOUNCER
Moonbase Theta, Out – a Monkeyman Productions Podcast. Season 4, Episode 13 – “Too Too Real.”
INTRO
SOUND: Rose of Jericho Pocketcast Intro
SOUND: Pocketcast Theme
BARNETT
All right. Settling in here … you have no idea how uncomfortable that studio was, it’s so much better just to sit in a quiet, cozy little spot and talk, just talk, you and me. Thank you for subscribing and listening from wherever you are to … wherever I am! I’m Barnett Bell, and this is The Bellwether.
(after a beat)
Thank you for your comments, ratings and reviews on my first episode last week! It’s a little overwhelming, but I did read every one. Your support is appreciated as I enter this new phase of my career; your curiosity about my parting of the ways with Planetwide Media is … we’ll get to that, promise, you’ll always get the real story from me – but this one needs a little time to cool off. You’ll be the first to hear when I’m ready.
(another brief pause)
What I will be getting into right away, and it’s gratifying that you asked about this as well, are some of the subjects that I wasn’t able – wasn’t allowed – to cover while I was there. I’m eager to dive deep into those.
(after a breath)
And yes, to answer the last of my most asked questions, that means I’ll be talking a lot about the Moon. There’s so much I wasn’t allowed to say about my time on the Moon, my investigations into the history of the Moonbase Project, the connections drawn from there to the events of Zero Day and beyond … and the most recent announcement that the megas plan to go back up there as soon as possible, by the end of the year, before we reach Century Twenty-Two …
(brief pause)
It makes a newsy gal wonder, what’s the rush? Generally these things start with a ‘ways-into-the-future’ story, a series of polls or vague pronouncements so that by the time we get to a place like this, as a citizen-consumer you’re already thinking, “Of course it’s the Moon!” But this came out of nowhere. They didn’t even wait for the end of the Consortium, which would have made things a lot simpler.
(just a quick beat, and then, intensely)
It’s almost like there’s a more complicated reason they need to get back there. As if perhaps the shutdowns weren’t as clean and complete as we’ve been told over and over for the past year. As if, perhaps, there were persons awake on the Moon at this moment – whether they stayed awake, or found a way to reverse the stasis process – who could be banding together, joining forces, intent on keeping those Bases for themselves! That’s something that would force this kind of dramatic, confidential action …
(after a slightly dramatic pause)
I know this is the pocketcast world, friends, but I’m still a journalist, and I wouldn’t bring this up if it weren’t much more than just, “perhaps.” I’m not ready to reveal my sources … but I have them, trusted sources with firsthand knowledge of the revolution that is growing on the Moon. I’m still learning the details, I’m still diving deeper, but there are facts you should know that I can share with you today …
(smiling, a wee bit ironic)
After we break for just a quick message from our sponsors. I know, I know, but it’s just a moment and I’ll be right back.
SOUND: Pocketcast Theme
SCENE ONE
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Observatory background (ongoing)
(Jaxon is humming to himself in the background occasionally until his first line. He seems fairly peaceful.)
ASHWINI
(murmuring as he reads)
Hmm. Advance screen. Scroll… scroll. That’s a bit impractical, considering our resources. Advance. Skip to the next section.
(after a moment)
Mmm hmm … in our situation, that might be a bit easy to see coming, but bookmark to pass along to Dr. Boisseau.
JAXON
(crooning)
Doctor Boisseau … Doctor Boisseau …
ASHWINI
What are you up to on that side of the shop, my dear?
SOUND: Footsteps as Jaxon walks over
JAXON
Starting to get a headache, comparing the reports from Maria L’Anglois with the other near-side Bases. So instead I’m making menus … I think I might be able to reintroduce crêpes.
ASHWINI
Savoury or sweet?
JAXON
Why not both? What have you been reading?
ASHWINI
Something that’s neither of those, I’m afraid. Sent by our new comrades down below.
JAXON
(reading, his voice dropping a bit halfway through)
“Improvised Tactics in Militant Popular Resistance.”
(after a moment)
Really?
ASHWINI
Quite real for them.
JAXON
And … for us?
ASHWINI
I wish I could say it was just intellectual curiosity. But we’ve been listening to the same news.
JAXON
I know, it’s just … that’s just too real, too too too.
SOUND: Some quiet pacing as he absorbs things
ASHWINI
It is very real. The conflict in our future …
JAXON
I know that it’s coming, it’s just all … too too too, too too too.
ASHWINI
Here love, sit.
JAXON
I know I’d fight, of course, but … I don’t know if I could fight.
ASHWINI
I’m not sure we can know until … but I thought I’d better familiarize myself, before we get to the point where Officer L’Anglois achieves a fait accompli.
JAXON
Yeah.
SOUND: Still pacing, but suddenly a stopping point
JAXON
You’ve been talking to the NAC. Were they able to find out …
ASHWINI
They don’t have many contacts left in the major enclaves; everyone who possibly could has fled to them directly. But with their broadcast capabilities increasing, they’re hoping to find more … absent families.
JAXON
Sure. I guess I should, work to be done, done, done …
SOUND: Footsteps across the room, suddenly stopping
JAXON
I mean, there’s so many of them … just by percentages, someone must have made it out of Sacramento / San Fran.
SOUND: A few tentative footsteps back
JAXON
Do you have people … still in Dhaka?
ASHWINI
No one of concern.
(after a pause)
I don’t know why I said that, Jaxon. There absolutely is someone.
(more to zirself)
Or was; it’s hard to be certain by now, amara kona dharana nai. (I have no idea.)
JAXON
Here.
SOUND: Sitting down with Ashwini, a bit of rustling as they embrace
JAXON
It’s all so much. Too too much.
ASHWINI
It is indeed.
JAXON
When all this is over, if we’re not umm, locked up somewhere or something … maybe we could …
SOUND: A knock on the wall beside the door
SOUND: The door sliding open
DR. DAY
Hey there. Is it okay to come in? I’ve got company.
JAXON
(a bit frustrated)
You are company.
ASHWINI
(a bit of a sigh)
Of course, Doctor Day, you know you’re welcome here.
JAXON
(under his voice)
You’ve been sleeping on the cot for a week.
ASHWINI
And with you is …?
SOUND: The door sliding closed again behind the next line
MCVETT
Just your friendly neighbourhood anarchist slash astrobotanist. Ran into Gladys here while I was bringing ‘round a basket of apples to the kitchen – those Doddins have matured nicely, Jaxon, and I stored them in our special pantry so they don’t vanish –
JAXON
Apples? Apple and caramel crêpes … maybe apple and onion … apple and onion …
MCVETT
I can get you onions. I’m thinking Vidalia? But I digress – no surprise there. What I was getting around to is that I stumbled into Doctor Day on my way back out, almost upset her travel mug but when we’d righted that, we wound up in a conversation about our … past lives of subterfuge and how they brought us to where we are today. By putting my two together with hers, we saw a pattern starting to emerge, and we thought you’d want to hear more. And of course, to share with the larger insurgency, but … there are reasons to begin with a private conversation.
ASHWINI
Gladys?
DR. DAY
Yes. Right. All of that.
ASHWINI
You said you had trouble remembering what happened before.
DR. DAY
So that wasn’t so much trouble being able to remember, as having … trouble with the things I do. But Harold’s right, it’s important and … it’s time.
ASHWINI
(after a moment)
I’m all about the dramatic pause, but …
DR. DAY
Yes. Uh huh.
(brief pause)
You don’t know what happened to my finger puppet, do you?
SOUND: Another knock outside the door, more insistent, immediately followed by the door opening
ROGER
Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit!
DR. DAY
(under her breath)
Thank the gods.
ASHWINI
(overlapping, with a bit of a sigh)
And … we have a Roger.
ROGER
Okay, obviously you’ve already got some company – Harold, Doctor Day – but I’ve got a thing.
JAXON
Umm, Gladys has a … thing, too. An important thing, to tell us.
ROGER
Okay, but what I’ve got is kinda – wait, you mean – the thing?
DR. DAY
What do you know about it?
ROGER
Nothing! I don’t even … but if it’s the thing, the reason thing … we’ve all had questions, assumptions, it affected a lot of people but … obviously, it’s your life we’re talking about. Should I go wait in the hall until …?
DR. DAY
No. You’re right, it affected a lot of people. And it’s gonna have to get around soon enough.
(after a pause, false cheer)
I mean, I was working for the guy who tried to take down every megacorporation on Earth; who caused most of the problems for Base Theta during the shutdown; who infiltrated almost every Freehold –
MCVETT
Some of which we knew, but again, putting the pattern together –
DR. DAY
And based on the news about Zero Day, is still down there somewhere pulling the strings. Oh, from what Daniels told me, he’d like that I used that metaphor. Remember Daniels?
MCVETT
Kind of a funny one, one of the officers here before L’Anglois.
DR. DAY
Daniels was the one I reported in to.
ASHWINI
I’m starting to feel like the only one who wasn’t involved in a secret plot … outside my own imagination.
ROGER
You are getting around to the why, right? I mean, outside of the treatment of some of the other Science Bros, you always seemed to be … but the stuff you did, I don’t really get why.
DR. DAY
Yeah, that’s the part that I … I’m gonna tell it, it’s just a longer story. Doctor Ray? Do you think I could have some of your coffee?
SOUND: The bookend chime, to indicate the passage of time
DR. DAY
(fading back in)
… and I swear, Jaxon, Ashwini, Roger – no one was supposed to be in there, the meeting was scheduled to be in the lab, on the opposite side of the base.
JAXON
We moved it to the bunkroom.
DR. DAY
No one told me. I didn’t know. I … swear by everything I believe in. I swear by the fossil record, I swear by the Cambrian diversification, I swear by evolution as fact and theory.
MCVETT
It all adds up from the information I’ve gathered.
SOUND: Some mechanical movement in the background (observatory stuff)
DR. DAY
I get it if you want me to go back into stasis.
(rambling, nervous)
I mean, it’s done wonders for Edwin’s test subjects. Even though “Gro-Bear” sounds like something you’d buy from the back pages of a comic book. Maybe I’ll find out if –
ASHWINI
(cutting her off by clearing zir throat)
No need for such drastic measures. You are welcome to continue working in the observatory.
JAXON
And sleeping here.
ASHWINI
I could use some help in integrating the information provided by Kris and Andie on the plasma wave emissions.
DR. DAY
I can do that. I don’t have to … talk to Kris?
ASHWINI
Not at the moment. You might want to allow your story to spread a bit before attempting further integration with the crew.
ROGER
Story to spread – that’s where I come in. I mean, you were used, you were being played … people ought to know that. I can help.
MCVETT
Didn’t you come in with some previous purpose?
ROGER
Oh, shit! Shit! Just, uhh … remember you told Doctor day to go first, right? I wasn’t trying to – I didn’t even find it myself really, it was during Addie’s shift, but they didn’t have the right response code to the network –
ASHWINI
We have access to the satellite network?
ROGER
We don’t, not as such, but the … well, just listen. Give me a sec here –
SOUND: A few key presses and a small beep before playback
COORDINATOR (Rec.)
Good evening. If you are receiving this message, you are one of the former employees –
ASHWINI
(behind it as they continue, bemused)
Former?
MCVETT
Nobody’s getting their bonus.
COORDINATOR (Rec.)
(overlapping)
– of the Combined Corporate Moonbase Project. I represent the remaining corporations in ownership of that project. Side note – if your Base was previously managed by the Consortium, those interests will be redistributed. But that’s a matter for another time.
(brief pause)
We have become aware that some of our personnel on the Moon … either never entered the stasis pods, which is cause for termination as per your employment contract; or found a way to reverse the process, which is in violation of the user agreement and the Corporate Property Policy integrated by reference into your contract. In either case, as of said actions your employment was immediately terminated, and your continued occupation of our property amounts to trespass.
JAXON
Trespass?
MCVETT
It’s a long way to set their dogs on us.
ROGER
Just wait.
COORDINATOR (Rec.)
You might consider that a hollow threat from our current position. But just like your paycheques, our position is about to change. Across the world, launch facilities are being reactivated; transports are being prepared, and we intend to return to full command of our operations shortly.
(brief pause)
I’m sure you’ve heard some of this already; it’s been reported across the news channels and you’ve got to be that far into the network.
(getting a bit more upset as they go)
What we’ve kept confidential so far is your revival; rebellion; return to an active presence on the Moon using our supplies and facilities and technologies in some misguided attempt to build a resistance. We’ve kept that quiet for your sake, not ours – we haven’t spoken yet, haven’t met face to face for some dispute resolution. This could all be some big misunderstanding, and you’re all eager to return to your lives of … solid corporate citizenship.
(brief pause)
For now, let’s assume that to be the case. It won’t be long before we can have that discussion in person. We are on our way to take back the Moon and all our assets – all of our assets. Including you.
(after a moment)
A single-use key has been attached to this file, should you wish to respond. Sincerely, Raymond Arterbury, Esquire, CPC, Combined Corporate Moonbase Project.
SOUND: A slight tone indicating the message is complete
JAXON
(after a moment)
Oh.
ROGER
Guess we better make up the guest room.
MCVETT
Those overbearing, vile, oppressive, capitalist scumbags!
ASHWINI
Agreed on every point. We were already preparing for this eventuality; however, we may need to make a few adjustments to our timeline. Jaxon, I’m afraid it’s all … happening.
JAXON
Of … course. Of course. I need to … too too too …
ASHWINI
(quietly)
I’ll keep it from you as much as I am able.
(to the others)
For the rest, we need to mobilize. Once more unto the breach; cry havoc and the dogs of war; let this be the hour when we draw swords together. It is time that we build our offensive. Roger, please forward this message to all other bases … including Gamma … but when you do so, I am unavailable for return calls.
DR. DAY
You know that she was working with this same guy, right? In the before times.
ASHWINI
We can delve deeper into that at some point soon.
ROGER
Great time for Michell to be away. Great time for Wilder to be away.
MCVETT
This brings us back around to the subject of our earlier discussion, on the notes compared between Gladys’ former life and my own – and something that I’ve heard Officer L’Anglois was keeping pretty tightly tamped down. What do you know about Moonbase Alpha?
ASHWINI
I suspect, not as much as the two of you.
ROGER
Alpha was just the admin base, right? All the little worker bees, buzzing around their hive. I mean, they must have been good for something else, but I can’t remember what …
JAXON
Who needs a whole base for admins?
MCVETT
Indeed.
DR. DAY
(blurting it out)
Security. Daniels said it was … intelligence, R&D, divisions from every megacorporation.
MCVETT
I’d heard that too, but only from the outside – we were never able to get any of our people in.
DR. DAY
I had instructions to go there if anyone started to suspect me.
ASHWINI
Instructions that would still apply with the Bases shut down?
DR. DAY
I think so. I didn’t really – I was never going to go there. I don’t want to go there now.
ASHWINI
No one’s saying you’ll have to. But it sounds like something that we ought to investigate further.
MCVETT
That’s what I’ve been thinking. While it was just the Moon, and the Plan, I was in favour of leaving well enough alone. But now … we need to know what they’ve got there. I’ll be the first to volunteer.
ASHWINI
That’s good to know. Thank you, Harold.
ROGER
And … I’m gonna join the “not it” club on this one. I’ll be back in my hidey-hole, spreading some words, if you need me. Later, taters.
(as he exits, fading)
So, so glad you stayed awake for all of this, Bragado-Fischer.
SOUND: Observatory background ends
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
ANNOUNCER
Our program is brought to you by Planetwide Media – broadcasting everywhere on Earth and across the Moon! Tonight we have a quick “Spotlight Sponsor” correction – those LaGrone pain patches you heard about in episode six seventy three, those are for external use only. Trust us – external use only.
Note – there may be advertisements inserted at this point in the episode.
SCENE TWO
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Rover background (ongoing)
SOUND: A few buttons being pressed
MICHELL
(sounding a bit worn out)
Merde, turn turn turn … is that crater new? I can’t find it on the routing app … I think we can get around on the left. Set that in navigation. Somebody keep an eye on it. Me, Michell, garder un œil dessus.
(brief pause)
I had to turn off the tracker, heat was creeping up again and I can’t keep stopping … I’ll turn it back on when I’m close. Which – it’s gotta be soon, right? Show remaining distance to the Peary crater? Not that Wilder ever bothered to say it’s Peary, but it’s got to be, according to the map her precious array fills most of Byrd … I’m gonna play that last file again, maybe I missed where she says it.
(after a slight pause)
Dieux, je suis si fatigue. (Gods, I’m so tired.)
SOUND: A small tone as the playback begins
WILDER (Rec.)
Okay, Roger, y’all asked for a better idea of location, so … I’m doin’ what I can. It’s still not the easiest to focus on things at the right-now.
SOUND: Wilder’s arm cycles (heard through the speaker)
WILDER (Rec.)
Hush, you. Pacey said I did everything proper with the first aid kit – it just takes time.
(she sings the first bit of “Hazy Shade of Winter”)
Time, time, time, see what’s become of me … anyhoo. Where was I?
(brief pause)
Ha. That’s exactly the point – where was I? If we can figure out where I was, you’ll know where I am now – it’s just a touch south and a waaaaays further down. So let’s go back to the start. I was takin’ breaks in this comfy flat spot along the side of the crater – this ain’t the crater where the panels are, too much glare for nappin’ on that side! So the other crater right nearby.
MICHELL
(overlapping)
Peary. The Peary crater. Just say Peary!
WILDER (Rec.)
Whatever that one’s called. Point being, there’s a nice flat patch where I liked to take my breaks and look up into the … everything, Earth quite a bit but not only, you know what I mean? So if you can find that spot, there’s a little cavern entrance just across the way, it’s pretty well hidden –
MICHELL
(overlapping)
This just gets better and better.
WILDER (Rec.)
But there were some robot tracks runnin’ down into it – that’s what caught my curiosity in the first place –
MICHELL
Okay … robot tracks.
WILDER (Rec.)
Though there have been a couple o’ quakes since then, there were definitely bits fallin’ up at that end of the cave, so it’s hard to say what things look like now.
MICHELL
Dammit!
WILDER (Rec.)
That’s all I know how to tell you. If it gets clearer inside my head, I’ll draw you a map. Signin’ off.
MICHELL
Well, that’s pretty much what I expected. That’s fine, Wilder. That’s just fine.
WILDER (Rec.)
Oh, Roger. Does it have to be Michell? I know about beggars an’ choosers, but … there ain’t nobody else? Signin’ off for real now.
SOUND: A small tone as the playback ends
MICHELL
Seriously? Wilder, seriously? Connard! I could just turn the Rover around right now, I could just …
(he laughs)
But think about the look on her face when I do show up. Rescued by Michell L’Anglois! Suck on that!
SOUND: A small warning ‘ping’
MICHELL
Shit. Okay. Time to take a break.
SOUND: The bookend chime, to indicate the passage of time
SOUND: A slow, infrequent pulse in the background (ongoing)
MICHELL
Come on … don’t tell me it’s not gonna work now, the thing went off twice on the drive up here when I didn’t have time to check it out … Gotta make sure I saved those coordinates, but anyway …
(after a long pause with only the pulse in the background)
I’ve been around this foutou crater three times, making sure I hit every shadowy spot, checking for tracks that apparently don’t exist anymore … I found her Rover, I think I found her sleeping spot, but ‘right across’ could be … almost anywhere by Wilder logic. So I guess we go again.
(after another pause)
“Does it have to be Michell?” Does it have to be you, god dammit? Did those ration bars fall under the seat?
(with his mouth full)
You owe me for the ration bars as much as anything.
(after another pause)
Go back to that last message I was recording? Et une autre chose (and another thing), big sib, I never said anything until now, but I checked with our landlord after you left, there was nothing in the lease that said I couldn’t adopt a cat! That’s on you! After we get through … a lot of everything else, you better have an explanation. You know how much I was –
SOUND: A new alert noise cuts him off, more internal and more frequent
MICHELL
Shit! Is that – did it find something? That’s not even the same noise as before, what the hell, Zhong? Is there another alert you didn’t … hold on.
SOUND: A few buttons pushed, the background pulse shuts down while the new alert continues
MICHELL
That’s not the tracker. It’s not even in the cabin – that’s internal. I … forgot I still had that cortex app installed. How do you shut down the –
SOUND: The alert noise suddenly stops
MICHELL
Okay, so where’s the message – “Proximity Monitor alert. Subject ‘Wilder’ now at 30 meters … 29 … 30.” Merde! Bordel de merde!
(he starts laughing again)
Michell, you win! You fucking badass, you win the game. How long ago did I set that alarm, and now she’s – she’s got to be right beneath me. Thirty meter alert! You win the game!
SOUND: Rover background ends
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SCENE THREE
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Spacesuit background (ongoing)
WILDER
Okay, the tent is zipped back up with us on the outside. That shouldn’t be such a hard part, ‘Liza, but I did have to balance on one leg while I did it. Now, it’s on our backside again and a little scoot, scoot, scoot across to Stash Mountain, where there’s got t’ be some kind of better foodstuffs. I put up with it for the first couple of days, but now that we might have company comin’ … scoot, scoot, scoot …
SOUND: We hear her breathing a bit more heavily
WILDER
Comin’ in theory, at least. Last I heard from Addie who was talkin’ to – I don’t even remember, somebody from the near side, it’s a swell game of Telephone we’ve all got goin’ – that person said Michell ought to be here by now. If he can find the place, which depends on either my description or some doohickey that Zhong put together. So I’m not countin’ my chickens. Okay, pulling myself up again –
(she grunts with the effort)
SOUND: At the same time, Wilder’s arm cycles
WILDER
Thank you, darlin’. Let’s see what we can uncover. There’s more cases in the back here that we haven’t been into … one of those has got t’ be the good stuff. I mean … it’s good t’ know we’ve got a year’s supply of toilet wipes, I guess, and it’s lovely that they packed a mass spectrometer, but neither really serves an immediate need. I’d trade it all for food that doesn’t start with “soy,” and somethin’ to drink that didn’t start out inside of me. I guess in th’ long run, I could dig for ice – there’s a rig for that over to one side – but we’re hopin’ not to think about the long term.
SOUND: Wilder’s arm cycles for a brief moment
WILDER
Eliza! You know that’s not what I was sayin’. Help me shove these bots out of th’ way.
SOUND: Wilder’s arm running harder than previously
WILDER
(groaning)
Why are these ones so heavy – did they send up construction bots? What were they plannin’ to build? And more computers – that looks like an admin console, why would they need an admin –
SOUND: A low rumble (vibrating through her suit)
WILDER
Oh, crap. Another quake? Did you see any – those are definitely rocks fallin’, we better get under the –
SOUND: A bit of broken noise from the helmet radio
MICHELL
– I know it’s the right cave, bon dieu, and I know you’re goddamn down there –
WILDER
Michell? Michell, is that you?
MICHELL
(overlapping a bit)
If you’re sleeping or something – Wilder?
WILDER
Michell! I hear you, I’m down here. I’m … mostly okay. Semi-okay.
MICHELL
I had to break in a little, the entrance had collapsed.
WILDER
Lucky breakin’ in is your specialty.
MICHELL
I’m on my way down.
WILDER
Oh, thank goodness.
(after just a moment)
Wait, Michell, watch the ledge, it just kinda –
MICHELL
Merde! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
SOUND: We hear a gasp and heavy breathing after the cry
WILDER
Michell! Michell, are you okay?
MICHELL
I’m – fine. I have a line secured – it caught halfway down.
WILDER
I told you to watch the ledge!
MICHELL
(grunting as he makes his way down)
After I’d already taken the step. You’re so much help.
WILDER
Be careful. I’m on my way over. Eliza, I’m gonna try this one standin’ up.
(after a moment, breathing heavily)
Michell, if you drop down on top of me, I’m gonna …
MICHELL
Stay back then!
SOUND: He lands with just a bit of a grunt
WILDER
Mx. L’Anglois, I presume?
MICHELL
Wilder. What happened to your leg? What the hell kind of setup have you got down here? Is that the only food you’ve got? Why didn’t you move the tent closer to the –
WILDER
Could you shut up for a minute? Come here, you.
SOUND: The rustling of fabric and an exhalation as she hugs him
MICHELL
Are you hugging me?
WILDER
You son of a bitch, I’m glad you got here.
MICHELL
(after a minute)
It’s Peary, Peary Crater. You couldn’t have just said Peary?
WILDER
All right, how did I know? I didn’t know what it was called.
MICHELL
There’s a navigation app built into your Rover!
WILDER
Well … I walked here.
SOUND: After a moment, they both laugh
MICHELL
This is really one of those supply stashes, huh?
WILDER
I guess so. There’s some pretty wild stuff the further back y’ go.
MICHELL
Val’s gonna flip.
WILDER
Make yourself at home. There’s an Oh-Two generator in the tent if you need a top-up.
MICHELL
I might have something better. Trina sent me with the instructions for her nanobot upgrade.
(after a pause)
You’re okay if I look around a little?
WILDER
You’ll want a break anyway. I figure the only way this works is you haulin’ me up that rope.
MICHELL
(a bit of a sigh)
I can’t wait.
SOUND: A bit of shuffling inside his suit as he moves around
WILDER
Don’t get sassy with me. I was this close to findin’ a way out without you.
MICHELL
I missed you too. I’ve gotta get into some of these boxes. Val would kick my ass if I didn’t.
WILDER
I’m glad you found some folks who have that thing in common.
MICHELL
Huh?
WILDER
The willingness to give you a kick in the ass. Good on them.
(just a bit of a groan)
Right now, I’m off that list – only due to injury. I’m gonna sit back down.
SOUND: The rustling of her suit
WILDER
Keep your radio on. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
MICHELL
Yes, Ser.
WILDER
Goddamn right. Oh, be careful on that side – that’s En-Soy-Ment about three levels deep.
MICHELL
Ugh.
SOUND: Spacesuit background ends
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SCENE FOUR
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Office background, perhaps some light music behind (see E7Sc1)
SOUND: A few keystrokes, a computer tone or two as Stephen works
STEPHEN
(sounding tired)
Bring that back up in … what’s the app they use here … CAD Repair, CADFix. Open that in CADFix, maybe we can shape that data for the next stage … no, no, skip registration … three more uses? They’ve got to stop shutting down this system. Switch to diagnostic mode … no. That is not good.
SOUND: Footsteps – quiet
TECHNO 1
Hey there.
SOUND: Stephen sighs faintly in the background, a few more keystrokes
TECHNO 1
Chief?
STEPHEN
Oh. Sorry, I was just – convert that to a task list, add it to my stack – sorry. I’m trying to get these specs together for the next tests.
TECHNO 1
You’ve got some time; we’re not finished with the intertank housing.
STEPHEN
You’re kidding.
TECHNO 1
It’s not my fault! I basically live in there, and I can’t find the flaw. But every time we run another test, something goes wonky and crashes the avionics.
STEPHEN
We can’t start again with the housing – we’ve already converted it twice, for solid fuel then back to liquid tanks again when the Ryders came through. But the structural work both times was just repair, not replace.
TECHNO 1
I remember –
STEPHEN
I’ve already got a request in to Elena to help us bring more bots online – when she’s done on the coast we’ll get most of those back, but until then …
SOUND: Stephen gets up from his chair, walks across the room
STEPHEN
It’s all laid out right there. If I could just pick the pieces up and fit them together …
TECHNO 1
Do you want to use the senssuround rig?
STEPHEN
That won’t tell me what’s wrong in the fabrication.
TECHNO 1
Okay. We need it for our campaign tonight anyway.
SOUND: More footsteps, two pairs now
NASHWA
(fading in as they get closer)
… the raw materials we can handle. Food, supplies for their water and air purifying systems … a bit trickier but doable. Replacement parts and electronics – I told them to make a list by priority. Right now, we’re focused on exchanging information.
DANIELS
That seems like the safest bet.
NASHWA
How are things here in the brains of the facility?
TECHNO 1
We’re doing just –
STEPHEN
Not feeling so bright at the moment. We’re still falling behind.
TECHNO 1
We’re a little behind.
NASHWA
Where are our problem areas?
STEPHEN
Pick a direction. I’ve got the fairing fixed up to where it might pass, maybe. I heard you talking about supplies – I can give you cargo limits, but they’re still theoretical until we finish testing. I’m still having trouble with the roll rate –
DANIELS
I saw those numbers –
STEPHEN
And now it’s the propellant system again.
DANIELS
The intertank housing? I noticed that on my way by – I think it’s the skin that’s warping.
TECHNO 1
We checked that!
DANIELS
I think it’s the skin.
TECHNO 1
We checked it five times!
DANIELS
I’d take another look.
TECHNO 1
Don’t say anything important while I’m gone!
SOUND: Running footsteps fading out
DANIELS
It’s the skin that’s warping.
STEPHEN
(with a sigh)
Then that’s even worse news. I’ve got a stack of problems that keeps on growing, and I’m running out of resources.
DANIELS
We got lucky at Patrick, all those technos were just waiting for this kind of project.
NASHWA
Do you think there’s any way we could get some help from them now?
DANIELS
Help from … back there? Where we used to … I mean, maybe …
(after a moment)
I’m not sure it’s a good idea, though. Just reaching out that way might cause a … you said McVett told you that it’s getting dicey between the megas and … whoever it was behind those attacks against them …
STEPHEN
Zero Day? They know who it was, some guy named Stephens, they just don’t know where to find him.
DANIELS
Right, I must have heard that somewhere.
NASHWA
And they believe he may still have plans for the Moon, as well. They were hoping we might get there in time to provide support.
DANIELS
Even if you made it with one rocket, whatever crew and supplies you could cram in … against what the rest of the world can send after?
NASHWA
It’s true. We’re not against a fight, even when the odds don’t favour us … but with the current difficulties, it might be time to focus on what’s within our reach.
SOUND: Quiet footsteps behind the next line
STEPHEN
I’m sorry. I’ll tell my crew that we’re shutting things down.
TECHNO 1
Wait, what? What happened?
STEPHEN
We just can’t put the pieces together soon enough.
TECHNO 1
But … what about the rocket? What about the Moon?
DANIELS
(in the background)
It’s not all that great, really, once you get there.
TECHNO 1
Remember? Knowledge, exploration, something new out of a dry and dusty place?
STEPHEN
I know, but … for now, we’ve got to let that go.
NASHWA
Hold on. Nobody said anything about letting go. We might have to change our focus for today, but you’ve still got work for tomorrow.
(after a moment)
I’ve spent quite a bit of time now talking to the folks on the Moon. They’re in a spot even worse than ours at the moment, but they’re not done. They’ve still got plans; they’ve still got hope. We might not make it in time today, but if there’s one person left up there fighting back, we’ll keep fighting with them. That means your work keeps on going.
STEPHEN
If you’re sure.
NASHWA
Until two weeks ago, I thought Palestine had become too far. Who knows where we might reach to next?
STEPHEN
Then I guess we’d better get back at it.
NASHWA
We are going to need some of your people to refocus.
STEPHEN
Of course. We’ll make do with what we can – it’s not like it’s rocket science.
(he chuckles)
TECHNO 1
Oh, boo. Boooooo.
NASHWA
Why don’t you show me where things stand at the moment?
SOUND: Footsteps as they start to move
STEPHEN
Of course. I haven’t been down to the floor today myself.
TECHNO 1
Let’s go!
DANIELS
I’m gonna … use the washroom. I’ll be down in a minute.
TECHNO 1
(fading as they go)
I ought to warn you, things are kind of a mess …
(For a few moments, we just hear the background / music.)
SOUND: A footstep or two, a few switches being flipped, and the music stops
DANIELS
Okay. Okay, Talor Daniels, you gotta make this quick. You gotta figure out which way to go. You’re behind enemy lines without much time to …
SOUND: She starts pacing; we hear her walking back and forth sporadically through the rest of the monologue
DANIELS
I mean, really you’ve got loads of time. If anything, this has been too easy! People knew me from before, I walked right in and they were like, sure, here’s what we know, who we’re talking to, what we know that they know! Here’s the space program, there’s no way we’re gonna beat you to the Moon … dammit. There’s no real chance they’re gonna beat him out of anything.
(For a few more moments, we just hear pacing.)
DANIELS
That’s my report. They’ve got no real chance, they’re … not even worth your attention. You’ve got bigger fish to fry, bigger players in the game. Maybe I can’t get his eye off the Moon, but I can keep it off of here.
(wavering)
They deserve a chance to …
(after another pause)
Yeah. But if you’re gonna sell it, Daniels, you’ve got to sell it. I better find the comms room and run through things a few times before I make the call.
SOUND: More footsteps as she starts to leave
DANIELS
(fading as she goes)
And after that, after that’s all tied up in a bow, you know who I ought to check in with? The Ryders, that’s who. It alllll comes back to the Ryders …
SOUND: The office background fades out
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
(The episode ends.)
PRODUCERS
Today’s episode featured Danyelle Ellett, Leeman Kessler, Tau Zaman, Sarah Rhea Werner, Steven LaFond, Cole Burkhardt, Josh Rubino, Cass McPhee, Tina Daniels, Kristi Boulton, Corey Spruill, Dalia Ramahi, and Tom Zalatnai.
Written by D.J. Sylvis; Cass McPhee is our audio engineer. Our theme music is “Star” by the band Ramp; our cover art is by Peter Chiykowski.
Looking for more great audio fiction? We’d love to point you towards Icarus Rising, a pirate tale where the sails fly high – higher than you might expect – and the stakes are even higher.
Our Executive Producers are Sarah Müller and Beka B, and our associate producers are Marty Chodorek, June Madeley, Timothy LaGrone, Marilyn Reid, Marissa Robertcop and Linda Boyer. Today’s shout-out is to Anastasia Pelechaty.
Thank you guys so much for your support, and helping and trusting us to bring this story to life. We love what we’ve done with it and we can’t wait for you guys to hear all the work the cast and crew has put in, and we hope you love it as much as we do.
And speaking of your support: everything helps, from leaving us a great review and subscribing on your podcast app of choice to sharing your feelings with us on Twitter and telling your friends about our show. For behind the scenes updates and early access to every episode, we would love to have you join us on Patreon. Visit us at MonkeymanProductions.com to learn more (and to visit our store if you need an En-Soy-Ment sticker or a T-Shirt featuring your favourite doggos!). But beyond all of that, we are so glad that you’re listening and sharing in this story with us. Thank you. And, as always, keep watching the moon.
