Juno Steel and the Clean Break (Part 2)

**Juno Steel and the Clean Break** **(Part 2)** is an episode of the Penumbra Podcast in the Juno Steel series. It is the eleventh Juno Steel episode of season 4, and the twentieth overall.

## Overview

In which a new era of peace leaves bloody footprints in its wake.

### Trigger Warnings:

* Drug use
* Addiction
* Violence and threats of violence
* Incarceration
* Medical abuse
* Depiction of execution
* Self-harm
* Abuse of authority

## Episode Summary

Buddy Aurinko, Vespa Ilkay, and Juno Steel hide in Buddy's cell to finalize their plan for escape. They know Jet Sikuliaq, presently drugged and awaiting execution, would ask them to leave without him, but they are unwilling to. Buddy is afraid that if she is found missing, it will tip prison administration over the edge to shoot Jet on the spot. Juno and Vespa dress in stolen guard uniforms, with voice modulators, and leave her.

Vespa and Juno leave off their voice modulators while they privately chat on their to take out Jet's guards. Someone over the intercom, using Palomine's voice, asks all guards assigned to escort Sikuliaq to report to the kitchen. Juno and Vespa decide to take the risk of it being a trap and head there. Vespa easily takes the two confused guards down. Their comms buzz, and the person who made the announcement turns off the voice modulator, revealing herself to be Rita. She explains that Dark Matters highjacked every known stream feed to show Sasha Wire's upcoming speech, and the execution. Realizing that she could help, Rita hacked into the prison's internal comms. Juno thanks her and asks her to tell Arcana Lately he'll call when the group is ready for their getaway.

Juno and Vespa run into Sasha Wire herself, and she tells them the computer system seems to be malfunctioning. The two of them attempt to blend into their role as well as possible, following Director W to Jet's cell. Juno and Vespa tranquilize and chain him. They drag him to the execution site in the courtyard, still without having seen a window to act.

Sasha shows Jet that she has a vial of the neomethamphetamines he's addicted to. She places it behind her foot, and taunts Jet that she would appreciate it if he would try to break free and take it. To her audience, it looks like he's straining to attack *her*. Sasha presents her speech, offering propaganda about Dark Matters and claiming that the organization's priority is to improve daily life for ordinary people. She remarks that "desperation, untreated mental health conditions, simple mistakes" create most crime. She offers everyone in the galaxy with an interplanetary criminal record a chance to have their record wiped clean if they will agree to participate in a course designed by Dr. Palomine Aurinko. She lies that Jet Sikuliaq was offered this opportunity and refused it. The assembled prisoners are ordered to stand, and engage in the "deconstructive criticism" they have been psychologically trained into, yelling insults at Jet in exchange for 3 more minutes of dinner.

Sasha closes by saying the alternative to taking the "course" to rejoin society is death. She then commands Juno Steel and Vespa Ilkay--using their names--to execute Jet and reclaim their lives. She pulls off their masks and remarks quietly that if they turn over the Ruby 7 as well, they'll wipe Buddy's record, too. Jet urges them to do it, so that they won't all die, but Juno says in narration that he couldn't possibly have brought himself to kill his friend. Dark Matters agents aim their blasters at him and Vespa from off-camera, but at the last moment to commit, Juno smells cologne, and the lights power down.

The room fills with smoke that interferes with the agents' night vision goggles. Buddy takes advantage of the confusion to speak to the crowd, inspiring them to riot. Vespa and Juno unchain Jet and, supporting his weight, run. Juno's heart swells, certain that the cologne means Peter Nureyev is there to help. Buddy catches up with the other escapees, and Jet begins to cry. When they meet a cluster of guards, Jet rushes them and takes them down in seconds. Vespa is concerned about his high heart rate, but they don't have time to address it.

Juno calls Rita, and she and Arcana bring the Ruby 7 to the arranged meeting place. All four escapees pile into the car, but Juno looks back over his shoulder and sees a guard with Peter's build trip and "accidentally" knock over other guards. Juno muses that he isn't surprised Nureyev isn't joining them, and he won't try to drag him along, but he knows someday, he will come rejoin them. Juno smiles, and the escape team leaves.

## Cast

* Joshua Ilon as Juno Steel
* Chloe Cunha as Vespa
* Sarah Gazdowicz as Buddy
* Alexander Stravinski as Jet
* Stewart Evan Smith as Palomine, and dialogue of Juno, Vespa, Rita, and others using the prison's voice modulators.
* Harley Takagi Kaner as Director W
* Kate Jones as Rita