Scene 10: Street Rats

Aaron and Tulia turn on to a street with a placid market place that looks something akin to a large family picnic.  Open air grills, schools of children running at full speed, couples sitting and eating together and a generous exchange of goods changing hands as if they were gifts.  About a dozen humanoid rat pups stream by them.  They squeak their little giggles.

AARON: Come on.

I think this way is faster.

TULIA: So you want to get

pickpocketed?  Is that it?

AARON: They're just kids.

They'll only steal you blind

as bad as the ones 

back on Janriel.

TULIA: I'm not in a hurry

to go through a place

like that again.

AARON: What's with you?

TULIA: The last time you

went shopping I lost

over half my crew.

AARON: It's the shortest route.

You got us lost looking for

the Grim Grip.  You used that

shuttle too much back on Janriel. 

Not as many places it can go here.

Would you rather run all the

way back to the clinic?

TULIA: Do I look like a 

video game character?

AARON: I wouldn't know.

Momentarily the two of them double back for a couple of garbage cans overturned in an alley with a clatter.  They look and witness one teen girl being closed in on by two adult vermin Raytheons standing tall over her with glittering red eyes and clawed fingers.  Aaron and Tulia rush down the alley, but still have to reach the opposite end on the far side.

VALORY: Leave me alone you-

you novice bipeds.

RAYTHEON: You picked my passcard

little girl.  That wasn't very 

good of you to do that.

VALORY: You got it back.

How many pickpockets return

something after they're

finished with it?

RAYTHEON: You should have

stayed out of our operations.

You cost me a whole shipment.

VALORY: That's a lie.

I took one crate of the filler

you were using to hide

from the security scan.

RAYTHEON: The wrong crate, 

little girl.  Now someone has

to pay for the lost shipment.

VALORY: I didn't lose 

you the shipment.

RAYTHEON: What do you

expect me to believe?  That one

of my worker bots hid

it from me?

Two warning shots ring out near the Raytheon's head.

AARON: That's close enough!

RAYTHEON: We have no 

business with you.

TULIA: Look, we've been
very busy today.  So let us
just take our little
friend and go.

RAYTHEON: You should know
better than to interfere
in Mr. Vincent's affairs.

AARON: Who's Vincent.

TULIA: You don't know?
How do you get paid?

AARON: I guess I'm the only
honest bounty hunter in all
of the Janriel star system.

VALORY: Everyone knows
who Mr. Vincent is.  Only...
to see him you have to either
be working for him or in
trouble with him.

RAYTHEON: Honest bounty hunters
don't like to get their hands dirty.
Run along now honest bounty hunter.
The little girl knows what kind
of trouble she is in.

AARON: To be honest, I don't
like Raytheons very much.
Especially when they're picking
on helpless little-

VALORY: Helpless?

RAYTHEON: You should know
when to catch a break.

AARON: Good advice.  Now run
home to your pups.  I'll make sure
this one finds her way.

The endless ruby eyes stare into Aaron's for some time.  And then he hisses to his friend and they both proceed to climb the walls and head out to the market that Aaron and Tulia came from.  Tulia keeps a bead on them while Aaron turns to Valory.

AARON: What's your name?

VALORY: I don't talk to strangers.

TULIA: But you do steal 

from Raytheons.

VALORY: Momma never said nothing

about dealing with Raytheons.

I don't think she knew about 'em.

AARON: Well let's go discuss

it with her right now.

She backs away from his reach.

TULIA: He won't hurt you.  Trust me.

He's really not the type.  He's not

even good at pretending to be

an intimidating bounty hunter.

AARON: Did no one else see me

fight Drusus Gaul this morning?

VALORY: You fought Drusus Gaul? 

How are you still alive?

AARON: I won.

VALORY: Oh.

TULIA: And everyone's day

just went downhill from there.

So are you going to take us to

where you live or not?

VALORY: Well... (she stomps her foot)

Darn.  I guess... you can

come out now Esben.  

A discarded rug unravels and a shaggy carpet with two legs rises from where he was lying.  He bears his teeth and awaits what they will do next.

VALORY: Easy big guy.  You saw it.

They wanted to help.  

His face goes placid and eyes become soft with gentle moisture in them.

VALORY: Can't say where he's from.

But it's real cold for him up

here on the station.  You got a way

to get him to Janriel?

TULIA: How many more strays

are you going to take in?

AARON: Me?  It's your ship.

I'm just tagging along.

TULIA: Yeah.  Like you were

going to just leave them here.

AARON: We'll take you as 

far as my friend's clinic.

After that we don't know

what will happen.

VALORY: Doc Spencen?  He won't

be happy to see me.  He warned

me about doing stuff like this.

AARON: Then I guess Spencen is

the closest that you're going to 

get to a scolding.  Come along 

if you're coming.

Valory steps back as they start to leave and takes Esben by the hand.  Her fingers disappear into his long fur and they both walk quietly in step behind Aaron and Tulia.








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Scene 9: One Dull Knife

Aaron and Tulia stalk toward the Grim Grip Bar where there are animated neon figures dancing and it could be any time of day.  This establishment is kept in perpetual low light to attract nocturnal revelers.  It might seem impossible to hear over all the music and commotion, but the sound of a shattering glass pierces the couple's ears.  They both pause while immediately sensing something other than clumsy service.

Momentarily, two mercenaries come rolling out on the ground through the doors.  They punch and kick.  Patrons circumvent them.  Two heavily padded police officers look on with professional interesting (it must be clear that this was not sport to them) and do nothing.

One combatant manages to stand and immediately stumbles back against a parked vehicle.  The downed man draws a knife.  The standing half draws a sidearm, but leaves it in the holster.  Aaron notes the officers rests their hands on their own weapons, but draw no more attention to themselves. 

Staring each other down, the man on the ground experiments with rising to his feet.  They both gasp, breathless.  The man with the knife slinks off and the one with the sidearm lets his weapon rest and returns to the bar.  The officers watch them part ways and relax their posture again.

The mechanical bouncer resides within a recess of the wall.  On it's skinny head it has a panel of cameras for eyes that attempt to track each person who pass the door.  Aaron locks eyes with it and for a brief moment all the little squares are turned to him.  Tulia leans to his ear with a brief grasp of his arm.

TULIA: Must be cross eyed

Aaron turns away from it and all the eyes follow him, but then suddenly click back to observing everyone else in the room.

AARON: Just has me worried

that maybe they know we're coming.

TULIA: Why?  You a cop?

We're no better than the

mercenaries, Aaron.

AARON: Then what are we?

TULIA: We work from home.

AARON: Janriel isn't home.

TULIA: Then how come you

had a life here before 

the blockade?

AARON: Let's go 

interview that guy.

She looks over at a man occupying a corner booth
with a large company of guests being entertained
by the hostesses.

TULIA: Sure.  I suppose

you like getting shot

from under the table.

AARON: I said let's

interview him.  I didn't

say anything about doing

it on his terms.

TULIA: Alright.  I'll wait

here while you go find

a dress in your size.

She immediately stomps off and starts chatting
up the first waitress she puts her arm around
and leads the confused woman off.

Tulia returns in the same clothes that she left with (her leather jacket) but has changed into high heels that likely come from the waitress who follows a few paces back.  Tulia stops to let her pass and she proceeds on with a single drink on her tray.  She whispers in the woman's ear who is sitting at the end of the booth.  The waitress indicates Aaron who smiles awkwardly at the provocation.

This woman takes her drink and rises to meet Aaron with a smile.  The moment she leaves Tulia slips in and is able to introduce herself with a laugh.  She is still wearing the tool pouch on her left hand.

MERCENRY: And just who might you be

in a place like this wearing that?

TULIA: This?  (giggle)

Well I'm a working girl.

MERCENARY: A woman like

that could get into trouble.

TULIA: Why else 

would I be here?

Aaron is about to speak to the woman
approaching him when she throws
the drink in his face and walks on with
a loud pause in his ear.

WOMAN: Rat.

AARON: That's ok.

Almost had a perfect day.

Aaron locks eyes with the mercenary
who rises from his booth.

MERCENARY: What did you 

say to the lady?

AARON: Lady?  Well I didn't

come here too concerned about

what was being said to the women

of this establishment.  I come on 

behalf of a woman I met at

Doc Spencen's.

MERCENARY: Why

should that concern you?

AARON: She says you cut her.

MERCENARY: She must be

the one who got in the middle

of one of my fights.  

I think she liked the guy.

Doc Spencen send you to do

his dirty work?

I didn't know he had

it in him.

AARON: The way I heard it

the doctor's already been here.

You threw him out.  And now

people are getting hurt worse.

MERCENARY: You're a friend of his?

AARON: Does it really matter?

We both know you're not going

to let anyone leave without a fight.

MERCENARY: Won't be much of a fight.

TULIA: That was the idea.

She puts a stun stick in his back.  He falls back in such a way to clothesline her with him.  He jumps to his feet and Aaron tackles him to the ground.  Aaron delivers one punch and slips a cuff over his right wrist to the back of his pants and jumps back up with a draw of a pistol.  Then Aaron draws his left to cover the remaining mercenaries in the booth.  An unseen hand slides Tulia's boots and gun belt on a tray.

The mercenary turns back over and looks up at Aaron, enraged.  He foams at the mouth with a command to the bouncer robot.

MERCENARY: TI-F7!  Get them!

The slender robot disengages from the wall and all the patrons make way long before it takes another step.  It pivots and makes that first step, but a large hand is placed on its shoulder.

NICODEMUS: Stand down.

The robot returns to the wall and its eyes proceed to click away as usual.

This man is sleeveless, tattooed, and wears no protective vest like the other mercenaries or the police for that matter.  But Aaron can discern a clear gulp from the troublemaker he has subdued.

NICODEMUS: Well, what do we have here?

MERCENARY: Mr. Clemence... they just

came in here and started busting up the place!

I - I tried to stop them-

NICODEMUS: I wasn't talking about them!

And you didn't manage to stop them, did you?

The mercenary falls silent.  The room is silent as this man's heavy boots clomp through and passes the standoff taking place.  He bends down to pick up the tray and walks back to a dining table where there is the waitress frozen with fear as if in mid service.

NICODEMUS: I believe this is yours.

She solemnly takes the tray from him and he turns back to the mercenary on the floor.  Tulia is still trying to slip her second boot on, but watches the new element of the situation cautiously.  Nicodemus comes up behind the mercenary and lifts him by the cuffed arm.  He rips the pant loop the cuffs are attached to, which leaves the remainder to dangle from the man's wrist.

NICODEMUS: Pathetic.

MERCENARY: Mr. Clemence...

I didn't mean-

NICODEMUS: You don't even understand.

We don't terrorize the weak.  There is

nothing to be gained.  No honor.

Now, did I just hear that you

have been accused of 

cutting a woman?

MERCENARY: Please-

NICODEMUS: Please?

Nicodemus draws a knife and stabs him in the back.

NICODEMUS: My men are beyond reproach.

You are no longer one of mine.

(He looks at Aaron) I trust this

settles your business with him.

Without waiting for an answer, Nicodemus assumes his place at the booth and the other mercenaries settle in their seats making as if nothing happened.  Tulia and Aaron stare down at the dead mercenary as Aaron reaches a hand to help her to her feet.  The music starts playing again and the two of them quietly leave the Grim Grip.

Once they are alone on the street walking back to the clinic Aaron turns to Tulia.

AARON: Was that how you planned it?

I mean, did you intend for her to

throw that drink in my face.

TULIA: I figured she would.

I wanted to convince him to 

go outside and get away from

that bouncer.  I wasn't counting

on him to get so chivalrous

about the whole thing.  

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Scene 8: The General Surgeon

AARON: General!

A bloodied apron is put on a nail and
an old man turns around in shock to see Aaron.

DOC: Ar-

AARON: We're not among friends!

Snapped awake to the severity of the situation

he steps more lively and dawns another apron.

DOC: Right.  What seems to be the trouble?

RUNE: Our friend got shot.

A lot.

DOC: It wasn't him?
(he indicates Aaron)

RUNE: No.

DOC: I see.  

Ellan stumbles in with Ross.

DOC: At any point did 

your friends consider

getting out of the way?

TULIA: It was an ambush.

ELLAN: With multiple levels to it.

The doctor scans for a split second
between the two women.

DOC: Why... is there anyone else

that I should know about?

AARON: None that made it.

DOC: Oh dear.

TULIA: Can you help him?

DOC: I always say I can help.

I never say that I can save everyone.

AARON: Look, he'll be alright.

We came here for a reason.

Let's give him some space

and wait outside.

The crew starts wandering for the door.

DOC: Now wait a minute.

If one saving grace can come

from your violent occupations 

it's that you would have had to

patch each other from time to time.

Scrub up.  All of you.  And start

tending to the minor complaints

that come in.  If any of you are

competent please take the more

serious cases.  I get a lot of 

customers coming through here.

In the next moment the likes of Tulia and Aaron are
elbow deep in crimson gloves with thread and needle.

TULIA: Mr. Miles, I'm using thread

to close a wound right now.

I thought your man was the best.

AARON: He told me once that

this wasn't just any thread.

It's an organic material that

is supposed to repair the wound

and will later break down in the

body without needing to be removed.

TULIA: And are you lying to me?

AARON: I might be lying about

this being that thread.

Tulia's previous patient is carried away on a stretcher
and the new one is able to climb up on the table under
her own power.  She presents an arm with stiches to be
removed.  Tulia admires how faded the scar is.

TULIA: He does good work.

The young woman nods in agreement, but fails to smile.
Her hair happens to fall away from her shoulder and
Tulia can see a gauze patch on her neck that is blackened.

TULIA: I'm sorry, dear.

You came to me for that.

The young woman rebuffs her hand.

WOMAN: No.  Just... remove

the stiches, please.

RUNE: (from across the room)

What's the matter?

TULIA: Pay attention to your

patient, please.

Who did this?

WOMAN: The doctor tried to help.

He just got his place attacked

for his trouble.

TULIA: The Doc's a do-gooder,
but I don't think he's equipped
to help with the situation you're in.

AARON: It helps to knew
a few do-gooders.

Aaron has finished with his patient 

and come up beside them, removing

his gloves.  

The doctor glances up from his surgery.

DOC: These people don't have 

time for your socializing.

Do what you can and 

move on to the next one.

People around here understand

that.  That's why they come to me.

Tulia and Aaron exchange a glance

and Aaron returns to his table behind her.

Tulia turns back to the young woman.

TULIA: Do you see my 

friend over there?

She cranes to look and nods.

TULIA: I owe the Doc a favor.

And more importantly
can't pay him.

WOMAN: Well, he isn't

finished yet.  Don't you 

wanna wait?

Tulia bows her head with a laugh
and looks back up at the young
woman with glittering eyes.

TULIA: Just tell me a name.

Aaron is finishing a checkup with
a young boy jump down from the
table and running to his mother with
a clean bill of health and a smile.

AARON: Sure glad these cases

are getting easier.

Then Tulia passes him with a graze of his
shoulder and hers.  He glances up at Ellan
who is holding a couple of medicinal bottles
while standing on the other side of the room. 
She watches with suspicion as Aaron proceeds
to follow Tulia to the back of the clinic.

AARON: You got what you need?

TULIA: An out-of-work mercenary

who frequents a fine establishment

that recently had it's name changed

to the Grim Grab.  We are looking

for the gentleman who misplaced

the former owner.

AARON: Really?  What was 

it's name to begin with?

TULIA: (she hesitates)

Doc Spencen's Waiting Room

AARON: Well... I'm not sure that

it's not an improvement.

TULIA: What will your friend

have to say about it?

AARON: Well he's not gonna

want to hear about anyone

who was unarmed, but

I don't think he would

mind if this character didn't

make it to his operating table.

TULIA: What's that you said

about needing to know a

do-gooder... or two?

AARON: Why? 

Do you know any?

Tulia points for the door and the two of them
start to weave through the orderlies.  Rune tries
to head them off and Ross tries sitting up.

RUNE: Where are you going.

TULIA: Keep an eye on

things here.

She places a halting hand on Ross's chest and
another on his shoulder to recline him back.

TULIA: You still need to recover.

Watch 'em.  I don't like the way

that she looks at them.

They all glance over and Ellan turns away.

RUNE: What if she tries

something on me?

TULIA: In your dreams, Starling.

AARON: You'll think of something.

The two of them go to leave and he taps
Tulia on the shoulder at the door and points
at the reptilian patient.

AARON: What is his name?

TULIA: We don't know.

He always said that we 

couldn't say it.

They slip out of the clinic without
a word from Spencen.








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Scene 7: House Call

The shuttle descends into the moon's crevice, which has also been developed with buildings protruding from the canyon walls.  Once deep enough there is another tunnel to the side for traffic to merge in to.  The occupants travel in silence as strips of incandescent lighting hypnotically passes over the windshield.

Then Aaron comes up to the cockpit
again and gives Tulia a start even
though speaking in low tones.

AARON:  Take a right up here.

TULIA:  What are you doing up here?

RUNE:  Aye, aye captain.

Your little map will 

get us there.  Return

to your seat.

Aaron studies Rune a moment and then indeed turns around.  The next tunnel is dark with red emergency lights and Rune activates a spotlight attached to underside of the shuttle.  The end of the tunnel remains plunged into darkness with the red lights canceled by the spotlight.  Tulia casts her voice back to the passenger compartment.

TULIA:  Why are you sending us

to the refugee district?

AARON:  Because that's where

the doctor is.

RUNE: (laugh) What?

TULIA:  We could have stopped at

a general hospital.

AARON:  Orelius is even more dangerous than Janriel. 

They would make him wait.  The Doc is an old friend
of mine.  He was a battlefield surgeon; not just a medic.

TULIA:  And what did you do

to make him a friend of yours?

AARON: (he thinks a moment)

He's another one I didn't

collect a bounty on.

RUNE:  What's the name?

AARON:  You can just call him

Doc.  On account of I don't

want you looking up whether

or not the contract is still good.

TULIA:  What's he doing in the 

underbelly of the Janriel

star system if he's so great?

AARON:  He's lending his services

to the red sector.  After what we've

been through I didn't think you'd mind.

RUNE: (aside) You do realize we always wait 

for bounties to leave the red sector

before we go pick them up?

TULIA:  Shut up and fly.

They land in a residence area where there is a line of people of all manor of species for one house that used to be an apartment building, but now looks condemned.  The shuttle touches down.  And as soon as they are down the loading ramp there is a swarm of police hover craft that converge upon them, sirens blazing.

Guarded by the others, one such craft descends to touch down its landing struts and then an elevator drops down from the underbelly to release a dozen or so heavily armored police.  The critically wounded reptilian is laid on the loading ramp and everyone draws in a standoff.  Tulia has to quickly handoff a pistol to Rune.  The police do not shout orders.  They all stand in silence.  Then a rifle whirs from the shuttle and it is the big headed alien.

TULIA:  Ross, lay down.

The alien promptly falls forward, unconscious, at the top of the ramp near his other wounded friend.  Tulia steals a concerned wince in Rune's direction at the sound of the thud.

A second craft's approach goes unheard until its final descent and lowers an elevator for only four people.  Two armored police, like the rest,and one officer and an aid.  Aaron breaks from the others to go speak to him.

OFFICER:  We heard something

about Janriel turning into a

warzone, recently.

AARON:  I ran into a little

unexpected trouble.  

OFFICER:  The fight with

Drusus Gaul didn't spill

out onto the street?

AARON:  No.  It wasn't that.

OFFICER:  Then it's as I fired

These attacks at are becoming

far too frequent.

AARON:  Wait... you knew about this?

OFFICER:  I don't know any more

than you do at this point.

Except, apparently, that you

don't have authorization

to be here.

Aaron removes a coin from his cuff sleeve.

AARON:  There's my authorization.

The officer takes the coin and glances up at the desperate-looking bounty hunters who are staring at them.  He pulls out a scanner and makes one pass over the coin and hands it back to Aaron.

OFFICER:  You sure do keep 

strange company, Mr. Miles.

Pleasure doing business 

with you.

He waves a hand and the police march back to
their respective platforms to be raised back up
into the patrol crafts.  Aaron turns back to the others.

AARON:  He says we can go in.

They pick up the wounded reptilian and push
their way to the front of the line and through the door.








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Scene 6: Change of Plans

The obsidian shuttle craft descends from the roof top and kicks up the dust from the vacant street.  Tulia cradles the head of her reptilian friend as he coughs for breath and she continues to wave for Rune to hurry down.  Tulia's other companion with the enlarged cranium limps out from where he was laid and kneels down at her side.  His eyes droop with the high likelihood of a concussion and rests the tip of his head sympathetically on her shoulder.  Tulia in turn rests her cheek on his head.

The last gust of wind passes and Ellan sits unmoved with her legs to one side.  She stares vacantly down at Kanon who now sleeps.  Aaron watches as the bounty hunters scramble to get their friend aboard.  They have no stretcher, but must carry him together.  Once he sees them heading up the loading ramp Aaron writes them off as leaving and starts walking up behind Ellan.

Unfortunately, once Tulia has her bounty hunters aboard she turns back and marches in Aaron's direction.  Rune ducks his head out to ask where she is going, but soon sees and reaches for his rifle to sit by the door with.  Aaron hears her footfalls as her approach leaves the cover of the low whine of the engines.  He turns and disliking her unfriendly demeanor he draws one pistol and holds it with both hands.

AARON:  I thought you were leaving.

Your friend doesn't have much time.

TULIA:  That means bills.

The means we need a bounty.

AARON:  You're not taking her.

TULIA:  Because of her and her friend

I lost a lot of good hires and 

a couple of good friends of my own.

AARON:  That's not her fault.

TULIA:  Like you said, I don't

have much time.  I'm not discussing

this and I don't care whose fault

it is.  But those two are

at the center of it.

AARON:  I won't step aside.

You can still just walk away.

TULIA:  Not without what I 

came for.  I always finish a job.

ELLAN:  I'll go with you.

AARON:  Ellan?

ELAN:  But you take him with you

(indicating Kanon).  And he doesn't

get turned in for a bounty.

TULIA:  Deal.

Tulia turns and marches back to the shuttle.  She waves for someone to come out who will help with the body.  Rune rushes out and receives his instructions over the roar of the engines.  Ellan gives Aaron an expectant glance at him and then Kanon.  Without discussion, they each hoist the body over a shoulder and soon Rune is at hand to take Ellan's load.  She steps in line behind them and is the last to board the shuttle.  As the loading ramp closes everyone takes their seats along the length of the shuttle craft and Rune rushes up to the cockpit to take the controls.

Aaron and Ellan look across the way at the big headed alien and the one other surviving grunt of the bounty hunters.  All parties are overly spent to sit in spite of one another.  The alien rubs his head with one hand and the grunt proceeds to unwrap a rations bar.  He notices Ellan staring at him and breaks off half for her.  She takes it and eats without a word ands stares off at a blank wall.  The occupants bob gently in silence while leaving the atmosphere and soon the stars come into view through the cockpit.  The shuttle proceeds toward a developed crevice of the moon.

Samael observes the nondescript shuttle lay down a smoke trail as it leaves the atmosphere.  His eyes are concealed behind the shadow of the visor and so he appears to stand dispassionately.  However, look closer within that same slit of his helmet and briefly the shadows fade or rather are burned away by the intensity of his vision, which reveals the faint glow of blue eyes beneath.

Abbess walks up slowly behind him along the sole path to the chamber.  Sensing her presence, the shadows re-converge to cloud any secrets that might be revealed by his own vision.  She stops short of the circle he stands in and as is also their custom he does not turn to face her.

ABBESS:  The Shadow's Heart is lost. 

And it appears to have been out

of the interlopers' possession

for some time.  I fear it may

never be recovered.

SAMAEL:  Yes.  The incident with the

drones was unfortunate.  But it weeded

out the fodder of the bounty hunters.  

Perhaps, something can still be

salvaged from this failure.

ABBESS:  What do you require?

SAMAEL:  Hire the bounty hunters.

The ones who survived and

are now leaving Janriel

for its moon.

ABBESS:  To what end?

They can hardly be expected

to survive any real challenge.

SAMAEL:  If I cannot have

the Shadow's Heart then there

is something else they might

recover for me.  

ABBESS:  You cannot be serious,

Samael.  She is nothing of

value to us.

SAMAEL:  She is the key to

recovering what I have in mind.

And I suspect a rival in the

disappearance of the 

Shadow's Heart.

ABBESS:  Perhaps she will feel 

compelled to also hunt down

your enemies for you and

restore the Shadow's Heart to you.

SAMAEL:  One can only hope.

ABBESS:  If she finds the 

Shadow's Heart first it will

never be returned to you.

SAMAEL:  You are mistaken.

It shall be returned upon the

day that she comes for me.

ABBESS:  You seem certain that

she will be unable to slay you if 

she comes.

SAMAEL:  I am only certain of

what I have said.  And that is

that she will come.  Now go,

Abbess.  And put what I 

have said into motion.

She bows and slowly leaves.

Aboard the bounty hunters' shuttle the big headed alien begins to drift into unconsciousness while sitting up.  Aaron leaps to his feet, which prompts a shout from the other bounty hunter and Tulia looks back with an annoyed shout.

TULIA:  What!?!

Aaron steadies the concussed alien and
lets the bounty hunter who shouted take
hold of him before rushing up to the cockpit.

TULIA:  What are you doing up here?

Aaron removes a plug-in card from a sleeve pocket.

AARON:  Divert course here.

 I know someone who can help.

She takes it and holds it back up at him.

TULIA:  Why?

AARON: You got two back there

who aren't going to make it unless

I do something to help.

What's the matter?

I thought you didn't want

to talk about this.

And with a smile Aaron returns to his seat. 
Tulia mulls the device around in her hand
and then reaches over to pass it off to Rune.

TULIA:  Here.  Follow this.

Rune promptly plugs it in without another word or glance back.
And Tulia is left to stare blankly out the window to think
over the possible consequences of the decision she just made.








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