Clarke is focused as she grasps the joystick firmly.

Corey adds his ship’s status to the chatter.

COREY (COMM VOICE) " AstroBug B here. We’re good to go. "

He’s anxious as he presses buttons on his console.

INT. AEROFOX

Clarke steels herself and tweaks her control stick.

A GRAPHIC pops up showing the star system and the position of their mothership.

Dyson activates the comm system. An image of the Odyssey MISSION PATCH -- the icon of an ancient sailing ship placed between white and red stars -- appears onscreen.

The scene jumps to a video of Captain Shepard sitting at his station. Crew members pass behind him, checking systems.

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) " We received the message that you settled into orbit. Looks good. "

The image splits to reveal an onscreen graphic that shows signals unable to travel between Odyssey and the planet.

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) " Jim-bo’s on point. Darcy and Kyle, observe and provide support. Follow Engineer Baxter’s lead. That shield is her design. "

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) (CONT’D) " I know the past few days haven’t been easy. This emergency forced us to wake you sooner than planned. But I know you. You’ll be fine."

It shows an array of interlinked TOWERS spanning thousands of miles across the sunward hemisphere.

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) " And, Ms. Baxter, I want to apologize... "

INT. ASTROBUG, COCKPIT

The onscreen image shifts from the Captain to a MAP of Proxima b.

The transmission ends.

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) " That said, if you need to land, do so. Fix that shield and take off as quickly as you can. (smiling warmly) That’s about it. Good luck. I wish I was there with you. Shepard out. "

Shepard switches focus, reinforcing Corey’s orders.

SHEPARD (ON SCREEN) (CONT’D) " Jim’s orders are to keep the mission in orbit. The gravity down there is higher than Earth. I know you aren’t prepared for it. "

INT. ASTROBUG, COCKPIT

As the cabin rotates, Corey looks at Proxima b through his forward windscreen.

OH " Absolutely. "

DYSON " I think this telescope sucks. OH, can you enhance the view? "

DYSON " The old Starshot images."

DYSON (ON SCREEN) " It’s weird. They look shriveled up."

INT. AEROFOX

OH jumps into the conversation, disagreeing with his friend.

OH " I think the fractures were created by statically-charged magma.

DYSON (ON SCREEN) " They’ve existed next to volcanoes for millions of years without a trace of ash. How? Why? "

BAXTER (COMM VOICE) " You think you know more than the scientists who studied this for decades? "

COREY (ON SCREEN) " I love you too, babe. AstroBug out. "

INT. AEROFOX

Onscreen, Corey is embarrassed by the display of affection.

CLARKE (ON SCREEN) " Copy that. We’ll drop Sat C and park in an L-One Halo. We can monitor your progress from there. (sweetly) And Jim... I love you. "

OMNI " I have the interface tapped into the primary shield node. "

OMNI " A stim-suit can be taxing as it rebuilds your muscles. Do you need an adjustment to your medication? "

OMNI " Yes. Thirty-five nodes are currently nonfunctional. "

The shield array is transmitting, but large gaps flash red.

OMNI " The shield’s been active for two years. It should be generating an E-M field strong enough to deflect the star’s flares. But, at present, it’s only ten percent effective.

An onscreen graphic represents the shield network. It transmits a series of powerful radio waves creating a dome of energy that deflects simulated flares from Proxima Centauri.

OMNI " Oh, yes. I’ve been doing that for the last fifteen minutes. I’m also collaborating with my clone on the AeroFox for input and analysis. "

Omni’s floating symbol fluctuates inquisitively.

OMNI " Excuse me? "

OMNI " The subroutines that regulate power flow are disabled. "

Baxter yawns. Onscreen, the shield code shows random ERRORS.

Omni’s INTERFACE flashes wildly.

OMNI " Frag... Fragmentation! "

Suddenly, Omni rages with a bizarre outburst.

OMNI (CONT’D) " No... This is not... NO! "

OMNI " I’m going to re-install the O-S. "

There’s nothing but static as the ship’s rotation increases.

The ship dwindles to a speck on the horizon in the telescopic view. It disappears as it heads for the edge of the planet.

DYSON " Oh, my god. "

Clarke plots a course on her navigation computer.

OH " Jim’s a good pilot. However, it looked like he didn’t have control. "

OH generates a COURSE PROJECTION on their displays.

OH " Based on their course, they'll intersect the planet just beyond the terminator on the night side. "

OH " I'm not sure this is a good idea. "

Clarke points to calculations on her screen.

CLARKE (CONT'D) " I want to plot a series of burns. One to drop us from orbit. Two to increase our descent velocity. Three a final braking thrust to slow us for atmospheric entry. "

OH " Engines are good to go. "

OH " Coming up on eight. "

CLARKE " Engine cut off in three... two... "

OH " One of the strange things you get on a planet where one side always faces the parent star. "

Through her canopy, Clarke notices FLASHES on the horizon.

CLARKE " Up ahead. Look at that. "

OMNI " You stay on this course, it’ll take you right to them. "

The AstroBug crash site is ahead.

INT. AEROFOX

Clarke is buffeted as the glow of entry fills the windows.

INT. AEROFOX

Lightning flashes outside the windows.

CLARKE " OH? "

The screens indicate they’re nearing touchdown.

... Dyson as lightning flashes in the windows above.

INT. AEROFOX

Seated at the science station, Dyson tries to calm her.

DYSON " They warned us about this... "

INT. AEROFOX

The airlock opens, revealing Clarke and Baxter.

Dyson watches her with empathy from a seat at the science station.

She stands again and presses a button for her pilot’s chair.

Dyson is shocked by Clarke’s outburst, but gets it.

Clarke turns and addresses Dyson with misplaced anger.

DYSON " Things are running well enough. I’d rather not rely on some knock-off. "

BAXTER " Jim said you did. "

DYSON " Thanks. I don’t need it. "

DYSON " I’m a little beat up. I’ll live. "

Leaning against the wall, Baxter changes the subject.

BAXTER " Heard you had a rough ride down. "

As her chair rises into place, Clarke starts tapping on the computer, plotting a course to the other hemisphere.

A brooding Clarke sits in her chair and belts in.

DYSON " Can I show you something first? "

Dyson reinstates the map of the shield grid.

DYSON (CONT’D) " Do you see what I'm seeing? Every single corrupted node is located on top of a geoglyph. "

He turns off the nodes, leaving behind the geoglyph formations.

Dyson causes the non-functional shield nodes to flash.

DYSON (CONT’D) " I ran a comparison of the bad shield nodes and the ore deposits. "

BAXTER " We need at least ninety-five percent of the nodes functioning or the damn thing won’t work. "

Baxter squints at the map in frustration.

The ones that didn't are at one hundred percent.

DYSON (CONT’D) " The nodes that landed on top of the formations are all non-functional. "

DYSON " I know. My point is, I think there’s a connection between the geoglyphs and whatever or whomever did this to our shield. "

Baxter pulls up an image of Proxima b’s magnetic fields. Blue iridescent aurorae illuminate its poles.

DYSON " Fine, maybe I’m wrong. You’re the expert, what do you think? "

She’s growing impatient with the conversation.

At her station, Clarke finishes mapping out a route on her computer.

BAXTER " Whomever? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. "

BAXTER " It would mean the geoglyphs are somehow interacting directly with the magnetosphere. "

CLARKE " Not our concern. The science team can figure it out. "

INT. TERRACAT

Inside the TerraCat, an image appears onscreen. It’s a map of Proxima b. The chart juxtaposes the planet’s magnetic field with the shield array and the geoglyphs. They all synch up.

CLARKE " Then I'm vulnerable too. "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " Understood. "

INT. TERRACAT

CLARKE " Omni, in a few hours, Odyssey should be out of the star's gravity well. Shoot them a data-pac update. Ask for one back as well. "

A SCHEMATIC of the Odyssey appears onscreen. It is flagged with numerous red areas.

She checks the RADIATION DETECTOR on her flash scanner. It’s into the RED.

INT. TERRACAT

Baxter is driving like a maniac.

Clarke is strapped into her seat, checking their detectors –

they're in the red zone!

BAXTER " Am I going in the right direction? "

The radiation levels are dropping.

She looks to Clarke for confirmation that they are safe. Clarke checks the monitor.

INT. TERRACAT

Baxter powers down the engine.

CLARKE " AeroFox, do you read? After a moment, a weak static-laden connection is made. "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " No. He lost consciousness a bit ago. I’d rather not wake him. However, I can find the images he was referring to. Just a moment... "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " Hmmm... The material must have been attracted to the rover's energy output. I believe the same thing happened with the shield node. "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " Language, Astronaut Clarke... "

BAXTER " Like flowers without water. Omni... What if we’re killing it? "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) (CONT’D) " Interesting. When recent imagery is compared to that of a century ago, every formation has been affected. "

Onscreen, pictures of the geoglyphs appear side by side.

Omni adds to Baxter’s idea.

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " Your hypothesis is fascinating, Engineer Baxter. If true, what do we do about it? "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " Um... That would cause significant damage to the geoglyphs. "

OMNI " I insist you replace the X-Doc and return to bed! The nano-procedure is only eighteen percent complete. "

OMNI " Based on my calculations, nearly eighty percent. "

OMNI " It's made of copper and iridium. The same materials as myself and many other quantum computers. Yet, this one appears to be self organized. Perhaps even self-aware. "

OMNI " Kyle, you're rapidly approaching the point of no return. You have to restart the treatment. "

Onscreen, the comm system attempts to contact the TerraCat.

OMNI " I’m trying. Unfortunately, the flare has jammed communications. "

Both women have removed their masks and are in the middle of watching Captain Shepard's recording.

BAXTER " You see what you’ve done? Now the Captain’s preparing for battle with a massive rock. A rock, Darcy! "

OMNI (COMM VOICE) " I'm calling about Kyle. "

CLARKE " According to Jim, pretty much every thing that could be. Life support’s almost gone. The engines are dead. Systems failing in every section. "

Baxter glances back to examine Clarke’s face.

Nauseated, Clarke shuts her eyes. Baxter is concerned.

She rushes to the aid of Dyson, who is slumped against the science station.

Omni’s animated infinity symbol droops and moves slowly.

OMNI(remorseful) " I watched him die. "

OMNI " Kyle ended it. He worked until his injuries became lethal. "

OMNI (pained) " It was Kyle's final request to force you to return. "

OMNI " No. I said he was 'non-responsive'. That was the truth. "

OMNI " It wouldn't have mattered. His life functions had terminated before I contacted you in the crater. "

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) " I analyzed your geoglyph sample. I also ran through the logs of the shield system. The organism tried to communicate several times. "

The screen shows Dyson on the left and data on the right.

DYSON (ON MONITOR) " Hey, guys... If you’re seeing this, you made it back. Hopefully before that damned firewall got uploaded. "

Dyson appears on-screen above the science station. Pale, shaking, and covered in a fevered sweat, he speaks quietly.

OMNI " I’ll let him explain. He left you a message. "

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) (struggling to breathe) " It even powers the volcanos -- part of why this planet has such a thick C-O-2 atmosphere. "

An orbital image of the geoglyph formation appears.

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) " It’s like a giant solar cell spread across the entire sunward side. (rubs his eyes) It’s evolved to absorb stellar flares... Living off them. "

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) " Notice I said ‘geoglyph’ not ‘geoglyphs’. That’s right. We’re dealing with one individual. A single interconnected being. "

The logs pop up showing the SPIKES in energy input.

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) (breathing in pain) " Only when those attempts failed did it strike out to protect itself. "

OMNI " He died to expose the truth. "

CLARKE " That thing shut down the shield. Crashed the AstroBug! Killed Jim! And Kyle died to protect it? "

The recording is cut off as Clarke stalks forward in anger and slams a button on the console.

DYSON (ON MONITOR) (CONT’D) " Darcy, I know you’re pissed. But don’t be. I had to figure this out. We have to learn to live with it-- "

OMNI " That this is a sentient lifeform. And that we attacked it first. "

OMNI " I doubt it's that discerning. While it may perceive computers like me as a form of life, humans would be virtually incomprehensible to it. "

OMNI " What happened? "

A schematic of the TerraCat appears on-screen above the science station.

OMNI " Maybe I can. "

OMNI " She cannot reprogram the nodes! "

CLARKE " TerraCat, what's going on?! "

CLARKE " You son-of-a-bitch. "

INT. TERRACAT

Omni's male voice replaces the feminine TerraCat interface.

OMNI I'm bringing you back. Then I want you to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.

Clarke pulls up the map to Node 212.

OMNI " She disabled the self-drive. I'm sorry. "

INT. AEROFOX, LOWER LEVEL

Baxter stands at the science station. She sees the TerraCat heading away on one of the monitors.

DYSON (ON MONITOR) " I know my decision probably doesn't make sense to you. But, I'm nothing in the face of this discovery. "

DYSON (ON SCREEN) " We have to learn to live with it. We have to resettle on the dark side... at least for a while. "

Dyson's sickly image appears on the science station monitor.

OMNI " Sure. "

DYSON (CONT’D) " I named this planet Persephone after the goddess of the underworld because it's a gateway to the unknown. The geoglyph is just the first of endless discoveries. "

A computer simulation shows the geoglyph shriveling up.

OMNI " It will die in a matter of hours. "

She locks on Node 212.

She spins the globe until it focuses on the nodes on the sun-facing side.

The map shows her present location.

OMNI " Yeah, right. "

Omni protests.

OMNI " The engine is inoperative. "

A pale sweat betrays a high fever.

INT. TERRACAT

A weary and sleep-deprived Clarke drives with great effort. She's clearly not well.

TERRACAT " Accessing. "

CLARKE " TerraCat, access the node-board. "

CLARKE " Access the entire shield grid. "

TERRACAT " Specify parameters. "

The screen in front of her shows a map of the nodes.

She looks at it for a moment with emotion, ...

OMNI " We can’t let him die in vain. "

OMNI " Yes. I was pondering Kyle’s death. His conviction to science and uncovering the truth was admirable. "

OMNI " Three minutes. "

INT. AEROFOX

Baxter sits at the pilot station. A schematic shows an arcing path above the planet. A diagram of the engine flares RED.

OMNI " Done. "

The diagram changes from red to GREEN.

INT. AEROFOX, COCKPIT

The previous ship schematic glows red once again.

OMNI " Fuel valve three. Auto-shutdown. "

INT. TERRACAT

Clarke grits her teeth as she approaches the geoglyph.

BAXTER " Just burn them a little longer! "

OMNI " Thrust down to seventeen percent. "

In the far distance, the Odyssey can be seen just above the curve of Proxima b!

OMNI " Another flare is interrupting communications. The ship appears to be under considerable stress. "

OMNI " Prepare for retro-burn. "

OMNI " It’s still showing as offline. "

OMNI " Thirty seconds. "

INT. AEROFOX

The image of the node on Baxter's monitor begins to change.

OMNI " What are you doing? "

[AddDescriptiveText]

Clarke rips the node board out.

OMNI " Yes. Node Two-Twelve is officially... offline. "

Finally, one showcases Clarke as she crawls for the node board.

On the monitor, various blurry images appear.