A Home Star

KAT HAWTHORNE:

Welcome back to Khora Podcast. Before we get back into it, we have a few words from our friends at Echobox, your hotspot for Olympian gossip.

[ECHOBOX TRAILER STARTS]

ECHO:

Hello? Wait… Hello? Welcome to Echobox. Your favorite hotspot for all the Olympian gos. My name is Echo, and I’m here to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I made this podcast to open the box and tell people everything. And I mean everything. Did you ever want to know about the Olympians’ Records’ loyalty?

VOICE 2:

Echo, please. I don’t really want to turn this into a fight. You seem nice enough. There’s no reason for you to get caught up in some big legal battle with Olympus Records. You would never win! You know that, right? We can’t lose, Echo.

VOICE 3:

And if you find a rat working here at the studio, please point them out to me. We’ll find a lead soon. I set a few mouse traps around the office, and I know one of them has to go off soon.

ECHO:

This is Echo speaking. And… wow. I guess you guys are truly listening, huh?

Echobox is a fictional retelling of the Greek myths set in the glamorous LA. Instead of gods, our favorite myths are celebrities. Very rich, spoiled, and everything else you can imagine. Echo is someone who is willing to tear them apart from the inside. Listen to Echobox Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts and be ready to enjoy all of this juicy gossip and the divine drama.

[ECHOBOX TRAILER END]

[CALMING LYRE MUSIC]

TALESPINNER:

Hi. Um… I know that last story was… a lot. I— I don’t usually try to talk about those ones. I wouldn’t have told you if it wasn’t important. [BEAT] Me? Yeah, I’m… I’m doing okay. It can be hard, seeing things like that. Especially when no one believes me. Thank you, for listening.

The next part is a little better. No one dies this time. No one dies.

Anyway, sing, O Muses, of the heavy-hearted Argo crew as they consider a dangerous new lead, and of Medusa; whose plans for rest are derailed by an anxious mind and a handsome face. Muses great, grant me the ability to sing to you the hymn of A Home Star.

ECHO:

Hello, Users: Medea, Medusa and Andromeda. You are displaying signs of fatigue, anxiety, and sensory overload. Is there anything I can do to assist you?

MEDEA:

When do we leave?

ATALANTA:

“We” don’t. This whole thing is… I can’t ask you to do this.

MEDUSA:

What are you saying?

ATALANTA:

I have to do this alone.

MEDEA and MEDUSA:

What?

MEDEA:

Atalanta, you can’t be serious.

MEDUSA:

Yeah.

ATALANTA:

I am. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll make sure you get there.

MEDUSA:

You can’t just go alone.

ATALANTA:

I don’t have a choice. I need to find the FLCC, and if there’s a chance of helping Orpheus while we do it—

MEDEA:

There isn’t a chance. Even if you could get in through all the security, nobody leaves Hades’ compound except in a coffin.

ATALANTA:

That’s why you can’t come! You saw what happened to Asclepius. This is the kind of quest people die for. I’m not going to let it happen to anyone else.

MEDEA:

So you’re just going to go on a suicide mission?

ANDROMEDA:

At the very least, I’m going with you.

MEDUSA:

Planet Nine sounds really dangerous, Atalanta. I don’t know what’s there, but you can’t just risk your life—

MEDEA:

You don’t know?

MEDUSA:

Athena liked me better when I kept my nose out of things, all right? Besides, that isn’t the point.

ATALANTA:

Right. The point is that if anyone’s going to die, it’s going to be—

ANDROMEDA:

If you think there’s a chance in hell I’m not going—

ECHO:

Inter-crew fighting is not productive for maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships. It is recommended that you cease this course of action.

[PAUSE]

ATALANTA:

[HEAVY SIGH] You’re right, Echo. I’m sorry.

Medusa, Planet Nine is Hades’ prison planet. It’s surrounded by surveillance drones, and patrolled by a gang of ladies with big guns and bigger grudges. If you can get through all that, you get to the colony. They use the prisoners as labor to mine the planet’s metals, and Hades oversees it all. Like Medea said, it’s not a place many people leave alive.

[MEDUSA RUNS THE ZIPPER OF HER JACKET UP AND DOWN, WIRE HAIR HISSES]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I’m trying to take this all in, but my mind is crowded with images of a shining axe and a spaceship crushed like foil. None of the others seem to be shaking like I am. I have to keep it together, to focus, but Daphne’s stolen voice echoes through my head, her cheerful announcements for the man who ruined her life.

ATALANTA:

I don’t have a choice. There’s a price on my head, remember? Without the FLCC, I’m dead anyway. But I’m not going to drag any of you further into this. It’s been a long time since I’ve been a hero. I’d almost forgotten what it cost.

MEDEA:

I’m one of the galaxy’s most famous murderers, and there’s a manhunt for Medusa. It’s not like we have a lot of options either.

ATALANTA:

You were safe on Aiaia! Echo can take you back there.

[MEDEA GROANS]

ECHO:

Warning. It is my job to assist and aid you in every way possible. It is recommended that you cease this action.

ATALANTA:

I can’t lose you, either, Echo!

ECHO:

I was originally programmed for a courier ship. I am designed for long-distance space travel, navigation, and protection of cargo. Your health and safety are always a priority.

ANDROMEDA:

Look, y’all clearly have some things to work out on your own, but I’ve already made my decision. I’m going, whether or not you are.

ATALANTA:

The more of us there are, the more likely it is we’ll be caught.

MEDUSA:

The more of us there are, the more likely we are to succeed.

ANDROMEDA:

Haven’t y’all already killed a chimaera, helped reunite a princess and a monster, and slipped in and out of Apollo Productions? What’s one more impossible thing?

ATALANTA:

An unnecessary risk.

MEDEA:

You don’t have to do this. I managed to dodge a price on my head for ten years. I— I can help you.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The two exchange a look. It only lasts a moment, but it’s packed with so much emotion. Tension, yes, but also exhaustion, grief, understanding. Fear. Everything I’m feeling. For that moment, it’s only them. Everything— everyone else disappears, and for a moment, I wish they would share that look with me.

ATALANTA:

[SIGH] Look, we’re— We’re all running on fumes right now. Can we take a couple hours?

ANDROMEDA:

If Orpheus is in trouble, we don’t have time to sit around and wait.

ECHO:

Crew members should be allowed rest when necessary. To ensure the greatest chance of success, it is important to rest beforehand.

MEDUSA:

Anything we do will go a lot better if we have time to make a clear headed decision. If— if Orpheus is still alive after the weeks she’s been gone, a few hours won’t make that much difference.

ANDROMEDA:

Okay! Fine.

ATALANTA:

Let’s take a break, then. It’s late. We’ll come back to it in the morning when we’re fresh.

MEDUSA:

[SIGH] Bed.

[MEDUSA FLOPS INTO THEIR BED]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The quiet of my room is a relief. Exhausted as I am, though, I can’t imagine sleeping right now. There’s too much jittery energy running through my veins, too many thoughts running through my mind. I don’t know how to still them long enough to fall asleep. I’m itching to find something to do, or a problem to fix, but there’s nothing.

MEDUSA:

Echo, are you having any glitches or issues? This would be a good time to check up.

ECHO:

It is not recommended that crew members perform maintenance when tired or in emotional distress. Is there anything I can do to assist you?

MEDUSA:

I don’t know what to do with myself.

ECHO:

Sleep is highly beneficial to your health.

MEDUSA:

I don’t think I can sleep.

ECHO:

If you cannot sleep, recommended rest activities include: watching streams. Would you like to continue watching Asteroid Chasers?

MEDUSA:

[LAUGHS] What, the fifteen episodes we watched on the way to Delphi weren’t enough?

ECHO:

That does not answer my question. Would you like to continue watching Asteroid Chasers?

MEDUSA:

No, thanks. Don’t think I can handle anything too exciting right now.

[PAUSE]

ECHO:

Your health and safety are always a priority. I am here to assist and aid you in any way possible.

MEDUSA:

Thanks, Echo. Really.

[THEY SHIFT IN THEIR BED]

[RHYTHMIC KNOCKING]

MEDUSA:

Come in?

[DOOR OPENS]

ANDROMEDA:

Hey. Uhh… it’s pretty quiet around here. Boring. I thought I’d drop by and see if… you’re doing okay.

MEDUSA:

It’s been a long day.

ANDROMEDA:

It sure sounds like it. Um… it’s nice. To see you again.

MEDUSA:

We’ve called each other.

ANDROMEDA:

The full effect is better experienced in person.

MEDUSA:

I think I got the full effect of you screaming over the average amount of skeletons in a body already.

ANDROMEDA:

Alright, alright, I don’t care how math works. That is too horrifying for me to accept. [MEDUSA LAUGHS. A PAUSE] Are you really alright, though? I didn’t see the footage, but from what I heard…

MEDUSA:

Yeah. I’ve… I’ve never seen anyone die before.

ANDROMEDA:

I’m sorry. It’s always a rough thing.

MEDUSA:

You say that like you have a lot of experience.

ANDROMEDA:

I do.

MEDUSA:

Does it get easier?

ANDROMEDA:

…sort of? I-I don’t know. I think you just get harder. [PAUSE] Anyhow, I know y’all are supposed to be resting after all that, but I just traced my ship’s signal to nearby. Wanna come help me pick it up?

MEDUSA:

I—

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

It takes a second to process the subject change. When I do, though, my first impulse is to say no. I want to say no. But for some reason, I hesitate. I’m supposed to be resting. After everything, I need rest, but the thought of spending the next hours alone in my room, worrying about Atalanta, considering just what Andromeda means when she says harder, is suffocating. My better judgement tells me to hesitate, but I can’t bring myself to care tonight.

MEDUSA:

Okay.

ANDROMEDA:

Wait, really?? [CLEARS HER THROAT] I mean, cool. Neat-o. Should we leave in a half hour, then? I know a nice shuttle. Just need to change out of my heist outfit first…

MEDUSA:

This is how you always dress, isn’t it?

ANDROMEDA:

It’s about the intention, darling. You can’t just pull off a heist on accident. Uh, well, actually, I guess there was the one time with the space moss and the toasters and god that was…

MEDUSA:

Okay, okay, okay. Half an hour.

ANDROMEDA:

It’s a date. [FINGER GUN NOISES] See you then.

[FOOTSTEPS]

MEDUSA:

Wait. “It’s a date?” Echo, what does that mean?

ECHO:

Recommended search term: flirtation tactics.

MEDUSA:

There’s no way she was flirting with me, though. Right? She was… She’s just being friendly.

[BOOT SOUNDS APPROACH]

ECHO:

You have thirty minutes until it is time to meet User: Andromeda. Would you like me to search: first date tips?

[MEDUSA SQUEALS WITH DISTRESS]

MEDEA:

What’s this about a first date?

MEDUSA:

It’s not a date! It’s not like that! Get out of my room!

ECHO:

User: Medusa has a scheduled event in: twenty-nine minutes.

MEDEA:

That’s not much time. You should probably clean up. Maybe find something nicer to wear.

MEDUSA:

I will, I will! Just don’t make this weird.

ECHO:

Now paging User: Atalanta.

MEDUSA:

Why??

ECHO:

It is important for crew members to support each other in times of stress.

MEDEA:

Don’t be nervous, Dusa. You are way out of her league.

MEDUSA:

She’s fine! I’m fine! I’m an adult, I can handle a date!

MEDEA:

You’re a baby adult.

MEDUSA:

I’m not a… Aren’t you supposed to be resting?

MEDEA:

Aren’t you?

MEDUSA:

This isn’t work. It counts.

ATALANTA:

What’s going on here?

MEDEA:

You don’t have to sound so suspicious.

ATALANTA:

You’re going to lecture me about being suspicious?

MEDEA:

Well, you clearly don’t trust us enough to just let us—

MEDUSA:

Nope, no, no, no, no, we’re not doing this here!

ATALANTA:

Right. So, what’s up?

ECHO:

User: Medusa has a planned outing with User: Andromeda in: twenty-eight minutes.

ATALANTA:

Wait, seriously? You have a date??

MEDUSA:

[SHE MAKES A HIGH PITCHED GROAN] Not you too.

MEDUSA: (NARRATION):

I hate to admit it, but their excitement is infectious. My hair is alive, fueled by adrenaline, but for once… I mean, everything’s not fine. Asclepius is dead and our only lead is a probably-lethal mission. But the tension has melted away, for once I get to feel the wires brush my head hissing in excitement, not fear. Excitement I get to share with them. Something to think about that isn’t covered in blood. In the midst of all this, somehow there’s still room for me to have fun, blushing over a date, hoping for this person with pretty hair to hold my hand.

ATALANTA:

C’mon, this is why we made you get extra clothes when we were resupplying.

MEDUSA:

Is it, though?

ATALANTA:

… Okay, no. But you should still wear something you’ll feel good in.

MEDUSA:

Like my coat?

ATALANTA:

Yes? And some nice pants.

MEDUSA:

Okay, fine.

[MEDUSA RUMMAGES THROUGH A CLOSET]

MEDUSA:

How are these?

MEDEA:

Atrocious.

MEDUSA:

Okay, good. Um… wait, what do I even say on a date? Nope, no, no, no, no, not a date. But what do I say?

MEDEA:

I dunno. Not politics.

ATALANTA:

Just be yourself. You’ll be fine! Probably not politics. Though if she’s a fan of the Olympians and you decide to go on a second date, we might question your judgement.

MEDUSA:

It’s not a date!

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I don’t miss the way they roll their eyes at each other, or the fondness in the gesture. They’ve seemed… closer, lately. I still have to break up plenty of bickering, but there aren’t as many shots for the head as there used to be. Their arguments are… less barbed. Gentler. Even now, after the conversation we had earlier, they’re not at each other’s throats like they would have been when I first came on board.

MEDEA:

You two seem to find plenty to talk about on the comms. Talk about those kinds of things. Get to know each other more.

MEDUSA:

That kind of thing seems too weird.

MEDEA:

With her, I would be legitimately impressed if you found something to talk about that’s too weird. I’ve heard you debating the intelligence of space cattle.

MEDUSA:

Okay, but that’s actually fascinating, because they’re so widespread that it’s variable—

ATALANTA:

What are your plans?

MEDUSA:

All I know is we’re going to get her spaceship. Past that, I’m not sure there is a plan.

ECHO:

User Medusa, you are not required to answer questions I ask of you. Will you need others to avoid your room tonight?

MEDUSA:

Why— Oh! No, that’s all right. I don’t… I don’t go for that sort of thing.

ECHO:

Affirmative. Thank you, User Medusa.

ATALANTA:

You should get dressed. We’ll leave you alone long enough for you to change.

MEDUSA:

And after I change?

MEDEA:

We’ll still have twenty minutes to torment you.

ATALANTA:

To give you advice.

ECHO:

[PLAYS BACK MEDEA SAYING “to torment you”]

ATALANTA:

To torment you. So long as you’re all right with it.

MEDUSA:

[SQUEAKS] I’ll survive.

MEDEA:

We’ll be waiting outside, then.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

They finally leave me alone once it’s time to actually meet Andromeda. I try to keep their advice in my mind, as well as what I told them. I’m an adult. I can handle this. Even if I’ve never actually done anything like this before.

MEDUSA:

Calm down. This is fine. This is fine.

ANDROMEDA:

What was that?

MEDUSA:

Oh! Sorry, nothing.

ANDROMEDA:

You ready?

MEDUSA:

I think so.

[SHUTTLE DOOR OPENS]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The shuttle she leads me to— the one she used to get to Delphi— is tiny. It’s barely built for two. With Andromeda, it’s a squeeze, but it feels… nice. Like a hug. At least until she elbows me several times as she jabs at the controls, seeming to just push buttons until something works. Somehow, it does, and apparently her ship is near enough that it hardly takes any time to get there.

Andromeda’s ship is big. Bigger than the Argo, built in silver. Its hull is painted in green branching patterns around its name— The Archer.

ANDROMEDA:

Welcome aboard!

MEDUSA:

Ooh, this is a big ship! Is the rest of your crew here? They didn’t kick you overboard again, did they?

ANDROMEDA:

[SPUTTERS] Why in the world would you assume such a thing? No, I managed to persuade them to, uh, vacate the premises for the night. It’s hard to get to know someone with all your sisters hanging around. Here, I’ll show you around.

[FOOTSTEPS]

MEDUSA:

I always thought it might be fun to have a sister.

ANDROMEDA:

Well, you thought wrong. Sisters are like an Olympian scandal.

MEDUSA:

What, you don’t know what you’re going to get?

ANDROMEDA:

Exactly! You go up to Kallisto expecting her to be reading or other nerd stuff, but then she’s talking to Nikaia and they’re putting each other in a weird mood and then neither of them want to focus on your very important problem. And that’s now that we’re all older! When I was a kid Cyrene convinced me that the sunflowers in the greenhouse would eat me if I got close enough!

[MEDUSA GIGGLES]

Stop laughing, it was very serious. [ANDROMEDA ALSO LAUGHS] And you can’t even get rid of them because the menaces very occasionally manage to be likeable!

MEDUSA:

Are any of your sisters honestly more of a menace than you are?

ANDROMEDA:

Obviously not. A pirate’s gotta keep his reputation.

MEDUSA:

Huh. Are you all… pirates?

ANDROMEDA:

Eh, depends on who you ask. Aura thinks that’s [MIMICS A HIGH VOICE] “too fantastical a label, Andromeda, we aren’t that glamorous,” but she’s always been boring.

MEDUSA:

What’s that?

ANDROMEDA:

Surprise the first! I’m taking you out to dinner.

MEDUSA:

How did you have that ready? You didn’t know you were going to run into us on Delphi.

ANDROMEDA:

Like I mentioned, sisters can occasionally be likeable. Come on, we can eat in the observatory.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Basket in hand, she leads me through the hallways of the ship until we reach an unassuming set of doors. With the push of a button, the doors glide open and the room inside is… magnificent.

The room is big and open, and while the nearer half has tables and chairs, the rest of the floor is empty. The far wall is made of glass, and through it I can see a panorama of distant stars and planets, so clear I feel like I’m going to fall through and become another thing to glitter in the dark.

ANDROMEDA:

Are you coming?

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Andromeda takes a blanket folded on one of the chairs and spreads it out on the floor. From the way she smirks, I’m sure she can see the redness in my cheeks. Suddenly, I remember what this is, what she’s invited me to. This fearless girl with messy hair and a gold earring, who never knows when to shut up, who is larger than life in every way… And I look closer at her face, and I can see her blushing, too.

ANDROMEDA:

Our luxury meal awaits.

MEDUSA:

Those are peanut butter sandwiches.

ANDROMEDA:

And fresh fruit. And pastries. And lemonade! Don’t sell me short.

MEDUSA:

[LAUGHS] Here, I can help with that—

ANDROMEDA:

No!

MEDUSA:

What?

ANDROMEDA:

I-It… It has to be… right. it has to be right.

MEDUSA:

I’m not sure I understand.

ANDROMEDA:

The fruit bowl goes here, and the pastries— just let me do this, okay?

MEDUSA:

Okay, okay. Okay. Are you alright?

ANDROMEDA:

I’m fine. It happens sometimes. I just… gods, that was stupid.

MEDUSA:

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s not half as stupid as the stuff I get stuck on sometimes.

ANDROMEDA:

It’s still pretty stupid.

MEDUSA:

You don’t need to worry. Sometimes brains don’t work the way you want them to. No matter how hard you try.

ANDROMEDA:

The fearless space pirate defeated by his own mind. [GROANS WEAKLY]

MEDUSA:

Not defeated.

ANDROMEDA:

You’re right, the story needs a better word. How about vanquished? Conquered?

MEDUSA:

You’re still here.

[BEAT]

ANDROMEDA:

I’m sorry. This wasn’t part of the plan.

MEDUSA:

Hey, hey, hey, it’s alright. Like I said, brains.

ANDROMEDA:

Yours, too?

MEDUSA:

I think I’m probably autistic, but it’s not like Athena was going to bother with a diagnosis.

ANDROMEDA:

What do you mean, bother with?

MEDUSA:

She only cared if I was clever. So long as I could keep helping her, I don’t think it mattered how much it hurt. So long as she didn’t have to deal with it.

ANDROMEDA:

Well, that’s bull.

MEDUSA:

It does make sense. I didn’t exactly push for it, either.

ANDROMEDA:

Not your fault Athena’s an ass.

[MEDUSA SUPPRESSES A LAUGH]

ANDROMEDA:

My dad didn’t ever make me feel like I was less because of the way my brain worked. Not even when I annoyed the hell out of him.

MEDUSA:

Are all your sisters…

ANDROMEDA:

Some of ‘em. It’s hard to get doctors when you’re living on a spaceship, but I think most of us have something or other. Between each other and our various parental figures, we’re all supported.

MEDUSA:

Sorry, I meant… is your dad their dad, too?

ANDROMEDA:

What? Oh, no! My sisters are all Aristo’s crew, no relation to him. She’s a friend of his, and managed to convince him to let me tag along.

MEDUSA:

Do you like it?

ANDROMEDA:

What do you mean?

MEDUSA:

Being a pirate. Being… untethered.

ANDROMEDA:

I pity the fool who tries to “tether” me, but uh… I don’t need a tether. I know where Dad is, I talk to him, and I do my thing, you know? Having a family ain’t so much a tether so much as…. I dunno, a home star. A fixed point you can always come back to. Is… is that how you feel? Untethered?

MEDUSA:

I don’t know. I guess I cut mine off.

ANDROMEDA:

You ran away, right?

MEDUSA:

Yeah.

ANDROMEDA:

Why? I mean, I know why, but what happened?

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Keep to yourself. Think of what you would have been if she’d left you in the rubble, too young to even remember. No one wants to hear you complain, Medusa. All the things she told me, all the ways she programmed me. The secrets pressing behind my teeth, kept back from some combination of shame and isolation. There’s no one to tell. No one has asked. And now, someone has.

MEDUSA:

She saved me. Gaia was dangerous when I was a baby, so she took me in. She said that even then, she saw something special in me, and I wanted so badly to prove her right. Sometimes I was brilliant, and she’d smile and wonder just how far I’d go, just how much I would do. And sometimes… I wasn’t, sometimes I messed up, and I had to do better. It was always forward, always pushing me further and further.

But then I found something, found out what she was pushing me towards… and I froze. It had to be some misunderstanding. But I barely even had time to rationalize before she was there.

[SILENCE]

ANDROMEDA:

You don’t have— you can tell me this is none of my business.

MEDUSA:

Yeah, I’m sorry.

ANDROMEDA:

You shouldn’t be. But you also shouldn’t talk about anything you don’t want.

MEDUSA:

I’d like to talk about it. If you’re okay with it.

ANDROMEDA:

I’m here.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Her fingers find their way to mine. She has pickpocket hands, deft and sure, but she still almost pulls away before I can hold on. I focus on that warm point of contact as I try to find the next words.

MEDUSA:

She was furious when she found me there. I’d been told not to go to that level of the ship, that I didn’t need to know what was happening here. It was late, and most of the employees were off duty. She grabbed me and dragged me back to my room. I shocked her. Once— I didn’t mean to, it was on instinct. But she… she didn’t like that. I didn’t dare do it again, I was just trying to hold it all in while she closed the door and screamed at me. When she was finally done, she locked me in.

I didn’t know what to do. My hair, my mind, was… and Athena… I had no idea what she’d do next.

She left me there for days. At the very least, I had time to think. I don’t… I can’t remember what it was I found but…

I thought about trying to destroy it, but I knew I’d never be able to. And… I guess part of me still wanted to please her? It was clearly important. It’s stupid, but I couldn’t imagine destroying anything that was important to her. After everything she did for me, I owed her that much. But I couldn’t imagine staying there, either. It was never going to be like it was before, so I ran. She was never going to forgive me.

She’s… She’s never going to forgive me.

ANDROMEDA:

Hey now, don’t— don’t cry. Or cry? If you need to?

MEDUSA:

I’m sorry. Sorry.

ANDROMEDA:

Medusa, if you apologize one more time for something that someone else did I will… uh… I will break into Nikaia’s stash of sweets and continue stealing them for you until you realize that it isn’t your fault.

MEDUSA:

[WEAK LAUGH] If I’m getting sweets out of it, wouldn’t that just be more motivation to apologize?

ANDROMEDA:

Oh, damn! You’re right. I will… I will… learn how to yodel. I will learn how to yodel and show you my progress every time I call you.

MEDUSA:

Oh, you wouldn’t dare.

ANDROMEDA:

The first time you met me, my own sisters had thrown me off a moving spaceship onto an unknown planet because I wouldn’t shut up. What about that makes you think I wouldn’t dare?

MEDUSA:

Uh… Good point.

ANDROMEDA:

Really, though… none of that should have happened to you. She has nothing to forgive you for.

MEDUSA:

She raised me.

ANDROMEDA:

She didn’t deserve that privilege.

MEDUSA:

No one else was going to.

ANDROMEDA:

She should have treated you better, then. She should have treated you like a person, not free labor.

MEDUSA:

It wasn’t that simple. Besides, should haves are easy.

ANDROMEDA:

I know. I’m sorry.

[PAUSE]

ANDROMEDA:

You’re going through all that and still managing Medea and Atalanta’s problems?

MEDUSA:

It’s not that bad. They’re my friends.

ANDROMEDA:

Yeah, but they’re grown adults. They can put their big girl pants on and work out their issues themselves.

MEDUSA:

They’re not hurting me.

ANDROMEDA:

Not on purpose. And not like Athena did. But you’re going through something really hard right now. It’s hurting you to carry their burdens too. You’re worth more than what you can do for other folks.

MEDUSA:

…is this about the factory again? I told you over comms, I’m fine.

ANDROMEDA:

A little? I just don’t want you to see you put yourself in danger like that. It’s like you feel like you have to.

MEDUSA:

I won’t do that again. I promise, I’m not trying to hurt myself.

ANDROMEDA:

Okay. Will you just think about letting them handle their own things a little more? I like you too much to see you get hurt.

MEDUSA:

Yeah… what?

ANDROMEDA:

Oh. I just, uh… I just meant, you know—

MEDUSA:

[STRUGGLES FOR WORDS] Okay, yeah. Um… thank you.

ANDROMEDA:

[ALSO STRUGGLING] I don’t– if you ever need me to back off, just tell me? Please? I’m not always good at figuring it out myself.

MEDUSA:

I will. That wasn’t… bad. I was just startled.

ANDROMEDA:

Uh… in that case, I’d like to keep seeing you. Like this. Uh, whatever this is.

MEDUSA:

I’d like that too.

ANDROMEDA:

This date turned into a downer. Which is an absolute shame, given all the showmanship I put into it. All those hours of effort and planning, so tragically wasted, my god.

MEDUSA:

I’ll give you another chance if you want. We probably could stay a little longer, though.

ANDROMEDA:

I mean, if you’re going to twist my arm about it, then…

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I don’t sleep well. Even after a contented parting with Andromeda, I can’t keep the day at bay forever. It creeps in while I’m alone, demanding I remember what it sounded like when a ship was crushed like foil. What it felt like to have tiny burn spots on my neck and ears. What it looked like to open a door in the only home I’d ever known and find the kind of monster that could destroy lives as quickly and easily as a tidal wave. Blow upon blow. Wounds I’ve been taking silently, and adding new burdens on top of all the while.

We need to go to Planet Nine. There’s no way around it. It will be dangerous and painful and scary. There are so many ways it could kill us. But if we succeed…

We’ll need all our strength. All our wits and courage. And gathering all that means that I have to put something down. I have to protect myself if I want to carry myself through what comes next. I can’t carry everyone.

MEDUSA:

…so I need you to let me focus on what I’m doing. I want to support you both, but I can’t keep doing everything. I need you to start working with each other to solve your problems instead of always going through me.

ATALANTA:

Of course we can do that.

MEDEA:

Speak for yourself.

ATALANTA:

Medea…

MEDEA:

Sorry. Matter of principle. We’ll sort out our issues. Focus on your own.

MEDUSA:

[SIGHS] Thank you.

MEDEA:

You’re welcome. And I’m sorry. You’re right, it’s not fair.

ATALANTA:

Me, too. I’m glad you’re here, love.

MEDUSA:

I’m glad I’m here too.

[BEAT]

ATALANTA:

There’s one more conversation we still have to have.

MEDUSA:

Right.

ATALANTA:

If I thought there was another way, I wouldn’t be doing this. But Orpheus is the only lead on the FLCC. I can’t waste this chance, no matter how dangerous it is. But I can’t ask you all to do this for my quest.

ECHO:

It is my job to assist and aid you in every way possible.

ATALANTA:

I know you want to help, but I can’t lose any of you.

MEDEA:

We don’t want to lose you, either. That’s why we want to come.

MEDUSA:

You’re trying to protect us, but couldn’t we help protect you? You said we’re a crew. We can do this together.

MEDEA:

Exactly. I can’t just let my co-captain fly off on her own.

ATALANTA:

You could be safe.

MEDEA:

You said you needed my help finding the FLCC. I decided I want to help. I’m not going to leave you.

MEDUSA:

Neither am I. I think it’s our quest now. We’re going to help you.

ECHO:

Affirmative.

ATALANTA:

…thank you. I don’t know what I did to deserve your loyalty, but…

MEDEA:

Does that mean you’re agreeing to us coming?

ATALANTA:

[SIGH] Yes. But you have to be careful. I don’t want any of you dying on me.

MEDEA:

Not planning on it.

MEDUSA:

Should we let Andromeda know?

ATALANTA:

Right. Echo, open a line with Andromeda.

ECHO:

Now opening communications with User: Andromeda.

ANDROMEDA (COMMS):

Have you decided?

ATALANTA:

We’re coming.

ANDROMEDA (COMMS):

Let’s get going, then. Echo, too?

ECHO:

Affirmative.

ANDROMEDA (COMMS):

In that case, we can take the Argo. Give me half an hour. Then we can leave. And… thank you.

[VIOLIN PLANET NINE THEME BEGINS]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

We’re all quiet as we wait. I think of what Medea said yesterday. No one leaves Planet Nine except in a coffin. In all likelihood, we’re setting course for our graves. But I still can’t bring myself to regret it. I’m here for my friends. Not in the reckless, desperate way I was in that factory on Delos, but more… steadily. Tactically.

We’re doing something important, something dangerous, and each of us have decided that we’ll be safer if we go together. There’s comfort in that. This is what being a crew is like, I think. None of us working for one of the others, just all of us acting together. All supporting each other. No matter what happens on Planet Nine, they’ll protect me, and I them. I don’t know what we’ll find at the end of this path, but none of us will be alone when we find it. Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together.

[PLANET NINE THEME ENDS]

TALESPINNER:

Khora Podcast is created and produced by Trenchcoat & Co. Productions.

This episode of Khora Podcast, A Home Star, featured Kit MacNeil as Medea, Mq Quinlan as Atalanta, Kat Hawthorne as ECHO, Clary Cheung as Medusa, Sats Di Stephano as Andromeda, and Hayan Lee as the Talespinner.

Khora’s music and sound design is done by the Khora Team. This episode was written by Kat Hawthorne and the Khora Crew. To find out more about all the wonderful people whose work goes into making this show possible, check out the shownotes below.

Do you want to support Khora? Tell your friends about us, or post about us on social media with hashtag khorapodcast. This podcast was made with no budget and lots of love by a group of friends, and so your support truly means a lot to us. You can find us on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram @khorapodcast. Thank you for listening, and we’ll see you for the next verse of our epic!