Chapter Twenty-Eight
Departure
Lunar Orbit / Mad Water Delta / Stinkwood Island
Ext. Space — Lunar Orbit
The golden craft hangs motionless above the moon.
No fanfare. No radiation. No light show.
It releases the pear-shaped capsule.
The capsule drifts downward—not falling, not guided—allowed.
Ext. Moon — Crater Langrenus
The capsule touches the lunar surface.
Softly.
Dust lifts, then settles.
Silence.
The capsule opens.
Feelgood floats out, unconscious but peaceful.
The Moon Creatures follow—still, fossil-like, unreadable.
Between them: the COLLAPSED STAR.
It does not expand.
It does not ignite.
Instead, it dims further, collapsing inward until it is no brighter than the surrounding regolith.
Then something impossible happens.
The lunar surface beneath them does not crack or melt.
It gives—as if depth were optional here.
The Moon Creatures sink slowly into the moon, not leaving impressions, not displacing matter.
The star follows, vanishing without light.
Feelgood hesitates—suspended.
For a moment, he stirs.
His eyes open.
He looks back—not toward Earth, but toward the vast dark beyond.
A faint smile touches his lips.
Then he, too, is gently taken.
The surface restores itself.
No scar.
No mark.
The crater looks exactly as it always has.
Ext. Space — Wide
The golden craft is no longer there.
The moon remains.
Unchanged.
For a long beat.
Then—almost imperceptibly—the moon shifts.
Not closer.
Farther.
A fraction. A whisper.
Nothing dramatic enough to alarm.
Nothing violent enough to notice at first.
But the distance is real.
The moon has begun to withdraw.
Ext. Earth — Night (Various)
The moon rises slightly later than expected.
Tides still come. Still go.
Just… a few minutes off.
Astronomical software refreshes.
Corrections fail.
Old eclipse charts quietly become wrong.
No sirens.
No panic.
No announcement.
Life continues.
Ext. Drained Delta — Continuous
Drummer trots forward.
He sniffs what’s left of Fleabag—cautious, confused.
Drummer looks up at Danny.
A small, uncertain WHINE.
Danny meets his eyes.
Drummer circles once, then lowers himself beside the remains, resting his head close.
Still.
Watchful.
Blake
(looking at Fleabag’s remains)
I guess he was loved by someone.
Sarah
(holding Blake’s hand)
What does it all mean?
Juba
(smiling)
Possibility. The old stories say when the moon changes, the world changes with it.
Amy
(checking the device)
They’re gone. Really gone this time. But Matt? Want this back?
Matt
Keep it. I’m in a new realm. Spiritually at least.
Juba
Bye uncle Feelgood.
The group stands in silence as the waters of the delta appear as they had always been.
Ext. Stinkwood Island — Morning
Matt, Amy, Blake and Juba stand beside the helicopter as two Navy SEALs help the surviving crew members from Endurance II toward the aircraft.
Toby, weak but alive, gives Matt a grateful nod.
Matt
(to Juba, nodding toward where the shuttle had been exposed)
I guess it’s down to you now young fella. Sorry about the mess, and sorry you lost Feelgood.
Juba
He was old as the hills, reckon he’s loving it. And what mess? Can’t have dinner without washing up.
Matt
(to all)
What you did here… it matters.
Blake
(shaking hands)
It brought me to Sarah and Danny. And my old man’s legacy. Safe travels. Say Hi to the President…
With a quick salute, Matt climbs into the helicopter. Amy follows, waves. The rotors spin up, and the aircraft lifts off, heading toward the horizon.
End of Chapter Twenty-Eight