GATEWAY INN – NIGHT

(AMBIENT SHIFTS TO INDOOR BAR SOUNDS)

REG MACORUM
Hello Vic, I see this seat is open. You don’t mind if we join you, do you?

VIC RATHA
I wouldn’t believe it if I wasn’t seeing it my own self. Reg Macorum. Still a captain of something I trust?

REG MACORUM
I am, and you’re still the man who knows how to get things on Flatrock, aren’t you?

VIC RATHA
Trinkets and treasures for pleasure or pain, same as always. What are we in the market for?

REG MACORUM
Answers. You’re saying you didn’t know I was in Flatrock?

VIC RATHA
I’m saying you last left here looking like a man with nary a thought of returning.

REG MACORUM
Is that so? You happy about that?

VIC RATHA
I’m naturally full of sunshine, Reg. Didn’t want to see you go, but you kept some rough company.

REG MACORUM
Those days are behind me.

VIC RATHA
If only I could say the same of the dear Zenocrate Cartel.

REG MACORUM
They’re back?

VIC RATHA
I hear things. You know, there are better things to do than sit there and stew, captain. Why don’t you order something? At least give the pretense of having a good time.

AIDAN
But it was his voice on the —

REG MACORUM
I said quiet.

VIC RATHA
What’s your redback babbling on about? Nice threads by the way.

AIDAN
What’s a redback?

REG MACORUM
What you’ll be in a second.

VIC RATHA
Now hang on chaps. Are you thinking that I’m involved in something untoward?

REG MACORUM
Aren’t you always?

VIC RATHA
That’s a matter of lowly debate which I don’t care to dignify with a response.

REG MACORUM
Don’t play with me Vic, this isn’t a can opener underneath the table.

VIC RATHA
Hey, Reg, I’m on the up and up. No need for firearms. What’s the question?

REG MACORUM
Did you give me up to Zenocrate?

VIC RATHA
The Zenos? Reg, dear Reg, I told you before. I steer clear of them. The only reason I had dealings with those yobbos was because I like working with you.
(BEAT)
You know, if you’re truly independent now, I have a line on a number of very lucrative ventures. Very lucrative. You can almost hear the cha-ching of copious monits.

REG MACORUM
(CHUCKLES)
You never stop do you?

VIC RATHA
There’s always an angle to be worked. Way I stay in business, which is, by the by, why I’m here in the office. Catching up on old times is fun and all, but what’s the business Reg? What’s your angle?

REG MACORUM
You were supposed to meet us in the Kolkiss District a couple hours ago, but you had to call it off.

VIC RATHA
I was supposed to—?
(TO AIDAN)
My voice you said.

AIDAN
It’s very distinctive, uh, Mr. Ratha.

VIC RATHA
Call me Vic.
(TO REG)
So what you’re telling me is someone fixed for me to take the fall?

REG MACORUM
Maybe…

VIC RATHA
What?

REG MACORUM
I’m just savoring the moment Vic Ratha is the man looking for answers.

VIC RATHA
Fine. Play it that way.
(SNAPS FINGERS)
Mel! A pair of libations for these fine gentlemen.

SOUND: GLASSES SET DOWN

AIDAN
Um, is this supposed to be greenish-brown?

VIC RATHA
It’s from an excellent month.
(PAUSE)
So, you see Captain Macorum, I can do custom and practice even if you will not. So what do you have for me?

REG MACORUM
(SIPS DRINK)
Good month. Much obliged, Vic.
(BEAT)
What I have is burnt cargo, a slightly singed crewman, and an enemy sophisticated enough to use you as a fall guy. Voice and video duplication like what I saw doesn’t come cheap.

VIC RATHA
I see. You’re the boys who burned up the warehouse that’s been in the newsfeeds.

REG MACORUM
We’re the people who were supposed to burn up in the warehouse.

VIC RATHA
So the question becomes whether our mutual friend wanted you — with me as a bonus — or me with you as the added extra.

REG MACORUM
You know the players here better than I do, Vic.

VIC RATHA
But you haven’t told me about all the starting players. Who was the cargo for?

REG MACORUM
Moran.

VIC RATHA
Ha! He won’t be happy.

REG MACORUM
No, I’m hoping now you might be able to help with that.

VIC RATHA
Really? I’m the one buying you drinks and now you want me to make good on your deliveries?

REG MACORUM
We can talk details, but if you settle with Moran, I can eliminate our mutual friend.

VIC RATHA
That’s almost a good trade, Reg. Still, you haven’t given me all the players. You can’t have been dealing with me this whole time, or am I giving you too much credit for spotting a fake?

REG MACORUM
You were switched in at the last moment… by your boss, Louie Hardin.

VIC RATHA
(SPITS)
Pfft! Lucky Louie!? My boss!?

REG MACORUM
I felt he was stretching facts in his favor. Still, a lot can happen in a year.

VIC RATHA
Hardin was always a dreamer, Reg. You know that. He thought he could take over all the business you and the Zenos let go here. No good talking if you’re not also dealing. And he couldn’t deal.

REG MACORUM
So who got most of the business?

VIC RATHA
Me of course. Well, rather, many an independent captain and merchant — not unlike yourself — has availed themselves of my skills and not inconsiderable connections.

REG MACORUM
Woah, Vic let’s talk about future prospects after we deal with the people trying to kill us.

VIC RATHA
Just reminding. Anyway, Lucky Louie was proving his namesake again. For the past six months, he’s been doing very well for himself. He’s tried to do more work with me. Now, I’m thinking he had in mind to doublecross you and hang it on me.

REG MACORUM
Unlikely for two reasons.

VIC RATHA
Do tell.

REG MACORUM
Number one: murdering people isn’t his style.

VIC RATHA
More the Zenos or you, I admit. Louie’s a gentleman… or tries to be. Much like your friend here.

AIDAN
Um…

REG MACORUM
Number two: he’s dead.

VIC RATHA
Oh, now this is news. I haven’t gotten wind of this.

REG MACORUM
Booby trap in his safehouse. I spoke with him right when we got into port this afternoon. So…

VIC RATHA
Well, one mystery is solved then.

REG MACORUM
You know who’s behind this?

VIC RATHA
Oh, I simply meant where your friend got his suit. I thought it fit badly. Hardin’s spare isn’t it? All his suits were the same you see.

AIDAN
You work with what you have.

VIC RATHA
Indeed. I know of a tailor that will make it work better.

AIDAN
It’s temporary.

REG MACORUM
All right Vic, enough with the sartorial advice. You’ve figured something out, I can tell.

VIC RATHA
Your blaster’s still pointing at my belly, isn’t it?

REG MACORUM
The safety’s on. For now.

VIC RATHA
You know, one thing I can say for when you were mates with the Zenos is that you seemed to enjoy yourself more. You need to find that again.

REG MACORUM
Perhaps I will when I find who’s been trying to do us in.

VIC RATHA
Ah, but my dear Captain Macorum, you already know. It’s the Zenos, the dear old Zenocrate Cartel: the very people you accused me of aiding and abetting at the beginning of our conversation.

REG MACORUM
I wanted to explore the different angles.

VIC RATHA
Of course, but it all fits: the traps, the technical expertise… Setting me up is the sort of elegant underhanded move I would expect of your people.

REG MACORUM
They’re not mine anymore.

VIC RATHA
But you’ll handle them, won’t you? You do that, I will make sure Moran forgets all about your missing cargo. In fact, I might make him hire you for another gig.

REG MACORUM
You give me that missing puzzle piece your eyes are glinting about and it’s a deal.

VIC RATHA
Oh, you’re good. Never play poker with this one, son.

REG MACORUM
The puzzle piece.

VIC RATHA
That would be our final player, one Icarus Crane.

REG MACORUM
Crane? Haven’t heard of him. New with Zenocrate?

VIC RATHA
The late Mr. Hardin’s business partner. Very much alike. He’s the same dreamer that Hardin was, but with a ruthless streak. Sure as not he’s the connection to your dear Zenos.

REG MACORUM
He’s working with them, you mean?

VIC RATHA
Either working with them or was worked over by them. That’s the part I don’t know. But I’m sure you’ll sort it all out.

REG MACORUM
So where do we find him?

VIC RATHA
Ah, see that’s where dear Mr. Crane is so clearly the key. I’m sure I’m not supposed to know this, but here’s the spin: He was checking for ship departures earlier this morning and apparently none soon enough, so I hear he then looked for some supplies to go walkabout.

REG MACORUM
Supplies? You mean for the Two-Forty?

VIC RATHA
I’m a simple city dweller, but the Two-Forty is a beautiful jewel of Flatrock to get lost in.

REG MACORUM
All right, Vosky, it looks like we’re going on a walk in the woods.

AIDAN
I’m not following all of this.

REG MACORUM
Our man Crane has gone into the local nature preserve to hide.

VIC RATHA
But your dear captain knows the Zenocrate Cartel — and your man Crane could just be hidden out there. Permanently.

MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE