Planet B Page #5

After hundreds of years in space, the Gaia's mission to find a New Earth won't last much longer.

• Science fiction

								


BUFFET: Jenn, can you see this? It’s… it’s a projection. The stars are projections. Over.

WALTON: I’m… I’m trying to wrap my head around this, Eve.

BUFFET: Me too. But there’s more. 

PAGE: What do you mean? What…?

[static, breathing]

BUFFET: There’s a door. At the end of the gangway. It’s disguised, I’m not sure you could see it. Over.

[static]

WALTON: I can’t see anything where you’re pointing, Eve. It just looks like space. It just looks like- holy shit! Don’t take your gloves off!

BUFFET: Why not? It’s not even cold. I’m untethering, too. There’s no risk of me floating off. Over.

PAGE: Buffet, we agreed this mission was recon only. Come back to the ship so we can renavigate this data. Over.

BUFFET: I have to see something. 

[static, breathing]

BUFFET: I’m going to throw my glove at what I think is a door. I hypothesize it will hit the door, and that I’m not hallucinating, and then bounce off and land on… I’m not sure. Land somewhere. Over.

WALTON: We’re watching. Over. 

[static, thumping, breathing, crosstalk, unintelligible]

PAGE: What…

WALTON: I don’t believe it.

[crosstalk]

BUFFET: Do you see the glove? Over.

PAGE: Yes. Yes, Buffet, it’s on… the… [unintelligible] the ground?

[static, breathing]

BUFFET: Captain… that’s not- [hysterical laughing] That’s not possible, Captain. 

PAGE: None of this is. 

[sobbing, unintelligible, crosstalk, laughing]

WALTON: Come back, Buffet. Breathe. We can figure out what to do once you’re in the lab with us. Over.

[breathing, static]

BUFFET: I’m going to open the door. [heavy breathing, static]

PAGE: Buffet, that’s not a good idea. Over.

BUFFET: I don’t care. I’m doing it anyway.

[static, crosstalk]

WALTON: Buffet, what do you see? Describe it. You’re right at the edge of our vision, we can barely see you.

BUFFET: Just beyond the railing of the gangway. It’s… black. Set into a black wall. It’s flush. There’s a seal… around it, there’s a seal. Like it’s meant to be sort of an airlock? I think… yes, this is a handle. It’s disguised behind a flap, so the whole thing looks smooth from a distance. I don’t think anyone could see this unless they were up close. And with the stars… [unintelligible]...projecting over it, uh, always moving, there’s no way anyone would know.

WALTON: Describe it further, Buffet. Over.

BUFFET: Grabbing the handle now. It’s… warmish. There’s a latch. I have to hold it down with my thumb. I think… Yes, I think it’s unlocked.

[static, scraping, heavy breathing]

BUFFET: Jenn, Noah, you two are in the lab. Are any readouts going crazy? Anything at all? Before I open this door. What sensors are—

WALTON: — nothing.

[crosstalk]

BUFFET: — nothing?

WALTON: The only thing with a warning is the… that dehumidifier I replaced the bolt on yesterday. That’s it.

PAGE: Come back, Eve. 

[scraping, breathing, static, door opening]

BUFFET: There’s… I’m in a room [breathing, static]. It’s full of instrument panels. They’ve got all kinds of flashing lights. It’s exactly like the control panel in the lab. Yeah, I see it, Noah. Dehumidifier. Twin panel. [panting, breathing slowly, beeping] There’s a staircase to my left. It’s metal. Over.

WALTON: A staircase? Does it go up or down? Over.

BUFFET: Up. Over.

PAGE: Describe it. Over.

BUFFET: It’s… dusty. Like unused. This whole place is. [breathing] I’m… I’m too heavy to climb stairs, I have to take off this outer suit.

[shuffling, panting, beeping, static, breathing]

BUFFET: That’s better. Over.

PAGE: Walk us through what’s going on. We can’t see you. Over.

BUFFET: I’m climbing… [clanging, panting, static]... I’m climbing these stairs. I’ve still got the helmet, just holding it. There’s a handrail. It’s cold. It also appears to be metal. It’s at the same height as the ones in the ship. Whatever made this place made it for humans.

[static, breathing, steps, clanging]

There’s a switchback. A landing. I think these stairs go for a while. I’m still climbing.

[breathing, static]

Another landing. More stairs. Over.

PAGE: How many stories… if this staircase seems to work like that? Over.

[static]

BUFFET: At least nine? It seems like it goes much further. Over.

[static]

BUFFET: —another door, at the top–

[static, unintelligible]

PAGE: Buffet, we’re losing you. Buffet, come in, Buffet. Over.

BUFFET: —-bunker? We’re in a bunker? It’s not space, it’s—-

PAGE: A bunker? Buffet, come in. Buffet, come in! Over! We’re losing you!

BUFFET: —window—

[static]

WALTON: Buffet, come in! Buffet! Over!

[static]

BUFFET: —- see outside—

[static, unintelligible]

PAGE: Buffet, come in, Buffet! What do you see? Over.

BUFFET: —--is that—-sunshine?—

WALTON: Sunshine? Window? Buffet, come in! Over!

[static]

BUFFET: [sobbing]--- bunker—- skeletons, horrible…. [static, sobbing].... Burnt black, outside…clawing, clawing at the door [static, heavy breathing]... bunker window… [static].... Damn it—- destroyed…

[static]

BUFFET: We never left Earth.

[static]

[end transmission]
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