The Back Pages

Hey JaCqueliNe.

How may I help you Doctor Taylor?

How many days does this handsome botanist

have left on this red rock?

Inmate 604 is scheduled

to be paroled in three Earth days.

That's what I thought.

You gonna miss me Jacquie?

I'm not programed

for those types of functions Doctor Taylor.

I didn't think I was either.

Damn it.

JaCqueliNe I've cut myself.

Proceed to work station for medical attention.

Please place injury with in analysis modulator.

Injury is a minor cut.

What?

No stitches required.

Are you calling me a pansy Jacquie?

Proceed to first aid for a bandage.

No further medical attention required.

Incoming transmission from Francis Glover.

Yeah I got it Jacky.

Hey Rome can you see me?

Hey Frank, I can see you,

I'm getting some cosmic interference but I can see you.

Hey what happened to your hand?

Yeah it's fine it's just a cut.

Hey I got some good news,

the institute is really pleased

with the data you've been sending back.

And?

And that bodes well for you Rome with the board.

Odds are I can get both the DUI

and manslaughter convictions expunged.

What does that matter at this point?

Come on man, this is your second chance.

You'll be the only guy on the entire planet

who's walked out of prison an astronaut hero.

Yeah but I haven't been on the planet for

the past ten years Frank, that's precisely the problem.

Would you rather have done 20 to life here on Earth?

With what you did I got you one hell of a deal.

I know, I'm sorry Frank.

Have you had the chance to talk to Mary yet?

Yeah I talked to her.

She still wants the divorce.

Aw come on.

I know, I know.

No you don't know Frank.

You have no idea what it's like to be 250 million

miles away from your family for a frickin' decade man.

You have no idea.

Hey Grace she made three goals this last weekend.

Really?

Man she must be the star of her team.

Just like her old man back in the day.

She's excited to see you Rome.

No matter what happens with Mary you'll always have Grace.

I just don't know what I'm gonna say to her,

Frank what am I gonna say to her?

You don't have to say anything.

Rome she loves you, you're her father.

I just want my family back Frank, I miss them so much.

Mary will come around.

Just finish up these last few days

and get back, we'll show her you're a new man.

Yeah, okay I will.

Hey Rome I gotta go, I'll see you soon buddy.

Yeah, see ya.

Jacquie what the hell.

New life form detected,

extraneous plant form.

Five thousand plants logged,

five thousand one plants detected.

Alright, alright, alright, I'll check it out.

Where's it at?

Sector six, row four.

Jacquie will you please turn the alarm off.

Jaquie I'm not finding anything here,

run another scan please.

Affirmative, scanning.

Five thousand plants life forms accounted for.

That's what I thought.

Highly improbable anomaly,

initiating secondary scan.

Feel free to scan all night, I'm going to bed.

Jaquie I'm not feeling well

can I get some pain relievers please?

Scanning vitals.

You are showing signs of dehydration and cerebral swelling.

Re-hydration is recommended, no meds will be dispensed.

Oh come on, I'm not hung over damn it.

Any acts of aggression towards

this facility will be noted on inmate 604's service record.

I know, I know.

What the hell?

JaCqueliNe scan for extraneous life in sector six stat.

Scanning.