Lyssa Thorne's
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“GELSTONE”
EPISODE 3 -AMBUSH
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. EARTH-MARS SPACE STATION – LOCKER ROOM
Marc dressed in the locker room. The men were quietly dressing. He made his way to the briefing room and saw Jim sitting at their desk staring at the ISP crest of an eagle flying through space with a bundle of arrows in one claw and a laurel branch in the other painted on the wall behind the dais. Marc sat down.
Marc was pulled out of his chair by an angry Nelson.
NELSON
I told you to go home, sandworm! Now Candir and Arden's dead because of you!
Jim jumped out of his seat.
JIM
Hold it, Nelson!
NELSON
No, you hold it, Meyers. You and this alien were their back-up and where were you?
JIM
No matter where we were, we would've gotten there too late.
NELSON
Yeah? Patterson told us the other day to keep an eye on the freighters, but was the BEM happy to follow orders? No! He had to do some reckless maneuvers to collar the guy! We all know that attack on Sierra-lima 7 was a retaliatory strike. If anyone had to die, it should have been you two!
JIM
There was no proof that the attack on Sierra-lima 7 was retaliatory!
HASSID
No matter, alien lover. Your partner is reckless and I don't want a reckless pilot guarding my back!
NELSON
You want to be a cop, sandworm? Do it in your home system.
Nelson let go of Marc's uniform.
Others added their insults and jeered at Marc.
Marc sank down into his chair and laid his head on the desk top, buried under his arms.
The door opened and Patterson entered.
PATTERSON
Calm down! Shut up!
YELLING CONTINUES.
PATTERSON
Attention!
Everyone in the room stood ramrod straight facing the podium.
PATTERSON
I'm very disappointed with you! A unit's destroyed, two men are dead and all you can think about is placing blame? Meyers and Daniels don't need your accusations. They're grieving, too!
NELSON
But they were seven's back-up!
PATTERSON
Attention!
Nelson jerked straighter and discontinued.
PATTERSON
They did their best to save Arden and Candir! It could have been any of you and the results would have been the same! Their deaths are not because Lt. Daniels is a half-alien, nor because he is an inadequate pilot! Is that clear?
PATROL
Yes, Sir!
PATTERSON
Take your seats.
As one, they sat down.
PATTERSON
First, the Memorial Service for Lt. Don Arden and Petty Officer Larry Candir is tonight at 1700 at the headquarters chapel in Houston for those of you who'd like to pay your final respects.
(BEAT)
For those who can't attend because you'll be on duty, there will be a second Memorial in the chapel here on a walk-in basis. A collection's being taken up for Lucy Arden and Natasha Candir. Any donations can be left with Donnella Breshik in Records.
(BEAT)
Now, we got stung yesterday and we're all hurting for it.
(BEAT)
Nothing supports the rumor that the destruction of Unit 7 was in retaliation for Unit 14's arrest the other day. However, we must be more careful from now on. I don't want it to happen again so be on your guard. If it was a part of our alleged smuggling ring, then we have shaken up a hornet's nest and they're angry, but that freighter wasn't in the same sectors previously reported putting them in. This happened in Sector Charlie 3, not Alpha 3 which means they may be trying different approaches.
(BEAT)
If you find a suspect, don't go after them. Wait until back-up arrives. Absolutely no heroics!
(BEAT)
Okay, get out there and I don't want to hear about anyone giving Meyers OR Daniels a hard time. That is all.
Patterson stepped away from the podium.
MARC
Are you going to the Memorial, Jim?
JIM
I'd like to. Don and Larry were my friends.
MARC
I'll go with you.
JIM
You hardly knew them.
MARC
Even though, maybe Nelson was right. We should have gotten there sooner to cover them. We were their support! That was a rotten way to die!
Jim took Marc by his shoulders and shook him.
JIM
Don't do this to yourself, Marc! It wasn't your fault! You know you were at full throttle and you taxed the cruiser's engines to the limit! Like I told Nelson, no matter where we were, we would've gotten there too late! Cdr. Patterson understands that! Nelson just has an attitude problem!
Marc grabbed Jim's arm in a tight grip.
JIM
Let go, Marc, you're hurting me.
Marc stared for a minute, then let go.
Jim massaged his arm.
MARC
I guess you're right. It just hurts me that we couldn't save them.
JIM
You aren't the only one, but, now we've got a duty to perform.
MARC
Yeah. Did you check the assignment board?
JIM
Oh, no, we didn't. I'll go check that while you prepare the ship. Are you all right?
MARC
Yeah.
Marc strode off to the space cruiser.
MARC (CONT.)
Cha hak manah.
Marc flopped into his chair, strapped in and started the ship.
Jim came in behind him.
JIM
What'd you say?
MARC
Cha hak manah, it means "May you be one with the Suns". It's a Brocana death chant for warriors.
Marc pulled on his helmet.
JIM
That's a good tribute, Marc.
Jim sat, put on his helmet then buckled his safety harness.
JIM
We have Charlie 4.
Marc launched them away from the space station.
JIM
Marc, I know you feel responsible for the deaths yesterday.
MARC
I just wish it could have been different, that we would've gotten there in time to save seven.
JIM
But we didn't and now we have to go on.
MARC
But we don't know who killed them! I shouldn't have vaporized that freighter.
JIM
Patterson told you to open fire on it! You were following orders. Do you know the Brocana's language fluently?
MARC
Yeah, when our family was on Centauria and there was a political occasion where my mother had to attend, she sent us out to her clan Kelhidi. Sometimes we were there for months.
JIM
Did you like it?
MARC
It was all right.
JIM
Watch for that grain carrier.
MARC
I see it.
JIM
I'm sorry.
MARC
For what?
JIM
I'm broaching a subject you're not comfortable with again.
MARC
Not comfortable about? I guess I've been real self-absorbed since we left. That confrontation in the briefing room has me upset.
JIM
Yeah, it does me too, I guess I'm just babbling.
They turned quiet for a while.
JIM
Look at that. What's that deep space freighter doing around here? This is usually an area for local contracted freighters going to the Venus Academy.
MARC
Hell if I know.
It accelerated into top impulse and took off toward asteroids.
MARC
Sierra-lima 14 to Base. We have visuals on an unmarked freighter, ID, Juliet Uniform One Two Zero, over.
BASE (V.O.)
Wait, out.
(beat)
Corbridge Telleran, smuggler.
MARC
Roger, Base. Following it till assistance arrives. Freighter running at top impulse speed toward planetoid Pallas. Sierra-lima 14, out.
JIM
I don't like this, Marc. It's got hyperdrive. Why isn't he using it to hop away from us?
As they entered a smaller arm of the asteroid belt, armed freighters popped out behind smaller planetoids and surrounded the police cruiser. A lance of laser-fire came toward them.
Marc sent the cruiser into a dive.
MARC (CONT.)
Sierra-lima 14 to Base, we've been ambushed! Come on, guys, get here!
TELLERAN (V.O.)
Not so fun when you're on the other side of the gun, is it, boys? You think you're some hotshots cause you collared one and vaped another. Well, welcome to my party! Main course is roast pig!
Jim began firing the cruiser's lasers while Marc dodged fire.
As backup arrived, a freighter shot their starboard wing.
They spun out of control toward Pallas.
MARC
Mayday, mayday! Sierra-lima 14, out of control and falling into Pallas. Serious damage to starboard wing!
PATTERSON (V.O.)
Sierra-lima 1 to Sierra-lima 14, I can't get to you!
Patterson was close but several freighters were them.
MARC
Sierra-lima 14, breaking communications. Sierra-lima 14, out.
The planetoid of Pallas rushed toward them at a dizzying speed.
JIM
Marc, we're coming in fast!
MARC
I know! We're caught in Pallas' gravity!
Marc wrestled with the controls with all his strength.
Jim braced his arms against his control panel.
JIM
Can't you brake?
MARC
What do you mean? I am braking!
JIM
And we're breaking up.
MARC
Prepare for separation.
Marc opened a cover to reveal a red button.
Jim checked his straps.
JIM
Ready.
MARC
On my mark, one, two, three, ejecting!
Marc pushed the button.
The rear of the cruiser was pushed away from the flight deck.
A tremendous jolt shook them as a parachute exploded from their module.
They saw a mushroom of rock and sand erupt from the impact of the engine module.
JIM
Whew, close call.
MARC
You said it.
They dropped to the ground slowly from the weak gravity.
MARC
Prepare for impact. Our landing's going to be hard!
They braced themselves in their seats. The module scraped against stone, fell into a chasm then slammed into the rock wall.
Marc picked up his head and shook then checked his board.
MARC
Radio's out!
JIM
We're loosing atmosphere, the hull's been breached. Let's get out of here.
They locked their helmets, unstrapped themselves, climbed up to a locker, pulled their survival packs out and put them on.
Jim opened a panel and threw a switch that blew the airlock and they left the module. A hundred meters away, the blackened engine module was twisted and wedged in a hole.
JIM (V.O.)
Well, there she is, completely trashed.
MARC (V.O.)
In the meantime, we'll have to survive prolonged exposure to space on this rock with just our thermal space-uniforms to protect us.
JIM (V.O.)
They're designed to stand conditions of space. Just don't take your helmet off.
MARC (V.O.)
Oh, you can count on it that I won't, but these uniforms are designed for temporary exposure to space and who knows when help will arrive if it ever will. I didn't think I'd need to use my survival skill training this soon.
Marc looked into the sky to see if he could find any signs of the battle that was still being waged above them, but he could see a few streaks of light and that was all.
JIM (V.O.)
Until then, we may as well move away from the wreckage in case the wrong kind come to check the it out.
MARC (V.O.)
Good idea.
Jim scrambled up to the top of a rock and looked around.
MARC (V.O.)
See any promising directions of travel?
JIM (V.O.)
If you like academy obstacle courses.
MARC (V.O.)
I thought I got away from those when I graduated!
Jim pointed to the left of him.
JIM (V.O.)
This way looks like it may be a little more level.
MARC (V.O.)
Good as any. Let's take it.
Jim scrambled back down and moved out with Marc following.
Marc huffed as he pulled himself on top of another rock.
MARC (V.O.)
I thought you said this way was relatively flat?
JIM (V.O.)
Sorry, I guess my eyes were deceiving me.
Jim tried to pull himself up but slipped and fell back down.
Marc pulled Jim up onto the rock.
JIM (V.O.)
Thanks, partner. You’ve got some incredible endurance.
MARC (V.O.)
Brocana lead hard lives on a planet of deserts. Besides, Alpha Centauri 7 has slightly higher gravity than Earth does. I always feel stronger on Earth.
JIM (V.O.)
That explains why I’ve been amazed at what you can endure. You threw Moloko like a rag doll, yesterday.
MARC (V.O.)
I said I didn’t mean to do that!
Marc's arm trembled as he pulled himself up another rock face.
JIM (V.O.)
Starting to feel fatigued?
MARC (V.O.)
No, cold. I can't take much more of this.
JIM (V.O.)
That's the problem with being used to unusually hot atmospheres.
Jim pulled himself up beside Marc who sat on the flat top shivering.
MARC (V.O.)
Can we risk trying to call for help?
JIM (V.O.)
No, that's not recommended, we might be located by the wrong party. Anyway, with the cruiser destroyed, we no longer have long-range communications, only short-range, like between your helmet and mine.
MARC (V.O.)
Well, I need to rest.
JIM (V.O.)
Just for a minute, partner. Inactivity will make you feel the cold even more. You've got to keep your circulation going.
MARC (V.O.)
Okay, I'm ready.
They climbed down.
JIM (V.O.)
What do you know of this planetoid?
MARC (V.O.)
Pallas is the second largest asteroid in our asteroid belt being 590 kilometers in diameter.
JIM (V.O.)
Keep on.
MARC (V.O.)
Well, a mining complex was opened here on the discovery of the metallic compound called seranimite, which after being processed became seranium, our modern propulsion fuel. The mining complex was abandoned 30 years ago when seranimite became harder to find here and Regalis and Oronio were discovered to have much larger reserves of seranimite. Hey, I've stopped shivering.
JIM (V.O.)
Then at least we might find shelter.
MARC (V.O.)
But that shelter may already be inhabited by the smugglers. Think of it, what better place would there be to operate a smuggling operation than right in the asteroid belt where we don't patrol and neither does the defense force?
JIM (V.O.)
But the chances of someone coming in from deep space in an asteroid belt is crazy.
MARC (V.O.)
That's why they come out of hyperdrive outside of it and then rabbit into it, hoping that any pursuing vehicle will dash itself into an asteroid.
JIM (V.O.)
If they can do it with larger freighter ships, then an ISP cruiser could get through a lot easier.
MARC (V.O.)
I think they were counting on us not seeing them.
JIM (V.O.)
Then, why didn't they come in from Jupiter instead?
MARC (V.O.)
Maybe there's less safe clearance coming from that side and Pallas is closer to the inside edge than the outside. They just took more risk for what they deemed the safer route.
JIM (V.O.)
Feeling better now?
MARC (V.O.)
A little. You took my mind off the cold and got me thinking while we moved along.
JIM (V.O.)
I thought that would happen. You're not the only one feeling chilled.
Jim stumbled slid a few meters down the rocks.
MARC (V.O.)
Are you all right? You want me to come down and help you?
JIM (V.O.)
No, I'm unhurt. I'll climb back up to you after I take a little breather.
MARC (V.O.)
Okay, but remember what you told me.
Marc sat down to rest while he awaited his partner.
JIM (V.O.)
Yeah, I'm ready.
Marc, peeked over the top and looked around.
MARC (V.O.)
Are my eyes deceiving me or do I see a warehouse?
Jim came up beside him and laid down on the incline and looked.
JIM (V.O.)
You're eyes must not be or we're seeing the same mirage.
MARC (V.O.)
Yeah, we did it!
JIM (V.O.)
Uh-oh, look up.
The same ambushing freighter was landing in the building.
MARC (V.O.)
Uksake, just what I feared.
JIM (V.O.)
Well, we have to do something. Wait, Marc, those gelstones were in man-sized crates!
MARC (V.O.)
Yeah. Why, what do you have in mind?
JIM (V.O.)
Hiding places.
MARC (V.O.)
Hey, that's awful risky.
JIM (V.O.)
What are the alternatives?
MARC (V.O.)
Freezing.
JIM (V.O.)
What is an uksaka? That's the second time I've heard you say that.
MARC (V.O.)
A centaurian animal with a stink bladder much like your Earth's skunk.
JIM (V.O.)
Yuck.
Jim pulled a magnakey out of a utility pouch and put it to the door. The door slid open.
Marc brought out a similar device, glanced at some vague engravings and dropped it in the shadows at the wall then went inside.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
INT. PALLAS WAREHOUSE
As soon as the airlock came to pressure, Marc pushed up the two levers to pull the face plate and night sight up. They exited the airlock.
The large warehouse was full of large wooden packing crates standing a few feet tall. Forklifts were parked in random areas. Across the large room sat a freighter.
JIM
Wow! Marc, get a load of this!
MARC
There must be a few million credits-worth of gelstones here!
JIM
Yeah, these guys have a major ring going on here. Let's hide before they get back and find us.
Marc inspected the room for empty crates and found some against the wall.
MARC
Jim, here are some spares.
JIM
I'm coming.
They vaulted up into the four foot tall containers and folded themselves inside and replaced their lids when they heard approaching footsteps.
MEL
Clear this place all out. I don't even want an empty left behind to show the cops we've been here.
ALLAJA
You think they found our other base, Mel?
MEL
We ain't going to wait to find out, stupid. They're probably clearing out, too. Now, get to work.
ALLAJA
Okay.
They heard the whir of machinery and the bumps and thumps of the crates being moved around.
After a long while, they felt the fork-lift move into the pallets underneath them, shaking their crates a little.
Marc felt the pallet lower to the ground again and heard the operator jump down from the control box. He stopped breathing.
ALLAJA
How stupid can people get. They're always forgetting to clamp these empties shut. You'd think they had more brains than to risk us getting killed for their recklessness.
The lid went creek-thunk twice and the man moved back to the control box.
Marc made sure the pallet was in the air again before he relaxed.
MEL
You almost done loading?
ALLAJA
Just got another pallet of empties and I'm clear.
MEL
Good. Why'd Telleran have to bait that damned cop? Who the hell does he think he is, thinking he'd ace the cop before the cop managed to call for back-up?
ALLAJA
Sh, he might hear you, Mel, and he's a mean son-of-a-bitch. He'll shoot you down for talking about him that way.
MEL
Just finish up.
A few minutes later, Marc heard the last pallet thump to the floor and then he heard the whine of the cargo doors closing.
MEL
You done? The cops are closing in on us.
ALLAJA
Closing the doors now, Mel. Coming.
Not long after, the engines roared to life and the freighter began to taxi forward. Then, with a burst of energy, it began to lift off the ground and gain altitude.
Marc's crate soon became hot because of his thermal uniform, but he still kept on feeling for a weak place.
MARC
Great, get frozen one minute and then cooked the next.
Soon, he realized that there was no weak place and a wave of fatigue and exhaustion overtook him and he fell asleep.
EXT. PALLAS WAREHOUSE
After the freighters had been destroyed or jumped to hyper-space, Patterson led the remaining patrollers down to the warehouse on Pallas. Patterson was standing just inside of the inner airlock checking the marks on the floor that looked like they were made by pallets while they were being moved, but they looked too recent for the abandoned mines.
Pete Andrews walked up to give his report.
PETE
Sir, this was definitely an outpost for the smuggling ring. We found empty crates they must have missed in a small store room. They match the crates found in Kelson's freighter.
PATTERSON
Everything else was cleared out?
PETE
To the bare walls, Commander.
PATTERSON
Okay, good job, Andrews.
Pete nodded and moved around the corner just as Patterson's communicator came alive.
SIERRA-LIMA 18 (V.O.)
Sierra-lima 18 to Sierra-lima 1, over.
PATTERSON
This is Sierra-lima 1, go ahead Sierra-lima 18, over.
Pete stopped in his tracks to listen to Sierra-lima 18’s sweep patrol report.
SIERRA-LIMA 18 (V.O.)
We've located Sierra-lima 14 in two pieces, the engines are incinerated, but the flight deck's mostly intact with some damage located about 3 kilometers southwest of your position. No sign of Meyers and Daniels, over.
PATTERSON
Okay, continue to search for Meyers and Daniels, over.
SIERRA-LIMA 18 (V.O.)
Wilco, Commander. Sierra-lima 18, out.
EXT. PETE.
ENT. LOWERS
LOWERS
Is there something wrong, Dan?
PATTERSON
Sierra-lima 18 has just reported they've found Sierra-lima 14. Flight deck is mostly intact and was separated from the engines which are incinerated.
LOWERS
It sounds like it was a crash they could walk away from.
PATTERSON
Yes, but they could be wandering around on this dustball, low on air. God, I hope they aren’t out there somewhere dying. Jim’s a fine tech officer and a good friend and that new kid has the makings of a fantastic officer.
PETE
George!
GEORGE
What's wrong, Pete?
PETE
Jim and Marc are missing!
GEORGE
Oh no!
PETE
Yes!
Several feet away in a corner of the warehouse where a few empty crates were left behind, Pete rushed up to George.
George stumbled and flopped down on a medium crate.
PETE
Sierra-lima 18 found the remains of their cruiser in two pieces, the flight deck's damaged and the engines are charred to ashes, but they can't find them!
PATTERSON
Fortier, go help Zenner and Andrews, they’re in shock.
SIERRA-LIMA 22 (V.O.)
Sierra-lima 22 to Sierra-lima 1, my scanner detects a freighter we missed preparing to hyper!
PATTERSON
Can you pursue?
SIERRA-LIMA 22 (V.O.)
Negative, Commander, we're still engaged with another.
PATTERSON
Roger. Davis, Bjornsen, go intercept that freighter!
Davis ran with his partner to their ship. Minutes later, the cruiser landed and Bjornsen ran up to Patterson.
BJORNSEN (V.O.)
Commander, it was too fast. It got the jump on us and got away.
PATTERSON
Damn!
A patrolman ran from the direction of an airlock holding his helmet in one hand and waving a small object in the air with the other.
DAVIS
Commander! I found this magnakey against the wall just inside one of the secondary airlocks!
Davis handed it to the commander.
PATTERSON
I.S.P., SOL, M.D., Love J.D.! Interstellar Space Patrol, Sol, Marcayo Daniels, love Jonathan Daniels! They're alive! Lt. Daniels left us a sign!
LOWERS
If they got here, where would they hide?
DAVIS
Sir, if I may cut in. I'd hide in a crate. They're big enough to accommodate a man as big as either of them.
LOWERS
But this warehouse is cleared out!
PATTERSON
The only alternative is that they were on that freighter!
WANHOCHI (V.O.)
Wanhochi to Sierra-lima 1, over.
PATTERSON
Sierra-lima 1, Captain, go ahead.
WANHOCHI (V.O.)
Have you found any sign of Meyers and Daniels?
PATTERSON
No, sir. However, one of my men's found a magnakey that belongs to Lt. Daniels right outside of this warehouse.
WANHOCHI (V.O.)
How can you be sure?
PATTERSON
It has an inscription on it saying I.S.P., SOL, M.D., Love J.D!
WANHOCHI (V.O.)
Yep, it's Daniels's all right. I gave Marc personal permission to use that device because his father gifted it to him on his graduation. How about that freighter reported to be preparing to jump out?
PATTERSON
Just missed it, sir, and I think Meyers and Daniels may be on it.
WANHOCHI (V.O.)
Then, there's nothing left to do. Commander, pack it up and move your people home.
PATTERSON
Yes, sir. All units, return to base. We've got two captured policemen. There's nothing more we can do here.
GEORGE
They're alive?
PATTERSON
If this magnakey is any indication.
PETE
But that doesn't make them any safer.
PATTERSON
No, it doesn't, but it's a good clue to getting them back. Let's get to our cruisers, patrolmen and women.
Patterson frowned as he slipped the magnakey into a belt pouch.
INT. EARTH=MARS SPACE STATION – PATTERSON'S OFFICE
Patterson and Lowers went into Patterson's office.
PATTERSON
John, call the Intergalactic Bureau of Space Transportation and see if November Echo One Two Zero filed a flight report when they hypered out.
LOWERS
What if they didn't?
PATTERSON
Then, they would've been taking a big risk of coming out on top of another ship.
LOWERS
Unless they went to unused space where they were sure there would be no traffic?
PATTERSON
How comforting.
LOWERS
I'll get on it right away.
EXIT LOWERS.
Dan Patterson frowned as he fingered the lieutenant's magnakey.
INT. FREIGHTER – SPACE
Telleran had just managed to get to the dark side of Pallas when he saw the cops land at the warehouse.
TELLERAN
Damn, that pig flew better than I thought he would.
MEL
Well, aren’t we going?
TELLERAN
You just mind the cargo. I’ll get us out of here.
MEL
If you hadn’t baited that cop, we wouldn’t have lost our main warehouse!
Telleran surged out of his pilots’ seat, pulled out his gun and grabbed Mel around the neck with the barrel of the pistol at his jugular vein.
Mel’s eyes widened in terror.
TELLERAN
If you want to keep your head on your shoulders, you better shut the hell up.
MEL
Got it, Cor.
Telleran lowered his gun and sat down again.
TELLERAN
Tell your pets in the back to strap in. I’m going to fly through this asteroid field hell-bent to ditch the cops.
Mel shook his head and rushed out of the cockpit.
TELLERAN
Spineless idiot!
Telleran turned his freighter toward a cluster of planetoids. He noticed that Mylonas was still dancing with an ISP cruiser. He gave them a cocky salute before he increased speed to run for clear space. Before he neared another planetoid, another cruiser flew from Pallas at top speed.
TELLERAN
Now this is getting good!
He began evasive maneuvers just in time for the cop to open fire as he wove through the asteroids.
TELLERAN
Damn, this pig much easier than the pig I just shot down!
(beat)
November Echo One Two Zero to Alpha Charlie Two Three One, get on the horn and clear us for a jump to Serius 5.
AC231 (V.O.)
Roger November Echo One Two Zero, will do. Hold.
(beat)
Your coordinates are 33569.4, over.
TELLERAN
Got it. See you later. You better lay low. Cop's onto us.
He shot out of the asteroid belt and primed his FTL engines. A minute later, he punched it into hyper-space.
INT. ISP PRECINCT
At the precinct, Patterson sure wasn't smiling as he did his normal routine while he was impatiently awaiting Lowers' results.
Just then, someone knocked on his door.
PATTERSON
Come in.
Lowers entered slowly.
LOWERS
No trace of the damned freighter, Dan.
PATTERSON
None?
LOWERS
None. They must have had a shadow- a legitimate freighter covering their tracks and getting clear coordinates.
PATTERSON
Then we're back to square one.
LOWERS
Not necessarily. If this is the same ring Kelson was in, it points to Alpha Centauri.
PATTERSON
Of course, which means I have to give this case to Steve Leighson. I hate the idea of being shut out of this.
LOWERS
You know that's the way it's got to be.
PATTERSON
I'm not giving up yet, John. I'm calling Cpt. Wanhochi.
Patterson sat forward and typed a command into his computer.
Lowers laid his hands on Patterson’s desk.
LOWERS
You're reaching for an impossibility, Dan. He won't let you do it.
PATTERSON
I'm going to try.
He went to turn on his vid-phone, but was stopped by the tech officer.
LOWERS
If it's any consolation, the general opinion of the troops is, despite their attitudes toward Lt. Daniels, they think this is a lousy situation for any police officer to be in. They feel bad about it, too.
PATTERSON
Thanks, John. I'm glad they have some heart about this, but I still have to try.
LOWERS
Okay.
Patterson finished the call. Cpt. Wanhochi showed on the screen.
WANHOCHI
Cpt. Wanhochi.
PATTERSON
I had Lowers run a scan through the BST's files to see if Telleran filed a hyper-jump request.
WANHOCHI
And?
PATTERSON
It was a no-go. John thinks he may have had a shadow.
WANHOCHI
That gets us no where.
PATTERSON
However, since this rash of attacks seems to have begun after 14 apprehended Kelson, and those crates we found matched Kelson's, I think we can safely reason this ring operates out of Alpha Centauri 7.
WANHOCHI
I'll accept that. I'll pass this case to Cpt. Corman immediately.
The captain reached a hand to cut the line.
PATTERSON
Sir, I have one more request.
WANHOCHI
Go on.
PATTERSON
Sir, I feel responsible for their capture. I told them not to engage in confrontation immediately, but to follow and wait for back-up.
WANHOCHI
You did.
PATTERSON
But, I should have known the smugglers would learn that 14 was the arresting Unit and they might try to retaliate!
WANHOCHI
You did what you thought was necessary for the protection of your patrolmen and women, Commander.
PATTERSON
Sir, I'd like to go to Alpha Centauri myself and help with the investigation to recover my men.
WANHOCHI
I'm sorry, Dan. I can't allow you to leave Sol. If Cdr. Leighson still heads the Jayma Division Patrol, he'll be put on the case. You know he's a good commander. He'll lead his division and get this case mopped up as fast as possible. I'll keep you posted as soon as I get word.
PATTERSON
(SIGH)
Thank you, sir. I'm sure you would've sent me if you could have.
WANHOCHI
Thank you, commander.
Wanhochi cut the line.
PATTERSON
Damn!
Patterson sat back and thought about what he was going to do next when his door swept open.
Trevor rushed into the room.
TREVOR
What's this I hear about Daniels missing?
PATTERSON
I don't have time for you, Trevor.
TREVOR
Is Daniels missing?
PATTERSON
Okay, yes, Daniels and Meyers are both missing. We found their unit crashed on Pallas.
TREVOR
You have to find him!
PATTERSON
Of course, we'll find them! Two of my men are out there, possibly in danger!
TREVOR
If word spreads to the media that Daniels is missing, you'll be in big trouble, Patterson.
PATTERSON
Is that all you're worried about? I don't have time for this. Get out, Trevor.
TREVOR
I'm not kidding, Patterson!
PATTERSON
Two men are in danger or possibly dead and all you care about is if the media learns your pet project is in danger? Get out or I'll have you taken from my office!
TREVOR
You don't know the delicate situation we're in! Some people in prestigious positions are banking on Daniels success!
PATTERSON
Then why the hell are you always threatening to take Daniels' badge away from him for exemplary service?
TREVOR
Because there are also some who don't want minorities in positions of authority and Daniels' exemplary skills as a pilot are making the opposition nervous! We're walking a fine line here!
PATTERSON
You're walking a fine line? I've got an aggressive smuggling ring killing my patrolmen and carrying huge loads of Gelstones enough to power an army of lasers! What we've got is two good men are missing or dead and I want to find them. You can talk to your supporters and opposition and tell them these patrolmen are still people who are in pain!
Stop impeding my efforts to find these two men so I can bring them home!
Trevor finally winced.
TREVOR
I noticed that tempers are very short around here. I was concerned that some of your officers were giving Daniels' hassle. Now with Meyers and Daniels missing, I feel desperation in the air. Since I have connections to the media, how about me being your spokesman to assure the media we're investigating this smuggling ring to end the predation of patrol officers?
PATTERSON
That would be appreciated, Trevor. Please do that.
TREVOR
Now I'll leave so you can get back to work.
EXIT TREVOR.
Patterson turned his attention to the new field reports.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
An interminable time had passed when Marc woke up again displaced and panicked until he remembered where he was and the danger he was in.
JIM (V.O.)
Marc?
MARC
Yeah.
JIM (V.O.)
Are you all right?
MARC
Yeah, a bit claustrophobic. I'm going to get out of here.
JIM (V.O.)
How? They're sealed tight. The only reason we haven't suffocated yet is because of our air-tanks.
MARC
But I'm almost out of air. I'll blast the lid off if I have to.
Marc struggled to unsnap his holster and squeeze his arm above him while holding the laser.
MARC
Ready? You better turn your radio off for a few minutes so you don't get deafened.
JIM (V.O.)
Receiver is off. I'm ready.
Marc squeezed the trigger.
The lid exploded and flew through the air to land across the hold.
He took off his helmet and listened intently trying to hear despite the ringing in his ears from the explosion. He continued to wear his headphones.
JIM (V.O.)
Wow, I heard that through my helmet!
After a few minutes, when no one came, he painfully climbed out, clipped his helmet to his belt and stretched his legs by walking a few circles.
JIM (V.O.)
Marc, are you still there?
MARC
Yeah. I was maintaining radio silence in case someone heard me.
JIM (V.O.)
Well, will you get me out of here?
MARC
Give me time to stretch! I feel like a pretzel that just untied itself!
Marc began to rap on crate lids to locate his partner.
Finally, when he rapped on a crate three to the left of his vacated one, he got an answer. He unstrapped it and took off the lid.
JIM (V.O.)
You still took your time about it!
Marc helped Jim climb out. Jim tore off his helmet and took a few deep breaths from the freighter's circulating air and clipped his helmet to his belt while he walked shaky circles in the small open area.
MARC
How could I possibly have started to look for you immediately when you're walking just as good as I was? While you stretch out, I'll look around.
JIM
Okay, be careful.
Marc nodded and left.
INT. FREIGHTER HALLWAY (CONTINUOUS)
Marc bent down as he slipped out of the hatch into a short corridor.
The corridor turned right a few paces ahead. He turned around and saw the corridor turned left a few paces from the cargo hold hatch so he turned around again and crept to the corner. He cautiously looked around the corner and saw this new corridor had no hatch at the end. He crept up to the next corner. He stopped when he heard voices.
ALLAJA
Boss isn’t going to be happy about us blowing our cover!
MEL
Yeah, but when I tried to talk about it with Telleran, he grabbed me by the throat and stuck his pistol into my neck.
BRAKTOR
He’s my kind of guy. You humans are too soft.
MEL
You Ganuvians would turn in your own mother if you could profit from it.
BRAKTOR
And once my mother was in custody and I had my money, she’d fight herself out of the prison and come home praising me for my ingenuity and a cut of the reward!
Marc glanced around the corner and saw the three at a table in the center of the commons.
In the center of the wall he looked around was a hatch.
Marc surmised that since the corridor wrapped around the room, it probably was a storage area.
At the other end of the room was a heavy hatch that usually indicated the cockpit was beyond.
Marc pulled back from the corner and looked both ways before he retraced his steps back to the cargo hold.
MARC
There's not much to it. There's a short corridor running on each side of a small room. Then the hall opens up into a commons room and beyond it looks like a short corridor that leads to the cockpit. I saw three guys in the commons playing cards, one's a Ganuvian warrior. Hopefully there's only one guy in the cockpit, so I guess there's at least four people on board.
JIM
Ganuvian, huh?
MARC
Not one that I'd like to tangle with, either. He's a brute.
JIM
Then there's not much we can do, but lay low and find out where this ship's going.
MARC
At least we have spacious accommodations! How long do you think we're going to be in flight? We have no food or water.
JIM
Hopefully, not for long.
MARC
I wish I had your optimism.
JIM
You said something about a small room. Did you see where the entry was?
MARC
From the commons. I figured it may be a supply room.
JIM
No good. Can't risk letting them see us.
Jim studied the large room.
JIM
We could see what's deeper into the hold. Our best bet's to hide behind the crates near the cargo door until they land.
MARC
I guess.
Jim moved to follow, but his legs were still unsure and he stumbled over his vacated crate.
It gave a horrible crash when it landed on the floor.
The two men dove for cover.
Soon, they heard footsteps approaching.
The policemen quietly pulled out their pistols and waited.
A Ganuvian who was dressed in metal-spiked black clothes entered the cargo hold.
BRAKTOR
Stupid human, I thought I had heard some noise back here.
He drew a laser pistol and cautiously moved into the cargo hold. When he got close to Meyers' hiding place, Jim jumped out and called for the man to freeze.
Instead of stopping, he shot at Jim and dove for cover.
Jim was taken by surprise and lunged sideways a second too late. He fell to the deck screaming with his left forearm blackened.
Marc fired back at the warrior from his position.
MARC
Jim, are you all right?
JIM (V.O.)
I've been shot before. It's my left arm.
MARC
Well, I need help, buddy. I'm pinned.
Marc ducked behind his crate to avoid the Ganuvian’s barrage.
JIM (V.O.)
I dropped my laser. I'll be back with you when I find it.
MARC
Hurry.
Marc stretched up for another shot.
Just then, another man shot around the cargo door grazing Marc's hand.
Marc dropped his laser.
MARC
Sh'kukte!
A few feet away, Jim had just retrieved his laser and began to shoot.
JIM (V.O.)
Marc?
MARC
A bolt grazed my hand! Now I've dropped mine.
JIM (V.O.)
Hold on, partner, I'll try to get these guys.
MARC
I'll be with you in a minute.
Marc breathed deeply, picked up his laser again and rejoined the fight even though his hand was still throbbing and blistered.
The Ganuvian, expecting not to have to worry about Marc any longer concentrated on Jim, so when Marc rejoined the fight, he grazed the Ganuvian's head. He fell hard to the floor.
Telleran joined the fight and blasted holes through the crates.
Marc threw Jim a frantic look.
Sweat glistened on Jim’s face.
TELLERAN
Now, eventually I'm going to shoot through a crate you're hiding behind and even if I don't, I can always seal this door and pump all your air out. So if you value your lives, you'll surrender.
MEL
Are you crazy, Telleran? You're shooting through the gelstones!
TELLERAN
They're okay. What's a few grams lost? I can't have you guys tearing up my ship back here. He either looses a few grams or the whole goddamn ship and I ain't loosing my ship! Got that? It's easier to wipe a little bit of smeared blood and guts up than to kill us all with a breech in the hull. Think about it.
ALLAJA
You can't pump the air out! The Ganuvian's in there.
TELLERAN
Who cares?
JIM (V.O.)
Marc, are you ready to die?
MARC
Not really.
JIM
Okay, we surrender.
Jim stood up, laid his pistol on a nearby crate and backed up.
Marc did the same.
TELLERAN
Well, if it ain't the two cops from the cop-ship I sheared the wing off of! You're some damned determined cops! Too bad. It was your mistake. You're going to wish you'd died in the crash, boys!
Telleran leveled the pistol at Marc first.
MEL
No! Let's take them to the boss and let him decide what to do with them.
TELLERAN
Can you manage to do that without screwing it up?
MEL
Just fly the ship, Telleran!
Telleran left laughing.
MEL
I'll secure these cops. Allaja, you find Braktor.
ALLAJA
What if he's hurt?
MEL
Improvise! Get their lasers, too.
Mel frisked Marc and Jim, removing their headsets and their pistol belts.
He led the men into the common area and waved them into chairs he situated back-to-back.
Just then, the Ganuvian entered shaking his head while the other man followed. The warrior rushed to the chairs and slapped Marc across the face.
Marc winced as he turned his head back and tasted blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He massaged his neck and wiped the blood from his chin.
MEL
Cool it, Braktor, and make sure these guys don't try anything.
Mel opened a small door to a cabinet, drew out a long coiling line of rope and tossed it to the big man.
MEL
Tie them.
The warrior savagely tied Marc and Jim to the chairs tightly and grinned when Jim winced from the pain in his arm and his wrists. He yanked the rope tight around Marc's ankles.
Marc closed his eyes, refusing to react to the pain.
BRAKTOR
This is Ganymeden Kleldon rope. It's unbreakable. It's a vine that's grown in a terraform colony in your Ganymede's equatorial region and it's one of the most resilient ropes in the Alliance. You won't be getting out of there!
He gave the rope one more malicious tug and tied a complicated knot. He chuckled and sat down at the table.
MEL
Hey you, Meyers and Daniels. What my friend left out is that the more you squirm, the tighter the rope pulls back! It's even been known to strangle it's victims, so you better be awful still!
He stood up and walked back toward the cockpit while Allaja and Braktor resumed their abandoned card game.
LATER
Awakened from a nap he didn't remember taking, Marc was led behind Jim out of the ship. Marc hardly felt his eyes adjust to the weak sunlight as they came out onto the hard-packed dirt with almost no vegitation. He felt exceptionally light, like the planet they stood on had lighter than Earth gravity. Ahead of them was a dingy squat metal warehouse. Off to his right, Mel was talking to another man.
MEL
Damn Telleran baited a cop-ship into an ambush with the rest of the damned freighter pilots! They called backup, so it blew our Pallas base wide open! Then, after we barely got away, we found two cops stowed away in the cargo hold! How they got there, I don't know.
SMUGGLER
Two cops? You disposed of them?
MEL
No! You think I want to stay with two stinking corpses for a day?
SMUGGLER
You could have jettisoned them! They'll draw attention to our operation. Boss is going to be very angry.
MEL
And what if someone saw us jettisoning dead bodies? You got to come out of hyper-space to do that! Nice thing to do deep in the middle of the stinking Alliance! Talk about drawing attention!
SMUGGLER
Okay, take them inside.
Marc and Jim were bound by their wrists and taken into the building.
INT. DETENTION ROOM
After being led through a half a dozen corridors, their hands were untied.
They were pushed into a room and the door was slammed shut and locked. The room had a pair of musty, ancient-looking mats pressed flat long ago and one small frosted glass window that didn't afford much light.
Marc dusted off a mat and laid down.
Jim paced the floor, kicking up dust.
MARC
How's your arm?
JIM
It's stiff but usable.
Jim held his shoulder and rolled it once.
JIM
Your hand?
MARC
Hurts like hell, but usable.
Jim squatted down and took Marc's right hand. He examined the burn.
JIM
Usable? This needs treatment.
MARC
And yours doesn't?
JIM
My uniform took most of the blast. You didn't have your gloves on to save your hand. You have first and second degree burns here.
MARC
(GUTTERAL ACCENT THICKENING)
A warrior doesn't let pain keep him from finishing the fight!
JIM
I'm sorry for insulting you!
MARC
It's the Brocana in me. They teach their children to endure pain and keep it from disabling them because it's hard for healthy men to endure the conditions of some regions of Centauria much less injured ones. They condition their children to keep going despite the pain.
Jim shook his head in disbelief.
JIM
But you weren't always with them!
MARC
I was with them enough.
Marc laid his injured hand on his chest.
JIM
On my world, that's child abuse.
MARC
On my world, it's survival.
JIM
Anyway, I wish it could be treated.
MARC
I've been taught how to endure the pain, not like it.
JIM
Yeah, I guess so but why did they have to take every damned crate there? I was counting on them leaving the empty crates! Then, when they'd cleared out, we would've climbed out and waved down a patrol ship sweeping the planetoid looking for them!
Marc laid back down.
MARC
It didn't work that way. Still, it was a better idea than to risk running out of air before they found us, so calm down and rest.
JIM
I rested on the ship.
MARC
Then stop stirring dust. You're choking me.
Marc waved his uninjured hand through the air to disperse the dust cloud.
Jim looked incredulous, but sat down on the other mat in a cloud of more dust. He coughed and waved his hand in the air to scatter the cloud.
JIM
Better?
MARC
No, but it's all we can do.
JIM
I wonder what's happening back in Sol? Have they found the wreck? Can they figure out if we survived or do they think we crashed and burned with the cruiser?
MARC
Now, you'll give yourself a headache worrying about them.
JIM
Got any better ideas, Sherlock?
Marc sat up.
MARC
Know any word games?
JIM
Charades?
MARC
Not enough light and it'd stir up dust.
Jim gestured toward Marc’s face.
JIM
Yeah, that’s right, your eyes don’t see well in dim light.
MARC
How about sticks and stones if you let me do it left-handed?
JIM
Okay.
Jim pumped his fisted hand while Marc did the same.
JIM
One, two, three.
FADE OUT.
THE END.