audio;

[backsassin]

Sorry, I missed the memo; are we trying to ruin every planet we stop at now? Because this plan -- this mercenary deal -- sure makes it seem like it. I mean, it would be bad enough on a terrestrial planet, but a hydrogen atmosphere gas giant? That’s where we’re planning on putting a bunch of firearm-toting mercenaries?

Look, maybe some of you weren’t here for our stops on the last few planets, but trust me when I say that getting involved in local affairs ended very, very badly. For everyone. And that was without hiring mercs to solve problems that aren’t ours to begin with. The best thing we can do here is to take what we need and leave.

And if you have been here long enough to remember: don’t make us responsible for another Cadacus Primary.

Comments

[backsassin]

[A sigh.] If you insist…

While the Moira was docked on Cadacus Primary, there was some kind of falling out between the captains and the local government. They accused the captains of stealing from them in the past, and ordered all of us to leave without warning. They half-dragged those of us who were still on the planet back to the ship, one of the crewmen took issue with this, and… [The story comes to a sudden halt as Zam tries to figure out how to explain this next part.] ...he turned into something else. Some kind of monster. Smashed their cities to bits and then triggered some kind of chain reaction that destabilized the entire planet.

[Another pause, this one much longer.]

We tried to get everyone we could onto the ship before the planet fell apart, but... well, it was en entire world. We barely put a dent in the body count.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

[Honestly, this is the second world destruction story he's heard on this ship. It's starting to become a worrying trend.]

Any idea what the circumstances were that made the crew member turn into what he did?

[And was it something that might be repeated?]

[backsassin]

[Zam’s response is simple and to the point:] He was angry.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

One of those with powers on the ship then?

[backsassin]

If you can call them that. [Zam generally thinks of powers as something one can control. That’s clearly not the case in this situation.]

We have a cell built for him in case it happens again. Though how we’re supposed to get him into the cell when he’s a giant rampaging monster is beyond me.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

Any ideas what his favorite monster snacks might be?

[Humor aside though, that means they have a planet destroyer on their ship. Which is... interesting.]

[backsassin]

I expect you’ll have to ask him. [A beat.] Yourself.

[Zam’s general policy about Banner is to not get within a hundred feet of him if she can help it.]

[beautifulspaceraptor]

What is his name?

[Unfortunately, Nihlus' Spectre instincts tended to take him in the opposite direction of his safety most of the time.]

[backsassin]

Bruce Banner. I think he's some kind of scientist type when he isn't destroying planets.