Original subtitles

Chapter 2 When we last saw Xenon Carr, she was everybody's

favorite heroine, having saved her beloved space station from the evil plot

destroy it.

Now, a year later, Xenon is at the top of her game.

She can go absolutely anywhere, do absolutely anything in her space

day. and is a trusted member of the crew.

However, Xenon is also 15 years old, and everything in her Stellanarius

life is about to change.

Forever.

Are you sure he won't get in trouble for this?

You're forgetting, Nev. I'm still cashing in on those hero major chips I

busting Inky, Windham, and Lux.

Uh -oh! Sniper! Let's rocket!

Hey!

Will you ice?

How? We're about to be caught in a Class 4 restricted zone.

Zenon?

Nebula?

You're keeping out of trouble, I hope.

Of course, Commander Plank. Enjoy your day.

You too, kid.

Repairs underway.

Sector 5.

Let's go.

How thermo is this?

They actually let you play around in here?

No one's complained so far.

Most of this junk, snooze central.

But I was checking out this one monitor the other day, and I accidentally

invented a new game.

Do you want to play?

Sure. Ah,

here it is. Okay, this is what you gotta do.

You move that mouse to make your bar go up and down.

See?

Okay. Then you gotta try and trap the little blips before they go off and go

into the bigger area.

Okay. Isn't that so stellar?

Okay, let's go.

Here we go, here we go, here we go. Okay.

Okay, here we go.

Good, you're doing good.

This is so much fun.

Here we go, here we go, here we go. Okay, this is so much fun.

See,

that's my point. Isn't this so much fun?

Oh my gosh, there are so many books in there!

I've been talking to some of the crew, and I've got to be honest, they're

worried. Look, I've been hearing all the same rumors you are, but until

something's substantiated, we have to continue with standard operating

procedures.

Look, we've gone to the... Something wrong, Lieutenant?

is it keeping me?

See ya.

What's wrong?

He dumped me.

Greg? I mean, it's not like I expected that we'd be together forever.

I'm not a moron major, but... He dumped me.

How is that possible?

I bet Margie had something to do with this.

I'm not sure how, but she's down there and I'm up here, and she's probably been

plotting to get Gregory to jettison me and pay attention to her.

Either way, it's pretty hard to keep up a relationship with somebody who lives

180 ,000 miles away. Ask Plank and your Aunt Judy. I know, I know. It's just

easier to be the dumper than the dumpy.

Well, look at the upside.

All the time you've been spending zap -patting Greg can now be used to take

further advantage of your free run of the space day.

Xenon, I'm sorry, but after your little incident this morning, I am revoking

your restricted zone roaming pass.

finally hand in your RZRP to my office, ASAP, there is one more aspect of your

punishment we need to discuss in person.

Look, we may have reached a greater understanding after your heroics with

Wyndham and Lutz, but I still have to maintain my authority around here, and

Xenon, you emptied out my entire office, and I lost my favorite shoe.

I said I was sorry, Major.

I heard you.

Commander, I didn't mean any harm.

Tell that to my desk.

Commander, I really did not mean to empty all the furniture in your office.

I'm sure you didn't see that. I seriously thought it was just a video

Nevertheless, I firmly believe that the discipline of working down here in the

alien patrol lab will be good for you.

Now, truth be told, you'll be performing a mission of mercy.

Your poor friend Orion has been working down here for five full years. You know

how many signals he's picked up in all that time?

None. Yeah.

Zip, zero, zilch.

And I still have hope.

Let's get real. To assume we are the only units in space, I mean, that is not

only ludicrous, it's so arrogant.

I personally call it rudicrous.

Can you tell that he doesn't get a whole lot of human interaction done? Oh,

yeah. I had no human contact, and then again, no alien contact. I'm all alone,

and not without hope.

Now, look, in my hardly humble opinion, bidirectional telemetry is only a matter

of time.

You know?

Come in, come in. You know?

Okay.

Orion, I'm finally taking some pity on you.

Xenon's being assigned to a month of three -hour evening shifts with a six

day on Saturdays.

See, that's so penis, Commander. You can do your homework. You can catch up on a

zap post. You simply need to be here.

But why? You said nobody's ever gotten any kind of signal from anywhere. Oh,

whoa, whoa.

Yet.

But what if...

Today, silence turns to tomorrow's thunderous call from the void.

Look, no lie, just last week, I uncovered evidence of a new planet that

formed a mere 20 AU from Gamma Pictoris.

Yeah, see?

Well, I've got to get back to the command deck.

Orion, you show the ropes, you get her acclimated, then Xenon, I expect you to

report back down here at 1900 hours, tonight.

What? Okay,

you ready for your tour?

Okay, look, first thing you gotta know about our... Excuse me.

First thing you gotta know about are these babies.

Look, if they ever start rotating at an accelerated speed, you come over here

and you sound the red alert.

Alien signal.

Alien signal.

Alien signal.

Alien signal.

Alarm. Ah, congratulations, Z. You just survived your first shift.

You're in comprehension mode minor, Mom. Watching coal turn to diamonds would be

more stimulating.

Well, the month will be over before you know it.

like me and greg no what happened oh you know i got the standard it's not you

it's me i'd just rather be friends don't worry i'm not so squashed but still

i know honey i mean greg ap duty anything else

Since his return from Microbes' triumphant concert in space, Protozoa

been seen in public, nor has he been in a recording studio.

While rumors of retirement are spreading like an oil flake, no one inside

Protozoa's camp is willing to confirm or deny anything.

So for now, all we can do is watch, wait, and wonder. What would life

Protozoa be like for his legions of loyal fans?

See, this appears he can't be doing this. Why is he doing this?

He is not doing this.

He's on a break. A vacation.

Something. What in the universe is going on these days, Mom?

Attention. All hands to the mess hall for an emergency briefing.

Repeat. All hands to the mess hall for an emergency briefing.

Look,

team.

I'm sorry. I know you're all upset.

Me too.

But let's face it.

We knew someone would step in to fill the void left by the collapse of WinCom.

I just never imagined it would be the U .S. military.

The military?

Yeah, what, excuse me, what does it mean having the military arrive to take

charge of us? All right, first we're setting up a squad to assess the

and contribution of each module.

Following that evaluation, some space station components could be detached and

jettisoned. Please,

please, please, if that occurs.

Certain personnel might be reassigned to Earth, but any speculation in that

direction is premature.

Why are they even coming up at all? What do they want? As near as I can

understand it, there's concern that some sectors of our station are

deteriorating at a rate rapid enough to pose a threat to the remainder of the

base. Are they considering shutting us down altogether?

To the best of my limited knowledge, absolutely not. Look, the most prudent

thing we can all do is relax.

I know. I know it's hard, but we're professionals, and if we can just wait

General Hammond to arrive, I think everything will be explained to you.

Mom, Dad?

Xenon, I know your mother has an incredible fear of flying, and an even

acute fear of Earth, but any decisions regarding who stays and who goes won't

up to me. But you're going to have some kind of opinion, right? These military

guys can't judge us. They don't even know us. General Hammond and his team

arrived in the transport lounge.

The first words out of his mouth were, he wants to see you ASAP. All right,

him report to my office.

Actually, sir, I was entrusting Xenon.

Whenever I have a vital, formidable mission to assign, I look for the best

or young woman for the job.

In doing my research for this assignment, one name came to me from

quarter.

Yours.

Slaughtering Major, General.

Whatever your need, I'm your girl.

It's not often someone my age gets to serve her country under the command of

such a noble and gifted leader.

You request it, I'm in.

spacewalking, duck crawling, undercover ops. I need you to be responsible for

the care and comfort of my precious daughter.

Margie?

Margie girl.

Welcome.

Since you've had a long, grueling flight, I want you to get to your

take a nap until evening mess.

But, Daddy, why?

I'm not in the least bit tired.

I wanted to visit with Enon.

An order is an order.

All right, all right, all right. Let's just order rescinded. Promise me you'll

get some rest later.

Did I mention that Gregory said to say hi?

Only, let's see, was it five or six times?

Trey Viral, he broke up with you.

Are you pancaked?

I'll survive.

Look, Margie, if your dad wants me to babysit you, fine, I will babysit you.

up here, you are on my turf.

Says who?

If Daddy's the commander of your ship, and let's face it, I've got Daddy

wrapped.

Wouldn't you sort of say that puts me in charge?

How fabulous would this look on me? Can I borrow it? No!

I mean, I haven't even worn it yet. It just arrived from the virtual mall this

morning. Let me ask you something.

You fully love living up here in space, right?

So?

So, if you're not Mondo nice to me... I'll tell Daddy I don't think you cars

deserve to stay on this station.

Linus Lapidus, you think your father's going to reassign us just because you

tell him to?

Want to find out?

Um, no.

It's okay.

Let's just make this simple.

You be super, super sweet to me, and everything will be fine.

It's like her sole mission in life is to send me into meltdown mode major. She

only gets under your skin because you let her be. I can't help it. Do you know

she booked me to do her nails this afternoon?

So? We give each other manicures all the time.

Her toenails.

Ink -o -rama.

Tell her no way.

Why? So she can call up Daddy and order him to send my family packing?

Negative. They already closed down Module 4.

Link's family and the Nene's are out tomorrow on the morning shuttle.

Whoa. So it's really happening.

Yeah, but you know what? It's not going to happen to us. I'll go along with

Margie's little games if that's what she wants, but I will not roll over and

play dead.

Thank you. Commander?

It's me, Xenon. I'm in the AP lab.

What is it?

You need to rocket over here.

Warp speed.

Well, there is a slight spike on the graph, but there could be a hundred

different reasons for that.

You know, it's true, Z.

I mean, with every country in the world sending up satellites into space, we're

always picking up interference of some kind.

Hmm, what'd you hear?

Was it some sort of fuzzy, crackling, static -like noise?

No, it was a very specific and very distinct... Look, Z, I'm the first one

want to believe you, but there is nothing here.

So we're just going to forget about it? All right, uh, let's just go with simple

logic. For as long as this space station has been in orbit, for as long as

mankind has monitored the skies, no one has ever gotten even the tiniest

indication that there was any sort of intelligent life out there.

Xena, I assigned you this duty to keep you out of trouble.

And that's all.

No one expects you to find aliens.

You believe me, right, Mom?

I believe you believe you heard something.

But it could have been a billion things, honey. You know, a computer hiccup, a

power surge. Something in the air duct, sounding like it came from the monitor.

Dad, you of all people should believe me.

You're always the one yakking to me about opening my mind, believing the

impossible, pushing the limits.

Absolutely, Z.

But... Don't get mad at me for saying this, but you've been having a pretty

lousy few days.

Margie, Greg, protozoa disappearing.

Don't you think it's possible you could have...

Invented this signal just to put yourself back in the spotlight.

Dad! Nobody would blame me for it. How pathetic major do you think I am?

I heard a thumb.

Got any calls from outer space today, Xena?

Next you'll be saying extraterrestrial alien homework.

Sounds like too much time alone in the AP lab scrambled your brain.

That's all you want, clown boys. But when the aliens finally do arrive...

I'll probably eat the doubters first.

I can't believe you guys have never seen one.

Isn't it fabulous?

Clear, clear. You've got to see this.

It doesn't exist or anything.

wired into a totally unlimited catalog of movies you can upload by hitting a

button. It even has Romeo and Juliet on Mars.

One and two.

In fact, we were all about to go over to my place and watch it. Do you want to

come?

Oh, wait.

What time is it?

6 .55.

Too bad.

You can't. You've got to go to the AP lab.

Wouldn't want to miss any calls from your alien pals.

Come on, guys, let's go.

Dumb you later.

Margie, let me just say one thing.

Hello. Daddy?

Go if you want

to.

Really? I mean, you have to go to the AP lab, right? It's not like you and I can

hang out.

Nebula?

Go watch the movie. Okay, see ya.

Hello?

Hello?

Oh, come on. Is anybody out here?

Something wrong?

Another zoom?

Well, kind of. Only higher.

Zoom. Zoom.

Well, that's... is what our monitor alarm sounds like, Xena. No zoom or zoom

beeps. But, Commander, I... What's all the excitement here?

You are not going to believe this. Absolutely nothing, sir.

Xena, you're not hearing alien voices again, I hope?

Oh, no, sir. Not voices.

Signals. Zums.

You know, Commander, if all these instruments are suddenly zooming,

clearly indicating major malfunction.

And then perhaps this module should be the next one considered for

No, no, no, nothing's malfunctioning. I heard what I heard, honest.

Even though the graph spikes clearly indicate nothing more than normal

interference. Cetus Lapidus, just because I can't explain it doesn't mean

not true.

Let it go, Zenon.

In fact, I think it would be better if we suspended the rest of your assignment

up here.

Zenon, you're done.

As in banned for life?

From this moment on, you are under direct orders to stay out of this lab.

No matter what.

Attention space station residents.

The jettisoning of Module 7 will occur at 1700 hours today.

In anticipation of the tremor -like jolt associated with the separation, all

personnel should report to designated secure areas at that time.

We've been here less than a week and already these soldiers are about to

carving up our space station like med students on a cadaver.

Dad,

why are they jettisoning modules anyway?

As far as I can figure, Windham and Lutz's sabotage effort knocked our

out of its intended orbit.

If any of the older, more vulnerable components push us farther out of whack,

our entire base could come crashing down to Earth.

Well, going to Earth the normal way isn't terrifying enough. We have to

about crashing down.

This means by the end of the day, another piece of our home is going to be

Are we just going to sit here and take this?

What do you propose we do?

I don't know.

But I'll think of something.

When heard from your lips, Z, those are the most terrifying words in the galaxy.

Just wonderful.

You see this?

This is where he put me.

This is how much authority I have around here.

Hammond takes my office.

And I, Commander Muffin Broom, get to operate from a utility closet.

Isn't that more of a reason to fight back?

You fully love living in space, remember?

This is where we're meant to be.

Is it?

I'm starting to wonder if we wouldn't all be better off back on Earth.

Be done with the constant hassles, the perpetual fights to stay afloat.

I could marry Judy.

I could get a normal job.

I wouldn't have to be in charge of anything for a while.

Cetus Lapidus, this is not... you talking, Commander Plank? Did my aliens

over your body or something?

Your aliens?

I think they're half the reason Hammond's pushing ahead with this.

All that talk of visitors from another planet makes it seem like a bunch of

space kooks.

My mom says that everybody's calling her the girl who cried alien.

It's so fabulous. You'll love it. Oh, good. There you are.

Not now, Margie.

I need you to do my history report on the stock market crash of 2006.

Daddy's testing a new commuter pod, and he's taking me in Nebelon. Isn't that so

fun? Margie says they're really fabulous.

What?

Forget it. Forget it. Forget everything. In fact, why don't you just forget we

were ever friends?

Can you wait here for a second?

I guess.

Please tell me why you're acting so inky.

Fabulo, Nebula, I can't believe you used her word. It slipped out, okay? Do you

want to laser zap me for it? I'm sorry.

What's this really about?

She's a pain major, Nev.

To you, maybe. Do I have to hate her just because you do? You would if you

really my BF.

Zeno, that's not fair.

You've been so caught up in this whole alien thing, I've hardly even seen you.

I'm just hanging around Margie because it's something to do. Fine. Go with her

and ride the inky commuter pod. I hope you have a Fabulo time.

if they think I'm a lunatic major.

I heard what I heard and I can't change that.

They can ridicule me and blame me.

I fully know I'm right about this.

I can't even win at Solar Solitaire anymore.

I wish I had never been sent to that stupid AP lab in the first place.

Why does that sound so familiar?

Whoa.

Thanks for coming down, Orion.

You're the only potential believer I could think to share this with.

I want you to hear something.

How much would I love you to tell me it's not more Zombs? But it is.

Except this time it came down on my zap pad.

Don't ask how, but it just did.

Are you inferring aliens sent you that?

Why?

Cetus Lapidus, don't you get it?

They're not trying to contact anyone on the space thing.

The aliens want to meet Protozoa.

I don't think you realize how big this might be. I mean, it is gargantuan. No,

it is gazillion.

I'm seriously sure that we need to alert Plank. Orion, listen to me.

Both Plank and Hammond so don't want to hear about the aliens right now, so I'm

kind of thinking we should keep this to ourselves.

Report to secure areas immediately.

The jettisoning of Sector 7 will begin in one minute.

Great. Here we go again.

I think it is ridiculous times ten how they are just blasting away our home bit

by bit.

The way things are going, I have to expect to look out the window and see a

gigantist interstellar wrecking ball.

Jettisoning to occur in five minutes.

Come on, what?

You're not speaking to me.

You won't listen to me.

You're so fully inked out over that silly little fight we had.

We're BFs for life.

Okay, fine.

Be friends with Margie if that's what you want.

I don't care.

I just want to know how we're ever going to get past this if you won't tell me

what's truly tweaking you.

We got tapped.

What? No.

No, no, no. They cannot send you to Earth.

They are.

All my parents' experiments were being done on Sector 12, and that's the next

one to go.

We're booked to leave on the shuttle tomorrow afternoon.

But we're a pair. We're a team. From hatch to dispatch. I know. Why didn't

tell me sooner, Neb? Well, you were so mad at me, I didn't think you'd care.

About some stupid crimes minor?

Neb, this is crisis mode extreme.

I hope you don't expect me to just sit here and take this.

Well, what are we going to do?

Well, think of something.

I don't care how many foreign enemies he has, General Hammond has never been to

war with Sinan Karr.

Are you sure this is going to work? What could possibly go wrong?

Tell me about 479 things I could think of. What if those signals were really

from outer space?

They were!

What if Hammond goes into global meltdown over your scheme and dumps six

sectors just to be inked?

Nobody ever achieved greatness without risk, Nebula.

But fine.

When you're as all on the popular pole as I am, the only way you can go is up.

Look at our stuff.

Can you believe it? We're really going.

What am I going to do without you?

How am I going to survive on Earth?

Hey, at least it's not as gaseous as we used to imagine it to be.

The food, the food is Lunarius. The second you get there, you have to order

bacon double mushroom onion cheeseburger and dedicate it to me.

Don't forget to try the O -ring.

We tried to get Xenon to come down with us, but she said it was just too, you

know, painful. Oh, we understand. Believe me.

Nebula was in tears all morning.

Those military clowns had some idea what they were doing to all of us. They

couldn't care less.

You got that right. Well, let me just say that if and when we get tapped,

hear me kicking and screaming all the way down there on Earth.

The only thing Astrid hates more than flying is Earth itself.

Attention. All Earth -bound passengers must now board the shuttle in

for departure.

I'm going to miss you, baby.

You just have Z as soon as you get settled, okay?

Okay.

Bye.

I really hope Z's going to come through this all right.

I have faith.

My daughter's never been one to take things lying down.

About time, Houdini.

What took you so long? I skipped from my box a full two minutes ago.

Margie!

What are you doing here? Are you trying to ruin everything?

I can't believe this. Were you spying on me? Did you tap my zap pad? What?

What in the cosmos are you trying to prove?

Maybe I got tired of you being the one to always fly off and have the macro

adventures.

Maybe I wanted a glory moment major for myself for once.

Although,

I wish I would have known that I was going to get so sweaty and gross in that

icky trunk.

Do I look dreadful?

Margie, this isn't some stupid, silly field trip. I came down here to try and

stop your dad from slicing up my home like salami.

By chasing aliens that probably don't even exist? Forget it!

Am I supposed to pick you up somewhere? Am I in trouble?

What in the world is going on? Breathe, Andrew.

It's okay.

Hey.

I'll explain everything.

And nobody wants to believe me, even though I know the aliens are real.

not only did they signal me twice in the AP lab, but who else could contact my

zap pad after I fully shut it down?

Oh. It's aliens. Of course it's aliens.

It was only a matter of time.

Do you seriously believe that? Sure as I believe my name is Judy Kling, which I

do. Most days.

I mean, how could there not be other life out in the endless expanse? What

we, a planet of egomaniacs?

I have believed in aliens since I was your age, even younger dollface.

I'm the most delinerious grown -up ever.

So will you help us?

Please. With a mission this tricky, Major, we can use all the support we can

get.

Okay. Yes!

Let's think.

No one's seen Protozoa in months. His own manager's been on the flat screen

saying he has no idea where he is.

What if the aliens aren't trying to find Protozoa?

What if they have him?

Excuse me?

You know, what if they did some kind of a, like an alien abduction, and now

they're just trying to bring him back?

Do you seriously think a UFO could swoop down, swipe up one of the most mega

-famous guys on the planet, and then zoom away without anyone seeing them?

Negatory, Marge.

No, he's here.

He's just in recluse mode extreme.

I'll rate Miss Never wrong about anything.

If his own friends and family can't find him, how will we?

How else do you find a missing rock star?

Study his lyrics.

Yeah, and this would help.

How? Great writers write about what they know. And if it's a person or a place

they really love, it shows up in their stuff all the time.

Like, what's his greatest hit? I know, I know.

Supernova Girl.

Impressive major, Aunt Judy.

There was also Nova Nights, and Perfect Dream had a line in it about the Nova of

my heart.

So he's a Nova freak.

What does that prove?

Go with me here.

What else does he talk about a lot?

He always writes about love.

Who doesn't, Margie?

Think specifics.

Okay, doesn't he mention some Linda girl in a ton of songs?

Cetus Lapidus, Margie! You're a genius major!

So what else is new?

What'd I say this time?

Aunt Judy, doesn't Linda mean something in Spanish?

Beautiful. I'm pretty sure.

Linda Nova.

Noble Linda. Hmm.

What are you doing? This is it! This is it!

As my manager, lads, you should understand better than anybody that

undeniably fantastic as me should be doing only undeniably fantastic things.

after being the first rock legend in outer space, what's left?

What's next?

Well, I can't run for president. You got a silly rule about having to actually

be born in America and the Pope's out.

I heard that you have to actually be a Catholic.

So you see my dilemma, Lester.

If I can't find new heights to hit, then I'd just rather be a Havana cabana boy

than be a burnout.

Sellout was once, isn't now, but still fabulous looking rock star.

I am definitely going to be thrown out of adulthood for letting you two go off

alone like this. Worry down, Aunt Judy. We're going to be fine.

We have a map, a compass, bug repellent major.

Plus, I was a galaxy scout for a few years.

I normally took one of daddy's soldiers along to help me do all the yucky stuff.

But we're older now, and wiser, and fully ready to handle anything.

Bye.

These icky little ricker thingies in my ankle.

And what would you like me to do, Margie? Carry you?

Oh, no.

No, no, no, no, no. See, that's where I fully draw the line.

Scene on.

See ya.

Hey, wait.

I hate this.

I hate it.

People were intended to be outdoors, and they never would have invented houses.

You know, if you're going to stop that, you should at least warn a girl.

Fine. You want a big adventure?

Go right ahead and... Right.

Why?

Margie? Hello.

Are you here?

My idea, I swear, she forced me.

I know she seems harmless, but ever since this whole alien mania thing, I'm

afraid she's losing it. She said she'd make my life a living death major or

worse if I didn't go along with her.

I love you, Daddy.

I'll contact you the second I can.

Bye now.

We can't just walk around it. There's no other way through.

We can't just stand here until we turn into statues, can't you?

Knock it down or something?

Why don't you go do it?

What if it's poisonous?

Oh, so you'd rather me get bitten?

Obviously.

Don't you think I should just go and check on her? What happened earlier when

you knocked?

She hollered at me to go away.

Oh, sweetie, when you were her age, being kicked around the way Z's been,

weren't your parents the last people you wanted to deal with?

Leave her alone. She'll be fine by the morning.

I don't know what in the name of Neptune your daughter thought she was doing,

but if she harms one hair on my Margie's head, I'm... General Hammond, what are

you talking about?

I'm supposed to believe that you have no idea that Xenon went gallivanting off

to Earth, forcing my Margie to go with her?

That's impossible.

She's downstairs in her bedroom.

I will be out soon.

Go away.

Bye guys.

Um, I bet you're probably wondering where your darling daughter is.

I see his house!

How do you do it? How do you always do it?

Years of practice.

I'll never pull it off.

I'll never be the hero of his dreams.

You try too hard.

Relax, you know? Be yourself.

Don't try and be me.

What in the galaxy is so funny?

I can't tickle. I can't move.

Never send an amateur to do a job that requires a pro.

No, Martha, don't!

Oh, great, now I'm stuck too.

Why didn't you warn me? I tried!

I thought it was one of your stupid tricks.

And that's my fault?

Well, well, well.

Why have I managed to snare?

Xenon car?

The first two signals came to me when I was in our alien patrol lab. The last

one came to me when I was in our living quarters, so I put them together.

Just listen.

Are you fully hearing this?

They're fully imitating you, is not so stellar?

They're way obviously dying to meet you.

Of course they are, love, it wouldn't be.

All right, darling.

She's fine.

So are you coming with us? Come where?

To space, so we can work out this little rendezvous.

Xenon, Xenon, I've done the space thing. Remember?

The whole reason why I'm hiding out here is to rack my brain for new challenges.

Hello?

Protozoa. First rock star ever to sing for alien beings from another galaxy.

Please tell me how you can get more unique major than that.

Oi, oi, oi, pack my space suit. All I need to know is when do we leave?

You know, it's hard to believe, but Z has actually topped herself with this

I hope she checks in soon, for everybody's sake.

And what was Judy thinking, jumping right in to support this lunacy?

Sometimes Judy gets so caught up in being the fun aunt, she doesn't always

her best judgment. Mark, if we do get reassigned to Earth... It's not going to

happen, hon. But if it does, I mean, I'm sorry, but everything about living down

there terrifies me.

This has been our home for so long. It's so familiar and protected.

And it's where we belong, I know.

But if we absolutely have to make the change...

We will.

Being a family isn't about our address. It's about getting through whatever we

have to face.

Together.

Excuse

us.

Could you step aside, please?

Sorry, sir.

I'm here on orders from General Hammond. You and Mrs. Carr are under house

arrest. What?

What? Until your daughter returns with Hammond's daughter, you two are to

confined to your quarters. We have to get down to our lab. We have some very

important experiments in progress. I am sorry, sir.

My orders were quite clear. You are not permitted to leave these premises under

any circumstances until notified otherwise.

No, I... Oh!

Genon! Genon, I'm writing. I'm actually writing.

I haven't been able to scribble down a single note since I fell into my bunk.

Mondo, glad to be of service here.

It's like my mom said, no fuel in the belly, no fire in the brain.

What? I'm new at this.

Gemma usually does all the cooking in space.

Need a guest.

You know what, love, though?

Something I'm a little bit curious about.

If your aliens were so fixated on meeting me, why didn't they just beam

Nova Linda and look me up?

Maybe they saw that last century movie, Chip E .T.

She speaks.

Yeah. And as soon as they land, creepy government official guys with lots of

keys would try to catch them and experiment on them, or attack them and

them up, or lock them up in alien zoo.

Now, meeting us in space?

Much safer.

Well then, that brings me on to another huge question.

Outer space is a pretty enormous expanse, if I recall.

How are we supposed to have any idea where to hook up with them?

Access denied.

Right after they sent the first message directly to me, Orion said he suspected

they also downloaded all kinds of information, but I haven't figured out

get it.

Access denied.

Access granted.

See this little penis? Look!

We definitely know it's a map, Orion.

I just don't know how to read it. Okay, can you upload it to me?

I can try.

You do that. I'll see if I can match any of their coordinates to ours. I'll get

back to you ASAP. Great.

How does she do it?

You have to, Margie. That's all there is to it. You have to.

You expect me to call Daddy, ask him to send us a shuttle to fly into oblivion

to go meet aliens?

He'll blow a gasket.

I'm sure he's already dying to toss you in the brig after kidnapping me.

Kidnapping you?

Well, I had to tell him something.

He would have gotten all red -faced mad at me if he thought I'd flown off just

to have an adventure.

Oh, so once again, I'm the expendable one.

Exactly. But I thought you had him oh -so -totally wrapped.

About something.

Look, you fully have to convince him to let us use the shuttle.

End of story.

The aliens are waiting, Margie, and if we can show the world that our space

aid's responsible for contacting other life forms, then maybe they'll stop

tearing it apart and leave us alone.

Come on, Margie, you can do it. I know you can.

No, no, that's where you're wrong.

Technology and I have never gotten along. All I'm asking you to do is call

father. That's it.

Protozo and I will be right here rooting for you.

The true nature of our mission... Hello, Daddy?

...is kept secret in order to avoid widespread panic...

Daddy? As soon as we've relocated all space station personnel to Earth by the

end of next week, we can jettison the remaining sectors. All that will be left

is the central core.

So the decision to scrap the old girl is definite, sir?

Ah, whatever. Windham and Lutz did. It's caused this craft to drift so far out

of orbit that the natural decomposition process has increased tenfold.

Ah, if we don't act hard, this entire base could drop out of the sky like

Dorothy's farmhouse.

Bottom line.

of its history.

How did you tap into this?

How should I know? I told you I'm a master of disaster at all this.

I could hear him. He just couldn't hear me. Can you believe this? They're not up

there to unload a few sectors of my space day.

They're going to dismantle the whole thing.

I'm telling you what Xenon heard Hammond telling Hart. If we don't jump in and

do something drastic, your entire space station is going to be history, and

soon. All right.

Look, suppose I could...

To take off after a pack of protozoa -loving aliens.

Exactly how am I supposed to know where to go? Are you ready for this one?

The alien sent Xenon a map. They what?

It's true. She uploaded it to Orion.

No one down here knew how to read it. But we're hoping that he'll have the

skills and the tools to decipher it.

Judy, sweetheart, do you have the slightest idea how crazy this sounds?

Sure I do, but life is crazy.

Especially a life with Xenon.

Still, Edward, you have to admit that she has this uncanny ability to be right

about these things.

Once I got this scale figured out, I simply used their benchmark symbols of

Earth and Moon to calibrate their distance units.

Then, I re -plotted those locations to our standard -issue navigational chart.

Look, I mean, this is amazing, sir. It's all lined up.

You know, Kander, Orion, do you believe this map is legitimate?

Look, sir...

If you get on a shuttle and you fly out to the location indicated here, in my

hardly humble opinion, you are going to find yourself face to face with

extraterrestrials.

There you are.

Did you talk to... Plank, did he get the shuttle? Is he coming?

No word yet.

Oh, because I was thinking.

What am I doing?

If I confide in you, you'll sooner or later find some way to use it against

Why do you hate me?

What are you talking about?

You're the one that hates me, remember?

You've been mean and sarcastic to me since the last time I was on Earth.

Oh, that.

Don't you know that's just how I am?

You're fully ridiculous to take it personally.

People do take it personally.

No one wants to be made fun of or picked on.

Wait, are you actually saying people listen to me?

Okay, my dad's been in the military my whole life.

Do you know how many times we've moved?

How many schools I've gone to?

And every time, it's like macro hard to start over.

I'm... I mean...

I don't try to be a jerk.

I just don't know how to fit in.

Unlike you, who pops in anywhere and instant popularity extreme.

Yeah, but I always wind up with everyone looking to me for fun, adventure, and

answers.

Like now.

What if I'm wrong about this whole alien thing? What if I get Plank into a lot

of trouble for taking that shuttle?

I've already got my parents under house arrest. My mom is burning through one

stress helmet after another.

fully blowing an O -ring about relocating to Earth, and... Everybody's

pressures in their life, Margie.

If you want to make some real friends, start by learning you're not the only

person in the galaxy with problems.

I know it's a huge adjustment, honey, but couldn't you try to find something

smile about?

Like what?

I've seen pictures of prisons that weren't as depressing as this apartment.

We're only here until we get our whole job situation sorted out.

Why don't you try to go outside today?

Explore a little.

Every time I step out that door, there's either a hover car or an ohm cycle or a

wham board trying to run me over. The air is inky brown. The food tastes like

plastic. I want to go home.

Don't we all?

But, since that's currently not an option, you might as well give this

chance. It can be quite lovely if you're open to it. Most of the people are

incredibly warm and welcoming.

Hello, ma 'am. Is this the home of Nebula Wade? Yes. Who are you?

Captain Rand Wills, United States Intergalactic Patrol. I was dispatched

General Hammond. To do what? To interview your daughter and find out

knows about the current whereabouts of Xenon Carr.

Excuse me for interrupting, General. Do you have a minute?

No, please. Come in.

I have a slightly embarrassing personal favor to ask you, sir.

My girlfriend down on Earth has really been nagging me to visit her. And truth

be told, I've been missing her terribly.

Would you permit me to pilot the departing transport shuttle this

I deliver our returning crew members, spend a brief 24 hours with Judy, and be

back up here by midday Monday.

If you can spare me, that is, sir.

I don't see why that couldn't work, Commander.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, General. I can't tell you how much I... We appreciate

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I don't think I can impress upon you how imperative it is that we find Miss Carr

as soon as possible.

Listen, I told you everything I know. She came down here to find Protozoa.

Would this be a reference to the renowned rock musician who's been absent

public view of Lee? That's the guy.

Precisely how did Miss Carr intend to discover his whereabouts?

Mister, Zeno and I have been friends our whole lives, and I'm still way clear

-minded on how she does anything.

That's amazing, Aunt Judy!

He's coming down! He is actually coming down!

How'd you pull it off, Aunt Judy? That's a miracle major!

Just so you know how much I love and believe in you.

Before he'd even talked to Hammond, Edward made me agree to brave my fears

come back with you guys for a visit in space.

Did you hear that? Aunt Judy did it! We got a shuttle. Plank's going to pilot us

to meet the aliens.

Where are we hooking up with him?

Carlson Beach. You guys need to get there as soon as possible, but make sure

that you stay out of sight.

Why? What's up?

Well, Nebula called to say that Hammond has a patrol down here searching for

you, checking anywhere and everywhere that you guys might be.

Oh, stellar.

Have they shown up at your place yet?

Not yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

Revise that.

Pretty sure that the time is now.

Did you hear that, guys? It's happening. It's really

happening. We're going to space...

Thought I heard footsteps inside.

Doesn't seem like anybody's here.

Guess we might as well take off.

Oh, man, you have zero idea how envy green I am. I mean, this is the real

Commander. This is the trip I've spent my whole life cogitating about.

I mean, you're actually getting to meet extraterrestrials. Yes, well, I'm still

very skept... I'm still very skeptical about this whole thing, Orion.

Oh, hang on. You don't want to be rocketing off to meet the aliens without

navigational charts.

Thank you, Orion.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your help.

Now, before the Yerhalahub arrives, I have to ask you one thing. You do know

you're only going to be in space a few days, right?

I've seen luggage stores with less luggage.

Let me remind you, ladies, that staying as fabulous looking as I am requires

mega attention to detail.

This is ridiculous.

Hammond won't even take my zap pad calls anymore.

How long do you think he's going to keep us locked up in here?

Not one minute after Zee and Margie get back.

Do you really think Plank is going to get away with flying them out to find

aliens?

Actually, folks, funny you should mention that.

Petis and Judy, what happened to you?

You have no idea what a rush it is to ditch a couple of G -men.

My poor heart is pounding faster than a hummingbird's.

Have we heard from Xenon yet? They're back from Nova Linda Cove and they're

headed for Carson Beach. Oh, great.

Before we go, would you mind terribly if maybe I washed up a little bit? Of

course not. Come on.

I don't think you have any idea of what an unmitigated disaster this is turning

into, Xenon.

We're under house arrest. Plank is now under full military arrest. Not as much

as we want to support you in this. Honey, your mother and I are starting to

think that maybe you ought to surrender to Hammond's patrol and come home.

And fully forget about the aliens?

We can't.

What if they're in some kind of trouble out there in East Nothingsville?

What if that's why they contacted us in the first place?

Z, listen to us. There comes a time when we have to be practical. Now, the

bottom line reality is, Plank is the only one on our side who has the ability

fly a shuttle.

Actually, Daddy, I think you're forgetting someone.

I... I... I can't. Mark, I... I... I can't.

I... And it's not a question of not wanting to. It's just... It's simply...

just... I... I can't. All right.

Then don't.

But they and her aliens... I have to admit, it would be thrilling.

Not to mention historical.

Why couldn't you be the pilot in the family? I mean, you'd go out there in a

heartbeat, wouldn't you?

When did I turn into such a big fat chicken?

I used to love flying.

I loved adventure.

Sinan doesn't get it all from you, you know. I do know.

You were a wild woman. So what happened?

We had a kid.

Suddenly the stakes changed.

But she wants me to do it. I mean, she wants me to do this more than anyone.

Sure she does, honey.

But in the end, the only one who can make the decision is you.

Sanon's direction is exactly right.

So where are they?

Worry down, Aunt Judy.

I'm sure they'll be here any minute.

Are you sure you know where you're going around?

Well, trust me. I studied the ship's navigational charts a hundred times.

What?

This way.

You sure?

I... I really don't think I'm capable of flying a shuttle at this point, all

right? I'm telling you, Mrs. K, it's fine. You won't have to.

What? What do you mean? With Hammond's men on High Elder, we are never going to

get a shuttle out of here.

So you are going to be flying this.

to land.

Seriously, Peter's Aunt Judy, no one's told you yet? Tell me what?

What happened?

Okay, no reason to go into meltdown mode, but Plank got caught with a

navigational charge, Hammond threw him into military jail, Hammond's going on

the mega warpath, and if I'm wrong about this whole alien thing, it could be

disaster extreme.

But sweat mine, Aunt Judy, because I'm fully sure everything's going to be just

fine. But if Edward isn't piloting the ship, who is?

Anything's more terrifying to me than taking off is landing.

I, uh, I really don't think I can do it.

Look, I don't want to be unsupported for anything, Mrs. Cabot.

Maybe you should have thought of that before we took off.

We're the United States military, Will. She's a 15 -year -old girl.

How hard can she possibly be to find?

It's harder than we thought, sir.

Well, we would have found her by now if I was down there. I would be in firm

control.

What is it, Hart?

Sir, about the maintenance scowl that we've seemed to have misplaced, we

it on approach back to Earth.

fear major and recent experience minor, where do you suppose you got the

courage? From you, Dolphie.

It's true.

You constantly push all of us into places we never ever in a million years

thought we could go.

Oh, that'd be bad.

Reeve, just...

Good to see you again.

Uh -oh.

Who's that?

I've got an idea, but let's not stick around to find out.

Mom, we have to go. Now? I don't have to catch my breath? I can do this.

I hate to tell you, Mom, but having me be your kid, you haven't caught your

breath since I was born.

Target in sight.

What's happening? What's going on?

I don't think the thrusters have had a proper chance to cool yet.

I can't get him to reignite.

Come on, Mom. We can do this.

Engage target.

Your wife.

And your girlfriend.

And your daughter. And my daughter. And Orion. And a rock star.

Just to be clear, sir, Xenon's pal Nebula is also on board. Do you even

inkling of what deep trouble you're all in?

Flying an unauthorized mission across the universe chasing phantoms?

Actually, sir, they've had an ongoing signal from these phantoms.

who are apparently in some sort of distress.

That is nonsense, Commander.

It's treason. And since it's also a very risky and brave endeavor, and since we

all have people we love on that ship, sir, maybe instead of assigning blame

punishment, we ought to focus on a way of helping them achieve a safe return.

Sir?

I don't get it, Mom.

We're exactly where we're supposed to be according to Orion's charts, right?

Well, if the aliens are there, then why aren't they here?

Well, the trouble is, converting their measurements to ours doesn't mean the

calculations were precise.

I mean, even a variance of a few degrees on paper could mean thousands of miles

out here in space.

We are going to find them, aren't we? I mean, we'll just fly around out here

until they show up? We can't do that forever, Z.

We have a finite fuel supply.

Limited provisions?

It's okay.

They're going to be here. I know it. I have a feeling major in my bones.

Whatever ends up happening out here, thank you.

For what?

Shaking me out of my cocoon.

Getting me to fly again, be out here with you.

Honey, you've shown me that it's fine to want to live a safe and sane life, but

sometimes we can get so safe, you practically stop living.

See this little penis? I did all that.

Yeah, all that and more, believe me.

You know, when you're growing up and thinking about someday having kids of

own, you spend lots of time imagining all the things you want to show and

them, all the ways you'll guide and mold them.

But I don't think anybody can possibly anticipate the thousands of things your

children are going to teach you.

Fuel tanks in depletion zone.

Fuel tanks in depletion zone.

We're running out of fuel already?

Oh, no, don't worry.

Orion said that the auxiliary tanks he put in are even larger than the main

tanks. Warning.

Auxiliary tanks empty.

Please reconnect to main tanks.

No, that's wrong. It has to be the auxiliary tanks can't be empty. Fuel

depletion zone.

Please reconnect to main tanks.

Auxiliary tanks empty. Orion, did everything appear normal when you

auxiliary tanks?

You did refill them, didn't you?

off the space station and have them send a rescue ship? Quickly, quicker than

quickly. I mean, I know they're not exactly thrilled with us, but they can't

want to leave us up here to die. I tried calling, but there must be a meteor

shower in progress because all I got was static. Of course, just a hawk, right?

Tell me one thing, do I look half as hysterical as I feel? What, more so than

usual, you mean?

Folks, we also have another problem. Before anyone can reach us, we're going

get sucked into the moon's gravitational field.

Is that bad?

Ah, well, not until her ship goes crashing down to the surface and

Oh, that's bad.

What are we going to do, Mrs. Carr?

Look, everyone, first of all, should just stay calm.

Are you sure?

Because I am really much better at panicking. Panicking, I do very, very

Oh, I have always known that blasting into an endless void was bad for one's

health. Oh, always.

So how did I end up here?

I'm afraid that's my fault, Aunt Judy.

See, little penis, how did I get us mixed up in this? It's a crazy mess.

on, come on, folks.

We can't die out here in space.

I ain't released my Greatest Hits chip yet.

Give me a chance and buckle up.

What's happening? Exactly as Orion predicted, the moon's gotten a hold of

We're going down.

My mom and dad went to the Milky Way and all I got were these crummy humans.

They're not going to hurt us.

They're helping us.

You cannot be in a ship that beautiful and be evil.

Look at it. It's the most seminary thing I have ever seen.

What if they try to come on board?

If they knock, do we open the door?

Maybe they'll go right through the door.

They are aliens, Margie, not ghosts.

Who is it?

Do we think it's... is it them?

I certainly think so.

Cecil Peters, did you see that? He waved back.

Xenon, Xenon, please.

I am their idol. I do suppose it's me they want to see.

Madam?

I bet you've got a million questions for me, haven't you, you little beasties?

Well, I'm here.

I'm here and I'm available for photographs.

Autographs or simply standing here.

Looking spectacular.

Have at me, darlings!

What if we were wrong?

What if it wasn't protozoa they were after?

So then what do they want?

Well, there has to be some reason that they worked so hard to get us all up

here.

Apparently, their ship's navigational computer's gone into meltdown mode

They've been lost in space for the equivalent of three Earth years.

They can't negotiate their way back home without the help of working

instruments.

Honey, how do you know all that?

I don't know. It's like they jumped inside my brain so I could speak for

something.

It kind of feels like... Whoa, hold on, it's happening again.

If they could please upload the information from our navigational

be happy to give us a towback to the space day and be on their way home.

hey, hey, hey, if they're such highly evolved intelligent beings, why don't

simply tap into our space station mainframe and take the charge they need?

Taking without asking is not polite.

We are telling you exactly what Xenon's app had in us.

Margie's with them. They're all safe. They're on their way back. And if we

by, we are going to witness something that is, and I quote, the most

event major of the 21st century.

There's something coming, sir. Is it the maintenance cow? At this point, sir, it

looks like a flying rainbow.

It was amazing. It was beyond amazing.

As happy as I am to have you all safely back home, I hope none of you assumes

this gets you off the hook.

You know, what you all seem to be missing is aliens or no aliens, and I'm

not convinced that those little swirling lights you talked about truly were

alien beings.

The fact remains, I was not sent up here to be some mustache -twirling villain.

I was simply sent to follow orders.

This space station...

has drifted out of its prescribed orbit.

It is deteriorating at a dangerously accelerated rate.

And the dismantling I began will continue.

And all your little escapade has done is to put several people whom you claim to

love into life -threatening jeopardy.

It was reckless.

It was selfish.

No, Daddy.

What Sinon did was brave and thrilling and... Marjorie, Leslie Hammond, I...

you contradicting me?

Do you dare to argue with me?

Yes, Daddy.

I do.

I'm terribly sorry, but you're wrong.

Xenon did find aliens, and they spoke to us through her. And we gave them the

navigational stuff that they needed, and they gave us a tow home. And the whole

thing is so macro that the world needs to know about it.

Proof, Margie.

What no one here seems to be offering is proof.

Are we falling out of orbit?

Actually, we're falling back into orbit.

Seller.

and she so cleverly found me on Nova Linda Cove.

I was a mess, full of problems, lost, confused. I hadn't written a song in a

year. So she told me about these space aliens, and she told me that they wanted

to contact me. But guess what? The sad truth is they didn't care one whit about

me.

They picked up my transmission of my concert in outer space and used that to

contact a true believer, Xenon.

Oh, it was quite a humbling experience, actually. But you know what? It doesn't

matter because this episode has revitalized me. So what if I'm not the

the universe?

I mean, look at me. I wanted new challenges and I've gotten them.

I'm even playing weddings now.

So, to Commander and Mrs. Edward Plank,

and with credit to Xenon for inspiration.

This song is for you.

you wake me up take me up

Or he was going to, but when the President ordered him and Commander

run the space day together, I convinced him to let me stick around so we can

really get to know each other. Isn't that fabulo?

Are you pancakes, I'm saying?

Margie, if we could survive this adventure together, I'm pretty sure this

is big enough for the both of us.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.