EPISODE 7: YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE (3)
Kai: [[Takes this as a backhanded compliment]] …Thanks.
X: So… they'd have to leave to get reinforcements? That's good. But there are still… what, twelve Caldwell Enterprises employees we have to worry about, not counting our group and the Fixer?
Chen: Sounds about right.
Kai: Turn here.
X: Okay. [[Pauses]] Heh. I'm kind of nervous we'll run into Security.
Kai: [[Drily]] We are Security.
X: ...Right.
[[SFX: Footsteps, elevator door, etc.]]
X: So, who's all left?
Kai: Uh… Bae, the pilot. Two Councillors. Their assistant. Ms. Moretti. And the Science and Engineering teams.
Dani: [[Lists them on her fingers]] Doctors Benitez, Skarsgaard, Adrisi, Pham, Ahmad-Miller, and Nakamura. Oh, and Dr. Keane, though I couldn't find her anywhere.
Kai: Mutiny protocol has them shut away in their chambers, so they shouldn't be a problem.
[[SFX: Ding, elevator opens. They step out.]]
Dani: Here -- turn left.
[[SFX: Footsteps; Chen groans in pain]]
Kai: Stand by.
[[SFX: Card swipe; negative beep. Another card swipe; another negative beep.]]
Kai: [[Grimly]] Uhhh. Thor's card isn't working. They must be on to her.
Dani: Here. [[She swipes her card]]
[[SFX: Door to infirmary beeps (positive), opens]]
Chen: [[Weakly, to Dani]] Thank you.
X: [[To Dani]] Yes... thank you.
Kai: Let's get him over to that --
Dani: Wait. That one's occupied -- looks like Dr. Nakamura. (He got welded, somehow…?) Try the one across from it.
Kai: X, help me with his feet --
X: Oof. There. Okay. We need a whole bunch of sterilized bandages, hemostatic sponges, an IV for fluids, something for the pain…
Dani: I'm on it.
[[Dani moves, rifles through some nearby drawers.]]
Dani: Here are the sponges. [[Throws some packets to X]]
X: [[Catches them]] Thanks.
[[SFX: Tears open the packets of hemostatic sponge]]
Kai: [[Alarmed]] He's unconscious.
X: [[Frustrated]] ...Ugh, I don't even know what some of this equipment does.
Kai: That's okay. We'll figure it out. Is there just a first aid kit we can --
Dani: [[Stage right]] Dr. Keane? !
X: [[Turns]] What?
Dani: [[To X and Kai]] She's over here, in this bed. She's unresponsive.
X: [[Turns]] Oh my gosh. What happened to her?
Kai: [[Sharply]] X, focus. We need to stop Chen from bleeding out.
X: Right. Okay. Dani, can you please hand me those --
[[SFX: Bulky thunk, background noises grind to a halt]]
X: Oh, crap.
Kai: They shut off the power to the infirmary!
Dani: But Dr. Keane is in here! And Dr. Nakamura!
Kai: [[Grimly]] Apparently, stopping the mutiny is a higher priority.
X: [[Deep breath]] Okay. We can still help Chen without power. Kai, put pressure there and pack the wound with the foam, please. After that, seal him up the best you can. Dani --
[[SFX: Intercom crackle as they bandage Chen]]
Council Member 1: [[Static-y, over intercom]] This is Councillor Van Gaal. According to the the Caldwell Enterprises Handbook of Branding and Conduct, section three hundred and twenty-four, article G-seven, mutiny is a corporate felony. Any Caldwell Enterprises employee attempting to mutiny will be swiftly subdued, imprisoned, and court-martialed.
X: [[To intercom]] Great, thanks! [[To Kai]] Okay. The seal looks solid.
Kai: I'm somewhat concerned about the Councillor's use of the word “subdued”.
X: Well, we're the security on the Enforcer One, right?
[[SFX: Squeaking of IV stand approaching]]
X: ...Right?? ?
Dani: [[Out of breath]] Here's the IV.
X: [[To Dani]] Good. Do you know how to...?
[[SFX: Intercom crackle]]
Dani: I can hook him up. Just make sure he's still breathing.
Council Member 1: [[Static-y, over intercom]] Of course, you already know this, but in times of corporate warfare, all felonies are punishable by --
[[SFX: Gun charging interrupts]]
[[SFX: Gun blast. Intercom gives a final burst of static, wires hiss, and parts of the speaker clatter to the ground.]]
X: Punishable by what, Kai?
Kai: It doesn't matter right now. We need to get Chen stabilized, and then make our way back onto the Cavatica.
X: I feel like, once again, there is something you are neglecting to tell me.
Dani: The IV's good to go. Now what?
X: [[To Dani:]] Grab any antibiotics you can find, just in case. And is there a gurney we can use? [[To Kai, sharply:]] And Kai, what are they going to “subdue” us with?
Kai: Remember what I said earlier about those sixteen A.I. fighters?
[[SFX: A sudden thud at the door. The vents along the ceiling begin to hiss.]]
Kai: [[Looks up]] Oh. Or gas will work, too. On you, at least.
X: [[Pulls the neckline of her shirt up over her nose and mouth.]] Dani, cover your nose and mouth, or better yet -- hold your breath!... Any way we can redirect those vents, Kai? Or are there oxygen masks anywhere?
Kai: On it.
[[SFX: Clattering of tiny glass vials]]
Dani: Here's a bunch of ceftriaxone -- I'm pretty sure it's an antibiotic. And there's a gurney under this bunk. And --
Kai: Oxygen masks. Here.
[[SFX: Kai tosses them the masks. They take them and put them on, and breathe.]]
X: [[Muffled behind mask]] Okay. We're going to be okay.
Kai: We just need to get back to the Cavatica. Stand back, and start transferring Chen onto that gurney.
X: [[Muffled behind mask]] What are you going to --
[[SFX: Gun fires at the shut door.]]
X: [[Muffled behind mask]] Ah. Okay. Good thing this mystery gas isn't unexpectedly flammable or anything…
[[SFX: They set up the gurney, and load Chen onto it.]]
[[SFX: Sparking wires as Kai hotwires the door.]]
Kai: Get ready to hightail it back to the Cavatica.
Dani: [[Muffled behind mask]] Chen's strapped in.
X: We're ready.
[[SFX: Metal door screeches open manually.]]
Dani: [[Startled]] Oh!
X: [[Sounds relieved]] Hey! Chance! Good. I was worried -- [[Gasps]]
Chance: [[Shaking, nervous]] Sorry, guys.
Kai: Wait -- !
[[SFX: Gun fires; Sound of a heavy body falls to the ground. Sound of circuits shorting out.]]
X: Kai!
Dani: [[Simultaneously]] Kai!
[[SFX: Gun charging]]
X: [[Holds out hands]] Chance, wait -- !
Chance: [[Apologetically, as if trying to reassure]] Don't worry. It's set for stun.
[[SFX: Stinger]]
[[SFX: OUTRO MUSIC]]
-Fin-
