EXT. devastated land, scorched earth -- day
A rolling shot of the earth scorched while the script rolls across the screen.
Script
As ages have drifted and the wheel of fate has turned and thousands of years have spilled their destiny across the planet, a world that is far from what it once was has emerged, a world covered in a haze of radiation called the Burn. The remnants of humanity do not remember how or why it ended, only that they survived, only that their race has not become a historical footnote in the cosmic matrix spun upon the loom of Creation.
They held to the precipice of a bottomless drop in a two hundred square mile area of desert sand called The Waste, where Nine Cities ruled in a bed of chaos. Humanity existed, battled an endless war for limited resources and inevitably asked the only question one could ask. What did the future hold for a desperate, hungry, dying race?
EXT. city against cliffs -- day
A bird's eye perspective shot zooming in on a walled city set against a cliff with a giant waterfall dropping into it and a river coming out of the front with giant machinery surrounding the fall of the water. The surrounding landscape however is a wasteland. "Triellis, one of the nine cities of the Waste" The words scroll across the screen.
InT. labaratory within the city of triellis -- day
In the console area looking upon two unconscious people head to head in what look to be incubators, in a vast warehouse size room separated by glass. Behind them can vaguely be seen rows upon rows of similar incubators holding forms though the two up front are separated. In the console room separated by a door and glass is a couple technicians monitoring vitals at a console while two scientists(One a balding overweight Caucasian man with glasses and another a tall well built middle aged man good looking) converse behind them and another engineer looks to be at a computer in the far side of the room. The tall good looking one goes from reading his PDA to acknowledging the fat one's presence.
DR, SHIVAR
Ahh, Dr. Idrari, I was just going over your latest work on the input programming of the Alpha subjects. It looks as if they are ahead of schedule.
Dr.IDRARI
Yes sir.
DR. SHIVAR
It is intriguing how Alpha 1 expedited his programming stream during the military and sciences phase and how Alpha 2 is matching the phenomena of accelerated learning within the current history, philosophy data algorithms.
Dr. Idrari looks as if this is not the subject he seeks to broach but still answers his colleague.
DR.IDRARI
Yes Dr. Shivar though we can not isolate the reason for such, wether their cybernetics and individual design schematics are in their dissimilarities evolving ideographs to a higher paradigm thus translating specific knowledge breakdowns more efficiently in perspective end function relation or it is that the two subjects within the realm of subconscious they slumber under finds the pertaining subject matter of more interest, Alpha 1 tracking with Military and Sciences and Alpha 2 consuming history and even more so philosophy. It has been a hotly debated subject of the last few months within the tech circles. But Dr. though fascinating the subject is, it is not why I asked to meet.
Dr. Shivar waves his hand to his colleague for silence as he seems to be doing calculations on his PDA. Dr. Idrari looks as if his patience was cut before his bilk waddled it's way in as he taps his feet. He finally blurts out.
Dr.Idrari (Overweight) (CONT'D)
The council is still pressuring us to speed up the time table Dr.
The man with the glasses looks up from a PDA.
Dr, shivar
I do not care what the council wants. As I have told them on numerous occasions if we speed up the aging process their minds will not cope and we will end up with very costly vegetables, useless to us, and as far as their interests, useless to them, and especially where it comes to the Alpha Subjects we do not have the resources to manufacture their equals if we make a mistake in their maturation.
The fat man looks agitated as if he is under extreme pressure.
Dr.IDRARI
I understand Dr. Shivar, I do, but they are persistent. I mean we can let subject 1 and 2 keep to the timetable but what about one of the other, less advanced models, couldn't we, well just expedite their...
Dr. Shivar gives him a cold look that stops him in his tracks.
DR, SHIVAR
No we will not. Subject 1 and 2 are the pinnacles of my intelligence. We did not have the resources to do the same with the others. They are inferior models. yet still, they would have the same issue if I accelerated them. Their neo cortex would not keep up with the aging of their flesh and would shut down, worst scenario, a vegetable, best outcome, a soldier with a mental capacity of a ten year old. They would not be useful tools. No...it has been ten years with subject 1 and 2 and in another 10 they will be ready, 5 for the beta subjects. They will be a testament to my genius. Together they will map out our future with precision. They will hand us all of the Waste and beyond. But without the behavioral modifications that will be instilled over the next ten years they would not be controllable. So no, we will not expedite my research for the sake of the council and their short sighted greed. No, this is my final decision. (He moves to the glass and gazes out at the prone bodies of 1 and 2) This is my dream, my kingdom and they shall not interfere.
Dr. Idrari looks nervous, extremely uncomfortable. He taps something on a PDA he takes out of his pocket. From the far side of the room two military looking people come into the room holding rifles and stand behind Dr. Shivar. Dr. Shivar looks back at the guards and smirks.
DR, SHIVAR (CONT'D)
Ahh dear Dr. Idrari. I knew you were a boot licking toad of the Council but I had hoped that your commitment as a scientist would of outweighed your insatiable need to climb in status. Though reality does press upon our altruism, does it not. My plans did encompass such considerations hence why you were not privy to much of my calculations in designing number 1 and 2.
Dr. Idrari has his insecure smirk grow to a grin as the two guards each step to the side of Dr. Shivar their weapons trained upon him.
DR.IDRARI
Ahhh your arrogance knows no bounds, it as colossal in size as it is in it's stupidity. You might be correct in regards to the Alpha subjects but I am familiar with the design of the beta models and with the prime's manufacture already implemented minus the behavioral modifications which I helped you create, you, my dear Dr.Shivar have outlived your usefulness, have shall we say, piddled past your cost effectiveness.
Dr.Shivar's eyes grew large as moons in a pit of hot embers. He takes a step towards Idrari only to be cut off by one of the guards with a rifle butt to the back of his head. He falls to his knees, blood covering the hand he puts to the back of his head, dripping on the pristine white floor. He looks up at Idrari with anger still smoldering.
Stolen novel; please report.
DR, SHIVAR
You have no idea what you are doing!!! You will ruin everything we have worked towards!!!!
Idrari's eyes smolder even more satisfaction.
DR.IDRARI
On the contrary Dr. I know exactly what I am doing and in fact it is something I believe should of been done long ago. Guards restrain and escort our dear Dr. Shivar to the Council so they can have a word or two with him before his long overdue execution.
The guards start picking the Dr. up from his knees when he elbows one in the gut and grabs the other's rifle. They struggle for a few seconds when the rifle goes off, hitting the roof, then shooting the back of the head of one of the techs. Everyone else drops to the ground as more rifle fire strafes the console the dead tech was at causing it to fry and spark heavily. Idrari is hiding under the console and when it sparks he screams at the guards with his head inbetween the dead tech's legs.
DR.IDRARI (CONT'D)
Restrain him you fools!!!
One of the guards finally punches the Dr. then the other rifle butts him from behind. They both smile at each other and the groggy Dr. on the ground right before a large sound of shattering glass. Shards shoot through the frame followed by a small fist punching through the one guard's chest holding his heart outside his back in a small hand then as the other guard looks on, a back swinging fist takes out that guard's throat. Everyone in the room is frozen, well those still breathing. Dr. Idari stares out from under a desk, an engineer that was in the back of the room is hiding behind machines and the one technichian left alive is cowering against the wall. Number 1(Raven) looks in wonder at the corpses and then the blood that covers him. He studies his own arms, the crimson gore. He then looks at the staring Dr. Shivar still on the ground.
DR, SHIVAR
Beautiful.
The raven
Yes.
The Raven tears the Doctor's throat out. He then caresses his face tenderly.
The rAVEN (CONT'D)
I saw all this, dreamed it. Yes, all unweaving upon the thread I was loomed, a dream walking into life, a beautiful dream.
The engineer and technician run from the room scared out of their wits. The Raven gives them a fleeting uninterested glance but as Dr. Idrari attempts to slide past him against the wall, the Raven turns his head sharply staring right at him, into him. Dr. Idrari freezes and empties his bladder, his whole pant leg soaked. The Raven glances down at it and smiles.
THE RAVEN (CONT'D)
You, you will be useful. You I have seen within the dream, to be utilized, to be the baton I twirl.
The Raven walks slowly towards Idrari, the man flinching as the Raven reaches up with his small hand, black talons retreating into his skin, and pats Idrari's cheek, leaving smears of blood and bits of flesh.
THE RAVEN (CONT'D)
You shall accelerate the growth patterns of my inferior brethren. I shall need an army to accomplish what I have seen, a large army. Then all that I have woven within sleep I shall hold within my palm.
Dr. Idrari flinches.
Dr.IDRARI
But, if we....
The Dr. is shoved aside. The Raven's eyes turn and see the second receptacle, opposite of his, empty as well and his eyes widen. IN alarm he runs to the shattered glass grabbing the broken jagged edges at the bottom, blood seeping out, his body and whole face rigid, his cybernetics flaring. He looks back at the Doctor with a feral hunger in his eyes.
THE RAVEN
What occupied that? A failed experiment? Tell me!!!! Tell me now!!!
Idrari shrinks against the wall looking upon this terrifying child. The Raven stamps up to him grabbing him by his shirt and throwing him over to the glass where he lands hard, falling to his knees, blood prints on his clothes. The Raven looks down upon his hands in wonder then sees the wounds close, smiles, then his anger relights and he stares at the Doctor.
THE RAVEN (CONT'D)
Tell me!!! Explain!!!!
Idrari shifts his glasses back on with one spectacle cracked and half fallen off.
DR.IDRARI
Uhh, uhh, Dr. Shivar referred to her, as, uhh your sister. She is another Alpha model.
The Raven looks at him with shock etching his face then calculation. He then turns and walks back to glass.
THE RAVEN
Why do I not see her?! Why was she not a part of the dream?!
He turns back towards the Dr.
The RAVEN (CONT'D)
Does she have my same capabilities? Can she dream the possibilities? And why is she not here? Tell me Doctor, if you value the breath you still draw, tell me?
Dr.Idrari Is shivering not wanting to upset the delicate balance, sweat running in rivulets off his face, mixing with blood. He straightens himself.
DR.IDRARI
No, she does not share your precognitive abilities. She, she was designed with other skill sets. You were to be the strategist, she, the spy, the assassin. Though your cybernetic enhancements are mostly equivalent, you being somewhat stronger, her faster. The rest is vastly different. She was designed with stealth nanotech coursing her flesh where you were spliced with mutant genes from a mutant slave of Dr. Shivar's grafted to your neo cortex, gifting you with prescience, glimpses of what will be.
The raven looks upon him hard, cybernetic machinery coiled on the side of his skull filtering into his eyes, red As furnaced flame.
THE RAVEN
Anything else I should know Doctor, anything else different about my, sister?
The Dr. Clears his throat and adjusts his cracked glasses removing himself from the floor.
DR.IDRARI
No, nothing though of course we did find some interesting bio chemical interactions within both your neo-cortexes with the differentials in how you absorbed knowledge.
Dr. Idrari continues to speak but then hears loud sounds coming from the stairwells and pulls out his PDA tapping a couple things upon it. The Raven cocks his ears as well and a smile creeps in inches upon his face.
Dr.IDRARI (CONT'D)
That would be the Triellian Black Guard coming for you. The Council will send them to subdue you if they can, destroy you if they must.
A moment of confidence wavers within the Dr.'s face as he sees the broadening grin upon the Raven's. The Raven walks to the back console and his fingers fly across it's keys faster then any human being could manage. He stops and gazes back to the Dr. as the sounds grow increasingly louder.
The RAVEN
I will take care of the approaching doom I hear upon the road. You will begin the advanced aging procedures on the Beta Models. I will require their services soon. (The Doctor starts to interrupt but stops with a look from The Raven) And before you say it. I have closed down all but a few of their neural functions so the rapid aging will not keep them from being useful tools, like you my dear Doctor. Meet me in the Council chambers. Yes, I have dreamt within the weave of my sleep. I see their blood upon my path. I have some restructuring to do within the leadership of this city.(He motions to the Doctor) Initiate the behavioral and accelerated process in the beta models. And Doctor, do not disappoint me in this or any other trivial task I lay upon your bones. The repercussions would be detrimental to your continuing breath.
Dr. Idrari looks upon this small child, this creature that has been unleashed upon the world. He nods slowly.
DR.IDRARI
Yes...(Founders on what to say) What should I call you?
The Raven's smile stretches further as he heads for the corridor and the sounds become increasingly loud.
THE RAVEN
You may call me "The Raven" or Lord Raven. The ancient tribes of this world thought of it as a messenger of the Gods and herald of death, fitting. I am the night to be unleashed upon the dream of this world. I am wisdom, faith, prayer. My wings shall spread over them all. My shadow shall be their God. I shall teach them fear, I shall teach them truth, and all the gray shades inbetween. Their bones shall be my throne.
He giggles a maniac laugh.
The RAVEN (CONT'D)
Oh and Doctor. Please clean yourself up before meeting me within the Council Chambers. Your accident is quite embarrassing and simply will not do.
The Raven saunters out of the room with almost a skip, whistling a disturbing melody(theme of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly). A few moments later the Dr. hears gunfire, then blood curdling screams, yet still the melody echoes down the hallway. His face falls upon the horrors only a demon could draw.