The Billionaire’s Savior

*****

It took time for all the photos to develop—Robyn had gone kind of overboard—but when they came through Robyn fell in love with each shot. They weren’t all great, most of them were pretty bad actually. But the ones that were good were the ones that made Robyn’s chest swell with pride. The ones that were traditionally good, crisp and clear shots with vivid colors and fluid movement struck a sense of accomplishment. The ones that were less traditional, and more artistic, were the ones that intrigued and delighted Robyn the most. These photos were the ones with blur to them, with a mess of colors and movement, but they still told a story.

Robyn spent nearly a full day in the dark room, pouring over the photos and evaluating what she loved and hated about each and every shot. As she obsessed, she tried to put a name to her style, to the balance of chaos and pose.

Eventually, towards the end of the evening, Robyn stumbled out of the room. She found Chris reading in bed, as usual. Throwing open the bedroom door, Robyn announced,

“I’m gonna make that film; and you’re gonna help me.”

Chapter 5

CASSETTE: (off camera) “Just be natural, as though a mutual friend just introduced us. Your name, what you do, and why you’re on board.”

KENYA: “Natural?” (drums her fingers against her hip.) “Well, my name is Kenya, and I’m part of the security detail on board the Bob Marley. I also deal with supply acquisition.”

CASSETTE: (off camera) “And what brought you on board?”

KENYA: (chuckles) “That’s a long story. The short of it: My faith in Zimbabwe, my own wanderlust, and the camaraderie. It’s the first time where I’ve felt like I’m actually out of the shadows, being a part of something as opposed to off to the side.” (Pause, optics dart downward, then back at the camera) “Does that make sense?”

CUT TO CCTV FOOTAGE: (Scout ship Haile Selassie En Route to Alpha Centauri; -95 cycles to planet fall. Kenya is standing between two rows of the rowdier Nano tric, her cryo-laser on her shoulder.)

KENYA: “First wave, with me! We’re clear-cutting the way for the second and third waves. This is a rescue mission, so confirm your shots! You see a field medic without cover, or a fallen ‘Tric, you cover them, but our number one objective: hit them hard, hit them fast, and —”

EGYPT: (off camera) “Wreck and rule! WHOOOO!!!”

(Kenya kicks up a discarded can off the ground, catches it, and hurls it at Egypt; it bounces off his head with a clang.)

EGYPT: (off camera) “Ow!”

(Return to Interview)

CASSETTE: “What are your interests and hobbies?”

KENYA: (gives him a dry look.)(Cut to CCTV: Stella’s Bar. “The Angel and the Gambler” by Iron Maiden is playing, likely from Jamaica, who is at Kenya’s left, as the larger mech’s sitting at a table across from Nile, surrounded by other crewmates cheering them on as they pound back shots in time with one another.)

(Cut to CCTV: Brig, time-stamp two clock turns later. The Drunk Tank)

NILE: (slurred, staring at the ceiling) “That…was amazing.”

KENYA: (face down in the slab, muffled.) “Who won?”

NILE: “I lost track.”

KENYA: “Same here — let’s call it a draw.”

CUT TO CCTV FOOTAGE: (Maintenance Bay Eleven, cleared out and retrofitted into a firing range. Present on the front line: Tornado, Kenya, Egypt, Einstein, West, Spectators: Stella, Tailgate, Cassette, and Jamaica. Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” plays from Jamaica’s speakers.)

EINSTEIN: “12.46 millimetre high-velocity hollow points, filled with EMP charges. I know, I know. ‘But Einstein, you’re insane to pack an EMP charge in a hollow point!’ Well, that’s besides the point and that’s why I called you four here today, to test these out.”

WEST: “So what is the point of having a round that blows out the neural net nanoclicks before blowing up the entire brain case?” (Takes Kenya’s proffered flask and takes a swig before returning it.)

EINSTEIN: “Stopping power; these aren’t intended for taking out the enemy with a headshot. It’s for taking prisoners, and the EMP charge is to cause a spark spasm, enough to render a Dalmatian incoherent or unconscious.”

KENYA: “Wouldn’t it make more sense to use low-velocity rounds? Less noise if you’re going to be firing from close range.” (swigs her flask and offers it to Tornado, who politely refuses; directing to West) Ethics committee says…?

WEST: (to Einstein) What happens if it is a head shot?

EINSTEIN: Same as any bullet to the head, I’d imagine.

JAMAICA (next to Cassette): (pantomimes shooting oneself in the head, complete with splattering noise)

EINSTEIN: “Right now we’re testing the feasibility of packing the EMP charges into conventional bullets; I assure you, I will not start live tests until I am certain this test is conclusive.” (jogs over to Cassette; POV switches to first person, Einstein filling the screen.) “Okay, Test Fire of Happy Slappers, Trial One.” (jogs back to behind the firing screen, POV switches back to CCTV.) “Ready!”

(The three Nano tric — West stands back, hands up in a defensive stance — bring their test weapons up to bear.)

EINSTEIN: “Take aim … and FIRE!”

(POV Cassette: Rounds are fired and are going wide. The spectators dive for cover as West throws a force field to cover them. Then one of the cryolasers jams, and another. Kenya’s jams and explodes. Expletives are bleeped out.)

(CCTV: Cut to medibay. Kenya is missing half her left arm; Egypt’s head and canopy are stoved in; he’s using the severed part of Kenya’s arm to poke at a piece of shrapnel sticking out of Tornado’ leg; West, physically unaffected by the accident, takes a long pull from Kenya’ flask.)

EGYPT: Well, that was fun! Let’s do it again! (Tornado snatches Kenya’s arm away from Egypt.)

(Cut to Cassette POV. Einstein fills the screen.)

EINSTEIN: (hushed) “Test results: it’s possible I may have packed a wee bit more explosive charges than needed. Will modify for next round of testing.”

KENYA: “’Explosive charges’? Primus dammit, Einstein!” (swipes back her flask and takes a pull, draining it, before lobbing it at Einstein’s head.)

(Return to interview, Cassette POV.)

CASSETTE: “What did you do prior to coming on board, during the wars?”

KENYA: “One thing I learned was never stand out. Standing out got you promoted, and getting promoted puts a target on your back. I do what I need to do and I get my aft out of there. That being said, I did lead a Destroyers detail during the Zombie Conflict, our primary mission was — ”

[ FOOTAGE REMOVED BY ORDER OF THE DULY APPOINTED ENFORCER OF THE CRAVLER ACCORD ]

CASSETTE: “Recently we welcomed legendary Majitu wanderlead Metabez on board. How did you feel about his presence on our ship?”

KENYA: (looks at Cassette, arches a brow.) “As I understand it, we were helping him with a jump-start.”

(CCTV: Main Docking Bay. Kenya is standing off to the side with West, Edgehawker, and Bob, watching the commands of tric ships exchange dialogue. The flask is passed around.)

WEST: “What d’you think they’re talking about?”

EDGEHAWKER: “Tron doesn’t look too happy.”

KENYA: “I’d imagine not.”

WEST: “They say Metabez defeated an entire platoon of Liege Otherworlders with nothing but a case of Wazimu Fuel and a sulfur flare.”

KENYA: (punches his arm) “That was me, [expletive bleeped]!”

EDGEHAWKER: “No, I’m sure I heard the same thing.”

KENYA: “Not you too!”