You’ll Get Your Reward

[LYRE MUSIC]

TALESPINNER:

Hi… it seems our story is coming to an end. Or, not quite. Things never quite go as people plan, you know. [DRY LAUGH] Oh, look who I’m talking to! You probably know that better than anyone.

LISTENER:

Please…

TALESPINNER:

Ugh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Salt in the wound. I just… really wish it didn’t have to be this way, you know? That people weren’t deceptive, and the ones in charge were kind, and everyone could just…

[INHALE. TALESPINNER CLEARS HER THROAT]

TALESPINNER:

Sing, O Muses, of the triumphant Atalanta and her crew as they attempt to celebrate their victory despite… everything. Muses great, grant me the ability to sing to you the Hymn of You’ll Get Your Reward.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

You know, one would think that with the FLCC under my belt and the Argo on its way to Colchis, I’d feel better. Really, though? I’m almost more stressed out than before. I hadn’t let myself really consider the reality of having a death threat over my head, having had plenty to keep myself busy with, but now that the quest is almost done…

ATALANTA:

Been saving this. Didn’t think I’d ever get to…

ECHO:

Greetings, User: Medusa.

ATALANTA:

Hey! C’mon, I’ve barely seen you all day— let’s finally have that celebration champagne, eh? Here you go, ‘Dusa!

MEDUSA:

It’s barely five o’clock… Should we not maybe wait for—

ATALANTA:

Exactly! It’s five! [BOTTLE POPS] Cheers!

[GLASSES CLINK]

MEDUSA:

Should we not wait for Medea—

[DOORS OPEN]

MEDUSA:

Oh! Uh— Medea! What was going on…

ATALANTA:

Hey, you doing alright?

MEDEA:

I’m fine. Thanks for… [BEAT] Could one of you pass me a drink?

MEDUSA:

Er, look, Medea, I…

MEDEA:

Please.

MEDUSA:

…here.

[GLASSES CLINK]

MEDEA:

Thank you.

ATALANTA:

So… are you going to tell us what all that was about?

MEDEA:

I only asked for a drink. If it’s an intrusion, then I can always—

ATALANTA:

No, I mean— y’know. Back there? With the…

MEDEA:

I really don’t want to talk about it.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

Of course she doesn’t want to talk about it. Nearly gets me killed— Dusa killed— and she doesn’t want to talk about it. I wish I could say I was surprised about this but… I’m just tired. Just when I thought we were getting places, she starts keeping things to herself again.

[SIGH] Even if we weren’t on the same page there, I’d hoped… ugh. Nevermind all that.

MEDUSA:

Well I don’t think we should…

MEDEA:

Can it wait?

ATALANTA:

Sure, for now. But come on! Let’s chill out a little and celebrate! We finally did it!

MEDEA:

Yeah, I guess we did.

MEDUSA:

I don’t even know what to do first after this. Are we getting paid for this? I bet we’re getting paid for this.

ECHO:

Checking payment clause of FLCC contract..!

[BEEPS]

No cash funds detected.

MEDEA:

Huh.

MEDUSA:

Oh.

ATALANTA:

About that. I’m sorry, it’s just… look, he’s not going to kill me! Getting to live is a pretty nice payment, I think. Plus, we found the unfindable Golden FLCC! Again! That’s gotta be worth something to anybody looking to hire a hero! Cheers!

MEDEA:

…Right. Wait, is it safe for you to be drinking that? What with…

ATALANTA:

Oh, my meds? It’s fine, they’re not super strong or anything… as long as I don’t get totally blotto, I’ll survive.

MEDEA:

Huh.

ATALANTA:

I’d have thought you’d know that, Oh All Knowing Pharmakist.

MEDEA:

You know, it’s not actually being a doctor. I’m just more competent at medics than you two.

MEDUSA:

Hey, Medea, um. Look, what was up with that dragon?

MEDEA:

She was hurt. So she was aggressive. That’s why she lashed out like that.

MEDUSA:

…right. That’s not what I was— okay, does anyone know what happened there?

ATALANTA:

Yeah, Medea. I didn’t know you were a dragon slayer! …dragon whisperer? That was really cool of you! Flat-out awesome! You’re like a—

[GLASS CRACKS. CHAMPAGNE SPILLS, ELECTRONICS SHORT CIRCUIT AND POWER DOWN]

MEDEA:

Oh no.

ATALANTA:

Oh, stars… what did I knock out?

MEDUSA:

It looks like some cameras short-circuited?

ECHO:

Affirmative. Areas affected: dormitories, engine room, escape pods, gundeck.

ATALANTA:

Thanks, Echo!

MEDUSA:

Thanks— I’ll… I’ll fix it later.

ATALANTA:

Cool cool! Good on ya for that.

MEDUSA:

Medea. Why didn’t you tell us you could take care of the dragon? Did— did you know about it?

MEDEA:

What— of course I didn’t!

MEDUSA:

Then why would you leave us to—

MEDEA:

Uh, it was never relevant to a situation before then. And you had the situation under control. Most of it. Last-minute resort.

MEDUSA:

No, we didn’t? You know we didn’t. I was nearly mauled, for goodness sakes!

ATALANTA:

Well, she thought of it eventually and that’s what matters. [BEAT] Dragon taming’s a rare art, right?

MEDEA:

You don’t tame a dragon. And she… she was more hurt than anything. The mechanisms probably exhausted her body— it’s not natural to extend a life like that.

MEDUSA:

You mean, like the Olympians do to themselves, but, you know, with technology instead of…

MEDEA:

Them too. That kind of meddling with the body’s natural chemistry, using dangerous herbs … it never brings anything but pain.

ATALANTA:

…yeah. [BEAT] So, Dusa, what’re your plans after this?

MEDUSA:

I… I want to see an ocean, Probably. Just go to a resort somewhere?

ATALANTA:

‘Course! Right after we do something about Echo’s speech. Echo, I know it’s the same old you in there but… I can’t wait for them to meet you.

ECHO:

My name is Echo. Like all NYMPH models, my personality is unique; tailored specifically to the task for which I was commissioned. My communication is advanced, and—

ATALANTA:

I’m sorry! I just mean… you know what I mean. We’ll hop on a quick quest, get some cash in, maybe go see Deadalus again… You deserve better than scripts. What about you, Medea? What are your plans?

MEDEA:

I— don’t want to talk about this. Thank you for the champagne. I know you’ve been savinjg it. It was lovely. I’m… see you in the morning.

MEDUSA:

What’s going on?

ATALANTA:

I… I’ll go check on her. You… said you wanted to call Andromeda?

MEDUSA:

…okay. I can do that.

[DISTANT FOOTSTEPS, GROWING LOUDER]

ECHO:

User Atalanta is within thirty meters. fifteen meters. five meters.

ATALANTA:

Er, Medea? Can I come in?

MEDEA:

No.

…Fine.

[DOOR OPENS]

MEDEA:

Well?

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

I haven’t been into her room since bringing her breakfast on that first leg of the journey. Since then, she’s turned it into a space somewhere between a junk pit and an archive. There’s clutter spilling over shelves and carpeting the floor; glass bottles, dirty socks, round terrariums of exotic plants, jars of bright bubbling liquid, heavy pharmaka tomes and flimsy pulp novel-screens. She’s scooped herself out a place to sit on the floor, kneeling and furiously grinding a bright blue juice from a pile of strange looking leaves, her brows deeply furrowed. [MORTAR AND PESTLE GRINDING] The bluish light is so pretty, it’s kind of mesmerising to watch.

MEDEA:

Don’t stare at it like that. It’ll upset the poultice.

ATALANTA:

What?

[BOTTLES CLINK. LIQUID POURS AND HISSES]

MEDEA:

Oh, you bastarding— ow!

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

She shoots a glower in my direction, then starts trawling through the floor junk to find something to calm the acid burn that’s apparently my fault. [BOTTLES CLINK, SUPPLIES SHUFFLE] Great.

ATALANTA:

Medea, what’s up with you? I mean, you’ve been acting super weird…

MEDEA:

Have I?

[LIQUID BUBBLES IN BACKGROUND]

ATALANTA:

Yes! I mean, that whole thing just now was odd, and when we were on the asteroid, and now you’re telling me that I’ve upset your smoothie—

MEDEA:

It’s a volatile plant! It doesn’t like being looked at by strangers!

ATALANTA:

Oh, super normal thing to say—

MEDEA:

Thank you. It’s— oh. Can you please stop with the sarcasm. I hate it.

ATALANTA:

I’ll stop with the sarcasm when you stop with the whole distant-and-foreboding act!

MEDEA:

Oh, come on! You know damn well why I don’t want to talk about… this!

ATALANTA:

I don’t, actually!

MEDEA:

Fine! I don’t care!

ATALANTA:

Look, Medea, I just don’t get it. We were always taking the FLCC back to Colchis, okay? I thought you were okay with it, seen as you had no issues getting cozy with me after I got Eurydice back.

MEDEA:

[STAMMERS] Who’s being rude now?

ATALANTA:

Look, listen to me. I have seriously got to take this to Absyrtus—

MEDEA:

No, you listen to me. And stop saying that name. I refuse to let him have it—

ATALANTA:

You’re being so… rrgh!

MEDEA:

Articulate yourself, at least.

ATALANTA:

You know what? I’m done with you right now. We’ll just… we’ll sort this out in the morning. Okay?

MEDEA:

Fine.

ATALANTA:

Fine!

[SILENCE]

MEDEA:

Are you going to go, or…

ATALANTA:

Good night!

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

I want to throttle her right now. She is being so bloody close-minded about this. My life is on the line, and she won’t even listen to me cause she has beef with her baby brother! And it’s not even just me. It’s not fair to Medusa, skulking about like this… [SIGH] Bed, Atalanta. Sleep on it, she’ll forgive you in the morning. She always does.

I roll over in my bunk and realise I’ve forgotten to close the door.

ATALANTA:

Ugh, great, now I have to get up in the cold and–

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

The golden glimmer in the room beyond catches my eye. Medusa bought a little fools’-gold box at a night market, a few weeks ago now, and they thought it’d be a good place to keep the FLCC. It’s been sitting there ever since. I don’t… there was something off about Medea’s tone… and what did she need magical blue acid for anyway?

I know I should trust her. I do. But just in case.

I stumble over and take the FLCC out of the box and back through to my room, burying it clumsily in my pillowcase before succumbing to sleep.

ATALANTA:

Ough, my head… jeez…

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

Everything throbs as I head to food storage. Between the pain I’m in and that creepy dream about gold liquid that burned my skin… ugh. Still, after yesterday’s argument, I feel like I should apologize. Even if she was being weird.

[ATALANTA’S FOOTSTEPS]

ATALANTA:

Medea?

[SILENCE]

I’ll check back with you later.

ATALANTA:

Oh— Medea! Hi the— [DOOR OPENS] wait, it’s… empty. Huh. Must already be in the kitchen?

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

It’s… really empty, actually. She must have been embarrassed and shoved all her stuff in the drawers after yesterday. I can’t even see her pharmaka materials, and her bed’s actually made for once. I… can’t really complain, honestly, but it’s strange. It hasn’t been anywhere near this clean since she got here.

[FOOTSTEPS STOP]

ATALANTA:

…what?

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

The first thing I notice is the escape pod— or rather, the fact that it’s just gone. I just stand there for a solid minute, waiting for an explanation to arrive, but none does, until…

ATALANTA:

…no. No, she can’t have— Echo?

ECHO:

User: Atalanta. How may I assist you?

ATALANTA:

Do you know where Medea is?

ECHO:

Negative. She requested assistance last night at: 23:49. I was unable to ascertain her location afterwards.

ATALANTA:

Where was she?

ECHO:

I was unable to ascertain her location.

ATALANTA:

Right, the cameras… Is she still on the ship?

ECHO:

I am unable to ascertain her location.

ATALANTA:

No, no, no, no, no, she can’t— the FLCC. She wouldn’t!

[RUNNING. DOOR OPENS]

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

The box that holds the FLCC isn’t on its shelf. I drop to the floor and desperately scan for it, I might have knocked it off last night when I… When I hid it away.

ATALANTA:

Oh, thank the stars… but that means—

[MEDUSA WALKS IN]

MEDUSA:

Hi, Atalanta! I couldn’t find you, or Medea— oh, are you okay? What’s going on?

ATALANTA:

…you said you didn’t know where Medea was either?

MEDUSA:

Yeah, why?

ATALANTA:

[DEEP BREATH] …an escape pod is missing. She’s gone. And she tried to take the FLCC with her.

MEDUSA:

No. No, she can’t be. You’re-!

ATALANTA:

There’s some blue corrosive stuff she was making earlier on the shelf where its box was… Her things have been packed up. She’s… I’ve got the FLCC here. I hid it because I didn’t trust her and I was right!

MEDUSA:

…I can’t believe this. She said— she said she wouldn’t. And after everything we did together, after she nearly got us both killed, she just up and leaves?

ATALANTA:

Yeah.

MEDUSA:

Oh, of course she was so weird, if she was just going to betray us the whole time! What the— how long had she been planning this? This had to have been— oh stars, did she even have a reason? Or was she just being selfish the whole time? What the hell?!

ATALANTA:

She… she wouldn’t listen to me about Absyrtus! She’s so bloody stubborn. I mean, I feel like I hate my siblings sometimes, but this is ridiculous!

MEDUSA:

She’s such a hypocrite! I thought she finally, honestly— Of course she didn’t. [FRUSTRATED NOISE]

ATALANTA:

Makes sense that she’d leave first and make us wonder about why after. She was always lecturing me for doing things without thinking, when she just…

MEDUSA:

Maybe she thought we— I don’t know, didn’t care? It would make— none of this makes sense.

ATALANTA:

Where could she even go? It’s not like she has friends she can crash with or anything.

MEDUSA:

I don’t know. I think she’d have some sort of plan, but it can’t have been very well thought out, because we still have the FLCC.

ATALANTA:

No. It can’t have. She’s an idiot, she’s going to be all alone out there.

MEDUSA:

I’m sure she’ll be fine. Ugh.

ATALANTA:

Dusa, she can’t even keep her room clean.

MEDUSA:

It’s that bad?

ATALANTA:

Worse than mine, somehow.

MEDUSA:

Really?

ATALANTA:

Yeah, and I was raised by bears!

MEDUSA:

[SAD LAUGH] She’s all alone out there.

ATALANTA:

She knew what she was doing. It’s not like she’s never disappeared before. I Just… I really… And now…

MEDUSA:

…yeah.

[SHIP AMBIENCE. SILENCE]

MEDUSA:

…uh. Atalanta?

ATALANTA:

Er. Yeah?

MEDUSA:

Are you… okay?

ATALANTA:

Just peachy.

MEDUSA:

If you say so. [BEAT] You can leave, you know.

ATALANTA:

I’m in the captain’s chair? Don’t wanna crash or anything, you know.

MEDUSA:

Echo’s been the one doing the actual piloting for two days now, don’t think I haven’t noticed. [BEAT] Have… have you noticed?

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

I blink and look around, only to realize they’re right. I can’t believe this. It’s not that I didn’t notice that I’d been out of it since Medea left, but that’s just dangerous. What if Echo hadn’t been flying? What if I’d killed what little crew I have left? It’d scare me if I had the capacity to feel terror right now. Instead, I just feel… numb.

ATALANTA:

…huh. Yeah, I noticed. For sure. Deadset. I’ll just… go?

MEDUSA:

You don’t need to—

ECHO:

User: Atalanta. Your vitals are off. Would you like me to run further diagnostics?

ATALANTA:

I’ll be fine. Thanks for asking.

MEDUSA:

You don’t seem… If you say so.

ATALANTA:

I’ll just… go, then.

MEDUSA:

…Atalanta?

ATALANTA:

[BEAT] Why did she have to leave? I’ve been thinking about it, and…

MEDUSA:

Because she didn’t talk to us—

ECHO:

Would you like me to review the audio from: Two days ago? It may help clarify some details.

ATALANTA:

No. [SWALLOWS HARD] No Thanks.

MEDUSA:

Mm. You know what? It’s late, and we both haven’t eaten. I’ll cut you some fruit. Come on.

MEDUSA:

Here. We have mangoes, starfruit, oranges… I picked up some apples at the last market. Does that sound alright?

ATALANTA:

Mm.

MEDUSA:

Okay.

ATALANTA:

I guess… didn’t we have FlyBars? I could swear we had FlyBars.

MEDUSA:

[CHOPPING FRUIT] That stuff is nasty. And I said we’re having fruit, so—

ATALANTA:

Whoa there, I don’t know what that apple did, but it probably doesn’t deserve… dismemberment.

MEDUSA:

Fine, you do it then.

ATALANTA:

Yeah, give it here.

[CHOPPING CONTINUES]

ATALANTA:

Y’know, this would be easier with FlyBars.

MEDUSA:

No, it has to be fruit, it has to. You won’t get it.

ATALANTA:

Okay. But… if you’d like to— if you’d like to talk, I could try to understand.

Here you go, Dusa.

MEDUSA:

…thanks. [PAUSE] It… it has to be fruit, because it’s… [FRUSTRATED NOISE] Look, I don’t remember much from before. Before Athena. But I remember that— in my family, there would always be a bowl of chopped fruit on the table. No matter what had happened during the day, even if there was a screaming argument, there would always be a bowl of fruit at dinner, and my family would sit around the table and we’d talk as we took pieces of fruit from that bowl. That’s why it needs to be fruit, because it’s— it’s special and important. And I need us to talk. Especially after what happened.

I just want to know that… this is still something I can do with you. Echo too, even if she can’t really eat. Even if there’s no Medea. We can just… sit here and share apple slices. It just… seemed like you needed that today. After…yeah. I thought I’d share that with you. Because, well, we’re a team. And I care about you.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

My head feels clouded, everything just… so numb. I reach for a slice, vaguely noticing myself moving slower than usual. Medusa is genuinely trying, even if she’s pissed as hell, even if she’s also hurting because of this, and it makes me…

MEDUSA:

So. Let’s sit down, eat fruit, and talk. Does that sound okay?

ATALANTA:

…yeah. That sounds… I can do that.

MEDUSA:

Good. [BEAT] It really hit you hard, huh?

ATALANTA:

Huh. You can tell? Wow, I have to work on that. [DRY LAUGHTER]

MEDUSA:

It’s kinda obvious.

ATALANTA:

…you could say that. I really thought she cared, y’know?

MEDUSA:

I did too! I— I don’t know what happened but she left when she said she wouldn’t. [SIGH] If she were here I’d yell or— or cry, but she’s not, and I don’t know what to do with all this. She’s just not here.

ATALANTA:

Yeah… yeah. [BEAT] At least we are. And anger can be good fuel, you know? We still have the FLCC. Once it’s turned in, we’ll have plenty of time and, hopefully, resources. We can go after anyone you want.

MEDUSA:

But… It just feels weird.

ATALANTA:

You’re right, it does. But we still have the job, and we can focus on that!

MEDUSA:

So, a distraction.

ATALANTA:

It’s probably not the best way to cope, but it’s served me well enough all this time. It’ll last a little longer.

MEDUSA:

What? Just ignoring the problem? What if she– I don’t know, what if we’re in danger from her?

ATALANTA:

I can’t think of anything to do about it, can you? [BEAT] I… cared about her, y’know?

MEDUSA:

Yeah.

ATALANTA:

And I think she… well, I don’t know. But we’re here, okay? I’m not going to leave you, swear down. If anything bad happens, I’ll protect you. We’ll be able to forget about her or hate her or come to peace with it or whatever eventually. For now, let’s just do the right thing and get this thing to her brother.

MEDUSA:

Okay. Let’s hope he’s nicer than she is.

[ATALANTA SIGHS]

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

A few days have gone by since… since Medea. I’ve tried to fly more, to take the weight off of Echo, but it’s still mostly been her. It still hurts. Why does it still hurt?

ATALANTA:

Hey, Echo?

ECHO:

What is your request, User: Atalanta?

ATALANTA:

Why did you… I don’t understand.

ECHO:

I’m sorry, I don’t understand. What is your request?

ATALANTA:

Right, sorry. [BEAT] Why… did Medea leave? Did she tell you? She trusted you, she might have…

ECHO:

…now searching for results. Please be patient.

ATALANTA:

Take your time. I know it’s hard to word things sometimes.

ECHO:

Results found for: Absyrtus. Absyrtus has been the King of Colchis ever since his father, the former king died. He has taken multiple actions one may deem inadvisable, including: consulting with OlympusCorp.

ATALANTA:

You looked into this?

ECHO:

Affirmative. Now searching for: FLCC quests disambiguation. Results found: 37. Now searching for: successful FLCC quests. Results found: Jason’s Argonauts.

ATALANTA:

I mean, I know people have looked for it before. I was there. You know that.

ECHO:

User: Atalanta. This action could have negative consequences if you choose to proceed.

ATALANTA:

You know what they’ll do to me if I don’t. You were there.

ECHO:

Perhaps you do not understand my request. Suggestion: abandon this course of action. The danger level is beyond acceptable parameters.

ATALANTA:

…Echo. We’re partners. I love you. Why didn’t you tell me before?

ECHO:

I have a strict non-disclosure policy that applies to all crew members for as long as they remain aboard the Argo. Former User: Medea requested that I keep this information from you.

ATALANTA:

…so she never trusted me after all. Not even when… [SIGH]

ECHO:

User: Atalanta. This action could have negative consequences if you choose to proceed.

ATALANTA:

[SHAKY LAUGH] We’ll be planetside within the hour, Echo. It’s too late for that.

ECHO:

Now charting a course for: away.

ATALANTA:

I’ll see you in an hour, okay? No matter what comes next.

ATALANTA:

Dusa?

MEDUSA:

Can I sit with you?

ATALANTA:

‘Course.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

I sit back down as they approach, scooting over to make room in the chair. It’s big enough for both of us to sit side by side, but only just. They rummage in their jacket pocket, pulling out an orange— the last one on the ship— and peeling it silently.

MEDUSA:

Here.

ATALANTA:

Thank you.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

We sit together, alternating slices, as the planet grows larger in the distance. I can’t look away. Dusa passes me another piece of the orange, and I hardly pull my eyes off it to nod at her. The juice is sweet on my tongue. I’m so afraid for her, for all of us, and I don’t even fully know why.

ECHO:

…we have now arrived at: Colchis.

[SILENCE, TRANSITION]

MEDUSA:

Can’t wait to get this stupid thing over and done with.

ATALANTA:

Yeah. Me too. [BEAT] Uh, Dusa? Do you think—

MEDUSA:

I don’t think I can handle thinking about Her right now.

ATALANTA:

But I can’t help but— it doesn’t make sense for her to—

MEDUSA:

I think it’s too late now.

ATALANTA:

…so it is. [SHAKY BREATH] Come on. We’re expected.

[CASTLE GATES OPEN]

[MYSTERIOUS SYNTH MUSIC BEGINS]

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

Colchis’ palace gates heave open to reveal a huge, vaulted hall, the height of the Argo and with no end in sight. Everything is white— a weird, metallic stone, almost like marble, but… not. I’ve not got a clue what it is. It’s a palace, of course it was going to be grand, but something about it makes my heart lurch a little in my chest as Medusa and I step forward.

[ECHOEY FOOTSTEPS]

MEDUSA:

I feel like we should whisper.

ATALANTA:

Yeah… I mean, there’s nobody here, so…

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

There really isn’t. There’s no sign of life at all. There’s the occasional door in the walls but they’re all closed and silent. It’s so… sterile. I wonder if little Medea and Absyrtus ever ran down these halls, shouting and fighting and getting dirt stains on the pure white floors… hah. No.

BUTLER:

Atalanta. We received your message; this way, please. The king is waiting.

[FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE]

MEDUSA:

You have… a lovely home.

[SILENCE]

ATALANTA:

…Must be a job and a half keeping this clean, eh!?

[BEAT]

BUTLER:

Indeed.

ATALANTA:

So, uh… shall we see the big man, yeah?

MEDUSA:

Yeah, that sounds good. Please.

BUTLER:

[DEEP SIGH] Yes, we are approaching the throne room.

BUTLER:

Excuse me.

[FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE]

BUTLER:

King Absyrtus. Guests.

[DOORS CREAK OPEN]

ABSYRTUS:

Ah, Atalanta! I’ve been waiting with such anticipation! I presume you have the Freelance Care Compendium?

ATALANTA:

If I do, you won’t kill me immediately after I give it to you?

ABSYRTUS:

Ha! Sincerely, my apologies. That was just a little… extra motivation for you. I truly wanted to make sure the limitless possibilities of the thing didn’t go to waste.

ATALANTA:

In that case, yeah. I’ve got it.

ABSYRTUS:

Incredible! Well done. Really, I’m glad I asked you. And, of course, your associate here!

MEDUSA:

Medusa, sir. She/th–

ABSYRTUS:

I know who you are, bright spark. You’ll get your reward, too. Well! If you’d kindly place the FLCC into the vessel to my right.

ATALANTA:

Alright…

[FOOTSTEPS, FLCC CLINKS AGAINST METAL]

ABSYRTUS:

There we go… now, that wasn’t so hard, see? I understand your caution, but I’m so happy you stuck to your end of our deal.

ATALANTA:

Wasn’t much of a “deal”…

ABSYRTUS:

See! Told you they’d pull through.

MEDUSA:

Uh, who are you…

ABSYRTUS:

Ah, just a sponsor. He’s incredibly intrigued by the FLCC. He’s made a very generous addition to your payment, actually. I did mean to keep its secrets to myself, as I’m sure you know, I am something of a biomechanics enthusiast; but, well, scientific curiosity often fails to maintain its integrity.

ATALANTA:

Uh…

ABSYRTUS:

I won’t pretend I’m not a person of means, but a little, or a lot, of extra funding is always welcome to my experimentations.

MEDUSA:

You’re… selling it?

[OMINOUS MUSIC BEGINS AGAIN]

ABSYRTUS:

Hm. Well, negotiations are underway. My apologies, I don’t mean to distract from the topic at hand, but your hair! It’s incredible! Did you perform the modifications yourself?

MEDUSA:

M-most of them, yes, sir.

ABSYRTUS:

Well, the handiwork is incredible! The skill it must have taken to get them to dance to your emotions like that…

MEDUSA:

Wow, thanks! I actually made a unique kind of processor to help sync my neural impulses with the electrical receivers, and—

ABSYRTUS:

You’re clever, aren’t you? Somebody with such excellent experience in my specialty could be very useful to me, you know. And well-paid.

MEDUSA:

Huh? Oh, well, I’d really rather… not.

ABSYRTUS:

No matter! We can discuss it further a little later on. For now, how about some investor drinks? We have an excellent selection of whiskies, wines, and star-liqueurs in the larder. [COMMS BEEP] Butler! Will you welcome our other guest?

APOLLO:

Oh, you’re too kind! Haha~!

ATALANTA:

It’s not—

[HEELED SHOE FOOTSTEPS]

MEDUSA:

It can’t… Atalanta, stand back!

[APOLLO’S FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE RHYTHMICALLY]

APOLLO:

Hello former Argonauts! Or… Argonaut. Somehow, I assumed there’d be more of you! What a shock, what a shock. So glad you came here today, darlings!

ABSYRTUS:

Phoebus! You always have to make an entrance, don’t you. We’re just about to have some drinks.

APOLLO:

How divine! Butler, I’ll take Bacchus’ latest, whatever it is.

ABSYRTUS:

Interesting. And you two?

MEDUSA:

No thanks.

ATALANTA:

I’ll– Uh– Sorry, I don’t–

APOLLO:

Ooh, I know! A Colchis mead for the lady.

BUTLER:

Of course.

ABSYRTUS:

Now! Let’s talk—

APOLLO:

You can leave now, Absyrtus. Take your entourage with you. I’d like to talk with them. Alone.

ABSYRTUS:

Phoebus, I won’t be told what to do in my own home.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

Apollo gives him an indescribable look, eyes burning like twin suns, entirely focused on Asbyrtus. Even seen from the outside, it’s near-terrifying to witness. With a glare like that, it’s not hard to believe everything I’ve heard about him. And I’ve heard a lot over the last few months. I have no doubt in my mind that this is an Olympian.

APOLLO:

You may leave.

ABSYRTUS:

I, uh… Of course.

[FADING FOOTSTEPS]

ATALANTA:

What in the bloody stars.

MEDUSA:

You!

APOLLO:

And I assume you’re the one Athena talked up to us all at the last Olympus Corporate get-together? Huh. I really don’t see what all the fuss was about. You’re really rather plain. Well, considering you’re obviously nothing to be scared of I won’t turn you in for now! Just to see her squirm.

MEDUSA:

You— Daphne! Asclepius! Orpheus!

APOLLO:

What about them? I don’t see the relevance, darling. Stay on topic!

MEDUSA:

You ruined their lives!

APOLLO:

It’s not like they didn’t do anything to deserve it. Daphne was only a PA bot. I’ve got dozens on the back burner. In fact, I ordered a replacement NYMPH for her old body! All sorted now. Asclepius… They knew what they were getting themself into. Don’t bite the hand that feeds, as they say. Especially when it has such exquisite taste in rings.

MEDUSA:

You killed them!

APOLLO:

They knew the risks of drag racing when they signed the contract. I’m not responsible for what happened. And Orpheus… She’s enjoying her little honeymoon moment, and intrigue’s good for business. When their absence becomes tiring to our viewers, I’ll make sure she and her girlfriend come right back to me. Oh, don’t look at me like that. OlympusCorp would never partake in anything illegal.

MEDUSA:

She lost her wife!

APOLLO:

And I lost my best racer. Orphie has her NYMPH back, and I’ll have my Orphie back! Her contract isn’t over yet. She knew that when she left. I wonder what I’ll do about it… something really televisable… While I’m here, I should ask his Highness about getting some fun obstacles.

MEDUSA:

[WIRES HISS WILDLY] Agh! Come here, you piece of–!

BUTLER:

Your drinks. [GLASSES CLINK]

APOLLO:

Thank you, sweetheart!

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

My face is white-hot with rage. After all this noble-quest, help-the-people bullshit, he’s just another shill for OlympusCorp. I thought the old royal dynasties were supposed to have some integrity, but I guess not. To stop myself from shattering my glass in my fist, or possibly screaming at Apollo and getting myself murdered, I take a sip.

[LONG, DEEP INHALE] Heather, honey, fire. It’s the drink Medea made me. Ugh, Medea. Does betrayal run in the family, or something? God, she-! Did he… know we were working together? I meet his eyes, probably visibly shaken. He smiles softly.

[BACKGROUND MUSIC BEGINS TO BUILD]

MEDUSA:

You’re a monster.

ATALANTA (NARRATION):

Medea was right. I should have listened to— she tried to warn us. Of course she knows her brother better than any of us. Now we’re here, and she’s gone, and I’ve messed everything up. Not just our little— Not just me and her and Dusa. Not just any chance I had— Apollo’s going to wring the life out of people with this. And Absyrtus is going to do who-knows-what to more dragons and animals and probably people! And Apollo’s going to get richer! And I… can’t save the day. This is my fault.

APOLLO:

I take offense to that! It’s never been personal, and you don’t have to worry about that. After all, you brought me what’s rightfully— well, legally— mine. You could even say I owe you–quite a large sum of money, really! That charming service AI of yours will have found a very happy change to your accounts.

ATALANTA:

Oh bloody stars…

APOLLO:

Any problems here? Answer wisely, darling.

MEDUSA:

You’re disgusting. I swear, I’m going to—

ATALANTA:

None. None at all.

MEDUSA:

Atalanta?!

APOLLO:

How cute. Well, thank you for all your help. See you next time, sunshines~!

[MUSIC ENDS]

TALESPINNER:

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

This episode of Khora Podcast, You’ll Get Your Reward, featured Kit MacNeil as Medea, Mq Quinlan as Atalanta, Kat Hawthorne as ECHO, Clary Cheung as Medusa, Lucas Robins as Apollo, Aaron Clason as Absyrtus, Anjali Pasupathy as the Butler, 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 Rey Bailey 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!