Strip 993 -- First Seen: 2012-07-06
Escape From Terra is updated with new pages every Monday through Friday.

Halfway there!

The Kickstarter campaign to print the next volume of Quantum Vibe: Novo Palermo - Part 1 is now halfway to our goal. We need your help getting the rest of the way there. Tell your friends, family members, and your pets to back our campaign.

Every little bit helps! The campaign ends midnight (US central time) November 18. So there's still time to get the word out, or maybe add another item to your current pledge.

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QV on a short break

QUANTUM VIVE is taking a break for a few weeks, as we prepare for Part 2 of the Novo Palermo story, and also for a Kickstarter campaign for Part 1, which will start in September.

In the meantime, Not-Safe.Space will continue, as a murder mystery begins and the relationship between Eithne and Diana develops in unexpected directions.

Not-Safe.Space is a NSFW strip but more than half the pages are SFW so I've set those to *not* require a Patreon membership. Readers should be able to follow the story without seeing the NSFW pages. If I've done this right.

The Transcript For This Page

Panel 1
Re-establish the scene in the spaceport, as Marsha and her cronies seek passage off of Vesta with Robert 'Bobcat' Katzman.
Bobcat: I'm afraid I can't take you to Mars, at least not on this trip.
Bobcat: I gotta cargo committed to Power City, in the Uranian atmosphere.
Panel 2
Marsha pleads with Bobcat. Bobcat looks thoughtful.
Marsha: Please, Mr. Bobcat, isn't there anything you can do to help us?
Bobcat: Well ... the least-energy trajectory would pass close enough to Pallas that a local shuttle could take you on a transfer.
Panel 3
Marsha and her delighted cohort shuffle off after Bobcat. They shuffle past (not into) a doorway which will be the focus of the next panel.
Marsha: Is that closer to Mars? Well, no matter, we accept!
Bobcat (thought): After that, you'll be Pallas' problem.

Panel 4
Focus on that doorway. A sign tells us it's the ARRIVAL GATE. Pierre Le Boeuf (from the 'Code Duello' arc) is standing just in front of the doorway, with his luggage at his feet, and is looking around with a disappointed expression.
Pierre: Bonjour, je suis ici. Is anyone here?

Panel 5
A 10-year-old boy wearing a truckers-style cap with the words 'Vesta Spaceport Agent' on it, Vesta-walks up to Pierre.
Boy: May I help you, sir? I'm a Vesta Spaceport Agent.
Pierre: I am looking for the Vesta Council offices. Can you direct me there?
Panel 6
Medium close-up on the boy so we can see his cap, a remembrance of Babbette The Younger's first appearance.
Boy: Well sir, The Vesta Council offices are currently closed.
Boy: May I take you to a suitable hotel? My runabout is over there.
Panel 7
Pierre tip-toe-walks along behind the boy, who has taken some of Pierre's luggage.
Pierre: Alright, garçon, take me to your finest hotel, the Vesta Council will be paying for it.
Panel 8
Medium Close-up on the boy, smiling. We can see a name-tag on his shirt which reads, 'Mario Farber.'
Boy: As you wish, Sv. To the Farber Inn, best hotel on Vesta.