HYPERNAUTS #3 "Ice Bound" by Katherine Lawrence ACT 1 FADE IN: EXT. THE STAR RANGER - ESTABLISHING SHOT The Star Ranger floats peacefully amid the asteroid field. From inside we HEAR a voice that's anything but peaceful. ACE (V.O.) (yelling) What? Where's my water! INT. CONTROL ROOM - STAR RANGER Kulai, Max, and Sharkey stand around the Imaging Table, looking at an image of a silvery-looking moon (like Jupiter's Europa). Ace storms into the Control Room, shampoo dripping down his face, a towel around his hips. ACE Who got cute and shut off the water during my shower? HORTEN I instituted water rationing. The water tank is nearly empty. Sharkey looks up from the image and GRINS at the dripping Ace. SHARKEY Showers are limited to five minutes until we can refill the tank. Max leans closer to the image, studying it. MAX And our solution is right here. Nereid, an ice moon. Real ice, not methane or ammonia. Ace catches a drip just before it reaches his eyes. ACE Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! INT. HANGER - THE ATV In the main hanger sits the ATV, the Flapjack behind it. HORTEN Sharkey is in the midst of a long diagnostic on the Mechsuits. So I offer you the ATV. EXT. STAR RANGER - LAUNCH CHUTE The Flapjack rockets through the Chute. The bubble energizes. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ABOVE SURFACE OF NEREID Nereid, like Europa, is smooth white ice broken up with huge cracks that go deep into the moon. Ace flies the Flapjack maintaining height-above-ground, (like the Snowspeeders in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK), giving a roller-coaster view of the surface of Nereid as he dips into one crack after another. SHARKEY (V.O.) Ace! Go easy! Some of us just ate breakfast! The Flapjack dips into another crack, and a HUGE GEYSER shoots up from the depths of the moon. The Flapjack has to sideslip to miss it. ACE (V.O.) The daring pilot narrowly avoids one of the enemy's traps for the unwary. The Flapjack levels out over the ice, and we see huge chunks of ice FALLING around it (from the geyser -- it hits the cold of space, freezes and falls as giant hail). The Flapjack dodges, barely missing getting smashed. MAX (V.O.) That's it! Next time I'm walking! INT. FLAPJACK Max clutches the arms on her seat. Sharkey looks nervous but excited. Ace points at the ground below them and the ice chunks. ACE It's perfect! Grab a few of those, stuff them into the tank, and I've got my shower! DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ON SURFACE OF NEREID The Flapjack is parked on the ice, the rear ramp lowered. ACE (V.O.) Hurry up! It'll take a couple of loads. INT. ATV CAB Max and Sharkey wear their Virosuits. Max drives while Sharkey uses the joystick to control the ATV's front scoop. SHARKEY (imitating Ace) A man needs his long hot showers! MAX (soft laugh) EXT. ATV - SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV scoops up a chunk of ice, and heads for the Flapjack. SHARKEY (V.O.) That's the first time I've heard you laugh. Is everyone who grows up in the Caduceus Enclave as serious as you are? INT. ATV CAB Max continues driving, but her head whips sideways to glare at Sharkey. MAX How did you know I grew up there? Sharkey looks at her and shrugs. SHARKEY I hacked into the Flapjack's files. Needed to know who I was working with, didn't I? Sharkey uses the joystick and buttons to drop the ice chunk aboard the Flapjack. SFX: CLATTER, THUD as it drops. SHARKEY (CON'T) But that's nothing. Back at the Academy, I even hacked their mainframe! EXT. ATV AND FLAPJACK - SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV rolls down the ramp of the Flapjack back to the ice. There's SILENCE for a LONG BEAT. MAX (V.O.) So you're the hacker that caused them to audit the phone records. INT. ATV CAB Max stares blindly through the windscreen of the ATV, while Sharkey watches nervously. MAX (CON'T) The records that showed the calls to my sister in the Enclave. Calls that are strictly illegal given the Enclave's "no contact with the outside" rule. Sharkey winces. SHARKEY I didn't know. Max continues, ignoring him. MAX So it's your fault I can't talk to my sister. Your fault I got put on the stupid garbage detail that landed me here. Max turns to face Sharkey, ignoring the still-moving ATV. MAX (CON'T) You invaded my privacy, nearly wrecked my career, and cut me off from the only family member willing to speak to me! How dare you! Sharkey reaches across and grabs the steering wheel, jerking it to one side. EXT. ATV - SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV skews sideways, narrowly avoiding crashing head-first into a really huge chunk of ice. SHARKEY (V.O.) Watch it! The ATV heads slowly toward a smaller chunk of ice. SHARKEY (V.O.)(CON'T) I didn't mean any harm. INT. ATV CAB Max brings the ATV to a stop. MAX Let's just do our job and get the ice. Sharkey maneuvers the joystick to grab the ice chunk, watching to make sure he doesn't screw up. SHARKEY I was only trying to be friendly. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. FLAPJACK AND ATV - SURFACE OF NEREID The first load completed, the heavily-laden Flapjack takes off. The ATV sits quietly, watching. ACE (V.O.) Don't fall asleep waiting for me. I'll be back before you know it! INT. ATV CAB Max and Sharkey ignore each other. Sharkey stares at his hands. Max stares out the windscreen, then SEES something. MAX Oh my. Max points out the windscreen. MAX (CON'T) Look out there. EXT. ATV - SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV sits on the surface of Nereid while on the horizon the gas giant it orbits "rises." MAX (V.O.)(CON'T) That's why I entered the Academy, Sharkey. To see things like that. INT. ATV CAB Max and Sharkey watch the planet-rise in awe. SHARKEY Is it worth it? MAX Right now? Yes. HOLD on Max and Sharkey as the back end of the ATV starts to tilt downwards. Small items in the ATV cab skitter toward the back wall. SHARKEY Max? EXT. ATV - SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV slides rear-downward into the moon, at first slowly, then faster and faster. SHARKEY (CON'T)(V.O.) What's happening?! There's the SOUND of the ATV's engine being gunned. MAX (V.O.) I can't stop it! We're falling! The ATV disappears beneath the surface of the moon as the gas giant continues to rise. All is quiet. FADE OUT END OF ACT 1 ==================================================================== ACT 2 FADE IN: EXT. ATV - INSIDE ICE WORM TUNNEL - BENEATH SURFACE OF NEREID The ATV is in a large tunnel, half-buried by chunks of ice. There's the SOUND of groans and massive cracking as the ice beneath them shifts and breaks under the weight of the ATV. There's a blue-greenish light as the light of the gas giant filters down through the ice. (Like that found in caves under glaciers, such as on Mt. Rainier in Washington State.) MAX/SHARKEY (V.O.) (scared panting) INT. ATV CAB With a loud THUD another chunk of ice falls on top of them. SHARKEY (rapidly, panicked) I've got to get out of here, now! Sharkey reaches with both hands for the door handle, his hands shaking. His hands skid across the door handle, shaking too hard to grab it and open the door. MAX Sharkey! What's wrong? Max reaches across the cab and grabs Sharkey's shoulder. MAX (CON'T) Take it easy. We're okay! Sharkey looks at her, eyes glazed in fear, his hands still scrambling for the door handle. SHARKEY We're buried! I've got .... I've got to get out of here, now! Max reaches across Sharkey and grabs his hands. MAX It'll be okay, Sharkey. The ATV is in one piece, we've got plenty of air, and we're wearing our Virosuits. We're okay! Sharkey stares at her and slowly relaxes, as the panic fades. SHARKEY Yeah .... You're right. We're fine. Suddenly there's the SOUND and SHAKING as tons of ice fall on them, with the resulting creaks and groans of the ATV as metal is stressed far beyond its specs. The center of the ATV cab's roof caves in, first by inches, then faster. MAX Out! Now! Max and Sharkey grab for their door handles. They have to shove the warped doors with their shoulders a couple of times, but finally the doors open as the roof slowly dips lower and lower and the over-stressed metal GROANS. SHARKEY (whimpers of fear) INT. - ICE TUNNEL - BENEATH SURFACE OF NEREID Huge chunks of ice continue to fall on the ATV, burying it completely. MAX (V.O.) I was wrong. We're fine but the ATV is a write-off. Sharkey crouches against one wall of the ice tunnel, shaking. Max watches the demise of the ATV (o.s.), leaning against the same wall. They've got their comsets on, their Virosuits, and chemical heat packs (chem packs) in various pockets of their Virosuits, along with emergency food and water. Max also has a miniature Holovid - a recorder with uplink to the Flapjack. SHARKEY (whimpering) Mom, Dad, don't leave me. Max looks at him, confused, then crouches by him and pats his shoulder reassuringly. MAX Sharkey, we're alive. Ace will come find us and we'll be back at the Ranger in no time. Sharkey looks at her, desperate for reassurance, then slowly stands and the panic again fades. Max stands with him. SHARKEY (shakily) It'll give him another chance to play hero, won't it? Max watches Sharkey, making sure he's okay, then begins an inventory of what they've got with them, checking the pockets of her Virosuit. MAX And he'll be unbearable for days. We'll have to wait until he's in range before we can call him, but we've got the emergency rations, and ... She finds the pockets with the chem packs. MAX (CON'T) Yes! Chem packs! We don't have to worry about freezing with these. Shake them up and they're better than a fire. Sharkey looks nervously around the tunnel. The tunnel walls are smooth, with icicles clinging to the ceiling as something fast melted this tunnel. SHARKEY Where are we? Max looks around, thrilled to be someplace new to humans. MAX We're inside Nereid, but the more important question is who made these tunnels? SHARKEY Or what made them. Let's get out of here. MAX There's only one direction we can go. Let's hope it'll take us back to the surface. C'mon. With the crushed and buried ATV behind them, Max and Sharkey head down the tunnel. CUT TO: EXT. STAR RANGER - ASTEROID FIELD The Flapjack hovers above the storage pods, the rear door open. The top hatch to one of the storage pods is open. ACE (V.O.) It's a piece of cake, Kulai. No more water rationing! Kulai, in one of the Mechsuits with jumpsled pack attached, finishes maneuvering one of the ice chunks into the pod. CUT TO: INT. ICE TUNNEL - BENEATH SURFACE OF NEREID The tunnel continues. As they walk we see smaller tunnels branching off of the one they're in. Max looks around with curiosity, while Sharkey almost cringes at every step as if expecting the ceiling to drop on him. MAX I know this sounds harsh, Sharkey, but how did you pass the Academy's psych tests if new places scare you this much? Not to mention that you're obviously claustrophobic. They reach another branch, and Sharkey forces himself to walk slowly and not scuttle past the opening. SHARKEY Nowhere's safe. Then again, how would you know? You grew up in the safest place on Earth: the Domes of Caduceus Enclave. Max stops and gets in Sharkey's face, forcing him to stop too. MAX How would you know the domes are safe? Sharkey faces her down, glaring right back. SHARKEY Because I've been there. There's the SOUND of ice cracking, and a sudden rush of water, though nothing around them changes. Max and Sharkey quickly resume walking. MAX But the only outsiders allowed inside the Domes are those needing specialized medical treatment.... There's another SOUND, a sort of giant slither across ice. Sharkey speeds up, ahead of Max, changing the subject. SHARKEY We've got to get out of these tunnels. Abruptly Sharkey comes to a halt. Max nearly runs into him, and grabs his arm for balance. Sharkey points ahead of them. SHARKEY Look! INT. NEREID ICE CAVES - ALIEN SHIP REMAINS The tunnel opens up into a huge ice cave, with the same blue-greenish light as the tunnel, coming from overhead. In the center of the cave is what at first appears to be a sculpture garden made of twisted and curved sheets of multi-colored titanium (think a cross between titanium jewelry and the really odd sculpture garden along Santa Monica Blvd. in Beverly Hills). [It's the ruins of an alien spaceship.] MAX We're the first humans to see this! Sharkey looks at the roof, then back at the mouth of the tunnel. SHARKEY Hope we're not the last. I really want to find a way back to the surface. Sharkey activates his comset. SHARKEY Ace! Can you hear me, hotshot? MAX It's too soon. He couldn't have made it back yet. CUT TO: EXT. STAR RANGER - ASTEROID FIELD The rear door of the Flapjack closes as it hovers over the Star Ranger. The Mechsuited Kulai closes the top hatch of the water tank. ACE (V.O.) I'll be back soon, Kulai. Got to grab another load. The Flapjack flies back toward the head of the Chute to recharge. KULAI (V.O.) Be careful. CUT TO: INT. NEREID ICE CAVE - ALIEN SHIP REMAINS Max and Sharkey approach the edge of the "sculpture garden." MAX Isn't it beautiful? Max stares at it, with awe. Sharkey watches her instead. SHARKEY You know, I've been wondering. How did you get into the Academy? The Enclave hates everything the Academy represents -- hope of contact with other beings. Max wanders through the sculpture garden, looking at one piece of twisted metal after another, avoiding looking at Sharkey. MAX I ran away. Now the only one who'll speak to me is my younger sister, and thanks to you, I can't call her anymore. Sharkey joins her, and hesitantly pats her on the shoulder. SHARKEY Hey, at least you still have a family. Max looks up quickly. MAX You don't? Sharkey looks away, trying hard not to cry. MAX (CON'T) Does that have something to do with why you were a patient in the Enclave? Sharkey blinks rapidly, and looks harder at the "sculpture garden" around them, avoiding the question. The "sculpture" begins to make sense to him. SHARKEY If I didn't know better, I'd say it's a crashed ship. Look at the way ... Before Sharkey can finish, an ICE QUAKE hits the moon, making the ground shake. Max and Sharkey grab each other for balance (and comfort). SHARKEY Not again! The ground continues to shake, and chunks of ice begin to fall from the ceiling. CUT TO: EXT. SURFACE OF NEREID The Flapjack soars in over the moon, and flares to a landing right where it landed before. ACE (V.O.) I'm back, guys! INT. FLAPJACK COCKPIT Ace taps his comset and tries again. ACE (CON'T) Max? Sharkey? EXT. FLAPJACK - SURFACE OF NEREID Where we last saw the ATV, we see a very large hole where the ground caved in. FADE OUT: END ACT 2 ================================================================ ACT 3 FADE IN: INT. FLAPJACK Ace frantically toggles the com switch. ACE Max! Sharkey! Answer me! INT. NEREID ICE CAVE - ALIEN SHIP REMAINS Max and Sharkey huddle under a large piece of the alien ship, their comsets knocked askew in the scramble to get to safety. From the tiny ear piece speaker we HEAR ACE (CON'T)(V.O.) Max! Sharkey! Where are you! Max quickly restores the comset to its usual place, while Sharkey disappears under the ice chunks, hunting for a way out. MAX Ace? Can you read me? Sharkey reappears and MOTIONS Max to follow him. ACE (V.O.) Max! What happened? Where are you? First Sharkey, then Max crawl out from under a pile of ice chunks. The alien ship is surrounded by fallen ice, but most of the ship remains are still visible. MAX We had an accident. The ATV fell down a hole, then got crushed by fallen ice. Now we're on foot in a huge cave. Sharkey goes back to examining the ship remains while Max talks to Ace. ACE (V.O.) Stay put and keep your comset on. I'll triangulate your position and figure out a way to get you out of there. SHARKEY (V.O.) Max! Come here! Max joins Sharkey where he's examining a chunk of the smooth titanium-like metal. This piece looks like it's been scratched, intentionally. SHARKEY (CON'T) Look! There are two lines of this set of symbols, then another two lines that look totally different, and a third set. Reminds me of the Rosetta Stone. Max looks closely at the symbols. MAX Maybe it is! Let me scan it with the Holovid, and see if Kulai and Horten can translate it. Sharkey watches as Max carefully records the symbols with the tiny holovid. ACE (V.O.) Max? Sharkey? You're about a dozen meters under the surface, and nearly a klick from where I last saw you. Sharkey toggles his comset. SHARKEY Any suggestions, fearless leader? ACE (V.O.) Not yet. But I'm sure I'll come up with something. MAX Ace, forward the signal I'm sending you to Kulai and Horten. I think it's an alien message! Sharkey looks around the huge cave. SHARKEY In the meantime, we'll see if we can find a tunnel that'll bring us back up to the surface. PAN across the cave showing easily a dozen tunnels like the one they entered by, some of them level with the ground, others coming in at various angles, both up and down from the floor. SHARKEY (CON'T) (sotto voce) Though I've no idea which one. CUT TO: INT. CONTROL ROOM - STAR RANGER The image Max sent is on the Imager Table. Kulai leans over the table, studying it closely. HORTEN The third group reminds me of an obelisk I found during one of the exploratory trips. That planet fell to the Triiad years ago so I don't have a translation. KULAI I'm not positive, but I think I've figured out the second one. Kulai toggles the com button nearby. KULAI Max? Sharkey? I think I've got it. It warns of "the heat-seekers, the furred ones, the white devourers." From what I can translate, the ship crashed, and the creatures attacked the crew. The last survivor scratched this as a warning to rescuers. ACE (V.O.) That means get out of there now guys. SHARKEY (V.O.) It's not like we haven't been trying. Hey, Max! Look out! CUT TO: INT. ICE CAVE - ALIEN SHIP REMAINS Max turns around and looks (o.s.) MAX What? Huge, furred, white Ice Worms (like the sand worms in DUNE, but in winter coats) melt through the cave walls and floor, creating more tunnels, as they slither TOWARD Max and Sharkey. MAX (V.O.) Heat seekers? They must be drawn to our body heat. Back on Max and Sharkey. Sharkey grabs Max's arm and pulls her toward the nearest tunnel. SHARKEY Who cares why they're coming after us? Run! An Ice Worm comes up out of the cave floor, right in front of them, mouth gaping open. SHARKEY Yikes! MAX Back to the alien ship! Max leads the way as they flee back to the dubious protection of the ship remains. The Ice Worm slithers after them. SHARKEY Some choice! Freeze to death or eaten by worms looking for a hot lunch! Max gets an idea, and grabs for the chem packs. MAX Explain to Ace what's going on. I've got an idea. Sharkey watches Max as he contacts Ace. SHARKEY Ace? We're surrounded by Ice Worms that want us for cocktails, dinner, and breakfast too. And we've discovered that it's the Worms that make the tunnels. While Sharkey explains, Max piles the chem packs on the ground in front of her, then takes one and hits it with her fist. The chem pack begins to GLOW as the chemical reaction begins. Max hauls back and THROWS the chem pack as far as she can (a throw Joe Montana might envy). The Ice Worms zero in on the ice pack, HISSING fiercely as they try to scare the others off. MAX Well, now we know heat definitely attracts them. Max toggles her comset. MAX (CON'T) Ace? ACE (V.O.) Yeah? Want me to be bait? If they're attracted to heat, the Flapjack and I can deliver. Hang on and get ready to follow them up to the surface. MAX Will do! Sharkey points (o.s.). SHARKEY They're coming back. My turn. Sharkey pulls one of his chem packs out, and throws it in another direction, buying time. EXT. FLAPJACK - SURFACE OF NEREID The Flapjack angles the front end upwards, the back end with the engines down toward the surface of the moon. The engines ROAR. ACE (V.O.) Project Bait is on. INT. ICE CAVE - ALIEN SHIP REMAINS Several (but not all) the Ice Worms head for one side of the cave and angle up toward the surface. SHARKEY (V.O.) It's working! Max and Sharkey hold a chem pack in each hand; the others go back in their pockets in the Virosuits. MAX Obviously some prefer the bird in the hand. Max's p.o.v. showing a few Ice Worms heading toward them rather than following the others. MAX (CON'T) One chem pack each, okay? Max and Sharkey each throw a chem pack as far as they can, to the opposite side of the cave from the new tunnels created by Project Bait. The Ice Worms split up, heading to the chem packs, which heat up on impact. SHARKEY (V.O.) Run! Max and Sharkey run as fast as they can toward the new tunnels. A new Ice Worm comes out of the wall nearby and heads towards them. Max throws a chem pack right at the Ice Worm. It stops and devours the chem pack. Max and Sharkey run up the steep tunnel. INT. FLAPJACK COCKPIT The ground radar scope (futuristic version) shows the huge Ice Worms rapidly approaching. (Think ALIENS.) ACE Project Bait working as planned! EXT. FLAPJACK - SURFACE OF NEREID The Flapjack leaps up into the air just as the first of the Ice Worms leaps up out of the ice like Shamu at Sea World, almost catching the ship. The Ice Worm crashes back down to the ice as the others reach the surface. The Flapjack comes closer to the ground, drawing the Ice Worms closer. The Ice Worms surge forward, across the ice, pursuing the Flapjack and its warmth. INT. STEEP UPWARDS ICE TUNNEL - BENEATH NEREID This tunnel gets more and more steep, and Max and Sharkey are forced to use their hands as well as their feet to climb it. Suddenly the side of the tunnel MELTS and a small Ice Worm comes slowly toward them. SHARKEY This one's mine! Come here, little Ice Worm. Max continues scrambling up the steep tunnel. Behind her, Sharkey smacks a chem pack to activate it, waits until the Ice Worm is nearly on him (and the chem pack is HOT), and drops it. He quickly scrambles up after Max. The chem pack slides slowly down the tunnel, then faster and faster with the small Ice Worm in hot pursuit. EXT. SURFACE OF NEREID Max and Sharkey climb over the edge of the tunnel, onto the surface of Nereid. SHARKEY Ace! We're up! Come get us. Max looks down the tunnel they just climbed. MAX And hurry! Max's p.o.v down the tunnel as more Ice Worms slither up. Max drops her remaining chem packs down the tunnel. MAX That should slow them down. The Flapjack roars in and lands. The moment it touches the ground, the front door is flung open, and the steps lowered. ACE (V.O.) You've got company! Max and Sharkey dash for the steps as the Ice Worms pursuing the Flapjack come into sight. Sharkey shoves Max ahead of him. SHARKEY Go! I've still got chem packs. Sharkey turns and throws his last chem packs at the Ice Worms. MAX Sharkey! Hurry! Sharkey leaps for the steps and barely grabs the rail when the Flapjack TAKES OFF. A disappointed Ice Worm falls back to the surface of the moon. DISSOLVE TO: INT. STAR RANGER - MESS ROOM Kulai watches bemused as a jubilant Ace and exhausted Max and Sharkey relax with hot drinks. HORTEN I am pleased to report that the ice has melted and water rationing has ended. ACE Yahoo! Ace immediately gets up and heads for the door. SHARKEY How long will it last? Ace pauses in the doorway to listen to the answer. HORTEN Due to the efficiency of the recycling system, it should last a very long time. Ace grins. ACE And now to finish that shower that was so rudely interrupted. Ace exits gleefully, leaving Max and Sharkey sitting near each other, sipping their hot drinks. MAX Sharkey, whatever happened to you and your parents.... If you'd ever like to talk about it, I make a good listener. Sharkey smiles gratefully. SHARKEY Thank you. Maybe later. But I would love to hear about your family. MAX I know I mentioned my younger sister, Toria. You'd like her; she's a lot like you. There was the time .... And we peacefully ... FADE OUT: THE END