JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-01-2015 1:04 PMBy JamietheBastard.
Based on characters and situations created by: Dan O'bannon, Ron Shusett, H.R. Giger and James Cameron.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction and was written purely for my own enjoyment. (and that of those who would have liked a bit more Giger and Alien with their Prometheus).
PROLOGUE
ALPHA MENSAE STELLAR SYSTEM - FOURTH PLANET - LV 416 - WEYLAND/YUTANI DEEP SURVEY MISSION - EXT. GEOLOGICAL CORE DIG SITE - DAY
It is a bright sunny day on a surprisingly Earth like planet, orbiting a Sol like star. Sandy desert, minimal vegetation, Nitrogen/Oxygen atmosphere, though substantially lower in oxygen than Earth, due to the sparser vegetation. Oceanic life exists in abundance, some amphibious alligator like predators prey on primitive primates and reptiles, insectoid life is abundant. Mission Geologist Ralston and Mining Engineer Takamura are running a core sample drill, placing cores into ore sample canisters. Ship's Synthetic Elias is monitoring the seismic scanning equipment. Mission Security Pvt. Vossler is keeping watch for any activity from indigenous predators.
ELIAS. V.O.
The Geiger counter is registering a rise in radiation levels, I'm reading Uranium 234. Looks like quite sizable deposits.
Elias collects a lead lined ore sample container. With long handled tongs he lifts the radioactive cores into the sample case. Vossler's motion tracker beeps, he studies the readout.
VOSSLER. V.O.
I've got movement, coming from the river, 50 metres. Looks like another one of Wally Gator's cousins is getting curious.
Vossler puts down his M-40 Pulse Rifle and picks up a flamethrower resting next to him. He walks toward the threat.
CUT TO:
VOSSLER'S POV - HEADS UP DISPLAY - VISOR, COMBAT SPACESUIT
The predator is outlined in Vossler's HUD, size, range, speed.
CUT TO:
Vossler triggers a burst of the flamethrower toward the advancing beast, the creature retreats from the fire then begins to advance toward them from a new direction. Vossler moves closer and triggers a sustained burst from the flamethrower, advancing toward the creature and forcing it's retreat. It gives up and returns to the water.
VOSSLER. V.O.
So did we score big this time folks?
RALSTON. V.O.
Is cash all you ever think about Jarhead? What about the satisfaction that you have helped humanity push back the boundaries of science just a little bit?
VOSSLER. V.O.
As long as they express their appreciation in monetary terms, I will be very satisfied.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
And in answer to your query, Hell yes we have scored big.The planet is the perfect distance from it's sun, abundant mineral resources, sea life, minimal terraforming required. A potential new Colony. The place has a few drawbacks, It's slightly larger than Earth hence the slightly higher gravity, it'll be a few decades before anything but mountain goats will be able to breathe here. But to the company this place is a potential gold mine, and we've all got guaranteed shares.
CAPTAIN HUNTER. V.O.
Hunter to survey team. Time to wrap it up. Pack up all your equipment., McAndrews is bringing the Rover for pick up. I'm scheduling 4 days R n' R before we hit the freezers and head for our final destination: Zeta II Reticuli. Hunter out.
RALSTON. V.O.
OK let's pack it up people, 1st beer's are on me.
CUT TO:
A starfield fills the screen, one of the stars in the centre appears to get larger and brighter. It's a spaceship coming toward us.
A LEGEND APPEARS ONSCREEN:
Weyland/Yutani Deep Survey Vessel USCSS "KURTZ"
COURSE: Entering Zeta II Reticuli System.
MISSION: Mining/Terraforming survey of planets suitable for commercial exploitation.
CREW: 5 Flght Crew, 4 Survey Crew, 1 Weyland-Yutani Rep, 2 Person Colonial Marine Security Detail.
TIME: November 2116
MISSION TIMETABLE: 5 Years, elapsed time 3 Years 8 Months.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
CLOSE UP ON:
Computer monitor. The screen flickers to life, a blinking cursor starts to spell out a message: Transmission Intercepted - Co-ord: Asc 29 degrees 2 mins. Dec 30 degrees 8 mins. Acoustical beacon burst transmission, repeats at 12 second intervals.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - GALLEY
Elias, the ship's synthetic is prepping the galley, making coffee, taking food-pacs from storage lockers etc. The Captain, who is revived before the rest of the crew, walks in yawning.
ELIAS.
Morning Captain, coffee?
HUNTER.
Thank you Mr. Elias
He takes the coffee and drinks.
HUNTER.
What's our status?
ELIAS.
We're entering the Zeta II Reticuli system Captain. The computer has detected an incoming signal, an acoustical burst transmission that repeats at 12 second intervals. The source is a moon orbiting the 3rd planet in the system. The designation is LV 427.
HUNTER.
There are no outposts in this system, no communications relay this far out.
ELIAS.
It does not correspond to any code in the ship's database, registered or unregistered.
HUNTER.
It could be an illegal mining operation, a scrambled signal, an unbroken code.
ELIAS.
the ECIU program is workng on a translation, but we have to allow the possibility that the transmission is of extraterrestrial origin.
HUNTER.
OK let me hear it.
Elias presses controls on a comm panel and the signal is replayed: 12 seconds of very strange noise. A bone chilling, inhuman sound which repeats over and over.
HUNTER.
My God, I've never heard anything like that before. Launch a probe Mr. Elias, let's take a closer look at that moon.
ELIAS.
Aye Sir.
HUNTER.
And wake up the crew, this definitely warrants further investigation.
CLOSE UP ON:
The Captain as he listens to the transmission playback, a concerned expression on his face.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HYPERSLEEP VAULT.
12 coffin like Hypersleep chambers, one already open and empty.
CLOSE UP ON:
Monitor Screen: The legend: INITIATING CREW RESUSCITATION PROCEDURE.
CUT TO:
The Hypersleep capsules begin to cycle open slowly, machinery whines, the lids open to reveal 10 peole in suspended animation. They slowly begin to awaken.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - GALLEY
The revived crew sit at tables drinking coffee and eating breakfast. A low hum of conversation pervades the galley.
KELLY.
I can't wait to get back to Earth and get me a decent cup of coffee.
McANDREWS.
Fuck the coffee, I'm looking forward to eating real food again. This recycled crap is poison.
BROUSSARD.
Better get used to it, we've still got 16 months before we see Earth again McAndrews.
McANDREWS.
This is our last stop Broussard. Five or six weeks of work, then we're on turnaround. Back to the ol' freezers and sleep the fourteen months back to Earth.
VOSSLER.
Fourteen months in hypersleep dreaming of how I'm gonna spend all the cash i've made. Five years double backpay plus mission bonus and shares, I can afford to retire in luxury. Hell, might even buy myself a piece of real estate on Mars.
VOIGHT.
Yeah I can just see it now, you living right next door to old man Weyland.
The shipwide intercom crackles and people stop to listen.
HUNTER V.O.
OK people finish up ya coffee it's time to go to work. Mission briefing in the hangar bay at 0730. Mr. Krahe and Ms. Broussard report to the bridge please.
VOSSLER..
That arsehole Krahe thinks he's too good to eat with the rest of us. He always goes straight to his cabin the fuckin' corporate narc, what use is he to the mission anyway?
BROUSSARD.
Alright folks you heard the Captain, you've got 20 minutes to finish up and get the galley squared away for landing.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Hunter and Elias are monitoring the telemetry from the probe that was launched earlier.
HUNTER.
That's a definite power source.
ELIAS.
And these appear to be artificial structures.
HUNTER.
Not like any structures I've ever seen. They look organic, almost like they've been grown.
Broussard and Krahe enter the bridge.
KRAHE.
What do we have here Captain?
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY
The crew is gathered for the mission briefing. Hunter, Broussard and Krahe enter.
HUNTER.
OK people I suppose you're all wondering why we've interrupted your beauty sleep............. Well we've intercepted a transmission. A signal that in all likelihood is extra terrestrial in origin............... We may have finally found evidence of non terrestrial intelligence.
The hangar bay is suddenly in an uproar, everybody talking all at once.
MARTINEZ.
What kind of signal Captain? what's the point of origin?
HUNTER.
It's an acoustical beacon that originates on a moon in the Zeta II Reticuli system, LV 427.
TAYLOR.
Captain we're not equipped or qualified for contact with intelligent alien species, they have special teams trained for just this contigency.
KRAHE.
It would take a team from Earth nearly two years to get here. Company regulations state: Any systematised transmission indicating possible intelligent origin must be investigated. The penalty for non compliance is total forfeiture of all shares and bonuses. We don't go, no payday.
HUNTER.
I know you all have questions, but right now we don't know any more than this: There appear to be structures and some form of power source. As yet the probe hasn't found any evidence of life forms, or living inhabitants and the only radio traffic is the same repeating signal every 12 seconds. We're taking her in. Everyone report to your stations and secure for landing. We're professionals and we have a job to do
TAKAMURA. (under his breath)
This aint the job I signed up for.
BROUSSARD.
You heard the man, landing stations on the double. Dismissed.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Hunter, Broussard, Kelly and Elias at their bridge stations.
HUNTER.
All systems are go for landing, take us in.
The crew perform landing procedures.
ELIAS.
Orbital insertion complete.
HUNTER
Launch GPS sats.
Broussard flicks switches.
BROUSSARD.
GPS sats launched.
KELLY.
Vector correction 5 degrees starboard, profile looks good.
The ship is buffeted by turbulence as it enters the atmosphere.
HUNTER.
Find us somewhere to set down close to the signal source.
KELLY.
Can do Captain, we can put down almost on top of it.
HUNTER.
Give me a seismic scan of the area, make sure we've got solid ground to land on.
Elias presses controls and scans the readout.
ELIAS.
We're good Captain. Solid rock down to a depth of 10 kilometers. No subterranean faults detected, computer analysing geological scan data.
HUNTER.
Put us down on Mr. Kelly's co-ordinates.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - NIGHT
The ship sets down on thundering landing engines.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
BROUSSARD.
Planetfall achieved, initiating drive engine shutdown.
Hunter addresses the crew over shipwide intercom.
HUNTER.
We're down safe folks. We've still got 2 hours until local sunrise, survey team prep for EVA.
ELIAS.
Atmospheric analysis complete Captain. Nitrogen, Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen, unbreathable.
BROUSSARD.
Sounds like Los Angeles on a good day.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - NIGHT
The ship has landed close to a Biomechanoid pyramid like structure, bizarre and Alien.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - SUIT LOCKER
The survey team: Elias, Takamura (Mining Engineer), Martinez (Biologist), Ralston (Geologist), Taylor (Terraforming Engineer), Voight and Vossler (Colonial Marines), are donning spacesuits and checking their hardware.
TAKAMURA.
Does anyone else think we're in over our heads here? We're a survey team what the hell do we know about first contact protocols?
RALSTON.
Do you really think we're going to find anything alive? The probe turned up no trace of life forms.
VOSSLER.
Yeah this place feels like a fuckin' graveyard.
MARTINEZ.
We're on site, we invetsigate. That's standard operating procedure.
TAYLOR.
Once they receive our preliminary report they'll send a full scientific expedition and set up a permanent base.
RALSTON.
I'm a geologist, I don't have a lot of experience in the dead alien civilisation department.
MARTINEZ.
The first evidence of intelligent life we've found in the galaxy, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.
VOIGHT.
And we're first on the scene, think of the bonus money. Guaranteed shares in anything we find here.
VOSSLER.
Fuck yeah Corp. I'm gonna be rich enough to buy Mars when we get back.
RALSTON.
Fucking marines, too stupid to be scared.
VOSSLER.
Bite me, bitch.
Vossler gives Ralston a grin. Despite the insults these two obviously share a connection.
VOIGHT.
C'mon people focus, we've got a job to do. Stay frosty or people could get hurt.
They finish suiting up.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Captain we're ready for EVA, unlock the weapons locker.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
The Captain presses controls on a console and addresses the computer.
HUNTER.
This is Captain Hunter authorising weapons locker release.
He enters a 10 digit code.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - WEAPONS LOCKER
The locks cycle open. Voight takes out two M40 Pulse Rifles and hands one to Vossler. He opens the ammunition storage recess and takes out two, 5 magazine pacs. He hands one to Vossler who breaks the plastic seal and slams one into his weapon, he puts the rest into a pouch on his combat spacesuit, Voight does likewise.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Alright Captain we're locked and loaded, ready to Rock and Roll.
HUNTER. V.O
Acknowledged Corporal.
Elias activates the airlock controls and the inner hatch opens. They file into the airlock, the inner door closes and the outer hatch cycles open.
EXT. LV 427 - SUNRISE - SURVEY TEAM POV
The rising sun reveals a vast biomechanoid city, glistening wetly in the sickly, yellowish half light of dawn. Obscene shapes, ribbed tubes, bonelike protuberances, alien architecture strangely sexual in nature, coloiurs of a spectrum no human eye has ever seen, it is a scene from a Ketamine induced nightmare delirium.
VOSSLER. V.O.
Welcome to Hell.
FADE OUT
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
On the large viewscreen we see the same view as the survey team. On a smaller monitor split into seven frames we see the views from the survey teams helmet cams.
HUNTER.
My God. Do we really want to meet whatever finds this a pleasant place to live?
BROUSSARD.
Captain I think this place is dead. still no life readings, nothing on the motion trackers, zip on infra red. Only one faint power source detected in that pyramid structure.
KELLY.
And that fucking transmission.
Onscreen the survey team are heading for the pyramid, about one kilometre away from the Kurtz. They approach what appears to be an entrance.
VOIGHT. V.O.
We're about to enter the structure Captain.
They enter the Pyramid.
BROUSSARD.
Hold up, the probe's picking up another signal.
She manipulates controls on her console.
BROUSSARD.
Captain you're not going to believe this, we're picking up a distress signal from an Earth vessel. Location is.............It's only two klicks from here. The transmitter must be nearly out of power, the signal's not strong enough to penetrate the cloud cover and something seems to be blocking us from picking it up.
She manipulates more controls and the signal is patched in, at first it is very faint and unintelligible.
HUNTER.
Can you boost the gain?
Broussard does this and the distress signal comes through at a higher volume.
CAPTAIN VOLKER. V.O.
Mayday, Mayday, This is Captain Hans Volker of the exploratory vessel USC Leviathan. We landed on LV 427 to investigate a signal we intercepted. My crew went out to explore and never returned, only myself and my First Officer Taniko Shima are still alive. We tried to find the crew but were unable to locate any trace of them, by now their oxygen will have been depleted and they are surely dead. Navigation Computer has crashed, cannot program Auto Pilot for Earth return trajectory. My First Officer and I will place ourselves in Hypersleep to await rescue........................Mayday, Mayday, This is Captain Hans Volker of the exploratory vessel USC Leviathan. We landed on LV 427 to investigate a signal we intercepted. My crew went out to explore and never returned, only myself and my First Officer Taniko Shima are still alive............................
The transmission on a loop repeats over until it fades out entirely in static, something is interfering with the signal.
KELLY.
Got it Captain. According to the ships database, The USC Leviathan was listed as missing with all hands 41 years ago.
HUNTER.
41 years, what are the chances that they are still alive? Could their Hypersleep capsules still have power?
BROUSSARD.
It's possible Captain, they would have reserved most of their power for the capsules. Depending on what state their reactor is in, I'd say the chances are pretty good.
CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter deep in thought, contemplating this new development.
HUNTER.
OK, Broussard we're going out there. Suit up and meet me at the airlock in 15. If they're still alive McAndrews can bring the Rover to pick 'em up.
BROUSSARD.
Couldn't we just take the Rover now?
HUNTER.
No. I want it on hand here in case the survey team need it in a hurry. We'll only use it if we have to.
BROUSSARD.
Aye Sir.
She exits the bridge.
KRAHE.
Do you think this is a good idea Captain? If anything happens to you could we still get home?
HUNTER.
Elias, Kelly and McAndrews could manage it without us, it would be difficult but they could do it. You really should be more concerned about whether anything happens to Mr. Elias. He's more essential than I am.
KELLY.
Company regulations are also pretty strict on the issue of going to the aid of any vessel in distress, as much so as they are on investigating alien signals.
HUNTER.
So, good idea or not Krahe, we're going out to see if they are still alive. That vessel is definitely in distress.. Mr. Kelly you have the bridge.
He leaves to get suited up.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - ENTRANCE CHAMBER
A massive Chamber with three groups of three orifice like tunnel entrances spaced around it. The Chamber walls are skeletal in appearance, with ribbed organic tubes running into floor and ceiling and bizzare growths sprouting everywhere. It has the feeling of being inside a living organism that is being eaten away by a cancerous disease. The survey team are in awe of the sheer size and alien quality of the structure.
VOIGHT V.O.
Vossler are you getting anything on the motion tracker?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Nothing Corp, but the signal cuts out intermittently, getting a bit of break up.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Probably getting some interference from the structure.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Nothing showing up on infra red.
He manipulates controls on his scanner and scans each tunnel orifice in turn.
MARTINEZ V.O.
I'm getting a reading on the power source from the tunnel in the middle.
RALSTON. V.O.
This fucking place gives me the creeps.
VOIGHT.
Time to start earning some of that back-pay ladies and gentlemen. Vossler you're on point I've got the rear, let's move 'em out.
VOSSLER. V.O. (SINGS)
Keep rolling, rolling, rolling.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Vossler,shut up. Voight to Kurtz, we have a reading on the power source, we are moving out to investigate.
KELLY. V.O.
Copy that Corporal, check in at 15 minute intervals. Kurtz out.
The team move toward the tunnel orifice.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MAIN AIRLOCK
Broussard and Hunter are suited up. Hunter takes a Flamethrower from the weapons locker and hands it to Broussard. He then takes a Pulse Rifle and ammo for himself.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
What's with the hardware Boss? you expecting trouble?
HUNTER. V.O.
Better safe than sorry. We've got a downed ship with a dead crew, in an unknown situation. It's best not to take chances. The probe hasn't turned up any nasty indigenous predators, but they could just be really good at hiding.
They enter the airlock and the inner hatch closes behind them.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - DAY
The sunlight refracted and diffused by the heavy cloud cover provides only a faint illumination. The planet exists in a state of semi darkness during daylight hours, the sickly yellow colour of the greasy, polluted clouds bathes the surface in a nauseous hue.
Hunter and Broussard move out in the direction of the USC Leviathan's final resting place.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
The team are part way along the tunnel when it takes a sharp turn. Until now the team were still in sight of the Entrance Chamber.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
CLOSE UP ON:
HELMET CAM MONITOR
Suddenly the helmet cam feed goes black.
KELLY.
Shit, I've lost their suit telemetry, all feeds are dead.
He punches buttons on the comm panel.
KELLY.
Kurtz to Voight are you reading me?........................Kurtz to survey team is any body reading me?................. Goddamn it. Kelly to survey team please respond............................................................................................
The radio is dead, only static can be heard.
KRAHE
Could it be the structure blocking the signal?
KELLY.
Kurtz to Hunter, Captain we've lost contact with the survey team, all feeds are down................................Kelly to Hunter respond.............................Jesus we've lost the Captain too.
STATIC
CLOSE UP ON:
MONITOR SCREEN
The legend COMMS DOWN - TELEMETRY DOWN - VIDEO FEED DOWN flashes on and off insistently.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - BIOMECHANOID CITY - DAY
Hunter and Broussard are overwhelmed by the strangeness of the City. As they head towards the USC Leviathan they are experiencing culture shock at the hideous architecture of a strange alien Biomech society. Organic looking receptacles, connected with Biomechanical tubes and pipes, leaking sickly looking fluids, obscene echoes of human sexuality, run between the structures. One such structure ahead resembles a giant bone in the shape of the letter U laying flat on the surface. As they approach, the structure towers above them and they stop to inspect it.
BROUSSARD V.O.
What the hell do you think this is? Looks like 3 entrances into it, what do you think is inside it?
Hunter looks at the structure with disgust. A cancerous like alien fungal blight is encroaching on the structure. Also on many others.
HUNTER. V.O.
I don't know. Who can say that it's anything we could even understand, our terms of reference bear no relationship whatsoever to a truly Alien society. Let's keep going, we're not far off the Leviathan.
He checks the reading on his GPS unit and they move on.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - INNER CHAMBER ONE
Another large Chamber. The same skeletal internal structure as the first. Three groups of three tunnel orifices in the Chamber walls.
Elias taps on his wrist control pad.
ELIAS. V.O.
Corporal I've got no reading on my GPS unit.
Voight checks his unit.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Shit, GPS is down. Voight to Kurtz we have lost GPS signal, acknowledge............................................ Survey team to Kurtz respond.............................................Looks like comms are down too. We can still read each other so we still have line of sight comms. It must be the structure blocking our signal to the ship. Martinez how far is the power source?
Martinez scans the orifices and re-locates the signal.
MARTINEZ V.O.
About eight hundred metres.
VOIGHT V.O.
OK, we've come this far, we're going on. I don't want Krahe bitching that we didn't do a thorough job. Takamura, Ralston it's your lucky day. Head back to the entrance Chamber and report back to the ship. Tell the Captain we're going on to check out the power source.
TAKAMURA V.O.
Thank Christ for that.
VOIGHT V.O.
Saddle up people, keep it tight, two metre spread. I don't want anybody getting lost. Vossler three hour marking flares every fifty metres, move out.
Vossler marks the tunnel they came through with a flare.
They enter the next tunnel orifice.
Ralston stands at the tunnel orifice that leads back to the entrance chamber.
RALSTON. V.O.
Come on let's get the hell out of here.
They enter the tunnel.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - BIOMECHANOID CITY - USC LEVIATHAN - DAY
Hunter and Broussard have reached the USC Leviathan. The alien fungoid blight is encroaching on the exploratory vessel. Broussard scans the ship.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
I'm reading a low level power source, the reactor is still functioning. Minmal life support detected.
Hunter presses the airlock controls. The airlock outer door opens halfway and stops.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
The power's failed, if they're still alive we better get them out ASAP or they'll suffocate in their hypersleep capsules.
They enter the airlock. Hunter opens the panel which houses the manual airlock controls and cranks the outer door closed, then he cranks the inner door open. Emergency battery powered lights illuminate the ship's interior. Hunter taps controls on his wrist display and calls up the ship schematics he downloaded from the Kurtz' database.
HUNTER. V.O.
The hypersleep vault is this way.
He indicates the direction and they head towards the vault.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
Ralston and Takamura are halfway back to the entance chamber, where the tunnel takes a sharp turn, they fail to notice that the tunnel they are following continues on further into the pyramid. The tunnel has branched in two. As the 2nd tunnel is offset from the main tunnel and it's entrance is disguised by an optical illusion, the lines of the tunnel opening blend right in with the skeletal internal structure of the pyramid, the 2nd tunnel enrance is almost invisible to anyone travelling into the pyramids inner chambers, as is the tunnel leading back to the entrance chamber now unseen as they travel back the other way. The illusion can be seen through if the tunnel is well lit and the party is moving slowly, but Ralston and Takamura are only focused on getting back to the ship and continue unkowingly further into the pyramid.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - INNER CHAMBER TWO
A scene of ancient carnage. Giant corpses, yellow, bipedal, two armed, fourteen feet in length, skeletal, elephantine proboscis. Mingled in with black corpses vaguely insectoid, nine feet in length, bipedal two armed, elongated, eyeless heads, exoskeletal, long tails. All the remains show evidence of brutal combat. Limbs and heads ripped off, skulls smashed.
The survey team wander amongst the destruction, awed by a sight no human has ever before witnessed.
ELIAS. V.O.
Gotterdammerung, Twilight of the Gods. Ragnarok.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Whose Gods compadre?
TAYLOR. V.O.
I'm glad I'm an atheist.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
C14 scans indicate these corpses are approximately three thousand years old.
VOSSLER. V.O.
About the same age as your last girlfriend Corp. These guys are better looking though.
VOIGHT. V.O.
There's only one exit from this chamber, it looks like this was a last stand to protect whatever the power source is supplying. OK let's go see what the hell these things died to protect. Don't worry private, if we find one alive we'll set you up on a date.
VOSSLER. V.O.
C'mon Corp, you know I only date your Mama.
VOIGHT. V.O.
She told me you couldn't get it up, move out wiseguy.
They enter the last tunnel.
CUT TO:
INT. USC LEVIATHAN - HYPERSLEEP VAULT
Hunter and Broussard stand before two occupied hypersleep capsules. They are unable to see the occupants inside. Hunter starts rummaging through storage compartments until he finds what he was looking for: a long handled device for manually opening the hypersleep capsules. He fits this into it's receptacle.
HUNTER V.O.
Help me crank these things open, they don't have much time left.
Hunter and Broussard strain at turning the manual lever, with a screech of metal on metal the crank begins to turn, slowly raisng the capsule lids inch by inch. Breathing hard from the effort they inspect the now open capsules.
HUNTER. V.O. (Breathing fast from exertion)
Oh God no...............Fuck me...............
CLOSE UP ON:
The open hypersleep capsules. The sight of what they contain is horrific and sickening: An unholy mass of semi translucent, protoplasmic fungoid nightmare, a hideous fusion with something that had once been a human being. Within the pulsating, undulating, fungal horror, certain details would become visible briefly then fade back into the palpitating mass: Organic tubes and skeletal details strangely reminiscent of the architecture of the Biomechanoid city outside, seem to stretch out the semi opaque skin, then fade away. Suddenly Hunter could discern what vaguely looked like a partial human face with a closed eye. A shiver of pure primal, animal fear, that feels like fingers of cold steel, rakes down his back as suddenly, the eye opens and looks directly at him. Insanity stares into his eyes and threatens to drag him under it's black, oily surface.
HUNTER. V.O.
Broussard give me the flamethrower and wait for me by the airlock.
She stumbles out in a state of shock. Hunter backs up to the entrance of the hypersleep vault and sprays the capsules with a sustained burst from his flamethrower.
CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter, face set in grim determination as he hoses the capsules with fire again.
CLOSE UP ON:
The capsules, burning fiercely, the obscene things within writhe in agony as they are incinerated.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
Ralston and Takamura enter a vast chamber.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
Nice going Ralston we're lost, this isn't the entrance chamber
RALSTON.V.O.
Holy Shit.
The chamber walls contain hundreds of niches housing biomechanoid monstrosities. Ovoid shapes some three feet tall. Ribbed tubes emanating from bizarre organic machinery set above the egglike pods, are inserted into the semi translucent yellowish green ovoids, some leaking noxious looking liquids.All the niches are covered by a curtain of blue mist, she pushes her hand through the mist but nothing happens. Ralston approaches a niche that contains something different to the ovoid pods. Shining her torch on the abomination within, it appears to be the remains of a human being. Coccooned in a sitting position, knees drawn up to it's chest, it's limbs are fused together. Cancerous growths cover the sickly yellow/grey/green translucent outer skin. The tubes that were inserted into this cocoon are all untethered.
RALSTON. V.O.
Look at this, Sweet Jesus this thing was human once.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I think I'm gonna be sick, we have to get the fuck out of here now.
Takamura stumbles and falls to his knees retching. He staggers to his feet and runs blindly into a tunnel.
RALSTON. V.O.
Hiroshi wait up, you're gonna break a leg and I can't carry you back to the ship.
She goes after him.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - HIBERNATION CHAMBER
A vast chamber containing row upon row of sixteen foot long biomechanoid sarcophagi. Fed by tubes and organic pipes, each sarcophagus contains one of the fourteen foot tall hollow eyed, elephantine exoskeletons.
TAYLOR. V.O.
The Tomb of The Elder Gods.
Elias scans the "coffins" and stops in front of one.
ELIAS. V.O.
This is the power source. I believe that this is a suspended animation facility.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
I'm getting readings that indicate organic functions, this thing is still alive. All the others are dead.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Could it be some form of hibernation suit?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Yeah and fuckin' Santa Claus is inside it.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
No. It's definitely an exoskeleton. The X-Ray scanner shows internal organs, there's no underlying skeletal structure. Hard shell, soft interior.
ELIAS. V.O.
Not Gods then. Only mere mortals after all.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Corporal I'm reading a slight increase in power levels, I think this thing might be waking up.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Maybe we tripped some sort of alarm clock when we entered the chamber. We've discharged our responsibilities to the company, time to head back to the ship. I don't wanta be around if this thing wakes up in a bad mood.
Elias seems fascinated by the creature. He places his hand on an indentation in the sarcophagus lid, obviously made for hand much larger and differently shaped than a human hand. suddenly he stiffens as if transfixed and topples over.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Jesus, what the hell was that? Is he dead?
Martinez scans the android.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
No he's still functioning, I'm reading electrical activity in his CPU. Some sort of short circuit maybe.
TAYLOR V.O.
We can't leave him here, do you know what these things cost? There goes our bonuses.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Hold up, neural activity is increasing. He's waking up.
Elias begins to stir, he slowly rises to his knees and then stands up.
ELIAS. V.O.
My positronic neural net suffered a massive overload. It is designed to shut down in such circumstances to prevent damage. All normal functions appear to be resumed, though I will require a full systems diagnostic to be 100 percent certain.
VOIGHT. V.O
Thank God for that, you gave us quite a scare pal. Alright back to base. I'll take point Vossler bring up the rear, let's move.
They head back the way they came.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - BIOMECHANOID CITY - DAY
Hunter and Broussard are returning to the Kurtz, As they come in sight of the ship Hunter contacts the bridge.
HUNTER. V.O.
Hunter to Kurtz, we are returning to the ship, our ETA is ten minutes.
KELLY. V.O.
Captain we've lost contact with the survey team, and I couldn't raise you either.
HUNTER. V.O.
The Alien structures block our radio signals, If they haven't returned in an hour I'll go in after them Hunter out.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG HATCHERY
Ralston and Takamura enter another large chamber, out of breath from Takamura's panicked flight. The entrance is also covered by a curtain of blue mist.
RALSTON V.O.
Hiroshi for fucks sake stop. Panicking aint gonna help, we're totally lost now.
As she regains her breath after chasing Takamura she inspects the chamber. It contains leathery, ovoid organic urns, they are empty, with four flaps folded down. They are arranged about the chambers walls where more dessicated human corpses are cocooned. Their chests all have gaping wounds with broken, protruding ribs. It's like they exploded from within. Littered around their feet are hundreds of dessicated, insectoid remains, very reminiscent of dead spiders, legs drawn up and in toward the abdomen.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
The ovoid Egg mutation in the niche where Ralston disturbed the blue mist, begins to quiver and palpitate in it's niche. The feeding tubes all violently detach, spraying vile liquid. A loud, wet ripping noise is heard as the Egg membrane tears open. A creature about the size of a very large crab, pulls itself free and lands on the floor with a wet thump. Eight fingerlike jointed legs, a torso complete with a long upcurving segmented tail, tipped with a wicked six inch stinger. It rights itself and almost appears to be scenting the air with it's first pair of fingerlike legs raised like antennae waving back and forth. Suddenly they stop and the creature scuttles off into the tunnel Ralston and Takamura went into.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG HATCHERY
Ralston and Takamura are standing near the tunnel orifice where they entered the chamber. Ralston diverts Takamiura's attention from the coccooned corpses in the shadows on the far side of the chamber.
RALSTON. V.O.
OK now you've chilled out, we can try and get back to the entrance chamber. If we head back to the last chamber, I can find the tunnel we came in. Then all we gotta do is retrace our steps slowly until we find where we took a wrong turn. We'll be back at the ship in no time. Whatta ya say amigo?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I'll be alright. Those things in that room freaked the shit out of me. Do you think more of them had people in them? Where did they come from?
RALSTON. V.O.
I don't know Hiroshi, but we just gotta stay frosty as Voight would put it. We keep our heads we'll get out of here. I'm scared shitless too you know.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I know, I'm sorry I lost it. Let's just get back to the ship, I puked in my suit and it stinks bad.
CLOSE UP ON:
On the far side of the chamber there is still one unhatched Egg. With a slithering sound the four flaps peel back, and two probing yellow fingers appear over the rim of the Egg.
Ralston and Takamura are getting ready to try and find their way back. Using the empty Eggs as cover the Facehugger is sneaking up on them.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
Did you see that? I thought I saw something move.
She looks in the direction he is indicating
RALSTON. V.O.
I don't see anything, It's just your nerves. Let's go.
Suddenly the creature launches itself onto Ralston's helmet, her visor starts hissing and smoking. She grabs the creature by it's tail and tries to dislodge it, but the thing has a vicelike grip.
RALSTON. V.O
Get it off, get it off, it's melting through my fucking visor.
She starts coughing and choking.
Takamura tries to grab the creature's tail and help her pull it off, but suddenly he has his own crisis to deal with: the Scorpion Facehugger has followed them, and it starts to climb his spacesuit leg.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
Oh fuck, oh fuck get it off me get it fucking off meeee.........
The Scorpion reaches his waist and jabs it's stinger deep into his stomach. It then drops off and scuttles away. Takamura crumples to his knees clutching his stomach.
SUIT COMPUTER. V.O.
WARNING. SUIT INTEGRITY COMPROMISED. OXYGEN DEPLETION IN T MINUS 15 MINUTES.
Struggling against the effects of the alien venom, Takamura removes a Tempseal patch from a pouch and slaps it over the hole in his spacesuit. The instagrip bond fuses and his suit integrity is restored. He tries to stand up and falls to the ground unconscious.
CLOSE UP ON:
Ralston lying unmoving on the ground. A smoking hole in her visor, the creature covering her face. It undulates in time with her breathing.
FADE OUT
MonsterZero
MemberXenomorphMay-01-2015 5:15 PMI like it and would love to see the movie made.
But, I do have problems with the snarky crew...especially this scene:
"CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - INNER CHAMBER TWO
A scene of ancient carnage. Giant corpses, yellow, bipedal, two armed, fourteen feet in length, skeletal, elephantine proboscis. Mingled in with black corpses vaguely insectoid, nine feet in length, bipedal two armed, elongated, eyeless heads, exoskeletal, long tails. All the remains show evidence of brutal combat. Limbs and heads ripped off, skulls smashed.
The survey team wander amongst the destruction, awed by a sight no human has ever before witnessed.
ELIAS. V.O.
Gotterdammerung, Twilight of the Gods. Ragnarok.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Whose Gods compadre?
TAYLOR. V.O.
I'm glad I'm an atheist.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
C14 scans indicate these corpses are approximately three thousand years old.
VOSSLER. V.O.
About the same age as your last girlfriend Corp. These guys are better looking though.
VOIGHT. V.O.
There's only one exit from this chamber, it looks like this was a last stand to protect whatever the power source is supplying. OK let's go see what the hell these things died to protect. Don't worry private, if we find one alive we'll set you up on a date.
VOSSLER. V.O.
C'mon Corp, you know I only date your Mama.
VOIGHT. V.O.
She told me you couldn't get it up, move out wiseguy.
They enter the last tunnel."
They're viewing one of the greatest sights in the history of humanity and making jokes about it?! It really brings me out of the scene. I'm thinking they're a bunch of a-holes who can't appreciate what they are witnessing....... Rather they shut up and gawk...or some "Holy shit' or "..Damn...!".
I mean if Alien had a scene like that:
Lambert, Kane, Dallas are looking at the Space Jockey:
Dallas "wow, that's a big gun! Hey Lambert, how'd you like to ride something that big!?"
Kane Snickering "Good one Dallas!"
Lambert "You guys disgust me."
JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-02-2015 11:04 AMCheers for the feedbackMonsterZero, glad you're liking it so far.
Re "the snarky crew" I figure these people have been working and living in a closed environment for nearly four years, my thinking is that the insults and put downs are half joking, a way to deal with being stuck together in such close quarters. I figure these people respect each other professionaly and the survey team and flight crew have bonded into a tight unit (apart from Krahe who puts himself above the others due to his corporate status, gotta be careful with this character as he could just be a cheesy stereotype "corporate sleazebag") and formed attachments and friendships that do come into the story later on.
I do see what you're saying about the scene in question though, The actual scientists and the synthetic are a bit more respectful of what they are seeing, but as for private Vossler I feel his character, who on the surface takes nothing seriously, always has a joke or a one liner, nothing seems to faze him. But he is a consumate professional soldier when the shit hits the fan, all business when the situation calls for it. I figure the humour and irreverence is possibly his way of coping with the very stressful situations a soldier would have to deal with. Corporal Voight is more of a serious, get the job done sort of soldier, though he isn't some inflexible arsehole, he can share a joke and a laugh at times. I feel he understands and tolerates Vossler's using humour to cope with stressful situations, as he knows the man is a good soldier who will step up when needed and they have each others backs in any situation. There are some instances of the grunts in Aliens using a bit of humour in a similar stressful situation:
When they are advancing into the Alien nest in the atmosphere processor to find the colonists, Gorman asks "I'm not making that out too well what is it Hudson?"
Hudson: "You tell me man I only work here"
Frost: "It's as hot in hell here"
Hudson: "Yeah man but it's a dry heat"
Apone: "Knock it off Hudson"
Gorman: "I can't have any firing in there"
Frost: "What are we supposed to use man, harsh language?"
This is sort of what I was trying to express in this scene, grunts using smartarse comments and jokes to cope with stress. I figure Pvt. Vossler is probably just as scared and awed as the rest of the team, but his joking is a coping mechanism. It's sorta really hard to communicate these character traits in a screenplay without stupid exposition scenes, and I am giving my characters attachments and character traits that you have to portray through the natural dialogue of the scenes as they play out.
I will give this scene a bit more thought though, as I didn't realise it would come over this way, and maybe a bit more dialogue from the scientists could make the point a bit clearer. This isn't anywhere near a final draught, so scenes may change if they're not working the way I wanted. That's why I appreciate the feedback from people on this site and family and friends.
I had a whole backstory worked out on the Xenomorph origins and how humanity was involved and after some feedback decided not to use this at all as the person was right, you don't want to remove all the mystery of the creature, some things we don't need to know. Only that the Space Jockeys were experimenting with them as weapons.
Thanx again, will have some more pages to post soon.
MonsterZero
MemberXenomorphMay-03-2015 6:03 AMSomething else...Knowing a little more about the characters, their age, height, race I think would help me.
Capt. Hunter :
Age: 38
Height : 6'1"/185cm
Race: caucasian russian/danish
Keep up the good work.
JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-03-2015 9:57 AMCheers, I should have put the character descriptions in the script but sorta never got around to it, hope this helps a bit. Been thinking about your feedback and might dial back the insults and such a bit, as when the poop hits the rotary air cooling device and people start getting picked off by Xeno's, that is when tempers will fray and people are going to be snapping at each other all over the place.
DEEP SURVEY VESSEL USCSS KURTZ CREW MANIFEST.
Flight Crew:
Captain Richard Hunter. Age: 47. Height: 6 feet. Weight: 83 Kilos. Ex Military Pilot. Colony of Origin: Earth. United States. Boston. (Caucasian)
First Officer Yvette Broussard. Age: 32. Height: 5 feet 8 inches. Weight: 62 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. France. Marseilles. French Father, Algerian Mother. (African)
Navigator First Class Mike Kelly. Age 34. Height: 5 feet 10 inches. Weight: 74 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. United Irish Republic. Belfast. (Caucasian)
Engineer First Class Randall McAndrews. Age: 43. Height: 6 feet 4 inches. Weight: 118 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. Scotland. Edinburgh. (Caucasian)
Ships Synthetic, Designation: Elias 7. Model: Hyperdyne Systems 120 A2. Brought Online: March 2109. Flight/Science/Medical Officer.
Mission Security: USCMC. 2 Person Security Detail:
Corporal James Voight. Age: 30. Height: 5 feet 11 inches. Weight: 78 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. United States. Houston. (Caucasian)
Private Kurt Vossler. Age 26. Height: 5 feet 9 inches. Weight: 75 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. United States. New York. Son of German Immigrants. (Caucasian)
Survey Crew:
Weyland/Yutani Corporate Representative Lester Krahe. Age: 42 Height: 5 feet 7inches. Weight: 68 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Luna. Sea of Tranquility. (Caucasian)
Biologist Enrique Martinez. Age: 38. Height: 5 feet 11 inches. Weight: 71 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. South America. Chile. (Latino)
Geologist Elise Ralston. Age: 28. Height: 5 feet 7 inches. Weight: 64 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Thedus. New Melbourne. (Caucasian)
Terraforming Engineer Jeff Taylor. Age: 31. Height: 6 feet 1 inch. Weight: 79 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Earth. United Kingdom. London. Son of Nigerian Immigrants.(African)
Mining Engineer Hiroshi Takamura. Age: 31. Height: 5 feet 8 inches. Weight. 65 Kilos. Colony of Origin: Tansis 4. Neo - Tokyo. (Asian)
MonsterZero
MemberXenomorphMay-04-2015 10:33 AMCool. nice to have some background.
Broussard makes way more sense now.
Private Vossler can die anytime thanks! Lol!
Yeah, I think it's a good idea to tone down the insults....I want the aliens to be 'in my face', not the good guys.
Major Noob
MemberOvomorphMay-04-2015 2:37 PMJamie- that was great, thank you for sharing! Truly horrifying, you have a way with words and an obvious passion for the Giger element. I like the way you led away from the concepts we are all so familiar with, while bringing in new, hideous ideas to be nauseated by.
You only lost me with the appearance of a Facehugger, but not totally, you seemed ready to have fun with that as well. Will you be writing more?
JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-12-2015 12:04 PMCheers Major Noob.
A lot of the scenes were directly inspired by Giger's work. Only fair to warn ya there will be Facehuggers and classic Xenomorphs, it is an Alien prequel after all. But I did want to come up with some variations on the classic creatures as well as try and add something new into the mix. I know some would say it's just a fanboy wank ticking all the right boxes, but I just wanted to write a story that incorporates what I felt made the two great movies in the franchise so awesome. So I've tried to incorporate a little bit of Aliens action, though rather than have hundreds of Xeno's I thought maybe having hundreds of facehuggers was a new spin, and also horrifying for a massive arachnophobe like myself. There will also be a bit of a runaround the ol' haunted house feel of Alien as well when they get back into space.
I have so far completed the 3rd draft of the first act and the ending. Will definitely be completing the story, and if people wanta read it I will post the whole thing when complete. some parts of the first act I'm not entirely happy with still so some details may change slightly. I will post the completed story in the Alien section of the site rather than pollute the Prometheus discussion page.
Anyway here's the rest of the 1st act 3rd draft for now, hope ya like it.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MAIN AIRLOCK
COMPUTER. V.O.
Prepare for full decontamination. Please stand with arms raised and legs apart until decontamination complete.
Hunter and Broussard, fully spacesuited, comply. Vents evacuate the planetary atmosphere.
UV lights in the walls, floor and ceilings bathe them in UV for fifteen seconds, a pause and again. High pressure jets of gas blast them for fifteen seconds.
COMPUTER. V.O.
Decontamination Complete. Pressurising Airlock.
Vents evacuate the gas, and the Airlock begins to pressurise. The access light above the inner door changes from red to green.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - SUIT LOCKER
Broussard and Hunter are removing their spacesuits.
HUNTER.
Are you OK?
BROUSSARD.
What the hell happened to them?
HUNTER.
Some sort of parasitical infection, there seems to be some sort of blight infecting this place.
BROUSSARD.
You don't think it could get aboard the Kurtz do you?
HUNTER.
I don't think so. Decontamination is very thorough. The Leviathan's been downed in this atmosphere for 41 years, the airlock and hypersleep seals have probably deteriorated due to corrosive elements in the air. We're not staying here any longer than we have to. Don't mention what we found yet, I don't need anyone getting spooked. Are you going to be alright with keeping it to yourself for now?
BROUSSARD.
I can deal with it Captain. I was Second Officer aboard a Hospital quarantine ship when the Rigellian plague hit Port Heinlein. That wasn't pretty.
HUNTER.
Alright, let's get the survey team back on board and we can get the hell off this godforsaken moon.
They head for the Bridge.
CUT TO:
INT LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
Voight's team are heading back to the entrance chamber. They notice that there are many tunnels leading off the main tunnel, that they weren't aware of on their inwards journey.
VOIGHT. V.O.
We didn't see any of these when we came through.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
It's an optical illusion, you see the way the entrances are offset with the main tunnel, and in low light the skeletal architecture blends in. If the tunnel was brightly lit the illusion wouldn't hold up.
They reach the point where the tunnel takes a sharp turn.
VOIGHT. V.O.
This has to be where we turn, give me an infra red scan.
Martinez scans the turn leading to the entrance chamber.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
This is the way we came, I've picked up the trace from our suits heat exchangers.
They head on towards the entrance.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Hunter, Broussard and Kelly are on watch. Suddenly the helmet cam screens come to life.
KELLY.
Captain, I've got cam feed back. Ralston and Takamura are still down.
BROUSSARD.
Ditto on suit telemetry feeds.
VOIGHT V.O.
...ght to ...tz. re........ o ..... E.. .....nute.. Voi... .. Kur.. ...... Re.....
BROUSSARD.
There's a storm front heading this way, could be interfering with communications.
CLOSE UP ON:
The large viewscreen.
Five spacesuited figures are approaching the ship.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS - KURTZ - MAIN AIRLOCK
COMPUTER. V.O.
Decontamination Complete, Pressurising Airlock.
A light above the inner door changes from red to green. The team exit the airlock. They start to remove their helmets. Captain Hunter is waiting for them in the suit locker.
HUNTER.
Thank Christ you're back I was just about to come looking for you. What happened to Ralston and Takamura?
VOSSLER.
What do you mean? Aren't they here?
VOIGHT.
They should have been back over an hour and a half ago, I sent them back to report when we lost GPS and comms.
MARTINEZ.
They must have gone straight ahead when they should have turned.
VOIGHT.
Shit. I thought it was a straight trip back to the entrance, they should have been out of there in twenty minutes.
MARTINEZ.
It wasn't your fault Corporal, none of us knew. If they had of been paying attention they might not have gotten lost.
VOIGHT.
They were spooked, that's why I picked them to report back to base. I should have sent Vossler with 'em.
VOSSLER.
There's no point whining about it, I'm going back in. Marines don't leave people behind.
He starts to put his helmet back on.
HUNTER.
Hold up a minute Mr. Vossler, They still have plenty of O2 in reserve I'm taking in a search team but we're not going to rush in blindly. Swap out your suit for a fresh one, Voight, Taylor and Martinez you too. Report back here for EVA in 30 minutes, dismissed.
Hunter goes to a comm panel and presses the intercom button.
HUNTER.
Mr. Krahe and Ms Broussard report to the Med-Bay in fifteen minutes. Mr. Elias you're with me.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
HUNTER.
What exactly are we dealing with here Mr Elias?
ELIAS.
We discovered what was an apparently extinct alien civilisation. The remains of two species who were in conflict. Thousands of corpses in a suspended animation facility long since drained of power. The power source we detected was supplying the stasis chamber of the last surviving member of the dominant species, who Captain, is still alive and possibly reviving.
HUNTER.
You encountered no hostile organisms?
ELIAS.
We discovered no evidence of other living organisms hostile or otherwise, but that does not preclude the possibility of their existence. Captain I must report that the life form in stasis communicated with me.
HUNTER.
What the hell? It talked to you? you could understand it?
ELIAS.
I had contact with what I believe to be a communications device they use to communicate with their comrades whilst in stasis. Their minds are unbelievably powerful, even in deep hibernation they can still communicate. There was no verbal language as we would understand it, it was pure mental contact that transmitted data directly into my neural net. The amount of data transmitted was overwhelming, it overloaded my positronic matrix which shut down temporarily. I have some vague images and impressions, but it will take some considerable time for my neural net to process and catalogue the data. I will require a full systems diagnostic to ensure I am at peak operating capacity.
HUNTER.
Keep this to yourself for now Mr. Elias.
ELIAS.
Captain, company regulations state that any information of this nature must be reported to company authorities immediately. Mr. Krahe will expect a full report.
HUNTER.
I will deal with Krahe for now, he will be duly informed of all discoveries. But I don't want you to talk to anyone until I get a full report. I don't trust Krahe to put the welfare of the crew and ship ahead of the company's agenda. Understood Mr. Elias?
ELIAS.
Aye Sir.
Broussard and Krahe enter.
HUNTER.
Alright listen up, the situation is this: we have two people missing inside the pyramid. They have roughly three hours oxygen reserve. I will take in a search team and retrieve them. If we do not return in five hours, I'm ordering you to take off and return to Earth.
BROUSSARD.
Hell no Captain, we'll come in and get you.
HUNTER.
No, you will follow my orders. Your priority is to return to Earth and report what we dscovered.
KRAHE.
Exactly Captain, your orders will be followed. You. android. I want a full report on everything you discovered in the alien structure.
HUNTER.
That will have to wait for now. Mr. Elias suffered a neural overload during the EVA. I'm ordering him to run a full systems diagnostic, if there is any damage we need to know ASAP. He will be offline for four or so hours, when we are sure he is at peak operating capacity you will receive a full report.
KRAHE.
As you wish Captain.
HUNTER.
Broussard help Elias prep for the diagnostic, then return to your station.
He goes to a comm panel.
HUNTER.
McAndrews I want the Rover prepped for immediate EVA.
McANDREWS. V.O.
Will do Boss.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - SUIT LOCKER
Hunter enters already suited up apart from his helmet. Voight is distributing weapons. He hands Vossler a Pulse Rifle and ammo. He addresses Martinez and Taylor
VOIGHT.
Do either of you have any weapons training?
MARTINEZ.
I do. Two years National Service. Army.
Voight hands him a Flamethrower. Captain Hunter takes a Pulse rifle for himself. They load up items of Search and Rescue gear, Marking Paint, Flares, Ropes and Climbing gear.
HUNTER.
We're taking the Rover, grab your helmets and head for the hangar bay.
They file out.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - ROVER - DAY
Hunter in the driver's seat with Voight riding shotgun, the pyramid can be seen through the windscreen of the Rover, growing larger as they approach. Hunter pulls the vehicle up close to the entrance.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
VOIGHT. V.O.
You were in the service, weren't you Captain?
HUNTER. V.O.
Five years. Dropship pilot. Shot down over Tansis 4 during the farmer's rebellion, that's when I decided a career as a commercial pilot was looking good.
They come to the sharp turn in the tunnel. They explore the entrance that was hidden from sight on the first EVA.
HUNTER. V.O.
Any heat trace on the IR scanner Mr. Taylor?
TAYLOR. V.O.
Nothing, their trail's gone cold.
VOSSLER.V.O.
This must be the way they came, we'll find 'em.
HUNTER. V.O.
Start marking our route, alternate paint and flares every thirty metres.
Vossler takes a can of fluorescent marking spray from his belt and sprays an arrow on the ground pointing toward the exit tunnel, then sprays EXIT. they continue on.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
They inspect the ovoid Egg Pods. Hunter shines his torch on the human nutrient cocoon Ralston discovered.
HUNTER. V.O.
What in God's name is this? There's a man in that unholy mess, Martinez what do you make of this?
Martinez runs scans on the cocoon.
VOSSLER. V.O.
It's not Takamura is it? How could he get so messed up so quick?
MARTINEZ. V.O.
No. It Is....was human, but it's been here thousands of years.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Why hasn't it decomposed?
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Something to do with whatever this material it's been coccooned with, I guess.
VOIGHT. V.O.
How in hell did people get here thousands of years ago?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Abducted by UFO's Corp.
Hunter is circling the chamber inspecting the other pods. He discovers three more "human" cocoons, the occupants are all dessicated mummies, not intact like the first one.
HUNTER. V.O.
These ones look like they've been sucked dry.
Martinez traces the "feeding tubes" from the cocoons to their source. They run into organic machines above the ovoid pods and then are inserted into the pods. He scans the pods.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
It's organic, the cocoons must be a food source for whatever is growing in these pods. The first one must still be intact because it's feeding tubes detached somehow.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Christ, then what the hell is growing in these other pods? this one is empty.
HUNTER. V.O.
I propose we leave the scientific investigation to the company. Let's just find our people and get back to the ship, we're lifting off as soon as we return.
VOIGHT. V.O.
There's nine exits from this chamber so that means anyone of eight tunnels they could have gone down. We can split up and search tunnel by tunnel.
HUNTER. V.O.
No, It might save time but it increases the risk of someone else getting lost. I want a volunteer to stay here in case they come back. We'll search in pairs tunnel by tunnel.
VOIGHT. V.O.
I'll stay here Captain.
HUNTER. V.O.
Alright, Martinez you're with me. We'll start at the entrance and work our way around. Taylor you and Vossler take the right and we'll take the left. Mark your route and check your corners.
Voight unslings his motion tracker.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL RIGHT
TAYLOR. V.O.
You weren't wrong when you called this place Hell. I just wanta find 'em and get out of here.
VOSSLER. V.O.
It aint so bad, you've obviously never been to New York.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Are you ever serious Vossler?
Suddenly their motion trackers begin to beep loudly. Vossler unslings his and checks the readout.
VOSSLER. V.O.
We got movement. Sixty metres, coming this way.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Is it them?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Can't tell, it's not a clean signal, too much interference.
He racks the action of his pulse rifle.
VOSSLER. V.O.
Let's go find out.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Nothing on the motion tracker, no heat trace.
HUNTER. V.O.
Hold up a minute Martinez, what do you make of all this? What do you think is growing in those pods?
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Some type of lifeform, though I couldn't even hazard a guess as to what it could be.
HUNTER. V.O.
I didn't want to bring this up in front of the others. After you left the ship, we picked up a distress signal from a downed Earth vessel. Broussard and I went to investigate the possibility that there were survivors in Hypersleep, the ship having landed here 40 years ago. What we found.............Jesus...........the survivors had been infected by some sort of parasitical contagion, there was nothing remotely human left alive................just an organism in their hypersleep capsules. Is it possible Ralston and Takamura ran into something similar? Or ended up in one of those cocoons?
MARTINEZ. V.O.
I don't know Captain. I don't have enough information about this place, so I can only speculate on what we've seen so far, If we don't find them within the time limit I seriously recommend we take off as soon as possible. We have one ET alive in stasis, just because we've found nothing else alive, doesn't mean it's not here.
HUNTER. V.O.
That's what worries me. Let's keep moving there's another chamber up ahead.
They move on.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - CLONE BABY FARM
Hunter and Martinez enter the chamber. Behind transparent membranes, immersed in a sickly greyish yellow fluid are human babies. Hundreds of them in recesses around the chamber. They look almost identical, they appear to be dead with eyes closed.
HUNTER. V.O.
Christ, this just gets worse and worse.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
They're alive Captain, in deep stasis but alive. What the hell is this place?
HUNTER. V.O.
Keep moving.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL RIGHT
VOSSLER. V.O.
The signal's coming from up ahead, stay behind me.
He aims his weapon. A spacesuited figure stumbles toward them.
TAYLOR. V.O.
It's Takamura thank God.
Vossler lowers his Pulse rifle.
VOSSLER. V.O.
I'm sure glad to see you buddy, where's Ralston?
Takamura is clearly disoriented and confused.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I..........I........don't know.
TAYLOR. V.O.
Take it slow Hiroshi, what happened to you?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I......must have......passed out.
VOSSLER. V.O
Look, there's a Tempseal patch on his suit, he must have torn it when he blacked out.
TAYLOR. V.O.
He can't have been out for long or he would have lost all his O2. Where's Ralston, Hiroshi? Did she patch your suit?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I don't......remember, we were together.......then............I don't know.
VOSSLER. V.O.
He probably hit his head when he fell, he might have a concussion. Let's go on, she can't be far away.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
Hunter and Martinez enter a large chamber, the entrance is covered by a curtain of the blue mist.
Immersed in the sickly yellow/grey stasis fluid, behind a transparent membrane, is a large creature. Sixteen feet tall, insectoid, black exoskeleton, a large crest on top of it's elongated, eyeless head.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
I believe this is related to one of the species whose remains we found outside the hibernation vault. Even though this is twice the size of those creatures, it shares common characteristics such as the elongated head, no eyes, exoskeleton.
HUNTER. V.O.
It looks like a giant bug.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
It could well be an insectoid lifeform, I would need to study it closely before I could be sure.
HUNTER. V.O.
We'll leave that for the company expedition, our priority is recovering our missing crew.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
I've gathered enough data to keep me busy for years Captain.
They begin to search the large chamber.
CLOSE UP ON:
In a dark recess, more Egg mutation pods are hooked up to their nutrient cocoons. The Pods begin to palpitate gently.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
Voight is walking the perimeter. His motion tracker begins to beep rapidly, he scans the tunnel orifices. As he scans the tunnel Vossler and Taylor entered it goes ballistic. He racks the action of his Pulse Rifle and stands ready.
CLOSE UP ON:
TUNNEL ORIFICE
Vossler and Taylor emerge carrying Ralston's limp body, Takamura follows them. Voight lowers his weapon.
VOSSLER. V.O.
We found 'em Corp.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Is she dead? What happened to her?
TAYLOR. V.O.
She's unconscious but alive.
They lower her gently to the ground. Voight kneels beside her and sees her helmet is compromised and the parasite attached to her face.
VOIGHT. V.O.
What the fuck is that? How is she breathing?
TAYLOR. V.O.
I'm not sure. To hazard a guess I'd say that thing is extracting oxygen from the atmosphere and feeding it to her.
VOIGHT. V.O.
What happened Takamura?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
I don't remember.....I think I passed out.
TAYLOR. V.O.
He might have a concussion, he was pretty out of it when we found him.
VOSSLER. V.O.
We've gotta get her back to the Med Bay ASAP. The Captain aint back yet?
VOIGHT. V.O.
Not yet. OK, Takamura how're you feeling now?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
Alright I guess, a hell of a hangover.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Vossler, you and Takamura get Ralston back to the Rover and head for the ship. Taylor, you're with me we're going after the Captain.
VOSSLER. V.O.
See you back at the ship.
They pick up Ralston and head for the tunnel. Voight and Taylor move out after the Captain and Martinez.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
Hunter and Martinez are searching the large chamber, Hunter shines his torch into a dark recess.
CLOSE UP ON:
A corpse in a spacesuit. A grinning skull leers out of a smashed visor. The ship's insignia reads USC Leviathan.
HUNTER. V.O.
This is one of the crew from the downed ship, Rest in Peace you poor bastard. OK, there's no other exits from this chamber, we've hit a dead end. We'll head back to Voight's position.
CLOSE UP ON:
The grinning skull in the smashed visor.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
CLOSE UP ON:
EGG MUTATION PODS
The pods are pulsating as the Mutant Facehuggers are struggling to hatch from their eggs. One by one they are breaking free.
Hunter and Martinez are heading for the exit when Martinez' motion tracker begins to beep. He scans the large chamber.
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Got multiple signals, can't lock in too much interference.
Hunter racks the action of his Pulse Rifle.
HUNTER. V.O.
Get back to the entrance, we're too exposed.
CUT TO:
One of the mutant Facehuggers is crawling along the ceiling of the chamber toward the two men. As they reach the exit Martinez sees the movement and looks up. The creature drops onto his helmet visor which starts to smoke and bubble. He screams and tries to dislodge the creature,
MARTINEZ. V.O.
Get it off.
Hunter goes to his aid, but more of the mutant facehuggers are attacking, he opens fire on them. Martinez' screams are choked off.
CLOSE UP ON:
Three of the creatures are cut to pieces by Pulse Rifle fire.
Hunter drags Martinez through the exit. More Facehuggers are advancing. Hunter lays Martinez down and cocks his grenade launcher, he launches two grenades in rapid sucession into the chamber and dives to the ground as they explode. The facehuggers have been blown to pieces. He kneels by Martinez and sees the parasite has penetrated his visor and is attached to his face.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT
Voight and Taylor are shaken by the concussion from the explosions.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Shit they were grenades, move it.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
The Egg mutation pods are rocked by the concussion from the explosions, the curtain of blue mist that covers the niches shimmers out and is gone. The pods begin to palpitate gently.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
CLOSE UP ON:
The membrane of the stasis pod containing the Alien Queen has been pierced by shrapnel from the grenades, and the stasis fluid is leaking out onto the chamber floor.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING
McAndrews is performing routine maintenance when the intercom buzzes.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
Randall we've got a situation. The search team are bringing Ralston back, she's been attacked by some kind of parasite. I need you to unship the quarantine med pods and load them into the aft cargo lock.
McANDREWS.
Ye'll only fit four of 'em in at once and still have room in the lock for six people.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
Four will do, I'm hoping we'll only need the one, it's just a precaution, the Captain,Voight,Taylor and Martinez are still in there.
McANDREWS
OK boss I'm on it.
BROUSSARD. V.O. (Shipwide Intercom)
Mr. Krahe report to the bridge. The search team are returning to the ship.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - DAY
The Rover is returning to the Kurtz.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY
McAndrews straps himself into a bipedal Caterpillar Power Loader exo frame. Locking his boots into the locomotion feedback pedals, he activates the forklift handgrips and begins to unload the Med Pods and load them into the cargo lock.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Krahe enters the bridge and goes to the comms. console.
KRAHE.
Krahe to search team. Situation report, what is your status?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Ralston was attacked by some sort of parasite, it's attached to her face. We gotta get her into the Autodoc.
KRAHE.
Copy that. Standby..... Why wasn't I informed immediately that a team member was exposed to a biohazard? They can't bring her aboard ship, we would all be exposed.
BROUSSARD.
I've got McAndrews unloading the Quarantine med pods into the aft cargo lock. Once she's quarantined we can decontaminate the lock and bring her in.
KRAHE.
Where's the Captain?
BROUSSARD.
Captain Hunter, Martinez, Voight and Taylor are still inside the structure.
KRAHE.
Computer seal all airlocks, authorisation code follows.
He enters a code.
COMPUTER. V.O.
All airlocks sealed.
BROUSSARD.
What are you doing? We can't leave them out there. Once she's quarantined there won't be any danger to the ship.
KRAHE.
You don't know that. It's an alien parasite we don't know what it's capable of.
BROUSSARD.
I'm First Officer, when the Captain's not aboard I'm in charge. It's my call.
KRAHE.
Company regulations give me the authority, that's why I have the override codes. We'll wait until the Captain returns.
KELLY.
It would be a different story if it was you out there you sonofabitch.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT
Voight and Taylor find Hunter dragging Martinez' unconscious body along the tunnel.
HUNTER. V.O.
Taylor grab his feet, we've gotta get out of here. Voight cover our rear, let's move.
They move out, Voight covering.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - USCSS KURTZ - AFT CARGO LOCK.
The Rover is pulled up next to the Kurtz. Vossler presses the control to open the airlock. A red light shows on the panel, he tries again with the same result.
VOSSLER. V.O.
What the fuck? the airlock won't open. Broussard we can't access the airlock.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
I'm sorry Kurt, Krahe has sealed all airlocks, and we don't have the override codes.
VOSSLER. V.O.
Krahe you bastard, we've got a woman here who needs urgent medical attention. Open the goddamn airlock.
KRAHE. V.O.
Negative Private. We'll wait for the Captain to return.
VOSSLER. V.O.
She could be dead by then. Let us in or you are gonna seriously regret it when I get my hands on you.
KRAHE. V.O.
Don't threaten me Private, I'll put you on a charge and you'll forfeit all shares and mission bonuses.
VOSSLER. V.O.
Screw you. Takamura switch radio frequency to suit channel only.
They switch frequencies.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
What are we gonna do?
VOSSLER. V.O.
We're getting in. Don't worry I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.
Vossler takes a small pack from a pouch on his combat spacesuit. He removes a screw gun and unscrews the airlock control panel. He takes wires from the device and alligator clips them onto terminals inside the control panel.
TAKAMURA. V.O.
What are you doing?
VOSSLER. V.O.
Running a bypass. I wouldn't be much of a marine if I couldn't access a sealed airlock.
He manipulates the device for a few minutes until suddenly the access light changes from red to green and the airlock outer hatch begins to open.
VOSSLER. V.O.
And that is how we do that. Alright let's get her inside.
They pick up Ralston's limp body from the passenger module of the Rover. Takamura stumbles slightly as they enter the airlock.
VOSSLER. V.O.
You OK Hiroshi?
TAKAMURA. V.O.
No I feel terrible, got a blinding headache.
VOSSLER. V.O.
Let's get her into a pod and we'll get ya to the Med Bay.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
COMPUTER. V.O.
Aft cargo airlock seal breached.
KRAHE.
How the hell did they open a sealed airlock?
Krahe leaves the bridge.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - AFT CARGO AIRLOCK
COMPUTER V.O.
Decontamination Complete. Pressurising Airlock.
After a few minutes the inner airlock door opens. Vossler and Takamura now minus their helmets and gloves, push out the mobile quarantine pod containing Ralston. Krahe is waiting there with a pistol in his hand.
KRAHE.
That's far enough. Put her back in the airlock.
VOSSLER.
Or what? You gonna shoot us? Does the Captain know you've got an unauthorised firearm aboard ship?
Vossler moves closer to Krahe who levels the weapon at him.
KRAHE.
I mean it, come any closer and I'll shoot you down.
VOSSLER.
Pretty strict penalties for firing projectile weapons aboard ship.
At that moment Takamura groans and falls to the deck unconscious. Krahe's attention is momentarily diverted and Vossler strikes, grabbing Krahe's gun arm, he forces it up until the gun is pointing toward the ceiling. He slams his knee into Krahe's groin, who drops the gun and slumps to his knees. Vossler kicks the gun away down the corridor.
VOSSLER.
Point a gun at me you sonofabitch.
He grabs Krahe by the shirt with his left hand and lands three quick jabs into his face, he drops him to the floor bleeding.
VOSSLER.
That's for Ralston.
Vossler goes to a comm. panel.
VOSSLER.
Broussard, Takamura's passed out and Krahe's face had a disagreement with my fist. Could you send someone down to help me get 'em to the Med Bay?
BROUSSARD. V.O.
Will do, Mike's on his way down and McAndrews is securing the power loader, he can help.
Vossler starts to take off the rest of his suit.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
The Captain and Taylor are carrying Martinez back toward the exit tunnel.
CLOSE UP ON:
The Scorpion Facehugger Egg pods are now pulsating rapidly. The feeding tubes detach violently and the mutant creatures tear their way free, hundreds of them begin to stalk the search team
VOIGHT. V.O.
Go, get him out of here I'll cover the retreat.
Hunter takes Martinez' Flamethrower which he has had slung on his shoulder and hands it to Voight. Voight slings the flamethrower and fires his Pulse Rifle, two of the creatures are shot to bits, but they are everywhere, some on the walls, some crawling on the ceiling, others coming across the chamber floor. Voight tracks another one and fires. Backing toward the exit as he tracks targets and fires, taking down the creatures two or three at a time. Three creatures drop from the ceiling behind him blocking his retreat. He turns and shoots these, but more are advancing from all directions, he hoses the main pack with full auto supressive fire which cuts a swathe in those closest to him. He fires three round bursts at targets further away and backs closer to the exit, his ammo counter reaches zero and his rifle clicks on empty chambers.
VOIGHT. V.O.
Shit,shit,shit.
He drops the Pulse Rifle and unslings the Flamethrower, hosing flame from side to side in controlled bursts. Some of the creatures are incinerated, others retreat warily from the flames. Voight is only thirty metres from the exit.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
Hunter and Taylor are carrying Martinez back toward the exit tunnel.
HUNTER. V.O.
Taylor, keep going with him, I'm going to make sure Voight's got cover.
Hunter heads back towards the Egg mutation chamber as Taylor drags Martinez backwards.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
Voight is twenty metres from the exit, retreating slowly, releasing controlled bursts. Hunter takes up a position at the exit and begins tracking and shooting stray targets.
HUNTER. V.O.
I've got your back, let's get moving.
At that moment one of the mutant Facehuggers drops from the ceiling behind Voight, he trips over it and goes down hard onto his back, the Flamethrower lands a few metres away. The creatures are on Voight in seconds, Hunter picks off those he can, but it is too late. Voight is buried under a mass of arachnoid horror, his body convulses as the creatures sting him again and again.
CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter, realising there is nothing he can do retreats after Taylor and Martinez. When he has gone a short distance he turns and fires two grenades back towards the Egg mutation chamber. He takes cover as the grenades explode, and the concussion rocks the tunnel. Not waiting to see if any of the creatures are following he goes to catch up with Taylor.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
Ralston's pod has been hooked up to the Autodoc. Elias is still offline lying prone on one of the Med Bays two beds, Takamura is lying on the other, oxygen mask on his face, whilst Broussard inspects a bad bruise on his temple. Krahe is sitting in a chair and holding an ice pack over his eyes and nose whilst Kelly cleans his bloodied face. Vossler is inspecting the readouts from Ralston's scan. McAndrews is outside in the corridor.
The intercom activates.
KELLY. V.O.
Broussard i've got suit telemetry back for the Captain, Taylor and Martinez. Nothing on Voight's feed, Martinez' vital signs are very low. The storm is interfering with radio.
Broussard goes over to a comm. panel.
BROUSSARD.
OK, I'll get back to the bridge in 5. Alright people it sounds like Martinez may be injured, we need to clear some space in here. Mike when you've cleaned up Krahe give him some pain meds and help him back to his cabin. Vossler you and McAndrews take Hiroshi back to his cabin, I'll check on him when the Captain's back on board. What a time for our Medical Officer to be offline.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - LANDING SITE - DUSK
Hunter and Taylor carrying Martinez, are nearly back to the Kurtz. The closer they get, radio reception improves somewhat.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
Ku..z to Hunt.. We've .ot the af. ..argo lock set .. .s a quaranti.. ..ansfer, pod. are. ..ady for.asual..es, repea. Aft car.. lock quarantine ...nsfer.
HUNTER. V.O.
Copy, Aft cargo lock.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - CORRIDOR
Kelly and McAndrews are returning to their stations.
KELLY.
Now the Captain's back we can get the hell off this rock.
McANDREWS.
What do you think that thing is?
KELLY.
I don't know, but mabe Krahe was right. Company regs. say twenty four hours quarantine before shipboard access is allowed.
McANDREWS.
Don't let Vossler hear you say that, you might get a taste of what Krahe got.
KELLY.
Don't get me wrong, I know her only chance was to get her into the Autodoc. But what if that thing gets loose and attacks someone else?
McANDREWS.
They should freeze her. Stop whatever that thing is doing to her until we get back to Earth.
KELLY.
Maybe hypersleep doesn't affect it.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
Vossler returns to check on Ralston. The Autodoc is running scans.
CLOSE UP ON:
Elias offline.
VOSSLER.
We could sure use your help about now buddy.
He presses controls on the Autodoc console, and addresses the computer.
VOSSLER.
What's the status of the diagnostic program?
COMPUTER. V.O.
No errors detected. Diagnostic cycle complete in T minus 150 minutes.
He manipulates controls and brings up Ralston's X - Ray hologram display.
VOSSLER.
Holy shit.
CLOSE UP ON:
3D X - Ray hologram of Ralston's head and the parasite. The creature clearly has some sort of tube down her throat.
CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - LANDING SITE - NIGHTFALL
The storm is getting stronger, the wind screams and howls around the ship.
FADE OUT.
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
CLOSE UP ON:
Voight's body bloated by the enormous amounts of alien venom. In some places his bulging, blackened body has ruptured through his armoured combat spacesuit. The prone body is twitching and pulsating. Hideous groaning, too deep to be made by human vocal chords, emits from the ruined face. Bulges and protuberances stretch out the skin, the bones of the skull seeming to become soft and gelatinous, as the head expands in size. Long taloned fingers scratch and tear at the restrictive helmet. An inhuman strength tears and shatters the ceramisteel armoured helmet like brittle shards of light plastic. The distorted, ruin of a human being is wracked by uncontrolled seizures.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
Taylor is hooking Martinez' pod into the Autodoc, The Captain is briefing Broussard and Vossler on what took place.
HUNTER.
Once we had gotten Martinez out of there I went back for Voight, he would have made it if he hadn't tripped, once he went down they were all over him, there was nothing else I could do.
VOSSLER.
So you're sure he's dead?
HUNTER.
He went down under hundreds of those things, they were stinging him over and over. If it wasn't for Voight none of us would have made it.
VOSSLER.
Fuck.
He slams his fist into an alloy med supply cabinet.
VOSSLER.
Even if he's dead I gotta go back in and get him, he wouldn't leave me in there.
HUNTER.
Stand down Private. I've already got five peole out of commision, one of them dead. I'm not losing anyone else, we're getting out of here. Broussard what's the status on Krahe and Takamura?
BROUSSARD.
Krahe's got a broken nose and extensive bruising but he'll live. Takamura's got a concussion and he had a slight exposure to local atmosphere, but he should be OK.
HUNTER.
What about Elias? How long is he going to be offline?
BROUSSARD.
The good news is no errors detected so far, but he's out of it for a couple of hours at least.
HUNTER.
Alright, we're not waiting around. Get McAndrews to start warming up the drive engines and secure the ship for lift off. Have Mr. Kelly start plotting our course back to Earth. I will join you on the bridge as soon as I have a little chat with Krahe, Mr. Vossler you're with me. Dismissed.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING
McAndrews is manipulating controls and checking readouts when Broussard comes through on the intercom.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
McAndrews we're going home, start warming up the drive engines.
McANDREWS.
Will do boss, but we've got a small problem. I've got a red light on number two landing engine, just checking it out now.........appears to be a vent jammed open, probably a leak in one of the hydraulic feeds.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
How long until we can lift?
McANDREWS.
Shouldn't take more than an hour and a half or so to trace it and fix it, so two, maybe three hours max.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
Is there anything I can do to help?
McANDREWS.
Aye, that might not be a bad idea, you keep an eye on the diagnostic program, and that'll free me up a bit. We'll save some time tracing the leak.
BROUSSARD. V.O.
OK, i'll be down in 5.
McAndrews opens an inspection panel and goes to work.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - KRAHE'S QUARTERS
Krahe is arguing with the Captain.
KRAHE.
Captain, that man assaulted me, I want him placed under arrest. I'm filing formal charges, he will face Court Martial when we return to Earth.
JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-12-2015 7:55 PMHUNTER.
I understand you sealed all airlocks and denied them access?
KRAHE.
Under company regulations I have that authority. The rules state: 24 hours quarantine before shipboard access is allowed. He may have jeopardised the safety of everyone else by bringing that thing aboard.
VOSSLER.
She could have been dead in 24 hours, her only chance was to get her into the Autodoc.
KRAHE.
So you endanger the ship and all our lives to save one woman.
VOSSLER.
I'd trade your life for hers anyday, scumbag.
HUNTER.
It's a moot point now anyway, they're aboard. The risk to the ship is minimal, the quarantine pods will contain any infection.
KRAHE.
I hope you're right Captain.
HUNTER.
Mr. Vossler you're confined to quarters until further notice. Dismissed.
Vossler exits the cabin.
HUNTER.
Just for the record Krahe, I would have made the same call as Vossler.
KRAHE.
As you say, it's academic now. Captain I still have not received a report on what was discovered in the alien structure.
HUNTER.
We're prepping for lift off, a detailed report will have to wait.
KRAHE.
This is highly irregular. As company rep the decision to stay or go is mine. Based on what discoveries are made, I decide if the situation warrants further investigation.
HUNTER.
As Captain of this vessel I'm making the call to leave. We have one person dead and three injured, I will not put this ship or crew at risk a moment longer than necessary.
KRAHE.
My authority is vested in me by the company, whose interests have largely been ignored. I will be lodging a formal complaint when we return.
HUNTER.
That is your prerogative. just stay the hell out of the crews way until we have lifted.
Hunter turns his back on Krahe and leaves the cabin.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - TAKAMURA'S QUARTERS
CLOSE UP ON:
Takamura's face as he lays unconscious. His skin seems to be becoming translucent, strange organic growths are forming underneath. His hair is falling out in clumps, blisters filled with noxious fluids form and burst. The alien venom is coursing through veins turned black. He groans, a deep, inhuman sound.
CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - HIBERNATION CHAMBER
CLOSE UP ON:
The Sarcophagus stasis pod of the lone surviving Elephantine, exoskeletal being. The bizzare organic machinery starts to emit unearthly, biomechanical sounds. Tubes detach, the grinding of insane mechanisms ruptures the silence. The Sarcophagus begins to open. The creature is awakening.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY - SUIT LOCKER
Vossler has ignored the Captain's order confining him to quarters. Suited up, he uses the device he opened the airlock with, he opens the Weapons locker and takes a Pulse Rifle and ammo. He enters the small access airlock, as the hangar bay is open to the planetary atmosphere. Taylor has gone out to retrieve the Rover. Entering the hangar bay, he opens another storage compartment with his device. He begins to load cylindrical canisters into the cargo compartment of a four wheeled ATV.
CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
CLOSE UP ON:
Ralston's holographic display. An X - Ray of her chest. The legend reads:
Foreign Body Detected. Analysing.
FADE OUT.
Sorry 'bout that, the end of my post disappeared on me.
Thanx again to MonsterZero, Major Noob, BigDave, SomethingReal and anyone else who gave feedback and encouragement , it was muchly appreciated. If anyone is interested in the rest of the story, I'll post it in the Alien discussion page when complete, as that will be a better forum for it.
Cheers folks.
MonsterZero
MemberXenomorphMay-13-2015 5:56 PMWow! Awesome so far! I'm going to print this out when you're done.
My favorite part:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - CLONE BABY FARM
Hunter and Martinez enter the chamber. Behind transparent membranes, immersed in a sickly greyish yellow fluid are human babies. Hundreds of them in recesses around the chamber. They look almost identical, they appear to be dead with eyes closed.
HUNTER. V.O.
Christ, this just gets worse and worse.
*Ramblings for future stories*
I'm starting to wonder about the size of the facehuggers, The pods seem to be perfect for humanity...I wonder if there are Larger pods/facehuggers....I mean a facehugger wouldn't be much of a threat to a elephant or a whale....What about large pods for large creatures? A large facehugger might ignore a human? or punch a hole through the back of a face just trying inseminate. Maybe have multiple sizes of pods. I don't know..just rambling.....
Can't wait for more!
JamietheBastard
MemberOvomorphMay-15-2015 9:14 AMGlad you're enjoying it.
The scene in question was directly inspired by a Giger painting.
Interesting thoughts on facehuggers, never really thought about this and it's something the films didn't really explore. Given that the original animal to get infected in the Alien 3 screenplay was an Ox I wonder how they would have addressed this? In my story the Space jockeys are using cloned humans as hosts so I just had them be regular sized, this does require some further thought though.
Hoping to get started on the second act soon, but have gone back to my Mad Max story for now. Just saw Fury Road and whilst it was OK I wasn't overly impressed, but I won't go into that as I don't wanta spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen it. My original Max story was in the vein of the first two films low budget storytelling and is set between the first two films, but I am inspired by my experience of Fury Road to really open it up and this might have to be a new story: A sequel to Beyond Thunderdome, not a reboot.
