Season 9 - Episode 3 - Suci Sabulum

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas. 


                                                           LIU Atlas -  Suci Sabulum
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU Galaxy, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.


Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.

Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the desert world of Suci Sabulum. Suci Sabulum is temperate, but it lacks any significant precipitation. The planet’s surface is covered in a fine red sand. This sand easily blows about, due to the dry conditions. Dust storms are common here. Despite these conditions, Suci Sabulum is inhabited. Let’s head down and check it out.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off at the base of a small mountain, near a transceiver antenna. These antennas are a common sight on Suci Sabulum. They allow for easy navigation in the planet’s featureless, sandy plains. It also made it easier to find my guide out here in the middle of nowhere. You’ll notice that I’ve come prepared for the conditions here. I had to forgo my usual sleeveless style, and I’m sporting a face rag and goggles. Let’s just say that I learned my lesson when I visited that other world known for its sandstorms.”

Uba: “You must be Doog, judging by your lack of appropriate apparel.”
Doog: “What! What’s wrong with my apparel? There’s hardly an exposed area of my body I’m sandstorm-proof.”
Uba: “You are protected, no doubt, but utterly useless. How do you plan on navigating if you’re separated from me? How far can you see? Integrated scanning goggles are a necessity out here. They link into the planet’s transceiver network, allowing for easy navigation, and they possess digital zooming for finding features far on the horizon. All us Reapers wear them.”
Doog: “Sorry, I guess I didn’t get the memo. Maybe I should tie a rope to you or something. I don’t want to get lost.”
Uba: “That won’t be necessary. The sands are tame, for now. Let’s take advantage of this blessing and move out. Visibility will be our friend. It’s easy to spot other Reapers in this stillness.”

Doog: “Sweet hoverbike. I’m loving this sidecar too.”
Uba: “The sidecar is usually reserved for carrying supplies. I’ve had to sacrifice that capacity to make room for you. This will not be a productive outing…at least…for me.”
Doog: “Supplies, huh? I guess that explains the lack of a seat belt or harness. Inertia will not be my friend on this outing.”
Uba: “You’ll be fine. Just hold on tight.”

Doog: “So, what are these reapers you keep referring to?”
Uba: “Reapers are solitary individuals, like myself, that roam the planet’s surface looking for Sabu Cacti.”
Doog: “Why look for cactuses?”
Uba: “The juice of the Sabu is highly valued. We locate ripe Sabu and extract its juices. It’s not that easy though. These cacti grow capriciously. Locating ripe Sabu can take weeks or even months.”
Doog: “How do you go so long in between meals? I’d pass out or die.”
Uba: “We don’t drink the Sabu Juice for sustenance. We trade it to the LIU in return for supplies or credits. The juice of a single Sabu can make you enough credits to eat for a month.”
Doog: “I like the sound of that. So, how rare are these ripe cacti? I see cactuses all around me. None of these are ripe?”
Uba: “You’ll know when you see a ripe one.”

Uba: “Apparently, you’re my good luck charm. There’s two ripe Sabu right there. Grab a container while I get my weapon.”
Doog: “Uh, sure. If you don’t mind me asking, why the gun? Do Sabu fight back or something?”
Uba: “The rarity of these cacti make them quite valuable. When you’re in possession of such a valuable commodity, you’re at risk of being attacked by other Reapers. The sand plains of Suci Sabulum are lawless. Anything goes.”
Doog: “Wait! Are you saying that Reapers kill each other for cactus juice?!”
Uba: “Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Doog: “Wow…let’s hurry this up. I’m not dying over some juice.”

Uba: “The Sabu have a unique root system that is constantly growing and constantly moving. The system can extend for hundreds of meters. The roots are constantly searching for underground sources of water. The search may take decades, but when they finally find a large water source, the cacti fully ripen.”
Doog: “Hmm, interesting. You know what’s even more interesting? Not dying. Let’s hurry this up.”
Uba: “Don’t worry. I’ve scanned the area. We’re alone for now.”
Doog: “Did I catch a ‘for now’ at the end there?”
Uba: “On clear days like this, you can see a hoverbike’s dust trail pretty easily. It’s good for us, as we can spot approaching vehicles. However, it also works against us. Anyone scanning the horizon can see our dust trail, and they can also see that we’ve stopped”
Doog: “If they know we’ve stopped, then…they know we found something.”
Uba: “Yep. Don’t worry though. We’ll see anyone approaching. We’re good for right now.”

Doog: “What do I do with this?”
Uba: “Insert the needle into the cactus. You’ll have to push hard to get through the thick skin. There you go. Now, tip the container down towards the sand. Yep, like that. Now, we just let gravity do its thing.”

Doog: “Wow, between the two cactuses, we almost have a full container.”
Uba: “It will do for now. There’s more juice in there, but I don’t have a second container. I had to make space for you.”
Doog: “Sorry. But, you were just saying that I’m your good luck charm. Maybe you wouldn’t have found anything if I wasn’t here.”
Uba: “Your status of being good luck might have to be revoked. We have company!”
Doog: “What! Where!”
Uba: “Coming from the east. They’re about two klicks out and approaching fast. Let’s get moving!”

Uba: “I’m going to need you to drive for a bit. Nothing fancy, just keep the throttle pushed down.”
Doog: “Is this a bad time to tell you about my driving record?”

Uba: “Just keep it steady. I have them in my crosshairs.”
Doog: “Are you going to kill them?”
Uba: “Nah. That’s not my style. I’m hoping to just disable their scooter.”
BAM!
Uba: “Direct hit! We won’t be seeing him anytime soon.”
Doog: “Yeah, but how many other Reapers are out there? When will we be safe again!”
Uba: “Stop freaking out. We’ll be safe again soon.”

Uba: “Safety, at last.”
Doog: “Safety?! There’s Reapers everywhere!”
Uba: “Yes, but this is Indutiae. All hostilities cease within the city, under penalty of law.”
Doog: “I thought Suci Sabulum was lawless.”
Uba: “The deserts are lawless; the city is not. Think of Indutiae as an oasis of peace. The LIU strongly enforces this concept. Violence in the city would lead to economic loss.”
Doog: “So, we’re safe?”
Uba: “Yes.”

Soldier: “Welcome to Indutiae. Weapons are allowed, but they must be holstered or secured at all times. Any acts of violence, whether real or perceived, will result in the forfeiture of all assets, including one’s life. Have a great day!”

Doog: “I’m not going to lie, being in the city is a huge weight off my shoulders. I was freaking out for a bit.”
Uba: “The feeling of safety is a welcome reprieve, and it is amplified by the fact that we made it here with a full container. I now have enough credits to be safe for a week.”
Doog: “Only a week? I thought you said a container could feed you for a month.”
Uba: “It could, but there’s other things to consider. I need more than food; I need fuel, ammo, and water. Plus, I don’t know how long it will take to find another ripe Sabu. If I wait too long to go out and search, I’ll run out of credits and supplies before I find another one.”
Doog: “Yeah, I didn’t consider that. It’s an endless cycle.”
Uba: “Yes. But, at least I’m in the good part of the cycle now.”

Uba: “Indutiae has all the amenities. Food, water, supplies, and lodging.”
Doog: “What about bars?”
Uba: “Yes, some of those as well. You’ll run through your credits fast going there though. I don’t typically imbibe.”
Doog: “Well, what about brothels? There has to be something fun to do around here.”
Uba: “I don’t pay to play. It’s never been a problem for me.”
Doog: “Well, aren’t you just the lucky one.”

Uba: “Honestly, most of us Reapers get our joy out of the little things. Things that cost too much money force us back into the desert faster.”
Doog: “So, there’s nothing you splurge on?”
Uba: “Well…a lot of us end up spending some money tinkering with our hoverbikes. These bikes are precious to us. They’re vital tools to our livelihood.”
Doog: “I have noticed that many of the bikes appear modified.”
Uba: “Yes. Some have bigger engines for speed, some have shorter frames for stealth, other have larger storage for holding more containers. I went with a hybrid, faster engines and a sidecar for storage. My next goal is a mounted autocannon for my sidecar. I might have to save up a bit for that.”
Doog: “Yikes!”

Uba: “This is the juice market where we trade our collected Sabu Juice for credits.”
Doog: “Ten credits per gallon. That’s not too bad.”
Uba: “Considering that each container has about four gallons, it’s not the best. I usually have two containers, but…well…”
Doog: “I was in the way. Just say it.”
Uba: “Yeah. That. But, the rates are low right now too. There must be an abundance coming in. The market price is low.”

Uba: “That’s part of my problem right there.”
Doog: “What? That guy?”
Uba: “Girl, actually. That’s my chief rival. Our territories and routes often intersect. She must have scored big to drop the market prices this low.”
Doog: “Rival, huh?”
Uba: “Yeah. She’s vicious. She doesn’t hunt for Sabu cacti; she hunts for Reapers.”
Doog: “Remind me to stay away from her…unless, of course, she’s single. I can make some exceptions.”
Uba: “I’m sure you can. Let’s head inside.”

Uba: “Ah. It’s nice to get out of the sand and sun for a bit. Here, hold this container. It’s time to take this mask off.”

Doog: “You’re a…you’re a…you’re a…a you.”
Uba: “A woman?”
Doog: “Uh, yeah. Not that I thought a woman couldn’t be a Reaper…I just assumed…”
Uba: “You know what happens when you assume...”
Doog: “For a guy that’s been surprised in the brothel a few times, I should have learned my lesson. Never assume.”
Uba: “No worries. You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. Just don’t treat me any different.”
Doog: “No, of course not. So, are you by chance…”
Uba: “If you ask me out, even the laws of Indutiae won’t save you.”
Doog: “Er…are you by chance ready to move on. This container is heavy.”
Uba: “That’s what I thought.”

Doog: “So, what’s going on here?”
Uba: “Sabu juice is not generally consumed in its raw form; it’s too gritty and sour. The juice must undergo a distillation process to remove sand and other contaminates. The juice is then fermented in barrels for a few months.”
Doog: “Wait, Sabu Juice is an alcoholic drink?”
Uba: “Yes. Sabu juice spoils quick, so it must be fermented. Fermentation preserves the juice and creates many beneficial vitamins, including vitamin C. Vitamin C fends off scurvy, so Sabu Juice is used a lot during long term space travel. Why pack loads of fruits on your ship, when you can bring one container of Sabu Juice?”
Doog: “I need some of this for my ship. Fruit juice with a side of buzz.”

Uba: “The scarcity of ripe Sabu Cacti and the risks involved in collecting it, make Sabu Juice highly expensive. You won’t find it in the liquor cabinet of most working-class individuals.”
Doog: “Another episode where I leave with crushed dreams…and possibly the onset of scurvy.”

Uba: “We offload our collected juice here and receive payment based off the daily rate. I should bring in about forty credits from this haul. Enough to keep me out of the desert for a few days.”

Uba: “This facility collects Sabu Juice, processes it, then ships out the finished product to all corners of the galaxy.”
Doog: “Well, at least the richer corners.”
Uba: “Hey, I might not be able to afford the final product, but it keeps me working. Sabu juice is my livelihood. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Doog: “Well folks, Suci Sabulum is an interesting place. It’s home to the Sabu Cactus that produces Sabu Juice. The cacti cannot be farmed; they only grow in a natural, unpredictable way. This forces individuals, called Reapers, to scour the desert searching for ripe cacti. While out in the desert, they face a dangerous amount of competition from other Reapers. Like, deadly-force, cacti stealing competition. It’s truly dangerous work. Luckily, there’s a safe zone where the Reapers can sell their hauls in complete safety. Speaking of safety, I’m not in this city at the moment, so I hope my ship gets here soon. Oh, well. See ya!”



Note: Sabu juice played an important role in the early exploration of the galaxy, but the progression of technology, particularly in travel speeds and artificial nutrition, has largely made Sabu Juice obsolete. However, its nostalgic place in culture and the perceived social status it indicates makes Sabu Juice popular still today. 

Credits
Created by: Ludgonious
Executive Producers: Ralph DuBreuil
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