As a note. I’ve written out the actual dialogue of the aliens. If Santino feels like putting an alien alphabet in the back of the book, that’s up to him. But as it currently stands the Alien language shouldn’t be understandable by the reader. Page 1)
Panel 1
The panel shows a close up view of Kekoa’s helmeted mouth as she speaks into her wrist console. The sky is a greenish yellow behind her.)
Kekoa: On earth it should be April 28th 3:35 Pm.
Panel 3
The panel shows the upper half of Kekoa’s body along with a plume of smoke to her left)
Kekoa: Of course, that presupposes that my clock is running correctly.
Panel 4
Kekoa looks at the smoldering remains of her crashed ship)
Kekoa: Which, given the current set of circumstances, would be rather surprising.
Panel 5
Kekoa looks out into the forest that surrounds her)
Kekoa: The mission will begin in earnest as soon our as losses have been completely assessed.
Panel 6
The panel shows a birds eye view of Kekoa and her ship in the small clearing in the forest.)
Kekoa: Which will take a while.
Page 2)
Panel 1
It’s nighttime. A Spherical probe flies above the alien trees.)
Panel 2
Kekoa has made a small camp for herself out of the wreckage of her ship. Supplies and equipment litter the clearing the largest remaining section of craft has been converted in to a hut. Solar panels are plugged into larger pieces of equipment in the camp. Kekoa is lifting a metal crate with medical supplies and notices her wrist console beeping)
Panel 3
Kekoa notices the incoming probe)
Panel 4
It lands in her outstretched hand)
Panel 5
The probe projects a hologram showing a map of the forest Kekoa has landed in along with a reading of the planets atmospheric content which is: Hydrogen 78% Oxygen 16% Sulfur 3.045% Argon 0.321%)
Page 3
Panel 1
Kekoa puts the medical box she was carrying down while Yama floats next to her.)
Kekoa: Yama.
Yama: Yes captain?
Panel 2
Kekoa rummages through the medical box she was just carrying)
Kekoa: Set a waypoint for the nearest body of water.
Panel 3
Kekoa pulls out a cylinder with a usb-esque tip at the end labeled Sertraline)
Yama: Waypoint set. There is a small lake one kilometer north of your current location. Anything else?
Panel 4
Kekoa sits next to Yama)
Kekoa: Play lullaby number five. Yama: Beginning playback.
Page 4)
Panel 1
Kekoa plugs the sertraline cylinder into her wrist console)
Yama: Hey Keko. If you’re hearing this you suck.
Panel 2
The liquid inside the cylinder is draining into Kekoa’s wrist console)
Yama: Who asks anyone to do something like this? Well, you apparently, but you get the point. This is weird and you should feel weird.
Panel 3
Kekoa lies on her back)
Yama: I mean.. I guess it’s nice that I mean this much to you.
Page 5)
Panel 1
The sky glitters with stars and other galactic phenomena. In the distance is a blue pillar of fire)
First Bubble) Yama: It’d just be nicer if you stayed…. But….I understand.
Second Bubble) Yama: You were born to do this.
Panel 2
Kekoa grabs a rock)
Yama: Well, take plenty of pictures and grab a bunch of rocks.
Panel 3
Kekoa passively glances at the rock she picked up)
Yama: Don’t tell I.N.A.S.A about all of them cause… You know…Then we can’t sell em.
Page 6)
Panel 1
Kekoa sits upright looking at the sky, Yama floats next to her)
Yama: And….We don’t say this a lot. But... I guess I should. Seeing as you’ll be really far by the time you hear this. So…. Yeah…
Panel 2
Yama lands in Kekoa’s Hand)
Yama: I guess I kind of love you….You know… A little bit…
Panel 3
Kekoa starts to stand)
Yama: And I’ll be here when you get back.
Panel 4
Kekoa stands up her silhouette cuts against the night sky)
Yama: I mean….Well... If you come back… Cause... You never know…
Panel 5
Kekoa starts to walk towards the ship wreckage.)
Yama: You know what? Forget it. I guess fifth one wasn’t the charm. UGGHHG…How do you stop this thing?!
Yama: End of recording.
Page 7)
Panel 1
Kekoa gets to the door.)
Kekoa: Play it again. Yama: Beginning playback.
Panel 2
Panel shows a bird’s eye view of the camp and the forest that surrounds it)
Yama: Hey Keko. If you’re hearing this you suck...
Page 8
Panel 1 It’s night in Kekoa’s Master bedroom, her cell phone rings on the nightstand next to her)
Panel 2 The Kekoa picks it up. Her eyes are still closed)
Panel 3 Susan sits in an airport terminal Drunk) Susan: HEYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Panel 4 Kekoa massages her temple) Kekoa: Pacific Time Susan. Phone: Ohhhhh right..Sorrrrrrry.
Page 9
Panel 1 Kekoa looks at the clock on her nightstand it reads 3:18 am) Kekoa: No you’re not. How’s your dad?
Panel 2 Susan is sitting in an airport terminal. She’s substantially drunk) Susan: He’s…on his way out. -Hic
Panel 3 Kekoa sits up in her bed) Kekoa: Oh…. Do you need more time? Phone: No..I..I need to be home.
Page 10)
Panel 1 Kekoa steps out of bed) Phone: You- hic - you need to stay home too. Astronaut: What?
Panel 2 Kekoa opens the refrigerator) Phone: You know how you’re being shipped off in a few weeks? Kekoa: Yeah. Phone: Ye-hic-yeah. J-just blow it off.
Panel 3 Kekoa takes some orange juice out of the refrigerator) Kekoa: You’re drunk aren’t you?
Panel 4 Susan looks to her right) Susan: Hey that…that’s a red…something…that’s a fish.
Page 11) Panel 1 Kekoa pours orange juice into a glass) Kekoa: It’s too late. Everything’s set, I can’t just- Susan: DON’T GO!!
Panel 2 Susan yells into her phone with both hands tears streaming out of her eyes and her nose starts to run) Susan: Don’t go into space!! I’ll miss you!!!
Panel 3 Kekoa grimaces while holding her glass of orange juice.) Kekoa: I asked you about this months ago!! Where was this then?!
Panel 4 Susan waves franticly while yelling into her phone attracting the attention of other people at the airport) Susan: I didn’t want to hurt your dumb feelings!
Page 12
Panel 1 Kekoa’s phone is on speaker mode on the counter next to her. Kekoa nonchalantly listens to her phone while she sips her orange juice) Phone: I said you should go, and I did those dumb recordings you wanted me to do all because I didn’t want to hold you back! Phone: But Why do I have to hold you back?! Phone: Why do you want to leave earth so bad? Phone: Screw space! What’s space ever done for you!? Kekoa: Susan-
Panel 2 Susan screams into her phone angrily) Susan: Don’t Susan me! God! I hate it when you do that! You’re not smarter than me! You just fly space ships and have seventeen degrees!
Panel 3 The panel shows a close up view of the lower half of Kekoa’s face) Kekoa: Susan. Phone: WHAT!? Kekoa: I promise I’ll stay.
Page 13
Panel 1 Susan holds her phone tenderly) Susan: R…Really? Phone: Yes. But you need to promise me something.
Panel 2 Kekoa holds her phone to her ear smiling slightly) Kekoa: Promise me you’ll behave on the flight home. Susan: Hic..Ok…
Panel 3 Kekoa is standing in her kitchen) Phone: Hey Keko. Kekoa: Yeah? Phone: I want one of those signs that people make when they expect someone at an airport. Kekoa: Alright.
Page 14 Panel 1 Kekoa eyes open) Text box: I’ll see you tomorrow
Panel 2 Kekoa sits up. In the wrecked shuttle)
Panel 3 Kekoa steps out of the wreckage)
Panel 4 The lush forest stretches out in front of Kekoa) Yama: Good morning captain.
Page 15
Panel 1
Kekoa is walking through the forest.)
Panel 2
Kekoa stands at the edge of the forest close to a stream that feeds from a lake)
Yama: We’ve reached our destination.
Panel 3
Kekoa takes a small clear bottle off of her belt)
Kekoa: Noted.
Panel 4
Kekoa puts the bottle in the water gathering a sample)
Panel 5
She holds it up to her face with a hologram showing her the liquid content in small text the reader can’t understand)
Panel 6
We see from her eyes and there is a vague watery outline of something humanoid behind the bottle)
Page 16
Panel 1
Kekoa looks past the bottle)
Panel 2
On the other side of the stream a native Vykairan is drawing water with a clay pot.)
Panel 3
It notices Kekoa)
Panel 4
The two stare at each other across the stream.)
Panel 5
The native runs up the hill away from the stream spilling water as it runs.)
Panel 6
Kekoa is left alone standing next to the stream)
Page 17
Panel 1
Inside the ship, Kekoa struggles to open a damaged sliding door labeled “storage”)
Panel 2
She forces the door open)
Panel 3
She presses the side of her helmet, activating a flashlight on the opposite side of her helmet)
Panel 4
She combs through the storage area. Note: I forget the name of the effect but I’d recommend showing multiple Kekoa’s looking through different parts of the storage area on the same panel)
Panel 5
Her light shines on a cylinder that reads “ First Contact”)
Page 18
Panel 1
Yama hovers into Kekoa’s camp)
Panel 2
Yama hovers towards Kekoa as she sits on a log while going through the opened cylinder next to her.) Note: We can’t see what’s inside it)
Panel 3
Yama lands in Kekoa’s hand)
Yama: Survey completed.
Panel 4
Kekoa rummages through the cylinder with one hand and holds Yama in the other)
Kekoa: Report.
Yama: Native structures have been located two point seven Kilometers east of our current location.
In addition to this, the planet’s atmospheric content has changed considerably.
Page 19
Panel 1
Kekoa Looks shocked)
Yama: Under current conditions the air should be breathable.
Panel 2
Kekoa disengages her helmet on her console)
Panel 3
She starts to take it off. Air shoots out of neck opening of the helmet)
Panel 4
Kekoa holds her helmet over her head)
Panel 5
Kekoa sits on the log with her helmet next to her)
Kekoa: So it is.
Page 20
Panel 1
Kekoa walks across a grassy plain carrying the cylinder on her back and a jug of water in her hands. The top half of her suit is tied across her waist. Under which is a black shirt with the word “I.N.A.S.A” in white text )
Panel 2
Kekoa pulls out Yama)
Kekoa: Yama. Battery level.
Yama: Fifty-four percent.
Panel 3
A large blue pillar of flame shoots up into the sky from behind a hill in the distance)
Kekoa: Go ahead and charge, I know where we’re headed.
Page 21
Panel 1
Kekoa stands just outside the village walls constructed out of a reddish brown wood)
Panel 2
She see’s a large gate. Both halves both covered in Alien symbols. One of the doors is open. The blue flame pillar billows above it.) (In alien text the halves read “The Eastmost village of the blood oak clan”)
Panel 3
She walks through the gate into the village.)
Panel 4
The panel shows a birds eye view of Kekoa walking into the village. It’s full of round huts made from reddish brown wood. native swords are stuck in the ground in front of every hut opening)
Page 22
Panel 1
Kekoa notices the sword in a hut to her left.)
Panel 2
She walks up to it and is about to touch it)
Panel 3
Kekoa is startled by an alien voice behind her)
Native: (alien text : D-Don’t touch that!)
Panel 4
The native Vykarian covers its mouth as if to stop something it already said. It’s horrified. It’s wearing a mask of leaves that cover the lower half of its face/ obscure the mouth.)
Page 23
Panel 1
Kekoa walks to the capsule slowly keeping her eyes on the Vykarian)
Panel 2
The native steps back shaking with fear.)
Panel 3
Kekoa presses a button on the capsule opening it. Earth stuff is crammed into the cylinder. Among them is a yoyo, a picture of a president labeled “our leader”, a baseball bat, an instant film camera, Gurren Lagann glasses, and a bunch of other stuff)
Panel 4
The native gasps)
Panel 5
The native runs away)
Panel 6
Kekoa stands alone in the village)
Text box: I apologize for the gap in my reports, a lot has happened in a very short amount of time.
Page 24
Panel 1
It’s morning, Kekoa takes a deep breath)
Textbox: First and Foremost. There are copious amounts of oxygen.
Panel 2
Its around 11 in the morning, Kekoa drinks water from the stream)
Textbox: Drinkable water.
Panel 3
Its noon, Kekoa inspects a bean that’s sprouting in the soil next to her ship)
Textbox: And fertile soil.
Panel 4
Its sunset, Kekoa sits on the top of the wrecked shuttle looking out at the forest)
Textbox: We could certainly do worse.
Panel 5
It’s evening, Kekoa is looking through pictures of the native on her console Note: these were taken with Yama so they would be above ground shots
Textbox: However, first and second contact could have gone better.
Textbox: Here’s to hoping that the third times the charm.
Page 25
Panel 1
It’s early in the morning; Kekoa is walking through the forest towards the lake carrying a small clear square bag)
Panel 2
The square bag has a tube going into the lake pumping water into it and its slowly growing, Kekoa is sitting under a tree next to the bag)
Panel 3
Susan sits on the opposite side of the tree)
Susan: Did you take your Sertraline?
Panel 4
Kekoa looks at the ground)
Kekoa: I’ll be fine.
Panel 5
This sequence will have the same positions so treat each panel like a shot reverse shot)
Susan: The fact that you can hear me means that you aren’t fine.
Panel 6
Kekoa: Did you feel anything?
Panel 7
Susan: You need to focus. You’re on THE mission.
Panel 8
Kekoa: Sometimes I wonder if your crash was my punishment for lying to you.
Panel 9
Susan: Stop. Think. Who does this help?
Panel 10
Kekoa: I didn’t deserve you anyway.
Yama: Captain?
Page 26
Panel 1
Yama hovers next to Kekoa)
Yama: Your stress levels are exceeding healthy thresholds, and you haven’t administered your daily sertraline allotment.
Kekoa: Noted Yama.
Panel 2
Kekoa starts to get up)
Yama: Would you like a lullaby?
Kekoa: Yes.
Panel 3
Kekoa starts to pack up the cube now now double its size and full of water.)
Yama: Number?
Kekoa: I don’t care.
Yama: Playing.
Page 27
Panel 1
Kekoa walks through the forest with Yama floating after her)
Yama: It’s really set in..You’re gonna be gone… For a long time..
Do you remember that song by..….crap I don’t remember. It doesn’t really matter.
The video that played over it had an astronaut stuck on the moon after the end of the world.
Then he thinks he sees a blonde woman and he jumps through space to get to the American space station.
And it turned out that the blond woman was a blonde dude.
I remember that you left the room so you could laugh. Like you weren’t allowed to have fun around me.
Well I hope space is boring.
That way when you get back, you’ll have to have fun.
Susan, are you done yet?
No! Go away!!!
Panel 2
Kekoa walks out of the forest into the plains)
Yama: Do you feel better captain?
Kekoa: Yeah.
Page 28
Panel 1
It’s midday; Kekoa walks through the plains with the cube of water)
Panel 2
She walks into the village.)
Panel 3
She looks at the spot where she left the capsule. It’s gone.)
Panel 4
She looks around a moment.)
Panel 5
She sees the flame pillar in the center of the village.)
Page 29
Panel 1
She stands 10 feet away from the large flame pillar)
Panel 2
Kekoa motions to Yama.)
Kekoa: Yama, what’s the temperature of the fire?
Yama: Twenty-two point two degrees Celsius.
Panel 3
Kekoa looks at the fire puzzled)
Kekoa: Elemental composition? Yama: Oxygen with two unknown elements.
Panel 4
Kekoa picks up a nearby rock)
Panel 5
Kekoa sticks a rock in to the fire.)
Panel 6
She pulls it and touches it and it’s not that warm.)
Panel 7
She stands up.)
Page 30
Panel 1
Kekoa puts her left hand inside the pillar.
Panel 2
She steps all the way in.
Panel 3
Kekoa looks in awe at the inside of the fire blue embers dance around her and the current blows her hair upward slightly.
Panel 4
She steps out of the flame.)
Panel 5
The native is examining Kekoa’s water cube.)
Panel 6
Kekoa and the native see one another.)
Page 31
Panel 1
The native, stricken with fear, pulls out the yo yo that was in the first contact cylinder.)
Panel 2
The native swings the yoyo like a bola)
Panel 3
Kekoa takes a step back)
Panel 4
The native stops as a voice comes from the hut.)
Alien text: (Child! Where are you!?)
Panel 5
The native and voice argue)
Native: (That creature from earlier is back)
Voice: (The one that opened the thing?)
Native: (Yeah!)
Voice: (Bring it here!)
Native: (Elder! What if it kills us?)
Voice: (We’re well on our way already child. Now bring it here.)
Page 32
Panel 1
The native swallows hard.)
Panel 2
The native looks at Kekoa)
Panel 3
The native beckons Kekoa into the hut where the voice came from.)
Panel 4
The native and Kekoa walk over.)
Page 33
Panel 1
Kekoa stands inside the doorway of the hut.
Panel 2
The hut has a dirt floor and is about 15 in diameter. In the middle of the hut is a low fire, above the fire is a pot full of the same leaves the young native is wearing to protect his face. Across from the fire older Vykairan lying on the ground covered in a blanket with a Vykarian sword design on it. In the back of the hut is the closed first contact capsule, bits of earth stuff dot the floors of the hut. Above the capsule a Vykarian sword is mounted onto the wall. Next to the capsule is the clay pot from earlier. The older Vykarian is holding a picture and has surrounded herself with newspaper bits and a ripped up book, said picture has a bite taken out of the left hand corner.)
Panel 3
The young Vykarian pushes past Kekoa.)
Panel 4
It sits next to the older one)
Panel 5
The old Vykairan holds looks at the picture and holds it up next to where Kekoa is standing.)
Panel 6
She laughs)
Page 34
Panel 1
The older Vykarian gasps)
Panel 2
She grabs and shakes the arm of the younger Vykarian pointing frantically off frame)
Panel 3
She’s pointing at the closed capsule)
Panel 4
Both of the natives look at Kekoa)
Panel 5
Kekoa walks over to the capsule.)
Young native: (Think it understands us?)
Old native: (Hush child.)
Panel 6
She presses on a button and the capsule opens)
Page 35
Panel 1
The old Vykarian gets from under the covers and runs towards the capsule with the younger one exclaiming in protest.)
Young Vykarian: (Elder!)
Panel 2
The old Vykarian digs through the capsule.)
Panel 3
The old Vykarian pulls out a small globe and marvels at it.)
Panel 4
The old Vykarian coughs softly)
Panel 5
She coughs a bit louder and tries to cover her mouth, and drops the globe)
Page 36
Panel 1
The young native tucks the old native under her covers, the old native is still coughing.)
Panel 2
Kekoa runs out of the hut.)
Panel 3
Kekoa grabs the water cube.)
Panel 4
Kekoa runs back to the hut.
Panel 5
Kekoa walks into the hut panting)
Panel 6
She sees the young native putting some of the leaves he had in the pot on the older ones face.)
Page 37
Panel 1
Kekoa stands in the doorway for a moment)
Panel 2
Kekoa puts the water cube on the ground.)
Panel 3
Kekoa leaves the hut)
Panel 4
The sun starts to lower as Kekoa leaves the village)
Page 38
Panel 1
It’s morning; the sun rises above the trees in the forest)
Panel 2
Kekoa is picking leaves just like the leaves in the native’s pot/ on the native’s mask, off of tree branches)
Panel 3
She’s walking to the village with a small bag of tree leaves.)
Panel 4
The large flame pillar is gone)
Panel 5
Kekoa looks concerned.)
Panel 6
Kekoa starts to run to the village)
Page 39
Panel 1
Kekoa runs through the village)
Panel 2
Kekoa sees the sword in the young Vykarian’s hut)
Panel 3
Kekoa tenses up)
Panel 4
Kekoa pulls out Yama)
Kekoa: Yama look for footprints, heat signatures, anything.
Panel 5
Yama floats into the air)
Yama: Searching.
Page 40
Panel 1
Kekoa walks up a small grassy hill.)
Panel 2
The young Vykarian is burying the older one with his hands. The Old Vykarian is clutching the picture of the president)
Panel 3
Kekoa watches meekly as the young Vykarian continues to bury)
Panel 4
The young Vykairan bows, touches its head to the ground next to the freshly buried grave.)
Panel 5
The young Vykarian sits up on his knees)
Panel 6
We see Kekoa stand silent as the young Vykarian stands.
Page 41
Panel 1
Kekoa looks at the ground.)
Kekoa: It gets a bit easier every day.
Not by too much.
And it’ll always hurt.
But, it does get easier.
Panel 2
The young Vykarian takes off his mask.)
Panel 3
The young Vykarian drops his mask as walks away.)
Panel 4
Kekoa is still at the grave.)
Panel 5
Kekoa watches the native walk away.)
Page 42
Panel 1
Kekoa enters the ship interior.)
Panel 2 Kekoa sits on her cot with her head down)
Voice from off panel: Hey.
Panel 3
Susan sits next to Kekoa on her cot)
Kekoa: It never stops.
Susan: Nope.
Panel 4
Pause)
Panel 5
Kekoa sits up)
Kekoa: I guess it’s nice to know that this is universal.
Susan: Yeah.
The End
Cut Stuff.
We’re in a NASA office the wall is adorned with nasa parhpanellea and on the directors desk is a nametag that reads Director Ironside.
Director: I’d like to start by saying sorry for your loss.
Kekoa is in her military/doctor get up)
Kekoa: I’ll live, sir.
Director: Put simply we’re giving you an out.
Kekoa: Sir?
Director: There have been shifts in the asteroid belt. We can use that as an excuse and get the mission delayed until we can recalculate you take time off to greive and someone else can complete the mission.
Kekoa: thank you for your concern sir but I’ll be fine.
Pause.
Director:
Kekoa sits next to Susans grave.
Kekoa: I’m sorry I lied.
Pause)
Kekoa: The first time I ever lie to you was just before…
Pause)
Of all the planes it had to be yours.
Pause)
This was a mistake.
Page 38
Panel 1
Kekoa is in the same pose and position she was in page 37 panel 4 but she’s in a graveyard wearing black and carrying an umbrella)
Panel 2
She stands in front of Susans grave which reads “Susan Ortan, 1987 - 2015”
Panel 3
Kekoa clutches her umbrella tightly)
Textbox: The day she died I lied to her.
Panel 4
Kekoa cries her whole body shaking)
Textbox: She would have gotten over it, sure.
Panel 5
Kekoa falls onto the gravestone)
Textbox: But…. The last thing she ever heard from me was a lie.
Textbox: And I hate that.
Page 39
Panel 1
It’s evening. Yama sits on its charging dock inside the crashed ship)
Yama: Would you say that you feel worthless? Like you didn’t deserve her?
Kekoa: Yeah.
Panel 2
Kekoa is lying in her cot)
Yama: Weren’t you her choice?
Kekoa: What?
Panel 3
Yama: Didn’t she choose you captain?
Kekoa: Well….Yeah…
Panel 4
Kekoa sits up)
Yama: You can’t undo what’s been done.
You must make note of the bad.
While cherishing the good.
Panel 5
Yama sits in its dock)
My counseling parameters are out of date. If my counsel was unsatisfactory, consider updating me to the latest version.