VOID - SEASON 4, EPISODE 6
Written by
Sean McKnight With Jeni Miller
The Captain's Code
VOID PODCAST LLC
NARRATOR
Season 4, episode 6. In the last episode of VOID, the landing team worked their way through the challenges of the temple in their attempt to collect Gilban’s prize. Later, more challenges awaited with the storms that had settled in on the surface.
INT. THE CHING SHE - BOARDING DECK - NIGHT
SOUND: KEYPAD BEING PRESSED, DECOMPRESSION, ALERT, LARGE HATCH OPENING, FOOTSTEPS(*ON METAL GRATING)
GIDEON JUDGE
Nice flying Captain Rex. I wasn’t sure if we were going to be stuck there.
REGINA REX
(walking into the Ching She)
Yeah, thanks. I was able to use the wind to my advantage launching out. Good, you have the gurney, give Ursula a hand with Anko.
GIDEON JUDGE
Will do.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE, GURNEY
INT. SHUTTLE - NIGHT
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(walking into the Ching She)
Thanks for your help up here Gideon.
GIDEON JUDGE
(pushing gurney into the shuttle)
My pleasure.
GILBAN TRICKEY
(carrying the artifact container, walking in from the shuttle)
A little more warning about the storm would’ve been nice.
GIDEON JUDGE
I passed along all my warnings to Captain Rex. You’re welcome to take it up with her. Surprised you’re vibrations are so discordant Gilban. You got what you came for.
GILBAN TRICKEY
(walking and talking) Indeed I did.
GIDEON JUDGE
At least no-one died this time.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS CONTINUED, ARM SHUFFLE MOVEMENT
GIDEON JUDGE (CONT'D)
Flipping me off won’t make you feel any better.
SOUND: FOOSTEPS, MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHUFFLING AROUND
GIDEON JUDGE (CONT'D)
It’s ok Serebella, I can take it from here.
SEREBELLA REON
Thanks Gideon. I need to grab some sack time.
GIDEON JUDGE
How is he Ursula?
ANKO LUMEN
You know I’m right here.
URSULA NASH
A fairly severe sprain, nothing serious.
ANKO LUMEN
Speak for yourself, you weren’t the one trapped under a rock.
URSULA NASH
Hey Gideon, do you think I could set up some time to talk with you?
GIDEON JUDGE
Of course, whenever you like.
ANKO LUMEN
Excuse me? Can we stay focused?
URSULA NASH
You’re not dying Anko, you’ll be fine. Let’s get him on the gurney.
SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
INT. THE CHING SHE - ENGINEERING OFFICE - NIGHT
GILBAN TRICKEY
(speaking through radiation suit speaker)
I can’t believe I’m about to do this.
SOUND: CONTAINER OPENING, HUMMING SOUND, OBJECT BEING PICKED UP, FOOTSTEPS
GILBAN TRICKEY (CONT'D)
Ok, just transferring you to your new home. Wait for it...
SOUND: OBJECT BEING CAREFULLY SET INTO PLACE, LID CLOSING, HUM DIMINSHES
GILBAN TRICKEY (CONT'D)
Whew! The ship’s radiation detectors did not go off! Well, that’s good news. Safe and sound you are! Now, let’s run a scan...
SOUND: SITTING ON A CHAIR, KEYPAD, SCANNING SOUND
GILBAN TRICKEY (CONT'D)
Astrid, please report as scan commences.
ASTRID
No radiation detected. There is an energy signature, cannot identify at this time.
SOUND: SCANNING CONTINUES
ASTRID (CONT'D)
Unknown element. Composition makeup is comprised of a material not on record.
GILBAN TRICKEY
(while taking off equipment)
Good, at least I can take this off. Is substance hazardous?
SOUND: RADIATION SUIT COMING OFF
ASTRID
Unknown. The element is not discharging any energy or substance that would be considered harmful.
GILBAN TRICKEY
(without speaker, normal voice)
And the humming? Can you identify why it’s humming?
ASTRID
The object is emitting a tone at
42.1 hertz although the object itself does not appear to be vibrating.
GILBAN TRICKEY
Astrid, please update data on energy signature. Can you identify?
SOUND: SCANNING SOUND
ASTRID
Negative. Energy detected but unknown as to how it is being generated and for what use.
GILBAN TRICKEY
Alright, let’s cut off a piece of this thing and run some chemical tests. Astrid, initiate carbide saw.
SOUND: KEYPAD, SAW WHIRRING UP
GILBAN TRICKEY (CONT'D)
Astrid, commence use of saw on object as marked. Thickness, .25 centimeters.
ASTRID
Affirmative, .25 centimeters.
SOUND: SAW BLADE SPINNING AND IMMEDIATELY BREAKS, METAL GRINDING
GILBAN TRICKEY
What the hell?
ASTRID
Saw use failed. Suggest use of different saw grade quality.
GILBAN TRICKEY
Ok. Astrid, change quality to diamond blade. Re-commence use of saw, same instructions.
ASTRID
Affirmative, initiating use of diamond blade now.
SOUND: MACHINE NOISES, SAW WHIRRING UP, SAW ARM MOVING, BLADE CONNECTING TO ELEMENT AND GRINDING TO A HALT, BLADE BREAKING
ASTRID (CONT'D)
Saw use failed.
ASTRID (CONT'D)
Yes, I know. Son of a bitch! It didn’t even leave a mark! The hell with it, let’s try the laser blade.
SOUND: LASER CUTTER STARTING, TRANSITION SOUND, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
INT. THE CHING SHE - BRIDGE - MORNING
REGINA REX
Good morning Jonas. I trust you slept well.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Like a rock. I was exhausted.
REGINA REX
I can tell. I walked by your cabin last night and heard just how exhausted you and Ursula must’ve been.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Uh, yeah. Well, you know, near death experience...
REGINA REX
(interrupting)
I’m busting your chops Jonas. Trust me, I understand near death sex.
Have a seat. We need to discuss the plans.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, CHAIR
JONAS ALDRIDGE
I’m still amazed traveling through space like this. It’s so powerfully endless.
REGINA REX
I know what you mean. I find myself just staring into it sometimes.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
After all these years?
REGINA REX
I’m younger than you old man, I wouldn’t go talking about all these years... We need to talk about Anko.
Ok.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
REGINA REX
The captain’s code dictates that contracts are honored under the terms negotiated. Which means, they’re also done in the order agreed to as well. However, given that Anko is injured and that Jupiter is on the way to Saturn we might be able to make an exception.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
I was hoping you might feel this way. We could save on fuel too. If things work out on Jupiter, Saturn may not be necessary.
REGINA REX
We can’t count on Anko to agree. But we can at least run it by him.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
That’s not going to go well.
REGINA REX
No, it isn’t.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What is next anyway?
REGINA REX
If we’re sticking to the contracts then it is Saturn, after Jupiter and the asteroid belt.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Asteroid belt? Don’t you think you should’ve brought that up sooner?
REGINA REX
Why?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Because apparently we have to fly through an asteroid belt!
REGINA REX
We’re sure not going around it! Do you have any idea how huge the belt is?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
No! How big are these asteroids exactly?
REGINA REX
They range from about 10 meters to
500 kilometers in diameter.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(freaking out)
How many of them are there?
REGINA REX Over 1,000,000.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Are you suicidal?
REGINA REX
(messing with Jonas) Probably.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
How exactly do you expect to fly through all that?
REGINA REX
By going in a straight line since they’re mostly over 900,000 kilometers apart; so it shouldn’t be a problem.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Wait, what?
REGINA REX
They’re really spread out knucklehead. You need to get your head out of the dirt and into space more.
Oh.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
REGINA REX
Let’s get Anko up here and get this over with.
SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, MEDITATIVE MUSIC PLAYING, ATTENDING TO PLANTS, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
INT. THE CHING SHE - PLANT HABITAT - MORNING
URSULA NASH
Hello Gideon, thanks so much for seeing me.
GIDEON JUDGE
Good morning Ursula, you’re beaming!
URSULA NASH
Thank you. I’m just really happy everyone is back and safe. Things were getting hairy with that storm.
GIDEON JUDGE
I know. The size of what I saw from space was massive. How’s Jonas, is he ok?
URSULA NASH
He’s great thanks. That’s actually what I was hoping to talk to you about.
GIDEON JUDGE
Give me a hand would you?
URSULA NASH
What? Oh, sure, what do you want me to do?
GIDEON JUDGE
Pick up those shears and start to trim the leaves like this.
SOUND: SHEARING LEAVES
URSULA NASH
Ok.
GIDEON JUDGE
Just collect them here at the bottom. Now, what’s on your mind?
URSULA NASH
(while shearing leaves) Well, when we were in the shuttle waiting, I had this moment.
GIDEON JUDGE
(also shearing leaves)
Yes?
URSULA NASH
This fear. It hit me that I might lose Jonas. After losing my brother, I don’t know if I could take it. I really love Jonas and have never been in this deep with someone before.
GIDEON JUDGE
Scary right? That idea of loss and that it’s out of your control. Just like when you lost Phineous, that was out of your control too.
URSULA NASH
Exactly. I felt like I couldn’t breathe for awhile, as if someone were standing on my chest.
GIDEON JUDGE
That would be a panic attack.
URSULA NASH
I only felt that way once before; it was when they told me what happened to my brother. My heart stopped. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was driving Captain Rex crazy talking about it.
GIDEON JUDGE
I’m sure the captain was totally fine with you. She’s seen this kind of thing before, just as I have.
SOUND: SHEARING STOPS
URSULA NASH
You have?
GIDEON JUDGE
Sure. We’ve had numerous crews on the Ching She, do you think you’re the first to be in a relationship on board? It’s a normal thing to be worried about losing someone out here. In space things are unpredictable. It’s the same as I told Jonas after Nova passed; you need to let go and try not to control things.
SOUND: SHEARING AGAIN
URSULA NASH
I’ve had to tell myself that as a doctor, especially if I’ve lost a patient.
GIDEON JUDGE
Then you understand that fate and life are both in and out of our hands. We can only live our life the way that makes us happy without keeping a tight grip on the journey we take to get there.
URSULA NASH
Thanks, I needed to hear that.
GIDEON JUDGE
Feel better?
URSULA NASH
A bit, yes.
GIDEON JUDGE
You’re welcome to join me for meditation any time. We can set up regular sessions if you like.
URSULA NASH
I would love that, thank you again.
GIDEON JUDGE
Just one thing, it’s best we keep our discussions confidential.
Agreed?
URSULA NASH
Of course.
SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS, LASER CUTTER, HUMMING
INT. THE CHING SHE - ENGINEERING OFFICE - DAY
GILBAN TRICKEY
Dammit!!
SEREBELLA REON
(walking in)
Hey Gilban, how are you doing?
GILBAN TRICKEY
Oh, hey Serebella. Things are shite I’m afraid. I just can’t cut off a damn sample!
SEREBELLA REON
Sorry. I mean, how are you, are you ok? Have you slept? You don’t look like you have.
GILBAN TRICKEY
No, not since we got back from Mars.
SEREBELLA REON
Don’t you think you should crash for a bit? You don’t want to burn yourself...
GILBAN TRICKEY
(interrupting)
I’m fine. I’ve been drinking adrenal-tea.
SEREBELLA REON
(walking and picking up can)
You know this stuff has compounds extracted from actual adrenal glands right? It’s not just the brand name. You’re not supposed to drink this many of them at a time.
GILBAN TRICKEY
You’re one to talk.
SEREBELLA REON
What’s that supposed to mean?
GILBAN TRICKEY
You were pretty tweaked out on Mars Serebella. I could see it in your eyes. They twitch when you’ve been hitting the pipe really hard.
SEREBELLA REON
And I performed just fine didn’t I? If you recall I was the one that shot our way out of the chamber before we were buried alive.
GILBAN TRICKEY
This time you did fine, I’m concerned about the next time.
SEREBELLA REON
Mind your own damn business.
GILBAN TRICKEY
Perhaps you should do the same.
SEREBELLA REON
Ok Gilban, have it your way. I was just checking in on a friend. Maybe you should get away from that thing for a awhile.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, HATCH, TRANSITION SOUND
INT. THE CHING SHE - BRIDGE - DAY
ANKO LUMEN
Absolutely not!!
JONAS ALDRIDGE
But, with your injury and...
ANKO LUMEN
Stop! I can’t believe you made me limp all the way to the bridge to try to push your agenda on me Aldridge.
REGINA REX
That’s Captain Aldridge to you Anko and it wasn’t Jonas, it was me. I was the one who brought it to him, not the other way around.
ANKO LUMEN
Oh, so you’re in this scheme together.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
There’s no scheme! We’re just trying to do what’s best for the ship and the crew since we’ve been getting our asses kicked out here. With you getting injured...
ANKO LUMEN
(interrupting)
Don’t try to pin that on...
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(interrupting his interruption)
AND, since we lost Nova, we, I, was maybe overcompensating with wanting to keep everyone safe. If we go to Jupiter first, we wouldn’t have to go to Saturn if things work and you would still get all the credit.
ANKO LUMEN
But it’s my contract first and it stipulates Titan specifically! It’s also my equipment so the decision is up to me!
REGINA REX
Who cares where it is? If you’re still going to get all the credit, we could say Europa was your idea all along.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
That’s fine by me.
REGINA REX
What do you say Anko? You need to come to a decision. We go into stasis soon for the long stretch after the belt.
ANKO LUMEN
I won’t be rushed. I’ll think about it but no promises.
REGINA REX
That’s fair.
SOUND: ALERT NOTIFICATION
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What is that?
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, BUTTONS PRESSED
REGINA REX
It’s a distress beacon.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Where is it coming from?
REGINA REX
Not sure. Hang on a sec.
SOUND: KEYPAD, BUTTONS
REGINA REX (CONT'D)
The signal’s weak but it’s coming from right about here. About 23,000 kilometers away.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What’s sending it?
REGINA REX
It’s probably a ship.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What’s the protocol?
ANKO LUMEN
To keep moving and fulfill contracts.
REGINA REX
I’m afraid code dictates we investigate.
ANKO LUMEN
Code? What code?
REGINA REX
It’s something you wouldn’t understand since it doesn’t center around you Anko. If you detect a distress beacon you need to investigate. If the ship is stranded, we can send word to the station and they can send out a rescue ship if they’re registered with the New Hope. It’s a courtesy with all captains from the station. Just hope we’re never in the opposite position. We might be able to provide aid so that’s what we’re doing.
ANKO LUMEN
They don’t even know we’re out here, we can just keep moving.
REGINA REX
That decision is up to me and Captain Aldridge. What say you Jonas, help them or bail?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Help them.
On we go.
End of episode 6
REGINA REX