Stuck in Space
SCENE 1
The ship is in disarray. It is pitch black everywhere as a red light flashes, briefly illuminating the cabin space. Small white lights of buttons and switches from control panels spark and flicker in uneven intervals. The walls are dented and panels are loosely floating about. The space is littered with sharp and dangerous debris. Loose cables float by like snakes coming out from the walls. A woman's monotone voice speaks out every 5 seconds repeating “DANGER. DANGER. LOW POWER. OXYGEN COMPROMISED. DANGER. HULL BREACH. DANGER. 7 chairs can be seen in the red light but all other details are unknown and indiscernible. A soft and low moan of discomfort and pain can be heard followed by the shifting of aluminum on rubber and cloth.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Ugggggghhhhhh.
A few slow seconds go by.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Mmmmmmh.
Silence except for the robot woman's voice, the occasional creak of metal, and the spark of electricity from who knows where.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Whhaaaa- (A pause.) Uhhhhhhmmmmmmm.
A dark figure can be seen moving slightly in slow, pained motions. A click of a belt can be heard in the darkness.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
AHHHH. (the thump of a body hitting hard against a hard surface can be heard) OOMPPPPHHH- FFFFUUUUUUUUUUU
The figure lies there for a while, trying to regain their senses. Slowly, they shift and attempt to stand up.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Ok. (a pause) That hurt. Shit. Nothing broken? Nope. Cool. Oh, that hurt but thank Sauron for making those chair buckles sturdy. And thank cap for having the insight to tell us to buckle in before we were shoved into that black hole. First time going in one. Now, that's a story I get to tell to my precious. But why did the nav short circuit? Everything was going smoothly. We triple-checked all systems and machines so that everything was working at 100%. (the figure takes a few seconds to analyze the situation around them.) Huh? SHHHHIT! THE OXYGEN. No no no no no no no no.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 stumbles as fast as they can toward the oxygen generator.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Ok ok ok ok ok. Deep breaths. Shit. Ok. FOCUS. Ok. The Nitrogen Purge Unit seems to be intact as well as the secondary purification unit. And- Shit. The command unit. It needs power. Electricity. And what is there barely any of? Electricity! Great. Ok. Ok. Calm. Calming thoughts. Peace. Uhhhhmmmmmmm. Ok! So the cathode is working but not the anode. Why. UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 tried to look and feel around the mechanism) Oh. There’s a hole in the liquid unit. (UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 pauses as they stare at the oxygen generator) Which means there's no water inside. THERE'S NO FUCKIN WATER. Great. How we’re still breathing is beyond me. Ok. Mission: obtain some dihydrogen monoxide.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 frantically looks around for water. Unknown to them, another figure slowly stirs awake.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
YES! Some good ol’ H20! Thanks, Eru! Ok. Now I have some hardening glue to cover the hole. Step 1 plug the hole. Step 2 open the liquid intake hatch. Step 3 pour in that deliciously bland water. Step 4 turn on the command unit. Step 5 pray.
For a few seconds, nothing happens. Then, it sputters back to life. Meanwhile, the second figure manages to get out of their chair and in a similar sense of confusion looks around in a daze. They flinch at the warning voice and shield their eyes from the flashing red light. They spot the UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 and attempt to go to them but are distracted by the view outside the window. A look of horror slowly flashes across their face.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1
Yes! Hahahahaha! Yes! I am a genius! The next Doc Brown! Hahahaha. I just hope the water has enough sodium for the electrolysis and that the anode registers enough electrons to yield enough oxygen for us. Glad that the entire oxygen system ain’t a goner after going through that black hole.
The second unknown figure jumps as they hear the exclamation from UNKNOWN FIGURE 1. They rush to them in frightful glee.
UNKNOWN FIGURE 2
Mr. Matt!
UNKNOWN FIGURE 1 spins around, sees UNKNOWN FIGURE 2, and catches them in a tight embrace.
MATT
Hey G-man! Hahahaha! How you doin’ this fine morning!
GALVIN
Mr. Matt. Have you-
MATT
Hahahaha! Hey, have you seen the state of this place? I’m telling you, we gotta call housekeeping. It’s a mess.
GALVIN
No. Mr. Matt, please. Listen-
MATT
Oi. I told you to not call me Mr. Matt. What are you, an orc? Come on man. Just Matt. And also! The damn annoying robot lady has been screaming at me this entire time about the oxygen so I decided to shut her up and fix it. You're welcome. I’m a genius by the way.
GALVIN proceeds to violently shake MATT in frustration and growing fear.
GALVIN
No Mr. Matt. Listen. Please! Just listen-
MATT
Speaking of said annoying robot lady. She has been saying danger this entire time. And I am this close to showing her real danger. Like I already fixed the oxygen. No clue how it got damaged but it did! It had no water in it. You know, the most important component of the damn machine. I will admit it ain’t a lasting solution but it will do for now until the others wake up from their beauty sleep. I’m telling you they are like dead as the grave. And I thought I was a deep sleeper. Oh man, I should so take pictures. I bet you Sophia drools in her sleep. Hahaha-
GALVIN slaps MATT across the face. Hard.
GALVIN
WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME FOR ONE SECOND YOU UTTER BABOON! THE REASON THE SYSTEM IS SAYING DANGER IS BECAUSE WE ARE IN DANGER! HALF OF THE SHIP IS GONE!
Silence overcomes the two.
MATT
Wha-
GALVIN
HALF OF THE LWSS NORMANDY IS GONE. THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE SHIP FLOATING OUTSIDE. AND THERE'S A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE HULL. THAT'S WHY THE SYSTEM KEEPS YELLING DANGER!
The two stand there in silence. GALVIN takes heaving breaths while MATT stares wide-eyed at him. Suddenly, they hear a loud crack of metal then suddenly the ship violently shakes and rocks from side to side. The two try and balance themselves and avoid the shattered debris.
GALVIN
What was that?
The two glance at each other when out of the corner of their eyes, they notice something out the window. A chunk of the ship floats by them. GALVIN stares as absolute horror and fear slowly overcome him.
GALVIN
We’re dead.
MATT
Now don’t be like that. Listen. They prepared us for this. We prepared each other for this. Ok. I got the oxygen back up. We have enough to figure out how to get some power back. Just enough to radio mission control about our situation. Let's go wake the others. We are a team. We are the Fellowship of the Ring! It’s gonna be alright.
MATT slowly leads GALVIN away from the window and guides him towards the rest of the chairs while trying to encourage him.
GALVIN
No. it’s not gonna be alright. Half the ship is gone. Which means we barely have any power to sustain ourselves. There is barely any oxygen, water, food, stabilizers, the communications! Oh god, I didn’t see the antenna and I only saw one solar panel! We are doomed. There’s no way we can survive long in space-
MATT violently turns GALVIN around and blocks his view of the chairs.
MATT
Galvin. Imma need you to actually check the power batteries, any and all remaining generators, and scope out the breach. Ok? Go do that right now. If you can, cut power to any nonessential equipment and try to get power to what we need. Especially to the main controls so we can try the communication system.
GALVIN
Wha- No. Wait. Why? Hey. We have to wake the others. We need all hands on deck. I don’t know how to fix these machines. I only know about the physical matter of the solar system and galaxies. I study the universe not machines! Hey, wait! Stop shoving me- hey wait. (a pause) You never call me Galvin. What happened?
MATT
No. Listen to me. Just go do what I said ok.
GALVIN
No! Now I know something is wrong. What can possibly be worse than the situation we are currently in? Why. Did something happen with the others? What happened to our crew?!
MATT
What?1 No! Nothing is wrong. It’s just that if we both wake them up all excited like this it’s gonna freak ‘em out. I know best how to explain to them the situation. Do you really wanna wake ‘em up and have to explain all this machine stuff to them?
GALVIN takes a second to weigh his options. He starts silently counting the pros and cons on his fingers while mumbling to himself.
GALVIN
Fine. I’ll go check out the situation and see what power I can bring back.
MATT
There we go! No onwards my noble knight! Go restore my power!
GALVIN makes his way to the breach while mumbling to himself the steps from the manual on how to check and restore the power.
MATT
Awesome. You go do that and I’ll wake ‘em up!
Once GALVIN is out of sight, MATT takes a deep shuttering breath as he slowly turns back around to face the chairs.
MATT
Ok. G-man is gone. Oh shit. Breathe. Keep it together Mathew. Keep. It. Together. Come on. They are. Were. were your friends. They deserve the dignity to at least not be left like this. No. No! Keep it together! No crying! Orcs don’t cry. Come on Mattie. Keep it together. No no crying. No tears. Come on. I trained for years for this. Ok. Let's clear this up really quick. Alright. Now some cleaner for the blood and moving this debris cause knowing the Gster, he is definitely going to stab himself somehow. So goddamn useless. But if I wanna get back home, I need him. Oh by Merlin's beard that sounded so wrong. Sigh. Anton would be laughing at me if he ever found out I confessed to ever needing that useless, good-for-nothing, sorry excuse for an astronaut. Now I have to carry both our asses. Just my luck. (MATT goes quiet and continues to quietly clean) I miss you guys. I really do. I will do everything to get home. Anything. But I will get home. For you guys.
The lights flicker briefly for a few seconds. MATT freezes when GALVIN comes back in.
GALVIN
Done! I managed to direct the remaining power from the emergency batteries to the control room. We don’t have much but hopefully, it’s enough until we manage to either land somewhere or regain contact with ground contr-
GALVIN freezes in place once he takes in the sight of the control room.
GALVIN
(in a soft voice) They’re dead.
MATT rushes to stand in front of him and block his view.
MATT
Galvin. Galvin please. Tell me what you saw. What of the breach huh? How is it lookin? How much power do we have?
GALVIN
Matt Franz. I am going to need you to let go of me and move.
MATT
Come on Mister G. Hahahah (MATT laughs nervously). You know what, let's both go down and see the damage-
GALVIN
NO! Now let me go!
GALVIN pushes MATT aside and steps closer to the chairs. He stops just a few steps away and looks at each crew member in their seats.
GALVIN
They’re dead. (GALVIN whispers) They’re all dead! Dead, dead, dead! We really are doomed!
Matt rushes to GALVIN and tries to steer him away.
MATT
Galvin please. Lets go this way. You don’t need to-
GALVIN
NO! THEY ARE ALL DEAD MATT! Look at them! Sophia has a pipe rammed through her throat! Garrick and Anton are sliced in two straight through their stomachs and Anton’s arms are hanging by strands of muscle and sinew! Captain Julian is contorted into a pretzel with his ribs caved inwards! And Francesca is missing her head! They are dead Matt! Dead! We are dead! It’s a lost cause! There is no hope for us! We are doomed! We are never going home. We are never going to see our families again. I am never going to see my daughter again. Oh god my daughter. My precious little girl! What is she ever going to do without me! And oh god my mother. She’s probably crying herself to sleep now. I can’t do this. We’re dead! Earth is never going to know what happened to us because we are all dead!
GALVIN starts hyperventilating as he grabs onto his face.
MATT
Woah. Ok now. Let's go over here and let's take some deep breaths in. and out. In. and out. There we go. Deep breathes. No don’t look back. Just take some deep breaths. In. and out. Good. I just need you to breathe with me. Very good G-Maister. Now I know what it looks like but you have to focus. They might not be here anymore but we are. And that counts for something. As long as we are alive and well, then there is still that chance of getting home to safety.
GALVIN
But that’s the thing Mr. Matt! There is no way to go home! We only have enough power to get us through 7 sols. We might make it to 9 sols if we don’t keep the oxygen, water, and stabilizers going. The breach is too massive to fix in time for command to figure out what happened to us, find us, and send help. And we don’t have the capability to fix anything!
MATT
But you don’t know that. We have to try. They wouldn’t have picked us for this mission if we weren’t the most capable. And we are. Out of the entire human population, we were chosen. We were chosen after decades of technological advancements. We were chosen to be the first to explore and discover what's out here. To find new planets to set up stations at. New science and life! We are the first to get this far into space now let's show them that they were right in their decision to pick us and return home! Yes, we have a mishap. But these things happen. Now I am going to remove the crew and put them somewhere else to give them a bit more dignity. Now I want you to go to the controls, run a diagnostic, and take note of what we have, what we need, and start going down of how to fix this. You are the one who knows space so find the knowledge of how to keep us alive in space. So I am going to finish cleaning up the area to minimize any more damage while you are going to use that very smart space brain of yours and figure out a way to get us home. Ok?
GALVIN nods dumbly and is led to the control panels, avoiding looking at the mangled bodies of the crew. Meanwhile, Matt proceeds to put the crew members in a different compartment and clean the area up as best he could but the stains will not come out easily.
GALVIN
Ok. Done. I have come to a conclusion.
MATT
Galvin. Please. Come o-
GALVIN
No Matt. Listen to me. We are fucked. There is no communication because the antenna is gone so we can’t reach anyone. Sonar and GPS barely work but they are telling us that we are in the middle of deep, unknown space. We have no idea, no coordinates of where we are. We are stranded in the middle of nowhere. Earth has not explored this far out into space yet and probably never will in the next 4 centuries. The power we have is barely getting us by and will probably be used up before we even attempt any rescue operations. The breach is too massive and we have no tools or equipment that can fix it and even if we did, we don’t have the knowledge of how to use it properly. Some power is being used for the stabilizers which is why we are not floating about but if we redirect it away from the stabilizers, then that will put the ship into a dangerous spin, causing the breach to open more and create a vacuum, killing us instantly. So no Matt. I will not calm down. It seems that I am the only one fully understanding the situation we are in! We are dead Matt! Dead!
MATT
Galvin. Ugh. We’ve been through this! Plea-
GALVIN
The universe has realized that humanity was never supposed to get this far in evolution and get this advanced! We were never supposed to figure out teleportation! Duplication! We were never supposed to learn how to regrow limbs or replace a person's DNA to make them stronger! We were never supposed to figure out how to make our lives three decades longer! How to eradicate cancer! How to bring extinct animals back from the dead! We grew too greedy Matt and this is our punishment! Now command is never going to know what happened to us. They are instead going to call us a failure and instead send out other expeditions and the same thing is going to happen to them! It going to be a never-ending cycle of death that will only stop once all of humanity is gone from Earth because they were shipped off into space! We don't matter Matt! We never have!
MATT attempts to calm GALVIN down but is pushed off harshly.
GALVIN
NO! Stop! You don't matter Matt! You want to know why?
MATT
Galvin. Please! Stop! I am not going to get into this with you again! You had your lil existential crisis so please stop with this lil pity party! I am trying to stay positive in all this and you. Are. not. Helping! I do not want to be going in circles with you! Not on this ‘we are doomed’ crap because it is not getting us anywhere! So please! Stop!
GALVIN
No Matt! I will not stop because what I am saying is the truth! You guys never listened to anything I said during training and conditioning but now you will listen. You never mattered Matt. All of us. We were just pawns to be disposed of. Risking our lives for this nonsensical dream of conquering space and colonizing more planets just so we can continue committing atrocities against one another. It’s an endless cycle of death and despair Matt. Humans are violent creatures who know no mercy. It’s a part of who we are, then, now, and forever. There is no hope for us. We are just insignificant pests used for the entertainment of those fat snobs who look down on us. We don’t own ourselves Matt. Don't you get it!
MATT tried to back away from GALVIN, shaking his head.
GALVIN
We are nothing to them. To anyone! The only one who cares about us is death and space is nothing but death. I should have known this was going to happen. We would get shipped off to die while the greedy bastards deem us incompetent and just send more sorry sobs off to their deaths. Hahahaha. What was I thinking? Nothing apparently. I deserve this. Fit punishment for my stupidity.
GALVIN puts his head in his hands as tears flow down his face. Shoulders shaking as sobs begin to overcome him
GALVIN
We’re dead. That's all there is to it. We never mattered to anyone but Death. How stupid can we be to think we were going to get back home safely. Hahahaha. I know. They purposely doomed us. That's why our navigation system malfunctioned and why we discovered ourselves flying too close to that damn blackhole. They wanted us to fail. How clever.
MATT stares harshly at GALVIN.
MATT
You know what? Fine. Yes. We are stupid. We were sent on a suicide mission. We don’t matter. There is no chance for us to get back home. We are dead.
MATT takes a deep breath.
MATT
But do you want to know something? We are not dead yet. We are still breathing. Our bodies are still pumping blood through our veins. We are still alive and kicking. Now I am determined to show those pompous assholes who “shipped us off to die” and return home. I am going to figure out a way to either fix this piece of shit metal we are in to give us time to return home on our own or communicate with command so that they can send us aid. And I can do that with or without your help because I will not go down easily. I will not die without even attempting to survive. I did not put up with all that schooling and ridicule to be told I don’t matter when the only thing that does matter is finding a way to survive. Now either you go cry in the corner and talk woes about the current situation and how humanity is doomed or you can use your brain for once and help me. Then we can stick it to those assholes in the 1% by making it out alive.
MATT glares at GALVIN. He makes no effort to comfort him like before. He lets GALVIN find the courage to make a decision.
GALVIN
What's the point?! There's no hope for us! We are going to die out here and no one will know what happened to us!
MATT gets fed up with GALVIN and walks away from him towards the breach to see what the damage is.
MATT
I will not take this from you. You might see us as hopeless and dead but I can see myself and I am not dead yet. Which means I still have a chance at getting out of this situation. I will make it back home. I will return with the bodies of the crew to give them a proper burial ceremony because they are the real heroes. I do matter to someone because I just got married and about to have a baby. And I will be there for my baby’s life. I will be there to see their birth, their first day at school, their first crush, their first prom, their wedding. I will be there to show them the glory that is The Lord of the Rings and how Gandalf is better than Dumbledore. I will take them to their first Comic Con and help them with their costume. I will be there to make sure they learn book smarts and street smarts so that they can survive without me. I will be there at their first break up. At their first job. I will be there at their college drop-off and at their graduation. I will be there at the birth of their first child and become a grandpa. I do matter. I don't have to matter to everyone but as long as I matter to one person, then that's enough for me.
GALVIN
But it’s pointless. Fine. You have someone. But what if we don’t make it back in time and they grew up and forgot you. Then what? Then you have no one. Will you matter then? Huh?!
MATT
ENOUGH! Listen here, when we first learned that you would be joining us, we groaned and complained. We tried to get you out but they would just push us aside. We didn’t want you here because you don't know anything! All you’ve done is sit at your cushy desk in your cushy job getting praises left and right at how smart you are and how we never would have gotten this advanced without you. Well here you are. Alive and well while the rest of my crew, my friends are dead. You wanna know something about mattering? You didn’t matter to us! We were set on leaving you if a situation came up and we had to go on without you because you don’t know anything! All you have done since joining is complain and whine and cry about this and that. All through training you complained like a child. Got to the point where the trainers grew tired of simply seeing you and decided to just pass you without testing you. Ever wonder why you were suddenly exempt? Yeah. Wasn’t because you were so smart and so important. Meanwhile, we had to pick up the slack and work twice as hard because you couldn’t bother with the “lowlives”. Yeah I know who you really are. We all did. Married to the boss's daughter. Special privilege just came your way. I wonder if you just decided to hook up with a professor and decided that actually trying for your degree was beneath you! (MATT takes a few deep breathes) Now. I am going to go see the damage and see what we can salvage from any functioning equipment. No! No. You are not following me. One because I do not want to keep going in circles with you and two! Because if I have to stand here any longer and listen to you undermine the hardship and sacrifice me and my friends made to even get here, imma punch you. Now I am going to leave you here so you can finally calm down, grow a pair, and figure out a solution to get us home.
MATT storms off to survey the damage to the breach. GALVIN looks slacked-jawed at MATT. He appears to be on the verge of saying more but suddenly stops when he realizes MATT is gone. GALVIN glances around the command station and stares at the fading blood stains. MATT returns.
MATT
So. Have you finally calmed down? Ready to help me figure out a way to return home?
GALVIN
No.
MATT
Galvin. Come on. As torturous as it is for me to say this, I need you here. I need you to figure out how we are going to survive this. I can only do so much. I know chemistry and these machines. You know space and physics. You were the one who wrote the books on all things space related. At least I hope you wrote them for your sake.
GALVIN
You know what Matt. I am tired of you undermining me. Cause that is all you guys have done ever since I joined the mission. I do know about “space things” and I do know my shit. Now Give me a few minutes to gather my thoughts and think!
MATT
Oh. My. God. You said your first curse word. So proud.
GALVIN
Ha. Ha. Ha. very funny but I have cursed before. Just like I have theorized about this situation happening. I know numerous courses of action in the event we are stranded or lost but our current situation presents none of the qualifications necessary for a proper return and retrieval.
MATT
Huh?
GALVIN
I mean. I know perfectly well what we have to do but none of them will work in this situation.
MATT
Not this shit again. Please no. I can’t take your whining anymore. I’m serious about punching you.
GALVIN
No no no! I am talking about what we have to do in order to even have a chance of going home. Our situation does not meet those requirements.
MATT
Galvin. I'm serious. Listen. For once, use your brain and figure out a way. Please don't tell me your degree meant nothing and actually do something useful! Right now, you are the only one who can give us a chance at surviving. Now do you want to attempt to do something and say at least you tried or just lay there like a lame dog. Huh?
GALVIN
Matt please. For once, just listen to me.
MATT
I have been. For the past 2 hours.
GALVIN
I know I don’t appear to be the perfect individual to help solve this situation. I know how I am and how other people see me. I know I don't have much of a backbone and that I am what one calls a “pushover”, but despite the rumors and gossip, I do know my stuff. I did work hard for my degree and to get to where I am today. Perhaps not in the same way as other individuals in either the same or different walks of life, but I still faced countless hurdles. Have you ever had to try and please your father-in-law who just so happens to be your boss just so you don’t get fired, divorced, and left homeless? Ever been threatened to be taken to Argentina, shot in both shoulders, have both ankles broken, and left for dead on some mountaintop? That is why I worked hard to become the most knowledgeable in the field, just so that I can finally know something that that old fart doesn’t. It feels so good to finally have the upper hand on him. But regardless, when I went to the breach, I took the time to conjure up a few steps that might help us return home but none of them would work because we either don’t fit the necessary qualifications or the equipment we would need is damaged to the point of no repair.
MATT
So what now then? You’re telling me there's a lot of possibilities in which we might get back home but none of them will work?
GALVIN
Yes. For instance, if we were near a planetary system and our planetary scanner was still attached to the ship, then we could see if the planet is habitable and we could make a temporary camp.
MATT
Great. And if you really are finally pulling your own weight and finally taking this survival shit seriously AND finally figuring our ways to get us back home, you can’t think of one that would be even remotely possible.
GALVIN
Matt listen, I’m trying here but I did just have a serious existential crisis not a few moments ago so I am trying my utmost best given the circumstance.
MATT
Ok ok. I know. I’m sorry but there’s seriously no plan you created while planning for this trip that could help us. No matter how dangerous or stupid it is?
GALVIN scratches his head in frustration. Mumbling equations and numbers to himself under his breath.
GALVIN
Well.
MATT
Well?
GALVIN
There is this one situation and possibility I theorized but it was not intended for a circumstance even remotely similar to our current one.
MATT
Listen man. At this point, anything goes.
GALVIN
When you went to take a look at the damage, were the nuclear pulse propulsion, the cosmic ray subsystem, and plasma science compromised or damaged in any way, shape or form?
MATT
Huh? The what, the who, and the where?
GALVIN
Oh my word (GALVIN whispers) The nuclear bomb twins, the CRS, and the PLS?
MATT
Well I know the twins ain’t damaged cause they are on the opposite side of the breach but what on earth is a CSI and a please?
GALVIN
You idiot! The thing that evaluates energy particles in plasma and the thing that evaluates energy in solar winds!
MATT
Nope. Doesn’t ring a bell.
GALVIN
How on earth you became an astronaut is beside me. Ok. Listen. It's a little bright red box that usually sits outside the viewport in the exercise area and the other thing looks like a misshapen gasmask.
MATT
Oooohhhhhhhhh. Yeah. I always kept trying to hit that red box with peanuts every time you talked. Great stress reliever. And yeah. I saw the gasmask lookin thing when I went down. Looked still like a very bad attempt at making a gas mask.
GALVIN
Excellent! Then we might just stand a chance. (a pause) maybe.
MATT
No no no no. we are not going down this rabbit hole again. You think there might be a way to get us home. You. The one who created the guide on how to survive in space. You. The one who wrote hundreds of books and manuals on all of the necessary tools to properly navigate space. Out of everyone who went on this mission, besides probably Cap, you have the best chance at getting us back home. So whatever plan you have hiding in your head, we are going to make it work. You said that the world doesn’t care about us and that all they do is sit in their comfy chairs, sipping champagne, rolling around in stacks of money. Then let's show them that we are not to be messed with.
GALVIN
Fine. Ok you win. Even though I firmly believe we're still doomed to die out here, I do agree with you in doing everything we can to make it home. If only it is to show my damn father-in-law I am more than a decapitated worm. And to show those pompous assholes that they can’t just ship people to their doom.
MATT
Decapi-. You know what. Never mind. So have you finally gotten your head out of your ass? Ready to make it through to the end?
GALVIN
Yes I certainly am Mr. Matt.
MATT
Oh for the love of-. Just tell me the idea you have.
GALVIN
Certainly. So, if my calculations are correct then we can use the CRS and PLS to gather and store energy from solar winds and surrounding electrons, rewire and re-direct the energy flows from those machines to the nuclear thrusters. This would give the thrusters enough energy to power more of the remaining ship. Now, this is where the big decision comes in. This plan would only give us enough energy to power the thrusters so that we can attempt and fly our way back to Earth.
MATT
Buuuuuutttt.
GALVIN
Without the full functionality of the navigational system, we would essentially be flying blind.
MATT
Then what's behind door number two?
GALVIN
Instead of using the thrusters to fly us back home, we use the energy created in the thrusters to power the remainder of the control systems. But this only raises more problems. Although this would be the communication system is back online, we don't have a functioning satellite and antenne to properly send out the signals necessary. On the good side, this would mean we would extend our oxygen, food, and water resources as they would be receiving more energy to function.
MATT
But this option would essentially leave the option of flying ourselves back home out of the question. We would be sitting ducks, just stranded here. Floating aimlessly?
GALVIN
Yes.
Silence overcomes the two as they think of which option is better.
MATT
Welp. That settles it. We have at least one functioning moonwalk suit available. I am going to go out to fix the satellite and reattach the antenna. You are going to read this instruction manual on electrical currents and this one on thermonuclear energy. Then once I am done, the two of us are going to direct the energy from the CNN and the LAPD to the twins. Since I was the one who built the twins, I am most likely going to have to stay there and manually overlook it doesn't overheat and go into a meltdown which means you are going to be here at the controls to use the communication system and contact command.
GALVIN
What! But going out there in the condition of the ship is a suicide mission! There’s too much debris and no structurally sound areas to tether yourself to! No way. I am not letting you die out there and leave me all alone!
MATT
Awwww. You do care. But it's fine. You don't know how to fix them anyways and I’ve seen you in the suit before during training. Hardest I have ever laughed in my life. So I will be the one to go out there and fix the damn things while you do your homework.
GALVIN
Ugh fine. Insufferable child. (GALVIN glares at MATT but soon softens) Of course I care. You guys are my team. We're my team. And you still are. You might need me but I certainly need you more. And I do appreciate you staying calm for my sake.
MATT
Hahaha. No need to get all mushy on me. Nope. No hugging. I will not be hugging you while I am still breathing. No touchy. Now. Ready to do this?
GALVIN takes a few moments to breathe and gather his thoughts. He then looks to MATT and gives him a shaky and timid fist bump.
GALVIN
Yes I am. Have to do something worthwhile in my last moments, no?
MATT
There's the spirit! Oh, and by the way, I am most certainly punching you when we get back home. You have been a pain in my ass this entire time and I deserve payback.
GALVIN
I will permit it then.
GALVIN gives MATT a nervous smile before picking up one of the manuals. MATT goes to put on the spacewalk suit. A few minutes later, the groan and creak of metal can be heard as well as the sound of electric drills and tools can be heard. Then a slight explosion was heard followed by more drilling sounds. Then silence. MATT soon returns looking tired and worn out.
MATT
Fuckin DONE. Shit. that thing just would not attach. The grounding plate was dented and I was missing a screw. Goddamn it. Had to use bring out some chemistry 101 to get the metal undented to screw the damn thing back on. Done reading?
GALVIN
Yes. You should be glad I have excellent reading and comprehension skills or else we would be here for quite a bit of time.
MATT
No. You just read freakishly fast. Like that one skinny beanpole of a human from Criminal Minds who can read a page in like a second. Weirdos.
GALVIN
Regardless. I am ready to enact phase 2 of this disaster of a plan. Are you good to go? Do you want to take a rest?
MATT
NO. The sooner we do this, the better. An orc does not quit. Even when losing all four limbs. Tis but a scratch!
GALVIN
And you call me weird.
GALVIN and MATT race to the nuclear pulse propulsion unit. Sounds of electricity and pipes being rearranged can be heard when suddenly a high skrill piercing sound is heard. GALVIN comes racing towards the control panels.
MATT
IS IT WORKING? MY EARS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF!
GALVIN
YES! HAHAHAHA! YES IT'S WORKING! NO NO NO! LESS POWER! NO. A BIT MORE. THERE! HAHAHAHA! IT'S WORKING MR.MATT!
MATT
GOOD! NOW GET THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM REBOOTED AND ONLINE AND SEND THE DAMN SIGNAL! HURRY!
The piercing noise comes to a halt and GALVIN types out his message to command back to Earth. Minutes go by.
GALVIN
Come on please be received. Please. I’m begging you. Please.
More minutes of silence go back. GALVIN waits with abated breaths.
GALVIN
No please. Something please happen. (a pause) no. I knew it. We tried and we got nothing. It was all not naught. So stupid. To actually believe this would actually work. Mr.Matt is going to be devastated.
GALVIN starts to head back to give MATT the news. Suddenly, the sound of an incoming message can be heard. GALVIN whips back around.
GALVIN
Oh my word. IT WORKED! MR. MATT!
MATT
WHAT? IT BETTER HAVE WORKED CAUSE SO HELP ME-
GALVIN
No, Mr. Matt. It did work! They received our transmission! And sent one back! They told us to wait for as long as we can as they prepare to send a rescue ship to our location and bring us back home. They were able to pull out our coordinates by tracing the path of the transmission so all we have to do is survive for at least 6 sols! Mr. Matt. we are going home.
MATT looks at GALVIN in shock and disbelief.
MATT
About fuckin time. We have enough supplies and resources to survive until they get here. Now. you are no longer permitted to yell and criticize me.
GALVIN
Never in a million years Matt.
MATT
You didn’t call me Mr. Matt.
GALVIN
Figured it was time I loosened up a bit. I almost died ya know.
MATT
And now he’s making jokes. Maybe I did die.
GALVIN
No Matt. You and I are very much still alive. And we are going to continue living long after this.
GALVIN goes to his bag of personal items and takes out a very expensive-looking bottle of champagne.
MATT
How on Earth that thing didn't explode on our journey here if a mystery best left to the Scooby gang.
GALVIN
Care to celebrate with me?
MATT
Do ya even have to ask?
Email: adeliamartinez20@gmail.com
Instagram: a.deli.martinez
LinkedIn: /martinez-adelia/
Website built with tears, spite, and hope