TC Ep 279 Script

279

Del walks up to a cave in the res hq tunnels, Rhaast following behind. Major looks up as they enter, puts tablet with gov news report playing down.

D: well, you’re looking better than when you were a prisoner, Maj.

M: I’m still a prisoner, the cell has just changed.

D: i dont know about that, there’s freedom in having all the facts, isn’t there? The Government’s up there trying to downplay and deny everything that’s clearly happening around them, how’d you reckon lying like that helps its citizens?

M: The Director will -

D: No one’s seen that crone in weeks, all official statements have been coming from either that Dove creep or Reamer, and Reamer hasn’t been seen for a while, either.

M: …I am sure…they have some plan to -

D: nah. They can’t put a stop to the truth, and people are clocking on. There is no plan, and the Eagles are giving up. They see it too, I’m sure, and are probably starting to feel disillusioned with the government themselves, and won’t want to defend them. Reamer’s a schemer, but I’d never label him a liar. If he’s not out there trying to convince the public everything’s fine, then he probably knows that it isn’t. 

M: that’s a lot of credit you’re giving him there. I see you still idolise him, then.

D: I understand him, I think. Expectations you can never live up to, a parent you can never appease. Even at the top, this society damages you. 

M: so that’s why  you’re doing this, then? You had all the privilege in the world and it still wasn’t good enough for you? You were happy enough to use that privilege to avoid punishment that others would’ve no doubt been forced to face, as I recall. 

D: Of course I did - that’s what I’d been taught to do. Doesn’t mean it was right, and that kind of abuse of power shouldn’t continue. 

M: Why are you here, Brakindale?

D: to ask you to help us free innocent people from that power.

M: you mean to force your prisoner to -

(Cepni and perig enter cave): you are free to leave, as we have said, Major. It is only your own uncertainty of what awaits you should you return to the Director that is keeping you. 

M: The Director would be pleased to -

Perig: No, Major, she doesn’t give two flying flocks about us. I went back to her, and she wouldn’t even see me.

M: what -

P: I’d signed up to the Resistance, to work in the underground trafficking squad. Something this Vulture said (looks at Rhaast) when he captured us in the canyon always stuck with me. (flashback to ep 121 where he tells perig she’ll fetch a pretty penny).

Rhaast: There are high-ups on the Island who want specialist species for their little games. Mostly gambling. Ostrich ground races, Peregrine air races. Illegal, obviously, but profitable. 

M: what - the government would never allow the keeping of - of -

P: slaves? Not sure if you’ve noticed Maj, but the Government don’t exactly have a good track record of being truthful. These races were happening. Worse things were happening. I’ve seen…a lot. I won’t be able to forget any of it. I had to know if the Director was just letting it happen. There’s no way someone could know it was going on, have the power to stop it, and just…not.

P:  I used that hidden tunnel by her house (show perig looking at tunnel scra and deacon had at the wedding). I’d seen her at a window, so she was home. I knew there were security in the trees, I snuck in as a maid. No one stopped me. I didn’t even see anyone. I pounded on her office door, rage building inside me. I told her I’d escaped the Resistance, that I had inside intel. Nothing. 

P: There was a commotion, so I slipped a letter under the door to tell her about the trafficking, and left. And you know what? Nothing’s happened. The trafficking continues. The races continue. Some of those species are even there willingly, demeaning themselves in all manners just because it’s the only way for them to gain any status in that tiny world, any wealth that they could never get in this society. 

P: any of them who’ve made it out of there is because of me and my team. I’m doing something, Maj, and you never struck me as someone who would sit back and let injustice continue.

(maj looks at del, who raises an eyebrow. he looks down, frowning.)

M: this is -

P: there were chicks too, Major. Ones younger than your own. 

m (looking sick): so you want me to…help liberate those victims?

Cepni: no, we’re asking for your expertise on another mission. It still involves a rescue, but from a higher level location. 

M: you have the previous commissioner at your disposal, what could you possibly need me for?

C: you’re the only one with the required connections

M: with?

C: tracking data.

Scra’s massive group flying by night, all exhausted, keeping above clouds so freezing. 

ree: why d-did we not p-pack bags with c-coats or somet-thing??

F: and stash them w-where? Under my d-dress? It was already full of s-smoke bombs just to smuggle them i-in. If you wanted extra storage you should’ve w-worn a dress too.

R: yuck. 

erka: but forreal, my a-ass is literally about to f-freeze off. How much l-longer?

Erias: s-should be another -

[a massive black turret suddenly looms out of the cloud right in front of them, they all have to veer to the side to avoid it. They all hover, mouths gaping]

kerwik: we’re at…20,000ft -

[they all look down, the clouds clear slightly and a massive, sprawling black castle looms below, built on top of a mountain but taller than any castle ever seen.]

Scra: …is that…?

farrah: yeah. Let’s check out your cozy little family home, shall we?