Contents
23. Closer
Overview
Marly’s shuttle stim is hijacked by Virek through a Tally Isham tape, revealing his failing health, his fixation on the boxmaker, and his claim that Maas murdered Alain. Shaken but resolute, Marly reaches the orbital terminal and covertly hires Rez, an independent tug pilot, to rush to Alain’s coordinates.
Summary
During lift-off on a JAL shuttle, Marly selects a Tally Isham stim to ease acceleration. The recording abruptly morphs, revealing Virek has hijacked the feed, replacing the Greek island set with a surreal landscape and addressing Marly directly through the Tally viewpoint.
Virek explains he anticipated her flight and asserts Maas Biolabs had Alain murdered after he tried to sell information they provided. He discloses his motive: he is gravely ill, confined to a vast life-support vat, and believes the mysterious boxmaker can grant him freedom. Marly, overwhelmed, briefly loses consciousness as the shuttle climbs.
Recovering, Marly reaches JAL’s orbital terminus and struggles with the sense that Virek’s wealth can manipulate every variable around her. Determined to act independently, she searches for a discreet way to reach the coordinates Alain left.
In a terminal cafeteria, Marly overhears three interorbital haulers. She approaches them and offers cash for an immediate, anonymous hop to Alain’s coordinates. With O’Grady bound to another run, the silver-haired Rez accepts. Marly pays and secures a rapid, secret departure.
Who Appears
- Marly (Ms Ovski)Flees Virek’s control; endures his hijacked stim message; resolves to reach Alain’s coordinates and hires Rez for a covert hop.
- Josef VirekOverrides a Tally Isham stim to contact Marly, claims Maas killed Alain, and reveals his illness and need for the boxmaker.
- RezSilver-haired interorbital hauler who accepts Marly’s cash to fly immediately and discreetly to Alain’s coordinates.
- O’GradyHauler committed to a Zion run; declines the job but facilitates Rez’s acceptance.
- Tally Isham (construct)Famous stim persona used by Virek as the medium to trap and address Marly during lift-off.
- JAL stewardAssists Marly after she faints, providing reassurance and medical countermeasures during the shuttle flight.