Staar84
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« on: January 06, 2010, 07:04:52 AM » |
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Episode 5: Light
Greer records his Kino clip, saying that he can’t think of a better way to leave the world than to fly into the heart of a star: “out in a blaze of glory”.
Young calls everyone into the gateroom to explain the situation: in just over one day, the ship will fly into the star. Since they believe they are near habitable planets, to save some of the lives on board, 15 people will be chosen by a lottery to take the shuttle to explore the habitable planets, and survive there. Young will chose two others with necessary survival skills to accompany the 15; taking his name out of the drawing. While everyone is leaving, Eli sees Chloe and Scott kissing. The crew returns to their quarters to occupy themselves until they are close enough to the planets to see if they can sustain life. Chloe and Scott head back to his quarters.
Camile goes to talk to Young, telling him he should pick all 15 people that will go on the shuttle, including putting himself on there. Sending the wrong people could limit their chances of survival. Camile argues for making a list, while Young tells her that wouldn’t be fair and that she needs to leave, and threatens to take her out of the lottery.
Eli dream she is back home in bed, with his mother nagging him about work. He wakes up, worried about his mother.
Chloe and Scott talk about the potential planets. Chloe asks him how he’s so sure they’re both going. Scott tells her they need a pilot and Chloe is a senator’s daughter. Chloe tells him that’s not a reason, but she could still be chosen in the lottery; but if she isn’t, he has been more important to her in the past few days than anyone else. Scott tells her he wants her there.
Eli plans to send a Kino out with the shuttle to serve as a message in a bottle, despite the odds of it being found. Chloe goes first, saying that her father gave his life so they could survive another day. Camile Wrey follows, saying that if anyone finds this in the next 40 years to tell Sharon her last thoughts were of her. Young records a message for his wife Emily.
Rush tells Young that the first planet is frozen, and that the second is much too hot; and the third is too far away to determine, and that they won’t get close enough before they reach the sun. But it’s orbit is in between the other planets, so the odds are good it will be the right temperature. Young asks if they can use the shuttle to push The Destiny off course, and Rush tells him there isn’t enough thrust. They decide to do the lottery and launch the shuttle. Rush asks Young to take him out of the lottery, because The Destiny is truly his destiny, and he wants to stay with it. Young tells Rush that he was right about the power and he should have listened to him. Rush replies that it wouldn’t have made a difference. Rush asks which two Young has chosen: Lt. Scott and Lt. Johansen; the pilot and the medic.
The lottery begins: Airman Becker, David Walters, Camile Wrey, Lt. James, Dr. Park, Adam Brody, Sgt. Riley (who is given the Kino by Eli), and nine others (who are not named). As soon as the lottery ends, Sgt. Spencer tries to start a riot, insisting more people can fit on the shuttle. Greer knocks him out, and threatens anyone else with the same if they try to do anything.
Scott seals the shuttle, and lets Young know. Rush, Greer, Young, Chloe, and Eli go to the window to watch them take off. The Kino follows the shuttle out, turning to look at Destiny; their first view of the outside of the ship. Rush apologizes for dragging Eli aboard, and Eli says that he’s not, but he might be by the end of the day. Rush looks away, and Eli realizes they only have a few hours left. Chloe asks what will happen and Rush explains: turbulence for solar winds, heat, and intense gravity which will probably tear the ship apart; it will hopefully be quick.
Greer and Young go for a walk, talking about Greer punching Col. Telford: the reason he was under arrest when they evacuated Icarus Base. Greer apologizes for disappointing Young, and Young tells him Telford had it coming.
Later, Sgt. Spencer wakes up alone in the gateroom, and finds a group playing poker. Another group is praying, Rush is reading, and Eli and Chloe are sitting by the window watching the star get closer.
Meanwhile, the shuttle nears the third planet. Brody looks at the analysis of the planet: high oxygen and nitrogen, but low CO2, which means little plant-life and temperatures averaging around zero.
Destiny enters the outer layer of the star, but there are no changes inside. Rush goes to the main computer counsel and discovers that it’s on. He realizes they are going to survive, and that the ship is drawing energy from the star. Slowly the lights begin to come on, and the rest of the crew realizes what’s going on. Systems start coming back online, and they now have more power than they started with. But as the exit the star, the countdown for FTL begins again, and the realize they have a limited time to get the shuttle back. Rush struggles to get communications online so they can contact the shuttle.
On the shuttle, Scott begins to look for a landing spot; Johansen tells him that the Destiny is gone. As Scott begins the descent, Young calls them over the radio. Young orders him back to the ship, and everyone on the shuttle cheers. The shuttle heads for Destiny, but the engines aren’t strong enough to reach The Destiny on its current course, since it is accelerating out of the system. Rush and Young can’t control the engines on The Destiny, so they can’t slow down. Rush tells Scott to head for the planet, while Eli maps out a sling shot course that will return the shuttle to Destiny. Once the shuttle reaches The Destiny, the shuttle needs to match the speed, otherwise they’ll crash. The shuttle backs into The Destiny and slams into the shuttle area.
After everyone is back on board, everyone celebrates in the dining area. Rush comes in, and Young tells the cook to give him double rations for a wonderful job. Rush replies that they are to be rewarded on whims, and Young gives him reasons for the reward: being right about the energy problem (Rush says he wasn’t), fixing the communications (because they needed the supplies on board), and taking his name out of the lottery (which Young did too). Young tells Rush he took his name out because he was injured, and Rush made an actual sacrifice. Young then says: “Unless you knew that Destiny was going to make it all along”. Rush walks out without responding. Everyone else insists there’s no way Rush could have known, but Young isn’t sure.
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