Inside THE ENTERPRISE, with a HISS. The airlock opened. Steam curled. CONNEL VANAGOR stepped through in full Shadow gear—battle-worn, imposing. He took a b breath—then… THUD. BUSTER, a massive Gallinorese Mountain Aak Dog, SLAMMED into him with joyous force.
Easy—! Heheh Okay…
He stumbled half a step—then steadied himself. Hand dropped instinctively to Buster’s neck. Familiar. Grounding. He pulled off the mask. The myth, the symbol disappeared. The man remained.
Further inside, in one of the common areas, full of warm light, of real life. LIRA VOSS moved through the room, cooking—efficient, effortless.
Easy—! Heheh Okay…
He stumbled half a step—then steadied himself. Hand dropped instinctively to Buster’s neck. Familiar. Grounding. He pulled off the mask. The myth, the symbol disappeared. The man remained.
Further inside, in one of the common areas, full of warm light, of real life. LIRA VOSS moved through the room, cooking—efficient, effortless.
She didn’t turn. “You’re late.”
Connel smiled and crossed to her. No hesitation. He took her into an arm and then he kissed her. She returned it—slipping a hand around behind his neck, like it’s the most normal thing in the galaxy. Then pulled back just enough—
“…again.”
Then a pause.
You’re probably wondering how
I got here.[/QUOTE]
(slight pause)
…I didn’t mess it up.[/QUOTE]
“This is raw.”
Lira the chef cut into the steak—perfect medium rare. “No.”
throwing someone out over a steak. (There was
a pause) He was wrong.[/QUOTE]
Conversation.
(a pause)
She didn’t. That matters.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
A couple of days had gone
by and I had about had enough of being at this
stuffy station but because my mother was not
here, I had to be. One night at the GROTTO later
in the night she was there.[/QUOTE]
Water glowing softly. Lira sat there, boots off and toes dipping. Connel nearby.
You have somewhere to stay?
“Not tonight. Hangar Bay has a systems issue, I can’t get to my ship.”
I do. He didn’t look at her, just paused. You can use it. Or not.
someone… A pause. …and
giving them the choice not to need you. She didn’t need a “hero”,
she just needed an option if she wanted it. She took it. I took the
smaller room in the suite.… and pretended I wasn’t awake when
she checked on me.[/QUOTE]
A ruptured fuel conduit along the hangar wall.
Not explosive yet. But building. Pressure was climbing… in the wrong direction.
They offered help, the crews took it. Connel was a gearhead, but nowhere near the level that Lira was in her element, working on shutting down and closing off the fuel line. Neither of them were particularly heroic, the crew were doing their jobs, but the extra hands helped.
No sentiment, no intimacy, they jut worked.
someone when things go wrong.
A quiet pause.
You learn more…
when they don’t step back.[/QUOTE]
Plop Leaned into her. Of course he did.
“You’re not small.”
of character than most people. A sigh
and a chuckle later. If he
likes you… I pay attention.[/QUOTE]
Later that night on the LOWER PROMENADE
They had been spending the day together to this point, enjoying Street food. Noise. Life.
Lira and Connel sat side by side. “This isn’t a date.”
No.
Buster sneezes. They both smile.
“So… she’s the one?”
Connel turned with a sigh, not out of being caught, but because his anxiety was not powering up like it normally would have. No. Then a slight pause. This is my mother.
Chrysa just smiled and extended a hand. “Chrysothemis Vanagor, you can call me ‘Chrysa’, I was wondering when I’d meet you.”
Then an exasperated sigh and laugh.
That was enough.
CHRYSA (TO CONNEL joining the VOICEOVER)
“You’re going to marry that woman.”
CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Yeah, I tried to argue.
Another laugh.
Didn’t go well.[/QUOTE]
Then came later that day, they were standing by the Grotto.
Quietly they watched the stars, until “Don’t decide because someone told you.”
A sigh, which told more than she wanted it to. “Decide because you mean it.”
The moment continued. Lira’s hand lingered on his neck. Just a second longer. Looking into his eyes, she asked quietly, “Everything alright?”
Yeah. He paused. …but it got close.
She nodded. No panic. “You handled it.”
We did. Buster wedged between them again. Satisfied.
“He missed you.”
Yeah?
“Yeah.” (a pause) “Me too.”
No rush. No tension. Just… home.
(a pause)
…it wasn’t complicated.[/QUOTE]
He looked at her.
out one thing.[/QUOTE]
I decided.
Lira studied him. No surprise. “Good.” She paused. “Took you long enough.”
Buster FLOPPED between them like a victorious general.
“We did.”
Also—[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Buster sprawled across both of them.
Completely in charge.
“He does.”
Yeah.
(another pause)
He does.[/QUOTE]
She didn’t turn. “You’re late.”
Connel smiled and crossed to her. No hesitation. He took her into an arm and then he kissed her. She returned it—slipping a hand around behind his neck, like it’s the most normal thing in the galaxy. Then pulled back just enough—
“…again.”
Then a pause.
You’re probably wondering how
I got here.[/QUOTE]
(slight pause)
…I didn’t mess it up.[/QUOTE]
“This is raw.”
Lira the chef cut into the steak—perfect medium rare. “No.”
throwing someone out over a steak. (There was
a pause) He was wrong.[/QUOTE]
Conversation.
(a pause)
She didn’t. That matters.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
A couple of days had gone
by and I had about had enough of being at this
stuffy station but because my mother was not
here, I had to be. One night at the GROTTO later
in the night she was there.[/QUOTE]
Water glowing softly. Lira sat there, boots off and toes dipping. Connel nearby.
You have somewhere to stay?
“Not tonight. Hangar Bay has a systems issue, I can’t get to my ship.”
I do. He didn’t look at her, just paused. You can use it. Or not.
someone… A pause. …and
giving them the choice not to need you. She didn’t need a “hero”,
she just needed an option if she wanted it. She took it. I took the
smaller room in the suite.… and pretended I wasn’t awake when
she checked on me.[/QUOTE]
A ruptured fuel conduit along the hangar wall.
Not explosive yet. But building. Pressure was climbing… in the wrong direction.
They offered help, the crews took it. Connel was a gearhead, but nowhere near the level that Lira was in her element, working on shutting down and closing off the fuel line. Neither of them were particularly heroic, the crew were doing their jobs, but the extra hands helped.
No sentiment, no intimacy, they jut worked.
someone when things go wrong.
A quiet pause.
You learn more…
when they don’t step back.[/QUOTE]
Plop Leaned into her. Of course he did.
“You’re not small.”
of character than most people. A sigh
and a chuckle later. If he
likes you… I pay attention.[/QUOTE]
Later that night on the LOWER PROMENADE
They had been spending the day together to this point, enjoying Street food. Noise. Life.
Lira and Connel sat side by side. “This isn’t a date.”
No.
Buster sneezes. They both smile.
“So… she’s the one?”
Connel turned with a sigh, not out of being caught, but because his anxiety was not powering up like it normally would have. No. Then a slight pause. This is my mother.
Chrysa just smiled and extended a hand. “Chrysothemis Vanagor, you can call me ‘Chrysa’, I was wondering when I’d meet you.”
Then an exasperated sigh and laugh.
That was enough.
CHRYSA (TO CONNEL joining the VOICEOVER)
“You’re going to marry that woman.”
CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Yeah, I tried to argue.
Another laugh.
Didn’t go well.[/QUOTE]
Then came later that day, they were standing by the Grotto.
Quietly they watched the stars, until “Don’t decide because someone told you.”
A sigh, which told more than she wanted it to. “Decide because you mean it.”
The moment continued. Lira’s hand lingered on his neck. Just a second longer. Looking into his eyes, she asked quietly, “Everything alright?”
Yeah. He paused. …but it got close.
She nodded. No panic. “You handled it.”
We did. Buster wedged between them again. Satisfied.
“He missed you.”
Yeah?
“Yeah.” (a pause) “Me too.”
No rush. No tension. Just… home.
(a pause)
…it wasn’t complicated.[/QUOTE]
He looked at her.
out one thing.[/QUOTE]
I decided.
Lira studied him. No surprise. “Good.” She paused. “Took you long enough.”
Buster FLOPPED between them like a victorious general.
“We did.”
Also—[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Buster sprawled across both of them.
Completely in charge.
“He does.”
Yeah.
(another pause)
He does.[/QUOTE]
Easy—! Heheh Okay…
He stumbled half a step—then steadied himself. Hand dropped instinctively to Buster’s neck. Familiar. Grounding. He pulled off the mask. The myth, the symbol disappeared. The man remained.
Further inside, in one of the common areas, full of warm light, of real life. LIRA VOSS moved through the room, cooking—efficient, effortless.
Inside THE ENTERPRISE, with a HISS. The airlock opened. Steam curled. CONNEL VANAGOR stepped through in full Shadow gear—battle-worn, imposing. He took a b breath—then… THUD. BUSTER, a massive Gallinorese Mountain Aak Dog, SLAMMED into him with joyous force.
Easy—! Heheh Okay…
He stumbled half a step—then steadied himself. Hand dropped instinctively to Buster’s neck. Familiar. Grounding. He pulled off the mask. The myth, the symbol disappeared. The man remained.
Further inside, in one of the common areas, full of warm light, of real life. LIRA VOSS moved through the room, cooking—efficient, effortless.
She didn’t turn. “You’re late.”
Connel smiled and crossed to her. No hesitation. He took her into an arm and then he kissed her. She returned it—slipping a hand around behind his neck, like it’s the most normal thing in the galaxy. Then pulled back just enough—
“…again.”
FREEZE FRAME
Buster wedged between them. Lira mid-almost-smile. Connel caught between worlds.RECORD SCRATCH
[QUOTE]CONNEL (IN A VOICEOVER)
Yep. That’s me.Then a pause.
You’re probably wondering how
I got here.[/QUOTE]
SMASH CUT TO BLACK
[QUOTE]CONNEL (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Fair question.(slight pause)
…I didn’t mess it up.[/QUOTE]
“A LITTLE EARLIER”
“THE STORY SO FAR”
Inside the Obellisk Vacation Destination, the Orbit Prime STEAKHOUSE — Mid Evening
A very well dressed, well put together(and knows it) man gestures angrily at a plate.“This is raw.”
Lira the chef cut into the steak—perfect medium rare. “No.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
First time I saw her… she wasthrowing someone out over a steak. (There was
a pause) He was wrong.[/QUOTE]
Later on in the evening, the place was closed, empty after hours. Connel, was sitting at a table, just quietly relaxed. Lira then sat across from him, just the two of them in the entire place.
”You waiting for something?”
Conversation.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Most people talk to fill space.(a pause)
She didn’t. That matters.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
A couple of days had gone
by and I had about had enough of being at this
stuffy station but because my mother was not
here, I had to be. One night at the GROTTO later
in the night she was there.[/QUOTE]
Water glowing softly. Lira sat there, boots off and toes dipping. Connel nearby.
You have somewhere to stay?
“Not tonight. Hangar Bay has a systems issue, I can’t get to my ship.”
I do. He didn’t look at her, just paused. You can use it. Or not.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
There’s a difference between helpingsomeone… A pause. …and
giving them the choice not to need you. She didn’t need a “hero”,
she just needed an option if she wanted it. She took it. I took the
smaller room in the suite.… and pretended I wasn’t awake when
she checked on me.[/QUOTE]
Inside the Hangar Bay, at least the one that Lira’s ship was in was finally open and able to receive sentients. So they made their way the next morning down there only to discover a bigger problem.
A ruptured fuel conduit along the hangar wall.
Not explosive yet. But building. Pressure was climbing… in the wrong direction.
They offered help, the crews took it. Connel was a gearhead, but nowhere near the level that Lira was in her element, working on shutting down and closing off the fuel line. Neither of them were particularly heroic, the crew were doing their jobs, but the extra hands helped.
No sentiment, no intimacy, they jut worked.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
You learn a lot aboutsomeone when things go wrong.
A quiet pause.
You learn more…
when they don’t step back.[/QUOTE]
Later that day — DAY
Buster circled Lira. Sniffed. Decided.Plop Leaned into her. Of course he did.
“You’re not small.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Buster’s a better judgeof character than most people. A sigh
and a chuckle later. If he
likes you… I pay attention.[/QUOTE]
Later that night on the LOWER PROMENADE
They had been spending the day together to this point, enjoying Street food. Noise. Life.
Lira and Connel sat side by side. “This isn’t a date.”
No.
Buster sneezes. They both smile.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
We didn’t call it a date. A pause. Still don’t.[/QUOTE]The next day on the PROMENADE
Lira approached having finished her early shift at the Steakhouse to look to see if Connel wanted to do something, perhaps another (not a) date. Then she saw him with CHRYSA.“So… she’s the one?”
Connel turned with a sigh, not out of being caught, but because his anxiety was not powering up like it normally would have. No. Then a slight pause. This is my mother.
Chrysa just smiled and extended a hand. “Chrysothemis Vanagor, you can call me ‘Chrysa’, I was wondering when I’d meet you.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
My mother met her once.Then an exasperated sigh and laugh.
That was enough.
CHRYSA (TO CONNEL joining the VOICEOVER)
“You’re going to marry that woman.”
CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Yeah, I tried to argue.
Another laugh.
Didn’t go well.[/QUOTE]
Then came later that day, they were standing by the Grotto.
Quietly they watched the stars, until “Don’t decide because someone told you.”
A sigh, which told more than she wanted it to. “Decide because you mean it.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER.)
She gave me one rule. That was the only one that mattered.[/QUOTE]CUT BACK TO PRESENT
INT. ENTERPRISE — LIVING SPACE — DAY
Unfreeze.The moment continued. Lira’s hand lingered on his neck. Just a second longer. Looking into his eyes, she asked quietly, “Everything alright?”
Yeah. He paused. …but it got close.
She nodded. No panic. “You handled it.”
We did. Buster wedged between them again. Satisfied.
“He missed you.”
Yeah?
“Yeah.” (a pause) “Me too.”
No rush. No tension. Just… home.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (doing his VOICEOVER)
Turns out…(a pause)
…it wasn’t complicated.[/QUOTE]
He looked at her.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Just took a while to figureout one thing.[/QUOTE]
I decided.
Lira studied him. No surprise. “Good.” She paused. “Took you long enough.”
Buster FLOPPED between them like a victorious general.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
When something’s right…[/QUOTE]“We did.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
…you don’t hesitate where it counts.Also—[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Buster sprawled across both of them.
Completely in charge.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (in his VOICEOVER STILL)
—he still thinks he runs things.LIRA (Joining on the VOICEOVER)
“He does.”
Yeah.
(another pause)
He does.[/QUOTE]
She didn’t turn. “You’re late.”
Connel smiled and crossed to her. No hesitation. He took her into an arm and then he kissed her. She returned it—slipping a hand around behind his neck, like it’s the most normal thing in the galaxy. Then pulled back just enough—
“…again.”
FREEZE FRAME
Buster wedged between them. Lira mid-almost-smile. Connel caught between worlds.RECORD SCRATCH
[QUOTE]CONNEL (IN A VOICEOVER)
Yep. That’s me.Then a pause.
You’re probably wondering how
I got here.[/QUOTE]
SMASH CUT TO BLACK
[QUOTE]CONNEL (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Fair question.(slight pause)
…I didn’t mess it up.[/QUOTE]
“A LITTLE EARLIER”
“THE STORY SO FAR”
Inside the Obellisk Vacation Destination, the Orbit Prime STEAKHOUSE — Mid Evening
A very well dressed, well put together(and knows it) man gestures angrily at a plate.“This is raw.”
Lira the chef cut into the steak—perfect medium rare. “No.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
First time I saw her… she wasthrowing someone out over a steak. (There was
a pause) He was wrong.[/QUOTE]
Later on in the evening, the place was closed, empty after hours. Connel, was sitting at a table, just quietly relaxed. Lira then sat across from him, just the two of them in the entire place.
”You waiting for something?”
Conversation.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Most people talk to fill space.(a pause)
She didn’t. That matters.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
A couple of days had gone
by and I had about had enough of being at this
stuffy station but because my mother was not
here, I had to be. One night at the GROTTO later
in the night she was there.[/QUOTE]
Water glowing softly. Lira sat there, boots off and toes dipping. Connel nearby.
You have somewhere to stay?
“Not tonight. Hangar Bay has a systems issue, I can’t get to my ship.”
I do. He didn’t look at her, just paused. You can use it. Or not.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
There’s a difference between helpingsomeone… A pause. …and
giving them the choice not to need you. She didn’t need a “hero”,
she just needed an option if she wanted it. She took it. I took the
smaller room in the suite.… and pretended I wasn’t awake when
she checked on me.[/QUOTE]
Inside the Hangar Bay, at least the one that Lira’s ship was in was finally open and able to receive sentients. So they made their way the next morning down there only to discover a bigger problem.
A ruptured fuel conduit along the hangar wall.
Not explosive yet. But building. Pressure was climbing… in the wrong direction.
They offered help, the crews took it. Connel was a gearhead, but nowhere near the level that Lira was in her element, working on shutting down and closing off the fuel line. Neither of them were particularly heroic, the crew were doing their jobs, but the extra hands helped.
No sentiment, no intimacy, they jut worked.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
You learn a lot aboutsomeone when things go wrong.
A quiet pause.
You learn more…
when they don’t step back.[/QUOTE]
Later that day — DAY
Buster circled Lira. Sniffed. Decided.Plop Leaned into her. Of course he did.
“You’re not small.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Buster’s a better judgeof character than most people. A sigh
and a chuckle later. If he
likes you… I pay attention.[/QUOTE]
Later that night on the LOWER PROMENADE
They had been spending the day together to this point, enjoying Street food. Noise. Life.
Lira and Connel sat side by side. “This isn’t a date.”
No.
Buster sneezes. They both smile.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
We didn’t call it a date. A pause. Still don’t.[/QUOTE]The next day on the PROMENADE
Lira approached having finished her early shift at the Steakhouse to look to see if Connel wanted to do something, perhaps another (not a) date. Then she saw him with CHRYSA.“So… she’s the one?”
Connel turned with a sigh, not out of being caught, but because his anxiety was not powering up like it normally would have. No. Then a slight pause. This is my mother.
Chrysa just smiled and extended a hand. “Chrysothemis Vanagor, you can call me ‘Chrysa’, I was wondering when I’d meet you.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
My mother met her once.Then an exasperated sigh and laugh.
That was enough.
CHRYSA (TO CONNEL joining the VOICEOVER)
“You’re going to marry that woman.”
CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Yeah, I tried to argue.
Another laugh.
Didn’t go well.[/QUOTE]
Then came later that day, they were standing by the Grotto.
Quietly they watched the stars, until “Don’t decide because someone told you.”
A sigh, which told more than she wanted it to. “Decide because you mean it.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER.)
She gave me one rule. That was the only one that mattered.[/QUOTE]CUT BACK TO PRESENT
INT. ENTERPRISE — LIVING SPACE — DAY
Unfreeze.The moment continued. Lira’s hand lingered on his neck. Just a second longer. Looking into his eyes, she asked quietly, “Everything alright?”
Yeah. He paused. …but it got close.
She nodded. No panic. “You handled it.”
We did. Buster wedged between them again. Satisfied.
“He missed you.”
Yeah?
“Yeah.” (a pause) “Me too.”
No rush. No tension. Just… home.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (doing his VOICEOVER)
Turns out…(a pause)
…it wasn’t complicated.[/QUOTE]
He looked at her.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
Just took a while to figureout one thing.[/QUOTE]
I decided.
Lira studied him. No surprise. “Good.” She paused. “Took you long enough.”
Buster FLOPPED between them like a victorious general.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
When something’s right…[/QUOTE]“We did.”
[QUOTE]CONNEL (VOICEOVER)
…you don’t hesitate where it counts.Also—[/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Buster sprawled across both of them.
Completely in charge.
[QUOTE]CONNEL (in his VOICEOVER STILL)
—he still thinks he runs things.LIRA (Joining on the VOICEOVER)
“He does.”
Yeah.
(another pause)
He does.[/QUOTE]
