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Water
The group is on half water rations because their condenser isn’t made for this large a group. Devon assures them that they are actively searching for bodies of water that they can treat for drinking.
Bess narrates. The planet is hard on most of the group because they’re used to machines and having what they want. Being from Earth, she’s used to making do.
Julia seems to have hurt herself. Bess takes over giving out the water to let her get a rest, musing on how a single doctor with no equipment is supposed to handle the group.
In her tent Julia digs a tiny computer chip out of her clothes. It’s ordering her to respond. Julia considers for a moment before picking up her Gear and slipping out of camp.
She uses a program on the chip to talk to Reilly in VR. Reilly is a member of the governing Council of the Stations, as is Julia. She’s supposed to be an advance scout to help the Council settle the planet. Though she inadvertently lets him know they’re in an arid region, she refuses to tell him anything else and leaves VR before he can get anything else from her.
I like how firm she is right now with him. Also, it’s John Locke! Hi John Locke!
In camp Devon approaches Danziger. Grendlers have stolen their water containers, dumping out the water, and they now have no reserves. The scanners have picked up a sizeable body of water, presumably a lake, some way south of them. She wants him to rig the Dune Rail to haul water. Danziger is way ahead of her, ready to leave. Devon insists on accompanying him.
Some way into the journey she offers to drive for a while. Danziger tells her this is very different from driving on the Stations.
The ‘Rail stops. Danziger attempts to get it going again with no luck. While he tries repairs Devon asks why he bothers her so much. ‘You’re too confident and optimistic,’ he tells her – virtues for an Adair, but not for anything Danziger’s ever known. She’s not used to being in a place where everything she needs is not at her fingertips, where a lot can go wrong very quickly. She tells him she relies on him to help her.
The ‘Rail is completely out of power and it will take a couple of hours for the solar panel to convert enough energy. Devon calls in to camp to let them know.
I love how he determines they’re out of power by kicking the tire.
Back at camp, Yale goes looking for Uly to talk to Devon. Julia passes by, giving a pill and a cup of water to Alonzo. If this pill is going to help him it will take a few hours, but she cautions him not to get his hopes up.
Alonzo asks if she has a theory why they picked him. Eden Project, she asks? The Terrians, he corrects her. He can’t understand why they picked him. Julia can’t explain anything the Terrians do and asks if they’re nearby. ‘They’re always out there.’
Alonzo seems to bounce back and forth between ‘Why did they pick me?’ and ‘Awesome, this is my new role’ on a fairly regular basis, doesn’t he? Sometimes he’s fine with talking to the Terrians, sometimes it freaks him out…
At the ‘Rail, Danziger lays out a blanket in the shade of a cliff for Devon to rest on while the sun is high. He’s prepared to wait in the ‘Rail, but she calls him back to share. ‘There’s only one blanket, there’s room enough for both of us.’ Danziger joins her, as far on one side as he can get.
Neither can sleep, though, and he abruptly sits up, pretending he needs to check something on the ‘Rail. Devon sits up to watch him.
Just as he’s running out of things to pretend to do, an earthquake hits. Devon stumbles over to join him as two Terrians erupt out of the cliff beside them. Danziger urges her away
Why? The Terrians are pseudo allies at the moment.
and they scramble up a nearby slope. When Devon realizes they aren’t being followed, she starts back down in the hopes of communicating with them.
Forgetting she left both their translators at camp. Can Uly speak Terrian at this point?
Danziger doesn’t like the idea. One of the Terrians fires near them; when Danziger attempts to return fire Devon pulls at him, forcing his shot wide. It hits the tank on the ‘Rail, spilling their reserve water.
The Terrians take up positions blocking the ‘Rail from traveling any further. With their Gear damaged, Danziger decides the only option is to calmly and carefully get into the ‘Rail and drive away. Hopefully they’ll be able to find another route to the water.
Devon thinks that instead they should follow the ridge and see what’s ahead. Danziger shrugs and follows.
They find a view of the lake. It’s still quite a distance away, and there are Terrians between them. Devon suggests walking to the lake on the theory that the ‘Rail is what’s upsetting the Terrians. If she can show that they only want to take some water, maybe they’ll back off and let them through. Danziger doesn’t agree, but Devon is set.
Danziger tells her that in future, she shouldn’t ask his advice if she isn’t going to listen to it. Her experiences running a business firm don’t translate here; his opinion is just as valuable as hers and she should treat it as such.
Devon tells him she does respect his advice, though she doesn’t understand why he took this job in the first place. Danziger snaps that he’s not going to pass his debt on to True. He himself is still working off his grandparent’s debts, but True will not have that hanging over her. The Eden Project pay would have allowed him to clear that debt and start over.
Devon tells him that she was part of a group working to abolish inherited debt, and that when Eden Project left dock all pay was automatically transferred to the workers’ accounts. His debt is already wiped clear.
Danziger clearly doesn’t know how to take that. He asks why she still acts as boss if he doesn’t work for her any more. Fed up, Devon agrees to his plan. They will try and retrieve the ‘Rail from the Terrians.
In camp, Julia is considering her Council communicator when Alonzo yells for her. The treatment has apparently gone wrong and he is in a lot of pain. Julia tells him it hurts because it’s healing and forces him to get it moving. After a minute the pain drains away and both relax. Alonzo asks about walking on it. Julia tells him he can’t walk on it yet, but soon.
Alonzo jokingly criticizes her bedside manner again. This time Julia takes it as a joke, teasing him about how pilots are supposed to be tough. After a moment Alonzo turns serious, declaring that she must either really like him or really hate him. Julia brushes it off and tells him she feels nothing either way – he’s her patient.
Alonzo is not convinced.
Danziger and Devon have made it back to the ‘Rail. It starts up, but the tires are half-embedded and they can’t get traction in the soft sand. While Danziger tries to get them going, a Terrian approaches from behind and hits Devon with his staff. Danziger is attacked as he goes to her rescue.
The two wake half buried in a root system. Neither can move. The ‘Rail is almost buried nearby. The two are starting to dehydrate. Devon maneuvers to reach Danziger’s canteen. She gets a couple of mouthfuls, but the canteen falls as she tries to get it to Danziger.
At camp, Bess and Julia approach Morgan. Bess narrates that hardship can bring out the best or worst in people.
Earlier Morgan brought Bess a full cup of water, telling her that the rationing was off. When cornered, Morgan admits that he gave Bess his half as he couldn’t bear to see her thirsty. Julia backs off, leaving them alone.
Alonzo calls her, telling her that he doesn’t need his crutches any more. As proof, he walks unsteadily towards her. He hugs her gratefully, but she slips out of the hug, discomforted.
When she retreats to her tent he comes after her.
He’s walking a lot more easily! Guess it only takes a minute…
Julia tells him she doesn’t need thanks – she’s a doctor, he’s a patient, that’s all there is to it. He leans in to kiss her and she responds for a moment. Bess comes in with Morgan and most of the rest of the camp asking if she really saw him walking. Alonzo agrees and shows off, leaving Julia to think about what just happened.
Morgan makes a lovely joke about not chewing any gum – in character it’s weird, because do they still have gum on the stations? But it’s a nice gesture.
Devon and Danziger have cut themselves free from the roots and are trekking towards the lake. It’s further away than they thought. Lack of water is telling on them both as they stumble much more often. Eventually they reach the lake but are high above it. Danziger insists he can make the climb down, but he stumbles and falls some distance. He catches himself just before falling off a cliff edge.
Julia is resting at camp when the Council communicator goes off again. She locks it into a supply case and throws herself back on her bed.
Danziger lowers his canteen into the water. Devon reminds him to test it but he’s in a hurry. When he draws the canteen back up it’s melted. The water is acidic and no use to them.
Danziger painfully climbs back up. They see Terrians on the far side of the lake, lowering their staffs into the water. Devon thinks they were trying to protect them. Danziger disagrees; they were simply trying to protect their power source.
Devon says they should get back to the ‘Rover, where their teammates will find them. Danziger, dangerously dehydrated, attempts to call back to base on the broken Gear. Devon forces him to his feet and drags him back towards the ‘Rover.
In camp the group debates whether or not to go searching. Morgan complains about the short water rations, but Bess stops him. Alonzo helps Julia store the water away and then goes to watch out for Devon and Danziger. Morgan mutters about Alonzo’s new habit of walking everywhere – “It makes me thirsty just looking at him.”
Morgan really can find something to grumble about in any situation, can’t he? Never mind glass half full, his is empty ‘cos someone else drank it all…
Bess slips up to Julia and tells her that having someone to count on is not such a bad thing on this planet. Apparently unsure how to take it, Julia leaves.
Danziger collapses on his way back to the ‘Rover. When Devon comes to help him he tries to give her a last message for True. Devon refuses to hear it, trying to force him up. Danziger is unconscious, though. Devon covers him with her jacket and stumbles away.
A little further on she finds the ‘Rail sitting, unattended and all in one piece. When she tries it it starts up neatly, but the wheels are still buried and only kick up sand. Devon drops a rock in front of a wheel to give it traction, but the rock lands in a pool of water. Devon digs furiously.
Julia wanders up to join Alonzo on his self-appointed watch. Fumbling around the question, she asks him about the moment in the med tent. Alonzo tells her he’s glad it happened, he liked it, but he doesn’t know what it means for them. When he turns the question back on her she says they made a mistake. Alonzo protests, but she insists that this is wrong and they can’t repeat it. “I was put here for a reason, Alonzo. I’ve got more important things to think about than us.” Alonzo misses the double meaning and lets her go, moving off to resume his watch somewhere else.
Two Terrians find Danziger, still unconscious. They pick leaves from a cactus-like plant, dribbling the sap into his mouth. Danziger reacts, swallowing. The Terrians leave more leaves nearby and vanish.
See, that’s what they should have been doing all along! That or digging near trees. Sure, the roots are bothersome, but they’ve got to be drinking something, right?
Devon had gotten the ‘Rail working and drives to where she left Danziger. He’s stumbling towards her.
He’s also carrying the cactus leaf in his bare hand. That’s got to hurt – there are spines on that sucker.
Devon gives him water, suggesting the Terrians deliberately moved the ‘Rail to help them find the water. Danziger shows her the leaf to explain his survival.
Julia slips away from camp, VR gear ready. Reilly is waiting for her. He tells her he wants to earn her loyalty and no one blames her for her doubts. He reminds her that the Council created an almost perfect world on the Stations and that they want her help to repeat that on the planet. Julia reluctantly agrees to help when he promises Devon and the group won’t be harmed.
The group enjoys the water; the kids throw it at each other while Yale tries to intervene, and the men take turns shaving. Devon catches Julia to thank her for her efforts with Alonzo and apologize for her initial misgivings. Julia nods, uncomfortable, and goes.
Danziger catches Devon’s attention and begins apologizing for the way he acted on the trip. In the middle of the apology he douses her with water from a dish held behind his back. Stunned, Devon chases him, beginning a water war the whole camp gladly joins in, happy and relaxed once more.
Bess narrates. As long as the group has simple things – water, health, and each other – she’s sure they can make a home here.
The group is on half water rations because their condenser isn’t made for this large a group. Devon assures them that they are actively searching for bodies of water that they can treat for drinking.
Bess narrates. The planet is hard on most of the group because they’re used to machines and having what they want. Being from Earth, she’s used to making do.
Julia seems to have hurt herself. Bess takes over giving out the water to let her get a rest, musing on how a single doctor with no equipment is supposed to handle the group.
In her tent Julia digs a tiny computer chip out of her clothes. It’s ordering her to respond. Julia considers for a moment before picking up her Gear and slipping out of camp.
She uses a program on the chip to talk to Reilly in VR. Reilly is a member of the governing Council of the Stations, as is Julia. She’s supposed to be an advance scout to help the Council settle the planet. Though she inadvertently lets him know they’re in an arid region, she refuses to tell him anything else and leaves VR before he can get anything else from her.
I like how firm she is right now with him. Also, it’s John Locke! Hi John Locke!
In camp Devon approaches Danziger. Grendlers have stolen their water containers, dumping out the water, and they now have no reserves. The scanners have picked up a sizeable body of water, presumably a lake, some way south of them. She wants him to rig the Dune Rail to haul water. Danziger is way ahead of her, ready to leave. Devon insists on accompanying him.
Some way into the journey she offers to drive for a while. Danziger tells her this is very different from driving on the Stations.
The ‘Rail stops. Danziger attempts to get it going again with no luck. While he tries repairs Devon asks why he bothers her so much. ‘You’re too confident and optimistic,’ he tells her – virtues for an Adair, but not for anything Danziger’s ever known. She’s not used to being in a place where everything she needs is not at her fingertips, where a lot can go wrong very quickly. She tells him she relies on him to help her.
The ‘Rail is completely out of power and it will take a couple of hours for the solar panel to convert enough energy. Devon calls in to camp to let them know.
I love how he determines they’re out of power by kicking the tire.
Back at camp, Yale goes looking for Uly to talk to Devon. Julia passes by, giving a pill and a cup of water to Alonzo. If this pill is going to help him it will take a few hours, but she cautions him not to get his hopes up.
Alonzo asks if she has a theory why they picked him. Eden Project, she asks? The Terrians, he corrects her. He can’t understand why they picked him. Julia can’t explain anything the Terrians do and asks if they’re nearby. ‘They’re always out there.’
Alonzo seems to bounce back and forth between ‘Why did they pick me?’ and ‘Awesome, this is my new role’ on a fairly regular basis, doesn’t he? Sometimes he’s fine with talking to the Terrians, sometimes it freaks him out…
At the ‘Rail, Danziger lays out a blanket in the shade of a cliff for Devon to rest on while the sun is high. He’s prepared to wait in the ‘Rail, but she calls him back to share. ‘There’s only one blanket, there’s room enough for both of us.’ Danziger joins her, as far on one side as he can get.
Neither can sleep, though, and he abruptly sits up, pretending he needs to check something on the ‘Rail. Devon sits up to watch him.
Just as he’s running out of things to pretend to do, an earthquake hits. Devon stumbles over to join him as two Terrians erupt out of the cliff beside them. Danziger urges her away
Why? The Terrians are pseudo allies at the moment.
and they scramble up a nearby slope. When Devon realizes they aren’t being followed, she starts back down in the hopes of communicating with them.
Forgetting she left both their translators at camp. Can Uly speak Terrian at this point?
Danziger doesn’t like the idea. One of the Terrians fires near them; when Danziger attempts to return fire Devon pulls at him, forcing his shot wide. It hits the tank on the ‘Rail, spilling their reserve water.
The Terrians take up positions blocking the ‘Rail from traveling any further. With their Gear damaged, Danziger decides the only option is to calmly and carefully get into the ‘Rail and drive away. Hopefully they’ll be able to find another route to the water.
Devon thinks that instead they should follow the ridge and see what’s ahead. Danziger shrugs and follows.
They find a view of the lake. It’s still quite a distance away, and there are Terrians between them. Devon suggests walking to the lake on the theory that the ‘Rail is what’s upsetting the Terrians. If she can show that they only want to take some water, maybe they’ll back off and let them through. Danziger doesn’t agree, but Devon is set.
Danziger tells her that in future, she shouldn’t ask his advice if she isn’t going to listen to it. Her experiences running a business firm don’t translate here; his opinion is just as valuable as hers and she should treat it as such.
Devon tells him she does respect his advice, though she doesn’t understand why he took this job in the first place. Danziger snaps that he’s not going to pass his debt on to True. He himself is still working off his grandparent’s debts, but True will not have that hanging over her. The Eden Project pay would have allowed him to clear that debt and start over.
Devon tells him that she was part of a group working to abolish inherited debt, and that when Eden Project left dock all pay was automatically transferred to the workers’ accounts. His debt is already wiped clear.
Danziger clearly doesn’t know how to take that. He asks why she still acts as boss if he doesn’t work for her any more. Fed up, Devon agrees to his plan. They will try and retrieve the ‘Rail from the Terrians.
In camp, Julia is considering her Council communicator when Alonzo yells for her. The treatment has apparently gone wrong and he is in a lot of pain. Julia tells him it hurts because it’s healing and forces him to get it moving. After a minute the pain drains away and both relax. Alonzo asks about walking on it. Julia tells him he can’t walk on it yet, but soon.
Alonzo jokingly criticizes her bedside manner again. This time Julia takes it as a joke, teasing him about how pilots are supposed to be tough. After a moment Alonzo turns serious, declaring that she must either really like him or really hate him. Julia brushes it off and tells him she feels nothing either way – he’s her patient.
Alonzo is not convinced.
Danziger and Devon have made it back to the ‘Rail. It starts up, but the tires are half-embedded and they can’t get traction in the soft sand. While Danziger tries to get them going, a Terrian approaches from behind and hits Devon with his staff. Danziger is attacked as he goes to her rescue.
The two wake half buried in a root system. Neither can move. The ‘Rail is almost buried nearby. The two are starting to dehydrate. Devon maneuvers to reach Danziger’s canteen. She gets a couple of mouthfuls, but the canteen falls as she tries to get it to Danziger.
At camp, Bess and Julia approach Morgan. Bess narrates that hardship can bring out the best or worst in people.
Earlier Morgan brought Bess a full cup of water, telling her that the rationing was off. When cornered, Morgan admits that he gave Bess his half as he couldn’t bear to see her thirsty. Julia backs off, leaving them alone.
Alonzo calls her, telling her that he doesn’t need his crutches any more. As proof, he walks unsteadily towards her. He hugs her gratefully, but she slips out of the hug, discomforted.
When she retreats to her tent he comes after her.
He’s walking a lot more easily! Guess it only takes a minute…
Julia tells him she doesn’t need thanks – she’s a doctor, he’s a patient, that’s all there is to it. He leans in to kiss her and she responds for a moment. Bess comes in with Morgan and most of the rest of the camp asking if she really saw him walking. Alonzo agrees and shows off, leaving Julia to think about what just happened.
Morgan makes a lovely joke about not chewing any gum – in character it’s weird, because do they still have gum on the stations? But it’s a nice gesture.
Devon and Danziger have cut themselves free from the roots and are trekking towards the lake. It’s further away than they thought. Lack of water is telling on them both as they stumble much more often. Eventually they reach the lake but are high above it. Danziger insists he can make the climb down, but he stumbles and falls some distance. He catches himself just before falling off a cliff edge.
Julia is resting at camp when the Council communicator goes off again. She locks it into a supply case and throws herself back on her bed.
Danziger lowers his canteen into the water. Devon reminds him to test it but he’s in a hurry. When he draws the canteen back up it’s melted. The water is acidic and no use to them.
Danziger painfully climbs back up. They see Terrians on the far side of the lake, lowering their staffs into the water. Devon thinks they were trying to protect them. Danziger disagrees; they were simply trying to protect their power source.
Devon says they should get back to the ‘Rover, where their teammates will find them. Danziger, dangerously dehydrated, attempts to call back to base on the broken Gear. Devon forces him to his feet and drags him back towards the ‘Rover.
In camp the group debates whether or not to go searching. Morgan complains about the short water rations, but Bess stops him. Alonzo helps Julia store the water away and then goes to watch out for Devon and Danziger. Morgan mutters about Alonzo’s new habit of walking everywhere – “It makes me thirsty just looking at him.”
Morgan really can find something to grumble about in any situation, can’t he? Never mind glass half full, his is empty ‘cos someone else drank it all…
Bess slips up to Julia and tells her that having someone to count on is not such a bad thing on this planet. Apparently unsure how to take it, Julia leaves.
Danziger collapses on his way back to the ‘Rover. When Devon comes to help him he tries to give her a last message for True. Devon refuses to hear it, trying to force him up. Danziger is unconscious, though. Devon covers him with her jacket and stumbles away.
A little further on she finds the ‘Rail sitting, unattended and all in one piece. When she tries it it starts up neatly, but the wheels are still buried and only kick up sand. Devon drops a rock in front of a wheel to give it traction, but the rock lands in a pool of water. Devon digs furiously.
Julia wanders up to join Alonzo on his self-appointed watch. Fumbling around the question, she asks him about the moment in the med tent. Alonzo tells her he’s glad it happened, he liked it, but he doesn’t know what it means for them. When he turns the question back on her she says they made a mistake. Alonzo protests, but she insists that this is wrong and they can’t repeat it. “I was put here for a reason, Alonzo. I’ve got more important things to think about than us.” Alonzo misses the double meaning and lets her go, moving off to resume his watch somewhere else.
Two Terrians find Danziger, still unconscious. They pick leaves from a cactus-like plant, dribbling the sap into his mouth. Danziger reacts, swallowing. The Terrians leave more leaves nearby and vanish.
See, that’s what they should have been doing all along! That or digging near trees. Sure, the roots are bothersome, but they’ve got to be drinking something, right?
Devon had gotten the ‘Rail working and drives to where she left Danziger. He’s stumbling towards her.
He’s also carrying the cactus leaf in his bare hand. That’s got to hurt – there are spines on that sucker.
Devon gives him water, suggesting the Terrians deliberately moved the ‘Rail to help them find the water. Danziger shows her the leaf to explain his survival.
Julia slips away from camp, VR gear ready. Reilly is waiting for her. He tells her he wants to earn her loyalty and no one blames her for her doubts. He reminds her that the Council created an almost perfect world on the Stations and that they want her help to repeat that on the planet. Julia reluctantly agrees to help when he promises Devon and the group won’t be harmed.
The group enjoys the water; the kids throw it at each other while Yale tries to intervene, and the men take turns shaving. Devon catches Julia to thank her for her efforts with Alonzo and apologize for her initial misgivings. Julia nods, uncomfortable, and goes.
Danziger catches Devon’s attention and begins apologizing for the way he acted on the trip. In the middle of the apology he douses her with water from a dish held behind his back. Stunned, Devon chases him, beginning a water war the whole camp gladly joins in, happy and relaxed once more.
Bess narrates. As long as the group has simple things – water, health, and each other – she’s sure they can make a home here.
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