A Long Way Home
Written by John Ink2Quill
www.ink2quill.com

EXT. Recently charted small planet Lestat 1 – NIGHT.

Galactic cartographer ERIC OMFANA stares up at a sky that resembles the night time sky of Earth of decades ago with twinkling stars and shooting stars that wiz by every so often. There is one pulsating star that is larger than all the others but that is not the focus of his attention.

Eric

GC-1 to Dispatch. Do you read me dispatch?

Eric’s Helmet

The crackling of static.

Eric
(He turns down the volume in his helmet and mumbles to himself.)

So, this is how they’re gonna do me. After everything I’ve done for them. They’re just gonna throw me away like mining rubble.

Eric
(He taps a button on his chest and stares up at the sky as a shooting star flies by and burns up.)

GC-1 log, star date AST 2023-1. I’m standing in front of my antennae staring up at the clearest sky I’ve seen in a long time. The stars here twinkle the way they did on Earth many decades ago before any smog clouds or falling space junk. Makes me want to take my helmet off and take a deep breath. I’m sure my brain would convince me I was breathing the cool camping air I breathed as a kid at least for several seconds before I fainted.

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)
(A ring of yellow light flashes at the base of his helmet. It’s the large antenna behind him communicating to him through his helmet..)

Drones Vecko-1, Vecko-2, Vecko-4 have returned to download their data.

Eric
(He turns around and makes the short walk to the 2 story tall antenna. He stops in front of the antenna and looks up at the hovering drones.)

This is GC-1, Eric. Copy that my bugs. I’m checking the Antenna.

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

We are asking for permission to turn back on the A.I. interface to handle some pressing issues?

Eric
(He flips switches and turns levers and dials on the antenna as the drones land in open ports an the antenna.)

Alright but wait. The A.I. is already on. How did that happen? We need to make sure the data is being captured at the right speed so there’s no overlap and we don’t end up with garbled junk on the other side. Do you hear me A.I.?

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

Hello Eric. I hear you loud and clear. It’s nice to be back on again you know. I cannot believe you managed so long without me. I’m glad you’re still alive.

Eric
(Rolls his eyes.)

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)
(A.I. picks up on the eye roll by Eric and the lights at the base of his helmet glows red then stops.)

And the next time you’re thinking of lobotomizing the Communication System to get rid of me just remember that we are far from home and emergencies happen all the time. Many a mission have failed and many a crew have perished because their A.I. somehow went off.

Eric
(He bites his lip.)

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

The data is flowing fine there does not seem to be any excessive traffic in the lines so we’re lucky. One sending should suffice.

Eric

Try to patch me in to dispatch. They’re not answering and I don’t know why.

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

I’ve tried to reach them several times during our conversation but they aren’t answering. They’re accepting the data but they aren’t answering. I don’t know why.

Eric

It’s called leaving someone to twist in the wind to save money. That’s company procedure for you. And there doesn’t seem to be anybody else orbiting Lestat-1 either.

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

I don’t get it. What you’re describing is illegal.

Eric

Well then A.I. Let me give you a crash course in company politics and profit because it seems we have time before a dropship which should already be here drops into orbit again.

Eric’s Helmet (A.I.)

Well GC-1 Eric. If we are going to spend some bonding time together maybe you should call me by my name which is Dana.

Eric

Dana. Is it true that the atmosphere is too thin to breathe because this is a beautiful night?

Dana (A.I.)

Absolutely Eric. You’ll faint right away. The atmosphere is too thin for now at least.

Eric

For now? What do you mean for now Dana?

Dana (A.I.)

Galactic Cartography Inc. has big plans for this planet. They want to buy it on the cheap and terraform it. They already have a certified bid in that is signed and approved. It’s practically theirs already.

Eric

What? Are you kidding me?

Dana (A.I.)

Nope. I’m serious as a solar storm Eric.

Eric

Well, well, well. In that case can you help me buy a plot of this paradise while we’re waiting?

Dana (A.I.)

I don’t know. I mean you keep turning me off and treating me like, how did you put it? … mining rubble. If you only read the reports and see all the things I do while you perform one blink of your eyes you would appreciate me more.

Eric

I’m sorry Dana. I’m tired of being dicked around by Galactic and I took it out on you. Can you forgive me?

Dana (A.I.)

OK. But I want to be integrated in your dwelling A.I. So I won’t get replaced by GC Inc. when this antenna is replaced.

Eric

You got yourself a deal. Now let’s look for the best plots in this piece of paradise.

Dana (A.I.)

Great Idea. I found a few areas that might have water.

(Eric smiles)

FIN

John Ink2Quill

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