Transcript For Strip 912

Panel 1
External shot of Cissonius decelerating towards the Saturn system.
Seamus (from ship): My dearest Johanna, ...
Seamus: The captain says we're only eight days out, now.
Seamus: I can just make out Saturn's rings without magnification.
Seamus: This message will reach you in just a bit less than two minutes.

Panel 2
Seamus, in his quarters, recording a video-mail on his Screen, Watson. The wall screen next to him shows a star-field with ringed Saturn just visible near the center.
Seamus: Murphy has progressed well, her new brain circuitry has integrated more than 90 percent now.
Seamus: She should be at 100 percent before we arrive at Hyperion.
Seamus: Quite a … quite a woman, that Murphy.
Panel 3
Cut to Johanna Diamondi at her station on Hyperion, viewing the e-mail on her own personal Screen. She's looking mildly troubled.
Seamus (from screen): On Ganymede Nicole and I had both scolded her, and then abandoned her.
Seamus: But she is possessed of a … loyalty, I guess is the best word, far beyond what I've seen in any human.
Seamus: No wonder Po Xu-ke treasured her so.

Panel 4
Diamondi continues viewing, now looks more satisfied.
Seamus: Fortunately, somehow, the experience has ended Murphy's rather inconvenient … limerance for me.
Seamus: She and Nicole are thick as thieves now, and Murphy is spending time with Hugh, our ships' engineer.
Seamus: None of my business, really, but an encouraging sign.
Panel 5
Medium c/u of Seamus with his Watson
Seamus: I was glad to know that more plancktronic mesh can be obtained at Hyperion.
Seamus: Murphy's new brain was intended to be my own escape hatch, should any of my other enemies catch up with me.
Seamus: You should consider taking similar precautions ...
Panel 6
Closeup of Seamus recording on Watson.
Seamus: Although once we begin the next stage I expect no further disturbances.
Seamus: Well, that's all I have for now, my darling.
Seamus: Our next exchange should be in real-time, or something close to it.
Panel 7
At the Hyperion station, Johanna looks up as someone OP addresses her.
Seamus (from): Until then … all my love.
Voice: So, it will be the three of them, then?
Johanna: Yes, but I don't foresee a problem.
Panel 8
Johanna faces the Mystery Person, who we only see in a partial silhouette – feminine, but that's all we can tell for now.
Johanna: Do you want to greet them when they arrive?
Mystery Person: It might be better to wait until after they've settled-in.
MP: Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

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