Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
BETWEEN WORLD AND SPACE
EPISODE 1 - TRAGEDY
BY: LYSSA THORNE
SUPER: Reincarnation can be great. You can start anew. All the memories wiped clean. Until you wake up and all the forgotten memories slam you. In the beginning, I went by the name Sannaro. That was only half of the problem.
ISBN: 978-1-55404-413-9
Published: Jan 2007
By: Lyssa Thorne
Double Dragon Publishing, Inc
ACT 1
INT BRISTOL MINING CAMP – DAY
Giovano studied his metallic yellow colored hand somberly as he ate breakfast alone, then immediately went to work. When he arrived, foreman Aldinon met him.
ALDINON
It happened again, Gio! Come.
Giovano followed Aldinon to a bare clearing yards from the seranium processing plant on the hill just above the town.
Aldinon pointed to depressions in the ground.
Giovano bent down to study them.
GIOVANO
Independents!
ALDINON
They did it clever using pads like our own. They stole more seranium last night. It's no good going to the Interstellar Police, either. I've complained twice about these thefts and we still don't get help.
GIOVANO
We're processing a load for that Independent ship Kumani. Tell the captain to tell his bunch to stop or we'll start fighting back!
ALDINON
I know what you mean, Gio. The company's already griping about the money loss.
GIOVANO
So tell him!
ALDINON
They'll be arriving midday tomorrow. In the meantime, you've got to control that panic you have, when you go into the mine. I can't keep making excuses for you working in the office. You start controlling it or I'll have to fire you, Gio. And I like you too much.
GIOVANO
But the company doesn't give transportation off-world! I can't afford the fees. Damira would be devastated.
Giovano shuddered in panic. He bolted down the hill away from the seranium processing plant that had started processing the days' load.
Giovano burst into the office, dropped into the chair and held his pounding head.
Aldinon entered the office a little winded.
ALDINON
Your usual headache?
GIOVANO
Yes.
ALDINON
I'll get you Catowsh.
Giovano only nodded.
Aldinon came back with two blue pills and a glass of water.
Giovano promptly downed them.
ALDINON
What causes it, Gio?
GIOVANO
I don't know. It's even happening at home now, I just get so angry. I've even begun to lash out at my family, I shut Damira out of my mind and I hit my kids without reason. Just a few days ago my son Sannaro came to the table to see what I was snacking on. I got mad and I smacked him!
ALDINON
Well, he doesn't have to eat every time you eat.
GIOVANO
He doesn't, yet- I don’t know what’s happening to me. Can we call the Saili Embassy on Arcturus and ask for a doctor to come out here to see me?
ALDINON
Ah, Gio, I'm sure it's not that extreme! Besides, the company may not like the added expense.
GIOVANO
At any rate, I want one.
ALDINON
You sure?
GIOVANO
I'm sure.
ALDINON
All right, I'll call Arcturus.
GIOVANO
Thanks, Aldy.
As Giovano turned back to his work, the ground shook.
ALDINON
Not another!
Aldinon rushed out of the office.
Giovano gripped the desk with dread. Rock dust erupted into the air. Giovano hit the floor unconscious.
INT GIOVANO'S HOUSE BRISTOL CAMP – DAY
Sannaro sat on the bottom step outside his house with his head bowed.
His leg tickled with a soft furry touch.
Sannaro petted the black furry head of the stray cat.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Hi, Nightwalker.
NIGHTWALKER (PSI V.O.)
Yellow metal boy with dark black long hair sad?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Yeah, I’m sad. Mom’s going to be mad at me. I lost my ball she bought me yesterday.
Sannaro felt tears swell in his eyes. He swiped them off his face.
NIGHTWALKER (PSI V.O.)
Pink boy with brown hair is mean again?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Yeah, it was Jake Arlington again.
NIGHTWALKER (PSI V.O.)
Talk to yellow woman with silver hair?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I can’t go to mom. She’s getting tired of hearing me always complaining about what Jake did. She’s mad that Devakio broke the second stair. She doesn’t know how she’s going to buy a replacement slat of wood.
Sannaro pulled a splinter from the hole in the stair above where he sat.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
And she’s really worried about Dad. She says dad didn’t use to be so angry. I thought he was always that way.
NIGHTWALKER (PSI V.O.)
Yellow metal boy with black long hair can hiss and slap pink boy with brown hair.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I wish! But no matter what I do, I just can’t keep Jake from teasing me, Nightwalker! Maybe he’s right, I’m just a weak looser.
Sannaro jerked his head up when he heard heavy footfalls on the loose gravel.
Giovano approached the house from his walk home from work.
GIOVANO (PSI V.O.)
Sannaro, what have I told you about that cat? We can’t feel ourselves, much less a stupid animal!
Giovano kicked his foot out.
Nightwalker twisted his supple body to avoid the foot before he bounded through the hole in the porch skirting.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He doesn’t want food. He’s just my friend. He finds enough food on his own.
GIOVANO (PSI V.O.)
That’s what keeps knocking the trash can down. Next time I see it, I’ll wring its little neck!
Giovano stomped up the stairs and slammed the screen door after him.
DAMIRA (PSi V.O.)
Giovano, you’re home.
GIOVANO (PSI V.O.)
Paycheck's been suspended again. Mine 7 collapsed and the company isn't going to pay until that shaft's recovered. How can I feed my family, much less get off this stinking planet?
DAMIRA
You didn't mean for us to get stuck here!
GIOVANO
If it wasn't for those damned kids we would've been gone long ago!
Sannaro heard the double bang of his father's boots as they were thrown angrily to the floor.
DAMIRA
Don't say that, Giovano! You can't help it that they barely pay you enough for us to live! Even without the children, it would be hard to save money.
GIOVANO
Look at them all with black hair, they don't even have proper hair color and Sannaro's black eyes, they're creepy! I can't even make children right! I’m a hopeless looser. Even you think so!
A chair clattered to the floor.
Sannaro bowed his head and a sob tore from his lips.
DAMIRA
No, it's the company!
GIOVANO
I know it is! Maybe I should just leave you and the kids and go off-world alone!
Giovano stomped across the floor.
DAMIRA
No!
Father's mind shut tight as their parent's bedroom door slammed, then the locking bolt clattered home.
DAMIRA
One day you'll find a seranium pocket that will get you a bonus enough for us all to leave!
GIOVANO
That's the day this place supernovas!
DAMIRA
Giovano, don't shut me out like this!
Sannaro heard the chair righted again and it creaked under her weight. He climbed up the stairs and went inside to his mother.
Damira was holding her head in her hands at the table.
Sannaro’s older sister Varanani and his brother Devakio came out of their bedrooms, where they had been doing their homework and laid their hands on mother's shoulder.
Mother looked up, put Sannaro on her lap and drew her older two into her arms.
DAMIRA
Oh, children, I don't know what to do! Sailia is so far away.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
The scene was of gray-green skies and trees with pink bark topped with lavender leaves that grew out of dark mineral-rich soil. A lazy river wended through the forest, sparkling with gold nuggets and other raw metals that washed from the purple mountains in the distance.
The scene shifted to a small village where gold-skinned people with high-slanted eyes went about their business. Their ears pointed twice upward and once more at the lobe showing through long flowing hair of a rainbow of metallic colors.
Damira walked beside Salinaya as they carried their shopping baskets to travel home.
SALINAYA (PSI V.O.)
Damira, Is it true Giovano and you are leaving Sailia?
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
We are, Salinaya. Giovano wants to see the worlds of the Alliance.
SALINAYA (PSI V.O.)
But you'll be so far away from your family! You can't feel their presence from so far away, Damira. I couldn't bear that. Stay and be a teacher; you're a good one!
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
I can't. Giovano is my mate and it would hurt me worse to be separated from him. I couldn't live without him and he wants to go so I'll be by him.
Salinaya stopped walking to hug Damira.
SALINAYA (PSI V.O.)
Take care of yourself, Damira, you are braver than I am. Come and visit when you can.
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
I will, Salinaya. I'm not braver, I'm just doing what I think is right.
END FLASHBACK
The image shattered and they were back in their dreary wooden house.
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
I never did get to visit her again.
Tears fell like rain onto Sannaro's head as they left his mother's cheeks.
A crash of thunder startled him.
DAMIRA
Enough dreaming. The electricity in the air will make telepathy difficult. Varanani, please help me light a fire.
SANNARO
I'll help!
Sannaro squirmed in Damira's lap. He slipped down and ran to the woodpile and tried with all his might to move a log.
DEVAKIO
You couldn't pick up a nugget of gold!
Devakio helped Sannaro pick up the log to help him heft it into the fireplace.
Damira smiled at Sannaro and Devakio's persistence. She went to join Devakio and him. She kissed Sannaro on the crown, and then he looked up and sent loving feelings to her mind just as Devakio did.
Varanani moved to them and joined her mind with theirs.
Sannaro heard the bolt unfasten, the door open, then Giovano stepped up from behind and hugged Damira.
GIOVANO
I'm sorry for my outburst.
INT. SANNARO'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
The thunder sounded like muffled drums later that night as Sannaro lay in bed and wiped tears from his eyes.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
He'd found a remote corner of the playground he'd thought was safe. He pulled out his new ball because he couldn't wait until after school to play with it. He threw the red ball a few feet to the ground and delighted in it jumping right back to his hand.
Suddenly, a boy bounded up to him.
JAKE
What are you playing with, Sanna?
SANNARO
A skivit. When you throw it, it's supposed to bounce back to you!
JAKE
Who got it for you?
Sannaro swelled proudly.
SANNARO
Mom bought it from the market.
JAKE
I want one, give me it!
Jake lunged at Sannaro's hand.
Sannaro jerked it out of his reach.
SANNARO
No, mine! Teacher, Jake's trying to take my ball!
Sannaro threw the ball away.
When it came back, Jake snatched it out of the air before Sannaro could catch it again.
JAKE
Thanks! Someone as weak as you shouldn't have something as neat as this.
Jake ran away laughing.
Sannaro had run to his teacher.
SANNARO
Ms. M'Buda!
MS. M'BUDA
Not now, Sannaro. I'm busy!
SANNARO
But Ms. M'Buda!
MS. M'BUDA
Go play! I don't have time for you now!
Sannaro bowed his head and walked away to sit in the corner until recess was over.
END FLASHBACK
He sat up, and then sprang out of his bed to the window. It stopped raining. Sannaro looked over to his brother's bed to make sure he was asleep before he slipped out the window.
He ran down the gravel road to the corner and went left past the storage warehouse that sat at the top of a small hill above the roadbed.
Two houses later, Sannaro slipped around to the back of the third house. Jake had conveniently left his window open.
Quietly, he climbed in. He searched the room.
The ball was just at the edge of the pillow, where the bully's head was.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Jake, roll over.
Jake rolled onto his side with his head on the edge of the pillow.
Sannaro cautiously pulled the ball out and climbed out the window.
On his way home, his telepathy warned him that two people were close by. They were awake and a few meters above him on the small rise.
He looked up and saw a company shuttle outside of the warehouse. Sannaro saw Jake's dad Mr. Arlington sitting at the transport crane's controls lowering seranium canisters into the shuttle. Mr. Aldinon, the foreman, was standing beside him on the stair holding onto the safety bar.
Sannaro and Aldinon's eyes locked.
Aldinon grabbed Arlington's arm and told him to stop. He sprang off the step and ran down the hill with Arlington close behind.
ALDINON (PSI V.O.)
Damn, he saw everything!
Sannaro panicked and ran toward the nearest house. He scrambled under the porch.
Aldinon's hand scraped Sannaro's arm as he pressed himself against the house.
The smell of decay assailed his nose. A black spider tickled the second point of his left ear, hoping the vibrations from it's web heralded a meal.
Sannaro was startled when a mouse scampered over his right ankle.
The spider was startled by his sudden movement and bit Sannaro's ear.
The large arm of the foreman withdrew.
ALDINON
Sannaro, come out. I was just coming to find out why you are out so late. Your Dad would be worried to know you were wandering around town after dark.
SANNARO
No!
ALDINON
I'll walk you home. It must be dark and scary in there.
ALDINON (PSI V.O.)
I'll throttle that kid's neck if I can grab him!
SANNARO
Go 'way!
ALDINON
Oh, now, don't say that. Come out and everything will be okay.
Sannaro's body shook.
SANNARO
No, it won't, you want to hurt me for seeing that!
ARLINGTON
Aldy, let me try. If you won't tell anybody about this, I'll let you go without hurting you. Now, come out.
Sannaro whimpered and pressed his hands over his ears.
ALDINON
Sannaro, I know your dad’s sick.
SANNARO
No, he’s not sick, he’s just mad!
ALDINON
He’s getting mad more often, isn’t he, Sannaro? He’s got green around his eyes. Does anyone else in your family have green around their eyes?
Sannaro sobbed and pressed his head between his knees, but stayed there.
ARLINGTON
He needs a doctor, but if you don't promise that you won't tell anybody what you saw, we won't have a doctor come to help your dad.
Sannaro shook his head until his neck ached.
ARLINGTON (CONT.)
Your dad will die if a doctor doesn't come, Sannaro. Do you want to see your dad die knowing you could have helped him?
Through the blur of tears, Sannaro crawled over to the side of the porch.
As he scrambled out, the elder Arlington grabbed him by his hair.
ARLINGTON
Got him!
Yellow energy zapped around Sannaro and traveled up through his head and hair until it enveloped Arlington.
Arlington howled and clutched his head.
Once Sannaro felt his hair freed, he ran between the houses toward home.
Sannaro climbed back into his room and collapsed into a corner. He stayed there shaking for the rest of the night.
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Children, time to get up!
Sannaro sprang up and changed his clothes before Devakio could get up. As Sannaro ate breakfast, he was looking at Varanani and Devakio’s eyes to see if they had green eyelids.
DEVAKIO
Quit staring at me, Sanna, you’re freaking me out!
DAMIRA
Devakio, watch your tone of voice!
DEVAKIO
I’m going to school, though I don’t know why. I never learn anything.
DAMIRA
What’s wrong, Sannaro?
SANNARO
Jake said Devakio looked like a walking dead. I just wanted to see if it was true.
DAMIRA
Can’t you just ignore Jake? All you talk about is what Jake did. Devakio wants to quit school. We won’t get any money for food next week. The house is falling down!
Sannaro bowed his head. He stood up from the table and followed Devakio out the door.
Varanani rushed to catch up with him.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
You're acting oddly, Sanna, and it’s not just about Dev.
SANNARO
I hate it here! I hate my yellow skin! I hate my pointed ears!
Sannaro sprinted down the dirt road.
SANNARO
There, I did it. Now, please, Mr. Aldinon, Mr. Arlington, don't hurt my family.
EXT. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND – DAY
Sannaro was sitting in a corner on the playground again thinking quietly about what Aldinon had said last night.
Jake Arlington pulled Sannaro off the ground by his shirt and slammed him against the wall of the school.
JAKE
You think you're so clever getting that ball back, midget! My dad said he saw you take it! He's gonna have you arrested for breaking into our house last night!
SANNARO
He wouldn't dare! I know something that'll get him in lots of trouble!
Sannaro began to draw in mental energy like he did the night before, but Jake propelled him sideways into the other wall much harder.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against her.
Sannaro slid down the wall.
JAKE
I'll smear you on the wall for that!
Sannaro gasped and gagged.
EXIT Jake.
MS. M'BUDA
What happened, Sannaro?
SANNARO
My ear, Jake Arlington threw me into the wall. I hurt my ear!
He swept his hair to the side, exposing his ear. Ms. M'Buda looked closer.
MS. M'BUDA
I see a bruise forming on your second point. We need to get you to the nurses office and call your mother.
SANNARO
No, don't! I can stand, see?
He forced himself to stand up, but he wobbled against the wall.
MS. M'BUDA
Sannaro, you shouldn’t play down an ear injury. I'll have Varanani released so she can bring your mother to school to take you home and nurse the ear, okay?
SANNARO
Okay.
Sannaro took the teacher's hand.
She guided him to the school nurse's office.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
Just as Sannaro lay down on the small cot, his mother rushed into the room.
DAMIRA
How is Sannaro, Mrs. M'Buda?
MS. M'BUDA
He vomited once out on the playground, but he hasn't since. How did you know Sannaro was hurt? I didn’t send Varanani home to tell you yet!
DAMIRA
I felt his pain and nausea and came right away.
MS. M'BUDA
I knew your telepathy was strong, but I didn’t know it was so sensitive that you felt Sannaro’s pain!
DAMIRA
Saili ears are very sensitive because they send and receive telepathy as well as hear.
Mother sat on the corner of the cot and swept his hair aside to look at the ear.
DAMIRA
Sanna, can you see all right?
SANNARO
I have a headache.
DAMIRA
What's this red blot on your ear, Sannaro?
SANNARO
Oh, it's just a spider bite. I was playing in the crawl space below the porch and a spider bit me.
DAMIRA
How many times do I have to tell you to stay out from under the house?
SANNARO
Sorry, mom.
DAMIRA
I think one tablet of Catowsh, some ice on his ear and a nap will take care of it.
MS. M'BUDA
We’re contacting Mr. and Mrs. Arlington on the matter, Auruma Damira. It seems Jake Arlington pushed Sannaro into the wall on the playground.
DAMIRA
Thank you. I need to get him home now.
The lunch bell rang.
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Varanani, Devakio, come to the nurses office so we can walk home together.
Damira helped Sannaro stand up from the cot.
Sannaro took her hand and walked with her toward the door.
SANNARO
See you, Mrs. M'Buda.
Varanani and Devakio joined them for the short walk down the gravel road to their wood slat home.
The processing plant whirred loudly.
They walked to their house.
VARANANI
I'll get some ice.
DAMIRA
Devakio, get Sannaro one tablet of Catowsh, please.
Damira settled Sannaro in an armchair.
Sannaro swallowed the pain reliever with a few sips of water. He took the ice, wrapped in a towel and pressed it against the side of his head.
Damira crouched in front of Sannaro.
DAMIRA
Now, Sannaro, what happened?
SANNARO
Jake Arlington pushed me into a wall 'cause he's jealous of my ball!
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Why did you have your ball at school, Sannaro?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I couldn’t wait to play with it, Mom, it’s so fun! But Jake wanted it and tried to take it.
DEVAKIO (PSI V.O.)
That Jake is a pain!
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
Maybe we should talk to him.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
No! If you talk to him, he'll want to hurt me more!
DEVAKIO (PSI V.O.)
Come on, Sanna!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Please?
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Why are you scared that Jake’s father will hurt Varanani and Devakio?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He got mad at me for sneaking into their house.
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Sannaro, you cannot tell me half-truths, now tell me the whole truth or I’ll have to punish you.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Please, don't mind-slap me!
Sannaro climbed up to his knees and looked deep into his mother’s ice blue eyes.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I did sneak to their house to take my ball back! Mr. Aldinon and Mr. Arlington saw me walking home. Mr. Aldinon said Dad’s sick. Is Dad sick?
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
Why did Mr. Aldinon say that?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I saw them, Mr. Aldinon and Mr. Arlington were taking stuff from the warehouse last night. They chased me under Mr. Werner’s porch! They told me that if I told somebody, they would hurt me! Now they’re going to come after me!
DAMIRA (PSI V.O.)
No one will come after you, Sanna.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
What do we do? Isn’t that illegal?
Damira stood up.
DAMIRA
It is illegal and I want some answers! We’re going to see Mr. Aldinon!
INT. KUMANI BRIDGE
Belso sat in his command chair and watched the main monitor on the bridge of the Astrisi star ship Kumani.
BELSO
What time is it on Regalis?
RETAL
Twelve hundred.
BELSO
Tell the Ground team to stand by. Nasu, take over.
Nasu, the thin man with brown hair nodded.
ZHINAR
Setting orbit.
Belso climbed the stairs out of the control well. He entered the elevator.
BELSO
Upper Flight Deck.
Shortly after the elevator began to move, it stopped at another floor and a petite young woman with orange-red curls entered.
ADARA
Upper Flight Deck. You look worried, Belso.
BELSO
There's a bad feeling I have about this landing, Adara. Are you sure you want to be in the grounding team this time?
ADARA
I've already informed the pottery store at Saratoga to order these bags of clay. Have you seen the rich burnt umber that appears swirled in the throwing once it’s fired? It is so beautiful. I'm almost out of the slip. I’d regret running out of it.
BELSO
All right. Just get it quickly. I can't deny, this trip worries me.
The elevator doors parted to a view of a vast open deck with rows of red and white sleek small fighter ships.
They stepped out of the elevator, turned left and walked past the refueling pumps that separated the fighter ship storage with the storage for the larger red and white shuttles.
One shuttle nearest to the lift that raised and lowered ships to the launch deck above was milling with engineers who prepared it to fly.
Belso and Adara approached the ramp to that shuttle and entered it.
Soon he and the grounding team were on their way to Regalis.
As they flew from the upper launch deck, Belso glimpsed the lower launch deck attached to the belly of the silver arrowhead-shaped ship with wings that swept out from it's nose, then came to a point just fore of the massive main engines. His home had always looked beautiful to him even though it was dented and windowless because of the artificial gravity drums that ran continuously right under her hull.
A rocket booster faltered and went dark. The Kumani swayed toward the direction from where the rocket failed.
BELSO
I must get fuel or we'll die.
KU'AN
We always get it.
Filp turned his head from the pilots' console.
FILP
You don't trust we'll get it?
BELSO
I'm not sure. There's talk that fuel has been missing here, but the sensors show Pirates aren't near.
FILP
I don't like that.
BELSO
I don't either.
FILP
Let's hope we get the fuel.
Filp set the shuttle down on the ground expertly and the ramp lowered to the ground.
BELSO
This is your stop, Adara. Don't forget, I want you to get your cargo quickly and join us at the Bristol Mining Camp.
FILP
I wouldn't rush, Adara. It’ll take an hour for us to load up. You know how slow Ku'an is.
KU'AN
I’m not slow! Seranium is very volatile and must be handled with care. If I mishandle even one canister, the whole mountain may explode. You should be relieved that I'm on this grounding team.
FILP
As relieved as I’d feel if a customs official called an inspection.
Adara grinned as she passed Filp and stepped down the ramp.
Belso snorted and rolled his eyes.
Filp closed the shuttle and raised it off the ground again. He flew the shuttle up into the mountains and landed in the small mining camp with the little village just below in a valley.
BELSO
Fine landing, Filp.
FILP
Thanks.
BELSO
I'll be back soon. Stand by here to start loading.
Belso walked down the ramp.
INT. ALDINON'S OFFICE -DAY
At the desk was a husky short man with gold skin and lavender hair that grew down to his mid-back. Slicing through his hair were ears that pointed twice upward with another point at the lobe. The metallic Saili man had orange and green smudges under his high slanted silver-blue eyes.
BELSO
I would like to speak with Aldinon.
GIOVANO
Aldinon's out inspecting some thefts you Independents did.
BELSO
Thefts we did? Aurum, such accusations should not be given lightly. Pirates do exist, but I am not a pirate, I am Astrisi. Although you worlders seem to carelessly class us both as independents.
GIOVANO
What's the difference?
BELSO
Astrisi do not attack until first threatened. We run a business of buying and selling.
ENTER ALDINON.
BELSO
Your assistant has a sharp tongue.
Belso put his hands on his hips just close enough to his laser gun for quick response but far enough away to not be threatening.
Aldinon gave the Saili man a sharp warning look.
ALDINON
Gio's just upset by a little theft we had last night.
BELSO
We did not do it. I will even volunteer our course log.
Belso took a data pad out of a pouch on his pistol belt and held it toward the Human.
The foreman pushed the device away.
ALDINON
No need.
Belso slapped the data pad against his other palm.
BELSO
Then I will take my seranium and go. You have already been paid.
ALDINON
That's what they took.
BELSO
How long until more is processed?
Aldinon slapped his clipboard down onto the desk.
ALDINON
About two to three weeks.
BELSO
My ship won't stay in orbit that long. Our retro jets are already giving out!
ALDINON
I don't know what to say, Commander, other than, that's the best offer we can give you.
BELSO
You did not understand me.
ALDINON
Oh, I understood you, but I'm in a bad way here.
BELSO
My ship is about to plunge into the atmosphere and cause a firestorm! You have more seranium in storage.
ALDINON
Okay, I’ll give you what I have, but it’s not going to be your whole order!
BELSO
I will be refunded for what fuel I do not get.
Giovano jumped out of his chair, pointing his finger at Belso, as a yellow aura of lightning enveloped him.
GIOVANO
No! You've got your fuel! You took it last night. You just didn't put it in to make us think you're low and give you more!
ALDINON
No, Gio, don't!
BELSO
Mind-slam! Get down, Aldinon!
Belso whipped out his pistol and shot Giovano.
The stunning bolt should have dispersed the psionic energy, but instead it flashed and a crackling sound came from the Saili man. His gold body crashed to the floor hard as a statue.
ALDINON
You killed him!
BELSO
My people will not die, as much as you wish us to. Give us seranium or we will take it.
Aldinon went over to the computer on his desk.
ALDINON
Now wait a minute, Commander, you just killed one of my men! I’ll have to call the authorities.
BELSO
Your police have justice for their own, not Astrisi.
Belso increased the power to his gun and shot the computer.
Aldinon leapt out the door as the sparks from the computer set the curtains in the window behind the desk on fire.
Belso rushed through the increasing flames that now consumed the door to the office.
Filp was leveling his own laser at the fleeing foreman.
BELSO
Don't shot that dirty worlder. Call for air cover! Ku'an, get that fuel into the shuttle and be as quick as safety will allow!
Ku'an pushed the warehouse doors open and leapt onto the transport crane.
FILP
Scramble Vizha'i. These filthy worlders refused us the seranium. Cover the seranium transport. Belso, scrambling Vizha'i.
BELSO
Tell them to be careful. Remember what Ku'an said about seranium volatility.
Filp nodded, then spoke again into his communicator.
EXT. BRISTOL CAMP ROAD – DAY
Sannaro was pulled by his mother’s hand as she stomped through the hard dirt street with Varanani and Devakio rushing behind. He was so intent on keeping up with his mother, he almost fell into the dark hole that tore through his mind. He telepathically watched in horror as his father's mental essence was swallowed by that black maw, then was gone.
Damira dropped his hand and began to run.
DAMIRA
No, Giovano!
SANNARO
Daddy, Daddy, don't go away!
Sannaro followed, running as fast as his little legs could go as his mother ran through the streets toward the mining camp.
Varanani grabbed Sannaro by his shoulders, but Devakio ran after their mother.
He wiggled out of his elder sister's grasp and chased after Devakio.
DAMIRA
Giovano, don't leave me!
Damira finally reached the edge of town as the alien shuttle was opening its cargo hold.
It was white and red, shaped like a bullet with fin-shaped engines that ran down the sides. Painted on the top was a dazzling red firebird. On its breast was a blue four-pointed star with a yellow star in inside it. Inside that star was four green diamonds capped with red chevrons.
The air held the acrid smell of fire. Red and orange flames poured from the windows of the mining office and a black column of thick smoke billowed into the air.
Aldinon ran down the hill and met up with Damira.
ALDINON
Damira! No, lady, you must leave! Go to your children. Giovano’s dead and the Independents are angry.
Fighter ships screamed as they sliced through the puffy, white clouds. They hovered like birds of prey, while a fleet of shuttles landed beside the other shuttle at the storage area.
Gritty wind stung Sannaro's face from the landing thrusters.
The wind gust nearly knocked Devakio to the ground as he raced to catch up with his mother.
Rough-looking men and women jumped out and manned the crane, stacking the seranium cases into the shuttle.
Varanani yelped from behind Sannaro.
He heard the gravel scritch in a quick rhythm. He saw a glint of yellow and black of his sister in his peripheral vision.
Damira ran back toward them.
DAMIRA
My habi!
Aldinon looked into the sky.
ALDINON
A fighter's coming! Go, woman!
Aldinon ran toward Damira to push her along. Just as he got to her the fighter fired.
Time slowed eerily as Sannaro sprinted behind Devakio toward their mother.
She became bathed in the lance of energy that went through her chest, jumped across to Devakio's middle, then hit the ground just before Sannaro's feet.
A wall of flame erupted ahead of Sannaro.
Sannaro was propelled several feet through the air. He slammed into the ground. He skid through the gravel, dousing the flames with the billowing of sand and rock.
Belso ran to Filp.
BELSO
Who just fired?!
FILP
That idiot missed!
BELSO
Missed who?
FILP
That cheating foreman!
BELSO
Are you crazy, man? This mountain is made of seranimite! The mines could explode!
The ground erupted farther up the slope and rained flaming rocks all over the town. Flames were now rising from the poorly built slat-wood houses.
BELSO
Hurry up before more mines explode! Filp, I want the name of that junior pilot from your white team who just fired!
Arlington glared furiously down at Belso before he whirled around and joined the mine fire crews who were preparing to prevent more shafts from exploding.
Belso sighed as he watched the crews load the seranium onto the shuttles.
EXT. SARATOGA STREET -DAY
After Adara had browsed through a variety store for a while, she walked out of it.
She looked up toward the range of mountains just beyond Saratoga and froze.
A large cloud of dark smoke was rising from the peak she knew the Bristol mining camp was located.
She saw a man run toward a hover car and quickly caught his arm.
ADARA
Sir, are you going to Bristol? My family is up there!
WERNER
Get in!
Adara raced around the vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat.
The man turned over the engine and they rose toward the mountains.
WERNER
Oh, my God!
The closer they came to Bristol, the higher the flames leapt into the air.
On the ruined outskirts of town, Adara thanked the shocked man. She held her arms up to shield her face from the raging flames from the burning houses. Her stomach turned as she heard screams echo from the conflagration.
Flaming people were running from town and dropping onto the rocky ground to douse the flames.
Another explosion rocked the ground as she approached the storage warehouse.
Suddenly, she was drawn from her thoughts by groaning.
It was a little boy lying several meters away from two other corpses.
She went to him and gently lifted him up.
He was burnt badly, but he was still alive.
She held him tight to her breast and slipped up to the shuttle that was already packed. She tenderly set the boy down on the deck.
ADARA
I'll be back for you.
She stepped down to the ground again, then rushed around the shuttle.
BELSO
There you are, Adara, get in and get into a safety harness.
Not long after, Adara and her shipmates were with Belso again to fly up to the Kumani.
A short time later, Filp was landing the shuttle in the Upper Flight Bay on the top of the Kumani.
As soon as it was lowered into the maintenance bay, people ran to meet the shuttle.
BELSO
Unload her fast. As soon as you finish, those of you noncombatants, get yourselves to your quarters. And I want the name of the fighter pilot who fired on the town! I told you to warn them about the volatility of Seranium! We didn’t have to burn the whole mining camp!
Belso entered the elevator and was gone.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
Adara slipped up into the cargo bay of the shuttle and picked up the child.
As she tried to leave the flight deck, she heard an astonished cry from Ku'an.
KU'AN
What do you have, Adara?
ADARA
My clay, of course.
KU'AN
Trying to get out of work?
He grabbed her arm and swung her around.
KU'AN
Fausa! It's a child, a worlder boy!
She held the boy tighter and tried to pull away.
ADARA
No, Ku'an!
Filp pushed through to see the world child and grabbed her arm painfully.
FILP
How did you get him on my shuttle? How dare you compromise my shuttle's security?
Metei pulled Filp away from Adara, then spoke into the microphone at his lips.
METEI
Call Belso. Adara brought a stowaway.
Belso was back in minutes, fuming.
BELSO
Of all the vacuum-brained ideas, a worlder? I know you're lonely because Fordo died, but not stupid!
KU'AN
Do we jettison him?
BELSO
No, we've done enough killing today. Look, he’s just a little kid.
FILP
Let's sneak him back on-world.
BELSO
We're already pulled out and the Space Police are already pulling in. Adara, take him to Keba. He's your responsibility.
ADARA
Thank you, Belso.
BELSO
Let it not be a mistake, Adara.
He reentered the elevator.
Adara followed with her new ward. She walked with Belso until they arrived at the medical center. He told Keba to treat the boy, then he left.
INI. KUMANI BURN WARD
Keba brought a gurney up to Adara.
KEBA
Set the child on the gurney. You'll just have to return home for now. Severe burns have to be treated in an enclosed environment.
Adara nodded her head and left.
KEBA
Tila, prepare a burn scrub.
TILA
Houk, Keba.
Keba led the gurney into a small room, then pushed it into another room.
He stepped into the other room to wash up and clothe himself in a full white body suit with a full head mask. He walked back into the deeper room. He looked down at the blackened body. He picked up a pair of scissors and rolled the child over. Only a strip of clothes were left intact on the back so he cut that off. He rolled the child over and cut of the crotch of the pants and pulled them from the child's buttocks. Thankfully, it looked like the boy had been bent forward and the fire missed his genitalia. It was blackened, but only with soot.
Tila walked in with the supplies and looked over Keba's shoulder.
TILA
Oh, poor boy.
KEBA
Let's get him washed up.
They vigorously washed the blackened skin.
The boy moaned in pain.
Keba
There's dirt and rocks embedded in the skin on the torso and neck.
Keba picked up a pair of tweezers and pulled at a sizable rock, but it held fast.
KEBA
What's this?
He picked up the sponge and washed the boy's legs. The sponge came up with a glossy yellow film on it.
KEBA
Wait, yellow?
TILA
Keba, I don't think this boy's human!
KEBA
Scalpel.
Tila went over to a box and pulled out the surgical knife and handed it to him.
He lowered it to the edge of the burn on the boy's torso and sliced vigorously. He was met with a slick tough surface. He stepped back and shook his head.
KEBA
Let's wash the second degree areas and see what we get.
They washed the rest of the boy's body and Keba's fears were realized. The lesser burns showed a metallic yellow skin and odd ears pointed twice upwards and again at the lobe.
Keba stepped back and pulled his dissolving gloves quickly off his hands. He threw the smoking gloves into the sink and doused them.
KEBA
He's Saili. I don't know how to treat a Saili. He has a hard shell covering the third degree burns. I can't take it off and I can't clean it.
TILA
But he's in agony, Keba! What do we do? Can't we just put him in a healing tent and turn it on?
KEBA
No, not without cleaning the burns first. All that rock and dirt will just fuse with his body. That would be ghastly. There's nothing I can do.
Keba left the room.
Tila rushed behind him.
TILA
You're just going to leave him laying there?
KEBA
Cover him in gauze bandages and keep him as comfortable as possible.
Tila looked back with tears in her eyes.
Keba shook his head, took the burn suit off and walked out of the room.
EXT. BRISTOL CAMP – DAY
Arlington now stood in the ashes of his home near the dinner table where the rigid black corpses of his wife Andrea and his son Jacob had been eating their lunch. The fire spread quickly through the house.
ARLINGTON
You shouldn't have died, Jacob. I swear, I'll make you pay for destroying everything, Astrisi!
He massaged his temples to try to ease the headache. He felt someone was watching him. He looked up and saw the sorrowful yellow-brown eyes of the Saili girl. She gripped a little red ball in her hands.
ARLINGTON (CONT.)
Stop staring at me, girl!
He turned away from her creepy eyes.
He kicked the ashes of his home, then stomped up the hill toward the mines.
He climbed up a steep trail through the mountains until the trail sloped down again. A small valley appeared once the rock parted.
He moved along the ledge above the valley and slipped into a dark cave. He went to a small crevice and fired up the electrical generator.
A string of light bulbs blinked to life.
He moved farther into the cave until he came to wood pallets with seranium canisters set on them. He moved around them to go to a computer on an old rickety table against the wall. He turned the computer on and immediately opened a communications channel to his most frequented client. A severe featured man with his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail appeared on the screen.
ARLINGTON
Fenyang, I have the fuel you requested.
FENYANG (V.O.)
Are you an idiot? I've heard about the destruction of your mining camp. You're crawling with cops!
ARLINGTON
I need the money, Fenyang!
FENYANG (V.O.)
You need the money? You'll get nothing from me until the cops leave.
ARLINGTON
Okay, I'll call you again when things get quieter.
He cut the line.
Arlington hiked back to the ruins of Bristol Camp. Arlington glared at the police that swamped the town.
Two Saili were over at the remains of Bob Werner's porch and had stopped right where the wimpy little Saili had hid from them.
The policeman walked up to Arlington.
POLICEMAN #1
Are you Roger Arlington?
ARLINGTON
Yes, what do you want?
POLICEMAN #1
You're wanted for questioning at the school.
ARLINGTON
This is ridiculous.
He strode to the school that was slightly blackened, but mostly intact.
When he entered the principle's office, Aldinon met him with his arms wrapped with gauze from elbow to fingertips.
The Captain of the Interstellar Police sat in the principle's chair with two yellow Saili standing on either side of him, one was middle-aged and the other was young.
DUWARD
My name is Captain Duward. I have questions for the two of you.
ARLINGTON
What do you want to know?
DUWARD
Do you know about thefts of fuel from the processing plant?
ARLINGTON
I heard about them. I noticed our inventory looked a bit short. I contacted Aldinon when I saw the discrepancy.
ALDINON
I immediately checked the loading zone near the plant and saw some shuttle marks on the ground.
DUWARD
Well, since that’s a routine landing area, the prints were confused by the landing of the Astrisi shuttles.
ARLINGTON
The Astrisi stole the fuel. Open and shut case, right gentlemen?
ERADANO
I'm afraid not, Mr. Arlington. My tracker has sensed quite a lot of anxiety here, well before the Astrisi appeared.
ARLINGTON
Excuse me for not believing your mystical all-knowing power! It doesn't mean crap to human courts.
DUWARD
You don't like Saili, do you, Mr. Arlington?
ARLINGTON
I merely said that Humans aren't telepathic so their psychic ‘observations’ weren't valid to Humans.
ERADANO
Do you know about the Saili boy that is missing?
ARLINGTON
The kid's a scamp. He goes wherever he wants to go. Who knows where he went?
ALDINON
I saw him burned. The same laser fire that burned my arms went through the Saili woman Damira, the boy Devakio and hit the ground before little Sannaro. He flew through the air about a hundred meters before he plowed into the ground!
DUWARD
Do you know what happened next?
ALDINON
No, I was so afraid that more mines would blow, I went back up to the mining camp to direct fire crews to contain the explosions in the mines. If the explosions in those mines weren't contained, it could have blown the whole mountain apart! Maybe you could ask Varanani. She may have seen more since she was unhurt.
ERADANO
You mean, physically unhurt. We have spoken to her. She is in terrible shock. She told me she doesn't remember what happened after her family was killed.
DUWARD
One of my officers found her wandering the ashes of the town in a daze and brought her to the hospital.
ARLINGTON
So, what's the purpose of this interrogation?
DUWARD
You're free to go.
ARLINGTON
Thank you, Captain.
Arlington stood up and left the office.
Aldinon was right behind him. Once they were out of the school, Aldinon rushed in front of Arlington.
ALDINON
Is the fuel still safe in the cave?
ARLINGTON
I checked on it. The canisters are at safe temperatures. I called Fenyang to buy the fuel, but he won't get near with the cops crawling around.
ALDINON
You shouldn't have called Fenyang this soon!
ARLINGTON
Don't flatter the cops. They're a bunch of idiots who have no clue about the thefts.
ALDINON
Enough, here comes Yothers.
ARLINGTON
What I hate more than arrogant Saili is a brown nose corporate rat.
Aldinon shushed him just before Yothers stopped in front of them.
Yothers
Do you see the mess this place is in?
Arlington dug through the ash on the ground with the toe of his boot.
ARLINGTON
Can't miss it.
YOTHERS
Do you have any idea how angry Madam Geode is at the Pallas Mining Company?
ARLINGTON
Do you have any idea how much I care about those suits in their environmentally controlled glass offices?
ALDINON
Easy, Arlington. Mr. Yothers, I was prepared to give the Astrisi the seranium I had left. I knew that Giovano Masanateyak was acting strange. He wasn't working in the mines because he was having trouble dealing with it. I took pity on the man and let him work in the office. I was about to send for a Saili doctor for him. I had no idea he’d do something as crazy as to try to hurt our client.
YOTHERS
How long have these thefts been going on?
ALDINON
I think there were two more before this theft.
YOTHERS
The profitability of this mining camp was dangerously low before the thefts! We tried to improve our outcome by offering incentives to the miners for finding seranimite pockets. Now look, we are completely in the red with so many mines collapsed and equipment damaged! Both of you have failed miserably in your roles as supervisors! You're both fired. Cash in your loans and get out of this camp!
ARLINGTON
If you’d have treated us better than digging dogs, this camp would’ve been managed better. You just better watch your back, Yothers.
YOTHERS
Is that a threat?
ARLINGTON
You'll be sorry some day.
Arlington stomped off.
YOTHERS
And you, Mr. Aldinon?
ALDINON
I did my best for this company for it to end this way.
Aldinon walked slowly away.
Once Arlington was out of Yothers' sight, he intercepted Aldinon.
ARLINGTON
I think it’s a good idea to disappear.
ALDINON
Disappear?
ARLINGTON
If Yothers suspects we had something to do with all this, the cops won't be far behind. Let's disappear before they figure something to take us for.
Aldinon looked back at the ruined camp and his eyes glistened.
A minute later, Aldinon turned away and they hiked into the mountains.
When Fenyang finally came to take the fuel, Arlington convinced Fenyang to allow Aldinon and him to join his band of pirates. They’d help him take down the Astrisi commander of the Kumani someday.
SUPER: MADAME GEODE/KELLIN
How dare you take that child from me!
SUPER: TAREK
He wasn't yours to take, Kellin. He's my son.
You trapped them on your colony and I want him back.
SUPER: MADAME GEODE/KELLIN
We'll see how long you can keep him.
This isn't over, son!
SUPER: TAREK
You're such a loving Grandmother.
SUPER: MADAME GEODE/KELLIN
You burnt the boy! You're not the best Father, either!
FADE OUT.
THE END.