The Extraordinary Tale of Byte Demimoreaux

 

~*~CAST~*~

Zill Demimoreaux: (Head of the Exodiscovery Academy

Trillia Demimoreaux: (Flight Commander of Exodiscovery)

Byte Demimoreaux: (Captain of the Exodiscovery Academy)

Archimedes: (Byte’s best friend, more like a brother, another pilot in Exodiscovery)

Infinita: (another colleague in Exodiscovery Academy)

Elan: (Byte’s computer/AI system)

Tekawitha Phillips:

Arnold ‘Arnie’ Phillips: (her dad)

Joy Phillips: (her sister)

Renee Bordeux: (Teka’s bestie)

Horizon Phillips: (the first born of Byte and Teka)

Rune Phillips: (second born daughter)

Ward Phillips: (third born son)

Charm Phillips: (fourth born daughter)

Government agents: (CIA, MIB)

The President of the USA:

 

Table of Conents

Scene 1—Graduating With Honors

Scene 2—What’s My Mission Again ?

Scene 3—Accidentally In Love

Scene 4—Feet Planted In Two Worlds

Scene 5—Onward, Beyond the Horizon

Author’s Note

 

‘We have come to you in peace with intentions of goodwill.’—Klaatu’s first words when emerging from his spaceship, ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ (1951)

‘I already told you; you can’t run from your destiny.  I’m not.’—Conan, Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare 

‘I am Curacao.  I can be any color I like.  That’s why I feel better now than I ever have before, I suppose that’s why.’—Curacao’s answer to Ai after saving her life (although she knows her true identity at this point and could’ve easily disposed of her), Detective Conan: The Darkest Nightmare

‘Being human isn’t hard, perhaps its even easy.  Humans tend to make it hard.’—Harry Vanderspiegel, Resident Alien, Season 4, Ep.6, Soul Providers

‘That road trip started out normal but then it ran into a ditch.’—Harry to Asta, Resident Alien, Season 4, Ep. 7, Daddy Issues

‘I adapt to the unknown, under wandering stars I’ve grown, by myself but not alone.’—lyrics from ‘Wherever I May Roam’ as sung by Metallica

‘I wonder what it means.’—Leela to Fry about the drawing he made of the two of them embracing while in their golden years

‘Let’s find out.’—Fry to Leela, Futurama, S8: Ep 10, Otherwise 

 

Scene 1—Graduating With Honors

(Our scene opens on Althuria, a planet that has harmonized technology with nature.   It is an idyllic planet, highly advanced, with a race of aliens that resembled avian or saurid types with long, elegant tails used for balance and symmetry.   They can also link into technology with their cerebral connectors and prefer telepathy as a form of communication.   Outside of the academy, we see our hero graduating with honors and preparing for his mission to Earth.) 

Zill:  As you are all well aware, we have appointed our best student for a rather dangerous mission to earth.   None of us really understands why we have a nano byte blight or what caused it.    Althuria has never faced a problem of this magnitude, but we think our son is more than capable of finding the solution.  

Archimedes: (telepathically to his pilot comrades)  Only reason Byte is going is because he’s our instructor’s son. 

Byte:  (approaching the podium firing back with some sass)  Arch, that may be true, but I actually paid attention in all my classes. 

Infinita:  (telepathically)  Ooh, ouch, Arch.  He’s got your number.

Archimedes:  (Firing back, telepathically)  Infi, you weren’t much better.  

Zill:  Without further ado, our top ace, Byte will be saying a few words before he departs.

Byte:   (nodding in acknowledgement)   Thank you.   Upon my studies at the academy, I did find an element present on earth that would destroy the blight without impacting or affecting our ecology.   It is something present everywhere known as silica.   I created a replicant in the lab, but it isn’t nearly enough to cease the blight’s growth.   I can warp to earth and encapsulate a sample to clone and grow naturally, but I will need the assistance of Infinita and Archimedes.    As soon as the sample is back here, we will make plenty of silica to replicate, the balance will return.    (he hugs his father, places his forehead against his, and does the same thing with his mother, but his mother gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.   Epic music plays as he boards his sleek star cruiser and ascends the escalator ramp for entry.   As he ascends, he waves farewell to everyone and then warps out of view in mere picoseconds.)

Infinita:  There goes the bravest Athurian who ever lived.

Archimedes:  And a badass to boot.

(An acoustic version of ‘Starman’ by Daft Punk plays, backed with an orchestra and synthesizers.   It seems, that at first, that Byte’s collection of the silica is simple and he’s able to teleport it back home, but a routine thunderstorm strikes his ship and sends his ship into crisis mode.) 

Byte:  (gently)  Elan, my love…You can pull through this.  So many other obstacles were easy for you.

Elan: System critical, electrical capacity at maximum.   Byte, forgive me.

Byte:  There is nothing to forgive…I had no idea Earth storms were this violent…

(They get struck by lightning again and his safety system fails.  His seatbelt unlocks and he is rammed out of his seat.   He hits the hull of the ship hard and then begins a very rocky descent.   He was protected but he’s hurt pretty badly…) 

 

Scene 2—What’s My Mission Again ?

Tekakwitha:  (finding Byte looking as if he is hanging on by a thread, tries to find a pulse and gets one but notices he isn’t breathing, and she performs CPR)  Come on…Breathe ! 

Byte: (eyes flutter open and he hears ‘Die With a Smile’)  W-What’s going on ?   Why am I here ?

Tekakwitha:   Don’t move too much, sir.   It seems you endured a concussion…

Byte:   (his glamor shifts somewhat, revealing his true nature)  I…I’m not in danger, am I ?

Tekakwitha:  You’re safe…Whoever you are.   Just don’t move too much.

(The paramedics are called, and she tags along, just to see what’s happening.  Her curiosity draws her inerasably closer to Byte.)

Byte:  (waking up)  You came with me ?

Tekakwitha:  I wanted to make sure you were going to recover.    At first, the paramedics weren’t sure you were going to.   It seems whatever happened left you pretty banged up.  Thankfully, you’re fine now.    (pauses)  I’m Tekakwitha.  

Byte:  (holds his head for a minute)  I…Remember who I am.    My name is Byte, but I still can’t recall why I came. 

Tekakwitha:  (quietly)  I…saw you change.   Is it true that you’re not from Earth ?

Byte:  (chuckles lightly)  You gathered that much from our first encounter ?   You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever encountered before.  

Tekakwitha:   Even my sister Joy says so.    You’ll be meeting her and my dad soon.  

Byte:   (raised eyebrow) It’s just you and your family ?  No one else is visiting today ?

Tekakwitha:   Black suited types seem to be hanging around…Maybe they saw your ship descending. 

Byte:  (telepathically)  They could be listening, so we need to be careful.

Tekakwitha:  (impressed)  Your kind is telepathic ?

Byte:  Yes, much like Terrans, but ours comes naturally.   (pauses for a moment)  I wish I could remember why I came here.   Everything else has returned to me but that’s the one detail that’s fuzzy.

Tekakwitha:   (very tenderly she places her hand atop his)  Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.  My family will take care of you while you try and remember. 

Byte:   (looking at her, completely infatuated)  You are far too kind.   I appreciate your hospitality.  

(Scene shift.   Joy walks in, followed by Renee and Arnold.)

Scene 3—Accidentally In Love

Tekakwitha:  Renee, what are you doing here ?

Renee:  (nudging Tekakwitha)  I heard there was a fetching man ‘round the rez.    I had to come and see for myself.  

Tekakwitha:  (embarrassed)  Renee !

Joy:  I see the appeal…

Tekakwitha:  You too, Joy !  (she lowers her head)  Just destroy me.  Now. 

Arnold:  (laughs)  Come now, Tek.  We’re just funnin’ ya.   (roguish smile, whispers to her)  But yeah, he certainly is rakishly good looking ! 

Joy:  There were some serious mean hombres out there nosin’ around…

Renee:   Yeah, what was that all about ?

Tekakwitha:  If I tell you in all honesty can you promise that what I’m about to say doesn’t leave this room.    (whispers to them) 

Joy:  Our lips are sealed.   

Renee:  Guess you’re kind of stuck with us for a while, Byte.

Byte:   (optimistically)  Honestly, that doesn’t seem so bad.   Maybe my mission brief will jolt me awake someday soon ?  

Arnold:  Whatever the case, we must make certain that the men in black don’t find us.  

(There’s a quick transition here to Byte getting acclimated to life on earth, especially around the reservation.   He only reveals his ability to connect to technology, and they keep that to themselves.   It seems that in the crash, the communication device that Byte had was destroyed, but out of nowhere, he is interrupted by his friends during a lunch date.) 

Infinita:  We’ve been trying to contact you.   It seems your psychic link is impaired.

(People are gawking at Byte and Tek has to produce a good excuse as to why he’s using technology that normal people have never seen before.)

Tek:  Nothing to see here, folks.   My friend’s just cosplaying a character that he created. 

Arch:   (chuckles)  You fell for a human, didn’t you ? 

Byte:   Arch, stifle !  You’re embarrassing me ! 

Infinita:   Anyway, back on topic.  As I was saying the tether we had was severed…

Byte:   I crashed in a thunderstorm.   You’ll have to forgive me.   Actually, I was hoping you could fill me in on what my mission was…

Arch:   You already completed it.   The silica has already repaired everything, and we were waiting to welcome you home.   

Byte:   (able to speak telepathically)   I have a reason to stay now.  

Infinita:  (nodding, telepathically again)   We appreciate you informing us but be certain to return for Yule.  

(In the background, a lingering man in black has found Byte.   For some time, he has been tailing him and without missing a beat, he’s able to smuggle him into his car and Tekakwitha is taken as well.) 

 

Scene 4—Feet Planted in Two Worlds

Agent:  We had to confirm it, but it seems you are the real McCoy.

Tekakwitha:   (irate)  That’s no reason to go kidnapping someone in the middle of broad daylight !   Shitheel !  

Another Agent:  Ms. Phillips, language.   We are on a conference call with the President.

Tekakwitha:   (in her native language)  Get bent.   

President:   We salvaged what was left of the vehicle wreckage from over a few weeks ago and have been trying to reverse engineer it.    None of our top physicists can decipher it.   It seems it is repairing itself. 

Byte:   Nanites.   Elan is rebuilding herself.  She has adapted materials foreign to her and is exactly like new.  

Yet Another Agent:   We were thinking of implementing this technology…

Byte:   You will not be using this for nefarious purposes.   Tekakwitha warned me all about your duplicity.  

And Again, Another One:   (They all murmur among themselves)  

President:  Wartime use will be the most applicable.   

Byte:  I have instructions in layman’s terms, perhaps that will make the process easier ?

Sassy Agent:   Boy howdy, will it !  

Agent:   We do realize our methods were…unorthodox…

Byte:   (telepathically to Tek) Yeah, no shit ! 

Tek:  (Trying not to laugh)  

Another Agent:   But the shadow force cannot exactly ask for something as paradigm shifting as your ship.   

Byte:   Can I have her back…please ?   

President:  Anything at all, we will accommodate.   We will pay you both for the rest of your lives and we promise to leave you alone.    This is the last time we will see each other.  

Byte:   Terrific, now can we go, please ?

(The agents and the president, who is on the phone escort them out of the room.   Once they are on their own, Byte holds Tek close and kisses her cheek.)

Byte:  There truly never is a dull moment on this wacky planet.    I should’ve anticipated the secret service coming after us.   It was only a matter of time.

Tek:  At least now our lives will be quieter.

Byte:  (affectionately)  I know it’s only been a few months but ever since I saw you, I’ve loved you.

Tek:  (snuggling against his chest as they walk through the park) As have I.   I cannot imagine my life without you.

Byte:   Which is why I wanted to ask an important question.    Tekakwitha, my darling, my love, will you do the honor of giving me your hand in holy matrimony ?

Tek:  (enthusiastically)  I was hoping you’d ask !   (She stands up on her toes and kisses him deeply, an instrumental of ‘Suddenly You’re in Love’ plays, and she narrates)   Life on the rez had been fairly humdrum but I met my red thread from across the galaxy.    In time, I got to see his world and was accepted among his people.    We were a galactic fraternity now, one people working together for a brighter future.  

(We see Tek and Byte married, and they unite in a very unusual way.  Byte’s link is inserted into the base of her spinal column.   We see a montage of the two of them soaring across the galaxy, doing a barrel roll, and leaning their foreheads together.  A synthesizer version of ‘Nothing Feels Better Than This’ plays and the scene ends.) 

 

Scene 5—Onward, Beyond the Horizon

(7 Years From the Present appears on screen.   The quadruplets are traveling with Byte and Tek to Althuria.) 

Joy:  Are you sure you packed everything you need ?

Tek:  (chuckling)  You’re worse than dad, Joy.    But, yes.  I have.   Not my first rodeo.

Joy:  We miss you while you’re away. 

Tek:  (hugging her)  I know but I want Horizon, Rune, Ward, and Charm to know they are interstellar kids. 

Horizon:  We’ll send you a video, Auntie !   Don’t worry !   It may be a bit slower since internet here is so sluggish.  

Joy:  I always look forward to seeing things through your eyes, dear.   

Rune:   Be sure to take care of Giovanni, Marco, and Polo.

Charm:   Polo may be shy, but he’s a great kitty.   

Ward:   Just make certain Gio eats all his leafy greens ! 

Joy:   Ward, I give you my sacred oath. 

Tek:  (narrating)   Somehow, I had gotten used to all this.   The interstellar travel, being an ambassador, seeing galaxies I had only heard about.   The universe was infinitely more beautiful now than it had been before.   I have to admit, being a parent had been an eye-opening experience, but not nearly as enlightening as becoming a cosmic traveler.    Sometimes my overthinking would get the better of me, but my love would remind me gently I had nothing to worry about.   Whatever happened, we had each other, and as simple as that sounded, that one fact was what gave us strength whenever obstacles came our way. 

(Here we’re treated to Althruria once again and Byte is welcomed by his friends and his dad.    They’re celebrating a holiday much like Christmas, where gifts are exchanged, songs are sung and way too much food is consumed.    The camera pans out of the family enjoying themselves with family and friends, far from the planet, stricken by the light of their suns, floating about in the galaxy like a blue topaz in the sky.   ‘Butterfly’, as sung by my friend Cathy and written by Jean Baptiste is played here.   Roll credits.)  

Authors Note:  It may be a bit of a challenge if this script is conveyed on a stage.   Certainly, it can be done, but it will probably translate better to a silver screen.   Nonetheless if one is compelled to act on stage, you have my profound respect.