[A pneumatic hiss]
[Machinery works in the background]
[Metal clinks on the ground as footsteps continue, then stop]
ANYA
Here. This should be the one.
RILEY
Finally. I know you said it was going to be hot in here, but oof.
ANYA
No other way to get this close to the queen without them swarming us. You saw the schematics.
RILEY
Why would they have a pipe this hot so near to their nest, anyway?
ANYA
This close to the reactor, ther’s a lot of ambient heat. They want to keep themselves cool. It’s got to be redirected somewhere.
RILEY
Mmm. Lucky us.
ANYA
What I don’t understand is why they set their nest up here in the first place.
[Another pneumatic hiss]
RILEY
Only one way to find out, I guess. You’re sure this is the right one?
ANYA
I’m sure.
[The whistlers howl in the distance, growing closer as they walk]
RILEY
Shit.
How many do you think there are?
ANYA
(audible shrug) Enough.
RILEY
What is that thing?
ANYA
(surprised) I don’t know. It’s huge. Must have come through the bulkhead.
RILEY
I think – Anya, I think it’s a ship of some kind. It must be how they came here?
ANYA
Maybe? Or maybe it’s how they nest.
RILEY
I don’t see anything that looks like a queen, though. They all look… normal. What’s this queen supposed to look like, anyway?
ANYA
Big. Big enough to spawn the rest of them.
RILEY
Hold on – hand me those binoculars.
[A pause]
Nope, nothing like that. They all look normal. Well – as far as “normal” as a whi–
(spotting something) Oh. No, hang on.
[Binoculars adjust]
Eggs. I see eggs.
ANYA
But not what’s laying them?
RILEY
I think –
[Pause as they keep adjusting the focus]
Oough, it looks like they can all lay them. I don’t think there is a queen.
ANYA
(darkly) Well, it doesn’t matter.
[As Riley speaks, we can hear Anya taking off her bag and opening it]
RILEY
What do you mean it doesn’t matter, of course it matters! The plan was to take the queen out from afar, and then run.
[Silence]
Anya… What was the plan?
ANYA
The plan was for you to cover me. Then run!
[Beat]
RILEY
Is that what I think it is?
ANYA
Found it in a munitions locker. Should take out this whole section.
RILEY
And you with it?
ANYA
We don’t have time to argue.
RILEY
So I’m supposed to just let you kill yourself.
ANYA
And then –
RILEY
No! I refuse, I will no–
Wait.
Where did they all go?
[Silence]
[A low, roar-like whistle]
[It comes again, from another side]
ANYA
Too late.
[Anxious footsteps]
LUNA
They’ve taken some of the explosives.
MIRA
Does anyone know where they might have gone?
LEVI
Anya wanted to go to the nest.
ZACK
They wouldn’t have gone on their own, surely…
[As they speak, there is faint rhythmic pounding from outside the room, like the whistlers are still trying to get in]
MIRA
Anya’s been fighting whistlers and not doing much else for decades.
LEVI
Yeah, she might have talked Riley into going alone.
LUNA
I think they went through the side door. They can’t have too much of a head start.
MIRA
Right. Does anyone know how to use any of these weapons?
[A long silence]
(resigned) Just me, then. Everyone else, grab some flares. We might be able to catch up with them if we hurry.
[Quick footsteps as they disperse]
ANYA
No luck?
RILEY
Looks like they’re waiting outside all of the vents leading into the heating pipes.
ANYA
It’s the same that way.
RILEY
There must be other ways out.
ANYA
There are two. One into the reactor, and one into open space.
[Riley sighs]
RILEY
Shit.
[The rhythmic pounding continues. It is louder here.]
Shut up! Why don’t they just come in and get it over with?
ANYA
Too hot for them. And besides, they don’t need to!
RILEY
Can’t stay in here forever. – So what’s the plan?
ANYA
Same as it was before.
RILEY
You’re still planning to blow yourself up?
ANYA
Well, I hope to take more of them with me, but at least I’ll get the eggs. And it should distract them enough for you to get out of here.
RILEY
No. I’m not going to let you do it.
ANYA
How are you going to stop me? I’m the one with the bomb.
RILEY
(sure) If you go out there, I’m coming with you.
ANYA
What are you talking about!? No you’re not.
RILEY
Are you going to blow me up as well?
ANYA
Oh this is ridiculous. Just let me go.
RILEY
No.
ANYA
Riley… This is what I’m for. I kill things.
RILEY
That isn’t true. You saved us.
ANYA
I almost killed you.
RILEY
But you didn’t! And without you, we would never have made it as far as we have. We need you.
ANYA
Everyone’s on their own in the end. Even if this won’t stop them all, it will hurt them more than I ever have.
My entire life, hunting these things, being hunted, it’s all I’ve done! So that’s how I end.
[Beat]
RILEY
It doesn’t have to be.
ANYA
(scoffs) What’s the alternative? What else am I good for? I’ve seen how the others look at me. Like I’m something to be pitied. Like I’m broken.
RILEY
We’re all broken, Anya. And you’re worth more than blowing yourself up to kill a few dozen whistlers.
ANYA
(acerbic) So what else do I do?
RILEY
(firm) That’s up to you. But I know that you’re more useful alive than you are dead.
[Beat]
ANYA
You – really think so?
RILEY
I do. And so do the others!
[Another beat]
ANYA
…Fine.
[Fabric rustles as she hands over the bomb]
Take the thing. Green switch on the side should disarm it.
[Riley exhales in relief]
[A hiss as the bomb is disarmed]
ANYA
So what now? We’re still trapped.
[A few clinks of gunfire from outside]
ZACK
(distant) Riley!
LEVI
(distant) Down there?
RILEY
(calling up to them) We’re here!
MIRA
(distant) This way! Hurry!
RILEY
I knew it! Hah! Come on, Anya.
[Running footsteps]
[Panting breaths]
LEVI
Mira, the door!
[The door slams shut]
[The soundscape instantly falls away, with only the sound of everyone’s breathing left]
ZACK
At least it was quicker to get in with the Commander’s key!
[Several people are still catching their breaths]
ANYA
They’re not going anywhere this time. There’s too many of them, and they are very angry.
MIRA
Then we need to find a way out of here. One where they can’t follow.
ANYA
Our best bet’s probably a maintenance tunnel. Something cut off from the main corridors.
RILEY
I’ll check the plans, see if there’s anything leading away from the bridge.
[Hurried footsteps as they go. There are beeps from the console as Mira keeps speaking:]
MIRA
Good. I’ll guard the door. Levi, Zack, Luna, gather as many supplies as you can. We probably won’t be back here for a while. Anya, help Riley.
ANYA
You’re not in charge of me.
LEVI
You know the station better than anyone, Anya. Please.
[Beat]
ANYA
Fine.
[She shoves herself to her feet]
MIRA
Riley, anything?
RILEY
Still looking. There’s a maintenance tunnel through the floor, but it looks like it just doubles back into the corridors.
ANYA
The whistlers could be halfway over this level by now.
MIRA
Well, is there anywhere on another level we could get to?
ZACK
What about those shuttles?
LEVI
Wh–this is hardly the time to decide –
ZACK
Just the shuttle bay, then. That would be far enough away to give us some breathing room, right?
MIRA
Could we get there?
RILEY
I think we could probably get to the nearest lift.
ANYA
(darkly) Most of them don’t work.
RILEY
We might be able to fix it?
MIRA
Any better options?
RILEY
None I’ve found yet. I-I can keep looking…
[A beat]
MIRA
Let’s try the lift. I’ll do what I can with the controls here. Levi, cover the door for me.
RILEY
Right. We should be able to get down through here.
ANYA
I’ll get the tools.
[Footsteps as she goes]
LEVI
Wait. I think there’s some communicators in with the supplies. (rustles as he reaches into a bag) Here, take one of these with you.
[They depart]
[A beat]
H-How do I–
MIRA
(firmly) Just keep it pointed at the door, and squeeze the trigger as soon as you see movement.
LEVI
Right. Thanks.
MIRA
Riley, Anya, can you hear me?
RILEY
(staticky through communicator) Yeah, it’s working.
MIRA
Great. Keep us updated. I think I’ve found the lift you’re heading to on the plans, so I should be able to monitor its status.
LEVI
(exhales sharply) If we do manage to make it to the shuttle bay… we’re not really leaving, are we?
ZACK
Why not? What would we stay for, really?
LEVI
Well – what about the fact that there are still hundreds of thousands of people here stuck in stasis?
ZACK
They’ll be stuck in stasis whether we’re here or not. This place is far too broken for us to try waking them all. And that’s only as long as we can try them one at a time… and how many of them relate to the Commander?
LEVI
W-w-we could at least try!
ZACK
I’m sorry, Levi, but we’re more likely to turn those pods into coffins than to get anyone out of them.
LEVI
And if they wake up anyway? Like we did, or Anya’s group?
LUNA
What if they don’t? Do you really want to spend your life waiting for strangers who might never show up?
LEVI
It’s not just about the others. The six of us could build a life together, at least. Leaving the station isn’t safe.
[A few particularly loud bangs outside the wall-shield]
MIRA
Hah.
LEVI
Well it’s safer than out there! …Maybe there’s another farm in some other part of the station. Like, further away from the whistlers.
ZACK
Sure. We may be able to find somewhere like that if we stayed. But leaving! We could find something so much better.
LUNA
Shouldn’t we at least try to find out what else is out there? If there’s anyone left from Earth? Or other life we could live alongside?
LEVI
God – Mira, you can’t think this is a good idea!
MIRA
I don’t. But I don’t necessarily think it’s a good idea to stay here, either.
But, if we have to choose – and it looks like we might… I don’t know what I’d be outside of the station. I can remember being other places… but they don’t exist anymore. The only thing I know I can do is try to keep us all alive, here and now.
[She sighs]
Which is what I’m trying to do now, if you don’t mind.
[Tinkering noises, rhythmic]
ANYA
Still glad you stopped me blowing up the nest?
RILEY
Yeah. I think I’d rather go out trying to live than trying to kill.
ANYA
Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry for dragging you down there.
RILEY
You didn’t drag me. I chose to go.
ANYA
How much do you think the others really want to fly off into space?
RILEY
(a considering breath) Well, I guess Zack’s keen. Luna too, I think. Obviously Levi doesn’t want to, but I’m not really sure why, and – I can’t tell what Mira wants.
ANYA
But you don’t want to go.
RILEY
I – wouldn’t have thought so, before, but… maybe.
ANYA
Because of the whistlers?
[Beat]
RILEY
No – well, actually yeah, a bit, but mostly… Well, what would we actually do if we stayed? I hate the thought of just waiting here!
ANYA
(darkly) Like me.
RILEY
No – you’ve had the whistlers to deal with, you’ve been fighting all this time. I guess I thought maybe that would be what I could do too, but… I don’t think that’s actually what I want. …I’m sorry.
ANYA
Why are you sorry? You’re not me.
[Riley exhales a laugh]
RILEY
Right.
ANYA
It would be nice if you stayed, though.
RILEY
I’m not saying I definitely want to leave, I just mean… I can see how it might be – hope. For some other life. Something to focus on that isn’t just survival, it’s –
ANYA
Wait!
[A long, tense silence]
[A very far-off whistle]
[The sound of resin, squelching]
[Soft transitional music begins to play]
[Two other far-off whistles, answering]
[Another, then another…]
[Static as the communicator turns on]
RILEY
(fuzzy over communicator) Mira! Are you there?
MIRA
Yeah. I’m here. What’s your status?
RILEY
(fuzzy) We’ve got time, but they’re pretty close.
MIRA
We’d better be quick, then. Can you access the lift’s controls?
RILEY
(fuzzy) Yes. But there’s no power supply, it’s completely dead.
MIRA
(to herself) Shit. Let me look…
[A few beeps as she taps]
(exhales) Looks like it’s still connected. I might be able to reroute power.
[Footsteps approaching from behind]
LUNA
Mira–… Can we talk?
MIRA
Er – not really the best time right now.
LUNA
Well there might not be another time, that’s – kind of the point.
MIRA
– Fine. What’s wrong?
LUNA
No – nothing’s wrong, I just –
Well. You said earlier you couldn’t think what your life could be outside the station. Well I didn’t want to say it with Levi and Zack right there, but…
I – could be part of your life. (raw) Like… a big part. I know that’s not enough, but… maybe we could be a start? And we’d – figure out the rest together?
MIRA
I… um…
(slow, sincere) I might like that.
[Luna laughs, quiet but joyous]
LUNA
(audibly smiling) Good.
[Mira huffs out a laugh, too]
[Then an exhale as she remembers:]
MIRA
But we can talk about this later. There’ll be time. I promise.
RILEY
(staticky) Mira, how’s it looking on the console?
MIRA
Er – yep. Should be working any second.
[Her voice becomes staticky as we move over to Riley and Anya]
MIRA
(staticky over communicator) Let me know as soon as it lights up.
[A short ping!]
RILEY
That’s it! Give me a second.
[They yank open a panel; metal squeaks as they work]
[An error noise]
RILEY
(hissing) Shit. What now?
[The whistlers are getting louder in the distance]
ANYA
Riley…
RILEY
I know, I know!
MIRA
(staticky) What’s happening? Is it working?
RILEY
It’s saying something about an override? I think you need to call it up from there.
ANYA
Can we do it from down here?
RILEY
…No. The folks who built this place really didn’t want anyone but the Commander accessing these shuttles. – Mira?
[Our focus shifts back to Mira and the others]
[The banging on the shields from before is now much louder]
[Luna is breathing very fast in the background]
MIRA
I – yep. I think I found it. One second…
[Electric sparks; metal caves in]
[Luna screams]
MIRA
Go! Get down to the others!
LUNA
I don’t –
MIRA
I’m right behind you!
[Hurried footsteps in the background as Luna, Levi, and Zack run]
[Two beeps from the console]
MIRA
(calling) Got it!
[Tense music]
[Metal rattles – a hatch closing]
LUNA
I can’t see Mira!
LEVI
She’s on her way.
ZACK
Riley?
RILEY
(a little further off) Come on!
ANYA
They’re coming. I’ll cover you.
[Her gun charges up]
[The doors slide open]
RILEY
Get in! Hurry!
ZACK
You’re sure it’s safe?
RILEY
Nope!
ANYA
Where’s Mira?
LEVI
Still on her way.
ANYA
(doubtful) Uh…
LEVI
(firm) We wait as long as we can.
ANYA
We already have! We’ve got to go!
LUNA
(voice raising in panic) We can’t just –
RILEY
Wait!
LUNA
Mira!
LEVI
She’s here!
[The elevator doors slide shut, and the noises cut off]
[Mira groans in pain]
[Two last shots from outside]
[Everyone catches their breath as the lift works its way upwards]
RILEY
Well that was…
ZACK
Everyone okay? Any injuries?
LUNA
I think we’re alright. Somehow.
[Silence as the lift continues rattling on its journey]
[It stops with a slight clunk]
[The doors slide open with a ding!]
[Soft, wondering music]
LEVI
Is this it?
ZACK
Where are the shuttles?
RILEY
Well, they should be straight down this way.
LEVI
(deliberately neutral) Is that where we’re going?
MIRA
…For now.
LEVI
Right.
[Nothing but the sound of their footsteps, and the music]
[Riley exhales thoughtfully]
RILEY
This is it.
[Their voice echoes a little in the cavernous space]
ZACK
It’s huge.
MIRA
It should be. There’s space for nine shuttles.
[Footsteps as everyone walks around slowly]
LUNA
Well, there’s definitely not more than eight! This bay’s empty.
LEVI
This one too.
ANYA
This one’s still here! Next one too.
ZACK
Look at the size of them!
Hang on, looks like there’s a status panel. Mira, could you…
MIRA
Sure.
[She walks over; a few beeps as she taps]
There’s fuel… (beep) stocked… (beep, beep) and functional. (beep, beep) Designed to carry up to three hundred passengers for up to two years.
And… (surprised and pleased) yeah. It has light speed.
ZACK
Sounds like a pretty good option.
RILEY
We still don’t know what’s out there.
LEVI
I say we vote on it. Whatever we do, we do together.
RILEY
Seems fair.
[A long silence]
[A rustle as one person shifts:]
ZACK
I vote we go. There are a few star systems we could easily reach in this thing. We don’t know what’s there, of course…
LUNA
I say we find out. I vote to go.
RILEY
I –
Yeah. Me too. I’m sorry, Levi.
LEVI
No. You know what, I-I… (firm) I vote to go as well.
MIRA
(surprised) Really. You’re sure?
LEVI
Yeah. I think I am.
ZACK
What made you change your mind?
LEVI
D’you remember that graveyard we found back at the farm?
ZACK
I never went to see it myself, but – yeah, I remember.
LEVI
You missed out. …It was kind of lovely, actually. Flowers had grown all over it, with just these markers poking through. There must have been about… what, a-a hundred of them?
But there was one that hadn’t been filled in. It was just a pit in the ground next to the rest, with a body laying at the bottom. Just bones, curled up like they might have just – fallen asleep there and never woken up.
They must have buried everyone they’d ever known until they were the last one alive.
The more I think about it – the more I realize that if we stay, if we go back to the farm or find another one, like I wanted… well, that’s the best-case scenario. I don’t want to be the last one left, and I don’t want any of us to be – (voice breaking slightly) maybe I still will be, just on a ship, you know, instead of a station. But I think I’m going to choose to hope for something better. Or try, you know, anyway.
Besides, some of the other ships are already gone.
ZACK
Maybe there are others already out there!
RILEY
We don’t know for sure…
LEVI
But I say let’s find out.
MIRA
So it’s decided. We go.
ANYA
No.
RILEY
(surprised) No?
ANYA
I’m not going.
RILEY
Anya – no, we’re not just going to leave you here on your own!
ANYA
You’ve all only been here for – what, a month? But I’ve lived here for decades. If there is anything else out there, it’s not for me.
RILEY
But you’d be a–
ANYA
(overlapping) Alone.
(audible shrug) I’m very used to it. And I was thinking, maybe other people will wake up. Like you said they might. And maybe I can help them. If I’m still here.
Maybe I’ll even send them on after you.
RILEY
I – (torn) I could stay. Help you out.
ANYA
(not unkindly) No you couldn’t. Thank you, Riley, for everything, but… You belong with them. Not with me.
MIRA
…If you’re sure about this, then you should take the badge.
[Metal clasps, then unclasps]
ANYA
Oh! Oh, I guess that makes me the Commander!
MIRA
I guess it does.
ANYA
Thank you.
MIRA
Permission to disembark, Commander.
[A switch is pressed; a wall lifts]
ANYA
(grandly) Permission granted.
LEVI
Goodbye, Anya. Keep safe.
ANYA
I’ll try my best.
[A pause]
ZACK
Come on, Luna. Let’s see what’s out there.
LUNA
Can’t wait. Goodbye, Anya.
[Their footsteps fade into the background]
RILEY
Will you be okay?
ANYA
Well I’m not the one heading out into a vast and uncaring universe!
RILEY
I’m not so sure about that.
ANYA
I’ve survived many, many years on my own. I’ll manage.
…But I will miss you.
[Fabric rustles]
RILEY
(a little muffled) I’ll miss you too.
[Footsteps as they, too, depart]
[Metal squeaks as the shuttle adjusts into position]
LEVI
Do you think you can keep us alive out there as well?
MIRA
I’ll try. Things will be different, though, on a ship. Day in… day out. We’ll need a lot more than we need me.
LEVI
Do you think we’ll find anything?
[A beat.]
MIRA
All we can do is hope.
[Soft, sweeping music fades in]
ANYA
Good luck.