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Rated: 13+ · Book · Sci-fi · #1369089
The main characters are introduced, also hard science, political and religious intrigue.
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#558341 added January 2, 2008 at 12:16am
Restrictions: None
EPISODE 13 - HOMEWARD BOUND
FADE IN:

INT. GALLEY

Several crew members have joined for breakfast.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             Did you know that I can't date
                             their tissue?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             How so?

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             I tried to run a carbon-14
                             analysis on the samples they gave
                             me and there is no carbon-14.
                             They are either several billion
                             years old, or there is no such
                             thing as carbon-14 where they
                             came from, only carbon-12.

Mike just shrugs.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             They also have only 21 chromosomes
                             plus the X and Y factor. Not 23
                             like us.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, we are hybrid from Earth
                             stock. Is this a problem?

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             No. It tells me we are compatible,
                             but there are some genetic
                             differences. What those are, I
                             do not know yet.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, unless I decide to ask Y'va
                             out on a date, this shouldn't be
                             a big deal.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             It might be. From what I can
                             determine, there would be no
                             problem in interbreeding. Like
                             horses, they may look the same on
                             the outside, but the chromosome
                             count is different between breeds.
                             From what I know, what they added
                             to simian DNA still keeps us
                             absolutely compatible sexually.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I was joking. I hope you know that.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                                       (Smirking)
                             Yes. I thought you should be aware.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Now hold on a minute. She's not
                             my type; much too tall.

Ivan's smirk grows deeper.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                             I think we all know what your
                             type is.

He turns to leave the wardroom as Mike flounders for a comeback.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I'm a confirmed bachelor.

Medvedev just shrugs and keeps walking.

Mike squirms, feeling trapped in

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             I told you so.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Panicked)
                             That wasn't on the air, was it?

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             No. By the time I realized where
                             he was going it was too late to
                             switch it on. I'll do better
                             next time.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I'll unplug you!

Small beads of perspiration appear on his forehead even
though the temperature in the ship is a constant 68 degrees
Fahrenheit.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Mumbling)
                             FSB, CIA, and the computer cops
                             are all out to get me.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. COMMAND DECK

Mike calls a meeting of the crew on the command deck for
just before noon and by the time he arrives, everyone had
already assembled.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             OK, guys. We've only got a
                             couple more days before we go
                             home. Anybody have any major
                             experiments to wrap up?

There are disappointed looks around the room.

                                                 STROMBERG
                             We were right about the water in
                             that tank. It is synthetic.
                             It's a by-product of their power
                             generation system. They can take
                             oxygen molecules from the plasma
                             that were liberated from the iron
                             oxide in the sand and combine it
                             directly with free hydrogen.
                             That's why it is so pure.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Think we can come up with a way
                             to use that on Earth to produce
                             power and water for the arid
                             countries?

                                                 NORODSKY
                             I don't see why not. It will
                             take more study, but if we can
                             duplicate their plasma generators
                             we could even take polluted
                             waters and remake it from the
                             molecules.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, my chemical company in
                             Silicon Valley tells me that they
                             think they will have a working
                             prototype by tomorrow. They've
                             been able to grow a fair
                             duplicate of the crystal that
                             D'am and Y'va use for their laser
                             and they're in the process of
                             polishing it right now. Talk
                             with my people about this and
                             we'll see what we can come up with.

                                                 SHARON MANSON
                             The weather here is a complete
                             mystery. The storms like the one
                             we experienced just happen.
                             There is no predicting when
                             something will occur, they just
                             spring up and move in straight
                             lines. It's nothing like on Earth.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, each of your stations
                                       (nodding to the two women)
                             will continue to have direct
                             links to the satellites we
                             dropped up there. You'll be able
                             to continue your monitoring even
                             after you're home. I'm also
                             going to leave the instruments
                             that we brought with us on the
                             peak when we leave so you'll be
                             able to access those, too.
                             Unfortunately, President Forest
                             blackmailed me into giving access
                             to NOAA and Jet Propulsion
                             Laboratory, so you'll have
                             competition. But I still think
                             it will be neat to have the
                             conditions at Cydonia on the six
                             a.m. news.

                                                 RUSSIAN NEWS DIRECTOR (OS)
                             Tell him that we already do that.

                                                 SVETLANA
                             NTV has been doing that already,
                             it is a popular segment. I have
                             been giving them reports every
                             day and my replacement does a
                             report not just for Cydonia, but
                             for this hemisphere of Mars.

                                                 AMERICAN NEWS DIRECTOR (OS)
                             Oh, Jeez, we screwed up. I want
                             you to give us reports immediately
                             when you're free. We're still in
                             the spring sweeps and this will
                             put us over the top.

                                                 GARAN
                             We still do not know how they
                             constructed those industrial
                             diamond coffins.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             They brought them with them.
                             Vesna has the details on the
                             manufacture, but that's something
                             we probably don't need to
                             understand and I trust her
                             judgment. Three quarters of the
                             industrialized world hates my
                             guts already, I don't have to
                             remove the mystique and value
                             from a girl's best friend to irk
                             every female on Earth too.

                                                 BARISHNIKOV
                             The database on their culture
                             that Vesna has downloaded is
                             magnificently detailed. My
                             life's work from now on will be
                             to translate and understand how
                             they came to be and how their
                             culture functioned. They had a
                             society of individuals that
                             functioned very loosely with no
                             leadership. It appears either a
                             total democracy or a total
                             anarchy. I don't yet know which.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Maybe hive mentality is something
                             that is unique to Earth?

Belisar and Igor nod in half agreement.

                                                 OKSANA
                                       (Looking very tired)
                             I still have a few more interfaces
                             that Vesna wants me to install
                             into G'dala.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             OK, but the two of you leave
                             enough parts on Vesna for us to
                             fly home.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             All right then, let's begin
                             packing it up and winding down, then.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. SERIES OF SHOTS.

The group spends the rest of the day and most of the next
finishing notes, storing samples and deciding what equipment
they could leave. They take anything not necessary to the
bottom section that Mike intends to leave on the surface for
use at some future date.

Mike manages to drag John away from Oksana long enough take
most of the meteorology gear and set it up permanently on
the peak of the pyramid along with a power unit and
communications uplink to the satellites. He had to bribe
the boy with the fact they would be using the backpack "fliers".

The pair of anthropologists spend most of their free time
either inside the pyramid conversing with D'am and Y'va, or
studying the historical database that Vesna downloaded from
G'dala.

The geologists are also fascinated with this data because
they can confirm or disprove many key disasters on earth
during the past half-million years.

President Forest is in contact with Mike the day before they
were to leave.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. COMMAND DECK

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I hope you realize this is a very
                             different place from what you left.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Yes, Sir, I'm well aware of that.
                             It wasn't my intention, things
                             just turned out that way.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I'm supposed to be a Republican,
                             but at the moment the only people
                             who like either of us are the
                             Democrats, Libertarians, and
                             liberals. The organized
                             religions are losing members in
                             droves and everybody's on my back
                             over that.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS; CONT'D)
                             Israel has asked our ambassador
                             to leave the country, the U.N. is
                             calling in our marker for past
                             dues at the same time that all of
                             their smaller members are
                             petitioning for recognition with
                             us. You've managed single-
                             handedly to destroy most of the
                             institutions we've known for the
                             past fifty years. The European
                             Union is beginning to look more
                             like Hitler's Axis powers. The
                             Japanese aren't speaking to us,
                             period. In addition, the South
                             Americans are treating us like
                             their long lost brothers. Very
                             honestly, things are totally
                             crazy here.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I figured as much. I do
                             apologize, but I wasn't
                             anticipating anything like this.
                             Your people are going a bit crazy,
                             though, too.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             How so?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I'd call the bill in the Senate
                             to nationalize all of my
                             industries a bit of overkill,
                             wouldn't you? And the draft
                             notice I received a couple of
                             days ago was also a bit much.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             Draft notice?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Yes, Sir. It seems the Chief of
                             Naval Operations thinks I'm fit
                             to be recalled.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I wasn't told of that. In fact,
                             I was told that we couldn't
                             recall you.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, since my health is now
                             perfect, your CNO thinks that I
                             should go for another two or
                             three hundred years as a hired gun.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             Believe me, I wasn't aware of
                             this. I'll take care of it. I
                             have to sign any orders that go
                             out of this office, and I won't
                             endorse that one.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Senator Little is the Chairman of
                             the National Security Committee.
                             I think they've been lobbying
                             harder than you have. Frankly,
                             there are departments in the
                             N.S.A. that even you don't know
                             exist. Actually, they don't
                             really exist, period. We just
                             pay their salaries, but they're
                             not there. I'm the first to
                             understand the weapons value of
                             the space drive and you'll have a
                             really hard way to go getting
                             that out of me.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I know that, and I'm not trying
                             any more. I know we got off to a
                             rocky start, but I've had many
                             people I trust convince me you're
                             on the level. We'll let that
                             pass for now and I promise that
                             I'll do what I can to roadblock
                             them. On another subject, I have
                             everybody from TVA to Southern
                             Company howling like scalded cats
                             about that fusion generation
                             system. They want the full plans
                             and process.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, Sir. They already have all
                             the data that I do including the
                             laser composition.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             That's just it. That crystal is
                             almost pure carbon - a diamond a
                             meter long and six centimeters in
                             diameter. My science advisor
                             says that would be impossible to
                             manufacture and it certainly
                             wouldn't be found in nature. The
                             best industrial diamonds we make
                             aren't much bigger than a pea.

Mike is looking sheepish.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (OS)
                             We have a prototype in San Jose
                             that will be ready for
                             demonstration next Monday, Sir.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                                       (Almost jumping
                                       through the connection)
                             What? How can that be? The
                             pressure and temperatures would
                             be outrageous to make a diamond
                             that big. Even nature can't do it!

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Take a half-ton of good old
                             Pennsylvania anthracite and
                             squash it under about a thousand
                             G's for 24 hours and there you
                             have it. We figure we can retail
                             these crystals for around a
                             hundred thousand each to anyone
                             that wants one. The rest is
                             standard laser technology, except
                             for the magnetic containment for
                             the plasma. My prototype uses a
                             gravity field, but anyone can use
                             a magnetic 'bottle', which is old
                             technology.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             But the pressure?

Mike smiles, again a bit sheepish.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             That's where I cheat. I can use
                             an artificial gravity press,
                             remember?
                                       (President Forest
                                       reddens on the monitor)
                             I figure that just about any old
                             coal-fired or nuke plant can be
                             retro-fitted for under a mil.
                             Electricity can be profitably
                             generated for around a half-cent
                             a kilowatt-hour indefinitely
                             using municipal solid waste.
                             Moreover, another beauty of the
                             system, you can feed it toxic
                             waste and reclaim elemental
                             byproducts. The only thing you
                             can't feed it is radioactive
                             material. We can kill a lot of
                             birds with one stone with this.
                             At the moment I'm not interested
                             in getting into the construction
                             business, but we should be able
                             to start shipping the lasers
                             within a month or two if my
                             people are right.

Forest looks slightly relieved.

Mike can see that there is still something else bothering
the President and waits.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             The oil and gas people are also
                             stirring up trouble.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I don't know about the oil people,
                             but I admit the gas companies
                             will probably be in trouble when
                             electricity gets cheap again. As
                             long as the oil companies have to
                             make gasoline, they're safe. I'm
                             working on that, but I'm not
                             there yet.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             But your gravity drives and power
                             storage for electricity?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Unless John Q. Public is ready
                             to shell out a hundred thousand
                             for a Ford and get the liquid
                             helium topped off every ten-
                             thousand miles, I'm not at a
                             practical stage of development
                             yet. Someday we may be able to
                             adapt the fusion generator to
                             motor vehicles, but I'm not
                             perfect. The house has been
                             running through development
                             scenarios on this, but so far
                             even he's stumped.

Now Forest is beginning to relax.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             That brings up another problem.
                             The technology sector is
                             demanding details on the
                             artificial intelligence programs
                             that you use at the house and on
                             the ship. They're claiming a
                             very unfair advantage if you
                             decide to market. Now that the
                             public has become familiar with
                             Vesna and her capabilities,
                             everybody is clamoring for the
                             software manufacturers to build
                             the same intelligence into their
                             personal computers. And to come
                             up with programs that don't crash.

Mike breaks out laughing at that.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Sir, believe me when I tell you,
                             you're not ready for your PC to
                             question your judgment every
                             twenty minutes.

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             I resent that implication.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             See what I mean, Sir?
                                       (ignoring having to
                                       answer Vesna directly)
                             I rest my case.

Forest smiles and nods.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             Will you be there tomorrow when
                             we land, Sir?

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I was planning on it.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             May I suggest you think about the
                             full contingent of available
                             secret service for both our sakes?

Forest frowns and his eyebrows peak questioningly.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             Frankly, I'm less worried about
                             you than the rest of us. Enough
                             nut cases aren't tickled with our
                             trip both outside and inside your
                             administration. I don't want
                             anything to go wrong.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (OS)
                             I'll be there and make certain
                             that everything runs smoothly.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Thank you, Sir. Unless there's
                             an unforeseen hitch, we should be
                             in Atlanta sometime around noon.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST
                             You won't consider National or
                             Dulles?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             No, Sir. We've got all of the
                             preparations and equipment ready
                             to get our crew home right there
                             at Hartsfield. I understand that
                             the City Government is considering
                             renaming it Hartsfield
                             Interplanetary Airport in our
                             honor. Who am I to disappoint them?

The President shrugs and breaks the connection.

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             Sir?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             What now? Didn't I fold my
                             jumpsuits correctly?

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                                       (Ignoring the jab)
                             D'am would like to meet with all
                             of us before we leave.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             0600 OK with them?

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             I would imagine so. They're not
                             on our schedule.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Notify each of the rest of the
                             crew, then. I need a nap.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. RUSSIAN SCIENCE SECTION

Everyone is suited in the lower section when Mike arrives
the next morning. He can see that some of the crew are
excited at the prospect of going home, while others look sad
that they were about to leave.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. MAIN EQUIPMENT ROOM

D'am and Y'va are waiting for them when they arrive. Mike
can see that refreshments consisting of the mushroom fixed
in several ways and various colored drinks had been laid out
for them on the lids of two of the sarcophagi and that the
chaises had been moved from the other chamber where they had
held their "world press conference" to here.

D'am waves them to seats as they enter.

                                                 D'AM
                             Please be comfortable.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I think it safe to say that we
                             each would like to thank you for
                             more than just your hospitality
                             here. We thank you for our very
                             existence and the knowledge that
                             we truly aren't alone; we may
                             have relatives spread across
                             several galaxies.

There is almost an embarrassment in D'am's face.

                                                 D'AM
                             There is no need at all for that.
                             It is we who must thank you for
                             becoming the species we had hoped
                             for so long ago. As parents, we
                             are very proud that you have met
                             most of our expectations. We
                             could not have hoped for more.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, we still don't work well
                             and play nicely together. I
                             think a lot of that may change
                             now, though.

                                                 Y'VA
                             I hope so. To our people, who
                             are also yours, life of any kind
                             is a gift to be used and
                             cherished and protected. This is
                             what we tried to communicate to
                             you so many times. You must stop
                             quarreling and wanting what the
                             other has. You each are free to
                             follow whatever path interests
                             you, but you must respect that
                             your fellows have that same free
                             will. This is how we lived in
                             peace and joy for so many
                             thousands of your years and it is
                             what we would like it to be for
                             you also.

Sharon raises her hand and stands.

                                                 SHARON MANSON
                             Why is it that you wanted us to
                             worship you?

D'am and Y'va looked at each other for a moment.

                                                 Y'VA
                             That was not our intent. Until
                             you learned the skills to be on
                             your own, we only wanted to be
                             looked on as parents with that
                             same respect. We did not intend
                             you to think of us as deities.
                             It was very difficult in the
                             beginning to put this idea across.

                                                 Y'VA (CONT'D)
                             We were dealing with those of you
                             that had no comprehension of
                             science or astronomy. I
                             understand from what Vesna has
                             told us that you have a tendency
                             either to be afraid of what you
                             do not understand, or to put it
                             in a place of reverence. We
                             found it very difficult to
                             explain who we were and where you
                             and we came from until now. You
                             had not yet matured past the
                             biological instincts that we had
                             to breed into you for you to
                             survive so you did not fully
                             understand. We never wanted you
                             to think of us as 'Gods', just
                             loving parents that wanted the
                             best for their children. You
                             have surpassed our science in
                             many ways, as we said before. We
                             only want the best for you.

                                                 JOHN BELISAR
                             Why would you make it a rule that
                             we not take your name in vain?

                                                 G'DALA (OS)
                             Because that is the key to
                             initiating communication.

Everyone jumps as a bass male voice like James Earl Jones on
steroids booms out of nowhere.

Mike realizes what has happened.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             A little melodramatic, isn't it
                             Vesna?

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                                       (Innocently)
                             I should tone it down?

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I think that would be appropriate.

A milder male voice of G'dala continues.

                                                 G'DALA (OS)
                             In order to get my attention it
                             was necessary to set up a few key
                             phrases. My name is among them.
                             It was a nuisance when your
                             people used it improperly because
                             it wasn't always for something
                             that I should pay attention to. I
                             had to convince D'am to include
                             that in his instructions to you.
                             Filtering out the millions of
                             signals I receive is a difficult
                             task and being called for no
                             reason only makes it more difficult.

Both D'am and Y'va are grinning like kids at this last.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             You don't mind this?

                                                 D'AM
                                       (shaking his head)
                             Of course not! Another voice to
                             speak with after so long is more
                             than welcome.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I just don't want to get struck
                             down by lightening in a hundred
                             years or so when he irritates you
                             totally.

                                                 G'DALA (OS)
                                       (Flatly)
                             I don't do lightening.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             See what I mean?
                                       (raising his eyebrows slightly)
                             You've now got the most powerful
                             computer in this solar system
                             that is both sarcastic and
                             cynical. Somehow I had a feeling
                             that I should have overseen the
                             programming!

Y'va's musical laugh pervades the room.

                                                 Y'VA
                             We do have a sense of humor. In
                             fact, there is an entire range of
                             inflection in our language that
                             indicates that. I am sorry, but
                             you aren't able to hear it, but
                             we do have it. I feel certain
                             that very soon G'dala will adjust
                             his program to the three of us.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Mumbling sourly)
                             I just don't want to have to say
                             I told you so.

Oksana stands.

                                                 OKSANA
                             Why do you wish us to keep the
                             Sabbath?

D'am starts to answer, but Y'va raises her arm and replies.

                                                 Y'VA
                             You of all people here should
                             understand that.

Oksana looks puzzled.

                                                 Y'VA (CONT'D)
                             Since we have awakened we have
                             watched you work without regard
                             to your health or well being. We
                             have seen Mr...we have seen Mike
                             have to force you to take a rest.
                             From what Vesna has told us,
                             there are many like you that
                             would work until your bodies
                             suffered. We wanted you to enjoy
                             other things, what was the phrase
                             Vesna?

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             Stop and smell the roses.

                                                 Y'VA
                             Yes, the roses, the animals, each
                             other. Your mind will always be
                             there, your work will always be
                             there. Do not ruin your chance
                             to be happy with something
                             outside your immediate purpose.
                             You need to allow yourself to
                             take joy in everything around you.

Oksana shrinks slightly from the rebuke, but continues.

                                                 OKSANA
                             Then which day is the Sabbath?
                             We have many people saying many
                             different things.

                                                 D'AM
                             Take your pick; it doesn't matter.
                             Our point has always been that
                             you must put aside for at least
                             one day all of the problems that
                             you perceive from the work to
                             which you have dedicated
                             yourselves. If you do not, the
                             work will not be done and you
                             will create biological problems
                             for yourselves. A rest and
                             recreation period is necessary
                             for you to survive. There were
                             times, before we left our planet
                             that D'am and I would take years
                             in your time off from our studies.
                             It would always be there when we
                             returned to them. You must do
                             the same. There is so much joy
                             to being that you would miss it
                             if you did not explore that also.
                             Vesna has told us that many of
                             you today are driven only by what
                             they consider 'success'. They
                             are missing the entire purpose of
                             being. I am indeed sorry if this
                             was not understood.

Oksana flushes briefly and sits.

John pokes her in the ribs with his elbow and whispers,

                                                 JOHN BELISAR
                             Told you so.

There is silence from the crowd for several minutes.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             We're going to be leaving in a
                             short time. Is there anything
                             else you would like us to know
                             before we go?

                                                 D'AM
                             No. There is nothing I have not
                             already said. I would like to
                             ask that you respect our personal
                             privacy for a while. Not long,
                             just a few hundred years or so.
                             You can always contact us through
                             G'dala, and we expect to remain
                             awake for many of your centuries
                             from now on. There will still be
                             times that, like any parent, we
                             have to say 'no' to requests, but
                             we will be available directly
                             from now on. Just always know
                             that we will be available if you
                             need us.

Mike nods to the pair.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Again, we thank you for your
                             patience and your patronage.

D'am walks over, put his hands on Mike's shoulders, and
looks him in the eye.

                                                 D'AM
                             No. Thank you. Our thanks to
                             all of you for becoming what we
                             had hoped. And a special thank
                             you to Vesna and Oksana who have
                             given us a companion.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Half under his breath)
                             I still think you'll regret that one.

                                                 Y'VA
                             Please. Have a meal with us
                             before you must leave.

This time nobody hesitates as each gathers around the food.
Mike samples one large specimen and finds it delicious.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             If I didn't know better, I'd say
                             this was grilled Portabella with
                             a seasoning of garlic butter and
                             a hint of truffle, it's excellent.

                                                 Y'VA
                             Thank you. My mother taught me
                             how to prepare that and some of
                             the others. D'am prepared the
                             ones over there.

Mike tries one of the others that she indicated and he found
it equally delicious, tasting like sautéed shitake marinated
in Bordeaux.

Mike sidles over to Ivan.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             You didn't happen to bring an
                             empty specimen tube with you?

The biologist looks at him with a stunned expression and
shakes his head.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Damn. I was hoping to take a
                             sample of this home and analyze it.

                                                 MEDVEDEV
                                       (Raising his glass)
                             It is quite good,

They ended up staying an hour longer than they had intended

Everyone is reluctant to leave and is thoroughly enjoying
the feast.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. COMMAND DECK

Within the hour, everyone again gathers on the control deck
after making certain that all of their personal effects are
packed and placed in their respective laboratory areas.

There are glum faces all around.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Is everybody ready?

Blank, disappointed stares all around.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             All right then. Vesna, full
                             control to the engineering console.

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             Aye, Sir.

Oksana, Mikhail, and Carol whip around in their chairs
almost in unison so hard that Mike fears they'd need
chiropractic. He also hears gasps from the two mothers
behind him, but won't give them the satisfaction of turning
around.

Mike smiles evilly at the three.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             You didn't think I'd let you get
                             off scot-free, did you? I've let
                             you practice for a month, now
                             you're going to drive me home.

The expressions on the three faces are priceless. All of
them looked like something out of a Keane's painting; their
eyes couldn't get any bigger if they tried. Mikhail's mouth
is open so wide he could easily have swallowed a tennis ball.

Mike tilts his head slightly to the side and makes a face at
them that says "Well?" and the three slowly turn back to
their stations.

Misha's voice cracks slightly in adolescent nervousness as
he calls out,

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Engine temperature?

                                                 OKSANA
                             Engine coolant reads two Kelvin.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Power reserves?

                                                 OKSANA
                             Power on board is at 85 percent.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Engine vibration?

                                                 OKSANA
                             Vibration negligible.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Life support?

                                                 OKSANA
                             Life support fully operational.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Do we have a go?

Oksana scans her board again and replies,

                                                 OKSANA
                             We are a go for liftoff.

Misha turns to Mike,

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Captain, we are go for liftoff.

Mike has a second of hesitation, but can't resist as he
raises his right hand and drops it,

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Engage.

Misha pulls back on a control that looks like the throttle
from a 747 and the group feels a change in the pitch of
Vesna's engines. The view from the outside monitors shows
that they are slowly ascending through the Martian atmosphere
and the ground drops away.

The view in the monitors slowly darkens as they leave the
planet's atmosphere. Mike notices a slight queasy feeling
in his stomach but still holds his tongue. Mikhail notices
it too, evidently, and he makes a hasty adjustment to the
internal gravity field on the ship. They were breaking free
of the Martian gravity.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Altitude?

                                                 OKSANA
                             Altitude is 500 kilometers from
                             the surface.

Mikhail adjusts the throttle back to a neutral position.
Carol has been making hasty calculations on her panel and
lining up the optical telescopes on Vesna's nose while they
have been ascending. She re-checked the ships' chronometers
and punches a few more numbers into her console.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Course to Earth?

                                                 CAROL MANSON
                             Adjust course to two four two
                             point seven four point six one.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Course two four two point seven
                             four point six one, aye.

Misha adjusts the four levers on the throttle control.

The view in the overhead monitor changes as the stars move
across it until there is one bright speck in the center.

                                                 CAROL MANSON
                             Drive engines six two degrees,
                             range two four kilometers, speed
                             one five seven five zero.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (under his breath)
                             Oh crud! They're going to go for it,

Mike grips the armrests of his seat.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Drive engines set.

Mike is white knuckled by this time because he knew that the
young people are setting up for about half what Vesna said
she could do. He had taken a "leisurely" trip out to Mars
and now they were about to take the NASCAR circuit back.

He nods,

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Ignite.

Mikhail grips his joystick with a grin and punches a button
on his panel.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

EXT. HARTSFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

They are in Earth orbit in a little under an hour.

Mike is thankful as they descend through Earth's atmosphere
toward Hartsfield International that none of the others have
realized what the trio of teenagers had just done.

He feels a slight bump as Mikhail misjudges their landing
speed slightly, but not enough to cause concern or damage.
The monitors show that almost the entire concourse they
parked at is crowded with onlookers - at least 200,000
people. Mikhail had missed their designated landing spot by
a meter, but that was also no big deal as the podium is
still a good hundred meters away from the ship.

Mike flexes the circulation back into his fingers as he
stands to the rest of the crew

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I told you that this was the future.

Sharon stands and says as she hugs her daughter,

                                                 SHARON MANSON
                             Honey, I'll take you for your
                             driver's test tomorrow if you'd like.

All three young people beam as they stand, understanding
that they had done a good job.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             OK people. I hate to sound like
                             a spin doctor, but I think that
                             we should let the young people
                             exit first followed by the
                             American team. Then I'll hang
                             back with the Russian team. I
                             don't know what their agenda is
                             for this, so I'm open to suggestions.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. AMERICAN SCIENCE SECTION

He is met with shrugs all around and the group descends in
the elevator to the American lab which is now on the bottom.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Turning to the four
                                       young people)
                             Are you guys ready?

Their faces reflect more fear now than when they had set
foot on Mars. Evidently, it is easier to explore another
planet than to face an audience.

John steps forward to Mike.

                                                 JOHN BELISAR
                             I still don't know if I want to
                             be an anthropologist like Dad, or
                             an engineer like Oksana.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                        (Laughing loudly)
                             Son, I'm 40 years old and I still
                             haven't decided what I want to be
                             when I grow up. If D'am and
                             Doctor Medvedev are right, you
                             have a couple of hundred years to
                             make up your mind, so enjoy!
                             Follow whatever interests you at
                             the moment. You have time to do
                             both if you want!

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             You've been a big help and, no,
                             I'm not mad that you stowed away.

Doctor Belisar stepped forward and grips his son.

                                                 BELISAR
                             You be what you want to be. I am
                             what I am because I wanted to
                             understand what alternatives
                             there were to my culture. Now I
                             know that there are an infinite
                             number of alternatives. D'am and
                             Y'va's culture allows for each to
                             follow their heart and that is
                             what I wish for you.

Mike places his hand on the door control.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Ready?

As he gets nods from the room, Mike pulls the handle. The
outer door opens and the crew begins to file out.

The crowd is close to three times larger than when they left,
at least several hundred thousand occupying all of the space
between two concourses. A thunderous roar erupts from the
crowd, drowning out the Marine Corps Band's version of
"Stars and Stripes Forever".

Mike sees that President Forest was true to his word as he
spots him standing at the podium with several civilians. He
can also see that the President had heeded Mike's advice.
The entire Secret Service must have been brought in for this
occasion. There were so many dark suits and sunglasses in
the crowd that this could have been a Ray Ban convention.

Mike spots more cameras set up on the buildings than you
would normally find at the Super Bowl. There are also
reporters with shoulder-held cameras in the front few rows
of the crowd. Mike makes a mental note to come up with a
marketing plan for the portable mini-cams they had used on Mars.

The President steps forward and greets each of the young
people as they ascend to the platform. He shakes hands with
all of the scientists and finally comes to Mike.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST
                             We finally meet in person.

Mike switches off the box on his belt controlling his
personal shield as he holds out his hand.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Yes, Sir. It's an honor that you
                             could meet us.

The crowd's applause slowly dies down as the President steps
to the microphone and raises his hands.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST
                             My fellow Americans, this is a
                             proud day...not just for America,
                             but also for every man, woman,
                             and child on Earth. Especially
                             for the children.

He motioned for the youths to join him. They aren't certain
how to react, but stiffly comply. The four couldn't have
stood any straighter if they were in Seal training.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             The four young ladies and
                             gentlemen that you see with me
                             are the true heroes of the
                             twenty-first century. They have
                             done what no human being in
                             history has accomplished and we
                             were privileged to be with them
                             and watch as they set foot on a
                             planet other than Earth.

The President lets the cheers go on for a few minutes before
he motions for quiet.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             These four young people, only one
                             of them old enough to vote,
                                       (a round of laughter
                                       passes through the crowd)
                             These four have made an indelible
                             mark in the history of mankind
                             that will remain for millennia.
                             Their names will be remembered
                             along with Moses, Noah, Mohammed,
                             and Gilgamesh as doing more to
                             turn the tide of human history
                             than anyone of their time.

Forest again waits for the cheering to subside.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             Mikhail Gerasov, the world's
                             first interplanetary pilot.
                             Carol Manson - who doesn't yet
                             have her driver's license - the
                             Earth's first interplanetary
                             navigator. We could have used
                             you on those last couple of
                             probes that crashed.

Again laughter and a cheer.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             Oksana Ivanova, a world class
                             engineer at seventeen. I may ask
                             you to look at my personal
                             computer because it keeps
                             crashing, too.

Oksana blushes at the attention.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             And John Belisar, who like the
                             hundreds of thousands of
                             government workers behind the
                             scenes, helped make this a success.

Forest lets the applause and cheering go for a good five
minutes before continuing.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             And the two most recognizable
                             faces on television in the world
                             today, Sharon Manson of WSB-TV
                             and Svetlana Gerasova from the
                             Russian NTV. They each had a
                             triple job on this mission. They
                             not only kept you informed of
                             every step taken on Mars, but
                             they also learned more in the
                             last thirty days about the
                             weather on another planet than we
                             have in the last thirty years.
                             And also, like almost every other
                             working mother, they had to keep
                             track of their kids!

This time Mikhail joins in the laughter as he turns to look
at his mother. Suddenly he puts his arm around Carol's
waist and gives it a squeeze that is visible on camera. The
girl stiffens at first at the unexpected affection in front
of the whole world, but then relaxes and returns the gesture.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             All of the scientists you know
                             also. They have brought back
                             information that today has made
                             almost every textbook in print
                             obsolete. There is going to be a
                             scientific food-fight for the
                             next 50 years as you disprove
                             almost all your colleagues'
                             theories. I don't envy you.
                                       (beat)
                             And the mission commander, Mike
                             Angel.

The President gestured toward Mike who makes a half-bow to
the cameras. Mike is relieved that Forest had finally used
the name he prefers.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             I'm certain that all of you will
                             appreciate that this mission was
                             completed with no expenditure of
                             your tax dollars. As Mr. Angel
                             has pointedly reminded me on many
                             occasions, this was a private
                             venture and he footed the entire
                             bill for much less than we could
                             have. I don't know how you did
                             it, but we can really use you in
                             the Office of Management and Budget.

The roar lasts close to ten minutes this time. Mike looks
as if he would have liked to return to the ship at this
point and have a beer. He had spent the majority of his
life being invisible and really didn't enjoy being in the
spotlight.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST (CONT'D)
                             Also with us today is Ray Ballmer,
                             the Director of the National
                             Aeronautics and Space Administration.

He motions to one of the civilians on the podium and a
balding, heavy-set man walks up to the microphones carrying
a large folder.

                                                 BALLMER
                             Thank you Mr. President, ladies
                             and gentlemen, and honored guests.
                             This is indeed a proud day and a
                             momentous occasion for all of us.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             It's also an unusual day for me;
                             I had always thought I would be
                             in charge of the first manned
                             mission to Mars, but I seem to
                             have been upstaged by a bunch of
                             civilians.

There is a low round of laughter from the audience.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             I know that all of you understand
                             the accomplishments we are
                             celebrating today - the first
                             people to travel to another
                             planet, the discovery of an
                             artificial structure, the
                             discovery of alien life forms
                             that are not only like us, they
                             are, in fact, related to us. I'd
                             also like to add a little
                             perspective that may not be
                             obvious to most of you outside
                             the scientific community. As of
                             today, many of the laws of
                             physics have been proven wrong.
                             What we taught yesterday in high
                             school and college will have to
                             be re-written. I'm surprised
                             that half of my staff hasn't
                             jumped off a roof somewhere.

This time the laughter was a bit louder as more people
realize that the Director's sense of humor is dry.

Ballmer leans forward to the microphones but turns his head
to face Mike.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             Do you realize that you were
                             clocked by my people as traveling
                             almost ten percent of the speed
                             of light to get back here?

Mike shrugs and points at Misha and Carol.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             They were driving. Don't give me
                             the speeding ticket.

The crowd roars for a good two minutes.

                                                 BALLMER
                             In case you don't know, the best
                             we can do with our chemical
                             rockets is about twenty thousand
                             miles an hour. These people just
                             set a Guinness record of 47-
                             million miles an hour. My more
                             adventurous staff members have
                             also informed me that this is
                             just a little better than first
                             gear for your vehicle.

He again turns toward Mike.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             They clocked your test runs at
                             close to 85 percent the speed of
                             light, which means you really
                             could have gone from Earth orbit
                             to Mars in under ten minutes. Do
                             you realize that my commute from
                             home in Houston to Johnson Space
                             Center takes me over an hour?

This time, the crowd roars with the Director. Mike just
puts on his silly sheepish grin and shrugs.

                                                 BALLMER (OS)
                             Today we are witnessing a
                             revolution - and that is the
                             correct term - a revolution in
                             science as we know it. It is a
                             revolution in all the sciences
                             from biology, through sociology
                             and psychology to physics.
                             Tomorrow, nothing will ever be
                             the same again. Almost everything
                             we know, everything we have taken
                             for granted from birth, is
                             invalid. You, and I, and the
                             rest of the world have a major
                             relearning job ahead of us.
                             Thanks to these children, our
                             children have to chuck what they
                             know and start over again. I
                             think this is a good thing,
                             myself. I have always tried to
                             push my people to 'think outside
                             the box'; as of today, there is
                             no box! It was a figment of our
                             imagination as these people have
                             proven.

                                                 BALLMER (OS; CONT'D)
                                       (beat)
                             As I said, by Title Fourteen of
                             the Code of Federal Regulations,
                             I'm supposed to be in charge of
                             space exploration. I wasn't.
                             But I would still like to have
                             the honor of bestowing on each of
                             you the official recognition and
                             title of Astronaut for NASA.

He opens the folder he had with him and withdraws a sheaf a
papers that have patches clipped to them. Ballmer steps
back and walks to the line the crew has formed.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             Mikhail Gerasov, it is my honor
                             to bestow on you the title of
                             Astronaut and mission pilot.

He hands the boy the top paper, which also holds a special
patch and bars. Mike is afraid Misha's back will break if
he stands any straighter as he accepts them.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             Carol Manson, astronaut and
                             mission navigator.

The girl almost makes five foot three as she accepts the award.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)

"Oksana Ivanova, astronaut and mission engineer,"

Mike can see the girl is standing straight, but her hand
begins to shake to the point he is afraid her emotions would
get the best of her as she accepts the award.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             John Belisar, astronaut and
                             mission specialist.
                                       (Leaning forward and whispering)
                             I just couldn't bring myself to
                             say 'gopher'.

He continues down the line until he arrives at Mike.

                                                 BALLMER (CONT'D)
                             Mike Angel. I don't know whether
                             to call you mission commander,
                             mission financier, mission
                             inventor, or what.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Chief mess cook is fine, just as
                             long as I got to go.

Ballmer almost breaks a smile as he hands Mike his
certificate and patches and then returns to his seat.
President Forest again takes to the microphones.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST
                             We also have with us today,
                             Ambassador Sergei Andropov of the
                             Russian Federation of States.

The other civilian on the platform stands and approaches the
microphones.

                                                 ANDROPOV
                             Thank you Mr. President. Because
                             this is the only time we will
                             have for you to be all together,
                             my government has authorized me
                             also to present each of you with
                             the title of Cosmonaut and
                             members of our space program.
                                       (beat)
                             I know that each of these heroes
                             deserve special honors, but from
                             my government the remaining four
                             require even more.

Unlike Director Ballmer, Andropov begins with John,
bestowing Cosmonaut status and mission specialist on the
young man and each of the scientists present. He returns to
the microphones.

He turns to face Mikhail.

                                                 ANDROPOV (CONT'D)
                             Mikhail Illyich Gerasov, because
                             of expertise demonstrated in your
                             ability to pilot a spacecraft
                             across 47-million miles, the
                             Russian Air Force grants you your
                             wings as pilot, the grade of
                             Praporschik, Second Lieutenant,
                             and also the honors of Cosmonaut.

The ambassador withdraws a set of silver wings from his
folder, pins them on Misha's jumpsuit, and touches both his
cheeks in the Russian custom. The surprise on the boy's
face makes Mike fear that he would crumple under the stress,
but the young man stands tall, as he now wears the same
wings his father had earned.

The Ambassador moves on.

                                                 ANDROPOV (CONT'D)
                             Carol Anne Manson, because of
                             expertise demonstrated in your
                             ability to navigate a spacecraft
                             across 47-million miles, the
                             Russian Air Force grants you your
                             wings as a qualified member of a
                             flight crew and also officially a
                             Russian Cosmonaut.

Carol appears flabbergasted and shrinks back to her normal
five foot one. The Ambassador repeats the actions he had
performed with Misha.

                                                 ANDROPOV (CONT'D)
                             Oksana Pavlovna Ivanova, because
                             of expertise demonstrated in your
                             ability to engineer a functional
                             spacecraft across 47-million
                             miles, the Russian Air Force
                             grants you your wings as flight
                             engineer and also Cosmonaut.

The Russian ambassador takes a step backwards and stiffened
to a salute. The four youths do their best to return it
properly.

The Ambassador steps toward Mike.

                                                 ANDROPOV (CONT'D)
                             I have been asked to tell you
                             that President Puchinskiy wishes
                             to present honors to you personally.

Mike nods.

There are several more "rah rah" speeches from political
types that Mike recognizes as more PR than substance, but
the affair finally begins to wind down.

President Forest finally shakes hands around the group once
more and stops at Mike.

                                                 PRESIDENT FOREST
                             We need to talk about a position
                             with my administration.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I'll have my people call your
                             people...
                                       (total incomprehension
                                       on the President's face)
                             I'll call you after I get these
                             folks home.

Mike motions the Russians off the stage. Mikhail starts
from the stage, but turns and takes both of Carol's hands in
his.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             I want to see you again. I could
                             not have done this without you.

                                                 CAROL MANSON
                             You had better stay in contact,
                             or I'd think I just wasted the
                             last month flirting with a lost
                             cause.

Misha smiles and then kisses her for a long enough time that
Sharon's expression turns to one of concern.

John takes the cue and takes Oksana's hand.

                                                 JOHN BELISAR
                             Will I see you again?

                                                 OKSANA
                                       (coyly, not meeting
                                       his eyes)
                             I don't know. If you are ever in
                             St. Petersburg, maybe.

                                                 JOHN BELISAR
                             Then I will see you again.

John vows as he squeezes her hands.

The couple parts and Mike walks back to Vesna with the
Russian delegation.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. COMMAND DECK

Mike and his Russian crew settles into their positions on
the command deck. Carol's empty chair reminds each of them
that there was now a gap in their lives.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Release the American section.

                                                 VESNA (OS)
                             Aye.

They feel the docking clamps retract. There are a few
moments of silence and Mike says,

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             "Well?

Mikhail turns to the American rather puzzled.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Home, James.

                                                 MIKE
                                       (Mikhail's face shows
                                       no understanding)
                             Never mind, American joke about
                             British chauffeurs. Just get us
                             back to Moscow.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             But I don't know the way, Carol
                             isn't here.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Then this must be for you.

Mike pulls an envelope out of his jump suit and hands it to
the boy.

Misha takes the letter and reads it slowly, his eyes
gleaming and a smile comes on his face.

He refolds it and puts it in his suit.

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             Yes, Sir. I have the coordinates
                             now.

He flips a switch on his console and Mikhail and Oksana go
through their pre-flight checkout. In a few minutes, he
pulls back on the throttle and all can see the view changing
on the monitors.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

EXT. SHEREMETYEVO

As they descend over Sheremetyevo Dva, Mike can see that the
crowd was at least the same size if not larger than at
Hartsfield. This time Mikhail's descent is flawless and
there is no bump as he touches down.

Mike stands and faces the group.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Well, the time has come the
                             walrus said...

Lana smiles at him as she turned to the elevator to leave.

                                                                                          CUT TO:

INT. RUSSIAN SCIENCE SECTION

As they gather by the airlock, Barishnikov stops Mike.

                                                 BARISHNIKOV
                             Moi droog, I have had many
                             adventures in my life, but never
                             anything like this. Before we
                             part, I must thank you for making
                             me feel more like your Indiana
                             Jones and less like the absent
                             minded professor than ever before
                             in my career."

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             We're all going to have lots of
                             time to try to top it.

They shake hands all around.

EXT. SHEREMETYEVO

The outer door open and Mike hears the Red Army Choir strike
up Knipper's "Polyushka Pole", "Oh Field, My Field" as a
welcome home to the adventurers.

Misha and Oksana lead the group to the podium where
President Puchinskiy awaits. There is a group of people
standing behind the President wearing the uniform of the
Russian Cosmonaut Corps.

Mike recognizes Oksana's mother in a roped off area of the
front row of the crowd directly in front of the stand. A
man he assumes to be Oksana's father and a few young people
that must be Oksana's classmates accompany Olga. He waves
and Olga Ivanova energetically returns it.

As Mikhail ascends the steps,his new wings gleaming in the
afternoon sun, the Cosmonauts snap to attention and salute.
The boy returns the salute as his mother and the scientists
gather around him on the platform. Mike brings up the rear
and stands behind the Russians.

Puchinskiy walks over and motions for Mike to come forward
and join him. Mike shrugs and moves through the group to
stand next to the President at the microphones. He can see
that large screens have been set up on either side of the
podium like at a rock concert. Those assembled in the
audience had been able to witness their arrival and
ceremonies in Atlanta. Mike turns and half-whispers to the
President.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             This is really their day, Sir.

Puchinskiy puts his hand over the microphone.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             Nyet, moi droog. This is our day,
                             all of us. I will not let you
                             hide in the shadows.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             Citizens. This is a day I never
                             thought I would live to witness.
                             Our people have walked on another
                             planet. Ever since our ancestors
                             came out of caves in Siberia,
                             they have wondered what those
                             lights in the sky were. Today we
                             know, thanks to these people you
                             see here, what is there.
                             Moreover, what is there is not
                             only our future, but also our
                             past. This is not an end, but a
                             beginning.

The crowd roars. Mike can see that kids around the world
were the same, the young people accompanying the Ivanovs
were shouting, whistling, and several were even doing the
Atlanta Braves' tomahawk chop.

Puchinskiy waits patiently for the din to subside on its own.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             This is a beginning the same as 50
                             years ago when a few scientists
                             placed the Sputnik in orbit
                             showing that we could leave the
                             Earth. A beginning as when Yuri
                             Gagarin showed us that a man
                             could live in outer space and
                             return. A beginning as when the
                             Americans showed us that we could
                             leave the Earth's gravity
                             altogether and walk on the moon.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             Today we begin to explore the
                             entire universe because we no
                             longer have the bonds to keep us
                             here.

Once again, the cheer lasts several minutes.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             You all know well our people who
                             have made this possible, Mikhail
                             Gerasov, Oksana Ivanova, Svetlana
                             Gerasova, Igor Barishnikov, Pavel
                             Norodsky, Ivan Medvedev, and Yuri
                             Garan. These are our heroes
                             today from the Rodina. However,
                             we must also honor another who
                             shares our heritage, our blood,
                             and our dreams. We must honor
                             the one who had the vision and
                             the knowledge to perform this act
                             and to force the rest of us to
                             comply.

Mike can feel what is coming and again longed to be in his
back yard with his feet up, sipping a cold Guinness.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             Mikhail Ivanovich Angelskov,
                             there is no question of the
                             science you have created.
                             However, greater than that, you
                             have accomplished something that
                             no person has done in a hundred
                             years. You have brought the
                             governments of both the United
                             States and the Russian Federation
                             to their knees and made us both
                             support you. As your television
                             says, 'resistance was futile'.

A look crosses Mikes face, Payback time.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             You have forced us to examine our
                             values and our goals. You have
                             done something that no diplomat
                             has ever been ever been able to
                             do and that is to make us stop
                             and think about our differences.
                             We discovered that we do not have
                             that many.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             I am pleased to be able to tell
                             all of you today, that next week
                             I will be traveling to Washington
                             in the United States where
                             President Forest and I will sign
                             a treaty of mutual cooperation
                             that will allow both countries to
                             open their borders without
                             question to each other. We will
                             be able to support each other in
                             trade and defense as if we were
                             each part of one country. We
                             will have free trade, free travel;
                             our currencies will be accepted
                             in each country as equal.

The President takes a small box from his overcoat.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             Mikhail Angelskov, 20 years ago
                             this would be a 'Hero of the
                             Soviet Union'. Our governments
                             have come together and created a
                             'Hero of the Earth' award.

He withdraws a bronze medallion on a white, blue, and red
ribbon and places it around Mike's neck.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             We have also discovered that
                             while you have been flying around
                             the world and the solar system,
                             you do not possess a valid
                             pilot's license.

The President withdraws a certificate and a small book from
a folder.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             The American Federal Aviation
                             Administration and our own
                             Commissariat have authorized me
                             to present you with a license to
                             pilot your craft within our
                             jurisdictions. We believe that
                             you have more than proven your
                             ability to uphold public safety.

That brings a laugh from the crowd.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY (CONT'D)
                             And finally, as all of you are
                             aware, as two sovereign countries,
                             neither the Russian Federation
                             nor the United States of America
                             allows a citizen to hold a dual
                             citizenship. In light of the
                             treaty that I will sign in a few
                             days, that will change. And in
                             honor of that time, it is my
                             proud honor to present you with
                             this,
                                       (the President
                                       withdraws a small blue
                                       and red booklet from
                                       his coat imprinted in
                                       both Latin and
                                       Cyrillic characters)
                             Your State Department has
                             produced this passport, declaring
                             you to be a citizen of both the
                             United States of America and the
                             Russian Federation of Independent
                             States. The serial number of
                             this document,
                                       (holding it up to the cameras)
                             is number one.

Mike accepts this amidst another thunderous round of applause.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                                       (Bashfully)
                             Thank you Mr. President. The
                             honor really belongs to each of them.

                                                 PRESIDENT PUCHINSKIY
                             Nyet, tovarishch. You have
                             earned these by making possible
                             not only the expedition you have
                             completed, but the cooperation we
                             now enjoy. You have restored the
                             glory to our country by forcing
                             us to follow your lead. This is
                             a debt that we can never repay.

Mike shakes hands with the President and holds his awards up
to the cameras amidst another thunderous round of applause.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             My friends, now my countrymen. I
                             thank you for your support. I
                             could not have done any of this
                             without each of you. I am only
                             one person, but this should show
                             each one of you that one person
                             can make a difference. If there
                             is only one of you out there; a
                             young person like Oksana here, or
                             Mikhail, that will understand
                             this and make another difference,
                             then I can be at peace knowing
                             that I have truly done something
                             positive.

The young people with the Ivanovs and those in the crowd go
wild. Mike can see children that couldn't have been over
the age of five, sitting on their parent's shoulders,
clapping and yelling with the rest.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Cosmonauts Ivanova and Gerasov.

The two straighten and turn to Mike. Behind them, the
Cosmonaut Corps comes to attention also.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL (CONT'D)
                             I can think of nothing further to
                             say that you do not already know.
                             It has always been the desire of
                             teachers and parents everywhere
                             to see their students and
                             children outshine them. This you
                             have each done for me. It is now
                             the duty of each of you to move
                             forward and bring others with you
                             even further into the future than
                             we have already gone.
                                       (beat)
                             The only thing I can think of to
                             say at the moment is a bunch of
                             old Irish proverbs, 'May your
                             hands always be busy; may your
                             feet always be square. May the
                             road rise to meet you; may the
                             wind be at your back. May the
                             inevitable never happen, and the
                             unexpected constantly occur, and
                             may you be forever young'.
                             Always see things the way you do
                             today, with the excitement of
                             your youth. If anyone ever tells
                             you that something can not be
                             done, you send them to me.

Mike steps forward, grasps Mikhail's hands, and nods at him.
Misha stands back after a few seconds and salutes, not
knowing what else to do. Mike returns it and turns to
Oksana, reaching for her hands. The girl was standing as
straight as Misha, but avoids his grip and instead throws
her arms around him in a bear hug and buries her face on his
chest.

                                                 OKSANA
                             Dada. You are truly family. You
                             will always have a plate at our
                             table.

The ceremonies continue for another hour, featuring several
politicians and military leaders. Toward the end, a
contingent of FSB escorts Oksana's parents to the stage to
greet their daughter home. As her father also grips Mike in
a mighty hug, he realizes that the girl's emotionalism must
be patrilineal.

Olga just gives him a social hug and then hands him his
satellite phone.

                                                 OLGA
                             We will not need this any longer.
                             You have done as you promised and
                             returned my daughter safe.

Mike accepts it and smiles.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             I just hope you have better luck
                             than I did making her sleep and
                             eat on a regular schedule.

Her father grips him again, this time including his wife and
daughter.

                                                 PAVEL
                             You have done more than you
                             promised! You have taken my
                             little girl and returned to me a
                             woman. Familia! You will always
                             be one of us.

As the ceremonies begin to wind down and the reporters
concentrate on the individual scientists, Mike starts to
slink away from the group toward Vesna.

Mikhail intercepts him on the third step off the platform
and grabs his arm.

Mike swings around, startled.

                                                 MIKE ANGEL
                             Yes?

                                                 MIKHAIL
                             If you walk away and don't do it
                             now, I am going to have to sucker
                             punch you in front of six-billion
                             people.

Mike is startled at first, but then smiles back and returns
the boy's grip. He walks back up to the stage and over to
where Svetlana is being interviewed by her co-anchor from
the morning news. She is in the middle of a response as
Mike reaches out and touches her shoulder.

Lana is startled as she swings around, but seeing who it is,
begins to relax.

Her network is the one who has set up the twin screens by
the podium, and the camera operator pulls back slowly to
display both Mike and Svetlana as he takes her into his arms
and they kiss to the cheering of the crowd.

                                                 -END-


Ben W. Gardner
Sedona, Arizona

"I do not fear computers. I fear lack of them." --Isaac Asimov

http://ca.geocities.com/vladilyich/

In The Beginning - ISBN: 1-4116-3848-4
Just In Time - ISBN 1-4116-3851-4
Ad Astra - ISBN: 978-1-84728-518-8
In stores and at Amazon.Com
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