EPISODE 7: YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE (2) EPISODE 7: YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE (2) EPISODIO 7: NUNCA DEJARÁS ESTE LUGAR (2) ÉPISODE 7 : VOUS NE QUITTEREZ JAMAIS CET ENDROIT (2) EPISODIO 7: NON LASCERAI MAI QUESTO POSTO (2) EPISÓDIO 7: NUNCA SAIRÁS DESTE LUGAR (2)

**X:** How?

**Thor:** A little trick called “keeping one of my boots wedged in the doorframe”. [[Pause, then to Kai:]] Killbot, where's your comm?

**Kai:** Out of commission. Kai: Außer Betrieb.

**X:** It got stomped. Very dramatically.

**Thor:** Ooookay. Visual confirmation it is.

**X:** [[Slightly concerned]] Also, shouldn't you be at that debriefing?

**Thor:** [[Drily]] I have a feeling that at this point, shutting myself into a conference room with the Councillor would do everyone more harm than good. Now, hurry up. My glamorous new life's not going to live itself.

[[SFX: Footsteps resume]]

**X:** [[Into recorder, quietly]] All right. We're here on the Enforcer One, where we intend to rescue Chen and retrieve my mother's body. I'm still not really sure why Thor's helping us, but… Oh. Kai, can you lead us to where they might be holding Chen?

**Kai:** We're headed there now.

**X:** [[Blushes]] Ah, good. Sorry. I'm just trying to process everything, and I've recently learned that when I'm nervous, I tend to ramble.

**Kai:** No need to apologize.

[[SFX: Door opens, stage right]]

**Dani:** [[Stage right; Unsteadily, nervously]] Stop! I mean, halt!

[[SFX: Gun charging, stage right]]

**Kai:** [[Sounds mildly offended]] ...Really? They sent the intern to stop us?

**X:** What's an intern?

**Kai:** Unpaid intellectual laborer. And hot beverage provider.

**X:** [[Makes a face]] Oh. Wow, that sucks. [[To Dani]] I'm sorry you have to be an intern. And that they sent you to shoot us. We actually don't want to hurt you. What's your name?

**Dani:** [[Nervously]] Dani? I mean, Dr. Weiss?

**X:** Dr. Weiss, it's nice to meet you. I'm X, and this is Kai. So -- why are you an intern?

**Dani:** [[Brightens]] Oh! I'm working on my doctorate. I'm an epigeneticist -- well, I'll be one eventually.

**X:** Oooh! Epigenetics is fascinating! What are your thoughts on pre-responsive development in botanical --

**Kai:** [[Interrupts her]] Um, X…

**X:** Oh right. Our mission. So… we're going to save Captain Miles Chen and retrieve my mother's body. Want to come with us?

**Dani:** Wait, what happened to Captain Chen?

**X:** That's what we're going to find out. But we're pretty sure it's something bad.

**Dani:** Oh. [[Considers]] I haven't told anyone this, but on our initial approach toward the Cavatica, I got super velocity-sick and threw up all over the deck. And Captain Chen's shoes. But he was super nice about it and made sure I was okay. He told me to hydrate better next time and brought me some water.

**X:** [[Smiles]] He's a good person.

**Dani:** And totally cute. [[Blushes]] Aaah! Why am I telling you all of this? [[Brandishes gun]] I'm supposed to make both of you come with me.

**X:** What if we don't?

**Dani:** Uh, then I'm supposed to shoot you.

**X:** That sounds decidedly unpleasant for all of us. Here's a counter-offer: you come with us to save Chen, then join us aboard the Cavatica as our resident epigeneticist, and we'll all live happily ever after?

**Dani:** What about my grant?

**X:** Oh. Right… I guess we can't pay you.

**Dani:** [[Disappointed]] So… you're just offering me another internship.

**X:** Huh. Yeah. I can't really ask you in good conscience to --

**Kai:** Good grief. Here.

[[SFX: Kai steps forward and takes Dani's gun from her, clicks the safety, and holsters it.]]

**Dani:** Oh. That was fast.

**Kai:** Thank you.

**X:** Oooh, can I have her gun?

**Kai:** [[To X]] No. [[To Dani]] Dani, please come with us.

**Dani:** [[Crestfallen]] Oh. Am I a hostage now?

**X:** No!

**Kai:** Yes.

**X:** Ah, well, then I guess yes, but in a nice way! We won't hurt you --

**Kai:** [[Interrupts X]] Unless you do something to compromise our mission.

**X:** [[Continues as though uninterrupted]] -- and I'll make you an amazing dinner of real food when we're back on the Cavatica that'll have you renouncing those disgusting food pellets in no time! How does that sound?

[[SFX: Small bump, stage right]]

**X:** ...Did you just kick Kai in the shin?

**Dani:** [[Shrugs]] I thought I should exercise all of my options before resigning myself to hostage status. I forgot that there was a robot on the Security Team.

**Kai:** I'm not -- ugh. Let's move. You and Dani take the lead. Turn right at the end of this hallway, then step into the elevator and hit “four”.

**X:** Will do.

[[SFX: They begin moving]]

**Kai:** And Dani, please do not kick me anymore. It doesn't hurt, but it is annoying.

**Dani:** [[Resigned, perhaps a bit sheepish]] All right.

**X:** [[Still excited]] Oh man. You just wait until we get back aboard the Cavatica. I'm going to make a Provençal Tian, covered in cheese, of course, and roasted until it's all crispy and bubbly around the edges, and then we're all going to sit down and watch the best movie ever made…

[[SFX: Transition]]

**SCENE 3**

[[SFX: Enforcer One]]

**X:** [[Whispers]] Chen? [[Pause, then a little louder]] Captain Miles Chen?

**Chen:** [[Groans weakly in the distance; it echoes]]

**Kai:** [[Points off into the distance]] That's the one. Cell block J.

[[SFX: Hurried footsteps]]

**X:** [[As they move]] Oh man, this place is huge. Why does the Enforcer One have so many prison cells? Like, are they usually used for storage or something?

**Kai:** [[Uncomfortably]] In a way...

**Dani:** [[Frowns]] Actually, Dr. Keane told me that before the Enforcer One was decommissioned, it was a transport for human cargo. But it was perfect for this mission, because we could use the cells for specimen storage.

**X:** [[Stops moving; silence]] Uh… Human… cargo? [[Pause]] Specimen storage?

**Dani:** Yeah. We didn't know what we'd find out here, and wanted to be prepared to retrieve any and all viable life forms.

**X:** [[Tries to make sense of this]] Because of the... divergences caused by Ra's alternate radiation?

**Dani:** No, because... you know, plants and animals? Actual biological life?

**X:** I don't get it.

**Kai:** [[To X]] Wait… do you not know?

**X:** [[Frustrated]] a.) Know what? and b.) obviously not.

**Kai:** The biological specimens back on the Cavatica… they're the last of it.

**X:** Last of __what__?

**Kai:** Life.

**Dani:** [[Simultaneously]] Life.

**X:** [[Pause as she digests this information.]] ...__What? !__

[[SFX: Momentary silence, during which Chen groans again, obviously in pain.]]

**X:** Right -- priorities. Gotta help Chen. [[Stares at them for a second, then starts moving backward toward Chen's voice, jabbing her finger at them.]] But after we get him free, I am going to be asking you some serious questions.

**Chen:** [[Groggily, attempts to sit up, though he is very badly wounded. Disbelieving tone:]] X? What are you doing here?

**X:** [[To others]] Over here! [[Brightly; excited to see Chen]] Chen! Hey! Kai and I are having a mutiny! It's very exciting. But also a little weird. Which is maybe to be expected.

**Kai:** [[Approaches]] Here -- I have Thor's clearance key. [[SFX: Beep, then prison door opening.]] Are you all right, sir?

**Chen:** [[Obviously lying:]] Yeah. I'll be… fine. Where's Thor? And Chance?

**Kai:** Thor's holding the doors for us. They don't know she's in on this whole thing yet, so they haven't deactivated her codes. [[Brief pause]] Chance had some thinking to do.

**Chen:** That's too bad. We could use him. [[Pauses, confused.]] Is that the Science Division intern?

**X:** Yeah.

**Dani:** [[Waves]] Hi. Sorry again about throwing up on you.

**X:** [[Over her shoulder]] Dani, you should probably stay out in the hall so the cell's camera/sensor-thing doesn't pick you up. [[To Chen]] She's our hostage! And an epigeneticist. Also, what happened to you? Why did they lock you up like this? I mean, last I saw, you were just standing in the hallway with the Councillor.

**Chen:** [[Grimly]] Long story. Let's just say the Councillor and I have opposing views on leadership.

**X:** Oooh. Are you mutinying, too?

**Chen:** There doesn't seem to be anything better to do out here. ...Ugh.

[[SFX: Sound of chains rattling; Chen shifts uncomfortably]]

**Kai:** Hold still, sir, and I'll see what I can do about those manacles.

**X:** [[Frowns]] Also, what happened to your leg?

**Chen:** Got hit with a compliance mandate. Heh. Literally.

**X:** Oh my __gosh__. [[Horrified]] It went __all the way through your armor!__

**Chen:** [[Wryly]] I'll let you in on a little Caldwell Enterprises secret -- the armor's just for show. Nothing but cheap plastic and -- ow!

**Kai:** Sorry. It helps if you hold still.

**Dani:** [[Pipes up from the doorway]] Oh! It's the same with our lab stuff -- it looks impressive from a distance, but really it's just cheap garbage. We -- well, Dr. Ahmad-Miller calls it “cognitive behavioral therapy”.

**Chen:** [[Amused]] Heh. What a load of -- Ow!

[[SFX: Manacles clatter to the floor]]

**Kai:** All done, sir.

**X:** Can you stand?

**Chen:** Yeah, I think so --

[[SFX: X's yelp as he stumbles, and a thump as Chen crumples to the floor]]

**Chen:** [[Dizzily, from the floor]] ...That's a negative.

**Kai:** Here. [[Offers Chen a hand, helps him up.]]

**X:** [[Simultaneously]] Here.

**Chen:** [[Grunts, slings an arm around Kai's and X's shoulders to steady himself.]] Thanks. Augh -- nope. [[He crumples to the ground again.]] Hoo boy.

**Kai:** Sir, you're injured!

**X:** And more than just your leg... [[Squints]] It's super dark in -- __holy crap__! Chen, like, half of your ribcage is gone! Why didn't you say something? !

**Chen:** [[Weakly]] Didn't want to complain…

**X:** [[Background]] ...Oh my __gosh__…

**Dani:** We need to get him to the infirmary, now!

**Kai:** [[Menacing]] Who did this to you?

**Chen:** The Councillor's assistant. Again, it's a long story.

**X:** You can tell us about it later, after we get you to the infirmary. [[Aside]] Man. I am compartmentalizing a lot today.

**Kai:** X, could the infirmary on the Cavatica handle this?

**X:** [[Shakes head]] Uh, no -- it's dead -- the infirmary, I mean -- and any supplies are going to be way past expiration. I could synthesize some antibiotics, but… if we're going to treat Chen, we need to do it here.

**Kai:** All right. [[Lifts Chen carefully in a fireman's carry; sound of slight hydraulics from suit.]] I've got him. Let's move.

[[SFX: General movement of people. They walk a ways.]]

**X:** [[Stops walking]] Wait -- Kai, do you think my mother could be here? In one of these… cells?

**Kai:** I don't know -- there are hundreds of them. We'll have to come back later for a more thorough search.

**Dani:** [[Pipes up]] Your mother -- you're talking about the body with all the fungus? |||||||||||||fungus

**X:** Yes! Where is it?

**Dani:** It's been quarantined in one of the labs. |||quarantined|||||

**X:** [[Frowns]] Quarantined? The fungus isn't even toxic.

**Dani:** I think it's more because the body's not… exactly… dead, and no one can figure out what's keeping it alive. [[Winces]] Her. Keeping her alive. Sorry.

**X:** No need to apologize. Can you get us into the lab?

**Dani:** Oh. Maybe. [[Looks uncomfortable]] Though… um, my grant…

**Kai:** [[Understanding]] It's all right. You can tell them we threatened to kill you if you didn't help us.

**Dani:** [[Sounds relieved]] Okay. Then yeah. Totally.

**X:** Sweet! Everything is going super smoothly.

**Chen:** [[Faintly]] So... what's the plan?

**X:** Sounds like the infirmary, then the lab. Then, everyone spills the secret information they've been hoarding.

**Chen:** No, I mean for the overall mutiny.

**X:** Oh.

**Kai:** The plan is to get all of us aboard the Cavatica --

**X:** [[Interrupts]] __And__ my mother's body.

**Kai:** -- and seal it off so Caldwell Enterprises can't get back in.

**Chen:** And... when they blow up the Cavatica with all of us inside?

**Kai:** They won't. The cargo on board is too valuable.

**Dani:** And from what I've heard in the labs, they need the technology developed by the Ra Initiative. Though I'm not sure what for.

**Chen:** [[Thoughtfully]] Well, at least they can't call for backup.

**Kai:** [[Surprised]] They can't?

**Chen:** Ra's interference is too strong. Remember when we first approached the Cavatica, and had difficulty radioing X?...

**Kai:** Oh.

**Chen:** [[Reflects; To Kai:]] Wow. Was this whole mutiny thing a rash, unplanned decision? Or did you think you could take on shiploads of reinforcements single-handedly? You really are human, Kai.