Starboard Side

Episode 101: Unbroken a.k.a. A Pilot in 22 Minutes

Screenplay by Jared Williams

Story by Hannah Carlson and Jared Williams

 

Summary:

Taking place after the end of Captives, Amideas is still on a mission to take Camella to GEF Headquarters for trial. On the way, the ship experiences trouble. They make an emergency landing on a hostile planet and, while looking for ship parts, find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war. The episode title refers to Solomon's words, "Three are not easily broken.”

 

Act One

 

Fade In:

 

EXT. MARSH – EYE LEVEL shot

 

The golden light of the sun is gleaming through the trees, swaying in the slight wind. There is much wildlife to be heard, and steam is rising from the wetlands. It’s impossibly muggy, but at the same time a natural setting. It’s a serene moment until the scene slowly makes its entry.

 

A puff of smoke makes its way on screen from left. In the background, SFX of gun shots and explosions can be heard, quietly and sparse at first, but then growing in both volume and consistency.

 

Two explosions erupt in the background, one after another. They grow into mushroom clouds and then to smoke.

 

Two rugged HUMANOID SOLDIERS enter LEFT, jogging and struggling to keep a grasp on their accessories. Each is wielding a Vietnam-Era style assault rifle and dressed in camouflage colors (modernized, of course). They are sweating heavily. SOLDIER #1 has a cut on his forehead, bleeding onto his shirt. SOLDIER #2 is staggered behind the first, and he staggers from fatigue.

 

Soldier #1 turns to help Soldier #2 up.

Soldier 1
(ST over alien language)

No! No! Get up, we’ve gotta keep moving.

 

Soldier 2 (ST)

Yeah, let’s... let’s go!

 

The two soldiers keep running, and the camera switches angles to follow them. They proceed through the marsh, bullets zooming past them in wisps of orange and yellow. They smash into trees and shatter them. They lose visibility in the fog from the marsh, and Soldier 2 catches a bullet in the back. He yells in agony and falls to the ground.

 

Soldier 1 moves to help him once more.

 

Soldier 1 (ST)

Topa! Get up! We have to move.

 

Topa (ST)

No, you go! I can not…

 

Soldier 1 (ST)

They are coming, Topa! We have to go!

 

Topa grabs onto Soldier One’s collar.

 

Topa (ST)

Go! Leave me here!

 

Topa lets his head fall, and dies on the ground where he lies. Soldier one nods at the corpse, and gets back up to run. The camera stays positioned on Topa as soldier one fades into the fog. Several moments later the boots of a new faction of soldiers step over Topa’s body. They are dressed in much more organized uniforms than the first two soldiers, and have an all around militant look to them.

 

The camera goes back to Soldier #1. He keeps running, trying to escape an inevitable fate. When at last he can run no more he stops and stands behind a tree, trying to catch his breath. The sounds of war can still be heard in the BG, but they’re quieter, suggesting Soldier 1 has escaped the battle. He calms down, until we see a pistol come into frame. It is armed just as it’s pointed at his head, and his eyes squint.

 

WIDE OUT shot of the tree. Through the fog we see three of the organized soldiers standing around Solider #1, who is shielded by the tree. The trigger of the pistol is pulled, and Soldier 1 falls to the ground, out from behind the tree.

 

CU of the organized soldiers

 

They peer down at the deceased enemy, the one that shot him taking the role of a commander.

 

Commander (ST)

Check him…

 

The two remaining soldiers kneel down and check Soldier #1 for any sort of ID. They rip open his shirt and dig through his bag, disregarding the body of any care or consideration.

 

Militant Soldier #1 (ST)

I think I found something!

 

Militant Soldier 1 takes a small, wallet-like pouch out of the deceased’s jacket and hands it to Commander. The Commander opens it, revealing an ID card of the dead soldier.

 

Commander (ST)

Nothing. He was merely infantry. Dispose of him.

 

The two other soldiers reach for small, pistol-sized guns on their back. They both tap a switch on the side which exposes a small flame out of the tip. They then place their hands on the trigger and aim at the dead soldier.

 

Commander (ST)

Wait! Wait! Take his gear first.

 

The other two soldiers move to take the dead soldier’s bag, placing their guns on the ground. They toss it to the side as the camera pushes out.

 

The two soldiers pick up their pistols and pull the trigger. Flame erupts from the two guns in a constant stream. They ignite the deceased (conveniently positioned behind some shrubs to haze the image) as Commander picks up the bag and gear and starts to walk away. The Wide shot of this continues up until we

 

Fade To:

 

Opening Titles

 

Fade Through Black:

 

EXT. SPACE – HYPERSPACE

 

Follow the RYUU-3 as it travels through hyperspace. The Stars become colorful lines in Trekkish fashion. It’s a powerful ship, it should impress the audience. The shining metal and artillery suggest this ship could easily take on anything it needed to.

 

Cut to:

 

INT. RYUU-3 – COCKPIT

 

Random lights and consoles decorate the crowded cockpit of the Ryuu-3. Reveal our hero characters, AMIDEAS and CAMELLA WINCHESTER, both sitting in the cockpit chairs. Amideas is efficiently tapping on the controls of the console while Camella’s hands are concealed, on her lap underneath the console. It’s completely silent, which succeeds in annoying Camella.

 

Camella

Would it kill you to talk a little bit?

 

Amideas

I have nothing to talk about.

 

Camella (sarcastically)

Oh, really? Nothing to talk about? So you wouldn’t have anything to say about the fact that you’re carrying me to my death, hmm?

 

Camella lifts her hands out of her lap to reveal that they’re cuffed together. She holds them in front of her head before placing them back down on her lap. Amideas turns and looks at her, his eyes flashing pink for just a moment.

 

Amideas

Your fake anger cleverly disguised as sarcasm won’t make any difference.

 

Camella
(Smiling)
Okay, you caught me.

 

Amideas

Silence on this trip would be applicable. The GEF will not allow a criminal to speak as much as I have.

 

Camella

Oh! God as my witness, I will annoy them, at least…

 

Silence ensues, at which point Cam starts looking curiously around the cockpit. She begins pushing certain buttons, tugging at certain controls and what not. Pressing one of the buttons slightly causes the ship to brake, also causing both her and Ami to jolt forward a bit. Afterward the ship resumes its smooth course.

 

Ami ignores it for a bit, and continues to pilot the ship. Camella persists in pressing the button, which proceeds to jolt them forward.

 

Cam looks over at Ami, smiling. He ignores her and continues to pilot the ship, adjusting to the jolts. Cam’s smile slowly fades into a frown.

 

Camella

That doesn’t bug you?!

 

Amideas

I can almost assure you it disturbs you more than it does me.

 

Camella

Oh you know what? FINE! I didn’t wanna bug you anyway. I guess I’ll just sit here quietly, waiting for my own death.

 

Amideas

I am curious. Why didn’t you attempt to escape? You had ample opportunity.

 

Camella

Ahah! I’m not gonna tell you! See how you like that! That question will just sit there in the back of your mind until…

 

Amideas
(eyes flash white)

Query deleted.

 

Camella

Touché, my robotic adversary.

 

Silence once again ensues, and before long Cam starts bouncing in her chair to a song she is humming in her head (the theme to “Batman Returns”). A red light goes off on her side of the console and the song she is humming takes a dramatic turn, as if she’s doing her own theme music. She presses the button and makes a “dun dunnn” reveal sound. On her side of the screen a small schematic of the ship appears.

 

Angle on the schematic. The rear left quadrant of the ship (top view) flashes white, the rest of the schematic remaining red. It’s silent.

 

Camella

Um, Ami… I think there’s something wrong with your ship.

 

Amideas

(Ignoring her, piloting)

Camella, I have to hand it to you. Your persistence is unmatched.

 

Camella

Well, while I do gracefully accept such a compliment...

 

She reaches over to his head and forces him to look at her half of the console.

Camella

Look!

 

Amideas scans the schematic, surveying the problem before turning back to his own console.

 

Camella

What is it?

 

Amideas

The ship’s in trouble.

 

Camella

Trouble? What trouble?! Shouldn’t you robot types know everything wrong with your ships before you take off?

 

Amideas

Unforeseeable, I’m afraid. It would appear we purchased poor coolant in dimension BB. The trajectory relays are about to burst.

 

Camella

Is that bad?

 

The lights along the roof of the cockpit fade, and a series of red lights take their place. There is a definite powering-down sound effect.

 

Amideas

Pretty bad.

 

Amideas undoes his safety restraints and gets out of his seat. He quietly exits the cockpit, leaving Camella by herself.

 

Camella

Okay then! I’ll just stay up here! Alone! …With all the controls!

 

Cut to:

 

INT. RYUU-3 – CORRIDOR

 

A door to the corridor swings open and AMIDEAS runs through. The lights in this corridor are as red as those in the cockpit. Ami rushes to a side panel on the wall of the corridor. Smoke is pouring through the slits on it already. Amideas reaches for it and tears the cover off, tossing it aside where it lands off screen with a clunk. Even more smoke pours out of the open console, accompanied by sparks. Amideas’s eyes intensify in their red glow, improving his vision.

 

Amideas reaches into the smoking console, sparks flying onto his arms and chest. They fizzle out, leaving ash on his coverings. He fumbles in there a bit, feeling around the damaged computer chips and what not. Finally he reaches one conclusion and pulls the entire motherboard out of the console.

 

Amideas holds it up and examines it further before dropping it on the metal floor and rushing back into the cockpit.

 

Cut to:

 

INT. RYUU-3 – COCKPIT

 

AMIDEAS enters the cockpit once more to see Camella trying to saw her cuffs off using the edge of the console, to no success. She looks up at him and quickly places her hands on her lap, but obviously glad she was noticed.

 

Camella

Oh, you’re back! Boy, am I glad! I didn’t think I could take much more of this solitude.

 

Amideas moves to the right wall of the cockpit and inspects a pull out compartment. He opens it and reaches in, pulling out a metallic key. He looks over to Camella and tosses it to her.

 

Amideas

Use this.

 

Camella fails to catch it at first and shrugs, bending over to pick it up off the floor.

 

Camella

What for?

 

Amideas takes his seat in the cockpit, strapping himself in. He looks briefly over at Cam.

 

Amideas

I need you to assist with the emergency procedures.

 

Camella manages to undo her cuffs and tosses them over her shoulder. Ironically she pockets the key.

 

Camella

You failed that badly, huh?

 

Amideas reaches over to her half of the console and presses a few buttons which bring up a display of the closest solar system to their position. It’s an orbital display, the orbits represented by rings around the sun.

 

Amideas

I need you to locate a suitable planet to land on. Make sure it’s inhabited.

 

Camella

What’re you gonna do?

 

Amideas

Keep the ship from exploding in the meantime.

 

Camella

Oh, if we weren’t pressed for time I’d think out the technical details of making a wise comment that somehow involves preventing the ship from exploding using your cold, emotionless heart!

 

Amideas

In the time it took you to say that we could’ve found a planet to land on.

 

Camella gives Ami a sarcastic “fine!” look and glares downward at the console. She randomly taps a planet on the console, which brings a CU of that planet accompanied with a description. It’s conveniently an Earth-like planet.

 

Camella

How ‘bout this one?

 

Despite her obviously random choice, Amideas peers to give it a closer look. He nods.

 

Amideas

Yes… Yes, that will do fine. Is it inhabited?

 

Amideas is forced to look back at his own console while Camella surveys the information on her own screen with her finger.

 

Camella

Checking… population: nearly six-million. Why is that so important?

 

Amideas

We’re going to need parts. We’re not likely to get those from a planet with no people on it, are we?

 

Camella

Always planning! That’s what I like about you, big Blue.

 

Amideas taps a series of buttons between the two consoles that causes a projector in the center of the console to bring up a holographic display against the view shield. It points out the location of the planet and displays a course on which to follow in order to settle on it.

 

Camella

Impressive…

 

Amideas

Not bad for a ship that started out as a shuttle for the Justice League.

 

Push out and Wipe to:

 

EXT. SPACE – SOLAR SYSTEM

 

The Ryuu-3 slows down and veers onto its left side, changing direction to head for the plotted planet. The camera angle pans to a shot directly behind the ship.

 

The right engine explodes, cascading smoke onto US. The ship slows down as debris starts to fall off, and it spins around 180 degrees so that it’s belly is to the atmosphere of the planet. Orange heat glistens off the ship as it enters the atmosphere.

 

NEW ANGLE FROM THE PLANET’S SURFACE – WHEAT FIELD

 

From this view we can see the ship enter the inner atmosphere, leaving a trail of grey behind it, like a jet in the sky. As it slowly reaches the surface, it disappears behind a row of trees quite a distance away from the field.

 

Cut To:

 

INT. RYUU-3 – COCKPIT

 

AMIDEAS is struggling to keep the ship level, sounds of the burning engine being heard from the back. CAMELLA is simply gripping the edges of the console, her eyes ridiculously wide.

 

Camella

You’re gonna crash us, Ami!

 

Amideas

I can assure you, I am more skilled than the most experienced human… (Glances over at her) or faerie pilot you could ever encounter.

 

Camella takes one of her arms and shields her eyes, but still maintaining her sarcasm. An angel on Amideas shows him steering as the ship speeds toward the ground. The ship thrusts into the earth and Amideas is tossed toward camera. Just before his head would smash into it we

 

Cut through Black

 

ACT TWO

EXT. MARSH – DAY

 

The RYUU-3 sits semi-level in the marsh. It looks dirty, but in salvageable. The right engine is still damaged, and the hull around it is scorched. Smoke is flooding out of the rear, venting every few seconds.

 

Amideas (VO)

See? It could have been worse.

 

Cut to:

 

INT. RYUU-3 – COCKPIT

 

Amideas is rattled, leaning back in his chair. His safety belt has held, and he’s in good health. The consoles are still lit, but the blinking of the lights and switches as slowed, to suggest that the ship itself is tired or sleeping.

 

Ami’s eyes flash between red and white several times.

 

 

Amideas

Well I seem relatively undamaged. I will require no immediate repair. How are you doing?

 

Amideas looks over to Camella, to which the camera pans. Her head is down on the console, her hair a mess. She is clearly unconscious.

 

Amideas

Camella?

 

He receives no response, and he cocks his head. In what would be worry if he were a human his eyes quickly flash pink.

 

Amideas

Quit faking.

 

Camella realizes she’s been found out, and looks up at him, her hair still a mess. She’s still smiling, though.

 

Camella

You know, one day I’m gonna make you tell me how you do that.

 

Amideas

It’s no secret. I was engineered that way.

 

Camella’s smile turns into a smirk. Amideas undoes his safety belt and starts to stand.

 

Amideas

Now, get up and help me.

 

Camella

Oh, it’s not enough that I’m your prisoner! I have to be your slave too?

 

Amideas

No, if you prefer you can stay here in the cockpit.

 

Camella

Maybe I’ll just do that.

 

Amideas

(On his way out)

Although, without any sort of knowledge on how to work the ship it might be hard to get food or water, or anything else you might require while I’m gone. It could be several days.

 

Amideas exits the ship. Cam sits for a few moments trying to maintain her dominance, but ultimately buckles and gets out of her chair, going after Ami.

 

Cut to:

 

EXT. RYUU-3

 

The ramp of the ship lowers revealing AMIDEAS. He looks to his left, then his right, assessing the damage to the bottom of the ship. After the ramp is finished he walks forward, toward the bow of the ship, still looking up at the dirt and grit covering it.

 

A new angle on his boots shows his feet sink about four inches with his first step off of the ramp.

 

We go back to an UB angle on Ami. He looks down on his boot and recoils, mimicking disgust. He steps backward onto the ramp. Camella enters behind him.

 

Camella

Don’t like to get your pretty little toes muddy?

 

Amideas

I don’t have toes. If you must know, I was being cautious of any possible contagions. I didn’t want to expose them to you.

 

Camella walks right past him and onto the marshy wetland. Because of her light weight, she stays level on it. Ami watches her from the ramp.

 

Amideas

You know I’m going to make you go through de-con before we get back on the ship now.

 

Amideas once again steps onto the marsh, accompanied by squishy SFX. He exaggerates his step, lifting his knees higher than they need to be. As he walks, he looks upward at the ship, his eyes flashing yellow.

 

Camella

Looks like it’s mostly dirt.

 

Amideas

I told you to have faith in my piloting abilities. Besides the starboard engine, of which I had no control over, there appears to be no problem.

 

Camella

Then you can fix it, Superbot?

 

Amideas surveys the ship, looking all the way from the stern to the bow.

 

Amideas

Yes, but not without the spare parts I mentioned.

 

Camella

How bad is it?

 

Amideas

With the parts, it shouldn’t take me more than a couple hours.

 

Camella

And without them?

 

Amideas

Well then we’re not leaving.

 

Camella

Oh, well thanks for taking a huge risk on whether or not the people on this planet are as modernized as you!

 

Amideas turns away from the ship and starts walking deeper into the jungle.

 

Camella

What are you doing?

 

Amideas

There isn’t a better way to find civilization than to look for it, is there?

 

Cam turns and starts to follow Ami away from the landing site. They disappear into the fog.

 

Fade to:

 

MONTAGE!

 

EXT. JUNGLE

 

Ami leads Cam through the wilderness, his eyes glowing a more brilliant red than usual. He has no problem bending the branches and things in their way until they break.

 

Amideas

Are you having any trouble?

 

Camella

Nah! Although I do know a person or two who would’ve lost their lunch at the site of that dead mammal back there.

 

Amideas

Your younger brother?

 

Camella

Hah, he’d probably just think it was cool and laugh.

 

Fade to:

 

EXT. JUNGLE CLEARING

 

AMIDEAS and CAMELLA reach a cliff side in which the jungle ends. The approach the edge, looking down at what appears to be a COMPOUND, hectically constructed from steel and concrete. Amideas crouches so that Camella can have a better view.

 

Camella

Oh yeah, they look really civilized.

 

Amideas

Don’t let the crude structure fool you. After all, you’ve been to Dimension Hex haven’t you?

 

Camella

Who told you about Dimension Hex?

 

Amideas

Never mind that, Camella. Let’s move closer.

 

Amideas stands and starts looking for a way to the compound from the cliff.

 

Cut to

 

EXT. COMPOUND

 

AMIDEAS again leads CAMELLA as they pace their way up to the front gates of the COMPOUND, walking along what appears to be a crudely carved trail.

 

Camella

You’re just gonna walk up to the front door?

 

Amideas

Do you have a better idea?

 

Camella

You’re losing your edge, you know.

 

Amideas

We’re not trying to scare them, Camella.

 

Amideas and Camella proceed forward along the trail until they reach the front gates, still as silent as they were when the two started on the trail.

 

Camella

With a door that big, I doubt even you could tap the knocker.

 

Amideas

This is where we see how advanced they are.

 

Camella

What?

 

Amideas

Well if they have any sort of technological sense at all they’ll surely be spying on us with some sort of surveillance. If they’re not, then they’re the most incompetent race I’ve ever seen.

 

New angle on Camella.

 

This angle reveals rows of shrubbery along either side of the trail. They begin to shake as she speaks.

 

Camella

Didn’t you used to have some sort of jumping ability? Why not just jump the gate?

 

Behind Camella, several camouflaged soldiers (dressed similarly to Topa in the first scene) make their way out of the shrubbery, sneaking their way up Camella. She doesn’t immediately notice.

 

New angle on Ami, who, of course, immediately notices them.

 

Amideas

Camella. Turn around.

 

Camella

What?

 

Camella turns around to face two soldiers, now right next to her. She tries to back up but one of the soldiers takes out a metal rod-shaped weapon and whacks her in the stomach with it.

 

She buckles and falls to her knees, coughing. The two soldiers pick her back up by her shoulder.

 

Back on Amideas, who tries to move and help her. Before he can two more soldiers take him by surprise, wielding the same rod-shaped weapons as the previous two. Amideas turns and fends off the first one, shoving him to the ground by his face. However the second uses the rod as a stun gun and shoves it into Amideas’s back, sending him into seizure before he hits the ground, silently. His eyes go black.

 

Back on Camella, the soldiers do the same to her, and she falls to the ground, yelling in agony.

 

Wide shot – The soldiers recover and conjugate around Amideas, inspecting the metal creature, surprised at what they’re seeing, but able to accept it.

 

Fade Through Black:

 

INT. COMPOUND – DUNGEON

 

In a very old-style, medieval-esque dungeon (modernized with better looking bricks and piping, lighting as well) CAMELLA and AMIDEAS sit side by side, both of their respective left arms chained to the wall. Ami’s is rather tight, allowing almost no movement of his arm. They are, however, not immediately guarded. Camella slowly comes into consciousness.

 

Camella

(groggy, hoarse)

Oh man, I feel like I just got hit by a freight train… with a generally agitated engineer.

 

Amideas

I’m glad to see you’re in chipper spirits. You’re lucky they didn’t kill you, you know.

 

Camella

The faithful don’t fall quite so easily, Ami. How’s it go, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken?” I think we’ll tough it out, even if things get worse than this.

 

Amideas

That’s an interesting way of putting it, save one undeniable flaw. There are only two of us.

 

Camella

I think you might need to count again. I’ve got God on my side.

 

Amideas

Camella, if there were an all-powerful being out there, the odds that he would favor someone like you – someone that inspires all around hatred in everyone you come into contact with – are not great.

 

Camella

Well aren’t you a party pooper?

 

There are several seconds of silence.

 

Amideas

How are you feeling?

 

Camella

Can’t you just scan me?

 

Amideas

It’s generally easier to simply allow you to tell me yourself, assuming the individual has a low rate of lying.

 

Camella

Oh, well I guess if you’re gonna put a new found trust in me… I’m a little thirsty.

 

Amideas

I can tell from your voice, your throat is abnormally dry.

 

Camella

Think I’ll ever sing again?

 

Amideas places his left elbow on the concrete floor and pumps his fist several times.

 

Amideas

Drink.

 

Camella

Drink what, exactly? Do you see any water around here?

 

Amideas

The port, on my arm. You can use it as a nozzle.

 

Camella

You’re kidding, right? I’m not gonna drink water out of your arm, that’s disgusting! That stuff runs through your system like blood!

 

Amideas

I can guarantee it’s some of the cleanest, most oxygenated water you’ll taste. It has only a .034 impurity quotient.

 

Camella

Yeah, thanks Robot, but I think I’ll live.

 

THE FOLLOWING SCENE CAN POSSIBLY BE OMITTED

 

Silence ensues, Camella sits up against the wall, looking rather bored, but thinking to herself.

 

Camella

I do like how our writer has focused the story on us pretty much the whole time. Makes it run much more smoothly…

 

Amideas

What?

 

Camella

Never mind.

 

Amideas and Camella both look up when they hear a creaky door to the dungeon swing open. A GUARD dressed in stained camouflage clothing walks in, looking rather nervous. He’s a simple fellow with a southern accent.

 

Camella

Thank you! I ordered the soufflé an hour ago! Your room service is abysmal!

 

The guard regards Cam for a moment, then looks over to Ami.

 

Guard

What’s she talkin’ about?

 

Amideas

Nothing really. Just ignore her.

 

Guard

Well okay. Uhm… The General wants to see you guys.

 

Camella

Oh! The General! His Excellency! He wouldn’t be the one that tossed us in this dungeon, would he?

 

Guard

Yeah, well… he wants to see you guys.

 

Amideas nods to the guard.

 

Cut To:

 

INT. COMPOUND – MEETING ROOM

 

Amideas and Camella have joined who would appear to be the GENERAL for dinner. The General is politely sipping his wine. Amideas is, of course, plate-less, and Camella is happily digging away into a generous helping of Macaroni and Cheese. She’s also cleaned up quite a bit, too. Amideas, however, is more concerned with business, as is the General.

 

General

I know you can understand me. While you were unconscious we loaded our language profile into your incredible system, Amideas. And for your counterpart, well… she has quite the expensive device in her ear right now.

 

Amideas

You did that to her after your men beat her?

 

General

Again, you must accept our apologies, Captain. In this day and age, we are on edge. I am not surprised my men jumped to conclusions about you two, but that doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed.

 

Amideas

I know I can accept that, General…

 

General

General Rustin Graves.

 

Amideas

General Graves. I can accept that, but I’m not sure if I can speak for Camella.

 

Camella

(between mouthfuls)

S’all good!

 

General

I’m glad. The last thing we need now is more enemies.

 

Amideas

What do you mean “enemies”?

 

General

Well, Captain, this fine meal of cheesy pasta and cheap wine represents the greatest fruits of our labor. The government sees to that.

 

Amideas

Can you elaborate?

 

General

This may come as a shock to you, Captain, but… we’re rebels. The dirtiest of the dirty, the heroes to the heroic.

 

Amideas

Rebels? What’s your cause? Who are you rebelling from?

 

General

Our home world, Taramar. Years ago they sent a group of us colonists to this planet with enough materials to establish a community. They wanted to harvest it. Soon some of us realized how free we were. We were able to make our own decisions, to live how we wanted without prosecution, and there was nothing the Taramanian government could do.

 

Amideas

So whom do you fight?

 

General

The loyalists, the ones who are convinced we should follow the ways of our home world, a home world we haven’t heard from since we landed… our radio equipment was damaged shortly after we arrived…

 

Amideas waits for him to finish the story.

 

General

I’m sorry; I shouldn’t unload this on you two. You’ve had a rough enough day as it is, I’d imagine. You must be looking forward to turning in.

 

Amideas

Oppression’s not an easy thing to deal with. Anyone here at this table would agree with you there.

 

General

Then you understand why we must fight! The powers that be… they have no respect for us. They torture our captured, burn our deceased. They rob the dead, Captain.

 

We see a dramatic angle on Amideas and Camella as they take in the General’s account.

 

Cut to:

 

INT. COMPOUND – GUEST QUARTERS

 

Amideas surveys his living area for a few moments before relaxing and sitting himself on the lower half of the bunk bed. He is silent, taking in the events of the day in the small, boring space.

 

Suddenly, his door buzzer rings. He gets up to open the door. Just as it’s cracked, Camella bursts through past him with wet hair and a robe. She climbs up to his top bunk before he has a chance to say anything.

 

Amideas

Didn’t they supply you with your own quarters?

 

Camella

(bouncing by her knees)

Yeah!

 

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a packet

 

Camella

And free chocolate! But I still haven’t come through with my promise to annoy you yet!

 

Amideas remains silent.

 

Camella

That and it feels like I’ll be a li’l safer in here.

 

Amideas

I see. Well then I suggest you get some sleep.

 

Amideas moves once again to the lower bunk and sits down, his back propped up against the wall. Of course Cam can’t contain her curiosity.

 

Camella

So how’d the thing with the parts go?

 

Amideas

It seems you chose an adequate planet. Their parts are primitive, but I doubt I’ll have much trouble adapting them.

 

Camella

And they’re just giving them to us?

 

Amideas

They figure it’s the least they can do after attacking us earlier. They were also kind enough to allow you a good night’s sleep before the trek back to the ship in the morning. We have a long day of repairs ahead of us.

 

Camella

That’s good to know…

 

Amideas

Oh, I see. And what did you do all evening?

 

Camella

I got my self associated with some of the locals! They’re really fun! They’re music sounds a lot like our best stuff. Benjamin Gate, if you know who they were.

 

Amideas

There was an entire group of Benjamin Gates?

 

Without warning, a siren can be heard all around the compound. Ami shoots out from his bed in a flash, but Cam simply gets back up to her knees.

 

Camella
Oh! Don’t tell me we’re about to fight! I just took a shower!

 

Amideas

(heading for the door)

Then stay here.

 

Camella sighs, and moves to exit the room.

 

Cut To:

 

INT. COMPOUND – OUTER GATES

 

A lift to the top of the compound slows, revealing AMI as he steps onto the ledges of the gates. He rushes up to the GENERAL and several soldiers accompanying him.

 

Amideas

General, I heard the sirens. What seems to be the trouble?

 

General

Amideas! See for yourself

 

The General gestures outward to the jungle, where several military vehicles have pulled up to the front gates of the compound. The one in front carries quite a large missile on its roof, primed to fire.

 

Amideas

The Loyalists, I presume?

 

General

The very same.

 

Amideas

What are they planning to…

 

Before Amideas can finish his sentence the missile atop the front vehicle fires at the compound, shattering the front gates. The jolt knocks everyone atop the gates to their knees, except for Ami, who helps a few of them up.

 

General

No pleasant speeches this time, eh? Just come roaring in. Very well, if it’s a battle they want (he arms his rifle) it’s a battle they’ll get! Let’s go, men! Take it to them!

 

The General and his men rush for the lift, and use it to go back to the lower levels where they meet up with their comrades. An all out feud begins to ensue as the General’s forces meet the obviously more organized forces outside. Amideas is simply spectating for the time being.

 

He watches as the forces fight in the busted gate below him. They’re bullets are smashing into the walls, and each other. For a while it seems as if the feud won’t ever reach the upper level.

 

That is until a stray bullet hits a support frame and knocks the outer gates all the way down. They crumble beneath Ami’s feet and he is sent sliding down to the lower level, defenseless and in the middle of a battle that is not his.

 

He recovers, and starts protecting himself from stray gunfire but grabbing pieces of debris and using them as shielding. He watches the battle continue around him, trying to stay out of it as much as possible.

 

But as the bodies of the General’s men begin to fall, Amideas goes on the offensive. He looks around for a moment before discovering a copper-colored pipe lying in the gate debris. He picks it up and starts using it as a bow, rushing into battle.

 

The first two soldiers are push-overs. He does a nice spin move to knock their guns out their hands and trip them to the ground. Their heads hitting the ground are enough to knock them out.

 

Next, he jumps in the air and throws the pipe at a soldier, who catches it, but milliseconds later Ami comes crashing down on him. This causes the soldier to toss the pipe back in the air, where a triumphant Amideas catches it.

 

The battle begins to die as the militant soldiers are overwhelmed. They managed to get some penetration into the compound, but were ultimately defeated. Ami manages to take out a few more before the battle is completely over and the vehicles outside take off in a hurry, trying to escape their inevitable destruction.

 

Ami watches as the rebels taunt the fleeing vehicles, celebrating their hard-fought victory, in which Amideas fought alongside them. In a way, they are brothers.

 

Camella suddenly rushes into frame, running up behind Ami in full clothing. Her happy smile turns into a frown as she sees the enemy fleeing already.

 

Camella

Aww, don’t tell me it’s already over! I dried my hair and everything! Auugh, why don’t you people make up your minds?! Well this is ridiculous!

 

Camella storms off saying quiet rants of protest as she goes. Ami remains silent. He looks down at the several people he knocked unconscious. His eyes flash to pink. He begins to survey the bodies. He looks around, confused. Something bugs him about the defeated.

 

Amideas

(to himself)

They’re all dead.

 

Amideas looks around at the soldiers, his “allies.” They’re all kicking back, dancing at their victory, totally unashamed at the massacre they just caused. The only enemies living, matter of fact, are the ones Ami subdued. The General’s voice catches his ear, and he turns to see him. He is standing on top of a barrel with a bottle of ale.

 

General

Tonight, my brothers, we fought off yet another opposition! Tonight, we came one step closer to showing the government who really rules! Don’t allow this to be a shallow victory for you! Appreciate it! Enjoy it! Have fun with it!

(The general takes a sip of his ale)

And if there are any survivors… you know where to put ‘em!

 

The crowd cheers, all of them starting to look for their own survivors. Amideas quietly fades into the shadows, not wanting to be noticed. He watches as the survivors are slowly gathered and carried unsympathetically around the compound to a smaller building outside of the main complex. Ami follows, trying to avoid contact.

 

After the crowds have settled and gone home, Amideas watches the General walk into the building. Several men enter behind him, one with a large back under his arm. At this point there is no one outside, so Ami sneaks up to a window, an empty slot really with no glass, barely a hole big enough for him to peer through. He, however, manages to see what he needs to without being detected.

 

New angle through the peephole – We see the survivors being tied down to chairs side by side, five in total. They are secured by the two men that accompanied the General, who is now going through the bag on the small table in the front of the room.

 

General

You know, it shames me that I have to do this.

 

The other two men are satisfied with the tying job and move to their place behind the General as he speaks to the captured.

 

General

But your stubborn persistence shines through it all! With every one of these attacks I try to send a message to your leaders, but they just don’t get the message, do they?

 

The captured simply stare back at him, their eyes showing genuine fear.

 

General

And until I convince every leader out there… until they see what truth is… I must proceed.

 

The General reaches into the bag and pulls out the same style pistol we saw in the first scene. He presses a button on the side activating the small flame.

 

General

For truth

 

Quick shot of General pulling the trigger

 

We see a new angle on Amideas through the peep hole, only his eyes really. The camera pushes in on him, the glowing reflection of fire increasing off of them as we do. Push in until the reflection of the flames off of Ami’s eyes takes up the entire screen before we

 

Fade to Black

 

THE END

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amideas: The Series

Episode 101: Unbroken

Copyright 2003 Bloodbought Productions

Camella Winchester is property of Hannah Carlson

Amideas is property of Jared Williams

All other characters, unless stated otherwise, are property of the writers.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

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