VOID
VOID
The Europa Base - S6 - E3
During our last episode the landing team began to explore the Europa surface base. Anko divulged more of his past to Serebella. Regina allowed Maddox to help on the bridge. And Jonas discovered the previous crew’s fate.
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VOID - SEASON 6, EPISODE 3
Written by Sean McKnight
With Jeni Miller
The Europa Base
VOID PODCAST LLC
NARRATOR
During our last episode the landing team began to explore the Europa surface base. Anko divulged more of his past to Serebella. Regina allowed Maddox to help on the bridge. And Jonas discovered the previous crew’s fate.
SOUND: PACING
INT. EUROPA BASE - DAY
ANKO LUMEN
(wearing helmet)
It’s strange don’t you think?
SEREBELLA REON
(wearing helmet) What’s strange?
ANKO LUMEN
Why would this base be abandoned?
SEREBELLA REON
I have no idea. Is that a big deal?
ANKO LUMEN
It kind of is. The station is not an institution that indulges waste. Whenever there’s been a base like this set up or even attempted to be set up, there’s always strict inventory scrutiny. If the base fails, all parts are collected and brought back for re-use or smelting. The leftover site is always approached with a leave-no- trace policy.
SEREBELLA REON
I didn’t know they did that.
ANKO LUMEN
When I first started out of university I worked on some of the extractions myself. Not for long though; I advanced up the ranks quickly as I am naturally inclined.
SEREBELLA REON
(sarcastically) Obviously.
ANKO LUMEN
That’s why this is so strange to me. That they left an entire base without salvaging everything. It’s uncharacteristically wasteful.
SEREBELLA REON
Maybe they had to leave quickly for some reason.
ANKO LUMEN
What do you mean?
SEREBELLA REON
Look around you. Some cups and food containers here and there, but there are no signs of any kind of struggle. The food stuff is out of place, why wouldn’t this room be cleaned up?
ANKO LUMEN
You’re right, these bases were always supposed to be kept pretty clean and organized. But then what would...?
SOUND: COMMS CUTTING OFF ANKO
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(over comms)
Hey, we found the crew. You both better get to engineering.
SOUND: TRANSITION
INT. CHING SHE BRIDGE - AFTERNOON
MADDOX KANE
Have you given any more consideration to our earlier discussion?
REGINA REX
Yes, and I just don’t think it’s possible.
I see.
MADDOX KANE
REGINA REX
We can’t both warn Earth and get you home.
MADDOX KANE
I suspected as much.
REGINA REX
The warp drive barely works as is.
MADDOX KANE
Did you say warp drive?
REGINA REX
Yeah, but it’s unstable as hell. I’m guessing Jonas is going to push me to use the damn thing. I just hope it doesn’t explode or all this is a moot point.
MADDOX KANE
I could take a look at it for you.
REGINA REX
You know something about warp drives?
I do.
MADDOX KANE
REGINA REX
(suspicious) What’s in it for you?
MADDOX KANE
If I can fix it and stabilize the system for you, you could use it to take me home and get your friend back. 4 light years to the Nepenthe would be nothing.
REGINA REX
Maybe. But only on the condition that we go to Earth and the station first. Warning the population is the priority.
MADDOX KANE
Understood. That works for me.
PAT MENDELSON
Are you sure this is a good idea? No offense Maddox but we just met you and correct me if I’m wrong but that seems to be a sensitive part of the ship!
REGINA REX
It is. That’s why your husband Terry is going to assist Maddox every step of the way and keep an eye on everything.
PAT MENDELSON
(realizing this could work to her advantage)
I see! That’s a great idea!
SOUND: TRANSITION
INT. EUROPA BASE - AFTERNOON
TERRY MENDELSON
(wearing helmet)
Holy shit! What do you think happened?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(wearing helmet)
I have no idea. We’re going to just wait for...
SOUND: DOOR HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
JONAS ALDRIDGE (CONT'D)
Her. Hey Serebella. We need your investigative skills.
ANKO LUMEN
Wow. Is this all of them?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
No idea until we can access ship records. But we need to get power back first. Terry?
TERRY MENDELSON
On it.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, TINKERING WITH MACHINERY
SEREBELLA REON
I’m going in, you two stay here.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(in unison) No problem.
ANKO LUMEN
(in unison) No problem.
SOUND: GUN COCKING, FOOTSTEPS
SEREBELLA REON
(walking cautiously)
Nothing but bodies so far. It doesn’t look like the room has any signs of damage. The way their laid out, they may have been moved here for triage.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
How many are there?
PAUSE A MOMENT
SEREBELLA REON
(moving around)
22. Make that 23. There’s another one over here on a table. Oh shit! He’s still open! It looks like they were operating on him. Jonas get in here, Anko keep guard by the doorway.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS MOVING QUICKLY
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What the hell? His organs are in some of these trays. Were they doing an autopsy?
SEREBELLA REON
Why would they leave in the middle of it?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(moving around)
That’s the million dollar question. Along with what killed all these people?
SEREBELLA REON
Do you think it was all the same cause of death?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
I don’t know. We’ll have to examine the bodies more thoroughly once we get...
SOUND: LIGHTS BUZZING ON, GENERATORS AND MACHINERY STARTING UP, TRANSITION
INT. CHING SHE MEDICAL OFFICE - AFTERNOON
ASTRID
Incoming encrypted message from Max Huxley. Awaiting verification.
URSULA NASH Nash, 4E, 3C, 6.
ASTRID
From Max Huxley, New Hope Space Station. Message reads as follows: Ursula, this will be my last message. We just learned that the 5 have seized control of all communications and will be implementing a blackout very soon. By the time you receive this, you won’t be able to communicate with me or anyone else on the station.
Things have gotten much worse. The 5’s security force has instituted Marshall Law. They’ve been taking prisoners; people are disappearing. No-one is allowed to leave their quarters unless they want to face death squads. We don’t know what to do. There are rebel factions springing up but the mass executions are... End of message.
URSULA NASH
Oh shit. I need to tell the others.
SOUND: TRANSITION, FUMBLING, BODY FALLING
INT. CHING SHE BRIDGE - LATE AFTERNOON
REGINA REX
(hitting the floor) Ungh!! Dammit!
PAT MENDELSON
Captain Rex!
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS SCRAMBLING, HELPING HER UP OFF THE FLOOR
REGINA REX
(frustrated) I’m fine! I’m fine!
PAT MENDELSON
Oh don’t you worry, it can happen to anyone.
REGINA REX
Don’t patronize me.
PAT MENDELSON
I wasn’t! I was just...
REGINA REX
(cutting her off)
And don’t pity me! Like I said, I’m fine!
SOUND: GETTING SITUATED BACK IN HER CAPTAIN’S CHAIR
PAT MENDELSON
Ok. No problem.
SOUND: FOOSTEPS, AWKWARD SILENCE, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
URSULA NASH
We need to talk.
REGINA REX
Who?
URSULA NASH
Everyone. There’s a big problem back on the station. The 5 have seized control.
PAT MENDELSON
What does that mean?
URSULA NASH
It means they’ve shut down all communications to start with. They also have the entire population on lockdown.
REGINA REX
What?? How do you know all this?
URSULA NASH
Message from Max Huxley.
PAT MENDELSON
What else did he say?
URSULA NASH
Nothing, the message was cut off before it finished.
MADDOX KANE
We were worried about this kind of thing. It’s one of the reasons my people left the station in the first place.
URSULA NASH
What are you talking about?
MADDOX KANE
The 5 have always been this mystery from what I’ve been told about them. Their intentions are one of those things that have always been in question.
REGINA REX
You know, I never really thought much about it. I just kind of lived there.
Me too.
PAT MENDELSON
MADDOX KANE
From my understanding, that’s not an accident. There’s speculation that the station and its servants begin indoctrination upon birth subconsciously to keep everyone “subdued” shall we say...
URSULA NASH
To what end?
MADDOX KANE
Perhaps that’s what we’re learning now.
REGINA REX
Until we talk this out further, no- one tells the Europa team yet. This is going to freak them out.
SOUND: COMM CRACKLE
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(over comms)
Captain Rex. We’ve restored power. But we’ve also found a bunch of dead bodies.
REGINA REX
Dead bodies? Is everyone ok?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
We’re fine. It’s the crew of the base. Most of them anyway. We could really use Ursula’s help to figure out what happened to them.
URSULA NASH
I’m on my way.
SOUND: TRANSITION, HATCH, FOOTSTEPS
INT. EUROPA BASE - EVENING
URSULA NASH
(wearing helmet, walking in)
No-one touch anything. I have no idea what we’re dealing with and until I do I’m declaring this area a biohazard zone.
SOUND: UNPACKING MEDICAL GEAR
URSULA NASH (CONT'D)
It looks like they were performing an autopsy on this man.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
That’s what I thought. Some of his organs are over there in those containers.
URSULA NASH
He was like this when you found him?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Yeah, it was like they were in the middle of the procedure and just stopped.
SEREBELLA REON
Or left. Maybe in a hurry.
URSULA NASH
Sounds like they reacted to something. Is there anything in the ship logs?
SEREBELLA REON
We’re not sure yet. Anko’s in the command center with Terry trying to access the base computers now.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
One thing I’d like to know is if the same thing killed all these people...
URSULA NASH
Help me with the diagnostics and we’ll figure that out.
SOUND: DIAGNOSTICS STARTING, TRANSITION, KEYBOARDS IN USE, VARIOUS COMPUTER SOUNDS, MACHINERY TINKERING
INT. EUROPA BASE - COMMAND CENTER - EVENING
ANKO LUMEN
Any luck with that control panel yet?
TERRY MENDELSON
(tinkering with something) Almost, there hasn’t been any maintenance done here in a while.
ANKO LUMEN
(working with a keyboard) Ok, I’ve almost cracked the mainframe. They have some fierce security here.
PAUSE A BEAT
TERRY MENDELSON
(while working)
So, Anko while we’re occupied...
ANKO LUMEN
(while working)
Yes?
TERRY MENDELSON
It seems like we’re all settling in to the routines and getting closer.
I suppose.
ANKO LUMEN
TERRY MENDELSON
I know Pat’s taking a particular liking to you.
ANKO LUMEN
Oh?
TERRY MENDELSON
She talks about you all the time. She really enjoys working with you.
ANKO LUMEN
That’s nice to hear.
TERRY MENDELSON
She admires you too.
ANKO LUMEN
(distracted) Uh-huh.
TERRY MENDELSON
She has a lot of respect for you.
ANKO LUMEN
That’s great.
TERRY MENDELSON
She also finds you attractive.
ANKO LUMEN
(not paying attention) That’s nice of her.
TERRY MENDELSON
She’s kind of into you.
ANKO LUMEN
I like her too.
TERRY MENDELSON
She’d actually like to...
SOUND: COMPUTER LOGGING INTO HOME SCREEN
ANKO LUMEN
Nailed it!
TERRY MENDELSON
Nailed what?
ANKO LUMEN
I’m in! I cracked the login. Now I’ll be able to access everything.
SOUND: CONTROL PANEL SLIDING BACK INTO PLACE
TERRY MENDELSON
(finishing with a control panel)
Good, I’m done here too. We should have climate control back now.
ANKO LUMEN
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. You were saying?
SOUND: COMMS
SEREBELLA REON
(over comms)
Hey guys, Ursula is here working with Jonas on these bodies. How are things on your side?
ANKO LUMEN
I just hacked the mainframe, we’re in. I’m accessing the base logs now.
SEREBELLA REON
Ok. I’m going to sweep the rest of the base. I want everyone to stay where they’re at.
ANKO LUMEN
Roger that.
SOUND: TRANSITION, FOOTSTEPS
INT. CHING SHE BRIDGE - NIGHT
MADDOX KANE
So, is all this recent?
REGINA REX
What are you talking about?
MADDOX KANE
Your legs.
REGINA REX
I don’t see how this is your concern.
MADDOX KANE
You don’t like to talk about it, do you?
REGINA REX
Why would I liketo talk about it? Would you?
MADDOX KANE
Yes, I would want to know how to fix it or adapt to it.
REGINA REX
(sarcastic)
Well I guess my approach is a little different isn’t it?
MADDOX KANE
(walking away)
Yes, you’re choosing to let the condition defeat you. I expected more.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS
REGINA REX
(getting more emotional)
How dare you!! You don’t know me!
MADDOX KANE
(indifferent, not getting emotional)
I don’t have to. Your actions speak volumes. You fall, you get up, you get pissed off and you fight harder.
And??
REGINA REX
MADDOX KANE
And you might want to look at making adjustments to the things around you, your environment.
REGINA REX
Adjustments? To what?
MADDOX KANE
Well, your captains’ chair to begin with. The way it pivots doesn’t give you full mobility. And the way you fell out of it indicates you need a surface on it that grips.
SOUND: STANDING UP, FOOTSTEPS
MADDOX KANE (CONT'D)
Then there’s this...This makeshift wheelchair, if you can call it that, is clearly not well structured. Basically you need to make this ship handicap friendly.
REGINA REX
Don’t you dare call me handicapped.
MADDOX KANE
My apologies. I can see that you’re still very sensitive to the situation. Is the term “disabled” better?
REGINA REX
Not really but we’ll go with it for now.
MADDOX KANE
Very well. Perhaps we could make plans to improve some things for your disability. Pat could help when she gets back from the kitchen.
REGINA REX
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We can talk this out later.
MADDOX KANE
Why later? What is causing you to procrastinate so much? I’m just trying to make life easier for you.
PAUSE A BEAT
REGINA REX
(reluctant)
I know! Alright? I know what you’re doing. And I appreciate it, I’m just having a hard time accepting it.
MADDOX KANE
I see, well the sooner you do, the sooner you can let go of your anger about it.
REGINA REX
That’s easy for you to say.
MADDOX KANE
I know.
SOUND: TRANSITION, DIAGNOSTICS FINALIZING
INT. EUROPA BASE - NIGHT
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Any thoughts?
URSULA NASH
I’m leaning towards bad bacteria.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Bacteria?
URSULA NASH
Yeah, they use bacteria on long- term missions like this to grow food and create pharmaceuticals.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
So what’s the big deal?
URSULA NASH
The big deal is that there have been some unanswered questions about how space effects bacteria over the long term. Microgravity and radiation is especially concerning.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
A lot of bacteria is coming from our skin, right? Microbes?
URSULA NASH
Yes, in fact that’s another factor. How does the radiation of space effect our skin which then impacts the bacteria?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
You’re blowing my mind right now.
URSULA NASH
Fun to think about right?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
It’s interesting.
URSULA NASH
It is but also very dangerous for us. If the wrong microbe is in the air...
JONAS ALDRIDGE
But we have our suits...
URSULA NASH
We do but one tiny hole is enough, you know that.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Yes, I’m aware.
URSULA NASH
And with the possibility of mutation from the radiation of space, we have no idea how bacteria could be effected.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
That’s scary. A super, radiation powered bacteria mutant.
URSULA NASH
...Mutant bacteria.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
I stand corrected.
URSULA NASH
(flirty) As usual.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Very funny.
AWKWARD PAUSE
JONAS ALDRIDGE (CONT'D)
(flirty back)
Are you flirting with me Dr. Nash?
URSULA NASH
Maybe, but we’ll have to talk about that later.
SOUND: ANALYSIS ALERT
URSULA NASH (CONT'D)
Ok, let’s see what these results are all about.
SOUND: KEYBOARD, COMPUTER PROCESSING
JONAS ALDRIDGE
Is that from the skin samples?
URSULA NASH
No, everything turned up negative there. This is from the internal sample I took. Wait a minute...
SOUND: STANDING UP, FOOTSTEPS, MOVING SOME THINGS AROUND
URSULA NASH (CONT'D)
Oh. Wow. What?
JONAS ALDRIDGE URSULA NASH
Look at the organs in these trays. Notice anything?
JONAS ALDRIDGE
(moving over to a tray)
Well, just standard stuff. I mean, the heart here... Hold on. This doesn’t look like a normal heart.
URSULA NASH
Neither does this liver or this spleen. They’ve changed. And I bet if I open up another one of these bodies, their organs will look unusual too.
JONAS ALDRIDGE
What are you saying?
URSULA NASH
I’m saying these people were mutating from the inside out.
END OF EPISODE