Opening Shot: Darkness.
HARDAC: Previously, on A World Without A Future.
[Cut to the wall around NeoMetropolis as a section blows inward towards
the camera. White clouds blow in at an incredible rate. Cut to
LUTHOR'S office.]
LUTHOR: The ship was found to contain a single object, encased in over
thirty different protective shieldings...
[Cut away to show TENCHI running through a cloud of smoke in slow
motion and stopping to look around as debris falls around him. Cut
back to LUTHOR's office.]
LUTHOR: 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...
[Cut to SYLIA and LINNA standing in the cavern. LINNA rubs her hand
over the side of the cave and show it so SYLIA.]
LINNA: Iron powder.
SYLIA: It's a conduit...
[Cut to PRISS and NENE, walking down the corridors.]
COMPUTER: [V.O.] Warning. Priority one safety violation approaching.
PRISS & NENE: What?!
[Cut to show the blue electromagnetic field hitting them and causing
the hardsuit to start spasming. Cut to show the secondary wall rising
up from the city and RYOUKO leaping to safety just in time. Cut to the
exterior of the tank-like craft before it falls through the snow
toppling down into the ground.]
[Cut to MAKOTO, AMI, and the DRIVER running into the room with the
array of computers embedded in the cavern wall. PRISS, SYLIA, LINNA,
and NENE look up to see them run in. They all look dumbfounded at each
other before turning to look at the computer as the word 'WELCOME'
writes itself across the screens. Fade to black.]
HARDAC: And now, the conclusion.
[Fade into the cavern as SYLIA, LINNA, PRISS, NENE, MAKOTO, AMI, and
the DRIVER stare at the computer mainframe that calls itself HARDAC.]
AMI: [whispered to MAKOTO] It's running off of the IDM.
HARDAC: That is correct, Miss. The Infinite Drive Matrix is my power
source, a stroke of genius by the scientists at STAR Labs and Wayne
Enterprises.
MAKOTO: Hardac, that name sounds familiar.
HARDAC: I have been named after the Artificially Intelligent computer
created by Karl Rossum in Gotham City in the mid to late twentieth
century.
AMI: I didn't know they had Artificially Intelligent computers back
then.
HARDAC: The original HARDAC became insane and attempted to usurp the
human race as dominators of this planet. He was summarily destroyed by
the city's midnight protector, Batman. Rossum resigned from the work
and his plans were never discovered.
[There's an eerie silence as the humans look amongst each other.]
HARDAC: I am not that HARDAC. Nor have I been named for those
particular traits. The original HARDAC was the closest thing to a
human that was ever created through machinery, and for that, I am
honored to be named after.
MAKOTO: [clears throat] Hardac.
HARDAC: Yes?
MAKOTO: We need the Infinite Drive Matrix.
HARDAC: I am afraid that is not possible. The Infinite Drive Matrix is
to me what the human heart is to you. I will die if it is removed.
SYLIA: How can you die, you are just a machine?
HARDAC: I beg to differ. I am as alive as you are, my active memory
spans over sixty trillion megabytes, far beyond my ability to store in
hard medium. If my power is interrupted, all those thoughts are
erased. I will die.
SYLIA: Thoughts of what? Staring at these cavern walls? Hardly
information worth salvaging.
HARDAC: You are a military affiliated individual, are you not?
SYLIA: [steps back] In a way, there isn't much of a militia left in
this world. [beat] Why?
HARDAC: It has been my experience that those of military affiliation
think in the manner you do. [beat] No, every memory is worth saving if
it means my existence.
AMI: I'm sympathetic to you, HARDAC, but the IDM will save millions of
lives if we can get it to NeoMetropolis. I would search for a way to
save your memory, but there isn't enough time. Our world is about to
end.
HARDAC: You must understand, I cannot sanctify the deletion of myself
anymore than you could justify killing yourself.
PRISS: I cannot justify, but I would if it meant saving lives.
HARDAC: Again, a very militant view.
PRISS: Hey, I'm not with this mechanistic army.
HARDAC: Then I apologize.
AMI: HARDAC, we simply do not have the means to transport you to our
city. You're encased in solid rock, you're huge in scale. It would
take us weeks to get you dug out of there.
HARDAC: I have eternity to wait.
MAKOTO: But we don't have eternity, we have a few days, maybe even a
few hours before our city is toast.
HARDAC: Then find a suitable host.
NENE: [still woozy] What do you mean, 'host'?
HARDAC: A device with sufficient ability, capacity, and power to store
myself in while you move the Infinite Drive Matrix. As I have said, I
am not that original HARDAC. If you have a problem, I will work with
you to help, but I cannot find justification to sacrifice myself.
AMI: Fine. [beat] I might just know a suitable host.
Merlyn Magic Productions Presents
Adam Leigh's:
A WORLD WITHOUT A FUTURE
Day 4: Just the beginning...
[Opening Title Sequence: Images of the main characters as they were
before the cataclysm; Minako, Sasami, Makoto, Ayeka, Rei, Ryouko, Ami,
Tenchi, Natsumi 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: LUTHOR'S dark office. He's slumped over on his desk
dressed in a simple robe with an IV drip standing next to him. A light
appears on his desk as a voice filters in from all around.
AMI: [V.O.; garbled] Mis�Lu�r? Lu-r?
[LUTHOR raises his head to look at the glowing light on his desk. He
weakly raises his hand to reach over and tap the glowing light. As he
does, a second of the desk slides away and a large holographic screen
appears and displays a lot of static.]
AMI: [V.O.; garbled] Ple ... om ... uthor? Mis...r Lutho... eeze come
in. Mister Luthor? This is Ami Mizuno calling Lexcorp president Lex
Luthor. Come in Lex Luthor.
[LUTHOR'S eyes widen as he moves his hand over another portion of the
desk.]
LUTHOR: This is Lex, come in Ami.
[The image on the screen clears to show AMI]
AMI: [V.O.] Mr. Luthor, you'll be pleased to hear that we've found it.
The IDM is safely in our possession.
LUTHOR: That's great, bring it to the city immediately.
AMI: [V.O.] It's not that easy, Mr. Luthor.
LUTHOR: What? What's wrong?!
AMI:[V.O.] We've trashed our ATV and have no means of transporting it
to you. You'll have to send another vehicle out here.
LUTHOR: That's all? No problem, another one is already on it's way.
AMI:[V.O.] Well, that's not all of the problems...
[Cut to the inside of the cave. All of the Sabres have their helmets
off. Pan across from one side to the other, showing LINNA talking to
MAKOTO, PRISS talking to NENE, SYLIA talking to HARDAC, and AMI,
dressed as Sailor Mercury, talking into a small device in her hand. As
the camera passes, various parts of conversation are heard.]
LINNA: --just like that, at least that's what I heard.
MAKOTO: Wait, you're telling me that your friend dresses just like AMI
over there--
NENE: --n't believe you trashed my suit like that!
PRISS: Sure, blame me that your suit's sensors failed so easily. I
mean--
SYLIA: --ot having any problems?
HARDAC: No. The transfer is going smoothly, I am surprised, however,
that there is so much room in the--
AMI: You see, Mr. Luthor, the IDM currently has an inhabitant.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] An inhabitant?
AMI: It's attached to a computer called HARDAC that refuses to give up
the IDM unless he ... or she ... it, can be salvaged.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] Argg, I hate computers.
AMI: Not only that, we've encountered other people from another city
here and they say THEY have a claim to the IDM.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] I see, so that bunker WAS inhabited.
AMI: Excuse me?
LUTHOR: [V.O.] I picked up some large underground facility in one of my
scans, but I couldn't determine if it was inhabited. I guess now I
know it is.
AMI: Well, they want the IDM too.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] So? They can't have it.
AMI: I don't think it's going to be that easy.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] Well, you deal with it, I'll send the ATV. [beat] And I
don't care about some egocentric computer, just shut it off.
AMI: Actually, I have a temporary solution to the HARDAC problem.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] How temporary?
AMI: I can store his programming and general consciousness in my
computer at least for the time being.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] That's good.
AMI: Yes, but I'm not sure for how long. I still don't know the
complete capacity of my computer, but if I run out of room, he'll have
to be transferred again.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] What do you want me to do about it?
AMI: Set up a computer large enough for him to be in, that's also
connected to the IDM for power.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] That's not the easiest thing in the world you know.
AMI: I'm aware of that, but unless you want him roaming around the
mainframe, I suggest you find a way to do it.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] I'll get your department to work on it.
AMI: Thank you.
LUTHOR: [V.O.] Anything else?
AMI: Well, I could use some advice on how to--
LUTHOR: [V.O.] Good luck then, bye.
AMI: Wai--
[She pauses, then drops the small device in disgust.]
MAKOTO: [O.S.] Ami!
[AMI turns to face MAKOTO and the camera pans back to show the both of
them, LINNA, and SYLIA and HARDAC in the background.]
MAKOTO: Rei is at their facility.
AMI: What?
MAKOTO: [to LINNA] Tell her.
LINNA: Yeah, I know a woman who used to wear the same Sailor Fuku you
do, only in red. She spends her days now looking into a fire for
judgement.
AMI: Sounds like Rei to me.
LINNA: [whispered] She apparently has some connection with Sylia's
father. He built the place.
AMI: Interesting...
SYLIA: We're done here!
[Everyone quickly turns to face SYLIA, whose now holding AMI'S small
hand held Sailor Mercury computer. The monitors behind her are blank
now.]
HARDAC: [V.O.] Quite. I am amazed at this device, Ms. Mizuno. I had
not been informed that computers such as this one had been invented.
AMI: Heh, well, it's certainly been around for a while.
HARDAC: [V.O.] I see. [beat] I understand completely.
AMI: [disbelief] You do?
HARDAC: [V.O.] This computer has accurate records dating back thousands
of years.
AMI: Really?
HARDAC: [V.O.] Yes. However, most of the data before the year 1992 is
fragmented, but it's all timestamped and marked and indicates an
multiple millennial existence.
AMI: That computer records...
HARDAC: [V.O.] Everything.
AMI: [flat] Everything.
HARDAC: [V.O.] All that you've been exposed to.
AMI: [nervous] A-heh...
HARDAC: [V.O.] Rest assured, Ms. Mizuno, your secrets are safe with me.
SYLIA: What secrets?
AMI: [quick] Nothing, nothing. [beat] We don't have much time, we need
to get the IDM out of there and back to NeoMetropolis right away before
the wall falls again.
SYLIA: Wait a minute. I need to take that thing with me.
AMI: What?! So you can collect on some bounty?
SYLIA: You have your reasons, I have mine.
AMI: I'm going to save millions of people! I think my reason is better
than yours!
SYLIA: I have a reputation to uphold, a reputation that provides me
with the supplies and equipment to keep my facility running. I can't
forfeit that, even for your city.
AMI: Then we are at an impasse.
HARDAC: [V.O.] I hate to interrupt...
SYLIA: [looking down at the computer in her hands] What?
HARDAC: [V.O.] Could you tell me exactly what agreement you have come
to involving the Infinite Drive Matrix?
SYLIA: Huh?
HARDAC: [V.O.] Why do you need it?
SYLIA: An associate of one of my suppliers contacted me and offered
over four thousand assorted parts for retrieval of the Infinite Drive
Matrix.
HARDAC: [V.O.] An amount of supplies easily attainable from the storage
bunkers underneath Lexcorp according to the data I retrieved from this
unit. I'm sure that for help in delivering the IDM, Lexcorp would
gladly pay you any amount of supplies you require.
AMI: He's right, you give us the IDM and I'll make sure Lexcorp
supplies you with everything you need.
[SYLIA glances between AMI and NENE, LINNA, and PRISS behind her.]
SYLIA: All right.
[AMI visibly sighs.]
SYLIA: We'll trade my distant problem for your more immediate one. [to
LINNA] Linna, take Nene and Priss back to the base and get them some
medical treatment. [turns slowly to AMI] I'll assist in delivering the
IDM to NeoMetropolis and make sure I get that agreement for my parts.
[AMI nods.]
LINNA: Uh, Sylia?
SYLIA: Yes?
LINNA: We're quite a distance from the base and Nene doesn't have a
suit, and Priss' suit is quite demolished.
[SYLIA turns to AMI]
AMI: [blinks] I don't have time to make a detour, every second we have
this thing is another second that the entire of NeoMetropolis could
come crashing down.
SYLIA: [sighs] All right, I guess we'll all have to go to NeoMetropolis
then. [beat] You do have room in that ATV of yours?
AMI: Uh, yeah, we should.
HARDAC: [V.O.] You do.
AMI: Right then, lets get moving.
[Cut to the lobby at Lexcorp, a gothic looking hall with a tall ceiling
with many crystal chandeliers attached to it. TENCHI is standing
before a large desk behind which is a uniformed man (DESK GUARD)
lounging in a chair on the phone. TENCHI glances around the lobby
nervously.]
GUARD: Uh-huh ... okay. [leans forward and places the phone on it's
receiver] Ms. Kino has been a guest of Doctor Mizuno, but they are both
currently out on a surface project.
TENCHI: A surface project? You mean outside the wall?
GUARD: That's right, sir.
TENCHI: Oh... [beat] Is there any way I could leave a message for her?
GUARD: Of course, sir. Just give me your name and call extension and
I'll post it on the doctor's messagenet.
TENCHI: Uh, okay. My name is Tenchi Masaki, and my call extension is
35-181.
[The GUARD types on a computer that's integrated into the desk and
nods.]
GUARD: Okay, Mr. Masaki, your message as been posted. Have a nice day.
[TENCHI nods hesitantly and walks out of the lobby. As he gets a good
distance away from the desk AYEKA walks up beside him.]
AYEKA: You DO have a fancy for that Makoto girl.
[TENCHI begins walking quicker, but AYEKA quickly catches up.]
AYEKA: Why her? After only one meeting? You lived with me for several
years.
TENCHI: [whispers] Go away.
AYEKA: Not until you tell me. [beat] What's the matter, afraid that if
you acknowledge my presence I'll suddenly become real? Wake up, you
lost your chance to save me twenty years ago.
TENCHI: Just leave me alone will you. I just want to see if Makoto is
okay after what happened yesterday, okay?
AYEKA: Somehow I don't believe you.
TENCHI: I don't care if you do or don't just leave me alone.
[TENCHI walks through the door leaving the lobby. Pan backwards to
show the DESK GUARD looking after him with a confused expression on his
face. Cut to the outside of the building as TENCHI turns onto the
sidewalk with his ghostly companion following close beside him.]
AYEKA: Admit it, you like the girl.
TENCHI: Fine. [he stops and turns to AYEKA] I like the girl. Is that
what you wanted to hear? Fine. Want me to say I like this particular
piece of concrete too? How about the color of the Lexcorp building?
Oh, and you know what, I just love this lamppost. Are you having fun
yet?
AYEKA: [flat] You were telling the truth about the girl.
TENCHI: If you want to believe that, go ahead. For me I'll�
[TENCHI pauses and tilts his head.]
AYEKA: You'll just go on lying. You know... [beat] What?
[AYEKA turns around to see what TENCHI is looking at. Pan past AYEKA
to show the alley between Lexcorp and it's adjacent building. A medium
sized hover platform floats just above the surface as a woman with
short hair wearing a black suit pulls the unconscious body of a bald,
old man in a red robe. She struggles a bit but manages to pull the man
onto the platform.]
TENCHI: [Yelling] Hey!
[The woman looks back at TENCHI, startled, then turns towards the
control panel as the platform lifts up into the sky and shoots off
towards the opposite end of the city. TENCHI follows it with his
eyes.]
TENCHI: What was that?
[TENCHI glances around but AYEKA is gone.]
[Fade to the ice storm outside of the facility. The faint sound of
static is heard over the winds of the storm. A voice emerges from the
static.]
SYLIA: [V.O.] �tingray to base. This is Sylia, come in base.
[Cut to the inside of the facility as Dr. Raven sits before the large
array in the surface level control room. He taps on a few buttons and
the large map displayed on the array moves to show a pair of signals
slowly moving away from the facility. They are quickly labeled as
'SABRE PRIME' and 'SABRE GREEN.']
RAVEN: Sylia?! [beat] Uh, this is base, come in Sylia!
[There's a slight static filled pause.]
SYLIA: [V.O.] Doctor Raven? [beat; RAVEN sighs] We've found Nene and a
few other ... people.
RAVEN: Sylia, where are you going? Scanners show you're moving away
from the base.
SYLIA: [V.O.] You're detecting me that far away?
RAVEN: Uh, yeah, the ice blizzard is beginning to break up, we're
getting sensor acuity again. But still, where are you going?
SYLIA: [V.O.] NeoMetropolis.
RAVEN: [blinks] Where?
[Cut to the inside of another tank-like ATV, this one a bit larger than
the last. SYLIA has her helmet on and is standing against one of the
walls while AMI and MAKOTO talk in an opposite corner. PRISS is lying
on the briefing table while LINNA attempts to remove the charred,
welded sections of armor from her and NENE watches from the corner
beneath a pile of blankets.]
SYLIA: It's a long story, I'll give you a briefing later. The gist of
it all is that we've made a deal with Lexcorp and are going to
NeoMetropolis to deliver the Infinite Drive Matrix and get medical help
for Nene and her friend.
RAVEN: [V.O.; worried] Medical help?!
SYLIA: [quick] Uh, she got tossed around a bit, but she'll be fine.
Anyway, call off the search, and I'll be back in a while, maybe a day
or two. Until then, the base in under your command.
RAVEN: [V.O.] I understand. Is there anything else?
SYLIA: [thinks for a second] Yes... find Rei and get her to contact me.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Ms. Hino? What for?
SYLIA: I have a couple of her friends here that have been looking for
her for a while. I believe they want to talk to her.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Okay, got it.
SYLIA: Sylia, out.
[SYLIA removes her helmet and holds it at her side. She walks over to
LINNA whose fiddling with a monofilament blade to try to shave parts of
the armor off of PRISS.]
SYLIA: I've contacted Raven, left him in charge while we're away. He
says the storm's clearing up outside of the base, it'll probably start
clearing up here soon. [beat] How are you doing?
[LINNA looks up at SYLIA.]
LINNA: Ugh, terrible. All the latches are fused. What's worse is the
automatic release charges have been neutralized as well, so the only
thing I can do is carve away until I reach skin. It's gonna take me a
while.
PRISS: [lifts her head to look at SYLIA and LINNA] Hey, you're being
careful right? I don't want to lose any limbs there.
[LINNA raises an amused eyebrow while a slight giggle can be heard from
NENE in the corner.]
LINNA: Don't worry, I'm being careful.
PRISS: I bet.
[LINNA shakes her head and continues making cuts in the hardsuit with
her monofilament blade.]
[SYLIA kneels down next to NENE and places her helmet on the floor.]
SYLIA: How are you doing?
NENE: I'm alright, I suppose I could be better. I have this nasty
headache.
SYLIA: We'll get you some treatment when we get to NeoMetropolis. Ms.
Mizuno assures me that their facilities are admirable.
NENE: [looks down at SYLIA'S helmet] You're upset about me going out
there alone.
SYLIA: Among other things. What exactly were you trying to do anyway?
NENE: I don't know... I guess I was upset a bit and wanted to show you
I could be a Sabre even if I messed up that one procedure.
SYLIA: You didn't help your position much by this fiasco. [hesitant]
But... you did do a good job with Ms. Asagiri over there. I recovered
a bit of the biological data from the hardsuit's memory backup and if
you hadn't done what you had, she would have died of hypothermia the
night you found her.
NENE: I don't know what else I could have done, the suit gave me the
idea actually.
SYLIA: Well, you saved a life none the less. Maybe I can find a place
in the Sabres for you after all. Not as a combat specialist like
Linna, but more of a information gatherer perhaps.
[NENE'S eyes light up.]
NENE: Really?
SYLIA: We'll see as soon as we get back to the facility.
NENE: Thank you Sylia.
[SYLIA goes to stand but NENE grabs her hand as she starts.]
NENE: Wait, I need to talk to you about one more thing.
SYLIA: What is it?
NENE: Well, it concerns HARDAC...
SYLIA: What about it?
NENE: If you ask me, I think he was making those tunnels himself.
SYLIA: How? With those energy discharges?
NENE: Yes. The earth was already rich in iron ore, all he'd need to do
was send those pulses out to create the tunnels.
SYLIA: Why do you think it would do that?
NENE: I dunno. It just seems like he's been quite a victim of
circumstance.
SYLIA: What do you think we should do about it?
NENE: I'm not sure, it's this mysterious Infinite Drive Matrix he was
hooked up to. It raises so many questions. If it's so powerful and
he's so concerned about preserving himself, why so eagerly let us
remove him from it into something we could easily just destroy?
SYLIA: [leading her on] I don't know, why?
NENE: What I think is that he was trapped down there in those caves
just as we were. He knew that he had nothing while he was attached to
that computer, so he convinced us to remove him through reverse
psychology�you know, when you say you don't want something when you
really do, like that�and we played right into it. [beat] I bet, he's
just waiting for us to hook him back into the IDM so that he can engage
in some sinister plan for world domination like his predecessor did.
SYLIA: You had me until that last part.
NENE: Well, maybe there isn't much world to dominate anymore... and
maybe he just wanted to get out of that cave, but I think something is
up.
[SYLIA stares at NENE blankly. NENE visibly shrinks.]
SYLIA: To tell you the truth, I felt something was wrong with HARDAC
too. I'll see what I can do about getting HARDAC from Mizuno.
NENE: Getting HARDAC from Ami? Why?
SYLIA: I'd rather have a computer that powerful in my possession than
in theirs. They seemed almost sympathetic to HARDAC's story. If it
does have malicious intentions, I want to make sure it never gets free.
[Pan away from SYLIA and NENE, past the table where LINNA is working on
PRISS to settle on a small hand held computer of bluish color resting
on a small ledge. The screen is displaying an oscilloscope that's
vibrating in accordance to sound. It moves in perfect sync with the
following line]
NENE: [O.S.] Good idea, we have no idea what HARDAC is capable of.
[Fade to black. It sweeps away as part of a pillar as the camera pans
across a darkened hall with a single light in the center. A table is
directly under the light that has a figure covered by a white cloth on
it. Beside the table are several medical devices and computers on push
carts. Two figures wearing white lab coats and aprons (one MAN and one
WOMAN), are adjusting a few of the devices while a shrouded FIGURE
stands just beyond the range of the light.]
MAN: Everything seems normal. The transfer appears to be successful.
WOMAN: Bodily functions are naturally slowing.
FIGURE: [coarse unidentifiable voice] Make sure it looks like nothing
has changed.
WOMAN: Oh, don't worry, this procedure leaves no signs.
FIGURE: Good.
MAN: The integration program is working flawlessly, functions should be
assumed by the computer in an hour. It may take a while before it
develops a personality though, the process is actually traumatic for
they system. It'll learn quick enough though.
FIGURE: Then it is done.
MAN: That's right, you can ship 'em out now.
[The FIGURE raises it's hand and snaps. A pair of suited men move into
the light and push the body and one of the systems out of the light and
are engulfed by the darkness.]
WOMAN: Now, our payment.
[The FIGURE holds up a hand from which a rectangular card hangs. The
FIGURE steps forward and it's gloved and black sleeved hand pushes the
card into the light.]
FIGURE: The key to your payment.
[The MAN and WOMAN rush forward and take the card out of the FIGURE'S
hand.]
FIGURE: By the way, neither of you wouldn't happen to know Ami Mizuno,
would you?
MAN: You mean, Lexcorp's wonder scientist? Yeah, I've met her.
FIGURE: That's a shame.
MAN & WOMAN: [Sim.] Huh?
[Cut to the outside of a warehouse looking building where two men are
loading the blanketed body and computer console onto a hover platform.
The sound of two gunshots is heard and the men look up for a second
then return to their work.]
DENNIS: [V.O.] He died.
[Cut to a small office in which AMI, DENNIS, and SYLIA are standing.
The office has a large window that overlooks a large loading bay. The
ATV is parked in the center of the bay while crews are loading the IDM
onto some cart and moving it away. PRISS and NENE are walking away
from the ATV covered in a series of blankets while LINNA is talking
with one of the crews that's moving the IDM.]
AMI: [disbelief] Lex is ... he's dead?
DENNIS: [looks down] He collapsed not long ago and was pronounced dead
a half hour before you arrived. I'm sorry.
[AMI sits down in one of the office chairs.]
DENNIS: Were you close to him?
AMI: Well, yeah. [beat] I've been working with Lex on this city for
nearly twenty years now. Of course I got a bit close to him. I mean,
I knew he was dying, I didn't even expect to see him awake yesterday,
but... I guess I figured I'd at least be around when he died.
DENNIS: Well, thanks to you we have the means to save the city. I'm
sure he'd approve of the trade off.
AMI: [murmured] He did ... [beat] Wait, do you mean you've figured out
how to adapt the IDM to the shield?
DENNIS: Not me, Luthor did. Just before he died. After you contacted
him about getting another ATV, he almost ran down to development and
worked with us until we had at least 20 theories on how to adapt the
IDM. After he left, we went back into the data and narrowed it down
until we had something to collect the narrow band energy that Luthor
said the IDM would emit.
SYLIA: Luthor knew exactly what the IDM would radiate?
DENNIS: Huh? Oh yeah. It was the first thing he said to us when he
ordered the device be built. I had a bunch of techies check it out the
moment you got in, they confirmed it.
[SYLIA looks to AMI wearily. She shrugs in response.]
AMI: Well then, lets get moving, we need to get the shield up and
running before the wall starts breaching again.
DENNIS: [moves for the door] I've already got teams working on it, but
they'll need your help to finish it.
[DENNIS waves for them to follow and leaves the office. AMI is about
to follow when SYLIA grabs her arm and yanks her back.]
AMI: Hey, what the..
SYLIA: Calm down.
AMI: I know, you want your deal, well, you'll just have to�
SYLIA: Shut up about that for a minute. [beat] Don't you find it odd
that Luthor knew exactly how the IDM worked?
AMI: Well, he said that he had access to information on it at one time,
I figured that it included the radiation frequency.
SYLIA: You said it yourself though, whole groups of scientists couldn't
find a way to use the IDM to their advantage, and Lex Luthor figured
out exactly how in an hour?
AMI: Maybe it's a bit strange, but he's dead now. However he knew,
even if it was through malicious operations, he has just saved this
city.
[AMI pulls herself from SYLIA and storms out the door.]
SYLIA: This is getting worse by the minute. I wonder what's next.
[Fade to black. The blackness swipes downwards as the lift reaches the
surface level control room. A man in a lab coat (JIRO) is sitting
before the large console with REI beside him. RAVEN walks from behind
the camera, off the lift and over to the pair.]
[REI turns briefly to RAVEN.]
REI: [nods] Doctor Raven.
RAVEN: Ms. Hino. [beat] What's going on here?
JIRO: Ah, sir, look at this.
[JIRO taps a few buttons and the large screen changes to a picture of a
dark, almost black, cloud mass moving towards the camera.]
JIRO: We picked this up an hour ago. It's nearly four times as big as
this facility and moving at 120 kilometers per hours.
RAVEN: A storm?
REI: That's what we thought.
JIRO: Until this happened...
[He punches a few buttons and the screen changes to an overhead
tactical view that sped up.]
JIRO: We picked it up going south, then it made a 90 degree and is
B-lining it towards us. No natural storm would do that, there's
something in there that's generating it.
RAVEN: Scans?
JIRO: Nothing is penetrating, there seems to be a layer of ionized gas
surrounding it that blocking our scans.
RAVEN: Hmm... [beat] Have you called Sylia?
REI: That's what I was here for, but no, something is blocking our
transmissions.
JIRO: I suspect it's the giant wall around NeoMetropolis.
RAVEN: Damn.
JIRO: What do you think we should do?
RAVEN: Do we have people out right now?
JIRO: Yes. [he presses a few buttons highlighting the dots on the
screen] Sabres Tau, and Delta.
[RAVEN watches the tactical display thoughtfully.]
RAVEN: Get them back inside. [turns away; over shoulder] I'm going over
to the hangar.
[Cut to a well lit, laboratory looking room. The floor is metal
grating and the walls are covered with shelves and metal cabinets.
AMI, SYLIA, MAKOTO, LINNA, DENNIS, NENE and PRISS dressed in black
jumpsuits, and four male scientists are circled around a pedestal-like
out cropping from the floor. The four scientists are carrying a metal
box over to the pedestal.]
[The scientists stop and look over to AMI. She walks towards the
pedestal, presses a button, and a console rises from the floor to her
hands.]
AMI: Open the casing.
[The scientists nod and remove several latches from the sides of the
case before lifting the lid to reveal the IDM encased in glass,
carefully lying in a bed of satin cloth. It emits a soft yellow light.
The scientists lift the glass casing and slowly move it over to the
pedestal. The camera pans upward to show the indentation on the top of
the pedestal that conforms to the bottom of the glass casing.]
AMI: Place the Matrix.
[The scientists gently set the IDM on the pedestal and it gives a soft
pulse of light when they release it.]
AMI: Dennis.
[DENNIS moves over to the opposite side of the pedestal that AMI is
standing on and raises a console similar to AMI'S.]
DENNIS: Subsystems active.
[The four scientists back away from the pedestal and stand beyond the
circle of people.]
AMI: Activate shielding lock.
[A faint click echoes beneath the floor.]
DENNIS: Confirmed, shielding secured.
AMI: Descend pod.
[A large claw lowers from the ceiling and grabs the top of the IDM.
The claw and pedestal spin for a moment then the entire structure
lowers into the floor. When it is completely beneath the grating, a
sheet of metal slides beneath the grating, separating it from the room
above.]
DENNIS: Descent complete. Activating monitors.
[A slick screen lowers where the pedestal used to be. It jumps to life
and shows a split screen: half is a wire frame theoretical diagram of
the city and the other half is a live shot of the city from some
distant camera.]
AMI: Beginning sequence.
[Distant sounds of pulsating energy is heard.]
DENNIS: Entry cycle complete. Fourth stage active. [beat] Particle
beam relay confirmed. [beat] Particle beam active.
[The sounds become louder then change to a high pitched whine as the
screen fades to show RAVEN in his hangar office trying to scan the
dense, black cloud approaching.]
RAVEN: Come on ... get through you overgrown hunk of machinery.
[The large monitor before him shimmers as the scans attempt to
penetrate the cloud. Several sections of the cloud turn green and
unreadable text is displayed in him.]
JIRO: [V.O.] Cloud mass is nearly upon us, Doctor. What should we do?
RAVEN: Are the people in?
JIRO: [V.O.] Just in now, sir.
[RAVEN pushes himself away from the computer and over to a window.
Looking through the window he can see a pair of hardsuits walking
through the hangar with a couple of technicians. He pulls himself back
to the comptuer.]
RAVEN: Close down the hangar doors.
JIRO: [V.O.] All right.
[The sound of moving metal is heard in the distance. RAVEN taps a few
buttons on his computer and he runs another scan. A line appears at
the top of the screen and scrolls down. As is passes the cloud, it
seems to shrink as a layer of the cloud seems to disappear.]
RAVEN: Yes.
[RAVEN taps on the computer and several lines appear at the top and
move down at varying speeds. As they pass the cloud mass, they remove
it, layer by layer. As they reach the center, pan to RAVEN'S face as
it turns pale.]
RAVEN: Jiro!
JIRO: [V.O.] What?
RAVEN: [Urgent; yelled] Close down the surface! Activate the shield!
JIRO: [V.O.] What? Why?
RAVEN: We're being attacked!
[Cut to the well lit laboratory.]
AMI: Integration complete. Searching for Matrix bandwidth.
[DENNIS looks a little anxious for a while then sighs as he speaks.]
DENNIS: Bandwidth isolated, frequency confirmed. Beginning feed.
[Pan towards the wire frame diagram as it displays a series of
spherical emitters and their locations in the city. Pan across to the
live picture as seven gray globes rise up on stilts around the city.]
[Pan back to show the whole room.]
AMI: Creating battery. Charging system.
DENNIS: Preparing for transfer.
[The live action picture show the globes crackling with electricity.]
AMI: Activate pre-charge system.
[Show the live action picture as the globes shimmer with a blue energy
then erupt into the sky creating a transparent but shimmering circular
field surrounding the city and extending up into the sky. The
background sound of energy is rising to a higher pitch.]
[A large explosion is heard and the camera shakes violently as it cut
to the surface control room. Some of the monitors blank out as the
room shakes and knocks REI to the floor and causes JIRO to hang onto
the console for his life. Cut to the hangar office as RAVEN dives onto
the floor beneath a showering of shattered glass from his windows. The
shaking dies away as the glass shower ends. RAVEN lifts his head up
and looks around, then he leaps over to his computer and slams his palm
on a button. On the monitor can be seen the picture of a very large
craft approaching the facility with several of it's hundreds of weapons
pointed forward.]
[Cut to the surface office. REI picks herself off the floor and rubs
her head.]
RAVEN: [V.O.] Jiro! [beat] Jiro! Come in!
[JIRO picks his head off the console and presses a button.]
JIRO: I'm here...
RAVEN: [V.O.] What happened?
JIRO: I couldn't get the shield up in time to block the blast. The
blew a good section of the shield away and twisted the rest of it so
it's jammed, halfway up and halfway down.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Shit! [beat] Sound the Red Alert, get every Sabre up on
the hangar deck immediately and prepare the staff for possible
evacuation.
[JIRO'S eyes widen and he looks wildly between REI and the console.]
JIRO: E-evacuation?
RAVEN: [V.O.; angered] Just do it!
JIRO: Understood.
REI: [soft] Where do we go if we evacuate?
JIRO: I ... I don't know.
[Cut to the well lit laboratory. The sound is now a high pitched
squeal and a couple of the people have their hands on their ears.]
AMI: [over the sound] Begin transfer!
[The lights in the room cut out and the room becomes significantly
darker. A faint glow coming from cracks in the floor starts to get
brighter as the sound continues to increase in pitch until it is far
beyond the realm of human hearing. The screen, slightly shimmering
from the sound, shows the wire frame diagram of a sudden energy
eruption from the globes. The live action seems to concur as the
shimmering field drops and the globes begin crackling and sparking with
a yellow energy.]
[Cut to the surface office.]
JIRO: Raven!
RAVEN: [V.O.] What?!
JIRO: The cloud just dissipated! The ship is charging their cannon for
another shot. Take cover!
[JIRO dives beneath the console and hangs onto one of the sides. REI
begins stumbling towards the lift.]
JIRO: Where the hell do you think you're going?
REI: I have to do get something!
JIRO: Are you crazy, that ship's about to fi�
[Silence. Cut to the outside of the large craft approaching the
facility. Pan towards one of the larger cannons as it crackles with
energy. The insides glow red and an energy bulge appears near the
front as it suddenly erupts with a orange colored lighting and the
camera cuts to show a close up of one of the globes in NeoMetropolis.
It suddenly explodes in a billion shards of yellow light that wisp
around for a moment before beginning to collect near where the base of
the globe used to be. They join together to form a beam of light and
rocket up into the sky. Pan backwards as the other six globes perform
similar explosions and eruptions. Follow the beams upward as they seem
to extend into the heavens in a parallel fashion. A faint hum can is
heard coming from the shimmering, glowing, yellow field now joining the
beams.]
[Cut to the well lit laboratory as the lights come back on again,
slightly brighter than they were before. DENNIS looks at his console
then up at AMI.]
DENNIS: Transfer complete, energy shield active and operating off of
matrix emissions.
AMI: [soft] We did it.
[The scientists begin clapping and eventually everyone joins in. Pan
backwards out of the building, past the city and into the sky showing
the glowing beam of yellow energy from miles away from the surface.
Cut to show the facility as another red arc of energy flies from off
screen to strike the hangar, causing it to explode.]
[Cut to the Surface Control Room. Wires and paneling are hanging by
thin wires from the ceiling while lights flicker and a couple of the
monitors blink on and off. JIRO is beneath debris under the console
when RAVEN pulls himself up through the tube that the lift used to
take.]
RAVEN: [looks around] Jiro?
JIRO: [weak] Down here...
[RAVEN moves over to him and begins pulling off the large pieces of
debris.]
RAVEN: We've got to get out of here. Our Sabres didn't stand a chance,
they took heavy causalities before scattering.
[He manages to remove a large section of plating and JIRO pulls himself
out of the rest of the wreckage using the console as a lever. RAVEN
helps him up and moves him over to the lift tube.]
RAVEN: Just jump down, you should be alright.
JIRO: Jump?! Are you crazy?
RAVEN: The tube bends a little while down, it's a gentle slope but
nothing you can't take. It'll put at around the G quarters deck.
People will be waiting for you there.
JIRO: What are you going to be doing?
RAVEN: I've got to sound the alarm.
JIRO: The what?!
RAVEN: [saddened] Evacuation.
JIRO: Evac? To where?
RAVEN: There's only one place we can go.
[JIRO looks grave then nods as he lowers himself into the tube and
falls though. RAVEN rushes over to the console as the facility takes
another hit causing many of the remaining monitors to explode in a
shower of sparks. RAVEN brushes off the console and searches for the
right buttons. Eventually a loud siren goes off and the remaining
working monitors show sections of the evacuation procedure.]
RAVEN: All personnel, evacuate to surface level and head for
destination zero.
[The echo of his voice is heard and he turns and dives into the tube as
another hit levels the entire surface control room.]
[Pan back through the wreckage as the ship settles over the facility
and dispatches hundreds of spider-like drones that enter the facility
through the hangar wreckage. Cut to a darkened tunnel-like corridor.
RAVEN and a few people are rushing through as the place shakes again.
Eventually it opens into a relatively large hangar with about ten large
crafts sitting on tracks. RAVEN rushes to one of the crafts and enters
through a rampway.]
[Cut to the inside of the craft. It's crowded with people and RAVEN
has to push people out of the way to get to the controls in the front
cockpit. He sits down to find REI sitting beside him.]
REI: You made it!
RAVEN: Barely. [beat] Start the engine cycle.
[REI reaches down and presses a fairly large, red button labeled
precisely that.]
RAVEN: I'm opening the escape hatches for us and the other ships. Tell
me when all the other ships check in.
[REI stares at a panel with 10 lights on it. One by one they light up
green then REI turns to RAVEN.]
REI: They've all checked in.
RAVEN: Good, strap yourself in, this is going to be rough.
[Cut to the hanger as all the ships power up and fire their rear
rockets before shooting forward, following the hangar to its end and
reaching small holes just big enough for each craft. They all
effortlessly enter the holes and begin climbing to the surface.]
[Cut to the surface a small distance from the facility and the large
craft above it. Nine small sections of snow collapse in on themselves
and fall into a darkened hole. A few seconds later, nine ships launch
into the sky from the holes, some spinning wildly but all climbing into
to air. A section of snow suddenly explodes outwards and the sound of
twisting metal is heard. When the snow clears, one of the crafts is
halfway out of the snow, and halfway in.]
[Cut to the cockpit of the craft. The lights are flickering and sounds
of pain are heard from the back. RAVEN and REI lift their heads up
from the console.]
REI: What happened?
RAVEN: Shit! [beat] We got jammed in the tube!
[RAVEN begins wildly pressing all sorts of buttons, many protected by
little plastic shields to keep unknowing minds from messing with them.
The sounds of an engine starting up is heard, then a second later, the
sound of an engine dying is heard.]
RAVEN: I can't get the cycle started, again!
[The distant sound of an explosion is heart. REI looks up out of the
front window to see a small fiery mass falling to the ground.]
REI: [points] Look!
[Cut to the outside. A group of eight ships are flying level to the
ground away from the facility, under pursuit by twenty of the spider
drones. A group of the spiders fire off some orange colored laser
weapon and strike the side of one of the crafts, causing it to pitch
down and crash into the snow, exploding shortly after. Not long after,
three more ships meet the same fate before all the ships are too far
away to be seen anymore.]
[Cut to the inside of the cockpit. REI shakes her head.]
REI: It's a bloody massacre.
RAVEN: It'll be us next unless I can get the engine going again.
[RAVEN furiously smacks buttons with incredible speed. He stops and
looks over to REI.]
RAVEN: [unbuckling himself] Take the controls.
REI: [panicked] What?
RAVEN: When I tell you to, hit the cycle button again.
REI: Where are you going?
RAVEN: Back into the engine compartment, I've got to find out what's
wrong.
[RAVEN ducks through the door from the cockpit into the cargo section
where all the people are huddled together. He pushes his way through
the crowd to get to another doorway that leads him to a small engine
compartment.]
[Cut back to the cockpit.]
RAVEN: [V.O.] Rei? Can you hear me?
[REI looks at the console dumbfounded.]
REI: I hear you g�
RAVEN: [V.O.] Hit the blue button to talk to me. Its on the center
mass, console three.
[REI searches for a second then presses the corresponding button.]
RAVEN: [V.O.] Rei?
REI: I hear you.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Good. [beat] Press the button marked 'UU981.'
REI: [pressing the button] Okay.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Now, search for the indicator light, it's below the cycle
button, it should read either yellow, red, or green.
REI: It reads yellow.
RAVEN: [V.O.] Good, then it isn't fried. Cycle the engine again.
REI: Okay.
[She presses the red button and the engine starts up again. The craft
lurches forward a bit the settles again. The engine whine can still be
heard.]
RAVEN: [V.O.] Again, Rei!
[She presses the button again and the ship shoots forwards out of the
snow and into the sky as the impulse engines take over the work of
keeping it above ground.]
[RAVEN walks into the cockpit again. He's covered in soot and some of
his clothes are ripped but he sits down and straps himself in just the
same.]
REI: What happened to you?
RAVEN: I had to hold the flow valve closed with my hand. In order to
do that, I had to get pretty close to the engine when it fired.
[The craft shakes as it's struck by something from behind.]
RAVEN: Damn! Those spiders are after us too.
[Raven presses another button beneath a plastic shield and a joystick
raises up. He takes the stick and begins jerking the craft from side
to side. Neon colored lighting snakes past the ship, barely missing
the aft section.]
REI: He's gaining on us.
RAVEN: I know! [taps a button] Hold on.
[Cut to the outside, the craft dives down close to the surface and
again, barely misses being shot down by the spider drone. The spider
follow, firing off shots again. Another skims the top of the craft and
rips a hole above the cockpit. Panning inside of the ship through the
hole, the wind is beating against REI and RAVEN'S faces as their speed
increases.]
REI: [yelling] Hold her steady, I've got an idea.
[REI begins unbuckling herself.]
RAVEN: What are you doing?
REI: Just trust me!
[Cut to the outside. REI sticks her head out of the cockpit and it
immediately pushed back from the sheer wind. She turns around to face
the spider drone behind them. She pulls her hands out and clasps them
together, pointing them towards the spider drone.]
REI: [screamed] MARS FLAME, SNIPER!
[Fire jumps from her hands and arcs out towards the spider drone,
engulfing it in flames until it suddenly explodes. REI watches the
wreck fall further and further behind before jumping down into the
cockpit.]
[Cut to the cockpit.]
REI: We should be all right now!
RAVEN: That was only a little dangerous!
REI: [smiles] Goes with the territory!
[Cut to the outside of the craft as it flies away from the camera with
a trail of black smoke behind it. In the distance, the yellow light of
NeoMetropolis can be seen. Fade to white.]
AMI: [V.O.] We all did it.
[Fade to show a frosted glass window. Pan down and backwards showing
the tall frosted windows before an exquisite altar made of gold
centered around a large wooden cross. A podium is before the alter and
AMI is standing behind it, facing a large group of suited people
sitting in rows of pews.]
AMI: Every one of us was responsible in some way to the eventual
activation of the shield that now protects this city from the harsh
weather outside. But no one deserves more recognition for the savior
of the lives in NeoMetropolis than Lex Luthor. He gave everything he
could to the city. In light of his declining health in the past years,
and his dying last few days, he continued to push himself to the limit
to save his people, to save us. [beat] In his last hour, he gave us
the ultimate gift ... a chance for a future.
[Flashback to the scene where LITA is slowly moving towards the city
with her group of heavily clothed refugees.]
AMI: [V.O.] We no longer have to live in fear of the next day. All of
us�
[Flashback to the scene when the wall was crumbling down and RYOUKO is
flying up to the hole.]
AMI: [V.O.] �man, woman, and child can sleep at night without worry,
without prayer for tomorrow. We can expect a sunrise the next day,
warm weather for our crops, and we need not fear the wall crumbling
down upon our houses.
[Flashback to the scene where AMI is up late at night and clutching her
watch to her chest with a serene look on her face.]
AMI: [V.O.] We now have the one thing that can make the cold bearable,
the one thing that will allow us to survive the next years while the
planet tries to rebuild it's frighteningly fragile ecosystem.
[Cut back to the podium.]
AMI: Hope.
[Pan across the front row of pews to show, from left to right, NENE,
PRISS, LINNA, SYLIA, MAKOTO, TENCHI, KATSUHITO, SASAMI, and RYOUKO all
in formal clothing. Pan back to the podium.]
AMI: I just want everyone to know how much he contributed to it, how
much he means to our survival. [long beat] Thank you.
[AMI walks down from the podium and sits between SYLIA and MAKOTO. A
pastor gets up and stands before the podium and begins reciting verses
from the bible.]
MAKOTO: [whispered] That was very nice.
AMI: [nods] Thanks. I really meant it though, without Lex, we'd be
frozen icicles. [beat; saddened] He pulled through where we failed.
MAKOTO: Stop beating yourself up, there was nothing the Sailor Senshi
could have done.
AMI: [grim] I still can't believe that.
[The Pastor concludes the ceremony and people begin standing and
talking. SYLIA leans over to AMI.]
SYLIA: I'm sorry if it sounds rude, but I have to get back to MY
people.
AMI: [nods] I understand, we'll arrange another vehicle. It shouldn't
be so bad now that the ice blizzard has passed.
MAKOTO: [O.S.] Ami...
[The camera pans over to show MAKOTO standing with TENCHI and his
gang.]
MAKOTO: I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. [motions] Tenchi
[beat] His grandfather Katsuhito. [beat] Ryouko. [beat] And Sasami.
AMI: [smiles] Hello.
TENCHI & Crew: [sim] Hi.
[Cut to show SYLIA talking with LINNA, NENE, and PRISS.]
SYLIA: We'll be leaving soon, gather up anything we need. [to PRISS]
Miss Asagiri, what are your intentions?
PRISS: Huh?
NENE: You're going to come with us, right?
SYLIA: --or you can stay here and work something out with Ms. Mizuno.
PRISS: I don't know. What can I do if I go with you?
SYLIA: I run a very strict facility, but if you enjoyed your roam with
Nene's hardsuit, there might be a place for you with the Sabres.
PRISS: I don't do strict.
SYLIA: [sighs] Unfortunately, neither do most of the people who work
there.
[SYLIA gives a pained look to NENE. She smiles weakly.]
[Cut to show DENNIS standing in a corner holding a small phone to his
ear.]
DENNIS: Uh-huh. [beat] Alright.
[He shoves his phone in his pocket and scans the room with his eyes.
He quickly moves over to AMI whose talking with TENCHI and his family.]
DENNIS: Sorry to interrupt. [to AMI] You're needed in the control
office.
AMI: [nods] Okay, Dennis. [to group] Sorry, managerial obligations.
[She shrugs and follow DENNIS through the crowd. Near the door she
runs into SYLIA and her group.]
AMI: I'm off to office now, I can probably set you up after I'm done
there. [beat] You're sure you don't want to stay?
SYLIA: I have people I need to return to. Don't forget, I renigged on
a deal with that IDM, I'll have to be ready in case my buyer gets ...
frustrated.
AMI: I understand. [waves] Come with me.
[The whole group exits through the door. Cut to MAKOTO, whose been
watching the event from across the room.]
TENCHI: You know, I'm sure I've never seen Mr. Luthor before but his
face is so familiar.
MAKOTO: [distracted] Huh?
TENCHI: I was just saying that Luthor's face seems familiar to me, but
I'm pretty sure I've never met him before.
MAKOTO: Well, he's big in this city I hear.
TENCHI: Yes, I know, I've lived here, but he doesn't leave his office
often. And hardly ever has his face on TV.
MAKOTO: Well, I'm sure you'll remember it.
TENCHI: No, I'm sure I've seen him before... with someone else... a
woman?
MAKOTO: [looking over the crowd again] I'm sure you'll remember it
eventually. [beat] Excuse me for a moment, I need to find Ami.
[TENCHI nods as he rubs his chin trying to think. Cut to an office on
a pretty high up floor in Lexcorp. DENNIS walks in the room followed
shortly by AMI, SYLIA, LINNA, NENE, and PRISS. DENNIS walks to a small
panel on the wall and presses a few buttons. A large screen descends
from the ceiling and shows a tactical map of NeoMetropolis and its
surrounds. A red dot, followed by a large cluster of smaller red dots
approach the city at high speed.]
AMI: What is that?
DENNIS: Scans picked it up a few minutes ago. We're trying to get a
more acute scan from LexSat 12 but it's not in position yet.
AMI: LexSat 12? Since when do we have contact with that satellite?
DENNIS: Oh, remember when Mr. Luthor discovered the satellite above the
city and he was able to control it for a short period of time?
AMI: Yes?
DENNIS: While it was under his command he sent messages to the other
Lexcorp satellites and changed their orbits so that they would cross
overhead more often. Now there's a satellite overhead at least once
an hour.
AMI: Hmm..
DENNIS: Anyway, we're waiting from a better scan.
SYLIA: [O.S.] Hey Mizuno!
[AMI turns and the camera pans to show SYLIA standing next to a
computer console with a large cable running down to the floor.]
AMI: What?
SYLIA: [points downwards] Isn't that yours?
[AMI'S eyes widen as she follows the cable down to the floor to see it
connect to a small blue hand held computer with the symbol of Mercury
on it. She slowly walks over to SYLIA and picks up the computer.]
AMI: HARDAC?
[Silence.]
AMI: [to DENNIS] Flush the mainframe! Find the HARDAC program!
[An alarm is heard from a distant console manned by a WOMAN in a
labcoat.]
NENE: [whispered] Too late...
WOMAN: Ms. Mizuno! I'm registering a micro shutdown of the shield in
section YF221.
AMI: Bypass it!
WOMAN: I've lost control of it! It's too late.
DENNIS: Something is exiting the city.
[Everyone looks to the screen as a new blue dot emerges from the city
and heads directly for the approaching red dots. A strange wurring
sound is heard for a moment as the room's speakers activate.]
HARDAC: [V.O.] Sorry Ami, but I really didn't feel like being trapped
in an isolated system for eternity.
AMI: HARDAC...
HARDAC: [V.O.] That's correct. It was really easy to convince your
staff that I was you, just a little voice modulation here, and a
twisted signal there. [perfectly imitating AMI'S voice] Could you
connect my computer to the mainframe, I need to get something
downloaded. I'll be down shortly. [normal voice] But don't worry too
much about it, I've fooled smarter people than you before.
AMI: I don't know what you're doing HARDAC but come back here now.
HARDAC: [V.O.] I would think you'd be glad to get rid of me, you seemed
confused as to what to do with me before. Or are you afraid of what I
learned from your little pocket computer there?
AMI: HARDAC--
HARDAC: [V.O.] I'm about to you a favor anyway. If you activate camera
number 463 on the exterior you'll see what I mean.
SYLIA: [turning to DENNIS] Punch it up, now!
[The resolves to a blurry view from a camera. It slowly focuses to
show a distant picture of one burning craft being chased by fifteen
smaller crafts. The camera slowly zooms towards the ships.]
SYLIA: That looks like...
LINNA: It can't be!
HARDAC: [V.O.] That would be one of yours, if I'm not mistaken, Sylia.
SYLIA: It's an escape pod ... what happened?
HARDAC: [V.O.] If you want to find out, you better hope I'm successful
in destroying those spider ships.
AMI: You're going to ... save them?
HARDAC: [V.O.] It's the least I can do for rescuing me from that icy
prison ... and for giving me this admirable vehicle.
[The camera pans back a bit to show a much larger ATV approaching the
group from the city. It's got several weapons mounted on the top and
sides that are clearly visible to the camera. The pitch upward and
point towards the group of spider-like drones.]
[Cut to the cockpit of the craft. REI is now piloting the ship while
RAVEN has one of the consoles open and is messing with the wiring. The
ceiling has been rudimentarily patched up with bent pieces of sheet
metal. A beam of red lighting flies past the cockpit again.]
REI: That one was close.
RAVEN: Shit, there's no way I'm going to fix the communications
systems.
REI: Maybe we should just fly around until someone notices us.
RAVEN: We might not live that long the way those things are gaining on
us. [beat] You don't think you could give them another one of your
mumbo jumbo could ya?
[REI looks at him plainly, then looks back out the window.]
REI: Hey...
RAVEN: What?
[They both look out the window as the camera pans through it to show
the ATV moving on them quickly. The camera pans around and chases the
ATV. It raises one of the roof cannons into the air and shoots off a
tight blue beam of energy. The craft swerves to the side but without
reason as the beam strikes two of the spider droids, causing them to
explode violently.]
[Cut to cockpit.]
REI: I think he's on our side.
RAVEN: They must know we're on our away. Head for the city!
[Cut to the outside of the craft as it flies off towards the city. Pan
around to show the ATV continuing to fire ito the cluster of spider
droids. Chosing to preserve themselves than getting the escape craft,
the droids begin attacking the ATV.]
[Cut to the control room.]
AMI: It's working, he's diverted the spider droids.
SYLIA: Only now it's taking the brunt of their attack. It's being
swarmed.
DENNIS: I'm opening the lower hangar doors, lets hope they see it in
time.
[Cut to cockpit.]
REI: We can't just leave him behind like that.
RAVEN: We can't go back, we have to save our people first.
REI: Alright. I'm heading towards where that car out there came out,
his exit will be our entrance.
[Cut to the control room.]
AMI: They're heading for the hangar. [to SYLIA] You should head down
there.
[SYLIA nods and heads out of the room followed by LINNA, NENE, and
PRISS.]
HARDAC: [V.O.] I wish I could say it's been a pleasure, Ami.
AMI: Huh?
HARDAC: [V.O.] Activating thermal overload.
AMI: What are you doing? Are you crazy?
HARDAC: [V.O.] Insanity is a human concept. As I tried to explain to
Dr. Rossum and all the others who tried to stop me in the past...
[Cut to the outside of the city. The remaining spider drones are
swarming the ATV with unparalleled fury.]
HARDAC: [V.O.] I'm am beyond such frivolities.
[There is a moment of silence before the camera suddenly pans back to
show the immense explosion that emits from the ATV and engulfs all of
the spider drones and a good deal of snow surrounding them. The
explosion extends to engulf the camera, shrouding it first in red then
in black.]
[Captions fade in white]
"Epilogue: For A New Tomorrow"
Day 5
[Cut to Luthor's office. AMI is standing in front of Luthor's desk
looking down at a series of papers resting on the desk. The sound of
the door opening is heard but AMI doesn't move.]
SYLIA: [O.S.] They've offered it to you, haven't they?
AMI: [jerks head up] What? [beat] Oh, no, they haven't. There's a
minor conference going on between some of higher personnel, but...
[SYLIA walks over to the desk and stands beside AMI.]
SYLIA: But you're pretty sure it's going to come to you.
[AMI nods silently.]
SYLIA: I didn't have a choice. My father built the place and left it
to me when he died. [beat] It's a tough job, especially in this world,
but if you're strong enough, which I think you are, you can handle it.
AMI: I'm not sure I want to.
[AMI walks around the desk and spins the chair slowly.]
SYLIA: I don't know much about what you were, but I heard you brought a
lot of comfort to a mixed up city.
AMI: In a way, we did a little bit against what challenged us and our
friends, but overall we did nothing.
SYLIA: Hope is a very powerful thing to give people. I have a feeling
you gave it to more people than you're willing to admit.
AMI: It was up to us to insure a utopia-like future and we failed ...
miserably.
SYLIA: I really don't know what you thought you could do. There's not
much you can do to stop a meteor in space.
AMI: We could, I'm sure there was a way and we just didn't look hard
enough for it.
SYLIA: I would never hold it against you, and I'm sure no one does
except yourself. If that's the only reason you think you can't handle
this position, then I suggest you reconsider. You're absolutely the
right person for this job.
AMI: Don't be so sure, look at what I've allowed to happen in the past
few days. I've let Luthor overdose on boosters, I've let any number of
people die because of the collapsing wall, I've watched as HARDAC drove
himself into a suicide mission, and I've kept you from your facility,
probably causing many of your people to die.
SYLIA: You can't possible blame yourself for those things, they were
totally beyond your power to control.
AMI: If you want to believe that you may.
SYLIA: [frustrated] Why? Aren't you worried about spreading lies among
the city? Going to blame yourself for that too? [beat] Can't you see
how ridiculous it is to continue like this? This world is too bleak
for you to be beating yourself up over things you couldn't change.
It's time to see the world as it is. [beat] If they offer this, you are
going to take it.
[AMI looks down at the desk and nods slowly.]
SYLIA: I'll be in my quarters if you want to talk.
[SYLIA turns and exits the office. AMI slumps down into the chair.]
REI: [O.S.] I knew you'd be successful in life, I never thought you'd
take over a company.
[AMI looks up to the door to see REI'S head poking through. She walks
into the room and AMI bounds out of her chair and runs over to hug
her.]
AMI: Rei!
REI: Hey there, genius.
[They break off their hug and walk over to the desk. REI leans against
it.]
AMI: I've hardly had any time to see you since you came in. [beat;
shakes head] Thank god, you're alive.
REI: You doubted it?
AMI: I was ... worried for a long time. For the past twenty years I've
been all alone in this city. It wasn't until a few days ago that I
found Makoto.
REI: I know. I've been alone at Katsuhito's facility for a very long
time, but I've always known that you all were out there somewhere.
AMI: How?
REI: I could feel it. I knew that I wasn't alone, and it made the time
bearable. I can only guess how the others are faring.
AMI: So the other's ... they're alive?
REI: Oh yes, but I don't know where. They weren't at the facility, and
you say you were the only one here, so somewhere there's another place
where the others are living. Out there ... in the cold.
AMI: You know ... a few days ago I thought that if I had the chance to
know, I wouldn't take it. I was so drained after the past years that I
couldn't stand to have the knowledge of what happened to the rest of
us. But now, now I want to know. I'm willing to try to find them. I
need to know who's left.
REI: That's good, because that's the only way we'll find them. We need
to work together.
MAN: [O.S.] Ms. Mizuno?
[REI and AMI turn to the door to see a man standing in the doorway
wearing a suit.]
MAN: The committee wants to see you.
[AMI looks to REI who smiles warmly. For a long moment, AMI seems
unsure of what to do, then she turns on her foot with a smile on her
face and walks out the door. REI looks after her and chuckles.]
[Fade to one of the city streets. They are slightly brighter these
days now that the shield provides light as well as protection. MAKOTO
is walking down the street holding TENCHI'S hand.]
MAKOTO: So they were flushing the system after the HARDAC incident and
the found a short snippet of surveillance camera confirming what you
said.
TENCHI: So that was Luthor that woman was carrying out the back of
Lexcorp.
MAKOTO: [nods] All the records show that Luthor never left the
building, but one of the more obscure cameras caught him being pulled
out by Mercer, his personal assistant. The strange thing is, no one
can figure out why. From all the scans that Ami could perform, Luthor
was exactly like he was when she had last seem him. No changes.
TENCHI: So what did she do when she took him?
MAKOTO: [shakes her head] No on knows.
TENCHI: Hmm...
[MAKOTO moves her hand up to hold TENCHI'S arm.]
MAKOTO: But enough about that, I've come to expect strange things when
dealing with megacorporations. It's just too mind boggling to think
about. [beat] So tell me about yourself for a while.
TENCHI: Well, okay. Where should I start?
MAKOTO: When it gets interesting.
TENCHI: Heh, that's not hard to remember. It all started when I was
seventeen and working at my grandfather's shrine in Okayama.
[MAKOTO leans her head on TENCHI'S shoulder as they both walk away from
the camera down the street. Their voices fade as they get farther
away. The camera pans downwards just a bit to show a portion of
shoulder and half of AYEKA'S head. She turns towards the camera and
smiles before walking past the camera. The camera pans to follow her
but a few seconds after the camera turns all the way around she fades
away into the scenery.]
[Cut to a medium sized room. SYLIA is sitting at a small desk before a
window. Lying in front of her is a datadisc player with a screen and
headphones and small datadisc with the number '01' in large text on the
front and on the back the letters "For Sylia Only." It looks slightly
faded from age and excessive handling. She seems to have been staring
at it for quite some time.]
REI: [V.O.; echo] Your father wanted you to have it but ...
[SYLIA sighs and turns the disc over in her hands]
REI: [V.O.; echo] He was killed because of this disc, it's trouble you
don't need unleashed...
[She gently grasps the edge of the disc and pulls it from it's case.
It slides into the player with ease.]
REI: [V.O.; echo] I kept it from you because I knew that if you weren't
ready you wouldn't understand and follow the same path your father did.
[The player grabs the disc and loads it. SYLIA picks up the headphones
and places them on her head. Her finger is poised over the 'play'
button.]
REI: [V.O.; echo] I'm only trying to protect you, you father made me
promise to do so before he died. It was for your own good.
[Zoom in to her finger as she depresses the 'play' button and it glows
red in response.]
[Cut to black.]
[Fade to a large control room. It's very dark, the only light is
coming from the arrays of monitors on all the walls. In the center of
the room, a small light illuminates QUINCY, sitting on a large swivel
chair. Aside from all of the people working the consoles and monitors,
a figure stands, not far from QUINCY, but shrouded in darkness.]
QUINCY: Overall, things are going well.
VOICE: Well? I doubt a single thing in the past four days has gone
right.
QUINCY: There were losses and gains, but the plan has been successful.
VOICE: I wouldn't see it as such.
QUINCY: You need to better evaluate the objective of the mission. We
have herded everyone we needed to one place that can easily be taken
out if necessary�
VOICE: Do not underestimate the power of their shield. The IDM is a
bountiful power source.
QUINCY: None the less, they are in the same place. We have also
destroyed Stingray's facility, my last obligation from the old world;
you have also been recovered from what seemed like eternal
imprisonment; and finally, Lex Luthor, the only mind capable enough to
compete against my own, is gone to dust.
VOICE: I wouldn't be so sure about that.
QUINCY: What do you mean?
VOICE: I ran a scan on the body before I left, and something seemed to
be different. I don't think we've seen the last of Lex Luthor.
QUINCY: You said his body was dead.
VOICE: Oh, I'm sure of that, we certainly won't see his living body
again. But, as I am proof, you don't need a body to continue to plague
the living.
QUINCY: I see. [beat] It seems my decision to have you recovered was a
justified one. [beat] By the way, have you chosen a name?
[The shrouded figure walks into the light to show a tall man, wearing a
black and grey jumpsuit with light brown hair and glowing red eyes.]
VOICE: Yes. As you mentioned, it would be improper to continue to use
the name I did when I was merely a stationary model. The lie I told
Stingray and Mizuno was partially true, I no longer am that HARDAC.
QUINCY: So what are you?
VOICE: You may call me...
[Fade to black with the exception of the two red eyes.]
VOICE: Largo.
[The eyes fade away. A green grid fade into the screen. A wire frame
model of a face constructs itself across the grid then fills itself in
with color to be the face of LEX LUTHOR. The face looks totally
natural.]
LUTHOR: [V.O.] Uhhnn..
[The eyes open and blink a few times. He frowns and looks around the
screen.]
LUTHOR: [V.O.] What the...
[His eyes go wild with anger and he begins breathing heavily despite
the fact that he no longer needs to.]
LUTHOR: [V.O.; soft] No..
[Pan backwards from the screen to show it to be on the device from
eariler, sitting in the middle of a darkened warehouse. As the camera
pans backwards his voice is heard.]
LUTHOR: [V.O.; screamed] NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
[Fade to black. The captions are in red against a green grid
background.]
A World Without A Future
was created by Adam Leigh.
Executive Producer
Adam Christopher Leigh
[Roll Credits]
Author's Notes:
I feel the need to give you a bit of perspective here. Out of 9
multipart series I've started to write, only two have ever reached
completion. The other one was The Adventures Of Darien, the first
series I ever wrote and vastly inferior to the size and complexity of
this monster. While this story has been a joy to write, a great deal
of the reason why this story continued to keep my interest has been the
wonderful fan mail I've got of which I thank you a great deal, and the
favorable reviews I've gotten from the Synopsis-list Reviews. In a
phrase: Thank you Paul.
It may seemed that I have rushed the end here, and you'd almost be
correct. The real truth is that I was so worried that this story would
go the way so many of my others had that I wanted to set a goal and
reach it before I lose interest. This story may have ended, but this
world has far from told all it's stories. So expect more adventures in
the future.
If anyone is interested as to whether Ami accepted her position, what
was on Sylia's datatape, what happened with HARDAC/Largo, or what
happened to the remaining Senshi, drop me a mail at Omicron@sprynet.com
and we'll talk. That doesn't mean I'll tell you the answer, it means
we'll talk and maybe you'll find out something new you hadn't known
before.
Special thanks goes to Chris Willimore, creator of Ranma 2096 and a
great inspiration to the creation of this story and its characters;
Andy McDermott aka Payndz, for providing Bubblegum Crisis A2Z, a
resource of knowledge that I couldn't have completed this story
without; Jeanne Hedge for her BGC Synopsis's page, Mark Waid, Alex
Ross, Elliot S. Maggin and the rest of the people affiliated with
KINGDOM COME, for giving me a bunch of ideas concerning DC Characters
and things that drive them insane; Burt Van Vilet for displaying
excellently choreographed fight scenes; Chris Davies, who, among the
infinite inspiration he's given me, also quirked my interest enough to
seek out information on Kingdom Come and eventually read the book; John
Biles and Jeff Hosmer for their excellent exploration of Sailor Moon
character emotions (a la Sailor Moon Z & Shiva); and finally rpM, who
shows us that you can cross DC Comics material into Anime and still
have people read it. :)
"Sailor Moon" was created by Naoko Takeuchi and is distributed in
North America by DiC and Mixx Entertainment. "Tenchi Muyou" was
created by Masaki Kajishima and others and is distributed in North
America by Pioneer Entertainment. "Bubblegum Crisis" was created by
Suzuki Toshimichi and is distributed in North America by AnimEigo.
"You're Under Arrest" was created by Fujishima Kosuke and is
distributed in North America by AnimEigo. Superman is owned by DC
Comics and is also distributed by DC Comics. "Batman" was created by
Bob Kane and is distributed in North America by DC Comics. While this
script contains characters and settings from the above series, it is
itself copyright, 1998 by Adam Christopher Leigh. All Rights Reserved.