a story

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EPISODE 301 THE BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT

Story by: Jon Van Pelt

Written by: Jon Van Pelt

Edited by: Bart Vandezande

Episode 301 – The Bright White Light

Main Characters:

John Kendrick ...... Aaron Jakubenko Moa Andersson ...... Ruby Rose Tolena...... Zoey Deutch Brikane ...... Adam Godley

Guest Characters:

Janot ...... Liam Hemsworth Xarina ...... Maggie William “Bill” Kendrick ...... Michael Harney Natalie Kendrick ...... Vanessa Kirby Wren ...... Johnny Galecki Tauros ...... Tom Hobbs

Alien Races:

Bolian Boslic Orion

EXT. SPACE

SHOT ON: a NACELLE, drifting lonely in space…

… as we follow a TRAIL of DEBRIS leading up to:

The Orion raider RAHM lying dead in space. One nacelle BLOWN OFF. There are several HULL BREACHES. Throughout the ship LIGHTS flicker on and off at irregular intervals.

MOA (V.O.) To any vessel out there.

As we move away from the Rahm and head up to:

SHOT ON: the Orion scout ship KEI. Phaser scorches across her hull. She is badly damaged but her hull still looks intact.

MOA (V.O.) This is Moa Andersson of the Blue Star. We are a merchant vessel flying under the flag of the Universal Trading Company.

Moving further away from the Kei, in the far distance we recognize the silhouette of the BLUE STAR.

MOA (V.O.) We were attacked by Orion pirates and are in need of assistance.

Suddenly accelerating until arriving at Blue Star’s location, we see the cargo ship is intact but adrift. Damage to her hull is limited.

MOA (V.O.) Our warp core is down and we have roughly 48 hours of oxygen left. Please. Help us.

As we zoom in on one of the PORTHOLES until we are pulled through and end up inside:

INT. BLUE STAR – THE GALLEY

SHOT ON: BRIKANE lying on the KITCHEN TABLE, bare-chested and unconscious.

The PHASER WOUND on his CHEST seems to have been healed with a dermal regenerator but the scars are still visible, covered in dried up blood.

MOA steps into frame. She holds a MEDICAL and starts to scan the injury.

The tricorder makes the usual BLEEPING SOUND.

A FROWN on Moa's face as she tries to make sense of the READINGS on her tricorder.

Brikane's eyelids start to flicker. He grunts and mutters some incomprehensible words.

Moa quickly puts her tricorder away and leans in closer to him, trying to make sense of his mumblings. As she takes his left hand, caringly:

MOA (carefully) Can you hear me, Brik? It's me. Moa.

Suddenly Brikane’s eyes shoot WIDE OPEN. As he GASPS for breath, confused and scared.

BRIKANE (in panic) Where am I? What happened?

Moa quickly places her hand on his forehead, trying to calm him down.

MOA Ssshhh. Try not to force yourself Brik. You’re in the galley. Onboard the Blue Star. You’re safe now. Don’t worry.

He tries to lift his head but he is still in a lot of pain. Moa pushes him gently back down.

MOA (CONT'D) They hit you pretty bad. I managed to heal your wounds but you've got to take it easy.

BRIKANE (suddenly remembering) They were so fast Moa. I didn't even have time to pull up my phaser riffle.

2 As the details of the attack start to dawn on him:

BRIKANE (CONT'D) Where's Tolena? Is she okay?

Moa turns her face away from him, too afraid to see his reaction when he learns what happened to his crewmates.

MOA They took her with them. (beat) And John.

BRIK John too? Why?

Looking him back in the eye:

MOA Your guess is as good as mine. But it's safe to assume it has probably something to do with that optolytic data rod John was carrying.

BRIK What about the Orions?

MOA Dead in space. Just like us.

As he pushes himself straight up:

BRIK Then what are we still doing up here? We’ve got to get down to the engine room. If the Orions get their engines back up and running before we do-

On his determined look we go to:

EXT. SPACE

SHOT ON: the Kei- the Orion scout ship commandeered by Xarina.

In the distant the silhouette of the Blue Star .

Much closer to us: the burning Orion raider Rahm.

3 INT. KEI - ENGINE ROOM

The ENGINE ROOM of Xarina's ship is about 3 times as big as the engine room on the Blue Star.

It has TWO circular WARP CORES running from deck to ceiling.

Half a dozen Orion CREWMEN are walking crisscross through the room. Some holding PADDS, others are carrying TOOLS. It looks like repairs are underway.

Standing at a CONSOLE between the two warp cores, is JANOT. As he is monitoring DATA on his screen, a familiar voice addresses him from behind.

XARINA (O.S.) What's our status, Janot?

For a second there, he closes his eyes and lets out a brief sigh. Whatever his status report says, Xarina probably won’t be happy to hear it.

Gathering his courage, Janot turns round, now facing Xarina. Her fierce eyes seem to pierce right through him. Although he is taller and has more muscle power, Xarina definitely feels like the strongest force in the room.

Feeling pinned down against the wall by only the power of her gaze, he tries to break away from her by looking down at his padd. As he scrolls over some data:

JANOT We're- (hesitating) making good progress.

XARINA You never were a good liar Janot.

As she takes one step closer to him:

XARINA (CONT’D) (calmly) You told me that you'd get the engines back online in under 2 hours.

Suddenly she snatches the padd from out of his hand and throws it down onto the floor.

Some of the crewmen stop in their tracks and stare at the situation that’s developing between her and Janot.

4 XARINA (CONT'D) (shouting) That was 6 hours ago!

As she notices they have become quite the attraction:

XARINA (CONT’D) (at her crew) Don’t you men have work to do?

The crewmen quickly jump back into action. As she takes another step closer to Janot, making him even more nervous:

JANOT (frightened) Xarina. I can explain-

She raises her hand to silence him:

XARINA No Janot. I do not want to hear your petty excuses. I need solutions. And I need them now.

As she turns away from him, for the first time, we sense vulnerability on her part:

XARINA (CONT'D) We're alone out here Janot. That means we're vulnerable. And I can't afford being vulnerable.

Realizing Xarina is opening up to him, trusting him with her biggest fears, Janot seems to be relaxing.

XARINA (CONT'D) We can only guess what the status is on board the Blue Star. But if they're able to get their ship back up and running before you can-

SHOT ON: Janot as an idea seems to suddenly pop up inside his head:

JANOT Perhaps there is a way to neutralize them before they can move against us.

Back to scene as Xarina turns back to Janot with a glistering of hope in her eyes:

5 XARINA Well-

As she looks around the engine room, disappointed:

XARINA (CONT’D) Since it looks like we're no step closer in solving our own mess: explain yourself.

JANOT Let's send out an assault team. Take the Blue Star by force like you planned.

XARINA (scornful) And how do you propose we do that? We're out of range. And even if we were within range: chances are we wouldn't have enough power to beam people in and out of there.

With a mischievous smile on his lips.

JANOT We still have the escape pods.

Taking in his words, envisioning a plan of attack:

XARINA (pleased) Clever. And cunning. If we succeed.

Sensing Xarina’s approval, the tone in his voice shifts from careful to almost bold:

JANOT They won't expect us to send out escape pods. With a few modifications we can boost the pod's speed and maneuverability. Once docked our team can cut through the hull and board the ship. They won't know what happened before it's too late.

Now convinced of the possibility of success:

XARINA (determined) Assign as many men to the modification of the pods as you see fit. Taking the Blue Star is now our first priority.

6 JANOT I will not fail you, Xarina.

She gets close enough to whisper in his ears:

XARINA Prove yourself to me and maybe your bed will not be empty tonight.

As she turns round and walks away from him, throwing him one last look of anticipation:

EXT. GOLIATH ORBIT - KENDRICK'S PALACE

Space.

The blue gas giant GOLIATH comes into view. As we pass around her...... we run into KENDRICK'S PALACE.

INT. KENDRICK'S PALACE - BILL'S OFFICE

Where we find BILL Kendrick sitting behind the familiar oak desk, his eyes locked onto his COMPUTER SCREEN. Whatever it is he just saw or heard, it must have been gut-wrenching.

BILL (disbelief) This can’t be happening. Not again.

We switch around and see NATALIE Kendrick standing in front of her father’s desk. With her arms firmly folded behind her back, she tries to convey a sense of calm but the look in her eyes betrays a deep fear.

Standing a few steps behind her is WREN, the Ferengi accountant of the company. He appears to be keeping a low profile, but is very focused on the situation at hand.

Bill pushes the replay key on his computer console. As he does we hear the voice of Moa echoing through the speakers:

MOA (O.S.) (through speakers) To any vessel out there. This is Moa Andersson- (interrupted by static) We were attacked by Orion pirates-

7 MOA (O.S.) (again static) In need of assistance- (silence) Help us.

As Moa’s final plea lingers on in everyone’s mind, Bill gets up from his chair. He starts pacing back and forth behind his desk:

BILL (angry at himself) I never should have let him go back to that damn ship!

He suddenly stops and looks past Natalie, at Wren:

BILL(CONT'D) Have we been able to track down their last known coordinates?

As Wren moves up next to Natalie:

WREN By putting the time index of the distress call next to the ship's flight plan, we were able to narrow down their possible location. (beat) There is of course a margin for error.

NATALIE That distress call dates back 12 hours ago. When powered down the Blue Star can keep on life support for about roughly 48 hours. That means we've only got 36 hours left to set up a rescue mission.

Wren looks up at Natalie, apparently surprised to hear her say the words ‘rescue mission’.

WREN A rescue mission? With the Orions out there waiting for us?

Natalie shoots Wren a look that seems to convey both annoyance and disappointment. Wren realizes he is about to bring up a delicate subject.

8 WREN (CONT'D) I realize he is your brother- (at Bill) and your son. But I must advice caution. Do we really want to risk losing any more valuable men and ships out there?

Natalie ignores Wren and turns directly to her father:

NATALIE (scoffs) Leave it to a Ferengi to talk about people's lives as if they were numbers on a balance sheet.

WREN Of course it's about numbers. May I remind you of the old proverb that says: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

As she stares back at Wren, eyes like arrows:

NATALIE (wryly) A Ferengi quoting the words of a Vulcan philosopher? A moment for the history books for sure.

The two of them bickering starts to get on Bill’s nerves. Natalie realizes she has to keep her cool.

NATALIE (at Wren) Then let me quote Rule of Acquisition 88.

That seems to silence Wren.

NATALIE (CONT’D) (full of confidence) “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” (at Bill) If the Orions were still out there like Wren says, Moa most likely wouldn't have been able to broadcast that SOS. So I say we head out there and bring them back home.

Bill stays awfully quiet. Clearly he is contemplating on every possible action and every possible outcome before finally coming to a decision:

9 BILL (to Wren) We'll send the Hawk to retrieve them. If the Orions are still out there, they'll think twice before coming after us. I want you and Rever to lead the rescue mission.

WREN (surprised) Me?

NATALIE (equally surprised) Him?

As she steps up, full of confidence:

NATALIE I volunteer to command the Hawk.

BILL You?

He shakes his head and sits back down in his chair.

BILL (CONT’D) No. Oh no you won’t. Out of the question. I've already lost one son.

As he spreads his hands across the oak desk, his thoughts drifting away:

BILL (CONT’D) And now. (beat) Maybe even John too.

He looks back up from his desk, almost with pleading eyes:

BILL (CONT’D) I will not risk the life of my only daughter.

As she leans in on his desk:

NATALIE Please dad. You can’t expect me to just sit here and do nothing while the two people I care about most are out there, fighting to survive.

10 Bill turns his watery eyes away from her. Sensing the cracks forming in his decision, she turns round again -now facing Wren:

NATALIE (CONT'D) Suppose Wren is right and the Orions are still out there. But John and his crew are still on board the Blue Star. Chances to get them of the ship safely are slim, but not impossible.

Looking back at her father:

NATALIE (CONT'D) Who do you trust most to make the tuff decision to bring down the and beam them aboard? Someone who works for the Latinum? Or someone who shares the same blood as you?

Realizing that putting Wren in charge of the rescue operation might hold its own risks:

BILL Your mother will kill me. (beat) But I'll give you your command.

As he gets back up from his chair:

BILL (CONT’D) On one condition.

NATALIE Of course.

BILL You will immediately reverse course when you find yourself outnumbered and outgunned by those Orion thugs.

Natalie nods in agreement.

Satisfied by Natalie’s compliance, Bill turns his attention back to Wren. Pointing his index finger at him as if holding the Ferengi bookkeeper at gunpoint:

BILL (CONT’D) And I'm keeping you responsible for her safe return.

11 We leave the scene as Natalie heads for the exit, with Wren in her trail -looking very worried.

INT. BEDROOM

SHOT ON: open WINDOW DOORS, giving out to a terrace. The wind plays through the curtains, letting beams of sunlight into the room. Birds outside are singing their song. It definitely is a beautiful morning.

We REVERSE ANGLE to find TOLENA lying in bed. It seems that she is asleep. As SUNLIGHT touches her eyes, her eyelids start to move slowly until ...

SHOT ON: her eyes SHOOTING OPEN. She GASPS for breath as if she just awoke from a terrible nightmare.

She crawls up to a sitting position on the bed. As she tries to get her bearing:

TOLENA (to herself, whispering) Where am I?

She looks at her clothing, realizing she is no longer in her Blue Star uniform but in a blue nightgown that leaves very little to the imagination.

As she jumps out of bed and walks towards the open window doors and ...

EXT. TERRACE (CONTINUOUS)

Steps out onto the terrace where she finds:

SHOT ON: TAUROS sitting at a table set for two, enjoying a steaming cup of coffee. He looks up with a smile as he sees Tolena standing at the terrace window. TAUROS Good morning my blue dove. Hope you had a good night sleep.

TOLENA (hesitating) Where am I?

She places her left hand on her temple. Her face pulls a grimace as if recovering from a serious headache.

TOLENA (CONT’D) What did you do to me?

12 TAUROS You put up quite a fight when we took you from the Blue Star. You even kicked one of my men into sickbay. So the doctor decided to administer a tranquilizer to keep you calm. My apologies. But it was a necessary precaution. I couldn’t risk you hurting yourself.

As he puts down his cup of coffee and points at the basket with delicious pastry in front of him:

TAUROS Come and sit down. You must be starving.

As she walks over to her chair, giving him a wide berth:

TAUROS (CONT'D) (amused) You still don't trust me do you?

She sits down and wriggles uncomfortably in her chair. Staring at all the food and beverages on the table, her mind seems to be elsewhere.

TOLENA So this is your way to win me back over? Taking me off my ship by force. Putting me in-

She pulls at her nightgown.

TOLENA (CONT’D) This.

Tauros smiles, apparently enjoying the fact that Tolena is out of her comfort zone.

TAUROS This is just my way of showing you that I'm prepared to take a fresh start. As friends. And in time, maybe more.

As she snatches up a croissant from the basket and takes a big bite out of it:

TOLENA (while chewing) So where's the rest of my crew?

13 TAUROS The Cardassian was shot by one of my men. My guess is he's probably dead by now.

Tolena drops the croissant, suddenly having lost all appetite.

TAUROS (CONT'D) The human female was still alive when we left the scene. Both Orion raiders were crippled. I highly doubt they'll be able to send out a boarding party. So if they can't kill her, the ship's failing life support most definitely will.

As he picks up his cup of coffee.

TAUROS (CONT'D) As for your skipper.

On Tolena's frightened eyes, expecting the worst:

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM

Where we find JOHN, in briefs only, strapped onto a medical bed.

TAUROS (V.O.) Well. Let's just say he is in very good hands.

Close on John's BRUISED and BEATENED face, bathing in a bright white light as we:

FADE OUT TO BLACK

14

a STAR TREK story

CONTINUES WITH:

EPISODE 302 OPEN YOUR MIND

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