Strip 435 -- First Seen: 2010-05-07
Escape From Terra is updated with new pages every Monday through Friday.

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.

Kickstarter successful and closed

The Kickstarter campaign for Not-Safe.Space Chapter 3 concluded successfully on April 21, and Scott extended the time allowed for late pledges until May 19.

Books have been ordered from the printer and Scott will be spending the next week or so setting up and sending the PDF files to those who asked for them.

(There are still six of you who have not responded to the survey asking for e-mail and snail-mail addresses, he'll do the best he can.)

Thanks to all for supporting this Kickstarter!

The Transcript For This Page

Panel 1
The vestibule of the office level in Tower Control. The design looks modern by 2000AD standards, but has an air of dinginess to it. To the left, Robyn stands just inside the doorway. Robyn's uniform is dirty and her hair in disarray. To the right, two rather jaded-looking receptionists, one of them an inmate with an access badge pinned to her jumpsuit, glance up at her.

Robyn: Ward 3998027 reporting as ordered.

Panel 2
The inmate receptionist escorts Robyn to the doorway of one of the inner office, and gestures for her to go in.

Inmate receptionist: Go on in … and good luck.

Panel 3
Wide panel. Disheveled Robyn seen from behind in the rightforeground; to the left, seated behind a metal desk, William Norman sits talking on the phone, not facing Robyn, he waves one hand at her, gesturing for her to take one of the two chairs in front of his desk.

Norman is a paunchy, balding, middle-aged man resembling more than anything else like a mashup of George Costanza from the Seinfeld show, and Gollum from Lord of the Rings. .

The office is un-remarkable – about 150 square feet, some file cabinets, a sofa, a few framed photos on two of the walls. The far wall is a picture window to the outside, revealing a lunarscape without either the Sun or Earth in view at present. His desk has a few stacks of papers, a blotter, a computer keyboard and monitor, a few small framed photos standing in one corner.

Norman (to phone): No, the yield data hasn't been uploaded yet … Yes … yes, fine … listen, I'll have to call you back in a few minutes ...


Panel 4
Robyn is seated across the desk from Norman. She has a defensive expression and posture. Norman is leaning towards her and giving what he thinks is a friendly smile, although it looks more like the gaping maw of a jack-o'-lantern.

Norman: Rabhya ...

Robyn: I prefer Robyn. Only my mum calls me Rabhya.


Panel 5
Norman leans back in his chair, still looking friendly.

Norman: All, right then … Robyn.

Norman: I'm Tower Senior Accounting Analyst, William Norman. But you can call me Bill …

Panel 6
Tight close-up of Norman, winking and licking his lips

Norman: … or Willy – you like Willy, don't you?

Panel 7
Tight close-up of Robyn, with a level gaze and tight lips.

Robyn: I'd prefer, Mr. Norman.

Panel 8
Tight close-up of Norman, looking a bit daunted.

Norman: I'm looking for a personal … uh, assistant.

Norman: Now you are a bit young, but I think you might work out.