EPISODE 9: DID YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH UNKNOWN FORCES (3)
X: Is it true?
Chen: [[Eyes her.]] Kai is a good person. Does it matter?
X: [[Relents.]] No. I mean, not in that regard. I've done my share of awful stuff. Everyone has. I just… I don't know. [[Pause.]] Sorry. I didn't mean to get judgey or anything. I just wanted Kai to have been honest with me.
Chen: Maybe Kai was honest with you.
X: Heh. I guess. And --
[[SFX: Siren.]]
Chen: [[Looks around.]] Lots of alarms today. What is it this time?
X: Um… how do you feel about a little field trip?
[[SFX: Transition.]]
SCENE 4
[[SFX: Cavatica, Dash core.]]
X: Okay… [[Sits down in chair, which creaks.]] I'm in the dash core with Captain Miles Chen, who's still on his gurney, by the way --
Chen: [[Greets the recorder.]] Uh. Hey.
X: -- and it looks like… yep. It's the radio.
X: [[Pause as X regards the radio, then Chen.]] Heh. Remember that one time I answered the radio and it was you guys on the Enforcer One and then everything got really confusing and terrible forever?
Chen: We're not that bad…
X: I'd be a fool to answer it again. [[Sighs.]] Hm.
[[SFX: Clicking buttons, static.]]
X: [[Speaking into transmitter.]] Hello?
Council Member 1: [[Unintelligible; drily.]] Yes. This is Councillor Van Gaal…
[[SFX: Feedback, static.]]
X: Ugh. Hold on just a sec.
Chen: Wow. That is some truly terrible reception.
X: Well, Charlotte “fixed” it, so. [[Shrugs.]]
Chen: She's not going to make Kai sound like this, is she?
X: Well, there's also the element of Ra's interference…
Council Member 1: [[Unintelligible; irritated.]] Hello? This is Councillor Van Gaal…
[[SFX: Static, hums.]]
X: Mmm. Nope.
[[SFX: Buttons clicking, dial turns.]]
X: ...Try again.
Council Member 1: [[Irritated; clear.]] Hello? This is Councillor Van Gaal…
X: Gosh. You know, I still can't…
Council Member 1: [[Barks.]] Hello? Hello!
Chen: [[Rolls eyes. Softly:]] X, don't… don't mess with him.
X: [[Snorts]] Heh heh heh. Just kidding. I can hear you just fine. What's up?
Council Member 1: [[Aghast.]] Were you… were you just wasting my time?
X: [[Blithely.]] No more than you're wasting mine. What do you want? Is it ultimatum time? Got some exciting new threats to share? Oooh! Or do you want me to make myself more accessible to your assistant for “dispatching,” a.k.a murdering? I never did run into him, by the way…
Council Member 1: [[Unamused. Drily:]] No. I need to know what your intentions are regarding the Empress Conglomerate.
Chen: [[To self.]] Huh.
X: The what?
Council Member 1: [[Sighs, irritated.]] Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you. Now -- what. Are. Your. Intentions…
X: No! I'm not playing dumb. I don't know what that is.
Council Member 1: Rubbish. The damage to the Cavatica's communications pod… the vicious attack on the Fixer… the overall mutiny… We've charted it all right here in your file. [[His tone becomes threatening.]] Don't lie to me, Specimen X.
X: Uh. Okay. Just a sec.
[[SFX: Click as X mutes the mic.]]
X: [[To Chen.]] Chen, what's he talking about?
Chen: He thinks you're an agent of the --
X: Yeah, I got that part. But what's the Empress Conglomerate?
Chen: They're a competitor of Caldwell Enterprises. We've been at war with them for… years. That's the corporate warfare the Councillor was talking about.
Council Member 1: Hello?
X: Huh. Okay.
[[SFX: Click as X un-mutes the mic.]]
X: Oh! Right. Yes. I totally did all of those things. Um… so pretty much, I'm working with the Empress Conglomerate to bring down Caldwell Enterprises.
Council Member 1: [[Hisses angrily.]] I knew it! How did they manage to get to you before we did?
X: That doesn't matter right now. The question you should be asking is, what am I doing for them next?
Council Member 1: You do realize we're willing to destroy the Cavatica -- and everyone and everything on board -- to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands?
X: Oh, I have no doubt you'd do something so stupid. Or so petty. And -- I have to point out -- in this case, petty is not okay. [[Pause, considers.]] So… what is it you really want? You didn't radio me just to tell me things we both already know.
[[SFX: Soft double-beep from the Councillor's side of the radio.]]
Council Member 1: [[Smiles thinly.]] You're right. It's a distraction.
[[SFX: Click of radio.]]
X: What?
Chen: ...Crap.
[[SFX: Loud thud.]]
[[SFX: Stinger]]
[[SFX: OUTRO MUSIC]]
-Fin-
