Episode 14
The Special Agent
Leckie: Lieutenant's Log, Entry 14: The Special Agent.
(door shwoop)
Captain Adam: Well Guest Saffron, since it looks like we’ll be together for a while, let’s get you acquainted with the rest of the crew. ATTENTION!
Saffron: Ooh, I like a man who commands respect.
Captain Adam: Uh.. yes. You’ve already met Detectives Connis and Urswin.
Saffron: And the wonderful Leckie! She helped me connect to your wi-fi so she’s my favorite so far. But don’t worry, you can still catch up if you play your cards right.
Captain Adam: (uncomfortable but recovers) I… This is our engineer, Sergeant Stanistem.
Stanistem: *Grumbles incoherently*
Saffron: Uh, I think my translation spell isn’t working on him.
Captain Adam: Our translation software can’t get through either. It’s just noise really. Sergeant Stanistem prefers to express himself in tone and timbre, rather than forming words and sentences.
Saffron: Hi Stan.
Stanistem: *Angrier incoherent Grumble*
Captain Adam: Here we have our youngest crew member, Cadet Caffree.
Cadet Caffree: (excited) Permission to speak freely, sir?
Captain Adam: Denied.
Saffron: Oh come on, Cap. Let the kid speak.
Captain Adam: That’s not the best idea, Guest Saffron.
Saffron: Permission granted!
Captain Adam: You don’t -
Cadet Caffree: (really fast) OH MY STARS Guest Saffron, I can’t believe you’re actually and truly from another dimension! That’s the most awesome thing I’ve ever heard of in my entire life! And I listen to audio dramas every chance I get so I hear a lot of awesome things a lot of the time and this is definitely the awesomest. You have to tell me EVERYTHING about-
(quick magic noise as Saffron magically silences Caffree)
Cadet Caffree: (shocked) MMMFF (followed by a muffled) wooooooooow*
Captain Adam: Very impressive, Guest Saffron. This unnatural may-gic of yours certainly has its uses.
Saffron: Thank you, Captain.
Captain Adam: (to crew) Dismissed! (to Saffron) Guest Saffron, would you like a tour of the ship?
Saffron: Sure! Can I grab onto your arm? You know, so I don’t get lost?
Captain Adam: I don’t think -
Saffron: But before that, do you think I can get one of your groovy uniforms? I need one in a size petite and curvy.
(door shwoop)
Detective Connis: There you are!
Captain Adam: Ah, Detective Connis! You came at an opportune moment. If you would be so kind as to give Guest Saffron a tour of the ship?
Detective Connis: Tour? With the workload I got? Thanks to this winged menace commandeering our ship, Central Command sent an epic novel’s worth of paperwork to my drive. Get over here Guest, the least you can do is help me fill out some of these questions.
Saffron: Bye Captain!
(door shwoop)
Detective Connis: Sit down there.
Saffron: “Please” seems to be another magic word missing from your dimension.
Detective Connis: Let’s just get this over with.
Saffron: Who’s Katticus Attison?
Detective Connis: Just help me fill out this paperwork. Then I’ll answer your inane questions.
Saffron: How about one for you, one for me?
Detective Connis: *breathes through teeth* Special Agent Katticus Attison is kind of legend among law enforcement. He - uh, I think he’s a he right now - He never left a case unsolved.
Saffron: Except this one, obvi.
Detective Connis: Show some respect! He died five times in the last two years trying to track down Starbeard - Oh Stars, now I’m saying it.
Saffron: What do you mean “died”?
Detective Connis: Oh no, it’s my turn. What are these things Starbeard stole?
Saffron: Dragon eggs. Three of them.
Detective Connis: But what are they?
Saffron: Eggs that have dragons in them. Duh. What do you mean “died”?
Detective Connis: *groans* When a highly valuable agent dies in the line of duty, they transfer their memories to their replacement. Katticus Attison holds the memories and abilities of all the previous agents that held his position.
Saffron: Is he cute?
Detective Connis: Why does Starbeard want the dragon eggs? Are they a delicacy?
(slap noise)
Detective Connis : *angry surprised noise*
Leckie: You seem to have hit upon some cultural taboos, Detective.
Saffron: Dang right she did!
(door shwoop)
Detective Urswin: Er, Detective Connis, perhaps it's best if I relieve you?
Detective Connis: (testily) YES.
Detective Urswin: Guest Saffron, perhaps if we know what dragons are, exactly?
Saffron: What are dragons? (babytalk) They’re only the cutest most adorablest most cuddliest creatures in the entire universe.
Detective Urswin: They are aesthetically pleasant? But why would Starbeard want them?
Saffron: Hmmm… If I had to guess... I’d say it’s also because dragons are the most destructive creatures in the universe, and have the power to raze entire civilizations with one fiery swoop.
Detective Urswin and Detective Connis: *gasp*
Detective Urswin: What does Starbeard mean to do with such power?
Detective Connis: He could enslave entire galaxies, that’s what! I need to rush this report to Central Command! Leckie, give me back my smoking caffeine.
Leckie: Detective, you requested that I withhold your caffeine smoking paraphernalia, as you expressed a strong desire to quit.
Saffron: In my world, we drink our caffeine.
Detective Connis: (aghast) You people are insane. Leckie, please. (pointedly) Before I murder someone.
Leckie: Please report to the main entrance. Special Agent Katticus Attison is about to board.
(door shwoop)
Captain Adam: Places people! Move, move move!
(walking noises fade away)
Leckie: Are you not joining them, Guest Saffron?
Saffron: Nah, I’m good. Hey Leckie, why do you keep calling me “Guest Saffron”.
Leckie: That is your title. It’s only polite to call someone by their title.
Saffron: Except you. Everyone calls you Leckie. Is it because you’re a computer thingy?
Leckie: I do not think so. I think it is because I’m their primary care provider, and a certain familiarity has formed as a result. I ensure they have breathable atmosphere, nutritious and enjoyable food, up-to-standard uniforms, safe flight paths,
Saffron: Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re their space mom. Which brings me to another question. You’re obvi-
(door shwoop)
Captain Adam: Special Agent Att-!
Agent Katticus: YOU!
Saffron: Me?
Captain Adam: (hurriedly) Guest Saffron, this is Special Agent Katticus Attison. Special-
Agent Katticus: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Detective Connis: As the Captain was saying Special Agent, my report clearly -
Agent Katticus: WHO SENT YOU?
Saffron: Good question. I guess in a way Mrs. Scorchington did. She threatened to destroy every atom of life on our world if we don’t get the dragon eggs back.
Agent Katticus: And who exactly is this Scorchington to threaten such mass devastation?
Saffron: The dragons’ mom.
Agent Katticus: Makes sense. Guest Saffron, your story checks out.
Captain Adam: “Makes sense”?... “Checks out”?...
Agent Katticus: Captain Bradimov, you’ve obviously never been a mother. Apologies on my abruptness Guest Saffron, but being killed so often in quick succession leaves one a bit… paranoid. CAPTAIN.
Captain Adam: Sir!
Agent Katticus: World-ending Dragon or not, why is there a civilian aboard on this highly dangerous mission?
Captain Adam: We need Guest Saffron to track the kidnapper, Special Agent. She has… How do I explain this? ...Certain powers.
Agent Katticus: A mutant?
Captain Adam: No, From what we an gather, in her dimension, many possess such powers.
Saffron: Well, maybe anybody can get the hang of magic with enough practice, but some of us are naturally gifted, and only an elite few have truly mastered the art form.
Agent Katticus: As is true with all things. LIEUTENANT!
Leckie: Special Agent.
Agent Katticus: PROGRESS REPORT
Leckie: We should overtake Starbeard in a matter of 2.4 days.
Agent Katticus: Starbeard?
Leckie: This is how the kidnapper is listed on my system.
(flipping zippy noises as Aget Katticus double checks this information)
Agent Katticus: How in the-.... Mine too.
Captain Adam: The certain powers I’ve mentioned, Special Agent.
Agent Katticus: Guest Saffron, you changed our database? HOW!?
Saffron: Okay, so. Way back when at the Academy. A year in and Peri starts questioning that the traditional fairy godparenting route wasn’t for her, even though Djinn are excellent wish granters. So she signed up for some new classes. And she was worried about starting a new track without any familiar faces, so I signed up for The Magical Computer Interaction class with her. Came in handy, huh?
Detective Connis: Everything that comes out of your mouth is nonsense.
Agent Katticus: Obviously Guest Saffron has acquired a skill through some educational institution with the original intent of supporting a good friend.
Saffron: That’s pretty much it, yeah.
Agent Katticus: I shall be at the helm if any of you require anything of me. BUT IT BETTER BE IMPORTANT.
(door shwoop)
Detective Connis: (impressed) Special Agent Attison can speak Saffron?
Detective Urswin: He really is as good as they say.
Saffron: Connie, you’ve been holding out on me. He IS cute.
Captain Adam: He’s seems... capable. Creepy eyes, though.
Saffron: Awww, Captain, are you jealous?
Captain Adam: I -
Leckie: Guest Saffron, you were about to ask me a question.
Saffron: Oh yeah! Not that you’re not doing a good job and all, Cap, but Leckie, since you're obviously the smartest and most powerful person here, why aren’t you in charge?
(The crew talks over each other all at once)
Captain Adam: No!
Detective Urswin: You mustn’t!
Detective Connis: SHUT UP!
Saffron: What?
Captain Adam: A minute of privacy Leckie?
Leckie: Of course, Captain. Audio and visuals off for the next 60 seconds.
Saffron: What’s going on?
Captain Adam: (panicked) Listen Guest Saffron, we don’t talk about that kind of thing here. Or anywhere. It’s just not done.
Detective Connis: Do you want to create another Robot Uprising?
Saffron: Robot Uprising, of course! Just like that one story arc in Star Crossers! Leckie seems cool though.
Detective Urswin: The new generation of A.I. doesn’t seem to have the.. Uh… politics of the previous generation. But caution is still advised, yes?
Saffron: *scoffs* Whatever. Leckie, come back. We’re done talking about you behind your back!
Captain Adam, Detective Connis, and Detective Urswin: SHHHHH.
Saffron: This is a seriously toxic work environment you guys. I’m out!
(magical teleportation noise)
Agent Katticus: (fades in) - as I face the possibility of yet another GUEST SAFFRON.
Saffron: Hi Katty!
Agent Katticus: I COULD HAVE SHOT YOU.
Saffron: The others are bumming me out. Mind if I hang out with you for a while?
Agent Katticus: How did you get in? Your passkey didn’t register here on my dashboard.
Saffron: Oh is that what this is? I thought it was just a cool sci-fi accessory.
Agent Katticus: Is this one of the certain powers the Captain mentioned?
Saffron: Uh huh.
Agent Katticus: Very well, but next time KNOCK FIRST.
Saffron: I caught you dictating your diary, didn’t I?
Agent Katticus: NO
Saffron: It’s okay, I narrate things to myself too. But mostly I do it in my head, you weirdo.
Agent Katticus: Weirdo? The Zorblastian calls the Glimkraw slimey
Saffron: Chill Katty, I’m just joking.
(knock like sounding Boop Boop)
Agent Katticus: It’s the Captain. Shall I?
Saffron: *sigh* Go ahead.
(door shwoop)
Captain Adam: Guest Saffron, I’m so sorry if I’ve given offense.
Saffron: What are you apologizing to me for?
Captain Adam: I, uh, yes. Leckie, I’m sorry. You know that there’s no one I trust more in this entire universe.
Leckie: No need to apologize Captain.
Saffron: You know, if Professor Holle was here, she’d blame all your screwups on the fact that you’re a man. But not me. I believe a man is just as capable of leadership as a woman. And at least your crew is mostly women, so you have lots of good backups if I’m wrong.
(static crackle)
Peri: Hello? Am I through?
Agent Katticus: WHO ARE YOU?
Saffron: Katty, easy! It’s just Peri. I told you about her earlier.
Peri: I’m sorry to just blurt myself in like this, but something weird is happening with the tracking spell.
Saffron: Weird how?
Peri: There’s this fork? All of the sudden, it’s showing two paths instead of one.
Agent Katticus: They’ve split the eggs.
Peri: I think so. I think one diverged from the two with Starbeard. And that one seems to be standing still right now.
Agent Katticus: Leckie, adjust course to the single egg.
Leckie: Approaching new target in .83 days.
Agent Katticus: Nothing to do now but wait.
Saffron: OR we could get to know each other better.
Agent Katticus: All unnecessary personal off the helm NOW. (softly) I need to think.
Post Credit Scene
Saffron: Hey, Stan, what do you think of my new uniform?
Stanistem: *grumble*
Saffron: Thank you, I do look fabulous in it, don’t I?
Captain Adam: Wait, you understood him?
Saffron: No, but what else could he possibly be saying?