Andrea Moondust

New Mexico. Astronomist student Owen Boyd has been working on an investigation about celestial bodies for over six months and finds himself stuck and doubting himself. Isolated in a remote part of the desert, his only interactions come from going out with Pepper, a tomboy waitress, and Matt, a cocky mechanic. One night, as he goes with Pepper to buy supplies in town, they witness the fall of a strange object and go check what it is. While at first, they believe it’s some sort of satellite, they are surprised to find that the object doesn’t have human technology and that it was commanded by Andera’ana Zadaya’ana, a young albino woman who is afraid of them. After Andera’ana accidentally hits her head, she falls unconscious. Fearing that her ship might explode, Owen decides to take her away with them to help her, despite Pepper’s complaints and doubts. Owen and Pepper take Andera’ana to Pepper’s diner, where they find Matt. As the three of them argue about what Andera’ana and her ship might be, Andera’ana wakes up and, once again, tries to escape from them. Owen agrees to let her go to see what she does, and Andera’ana tries to communicate with the sky but fails. As Owen convinces her that they don’t want to hurt her, Andera’ana uses a power that allows her to learn human language by touching Pepper’s forehead. She then explains to them that she comes from the moon, that her ship lost control while fooling around with some friends, and that she must come back as soon as possible as Moon People don’t feel secure among humans (giving humankind’s record of wars and violence). Owen agrees to help her and takes her to her ship, but the crashing zone is now surrounded by a lot of curious viewers. If this wasn’t enough, government agents Flores and Lara arrive and start to investigate. Andera’ana tells Owen that he shouldn’t have taken her away from her ship and that she needs to find another way to communicate with her people. She asks for his help to build a radio transmitter to do such a thing, and they go to his RV. As Andera’ana leaves a dusty trace wherever she goes, she explains to Owen that Moon People can’t handle the heat and atmosphere of Earth and that if she stays there too long, she’ll turn into dust. A concerned Owen duplicates his efforts to help her get in touch with her people, and as Andera’ana sleeps in his RV, he gathers the materials required for her device, asking Pepper for some help. Meanwhile, agents Flores and Lara start searching for Owen’s truck. While Owen is out, Andera’ana learns about human technology and culture in his RV. Owen arrives and turns her the necessary elements to build her device. Noticing his tiredness, Andera’ana asks him to rest a little while she builds her device. Pepper arrives with some antennas to help her (per Owen’s request) and even though she remains uneasy about Andera’ana’s company, she agrees to take her to her diner, so Andera’ana can eat something. On their way, Pepper asks Andera’ana about the religious beliefs of the Moon People. As Andera’ana provides some comforting answers about life and death, the two girls begin to bond, and Pepper makes a stop in her home to provide Andera’ana with some human clothing. There, Andera’ana meets Pepper’s mother, Gwen, who is suffering from a kidney disease. As Andera’ana understands where Pepper’s existential concerns come from, she tells Pepper that Gwen will always be alright because she has a daughter who is concerned about her. Pepper grants her some human clothes and takes her to her diner. She introduces her to people as her cousin, Andrea Aldrin. Owen wakes up and finds a note from Pepper explaining to him that she took Andera’ana along with her. He catches up with them in the diner. Noticing how he cares for Andera’ana, Pepper sets them on a date to watch the sky and talk about the universe. Owen and Andera’ana spend the night together… and begin to become fond of each other. The next day, Andera’ana finishes building her device with some of Owen’s help. They are visited by Pepper, who invites them to eat pancakes at her diner. Owen asks them to go alone as he begins to process the fact that Andera’ana will be leaving soon. Pepper and Andera’ana arrive at the diner… where they find agents Flores and Lara. Trying to keep it cool, they talk with the agents and say know nothing about Andera’ana’s ship. Owen arrives and is explained about the situation by Matt. Presenting himself as Andera’ana’s boyfriend, Owen takes her with him while Pepper and Matt continue to distract the agents… something which fails as the agents recognize Owen’s truck as the one that arrived first at the crashing zone. The agents arrest Pepper and Matt and go after Owen and Andera’ana. Owen and Andera’ana hurry up and use her device to communicate with the Moon People. They soon receive an answer saying that they will pick her up in a few hours. Preparing to say goodbye, Owen and Andera’ana spend a few hours together and as they are about to confess their feelings for each other, they are found by agents Flores and Lara… and some Moon Ships begin to appear. Owen helps Andera’ana to elude the agents and a chase through the desert begins while she tries to send her location to the Moon Ships. The chase ends when the agents’ truck is turned over. Concerned about Pepper and Matt (who are in the agents’ truck), Owen and Andera’ana stop and help them and the agents to get out… just when they are all captured by the Moon Ships. They reunite with Andera’ana’s father, the Moon Emperor, who provides them with help for their wounds. In exchange for his help and his promise to let them go back to Earth, agents Flores and Lara promise not to continue their investigation regarding Andera’ana nor her ship. Andera’ana then says goodbye to her friends and gives Pepper a special device to help Gwen get better. Finally, she thanks Owen for his help. A saddened Owen expresses his remorse for not being able to spend more time with her, to which Andera’ana replies that maybe one day he’ll go to the moon and that, at the very least, he will always be able to see her home whenever he sees the moon. They share and kiss… and Andera’ana and the Moon People leave. Owen, Pepper, Matt, and the agents come back to Earth. The agents keep their word and leave while allowing Owen to keep Andera’ana’s ship. Gwen gets better with the device Pepper received. Owen resumes his investigation, hoping to reunite with Andera’ana someday.