Andromeda (2000–2005): Season 3, Episode 12 - The Dark Backward - full transcript
Trance runs through a series of possible outcomes to save the crew from a scourge.
[MYSTERIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Code red.
Intruder alert. Officers down.
Intruder alert.
Intruder alert. Code red.
Intruder alert.
Code red.
Intruder alert. Officers down.
Code red. Code red.
[ANNOUNCEMENT CONTINUES]
[SIREN WAILING]
[ALARM BLARING]
Okay.
That did not work.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
DYLAN: The universe
is a dangerous place,
but in our future,
my crew and I fight
to make it safe.
I am Dylan Hunt,
captain of
the Andromeda Ascendant,
and these are our adventures.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[SURREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's try again.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Well?
Well what?
I have been tweaking
the bio-feedback
on the navigational control.
Did you notice
how much smoother
the ride was?
Oops.
I noticed that.
Yeah.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an object
to starboard.
three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
15 LS?
That's a sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "Object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
If this thing hits us
at that speed...
Hmm.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
You're kidding.
All right.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five.
PDLs on standby.
Is that really necessary?
It's chasing us. That is rude.
Let's teach it some manners.
If you please, sir,
the target is locked.
Thank you, Rommie.
Fire.
[MISSILES FIRING]
The missiles have
intercepted the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
We missed?
I didn't miss.
The missiles intercepted
the target
and then kept going,
as if it was
never even there
in the first place,
and now...
it's gone completely.
Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Not again.
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me.
About eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, whoa, whoa!
Hey, I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security force is on its way.
Let them handle the intruder.
All right.
Make sure you tell them
to use excessive force.
Dylan,
please, it's
incredibly dangerous.
We have to stop it.
Trust me.
Tyr,
meet with the security team
on deck 12.
"Trust me"...
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Dylan...
Yeah.
I've got something weird here.
[BEKA GRUNTING]
Beka!
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Why come here to kill Beka?
Does it know that she's the one,
or is it
just making calculations?
Let's find out.
[BEKA GRUNTING]
Beka!
Dylan...
Yeah.
BEKA: I've got something
weird here.
Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
ANDROMEDA: And now, the target
is gone completely.
Fire.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an
object to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
15 LS?
That's a sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
Hmm.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
Okay.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five.
PDLs on standby.
Fire.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
The missiles
have intercepted
the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
And now,
it's gone completely.
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me.
Not again.
HARPER: ...Not much
into conversation.
Hey, hey, leave that alone.
I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security is on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
Maybe we should step back,
give it some space.
TYR: I'll agree.
We have no idea
what it will do next.
We might wait.
And let it do god knows what
to our internal systems?
I don't think so.
Tyr,
meet with the security team
on deck 12.
That's a plan as well.
Harper, hold your position.
Security's on the way.
Make sure you tell them
to use excessive force.
Andromeda, any luck
analyzing our intruder?
I'm sorry, Dylan.
my internal sensors
are returning the same
infeasible target solutions.
It doesn't make any sense.
That thing is either here
or it's not. It can't be both.
Keep trying.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Oh, for Pete's sake...
All right.
Harper, what's going on
down there?
Mr. Harper.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Tyr, report.
Rommie, get that
transmission back.
Just kidding?
Hold it.
[HARPER GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Dylan...
Yeah.
I've got something weird here.
Beka, get down!
Tyr, get back up here.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Right.
Time to pick on somebody
your own size.
[GRUNTING]
Tyr, switch to plasma bursts.
Beka, you okay?
Yeah.
Swell.
Dylan...
I'm afraid I have bad news.
Harper...
He is still alive,
but I'm afraid
there is little I can do.
Understood.
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
I've seen Harper
through some
pretty bad scrapes,
but that...
It wasn't supposed
to be like this.
I've lost crew before.
I still have nightmares
about the day Vexpak died.
Somehow, this is different.
Well, Harper is still alive.
I haven't given up on him yet,
and neither should you.
I know,
but I just...
I can't get over the feeling
that it should be me
on that table,
not him.
There's a way
that this won't happen
to any of you.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
I've been analyzing
the micro-fragments
from our intruder,
and what I've found is...
Well, it's weird.
Define "weird".
Well, for starters,
this armor is ancient.
My best estimate
is that it's over
12,000 years old.
So this thing has been running
around since before the birth
of the old Commonwealth?
Not quite,
which brings us
to the weird part.
These fragments
are getting younger
by the second.
They appear to be moving
backward through time.
Well, that's not weird,
that's impossible.
Could you have made a mistake?
No.
Okay, smarty-chips,
say you're right.
Say this thing
is moving through time
in reverse.
What do we do now?
That's the problem.
It knows
what we're going to do
before we do it.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
No!
Harper, no.
ANDROMEDA: Respiratory failure.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA:
Cardiovascular failure.
No, please!
ANDROMEDA: Harper is dead.
No!
[SOBBING]
[GRUNTING]
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
No.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Respiratory failure.
Respiratory failure.
Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Cardiovascular failure.
Cardiovascular failure.
No!
ANDROMEDA: EEG is negative.
Harper is dead.
Harper is dead.
Harper is dead.
No! No! No!
No.
I can't save you,
I can't.
I can't save you.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
No!
Harper...
No...
No, no!
BEKA: Say this thing
is moving through time
in reverse...
DYLAN: It knows what
we're going to do
before we do it...
Beka, get down!
BEKA: It doesn't
make any sense.
That thing is either here
or it's not.
HARPER: Just kidding?
Fire.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an object
to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
That's one sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
Okay.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
Fire.
The missiles have intercepted
the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
And now,
it's gone completely.
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite
any guests onboard recently?
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Hey, hey, whoa,
I just got that fixed.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security's on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
Harper, no.
Just get out of there.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
Trance, what...
You heard the lady, Mr. Harper.
Get your butt out of there.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
The intruder
is systematically
shutting down
my diagnostic sensors,
and not just on deck 12.
I've got blind spots
all over the ship,
mainly in sensitive areas.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
BEKA: That thing
is making
one hell of a mess.
It's actively covering
its tracks.
Now we'll have
to uncover them...
the hard way.
Tyr.
Dispose of our intruder
by any means necessary.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRACKS NECK]
DYLAN: Maintain
fire discipline,
and control your...
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
Do you think
you're the first one
to try and kill me?
You'll have to work harder.
[TYR GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
God help him.
ANDROMEDA: The intruder
has appeared
in the slipstream core.
It's slaughtering the crew
and overriding
the core systems.
I...
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIREN WAILING]
No!
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA: It's actively
covering its tracks.
Now we'll have
to uncover them.
Trance, what...
TRANCE GEMINI: Harper, no.
Just get out of there.
Uh...Did we invite
any guests onboard recently?
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
That's one sneaky object.
DYLAN: And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
If that thing hits us
at that speed...
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
No good, it's still gaining.
Fine. Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
You're wasting your time.
All right, Trance.
No games, no riddles,
no...cryptic hints
from possible futures.
Tell me what you know.
That thing out there
wants to kill us,
and nothing you can do
will destroy it, believe me.
Now, I don't know
what this creature is
or why it is doing this,
but I do know
that it can tesseract
through space,
and move backwards in time,
so that it knows our next move
before we even make it.
Now, all I can tell you
is to get harper out of there,
get Beka to move away
from that pilot's station,
and to tell
everyone onboard
to set their force lances
to full plasma blast,
because that is the only thing
that will even begin
to slow this thing down.
That's all I know.
Thank you, Trance.
That was
admirably straightforward.
Beka?
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right next to me,
about eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, hey, hey,
whoa, whoa, whoa,
I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Crew down on the command deck.
Intruder alert.
Crew down on deck 12.
Intruder last seen on deck 16.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIREN WAILING]
BEKA: Attention, all hands.
Form squads
and attack the intruder.
Too late.
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Tyr.
Intruder
in the slipstream core.
Evacuate.
Warning. Exotic matter pulser
has been activated.
Uncontrolled slipstream event
in progress.
BEKA: All hands, abandon...
Hope.
[SIREN WAILING]
Harper.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I just don't see any other way.
TRANCE GEMINI: Too late.
That's all I know.
HARPER: Uh, guys?
Did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me,
about eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, hey, leave that alone.
I just got that fixed.
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security's on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
If there was any other way...
But I still don't see it.
Oh, for Pete's sake...
All right.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Just kidding?
[HARPER GRUNTING]
If I had more time, I...
I just don't see it.
All I can see...
...is death.
No.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Respiratory failure.
No.
Cardiovascular failure.
No!
I'm sorry, Trance.
Harper is dead.
Harper.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRYING]
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I can't believe he's gone.
Poor Harper.
Tell me that this all
works out okay, Trance,
that it means
something in the end.
I wish I could do that,
but I can't.
It's from the future.
That's all I can say.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
How do you live with it?
Live with what?
Choosing one life over another.
I know
I've done it before, Dylan,
but...never
when the loss of life
has really
just killed me inside.
This is tearing me apart.
We control
our own choices, Trance.
Nothing else.
The rest...
The rest is fate.
Captain.
It appears that the creature
has resumed its sabotage
of the ship.
All hands, this is the captain.
Code black.
Battle stations.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Still nothing.
Just because we can't see it
doesn't mean it's not there.
Keep scanning.
Okay, that's it,
I'm doing this in person.
Beka, it would be safer
if you stayed.
Trust me.
Status?
We've got something,
deck 40, section seven.
Tyr, talk to me.
Moving into position
and awaiting orders.
DYLAN: Stand by.
Trance?
If there's anything
I need to know,
now is the time.
Fine.
DYLAN: Tyr,
secure slipstream core.
Keep your eyes open.
I'm about to make
our visitor reappear.
Go.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
The core appears
to be unthreatened.
Go away.
Clear the deck.
Acknowledged.
Captain Valentine,
what is our distance
to the nearest slip-point?
Uh...
Seven light-seconds.
ANDROMEDA: Why?
Andromeda, count it down for me.
Prepare to open a portal
on zero.
Acknowledged.
Excuse me,
we think this thing
is messing with
our slipstream drive?
Yes.
Well, now we're going
to slipstream.
That's the plan.
Am I the only one
who sees a problem with this?
A problem?
A problem.
Like, fiery screaming death.
That would be a problem.
ANDROMEDA: Four light-seconds.
Just checking.
For old time's sake.
For old time's sake.
Zero. Initiating
slipstream event.
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
We're not dead.
Don't be so surprised.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
DYLAN: All right,
we have an intruder.
Really?
Onscreen.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
It's not tesseracting.
Maybe it can't.
The slipstream...
Space and time
don't mean much here.
There's no place
for our friend to go to.
He is...stuck with us.
BEKA: Um, he's not
the only guy
who doesn't know
where he's going.
Whatever he did to our
biometric feedback relays,
we're flying blind.
No, we aren't.
I have you.
Themaru.
That's right.
Tow the Andromeda
out of slipstream,
only on my command.
Okay.
All right, don't hold back.
Plasma bursts, now.
[GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
You, go.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
I won't ask you a second time.
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[GRUNTING]
Tyr...
It's opening up a slip-portal
inside the Andromeda.
We'll be destroyed.
Beka...
BEKA: I'm out there.
Think good thoughts,
I'll have us out of here
before you know it.
Gonna be bumpy, so stay sharp.
I'm about to eject
the exotic matter pulser.
What's that?
You say
you've gone totally nuts?
It's the only way to stop it.
Without the pulser,
he can't overload the core.
Captain,
the slipstream event sequence
is not complete.
You have time to stop it,
but you'll have to go
to the core,
as I've lost control
of that part of the ship.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[ALARM SOUNDING]
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
we appear to be in the clear.
Tyr stopped
the overload sequence.
We appear to be in the clear.
Where there's life,
there's hope.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
If you want to kill me,
I'd prefer you give it
some real effort...
And stop wasting my time.
ANDROMEDA: Warning.
Uncontrolled slipstream event
in progress.
That was it.
The last scenario.
Our last hope, and we failed.
Oh, I wish I had more time
If only I had more time,
to find
that perfect possible future...
All I have is reality,
and reality is never perfect.
There...is one more way,
one true thing to trust.
Dylan.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm about to eject
the exotic matter pulser.
It's the only way to stop it.
It's not tesseracting.
The slipstream...
Space and time
don't mean much here.
There's no place
for our friend to go to.
Initiating slipstream event.
[GRUNTING]
Trance, if there's anything
I need to know, now is the time.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
You're kidding.
All right.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
Is that really necessary?
Well, it's chasing us,
and that is rude.
Let's teach it some manners.
ANDROMEDA: If you please, sir,
the target is locked.
Thank you, Rommie.
Fire.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Missiles have
intercepted the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
We missed?
I didn't...miss.
The missiles
intercepted the target
and then kept going,
as if it was never even there
in the first place.
And now, the target
is gone completely.
Dylan...
Please, it is
extremely dangerous.
We have to avoid
any confrontations
between this creature
and the crew.
Trust me.
Can't shoot it,
can't shake it. Fine.
Take us to slipstream.
Slipstream,
here we come.
There.
See how easy that is?
Problem solved.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
Dylan, we have a problem.
What, another one?
There's an intruder
in the slipstream core,
and it's killing people.
The intruder is attempting
to initiate
an overload in the core.
We'll be destroyed.
Understood. Tell Harper
to try and reverse it.
Beka, you have the conn.
The rest of you,
stay at your posts
and await orders.
Harper, I'm heading
for the core.
If you can't stop the overload,
I'm going to have
to eject the pulser.
Yeah, I'm doing what I can,
but this thing works faster
than a mobian pleasure-bot,
which, let me tell you, is fast,
a little too fast,
if you know what I...
Harper, concentrate.
Right. Concentrating.
Ah, no good.
I'm locked out
of the slipstream core's
control systems.
I can't do anything
from here.
That's not very good news.
HARPER: Yeah?
Well, uh, how about this?
Even if I were in the core,
I couldn't stop
the overload sequence.
It's too far gone.
I figure
in about less than a minute,
we're all going to
take a slip-route
to the pearly gates.
You did what you could,
and now I'll do what I can.
[ALARM BLARING]
ANDROMEDA: Dylan,
what are you doing?
You know what I'm doing.
You'll be killed.
It's not like we have
a lot of options, Andromeda.
I have to do this.
Dylan, the core will not eject.
The intruder has overridden
all manual systems.
[WIND WHOOSHING]
[DYLAN GRUNTING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[GROANING]
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
[WIND WHOOSHING]
This is going to be ugly,
but you know what they say...
"Any slip you can walk away
from is a good one."
Didn't I order you
to stay on the command deck?
Yes.
Well, thank you
for completely disobeying me.
Oh, I'm having
a really bad day.
ANDROMEDA: The intruder
has appeared
off our starboard bow.
It's vectoring away from us.
It's gone.
For good, I think.
How can you be sure?
Because, from its perspective,
it still hasn't found us yet.
Excuse me?
It's a long story.
I can't wait to hear it.
[GRAND MUSIC PLAYING]
So, you experience
a million possible futures
in the time it takes me
to blink my eyes,
and each one of them
looks, feels, sounds,
smells, and tastes
as real
as the conversation
we're having
right here, right now?
In a word, yes.
Wow.
All right,
here's my question.
If that's true,
if each one
of those futures
is indistinguishable
from each other
and from reality
on a...quantum level,
Trance,
how do you know
that...any of this is real?
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Code red.
Intruder alert. Officers down.
Intruder alert.
Intruder alert. Code red.
Intruder alert.
Code red.
Intruder alert. Officers down.
Code red. Code red.
[ANNOUNCEMENT CONTINUES]
[SIREN WAILING]
[ALARM BLARING]
Okay.
That did not work.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
DYLAN: The universe
is a dangerous place,
but in our future,
my crew and I fight
to make it safe.
I am Dylan Hunt,
captain of
the Andromeda Ascendant,
and these are our adventures.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[SURREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's try again.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Well?
Well what?
I have been tweaking
the bio-feedback
on the navigational control.
Did you notice
how much smoother
the ride was?
Oops.
I noticed that.
Yeah.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an object
to starboard.
three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
15 LS?
That's a sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "Object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
If this thing hits us
at that speed...
Hmm.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
You're kidding.
All right.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five.
PDLs on standby.
Is that really necessary?
It's chasing us. That is rude.
Let's teach it some manners.
If you please, sir,
the target is locked.
Thank you, Rommie.
Fire.
[MISSILES FIRING]
The missiles have
intercepted the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
We missed?
I didn't miss.
The missiles intercepted
the target
and then kept going,
as if it was
never even there
in the first place,
and now...
it's gone completely.
Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Not again.
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me.
About eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, whoa, whoa!
Hey, I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security force is on its way.
Let them handle the intruder.
All right.
Make sure you tell them
to use excessive force.
Dylan,
please, it's
incredibly dangerous.
We have to stop it.
Trust me.
Tyr,
meet with the security team
on deck 12.
"Trust me"...
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Dylan...
Yeah.
I've got something weird here.
[BEKA GRUNTING]
Beka!
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Why come here to kill Beka?
Does it know that she's the one,
or is it
just making calculations?
Let's find out.
[BEKA GRUNTING]
Beka!
Dylan...
Yeah.
BEKA: I've got something
weird here.
Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
ANDROMEDA: And now, the target
is gone completely.
Fire.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an
object to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
15 LS?
That's a sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
Hmm.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
Okay.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five.
PDLs on standby.
Fire.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
The missiles
have intercepted
the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
And now,
it's gone completely.
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me.
Not again.
HARPER: ...Not much
into conversation.
Hey, hey, leave that alone.
I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security is on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
Maybe we should step back,
give it some space.
TYR: I'll agree.
We have no idea
what it will do next.
We might wait.
And let it do god knows what
to our internal systems?
I don't think so.
Tyr,
meet with the security team
on deck 12.
That's a plan as well.
Harper, hold your position.
Security's on the way.
Make sure you tell them
to use excessive force.
Andromeda, any luck
analyzing our intruder?
I'm sorry, Dylan.
my internal sensors
are returning the same
infeasible target solutions.
It doesn't make any sense.
That thing is either here
or it's not. It can't be both.
Keep trying.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Oh, for Pete's sake...
All right.
Harper, what's going on
down there?
Mr. Harper.
[INDISTINCT WHISPERING]
Tyr, report.
Rommie, get that
transmission back.
Just kidding?
Hold it.
[HARPER GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Dylan...
Yeah.
I've got something weird here.
Beka, get down!
Tyr, get back up here.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Right.
Time to pick on somebody
your own size.
[GRUNTING]
Tyr, switch to plasma bursts.
Beka, you okay?
Yeah.
Swell.
Dylan...
I'm afraid I have bad news.
Harper...
He is still alive,
but I'm afraid
there is little I can do.
Understood.
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
I've seen Harper
through some
pretty bad scrapes,
but that...
It wasn't supposed
to be like this.
I've lost crew before.
I still have nightmares
about the day Vexpak died.
Somehow, this is different.
Well, Harper is still alive.
I haven't given up on him yet,
and neither should you.
I know,
but I just...
I can't get over the feeling
that it should be me
on that table,
not him.
There's a way
that this won't happen
to any of you.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
I've been analyzing
the micro-fragments
from our intruder,
and what I've found is...
Well, it's weird.
Define "weird".
Well, for starters,
this armor is ancient.
My best estimate
is that it's over
12,000 years old.
So this thing has been running
around since before the birth
of the old Commonwealth?
Not quite,
which brings us
to the weird part.
These fragments
are getting younger
by the second.
They appear to be moving
backward through time.
Well, that's not weird,
that's impossible.
Could you have made a mistake?
No.
Okay, smarty-chips,
say you're right.
Say this thing
is moving through time
in reverse.
What do we do now?
That's the problem.
It knows
what we're going to do
before we do it.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
No!
Harper, no.
ANDROMEDA: Respiratory failure.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA:
Cardiovascular failure.
No, please!
ANDROMEDA: Harper is dead.
No!
[SOBBING]
[GRUNTING]
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
No.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Respiratory failure.
Respiratory failure.
Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Cardiovascular failure.
Cardiovascular failure.
No!
ANDROMEDA: EEG is negative.
Harper is dead.
Harper is dead.
Harper is dead.
No! No! No!
No.
I can't save you,
I can't.
I can't save you.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
No!
Harper...
No...
No, no!
BEKA: Say this thing
is moving through time
in reverse...
DYLAN: It knows what
we're going to do
before we do it...
Beka, get down!
BEKA: It doesn't
make any sense.
That thing is either here
or it's not.
HARPER: Just kidding?
Fire.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting an object
to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
That's one sneaky object.
And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
Okay.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
Fire.
The missiles have intercepted
the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
And now,
it's gone completely.
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite
any guests onboard recently?
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Hey, hey, whoa,
I just got that fixed.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security's on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
Harper, no.
Just get out of there.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
Trance, what...
You heard the lady, Mr. Harper.
Get your butt out of there.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
The intruder
is systematically
shutting down
my diagnostic sensors,
and not just on deck 12.
I've got blind spots
all over the ship,
mainly in sensitive areas.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
BEKA: That thing
is making
one hell of a mess.
It's actively covering
its tracks.
Now we'll have
to uncover them...
the hard way.
Tyr.
Dispose of our intruder
by any means necessary.
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRACKS NECK]
DYLAN: Maintain
fire discipline,
and control your...
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
Do you think
you're the first one
to try and kill me?
You'll have to work harder.
[TYR GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
God help him.
ANDROMEDA: The intruder
has appeared
in the slipstream core.
It's slaughtering the crew
and overriding
the core systems.
I...
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIREN WAILING]
No!
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
ANDROMEDA: It's actively
covering its tracks.
Now we'll have
to uncover them.
Trance, what...
TRANCE GEMINI: Harper, no.
Just get out of there.
Uh...Did we invite
any guests onboard recently?
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
Three meters long,
distance, 15 LS and closing,
speed, 50 PSL.
That's one sneaky object.
DYLAN: And fast.
Andromeda, define "object".
Is this an asteroid,
a comet, what?
Unknown.
It is non-responsive to hails
and exhibiting
hostile behavior.
It's on an intercept course.
If that thing hits us
at that speed...
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
No good, it's still gaining.
Fine. Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
You're wasting your time.
All right, Trance.
No games, no riddles,
no...cryptic hints
from possible futures.
Tell me what you know.
That thing out there
wants to kill us,
and nothing you can do
will destroy it, believe me.
Now, I don't know
what this creature is
or why it is doing this,
but I do know
that it can tesseract
through space,
and move backwards in time,
so that it knows our next move
before we even make it.
Now, all I can tell you
is to get harper out of there,
get Beka to move away
from that pilot's station,
and to tell
everyone onboard
to set their force lances
to full plasma blast,
because that is the only thing
that will even begin
to slow this thing down.
That's all I know.
Thank you, Trance.
That was
admirably straightforward.
Beka?
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
HARPER: Uh, guys,
did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right next to me,
about eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, hey, hey,
whoa, whoa, whoa,
I just got that fixed.
[ALARM BLARING]
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Crew down on the command deck.
Intruder alert.
Crew down on deck 12.
Intruder last seen on deck 16.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[SIREN WAILING]
BEKA: Attention, all hands.
Form squads
and attack the intruder.
Too late.
ANDROMEDA: Intruder alert.
Tyr.
Intruder
in the slipstream core.
Evacuate.
Warning. Exotic matter pulser
has been activated.
Uncontrolled slipstream event
in progress.
BEKA: All hands, abandon...
Hope.
[SIREN WAILING]
Harper.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I just don't see any other way.
TRANCE GEMINI: Too late.
That's all I know.
HARPER: Uh, guys?
Did we invite any guests
onboard recently?
Because I've got one
standing right in front of me,
about eight-foot-12,
not much into conversation.
Hey, hey, leave that alone.
I just got that fixed.
DYLAN: Harper, back off.
Security's on the way.
Let them handle the intruder.
If there was any other way...
But I still don't see it.
Oh, for Pete's sake...
All right.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
Just kidding?
[HARPER GRUNTING]
If I had more time, I...
I just don't see it.
All I can see...
...is death.
No.
ANDROMEDA: Harper's vital signs
are becoming unstable.
Respiratory failure.
No.
Cardiovascular failure.
No!
I'm sorry, Trance.
Harper is dead.
Harper.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[CRYING]
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I can't believe he's gone.
Poor Harper.
Tell me that this all
works out okay, Trance,
that it means
something in the end.
I wish I could do that,
but I can't.
It's from the future.
That's all I can say.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
How do you live with it?
Live with what?
Choosing one life over another.
I know
I've done it before, Dylan,
but...never
when the loss of life
has really
just killed me inside.
This is tearing me apart.
We control
our own choices, Trance.
Nothing else.
The rest...
The rest is fate.
Captain.
It appears that the creature
has resumed its sabotage
of the ship.
All hands, this is the captain.
Code black.
Battle stations.
[MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Still nothing.
Just because we can't see it
doesn't mean it's not there.
Keep scanning.
Okay, that's it,
I'm doing this in person.
Beka, it would be safer
if you stayed.
Trust me.
Status?
We've got something,
deck 40, section seven.
Tyr, talk to me.
Moving into position
and awaiting orders.
DYLAN: Stand by.
Trance?
If there's anything
I need to know,
now is the time.
Fine.
DYLAN: Tyr,
secure slipstream core.
Keep your eyes open.
I'm about to make
our visitor reappear.
Go.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
The core appears
to be unthreatened.
Go away.
Clear the deck.
Acknowledged.
Captain Valentine,
what is our distance
to the nearest slip-point?
Uh...
Seven light-seconds.
ANDROMEDA: Why?
Andromeda, count it down for me.
Prepare to open a portal
on zero.
Acknowledged.
Excuse me,
we think this thing
is messing with
our slipstream drive?
Yes.
Well, now we're going
to slipstream.
That's the plan.
Am I the only one
who sees a problem with this?
A problem?
A problem.
Like, fiery screaming death.
That would be a problem.
ANDROMEDA: Four light-seconds.
Just checking.
For old time's sake.
For old time's sake.
Zero. Initiating
slipstream event.
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
We're not dead.
Don't be so surprised.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
DYLAN: All right,
we have an intruder.
Really?
Onscreen.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
It's not tesseracting.
Maybe it can't.
The slipstream...
Space and time
don't mean much here.
There's no place
for our friend to go to.
He is...stuck with us.
BEKA: Um, he's not
the only guy
who doesn't know
where he's going.
Whatever he did to our
biometric feedback relays,
we're flying blind.
No, we aren't.
I have you.
Themaru.
That's right.
Tow the Andromeda
out of slipstream,
only on my command.
Okay.
All right, don't hold back.
Plasma bursts, now.
[GRUNTING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
You, go.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
I won't ask you a second time.
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
[GRUNTING]
Tyr...
It's opening up a slip-portal
inside the Andromeda.
We'll be destroyed.
Beka...
BEKA: I'm out there.
Think good thoughts,
I'll have us out of here
before you know it.
Gonna be bumpy, so stay sharp.
I'm about to eject
the exotic matter pulser.
What's that?
You say
you've gone totally nuts?
It's the only way to stop it.
Without the pulser,
he can't overload the core.
Captain,
the slipstream event sequence
is not complete.
You have time to stop it,
but you'll have to go
to the core,
as I've lost control
of that part of the ship.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[ALARM SOUNDING]
ANDROMEDA: Captain,
we appear to be in the clear.
Tyr stopped
the overload sequence.
We appear to be in the clear.
Where there's life,
there's hope.
[INDISTINCT WHISPER]
If you want to kill me,
I'd prefer you give it
some real effort...
And stop wasting my time.
ANDROMEDA: Warning.
Uncontrolled slipstream event
in progress.
That was it.
The last scenario.
Our last hope, and we failed.
Oh, I wish I had more time
If only I had more time,
to find
that perfect possible future...
All I have is reality,
and reality is never perfect.
There...is one more way,
one true thing to trust.
Dylan.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm about to eject
the exotic matter pulser.
It's the only way to stop it.
It's not tesseracting.
The slipstream...
Space and time
don't mean much here.
There's no place
for our friend to go to.
Initiating slipstream event.
[GRUNTING]
Trance, if there's anything
I need to know, now is the time.
ANDROMEDA: I'm detecting
an object to starboard.
Evasive maneuvers.
ECM to maximum.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
No good, it's still gaining.
You're kidding.
All right.
Defensive missiles,
tubes one through five,
PDLs on standby.
Is that really necessary?
Well, it's chasing us,
and that is rude.
Let's teach it some manners.
ANDROMEDA: If you please, sir,
the target is locked.
Thank you, Rommie.
Fire.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Missiles have
intercepted the target,
and the target is...
...still there.
We missed?
I didn't...miss.
The missiles
intercepted the target
and then kept going,
as if it was never even there
in the first place.
And now, the target
is gone completely.
Dylan...
Please, it is
extremely dangerous.
We have to avoid
any confrontations
between this creature
and the crew.
Trust me.
Can't shoot it,
can't shake it. Fine.
Take us to slipstream.
Slipstream,
here we come.
There.
See how easy that is?
Problem solved.
[ALARM SOUNDING]
Dylan, we have a problem.
What, another one?
There's an intruder
in the slipstream core,
and it's killing people.
The intruder is attempting
to initiate
an overload in the core.
We'll be destroyed.
Understood. Tell Harper
to try and reverse it.
Beka, you have the conn.
The rest of you,
stay at your posts
and await orders.
Harper, I'm heading
for the core.
If you can't stop the overload,
I'm going to have
to eject the pulser.
Yeah, I'm doing what I can,
but this thing works faster
than a mobian pleasure-bot,
which, let me tell you, is fast,
a little too fast,
if you know what I...
Harper, concentrate.
Right. Concentrating.
Ah, no good.
I'm locked out
of the slipstream core's
control systems.
I can't do anything
from here.
That's not very good news.
HARPER: Yeah?
Well, uh, how about this?
Even if I were in the core,
I couldn't stop
the overload sequence.
It's too far gone.
I figure
in about less than a minute,
we're all going to
take a slip-route
to the pearly gates.
You did what you could,
and now I'll do what I can.
[ALARM BLARING]
ANDROMEDA: Dylan,
what are you doing?
You know what I'm doing.
You'll be killed.
It's not like we have
a lot of options, Andromeda.
I have to do this.
Dylan, the core will not eject.
The intruder has overridden
all manual systems.
[WIND WHOOSHING]
[DYLAN GRUNTING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[GROANING]
[GRIPPING MUSIC PLAYING]
[WIND WHOOSHING]
This is going to be ugly,
but you know what they say...
"Any slip you can walk away
from is a good one."
Didn't I order you
to stay on the command deck?
Yes.
Well, thank you
for completely disobeying me.
Oh, I'm having
a really bad day.
ANDROMEDA: The intruder
has appeared
off our starboard bow.
It's vectoring away from us.
It's gone.
For good, I think.
How can you be sure?
Because, from its perspective,
it still hasn't found us yet.
Excuse me?
It's a long story.
I can't wait to hear it.
[GRAND MUSIC PLAYING]
So, you experience
a million possible futures
in the time it takes me
to blink my eyes,
and each one of them
looks, feels, sounds,
smells, and tastes
as real
as the conversation
we're having
right here, right now?
In a word, yes.
Wow.
All right,
here's my question.
If that's true,
if each one
of those futures
is indistinguishable
from each other
and from reality
on a...quantum level,
Trance,
how do you know
that...any of this is real?
[GRIM MUSIC PLAYING]
I don't.
[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]