Endurance II coasts silently in low Earth orbit.
Below them, Earth curves in magnificent blue and white.
Schuster (40s, pilot) reviews mission parameters while Toby Harman (30s) checks systems.
Schuster
Houston’s tracking the alien capsule. Should have visual contact in six hours.
Toby
So what exactly are we carrying?
Schuster
(lowering voice)
Alien technology from Walters’ encounter.
Toby
Think they’re friendly?
Schuster
Friendly doesn’t mean harmless.
He activates communications.
Schuster
(CONT’D)
Houston, beginning long-range scan for target.
Mission Control (V.O.)
Copy, Endurance. Be advised — unprecedented storm activity in your target area. Came from nowhere.
Schuster and Toby exchange looks.
Schuster
Something tells me the easy part just ended.
The alien capsule drifts in orbit, its translucent surface catching starlight.
Inside, the ancient forms of Marwen and the three Moon Creatures rest in crystalline suspension.
Nearby, Endurance II maintains its position, preparing for the planned rendezvous.
Suddenly, the landscape below writhes with unnatural energy.
Ancient songlines glow with spectral fire as the Kutji spirit awakens to its full power.
What begins as atmospheric disturbance rapidly becomes a spiral of supernatural energy reaching into orbit.
The Kutji spirit manifests as a swirling vortex of dark matter and ancient rage, extending tendrils toward the alien capsule.
Schuster monitors the approach vector while Toby operates the deep space scanning array.
Toby
Capsule’s stable at two thousand meters. No movement, no energy signatures beyond basic life support.
Schuster
Copy that. Beginning final approach sequence.
Toby
Joe… you ever wondered what’s been keeping that thing in orbit? There’s no visible propulsion system.
Schuster
Orders are to rendezvous, not analyze. Let’s just—
Alarms suddenly BLARE across the console.
Toby
What the hell? Joe, I’m reading massive electromagnetic disturbance approaching from Earth.
Schuster
Solar storm?
Toby
This is coming from the planet surface. It’s a remote coastal area. Joe, the capsule just changed course! It’s accelerating toward Earth!
Schuster
That’s impossible…
Toby
I’m telling you, it’s moving! And there’s something else… that storm system is growing.
On their monitors, they watch a hurricane form with supernatural speed — a perfect spiral centred on the capsule’s descent trajectory.
The radio dissolves into static.
The alien capsule’s descent becomes a controlled fall toward the coast, wrapped in the eye of the supernatural hurricane.
The shuttle shudders as it’s caught in the outer edges of the storm’s influence.
Toby
We’re being pulled in! Whatever’s controlling that capsule, it’s affecting us too!
Schuster
Full reverse thrust! Break orbit!
Toby
It’s not working! Joe, we’re caught in some kind of energy field!
Outside their windows, space itself ripples and distorts as the Kutji spirit’s power extends.
Schuster
(grimly)
Then we’re going for a ride.
The shuttle begins its own uncontrolled descent, following the capsule toward the chaos below.
The alien capsule impacts the ocean near Diggers Cave with tremendous force, sending up a tower of steam and supernatural light.
Moments later, the hurricane’s powerful outer reaches make landfall near Cactus Loop.
Hurricane Destruction Montage
Walls of water rolling across the tidal flats
Trees bending flat, roofing iron tearing free
The coastline scoured white
End of Chapter Six