Aster!
- They're not coming in. - They're forcing the doors open.
Beacon 23, this is the Crest.
We're entering your sector.
Beacon 23, this is the Crest.
We're entering your sector.
Beacon 23, do you copy?
- This can't be right. - Beacon 23,
we've got eight passengers on board.
We're pulling five years of supplies for the Eshu colonies.
What the hell is going on here?
We'll be crossing your space soon.
Crest, this is Beacon 23. You are not cleared.
There's too much dark matter. Do you copy?
Reroute, Crest, it isn't safe.
Beacon 23?
It would've been nice to have heard your voice, but all good.
- I see we are clear. - Damn it!
Crest, do you hear me? You are not clear.
Shit!
I don't understand.
Beacon 23, are we clear for passage?
Got it. Thanks, B23, we are headed your way.
Maybe we'll stop in for a beer in nine months--
No...
How much time do they have?
Retrieval time?
Hey. Hey, it's okay.
It's okay.
You're okay.
You understand me?
Here.
Don't worry, that'll stop.
You just got out of the bubble too quick.
It crosses the wires.
I'm gonna give you something.
Derma-patch.
It's a strong one, all right?
That's a good soldier.
Hey, easy. Careful.
Your ship just crashed.
The Crest?
I'm sorry, all hands lost.
Did you have any family aboard or...?
No.
I... I was alone.
There's a voice.
Welcome back.
What happened?
Beacon malfunctioned.
Map said stop, GWB said go.
The Gravity Wave Broadcaster.
I mean, I rebooted it. I... I tried manual reset.
I don't know. I think I'm being hacked.
You hungry?
Yeah.
Mm!
Mm, thank you.
Tastes like shit but it does the job.
I'll let the chef know.
I can get you another one if you'd like.
No. No, I'm good.
I'm gonna regret that later.
But I do feel...
good.
Oddly great, even.
Mm. Yeah, that's the derma.
It'll wear off, sorry to say.
We're out there, huh?
It's a pretty sweet view to wake up to.
Yeah.
I've never been this side of Orion before.
- Feels familiar. - Yeah, that'll happen.
Coming out the bubble sideways, it gives you déjà vu.
Is that all from the Crest?
Yeah, those data haulers, they really know how to pack 'em.
Especially out here, this side of the galaxy.
It's the only way they get any updates.
Two hundred years ago,
we beamed everything at the speed of light.
And now we're back to...
...stuffing shit in boxes.
Yeah, I guess so.
No way.
Is that a beta series?
I love these guys.
Come here, you little bugger.
Yeah, he does that. Don't take it personally.
Huh!
By the way, I'm Solomon.
Yeah. I know.
I said that?
Hm.
Okay.
Anyway, you're on a beacon.
Yeah, I know that too.
Right.
Look, I don't know where you were going,
but if you need help getting back--
This... this is where I was going. Beacon 23.
But they sent the thing months ago,
I can't believe no one told you I was coming.
No.
Who are you?
Aster.
What are you doing here?
Okay, let's start again, all right?
- Uh, the reports you sent-- - What reports?
The reports.
Mineral deposits, unknown isotopes,
nothing ever seen before.
Those reports, they don't sound familiar?
Yeah... um...
- Yeah. Of course, I-- - Yeah, those reports.
That's why I'm here. It's what I do.
Right, I just...
I didn't expect anyone to--
Well, it's been, what, a year?
I don't blame you, but folks in Mission Control,
they're interested, so...
...here I am. Barely, I guess.
I just need the samples and access to any data--
No.
- No? - Yeah, you can't access it...
AI is malfunctioning, I said that already.
Well, what's malfunctioning?
The AI, the whole beacon?
No! Okay? I just said no!
Didn't you hear me?
Yeah.
Loud and clear.
Goddamn...
It's just...
...it's been so long since I've even...
...and I gotta deal with the crash, and the reports.
- I got a lot of work to do. - Yeah, we all do.
Yeah, and first thing's first, I gotta figure out the protocol.
- Right. Protocol. - Yeah, okay?
I gotta figure out what happened with the GWB,
and then we can talk about the reports.
Why don't you...
...why don't you just have a rest, hm?
Yeah, you should get some rest. Just go back down to the dock.
We'll talk in the morning, okay?
Um, can I take my bag?
Or is that against protocol?
Harmony, wake.
Hello, Aster.
I'm afraid I'm not myself.
How long?
I don't have the processing power yet to answer that.
Great.
What about the data? Can you access the data?
Um, not yet, unfortunately.
- Aster. - Yeah?
Is something wrong?
Solomon, Beacon Keeper, he's, um...
antisocial.
Uncooperative.
- More than expected? - More hostile, I guess.
You let me know when you're up and running.
I'm sure I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.
- You be careful. - I will.
You knew about this, didn't you?
So, what, they sent you a message,
and you just decided not to tell me?
If she goes poking around too much,
you know whose fault that is?
If I gotta get rid of her, that's on you.
It's impressive. Is it true?
Sorry, my beep bop's a bit rusty.
What happened to Solomon?
I don't get ya.
Where is he now?
Do you know where the samples are?
Show me.
These the only samples?
Can you show me files on the reports?
Show me files related to the minerals.
Hey, wait!
Hm.
Someone's been breaking the rules.
Play three.
- Enlarge that. - Oh, Bart.
Be a dear. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
and print a couple sheets of ginger, yes?
- And... - Freeze there.
Identify.
What are you doing?
I'm sorry. I was just, um...
I said, what are you doing?
My job, really.
Did I say you could come up here?
In fact, um,
I'm pretty sure I told you not to.
Well, they're expecting a report from me--
- That's not my problem. - It's mine.
Look, I'm just gonna head downstairs--
No, stop!
What's on that screen?
Bart, if you don't move right now, so help me God!
I can explain.
- No need. - No, obviously I do,
because you're wondering why I don't look like Solomon,
and that's 'cause I'm not Solomon.
- I'm not-- - My name is Halan.
Look, I... I have no legal--
The real Solomon stole my ship and left.
Whatever happened, I don't need to know, I'm just gonna--
You're not listening to me, are you?
I don't know Solomon! All right?
I don't know anyone!
I just collect samples and write reports.
That's what I do.
So I'll just make my own way out.
- Oh, you will, huh? - Yeah!
What are you gonna do, just space walk out of here, hm?
Who's picking you up?
My ship crashed!
What, do you think I'm stupid, hm?
The Crest isn't coming back for you.
When is ISA picking you up?
Look, please, just back up, all right?
Or what?
What are you gonna do?
Hello.
I'm sure we have a lot of questions for each other.
Yes, I'm her personal AI.
Where is she now?
Aster?
Aster!
Hey.
Hi.
Who are you?
I'm Harmony.
You went AWOL, didn't you?
Hey.
You weren't stranded, you were hiding.
Where's Solomon?
I told you, he's gone.
Gone where, Halan?
- I don't know. - Oh, he knows.
- Of course he knows. - Bart?
My name is not Bart, nor is it AI,
nor ship nor dumbass.
My name is Bartholomew.
My human counterpart was Solomon.
- He called me Bart. - Bart, stop.
I'd prefer if you didn't.
I use the past tense because Solomon is no longer alive.
Goddamn it, Bart.
He was murdered, after being imprisoned
and tortured by this person.
That isn't half of the story, and you know it.
Aster. Aster!
Please, you gotta--
I saved your life!
I have a job to do.
Aster, you come back here!
Aster! Aster!
Aster!
Tout suite.
Cut!
Come on, come on.
Could you please...
Cut it, you rusted bucket.
All right, enough.
This Solomon guy's a piece of work.
True. But not a liar.
Solomon's chemical analysis confirms your intuition.
The element is unknown.
- Didn't I tell you I was right? - Ah, you told us.
Mm, Coley said it was a waste of time, but I knew I was right.
It was a bold move, Aster. Your gamble paid off.
Well, not yet, it hasn't.
I've still got more analysis to do.
- And we got, what, two samples? - Correct.
And he took how many trips over the years, 100?
One hundred seventy-two trips over nine years.
Solomon was very security conscious.
He took every precaution to protect his discoveries,
- even hiding them from me. - Yeah, I know.
It just makes my job more difficult.
Oh, this... this never would have happened
if Solomon were still alive.
He would have had the silicate beautifully arrayed for you.
But then he was horrifically murdered.
Hm, tragic loss.
This should've been the greatest day of Solomon's life.
Instead, he's gone, victim of a brutal homicide.
- I cannot-- - You can, and you have.
Numerous times.
Did you hear what he called you, Bart?
The presence of an ISA official is at least some solace.
Do you think Halan will be executed?
His crimes certainly meet the criteria for malice
- and forethought. - I don't know.
Bart, we need some privacy. Would you scan the beacon again?
If anyone can find the silicate samples, it's you.
It's my honor to assist
the Interstellar Space Authority in any capacity.
Thank you. He's been isolated too long.
His interpersonal skills are--
Hold, please. Quantum data packet arriving.
- Word from a cutter? - Yeah.
Extraction team is en route.
Estimated arrival, 35 to 40 hours.
Who doesn't like soy sauce?
Noticed you weren't eating.
What, are you worried I'm gonna waste away?
How long you planning on keeping me in here?
'Til my transport gets here.
- And when's that? - Soon enough.
You don't have to keep me locked up.
You're an AWOL pilot who killed a Beacon Keeper--
I didn't kill Solomon!
God!
I'm sorry.
I used to be better at this.
Aster, I need to get outta here.
I'm not letting you out of the Airlock.
No, not the Airlock, off the beacon.
Let me take the Picker, I'll disappear, and you'll never
- have to deal with me again. - Not happening.
Just say I escaped, I overpowered you.
No one would blame you.
You okay?
Halan, you okay?
No, no, I'm not okay.
I can't be here when your ISA buddies show up.
Look, I...
I came down here to talk to you, to understand.
I can put in a good word for you.
Don't you get it? I'm a deserter.
You help me find the samples Solomon collected.
Halan?
Hey.
Halan, look at me.
You need his rocks.
Yeah. Do you know where they are?
- Sarge? - Halan?
Halan, look at me.
No!
There's something wrong with him, Harmony.
He was hearing voices.
Saw something that scared him.
His heart rate's elevated, but respirations are low.
What's that condition soldiers get?
Hallucinations, headaches?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD has been eliminated from the service branches.
The last documented case was 73 years ago.
Because they gave them pharma after every mission.
- Harmony? - Printing now.
I object very strongly to this plan.
Objection noted.
Halan is without scruples, he is capable of any treachery.
This is a ruse, an act.
He's not a good enough liar for this to be an act.
To enter is too great a risk.
Harmony?
In the event of my demise,
please emphasize in the report that Bart warned me.
Will do.
Brought you something.
- I'll pass. - Just take it.
It's gonna help with the noises, and the throwing things...
Bart?
Open the door.
Harmony, get Bart to open the door.
He's not responding.
You weren't expecting that, were you?
In the service, that's what we call a tactical error.
Really?
Because from where I'm standing, it's called compassion.
Yeah.
Look, you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
That's the dose you missed when you went AWOL.
So what, I should just believe you?
What, you think I want to be down here playing medic?
Those prints could be anything.
They could leave me catatonic.
Or they could make you feel better.
It's a win-win.
You must really need those rocks.
It was a big risk coming back in here.
Not really.
I came back here because I know what it's like to be alone.
Completely alone, day after day.
Being in suspension doesn't count.
All right, how about 74 days in quarantine, awake,
in a cargo port in Sector 91?
I was way out on an exoplanet,
evaluating a potential mine.
ISA said I had to quarantine before I came back in.
The cargo port was the only place that would take me.
So what, your Harbor Master didn't like you?
No more Harbor Masters in those facilities.
Yeah, all right, it was nice.
There was hydration and nutrition
and everything was automated.
But there wasn't this. There was none of this.
So, what'd you do?
What, besides wanking?
I thought about all the things I try to avoid thinking about.
I thought about how I'll never see my sister again.
Because even if I take time off work,
she'll be dead by the time I get there.
And how I won't take time off work because if I do,
I'm scared they'll relegate me.
And how I've spent half my adult life in suspension,
which is great if you want to avoid all those things,
but it's shit for relationships.
Take it, don't take it.
Trust me.
I wouldn't do anything to make this worse for you.
Bart, open the door. I'm leaving now.
He's not gonna try to escape.
Don't say a word.
He had a hundred bags, where are they?
The story about being stranded, that was inspired.
Bart, privacy mode.
Very well.
He's clear.
What sector did I say, with Halan?
Sector 91, 74 days.
But then you just left the pharma.
You didn't even ask him what he knew.
- He saved my life. - And he could have killed you.
You walked in there without assessing the risks,
totally unarmed.
Look, he's got a condition. What was I supposed to do?
- You are running out of time. - Yeah, I know that.
Hey, Aster!
Bart, turn off the audio from the Airlock.
No, let it play.
Aster, are you listening to me?
I remembered something.
I'm listening.
No, you gotta come down here and talk to me face-to-face.
Whoa!
Well?
You look like you feel better.
Yeah, I guess those prints must've worked.
Thank you for that.
You said you remembered something?
- I do. - And?
Oh, I'm not just gonna tell you.
What happened to the gratitude you were feeling a minute ago?
Nah. No, I got a whole list of demands.
Starting with the Picker.
That won't get you past the debris field.
That's my problem.
Finding Solomon's rocks, that's your problem,
and I know exactly how to solve it.
So, we go, we check it out.
If what I tell you leads you to the rocks,
then you let me go.
Harmony, how much time do we have?
Latest estimate, 30 hours.
The one time I reached for it,
Solomon didn't want me to touch it.
Aster, he's wasting your time.
- What does it do? - It used to open
the maintenance access door for the microwave antenna.
But the antenna's been disconnected for 100 years.
The Antenna Silo is external.
Yes, but it can be accessed inside on the Storage Level.
Sounds like a good hiding place to me.
Looks like you might be getting off this beacon pretty soon.
- Aster, may I have a word? - No.
This is a matter of security. Allowing Halan to roam freely--
If you calm down, Bart,
I can explain how things actually work.
The only thing to explain
is when Aster is going to remand him to the authorities.
Halan will be taken care of, I can assure you.
She's making deals with him.
That means she's either stupid or corrupt.
- I demand to know which! - We do not demand.
And we certainly do not insult.
Our job is to use information to support and advise.
That's it.
You're right, I spoke out of turn.
I've defended you, Bart, because of everything
that you've been through.
But your behavior is unacceptable.
Run a self-diagnostic.
So... Bart.
Yeah. Bart.
Now you see why I shut off his permissions.
He'd drive anyone mental.
Makes that Sector 81 seem much more peaceful, huh?
Ninety-one.
Right, my mistake.
Find something?
Aster?
It's not the rocks, is it?
No.
That's gotta be it, right?
You wanna help?
Yeah.
Are you coming?
Yeah.
Sarge?
Halan?
Hey.
Halan, what happened down there?
No, no, no.
Halan, look at me.
You're safe, all right?
You're safe.
Harmony, print a sedative patch.
I'm sorry.
- What happened? - There was something there.
It came at me, I saw it.
I couldn't... I... Did you see anything?
It's possible we gave him the wrong dosage.
No!
No, it wasn't the pharma, there was something there!
Halan, there was nothing there. There was nothing inside.
Sedative patch ready.
I'll come back, okay?
Drink this.
Drink it.
You don't have to go back in there.
I saw something, Aster.
I swear.
Somebody better find those rocks, hey?
Or you're not getting off this beacon.
How you feeling?
You found the rocks, didn't you?
Yeah.
I guess that's it then.
I'll move out, clear the perimeter
before your cutter gets here.
All you gotta do is open the door.
I can't let you go.
We had a deal.
It's better this way, trust me.
No, trusting you is what got me here in the first place.
Look, they're not gonna care that you're AWOL.
It won't matter to them.
This is your best chance, and mine.
I let you out, they'll think we made a deal,
that I got a cut.
Then they'll destroy my life.
And they'll come for you, and it'll be worse.
No one is that scared of ISA.
Who are you?
Bye, Halan.
Even I believed she was gonna let you go, Halan.
Imagine my joy, seeing her duplicity revealed.
- Shut up, Bart. - You'll get no pity from me.
It's your turn to suffer.
And I intend to maximize every moment of your agony.
- I said shut up, Bart! - Scream and rage.
No one will hear you.
I've turned off your voice.
You silenced me once.
Let's see how you like it.
- Harm? - Yeah?
Did you see that?
It... it just disappeared.
I just need to slow down the element
and figure out what it is.
I could print out a collisional cooling unit.
This is a major find.
Aster!
That debris
should not have been allowed to get this close to the beacon.
Close the docking bay. Lock everything down.
They're not coming in.
Bring the drones, open fire.
They've attached too close to the fusion generator.
If we fire on them, the beacon will explode.
We're losing pressure in Airlock One.
They're forcing the doors open.
Contain them to the lower levels.
What about Halan?
No one comes up.