SOUND: Standard chimes
ROGER
Broadcasting. This is Roger Bragado-Fischer, Communications … something … Moonbase Wherever. If communication still makes a difference at this point in the plot, if we can keep this Base – or this Moon – together long enough to be a thing. We’ve made it through the shutdown, the beginnings of a revival, we’ve got a Plan and a stereotypical band of plucky misfits fighting the forces of evil.
SOUND: Standard chimes
MICHELL
You guys can sort out the next thing. I need to get the Rover checked and loaded. Zhong?
ZHONG
On it, boss.
WILDER
Excuse me?
JAXON
Officer L’Angois – Michell, there are points where we need your input –
MICHELL
Just shoot us details along the way. Zhong’s gonna set up those repeaters Wilder asked for –
WILDER
You were able t’ read those schematics?
ZHONG
Of course.
JAXON
We can’t just shoot you details. You’re … a part of the details.
MICHELL
Je suis déjà restée trop longtemps. (I’ve stayed too long already.)
WILDER
Sit back down, bucko. You wanted to step up and take th’ hero’s journey, this is part of the process.
MICHELL
Well, do I sit down or do I step up?
SOUND: Zhong laughs at this
WILDER
Oh, don’t you start. And I’m your boss.
ASHWINI
Could you reduce the volume of your squabbling? I am engaged in several simultaneous tasks of importance, including the recalibration of an errant array antenna, composing a fiction within the Greek underworld to include a particularly charming self-insert, and wringing data out of a truly frustrating satellite network in order to follow the trajectory of the … well, I believe you’re aware.
SOUND: Standard chimes
ROGER
But none of that is worth a cup of En-Soy-Ment to me right now … all my thoughts, my hopes, all of my heart … is on a makeshift rocket hurtling toward us with the most precious of cargo.
SOUND: Standard chimes
PAYLOAD
Thank you. The Delta-V looks good. Horizon out the hatch looks good.
(after a moment, more casually)
We’ve got a few minutes now.
ADDIE
Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.
PAYLOAD
Do not –
ALEX
He’s joking. Addie, you’re joking.
ADDIE
I only wish. I’d kill for a bowlful.
ALEX
We’ll … definitely deserve a celebration.
ADDIE
Not like yours! You and your boy down there – I hope he’s got a private room waiting!
PAYLOAD
Doubtful. Standard Moonbase design was for a single bunkroom.
ADDIE
They’ll figure it out – it’s been a long wait. This is why I’m open relationships only.
ALEX
It’ll be enough to be close again. Meu amado …
PAYLOAD
I still can’t believe I’m sitting next to Alex. The Alex! And we’re on our way to meet Roger. It’s like … finding out Buck Rogers is real. Or Michael Burnham.
SOUND: Standard chimes
ROGER
When I have Alex back in my arms … maybe then, I can think about resistance. Maybe then, we’ll know more of what’s happened on Earth all this time … and who’s left that we could reach out to from above.
SOUND: Standard chimes
ELIO
… I don’t think it’s a Freehold or an Enclave, not exactly.
FREE FOLK 1
What else is there?
ELENA
We’re about to find out. Hello, I’m Elena.
FREE FOLK 1
Cyril. Riley’s back in the ultralight, their pack broke open.
ELIO
With most of our food, which is why Cas and Pol are there helping.
NASHWA
(chuckling)
We can wait, things are safe here now. That’s our last person to gather in?
ELENA
(sadly)
That’s … the last one who made it out.
ELIO
Right.
FREE FOLK 1
We lost our … I don’t know who’s in charge now. I don’t even know where we are, just Africa.
NASHWA
That’s as good a place as any to start from. You’re in Sixth of October City –
NIMA
(overlapping with Nashwa, not quite a correction)
مدينة أكتوبر السادس
NASHWA
Within what was once Egypt, now an unallied territory of Northern Africa. The corporations managed to break down the regional governments here, even established some of the first Enclaves in cities like Cairo, but they couldn’t hold on.
NIMA
And Cairo Enclave remains in ruins.
NASHWA
We’ve kept the corporations at arm’s length longer than most. We’ve kept our people safe. And more than our people – you’re far from the first refugees.
NIMA
The bases are overflowing with them, fleeing their cities, and Enclaves … and Freeholds.
FREE FOLK 1
Bases? Like the Moonbases?
NASHWA
Not like the Moonbases. Though some have hopes in that direction.
ELENA
Well, whatever you’re building, here or wherever. I’m in.
ELIO
Of course. Any way we can help.
SOUND: Standard chimes
ROGER
Whatever happens, however, whoever, wherever we can pull ourselves together … it feels like we’re approaching the closing stage of this journey, the final stop, the last chance. We make this work, or else we … don’t. But either way, it’s been one hell of a story. And either way, it ends with Alex.
(after a pause)
Moonbase Theta, Out.
SOUND: Standard chimes
NARRATOR
Moonbase Theta, Out – The Final Season. Broadcasting on your podcast feeds starting August 14th. For early access, join us at patreon.com/monkeymanproductions
SOUND: Standard chimes
ENCLAVE OFFICER
What I found instead was that every place, every office, every new power structure – they all had the same weakness. It made things difficult for a man trying to work his way up. So I changed my focus; I changed my direction. I worked my way down. Down to the hidden offices, the dusty file rooms, the deepest secrets. The abandoned projects – like the Consortium tossing me Moonbase Theta. I took those scraps, the bits they’d forgotten about or thrown away, and I built my own place, still inside but … within the shadows.
SOUND: Standard chimes
