Ghost Signals, Episode 5: Part 4.1
DR. ABEL There was fear amongst many world leaders as well as "leaders" when this satellite was being built that it was a waste of time. That any life who find this would be suddenly enticed to attack our planet and conquer it. (under her breath) As if we haven't done a shitton of work of destroying Earth ourselves!
RAIVEN (chuckles) Nice use of sarcasm! I didn't know Eyarth doctors were capable of it.
DR. ABEL Eventually, a compromise was put together that appease their fears and kept the project alive. One that I raised a great deal of shit of to my superiors...for nothing. Hidden in the mid-torso of the probe is a small thermonuclear device that will go off if anyone tries to take it apart.
RAIVEN Did--Did the lightly grilled wohminn say "explode?" (stands up) I have to get Steggy and Dez on the comm.
She quickly dashes to her comm lying on top of the table as the video continues on. A second later, we see her flick the device on.
RAIVEN (to Steggy) Hey Cap, something horrible's on the horizon. Dez tapped in the syn fuel yet?
STEGGY Just about to. What's up? You sounding...a touch scared. Which is a new look for you.
RAIVEN I finally got the vid from the Abeone going. Apparently, there's some type of "thermonuclear" device on it that goes off if it's taken apart somehow.
STEGGY Thermo--what?!
The room shakes as a result of the blast (that has seemingly destroyed Dez-Lei's ship), leaving the good Doctor slightly disoriented and stopping
the video in mid-sentence; the comm dropping from her hand as a result.
A second later, we see the AC Second Class 'port onto the floor near the door unconscious; the Kaylar resting on top of her chest. Raiven slowly steps past the mess of electronic equipment in the direction of the body.
RAIVEN Steggy? Steggy, you there?!
STEGGY (from the speakers, mid-stride) I'm good, Doc. Apologies for not being there. I had to get Dez and Aru back into the command center. Not to mention the fuel,
which I was able to--
Suddenly, another (more violent) tremor shakes the room, rattling beakers and wall fixtures around her.
CUT TO:
An exterior of the Athena-5 as it's pushed forward at an ever increasing speed thousands of miles past a section of space and straight through Mars.
INT. RAIVEN'S LABORATORY
The camera quickly jumps back to Raiven in her lab; her hands pressed to the wall for stability over the course of three long beats. Then, the tremor stops and stabilizes, sending the good Doctor backward in an equally disoriented state.
RAIVEN (getting her bearings back) Son of... (to Steggy) Nothing's on fire?
STEGGY Indeed, bosso...
RAIVEN Not near death either. If it is, I'd rather prepare now and make sure I'm getting buzzed off my...
STEGGY We're good Doc! We're good...
CUT TO:
INT. COMMAND CENTER
Steggy standing near the captain's chair, glancing as she speaks around the area to spy the fair amount of damage that the explosion caused.
STEGGY (Cont.) Some pockets of the ship got whomped a bit. The comms are a bit junked up thanks to the fireball. But mostly--we're good.
RAIVEN (from the speakers) What about the engines? They functioning, no big leaks?
STEGGY Aye, all's good and flyable. Which reminds me- I should probably tell you about the...
In mid-thought, the sound of the Kaylar's skittering can be heard coming through the speakers.
CUT TO:
INT. RAIVEN'S LABORATORY
The lab a moment later when Raiven catches the Kaylar teleporting from Mz. de Caar to the switched off HV. Before the good Doctor could let out an excalamation, the creature smiles and 'ports again to another empty part of her work table; the HV firing up again, playing the rest of the message from Dr. Abel to its end.
STEGGY Raiven...still there? (after 'port #2) I'm guessing you found the Kaylar.
RAIVEN (slowly moving toward Kaylar) That's its name?
STEGGY (explanatory) That's what I'm calling it- I spied it in the engine room of Dez's ship before it went booma. I thought it was cute, certainly not a danger.
RAIVEN How sure are you of that?
STEGGY (confident) ...In the seventies. Definitely.
(pause, then quite
unsure)
Maybe?