The Station One Sprint

[Intro: A sharp, rhythmic snapping of fingers. A fast, driving upright bass line kicks in immediately. It feels like a chase.] [Section: Jacques - Male Vocal: Low-register, Raw Marseille-Australian Accent, Brazen] Remember the Swell, Laizer? Five years ago... back at Station One. The docking clamps were blowing... and the Red-Hats were on our tail. You said: "Jacques, the engine is screaming!" And I said: "Let it scream, my friend... we have a package to deliver!" [Short Instrumental Interlude: Fast, tense Piano chords] [Section: Laizer - Female Vocal: Mid-register, Smooth Elegant Alto, Tactical] I remember the thermal-wash, Jacques. You took the S-Turn at four hundred kilometers... I wasn't worried about the engine... I was worried about the Secret in the black-box. We weren't racing for a trophy... We were racing for a lifetime of disappearing. [Short Instrumental Interlude: Quick Snare Roll] [Verse 1: Duet - Jacques (Low) and Laizer (Mid)] The G-force was a hammer, the stars were a blur Waiting for the Contact to finally occur! From the docks of Station One to the rim of the dark Trying to find a hiding place... trying to leave a mark! Now we are deep in the Dramatica, safe among the rust Trading in our secrets... for a little bit of trust! [Short Instrumental Interlude: Deep Walking Bass Solo] [Section: Tarz - Male Vocal: Mid-register, Warm Sophisticated Therapist Baritone] You two... talk in circles. Like analog ghosts... racing in a digital mind. Was the package at Station One... Perhaps... the same hand that is steering us now? [Pause] Your heart-rates... they haven't settled in five years. [Short Instrumental Interlude: Brass stabs] [Chorus: Trio - Balanced Pitch Separation] [Jacques - Low-register]: Oh, we are racing to the finish! [Laizer - Mid-register]: With a past we can't diminish! [Benny - High-register]: With a glitch in the Station! [Together]: From Station One to Deck Number Nine... We are running out of luck... and we are running out of time! [Outro: Spoken over a fading, frantic drum solo] [Section: Jacques - Male Vocal: Low-register, Heavy Marseille-Aussie Accent] Don't look so close, Tarz. In the Bilge... sometimes a race... Is just a way to see who is still breathing. [Sound of: A metallic click—a pistol slide racking] Round is on me, mates. The Ghost can wait. [End]