(Another episode in our ongoing series of off‑planet adventures, now with 100% more flatlining.)

Scene: A doctor’s examination room. White walls. A paper-covered table. A machine that beeps. ORIN lies on the table, staring at the ceiling. SERA sits in a plastic chair, scrolling through her phone. The DOCTOR, a kind but nervous man, attaches electrodes to ORIN’s chest.

Doctor: (cheerfully) Just a routine check-up, Mr. Orin. Nothing to worry about.

Orin: (flatly) I am not worried.

Doctor: (attaching the last electrode) Excellent. Now, I’m just going to turn on the monitor. We’ll get a nice reading of your heart rate, blood pressure—

Sera: (without looking up) He’s fine.

Doctor: (glancing at her) You’ve seen his records?

Sera: (smiling) I’ve seen him.

(The doctor turns on the monitor. A healthy beep… beep… beep fills the room.)

Doctor: (nodding) Perfectly normal. Now, I’ll just step out for a moment. The nurse will be in to take some blood.

(The doctor exits. ORIN stares at the monitor. SERA scrolls.)

Orin: (after a pause) Sera.

Sera: Mm?

Orin: This beeping is very regular.

Sera: That’s the point.

Orin: (thoughtfully) What would happen if it stopped?

Sera: (looking up) Don’t.

Orin: I’m not going to do anything.

Sera: (suspiciously) You have that look.

Orin: What look?

Sera: The I-created-the-universe-and-now-I’m-bored-with-this-monitor look.

Orin: (innocently) I don’t have a look.

(He closes his eyes. The monitor slows.)

Beep… beep… beep…

(Slower.)

Beep… beep…

(Slower.)

Beep…

(A long silence.)

(The monitor flatlines.)

(Sera sighs.)

Scene: The same room. The DOCTOR rushes back in, followed by a NURSE. They are visibly panicked.

Doctor: (grabbing the paddles) He’s in cardiac arrest! Clear!

Sera: (calmly) He’s not.

Nurse: (frantically) The machine says—

Sera: The machine is fine. He’s being dramatic.

(Sera looks at the corner of the room, where a faint shimmer is visible — ORIN in his ethereal form, watching his own body with detached amusement.)

Sera: (to the shimmer) Orin. Grow up.

(The shimmer flickers. The monitor emits a tentative beep.)

Beep.

(Another beep.)

Beep… beep… beep…

(The rhythm returns to normal. ORIN’s eyes open.)

Orin: (innocently) Did I miss something?

Doctor: (clutching his chest) You— you flatlined!

Orin: (sitting up) Did I?

Doctor: (to Sera) How did you know—?

Sera: (standing, smoothing her skirt) He was just trying to get my attention.

Orin: (grinning) Did it work?

Sera: (taking his hand) It always does.

Doctor: (still pale) I need to sit down.

Nurse: (handing him a chair) I’ll get some water.

Orin: (to Sera, whispering) That was fun.

Sera: (whispering back) You’re impossible.

Orin: (smiling) And yet, here you are.

Sera: (kissing his cheek) And yet, here I am.

(The doctor sips his water. The nurse checks the monitor. The beeping continues, steady and boring and perfectly normal.)

Doctor: (weakly) Same time next year?

Orin: (hopping off the table) Wouldn’t miss it.

(He takes Sera’s hand. They walk out together.)

(Curtain.)