Transcript For Strip 46

Panel 1
The Helio-Flyer
Caption: Even with Mercury near its aphelion of 70 million kilometers, the heavily-shielded Alpine Dream must struggle to protect its passengers and crew.
Caption: So, final approaches usually take as much advantage of the planet's shadow as possible.

Panel 2
The ship, now bathed in very strong sunlight, arcs down towards Helios Base, a complex built into a chasm at the northern pole.
Caption: Helios Base is built near Mercury's north pole inside Avogadro's Chasm, which is shielded from the monstrous Sun throughout Mercury's long rotational period.

Panel 3
The ship lands tail-first on a landing pad shielded by the Chasm wall.
Caption: The base is a joint operation, by treaty, between the Terran mercorp Gensaxwell and the L-5 mercorp Muc Ar Foulain. Both have extensive mining interests on the planet.

Panel 4
Nicole and Seamus emerge, along with their luggage, from a portal opening into the spaceport's concourse. Seamus is now using a cane.
Seamus: We have 50 hours until your date with the Helioflyer.
Seamus: You will need to spend all the time you're not sleeping, in the simulator getting proficient.
Panel 5
Two-shot of Seamus and Nicole walking along a corridor, Nicole looks grumpy.
Nicole: Thirty-two hours of simulator? But why? I have everything I need to know in this souped-up 'Plant you gave me.

Panel 6
Still walking along the corridor.
Seamus: Would you expect as good a muscial performance from a non-player with a shiny new 'Plant, as you would an experienced axe-man?
Nicole: Hurm ...

Panel 7
The two are on a ground-transportation platform, where Seamus hails a cab. The cabs are egg-shaped capsules on mag-lev casters that seem to be driverless.
Seamus: Thirty hours of simulator, plus meals and sleep, and no alcohol, until showtime, yes?
Nicole: Agreed.
Nicole: But after I get back, there will be alcohol. Yes.

Panel 8
With Nicole and Seamus seated in the cab (and their luggage presumably in back of them), their cab pulls away from the curb.
Cab: Destination, please?
Seamus: The Colombo Hilliott, please.
Seamus: I don't suppose you can do anything about the gravity here, can you?

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