S3 Ep 3: The Other Side

Season 3 Episode 2

The Other Side

Int. Alarms, Klaxons, an unfamiliar setting. We are not aboard The Green Horizon. We are aboard the cargo vessel Reliant. Panels explode, sparks fly, pipes burst and hiss. The Captain, David Kilgore (DK)...Pleads for help on the radio.

DK: [Desperate] Hello! Hello is there anybody out there? Mayday I repeat Mayday! This is Captain David Kilgore of the cargo ship Reliant...Please....Our life support is failing and the ship has gone into lockdown...All my crew are dead please-

Garbled static coming through the radio

DK: Hello? Hello is somebody hearing me?

Gino: [Static & Interference] Hello? Hello? Are you in need of assistance?

DK: Are you out there? Please, I need help.

G: Cargo Ship Reliant, this is Captain Gino Whelan of The Green Horizon...What seems to be the problem?

[INTRO]

Fade in to the same chaotic scenes

DK: Yes! Hello? Green Horizon? Please help...The situation is dire.

G: We were on our way to a food delivery when we heard your distress call, what's going on?

DK: I haven't a bloody clue. The ship was operating normally until a few minutes ago...Then suddenly the life support systems failed. The ship went into automatic lockdown...I still can't open the door to the cockpit.

G: Where are your crew?

DK: Dead. It's dinner time for us so...They were all in the mess hall...That's the first place Life Support failed.

The alarms and klaxons die down, as the ship systems return to normal

DK: Hang on...This...This makes no sense.

G: What's going on?

DK: Life support's returned to the Mess Hall. Too late for my crew but...Hang on.

DK : attempts to access ship engine & door control, but they are still locked [Sounds of button pressing, computer prompts etc & frustrated sighs from DK.

DK: Damn it, I'm still locked out of engine and door control...I don't understand what's happening!

Parker Brett (PB): H-Hello? Captain?

DK: Brett? Where the bloody hell are you?!

PB: I-I'm in the engine room captain...Cleaning the plasma manifolds.

G: Who's that?

DK: My Porter, Parker Brett.

PB: What's going on captain?

DK: What's happening is we're in an ocean of shit with no lifeboat. Where were you Brett? Why are you only answering now?

PB: I'm sorry captain I...I froze up.

DK: For fuck sake, pull yourself together!

PB: I'm...I'm sorry...I was frightened.

DK: Captain, how quick can you and your crew dock with us? I'll need to get my Porter and I off The Reliant for safety while I run a full diagnostic. You wouldn't happen to have some Thermite on board to blast through the cockpit hatch? [weak laugh]

G: [sighs] Captain...My First Officer has been reading a scan diagnostic of your ship we performed when we came within range...Sonya? Do you want to...?

S: Captain Kilgore...There's no easy way to say this. Your ship has been infected with a Janusian Computer Virus. If we dock with your ship...It'll infect our systems too.

G: And we'll have 2 lame ducks instead of 1. Damn it! Do you know what kind of Virus this is?

S: Yes...It's Malware designed to attack the Programmable Logic Controllers in your Hollistic System Manifold. One by one it'll cause your main systems to shut down unless you can stop it. I came accross it before while I served on The Goldfinch...We called it the Gremlin Virus.

DK: And can you cease this infernal Gremlin?

G: We're going to try. Sit tight, we'll be back in a few.

DK: Thank you captain.

PB: What's happening sir?

DK: A Virus. A damned nasty one at that. Question is, how did it infect our systems?

PB: Where are the rest of the crew, sir?

DK: Dead. It's just us left.

PB: Oh god.

DK: Now listen to me Brett...We've trained for this. I know you're just a porter, but even you have some training in this sort of thing.

PB: Yes sir...I have a partial completion certificate in Interstellar Emergency Procedures.

DK: Partial?! Why the bloody hell did I hire you?

PB: Because I asked for the least amount of money...sir.

G: Captain?

DK: Yes?

G: Captain, my crew have been advising me on the computer Virus. I'll pass you on to my Security Officer Peter first.

DK: Okay, thank you Captain.

G: And eh...Sorry in advance.

P: Hi There! Is uh...Is this thing on! [Laughs nervously]

DK: [Quietly to himself] We're fucked.

P: So uh...Gino's been telling me that you folks have been having trouble with a uh...Gremlin Virus?

DK: Yes, that's right.

P: Boy Mondays amiright?

G: [In the background] For fuck sake Peter!

DK: Get to it man.

P: Right...Well, I found something about this Virus in my Security manual which I totally read every night before I go to bed.

G: [Background] Peter, you use it to smash Walnuts.

P: Anyway, it says the Virus is a kind of artificial intelligence. Using probability factors to work out what system failure would cause the most damage. It attacked the life support in the mess hall because it figured that was where most of the crew was. It's going to attack life support again, but this time-

DK: This time it'll be me...Wonderful. Does it say anything about how to destroy the Virus?

Alarms and Klaxons

DK: Damn it! Out of time!

G: It's not attacking cockpit life support, captain!

DK: What is it attacking?

PB: Captain! Captain! The air's being sucked out of the room!

DK: Fuck...It's not after me, it's after Brett.

G: Captain, my First Officer may be able to help.

S: Hello? Captain Kilgore? This is First Officer Sonya Halley.We spoke a moment ago.

DK: No time for pleasantries Officer Halley.

S: Captain I've been analysing the schematics for your ship. The Reliant is fitted with a Symbiotic Emergency Back-Up System. Namely Life Support to Secondary Shielding. You need to cut power to life support so the computer draws the power from the back-up system, bypassing the Virus.

DK: I don't understand? The ship knows life support is failing, why hasn't it done this already?

S: Because the systems think that life support is being witheld on purpose. That's why the doors are locked and the engines shut down, it thinks you've gone into emergency Pathogen containment.

DK: Clever bloody virus.

S: You'll need to open the Atmospheric Actuator and cut the yellow wire.

PB: [Wheezing] Captain! Captain! I...It's getting harder to breathe.

DK: Slow, calm breaths Brett. It's going to be okay.

David opens a drawer and rifles through it.

DK: Damn it! Nothing sharp...Oh, hang on.

S: Did you find anything?

DK: A penknife...It'll have to do.

David walks over to the Atmospheric Actuator and opens the panel.

S: Make sure you're insulated, there's enough power going through that wire to stop your heart 10 times over.

DK: Rubber soled boots. Never leave home without them. Officer Halley was it? If you manage to get me out of this mess...I'd love to buy you a drink.

PB: Captain!

S: Maybe just focus on your suffocating Porter there Captain Kilgore.

DK: Right...Okay here I go-

S: Wait!

DK: Have you reconsidered that drink?

S: Red wire! Cut the red wire!

DK: Now you tell me!

David cuts the wire...The ship loses power, the secondary power boots up...restoring systems back to normal.

DK: [Sighs with relief] Are you sure I can't buy you that drink Officer Halley?

PB: Captain, are we okay?!

DK: Yes Brett...Thanks to our new friends.

G: Captain Kilgore we're not out of the woods yet.

S: Your ship is still in lockdown! The Virus hasn't stopped it's just moved!

DK: To where?!

PB: Captain...There's something I need to tell you-

DK: Not now Brett...Do you hear that?

G: Captain...Your Aft Thrusters are spooling up...Are you doing it?

DK: No captain...It appears our Gremlin is bringing us on a joy ride.

The Boosters fire and The Reliant takes off

PB: Where are we going captain?

DK: That's what I'm trying to figure out Brett!

JILLY (J): Captain Kilgore this is Navigational Officer Jilly Whelan.

DK: Another Whelan? How many of them are you?

J: Captain can you access your navigation controls?

DK: No Officer Whelan. I'm still locked out of the main systems.

G: Just so you know she's not technically an officer.

J: Shag off you! Okay...But you should still be able to observe the flight plan. Head over to Nav and open the travel log.

DK: Okay...Miss Whelan.

David heads over to nav control.

PB: Captain...I need to tell you-

DK: Can this wait Brett? We're flying blind here.

David opens the flight plan

DK: [shaken] Oh no.

PB: Captain!

J: What does it say?

DK: We're headed straight for an Asteroid...

PB: Captain it's my fault!

DK: What? What are you talking about Brett?

PB: The Virus! It's my fault...A man aboard The New Spokane...He gave me a disk...Told me that it would upgrade the ship's main systems...I thought you'd be happy with me so I...I uploaded it in engineering...Connors caught me...I...I told him I was trying to play a video game...Said he wouldn't tell if I scrubbed the plasma manifolds for him..I'm sorry.

DK: You stupid girl! What kind of buffoon...Just takes hardware from a stranger....And uploads it to their ships mainframe?! I'll have you flogged Brett! Flogged... Lashed... Beaten... Shot... Hung!

J: Hey! Calm the fuck down, stop giving out to her and focus or you're both going to die!

DK: [Deep sigh] I'll deal with this later...

Alarms and Klaxons begin

DK: It would appear I'm nearing the threshold for a good idea Miss Whelan. Have you any spare?

J: What's the exact location you're heading to Captain Kilgore?

DK: X: 3451

J: Can you access the data logs?

DK: I hardly see the point in making a journal entry.

J: No...If you can access the data logs...As Captain you can make alterations to them. You're not 'Technically' allowed but-

DK: I'll pay the fines with glee.

J: You should be able access them...Since the Data logs are part of the memory core and not one of the primary systems the Gremlin Virus is attacking.

[Computer beep]

DK: [Laughs] You're right! I have access!

J: The Nav system isn't trying to kill you...It's just going where it's told...You can't stop the ball...But you can move the goalposts!

G: Nice sports reference Jill.

J: Peter's been teaching me the rules of Thunderball.

P: Go Wildcats!

J: You need to delete the location in the ship's internal navigational data...Type in the co-ordinates and press Delete!

DK: X-3-4-5-1 Dash Y-6-7-4-5 and Delete!

Boosters stop

DK: [Panicking] Eh...Miss...Miss Whelan! I've stopped the Boosters but...We're still heading for the Asteroid!

! Put the co-ordinates in at X: 3457

Sounds of manic button pushing and keyboard clacking

S: You need to hurry!

DK: I'm going as fast as I can officer Halley!

At the same time

S: Impact in 5...4...3...2...1...

DK: Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Hang on...I got it!

Boosters fire, Alarms die down, computer beep

DK: We're...We're alive!

J: Jaysus you cut that fine anyway!

DK: Yes that was...Far too close for comfort. Thank you Miss Whelan...Could I perhaps offer you a drink instead?

P: Sorry buddy...She's mine!

J: Hey now I'm nobody's. Except Frank.

G: It's not what you think...Frank's a ferret.

DK: You're a strange group aren't you? Now, please tell me that's it. No more shenanigans at the hands of this Gremlin.

PB: Captain...

DK: [Angrily] What?!

B: Captain Kilgore this is Head of Engineering Bernard Dooley.

DK: More doom Mr. Dooley?

B: I'm reading massive power fluctuations in your engine core. I think the Virus is trying to enact a breach.

DK: Out with a bang, eh?

G: Captain Kilgore, I want you to link the comms of the engine room and cockpit together so we can talk to both of you...Is that okay?

DK: Of course...One moment.

Computer Beep

DK: That should do it.

G: Okay, Parker I'm going to pass on the communicator to our engineer Bernard...Is that okay?

PB: Y-Yes.

Bernard (B): [Radio] Hello?

Scene cut to The Reliant's engine room

PB: [nervously] H-Hi.

B: Hello Miss Brett. My name is Bernard Dooley. I'm going to do my best to help you stop the core breach. Now...I want to you to head over to the reactor.

PB: Okay.

Parker walks over to the Reactor, which is sealed behind a resilium lined panel.

Radiation Warning Siren cuts in

The Rooms Gieger Counter begins ticking loudly and Quickly

PB: What's that?!

B: That's the rooms built-in Gieger Counter....It's as bad as I thought. The Cherenkov Inhibitor's been disabled. That's normally not a problem if the Uranium Core's Resilium Sphere is in place-

J: Didn't you remove the inhibitor during our depression session Berny?

B: Yeah...And if it wasn't for the Resilium Sphere we'd all be space dust.

G: I didn't know that...Please don't drink near a nuclear reactor again please.

PB: What do I do?

B: You'll need to slide the Titanium panel and manually reattach the sphere.

The Gieger counter clicks become more rapid

PB: There's so many clicks.

B: Parker do you see any lead suits or gloves?

PB: [terrified] No.

DK: The core's going to breach!

B: Parker...You have to do it now or you both die!

PB: [Terrified] Okay!

Parker slides the panel open, revealing the core, the gieger clicking intensifies...She reaches for the Resilium sphere-

PB: [Straining sounds] Almost.....There....

Cut to:

The Cockpit of the Reliant

PB: [Screams] [Static] [Cut-Out]

DK: Brett! Brett...Are you okay? Parker...Please, answer me.

The Radioactive warning siren dies down

PB: Yes Captain...I'm alright.

DK: You did it! You stopped the meltdown!

B: Miss Brett, this is very important. When you reattached the sphere...Did you see anything?

PB: I feel...I feel quite sick...Yes...I...I saw a light.

B: Was it blue?

PB: Yes...Hot, blue and...Brilliant.

DK: [Devastated] Neutron Radiation.

PB: What does that mean?

DK: Parker...I'm so sorry.

B: I'm afraid Miss Brett...You've absorbed a significant amount of radiation.

PB: How significant?

B: [Sighs] Lethal.

PB: How long do I have?

B: It depends...Hours...Days...Weeks...It's hard to gague. But...Judging by the radiation levels we were reading...Not long.

PB: I...I don't feel well.

DK: Brett...Parker. I'm sorry for everything I said. It's not your fault...You were only doing what you thought was best for the ship...I shouldn't've scolded you like that.

PB: Captain if you don't mind...Please cut communication between Engineering and cockpit...I'd rather be left alone for my final moments.

DK: Of...Of course Parker...It's been an honour to have you under my Command.

PB: [Pained] Please Captain.

Computer beep

DK: [sighs] Fuck.

G: Captain Kilgore, I know you're going through a tough situation but-

DK: Tough?! [Exhausted, pained Laugh] Yes, that's one word for it.

G: The ship is still in lockdown. It's not over.

DK: No...It isn't...Is it?

B: Captain, going by the systems the Virus has targeted...The only thing left is main power. I'd wager that's the last place it's going.

DK: [Defeated] Makes sense...When all else fails...Go for the juggular.

G: We're not going anywhere Captain Kilgore...Keep your hopes up...You've gotten this far.

DK: Hope? Hope isn't what I deserve. [sighs]

David opens the drawer in his captains desk, and pours himself a drink

DK: Tell me...Gino. Do you believe in Karma?

G: Captain?

DK: I don't...But I do believe that Space...The Universe...Knows when we do something of substantial evil. It soaks in the act, allowing it to build as some kind of kinetic energy...Until it cannot hold the weight any longer and like a coiled spring...It snaps back.

G: Are you saying you deserve this?

DK: If I'm going to die...I want to at least admit myself to the Universe. I have no confessional box so...A ship full of Irish is an adequate alternative. I was a Dead President Captain Whelan. A particularly deadly one at that. I thought...I thought what I was doing was the right thing. But what's right about mutilating people based on their tenuous knowledge of a place...A Person...A time? It didn't matter their sex, their...Age. If they knew something...I did everything to ensure I could extract that knowledge. I was a Confessor...A professional interrogator...A torturer.

G: What made you stop? What made you quit?

DK: Fatigue Gino...I'd heard the pained screams of thousands of poor souls and yet...It seemed we were nowhere nearer to ridding ourselves of The Order. I realized that I was just going to keep torturing people to death until I too...Died. I asked myself....'Am I content with this as my existance?' I was not. So I left, ran in fact. Used what money I had saved to change my name, buy this ship and hire this crew. But I knew my past would catch up...I'd wager the man that gave Brett the Virus was himself a Dead President. Come to exact vengeance for my desertion.

G: You don't know that for sure.

DK: [sighs] You can never truly escape your past Gino...That I do know.

[Cut to:]

Int: Engine room of The Reliant

Parker Brett breathing heavily

RR: [Quietly] Hey...Hey Parker? Parker Brett?

PB: Hello? Who are you?

RR: My name is RedBekka Roy...I'm a Porter, well was a Porter. Like you.

PB: [Pained, sarcastic] It's rewarding work isn't it?

RR: Yeah...I'm an officer now...Well, in training...I'm still a kid.

PB: Well congrats...Future Officer Roy. I'm surprised your crew are allowing you to speak with me. Not least because I asked to be left alone to die in peace.

RR: They didn't. I'm using the radio in Engineering...They don't know. And as for dying alone...I don't think you mean that. Nobody wants to die alone.

PB: Yes but...What we want and what we get are entirely separate things. I am alone. The entire human race could be there with you speaking to me but...Still I'm alone. Succumbing to this Radiation.

RR: Does it hurt?

PB: [Strained] Quite a bit...I...I can't get up. [breathing heavy] I...I think it's starting. I...I didn't think I'd be this scared.

RR: I wish I could help. Is there anything I can do?

PB: My...My mother...When I was a child...She would...She would sing to me...When I was sick with Demetrian Flu she...Stayed by my bedside for 2 weeks. She sang to me the sweetest songs...Songs from the old world. My favourite was 'You Are My Sunshine'.

RR: Wait! I know that one!

PB: Would you...Would you mind singing it for me? I've not heard it sang in a long time.

RR: Yeah I've...I've never sang before but...I'll try. Wait...Where's your mom? Maybe we can contact her for you? She could sing it herself?

PB: I'm afraid not my little Officer-in-training. She's gone.

RR: I'm sorry. My mom's gone too. She sold me...Into the slave trade.

PB: That must be a painful thing to say out loud. I feel your hurt little one.

RR: What happened to your mom?

PB: She was murdered...By an evil man.

RR: I'm sorry.

[silence]

RR: Hello? Parker? Are you there?!

PB: [Weakly] Sing...Please....[Heavy Breathing, Death Rattle sounds]

RR: You are my sunshine,

My Only Sunshine,

You make me happy,

When skies are grey,

You'll never know dear,

How much I love you,

So please don't take my sunshine away.

RR: [In tears] H-Hello? Are you there?

[Cut to:]

G: Captain? Our Junior Officer has just informed us that...Parker's gone. She's died.

B: It was a quick end Captain. A small gratitude but-

DK: [sighs] I've failed her. I've failed all of them. She was so young...Just 19 when I hired her. She just showed up at BlackPort in Morosia. [laughs] Said she'd undercut anybody who'd applied for the Porter position. I hired her on the spot!

G: Sounds like you should've paid her more.

DK: Indeed...Now it's just me...And the sword of Damocles waiting to finish me off.

Suddenly the computer beeps, and the hatch door opens

DK: What?! My door's just opened and...I have engine control.

G: Captain, we're reading no signs of the Virus...It's just gone.

DK: Perhaps the core overload was the last move in it's twisted playbook.

Suddenly the monitor turns on. On it is a recording of Parker Brett.

PB: [Monitor] Hello Captain. Surprised to see me? If you're watching this...It means your precious crew...Including myself...Are dead. And you are all alone...A King among death. But...That's not new to you. You've always been around it...Toying with it...Meting it out. Oh that's right, I know about your sordid history...Or rather, we know. Libra has been watching you for a long time.

DK: [Shocked] Libra?!

PB: Pick up that jaw Captain...There's more to reveal. Do you remember a woman by the name of Zenia Rooster? Oh, how could you? After all...You'd killed so many by that point. Maybe you remember her daughter Violet? After all you did threaten to kill her in front of her mother if she didn't tell you some inane piece of information. I'm surprised you don't remember me captain. Although I was only 5 at the time.

DK: Oh my god.

PB: Mad what 15 years of seething vengeance does to an orphaned girl...And just in case you still don't remember...Let me jog your memory. After Zenia told you what you needed to know...You put a bullet in her head. You then gave me to a Slaver...Who sold me at Freemarket to none other than a Libra Operative...A Libra Operative that was...Believe it or not...Mounting a case for a sanctioned execution of you.

DK: This can't be.

PB: They must've seen something useful in me because I became...For want of a better word...An assassin. I trained...Driven by the prospect of getting to take you on as a contract. It's funny...When you worked for The Dead Presidents we couldn't get near to you...It was once you renounced your wicked ways you opened yourself up to us. Now, I'm sure it's at this point you're wondering 'Why didn't she just shoot me'...Well, I needed you to suffer first. Suffer like I did. I needed you to experience it all. Loss, terror, pain, hopelessness...Just like I did. Oh and Captain...Do you want to know something else?

Parker Brett appears in the threshold of the cockpit

PB: I'm alive.

DK: Fuck.

Parker shoots David. He slumps in his chair, dead.

G: Hello? Hello what's going on?

PB: Hello Green Horizon. I must thank you for being a willing assistant in my vision for vengeance. I dare say had you not showed up I would've had to intervene at every stage of the Virus.

S: You could control the Virus? How?

PB: Who do you think invented it? Libra are masters in the dark arts. However I do have to commend you all for your ingenuity.

RR: [Angry & Upset] You lied to me!

PB: [sighs regretfully] I'm sorry little Officer-to-be. I meant what I said...And I never lied about my mother. You sang beautifully.

S: You better not make any moves on us!

PB: Relax Green Horizon. I have no qualm with you.

B: What are you going to do?

PB: This is where my story ends Mr. Dooley. I didn't lie to you either. I saw the Blue Light. I had always intended to die here...The looming terminality of my radiation poisoning is a welcome incentive. I'd feared prior to this mission that I'd be tempted to live but...I no longer fear my end.

Parker Brett takes a switch out of her pocket

PB: I'd move back if I were you Green Horizon. There's a miniature neutron bomb in my luggage that I mean to detonate. Quite the firecracker.

RR: You don't have to do this.

PB: No my love. If I didn't...What else would I do?

Click

[cut to]

The cockpit of The Green Horizon

The Hull rumbles from the nuclear explosion

G: I don't believe it...After all that.

J: Imagine her whole life being about killing somebody and dying for it?

S: Some people just never let go of their past.

P: Wait...Was she the bad guy? I'm really confused.

B: RedBekka are you okay?

RR: Is everyone out here a fucking liar?

RedBekka walks away

B: Becks!

G: Let her go Bernard. I'd say she just wants to be alone. [sighs] Right, no point in hanging around any longer. Let's go before the energy discharge attracts unwanted attention.

J: Where to Gino?

G: Anywhere...Just not here.

Engine spools up

G: Hit it.

[Outro]

END

ED’S recorder clicks on.

ED: -clears throat- This is routine update log number six for Dr. Edison Tucker concerning my research into the town of Jerusalem, Oregon and the existence of the supernatural, paranormal, mythological, and etcetera, etcetera, blah blah blah. Anyway. Since arriving, I’ve definitely encountered some stuff that could be classified under “weird-ass”. The other day I found what looked like claw marks in the vegetable patch wiring, and nobody in town will talk to me about the picnic area near Lincoln’s Farm. Although that could be because everybody thinks I’m one of those monster hunting idiots. Which I’m not, okay! I am an experienced professional who takes my work extremely seriously, and I am going to prove this if it’s the last thing I ever-

LUCY’S voice comes screeching from the kitchen.

LUCY: Eugh! Dr. Tucker! What have I told you about keeping samples in the fridge?!

ED: Although to be honest, I think the biggest mystery on my hands is how I’m gonna survive living with Lucille Kensington, stuck-up extraordinaire. So if you guys don’t hear from me again? It wasn’t something in the woods that got me. (BEAT) Probably.

VO: Where the Stars Fell. Streaming now wherever podcasts are found.