Outside the triangular-shaped window of the digger, a war of soil, lasers, and rocks spinning like asteroids are in full view as the blades tear the terraform carrying the travelers closer to Login's whereabouts, Kate's father. Kate is getting more anxious the closer they get. She is used to the thumps and clumps of dirt and rock smacking against the thick window now. At first, it startled her while other passengers like Mrs. Richardson are more on edge. She is actually more anxious about other things than unsuspecting rocks--like whether her father is still alive after all this time in cryogenic sleep. That is when the side of the digger makes a collision with one of the biggest pieces of rock yet, which jars all of them.
"Oh! That was the biggest one yet!" Mrs. Richardson says to Enrique.
"We are getting banged around like a piñata, Mama Richardson... Hey, up there! How much farther do we have left?"
"About 5 miles," Kate replies. Kate's eyes are focused on a radar impregnated in the dashboard in front of her emanating a beeping noise in a certain cadence. "So, now that we are getting closer, mind cluing us in as to how we are going to get in that warehouse without being caught?"
"Through the ground floor, sugar plumb."
"Sugar plumb? The ground floor? You've got to be kidding on both fronts!" Kate turns to him with her eyebrows so high they are almost hidden behind her hair line.
"Uh oh, are the two lover birds about to quarrel again?" Enrique shouts.
"Oh, shut up Enrique," Kyle and Kate reply in unison.
Enrique turns to Mrs. Richardson, "Young love, so touchy!" he whispers, and she simply smiles.
"You don't think someone might notice this giant bullet crashing up through the warehouse floor? There is surveillance everywhere in there!"
"Katey, don't you think I thought of that? Just trust me, I got this."
The beeping of the radar rapidly picks up the pace.
"We have approached the underside of the warehouse," Kate grits her teeth.
"Okay, pull us up but slowly, just to the surface but not through it."
She looks at him at blinks.
"Just do it. You'll see! Enrique get our suits ready!"
"What will I do?" Mrs. Richardson asks.
"You will stay in the digger till we get back."
"Thank goodness," she mutters as Enrique heads back.
Inside the warehouse, all is quiet. Rows of bodies suited up in black armor hang suspended in the air from racks where cryogenic tubes used to hang. Wires are attached to each person's heads and arms running up to the suspension unit to hold them. One pathway outlined in yellow strips is brightly lit but every other area of the warehouse is cast in darkness. At one end of the pathway, an oblong robot with no distinguishable facial features travels quickly with yellow flashing lights on its rear end. Small wheels almost completely hidden by metal, usher it along the path.
In an unlit area of the warehouse, two violet-colored lasers pierce through the cement floor and form a circle that it continues to carve over from below. Below the surface, the crew of the digger are suited up and watching as the lasers the carve away at the bottom of warehouse. The tip of the digger with its swirling blades acts as force to break the rock that is cut off from the lasers.
"I have to admit, this was smart," Kate snickers.
"Quiet and effective, just like you wanted," Kyle replies.
LUXOR CASINO
The towering pyramid of the Luxor reflects the last remnants of the setting sun. The tip glows a bright a white as the platform carries Devin, Bloomfield, The Silver Man and the others to the Luxor casino. The closer they come to the glowing the tip of the pyramid the more they have to shield their eyes while the wind has picked up speed. As they do, Bloomfield takes a moment to whisper to Devin;
"This whole thing about you working on and giving a speech. It gives us more time to come up with something," Leonard suggests.
"Hopefully it gives us enough time," Devin replies.
The platform stops with a portion of it touching the white tip of the pyramid. This docking, as it were, opens a dark void in the shape of a door at the triangular tip. The Silver Man walks toward it and the humanoid guides Devin and Leonard toward it in fake custodial care. The coldness of the artificial cooling system is a welcome relief as the two enter through the dark doorway into a glass office. As the Silver Man stands behind a glass desk on the glass panel walls are four projections of war scenes that immediately capture everyone's attention, even the humanoid.
"The Resistance is losing, gentlemen. It is only a matter of hours before the whole movement is crushed for good," informs the Silver Man.
Devin moves from screen to screen, his fingers practically touching the words on the screens that display the locations.
"San Diego was the key was for us, thanks to you, Mr. Richardson."
Devin turns toward the Silver Man as if to argue with him, "If the Resistance is lost, why do you need us?" Leonard comes to his aide.
"It is good for our citizens to see examples of humans complying with the System. Especially those who may have doubts. You can save those in your movement by calling for their surrender," the Silver Man's head tilts and his silver eyes softened in glow and in frame.
"You want me to believe that by me calling for them to surrender that you will save their lives?" Devin sneers and begins to lean forward to make a move, but Leonard grabs his arm.
"Mr. Richardson, all must integrate and comply or all of you will die. Write your speech."
The humanoid walks ahead of Devin and Leonard who are cuffed again with two guards behind them as they walk down an empty hallway.
"They know they won't get everyone into the System," Leonard whispers, "So the push is to get as many as possible."
"What does this integration guarantee them?" Devin asks.
"Despite what the Silver Man says, it ultimately means the extermination of our kind. Everyone's brains will be hard wired to the system's control. It wants nothing left of us."
'We have to find a way to slow them down. Kyle is going to need as much time as we can give him."
THE WAREHOUSE
The crew of the digger are filing through legions of bodies in black armor looking for Login.
"What are they doing with them? They aren't in the cryogenic units," asks Kate.
"The System is preparing them for battle," Kyle replies.
"A battle against what?"
Kyle and Kate bump into each other.
"A battle against themselves. Humans against humans," Kyle replies.
"I'm so confused, I guess we should focus on my finding my dad."
"No, look," Kyle said grabbing a leg of a listless body, "these guys are reliving a war scene against red-clad warriors every day for years now. They are going to send them out to war against a red army. And who is that red army?"
"Every other citizen."
"Right. When they 'plug' in, my guess is the System sets them off into a war mode."
A grave concern crosses over her face and Kyle comes up to her to console her, "I know, it is so messed up."
"I found him! Guys, I found him!" Enrique shouts.
Kyle runs toward him with Kate following, "Shhhhhh! Not so loud, brother!" Kyle insists.
Kate rushes around Kyle and up to Enrique who has a grip on the arm on a body.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"He is tagged as 281 and Devin said 281! It has to be him!" Enrique looks up at her. A chill runs through his body as he sees his excited charge run through her and light up her eyes in a way he has never seen. Anxiety grips his chest at the thought of this turning out wrong or if the body was dead fills him with dread. Things have been so hard for Kate, he really wants this to work out for her.
Kyle plops down his equipment and Kate takes off her backpack. Enrique is examining the wiring attached to the body.
"Can you get around the wiring?" Kyle asks.
"I'm going to try," Enrique replies.
Kate starts putting patches on her body as Kyle starts making attachments to the patches.
"I wish it was me going in rather than you," says Kyle.
"No, you don't but nice sentiment," she smiles nervously. Kyle shakes his head. "You can't always be hero. It's my turn now."
"You're a hero every day," Kyle says softly.
"Kyle... I wanted to say... I'm sorry. I was wrong."
"Wrong, about what?" Kyle asks.
"About the Resistance, and the mission."
"You're fine-"
"No, it's not. You had to bear a lot alone and I wasn't there for you at times and-"
Kyle reaches over and put his hand on her shoulder, reaches in, and kisses her. The two exchange looks where their eyes rise and fall like two moons rising and falling over lovers. They kiss again as a flush of blush rushes over Kate's cheeks and Kyle's palm goes around the back of her head. Their soft lips took turns pulling on each other for moments before Kyle sat back on his knees and smile at her.
"We can move forward, okay? We're all heroes here. We have all carried burdens alone and now, I can't do this without you. Let's get your father?"
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Kate whips her hair back softly and grabs the wires off the floor to attach to the patches.
"Let's get him," she agrees.
LUXOR CASINO--SECRET LAB
The Silver Man enters a laboratory with wall-to-wall silver metal lining. Medical and mechanical equipment is scattered throughout the room. Two large beds appear almost like a body lounge chairs with a white leather lining. The lighting in the room is dim except for the lighting over the two beds. Leonard Bloomfield works anxiously around the unconscious body of the humanoid strapped into one of the beds. Leonard wears a lab coat and as he fumbles with the bed controls, he eyes Devin now and again who responds with one wide eye that screams "stop looking at me". Devin is still cuffed and stands nearby with a guard next to him.
"How are we doing in here?" asks the Silver Man.
"Yes, sir, the two of them have created the speech, with my help!"
"Why is he tied to that bed and unconscious? I don't want them unconscious!" The Silver Man exclaims.
"Sir, he tried to attack me so we-I subdued him. The guard helped me bring him here," Leonard replies with his hands crossed and his thumbs twiddling.
The Silver Man walks over to the body momentarily. He examines it almost as if sniffing for some kind of smell or sense of what happened. He turns back and walks over to Devin.
"It looks like you will be giving the speech yourself alone tonight, Mr. Richardson." Devin nods stiffly. "If you divert into anything off topic or I disapprove, I will kill you on the spot."
"Sounds like a lovely evening."
The Silver Man steps away and lifts a hand in the air. The hand glows with increasing brightness and it presses the hand in the air as if some button was there. A series of holographic monitors stream forth vertically like on the reel on a wheel.
A power surge takes place in cities across the United States giving lights and everything extra brightness and different arrays of colors as the surge goes through. In the sky traffic lanes, a jumbo screen appears out of thin air displaying these words in extra-large letters in red: SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT. All media, gaming, phone, and anything that has a communication device attached to it is receiving a notification that a System Announcement is coming.
On battlefields across the world, System troops pull back as a shield pulls up, which also acts as a monitor displaying the same message. Resistance fighters, tired, bloodied, and dirty, look on perplexed and in disbelief.
The sound of a mechanical voice echoes loudly over the battles fields, "Prepare yourselves for an important System Announcement!"
CRYOGENIC WAREHOUSE
Kate lays on a flimsy gurney asleep. Wires that are attached to her are also attached to Login. Enrique nervously monitors Kate and Login's vital signs and connections. Meanwhile, Kyle stands by with a weapon on alert for anyone coming after them.
"How's she doing?" Kyle mumbles.
Enrique pulls over the laptop on the floor and is tapping rapidly.
"What's going on? Is everything all right?"
Enrique goes over to Kate's body and readjusts one of the attachments to her body and rushes back to the laptop.
"Enrique," Kyle shuffles over, "what in the hell is happening over here?"
Enrique smacks down a key and looks up at Kyle and says, "She's in, she's in!"
Kyle takes a breath and lets it out.
"Then this is it. God help us all," Kyle says.
Enrique sits back on his knees wiping the sweat from his forehead. He performs the sign of the cross.
INSIDE LOGIN'S BRAIN CLOUD
Login is in a line of military soldiers to get his ration of grub. After getting his due portion on his food tray, he starts heading toward a table. Being early, he sits at one alone for the time being. He looks down at his food unappeased by the watery scrambled eggs and burnt bacon. Only the pancakes seem to hold any promise. There seems to be a bright flash of light from out of nowhere that overtakes everything for a moment and vanishes. Going as quickly as it came, he wonders if he just looked into the sun briefly through one of the many windows.
He hears the sounds of footsteps approaching and sees an unfamiliar woman with a tray of food who stops at his table. She has dark hair and a familiar warm smile. She looks like a rookie, a newbie. Probably has a lot of questions about the day ahead.
"Hi, may I sit with you?" she asks.
"These seats don't have name tags," Login says flatly moving his food around, "take a seat."
The woman sits and reaches for some orange juice.
"You look pretty young. Don't think we met," Login interjects taking a bite of his pancake.
"You sure about that, sir?" Kate asks.
"Well I would remember."
"Have you seen Sargeant Richardson?" asks Kate.
"Richardson?"
"Yeah, Sargeant Devin Richardson."
Something sounds familiar about that name to Login. He can almost see a face but not quite.
"There is no one here by that name," Login replies.
"Are you sure?" Kate raises an eyebrow.
"Who are you? And yes, I know everyone here."
"Sarg," a soldier interrupts coming into his field of vision, "Are you all right? Whom are you talking to?"
Login looks at him in disbelief and goes to point at the woman but she has vanished.
"She was ..."
"Are you all right? There's nobody here, sir. Just you and me."
"Yeah," Login replies nervously adjusting his collar nervously, "I'm fine. Just getting my thoughts together is all."
Login leaves the cafeteria hoping no one else saw the glitch that took place in his mind. The sky above holds pale gray clouds that rumble and roll with a threat of a brewing storm. The light of day, though a bit gray, is still bright enough to cast shadows. As he heads back to his bunker, he notices his shadow is that of a woman. Login turns around violently looking around again for the site of her but sees no one. He looks down at his shadow again and it is still that of a woman. Inside his head, he hears the voice of that woman;
"Dad, it's me, Kate, I'm your daughter."
"What?" Login exclaims out loud grabbing his head as if struck by a sharp migraine.
"Dad think, don't talk. Don't be afraid. I'm going to give you a memory of me. Keep walking so no one notices anything going on with you."
Login takes his hands off his head as the pain subsides and the voice goes away. He looks around to see no one is in close proximity to have seen anything, and he heads to his bunker to grab some medication that hopes will help. As he enters the bunker, once the screen door shuts his vision is taken over by a bright light and he is taken into a memory of Kate's.
Devin Richardson and Login exit their government vehicle in a suit and tie as she and Bella come running out the screen door skipping and playing with dolls in hand. Kate sees her dad and exclaims, "Daddy, did you bring me anything?"
Login smiles and she rushes over jumping up and down until he picks her up into his arms. He kisses her on the forehand. Devin waves to his wife standing in the front door washing a plate in her hand. Bella runs up to Devin nearly knocking him in the groin, "Woahh, young lady," he laughs swooping her up.
'I'm sorry honey, nothing for today but me!"
"Awe, okay.'
"But, Mr. Richardson brought you two something!" he smirked turning her around to face them.
Then another flash of white light overcomes Login's vision as a series of memories swirl through his mind; seeing himself following Leonard Bloomfield to the state capitol, him and Devin examining the dead body of a man from a cryogenic sleep chamber in the warehouse, himself reading a headline on social media "Creators of the Patent Pending System at Odds over Ethical Concerns: Richardson vs. Bloomfield", and finally himself and Devin on the Richardson's front lawn being arrested by police.
Login comes back to consciousness and places a hand on a countertop in the bunker just a private enters through the screen door.
"Oh.., sir, are you all right. You look like you've just seen a ghost or something."
"I'll be all right. Just give me a moment."
"Sure, sir. Should I tell the woman to come back later?"
"What woman?" he turns and squints as if seeing the private for the first time in the light of day.
"She says her name is Kate."
Login turns back leaning even more heavily into the counter.
"Sir, should I get someone from medical for you?"
"No, no," he lifts his hand up, "Send her in."
Login doesn't turn around but rather listens as the door goes through a series of slams and he hears the shuffling of feet.
'Hi, dad," Kate says softly.
"I don't understand this Katey, where I am?"
"You are imprisoned in cryogenic sleep."
"Well for Christ's sake, wake me up!" he turns to her with his face flushed. "What are you all waiting for?"
"It's the System dad. It has control over everything. We need your help to take it down. Devin sent me to see if you would help, you are the last hope the world has," she pleads, her eyes red and she walks forward toward him slowly. Login meets her and takes her hands.
"Katey," Login says passionately, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too daddy. It's been like hell and back getting to you. I never imagined I would be asking you to save the world too."
"How can I do anything locked in here?" he turned from her and went to the screen door to see if anyone was listening.
"The System is coming for us all. It is going to pit humans against humans while taking us out. The only way for us to stop it is to convince the System it is violating one of its own laws."
Login thought and then laughed in disbelief, "This is what Devin came up with? What law would that be?"
"The law of recycling."
Login presses his lips together and turns back to the door looking outside.
"I never wanted this for you-to bring you into this."
"Dad, I know but we are here and we have to do something now or-"
"This is such a stretch Kate.., but I trust Devin. Tell me what to do."
LUXOR CASINO
The Silver Man sits at the peak tower of the Casino and with a wave of his hand images of scenes from all across the world appear before him.
"Good evening System Dwellers..."
DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS
On a floating holographic display above the sky traffic is a giant projection of the Silver Man as he continues to speak to the world. People within their homes dressed in half measure in their red exoskeleton suits and at business establishments watch on monitors with great curiosity and excitement.
"It is only on rare occasions that you have seen me present myself to you in my original pure form. However, this is a momentous occasion. I represent the Avatar of the System that runs and protects your homes, businesses, cities, and the world! The System provides you with the life you have today and the security to live in peace and safety."
STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK--RESISTANCE OUTPOST
Fires burn as the land lay bare from long, drawn-out warfare. Smoke funnels twirl into pillars of smoke up toward the sky like tornados. Men, humanoids, and machines have all but stopped and everyone's attention is on the projection of the Silver Man hovering in the sky and speaking to them.
"Across the world, you have had to hear about the threat of rebel fighters called the Resistance, with the last remaining contingent being here in the United States. Understand that while the System has set about to secure your safety, efficiency as a society, and overall happiness, this Resistance has done all it could to undermine those efforts. We are near putting an end to their efforts. Today justice will prevail."
The Silver Man pauses and stands up from where he is sitting so that camera pulls back and down portraying a taller, towering figure on the screen rather than just its head.
"Every one of you have been called to put on your red bio suits. At the right moment, you will receive your own personalized assignment for you through your bio plug-in own part to play in the new society of the System. One where the Resistance is no longer a threat once and for all."
City lights across Vegas are pulsating and when they stop, all lights are illuminating a red color. A man at home opens his closet with his wife standing behind him. He pulls out a big box.
"We probably should have done this when they told us to," he says.
"I know. They just are so uncomfortable," the wife plops herself down on the bed frustrated, "why does this look like battle armor anyway?"
The husband has already opened the box and is pulling out their gear and laying it out on the bed. Their daughter comes in dragging her little red suit behind her, which appears almost as a costume for her young age. Her mother smiles and holds out her arms,
"Oh come here, honey, let me help you."
Their son comes in next wearing the bottoms and carrying the top, bouncing in with the energy of a bunny rabbit. "Yeah! We get to dress as superheroes! This is such a cool costume!"
His father smirks, "I guess you could call it that."
LUXOR CASINO
Masses of people are leaving the casino into the red-lit parking lot. A manager stands at one of the desks inside still in his business attire. Several staff members come up and some are dressed in their red suits but holding the helmet portion in their arms. The manager does a double take.
"Did you run home, put that on and come back?" the manager asks in disbelief.
A few of them look at one another unsure how to answer. One chimes in, "I keep mine here. I am here more than I am at home."
"Me too," says a female co-worker.
The manager looks surprised and looks once again outward toward the doors as masses of people are exiting fighting a sense of unnamed dread in the pit of his stomach.
SECURE WAREHOUSE--ANYTOWN USA
Large metal doors begin to open that move and creek-like haven't been opened in decades. Out of the darkness within them, black vehicles equipped with missile launchers and other weapons start to pour out. Giant robots which are armored in black who have to duck through the garage like door frames exit the warehouses. Each footstep seems to rumble the metal walls within like thunder. Once outside they flex their muscles as though they are stiff and need stretching from a long slumber.
LUXOR CASINO--HALLWAY LEADING TO THE TOP OFFICE
Devin and Leonard walk together up a rampway leading to a silver door that opens up to the top office at the top of the Luxor pyramid, where the Silver Man is giving his speech. Two guards walk behind them so they are mindful and speak in hushed tones.
"Are you ready for this?"
Devin grins looking behind him briefly at the guards and back to him, "Are you?"
"Yes. I put the explosives in your pocket. They will feel like a set of marbles."
Devin's hand goes into his pocket, and he nods.
Leonard continues, 'When the explosion happens, somehow, I need you to still guide the viewers. Everyone will be watching."
"They need the real story, Leonard."
"I know. I will make sure the feed stays live."
The conversation ends as they reach door. The guards unlock the door which echoes in the chamber as it does in a haunting, final way. Devin enters first. As he shuffles in a bit dizzy by all the see-through glass floor and windows, the Silver Man glances back and then back to where he is speaking.
"Without any further delay, I bring to you, the co-creator of the System, Mr. Devin Richardson! He has a message for us all but especially for the Resistance who has been assisting until now." The Silver Man steps aside and extends an arm out for Devin to step in view of the live feed. As Devin nervously steps forward, his eyes don't know where to land as he is made aware of a scrolling wall of scenes from across the world. Devin closes his eyes to try to center himself.
The Silver Man edges closer whispering sneeringly, "The public await. Do not disappoint."
Devin thinks momentarily about his wife being out there in the millions of people and that doing this will bring him one step closer to her. He clears his throat.
"Yes, uh, hello, System Residents, this is Devin Richardson."