Ghost Signals, Episode 3: Part 3.1
ARU (to Dez-Lei, from the speakers) We're 100 metros from the Beacon, AC.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (quick nod, to Aru) Thanks, Ari. (looks to the right, clicking buttons) Get whoever's stationed there on comm. And run base diagnostic on our weaponry.
ARU That'd be a Priv La Dean. I would recommend, when you first chat, to keep your emotions in balance. You have a tendency to let them override and escalate a standard conversation into chaos.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (fires back defensively) When the hells have I done that?!
ARU There was Priestess Sprix at the recent Confluence a few weatts ago. The base grunt yesterdat who you accused of dinging your ride when it was you who had done it while knackered. Not to mention the long list of past baes who...
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (gets the point) Okay, okay! Point received. I'll... I'll keep things to an acceptable level with the Pienti.
ARU (interjecting) "Acceptable" as defined, or "acceptable" as defined by you?
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (annoying sigh) Just get the guard on the bett'n comm, schmardarse!
ARU Aye, Mess Dez...
CUT TO:
INT. BORDER BEACON- Moments Later
Priv La Dean back at the beacon, watching and enjoying the telenovela program from earlier. A few moments of this pass by before the alarm blares that notifies of new people, which causes him to pause the program by the end of BCST's line.
BCST (from the speakers, to La Dean) A Class-P Balo is arriving from the south, requesting immediate contact.
LA DEAN Class-P...? (curious fascination, to BCST) Is there an MDC code to it that you can trace?
BCST Yes, there is. One moment... (three beats later) The code belongs to a Dez-Lei, AC Second Class--
LA DEAN (startled) An AC Second Class is here!? By the blessed Eye...gotta spruce myself up a bit! He immediately springs off his chair, and takes out a device similar to a sonic screwdriver in size ad design. He then clicks the button on the base of the handle and moves it up and down the top of his uniform, immediately cleaning it up to a far superior fashion than with Raiven.
BCST (mid-spruce) May I inquire why that title is important to you?
LA DEAN (explanatory) Those who are ACs Second Class can be used as references when applying for the SFA. If I present myself in a steady, professional manner...I can casually inquire being mine once I apply in the Sohna.
BCST Right...how confident are you of this plan's success?
LA DEAN (pause, then a shrug) I have hope. That's enough for me!
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (V.O.) Attention!
Messr. La Dean snaps into action immediately after hearing the forceful command from the AC, throwing a salute to her.
CUT TO:
A shot of the pilot on the Border's comm screen, glancing at the guard (who is visible in the foreground of the shot, breaking off the salute shortly after Dez-Lei's first line).
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (stoic, to the Guard) At ease, Priv. I'm in pursuit of two fugitives who stole a Class-M cruiser from a secure SkyForce facility a few datums ago.
A few moments later, following the sound of quick clicking from the pilot's console, we see a pair of photographs of Raiven and Steggy pop up on the lower-center portion of the screen.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont.) One is a Doctor from our Science Consortium, and the other is an CGAI designate--
LA DEAN (interjects, knowing) Oh yeah, I saw them! I let them through half-horut ago. Said they were on their way to a locale in the Borderlands to mine Ferbonium.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI And you believed them?
LA DEAN (defensively) Their documentation checked out. I was merely following protocol in granting them passage. If we spotted
potential issues, we...
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI How did your BCST unit miss the flashing red warning from the Capitol? It's been blaring on the TAD for over a datum!
LA DEAN (fight back) The OS here's been propped up for years on cheap-arsed Poxy, nells, and votbett'n luck! The simple fact that it didn't explode and melt into a pool of goo is a flarking miracle.
At this point, the level of rage brewing inside the AC Second Class has reached its peak. It's covered by a thin layer of control from inside her.
ARU (from the speakers) Remember, AC- "Acceptable..."