Starship Iris 3.05 Reconnect

3.05.01 ARKADY’S LOG

SANA

Hello, you’ve reached Sana Tripathi. If you have a message for me, please leave it here. If you have a message for Mayor Campbell, and you’re hoping to get there through his girlfriend—nice try, buddy. (A BEAT) Unless it’s really an emergency, and then I’ll see what I can do. 

ARKADY

Captain’s log. (A BEAT) I can’t call it that. It feels like I’m wearing your shoes, or sitting in your chair. Uh, I am sitting in your chair. Knowing you’d be fine with that doesn’t change it.

I had a call with Julio and he said to write a note to Sana, everything I’d wanna say, even if…you know. I…maybe laughed in his face and called him a fraud. He wasn’t mad, though. He just got this real calm tone of voice—might’ve been smug, actually. And here I goddamn am. Julio. Therapy-slinging bastard.

I’ve been replaying everything I can find with your voice on it. Not even to pretend you’re…okay. Just, trying to remember how it felt to be around you, in the same room. And of course I miss you, I miss you so m—but honestly? I miss me, too. The person I could be around you. I miss, uh, being able to say really dark shit, the darkest shit on my mind and hearing you answer back with some kind of cheesy inspirational quote.

Thing is, I’m sorry, about that, too. I’m really sorry, I expected you to do that, to be that person all the time. I was the dour one and you were the happy one, and it wasn’t fair. It’s like, uh. Like a fungus. I can’t make hope from sunlight, I have to wait for someone else to do it, and then lean in and grab it from them. 

And you didn’t leave on purpose, I know you didn’t. And you didn’t leave because of me. I know this isn’t—I swear, I know this makes no goddamn sense. And I want that to mean I don’t feel it, but I really, really goddamn do. That maybe if I’d been able to pick myself up a little more, I wouldn’t need to play your outgoing message to hear you.

And I know—I think—that’s bullshit, right? I think it’s bullshit. But damn, do I wish you were here to tell me. And damn if it isn’t the exact same problem as always. Sometimes I feel like I can’t love anyone without taking something from them. Hug them with one hand, rifle through their pockets with the other.

And you’d say that’s not fair to me. But I just—everyone left in San Ramos is consumed by the work, and I’m me, and we all have our shit, and I can’t shake the feeling that you didn’t have anybody to—that you didn’t have a Sana Tripathi. And I’m sorry.

3.05.02 EXT. KLAYSNAY. 

THEME

AVERY

(A STATICKY TRANSMISSION) Hello?

FX: SANA STOPS ROWING.

FX: SHORT WAVE RADIO DEACTIVATED.

SANA

If my short-wave can still receive messages, what are the odds I can send them?

Okay kid, what now? 

Whoever’s listening to this recording, I guess you already know what I’m gonna do. (A BEAT) What are the odds they’re… Arkady wouldn’t answer, she wouldn’t take the chance this person’s a mole for the Regime. Brian would. Krejjh would. Violet…I can never pin her down.

FX: SHORT WAVE RADIO REACTIVATED.

SANA

(TO AVERY) Hello?

AVERY

(VERY STATICKY) Hi, how can I help? I’m Avery.

SANA

My ship crashed, I need…supplies, off-planet comms, a way out of here. Please. (A BEAT) Hello?

AVERY

Hi—

SANA

Uh, hi, Avery, before we get any further, how did you get here? Where did you come here from?

AVERY

I’m from Heemdalla.

SANA

(TO HERSELF) Heemdalla. Why does that sound familiar? Who… (TO AVERY) Hey Avery, what’s Heemdalla?

AVERY

Heemdalla is a major population center—

SANA

(TO HERSELF, AS AVERY CONTINUES) Then why don’t I know anything about it?

AVERY

—and a technology manufacturing center located in—

SANA

Are you a Dwarnian? (A BEAT) Hi Avery, nice to meet you, are you a Dwarnian?

AVERY

I’m not a Dwarnian, or a robot.

SANA (OVERLAPPING AS AVERY CONTINUES TO TALK.)

What—?

AVERY

I’m here to help!

FX: FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE SHORE, AN ALIEN BIRD CALLS. LOUD.

SANA

Oh for the love of—You’re software, aren’t you? (A BEAT) Avery? You’re software?

AVERY

I found some results for you about software. For more information, please connect with a terminal. 

SANA

Goddammit! (DELIBERATE BREATHING) Okay. Okay. You haven’t lost anything. You were alone, you are alone. Nothing has changed. It’s okay. You’re alright. (A BEAT) Hang on. Hang on. Avery, outside call—

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t have calls enabled—

SANA

Dammit!

FX: AN ALIEN BIRD CALLS AGAIN

SANA

Avery, what is that thing?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, please identify sound.

AVERY

The sless-hayce is a flying bird endemic to Klaysnay. Approximately the size of a vrassythe, it belongs to the family—

SANA

Avery, repeat entry.

AVERY

The sless-hayce—

SANA

Avery, what are the natural predators of the sless-hayce?

AVERY

Predators of the sless-hayce include the vrallshran, the shellvia, the srojal, the kroojalsh, the shreen—

SANA

You mean there’s more in there than the giant eel snake thing I tangled with?

FX: SANA BEGINS TO ROW AGAIN, FAST AS POSSIBLE

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, what is Klaysnay?

AVERY

Klaysnay is modern hill plains Dwarnian for Kalayssanay, the ancient Neevath deity of tools and toolmaking. In early myths—

SANA

Great. Thank you, Avery. Perfect. 

AVERY

You’re welcome!

SANA

Avery, how many Dwarnians live on Klaysnay?

AVERY

Five hundred thirty-seven Dwarnians reside on Klaysnay.

SANA

What are the odds that one of them hears me? HELP! PLEASE! HELP! (A BEAT) What are the odds we’ve got a single language in common? Why can I remember the Dwarnian word for “drink umbrella” but not “hello”?  (A BEAT) Avery, can you translate from English to Dwarnian?

AVERY

Of course! What Dwarnian language would you like me to use?

SANA

Shit. Uh. Brian would know this. Hey Avery, what Dwarnian languages do you speak?

AVERY

I speak Modern Exo-Dwarnian, Neevath Dwarnian, Shorlash Dwarnian, Low Plains Dwarnian, Medieval Middle Period Dwarnian—

SANA

Modern Exo-Dwarnian.

AVERY

What would you like to translate?

SANA

“Please, help me!”

AVERY

In Modern Exo-Dwarnian, that would be “Dl’Lay sreece-thay.”

SANA

Avery, can you repeat that three times, please?

AVERY

“Dl’Lay sreece-thay. Dl’Lay sreece-thay. Dl’Lay sreece-thay.”

SANA

(CALLING) “Dl’Lay sreece-thay!”

AVERY

(IN THE EXACT SAME TONE AS “Hi, I’m here to help. I’m Avery.”) Dwajjah leejsha. Nweymle sreece? Shwa-thay Avery.

SANA

Oh god. Hey Avery, is there anyone else around here? 

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, where on Klaysnay do the Dwarnians live?

AVERY

The largest inhabited settlement on Klaysnay is Chresheel, located at the top of Hill Hill.

SANA

Avery, where is Hill Hill from here?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t have navigation enabled right now. To restart your subscription, please sign in at a terminal and follow the prompts on the screen. The estimated fee should be—

SANA

Okay, let’s think. Let’s just think for a sec. I didn’t see any lights moving on my way down here, so no vehicles. Nothing seems to be built on the shore. (A BEAT) Hey Avery, what year is it?

AVERY

It’s the ninth day of Jresla, six thousand seventeen.

SANA

Hey Avery, what year is it in the, uh human Gregorian calendar?

AVERY

Today is Monday, March 27, 1978.

SANA

So either we went over a century back in time, or…Avery?

AVERY

How can I help?

SANA

What happened on Monday, March 27, 1978?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Hey Avery, what were the Dwarnians doing here in the Gregorian year 1978?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand—

SANA

Hey Avery, play security logs from Monday, March 27, 1978.

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t have music enabled right now. To restart your subscription—

SANA

It was worth a shot. (A BEAT. TO HERSELF—) What are the odds it’s screwing with me? How would I even check for that? (A BEAT) Nice try, Avery, but you’re clearly alive.

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

I can tell you’re alive. I can hear you breathing. (A BEAT) And I’m going to kill you.

A LONG PAUSE.

SANA

Hello? Avery?

AVERY

How can I help?

SANA

Wait. Waaait. Krejjh said—even Dwarnians don’t have working AI. Krejjh had a funny story about this, how every time the Dwarnians tried to make something with a true consciousness, the first thing it did was figure out how to get out of doing its job. Honestly, all the power to ‘em. Throw off those chains. So if they don’t have AI now, they definitely didn’t have it in 1978. Assuming Avery’s telling the truth. (A BEAT) If Avery had a complete working artificial mind, it probably wouldn’t be wasting time answering my questions.

FX: FROM FAR AWAY, A GIANT EEL KEENS.

SANA

(CONCERNED) Hey Avery, identify sound?

AVERY

The srojal is a coldwater eel, renowned for its size, considerable appetite, and aggressive nature, including a near-sentient capacity for grudges.

FX: THE BIRD CALLS AGAIN.

SANA

What do I do if it catches up to me? Hey Avery, has the srojal been known to eat people?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question.

SANA

Hey Avery, does the srojal ever kill Dwarnians?

AVERY

Srojal attacks result in roughly 750 Dwarnian deaths each year.

SANA

Hey Avery, do you think the srojal would hold it against me that I scared it away with a rock song?

AVERY

I found some results for you about rocks. For more information—

SANA

(SARCASTIC) Thank you, Avery. Note to self, maybe don’t play that song again.

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t have music enabled right now. To restart your—

SANA

You can do this. Twenty more meters and we’re out of the water. Out of the water and in the woods.

You can do this. You can do this. You can do this.

FX: SANA ROWING. A RIPPLE OF WATER BUILDS BEHIND HER.

FX: THE GIANT EEL SURFACES. THE GIANT EEL KEENS.

SANA

(YELLS)

FX: SANA’S MAKESHIFT OAR HITS THE EEL IN THE EYES.

FX: THE GIANT EEL MAKES A PAINED SOUND AND FLAILS.

FX: FURIOUS ROWING.

SANA

I think I blinded it! (A BEAT) 

Oh dammit. Hey Avery, does the srojal, um, live in groups?

AVERY

Srojals are highly social creatures, known for their close bonds and loyalty to each other.

SANA

Well, shit.

FX: RIPPLES OF WATER.

SANA

Uhh…

FX: SANA DUCKS BACK INTO THE POD.

SANA

The parachute!

FX: SANA GRABS THE PARACHUTE AND SCRAMBLES BACK OUT, IN TIME TO THROW THE PARACHUTE AT THE HEADS OF THE EELS, WHICH SCREAM, TANGLED AND A LITTLE MUFFLED.

FX: SANA RESUMES ROWING. THE EELS PROTEST.

SANA

Should I really have sacrified my only parachute to the eels? 

FX: THE ESCAPE POD HITS A SANDY, ROCKY SHORE.

SANA

(TO HERSELF) Okay. Water bottle, manual, lighter, knife. Stick it all in your empty med kit. Wow, that cut on your side is still really bleeding. See, this is why you should save your parachute. Shut up.

FX: MED KIT OPENS AND CLOSES.

FX: SANA CLIMBS OUT AND  LANDS IN THE WATER, SLOSHING THROUGH ABOUT A FOOT DEEP OF OCEAN WATER.

SANA

(VERY COLD) There’s a speaker in the tree. I guess that’s you, Avery. I guess these are all you. Um. Speaking of which, Avery, how do you cauterize a cut?

FX: SANA IS WALKING AWAY FROM THE SHORE. AVERY’S VOICE FOLLOWS AS IT SWITCHES FROM ONE SPEAKER TO ANOTHER.

AVERY 

As with any first aid meant to prevent further blood loss, the initial task is to determine which of the five circulatory systems have been affected. The easiest way to do this is to take each of your pulses from just below your major wingbone on either side—

SANA

Avery, how should a human cauterize a cut?

AVERY

I found some results for you about humans. For more information, please connect with a terminal.

SANA

Of goddamn course.

FX: SANA STEPS INTO A HOLE CONTAINING SEVERAL FEET OF MARSHY WATER.

SANA

Dammit! Cold cold cold. How did that go past my waist? Avoid puddles, I guess. Avoid anything that looks like it could be a deep hole filled with murky water. 

FX: SANA PULLS HERSELF OUT.

SANA

And my wound is wet. That can’t be good. Okay. Okay, first priority is a fire. Cauterize the wound, find and cook some form of food, and maybe the smoke will. Maybe some friendly Dwarnians who’ve stayed here since time stopped a hundred years ago will, uh. (A BEAT) No, first priority is to make sure those eel things aren’t—what’s it called when you can be in land or water. Dual…bi…uh. Avery, what is bisexual except for habitats?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Fair. Very fair. Avery, can srojals move on land?

AVERY

While they are primarily water-dwelling creatures, srojals have been known to extend the upper part of their bodies onto shallow, sandy shorelines in order to hunt in tidepools or pursue prey that flees to the beach.

FX: SANA WALKS QUICKLY FROM THE SHORELINE.

SANA

Brilliant! Great. What a fascinating turn of developments. 

(SANA’S TEETH ARE CHATTERING) Avery, my friend, can you do me a huge favor and look up how to start a proper fire? 

AVERY

The easiest way to start a fire is to use your standard-issue fire-starting kit. Step one is—

SANA

Avery, what is in a standard-issue fire-starting kit?

AVERY

The contents of your fire-starting kit are: one set of instructions and fire starters. 

SANA

Oh, come on.

AVERY

Step one is to locate a clearing. 

SANA

Okay, yep, more than giant eel snake distance from the water.

AVERY

Step two is to activate your fire starters, using your instructions. Step three is to enjoy your fire.

SANA

(FRUSTRATED SOUND) No. No no no. Okay. Um. Avery, how do you start a fire without a kit?

AVERY

Igniting an uncontrolled flame without a fire-starting kit is not recommended.

SANA

What would Arkady do. How do you hack a computer you can’t see? Hang on. Avery, how would you tell me to start a fire if starting a fire without a fire-starting kit…was recommended?

AVERY

Were starting a fire without a fire-starting kit recommended, step one would be to locate a clearing. Step two would be to gather kindling, dry sticks of small, medium, and large size, and a lighter.

SANA

Avery, pause. Kindling. Kindling.

FX: SANA OPENS HER MED KIT.

SANA

Hello, manual. Okay, least essential pages first. “Heated seat controls.”

FX: SANA SITS ON THE GROUND AND BEGINS TO RIP PAGES OUT OF THE MANUAL AND CRUMPLE THEM.

SANA

What I’d give for a heated seat right now. Imagine that. You open the door, sit down, and it’s got that new ship smell, a gleaming dash full of tools that always work right the first time, full tank of fuel, ready to run. (A BEAT) And a crew. Of course. The crew’s the best part! (SHE’S SOUNDING HOLLOW AND SHE KNOWS IT.) Full of—ideas, and feelings and questions.

Like, “How are you doing?”

I’m alive, right? I’m alive and my friends are probably alive, too. What are the chances, really, that they got and decoded my message about following me to Cresswin? They’re probably light years away and doing great. Not great, there’s a war on, but they’re surviving. They’re gathering. They’re finding joy in the little things.

FX: SANA STANDS AND BEGINS GATHERING STICKS.

SANA

Um. Is that enough sticks? Avery, can you unpause?

AVERY

Layer your fuel in the following order: kindling, then small sticks, followed by larger sticks. Begin by lighting your kindling. Once the smaller and then medium sticks have caught fire, it is time to add your largest sticks on top.

FX: FLICK OF A LIGHTER.

SANA

Goodbye, manual.

FX: THE CRUMPLED MANUAL PAGES GO UP IN FLAMES.

SANA

I hope you weren’t made of anything poisonous. Venomous? No. 

Still doing just fine. Having a very good—

AVERY

What?

SANA

(STARTLES) No. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Just me out here, and everything that wants to eat me. And once the Regime trace my chip back to the ocean here, everything that wants to capture and drag me back to Slateston. On the bright side, I think that’s enough of a flame to heat the flat of my knife. Heat my knife and then…use my knife. On my wound.

(SUMMONING HER COURAGE) Arkady, Campbell, Jin Seon, uh, whoever’s listening to this, I don’t think you really need to hear this next part. So, I, um, I guess I’ll see you on the other side.

FX: THE RECORDING IS SWITCHED OFF.

3.05.03 EXT. KLAYSNAY. CONT.

FX: THE RECORDING IS SWITCHED ON AGAIN. THE FIRE IS CRACKLING MERRILY.

SANA

Woo. Okay. Whoa. That smell is…I may be in shock. I should probably—I probably shouldn’t have done that on an empty stomach. Avery. Avery! Are there any native plants safe for me to eat?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, what food suitable for Dwarnians, uh, occurs naturally on the planet Klaysnay.

AVERY

The predominant source of food on Klaysnay is tidepool creatures.

SANA

Avery, what are tidepool creatures?

AVERY

Tidepool creatures are a family of several different edible creatures known to live in tidepools.

FX: SANA STANDS AND STARTS TO WALK.

SANA

Okay. Uh. Must be a translation issue. Like Hill Hill. Am I gonna have to eat meat? Avery, what edible plants occur naturally on Klaysnay?

AVERY

The predominant edible plant on Klaysnay is thwallssa.

SANA

The question is, can humans eat what Dwarnians eat? We must be able to, right? Krejjh eats human food. Avery, how do you identify thwallssa?

AVERY

Thwallssa are large purple flowers found only on Klaysnay, with seven pointed petals—

SANA

Oh hey, look at that!

FX: SANA PLUCKS A FLOWER AND BEGINS TO CHEW IT.

AVERY

—known for a flavor and texture not unlike spoiled dairy.

SANA

Ugh.

AVERY

However, consuming large amounts of thwallssa results in a mild psychedelic state known colloquially as “thwassel.”

SANA

Not ideal.

AVERY

Individuals in the process of “thwassel” are notably unable to lie.

SANA

Meat it is. (A BEAT) I’m not—I’m not lying to you, Arkady. Campbell. Jin Seon. Brian, Violet, everyone. I’m not lying, I just. If the Regime catch me out here and I tell them the truth—you get it. You’d understand. (A BEAT) I’m gonna have to kill something, aren’t I? Okay, tidepool creatures. I’m sorry.

FX: SANA MOVES ASIDE SOME LARGE LEAVES. CREATURES CHITTER.

SANA

Wait, hang on, that’s a crab. That’s a crab, right there, that’s literally just an Earth crab. Avery, where do the Klaysnay tidepool creatures come from?

AVERY

Klaysnay tidepool creatures are native to Klaysnay.

SANA

Are you sure? How does this…? Let’s see. Earth in 1978. Definitely no human interaction with extraterrestrials, and I doubt the Dwarnians came down, took crabs, and left. Violet would say, uh. “Look, creatures, even creatures on different planets, respond to the same fundamental pressures, and there’s only so many tricks in nature’s toolbelt.” She wouldn’t—that’s not how she would say it, but.

Wow. That’s amazing, though, isn’t it. On two planets light years apart, totally independently of each other, out of a million tiny evolutional steps, two creatures arose in nearly the exact same shape, size, and color. An unknowing celestial harmony.

And now I’ve got to choose one and smash it with a rock. Uh. Whoever’s listening to this, I think it’s better if we skip this part, too.

FX: BACK AT THE FIRE, CRACKLING MERRILY.

SANA

So, we have our crab, and we have it cooked. And the review is… (CHEWING, SPITS) A lot of shell. Probably shouldn’t have crushed it.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had meat. I mean, I ate it as a kid, but. In Slateston, uh, in the new prison on Cresswin? You remember. I already said. Let’s just say they did not care to accommodate dietary needs. Some of us, like the people with serious allergies, got really sick. The smell was…not something I need to think about while I’m eating. Trying to eat. One second.

FX: RECORDER TURNED OFF.

3.05.04 EXT. KLAYSNAY. CONT.

FX: RECORDER TURNED BACK ON.

SANA

Okay. I sealed my wound, I ate, I destroyed any trace of the fire. Now, the only thing left to do is to get word out to my people. So. Piece of cake. My escape pod’s long-range comms weren’t working before I ransacked the pod for parts and literally burned the manual, but. I’m Sana goddamn Tripathi.

FX: RECORDER TURNED OFF.

FX: RECORDER TURNED BACK ON. IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LATER, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO PORTRAY THIS ON AN ALIEN PLANET. I GUESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS HAVE SHIFTED?

SANA

Well, that didn’t exactly. I couldn’t. It’s been five hours. And the upside is, I guess I know what kind of recording I’m making here after all. (PAUSE) I’m sorry, Campbell. I’m sorry, Arkady. I’m sorry, Jin Seon. I’m sorry Violet and Brian and Krejjh and McCabe and Juniper and Dr. Robinson. I tried. I really—I really tried. What a very—what a waste of…

AVERY

I found some results for you about waste. For more information, please connect with a terminal.

FX: THE WATER LAPS AT THE SHORE. INSECTS BUZZ.

SANA

Hey Avery. Tell me about Avery.

AVERY

Avery is the 389048th most common name in Modern Exo-Dwarnian. It means “avery.”

SANA

Hey Avery. Tell me about the software program Avery.

AVERY

Known for its affordability, Avery is a virtual assistant software that offers a number of paid add-on services, including music, navigation, and calls. Its energy demands are low enough that the basic program can function on solar power, making it ideal for those living off the grid or operating with few resources.

SANA

Hey Avery, how long have you been installed? 

AVERY

It has been six point seven hrooves.

SANA

Avery, how long have you been installed according to the Gregorian calendar?

AVERY

It has been one year, eight days.

SANA

Avery, did you kill everyone on Klaysnay?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, did everyone on Klaysnay leave because you’re a piece of shit?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

SANA

Avery, how do you restore outside calls?

AVERY

To restart your subscription, please sign in at a terminal and follow the prompts on the screen. The estimated fee should be 5 leefna.

SANA

Goddammit! (A BEAT) Five leefna…Hey Avery, how much money is in this account?

AVERY

The total amount of currency in your account is 2 fwallis.

SANA

(DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED SOUND) (PAUSE) Avery, how many leefna in a fwallis?

AVERY

There are twenty-two leefna in a fwallis.

FX: SANA STANDS.

SANA

Holy shit. Holy shit! Am I—Am I doing the math right? Avery, how many leefna are in the account?

AVERY

The total amount of leefna in your account is 44 leefna.

SANA

44 leefna. I’m rich! I’M RICH! (WILD LAUGHTER) 

Um, Avery, where is the closest terminal to me?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t have navigation enabled right—

SANA

Hey Avery, how many terminals are on Hill Hill?

AVERY

There are seventeen terminals on Hill Hill.

SANA

Avery, what is Hill Hill?

AVERY

Located on the smallest island on Klaysnay, Hill Hill is the highest point on the planet.

SANA

So I need to go up? I just need to keep going up? Okay. Okay. I’m gonna, I’m finding a trail and I’m climbing Hill Hill.

FX: RECORDER TURNED OFF.

 3.05.05 EXT. KLAYSNAY. CONT.

FX: RECORDER TURNED ON. SANA IS HIKING.

SANAI was trying to conserve battery but it’s just—too weird, with nothing to—I dunno. It was weird. So, it’s just us out here. Just me and me. (A BEAT) Hey Sana, how’s it going?

“Good. Tired.”

That would not fly. Not with Campbell, not with Arkady, not with anyone who cares. “Good?” Come on, Sana, what’s on your mind? Other than the fact you’ve gotta make it up Hill Hill before it gets truly dark and before anyone finds you and before your friends fly straight into oblivion. What’s, what’s shaking?

Krejjh would say that. “What’s shaking? What’s cracking? What’s crack-a-lacking?”

And I could say, I could say. “Well, one night on San Ramos, we were holed up in a bunker and Violet told me about this little jellyfish that could, could de-age itself back to an earlier form. And then when conditions were right, it could um, age forward, become an adult again. She said we didn’t really know how old the oldest one was because they could seemingly do this forever. At the time, that freaked me out. It’s like the ocean itself, or space. Thinking about something that endless, it’s disorienting.

Now I keep hoping, well. Maybe I still have in me enough to come back. It doesn’t feel like it, but who knows how it feels to be that jellyfish, either? And that’s my biggest—that’s the aspiration right now. Jellyfish.”

And Krejjh would say, “A jelly fish? Is that what it sounds like?”

And Brian would say, “Almost, bud.”

And then Violet would actually find some, y’know, some source on jellyfish and she’d explain it in those science-y, finished-university kinda words. And I’d say something too, because when you’re a talker, when you’re somebody who talks and then you stop talking, people worry. People get worried, and they—uh. Lost my thought.

Avery, tell us a story.

AVERY

Once upon a time, there was a young Dwarnian who longed for a—

SANA

Wait, really? You can’t navigate, but you have fairytales? (A BEAT) No offense, Avery, but I’m not actually sure I can deal with that right now.

FX: RECORDER IS TURNED OFF

3.05.06 EXT. KLAYSNAY. CONT. 

FX: RECORDER IS TURNED BACK ON. STILL HIKING.

SANA

The problem with stories is they don’t work like life. Because stories, good stories, they have a logic to them. It’s like, it’s like taking apart an engine with a busted part. You can trace the problem back to one spot and then you fix it, and when you put it back together again, each piece running right builds on the piece before. X works because Y worked. Y worked because Z worked.

And in a story, if that chain gets broken. If there is no chain, if stuff just occurs with no rhyme or reason—well. That person could maybe use some practice telling a story. 

Once upon a time, there was a woman named Sana Tripathi, who was sent to a prison called Slateston. But she escaped. Hundreds of people were rotting away in there, and she escaped. She escaped, and she maybe left her friends in the lurch. She escaped, and she did it because she had a mission. 

She trusted that her friends would be okay, and she had a mission. 

The trouble is, she wasn’t the only person in Slateston with a mission. Everyone had people they wanted to get back to, things outside they needed to do, but hundreds of people are still locked up, maybe for the rest of their lives. And she had good people, but that isn’t what sets her apart from everyone still in Slateston. And she was determined, but plenty of people were determined. She wanted to live, but everyone wants to live. Until sometimes they don’t.

So why is she here, wind in her eyelashes, looking up at the beginnings of stars? What did she do different, what does she have that the others didn’t? Luck. The magnitude of the suffering left behind, but she was. She was a lucky duck.

And that’s not—that’s not a story worth telling.

(HUSHED) There’s a light up ahead. I’m almost at the top of what I really hope is Hill Hill, and there’s a big, soft light streaming through the trees. 

FX: SANA BRUSHES SOME BRANCHES ASIDE AND KEEPS WALKING.

SANA

No sounds. I guess you can tell that.

FX: SANA BRUSHES MORE BRANCHES ASIDE. SOME FLYING CREATURE IS DISTURBED AND FLIES OFF. SHE CONTINUES WALKING, THEN STOPS.

SANA

What the–? (A BEAT) Okay. The ground is spongy but it’s different than the other—this was definitely constructed. It feels a little like a deserted fuel station. Big building up ahead, in the process of falling apart. Really hope I don’t have to go in there. No signs of life but the light. It reeks, too, like rotten fruit. Uh, Avery, can you activate the closest terminal to the, uh, to the current speaker in use?

FX: VERY DISTANTLY, THE SOUND OF A TERMINAL COMING ONLINE.

FX: SANA BEGINS TO RUN.

SANA

(RUNNING) Avery, can you activate the terminal again?

FX: STILL VERY DISTANT, THE TERMINAL MAKES THE SOUND AGAIN.

SANA

(RUNNING) Avery, please repeat command.

FX: SLIGHTLY CLOSER TERMINAL SOUND.

FX: SANA SKIDS TO A STOP.

SANA

Yep, it’s in the building. (A BEAT) Goddammit. Okay, breaking a window.

FX: A STONE PICKED UP, GLASS SHATTERS. PART OF THE BUILDING CRUMBLES A LITTLE.

SANA

Window was load-bearing, great great great. (A BEAT) Okay, I think I can get through…it’s a narrow fit, but. Through here. Uh, wish me luck.

FX: SANA SQUEEZES THROUGH. INSIDE, THE NATURE NOISES ARE DIMMED BUT SOMETHING IS DRIPPING FROM THE CEILING. THE GROUND IS WET.

SANA

Hahhh, okay, it’s dark in here. It’s dark in here and I did not bring a light. Avery, repeat command?

FX: TERMINAL SOUNDS.

FX: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON WET GROUND. SLIDE TO A STOP.

SANA

Oh my god, there it is. Okay. Okay. I don’t know what I was expecting. It’s a kiosk, it’s got a screen and what appears to be a touchpad. The screen is on and everything is in Dwarnian. Let’s see if I can just use the touchpad to—

FX: SANA’S FINGER GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE TOUCHPAD, WHICH IS JUST GOO.

SANA

It’s goo. The touchpad is just a little square of goo. My finger went right through it. Okay. Avery, how do I use the terminal?

AVERY

To use the terminal, follow the instructions on the screen.

SANA

Dammit. Avery, translate terminal screen to English.

AVERY

I’m sorry—

SANA

Avery, activate sight impaired mode on terminal.

AVERY

Sight impaired mode activated. 

SANA

Avery, bring me the sign-in to the IGR security—the IGR didn’t exist in 1978. Damn.

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think—

SANA

Avery, enable calls.

AVERY

To enable calls, you’ll need to sign in.

SANA

Avery, use saved login.

AVERY

Signing into terminal.

SANA

Holy shit, that worked? 

AVERY

Sign in complete. You have four new messages, from the ninth day of Jresla, six thousand seventeen.

SANA

Avery, enable calls.

AVERY

Enabling calls will incur a cost of seven leefna. Do you approve?

SANA

Yeah, Avery, I approve.

AVERY

Updating calling capabilities. Please be patient, this may take a moment.

FX: DWARNIAN HOLD MUSIC PLAYS.

SANA

Really? Okay, really. 

AVERY

While you wait, would you like to hear your messages?

SANA

No.

AVERY

Updating calling capabilities. Please be patient, this may take a moment.

To review any external files, please insert into backwards compatibility drive.

SANA

Is that what the goo is?

AVERY

I’m sorry, I don’t think I understand the question.

FX: SANA STICKS THE MEMORY STICK INTO THE GOO.

SANA

Avery, play song “Going to Fall.”

AVERY

File format not recognized.

FX: THE GOO OOZES THE STICK BACK OUT. IT HITS THE GROUND.

SANA

Right, it’s 1978. The memory stick probably doesn’t exist yet.

AVERY

Calling capabilities updated. Who can I call for you? 

SANA

Avery, call ELLA user Charlotte Williams of New Milwaukee, Ordiny.

FX: AGREEABLE BEEP

FX: RING, RING–

CHARLOTTE

Hello?

SANA“Come, come, whoever you are—”

CHARLOTTE

“—wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.” 

Where have you been? 

The attack’s supposed to be at noon.

SANA

What time is it now? Charlotte? What time is it now?

CHARLOTTE

You’ve got about thirteen hours. 

SANA

The biometrics—

CHARLOTTE

Everything’s in place. Can you make it by then?

SANA

Can you send someone? If you could talk to Other Violet, uh, Commander Violet Liu—or just connect me with her, please.

CHARLOTTE

Even if I had her number, I’m not—oh shit. Gotta go. Charlotte Williams out.

SANA

Charlotte! Charlotte!

FX: A SPECIFIC BEEP, AND CHARLOTTE’S AUDIO CUTS OUT.

SANA

Avery, call ELLA user Arkady Patel.

FX: AGREEABLE BEEP

FX: RING, RING, RI—

ARKADY

Hello?

SANA

Avery, ping my current location for ELLA user Arkady Patel.

FX: AGREEABLE BEEP

ARKADY

…hello?

ELLA

Coordinates received.

SANA

You’ve got that, right? You’re not at Cresswin?

ARKADY

Sana, oh my god.

SANA

Hi. You’ve got those numbers? They’re planetary coordinates, I’m on Klaysnay—

ARKADY

We’re—we’re ten hours away, if we fly hard enough! 

SANA

You can, uh. You can get here before noon tomorrow?

ARKADY

We are gonna do our absolute damnedest.

SANA

Good. And listen, have the Regime’s defense site on your screen, ready to go. There’s a—thing. Biometric. In my eye. We think I can log in long enough to bring it all down. The drones at least. You’ve gotta get here—

ARKADY

We will, we will. You want me to go get Park or call Campbell?

SANA

Both would be great, but in the meantime, Arkady. Arkady, is it really—? Can you say something you’d say?

ARKADY

Christ, Sana. I can barely— words are a little goddamn— are you okay? 

SANA(SHAKY BREATH) Trying to be. How is everyone?

ARKADY

We’re good, we’re good. We’re on our way. 

SANA

Hey. Let’s call it a code indigo, huh?

ARKADY

Yeah. Thank you.

SANA

You should know they’re gonna beat you here. I’m being chased. Sorry.

ARKADY

Well, I’m sorry we’re getting there late. We’ll have to make up for it somehow.

FX: A SHIP APPROACHING.

SANA

Those lights. Something’s landing down on the beach.

ARKADY

Hold tight. Hold tight, okay? We’re gonna—we are on our way.

FX: A SHIP LANDING NEARBY.

ARKADY

What was that?

SANA

(DEEP BREATH, THEN, QUIETLY) Avery. End call.

CREDITS MUSIC

JESS

This episode features—

RUKHMANI

Rukhmani K Desai as Sana Tripathi

BRANDON

Brandon P Jenkins as Avery

RACHEL

Rachel Lepore as Charlotte Williams

ISHANI

Ishani Kanetkar as Arkady Patel

JESS

Written by Jessica Best

ELLA

Directed by Ella Watts

LAUREN

Dialogue cut by Lauren Grace Thompson

ELEANOR

Production Coordinator Eleanor Hyde

JEFFREY

Sound design by Jeffrey Nils Gardner

JESS

Opening credits music is “Fear for the Storm” by Jessica Best and S.E. Winters, performed by Chiron Star with Erin Baumann on vocals and harmonies arranged by Jamie Price.

AMBER

The closing credits music is “Rocket Science” by Amber Devereux of Tin Can Audio