SEASON 2 EPISODE 8 TRANSCRIPT
PRE-SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Among the Stars and Bones features characters in a hostile environment and is intended for a mature audience. As such it contains material that may be upsetting or triggering for some people. In particular, this episode contains two instances of gun violence. One around the thirty minute mark and one just after the forty minute mark. Specific content warnings can be found in the show notes for each episode. Please make use of them if you need to.
CONTENT WARNINGS (FROM SHOW NOTES):
Loss of Bodily Autonomy – Much of the episode involves characters who do not have control over their bodies either talking about how this has affected them or chasing down and attempting to attack those still free of control.
Gun Violence – In two scenes guns are fired. After the second instance, a character is found to have suffered a minor wound from one of the shots. (30:00 – 30:10) & (40:20 – 41:30)
Animal Experimentation – Two characters play a recording of an alien animal being subjected to a science experiment. (34:29 – 35:51)
[Theme Music Plays]
COMPUTER: Among the Stars and Bones
[Theme Music Ends]
[Computer Chime: Open Status Report]
COMPUTER VOICE: For attention of Jennifer Connolly, Eudoxus Initiative. Herodotus Task Force Status Report. Mission: Planet Angitia. Status Report 8. Six entries included. Entry 1. Comptroller’s report.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry]
SCENE 1 – THE ANTECHAMBER
[A bustle of activity can be heard behind Adrienne as final preparations are made for a final stand among the possessed. People can be heard doing last reprogramming checks on bots.]
ADRIENNE: Commence report: Day 18, Nabonidus Relief Mission, April 2nd, 2211.
First, an apology for the sudden wrap on the previous report. Captain Francis’s message was a warning that somehow, we were surrounded and in serious danger of being overrun. He tipped me off using the one thing we have in common – knowledge of Rome and ancient military history.
He said to Janine that they would charge right at us, just like Caesar at Alesia. But when Julius Caesar defeated Vercingetorix at Alesia he didn’t do it with a frontal assault. The Romans had the Gauls on the run, but they were still heavily outnumbered, so instead they boxed him in, putting up palisades all around Alesia. Surrounding him, not charging at him.
We had mere moments to abandon our position and retreat to the next fallback we’d set up. Sure enough, down the tunnel that was our escape route we ran into about a dozen of them, with more closing in from one of the side tunnels. If we’d waited much longer we would have been surrounded. As it was, we lost a lot of resources in the scramble to get out and six more people getting through them. We didn’t have time for a sophisticated plan, only to charge through using panels we removed from some of the mining machinery as improvised riot shields. They were somewhat effective, but they don’t always stop you from being gang-tackled when the tacklers aren’t worried about their own personal safety in the process.
It also cost us substantial time and ground. I put a lot of work into that barricade, and I was hoping it would take several days for the possessed to work out how to get past us. But no. And the knock-on effect has impacted our ability to get properly set-up beyond. We’ve got one other…less effective barricade set up at a choke point along the way and I’m here setting up at the antechamber now, which is the last stand before we’re going to have to take shelter behind the door. We are 99% sure that there aren’t sufficient nanites in the first set of chambers to affect us, but the way our luck runs…
The failure at the junction did raise a number of questions. I have checked my copy of the mine schematics, new and old, again and again since, and I have found no side tunnels or vents or natural fissures that I missed. I picked that spot for a reason. There was no way past us. I did not make a mistake, and yet, there they were. Tunnels must have existed somewhere, undocumented for reasons that make no sense. I am at a loss.
And since Francis must be convinced he can’t just call out the tactics the possessed are about to employ, asking him is not an option. Nor is continuing to rely on my knowledge of ancient military strategy. My readings in history might mean I know how the siege of Metzada ended and about Thermopylae and the impregnability of Theodosius’s walls, and I’ve managed to make use of a bit of it here and there, but there’s hardly a one-to-one correlation between Hannibal or Sun Tzu and modern guerilla warfare. I mean it’s not like there’s a manual on wars fought in ancient tunnels or anyth…
[She trails off. A beat and then…]
ADRIENNE: Dura.
Janine!
JANINE: Yo.
[SFX – Janine approaching]
ADRIENNE: First, how are we looking?
JANINE: Ah, yeah, we’re ready I guess. The bot line is up. The doors are ready to go. We’ve done a last check and the area beyond is free of any trace of nanites, so we’ll be safe back there as long as no one starts opening Pandora’s barrels. Food and supplies have been laid in, too. We’re as ready to go as we can be.
ADRIENNE: Do you have word from the other barricade? Is it still quiet?
JANINE: Yeah.
ADRIENNE: Any word from Francis on movement?
JANINE: Last I heard he seemed to think they were taking their time. Giving people a chance to rest up and eat.
ADRIENNE: (To herself) Probably time then. (To Janine) There was that cache of abandoned mine supplies. Where we put the field kitchen. Pumps, air purifiers and a bunch of other stuff up that side tunnel, right?
JANINE: Right, but I thought we’d grabbed everything you wanted from that. The rebreathers and scrubbers, in case ventilation became an issue.
ADRIENNE: Maybe. Find me Jensen. And someone who knows about chemistry. We might need to move some of the bots around, too. I think I’m going to need…I’ll work that out in a minute, but get at least half a dozen people. Might have a shopping list for you in a few minutes, too.
JANINE: Sure. I’ll get my Aldebaran Express card ready.
ADRIENNE: Janine.
JANINE: Wow, okay, whatever. Travelling.
[SFX – Janine walks off]
ADRIENNE: Alright. This might be a long shot. And if I get it wrong we might all die but hey, they said studying human archaeology and history would never get me anywhere.
[SFX – Two sets of approaching footsteps]
JENSEN: Comptroller ma’am, you called?
ADRIENNE: Jensen, you were the one who put together that explosive for Riggs, right?
JENSEN: Yeah, but an explosive in this area could–
ADRIENNE: And who is this?
GALLINI: Name’s Gallini ma’am. I’m here mostly for the alien computers, but I got my start in chemistry…No one else put their hand up.
ADRIENNE: Right. Well this is already the long shot from hell, so welcome aboard. How quickly did you put together that explosive device?
JENSEN: Um…pretty quick.
ADRIENNE: That’s not–
GALLINI: Ma’am, Jensen could get the job done by the time I finish this sentence.
ADRIENNE: Good enough.
[SFX – Several sets of approaching footsteps]
JANINE: Okay, I’ve got a bunch of people ready to go. What do you need?
JENSEN: Ma’am, what’s the plan?
ADRIENNE: There’s not enough time. We’ll work it out as we run. Does anyone here know much about programming and directing bots?
GALLINI: I can get that done.
ADRIENNE: Alright, Janine, you’re in charge here until I get back.
JANINE: I’m…what?
ADRIENNE: Just make sure everyone is ready, keep morale up and maybe get everyone a bite to eat while there’s a little time. And keep your ear on the channels. If
you hear any movement let me know immediately. The last thing I want is to get caught between here and the other barricade if the possessed make a sudden move. The rest of you are with me. We’re heading to that supply cache up that side tunnel. Gallini, can you take charge of a bot and bring it along? We might need the carrying capacity.
GALLINI: Yes ma’am.
[Adrienne and the rest of her group begin to run across the antechamber]
ADRIENNE Jen, this is either the best or the worst idea I’ve had in my life. I’ll try to explain later, but for now I literally have to run.
[Computer Chime: End Entry]
COMPUTER: Entry 2. Data Investigation Report.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry]
SCENE 2 – AN ADMINISTRATION ROOM IN THE SECOND SITE
[A room six floors below the surface of the planet at the second site. An ambient alien hum can be heard. Indira can be heard searching the room in the background. Kathy is also searching the room]
KATHY: Commence report: Kathy Winters reporting. Day 18 and all that.
We’ve arrived at the second site. We found it by luck. there’s no other way to describe it.
INDIRA: We took our best guess using the bearings of the abandoned crawler and the mine, but nothing came up on the scanner. This place is completely undetectable, even at close range and knowing what we’re looking for. Thankfully, Celia picked out a few spots based on Hollister’s description, and we were able to find the valley and scan for a cave, so here we are.
KATHY: Getting in wasn’t too difficult with the intel we had, but just as we gathered our stuff from the crawler the sensors pinged. We haven’t shaken our pursuers. Not that we expected to. They’re just under two hours behind us at this point so we’re moving fast. Passing through the outer levels, we closed as many doors and access points as we could, but we have to assume they’ll get through eventually.
We’re six floors below the surface now. The upper three floors seemed more…administrative is the word that most springs to mind. There were living quarters on a few below that. This is the first that looks like it’s where the work got done. Ben and Celia are taking rooms on the other side of the corridor and Indira and I have this side and we’re…hoping to get lucky.
So far the feel of the place reminds me of Tefen. Certainly the style and level of technology confirms all the dating suggesting it’s from a similar era. Somewhere around 600 years ago, our time. Halfway between First Discovery and now. That’s a guess of course, but having seen far more of the interior of Tefen’s city than I ever cared to, I feel like I’ve got a right to make it. There’s a similar kind of ambient glow. Power in stasis rather than completely depleted. That black slickness from beyond the antechamber door is here, too, like back at the mine. I don’t know if this is stealth glass or whatever, but we definitely didn’t detect anything here, and the kinds of readings we’ve got on power signatures since we got inside are strong enough that we should have at least gotten a glimmer from outside.
INDIRA: I wonder if this is anything. Do you think it looks like a records station?
KATHY: I think…that console controls something on the wall behind it. Two of the symbols there are also on it.
INDIRA: Yeah, missed that. Good call.
KATHY: So as you can hear we’re searching for anything that might help us understand the nanite process. We’re trying to move quickly, but it’s a hard balance to maintain. Below us are rooms that look like labs, then the storage rooms that Hollister described where they found the other cylinders they brought back.
After that there’re floors we’re less sure about. They seem to have more compartmentalisation, but they look…less…science-y? But they’re the deepest in the building so you’d think that would be where the work gets done, right? Most deep is most secure. But just like the site back at the mine things feel backward. Can’t explain it.
Regardless, with only four of us it’s hard to know where to put our efforts. Sorry…
[SFX – Kathy investigating some items in front of her]
INDIRA: Got something?
KATHY: Thought I had for a minute but…no.
Where was I? Yeah, our efforts. The lab equipment might tell us something about the processes and hows and whys, but it’d be slow. We’d need to figure out how it worked before we’d have even the slightest clue about what it does. And that would take months and we have hours. And then there’re those weird lower floors which don’t even make sense. Getting our head around that? Time we don’t have.
So we’re here, because these look like places where you crunch numbers, evaluate results and decide on your next moves, and that’s what we need. We need the shortcut. Test data, records. To have any chance here we need the Cliff notes to speed up the process or we are so screwed. Hell, maybe we’re screwed anyway.
INDIRA: That’s the spirit.
KATHY: (Making light) Hey, I’m here aren’t I?
INDIRA: (More serious) Are you?
KATHY: What’s that supposed to mean?
INDIRA: Nothing.
[SFX – Kathy picking up a box that gives the distinct ringing sound of Proximan data storage crystals]
KATHY: Oh damn, this looks intact, and there’s at least twenty crystals in it.
INDIRA: Give me a look.
[SFX – Kathy hands the box over to Indira who examines them]
INDIRA: I think we can work with these.
KATHY: How? Harry’s reader is still back at the compound. I wish he was here ri–
INDIRA: He’s not the only person in the whole universe who knew his way around a Proximan computer, you know.
KATHY: I know, but his reader is the only thing we have that can read crystals.
INDIRA: There’s still power here, remember? Something has to be able to access them.
KATHY: Okay, but I don’t see anything that shouts terminal at me in here.
INDIRA: Alright, another room then.
[SFX – They walk into another room]
INDIRA: There. Three dimensional display, controls–
KATHY: And that looks like the port Gordon used to access the crystal in the Tefen control room.
INDIRA: Alright, all we have to do is get power…
[SFX – Indira slides underneath a console and begins to investigate it]
INDIRA: If you really think Harry was the only one who can do this, why did you bring me?
KATHY: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply–
INDIRA: No I get it. You miss him.
KATHY: Yeah, I do.
INDIRA: Is that why you’ve been…
KATHY: What?
INDIRA: Honestly, I can’t tell. Oblivious? Or…reluctant?
KATHY: (Caught off guard) Oh. I…I’m just not sure I’m ready.
INDIRA: I’ve tried not to overdo it. Normally I’m the sort of person who, when I see what I want, I go for it. And you, well you’re definitely–
KATHY: I don’t think I am.
INDIRA: You don’t think you’re what I want? Aren’t I the best judge of that?
KATHY: You don’t know me.
INDIRA: I’ve been working with you for two weeks. I know enough. Or, I thought I did. I felt like we fell into a good rhythm immediately, and that the connection was…a little deeper than just a good working rapport. And hey, if I’m being overly presumptuous tell me now and I’ll drop it and we can skip to the part where I wait for the floor to open up and swallow me.
(A beat.)
INDIRA: Okay, not just me then. But, I don’t know (distracted by the work) Oh, blast it…ah, got it. I think it was around the time you started working with Johann I felt…I don’t know… shut out?
KATHY: There was so much going on and with so many tied up on the search the work had to be spread out. You focused on the records, Celia investigated beyond the door, I switched to Johann.
INDIRA: I know, but I got a feeling like you were avoiding me or something.
KATHY: I…maybe. I don’t know. It’s…this has been a lot.
INDIRA: I know. I’m just trying to work out how much is just…all of it, and how much is…me.
KATHY: It’s not you…but you’re right. I have been a bit…distant. But…that last day. Before it all went to hell. I found that recording of Hollister and Duong and Meisner going beyond that door. Duong and Meisner’s last words. It brought up…a lot of things and I couldn’t sleep so I got up. I needed to get some stuff off my chest and…you. I was going to look for you.
INDIRA: Huh…I’ll take it. And then the alarms went?
KATHY: Pretty much. Lucky for me or we’d be having this conversation with me still in pyjamas.
INDIRA: You wear pyjamas. Good to know.
KATHY: Hey!
(They both laugh. A beat.)
INDIRA: So. Now that we are talking about it, what now?
KATHY: Do we really have to go there right now?
INDIRA: We don’t have to, but I’d like to know why. Is it just because of Harry?
KATHY: It’s…I still feel something for him, but…he’s not coming back.
INDIRA: Then what is it?
KATHY: I…I don’t feel…safe, to be around.
INDIRA: I think I feel safer around you than just about anyone else on this planet right now.
KATHY: I killed someone.
INDIRA: Flipside – you got me promoted.
KATHY: Indira.
INDIRA: Alright, I won’t make light. But the man you are referring to tried to kill all of us.
KATHY: I know. But I made a choice. I didn’t know exactly what would happen, but I knew what I was doing. And what it meant, and I did it anyway.
INDIRA: So you think you’re not safe to be around because what? You’re worried you would kill again?
KATHY: Look I know how it sounds to say it out loud. But that’s not it. Not all of it. I just. I feel different and I don’t know exactly who I am now…and…to be honest…I’ve never been able to completely be–
(Indira sighs in frustration)
KATHY: Look I’m trying to explain this as best as I can. I’m sorry!
INDIRA: No I’m sorry, it wasn’t you. I’ve just realised that I’m missing something here. I’ve reconnected everything up correctly and there are no faults or missing parts that I can spot. The problem must be further up the line.
KATHY: Oh um…what about that?
INDIRA: What?
KATHY: In the corner. Isn’t that a relay box?
INDIRA: Yes…it is. But how did you know that was that one. There’re four panels on this wall. It could have been any of them.
KATHY: Uhhh…just a feeling.
INDIRA: Mmm. Woman of mystery over here.
(Nervous laugh from Kathy)
INDIRA: Alright, keep your secrets.
[SFX – Indira goes to work on the relay box]
INDIRA: Look, I’m sorry for pushing you. You work out who you are and get back to me. We’ve got time.
KATHY: Not if we don’t figure this out.
[SFX – Indira gets the room powered up]
INDIRA: I’m an optimist. Hand me one of the crystals.
[SFX – Indira places a crystal into the port and accesses it]
INDIRA: Looks like a bunch of media…let’s try…
[SFX – A Proximan file being accessed followed by a Proximan voice speaking]
INDIRA: We should call Ben.
KATHY: Give me a minute…I’m hearing words like “administration” and “food…transport” try something else.
[SFX – Indira stops the playback.]
INDIRA: She sings, she dances, she translate Proximan by ear.
[SFX – Another file being accessed. A new Proximan voice]
KATHY: “Results”…”data”…”weapon.” Call him.
[Computer Chime: End Entry]
COMPUTER: Entry 3. Military Search and Rescue Report.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry]
SCENE 3 – A TUNNEL DEEP WITHIN THE MINE
[The possessed marching, now close to a hundred strong. There are briefs snatches of chatter but little talk at this point.]
FRANCIS: Francis here. Most of me at least. I appear to have taken a little damage during one of the dust-ups yesterday, but I can’t be sure. I don’t feel pain and I’m not able to look. But there was a sensation, like liquid running down my leg at one point, and now there’s a tugging with each step that suggests something’s off with my thigh. I feel oddly detached from the whole thing, despite knowing the longer it goes on the worse it’s likely to get, but without being able to see or feel it, it’s like…the memory of an injury. It’s harder to focus though. I try to keep awake so I don’t miss anything I could report to Barnes, but the others are snoring as we walk.
There’ve been changes though. Previously the hivemind puppeting us all would take time to pause and make us do at least some minimal tending of wounds, but it feels like there has been an acceleration of sorts. I don’t know if there’s something time sensitive involved, like a deadline after which we all go to mush if we don’t get what they need, or if it’s the sense that we’re almost there and just have to make one more push.
If the part of me that is still mine hasn’t gone completely to pot then I assume I’m getting pinged for the Day…18 report. Well it’s…we passed through what I believe is the last outpost between us and the site a few minutes ago. Thankfully, Barnes has continued to be inventive in her attempts to slow us. This time she forced us to dig our way through a barricade only to have fresh loads of rock dumped on us each time we cleared a section out. On the downside, she’s still too loath to risk her own people or hurting us. We were vulnerable at various points and she could easily have buried a bunch of us for good, but apart from being a little battered and bruised we overcame the barrier in a few hours. That said, I could be wrong, but I’ve got the sense that this time they pulled out earlier than they’d originally intended. Call it a gut feeling.
As I’ve stated previously I intentionally don’t ask details of what we’re walking into, just in case. I hope that means she has one last trick up her sleeve because…
Well, because once we got to the other side we paused. I thought it was just a rest period to give us some recuperation time. But no. I hadn’t realised, but O’Leary and Janowicz went missing during the last fight. When they showed up I thought they must have been sent for rations or something, but they had a weapon crate with them. Looks like we’re done with stunners and shock sticks. I’m holding a gun with live ammo, and we’re marching forward. Not that much further now either. I’ve warned Barnes already. Told her to hurry. Shouted at her to take us out any way she can. She seemed…oddly calm when I told her. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but whatever she has planned had better be her best trick yet.
Part of me hopes we enter the chamber and find they’ve all cleared out behind the door and sealed it. And part of me hopes we walk into a hail of…I don’t know. What could they even have? Explosives? That’d probably just bring the tunnels down on us all.
Hey, anyone recognise where we are?
HARRIS: This is just before the last junction. It splits up ahead. Left is the field kitchen. Right takes us down another hundred metres or so and then we’re there.
FRANCIS: You sure? It’s pretty hard to see down here. Our puppeteers aren’t great at holding the light steady.
HARRIS: Yes sir, but it’s not just our lights anymore.
FRANCIS: Ah. You’re right. Open coms.
[SFX – Open Military Coms beep]
FRANCIS: Barnes, we’re two minutes out. I hope you’re ready.
ADRIENNE: (Over coms, shouted off mic) Two minutes! Move! (To Francis) Look this isn’t a good time. Would you mind attacking us later?
FRANCIS (Laughs in spite of himself) I hope you’re ready.
ADRIENNE (Over coms) Last minute change in light of your live ammo. But yes.
FRANCIS: Ten shooters as far as I can tell. All to the front. (After a pause) Barnes, you remember what I have tattooed on me arm?
ADRIENNE: (Over coms) I do.
FRANCIS: Don’t hold back.
ADRIENNE: (Over coms) I don’t intend to. Good luck.
FRANCIS: To us all. End transmission.
[SFX – Military coms out]
FRANCIS: Well not much more to say. Alright everyone, I know we’re tired, but make some noise, let them know we’re coming. Harris, call out a countdown as best you can.
HARRIS: Yes sir.
(The possessed, tired, scared and/or over their ordeal raise their voices. Some ask for mercy, some for death and some just hope everyone else stays safe)
FRANCIS: I don’t know if this is where it ends or how–
HARRIS: (Shouting) We’ll be there in 60 seconds!
FRANCIS: I hope, Miss Connolly, that someone on the other end of this knows what to do if we don’t pull through this. Under no circumstances should this be allowed to get off planet. I don’t know why the Proximans didn’t nuke this stuff from orbit long ago.
HARRIS: (Shouting) Entering in 45 seconds!
FRANCIS: I don’t know who and what I serve anymore. I tried. As best I could. But when none of your actions are your own, what actions could I take?
HARRIS: (Shouting) Entering in 30 seconds!
FRANCIS: I would do anything for five seconds of control of my own hands. Just to turn around and pull my trigger ’til all I can hear are clicks. We’re all dead anyway but at least that might buy the rest a chance.
HARRIS: (Shouting) Entering in 15 seconds!
FRANCIS: I can see the opening now. I’ve set this to run and upload, just so there’s a record if everything else goes to hell from here. Here we go…for better or worse.
[SFX – The marching footsteps begin to change as the first of the possessed exit from the tunnel into the antechamber]
(Some of the voices of the possessed begin mentioning confusion. They can’t see anything and don’t know what’s going on)
FRANCIS: I don’t see any…fuck my eyes.
[SFX – Bots being to move. Gunshots ring out as some of the possessed fire blindly. A bot closes on Francis and swings its arm. The recording cuts off with…]
[Computer Chime: End Entry]
COMPUTER VOICE: Entry 4. Xenoarchaeolgy Report.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry]
SCENE 4 – THE SAME ROOM IN THE SECOND SITE THAT SCENE 2 ENDED IN
[There is an ambient alien hum. In the background Indira can be heard searching through files on a Proximan computer]
BEN: Alright, so Kathy and Indira stumbled upon a bunch of files that seem to be relevant. Kathy and Celia have now gone lower, trying to find anything else that might be useful, while I’m working with Indira. She’s looking for technical documents, schematics, diagrams and so on. Anything that might be useful to the techs and biologists. I’m going through anything that looks like logs. In particular we seem to have some stuff from one of the primary researchers here. Someone high up in the project.
These rooms might have been a central repository, but unfortunately these could just as easily be one person’s personal collection. We’re working as quick as we can, but our pursuers should be at the doors by now. We haven’t heard anything yet, but its only a matter of time.
To counter that with a glimmer of hope, an early log mentioned something about a “weapon” and “counter-measure” so while we keep hunting through files, Kathy and Celia are also on the lookout for an armory of sorts. That would be the jackpot–finding something that neutralises the nanites but leaves the victim intact. You would think that there would be something like that available. I mean if this thing can configure itself to different biologies you would think that would include The Proximans themselves.
INDIRA: Unless they were able to create an exception based on particular genetic markers or something.
BEN: In which case, that information would be super useful because maybe there’s a way to trick the nanites. Shouldn’t you be going through the files rather than offering worst case scenarios?
INDIRA: I can do both.
BEN: (After a chuckle) Alright, so far I’m having to piece together what I’ve seen based on oblique reference. The logs don’t have much technical data, except for a couple of reports on response times. It confirms that the primary method for dispersal was intended to be touch, and it seems in early tests the time from exposure to possession was improving with each generation, they had it down to a period of about four days at the point I’m up to, which I suppose means either we’re still seeing stuff from early in the development process and they got better or humans were an easier mark for the nanites to get themselves into.
Here, I just started this one when I got the reminder to report…The researcher had just expressed some concerns about the most recent tests…
[SFX – Ben accesses a file, the second Proximan voice heard earlier speaks]
BEN: It’s interesting that their word for nanites seems to derive from little soldier insect, but here…listen to this. The researcher is concerned that the nanites are getting smarter with each generation. Reconfiguring to new species at increasingly fast rates and…and also learning how to make more use of motor skills and memories of those they possess.
Um…They’re saying that there are times when they are glad that they’re…one-way-boxed? And that they have interrupt…what?
[SFX – Ben stops the playback and accesses his data pad]
BEN: Computer isn’t giving me a better option on either of those. The second one might be a contraction of some sort. Hmm…have to think on that a bit.
[SFX – Ben resumes playback of the Proximan voice]
BEN: Whatever it is they’re worried about the possibility that maybe the group…something something…oh, probably…that’s probably their word for hive mind. That the hive mind may adapt and exceed its…requirements. Escape…And there’s a proposal here for separation of…it’s not components…it’s not processes…it’s almost like a portmanteau of them. Maybe it’s related to the different kinds of storage that we see. I…really. Okay, look this is a guess, but as I listen to this, I think I get it. There’re three parts. First, the actual nanites. I’m guessing those are what’s in the mine site. Then…Then there’re the…refiners and replicators. This is a suggestion that’s being proposed at this stage, but if it was implemented then it would explain some of the behaviour that we’ve observed. Different cannisters and things. Maybe. I’ll keep listening and punt it over to–
INDIRA: What the hell is this?
[SFX – Ben stops playback and we can hear that Indira has another file playing. It contains the sounds of movement and an alien animal of some sort. Ben walks over to her]
BEN: An experiment I think?
INDIRA: What is that creature?
BEN: Not a Proximan.
INDIRA: Another alien species?
BEN: Possibly. Or maybe something from their own planet. An animal species?
INDIRA: It’s like a time lapse.
BEN: Yeah, left corner, you can read the time increments. Jumping forward in…that’d be a tick over five hour increments our time.
INDIRA: Listen to that noise. It might not be fully sentient, but it knows something isn’t right.
BEN: Yeah. It’s afraid.
[Beat. The video progresses forward in time]
BEN: There. It’s stopped, and it’s moving differently.
INDIRA: Like a robot. And trying to get loose, kicking the cage.
BEN: Yeah.
INDIRA: Two and a half days. That poor thing.
BEN: Yeah. I…I should get back to this. You should poke around, see if there’s more like this. The more actual experimental data we have the better the chance Celia and Kathy can make something out of it.
INDIRA: Right. We do still have to get out of here you know.
BEN: If we don’t then I guess it’s going to be someone else’s job to figure this all out. I don’t know.
[SFX – Incoming Coms]
CELIA: (Over Coms) Ben, are you there?
BEN: Yeah.
CELIA: (On Coms) Was that you? We heard shouts.
BEN: No I…
TRINH: (Distantly and not entirely clearly) Hey, whoever’s down there! Get hidden or get away!
HUBERT: (Distantly and not entirely clearly) We’ve reached floor 4. Don’t know if you can hear us down there, but you better get ready.
BEN: Oh yeah…I can hear them too.
[SFX – Ben and Indira begin gathering their things]
CELIA: (On Coms) They’re in the building. Sounds like they’re trying to warn us, but if we can hear them–
BEN: Then they’re probably a few floors down already, yeah. Where are you?
CELIA: (On Coms) Level 7. Kathy has found a door she can seal from this side.
BEN: Alright, we’ll grab everything we can and come to you. Cos more running on this leg is absolutely what I wanted to do today.
CELIA: (On Coms) Hurry.
[SFX – Coms out.]
INDIRA: Don’t have to tell me twice.
BEN: Sorry Jen, gotta run.
[Computer Chime: End Entry]
COMPUTER: Entry 5. Comptroller’s Report, addendum.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry
SCENE 5 – THE ANTECHAMBER
[More preparation for the showdown with the possessed can be heard. This time though it seems to involve a lot more people moving things around rather than the programming of bots.]
ADRIENNE: Jen, this is an addendum I’m adding on auto-upload. Just in case things go wrong in the next few minutes, what documentation of this moment is possible, I want to get out. The last word we had from Captain Francis was that they have guns for their last push. Which means we’ve had to adapt our plans on the fly and accelerate our timetable. We can’t afford to defend the line with human lives in the face of that. I said this when we started that I want everyone to walk away. The possessed still have a chance, I hope, but the…
[Shouting off mic] That last load needs to get inside. That bot needs to be on the line. They will be here any minute. We need to be behind that door before it happens. Cameras ready?
GALLINI: Yes ma’am.
[SFX – A bot which has been approaching for some time, comes to a halt and lowers its load]
ADRIENNE: As soon as you get the last barrels in place, get that bot up to the entrance with the others.
GALLINI: Understood.
ADRIENNE: Jensen, how are we doing?
JENSEN: (Unloading a barrel) Yeah, just those last barrels. We–
[SFX – Incoming Coms]
FRANCIS: (Over Coms) Barnes, we’re two minutes out. I hope you’re ready.
ADRIENNE: (Shouting off mic) Two minutes! Move!
[SFX – The people work in the background begin running around, gathering up tools, finishing tasks and getting ready to leave]
ADRIENNE: (To Francis) Look this isn’t a good time. Would you mind attacking us later?
FRANCIS: (After a laugh) I hope you’re ready.
ADRIENNE: Last minute change in light of your live ammo. But yes.
FRANCIS: (Over Coms): Ten shooters as far as I can tell. All to the front. (After a pause) Barnes, you remember what I have tattooed on me arm?
ADRIENNE: I do.
FRANCIS: (Over Coms) Don’t hold back.
ADRIENNE: I don’t intend to. Good luck.
FRANCIS: (On Coms) To us all. End transmission.
[SFX – Coms out]
ADRIENNE: Gallini, that bot needs to get on the line now. Forget the barrels.
JENSEN: We don’t have enough.
ADRIENNE: Well don’t just stand there.
[SFX – Adrienne runs to the barrels, followed by Jensen]
JANINE: (From nearby) Come on, get over here, give us a hand.
[SFX – More running feet. Sounds of barrels being tilted and rolled.]
JENSEN: Wait, not too rough, some of them are volatile. Easy, easy. That’s it. Keep ’em rolling.
[SFX – The barrels are rolled away through the door. The sound of the approaching possessed starts to permeate the antechamber
ADRIENNE: Clear some space to get through. Anyone who doesn’t have a job right now needs to get below.
HARRIS: (Distantly) We’ll be there in 60 seconds!
ADRIENNE: Keep going. Gallini, stand by to drop the door.
GALLINI: Copy that ma’am.
ADRIENNE: Alright, bring it down.
[SFX – The lifters that raise and lower the door are activator]
HARRIS: (Distantly) Entering in 45 seconds!
JENSEN: Oh shit, we left the sealant.
[SFX – Jensen running back into the chamber]
ADRIENNE: Gallini, keep the door coming down, but get ready to pause it.
GALLINI: Understood.
JANINE: Hurry up!
JENSEN: No shit Janine!
HARRIS: (Distantly) Entering in 30 seconds!
[SFX – Jensen falls]
(Gasp of pain from Jensen)
[SFX – Adrienne and Janine running]
GALLINI: Should I–
ADRIENNE: Keep it coming down. Concentrate on the bots.
[SFX – Adrienne and Janine reach Jensen and get ready to carry her]
HARRIS: (Still in the tunnel, but closer now) 15 seconds!
JENSEN: It’s my ankle.
ADRIENNE: Got her?
JANINE: Yeah.
[SFX – Adrienne and Janine lift/drag Jensen along. Gallini pauses the lowering of the door. The possessed, still shouting out, begin entering the other side of the chamber. Some of them register confusion over not being able to see]
FRANCIS: (From the other side of the room) I don’t see any…fuck my eyes.
[SFX – Gallini recommences lowering the door. The bots begin to move to attack.]
ADRIENNE: Shit, get under.
[SFX – They cover the last steps. Gunshots from the possessed as those with guns fire blindly. A couple of shots hit the door near Adrienne]
ADRIENNE: Sorry Jensen. Hunnnh.
[SFX – Adrienne and Janine throw Jensen under the nearly closed door before diving and rolling under it themselves. The door closes. The sounds in the antechamber are distant now]
ADRIENNE: (With a sigh) My knees are too old for this shit. Jensen, you okay?
JENSEN: Yeah. Just peachy. But…got the sealant (awkward laugh). Ankle though (winces) is sprained.
ADRIENNE: Janine?
JANINE: Yeah, I’m good. Lemme take a look at that ankle.
ADRIENNE: Why were they firing? Did the bots fail?
GALLINI: No ma’am. The lights hit them. They were firing blind. They uh…got a little lucky.
JANINE: Oh shit, I’ll get the medkit.
[SFX – Janine running below]
ADRIENNE: I’ll keep the pressure on.
GALLINI: It’s just a nick really. Probably a ricochet.
ADRIENNE: Alright. Take it easy Gallini. Jensen, can you take over his bot?
GALLINI: No point. Bullet got the computer too.
ADRIENNE: Ah. What are the cameras telling you?
GALLINI: The other bots are doing their jobs, but since I can’t control mine and we had to reposition those other ones I don’t think they make enough of a line to hold them back. There – they’re slipping through.
ADRIENNE: Yeah, I see it. Well, let’s hope the change is worth it. Are we good to go Jensen?
JENSEN: As long as nothing else got damaged, I think so.
[SFX – The sounds of marching feet and voices get louder as the possessed approach the door. Banging on it commences, but dully, as the door is much thicker than others.]
ADRIENNE: Looks like they’re through the chamber.
[SFX – Outgoing Coms]
ADRIENNE: Francis, you still with us?
[SFX – The sounds of the possessed and the banging on the other side come through the radio as Francis answers.]
FRANCIS: (On Coms) Yeah, just barely. I think the bot got my recorder, surprised my coms still work. How did you get the bots to do that?
ADRIENNE: Disabled the AI and had them on manual control. They were being piloted by people back here. Any casualties?
FRANCIS: A few injuries from what I can see, but I think we’re all still in more or less one piece. You?
ADRIENNE: One wound from the gunshots. Another minor injury.
FRANCIS: I thought you weren’t going to hold back.
ADRIENNE: The plan changed. But it’s not the last one.
FRANCIS: Don’t tell me. I hope you know what you’re doing. It was good work getting the lifters to your side of the door, but I’m sure you can already hear us trying to dig through.
ADRIENNE: Unless the hive mind controlling you has zero sense of self-preservation it won’t risk trying to blow a way through, and cutting through the alloy on the outer side of the door will take hours at minimum, especially since someone will have to go to the surface to get equipment. We will respond before then. Jensen and the others just need a little more time.
FRANCIS: I hope to be unpleasantly surprised.
ADRIENNE: Just try and stay alive. It’s going to get hairy, but I haven’t given up on all of you out there, please know that.
FRANCIS: Thank you. Good luck. End transmission.
[SFX – Coms out]
ADRIENNE: What’s the status on the bots from the entrance?
GALLINI: All out of commission.
ADRIENNE: And the other three?
GALLINI: Still standing by. No one’s seen them.
ADRIENNE: Alright, as soon as we get you two some treatment we put Plan Z into effect. Now we’ll need to–
[SFX – Running footsteps as Janine returns]
JANINE: Comptroller!
ADRIENNE: What is it?
JANINE: You’re not going to believe me so you’ll have to come see for yourself.
ADRIENNE: This better be good.
[Computer Chime: End of Entry]
COMPUTER: Entry 6. Xenobiology and xenoanthropology report.
[Computer Chime: Open Entry]
SCENE 6 – A ROOM DEEP WITHIN THE SECOND SITE
[A large room deep within the second site. Over the alien hum can be heard the sound of Proximan files being accessed and data pads being used as the group work to document as many files as they can and upload them.]
CELIA: Commence report, and I can’t quite believe I’m doing this on the run. But it seems necessary so here we are. I am including as many pictures and as much data from the Proximan files as I can. We can’t upload the files themselves because we haven’t got anything that can read straight from the crystals, but as you might be able to hear behind me we’ve been recording some of the playback or taking photos of text and diagrams and are uploading what we have with this report, in case…in case we don’t make it out of here as ourselves.
We stayed in place as long as we could. To add to what Ben found we have also discovered the separating this weapon into three parts was implemented so we’ll have to get a better understanding of the three components and how they interact, but right now we’re on the run and heading down.
You would think it would be easy to keep the roughly eight Possessed from getting close, but there’s a critical aspect to this whole situation that works against us. The entire design of this place is not setup to keep people out. It’s designed to keep people in. Just like the design at the other site. It’s backwards.
The architecture, both physical and security, has its hard front focused to the depths, not the surface. It means that most doors that are lockable are controlled from the surface side and so on, meaning that we can put fewer barrier between us and them than we’d like.
TRINH: (Distantly) We’re down to the next floor!
INDIRA: Only one more between us and them. We’d better wrap this up and get moving again.
[SFX – The file playback and datapads cease. The team grabs their things and begins to walk on.]
CELIA: We considered trying to hide somewhere and letting them slip past, but this place is too narrow. Each floor is basically a single corridor with rooms off each side. We would have to trust to pure luck for them to miss us in a casual search and that’s not good enough. Which means our only option is to keep heading down and hope that something will present itself. A way to trap them, perhaps, or to lure them. Surely there has to be something at the bottom of this place.
BEN: Yeah, this level’s starting to look more and more like a security hub.
CELIA: I agree. We’re now in the levels below the storage area that the possessed Nabonidus came looking for. I suspect this is close to the bottom of the facility. Level 12? 13?
BEN: I think so but I lost count.
[SFX – A distant door opens and footsteps]
TRINH: (Closer this time) Through the next door.
HUBERT: (At the same distance) Shit we can see you! Hurry up!
TRINH: (Getting closer) Go!
KATHY: Run for the ramps!
[SFX – The team run, pursued by the possessed]
INDIRA: Shit, I think…yes!
[SFX – A Proximan door closing]
KATHY: Will it hold?
INDIRA: Possibly a little longer than the rest. We’ve only got minutes.
[SFX – The possessed reach the other side of the door and start to beat at it.]
HUBERT: (From the other side of the door) Outrunning us isn’t going to work. You have to have another plan.
TRINH: (From the other side of the door) Hide. Kill us. Something.
CELIA: They’re right, I’m afraid.
BEN: Then let’s move.
[SFX – They walk on, the sound of the pounding on the door fading.]
BEN: I think this is the bottom floor.
CELIA: It is certainly wider. And it appears to fork out.
BEN: Hmm, to the left…I’m thinking security station with those symbols. Maybe we can find something there to–
CELIA: Kill them?
[SFX – They stop walking]
BEN: I’m hoping for something a little less dramatic, but we’re starting to run out of options.
KATHY: That’s not an option.
BEN: Look I don’t want to either. But, maybe there’s a security override or a neutraliser or–
INDIRA: Kathy’s right. Besides, we’ve never found a Proximan weapon in usable condition.
BEN: Until now.
INDIRA: I meant a gun.
BEN: Yeah, but the recording earlier..? Neutraliser or…
[SFX – Ben spots something and heads off.]
BEN: Or…an…interrupter.
CELIA: Care to share the other half of your thoughts out loud?
BEN: The recording earlier. The speaker was glad the nanites were “one-way boxed” and that they had some interrupt something…something.
INDIRA: Not helpful.
BEN: Look here. This is giving me a real “in case of emergency break glass” kind of vibe, and see that word there – definitely comes from the same root as interrupt.
KATHY: Okay, I can see it. How do we get it open?
[SFX – Indira walks away, picks something metal up and returns]
BEN: Don’t suppose you’ve got a key?
KATHY: Don’t suppose you’ve got a rock?
INDIRA: Try this.
[SFX – Ben uses the metal object like a crowbar, a door gives. Ben reaches inside and takes a couple of objects out]
BEN: I give you…the interrupter. Hopefully.
CELIA: That is definitely a weapon of some sort.
INDIRA: Give me a look at one.
[SFX – Indira runs a scan over one of the interrupters]
HUBERT: (Distantly, still on the other side of the door) They seem to be working out how to get this door open.
CELIA: We don’t have much longer.
INDIRA: And I’m sorry to say, we won’t be shooting our way out.
CELIA: I wouldn’t recommend an untested weapon on humans even if they were operational. Still. If Ben’s supposition is correct and this is intended to interrupt the nanites in some way…
INDIRA: It’s a breakthrough for sure, but that doesn’t mean anything if we can’t properly analyse it.
CELIA: And we aren’t doing that unless we get out of here.
BEN: Uh…It splits off in two direction up ahead. Do we hide down one and hope to sneak past them? Or split up and take our chances on one pair of us getting out?
CELIA: Far too risky.
BEN: The interrupters? Maybe the nanites recognise them. We could try and bluff?
CELIA: That only works if those you’re bluffing believe in individual self-preservation.
(Beat.)
KATHY: Wait, that symbol. Next to the left hand corridor. Follow me.
[SFX – They run down the corridor]
BEN: What is it? I don’t recognise it. It’s got elements that suggest a doorway, but what could it possibly be a doorway t–
[SFX – The come to stop in another room]
KATHY: There. On the wall. A triangle of studs.
CELIA: That’s the same as Chamber C back at the other site. It couldn’t be, could it?
INDIRA: It is. A teleporter.
BEN: Controlled only on this side…son of a bitch…”one way boxed.” This was a security measure. To keep the nanites underground with no way up and no way out except through this.
CELIA: That’s why everything is backwards. Why the stronger security faces down instead of up. To guard against them getting out here.
[SFX – Proximan door closing]
INDIRA: Hopefully that’ll give us more time to work out what we’re dealing with.
KATHY: This is the console here. Residual power…check.
INDIRA: Looks like it just needs to be…there.
[SFX – Proximan controls being operated and the teleporter powering up]
INDIRA: It’s powered, and the layout is pretty standard, but there seems to be a sequence to actually open the gateway.
KATHY: Hang on…alright…this, this annnddd…this.
[SFX – Kathy working the controls, the teleporter changing in sound each time.]
INDIRA: How could you possibly–
[SFX – The teleporter gateway fires up and opens, a watery rippling effect. Garbled voices are just distinguishable amongst it]
KATHY: No time. This is our ticket out of here.
CELIA: Should we trust our lives to something that hasn’t been used in centuries?
INDIRA: We don’t have a lot of options. I can hear voices. They’re coming.
CELIA: No that’s not from behind us, that’s from beyond the…portal? Gate?
INDIRA: Even so, our pursuit could be here any second.
KATHY: Only one way to find out…I guess.
INDIRA: Look if there’s even a chance this could work…oh hell, here goes nothing.
[SFX – Indira breaks into a run.]
KATHY: Indira, wait!
[SFX – A sound as Indira passes through]
INDIRA: (Distorted) I’m through, can you hear me?
KATHY: Yes, are you okay?
INDIRA: (Distorted) Surprisingly yes.
CELIA: Well, we’d–
KATHY: Crap, there’s a problem. Indira, now that it’s powered up, can you see any controls on your side? Anything to shut it down?
INDIRA: No, there’s nothing.
KATHY: Yeah, that’s what I thought. One of us is going to have to stay behind. Turn it off then…I don’t know. Smash the console?
(Beat.)
[SFX – Slow footsteps]
BEN: That’s the button, there?
KATHY: Yeah but…
BEN: Go.
KATHY: Ben.
[SFX – Ben passing the crystals and an interrupter into Kathy’s hands]
BEN: I trust you. Both of you. To save me.
KATHY: I…Alright.
[SFX – Kathy walks through the portal]
BEN: What are you waiting for?
CELIA: Benjamin, this had better not be some misguided attempt at chivalry. Or worse, you choosing to check out rather than live.
BEN: It’s not. Remy was right – This isn’t primarily a problem of translation. This is a problem of biology and technology. And there’s no one I’d rather have saving my arse than you and Kathy. I’ll be alright.
CELIA: You’d better be. And please–
[SFX – The sound of running footsteps from the other side of the door.]
HUBERT: (From the other side of the door) Please, you’ve got to be running out of doors.
[SFX – The possessed reach the door and begin to bang on it]
TRINH: (From the other side of the door) This door looks exactly like the last. It’s only going to take a minute.
BEN: No time. Good luck.
[SFX – Celia runs to the portal]
HUBERT: (From the other side of the door) For the love of god, do something. Don’t let us just take you.
[SFX – Celia goes through. The sound is more intense this time as the recorder passes through the portal with her. Now on the other side we hear voices whispering, unsure what is going on. The sounds from the teleporter room are now distorted.]
CELIA: Wait, what if we do run into a problem of translation. Remy’s out. Who do we go to? Hudson?
BEN: (Distorted) No. Not his specialty.
CELIA: Klymenko?
BEN: (Distorted) Dear god no! Go to Janine!
CELIA: Janine?
[SFX – Distorted, from Ben’s side we hear the sound of an opening door and running feet]
HUBERT: (Distorted) Oh God, we’re sorry.
TRINH: (Distorted) Why didn’t you run?
[SFX – After a bellow from Ben, a smashing sound is heard and the teleporter gateway closes]
CELIA: Hattersley?
JANINE: (Walking forward) Uh, yes?
(Beat.)
JANINE: Wait, how the hell are you three down here?
[Computer Chime: End Entry]
COMPUTER: End Status Report 8.
[Computer Chime: End of Status Report]
[Theme music plays]
COMPUTER ANNOUNCEMENT: This episode of Among the Stars and Bones featured the voices of:
JULIA: Julia Eve as Adrienne Barnes.
LUCILLE: Lucille Valentine as Janine Hattersley.
WHITNEY: Whitney Johnson as Jensen.
DYLAN: Dylan Chambers as Gallini.
JORDAN: Jordan Cobb as Kathy Winters.
ASHA: Asha Lloyd as Indira Raju.
LIV: Liv Smith as Captain Edward Francis.
ANTHONY: Anthony Morales…Harris.
CHRIS: Chris Magilton as Ben Kelleher.
SHAKIRA: Shakira Searle as Dr Celia Pennella.
REBECCA: Rebecca Owen as Private Hubert.
BRANDON: Brandon Nguyen as Private Trinh.
DEVIN: Devin Madson as The Computer.
COMPUTER ANNOUNCEMENT: The work of the Eudoxus Initiative is made possible by generous research grants from our patrons. Thank you to our most recent patrons: Amey Rakheja, Elbereth Gilthoniel. If you too would like to support humanity’s understanding of alien technology, culture and history, go to Patreon.com/Amongthestarsandbones. For a transcript of this report or additional information go to amongthestarsandbones.com. If you enjoyed this report please consider supporting us by rating, reviewing and recommending us. Thank you for listening.
[Theme music fades out]
