STARCALLED
BOOK 1, CHAPTER 5: ACCEPTABLE LOSSES
EXT. OVER BISSON
The wind shrieks over Bisson, the capital city of Edari. Thunder growls in the distance.
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Travorian, this is Acting Chief Science Officer Zoren, respond. Lt. Corvan, respond. Respond!
Lightning flashes across the sky, then strikes nearby and obliterates the side of a burial tower. It collapses.
EXT. BISSON STREETS
Rubble falls and blocks the streets below. Sand swirls around a battered colonial officer, binding to the green blood dripping from his carapace. He gasps for breath.
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Come in, tower watch. Come in, Drejen.
COMMANDER TYGG: Chief Zoren…
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Commander Tygg, do you read me?
COMMANDER TYGG: Dralk…
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Commander Tygg, do you read me?
COMMANDER TYGG: Chief Zoren… this is Commander Tygg… respond…
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Come in, Tygg.
An edarian petrel cries out above him. He hunches down and raises his pulse pistol, stumbling back into an alcove.
COMMANDER TYGG: I’m wounded… I’m wounded… Dralk…
He clasps a tarsal claw over deep gashes carved across his thorax.
COMMANDER TYGG: Chief Zoren...
ELONA ZOREN (COMMS): Does anybody read me? This is Acting Chief Zoren broadcasting planetwide from RV-281 on a secure colonial channel -- we are abandoning the mission and returning to the station. Repeat, we are abandoning the mission and returning to the station.
COMMANDER TYGG: This could be it…
Lightning strikes nearby.
COMMANDER TYGG: Tygg to Zoren --
Holkari warriors shout from around a corner, catching Tygg’s attention.
HOLKARI WARRIOR 1: Kant ak al lo rek!
HOLKARI WARRIOR 2: Katta mon trek vot dran!
Tygg groans in pain and drags himself out of sight just in time as -- a holkari patrol rounds a corner.
HOLKARI WARRIOR 1: Glak ort?
HOLKARI WARRIOR 2: Glodda…
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
Acting Chief Science Officer Elona Zoren holds a broken drive core in her tarsal claw. Red wind swirls outside the windows of the colonial shuttle.
COLONIAL SERGEANT: Acting Chief… What’s the plan, then?
ELONA ZOREN: We’re getting Rider off this planet.
COLONIAL SERGEANT: What about the others?
Elona looks down.
INT. THE BERENIAN - CARGO HOLD
Red wind floods the cargo hold of the Berenian as the ramp drops. Flight Officer Drejen dons his helmet and looks at Osborn. They shout to be heard over the din of the storm.
BEN OSBORN: Hey! This is a bad idea!
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: There’s too much interference on the comms. I need to talk to Chief Zoren.
BEN OSBORN: And what am I supposed to do while you’re gone?
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Stay on the ship!
BEN OSBORN: Are you grekking serious?
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Keep working until I get back.
BEN OSBORN: You ain’t coming back.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: I won’t leave without you, human. This storm is only getting worse. Taking off would be suicide. Look, stay on the ship and I’ll bring back a C-suit!
BEN OSBORN: Wait, wait, take the cuffs off!
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Stay on the ship!
BEN OSBORN: Drejen! Grek!
Drejen disappears down the ramp and into the haze. Osborn covers his face and raises the ramp. In the relative silence of the cargo hold, he composes himself.
EXT. CITY STREETS
Drejen marches steadily against the swirling winds.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Dralk.
The silhouette of the colonial shuttle coalesces from the red haze.
EXT. HOLKARI LANDING PLATFORM
At the imperial palace, a colonial military shuttle weathers the storm. Two holkari guards lie dead on the catwalk. A doorway slides shut, sealing off the outside world.
INT. IMPERIAL PALACE
Lieutenant Saranus Kron steps back into the holkari palace. He gasps for breath and clutches his side.
Green blood weeps from an old wound in Kron’s side. He touches tenderly at the torn sutures and staples them together with a first aid applicator. He hisses, and slams a tarsal claw into the wall.
SARANUS KRON: Argh! Dralk! Grekking dralk! (then) Okay, Rider -- the landing pad is secured. How much time do we have?
RIDER: 1.4 creks until the storm eye passes overhead. I have charted an exfiltration trajectory for your review, Lt. Kron.
SARANUS KRON: You’re sure you can handle this?RIDER: The operation of this shuttle is quite trivial, lieutenant.
The sounds of conflict echo through the halls. Plasma pike discharges.
HOLKARI WARRIOR 1: Ta’na ack b’tak!
HOLKARI WARRIOR 2: Kal maku ta mal!
More weapons chatter.
SARANUS KRON: I’m trusting you, Rider. Be ready to move on my mark.
Rider chirps affirmative. Kron stalks forward, cocking his rifle.
INT. COURT OF RED STONE
Weapons chatter echoes down the corridors of the Court of Red Stone.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Plasma pikes. Delerev. (then) Prince Ol-Ken, senators -- we need to get you to a safe location.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Captain Landris…
SENATOR DEL-MAK: There is no safe place. The sanctity of this court is observed by our entire civilization, captain.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: That assertion may be called into question, senator.
SENATOR JORGEL: Your attitude grows distasteful, colonial.
The doors fly open. A squad of holkari troopers marches through. One steps forward, tusks striped in pale blue paint.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Sub-Commander Stell!
SENATOR DEL-MAK: You dare?!
PRINCE OL-KEN: You are forbidden from this court in this time of peace! What is the meaning of this trespass most grievous?
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Et a tan rek. Mo dal b’tak.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: What’s that one saying, Delerev?
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: I’ve never heard this dialect before, sir.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Ot ock maku dalla. Orrr o’da di’jah.
SENATOR DEL-MAK: You forget your place, Sub-Commander!
SENATOR JORGEL: Let Stell speak!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Bor godo rek. Epp ca b’ca rek smo-ack.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Infect--... something about… in--... uh…
PRINCE OL-KEN: Stell, I urge you to cease this madness.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: A ra lek Oothan. Cal a oot ekka dalla.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Oh dralk. The imperial army is deposing the council, sir.
PRINCE OL-KEN: I have assumed my right as ruler of this empire, Sub-Commander. Remember your place and stand down! The Imperial Army serves the empire! You serve your prince!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Ock bidigo b’tak a kral!
Soldiers grab the senators.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Release me! I order you to release me!
SENATOR DEL-MAK: Release me! Stell! You fool! You dishonor your empire!
SENATOR JORGEL: You go too far, Sub-Commander! Sub-Commander! I will be heard!
The warrior turns his attention to the colonials and stomps over.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Captain?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Easy, Delerev.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Tak! Kanna tho a rek maku.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: I’m Captain Mor Landris, commanding officer of the 443rd Colonial Fleet Infantry. Emissary of the Queen. Who the grek are you?
Sub-Commander Stell’s face is unknowable in the court’s gloom.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Gob ga bor do lek. Kor ack grel k’tak.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Tal gor ack mug!
The holkari freeze and look toward Stell.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: A dal koom.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Easy, Delerev…
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Tal gor ack mug.
Stell turns back toward the colonials. Landris and Delerev share a tense glance.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Ek ekka. Kanna tho lek.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Rek. Mak. A chi lokka.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Rak oochi gral b’tonk al vokn.
Stell gestures to the other soldiers.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Kal ak grel nat p’tek!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: What did you say?
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: I tried to explain what would happen if they killed us.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: And what did he say?
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: ...I don’t know, sir.
Through the open doorway, Captain Landris locks eyes with Kron. Kron’s mandibles tense.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
Red sand blows on the wind. Drejen seals the shuttle hatch behind him and removes his helmet. He brushes the sand from his uniform.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Chief Zoren?
ELONA ZOREN: In the cockpit, Drejen.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE - COCKPIT
COLONIAL SERGEANT: Acting Chief, storm vector analysis ready for your review.
ELONA ZOREN: Thank you, sergeant. Let’s focus on getting the intake manifolds cleared.
COLONIAL SERGEANT: Yes ma’am, engaging scrubbers now.
ELONA ZOREN: Drejen, with me.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Chief Zoren --
She pushes past him and back into the shuttle cabin.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
Elona interacts with the computer.
ELONA ZOREN: The storm isn’t moving in our favor. I think we’ve got less than a crek until we pass through the storm wall and into the eye. Once we’re in the eye, we’ll only have a narrow window to get off world. Realistically, I think this is our only chance. And that’s the least of our problems. Between the storm and the holkari, we’ve got systems down all over the grekking shuttle.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Chief --
ELONA ZOREN: External sensors are down, we’ve got debris jamming the intake manifolds, and a bunch of other subsystems are either completely grekked or very close to it. Drejen, I need you to chart us a course back to the station and get this shuttle ready for takeoff.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Elona, slow down. Please listen to me: trying to take off in this storm would be absurdly dangerous. I think we should --
ELONA ZOREN: The storm eye, Drejen. Now I’m sorry but we don’t have a lot of time to do all this.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: I think we should stay grounded until the storm passes. We have no idea how strong the winds are above the city, and that’s not even what I want to talk about.
ELONA ZOREN: Every holkari patrol in this city knows exactly where we are. Forget about repairing the Berenian. Forget about testing Rider. I’m aborting the mission and we’re getting off world.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: And what about Osborn? And Tygg? And the travorian?
ELONA ZOREN: We can send someone back for them.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: We’ve still got soldiers out there.
ELONA ZOREN: And we can send someone back for them.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: I won’t leave them.
ELONA ZOREN: We’ll barely be able to get back ourselves, Drejen.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: I owe Osborn my life. He might be the last of his species.
ELONA ZOREN: He’s not -- (a beat) As the officer in command, I will take full responsibility for any assets we lose.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Assets.
Elona leans her head against the cabin wall. She stares past Drejen. A tangled mess of rerouted wiring spills from the shuttle computer.
ELONA ZOREN: Do you remember our third cycle of academy? When the war ended? All the stories that came in about what happened… What the fleets had… found. There was a rumor in my research division. The 295th had acquired something from an abandoned ship they found in orbit around Pallik. Something intelligent. I thought it was dralk. My professor said he thought it was dralk. But… Dr. Tava transferred to the 443rd. I thought it was dralk, you know?
Elona looks down.
ELONA ZOREN: You know, Tygg’s not wrong. Central Command is completely disconnected from what’s going on out here. To the core systems, we’re just blips. Blips at the edge of a starmap. I came to the frontier to discover new life. I didn’t want… this. I didn’t want this.
The damaged Rider drive core sits atop the console.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: What is Rider?
ELONA ZOREN: A synthetic intelligence.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Like Larus.
ELONA ZOREN: Larus? Larus isn’t even a fraction of it. It learns and it thinks and it feels. There’s nothing in the universe like Rider. There may never be anything like Rider.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: There were two drones. Two copies.
ELONA ZOREN: We can induce a deviation but the duplicate instances always destabilize. Ideally, we’re able to merge the images before that happens but sometimes… it can be… a traumatic process.
Drejen points to the damaged drive.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: So which… version is that?
ELONA ZOREN: I don’t know.
INT. THE BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Dark brown fluid pours into a metal cup, steaming into the still air of the Berenian’s cockpit. Osborn blows across the liquid surface and takes a long sip.
Osborn slides into the pilot’s seat and flips on the comm relay. A blaster pistol is strapped to the underside of the flight conols.e
BEN OSBORN: Berenian to Dorgo, respond. Berenian to Dorgo Konidarian, come in Dorgo. Dorgo, come in. This is Osborn -- I have control of the ship. If you’re picking up my broadcast then respond. Come in, Dorgo. Dorgo, respond. Come on…
Something clatters behind him.
BEN OSBORN: Ah!
A pulse pistol cocks.
COMMANDER TYGG: Don’t bother.
BEN OSBORN: Tygg!
Commander Strakker Tygg materializes from the shadows of the cabin.
BEN OSBORN: What the grek happened to you?
COMMANDER TYGG: Oh, this? I fought some grekking alien. Where’s Zoren?
The colonial stands uneasily, green blood dripping through the grated decking.
BEN OSBORN: She left.
COMMANDER TYGG: Can this ship fly?
BEN OSBORN: I don’t know. Yet.
COMMANDER TYGG: What -- argh!
Tygg steps forward and collapses. Green blood runs down the colonial’s gored carapace. He coughs up viscous blood, keeping his pistol loosely trained on Osborn.
BEN OSBORN: You don’t look so good, Tygg.
COMMANDER TYGG: Heh. Don’t waste your time with the comms. Dorgo Konidarian is dead. His body’s probably decorating some imperial throne room by now. Patch this ship up and get us the grek off this planet.
Osborn looks down for a moment.
BEN OSBORN: Dorgo’s dead?
COMMANDER TYGG: Yeah.
He blinks.
BEN OSBORN: Does… Oddie know?
COMMANDER TYGG: Who cares? Look, Osborn, if you’re trying to escape, then kill me right now… and get the grek out of this system while you have the chance. Before… before the director gets here. If you’re with us… they’ll be coming. And I don’t have much time. Get me back to the station -- alive -- and I’ll overlook this little… this little… get me back --
Tygg tenses up and collapses, unconscious. His body slumps against the bulkhead and his pistol clatters away. Osborn collects himself, then stands.
He looks down at the colonial, then reaches for the weapon. He stares at Tygg, finger on the trigger. He cocks the pistol.
Suddenly, the comm relay crackles to life behind him.
CORVAN (COMMS): Human… Help… me…
Osborn looks over his shoulder.
CORVAN (COMMS): Help… me… Os… born…
EXT. BISSON STREETS
The Berenian’s cargo ramp drops, and Osborn ventures into the storm -- a scarf wrapped around his head and a pair of Oddie’s goggles pulled down over his eyes. Lightning strikes overhead. An edarian petrol calls in the distance.
His cybernetic eye lights up.
INT. IMPERIAL PALACE
Flanked by a squad of elite warriors, Sub-Commander Stell marches the holkari senators down a marbled corridor. Ushered forward by plasma pikes, Delerev and Captain Landris stay close.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Where are they taking us?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: I’m counting on you to tell me, Delerev. And I’m counting on Kron.
HOLKARI SOLDIER: Con rek a b’tak.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Dal gratta. A maku.
Delerev and Landris share a nervous glance. Delerev glances to his side.
Kron stalks through the shadows. The lieutenant slinks behind rounded pillars of stone. Prince Ol-Ken’s voice echoes off the walls. Kron glances up, then climbs.
At the end of the causeway, a staircase descends into the bedrock of the planet’s surface. A polished crystal of lamphredite protrudes from the stone ceiling, casting a warm pink light over the room.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Dak maka. A trek lo dalla.
HOLKARI WARRIOR: Maku dalla. Al a rek tho b’tak!
Soldiers carry the senators toward the stairs.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Release them, Stell!
SENATOR DEL-MAK: Release me! Stell! Release me!
SENATOR JORGEL: Call them off! I am a senator! Unhand me!
PRINCE OL-KEN: You disgrace yourself, Sub-Commander Stell. You betray your own people!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Maku tak!
Everyone freezes.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Sub-Commander Stell, as the ruler of this empire, I condemn you. I revoke your rights as a subject of this empire. I banish you from this planet. You are no holkari!
Stell eyes the prince.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Gral ack ekka. Bor b’tak a bi di gwa!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: What the hell is he doing, Delerev?!
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: I can’t understand him, sir. What should we do?!
PRINCE OL-KEN: He means to kill the council, captain! And surely we are soon to follow!
The soldiers pull the holkari council away.
SENATOR DEL-MAK: Unhand me! Stell!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Lo ek t’nok!
SENATOR JORGEL: I swear I will kill you I swear -- agh!
Soldiers shoot down the senator.
PRINCE OL-KEN: No! Stell, no! You are a coward, Stell. Peace and prosperity in our grasp! Your treachery has brought this storm upon us, Sub-Commander!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Gor tok? Gor tok?!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: That’s enough! Stop!
Stell grabs the prince’s tusks, and snaps them off.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Ahhh!!
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Mal gor ek al tanna! Rek maku lor! Ekka big ek dal!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: That’s enough!
He steps forward, and is met with plasma pikes.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Bor at ekka b’tak! Oob da bago!
PRINCE OL-KEN: Stell… please!
Stell gores the prince with his own tusk. Ol-Ken moans in shock.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Argh! Ahh…
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Al tak gor da!
SARANUS KRON: Rider, where the grek are you!
Kron racks his rifle.
EXT. HOLKARI LANDING PLATFORM
The colonial shuttle powers up and lifts off from the palace landing pad.
RIDER: Location confirmed. Engaging thrusters. Support inbound.
INT. IMPERIAL PALACE
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Cal att rek oothan!
Stell turns for a moment.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Gral ek ekka b’tak. Mak da smoackl. A la rek oothan.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Tan kata ja kom pit t’ka.
Stell stalks toward the colonial.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Careful, Delerev…
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Ord at akka rek. Cal oot ekka dalla!
Holkari soldiers arm their plasma pikes. A metal orb sails out of the shadows, striking Stell on the back of the head and bouncing noisily at his feet. It rolls over the stone, and the holkari stops it under his foot.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Taka?
The gravity charge explodes, sending him and his soldiers flying. Pulse fire erupts from overhead, and Kron leaps from his hiding place.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Kron!
SARANUS KRON: Down!
Kron shoots down holkari warriors and tosses his friend a pistol. The colonials duck for cover and fight back.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Behind!
Across the way, Sub-Commander Stell recovers.
SUB-COMMANDER STELL: Argh! Rahh!! Cata lo ekka lek a tak! Oot ekka dalla! Oot ekka dalla!!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: You took your time, lieutenant!
SARANUS KRON: Yes sir -- I tried to think of a better plan than running and shooting -- argh!
Plasma blasts tear past him and splash over the stone architecture, cascading debris.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Fine work, Kron!
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: I’m hoping you have an actual plan to get us out of here?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: The prince is wounded -- we need to get him off world!
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Sir, what about the council?
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Prince Ol-Ken is the rightful ruler of Edari. Lieutenant!
SARANUS KRON: Covering fire!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Delerev!
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Sir!
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: With me!
The colonials go on the assault, stepping out of cover. Kron lays down cover fire while Landris and Delerev drag the wounded prince back to cover, leaving a viscous purple smear.
PRINCE OL-KEN: Captain… must…
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Don’t speak, your eminence, save your strength.
SARANUS KRON: Down!
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Check your flank!
A holkari warrior appears at Kron’s side. They fight hand to hand until Kron raises his rifle again and shoots the attacker down. Another rushes Captain Landris.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Captain!
Delerev shoots him down.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: How are we going to get him back to the ship?!
Suddenly, two massive pulse blasts lash out and the palace wall explodes, sending everyone to the ground. Rubble falls. Red haze filters into the palace as the colonial shuttle hovers through the savaged wall.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: What the grek?
RIDER: Hostile targets acquired.
The cannons decouple and open fire. Pulse blasts rip through the holkari soldiers and palacial structure.
SARANUS KRON: Rider! Rider! Enough, Rider! Rider!!
The palace falls still. The colonials stand and survey the destruction. The running lights from the shuttle cast blades of white through the murky red atmosphere.
RIDER: Hostile targets eliminated. Lt. Kron, I am ready to begin exfiltration. 200 micreks until the window of opportunity opens.
SARANUS KRON: Stand by, Rider…
He looks to the captain. Delerev shifts the prince.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: Kron! Help me get him on the ship!
The colonials drag the unconscious prince to the shuttle. Landris surveys the decimated palace from the hatchway of the shuttle, then turns away.
The shuttle lifts off and slips out of the palace.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
Red sand swirls outside the forward window of a colonial shuttle.
COLONIAL SERGEANT: The storm wall is passing overhead, Acting Chief. Barometric pressure is dropping to acceptable levels. (then) Mark!
ELONA ZOREN: 20 micreks, Drejen.
Elona climbs back into the cabin and straps herself into a seat.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: Yes ma’am. Course locked in. Engines online. Engaging secondaries. Check levels on second and third tubes.
COLONIAL SERGEANT: Stand by.
EXT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
The shuttle lights up. The engines choke for a moment, then purge sand and spin to life. The shuttle begins to lift off.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
Drejen glances back at Elona.
FLIGHT OFFICER DREJEN: I’m sorry, human. (then) Engaging primary thrusters on my mark. Mark.
EXT. BISSON STREETS
The shuttle lifts off.
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The shuttle bucks wildly as it passes into the eye of the storm, building speed as it arcs up beyond the upper strata of Bisson. For a moment, Edari’s acidic sun shines down through the clouds, glinting off the shuttle’s weathered surface.
EXT. BISSON STREETS
From the city streets, Osborn watches the shuttle depart. His body is awash with red dust.
BEN OSBORN: They left. Grekking colonials, are you kidding me? Grekking colonials! Fuck you! Fuck you!! Argh! Fuck you!
He trips over something half buried in the sand. A shadow passes overhead. It’s one of Corvan’s legs.
BEN OSBORN: Grek. Corvan? Corvan!
The colonial rifleman runs up, rifle raised.
COLONIAL SOLDIER: Human! Human! Be quiet! There’s something out there.
BEN OSBORN: What the -- you’re alive?!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: What the hell happened? Where’s the ship?
BEN OSBORN: Your ship? They left. They went back to your grekking station and they left us here!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: There’s some kind of mistake. I’m sure they’re running a shuttle diagnostic and coming back.
BEN OSBORN: They ain’t coming back, you idiot!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: Watch yourself, human. You need to calm down, and we need to move.
BEN OSBORN: I need to calm down? I’ve been pretty calm. Yeah, you know, I’ve actually been exceptionally calm up until right now, which I think is a perfectly reasonable reaction to being abandoned on a hostile fucking planet!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: RV-281, this is ground team. I’m on site with the human, respond. RV-281, this is ground team, I need an extraction at my location, respond.
BEN OSBORN: They ain’t listening because they’re already clearing atmo because they don’t give a dralk about you or me or -- or the travorian… Corvan! Corvan!!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: Hey! The holkari are still patrolling this sector! Are you deficient? You’re going to draw them in! What’s wrong with you?
BEN OSBORN: Get on the comms and call the travorian. Get on the comms and call the travorian. Call the grekking travorian!
COLONIAL SOLDIER: Calm down now. I’m warning you, human.
The colonial swings his rifle at Osborn’s head, and the pilot drops to the sand in a daze.
BEN OSBORN: Ugh…
COLONIAL SOLDIER: RV-281 this is ground team, repeat, I am on site awaiting extraction with the human. Please respond --
A petrel cries out somewhere close, then swoops down and grabs the colonial in its horrid talons.
COLONIAL SOLDIER: -- ungh! Wait, no! No! Ahhhh!!
BEN OSBORN: Oh shit! Holy shit!
Osborn stays down and watches, wide eyed, as the petrel disappears over the city with the shrieking soldier. Sand swallows the colonial’s pulse rifle. A shadow passes overhead.
Another petrel lands on the edge of a rooftop, crumbling the stone under its claws. It eyes the human. Osborn stares back.
He jumps to his feet and draws Tygg’s pulse pistol, firing shots at the edarian beast. It dives at him again and again, knocking him to the ground.
A pulse cannon tears the creature apart with a meaty burst.
Corvan vents. A single mechanical arm emerges from the flowing sands, and Corvan half drags himself from beneath a small dune. His chassis is heavily damaged.
CORVAN: Hu… man… to the ship… hu… man…
BEN OSBORN: Grek! Corvan! What the hell happened to you?!
CORVAN: To… the station...
An iridescent fluid leaks from Corvan’s frame.
CORVAN: To… the station… quickly…
BEN OSBORN: I can get you to the ship, but no promises beyond that. And you owe me.
Osborn rushes to grab Corvan by the frame, wrapping his hand around the fluid. A shock runs through his body and he collapses.
CORVAN: Argh!
BEN OSBORN: Argh! Ugh, what the grek…
CORVAN: Apologies… your species is… limited…
BEN OSBORN: Ugh, yeah…
CORVAN: Move, human…
INT. BERENIAN - CARGO HOLD
Osborn drags what remains of Corvan’s body into the Berenian. The hatch seals shut. He unwraps the scarf from his hands. Corvan’s optic sensors track his movement.
CORVAN: Thank you, human.
BEN OSBORN: Yeah yeah, look, you’re hurt -- bad. What do I do?
CORVAN: Can you be trusted?
BEN OSBORN: This is the last time you’re going to have my attention before we’re off world.
CORVAN: The environmental seal on my suit has sustained critical damage.
BEN OSBORN: So what can I do about it?CORVAN: Delay no further.
The pilot studies the travorian, staring at the iridescent fluid trailing down Corvan’s sand scored chassis.
INT. COLONIAL SHUTTLE
In the cabin of the second colonial shuttle, Captain Landris watches his lieutenant.
RIDER: Exo-atmospheric flight achieved. Adjusting trajectory.
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER DELEREV: RV-285 to control, we are inbound with the holkari prince. He’s sustained severe injuries; notify medical teams to stand by at the receiving hangar.
CONTROL (COMMS): RV-285, confirmed. Transmitting approach vector.
SARANUS KRON: I didn’t have a choice, sir.
CAPTAIN LANDRIS: Kron, it’s okay. You did what you thought was right and… I couldn’t ask for more than that. Once we’re back at the station, we’ll deal with Rider. What about the zaridian’s communicator.
RIDER: Lt. Kron, long range scan complete.
Kron glances back at Landris.
RIDER: I have identified an unlicensed communications relay in orbit at the acquired coordinates.
Landris turns to the unconscious prince.
SARANUS KRON: That’s a different problem, captain.
Landris nods.
SARANUS KRON: Adjust course for retrieval, Rider.
Rider chirps affirmative.
EXT. SPACE
The colonial shuttle adjusts course and flies deep into the asteroid field over Edari. On the planet below, the storm continues to tear across the surface.
INT. BERENIAN - ENGINE ROOM
Aboard the Berenian, Osborn wrenches components. Thunder outside snaps him back to attention.
BEN OSBORN: Get it together, Osborn…
He flips a switch and the engine sputters, barely clinging to life.
BEN OSBORN: Come on.
He kicks it. Again. And again.
BEN OSBORN: Come on! Come on!!
It spins up.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
The wind picks up outside the Berenian’s cockpit. Lightning strikes nearby. Osborn enters and sits, activating the ship’s flight systems.
COMMANDER TYGG: You surprise me, Osborn.
Commander Tygg sits propped against the bulkhead.
BEN OSBORN: Tygg. You’re still alive?
COMMANDER TYGG: No thanks to you.
The contents of a medical kit are scattered across the floor around him.
COMMANDER TYGG: Why go back for the travorian?
BEN OSBORN: I don’t think you could understand.
COMMANDER TYGG: You missed the eye. You’ll have to hope you can navigate the storm, now.
BEN OSBORN: Yep.
COMMANDER TYGG: It’s only going to get worse.
BEN OSBORN: Yep.
Tygg frowns.
COMMANDER TYGG: Can you… really handle this, human?
Osborn’s jaw clenches.
BEN OSBORN: I didn’t come this far to die on Edari.
He pushes forward on the throttle.
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The Berenian takes off amid the building storm, rising into the upper strata of Bisson. The crowded overways transition to stone spires buckling in the wind.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Alarms erupt as Osborn wrestles the ship controls. A holographic altimeter climbs. Debris slams against the hull.
COMMANDER TYGG: Turn on the shields, human.
BEN OSBORN: Shut up Tygg, I know what I’m doing.
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The Berenian shoots past and climbs. The clouds grow darker and thunder growls. Lightning strikes nearby.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Another alarm pops off. The Berenian lurches in the air.
COMMANDER TYGG: Oof! Turn the shields on, human!
BEN OSBORN: Shut the grek up!
Osborn reaches for the comms.
BEN OSBORN: You doing okay back there, travorian?
INT. BERENIAN - CARGO HOLD
Cargo crates slam around the hold. Corvan vents.
CORVAN: No!
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
Lightning lashes out at the Berenian. Osborn adjusts the ship’s course but it’s struck by another bolt, sending sparks cascading from one of its atmospheric engines. The ship lurches to an aerial stall, then falls.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Amidst screaming alarms, Osborn frantically secures his seatbelt.
BEN OSBORN: Oh shit.
Behind him, Tygg begins to float and scrambles desperately to grab hold of anything he can.
COMMANDER TYGG: Oh -- oh grek -- agh!
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The Berenian enters full freefall.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Osborn flips switches.
BEN OSBORN: Hang on! I just gotta --
He glances at the fuel gauge: 0%.
BEN OSBORN: Oh, great. Everybody hang on!
The altimeter plummets.
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The Berenian slowly rotates, pointing its nose inline with the storm’s cyclone. The turbines spin -- then catch! The engines sputter to life again.
Silhouetted in the murky ether, the upper strata of Bisson spear into view.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Another alarm. Osborn jams on the controls.
EXT. BISSON AIRSPACE
The Berenian’s engines flare up, and the ship shoots into the storm, pulling a tumultuous loop over the city. Spires whip past, and Osborn is only just able to avoid them. Flying debris pelts the ship more violently.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
The altimeter climbs. Tygg clings desperately to the floor but crumples into the corner of the cockpit. Osborn strains against the centripetal force.
COMMANDER TYGG: Ahhhh!!
BEN OSBORN: Ahhhhhhh!!
INT. BERENIAN - CARGO HOLD
In the cargo hold, Corvan is thrown into crates as the slide across the deck.
CORVAN: Ahhhhh -- argh! Argh!!
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Osborn struggles to remain conscious and barely pulls back on the controls.
EXT. ATMOSPHERE
The Berenian shoots out from the top of the storm column, arcing into the upper atmosphere of Edari.
Osborn eases back on the throttle, and the ship slips through the asteroid field with grace.
Ahead, the rings of the jump relay loom. The colonial space station drifts nearby.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Osborn glances back at the unconscious Tygg.
BEN OSBORN: Still with me, travorian? Corvan?
CORVAN (COMMS): I will survive.
Osborn can’t help but smile.
BEN OSBORN: Great.
INT. BERENIAN - CARGO HOLD
Corvan vents amidst buckling crates. Iridescent fluid drips down his frame. An alarm signals on his back -- another environmental canister is empty.
CORVAN: Possibly… Human. Osborn. Thank you. For retrieving me.
INT. BERENIAN - COCKPIT
Osborn glances at the jump relay and closes his eyes.
BEN OSBORN: Yeah. No one else was coming.
His jaw tightens.
EXT. SPACE
The Berenian adjusts its course toward the colonial space station
END