Edge Of Eternity: Exodus to Mars Page #2

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

The unidentified craft continues its approach. The tension on the bridge is palpable. Nora grips the controls, her voice firm.

NORA:

Full thrust! Keep us ahead of it!

The ship lurches forward. The crew braces themselves, the weightless environment making every jolt more disorienting.

MAYA (V.O.)

Captain, it’s closing the gap. No matter what we do, it’s faster.

CARTER (V.O.)

Weapons are hot. Just say the word.

NORA:

Hold fire. I’m not blowing up a potential first contact.

Quinn leans over the console, analyzing the craft’s movements.

QUINN:

Its trajectory... it’s too precise. That’s not automated. Someone’s flying it.

NORA:

Then someone can answer our questions. Open a comm channel.

INT. GENESIS I – ENGINEERING BAY – CONTINUOUS

Maya watches the data feeds while Carter paces in zero gravity, his arms crossed.

CARTER:

Talking to the stalker ship. Great plan. What’s next, inviting them to dinner?

MAYA:

(snorts)

I’ll set the table. You think they’d like powdered lasagna?

Carter smirks, but his tone remains serious.

CARTER:

What’s the protocol for this? “Don’t panic” doesn’t seem like enough.

MAYA:

You’re asking me? I’m the engineer. My job is keeping this tin can from falling apart, not playing diplomat.

They both glance at the screen showing the craft edging closer. Maya’s hands tighten on the console.

MAYA:

Whatever happens, I hope it’s not my turn to do the talking.

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

The comm channel crackles to life, filling the room with static. The crew waits in silence. Then, a garbled voice emerges, speaking in a language they don’t recognize.

QUINN:

(to himself)

That’s not any Earth language I’ve heard.

The voice cuts out, replaced by a piercing tone. Everyone winces.

NORA:

Shut it off!

Quinn quickly mutes the signal. The bridge falls into tense silence.

QUINN:

That’s... unsettling.

NORA:

Unsettling doesn’t begin to cover it.

SHIP AI:

Proximity alert:
Object within one kilometer.

The crew exchanges uneasy looks as the craft looms on the display.

EXT. SPACE – GENESIS I AND UNKNOWN CRAFT – CONTINUOUS

The unknown craft closes in, its sleek design reflecting the distant light of the stars. It slows, hovering just outside the Genesis I’s trajectory, as if observing them.

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

CARTER (V.O.)

Captain, I’ve got a visual. You’re going to want to see this.

Nora switches the main display to the external camera feed. The image of the alien craft fills the screen, its design unlike anything they’ve seen before.

QUINN:

That’s not Earth tech. Not even black-ops.

NORA:

We’ve got to assume it’s hostile until we know otherwise.

The ship lurches as a faint beam of light scans across its surface.

MAYA (V.O.)

What was that?

QUINN:

It’s scanning us.

CARTER (V.O.)

That’s not comforting.

The craft suddenly banks away, accelerating into the distance.

NORA:

(to herself)

Why pull back now?

Quinn stares at the screen, his mind racing.

QUINN:

Maybe it wasn’t here to attack. Maybe it was just... curious.

CARTER (V.O.)

If that’s curiosity, I don’t want to see hostility.

INT. GENESIS I – CREW LOUNGE – LATER

The crew gathers, their usual camaraderie muted by the encounter. Carter is pacing again, Maya tinkers with a handheld scanner, and Quinn scribbles notes on a data pad.

CARTER:

We just met something out there, and we have no idea what it wanted.

MAYA:

Maybe it just wanted to borrow a cup of oxygen.

Carter gives her a look, but a faint smile tugs at his lips.

NORA:

It’s gone now. Whatever it was, we have to focus on the mission.

DR. LIU

The crew’s tension levels are spiking. We need to address this before it spirals.

CARTER:

You want to talk about feelings after a mystery ship just scanned us?

Dr. Liu doesn’t flinch.

DR. LIU

Yes, Lieutenant. Because if we don’t, next time we’ll panic instead of acting.

Nora cuts in before the exchange escalates.

NORA:

She’s right. Everyone, take a breath. We stay sharp and keep moving.

EXT. SPACE – GENESIS I – CONTINUOUS

The Genesis I continues its journey, dwarfed by the vastness of space. In the distance, the faint light of Mars grows brighter.

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

The comm channel crackles as static fills the bridge. Nora waits, her expression unreadable, her team silently watching the screens.

Suddenly, the static fades, replaced by a strange, rhythmic sequence of tones.

QUINN:

(to himself)

Is that... a code?

Nora shoots him a sharp glance.

NORA:

Can you translate it?

Quinn types furiously on his console, trying to isolate the sequence.

QUINN:

It’s not in any known database. Might not even be language. Could be machine signaling.

CARTER (V.O.)

Or a countdown.

The bridge falls silent.

MAYA (V.O.)

Wow, Carter. Way to calm everyone down.

Quinn frowns as his screen flashes red.

QUINN:

I’m getting an energy spike from the craft. It’s charging something.

NORA:

Evasive maneuvers. Now.

The Genesis I tilts sharply, engines flaring as it veers away. The alien craft responds instantly, matching their trajectory like a predator shadowing its prey.

CARTER (V.O.)

Captain, I don’t like how close it’s getting.

NORA:

Neither do I. Prepare to launch countermeasures.

QUINN:

Wait! Look at this.

On the main display, the energy signature levels out. The craft pulls alongside the Genesis I, keeping pace but not attacking.

NORA:

(to herself)

What are you playing at?

EXT. SPACE – GENESIS I AND UNKNOWN CRAFT – CONTINUOUS

The alien craft moves with a haunting grace, staying parallel to the Genesis I. Its surface gleams, reflecting starlight.

Suddenly, a narrow beam of light extends from the alien craft, scanning the hull of the Genesis I.

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

The crew flinches as the beam sweeps across the ship. Maya’s voice crackles through the comms.

MAYA (V.O.)

Captain, we’re being scanned. No damage detected... yet.

NORA:

Quinn, can they hack us?

QUINN:

Unlikely, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it.

CARTER (V.O.)

How about we bet theirs?

Nora glares at him but keeps her focus.

NORA:

No aggression unless provoked. We’re here to explore, not start a war.

INT. GENESIS I – ENGINEERING BAY – CONTINUOUS

Maya furiously checks the ship’s systems, sweat beading on her forehead.

MAYA:

(to herself)

Come on, Genesis, don’t let me down now.

She notices a small anomaly on her console.

MAYA:

Captain, I’ve got something. There’s a faint energy signature—

Her words are cut off as the ship shudders violently.

INT. GENESIS I – BRIDGE – CONTINUOUS

The lights flicker, and alarms blare. The crew braces themselves as the Genesis I jolts.

CARTER (V.O.)

What the hell was that?

QUINN:

The craft is emitting some kind of electromagnetic pulse!

NORA:

Status report! Are we operational?

MAYA (V.O.)

Engines stable, but some secondary systems are down. Working on it.

The alien craft abruptly stops its pursuit and drifts away, disappearing into the black void as quickly as it came.

INT. GENESIS I – CREW LOUNGE – LATER

The crew gathers, shaken but alive. Nora stands at the head of the room, her arms crossed.

NORA:

We’ve

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