INT. the Exodus - Loki's room
We open on Loki, lying on a small army cot He is dressed in dirty rags and his shirthas a few holes in it. He slowly wakes up. He puts his hand on his head.
LOKI Jesus. That was one hell of a bad dream.
His eyes open and he sits up. Only then does
he notice the IV running into his arm. He
looks
around, scared. His room is fairly empty and
small, all metal. He reaches to
the back of his
scull and feels the metal hole. This was no dream. There is a knock at the
door. Before Loki can
respond, the door opens and Bishop steps in. Like Loki, his clothes
are messy and old, and
he has the metal holes on his body as well. His
face is still the same.
BISHOP
Good morning Loki. I trust you slept ok.
LOKI
Where the hell am I? What is this place?
BISHOP
The Real World. And it's more of a when question.
Loki stares, puzzeled.
LOKI
Alright, when is this place?
BISHOP
Somewhere around 2750.
Loki goes pale and lays back down.
LOKI
It's 2750!
BISHOP
Unfortunately yes.
LOKI
How the hell is that possible?
BISHOP
Come, I'll show you.
Loki unsteadily gets to his feet, wobbling around like a newborn deer.
BISHOP
We gave you muscle growth stimulants. Don't worry, they'll wear off in a few minutes.
LOKI
Why would I need stimulants?
BISHOP
Because you have never moved your muscles
before.
Loki gives a questioning look.
BISHOP
It will all become clear soon.
Bishop leaves the room and Loki follows, shutting the door behind him.
INT. the Exodus - Hallway
They walk down a catwalk and head for the main deck.
BISHOP
This is my hovercraft, the Exodus.
pipes and wiring,ect. They finally come to the main deck. It is a large room,with seven
dentist-like ectoskeleton chairs that strangely resemble the one from the movie theater only
older and made of all metal, all in a semi-circle. In front of the chairs is a big computer terminal
with five old flatscreens, all positioned at different places and surrounding a pair of keyboards.
It is the room that we saw earlier after the shootout at Knox's place.
BISHOP
This is the Main Deck and Core, where we
use pirate signals to hack into the Matrix.
There are people standing around the room,
waiting for them. Some are busying themselves
with things, others are just watching them with their
arms folded across their chest. Bishop names
them, left to right.
BISHOP
This is my crew. On the far left, that's Nitro.
NITRO is an imposing fiugre, in his early-mid thirties He is around six foot, with a well toned
muscular
system and stringy, dark blond hair that is somewhat
long but not in his eyes. He
has a scowl on his face.
He nods to Loki, emmiting a 'Clint Eastwood' bad-ass
attitude.
BISHOP
Cutter,
CUTTER is a beautiful Asian woman who's soft
features have been hardened somewhat but
still
radiate beauty. Loki is quick to notice that she
has a considerable chest. She smiles.
BISHOP
and Angel.
ANGEL is young, maybe a year older that Loki. She has bleached white hair that is fairly short,
going to just below her ears. Two long strands
hang into her face like spikes, and all of it
curls
inward a little at the bottom. She is quite attractive,
with a well toned body. She is cleaning a
metal
pipe, which looks like it came from the wall on their' right, where another man is repairing a
section
of piping. She looks kind of nervous, maybe
just embarassed with the appearence of a male
closer to her age on board.
BISHOP
This is our technician and mechaninc, Mok.
MOK is of African origin, but his skin is paler,
as if one of his parents was caucasian. His hair
is
short and spiked. He looks about twenty eight
or thirty. He also has no mechainical holes in him,
unlike everyone else. There's a friendly smile on
his face.
MOK
Heya buddy.
BISHOP
And you have already met the others, Phoenix and Cable.
placing a hand on his shoulder.
BISHOP
You wanted to know what the Matrix is. Now I can show you.
He leads Loki over to one of the chairs and
Loki nervously sits down, keeping his eyes
on Bishop. Bishop puts a hand on Loki's
forehead and leans him back slowly until
his head is
resting on the headrest.
BISHOP
Load us up.
Bishop takes a big black plug with a long, thin
needle on the end in his hand. It is connected
to
some moniters behind the chair. He down looks
at Loki from behind him.
BISHOP
This is going to feel really weird.
Before Loki can react, Bishop slips the plug into
the socket in the back of his scull through
a hole
in the headrest. Loki's face tighens in anguish, then
relaxes as Loki seems to loose
conciousness.
INT. Construct
Everything is white. As far as the eye can see,
there is nothing but emptyness. Loki, in a getup of
a
black tee shirt and jeans, spins around, disoriented.
Suddenly, as he turns, two leather chairs and a
flat
screen tv materialize out of nowhere. The tv seems to
hang in midair. And Bishop, back in his Matrix
clothes,
is sitting in one of the chairs, waiting for Loki.
LOKI
Bishop, what is all this?
BISHOP
This is a loading program for the Matrix. Around here we call it the Construct. We can load
anything
from objects to programs, anytime we want.
LOKI ( in a state of disbelief )
So were in a computer system?
BISHOP
Exactly.
LOKI
How? How is this possible?
Bishop takes in a deep breath.
BISHOP
Come sit down. It is due time for you to learn
the truth.
He motions to the chair next to him and picks up the remote to the tv.
INT. the Exodus - Main Deck
A few minutes later...
Loki sits up in his chair unpluged from the Construct.
LOKI
Oh my god.
He is weak and pale. Bishop has unplugged and walks over to him.
LOKI
I think I'm going to be sick.
Loki falls out of the dentist chair and his the
ground hard. He is so weak from shock that
he cannot
pull himself up onto all fours. Phoenix, who is standing right next to him, tries to help. He promptly
pushes her away. Then, abruptly, he throws up. It is a sticky
white fluid. He breathes hard for a
moment,
then vomits again.
Bishop places a hand on his back and pats him gently.
BISHOP
It's all right. You'll be ok.
Loki sits up and leans against the chair, not looking
much better. He wipes his mouth with his
shirt
sleeve.
LOKI
I'm sorry.
PHOENIX
Don't be. It happens to everyone.
BISHOP
You better get some rest.
Loki nodds his head wearily.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. the Exodus - Loki's room.
Loki is curled up on his bed. Bishop
knocks and enters. He comes and sits
on the floor next
to Loki's cot.
BISHOP
I know it's hard. I had the same feelings
you are having when I was pulled out.
We all go through
it. But this war has to
end. And that is why we unplugged you. Like Angel, who has only been
unplugged
about six months, we need you for your
virus making. It is the only was to stop the
machines.
Loki rolles over and looks at Bishop.
BISHOP
You are an excellent virus maker, Loki. We need your skill. If we can somehow
infect the Matrix with
a killer virus, we can
cut off the machine's energy source and then
defeat them on their own ground.
Peace
will never be achieved without the anniliation
of all of us or all of them.
Bishop takes a deep breath then leans back onto the side of Loki's bead.
BISHOPMany years ago, there was a man named Neo He was known as The One. The one who
would end the war. His comming had been prophocied for generations. And he did that. He
propogated a temporoary peace with the machines, at the cost of his own life. And for a time, that
was good enough. The machines claimed that we would slowly be able to start unplugging those that
wished out, and for a while, we did. But they went back on their word. Five years after the peace began,
they denied us claims to any more of their crops; our fellow humans. There were a few small
skirmishes, and then one of our ships was destroyed in combat. That pushed us over the edge. Ever since,
we have been at war. That was ten years ago. My crew is dedicated to one thing Loki, the complete
destruction of the Matrix. We have been fighting for years now, and the end is in sight. As long as the
Matrix exists, the human race will forever be enslaved. We need your help, but I cannot force you to
ablidge. If you wish, you can stay in Zion and stay out of the fighting. Or you can stay with us, here,
on the Exodus, and fight beside us.
There is a long pause.
LOKI
Is there any way to go back?
Bishop shaked his head. Another long silence; Loki is collecting his thoughts.
LOKI
Those images you showed me, those
were all real? The power plants, all
that?
BISHOP
Yes. And someday you will see them in
person.
LOKI
God, those were the most sickening images
I have ever seen in my life. And I've seen
alot.
But in all my life, I have never really
done anything. If I stay here, with you, and give my life a
reason for existance. I
can help someone for once. And I'm want
to do that. I have to.
You're right, this
has to end.
Loki stops, suprised a his own statement. Bishop turns and looks at him.
BISHOP
Good. Now get some rest. Your training starts
tomorrow. I wish we could wait and give you
more
time to adjust to your surroundings, but
time is ever against us.
Bishop stands and places a firm hand on Loki's shoulder, then exits.
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - hallway
Flourescent lights begin to flicker on up and down the hallways.
INT. The Exodus - Loki's room
Loki looks up from his bed as Mok enters.
MOK
Hey buddy. Get a good sleep?
LOKI
Not really.
MOK
Don't worry. You will tonight.
Loki looks up at him, puzzled.
LOKI
Why do you say that?
Mok grins.
MOK
Wait and see.
CUT TO :
Int. the Exodus - Main Deck
Loki gently sits himself into one of the
dentist chairs, still uncomfortable around
new technology.
Mok slides the metal needle into
the back of his head. Loki grimaces. Mok walks
around him and
plops down at the computer terminal, putting on a headset with a microphone
and earpiece.
LOKI
Jesus, this feels really weird.
MOK
I wouldn't know.
LOKI
You we'ren't born in the Matrix?
MOK
Nope. Your lookin' at a child of
Zion.
LOKI
What is this 'Zion' I keep hearing about? Is it some kind of city?
MOK
Yep, the last human city. About 400
kilometers under the surface.
LOKI
Why does it have to be so far underground?
MOK
Warmth. There is almost no light above the
surface, not near enough to sustain life. Topside
is just one massive graveyard.
Loki takes a minute to swallow this infromation.
MOK
But you'll learn more about that later. You'll probably even see it, and the sooner
the better. But
back to your training.
He grabs a bunch of tiny hardisks off a little
table suspended below one of the monitors
and
shifts through them.
LOKI
What are those?
MOK Programs. I load them into the Construct and you interact with them just like you would the Matrix.
Loki nodds his head in understanding.
MOK
Let's see. We've got some basic procedure
programs, weapons training, physical combat,
code
interpretation programs; all kinds of
goodies. Your pick.
A devilish grin spreads across Loki's face.
LOKI
Weapons training.
MOK
Have fun.
Mok shoves the disk into one of the drives
and presses a few buttons. Information is
suddenly
streamed into Loki's head, and
he shakes just a little as his mind is absorbed
by the program. His body
relaxes into a sleep-like state.
INT. The Exodus - Main Deck
Bishop walks up behind Mok, who is still sitting at the computers.
BISHOP
How is he doing?
MOK
Pretty good for his age. He's been going for
about three hours now. But I think he's just
trying to impress
her.
BISHOP
Who?
We pann over to see that Angel is in one of the other loading chairs.
CUT TO :
Int. Construct - Dojo
The dojo is large, like to ones in Chinese kung-fu
flicks. Lots of beautiful wood panneling. The
walls
are lined with all kinds of melee weapons: katanas, sparring staffs, numchucks, ect.
Suddenly Loki smashes into one of the wood posts
and falls over, winded. He is wearing a black
tanktop
and black workout pants, as well as black fingerless
gloves. He gets to his knees, rests for a
moment, then stands.
Angel walks over. She is wearing all white, with
long pants and a tiny tanktop that exposes her
midrift. Very attractive. He hair is put up in an
exotic fashion on top of her head.
ANGEL
You'r getting better at this.
LOKI (shrugging)
Thanks.
ANGEL
I know I'm not the best person to learn from;
hell, I've only been unplugged for a few months.
LOKI
Nonsense. Your a great teacher.
Angel rolls her eyes playfully, accepting his
blatent flirt but not cooperating. Loki grins.
Angel walks a few feet away and assumes a
fighting stance.
ANGEL
Now try again.
They race towards eachother, arms flailing legs kicking. The moves are so beautiful and
coordinated it looks like an exotic dance.
Loki throws two punches, which are both
blocked by Angel. In return, Angel delivers
a roundhouse
kick that strikes Loki in the
shoulders.But instead of toppling over, Loki rolls with the kick and
twists until he
is behind her. Before she can stop him, he
delievers a kick that sends her flying a
few
feet. Without missing a beat, Angel places
her hands on the ground and flips her whole
body
around in the air, now facing Loki
again. They both shake from adrenaline and
anticipation and they
charge again. Fists
fly but neither can reach an advantage on the
other. Finally Loki throws a punch
that slips
past Angel's defenses and strikes her on the
jaw. Before she can recover, Loki's foot finds
her chest and she is thrown back a few feet, tumbling to the gorund. Loki relaxes. Angel stands up
smiling, but clutching her chin.
BISHOP (v.o)
Very good, Loki.
We turn to see that Bishop is now behind
them. He is dressed in all black, much like
Loki, except
he is wearing a long 'kimino' robe with a red obe sash.
BISHOP
But I suggest a new medium. I assume
Mok loaded the melee combat program
for you?
Loki nodds.
BISHOP
Good.
Angel is already at the 'weapons wall' and is
taking down a large sword that resembles a
katana,
only much longer. The blade is almost
four feet long. Angel swivels the sword in her
hand.
ANGEL
It's called a 'No Dachi'; it Japanese.
Loki stares dumbfounded at the grace Angel
has when she twirls the weapon. Only Matrix-
induced powers would enable a person to wield
it in such a fashon.
LOKI
What does 'No Dachi' mean?
ANGEL
'Horse-killing sword.'
She grins micheviously.
BISHOP
Don't worry. I had Mok dull all the blades
before I jacked in.
Loki relaxes a little. Angel smiles at him daringly.
ANGEL
Choose your weapon.
Loki walks over to the wall and pulls down a
fanciful looking trident. He spins it in his hands,
twisting it all around his body. Confident, he walks
back infront of Angel and assumes a fighting stance.
The two combatants stare each other down.
BISHOP
Begin.
soon as it begins. Loki blocks one blow before Angel whacks his shoulder with incredible speedand
steps back. Loki just stares. Bishop smiles.
LOKI
Damn!
BISHOP
Indeed, the girl is good. I taught her to think
beyond programming knowledge and to embrace
the skill
itself. Improvision and adaptation cannot
be written, they must be discovered by the
individual.
He pauses.
BISHOP
Again.
(Soundtrack note "Tea House" by Juno Reactor)
Loki proceedes slower this time, and the
combatants circle eachother. Angel makes the
first
move, jabbing for Loki's abdomen, but
Loki quickly blocks it with his trident, swinging
Angel's
sword away from him. They each trade a
few lightning fast blows, not making any gorund.
Loki strikes out with his trident, but Angel latches
her sword in between two of the tips of the
trident
and swings upward. This yanks the trident right out
of Loki's grasp and it flies into the air,
then
falls right into Angel's grasp. She twirls is for
a moment before thrusting the handle to Loki.
She winks at him as he takes the trident from
her.
Bishop grins at the pair.
BISHOP
Thats enough for now.
Angel nodds and seems to speak to the air.
MOK
Alright Mok, get me outta here.
Code suddenly envelopes her as she goes transparent, then dissapears. Bishop turns to face Loki.
BISHOP
The main purpose of this exercise is to teach
you one thing : you must learn to free your mind.
LOKI
'Free my mind'?
BISHOP
You have to forget everything you know about
the rules and regulations of physical abilities.
You must forget what the Matrix has taught you
about what you can and cannot do. Let it all go.
Quiet your thoughts and focus only on your goal. You will then be able to do things that, by
all
the standards of the Matrix, are impossible.
Bishop turns his head to the ceiling and speaks, just like Angel.
BISHOP
Load the jump program.
The ground dissapears below them, and suddenly
they are ontop of a giant skyscraper. The
corners
of Bishop's mouth curl in a small smile.
BISHOP
I want to show you a little trick.
CUT TO :
INT. The Exodus - Main Deck
Loki groans as he is pulled out of his dreamworld
and back to the real. He grunts and touches
his
side. Phenox is standing over him, and she pulls
the jack out of his head.
PHENOX
Jump program?
LOKI
Jump program.
MOK
Don't worry kid, nobody has ever made their
first jump. Not even the One himself.
Loki shrugs as he sits up.
LOKI
Why does my side hurt? I thought it was just a
program?
Bishop has gotten out of the loading chair and walks over to him.
BISHOP
Like the Matrix, the program is wired directly
to your brain. If get hurt in the Matrix, you'll
wake
up with an ache. They'll go away in an
hour or two as the effect wears off your brian.
But if it's a serious injury, thats a different
story. If you get yourself killed in the Matrix,
your brian will shut down here, killing your
real body.
Loki just looks at his feet.
CUT TO:
INT. The Exodus - Mess Hall
Loki walks into the mess hall, a tiny room with a
long metal table. The rest of the crew, save for
Phoenix, is already sitting down. Loki takes a seat next to
Cable just as Phoenix enters and sits next
to
Bishop. Nitro passes him a little metal can that is
filled with some sort of watery goop. Loki just
stares
at it for a moment.
LOKI
What the hell is this?
CABLE
It's a synthetic compound of vitamins, minerals, and protiens. All your body needs to survive
and
stay healthy.
Loki stirrs it with his spoon.
LOKI
Well it looks like oatmeal and grits. I'm not
touching it.
Loki pushes the can away from him.
NITRO
Eat it or go hungry, kid. It's all we got.
Loki takes a look around, seeing everyone else
practically inhaling the stuff. He closes his
eyes
and shoves a spoonful in his mouth,
then grimaces.
LOKI
Tastes like watered-down oatmeal, too.
Loki continues eating, grimacing the whole time.
PHOENIX
Good boy.
They all eat in silence. Loki finishes his meal
and pushes the can away. He looks around
akwardly, nervous from the silence. Trying
to break it up, he looks over at Bishop.
LOKI
So why do they call you 'Bishop' anyway? We're you some kind of priest?
Bishop pauses, swallowing his food.
BISHOP
Something like that.
LOKI
So why do you still go by that name? I mean, shit, how can anyone still believe in a God
after
learning this truth?
BISHOP
Good point.
He pauses, thinking over his words.
BISHOP
When I was still in the Matrix, I was studing
to become a Reverend. I saw something I wasn't
supposed to, some kind of glitch in the Martix, and I started digging deeper. And then I found
the truth. It shook the foundations of everything I
had ever believed. I forgot about God for
many
years. I figured the idea of "God" was just another
way to keep humans under control.
But then I
found something, deep within the Zion archives :
an ancient Bible; just like the ones
I had read
from during my slavery to the machines. I found that
the Bible had been copied from
another old copy that
dated from before the rise of the Matrix. It was
my first step towards
redemption. I realized that
God was more than a farce created to keep
me under control.
Nitro rolls his eyes and stands up, quietly leaving the room. Bishop ignores him.
BISHOP
I have learned that it is possible for God to let
such things like the Matrix continue. For hundreds
of years, the Israilites were enslaved to many
different countries, and always God eventually
rescued
them. That is why I know this war can end. I believe
everything that has happened, the
enslavement of
humanity, the role of the One, everything, is all part
of his plan. God will deliver us.
CABLE
Bishop, you know we don't by into all this "religion"
stuff.
BISHOP
Yeah, I know. But I'm not here to make you. I'm here
to lead our civilization one step closer to
victory. And
that's what I'm going to do.
Bishop stands up, takes his empty saucer of food, and leaves the room.
LOKI
I can't see how he can believe that God loves us
after all that he has seen. What a joke.
CUTTER
No one can understand it. Thats why he has a
following of only a few dozen in all of Zion.
PHOENIX
I know it's hard to believe, but I've seen him do
things in the Matrix like I've never seen before.
He
is strong-willed and his belief is all that drives
him. He believes that we can win this war, and that
is what gives me hope, gives all of of hope. If he
says we can do it, then I believe him.
Phoenix gets up and walks out, as do all the others except for Angel and Loki.
LOKI
Only one more question.
ANGEL
What's that?
LOKI (sarcasticly)
If he was in training to be a Reverend, why is his
name "Bishop"? Some kind of self premotion
or what?
Angel gives a quiet laugh.
ANGEL
Who knows. Who the hell knows.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. Tunnels of the Real
The Exodus speeds through the tunnels, energy crackling from it's hover pads.
Suddenly we see something move out of the corner
of our eye, and then the long, terrifingly
beautiful
shape of a SENTINEL springs out from it's hiding
place behind a large pipe. Two others
are right behind
it. Their tentacles wave to life, spreading out the
arms of a mechanical octopus.
INT. The Exodus - cockpit
Bishop is piloting the ship, calmly adjusting the
steering handlebars. Suddenly a holographic
projection
pops up from the dashboard computer, followed by a howling siren. The hologram shows
three
sentinels following behind them, and catching
up.
BISHOP
Damn!
He grabs for the microphone that controls the
loudspeaker. There is a loud squeal of static before
Bishop starts talking.
BISHOP (into loudspeaker)
We've been ambused! Phoenix, I want you up here
with me. Cutter, Nitro, Cable, you three
man the
machine guns. Do it now!
He slams the microphone back on it's holder.
INT. The Exodus - hallway
Loki is stumbling around, confused. Flashing red
lights and loud sires assult his senses. Nitro and
Cable push past him.
NITRO
Get out of here kid, we're under attack! Go meet
up with Bishop in the cockpit!
Loki nodds repeatedly, running down the hallway.
Nitro and Cable run into a fork in the hall, and each
go seperate ways, into the two side
machine guns.
INT. the Exodus - cockpit
Phoenix runs in and straps herself in the copilot's
seat. Bishop is masterfully manuvering the
craft through
the tunnels.
BISHOP
Throw everthing we've got to the right!
Phoenix throws a lever and the craft swirves, spinning
around a tight corner into a side tunnel.
Now the
gunners will have the advantage when the sentinels
come around the corner.
INT. the Exodus - left machine gun
Nitro jumps in his chair and buckles up, then
yanks back the lever on the gun chamber,
loading up a
set of bullets. He pulls the periscope-like goggels over his eyes and starts firing.
INT. the Exodus - left machine gun - targeting view
Everything is in a tainted shade of green, light pink, and yellow.The yellow crosshairs narrow as the
three
sentinels turn into the tunnel after them and head
straight for them.
INT. the Exodus - right machine gun.
Cable is firing away at the pursuing sentinels.
CABLE
Allright you little bastards, come get some.
EXT. Tunnels of the real.
All three turrents on the ship are blasting away
and the pursuing sentinels, metal shells
flying
in all directions. The lead sentinel lands on top
of the ship, but unfortunately for it, the
sentinel
is right in Cutter's line of fire. It gets blasted away
in mere seconds, exploding as it hits
the wall of
the tunnel.
INT. the Exodus - top machine gun
Cutter raises her hands in triumph.
CUTTER
Woohoo!
INT. the Exodus - left machine gun
Nitro growls as he blows the other two sentinels out of the air and they explode into the wall.
NITRO
Hell yeah!
He pushes the periscope back up and unbuckles his seatbelt and the alarms die.
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - cockpit
The group stands around Bishop and Phoenix as they calmy pilot the hovercraft.
LOKI
What the hell were those things?
CUTTER
Sentinels. We call 'em "squiddies" cause they
look like giant metal squids.
BISHOP
They're the machines' main soldiers. At once both
a beautiful and hypnotic machine as well as the
ultimate search-and-destroy unit.
CUTTER
And we were lucky. That was just a small group. Probably just a reconnisance unit, we
can handle
those pretty easily. When they send fifteen or
twenty of them, then it can be a
problem.
BISHOP
I'm bringing us up to shutdown depth, above the main
landlines. No need to worry about
sentinels there.
We should all get some rest.
The group nods, and one by one they leave the cockpit.
INT. the Exodus - cockpit - later
Bishop takes the micrphone off the dash.
BISHOP
Angel, Loki, I would like to see you two in the
mess hall as soon as possible.
He replaces the microphone and turns to Phoenix.
BISHOP
Take over for me, will you?
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - mess hall
Bishop is sitting at the head of the table. Angel is
sitting a few feet down on his left. There is a
long
silence. Finally Loki enters and takes a seat across
from Angel. A small smile creases the
corners of
Bishop's mouth.
BISHOP
Thank you for comming. I felt it was time that
we discussed your' purpose on this ship.
There is a short pause.
BISHOPAs you well know, I am dedicated to one thing : the destruction of the Matrix. And I need programmers
like yourselves to help me. We are not the first crew in the history of Zion that has taken upon this
ardous task. But where every one of them has failed, we will suceed. Every past attempt on the
Matrix has been through strength of arms. Assults have been made on the pod fields, to try and rid
the Matrix of it's power, but each were thoroughly crushed by the machine's defense mechanisims.
One attack was launched upon the machine mainframe itself, located inside the Matrix. That was many,
many years ago, before the comming of Neo. But I have learned of the one way to truly destory the
Matrix : and that is why you are here. The greatest enemy of any computer program is...
ANGEL
A virus.
Silence.
BISHOP
You are both excellent virus makers. Angel, your
"Thor's Hammer" was astounding.
You managed to
shut down an entire Phone network with a single virus.
And Loki, your list of viruses is beyond count. Loki gives a proud smile.
BISHOP
Zion needs the two of you to build a killer virus.
One that can strike at the very heart of the
Matrix : it's mainframe. Unfortunately, the location
of this mainframe is unknown, but we know it
exists inside the Matrix, and by releasing the
virus
there, we will be able to directly cut off the
power to the machines in the real world. This crew is
one of the best and toughest in all of Zion. If you
can give us the means, we will destroy this thing.
Now
tell me, can you do this?
There is a long silence. The two hackers are looking
down at the table. Finally, Loki raises
his head.
LOKI
Yes.
Bishop smiles.
LOKI
But you said you didn't know where the mainframe is.
BISHOP
We don't. But there are computer scientists in Zion
who have been serching the Matrix for the
mainframe.
It will be found eventually, and probably very soon.
Loki nods his head in understandment. Bishop turns to Angel.
BISHOP
And what about you?
ANGEL
Sure. Yeah, I can do it.
BISHOP
Good. Now why don't you two get some rest, you
look like you need it. As he gets up to
leave, he places a firm hand on
Loki's back and slipps out of the room.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. Computer screen
We are zoomed in close on a computer screen. The familiar Matrix code is streaming down.
We pull back to reveal...
INT. the Exodus - Main Deck
Bishop is sitting in front of of the computer terminals, watching as the code streams down.
All is silent.
Suddenly we hear a small creak and Bishop turns
around to see Loki entering.
BISHOP
Loki, what are you doing? You should be
asleep.
LOKI
Can't.
BISHOP
Thats understandable.
He sighs.
BISHOP
Your thinking about your friends back home, arn't you.
Loki nodds, looking down at his feet. When he speaks
there is a heavyness in his throat, like
he is trying
to keep from crying.
LOKI
Yeah. Most of them were killed the day I
was unplugged.
BISHOP
I know. I saw when it happened on these very
computers.
LOKI
That's the Matrix?
BISHOP
Yes.
LOKI
Why do you have to look at it in code?
BISHOP
The Matrix is huge, Loki. It's one big mega-city. Somewhere around the size of 20 New Yorks.
LOKI
Shit!
BISHOP
There are also a few mountian ranges and
wilderness that surround the outermost
edges.
But there is very little activity there. All in all
there's just too much data to decode. It
would take
10 quantum supercomputers with more moniters than
you can fathom to decode the
Matrix down into a
visual like the actual program that displays in your
brain.
LOKI
But your saying that the Matrix is mostly one
big city?
BISHOP
Hard to believe, isn't it?
LOKI
Hell yeah. It dosn't really make sense.
BISHOP
Well, think about it. When was the last time you
went on a trip to another country? When was the
last time you left the city? When was the last time
you even heard the name of the city? As I've
told
you before,the Matrix program is all about control, Loki.
The machines can supress the thoughts
of those weaker than
us, and they would never even think to ask the questions
that I just asked you.
Loki is silent, it is all making more sense.
BISHOP
And if that's not enough to tire your brain, I got
something else that'll send you for a loop.
LOKI
What's that?
BISHOP
Nicodemus knows.
Loki's jaw dropps. He thinks it over for a few seconds.
LOKI
Why didn't he tell me?
BISHOP
He did not think you were ready yet. He was
not there to give you the answer, but rather
to be a
guide for you. He helped you on your path,
probably more than you think. He taught you
the
basics of hacking when he first took you in
as a kid. Do you think that it was pure concidence? He
also gave you little hints here and there. You
probably never even noticed. But he subconciously
planted the questions in your brain. Hell, you
even lived in "The Tabernacle".
LOKI
The what?
BISHOP
The Tabernacle. Where the Temple of Zion is
located.
LOKI
What the hell is that?
Bishop leans back and folds his arms over his chest.
BISHOP
The Temple of Zion is a sanctuary for the rebels. Our home in the Matrix. You see, Nicodemus
was
unplugged young, but he has lived in the Matrix to
serve as a guide for other rebels. He has
not left the
Matrix in for many years, with the exception of the
rise of Smith.
LOKI
What was that?
BISHOP
Smith was a rouge program that took over control
of the Matrix and threatened the destruction
of
both man and machine. Neo defeated him.
That was how the peace began, and the rebirth
of the Matrix to Version 7. But that is unimportant
right now, you can learn about that when we
get back
to Zion. What matters is that Nicodemus has spent
over fourty five unplugged years in the
Matrix.
Loki whistles.
BISHOP
Because of that, he is extrodinarily powerful. He
can manipualte the Matrix to a degree higher than
anyone since the One. All from constant practice.
And that makes him a target for the Powers That
Be in the Matrix, namely the rouge programs or
the Agents.
LOKI
You mean the programs in the Agent Training simulation?
BISHOP
Exactly. They see Nicodemus as a threat, as well
they should. They have never been able to capture
him though, mostly due to his secrecy. But things
are changing. They are getting increasingly
closer
to finding him though. It is only a matter of time.
There is a long silence.
BISHOP
Well, I think I've given you enough to ponder over. Now go back to sleep. Tomorrow we begin
work
on the Virus.
Loki nodds and sliently walks out of the room.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. Tunnels if the Real
The Exodus humms to life, the energy pads crakling
with energy. The craft slowly pulls out from
it's
hiding space and drops a few meters to the tunnels
below. It picks up speed as it travels down the
achient corridors.
INT. the Exodus - Main Deck
Mok sits at his programmers chair in front of the
computer screens. On his left is Angel, on his right,
Loki. Mok puts on his headgear and starts loading
up programs.
MOK
You guys ready to roll?
LOKI
You bet.
MOK
Then lets get started, we got a long day ahead.
As we watch, time seems to fly as the camera
makes continuous circles around the console.
We see Angel and Loki interacting with Mok, pointing at things on the screen, talking, thinking,
Finally the camera stopps spinning and zooms in
on one of the computer screens as Mok
reaches
over and presses the "save" button on the touch
screen.
MOK
Done! Took three hours, but you've made your
first Matrix virus. Good job buddy.
He pats Loki on the back. Loki can't help but smile in pride.
MOK
Do you understand what it's supposed to do?
LOKI
It should disrupt the weather patterns so it can
go from rain to sunshine to blizzard in a
matter
of seconds.
MOK
Good. Now let's see if it works.
He turns to Angel.
MOK
You two get loaded up.
ANGEL
No problem.
Loki walks over and takes a seat in the first dentist
chair. He slightly blushes as Angel places
her hand
on his shoulder before ramming the plug into his scull.
CUT TO :
INT. the Construct
Loki is once again surrounded by white, in his black
punk clothes. He hears the ringing of a cell
phone
and realizes that one has materialized into his pocket.
He takes it out and lifts it to is ear.
MOK (v.o)
I'm putting you two in a secluded part of town.
The hardline is across the street. Hold on to
your butt.
jeans. Loki can't help but take a double take, even though he hides it pretty well.
Suddenly the city rushes up to meet them and
in the blink of an eye, they are standing
in a beatup
part of town : dumpsters covered
with graffiti, boarded up buildings, the works. Across the street is
a payphone. The sun
is shining, but it is very cloudy and gray.
Angel takes out a cell phone and presses a button.
ANGEL
We're in.
MOK (v.o)
I'm loading it now. Expect some
snow in about five seconds...
We watch for a few seconds and nothing happens, when the skies quickly darken and it starts to snow.
As quick as it starts, it stops and the sun takes
back the sky.
ANGEL
Dammit!
LOKI
What happened.
ANGEL
The Mainframe counteracted the virus. Goddammit, this happens every time!
They were able to counteract every virus
I made since I've been unplugged. Never
this
fast though.
LOKI
What do you mean?
ANGEL
Usually it takes them a few minutes to
come up with a counter to our viruses, but they
beat this one in seconds!
The phone in the booth across the street starts to ring.
ANGEL
Come on, I'll explain more when we get back.
They jog across the street to the phonebooth.
LOKI
So how do we get back into the Real World?
ANGEL
Through hardlines.
She nodds to the ringing phone.
ANGEL
I'm not exactly sure how it works, something
to do with the transportation of code through
the
line. You just answer it and wake up in
the Real World.
They both look at the ringing phone.
ANGEL
You first.
Loki tenatively picks up the reciever and holds it to his ear. Suddenly his body is enveloped with lines of code and he dissapears. The phone drops and hangs from it's cord.
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - Main Deck
Loki wakes up in his chair. Mok unpluggs him. He stands up and stretches. Behind him, Angel is waking up.
ANGEL
How were they able to counteract us that fast?
MOK
My guess is they already had a copy of that
virus and knew how it worked.
LOKI
How could they have a copy of a virus that we
just wrote?
MOK
We built a very simplistic virus. Dozens like it
have been made before us, you can be sure.
Even in the Matrix, a hacker might have written
a virus very similar to ours, without knowing it.
Whenever an agent or other program comes upon
a virus they archive it in the Mainframe, so when
another virus like it comes along they will be able
to counteract it.
LOKI
Like an immune system?
MOK
Exactly. They also have programs written to decode
and counteract viruses that they've never seen
before. These take a bit longer. But I'm guessing
that they already had a virus similar to ours in
they're
mainframe and were able to counteract it
without much trouble.
ANGEL
Do you really think the captian's plan will work? Can we build a virus they can't counter-act?
BISHOP (v.o)
It's possible.
They all flip around in suprise to see that Bishop has entered the room.
BISHOP
We would need a virus that would strike
directly at the Mainframe it self.
MOK
And we wouldn't know where to begin.
BISHOP
True. No one knows the coding makeup of the
mainframe itself, making it very hard to
write a virus to
corrupt it. But it can be done.
LOKI
So if you knew the Mainframe was going to
counteract it, why did we spend three hours
making it?
BISHOP
To teach you how to make a virus specifically
for the Matrix. It was a learning experience,
as well as your first jump into the Matrix as
a free mind.
Right now, though, I suggest you two take a
break. You can't get back to work in an hour
or so, when
your' brain is a little more rested. We'll also be heading in today, back to Zion
that is. To take a
week or two off.
MOK
Finally.
Bishop patts Loki on the back as he and Angel walk out.
CUT TO :
INT. Construct - Dojo
Bishop is dressed in his long black kamino. Surrounding him are seven computer drones,
dressed as thugs. Bishop takes in a deep breath
and pulles out to katanas, one in each hand
and prepares to fight.
Suddenly, we hear the ring of a cell phone. The thugs all freeze. Bishop sighs and puts down
his
weapons, taking out the cell phone from a pocket
inside his robe.
BISHOP (slightly annoyed)
What is it?
MOK (v.o)
We got trouble sir. You better come see this.
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - Main Deck
Bishop wakes up and unpluggs himself. He quickly walks over to Mok, who is staring
at his
moniters.
BISHOP
What happened?
CUT TO :
INT. the Exodus - mess hall
The whole crew is sitting around the long table. Bishop, hands folded, sighs.
BISHOP
I'm afraid we're not going home just yet.
Everyone groans.
NITRO
Why not?
CUTTER
Yeah cap'! We've been gone for almost two
months.
BISHOP
Nicodemus has been captured.
Everyone stops their grumbling. Loki's face goes pale.
PHOENIX
When?
BISHOP
Just now. It was the Merovingian.
LOKI
Who the hell is the Merovingian?
PHOENIX
A rogue program in the Matrix. Very old, very powerful.
LOKI
Well why the hell does he want Nicodemus?
BISHOP (soothing)
I told you Loki, Nicodemus is a wanted man. The Merovingian probably believes he can use
him against us, or sell him to the Machines.
CABLE
Well what are we going to do?
BISHOP
Mok, notify Zion. We're going in for him.
CUT TO :
Thanks to everyone who's read and the two people who reviewed. I hope you are enjoying. I know it's
going really fast, but it slows down for a while in ACT II part 3. It's about to get pretty good, so stay tuned.
Comments are greatly appreciated and it I feel like people are actually reading this I'm likely to write
more sooner.