Escape Pod

After a catastrophic explosion aboard a deep-space vessel, a young astronaut finds himself alone and adrift in an escape pod, his memory a blank slate. He has no recollection of how he ended up there or of the devastating event that ripped through the ship. With only limited knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the explosion, the astronaut must rely on the fragmented stories of his fellow survivors to uncover the truth behind the disaster.

This narrative begins with the astronaut’s disorienting awakening. As he regains consciousness in the escape pod, a sense of confusion and isolation immediately overwhelms him. The vessel he had been aboard is now nothing more than a burning wreck, and the safety of the escape pod, though a temporary refuge, offers little solace. He is alone, except for a few other survivors—each with their own version of events, and each carrying their own trauma and secrets.

The young astronaut's journey is one of survival, both physical and psychological. As he attempts to piece together what happened, he begins to interact with the other survivors, each with their own fragments of memory about the fateful explosion. The stories they share vary, sometimes conflicting with one another, adding to the sense of mystery and danger. The astronaut listens intently, trying to connect the dots between the different accounts, hoping that a clearer picture of the disaster will emerge.

The survivors' recollections are scattered and unreliable. Some speak of strange malfunctions aboard the ship, others mention eerie occurrences leading up to the explosion. A few survivors seem suspicious, withholding details or even lying to protect themselves. Trust becomes a delicate balance, and the young astronaut finds himself questioning not just the events leading to the explosion but also the intentions of those around him.

As the astronaut delves deeper into the survivors' stories, he begins to realize that there are far more questions than answers. Who is truly responsible for the explosion? Was it a tragic accident, or is there something more sinister at play? As he digs into the details, the tension between the survivors grows, and suspicions turn into paranoia. The isolation of space, far from the safety of Earth, only heightens the sense of claustrophobia and fear. The deeper he gets into the investigation, the more the lines between truth and deception blur.

The astronaut's quest to uncover the truth is not just a search for answers; it becomes a fight for his own survival. As the escape pod drifts further from the wreckage of the ship, the risks of space—dangerous radiation, mechanical failure, and dwindling supplies—become increasingly apparent. The astronaut must make difficult decisions, learning to navigate both the external dangers of space and the internal threats posed by his fellow survivors.

This tale is a gripping exploration of memory, trust, and survival. It takes the reader on a psychological journey through the mind of a young astronaut who must confront not only the aftermath of a catastrophic explosion but also the complexity of human relationships in the most extreme circumstances. As the astronaut pieces together the mystery of the explosion, he learns that the truth may be more elusive—and more dangerous—than he ever imagined.

Director: Aaron Mirtes

Genre: Science Fiction

Cast: Barron Boedecker, Brad Belemjian, Daniel Considine, Fallon Gyurko, Patience Dodson, Patrick Sharn