Chapter Three
Strange Encounter
Low Earth Orbit / Houston
Ext. Space — Day
Space shuttle Endurance drifts in space, cargo bay open.
Australia slides by.
Ext. Space Shuttle — Continuous
Commander Matt Walters (40s, seasoned) moves across the shuttle’s hull checking thermal tiles.
Suddenly, his tools begin floating away toward empty space.
Matt
(into headset, uncertain)
Houston, my tools just… they’re moving the wrong direction. Gravity’s acting weird up here.
His helmet display flickers, displaying readings that shift between numbers and strange geometric symbols.
Matt
(voice tightening)
Instruments are showing gravitational readings that would require a black hole the size of Manhattan. But there’s nothing here.
Int. Space Shuttle — Continuous
Toby peers through the porthole, watching Matt with growing concern.
Toby
(into headset)
Matt, your suit cam just went to static. Can you confirm your position?
Ext. Space Shuttle — Continuous
Matt turns toward Toby’s porthole.
His breathing fogs his helmet visor with patterns that pulse rhythmically.
Matt
What are you talking about? I’m right here, buster.
A capsule—pear-shaped, smooth, translucent—drifts into view.
Matt
(breathless)
Well, that’s definitely not one of ours.
The capsule’s surface ripples, reflecting impossible light sources that cast shadows on the shuttle’s hull.
Int. Mission Control — Continuous
A Technician stares at his screen, confused.
Technician
Flight Director, Matt’s suit is reporting he’s in two places at once.
Flight Director
Check your readings again.
Technician
Yes ma’am. But the telemetry is consistent from both locations.
Ext. Space Shuttle — Continuous
With scientific precision, Matt reaches toward the capsule.
His hand trembles as it gets closer.
Matt
(studying it with forced calm)
It’s… responsive. Like it knows I’m here.
His radio crackles with low humming that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere.
Toby (V.O.)
(panicked)
Matt, you’ve been describing star charts for the last ten minutes.
Matt
What? I haven’t said a word.
Toby (V.O.)
Jesus! Matt! Behind you!
A second shrouded craft materializes—not appearing but unfolding from dimensions that don’t exist, like origami made from folded spacetime.
The shuttle’s hull begins reflecting light that isn’t there.
Matt
(voice tight with controlled panic)
Houston, space just… rearranged itself. And I can hear music in the vacuum.
His suit’s life support systems emit rhythmic beeps that synchronize into something resembling harmony.
Matt tries to move his arms. They won’t respond.
His body goes rigid, visible through the suit, then slowly relaxes into unnatural stillness.
Matt
(fighting to keep voice steady)
Houston… I can’t move. Not the suit. Me. I can’t move me.
Int. Mission Control — Continuous
Flight Director
(staring at telemetry)
His brain activity is off the charts.
Technician
Ma’am… the shuttle’s mass just increased by 400 kilograms. But we haven’t detected any physical change.
Ext. Space Shuttle — Continuous
The shroud rotates to face Matt.
An object—multifaceted, chameleon-like in shifting colors—doesn’t float toward him but phases through intervening space, existing simultaneously in the shroud and approaching his hand.
Mission Control (V.O.)
(urgent, static-filled)
Commander Walters, return to command module. Immediately.
Matt
(ignoring the order, awed)
You know what? It’s actually beautiful. And they just… handed me their business card.
The object settles into Matt’s gloved hand.
His helmet visor suddenly clears.
His body language shifts—from rigid terror to profound calm.
The shroud de-materializes.
Space returns to normal.
Stars resume their proper positions.
Toby (V.O.)
Matt, whatever you’re thinking—
Matt
(moving normally again)
I’m thinking we just made first contact. And they expect something from us.
Int. Space Shuttle — Continuous
Matt floats through the airlock, still holding the alien device.
His hands shake uncontrollably.
Toby
So… what exactly the fuck did you bring home?
Matt holds up the alien device, which pulses with strange light.
Matt
First contact, Toby. And I don’t think they’re asking permission.
The device pulses once more in rhythm.
End of Chapter Three