Return to Terra Nova

Episode 5

"Contact"

EXT. DETROIT 2151, FLASHBACK

The city is coated with a very thick brown haze. Skyscrapers seem to vanish into the smog with distance.

FOCUS AND ZOOM

On a skyscraper. It looks barely any different from others around it.

CLOSE

TRANSITION INTO

INT. FUTURE SKYSCRAPER

The inside of the building is its own world, cluttered with countless restaurants and shops. The walls are coated in neon signs from all the different stores, each one attempting to overpower the other and attract any potential customers. Many crowds of people push their way through the tight hallways. Walking amongst them, is a man in a suit, who has a briefcase in hand. The man walks past all of these places, glancing at his smartwatch, which displays a map of the inside of the building. Eventually, he reaches his destination, a nondescript cafe in between two much more popular restaurants. Nothing is very remarkable about this cafe, yet the suited man enters.

INT. CAFE

As the suited man enters the cafe, he scans all the tables in the place, looking for someone. Only a few tables have people at them. Sitting at one of the tables, is Sam's father, stirring some artificial sugar into a cup of coffee. The suited man meets eyes with Sam's dad, and walks over to his table.

SAM'S DAD
Thomas Ravenholme?

SUITED MAN
Yes.

Sam's dad extends his hand out towards Thomas, introducing himself.

SAM'S DAD
Christian Taggart. Owner of Silver Knight Security Solutions.

Christian's hand stays stretched out, waiting for Thomas to shake it, but Thomas' arms stay at his side. Eventually, Christian gives up.

CHRISTIAN
Very well. Have a seat.

Thomas sits down, setting his briefcase down by his side.

CHRISTIAN
You know, I always loved this cafe. I used to come here all the time. Saw it as a refuge from the problems in my life. When I lost my wife to-

Thomas doesn't want to waste time. He cuts right to the chase.

THOMAS
What do you want from me?

CHRISTIAN
Not the kind of guy to mess around, huh? Straight to the point?

Christian looks out the window, on the side of the booth. Despite there being a sprawling city all around the skyscraper, most of it is obscured by smog.

CHRISTIAN
This world is dying, Thomas. It's obvious, and humanity won't be able to survive like this for much longer. Future generations are going to die, all because of the decisions made by those who lived before them. Do you have any kids, Thomas?

THOMAS
Yes.

CHRISTIAN
So do I: my son Sam. He's the only one of my family I've got left, and he's all I care about. Everything else is meaningless to me, and I'd do anything to give him a better life. I bought a place in a dome, one with real trees. He loved it as a kid, and he'd climb up all the-

Thomas stares at him, getting impatient. Christian picks up on it, and pivots the conversation back.

CHRISTIAN
Even the dome isn't good enough, though. In a few years, when the world gets more desperate, who knows what will happen. I need to give him a better future, and you, Thomas, appear to hold the key. All I ask is-

THOMAS
Listen, let's cut the crap and get right to the point. You exploited a security flaw in my company's security system, and were able to steal classified documents relating to a project of mine, which you will now use to blackmail me, correct?

Christian doesn't reply, just stares.

THOMAS
Right. Well, you should have covered your tracks better. My men have already found your home by now. Any information you have will be seized, and nothing will be released. Also, you shouldn't have told me in advance where we'd be meeting. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going. Enjoy the rest of your coffee, Mr. Taggart.

Thomas gets up, and all the random bystanders inside the cafe turn their heads towards Christian, reaching into their coats, presumably gripping concealed pistols. What Christian tried to set up as an anonymous meetup, has been turned into a trap for himself. Thomas turns his back to Christian, and begins to walk out. Thomas' men begin to stand up from their tables.

CHRISTIAN
You still need a power source, don't you?

Thomas stops for a second.

CHRISTIAN
You need to acquire a reactor that's discrete, but still produces a lot of power. Something you can use to power something big in secret. I can help you with that.

THOMAS
(Scoffing)
Is that so?

Christian nods.

CHRISTIAN
I know a guy from the CIA, who has detailed information on a certain Russo-Chinese research facility, not unlike the one you were mentioning in your project files. Him and I could take a look inside the facility for you.

Thomas turns around.

THOMAS
(In a more serious tone)
You know, Christian, we may be able to come to an agreement after all. I see that you've read quite a bit of my plans, huh?

Christian nods again.

THOMAS
Well, I must say, you doing the suicide mission for me would save me a lot of trouble. I'm quite flattered. Tell you what, I'll take you up on your offer. I'll send you everything you need to know. Just remember, any links that can be drawn, must not lead back to my company or myself, got it?

Christian nods once more.

THOMAS
Good.

Thomas motions for his men in the cafe to go back to pretending to be bystanders, before exiting the cafe.

END OF FLASHBACK

INT. SAM'S HOUSE, MORNING

Sam lays on his bed, playing back the recording he found in the previous episode, over and over.

ANDREW
(From recording)
Holy mother of god. Dennis! Get over here with the first aid kit!

A knock is heard at Sam's front door, and Sam gets up to answer it. It's Greg, who stands in the doorway with a grin on his face.

GREG
Sorry to wake you, buddy, but I've got some news you might enjoy. We have a bit of an adventure assigned to us today.

SAM
What do you mean.

GREG
Amanda pulled a whole bunch of guards into the jungle. They're going to construct the terminus. A bit behind schedule, but better late than never.

SAM
Alright, but what does she want us to do?

GREG
That's the fun part. There's a case of security nodes that she's been saving for this occasion. We are to take them, and use them to set up a security grid in the jungle surrounding the colony, as well as inside the colony itself.

SAM
Alright, give me a minute. I have to grab my gear.

Greg nods and San re-enters the house.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE

A small army of people bustles about in a jungle clearing. Some are piecing in the terminus and screwing in bolts, while others set up fortifications around the area. Inside the crowd is Amanda, who barks orders at everyone there. Next to her is Carmichael.

AMANDA
Let's move it! We need this thing finished by tonight, otherwise we're going to have to track down where the portal opens up!

She turns to Carmichael.

AMANDA
I just want confirmation again, this spot is good, right? It meets the three click distance requirement, as to not scramble any comms around the colony?

CARMICHAEL
It's good. Away from all the game trails, wildlife nesting grounds, all that stuff. If we get it up and running correctly, the only thing we have to worry about is those outsiders of yours.

AMANDA
We'll solve that problem at some point, hopefully.

Amanda looks around through the crowd, and finds Spunkmeyer, who is also barking orders at a group of soldiers carrying pieces of the terminus.

SPUNKMEYER
(To soldiers carrying pieces)
Hey! Careful with that! We're dead if that thing breaks!

AMANDA
Spunkmeyer, where's Ramirez? We need a medic on site.

SPUNKMEYER
She's still over at the infirmary last I checked.

AMANDA
Well, get her over here! We need as much help as we can get!

EXT. COLONY PERIMETER

THROUGH BINOCULARS

Many of the guard posts are incredibly understaffed. The colony's level of security is only about a third of what it usually is. Sitting amongst the line of foliage at the edge of the colony, Dennis watches.

DENNIS
Jesus, the place is nearly empty. We can just stroll in and nobody would notice.

NORMAL VIEW

Dennis passes the binoculars to his partner: Andrew.

DENNIS
Take a look, Duffer.

Andrew looks through the binoculars.

DENNIS
What do you think?

ANDREW
I think you're crazy. In broad daylight they'd catch us no problem.

DENNIS
They won't if we slit a few throats. Come on, we need those medical supplies.

Andrew ponders for a moment, before nodding his head.

ANDREW
Alright, let's get the boss over here first.

INT. INFIRMARY

Ramirez is packing up, while simultaneously spitting instructions out to the guards.

RAMIREZ
...those cabinets are the ones you should keep an extra close watch on. If anyone is going to steal any meds, it'll most likely from those.

As she's explaining, a figure enters the infirmary through the front. Ramirez sees out of the corner of her eye that they're wearing the same armor that everyone else wears, and doesn't think too much of them at first, but then she notices their dirty face and blood stained armor. The figure: Andrew, raises a blow gun. The two guards in the infirmary finally take notice but it's too late. A dart flies into the neck of the guard on Ramirez's left. He collapses to the floor. Ramirez ducks behind a counter and pulls out her pistol. The other guard raises his gun towards Andrew, but Dennis comes from behind, having snuck in through the back door, and sticks a knife in the guards neck. Ramirez reaches for her comm but Dennis grabs the pistol from the guards holster and points it at Ramirez.

DENNIS
Touch the comm and you'll be dead long before you can say anything.

Ramirez lowers her hand from the comm, and drops her pistol. Dennis kicks her pistol away and rips the comm device out of her ear, chucking it across the room. Dennis looks to Andrew.

DENNIS
Coast is clear. Signal the boss.

Andrew nods and pushes the front door open. Standing in the door frame, he gives a thumbs up towards the outside, before walking back inside and standing next to Dennis. Slow shuffling can be heard outside. It gets closer and closer, grinding against the gravel ground of the colony. Eventually, the shuffling reaches the stairs outside, and turns into slow methodical boot stomps. A figure enters the infirmary, and leans against the door frame. He's a dirty, grizzled man, whose state is much like Dennis and Andrew. In his side, protrudes a small tree branch, that evidently impaled him like an arrow during the recent storm. He has one hand over the mound, applying pressure, and the other holding a gun. He stares Ramirez right in the eye, and she realizes that he is none other than Lucas Taylor.

LUCAS
You're going to fix me up, doctor, or else my colleagues and I will kill you.

EXT. JUNGLE

Greg places a large case on top of the hood of the rover. He flips the two clamps to unlock it and opens the case. Inside are a bunch of gumball sized black glass spheres, lined up in rows. Each sphere has a crease down the center. Greg plucks one out of the case.

GREG
Security nodes. Fancy ones too.

SAM
So what can they do?

GREG
Why, they're state of the art! Equipped with 3d mapped environment surveillance, laser tracking, linked network streaming, and in a pinch...

Greg encloses his hand around the device.

GREG
(Very loud, making Sam jump)
BOOM!
They can be programmed to explode, sending debris and glass into anything close enough.

Greg twists it along the center crease, popping it into two semi spheres. He sticks one half to a tree next to him.

GREG
And we're putting them up all around the jungle and colony. Better get started.

SAM
So do you think this will stop the outsiders?

GREG
It just might. If they're coming to steal supplies, the new security grid will hopefully catch them and give us the heads up.

SAM
So you think they're tormenting us just to steal resources?

GREG
Well yeah, what else would they want?

SAM
Dennis, the one who was interrogating me, seemed to want to get back to 2156.

GREG
Well, tough luck for him. The portal only goes one way.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE

The sounds of welding and drilling on the terminus finally comes to a stop. The engineers step back to admire their work. One of the engineers turns and gives a thumbs up to Amanda and Spunkmeyer.

SPUNKMEYER
Finished?

AMANDA
Finished.

Amanda looks to some soldiers who are surrounding the perimeter of the site.

AMANDA
Is the security network all set up around this location.

SOLDIER
It's up and running. Once the other locations are done we should be able to link everything up.

AMANDA
Good.

Amanda sets a countdown on her watch for when the terminus is due to open. It is approximately seven hours from now.

INT. INFIRMARY

Lucas sits down on a medical table. Dennis prods Ramirez around with the pistol he is holding.

DENNIS
You're the doc, doc. Grab what he needs and fix him up.

Ramirez nods and goes to a cabinet. She begins to grab alcohol, bandages, and a stitching kit.

DENNIS
What is this? Medieval times? Grab the damn sealant.

Ramirez turns and faces him.

RAMIREZ
We barely have any left. We need it for emergencies.

Dennis puts the barrel of his pistol up against her forehead.

DENNIS
We don't give a damn about your rations. You're going to use that sealant, or we kill you and take it anyways. It's your choice.

Ramirez reluctantly puts the old school supplies back and goes into a different cabinet. Inside, is the last remaining battle of sealant. She grabs it and goes over to Lucas.

RAMIREZ
I'm going to need to remove that branch out of you before we proceed.

Lucas nods, and Ramirez grabs the branch that's impaling him. He winces in pain. Dennis puts the pistol up to the back of her head.

DENNIS
Remember, if he dies, so do you.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE

Amanda starts to inspect the security nodes planted around the site by the guards, when all of a sudden, the terminus begins to activate. Everyone turns around in surprise. It's too early for contact with 2156 to be starting.

EXT. JUNGLE

Greg closes the now empty case of security nodes.

GREG
Alright, we're done here. Time to move on to the next spot.

Greg and Sam climb into the rover. Greg turns it on. The rover hums to life, but the GPS system is weird on the rovers console. The map is glitching out, and spinning. It quickly becomes an incomprehensible pixelated mess.

GREG
Aw man, looks like the rover's GPS just broke.

Greg taps the screen in vain, trying to fix it. He turns to Sam.

GREG
You got a compass?

SAM
Yeah, I should have one.

Sam reaches into his pocket and pulls out a compass. He gets confused when he looks at it. The needle is spinning uncontrollably. Greg notices.

GREG
(Sarcastically)
Looks like your compass is broken too.

Suddenly, a loud crashing is heard from the jungle, accompanied by some roaring.

GREG
Oh no.

Greg quickly turns the car off.

GREG
Quick, we should hide!

Greg and Sam pile out of the rover, and look around for somewhere to hide. The crashing and roaring is getting closer by the second. Greg notices some bushes and jumps into them. Sam follows. The two of them peek through the leaves.

SAM
This isn't going to work! Whatever that is can probably smell us!

GREG
Too late now.

The crashing finally reaches the clearing, and a carnotaurus emerges from the foliage. Sam freezes in horror, remembering the last time he encountered one. The carnotaur is thrashing it's head around and roaring nonstop. It appears to be irritated by something, like a dog hearing a dog whistle. It stumbles through the clearing, and slams its head against the rover in anger. After tearing up the clearing some more, the carnotaurus stomps away into the jungle. Once it is far enough away to no longer be heard, Sam and Greg exit the bush they were hiding in.

SAM
What was that about? It looked like something was irritating it, like a dog hearing a high pitched tone or something.

GREG
(Sarcastically)
What a weird looking dog.

Greg goes over to the rover to check on how damaged it is.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE

The lights on the terminus begin to flash, and a strange aura begins to form around the device. Cascades of color flash through the hazy aura, and a high pitched shrill noise begins to emit from the device. Everyone begins to cover their ears. The sound seems to hit a peak, and all of a sudden, the terminus begins to spark, and with that, the sound and aura surrounding the terminus vanishes. All that is left of the event is a few burn marks, and a trail of smoke coming from the terminus. A few engineers put on some safety equipment and begin to inspect the terminus.

AMANDA
(To engineers)
Is it okay?

One of the engineers shakes his head.

ENGINEER
A few components are fried. We've got replacements, but it'll take a while to install them.

AMANDA
Alright, get on it. We need the terminus working again, as quickly as possible.

Amanda walks off and finds Carmichael.

AMANDA
Hey doc, you got any idea as to what the hell that was? The portal isn't scheduled to open for another four hours.

CARMICHAEL
I'm just as confused as you are. Although, it didn't look like a normal activation sequence. Perhaps it was some kind of magnetic interference or something?

AMANDA
Interference? From what?

Carmichael shrugs, having nothing to say. Amanda sighs in disappointment and walks off.

INT. INFIRMARY

The bloodied tree branch rests at the side of the medical table, having been successfully extracted out of Lucas' side. Ramirez, still at gunpoint, applies the sealant spray to the puncture wounds on Lucas' side. The spray helps, but Ramirez still needs bandages the wound as well, and they are quite severe.

RAMIREZ
I'll have to take a blood sample, and see if there's any antibiotics I should give you.

Dennis pushes her head with the barrel of his gun.

DENNIS
Yeah, good one.

Lucas looks at Ramirez.

LUCAS
That sounds nice and all, but I don't think we can trust you.

RAMIREZ
I've sworn a hippocratic oath, I can't allow any of my patients to come to harm.

Lucas scoffs, but then itches his neck a bit.

LUCAS
Alright then, go for it. But don't try anything funny.

Lucas nods to Dennis to back off a bit, who begrudgingly complies. Ramirez goes over to a nearby supply drawer, and pulls out an empty needle and some rubbing alcohol for sterilization. She goes over to Lucas, and begins to draw some blood.

LUCAS
I can still remember the last time I came in here for a, heh, checkup. Right after the colony was abandoned, I had two bullets in my side.

ANDREW
Yeah, we remember, Taylor.

Lucas smirks.

LUCAS
Don't call me that, reminds me of my father.

Ramirez is done drawing blood. She takes it over to some machine, Dennis following closely behind, and puts the vial inside the machine. The machine to begins to scan it. Ramirez looks around at the table in front of her, hoping for some tool that will help her to escape. There's not a whole lot to work with. Microscopes, chemical burners, and other instruments are arranged neatly on the table. Ramirez starts to wish they never cleaned up the cluttered state the infirmary used to be in, not that it would do her any favors anyways. She's held at gunpoint, any wrong move and she's dead, but perhaps, that's what'll have to happen.

RAMIREZ
Taylor, right? Lucas Taylor?

LUCAS
It's Lucas.

RAMIREZ
Right. You're Nathaniel Taylor's son. You were here when the colony was up and running, and all these years later, even after the colony has fallen, you're still here. You must know what's happened to this place, what caused it to be abandoned. Mind telling?

Ramirez subtly turns the chemical burner on.

LUCAS
You'd like to know that, wouldn't you?

Ramirez nods.

LUCAS
This colony was set on a course for destruction the moment my father created it. What happened to it? What was destined to happen. My father, and the colonists who followed him, were scum, and deserved to die. Now you newcomers have come to pick up where my father left off, and you're going to meet the same fate, because you all deserve to die as well.

RAMIREZ
That's a shame.

Ramirez twists the knob for the gas on the burner all the way up. A fireball explodes out of the top, sending Ramirez and Dennis flying away. The explosion sets off the fire alarm, which echoes through the entire colony. Dennis gets up from the ground, and begins shooting at Ramirez, who dives behind a counter.

LUCAS
Hold your fire, god damn it!

Dennis grabs Ramirez and brings her up to his gun barrel.

DENNIS
The whole colony has already been alerted to us, just give me the satisfaction of killing this little rat!

LUCAS
That's exactly why we need her alive! If we walk out of here, we'll be dead before we get five feet out the door, unless we have a bargaining chip.
(Turns towards Andrew)
Tie her up, we don't need any more mishaps.

EXT. INFIRMARY, EVENING

Two guards show up to investigate the fire alarm. Lucas peeks out of the window and shoots one of them in the leg.

LUCAS
Don't come any closer! We have a hostage!

Lucas pulls Ramirez over into view. She's tied up with bandage rolls, stitching thread, and has some tape over her mouth. The uninjured guard drags his hurt friend to safety, and turns on his comm.

GUARD
(Into comm)
Everyone, we've got a situation! The outsiders have our chief medic hostage! They're holed up in the infirmary.

EXT. JUNGLE, EVENING

Greg is checking the damage on the rover.

GREG
Looks like he just dented the outside a bit, so hopefully everything will be alright.

His and Sam's comms turn on, as a transmission begins to come through. Greg ignores it at first.

RANDOM GUARD
(From comm)
I repeat, outsiders have taken our chief medic hostage in the infirmary!

Greg's eyes widen in horror. He doesn't say a word, and jumps into the driver's seat of the rover and turns it on.

GREG
Get in already!

Sam climbs into the passenger seat and Greg speeds off before Sam can situate himself.

SAM
Hey! Don't get us killed!

EXT. TERMINUS SITE, EVENING

Amanda hears the transmission.

AMANDA
Jesus Christ.

Amanda grabs Spunkmeyer.

AMANDA
Get everyone here on high alert. This could be a diversion.

SPUNKMEYER
Are you going back to the colony?

AMANDA
Yes.

SPUNKMEYER
Be careful. I have never seen a hostage situation that went as well as I hoped it would.

AMANDA
Well, hopefully there's a first for everything.

SPUNKMEYER
Good luck.

Amanda nods and runs off to her rover. She turns it on and zooms off.

EXT. INFIRMARY, EVENING

A crowd has amassed outside the infirmary, but they know to keep their distance. Amanda shows up, and immediately tries to assess the situation. Greg shows up a few seconds later, screeching his rover to a halt and jumping out. He tries to run through the crowd.

GREG
VICTORIA! VICTORIA!

Amanda, Sam, and the crowd hold him back.

GREG
Let go of me!

AMANDA
Fraser, you get anywhere near the infirmary and they'll kill you and her!

Greg stops struggling, and backs off, defeated. After he's receded into the crowd, Amanda comes up to the front of the crowd. She pulls out her comm, and dials Ramirez's comm.

AMANDA
(Into comm)
I don't know who you people are, and I don't know what you want, but you're outnumbered. If you give up and come out with your hands up, no harm will come to you.

There is a period of silence, before a voice comes onto the comm.

LUCAS
(From comm)
We don't care how many people you've got outside. We've got your medic. Do anything hasty, and we'll put a bullet in her head. Got it?

Amanda doesn't know how to respond.

LUCAS
(From comm)
Here's how this is going to go. Within the next hour, you're going to deliver a rhino transport full of guns and ammo to the front door of this infirmary, which we will make off with peacefully. If you fail to comply within the given timeframe, we kill your medic.

Amanda still doesn't know how to respond, but decides she has to say something.

AMANDA
(Into comm)
We'll see.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE, EVENING

Several engineers are working on the terminus, trying to fix it. Spunkmeyer is pacing back and forth, overcome with stress.

SPUNKMEYER
First the damn terminus blows up, and now we have a hostage crisis. Jesus.

Carmichael is standing off to the side, fiddling with a plex.

SPUNKMEYER
Carmichael, what are you doing with that thing?

CARMICHAEL
The anomaly that fried the terminus earlier, I don't think it was the fault of the terminus.

SPUNKMEYER
What are you talking about?

CARMICHAEL
The terminus can't generate enough power on its own to fry itself. It must have caught wind of some kind of space time disturbance.

SPUNKMEYER
That's interesting and all, but how do we prevent the terminus from frying a second time?

CARMICHAEL
I don't know, perhaps we could come up with some kind of detector to… no wait, that wouldn't work, but what if… no wait that wouldn't work either.

SPUNKMEYER
So what you're telling me is that we're screwed?

CARMICHAEL
I mean, maybe? Probably? Once we get the broken parts replaced, we have to hope that there isn't another one of those anomalies.

SPUNKMEYER
And if there is?

CARMICHAEL
Like you said, we're screwed. I don't know what happened and could happen again, but it seemed to have put a large amount of energy through the terminus, apparently more than it was designed to handle, frying it. We have no way to deal with it, unless…

SPUNKMEYER
Unless what?

CARMICHAEL
I don't know much about the terminus hardware, but, if we could build some kind of overflow valve to vent the excess energy, we might be able to prevent another overload.

SPUNKMEYER
Well, get over to those engineers and start working on it, otherwise we're going to be out of contact with 2156, and I can't allow that to happen.

CARMICHAEL
Okay, but like I said, I have no idea how to build it.

SPUNKMEYER
Better come up with something quick then.

EXT. INFIRMARY, EVENING

Some time has passed, and there is still no rover outside the infirmary. The crowd has gotten a bit bigger though.

INT. INFIRMARY

Dennis peeks out the window, and sees the larger crowd and lack of a rover.

DENNIS
There's no rover, and the crowd is getting bigger. We're in trouble. The longer we wait, the harder it's going to be to get away. Let's go, now.

Lucas peeks out the window to see.

LUCAS
Damn it, you're right. What do we have to help us escape? Any gas bombs? Anything?

ANDREW
No, we've got nothing.

LUCAS
Alright, Dennis, you drag the hostage. We'll stick around you. I'm gonna give us an opening.

Lucas goes over to the window, and cocks his gun.

EXT. INFIRMARY, EVENING

Amanda watches the windows carefully, trying to tell what's going on. Suddenly, Lucas comes into view partially. He raises his pistol, and fires wildly into the crowd. Everyone ducks and dives to try and avoid the unexpected barrage of bullets. Amanda hits the dirt with everyone else, and she looks up from the ground to see what else is going on. Dennis exits the infirmary, dragging Ramirez along, with Lucas and Andrew following closely behind.

LUCAS
(to the whole crowd)
Follow us and we kill her!

Everyone keeps their distance, as Lucas and the others are allowed to escape with Ramirez. They exit the colony through a hole in the fence, and disappear off into the distance. Greg, Sam, and Amanda get up from the ground and pursue them once the coast is clear.

EXT. JUNGLE, EVENING

Dennis haphazardly drags Ramirez through the brush, with Lucas and Andrew following behind. Dennis stumbles a bit on a log, but doesn't fall down. He stops in place.

DENNIS
We're not going to get away quick enough like this! I say we get rid of the extra baggage.

LUCAS
Don't even think about it. Having a hostage is too useful.

DENNIS
We won't have any use for a hostage if we're all dead! I'm not letting that happen.

Dennis pulls out his knife, and grabs Ramirez by the chin.

LUCAS
No!

Lucas pulls out his gun and points it right at Dennis.

DENNIS
So that's how it's going to be?

LUCAS
Drop the knife, Dennis.

DENNIS
You know, I'm getting really sick of having to follow your sorry ass. I've been rotting out in this jungle for years, and for what?

LUCAS
You want to return to the future? I'm the only hope you have.

DENNIS
You're my only hope? That's rich. Like you've done anything to get us closer to the future in the years we've been out here!

Lucas continues you stare him down, gun still aimed right at Dennis' head. Dennis sighs, and begins to lower his knife. Lucas lets his guard down for a second, only for Dennis to shove Ramirez to the ground and pull out his pistol with his free hand. He doesn't hesitate, and fires a shot at Lucas, who it just barely misses. Lucas dives for cover, and returns fire. Ramirez, who has fallen to the ground, squirms her way up to her feet, and runs a short distance before tripping and falling to the ground again, due to the tape around her legs. Gunshots rage through the jungle, as Dennis and Lucas exchange bullets. Ramirez wiggles behind a tree. She tries to get her bearings, and see which direction the colony is, when Lucas runs into view from an adjacent tree. He's coming straight for her, causing her to panic and try to get away. He grabs her, causing her to thrash in a futile attempt to get away. Lucas then pulls out his knife, causing Ramirez to try and slip away even harder. Instead of stabbing her, however, he cuts the bonds tying her hands behind her back.

LUCAS
Consider that a "thank you."

Lucas runs off, to jump back into his firefight. Ramirez gets up and darts away as well, running in the direction she believes the colony to be. Branches and bushes scrape against her as she makes her escape.

Back in the middle of the firefight, Andrew runs in, trying to calm down Dennis and Lucas.

ANDREW
Hey! Are you guys crazy! You're going to kill each other!

A bullet hits the tree trunk next to Andrew, causing him to flinch.

ANDREW
Ah hell, forget it!

Andrew runs off, leaving his comrades behind.

As Ramirez runs through the jungle, the gunshots grow quiet. For a moment, she believes she might actually survive. She slows down a bit, trying to get her bearings, when a sound catches her attention. She turns around, and sees a Nykoraptor standing right behind her. It must have heard the commotion of her running and followed her. The blood drains from Ramirez's face, as she stares certain death in the eye. The raptor snarls, and rears back to pounce. It's feet leave the ground, and Ramirez closes her eyes in terror. Before the raptor reaches her, a sonic blast hits it. Ramirez opens her eyes and turns her head towards the source of the sonic. Greg is standing there, pistol in hand. Sam and Amanda turn up behind him. Ramirez runs into the group and hugs Greg, tears in her eyes.

GREG
Hey, are you ok?

RAMIREZ
I'm fine, now that you're here.

Ramirez turns to Amanda.

RAMIREZ
They're still out there. Fighting each other. Follow the gunshots and maybe you can get the drop on them.

Amanda nods.

AMANDA
You three should get back to the colony, I'll handle this.

Amanda runs off, following the sound of gunshots. Eventually, she nears the firefight, and begins to sneak into the scene along a fallen tree trunk. She takes a peek over the top of it. Lucas and Dennis are still going at it, but Dennis and Lucas notice her, as her face doesn't quite blend in with the vibrant green moss coating the fallen tree she's behind. The two of them stop firing at each other, and instead, the both of them send a barrage of bullets at Amanda, who quickly drops her head down to take cover behind the log. Dirt, moss, and wood splinters fly all over her as the tree is shot at. Eventually the incoming fire stops, and she peeks over the top of the log once again, more carefully this time. Lucas and Dennis have both exited the area. Amanda hits the tree in frustration.

EXT. COLONY, SUNSET

Greg, Ramirez, and Sam make it back to the colony. There is still a large crowd outside the infirmary. Greg and Amanda sit down on the on the porch of the infirmary. He tries to comfort her. Not long after, Amanda shows back up.

AMANDA
(Addressing the whole crowd)
Is everyone okay? Anyone hurt?

Everybody shakes their head, saying no. Amanda looks around some more, and notices that the sun is dropping below the horizon. She checks the timer on her watch she set earlier. The portal is due to open soon.

AMANDA
Oh hell.

She runs over to her rover, and gets in. Sam runs after her and climbs into the passenger seat, wanting to experience the portal opening. Amanda slams on the gas.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE, NIGHT

Carmichael gives a bit of instruction to the engineers, who, with his help, have managed to come up with a contraption that can vent excess energy from the terminus. Amanda arrives on site.

AMANDA
Please tell me you guys got the terminus fixed.

CARMICHAEL
Depends on your definition of fixed.

AMANDA
Will it work?

CARMICHAEL
Well, that's the question, isn't it.

He turns around and looks at the terminus.

CARMICHAEL
We've affixed a device we built to it, in order to vent any excess power, hypothetically preventing another overload. From there, it was just a matter of using the spare parts to replace the fried ones.

AMANDA
So… yes?

CARMICHAEL
Maybe.

Amanda checks her watch: 30 seconds are left.

AMANDA
Alright people, 30 seconds to zero time.

One of the engineers on site hands Amanda a special tightbeam communicator. She turns it on, and checks her watch.

3 seconds… 2 seconds… 1… 0…

The terminus powers up, and emits a blue flash. The static sound of space and time tearing open emits from it, and the portal forms. Everyone marvels at the portal, happy and surprised that the terminus worked correctly. A few seconds later, the tightbeam communicator begins to emit a voice.

OPERATOR VOICE
(From communicator)
This is 2156 coming from Lazarus station, do you copy, Terra Nova?

Amanda sighs in relief.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
This is Amanda Ravenholme. We read you loud and clear. Over.

OPERATOR VOICE
(From communicator)
Good, what do you have to report? What's the situation on your end? Have you made contact with the colonists? Have you encountered any hostile force?

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
I'm afraid I don't have too much good news to report. We reached the colony, but it's a graveyard; abandoned for years.

The operator on the other end of tightbeam is silent for several seconds.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
That's not all of it, there's more. We're not alone out here. We've had multiple confrontations with Phoenix group soldiers. It appears to only be a few, but they've been out here for years, and pose a large threat to our operation. We had a hostage situation involving them and our chief medic earlier today. We managed to resolve it with no casualties, but that can't be said for every encounter we've had.

The operator on the other end stays silent for a few more seconds, but manages to muster a response.

OPERATOR VOICE
(From communicator)
That's concerning. Is there anything you want us to send through to aid you?

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
In terms of supplies, we're in need of a lot. Our food reserves we brought with have been completely depleted, forcing us to survive off of what is left in the colony's agricultural district, so we need you guys to send a lot more food rations. Also, we need ammo, building supplies, security devices, and more rovers. We also need more people. We've had quite a few casualties in the two weeks we've been out here, and need more help. We also need people to help us rebuild the colony. More medics and scientists are a must as well. We've got a lot of what's happened so far documented, as well as a lot of other data. We'll transmit it over tightbeam if you're ready to receive. From there, you can make any additional judgement on what you need to send.

OPERATOR VOICE
(From communicator)
Copy that. Send the data over tightbeam, we are ready to receive.

Amanda turns to the engineers, who bring out some kind of box with an antenna attached. They press a few buttons on it, and it hums to life.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
Data transfer is live.

OPERATOR VOICE
(From communicator)
Signal received. Data is transferring successfully. Also, commander, we have someone here who wants to speak with you.

Another voice comes on over the comm. It's none other than Amanda's father, Thomas Ravenholme.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
Hey princess! How are things going?

Amanda visibly cringes at her father addressing her like she's still a kid. Several guards around the terminus site chuckle a bit.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
Hey dad, it's good to talk to you again. Things are difficult… but they could be worse.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
From what I've heard by listening in, the colony is no more? Abandoned?

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
That's right.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
Well, it had to have been the Phoenix group, right? You were saying you have had a couple of hostile encounters with them.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
It could be, yes, but not everything matches up with that theory.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
Well, whatever the case, we've got something to send through in order to help you guys out. It should be coming through now.

On cue, something comes through the portal. Four metallic objects, each the size of a medium suitcase, come out of the blue haze. They appear to be robots of some sort. Two of them with star wars walker type legs and lobster looking pincers extruding from a box shaped body, with the other two robots carried on the aforementioned object's backs. The two robots being carried by the walker robots appear to be flying drones of some sort.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
They're robotic vehicles that can either be remote controlled or programmed to work on their own. Two for ground and two for the air. They have a wide variety of uses, and have quite a few built in tools. As you can see, the ground models have grabbing arms mounted on the body you can use to… well… grab stuff. Beyond that, they've got a lot of stuff built in there. High powered laser cutters, live video broadcasting and recording, lethal and nonlethal grenade dispersal, etcetera. The flying models, even though they don't have the grabbing arms, have all the same built in features. Turn up the power on the laser cutter and set the thing to fly after your enemies, and you've got yourself a flying death laser.

Amanda motions for some guards to grab the remote vehicles and store them in one of the rovers nearby.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
Also, we figured you'd like something a bit less fancy as well.

A few cases come out of the portal. Amanda has one of the engineers open it up.

ENGINEER
They're sentry turrets, ma'am.

Amanda nods.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
Thanks, these will prove to be very useful.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
I'm going to do everything I can to keep you safe, Amanda. Everything.

AMANDA
(Into communicator)
Thanks, dad.

THOMAS
(From communicator)
Now, I think we need to discuss when we're going to open the portal again. The orders you put in are going to be hard to fulfill quickly, but we should be able t-

Without warning, the tightbeam signal begins to cut out. Amanda smacks the communication device, thinking that might be the problem, but then the portal begins to fluctuate weirdly.

CARMICHAEL
Oh no, I think it's having another overload!

The terminus sputters and chokes. The portal begins to blink in and out, and the contraption affixed to the terminus begins to vent excess power as it was made to do. Blue streams of electricity spark out of the contraption for a few seconds.

CARMICHAEL
Get back from the terminus!

The electricity zaps the ground multiple times with increasing frequency. Then the portal goes dark completely. Everyone looks around puzzled, disappointed, wondering what happened. Suddenly, a low rumbling sound is heard, emanating from everywhere.

AMANDA
What's that noise?

Everyone begins to look around confused. After a few seconds, things start to vibrate. People begin to notice that all the metallic objects on and around them are starting to shake. The rumbling builds and all the metal objects begin to thrash harder and harder. Sam pulls out his compass, and sees that the needle is spinning wildly just like it was earlier.

AMANDA
Carmichael! What's going on?!

Before Carmichael can answer with some vague guess, the unexpected happens. A deafening crack is heard, and the entire sky goes from a regular dark night sky, to a blinding white light, as if the sun was parked right outside of Earth's atmosphere. Everyone shuts their eyes and covers their ears. The rumbling keeps getting more and more intense. The ground is shaking now, and an intense buzzing noise begins to build over the sound of rumbling.

EXT. INFIRMARY

The blinding sky illuminates everything in the colony. Buildings rumble, and the metal portions of the fence outside the colony can be heard vibrating. Greg and Ramirez, cover their ears and close their eyes in agony.

EXT. TERMINUS SITE

People start to collapse to the ground, as the auditory and visual nightmare unfolding is proving to be too much to handle. It keeps building and building, but eventually, it reaches a climax, and begins to wind down. Amanda, and others begin to look up. The blinding white light that covered the entire sky begins to recede, but instead of fading away, it is all sucked towards a certain point far away over the horizon. The light drains to this point as if there was a black hole there, and after a few seconds, the sky is back to normal and the rumbling and buzzing noises have ceased. Everything is silent for a few seconds, until the sounds of the jungle gradually return, as if nothing had happened.

SAM
What… just happened?

CARMICHAEL
That must have been some kind of space time disturbance.

AMANDA
What's that mean?

CARMICHAEL
I mean, I can't really give you any specifics because I don't really know. A resonance cascade maybe? That's what people were afraid would happen before the particle accelerator in Hope Plaza was built, but that was just a theory, and this doesn't quite match up to the doomsday scenario people envisioned.

Amanda turns to Spunkmeyer

AMANDA
Spunkmeyer, what is off in the direction where the light receded to?

Spunkmeyer pulls out his plex and opens up a map on it.

SPUNKMEYER
Well, according to the map, a whole lot of nothing. It's a desert, a barren wasteland.

AMANDA
Well, we'll have to judge that ourselves with a closer look. Let's send a small scouting party out there when we get the chance.

Amanda looks up at the moon in the sky.

AMANDA (CONT'D)
For now though, we should get out of this god forsaken jungle.

EXT. COLONY, NIGHT

A convoy of rovers enters the colony gate. The leading rover, carrying Amanda and Sam, comes to a stop outside Taylor's building, and the other rovers follow suit once they enter the gates. People are out and about all over the colony, watching the sky, afraid the anomaly might happen again. Amanda and Sam get out of the rover, and walk towards the infirmary.

EXT. INFIRMARY, NIGHT

Greg and Ramirez are sitting together on the doorstep of the infirmary, both of them are looking up at the sky.

GREG
That was one hell of a lightshow. Wonder what it was.

Amanda and Sam show up. Greg notices.

GREG
Have an exciting time at the terminus? Enjoy the crazy sky thing? What was that anyways?

AMANDA
I don't know. Whatever it was cut our transmission to 2156 short though.
(To Ramirez)
Hey, are you okay? You had a pretty rough day.

RAMIREZ
Yeah, I'm alright now. More interested about what was going on with the sky.

Amanda nods.

AMANDA
Well, glad to hear you're doing ok. I have to get going, but let me know if you need anything.

RAMIREZ
Thanks.

Amanda walks off. Ramirez turns to Greg and Sam.

RAMIREZ
You guys should probably get some rest, it's been a long day.

GREG
Us? What about you?

RAMIREZ
I'm fine. Just want some time to think.

GREG
I mean, are you sure?

Ramirez nods.

GREG
Alright, if you say so. Good night.

Greg and Sam walk off. Greg can quietly be heard talking to Sam as they walk away.

GREG
(To Sam, distant)
Jesus, that sky stuff was insane. Do you think we're all going to get cancer or something from it? What should we call the event? The Crack? Wait, no, that sounds stupid.

Ramirez gets up and enters the infirmary.

INT. INFIRMARY

Ramirez looks around at the state of the place. The situation earlier really made the place messy. She begins reorganizing everything that's out of place, but as she's moving stuff around, she comes across the vial of blood she took from Lucas earlier. She picks it up, and now that she's not in a life threatening situation, she notices something. In the vial, is a bunch of small black particles floating around within the blood, like sand mixed with water.

RAMIREZ
What the hell?

Intrigued, she takes it over to a machine to examine it.

EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, NIGHT

Amanda is out on the balcony of Taylor's building, leaning on the railing and looking over the entire colony. Spunkmeyer comes outside from the building.

SPUNKMEYER
How's it going?

AMANDA
I don't know. It's been a pretty rough day. We had an infiltration from outsiders, one of our people taken and held hostage, the terminus breaking down, our transmission to 2156 being cut short, and now some weird sky anomaly, caused by god knows what.

SPUNKMEYER
It could have been worse, a lot worse.

Amanda chuckles.

AMANDA
I suppose it could have, couldn't it?

She sighs.

AMANDA
Those outsiders are a real thorn in my side. Even more so now that we have the terminus up and running, but I guess we need people stationed over there anyways in case my father or anyone at Lazarus station tries to contact us. After all, we weren't told when they were going to open it up again.

SPUNKMEYER
We'll figure it out.

AMANDA
I sure hope so. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we're going to have a talk about that desert wasteland.

Spunkmeyer nods, and walks off into the colony.

EXT. OUTSIDER'S CAMPSITE

Embers rise up out of a campfire like fireflies. Around the fire, is Lucas and Andrew. They are cooking some large beetles on a stick over the flame. The two of them silently stare into the fire. Dennis enters the clearing from the foliage.

LUCAS
(To Dennis)
Finally calm down?

Dennis gives Lucas an angry scowl, but plops down next to the fire anyways.

ANDREW
(To Lucas)
So do you know what happened with the sky? I thought the meteor that killed the dinosaurs had just hit or something.

LUCAS
We've got another 20 millions years before that happens, and no, I have no idea what happened. What I do know though, is that the light sunk towards the badlands.

ANDREW
So what?

LUCAS
So, that means we're in trouble. So, we're going to need to look for someplace safe to live. That's what. We don't need to be killed by the mistakes of others. Once those newcomers stumble their way into the badlands, they're as good as dead.

END OF EPISODE