I know it's a little late, but this part was significantly longer than
the others. I'll try to work faster in the future.
---
Opening Shot: The hangar bay in the facility. SYLIA is in her
hardsuit with her helmet off talking to four people in hardsuits. One
of the suits is green and labeled 'Sabre Green' and contains LINNA
watching SYLIA intently. The rest of the sabres, Sabre Beta, Sabre
Omega, and Sabre Gamma, are pretty much grey colored with various
markings that identify their callsigns.
SYLIA: We're not sure of her last position, but we guess it was about
a mile from the base in an eastern direction. That will be the focus
of our search although if anyone finds tracks indicating otherwise,
notify me or Doctor Raven who will be our base coordinator. [turns
around and points to an obvious protrusion on the back of her
hardsuit] All of you have been outfitted with an advanced sensor
package that should allow you locate Nene's heat signature easier as
well as boost the communications range on all of your suits. The
voice systems haven't been perfected yet so you'll have to activate
them manually. You also have been crudely upgraded to handle the
intense temperatures, if at any time your joins begin to stiffen,
immediately head back to base to thaw. Your jumpjets will only
function for a short period of time after we leave, afterwards the
intakes will freeze over. [beat; looks down into her helmet for a
second] It's been a handful of hours since she went down, so I suggest
you hurry in your searches because if her heating systems were at all
damaged she won't survive very long in this cold. Good luck!
[The Sabres, except for Green, disband and head for one end of the
hangar. SYLIA steps down from her podium. LINNA walks over to her.]
LINNA: What do you think? Natural or artificial?
SYLIA: [shakes her head] Something big was down there, I saw it on her
thermal scope. It could just be a heat pocket that got trapped
beneath a rock or something, but I doubt it. [softer] Expect some
trouble.
LINNA: [raises her arm, a small weapon drops and locks into ready
position] I always do.
[SYLIA nods and LINNA heads off in the direction of the other Sabres.
SYLIA inspects her helmet for a few seconds.]
REI: [O.S.] Sylia!
[SYLIA looks up to see REI running over to her. SYLIA traces the
inside of her helmet with her hand impatiently. ]
SYLIA: Rei ... this is not a good time.
REI: I know, I heard the news too. I wont waste your time right now,
but I want you to come to my quarters when you get back.
SYLIA: I'm a busy person, [dons her helmet] when I'm not sleeping I'm
working.
REI: I know, I know. Listen, it's important. [beat] Its about your
father.
SYLIA: [freezes] My father?
REI: [looks down] I have something he asked me to give to you when you
got older. [looks back to SYLIA] This is as good as time as any.
SYLIA: [flat] I'll be there.
REI: Thank you.
[REI backs up a few steps and SYLIA looks at her strangely. She
shakes it off quickly and goes to join the other Sabres. The camera
sticks with REI for one more line after SYLIA is gone.]
REI: I hope I'm doing the right thing.
[Cut to the other Sabres, they are all completely suited up now and
jabbering amongst themselves. SYLIA walks up to them and stand at
attention.]
SYLIA: [V.O.] Alright everyone, lets go find us a missing Sabre.
[The hangar door behind them opens and after the quick burst of snow
that flies in through the door, they all quickly file out. Fade to
black.]
Merlyn Magic Productions Presents
Adam Leigh's:
A WORLD WITHOUT A FUTURE
Day 3: "Where were you when we needed you most?"
[Opening Title Sequence: Images of the main characters as they were
before the cataclysm; Minako, Sasami, Makoto, Ayeka, Rei, Ryouko, Ami,
Tenchi, Natsumi, Miyuki, and Usagi. Overlay the picture of Usagi over
that of the Earth as a large asteroid comes hurtling through space and
collides with the planet. Fade to white, then to the blizzards going
on outside NewMetropolis. Cut to a close up of a very old Lex Luthor,
then pan backwards as he spreads his arms encompassing the entire city
in his grasp. The image cracks and shatters showing various angered
scenes: Tenchi yelling to a ghostly Ayeka, Luthor pushing a pile of
papers on the ground at a man in a suit, etc. End with a pan back
from the almost totally grey planet as it slowly shrinks away from the
quickly moving camera.]
Establishing Shot: Lexcorp Infirmary. A large room with many beds
hooked up to computerized monitoring stations. The deco is
predominantly hospital white, although a couple beds have colored
sheets. In the corner of the room is a glass enclosed bed with extra
equipment in it. LUTHOR is lying on the bed in this room with a whole
mess of wires attached to him in all sorts of places. Pan towards
this corner slowly. As we approach, we can see a chair in the
enclosure next to the bed. AMI, still in her clothes from yesterday,
is slumped in the chair, holding an electronic clipboard, sleeping on
her arm.
[A hand appears close to the camera and taps lightly against the
glass. AMI slightly moves but doesn't get up. The tapping gets a
little louder as the noise finally rouses AMI from her sleep and she
looks towards the camera. Cut to a reverse view, showing AMI'S back
looking out the glass at MAKOTO who is waving for her to come out.
AMI blinks a few times and wipes her eyes before standing, stretching,
and exiting the glass chamber by using a handprint identification
pad.]
MAKOTO: Geeze, were you in there all night?
[AMI looks at her through sleepy eyes]
MAKOTO: Oh, by the way, good morning.
AMI: [eyes widen] Morning?
[AMI pulls back her sleeve to look at her watch.]
MAKOTO: Yup, it's about eight o'clock now. I fell asleep on your bed
by accident but I guess that doesn't matter now.
AMI: Oh... [beat] Oh yes, I was going to get someone to bring a cot
down for you, I forgot.
MAKOTO: [smiles] It's okay. [beat] How's the boss?
AMI: [glancing over her shoulder] Still the same as he was last night.
I still don't know what I can do for him. My mind is so beat, I've
been working almost non-stop the past week, but I can't afford a
break.
MAKOTO: You should still try to rest from time to time, you won't be
any help if you have an ulcer or something. [beat] You should try
becoming Sailor Mercury for a while, it'll give you an adrenaline
boost.
AMI: [sighs] I'm Sailor Mercury right now, have been for the last
month. I need the edge to keep from collapsing.
MAKOTO: [to herself] You make it sound like a drug. [aloud] I know
what you mean, I transformed into Jupiter almost ten, fifteen years
ago, just came back from it yesterday.
AMI: [blinks] That's really long term. I wish I could have studied
the effects of it. I'd like to know what's going to happen before it
happens to me.
MAKOTO: Well it can't be too bad, we know for a fact that we become
the Senshi permanently in the fut-- [she trails off]
AMI: Go ahead, say it.
MAKOTO: It's nothing.
AMI: [angered] I know what you're thinking, Crystal Tokyo and the
'glorious future' we were supposed to build. Well, guess what? It's
not happening.
[AMI shakes her head and opens the door to the glass chamber again.
MAKOTO follows closely behind.]
MAKOTO: It'll still happen, it's just a little farther in the future
than we thought. I mean, we saw it! We saw the future, it HAS to
happen.
AMI: [fuming] No no NO! You weren't listening to Pluto. It's a
POSSIBLE future, an ideal one that she's been working to make happen.
It's merely a possibility, not a certainty. Obviously its one that
we're not going to see.
MAKOTO: How can that be?
[AMI taps a few buttons above LUTHOR'S bed and turns quickly towards
MAKOTO]
AMI: Don't you get it? We messed up! Something we did--some OVERSIGHT
on our part--skewed the course of events and created this ... this...
DEAD PLANET! [breathes] What were we doing? I can't even remember it's
been so long ago! We obviously should have done something to stop
Ragnarok and we didn't, so we lose! Okay? We messed up and we lose!
[AMI nearly begins to hyperventilate while MAKOTO takes a step back,
hurt. AMI opens the door again and storms out. A few moments later
she's followed by MAKOTO.]
MAKOTO: It couldn't possibly have been all our�
AMI: [Turns and begins storming back] Who else had any power to do
anything?
MAKOTO: [frowns] A lot of people did! [beat] Can't you remember all
the people that tried? The shuttles, the nuclear missiles, the
hydrogen bombs? Everyone failed, not just us. You can't take all
this blame yourself.
AMI: We were the only ones with enough power to do it�
MAKOTO: You're wrong. Do you hear me? You are wrong. If half the
Soviet missiles weren't duds, or if the hydrogen canister didn't
prematurely explode the asteroid could have been deflected.
AMI: Just theories...
MAKOTO: They're good ones. Ones worth believing that we aren't the
cause of this apocalypse. We couldn't do anything in the end any more
than we can patch up this... [she trails off] Good god, Ami, is that
why you've been working yourself away? Is that why you're constantly
trying to save this city and the people in it? Because of some guilt,
some reason you believe you're responsible for this all?
[AMI buries her head in her hands and turns away.]
MAKOTO: Ami...
AMI: [through tears] I'm the genius of the group, I should have known.
[MAKOTO'S face falls]
AMI: You're the strength, Rei's the faith, Minako's the energy,
Usagi's the compassion, and I'm the brains. [beat] I should have known
earlier and that's it. If anyone could have found a way to stop it,
it should have been me. [beat; softly] And I couldn't...
[MAKOTO looks sadly at AMI and moves in to engulf her in a hug. AMI
refuses to pull her hands away from her face, ashamed.]
[MAKOTO sighs and rests her head on AMI's (MAKOTO is significantly
bigger than AMI). A few seconds later MAKOTO looks up then suddenly
frowns.]
MAKOTO: Oh my god.
[AMI looks up from her hands at MAKOTO to see her peering off behind
her. AMI turns around and the camera turns with her to see LUTHOR,
sitting behind the glass walls, holding the same device that AMI had
in the office in one hand and a vial with a bluish liquid in the
other. He's clumsily trying to attach the two together.]
AMI: My ... [eyes widen as she rushes towards the chamber] NO!
[The camera follows them AMI runs up against the glass and slams her
hand on it.]
AMI: No! Mr. Luthor! Don't!
[Cut the inside of the chamber. AMI'S cries are muffled but still
understandable. After a moment she pauses then pushes MAKOTO out of
the way to head towards the hand print locking system. As she moves,
an arm raises up in front of the camera and makes a fist. Another
hand presses the device, now with the vial attached, into the arm and
the bluish liquid is emptied with a sharp hiss. This hiss is shortly
followed by the hiss of the glass door sliding open under AMI'S
command. Cut back to show the whole chamber.]
AMI: Mr. Luthor! [grabs the device only too late] You can't take these
anymore, they're killing you..
[MAKOTO stands behind AMI ready for any action. LUTHOR rubs his face
a couple times and blinks.]
LUTHOR: I need them. [heavy breathing] I figured it out but I need
them to do it.
AMI: What are you talking about? Another dose of these boosters will
kill you for sure. You've reduced the time you have already by doing
this.
LUTHOR: [looks angered] I know that! I wouldn't be doing this unless
it was necessary. [beat; his face look calmer] I figured out how to
save the city! It was a miracle, but I found it. I just need a few
more days.
AMI: [saddened] You don't have a few more days, don't YOU understand?
[beat] Before this stuff you had a day or so, now I have no idea how
long you have until your critical systems give out.
LUTHOR: [places hands on AMI'S shoulders] I've trusted you more than I
used to trust anyone. I know I'm on my way out, let me make one final
difference while I'm here. [stands] Now, come on, keep me running for
at least an hour. I need to show you how to save the city.
[AMI looks dumbfounded]
AMI: Where.. where are we going?
LUTHOR: To my office, where else?
[MAKOTO moves over to LUTHOR and braces him]
MAKOTO: Allow me to help you Mr. Luthor.
LUTHOR: [tilts head] And who are you?
[AMI and MAKOTO look at each other for a moment]
AMI: Long story, Mr. Luthor. She's a friend.
[They begin moving out of the room]
LUTHOR: There's no time for long stories. Give me an abridged
version.
[Fade to a darkened cavern. Pan across a small bit of rock before
settling on the overly cute and tranquil face of NENE sleeping against
something, wrapped in the tattered rages she traded for earlier. She
snores softly as she sleeps. After settling on her for a few seconds,
what she's leaning on suddenly moves and she falls backwards and hits
her head against the floor of the cave.]
NENE: Ow! What the...
[A large mechanical hand reaches down and lifts NENE by the rags.]
VOICE: [slightly modulated] Who the hell are you?
NENE: Hey, put me down!
[Pan back to show NENE being held off the ground by her own hardsuit.
The visor is up and shows the face of the woman, angered.]
WOMAN: What am I doing in this thing? What did you do to me?
NENE: Calm down! You were suffering from hypothermia, I had to do
something! The suit has a rudimentary medical care program, otherwise
I had nothing to work with.
[The face seems a bit less hostile than before, but still tense. She
puts NENE onto the ground but still holds onto her.]
WOMAN: Where are we?
NENE: We're somewhere beneath the surface. The snow was soft and I
fell through by accident.
WOMAN: How do we get out of here?
NENE: I'm not sure, I've never been here before. I suppose the
jumpjets on the suit would work now that they've thawed, but my suit
isn't geared to hold two people.
WOMAN: Heh, that's your problem, not mine.
[She tosses NENE aside and looks up at the roof of the cave. She
crouches and puts her hands in the air.]
WOMAN: Umm.. lemme see.. uh, jumpjet power ... on?
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Activating.
WOMAN: All right!
[NENE shakes her head and puts her hand to it before looking up at the
woman and her hardsuit. The jumpjets flare up and begin to emit a
yellow light. NENE gasps and runs towards the suit. Just as the
WOMAN begins to jump NENE latches onto the back of the suit and holds
onto it.]
WOMAN: Hey! Whatta think you're doing? Get off!
[The hardsuit begins thrashing around as NENE struggles to keep her
grip.]
NENE: Computer! Shut down all suit functions!
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Voice recognition confirmed, shutting down.
[The jets cool off and the suit becomes rigid.]
WOMAN: Wha... what's going on? I can't move!
NENE: [climbing off the suit's back] You can't steal MY hardsuit! The
system will always recognize my voice over yours. Now I won't turn
you back on until you answer some of MY questions.
WOMAN: Oh, fine, if I have to.
NENE: Good... now, who are you?
WOMAN: My name's Priss. Priss Asagiri.
NENE: I'm Nene Romanova. Pleased to meet you.
PRISS: Yeah, whatever.
NENE: Now what were you doing lying out there in the snow?
PRISS: I was trying to find some shelter. I saw a little bunker in
the side of a mountain and I was trying to head towards it, but I
guess the cold was too much.
NENE: I'd say, if I hadn't come along you'd have died of hypothermia.
PRISS: Yeah, well, you gotta take risks in this world.
NENE: If you say so. [beat] The truth is, I'd really like my suit back
now so if you wouldn't mind removing it, we can switch clothes again.
PRISS: I dunno, I'm getting to like this thing ... when it's working
that is.
NENE: Too bad, it's mine and if you don't give it to me I'll take it.
PRISS: [sarcastic] Oh, look at the big girl. [grins] I could take you
without the suit easily, so don't think you've threatened me. I guess
I'll give it back though, this overgrown chastity belt isn't much for
agility.
NENE: That's just because it's not calibrated to you, but give me the
suit anyway.
PRISS: Hey, this is your show, I can't move, remember?
NENE: Right, right. [beat] Uh, comput--
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Warning. Priority one safety violation approaching.
PRISS & NENE: What?!
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Warning. Priority one safety violation approaching.
NENE: Identify threat!
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Threat assessment. High energy photon wave
approaching at high velocities. Mechanical and biological threat
eminent.
NENE: Where did--
[The screen flashes white for an instant just before a quickly moving
blue field of electricity snakes through the cave like a large
conduit. As it passes through NENE and PRISS they scream and collapse
to the floor, crackling with energy. PRISS begins flailing around.]
PRISS: What the hell...? Stop! STOP! Nene, get this thing to stop!
[NENE lies still beside the jerking PRISS]
PRISS: Damn! Hey, computer, stop movin'!
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Attempting to comply.
[After a few seconds, PRISS manages to lie still.]
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Dexterous sensor grid short bypassed, limited
movement restored.
PRISS: What a piece of crap! I hope this thing has a warrantee.
[NENE begins moaning beside PRISS.]
PRISS: Hey ... Nene! You alright?
NENE: [slowly] Uhhgg, my head hurts. [beat] What's going on?
PRISS: Some big blue thing just went through here, knocked you out.
[NENE puts her hand to her head.]
PRISS: This suit went crazy too, wouldn't stop moving.
NENE: [woozy] Right. Computer, deactivate locking systems.
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Unable to comply. Locking clamps have been fused.
NENE: Fused?
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Threat assessment update.
PRISS: Yeah, tell us what that was.
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Threat identified as a single pulse of a high density
electric field. Origin located, 2.4 km from current position.
PRISS: Alright! Lets check it out.
NENE: Wait! Didn't you hear it before, I can't get the suit off of
you!
PRISS: Oh well, too bad for you.
NENE: Too bad fo--hey! Too bad for YOU if we can't ever get you out of
that again.
PRISS: Ah, I kinda like it here. [beat] Lets go.
[PRISS begins walking off down the cave. NENE stares after her,
blinking, then follows.]
[Cut to LUTHOR'S office. It's darkened now, only two spotlights
illuminate the desk and a portion of the raised floor that leads to
the dais. LUTHOR is leaning over his desk tapping on something while
a holographic image of the Earth spins above him. AMI is watching
from the other side of the desk and MAKOTO is watching while bracing
LUTHOR.]
LUTHOR: There were over sixty Lexcorp satellites that were still in
orbit when Ragnarok hit.
[A fury of lines encircle the holographic earth.]
LUTHOR: But the wall blocks out all forms of digital and analog
transmission, so I have been unable to contact them. I had considered
them a total loss [beat] until last night.
[All but one line disappears and a small ball can be seen following
the path of the line. It stops over one section of the Earth.]
LUTHOR: For the first time in twenty years, satellite LEXCOM-OMEGA-31
traveled directly above NeoMetropolis allowing me to receive it's
signal for a total of twenty-one minutes.
[The images zoom to show the curvature of the earth, the city and it's
shield, and the satellite directly overhead. A red beam goes from the
center of the city and bounces off the satellite, shattering into a
million rays of red light falling down around the city]
LUTHOR: The Omega series of satellites were reconnaissance based, and
were basically sensor drones. I was able to retrieve an active scan
of the area around the city in that short period of time and got this.
[The current image fades and is replaced by a two dimensional map of
the city and it's surrounds, similar to the one AMI showed earlier,
except this one has many more marks and strange colors on it. A scan
line moves up and down the image, every time it passes removing some
layer of the scan making it simpler.]
LUTHOR: What I found could save us all.
[The final movement shows the city, a snow covered overlay, and a
complex tunnel system outside of the shield with a single yellow dot
in the middle of it.]
LUTHOR: That's it. [beat] Right outside our city and we were just too
sensor blind to see it.
[AMI and MAKOTO exchange strange looks.]
AMI: What is it?
LUTHOR: The Infinite Drive Matrix.
AMI & MAKOTO: [sim] What?
LUTHOR: Exactly. [beat; smiles] I'm sorry, I must be delirious.
[clears throat] In 1947, a science skipper ship named 'Iron Maiden'
struck an asteroid belt unexpectedly and crash landed in Roswell, New
Mexico. Surely you've heard of the cover-up involved?
[AMI and MAKOTO can only nod, dumbfounded]
LUTHOR: The ship was found to contain a single object, encased in over
thirty different protective shieldings, and under three break-in
safeguards. The entirety of STAR Labs was created to get to the
object in the center and it took them nearly ten years to do it. But
what they found was well worth it, the Infinite Drive Matrix was worth
any price.
AMI: But what does it do?
LUTHOR: Among other things, it can provide an infinite amount of power
to an infinite amount of people at any time. [beat] And it will
perfectly run the auxiliary shield for as long as we need
MAKOTO: Sounds like a pretty valuable object to have just lying
around.
LUTHOR: After STAR Labs opened the final box and exposed the Infinite
Drive Matrix, their mission goal was redefined to develop a machine to
use the Infinite Drive Matrix to the owner's advantage. They were
still trying to find a way to harness the abilities of the IDM when
the American government dropped funding on STAR and other military run
alien information sites and gave Lexcorp the ability to acquire them.
I tried to get them all, but Wayne Enterprises dropped a grant on the
wayward STAR Labs before I could approach them. [scowls then clears
his throat] Anyway, in 1999 something went wrong in one of STAR's
experiments and the IDM, as well as the equipment it was attached to,
vanished without a trace. I guess it decided to reappear.
AMI: How can you be sure you can adapt the.. uh, IDM, to output to the
shield?
LUTHOR: [grins] I'm not. [face falls] But if there is a chance, I need
to take it. [sighs and slumps down into the chair behind him] You
said it yourself, I'm dying. Well, this entire planet is already
dead, what's one more life loss it means I can save this city of
people. There's a chance here, a chance to give these people a long
life here in NeoMetropolis. I... I'll be honest, I've killed before.
Many people have died because of experiments I've financed, I never
thought a thing about it. I even dedicated a good portion of my life
to trying to find a way to kill or even hurt the one person who gave
my city hope. [beat] I didn't know how important it was for a city to
have hope. I ... I didn't know how important it was for me to have
hope.
[LUTHOR leans back in his chair and spins to face the large glass
window behind him. The lights of the city span out before him.]
LUTHOR: Look at this place. The people are always bleak, the sun only
rises for a couple of hours a day, no one can leave without risk of
dying. This is us. This is all that's left of a planet full of life.
It didn't take more than a week of living in here to realize exactly
what this city has truly been deprived of. Hope. They have no hope
for an end. They can't trust that the future will bring better
things, they can only live right now as if there might not be a
tomorrow. That sort of living has made them -- it's made me -- empty
inside. It's not right.
[LUTHOR spins back to face AMI and MAKOTO who are watching with
thoughtful looks on their faces.]
LUTHOR: I don't know how this is going to work, and I don't expect
I'll ever know. The truth is, is that you are absolutely correct in
saying I have less than a day to live. I can feel it myself. I'll
send out the team, I'll supply you with the ability, after that, I
need you to carry on with what I've started. I need someone with a
scientific enough mind to know a good idea from a bad, and enough
drive to do everything to protect this city. You've shown me you have
both, Ami. Sometime between now and tomorrow morning, I'm going to
die, I want to make sure that you'll continue the work, integrate the
IDM into the shield system and get rid of the need for that decaying
wall. [beat] I'm counting on you.
AMI: I'm flattered, Mr. Luthor, but�
LUTHOR: You know ... [looking down at his desk] if anyone had been the
outlander, it was him. The stranger, the alien. But when it came
down to the wire, he had the most humane heart out of all of us.
[beat] If only I could find him�
MAN: [V.O.] Sir!
[The holographic images disappear and are replaced by the face and
shoulders of a man in his thirties with a short mustache, and black
hair hid beneath a blue officers cap. LUTHOR slaps a button on his
desk.]
LUTHOR: This is Luthor, what is it?
MAN: [V.O.] Oh, sir! I tried to contact Doctor Mizuno but she wasn't
in the laboratory...
AMI: [steps into view next to LUTHOR] I'm right here Dennis, what's
wrong?
DENNIS: [V.O.] Ma'am, sir, we're measuring a major structural collapse
in the south wall. It's setting off all the safety switches at once,
I think there's a cascade reaction about to start.
WOMAN: [V.O.] Sir!
[The image of DENNIS moves aside as another image of a head and
shoulders of a person appears next to the first.]
WOMAN: [V.O.] There's a breach on Bay Street. The South wall sprung a
hole and the strain on the rest of the wall is causing it to widen.
We're reading major system announcements confirming a class A cascade
reaction in progress. What the hell should we do??
LUTHOR: [soft] It may be too late.
AMI: [stern] Dennis! Activate emergency precautions, launch the
stabilizer wires, try to keep the pressure even! Isolate the breach
and wake the repair crew, they have a hell of a job ahead of them.
WOMAN: [V.O.] We've only got a few minutes left before tolerances drop
below the redline!
AMI: That's why you've got to do what I say NOW! [turns] Makoto!
Quickly, come with me!
[AMI runs past LUTHOR'S desk and out of the office with MAKOTO in
tow.]
[Cut to the wintry blizzard outside of the facility. A green hardsuit
is walking towards the camera, away from the grayish buildings behind
her.]
SYLIA: [V.O.] This is Sabre Prime. Sabre Green report.
LINNA: [V.O.] Ugh! I'm never going to find everything if you keep
making me stop to report.
SYLIA: [V.O.] We have procedure that must be followed or people get
hurt. If Nene had followed my orders she wouldn't be lost right now.
LINNA: [V.O.] Fine. [beat] I'm heading away from the facility right
now, I think I've picked up that heat signature you talked about.
SYLIA: [V.O.] Explain.
[Cut to a first person thermograph view from LINNA'S helmet. She's
walking along a streak of yellow in the snow against the pale whitish
color of everything else.]
LINNA: There's this faint heat pattern I'm following. I think there
must be some underground caverns here. Can't determine precisely.
SYLIA: [V.O.] If Nene fell through the ground into those caves we
might never find a trace of it. With the high winds going on, any
tracks in the snow are quickly covered.
LINNA: Unless someone else falls through.
SYLIA: [V.O.] Which is exactly why you've got to report in regularly.
[V.O.] I'm heading in your direction now, I'll keep the other Sabres
searching the area where Nene was supposedly last reported. Don't
move until I get there, understand?
LINNA: [sighs] Alright, I'll wait.
[Cut to a city street. A loud siren can be heard going off over the
sounds of people yelling and running around. Through the crowds,
TENCHI, KATSUHITO, and RYOUKO come running. They push through to the
camera and stop, looking at something above the screen.]
[Cut to behind them and pan upwards to see the large gaping hole in
the grey wall. The metal has been bend inwards as if something had
struck it and twisted pieces of metal are hanging by thin strands.
Snow is flying in at a tremendous rate and a slight whistling of air
can be heard pushing through.]
[Cut to show the front of them again.]
TENCHI: Oh no...
[An ear shattering noise rings out as the camera cuts to the hole and
shows it beginning to contort and flatten. Cracks begin snaking up
the wall as a large section of wall next to the hole collapses on
itself and a throws a ream of metal into the crowd below.]
TENCHI: Ryouk�
[Cut back just as RYOUKO leaps from where she was standing to fly over
to the whole. The camera follows her as she increases speed, dips low
and impacts on one of the contorted pieces of metal slamming it
upwards and bending it up into the hole. Pan closer to see RYOUKO
straining as sweat beads appear on her face. After bending the piece
of metal she flies up to the second section of wall and begins pushing
upwards in the hole, trying to support the section to keep the wall
from collapsing. As she strains to push against the wall, a fleet of
small flying vehicles can be seen approaching behind her.]
[Cut to one of the small flying crafts. A uniformed man is standing
at the controls while MAKOTO stands behind him on the small platform,
looking at the chaos going on ahead. Her eyes widen and she raises
her arm to her face.]
MAKOTO: Ami! I'm here at the site. It's a mess.
[Cut to inside a large controller room with many computer consoles and
large monitors. One of the monitors zooms in on the hole from what
looks like a great distance. AMI and many technicians are standing at
one of the console.]
MAKOTO: [V.O.] Now what do I do?
AMI: We can't get a clear view, but I can see some of it. Tell me
what's the status of the G-115 section of wall.
[Cut back to MAKOTO]
MAKOTO: [to herself] G-115 ... G-115
[Show the second section of wall where RYOUKO is pushing against the
hole. The snow coming in from outside has covered her so MAKOTO can't
see that she's there. The camera pans downwards slowly to focus on a
serial number a bit of the ways below the hole. It ends in G-115.]
MAKOTO: [O.S.] Got it.
[Cut to control room.]
MAKOTO: [V.O.] A big portion of the wall is collapsing and there are
cracks running up and down along the edges.
AMI: Okay, that's why we can't get the systems to respond. [turns to a
technician] Get the support systems online.
[A technician nods and runs off to another console. After a few
seconds the screen before the technician turns red and he looks back
to AMI and nods. AMI turns back to the main screen.]
AMI: Okay, there's a reinforcement system that runs along the bottom
edge of the wall. G-115 was a relay wall and is blocking the signal
from here. There's a manual activation switch between there and
section of wall next to it. Turn it on!
[Cut to MAKOTO]
MAKOTO: Alright, I'll see what I can do. [turns to driver] Get us to
the manual activation switch. It's between the two sections
riiight...
[she scans the wall and points to a low point]
MAKOTO: Around there.
[The driver nods and turns the craft to head down in that direction.]
[Cut to TENCHI and KATSUHITO.]
TENCHI: She can't hold that up herself! We have to do something.
KATSUHITO: Go ahead, Tenchi.
[TENCHI looks open mouthed at KATSUHITO for a second then turns and
runs towards the wall and is engulfed by the crowd.]
[Another piece of metal is flung from the first hole and flies almost
into the camera. The flying craft MAKOTO is in swerves and nearly
gets hit by the piece. MAKOTO braces herself on a railing on the side
of the ship.]
DRIVER: I can't get us any closer.
MAKOTO: What?!
DRIVER: We'll get hit by debris if I stay in one place too long.
MAKOTO: Oh man ... [beat] Okay! Just fly past the area as fast as you
can, I'll do the rest.
DRIVER: Okay.
[The craft hovers a bit far off then quickly flies off towards the
wall.]
[Cut to a snow covered RYOUKO. She shakes her head and the snow
falls. Gritting her teeth, she pushes up on the wall bending it into
an arch. She breaths out for a second before it starts to bend down
again and she resumes holding it up. She looks over for a second just
as a small hovercraft flies past her.]
[Cut to MAKOTO on the hovercraft. She stands straight up on the craft
as it nears the wall. As it flies past the first hole, she crouches
then leaps towards the wall.]
MAKOTO: JUPTER POWER, MAKE UP!
[Electricity crackles around her as she falls, engulfing her in a
giant bolt of lightning. She lands on the ground near the wall as the
coursing power subsides. She glances around for a moment before
running towards a section of the wall.]
[Cut to a large plume of smoke as it descends from above. TENCHI runs
through the smoke and looks around.]
TENCHI: Makoto!
[Pan back to show MAKOTO standing next to an metal outcropping from
the wall and TENCHI running over to her.]
MAKOTO: Tenchi?
TENCHI: Makoto, what are you doing here?
MAKOTO: I'll explain this and my outfit later.
TENCHI: Huh? [beat] Oh, I guess you are wearing something different.
Heh, didn't notice.
MAKOTO: Didn't no-- [shakes head then looks down at her wrist] Ami!
I'm at the box, how do I activate the system?
AMI: [V.O.] Okay, what you do is [static] �-'n pull th-- [static]
MAKOTO: What the hell...?
[A sharp noise rings out and a large chunk of metal falls from far
above. Cut to a split screen as MAKOTO charges up her attack on the
left and TENCHI wields his sword on the right.]
MAKOTO: SUPREME THUNDER!
TENCHI: YAAA!
[The screen flashes white for an instant and then cuts to MAKOTO and
TENCHI, after their attacks. Three chunks of metal fall around them,
two pieces are crackling with energy and one piece has a melted end.
TENCHI shuts off his sword and sticks the Tenchiken into his pocket.]
MAKOTO: We both have explaining to do.
TENCHI: I agree.
[A loud explosion from above returns their attention to the control
box. They rush over to it and swing open the door to show a large
lever, a small LCD display, and a keypad. The display is showing
blackness.]
MAKOTO: I hate this stuff.
TENCHI: Computers was never my strong suit either.
[MAKOTO presses a few buttons randomly and the LCD display lights up.]
TENCHI: [reads] Auxiliary Structural Support Control. Well, that's
good.
[A few seconds later the screen changes to display:
AUTHORIZATION INVALID
LEVEL SIGMA CLEARANCE NECESSARY TO ACTIVATE
TENCHI: Hmph. Rather rude.
MAKOTO: What do I do?! I don't know this stuff, this is Ami's thing.
TENCHI: How am I supposed to know! Just hit something.
[MAKOTO hits a few more buttons and merely causes the message to
blink.]
MAKOTO: [growls] I hate this! [she slams her fist into the pad and the
message blinks again; beat] Stand back!
[MAKOTO pushes TENCHI back before he has time to protest. Raising her
hands, they crackle with energy before she points them at the box.]
MAKOTO: SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!
[Electricity jumps from her hands and snakes around the box. It
fizzles for a moment before everything inside the box explodes in a
shower of sparks. As it ignites, the walls begin to shake and a
section of floor adjacent to the wall slides open. The shaking
increases in intensity as a second, thin wall jumps from the hole and
slides up the side of the wall. Cut to a zoomed out shot as the same
thing occurs all across the city.]
[Cut back to RYOUKO, covered in snow again. She looks down as a pile
of snow falls from her face and sees the second wall lurching up at
her. She glances between the wall she's holding and the incoming one
and leaps away from the hole just before the second wall covers it.]
[Cut back to the distant view as the process completes and the wall
stops ascending. All is silent for a few seconds.]
[Cut to MAKOTO and TENCHI as the sounds of people chattering resumes.
Through a thin cloud of smoke, you can see them lying on the ground a
few feet from the wall, staring up at it.]
TENCHI: [turns to MAKOTO] How did you know that would do that?
MAKOTO: [still staring up] I didn't. [turns to TENCHI and smiles] I
was just angry.
TENCHI: Hmm, reminds me of someone else I know.
[A large pile of snow lands before TENCHI and MAKOTO. They look at it
dumbfounded.]
RYOUKO: [muffled] Tenchi? Are you alright?
TENCHI: [frowns] Ryouko?
[RYOUKO shakes her head as the snow cascades down around her and she
leaps out of the pile and flies over to TENCHI.]
RYOUKO: Are you hurt?
TENCHI: Oh yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for holding up that wall for us,
though, it bought us just enough time.
RYOUKO: Heh heh heh, you can always count on me to do the job!
[TENCHI'S face falls and he looks away.]
MAKOTO: Thanks a lot ... uh, Ryouko is it?
RYOUKO: Huh? Oh, no problem. What were you doing here?
MAKOTO: I was--
[She's interrupted by the sound of static. She looks down at her
watch as the picture clears to show AMI.]
AMI: [V.O.] Makoto? What happened? We lost contact?
MAKOTO: It must have been the interference from the wall debris, just
like it blocked our signals when I was outside.
AMI: [V.O.] Well, good work anyway. The auxiliary wall is holding,
for now. We better work fast to see if we can get that IDM Luthor was
talking about before this wall starts to fall.
MAKOTO: Right, I'm on my way back.
AMI: [V.O.] Okay.
[The screen goes blank. MAKOTO stands up and brushes herself off.
Looking up, she begins waving down one of the hovercrafts.]
TENCHI: You've got to go already?
MAKOTO: Yes, I'm helping my friend try to keep this city safe. But
I'm sure we'll see each other again, if this meeting is any proof,
we're destined to cross paths again.
TENCHI: Well then, goodbye until next time.
[The DRIVER she had before brings his craft down and MAKOTO gets on.
Waving to TENCHI, she flies off into the sky towards the looming
building of Lexcorp.]
RYOUKO: Geeze, that was weird.
[Cut to MAKOTO and the DRIVER.]
MAKOTO: Quickly, we don't have much time.
[Fade to the caverns where NENE and PRISS landed. The area of the
cave is empty now except for a puddle in the center. What little
light is getting through is barely illuminating anything now.]
[A large clump of snow falls down again and light floods back into the
caverns. An intense beam of light shines down and moves around the
cave.]
[Cut to the surface, SYLIA and LINNA are standing around a small hole
they've made in the snow. SYLIA is shining her light into the hole.]
SYLIA: Looks like it only goes down a short distance.
LINNA: Hmm... my jumpjet intake vents are frozen over again.
SYLIA: It looks like there's ample snow down there, just jump in.
LINNA: All right, if you say so.
[LINNA jumps into the hole. After a few seconds, SYLIA jumps in after
her. Cut to the inside of the caverns again. As SYLIA lands, LINNA
turns on her lights and looks around.]
LINNA: Looks like a tunnel complex like I thought.
[SYLIA looks around as a device that resembles a satellite dish props
itself up on her shoulder.]
SYLIA: Looks pretty new, I wonder what made them. [beat] I'm picking
up Nene's signal.
LINNA: What? I thought you said it was cloaked.
SYLIA: It looks like an emergency status signal. Raven must have
rigged it so that if she took any damage the cloak would drop.
LINNA: That's good, then we can find her easily.
SYLIA: True, but the question is, did she take the damage from the
fall, or something else?
[Pan backwards from the two as the look around for a few seconds more.
Fade to NENE and PRISS as they walk through a different section of
the caverns.]
NENE: We've been walking for hours! Lets turn around, the computer was
wrong, the sensor grid was damaged after all.
PRISS: I wanna know what tried to saut� me.
NENE: What are you going to do? Ask them to saut� you again?
PRISS: Nah, I'll fry him.
NENE: So says you.
PRISS: You're no fun. [beat] Computer, how much farther?
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Negitive point eight kilometers.
NENE: [boggled] Based on what?
COMPUTER: [V.O.] First detection and velocity of electromagnetic wave.
[PRISS sighs]
NENE: Told you the sensor grid was broken.
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Priority one safety violation approaching.
PRISS: Shit!
[PRISS and NENE rush to the side of the cave just as the field of blue
light passes through the cave and causes the hardsuit to spasm and
NENE to collapse.]
PRISS & NENE: [Sim] Ahhh.
[Cut to SYLIA and LINNA.]
SYLIA: Woah, something's lighting up my sensor grid.
LINNA: Yeah, I'm picking it up on analog sensors too.
[LINNA walks off screen to the side as the camera zooms in on SYLIA]
SYLIA: High density electromagnetic field, approaching with great
speed.
LINNA: [O.S.] Sylia.
[SYLIA turns with the camera to show LINNA standing near the wall.
She brushes her hand across it and it turns black.]
LINNA: Iron powder.
SYLIA: [frowns] This whole cavern is giant conduit ... something is
channeling energy through these caves. [beat; alarmed] Linna! Quickly
hold onto me!
[SYLIA rushes over while LINNA gives her strange looks.]
LINNA: What are you doing?
SYLIA: My suit is equipped with a energy dampener, I installed it that
time I was up in the clouds in case lightning struck me. It's on the
surface of my suit, so if I'm touching you I should be able to extend
it to you.
LINNA: Why?
SYLIA: If that energy wave hits us, it'll short out any system that
isn't insulated properly, and your suit was jury rigged to work in the
cold, not too many systems will survive the shock.
LINNA: [nervous] Okay, good idea.
SYLIA: It'll take me a moment to increa�
[The large blue electromagnetic field comes flying through the cave,
as it strikes LINNA and SYLIA it crackles around them and the field
slows for a second before continuing swiftly through the caves.]
LINNA: Is it over?
SYLIA: [flexes her hand] It seems to have worked. Internal sensors
registered the amount of energy off the scale. Something big is
down-- [beat] I lost Nene's signal.
LINNA: What?
[Cut to PRISS and NENE. PRISS is no longer spasming. She lies in the
hardsuit and stares up at the ceiling of the cave.]
PRISS: That one was definitely worse than the last one.
[Silence.]
PRISS: Hey, you think those things are getting worse?
[Silence.]
PRISS: Nene? [beat] Nene!?
[PRISS turns herself to the side and at looks at the still form of
NENE.]
PRISS: NENE!
[PRISS moves over to NENE and nudges her. When she doesn't move she
moves her onto her back and feels her neck.]
PRISS: Damned this suit, I can't feel anything. [beat] Uh, like,
computer! What's wrong with Nene?
COMPUTER: [V.O.; garbled] Er�rrr... Sys�sys�sys�systemm�error.
Au�au�au-auu-auxilarrrrrrrrrry ssysysyssysystems
dow-dow-dow-jones�err, Aux systemmmmmmmm down.
PRISS: Fucking piece of shit! What's wrong with Nene!
COMPUTER: Unabl-ab-ab-able to com-com-com-com-comply. Standby.
[PRISS grabs her arm and begins to pull. The sounds of metal creaking
are heard and sparks of electricity fly. Finally the arm of the
hardsuit tears off leaving PRISS'S bare arm and hand. She tosses
aside the scrap metal and touches NENE'S neck.]
PRISS: [sighs] Still alive.
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Primary systems rerouted. Hardsuit ten percent
operational.
PRISS: Oh, shut the hell up.
[Cut to SYLIA and LINNA. They're running down the caves now.]
LINNA: How close?
SYLIA: Half a kilo or less, assuming they haven't moved since the...
LINNA: What? I lost that last part.
SYLIA: I'm getting her signal again. It's really weak now. I can't
believe she's still operating, that hit should have shut her down
completely.
LINNA: How far?!
SYLIA: She's moving slowly away from us, we'll catch up to her easily
now.
LINNA: Right!
[LINNA starts running faster. Pan the camera ahead of them as they
run past and the camera is bathed in black. Fade to the blizzard
outside of NeoMetropolis. A large tank-like vehicle plods it way
through the ice storm. Pan towards the tank then cut to the inside.
A different DRIVER is piloting the tank while MAKOTO, AMI, and a man
dressed in black with a utility vest are talking over a large map.]
MAKOTO: [points towards the map] That's the closest entrance, we
should go in there and move towards the IDM.
AMI: [shakes her head] No, that won't work, there's too steep of an
incline here.
MAKOTO: Well, we could come in through the west vent, but that puts us
pretty far away.
AMI: But we could fit the ATV in there, would make it easier to move
around.
MAKOTO: But if we get in trouble we'll be stuck in this tank unable to
move.
AMI: I don't know what else we can do, there isn't many vents into
these caves that doesn't require massive digging.
MAKOTO: Okay, we'll go through the west vent. At least we'll get
there.
[Cut to the outside as the tank slowly moves through the snow.]
AMI: [V.O.] I would like Luthor to see his city safe as well, but if
we make a mistake because we're rushing and destroy the IDM, then not
only has Luthor lost, but the city has lost as well.
MAKOTO: [V.O.] I know, I just wish there was a quicker way of getting
down there.
[A beam of white light erupts from the snow in front of the tank
causing the snow to collapse into the earth. The tank quickly
reverses but is pulled into the avalanche of snow falling through.
They tumble end over end before landing upside down inside a cave.]
[Cut to the inside of the tank. It's completely black before MAKOTO
turns on a flashlight and moves it around the area. Tables, chairs,
wires, and all sorts of machinery are hanging from the ceiling. The
light passes over AMI and she pauses, then gets up and runs over to
her.]
MAKOTO: Ami? Are you alright?
[The emergency flood lights engage now, adequately illuminating the
cabin to show the man in the utility vest impaled on a broken shard of
metal and the DRIVER hanging from his seat trying to get to the clasp
of his belt. MAKOTO helps AMI up as she rubs her head.]
AMI: Ooh, what happened?
MAKOTO: We've tipped over, aside from that, I don't know.
DRIVER: Help me! Someone!
MAKOTO: [turns] Calm down, I'm coming.
[MAKOTO moves over to the DRIVER and unbuckles him. After letting him
down to the ground safely, they both return to AMI, whose been
removing the cavern map from the upside table.]
DRIVER: There are portable flood lamps in the emergency closet.
[motions to the ceiling] They should be in there.
[MAKOTO reaches up and opens a small metal case. A pair of
flashlights fall from the case along with a large blanket and a
canteen of water. MAKOTO eyes the canteen strangely.]
MAKOTO: A bit archaic.
AMI: [picking up the supplies] It'll do. [beat] Let see where we are.
[Cut to the exterior of the inverted tank. The cavern passage it's in
is being lit from an off screen light source to the right. A large
door falls open and lands on the ground as MAKOTO, AMI, and the DRIVER
file out of it slowly.]
AMI: Well, we've made it to the caves. I'll check on the map where we
are.
MAKOTO: [musing] Wow, look at this place. A cavernous tunnel system
beneath the earth, carved perfectly from solid stone.
AMI: We seem to have landed pretty close to the supposed location of
the IDM.
MAKOTO: Really?
AMI: Yeah, look here. [beat; points to map] We were traveling along
this direction, at a speed about 20 or 40 kph. It only crosses
tunnels tree times, and we were traveling way too long for it to be
this one. So it's got to be one of these, but either one is close to
the IDM.
DRIVER: Then which way to do we go?
AMI: [looking at the map and pointing] That way.
MAKOTO: Towards the light?
AMI: It would appear so.
MAKOTO: Aside from the obvious clich�... alright, lets go.
[They run off down the caves. Cut to PRISS and NENE. PRISS is moving
slowly down a passage of the caves that is pretty well illuminated
despite the fact that she doesn't have her flashlights on. NENE is
being carried on PRISS'S back, slumped over her shoulder. She begins
to stir.]
NENE: Uhhnn...
PRISS: Nene?
[PRISS continues walking down the caves as NENE lifts her head.]
NENE: 'ngain?
PRISS: Yup. Don't worry, I've got you though.
NENE: Thas'good...
PRISS: Heh.
NENE: How lung?
PRISS: A handful of minutes, maybe seven or eight.
NENE: Feel funny, head hurts...
PRISS: Just calm down and try not to think about it.
NENE: s'easy fur you ta say...
PRISS: Heh.
[The screen flashes white for second and PRISS stops to looks ahead.
Pan around her shoulder to show an array of computer consoles and
large monitors embedded in the wall and in the center of the mess is a
glass canister with wires leading off of it that contains a pulsating
yellow light floating in the center.]
PRISS: What the hell...
LINNA: [O.S.] Nene!
[PRISS turns to see LINNA and SYLIA running up behind her. PRISS puts
NENE down against the cavern wall and raises her one mechanical arm
and one biological arm into the air.]
PRISS: Hey! You guys! Come over here!
[LINNA and SYLIA run up to her then, after inspecting the face behind
the helmet, step back a few steps.]
LINNA: You're not Nene. What are you doing in that hardsuit?!
PRISS: Hey! Calm down! I'm not the one who put this thing on,
[pointing to NENE] she put it on me.
[LINNA looks down at the body and crouches beside it.]
LINNA: Nene? [beat] Nene! Are you alright?
NENE: Unnggh, stop yelling...
LINNA: Sylia, she's hurt badly, we've got to get her back to the base.
[LINNA looks up to see SYLIA staring at the computer array and slowly
moving closer.]
LINNA: Sylia! Are you listening?
SYLIA: This must be the Infinite Drive Matrix.
LINNA: So what? Nene is hurt!
SYLIA: I had no idea it would intact with the computers it vanished
with. They even still seem to be working. Incredible.
[MAKOTO, AMI, and the DRIVER run into the cavern from another corridor
that opens into this one.]
AMI: There it is! The IDM!
MAKOTO: [looking around] We're not alone...
AMI: Huh?
[AMI turns and sees SYLIA, LINNA, PRISS, and NENE at about the same
time as they turn to see MAKOTO, AMI and the DRIVER.]
SYLIA: Who are you?
MAKOTO: I'd like to ask you the same question.
DEEP MODULATED VOICE: [V.O.; loud] WELCOME.
[Everyone looks around strangely before all their eyes settle on the
computer screens which are now displaying, in big white letters,
'WELCOME'. As the voice speaks again, the letters change to caption
what the voice is saying.]
DEEP MODULATED VOICE: I, AM HARDAC.
[Cut to black. Show captions one at a time in red letters.]
Created By Adam Leigh
Executive Producer Adam Leigh
[Fade to black.]
[Roll credits.]
Authors Notes:
Yeah, just sue me okay. I've taken creative license to a new level.
Sometimes you just have to bend reality for good drama, you know. Just
stay tuned for the last and final episode of AWWAF, coming soon to a
computer near you.
Oh, and by the way, if you like what you see, or want to see more of
it in the future, drop me an e-mail. I always want to hear from you,
the reader.
Adam Christopher Leigh
Omicron@sprynet.com
4 August 1998