Ghost Signals, Episode 6: Part 2.3
LYFT DRIVER (suggestive) Don't forget to have your Oval attached when you leave the vehicle. Even in an interior setting, toxic particles can seep in from outside causing...
MINA (interjecting)
I have it set, thank you.
She reaches into her purse and grabs a black oval-shaped device, attaching it to her ear. A second later, an invisible shield emerges from the device covering her nose and face. At the same moment, you can see the image suddenly crackle and turn into a purple Ya'ahala hologram version of it, stuck in a loop of .
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Off-Screen) This is a snapshot of the species' past?
RAIVEN (Off-Screen) A centarohtla in their past, to be exact. Right where we're standing.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Off-Screen) Quite pretty...looking at it up close.
CUT TO:
Raiven and the AC Second Class standing behind the Jahukagonis. The good Doctor is manning the controls while Dez-Lei is more to the side actually observing the image; a pair of earbuds placed on her ears in order to listen carefully to the footage carefully while Dez listens herself.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (Cont., curious) It appears to be broken. Is the image supposed to be stuck in a non-verbal loop?
RAIVEN It's not entirely broken- just an issue with the image prochesa. Thankfully, it's quite a simple fix.
She balls her left hand into a fist and bangs on the upper section of the console three times.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (unconvinced) How does that help...?
RAIVEN (nods, after a brief pause) Sometimes takes a few segs to get firing again. Maybe a min...
MINA (Off-Screen, V.O.) Am I here too early?
BACK TO:
A close-up of Mina's face after only a few moments have passed for her; the background behind her just as we left it, with Raiven and the AC Second Class looking on curiously as she speaks.
MINA (Cont., unsure of herself) The tutorial said being too early for a first date shows you're desperate and dull. That you don't have anything cool going on in your life. Then again, the guy was really skeezy, so...
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (as Mina speaks) What is...skeezy?
RAIVEN No idea. I'm guessing...bad by the look of her facial movement?
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI I see. You have any clue what the wohmin is speaking about?
RAIVEN (shakes her head) No clue. My best guess is it has something to do with their courtship rituals- what they call "dating."
A second later, the human woman from the past sets forward toward the bombed ruins that was once a burger joint.
We move to a close-up of the good Doctor who, spurned on by the motion, detaches the console from her machine and follows after her. After taking a handful of steps, Dez grabs Raiven by the arm and pulls her back briefly.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI What the hells are you doing?!
RAIVEN Snapping something for the personal files. A prime example of their courtship system has fallen onto my lap. No flarking way I can let that just go to the tiestra.
Dr. O'Ozahl breaks past from her grip and heads off-screen left, leaving the soldier there to watch. "Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)" by KRS-One suddenly plays in the ether.
CUT TO:
INT. OLYMPIAN BURGERS- Minutes Later
A shot of the young woman from the profile pic RENEE seated at one of the booths in the restaurant, waiting for her date; the song now playing on the speakers off-screen continuously from before.
Mina steps inside a couple of seconds later, looking around for her date for a few moments. Then she spots Renee at the booth and gives her a quick wave. Renee smiles and waves back a moment later.
MINA (as she sits down, nervous) Hey! I--I'm sorry if I was late. I thought the date was at 7:30. I hope you weren't waiting too long--
RENEE (interjects calmly, to Mina) Don't sweat it. I only got here a few minutes ago. Besides, gave me some time to catch up on work and to people watch. (chuckle pause; slides a menu to Mina) You ever been here before?
MINA (shakes her head) I've heard about it all my life. I've wanted to try it, but they never deliver as far up as Pasadena. So...
RENEE (grins) Oh, you're definitely in for a treat!
MINA You could say that, looking at your... (saves face/failing) No, I--I mean. You're more than just your physical bits. Although your physical bits do look...