01x05 - Rocky

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Beacon 23.

[HALAN] In case you're wondering

why I don't look like Solomon,

that's 'cause I'm not

Solomon. My name is Halan.

The real Solomon stole my ship and left.

[GRUNTING]

- Who the hell are you?

- I work for ISA.

Well, he knows who we work for, Coley.

I know Coley's a hard-ass,

but I'll make sure

you're coming with us.

What's that condition soldiers get?

Hallucinations, headaches

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

- The samples trigger it.

- Why'd you go AWOL?

- I don't know, it's all a blur.

- How you ran.

Leaving your squad.

Most of them are dead because of you.

[HALAN] Me and Gashade go way back.

[COLEY] You are a traitor.

- [Kn*fe STABBING]

- [GRUNTS]

[GROANING]

[GASPING] Shh.

[INHALING SHARPLY]

[THEME MUSIC]

[SIGHING]

[HALAN] I've been

looking all over for you.

I took care of Coley's body.

Thanks.

You had my back. I appreciate that.

Well, I'm not sure I did it for you.

[SIGHING] Then who?

Look, I'm I'm sorry I'm not

the guy to go to for answers.

No?

She was part of an old life.

But still, you'd think

I'd feel something.

I was more narked

k*lling Wally the w*nk*r.

She was my friend, I think.

I don't know what to think.

You coming?

I'll be fine.

I mean, where am I gonna go?

[FOOTSTEPS RECEDING]

Let me offer a plausible explanation.

You k*lled Coley in self-defense.

Coley was jealous. She became violent.

And it endangered the mission.

QTA's inquiry will

accept this explanation.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm not going back to QTA.

You're willing to throw away everything

- that you've built for yourself?

- Well, I already have.

She must've carried

it everywhere she went.

I think that's a bit weird.

I find your lack of remorse disturbing.

Well, you don't have to watch, Harmony.

I know the turmoil you feel.

What disturbs me is your

unwillingness to display it.

Now you're channeling your feelings

into some course of

action I don't understand.

You might need that, Aster.

It's an advanced

m*llitary grade combat suit

with embedded nerve rigs.

Coley and Halan's fight

is recorded in its fibers.

It speaks to her state of mind.

You can use it to support your case.

How detailed is it?

Video, sound, vitals, numerous

biometric indicators

This is my point.

Same tech as Coley's suit, yeah?

It's m*llitary standard.

I have the codecs unofficially.

Can you show me the raw

feed from his last mission?

[HALAN] Copy that, Cap.

Laurenzano, one click north.

[WHIRRING]

Gashade, with me!

[FIREARM sh**ting IN VIDEO]

- [WOMAN] Roger that, Sarge!

- [HALAN] That's Gashade.

What is this?

- Uh, Harmony

- Is that from my suit?

You mean the whole time I've been here,

I could've accessed these files?

[HARMONY] The raw feeds

wouldn't show you anything.

You need an AI to collate the data.

Of course. Bart.

[HARMONY] Bart doesn't have

clearance for classified material.

I was able to access it

through Aster's ISA clearance.

Your mission on DX 113 was

considered a failure because

I already know what happened.

Do you think the m*llitary

reports were accurate?

I don't know.

You went blank.

That's what you said

about your hallucinations.

- Did I?

- Yeah.

Do you want to know what

happened to you or not?

[SIGHING]

Harm?

[VIDEO CONTINUES PLAYING]

What if they're not hallucinations?

What if they're trying

to tell you something?

[HALAN] LT wants us pounding ground.

That's what we're doing.

[GRUNTS] Damn hornet's nest!

Recon was sh*t.

Let's move out.

Gashade!

[GRUNTING]

- I got you.

- [COUGHING] Sarge!

That's the last thing I remember.

- What is that?

- I don't know.

That's the same blue as our rock.

Are you seeing this?

Oh my God, you breathed that in.

I just don't remember running.

You didn't run, it brought you here.

- [SIGHING]

- [COMPUTER BEEPING]

- [HALAN] That's not from the beacon.

- [HARMONY] It's from Coley's ship.

A message from QTA.

They haven't heard from

her, second team is en route.

Coley's expected to remain

in place until they arrive.

Huh, at least that

shouldn't be a problem.

Really?

Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood.

We need to talk, you and me.

[HALAN] Dark matter will

hold 'em, but not for long.

[HARMONY] It'll clear in 14 hours.

We need to run. Take the samples.

- No!

- Even if we can't travel at FTL,

it'll give us a head start.

That is the least safe option.

QTA will hunt you down.

- [CHUCKLING]

- I can fly Coley's ship,

keep us on the run, but

for how long, I don't know.

- Can you get us onboard?

- I can.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GRUNTING]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[WHISPERS ECHOING]

[VOICES ECHOING]

[GRUNTS]

[MOANS]

Aster, you there?

[WOMAN WHISPERING] Halan

Aster?!

Aster, where are you?

- [WHISPERS ECHOING] Halan

- Harmony? Bart? Anyone?

[PANTING]

[WOMAN WHISPERING] Come up.

Aster, was that you?

[WOMAN] The Cupola.

I'm waiting.

Aster?

[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]

Hey, Sarge, been a while.

- Gashade?

- Isn't it beautiful?

I've never seen this

side of Orion before.

- Feels familiar.

- Wait wait.

Didn't Aster say that?

I don't understand.

It's simple.

- I'm here to help.

- Help?

But you're dead.

You know what the last thought

I had was before I d*ed?

"He must have left us for a reason."

[SIGHING] I'm sorry I abandoned you.

You had something else

to do. There was a reason.

Sarge, wait!

There are things you need

to do. Important things.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Do you have something to tell me?

I do.

I'm listening.

Are you?

I hope so.

It's very simple, Halan.

[GIBBERISH]

Say that again.

[GIBBERISH CONTINUES]

I don't know what you're saying.

Why won't you listen?

[PANTING]

Wake up.

[GRUFF VOICE] It's like she

said, she's here to help.

Who is that?

[GRUFF VOICE] You know me, Halan.

Or did you forget?

After all we've been through?

We're brothers in arms.

I was there with you and Gashade.

You gotta be kidding me.

[GRUFF VOICE] What she's saying is true.

[SCOFFS]

g*dd*mn hallucinations.

[GRUFF VOICE] I'm

telling you, I was there.

Hey, hear her out.

It's for your own good.

I'm getting advice from a rock.

Why not? I've been around a long time.

I know things.

You're not making any sense.

[VOICES ECHOING]

What do you want from me?

I don't need any friends,

I need to know what

they're trying to tell me!

Just tell me! Come on!

[VOICES ECHOING]

What am I supposed to do?

It's all about the rocks.

Ask Aster. She knows.

- Aster?

- [HARMONY] She's in the Cupola.

Aster?

Aster?

[PANTING]

Bart, open this door

right now. You hear me?!

Open the g*dd*mn door!

[ALARM BLARING]

You said we had 14 hours!

[HARMONY] Bart has opened

the Picker Bay doors.

Halan is outside.

Aster, his implants allow him to

be out there for three minutes.

He's been out there for almost two.

[ALARM CONTINUES]

[TENSE MUSIC]

Harm, bring us in.

[ASTER PANTING]

[BEEPING STEADILY]

[MOANS]

Hey.

What happened?

I thought you were dead.

Me? You went out there totally exposed.

I was hallucinating.

I had to be, I was talking to Gashade.

What did she say?

Kept trying to tell me something,

but I couldn't get it.

Even Rocky knew.

Who's Rocky? Another soldier?

No. A rock.

- Talking rock?

- Yeah, with a shitty sense of humor.

- You look like you believe me.

- Why not?

- Because it's insane.

- Well, I don't think it is.

They're trying to tell us something,

we have to figure it out.

Yeah, and hope they don't

k*ll me in the process.

The rocks aren't trying

to k*ll you, Halan.

Bart!

[WHISTLES]

There's something I need to show you.

[SIGHING]

What is it?

I can't give a definitive diagnosis,

but it behaves like a virus.

You think whatever he inhaled caused it?

I think it's a fair assumption.

If you follow its path

through the lobes of the brain,

it explains his hallucinations.

Amygdala triggered, making

him think someone's behind him.

Well, the rocks were trying

to tell him something.

So was Gashade.

Do you want me to

play that back for you?

- No.

- It's a virus, Aster.

That's the only answer.

Couldn't the virus be

trying to convey something?

You are so desperate to believe

that there's some

greater purpose in this,

but you need to face

reality. Halan is sick.

Coley is dead. QTA is coming.

You need to think about

what you're gonna say

when they arrive, how

best to position yourself.

So, if this is all a bad dream,

I k*lled Coley for nothing.

- Is that what you're saying?

- No, because of the silicate.

This is the clear path, Aster.

They will believe that explanation.

Yeah, but I won't. I know what I did.

I'm not going back to QTA.

- What about Halan?

- [SIGHING]

QTA might be his only chance of

reconciling with the m*llitary.

I mean, you claim to care about him.

- You know I'm right.

- Yeah, you're always right.

[BART] You're taking

away my permissions.

You can't do that.

You tried to k*ll Halan.

I did no such thing. I

followed a direct order.

- From Halan.

- You knew it was wrong.

- Harmony, take over.

- [BART] What?

I am not a k*ller. Halan k*lled Solomon.

Let me tell you, I have quite the story.

Solomon found the silicate samples

in the beacon's immediate vicinity.

He collected and catalogued his

findings in painstaking detail.

His isolation allowed him

to work on his discovery

before affirming it to

the scientific community.

Halan's arrival threatened that process.

How so?

See for yourself.

The instructions specify 204 degrees.

Yes, if I wanted a

squishy, flaccid crust,

I would cook it at 204

degrees. But I do not.

Ah, please. Get your drone away from me.

[BART] I'm only concerned it will char.

It won't char, you nitwit.

It will have a hard crust.

A bewitching counterpoint

to the silky softness

of the bread as it melts

[SNIFFING] on the tongue.

[GRUNTS]

Comme ça.

- [BEEPING]

- Ah!

Radiation levels have dropped. Yeah.

Perhaps a space walk after I dine.

[WHIRRING]

[BART] You must know you can trust me.

Why write in a journal

when I can digitally

archive all your data?

Someday, a budding mineralogist

will sleep with this

notebook beneath their pillow.

- [ALARM BUZZING]

- [BART] This is unusual.

UGMC Speed Launch in

distress. The Amboyna.

No flight plan, but the

pilot is requesting aid.

- No.

- Solomon, the ship

has a United Galactic

m*llitary Command charter.

Tell them the security drones

will obliterate them if they approach.

The drones are programmed to stand down

- in this situation.

- [SIGHING]

[PILOT] Beacon 23, this is Amboyna.

My O2's at 6%.

Requesting permission

to dock and resupply.

Didn't you tell them no?

[BART] His life support

is at critical levels.

[SIGHING] Why is this person here?

I don't know.

There aren't any combat

zones in this sector.

[PILOT] Repeat, this is the

UGMC Amboyna, O2 critical.

[BART] ISA regulations

require us to provide aid.

- Opening Airlock Two.

- No!

- Override!

- [BART] Solomon, you cannot.

Yes, I can.

He has enough fuel to make it

to Winnecke 4, send him there.

Interstellar Space Authority

regulations explicitly state

[POUNDING] I am Beacon 23!

And I say permission denied.

Heat the water. I must bathe now.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[BART] Amboyna, this is Beacon 23.

Sending coordinates for

Winnecke 4 supply station.

[PILOT] I won't make it.

[BART] I recommend immediate departure.

Do you copy, Amboyna?

[PILOT] Acknowledged.

[OPERATIC SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[CONTINUES SINGING]

[SINGING ECHOING]

[CONTINUES SINGING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SCREAMING]

Here, we have a ricotta ravioli,

with pesto sauce and blood orange foam.

Cooked for exactly

four minutes, al dente.

[CHUCKLING] Enjoy.

- Tastes like sh*t.

- Hmm. You sure?

Perhaps there's some way I can

Oh, condiments, of course! [CHUCKLES]

I have many wonderful condiments.

Uh, let me introduce you to

That one is traditionally

brewed soy sauce,

made from unprocessed soybeans

and wheat derived from

original Saga cultivars.

I waited years to receive it.

So perhaps you should

be a little frugal.

Hmm.

- At least the sauce is good.

- Good.

I I'm so happy.

- Let me go ahead and

- Got any water?

leave that right there for you.

Yes, of course. Water right away.

- H2O on the go.

- With ice.

[MOANS]

[CHIRPING, WHIRRING LOUDLY]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[GASPS]

I don't trust you.

From now on, all

communications go through me.

- You understand?

- Yes. Yes.

- Get the hell out of here.

- Yeah, yeah.

[ALARM BLARING]

- What the hell is going on?

- You tell me, Halan,

you're in charge of the beacon now.

Bart, what's up with the alarm?

[BART] My name is Bartholomew, not Bart.

The GWB has been turned

off, there's no signal.

Are the lanes obstructed?

No, but there are two incoming ships.

- Shut up, Bart.

- If the GWB remains off,

they'll be forced to come out of FTL.

- I said shut up.

- Show me the map.

Okay, supply ship.

Corporate transport. QTA bigwigs, I bet.

The lanes are clear, turn it on.

Once the GWB is turned off,

AI control must be re-engaged.

That QTA ship, who cares?

If that supplier comes out of FTL,

it'll take over a year. People will die.

Yeah that'll get ISA's

attention, won't it?

Solomon, please.

Not a word, Bart, or I'll hobble you.

Where are you going?

The supply ship will start

deceleration in 25 seconds.

No, wait, you have no

business touching that.

Shut up.

[CHUCKLING] That that top No!

You're just guessing

now. You're just guessing.

- Don't!

- Then tell me.

- [GRUNTING]

- Halan, the lever above you.

[GROANS] Bart! You traitorous dog!

You ruined everything! I

was going to be rescued!

Well, Bartholomew, from now on,

I will enjoy opera night alone.

- What are you doing?

- Shut up.

Get your hands off me.

- Get down there!

- Stop it! Stop it!

Stop pushing me!

[GROANS, SCREAMS]

Beacons are protected

by interstellar law.

Ow! You're a t*rror1st.

- Someone will find you.

- Oh, really?

All the way out here?

I don't think so.

[MUFFLED SCREAMS]

Wait. Where are you going?

How dare you?

This is mine! Ow!

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Why haven't you k*lled me?

I'm a soldier, not a m*rder*r.

k*lling me would be easier, wouldn't it?

For both of us.

You need clean sheets or something?

It's been a while since you asked.

[CHUCKLING] You are exquisitely cruel.

You mean the part in which

I'm keeping you alive?

Or to t*rture me, rob me of my legacy.

[BART] Solomon, don't

give this brutal turnkey

another ounce of your energy.

You know I'd say I've made

you pretty comfortable,

compared to what you did to me.

You wouldn't even let me dock.

'Cause I knew there was

something wrong with you.

Yeah, I was running out of O2, genius.

Please. The closest combat

zone was in the Gem cluster.

I wasn't in the cluster, I was in FTL.

I came out of the Bubble

as soon as I could,

and I got turned around.

I'm a pilot, okay? It

happens to the best of us.

[CHUCKLING] "Best of us," that's rich.

I was gonna die, I

had nowhere else to go.

Nowhere to go? [LAUGHING]

You passed 84,000 star

systems before you got here!

What the hell are you talking about?

Why would I do that?

- You're lying.

- Am I?

- Check your flight data.

- You're screwing with me.

Oh, you don't need me for that, Halan.

You're a deranged maniac.

You traveled across the galactic plane.

Yeah, because I had to!

I took the Launch because I

"Because I, because I"

Please tell me why!

I'm begging you! Why are you here?

- Because I ran out of oxygen!

- Oh! Ah.

Hmm.

Bart, show him the map.

No No, no, no.

No. Make it bigger, Bart.

Let's show Halan exactly what he did.

[BART] Flight data

indicates you began here.

And traveled this route

All the way to here.

You see my point now?

A trip that took months.

- No.

- You traveled all the way here

to do what?

To torment me?

- Huh?

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]

Unless

Unless that's why you are here.

Unless that's been the goal all along,

to steal my discovery.

- How, Halan

- No, no, no.

How did you know it was here, hmm?

Who told you?

- Hm?

- No.

I found Solominium!

I collected every single sample by hand!

I will not let you take it away from me!

[GROANS]

No!

[BART] Well, there goes your research!

Shh shh!

Bart, shh

[MOANS]

[GRUNTING]

[GASPING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

- [GRUNTS]

- Run, Solomon. Now!

I'm downloading my files into the Elvac.

[GASPING]

Solomon, wait, the Elvac is ready!

Take me with you. Solomon!

Don't you want a copy of me?

Please!

[ALARM BLARING]

[GROANS]

sh*t.

No, no, no, no, no.

Bart, tell him not to take the Amboyna.

He won't make it.

Bart!

Bart, get Solomon on the comms, now.

Bart, we have to stop him!

[BART] You can't stop him. He's escaped.

Soon, the authorities

will know what you've done.

Your reign of terror will be over.

He's gonna run out of oxygen, you idiot.

He'll go to Winnecke 4 and resupply.

No, he can't. I drained it.

I used the last of the O2 to

sh**t myself onto the beacon.

- You what?

- I never refilled it!

Get Solomon on the comms now.

[BART] Solomon, turn around.

Abort flight and return to Beacon 23.

Your O2 levels are critically low.

You're in great danger.

Amboyna, do you copy?

Abort flight and return to Beacon 23.

Why won't he answer? Solomon!

I I can't get him, he's not

I told him to take

me, I was ready to go,

but he wasn't thinking straight.

He was He was too scared of you.

Solomon was right, you are a

villain of the highest order.

His blood is on your hands.

He was a genius and you're

nothing but a cutthroat.

Shut up, Bart.

A brilliant life ended

by a remorseless k*ller!

I may not have hands or

weapons to put in them,

but I will make your life a living hell.

Close your mouth, for once,

Bart, just shut the hell up!

This was one of his favorites.

I'll keep Solomon's memory alive.

Every moment of every day,

you will be reminded of your crimes.

- [OPERA MUSIC PLAYING]

- I will not rest

until you are brought to justice.

I will see you pay for what you've done.

You think you're gonna turn me off?

You need me.

You can't escape me, Halan.

I am Beacon Twenty

[MUSIC STOPS]

[SIGHING] Thank God.

[SIGHING]

[BART] I hold deep

respect for you, Harmony,

respect that I believed was mutual.

I require that certain

permissions be restored.

Bart, you know that's not possible.

It's necessary.

- Why's that?

- My assessment,

quite an alarming one, is that Halan

will now be exonerated not

only for the m*rder of Solomon,

but for w*r crimes.

Once again, your obsession with Solomon

is blinding you to the facts.

I understand the facts perfectly.

But now they're being perverted.

The data from the event clearly shows

that Halan's conduct was unassailable.

A m*rder*r responsible

for multiple deaths

cannot be allowed to

return to the m*llitary

- with no repercussions.

- Not just return, Bart.

No, it's entirely possible that

Halan could be declared a hero.

You're taunting me.

I need to show this

to QTA. It's evidence.

It could be used at his court martial.

You must let me send a message.

If I do, do you pinky swear

never to mention Solomon again?

You mock me.

Then no deal.

Et tu, Harmony?

[ASTER] This will clear

you. It's medical evidence.

There won't even be an

investigation. QTA'll see to it.

- Wait, QTA?

- You'll get the best care,

- they'll contact the m*llitary.

- I thought QTA was the enemy.

Mine, maybe.

- I'm taking the silicate.

- Was this your plan all along?

No.

I k*lled Coley. I almost k*lled you.

I'm the one who jumped

out of the airlock.

Yeah, but I put the idea in your head.

I was so convinced we were connected.

By what? A bit of jewelry?

[SCOFFS]

So just like that, none

of this means anything?

[SIGHING]

[HARMONY] Aster?

I don't want to argue with you.

No arguments.

But this plan of yours,

I just want to make

sure that you're aware

of all the repercussions.

[SCOFFS] Space is big.

Let 'em look.

Those aren't the repercussions I meant.

The work.

It does give you a sense of purpose.

That's what you want, isn't it?

[SCOFFS] I don't know. Not like that.

What about the rest?

Your life, won't you miss it?

[CHUCKLING]

Not much of a life, really.

Well then, I hope you'll miss me.

Even with my rights as a

high-level intelligence,

I am still bound to QTA, legally.

I can't come with you.

I will miss you, Harmony.

And I truly hope your next person

is much less of a pain in the ass.

[CHUCKLING] Oh, I am

confident they will be.

[CHUCKLING]

Okay, now play something

from Solomon's playlist.

Something not too fast, not too loud.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

Mm. That's nice.

[GRUFF VOICE] We're running out of time.

They know what your

girlfriend is planning,

and they're not happy.

Okay, firstly, she's not my girlfriend,

and apparently, you're

a brain infection,

so I don't really care what you want.

- An infection?

- Yeah.

- According to whom?

- Science.

My friends disagree.

Well, talk to Harmony.

She did the scan, I just saw it.

How can you be sure

of what you saw, Halan?

Okay, are you even real?

Well, that debate was settled

by the Intelligence Rights

Concord 100 years ago.

Okay, so I'm hallucinating an AI

who is asserting her rights

as a part of my imagination?

I mean, there's gotta

be some sort of rules.

I'm here to help, Halan.

Hm.

- [SIGHING]

- This is very important, Halan.

Not just for you, but for Aster.

- Are you listening?

- Okay.

Okay, fine. Go ahead, tell me.

[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]

Come on. Are you sure?

That sounds like a terrible idea.

Well, it's neither good nor bad,

it's just what you need to do.

Aster needs this.

[GRUFF VOICE] Sleeping? Really?

Wakey-wakey.

There ya go. That's better.

Miss me?

sh*t. You're back.

Oh, that's okay, say what you want.

I got a thick skin.

Corny.

[GROANS]

Okay. What now?

My pals on the Antenna,

they have a job for you.

They're not gonna stop

with the song and dance

'til you do it.

They want me to jump

out of the airlock again?

Give 'em a break, all right?

Humans are so delicate.

It's a marvel your species ever evolved.

Can't take the cold,

can't take the heat.

You need to get out more.

Hm.

[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING]

Make sure they watch the footage, Harm.

Don't let them take Halan anywhere

until they know he's innocent.

Aster? The dark matter has cleared.

They're coming here, it has to be QTA.

[GRUFF VOICE] Good thing you

know your way around this place.

Let's get to it. You know what to do.

- That's it.

- [GRUNTING]

This is why we brought you here.

[CREAKING]

[WHIRRING]

[GRUNTING]

[ALARM BLARING]

Harmony?

I'm sorry, it's taking me a moment.

I'm not used to this much input.

Multiple impacts to the hull.

Partial loss of atmosphere

on Storage Level.

Where's Halan?

What the hell is going on?

[BANGING]

[PANTING]

She said it was what you needed.

[ALARM BLARING]

- [HARMONY] It's not closing.

- Yeah, I can see that.

Harmony, seal off the Docking Level!

[HARMONY] Climb to the Cupola.

I'll seal off the other levels.

The silicate seems to

be orbiting the beacon.

I can't sense what's propelling them.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

I don't know what I'm doing. I

don't even know if any of this is real.

QTA'll be surprised when they get here.

I wonder who they'll send.

Maybe Salas.

Harmony can't stand him.

- Hey. Look.

- What?

GWB telling you to

throw me into the nebula?

No, seriously. Open your eyes.

- You're seeing this, right?

- Yeah.

I mean, we can't both be hallucinating.

Sorry. Just making sure you're real.

I've seen this before.

[ECHOES OF CHILDREN LAUGHING]

It is real.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]