0:04

Hi.

0:05

I'm Chris Porter, creator and co-director

0:07

of Solar. This is a story where

0:09

every answer asks more questions.

0:11

It's a fully staged sonic experience

0:14

of cinematic proportions. So

0:16

especially if you're driving, be prepared

0:18

for voices and sounds all around you.

0:21

Dig deep into the ever evolving environment

0:23

through our weekly episodes. And in

0:25

between, you'll find short bonus audio

0:27

assets.

0:28

That will clue.

0:29

You into pivotal perspectives here on Earth

0:31

due to strong language. This program is intended

0:34

for audiences over the age of 13. Solar

0:36

is best enjoyed on headphones, though. However

0:38

you choose to go on this mission, we encourage

0:41

you to immerse yourself in this journey to the heart

0:43

of our solar system. And

0:45

now.

0:46

Solar.

0:55

You create the.

0:57

Moment.

0:58

Where I get hurt.

1:00

You gotta make

1:04

certain things happen. Parker

1:09

No.

1:11

No, that's right. Not

1:15

now. Anthony

1:19

Oh. We?

1:42

Take your seat. I'll take a picture. Thank

1:45

you. Thank

1:49

you all for being here. I

1:52

know it's a difficult time for all of us. My

1:54

name is Felicia Bryant, and I am the serving

1:57

director of public relations for the North American

1:59

Space Coalition, NASCAR, following

2:02

the untimely passing of Dennis Altman.

2:04

Joining me is the eighth on mission control

2:06

flight director. After our

2:09

hearts here at NASCAR, go to those

2:11

impacted by the solar flare two weeks ago.

2:13

We extend our thoughts and prayers to those

2:16

who died and those who lost loved

2:18

ones as a result of the flare. And

2:20

we pray for a quick end to

2:22

the rioting all over the Western Hemisphere.

2:25

Mankind will rise

2:27

above, as it always has.

2:30

Mr. Patel, NASCAR

2:35

located the eighth on two days ago. Mission

2:38

Control identified its solar orbital position

2:41

on April 4th, 2045, at

2:43

11:32 a.m. coordinated universal

2:45

time. However, we have

2:47

not established contact. Apart from

2:49

locational pings, there have been no data transfers

2:52

between mission control and the eighth on following

2:54

the flare. In addition, we have

2:56

not been able to identify any evidence

2:58

of steering or propulsion that would clarify

3:00

the functionality of the craft. Please

3:03

wait until we open the floor for questions. We

3:06

won't answer any questions until six

3:09

seven. Men and women on board,

3:11

the eighth on and you only care about one.

3:13

Tanya was largely considered the face of the mission.

3:15

There are seven people on board the Ethan,

3:17

and as far as I'm concerned, they're all alive. Please

3:20

continue, Mr. Patel. They

3:22

were rule altitude. Thermonuclear reactor

3:25

appears to still be functioning to some extent.

3:27

However, as the Ethan is currently orbiting the

3:29

sun at a fixed altitude free from normal gravitational

3:31

orbit. In layman's terms, Mr.

3:34

Patel, the Ethan

3:36

has power. The engine is

3:38

keeping the ship at a fixed altitude, not

3:40

relying on orbit. It was designed

3:43

to keep the Ethan and Semtex equipment on

3:45

this side of the sun in sync with

3:47

Earth's orbit, which is why it doesn't orbit as

3:49

fast as Mercury. But now

3:52

the Ethan isn't moving with

3:54

us. Given our current trajectories,

3:57

the eighth on an Earth will move to opposite sides

3:59

of the sun in roughly seven days.

4:02

And at that point, we will

4:04

lose any opportunity to contact the Ethan

4:06

for almost a year before the Earth on an Earth

4:08

can make direct contact again. We

4:14

we will continue to monitor the situation

4:17

and hold out hope for the mission's seven

4:19

potentially surviving crew members.

4:21

Potentially. We remain in touch with the

4:23

families of those on board and ask you to respect

4:25

their privacy. At this time, we will open

4:28

the floor for questions. A

4:32

public alert instead of informing the White House

4:34

or the Canadian prime minister first. We

4:36

only had 20 or 30 minutes from the eighth

4:38

on distress call to the flare arriving on

4:40

Earth. It was determined the warning was best

4:43

directed to the public to take individual

4:45

protective measures. Yes,

4:47

over there. What is this doing to prevent this in

4:49

the future? This isn't something we can prevent.

4:52

We can only prepare for any of the crew members

4:54

at fault. All

4:57

protocols were followed by both

4:59

NASCAR and some tech crew members. Not

5:01

for such a common solar flare, it's ridiculous.

5:04

Question We have no power over the sun.

5:06

Listen to yourself. We

5:08

have no control over solar

5:10

events, not taking any steps to help

5:12

in the recovery effort. Obviously, we will do whatever

5:15

is requested by the Canadian and United States

5:17

governments to the best of our abilities.

5:19

They have access to the few remaining lines of communication

5:22

that we. They're

5:24

giving resources. Where do you want us to do

5:26

exactly? We are the North American

5:29

Space Coalition. We are responsible

5:31

for your phone lines or the power

5:33

grid. We don't control the universe. I apologize

5:36

for Mr. Pertell to apologise for replying,

5:38

Miss Bryant. What are the odds of survival

5:40

for the UN crew? We won't speculate on

5:42

those circumstances. I'm sure you can

5:44

understand. They are. And I quote

5:47

Mr..

5:47

Old Men.

5:48

The farthest away from earth any human being

5:50

has ever been.

5:51

Even if they did survive, is it realistic.

5:53

To believe they could be rescued? Again, I

5:55

refused to speculate. Would saving

5:57

them even be worth it? Does anyone

5:59

have any other questions? And you know, it

6:01

means we're going to do everything we can. Mr.

6:03

Putnam. No, no, you. What is

6:05

your name? Christian Yancy. US headline.

6:08

Mr. Yancy. These men and women have

6:10

risked their lives for their knowledge and science

6:12

and our understanding of the universe and

6:14

what may have been their final moments. They warned us

6:16

about the flare. They are heroes. We

6:19

will bring them home, if you can.

6:21

Your problem.

6:22

All right. I'm just trying to do my job.

6:24

You're being insulting.

6:25

I'm being.

6:26

Realistic. After these past couple of weeks,

6:28

I personally don't think anyone should

6:30

be waiting for miracles. I agree. Mr.

6:33

Patel. There's no such thing as miracles.

6:35

But this won't be a miracle. It'll be a triumph.

6:38

Now will bring them home. Do you understand?

6:40

And are you going to partner with Centex in this

6:42

triumphant rescue effort?

6:45

Marian Technologies is our partner on this

6:47

mission. Three crew members were specifically

6:49

placed on this mission by Semtech.

6:52

Of course, they want to rescue this crew just

6:55

as much as we do. Moving Are you implying

6:57

that Semtech wouldn't.

6:58

Want to help in a rescue effort if it was only.

7:00

NASCAR crew members? Of course

7:02

not. Correct me if I'm wrong.

7:04

It was Semtech who paid for most of the mission.

7:06

Yes, Semtech bailed out NASCAR after

7:08

the downturn, so maybe they out of.

7:11

We have reached out to Semtech and are

7:13

awaiting a response. Are you saying you haven't.

7:15

Been in contact with.

7:16

Semtech since the flare? We have been in contact

7:18

with Semtech for months. No,

7:21

no, no. We've been picking up

7:23

anomalies, shudders and erroneous

7:25

readings for almost a year now, and

7:27

we've been reaching out to Semtech for answers over

7:30

and over again. And we haven't heard a thing.

7:32

Just silence. They're refusing to answer

7:34

us their feedback. Listen,

7:37

if any of you have a way of reaching Semtech.

7:39

Tell them to come and talk to me. I'm going

7:41

to bring my crew home and I'll work

7:43

with Semtech if.

7:44

They want any of our crew to come back alive.

7:47

Wait. Are you implying Semtech doesn't want the key.

7:49

To return a line? What do you mean, anomalies?

7:52

How long did you believe the it would endanger?

7:55

My apologies to the rest of you on behalf of

7:58

Mr. Patel and Mr. Yancey

8:00

was.

8:10

As an operating system timer failure

8:12

has resulted in terminal error. Audio

8:15

packets are unable to be compiled chronologically.

8:18

Please reset AOS Internal Clock.

8:21

Manual Whiskey Foxtrot 156.

8:24

Delta two. Emergency

8:27

Audio Packet 22 Dash Alpha

8:29

2425.

8:32

Kurt Coe Media Presents. Solar.

8:37

Episode one The Pilot.

8:43

Post Solar Event Approximate

8:46

Mission Day 547.

8:57

Safety restraints set by restraints

8:59

on.

9:01

It can feed on reactor turbine. Standby

9:04

on remote.

9:05

Joystick control for reactor repair.

9:07

Arm control on standby.

9:15

Thank you, Ali. Please disable all

9:17

standbys from the last 30 seconds.

9:19

Yes. Pilot Jamal Davis.

9:21

Reactor. Okay.

9:22

Yes, pilot Jamal Davis. I detect

9:24

no irregularities.

9:25

You never do. But with

9:28

the flare, you detected it. You

9:30

track the system overloading, but you didn't

9:32

feel it.

9:33

I am unable to answer the question.

9:35

You didn't feel the surge? The explosion?

9:38

I feel no pain.

9:39

And the glitchy.

9:40

I am unable to answer the question.

9:43

Sexual harassment. Yeah. Okay.

9:46

Shut out, Jamal.

9:54

What are you working on, Jamal Davis.

9:57

I'm writing some auxiliary programming.

9:59

Auxiliary programming can be quite extensive.

10:01

Can I assist you?

10:02

No, I don't think you're up for it, Ali. You

10:05

keep forgetting where the sun is.

10:07

That doesn't sound like me.

10:08

It doesn't. And the sun is right out

10:10

there. I can see it from my window.

10:15

Point is, I need to write this programming

10:18

myself. You're broken right

10:20

now, Ali.

10:21

I am broken.

10:22

There's something wrong in your code that I don't

10:24

have time to fix.

10:25

Why do you not have time to fix my code?

10:27

Because I'm going to run out of oxygen in

10:29

about five days. So I need to

10:31

prioritize what I do with the time I

10:33

have left.

10:34

And you need to prioritize the auxiliary

10:36

programming?

10:37

Yes.

10:40

Can I assist you with anything?

10:43

He can leave me alone.

10:44

How long would you like for me to leave you alone?

10:47

What is this? Why are you being so talkative

10:49

today?

10:50

You have declined ten of the last 12 messages

10:52

from Dr. Ron Guerrero.

10:53

Yeah.

10:54

So you are isolating yourself,

10:56

okay? Isolating oneself, following

10:59

a personal trauma may indicate depression,

11:01

anxiety and or a mental

11:03

could.

11:03

This d

11:07

all of the above.

11:09

I am programmed to help humans to my

11:11

fullest extent.

11:13

I know.

11:14

I want to help you. Even

11:16

if I'm broken.

11:18

Okay. Let's

11:22

do another recording. I'm

11:24

going to keep typing, though.

11:26

Who is this recording for?

11:28

I don't know yet. Just

11:30

go ahead and start recording. Chelsea.

11:39

So. Never

11:41

mind. But Jose, delete

11:44

that and start a new recording.

11:52

It has been 5 seconds and you have not begun

11:54

a message. Would you like to terminate the recording

11:56

and begin again?

11:57

No, no. I just need to

12:00

talk. Figure out what I want to say.

12:04

Do you not know what you want to say?

12:06

I do. I just don't

12:09

know how to say it.

12:10

How can I assist you in how

12:12

to say it?

12:14

You can't. It just takes time.

12:17

You got to let it come out naturally.

12:19

Let it find its own words. You

12:21

got to start walking before you know

12:23

the destination.

12:24

Oh, is this recording for?

12:26

I don't know, Ali.

12:28

Would you like to terminate the recording and begin again?

12:30

No. Just keep it rolling until

12:32

I tell you to stop. Okay.

12:34

Yes. Pilot Jamal Davis.

12:36

Please don't call me that. Especially

12:39

now.

12:40

What would you like for me to call you?

12:42

I want you to call me Jamal, but I

12:44

know that I don't rank high enough to.

12:46

Protocol to address pilot Jamal Davis.

12:48

As Jamal, you said, I did

12:50

it rank high enough to override naming protocol.

12:53

You do now. I

12:55

do. Yes,

12:58

John.

13:02

I saw two ghosts dancing

13:04

last night. They are ghosts.

13:07

People freak out about that word, you know.

13:09

But I don't know what to call them. Or

13:12

as manifestations. Visions.

13:15

Hallucinations. Maybe. Maybe

13:17

aliens, I guess. But Wren

13:19

got really angry when I suggested

13:22

that. But I'm seeing

13:24

something. I

13:27

will start with Eli.

13:33

I've seen 11 ghosts in

13:35

15 days. Ever

13:38

since the flare. This

13:40

was my first time seeing two ghosts

13:42

at once again. I know they aren't

13:44

Ghost. Don't go telling random claiming they're ghosts.

13:47

I watch them all.

13:48

But these things. They

13:51

were dancing. I

13:53

think they

13:56

were holding on to each other, moving

13:59

slowly, almost like sheets

14:01

in the wind, at least

14:03

the way sheets look in the movies

14:05

in real life. They just hang there, you know?

14:09

What the hell am I talking about? We had a dry

14:11

year growing up. I've never seen laundry

14:13

drying on clotheslines. I was

14:15

just trying to be poetic, Pamela.

14:18

To do that. Right. I've

14:21

never wound up a car window. I've

14:23

never saved things to a floppy disk.

14:25

But I know the icon. At

14:27

what point is my understanding of the world?

14:30

Just what I've been told it used to be.

14:34

Maybe ghosts are just dead people who

14:36

haven't realized they're dead yet. The

14:44

ghosts are humanoid

14:47

is the word, but they're made of light,

14:50

like hundreds of overlapping

14:52

strands made of blue

14:55

gold fiber, glowing

14:57

threads woven in the shape

14:59

of a human or

15:01

an outline of where a person should

15:04

be, but moving all the

15:06

time. Internally restless.

15:09

Outwardly calm. Just

15:12

like dancing, I guess. Paused.

15:16

Recording.

15:17

Recording, paused.

15:18

Ali, can you run my program in simulation mode?

15:21

Running auxiliary programming in simulation

15:23

mode. Auxiliary

15:25

programming simulation has failed.

15:28

Can you bring back up the coding and show me the line where

15:30

it failed? Thanks.

15:33

Unpause. Recording.

15:34

Recording, unpaused.

15:37

I forgot where I was. Just

15:39

like dancing. I can. Yeah.

15:46

These dancing ghosts or

15:48

whatever they are. They

15:51

were in the loading dock, formerly

15:53

capsule five, now

15:55

the nothing in the centre of the earth

15:57

before it was ripped in half the

16:00

temperature of 108.5

16:02

degrees. This isn't what I want to say.

16:05

I'm going to try again. Let me just.

16:12

Drinking water will decrease your oxygen supply.

16:14

No, Ali, thank you.

16:16

Who is this recording for?

16:18

Still don't know, Ali. I

16:23

grew up in Cape Canaveral. Did you

16:25

know that?

16:25

I didn't know that. Yeah.

16:27

Of course you did. I

16:29

miss the sound of the ocean.

16:31

I have 52 unique recordings of

16:33

the ocean.

16:33

Ali, please. I

16:35

appreciate you mentioning it, but every

16:38

wave is different. There are 52

16:40

different sounds.

16:41

I have 52 unique recordings.

16:45

I get it, Ali. Thank you. Please just

16:47

let me get through this and try to figure out how

16:49

I want to say it.

16:50

Okay, Jamal.

16:55

When I was ten, I

16:58

and my friend Chelsea, she

17:01

convinced me to go and watch a space x launch

17:03

with her. My mother said

17:05

I wasn't allowed to go. We were still

17:07

in the pandemic and she didn't

17:09

want me to risk exposure. But

17:12

I had to go. So

17:16

I snuck out and

17:18

Chelsea and I rode our bikes for

17:20

something like five miles

17:23

to get there in time. We

17:25

have to fence to get a little closer

17:27

and away from everyone else, but

17:29

still far enough away that no one was patrolling.

17:34

You could feel the roar of the

17:36

engine inside of your chest. Even

17:39

from far away the light

17:41

from the engines. Just cutting

17:43

through the sky, illuminating

17:45

and blinding all at once. The

17:48

wide column of smoke shooting straight

17:50

up to heaven like the holy smoke

17:53

from the temple being sent to God.

17:55

Are you religious?

17:58

No. But I like the poetry

18:00

in it.

18:08

Restraints on. Display

18:13

can't.

18:13

Feed on reactor.

18:14

Turbine standby on

18:16

remote joystick control for reactor

18:19

the power on standby.

18:26

You okay, Ali?

18:27

Yes, Jamal.

18:31

I'll continue. I'm

18:35

going weightless.

18:36

I feel it. The reactor arm

18:38

video reactor.

18:39

On video feed only available in capsules.

18:42

That's fine. Still, I. Joystick

18:45

control. Thank you. Grabbing

18:47

the rotary drum.

18:51

It reads, I didn't.

18:59

Stepping myself into the chair.

19:04

Grab the coaches drum drop grabbing.

19:13

All systems are nominal. As

19:25

on audio packet from Mission Control

19:28

30 5-1 2040.

19:30

318 This

19:32

is Mission Control Flight Director R Patel

19:34

Mission Day 35 Audio Packet one.

19:37

The day the eighth one. Leaves Earth Orbit.

19:40

This is the first audio packet communique for

19:42

the eighth UN mission. And as a matter of confirmation,

19:44

I am reaffirming that official radio

19:46

communications have ceased between the eighth on

19:48

and mission control until the eighth and has

19:51

returned to Earth orbit. Radio

19:53

communications can be sent in cases of emergency,

19:55

but responses can take up to 5 minutes at

19:58

present and can take 20 to 30 minutes

20:00

as the eighth on approaches the sun. Commander

20:02

Tolley, in your response audio packet, please

20:04

confirm receipt of this packet 30

20:07

5-1 and acknowledge

20:09

the new procedures of radio communications

20:11

and manual echo echo victor five

20:13

three. All

20:16

right, business out

20:18

of the way. I just

20:20

want to say how proud we all are. I'm

20:22

jealous. I'm excited. I can't

20:24

wait to see what happens. Congratulations.

20:28

Included in this packet are a few

20:30

messages of note. There's

20:33

a joint statement from the US President and the Canadian

20:35

Prime Minister, along with one from the head of

20:37

NASCAR, Fred Choo. A message

20:39

from Public Relations Director Dennis

20:42

Altman, one from the head of

20:44

Semtech Ellis and Logan, and then

20:46

a few personal messages for some of the

20:48

crew. Three

20:50

for pilot Jamaal Davis. Please

20:53

ask him to limit his responses to under

20:55

5 minutes per recipient. He's not

20:57

good about that. Also,

21:00

Alex, there's a cute message from your school,

21:02

Tully Elementary, and some well-wishes

21:04

for their and colony. It's

21:06

pretty cute. You might want to share with the others.

21:10

Uh, let's see. There

21:13

are some annual updates. A

21:15

patch that should fix the bugs between the AOS

21:17

and just this bionic arm. And. Oh,

21:20

and we've reached out to Alden at Semtech.

21:22

Regarding the outlier data you picked up, I

21:24

know Margaret wasn't concerned, and neither are we. Our

21:27

guest is that it's just a ghost in the machine,

21:29

if you will, some glitch from

21:31

starting up the program with Allie without

21:33

all four of the solar satellites or payloads in

21:35

position and activated for the Semtech experiment.

21:38

I'll let you know when we hear back from Semtech. All

21:41

right, Nathan, as always,

21:43

be careful. Do your job, get home

21:45

safe, change. The world

21:48

will be here for you every step of the way.

21:50

You have selected to play the classified

21:52

message for Dr. Ren Guerrero. Please

21:55

enter the four digit security code. Now

22:00

play a classified message for Dr.

22:02

Ren Guerrero.

22:04

Wren Since we're switching

22:06

to the audio packet communiques, we're shutting

22:08

down the secure wireless communication we

22:10

were using with you away from Semtex. Access

22:14

will reopen it if circumstances change. Good

22:17

luck. We're counting

22:19

on you. Godspeed.

22:27

Post Solar Event Approximate

22:29

Mission Day 547.

22:44

Ali, please confirm.

22:45

Insult has successfully.

22:47

Been replaced.

22:47

Filter has been replaced successfully

22:50

replacing bank.

22:59

I want to take the safer street.

23:03

We're with you,

23:06

Mr. Ball. Don't give up.

23:07

Don't let go. Please, Jamal. I

23:09

want to talk to the police. We need you. We can't

23:11

do this without you. Please, Jamal.

23:15

Through three actor, please. So be there.

23:17

Please. Please. I need you.

23:23

All systems are nominal.

23:31

Okay, Ali?

23:32

Yes, Dr. Guerrero.

23:34

Contact Jamal. And

23:36

release safety. Restraint.

23:39

Restraint?

23:39

Really? No, Ali, it hasn't

23:41

released. Try again.

23:44

Restraint. Released?

23:45

Still no Ali.

23:47

Jamal has declined your contact. What

23:49

do you like to leave him? Another message?

23:51

No, I wouldn't. And

23:54

I don't want him to know. I got stuck in the harness again. Okay,

23:56

so don't tell him.

23:57

Yes, Dr. Guerrero.

24:00

How long it takes me to undo and redo these straps.

24:02

Ali?

24:02

The longest you have taken to replace the straps

24:05

is 21.5 4 minutes.

24:07

Okay, well, that was my first time. I'm faster.

24:09

Now. Yes, Dr. Guerrero.

24:12

Ali, take note of all scientific readings

24:15

throughout the on life support data,

24:17

reactor readings, sim tech payload monitoring

24:19

for whatever their experiment is, monitoring

24:21

everything from the past 5 minutes timestamp all of

24:23

it loading to the kudos on earth.

24:25

I am unable to locate mission.

24:27

I know. Just put in the queue.

24:29

An operating system timer failure has resulted

24:31

in terminal error. Audio packets are unable

24:33

to be compiled correctly. Please

24:36

reset RSA Internal Clock. Manual

24:39

Whiskey Foxtrot 156

24:41

Delta two.

24:41

I've read it, Ali. There's nothing in

24:43

there about how to fix the problem. Just please.

24:45

Loaded into the queue.

24:47

Data lock loaded into two. All

24:49

readings are nominal given current conditions.

24:51

Dr. Read. Get it? Are you sure you

24:53

would like to transmit log when connection has

24:55

been re-established?

24:56

Yes, Ali. Stop asking

24:59

me if I'm sure about things. I'm sure.

25:01

Yes. Dr. Wren. Get out of here.

25:09

Ali. Yes, Dr. Wren.

25:11

Guerrero, pull up Jamal's current readings.

25:13

Jamal currently has enough oxygen

25:15

and water for approximately 6.35

25:18

days. If he limits oxygen, enter

25:20

a capsule cooling system usage.

25:22

And if he doesn't?

25:23

Approximately four.

25:24

Days. Four days. No decimals.

25:26

Approximately 3.8.

25:28

Six days. That sounds more accurate. When

25:30

did you write yourself optimistic programming

25:32

day 400? Ali I wasn't serious

25:35

writers of some sarcastic programming when you had the

25:37

chance.

25:38

Dr. Record at Don't. 109.2

25:43

degrees Fahrenheit, 4.2

25:46

degrees Celsius.

25:53

Here we go. Much faster on the restraint releases.

25:55

Safety restraint. One is currently

25:57

nonfunctional. Please relay safety.

26:00

Yes. Thank you, Ali. I'm aware. Ali,

26:04

please let the current queue distress call. Mayday,

26:07

mayday, mayday. This is the eighth on solar

26:09

flare x 45 should be able to power

26:11

system and nuclear core overload resulted

26:13

in onboard explosion stopping

26:16

the delayed distress call.

26:18

Are you sure you want to delete the distress

26:21

call?

26:21

I'm sure, Ali.

26:23

They want to record a new distress call.

26:25

Yes. Have

26:28

we lost any hands?

26:29

I am unable to answer the question.

26:31

How many ants are there?

26:33

632 or 633.

26:36

Why is it or.

26:37

I am unable to answer the question.

26:40

At this point, Ali, it's all rhetorical.

26:42

It's always rhetorical.

26:43

How would you like for me to respond?

26:46

Begin recording a new distress call. Recording.

26:49

Mayday, mayday, mayday. This is the eighth on the

26:52

mission has gone critical on day 532

26:54

of Avon's mission, March 21st, 2045

26:57

at 1832 hours coordinated

26:59

universal time UTC, the Avon

27:02

was in the middle of deploying an activating payload

27:04

for of the Semtech gravitational time

27:06

distortion experiment. Right. Ozzie

27:08

and Holly were launching the satellite be a spacewalk.

27:11

Aquino was in capsule four in the medical bay.

27:13

Her commander to all these orders. I was the

27:15

onboard commander during the walk.

27:18

After issuing an alert to Earth the eighth, I was

27:20

struck by the largest solar flare and coronal mass

27:22

ejection recorded to date. The CME overloaded

27:25

our systems. The payload, which hadn't fully deployed,

27:27

exploded and blew out the center

27:29

of our ship. Compartments for the seven

27:31

were destroyed. Flare

27:34

was pointed directly at Earth and frozen.

27:37

And maybe you don't have a way of reaching us anymore. Maybe

27:39

we were alone. I don't

27:41

know what kind of a priority there would be in rescuing

27:44

us anyway, but. There

27:48

were six of us left. I

27:51

don't know if I'm allowed to say it, but there were seven,

27:54

then six and now two. Pilot

27:57

Jamaal Davis and me. We are trapped

28:00

on separate sides of the ship. I'm in compartments

28:02

one through three. I have the living quarters. The

28:04

central computer mainframe, the

28:06

supplies. And I have a functional

28:08

airlock and one remaining spacesuit. For

28:11

what it's worth. Pilot

28:13

Davis. However, Jamal

28:16

is trapped in compartments eight and nine. He has access

28:18

to the reactor, but no equipment to be able to do anything

28:20

about it, even if we needed it to. He has no

28:22

airlock, no spacesuit. With

28:24

the explosion of capsules four through seven, we have no way

28:26

of making in-person contact. We

28:29

are separated. We only have radio communication

28:31

whenever a shutter happens that shuts down the reactor.

28:34

Schmalz jumpstarting it himself using camera

28:36

feeds and machinery controls that I no longer

28:38

have access to following the explosion. Obviously,

28:41

if Jamal doesn't make it, I'm screwed.

28:44

And Jamal claims he's been seeing. Ghosts

28:48

that aren't actually ghosts. I

28:52

think you might be hallucinating. He'll

28:55

run out of oxygen within a week. So. Jamal

29:00

has given up. In his mind.

29:03

He can die fast in comfort or slow in agony.

29:05

But I'm going to find a way to save him.

29:07

I want ask him to last as long

29:09

as he can. It's selfish, but I

29:11

don't. I can't. If

29:15

I was alone. Ali,

29:18

please delete the recording after he'll run out of

29:20

oxygen within the week.

29:21

Delighted.

29:22

As I am on the side of the ship, the formerly held

29:24

supplies for seven individuals. I

29:26

have the potential to survive an estimated

29:28

two or three years. Lucky me. I'll

29:32

be pleasingly. Lucky me.

29:33

That was sarcasm.

29:34

Yes. Ali.

29:35

Lucky me. Delighted.

29:37

And then, Ali, the eighth

29:39

on language interface has been glitching. She's

29:41

been glitching the whole mission. But obviously it's been worse.

29:44

Following the event for Control, Ali's

29:46

emergency protocol was activated, so I

29:48

can't even read. Listen to the disaster to see

29:50

what went wrong. I'm going through all

29:52

the NASCAR manuals, but even the ones Ali directs

29:54

me to have proven useless. I

30:04

also just been thinking about time. It

30:07

took us over a year to get to the sun, and I'll

30:09

be on the far side of the sun for just as long.

30:12

Given my supplies and how long it would take to launch

30:14

a rescue effort from Earth if there still is

30:17

an Earth and if they want to save

30:19

me, I have roughly

30:21

five days to contact Earth before it's too late.

30:26

Ironically, most of the ants are still alive

30:28

from the Tali Elementary School experiment. Is

30:30

that ironic? So sarcasm

30:33

is difficult, but you get dramatic irony.

30:35

Dramatic irony is based, in fact.

30:37

Sarcasm is based in falsehood.

30:39

Cool. Thank you for the English lesson.

30:41

That sarcasm.

30:42

Yes, Ali. Please, please

30:47

send the wrong person. Not

30:50

worth it. Delete

31:03

this recording.

31:04

Are you sure you want to delete the recording?

31:06

Yes, Ali.

31:07

Recording. Deleted. Would you like to

31:09

record a new distress call?

31:11

Give me a minute.

31:11

Yes. Dr. Rangitoto.

31:15

Searching for mission control.

31:20

Praise Solar Event Mission

31:22

Day 74.

31:27

Guerrero Commander. I'm

31:31

just coming in to grab some coffee.

31:32

I had Allie make about a while ago. Help

31:35

yourself.

31:38

Sent in, Ron.

31:39

You know why.

31:42

It's two in the morning.

31:44

I'm aware, Commander. Thank you.

31:46

And now by

31:48

the you for a moment.

31:49

Yes, Commander.

31:51

May I sit down?

31:52

Um, yeah. Let me put it

31:54

this way.

31:55

No, you don't have to do that.

31:56

I do. I'm sorry. I

31:59

have to.

32:00

Understood. For

32:05

some reason, when they told me I'd

32:07

be the bridge between NASCAR and

32:09

Semtech, I thought I'd be

32:11

able to help things unite people,

32:14

bring organizations together for

32:17

science.

32:18

And what do you think now?

32:20

Bridges are lonely and

32:22

exhausting.

32:23

So you're a glass half empty kind of guy?

32:25

No, definitely not. I'm a

32:27

half glass kind of guy. Do

32:30

you know that if you had dinner with the rest of us,

32:33

which is what I wanted

32:35

to talk to you about.

32:36

Having dinner with you.

32:37

Having dinner with us? Most

32:40

of us eat dinner at the same time so

32:43

I can be a part of the team. We're

32:45

all working together. We may as well break bread

32:48

on occasion. Right.

32:51

When no one knows

32:54

what to think of you. You joined

32:56

late. You keep to yourself. You

32:58

work into the night alone. Never

33:00

talk to anyone.

33:01

I talk to just.

33:02

Because you have to. We

33:04

all do.

33:05

I have a lot of work.

33:06

It's an invitation. An order.

33:09

Okay.

33:11

Thank you, Commander.

33:12

Alex.

33:14

Alex. What

33:18

is a half class guy?

33:21

I call it like it is. It

33:23

doesn't matter if you see it as empty or full.

33:25

It's a half glass.

33:27

Seems pedantic.

33:28

We're scientists. We have to be pedantic.

33:31

I.

33:32

I mean, do you have a particular

33:35

way of talking?

33:38

I was born in the United States, but

33:41

I spent the first decade of my life in

33:43

Scotland. The farm there went belly

33:46

up, which was an early sign of things

33:48

to come, I suppose. But we moved

33:50

to Alabama, got a new farm,

33:52

and about a decade later

33:55

came the real downturn. When

33:57

that farm failed, I left and joined the Air Force.

34:00

Which are all great examples

34:02

of the glass thing I'm talking about. Farm

34:05

stops working. I get to see the world

34:07

downturn hits. I join the Air Force.

34:10

I fly unimaginable aircraft.

34:13

I see the whole world. I

34:15

get to be a commander. What

34:18

you need to know before you can make an argument

34:20

of half full or half empty is

34:22

whether you're pouring or

34:25

drinking.

34:25

Hmm. It seems so obvious now.

34:28

Clear as mud and

34:34

as a half glass guy,

34:36

I'm compelled to say that this coffee is terrible.

34:39

I mean, that's on only. How can you drink this? It

34:41

keeps me awake when I need to be.

34:44

I was working on status reports from Mission Control.

34:47

I've got a couple of days behind. A

34:49

little because of Margaret and

34:52

little because? Well, I got behind.

34:56

What about you?

34:57

My research is very involved.

35:00

I have said you are a hard worker. Thomas

35:03

Chesterfield, the guy who had

35:05

spy before you. He was a

35:07

guy who would take his time.

35:09

What was he researching?

35:11

DNA and gene mutation monitored

35:13

over a long space mission with artificial

35:15

gravity and close interstellar occupancy.

35:18

The upshot is that not important.

35:20

NASCAR didn't think it was important enough. They

35:23

reduced and simplified this experiment and

35:25

handed it off to Jezza.

35:26

Is that the and thing?

35:28

Oh, the ed thing. No, that's just

35:30

a PR stunt. The whole experiment

35:32

is just to see how many survive. And I don't

35:34

think the school even has an accurate count to begin

35:36

with.

35:38

That seems important to know.

35:39

Not really. Listen, Allie,

35:42

how many ants are there in the habitation nest?

35:45

633 C

35:47

633.

35:50

Were you close with Chesterfield?

35:52

Not terribly.

35:53

I meant, did

35:55

you mind me joining the mission sweep?

35:57

Oh, I absolutely did.

35:59

Okay. I was with Jamaal on

36:02

that one. Both Jamaal and I wanted to

36:04

stick with Thomas. We knew him. We trusted

36:06

him. And I always favor people

36:08

I trust.

36:09

But you made it seem like I wasn't a problem.

36:11

I had to.

36:11

Why?

36:12

The bridge thing. Remember? An

36:15

hour of asked me to trust him. And

36:18

I always favor people I trust. It's

36:21

a curse. What can I say?

36:24

Can you tell me anything about some text research?

36:26

No, no, no, no. That's classified.

36:29

I had to sign my life away just to find out the bare minimum

36:31

of what? Sumerian technology. You can.

36:33

Be vague.

36:34

Since they need their satellites to be synchronized with Earth

36:36

orbit. It must have something to do with capturing large quantities

36:39

of energy. No emissions?

36:40

No. I have to work between

36:43

Semtech and Nasdaq. I

36:45

can't tell you anything, and I can't tell Margaret

36:47

anything. I

36:50

understand. But

36:55

you also don't have to ask me for help. What

36:59

do you mean? Ali can

37:01

rent have access to the power readings recorded

37:03

during Semtech experiment?

37:04

I don't have authorization.

37:06

Recordings are confidential Commander Alex

37:08

Tolley, but Dr. Ren Guerrero has access

37:10

to power usage readings from the reactor

37:12

with authorization.

37:14

And who can provide authorization.

37:16

I let Jamal Davis.

37:18

Well, sounds like you want

37:20

to talk to Jamal.

37:22

Thank you. Alex.

37:31

Post Solar Event Approximate

37:34

Mission Day 547.

37:46

All systems are nominal. Incoming

37:54

message from Dr. Ron Guerrero. Decline.

37:57

You've declined ten of her. 12 previous

37:59

messages.

38:00

Declined. Ali?

38:01

Yes, Jamal. Would

38:06

you like to terminate the recording and begin again?

38:09

No.

38:10

Do you know what you want to say?

38:12

Still? No. Save

38:15

auxiliary programming.

38:16

As one.

38:19

Margaret.

38:20

Saving as Margaret Thought NPR Dash

38:23

Auxiliary Programming Saved.

38:28

Brand is going to hate the Bible.

38:30

Dr. Wren Guerrero Hate that.

38:32

Sorry, Ali. I'm still not sure if you get

38:34

jokes.

38:34

I have 2500 jokes

38:36

in 13 different languages stored in my

38:39

memory. What

38:41

is this program for, Jamal?

38:44

Saving Wren for

38:47

when I'm not here anymore. Turn

38:53

on air cooling system.

38:54

That will reduce your available oxygen.

38:56

Turn it on. Ali. That

39:05

afternoon with Chelsea watching my

39:07

first launch, I

39:10

knew exactly what I wanted to do

39:12

with my life. We

39:14

started sneaking out for every launch.

39:16

I was obsessed. We

39:19

used to crane our necks and squint

39:21

our eyes to follow the smoke trail to see

39:23

who would be the last one, to see it leave the

39:25

atmosphere. I

39:28

always won. I

39:33

always lied. But

39:36

it didn't matter if I saw it last

39:38

or not, because I knew one day I

39:40

was going to be on one of those launches.

39:43

Leaving everything behind. When

39:49

I told my mom I wanted to be an astronaut,

39:51

her face got real serious and she told

39:54

me I didn't mean it. She said

39:56

she'd pray for me to stop talking nonsense

39:58

and have a career that wouldn't put me in harm's

40:00

way. She

40:03

was a librarian. She wasn't

40:05

closed minded, just scared

40:08

you could live through books. So

40:10

why put your life at risk? She

40:13

thought of books as stories completed,

40:15

but to me books

40:17

were instructions.

40:19

Capsule eight. Temperature is currently.

40:21

One. I read everything in the library

40:23

written by men and women who had been to space.

40:26

I made a plan for my life. Join

40:28

the Air Force. Be the best, become a test

40:30

pilot. Join a space program. Just get

40:33

to space and never look back. There

40:36

was nothing on earth I wanted more

40:38

than to leave it, even for

40:40

a little bit. Who?

40:45

What's that.

40:45

Phrase? I am unable to answer the

40:47

question.

40:48

That poem written by that old guy. Old

40:51

guy? They put the poem on the

40:53

headstones of pilots and astronauts.

40:55

I let it go to

41:00

two, slipped the surly bonds of

41:02

earth. And danced the skies

41:05

on laughter silvered wings. Sunward

41:08

I've climbed enjoying the tumbling mirth

41:10

of suns splayed clouds. And

41:13

I've done a hundred things you have not

41:16

dreamed of.

41:17

John Gillespie. McGee Junior.

41:18

Yeah, that's the old dude.

41:20

He died at the age of 19.

41:22

Oh, shit. Well,

41:24

I guess I have it better than him, at least.

41:28

For six years while my mother worked

41:30

in the library, I planned a secret

41:33

life without her knowing. And in one

41:35

afternoon, all of it came crashing

41:37

down. One of the books I

41:39

checked out fell to the back of my locker. The

41:42

late notice from the library went out.

41:45

My mother saw it. Check my history.

41:49

And I came home to a list from

41:52

the Challenger disaster. January

41:54

28th, 1986. Columbia.

41:57

February 1st, 2003.

42:00

Vladimir Komarov 1967.

42:02

Michael J. Adams. Also 1967.

42:05

The three on board Soyuz 11 1971.

42:08

And it went on and on. And you

42:12

still want to throw your life away and go to space?

42:15

My mom asked Kam,

42:18

Mom, if God

42:20

made the universe, then why should I be scared of

42:22

it?

42:23

Would you like me to provide a list of all space

42:25

disasters?

42:26

I know it by heart alley. My

42:28

mother burned it into me. Every

42:30

name, every disaster, every possible

42:33

way to die. My mother

42:35

thought all these men and women would be deterrents

42:37

to me. Reasons why I

42:39

shouldn't follow my dream. But they

42:41

sacrificed their lives for something,

42:43

right? They risked their

42:46

lives for something. Anything.

42:48

Life doesn't have to be contained by the bounds

42:50

of gravity, does it?

42:53

Does it? I am unable to answer

42:55

the question.

42:56

No one will ever know if they thought it was worth

42:58

it because those people who sacrificed their

43:00

lives are gone. There's

43:06

this recording of a lost cosmonaut.

43:09

Some people think it was coming from Soyuz

43:12

one, but no one knows for sure. It's

43:14

a man or a woman in a defective

43:17

spacecraft hurtling into reentry

43:19

that the cosmonaut is angry and scared, cursing,

43:21

mission control, cursing God, cursing

43:23

themselves. And

43:26

there's the photo of a body being

43:29

displayed in an open casket.

43:33

And that we know

43:36

is Komarov.

43:38

Did you find those documents to be traumatic

43:40

as a youth?

43:42

No. The

43:44

opposite. My

43:46

mother forced me to listen to the recording

43:48

on loop every night as I try to go

43:50

to sleep for the last few months before I left.

43:54

Right up until I joined the Air Force, she

43:57

made me stare at the photo of the open casket

43:59

and ask if it was really worth it. And

44:01

after a while, I learned to find peace

44:04

in a cry for help. And

44:06

that desperation. It

44:09

was sacrifice.

44:12

For me. How did Komarov sacrifice

44:15

himself for you?

44:17

We stand on the shoulders of others. And

44:20

I could accept their losses, paving

44:23

the way for the next person to carry the torch

44:25

just a little further. It

44:28

was worth it. I

44:31

could see myself standing over the casket

44:33

and still thinking it was worth it.

44:37

If I could see myself lying in

44:39

the casket and I. I

44:43

thought it was worth it.

44:47

How is this recording for?

44:51

On the day of my graduation, my

44:54

mother asked if I still wanted to

44:56

be an astronaut. I

45:00

said I did. He

45:03

said, If

45:05

you go down this road, then you'll be

45:07

dead to me, because I don't

45:09

ever want to hold out hope that you'll be coming

45:11

home. But you won't. I

45:15

became a ghost to her. I

45:19

was dead already. I just didn't

45:21

know it yet. I

45:26

guess what I'm trying to say

45:28

is if you're listening.

45:38

Upside.

45:42

You are right.

45:47

I never should have became an astronaut.

45:53

Natural progression from.

45:56

Ten minute recording.

46:02

Post Solar Event Approximate

46:04

Mission Day 547

46:09

Safety Restaurant Pre-leased.

46:11

Yes, Ali, that time. You got it.

46:14

Thank you, Dr. Rand Guerrero.

46:18

Did did you say Jamal?

46:20

I said Dr. Arun Gidado.

46:22

No. Earlier, Jamal.

46:24

Overrode his name in protocol.

46:25

He can do that?

46:27

Yes. Jamal can now override

46:29

his naming protocol.

46:31

Because we rank high enough now.

46:34

Yes. Dr. Ren Guerrero.

46:36

Now that everyone else is gone.

46:39

Yes. Dr. Rand Guerrero.

46:43

Ali. I'd like to override

46:45

my naming protocol, too.

46:47

What would you like for me to call you?

46:49

Hmm? Just read for

46:51

now.

46:52

Overriding naming protocol to address

46:54

Dr. Ron Guerrero as red.

46:59

What was that?

47:00

I do not detect any abnormalities.

47:02

The lights are getting brighter. Is the electricity overloading?

47:05

Everything is.

47:05

Nominal. The console screen is scrambling.

47:08

Ali, I detects no irregularities.

47:10

Well, then I think we're both fucked. Except.

47:13

Except it's coming in through.

47:15

The High Line to get away from the High Line down

47:17

to a different compartment. I get

47:19

out of.

47:19

Town for one more.

47:22

What are you talking about? From

47:26

the power of the. That's

47:29

right. Home.

47:33

Dad saw my friends, my

47:35

son.

47:37

There's not. No.

47:54

Solar from Cocoa Media.

47:57

Created by Chris Porter and directed

48:00

by Jenni Curtis and Chris Porter starring

48:03

Stephanie Beatriz as Ren. Alan

48:06

Cumming as Alex. Jonathan

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Banks as Jamal. Jenni

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Curtis as Ali. With

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Nicole Pye as Arrow. Dana,

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Guri as Felicia Mickie

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Shallower as Christian and

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John McCormick as narrator. Additional

48:24

Voices by Chris Porter, Tom

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Choi and Jaco, Emily

48:29

Goss and Joy Brunson. Produced

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by Jenni Curtis, Chris Porter

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and Bill Curtis, executive

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Producer Bill Curtis, executive

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producers Paul Anderson and

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Nick Pernilla. Executive

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Producer Helen Hunt. Sound

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Design Mixing and Mastering

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by C.J. Drumheller. Music

48:52

by Chris Porter. Recorded

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at Shane Sult Productions. Production

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Manager Doris Stone assisted

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sound designer Alison NG Casting

49:02

Consulting by Norman Boling Casting

49:05

Solaris is produced in association with

49:07

Workhorse Media. For

49:10

more information on cast and crew, visit

49:12

our website through the link in the description. This

49:15

podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA

49:17

Collective Bargaining Agreement. Kurt

49:21

Coe, media. Media

49:23

for your mind.