Sally's Journal: April 9, 3235

Journal of Sally Acorn
April 9, 3235
Entry Made @ 1446 (2:46 PM)

Dear Journal,

[SPEAKER: AMBROSE REIHNER]

You know, Tanner's been trying to break into this thing for the last day. Highness has some good protection on the contents of this journal. Rock hard security. He thinks that there's some sort of protection system that's running on a different coding language.

[SPEAKER: RODERICK GOETHE]

Wouldn't be too far of a stretch to assume. I mean, they're from a different dimension or something like that. I dunno, there's some shit that's just beyond me, Reihner. Oh, what did Murphy do with the bodies? Did he toss them outside?

[REIHNER]: Yeah, he decided that it would be better to simply leave them out there for the wolves instead of burning them. He didn't want to go through any more trouble with them. Can't say I blame him. Just right out the door into the snow. The wolves can have them.

[GOETHE]: Well, whatever those things are anyway.

[REIHNER]: Yeah. Stone's come out of sedation. He's been pretty quiet lately. Didn't tell him what happened. Maybe Murphy did. Anyway, he's gone basically catatonic.

[GOETHE]: Just make sure he didn't throttle himself or anything of that nature. Once we lift off and make a few jumps, we'll set down on the first Inner Colony world we can find, dump the poor bastard in front of a hospital, and be on our way.

[REIHNER]: You're seriously taking Mercer's last request to heart?

[GOETHE]: She did deliver to us our biggest payday, and she did give us one less problem to deal with. Jesus, look at it out there. How much snow can fall on this snowball?

[REIHNER]: And this is Autumn. This place is going to freeze over once it hits Aphelion. Temperatures are going to hit -80 at most.

[GOETHE]: How do people even live on this planet? You know? How do people consciously say, I want to live here, when it's cold enough for you to pour your own propane into your generator?

[REIHNER]: Couldn't tell you. I don't live on a shithole out of the way colony that doesn't even have a name.

[GOETHE]: Yeah, that's right, born on Jeras Prime in the lap of luxury. Good for you. Luck of the draw and all that. Mummy and Daddy had a 10,000 square foot beach-side mansion like it's the god damn Pacific Coast Highway. I tell you Ambrose, you threw away something good, you know that? You're a smart kid. Dunno what you were thinking going on mutes.
[REIHNER]: You of all people who's going to give me a lecture.

[GOETHE]: You had goddamned swords growing out of your wrists. That's permanent bone damage right there! Your skeleton looks like a jigsaw puzzle held together with paper clips, rubber bands, and happy thoughts! You turned yourself into the Flood just to get a buzz!

[REIHNER]: That's not true.

[GOETHE]: I know why you have a beard too. You got scars from the last time you juiced up to give yourself some biting teeth. Poked right through your skin, and they haven't been healed since. You scare the shit out of Tanner you know.

[REIHNER]: Fuck him. I do what I need to do to get the job done. Money's all that matters to me.

[GOETHE]: Gonna brew your next fix with it? I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm afraid of finding you dead every morning.

[REIHNER]: Can we change the subject? Please? What about the kid? Miles?

[GOETHE]: His name is Miles Prower. Kid's a genius; no joke. IQ of about 300.

[REIHNER]: He would probably know a lot about those jewels then. Makes sense that he was here. What about his arm?

[GOETHE]: Oh that? Broken with an infection. Some of the spores on this planet or something. They'll attack dead tissue and eat it. Gave him a shot of anti-biotics and a hit of biofoam. The arm's going to be fine, but I'm going to keep on hitting him with the antibios and administer a double dose of a purging agent. Gonna kick his immune system into overdrive. He's going to be tired for the next couple of days, and maybe in some pain, but the arm won't be amputated at least. He should be happy for that. Give him plenty of food when he wakes up, OK?

[REIHNER]: Well, you're being nice.

[GOETHE]: Got a soft spot for kids. We were all one once. Shit, where's Murphy?

[REIHNER]: I said he was throwing the bodies out. Still, it's been over half an hour.

[GOETHE (Over PA)]: Attention Mr. Sean Murphy, please report to command bridge for summary ass kicking. Lollygag, and we're keelhauling you back home.

[REIHNER]: Tell me about this rock, Goethe.

[GOETHE]: The Emerald? Marhsall wants it, and we got it. That's all I know, and all I want to know. I mean, look at this thing. It floats. It doesn't fall over when I push it, and it glows, Ambrose.

[REIHNER]: Oooh, it glows. I get a new nightlight.

[GOETHE]: No, I'm telling you, this thing feels weird. My teeth are vibrating holding it. This is gonna sound cheesy, but I can feel it.

[REIHNER]: Right, like it's magic.

[GOETHE]: Well, I don't know if it's magic per se, but yeah, kinda.

[REIHNER]: Keep that shit away from me then. Where the hell is Murph? Tanner!

[TANNER]: Yo, yeah, what?

[REIHNER]: Where's Murphy?

[TANNER]: Yeah, I dunno. I thought you called him.

[GOETHE]: Damn right I did. I warned him. Now I'm gonna kill him.

[TANNER]: Yo, maybe those blind wolves got him.

[REIHNER]: They can see heat you know. Maybe Murphy fucked up and they ate him.

[GOETHE]: Shame then. Wanted to get him meself. Stay here. I'm going to see where he is.

[SEVERAL PRESSURE DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE. AUDITORY CLACKS. GOETHE HAS PULLED A GUN OUT OF A HOLSTER AND CHAMBERED A ROUND].

[GOETHE]: Murph?

[WIND HOWLS. ACCUMULATION IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 22 INCHES]

[GOETHE]: MURPHY! Murph! Get up! Jesus! Wait. Those aren't bitmarks.

[UKN] FREEZE!

[UKN1] PUT IT DOWN!

[GOETHE] FUCK!

[UKN2]: Got you now, asshole! Decided to drop on in to see you!

[GOETHE]: Helljumpers. Guess you were the only ones stupid enough to drop into a snow gale.

[UKN1]: Put that shit down! Last warning!

[GOETHE]: Ah fuck it. More trouble than it's worth anyway.

[UKN]: DROP IT. DROP IT! Ha. Good boy! Tugg, get the gun. Get both of them.

[GOETHE]: Go on then. Put the cuffs on. I'm protected.

[UKN2]: The hell is this guy talking about?

[GOETHE]: Unarmed. You have to take me in.

[UKN1]: GUN!

[GUNSHOTS. DURATION: 2 SECONDS]

[GOETHE]: God damn it, Tanner.

[TUGG]: Cover me, boys.

[UKN]: Pergeron, cover Tugg. Sweep and clear. Anybody draws on you, take them out. You see the hostages, shout.

[UKN3]: Wait! Wait! Look! That's Sally's Journal!

[GOETHE]: Oh, you're supposed to be the boyfriend then. Oops. Awkward.

[TUGG/RADIO]: Got one more. Unarmed. He's co-operating.

[PERGERON/RADIO]: Found the others. Her Highness, Petty Officer Prower, and it looks like Dr. Stone. They've got a beat. Prower's got a broken arm. Looks like they were patching him up.

[UKN]: At least you assholes have sense of fair play.

[GOETHE]: I do what I can. That makes you Sonic then.

[SONIC]: Keep him here.

[UKN]: Sorry, I didn't know you gave orders.

[SONIC]: Yeah well you wanna take it up with Commander Topaz, you let her know.

[UKN]: He won't move.

[SONIC]: I'll take this.

[WELCOME, SONC. PASSWORD ACCEPTED].

[LOUD FOOTSTEPS. MULTIPLE PRESSURE DOORS OPEN].

[SONIC]: SAL! TAILS! HEY! HEY! What are you doing?

[PERGERON]: Giving them some adrenaline shots. They're under some sedatives. Relax. They just need to breathe in. No needles. No shots.

[COUGHING, INAUDIBLE MUTTERING]

[PERGERON]: There we go. Looks like they're coming to. Dr. Stone. Can you hear me?

[STONE]: And... and here I thought I was out for good. What a shame.

[PERGERON]: Doctor?

[STONE]: Nevermind, son. Nevermind. Highness. Are you alright?

[SONIC]: Hey. Sal. Speak to me. Come on. Say something. Tails?

[MILES]: Hey... Sonic. Glad you're here. You... you found us!

[SONIC]: Anything for my little brother. They hurt you?

[MILES]: No. They... helped me.

[SONIC]: The docs are gonna help you with that. Wow, you walked all the way here in this weather?

[MILES]: We... most of us did.

[SONIC]: Most?

[SALLY]: We're all that's left.

[TUGG]: Perg. We're good?

[PERGERON]: Yeah. Yeah, we're alright here. I think. May want to get some people ready for us upstairs. Stone looks like he's in shock.

[SALLY]: We're fine. We are. Where's the emerald?

[TUGG]: Secured. Found it on the bridge.

[SALLY]: That's all that matters. Goethe?

[UKN]: Ma'am. Lieutenant Brian Costigan. ODSTs.

[SALLY]: Yeah. Thanks. So. How did uh... you find us guys? It was days. A lot of guys would have appreciated it if you came earlier.

[COSTIGAN]: We tried scanning your position from orbit, but the storm made our lives hell. We waited, but the storm got worse. We sent a Pelican, but they were almost blown down.

[SALLY]: So what did you do?

[COSTIGAN]: We called for reinforcements. A ship with a stronger scanner to make it through the clouds. We were promised a destroyer.

[SONIC]: Yeah, but when we mentioned your name, they sent us a dreadnaught. We got you in ten minutes. Hey, there's a smile. You need one about now. Come on. You can get some real sleep. Then we're going home.

::END ENTRY::