Outland Page #3

I don't know why more of them

didn't do it sooner.

Where are the bodies sent?

They usually ship them out

on the next shuttle.

They wrap them up and jettison

them halfway to the station.

Burial at sea and all that crap.

Hello?

Lazarus? This is O'Niel.

I'll see you in the hospital right away.

Do you know what time it is?

Yes.

You'd better be dying.

- ls this going to take long?

- You're kidding me.

- What does that mean?

- Nothing much.

Blood type, cholesterol count.

This blood is from a dead person.

Very good.

No alcohol.

He ate dinner.

Protein, carbohydrates...

...more carbohydrates.

He didn't eat his vegetables.

No nicotine.

Some tranquilizers.

Yeah, they're Company tranquilizers.

Standard issue.

Blood sugar and hemoglobin are normal.

- Hello.

- What?

I don't know.

Sh*t.

Such a smart piece of equipment,

and a wreck like me trying to run it.

You know, you haven't

your medical all-star here.

Company doctors

are like ships' doctors.

Most are one shuttle flight ahead

of a malpractice suit.

Something's there, isn't it?

Maybe.

I spend my days dispensing

tranquilizers to the workers...

...and certifying that the prostitutes

don't have syphilis.

I don't know

how to analyze a new molecule.

Hello.

Is it a drug?

You just won a prize.

- What kind?

- Some kind of narcotic.

Nothing I've ever seen before.

Synthetic.

Bingo.

Polydichloric Euthimal.

Those stupid bastards

are taking Polydichloric Euthimal!

It's an amphetamine.

Strongest thing you ever saw.

Makes you feel wonderful.

You do 14 hours of work in six hours.

That kind of nonsense.

Especially manual labor.

It makes you work like a horse.

The Army tested it a few years ago.

It made everybody work, all right.

Then it made them psychotic.

It takes a while,

ten, maybe eleven months.

And then it fries your brain.

You said it's synthetic.

Can it be made here?

No. Impossible.

It has to have been shipped in.

No autopsies.

So nobody knows anything.

The workers are producing more,

so the Company's making bigger profits.

They're not about to ask any questions.

It's quite a setup.

Don't say anything

to anybody about this.

I did good, didn't l?

For a wreck.

Yes.

You did good.

Sh*t.

- Nine to seven.

- Right.

Do you want to tell me about it?

Tell you about what?

Sheppard.

What about him?

How deep are you in?

Not too deep.

I'm paid to look the other way.

You don't do anything bad,

you just don't do anything good.

I'm going to bust Sheppard.

Are you serious?

- Yes.

This is no place for heroes.

You try to bust him...

...you're messing

with more than you think.

You're talking about

the general manager.

He's a real hotshot here.

It's big money, people and places

that we only know from letterheads.

This guy is connected with more

than just the Company.

I mean it.

There's some serious stuff involved.

What will this prove?

I'm not trying to prove anything.

That stuff they sell is killing people.

What will you do with me?

I don't know.

You want me to resign?

No. Just don't come between Sheppard

and me. Just keep taking your money...

...and looking the other way.

I don't want you.

I want him.

Your serve.

Think it over.

He's in cell 36.

- Has he said anything?

- Not a peep.

- Anyone ask about him?

- No.

If anyone does, l want to know.

Spota, this is O'Niel.

The report says you were carrying

...which is 400 doses.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Of course you don't.

How much does Sheppard pay you?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You'll love it here, though some

start to go crazy at night...

...when you can't feel the floor.

And sometimes the air tether

gets knotted and a man suffocates.

But that doesn't happen too often.

O'Niel, piss off!

I like that.

You're real quick with a comeback.

I've got you nailed.

I've got witnesses and evidence.

You'll be shipped back and do time that

will make this place look like a picnic!

Now don't do a deal with me.

Don't get yourself a reduced sentence.

Just do your hard time

while Sheppard laughs his ass off.

I've got to hand it to you.

You're pretty sharp.

See you around, tough guy.

Nobody talks to him.

Nobody touches him.

I mean nobody, you understand?

I understand.

You know something? L can hit

a seven iron 500 yards in this place.

Fix yourself a drink.

No, thanks.

You've been busy.

So have you.

How much do you want?

How much?

Just what we need here,

a goddamn hero.

You know something?

This rug has a slight break to the left.

Let me tell you what you're

dealing with. L run a franchise.

I'm hired to dig as much ore

as possible out of this hellhole.

There's a guy like me on every

mining operation all over this system.

My hookers are clean,

some good-looking.

My booze isn't watered.

The workers are happy.

When the workers are happy, they dig

more ore. They get more bonus money.

When they dig more ore,

the Company's happy.

When the Company's happy,

I'm happy.

- Sounds wonderful.

Nothing here is wonderful.

It works. That's enough.

Now every year a new marshal

comes to start his tour.

They all know the score. You know

the score. You're no different.

If this hero routine is to get

your price up, I'll think about it.

What are you after?

You.

What is it with guys like you?

If you were such a goddamn sper-cop...

...what are you doing on

a Company mining operating like Io?

They didn't send you here as a reward

for your sterling service.

You know that and I know that.

I read your record.

You've got a big mouth.

That's why you're sent

from one toilet to the next.

Me? don't plan on spending

the rest of my life doing this.

Well, good for you.

Now, look, this charade

of yours is silly.

You meddle, l want you to know

what you're meddling with.

You got something to prove,

prove it to yourself, not to me.

I'll see you around.

If you're looking for money,

you're smarter than you look!

If you're not, you're a lot dumber.

I'm probably a lot dumber.

That can be very dangerous.

All right, tough guy, time to talk.

Sh*t!

Montone.

Montone.

What's the matter?

Sun in your eyes?

Well, well, well,

if it isn't the law!

Sheppard, guess what

I just found in a meat locker?

I have a feeling that

you'll tell me even if l don't guess.

Two hundred and fifty pounds of hamburger

named Yario that works for you.

I also found your shipment of PDE.

I threw the hamburger in jail

and the PDE in the toilet.

Or the other way around?

I can't remember.

You've been busy.

Yeah, are you proud of me?

Real proud.

Good shot.

You destroyed the shipment?

Yes.

You do have a flair for the dramatic.

Was it expensive?

More than you can ever imagine.

You could be out of business.

You know, I've misjudged you.

You're not stupid. You're crazy.

You think you caused

an inconvenience?

Is that what you think?

Why don't you go home

and polish your badge?

You're dealing with grownups here.

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