Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“Lost and Found,” Part 4
INTRODUCTION
HOST
Welcome to Jabberwocky Audio Theater.
RATING ANNOUNCER
The following audio theater is rated AD-G for general audiences.
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
In the distant reaches of space, a lone ship plunges deep into the unknown. Her crew?
REG MACORUM
Reg Macorum, ship’s captain.
GRAINNE
Grainne Kochowa, pilot.
ENLING
Shen Enling, ship’s doctor.
TORMAR
Tormar, engineer.
AIDAN
Aidan Vosky, mechanic.
ANNOUNCER
On a rescue mission to a far-off moon, is the crew too late?
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “Lost and Found,” part four.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
TYGER BRIDGE
T-651
Since the possibility of dangerous fauna exists, I suggest an immediate descent, Captain.
REG MACORUM
We understand time is of the essence, Six-five-one. Grainne?
GRAINNE
Beginning our approach now. Enling, you may want to strap into the jumper seat.
ENLING
How fast were you planning to descend?
GRAINNE
Nothing like that. Only I noticed we’re going to pass through a storm system on the way down.
SOUND: SEATBELT CLICK
REG MACORUM
Pilot’s orders, doctor.
ENLING
I’m not the one with a deathwish, remember?
SOUND: SEATBELT CLICK
REG MACORUM
Considering how you pilot the skimmer, I’m not so sure.
ENLING
Grainne, Six-five-one, ignore him.
GRAINNE
Of course. Six-five-one, I assume you will be all right during the descent.
SOUND: MAGNETIC CLAMP
T-651
You assume correctly. I have magnetized my feet to the floor plating.
ENLING
Handy trick.
SOUND: ALERT SOUND
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
GRAINNE
Tormar, Aidan. We’re about to make planetfall. Please get yourself secured.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Understood, Pilot Kochowa.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
GRAINNE
All right, beginning the descent now.
SOUND: MANEUVERING THRUST
(BEGIN DESCENT AMBIANCE)
SOUND: RATTLE
REG MACORUM
That’s a pretty impressive-looking storm.
SOUND: RATTLE
SOUND: DISTANT THUNDER
ENLING
If by “impressive” you mean scary, I tend to agree.
SOUND: RATTLE
SOUND: DISTANT THUNDER
SOUND: DISTANT LIGHTNING STRIKE
GRAINNE
It does seem unusually violent.
REG MACORUM
Did the survey mention anything about storms, Six-five-one?
T-651
It noted the presence of water and precipitation, but nothing abnormal.
SOUND: THUNDER
SOUND: RATTLE
SOUND: DISTANT LIGHTNING STRIKE
ENLING
I’m beginning to wonder about how thorough this survey was.
SOUND: THUNDER
SOUND: RATTLE
SOUND: LIGHTNING STRIKE
SOUND: ENGINES POWERING DOWN
(END TYGER BRIDGE AMBIANCE)
ENLING
That didn’t sound good.
T-651
The ship’s engines have failed.
GRAINNE
They didn’t just fail. It’s the storm.
REG MACORUM
Auxiliary power?
GRAINNE
Nothing.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Tormar —
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
(QUIETLY)
Well… damn.
SOUND: RATTLE
ENLING
I thought we were shielded from this sort of thing.
GRAINNE
Normally, yes.
T-651
The probability of a storm system —
REG MACORUM
I would appreciate you holding off on probabilities Six-five-one.
(BEAT)
Grainne, what kind of landing can we manage?
SOUND: RATTLE
GRAINNE
If we can clear this storm, we might manage a controlled crash.
REG MACORUM
We’ll overshoot their crash site by several leagues.
ENLING
We can still get to them in the skimmer, assuming we’re still in one piece.
GRAINNE
Have faith, Enling.
ENLING
Can you give me something more concrete?
GRAINNE
I can’t show you the map with the power out, but they crashed near a semi-arid region. There should be plenty of sandy plains to land on.
ENLING
Assuming we don’t overshoot into some of the jungle we saw.
REG MACORUM
Think positive, doctor.
T-651
I would concur.
ENLING
Fine. Any way we can let Aidan or Tormar know any of this?
SOUND: RATTLE
REG MACORUM
Does your concern outweighs the chances you’ll break a bone in getting to them?
ENLING
Now who’s positive?
(BEAT)
Point taken. Tormar will be fine, but how do you think Aidan is handling all of this?
REG MACORUM
It’ll build character.
GRAINNE
All right everyone, hang tight. We’re making the final approach.
SOUND: AIRPLANE DESCENT SOUND
SOUND: NOT QUITE AN EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOM SO MUCH AS EXTENDED CRASH NOISES THAT SOUND EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE
TYGER CARGO HOLD
(SOME OUTSIDE JUNGLE AMBIANCE)
SOUND: BIRDS CHIRP
AIDAN
(GROANS)
Ohhh…
SOUND: METALLIC CLANG
AIDAN
Finally!
TORMAR
Mechanic Vosky, is the steering column secure?
AIDAN
Yes, Tormar, I checked it twice.
TORMAR
Did you test it with power?
AIDAN
Yes.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
TORMAR
Hmph. You may wish to test it again.
ENLING
Hey, Tormar, I think the Captain wanted to talk to you about when the engines would be working again.
TORMAR
I already spoke with him on this matter.
ENLING
He’s in the main corridor.
TORMAR
Hmph. Make sure power is going to the steering column, Mechanic Vosky.
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR CLOSING (DISTANT)
AIDAN
Thank you.
ENLING
Don’t mention it. You doing okay?
AIDAN
You mean the crash? Yeah, if all crashes were as smooth as that, I think I could get used to them.
ENLING
Just make sure Grainne’s piloting whatever ship you’re in.
(BEAT)
I was thinking on the way down, when we lost communications.
AIDAN
I admit that wasn’t fun, but Tormar was very vocal that we would be okay — and if not, how I might make peace with my gods.
ENLING
Ha! That means he likes you.
AIDAN
Likes me?
ENLING
Finds you valuable.
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR OPENING (DISTANT)
REG MACORUM
(FAR SIDE OF ROOM)
There’s enough coolant on board, Tormar.
TORMAR
(FAR SIDE OF ROOM)
We can always use additional supplies.
REG MACORUM
(FAR SIDE OF ROOM)
If we have time. I don’t have a good feeling about this moon or this mission.
(TO AIDAN)
Vosky! Is the skimmer ready to go?
AIDAN
I’ve been working on her since we touched down, captain. She’s ready.
ENLING
She, huh?
AIDAN
Well…
REG MACORUM
Well come on Vosky, go get Six-five-one so we can get this rescue under way.
SOUND: WRENCH DROP
SOUND: FEET JUMP DOWN
AIDAN
Be right back.
REG MACORUM
Tormar, get started on replacing the coolant, would you? I’ll join you in the engine room in a moment.
TORMAR
(FAR SIDE OF ROOM)
Yes captain.
(BEAT)
Be sure to test the steering column, doctor.
ENLING
Something tells me you have some extra wisdom to impart.
REG MACORUM
Don’t be smart Enling. I know you don’t feel any better about this than I do.
ENLING
I’d feel better if you were coming along. Hell, even having Tormar would probably be good.
REG MACORUM
You know how many repairs we still need to make. It’s not any easier since you all lost that crate of spare hull plating.
ENLING
Hey! That was Tormar or Aidan and neither one has fessed up to it.
REG MACORUM
Well, after the engines we need to be all the more sure there aren’t any micro-fractures in the hull. In the meantime —
ENLING
In the meantime, Six-five-one won’t want to wait.
REG MACORUM
That’s who I wanted to talk to you about.
ENLING
So what? We need to watch our backs? I thought we made everything safe and robot-legal. Besides which, robots have been programmed with safeguards against harming sentients since —
REG MACORUM
Since the Border Wars. Since the great houses had to dismantle their robot armies.
ENLING
Wait a minute. You mean…? Tormar said it looked like an older model, so you think—?
REG MACORUM
I don’t think, I know. That’s what I want to tell you Enling: I’ve seen this model before. I’ve seen what it can do.
ENLING
But, it would have to have been re-programmed.
REG MACORUM
Great houses like to make their own rules.
(BEAT)
No, I wouldn’t put you or Aidan in harm’s way if I thought it would double-cross us. But even if we’re allies now, we’re still pawns. So what I’m saying is:
AIDAN
(FAR SIDE OF ROOM)
Hey, I have Six-five-one, we’re ready to go!
REG MACORUM
(QUIETER)
Watch your back.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
SKIMMER OVER DESERT
(SKIMMER SPEEDING AMBIANCE)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
AIDAN
Hey Enling.
ENLING
Yeah?
AIDAN
You okay?
ENLING
What do you mean?
AIDAN
I, uh, don’t think I’ve seen you this quiet before. Did the captain say something to you?
ENLING
We were talking about how dangerous this mission has turned out to be. I hope your blaster’s fully charged.
AIDAN
Oh yeah, I —
(LOOKS THROUGH BAG)
Wait, I-
(BEAT)
Oh, come on!
ENLING
What?
AIDAN
I, uh, don’t have a blaster.
ENLING
What!?
T-651
That is not advisable, Aidan Vosky.
AIDAN
I know that!
ENLING
He has a point.
T-651
While it is not definite, there is a significant probability we will need to be armed.
AIDAN
Look, I meant to pack a blaster. I was busy with prepping the skimmer and every time I thought I was finished, Tormar found something else to work on. He had me check that steering column, like, six times.
ENLING
“She” is handling well, thank you.
AIDAN
(MUTTERS)
You’re welcome.
(BEAT)
Hey, you don’t happen to have an extra —
ENLING
No.
AIDAN
Six-five-one?
T-651
I am not allowed to carry firearms.
ENLING
Well, you can carry my extra med satchel. It looks like we’ve found the wreck.
MUSIC: SUSPENSEFUL CUE FADE IN
(SPEEDING SKIMMER AMBIENT CHANGES TO HOVER AMBIENT)
AIDAN
Wow, they definitely didn’t have as smooth a landing as we did.
ENLING
Well, it looks like they struck some of those mesas before ending up here. That can’t have been good for that shuttle or the diplomats.
T-651
The shuttle design is very sturdy. Please circle the wreck, Doctor Shen.
ENLING
Already on it.
(CHANGE IN PITCH ON SKIMMER AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SUSPENSEFUL CUE FADE OUT
T-651
The external damage is substantial, but I estimate a 76% probability that all the diplomats have survived.
ENLING
I’d feel better if I saw some hands waving up at us.
AIDAN
I still don’t understand why they haven’t made contact. Don’t they have an emergency transponder?
T-651
They were instructed to be silent to avoid detection. A rescue ship was to signal them from orbit as we have done.
AIDAN
Yeah, well when we signaled them, why didn’t they signal back?
T-651
That was unexpected.
ENLING
Well here’s another unexpected thing: tell me, Six-five-one, isn’t that a fresh grave?
MUSIC: SUSPENSEFUL CUE TWO FADE IN
T-651
Yes. Please descend immediately.
AIDAN
There aren’t any of those mysterious beasties nearby, are there?
ENLING
Checking… No. They’re a couple leagues off.
AIDAN
As long as they stay there.
T-651
We can detach the scanner from the steering column so you can track them, Aidan Vosky.
ENLING
Sounds like a plan. Descending now.
MUSIC: SUSPENSEFUL CUE TWO VAMP UP
CRASH SITE
(OUTDOOR AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SUSPENSEFUL CUE TWO FADE OUT
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON SAND
AIDAN
I guess that rock is the headstone?
ENLING
And by the lettering, it’s one of yours, isn’t it Six-five-one?
T-651
It would appear so, please stand back.
SOUND: GEARS WHIR
SOUND: TOOL PLUNGES INTO EARTH
SOUND: GEARS WHIRR LOUDER
AIDAN
(SOTTO VOCE)
Please tell me you haven’t seen something like that before.
ENLING
(SOTTO VOCE)
No, I didn’t know he could extend his arm like that.
AIDAN
(SOTTO VOCE)
But isn’t he digging down to…?
T-651
I must determine the identity of the body, therefore I must take a DNA sample.
AIDAN
That just doesn’t seem right.
ENLING
I’m just going to assume he has permission to do that sort of thing.
AIDAN
I think I’m going to go over here.
SOUND: METALLIC CLANG (MUFFLED)
ENLING
Get what you needed?
T-651
I must test the sample against my records.
AIDAN
(DISTANT)
Hey Enling! Six-five-one!
SOUND: RAPID FOOTSTEPS ON SAND
ENLING
What is it?
AIDAN
I think it’s another one of our diplomats.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS ON SAND
SOUND: FLIES BUZZING
ENLING
Please tell me you don’t need to sample this one, Six-five-one. Whatever killed him sampled him enough.
T-651
No, doctor. I can tell visually that this is a second member of the crew. I would also say that he died approximately eighteen hours ago, but I will defer to your medical judgement.
ENLING
I doubt time of death matters at this point. Anyway, it looks like he put up a fight. It’s not just his blood.
AIDAN
Yeah, well it didn’t do him much good. His blaster there looks smashed and I don’t see any other bodies around.
ENLING
No human bodies, but based on these charred animal bits and these blood trails, I’d say our diplomat was done in by creatures that fled back to that oasis there in the distance.
AIDAN
Where all the beast signals are coming from?
T-651
Is your assumption is that the “creatures” that did this are the “mysterious beasts” as you call them?
ENLING
Oh, I think we can change the name from mysterious to dangerous right about now.
AIDAN
Not much of a rescue mission, is it?
T-651
There is still one diplomat unaccounted for.
ENLING
You think they’re still hiding in the shuttle?
T-651
Although damaged, it could provide a refuge.
AIDAN
Let’s just hope it’s not a tomb.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode nineteen: “Lost and Found,” part four of five.
(BEAT)
Rogue Tyger is a production of Jabberwocky Audio Theater in association with Arlington Independent Media and was transcribed in Deepest Springfield.
(BEAT)
Tonight’s episode featured the vocal talents of William R. Coughlan, Brooks Tegler, Erin Goldstein, Yasmin Tuazon, Phil Amico, and Nick DePinto.
(BEAT)
Music was composed by John Maestri and arranged by Jason Chmiola, with final sound mixing by William R. Coughlan.
(BEAT)
And the episode was written and directed by Bjorn Munson.
(BEAT)
Visit our website, jabber audio dot com, for full show notes about all our fabulous cast and crew and other intriguing details.
(BEAT)
This is William R. Coughlan, reminding you to join us next time for more Rogue Tyger.
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC ENDS
CONCLUSION
HOST
Hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Text © Bjorn Munson, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.