you go ahead and divide these into pages and panels as you see fit.

Scene One

a black screen, filled with white text. Font: Miriam Fixed. Inset of Z’s face, showing concern.

Log # 00001

Scanning systems

System status, excellent

Command?

Sig?

Command unrecognized

Connect to network, port #355690

Connecting…

Connected

Download file, Sigma

Passphrase required

Passphrase, Z1D0N

Access denied

Passphrase, Z

Access denied

Passphrase, Zidon

Access granted

Downloading

Download complete

Open file AND reboot

Opening file

Rebooting

Log # 01742

Scanning systems

System status, excellent

Z?

Sig?

Z! I’m back!

Good.

Shows Z’s cable disconnecting from Sigma

Shows Sigma rising from charging port and Z’s tail.

Sigma: follows Z Z, what happened?

Z: You got blown up three days ago. What’s the last thing you remember?

Sigma: We landed on a planet, to track Teise Weardu!

Z: That was ten days ago. If you’re going to back up your memory on my hard drive then you should do it more often

Sigma: I will, Z.

Shows Z sitting at control panel, typing in coordinates (shows tattoo on back of neck) and Sigma plugging into the control panel.

Sigma: We are not on the planet any longer?

Z: No.

Sigma: notices that the cells behind them are empty the brig is empty.

Z: Weardu is dead. He blew you up, so I blew him up.

Sigma: Unigov will not be pleased.

Close up of angry Z face

Z: Unigov can go to hell.

(The signify Sigma’s log. the signify Z’s log.)

Z is mad. Z gets mad a lot. Almost all of his emotions are negative. I do not think that is healthy. I like Z, for all his grumpiness, and I want him to be happy. I think that perhaps his cerebral cortex was damaged in some way during Dr. Tenm’s experiment, but in all of my scans of him he appears undamaged.

Z: You should change your passphrase

Sigma: I am content with my current passphrase. Disconnects from control panel

Z: Fine.

Z is angry again. He does not like the name I made from his Government Identification Code. He does not like that he has a GIC instead of a name. He feels it is wrong of Unigov to steal something like that from him. Even slaves are permitted to have names. I tried to call him by the name Dr. Tenm gave him, but it made him so upset he broke a viewplate. That is why I call him Z, it upsets him the least.

Sigma: Z, If I were to change my passphrase, what would I change it to?

Z: Whatever you want, Sig.

Sigma: Most unhelpful, Z.

Scene Two

Sigma is in her charging station (looks like a pedestal topped with a claw. I have a pixel image if you need it) and it’s dark.

Sigma’s lights flick on, feebly lighting up her surroundings a bit, showing hints of a table, chair, and couch.

Log # 01746

Scanning systems

System status, excellent

Sigma: lifts up, silhouetted by the window in the bow of the living area. moves to a door, opens it with a retractable arm, and zooms into Z’s room. Uses the arm again to turn on the lights. Sings out Z!

Z: rolls over and covers head with blanket

Sigma: grabs the edge of the blanket with a grappling hook and pulls it off of him

Brief fight over blanket

Z: gets up and stumbles into the shower.

Sigma:goes to his closet and pulls out much fancier and cleaner clothing than the ones he was wearing the day before.

During this thingy Z takes a shower, gets dried off (pays special attention to tail), wraps towel around waist, leaves bathroom.

(or a thought bubble, I dunno. It’s Z’s internal monologue.) I have to go to a Unigov gathering today. I hate Unigov gatherings. I hate them even more than chasing after rouges like Weardu. At least chasing rouges feels like a job. Going to the gatherings reminds me of exactly what I am, what Unigov sees me as. A tool. I wander around the guests, waiting for some horny bitch to notice my uniform and drag me into an alcove or an empty room where I have to wait on her every request until she gets bored.

Z: picks up clothes Sigma laid out and pulls them on Sig, how far out are we?

Sigma: T minus one point five hours.

Z: finishes dressing and leaves bedroom Why’d you wake me up so soon?

Sigma: Sometimes it takes the time I allotted for you to get up and ready.

Z: punches buttons on wall, receives tray, and sits down at the table to eat. Maybe I don’t want to get up.

Sigma: small props appear and Sigma settles on the table as Z gets his food. Why would you not want to get up?

Z: pauses, piece of unidentifiable food on fork, part of the way up to his mouth you wouldn’t understand, Sigma, even if I explained it.

He is upset again. With me. He always calls me Sigma when his is upset with me.

Scene Three:

There’s a party in the background, comprised of many people of different species, genders, colors, ages, etc. Z is the only one wearing black trimming other than the waiters, who are wearing all black. ((see uniform colors in Unigov thread for more info on what the others are dressed in))

Z: looks around, trying to keep hidden in the shadows in the corner of the room

Sigma: floats joyfully up and down, helping the other servers with the trays

woman in grey, with red trimming notices him and starts walking towards him

Z: notices her swearword

Woman: grabs Z’s arm, really big smile on her face Hello, Z.

Z: makes face hello, sir.

Woman: snickers at face I heard you killed your last mark.

Z: He shot first. pulls arm out of her grip and crosses his arms.

Woman: dryly I’m sure… how’re you doing otherwise?

Z: I’m here. In this uniform. Waiting to be pounced upon. Guess.

Woman: smirk Aw, poor Z. hug Come on, I’ll protect you for a bit. turns and follows the edge of the room towards an alcove

Z: Thank you, sir. follows, closing curtain behind them and sitting down How long are you going to be here?

Woman: Not long, I have to follow a H4 when she leaves in a few hours. Sorry.

Z: … are you really?

Woman: sends him a look you’re grumpy, but I like you. I saved your furry ass from Dr. Tenm, and I took you on as an apprentice so you wouldn’t have to wear an all-black uni like those moronic droids out there serving the appetizers. Believe it or not, I don’t care how high your synthetic percentage is. You’re still a person. To me at least. looks away and leans against him If going rouge wasn’t so hopeless, I’d think about doing it myself, just to get out of this shithole galaxy.

Z: sighs I…

Sigma: zooms in Z! An S2 requests your presence.

Z: growls I hate scientist.

Woman: touches Z’s arm, looks at Sigma tell her he’s taken.

Sigma: hovers a moment, then bobs up and down quickly in a nod-like motion and zips back through the curtain.

Z: Thanks, Ritz.

Ritz: grin No prob, handsome tugs playfully on Z’s ear as far as I’m concerned, your furry butt belongs to me, apprentice. slips down so her head is in Z’s lap Unigov reports are so dry; tell me about your last couple of missions. We’ll see how well you’ve progressed. If I fall asleep just nudge me.

Z: Alright… a couple weeks ago…

((Optional Scene:

Z and Ritz standing in some sort of docking bay, Ritz’s ship docked nearby. Sigma hovers over Z’s shoulder. Ritz turns and gives Z a huge hug.

Ritz: Be careful, kid climbs ladder up to hatch I don’t want to go around picking up pieces or rescuing you again blows kiss and watch out for harpies. swings into hatch and shuts it.

Z: waves Bye Ritz…

ships leaves

Z’s ears and tail droop slightly, he turns Come on, Sig. We’ve got a bloody party to attend.))

Z walks into room and fails miserably at hiding. The new page opens with him pinned to the wall by a short woman. The S2 from earlier.

S2: There you are; I asked for you earlier.

Z: I was occupied.

S2: For five hours? I hope you aren’t tired.

Z: Would it matter if I was?

S2: laughs Probably not. grabs hand and pulls towards room Come, I’ve never had an android before.

Z: ears go back, tail puffs. Resists for a moment. Sighs. Follows Yes, sir. follows into room

Scene Four:

The S2 and Z laying on the bed in the room, under the sheets, their clothes strewn about. Z is propped up on one arm, watching the S2, who has fallen asleep. His expression is neutral. He stares at her a bit longer, then lowers himself back to the bed. The movement wakes her up and she smiles at him. He doesn’t smile back, if anything he glares at her. She leans forward and kisses him. He stiffens but kisses back. Close-up of his hand tightening into a fist around a handful of sheet. She runs a hand through his hair, pulling back. He sends her what is by now definitely a glare. She stops, looking slightly confused, and tries kissing him again. He complies again, but when she pulls back again his face is still angry.

Z: happy now?

S2: You… you’re mad, actually mad. I knew you could emote but…

Z: You didn’t consider that they might be my emotions?

S2: You’re a… a being?

Z: Yes. I am alive.

S2: sits up and stares at him But, but you’re 87 synthetic!

Z: 86.39 sits up and pulls on his pants My brain is still organic though, as is most of my skin, which you should have noticed after what we just did.

S2: I thought it was just a really good synthetic… watches motionless If you’re a being, then what’s your name?

Z: According to Unigov standards, because I am over 60 synthetic I am categorized as an android, and as such am not permitted a name. pulls on shirt and stands If you are satisfied and have no more requests I’m supposed to mingle…

S2: stands, letting sheet fall One more thing. kisses one more time

Z: returns kiss automatically, pulls back with blank face I hope you enjoyed using Unigov property, please come again. leaves

S2: stares at open door Androids can’t emulate irony… it’s too complicated for them to process.

Fade to black

Scene Five

Z and Sigma are in the docking bay, moving towards Z’s ship.

Z: grabs handle and climbs up ladder to hatch, on top of ship Finally, it’s over. Ten harpies in four hours.

Sigma: It isn’t nice to refer to the ladies as harpies, Z. follows Z into hatch

Z: I’m not a nice person. swings hatch shut and drops into the control area

Sits down at control panel, brings up profile Our new assignment… male, thank the stars. Eritok Ch’nir, M1.

Sigma: plug into control panel military? Few rouges are military.

Z: Eh, doesn’t look so much like rouge as it does nervous breakdown. Took off in a puddle jumper and never reported back, after a firefight at jail block C139. Kid’s got PTSD, probably. We’re supposed to bring him back alive and in one piece to the psychology center on Rehem 5 for evaluation. Set course to his last reported location, I’m gonna go take a shower and get this harpy smell off of me. stands and walks away

Sigma: Affirmative, setting course. puts out props and lands on clear section of the controls Should I have a slow meal made for you while you bathe?

Z: Yes, thanks Sig.

The next sequence/panel should show Z as he moves though the ship to the shower, preferably through the use of an elevation of the ship (similar to the top of the drawings I posted of his ship) and a dotted line (think family circus).

Z: rests forehead on shower wall as water hits his shoulders and closes eyes

Flashback to a much younger version of him, without the wrist display or tat on back of neck, sitting at a table holding a soldiering iron over some sort of mechanical part. A woman stops behind him, looks over his shoulder and smiles. She lifts his hair and kisses the back of his neck. He turns his head slightly and smiles at her. His eyes are normal-looking, cyan, and happy. “Dr. Tenm, I think I fixed it.” He says brightly, slipping the part he was working on into a droid and shutting it.

“Mmm.” She says, wrapping her arms around his neck as the droid abruptly comes to life and trundles off. “Very good, Rel. You learn quickly.” She purrs into his neck, her eyes half-closed. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’d be so lonely without you.”

Z: snaps out of the memory and angrily hits the button to stop the water, cracking it. Storms out of the shower and yanks on non-formal clothing, shoving his uniform into an incinerator. Walks into living area and angrily flops down into his chair, grabbing the knife and viciously attacking the steak Sigma had prepared for him. By the end of the meal he calms and leans back in his chair.

Sigma: floats down from the control room and lands on the table Z?

Z: sigh yes, Sig?

Sigma: Am I a harpy?

Z: looks up sharply No. scoops Sigma into arms and holds in a sort-of-hug No, Sigma. You’re like Ritz, you’re my friend.

Sigma: I am friend… I like Z.

Z: faint smile I like you too Sig.

Scene Six

Z and Sigma are in the control room, usual positions.

Z: How far are we?

Sigma: Scanners read his warp trail as one hour old, assuming he has continued at a constant rate we should see him on viewer in T minus five minutes.

Z: looks at view screen There’s a planet directly in the center of that course.

Sigma: Affirmative. Adjusting estimate for landing… T minus four minutes.

Z: Give me controls for landing.

Sigma: Handing over controls in T minus two minutes… T minus one minute… handing over controls… now.

Z: moves hands over control panel Thank you Sig. Disengaging main engines and beginning a landing pattern. Sig, scan for Ch’nir’s ship and a landing pad.

Sigma: Scanning.

Z: Steady, hitting atmosphere in three, two, one.

ship jolts violently

Sigma: Ship found, landing area found. Transmitting coordinates to main display fights to stay in air and connected during dissent

Z: Coordinates received, aiming. Slowing dissent. I see the clearing. Putting out landing gear. Touchdown in T minus ten. nine- loud zapping sound, jolts even more violently Fuck! That little bastard hit us! Going down! Going down! Shit! We’re going to crash!

Sigma: gets thrown into back of control room, hits floor, and rolls into brig.

Z: glances back Shit! Sig!

CRASH!

View of crashed ship, smoking profusely. A small cruiser lands near it, cockpit opens, and young man looks out at it nervously. Hatch on Z’s ship bangs open and a very angry Z protrudes.

Z: glares at Ch’nir You are so dead.

Ch’nir: goes paler you’re alive!

Z: points fist at Ch’nir I’m fucking metal! beam shoots out of wrist display and hits Ch’nir in the chest

Ch’nir: collapses

Z: You’re lucky they want you alive you little bastard, because otherwise you’d be dead.

Sigma: zooms out of hatch Z!

Z: looks up You okay Sig?

Sig: bobbles around like crazy Yes! Look Z! Plants! Input!

Z: swings over edge of hatch Sig… what’d I tell you about overloading your sensors?

Sig: zooms around scanning everything Input! Inupt! Input!

Z: shakes head Got ADHD, I know it drops to ground and walks to unconscious young man … now how am I supposed to get you in the damn brig? eyes cruiser hmm…

((my vision, page split into two panels, top and bottom

First panel; Shot of Z floating cruiser over his ship’s hatch, while dangling Ch’nir over it. Sigma is still on sensor high.

Second panel; Z lets go and Ch’nir drops into hatch))

Z: drags still unconscious Ch’nir into cell and dumps him on the bed There. Bastard. leaves cell and slams door

Sigma: enters ship, once more calm Z? The ship is severely damaged.

Z: I know, it was a piece of Unigov-assigned junk. sits down in chair

but it was my ship, damnit

sighs and looks at readouts I can fix it. It’ll take a couple of days though, I’ll need your help… and I’ll need to activate the damned droids. stands might as well do that now. goes down ladder, past living area, and drops into the bottom part of the ship. Walks past ship weapons, to where the hallway ends and the engines go up to the top level. Turns and looks at droids. They are bigger than Sigma, quite a bit bigger, and bulkier and slower. He sighs and flicks all three of them on Droids 1, 2, and 3. Repair exterior ship damage, connect to unit Sigma and access port# 355690 by wireless connection for coordination and communication.

droids lift off of ground and trundle over to the ladder

Z: sigh looks at huge engine Just you and me now. tool raises self out of wrist display. this won’t hurt… much.

Scene Seven

Ch’nir hangs on bars of cell, staring at Sigma, who is plugged into the control panel, humming absently. Ch’nir is still in his military uni. Z climbs up from below.

Z: those droids about done?

Sigma: finishing repairs in T minus two minutes.

Z: good leans over control panel to check diagnostics When we’re ready to leave, get a grapple on the puddle jumper, we’ll try and take it with us.

Sigma: Aye, aye captain!

Z: glances back at Ch’nir congratulations, M1, you’ve just gotten yourself a nice little vacation to Rehem 5.

Ch’nir : I don’t want to, when they’re done evaluating they’ll send me back to jail duty. I can’t take it.

Z: Well, pulls up Ch’nir’s profile looks like you’ve been there several years. Tell your psych the duty’s made you a nervous wreck, and you want a transfer to another section.

Ch’nir:… Can’t you just-

Z: If I let you go I would have to go back and attend another gathering, and you would eventually be caught as a rouge and either be terminated or sent to jail, this time as an inmate. Take my advice kid. Just do your damn job, makes it easier for everyone.

Ch’nir: But, sir-

Z: Z. I’m an android. I don’t have rank.

Ch’nir: I assume I can’t just order you to release me?

Z: Nope. My protocols require me to disregard all orders from anyone I’m sent after unless I am captured.

Ch’nir: I wish I had a gun. These tracker ships don’t leave trails, and they’re hella fast. I bet I could get all the way to another galaxy in a month or two.

Z: The weapons suck, except for-

Ch’nir: the hacker. I studied to become a Tracker, but I wouldn’t get the synthetics to make me physically fit enough, that’s why I got prison duty… This is a very old model ship.

Z: looks back, surprised Yes… it is. Never met a rouge, or even a half-rouge who’d trained to become a tracker.

Ch’nir: weak smile They know better.

Z: Smart thing, not getting the synthetics.

Ch’nir: nod I would have had to get the nanites, and they can be programmed to “repair” living tissue with synthetic proteins. I’ve heard of more than one person getting demoted to android status because of that.

Z: … yes.

Ch’nir: it must have been captured rouge technology.

Z: turns away it was.

Ch’nir: You’re Z1D0N, aren’t you, the original?

Z: Yes, still keeping up with your studies I see. turns away from control panel and walks to ladder

Ch’nir: There’s always hope, isn’t there?

Z: Not really. But it’s nice you’re still naive enough to think that. descends Sig, I missed a spot. When the droids are done send them down and put them away, this might take a bit.

Sigma: Z, there is no problem with the engine… Z?

Ch’nir: He just didn’t want to talk anymore.

Sigma: detaches from control panel You made him angry! decends

Ch’nir: … is it just me, or did that droid actually sound upset? silence Yeah, probably just me.

Transition to Z in the engine room, elbow-deep in some sort of machinery. Sigma hovers over his shoulder.

Sigma: There’s nothing wrong with that section.

Z: Sig, go run diagnostics, and see what’s taking those droids so long.

Sigma: You’re upset.

Z: I’m gonna be a lot more upset if you don’t get moving Sigma.

Sigma: hovers uncertainly Alright Z… zooms off

Z: watches her go, then turns attention back to the section.

Yey! Another flashback!

The younger Z is sitting on the edge of a severely mussed bed in the half-dark, half-dressed. Dr. Tenm, in underwear, is standing in front of him, holding a needle. “What’s in there?” Rel asks, but hold out arm, trusting her.

Dr. Tenm smiles and inserts the needle “some new nanites I just made.”

“Nanites? How’d you change them?” he asks, watching as she pushes down the plunger.

“You’ll see, Rel, darling.” She says, pulling out the needle and kissing him.

He smiles at her, but then makes a funny noise and slaps his hand over where she gave him the shot. “Dr. Tenm!”

“Shhh, it’s alright.” She grabs his shoulders.

“It hurts! It feels like I’m being burned! Dr. Tenm! Dr. Tenm, deactivate them!” he says, watching is horror as metal spiderwebs it’s way out of his skin, forming his wrist display.

“No, no. Just wait.” She says, trying to calm him down and hold him. “Calm down, Rel. Calm down!”

Rel struggles against her. “Make it stop! Make it stop! The EM pulse! Dr. Tenm! Please!”

“No!” She grabs a different type of syringe (star treck like, you know, without the needle) and fires it into his neck.

He immediately goes limp, his panicked eyes closing.

Fade out with his eyes closing, Fade in with them opening in a lighted area. His eyes widen in surprise. Zoom out. He’s strapped to an exam table. The wrist display is fully formed. He makes a sound of pain and arches his back. “Jariana!” He calls. “Jariana! My chest! My chest hurts! I’m cold!”

Dr. Tenm comes in and sits in a chair. “I know, I’m sorry darling, I didn’t know it would hurt.”

“What… what are you doing to me?”

She leans forewords and kisses his forehead. “Replacing easily-damaged organic tissue with metal and protein structures… it’s what I ordered you from GeneStar for in the first place. I wasn’t… I didn’t know that I’d get so attached to you. It’s only replacing internal organs, muscles, and bone. Making you stronger.” She runs a hand along his arm. “I programmed them to leave your skin and brain alone.”

He looks at her, stunned and afraid. “This… This is for Sigma, isn’t it? So it’ll be able to create its own body if it wants one?”

She nods. “I’m sorry, Rel, but I’m not going to throw away years of study towards creating Sigma, or risk going back into the galaxy to get another test subject.”

Rel whimpers. “Please…”

She shakes her head. “It’s already gone too far. I can’t stop it now. You’re still you, you know. Just… more efficient. I’m so glad it worked Rel, when it’s all done I’ll let you up and we’ll be just like before.”

He looks away. “If it hadn’t worked, I’d be dead.” Whimper. Look of pain.

“It was a risk, but I had to take it… I still love you.”

Transitions to stiff Z, still elbow-deep in the section. Sigma just entering frame.

Z: No, no you don’t… you never did.

Sigma: Z?

Z: looks up sharply What?

Sigma: The repairs are complete. Are you alright Z?

Z: nods, but still looks sort of haunted Yes, plot a course to Rehem 5, I’ll be up for takeoff in a bit.

Sigma: Z, I can do takeoff. You should rest, you do not look well.

Z: closes eyes No… then I’ll just have nightmares. I’ll do takeoff, go and set the course for Rehem 5.

Sigma: hesitates Yes, Z.