Transcript For Strip 658

Panel 1
Carson and Seamus, still at the console in Carson's shop. Carson is chastizing Seamus, who sits with his fingers pressed to the sides of his head.
Carson: I TOLD you to assign node 710 to the D channel.
Seamus: Yes, yes. It's 13:04 now. We'll never reach them in time.
Seamus: May as well give Nicole the bad news.
Panel 2
High above Vesta, Nicole is clinging to Murphy as Buford and Nigel float nearby.
Nicole: You FAILED?
Nicole: How can you fail? You're supposed to be the greatest genius in six worlds!
Panel 3
Medium close-up on Nicole, looking downcast.
Seamus (OP, filtered): I'm going to try again. I may yet get to you in time but … well, not for Nigel and Buford …
Nicole: I understand.
Panel 4
Nicole again, looking angry.
Seamus (OP, filtered): How's Murphy?
Nicole: They wiped her BRAIN, Seamus! They shucking KILLED her!
Seamus: We'll talk about that later, Nicole. I need to focus on getting this system running.

Panel 5
Nicole continues floating forlornly, hugging the inert Murphy. She glances back at the beltapes nearby.
Nicole (thought): You do that, Seamus. At least ONE of us might survive this mess.
Nicole: Not that I deserve to be the survivor.

Panel 6
Nicole with Murphy floating over Vesta.
Nicole (thought): I was the one who suggested following that little turd blossom into the trap.
Nicole: It should have been me who dies, not Murphy, not Buford, not ...

Panel 7
Suddenly white netting extends across the four friends.
Nicole: !!

Panel 8
Same shot, but the friends are gone from the frame.
No dialog.

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