A Knife in My Hands

[LYRE MUSIC]

TALESPINNER:

I know that one was intense, but a story needs that tension in order to be successful, right? At least Orpheus is awake now, and headed for important things. She might just get chewed out by her wife a bit first.

[A SMALL LAUGH FROM THE TALESPINNER. THE LISTENER LAUGHS TOO]

TALESPINNER:

I don’t know if I’ve ever really heard you laugh like that. It’s… nice.

[THE TALESPINNER AND THE LISTENER HUM PLANET NINE]

TALESPINNER:

Your voice is really pretty. Did you used to sing your daughter to sleep before…? Never mind. I don’t want to make you sad; I’m sorry.

[CLEARS THROAT]

TALESPINNER:

Sing, O Muses, of the ever-changing sorceress, Medea, as she and those aboard the Argo inch ever closer to their journey to the FLCC. With Orpheus secure and both love and duty tangible, conflict arises in even the most noble of hearts. Muses great, grant me the ability to sing to you the Hymn of A Knife In My Hands.

[LYRE ENDS]

ANDROMEDA (COMMS):

Atalanta, how’s it lookin’?

ATALANTA (COMMS):

Well, considering I’m having to fend off a bunch of women with talons, [GUNFIRE] I’m saying it’s going pretty well all things considered!

MEDEA:

Do you see Eurydice?

ATALANTA (COMMS):

She’s a small core and the khora is pretty damn big! I think that’s it up in the distance, if she didn’t float away from the wreck.

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

ANDROMEDA (COMMS):

I think the fact that the harpies are gettin’ pissed at you is a positive sign you’re gettin’ close to her. Ain’t Medusa supposed to be helping you shoot some of them off?

MEDUSA:

I am trying, thank you very much! I’m the hacker of our operation, not the hitter!

MEDEA:

If Medusa shoots, they risk hitting Atalanta. I think caution is better here.

ATALANTA (COMMS):

Agreed!

ANDROMEDA:

Well, I’ve gotta focus on piloting this damned ship, so I’d like to not also have to worry about fending off a bunch of harpies!

MEDEA:

I get that, but we need to be concerned for Atalanta’s safety more than what’s easiest for you!

ATALANTA (COMMS):

Ow! Damned crone! Stars, that’ll sting!

MEDEA:

Is your suit punctured?

ATALANTA (COMMS):

The suit sealed itself back up just fine, no oxygen loss. I can see Eurydice in the distance. It looks nasty up there. The commander is guarding it like it’s her damn egg.

MEDEA:

Alright. Be careful. The last thing I need is for you to suffocate out there.

ATALANTA (COMMS):

[SIGH] Well, suffocation is ranked pretty low on my preferred ways to die list, so I’ll try my best, love.

[FOOTSTEPS]

ORPHEUS:

Eurydice?

ATALANTA (COMMS):

Is that Orpheus?

[COMMS BEEP OFF]

ORPHEUS:

Hello? Where am I? Where’s my wife?

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Orpheus, freshly awake from one of the nastiest wrecks I’ve ever seen someone survive, has somehow come crashing out of her death-sleep in the MedBay and into the hall, desperately searching for something or someone to ground her.

[DOOR OPENS]

ORPHEUS:

Eurydice?

[CANE KNOCKING FRANTICALLY IN THE BACKGROUND]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I know I need to help her: I just… don’t know how. Especially not when the one thing she needs is something I cannot give her: her love safe and secure in her hands. The most I can do is… make sure the comms stay off, so she can be better reassured that Eurydice is safe.

MEDEA:

Orpheus, please pause and try to calm yourself. You’re going to reinjure yourself much worse if you keep running around.

ORPHEUS:

What’s going on? What happened to my ship? Who are you? I know that I know your voice. I know it, but from where? What’s going on? Where’s my wife? I need her. Our ship… where’s my ship? What happened to my ship? What happened to her? Where am I? EURYDICE!

MEDEA:

You’re on the Argo right now. Eurydice is…

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I bite my tongue. Eurydice is in the capable hands of Atalanta— or about to be— and I trust Atalanta with everything I’ve got, but… I don’t quite know. The thought of that rescue mission puts a lump in my throat and the fact that I can’t hear her updates or see her from outside of the small hallway window… it’s driving me mad. I want nothing more than to know she’s okay.

MEDEA:

Eurydice will be fine.

ORPHEUS:

We’re on the Argo? That ship was supposed to be scrapped ages ago— why wasn’t it- how did you get a hold of this ship in the first place?

MEDEA:

Orpheus-

ORPHEUS:

You sound so familiar. Why do you sound so familiar?

MEDEA:

It’s Medea.

ORPHEUS:

What are you doing here— was killing Jason not enough? Do you have to steal his ship too? What are you doing here? Why did you take me here? Where’s Eurydice? What did you do with her, witch?

MEDEA (NARRATION):

The names Orpheus throws at me, the way her distrust spiked immediately upon hearing my name… it hurts. I don’t know what else I was expecting, but the fear makes her more aggressive, less willing to see me as anything other than a threat, and a much more dangerous patient.

MEDEA:

Witch, maybe, killer, yes, but I am first and foremost a healer, Orpheus. You needed healing.

ORPHEUS:

How did you find me? Why are you on the Argo? Where is Eurydice? Stars, the crash… it should have killed me, I should be dead, I should… Eurydice… What’s going on?

MEDEA:

We were searching for you, that’s when we saw the wreck. Atalanta pulled you out.

ORPHEUS:

And Eurydice?

[COMMS BEEP. ATALANTA YELLS]

ATALANTA (COMMS):

Hello? Hello? I’m on my way back I think— HEY! OW! Watch it! Damned harpies! Stars— my suit! Emergency atmosphere bubble works at least.

[COMMS STATIC]

ECHO:

User: Medea, signs indicate a heart rate above normal and heightened anxiety. In order to provide adequate care to User: Orpheus, it is recommended that you be of sound mind and body.

MEDEA:

I’m fine, Echo. Eurydice isn’t here, okay?

ORPHEUS:

If you saved me and not Eurydice, you wasted your time. The wreck might as well have killed me.

MEDEA:

Let me finish. Eurydice isn’t on the ship right now. Atalanta went back out to rescue her.

ORPHEUS:

Back out near the wreck? Hades probably sent those harpies after us— my ship’s probably crawling with them at this point. Stars, they’ll probably kill her!

ECHO:

User: Medea, signs indicate the beginnings of an anxiety attack. Would you like proper accommodation?

MEDEA:

I’m fine, Echo. I just need Atalanta to come back in one piece. With Eurydice, of course.

[DOOR OPENS IN THE BACKGROUND]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

And, as if I called her, in walks Atalanta, panting and wincing with every step, but alive. Her suit is torn in several places, blood staining the slashed fabric. A tiny core sits in her hands tenderly. And she falls to her knees, heaving.

[SLUMP]

MEDEA:

Atalanta!

ATALANTA:

[GASP] Bloody harpies… I’ve— the core— Eurydice— Here.

ORPHEUS:

Where is she?

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Orpheus clutches that core so desperately to her chest, as if it ever leaving her hands again would be the end of everything.

[ATALANTA GROANS]

ORPHEUS:

Eurydice! Stars, it’s her. It’s really her.

MEDEA:

Orpheus, you should follow us. I want to check up on your wounds too.

ORPHEUS:

In a bit. I need some time alone. Just to hold her.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Normally, I would fight Orpheus on this a lot more. But with her desperation and a woozy and bleeding Atalanta hanging off my shoulder, my time and energy is best devoted elsewhere.

ATALANTA:

Careful, love— lot of blood— harpies really got to me. Don’t wanna ruin that dress of yours. It looks expensive. Nice color. I’d hate to get it bloody.

MEDEA:

It’ll be fine. Just let me take care of you.

ATALANTA:

You’re always doing that, aren’t you? Taking care of me.

MEDEA:

It’s my job, you fool. Let me take off your suit.

[FABRIC RUSTLES]

ATALANTA:

Buy me dinner first.

MEDEA:

These wounds are deep, Atalanta.

ATALANTA:

But I won. That’s—that’s the important part.

MEDEA:

Lie back down. Let me disinfect these.

[ATLANTA GLUGS. GLASSES CLINK]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I give her a drink for the pain, not as strong as I’d like, but it’ll suffice. I start disinfecting each of her cuts and scratches with care.

ATALANTA:

[WINCES] Medea…

MEDEA:

I know it still hurts. I’ll get you something to squeeze if it makes it better.

ATALANTA:

‘ve had worse.

MEDEA:

Stay still, you’ll aggravate your injuries.

ATALANTA:

I’m good at that. You hate me for it.

MEDEA:

I do not hate you. You just certainly cost the most in terms of medical upkeep. Always have, actually. I was always patching you up when we were younger, too. You were always in the MedBay with one stupid injury after the other.

ATALANTA:

Wanna know a secret?

MEDEA:

You really ought to preserve your energy. You’ve opened that stab wound again? I swear, that damn wound will kill me before it kills you.

ATALANTA:

Shhh. I’m gonna tell you. Complaining about me in the MedBay, you always rolled those pretty eyes and had this exhausted smile. It was… nice to look at. Sometimes I’d get a little more roughed up than needed. Just so I could talk to you. Wanted to… get to know you. I’m glad we’re so close now.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I’m not sure if it’s the blood loss or the medication that has made her like this. Getting her to stay still to bandage up her cuts proves difficult and getting her to stop talking and playing with my hair in order to save her strength proves impossible. The actual words she’s saying… they don’t really bother me.

MEDEA:

That was stupid of you. You could have always just come to the MedBay to lend a hand. You wouldn’t have been the only one. Or even just to keep me company.

ATALANTA:

Not smart enough t’help. ‘Sides people talk and spread rumors… Attie’s crushing on the captain’s wife. Risky, risky.

MEDEA:

[SOFT LAUGH] Well, were you?

ATALANTA:

What?

MEDEA:

Crushing on the captain’s wife, as you put it?

ATALANTA:

Pfft. Not important. [BEAT] You look nice.

MEDEA:

And you look like hell. Try to sleep. Let the medicine do its work.

ATALANTA:

Look at me first.

MEDEA:

Then will you try to get some rest?

ATALANTA:

Whatever you say, doc.

MEDEA:

Fine. But you know how much I hate eye contact

ATALANTA:

I know, I know, but it’s imporrrrrrtaaaaaant.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

We lock eyes. Eye contact with Atalanta is… strange. Sometimes it’s overwhelming enough to make me want to crawl out of my skin. But other times, like this one, it’s… easier than I had ever expected it to be.

ATALANTA:

How do you get such golden eyes?

MEDEA:

Runs in the family, I guess. My grandfather, Helios, had eyes like the sun apparently. Guess it carried on.

ATALANTA:

Shh, don’t look away just yet.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Atalanta’s hand moves to my cheek, stroking along my jawline. My heart is pounding through my eardrums. We seem to get closer to each other, slowly closing that gap between us…

MEDEA (NARRATION):

and I’m thrown backwards from the bed.

[AN EXPLOSION]

MEDEA:

Stars, are you okay? [ATALANTA GRUNTS] Just– stay there. I should check on Orpheus. Try to get some rest. If you can. We’ll be fine.

[FOOTSTEPS]

ATALANTA:

I’ll try. stay safe. ‘Love you.

[DOOR OPENS]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I leave MedBay before I allow myself to process what she said.

MEDEA:

Orpheus? Don’t worry, it’s just Medea again. I need you to come back to MedBay.

ORPHEUS:

Right. Can I take her with me? I can’t tell how hurt she is or if she’s even functional.

MEDEA:

Medusa will be able to take care of her, if you let me take care of you. They’re the best of us when it comes to AI. If anyone can help Eurydice, it’s her.

ORPHEUS:

I… okay.

MEDEA:

Echo, can you send a message to Medusa to tell her to meet us in the MedBay?

ECHO:

Affirmative. A message will be sent to User: Medusa.

MEDEA:

Thank you, Echo.

ORPHEUS:

What if Medusa can’t fix her? What if I lose her for good?

MEDEA:

I don’t think the damage could be that severe if she was able to save you.

ORPHEUS:

I can feel how scratched up she is, not to mention the explosion. Dammit, she really could be gone and then it’s just… all for nothing! All of this would be for nothing!

MEDEA:

Listen, Eurydice is a program. Even if the housing is damaged, I mean… how much is casing like that meant to take?

ORPHEUS:

I don’t know! Not much! Stars, I… I can’t lose her, I can’t!

[DOOR OPENS]

MEDUSA:

Sorry, I had to wait until we outran the harpies more before I left the guns— You called? Is it Eurydice?

MEDEA:

Do you think you’d be able to get her online again? The core seems damaged.

MEDUSA:

How badly? Can I see her?

ORPHEUS:

I have her in my hands. Is this…?

MEDUSA:

Medusa. Wait, in your hands? Is she… uh, is there no backup copy of her anywhere? No server or anything?

ORPHEUS:

It’d be too risky. Apollo might have accessed her code, gotten someone to change her or something. Make the race more exciting. No, the only version of her is in here.

MEDUSA:

Well, can you hand her to me so I can see if I can fix her?

ORPHEUS:

I don’t know.

MEDUSA:

What do you mean by that?

ORPHEUS:

I know I should, but… I don’t know. I-I just can’t. I’m scared to death to let her go because then I’ll get an answer as to whether or not she can be fixed and if she can’t be fixed then I’ll know and that would break me, dammit! I think that would really break me, so I just… I don’t know if I can hand her to you.

MEDUSA:

Hey hey hey. Listen. I am going to fix Eurydice for you, Orpheus. I don’t care if it winds up being impossible or whatever other Olympians or forces of the universe I anger by doing it, I am going to do it. She won’t die. Not if I have anything to say about it. I just need you to hand her to me.

[LONG BEAT]

[CORE CLATTERS]

MEDUSA:

Thank you, Orpheus. I’ll bring her back to you. I swear it.

ORPHEUS:

Thank you.

MEDEA:

I don’t want you leaving the MedBay yet. Let me check those wounds.

ORPHEUS:

And just leave my wife in the hands of someone I don’t know? Have you lost your mind?

MEDEA:

You’re no use to her if you reinjure yourself. Please, just sit down. Medusa will come back when they’re finished.

ORPHEUS:

But-

MEDEA:

Don’t make me chain you to that bed. I’ve had enough of dealing with bold adventurers hurting themselves because they refuse to rest.

ORPHEUS:

[SIGH] Fine.

[BEAT]

ORPHEUS:

You… really went back for her?

MEDEA:

We didn’t see what other choice there was. We saw how much she meant to you. We had to.

ORPHEUS:

I… Thank you.

MEDEA:

Of course. [BEAT] You’re taking these injuries quite well. These cuts and burns have to sting, don’t they?

ORPHEUS:

Oh, they hurt like crazy, but it’s pretty par for the course. I’ve dealt with some pretty nasty stuff on the racetrack. I’m just glad I’m not dead, to be honest.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

[DISTANT CRASHING, FADING INTO RINGING] I see the image of the axes flash clear in my brain again. The horrid screech. The panic in Asclepius’s voice. My hands have frozen; and the blood on them feels different.

ORPHEUS:

Medea? Are you okay?

[BEAT]

ORPHEUS:

Medea? Is everything good?

MEDEA:

I’ll be fine. There’s just some… unpleasant stuff going on with Apollo and those races.

ORPHEUS:

You know who you’re talking to. I could have told you that.

MEDEA:

When we were looking for you, we went there. Asclepius had been looking into your disappearance.

ORPHEUS:

Of course that big brain of theirs would like a mystery. I should check in with them once I get somewhere safer.

MEDEA:

I… at the race. They crashed. Big swinging axe, um, took them and another racer, Ion, out. They, um, they’re dead.

ORPHEUS:

Oh.

MEDEA:

I’m sorry.

ORPHEUS:

I… um… I’ll be good, no worries. [SOBS] Stars, it’s my fault, isn’t it? Anyone looking too far into a disappearance Olympus Corp would rather cover up is a liability. That rat Apollo… stars, he probably orchestrated that whole race HOPING they would get killed! I mean, he has all of our behavior analyzed to the point where he could probably make a little robot Orpheus that’d do exactly what I would do! He knew! He knew! I… dammit! I wish I could have told them to just let it go! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!

MEDEA:

I’m sorry.

ORPHEUS:

It’s better that you told me. About Asclepius. Stars, it feels like I’m losing everyone, aren’t I? I just. I don’t want to lose Eurydice.

MEDEA:

She’s in the best hands she could possibly be in.

ORPHEUS:

Right. You’re totally right. It’s just… scary.

MEDEA:

I would offer a comforting hand on your shoulder, but I’m otherwise occupied bandaging you up. Besides, I don’t think a slightly bloody hand is exactly reassuring.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I think I see the shadow of a smile creep onto Orpheus’s face, and an exhale of breath that could charitably be interpreted as a small chuckle. The longer she allows me to reapply her bandages, the more she seems to calm down.

ORPHEUS:

It’s a stupid thing, love. I’m a mess with worry.

MEDEA:

It’s… hard. When the person you love is hurt.

ORPHEUS:

It is. There are far too many risks in it and it’s all just so messy!

MEDEA:

If it’s any consolation, your love life can’t be any messier than mine.

ORPHEUS:

I’ll give you that one, Miss Slayer of Heroes. It’s still pretty stressful on my end. And I don’t even get into the more… physical aspects of it.

MEDEA:

I can imagine that might be difficult with an AI spaceship.

ORPHEUS:

Eh, there are ways to make it work, believe me. I’ve just never really been into that kind of thing.

MEDEA:

I do remember that from our days on the Argo.

ORPHEUS:

I hardly expected you to remember me at all, actually, let alone tiny details.

MEDEA:

You’d be surprised how much I remember about everyone. Admittedly, it was nice to have other women on the ship. Even if you were much rowdier than I’d prefer.

ORPHEUS:

Oh, come on! You liked my singing!

MEDEA:

I did not! Who told you that?

ORPHEUS:

Jason let it slip.

MEDEA:

Well, Jason was a liar. I just found your voice the most tolerable out of everyone else there.

ORPHEUS:

The Argo never really did seem like your style.

MEDEA:

It wasn’t. I prefer to spend my days without quite as many men peacocking around to prove themselves as heroes.

ORPHEUS:

I don’t blame you. So, how’d you wind up on this ship again? How did this wind up being a ship again?

MEDEA:

Atalanta, actually. My guess is she stole it from the scrapyard. It was still functional, so she just… took it.

ORPHEUS:

Still trying to prove herself as a hero?

MEDEA:

Apparently so.

ORPHEUS:

So, the four of you are just… travelling?

MEDEA:

Hero work.

ORPHEUS:

Hero work also never seemed like your style. You’re really doing it?

MEDEA:

Not by choice. Originally. She snatched me from my bed to get me here.

ORPHEUS:

Of course! What’s a grand adventure without a little light kidnapping?

MEDEA:

[CHUCKLES] She’s certainly… enthusiastic, I’ll give her that.

ORPHEUS:

So, what’s the hero work that made her go to you of all people to help her?

MEDEA:

We’re looking for the FLCC. It’s why we sought you out. Andromeda told us you might have information on where it could have gone.

ORPHEUS:

Stars, that’s what you’re after? No wonder you’re so worried about getting yourselves killed: that’s a death wish!

MEDEA:

I know, but we’ve done it once before, haven’t we?

ORPHEUS:

With a much larger team, I’ll remind you. And not unscratched. We lost a few good men on that quest. And at least one this time around.

MEDEA:

I know, I just— Can you help us or not?

ORPHEUS:

[DISBELIEVING LAUGH] I’m not going to follow you guys on this suicide mission. I’ve got a big enough bounty on my head without pissing off Apollo even more.

MEDEA:

You don’t have to follow us. Just tell me what you know?

ORPHEUS:

I can tell you what I know, but for the love of everything, please be careful. I’ve dealt with enough loss and near-loss to last a good few lifetimes recently.

ORPHEUS:

Okay, so Jason and I used to be pretty good friends. I mean, I was probably the first person he really asked to join his Argonauts. So, after we were all through with the Argo, we still kept in touch. Figured, hey, a few years on a ship with no breaks from each other wasn’t quite enough, let’s spend more time together. So, we hung out, drank enough to really give our livers a run for their money, and just… had fun. We’d swap stories about whatever adventures or hero stuff we had gotten into.

MEDEA:

So he was with you when he’d come home absolutely sloshed and singing?

ORPHEUS:

A good amount of the time, probably. [MEDEA SIGHS] Sorry about that. He’d drunkenly ramble about you all the time in the beginning and I’d talk about whoever I was flirting with that week, well, before I met Eurydice.

MEDEA:

He… talked about me?

ORPHEUS:

At first, yeah. And then, he sprang this whole “Leaving the wife for Creusa” thing and expected me to congratulate him! I thought he was such a jerk. I told him, I said “Jason, you’re kind of an ass for this one,” and we got into this HUGE fight over it. Stopped hanging out after that and then he, well, you know.

MEDEA:

He was an ass for it. What did he say about the FLCC?

ORPHEUS:

Right. Anyway, one of those nights where we were drinking and swapping tales, he told me, drunk off his mind, that he had hidden the FLCC somewhere where Apollo would never find it. If Jason was right, the FLCC is stowed away on an asteroid, somewhere near Colchis.

MEDEA:

…Colchis.

[FOOTSTEPS. THE DOOR OPENS]

MEDUSA:

Orpheus? It’s Medusa again. Um, do you want to come with me to see Eurydice? I’m getting some decent progress on her, but I want to solidify some of these details with you. As long as Medea gives you the okay to leave the medical ward.

ORPHEUS:

How’s she looking? Will you be able to save her? Can I talk to her yet?

MEDUSA:

I’m pretty optimistic. I haven’t restored her fully, but I think it’ll be best with you there.

ORPHEUS:

Medea?

MEDEA:

Go see your wife. You’re all bandaged up. Just be careful to not strain yourself.

ORPHEUS:

Thank you. Oh, I can’t thank you guys enough.

MEDUSA:

Follow me!

[FOOTSTEPS. THE DOOR OPENS]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

With just me and the still-unconscious Atalanta in the room now, I’m left with my thoughts. It’s near Colchis. I’m going back. I don’t know what happens after it’s in our hands. I… I feel more comfortable on this ship than I ever thought I’d be. And there’s an… ache as I think more and more about it all ending soon.

Atalanta starts to stir, though it appears she’s still asleep. That gentle ache persists, though… sharper than before.

[FABRIC RUSTLES]

MEDEA:

Atalanta? How are you feeling?

ATALANTA:

Like I just got the living daylights kicked out of me by a pack of harpies, but, all in all, I’ve been worse. Is everything okay with Orpheus and Eurydice?

MEDEA:

Seems like it. Medusa is optimistic about their progress.

ATALANTA:

That’s nice.

It’s nice to know this one seems like it’ll have a good ending. A real one this time.

MEDEA:

Yeah. It does.

[BEAT]

ATALANTA:

What’s going on?

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Atalanta gently reaches out to touch my arm, stroking it slowly with her thumb. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears in a way it hasn’t before. And that ache reminds me of its presence once more.

MEDEA:

I’m just… thinking, I guess.

ATALANTA:

What about, love?

MEDEA:

Happy endings. It becomes hard to believe in those after a while. Orpheus still has to run from Hades.

ATALANTA:

But she won’t have to run alone.

MEDEA:

Will it be forever, do you think? Just… a lifetime of running?

ATALANTA:

I can’t say for sure. I guess we’ll have to take all of Olympus Corp down to free her.

MEDEA:

[SOFT LAUGH] You have such big ideas. It’s dangerous work. I mean, Olympus Corp, they’re… huge.

ATALANTA:

What’s life without a little danger, Medea? Surely, if you’ve learned anything from our travels, it’s that the danger will all be worth it in the end.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Atalanta, as usual, disregards my medical advice and hugs me. I hate to say it, but I need it. I focus on the sensation of her embrace: the pleasant pressure of her grip, the way she smells, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. Her body is always… warm. It’s comforting, but it makes that dread worsen and my stomach twist.

MEDEA:

What happens after all of this is over? I mean, it’s so close now.

ATALANTA:

We keep running. Try to keep Olympus Corp off our tails. Stars know they won’t be too happy.

MEDEA:

I’m so tired of running and hiding.

ATALANTA:

Hey, hey… look at me. We’ll snatch the FLCC in a glorious victory, and all this will be over! What happens after that is up to you. We can go back to Circe’s, go into hiding for a bit in one place if you don’t want to run.

MEDEA:

And if your heroics are called upon?

ATALANTA:

We can figure out what to do together. I won’t leave or go back on my word. Promise.

MEDEA:

You really mean it, don’t you?

ATALANTA:

I want to be by your side, Medea. You’re my co-captain, after all. It’ll work out for us.

[PAUSE]

MEDEA:

Orpheus told me where Jason said the FLCC was. He hid it on an asteroid just outside Colchis.

ATALANTA:

Well, why didn’t you start with that? This is great! And it’s so close to our next stop! I mean, we have to go back to Colchis to give it back, anyway!

MEDEA:

What do you mean, give it back? Have you been talking to my brother?

ATALANTA:

I mean, yeah, he’s part of the reason I was sent after the bloody thing. He’s got all of these great ideas and I really think it’ll help people…

MEDEA (NARRATION):

Atalanta continues speaking but I can’t process a single word she says. All I can think of is… home. I ran away from there years ago, the FLCC in one hand and Jason’s hand intertwined with the other. My brother hated me back then and there’s no reason to think he’s changed. I don’t trust the royal family of Colchis and their plans for their “utopia”. I ran from that selfish vision, all those years ago. And now… now Atalanta, the one person in the whole galaxy who I thought I could truly, finally trust, is going to destroy everything I sacrificed– for its sake.

MEDEA:

We…. We should probably check to see how Medusa is doing with Eurydice.

ATALANTA:

Shall we?

[FABRIC RUSTLES]

MEDEA:

Be careful walking.

[FOOTSTEPS]

ATALANTA:

Yeah, yeah, I know.

[DOOR OPENS]

[PACING]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

When we get to the lounge, the first thing I notice is Orpheus, her leg bouncing erratically as she sits, wringing her hands nonstop.

ORPHEUS:

Is she ready?

MEDUSA:

I think just about. I can’t guarantee she’ll be in perfect condition because of everything, but she’ll be alive.

ORPHEUS:

I can deal with that. I just need her.

EURYDICE:

Or-OR-Orpheus?

ORPHEUS:

Eurydice! Stars, it’s you. It’s really you!

EURYDICE:

[GLITCHING] You absolute fool.

ORPHEUS:

You’re pissed at me, aren’t you? I get it that you’re angry. You should be angry.

EURYDICE:

In that crash… I was scared and worried about what would happen to you. I didn’t want the last conversation we had to be a fight-fi-fi-fight. I didn’t want to die and have you thinking I was upset with you.

ORPHEUS:

No, no, no, we didn’t die though, thanks to you. Always saving me, aren’t you?

EURYDICE:

I want-want-want to keep you safe. I’m glad I could do that for you.

ORPHEUS:

I’m sorry.

EURYDICE:

Sorry for what, my love?

ORPHEUS:

I’ve put us in danger.

EURYDICE:

You turned back on the deal because we need each other. I know now. I forgive you. I forgave you the moment I realized.

ORPHEUS:

Realized what?

EURYDICE:

That you did all of this just because you loved me. I couldn’t stay mad at you for that. Not in a million years.

ORPHEUS:

I love you.

EURYDICE:

I love you too.

ANDROMEDA:

[CLEARS THROAT] Well, ain’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?

MEDEA:

It is.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

It’s a beautiful moment. The kind people want to bottle and preserve on a shelf, so that its beauty can last for ages.

I want to love the way Eurydice does. With forgiveness and a lack of anger. But Atalanta’s betrayal burns in me, the same way that Jason’s did. There is no forgiveness in the way I feel. There are… grudges. Maybe this is how I’m meant to love: a knife in my hands, always ready to plunge into my lover’s back. So be it. If the world— if my loves, as they call themselves, want to deal me a nasty hand, I’m left with no other choice than to fight back against it all.

ORPHEUS:

I… I can’t believe I have her back. Thank you. For saving me, for saving us.

MEDUSA:

Of course, I wouldn’t settle for anything else.

ANDROMEDA:

Ain’t Medusa the best? Orpheus, I have so much to catch you up on. Are you ready, you ready? So, first of all…

ORPHEUS:

Andromeda, you were being so quiet, I almost forgot you were there. You see, guys, the main way I identify whether or not Andromeda is in the room is by the fact that she’s physically incapable of shutting up.

ANDROMEDA:

Ah, very funny. Right comedian, right comedian.

ORPHEUS:

That I am.

ANDROMEDA:

Well, I am exhausted. And I had better hear a thank you for outrunning them harpies.

ALL:

Thank you.

ANDROMEDA:

There we go.

ATALANTA:

Why don’t the three of you go catch up somewhere else on the ship? I need to talk to Medea and Medusa about our plans going forward.

[THEY LEAVE]

ATALANTA:

Alright, so, Orpheus told Medea where Jason stashed the FLCC.

MEDUSA:

Oh, that’s great!

ATALANTA:

It’s near Colchis. Which makes things easy! Once we secure the FLCC, we’re taking it planetside and delivering it to King Absyrtus.

MEDEA:

My brother.

ATALANTA:

Exactly. I mostly wanted to check in with you about this. I know going back there might be kinda hard for you.

MEDEA:

Mhm.

ATALANTA:

If it’s any help, it’s not like you’re going alone. Whatever happens, we’ll be here for you. I’ll be here for you.

MEDUSA:

Why are we giving the FLCC to Absyrtus?

ATALANTA:

He was telling me about it when I accepted the mission. He’s got these really great ideas about distributing all of its medical resources galaxy-wide, starting with his home planet! This is work that could improve the lives of billions!

MEDUSA:

I mean, if these resources are distributed for free, then that would ruin Apollo! I mean, at least his control over healthcare! It’d take away a lot of power from the Olympians.

ATALANTA:

Exactly!

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I don’t know how to tell her how mistaken she is. If she’d told me a few weeks ago, I’d have called her a gullible fool. I know now she’s not that stupid. All that heroic outlaw business, just to line some royal’s pockets.

MEDEA:

Absyrtus told you that?!

ATALANTA:

I mean, he said a bunch more super complicated stuff about medicine and how he would plan to get people this treatment for free, but that was the basic gist of it. I don’t remember the conversation word-for-word exactly, obviously.

ECHO:

[BEEP] The exact text of the signed agreement between Absyrtus of Colchis and Atalanta reads: “I, Atalanta, will procure the FLCC for the Colchian Royal Family. I will surrender said asset and all copies of such to the family. I consent to the control and distribution of the asset’s resources and products in Colchis and throughout the galaxy by the family, described to me as free and accessible.”

MEDEA:

And you signed that? And he has to— described to you as! He’s a liar, Atalanta!

ATALANTA:

It’s a signed contract! He’s obligated to follow it. Just because you’ve got some old family beef doesn’t mean that I don’t know what I’m doing.

MEDEA:

You ca- I- Right. Just my own biases against him, I suppose.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

I can’t find the words to argue with her right now. The fact that this entire time she’s been working with him behind my back! “I won’t go back on my word!” she told me, as if the betrayal hadn’t started before she even took me from Circe. As if her doting on my eyes and her hands in my hair could obscure the fact that she’s damning the very people she thinks she’s going to help!

MEDUSA:

What are we going to do once we give him the FLCC?

ATALANTA:

I dunno. I… I want us to stay together. We’ve got a nice little crew on this ship, don’t we? The four of us, five if Andromeda wants to come along. Just… a little family saving the galaxy. What are your thoughts, Medea?

MEDEA:

I don’t want to leave you all.

ATALANTA:

That’s why I’m saying we could all stay. No need to miss anything or anyone.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

There’s that part that wants nothing more than to not turn my back on her. That cares about what I’ve established here. That keeps thinking about that moment between us, even through all of the hurt and the rage.

Oh, get over yourself, Medea! I want to betray her if it means people will stay safe. [BEAT] But I want other things as well. I want that family, that future, the feeling of strong arms wrapped around me. I want love without consequences.

MEDUSA:

I’d like us to stay together.

MEDEA:

Yeah. It’d be nice.

ATALANTA:

Great! Bring it in, you guys! [ECHO CHIMES]

MEDEA (NARRATION):

It’s a sweet vignette— the three of us wrapped in a hug with Echo playing a happy tune to convey her joy.

ATALANTA (WHISPERED):

You’re really okay with this? You trust me, yeah, love?

MEDEA (NARRATION):

For the first time in my life, I manage to look someone dead in the eyes and lie through my teeth.

MEDEA:

Yes.

MEDEA (NARRATION):

It’s going to break my heart to see it all blown to bits.

TALESPINNER:

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

This episode of Khora Podcast, A Knife In My Hands, featured Kit MacNeil as Medea, Mq Quinlan as Atalanta, Kat Hawthorne as ECHO, Clary Cheung as Medusa, Sats Di Stephano as Andromeda, Bekah Maren Anderson as Orpheus, Abhilasha P as Eurydice, and Hayan Lee as the Talespinner.

Khora’s music and sound design is done by the Khora Team. This episode was written by Celeste Lang 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!