STELLAR DISSONANCE

by
URI PONTE
FADE IN:

EXT. THE CELESTIAL ARROW SPACE SHIP - ORBITING IN SPACE

A sleek, silver bullet-like ship, the Celestial Arrow, glides

through the vastness of space.

INT. SPACESHIP - COMMAND MODULE

The Celestial Arrow's command module, a serene and efficient

heart of advanced technology. On the front of the ship lies a
massive window that allows for clean navigation. On the roof
of the module, is a circular vault entrance to the outside
world. At the helm, two extraterrestrial beings, RIKON and
VENUS, adorned in blue jumpers, command the vessel. Rikon,
his blue-green skin and trio of blue antennae, stands alert.
Venus, her skin a softer blue-pink, complemented by her own
antennas, reclines casually in her chair. They preside over a
plethora of controls with one prominent screen panel.

Rikon’s fingers move with deliberate intent, pressing a

button on his control panel.

RIKON
Daily Log: Star-date 473.2. Our
mission progresses smoothly.
Resources collected from the
asteroid belt in sector Z-75 are
sufficient for the next phase. End
transmission.

The button releases with a soft click, the communication cut.

RIKON (CONT’D)
(to Venus)
Well now that that’s over, I guess
we can go back to cryo-sleep.

Venus, stirs in her seat while tapping her finger on the

chair’s handlebar. She looks out to the ship’s front window
with despair plastered across her face.

RIKON (CONT’D)
What’s going on, Venus? Are you
gonna play with the nets again?

VENUS
Do you ever contemplate... the
endlessness of space?

Rikon studies Venus, his gaze turning analytical.

RIKON
You wanna go get a drink?
 2.

She looks back at him with puzzlement.

INT. SPACESHIP - SHIP KITCHEN

In the ship's kitchen, Rikon ponders over their choice of

beverages, while Venus sits at the table next to him.

RIKON
Moon milk or green orchard?

VENUS
(distractedly)
Green orchard, I guess.

With a fluid motion, he places them on the table and takes a

seat opposite Venus.

RIKON
(trying to engage her)
You know, I read that green orchard
is brewed from rare Moreinine
fruits.

VENUS
(absently)
Is it? That's... intriguing.

Rikon observes her.

RIKON
Is there anything you want to talk
about?

VENUS
It's just... all this emptiness and
sticking to our routines, our
paths. Don’t you find it...
limiting.

RIKON
(drinking)
Limiting? We literally explore
planets for signs of life and
resources.

VENUS
It's not about that. It's
about...connection...I don’t really
know.

RIKON
Look, I know our mission is
challenging, but it's ours. We're
built for this.
 3.

Venus slumps.

RIKON (CONT’D)
Listen, I think you are just in a
rut right now... maybe just get up
and go around the ship and find
pleasure in the little things. Like
cleaning the octa-tank-

VENUS
Octa tank?

RIKON
Or.... even figuring out how to
make our mission quicker... you
know, just find pleasure in doing
the little things, because isn’t
that what life is ultimately
about... just doing things.

Venus gives a look of contempt towards Rikon.

VENUS
I don't want to just try 'finding
joy' in routine. I want to
experience... life...like maybe
visit planet like Turath or
something.

Rikon, shocked, tries to maintain composure.

RIKON
We have duties, Venus. We can't
just abandon the-

VENUS
I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR DUTIES, AND
I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU, I FUCKING
HATE THIS SHIP.

Rikon grips his cup.

They stare face-to-face, their emotions raw, when suddenly a

THUD against the ship and the ALARM BLARING interrupt,
demanding their attention.

VENUS (CONT’D)
What is that?

RIKON
Dargnuts! It’s the red alert, We’ve
been boarded by a foreign vessel.
 4.

VENUS
What does that mean?

RIKON
What do you think it means?...It’s
Space Pirates.

VENUS
Well, what do we do?

RIKON
What we’re supposed to do. We have
to protect the ship.....
(to Venus)
Listen, I know you don't want to be
here anymore, but I need you to
help me protect this ship, so will
you help me?

ZOOM IN - Venus thinks.

INT. SPACESHIP - EQUIPMENT ROOM

Rikon and Venus stride into the equipment room, a stark

contrast to the ship's otherwise sleek aesthetic. Here,
utility reigns over form. The walls are lined with racks of
LASER GUNS, their low hums a testament to their readiness.
ASTRONAUT SUITS, built for combat rather than exploration,
hang in silent readiness.

Together, they assist each other into the suits. The material
conforms to their forms with a series of clicks and hisses,
the seal of the helmets signifying a transition to battle
readiness.

RIKON
There’s a headset built into the
suit, so we can communicate.

Venus nods.

Rikon's selects a laser gun from a rack, his eyes assessing

its charge, then he offers another to Venus.

EXT. SPACE SHIP - OUTER HULL - SPACE

The silence of space engulfs Rikon and Venus as they emerge

from the ship through a concealed hatch. Magnetic locks on
their boots click into place, anchoring them to the ship's
exterior. They take measured, deliberate steps across the
hull, leaving temporary impressions in the cosmic dust that
coats the surface.
 5.

Their visors catch the starlight, making them appear as

spectral entities against the infinite. They reach the apex
of the ship, positioning themselves strategically out of
sight from the marauding vessel.

The pirate ship, a mechanical monstrosity, clings to the

Celestial Arrow like a parasite. Its form is a chaotic
collage of metal, an ugly testament to its violent purpose.
Steam vents sporadically, adding to its brutish aesthetic.

A hatch on the pirate ship swings open, and its motley crew
spill out. The FIRST PIRATE, a towering figure with a robotic
eye patch and a glowing plasma-cutlass. The SECOND PIRATE,
nimble and sleek in a black and red suit with a retractable
visor helmet, twirls a pair of laser pistols. The THIRD
PIRATE, a hulking presence in armored green, with a
mechanical arm and a massive blaster cannon, moves with
intimidating purpose.

RIKON
(through headset)
We go in 3...2..1.

They release their magnetic tethers, propelling themselves

with their suit's thrusters toward the enemy.

The pirates, immediately alerted by the presence of Rikon and

Venus, turn just in time to avoid the attack. The void
becomes a battlefield as LASER BLASTS cut through the
silence, their red and green trails painting the darkness.

Rikon maneuvers with a grace born of training, his body

rolling along the ship’s curvature to evade the deadly lasers
from the first and second pirate. He returns fire in kind,
his movements a lethal ballet.

Venus faces the mechanically-armed third pirate, her shots

calculated against his erratic barrage. She ducks, the
pirate's return fire sending sparks into the void.

Rikon grapples with the first and second pirate, trying to

shoot at both them, while they shoot at him. They twist and
turn in a zero-gravity struggle. Suddenly, the first pirate
shoots Rikon's laser gun away. He runs at Rikon and grabs him
by force, dragging him towards the hatch of their ship while
the second pirate follows.

RIKON (CONT’D)
(through headset)
Venus, they’re taking me!

Venus looks at Rikon in panic as the first and second pirates

drag him towards their ship. She focuses herself.
 6.

With a clever feint and a swift roll, she lands a critical

shot on the third pirate’s shoulder, sending him reeling
through space. Seizing the moment, she slips away through the
ship's rear hatch, her mind racing with plans for her next
move.

INT. SPACESHIP - HALLWAY

Venus, gun in hand, closes her eyes, and inhales and exhales.
She continues to walk.

INT. SPACESHIP - COMMAND MODULE

Venus peeks from behind the entryway, observing Rikon on the

ground, two pirates towering over him.

FIRST PIRATE
(angrily)
Where's your cargo, you blue freak?

RIKON
(defiant)
I won't tell you anything!

Venus steps into view, her weapon trained on the First

Pirate. The tension is palpable, a standoff that could erupt
at any second.

FIRST PIRATE
(dismissive)
This isn't gonna go how you hope,
sweetheart.

Venus’ eyes, trace the outline of Rikon's concerned

expression before settling on the First pirate.

VENUS
(assured)
If I give you what you want... can
I join your crew?

A question that hangs in the void, leaving a ripple of

surprise. Rikon's face is etched with disbelief and betrayal.

FIRST PIRATE
(surprised but regaining
composure)
What? You’re lying. Stop lying.

VENUS
(plainly)
The compass is hidden behind the
navigation console's panel.
(MORE)
 7.
VENUS (CONT’D)
It slides away with the correct
code. I’ll show you.

RIKON
You monster! How could you do this?

Venus walks to the controls, and with a quick jab at the

console, she initiates a security protocol. A siren blares,
and the room is bathed in red light. A net shoots from the
walls, scooping both pirates.

RIKON (CONT’D)
What did you do?

VENUS
(helping Rikon)
I’m not that bored that I’d leave
you to join some pirates.

The pirates tangle within the nets. Rikon is astonished.

EXT. SPACE SHIP - OUTER HULL - SPACE

From a bird’s eye view, we see Rikon and Venus stand atop
their ship next to a blue and white ship labeled the
AUTHORITY CRUISER that is planted on their ship and has also
towed the pirates’ ship to its behind. An AUTHORITY CRUISER
OFFICER pushes forward first and second pirate onto the
elevation belt that extends from the opening of the AUTHORITY
CRUISER.

INT. SPACESHIP - COMMAND MODULE

Rikon and Venus enter the ship through the hatch entrance.
Venus slumps back down in her chair. Rikon walks to the
screen panel and presses the screen.

RIKON
Listen, I know you don’t want to be
here anymore, but you saved me
today, and....I want you here.

Venus looks at him in agreement.

RIKON (CONT’D)
And maybe there is something more
than this ship...So how about we
take a trip?

Rikon moves back, revealing that the screen he pressed says

TURATH. Venus smiles.

FADE OUT.
8.