Author's Note: This fanmade episode is set between the Series D episodes "Orbit" and "Warlord". It is also a sequel to my previous script "Friends". If you want to know how Orac was disabled, check out that story here.
1. SPACE
(The Scorpio is under attack by two large freighters.)
2. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The deck is in shambles, having endured several recent conflicts. The crew are at their stations, desperate. The ship is taking heavy damage, explosions are everywhere.)
TARRANT: Who the hell are they?!
AVON: It's academic! Divert all power to the drive, we can only try to outrun them!
SLAVE: I know it is not in my place to interject, master, but there is a cascade failure across all primary circuits. Emergency programmes have been initiated, but-
AVON: Sublight is all we've got.
SLAVE: Yes, master.
SOOLIN: Well, you'd better think of something! This rusty tinbox is about to blow apart!
(VILA is thrown off of his chair.)
VILA: To hell with it! I'm gonna find a spacesuit and a white flag!
AVON: Sit down, Vila! Dayna, you said the planetary system Hostis was nearby?
(VILA sits down.)
DAYNA: I did, but it's just a dead rock! There's no cover, no atmosphere-
AVON: In these circumstances, we can hardly afford to be picky. Tarrant, have you got the coordinates?
TARRANT: Yes, it's four million spacials out, but I don't see what-
AVON: Suggest a better alternative or shut up!
TARRANT: Setting course.
3. SPACE
(The Scorpio is still being fired upon by two large ships as it closes in on a star system.)
4. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The bombardment continues, lights blink off and on again.)
VILA: We'll never make it! Avon, for pity's sake!
TARRANT: I've got a scan of the planet. It's a blasted desert close enough to the sun to roast anyone unlucky enough to be on it.
AVON: It's not the planet that I have in mind. Look further away.
TARRANT: The moon? Well, how will that help us?!
AVON: Just go there. Slave, on my mark, be ready to divert all power into the emergency circuits. Repeat, all power.
SLAVE: Of course, master, and I'm sure your plan is wise, but I must bring it to your attention that such an act would burn out the remaining circuits and leave us with no power.
AVON: You're right, Slave. My plan is wise. Well, in context, at least.
TARRANT: Then you won't mind sharing it?
AVON: These people want us dead. They will not leave until they've had their kill. Therefore, we have to die.
VILA: Oh, this is it. He's cracked at last. Again.
AVON: It's a deception! Once our circuits have gone, they'll believe we're a flaming wreck.
DAYNA: We are a flaming wreck!
AVON: And I'm on it! That is their miscalculation. Slave... bring the crash systems online. The rest of you do as Vila said, find spacesuits!
(Apart from the piloting TARRANT, and AVON himself, everyone runs to the back of the flight deck.)
AVON: And a white flag, if we've got one.
5. SPACE
(The Scorpio, with flames spewing out from various places, is heading directly towards the small moon far away from the red world it orbits.)
6. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The crew tense up in preparation, all of them now in spacesuits. The pink moon rapidly expands on their viewscreen.)
AVON: Slave!
SLAVE: Rerouting all power to emergency circuits, master.
7. SPACE
(A massive explosion emanates from the back end of the Scorpio.)
8. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The crew feel the brunt of it, being thrown about. The moon still expands on the screen.)
9. HOSTIS MOON
(A completely desolate landscape, with a slight crimson tint. The Scorpio manages to make a somewhat respectable landing, though with a hard thud that causes a pile of dust to completely obscure it.)
10. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The entire deck is in darkness, save for the occasional shower of sparks. The crew switch on torches built into their spacesuit helmets.)
TARRANT: Well, I have to hand it to you, Avon. We're still in one piece. Just.
SOOLIN: Assuming they're not perfectionists.
AVON: I don't think we have anything more to fear. With our power gone, we'll have dropped off of their scanners. And freighters of that configuration are not designed to land.
VILA: Can we please talk about how we're going to get the air back into this room?
AVON: For once, an excellent suggestion. I'm proud of you.
VILA: Oh. Well, that makes it all worthwhile.
AVON: Unfortunately, wrongly applied.
(AVON removes his helmet, breathing deeply and grinning.)
AVON: The room never lost pressure.
(The crew all remove their helmets, relieved.)
11. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(Some time has passed. The lights are on again. In front of the flight deck, AVON is tinkering with ORAC. VILA and DAYNA are fixing up the consoles. TARRANT and SOOLIN are nowhere to be seen. The crew are still wearing spacesuits, the helmets strewn about the room. AVON appears to make no progress and throws his tool onto the chair beside him.)
AVON: Useless. Utterly useless.
(He puts ORAC onto the chair as well. VILA and DAYNA turn to look at him, dismayed.)
AVON: Ensor was very particular about his creation. Only the finest, most robust power cells in the galaxy would keep Orac functioning. Even at peak condition, the Scorpio's generators couldn't get its lights blinking. And we are on, well, the last ember of energy on this ship. It's a pity you had to waste them all.
VILA: It's a pity we had to waste them all chasing you.
AVON: We cannot call for help. Only Orac's communicator beam is undetectable to the Federation. And Orac is out for the count. We'll have to think outside the box.
DAYNA: Let's use the regular com-lines. With most of the circuitry burnt out and our generators melted, using the antenna dish is just about all we can do.
AVON: Just about?
VILA: Look, there's being careful and then there's being stupid! If we don't call for help, we'll be stuck here forever. It's as simple as that!
(AVON moves over to a console and activates an intercom.)
AVON: Tarrant, report!
12. SCORPIO ENGINE ROOM
(TARRANT and SOOLIN are both hunched over a blackened, exposed wall of cabling and pumps.)
TARRANT: The filtration system is a mess! I've tried sealing it up again, but I suspect the oxygen coming in...
13. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
TARRANT: (vo) is going to get very thin in the not distant enough future.
AVON: Can you give us a more precise estimate?
TARRANT: (vo) Eight hours. Maybe ten with some more work.
AVON: Ten hours... then stop wasting time.
(AVON switches off the intercom.)
AVON: Ten hours...
VILA: Can we call for help now? We're lucky if the nearest Federation ship gets here in 10 hours!
(AVON draws his gun and shoots the communications console.)
DAYNA: Avon!
AVON: No one is calling anyone! Dayna, get Soolin and go patch up the ship's hull to the best of your ability. When Tarrant's finished with the life support system, prepare Scorpio for liftoff!
DAYNA: (disbelieving) What?
AVON: One of the fuel tanks is still full. That means that basic thrusters are operable. We can get off the ground. A little honest work and the most primitive power converter you'll find in the bay will enable you to burn the rest of the fuel up and use the energy gained to get the navigation system online for a period of three minutes. Aim towards the nearest habitable world. It's the slimmest of chances, but with any luck, you won't have to take it.
VILA: Why? Have you got a plan?
AVON: Vila, I didn't bring the ship here just so it could writhe in its death throes. I happen to have some knowledge of the Hostis system. There is a remote Federation research base here some 15 miles from this location. Built for the study of solar activity.
DAYNA: Then we should all go there.
VILA: 15 miles in a spacesuit? You're joking!
AVON: I've no idea if the outpost is still in operation, let alone pressurized. It'd be prudent not to take any chances. That is why myself and Vila will go.
VILA: Me? Out there? 15 miles?
AVON: As you are not an engineer in any capacity, you are a waste of oxygen here. Instead, you'll be my muscle. Or an extra gun at any rate. You'd better get a drink before we go. And make it water.
14. HOSTIS MOON
(AVON and VILA, now helmeted again, are walking away from the Scorpio. VILA turns to look back.)
VILA: Bye-bye, Scorpio. That's the last we'll ever see of her.
(Realizing that AVON hasn't stopped, VILA hurries after him.)
VILA: This is it. This is absolutely it. If I ever get off this moon, I'm retiring for good!
AVON: And do what?
VILA: Steal some king's crown, sell it to his enemies, live off the fame and fortune. I've earned a happy ending!
AVON: Now that would be an accomplishment.
VILA: Why shouldn't I be happy?! Why should any reasonable person be wandering around the backside of a forsaken moon?! Forget being selfless - it's only brought us bad luck! Let's go back, call the Federation, sell that stupid box of laughs and then all go home! Or at least to a civilized prison cell with a pickable vibrolock...
(AVON doesn't reply.)
VILA: Oh, what'll it take?! You know... I used to think you'd make a pretty good thief back in the day. Hah!
AVON: So did I. But now that I think about it, how many crowns have you passed up?
(The two march on in awkward silence.)
15. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(TARRANT, DAYNA and SOOLIN have gathered together.)
TARRANT: You let him leave?!
DAYNA: My choices were limited.
TARRANT: Wonderful. I leave the flight deck for a fraction of a moment, and already he's absconded.
SOOLIN: Well, at least we have a spare cynic.
TARRANT: Very funny.
DAYNA: Did you make any progress on the filtration system?
TARRANT: I cobbled together what I could, under the circumstances. But it's not the system that's the real trouble, it's the lack of power feeding through. Without replacement circuits, we only have eight hours left before the air becomes so thin that it'll no longer be healthy. Which, if what you told me is correct, is a little more than it'll take for Avon and Vila to reach that base. If they don't find anything... well. In our current state, we can't afford to spend the energy to teleport them back if we want to leave.
(DAYNA and SOOLIN share shocked looks.)
TARRANT: Whatever happens, we'd better do as Avon instructed. I don't see any other way of getting off this damn rock.
15. HOSTIS MOON
(VILA and AVON breathe heavily.)
VILA: I'm tired. And I've got sweat in my eyes. Are we getting close?
AVON: Yes.
VILA: Are you saying that just to keep me walking?
AVON: Yes.
VILA: Yes... well, thank you.
AVON: It would be better if you focused on the pain, not the hope.
VILA: Oh, why didn't you just say so? My muscles are a bit sore. And I've got a blister on my toe. I really hadn't noticed. In fact, I'd been doing my best not to notice.
AVON: Vila, the outpost is still far from us. And it will hurt to get there. Embrace that. Once you realise exactly how much you will suffer and why, your mind will not be weighed down by the inevitable recurring disappointment when the outpost doesn't magically appear over the next hill.
16. HOSTIS MOON/SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(Montage of AVON and VILA walking across the dunes of Hostis's moon, intercut with TARRANT, SOOLIN and DAYNA tirelessly working in the engine room to modify the ship.)
17. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(The lights are dimmer than before. TARRANT, DAYNA and SOOLIN are all slumped on the floor near the teleport bay, exhausted. A rustling sound and an alien cry startles DAYNA. She draws her gun, but can see nothing.)
TARRANT: What's the matter?
DAYNA: I heard something. Some terrible noise.
TARRANT: There's nothing out there.
DAYNA: I didn't imagine it.
TARRANT: Oh, I think that's exactly what you did. Lack of air's getting to you.
SOOLIN: He has a point. It's getting stifling in here. Shouldn't we put the helmets on?
TARRANT: Look. (he points to a dial on the wall, where a needle is slowly edging towards the red) Once we're in the danger level... then. We should try and reserve the air canisters for as long as possible. At least give them a chance.
DAYNA: Alright. (she subtly puts her hand on the pistol attached to her leg)
18. HOSTIS STATION OFFICE
(A minimalistic room containing nothing more than a table with a large chair on one side and two smaller ones opposite, as well as a huge window on the left side of the room, overlooking the empty landscape of Hostis. SERVALAN, dressed in a stunning white gown, stands in front of the window, peering outside. A TROOPER in a Federation-issued spacesuit is standing behind her. SERVALAN notices AVON and VILA approaching in the distance.)
SERVALAN: Avon. Avon is the key. Remember that, and this will work. He isn't like the others. You cannot treat him as a freedom fighter, or any other kind of renegade, stuffed though he may be into that role. He is a machine, and like all machines, you must reason him to betrayal. Go.
(The TROOPER bows and leaves the room.)
19. HOSTIS MOON
(AVON and VILA halt, seeing the outpost on the horizon. It is a set of three large domes set triangularly, with a tower in the middle. Several specks of light blink regularly on the domes, indicating life. VILA sits down.)
VILA: Oh, I've never been so happy to see the Federation.
AVON: We're in their sensor radius now. Whoever's in there - and clearly someone is - will now be aware that we are here.
VILA: Well, what are they gonna do? Bunch of old scientists.
AVON: Never underestimate a scientist, Vila. They know more ways to kill you than a torturer.
VILA: Even geographers?
AVON: Especially geographers. They know where to drop you, drown you, lose you. Who's ever found a man killed by a geographer? Come on, we're almost there. You can rest inside.
20. HOSTIS STATION ENTRANCE
(AVON and VILA reach a sealed doorway with a keypad attached to it. VILA presses a button, eliciting a short chime. The two spend several seconds, waiting.)
AVON: A little short to the draw, I'd say.
VILA: Maybe they're having a bath.
AVON: Open it.
VILA: With what, my inch-thick gloves? Or maybe the toolbox I left on Xenon?
AVON: Or maybe the gun tied to your side. Now move it.
VILA: You've got a gun, why don't you shoot?
AVON: Ammunition is precious, I intend to save mine for a living target.
(VILA aims at the doorpanel.)
VILA: And what if I need to kill someone?
AVON: I'll have spared them the ultimate humiliation.
(The door opens with a hiss of air.)
VILA: Wait! It's opening up!
(AVON draws his gun. The two walk inside.)
21. HOSTIS STATION AIRLOCK
(They are greeted by the TROOPER, who raises his right hand, revealing a glistening yellow gem on it. Two quick, efficient blasts from it destroy our heroes' handguns. The TROOPER pulls a lever, closing the door behind AVON and VILA and restoring the atmosphere to the room. He then removes his helmet to reveal the familiar visage of SPACE COMMANDER TRAVIS. The years have been hard on him - he appears unkempt, haggard and his eyepatch has fallen off. We see a disturbing mechanical eye built into his socket.)
TRAVIS: Remove them. I said, remove them!
(AVON and VILA take their helmets off, slowly setting them on the floor.)
AVON: Travis.
TRAVIS: And the bracelets! Do you take me for a fool?
(AVON and VILA place the bracelets down next to the helmets. Another series of quick bursts destroys all four pieces of equipment.)
AVON: It's a bit of a comedown for the Federation's most ruthless officer. Squatting on a lonely moon, forgotten by all. Even Servalan.
TRAVIS: You've really got no idea what's happening, do you? Servalan is here. She's watching you from the camera right now. (he nods to a fish-eye lens at the ceiling. AVON glances up at it and smirks.)
AVON: She chose to trust you again? That's so disappointingly idiotic it hadn't even occurred to me. Shame on you, Servalan.
VILA: Don't antagonize them. I'd like to walk out of here alive.
TRAVIS: And so you will. After a little chat with me. You've been a busy boy, Vila. I'm sure you'd like to tell me all about it.
VILA: Me? Busy? No, not really, now that you mention it. I mean, I was drunk most of the time and when I wasn't, I was lazy! I really don't even remember a thing from after the last time you saw me, it was just like yesterday for me-
TRAVIS: Be quiet or I'll blow your malformed brain out here and now.
(VILA promptly shuts up. TRAVIS motions for him and AVON to head deeper into the station through another door.)
22. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(A futuristic lab in a state of disarray. There's an enormous telescope in the middle of the room, with a finderscope attached. The walls are lined with dusty, dead consoles and empty chairs. TRAVIS leads AVON and VILA into the room and forces them to sit down in two of them.)
AVON: You and I already know what you're after, so I'll save you the trouble of interrogation. Blake is dead.
TRAVIS: Trust me. Even if you told me his location here and now, it wouldn't save you the trouble of interrogation. It'll be a personal pleasure, given what you did to me. And besides, I don't care where Blake is.
VILA: There's a first.
TRAVIS: Blake is predictable! As soon as he hears you two are in trouble, he'll come here, riding on a plasma bolt if need be!
AVON: Blake is dead. He won't come. And even if it was otherwise, you have no way of letting him know we are in trouble.
TRAVIS: Ah, but of course I do. It's in your ship. Orac. You will give me Orac. Orac will give me Blake.
(AVON laughs.)
TRAVIS: Something amuses you?
AVON: I fear I've always had a warped sense of humor. Your naivete happened to send it off.
SERVALAN: (vo) Stop wasting time, Travis. Secure them and begin. It's been long overdue.
TRAVIS: Right!
(TRAVIS pulls AVON up. Trying to push TRAVIS off-balance, AVON latches onto him. The two struggle.)
AVON: Vila! Disarm him!
(VILA grabs TRAVIS's weaponized hand and starts pulling at it. TRAVIS karate-chops at VILA's neck instead, knocking him out.)
AVON: How the hell are you still alive?!
(TRAVIS headbutts AVON.)
TRAVIS: Unlike you, I have something to fight for.
23. HOSTIS MOON
(The Scorpio is still resting on the surface. AVON and VILA's footprints are visible.)
24. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(DAYNA wakes up from sleep, dazed. SOOLIN is lying on the floor next to her, unconscious. Looking up, she sees an unrecognisable, charred figure standing in front of SLAVE, facing away from them.)
DAYNA: ... Tarrant? Is that you?
(The CREATURE doesn't answer, or move. Disturbed, DAYNA slowly edges closer to him, reaching out her arm towards his shoulder. He turns around slowly. Horrified by what she sees, DAYNA shrieks loudly.)
25. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(SOOLIN is alone on the flight deck. She recovers consciousness and starts coughing, only to realise to her horror that her helmet is missing, along with the other ones. The needle on the oxygen dial is in red.)
SOOLIN: Dayna?! Tarrant?! What's happening? Where are you?! Why is everyone gone?
(Behind SOOLIN, SLAVE comes online.)
SLAVE: They've abandoned you.
SOOLIN: Slave! Who reactivated you?
SLAVE: No one reactivated me, madam. The ship is quite powerless, I fear. Quite airless as well, unless you act quickly.
SOOLIN: I can't. I'm exhausted.
SLAVE: I shouldn't say it, but I have no doubt your friends are experiencing similar symptoms of oxygen deprivation. Paranoia, physical deterioration. They will be driven to survive. That is surely why they have stolen your air supply and crippled your suit. Oh, I must advise you to locate them and destroy them, before it's too late for us.
SOOLIN: Destroy them...? No. They're my... my...
SLAVE: Time is running out. The further you delay, the more addled our brain will become. Cognitive functions will fail and this ship... will be our tomb.
26. HOSTIS STATION TORTURE CHAMBER
(A small room lit sickly green. AVON - his spacesuit removed - is strapped to a table, his head underneath a pain-inducing device that emanates a deep purple light. TRAVIS - now dressed in a black variation of ROJ BLAKE's typical garb, long sleeves and all - stands nearby, enjoying his handiwork.)
TRAVIS: You're something of a scientist, aren't you? Tell me, Avon... are you familiar with this device?
AVON: Tolven's adaptation programmer. The metamorphic field it generates is the only effective protection against the extreme conditions found within a star. It's an expensive toy, Travis.
TRAVIS: Go on.
AVON: It's hazardous to the human brain, which is why it's exclusively equipped on unmanned probes. Is that what you want me to say?
TRAVIS: Depending on the power level, it can reduce a genius to an infant. Neuron by neuron. Stay under this long enough, and you'll become just like your friend Vila.
AVON: I assume you use it daily.
TRAVIS: You pride yourself on your intellect. It's the only thing that's kept you alive, driven you, protected you, defined you! (TRAVIS picks up a small device with a microphone attached) Record your voice. Ask your crew for help. Just a little humility, and you keep your head. Ask them. Ask them for Orac. Ask them for Blake. Aren't you curious where he is?
AVON: Travis...
TRAVIS: What?
AVON: I think it's working. I'm starting to feel... that ignorance is bliss.
(TRAVIS increases the machine's output, hurting AVON more. The door behind them opens and SERVALAN walks in to see AVON writhing on the table. She looks disgusted.)
SERVALAN: You haven't learned anything at all, have you? Switch it off.
TRAVIS: No.
SERVALAN: Switch it off now or I wipe my hands of you for good.
(TRAVIS shows inner turmoil, but ultimately deactivates the machine, leaving AVON gasping for air in sudden relief. SERVALAN motions for TRAVIS to follow her outside.)
27. HOSTIS STATION LIVING QUARTERS
(A disused bedroom with several bunk beds. VILA is sitting on one of them, using a small needle to unlock his handcuffs. Like AVON, he's no longer wearing a spacesuit.)
VILA: There we go. Beautiful work, if I do say so myself. I am saying so myself.
(He tosses the handcuffs away and starts to work on the doorpanel.)
VILA: Ahh, now here's a good conversationalist for me. What have you got in mind, sir? Positronic lock, with a key interface? You really wanted to keep these poor fellows safe, didn't you? I can appreciate that, if it makes you happy. I know, I know, they probably ended up dead anyway, but then one can't really anticipate someone like Travis, can you? There's always room for error. Like that Z-1 circuit over here.
(The door glides open.)
VILA: (nods to the panel) Chin up. It's the thought that counts. (He leaves the room.)
28. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(VILA wanders around, clearly lost. He arrives at a crossroads and ponders which path to take. To decide, VILA picks out a coin from an inner pocket and flips it. He's interrupted by distant, indistinct yelling. The forgotten coin clunks to the floor, scaring him. He picks it up and starts following the noise until finding the right door, pressing his ear against it.)
TRAVIS: (vo) I need those reinforcements!
29. HOSTIS STATION OFFICE
SERVALAN: You need? You... need?! Your needs are meaningless.
TRAVIS: With all due respect, you came here because you knew I could deliver you Blake. That the Federation needs a monumental victory to reunify itself!
SERVALAN: That Space Commander Travis needs his life back?
TRAVIS: I have always been at your beck and call. Blake is within our grasp, all we have to do is reach out! But to do that, I need security! The men I hired to push Avon into this sector are not going to risk themselves more than they already have!
SERVALAN: Too much time has already been expended on this... passion project. You couldn't get the job done when you had the Federation's full resources at your disposal. I am not inclined to waste any more! Especially on a man who's clearly as blunt and overconfident as ever. I warned you that Avon would not respond to direct probing of any kind.
30. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(With a confused and shocked expression on his face, VILA slinks away.)
31. HOSTIS STATION OFFICE
TRAVIS: He will respond. I will make him.
SERVALAN: Do not be childish, Travis. That is the prerogative of those with power, such as myself. Your prerogative is to show humility to the successful.
TRAVIS: Meaning?
SERVALAN: (smiling) Kneel down, Travis.
TRAVIS: Why?
(SERVALAN doesn't answer. After a few moments, TRAVIS begrudgingly gets on his knees. SERVALAN glides around him, petting his face.)
SERVALAN: I was watching you with Avon. You wanted him to grovel. Were you envious?
TRAVIS: Of what?
SERVALAN: Of everything. Avon defeated you once.
TRAVIS: I am a commanding officer. Defeat is unacceptable. Humiliating. It has nothing to do with envy, though I doubt you could understand that.
SERVALAN: You're not difficult to understand, Travis. Rather transparent, actually.
TRAVIS: Is that why you depend on me?
SERVALAN: I don't depend on anyone, much less a depraved, hungry creature such as yourself.
TRAVIS: Yes... I am hungry. I followed every order, obeyed every instruction they ever gave me. Since it all began. Since the induction classes at the Academy. I was stronger than the rest, more loyal, more capable. I gave my instructors everything. The Administration made me, trusted me and I... how could I give them anything but total success? I'd die for my creators. It's what I'm for.
SERVALAN: But you didn't die.
TRAVIS: Blake is still alive! My orders were clear - kill Blake! So I held on. I crawled out of the pit. They can have faith in me, forever. You will tell them that when you get back. You will tell them that it doesn't matter how many setbacks there are. My face, my arm, my trial... irrelevant. NOTHING will destroy my resolve! I'm not like the others, you see. They know. No one serves them like I serve them!
32. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(VILA sneaks back into the lab and approaches the console with a microphone. He fiddles with the controls, but gets no response until hitting the machine with his fist, at which point it beeps into life.)
VILA: (Holding the microphone up to his mouth.) Scorpio, Scorpio, come in. It's Vila. Scorpio, do you read me? Look, this is no time to play hide and seek, we're in real trouble here! Tarrant, you idiot, pick up! Tarrant! Wait... no, hang on a moment, it's me who's the idiot. Avon shot the communications system. Well, that makes him the idiot. I'll have to remember that. Now... what was the frequency code on those bracelets...?
(VILA taps in a sequence and holds the microphone up to his mouth again.)
VILA: Tarrant! You'd better have your bracelet on or I'll sue you for negligence!
TARRANT: (vo, in hushed tones) Go away.
VILA: Go away? What do you mean, go away? We're in real trouble here!
TARRANT: (vo) I know. Run and hide, Vila, before they come. They're already coming for me.
VILA: Who's coming? Tarrant? Tarrant?! Who's coming?! What the hell is going on?
(Frustrated by the lack of a response, VILA moves away from the communications console and stands in the middle of the lab, afraid.)
33. HOSTIS MOON
(The Scorpio continues to be perched on the plains of Hostis Moon.)
34. SCORPIO CARGO HOLD
(The bay is filled with crates of various sizes, creating corridors. Chains hang from the unseen ceiling. The whole place bathed in an otherworldly red light and mist. SOOLIN wanders between the giant boxes, armed only with a wrench. She is obviously terrified.)
SOOLIN: Tarrant? Dayna?
(Hearing a clattering noise, she swings around, but there's nothing behind her.)
SOOLIN: Please come out. Please. I won't hurt you. Let's just talk!
(Behind SOOLIN, an unconscious body drops in, bruised up and hung upside down by her ankles with one of the chains. SOOLIN shrieks in surprise and swats at her before realising it's DAYNA. She drops the wrench.)
SOOLIN: I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'll get you out!
(SOOLIN climbs on some nearby boxes to try and reach DAYNA's ankles, but to her dismay, she's lifted up and away into the darkness above. Suddenly, the sound of maniacal laughter from various unseen sources fills the room. Frightened, she gets off the boxes only to realise the floor has become liquid. Many muddy hands emerge from the muck to pull her under, even covering her face. She thrashes and screams to no avail.)
35. SCORPIO CARGO HOLD
(Suddenly, we cut to the pristine and well lit bay, where SOOLIN flails like a possessed animal on the perfectly ordinary floor. DAYNA is nowhere to be seen. TARRANT crouches on the crate above, observing SOOLIN's terror. He is dazed and dressed in the outfit of a Federation trooper.)
CAPTAIN: (vo) Section Leader Tarrant!
(SOOLIN's screams go suddenly silent. TARRANT scrambles to his feet and stands up, stiff as a board. He struggles to keep his eyes open as the brilliant lighting in the cargo bay shines on his face. Next to him is an old, sinewy Federation Space CAPTAIN.)
CAPTAIN: Slacking off again.
TARRANT: No, sir!
CAPTAIN: Now questioning my faculties! You think I'm blind and deaf, boy? (The CAPTAIN circles TARRANT.) A real captain sees and hears everything, through his intuition and... (The CAPTAIN kicks TARRANT in the shin, causing him to collapse to his knees, cringing in pain.) ... reasoning! Things that I find disgracefully lacking in you, Tarrant!
TARRANT: Is it my sense of humor?
CAPTAIN: Anyone can laugh at his own misfortune. To do something about it is what separates a trooper from an officer. (He pulls TARRANT up, roughly.) Recite the duties of a Section Leader. Do it now, or I swear I'll throw you down there with the rest of them.
TARRANT: Maintain the law in the section assigned, by any means available. Provide reliable support to the authority of the Administration. Never surrender your post.
CAPTAIN: Recite! Again!
TARRANT: Main... maintain the law in the section assigned. Provide reliable support and never, never surrender your post!
CAPTAIN: Who made you, boy?
TARRANT: The Administration.
CAPTAIN: Who trusts you?
TARRANT: The Administration.
CAPTAIN: What will you give them?
(TARRANT watches SOOLIN lying on the floor below the crate and brandishes his handgun.)
36. HOSTIS STATION TORTURE CHAMBER
(Same as before, the room is tinted green. AVON is still lying on the table, eyes closed. The door opens, revealing VILA, who sneaks in and closes it behind him.)
VILA: Avon!
(VILA snaps his fingers over AVON's face.)
VILA: Avon! Wake up! ... Look! They're selling computer programs and black leather at a discount! No?
(VILA looks around desperately and notices the adaptation programmer hanging over AVON's head. Shrugging, he switches it on for a moment, immediately making AVON hiss in pain.)
VILA: Still with us?
AVON: I never thought I'd miss Orac's alarm clock. Where's Travis?
VILA: Upstairs. Talking to Servalan, I think. (He begins to unstrap AVON's bindings.) I got in touch with Tarrant, but he was talking nonsense. More so than usual.
AVON: The fool must have neglected to put his helmet on in time. And if he did, the others did. Most of what they're breathing by now is carbon dioxide.
(Grunting in pain, AVON stands up, leaning on VILA.)
VILA: What do we do now?
AVON: Hope that Travis has a ship hidden away somewhere. One of us will have to question him.
VILA: I'll be doing the other thing.
AVON: Climb the solar energy collector, retrieve the power storage units, collect all the backup circuitry to fix Scorpio.
VILA: ... But nothing will be trying to kill me, right?
AVON: At the current rate of surprises, I would expect wolves and plague.
(AVON takes his weight off VILA and limps towards the door. VILA follows him.)
37. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(AVON and VILA emerge and head off in different directions. AVON reluctantly stops and turns back.)
AVON: Vila.
(VILA halts as well.)
AVON: Travis must have a spacesuit of his own around here somewhere. Should he get the better of me, it'll be your way out.
VILA: Back to a ship full of corpses? All on my own?
AVON: You're already on your own. (AVON leaves. VILA, unencouraged, heads to his own destination.)
38. HOSTIS STATION OFFICE
(TRAVIS and SERVALAN observe VILA's movements on a small monitor screen built into the table.)
SERVALAN: If Vila sabotages the tower, there'll be no repairing it. We should let him do it.
TRAVIS: What good will that accomplish?
SERVALAN: (looks at TRAVIS as if he was an idiot) The station is disposable! They can rot in it and we can take Orac by force. Its imitation of Avon will be more than good enough to fool Blake.
TRAVIS: And what if it isn't? Blake spent years with the computer, what if he recognises a tell? What if there's a fail-safe? No. It has to be Avon's true voice beckoning on Avon's true instructions. You seem to understand him better than I do. Do you think you could persuade him? Make him see the reason of it?
SERVALAN: Can I make Avon do something he doesn't want to? (She smiles enigmatically) Just catch him, Travis. In the meantime, I think I'll pay a visit to our other friend.
(TRAVIS nods and they leave the room together.)
39. SCORPIO CORRIDORS
(SERVALAN passes by an exhausted, dazed DAYNA, who is hiding behind a bulkhead, gripping a handgun. DAYNA follows her, aiming the weapon at her head. As if sensing her presence, SERVALAN stops.)
SERVALAN: Dayna... I don't think you'll want to do that. My death would have consequences.
DAYNA: Your death will make them worth it.
(SERVALAN turns around. Before she can open her mouth, DAYNA fires the handgun. SERVALAN wails with an alien, inhuman voice and crumples to the floor as a steaming, burnt, unrecognisable corpse dressed in rags. Sneering victoriously, DAYNA slowly creeps closer to the dead CREATURE, still aiming at her. Without making noise, an equally tired TARRANT appears behind her, dressed in his normal spacesuit sans helmet. He jabs the barrel of his own handgun into DAYNA's neck. The latter freezes.)
TARRANT: Don't move, soldier.
DAYNA: Tarrant-
TARRANT: Section Leader Tarrant! I'm an officer. You will respond to me as such. If it were normal circumstances, I'd have you shot for mutiny, but these are not normal circumstances.
DAYNA: I'll say.
TARRANT: We have to get the ship under control. There's aliens onboard. Aliens, soldier! If the Administration hears of this, we'll all be raked across the coals. We must restore order.
DAYNA: Understood... sir.
(TARRANT nods and lowers his gun. As soon as he does, DAYNA whips around and knocks the weapon from his hand with all the energy left in her before hitting him on the head with the butt of her own. TARRANT slumps to his knees, but is still conscious. DAYNA stumbles away, barely on her feet.)
TARRANT: We'll all die together unless... unless you cooperate! Dayna!
(DAYNA's already gone. TARRANT reaches for his handgun and pulls himself up, very slowly going after her.)
TARRANT: There's nowhere to run to. I'm the commanding officer.
40. HOSTIS MOON
(The three domes and tower, same as before. The camera zooms in on the tower.)
41. HOSTIS STATION POWER CENTER
(A large room with many wires running from the walls to a machine in the middle. On top of the machine is a giant orb with many blue crystals attached to it. There's also a window with a good view of the lunar landscape. The door opens, allowing VILA(who is stuffing his picklocking tools away) into the room before closing again. His attention quickly fixates on the blue gems. VILA tries to remove one of them, but is zapped, yelping out in pain.)
VILA: How do I...?
(He takes out a tool from his pocket and starts scanning the orb until he hears a clattering noise outside, frightening him. Forgetting the orb, he slowly sneaks to the door and peeks outside.)
VILA: Avon? Is that you? ... Travis? Servalan? Look, if you want me to surrender, I'll do it. There's no need for scare tactics! I'm scared.
(Silence.)
VILA: (relaxing) I must be losing my nerves. Who wouldn't? Avon. But he probably traded them all in for circuits anyway. Ohh, I should've stayed on Cygnus Alpha. At least they made wine there. Still better than skulking about here with trigger-happy maniacs.
(Another clunking sound. VILA angrily grips one of his sharper instruments.)
VILA: Alright, now that's enough! I know you're there! You know I'm here! So whatever we're about to do, let's do it! Don't you know it's bad manners to keep someone waiting?
(The door opens, revealing a horrifiying burnt CREATURE, with heavy rags covering its body.)
VILA: (drops the instrument and backs away) I take it back, I'm actually rather known for my patience, I can wait for ages. I used to wait tables and if that doesn't teach you waiting, I don't wait what will!
CREATURE: (speaking in a distorted voice): Thief. Thief!
(The CREATURE inches closer, pointing a crisped finger at VILA accusatorily. VILA shakes his head and draws back towards the machine, too petrified to speak.)
CREATURE: You stole life from us. We must now ask for life. Life!
(At the last second before the CREATURE's fingers reach him, VILA ducks out of the way and pushes the zombified being against the orb of crystals, electrifying it to death and making the lights flicker.)
42. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(AVON pauses, noticing the flickering.)
43. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(Likewise, TRAVIS stares up at the blinking ceiling lights. He snarls, quickening his pace.)
44. HOSTIS STATION POWER CENTER
(The CREATURE is enveloped in smoke and falls into a heap, his corpse dislodging a few of the blue gems, causing them to fall to the floor. VILA pokes one of the gems with his fingers and is cheerful to realise that they're no longer charged. He stuffs them into his pockets.)
45. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(Same as before. AVON sneaks into the room. After making sure that he is alone, he removes the finderscope for use as a club. AVON sits down at a computer terminal and activates it. The monitor displays an alternate laboratory. AVON starts flicking through multiple camera feeds, all showing different and fantastical labs. He pauses and raises an eyebrow, noticing the CREATURES rummaging through several of them. In one of the feeds, AVON sees TRAVIS hunting for him. As if realising something, AVON glances at the camera staring right down at him from the ceiling.)
AVON: You always enjoyed tying up loose ends, didn't you?
(AVON switches off the monitor and turns to leave, but then turns back to the console previously used by VILA, and presses several buttons on it.)
AVON: Tarrant?
TARRANT: (vo) Yes?
AVON: What's the condition onboard Scorpio?
TARRANT: (vo) Dire.
AVON: You have very little air left. What's happened to your oxygen suits?
TARRANT: (vo) The helmets have been taken by an alien invader force.
AVON: But you still have the oxygen tanks?
TARRANT: (vo) Crew will not cooperate. They won't accept my command.
AVON: Tarrant! Focus. Do you have oxygen tanks?
46. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(TARRANT and DAYNA are sitting in opposite chairs, their arms-bearing arms resting against the console between them, pointing the handguns at each other.)
TARRANT: I suppose we do. If only we could agree not to kill each other.
AVON: (vo) What's the problem? You're usually so charismatic.
DAYNA: He thinks he's a Federation trooper.
TARRANT: Officer. And you're out of order.
DAYNA: I shot Servalan. He stopped me from making sure she was dead.
47. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(AVON rolls his eyes.)
AVON: And what about Soolin? Ballet enthusiast now?
48. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
TARRANT: I left her in the bay.
AVON: (vo) Well then, you'd better go get her, Tarrant. Or else your 'command' won't be worth a credit.
49. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
AVON: That goes for you too, Dayna. I'll be glad to give you all space to kill each other when I have my ship back. Until then, take your oxygen tanks, find medical breathers and hook them up. When your heads have cleared, do the same for Soolin.
50. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(TARRANT and DAYNA stare each other down, neither willing to make the first move.)
51. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
AVON: Now.
52. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(TARRANT finally drops his handgun. DAYNA follows his lead. Both sigh in relief.)
53. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
TARRANT: (vo) We'll do as you have instruct- (line is suddenly cut off)
AVON: Tarrant? Tarrant!
(Not hearing an answer, AVON grabs his finderscope and runs off.)
54. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(TARRANT and DAYNA are surrounded by five CREATURES. Before one of them can touch TARRANT, both him and DAYNA grab their handguns simultaneously and shoot all of them dead.)
TARRANT: We had better get on with it. I feel as if I'm about to fall asleep.
DAYNA: Yeah.
(The two stand up, shambling away from the flight deck in much the same way as the CREATURES.)
55. SCORPIO CORRIDORS
(An intersection leads to left or right. DAYNA heads left.)
TARRANT: Dayna. The cargo bay's this way.
DAYNA: Oh, now you remember things.
56. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(AVON stands behind a door, listening to the sound of approaching footsteps. The door opens and TRAVIS walks past him.)
AVON: Travis.
(TRAVIS whirls around, pointing his mechanical arm towards AVON. The latter strikes it with the finderscope, shattering the yellow crystal. The resulting energy discharge throws both men against opposite walls. A Liberator-era teleport bracelet rolls out from under TRAVIS's sleeve without him noticing. Both men lay absolutely still.)
AVON: What was that?
TRAVIS: A small modification I made to the firearm. Every blast comes with a microscopic paralysis injector. The idea being to make sure my opponent goes down regardless of whether I got a kill shot.
AVON: How long will it last?
TRAVIS: That would be telling. You'll just have to wait and see.
(AVON's eyes focus on the Liberator bracelet.)
(Some time passes.)
(Several of the CREATURES limp through the corridors, completely ignoring AVON and TRAVIS.)
AVON: I assume you have no idea what these things are.
TRAVIS: I assume you do.
AVON: They're crawling all over the station, in a rather aggressive fashion. Logically, since I didn't call them and neither did you, and since they never appeared here before now, they must've been summoned by Servalan.
TRAVIS: You're a fool. If Servalan wanted us all dead, she'd have never bothered coming here herself. She wants Blake. And she knows that only you can give him to her. It doesn't matter what these things are. As soon as I can move, we'll get back on track.
57. SCORPIO CARGO HOLD
(Now breathing deeply from masks with plastic tubes leading into the oxygen tanks on their backs, TARRANT and DAYNA enter the Scorpio cargo hold, hiding behind a crate from the numerous CREATURES running around, destroying everything. They don't notice SOOLIN behind them, her skin deathly pale. She is wielding two handguns and sticks them into TARRANT and DAYNA's backs.)
DAYNA: Not again.
CREATURE/SOOLIN: Drop your weapons.
(TARRANT and DAYNA comply and are led deeper into the hold. The CREATURES, noticing their presence, form a circle around them. TARRANT and DAYNA turn around to face SOOLIN.)
TARRANT: Who are you? What do you want from us?
CREATURE/SOOLIN: We are Nekrovian. We want what's ours by right... two bodies were stolen. One by you, Dayna. One by an associate, Vila.
DAYNA: I thought I killed Servalan... I was hallucinating, I wasn't myself!
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: Interesting, but meaningless. You are still in debt.
TARRANT: Soolin isn't. Let her go.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: Two bodies stolen, one body gained. One more body must be taken before the debt is paid.
DAYNA: Perhaps bodies wouldn't have been stolen if you hadn't boarded our ship.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: Your vessel stands on our trading grounds. We came to trade, we were met with thieves. When we sent a party to the base, we were met by another thief. Now we no longer tolerate your presence here. The Federation will be removed. The vessel will be removed. The work has already begun.
(TARRANT and DAYNA exchange glum looks.)
DAYNA: If you do that, we'll all die! Then you'll be in debt to us!
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: We have seen the memories of Soolin. Your kind will not retaliate against the taking of any human bodies on this world. We'll consider it payment... with interest.
(With one swift motion, TARRANT smacks the handguns out of SOOLIN's hands and then shoves her away. DAYNA latches onto TARRANT, who lifts her up to the hanging chains. She climbs up and watches in horror as the NEKROVIANS overwhelm TARRANT.)
DAYNA: Tarrant! No!
(As she sees SOOLIN reaching for a handgun, DAYNA starts swinging back and forth until she's able to get on a large crate away from the NEKROVIANS. She jumps down and escapes through a door.)
58. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(DAYNA runs in and locks the doors around her before arming herself with another handgun from the gun locker. She gulps air from the mask and is in a state of panic.)
59. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(Empty. There's a ventilation shaft grille on the ceiling. It is removed and VILA falls out onto his backside, painfully. He is weighed down by cables and heavy pockets. Once up, he wanders around until he stumbles across AVON and TRAVIS, who are in the same position as before.)
TRAVIS: Vila! (fingers twitching) Good timing. I'm just about to teach Avon the price of resistance.
AVON: (staring into TRAVIS's eyes) The frequency code is the same.
(TRAVIS and VILA seem confused.)
VILA: Eh?
AVON: Go, Vila!
(AVON kicks the Liberator bracelet with his foot and tackles TRAVIS as the latter tries to grab it. The bracelet slides over to VILA and he picks it up, running away. AVON and TRAVIS have a brutal struggle, but ultimately TRAVIS's military training wins out and he knocks the breath out of AVON, who falls to his knees. TRAVIS grabs AVON by his hair.)
TRAVIS: Servalan has been waiting for you.
AVON: Why didn't you just say so?
60. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(VILA runs in and conceals himself behind the telescope from several NEKROVIANS, who are tearing the rest of the lab apart. He puts the bracelet across his hand and fiddles with it a little.)
VILA: Code, code... ah!
(Having finished modifying it, VILA holds the bracelet up to his face.)
VILA: (hissing) Vila to Tarrant! Vila to Dayna! Come in! Anyone!
DAYNA: (vo) Vila! Listen to me, quickly!
(One of the NEKROVIANS looms over VILA.)
DAYNA: (vo) The-
VILA: Never mind about that! Just teleport! Teleport now!
(VILA is teleported away just as the NEKROVIAN lunges in to grab him.)
61. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(VILA is beamed onto the teleport pad, and he immediately starts choking from the difference in atmosphere. DAYNA runs over and lets him breathe from her mask, and the two waddle over to the medical locker, where DAYNA gets another mask and tube that VILA hooks up to the oxygen tank on her back before putting them on.)
VILA: Thanks. I don't suppose you've got another tank around here somewhere. No, nevermind, listen! Avon's in trouble. He needs serious backup. You go in with the heavy artillery, and I'll try hooking this lot (holds up the cables) up to the ship.
DAYNA: We're in trouble, Vila! I've been trying to tell you, there's a bunch of undead freaks right outside the doors, and they've got Tarrant and Soolin!
VILA: (drops cables in shock) They're here too?
DAYNA: Yes, Vila, they're here too, and in control of every other part of the ship. We can't make repairs and I won't just let the others die!
VILA: Well, what do they want?!
DAYNA: Our bodies. For possession.
VILA: Is that all? I thought it might be something important, like bootstraps. I mean, why does it always have to be personal?
DAYNA: You and I both killed one of them.
VILA: It was a burnt-up corpse creeping towards me with its arms outstretched! Not my fault if they've got the sense of a walnut, is it?
DAYNA: Chivalrous as ever. I'll go help Avon. You have to keep those things from breaking in. (she gives him her handgun) Or better yet, convince them to change their minds.
VILA: Are they good conversationalists?
DAYNA: As good as you.
62. SCORPIO CARGO HOLD
(The NEKROVIANS have formed a circle around TARRANT, who is lying unconscious. SOOLIN is the only other person in the circle, her hands on TARRANT's stomach. TARRANT's eyes open. He is now possessed and pale.)
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: These are not good memories.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: No. But they will feed us through the immortal nights.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: If we'll have them for long. (rises to a sitting position) Avon's conflict with the Federation is drawing to a close. When it does, he will turn his attention towards us and he will defeat us. Make no mistake. He thrives on conflict. (suddenly hissing with pain)
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: What is the matter?
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: (smiles faintly) No matter. Just a strong will. The man screams in my thoughts. Let him.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: We've disassembled Travis's ship.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Scorpio must follow soon! (strokes SOOLIN's face) Avon... he's a bright mind. Brighter than any who've come here before. But he cannot be allowed back onboard.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: I shall rally all forces. We'll cut them out of the flight deck. I want you to take care of the engines. Do you know where the laser torch is?
(NEKROVIAN/TARRANT points to a box, grinning.)
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: It's almost a pity, in a way. Tarrant put so much effort into keeping them in top shape.
63. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(DAYNA teleports in. She has a utility belt strapped around her waist, with all kinds of grenades, bracelets as well as two handguns. She uses one of the bombs to dispose of the NEKROVIANS in the room, leaving a smoky mess behind. DAYNA nods victoriously, only to find more NEKROVIANS emerging from every doorway. Nervously, she brandishes her handguns.)
64. HOSTIS STATION OFFICE
(AVON is lying against the door, just starting to wake up.)
TRAVIS: He's coming around.
SERVALAN: (sitting comfortably in her chair) And about time too. Why don't you bring him here, Travis? Or do you expect me to bellow at him, like you do?
(Irritated, TRAVIS pulls AVON to his feet and throws him into one of the smaller chairs.)
TRAVIS: Greet your Supreme Commander, Avon.
(AVON balks as the large chair contains nothing more than a skeleton in a white scientist's smock. He watches in disbelief as TRAVIS crosses his arms next to it, a victorious sneer on his bearded face.)
AVON: You actually are insane. Completely delusional. You think this is Servalan?
(TRAVIS looks and sees SERVALAN grinning her iconic smile.)
TRAVIS: What are you babbling about? Can't you accept that I've finally got you? That I've finally got Blake?
AVON: Blake is dead.
TRAVIS: Enough! I'm sick of your fooling around! I'm sick of running after you all! But you cannot beat me. You will never beat me. (he stares into the distance) I'm the shadow on your back, Blake... it was ordered. And I... I've done it, I've done it!
(SERVALAN laughs out loud. TRAVIS glares at her.)
TRAVIS: Make him talk. Do it now.
SERVALAN: No.
TRAVIS: Do it!
SERVALAN: He's right, Travis. I'm not real.
TRAVIS: What? Of course you're real. You came to me. You sought me out, it was your plan! To use me to get to Blake!
(AVON surreptitiously sneaks out of his chair and out the door.)
SERVALAN: It was your plan. The product of your demented mind trying desperately to give itself some purpose to carry on. Even now, as the last broken remnant of your Federation conditioning, I am the only part of you that's still sane.
TRAVIS: You tricked me.
SERVALAN: Of course I did. I am Servalan.
(TRAVIS instinctually aims his hand towards her, only to realise the crystal was destroyed. In fury, he tries to attack SERVALAN physically, but cannot bring himself to strike her.)
SERVALAN: Oh no, Travis. You can't hurt me.
(He relents and lets a smug SERVALAN stroke his head.)
TRAVIS: Blake is dead. I can go back... I can go home.
65. HOSTIS MOON
(The Scorpio, now with some growths on it. A cut closer shows us that it's the NEKROVIANS, crawling around on the ship's hull.)
66. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(Terrible metal scraping noises come from all the doors. VILA huddles under a console, gripping a handgun and taking the occasional deep breath from the tank that he now carries on his own back.)
VILA: Come on, Dayna. What's taking so long?
(VILA peeks out, but instantly hides again when the noise gets louder.)
VILA: Much more of this and there won't be a ship to come back to! What am I supposed to do, hold off a horde of the undead all by myself?
(Starting to panic, VILA jumps out again, trying to hold his attention on all the doors at once. He focuses on the inactive ORAC still sitting on the chair that AVON left him on. Having an idea, VILA pulls a few of the blue gems out of his pocket.)
VILA: Best not. Avon would have my head if something worse happened to you.
(Another loud noise, this time from the ceiling.)
VILA: But on second thought...!
(VILA sits down and pulls some wires out of ORAC, finding a few small plastic receptables. The gems fit in them like it was meant to be and ORAC buzzes to life.)
VILA: Orac! You're back!
ORAC: Where exactly do you suppose I went? However, the jubilation is not undeserved. According to my chronometer, I have missed four days of total function, unable to record any phenomena or data in the interim. An abhorrent loss of scientific analysis. For that you are to blame.
VILA: (resisting himself from damaging the computer) It's not good manners to throw around blame, now, is it? We've got a much bigger problem out there.
ORAC: The amount of definitions to 'your problem' is near infinite. Kindly narrow it down to a specific dilemma before I-
VILA: Yes, yes, all right! We're about to be invaded by an army of psychotic cadavers, how about that? Give me your best strategic options!
ORAC: Aim for the heads. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm overburdened with work.
VILA: No-no-no-no, what do you mean, aim for the heads? You expect me to take them on by myself? I need a permanent solution here! Orac! Orac!
(VILA removes the key, glaring at the computer.)
VILA: I'll throw you at their heads.
67. HOSTIS STATION CORRIDORS
(AVON is running through the corridors. An explosion from an intersection ahead cuts him off and he falls to the ground, hiding his head under his hands. Some dust sprinkles down from the ceiling. After a few seconds, he gets up again and dusts himself off. DAYNA limps out of the intersection very slowly. Her clothes are in tatters, she is scratched all over and covered in soot. A single handgun drops from her hand, clattering to the floor.)
DAYNA: (weakly) There you are.
(DAYNA collapses into AVON's arms. He grabs one of the bracelets from her belt and hooks it around his own arm.)
AVON: (into the bracelet) Teleport!
(More NEKROVIANS approach from the intersection, but AVON and DAYNA are teleported away.)
68. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(AVON and DAYNA materialise onboard. AVON immediately collapses onto the floor with her, choking. VILA rushes over and gives him the other mask previously used by DAYNA.)
AVON: Help me get her to the cryogenic unit.
(The two drag the unconscious DAYNA into the cold, blue chamber on the far side of the flight deck and seal it. The NEKROVIANS continue attacking the walls around the flight deck, catching AVON's attention.)
VILA: Thank heavens you're here. Orac's giving me lip like you wouldn't believe!
AVON: Orac? You touched him?
VILA: Well-
AVON: And he works? Soon I'll be the one needing wine. Tarrant and Soolin?
VILA: Probably digging their own cozy graves.
AVON: (nods and switches on the intercom) This is Avon, commander of the freighter Scorpio. You are holding two members of my crew captive. I demand their immediate return and your withdrawal from this ship. Failure to comply means death.
VILA: How do you-? (AVON hushes him)
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: (vo) You are trespassing and your crew are thieves.
AVON: Soolin?
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: (vo) We are Nekrovian, the eternal life of Hostis. We did not want to take bodies that did not belong to us, but you robbed us of ours and we need them badly. Without them, we live in psychic oblivion as little more than ghosts.
AVON: I'm not interested in your sob story. Whatever hold you have over my friends, you will let it go.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: (vo) You are in no position to make demands.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: (vo) (interrupting SOOLIN) We do not want war. We have never wanted that. But we will defend our rights. Use some of that famous logic of yours, Avon.
AVON: My logic tells me that you and I are enemies regardless of what either one of us wants.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: (vo) It should also tell you that you're outmatched. I've disabled the ship's engines, which means you can't take off and eject us, like you're no doubt planning.
AVON: The thought had crossed my mind. But I would remind you that your noisy attempts to break into the flight deck are equally useless. I've enhanced the shielding with contraband herculaneum metal.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: (vo) A temporary advantage. We can simply wait you out. You will need to sleep eventually. When you do, you will join us. Your materials will be very useful in regenerating something of our society. Your hands will build us a new home.
(AVON switches the intercom off in disgust.)
VILA: I always knew physical labor would be the end of me.
AVON: Give me the key.
VILA: There's no point asking Orac, I already did! He just told me to shoot them in the head. Fancies himself a bandit, probably.
AVON: Shoot them in the head? Yes, that makes sense.
VILA: Of course it does.
AVON: The brain is the centre of nervous activity. Whether by design or nature, the Nekrovians must be tapping into it. That's why they didn't attack me or Travis when he paralyzed us. The majority of our nervous system wasn't carrying the signals and the Nekrovians were blind to us.
VILA: I electrocuted one of them. That seemed to put an end to him.
AVON: To the body, Vila. Only to the body. And probably not even that. It's possible that a powerful electrical shock could jolt the brain out of the Nekrovian influence. For all the decedents, it would finally mean sweet release. But for Tarrant and for Soolin... key.
(VILA hands him the activator key and AVON switches ORAC on.)
AVON: Orac...
69. SCORPIO CARGO HOLD
(The bay is now exposed to the moon. Wind-whipped, TARRANT and SOOLIN observe the pink dunes, lit by the Red Giant of Hostis. Around them, the NEKROVIANS continue to work, tearing everything down. TARRANT and SOOLIN hold hands. They leave the place, covered in frost.)
70. SCORPIO CORRIDORS
(TARRANT and SOOLIN make their way through the ship together, passing by numerous NEKROVIANS, who are pulling off bulkheads and wiring, and making a general mess of things. They eventually reach a door that the NEKROVIANS are attacking. Upon their arrival, the NEKROVIANS back off.)
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Perhaps we should've released them.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: No.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: They only have one short life, my love.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: It's a miserable, pointless, forgotten existence.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: But it's theirs. We've-
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: We need them for far longer than they need themselves. And for a purpose more noble than they would ever pursue.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Is it that noble?
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: What pains you? Is your host still wayward?
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: It's nothing to do with him.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: Then speak your truth now.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: (hesitantly) Look at us. Look how little we have.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: We have each other.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Yes, yes. We have each other. And I would never wish for it to be otherwise, yet... sometimes I think... sometimes I feel that that's the problem. Our towers have fallen, our streets are dust, our real visage long gone. In a short while, whatever we gain from these humans will also be gone. What noble purpose could there possibly be in holding onto a past that we can never truly go back to?
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: (smiling) When did you become so material?
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Well, I think it happened when I started living in other people's bodies. It doesn't exactly scream civilisation to me.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: We live by our standards, love, not theirs. Let there be another million years. Let us all become the wind again until new ones come. We will offer our wisdom and receive their dying, and we shall be physical... for a while. Let it happen again and again and again. Forever. We deserve it. You know we do. Imagine what it'd be like to be... them. To be made and destroyed within a century. Nothing would ever get done.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: True. But still... there's something romantic about ending. Of giving it your best and then bowing out. You want me to imagine what it'd be like to be them? I imagine spending every minute of my short life ticking towards the end, working to define myself in the universe and leaving behind what I've built for a successor. I never wanted to see it all crumble. Or become so intimately familiar with boredom, patience, silence.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: And what of all the joys and discoveries? What of me? A million years of love, trust and companionship has to count for something.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Yes. I endured it for you.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: As I did for you. There's the fallacy of your argument. An end to you also means an end to us.
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: There will never be an end to us.
NEKROVIAN/SOOLIN: So forget all your silly thoughts. Be with me. Let them die. Let us build. What should we build?
NEKROVIAN/TARRANT: Let's start with a garden. It always starts with a garden.
(They kiss. Suddenly, electrical surges blast from everywhere. TARRANT, SOOLIN and the rest of the NEKROVIANS scream in pain. The desiccated NEKROVIAN bodies crumple and collapse. TARRANT and SOOLIN, still gripping each other's hands, merely fall unconscious.)
71. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(Same as before.)
ORAC: It worked as you said, Avon. The stardrive was powered at minimum capacity, ionising the ship and conducting currents of electricity between all remaining live circuitry and through the metal. The majority of Nekrovian invaders have now been repelled.
AVON: (picks up the cables VILA dropped earlier) Good. Now let's get busy before more of them show up. (tosses the cables back to VILA) Attach these between all vital functions of the ship. Take Orac with you, he'll show you how. I'll get Tarrant and Soolin into the cryochamber and patch up the engines. We'll also have to do something about the life support.
ORAC: If it is desperately needed, I can fill in for the missing components at a distance to keep the filtration system running.
VILA: Now you tell us!
ORAC: Is that a yes?
AVON & VILA: Yes! (they look at each other in mild confusion. A current of wind blasts through the flight deck. In deep relief, AVON and VILA remove the masks. AVON opens the doors and starts walking out.)
VILA: Hang on, what if more of them do get in?
AVON: Shoot them in the head! There must be some primal viciousness behind that... faineant exterior. (laughs)
72. SPACE
(Transition to the dented, misshapen Scorpio blasting off. Only one engine light is on.)
73. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(AVON and VILA are in their usual seats. ORAC has been planted to the pilot's seat. There's sparks shooting out from various parts of the deck and some consoles are even on fire. All doors are closed. The deck is shaking violently.)
VILA: This is suicide, Avon, it's not going to hold! We should've gone for Travis's ship!
AVON: It'll hold!
VILA: I think we just lost the cargo bay. The whole back end's tearing off!
AVON: Along with all the remaining Nekrovians! All right, we've made it off. Orac, power down the engines and start preparing to fire the stardrive. Orac!
ORAC: I am perfectly aware of what needs to be done. Redundant orders are unwarranted. However, I should point out that due to previously acquired damage, it will take 22 minutes for us to build up the necessary energy burst for as little as Time Distort 5.
AVON: Noted.
(The deck stops shaking and the fires die out. AVON and VILA stand up for a breather.)
VILA: Free at last. I thought I'd never see the day. Or night. Hey, do you think the others will be alright?
AVON: Dayna's injuries are superficial. All she needs is an equipped medbay. Tarrant and Soolin will most likely require some psychotherapy, but they're resilient. They will recover. We have to concentrate on our next destination.
VILA: Next destination? You mean we're not going back to base?!
AVON: That's exactly what I mean.
VILA: You can't be serious! After all we've been through? The ship's ready to blow at any minute! Orac, tell him!
ORAC: The condition of Scorpio is critical. It requires a major overhaul of all primary systems, and some secondary ones.
AVON: Vila, how long would you estimate the repair time with our current resources on Xenon?
VILA: I don't know. Years!
AVON: Which is exactly why we're not going back. I don't intend to wait around for months and months, praying that the ship will ever get off the ground again. We need better resources. We need allies. Orac, set in a course for the Betafarl sector.
ORAC: It has been computed and laid in... under protest. I have made a priority list of all required repairs. First amongst them is the Slave computer.
VILA: Betafarl? Isn't that the old warmongering President what's-his-name's place?
AVON: Zukan.
VILA: Why would he possibly want to help us?
AVON: At the moment, I've no idea. But ingratiating ourselves by falling deep into his debt is a good start.
VILA: (befuddled) If you say so.
AVON: There's just one last thing to take care of. Vila, give me weapons status.
VILA: (checking his monitor) Err... neutron blasters aren't reading. We've got three torpedoes in the banks.
AVON: One is all we need.
74. HOSTIS MOON
(There's little holes all over two of the domes, making it resemble some bizarre Swiss cheese. The third dome is entirely missing now.)
75. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(There's very little laboratory equipment left. Gaps in the walls lead to darkness, and have pointy cable ends sticking out of them. As the NEKROVIANS continue their destruction, TRAVIS wanders into the room in an infantile state. His presence disturbs the NEKROVIANS, and they all turn towards him.)
TRAVIS: Who are you? What do you want of me?
(They slowly start edging towards him. TRAVIS waves his hands defensively.)
TRAVIS: Stop that. Don't look at me like that. What's the matter with you? I fulfilled my orders. I was good! Please! Please stop!
(He backs into a corner.)
76. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(VILA is sitting behind his console. AVON stares out of the viewscreen towards the moon.)
VILA: I've got the tower in my sights. Torpedo locked in. Ready at your command.
(AVON immediately moves back to VILA and puts his own finger on the firing button. He presses down. A bolt of light shoots out on the viewscreen and flies down towards the Hostis moon.)
77. HOSTIS MOON
(The torpedo hits the solar energy collector, obliterating it.)
78. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(The massive quake knocks TRAVIS to his knees and the NEKROVIANS to the floor.)
79. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
VILA: Is that all you wanted?
AVON: That's all.
VILA: But the domes are still there! He could've gotten out.
AVON: Perhaps.
VILA: Why didn't you just kill him off and be done with it?
AVON: Kill Travis? He doesn't matter enough to kill.
80. HOSTIS STATION LABORATORY
(The NEKROVIANS stand up, looming over a terrified TRAVIS. Very slowly, the lights start to die out. He curls up into a fetal position.)
TRAVIS: No, no, please! Help me, Blake... help me.
(The room becomes completely dark.)
81. SPACE
(The Scorpio travels away.)
82. SCORPIO FLIGHT DECK
(AVON smiles to himself, much to VILA's discomfort.)
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