Int. Orbitus Kaltrone Spaceship, Staff Accommodation, Level C1.
Nova wakes, sitting up in her bed, the room still in darkness. A line of light cuts across her face.
NOVA
[Breathless]
Albertan.
She stands unsteady on her feet and stumbles to the door. It’s locked, but she pulls at the handle anyway.
Frantic, she heads to her nightstand and attempts to grab her radio. It almost slips from her hands.
NOVA (CONT’D)
Nova La Fleur to Major Lovas. Nova La Fleur to Major Lovas. Over.
[A beat]
Nova sits still, nervous.
MAJOR LOVAS (O.S.)
This is Major Lovas, over.
NOVA
Major, we have a problem.
Int. Orbitus Kaltrone Spaceship, Research Laboratory 2, Level A1.
Albertan, Kamon and Dr Glynn stand over an operating table. They are dressed in pastel blue medical scrubs, white face masks, hairnets and gloves. Their scrubs are splattered with blood. A glass cabinet has been pushed against the locked lab door.
The creature from ground zero is unconscious on the operating table, hooked up to a monitor. Its scalp is held open by forceps, brain exposed. Blood drips off the edge of the table.
Albertan is concentrating. A row of turquoise-filled needles sits ceremoniously on a small steel table. Three of the five needles are empty. Albertan leans over the motionless body and begins to inject one of the needles into the creature’s brain. A lone drop of sweat slides down his forehead. Kamon reaches across to dab Albertan’s brow with a folded cloth. Dr Glynn stands by the foot of the operating table, eyes on the monitor.
The ship jolts forward and the room shakes, causing Albertan to brace his hands against the smooth stainless steel bench. Dr Glynn gasps as her feet slide down the length of the table. Kamon reaches out a sturdy arm and grabs her around the waist, keeping her in place.
The three share anxious glances as they wait for the room to cease its shuttering. The monitor continues to beep in a steady rhythm.
The ship settles. Kamon lets go of Dr Glynn and closes his eyes to take a deep breath. Albertan is visibly annoyed by the interruption.
ALBERTAN
Bloody meteorites.
DR GLYNN
Albertan, please, we have to hurry.
Albertan picks up the last syringe from the side table.
ALBERTAN
Just one more injection to the prefrontal cortex.
As he leans over the creature again, a bang sounds at the door.
ALBERTAN
Nova must have regained consciousness.
Dr Glynn pulls down her face mask. Her hair is twisted into a bun underneath her hairnet, highlighting her gaunt cheekbones.
DR GLYNN
I thought you took care of her!
KAMON
[Removes face mask, confused]
What do you mean ‘took care of her’?
Albertan looks down at the creature. His face distorts.
DR GLYNN
You fool! They’re going to break down the door. You should have killed her. What’s one more person?
Albertan locks eyes with Dr Glynn but doesn’t speak.
KAMON
One more person? What is she talking about?
DR GLYNN
[To Albertan]
Now you find your ethical limits? After everything we’ve worked for, you’re going to let your feelings for that stupid girl get in the way of success?
KAMON
Art, don’t tell me you’ve been buying into what Looney Cluney is selling?
DR GLYNN
Shut up, Kamon!
KAMON
What poison have you been putting into his head?
ALBERTAN
Both of you, be quiet.
Another bang reverberates through the room, causing the glass cabinet at the door to shake and threaten to shatter.
Int. Orbitus Kaltrone Spaceship, Research Laboratory 1, Level A1.
A military team are positioned in front of the door to the lab, dressed in combat attire. Three of them hold a large battering ram, which they slam repeatedly in an attempt to breach the lab doors. Major Lovas, Captain Pae, Lieutenant Holbrook and Lieutenant Moreau watch from the corridor.
Two more officers join the team, holding the electric saw that was used to find Dr Amundsen’s body. Captain Pae signals them forward. The saw revs loudly, echoing in the room. Sparks fly as the jagged metal spins.
MAJOR LOVAS
I want them alive.
Int. Orbitus Kaltrone Spaceship, Research Laboratory 2, Level A1.
Albertan looks up at his colleagues. Blood is splattered on the rim of his thick glasses. With a dirty-gloved hand, he removes them and sets them down next to the now-empty syringe.
Muffled voices rise from outside the lab. Sparks start to fly from the closed door. The screams of metal make their way inside the lab. The door begins to inch open.
KAMON
Albertan?
Albertan sighs. He pulls down his face mask and visibly relaxes.
ALBERTAN
It’s done. There’s nothing they can do to stop it.
Orbitus is written by Olivia Hides and will be presented in instalments throughout the year.
Scene 1 was published on 16 April 2019
Scene 2 was published on 13 May 2019
Scene 3 was published on 12 June 2019
Scene 4 was published on 29 June 2019
Scene 5 was published on 31 July 2019
Scene 6 was published on 1 September 2019