The Freelance Care Compendium

[LYRE MUSIC]

LISTENER:

You’re back! I was wondering when you’d— oh. Are you okay?

TALESPINNER:

Yeah. I came early, just like you asked. But… You know… Stories are complicated. Sometimes they’re not what they seem. They slip into your ears, dressed as a celebration, and then… well.

Please, just… enjoy the good parts. Stars know you deserve it after everything. But be ready. It’s not over quite yet.

Sing, O Muses, of the Argo’s crew as they draw nearer and nearer to the end of their quest. The FLCC is finally in their grasp, and it seems all they have to do is take it. Muses great, grant me the ability to sing to you the hymn of The Freelance Care Compendium.

[LYRE MUSIC ENDS]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The ship is too quiet as we slip into the Colchian airspace. It’s been two weeks since we left the Acheron, twelve days since we all parted ways.

[FLASHBACK]

ORPHEUS:

Ah, we’d better head out.

ANDROMEDA:

Already? [CLEARS THROAT] There’s still enough time to put Eurydice’s core into that cleaning bot.

EURYDICE:

No, there is not. I’m perfectly happy in this tape player.

ANDROMEDA:

Fine, if you’re sure…

EURYDICE:

Very sure.

ATALANTA:

Do you really want to go? You know you’re welcome to stay as long as you need.

ANDROMEDA:

Well, I hate to say it— and I mean I really hate to say it— but Orpheus is probably right. I think Cyrene’s gonna kill me if I miss another job. Besides, I should maybe be there for this one. And, hey, I’ve never stolen a long-distance spaceship before, so it should be fun.

EURYDICE:

Besides, it sounds like you’ve got a quest of your own.

MEDUSA:

Do you need supplies or anything?

ORPHEUS:

Nah, we’ve got one more stop before we head into the Khôra. Easier to just stock up there while Andromeda’s working on our ship problem.

EURYDICE:

Do you have everything?

ORPHEUS:

Yes, I have everything. You leave a shirt in a hotel one time…

EURYDICE:

In my defense, it looked really good on you.

ANDROMEDA:

Ugh, stars, they’re flirting again! Okay, time to leave. Medusa, darling, may I have my jacket back?

MEDUSA:

[WHINES] Maybe.

ORPHEUS:

Oh, so you can—

ANDROMEDA:

I am fully aware of the hypocrisy and I am not taking criticism at this moment. Medusa, you’re wearing two jackets.

MEDUSA:

Your point? …Fine. Here you go.

EURYDICE:

Young loooooove.

ANDROMEDA:

Hey!

ATALANTA:

We’ll walk with you to Andromeda’s shuttle. We can say goodbyes there?

EURYDICE:

Sounds good to me.

[ALL LAUGH]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The Argo seems bigger, its hallways more echoey, than when they were here. Again, I wonder how Atalanta could stand all the time she spent here with only Echo.

The others seem to feel it, too. Medea, I can understand. I can’t imagine having to return to a home that I left the way she did. She’s been making herself scarce. Gathering her strength. Atalanta, Echo, and I… I think the excitement of being so close to the end has worn off a little. We still have to get the FLCC. Only one more hurdle, but a big one.

ATALANTA:

Keep an eye out, Medusa. It could be anywhere in this quadrant.

MEDUSA:

Remind me exactly what we’re looking for?

ECHO:

According to User: Orpheus, the Freelance Care Compendium, also known as the FLCC, is stored within a series of caves and tunnels within an asteroid in Quadrant B over Colchis. The asteroid is less than: three-thousand, two-hundred metres across and may be identified if its docking port is visible.

ATALANTA:

And if it’s not visible?

ECHO:

My capabilities include ground-penetrating radar scans. I may be able to detect the internal geography of the asteroid. However, GPR scans require a significant amount of energy, and I will need to refuel before leaving Colchis if I run one.

ATALANTA:

Right. We should have the agility to circle anything that looks like it might be it, right?

ECHO:

Affirmative.

ATALANTA:

So we shouldn’t need a scan. The docking port’s gotta be visible from some angle.

ECHO:

Recommended course of action: contact User: Medea. Additional crew members would benefit you in pursuing this objective.

ATALANTA:

No, leave her be. She’s… [SIGH] we don’t need to bother her.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

She avoids looking at me or the speaker Echo’s voice is coming from as she moves closer to the front window and scans the space ahead of us. I look, too, at the field of lumpy rocks around us, searching for the glint of metal.

MEDUSA:

Are you all right?

ATALANTA:

Yeah. Here, help me look for this thing?

[FAINT BEEPING OF THE ARGO IN THE BACKGROUND]

MEDUSA:

What’s going to happen after we find it?

ATALANTA:

Like we said, we stick together. We’ll be able to go anywhere we want.

MEDUSA:

No, no, I meant what’s going to happen with the FLCC? Medea seemed pretty upset you were handing it over to her brother, and… I don’t know. It’s an encyclopedia of advanced medicine. He could make a huge profit if he wanted to.

ATALANTA:

I know, but I have a signed contract saying he won’t. Besides, Medea parted with him on pretty bad terms. She’s probably just not wanting to get into any more family drama, and honestly, I don’t blame her. But if we can avoid that, then the FLCC will be out there! Think about how much Olympian power that wipes out, right there!

MEDUSA:

Are you sure? They have their hands in a lot of other industries. What if they–

ATALANTA:

Hey. It’s going to be alright. Anything that hurts them, no matter how small, is a victory. We can’t take them all down at once, but this is a good start. One that’s going to help a lot of people.

MEDUSA:

I know that, and I… I want to see it so badly. I’m just not sure I’m ready for everything to change again.

ATALANTA:

Not everything will change. We’re still going to be here for you, Dusa. No matter what, you’re going to have your crew.

MEDUSA:

[DEEP BREATH] I want to see an ocean. Once we’re done.

ATALANTA:

That’ll be the first thing on our list, then. This time next week, you’ll be listening to the waves crash against the shore.

Can you swim? With the hair and everything?

MEDUSA:

The wires are water-resistant. Once I actually learn how to swim, I’ll be fine.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

After this, I’ll go to the ocean. After this, I’ll learn how to swim. After this… after this, everything is wide-open, for the first time in my life. Thinking about it almost makes me dizzy. So many things in the universe that could kill me. So many things that haven’t. So many beautiful things left to experience, and for the first time, I’ll have the chance to. I have a family and freedom and so— so much time.

MEDUSA:

What about you? What do you want to do once this is over? Specifically?

ATALANTA:

[EXHALE] Gods, I don’t know. Easier access to my pain meds will be nice. So will be— not having this job hanging over me. I’ll keep working on Echo’s vocal block, maybe go see my family… [SIGHS] I’ve been at this hero thing a long time. It honestly might be time for a vacation.

MEDUSA:

[SHARP GASP] Atalanta!

ATALANTA:

What is it?

MEDUSA:

Turn around!

[SOMETHING WOOSHES BY]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

It’s there, through the window in the space just past her shoulder. The asteroid is miniscule compared to many of the others, but there’s no mistaking the silver shine of metal. The docking bay.

ATALANTA:

Stars… that’s it, isn’t it? [LAUGHS] That’s really it! Echo, contact Medea now. Tell her we’ve found it!

MEDEA:

Easy there.

ATALANTA:

It’s a tricky landing, love. Bear with me.

MEDEA:

Echo, is there anything you can do about that?

ECHO:

Negative. The Argo’s current issues are being caused by hardware. I am a series four modified nymph model artificial intelligence. Tools recommended for the required maintenance include an open-end wrench, insulated copper wiring, and, hands.

MEDUSA:

I’ll get it taken care of as soon as we’re done here.

ECHO:

The issues are not urgent. None of them are currently impacting the ship’s functionality.

ATALANTA:

Stars, that dock is small. Echo, help me steer?

ECHO:

Of course, User: Atalanta.

MEDUSA:

[ASIDE TO MEDEA] Are you all right?

MEDEA:

I’m fine. This isn’t going to be easy.

MEDUSA:

No, but this is what we came together to do, isn’t it? We’re a team now. Like you said.

MEDEA:

Like I said.

MEDUSA:

And we’ll be here for you when you have to go home, too.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Medea closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and nods. I gently bump her shoulder with mine before drifting back to the front of the bridge.

ATALANTA:

Right, take it slow.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The ship creeps through the door and into the asteroid. Inside is dark, but from the way the ship’s engine echoes with resonance against the walls, the space is big. As I strain to see, I notice what looks like stars—but no. Their glow is soft and blue, growing stronger as the entry shuts behind us. [DISTANT DOOR CLOSES]

As Echo turns on the Argo’s exterior lights, I realize what I’m looking at. Bioluminescent fungus, clinging to the craggy ceiling and walls. It’s… lovely. It seems fitting. Little points of light in the heart of an asteroid, where there should be nothing but inky void. The FLCC is a legend. A night-light against cruel circumstances. We’re about to cup that light in our hands and cast it across the night sky, there for all to see.

But at the moment, I need to focus on the other thing I can see.

ECHO:

Present dangers include: A large biomechanical reptile resting in your path.

MEDEA:

Oh, stars…

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The creature is sleeping in front of the only other door. It’s massive, though gauging its exact size is hard when it’s curled up like that. [DRAGON RUMBLES] The bronze scales would blend almost perfectly with the overlapping metal plates and gears, if it weren’t for the thick, ropy scars dividing them. I don’t know if it was always a… the only word for it is a dragon, really… but it clearly wasn’t always like that.

ATALANTA:

What is that?

MEDEA:

…Absyrtus… liked to experiment. Liked to push things. I don’t know how he got a dragon all the way from Lemnos, but… I guess now that he’s king, he’s found bigger and better things to push.

ATALANTA:

So what do we do about it?

MEDUSA:

If it were purely mechanical, I could try hacking it… but it’s partially biological, which, ethical issues aside…

MEDEA:

What is there to do? Jason wasn’t a genius, but you could always bet on him finding the meanest guard dog alive. Apparently that’s my brother’s little pet project.

MEDUSA:

Maybe we could just… sneak past it?

MEDEA:

It’s a dragon.

ATALANTA:

Hang on. If you’ve seen Absyrtus since he started working on these, do you know any weak points or anything? Is there a way to deactivate it or something?

MEDEA:

Deactivate it? It’s still partially biological, like Medusa said. Besides, no one actually tells a princess anything.

ECHO:

All available data indicates that there is only one path forward. [PLAYS BACK MEDUSA SAYING, “It’s an encyclopedia of advanced medicine.” THEN ATALANTA SAYING, “One that’s going to help a lot of people.”]

ATALANTA:

I know, Echo. Can you find anything about this? Maybe there are leaked records or something.

ECHO:

Now searching: Colchian Biomechanical Dragons. No relevant results. Now searching: biomechanics experiments and Colchis. No relevant results.

MEDEA:

There wouldn’t be. My brother’s always been secretive about his hobbies.

ATALANTA:

We still need to get past it somehow.

ECHO:

The creature is displaying signs of deep sleep, including: low heart rate… deep breathing… and little eye motion. Recommended course of action: follow User: Medusa’s suggestion.

MEDUSA:

What suggestion?

ECHO:

[PLAYS BACK MEDUSA SAYING, “Maybe we could just… sneak past it?”]

MEDUSA:

I wasn’t being serious!

ATALANTA:

Does anyone have any better ideas?

[SILENCE]

[DEEP SIGH] Right. Has everyone got everything they need?

[MEDEA AND MEDUSA MUTTER RELUCTANT AFFIRMATIVES]

ECHO:

Recommended course of action: Be careful. Your health and safety are always a priority.

MEDUSA:

Love you too, Echo.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Right now, I’d give almost anything to go back a few minutes and keep my mouth shut. Atalanta is right— we really don’t have any better options. But the worry still gnaws at me that I’m about to get both of them killed.

Deep breath, Medusa. I know they’re choosing to take this risk, just as I am. They’re my family, my home star, but they’re responsible for themselves. The hero and the witch, both legendary in their own right, both prepared for this. My job is to help them, where I’m able. We make our way to the exterior door, and with one last reassuring glance to all of us, Atalanta pushes the button to open it. I’m behind Atalanta, with Medea taking up the rear, as we creep into the cavern beyond.

The Argo’s lights are still on, and the creature shows no sign of stirring. Not until the door closes behind us.

[LOUD NOISE]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Standing to face us, the dragon is at least twice my height, seeming even bigger with its scales bristling outward. [DRAGON ROARS] Some of the teeth it bares have to be the size of my wrist, needing no kind of mechanical augmentation to be deadly. For a moment, all of us seem to hold our breath. Then the spell is broken, and it swipes.

ATALANTA:

Hold on! Oof!

MEDUSA:

Where’s Medea?

MEDEA:

I’m under here. I’m fine.

MEDUSA:

Ow.

ATALANTA:

Sorry about—

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The dragon is already lumbering toward where Atalanta’s thrown the both of us. All of its scars seem to be slowing it, but not enough. Atalanta draws her sword.

ATALANTA:

Agh!

MEDUSA:

Atalanta!

ATALANTA:

Not even a scratch. This damn armor…

MEDUSA:

We could use some help here, Medea!

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Atalanta gears up to try another strike, but my shout has drawn the creature’s attention. It swipes its massive claws, which I almost manage to dodge. Almost.

[THUD, CRY OF PAIN]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

My ankle is on fire, and I’m not quick enough to scramble away when the dragon picks me up.

[DRAGON ROARS]

MEDUSA:

[HAIR WIRES HISS WITH ELECTRICITY] I can’t stun it!

ATALANTA:

Hey, you big lug! Let go of them!

[THUMP]

[MEDUSA CRIES OUT]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I barely manage to grab on to the beast as it drops me and rounds on Atalanta. The ground is too far away to let go and land safely, so I scramble for a more stable spot, using the rough scales and plates of its wrists and arms for purchase.

ATALANTA:

My sword! — [GASPS] Medea! A little help?

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I risk a glance to where Medea jumped back, under the Argo. I can see her shadow there, not… not moving. The dragon jerks, probably trying to throw me off, and I tighten my grip on its scales.

Then I see it. A spot, just in the joint of its wing, where the scales and metal don’t cover the soft skin underneath. It’s a few feet away, but if I can get to it—

MEDUSA:

I might have— oof!– I might have found something over here!

ATALANTA:

Medea, for stars’ sake, help them!

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Below, Atalanta is still pinned under the dragon’s claws. She grimaces as the pressure increases. It’s going to kill her. I climb faster.

MEDUSA:

Hang on!

MEDEA:

Wait! Wait…

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The dragon jerks towards the new threat— throwing me off its back in the process. I hit the ground hard, knocking all the air out of my lungs, and the tears of pain blur my vision. I see Medea’s fuzzy outline striding towards the dragon.

[FOOTSTEPS]

MEDEA:

Shh, shh. It’s okay. It’s okay, love. Just— shh…

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Before I can cry out to warn her, she’s right at its head. But… the dragon isn’t growling. I stare in confusion as Medea gently sets her hand on its snout.

[DRAGON PURRS]

MEDEA:

Shh. That’s better. I know it hurts. I know. Don’t worry, darling. We’re not here to hurt you more.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

She holds out her other hand to it, showing it something in her palm. The dragon licks it from her hand with its enormous rough tongue.

MEDEA:

[SOFT LAUGH] That’ll feel better, at least for a little while. Shh. Time to rest, okay?

[MEDEA HUMS]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

And the dragon simply… lies down, freeing Atalanta in the process. It curls up like it did before, letting Medea stroke its snout as it closes its eyes.

ATALANTA:

Ow.

MEDEA:

Are— Atalanta, are you all right?

ATALANTA:

I— let’s get through that door. Medusa, can you stand up?

MEDUSA:

I think so, yeah. Just— ow— just bruised.

ATALANTA:

Here, gimme your hand. Come on. I don’t think any of us want to be in here when that thing wakes up.

MEDUSA:

Augh!

ATALANTA:

I’ve got you. You okay?

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I grit my teeth against the pain as I try to stand back up. My ankle is still burning, but we need to get the FLCC. So long as I can walk on it, it can wait.

MEDUSA:

Just twisted my ankle.

ATALANTA:

Medea, want to look at that?

MEDEA:

Probably, yes.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Atalanta helps me ease into a sitting position while Medea feels my ankle through my boot. It hurts when she presses on it, but I do my best not to make a sound.

ATALANTA:

Shouldn’t you take off her shoe?

MEDEA:

If it’s sprained or broken, it’ll start swelling. Best to keep it on so it can support her weight until we can give it proper care. I can wrap it, though. That will add extra stability.

ATALANTA:

Medea, why didn’t you help back there?

MEDEA:

What?

ATALANTA:

You left me and Dusa to deal with that thing.

MEDEA:

You seemed to have it under control.

ATALANTA:

They’re hurt! I could’ve died!

MEDEA:

But you didn’t, did you? So I really don’t see the need to discuss it any further—

MEDUSA:

I asked you for help.

MEDEA:

I must not have heard—

ATALANTA:

What the hell happened to being a team, Medea? You could have stopped that fight before it even begun. You’ve patched up enough battle wounds to know that we don’t do it for fun.

MEDEA:

I’m finished wrapping her ankle. Can we keep finding the FLCC now?

ATALANTA:

Medea, we have to talk about this—

MEDUSA:

Atalanta. It’s… We should keep going. We will talk about this later, though.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Medea won’t even look at Atalanta or I as she packs up her small first aid kit and puts it back into the pouch at her hip. I meant what I said— we do need to keep looking— but part of me wants to stay here and yell at her until she explains why she did that. It couldn’t be something as simple as cowardice— we’ve all been in other dangerous situations, and she’s helped with those. The part of me still running on PallasTech mode whispers that I must have done something wrong, that it’s a punishment I’ve earned. I can mostly push that voice away. We’re a team. A family, like they promised. Like Medea promised. Could it just be nerves about going home? Is she really dreading it enough that she put us in danger for it?

ATALANTA:

It’s probably not in here, or we’d have seen it. Medea, help me search for doors or something.

MEDEA:

Let’s split up. You take that side, I’ll take this one.

ATALANTA:

Are you sure?

[FOOTSTEPS]

MEDEA:

The room’s not that big. We aren’t going to lose each other.

ATALANTA:

…fine.

MEDUSA:

I’ll come with you, Atalanta.

ATALANTA:

You should probably rest a little more.

MEDUSA:

I’m okay. Besides, I don’t want to get stiff or anything.

ATALANTA:

I don’t think that happens with sprained ankles, Medusa.

MEDUSA:

Hmm, too bad our medical expert is on the other side of the room. And… you know.

ATALANTA:

…Yeah… Here, let me help you up, at least.

[MEDUSA’S JACKET RUSTLES]

MEDUSA:

You okay?

ATALANTA:

I should be asking you that.

MEDUSA:

She’s been… weird. Ever since we found Orpheus.

ATALANTA:

To be honest, I think it might be my fault.

MEDUSA:

What? Why?

ATALANTA:

I, um… I misread some things. I thought we were on the same page, but I guess I made her uncomfortable.

MEDUSA:

I can’t think of any misunderstanding that would justify standing back in a fight like that.

ATALANTA:

I know. And believe me, I’m furious at her for it. But I just don’t get it, you know?

MEDUSA:

Things will be better once we find the FLCC. Just like you said.

ATALANTA:

…yeah. I hope so. There’s nothing on this side. Let’s go see if our pharmakist has found anything.

ATALANTA:

See anything?

MEDEA:

Nothing yet. Maybe we got the location wrong.

MEDUSA:

We can’t have. Everything has pointed to here.

ATALANTA:

Let’s keep looking. We’ve probably missed something.

[FOOTSTEPS]

ATALANTA:

Medea… there’s a door right here.

MEDEA:

Oh. That’s out of the way.

ATALANTA:

Not that much.

MEDUSA:

It looks like it’s just a keypad to get in.

ATALANTA:

Do you still have that gadget from Delos?

MEDUSA:

I didn’t even think about bringing it. I lent it to Andromeda.

ATALANTA:

Could you overload the lock with electricity or something?

MEDUSA:

Almost any system like this will default to locking in case of an overload. We’d just make it impossible to open without admin access. Do you know the passcodes he used?

MEDEA:

Jason? He usually just used his birthday.

ATALANTA:

Try putting it in.

MEDEA:

He would have changed them after our… falling-out. I can’t see him being too creative about it, though.

MEDUSA:

Statistically speaking, the most common passcodes are sequential numbers or letters, birthdays, and spouse’s birthdays.

ATALANTA:

What about 123456?

MEDUSA:

Might as well try it.

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, ERROR CHIME]

MEDEA:

Hang on. You said spouse’s birthdays?

MEDUSA:

Sometimes other loved ones, but spouses are most common.

MEDEA:

Try mine.

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, ERROR CHIME]

MEDEA:

Let me put it in.

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, ERROR CHIME]

MEDEA:

Oh, come on!

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, ERROR CHIME]

MEDEA:

Oh, for— ugh!

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, ERROR CHIME]

MEDEA:

Stupid thing— just…

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

I try to think of what else he might have used. If it’s a random sequence, we have almost no hope of getting it, but from everything I’ve heard about him, it almost certainly isn’t that. Sequential numbers or letters, birthdays, or…

Gods, I hope this doesn’t work.

MEDUSA:

Ummm… Medea… do you know the birthday of, uh… his most recent spouse?

MEDEA:

…let me try it.

[INPUTTING PASSWORD, AFFIRMATIVE CHIME]

MEDEA:

Oh, that bastard, I’m going to—

ATALANTA:

Huh?

MEDEA:

It was her birthday. Creusa’s.

ATALANTA:

Wow. Uh… you all right?

MEDEA:

Fine. I’m fine.

MEDUSA:

I think we can open the door now?

MEDEA:

Right. Let’s go.

[DOOR OPENS]

ATALANTA:

Huh. Wasn’t expecting stairs.

MEDEA:

There’s only one way to go. Come on.

[FOOTSTEPS]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The stairs carved into the rock are rough and narrow enough that we have to go single-file. I hand the flashlight I brought to Atalanta, who takes it without a word and shines it ahead of us. The chill that’s hung in the air since we landed is more intense here, but the work it takes to climb quickly counteracts that. My mind is still stuck on Medea’s behavior, and spins around that point like a satellite in orbit. The door wasn’t that well-hidden. It’s almost like… like she doesn’t want us to find the FLCC.

She wasn’t happy about bringing it to Absyrtus, but Atalanta seems certain we can trust him. And I can’t imagine her standing back so long in that fight for that— not when we were in so much danger.

We emerge into another rocky chamber. It’s smaller than the rooms before, and there’s no obvious exits aside from the stairway we’ve emerged from. The room is riddled with stalagmites and stalactites, throwing much of it into shadow. And in the center…

One of the rock formations has its tip cut off, a polished geode slab affixed to the surface. Resting atop it is a small cartridge, glinting gold in the beam of the flashlight.

ATALANTA:

Holy… wow. Is that actually it?

MEDUSA:

It must be.

MEDEA:

There has to be another layer of security. That was almost too easy. Maybe it’s a fake?

ATALANTA:

Look at it closer. It’s like it was fifteen years ago.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Closer to the drive, I can see the swirling patterns engraved in the surface, and the white lettering: “Freelance Care Compendium.” Atalanta reaches for it, but I stop her.

MEDUSA:

Wait. Medea’s right. There could be another level of security. A pressure plate or something.

ATALANTA:

Is there a pressure plate?

MEDUSA:

I don’t see signs of one, but there are all sorts of creative security systems out there.

ATALANTA:

Do you see signs of any of those?

MEDUSA:

No, but plenty of them are subtle.

ATALANTA:

…all right. We don’t know. And we don’t have any real way to figure it out Right?

MEDUSA:

Yes.

ATALANTA:

Right. If we get in our heads about it, we’ll never get the FLCC. I think we just have to take this risk.

MEDUSA:

Just… pick it up?

ATALANTA:

Unless anyone has any better ideas. Medea?

MEDEA:

Why would I know anything?

ATALANTA:

Fine. Plan A, then. Anyone wanna do the honors?

MEDEA:

Go ahead. It’s your quest.

[FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL]

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Atalanta creeps up to the pedestal. Slowly, gingerly, she reaches for the FLCC. Nothing happens. Her fingers close around it.

MEDUSA:

Is that it?

[RUMBLING]

ATALANTA:

Woah!

MEDUSA:

Should we—

[RUMBLING STOPS]

MEDUSA:

…run?

ATALANTA:

…huh. It stopped.

MEDUSA:

So… we did it?

ATALANTA:

I guess we did. Stars, we actually did it.

MEDUSA:

What now?

ATALANTA:

Let’s get out of here first. Then? We fly down to Colchis. Hand it off. After that… no more death threat. No… no more quest.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

The trip back doesn’t take nearly as long. The door is still open, the dragon still asleep, and the Argo’s door opens with hardly a sound. None of us say anything as we walk in.

[BEEP. DOOR OPENS]

ECHO:

Users: Atalanta, Medea, and Medusa. What is your current status?

ATALANTA:

We did it, Echo. We’ve got the FLCC.

[TRIUMPHANT CHIME FROM ECHO]

ECHO:

Recommended course of action: celebrate.

MEDUSA:

I found some champagne in storage yesterday?

[SILENCE]

ECHO:

User: Atalanta? User: Medea?

ATALANTA:

Yeah, yeah, sure, champagne, just let me put this away.

MEDEA:

I… I think I’m just going to rest. Long day. Uhh… good night.

[FOOTSTEPS. DOOR OPENS]

ATALANTA:

Good night.

MEDUSA:

I don’t understand. I mean, it makes sense that she needs rest, but shouldn’t she be more excited? Shouldn’t we all be more excited?

ATALANTA:

I guess the day’s caught up with all of us. Maybe we can hold off the celebration for tonight? We’ll all feel better in the morning. More rested! More… more rested.

MEDUSA:

Yeah, I… guess you’re right.

ATALANTA:

Good night, Dusa.

MEDUSA:

Night.

[FOOTSTEPS. DOOR OPENS]

MEDUSA:

I thought this would feel better.

ECHO:

[BEEP] May I be of any assistance today?

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

Suddenly this quest I stumbled into is over, finally making way for the after. [MEDUSA’S THEME STARTS] We’re so close to victory. Once we hand off the FLCC, everything will be better. So why does it feel like there’s a hole in my chest?

Something’s wrong. I can feel it, that something’s wrong, and I can’t bring myself to believe this time that it’s a trick of my mind. The way Medea acted today, Atalanta’s face when she realized we had the FLCC…

This doesn’t feel like a happy ending. This doesn’t feel like a triumph.

ECHO:

User: Medusa?

MEDUSA:

…I think I’ll just go to bed, too.

ECHO:

Affirmative. Sleep well, User: Medusa.

MEDUSA (NARRATION):

My whole body is sore, my ankle throbbing. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Medea about it. Tonight, I don’t want to face her, don’t want to listen to her evade my questions. As soon as I get to my room, I collapse onto the bed. First, rest. Atalanta said we’ll feel better in the morning. Everything will be better in the morning.

TALESPINNER:

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

This episode of Khora Podcast, The Freelance Care Compendium, 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, Lauren Thompson as the Listener, 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!