The Diomedian Chronicles: Nisus

< The Diomedian Chronicles

The Diomedian Chronicles: Nisus is a Novel/Transcript following the events of Prometheus Squad shortly after retaking Earth.

This event takes place after The Diomedian Chronicles: Simulation.

While Dr. Thrax is trapped underwater in a sinking shuttle, his only chance for survival may be a hallucination of Jen McKenzie.

Prologue
''[Alliance shuttle, it is flying over the ocean. On board are Doctor Archaon Thrax and one of the Aegina navigation personnel that agreed to pilot the shuttle, named Steven. Archaon checks a display at the co-pilot's seat, then walks to a panel at the back.]''

Steven: [Trying to make small talk] So… can I ask you something? As a scientist, doesn’t it bother you that most of your work, no matter how brilliant, will eventually be considered misguided? ‘Cause that would bother me.

Archaon: [confused] I'm sorry?

Steven: Well, given enough time, everything's pretty much proven wrong, right?

Archaon: [raises an eyebrow] No.

Steven: Everything from the Earth being flat, to the sun revolving around us.

Archaon: [walking to another panel near the rear of the shuttle] Well, if you wanna go back hundreds of years!

Steven: Scientists get it wrong more times than they get it right. [He glances round to Archaon.] Take the tomato.

[Archaon turns and stares at him in confusion for a moment.]

Archaon: Excuse me?!

Steven: Well, after the conquest of Mexico in 1519, tomatoes were carried eastward to Europe, where they were believed to be poisonous.

[Archaon stops what he's doing and walks forward, clearly annoyed.]

Archaon: Shouldn't you be concentrating on what you're doing?

Steven: I've got it covered. You worry about you.

Archaon: [Annoyed] I am worried about me! This is the first flight this thing has had since it was shot down by a reaper and repaired. It deserves all of your attention! [He walks towards the rear of the shuttle again.]

Steven: It landed in one piece. If anything was gonna go wrong, it would have gone wrong by now. It took the Italians and the Spaniards to realize that tomatoes are, in fact, delicious.

Archaon: [barely containing his irritation] Good for them.

Steven: Columbus was Spanish -- he figured out the Earth was round.

Archaon: [About to burst, but calms himself] … He was Italian…

Steven: So I wonder what it is that makes Spaniards so good at debunking bad science? [He glances over his shoulder again.] You're not Spanish, are you?

Archaon: [Loses his temper and shouts] Oh, yes! Of the Barcelona Thrax’s! Now, if you don't mind ...--

''[The shuttle shakes. Steven's concentration snaps to the controls as the shuttle continues to shake and vibrate.]''

Archaon: [stumbling forward and sitting down in the co-pilot's seat] What is it? Turbulence?

Steven: The inertial dampeners on this thing should smooth that out. [The shuttle shakes violently.] What the hell?

Archaon: [looking at his screens] Right drive pod's intermittently switching to reverse thrust.

Steven: Cut it. I can drive with just the left pod.

Archaon: It's not recognizing any of my commands. [He stands up and staggers over to one of the side panels.]

Steven: Brace for impact!

Archaon: [high-pitched] What?!

Steven: We're goin' down!

[As Archaon continues trying to gain control of the shuttle from the side panel, Steven activates the comms.]

Steven: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

[The shuttle drops down and splashes onto the ocean, skimming across the surface for a few seconds until the resistance of the water brings it to a halt and it promptly sinks.]

Chapter One
''[In the shuttle. Steven is slumped unconscious over the console. Yeoman Ellen calls over the radio.]''

Ellen: [Via radio] Steven, Dr. Thrax, come in please.

[Archaon is unconscious on the floor, but starts to rouse.]

Ellen: [Via radio] Shuttle Two, come in please. Steven, Dr. Thrax, come in please.

[Archaon revives enough to speak into his headset.]

Archaon: Yeah, we're here.

[In the Aegina’s control room, Ellen jumps up from her seat.]

Ellen: Dr. Thrax! Thank God! We thought you ... We've been trying to get ahold of you for over an hour. [To Merrick] Find Cmdr. Diomedes -- tell her I've made contact.

[In the shuttle, Archaon gets to his feet and goes over to Steven.]

Archaon: Hey, hey, hey, you OK?

[Steven rouses.]

Steven: [weakly] Not feeling so good.

Ellen: [Via radio] Are you alright?

Archaon: [helping Steven to sit up in his seat] I think we could both use an extended stay in the Infirmary. What the hell happened?

Ellen: [Via radio] The shuttle you were flying dropped off our screens. It crashed into the ocean.

[Archaon looks irritated that Ellen is stating the obvious.]

Archaon: Yes, yes, yes, we ...

''[He lifts his head for the first time and looks out of the windshield. He stares at the sight.]''

Archaon: We're under water…

Ellen: [Via radio] Yes, you are.

Archaon: Then how are you gonna find us?

Ellen: [Via radio] Navigator Merrick determined the direction of your radio signal, but not the range.

Archaon: How deep are we?

''[Steven punches a few buttons and a holographic image appears, bringing up the heads-up display. He reads out what it says.]''

Steven: One two zero zero and falling.

Archaon: Ellen, you're gonna have to hurry it up. We're already twelve hundred feet deep and sinking at a rate of about, uh, [he checks the readings on the H.U.D.] twenty feet a minute.

Ellen: [Via radio] Very impressive!

Archaon: Excuse me?!

Ellen: [Via radio] Well, we always theorized that the shuttles could be utilized as submersibles.

Archaon: Yes, yes, yes, yes, I theorized it!

Ellen: [Via radio] But twelve hundred feet! It's almost the maximum depth of a nuclear powered submarine.

Archaon: [annoyed] We are not so keen on setting any records right now, so just ...--

''[There's an ominous crackling noise from the front of the shuttle. The H.U.D. flickers on the windshield and then goes out. A crack appears in the top of the windshield and begins to spread downwards.]''

Steven: oh… That's not good!

''[Archaon reaches down to help him stand up. Steven flings his arm around Archaon's shoulder and hauls himself to his feet.]''

Archaon: Can you move?

Steven: Yeah.

Archaon: Ellen, the windshield's giving way under the pressure of the ocean!

Ellen: [Via radio] Move into the rear compartment -- the seal should be able to hold.

Archaon: One step ahead of you.

''[He and Steven have already reached the rear compartment. Archaon pushes the button that will close the bulkhead doors. The mechanism grinds, but the doors don't close.]''

Archaon: No! [He pushes the button a few more times, but nothing happens.] No-no-no-no-no-no! [He runs further back to another panel.]

Steven: [pushing the button that Archaon just tried] The crash probably damaged all sorts of systems.

Archaon: [shouting in frustration] Maybe if you were more focused on flying than enlightening me on the history of tomatoes ...

Steven: [stays calm] Well, your focus didn't get the drive pod to shut off. I'm still not blaming you.

Archaon: [shouting] Yeah, because it's not my fault!

Steven: I've got an idea. ''[He turns and hurries into the front section. Archaon turns and stares.]''

Archaon: What are you doing?

Steven: Good luck, Archaon. ''[He jumps into the pilot's seat and activates a control. The bulkhead doors start to close.]''

Archaon: [starting to walk forward] No, what are you doing? ''[The doors close, sealing him in the rear compartment. He bangs on the doors.]'' Steven! Steven?!

''[There's an explosive sound on the other side of the door, followed by the sound of water rushing into the front compartment. Archaon backs away from the doors, staring at them in shock.]''

Archaon: Why did he do that? [He shouts towards the front compartment.] Why would you do that?!

''[He turns and looks around the tiny compartment that he's standing in. It's almost completely dark apart from light coming from his omni-tool and a few panels. He has a bad cut on his right temple which is trickling blood down the side of his face. He stares around in terror for a moment, then deliberately closes his eyes.]''

Archaon: [in a quiet plaintive voice] Wide open fields. Wide open fields. Wide open fields. You're not stuck in a metal casket under thousands of feet of water. You're in a wide open field. ''[He opens his eyes and looks forward, smiling just a little as he calms down. Breathing a sigh of relief.]'' There. Now.

[He reaches up and activates his headset.]

Archaon: Ellen. [There's no reply.] Ellen? It's Archaon, come in please. [His calm expression starts to dissipate as he still gets no reply.] Ellen? [He thinks about it for a moment, then starts talking to himself.] The radio transmitter is in the forward section, which is now flooded with water, which means that you have no way to contact the surface, which means that they have no way to triangulate your position. [His voice breaks a little.] OK, alright. You've been in worse situations ... [He pauses for a moment, thinking.] Just because you can't think of them right now doesn't make it any less true. [He takes a couple of nervous short breaths.] Ok, look! You're not dead yet!

[He starts to sound more determined, though he is obviously terrified.]

Archaon: Alright, you can fix this problem -- you just need to ... work one step at a time. Now. Gotta find some light. So ... [He takes his omni-tool.] Alright. [Moments later, something that resembles a flashlight flickers to life on his omni-tool.] Ha! Light! I have light! [He laughs triumphantly, then his smile drops as he shines the light around the compartment.] Now ...

''[The Aegina. Gwendolyn, Scott, Merrick, Ellen and Radovan are walking on the catwalk above the control room, moving towards Gwen’s office.]''

Gwendolyn: I thought you said life support could sustain them for days?

Ellen: I said life support would most likely sustain them for days. I-I had no idea the ship would sink so quickly or that the cockpit would flood.

Greer: That's when you lost contact?

Bernn: If they didn't make it to the rear compartment in time ...

Greer: [firmly] They made it.

Merrick: Still, they are going to be much harder to locate now that they're no longer broadcasting.

Gwendolyn: Then find another way.

Merrick: Look, even if we do locate them, our options are limited. They're already deeper than a rescue shuttle's windshield can handle.

Bernn: I'll handle the rescue -- you just worry about finding them. I've already got some ideas.

Greer: And I’ll be flying the rescue shuttle.

Gwendolyn: Alright, we're on the clock, people. Let's get back to work.

Chapter Two
''[Sinking Shuttle, it’s falling deeper and deeper into the dark blue abyss below. Inside, Archaon has found a few more flashlights and has set them up around the compartment. He has also found a medical kit and is fixing a sticking plaster over the wound on his temple.]''

Archaon: [In pain] Uh! ''[He looks up as the shuttle creaks ominously. He stands up, looking around nervously.]'' I'm dropping twenty feet a minute. Pressure increases by one atmosphere every thirty-three feet, so, [he sits down] that's an additional atmosphere every minute and a half. Which means, [he looks at his watch] I'm currently under thirty-seven atmospheres' worth of pressure, and counting. Hoh, boy! That is a lot. That's ... OK, I've gotta slow down. [He stands up again and activates an open panel on the other side of the compartment.] OK, alright, I've gotta stop sinking.

[He reaches for the circuitry, then pulls his hands back.]

Archaon: No-no-no-no-no-no. Send a message first. Yeah. [He turns away from the panel and looks at the wall behind him.] Check and see if you can get the ... radio transmitter up and running, because they can't find you if you can't tell them where you are. Come on, Archaon, prioritize! [He picks up a cable.] Here we go. [He finds one end of the cable, which has something that resembles a USB-port on it.] Now. [He attaches the port to a circuit board on another panel.] There we go. There, right. So ... ''[He attaches the other end of the cable, which has a similar port, to his omni-tool. A message flashes up saying, "SHUTTLE INTERFACE ACTIVATED".]'' There we are.

[He sits down.]

Archaon: OK. Now -- how's our radio transmitter? [He pushes the screen a couple of times and a new message comes up: "TRANSMITTER INACTIVE".] Yes, I know that, so ... [he presses the screen again] activate emergency transmitter protocol. ''[The screen continues to flash "TRANSMITTER INACTIVE", then changes to "EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER ACTIVE". Archaon smiles, then looks skywards.]'' Now -- we're broadcasting a signal. All it needs to do is penetrate fourteen hundred feet of ocean, [his smile starts to fade] which means that a ... a whopping three percent of the signal will reach the surface, so ... so boost, boost the signal.

[He works on his omni-tool again.]

Archaon: Now, how much power have we got to work with here? [The screen shows, "REMAINING POWER AT LEVEL OF USE: 3:05".] Oh, you gotta be kidding me! [He stares up at the shuttle.] Three hours?! What's eating my power? I'm working with flashlights here! [He looks down at the read-out on the tablet screen.] Inertial dampeners are active? Well, why? I don't need them! [He types.] Shut down inertial dampeners. [The screen says, "ACTION NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME".] Ah, come on! They're draining what little power I have left here!

''[He types again, but the screen beeps at him. He makes an exasperated sound and stands up, shouting at the shuttle.]''

Archaon: You do not need inertial dampeners while you sink! [He glares at the shuttle, then starts to work on his omni-tool again.] Now ... ''[He types some more, but the screen again flashes up the message, "ACTION NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME". He tries to slam his omni-tool, but his hand just goes through the hologram, afterwards he yells at it.]'' You are a piece of junk! [He lowers his arms and stares at nothing in particular, his face full of horror.] I'm gonna die!

''[In The Aegina’s laboratory. Merrick walks over to 3 other scientists.]''

Merrick: OK, so, we know the direction which the initial radio signal came from, right, [he turns to a screen showing a map of the ocean] so that places them on this line here. [He runs his hand horizontally across the screen.] Now, unfortunately ocean currents could have pulled them in either direction either this way [he indicates above the line] or that way, [he indicates below the line] so the area, the area is approximately ... [he spreads his fingers and indicates a large area of ocean above and below the two ends of the horizontal line that he first indicated] ... here. [He turns to a female scientist with black hair and Asian features.] Now, Doctor Allyson here has been studying the databases in regards to the ocean of this particular planet [he switches to a new screen which indicates the depth of the ocean in that area] and this particular area is between two and six thousand feet deep.

''[A male scientist, who appears to be in his late 50, looks shocked. His name is Daniel Ericson.]''

Ericson: Six thousand feet?! We'll never be able to get down that far.

Merrick: Yes, I know, which is we have to find them before it gets there.

[The last scientist in the group is Chester Bryce, a rather charming, young man that looks more like a surfer than an actual scientist.]

Bryce: [with an slight Australian accent] They were already at twelve hundred feet and falling, what, twenty feet a minute?

Merrick: Uh, yes, that's right.

Bryce: That at least gives us a place to start.

Merrick: Yes. So, let's begin.

Chapter Three
''[In the sinking shuttle. Archaon wanders around the compartment as he continues to work on his omni-tool, shivering.]''

Archaon: Oh. I'm freezing! Why am I so cold? Oh, no! [He puts his hand to his head wound.] I haven't lost that much blood, have I? [He thinks for a moment, then lowers his hand with an irritated look on his face.] Course, it-it could have something to do with the billion or so gallons of freezing water you're surrounded by, you idiot! Alright -- [Disables his omni-tool] I need to heat this thing, [he removes the back of one of the bench seats, revealing another panel] and I don't want it cost me a lot of power. [Louder, to the shuttle] Can we at least do that, please?

''[He disconnects one end of a cable from a panel above his head and squats down to attach it to the panel behind the bench. He clenches his fist momentarily to try and warm it, then activates his omni-tool again and types on it. The temperature indicator on the screen starts to rise.]''

Archaon: Ah, there y'go! See? [He looks up at the shuttle.] I'm not greedy. I just don't wanna freeze to death. Now, how much did that cost me? [He looks at the screen again -- it says, "REMAINING POWER AT LEVEL OF USE: 2:20".] Oh, come on! [He glares up at the shuttle again.] A little heat's gonna cost me forty minutes?!

[He stands up.]

Archaon: Is that really how you want this to go down, huh? You wanna freeze me to death?! You sure you wouldn't rather I imploded with you, you, you, you lemon?! [He glares at his omni-tool now, talking to it instead of the shuttle.] Do you even have an opinion anyways, you, you ... no. Why? Because you are an inanimate object, huh? [He looks up at the shuttle again.] Does that stop me from talking to you? Oh, no-no-no-no-no, my inanimate friend, because I have been struck upon the head, you see?! [He points at his head wound to prove it.] There. So ...

''[He looks at the tablet and works on it for a moment. The screen changes to read, "REMAINING POWER AT LEVEL OF USE: 2:35", then goes up to "2.36", then "2.37". It pauses for a moment, then changes to "2.38", then "2.39".]''

Archaon: Twenty minute of power… for just enough heat to stave off hypothermia.

[He looks up at the shuttle.]

Archaon: You drive a hard bargain, my friend, but, uh, you've got a deal. [He breathes heavily as he works on his omni-tool some more, then smiles down at it.] I just made a deal with you! [He giggles.] A deal! [He giggles again, starting to get a little hysterical.] Let's Make A Deal! You've got a deal! [He giggles, then almost starts to cry before looking puzzled.] That's not funny. [He stares, worried.] What's wrong with me? It's, uh, uh, euphoria, elation, over-confidence, it's, uh ... [He realizes what the problem is.] Hypoxia!

[Quickly he puts his omni-tool away and kneels down to the panel behind the bench.]

Archaon: I've gotta dial up the CO2 scrubbers or I'm gonna die of hypoxia. [He giggles hysterically, starts to work on the panel, then stops, giggling uncontrollably.] That’s so not funny! [He continues giggling, but manages to get back to work on the panel.]

''[The Aegina’s shuttle bay. Someone is doing some welding at the side of the bay as Gwendolyn walks in, picking her way past the spray of sparks.]''

Bernn: [In the distance] Take it over here; move it over here.

[Gwendolyn walks to the rear of the rescue shuttle and calls in to Radovan who is standing near the cockpit supervising someone.]

Gwendolyn: What's all this?

Bernn: Ah, this is my plan!

Gwendolyn: Yeah, I figured that much! ''[She looks around at the hive of activity around the Bay. Radovan comes to the rear of the shuttle to join her.]'' Care to elaborate?

Bernn: Well, Doctor Bryce is here to study the ocean on MHR-1249, which happens to be under a thick sheet of ice, so they brought a thousand-foot cable and a pretty powerful winch to lower their instruments.

Gwendolyn: OK.

Bernn: [gesturing to a nearby engineer] And Edgar over here is responsible for the magnetic grapple designed to lower our shuttles into our shuttle Bay.

Gwendolyn: And you intend to put the two together.

Bernn: Like chocolate and peanut butter.

Gwendolyn: Is the mechanism gonna be strong enough to lift a half-flooded shuttle out of the water?

Bernn: Not a chance!

Gwendolyn: [surprised] Then why are you ...--

Bernn: Because we don't have to. We just have to get near enough to the shuttle so we can get Archaon and Steven out with a cutting team and rescue divers while it’s no longer sinking cause of the magnet, understand?

Gwendolyn: Good. How long?

Bernn: Couple of hours.

[Gwen smiles at him.]

Gwendolyn: Y'know, Archaon and Iggins used to bug Marachuk for a chance at trying a shuttle out as a submersible, but you sure went a hell of a long way to make me say yes!

Bernn: Well, you still haven't said it yet.

[Gwen smiles again.]

Gwendolyn: I just did.

Bernn: OK! [He bounces like an over-excited little boy, then runs towards the shuttle again before turning back to Gwen.] Oh, uh, how close is Merrick to finding them?

Gwendolyn: I'm gonna go ask him. [She heads out of the Bay as Radovan runs back into the shuttle.]

Chapter Four
''[In the sinking shuttle. Archaon, calmer now, sits down on the floor and looks at his omni-tool, breathing deeply.]''

Archaon: CO2 scrubbers operating at ... one hundred percent. Well, at least something is. [He takes another deep breath.] Now, let's see if I can, uh ... [He starts to type, then snatches his fingers back, irritated.] Oh, why do they have to make these things so small? [He looks up at the shuttle.] Look, I’m supposed to be the one on the surface saving the poor bastard stuck down here, not actually be the poor bastard stuck down here! By the time any of them have come up with a plan, I'll have died of old age!

''[He looks down at his omni-tool, then stares up in shock as a peculiar sound begins. It's a strange, echoing combination of a groan and a wail, but it obviously isn't coming from the shuttle itself.]''

Archaon: Hello? ''[The echoing groan/wail continues. It seems to be coming from outside the shuttle. Archaon gets to his feet, looking nervous as he realizes that the sound is coming from some kind of creature swimming around outside.]'' Are you friendly, or are you hungry? ‘Cause I am pretty sure that this thing is an instant case of indigestion, you know? ''[The creature outside wails again. Its noises sound similar to whale song. Archaon stares as it dawns on him what's happening.]'' It's the transmitter! It must be broadcasting at a, at a frequency you can hear!

''[He smiles as the creature groans again. His smile soon drops when the shuttle shakes as if struck by something. He grabs onto the side panels to keep his balance.]''

Archaon: Ho, boy! Ho! Uhm, look. I'm, uh, I'm sorry if I'm buggin' you but, uh, but I kinda need to leave this thing on for a bit, you know? Maybe you could, uh, tell my friends where I am, you could, uh, could you do that, huh? Could you go for help, huh? Could you do that? ''[The shuttle creaks, but the creature's groaning stops. Archaon realizes what he has just been saying.]'' What am I doing?! [He answers himself.] Well, I'm, uh, treating an alien whale like Lassie! ''[The creature groans again. Archaon shouts at it angrily.]'' Look, OK, if you're not gonna help, then just swim on by!

''[The creature falls silent. Archaon has an epiphany.]''

Archaon: Swim... Maybe the shuttle can swim! [He walks to the front of the compartment and puts his hands against the bulkhead doors.] OK. Cockpit is inaccessible. But most of the control conduits run back here, [he turns and points at the ceiling] so if you were really meant to be submersible, [he reactivates his omni-tool, then pulls the cable out of the panel behind the bench] then your drive pods should function underwater too, hmm? [He attaches the ends of the cable to a circuit board in a panel above his head.] Which means I can fly you from back here -- well, not fly, but I can surface. And if I get close to the surface, then the emergency transmitter won't have to penetrate so much ocean. [He works on his omni-tool.] OK! Now we're gettin' somewhere! [He smiles as he continues working.]

''[The Aegina laboratory. Gwen walks over to where Merrick and the other scientists are working.]''

Gwendolyn: How're we doing?

Merrick: Well, we're making progress. Slowly.

Gwendolyn: Show me.

[Merrick takes her over to the screen showing the map of the ocean.]

Merrick: We started with the likely location of the shuttle based on the numbers we got while triangulating its position during its brief radio contact with us. We then estimate how far off course it has been taken -- if at all -- by the various currents, slipstreams, underwater rivers that the shuttle may -- or may not -- have run into. [He changes the image of the screen to show the depth of the ocean.] We then add its descent speed at various rates.

Gwendolyn: That's all you've got? You haven't narrowed the search area at all.

Merrick: [embarrassed] No. No, in fact we've increased it slightly.

Gwendolyn: And how does that count as progress?

Merrick: Because we're no longer guessing. We now know definitely that the shuttle is somewhere in this area.

[Gwen shrugs.]

Gwendolyn: OK.

Merrick: Commander, even if we do find them, there's no way ...--

Gwendolyn: [interrupting] Radovan's already working on a grapple system that should be able to rescue them.

Merrick: Really?

Gwendolyn: Really. It's gonna be ready in a couple of hours. [Narrows her eyes at Merrick] I need you to be.

''[In the sinking shuttle. Archaon is standing up and looking at the control panel above his head, then looks down to type on the small keypad of his omni-tool.]''

Archaon: [irritated] Oh, this little keyboard is killing me! [He turns to the panel on the other side of the compartment and squints up at the monitors.] All starting to blur together. I need a new set of eyes!

Female voice: [from behind Archaon] Let me take a look.

''[Archaon stops what he's doing and stares ahead of him. He gulps nervously.]''

Archaon: Did I just, uh ....?

Female voice: Yes, you did.

''[Slowly Archaon turns around. Jen McKenzie is standing behind him. She is wearing dark blue jeans and a pink top with a two-toned pink jacket over the top. The top has a very low neckline and the jacket is only zipped up a little way, so she's showing a lot of cleavage. She has her fingers in the front pockets of her jeans and is smiling at Archaon. Archaon stares.]''

Archaon: Jenny?!

[Jen smiles.]

Jen: Don't worry, Archaon. We're gonna get you outta here.

[Archaon stares at her in disbelief.]

Chapter Five
''[In the sinking shuttle. As Jen continues to smile at him, Archaon walks closer to her.]''

Archaon: How did you ...? How-how are you ...?

Jen: It's good to see you too, Archaon.

[Archaon turns away from her.]

Archaon: Oh, I have lost it. I have completely lost it.

Jen: No you haven't.

[Archaon sits down, disables his omni-tool, points at Jen without looking at her and closes his eyes.]

Archaon: You're not real. You are not real. You are not real. [He puts his hands over his eyes.]

Jen: Of course I'm not real.

[Archaon lowers his hands and looks up at her.]

Archaon: I'm sorry?

Jen: I’m dead, remember? You got a funeral notice, but you never came… [She walks over and sits down opposite him.]

Archaon: Yeah, well, so what are you doin' here?

Jen: You're hallucinating.

Archaon: Oh, and how am I doing that, hmm?

''[Jen points at her right temple to indicate Archaon's head wound. Archaon touches his own wound.]''

Archaon: Oh, right. Is it that bad?

[Jen shrugs.]

Jen: The way I see it, you're scared. You're a little panicked, you're a lot lonely. You knew you could use some help, so your subconscious is manifesting the one person you know is smarter than you.

Archaon: Oh, I don't think so! [He stands up.]

Jen: Oh, don't start with me, Archaon!

Archaon: You are very clever -- I will even give you brilliant; but there is brilliant, and then there's Archaon Thrax. [He points to himself with both hands.]

Jen: Every time we've worked together, you've been wrong, and I've been right.

Archaon: [laughing indignantly] Even if that were true -- and no-one is saying that it is -- the fact that you could assert that I could ...--

Jen: [interrupting] Why else would I be here?

Archaon: I don't know! Maybe one final romp before I die.

Jen: [jumping up from her seat] One final romp?! Please, we never ...--

Archaon: [walking over to face her] OK, one first final romp then, but it's romping that comes to mind, not your brains, carrot top. Now, you've gotta admit -- I am a handsome man standing in ...--

Jen: [interrupting] You’re essentially arguing with yourself, you know that right? You’re mind is creating me.

[Archaon looks away, thinking.]

Archaon: [whispering] oh no…

Jen: What?

[Archaon backs away from her.]

Archaon: What else am I hallucinating?

Jen: What do you mean?

Archaon: Well, if you're not real, what is? I mean, how-how-how do I tell the difference? How do I know that any of these readings I've been taking are correct?

Jen: You're not that far gone.

Archaon: No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no. [He smiles.] I, I am unconscious in the Infirmary. I-I'm fine, and this is just a-a-a post-traumatic nightmare, hmm? So come on, [he pinches his arm] wake up, wake up, wake up. [He slaps himself around the face, then cries out in pain and puts his hand to his injured head.] Ooh! Ooh!

Jen: No, no, no -- see, you really are in the back of a sinking shuttle. Your readings are correct. You knew you could use some help, and you've got a pretty bad concussion, so ...

Archaon: [taking his hand away from his head and looking at Jen] So -- here you are.

[Jen smiles.]

Jen: Here I am.

Archaon: I suppose that's comforting ... [he walks closer to her] ... in a ... terrified-for-my-mental-health kind of way.

''[He gazes at her, still not sure what to believe. Jen meets his gaze for a moment, then looks away.]''

Jen: Why don't you show me what you've done so far?

Archaon: Huh, right. [He activates his omni-tool.]

''[The Aegina. Gwendolyn's office. Scott looks at the screen showing the search area, then turns around.]''

Greer: Three miles -- a very searchable area -- and you've narrowed it down, Merrick. You did a good job.

Bernn: He's too deep. The grapple's only got a thousand feet of cable.

Greer: Well, we know the shuttle should be able to dive at least a thousand, so if he's above two thousand, we should still be able to get him with the grapple.

Gwendolyn: And if he is deeper?

Merrick: He probably is. The area we're searching goes to six thousand.

Greer: During recon, we have the ability to turn the Aegina’s shield into an cloak, right?

Bernn: Yes.

Greer: Why can't we do the opposite?

Gwendolyn: [understands his plan] …Turn the Shuttle's cloak into a shield.

Greer: That's right.

Bernn: That would hold back the water, yes, but it would drain significantly more power.

Greer: We shut down everything we don't need.

Bernn: But it would take hours to reconfigure.

Greer: Take what we need, we'll make the changes down there.

[Radovan stares as he realizes what Scott is saying.]

Bernn: Oh! No-no-no-no-no-no -- I cannot possibly ... uh, no.

Gwendolyn: Radovan.

Bernn: [plaintively] I-I ... I can't even swim!

Merrick: There's not a lot of swimming involved under a thousand feet of ocean.

Gwendolyn: [to Radovan] Look, I'm not gonna order you to go.

Greer: I will!

[Gwen shoots him a look to shut him up, then turns back to Radovan.]

Gwendolyn: All I'm saying, since Iggins retired, Archaon has no one else to turn to but you, if he can't turn to you, who can he turn to?

''[She and Scott look at Radovan while he thinks about it for several seconds. Finally ...]''

Bernn: Right. Give me a few minutes and I'll get my gear.

Chapter Six
''[The Shuttle. Archaon and Jen are squatting side by side in a corner of the compartment while Archaon works on his omni-tool and Jen watches what he's doing. The shuttle creaks ominously. Both of them look up nervously, then look back at the omni-tool.]''

Archaon: Now -- given I have a limited amount of time to execute my plan before power levels drop too low, but provided that the, uh, uh, [he is having difficulty concentrating, though it's not clear whether it's because of Jen’s presence or because his concussion is getting worse] uh, coding is correct, we surface and at that point they should be able to pick up our regular radio signal and then come pick me up.

Jen: How much power would that kill?

Archaon: Uh, I dunno -- most of it?

Jen: Then it's a bad idea.

Archaon: Well, why?

Jen: Well, what if it doesn't work?

Archaon: Well, then ... then I'm dead!

Jen: Exactly. Bad plan. [She stands up.]

Archaon: [sarcastically, as he also stands] Oh, you're right. I should proceed with one of the other hundreds of possible options available to me.

Jen: Look, I'm not saying that I have a better idea ...

Archaon: Well, what do you want me to do? Nothing?

Jen: Yes.

Archaon: Oh, brilliant!

Jen: Stay warm, stay breathing, stay alive as long as you can -- give your team the biggest window of opportunity possible.

Archaon: Window of opportunity for what?

Jen: For rescuing you.

Archaon: Even if they could find me -- which, given underwater currents and multiple possible entry sites is next to impossible -- how are they gonna get me out of here, huh?

Jen: They'll find a way.

Archaon: No they won't! You and I both know the one person who can figure it all out is stuck in the back of a sinking shuttle!

Jen: [smug] Me.

Archaon: Oh, touché!

Jen: Look, I hear what you're saying and I'm telling you -- you're wrong. You have some young, smart and very motivated people in your team, and the only thing any of them are working on right now is rescuing you.

Archaon: [overly pessimistic] Oh, come on! They are planning my memorial service.

Jen: If your plan fails -- and it probably will -- you could jeopardize their plans.

[Archaon walks closer, glaring at her.]

Archaon: You gonna help me, or not?

Jen: I'll help you stay alive as long as possible, but no -- I'm not helping you with this plan.

Archaon: [disbelieving] So my own hallucination is saying no to me?!

Jen: You must realize subconsciously that you need to be talked out of this.

Archaon: I can't even hallucinate right today!

''[Rescue Shuttle. Scott and Radovan are flying over the ocean.]''

Greer: Alright -- we're above the search coordinates.

[Radovan comes forward and sits in the co-pilot's seat.]

Bernn: OK -- it should transition seamlessly.

Greer: Alright, then. [He looks at Radovan.] Here goes nothin'.

''[Radovan clings on to the console nervously as Scott sends the shuttle down towards the ocean. It settles on top of the water and then sinks.]''

Chapter Seven
''[The sinking shuttle. Archaon is kneeling on the floor with his omni-tool as he types onto it. Jen stands behind him, bending over and looking at what he's doing. She blows air through her teeth.]''

Jen: Oooh ... I, uh, I wouldn't…

[Archaon looks up at her.]

Archaon: You wouldn't what?

[Jen turns away.]

Jen: I forgot -- I'm not helping.

Archaon: No-no-no -- do you see something? [He stands.] Did I make a mistake? [Jen winces as he walks over to her.] Seriously -- if you, if you, if you saw something, just, just, tell me.

''[Jen doesn't reply. Archaon stares at her in shock.]''

Archaon: You're messing with me!

[Jen looks innocent.]

Jen: Sorry?

Archaon: You're trying to slow me down!

[Jen frowns.]

Jen: I don't know what you're talking about.

Archaon: Don't play mind games with me.

Jen: I am a mind game.

Archaon: [angrily] OK – if you're not gonna help me, just stay on your side of the shuttle!

''[He turns to walk away just as the shuttle shakes violently. Archaon is thrown to the floor, but Jen remains standing, unaffected by the shaking. From an external viewpoint, we see that the shuttle has finally reached the ocean floor. Inside, Archaon gets to his feet, shouting furiously at the shuttle.]''

Archaon: What now, huh?! [He calms down as he realizes what must have happened.]

Jen: Feels like we hit the bottom.

Archaon: [euphoric] Really? Well, this is good! Well, the chances of us imploding are much slimmer!

Jen: But, Archaon ...

Archaon: [Angrily] No-no-no-no-no-no, no buts, OK?! Can I not at least take a moment to enjoy the one stroke of good luck I've had all day, huh?

Jen: This isn't good.

Archaon: [Angrily] Look, just, just ... just shut up! I mean, you come in here, you don't help me, you say the one plan I've got is bad, you-you claim to be a creation of my mind and yet you are in no way dressed provocatively ...

''[He pauses as he stares at her cleavage. Jen looks down at it too, then looks up at him, shrugs and turns to the bulkhead doors.]''

Jen: Look.

''[She looks down. Archaon follows her gaze. There is water on the floor by the doors.]''

Archaon: Well, it's always been there.

Jen: No, it hasn't. The impact with the ocean floor must have created a micro-fissure in the hull.

[Archaon backs away.]

Archaon: We're taking on water…

''[Rescue Shuttle. As the shuttle heads downwards through the ocean, Scott tries the radio.]''

Greer: Aegina, this is Scott Greer, come in.

[Gwen’s voice comes over the radio, but it's very distorted.]

Gwendolyn: [via radio] We can barely hear you, Scott.

Greer: We're gonna lose you altogether when we get deeper, so now's a good time to wish us luck.

Gwendolyn: [via radio] Good luck, Scott.

Greer: We'll contact you as soon as we head back to the surface. Have the divers on shuttle three standing by.

Gwendolyn: [via radio] Will do. Gwen out.

[In the Aegina’s Control Room, Gwen nods to Merrick, who starts making preparations for the retrieval mission.]

[Back in the rescue shuttle, Scott glances round at Radovan, who is working on a console at the rear of the front compartment.]

Greer: What d'you think, Radovan?

[Radovan turns to look at him.]

Bernn: About what?

Greer: We're underwater! I've always wanted to try this.

Bernn: [nervously] Yes, yes, yes -- just ... make sure we're not under too much water!

Greer: I've leveled out and holding steady at, uh, nine hundred and ninety feet. How's it coming?

Bernn: All I'm getting is sporadic lifesign readings.

Greer: [concerned] As in ... sea monster lifesigns?

''[The shuttle groans under the pressure of the ocean outside. Radovan jumps and looks around nervously.]''

Greer: I'm gonna need those shields up and running.

Radovan: Yes, well then – [softly] stop talking, please.

Greer: No problem!

Chapter Eight
''[The sunken shuttle. Archaon is underwater, working on something at floor level by the bulkhead doors. He finishes what he is doing and surfaces, standing up and gasping for breath while he wipes the water from his eyes. The water level is just below his knees. He walks over to where Jen is standing at the rear of the ship and looking fed up. He is shivering with the cold.]''

Archaon: It's funny -- I was just actually ... I was just, you know, thinking what would complete this experience would be freezing cold sea water in the compartment, lots of it, and because now the whole imploding thing is kind of off the table, drowning should really be brought back into the equation.

Jen: You can fix this.

Archaon: There are micro-fractures all along the seam.

Jen: You still have fully functioning life support, right? [ She strolls through the water, unaffected by the cold.]

Archaon: Yes.

Jen: Then create a positive pressure environment.

Archaon: What? [He shivers, finding it difficult to concentrate.]

Jen: If you can increase the pressure inside the shuttle, you should be able to slow the leaking.

Archaon: Well, we'll never be able to stop it.

Jen: I'm not saying that we could -- we're just trying to buy time here.

Archaon: [overly pessimistic] In order to make death as long and as drawn-out as possible, huh?!

Jen: [annoyed] Just max it out, Thrax!

Archaon: [a little reluctantly] Alright.

[He activates his omni-tool as he sits down despite the fact that he's sitting in water and tries to operate the omni-tool with his wet cold hands.]

Jen: We should probably find a way to heat this water, too.

[Archaon looks up at her.]

Archaon: We make a good team, you and I.

[Jen looks down at him.]

Jen: [uncertainly] Sure…

Archaon: No, no, I mean it. I really enjoyed working with you. Always have. I wonder ... I wonder why we never hooked up.

Jen: You mean, aside from the fact that you're petty, arrogant and treat people badly?

Archaon: ... Yes. So?

Jen: Nope, that's pretty much it -- petty, arrogant, bad with people.

Archaon: Oh ... but ... [he stands and smiles hopefully at her] ... you do find me attractive, I mean physically.

[Jen narrows her eyes at him, then smiles and points to his omni-tool.]

Jen: Let's stick to working on my idea.

Archaon: You mean my idea.

Jen: How do you figure?

Archaon: Well, you don't exist. You think what my subconscious tells you to think! So, really the idea was mine. [Something dawns on him and he looks away from her, shocked.] Oh, wow! I'm arguing with myself about who had an idea first -- me or me. I really am petty, aren't I?

Jen: [nods] …And arrogant, and bad with people, yes.

Archaon: Oh. Well, here we go.

''[He types onto his omni-tool. Air whooshes into the compartment. Archaon holds his nose and blows down it to equalize the pressure in his ears. When the pressure eases off, he lets go, looks at the omni-tool and smiles.]''

Archaon: And the leaking has been slowed! Well done, Jenny!

Jen: Thanks! You too!

[Archaon disables his omni-tool and holds out his arms to her.]

Archaon: Come here!

''[He walks over and hugs her. Jen grimaces briefly, then pats him nervously on the back.]''

Jen: Uh! OK.

''[Archaon pulls back, but holds her at arm's length for a moment, then leans towards her to kiss her. Jen quickly turns her head so that the kiss lands on her cheek.]''

Jen: [grimacing] Oh! [Archaon keeps his lips pressed to her cheek.] You do realize what you're actually doing here, right?

[Archaon backs off angrily.]

Archaon: Ah, c'mon! [Jen cringes.] You're a figment of my imagination! The least you could do is take your top off! [He folds his arms sulkily.]

Jen: Your subconscious mind knows that I would never be into that.

[Archaon grimaces.]

Archaon: You're the worst hallucination ever!

Jen: Oh, you don't mean that!

Archaon: Yes, yes, I do. Now please just leave me alone while I work on getting myself out of this. [He turns to a panel above his head and activates his omni-tool again.]

Jen: [looking at the omni-tool] You're not gonna still try and control the shuttle from that little thing, are you?

Archaon: Yes, yes, I am! And I have to do it quickly before power levels drop below fifty percent. So, [he looks at his watch] that leaves me about ten minutes. If you're not gonna help, then please stand back and keep quiet.

Jen: See, this is why I could never have a relationship with you, Archaon. You don't listen to people -- you don't trust them.

Archaon: I have every reason not to. [He starts to get angry.] Look, this whole thing is Radovan’s fault. He was the one responsible for supervising the shuttle repairs! He was the one who said she was ready to fly! He's the one who came to me, embarrassed because he was afraid to fly at the best of times. God, I should have just told him to suck it up but no, no -- I said, "Sure, I'll take her out." And now, and now he's all safe and warm and cozy on the ship while I'm stuck down here paying for his mistakes! You'll excuse me if my trust in my fellow companions are at an all-time low. You want something done right, do it yourself. [He looks up at the panel, groans at the pain that the movement causes to his injured head, then continues working.]

''[Rescue shuttle. Radovan runs forward to the co-pilot's seat and sits down.]''

Bernn: I think we may be on to something. [He activates some controls.] Initializing shield.

[The shield shimmers around the shuttle.]

Greer: Nice work, Radovan! OK, let's take this thing a little deeper.

[He starts to activate his controls, but Radovan stops him.]

Bernn: Wait. Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait-wait. [He stands up and runs to his laptop further back in the shuttle.] I was afraid of this. The shield is draining our power at an alarmingly fast rate.

Greer: Why's that?

Bernn: Well, a cloak draws its power at a constant rate, whereas a shield draws more power the more it is taxed.

Greer: So, being under several atmospheres of pressure ...

Bernn: Yes. It's continuously draining power from our shield.

Greer: How much time do we have?

Bernn: Once we're deeper? [rapidly does some calculations] thirty minutes, tops.

Greer: Alright. Descending through one thousand.

Chapter Nine
''[The sunken shuttle. The water is now up to Archaon's thighs. He blows on his fingers to try to warm them, then works on a control panel. Jen swims casually across to him.]''

Jen: Why didn't you turn up the heat?

Archaon: I did. It's the sea water. Got barely enough power as it is. Besides, I'm almost done here ... what are you doing?

[Jen has stood up beside him and slipped her hand under his arm to rest it on his chest.]

Jen: For warmth.

[As Archaon turns towards her, she slides her hand across his chest.]

Archaon: You're-you're not physically here. You can't transfer any heat.

[Jen smiles.]

Jen: Doesn't mean I can't get you hot.

[She sinks down into the water and sculls herself backwards as Archaon stares at her in disbelief.]

Archaon: Excuse me?!

''[Jen sinks all the way down into the water for a moment then rises up out of it, wearing only a marine blue bikini top and bottoms. She slicks her wet hair back provocatively, walks towards Archaon, puts her arms around his waist and kisses him.]''

Jen: Y'know, I was thinking about what you said. I think you were right.

Archaon: Uh, I am! [shakes his head] About what?

Jen: Well, I am your fantasy. It's only fair you should get some.

''[She kisses him again. Archaon moans appreciatively.]''

Archaon: Really?

Jen: Yeah.

[They kiss again.]

Archaon: [triumphantly] I knew it! I knew you were hot for me!

[He wraps his arms around her and they kiss passionately for a few seconds, then Archaon's eyes open and he pulls back.]

Archaon: Wait a second.

Jen: Don't ruin the moment.

Archaon: No. I know what you're trying to do. [He starts to back away from her.]

Jen: Well, I should hope so!

Archaon: You're trying to slow me down again.

Jen: Actually, I'm trying to do the opposite. [She moves towards him as Archaon continues to back away.]

Archaon: No. No. You're distracting me. You know I've only got a couple of minutes to execute my plan and you're doing the one thing you know that could possibly slow me down!

Jen: You're thinking too much. Come here.

[She leans towards him to kiss him again, but Archaon shoves her back.]

Archaon: No. No, I'm not gonna fall for your plan, you little… Siren! [He looks at her for a moment, groans in frustration and then turns back to his omni-tool.] OK, this program is gonna work, and I am gonna execute it.

''[Jen swims back to Archaon. She's wearing her normal attire again.]''

Jen: Don't do it, Archaon. It's not gonna work.

Archaon: Oh, yeah?

Jen: Look, you're cold, you're desperate, you banged your head, you're prime to make a mistake.

Archaon: [not looking at her as he continues to work] I should have ignored you from the beginning. You've done nothing but slow me down.

Jen: They're coming for you. They're gonna get you out of here.

[Archaon starts singing to himself.]

Archaon: La-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Jen: Please, give them a chance!

Archaon: Not listening!

Jen: Don't!

Archaon: I'm there! It's ready! [He smiles and turns to Jen.] No time to argue.

Jen: It's a mistake.

Archaon: I trust you'll be gone by the time I, uh, [he points upwards] reach the surface, huh?

''[He presses a button on his omni-tool. The lights come on in the compartment and the engines can be heard powering up. Archaon laughs delightedly. Outside, we see the engine pods flicker and glow as they come to life. The shuttle lifts fractionally off the ocean floor. Inside, the lights flicker and the engine pods groan as they power down again. The lights go out. Jen raises a finger and opens her mouth, but Archaon raises his own finger to stop her.]''

Archaon: Don't ... speak right now. I-I really don't need "I told you so," so ... [He trails off.]

Jen: How much power did you waste?

[Archaon looks at his omni-tool.]

Archaon: Twenty minutes.

Jen: OK. That's not so bad.

Archaon: No. No. We've got twenty minutes ‘til we're completely out of power. Twenty minutes ‘til I'm dead.

''[Rescue shuttle. As the shuttle continues to descend, Radovan starts whispering in Czech as he looks at his laptop.]''

Bernn: To si děláš srandu! Co to sakra je, že obrovská ryba?!

Greer: I think my Czech's getting better, 'cause I know what you mean.

Bernn: Could be the shields, could be the depth -- I'm having trouble detecting the shuttle. Only ... [He trails off.]

Greer: Only what?

[Turns to face Scott.]

Bernn: Could you bring up the H.U.D. please?

[Scott brings up the heads-up display on the windshield and stares at the sight of a blip moving around on it.]

Greer: What's that?

Bernn: Your sea monster. It's at least six to eight times the size of this shuttle, so let's not venture too closely, OK?

Greer: How're the shields doing?

[Radovan checks his laptop.]

Bernn: Twelve minutes.

Greer: Alright. Let's check it out.

[Radovan stares at him plaintively.]

Bernn: Why?

Greer: Because it's swimming around in circles in the same area, which means it might have found something interesting.

Chapter Ten
''[The sunken shuttle. Archaon is up to his neck in water. He's freezing cold and barely conscious. Outside, the sea monster groans.]''

Archaon: What? What do you want from me? Just, just, just, go away! [Jen moves closer to him, looking up nervously.] I think he's ... I think he's just waiting to eat me. ''[The creature groans again. Archaon stares at the cockpit doors.]'' I treated him pretty bad.

Jen: [confused] The whale?

Archaon: No, Steven. I changed the subject. You of all people should be able to keep up.

Jen: Sorry.

Archaon: He knew we were both gonna die, and he didn't do anything, so ... he … Why didn’t I think of it first? … Maybe I did… I thought of it – I just… couldn’t ... He was a brave man ... and I ... It just doesn't seem right, you know?

[Jen nods.]

Archaon: … Been a bad day.

Jen: You're gonna get out of this.

Archaon: I don't think I would even believe that if you were naked. ''[He closes his eyes for a moment, then cracks one eye open and squints at Jen hopefully. She looks back at him, then smiles and turns her head away. Archaon closes his eyes again.]'' Oh well. Was worth a shot… [He shivers and starts to sink into the water as he begins to lose consciousness.]

Jen: Stick with me, Archaon. [Archaon jerks awake.] You've gotta stay alert.

Archaon: My plan was stupid. What was I thinking?

Jen: Twenty/twenty hindsight.

Archaon: You were right. Shoulda listened to you.

[There's a strange bubbling sound from outside the shuttle, probably the sea monster breathing out air, but Archaon doesn't notice it.]

Archaon: Always admired you, Jen. No, no, I'm not just trying to ...

Jen: I know.

Archaon: I honestly don't think you're smarter than I am. [Jen frowns.] On your best day, we're, like, maybe equals?

Jen: There is a compliment coming, right?

Archaon: Yes. My intelligence aside, you're wiser. I guess at the end of the day that's, that's why you're down here. You were right.

Jen: Well, you were right, at least subconsciously.

Archaon: Huh. I guess that's something.

''[Rescue shuttle. Radovan leaps from his seat and runs to the front of the ship.]''

Bernn: Shuttle. I have the shuttle. The animal's circling around it.

[Scott activates the comms.]

Greer: Shuttle Two, this is Greer, come in.

Bernn: According to these readings, it's dead. There's no power.

Greer: Alright, let's get a grapple on this thing and go home.

[Radovan looks at the console.]

Bernn: No, it won't work.

Greer: Why's that?

Bernn: It's taken on too much water. Sensors indicate even the rear compartment is partially filled. The cable can't take the strain.

Greer: We have to try!

Bernn: No, listen to me. No. It's a matter of simple physics.

Greer: I'm not coming this far without doing something!

[Radovan thinks for a moment, then is struck by inspiration.]

Bernn: The shield. We can extend the shield between the two shuttles. [He jumps up and runs back to his laptop.]

Greer: Do we have enough power?

Bernn: Yes. If-if we touch down on the ocean floor to conserve engine power, it should be just a matter of walking between the two shuttle.

Greer: Alright. I'll get us close.

[The rescue shuttle touches down with its rear facing the rear of shuttle two and the shield begins to extend outwards.]

Epilogue
[The sunken shuttle, Archaon pulls himself up in the water as he hears the shield expand.]

Archaon: What the hell was that?

[Jen smiles.]

Jen: Help.

Greer: [over radio] Doctor Thrax. Steven. D'you copy?

[Archaon activates his headset.]

Archaon: Greer!?

Greer: [over radio] Hey, buddy! What say you lower your door?

Archaon: That's-that's probably a bad idea.

Greer: [over radio] Listen. Long story short, we've converted the cloak into a shield and extended it around your shuttle. I'm standing outside right now. [To prove it, he bangs on the door.]

Archaon: What?!

Greer: [over radio] All you have to do is open your door and walk to my shuttle.

[Jen smiles.]

Jen: I told you they'd come up with something.

''[Archaon makes his way through the water to the release mechanism for the rear door. He reaches up, his hands shaking with the cold, and pulls down the hatch over the mechanism, but, instead of pulling the handle inside, he hesitates and turns to Jen.]''

Jen: What?

Archaon: What if it's not Scott?

Jen: What do you mean?

Archaon: What if it's another one of my hallucinations? What if it's, it's the pessimist in me just wants it all over with?

Jen: You heard the shield come on.

Archaon: Yeah, but I hear you!

Greer: [over radio] Archaon? What's the hold-up? We need to do this sooner rather than later. This shield ain't gonna hold forever.

Jen: You're minutes away from hypothermia.

Archaon: I can't tell what's real and what's not!

Jen: Archaon -- they're here. They did it. Let them help you.

[Archaon stares at her for a moment, then nods.]

Archaon: OK. [He turns to the release mechanism, then speaks into his headset.] Better stand back -- we've taken on a lot of water. ''[His hands shaking, he reaches up and pulls down the release mechanism. Jen looks around to the door, but it doesn't open. Archaon stares in horror.]'' No!... No!!

Jen: [turning to look at Archaon again] Quick! Secondary release.

''[Archaon looks at her for a moment, then takes a deep breath and dives down into the water. Jen takes a deep breath and follows him down. Archaon swims across to a panel under one of the benches, tugs the cover off and pulls a handle inside. The rear door can be heard opening and the water starts to flood out. As the last of it pours out of the door, Archaon lies on the floor gasping for breath and coughing. Radovan and Scott run inside. There is, of course, no sign of Jen McKenzie.]''

Bernn: Archaon, are you alright?

Archaon: I will be.

[Radovan and Scott crouch down to him.]

Greer: Where's Steven?

Archaon: [pointing towards the front compartment] He was in there.

[The other two stare at the closed bulkhead doors in shock for a moment.]

Greer: Alright, let's get you home. [He and Radovan start to pull Archaon to his feet, each wrapping one of his arms around their shoulders.]

Archaon: No, I need to decompress first. Jenny told me to increase the pressure.

Bernn: Jenny?

Archaon: I mean I did, I did. I told myself. [He grimaces in pain as the other two start to drag him out of the shuttle.] Oh, my head!

''[As the three of them leave the shuttle, the sea monster wails. They look up and see the creature -- an enormous beast similar to a humpback whale, but with different features -- swimming over the top of the shield.]''

Archaon: Oh -- hey, pal. Sorry you don't get to eat me today.

Greer: He's the reason we found you.

Archaon: Really?

[They enter the rescue shuttle and help Archaon to sit down on the bench.]

Greer: Almost thought we lost you.

Archaon: I knew you'd think of something … I mean, subconsciously, at least.

''[Scott and Radovan leave him sitting there and run to the front of the shuttle. Archaon stands up, walks to the rear of the shuttle and looks out of the doorway. Jen is standing in the doorway of the sunken shuttle. She smiles and raises her hand to him in farewell. Archaon gazes at her until the door of the rescue shuttle closes, smiling back at her appreciatively.]''

Behind the Scenes

 * Jen McKenzie is a creation of Dantanius.


 * Nisus is a very rare English noun that means; "An effortful attempt to attain a goal,".