ACT I 2
SCENE I 2
SCENE II 12
SCENE III 17
SCENE IV 35
ACT II 42
SCENE I 42
Infiltrating
the alien base 42
SCENE II 53
SCENE III 54
Post
Mission 54
[Ryder is
inside the shuttle, facing Liam. Fishing is piloting the shuttle.]
FISHER:
Turning to
vector one-three-five.
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Copy that.
We’re on point.
[Ryder and Liam
look at space through the windows where a space cloud can be seen.]
LIAM:
Wow, will
you look at that?
RYDER:
Whatever
it is, it stopped the Hyperion in its tracks.
SAM:
It appears
to be an unstable mass of dark energy.
LIAM:
If you say
so.
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Steer
clear of it.
FISHER:
Getting
some chop here.
SAM:
Gravity
anomalies detected.
Kirkland:
I’ll see
if I can even it out.
GREER:
My stomach
would appreciate that.
KIRKLAND:
We’re
clear. Accelerating to cruising speed.
LIAM:
Ryder, we
didn’t have a chance to meet back in the Milky Way. Name’s Liam Costa, security
and response specialist.
RYDER:
Good to
meet you, Liam.
LIAM:
Hard to
believe we’re finally doing this.
RYDER:
Sure beats
reading the brochures.
FISHER:
Beginning
our declaration. Planet’s dead ahead.
[The
shuttles enter the planet’s atmosphere.]
KIRKLAND:
Hang on, initiating atmospheric entry.
LIAM:
Here we
go...
FISHER:
Flight
guidance is scrambled!
KIRKLAND:
It’ll
pass!
FISHER:
The
controls are fighting me.
SAM:
Adjust
approach vector three degrees to starboard.
[The
planet’s landscape appears through the windows.]
KIRKLAND:
We’re
through.
LIAM:
Holy…
[The
landscape is largely mountainous.]
CORA
(COMM):
Shuttle
Two, are you seeing this?
RYDER:
Copy that.
Doesn’t look like a golden world from here.
KIRKLAND:
Ionisation
levels are rising…
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Stay on
course to the landing zone.
SAM:
Oxygen
levels are below minimum human requirements.
FISHER:
Is this
the right planet? I thought we had all this worked out…
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Keep it
tight, Shuttle Two.
[The
shuttles pass by rocks floating in the sky.]
LIAM:
Uh, the
mountains are floating…
FISHER:
Look! Port
side!
[Alien
structures can be seen on the planet’s surface.]
CORA
(COMM):
That has to be advanced engineering.
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Hyperion,
this is the Pathfinder. We’ve got evidence of an alien civilisation.
RYDER:
Has anyone
seen us?
LIAM:
What if
they’re not friendly?
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
We stick
to contact protocol: no use of deadly force unless hostile intent is clear.
FISHER
Shit!
Ionisation just spiked-
[The sky outside
becomes darker and the shuttle starts shaking, making Ryder and Liam lose their
balance. Fisher and Kirkland send SOS messages.]
LIAM:
Whoa!
[The wall
of the shuttle is struck by lightning, and Liam falls out of the shuttle,
barely clinging on. Ryder tries to catch him.]
RYDER:
Liam! Hang
on!
LIAM:
Ryder!
[Liam
screams and loses his grip. Ryder loses his balance and falls from the shuttle.
He screams on his way down.]
SAM:
Acceleration
increasing.
RYDER:
No
kidding!
SAM:
Your
jump-jet is malfunctioning.
RYDER:
Get it
working!
SAM:
Approaching
terminal velocity.
RYDER:
SAM!
[Ryder
crashes into a rock and falls down a mountain, breathing hard. As he hits the
ground, his helmet breaks.]
RYDER:
Ah, shit…
[Ryder
uses his omni-tool to fix his broken helmet. He breathes hard but seems
relieved once it’s fixed. Thunder can be heard, which reminds Ryder of where he
is. He gets up. Mountains do appear to be floating. Ryder attempts to use his
omni-tool to contact someone from the Initiative.]
RYDER:
This is
Ryder. Come in. Hyperion? SAM? Anyone there?
[It
doesn’t appear to be working. Liam joins him, breathing hard from running.]
LIAM:
Save your
breath, Ryder. SAM’s offline. Comm link’s trashed. I’m surprised we aren’t too.
RYDER - dialogues options:
CASUAL -Did that really happen?
PROFESSIONAL
-Any survivors?
RYDER:
Did the
others make it?
LIAM:
I don’t
know. It was all a blur. Shuttle split in two… this is like some nightmare.
RYDER:
Yeah, No
way this is home.
[They
stand together, looking at the landscape.]
LIAM:
Looks like
we gotta find some high ground. See if anyone else is alive. Come on.
[Liam
leaves. Ryder joins him, weapon out.]
LIAM:
Ryder,
how’s your survival training?
RYDER:
I’ve seen
my share of troubles. Nothing crazy, but…
LIAM:
Well,
crazy just found us. Those rocks out there are floating.
RYDER:
Terra
incognita.
LIAM:
Some of
these plants look like tentacles. Is the water here even water?
[Ryder
scans one of the plants.]
RYDER:
Well,
without SAM, it’s hard to say exactly what it is. It’s sort of a plant, and
maybe dead, but maybe not.
LIAM:
Those
structures we saw on the way in—who could survive in a place like this?
RYDER:
Not sure
we want to find out.
LIAM:
Storms
here don’t seem natural.
[Ryder
scans some debris on the ground.]
RYDER:
Damaged in
the crash. No good to us now.
[Ryder
finds and examines the QEC (Quantum Entanglement Communicator) Communications
Relay.]
LIAM:
There’s
our comm device.
RYDER:
No fixing
this. Must’ve broken on impact.
LIAM:
Explains
why we lost our SAM connection.
[Ryder and
Liam walk forward.]
RYDER:
Oh, and
safety tip: don’t breathe the air. Found that out the hard way.
LIAM:
Got it.
[They pass
by various debris from the shuttle’s crush. Thunder can be heard everywhere
they go and lightning strikes the ground.]
LIAM:
You think
that energy cloud we saw could cause all this?
RYDER:
SAM said
it’s dark energy, but that’s in space.
LIAM:
Yeah. Hell
of a cloud.
RYDER:
A cloud
that makes boulders float.
[Liam and
Ryder come across a field where lightning keeps striking the ground without
stopping once.]
LIAM:
Uh, what
the hell is this?
RYDER:
Come on—we
gotta get through it!
LIAM:
This is
crazy!
RYDER:
Welcome to
Habitat 7!
[Liam and
Ryder sprint.]
RYDER:
Keep
moving!
LIAM:
Ahh!
RYDER:
Damn it!
LIAM:
Shit, that
hurt!
RYDER:
Looks
safer under there!
LIAM:
Is this
for real?
[Liam and
Ryder reach the other side, which is protected from the thunder by a natural
overhang.]
LIAM:
What the
hell’s going on with this place?
RYDER:
Planet’s
trying to murder us.
[Liam and
Ryder now walk in an open field.]
RYDER:
Look—something
flying around in the sky…
[They both
look at the sky and see large creatures flying.]
LIAM:
Oh, wow.
RYDER:
“Here by
dragons.” Cora will love it.
[They keep
walking and see a cliff a few feet away from them.]
LIAM:
There! We
get up that cliff, we can find high ground. Come on!
RYDER:
Not sure
we want to be the tallest thing around here.
LIAM:
I think I
can see a path up. We’ll use the jump-jets if we have to.
RYDER:
Into the
breach…
LIAM:
Think I’d
rather fall than get hit by lightning.
RYDER:
Give it a
minute—we can probably do both.
[Ryder and
Liam use their jump jet to reach a plateau.]
RYDER:
How’d my
dad find you?
LIAM:
I was a
cop. Then crisis response.
RYDER:
Yeah?
LIAM:
Tell you
over a beer sometime.
[The cliff
is up ahead, separated from them by a long stretch of empty air.]
RYDER:
This is
going to be close!
LIAM:
That’s it.
We’re getting there.
[They use
their jump jet to go from ledge to ledge.]
RYDER:
Think I
see the top.
[Ryder
jumps and stands now on the top of the cliff. Liam is holding on to the edge.]
LIAM:
Mind
making some room?
[Ryder
gives his hand and Liam uses it to push himself forward and stand.]
LIAM:
Thanks.
[They both
look in front of them. There is a large monolith from which a blue cloud seems
to originate, expanding in the sky above.]
LIAM:
What… the
hell is that?
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Trouble.
LOGICAL -A
mystery to solve.
RYDER:
Don’t
know. But it’s our job to figure it out.
LIAM:
That
sounds like your old man talking.
RYDER:
He was
right. Something went wrong here. We have to find out what.
LIAM:
One thing
at a time.
[They see
their shuttle down the cliff. It’s on fire, but Fisher is there.]
LIAM:
Ryder—It’s
Fisher.
[Liam is
about to join him but Ryder pushes him on the ground, so they remain under
cover.]
RYDER:
Wait…
look!
[In front
of them, two aliens are searching the shuttle’s crash site. Their weapons are
drawn. Fisher is hiding behind a crate.]
LIAM:
Holy shit.
What was first contact protocol again?
RYDER:
No deadly
force unless fired upon.
LIAM:
Yeah, said
no one in the field ever. How do we handle it?
RYDER - dialogues options:
-Expect the worst.
-Follow
protocol.
RYDER:
Take it
easy. We only get one shot at “hello” with these guys.
LIAM:
Yeah, and
Fisher gets shot in the head if we’re wrong.
[Ryder and
Liam approach with weapons holstered.]
RYDER:
Nice and
easy—we only go hot if we have to.
LIAM:
Don’t think they’ve spotted us yet.
[Ryder and
Liam walk slowly.]
LIAM:
Shit—they
see Fisher!
[Ryder and
Liam stop.]
LIAM:
Well,
what’s the play?
ALIEN:
Niad
shurid!
LIAM:
He sees us!
RYDER:
We can’t
understand you. Give us our man, or this gets ugly!
ALIEN:
Gosad!
LIAM:
What’s the
other guy doing?
[One of
the aliens kicks Fisher repeatedly. He starts screaming from the pain.]
LIAM:
Ryder,
they’ll kill him!
[Ryder has
no choice but to fire. He kills the aliens with Liam, then rushes to see if
Fisher is okay. Liam kneels in front of Fisher.]
RYDER:
Okay… It’s
over.
LIAM:
Fisher,
you okay?
FISHER:
So much
for making peace with the locals. Thanks for jumping in.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Wasn’t much choice.
LOGICAL -I
didn’t want to fight.
RYDER:
I wish I
didn’t have to. The first aliens we meet, and we try to kill each other? That
wasn’t the plan.
LIAM:
Then we
need a new one. At least we know what’s what. The brochures were light on
aliens who want to shoot your head off
[Ryder
sighs. Liam gets up.]
FISHER:
We still
don’t even know what they wanted.
LIAM:
The way
they treated you? Blood samples, I’d say. Lots of them.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -I hoped for better.
LOGICAL
-We’re the aliens here.
.
RYDER:
Who says
we’d even understand? Or they’d understand us? It’s a new galaxy. I guess it’s
too much to expect they’ll play by Milky Way rules.
LIAM:
They broke
the rules in any galaxy.
FISHER:
But why go
after us like that?
LIAM:
Only thing
I know for sure, their guns hit just as hard as ours.
[Liam and
Ryder both have their weapons drawn, alert and looking around in case more
aliens are coming. Liam turns to Fisher.]
LIAM:
Where are the others?
FISHER:
Gone.
Kirkland and Greer went looking for help.
RYDER:
Come on.
[Ryder
attempts to pull Fisher to his feet, without success.]
FISHER:
Ahh... my
leg.
RYDER:
Can you
move?
FISHER:
I think
it’s broken. You guys push ahead and look for the others.
RYDER:
You sure?
FISHER:
Yeah. Just
find us a ride out of here. And take a few more of them out while you’re at it.
[Ryder and
Liam look at the bodies of the aliens they killed.]
LIAM:
Whoa. Take
a look at these bodies. What are these things?
[Ryder
scans one of the alien bodies.]
RYDER:
Well, I
don’t have SAM here, but I can try to make sense of it. They’re DNA-based. And
their armor reads as some kind of bone. But the genetics are all over the map.
LIAM:
Huh. I
guess life took a different turn here, huh?
[Ryder and
Liam leave Fisher.]
LIAM:
I hope the
other team’s okay.
RYDER:
We’ll find them. But we might want to scout around first.
LIAM:
You’re the
Recon Specialist—point the way.
RYDER:
Right.
[Ryder picks up supplies from one of the crates found
in the wreckage.]
LIAM:
Looks like
you knew how to handle a gun back there.
RYDER:
Spent time
with an Alliance peacekeeping force.
[They walk
away from the shuttle’s crash site.]
ALIEN
(VOICE-OVER):
Kal
sarhos!
LIAM:
Hear that?
[They see
Kirkland surrounded by three aliens of the same new species they’d just
encountered.]
LIAM:
Is that
Kirkland?
ALIEN:
Lutod
nyro!
KIRKLAND:
Please! I
surrender!
ALIEN:
Lutod
nyro!
KIRKLAND:
I said I
surrender!
[The
aliens shoot Kirkland. He screams.]
LIAM:
They shot
him!
[Liam and
Ryder jump out from hiding and begin shooting the aliens.]
RYDER:
Take them
out!
LIAM:
Right
behind you! They want a fight, we’ll give it to them!
[They kill
the aliens.]
LIAM:
That’s the
last of them.
RYDER:
I can’t
believe we’re doing this.
LIAM:
Did
Kirkland make it?
[They walk
toward Kirkland. Ryder uses his omni-tool to scan Kirkland’s body.]
RYDER:
No vital
signs. Just shot him in cold blood.
LIAM:
He was
trying to surrender. Why kill him?
RYDER:
Would we
treat them any different if they showed up on Earth, armed to the teeth?
LIAM:
Maybe not.
RYDER:
Peace
isn’t going to be an option here.
[Ryder and
Liam walk away.]
RYDER:
We’ll come
back for his body once we find the others.
LIAM:
Hope
Greer’s still alive somewhere. Still, take a look at this architecture. This is
really something.
[Ryder
looks at the large alien structure in front of them. In front of it sits a
smaller structure that can be scanned. A rotating blue luminescent orb is
hovering above it.]
RYDER:
Never seen
anything like it. Looks to be at least three or four centuries old.
LIAM:
The arks
left 600 years ago, right?
RYDER:
Yeah. Our
long-range scans wouldn't have shown this. These structures... that tower...
maybe none of it was here when we left the Milky Way.
[Ryder and
Liam keep walking. They find an atmospheric analyzer.]
RYDER:
It's gear
from one of our shuttles.
[Ryder
activates it.]
RYDER:
Good. The
atmospheric sensor is still working.
LIAM:
Let me
guess. It says "don't breathe the air."
RYDER:
Yeah, but
no sign of industrial pollutants. That's not what killed this place. And no
radioactive isotopes, either. So nobody nuked the place.
[Ryder and
Liam find themselves near another alien structure. More of the same alien
species that attacked them are there.]
LIAM:
Hear that?
[A fight
ensues. Ryder and Liam kill the aliens.]
RYDER:
First
species we meet and it’s out for blood.
LIAM:
Not if we
don’t give it to them.
[Another
rotating blue orb appears hovering above a small alien structure. Ryder scans
it.]
RYDER:
Okay now this is weird. Even with these readings,
I have no idea what it does.
LIAM:
Just
imagine the mind that invented it.
RYDER:
If that’s
even possible. Evolution separated from ours by two million light years.
LIAM:
Spooky
when you put it that way.
[Ryder and
Liam use their jump jet to reach higher grounds.]
LIAM:
Hey
look—flares going up! Over there!
RYDER:
Could be
our people. I’ll mark the navpoint.
[They hear
a noise in front of them.]
LIAM:
There!
Watch out!
[A beast
runs toward Ryder to attack.]
LIAM:
What is
this thing?
RYDER:
I think it
wants to eat us!
[They kill
it.]
LIAM:
Okay, it’s
dead.
RYDER:
Whatever
“it” was.
[Ryder
scans its corpse.]
LIAM:
How’d it
cloak like that?
RYDER:
It’s
organic. No sign of technology.
LIAM:
Wow. So
the cloaking is… biological?
RYDER:
Yeah.
Weird.
[Ryder and
Liam find another wreckage.]
LIAM:
Wreckage
ahead.
RYDER:
It’s the
other half of our shuttle.
LIAM:
What a
mess. I can’t believe we survived this.
RYDER:
We’re not off-planet yet.
[Ryder is
opening a container when Liam warns him they’re not alone.]
LIAM:
Shit,
movement on our perimeter…It’s an ambush!
RYDER:
Ah,
hell—they got the jump on us!
[Ryder and
Liam fight the aliens, who come at them from different sides.]
LIAM:
Careful,
they’ve got one of those animals!
RYDER:
Watch for
cloaking!
LIAM:
Us or
them! They forced this!
RYDER:
Trying to
surround us! Keep an eye on your six o’clock!
LIAM:
And our
two o’clock… and our eight… Now who’s dead, asshole?
[Ryder
shoots the remaining alien.]
LIAM:
There! We got ‘em all! You’re pretty good at this, Ryder.
RYDER:
I fought
off an occasional raider or two in my day. I used to guard a mass effect relay.
LIAM:
Wish we’d
had one for the arks.
[They walk
among the wreckage.]
LIAM:
Maybe we
should see if there’s anything useful here.
RYDER:
Fight
recorder here.
[They
listen to the audio log, which begins with static.]
FISHER
(AUDIO LOG):
—experienced
a catastrophic lightning hit! Liam and Ryder are gone!
ALEC RYDER
(AUDIO LOG):
What’s
your location?
[Only
static can be heard.]
ALEC RYDER
(AUDIO LOG):
Damn.
Hyperion, this is the Pathfinder! Mayday, mayday! Ship in distress!
HAYES (AUDIO
LOG):
Sir, our
engine’s down! Prepare for an emergency landing!
[The audio
log stops.]
LIAM:
Hey, maybe
they made it?
RYDER:
There’s
hope.
[Ryder and
Liam arrive at a hill with an alien facility on top of it.]
LIAM:
Some sort
of structure up that hill.
RYDER:
This place
is taking a beating from the storms.
LIAM:
Along with
everything else on the planet.
[Ryder
scans some parts of the metallic surfaces seen in front of the facility. One of
those readings indicates an unknown alloy.]
RYDER:
Maybe a
lightning rod of some kind. No idea how to get it working though.
[They
avoid the worst of the lightening and find refuge inside the alien facility.
It’s entirely dark, with numerous rooms and open doors. Ryder uses the light
from his helmet to find his way inside. Liam follows him.]
LIAM:
Well,
let’s hope no one’s home.
RYDER:
Doesn’t
look like a home at all.
[They pass
by an open door and reach the second room.]
LIAM:
Yeah. No
one’s living here.
RYDER:
So what’s
it for?
LIAM:
Doesn't
look like the other structures we've seen. Different design.
[They keep
walking, though it’s hard to see inside.]
LIAM:
Must be a
way to get some lights on.
[Ryder
scans one of the machines.]
RYDER:
Huh. Who
knows? Let’s call it a “weird alien machine.”
LIAM:
We sure
could use SAM right about now.
[Ryder and
Liam go into another room. They find another alien device.]
LIAM:
Huh?
What’s all this about?
[Ryder
scans the device.]
RYDER:
You
guessed it. Another weird alien machine.
LIAM:
Figures.
RYDER:
Only one
way to find out…
LIAM:
You mean
turn it on?
[Ryder
doesn’t answer Liam. He activates the machine.]
LIAM:
What are
you doing, Ryder?
[Once
activated, the machine begins making noise.]
RYDER:
Oh shit…
LIAM:
That can’t
be good!
[Finally,
the noise subsides and lights illuminate the facility.]
LIAM:
Oh.
RYDER:
So the
weird alien machine is a generator.
LIAM:
Yeah.
Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?
RYDER:
Maybe it
did something.
[Another
machine sits in a corner. Ryder activates it, and smoke comes out of it.]
RYDER:
Weird.
LIAM:
If that’s
poison, I know who to blame.
[An audio
log is found on top of a metallic surface in the opposite corner.]
ALIEN
(AUDIO LOG):
Zev gosad!
Surnahd zot.
RYDER:
Same
language as those aliens. Wonder what he's saying?
LIAM:
"Kill
all humans," probably.
[Ryder
activates another machine. An alarm sounds.]
RYDER:
Crap.
[He scans
yet another machine.]
RYDER:
Another
weird alien machine.
[They walk
further down the facility.]
LIAM:
Hey, that
door opened.
[The door
leads to a closed room with another door at the end from where a blue light can
be seen. Multiple alien machines lie near the door.]
RYDER:
Some kind
of research lab?
LIAM:
Maybe.
Then it got hit by a tornado.
[A
digital-sounding noise can be heard.]
LIAM:
Weird. You
hear that?
RYDER:
Looks like
they were trying to tunnel in.
LIAM:
Don’t
think it turned out so well.
[A
mechanic form near the door suddenly gets up. It’s the source of the noise.]
LIAM:
Watch it!
RYDER:
What is
it?
LIAM:
Pissed?
[They both
kill it.]
LIAM:
There!
RYDER:
So now
killer robots, too?
LIAM:
The geth
back home would love this place.
[Ryder
scans one of the machines near the door.]
RYDER:
Whatever
this is, it scans as being old. Centuries old.
LIAM:
Wish we
had SAM.
RYDER:
I think
it’s older than this lab and the equipment.
LIAM:
So maybe
these aliens found it deeper in? Like an artifact?
[Ryder
scans what is left of the mechanic form on the ground.]
RYDER:
Doesn't
say much, other than it's not organic. And it's about the same age as that
artifact.
LIAM:
You
suppose it was guarding it?
RYDER:
Could be.
[Ryder
scans the door.]
RYDER:
Some
serious energy on the other side of that door.
LIAM:
Maybe it's
closed for a reason.
RYDER:
These guys
were poking around where they shouldn't have.
[Ryder and
Liam get ready to leave the room. Ryder finds an audio log near the door.]
ALIEN (AUDIO LOG):
Keng zhef. Rol no todsurhanad. Jhan lurok.
RYDER:
Not
exactly poetry, is it?
[They
leave the room and walk back toward the facility’s exit. Outside, the thunder
can be heard again.]
RYDER:
Weather’s
still crappy.
[Aliens
appear, guns in hand.]
LIAM:
Heads up!
They were waiting for us!
RYDER:
Oh damn…
LIAM:
They got a
lightning rod up and running!
[Everyone
starts shooting. One of the cloaked beasts seen before tries to kill Ryder and
Liam.]
LIAM:
Are these
things stalking us?
RYDER:
Starting
to feel like it!
[The fight
continues between Liam, Ryder, and the aliens.]
LIAM:
This is not how I go out!
RYDER:
I don’t
think they’re listening!
[They
fight. The last remaining aliens are now dead.]
LIAM:
There.
Last one’s down.
RYDER:
Let’s not
wait around for more.
[They walk
away.]
LIAM:
A path
down on the right.
[As they
walk toward the path, they hear a sound.]
LIAM:
You hear
that?
RYDER:
Yeah.
Radio static. But like a pattern.
[They keep
walking.]
RYDER:
That
static’s getting louder.
GREER
(VOICE-OVER):
What do
you want?
ALIEN (VOICE-OVER):
Nyro
rekhet!
GREER (VOICE-OVER):
I don’t
understand you! I’m from the Milky Way!
[The path
leads to a closed space where aliens have cornered Greer. Liam and Ryder hide
behind cover.]
LIAM:
It’s
Greer—they’ve got him!
GREER:
We come in
peace! We need help! Our ship crashed, and—
ALIEN:
Niad!
GREER:
What does
that mean?
ALIEN:
Hakad soh!
[Ryder
starts shooting the aliens.]
ALIEN:
Tolerad!
GREER:
Help!
RYDER:
Hang on,
Greer! We’ve got you!
LIAM:
Keep your
head down!
RYDER:
Box them
in, Liam!
LIAM:
Setting a
kill zone! They’re not getting out of this!
[Ryder and
Liam kill the aliens.]
LIAM:
We’re clear!
GREER:
Thank God.
I was tapping my mic, hoping someone would notice.
RYDER:
You okay?
GREER:
Yeah.
Where are the others?
RYDER:
They
killed Kirkland. But Fisher’s alive back at the crash site.
LIAM:
He’s got a
broken leg; needs help.
GREER:
I’ll check
around for supplies, then head back.
RYDER:
Stay put
when you get there. We’ll look for my dad’s shuttle.
GREER:
Good luck.
Can’t wait to get off this rock.
[Ryder and
Liam leave Greer and keep walking. They walk a few feet until Liam points at a
nearby cave.]
LIAM:
Ryder,
some sort of cave over there.
[They
enter the cave, which is covered with leaves. A giant plant is at the center of
it, looking intact and preserved.]
LIAM:
Check that
out.
RYDER:
Now this
looks more like the golden world my dad was expecting.
LIAM:
Then...
the long-range scans were right? This could've been home?
RYDER:
Six-hundred
years ago. And then... who knows.
[Ryder
scans and detects a small trap on the ground right in front of the plant.]
RYDER:
Dead
animal here, in some sort of trap. Pretty recent, too.
LIAM:
You
suppose those aliens set it?
RYDER:
If they
did, they don't play nice with anyone.
LIAM:
Or maybe
they're starving.
[Ryder
scans the plant.]
RYDER:
if it's
anything like plants back in the Milky Way, there are signs of cellular
mutation.
LIAM:
It's
lasted this long. Guess that makes it the alpha tree, huh?
RYDER:
Yeah. But
what happened to all its friends outside?
LIAM:
How's this
even possible?
RYDER:
Extreme
example of a microclimate, maybe? Shielded by the cave all these years?
LIAM:
While the
rest of the planet died?
RYDER:
Something
nasty happened out there. But this means there's hope. Life as we know it can
thrive in Andromeda.
[They
leave the cave and keep walking further north. There is another alien
structure. The door opens as Ryder and Liam get close to it.]
RYDER:
Oh, great…
That can’t be good.
[More of
the same species of alien come out and start shooting in Liam and Ryder’s
direction.]
RYDER:
Looks like
a whole patrol!
LIAM:
Don’t want
them to drag us off like Greer!
RYDER:
Push them
back!
LIAM:
Got ‘em!
[As the
alien patrol dies, Ryder gets close to the door. It’s now closed.]
RYDER:
No way in
here.
LIAM:
Just as
well. We’re not equipped for a big fight.
[They walk
further away from the alien structure.]
CORA
(COMM):
SOS on
frequency 154.3. Anyone there?
RYDER:
Cora, we
read you. You're alive!
CORA
(COMM):
Shuttle
repairs are underway, but we're surrounded!
RYDER:
They're
not friendly—on our way!
[Ryder and Liam use their jump jet to
reach the top of a cliff. They find the second shuttle on the other side, with
Cora and others surrounded. Gun fires can be heard.]
LIAM:
Cora,
we’ve got your back!
CORA:
They're
trying to pin us down!
HAYES:
Doing a
good job of it, too!
[Ryder and
Liam join them.]
LIAM:
Ryder,
light ‘em up!
RYDER:
I’m on it!
CORA:
Pick your
targets!
RYDER:
Plenty of
those!
CORA:
They're
trying to pin us down!
HAYES:
Doing a
good job of it, too!
DR.
CARLYLE:
I got one!
HAYES:
What did
we ever do to them?
LIAM:
Careful,
they fight dirty!
CORA:
Harry, you
guys okay?
DR.
CARLYLE:
Not dead yet!
[The fight
is over. The aliens are dead.]
LIAM:
Well, that
settled that.
DR.
CARLYLE:
Cavalry to
the rescue. Nice to see you guys.
RYDER:
You too,
Harry. How is everyone?
CORA:
Still in
one piece. You got here just in time.
RYDER:
Where's my
dad?
CORA:
He went
scouting ahead while we fixed the shuttle. Ryder, there's weapons and ammo at
the shuttle. Stock up.
[Ryder
enters the shuttle, gets the weapons and ammo he needs.]
RYDER:
Did these things try talking to you at all?
CORA:
Barely a word, then started shooting. What about you?
RYDER:
We tried being nice. They didn't play along.
[An alien
ship appears in the sky.]
HAYES:
Oh hell... enemy ship on the way!
CORA:
Get to cover! Go go! Here they come!
[The ship
doesn’t land. It says mid-air. Aliens are dropped from the ship. As soon as
they hit the ground, they advance toward the Pathfinder team, guns in hands. A
fight breaks out.]
LIAM:
They got balls to try an airdrop!
CORA:
Don't let up!
DR. CARLYLE:
Ah! Lightning zapped their shuttle!
[The fight
ends. Liam walks toward the corpse of an alien and shoots it multiple times.]
CORA:
Liam!
Enough!
LIAM:
Right.
It’s just... these arseholes killed Kirkland.
RYDER - dialogues options:
-Anger is good.
-Calm
down.
RYDER:
I hear
you. But this isn’t the time to lose our cool.
[Liam
shoots the same alien again with three additional short bursts.]
LIAM:
Now I feel
better.
CORA:
What about
the others?
RYDER:
Fisher’s
wounded but sitting tight. Greer’s with him… though our shuttle’s in pieces.
[Dr.
Carlyle arrives, holding Hayes, who is putting pressure on her wounds.]
HAYES:
Guys…
DR.
CARLYLE:
She’s been
hit!
[Hayes and
Dr. Carlyle sit. Lightning begins to strike, and the rocks around them begin
moving and floating in the air.]
RYDER:
Take
cover! Take cover!
CORA:
Hang on!
[Cora
rushes to place herself in front of Hayes and Dr. Carlyle. Her hand
outstretched, she uses her biotics to create a biotic shield that protects the
three of them. She lets it fall once the danger passes.]
LIAM:
I didn’t
know you were biotic.
CORA:
Don’t
worry. It’s not contagious.
HAYES:
Before
they attacked, I… (Coughs) I managed to fix our comms.
CORA:
You’re a
lifesaver. Now just take it easy.
[Ryder
uses his omni-tool to find a signal.]
RYDER:
SAM, are
you there?
SAM:
QEC link
established. Affirmative, Scott. The Pathfinder needs to speak with you.
[Alec
Ryder can be seen on Ryder’s omni-tool.]
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Good to
see you in one piece. What’s our status?
RYDER:
Liam and I
are with Cora.
[Cora uses
her omni-tool to talk to Alec.]
CORA:
We have
wounded crew. The good news is our shuttle’s been repaired. We can get back to
the ark.
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
Not with
these storms. It’s too risky to fly.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Damn the risk.
LOGICAL
-Our wounded need help.
RYDER:
Our
wounded can’t wait much longer. Do you have something in mind?
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
If the
storm is the problem, then let’s solve the problem.
RYDER:
We’re
talking about weather.
ALEC RYDER
(COMM):
And I have
an idea about that. Rendezvous at my coordinates, we’ll- Damn it. They’ve
spotted me.
[Alec can
no longer be seen on Scott and Cora’s omni-tool.]
CORA:
Sir! Sir!
[Cora
turns to Hayes and Dr.Carlyle, who is tending her wounds.]
CORA:
Can you
two manage alone?
DR.
CARLYLE:
I can keep
her stable. For a while.
CORA:
Let’s
move! SAM, do you have the Pathfinder's position?
SAM:
Marking
the navpoint on your map.
CORA:
Doesn't
look far. Let's make this quick. We have to get there before this storm hits.
No detours.
RYDER:
What was
my dad scouting for?
CORA:
He was
trying to get readings on that tower.
LIAM:
Well, the
navpoint puts him near it.
SAM:
Exercise
caution. The storm front is already gaining intensity.
RYDER:
Nice to
have you back, SAM. How about some good news next time?
CORA:
Ryder,
your dad was in trouble. We have to find him.
LIAM:
We gotta
find the Pathfinder. Like, right now.
[The team
retraces Ryder’s previous steps, returning to the alien structure with the
closed door. No aliens come out this time.]
RYDER:
SAM's
right. We don't have much time.
CORA:
Look, the
rods—they're drawing the lightning away.
LIAM:
If we hug
that wall, that might keep us safe.
CORA:
Dead
bodies here. Lightning didn't do this.
LIAM:
Neither
did we. This is more than we took out.
RYDER:
Incendiary
rounds. My dad's been busy.
CORA:
He was an
N7. They don't mess around.
[The team
keeps walking, following the path to the navpoint.]
CORA:
Somebody
was pretty clever with these rods.
RYDER:
Only way
to survive here.
[There is
a cliff on their left.]
RYDER:
We're
close. The navpoint shows my dad's up there.
[The
Pathfinder team joins Alec atop the ledge overlooking an alien facility.]
CORA:
Sir...
ALEC
RYDER:
Stay low.
[They
continue their approach, crouching down to look at the patrolling aliens. There
is a long and large blue barrier covering the facility and preventing entry.]
CORA:
Who are these guys?
ALEC RYDER:
Visitors.
Just like us. I don’t think they’re native to the planet.
RYDER:
They’re
not. We found an abandoned lab. Like they’ve been studying the place.
ALEC
RYDER:
Good work.
You actually did some scouting.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -We’re explorers.
LOGICAL -It’s what I trained for.
CASUAL
-That surprises you?
PROFESSIONAL -Thank you.
RYDER:
You didn’t
think I would?
ALEC
RYDER:
You never know what people are made
of, not until everything goes wrong.
RYDER:
Plenty of
that on this mission.
CORA:
Sir, you
said you had an idea about the weather?
ALEC
RYDER:
It’s the
dark energy cloud the Hyperion hit. It’s affecting the whole planet,
interfering with that…
[Alec
Ryder points at the facility’s tower. The blue cloud Ryder and Liam observed
when they arrived in Habitat 7 is coming out of the tower and expanding in the
sky above.]
SAM:
The tower
is caught in a feedback loop with the cloud. Together, they’re disrupting the
entire climate with undirected energy.
RYDER:
It would
explain a cave we found. Plant life sheltered from the storm… from that tower.
ALEC
RYDER:
It’s a
good bet. And I think if we can get in there and shut the tower down…
LIAM:
The
lighting goes away.
ALEC
RYDER:
And the
shuttle can get us out of here. In theory. We just have to get past them…
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Then let’s do it.
LOGICAL
-And if we’re wrong?
RYDER:
We’re
banking on science we don’t really understand. What if the theory’s wrong?
SAM:
The
alternative is an 85% chance of death from lightning strike, capture, or worse.
RYDER:
Well, when
you put it that way…
ALEC
RYDER:
No
illusions about this. It’ll be a nasty fight the whole way.
CORA:
Beats
getting fried by lightning. But we risk turning a skirmish with these guys into
something worse.
ALEC
RYDER:
It’s them
or us.
LIAM:
Oh, it’s
them. Problem is we’re outnumbered.
ALEC
RYDER:
I’ve been
working on that. We just need to change the math.
[Alec
activates grenades that destroy some of the lightning rods around the facility,
which causes lightning to strike the shield. The shield drops, no longer
creating a barrier preventing entry. Alec jump-jets down to ground level to
begin the fight through the facility.]
LIAM:
Works for
me!
[They all
jump. On the ground, aliens start shooting at them. Alec is a bit further
ahead, reaching the facility.]
CORA:
Let’s go!
LIAM:
Right
behind you!
ALEC
RYDER:
Push ahead
to the structure! SAM, load combat profile.
[The team
fight their way through and reach the second floor of the facility.]
ALEC
RYDER:
SAM,
biotic amp interface mode.
LIAM:
Have to
keep an eye on our flank!
ALEC
RYDER:
Not if we
keep moving forward! Don't let them catch us!
[Alec crosses the facility’s bridge and kills a nearby alien.]
ALEC RYDER:
Keep up!
LIAM:
How's your
dad doing all this? He's like a machine!
RYDER:
No idea,
but it's working!
ALEC
RYDER:
That's
it—we're doing it! Not much farther!
RYDER:
Where are
we going?
ALEC
RYDER:
All the
way to the top!
RYDER:
And then
what?
[Ryder
joins Alec. There is a gap in the bridge wide enough that he has to use his
jump jet to reach the other side.]
ALEC
RYDER:
Ready?
Let's get inside there.
[Alec
opens the door. They immediately start shooting the alien enemies. Behind them,
Cora gives a painful groan.]
CORA:
That hurt!
LIAM:
Almost
fried me!
CORA:
Don't
stop! If we fall behind, we're dead!
LIAM:
Shit,
they're crack shots!
ALEC
RYDER:
Come on!
Into the building!
[They
fight inside the building and shoot multiple aliens.]
ALEC RYDER:
SAM, give
me Engineer profile. Squad, on me! We're almost there!
CORA:
Sir! Where
are you getting these profiles?
ALEC
RYDER:
Little
help from SAM!
RYDER:
What does
that mean?
ALEC
RYDER:
Just focus
on the fight!
[They find
their way outside where the fight continues.]
CORA:
The
storm's getting worse!
ALEC
RYDER:
We'll lose
our chance if we don't beat it! Come on!
[They
reach an open platform.]
ALEC
RYDER:
This looks
like the control center! Keep them off my back!
CORA:
You heard
him!
LIAM:
We made it!
In one piece!
ALEC
RYDER:
Not over
yet. I need to get through that door over there!
[The door
is at the center of the platform. It’s closed. There is an alien device a few
feet away. Alec stands by it.]
RYDER:
What now?
ALEC
RYDER:
I need to
decipher the language.
CORA:
There's
more coming up!
LIAM:
What's the
plan here? They'll surround us in no time!
RYDER:
We need to
defend both sides, or they'll flank us!
LIAM:
Where do
you want us?
[Liam
stands to the right of the door, Cora on the left. Ryder stands in the center.]
LIAM:
Watch it!
Think I see movement!
CORA:
We held
them off at the shuttle, we can do it again!
RYDER:
Lot of
people still counting on us!
LIAM:
I'm just
getting warmed up!
[The
aliens come from right and left. Ryder, Cora, and Liam defend Alec, who is in
the center attempting to decipher the code with SAM.]
CORA:
They mean
business! Keep them off your dad!
SAM:
Analyzing
possible inputs. Twenty-five percent decrypted.
ALEC
RYDER:
Hurry. We
don't have long.
RYDER:
Hold both
sides! Can't let them slip through!
LIAM:
What is
this place, anyway?
RYDER:
I don't
know, but they sure want it back!
ALEC
RYDER:
Well?
SAM:
Fifty-percent
decrypted. It's an unusually complicated syntax.
ALEC
RYDER:
I can see that.
Try a recursive search.
SAM:
I will
need a moment to evaluate the pattern.
ALEC
RYDER:
We only
have a moment. Do it.
LIAM:
I think I
really pissed that one off! Maybe because I shot him in the face!
CORA:
Sir, any
progress?
SAM:
Decryption
is 75% complete.
ALEC
RYDER:
We've
almost got it!
CORA:
Just a
little longer! They're falling back!
LIAM:
Could be
regrouping for another push. Stay sharp.
SAM:
Decryption
complete.
ALEC
RYDER:
That did
it! It's a security override—I'll try to open the door from here! Ah, damn—it's
jammed! I need to take a look at it!
[Alec
walks toward the door.]
SAM:
Decryption
complete.
ALEC
RYDER:
Scott, I
need your help over here!
CORA:
Go—it's
okay! We'll keep a lookout!
ALEC
RYDER:
We need to
get this door open!
RYDER:
On it!
[Ryder
joins Alec at the door.]
ALEC
RYDER:
Put your
back into it!
[Ryder and
Alec attempt to open the door.]
RYDER:
Do you
really think we can shut this thing down?
[It works.
The door opens.]
ALEC
RYDER:
I don’t
know yet. SAM’s decoded part of the language. Now we’ll see if I can have a
conversation.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -Be careful.
LOGICAL
-With who?
RYDER:
Who do you
plan on talking to?
ALEC RYDER:
More like
“what.” I think it’s automated.
[Alec walks
inside the structure. He turns around to look at Ryder.]
ALEC
RYDER:
Come on.
These are the moments that make it all worthwhile.
[In front
of them is an alien device in the shape of a triangle, each of its sides
emitting a ray of light.]
ALEC
RYDER:
SAM, begin
translating.
SAM:
A moment.
[A few
seconds pass while the triangle continues emitting a ray of light in front of
Alec. Ryder watches, right behind him.]
SAM:
Indexing.
[A second
passes.]
SAM:
Translation
complete.
ALEC
RYDER:
Let’s see
what we have.
[Alec
raises his hand. He interfaces with the alien device, which seems to be like an
atmospheric processor. Orange lights can be seen around his hand. The
connection works. Outside, the atmosphere near the tower is changing. Ryder
goes back outside. Thunder can no longer be heard, and the sun is shining.]
RYDER:
I’ll be
damned… It’s working!
[Alec
joins Ryder outside.]
RYDER:
You did
it!
ALEC
RYDER:
There’s
hope, at least.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -That’s what people need.
LOGICAL
-And proof we can succeed.
RYDER:
This is
more than hope—it’s proof we weren’t crazy. We can fly to a whole new galaxy
and still make sense of things.
ALEC
RYDER:
SAM had a
little something to do with it.
SAM:
It was
simply a matter of linguistics. Though I am pleased to have-
[A purge
inside the structure begins and Alec and Ryder barely have time to turn to look
at it before a rush of smoke blows them away. Ryder screams trying to hold on
to the platform, but he can’t maintain a grip and is thrown off. Upon landing,
Ryder’s helmet cracks. He is unable to breath and gasps for air. He sees only
smoke in front of him until an orange light appears. It’s coming from Alec’s
omni-tool. Alec limps towards him.]
ALEC
RYDER:
Repeat, we
need an emergency extraction now!
CORA
(COMM):
They’re
spinning up the shuttle. ETA is three, maybe four minutes!
[Alec
arrives at Ryder’s side and sees how hard it is for him to breathe.]
ALEC
RYDER:
We don’t
have that long.
[Alec
replaces Ryder’s helmet with his own.]
ALEC
RYDER:
Deep
breaths!
RYDER:
(Coughs)
What are you- (Coughs)
[Alec uses
his omni-tool.]
SAM:
Initiating
transfer.
[Alec
talks but Ryder can’t hear him. Ryder’s vision becomes blurry until he can no
longer see Alec. Ryder blacks out.]
[Inside
Ryder’s body, a section of pink nerves shrivel and turn dark, spreading quickly
throughout his nervous system until the entire network appears withered. The
vision of Cora and Liam hovering above Ryder is blurry. The tower with the blue
cloud hovering above is behind them. Cora is using her omni-tool and shooting.]
CORA:
Move! He's
going into cardiac arrest!
[Ryder’s
vision is still blurry, but he can see and hear a shuttle flying toward them.
Back inside Ryder’s body, a bright blue current runs through the shriveled
nerves from multiple directions, gathering into a central cluster where the
electrical light pulses. His eyes open. He’s being rushed somewhere. Dr
Carlyle, Liam, and Cora are with him.]
DR. CARLYLE:
Pulse is weakening! Tell the ark to prep med-bay!
C'mon.
[Bursts of
blue energy are seen sinking and flowing through the nerve axons, restoring
their pink and more robust appearance. Reaching a central cluster, the energy
pulses violently. As this continues, Ryder has multiple flashbacks, too fast to
distinguish every moment. Ryder is now in Hyperion’s med-bay, with Lexi working
with Dr. Carlyle.]
DR. CARLYLE:
Pulse dropping! We're losing them!
[More
flashbacks. A woman is seen smiling and taking two children in her arms.]
LEXI:
It's a seizure! His brain can't handle the connection!
[Dark
veins appear on the corner of Ryder’s vision.]
LEXI:
Get him to SAM Node!
[Liam, Dr.
Carlyle, and Lexi are carrying Ryder to SAM Node.]
LEXI:
SAM,
what’s the reading?
SAM:
Ryder’s
implant is overloading. I suggest a hardwire connection.
[Ryder
moves a hand. Lexi takes his hand and puts it back on his stomach. She looks at
Dr. Carlyle.]
LEXI:
Do it!
Dr. Carlyle:
There!
[Ryder’s
vision turns black.]
[Ryder’s
eyes slowly open.]
SAM
(PRIVATE):
Welcome
back, Scott.
[Ryder is
in a SAM Node, lying down. He sits up.]
RYDER:
What
happened?
SAM:
You were
clinically dead for twenty-two seconds.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL
-What about the others?
LOGICAL -How did I survive?
RYDER:
Did the
rest of the team make it?
[We see
Liam sitting on the ground in front of
table where Ryder was lying down. The room is quite dark. A panel behind
Liam is displaying data.]
LIAM:
Hey… You’re still with us.
[Liam gets
up and uses his omni-tool to contact the team.]
LIAM:
Guys, get
to SAM node! Ryder’s awake!
[Ryder
sits up a bit straighter.]
LIAM:
Who were
you talking to?
RYDER:
SAM.
LIAM:
I didn’t
hear him.
[Cora and
Lexi enter the SAM Node.]
CORA:
You’re up.
[Lexi uses
her omni-tool to start a quick visual exam, moving her hand from left to right
for Ryder to follow.]
LEXI:
Look here.
And here.
[Ryder
follows the gesture with his eyes. He then spots his father’s helmet.]
RYDER:
My father…
where…?
[Both Cora
and Lexi look at the ground, looking sad. Ryder understands his father is
dead.]
CORA:
It was
your life or his. And he chose you. I’m sorry, Scott. I know this must be a
blow.
RYDER - dialogues options:
-He died a
hero.
-I didn’t know him.
RYDER:
He made
the ultimate sacrifice. He got the team out of danger. We all owe him for that.
CORA:
He once
said that when his time came, he wanted to go out among stars no one had seen
before.
[Liam puts
a hand on Cora’s shoulder to bring her comfort. Ryder looks around, surprised.]
RYDER:
What are
we doing in SAM node?
LEXI;
SAM is now
part of you… in a way we don’t entirely understand. It played havoc with your
brain.
RYDER:
SAM?
SAM:
Your
father authorised the transfer of Pathfinder authority to you.
RYDER:
Shouldn’t
that be Cora?
CORA:
In theory.
In reality… You’re the new Pathfinder, Scott.
RYDER - dialogues options:
-If
there’s no other choice...
-Are you kidding me?
RYDER:
Whoa.
Well… if that’s how it has to be…
LIAM:
Don’t sell
yourself short. I think you can do it.
RYDER:
Cora?
CORA:
It’s what
he wanted. I won’t stand in the way. But being Pathfinder is a serious job. You
sure you’re ready for this?
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL -It’s in my blood.
LOGICAL -I
can learn.
CASUAL -Dad already decided.
PROFESSIONAL -I’ll have to be.
RYDER:
I’m sure
there’s a lot I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.
LIAM:
If it
helps, you’ve got me to lean on.
LEXI:
It’s all
academic, anyway—SAM’s linked to your mind on a deeper level now. Trying to
untangle it could kill you.
CORA:
I know
this is tough, but… we need to start thinking about the next step. A lot of
people are counting on us.
RYDER:
Is the ark
still drifting?
LIAM:
That’s the
thing—whatever your dad did with that tower, it saved the day. Some sort of
atmosphere scrubber.
CORA:
The energy
cloud thinned out. We’re on our way to the rally point now. Should be at the
Nexus soon.
LEXI:
He needs
to rest first.
CORA:
He’s got
two hours. We’ll need our Pathfinder for this.
[Cora and
Lexi leave. Liam is about to leave as well, but he turns around.]
LIAM:
Oh, I
checked on your sister—still no change. But if you can pull through, so can
she. A bit of your dad in both of you.
[Liam
leaves. Ryder is now alone in the SAM Node.]
SAM
(PRIVATE):
Your
father will be missed.
RYDER:
What’s
going on, SAM?
SAM
(PRIVATE):
This is
our private channel. I shared it with him.
RYDER - dialogues options:
EMOTIONAL
-Why’d he pick me?
LOGICAL -What channel?
RYDER:
Why did he
do it? Why me?
SAM
(PRIVATE):
Unknown.
But he never acted without reason. Alec wouldn’t want us to lose sight of the
goal. He said pain emboldens our resolve. He’d insist we grow stronger from his
passing.
[Ryder
doesn’t reply and stares at the ground.]
[Back on
Habitat 7, a ship lands on the same platform the Pathfinder team fought against
the alien assault while protecting Alec Ryder. An alien, who appears to be the
leader, walks out of the ship and enters the vault. Several aliens watch him.
Once he’s before the light-emitting triangle, an alien nearby hands him an
alien device. It floats mid-air and leads the alien leader towards the triangle
emitting light. After a few seconds of staring, the device shows Alec Ryder
standing where he was before and using his connection with SAM to activate the
vault. The alien leader imitates the way Alec raises his hand, then looks at
his own hand as nothing happens. He takes one last look at Alec’s projection
before the device shuts off and follows him towards the vault’s exit. Other aliens step back to let them pass.]