The Hyacinth Disaster E4P2
BLUE: Your ship is already broken, fool! Shuttle fueled up? CONTROL: Yeah. [open FINCH's channel] Finch? FINCH: Hey. Are you gonna help or what? CONTROL: Sorry. I'm back in control.
FINCH: Seriously? Do I have to do everything? CONTROL: I'm sorry. I love you. FINCH: You're just afraid of working with the C4, aren't you? CONTROL: I feel no shame in admitting that. But no, I need to contact Dreadnought and feel out his loyalties while Blue talks to Argus. BLUE: Well, more like “talks at Argus.” GRIMM: We can hear Argus, but he can't hear us. FINCH: So we'll need another transponder after all? BLUE: That's if the relay is the problem. CONTROL: It...couldn't hurt. FINCH: So I'll just have to work faster, then? CONTROL: Hey you were the one that disabled the shuttle! FINCH: Blue clearly told me to!
BLUE: Sorry, Finch, I can't hear you! You must be going through a tunnel. FINCH: I'll work faster. Finch out. [FINCH's channel closes] CONTROL: (sighs) She's gonna kick my ass. BLUE: Yup! Too bad. CONTROL: So what's Argus doing? You have a lock on his exo, I presume? BLUE: Yeah, but there's not much we can do. I doubt sending Grimm in after him will help. And Argus's been transmitting in the blind every few minutes, apparently. CONTROL: Good for him. Wonder if Dreadnought's been doing the same? BLUE: We haven't heard from him. GRIMM: And we're not gonna. CONTROL: Grimm, from now on, how about we just assume every one of your responses proceeds from “Dreadnought is a dirtbag who deserves death.” and you just leave those sentiments out?
ARGUS: Argus to Hyacinth, in the blind. This is my ninth attempt to reestablish contact. Uh. Argus to Con. Or Grimm. Or, I dunno. Finch. Respond. BLUE: He left me out. CONTROL: He's stressed and you're not technically Hyacinth crew. BLUE: Aren't you supposed to be contacting Dreadnought? CONTROL: I...sure. I'll try. BLUE: Maybe just try isolating his signal before you broadcast. CONTROL: That's probably best. GRIMM: Because he's a-- CONTROL: Yes, Grimm. Got it! GRIMM: I'm still just chilling in darkness, so it's not like I have a lot to do except burn oxygen. CONTROL: Your signal says you've still got just under a couple hours of air, you're fine.
GRIMM: “Fine” has a whole meaning I'm not aware of, then. ARGUS: Argus to Hyacinth, in the blind. Still no response from the crew. This is my...eleventh attempt to contact them? I dunno. Looking at lots of recent damage here. Could be from when Dreadnought's rift opened up. Or...maybe he came through here. Wait! I see a light up ahead! It's not moving. Argus to Dreadnought! Come in! CONTROL: He found Dreadnought! BLUE: Alright! GRIMM: If you're getting his transmission, try seeing if his exo can read Dreadnought's homing signal. CONTROL: On it! ARGUS: Dreadnought! Come in! Argus to Hyacinth, in the blind. I think I found Dreadnought. No response, and his light isn't moving, so he may be unconscious for some reason. I hope he didn't lose his air… Gotta get through here. Shift some of this debris, one sec...hold on there's a thing, there's rocks, one second...I'll check in again soon, sorry. CONTROL: [exo ALERT sounds on console] Kanker.
BLUE: What? CONTROL: His patched leg! It's under too much stress. If he keeps at this, it's gonna break his exo again, and probably tear his vacsuit! BLUE: I knew he should've come in! CONTROL: [open FINCH's channel] Con to Finch! Finch! FINCH: [picks up headset] Hey? CONTROL: Is that probe ready yet? Argus needs to hear from us now! FINCH: What's going on? CONTROL: His patch is tearing! Is it ready? FINCH: Uh, the transponder is ready to go. CONTROL: Ok, get it loaded fast! FINCH:
The C4 is still inside the casing. BLUE: Well, that's ok. As long as you pull out the trigger, it won't go off. FINCH: Got it. It'll be ready in a minute. [FINCH's channel closes] GRIMM: Hey! I'm still down here, you know! BLUE: Grimm, you know how this works! Taking out the C4 was just to make it light and easier to fly! It's not going to blow. GRIMM: Yeah, I know...but I don't know. BLUE: It's trusting that fact, or Argus could be dead any minute. GRIMM: (sighs) Alright just get it over with. FINCH: [FINCH's channel opens] Ok the transponder is in place, and the trigger is out. Gimme a sec to lock the panel and load the tube. [FINCH's channel closes] GRIMM: Blue! BLUE:
What? GRIMM: I need you to tell me where to turn and go before you launch the damn missile! I don't want to be hit by that thing, explosive or not. BLUE: Right. Uh. Ok. Turn around. I think you're facing the same hole you sheltered in last time. Start walking. CONTROL: Wait, let me see… Yeah, I think that's the one. GRIMM: Should I jet over there? BLUE: Negative. Just push off the wall right behind you. You're directly aimed at the hole. (pause) That's right. FINCH: [FINCH's channel opens] Finch to Con. Tube 18 secured for launch. GRIMM: Am I good? BLUE: Yes, you're fine, Grimm. GRIMM: Ok, launch your messenger of death at me.
BLUE: Confirm lock? FINCH: Confirm. BLUE: Confirm clear? FINCH: Confirm. BLUE: Launching. (pause) Tube expunged. Probe away. Turning to 248.132. (pause) Dang, this thing is heavy. CONTROL: No pressure, but Argus could lose his any second. BLUE: Firing! FINCH: Fire confirmed. BLUE: 5 klicks out... Reverse in 25. CONTROL: Argus, stop moving! Grimm!
GRIMM: Shoot. CONTROL: I want you on top of this thing the moment it hits. Get it open and get the relay working. BLUE: Climbing at 322.143 GRIMM: Isn't that the plan already? CONTROL: No banter, nothing. Just follow Blue's instructions and-- BLUE: Diving. 322.60 GRIMM: Uh...That's a bit sharper than last time. CONTROL: Trying to hit deeper. BLUE: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2...reverse! And...impact! FINCH: Confirmed! GRIMM: [GRUNTS as he's impacted by small debris] BLUE: Grimm, turn around so I can see it.
CONTROL: There it is! Damn. It's right in front of him. Great shot, Blue! BLUE: Ja, ja. Grimm, move forward. GRIMM: Right...forward...ok… CONTROL: What are you waiting for? GRIMM: I'm sorry, last time we did this, I was pelted by a bunch of debris for no reason: I almost died! Forgive me for being a little nervous! CONTROL: (pause) Grimm, Argus needs to hear from us… GRIMM: Yeah, I know! I know… Ok, just, if anything looks unstable or shifts in any way, let me know. CONTROL: Ja, will do. I have eyes on it. BLUE Just keep moving until you walk into the wreckage. FINCH: Uh. Con? CONTROL:
Yeah? FINCH: Remember those seismic anomalies I mentioned before? CONTROL: They're back? FINCH: Yes. Or not. These are just weird. CONTROL: Ok, well until you know something for sure, just watch it. BLUE: Wait, Grimm! Right on your 2 o'clock! Ja, ja! There! That's the panel. GRIMM: Assuming it's the same as the last one, it should be easy enough to...there! I think I'm getting the hang of this whole blind thing. BLUE: You're brilliant! Unwrap the transponder. CONTROL: (pause) Come on, Grimm! ARGUS: [ARGUS' channel opens] Argus to Hyacinth, in the blind. Trying for the I-don't-know-what time to contact the crew. I'm almost through to Dreadnought, or whatever this light is. He still hasn't moved...wait. CONTROL: [ALERT sounds on CONTROL's console]
Grimm!
GRIMM: What? CONTROL: GET THAT DAMN THING ON! GRIMM: I'm going as fast as I can without breaking it, Con! Just gimme a second! ARGUS: I think I can push through now. Hold on! ...ow, ow ow ow... CONTROL: Stop! Argus, stop. Argus, stop, stop! ARGUS: [exo helmet ALARM] What? CONTROL: GRIMM! GRIMM: It's on now! ARGUS: Aw dammit. I forgot about that. Stupid leg...my suit! [air starts HISSING out of ARGUS' suit] Shoot! Argus to Hyacinth! Grimm!
GRIMM: Blue, the relay is ON!
ARGUS: ...Is anyone there? Anyone picking this up? My suit is torn!... BLUE: It's still calibrating! I'm sorry! GRIMM: What's taking it so long?? CONTROL: Ok we don't have time to argue! ARGUS: ...I'm losing pressure fast!... CONTROL: We should be able to help him if you get in there fast enough Grimm: our connection with you is fine! ARGUS: ...Is anyone there? I've got about a minute. Come on! Somebody!... GRIMM: Guide me in! CONTROL: Alright, you're facing...it looks like a cave, it might be where Argus went in! ARGUS: ...ok Hyacinth I'm trying to patch this!... GRIMM: Argus, hang in there! I'm coming for ya, buddy! ARGUS:
...Tape! Tape! I'll use tape!... CONTROL: Yes! Ok, Grimm, he's gonna use tape, that should hold long enough for you to-- GRIMM: WAIT! Did you say “tape”?? ARGUS: ...Hold on… GRIMM: SHIT! ARGUS: Where the hell is my tape?? (pause) Grimm! CONTROL: Grimm? GRIMM: He left it with me when he stormed off! ARGUS: ...oh dammit! Oh dammit! Dammit!... CONTROL: Uh...ok!! Well I can still guide you there!! GRIMM: It's way too late for that, Con! CONTROL: We gotta do something!
GRIMM: If there was anything we could do, you know I'd do it! I'd do anything! I've known him for…………. He's dead, Con. (pause) He was dead when I let him walk away………. ARGUS: My lucky C4, maybe? Might mould to the...No there's not enough for... I...I dunno. I can't...shit! Shit. Running out. Can anyone hear me? Argus to Finch! Dreadnought! Dammit! Argus to... don't make...me...beg… CONTROL: Argus… ARGUS: Grimm. GRIMM: Argus! DAMMIT! ARGUS: (faintly) Con? Blue? Ember? Anybody? (pause) Anybody? (pause) Sorry, guys... [air HISSES out to SILENCE] [long pause with quiet ALARM still sounding] CONTROL: [turns off ALARM]
(pause) Blue, guide Grimm back to the surface. We're leaving. Now. BLUE: (choked up) If we don't have the squealer's memory card... CONTROL: We will make station believe what we found. I am not risking anyone else! GRIMM: (fighting back sobs) That's not going to work, Con, and you know it. CONTROL: I'm responsible for the lives of my crew first and foremost. Get back to the ship! GRIMM: Con, there's no way in hell corporate is going to-- CONTROL: (strikes console) Grimm, SHUT UP! If you prefer to follow your own orders, you can sign off when we're back at station; but until then, I am captain of this vessel, and you will do as I say. GRIMM: (pause) I'm on my way. FINCH: Con. CONTROL: Thank you, Grimm.
FINCH: CON! Rocks are breaking off the asteroid. Some kind of eruption maybe? CONTROL: Lemme...yeah I see it. It's a few smallish chunks. It'll settle down. FINCH: It's getting worse. BLUE: [echoing CRASH] [ALERT on console] Impact alert! The pylon is getting hit! FINCH: I read it. That's the thickest armor on the ship. It should hold up. GRIMM: [impacts as debris hits exo helmet] Dammit! I'm getting hit with debris again! Get me out of here! BLUE: I can't see anything on the camera! There's crap everywhere! CONTROL: [another SMASH] More impacts! That was damn near the missile bay, Finch! FINCH: Yeah, I heard it. GRIMM: Blue!
BLUE: Ok! I'm...jet now. GRIMM: Where?? BLUE: Just jet, Grimm! We'll figure out where later. Just get out of this mess! GRIMM: Aw damn. Jetting! Dammit I can't see anything! BLUE: You've been through worse, Grimm. You can do this. GRIMM: Not blind, I haven't! BLUE: Ok, you're on the wall...or whatever. Turn...left and head that way! GRIMM: [CRUNCH] If these rocks get any bigger I'm done for. [CRUNCH] Come on! BLUE: Keep moving, Grimm! CONTROL: [ALARMS die slowly] No more impacts, looks like they're over! Grimm, it's almost over. Get him out of there, Blue!
BLUE: I'm working on it! FINCH: [new ALARM sounds] Con! More rocks splitting from the asteroid and heading this way! CONTROL: Yeah! Yeah I see it, it's just one. It's not too big.
