"Man is his own star.
His acts are his angels, good or ill.
While his fatal shadows walk
silently beside him."

Rhyme of the Primeval Paradine,
AFC 54

[Command]

TRANCE: You are their leader.
HUNT: Just because someone says I'm one of the Paradine doesn't make it true.
TRANCE: But you know it is so. That place was as close to perfection as possible.
HUNT: Yeah, that's why the Magog picked it. It was an easy target.
TRANCE: The Route of Ages is your way out.
HUNT: It's a way out for all of us.
TRANCE: No, just for you, if there is still time.
HUNT: We've got to save as many as we can.
TRANCE: Not this time.
HUNT: Okay, then I guess I'll die trying.

[Council room]

RHADE: Sir, we have to get as many people as we can to safety before this whole place descends into chaos.
ROMMIE: The Worldship is preparing another assault.
HUNT: What about the Arkology?
ROMMIE: The Arkology's re-sealing system seems to be functioning well under the circumstances.
HUNT: Well, let's just hope it holds up when it goes to slipstream. Harper, I need an update.
HARPER [on comms]: Things are going from bad to worse, boss.
HUNT: That's not a very good update. I'm heading back to the Andromeda. We're going to take out the Worldship.
HARPER [on comms]: I love it when you think big.
HUNT: Hunt out.
RHADE: Captain.
HUNT: Hmm? Go.
TRANCE: Are you ready to destroy everything on the Worldship?
HUNT: What are you saying?
TRANCE: We know there are other living entities on the Worldship. Prisoners.
ROMMIE: It won't just be Magog we'll be killing.
HUNT: Help Harper. Get this thing moving. It's never easy.

[Maru crew area]

(Beka is looking through some boxes.)
BEKA: Oh, god. Slash and burn. Slash and burn. Forget it. Friends, gone. Past, gone. Future, gone. My vast fortunes, gone.
HUNT: You lost something?
(A bottle opener.)
BEKA: Trying to.
HUNT: Beka, you never drink.
BEKA: That's not true. I do drink. It just seems like never because it's, you know, almost never. You know, there's only one rule in the universe. Oh no, two. And that is leave while the leaving's good. You can keep that. I don't want it.
HUNT: What do you want?
BEKA: I want what no one else here seems to want. To live.
HUNT: We're changing that.
BEKA: Not fast enough. There are people dying on Arkology already. Dylan, this is insane. These people don't want saving. Dylan, that's the problem. Not me. I don't want to leave you and the crew, but I can't stay. I can't watch.
HUNT: Well, if it's any comfort, you may be the only one of us who's making the right choice. Me, I have no choice, apparently.
BEKA: You don't understand. This is the Abyss. I was there. I saw it. These people, they think there's beauty. There isn't. It's just darkness reaching out at darkness. It knows no weakness, Dylan. None.
HUNT: Beka, I owe you more than I can say in this short time, but we will meet again in happier days. On that, you can rest assured.
(Hunt kisses her hand.)
HUNT: I have to go. I'll see you.
BEKA: Bon voyage.

[Council room]

COUNCILWOMAN: There's a trillion of them coming for us!
COUNCILMAN: They'll never listen to us. We'll all be slaughtered.
HUNT: I've already told you you have to leave the Arkology.
COUNCILWOMAN: Impossible. How can we flee our home? We haven't enough ships!
COUNCILMAN: We can't all go on the Andromeda. Where would we go?
COUNCILWOMAN: We're going to die!
HUNT: Then fight! Fight for your lives!
(Magog enter. Hunt and Trance kill them. Comm beep.)
HUNT: Go ahead.
ANDROMEDA [on comms]: Captain, the second Magog wave has arrived.
HUNT: You're a little late with the warning.
ANDROMEDA [on comms]: I advise retreat to the Andromeda. We can control the fight from there.
HUNT: We're on our way. Hunt out. Good luck.

[Arkology core]

HARPER: You know, this is a challenge I would love if our necks weren't on the line.
ROMMIE: Think outside the box, Harper. Change your perspective.
HARPER: Nothing.
ROMMIE: Concentrate on other possibilities.
HARPER: Like trying not to concentrate on the fact that we have to pull off a miracle? Wait a minute.
ROMMIE: Harper, stay on task. Harper!
HARPER: What the hell is this?
ROMMIE: Very good, Harper. I think you just increased our chances of survival to fifty five percent. Localised gravity control.
HARPER: Turn it off!

[Arkology gardens]

(As more swarm ships puncture the hull.)
RHADE: Louisa? Louisa, where are you?
LOUISA: Rhade.
RHADE: Thank god you're safe.
LOUISA: You have to go. Your place is with your crew. Mine is here.
RHADE: Come with me. Bring your people. They can stay on the Andromeda.
LOUISA: No. Would the Andromeda have room for all the citizens of the Arkology?
HUNT: We've got to get to the Andromeda.
RHADE: You're asking the impossible.
TRANCE: No, there's still time.
RHADE: I mean I can't leave Louisa.
HUNT: Then take her along. If you don't go now, you will die.
RHADE: I have studied you, Dylan, having come to the Andromeda to learn. More than anything, I have learned that where there is danger, there's opportunity.
HUNT: Well, you can have too much of a good thing, Rhade.
RHADE: All the same, I have learned what I have learned, and this is graduation day.
(Comms beep.)
HUNT: Give me the good news, Andromeda.
ANDROMEDA [on comms]: More Magog have reached Marlowe's office. They are proceeding through Arkology from the asteroid end.
HUNT: Thank you. Congratulations. You've just graduated. All right, you've got ten minutes, and they will be everywhere.
RHADE: I'll stay and fight with these people.
HUNT: Good luck. Trance.
RHADE: Captain Hunt. Thank you.
(They exchange salutes.)

[Eureka Maru]

(Magog board, only to be shot.)
BEKA: You have got to be kidding me. Harper, time's up.
HARPER [on screen]: I've got to finish what I started.
BEKA: Suit yourself. I'm not going to die here.

[Corridor]

HUNT: We need to be the last line of defence.
TRANCE: The Magog certainly know that we're here.
HUNT: They'll come for us last. We're at the opposite end of their attack.
TRANCE: And we'll be ready.
HUNT: Damn right.
ANDROMEDA: Dylan, the Magog are attacking from all directions. They have surrounded Arkology. 
TRANCE: I have to go check the bonsai. 
HUNT: No. I need you on Command.

[Eureka Maru]

(Beka launches her ship.)
BEKA: What the hell am I doing? Harper, how goes it?
HARPER [on screen]: I'm beginning to think you made the right choice, boss, but we're making progress. We'll be seeing you soon.
BEKA: I hope so.
(Beka takes the Maru into slipstream.)

[Command]

ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen]: The Magog have launched another assault.
HUNT: We can make a better fight of it away from the Arkology. Our only chance is to outmanoeuvre the Worldship. Shipwide. This is Captain Hunt. We're beginning evasive manoeuvres, but I have to be honest, folks, we are engaging a superior enemy. So I'm giving you all the opportunity to escape this fight. Andromeda, get me Rhade.

[Arkology gardens]

HUNT [OC]: Rhade, they're headed your way. What's your status?
RHADE: All present and accounted for, though I would like to say that last hit was a bit close.

[Command]

HUNT: Bring your people back to the Andromeda. We're pulling out.
RHADE [OC]: Okay. Open fire! They're coming from the cave mouth. Keep shooting!
HUNT: Damn it. Get me Harper.
HARPER [OC]: Things are getting pretty hairy here, boss.
HUNT: Harper, get that thing moving.

[Arkology core]

ROMMIE: Harper has an alternative plan.
HARPER: I don't know about getting it moving, but I can make everything stop.

[Command]

HUNT: All right, I'm listening.
HARPER [OC]: Gravity control for the whole place is right here.

[Arkology core]

ROMMIE: If we increase Arkology's cycles, we increase its gravity.

[Command]

HARPER [OC]: Nobody moves, we get time to work. The miracle of quadrupling gravity.

[Arkology core]

ROMMIE: Here in the hub we won't be affected.
HARPER: Yeah, because we're not spinning. It's all artificial gravity here, but you, O great leader, you are a heavy worlder.

[Command]

HARPER [on viewscreen]: You should be able to move through it. Same goes for the Nietzscheans. Time for everybody to put their money where their muscles are.
ROMMIE [on viewscreen]: We believe it's the only way to save the inhabitants.
HUNT: Just do it.
TRANCE: If Harper can do this
HUNT: No, we're leaving. Get the Magog to come after us. Andromeda, take us out.
ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen]: The Magog swarm ships are mounting another attack.
HUNT: Launching slipfighters.
ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen]: The Magog are puncturing my hull.
HUNT: Seal off outer deck. Prep escape pods. Evacuate the crew.

[Corridor]

(On Arkology, the pacifists have learnt how to use forcelances very quickly. Magog are boarding Andromeda.)
MAGOG: Find Dylan Hunt.
(They find a crewwoman.)
MAGOG: Take us to Hunt.
CREWWOMAN: No.
MAGOG: Tell me the security codes.
CREWWOMAN: No.
MAGOG: Stupid mistake.
(He throws her to other Magog and walks away from the screams.)

[Arkology core]

HARPER: Whoo! Watch the magic. It'll take a few minutes to kick in, but after that, Arkology will be a frozen Magog zone.

[Arkology gardens]

(Louisa rescues Rhade.)
RHADE: Well done.
(Then the heavy gravity kicks in and everyone slows down.)
HARPER [OC]: Can you hear me, Rhade? You've got to try to move through it. Listen very carefully.

[Arkology core]

HARPER: Get to Marlowe's office. The gravity's normal there

[Arkology gardens]

HARPER [OC]: Capeesh? Look it, Rhade, if you can hear me, you've got to try to move through it. You're strong enough. You can do this. Use those big muscles of yours. Get to Marlowe's office where you'll be safe.

[Arkology core]

HARPER [OC]: We'll come for you there. Somebody will come for you there, I hope. All right, let's get this puppy moving, huh?
(A Magog has made its way there.)
ROMMIE: Harper!
(Rommie throttles the Magog.)
MAGOG: Stupid mistake.
(It shoots at Rommie point blank, so she breaks its neck instead.)
HARPER: Good work, Rom-doll. Rommie?
(Rommie has a big hole through her middle.)
ROMMIE: Stay safe.
HARPER: No.
(Rommie explodes.)
HARPER: Rommie!

[Command]

ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen: The gravity has stopped the assault on Arkology.
HUNT: What's the condition of my crew?
(Important note - Hunt has removed his jacket.)
ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen]: I have lost communication with them.
TRANCE: The Magog have cut them off.
ANDROMEDA [on viewscreen]: Deck security has been breached. Magog are headed for Command.
HUNT: Talk about being cut off.
(They take the back door out and go to -)

[Weapons locker]

(And seal the door.)
HUNT: At least we can still operate the ship from here.
TRANCE: The Abyss knows everything about this ship. They'll find us.
HUNT: I'm sure they will. Andromeda.
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: We are clear of the Arkology. I have fifty eight swarm ships attempting to punch through my hull.
HUNT: Keep moving out.
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: Slipfighters engaging swarm ships.
HUNT: Too many of them. Pull back.
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: Too late.
TRANCE: Dylan, it's time.
HUNT: Not yet, Trance. Not yet.

[Arkology core]

HARPER: Come on, move. Here we go. Ha! I did it! Oh, crap.
(Arkology disengages from the asteroid.)
HARPER: Rhade, I've lost gravity control. Arkology's returning to normal. Normal.

[Weapons locker]

TRANCE: Dylan, they're here.
HUNT: Andromeda.
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: Captain, the Magog have arrived outside the weapons locker. They are preparing to blow the door.
(Bang! The Magog enter an empty room.)
MAGOG: Dylan Hunt will die on this ship.

[Conduit]

HUNT: Andromeda, arm the nova bombs.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: All of them?
HUNT: All of them.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: Done.
HUNT: Fire.
(The sun-buster bombs drop into the Worldship slave sun.)
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: Another wave of swarm ships is on approach. The Magog Worldship has suffered minimal damage.
HUNT: How can that be?
TRANCE: Within seconds, the universe is going to be different.
HUNT: Come on, Trance. It's glass half full time.
TRANCE: Dylan, I have told you there is a way out, but it is only for you.
HUNT: Why? Why is it only for me? I'm not going anywhere without my crew, and I won't lose you to the darkness.
TRANCE: It is not your choice. Dylan, have you ever thought that perhaps you traded the better angels of your nature for the mission you felt you had to do?
HUNT: No, Trance, I haven't. But I am about ready to trade my better nature for an angel who thinks can do.
TRANCE: Understood. If it means anything, I believe you are the right man for this job.
HUNT: It means a lot, Trance. It means a lot.

[Arkology core]

HARPER: Dylan?
HUNT [OC]: Go ahead.
HARPER: I got this bucket of bolts boogeying. We're headed for slipstream.
HUNT [OC]: Good work, Harper. We'll be right behind you.
(Bits of Arkology hull start to fall off.)

[Marlowe's office]

LOUISA: What now?
RHADE: We make our stand here. With luck
LOUISA: Which you don't believe in.
RHADE: Harper will get Arkology to slipstream.
LOUISA: We're already moving.
(Magog enter.)
RHADE: Watch out!
(Fight, then a Magog shoots Louisa.)
RHADE: No!
MAGOG: Stupid mistake.
RHADE: No!
(Enraged, Rhade kills with his bare hands.)
RHADE: Louisa.
LOUISA: I love you.
RHADE: I love you.
(Louisa dies.)
RHADE: On this soul, cast a cold eye on night and day. All that are living pass by. Louisa.
(More Magog are in the doorway.)

[Conduit]

HUNT: Andromeda, status on the crew. Andromeda? What's the status of the on board crew?
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: All of them are dead, except the two of you.
TRANCE: All dead. Now what?
HUNT: Now we've got nothing to lose. The Magog may be built tough, but they need air just like the rest of us. Andromeda, cut off all life support systems except for here. Take the Magog out.
ANDROMEDA [on screen]: Aye.
TRANCE: More will come.
HUNT: Trance, your attitude is really starting to annoy me. I am just trying to buy us time.
TRANCE: For what?
HUNT: I wish I knew.
TRANCE: I think you do.

[Arkology core]

(Magog arrive, and Harper hides on a catwalk above them. One starts to climb the ladder behind him, but an explosion jolts him off.)
MAGOG: Move out! Now!
(Harper gets into a conduit.)

[Conduit]

(Trance returns with the bonsai.)
HUNT: Trance, this was meant for another time.
TRANCE: It was meant for when it was needed.
HUNT: I'm thinking that's right about now.
TRANCE: It is another universe. A sun and its family. Another place for you.
HUNT: I thought I was doing pretty good right here.
TRANCE: You're doing the best you can. That is enough.
HUNT: Enough? The Magog have slaughtered my crew. It's just you and me.
TRANCE: Actually, it's just you, but you were made for this moment. If you stay and fight and win this battle, you will lose the war. You cannot do that.
HUNT: Trance, fighting is all I know.
TRANCE: This battle is beneath you. You have to go. I cannot go with you. Andromeda has lost to the Worldship. The Route of Ages is for you, but if you stay and you fight and die, what will be the point of these past four years? If I can choose to give this up, you can choose to live.
HUNT: Andromeda, status on the Magog.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: They are all dead, Captain.
HUNT: Restore life support systems.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: Aye, aye.
HUNT: Let's go.
TRANCE: Yeah.

[Corridor]

TRANCE: Don't forget, Dylan. To enter the Route of Ages, your timing must be perfect.
HUNT: I need a crew to do that.
TRANCE: No, you've done it before. Just follow the light.
HUNT: There is no light in space.
TRANCE: Your light, Dylan, as it has always been. Your journey, your mission.
HUNT: Trance, it's our mission.
TRANCE: What if you really could go back? Erase the past four years, never suffer what you had suffered?
HUNT: Start over?
TRANCE: It takes courage to start over.
HUNT: There must be something else.
TRANCE: Everything you have ever done has led to this. Perhaps you were not made for times like these. Then again, perhaps you will go where I will be waiting. Now, please go. You have to do this. Please.
HUNT: Yeah.
(Hunt kisses Trance.)
HUNT: It's been nice knowing you, Trance Gemini.
(Hunt leaves off in a slipfighter.)

[Command]

TRANCE: Andromeda, turn us towards the Worldship.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: Please advise on strategy.
TRANCE: We're going to bring the light to the darkness.
ANDROMEDA [OC]: Confirmed.
TRANCE: Empty all missile tubes into the Worldship. Clear my path.

[Eureka Maru/Slipfighter]

(Hunt can see the Route of Ages beyond the swarmships. Then he gets a proximity alert.)
BEKA: Dylan, how's every little thing?
HUNT: Hello, Beka.
BEKA: So, how much fun is this?
HUNT: Couldn't stay away, huh?
BEKA: You seem to have that effect. I'm going to see if I can pick up Harper and Rhade.
HUNT: Good luck.
BEKA: Valentine out.
HUNT: Beka, you'll never make it. My controls are locked. I can't turn back to help. You're on your own. God speed, Beka.

[Eureka Maru]

BEKA: Oh, crap. Come and get me, boys. If I die like this, I'm going to be really upset. Harper, Harper, come in.

[Arkology conduit]

HARPER: I'm here, boss. Man, am I glad to see you, but keep it down, will you?
BEKA [on comms]: Hey. So I've been thinking.

[Eureka Maru]

BEKA: You see, I'm, I'm kind of trapped, as in absolutely no freaking way out.
HARPER [on screen]: Yeah, me too.
BEKA: Hey, do you remember what you said to me before we boarded the Andromeda for the first time?

[Arkology conduit]

HARPER: Yeah, I thought there might be treasure.
BEKA [on comms]: Before that. You said, you said it was going to be fun. Well, Seamus, it was.
(The comms goes dead.)
HARPER: Boss? Boss? All right. Time to go.

[Arkology core]

MAGOG: Harper.
HARPER: Hold your horses there, handsome.
MAGOG: Die, Harper.
HARPER: All right, wait a minute. Er, now, hold on. Rev Bem, right? Red Plague? He was your great-great-grandfather, right? You remember. It's got to be in that sub-generation brain there somewhere. Er, he was my pal. You bear quite a resemblance to him. Same cute muzzle. All right, a little progress here. The Ambassador said you were civilised gentlemen. Er, Rev and I were very, very close. Er, that counted for something with your original. He, he was going to save me for last. He was going to infest me with his Magog eggs. You could do that. You could you could kill me last.
MAGOG: Kill you last?
HARPER: Yeah.
MAGOG: You are the last.
(A slipstream portal opens, but the Arkology falls apart and only the leading module gets inside.
Hunt arrives at the entrance to the Route of Ages.)

[Command]

TRANCE: Goodbye, Andromeda. Goodbye to your comforts, your joys, your sheltering arms. Goodbye, Maru. Rhade, Harper, Beka, Rommie. Goodbye, Dylan.
(The lights go out.)
ANDROMEDA [OC]: Terminating conversation.
TRANCE: Andromeda? Andromeda.
(The Andromeda Ascendant glides within the boundaries of the Worldship. Trance and the bonsai begin to sparkle, then she becomes a supernova. Andromeda is engulfed in the explosion, and the Worldship is shattered by the shockwave.
Hunt enters the Route of Ages.)

[Infinity]

WOMAN [OC]: Have you come home from your journeys? Have you come home from your past? Dream, dear one. Dream.
(Massive doors open and Hunt enters from a bright light. Several versions of him walk or run forward.)
WOMAN [OC]: Have you come home from your journey? Have you come home from your journey? Have you come home from your past, dear one? Dream, dear one.
(A woman and young boy approach.)
WOMAN: Go give your father a big hug.
(The boy runs to Hunt.)
WOMAN: Welcome home, Dylan.
(Hunt in shirtsleeves meets his other self wearing a jacket, who smiles then walks away.)