Tulia comes into the cockpit and takes a seat
at the side control station behind Aaron.
TULIA: I don't remember agreeing to this.
What do you think you're doing, Aaron?
AARON: I'm not getting blindsided by one
more surprise. We go on the offense.
TULIA: We're not going after your angel?
AARON: This ship is part of it! What more do you need?
Our friends were nearly just killed by the proof!
TULIA: Which you jettisoned into
space before we could study it.
AARON: And I should have sent
that little tin can along with it.
Sad tone.
They both turn to Safe.
AARON: I don't know what got into you-
I don't even really know where you're from.
I was sure you were on our side up to this point.
But if you pull a stunt like that on your own again you're off!
Safe pivots sharply to end up on one leg
and speeds away with a squeal. It slams into
a wall having overshot the turn in the hall and
falls flat on its back. Tulia goes to pick it up.
TULIA: You're ok.
The machine warbles in fear and
rolls out of sight.
TULIA: It fixes things.
Safe didn't know any better.
Aaron doesn't answer.
TULIA: You're going to hold a grudge?
AARON: He knows things.
TULIA: He?
AARON: Do you think it's a she?
TULIA: No. He, will do fine.
She takes a moment of silence at this confession
and studies Aaron's fixed expression reflected
in the wind screen as he stares out into space.
TULIA: We finally have the time. It might have
helped to study that crazy machine.
AARON: It could have been playing dead.
Or Safe could have fixed it again.
Distant rude beep.
TULIA: We can't go the meet.
I probably have a concussion.
AARON: Who doesn't at this point?
TULIA: And guarding Nick is a full-time job.
But I can't trust you to be left alone up here.
AARON: Well I wish I could tell you who to trust.
We seem to be in short supply.
TULIA: We need to rest up.
We can't go the meet like this.
And you can't go alone.
AARON: You heard him.
I'm some kind of superman now.
TULIA: You're going to believe him?
I still think those are his friends waiting
for us out there. And what does that make
this angel? Who's to say your damsel will
be in a gracious mood if we all set her free?
AARON: That isn't the question. Look at everything that
has happened in the short time since we met. Are you ready to
live the rest of your life on the run, looking over your shoulder?
TULIA: Is that supposed to be some change of pace?
AARON: You've never had these eyes take an
interest in you before. We take the fight to them.
Up to now everyone has been one step ahead of us.
But it's about time we claw our way to the front.
I want to win at this galactic game of hide and seek.
The Shadow's Heart drifts near a lone asteroid. There is a single rectangular installation protruding from the face of the rocky surface, which serves as the garage for small craft.
TULIA: I really don't remember agreeing to this.
AARON: You said that already.
TULIA: That code you used on Safe.
AARON: What about it?
TULIA: You used to be deep.
AARON: I thought I was.
TULIA: So this is a personal grudge.
Just not with Safe. Or us, for that matter.
AARON: I thought it was all gone, went the way of the Empire.
This is something else. And until I understand it we'll never be
safe from it. If all we do is run they'll catch up to us.
You heard Ellan. There's no time left.
TULIA: She was just trying to save her own skin.
AARON: Yeah. But from what?
The ship drifts into an open hanger. Aaron feels the controls trying to move without him and eventually eases off his hands to see the levers moving on their own. The Shadow's Heart turns sideways and glides to rest. Aaron powers down.
AARON: Did you see that?
TULIA: Did you have it on autopilot?
AARON: No.
TULIA: I still say we forget the whole thing.
AARON: Charge up. Just in case.
TULIA: You kidding? From now on I'm putting
in a fresh cartridge every time we leave this ship.
AARON: Next it will be every other room.
TULIA: Exactly.
Aaron and Tulia leave the cockpit
and pause at the infirmary.
TULIA: Esben, Valory, you both stay here
and watch Rune and Nick. Ross and Sweets with us.
ROSS: Where are we?
AARON: Would you believe the place
where angels fear to tread?
SWEETS: You didn't stop him?
VALORY: You knew where he was headed.
TULIA: He talked me into it. Let's go.
The four of them seal the cargo hold behind them and train their weapons on the loading ramp as it is opened. Aaron is the first down, scans around and waves for the others to follow. They take up a similar breaching style at the interior door of the installation, but find no security measures preventing them from entering.
Leaving the hanger bay sealed behind them, there are two directions that they can go. So Ross and Sweets disappear up one hallway and Aaron and Tulia go another. Shortly, they return to one another at the hanger bay door having encountered no security.
ROSS: Now what?
Aaron thinks a moment.
AARON: Do you feel that?
TULIA: Feel what?
AARON: Not you, Ross.
Ross, do you feel that?
ROSS: What?
AARON: Is your chest warmer, heart faster?
ROSS: I thought it was
just breaching the station.
AARON: I don't think so.
SWEETS: So?
AARON: I might be new at this, but I think
Ross and I have a compass to where she's
being kept.
TULIA: Lead the way.
With every true step toward their goal Aaron and Ross's chests became tighter and tighter. In short order they failed to conceal their difficulty and labored to breathe. Ross leaned against a wall and Aaron stumbled. Tulia knelt down to leverage him up while Sweets took point.
TULIA: Alright, we're done.
AARON: Not yet.
TULIA: You can't walk.
AARON: I can... I can.
It's just... it's getting easier.
ROSS: It is. We just need a minute.
AARON: We don't have a minute.
Someone catches us cold like this we're done.
Ross pushes himself off the wall and bends
down to help Tulia hoist Aaron. She lets go
and they both march forward holding each other up.
TULIA: You're both crazy.
Ross and Aaron come to a door that leaves them cradling their heads. Ross leans Aaron on the right side of the door and reclines himself on the left. Both take a moment and rest their arms, but pointing their weapons at the door.
TULIA: This is it?
Aaron nods frantically and immediately winces.
ROSS: It better be.
Sweets and Tulia stand to each side of the door and Aaron slams the button to open it. The doors open and they are met with the barrel end of half-a-dozen rifles holding them dead to rights.
TULIA: What was that about
not wanting to get blindsided?
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