TV-14 (Violence)
Starboard Side
Episode 105: Ascension
Written by Jared
Williams
Black Screen
Cut to:
Ext – Space
The starry scenery is a peaceful, small solar
system. The planet of Aquinos is only just
visible in the center of the screen. The surrounding planets don’t stand
out any better, only slightly brighter than the average stars. Quickly, and
unnoticeably at first, the energy bubble of blue and red pushes out from
Aquinos, towards camera. It engulfs the surrounding planets and then pushes
past the camera.
Cut to a new angle on an orange planet and
its moons. A space station in orbit is pushed around considerably as the bubble
moves past it and swallows the planet.
Cut to a new angle on Earth. The moon shakes
as the rumble of the bubble is heard. It moves quickly through the camera’s POV
and to Earth, engulfing it with ease.
A final angle shows the bubble moving as
quick as ever through the blackness of space. It then abruptly slows down,
coming to a halt. It lingers for several seconds and then reverses direction,
speeding back toward its origin.
The shots reverse. The shot of Earth calms
down as the bubble shrinks away from it. The orange planet and space station
are safe.
The shot moves back to the original shot of
the Aquinos system. The bubble shrinks toward the planet in the center while
the bubble shrinks to reveal the outlying planets.
The camera cuts to one final spacious shot.
The bubble collapses around the aquatic planet, and is sucked up into the
funnel reaching from the planet. The funnel grows in might as the bubble
shrinks.
Cut to:
Ext – Dry Dock
The energy bubble pulls back from the dock,
revealing the structure as perfectly stable and secure. The bubble moves along
the surface of the ocean smoothly, causing little commotion.
Cut to:
Ext – Aquinos
The bubble shrinks completely into the
funnel, which starts to glow a bit stronger now. It slowly begins to shrink as
well, into its origin.
Cut to:
Ext –
The funnel begins to pull into the top of the
temple, drawing itself into the vision chamber. Along the surface of the city
floor sits the sphere section of the Private Excavation Unit, the pilot pressed
up against the side window with his eyes closed. He looks like he’s in a
peaceful sleep.
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
The funnel is drawn into Cassandra, who
groans as she absorbs the energy. Her arms extend past her shoulders, until
they’re nearly at a ninety degree angle to her body. Her groan grows into a
shallow breathing, sporadic with what almost appears to be pleasure. Her eyes
are invisible in the aura seeping from her sockets.
The funnel completely presses its way into
her, and she is tossed backward at the force of it, onto the floor. The sound
effects calm down, and the light of the pipes fades to an efficient glow.
Cassandra lies incapacitated on the floor.
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock
Jerry slowly lowers his arms from his eyes
(the shield position) and looks out past the railing to the open sea. The shot
reverses for several seconds to reveal the peaceful looking ocean; several
gulls are flocking away from shore.
Camella has a surprised look on her face
which turns to one of confusion as she looks at Jerry. He ignores her and
continues looking out to sea.
Jerry
Why aren’t we dead?
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
Cassandra slowly lifts her head up off of the
ground, and then sits up, without using her hands to help her. Her eyes slowly
open; the aura of red and blue fogging and gathering, hanging in the air as
long as she stands still. She looks from left to right, and then slightly upward.
Cassandra
This will do… for now.
Cut to:
Int –
Just outside the vision chamber, Nemo rolls
over on to his back and coughs, still recovering from being struck on the head.
He scoots up against the wall of the corridor and sits up. He breathes heavily,
and then looks at the stone slab. He reaches over and lays a single hand on it.
It makes a useless pounding sound.
Nemo
Cassandra?
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
Cassandra stands up after kneeling to
something off screen. She brings up a glove with the bones of the priest still
inside. She pulls out the bones and places the glove on her own hand while
talking back to Nemo.
Cassandra
I wouldn’t stay
here long, Nemo. Not if you want to see another day.
Cut to:
Int –
Nemo hangs his head in disappointment, and
then shifts his body into a crawl. He begins a dazed struggle along the floor
of the corridor.
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock
Jerry approaches Amideas and begins talking
to him, bewildered by the phenomenon.
Jerry
What was that, why
aren’t we dead?
Amideas
[Looking out to
sea] I detected anti-tachyon particles, [looks to Jerry] micro fissures in the
space/time continuum.
Jerry
So she wasn’t trying to kill us?
Amideas
Not efficiently, no.
Jerry thinks to himself for several seconds,
and then paces off into the interior of the dry-dock.
Amideas follows, and Camella brings up the rear.
Camella
So I hugged you for
no reason? [She walks out of frame behind Amideas]
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock office
Jerry presses open the door and finds the laptop
sitting on the desk where Camella pointed out the homing beacon of the E.U.
He moves around to the seat of the desk and
sits down, pulling the laptop toward him. Amideas and Camella move around to
see what he’s doing. He presses several keys, bringing up an image of the
capitol city.
Camella
What are you doing?
Jerry
Accessing the
city’s security system…
Camella
Why?
Amideas
The security
cameras and the radio link…
Jerry
That’s right.
Jerry presses another series of keys on the
laptop, and a small microphone slides out of the side of the monitor. It bends
toward him so he can speak into him.
Jerry
This is Jerry
Williams of the L.A.P.D. Is anyone else on this frequency?
Jerry presses the space bar several times,
the view of the security cameras switching here and there. All of the
automobiles are still on the street, several crashed off of the road into
buildings and benches, trashcans. The street lights are still running. The
reply on the radio is nothing but static.
Camella
Why isn’t anyone
answering?
Amideas
You already know
the answer to that, Camella.
The security camera switches to a view of a
grocery market. The carts stand still, unmanned and askew. They’re half full,
as if in the midst of shopping.
Jerry
I repeat, this is
Jerry Williams of the L.A.P.D. is there anyone picking up this transmission?
Amideas
How far can you
configure that transmission?
Jerry
What? You mean
Earth?
Amideas
[Reaching for the
link cord on the laptop] My internal modem.
Amideas nods to Jerry after jacking himself
into the laptop. Jerry brings his lips back to the microphone.
Jerry
This is Jerry
Williams of the L.A.P.D. [He hesitates] Is there
anyone out there receiving this message?
Once again, static is their only answer. The
security cameras are now reading from sites such as
Amideas
No signs of human
activity.
Camella
So what, they’re just…
gone?
Jerry
The
energy bubble?
Amideas
At its average
velocity it would’ve reached well past Earth by the time it reversed direction.
Jerry
How much is that?
Amideas
Nearly seventeen
percent of the galaxy would’ve been consumed.
Jerry
And she erased all of the people, how can she do
that?
Amideas
According to the
reports the
Camella
But
if we use that line of reasoning…
Jerry
She could do
anything she wanted, as long as it’s inside the bubble’s wake, right?
Amideas
She probably wished
not to waste any more time, or the bubble would’ve been larger.
Jerry
Okay, so… let’s
just assume that’s what happened. Why would she leave us alive?
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
Cassandra takes off her shirt to reveal only
a white tank-top underneath. She reaches down to the skeleton of the priest and
removes the collar piece from around his neck. It fits snuggly around the neck
and tops of the shoulders, the front flowing down to the center of the rib cage
where a flowing red and blue jewel rests. She places the piece around her neck
and straps it tightly around her neck and through her underarms. She looks down
at the flowing jewel as the colors begin to mix and flow together, speeding up
and glowing. She smiles.
Cut to:
Ext –
Cassandra steps out of the temple onto the
stone steps leading to the sand. She looks around the fishbowl briefly.
Cassandra
I suppose given my
forthcoming Godhood, such recreation should be beneath me, still…
Cassandra holds her hands together forward,
and then spreads them apart as if trying to stretch something apart. The fish
bowl moves in unison with her, widening out at her command.
The angle widens to show the fishbowl start
to spread along the entire city, working its way from the temple in the center.
All water in the city is pushed out as it expands. The angle cuts back to
Cassandra.
Cassandra
If play a game we
must… let the arena be a fair one.
Cut to:
Int –
Nemo looks through a window at the expanding
fishbowl. His eyes widen. He is looking much better now, sweating quite a bit.
Nemo
[To himself]
What are you up to,
Cassandra? What are you waiting for?
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock
Jerry stands in the sphere of the second
submersible, his body halfway sticking out of the top. He is flipping switches
along the top of the roof and looking at schematics. Amideas stands to the side
of the submersible, along the metal grating. The gun rack is directly behind
him.
Amideas
Are you certain
this is a wise course of action?
Jerry
Well, nearest I can
figure she left us alive for a reason; I’d like to see what it is she wants.
Amideas
Do you believe you
can stop her?
Jerry
I believe I can
try.
Amideas
And what do you
propose we use to do that?
Jerry looks up from
the submersible, around the dry-dock, and then his
eyes fall on the gun rack behind Amideas.
Jerry
What about those?
Amideas turns according to Jerry’s gesture
and notices the gun rack.
Cut to:
Ext –
The camera cuts to a transition shot of the
city, silent and void. The news stands are abandoned, the cars are stopped, and
in front of Jyraan’s Estate the lights of the police vehicles run quietly.
The shot cuts to similar images of Earth,
several cities here and there. Other planets and their civilizations appear as
well, including the red one with a now-unlit space station.
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock
The camera pans across the gun rack, facing
the three characters as they prepare for an assault. Jerry loads and pumps a
shotgun. He already has a pistol attached to his shoulder strap and another
along his belt. The camera pans to Amideas who uses one Uzi as a level to push
the clip into the other, and does the same with the other Uzi. He already has a
sash of ammunition and an automatic rifle strapped to his back. The camera
finally rests on Camella, who picks up the smallest pistol on the rack and
looks it over. She arms it and points it at Jerry, smiling sarcastically.
Jerry
You sure you know
how to work one of those things?
Camella
You mean any better
than you do?
Jerry smiles to himself. Amideas speaks while
still examining his weapons.
Amideas
If in fact the
E.U.’s beacon is transmitting from the ruined
Jerry
No, I have no doubt
she’s toying with us I’m just… I’m hopin’ we can use that against her.
The angle widens and reverses as Jerry turns
toward the Submersible. Amideas and Camella turn to follow him. He starts
climbing the ladder into the cockpit.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible.
Jerry drops into the back seat of the
submersible. Camella climbs in and sits beside him, followed by Amideas who
sits in the pilot’s seat. Jerry and Camella attempt to buckle themselves in
while Amideas beings to flip several switches. The engines start to rev
themselves up.
Jerry
So how’s this thing
work? Do we get lowered or do we just…
Amideas pulls a final lever along the roof of
the cockpit. The clamps suspending the submersible from the ceiling release,
and the submersible falls. Jerry and Camella’s eyes widen.
Cut to:
Int – Dry Dock
The submersible plunges through the exit-way
at the bottom of the dry dock. It plummets into the water below, causing quite
a powerful splash. The clamps begin to lift back up to the ceiling. The
Submersible begins to sink. The hatch at the bottom of the floor begins to seal
back up with a large metal door closing in on either side.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Camella gets up off of Jerry, who also picks
himself up off of the seat after such a jolt. They both look at Amideas. He
casually continues to flip switches and takes a hold of the steering controls. A
small screen with a flashing red dot appears.
Jerry
Some people…
Amideas
I would take this
time to relax. The dive to the beacon will take just under two hours.
Jerry nods and leans back against his seat,
resting his head. His guns sit at his sides untouched, but pointing in
different directions. Camella looks over at them, and flips the safety switches
on his weapons. Jerry opens his eyes.
Camella
Just
playing it safe, cowboy.
Jerry smirks and pushes Camella back over to
her side of the seat playfully (for lack of a better term). She smiles and he
closes his eyes again.
Cut to:
Int –
Nemo staggers down another corridor. He’s
feeling around the dark walls for everything, anything. His limp is a bit worse
now; fatigued. He trips on the grooves in the floor and falls. Sighing, he
drags himself forward. His hand reaches down to his side and pulls out a flare,
one of his few remaining. He flips a switch and it ignites, tossing it on to
the ground. The camera pans over to reveal another native corpse. Nemo is
surprised and shocked as he looks over it, and then settles into a mood of
confusion.
Nemo
Well what are you?
Nemo reaches over to the corpse’s armor and
touches his golden necklace. A shriek of energy is sent through Nemo and he is
sent backward, falling on to his shoulders. He starts to seize.
Fade through white:
Vision Chamber –
This is a vision sequence. The images should
be distorted to suggest so. The priest in the beginning of flashback sequence
in “The Conductor” is kneeling at the vision pad. The vision tower is running
smoothly. Another priest, standing in the entry way to the vision chamber
begins to pace confidently [yet still with stealth] up to the first priest. The
first priest breaks his concentration and turns to face the second, but only
too late. The second priest jams a blade into the first priest’s shoulder,
obviously intending to deal a more fatal wound.
The first priest falls to the ground,
grabbing the second by his shirt sleeve.
[Insert a quick shot of Nemo shrieking a bit
with his eyes squeezed shut.]
There is a quick series of flashes showing
the true nature of the second priest. There are shots of him stealing, killing…
deserting a burning building.
The first priest breaks contact with the
second, crashing further to the floor. The second priest looks him over
gloatingly and kicks him away from the pad. He kneels down at it himself,
taking in the energy from the vision tower.
The first priest slowly presses himself up
off the ground. He looks over at the second priest, his eyes closed and glowing
of red and blue. The first priest gets up to his feet and attempts to rush the
second, but the second opens his eyes and stares into
the eyes of the first priest. The second priest’s eyes are white and pouring
with red and blue aura [as Cassandra’s are now.]
The first priest is lifted up off of the
ground by the second priest’s power and tossed outside of the chamber, crashing
into the wall outside. The stone slab closes behind him.
Back inside the vision chamber, the second
priest starts laughing maniacally, muffled in his mouth-less body.
Insert several quick flashes of the second priest’s
wishes. Shrines convert from a god-like idol to him. People begin to praise
him. He is still heard laughing.
Cut once more to the wall of water crashing
down on the city, pummeling the buildings and destroying society. It crushes a
statue of the second priest.
Fade through white:
Nemo’s sweaty body stops seizing. He breathes
deeply and fatigued as he regains control over his body. Rolling over to his
stomach, he looks over the corpse of the first priest once more.
Nemo
You… tried to stop
him. Him, he was… Cassandra. Just like now…
Nemo reaches for the blade still caught in
the priest’s shoulder as the flare burns out.
Fade through black:
Ext – Sea
The submersible flows toward camera. There is
an immeasurable trail of bubbles rising to the surface behind them.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible.
Jerry and Camella are sitting patiently in
the back of the submersible. Amideas slows the Submersible.
Amideas
We’re coming up on
the signal. Can you see it?
The angle reverses to reveal the ancient city
inside of the fishbowl. Jerry and Camella are taken into awe. The submersible
is lowering toward the base of the fishbowl.
The angle reverses back to the trio.
Camella
It’d take a field
generator bigger than I’ve ever…
Jerry
She doesn’t need a
generator. Not anymore… [turning to Amideas] Why would
she do that?
Amideas
The most reasonable
answer is that she’s setting up for something.
Jerry and Amideas fall to silence.
Camella
Maybe we should go
ahead and ask her?
Jerry and Amideas both turn to Camella. Jerry
shrugs and Amideas turns back to the controls.
Amideas
Setting down now…
Cut to:
Ext –
The submersible lowers to the sea floor, hovering only a meter or two off of the sand. Two sets of
four wheels each descent from the sides of the submersible, resembling tank
treads. The submersible lowers until the wheels are touching the ground. The
submersible rocks a bit.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Jerry, Camella, and Amideas are knocked from
side to side at the jolt.
Camella
So
much for computer-precise steering, eh?
Cut to:
Ext –
The submersible switches gears and the wheels
begin to roll. The vessel is pushed forward to the wall of the ancient city.
The front end breaks through, allowing the sphere of the vehicle to enter the fishbowl.
The entire front end of the vehicle is on the inside of the fishbowl before
Amideas stops it.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Amideas presses a brake on the control deck
and turns around to face his passengers.
Amideas
That will have to
do. Let’s get to work.
Jerry
[Ambitiously] Well
all right.
Jerry arms his shotgun and gets up out of his
seat. Amideas places his guns at his side and starts up the ladder to the
hatch.
Cut to:
Ext – Submersible
The hatch at the top of the sphere slides
open as Amideas climbs out. He climbs down the other side on to the exterior of
the submersible as Jerry climbs out of the sphere. All the characters make
their way to the base of the submersible where they regroup and look upon the
ruined city. It is silent; ominously calm.
The angle reverses to reveal the city. The
buildings are ruined, but still organized in location and size.
The angle returns to the trio.
Jerry
Well how do we find
her?
The angle returns to a shot of the city.
Cassandra rises out of the alleyways, flying on gusts of red and blue energy
resonating from the jewel in the center of her chest piece. All three
characters turn their heads sharply to see her. She’s smiling as always.
Cassandra
Jerry! You made it
after all…
Jerry
Yeah, yeah… do we
have you to thank for that?
Cassandra settles roughly ten feet above
Amideas’s height. She is far enough away that she can easily look down at the
trio and carry on a conversation.
Cassandra
I didn’t think it
right to kill the guy I most dearly owed this ascension to, not immediately
anyway.
Amideas
And
what about the rest of the planet’s population? The
surrounding systems?
Cassandra
They were just
getting in the way, kind of like you and your golden gal. You two won’t be
needed. Jerry, come with me.
Cassandra turns her back to the trio. Jerry
is lifted off the ground, floating on the same red and blue auras Cassandra is
using. He is shocked and attempts to resist. His weapons are tossed from his
hands, the pistol straps snapping and flying away from him.
Amideas
Camella, open fire!
Amideas arms his rifle and begins firing at
Cassandra. Camella follows fashion and begins firing her pistol. The bullets
explode just before reaching her. She turns around sharply while still heading
to the center of the city.
Cassandra
Oh, so you still
want to play? [Nodding]Okay. Have fun.
Cassandra once again turns away from Amideas
and Camella. She resumes her flight toward the center of the city. Jerry is
being led several meters behind her. They quickly disappear behind a building.
Camella
What was that all
about?
A single laser shot travels from the inner
alleyways of the city, all of the way to the submersible. It burns a hole just
to the left of Camella’s face. She shrieks away from it and then looks at Amideas.
Camella
What is it?!
Amideas’s eyes briefly blink to a more
extreme color of red, then he ducks and attempts to move to the other side of
the submersible, taking cover.
Amideas
We’ve got company!
Camella follows Amideas behind the
submersible. The angle reverses to reveal a single Manhunter approaching the
submersible. Another appears out of another alleyway, and then another. They
begin to come out of every alleyway, vastly growing in number.
Amideas
Do you see them?
Camella
Yeah, yeah I see ‘em!
What are we gonna do?
Amideas
[Glancing at
Camella’s pistol] You looked like you knew how to use that weapon.
Amideas leans toward the edge of the
submersible and arms his rifle, taking aim at the Manhunters approaching. He
ducks briefly as a shot lands on the piece of the
submersible providing cover.
Camella
Aww, I hate this
plan!
Amideas and Camella both arm their weapons
and open fire.
Cut to:
Ext –
Cassandra lands softly next to the E.U. she
looks up briefly out of frame, and then back down. Jerry falls sharply into
frame much closer to camera, smashing on to the sand below frame. Camella
snickers.
Cassandra
Welcome to my
pseudo-lair. It may be dank… well at least I won’t be here much longer.
Jerry pushes himself up off the ground and
spits up a small amount of blood.
Jerry
You’ve gone insane,
Cassie…
Cassandra
Ahh, but insanity
suggests delusion, Jerry. I… I am very real.
Cassandra points to the E.U. It transforms
into a massive shuttle before Jerry’s eyes. He rolls out of the way to avoid
being crushed by the landing gear. The fishbowl seems unaffected. Jerry sits in
awe at the shuttle.
Cassandra
Nifty little trick,
isn’t it? Oh don’t get up, there’s more.
The hatch to the shuttle slides open. A squad of ever silent Manhunters step through and move around
Cassandra, lining up behind her.
Cassandra
I figure as long as
I’m taking over the universe a little brute force can’t hurt. Wouldn’t you
agree?
Jerry
Amideas…
and Camella. They’ll stop…
Cassandra
They’re dead!
They’re dead, Jerry…
Jerry takes this news, trying to shrug it off
at first and then grimacing.
Cassandra
So if I were you…
The Manhunters arm their rifles and aim them
at Jerry.
Cassandra
…I’d just sit back
and enjoy the show.
Cut to:
Ext –
Amideas realizes that his rifle is depleted
and throws it aside. His ammo sash is equally depleted. There are piling bodies
of dead Manhunters surrounding the submersible.
Camella
I don’t think we’re
gonna win this one, Ami!
Amideas
Can’t be helped! We
have to reach Cassandra!
Amideas jumps out from behind the submersible
and pulls out his twin sub-machine guns. He begins firing them side to side,
the immense number of Manhunters revealing itself. He begins dropping them as
quickly as they appear, piling up faster than a person can count. Amideas’s
shots are precise and efficient.
Camella moves around to the other side of the
submersible and begins taking shots as soon as she can. Her own accuracy is
rather good. She drops two while Amideas can be seen dropping five in the
background.
Amideas runs out of ammunition in the first
sub-machine gun. He tosses it swiftly at a Manhunter’s head, and its neck
snaps. It falls to the ground. With his remaining gun Amideas takes several
more shots, picking off Manhunters as he sees them. Finally he runs out once
more, and throws his gun behind him. It knocks the head of another Manhunter
clear off and flies toward frame.
Amideas immediately engages in hand-to-hand
combat with the next Manhunter, already only a single meter from him. The robot
quickly presses his palm into the Manhunter’s stomach and then twists his neck.
The Manhunter falls to the ground as Amideas turns around to face another. He
dodges a punch, trips the Manhunter, and reaches into its chest. He pulls out
several cords and servos, immediately taking the Manhunter offline.
The camera cuts back to Camella, trying to
reload her gun. She’s frustrated.
Camella
This is ridiculous.
He has to know they’re just going to
keep coming! [She throws her gun and turns toward the submersible] That’s it!
I… [She notices something on the submersible out of frame] …I can’t believe I
didn’t notice those before.
The camera is back on Amideas now. He steps
on top of a Manhunter and dives off of it on to the next standing one he sees.
Both are driven to the ground. Amideas thrusts his legs to damage the
endoskeleton of the waste. It can no longer stand. He then reaches down and
takes its gun, but as he gets back to his feet he is blindsided by the back
side of a Manhunter fist. The gun flies out of Amideas’s hand and he is knocked
back down to the ground, lying on top of the Manhunter he just injured.
Amideas kicks the new Manhunter away as it
approaches him, and it is sent flying. Another Manhunter reaches for Amideas’s neck.
He tries to pull it off of him but fails. While struggling with this Manhunter
another grabs him by the legs. They begin to pull in opposite directions. Amideas’s
eyes widen as recognition of damage.
There is a brief charging sound, and the
Manhunter reaching around Amideas’s neck is shattered by a series of rounds
from a massive machine gun. The second Manhunter falls backward [still pulling
on Amideas’s legs] and Amideas lands on top of it, face to face. Amideas cocks
his head a little surprised and then wastes no time in snapping its neck.
Amideas turns his head to see the submersible
machine guns pointed at him, still smoking. Camella waves to him from the
cockpit.
Amideas gets to his feet and runs to the
submersible, quickly climbing the ladder to the cockpit. The Manhunters are
going after him, and begin climbing the ladder after he shuts the hatch to the
sphere behind him.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Amideas takes control of the cockpit, pushing
Camella aside. Amideas revs up the engines.
Camella
Didn’t you see
these controls earlier?
Amideas
It didn’t make
sense for a science lab to load the submersible with ammunition.
Camella
Ami, Ami, Ami…
Cut to:
Ext –
The submersible revs up and begins to move
forward, knocking off the Manhunters climbing along its side. The turrets
charge and begin to lay in to the Manhunters in their way. They begin falling
faster than they appear, clearing a path for the submersible into the city.
Camella gives a “wooo!” It begins moving too fast for any Manhunters to catch
up to it.
Cut to:
Ext –
Cassandra is pacing by her shuttle. The
Manhunters still have their rifles pointed at Jerry. He is leaning against a
fallen column.
Jerry
If that’s true, if
you are ready to go at any second, why are you waiting? What’s keeping you
here?
Cassandra
I don’t feel it
necessary to explain my actions to you, Jerry.
Jerry
And why keep me
alive? What good does it do? What are you waiting for?
Cassandra
[Shouting] Let it
be, Jerry! I will decide what happens and what doesn’t! Who dies and who lives!
Jerry silences, trying to avoid smirking.
Cassandra closes her eyes in frustration. The jewel on her chest piece dims a
bit. Jerry takes notice to it, and then looks over to the Manhunters. Several
of them begin to lower their rifles before she opens her eyes again. As soon as
she does the jewel returns to its full glow and the Manhunters take aim once
more.
Jerry silently considers what he just saw. A
revving noise is heard in the distance, and both Jerry and Cassandra turn to
face the empty alleyways from which its coming. The
noise increases in volume as does the anticipation of Jerry and Cassandra.
Suddenly a single Manhunter is sent flying in
to the wall of an alleyway, in to the view of Cassandra and Jerry. The
submersible rolls into frame quickly thereafter. The turrets are still smoking.
Cassandra’s eyes widen and she turns to her
immediate Manhunters.
Cassandra
Stop them! Now!
The Manhunters move toward the submersible.
Jerry takes the opportunity to run, and sprints toward the rear end of the
shuttle. Cassandra is too distracted by the submersible to notice him. She gets
a very angry look on her face.
The turrets along the side of the submersible
explode in flashes of red and blue. The submersible itself stops in its tracks,
held down by the same red and blue aura.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Amideas attempts to move the submersible
twice more before giving up. Camella looks out the sphere to the approaching
Manhunters.
Camella
Uh oh…
Amideas
Jerry ran behind
the shuttle. Did you see him? We’ve got to retrieve him.
Camella
And then what?!
We’re still sitting ducks here!
Amideas
…Then we’ll think
of something once we retrieve Jerry.
Cut to:
Ext – Submersible
The hatch to the submersible slides open.
Amideas begins picking off shots with Camella’s pistol, and she climbs out the
hatch in the bottom of the sphere. She works her way past the Manhunters and
rushes behind a fallen column, avoiding detection by Cassandra. Amideas
continues to take shots.
Camella takes off in to a sprint to get
behind the shuttle. She meets Jerry behind there.
Camella
[Whispering] Jerry!
Jerry
[Turning to Camella
and whispering back]
Camella! We have to
close her eyes!
Camella
What?
Jerry
Her eyes, we gotta
close ‘em!
The camera returns to Amideas. His weapon is
thrown from his hand with the red/blue aura, and he himself is lifted out of
the submersible hatch. Struggling, he is drifted to Cassandra, and dropped in
front of her. He sits on his knees while the Manhunters keep their guns aimed
at him.
Cassandra
Don’t bother
moving, the Manhunters will blast you to pieces.
Amideas remains still, accepting his
predicament.
Cassandra
You’ve got to be
the single most annoying machine I’ve ever encountered. Mmm, but I suppose it
doesn’t matter now, does it? I’ll end your forged existence here…
A new angle on the shuttle presents Camella
and Jerry leaning around the corner. Camella’s eyes widen as she tries to get
Amideas’s attention
Cut to:
Amideas’s POV
The computed perspective witnesses Camella
out of the corner of the spherical view, and focuses on her. She’s mouthing
words to him.
Cut back to:
Ext –
Amideas’s eyes appear to still be focused on
Cassandra as she talks.
Cassandra
So I guess that
girl of yours wasn’t quite as durable as you, huh? It’s nice to know not all of
my efforts are…
Cut back to:
Amideas’s POV
Amideas’s readouts are attempting to make out
what Camella is mouthing to him. A wire grid appears over her face, as well as
a wave meter, heavily distorted by Cassandra’s rants. The words finally form at
the bottom of his view: “Close her eyes.”
Cut to:
Ext –
Amideas’s eyes briefly widen as he leaps off
the ground and wraps his forearm around Cassandra’s face, preventing her from
being able to see. The jewel dims and he waits for the Manhunters to destroy
him as she yells at them to do so.
Cassandra
Augh! Manhunters,
blast him!
The Manhunters remain still, as if confused
about what to do. They begin looking at each other.
Cassandra
Do it! Do it now!
Nooow! Augh!
The angle cuts back to Jerry and Camella.
Camella and Jerry both smile.
Jerry
It’s working! Come
on, in the temple!
The angle widens as Jerry and Camella take
off for the interior of the temple. Cassandra is still struggling under
Amideas’s grip.
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
The stone slab is knocked to the ground as
Jerry and Camella enter the vision chamber. The vision tower is running as
efficiently as ever.
Jerry
[Gesturing to the
conductor] There! That! The report said we have to remove the pipes on the
sides of the tower to shut it down. Then we can…
Jerry and Camella head toward the tower, but
are stopped as Nemo steps around from the other side very fatigued. He’s
pointing the blade he took from the corpse of the first priest at them.
Nemo
I can’t let you do
that, Jerry…
Jerry
Nemo! What are
you…?
Nemo
I can’t let you
turn the machine off. It won’t make a difference. Before long it’ll all just…
happen all over again.
Jerry
What again? What are
you talking about?
Nemo
I can’t let you
turn off the device. It’s not good enough. The conductor has to be de…
Jerry
Nemo… no, you don’t
what that will do.
Nemo slightly lowers the blade fairly certain
he’s prevented any conflict.
Nemo
It’s got to be
better… than what’ll happen if it’s not. So, go, get out of here.
Jerry
Nemo…
Nemo
Go, Jerry…
[Breaking down; at this point it’s like he wants to prove something to Jerry,
like he needs a sense of redemption.] …I have to do this.
Jerry considers Nemo’s confession.
Nemo
…Let me do this.
Jerry makes a decision, and talks to Camella
while still keeping his eyes on Nemo.
Jerry
Camella? Let’s go… we’ve
done what we’ve gotta do.
Nemo gives a nod of relief, and then looks
into Jerry’s eyes. They share a look of understanding before Jerry and Camella
move to exit the temple.
Nemo watches as they leave, and then turns
toward the conductor. He swings the blade at it, and it flies out of the vision
tower. The red/blue energy exchange begins to go haywire, unorganized thanks to
the loss of the conductor.
Cut to:
Ext –
Camella and Jerry run down the steps of the
temple toward Amideas and Cassandra. The Manhunters still haven’t a clue what
to do.
Jerry
Ami!
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
Nemo looks down upon the conductor lying on
the floor. He sighs and then steps on it. It shatters beneath his boot.
Cut to:
Ext –
The jewel in Cassandra’s chest piece loses
all glow. The glow seeping from her closed eyes [And
behind Amideas’s arm] dissipates.
The aura holding the submersible in place
disappears. The turrets reform as well.
Jerry
Ami! We’ve gotta
go! It’s gonna go!
Amideas looks down at Cassandra and releases
his grip on her. She falls to the ground next to her shuttle and watches as Amideas
rushes toward the submersible. Her eyes have returned to normal.
Cassandra
Noooo!
Cut to:
Int – Vision Chamber
Nemo shields his eyes as the red and blue
energy increases in its chaos. The pipes lining the chamber are beginning to
buckle and burst. Nemo seems confident through it all.
Cut to:
Ext –
The Manhunters disappear as the trio reaches
the submersible. They climb inside one by one, Amideas taking the controls.
Jerry
Come on! We gotta
go now!
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Amideas switches gears in the still-running
submersible. He begins to back up the submersible.
Camella
We’re never gonna
make it out of the field in time, you know. …Are we?
Jerry
Stayin’ optimistic
here, Cammy!
Cut to:
Ext –
The submersible backs up into the alleyway,
attempting to reach the exterior of the fishbowl. It disappears out of frame.
The shuttle shifts back into the E.U.
Cassandra
Jerry!
Cut to:
Ext –
The fishbowl begins to reduce in diameter
tremendously, returning to its normal size of just around the temple.
A closer angle shows it push past the
submersible. The submersible is lifted off the ground slightly.
Cut to:
Int – Submersible
Jerry and Camella seem a little surprised.
Even Amideas’s eyes look a bit wider than usual.
Camella
I think that
borderlines on miracle.
Jerry’s expression turns into an enthused
grin as he taps on Amideas’s shoulder.
Jerry
So much for that
problem, get us out of here!
Amideas quickly flips a pair of switches on
the console. The cockpit begins to hum. Bubbles can be seen rising from the
wheels outside of the sphere.
Cut to:
Ext – Submersible
The wheels on the submersible rise back into
their holding places. The submersible begins to lift into the open sea. The
camera remains stationary as it disappears out of frame.
Cut to:
Ext –
Cassandra furiously turns toward the E.U. and
attempts to climb in. Suddenly the blade from the priest’s corpse flings toward
Cassandra. She turns around to face it just as it slams into her shoulder and
pins her to the E.U. She shrieks.
Nemo’s Voice
Cassandra!
Cassandra turns toward the temple to reveal
Nemo pacing out of the temple as flames and energy waves begin to poor out. It
can be heard overloading in the background. Nemo is still fatigued but
confident.
Cassandra
You! You did this!
Nemo
We did this, Cassandra. We pushed too far. And this…
this is our reward.
Cassandra
You’re doing all
this just to get even with me?!
Nemo
No, no… I’m doing
this… I’m doing this so it doesn’t have to be done again. I wish… I wish I
could tell you that you did good. You… and me, we’ve
prevented this from ever happening to anyone else; what we did.
Cassandra
Nemo… make sense.
Nemo
No, I know it
probably doesn’t make sense to you. But it… at least it’ll be quiet soon.
The angle widens to reveal the entire temple.
The energy and flames grow to a massive charge of white. Cassandra gives a
brief “No!” as it explodes. A wall of white energy presses past them. They’re
engulfed instantly.
Cut to:
Ext – Sea
The submersible continues on its path to the
surface. The city explodes beneath them, too far down for any detail to be
seen. The explosion itself pushes toward them and reaches the submersible. The
sub is pressed faster toward the surface, the explosion shaking past the
camera.
Cut to:
Ext – Ocean Surface
The submersible is pressed through the
surface of the ocean, leaping several meters into the air before crashing back
down on to the surface. It settles and the sea calms from the explosion.
Several calm seconds pass before the glass of the sphere cracks.
Jerry’s voice
Drat!
Fade to:
Ext –
The randomly strewn about cars and chaos
begin to right themselves. Quick flashes return the vehicles to the road in an
orderly fashion. Once all the cars are in place, time begins to resume. Things
progress as if nothing ever happened.
Cut to:
Int – Market
The shoppers and merchants resume their daily
life of selling and trading. A merchant and a woman in the corner are arguing
about what a melon should cost.
Cut to:
Ext – Orange Planet
The space station lights come back on one by
one. The station resumes rotation around the orange planet.
Cut to:
Ext – Earth
A lone space shuttle makes its way past
Earth’s gravitational pull and pushes past camera. Life appears to have
resumed.
Cut to:
Ext – Earth
A series of shots convey life returning to
normal on Earth, once again as if nothing happened.
Fade through Black:
Ext – Dock Seventeen
Jerry and Amideas stand in front of the
Ryuu-3. The merchant from episode 103 walks by behind them holding a bag of
money and giving Amideas a thumbs up. Jerry smiles and
turns back to Amideas.
Jerry
All the reports
were… non existent. No one here or anywhere
else seems to have any knowledge that anything at all happened.
Amideas
Probably
for the best.
Jerry
Yeah, but uhh… my
people back home aren’t going to believe what happened here. And they’re not
gonna tolerate that Nemo and my partner simply disappeared.
Amideas
That’s certainly a
predicament. What do think you should do about it?
Jerry
Well, I was
wondering if I could just, go with
you guys. You know, where ever you’re going. I assume you gotta work for
somebody, right? Would that be…?
Ami gives a move almost like a chuckle, and
then turns back to the Ryuu-3. Jerry starts to follow. The ramp to the ship
lowers. Camella is standing on it. The camera begins to push out as the music
builds.
Jerry
So is that a… yes?
Am I going?
Amideas boards the ship. Jerry’s pacing
toward it now. Camella’s gesturing at him to hurry up. The camera continues to
push out.
Jerry
Where are we…? Am I
going?
Fade to:
Closing Credits
The End
Episode 105: Ascension
Copyright 2004
Bloodbought Productions
Camella Winchester
is property of Hannah Carlson
All other
characters, unless stated otherwise, are property of the writer.