Emerald Flight: "Rules of Engagement" (continued)

81. INT. ALIEN VESSEL – CORRIDOR - COMMAND CENTER

The immediate area is lit with portable floodlights. It remains dark in the corridor beyond the limits of the lights.

There are several crewmembers clad in EVA suits. Those closest to the hatch are working with various pieces of equipment. Two of them are recognizable as Rusty and Elizabeth. They seems to be mostly supervising the work.

Hope stands nearby. She silently studies various sections of the nearby bulkheads.

ARUNA

I think we almost have it, Chief.

RUSTY

Let me take a quick look.

Rusty moves over and checks the displays on one of the devices. Elizabeth stands next to him and checks the display as well.

Rusty turns to his head toward Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nods slowly.

RUSTY

Okay. Go ahead and give it a try.

Aruna adjusts a setting on a device she had pressed against the bulkhead. The indicator lights on it glow brightly.

A very faint, pale glow forms around the hatchway. After a moment, it fades.

Everyone present holds very still, waiting.

There is a sound of someone taking a deep breath of relief.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Well, the good news is that I don’t think we managed to trigger any of the Fossil’s fabled security systems.

Rusty walks over and examines the bulkhead and then readings on Aruna’s device.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

The bad news, of course, is that we’re still on this side of the hatch.

Rusty visually examines the hatchway and then runs a gloved hand thoughtfully along its edge.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Tsu-tao, how long would it take to bring another generator from the ship?

TSU-TAO

About an hour, sir.

RUSTY
(continuing to study the hatchway)

Hmm. (beat) Aruna, override the overload limit and let’s give it another try.

ARUNA

Are you sure, sir?

RUSTY
(grins)

No. (beat) But even if we don’t burn it out, we’ll still need to get another one anyway.

ARUNA
(tentatively)

Yes, sir.

Aruna works the controls on the generator’s control panel.

ARUNA (CONT’D)
(nervously)

Ready, sir.

RUSTY

Would you feel better if someone else took the controls?

ARUNA
(softly)

Yes, sir.

Rusty gives Aruna an understanding smile.

RUSTY

Lizzie, you still remember how to run a variable generator? You know, being a Lieutenant Commander and all now . . .

Elizabeth gives Rusty a good-natured glare. She waits a moment while Aruna moves aside and takes her place at the generator controls.

Rusty gives her an amused smile before turning back to face the hatch.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Let’s try again. Set it at two percent above the last setting.

Elizabeth adjusts the controls and activates the device. Its indicators brighten again.

After a moment, the glow returns around the edge of hatchway.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Five percent.

The glow around the hatchway brightens slightly.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Is it just me, or does that seem a little brighter than last time?

There is a brief silence before anyone answers.

TSU-TAO

It does seem a little brighter, sir.

RUSTY

You’d better not just be saying that to humor me, Tsu.

TSU-TAO

No, sir.

ARUNA

There is a measurable increase in the background energy readings, sir. It’s very small, but it is measurable.

RUSTY
(smiles)

Let’s go to eight percent, Lizzie.

Elizabeth adjusts the controls.

The glow around the hatchway brightens slightly more.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Take it to ten.

The glow around the hatchway brightens some more.

On the bulkhead to the left of the hatchway, an embedded panel begins to glow faintly.

Rusty looks at it. He is about to speak when Hope moves toward it like a moth drawn to a flame.

Hope stops before the panel and stares at it. After a moment, she turns her head toward Elizabeth.

HOPE

Increase.

Elizabeth looks at Rusty.

RUSTY

You heard the Doc. Bring it up to fifteen.

The glow around the hatchway brightens. The bulkhead panel is brighter now as well, revealing detail.

Hope continues to stare at the panel without moving.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

Twenty.

There is a very faint, but definitely audible hum of energy present now.

Hope stares at the bulkhead panel. She slowly raises her hand and slowly taps a series of control points. Several places on the panel change color.

There is the sound of creaking and groaning metal.

In front of the group, the hatch very slowly begins to open.

A moment later, arcs of energy spark around the edges of the hatchway. The entire area goes completely dark.

After a moment, a single helmet light comes on. The others follow soon afterward.

RUSTY (CONT’D)

That’s progress, I guess.

ELIZABETH

We’re still here.

ARUNA
(mutters)

Speak for yourself.

Rusty moves forward.

His helmet spotlight reveals a gap just wide enough for them to squeeze through singly.

His light dances around the interior of the chamber beyond, but reveals nothing recognizable.

RUSTY

Bridge, we’re going inside.

HAWKES’ COMM VOICE

I recommend extreme caution.

RUSTY
(mutters)

Yes, Dad . . .

Rusty steps through the opening, followed by Elizabeth.

CUT TO:

82. INT. ALIEN VESSEL – COMMAND CENTER

The helmet spotlights are seen in the dark as the crewmember enter through the hatchway gap.

They gather together until all of them are inside.

RUSTY

Well . . . we’re inside.

DEVEREUX’S COMM VOICE

What do you see?

The helmet spotlights sweep the interior of the chamber.

RUSTY

A whole lot of nothing.

TSU-TAO

It’s big.

RUSTY
(with a faint chuckle)

And it’s big.

CUT TO:

83. INT. BRIDGE

Devereux watches the scenes from the helmet cameras on the main bridge displays.

The images continually break up and are frequently indistinct.

DEVEREUX
(to Hawkes)

Can you clean that up, Lieutenant?

HAWKES

Trying, Captain.

Devereux watches as the quality of the images grow worse.

DEVEREUX

Chief. We’re getting a lot of interference on the video signal.

RUSTY’S COMM VOICE
(mixed with static)

Audio too. (beat) Checking.

There are several seconds of silence with the occasional hiss of static from the open communications lines.

RUSTY’S COMM VOICE (CONT’D)

. . . shielding.

Devereux looks toward Hawkes.

After a moment, he gestures that there is nothing else he can do to improve the signal.

Devereux stares intently at the increasingly garbled video images.

HAWKES

Shall I order them to return?

Devereux studies the images again.

DEVEREUX

No. (beat) But have one of the other survey teams move to their location. Just in case.

HAWKES

Yes, Captain.