Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“The Pilot,” Part 4
INTRODUCTION
HOST
Welcome to Jabberwocky Audio Theater.
RATING ANNOUNCER
The following audio theater is rated AD-PG, so parental guidance is suggested.
ANNOUNCERLAND
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
ANNOUNCER
In a distant time, in a far-off star system, a spaceship crew fights to stay alive.
(BEAT)
Will their respite on an asteroid give them time to repair their ship, or will the mercenaries find them first?
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “The Pilot,” part four.
TYGER SICK BAY
(MEDICAL SCANNER MONITORING GRAINNE IS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND)
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR OPENING.
ENLING
Well Aidan, squared away with your new quarters?
AIDAN
I guess, Enling. It’s kind of hard to, y’know, adjust to a new life aboard a ship when you’re being hunted by I don’t even know who. Space pirates? Mercenaries?
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR CLOSING.
ENLING
Think of it as good on-the-job training. I don’t know if the captain said anything, but we’re here thanks to some fancy flying from our new mechanic.
AIDAN
So it’s this from now on? I woke up this morning without anyone trying to kill me. It’s kind of new for me, y’know. I mean, is that what you expect every day?
ENLING
Oh, I’m not planning to die anytime soon, but I am here for the adventure. And you get plenty of that. First though, you need a little of this.
AIDAN
Is this that cow stuff the captain was talking about?
ENLING
Kaoliang, yes. Gon Bei!
AIDAN
Skol!
SOUND: GLASSES CLINK
(SOUND OF TWO DOWNED SHOTS)
AIDAN
(REACTS)
Whoa. So is another one of your lessons to be learned?
ENLING
If you mean adjusting to new experiences, yes.
SOUND: POURING OF ANOTHER GLASS
ENLING
The captain wouldn’t have picked you unless he had some purpose for you in mind.
(SOUND OF DOWNED SHOT)
AIDAN
Well he picked me in all of two nanoseconds, so I guess he must have a pretty definite plan for me.
ENLING
Hmph.
(BEAT)
Another?
AIDAN
I’m pacing myself.
SOUND: POURING OF ANOTHER GLASS
ENLING
If you want to be Grainne’s protege, you’ll need to do better. This is one of the few times she’s on the table and I’ve never seen her under it.
AIDAN
She looks so peaceful. Is she all right?
ENLING
All her vitals are fine. Her brain activity is, well, it’s not bad. It’s sorting some stuff out. Don’t you try dealing with a shock like that. You’re only human. At least I’m assuming.
AIDAN
As far as I know, yes.
ENLING
Saluvians aren’t known for their genetic diversity.
AIDAN
My mom’s from here, from Haapsalu. I don’t know where my dad came from.
ENLING
And he left when you were how old?
AIDAN
How —?
(BEAT)
You enjoy reading people, don’t you?
ENLING
Another reason I’m out here.
(PAUSE)
I’m happy to sequence your DNA after we’re through all this.
AIDAN
And what would that do?
ENLING
Tell you where your dad came from.
AIDAN
But you already know that’s not my question. I want to know where he went.
ENLING
And you know that’s a clue.
(BEAT)
AIDAN
Maybe.
(WE HEAR HIM TAKE A SHOT)
AIDAN
Thanks. I’d like — well, I’ve never had my DNA sequenced.
ENLING
(JOKES)
Tested though I hope.
AIDAN
Well, yeah. But you’re talking about — I mean, what you’re talking about is a lot of monits, right?
ENLING
Right. So after we shake the stone-cold Nokari killers, it’s a date.
SOUND: MEDICAL SCANNER PACE QUICKENS
AIDAN
What’s happening?
ENLING
Hold this.
SOUND: GLASSES CLINK
AIDAN
Is she okay?
ENLING
Pulse is up. Breathing is quicker.
GRAINNE
(GASPS)
AIDAN
She’s awake!
ENLING
Unless you’re going to be my nurse, stay there and shush.
SOUND: BODY BOLTS UP
GRAINNE
(URGENT)
Kron!
ENLING
Grainne?
GRAINNE
(MORE URGENT)
Kron 2-15!
SOUND: BODY COLLAPSES
SOUND: MEDICAL SCANNER GOES NUTZOID
ENLING
Green cabinet behind you. Third shelf. Blue vials.
SOUND: CABINET SLIDES OPEN, SMALL GLASS SOUNDS
AIDAN
Here.
(BEAT)
What’s —?
ENLING
(GENTLY)
Shush.
(DETACHED)
You’re my nurse now, Vosky, but I still need to work through this.
(BEAT)
There we go. Help me out here, Grainne. Don’t tell me you’ve been healing just for that shout-out. Come on. Your replacement’s not up to speed yet.
SOUND: MEDICAL SCANNER SLOWS DOWN
ENLING
(SIGH OF RELIEF)
Okay. Shush ordinance lifted.
AIDAN
Is she —?
ENLING
Grainne’s back to her mysteriously healing self — and as far as I know, she’s doing fine. As I said, her brain is working some things out. We can ask her about that little outburst when she’s awake for more than a minute.
AIDAN
Her skin wasn’t that dark purple before.
ENLING
True, it’ll probably turn a nice deep blue before the hour’s out. She’s fine. Just be thankful I have that protective cap on her noggin.
AIDAN
Uh, why?
ENLING
Remember those stingers?
AIDAN
Yeah?
ENLING
They’re spraying a nasty little mist right about now.
SOUND: POURING OF ANOTHER GLASS
AIDAN
I think it’s time for more new experience fortification.
ENLING
Now you’re getting the hang of things.
(MUSICAL TRANSITION)
ASTEROID CRATER
(ALL OF REG’S AND TORMAR’S DIALOGUE IS FILTERED AS IN SPACESUITS)
REG MACORUM
What do you think, Tormar? I think that’s about as good as we’re going to get in these conditions.
TORMAR
I still would have preferred a test, Captain.
REG MACORUM
We’ll get a couple of test targets soon enough Tormar.
TORMAR
I understand the need for bravado, Captain and I am confident that those tests will be beneficial. However, my point about a proper test remains.
REG MACORUM
If I gave you your test, our Nokari flyboys would be on us faster than you deal cards.
(BEAT)
I understand too old friend. I know you won’t let us down.
TORMAR
I am gratified by that knowledge.
SOUND: COMM HAIL
REG MACORUM
Enling. What’s the word?
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Peachy captain. Grainne appears to be making a full recovery, so I hope we have a ship for her to pilot when she comes to.
REG MACORUM
Tormar and I are working on that. Is Vosky with you?
AIDAN
(INTERCOM – DISTANT)
Here, Captain Macorum.
REG MACORUM
Well, I suppose that’s good. At the same time, the bridge isn’t going to clean itself. And then there’s the pre-flight checklist which I could do, but we’ve still got a few more-
AIDAN
(INTERCOM – DISTANT)
I’m going.
(WE HEAR THE BULKHEAD DOOR CLOSE DISTANTLY)
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Okay, Reg, enough. Aidan was on the way to the bridge when you called. You’re really trying to drive a sense of duty into the poor lad.
REG MACORUM
Oh, he’s already got that without my help. Even money he’s a military brat.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Really? We were talking about his family.
REG MACORUM
Do tell.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Perhaps when you tell me your little secret.
REG MACORUM
Which one?
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
You’re so not fair.
REG MACORUM
You don’t win by being fair, doctor.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Just wait ’til the next poker match and we’ll see about winning.
SOUND: COMM HAIL
TORMAR
I will be ready, Doctor.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
I’ll bet.
TORMAR
I am also ready for phase two of the operation, Captain.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Phase two? You all aren’t done out there?
REG MACORUM
No, we still have another surprise for our Nokari friends.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Uh-huh. And this surprise would be…?
REG MACORUM
Let’s just say the Tyger will be laying an egg.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Another secret?
REG MACORUM
Of course.
(MUSICAL TRANSITION)
TYGER BRIDGE
(SOUNDS OF REPAIR OR OTHER ACTIVITY)
SOUND: AIRLOCK OPENS
AIDAN
Captain! Everything set outside?
SOUND: AIRLOCK CLOSES
REG MACORUM
More to the point, is everything set here? We ready for takeoff?
AIDAN
Almost. Since we’re stationary, I took the liberty of patching up the bridge controls a bit better. And I took a look at the nav charts. Do you visit Haapsalu a lot or is Grainne always this thorough?
REG MACORUM
A little of both. I checked in on Grainne. She looks like she’ll pull through, but I’m going to have to ask you spell her as pilot a little while longer.
AIDAN
I expected that. What’s the plan?
REG MACORUM
It’s evolving. Tormar seeded a few passive sensor buoys right before we landed and it looks like our friends will be on us in about 10 minutes without our help. First part of the plan is we help them find us sooner.
AIDAN
Excuse me?
REG MACORUM
As soon as I’ve checked out these controls here, I’m going to send out a sensor pulse.
AIDAN
Go active!? Are you —?
(BEAT)
I mean, what will that do?
REG MACORUM
Get their attention on our terms. At that point, I want you to use thrusters enough to get us out of the crevasse, but not enough to lose the gravity of this rock, got it?
AIDAN
Uh, yeah.
(BEAT)
You’re planning a feint or diversion or something?
REG MACORUM
Essentially. I figured you’d look over the nav charts. Ready for some improvising?
AIDAN
Ready as I’ll ever be.
SOUND: COMPUTER RESTART
REG MACORUM
Okay.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
SOUND: ALERT SOUND
REG MACORUM
Tormar, the board’s showing green here, are you ready?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Yes, captain.
SOUND: ALERT SOUND
REG MACORUM
Enling, are you and Grainne squared away down there?
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Very thoughtful of you captain. Yes.
(BEAT)
Just remember there’s only one operating table down here and it’s already taken.
REG MACORUM
So noted.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Okay, Vosky, standby on thrusters.
AIDAN
Standing by.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
SOUND: SENSOR PING
REG MACORUM
And on my mark in three… two… one… Mark!
SOUND: ENGINE THRUST
SOUND: MANUEVERING THRUSTERS
REG MACORUM
Easy does it. Stay with the rock, keep with its swing.
AIDAN
Got it, do we know what vector they’re coming in on yet?
SOUND: SENSOR PING
REG MACORUM
Oh, we’ll know soon.
SOUND: HAIL SOUND
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
The passive buoys detect both ships coming at us quickly.
REG MACORUM
That confirms what I see with the active echo. They’re ready for business, huh?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
They do appear determined and without regard for the asteroids.
AIDAN
Y’know, if you want me to improvise an escape route, I need to know where to go. I’m not getting all the nav information you all are, Captain.
REG MACORUM
They’re coming in at One Nine Two by One Seven Eight. Stay cool.
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Captain! They have detected the passive buoys and are disposing of them.
REG MACORUM
Understood Tormar. Did any survive?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
I must check.
REG MACORUM
Vosky: escape course plotted?
AIDAN
I think so. Are they coming together or are they in formation to trap us?
REG MACORUM
I’m hoping together. We need them more eager than smart.
TORMAR
Captain, I have data from the last buoy. The ships are splitting up and approaching the asteroid on two different vectors.
REG MACORUM
Cutting off the best avenues for escape
AIDAN
Captain?
REG MACORUM
Bad news, Vosky — they’re smart.
(CLIFFHANGER MUSIC PLAYS)
ANNOUNCERLAND
(THEME MUSIC BEGINS)
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode four: “The Pilot,” 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 Yasmin Tuazon, Nick DePinto, Erin Goldstein, Brooks Tegler, and Phil Amico.
(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 awesome cast and crew and other intriguing details.
(BEAT)
This is William R. Coughlan, reminding you to join us next time for more Rogue Tyger.
(THEME MUSIC ENDS)
CONCLUSION
HOST
Hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Text © Bjorn Munson, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.