RQ Network Feed Drop – The Penumbra Podcast “Juno Steel”

Summary

Episode Summary: RQ Network Feed Drop – The Penumbra Podcast “Juno Steel: Time Gone By Part One”

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Introduction

In this gripping episode of The Penumbra Podcast titled “Juno Steel: Time Gone By Part One,” listeners are plunged into the harsh and enigmatic deserts of Mars. This sci-fi noir narrative follows Juno Steel, a sharp-witted private investigator navigating a treacherous landscape filled with political intrigue, criminal underworlds, and mysterious phenomena. The episode masterfully blends elements of suspense, action, and character development, setting the stage for an epic tale of survival and uncovering hidden truths.

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Opening Scene: Radiation Warning and Immediate Conflict (00:00 - 03:17)

The episode commences with a tense interaction between Juno Steel and an AI named Thea. Thea, designed to ensure user safety, repeatedly warns Juno about fatal radiation levels and other threats in the Martian desert.

• Thea: “Caution. Radiation detected at fatal levels. Turn back. Turn back.” (00:01:05)
• Juno Steel: “Just shut up.” (00:02:20)

Juno's frustration with Thea’s incessant warnings sets a tone of desperation and urgency. Thea provides background information on indigenous Martian creatures known as “peepers,” hinting at deeper mysteries beneath the planet's surface.

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Encounter with Brown Jacket: Rising Tensions (03:17 - 07:05)

Juno’s solitude is abruptly interrupted by the appearance of Brown Jacket, a menacing figure who has been stalking him since his time on Hyperion. Descriptions of Brown Jacket evoke a sense of imminent danger:

• Juno Steel: “Brown jacket, tough skin, broad shoulders, dark hard eyes that look like they'd draw blood if you got too close.” (00:03:39)

Brown Jacket demands that Juno accompany him, threatening repercussions if he refuses. The dialogue reveals a complex relationship, hinting at past encounters and shared history.

• Brown Jacket: “My hover cycle's radiation shield is only active when the engine is running. Which means I'm going to go now. And you're going to come with me.” (00:04:34)

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Journey to the Cerberus Province: Unveiling Mars’ Underbelly (07:05 - 14:08)

Juno and Brown Jacket travel to the Cerberus Province, a notorious hub for criminals and outlaws on Mars. Juno’s observations highlight the disparity between myth and reality, as the supposed pirate hideout proves to be more organized and bizarre than expected.

• Juno Steel: “The lighthouse wasn't what I expected from the myths about some ramshackle pirate hideout hidden underneath the desert.” (00:07:05)

The setting is further enriched with vivid descriptions of the Martian environment and the inhabitants struggling under radiation and economic hardships.

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Introduction of Buddy Orenko: A Web of Deception (14:08 - 22:13)

Inside the Cerberus Province, Juno encounters Buddy Orenko, a charismatic yet enigmatic figure who introduces himself as the person Juno is meant to meet. Buddy’s demeanor and actions suggest ulterior motives and hidden agendas.

• Buddy Orenko: “If you keep stealing my wares, darling, I'll return you to that grave myself.” (00:14:47)

Buddy proposes a deal enticing Juno with the promise of removing his cybernetic eye—a critical plot device linking to Juno’s broader narrative of debt and control.

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The Lighthouse Sale: Betrayal and Chaos (22:13 - 33:38)

The episode reaches a climax during the sale event at the lighthouse bar. Juno plays his role as a “sad drunk” to observe and safeguard the exchange. Tensions escalate as rival factions and undercover agents converge, leading to violent confrontations.

Key moments include:

• Buddy Orenko’s Proposal: “Our work isn't exactly on the spotless side of the law... We need you to help us with the sale.” (00:19:02)
• Confrontation: A showdown ensues when Rosbach, an agent from the Cerberus Board of Fresh Starts, intervenes, revealing the precarious nature of the transaction.
• Violent Climax: Juno faces moral dilemmas and physical threats, culminating in a chaotic fight where trust is shattered, and alliances crumble.

Notable Moments:

• Buddy Orenko: “You only needed to ask. Show him. We will be selling this briefcase.” (00:20:39)
• Juno Steel's Realization: “I was tired. I was just so, so, so tired of making the same old mistakes again and again.” (00:29:51)

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Conclusion: Lingering Mysteries and Future Implications (33:38 - End)

As the dust settles from the violent exchange, Juno grapples with the aftermath of the failed sale. The briefcase, central to the plot, remains a source of intrigue as Vespa, a mysterious figure, emerges with ominous implications.

• Buddy Orenko: “Vespa. It's you. I thought you were. You're not real. Get out of my head.” (00:31:20)

The episode concludes on a suspenseful note, leaving listeners eager for the continuation of Juno’s journey and the unraveling of the Cerberus Province’s dark secrets.

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Character Development and Themes

Throughout the episode, Juno Steel delves into themes of autonomy, trust, and the moral ambiguities of operating in a lawless environment. Juno’s interactions with Brown Jacket and Buddy Orenko reveal his internal conflicts and the external pressures forcing him into dangerous situations.

• Juno Steel: “But if that many people needed those masks, maybe crazy wasn't the problem.” (00:08:38)
• Buddy Orenko: “You can't have it both ways. You can't both know everything and live a life just for yourself.” (00:21:14)

These exchanges underscore the complexity of survival on Mars, where alliances are tenuous, and every decision carries significant consequences.

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Narrative Structure and Pacing

The episode is meticulously paced, balancing action-packed sequences with moments of introspection. Flashbacks and character monologues provide depth, allowing listeners to connect with Juno’s motivations and the harsh realities of his world.

• Juno Steel’s Reflection: “My name's Juno Steel and I'm just a guy who wanders into near certain death in the desert...” (00:03:57)

This narrative technique effectively builds suspense and maintains engagement, setting up anticipation for subsequent episodes.

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Production and Performances

The Penumbra Podcast excels in creating an immersive auditory experience. The voice acting captures the gritty essence of the Martian noir genre, with each character’s distinct voice contributing to the story’s depth and authenticity. Sound effects and background scores enhance the atmospheric tension, making the listener feel present in the desolate Martian landscape.

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Conclusion

“Juno Steel: Time Gone By Part One” is a compelling installment that masterfully intertwines character-driven storytelling with high-stakes action. As Juno navigates the perilous Cerberus Province, listeners are treated to a richly textured narrative filled with intrigue, betrayal, and the enduring quest for identity and redemption. This episode sets the foundation for an enthralling saga that promises to delve deeper into the mysteries of Mars and the enigmatic world of Juno Steel.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Thea: “Caution. Radiation detected at fatal levels. Turn back. Turn back.” (00:01:05)

• Juno Steel: “Just shut up.” (00:02:20)

• Juno Steel: “I know you. I'm just a Guy who wanders into near certain death in the desert, and then gives the glad eye to his probable killer.” (00:03:57)

• Brown Jacket: “My hover cycle's radiation shield is only active when the engine is running. Which means I'm going to go now. And you're going to come with me.” (00:04:34)

• Buddy Orenko: “If you keep stealing my wares, darling, I'll return you to that grave myself.” (00:14:47)

• Buddy Orenko: “We need you to help us with the sale.” (00:19:02)

• Juno Steel: “I was tired. I was just so, so, so tired of making the same old mistakes again and again.” (00:29:51)

• Buddy Orenko: “Vespa. It's you. I thought you were. You're not real. Get out of my head.” (00:31:20)

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Looking Ahead

With numerous threads introduced in this episode, including the mysterious briefcase, the enigmatic Vespa, and the fraught alliance between Juno and Buddy, listeners can anticipate an intricate unfolding of events. Future episodes are expected to delve deeper into Juno’s past, the true nature of the Cerberus Province, and the overarching mysteries that bind these characters together.

To stay updated and listen to the next thrilling installment of The Penumbra Podcast, visit thepenumbra podcast.com or search for the podcast on your preferred platform.

Transcript

[Billy Hyndle]

Hi everyone, it's Billy Hyndle here. Today we are sharing an episode from one of the brilliant podcasts on the RQ Network, the Penumbra podcast. This episode is called Juno Steel and the Time Gone by part one and is from the second season of Juno Steel, a sci fi noir queer cult classic which follows the adventures of Juno Steel, a sharp witted private eye on Mars dealing with a myriad of cases from politicians to to police, crime lords, mad anthropologists and more. Find other brilliant episodes in this series by searching for the Penumbra podcast. Wherever you listen to podcasts, click the link in the show notes or find more [e-mail] or thepenumbra podcast.com have fun and enjoy the episode.

[Thea]

Caution. Radiation detected at fatal levels. Turn back. Turn back. User safety tip. This is a very bad idea. Activate Thea global map to search for shelter. Caution. I cannot act without user permissions. User permissions are needed. Awaiting user permissions. You appear to be punching your own face. Would you like some help with that?

[Juno Steel]

Just shut up.

[Thea]

For your safety, I do not recommend you lie down in this location. Reporting potential threats active as of last user scan. Threat one, a massive sandstorm. Threat two, fatal radiation. Threat three. This area of the desert is recognized by the Martian Wildlife foundation as a protected breeding ground for peepers.

[Juno Steel]

I said shut up.

[Thea]

Playing previously downloaded information on peepers. Native only to the northern deserts of Mars, peepers went uncaptured and unresearched for several centuries. And after their discovery, above ground, peepers resemble colonies of small tunneling creatures which pop into and out of the ground and make a noise not unlike Earth's groundhogs or meerkats. Researchers assumed these creatures to be individual organisms until 300 years ago, when the first peeper was successfully brought into captivity and those small rodent like structures were discovered to be the sensory organs of a much larger subterranean predator.

[Juno Steel]

It took you long enough.

[Brown Jacket]

Hey. Hey, you.

[Juno Steel]

Go away. I'm busy. Hey. What the hell are you doing? Put me down. You. What the hell? I know you.

[Brown Jacket]

A correction. I know you. I have been told it is important to speak accurately when beginning a business transaction.

[Juno Steel]

Brown jacket, tough skin, broad shoulders, dark hard eyes that look like they'd draw blood if you got too close. This guy had been stalking me since what felt like a lifetime ago back in Hyperion. And if I'd been scared of him then, seeing him up close only made it clearer how easily those big scarred hands could snap my neck. My name's Juno Steel and I'm just a Guy who wanders into near certain death in the desert, and then gives the glad eye to his probable killer. You know, saying that out loud. A lot of criticisms I've taken over the earth suddenly make a lot more sense.

[Brown Jacket]

My hover cycle's radiation shield is only active when the engine is running. Which means I'm going to go now. And you're going to come with me.

[Juno Steel]

You were watching me. Before the museum and before the subway, you were watch. No, no. Look, I'm done. If you want to spy on me, that's fine. But I don't care. I'm doing this on my own.

[Brown Jacket]

Dying?

[Juno Steel]

That's not necessarily the plan. But if that's the last move I can make solo, then sure that.

[Brown Jacket]

He'Ll find you, you know what? The one who gave you that eye. Have you activated it recently?

[Juno Steel]

Not for a few hours.

[Brown Jacket]

But then he has your location. He will find you and whatever's left of your mind once the radiation's done with it. Unless you come with me.

[Juno Steel]

Yeah, why should I?

[Brown Jacket]

I know how to remove that cyber eye from your head. I know how to set you free. You can get in the psycar when you're ready. Good. Be sure to strap in.

[Juno Steel]

Not until you tell me where we're going. Of course. Another man of mystery. Listen, I've really had enough of these, so if you can't even tell me where we're going, I'll.

[Brown Jacket]

I'll tell you. I was just looking for a helmet in your size.

[Juno Steel]

What the. How many helmets do you keep in this bag?

[Brown Jacket]

Like safety is important. We're going to see someone about a job.

[Juno Steel]

Very specific. Thanks. Where.

[Brown Jacket]

Where all of the most important jobs on Mars happen. A Cerberus province.

[Juno Steel]

To be honest, I still wasn't convinced my mind hadn't gotten roasted. They say after one hour uncovered from the radioactive sun, you start hallucinating. And after five, it's time to say bye bye to a good chunk of your brain. I've been out there. Well, somewhere in between those two options. My watch said it had only been 90 minutes. But on the other hand, I wasn't.

[Brown Jacket]

Wearing a watch, so. Do you have a good reason for walking out in the desert? Besides your death wish?

[Juno Steel]

Besides my what?

[Brown Jacket]

It's well documented.

[Juno Steel]

Documented where? How long have you been watching me? Is that how you found me? Out here? Hello?

[Brown Jacket]

Hello?

[Juno Steel]

How long have you.

[Brown Jacket]

We're almost at the Cerberus province. Buddy will answer your questions when you speak with her. If this job is not to your liking, well, back into the desert with you and you die a free man.

[Juno Steel]

So it was out of the frying pan into the biggest hideout of thieves and murderers and outlaws in the solar system. I guess we saw the volcanoes first. A ring of them, dusty and dormant. And then, at the center of that ring, the lighthouse. What?

[Brown Jacket]

The lighthouse activates at night to guide ships to the spaceport beneath it. I hear before it was installed, more ships landed inside volcanoes than was acceptable.

[Juno Steel]

So, like one ship.

[Thea]

Would you like to research the number of ships?

[Juno Steel]

Shut up.

[Brown Jacket]

I will not. Are you done throwing up?

[Juno Steel]

Now?

[Brown Jacket]

It cannot be helping your radiation sickness to stay out here.

[Juno Steel]

I think.

[Brown Jacket]

And if you vomit on my hover cycle, I cannot be held responsible for what happens to you next.

[Juno Steel]

I think I'm good.

[Brown Jacket]

Get on, then.

[Juno Steel]

The lighthouse was huge. An intricate crossing of plates and pipes that looked like somebody had spun a spiderweb from gold, then grabbed its center and pulled it up to scratch the clouds. It was even beautiful for a minute. Then I wondered if you could see the piranha's body from up there. And it just made me feel sick. The lighthouse wasn't what I expected from the myths about some ramshackle pirate hideout hidden underneath the desert. According to the stories, the Cerberus province was more a meeting place than city. A nonstop crime convention to trade business cards and thermonuclear weaponry. It didn't have a dome after all. Living there long term would have been suicide. But the lighthouse didn't line up with the stories. Neither did the Cerberus province itself, once we slipped underground to see it. What the hell are all those?

[Brown Jacket]

Do you mean the buildings or the tents?

[Juno Steel]

I don't know. Both.

[Brown Jacket]

Well, some are buildings and some are tents.

[Juno Steel]

I know that. I mean, look. That lady's drying sheets on a balcony. That's a grocery stand in a brick house. That guy's taking his clothes out of a laundromat.

[Brown Jacket]

It is very dusty on Mars.

[Juno Steel]

Why do they live down here? Nobody lives down here. Nobody.

[Brown Jacket]

Not by choice. When we land, it is imperative that you stay close to me and not look too long at anyone else's property.

[Juno Steel]

When he was done parking, we walked out into the street. The buildings and tents I'd seen from above were thick here. People packed elbow to elbow, vendors shouting into the streets. You get so lost in a place like that, you forget you're part of it until it reaches out and grabs you.

[Buddy Orenko]

Please. Please. You will help me. You will help me. The ticket. They give me the ticket. It is false.

[Juno Steel]

Ticket. I don't.

[Buddy Orenko]

They have monies on Susannah. Doctor, do you know this place? Bank account. Years. Interest. 30. I have. I have. Please.

[Razbok]

Please.

[Buddy Orenko]

Tomorrow you will help me. You will help me.

[Juno Steel]

The woman was wearing a mask. But I knocked it crooked in my surprise. And underneath her skin, it looks so painful. Big plates of cracking charcoal crust on a plane of soft, raw red and grey. She looked burned. Or melting. Or both. Long term radiation damage. The kind of stuff they showed us in old academy videos and promised we'd never actually see. That you'd have to be crazy to stay outside a dome long enough to get it. All of a sudden I noticed there were people all over the street wearing masks like that. People by the dozens. That must have been covered in those burns. And if that many people needed those masks, maybe crazy wasn't the problem. Then Brown jacket grabbed me by the shoulder and kept me moving.

[Brown Jacket]

Juno, we have to leave now.

[Buddy Orenko]

Monies I have. Sir, please.

[Juno Steel]

Your vehicle.

[Buddy Orenko]

Your vehicle.

[Juno Steel]

What?

[Brown Jacket]

I told you not to look too long at anyone else's property.

[Juno Steel]

Property?

[Brown Jacket]

That bulge beneath that woman's sleeve. A blood filtration bracelet. What some call a debtor's tag. She is serving an indentured servitude to pay for her health care. If you attempt to do as she says, her treatment will end and she will die.

[Juno Steel]

But you're just gonna let that.

[Brown Jacket]

I have no choice. That woman is finished. She took an illegal ride to the solar planets, became ill and sold herself to live a few years longer. It is a common mistake.

[Juno Steel]

But her skin. How long has she been paying?

[Brown Jacket]

I have seen similar surface level symptoms manifest within two years.

[Juno Steel]

Surface level? Yeah, sure, that sounds great.

[Brown Jacket]

About five hours ago, getting to involved in a city's politics nearly killed you. Do you really want to make the same mistake so soon?

[Juno Steel]

I. No. No, I guess not.

[Brown Jacket]

Good. Now please get in this dumpster.

[Juno Steel]

What?

[Brown Jacket]

I'm afraid I must insist.

[Juno Steel]

Hey. Put me down. What the hell was that for?

[Brown Jacket]

Have you used any of your eyes special functions since we entered the Cerberus province?

[Juno Steel]

What I have.

[Brown Jacket]

In the interest of fairness, I should tell you that if you have, I will be forced to cross crush your head with this dumpster lid.

[Juno Steel]

How is that any fair? Whoa, whoa, whoa there. No, I. I haven't used it. You said that's how Ramses is gonna track me, right?

[Brown Jacket]

That is good. And yet we are being followed.

[Juno Steel]

What?

[Brown Jacket]

Quiet. Listen. There is a figure behind me, slight, wearing a black hood. Do you see their face?

[Juno Steel]

No. It's covered by a scarf. It could have just come in from outside. They got sand all over Clothes have.

[Brown Jacket]

Sand, but not their boots. It's a disguise. We may have to relocate our meeting. I'm going to step into this shop and buy a large decaffeinated Jovian tea with two sugars. You will stay here and watch to see what they do.

[Juno Steel]

Wait. Is the tea some kind of code? What does it mean?

[Brown Jacket]

It means I am thirsty. It is large because I am very thirsty and decaffeinated because I have a predisposition to addict.

[Juno Steel]

Okay, yeah, I get it. Just go get your stupid tea. I'll watch the road.

[Brown Jacket]

Thank you.

[Juno Steel]

I had to hand it to Brown Jacket. He was right. As soon as we stopped moving, our hooded tagalong stopped too. She sat at a roadside stand and looked over the menu, flipping pages too quickly to read them. I knew a tale when I saw one. Jacket came back out a minute later, sucking down something that smelled like gasoline with two sugars.

[Brown Jacket]

The deed is done.

[Juno Steel]

What deed?

[Razbok]

What the hell are they trying to say?

[Brown Jacket]

They're saying hood. Hood? I think they saw whoever planted the bomb.

[Buddy Orenko]

Awoosh. A weebus. A weebus?

[Razbok]

Is that them? Is that the lowlife that blew up my store?

[Buddy Orenko]

A weebus?

[Razbok]

Outer Rim bum. Learn to talk right. Hey, she's getting away. Get her.

[Juno Steel]

Wow. Did you pay them to say that?

[Brown Jacket]

No, I paid the other customer to translate anything they said as hood.

[Juno Steel]

But if this place has so many people from the Outer Rim.

[Brown Jacket]

There are too many languages spoken on the Outer Rim to keep up with. We have large communities from Balder, Yama, Susanoo. Indeed. And besides, they lost. Now take these keys. When the commotion settles, you will remove yourself from the garbage, go down this alley and take your second left. You will look for the analog lock that matches this key. And you will wait for me there at the lighthouse.

[Juno Steel]

The lighthouse? Really? You have the key to that big tower? Hey. Hey. Where the hell are you going?

[Brown Jacket]

To ensure the area is secure. Now be silent. Dumpsters cannot speak in the Cerberus province.

[Juno Steel]

I did what the big guy told me to do. Waited a few minutes for the dust to settle. And when I was pretty sure nobody was watching me, I went down the alley. The lighthouse was on the edge of town, and the closer I got, the more radiation ravaged the place looked. But there were no warning signs, no public health notices, just an advertisement.

[Buddy Orenko]

Feeling itchy, Hearing things. Gamma Ray's got you down. Visit the Cerberus Board of Fresh Starts for your blood filtration bracelet today. No down payment required.

[Juno Steel]

The lighthouse came soon after. The inside was a bar. Dark wood, plush cushions. Even the Dust looked nice, which was good, because there was a hell of a lot of it. I helped myself to an unmarked, extremely potent looking bottle behind the bar and took a seat to examine it more closely with my eyes, mouth and liver. Here's looking at you, Lighthouse. Seems like both of us are back from the grave.

[Buddy Orenko]

If you keep stealing my wares, darling, I'll return you to that grave myself. That's 10,000 creds of fine liquor you've just spilled. A life like yours, I'd think you'd be a little more careful about putting yourself into debt with a stranger.

[Juno Steel]

Who the hell are you?

[Buddy Orenko]

The person you're here to meet. Now go get yourself a drink. I'll be taking this one.

[Juno Steel]

Hey, that was mine.

[Buddy Orenko]

And now it isn't. It's nothing personal, darling. I just have a natural tendency towards envy. And I've always believed in doing what feels natural. Like now, for example, it feels natural for me to say, I'll pay you the 10,000 creds you owe me if you shut up and get yourself a drink.

[Juno Steel]

The woman who'd just taken my drink was a bombshell, by which I mean she looked extremely dangerous and made a hell of an entrance. She had big plumes of flame, red hair trailing over her neck and half her face, and a dress so avant garde I would have believed her if she said she got it next year. The first thing she did when she sat down was put a blaster on the table in front of her and in the process reveal she had another one. Two knives and what looked like a grenade strapped to her leg. She looked ready for a war. Hell, she looked ready to fight on both sides. So you're the big guy's buddy?

[Buddy Orenko]

That's what he called me. His buddy.

[Juno Steel]

I'm sure he'll be disappointed to hear you disagree.

[Buddy Orenko]

I don't. It's just funny of him. Fine. You can call me the same buddy.

[Juno Steel]

Seems a little early for that.

[Buddy Orenko]

I'm friendly.

[Juno Steel]

And him?

[Buddy Orenko]

He's not interested.

[Juno Steel]

No, I mean, what's his?

[Buddy Orenko]

Besides, we aren't here to talk about him. We're here to talk about you. Juno Steele. Ex cop, ex patsy for Ramsay's o'. Flaherty. Currently extremely unemployed and not taking it very well. You've got an eye problem. And I don't mean like glaucoma. You've just spent a few months being someone else's stooge, or 38 years, depending on how you count it, and you're just about ready to stooge stag. That's where we come in. What's the matter? Did I get any of that wrong?

[Juno Steel]

No, that's what's the matter.

[Buddy Orenko]

Oh, I'm sorry. Why don't you pour us both a drink and I'll try not to upset you so much. Darling. What's the danger in just sitting and listening?

[Juno Steel]

No, you know what? I'm tired of listening. It's someone else's turn to listen. Got it. The second it looks like you're trying to get me to do something I don't like, I'm walking out into the desert with a beach towel and no sunscreen. The second? Cause I am not trading one smooth psychopath for another. You got me? I am.

[Buddy Orenko]

I hear you. I'm stubborn, not deaf. Sit there. Doesn't this feel so much more civilized?

[Juno Steel]

Gotta say, buddy, I kinda walked into the desert to get away from civilized.

[Buddy Orenko]

I know, and that was a very big move. Made me act faster than I planned to. But you got lucky. And a position opened up a little earlier than expected.

[Juno Steel]

Position? That's why you've been watching me gainful employment.

[Buddy Orenko]

A lot to gain too.

[Juno Steel]

I'm not walking into any more bad contracts or big debts.

[Buddy Orenko]

And you don't have to. Like I said, I always keep my business partners happy, Juno. And unlike your two bit former employer over at the Vixen Valley, I know that doesn't come by force. Father always said there are only two ways to keep the chickens in the either build a big wall or make them never want to leave.

[Juno Steel]

Didn't think there were many farmers on Mars.

[Buddy Orenko]

He was a prison warden, actually. Incredibly popular with his inmates. A bit less popular with dark matters.

[Juno Steel]

Rest in peace.

[Buddy Orenko]

Yes. I would assume the rest of him is in one piece, but we never found it. Regardless, Juno, My point. Scouting the talent I want is something I take very seriously. And you are only one name on a very, very long list. If you do not want this job, don't waste my time. The only reason you're here now is because I need three people. My third missed his flight to Mars. You happen to be available.

[Juno Steel]

Wow. You sure do know how to make a lady feel special.

[Buddy Orenko]

I know how to make a special lady feel special. Maybe if you're very good. That'll be you. Now, a toast. To a new and brighter future. No, no. I'm guessing we've both had entirely too much of that. To letting go. Moving on.

[Juno Steel]

Sure. To moving on.

[Buddy Orenko]

Now, the job. As I think you've already gathered, our work isn't exactly on the spotless side of the law. My friend and I work in the craft of what we call relocation services.

[Juno Steel]

Which I'm guessing means you relocate other people's things to your pockets.

[Buddy Orenko]

My, you are quick. They aren't always things, but spot on.

[Juno Steel]

So is that what you need me for? Some kind of heist? Because.

[Buddy Orenko]

No, no, the heist has been finished for weeks. It's the sale, darling. We need you to help us with the sale.

[Juno Steel]

You want me to work the cash register on your black market deal?

[Brown Jacket]

The sale is the most dangerous part of any job.

[Juno Steel]

Yeah, where the hell did you come from?

[Brown Jacket]

The door.

[Buddy Orenko]

Do try and focus, Juno. Yes, the sale. This town is crawling with undercover law enforcement and people who expect you to do your work for free, but don't feel like telling you ahead of time. And neither sits particularly well with me. So we're going to make certain we get paid or else we're not handing over anything.

[Juno Steel]

Yeah, okay. And speaking of which, what are we selling?

[Buddy Orenko]

The sale's in three hours. In this bar. We've agreed to meet somewhere public, which means within the next three hours, we'll have to make this place public. We're opening it for business.

[Juno Steel]

We're. Wait, you own the lighthouse?

[Buddy Orenko]

Just the first floor. I couldn't sell it if I wanted to. Honestly, too much radiation leaks in through the roof for anyone to want it. At any rate, once we open, my big friend is going to work the bar. You're going to play sad drunk at one of those tables by the door.

[Brown Jacket]

You will be drinking carbonated tea. Focus will be crucial.

[Juno Steel]

Sounds like a fun party.

[Buddy Orenko]

While the buyer and I make the exchange, you will watch the crowd and contact me on covert comms if you notice anyone acting strangely. We take no chances here. Do you understand? This is too important.

[Juno Steel]

Okay, but what are we selling?

[Buddy Orenko]

Hopefully, it all goes off without a hitch and you get paid for sitting around and enjoying some tea. Then we'll show you how to remove that eye, and you can decide whether this kind of work interests you.

[Juno Steel]

I feel like I could answer that question a lot faster for you if I knew what we were selling.

[Buddy Orenko]

There's no need to get snippy, Juno. You only needed to ask. Show him. We will be selling this briefcase.

[Juno Steel]

And what's inside the briefcase?

[Buddy Orenko]

Oh, that's none of your concern.

[Juno Steel]

Well, if I wasn't concerned before, I sure as hell am now. Listen, I told you, if you make me do anything, you listen.

[Buddy Orenko]

Thank you. I understand the word of an outlaw probably doesn't mean much to you, Juno, but it will mean even less if you don't let me finish a sentence. You can't have it both ways. You can't both know everything and live a life just for yourself. You understand that, don't you? If you aren't sure you want to stay here, then don't stay. Don't get involved. That's how Hyperion hurts you, isn't it? I don't think that's your fault. Of course, that's just what cities do. Once you get attached to somewhere or someone, you can't break apart without leaving some of yourself behind.

[Juno Steel]

Where the hell is that sappy music coming from anyways? It's driving me nuts.

[Buddy Orenko]

What? Me. Oh, that. Darling, would you? Thank you. Semi autonomous music machines. They're all over the province and they all act like this. You'll tune them out eventually.

[Juno Steel]

Alright, so you want me to watch the door while you make your trade off? Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

[Brown Jacket]

Don't use your eye.

[Juno Steel]

Yeah, thanks. I got that. Anything else?

[Buddy Orenko]

Just one thing. Give him his weapon.

[Juno Steel]

There's no stun on this.

[Brown Jacket]

Laser proof vests are too common in these jobs. That will punch through them.

[Juno Steel]

So you just want me to kill someone just because you say so?

[Buddy Orenko]

I assure you that if anything goes wrong, he'll deserve it. But then don't. Use your last few hours of freedom and walk to an early death in the desert based on the fear that something might go wrong. You might have to shoot and the shot you fire might kill them. But those seem like silly odds. To throw your life away on My business and my past are my concerns, Juno. Just do the job and don't get involved. Then you go and do whatever it is you want to.

[Juno Steel]

Don't get involved. I kept repeating that to myself for the next three hours as we cleaned the place up and opened the doors and let the crowd filter in. The gun was heavy in my pocket. I wished I'd taken my blaster off the piranha. But it was too late. She was gone. The whole life I'd known her in was gone. And meanwhile, in this life. The sale was just a few minutes away. I sat at my table by the door and watched the crowd mob the bar. The big guy tossed drinks and Buddy schmoozed like she knew everyone here personally.

[Buddy Orenko]

I've just received confirmation that he'll be here shortly. Anything strange on either of your ends?

[Juno Steel]

Yeah, yeah, now that you mention it, I've been meaning to have a dermatologist here.

[Brown Jacket]

Do not complete this joke, Juno, or you will regret it.

[Juno Steel]

Okay.

[Brown Jacket]

There is nothing over here, Juno.

[Juno Steel]

I listened into the crowd around me. All the faces and costumes of crime. And I didn't hear anything weird about them. But plenty about Buddy. Buddy's back.

[Thea]

Has anyone seen Buddy?

[Juno Steel]

Buddy?

[Brown Jacket]

Orinko.

[Buddy Orenko]

Juno.

[Juno Steel]

Buddy. Orinko. Hang on. Is your name actually Buddy?

[Buddy Orenko]

That's what I told you to call me, isn't it?

[Juno Steel]

So what is his name actually? The big guy.

[Brown Jacket]

That would be absurd.

[Juno Steel]

Then what is it?

[Brown Jacket]

We are not there yet.

[Juno Steel]

We're not at names.

[Buddy Orenko]

Quiet, you two. He's just come in the door. Do you see him, Juno?

[Juno Steel]

Little guy, gray monosuit. Kind of looks like he's allergic to light.

[Buddy Orenko]

That's the one.

[Juno Steel]

It doesn't look like a crime boss. Too nervous.

[Brown Jacket]

Not a good sign.

[Buddy Orenko]

Experience suggests that that might just be his face, actually.

[Razbok]

What was that?

[Buddy Orenko]

Oh, There you are, Mr. Rosbach. It's been too long.

[Razbok]

We spoke yesterday, I think.

[Buddy Orenko]

Yes, but you are late. And that does mean it's been too long, doesn't it?

[Razbok]

I. I see. You must excuse me, Ms. Body. Both my tardiness and my uncomprehended solar is not my language. Initial.

[Buddy Orenko]

I'm only razzing you, Razzie. You manage much better here than I would on Balder. I'm sure. Please, sit. Would you like a drink? Two drinks. You'll have to forgive me for trying to upsell you. But a small business owner has to keep her claws sharp.

[Razbok]

It does not appear you starve of the business. Yesterday this bar was not even in operation. And today.

[Buddy Orenko]

I've been away a long time and I. I'm impatient. Surely you know how that is. I imagine you must miss Balder terribly.

[Razbok]

Is so. Is so. And yet there are the credits to be made in these planets. Solar. Yes. A business top profitable. Do you know how it is to Support a family, Ms. Buddy?

[Buddy Orenko]

I pick my own family, Raz. And the first thing I make sure of is that they can support themselves.

[Razbok]

Perhaps these souls here. But on the outer rim after the war, this is not always possible. My planet. Men they desperate. They take the first sheep from Balder they can find. They swallow the poisoning radiation. They need the health care to live. And so we give them this support. For the price we support them. Them support we is psychotic, Top. Beautiful, I think.

[Buddy Orenko]

Do you mind if we get on with this? I have customers to attend to.

[Razbok]

Of course. Shall we show the wares?

[Brown Jacket]

Watch the crowd, Juno. This is the moment.

[Juno Steel]

I wanted to see what the hell was in that briefcase. But I tried to remember what Buddy told me. It was none of my business. Don't get involved. So instead I scanned the crowd. That's when I saw her come in through the back door. Big guy. Our friend with the hood from earlier just showed up. Didn't you say you lost her?

[Brown Jacket]

What is she doing?

[Juno Steel]

Nothing yet.

[Razbok]

This is really the cure, Mother. You have it.

[Buddy Orenko]

Now you pay me. You take this and your group makes just oodles and oodles of money for you to send back to all the little orphans and victims and puppy dogs on Boulder, or whatever your story is today. Do we even have children, Razzie? Or is it all just a story?

[Razbok]

Does it affect our business whether or not it is so?

[Buddy Orenko]

I suppose not.

[Razbok]

Now, the transaction. We will be using mycoms as agreed. Security transactional set to the audio. Then the fingerprint.

[Buddy Orenko]

Are we ready?

[Razbok]

You read the bill of sale from first? Yes. Ensure is no confusion.

[Buddy Orenko]

All right.

[Juno Steel]

You see her, Buddy?

[Buddy Orenko]

Ah, yes. Over by the music machine. Not moving.

[Razbok]

What?

[Buddy Orenko]

Oh, forgive me, Razzie. A solar colloquialism. If something is by the machine and not moving, that means it's straightforward. The money is to be transferred directly from your account to mine. And the key to the cure? Mother's briefcase from my account to yours. Ah.

[Razbok]

I have not heard this expression before.

[Buddy Orenko]

And you never will again. I, Buddy Orenko, consent to this transaction. And the fingerprint. Your turn.

[Razbok]

Ah, thank you.

[Juno Steel]

She's moving. Buddy, you got someone coming right at you.

[Razbok]

I, Rosbach, the eldest agent acquisitional of the Cerberus board of Fresh Start.

[Buddy Orenko]

What's your game, Rosbach?

[Razbok]

My name, Ms. Buddy. I was just saying.

[Buddy Orenko]

Finish it then. Quickly.

[Razbok]

I consent to this transaction. There. He's done.

[Juno Steel]

He did it. Really?

[Buddy Orenko]

It appears so, yes.

[Razbok]

Well, the business well done.

[Juno Steel]

Buddy. Look out. She's right on top of you.

[Razbok]

Ms. Buck. It has been a ple.

[Buddy Orenko]

Rosbot.

[Juno Steel]

The hooded woman ran up behind Rozbok. And without a sound, a knife appeared in her hand. Then it disappeared again into Rozbok's back.

[Buddy Orenko]

Who? Who? You.

[Juno Steel]

Give me the briefcase, Staller. We're on our way.

[Buddy Orenko]

Say where you are, the both of you. You don't have the key to this. What do you plan to do? Break it open? If you're real, just give it. If not, get out. You could damage what's inside if you do. And then what use will it be? You sound familiar? Do I know you? I said get out.

[Juno Steel]

Then they were really at it. Hood took quick jabs. Lots of them. But Buddy was quick too. Working that briefcase like a shield. Too precious for her attacker to Stab. It was a good defense, but Buddy's back was almost to the wall, and it wasn't going to be good much longer. So Buddy raised her gun to turn the tide. But with her focus split for just that half second, Hood slashed at her fingers with a knife. Some people would have kept the briefcase instead of their hand, I thought. But Buddy wasn't one of them. She let go, and Hood had it before it hit the ground.

[Buddy Orenko]

She has the briefcase, but I can't get a clear shot with all these people.

[Brown Jacket]

She's running towards you, Juno. You know what to do.

[Juno Steel]

My stomach and shooting hand hardened. Still the same old Juno steel, I thought. The Proctor, Swift, Pollock, pilot, the piranha. Someone says shoot, and I say, who's next? The thought made me sick. I was tired. I was just so, so, so tired of making the same old mistakes again and again.

[Buddy Orenko]

Out of my way.

[Juno Steel]

So I made a new one instead.

[Buddy Orenko]

Move.

[Juno Steel]

No.

[Buddy Orenko]

What do you think you're doing? Juno? Do you want her to stab you?

[Juno Steel]

Too late.

[Buddy Orenko]

Move or I'll kill you.

[Juno Steel]

Lady, if you knew the kind of week I've had, you'd understand why that doesn't scare me much.

[Brown Jacket]

This is an emergency situation. All customers must leave immediate.

[Juno Steel]

The diversion was just enough to distract her for a second, so I tried to take a swing at her. She was too fast for me, and my fingers missed her face, but grabbed her scarf, and she did not like that. I could see why she covered herself, because she had a look too memorable for covert ops. Bright green hair and bright wild eyes. But I didn't know her. Buddy did, though.

[Buddy Orenko]

Vespa.

[Juno Steel]

Green hair. Looked back, panicked, her eyes darting. She pulled so hard her sleeve came up and I saw it was on her wrist. A debtor's tag for indentured servants. Just like that outer Rim woman in the market. And hers had something written on it. Vespa. I5. Vespa was in a cold sweat. She looked like she was gonna be sick. Not real.

[Buddy Orenko]

You're not real. Vespa. It's you. I thought you were. You're not real. Get out of my head. Vespa. Come back.

[Brown Jacket]

Buddy. She's gone.

[Buddy Orenko]

She can't be gone. I saw her. I swear I saw her.

[Juno Steel]

You're gonna need to slow down a little for the murder victim by the door. Buddy, who the hell is Vespa?

[Buddy Orenko]

She's a dead woman. I saw her die. But now she's Vespa. Vespa.

[Juno Steel]

Should we follow them?

[Brown Jacket]

That depends. Are you injured enough that running will cause your organs to fall out of your body.

[Juno Steel]

Not that bad.

[Brown Jacket]

But we hide the briefcase and Rosbok's corpse in the back room first. Then we follow. Quickly.

[Juno Steel]

We searched the streets for an hour, but Vespa was gone. Ow. Ow. Ow.

[Brown Jacket]

You make that noise a lot, don't you?

[Juno Steel]

Oh, sorry. Does it bother you? Don't mind me. I'm just the guy who's been playing peekaboo with his large intestine for the past hour. Ow. Ow.

[Brown Jacket]

You said your organs would not fall out.

[Juno Steel]

It was a joke. Do big caveman get joke?

[Brown Jacket]

I do not know. I have never met one.

[Buddy Orenko]

Stop it immediately. Where's the briefcase?

[Brown Jacket]

We left it in the back room.

[Buddy Orenko]

I remember you saying that, but it isn't here. And neither is Rozbok. Well, it seems our sale was completed after all.

[Brown Jacket]

He took the cure, Mother.

[Juno Steel]

He didn't die.

[Brown Jacket]

But more importantly, we have the money.

[Buddy Orenko]

He couldn't take it even if he wanted to. Both of us would have to consent to another transaction. All sales final.

[Juno Steel]

So it's done? The sale is done. It sounds like it worked out right.

[Buddy Orenko]

Do business with a glorified slave trader once, then wash my hands of it for good. That was the plan. So, yes, everything went according to plan. But Vespa. Karma comes in all shapes, doesn't it, Buddy? Her debtor's tag. Juno. What number was on it?

[Juno Steel]

What?

[Buddy Orenko]

I know she had one. I've been thinking about it for an hour and that's the only option that makes sense. Just tell me what it said.

[Juno Steel]

It was. Five.

[Buddy Orenko]

Five. Five years. I can't thank you for not shooting her, Juno. I've already lost her once. Losing her again, I think that would be the end of me. The number on the debtors tag is the number of years they've been owned. Vespa has been in the Cerberus province without rest for five years. It's a miracle that the radiation hasn't killed her. Unless. Five years.

[Thea]

Vespa.

[Buddy Orenko]

Where have you been?

[Juno Steel]

You could tell from the look in Buddy Ornko's eyes that the number of years wasn't what bothered her. It could have been five months or five weeks or five minutes, and all it would have amounted to is the same thing. She felt hope. And she was terrified of it. The presumed dead were walking in the Cerberus province. And that was a nightmare. Because there's peace when hope finally dies. When it stops moving and you can nail the coffin shut. Buddy looked like she'd won that piece the hard way. But there was movement in that coffin now. Something pounding the lid from the inside. And if the old hope was so hard to bury the first time, I who knew what kind of damage it could do the second?

[Billy Hyndle]

To listen to the next exciting episode, you can click on the link in the description or search for the Penumbra podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Or you can find more information on rustyquill.com or the penumbra podcast.com thanks for listening.