Return to Terra Nova
Episode 7
"Shadows"
EXT. TERMINUS SITE, DAY
It is a calm day. The sounds of the jungle fill the air. A giant dragonfly buzzes through the air, flapping its wings, loud as a helicopter. It lands on the branch of a tree in the jungle. As soon as its feet touch the branch, the dragonfly is shredded by a barrage of gunfire.
PAN OVER TO
The barrel of a sentry gun, smoke escaping from the end of it. There are several of these guns set up around the terminus site. Two guards take notice of the one that just obliterated that dragonfly.
GUARD 1
Jeez, it's still going off at every bug that goes past it.
GUARD 2
Well, go configure it to be less sensitive. We don't need it wasting bullets on harmless stuff like that.
The first guard begins to walk towards the sentry gun, when the terminus begins to whir to life, prompting him to spin around quickly.
GUARD 1
Whoa, the terminus is opening! Get on the tightbeam communicator!
CUT
Multiple rovers roll up to the site, and people begin piling out of them. Amanda, Spunkmeyer, and Sam exit one of the rovers. Amanda confronts the guard from before.
AMANDA
How long was it open for? What did they say over the tightbeam?
GUARD 1
Not much, I don't think they wanted to waste too much power in what is probably just a follow up. What I told you already is all they said. According to them, it is scheduled to reopen in a few minutes from now, with a shipment.
AMANDA
Well, let's hope they're sending us something good.
The terminus lights up once more, and begins to emit its signature hum. A blue aura begins to spin within the circle, before the fabric of space and time is torn open, creating the glowing gateway from the future. Everyone stares in anticipation, watching, waiting. Eventually, the tightbeam communicator comes to life.
OPERATOR
(From comm)
Terra Nova, do you copy?
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Yes, Lazarus station, we read you loud and clear.
Someone else comes on over the comm.
THOMAS
(From comm)
Hello?
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Hey, dad. What did you get for us?
THOMAS
(From comm)
Hey princess!
(Amanda cringes)
We've got a surprise for you all today. We're sending it over now.
OPERATOR
(From comm)
Terra Nova, are you ready to receive?
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Yes.
The terminus gives out a static buzzing noise as something begins to emerge from the portal. A rover exits the terminus, carrying a large supply cart behind it. After that, two more rovers carrying even more supplies also exit the portal, and pull off to the side.
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Wow, you guys sure spared no expense with those supplies.
THOMAS
(From comm)
There's more.
Another object begins to exit the portal. Everyone at the site stares intently, as a person exits the portal. They're dressed up in the same armor as everyone else, but noticeably cleaner. The newcomer immediately starts to stumble around due to the air. Someone grabs them and pulls them off to the side from the terminus. More people begin to exit as well.
THOMAS
(From comm)
We've got you some new recruits. They're all from the reserve pool of potential candidates. We didn't have a ton of time to run extensive evaluations and background checks on all of them. I hope they'll still make for valuable team members in the operation. We tried to fill your requests for scientists, medics, carpenters, and roles that aren't explicitly for combat. However, we did pick a considerable amount of combat-ready soldiers as well.
People are piling out of the terminus. They're all the same age as everyone else: mid 20's to early 30's. Ramirez stands off to the side, keeping an eye out for people who are having bigger issues acclimating to the air. Several people are indeed having reactions that are worse than the others, so Ramirez pulls them over to the side in order to give them C02 infusions. While Ramirez is busy, one person in particular comes through the portal and has massive issues. He has a very clean cut look to him, but soon starts stumbling around as if he were drunk. He falls to the ground, and gets back up, and falls again. Ramirez sees him, and yells to Spunkmeyer.
RAMIREZ
Spunkmeyer! Bring that guy over here!
Spunkmeyer nods and runs over to grab the guy. He hoists the guy up, and the guy immediately vomits all over Spunkmeyer's armor. Spunkmeyer stands there for a second, disgusted.
CLEAN CUT GUY
(Very weakly)
Sorry, man.
Spunkmeyer starts dragging him over to Ramirez, who administers the C02 infuser. Spunkmeyer, once he finishes that ordeal, takes off his armor, and walks to the edge of the site, and starts trying in vain to wipe the puke off of his armor. The number of people coming through begins to thin. Eventually the last person comes through, but they're different from everyone else. Instead of being young, this person looks to be an older man, somewhere around 55 years old. Upon the exit from the portal, the man has a reaction to the air that's even worse than the guy Spunkmeyer helped. He collapses to the ground, and starts to spasm, as if he were having a seizure. Sam is the closest to him, so he runs in and grabs the man. The man looks at Sam right in the eyes.
P.O.V. OF MAN
His vision is blurry, and he can just barely make out Sam's face.
END P.O.V.
The man gets a puzzled look on his face.
OLDER MAN
(Confused and weak)
Taggart?
As soon as Sam hears that, he freezes up.
SAM
What?
Ramirez runs in, and presses a C02 infuser up to the guy's face. The guy closes his eyes.
SAM
Hey!
The man is unresponsive now. Ramirez checks his pulse.
SAM
Is he dead?
RAMIREZ
No, just unconscious. Help me load him into a rover. We need to take him back to the colony.
Sam helps drag the man into Ramirez's rover.
RAMIREZ
I can take it from here, Taggart.
SAM
I mean, are you sure?
RAMIREZ
Yep.
She speeds off away from the terminus site. Sam turns around. Off to the side, Connor and several other soldiers are patting the clean cut guy on the back.
CONNOR
Hell of a thing you did, puking on the wimp Spunkmeyer. What's your name, man?
CLEAN CUT GUY
(In between coughs)
Heh, Blake Turner.
CONNOR
Good to have you on board, Blake. I like you already.
Sam walks back up close to the terminus where he was before. Amanda is still talking over tightbeam. The call seems to be coming to a close though.
THOMAS
(From comm)
We'll try to fulfill your requests better next time we send new recruits, but no promises. For now, we'll just see how the new recruits do. Two weeks from now, we'll open the terminus back up and discuss it.
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Copy that. Bye dad.
THOMAS
(From comm)
Bye, princess.
Amanda cringes again, and the terminus zips out of existence.
AMANDA
Alright, let's head back to the colony.
EXT. COLONY, DAY
The convoy of rovers, supplies, and recruits rolls in through the front gates. Sam immediately jumps out of the rover he's in and runs off.
EXT. INFIRMARY, DAY
Sam runs up to the front doors, only for them to open before he reaches them. The older man exits. Sam stops short, seeing who it is. The man stops and looks at him. Sam tries to say something, but his brain has turned to mush. The man stares at Sam for a few seconds, before walking off without so much as a word. Sam tries to wave and get his attention, but the man is already gone.
GREG
(Out of nowhere)
Howdy!
Sam jumps, and Greg walks up from behind.
SAM
You have an uncanny ability to sneak up on people, you know that, right?
GREG
Heh, not my fault you're always spacing out.
SAM
What are you doing?
GREG
I came here to hang out with Victoria. What are you doing?
SAM
Nothing. Just leaving.
Greg seems to catch on that Sam's acting strange.
GREG
Something up?
SAM
No…
GREG
You sure?
SAM
Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
GREG
Well, alright, if you say so. Anyways, are you doing anything later? What do you say we meet up at the bar?
SAM
Sure. I'll… see you there.
Sam walks off. Greg's a bit weirded out.
INT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, DAY
Amanda stares out the window. A crowd of a lot of people are outside, chatting amongst themselves.
SPUNKMEYER
So do you think the new recruits will be good?
AMANDA
Well, we'll have to see. Hopefully I can make a good first impression.
Amanda ties her hair back into a ponytail.
AMANDA
How do I look?
SPUNKMEYER
Err… very commander-y..?
Amanda opens the door and walks outside.
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, DAY
Amanda steps out onto the balcony.
AMANDA
Welcome to Terra Nova, folks.
The crowd goes silent.
AMANDA
For those of you who didn't know what you signed up for until now, I apologize. It was Lazarus station policy to keep you all in the dark. It wasn't personal, it was just a precaution. Whatever the case, your blind choice to leave your old lives behind was the most important decision you have ever made. You took the leap of faith, just as all of us have, and things will be better for it. The world you abandoned, had already abandoned you. Here, we can make something for ourselves. Here, we can build the second chance that humanity needs.
CUT TO
In the back of the crowd, Blake stands off near the edge. Amanda is barely audible back here. Some random soldiers in front of Blake are chatting.
SOLDER 1
The commander is a chick?
SOLDIER 2
You didn't notice once you got out of the portal?
SOLDIER 1
I was puking my brains out once I got out of the portal. I didn't notice anything.
SOLDIER 2
Ah.
SOLDIER 1
At least she's pretty hot.
Both soldiers start chuckling. Coincidentally, Connor is walking past the crowd at the same time. He notices Blake right next to the two laughing dudes.
CONNOR
Hey, Blake!
Blake turns his head, and Connor waves to him, and works his way into the crowd to come talk to him.
CONNOR
What are you doing listening to this hogwash? Come on, let's go to the bar. It'd be more productive.
BLAKE
Actually, you go ahead. I'll meet you after. I want to hear what she has to say.
CONNOR
Whatever dude. You're wasting your time.
Connor walks off. Amanda seems to be summarizing what happened so far to all the new recruits.
AMANDA
...and that was our first mistake. With the colony defenses lowered, the hostile outsiders were able to come into the colony, and hold our chief medical officer hostage. We managed to resolve the crisis with no casualties, but our enemies are still out there. Worse still, some kind of anomaly occurred that night after opening the portal. The sky lit up like the sun, and we're still not sure what it was. This brings me to my next point, however. The anomaly appears to have been tracked to a specific location known as the badlands, which is now emanating some kind of signal. I am looking to assemble a task force to go investigate, and would like to encourage everyone to think about volunteering. However, I must warn you that the badlands may be a very hostile environment. Chances of survival may be low, so keep that in mind.
Some random soldier speaks up.
RANDOM SOLDIER
We just got here, and now you already want us to be thrown to the wolves?
Murmuring erupts in the crowd.
AMANDA
I'm not looking to get anyone killed, but this location may be important, and it needs to be explored. I only need about 5 people, preferably each with a specialized role.
RANDOM SOLDIER
I sure as hell didn't sign up for any of this, I want to go home!
OTHER RANDOM SOLDIER
Me too!
The crowd erupts into a cacophony of yelling.
RANDOM SOLDIER
GET OFF THE STAGE YOU FRAUD!
AMANDA
Umm… this meeting is adjourned. You should all go find a vacant house in the colony to live in. I will send out some more information shortly.
The crowd boos and shouts at her as she walks off into Talyor's building and shuts the doors. Sam and Greg are in the back of the crowd, sitting there quietly.
GREG
Well, I don't think the new recruits like Amanda very much.
Greg starts to walk off.
GREG
I'll probably be at the bar once it starts getting dark out, if you still want to meet up.
SAM
Okay.
Greg walks off. Sam looks up at the closed doors to Taylor's building.
INT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING
Even from inside, the shouting from outside is pretty loud. Amanda slumps down into the chair at Taylor's desk, and puts her hand on her forehead. Spunkmeyer walks over.
SPUNKMEYER
Well… that could have gone better.
AMANDA
You got that right.
Amanda opens up a hologram from the desk, and brings up a virtual notepad which she starts typing into.
AMANDA
I'm going to send out a recruitment form to everyone for the badlands mission. Would you mind talking to Doctor Carmichael for me?
SPUNKMEYER
Yeah sure. I assume you're hoping to recruit him for the mission?
AMANDA
Yeah, but I also need you to ask him if he can drive out to make contact with Shannon.
SPUNKMEYER
Shannon?
AMANDA
Yes. I don't entirely trust him, but I figured we should tell him that we're going to ignore his warning. He won't be happy, but still, I'm sure he'd appreciate it if we let him know of any upcoming danger.
SPUNKMEYER
You don't think Shannon will try and kidnap the doctor again? Shouldn't I go instead of him?
AMANDA
You're not expendable, Spunkmeyer. You're my second in command, and the only person I can really trust to lead anything around here.
Amanda glances outside, the crowd is still yelling, but people are also starting to leave.
AMANDA
Carmichael will be fine. Even if he isn't, there are other scientists that I could potentially enlist from the new recruits. You on the other hand, are the one person who can lead the badlands expedition, besides myself.
SPUNKMEYER
I see.
INT. SAM'S HOUSE, DUSK
Sam is sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, messing around on his smartwatch, when he gets a notification. It's the recruitment form for the badlands mission. Sam closes it, gets up, and leaves his house.
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, DUSK
The crowd outside the building from earlier is gone. Sam shows up, and looks at Taylor's building. There's a very faint light coming from inside it. He walks up to the door of the building, and knocks.
INT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING
Amanda hears the knocking on the door, and instinctively puts her hand on her gun.
SAM
(From outside)
Hey Amanda, are you in there?
Amanda calms down once she hears it's just Sam.
AMANDA
What is it, Taggart? If you're here to ask if I'll recruit you for the badland's mission, my answer is no.
SAM
(From outside)
Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to uh… go for a walk or something?
AMANDA
A walk?
SAM
(From outside)
Yeah, you know. Just me and you.
Amanda pauses for a moment.
AMANDA
What's this for?
SAM
(From outside)
Nothing, nothing. I just felt like talking to you, I guess.
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, DUSK
Sam sits on the outside of the door. He's waiting a couple seconds before Amanda responds.
AMANDA
(From inside)
I can't, Sam.
SAM
Ah, okay.
Sam begins to walk off.
AMANDA
(From inside)
I wish I could though.
SAM
Well, perhaps another time. Have a good night, Amanda.
AMANDA
You too, Sam...
Sam walks off.
INT. BOYLAN'S BAR, NIGHT
Sam enters the bar. It's pretty lively and loud. Jake is running the bar, as he usually is. He looks exhausted. Sam pans his head around, looking for Greg.
GREG
Hey!
Greg raises his hand from a table in the middle of the bar. Sam walks over to him and sits down.
GREG
I was wondering if you would show up. You're not still spacing out are you?
SAM
I was spacing out?
GREG
Yeah, you do it a lot. Out by the infirmary earlier you were spaced out so much it looked like you saw a ghost. Do you even remember?
SAM
Oh that.
GREG
Well, what was that about?
SAM
It's weird. You know that new recruit who's like 50 something?
GREG
The guy who almost died coming out of the terminus?
SAM
Yeah. You know how I ran over to help him out?
GREG
Yeah?
SAM
When he saw me, he got confused, and then called me by my name. Well, my last name at least.
GREG
Weird. You don't know him from the future, do you?
SAM
No, I don't recognize him at all. He seemed to recognize me though.
GREG
Well, why not just go ask him how he knew your name.
SAM
I don't know where he lives.
GREG
No, he's in here right now.
SAM
What?
GREG
Yeah, look.
Greg points to a table far off in a dark corner in the back of the bar. Sure enough, the man is at the table, sitting alone. He looks a bit intimidating.
SAM
I don't know. It doesn't look like he wants company.
While Sam is looking in that direction, he notices the table that seats Connor, Blake, and a couple other goons. They're talking about Amanda. Connor in particular is quite drunk.
CONNOR
She's completely incompetent. The first god damn night out here she wandered off on what she called a "scouting mission." Got two of our group members killed.
BLAKE
A scouting mission?
CONNOR
That's what she said. It was really a stupid attempt to conceal the fact that we weren't alone out here.
Sam looks away, trying to ignore them and go back to talking with Greg. However, he can't seem to tune out what they're saying.
CONNOR
She tried to keep that crap concealed forever. She should not be leading us. She once went out on an emotional outburst and punched me in the face.
BLAKE
What?! Why'd she do that?
CONNOR
Yeah, here's the thing. You see that guy over there at that table? The guy who looks like a scrawny wimp? She has the hots for him. Gives him preferential treatment. I called her out on it, and she punched me.
BLAKE
That's messed up.
CONNOR
Yeah, I hate her and her stupid boyfriend.
GREG
(To Sam)
Hey! You're spacing out again.
Sam turns back to Greg.
SAM
Sorry. What were we talking about again?
Sam hears some indistinct noises of people getting up and shuffling around their chairs. Greg looks to Sam's right. Sam follows Greg's gaze, and sees Connor standing there. Before Sam can say anything, Connor punches Sam right in the face, causing him to fall out of his chair and to the ground.
GREG
Hey!
One of Connor's goons sneaks up behind Greg and puts him in a chokehold. Connor looms over Sam.
CONNOR
You piece of shit. You think you're better than the rest of us grunts?
Connor kicks Sam in the gut.
CONNOR
I'll make sure your girlfriend can't recognize your face anymore.
Connor grabs a glass bottle from the table, and rears back to swing it at Sam. While the bottle is drawn back behind Connor's head, a hand grabs his arm before he can bring it down onto Sam. Connor turns around to find that the old man is holding the bottle.
OLD MAN
Drop it.
CONNOR
Or else what? You gonna have a stroke on me, grandpa?
Connor's goons laugh. Connor tries to pull his hand out of the man's grip, but the man does not let go. Connor then tries to punch the man, but the man very swiftly dodges the punch and flings Connor away and onto the ground. Connor hits the floor stomach first, shattering the bottle he was holding and cutting up his hand. Connor looks at his bleeding palm, and looks back at the man.
CONNOR
You son of a-
Connor gets up and charges at the man, trying to swing at him again. The man once again dodges and then shoves Connor into the table. Connor rolls over the top of it, before hitting the ground on his back.
CONNOR
(To his goons)
Leon, Wayne, don't just stand there, help me kill this bastard!
Everyone in the bar gets up and backs away to the ends of the bar, but hangs around to watch the fight. The goons toss Greg to the ground and begin to charge the old man. Their attacks are ineffective, and the man manages to beat the crap out of both goons. Connor and his friends fight slightly better than drunken brawlers, but the old man is on an entirely different level, having clearly been trained in advanced hand to hand combat techniques. The old man takes on all three at once and barely breaks a sweat. The first goon, Leon, tries to punch at him, but the man sweeps Leon's legs out from under him. Leon falls and hits his head on a table, getting knocked out. Next, Wayne tries to kick the man, but is dodged and punched in the face, also getting knocked out. Finally, Connor pulls out a knife, and stares the man down. The man stares right back. Connor screams in fury and charges at the man. The man steps out of the way of the knife, grabs Connor's wrist with one hand, and brings down his elbow onto Connor's arm. A loud crack is heard as Connor's arm breaks. The knife falls out of Connor's hand and clatters to the ground. Connor falls a few seconds later, screaming in pain and curling up on the ground.
CONNOR
Son of a bitch! I'll kill y-
Connor winces in pain. The man just stands over him. Blake, still sitting at the same table he was before, stares at the situation, mouth agape.
SPUNKMEYER
What the hell is going on here?!
Everybody turns to see Spunkmeyer standing on the staircase that leads into the bar. They all shuffle out of the way, showing the scene of the crime. The old man stares at Spunkmeyer with a blank expression. Spunkmeyer looks down at Connor, Leon, and Wayne, all on the ground. Spunkmeyer puts his hand on his gun.
SPUNKMEYER
(In a commanding voice to the man)
What is your name?
OLD MAN
(Calmly)
Charles Hawthorne.
SPUNKMEYER
You're going to have to come with me, Mr. Hawthorne. The commander will want to speak to you about this.
CHARLES
No problem.
Spunkmeyer looks down at Connor once again.
SPUNKMEYER
And someone please call a god damn medic.
Charles and Spunkmeyer leave. A random person in the bar pulls out their comm. Greg helps Sam up and they leave the bar as well.
INT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, NIGHT
Charles sits across from Amanda at the room's conference table.
AMANDA
Well, it sounds to me like a case of self defense. Connor's going to hate me even more for this, but I'm letting you go Mr. Hawthorne. As long as you don't start any trouble, you'll do fine here in Terra Nova.
Charles nods, gets up, and walks out the door. Amanda turns to Spunkmeyer.
AMANDA
Did you talk to Carmichael?
SPUNKMEYER
Yes, he was very enthusiastic about both propositions. He said he can meet you tomorrow morning to talk about warning the raptor tribe.
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, NIGHT
Charles exits the building and begins walking down the steps. Sam is waiting at the bottom. Charles glances at him, but keeps on walking.
SAM
Hey, wait!
Charles stops, and turns towards Sam.
SAM
Listen, I want to thank you for defending me. Those guys would have torn me apart.
CHARLES
Don't mention it.
Charles begins to walk off again.
SAM
Hang on, there's something else. How did you know my name?
CHARLES
Your name?
Charles turns towards Sam again.
CHARLES
So I was right.
SAM
Huh?
CHARLES
You're Sam, aren't you?
SAM
Yes.
CHARLES
You look just like your father. I'm sorry for your loss, Sam.
SAM
You knew my father?
Charles looks down at the ground.
CHARLES
I knew your father quite well. In fact, I'd say he was my best friend.
SAM
Best friend? How come I've never seen or heard of you before?
CHARLES
You could say that I lived a rather complicated life.
SAM
What do you mean?
CHARLES
Well… I was something of a black ops agent in the CIA. I wasn't exactly the kind of person you would see out and about in the world, living a normal life.
SAM
Oh... but then how did you meet my father in the first place?
CHARLES
We met in a cybersecurity course when we were around your age. Both of our career paths required us to study that subject, as I'm sure you can guess. The two of us got along quite well, and we became good friends. After a while, we were like brothers, him and I. However, we didn't talk so much in the years later once both of our careers started.
SAM
No?
CHARLES
Not really. When your father got together with your mother, I knew he was happy, and that was good enough for me. I'd talk to him on rare occasions about life, although the conversations were obviously a bit one sided. I probably haven't talked to him in almost two years. It was a real punch in the gut to find out he succumbed to his illness.
Sam looks down a bit.
SAM
Yeah, it's still fresh in my mind. Him dying has been a fear of mine for months, years even, but now that it's actually happened...
CHARLES
Sam, there's something I need to tell you. Your father's death isn't as simple as it seems. His illness didn't come about randomly. He made great sacrifices to try and give you a future, and the illness was a product of that.
SAM
What?
CHARLES
It's complicated, but I'll try to explain what happened to the best of my knowledge. I don't know all the details, and I've only been able to start putting the pieces together now that I'm here.
FADE INTO FLASHBACK
INT. CAFE, FLASHBACK TO 2151
Charles and Christian are sitting at one of the tables in the cafe where Christian had previously met Thomas. The place is mostly empty, with maybe one or two of the other tables in the place being occupied.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
Your father had a problem, and he asked me if I could help him.
CHRISTIAN
Charles, listen, I have something of a debt I need to pay off, and I'm going to have to do something dangerous to fulfill it.
CHARLES
You're being blackmailed? By who?
CHRISTIAN
Kind of, but I'm not going to tell you who. I'm sure you'd try to do something to help me get out of it, but you see, I actually want to fulfill the debt.
CHARLES
What? Why?
CHRISTIAN
Let's just say the future depends on it.
Christian glances over Charles shoulder at one of the few other people in the cafe. They're wearing trench coats, and quickly glance back at Christian. It looks like another one of Thomas' men.
CHRISTIAN
That's why I came to you. I just need some info before I undertake this task, and I figured you might have it.
CHARLES
What kind of info are we talking about?
CHRISTIAN
There's a building I need the layout and blueprints to. I need to know how to get in, how to get out, and where to look for my objective.
CHARLES
You're going to break into a building? I didn't think you were the type for espionage. What corporation owns the building?
CHRISTIAN
Well… not a corporation, per say.
Christian slides a folder over to Charles, who opens it up and quickly glances through it. Charles gets a look of shock and horror on his face, and leans in towards Christian.
CHARLES
(Low)
A Russo-Chinese owned facility? Jesus Christ, Taggart. We're already on the brink of fighting another war against them.
CHRISTIAN
I need to get in there, Charles.
CHARLES
You're out of your mind.
CHRISTIAN
I'm dead either way. Might as well pick the more fun option.
CHARLES
You won't think it's fun when they catch you, skin you alive, and use you as an excuse to kickstart another global conflict.
CHRISTIAN
So, are you going to help me or not?
Charles stares off into space for a second.
CHARLES
I'll see what I can do.
Charles tucks away the folder, and stands up. He points at Christian.
CHARLES
Don't do anything stupid until you hear back from me. Got it?
CHRISTIAN
Of course.
Charles sighs and walks out of the cafe.
FADE OUT
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, PRESENT
Sam gets a surprised look on his face.
SAM
My... my dad was trying to steal tech from the hands of axis powers?
CHARLES
Yeah, it was a terrible idea, but he was serious about it. Lucky for him, the CIA's corporate sponsors were interested in the facility he was trying to break into. I wasn't about to let your father try and get in on his own though. I decided that I'd just do it myself. I pulled some strings, and managed to get the agency to greenlight a covert operation to infiltrate it. The plan I had was to put together an untraceable team of random hired guns from around the globe, which I would then lead into the facility.
SAM
You were going to lead? Weren't you worried about them catching you?
CHARLES
Of course. I knew that if I got caught, the CIA wouldn't be breaking me out, as doing so would reveal without a doubt who I was working for. Failure meant that I would for sure be subjected to the worst kinds of torture imaginable.
SAM
That's intense.
CHARLES
It was definitely stressful. It got worse though. Initially, I was planning on doing it myself, but your father absolutely insisted that he needed to be involved. There was an empty role for a tech on the mission, and he wanted it. I protested, but, ultimately, your father was the only trustworthy person I found who could do the job. Luckily, the role didn't require him to be on site, just on the helicopter. From there, we hired two more team members. One was an accomplished assassin, to accompany me inside the facility. The other was hired to pilot the helicopter. After a lot of planning, the mission began.
FADE INTO FLASHBACK
EXT. MOUNTAIN, NIGHT, FLASHBACK TO 2151
A black helicopter soars into view. It's blades have been built for stealth, and make little sound. It swirls around the mountain, looking for a place to touch down. The sky is pitch black, and there is no light anywhere. Eventually, a spot is located that is flat enough to land on. The helicopter zips over and down onto the landing site. Charles and the hired assassin get off of the chopper. They are both wearing some form of wingsuit. Christian, who is inside the chopper, waves to them as they leave.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
We had to land somewhat far from where the facility was, as to not draw attention. Luckily, we were able to close the distance with some wingsuits I bought.
Charles and the assassin jump off the mountain and glide down towards the facility, which is a small bead of light in the distance.
CUT
EXT. RUSSO-CHINESE RESEARCH FACILITY
Charles and the assassin are outside the facility, they shed their wingsuits and bury them. The facility is a giant mass of concrete, covered in wires, antennas, and satellites. Outside, there are many cameras and searchlights. However, there are a bunch of large boulders and other rocks lining the perimeter. Charles runs over to one nondescript rock, and pulls out a laser cutter. He uses the laser to cut around the rocks base, and then pushes the rock with his foot. The rock is fake, and slides away effortlessly. Underneath is some kind of hatch, which he opens. It's a secret emergency exit from the facility. Charles and the assassin climb down it.
CUT
INT. FACILITY SERVER ROOM
Rows of server racks in the room seem to go on forever. Each rack gives off a dark blue glow. Charles and the assassin move through the maze of racks. Charles reads the labels for each rack, he's looking for a specific one. The assassin spins around, looking for guards.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
We had to make a quick detour to look for a specific server. I had to give your father access to the facility's network.
Eventually, Charles stops at a specific rack, and opens up the case, revealing the ports on the inside. He pulls out some kind of transponder, and plugs it into one of the open ports. He then shuts the case, and hurries off.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
From there, we just had to go to the data core.
They weave in and out of the servers, passing what seems like thousands of server racks, until they reach their destination. At the center of the massive field of server racks, is the giant icosphere shaped data core. It is covered in lights, which flash all kinds of different colors. Wires permeate almost every part of its surface, leading into the ground, ceiling, and the servers around it. On the front of the core is a big door with a console to the side of it, presumably for opening it. Charles looks at his smart watch, and sees a message from Christian saying "Give me a sec." A few seconds later, the light on the door turns green, and it slides up and open. Charles and the assassin run into the data core.
INT. DATA CORE
The inside of the core is a dimension of pure technology. Screens line every inch of the core's interior: the walls, floor, and ceiling. The screens flash through thousands of images of text, pictures, videos, maps. It's all barely comprehensible, as each image is gone before you really get a chance to figure out what it is. Charles ignores the screens, and moves towards a sort of podium in the center of the core. Built into the podium is a keyboard. Charles pulls out some sort of drive, and plugs it into the podium, he then begins typing.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
The mission from the CIA's perspective was to gather as much information as I could from the facility, so I told the core to copy as much data as it could to the drive I brought. I made sure it copied the full blueprints for the reactor your father wanted though.
After a few seconds, the copying is complete. Charles yanks out the drive, and he heads out of the data core with the assassin.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
I'd gotten all the files. All we had to do was get out of the facility. I was hoping for a clean getaway, but…
Once the door to the data core opens and they step outside, they are met with a problem.
INT. FACILITY SERVER ROOM
COMMANDING VOICE
Stop right there!
Outside of the door is a man in a lab coat, with many guards around him. Most of the guards are human, but interestingly, they are joined by a combat robot. The robot is bipedal and very complex looking. It stands right at the side of the scientist, and is pointing a very big gun at Charles. The voice that told them to halt seems to have come from the scientist.
SCIENTIST
You didn't think you could get into the core unnoticed, did you?
Charles says nothing.
SCIENTIST
You tripped the core's silent alarm almost immediately. It's a wonder you made it this far into the facility to begin with. Now, who are you two? Who do you work for? If you cooperate, there will be no need for torture. Now, start talking.
Charles looks at the robot to the side of the scientist. It does some kind of weird twitch, and its head rotates, staring off into the distance, away from everyone else. Charles looks back at the scientist, and silently stares at him.
SCIENTIST
So that's how it's going to be. Very well, we will just have to bleed the answers out of you two. Guards, relieve them of their weapons and-
Within a second, Charles draws his pistol and puts a bullet into the scientist's head, and then shoots a few of the human guards around him. Most of the guards are surprised, and this gives Charles enough time to grab the assassin and run off into the maze of server racks. The combat robot is spazzing out much more now, and an orange glow begins to emanate from its chest. The guards try to give chase but don't make it far before the robot explodes into a massive fireball that engulfs much of the server room. Charles and the assassin, who are 100 yards away from it, hit the deck, as a river of flames floods through the rows of servers, trashing everything in the room, including part of the computer core. The fire stops short of Charles and the assassin. Charles looks at his smartwatch, and sees another message from Christian.
"Talk about bad security. They didn't bother to obfuscate the robot's reactor controls whatsoever. This gives me an idea. Also, the blast scrambled much of the security in the facility. Hurry up and get out."
Charles gets up, and hauls the assassin to his feet as well. Charles stuffs his data drive back into his bag, and they run off.
EXT. FACILITY HELIPAD
Charles and the assassin run outside, to find the helipad, quickly strapping on their rebreathers. It's unoccupied, and the only thing around appears to be some crates on the catwalk leading to the pad. Charles checks his watch, and sees another message from Christian:
"We're on our way to pick you up. Hang in there."
All of a sudden, several large explosions erupt from various parts of the facility. Another message arrives from Christian:
"Oh, and I also set many of the combat robots connected to the facility network to self-destruct. Figured it might give us some more time."
The helipad shakes and Charles and the assassin try to keep balance. The chopper arrives to pick them up, and lands right on the helipad. Charles and the assassin run towards it, but suddenly, they begin to hear gunshots behind them. Apparently the guards managed to locate them at the last minute. The two of them are so close, only about 50 feet away, when the unthinkable happens: the bag containing the drive falls off of Charles' belt, and to the ground behind him. He doesn't notice though, because the assassin gets shot in the head as he's running alongside him. Charles looks quickly, but keeps running. He is ten feet away from the chopper when he realizes he dropped the drive. He turns around, and sees it near the crates on the catwalk. Before he can turn around to go grab it, his leg is hit with a bullet. Charles screams in pain, and collapses to the ground. The door to the chopper opens, and Christian jumps out.
CHRISTIAN
Charles!
CHARLES
I dropped it. The data drive. It's over there.
Charles points to the bag. Christian looks, and sees it. He drags Charles back into the helicopter, and then jumps back out to run for the bag. The bullets zoom past his head, but he keeps running. Eventually, Christian reaches the bag, snatches it up, and ducks behind the crates, hyperventilating loudly through his rebreather. The bullets are unrelenting, and spark off of the back of the metal crates. Christian takes a brief look at the drive within the bag. Back at the chopper, Charles is inside, trying to stand on his one good leg.
CHARLES
(To Christian)
GET OUT OF THERE!
Christian looks up, when all of a sudden, some kind of canister is thrown over the crates he is hiding behind. The canister lands right in front of him. Christian barely has time to process what it is, before it activates, exploding into a cloud of green gas. The gas, whatever it is, melts the filters of Christian's rebreather, entering his lungs. He immediately begins choking on the gas. He gets up, and begins running towards the direction of the chopper. His coughing gets more and more violent. Blood starts to leak out from the sides of his mask. He runs aimlessly through the gas, somehow managing to make it out. He pulls off the mask, and a bunch of pooled up blood pours out as soon as he removes it. The helicopter is in sight, but he is stumbling around.
CHARLES
You can make it!
Christian falls to the ground on his back, and looks up at the sky. He begins convulsing.
CHARLES
No!
Charles endures his injured leg, and limps out and over to Christian. He grabs him, and drags him back to the chopper with the drive. He throws Christian in, and dives in after him, slamming the door. The helicopter takes off leaving behind the burning facility in the distance. Charles looks at Christian, who is laying on his side, puking up blood. For once, Charles looks terrified.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
Whatever chemical weapon they used on your father was killing him. He needed medical attention. I had a doctor who I always went to when I got injured on missions, and that was the only place I could think of to take him.
CUT
INT. MEDICAL ROOM
Christian is on an operating table, connected to many medical devices. He has two tubes stuck down his throat. One tube deposits some kind of orange liquid into his throat. The other tube extracts a brown mixture of blood, the chemical from the weapon, and the orange liquid out of Christian's mouth. A hologram display of Christian's anatomy is displayed to the side. There is an indicator where his throat is, detecting how much in milligrams of the chemical is in Christian's body. The amount is going down by the second. Charles speaks with the doctor in the room.
DOCTOR
Whatever that chemical is, it caused catastrophic damage to his throat and lungs. I've gotten as much out as I can, but I'm still not sure he will be able to recover. The makeup of the chemical is unlike anything I've seen before. I have no idea what the full extent of the chemical's effects will be, but if I had to venture a guess, even if he gets a lung replacement, he'll probably need to be on medication for the rest of his life. Hopefully that will be enough, but I can't say for sure.
CHARLES
(V.O.)
Your father's fate was in the air. Nobody knew anything. After a few days, the doctor released him. Once I got the chance, I tried to confront your father about why he did this to himself.
CUT
INT. CAFE
Charles and Christian are sitting at their usual table. The cafe is completely empty, other than them. Christian still seems pretty weak, but he can function somewhat. He grabs his cup of coffee with a shaking hand, and sips from it. Charles slides a small flash drive over to Christian.
CHARLES
There's the data you wanted.
Christian grabs the drive and puts it in his pocket.
CHRISTIAN
Thanks.
Charles stares at Christian for a few seconds, with a very frustrated look on his face.
CHARLES
Why did you do this to yourself, Christian? You said your future depended on that data, but now you might die from it.
CHRISTIAN
Emphasis on might. I feel fine right now. I'm ok with taking medication, and if I need a lung replacement later, so be it. Even if I die, it doesn't matter.
CHARLES
Doesn't matter?
CHRISTIAN
This data is the key to a better future, not for myself, but for my son.
CHARLES
How's it going to help your son? How is losing his last parent going to give him a better future?
CHRISTIAN
I can't give you the details.
CHARLES
You already live in a dome, what more could you give him?
CHRISTIAN
I want to give him something real, Charles.
CHARLES
Real?
Christian gets up.
CHRISTIAN
I have to get going. Thanks for your help. I couldn't have done this without you.
Christian pats Charles on the shoulder and walks off. Charles looks like he's feeling guilty.
CUT
EXT. TAYLOR'S BUILDING, NIGHT
Sam just sits there, processing what he was just told.
SAM
I- I never would have thought my father had the capacity to do something like that, but… it all makes perfect sense. The stolen plans for that reactor, it's how he negotiated for me to get here, and how the new particle accelerator was built. And that chemical, it explains the strange anomalies in my father's lungs, and it must be how the illness always came back even after his lungs got replaced.
Sam looks down at the ground and shakes his head.
SAM
He died to get my worthless ass here.
CHARLES
Your father loved you Sam, remember that. And, never think you're worthless.
SAM
I don't think, I know. Everybody here has qualifications, training, skills. I'm just a journalist at the wrong place and at the wrong time.
CHARLES
Journalism can be useful.
SAM
I'm a writer for a glorified tabloid, Charles.
CHARLES
Oh…
SAM
I'm telling you, I have nothing, and I have nowhere to go.
CHARLES
Well, here's the thing Sam, no matter how bad things seem, no matter how deep of a hole you find yourself in, there's always a way out.
SAM
It's just, I feel so worthless around here. I don't even have what it takes to be even the most lowly guard in the colony.
CHARLES
If you're that worried about knowing how to fight, I'd be willing to show you a thing or two, if you want.
SAM
You'd do that for me?
CHARLES
Sure.
SAM
I'd appreciate that.
CHARLES
Alright, I'll be going to the evaluation tomorrow for the badlands mission. Come along, and you can shadow me.
SAM
I'll be there.
CHARLES
Good.
Charles pats Sam on the shoulder, and walks off.
CHARLES
See you tomorrow, Sam.
SAM
Wait, Charles.
Charles turns around.
SAM
How did you get here? To Terra Nova?
CHARLES
Your father got me here, like you, kinda. Well, he told Mr. Ravenholme about me, who took a particular interest in my skill set. Only problem was that recruiting me was complicated by my affiliation with the CIA. He managed to figure out how to deal with that complication though.
SAM
Is that so?
CHARLES
Well, let's just say that I went AWOL.
SAM
I see… well, sorry to bother you about it.
CHARLES
I'll see you around, Sam.
Charles leaves, while Sam sits down on the staircase, thinking.
EXT. INFIRMARY, NIGHT
The doors to the infirmary open, and out comes Blake, who is helping out Connor, Leon, and Wayne, who still have some minor signs of their injuries.
BLAKE
Glad to see you guys are alright. That guy was absolutely merciless when fighting you all.
CONNOR
Yeah. I think Amanda might be bringing on people like him to prevent dissent against her. If she's already let the guy go, like you said, then he's totally in her pocket.
BLAKE
Well… I'm going to go home. I'm tired, and you guys probably are too.
CONNOR
Yeah, see you around, Blake.
Everyone splits up and walks off in different directions. Blake gives a quick glance over his shoulder.
EXT. TERRA NOVA GATE, MORNING
A rover sits in front of the gate, it's engine humming, ready to go, but with no one in the driver's seat. Carmichael and Amanda stand outside of the empty rover.
AMANDA
Now Carmichael, you'd better come back from this meeting alive, otherwise we'll have to replace you on the badlands mission.
CARMICHAEL
I'll make sure I don't die then.
AMANDA
You know what to tell the raptor tribe?
CARMICHAEL
I know what to tell them. Hopefully they'll appreciate the warning, even though we're ignoring their advice.
AMANDA
Indeed.
Amanda turns and nods to the guards that control the front gate. One of the guards begrudgingly gets up and opens the gate. Carmichael climbs into the rover and drives off into the jungle. Once Carmichael is gone, Amanda's comm buzzes.
SPUNKMEYER
(From comm)
Preparations for the first phase of the evaluation are complete, and we've got a few people here already.
AMANDA
(Into comm)
Okay, I'll head over there now.
EXT. COLONY, MORNING
A couple people are hanging around near the fence. Among them are Sam, Charles, Greg, Ramirez, and Evans. Sam is chatting with Charles, Greg is chatting with Ramirez, and Evans is sitting on the ground, cleaning his gun. Spunkmeyer is also around, but is separate from the crowd, working to set up a bunch of targets and cans on the rungs of the fence. Blake shows up, and immediately notices Charles, which prompts him to walk to the opposite end of the crowd from Charles. He sits down next to Evans, and glances at him.
BLAKE
(To Evans)
Nice gun.
EVANS
Thanks.
Amanda arrives.
AMANDA
Well, nice of all of you to volunteer.
Amanda notices Sam, and gives him a look that asks "what are you doing here?"
AMANDA
The evaluation will have multiple parts. The first part will be a standard shooting test. We've set up a bunch of targets for you to shoot. We'll watch how you shoot, and log your accuracy. So, let's get started. Everyone, line up and start shooting.
Everyone scrambles to get into position. As Sam is running off, Amanda grabs him by the shoulder.
AMANDA
Sam, what are you doing here? You know I can't allow you to go on this mission.
SAM
Yeah, I know. I'm just here to practice my skills.
AMANDA
Well... alright, I'll allow it. Just don't get anyone killed.
SAM
Thanks.
Sam runs off, and finds a spot in the row beside Charles. Soon, everyone is lined up and ready.
AMANDA
Ready, aim, FIRE!
EXT. JUNGLE
Carmichael trucks along in his rover, trying to follow the route he was on last time he met the raptor tribe. Ferns and bushes slap the windshield every so often. One particularly big fern is knocked out of the way, revealing a gallusaur right in front of the rover. Carmichael slams on the breaks, managing to stop about 10 feet short of the gallusaur. The dinosaur lifts its head curiously at the rover. It's like a big turkey. It stares at Carmichael for a few seconds, before going back to whatever it was doing before. Carmichael notices that it is eating some seeds or berries on the jungle floor. Strangely, the seeds seem to be clumped together into a decent pile on the ground, as if they were intentionally placed there. Carmichael is only given a few seconds to observe, before something terrible happens. A loud crash is heard from the trees to the right, and a carnotaurus leaps out of the foliage and snatches up the gallusaur. The creature lets out painful bellows as it is crushed in the carnotaur's mouth. The carnotaurus throws the body to the ground, killing it, and begins to feast on it. Carmichael appears to have remained unnoticed. He slowly reaches for the shifter of the rover. The carnotaurus has one foot on the ovasaur's body, and is biting off chunks of the ovasaur. All of a sudden, it stops, and it's blood covered snout begins to sniff the air. The carnotaurus slowly turns its head towards Carmichael, and lets out a snarl. Carmichael shifts into reverse and puts the pedal to the metal. The carnotaurus roars and begins pursuit. Carmichael, while screaming, keeps turning around to look where he's going, and then back at the carnotaurus which is right in front of him. In his panic, he reverses right into a tree trunk, stopping his rover dead in its tracks. The carnotaurus is running right for him, and in a few seconds will definitely kill him. Carmichael freezes up, not knowing what to do.
WHACK!
Some kind of giant suspended wooden spike comes swinging out of the trees to the right, stabbing the carnotaurus right through the belly, killing it. Carmichael just sits there, still in shock. Around 10 people come out of the surrounding foliage, they're all staring at Carmichael. A hand grabs Carmichael's shoulder, making him jump. He turns his head, to see the hand belongs to Josh, who is standing by the side of the rover.
JOSH
Doctor Carmichael, are you alright?
Carmichael babbles something incoherently.
JOSH
You walked right into our carnotaurus trap. You're very lucky to be alive.
Carmichael babbles something else.
JOSH
What's that?
CARMICHAEL
Talk to you… something.
Josh raises his eyebrow. Carmichael gets a hold of himself.
CARMICHAEL
I'm here because I need to talk to you about something.
JOSH
Well, go right ahead.
Carmichael eyes all of the raptor tribe members around the site.
CARMICHAEL
I'd like to do it in private.
JOSH
Very well. There's a place that's not far from here that I would like to show you. We can talk there. Do you mind if I drive?
Josh points at the steering wheel. Carmichael quickly scoots over to the passenger seat. Josh hops in and takes the wheel.
JOSH
(To his people)
I will be back shortly. I want to thank all of you for your hard work. That carnotaurus will feed us for weeks to come.
Josh puts the rover in drive, and rolls away.
EXT. COLONY
Everyone is doing target practice. Charles in particular is doing incredibly well. He nails the targets in front of him with perfect accuracy and in quick succession. Further down the line is Blake, who takes notice of Charles' shooting ability. Blake gives a frown, and then turns back towards his own cans. He hasn't shot at any of them yet. He turns his head, looking to see if anyone is watching, before pulling out his pistol and hitting the left can, the right can, and then the center, all super quick. Some people turn their heads, to see the middle can fly up into the air. While it is airborne, Blake shoots again, hitting it further into the sky, and then again, and again. His accuracy is insane. Even Charles seems impressed. Eventually, Blake's gun clicks empty, and the can plummets to the ground, landing with a loud clunk. A bunch of people around him start cheering. Amanda, watching from a distance, takes note.
AMANDA
Spunkmeyer, what's the name of that recruit?
SPUNKMEYER
Oh… him. I think his name is Blake Turner.
AMANDA
Quite a marksman.
Amanda steps out towards everyone on the range.
AMANDA
(To everyone)
Alright people, that concludes the accuracy evaluation. Now I will interview each of you to determine if you have the aptitude to undertake this mission. Please form a line in front of my building.
Amanda walks up and back into Taylor's hut. Some people start lining up, others are applauding Blake for his skills. Still at the range is Sam, who is receiving instruction from Charles on the correct way to use a gun.
EXT. ROCKY PASS
Josh drives the rover up a familiar rocky pass. At one point, the pass takes a sharp incline upwards, and Josh stops the car.
JOSH
Alright, we're here, more or less. Now what did you want to tell me?
CARMICHAEL
You're not going to like this, but we're ignoring your warning. We're set to start an expedition to the badlands tomorrow.
JOSH
I see. Well, I can't say I'm too surprised.
CARMICHAEL
I'm sorry, Josh. First there was that anomaly with the sky, and now we just recently started receiving some kind of SOS transmission from the area. We need to investigate it.
JOSH
You must do what you think is best. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, and hope for nothing but the safety of your people. I appreciate the warning. It will give my tribe some time to prepare.
CARMICHAEL
I'm sure you're angry to have this dropped on you.
JOSH
It's actually what I was expecting to hear. If I were you, I'd be suspicious of my warning too. I know I can't change your plans, but I actually brought you here for a reason. There's something I would like to show you.
CARMICHAEL
You want to show me something?
JOSH
Follow me.
Josh gets out of the car, and begins climbing the steep incline of rock in front of the rover. Carmichael is weary, but begins to follow suit. Eventually, the two of them reach the top, to find the stone bowl made of collapsed tunnels that Josh mentioned in his backstory. The years since have obviously eroded and changed certain things. There is now a shallow pool of dirty water at the bottom of the bowl. Very apparent, however is not only the lack of a dinosaur skeleton, in the center of the bowl, but the massive amounts of scratch marks surrounding every inch of the bowl. The scratches are absolutely everywhere, so much so that the lower walls of the bowl are almost a solid indent. Higher up, the scratches get less frequent, but are still around the circumference of the bowl. Eventually, at one spot, the scratches reach the top of the bowl, going up and out of it.
CARMICHAEL
This is the place from your story? This is where you trapped that reaper?
JOSH
That's right, the scorched reaper I fought against years ago is still out there somewhere. If you ask me, he's probably gone back to the badlands, for now.
CARMICHAEL
So you're saying there's a decent chance we'll bring him back here?
JOSH
Perhaps, but there's the possibility that the reapers never truly left for good. Every so often, my tribe and I will find evidence of fresh reaper activity in certain areas. I have yet to see one again, but I think they still consider these parts as their territory, and will occasionally come from the badlands to hunt. That being said, going to the badlands will likely lead them straight to you. You and your people be careful, Carmichael.
CARMICHAEL
We'll try…
Josh looks out over the rock bowl, and all the scratches.
JOSH
This is likely the last time you'll see me. My tribe and I have some preparing to do. Once again, thanks for the warning.
CUT
EXT. CARNOTAURUS KILL SITE
Josh and Carmichael drive back to the site where the carnotaurus was killed. Josh's tribe are still cutting up the carcass, taking the valuable parts. Josh hops out of the car, and walks around to the driver's side. He shakes Carmichael's hand.
JOSH
It was nice to meet you, doctor Carmichael. Stay safe out there.
CARMICHAEL
Thanks.
Josh walks off and begins to help his people gut the carnosaur. Carmichael puts the rover into drive and speeds off back towards Terra Nova.
INT. TAYLOR'S OFFICE, EVENING
Charles is sitting across from Amanda at a conference desk. Amanda has a plex open, and is reading through it.
AMANDA
Well, Mr. Hawthorne, it would appear you have quite the resume. Is there any particular reason you're interested in this mission?
CHARLES
Just trying to help out is all.
AMANDA
Is that so?
Charles' eyes wander around the room a bit, before noticing something. Tucked away in the corner of the room are a few of the flying drones that have been sent from the 2156.
CHARLES
Those drones, have you done anything with them yet?
Amanda gets a confused look on her face, before noticing the drones.
AMANDA
Oh, those! We haven't even touched them. Hell, I'm not even entirely sure how they work.
CHARLES
Really? Mind if I take a look at them?
AMANDA
Be my guest.
Charles gets up and walks over to the two drones. He presses a button on the chassis of both of them, and the two of them start bringing up a hologram of a configuration menu. Charles messes around in the menu of the both of them for a few seconds, and then picks them both up. Charles then opens up the door to the office. Both drones start up their rotors, and hover out of his hand. The two of them proceed to fly away from Charles in two different directions. Charles turns around and goes back to Amanda.
CHARLES
They're currently mapping out the colony and the surrounding landscape. After they've committed the layout of the area to their memory, they will return here, and you can give them any command you like.
AMANDA
Well, it seems like you're the real deal, Mr. Hawthorne. Could the same be done for the ground based robots we have?
CHARLES
I don't see why not.
AMANDA
That would be excellent. As for the badlands mission, I will add you to the team, if you'd like. I must make it abundantly clear that this is a very dangerous expedition. There is a high likelihood you won't come back.
CHARLES
Fine by me.
AMANDA
Alright, well… we the mission will depart from the front gate at 0600 hours, two days from now. I suggest you prepare and get some rest.
CHARLES
Thank you, commander. I won't let you down.
Charles walks out of the office.
AMANDA
Next recruit!
Blake walks in the front door of the office.
AMANDA
Take a seat, Mr. Turner.
Blakes sits across from Amanda.
AMANDA
You seem to be quite the marksman. Where did you learn to shoot like that?
BLAKE
Well, I worked a lot of private security for high profile individuals. I had a bit of a reputation as always being quick on the draw when an attempt on my client's life occurred. So I guess I just had a combination of experience from the job and also from personal training.
AMANDA
I see. Why do you want to sign up for this mission?
BLAKE
I figured that I'd be wasting my talents by not helping on a mission like this. If anything bad happened and I didn't go, I feel as though I'd be eternally guilty for not being there, so that's why.
AMANDA
I appreciate the empathy. You seem like a good person.
BLAKE
Well…
Spunkmeyer bursts into the office.
SPUNKMEYER
Commander, we've got a situation! Two of the people involved in yesterday's bar fight have turned up dead!
Amanda springs up from her seat. Blake also gets up.
AMANDA
(To Spunkmeyer)
Show me.
BLAKE
Should I stay here?
AMANDA
(To Blake)
No, your evaluation is done. You passed. I'll contact you tomorrow about it.
Amanda leaves the office with Spunkmeyer. Blake leaves behind them.
EXT. HOUSE, DUSK
A crowd has surrounded the building. A lot of murmuring is going on. Amanda and Spunkmeyer show up, and begin cutting through the crowd. Blake also shows up, just trying to see what's going on. Amanda and Spunkmeyer enter the building.
INT. HOUSE, DUSK
Inside, Amanda and Spunkmeyer find the body of Connor's friend Wayne, who is sitting in bed with a slit throat. Amanda takes a close look.
SPUNKMEYER
This is just one of two. The other victim was Leon Warner, who was also involved in the bar fight. Throat was slit the same way too.
AMANDA
This is bad, we've got a killer in our midsts. Let's get back to the office so that we can formulate a plan of action.
Spunkmeyer nods, and the two of them exit the building.
EXT. HOUSE, DUSK
Amanda and Spunkmeyer leave, walking past Blake. Blake stares at the house, and a hand falls on his shoulder. It's Connor.
CONNOR
We're in deep shit, Blake. They killed Leon and Wayne, and are likely gunning for the two of us now. We've got to be careful.
BLAKE
What can we do?
CONNOR
For now, keep your head down. Stay away from everyone, especially that Charles guy. He's the one who probably did the dirty work. I'll try to get some guys together within the next few days. We'll come up with a plan of action.
BLAKE
Connor, I signed up for the badlands mission. That Charles guy is going on it too.
CONNOR
Well shit, can you drop out of it?
BLAKE
Can't, it might tip off Amanda that we're on to them.
CONNOR
Good point. Just make sure you watch your back out there.
BLAKE
You do the same. Even with that Charles guy out of the colony, you'll still need to watch yourself. Find out who you can trust.
Connor nods.
INT. TAYLOR'S OFFICE, NIGHT
Amanda is pacing the room, and Spunkmeyer sits down at the conference table.
AMANDA
This is quite a bad time for something like this to happen. It's going to be difficult to prepare the colony for an attack when there's a murderer on the loose.
SPUNKMEYER
Could it be the work of outsiders?
AMANDA
Perhaps, but we don't know enough to be sure. It could have been the phoenix remnants, but nothing else was reported stolen or sabotaged so far. It also could have been done as a warning from the raptor tribe, although Shannon doesn't strike me as someone who would want to start a conflict with us. The choices for victims have gotten me thinking about a third, more concerning possibility: they were murdered by someone within our ranks.
SPUNKMEYER
The victims were nearly killed by Hawthorne earlier. Do you think he might have something to do with the murders?
AMANDA
The thought has crossed my mind. He's going on the badlands mission.
SPUNKMEYER
Should we pull him off of it?
AMANDA
No, we'll keep him on it. In fact, I want you to watch him very closely while leading the mission, Spunkmeyer. The guy's a wildcard. He'll either be one of our best team additions, or one of our most dangerous. We have no idea what he's truly capable of, and where his true allegiances lie. Exercise extreme caution.
SPUNKMEYER
Got it.
AMANDA
You're dismissed. Go get some sleep and prepare for the badlands mission. I'm counting on you, Spunkmeyer.
SPUNKMEYER
I won't let you down.
Spunkmeyer exits the office.
INT. BOYLAN'S BAR, NIGHT
Connor has gathered a bunch of people together in a dark corner of the bar. Blake is with him as well.
CONNOR
We can't let Amanda continue with her destructive management of this operation. She's been sending us all to die left and right since we got here, and has had no regard for any of our safety. She's nothing but a dictator, a tyrant. Now, people who are against her are now suspiciously turning up dead. We need to take her down, and it has to happen soon.
THE END