Transcript For Strip 56

Panel 1
Seamus and Nicole walking down a corridor, towards the launch bay. Nicole is wearing a bulky flight/space suit and carrying her helmet. Nicole is clearly tense but trying to hide it.
Seamus: I do hope you're well-rested before this flight.
Nicole: You bet. Slept like a baby.

Panel 2
Seamus and Nicole enter the lobby/office for the launch bay.
Seamus: I have raised 117 children, and as I recall, as babies they all slept fitfully.
Nicole: Figure of speech. I slept well. Relax.

Panel 3
Seamus and Nicole stand before a large, unglased window behind which sits the Dispatcher (there's a sign labeled 'Dispatcher' somewhere in the frame) on his stool. He has a round torso, six long arms, two short legs, and a grumpy disposition. The Dispatcher holds an A4-sized Screen in one of his hands. Two of the others are typing on a keyboard in front of him. A fourth holds a cup of coffee. The other two aren't doing anything interesting at the moment.
Seamus: Well. I rarely see Spyders outside the Belt.
Dispatcher: Are you here to interrogate me or for the Helio-Flyer rental?

Panel 4
The Dispatcher examines the Screen he 's holding, as Seamus looks on.
Dispatcher: All right, advance payment is secured, insurance is in order, looks like you're good to go. What about your pilot?
Seamus: She was certified yesterday evening.

Panel 5
The Dispatcher looks at Nicole disapprovingly. Nicole glares back at him.
Dispatcher: YESTERDAY? This kid?
Dispatcher: She ain't no Skinner, is she?

Panel 6
Nicole looks at the Dispatcher levelly, as Seamus looks on with some bemusement.
Nicole: No, I'm not, and what if I were? You got a problem with arti-folk?

Panel 7
Dispatcher looks at Nicole through narrow eyes.
Dispatcher: I ain't no bigot, kid. Insurance won't let androids fly too close to Sol 'cause the Beta-radiation could scramble their brains, even with shielding.

Panel 8
Seamus speaks with the Dispatcher, who retains his grumpy expression, as Nicole walks away from the window, towards the launch bay's hangar.
Seamus: Ms. Oresme does have a tri-alpha-rated Implant, and the usual bio-enhancements, but is fully human according to insurance protocols.
Dispatcher: {grunt} Fine, have a safe trip.

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