Redshirts

said.
    “I’m gullible and weak-willed, is what I’m saying,” Hester said.
    “I disagree with that assessment,” Dahl said.
    “Well, you would say that,” Hester said, “now that you’ve talked me into your ridiculous plan.”
    The two of them stood over the body of Matthew Paulson, whose stretcher was surrounded by mobile life support apparatus. Duvall was checking the equipment and the comatose body it was attached to.
    “How is he?” Dahl asked.
    “He’s stable,” Duvall said. “The machines are doing the hard work for the moment, and the shuttle has adapters I could use, so we don’t have to worry about depleting any batteries. As long as he doesn’t have any major medical emergencies between now and when we make the transition back, we should be fine.”
    “And if he does?” Hester asked.
    Duvall looked at him. “Then I’ll do my best with the training I have,” she said. She reached over and slapped his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to let you down.”
    “Guys, it’s time to go,” Kerensky said, from the pilot seat of the shuttle. “Our trip over from Griffith Park did not go unnoticed, and I’ve got at least three aircraft coming our way. We’ve got another couple of minutes before things get messy.”
    “Got it,” Dahl said, and looked back to Hester. “So, you’re ready for this,” he said.
    “Yes,” Hester said. The two of them walked outside, into the lawn of Charles Paulson’s Malibu estate. Charles and his family were there, waiting for Hester. Hanson, who had been keeping them company, broke off and joined Dahl. Hester walked over to join Paulson’s family.
    “When will we know?” Paulson asked Dahl.
    “We’re taking the engines to maximum capacity to the black hole we’re using,” Dahl said. “It will be within the day. I suppose you’ll know when your son starts acting like your son again.”
    “If it works,” Paulson said.
    “If it works,” Dahl agreed. “Let’s work on the assumption it will.”
    “Yes, let’s,” Hester said.
    “Now,” Dahl said, to Paulson. “We’re agreed on everything.”
    “Yes,” Paulson said. “None of your characters will be killed off going forward. The show will stop randomly killing off extras. And the show itself will wrap up next season and we won’t make any new shows in the universe within a hundred years of your timeline.”
    “And this episode?” Dahl said. “The one where everything we planned happens.”
    “Nick messaged me about it just a few minutes ago,” Paulson said. “He says he’s almost got a rough version done. As soon as it’s done he and I will work on a polish, and then we’ll get it into production as soon as … well, as soon as we know whether or not your plan worked.”
    “It’ll work,” Dahl said.
    “It’s going to make hell with our production schedule,” Paulson said. “I’m going to end up having to pay for this episode out of my own pocket.”
    “It’ll be worth it,” Dahl said.
    “I know,” Paulson said. “If everything works, it’ll be a hell of a show for you.”
    “Of course,” Dahl said. Hester rolled his eyes a little.
    “I hear helicopters,” Hanson said. From the shuttle came the sound of engines primed to move. Dahl looked at Hester.
    “Good luck,” Hester said.
    “See you soon,” Dahl said, and made his way to the shuttle.
    They were gone before the helicopters could get to them.
    *   *   *
    “It’s time,” Kerensky said, as they approached the black hole. “Everyone get ready for the transition. Dahl, come take the co-pilot seat.”
    “I can’t fly a shuttle,” Dahl said.
    “I don’t need you to fly it,” Kerensky said. “I need you to hit the automatic homing and landing sequence in case that asshole writer has something explode and knock me out.”
    Dahl got up and looked over to Duvall. “Hester doing okay?” he asked.
    “He’s fine, everything’s fine,” Duvall said. “He’s not Hester yet, though.”
    “Call him Hester anyway,” Dahl said. “Maybe it’ll matter.”
    “You’re the boss,” Duvall said.
    Dahl sat down in the co-pilot seat. “You remember how to do this,” he said to Kerensky.
    “Aim for the gap between the accretion disk and the Schwartzchild radius and boost engines to one hundred ten percent,” Kerensky said, testily. “I’ve got it. Although it might have been helpful for me to observe the last time we did it. But no, you had me in a crate. Without my