[WingcommanderIV]

Battleship Humanity
An Original Screenplay by Andrew Geczy























SECOND DRAFT
June 8, 2008

ACT 1

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY

We fade in on a REPORTER on a newscast. A short ways behind her is a podium that currently has no one at it. There are other reporters in the room, and the video cameras they are talking into aren’t like ours. They are more cylindrical and compact.

REPORTER
No one here knows why the Rexters have called this conference, or why they invited members from every world to the proceedings. Our own analysts expect that they might attempt to yet again expand their galactic borders into the Pamerridian Expanse; a move we imagine would not go over well with the Pamerridian delegates, nor their allies. Real good analytical work on...wait a minute something is happening. Prince Gilber, the current head of Rexter affairs, seems to be ready to make a statement.

The reporter turns to watch as 3 men approach the podium. The one in the lead is GILBER. He’s a tough older man, muscular and no-nonsense, with a wide grin on his face. To his right stands LEMODE, a timid scientist who looks nervous to say the least. To his left is BLAKE, a well dressed man, who stands quietly and devotedly at his side.

GILBER
Many people here know me as the ‘aggressive ruler’ of the Rexter Empire. Some of you fear me, and I worry that no amount of reassurance will calm your fears. But I didn’t bring you all here for reassurances and kind words. I came here carrying with me an answer to the biggest question plaguing the galaxy. Where do we come from? Dr. Lemode here is an esteemed and respected genealogist, and he has something to share. Doctor.

Gilber steps back, his grin never faltering from his lips. Lemode steps awkwardly to the podium. He isn’t smiling at all.

LEMODE
As you are all aware, there are hundreds of known races in the galaxy. Many of them have representatives here now. It is also well known that all races share basically the same DNA, with only minor evolutionary differences.

Gilber leans forward.

GILBER
Get to the good part please, doctor.

LEMODE
It is hypothesized by the scientific community that all of us have descended from an individual line, and evolution over time is the cause of any differences we may have. Through dedicated research and genealogical studies, we have uncovered that the original race might in fact be the Rexters.

There is a hush among the people in the room, and everything is quiet for a split second.

GILBER
How sure are you of this evidence?

LEMODE
It is...unmistakable.

The room bursts into excited murmurs and animated discussions. Gilber pushes Lemode away from the podium and raises his arms to silence the people.


GILBER
This revelation is everything we have hoped. For centuries we have felt a calling to help make the galaxy a better place than it is now. We see the rise of this information as proof that not only is it our calling to better the galaxy, it is our duty. So as of this day I am forming the RRAP, the Republic of Rexter Allied Planets. I pray you will all commit yourselves to our vision, so as to bring on a better tomorrow for all of us.

INT. LIVING ROOM – EVENING

We pan back from the conference to find that it is being broadcast on a flat-screen display. We pan back further to find YOUNG CHARON, a cute girl at twelve years of age, and her great GRANDFATHER sitting by the display, watching the proceedings intently. The room they are in feels lived in and warm.

GRANDFATHER
Fiddlesticks.

YOUNG CHARON
What?

GRANDFATHER
Complete Malarkey, all of it.

YOUNG CHARON
What does that even mean?

GRANDFATHER
It means they’re lying. Rexters aren’t our ancestors. I’d kill myself before letting a drop of their blood run through my veins.

Charon’s MOTHER walks into the room, carrying with her a small datapad that she uses intently. Without looking from her work she addresses Charon’s great grandfather.


MOTHER
You shouldn’t be so racist, dad.

GRANDFATHER
I’m not racist. These eyes distrust everyone equally, and I’m telling you that entire speech was one flat out lie after another. They never even mentioned the Ancient Human Empire. Where do they fit in all of this?

YOUNG CHARON
Who?

MOTHER
There’s no proof of their existence.

YOUNG CHARON
But they were brought up the other day in class.

GRANDFATHER
(Beams)
Oh really? In what context?

YOUNG CHARON
The instructor said they were an unwarranted and unproven myth that doesn’t deserve a class discussion.

MOTHER
Thank you.

GRANDFATHER
Yet again, instructors are subjecting their students to the governmental opinions and biases, without allowing our children any chance to explore the world for themselves.


MOTHER
Oh Granddad, would you stop? How could anyone effectively teach our kids anything without focusing on a certain point of view? Classes would never get anywhere if they covered every perspective on life, and our kids would never learn anything if they were left to their own devices.

YOUNG CHARON
So what is the Ancient Human Empire?

EXT. SPACE

We see a view of Earth, surrounded by a fleet of ships all in battle formations. There are hundreds of ships of differing sizes.

GRANDFATHER (VO)
Thousands of years ago, in a distant galaxy, the Ancient Human Empire spread out across hundreds of systems, systematically warring upon every alien species they came across until they were all alone in the galaxy. Unfortunately, war had become such an integral part of their culture that when the fighting ended, they chose to turn inwards, and attack one another. Civil war broke out.

Another fleet of hundreds of ships, swoop in towards Earth, and the two fleets begin to battle one another. We close in on the battle, and pan closer and closer to a single ship named “Humanity’s Hope”.

GRANDFATHER (VO)
One ship, Humanity’s Hope, foresaw that the Human Empire was in danger of collapsing, and when it looked like all hope was lost, they left home in search of a new galaxy, ours.


Under heavy fire, and faltering in its defense, the ship is engulfed in a blinding blue light and disappears. In a completely different and empty point in space, it reappears, but is no longer in control, drifting sporadically.

GRANDFATHER
Of course, the distance between galaxies is much larger than the galaxy itself, and no such ambitious trip had ever been attempted. Damaged and drifting, the crew of Humanity’s last battlecruiser was forced to abandon their ship, and spread out across the new galaxy to form all the races we know today.

We follow in the POV of an escape pod as it detaches from the ship, and is victim to another blue flash. When the blue color fades, we are hurtled towards a golden desert planet, from high orbit down to crash hard into the sand.

INT. BEDROOM – SPACE

CHARON, now in her thirties, bolts up from her restless sleep, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

SUPERIMPOSE: “Klinodan Station in orbit around planet Klinoda.”

Beside her in bed is her husband, HARBET, who’s in his forties, has a weathered face with a thick beard but kind demeanor. Their room is made of pale metal, very plainly furnished, but with big windows looking out into space.

Charon gets up from her bed, wearing a thin silky gown, and slips silently to a nearby desk, the surface of which is a large interactive display covered in notes and research. Charon manipulates the display with her hands, as she looks through what she has written, adding stuff in by simply tracing letters with her fingers. One large obvious note on the display is the words “Humanity’s Hope?” in quotations.

Charon is so caught up with her work that she doesn’t notice that she did in fact wake up Harbet. He sneaks up behind her, and looks down on what she’s doing.
HARBET
Couldn’t you save your endless obsessing till morning?

Charon looks up in mild surprise, but doesn’t miss a beat.

CHARON
It IS morning...somewhere.

HARBET
Charon...?

CHARON
I didn’t know you were up.

HARBET
Surprise.

CHARON taps the corner of her desk display, and it flashes a time that reads “-1:34”. She twirls her hair lightly between her fingers.

CHARON
There’s still time if you want to...

HARBET
Oh I want to...but we need to talk.

CHARON
We’ve had the same conversation a dozen times.

HARBET
And it’s never ended well for you.

CHARON
Then that doesn’t give me much incentive to go through that dance again. Harbet, darling, please stop worrying about me.

Harbet pulls up a chair and sits down beside her.

HARBET
I just want to know you’ll be okay. We’re going separate ways for three whole months. And I’ll miss you.
CHARON
Aww. For a tough military captain, you sure do have a soft creamy inside.

HARBET
You’re changing the subject again.

CHARON
What do you want me to say? I’m going to an uncharted nebula, and I’m going to chart it. No human conspiracy need apply.

HARBET
And there’s nothing weird about it. Nothing at all.

CHARON
Well the fact it’s uncharted is pretty weird. It’s in a busy region of space, and yet conveniently missing from every star chart I could find.

HARBET
Uh huh.

CHARON
Might be a Rexter cover-up.

HARBET
It’s always the Rexters with you. They take over the galaxy and all you can do is whine.

CHARON
They are lying through their teeth.

HARBET
Whether they are or aren’t doesn’t change the fact they’ve done a lot to improve the galaxy and interplanetary relations.

CHARON
So you’re saying that a lie here or there is okay, for the greater good.

HARBET
Remember last week when you asked me if that dress made you look fat...

CHARON
Now I’m definitely not coming back to bed.

EXT. STATION – SPACE

ESTABLISHING SHOT of the large space station orbiting the dry planet of Klinoda.

INT. DOCKING TERMINAL – SPACE

The space port is bustling, as people pass heading towards their flights, or arriving to stay at the station. Harbet and his first officer ELIZABETH are there to see Charon off. Elizabeth is Charon’s sister and they look similar, though she has long black hair.

Charon kisses Harbet.

CHARON
You take care of my sister, will you?

HARBET
(Smiles)
She takes care of me.

CHARON
(Turns to Elizabeth)
You’d best make sure he doesn’t have any fun while I’m gone.

ELIZABETH
I’m his second; it’s in my job description.

CHARON
Good...and that beard better be shaved by the time I get back, or I’ll be finding myself a new husband.

She gives one last wave before turning and going through the airlock onto her ship. Harbet then turns to Elizabeth.

HARBET
So, now that she’s gone, we can pick up a mission of our own. Don’t suppose the Klinodan council has anything interesting in mind.

ELIZABETH
You mean like exploring an uncharted Nebula?

HARBET
Something I can brag to the wife about when she comes back in three months.
(Pause)
We’re stuck with another escort mission, aren’t we.

ELIZABETH
(Nods)
With the increase of pirate activity along most of our trade routes...

HARBET
(Disappointed)
No pirate is stupid enough to attack a cargo ship while we’re escorting them.

ELIZABETH
Then we’re doing our job.

HARBET
But it’s not very fun is it.

He turns and heads back towards his apartment. Elizabeth watches him go.

ELIZABETH
Just following orders.

She heads off in a different direction.


EXT. STATION – SPACE

We see Charon’s ship detach. It’s fairly small, but is dragging along with it three large rings. These are jump gates, that actually extend when placed. The ship navigates towards a large jump gate a short ways from the station, and as it goes through, it turns into a cylinder of light, and disappears.

FADE TO:

EXT. JUMP GATE – SPACE

We are floating in the middle of empty space, looking out at a similar large metallic ring in space. It is definitely man made, and some what crude, with lights flashing on the sides almost like a buoy in the water.

We see a cylinder of light come towards and through the ring at super fast speeds. As it soars past the ring, we follow it as it soars off through space at extremely fast speeds. The cylinder is red at the front and blue at the back, and whizzes past other similar rings almost faster than we can see (almost). We pan in front of the cylinder of light, and it washes over us. Inside, is a bulky cargo ship.

SUPERIMPOSE: “The Mule”

INT. THE MULE – SPACE

SABRINA, a young dark haired teenager, lies in the cockpit sullenly. Her hair is sprawled out in all directions, and the light from the surrounding bubble reflects off her eyes. She’s pale, and distant. Her father pokes his head in through the door to the cabin. HEFF is in his mid forties, with greased hair. He looks at Sabrina concerned.

HEFF
Sabrina...Are you okay?

Sabrina doesn’t respond, instead she just stares off into the light.


HEFF
I’m sorry I dragged you out here. I get it, you wanted to stay at the hospital, but...We can’t just put our lives on hold.

Still nothing.

HEFF
Say something.

She doesn’t look at him.

SABRINA
Even though we’re travelling many times faster than the speed of light, we’re not actually moving at all. That’s weird, right?

HEFF
The universe is a strange place. Look, if you want to talk about anything, just call for me, okay? I’m gonna go check on Jace.

Heff closes the door behind him, and passes through the incredibly cramped living area, to the back where a ladder leads down to the cargo hold, and up to the engine room.

Heff pokes his head in, to find JACE tinkering with a large and extremely complicated machine, of which there are many in the room. Jace is dark skinned, and has thick sunglasses/goggles even though it is already dark in the room. On his wrist is a glowing device that he wears all the time to keep him alive.

HEFF
Sometimes I don’t get girls.

JACE
Not girls, mate. Women. She’s a woman now, and nothin’ ‘bout them ever makes sense.

HEFF
What happened to my little girl? And what the hell happened to our engine drive converter?

JACE
Uh, right...about that...

HEFF
Jace, our transit is only going to take 4 hours, and then we’re going to need our engines. And if the converter isn’t supplying plasma for our engines, then we won’t be going anywhere.

JACE
I know, I know, but these things aren’t lastin’ forever. The casing strips, an' the routing lines dull. I’ll have this baby back an' workin' in no time though. Promise.

The ship suddenly shudders unexpectedly. Heff reaches out and centers himself against the wall, but Jace’s eyes widen. He immediately knows what the shudder means. They both look at the drive converter in pieces around him.

HEFF
Jace...

JACE
Not a chance, boss.

Back in the cockpit, Sabrina jumps into action. Switching on all the lights and consoles she flips switches and grabs the controls. Outside the windshield, a large shadow passes over the cargo ship, blocking out all the stars. Heff stumbles through the door.

HEFF
Sabrina...

SABRINA
Yeah dad, I’ve got it covered. The next jump gate is 4 days away at max speed. I’m powering engines now.

HEFF
You probably want to hold off on that.

Sabrina stops and turns slowly to Heff.

SABRINA
Why?

HEFF
Don’t ask. Why did we drop from the jump wave?

SABRINA
There’s something out there...drifted in the way.

Heff turns slightly pale and grasps the dashboard heavily.

HEFF
Pirates...

SABRINA
Maybe. Can’t see anything out there though.

HEFF
Turn on the scope lights.

She reaches forward and flips a switch. A light shoots out from under the cockpit illuminating a large cannon pointed right towards them. Heff shrieks and falls back. Sabrina jumps as well, but not as dramatically. The cannon drifts pass them and Heff pulls himself up slowly.

HEFF
We need to get out of here.

SABRINA
I think the ship is drifting.

HEFF
Drifting as in dead?

SABRINA
Well look at it.

Heff flips on a small display, the only display in the cockpit, and types in a quick command.

HEFF
Minimal power readings. You might be right.

SABRINA
So maybe its not pirates.

HEFF
It’s big whatever it is.

EXT. THE MULE – SPACE

The medium sized cargo ship is dwarfed by the large and poorly lit battle cruiser that hangs beside it. The battle cruiser is so dark it looks like a large shadow hanging over the cargo ship.

SABRINA (OS)
What do we do?

INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Heff leans against a wall of the cramped cockpit and thinks for a moment.

HEFF
We could board it. See if there’s anything that might be worth something.

SABRINA
So we’re scavengers now.

HEFF
We’re an honest cargo ship, and we’ve stumbled across the possibility of honest cargo. It’s in our job description to check it out.

SABRINA
And how do you want me to do that? Get out and push?


HEFF
Maneuvering jets, little missy. We don’t have far to go.

He points to a section of the ship.

HEFF
That looks like a docking bay. Can you get us there, or do you want me to take over?

SABRINA
Anything you can do, I can do better.

EXT. BATTLECRUISER – SPACE

The Mule pushes its way slowly towards the drifting battle cruiser.

HEFF (OS)
Can you pee standing up?

The Mule enters through the open docking bay, and moves in to land.

INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Sabrina stares intently out the windshield as she tries to land the craft.

HEFF
Be careful to bring us down slowly.

As he says it, the ship drops violently.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

The Mule drops straight down, hitting the deck hard, bouncing slightly forward, hitting again, and slides forward a couple feet before coming to a stop.

HEFF (OS)
Sabrina!




INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Sabrina leans back in her chair raising her hands defensively.

SABRINA
I’m sorry; the sudden gravity caught me by surprise. You try compensating for gravity with maneuvering jets.

HEFF
Gravity? You sure?

He confronts his display. Outside the ship, the docking bay lights up.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

The entrance to the bay shimmers slightly.

INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Heff looks at the lights questioningly.

HEFF
The ship is powering on.

SABRINA
No kidding.

HEFF
I’m starting to think we’ve just landed in a trap.

Sabrina cranes her head to look around the bay through the windshield.

SABRINA
I don’t see anyone trying to shoot us. Maybe the ship was programmed to automatically power up when docked.

HEFF
Maybe.

Heff flips on the intercom.

HEFF
Hey Jace. The engine can wait. Meet me at the cargo ramp ASAP. Come armed.
(Turns to Sabrina)
You stay here.
(Pause)
And wish me luck.

Sabrina simply glares at him but doesn’t say anything.

HEFF
Ok.

EXT. THE WHIRLWIND – SPACE

A small sized Klinodan craft, The Whirlwind, hangs in orbit around a very industrialized planet. SUPER IMPOSE: “The Whirlwind in orbit around Memroxia” There are a ton of other ships around in orbit, or coming and going.

INT. THE WHIRLWIND BRIDGE – SPACE

The bridge isn’t very large, but has numerous stations for people to sit at, and a command chair at the back. There is a large screen at the front of the bridge showing a forward view from the ship. On the display are a bunch of statistics of the things going on outside. For instance, a ship flies by and the screen tracks its trajectory, and speed, and energy output etc.

There are 4 people on the bridge. The first is the communications, sensors, and computers expert SCOTT. He sits to the right, in his own personal corner that consists of a console, a comfortable chair, and other personal affects. Scott has spiked brown hair, and his posture reflects his cocky nature.

Closest to the screen at the center sits DEZ, short for Desiree. She deals with the navigation, and general operation of the Whirlwind. Dez has shoulder length blond hair, and almost looks like a supermodel. However, her personality is quite the opposite.


Elizabeth isn’t sitting, but instead just coming onto the bridge from the ship they were docked to. She’s carrying a datapad and looking it over as she stops by Harbet’s chair. Harbet is sitting on it, staring off into the main display thoughtfully and distant. He is well shaved without a hint of stubble. He notices Elizabeth’s gaze.

HARBET
What?

ELIZABETH
The big furry animal that was clinging to your chin is gone.

HARBET
It jumped off and scurried away the second I grabbed a razor.

ELIZABETH
Huh.

HARBET
What?
ELIZABETH
Nothing, you look good. You should keep like that. I know a pill you can take that’ll stop facial growth...

HARBET
I don’t mind shaving, thanks though.

ELIZABETH
Then maybe you won’t hold off till a special occasion next time.

HARBET
She comes back today.

ELIZABETH
I know.

SCOTT
Hey cap, the Atlas wants to detach and rejoin the convoy.



ELIZABETH
Oh right, they checked out. Nothing illegal on that ship that I could find.

HARBET
The last inspection?

ELIZABETH
(Nods)

HARBET
Excellent. Scott, tell the Atlas ‘Permission granted’. Then signal the convoy, and tell them we are entering the jump gate, and for them to follow close behind. If our trip is interrupted, they are to make a beeline directly for the next gate. Dez...take us in.

DEZ
Yes sir. Sending destination coordinates to the jump gate...and we are clear for entry.

EXT. JUMP GATE – SPACE

The Whirlwind approaches the gate, and as it passes through, disappears in a flash of light.

INT. THE WHIRLWIND BRIDGE – SPACE

Scott leans back and grins.

SCOTT
A couple minutes of these pretty lights and you get to go all kissy with your wife, and I get to upgrade my operating system. Aren’t any of you excited? After 3 months of sharing a bathroom, we’re basically in the clear.

HARBET
We better be, or else you’re all fired.



SCOTT
Come on, don’t get like that. We haven’t been attacked once in three months. What are the chances something will go wrong this time?

There is a jolt and the flashing lights in the display give way to stars. Harbet straightens in surprise.

HARBET
Um...are we there yet?

Dez’s fingers dance across her console.

DEZ
Negative.

HARBET
Dammit Scott, you always have to open up your big god damn mouth.

SCOTT
Sorry sir, but if I may...this totally isn’t my fault.

HARBET
You’re fired.
SCOTT
Now sir?

HARBET
After you tell me what’s blocking the jump gate.

SCOTT
Uh...a trio of ships, over in this quadrant.

The display magnifies what looks like a small dot in space, to show three dangerous looking battlecruisers.

ELIZABETH
Raise defense screens, and charge the plasma cannons.

DEZ
Yes ma’am.
HARBET
Hold off on those fighting words, ladies...

Harbet focuses on the ships in the display, and his suspicions are confirmed when the display recognizes one ship to be a Rexter battlecruiser, and proceeds to spew forth statistics on it.

HARBET
Rexter battlecruisers. Stand down.

ELIZABETH
What the hell are they doing in the middle of nowhere?

SCOTT
I’m picking up activity from the other jump gate.

The display changes focus onto the further jump gate of which the battlecruisers were facing. There is a flash of light and a ship flies through the gate right towards the Rexter ships. It’s Charon’s ship.

SCOTT
Sir, it’s Charon’s ship.

ELIZABETH
How far away is that gate, Dez?

DEZ
20 minutes at max burn, give or take.

ELIZABETH
Get us there.

DEZ
Yes Ma’am.

SCOTT
Their defense screen is raised...but I’m detecting fluctuations. I think she’s been in a battle.

HARBET
Get her on the line.
Scott rolls over to the communications console, and flips some switches. Charon’s face appears on screen, looking wary and tired, her hair a mess. She seems to be huddling in a corner, while over her shoulder an older man is attempting to negotiate with DEKU’s face on their screen. Deku has short blonde hair and a chiseled jaw. He is quite muscular, and his eyes are cold.

CHARON
(Relieved)
I was hoping it was you.

ELIZABETH
Charon, what did you get yourself into?

CHARON
Wales is trying to negotiate some sort of deal, but it’s not looking good.

HARBET
What isn’t? Charon, what’s going on?

SCOTT
Activity at the jump gate! Another ship!

EXT. JUMP GATE – SPACE

A fourth Rexter ship flies through the gate in a burst of light, and begins blasting at Charon’s ship. The other Rexter crafts join in.

INT. THE WHIRLWIND BRIDGE – SPACE

A box in the corner of the screen shows the crafts blasting at Charon’s ship, and on the main feed, Charon’s ship is rocked and sparks erupt. The picture starts to break apart with static.

CHARON
Dammit. I’m sorry Harbet I didn’t...would happen like...Nebula. It was...nebula.


ELIZABETH
Dammit Charon. Put your engines to maximum burn, you can still get to us. We can protect you.

Harbet says nothing, but instead gets up from his chair and approaches the screen. He raises his hand towards her face. Charon’s ship is rocked again and she hits her head on something off screen. When she gets back in frame blood is trickling down her forehead. Harbet watches in horror. Charon matches his gaze and raises her hand toward him.

CHARON
You look good. 20 years younger.

HARBET
I love you.

CHARON
I...

The transmission turns to static, and then to the forward view, in which Charon’s ship continues to get pummeled. The stats on the screen show her defense screen to be at 8%. Harbet steps back and looks to Scott.

HARBET
What happened?

SCOTT
(Jolts into action)
They’re jamming her transmissions...and were being hailed.

ELIZABETH
Give me a targeting lock on one of those ships.

DEZ
We’re too far for the cannons.

ELIZABETH
Then the missile tubes.

Elizabeth stumbles to the weapons station against a wall, and pushes the chair away before pushing a button to open the forward tubes.
SCOTT
We’re being hailed.

HARBET
By who?

SCOTT
One of the Rexter ships.

Deku’s face takes over the display, his cold eyes bearing down on Harbet.

DEKU
This is official Rexter business. Do not interfere.

Elizabeth looks up from her station.

ELIZABETH
Screw you.

DEKU
If you open fire on any of our ships, you will be starting an intergalactic war between your government and the Republic of Rexter Allied Planets. Stand down.

HARBET
I am Captain Harbet of the Klinodan vessel Whirlwind. There has to be a way we can talk this over. My wife is on that ship.

Deku stares Harbet down and says nothing for a few seconds. Finally...

DEKU
Better luck next time.

SCOTT
Her Defense screen has failed.

Deku’s face disappears in time for Harbet to watch Charon’s ship break apart. The ships continue to shoot at her debris until there is nothing left. Elizabeth looks horrified at the screen, then returns angrily to the weapons station. Harbet rushes to her, and grabbing her tightly, pulls her uncooperatively from the station.

HARBET
Do you want to start a war? Do more people have to die in Charon’s name?

ELIZABETH
She’s my sister. She. Is. My. Sister.

HARBET
And she was my wife. I loved her as much as you.

ELIZABETH
She wasted her life on you, and you’ll do nothing?

The two of them meet eye to eye, but Elizabeth’s anger burns too brightly.

ELIZABETH
You didn’t deserve her.

She storms off the bridge and Harbet tries to fall back into his chair, but misses and hits the deck hard. Without even bothering to get up, he buries his face into his fists and silently sobs. Scott and Dez both keep their eyes down in silent despair.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

The large ship hangs silently in space.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

The bay is very shiny and well lit. Heff and Jace step off the Mule’s ramp onto the scrubbed clean floor, and Jace takes in a deep breath.

JACE
Can ya taste that? That is good quality air.

HEFF
(Sarcastically)
I’m glad it meets your approval.
Heff finger’s the blaster hanging from his belt reassuringly.

HEFF
This ship looks brand new. Explain to me why someone would choose to abandon a ship like this out in the middle of nowhere.

JACE
Maybe they didn’t have a choice.

They get to the only door opposite the open bay. As they approach it, the door lights up, first red, and then after a few moments white. The door then opens to show a dark hallway beyond. Jace and Heff share a glance, and Jace raises his goggles for a better look. As he peers in the lights turn on and he screams, quickly covering his eyes.

HEFF
You okay?

JACE
The light man...I think I’m good.

With his goggles back in place, the two step through into the hallway. The hallways branches left and right. There’s a screen on the wall across, but it is completely devoid of activity. Heff knocks on it but nothing happens. Jace points left.

JACE
The front of the ship is that way. The bridge is usually to the front, and the engine room to the back. I think you know which way I want to go.

HEFF
(Nods)
Okay, we’ll split up.

Heff taps his ear, we are given a quick close up to show a little bud in his ear that looks almost like a hearing aid. The tap causes it to flash red.



INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Sabrina is gearing up, strapping on boots, and getting ready to do some exploring of her own, when there is a chime from the cockpit. She goes forward to find a flashing red button. She hits it, and her father’s voice comes through the speakers.

HEFF (OS)
Sabrina?

SABRINA
Yes, dad?

HEFF (OS)
We’re splitting up, so keep this line open okay?

SABRINA
Okay.

HEFF (OS)
And stay on board the Mule; we still aren’t sure this thing is abandoned.

SABRINA
Of course.

With that, she grabs a weapon from the weapons cabinet, and clips it to her belt. Finally, she grabs an ear bud from their place, and sticks it in her ear before heading down the ramp onto the ship.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Jace walks slowly past an intersection of corridors. He takes a moment to decide which was to go, but decides to continue on down the hallway he was already on. Moments later, Sabrina steps into the intersection and, looking at where Jace had chosen to go, decides to take a detour and hangs a left.


She continues down a short way and comes across another turn. As she turns, she startles and pulls her gun from its clip. A long dead body lies fallen against one wall, and another one sits on a chair at a station that clearly blew up a long time ago. As soon as Sabrina realizes what she’s looking at, she lowers her gun.

SABRINA
Oh my god.

She examines the body in the chair to find a shard of metal sticking from his neck. She also looks at the console, sticking her arm in to find beneath the split wires a pile of dust that almost resembles sand. Lifting a handful of it, the dirt slips through he fingers, until all that’s left are a couple shards of glass. She drops those as well.

INT. ENGINEERING – SPACE

The Engineering section, and section is a more fitting description than room, is many stories high. The section has huge glowing machines, and lights. There is one machine with a window that opens to a large crystal inside.

Jace enters the section at one of the highest levels, on a platform overlooking the section. His eyes widen with surprise and a growing trepidation.

JACE
Holy mother.
Jace taps his ear.

JACE
I think I found engineering...and it is way too much woman for one man.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Heff stops and smiles.

HEFF
I’m sure you’ll manage.

He comes to what looks like an open elevator shaft, only there are no cables, or any type of clutter. The shaft is perfectly smooth and unextraordinary. Heff peers down to see the shaft drops so far he can’t see the bottom. Looking up he can see the top, although it is quite far away. There is no elevator cart.

HEFF
Okay...

He pulls a grappling hook from his belt, and throws it in an attempt to hook on the floor above. The hook sails past the floor, and the floor after that, sailing ever upward with no sign of stopping. Heff’s line quickly runs out, but instead of falling back down, the hook stays floating in mid-air, to Heff’s surprise.

Confused, but intrigued, he puts a foot out into mid air, weighing it slightly. Making up his mind, he takes the plunge, stepping firmly into the empty space where he stood floating awkwardly in mid air.

HEFF
(Breathlessly)
Holy Crap.

Heff looks down in fear, and as he does, he starts to fall. Screaming, He looks up in panic and his descent is suddenly stopped. He only has a moment to catch his breath, however before he starts to fall straight upwards. Shielding his face with his arms, his ascent stops and once again he’s floating in midair, this time looking straight forward.

Starting to suspect how the gravity lift works, Heff looks up again and begins a steady, but still awkward ascent.

HEFF
Whoa.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Heff finally reaches the top and steps relived onto the bridge. The bridge is much larger than any other we’ve seen yet, with rows of computers and stations, and chairs. Some of the consoles are shattered and broken, and there are a couple dead bodies on the floor. Heff taps his ear.

HEFF
I found the bridge, and it looks like it’s not so abandoned after all.

JACE (OS)
What? Who?

HEFF
There’s a couple dead bodies. They look...

SABRINA (OS)
Old. This ship isn’t as brand new as it seems.

Heff stops in surprise.

HEFF
Sabrina, where are you.

SABRINA (OS)
Uh...nowhere.

HEFF
I told you to stay on the mule god damn it. This place could be dangerous. After what happened to your mother, I figured you’d have more common sense.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Sabrina straightens up and her eyes glisten slightly as her expression angers.
SABRINA
How dare you talk to me about my mother.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

HEFF
I just don’t want...I don’t want you to get hurt.

JACE (OS)
I’m sorry ta interrupt this father daughter moment, but we have quite a lot of work to do.

HEFF
Right. Fine, lets get started.

TRANSITION TO:

EXT. STATION – SPACE

We see an establishing shot of the Klinodan Station around the planet Klinoda.

INT. OFFICE – SPACE

Harbet sits at his desk, silently. His beard has started to grow back in as rough stubble. On his desk is a picture of Charon staring up at him, and he matches her glare. There is a long pause as he can’t look away. Finally the door to his office opens, and Elizabeth walks in, carrying a duffel bag with her. They too stare silently at each other for a good long moment.

ELIZABETH
I’m sorry. The things I said were...

HARBET
I understand.

ELIZABETH
You didn’t deserve them, I was angry, and it wasn’t your fault.

HARBET
Look, the Klinodan council is talking to the Rexter government, trying to figure out what happened. They aren’t just going to let this go.

ELIZABETH
It won’t bring her back.

HARBET
Nothing will do that.

Elizabeth lowers her head and heaves a deep breath.

ELIZABETH
I’m leaving.

HARBET
Now?

ELIZABETH
I refuse to continue serving for a military that won’t even stand up for itself.

HARBET
Where will you...what will you do?

ELIZABETH
I have some ideas.

HARBET
So that’s it. You’re leaving me too.

ELIZABETH
Don’t be like that.

HARBET
Don’t be like what? I can’t pretend I don’t care for you. You’re like my sister.

ELIZABETH
It’s not like we won’t see each other again.

HARBET
Then don’t say goodbye.

ELIZABETH
Fine. Until next time. Harbet.

Harbet is speechless for a second then regains his composure.

HARBET
Elizabeth.

Elizabeth leaves Harbet alone in his office. He looks around his office, and again at his picture of Charon. Disappointed, he gets up and walks out.

INT. LOUNGE – SPACE

Harbet enters the lounge and takes a seat by the bar. The place is busy with people talking, drinking, hooking up, or playing electronic games that resemble Pong and perhaps an electronic variation of poker. At the bar, a BARTENDER serves drinks, and over his shoulder a number of displays show a variety of feeds, including news and intergalactic sports. The bar isn’t as loud as one would expect it to be, so the audio from the displays can be heard.

BARTENDER
Hey captain. What are you looking for tonight?

HARBET
A beer if you could.

BARTENDER
Hey, I’m sorry about your wife.

HARBET
Yeah...just get me a beer.

BARTENDER
Right, just what the doctor ordered, I gotcha covered.

At a table a short way from the bar sits Dez, Scott, and another Klinodan. They are talking amongst themselves, but have clearly noticed Harbet. Finally, Dez gets up and approaches him.

DEZ
I’m so...so sorry.

HARBET
Leave me alone.

DEZ
I know it must feel like everyone is leaving you and you’re all alone...but we’ll still follow you, and there’s always a place at our table. Sir.

The Bartender places a shot glass filled with something in front of Harbet. This is his beer. There is a moment as Harbet sizes down his drink before he grabs it and drains it in a gulp. His face twists in a struggle to get it down. Finally he slams the shot glass on the bar, as Dez watches in shock.

BARTENDER
Careful. That was almost ten percent.

HARBET
Another.

BARTENDER
You sure? Two of these’ll knock you stupid.

HARBET
I’m sure.

BARTENDER
Another beer coming right up.

DEZ
Captain...

HARBET
I’m fine, now go back to your table and leave me in peace.

She does as she’s told, and the bartender drops another shot of beer for Harbet.
HARBET
You know I’m good for these.

BARTENDER
It’s not money I’m worried about.

Harbet rolls his eyes and looks to the display over the bartender’s shoulders. On it, a REPORTER is declaring breaking news. She’s on the observatory of some ship, and behind her out a large window is a planet, a busy station, and a large ship that can only be the Humanity’s Hope, surrounded by a ton of other ships.

HARBET
What’s going on?

The bartender looks up at the screen for the first time that night.


REPORTER
...just jumped into the Yantaris system minutes ago. We have been unable to contact the people on board, if there are any, and the Rexter government has sent out a general warning forbidding us from approaching closer than a hundred miles of the mysterious cruiser. We have ship analyst and technical correspondent Gart here for more details.

The screen changes to GART, a man with thick glasses.

GART
This ship is of no design that I am familiar with, nor is it featured in the R.R.A.P. ship database. I’d like to bring attention to the clear title of the ship, as seen on the side of the cruiser.

The display switches to a view of the side of the cruiser, where the words Humanity’s Hope are clearly seen. Harbet flashes a memory of those words scribbled many times in Charon’s notes.


GART
This is of course a reference to the old tale of the lost human ship that brought us to this galaxy.

REPORTER
So really this could only mean one of two things. Either the Rexter government has been lying to us, or else this is all an elaborate hoax.


GART
There is evidence to support both sides of that argument. On one side, it seems quite...convenient and coincidental that this old cruiser which has been lost for thousands of years, finally decided to resurface in a populated system such as this, totally of it’s own control, without any signs of an ulterior motive. On the other hand, if this is a hoax it is a very expensive one. Too expensive for any one person, or group of people, or even most planetary governments.

Harbet has seen enough. Getting up from the bar, he stumbles excitedly over to the table sitting Scott and Dez, and sits down. The Bartender notices he didn’t drink his second shot, and smiles.

DEZ
I’m happy you changed your mind captain.

Harbet stares at the third person at the table, until the man leaves. He then turns to his two crew, and gestures to the display.

HARBET
See that?

They look over to the display.

SCOTT
Uh huh...

HARBET
We need to get on that ship.

SCOTT
We?

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

TRANSITION TO:

EXT. PLANET CAPSIN – SPACE

We are shown an establishing shot of the metropolis Planet Capsin.

SUPERIMPOSE: “Planet Capsin: Galactic Capitol”

INT. GOVERNING MEETING ROOM – DAWN

An assorted group of well dressed councilmen sit around a long table, talking rapidly amongst one another. Gilber storms in through the only door to the room angrily. The councilmen watch as he storms past each of them in turn and sits at the head. For a moment he doesn’t speak, but it’s obvious he’s quite angry.

GILBER
How did this happen?

COUNCILMAN 1
Cruel twist of fate?

COUNCIMAN 2
Prince...I swear there was no possible way we could have foreseen this coming. The race has been...

GILBER
Why not?

COUNCILMAN 2
What?

GILBER
Why couldn’t you have foreseen this coming? Isn’t that what I pay you for?

COUNCILMAN 1
You pay us to fix your problems, not predict them.


GILBER
And how are you going to fix this problem.

COUNCILMAN 2
The ship has to be destroyed.

GILBER
Thank you mister obvious, is there anything else you’d like to add?

COUNCILMAN 2
We can’t be linked to it in any way.

GILBER
Uh huh...

Gilber looks at him to see if he has anything else to say. The Councilman just stares back awkwardly. Suddenly without warning Gilber pulls a gun up from his side and shoots the councilman in the head. He then points it to the first councilman who is quite clearly shaken up.

GILBER
Say something useful or you’re next.

COUNCILMAN 1
Bounty Hunters.

GILBER
Well now you’re just listing nouns.

COUNCILMAN 1
No, I mean we hire Bounty Hunters. Put an anonymous hit out on that ship. The media isn’t sure what to think about this situation. They are half convinced already the whole thing is a hoax. We get bounty hunters to blow up the ship, tell the media that the entire thing is a huge hoax to discredit us, and then we take out the bounty hunter responsible...publicly.

Gilber considers for a second what the councilman had suggested, and then pockets his gun.

GILBER
Okay.

TRANSITION TO:

EXT. JUMPGATE – SPACE

A cylinder of light speeds past us through the jump gate. We follow after it, and swoop inside, where we find a small one man craft.

INT.COCKPIT – SPACE

The cockpit is so small that one person would find it cramped. Somehow Dez, Harbet and Scott have all managed to squeeze themselves in. Dez is in the chair and pilots while Scott is wrapped around her, and Harbet is squished heavily against the controls.

SCOTT
Why are we doing this again?

HARBET
We can’t implicate our government with what we’re about to do.

DEZ
So you commandeered my private fighter, and Scott...you’re hand is on my breast.

SCOTT
Sorry.

DEZ
(Shrilly)
AND NOW YOU’RE SQUEEZING IT!!!

SCOTT
I said I’m sorry!

DEZ
But you keep doing...agh.

Dez flails angrily, and elbows Scott in the groin. He doubles over, putting his face in her lap. Getting more frustrated, she tries to push him away and accidentally pushes Harbet more against he controls. An alarm goes off.

HARBET
I think I...

DEZ
It’s okay. You just turned on the defense screen with your butt. I got it.

HARBET
Whoa!

SCOTT
Oh so you get to touch his butt, but I can’t squeeze your boob?

DEZ
You can touch his butt if you want.

HARBET
No he can’t.

EXT. JUMPGATE – SPACE

There is a flash of light and the craft soars out of the jump gate.

DEZ (OS)
SCOTT!!!

SCOTT (OS)
That’s my Wrist display!!!

DEZ (OS)
In your pants?

HARBET (OS)
Would you two stop? We’re there.

We see the Humanity’s Hope, floating silently in space, surrounded by nearly a hundred ships. In the background of the system is a large red giant star. Dez’s craft swoops in towards the Humanity’s Hope, and past all the other ships.

SUPERIMPOSE: “Yantaris System”


DEZ (OS)
There’s a lot of space traffic here.

SCOTT (OS)
You want me to fly?
DEZ (OS)
How about you just manage your own stick, and I’ll manage mine.

HARBET (OS)
I should have come alone.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Heff is walking a hallway towards the bridge.

SABRINA (OS)
We have a ship coming in to dock.

Heff turns around and taps his ear as he starts to jog the other way.

HEFF
Finally, we sent the message out like half an hour ago. I’m close by.

SABRINA (OS)
See you there.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

HEFF jogs into the bay, to find the small craft settled snugly on the deck. The bottom of the cockpit dropped to the ground, and both Harbet and Scott roll out onto the deck, quickly followed by Dez who falls the whole distance, and lands gasping on the ground.

HEFF
So you finally got my message? Are you interested buyers, or...

Harbet stands up slowly.


HARBET
Nope, your transmissions are being jammed.

HEFF
Jammed? By who?

HARBET
You have bigger issues.

HEFF
Like what?

Harbet pulls his gun and points it at Heff. Surprised and shocked, both Scott and Dez both quickly, and awkwardly, follow his lead.

HARBET
We’re taking over your ship.

Dez takes Heff’s weapon away, and throws it into the hallway.

HARBET
I want answers, and I want them now. Where did you find this ship?

HEFF
It was drifting in space.

HARBET
Where?

HEFF
I don’t know. It blocked our jump lane. That’s how we discovered it.

HARBET
Is it of Human design?

HEFF
How would I know?

SCOTT
What about the computers? Any mention...

HEFF
We couldn’t get the computer systems to work. We’ve been controlling the engines manually.

Sabrina hustles around the corner into the bay, grabbing Dez’s gun and knocks it away. Dez slips her in the jaw, and she drops. Hitting the floor, Sabrina trips Dez, and the two start to wrestle.

HEFF
Sabrina!!!

SCOTT
Girl Fight!!!

Scott lowers his arm in excitement, watching the fight. Harbet walks over to the two, grabs Sabrina, and rips her from Dez.

HARBET
Dammit girl, we’re the guys with the guns. Calm yourself.

He points a gun at Sabrina, and she stares at him, flexing her jaw painfully.

HEFF
Have the ship, just don’t hurt her.

SABRINA
I’m not afraid of you.

Harbet stares deep into her eyes for a long moment, and then holsters his gun.

HARBET
Good. Can you take me to the engine room?

SABRINA
Why would I do that?

HARBET
Because we’re the good guys, but the bad guys are on the way, and we’re in a hurry to save your life.

SABRINA
Fair enough.

Getting up, she brushes herself off, gives Dez a nasty glare, and starts out the door. Heff moves to follow her but Harbet stops him with a finger.
HARBET
I trust her, not you.

HEFF
She’s my daughter.

HARBET
She’ll be fine. Take my crew to the bridge, would you?

SCOTT
You’ll need to restart the main computer.

HARBET
In the engine room, right?

SCOTT
I don’t know...maybe?

HARBET
Once this system is online, I want you to back up everything in the database that might be usable as evidence.

DEZ
You really think they’ll blow this thing?

HARBET
Without a doubt in my mind.

He turns to leave and Heff yells after him.

HEFF
I’m Heff.

HARBET
Good for you.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Harbet catches up to Sabrina.

HARBET
So, Sabrina.

SABRINA
Who are you people?

HARBET
My name is Harbet. The nerd’s name is Scott, and the girl you got physical with is Dez.

SABRINA
Now I can call you by name, doesn’t tell me who you are, and why they take orders from you.

HARBET
Cause I’m older than them, and they respect their elders.

SABRINA
I don’t believe in that.

HARBET
No?

SABRINA
Just because they’ve lived longer doesn’t mean they’re smarter. I’ve met a lot of stupid old people.

HARBET
So who do you respect?

SABRINA
People who earn it.

TRANSITION TO:

EXT. JUMP GATE – SPACE

There is a flash of light and a large frigate with the Bounty Hunters Guild (BHG) logo painted on the side flies through the gate into the Yantaris system.

INT. BHG BRIDGE – SPACE

TOSH sits in a chair, surrounded by crew all working on their own jobs. He has straight black hair, and is quite well dressed. Beside him, Blake is also well dressed.
CREWMAN 1
We’ve entered the Yantaris system.

TOSH
Good, lets blow that ship and get the hell out of here.

BLAKE
There might be people on board.

TOSH
I’m sure there are, and when the ship blows, they’ll blow with it.

BLAKE
This is a very sensitive assignment.

TOSH
So?

BLAKE
You start shooting, and they might run for it. Get people on board to take them out, as insurance that you don’t fail your mission.

TOSH
You mean WE don’t fail our mission.

BLAKE
You’re the guild leader.

TOSH
Don’t forget that.

BLAKE
I already have a team together.

Blake hands Tosh a datapad, and he looks over it quickly.

TOSH
Sanger? Isn’t that overkill?

BLAKE
He’s the best.


TOSH
That’s exactly my point.

BLAKE
They’re already geared up and ready to leave.

TOSH
Fine, give them the green light to launch.

Blake nods, and leaves the bridge. Tosh turns to a crewman.

TOSH
Keep us close, but make us look friendly.

CREWMAN 2
How do I...

TOSH
I don’t know, just...whatever.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. ENGINEERING – SPACE

There are tons of crossing bridges zigzagging throughout the machines. Jace is among them examining the machinery with wonder, and trying to learn as much as he can from it. It takes Sabrina a few moments to find him.

SABRINA
Hey Jace, Harbet here wants to reset the main computer. Do you know where we could do that?


JACE
Not sure, but it’s worth finding out.

Harbet turns the corner.

HARBET
And fast.

He stops.

HARBET
You’re a Goole.

JACE
Dat’s right. You coming?

Sabrina and Harbet follow after him through the different rows of machines. Jace is carrying a small datapad, and making scans as he goes.

SABRINA
What do all these machines do?

JACE
I can’t even tell wit more than half of ‘em.

HARBET
I’ve never seen a Goole on a starship before.

JACE
Well I’m not much welcome at home.

HARBET
But your people thrive on sunlight, hell they need it to live.

JACE
Yup, so imagine being born into a sun worshipping society, and being photosensitive.

HARBET
No kidding.


JACE
My skin can stand most artificial light, but the sun burns me faster than fire. And my eyes...at least I have good night vision.

HARBET
But don’t you need sunlight to live.

JACE
The thing on my wrist injects the energy I need directly into my system. I’d be dead without it.

They come upon a large tower that is fairly non-descript.

JACE
I think this is it.

HARBET
You sure?

JACE
I’m picking up a lot of high frequency wireless signals going to it.

HARBET
But it’s off...isn’t it?

JACE
You’re the one that suggested it needs to be reset. If that’s true then it’s on, just frozen. And all the computers in the ship are signaling it looking for a response.

HARBET
So how do we reset it? I don’t see any buttons or levers or anything on this thing.

SABRINA
What if we just...unplugged it?

Jace gives Sabrina some non-verbal agreement, and starts to climb down a ladder towards the bottom of the tower.

HARBET
This is really something.

SABRINA
What?
HARBET
Thousands of years ago, there were humans living here. My wife was right...about everything

SABRINA
Whomans?

HARBET
You’ve never heard the story?

Sabrina shakes her head.

HARBET
Humans are our long lost ancestors.

SABRINA
But the Rexters...

HARBET
Were lying. This ship is proof of that.

SABRINA
So the bad guys you said you’re defending us against are really...

HARBET
Rexters.

SABRINA
...The whole freaking galaxy.

HARBET
If we can find evidence on this ship to prove that it really is of human origin, the Rexters should lose all their support.

SABRINA
And until then, we’re like the galaxy’s most wanted.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Heff soars up the grav lift and steps off onto the bridge. He’s much more at ease with it then he was. Dez follows him, but she doesn’t do it nearly as smooth. Scott is still below.


SCOTT (OS)
(Yelling)
I think I’ll take the stairs!

Dez looks around the bridge in awe, stopping at a large picture hung on the wall of every human crewmember. Underneath the picture is a plaque with a list of all their names. She brushes past it, and looks at one of the many stations, all lined in rows along the bridge. The bridge is organized in a similar way to the control room in NASA.

As she looks at the display on the station, the computer suddenly comes to light and all the displays light up. Dez backs away in surprise, and turns to the grav lift just in time to see Scott fly out, hitting the ground hard and rolling. He jumps up, gasping for breath.

SCOTT
The main computer has been reset.

DEZ
Clearly.

HEFF
They still don’t work...

Heff pushes against one of the screens, but it doesn’t register his touch. There are no keyboards or mice.

SCOTT
The touch screen technology probably expired a couple thousands years ago. Shouldn’t be a problem, I can hook my stuff up to the network and control everything from one datapad. I think.

DEZ
Better get to work.

A watch sized device on Dez’s wrist beeps and she taps it.

HARBET (OS)
Did it work?

DEZ
Kinda, but the interface is a little rusty. Scott thinks he can work around it.

HARBET (OS)
We’ll be right there.

SCOTT
(Sarcastically)
Oh goodie. I’m sure he’ll be tons of help.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

A medium sized cargo ship with the BHG logo painted on its side roughly lands in the bay. A ramp drops at the back of the ship and a dozen SOLDIERS in heavy armor jog down the ramp, and quickly spread out to cover the bay. A large extremely muscular man wearing a sleeveless shirt and heavy pants steps off the ship last. He’s armed to the teeth, and his name is SANGER.

SOLDIER 1
The area is clear, Sanger sir.

SANGER
This’ll be our base of operations. Set up our equipment, and prepare to send out three man search teams in half an hour. We’re Bounty Hunters, and they are our prey.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Sabrina and Harbet come up the Grav lift together, Harbet holding her arm to steady himself. As they land on the deck, Harbet lets go of Sabrina, and turns around.

HARBET
Holy crap.

Scott is buried deep inside one of the stations, tangled in wires and all sorts of mess. Dez sits close by holding his datapad, which is clipped to some of the wires.

SCOTT
How’s that?

DEZ
Nothing.

SCOTT
Damn...uh...what about now?

Harbet looks around the bridge in wonder. Heff approaches him.

HEFF
We have a problem.

HARBET
Just one? Things must be going well.

Harbet leads him over to a side wall covered in displays showing video feeds of different parts of the ship. He points at one part in particular, the Docking Bay.

HEFF
We’ve got company.

Harbet watches as they set up their equipment, and scratches his beard thoughtfully. Sabrina joins them.

SABRINA
Are they Rexters?

HARBET
One of them is, but they’re not from the Republic. Not officially anyway.

HEFF
They’re bounty hunters.

SCOTT
Three guesses why they’re here.

SABRINA
I only need one.

Heff turns on Harbet angrily.

HEFF
You got a price on our heads...on my 16 year old daughters head. You better have a plan.

HARBET
You put yourselves in this position when you took command of this ship. Whether I came here or not, you would still be as good as dead.

HEFF
So what do we do? They’re between us and our ships.

SABRINA
I think that’s the point...

HARBET
Luckily we aren’t using our ships right now.

HEFF
So you want to just ignore them?

HARBET
They’re down there, and we’re up here. They aren’t yet our problem...yet.

Heff tries to respond, but gives up, and storms to another corner of the large bridge. Scott crawls out from the mess of wires.

SCOTT
Weeooo weeooo weeooo.

Harbet looks to him in confusion.

SCOTT
Sorry, that was my bad idea alarm.

HARBET
I’m your superior officer. You’re not allowed to question my orders.

SCOTT
(Quickly)
Sorry sir.

HARBET
They might try to send more troops.

SCOTT
(Sarcastically)
I have full confidence you’ll make short work of them, sir.

HARBET
Stop that. I’d like to put some distance between us and them, can you get Engine control?

Scott looks to Dez who looks at the datapad and shakes her head.

SCOTT
Give me a couple minutes.

He dives back into the mess of wires.

SABRINA
Jace can control the engines manually from the engine room. That’s how we got here in the first place.

HARBET
(Nods)
Do it.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

Sanger tries to use a computer on the wall of the bay, but it predictably doesn’t respond to his touch.

SANGER
Damn things.

There is a loud hum and creak, and the ship shudders slightly. Outside, the stars start to pan by.


SANGER
(Eyes narrow)
Not good.

He grabs the attention of one of the soldiers.

SANGER
Grab six others, and find the engine room. I want you to cut them off completely.

SOLDIER 2
Yes sir.

The soldier runs off.

SANGER
Soon we’ll have control.

EXT. BHG CRUISER – SPACE

The large ship sits silently in space beside the Humanity’s Hope. The Hope suddenly bursts energy from its engines and begins to move away from the BHG cruiser.

INT. BHG BRIDGE – SPACE

CREWMEMBER 1
Sir. The human ship is making a run for it.

TOSH
Can we keep up with them?

CREWMEMBER 2
For now...

TOSH
We can’t let them escape. Open fire.

BLAKE
What? We have people on that ship.

TOSH
Aim to disable it, not destroy it. Obviously.

The crewmember in charge of weapons looks at his screen helplessly. He has no clue how to begin disabling such an alien ship. Not that he’d tell Tosh that.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Harbet stares in thought at the large picture of all the original crew of the ship. In inspiration, Harbet pulls something sharp from his pocket, and starts etching something into the plaque, to join all the other names on the wall. Sabrina joins him.

SABRINA
Are you okay?

HARBET
Yeah, I’m fine.

He leans back, and Sabrina leans in to read what he etched.

SABRINA
Charon was here.

Harbet pulls a picture of Charon from his pocket, the same one that was on his desk back in his office, and sticks it to the picture.

SABRINA
Your wife?

HARBET
(Nods)
She was.

SABRINA
I’m sorry. I know how it feels...to lose someone...kinda.

Harbet looks at her.


SABRINA
My mom was kidnapped by pirates, a couple years back. We were transporting cargo, and we were boarded. They took her, and for 6 months we thought we’d lost her for good. Finally the Rexters caught up with the pirates and arrested them. My mom was with them, chained up and abused. The stuff they put her through...broke her or something. Her mind snapped, and now she’s stuck in a mental hospital for hopeless cases.

HARBET
I’m sorry.

SABRINA
If my dad hadn’t dragged me out here on his fucking business, I’d still be with her...some days It’s like she remembers me, and wants to tell me something. I like to think that something is holding her back, and she’s in there somewhere yelling out at me to save her...the worst part is: my dad never even visited her. Not once. It’s like he doesn’t even care.

HARBET
What is her name?

SABRINA
Lily.

Harbet leans forward and starts etching again. When he backs up we see that he etched in “Lily was here, too”.

SABRINA
(Smiles)
I don’t have a picture of her, unfortunately.

Harbet shrugs.

The ship suddenly shudders violently, and then again. Harbet stumbles back, and listens carefully as the ship is rocked again.
HARBET
They’re shooting at us.

HEFF
We’ve got another problem.

SCOTT
But wait, there’s more.

Both Heff and Harbet look to him, though he is still tangled in the mess of wires.

HARBET + HEFF
Shut up.

HEFF
There’s a squad of hunters moving in on Jace’s position. Are we going to go save him, or is he not of any use to you right now?

Harbet tries to decide what to do next, as the ship shudders again from the outside strain.

HARBET
Scott...any chance you could activate the defense screen?

Scott tries something and gets shocked.

DEZ
Aha, we’ve got something.

Scott pulls the datapad away from Dez.

SCOTT
Not ship control. I think I’ve tapped into the informational database. This could have the evidence we need. I’m gonna try to copy it all to my pad.

HARBET
That’s great, but what about defense screens.

SCOTT
Not yet. How long do I have?

HARBET
Until we get blown to pieces.

SCOTT
That was very motivational, thank you.

He dives back into the mess of wires.

HARBET
Dez, you’re with me. We’ll extract Jace from the engine room, and meet back up here.

HEFF
I’m coming with you.

SABRINA
Me too.

HEFF
Absolutely not.

SABRINA
I don’t take orders from you.

HARBET
This is gonna be dangerous work, and someone is probably going to get shot. Besides, Scott might need someone to help him with his computer stuff. That’s you’re job now, don’t let me down.

SABRINA
I know how to fire a gun. I’m at least as capable as my dad.

Harbet shakes his head politely, but flashes her a warm smile. The three of them, Harbet, Dez, and Heff step onto the Grav Lift, and drop down.

SCOTT
If it makes you feel better, we’re probably all gonna get blown up anyway, so...that’ll be fun. Right?

SABRINA
What do you need me to do?

SCOTT
Hold this.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

The Humanity’s Hope soars past with the Bounty Hunter’s cruiser hot in pursuit. The cruiser fires on the Hope, and the shots impact heavily on its hull. We follow one shot’s POV right into the hull of the ship...

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

There is a loud thud, and a shudder, and the left wall on which Heff is leaning on suddenly glows red. Heff jumps away from the wall in surprise, as the red fades. They continue forward, pistols outstretched.

HEFF
Are you sure we’ll be okay?

HARBET
I definitely never promised that.

DEZ
I imagine the odds of any of us getting out of this alive are slim.

HARBET
Never tell me the odds...but theoretically speaking, what’s slim?

DEZ
A thousand to one?

HARBET
See, nothing to worry about. Besides this ship is, technologically speaking, hundreds of years beyond us. If it buckles under only a couple small shots, then I’ll be very disappointed.

HEFF
That really doesn’t make me feel any better.

HARBET
You haven’t even heard my plan yet.

HEFF
I wasn’t aware you had a plan.

HARBET
It’s starting to form.

DEZ
Shh, we’re coming to the docking bay.

The door to the bay opens, and Harbet drags both of them into a nearby room. Sanger steps out from the bay, talking on the radio.

SANGER
You didn’t find anyone?

SOLDIER 2 (OS)
No sir. The section is clear. What would you like us to do with this place?

SANGER
Hold it. I’m on my way.

Sanger heads towards the engine bay.

INT. ARMORY - SPACE

Dez looks to Harbet and Heff.

DEZ
What are we going to do now? The Rexter is between us and the engine room.

HEFF
Why are you guys so scared of Rexters?

HARBET
You’ve never fought a Rexter before have you?

HEFF
Not...
HARBET
Want to know how I knew? You’re still alive. Rexters are faster and stronger than any of us. They’ve got like complete control over every muscle in their body. They can push themselves way beyond our physical limits.

HEFF
Can they dodge bullets?

DEZ
Sometimes.
(To Harbet)
So what do we do?

Harbet turns around to survey the room they’re in, and finds that it is in fact an Armory. Along the walls are racks of rifles, guns, and futuristic looking grenades. In the middle of the room are a number of vehicles that look like a cross between a motorbike and a snowboard. They’re long and flat, but with a seat and controls.

HARBET
This is pretty convenient.

DEZ
Makes sense the armory would be close to the docking bay.

HARBET
I think I have an idea.

Harbet approaches one of the vehicles, and bends down to flip a switch. The vehicle hums, and rises to hover at waist height.

HARBET
Oh yeah, definitely getting an idea.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Sanger strides confidently down the hallway, but a noise from behind him makes him stop.

HARBET
Hey, body builder!

Sanger turns to find Harbet standing in the middle of the hallway, beside his new hover bike. A rifle from the armory is slung over his back, but his hands are empty.

HARBET
Bet you can’t catch me.

He puts his leg over the bike, and turns it around. Sanger grins maliciously.

SANGER
It’s been a while since I went fishing for bait.

HARBET
That’s really witty, big boned.

Harbet raises the throttle and turns the corner just in the nick of time. Sanger happily runs after him.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

The soldiers have spread out among the section, watching and waiting obediently. Underneath the network of platforms, Jace hangs on, his fingers clutching to the floor desperately. It’s obvious he’s having a hard time holding on, but at least he hasn’t yet been found.

Soldier 2 stands on the platform closest to the door, waiting for Sanger to show. From around the corner outside the section, Heff peaks over and throws a grenade. It rolls to a stop in front of Soldier 2, who notices Heff, but not the grenade. He hustles towards Heff, but not fast enough. The grenade goes off, causing the platform to collapse, taking the soldier with it. All the other soldiers charge to the edge of the platform, grouping together to see what happened. Suddenly Dez speeds around the corner on another hover bike, gunning it at full speed. The soldiers open fire, but she tucks close to her bike and only gets grazed slightly on the arm, a pain she ignores. One of their shots gets past her, and hits Heff in the gut, and he stumbles back in pain.


Dez soars off her edge of the platform at full speed, hoping the bike would get her to the other side, but at the last moment it starts to drop. Trying to stand, Dez launches herself from the bike into the group of soldiers, knocking three of them over. Kicking out, she knocks a fourth one off the edge to fall to his death. This leaves only four left.

The one still standing grabs her, and lifts her up by her arms, holding her tightly. The three soldiers she knocked over get up, and one of them punches her hard in the gut. Both of them wince in pain, as her abs are hard as rock. Another soldier punches her in the face, bruising her eye. She tries to struggle free and can’t.

Unseen by everyone, Jace struggles back onto the platforms, and stalks toward the soldier holding Dez. He hits the soldier on the back of the head who drops Dez, and turns to Jace. Jace punches him in the jaw, and the soldier moves to try and push Jace off. Dez starts to struggle with another soldier, while a third soldier brings his gun up to bare. From outside the room, Heff shoots at the soldier, hitting him square in the chest, and sending him over the edge. Heff then hits the other soldier beside him, leaving only two.

The soldier Jace is fighting almost has him all the way over the rail. Jace reaches out and manages to hit a button on his wrist device. An electric current spirals out, crossing from Jace to the Soldier, electrocuting him. The Soldier goes rigid, screams, and falls over the edge. Jace moves to help Dez, but he doesn’t have to. She hits the soldier in the groin, cuffs him a couple times with her fists, and tosses him over the edge. Breathing deeply, Dez turns to Jace. Jace is obviously intrigued by Dez.

JACE
Hi.

DEZ
I’m Dez, and you’re Jace?

JACE
Tis a pleasure ta meet you.

DEZ
We need to get out of here; there’ll be more on the way.

JACE
We made short work o’ this batch.

DEZ
There’s a Rexter with them.

JACE
No kidding.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

Harbet speeds down hallway after hallway, with Sanger easily keeping up. Grabbing his rifle from his back, Harbet turns and tries to fire on Sanger, but Sanger jumps over his shots, and over him, easily. Landing well in front of Harbet, Sanger crosses his arms, convinced the chase is over. Turning to face forward again Harbet fires a couple more shots, which Sanger voids easily by simply leaning from side to side. Instead of swerving aside to try and miss Sanger, he pushes forward, and just as he’s about to impale Sanger on his bike, Sanger stomps his foot down on the front end of the bike, flipping Harbet off the bike, to hit the ground painfully and slide along the hallway on his back.

Still holding the rifle, Harbet continues to shoot as Sanger as he slides, but Sanger still dodges the shots easily, stalking slowly towards him. Harbet finally starts to slow as he slides into a large observatory, and lightly hits against a table.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

JACE
I think I can activate the defense screen here, but I gotta figure out which machine it tis.

DEZ
We don’t have time.

Heff struggles to his feet, and peers over at them from across the chasm, favoring his side carefully.
HEFF
Sounds worth the risk to me.

DEZ
What about that crystal thing?

She points to the large machine with the large crystal within a glass shaft.

JACE
It contains a lot of energy, energy that’s bein’ completely unused. I’m thinking it could be the defense screen...or a microwave. It’s really quite open in dat sense.

DEZ
Well we’re running out of options, and it’s not gonna make things any worse. So activate it, and let’s get out of here.

JACE
Gotcha.

INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

Sanger enters the observatory as Harbet stands up. Sanger approaches him coldly.

SANGER
How many are with you?

HARBET
Hundreds. An army.

SANGER
Surrender them now, and let’s end this.

HARBET
Normally I would...but funnily enough I don’t want to die. And I’m pretty sure that feeling is shared by the rest of them, so I’ll have to pass.


SANGER
Whether you surrender or not, there is no way off this ship. It will be destroyed, and you along with it.

HARBET
Look around you. Look at this ship. It’s proof humans were real. It’s proof that your own people lied to the entire galaxy. Doesn’t that at all tickle you the wrong way?

SANGER
Not really. The Galaxy has become a much better place since a Rexter was put in power, and no long dead ancient civilization is going to change that.

Sanger catches up to Harbet, and casually stops in front of him.

SANGER
Your death is inevitable. Should I kill you now, or will you help me find your friends.

HARBET
Honest and to the point.

SANGER
We’re not all deceitful an uncaring.

HARBET
Indeed.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

Jace grabs hold of a switch, and holds it firmly.

JACE
‘Ere goes. I hope ta god this does something good.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Scott gets shocked again, and tries to pull himself free of his wires.
SCOTT
Dammit.

Sabrina is watching Harbet on the surveillance system.

SABRINA
Harbet is in trouble.

SCOTT
I give up, can’t find the freaking controls in this thing.

SABRINA
So what are you going to do?

SCOTT
I guess it’s not all bad. I almost have all the databank backed up. Once that’s done we could make a run for the docking bay. With the Rexter distracted we might actually get out of this alive. Piece of cake!

Suddenly all the lights and power go out, leaving everyone in complete darkness.

SCOTT
Bad Scott. Bad bad Scott. Why do I always have to open my big mouth?

INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

All the lights are out, and all we see are the stars through the large window illuminating Harbet and Sanger’s silhouettes.

SANGER
What is this?

HARBET
My secret weapon. I have blinded you, and now it is your turn to surrender to me.

SANGER
The power went out.

HARBET
Or that.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Scott is banging his head against the station over and over again.

SCOTT
We’re all going to die. We’re all going to die.

Scott’s datapad suddenly lights up, illuminating both him and Sabrina. She leans in close and grabs his shoulder.

SCOTT
We’re all going to die.
(Thump)

SABRINA
Stop saying that. Focus on saving our butts. Please.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

It’s pitch black here as well.

DEZ
So, that didn’t exactly have the effect we were hoping for.

JACE
You said it wasn’t going to make things worse. You said that.

DEZ
I’m not the techie guy here, Goole.

JACE
My name is Jace.

DEZ
Can you flip the switch back?

JACE
I think I’ve flipped enough switches today, thanks.

The crystal suddenly starts to glow blue. The blue glow extends through the shaft, and covers all the surfaces, as well as Jace, Dez, and Heff in a blue hue.

INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

The blue glow pulses through the observatory, covering the room, Harbet, and Sanger in a blue hue. They both look at them selves in surprise. Harbet stares in shock at his hand, and notices that not only is it blue, but it is also somewhat transparent, as is the floor and everything else.

HARBET
What the hell?

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

The blue pulse engulfs the bridge, as well as both Scott and Sabrina. Sabrina stumbles to her feet, and tries to brush the blue off, which is a futile act. Scott merely accepts the bizarre events, and slams his head into the station again.

SCOTT
We’re all going to die.

Suddenly the bridge starts to dissolve, starting at the front of the ship. As the bridge gives way to space, Sabrina gasps in shock, and tries to outrun the wave. It engulfs Scott and he disappears. Sabrina reaches the Grav lift but doesn’t have time to jump through when she’s engulfed. Instead of dissolving, she finds herself on the bridge again, with Scott, no longer a blue hue, and the ship slowly fading in behind her.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

The entire ship is blue in color, and the front section is completely gone. As we watch the rest of the ship starts to dissolve away, like a wave that started at the front and is working its way back.


INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

The wave passes over Harbet and Sanger are both frozen in surprise. As it passes over them, their dark blue view is suddenly replaced by an extremely bright red one. Sanger, who happened to be facing the window screams, and covers his eyes in pain. Harbet, who was looking away from the window, dives as far from Sanger as he can.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

The wave passes over Heff, then Dez and Jace, leaving them standing in shock. As they stand there, the power and lights begin to turn themselves back on, though more dimly than before.

DEZ
(Calmly)
What the hell was that?

JACE
(Frantically)
I DON’T KNOW!!!

INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

Harbet hides behind a table, as Sanger continues to rub his eyes frantically. The red sun out the window blocks the entire view, as it is way too close to be safe. Hitting the communicator on his wrist, Harbet calls out to Scott.

HARBET
Scott, what did you do???

SCOTT (OS)
It wasn’t me, I swear!

DEZ (OS)
It was my fault sir, we flipped the wrong switch.

HARBET
What the hell happened to us?


INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

Scott scrambles from one station to the next. We see one of the stations flashing red in alarm, and showing a small diagram of the ship being engulfed in the sun.

SCOTT
As far as I can tell, we’ve teleported.

HARBET (OS)
How and where?

SCOTT
We’re still in the same system, we just moved closer to the sun.

DEZ (OS)
How much closer?

HARBET (OS)
A lot closer. I happen to have front row seats.

SCOTT
Since we weren’t sucking enough, it looks like I’ve found a new way for us to die. Burning alive in a sun. Our orbit is decaying at a really fast rate. I’m gonna guess we have like maybe 10 minutes before we all die painfully.

INT. ENGINE ROOM – SPACE

Both Dez and Jace a carefully making their way across a very narrow beam they put across the chasm.

DEZ
Maybe 10 minutes???

SCOTT (OS)
Okay, that’s being cynical. If you wanted to be optimistic than we have at most an hour, but knowing us I’d expect less if I were you. A lot less.


HARBET (OS)
Can we use the engines to get us some distance from the sun?

JACE
We drained all the juice outta the battery when we teleported. We’re running on fumes. There’s not enough to power the engines for even a couple seconds. Lights and life support are at minimal and won’t hold for more than a few hours...not that we’d need them to.

DEZ
Is that why it’s starting to get hot in here?

HEFF
How is my daughter?

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

SCOTT
Sabrina? She’s...

He turns around to find nowhere on the bridge with him.

SCOTT
...Gone.

INT. OBSERVATORY – SPACE

HARBET
Hey Scott, see if you can trap this guy in here, and then we can deal with all that other stuff.

Sanger’s hand comes down on Harbet’s shoulder, and he easily lifts Harbet into the air.

HARBET
Hey made-you-look, how’s your eyes?

Sanger growls angrily, holding Harbet easily in one hand, and his pistol in the other, held up to Harbet’s chin.


HARBET
You know, I ask only ‘cause I care.

SANGER
I’ve lost my patience, tell me where your friends are now, and I will kill you quick.

HARBET
Is that supposed to be an incentive?

Sanger squeezes down hard on Harbet’s shoulder, and we hear a crack. Harbet growls in pain.

SABRINA
Put him down!

Sabrina soars down the hallway on another hover bike, with a pistol in her hand. Sanger throws Harbet aside, and Harbet hits the wall painfully, and slouches to the ground, he favors his arm carefully, as it is probably broken.

Sabrina opens fire on Sanger, who easily dodges all her shots. As she closes in on him, he steps aside, and she speeds past him. Reaching out, he grabs her arm, and whips her off her bike, and it falls from the air, skidding to a stop near the window. Sabrina kicks at Sanger’s chest, who backhands her causing her to stumble and collapse into a group of tables.

Harbet moves in and kicks out at Sanger, but Sanger simply throws him from the room into the hallway, and continues to stalk towards Sabrina. She tries to scramble away, but is still too disoriented to stand up.

SANGER
Tell me where your friends are, little girl.

Harbet struggles to his feet and moves to re-enter the observatory but suddenly the door closes, locking Sanger and Sabrina inside.

SCOTT (OS)
Got it.


HARBET
Scott, Sabrina is still in there!

SCOTT (OS)
Do you want me to open it again?

Harbet puts his hand concernedly against the door, biting his lip angrily.

HARBET
No...everyone meet me on the bridge, right away.

EXT. HUMANITY’S Hope – SPACE

The sun looms over the ship, which is so close that it is almost touching the surface. The side of the ship facing the sun glows red both from reflecting the light, and from the heat.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

HEFF
You left my daughter to die!!!

They’re all on the bridge: Harbet, Scott, Dez, Jace, and Heff. Dez and Jace hold Heff back. Shrugging them off, he stalks away to a corner and punches the wall angrily. They are all starting to sweat from the heat.

HARBET
I’m going to make this quick. Does this ship have warheads?

Scott nods, and points out one of the screens on the video surveillance station. It shows a room with one wall lined with missile tubes, as well as spare warheads strapped to racks and shelves. The room is starting to steam from the heat.

HARBET
I need you to get a warhead up here, and rig it to explode at a signal from my communicator.


SCOTT
The tubes are the closest part of the ship to the sun. It’s hot in there and getting hotter.

HARBET
Then you better hurry up, and take Dez and Jace with you. When you’re done get to the Docking bay and ready a ship to leave.

SCOTT
What about you?

HARBET
I’ll be coming, so wait for me as long as you can.

Scott, Dez, and Jace head down the Grav Lift. Harbet approaches Heff who is looking at the picture of the crew, and the plaque that says ‘Lily was here too’.

HARBET
I heard about what happened to your wife...

HEFF
Sabrina told you?

HARBET
I lost my wife a couple weeks ago. She died pursuing what she believed in. I only came here in the hope of putting some closure on her investigation. I would do anything to have her here with me. I’d do anything for her to still be alive. You’re wife...

HEFF
I miss her...but I’m scared seeing her the way she is now will spoil my love for her. I want to remember her for the great loving person she is, not what she’s become...


HARBET
To love someone means living not just for yourself. It means making sacrifices to be there for the one you love when they need you the most.

HEFF
Like Sabrina needs me now.

HARBET
I will do everything I can to save your daughter.
HEFF
No, she’s my daughter, and it’s about time I did something right. I’ll save her.
HARBET
Yes but no. You need to get to the Docking bay, and ready the ship for a fast get away. We’re not gonna have much time to escape before the ship is engulfed by the sun.

HEFF
What are you going to do?

HARBET
Surrender.

INT. HALLWAY – SPACE

The remaining four soldiers from Sanger’s squad finish cutting through the Observatory door. Sanger pushes Sabrina through and nods to Soldier 1.

SANGER
Thank you for your help.

SOLDIER 1
Yes sir.

SANGER
(To Sabrina)
Lead me to your friends.

SABRINA
No.

Sanger unholsters his pistol and points it at her head.

SABRINA
I’m not scared of you.

SANGER
What is with you people?

HARBET
Wait.

Harbet turns the corner, arms raised above his head.

HARBET
I surrender. I’m unarmed, and I’m willing to lead you to everyone.

SANGER
Finally.

HARBET
They’re all on the bridge. It’s this way.

Sanger pushes Sabrina up with Harbet, and he follows them, with his gun drawn threateningly. The four soldiers follow behind him.

SABRINA
Why are you selling them out?

HARBET
Lets just say we’re heading towards an explosive confrontation.

He falls back from her to stand beside Sanger.

HARBET
It’s not fair you know.

SANGER
Life isn’t fair. Keep walking.


HARBET
Left here...Rexters treat the rest of the galaxy like pets. Like you’re all so much more superior than the rest of us, and you have the right to control our way of life.

SANGER
Don’t we?

HARBET
But we all have the same genetic material flowing through our veins. We’re all human, just with our own special quirks. Just like how some of you have blond hair, and some have black. Some of us are strong; others of us absorb moisture or sunlight through our skin. There are no races, no Rexters, or Klinoda, or Gooles, or Yantari. We’re all just people...equals.

SANGER
Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you’re right. But there’s no changing the galaxy. Things are the way they are, and you just gotta live with them. One man can’t make a difference.

SABRINA
Well, we’re here.

They’ve arrived at the Grav lift. Sanger looks over the edge, and then looks to Harbet.

HARBET
A grav lift. You go inside, and it shoots you towards what ever floor you want.

SANGER
You go first. Show me how it works.

Obligingly, Harbet and Sabrina step onto the grav lift and rocket up to the bridge. Convinced, Sanger follows them.

INT. BRIDGE – SPACE

The 4 soldiers spread out amongst the bridge, while Harbet and Sabrina stay back by the Grav Lift.

SANGER
Where is everyone? You said they were holding a meeting?

SOLDIER 1
Sir, we’ve found something.

SANGER
What is it?

Sanger moves towards them, on the other side of the bridge. Hidden at first by the rows of stations is a large cylindrical device that is quietly beeping and flashing small lights. The warhead. Harbet stays by the grav lift.

HARBET
It’s a message from my friends. They say...

He hits the communicator on his wrist. And tries to come up with something witty to follow his lead in. Finally he gives up and says bluntly...

HARBET
...boom.
(To Sabrina)
Jump!!!

They dive into the grav lift as the warhead explodes, engulfing the soldiers and Sanger. We focus on the picture of the crew, and more specifically Charon’s picture and dedication. The fire engulfs everything.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

Fire explodes from the top of the large ship, causing it to drop closer than ever into the sun.


INT. GRAV LIFT SHAFT – SPACE

Sabrina and Harbet drop down the shaft, as the fire follows closely on their heels. The fire finally halts and starts to fold back in. Suddenly a slightly burned and very pissed Sanger falls through the flames, speeding towards the pair.

HARBET
Crap.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

We see as the sun engulfs the ship in flame.

INT. MISSILE TUBE – SPACE

The missiles in the tubes begin to flash a temperature warning, as the metal around them start to melt. Suddenly the heat activates the warhead inside, and the missiles all explode.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

Like a chain reaction, tube after tube explodes from the side of the ship violently, causing it to rotate.

INT. GRAV LIFT SHAFT – SPACE

The shaft flashes slightly, and suddenly gravity begins to change. Harbet and Sabrina’s fall starts to slow, as the far wall of the shaft becomes the floor. Harbet skids, with Sabrina held tightly in his arms. As the wall tilts more, they start to stand on it, and continue to run from Sanger, who’s on their tail.

SANGER
DIE!!!

HARBET
The next floor will get us to the docking bay.


Reaching the right floor, Harbet throws Sabrina up, onto the level. Once she’s out of the Grav Lift, proper gravity takes hold and she falls to what is the real floor (Gravity is different within the grav lift then it is on the rest of the ship). She reaches for Harbet’s hand, but he is suddenly tackled aside by Sanger. They tumble down the shaft, as Sanger slams Harbet’s head into the steel “floor”. Suddenly the gravity begins to change again, and the wall begins to tilt backwards towards the ceiling. Sliding towards the ceiling, Harbet pushes himself off the wall, grabbing onto the ceilings of one of the levels they were passing by. Sanger reaches out as well, and grabs one a few levels below him.

EXT. HUMANITY’S HOPE – SPACE

The ship is engulfed even further by the sun.

INT. GRAV LIFT SHAFT - SPACE

SABRINA
Catch!!!

Sabrina managed to get a hover bike, and throws it towards Harbet. Harbet grabs it with one hand and turns it on. He starts to scramble on it when suddenly the top of the grav lift shaft, which has quickly become the bottom, starts to melt away. The whole top falls away into the sun, and the atmosphere starts to vent. Sanger holds on for dear life, as Harbet points his bike straight up towards Sabrina and flips the throttle to max. The bike struggles against gravity and the venting atmosphere, rising very slowly.

The heat of the sun is also making it’s way into the shaft, and Harbet’s skin starts to burn. His shoes smoke and begin to melt, but he continues to make his way painfully closer to Sabrina. Being much closer to the sun, Sanger burns much faster, and screaming in pain, he lets go of the level, and falls away into the sun.

Finally close enough, Harbet reaches out for Sabrina’s hand (Which she’s technically reaching up from the floor, since gravity is upside down in the lift and right side up on the floor she’s on). She grabs his hand and pulls him onto the floor, where he falls sweaty, minimally burned, but alive, onto the floor.

INT. HALLWAY - SPACE

Picking him up, they struggle through the hallways towards the Docking Bay. Reaching the bay, they find that the Mule has pressed its entrance ramp as close to the door as it can, with atmosphere venting through the side. Jace beckons them on.

JACE
The bay is ventin’ atmosphere. Hurry up and get on before we become star chow.

Sabrina jumps on first, falling into Jace’s arms. Pushing past him, she goes to her father, and hugs him tightly.
HEFF
Thank god you’re okay. I was so worried.

Harbet jumps on, and Jace catches him. Scott slams his palm into a button on the wall, and the ramp rises into the ship.

SCOTT
You look bad...sir.

HARBET
You should have seen the other guy.

JACE
GO!!!

Dez looks back from the cockpit and nods.

DEZ
Don’t have to tell me twice.

INT. DOCKING BAY – SPACE

The Mule shimmers as its defense screen activates, and it soars out of the bay.

EXT. SUN – SPACE

The mule soars out from the Humanity’s Hope, skimming along the surface of the sun, which causes a majestic glow against their defense screen. The Humanity’s Hope finally gives up fighting against the sun, and it is completely engulfed.

INT. THE MULE – SPACE

Harbet stumbles into the cockpit; every step he takes is pain. He’s still favoring his arm.

HARBET
Keep close to the sun until we have it between us and that bounty hunter ship.

He points to the Bounty hunter cruiser which is closing in on them.

HARBET
We want them to think we went down with it.

DEZ
Yes sir.

INT. BHG BRIDGE – SPACE

Tosh and Blake watch the sun as it burns.

BLAKE
Looks like the sun did our job for us.

TOSH
(Nods)
Take us back to the jump gate. It’s over.

EXT. BHG CRUISER – SPACE

The cruiser turns, and heads back towards the planet, and the jump gate. Unnoticed by them, a small craft soars out from around the sun.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

EXT. STATION – SPACE

We see the Klinodan station in orbit around planet Klinoda. There is a normal level of traffic around the station as everyone goes about their day.

SUPERIMPOSE: The Klinoda System

INT. HEAD OFFICE – SPACE

The Klinodan council consists of two older men, PAUL and Martin, and one older woman, GALE. They each have their own desks, extravagant though they are, organized in a triangle formation all facing the door. Bursting through that door comes Harbet and Scott. Harbet has been bandaged up, and well looked after. Scott...is Scott. He’s carrying with him his datapad.

HARBET
I’d like to address the council...um now.

PAUL
My god Harbet, are you okay?

HARBET
Oh I’m fine sir. They gave me a pretty heavy dose of painkiller, I can’t feel a thing.

A MEDICAL ASSISTANT runs into the room. He has short hair and young features.

MEDICAL ASSISTANT
I didn’t clear you to leave the medical wing. You have some serious burns, and need at least three days rest.


HARBET
Shabubabu, I’ll get to you in a moment. Councilmen, and Council Woman, I have proof that humans are real. I’ve stood on the same ground that they’ve stood on. I’ve peed where they’ve...

SCOTT
You know what; maybe I should do this presentation.

HARBET
You’re quite right Scotty. Do your techie stuff and show them what we found.

SCOTT
Sorry, I think it’s the painkillers... Um, but...how do I begin...we...um...we were on board that ship, the one that was on the news.

GALE
Actually you can begin with your name.

SCOTT
Oh right. Sorry, I’m Scott. I’m the technician aboard the Whirlwind.

GALE
And this ship...was the one that fell into the sun?

SCOTT
Yeah... that was an accident on our part.

HARBET
But Scott managed to back up the main databank.

SCOTT
Some of it. When the power went out, a lot of the data got corrupted...but I was able to save a bit of it.


PAUL
Stop your yapping, boy, and show us what you have.

SCOTT
Sorry, right. Um...right. I’ll link it to your displays.

Each council member has his or her own display. We close in on one of their displays, as it changes to match the view of Scott’s datapad.

SCOTT (OS)
This is all data I collected while aboard the human ship. Lets see what’s in this folder.

The room starts blaring really loud music, some song from our time. The council winces in disgust to the music, and Scott quickly turns it off.

SCOTT
Sorry about that.

PAUL
You better have more than pointless noise as proof...

GALE
Play nice with the boy, Paul. Please Scott, continue. And try to show us something more relevant this time.

SCOTT
Okay moving on...

We focus once again on the display, where Scott tries another file, quite a few files away from his last one. This file opens a star chart. We change focus to Scott, who looks at it in surprise.

SCOTT
Oh my god.

GALE
I don’t recognize any of these star formations.
SCOTT
That’s because I don’t think this star chart is of our galaxy.

PAUL
No one has ever been able to see beyond our galaxy.

GALE
Unless you believe that we are descendants of humans.

PAUL
This is a hoax.

MARTIN
Lets say you’re right, and humans do exist. What do you want us to do?

Harbet steps forward, leaning onto Martin’s desk.

HARBET
I need back up. A dozen ships to follow me into that nebula.

PAUL
Absolutely not.

GALE
What nebula?

HARBET
The one Charon was tasked with exploring. There’s something there the Rexters don’t want us to see. I’ll bet anything it’s related to the existence of humans.

GALE
Paul is right. We can’t delegate that number of ships to your personal quest for revenge.

HARBET
This isn’t about revenge. This is about the truth.

MARTIN
Scott if you could give us a copy of this data at a later date, we will consider what to do with this revelation...but in the mean time, you are all dismissed.

TRANSITION TO:

INT. DOCKING TERMINAL – SPACE

The terminal is as busy as ever. Harbet is there this time with Dez, Scott, and Jace to say goodbye to Sabrina and Heff.

HARBET
So this is where we part ways.

HEFF
I owe you...so much.

HARBET
No you don’t.

HEFF
You got us out of that ship alive. It’s a m