AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ok, first things first. All the names of my characters are completely random, no similarity to actual persons, living or dead, should be assumed or inferred. Also, I do not own any of the songs I used in my "musical interludes" (you'll know what I mean). All copyrights are owned by the various artists. That should take care of the legal stuff.
One last note- this is not a conventional story in the sense that you will be reading it in traditional paragraph form. It is written in the form of a movie script. Try to imagine it being on the big screen as you read. Now on with the story.
One last last note- depending on the reviews I get, I may change this story to an R rating. I didn't get many reviews before, so that's the reason for the repost. I did tone it down a little and cut out some language, but hey, that's how teenagers talk these days. In some cases, I think it adds to the humor. But enough of my rambling, on with the show.
Planet Rolanna, (50,000,000 light years from
Earth)
{Chrono Cross Title Song} (Camera pans along the ocean with a
rushing water effect. Credits roll as the camera points up toward the sky and
then again rushes along the landscape. A huge city becomes visible, and there
are more random shots of huge, ivory buildings and people wearing brighty
colored clothing walking through the streets. A blue sky with a rolling clouds
are seen above as the credits finally finish.)
(Camera in outer space. A small pinprick of light becomes a blinding flash that is actually a gigantic Krehonen space fleet arriving in Rolannan space. The ships spread out and the scene shifts back to the planet's surface.)
(A man runs frantically into the King's Chamber of the Royal Tower, where the King and his daughter, the Princess, are sitting at their thrones.)
OBSERVER: Your majesty! It's the Krehonen! They've already returned!
KING: What!? Impossible! We drove them back only weeks ago! There's no possible way they could have rebuilt a fleet that size! (The Princess runs to the window)
OBSERVER: But they have your majesty! My eyes do not lie! They are...(A gigantic explosion rocks the palace, scene shifts to outside where red lances of lasers are flaring out of the sky.)
PRINCESS: (above the noise) Father!! You know we can't fight them like this! You know what they want! They will kill us all to get those stones! We must not let them take them from us!
KING: (frantic yelling) Never! They'll die with us!
PRINCESS: If the stones are taken by the Krehonen then the galaxy will be torn apart! They won't spare us whether we launch the stones or not! You must send them now! (She leaps away from the window as a piece of the roof collapses on top of it. Grabs the King's arm and shakes him as they flee the room.)
(The Observer screams as he buried in an avalanche of roof tiles as the King and Princess race out into the hall.)
KING: (into an intercom on the wall) Lieutenant! You have the final confirmation! Launch the stones now!
LIEUTENANT: (from a room deep inside the Tower) Already begun procedures sir! (pieces of the roof are falling here too as a large machine powers up)
KING: Hurry! (He slams the intercom back into its cradle and takes off down the hall with the Princess hot on his heels, debris and ceiling tiles fall behind them, hiding them from view)
(Eight glowing stones are loaded into the strange contraption as the falling roof, ground quaking, and deafening noise drown out the soldiers' shouting. One by one they are launched into space. Immediately after the last stone is fired, the roof caves in completely, burying everyone and everything in the room.)
(Camera to the Krehonen command ship. The lizardman with bright armor, obviously in charge, runs to the window, growling ferociously as eight flashing lights shoot out from the planet and disappear into space. The camera then trails one of the "comets", in mid-flight the hyperspace drive turns red and reads "system failure". All eight revert to real-space above the planet Earth. The atmosphere races up toward the camera and a view of the surface comes through the clouds.)
(Subtitle: GREAT FALLS, NEW JERSEY, April 2000)
{Cue "Heavy" by
Collective Soul} (A 17 year-old boy named Jake Reilly is taking out the garbage,
then he looks up and sees a moving light in the sky. He does nothing but watch
as the light approaches and eventually explodes right on top of him, with the
camera showing the oncoming comet as a reflection in his eyes)
MRS. REILLY: (screaming) Jake! (His mother frantically runs outside to him as ambulance sirens can be heard. Scene fades.)
(Jake and his computer nerd friend Dean Morris are walking through the halls toward the school's main exit)
DEAN: What the hell happened to you man? You were out for five days!
JAKE: Leave me alone Dean. Go back to your computers. (Dean sputters but is cut off when 'The Bully' appears)
BULLY: Hey Reilly! You still owe me money! I intend to collect it now!
JAKE: (sniffs) Take a shower first greaseball.
BULLY: (enraged) You're gonna pay for that!
(They go to the back steps, where Jake punches him twice around one kick. Dean restrains him as a big shouting crowd gathers. (Music and scene fade.)
(The next day three cops show up at the school)
COP #1: You're under arrest son! Mrs. Adams has filed assault charges against you! You will come peacefully or be further charged with resisting arrest!
COP #2: (moves to put on handcuffs) Anything you say can and will be used against you...(is cut off by Jake's glowing red eyes) What the...?!
JAKE: (throaty voice) Die! (His fists become glowing balls of light that send that the 3 cops flying across the room and smashing through the windows. Jake runs out of the building and meets Dean, who has pulled his jeep up to the front)
DEAN: Get in! Now! (Jake hops in and he speeds away)
(Hours later, Dean's house)
DEAN: (pointing at computer screen)
Your comet is not any known astronomical body, I have no idea where it would
come from.
JAKE: (sighs) I won't find any answers here. I have to leave.
DEAN: But how? The cops will be looking for you by car.
JAKE: Meet me at the high school at midnight. I'll need your help. (turns to leave)
DEAN: Midnight?! How am I supposed to sneak out at midnight!!??
JAKE: (turns, holding the glowing stone) Figure that out for yourself. (He leaves.)
(Midnight at the high school)
DEAN: (spots Jake sitting inside what
looks like a ball of light) What the hell is that??
(Jake sees him and stands up. He points his arms to the sky and there is a thunderous explosion as the light begins to outline a ship on the field)
DEAN: Whoa!! That's not something you see every day!
(Jake turns away from Dean, facing his new creation. After a one minute light show, a huge airship is sitting on the field. Jake walks up the outstretched ramp with Dean hot on his heels.)
DEAN: (breathlessly running into the ship's control room) How the hell did you do THAT!? You don't even see that kind of stuff in the movies!
JAKE: I need you to do me one last favor. I'd like you to run a check on the computer systems on this thing, make sure my tracking system works.
DEAN: (stares with a totally amazed expression at the giant computers) Right...Give me a few minutes.
JAKE: (gesturing) She's all yours. (Dean tinkers around for awhile, Jake looks at his watch and yawns while Dean works.)
DEAN: There, I have no idea what you're trying to do but these computers will get the job done. (He flips a switch.)
FEMALE COMPUTER VOICE: All systems online.
JAKE: (grins) I thank you Dean. Now I must go, tell them I beat you up or something.
DEAN: (grins back) Good luck my friend. (pats the console) Take good care of her. (They shake hands and Dean exits the ship. It powers up and takes off before the police arrive.)
(Subtitle: ALBERTA, CANADA, Hours later)
(Lisa Lancaster and her
friends Stacy, Jessie, Erika, and Wayne are climbing a snow-capped mountain)
STACY: (holding on to Jessie) Spring snow doesn't usually hold very well. We should be careful.
ERIKA: (holding Wayne's arm) Relax Stacy. Stop predicting disaster. (holds out a cell phone) We can always call for help.
(Lisa stumbles behind them)
WAYNE: (turning around) We'd be a lot safer if Stacy didn't insist on bringing her. (Nods in Lisa's direction as she struggles to her feet.)
LISA: Shut up Wayne.
STACY: All right, all right. Everybody just calm down. (pause) Oh Jessie don't look at me like that!
JESSIE: Like what? Wayne's right, but let's just get going. (They continue until the ground starts to rumble) Holy shit! It's an avalanche! Run your bloody asses off!
(They all start running back down the hill. Lisa stumbles and falls several feet into a small, nearby cave.)
STACY: (spinning, starting back up the slope) Lisa!
WAYNE: (grabbing her arm and pulling her back) Leave her Stacy! You'll get yourself killed!
STACY: (screaming) We can't just leave her!
JESSIE: (picks her up over his shoulder) We'll get the klutz later! (Stacy's screams are drowned out by an explosion from a flashing light in the sky) Oh my God! This is a big one! (this time Erika stumbles)
WAYNE: Erika! (runs to her) Are you alright? (helps her up quickly)
ERIKA: I'm fine, let's go. (Stacy is still crying when they finally reach the bottom)
JESSIE: Let's get to the lodge and find help.
WAYNE: Why bother? She's probably dead already. There's nothing a search party can do in the middle of a bloody avalanche anyway. (Stacy is about to yell at him when a huge explosion stops the avalanche behind them)
ERIKA: What the...?! (She turns first and screams when Lisa emerges from the lodge, glowing, and very angry.)
WAYNE: How the hell!?
STACY: (joyously) Lisa! You're alright! (She pauses and frowns as Lisa continues glowing) Lisa? W-What's going on? (Lisa raises her hands and fires four solid beams of light at the camera) No!! (The four friends' screams die away as the camera fades to black.)
Jake Reilly's Airship (Cincinnati, Ohio)
(The central map shows the
ship to be flying over Ohio. Next are a few shots of stunned onlookers on the
streets of Cincinnati watching the behemoth fly by. The ship flies over Cinergy
Field, which displays a sign reading "Home of the Cincinnati Reds.")
COMPUTER: Tracking program engaged. (the screen flashes once) Search completed. (Jake checks the blinking dots on the map, one glowing dot is over Los Angeles, a fainter one is over Alberta.)
JAKE: (stares at the glowing red stone in his hand) So there are at least two more of these things...
COMPUTER: Destination?
JAKE: (pauses to think) Los Angeles.
COMPUTER: Confirmed. Please fasten your seat belt. (The ship automatically hurtles away once he has done so.)
(Street sign- "Welcome to Los Angeles")
(A young black man about 18
years old is working in a Los Angeles hospital. Suddenly, a man with multiple
gunshot wounds is carted in in critical condition.)
DOCTOR: He's gone critical!
KEVIN: (walking quickly alongside) What's the situation?
DOCTOR: Multiple gunshot wounds, he'll be lucky to live another five minutes.
(Through all the mayhem and confusion in the emergency room, the young man, with Kevin Jones on the nametag, puts his hands on the man's head.)
DOCTOR: Get away from him Kevin! This is over your head! (A tiny flash of light can be seen, and then he removes the bullets from the man's chest. Everyone gasps in awe at the healing miracle. Kevin grins brightly and walks out.)
(However, Kevin leaves work and walks outside, where he is immediately attacked by four white gang members.)
THUG: You're trespassing on our territory chump!
KEVIN: Wait! Stop!
THUG: Shut up! Get him boys!
(Kevin gets beat up badly until he defends himself by holding two blinding flashes of light in his hands. He zaps the two nearest attackers, and Jake's airship flies by at that moment, sending them all scurrying away.)
THUG #2: What the hell was that?!
THUG: I don't know! Let's clear the hell outta here!
(Once the area is cleared, Kevin gets up, only to be confronted by Jake who comes out from an alleyway.)
KEVIN: (backing up in fear) W-W-What do you want? Are you another one of those gang creeps?
JAKE: There's no need to be afraid of me. Believe it or not, you and I actually have something in common.
KEVIN: (eyes narrowed) And what is that?
(Jake's eyes and hands begin to glow.)
KEVIN: (gasps) It's that stone isn't it! Ever since I grabbed it from a construction worker who was nearly blown to pieces my life hasn't been anywhere near normal!
JAKE: Well, I plan to find out what these things are and where they came from. Care to join me? (extends his hand)
KEVIN: You want me to go with you?!
JAKE: That's all I ask. (retracts his hand)
KEVIN: How did you get here?
JAKE: You know anyone else who owns a big flying airship that doesn't say Goodyear, Budweiser, or Metlife on it?
KEVIN: That thing is yours!!??
JAKE: (holds out the glowing stone) Amazing what these little rocks can do.
KEVIN: All right, I'll come. But where do we go from here?
JAKE: My ship's computer detected another stone in Canada.
KEVIN: You can find these things with a computer?!
JAKE: How do you think I found you? (puts a hand on Kevin's shoulder) Welcome to the technology age my friend.
KEVIN: (shakes his head) What a day...(Kevin follows Jake and the camera fades as they walk up the street, passing a shop with a big sign that reads "Marty's Pizzeria")
Jake's Airship over central California
JAKE: If I put this thing
into gear we'll reach Canada in fifteen minutes.
KEVIN: So why don't you?
JAKE: I peeled enough rubber just to get here. A 3,000 mile trip isn't easy, even for a big magical airship.
COMPUTER: Unidentified flying object ahead. Procede with caution.
JAKE: Have aliens landed already?
KEVIN: (looks at the radar) Looks like we've got company.
JAKE: (the dot grows larger and larger) What the hell?? Nobody builds anything that big! I want manual control!
COMPUTER: Manual control activated. (The screens says "Manual Control Activated." Jake points the ship in the direction of the target.)
KEVIN: Are you sure it's a good idea to go straight for this thing?
JAKE: Only one way to find out...(He mashes the throttle as far as it will go and the ship lurches forward, throwing Kevin back into his chair.)
(Once the two ships are less than a mile apart, Jake and Kevin look out the cockpit window and see a gigantic flying behemoth perched over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.)
KEVIN: My God...What could have possibly made that?
JAKE: (radio becomes static as a transmission begins to come through) Looks like we're about to find out...
(Static gets louder as Jake's ship approaches, finally a voice can be made out.)
VOICE: Pilot! Identify yourself!
KEVIN: You sure we should answer?
JAKE: (presses a few buttons and a purple shield appears around the outside of the ship, the screen reads "Energy Shield Activated") Better to be safe than sorry.
VOICE: There is no need to arm yourself. We will not fire unless fired upon. Now identify yourself!
JAKE: (flips on radio) This is Marty's Pizzeria from downtown Los Angeles, we're here to confirm a delivery to a giant ship hovering above the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
VOICE: Sarcasm will get you nowhere. Identify yourself or you will be fired upon! Your ship is outclassed, do not make us resort to violence.
JAKE: In that case, I'll take my chances! (makes a hard turn to the left)
KEVIN: You're crazy!
JAKE: Oh, I've heard that before! (The ship careens past the bow of the behemoth and several shots are fired at the tail of Jake's ship. They all miss except for one, which sneaks through the shield and damages an engine.)
COMPUTER: Engine Sixteen disabled. Initiating repairs. (The screen shows engine sixteen flashing red and path of the diverted energy to it.)
KEVIN: (looking impressed) Always good to have a woman who can take charge.
JAKE: (sidelong look at Kevin, then angrily on the radio) What the hell do you think shooting at us is going to do?!
VOICE: Two of you on board possess the stones.
JAKE: (exchanges a shocked look with Kevin) And what do you know about the stones?
VOICE: I know where they came from, who made them, and four others who possess them are onboard this ship.
KEVIN: That just about answers all your questions.
JAKE: I don't suppose we'd be invited on board then.
VOICE: Lower your shield and you will be allowed to dock.
JAKE: What guarantees do I have?
VOICE: About landing the ship? None. About the stones? You will know the truth.
JAKE: That's all I need to hear. (switches off radio) Looks like our search came to us.
KEVIN: I have a bad feeling about this...
(The ship turns around and lands on the far side of the behemoth which is called "The Guardian". Kevin and Jake disembark and a door to the interior opens.)
JAKE: I'll go first.
KEVIN: Fine by me. (takes one step off the ship and goes no further)
The Airship "Guardian"
(Jake walks through the door and instead of
using the ladder at the far end of the hall, leaps down and lands in a crouch.
He springs to his feet waiting for a sign of life and is startled by a
disembodied voice.)
VOICE: Greetings my friend. Welcome to the Guardian. It is safe for your friend to come down here and join us.
JAKE: (looking around) I'll be the judge of that.
VOICE: Then allow me prove it to you. (A very old looking man rides in on what looks like a mutated wheelchair.) I am called the Sage. My mission is to gather the eight stones and the humans who possess them to prepare for the oncoming attack that may destroy civilization on planet Earth. (pauses for a response)
JAKE: (skeptical look with arms folded) I'm listening.
SAGE: (starts wheeling around Jake in a circle) Good, now that I have your attention. Hundreds of years ago, the stones were sent by a dying humanoid race, called the Rolannans, who were trying to keep the last pieces of their power out of the hands of their mortal enemies, the lizard race known as the Krehonen. The stones crash landed here on Earth, and the Krehonen finally found them after searching the entire galaxy, but they did not arrive here until the year 2150.
JAKE: (raises eyebrows) So you're from the future?
SAGE: Yes. (stops for a pause) I took a great risk coming here because anything I try to do could alter the very fabric of time. But it was imperative that I recover the stones in this time period, because the Krehonen have stolen our time traveling secrets and are mounting an invasion force to land in this era to find the stones, conquer this planet, and perhaps many more.
JAKE: (thinking) Hmm...Quite a story.
SAGE: But believable, considering what has happened to you and your friend don't you think?
JAKE: I don't see what overgrown lizards from the far future have to do with me suddenly being able to throw fire from my hands.
SAGE: I think it's impressive that you already have a sort of control over your powers. You have a very powerful aura surrounding you. We will need your strength, not necessarily your wit, in the battles ahead. It has been difficult enough getting here and finding all those who possess the stones, never mind trying to train them to fight a battle against battle-hardened warriors from the far future.
JAKE: You said there were eight stones and only four other people on this ship.
SAGE: (nods) Very perceptive. We have yet to locate the other two, but like yourself, they may simply drop in on us. (smiles) Now come, I'd like you to meet the rest of my crew. (rides past him to a closed door at the far end of the room and opens it, yelling inside) We have a new arrival everyone!
(Jake slowly walks over to the grinning old man, the sounds of scraping chairs and shuffling feet can be heard.)
JAKE: (stands at the doorway examining the other four, mutters to himself) Quite a crew...
SAGE: The tall Italian on your right is Domenic Torrelli. The girl in the back is Becki Neilas, the short one with red hair is Gerard DuPont, and she (points) is Dierdre Keaton, the strongest of the bunch and leader of the group. (All four nod, Becki gives a little smile with a flash of her eye. Jake stares down each one, especially Dierdre, then stares down the Sage.)
JAKE: Great party. Don't let me interrupt. (turns and leaves, heading for the ladder)
SAGE: I presume you're merely retrieving your friend. It would be quite rude of you to simply leave.
JAKE: (slowly turns) I'll be the judge of that. (goes back outside)
KEVIN: (perks up) Well? What's going on?
JAKE: An old man and his four cronies are waiting for us to join them and help stop an alien invasion from 150 years in the future.
KEVIN: After what's happened today I might actually believe that.
JAKE: Come downstairs and see for yourself. (turns and starts walking) I can sense the power in the other four, but nothing in the old man running the place. Something doesn't seem right here, so we'll just have to be extra careful.
(Kevin nods and they make their way to the command room. Jake again refuses to use the ladder. Gerard, Becki, and Domenic all have questioning looks following Jake's quick exit, Dierdre's look has nothing but daggers in it.)
SAGE: Well then, I believe you should properly introduce yourselves.
KEVIN: My name is Kevin Jones, a hospital assistant from Los Angeles, California.
JAKE: My name is Jake Reilly, and that's all you need to know.
DIERDRE: (stepping forward, heavy Scottish accent) And my name is Dierdre Keaton, the commanding officer of this ship, your sarcastic personality will have to take a back seat to the task at hand. Too much is at stake for our mission to be compromised because of someone's inflated ego.
(Jake's eyes narrow and Becki breaks the tension.)
BECKI: Why don't I show you two guys around the ship?
KEVIN: I think that's a great idea. (Throws a meaningful look in Jake's direction.)
GERARD: (whispering to Becki) You just wanna be alone with two guys.
BECKI: (amused grin) I can't help myself, besides they're kinda cute.
GERARD: (seemingly hurt look) Well what about me?
BECKI: (rolls her eyes with a grin) You're not my type. (to Jake and Kevin) Right this way guys!
(Jake walks right by Dierdre without a second look and follows Becki into the heart of the ship.)
DIERDRE: That one's going to be trouble...
SAGE: (puts a hand on her arm and whispers) He will be dealt with, in due time.
BECKI: And this is the Sage's private office. He hasn't let any of us see it. Must be personal stuff if I had to guess.
JAKE: He does seem to be hiding an awful lot.
BECKI: What makes you say that?
GERARD: (walks in, interrupting) The Sage wants to speak with you right now.
JAKE: (almost hurt look) But our tour isn't finished yet.
GERARD: (glares) Now!
(Jake returns the glare as he, Kevin, and Becki follow Gerard back to the main room where the Sage is sitting at a computer terminal with Dierdre and Domenic at his side.)
SAGE: (turning around) Ah you're back. I hope you like my ship.
JAKE: Great. What do you want to talk to us about?
SAGE: Right to the point. I like that. Actually, I want to ask you about your ship's tracking system. Domenic, our computer expert, did a scan of your system and discovered it, but he was not willing to test your automated defenses, so I'm politely asking you to remove them so we can retrieve your tracking program and try to find the last two stones as quickly as we can.
JAKE: Go right ahead. (Closes his eyes and waves an arm in front of him, a glow fades just as quickly as it materializes.) All clear.
DOMENIC: (mutters) That easy? Who the hell is this guy? (Even Dierdre looks surprised.)
SAGE: Is there a problem Domenic?
DOMENIC: None sir. I'll get right to work. (leaves)
SAGE: Did you build your computers and design the software?
JAKE: No. My friend Dean Morris put those together. He even gave it a rather cute feminine voice.
SAGE: I see. And does he know of your...abilities?
JAKE: He's the only one who didn't run for the hills.
DIERDRE: A shame it wasn't him who got the stone.
JAKE: Very funny.
SAGE: Enough! Stop this pointless bickering! I won't tolerate it! We're going to locate those stones and try to train yourselves as much as we can before the Krehonen arrive. There is no room for petty squabbling so shelve your differences and your egos now!
(Dierdre looks a bit subdued, Jake's eyes remain narrowed.)
GERARD: (glows, and then a sword appears in his hand) You back off her or I'll cut you to pieces pig.
JAKE: (glows, extends his fist, and Gerard's sword goes flying across the room, lodging in the doorframe of the Sage's private chamber) Who you calling pig?
SAGE: (wheels up to Jake) You've made your point! Becki, show him and Kevin to their quarters, we'll discuss this later!
(Becki leads Jake and Kevin out of the room.)
GERARD: (muttering) I hate Americans.
DOMENIC: (jumps down the ladder carrying a CD) Got it sir. This program is everything we need to attach to our own system and give us unlimited scanning power.
SAGE: Excellent, get right to work. We have no time to lose. (Scene fades)
(The scene reopens showing the "Guardian's" radar screen and a beeping dot just over the US-Canada border.)
DOMENIC: We've got a lock here, in southern Alberta.
DIERDRE: Then step on it.
DOMENIC: I'm one step ahead of you. (throttle is already mashed to full)
(The ship hurtles over the barren landscape of Idaho, slowing to a hover speed directly above their target.)
DIERDRE: (eyes closed) I can sense her right below us.
JAKE: (eyes also closed) Yes, but she'll fight.
DIERDRE: (eyes open) And how would you know that?
JAKE: You ever seen how a caged animal fights?
DIERDRE: No, unfortunately I haven't seen you in action yet. (another stare down)
SAGE: Focus your powers on this girl. Do not let her escape. (Pause) Jake, you're going down to retrieve her.
JAKE: You mean I have to go below and pick up a lifeless body?
SAGE: (eyes narrowed) Just do it.
(Jake climbs the ladder as the other five Guardians focus and combine their streams into one large flow that slowly descends from the underside of the ship. Lisa looks up from under a tree in abject terror. She begins to run but doesn't get very far before the beam surrounds and condenses around her.)
LISA: (Screaming) Let me go! Let me go!
(She wildly throws beams of solid light in all directions, felling trees and starting numerous brush fires.)
JAKE: (walking in from the side, barely dodging a solid piece of fire) You know it's a lot less painful if you stop thrashing around so much.
LISA: (ceases her wild action and crouches in a fighting stance) Who the hell are you?
JAKE: I'm with these guys (points at the ship). They don't want to hurt you...as odd as that sounds.
LISA: Then why are they doing this? (groans as the combined power of the five Guardians begins to squeeze her to the ground)
JAKE: (walks closer) Some people will do anything for attention.
LISA: (glares) What am I supposed to do?
JAKE: (shrugs, kneeling) Give up, get on the ship, and save the world.
LISA: That easy, huh?
JAKE: It's beautiful in its simplicity.
LISA: (sighs) Alright alright. You win. Now let me up. (still groaning)
JAKE: (He stands and raises a hand, firing a small projectile at the energy field. It immediately releases and Lisa struggles to her feet.) Now's the part where you're supposed to run and make my job a lot harder.
LISA: (brushing herself off) Now why would I do that? After you've come all this way to drop out of the sky, telling me I have to save the goddamn world.
JAKE: Well you won't be alone. You see there's five other delightful human beings up in that ship who possess the same powers we do.
LISA: What powers?
JAKE: (eyes raised) After that little display you don't know what I'm talking about?
LISA: (eyes narrowed) Don't look at me like I'm stupid.
JAKE: (hands raised) I wouldn't dare. (pauses, but her glare does not cease) Want a better explanation? Then come. (offers his hand)
(Lisa reluctantly nods and grips his outstretched hand. Jake snaps his fingers and they both appear above the ladder leading to the control room.)
LISA: (immediately releasing him) Whoa! How did you do that?
JAKE: (looking nonchalant) Just a simple little trick. I think I saw it in a movie once...
DIERDRE: (calling from below) Would you two please hurry up?!
JAKE: (yelling back) Coming mother! (beckons to the ladder) Shall we?
(Lisa descends the ladder. Jake leaps down when she is clear, she looks at him like he's crazy, especially when he starts to grin.)
BECKI: (walking up to her) Hi, my name's Becki Neilas, I can show you around and get you comfortable before the rest of these guys put the world's burden on your shoulders.
LISA: (chuckles) My name is Lisa Lancaster. I'd love to know why all of you almost killed me, but I guess that can wait. (She turns to glare at Jake before Becki leads her out as the scene fades.)
(Subtitle: ONE DAY LATER...)
SAGE: (group gathered around) We need
to test your abilities to find out where you all stand. (pause) I want each of
you to build your own airship (Surprised looks from several people, Jake is
studying the room). Mr. Reilly has already completed this exercise, now I need
to see what the rest of you can do. Follow me. (wheels onto an elevator that
lifts him outside)
DIERDRE: (as she passes Jake) Don't think this has won you any favors.
JAKE: I wouldn't dream of it. (The other six go outside)
(One at a time, each Guardian focuses their power and releases it in a wave, each creating their own unique style. Lisa's is built like the Ragnarok from Final Fantasy 8. Kevin's is a strealined black cruiser similar to the Batmobile. Gerard's is a color-blinding twisted type of ship with hundreds of propellers. Becki's has power-wrought rotor blades on top, Domenic's is sleek and streamlined with the Italian Air Force's logo all over it, and Dierdre's looks more like a blimp, although not quite as large or as high-tech as Jake's.)
SAGE: (studies each one in turn) Quite impressive all of you. This is a good barometer for me to measure your skills. Plus, we all have our own transportation now don't we? (Laughs) Come now, we cannot waste any time. (Scene fades)
(Subtitle: TWO WEEKS LATER…..)
(An alarm goes off in the control
room, snapping Kevin back out of his dream world and nearly throwing him off his
chair. Everyone comes running in from all directions, Jake leaps down the ladder
again.)
SAGE: Blast! I thought we would have had more time! The Krehonen are here, we must hurry!
BECKI: Bloody hell...
LISA: You can't be serious...
GERARD: It's the real thing...
DOMENIC: (to himself) The old man really wasn't joking...
DIERDRE: (taking a quick look at the map) Looks like they've targeted St. Petersburg in Russia.
SAGE: Go quickly! People's lives are in danger!
JAKE: (walks up behind Lisa) It's showtime. (She takes a deep breath with a half-scared, half-determined look.)
(A blinding light subsides as the "Guardian's" overdrive engines shut down over the beleaguered city.)
SAGE: (pressing buttons) The drop hatches are open! Go now!
KEVIN: I volunteer to stay and direct everyone from the ship.
BECKI: But you don't know how to operate this thing!
KEVIN: Then show me.
BECKI: (sighs) All right...
DIERDRE: The rest of you follow me!
JAKE: (only Lisa can hear) We're right behind you fearless leader. (Lisa cracks a grin.)
(Dierdre, Gerard, Domenic, Jake, and Lisa warp down to Earth and are immediately seen by the Krehonen soldiers. There aren't many, but the five Guardians each draw their own weapons: {Cue the Final Fantasy 8 "Starting Up" theme} A flaming sword for Jake, a decorative Wizard Staff for Dierdre, a four-pointed trident with color swirled around the staff for Domenic, two gold-encrusted swords for Gerard, and a dual-bladed polearm for Lisa.)
DIERDRE: Don't let them surround us!
(The Guardians spread out, weapons and powers at the ready. {Cue Crono Cross "Brink of Death" theme}. Each Guardian gets camera time for their own moves: Dierdre whirls the staff around her body creating tornadoes of fire that fling her enemies into the air while burning them to a cinder. The staff also shoots flame. The color on Domenic's spear glows shooting out pinkish and purple beams in all directions. A pinkish shield also appears around him, deflecting several attacks. Gerard uses his power to gain incredible speed slicing apart any enemy he happens to come in contact with. Lisa growls and goes into a frenzy similar to the one she displayed in Alberta. Fire spews from both ends of the polearm, allowing her to attack enemies in front and behind. {Music fades and begins "Mortal Kombat"} Jake's is the most visually impressive, waving the sword around causing flames to erupt upward from the ground and lightning to crash out of the sky. His eyes never cease to glow and the last two enemies are simply vaporized from his stare. The non-fleeing soldiers are mopped up by everyone else. The rest of the Krehonen are seen fleeing from the city, with the ground quaking at their feet and lines of fire tearing them apart {song ends})
LISA: None of us are doing that.
GERARD: It must be the eighth stone...
DIERDRE: Someone go check it out.
JAKE: (nods his head towards the city) Go ahead, it's your show.
(Dierdre growls but takes a few steps forward before ripping open a hole in the air above the city. A similar hole appears next to her, showing the central square of St. Petersburg. Before she can step through it though, a woman hurtles through the opening, smashing her in the chest.)
RUSSIAN WOMAN: (crouched, glowing, and very angry) Leave St. Petersburg before I burn you to ashes!
JAKE: (sideways look) Is this always how you greet people?
GERARD: Don't mess with the Guardians.
LISA: (stepping in front of them waving her arms) Wait! Wait! We're on your side!
RW: (turns as Dierdre gets back on her feet with murder in her eyes) I'm very sorry for surprising you, but I am not one to take chances.
DIERDRE: (grimacing) That was you throwing around fire back there?
RW: Yes that was me. But I sensed powers far greater than mine out here. You are all truly powerful beings, even if you don't know it yet.
DIERDRE: (waves a hand) Please, we don't need any more inflated egos.
DOMENIC: (sidelong look at Jake) We won't mention names. (walks past him)
JAKE: (after a pause, holds his hands up) Don't everybody accuse me at once.
RW: (slight grin) My name is Leana Kasatonov, the daughter of a poor sailor. My father found a glowing stone on a beach near his base and brought it home to me. I started feeling rather strange, and then discovered this sort of power we all possess. That was very frightening. I scared my mother half to death.
DIERDRE: Well I'm Dierdre Keaton, the leader of the Guardians. You will be properly introduced to everyone once we're back aboard the ship.
LEANA: I am honored to be a part of such a team.
JAKE: (muttering) Don't get too excited just yet. (walks out, Lisa follows)
DIERDRE: (last meaningful glare at Leana) Just be lucky we're all on the same side.
(Scene shifts to Jake's quarters on board the "Guardian")
JAKE:
(hearing a knock on the door) Come in.
LISA: (peeking inside) Can I talk to you?
JAKE: Of course, make yourself comfortable.
LISA: (sits down in a beanbag chair across the room from his bed, where he sits) Why were you the one who came down to get me?
JAKE: Dierdre and the Sage have it in for me.
LISA: (slightly confused) And why is that?
JAKE: (shrugs) Just lucky I guess.
LISA: (angrily) Do you ever get serious? Even the battle at St. Petersburg was just a big joke for you!
JAKE: You wanna see me get serious?
LISA: Yes I do.
JAKE: Then why are you following me around? You could have picked six other people but you chose to latch on to me, why?
LISA: (indignant) I have not "latched" on to you! You really are an egotistical pig!
JAKE: (mutters) Women are so stubborn...
LISA: Look, I'm completely lost on this ship and regarding the whole "power stone" thing. I just want someone to talk to, someone to...look after me.
JAKE: Look after you? You can take care of yourself well enough.
LISA: (hands balled into fists) Grr...You're impossible! You can't show the least bit of sensitivity?
JAKE: Not with the situation we've got on our hands, and besides it just wouldn't be my style (winks).
LISA: Yes I know that to pig-headed Americans like yourself, your ego is just as important to you as saving the world. But the Sage said it's going to be a long time coming before the Krehonen can make it here with huge armies.
JAKE: And how does he know that? There's something else going on here.
LISA: (stands up) That's it! I don't want to hear any conspiracy theories.
JAKE: (meaningful look) You're telling me that you really can't see what's going on?
LISA: (shakes her head vigorously) You're impossible...(Turns and walks out, slamming his door shut.)
JAKE: Well you'd better understand, or else you'll be dead...(Rolls over and goes to sleep as the scene fades.)
(Hallway outside of Jake's quarters)
(Jake slowly opens his door,
peering down the hallway. The lights are dimmed. Satisfied that nobody is awake,
he quietly shuts the door and sneaks down the hallway, humming the Mission
Impossible theme {MI music plays softly along with him}. He maneuvers through
several corridors before coming to the Sage's private chamber {music ends}.)
JAKE: (pauses at the door) All the answers must be in here. (pauses again) Well I've come this far, what's the worst that could happen? (looks behind him) They can't exactly call in the National Guard. (He examines the door, pauses again grabbing the handle, then glows faintly and the door clicks open, he looks rather surprised.) That was too easy...(quietly shuts the door behind him)
(He enters a small circular room filled with computers and a large tube at the far wall. He looks amazed as he looks around the entire room, which is painted a dark green.)
JAKE: What is this place? (touches the tube, then goes over to the main console) Well I haven't been caught yet, so what the hell. (He reaches below the desk and pulls out a keyboard, then looks really confused.) What the hell is this? (The camera pans in from behind showing the keyboard to have all kinds of odd-looking symbols on it. Looking confused, he presses a few buttons {m-a-p} and a map of the Earth appears with criss-crossing lines around it.) Hmm...almost looks like a battle map...(sighs, looking at the keyboard) Oh well, I don't have time to fiddle around with this thing. (Looks back at the door, puts the keyboard down, and turns to go, but he accidentally pushes the {esc} key.)
(Suddenly the console lights up and a large hologram of a decked-out Krehonen warrior comes on the screen)
JAKE: What the hell?! (stumbles backward)
RECORDING: (A message comes up in 2 different languages saying "translate?" Jake presses the "enter" button for "Human" The machine garbles and then plays the recorded message. The lizardman has a rather gravelly voice) I received your last report Sage. I cannot believe that you have actually managed to locate all eight stones so quickly. We are so close to victory that our soldiers have gotten overconfident. The Humans are pathetic and only a small group has put up any sort of resistance. They call themselves the "Terran Army" and even though that meddling fool Leo Pirosi (hologram shifts to a photo of Leo) is no longer their real leader, this man (photo shifts again to Dan Harkinson) is going to be trouble. He is Daniel Harkinson and he has already proven himself to be a real challenge to deal with. He also still has the services of the best Human soldiers, (holo shift) Hunter Canabe and Spike Owens. These two men took out an entire scout force on their own! But they will all die slow deaths once we find their last remaining base. (holo shift back to original) In the meantime, we will continue to send the dissident, war-hungry soldiers to Earth to brush up on your "Guardian's" skills. (evil chuckle) Just make sure you keep them clueless long enough so that we can finish our invasion here, and then we can (clears throat) "convince" your students to betray their own people. (Laughs) Galaxies will fall and other races will be crushed, just like the Humans! Once these stones are in our possession there will be no power in the universe that could stop us! I will contact you again, and make sure this message stays hidden on a secure channel. Commander Larener out. (holo fades out and computer powers down)
JAKE: (shocked look turns to eyes narrowed) So, the plot thickens...(He replaces the keyboard under the desk, pauses to think, then heads for the door.) Let's see if I can beat the old man at his own game...(cruel smile, then exits, scene fades)
(Kevin is sitting in a chair half-asleep. Suddenly, alarms begin to blare and this time he does fall out of the chair. Everyone comes scrambling into the control room.)
DIERDRE: (panting) What's going on?
SAGE: (wheeling in) It's another attack, this time the lizardmen are actually in the city.
GERARD: What city?
SAGE: (points at the radar) Look, that's Milan, Italy.
DOMENIC: They're attacking Milan!?
BECKI: Isn't that where you live?
DOMENIC: Damn right it is! (goes up to the console and fires the throttle to full) I will not let them destroy my home...
(The "Guardian" hovers over Milan where smoke can be seen coming from several buildings.)
DIERDRE: (hatches open) Take charge Domenic! You know where you're going!
DOMENIC: (yelling) Just stay close! It's easy to get lost!
JAKE: (whispering to Lisa) I wouldn't mind if we lost him. (Lisa shoots another sidelong glance at him.)
(The "Guardians" all jump through the open hatch. Eight beams of light come shooting to the surface.)
DOMENIC: (pointing down a side street) This way! Hurry up god dammit!
({Cue "Final Fantasy 8 Escape theme"} Some Krehonen soldiers leap out buildings while others stop their pillaging of sidewalk stands to attack them. The residents throw anything they can at the lizardmen and some of them actually shoot back, blowing up windows, making holes in walls, sending people hurtling off high balconies.)
DOMENIC: (screaming in rage) Take this you bastards! (He wildly swings his trident in all directions, causing as much damage to the property as he does to the Krehonen soldiers. Jake and Lisa attack the lizardmen coming in from behind them while Becki tries to restrain Domenic.)
BECKI: (grabbing Domenic's shoulder) Stop it Domenic! Look what you're doing! You're destroying what you're trying to save! {music ends}
DOMENIC: (stops his attack, panting) Wow...(He looks amazed, there are no more Krehonen in the area and several buildings have large holes in the sides.) I just couldn't control myself.
KEVIN: That was quite a show.
LISA: (walking in) Somebody want to tell me why only half of us were fighting?
DIERDRE: You were guarding our backs and Domenic was handling this situation quite effectively.
GERARD: Now's not the time to argue, there's more lizardmen in the city. (He, Becki, and Domenic start running up the street.)
DIERDRE: You coming or not?
JAKE: We'll circle around and follow you.
DIERDRE: Very well. Just don't get yourself killed.
KEVIN: (glares at her) Worry about keeping yourself alive.
(Dierdre glares back but says nothing, she turns and takes off down the street after Becki, Gerard, and Domenic.)
LEANA: Something's not right here.
JAKE: You have no idea...(Looks at all of them, then turns and walks away without another word.)
LISA: (yelling, as she runs up behind him) And what do you mean by that?
JAKE: You didn't believe me before, why would you now?
LISA: (still trotting with him, Kevin and Leana are just coming into earshot) Didn't believe what? What are you talking about?
JAKE: (stops abruptly and faces her, snapping) If I feel like telling you it will be back on board the ship!
LISA: (angrily) Why? If it's so important then say so now!
KEVIN: Uh, what did we miss?
JAKE: (is about to yell back at Lisa but he is interrupted by a Krehonen rifle blast that explodes nearby) We'll talk later! (runs off with Kevin and Lisa hot on his heels)
LEANA: I wonder what he's talking about? There must be some connection...(takes off after them)
({Cue "Here We Go" by Templar} Another part of the city. Explosions are coming up in all directions. Dierdre, Becki, Gerard, and Domenic all come running in from the right. A glowing flash from the top of a building on the left side materializes into Jake. Lisa, Kevin, and Leana enter the scene in similar fashion.)
DIERDRE: (the noise subsides) I think that's all of them.
DOMENIC: (pulls out an electronic scanner, then pauses while the thing beeps) Yeah, that's all of them.
BECKI: Phew! Those things just kept coming. (Several cuts and bruises are visible on her arms and legs.)
LEANA: (looking around) Look at all the destruction we caused...
DIERDRE: They can build it all back. Our job is finished.
LISA: How can you say that so calmly?! A lot of people died today!
GERARD: Yeah, but we didn't. There's nothing we can do to bring the dead back to life.
KEVIN: (looking around, almost to himself) My god, there must be hundreds of seriously injured people here...
DIERDRE: Save your sympathies, the airship is coming. (The "Guardian" flies in overhead, Dierdre, Gerard, Domenic, Becki, and after a brief pause, Leana and Kevin all teleport back to the ship.)
LISA: They didn't even care!
JAKE: (nods, staring at the ship) They have a good reason not to. (teleports out)
LISA: What the hell is he talking about...? (follows him up to the ship, music fades)
(Jake's quarters. There is a knock at the door)
JAKE: Come in Lisa.
LISA: (opening the door, Kevin is right behind her) How did you know it was me?
JAKE: (looking up) Who else pays me social visits?
LISA: (sidelong look) Just be glad that I care enough.
JAKE: I'm thrilled.
KEVIN: (interrupting) What were you going to tell us when we got back to the ship?
JAKE: Shut the door. (Kevin does) Have a seat.
LISA: (She passes up the beanbag chair, instead sitting down on the bed next to Jake, Kevin sits down in the beanbag.) We're listening.
JAKE: (sitting up) Don't interrupt me. Ask no questions until I finish. (Lisa and Kevin nod) Ok then. The Sage isn't who he seems to be. He is an agent for the Krehonen, sent here to find the stones and turn us against our own people.
KEVIN: Now that's serious. What proof do you have? (Lisa looks shocked)
JAKE: I broke into his private chamber the other night.
LISA: You did what??
JAKE: (snapping) I said no interruptions! (she looks hurt) I stumbled onto a recorded message of some lizard commander. He told that whole story. The Humans are about to lose the war in 2150.
KEVIN: How the hell did you break into his private office? Isn't there an alarm or something else that would have alerted us all?
JAKE: There probably is. I must've disabled it.
KEVIN: You don't even know if there is one or if you really disabled it. The Sage could have been watching you the whole time! What were you thinking? You have no idea what you're dealing with!
JAKE: And you're prepared to follow him on blind faith? I can only tell you what I saw. I can't tell you to believe me.
KEVIN: Damn right you can't. You've been fighting him since the second you stepped on this ship. So Dierdre and her cohorts are acting a little strange, nothing out of the ordinary has happened yet. (gets up to leave)
JAKE: Just watch your step. (Kevin nods and then leaves) Now he decides to show a little backbone...
LISA: (leans toward him) Look at me. (Jake does) You really didn't make all that stuff up?
JAKE: (slight smile) Would I lie to you?
LISA: (scoffing) Ha, I don't know if I believe that entire story, (frowning) but there is something a little...odd going on.
JAKE: (grabs her hand) Just be careful ok?
LISA: I didn't know you cared. (slight grin) If I see anything you'll be the first person I tell. (gets up and walks to the door) And please don't do anything stupid. I don't want to have to bail you out of trouble. (grins and shuts the door)
JAKE: (sighs) They have no idea what we're dealing with...(scene fades)
(Starboard side of the "Guardian". Jake, Lisa, Kevin, and Leana are entering Jake's airship while the other four "Guardians" are boarding Dierdre's.)
LISA: (yelling) Where are we going?
JAKE: Texas! Come on! (All four run inside the ship and Jake starts the engine.)
COMPUTER: Destination?
JAKE: San Antonio, Texas. And step on it.
COMPUTER: Confirmed. (screen shows the route the ship will take to San Antonio)
LEANA: Why are we the only ones going?
JAKE: There's another attack going on somewhere in Germany. We can't be two places at once.
KEVIN: And it's no surprise that the groups were split up this way.
LEANA: Why do you say that?
JAKE: Because the four of us do the best work (grins).
KEVIN: (chuckling) Cocky bastard aren't you?
JAKE: (over his shoulder) You should know me better than that.
LEANA: (grabbing his shoulders) Yeah, well I don't, especially since you seem to need a female computer voice to keep you occupied. (She grins evilly, Jake looks at her and smiles. Lisa taps Leana on the arm.)
LISA: (smiling) Back off, he's mine.
LEANA: (surprised grin) Oh really? And when did this happen?
JAKE: (looks back with another smile) Your guess is as good as mine.
LISA: (smacks him on the right shoulder good-naturedly) You're impossible.
JAKE: Where have I heard that before...
COMPUTER: Destination reached. Good luck.
KEVIN: (grinning) Looks like we're here. (puts a hand on Jake's shoulder) Time to forget about women for awhile Jake. (Kevin grins sardonically and Jake frowns back with a look saying "give me a break." Leana chuckles and stares at Jake as he walks out, then gives an almost cheerful challenging look to Lisa. The airship continues forward as the four "Guardians" materialize on the surface. The Krehonen are attacking a small town outside of San Antonio. {Cue Republica's "Ready to Go"} They all turn as the "Guardians" draw their weapons and brightly glow. Jake's flaming sword, Lisa's dual-bladed polearm, Kevin's oversized Tazer Rod, and Leana's gemmed war scepter appear.)
JAKE: (throaty voice) Don't let a single one of them escape.
LISA: We're right behind you fearless leader. (They share a grin before leaping at the nearest lizardman soldier. Jake's attacks continue to be the most visually impressive as fire and lightning rain from the sky and up from the earth at incredible speeds, simply vaporizing several lizardmen. He also does a new slash attack that paralyzes the target before it splits into two pieces. Lisa begins to spin with her polearm, becoming a powerful whirlwind as she moves around like a figure skater. Leana focuses her power through her scepter, freezing her enemies in a case of ice. She summons a large blizzard and snow actually begins to fall in Texas. Kevin fires lightning from his Tazer Rod and uses his powers more for deceptions and making doubles of himself to confuse the lizards. As a piece of a nearby building falls, Jake leaps and grabs Lisa rolling them both out of the way. They exchange a rueful look and continue fighting. With a spectacular finish, Jake raises both arms and two columns of fire explode around the last two enemies, leaving no sign that they ever existed {Music ends}.)
KEVIN: (wipes his hands in the clean-up gesture) That takes care of that. Anyone hurt?
LEANA: We're too good at this to get hurt. (Jake spares a sidelong glance at Lisa, she grins back at him. The airship returns and all four teleport on board. The scene shifts back to the "Guardian" as the four disembark Jake's airship and go back to the control room. Again Jake does not use the ladder. He grins as Lisa shakes her head at him. They find Domenic layed out on a table with Becki and Dierdre hovering over him.)
LISA: My god! What happened? (runs up to the table with Kevin right behind her)
DIERDRE: We let them get too close. He got a little careless and was grazed by a spearpoint.
KEVIN: Let me help. (Pushes his way between Dierdre and Becki. He rubs his hands together and places them on Domenic's injury. He glows, Domenic gasps, and is healed.)
DOMENIC: (groaning) Damn that hurt. Thanks man. I owe you.
KEVIN: Don't mention it. (looks at Dierdre and walks away)
GERARD: (approaching Jake) He looked bad so we had to bail out. We destroyed the rest of them from the air, but the entire town was up in flames.
JAKE: And you just took off, leaving all those people to fend for themselves.
GERARD: Losing Domenic would've seriously damaged our chances of winning the war more than one small town would.
JAKE: You are inhuman. (Their eyes flash and they exchange a knowing glance, as if there is something more to Jake's accusation.)
SAGE: (wheeling in) Is Domenic alright?
BECKI: Yes sir, Kevin healed his injury before it got too serious.
KEVIN: It'll leave a scar but there won't be any pain.
SAGE: Excellent. I trust that your mission went well?
LEANA: Couldn't have gone better.
JAKE: Yeah, the town we fought in wasn't wiped off the map.
GERARD: (hard glare) It couldn't have been avoided.
SAGE: If it couldn't be helped, then so be it. Their attacks are coming more and more frequently, we must be vigilant.
KEVIN: It can't be helped?! What kind of bullshit is that? Innocent people were killed in Italy and Germany and you don't bat an eye!?
JAKE: Is that what Commander Larener ordered you to do?
(There is a stunned silence, and the Sage is on the brink of rage.)
JAKE: (to Kevin) Seems like I've struck a nerve (he nods).
LISA: (angrily) Don't start with this crap again! You'll make yourself look like an idiot! Stop it right now!
JAKE: (snaps) If I wanted your opinion I would've asked for it! I look after myself, I don't care what you feel or believe right now. (She is stunned and is so hurt she looks about to cry. She goes into the corner while Jake addresses the Sage.)
JAKE: (in a loud rage) You weren't set here by the Humans, you were sent here by the bloody lizardmen! Allowing people to die and calling it inconsequential!? That's inhuman! You were supposed to "convince" us to betray our own people! Well guess what. You've failed. You didn't get us all. (Dierdre, Becki, Gerard, and Domenic glow and surround the Sage) This is no longer just a war between Humans and lizards. Every last one of you (pointing at the Sage and his group) is going to end up dead. I can guarantee that.
LEANA: Get a grip Jake! What are you saying? This is ridiculous, why would he teach us and look after us like a father if he was going to put a knife in our backs! I can't believe that this is what you were suspicious of! (softer) And what you've done to her! (Looks at Lisa and then glares hard at Jake.)
LISA: (angrily, almost crying) Just looking at you makes me want to puke.
JAKE: (violent glow) Then I'll see you all in Hell! (vicious glare and a near snarl at Lisa and Leana)
KEVIN: Well I've seen enough, I'm outta here. (Jake and Kevin storm out to their own airships.)
DIERDRE: Allow me to destroy them before they get too far! (Lisa can be heard faintly sobbing.)
SAGE: (puts a hand on her arm) No. Allow their anger to run its course. They will be back (knowing look as if saying "Just go along with it")
(Leana helps Lisa to her feet and they both walk out. Scene fades.)
({Cue Final Fantasy 8's "Tell Me"} Lisa is standing on the port side of the "Guardian" staring off into the stars. A single tear falls down her face and she lowers her head, with her arms crossed. Leana walks up behind her and puts her hands on her shoulders.)
LEANA: Hey, you feel okay?
LISA: (deep breath, shaking her head) No.
LEANA: If there's anything I can do to make you feel better, you let me know.
LISA: (nods, almost crying) Ok. Thank you. (Leana lets her go)
SAGE: (over the intercom, Lisa and Leana turn upon hearing his voice) Lisa, I must speak with you.
LEANA: (Lisa looks at her) Go on. {music fades}
(Lisa goes down into the control room. Dierdre and the Sage are waiting for her. Gerard stands in the corner not looking at them.)
SAGE: (wheeling up to her) Listen to me carefully Lisa. You are still with us in our quest to stop the Krehonen from taking over this planet correct? (she nods) Good. (pause) Jake has become a major threat to that quest. He will only get in the way of our plans and he will do anything in his power to prevent us from achieving our goals. I need you to track him down. You are the only one left here that he once trusted. You can still get close enough to him to...eliminate him. (her eyes widen) If you can bring him back here alive, by all means do so. But I believe he is more powerful than we all imagine. Kill him if you must.
DIERDRE: Use any means necessary. And bring back proof if he is dead.
LISA: (long pause, then a nod) I shall find him for you. That's all I can promise. (she leaves, Leana watches her go)
DIERDRE: (to the Sage) She can't be trusted.
SAGE: She will get the job done.
DIERDRE: I hope you're right. (She leaves, Leana climbs the ladder after a glance at the Sage. Scene fades.)
(Lisa's airship is seen hurtling through the air at amazing speed. Cut to the inside of the cockpit. Two blinking dots become closer and closer to the center of her radar. She has a very determined look on her face.)
(Over the comm between Jake and Kevin's airships, camera is in Kevin's cockpit.)
KEVIN: You're absolutely sure it's her.
JAKE: Yes I am. I want you to head back to Los Angeles. I'll catch up with you later.
KEVIN: And you're going to do what? She's mad enough to kill you.
JAKE: I can handle one little Canadian girl.
KEVIN: (pauses, then sighs) Alright man. I hope you know what you're doing. Where are you headed so I can track you down if something goes wrong?
JAKE: Ottawa. If I don't show up in two days come find me.
KEVIN: Understood. Good luck. (His ship veers off and shoots off toward Los Angeles, Jake's ship continues at half-speed until Lisa's ship catches up to it.)
JAKE: Now the games begin...(begins to increase the gap between the ships, scene fades)
(Subtitle: OTTAWA, CANADA)
(Camera in Jake's cockpit)
LISA: (over the comm, with a hard edge to her voice) Set your ship down now. (Jake immediately begins to power down and lets the ship land on its own.)
COMPUTER: Auto-pilot engaged. Landing sequence begun.
(He disappears into the center of his ship, turning back to the camera with a very strange glow in his eye and a slight smile on his face. Lisa jumps out of her own ship and walks to within ten yards of the spot where Jake now stands.)
LISA: Listen to me Jake...({Cue Final Fantasy 7's "Boss Theme"} She is cut off by a loud roar and suddenly twenty Krehonen soldiers with arms at the ready appear right behind her.) Oh my God!
KREHONEN SOLDIER: We await your orders my lady.
LISA: Wha...(Very confused look, she turns back to Jake with daggers in her eyes.)
JAKE: You've got to listen to me Lisa. Look at this! (points behind her) The Sage sent them here! He's got you brainwashed just like the rest of them! He's an agent for these pondscum and he's going to kill us all!
SOLDIER: Allow us to kill him my lady!
LISA: (screaming) Shut up all of you! I've been sent here to kill you (points at Jake) and if you keep pissing me off that's exactly what I'm going to do!
JAKE: (tsking and shaking his head) He's gotten to you already. What a shame. I was actually beginning to like you.
LISA: (screaming) Shut up! Just shut the hell up!
JAKE: My my. What a temper we have. Why haven't these (raises arm) green guys attacked you? Because they know what your orders are and whose side you're on. But it appears that there is nothing I can do to change your mind. (folds his arms and shakes his head) Women are all stubborn.
(Lisa glows a bright red and with an inhuman scream she makes a huge sword appear out of midair. She pauses to look at him and then with a wave of her arm, it dives through the air and impales Jake in the chest. He cries out in pain and a pillar of fire erupts around him. She looks up to see his airship glow and a faint copy of the ship moves away from the original and fades out. She is shaking and beginning to sob as Jake's screams subside. His airship suddenly blows into thousands of pieces. The debris impales several soldiers, the rest flee the area. She gets back up with an almost blank look on her face.)
LISA: Oh my God...What have I done? (sinks to her hands and knees) What have I done? (Scene fades, music ends.)
({Cue Final Fantasy 8's "Seed Theme"} Lisa climbs down the ladder into the "Guardian's" control room. Dierdre, Becki, Domenic, Gerard, and the Sage are there to greet her. Leana comes walking in from behind them.)
LISA: (face red, tears forming) He's dead. I killed him.
(Becki looks surprised, Gerard shares a guarded look with Domenic, Dierdre approaches Lisa with a wild look in her eyes.)
DIERDRE: Did you bring back proof? I want to see his dead body!
LISA: No...No I...couldn't.
DIERDRE: (yelling) What do you mean you couldn't?! You couldn't or you wouldn't!? (wheels on the Sage) I told you this was a bad idea. She is too weak!
SAGE: Dierdre, let her get a hold of herself, she will get over the shock soon. (wheels up to her and takes her sobbing face in his hands) Everything will be alright. You go and get some rest now. (she closes her eyes and nods, Gerard gives her a look as she walks by) That goes for all of you as well. There is much more work to be done. (Music ends, scene fades.)
(Subtitle: HOURS LATER...)
(Gerard, Becki, and Leana are all
sitting at a table sipping drinks.)
GERARD: You really think she killed him?
LEANA: (downcast) She looked so shaken, she must have.
BECKI: What happened to Kevin? Did she kill him too?
GERARD: (waves dismissively) He is of no consequence. If Jake is really dead then we have no more opposition.
(Dierdre, Domenic, Lisa, and the Sage enter. Lisa's eyes are very red but she is no longer crying. Everyone sits, she slowly takes her own seat, but looks down only at the table.)
DIERDRE: (fierce yet disappointed look) Her description is too graphic to be made up. I want to go to Ottawa and see for myself.
DOMENIC: Give it a rest Dierdre. If he's dead, he's not going anywhere.
GERARD: I think it's stupid that we should simply take her word for it.
BECKI: (smacks him on the arm) Lay off Gerard.
LISA: Stop it! Please! (buries her head in her hands) Can't we discuss something else?
DIERDRE: And what did you have in mind?
LISA: Well...(Her eyes flash, she stops, pauses, and looks almost horrified.)
LEANA: Lisa what's wrong?! She gets up and grabs her arm, Lisa ignores her and looks almost transfixed at the ceiling near the ladder.)
(Cut to the outside of the ship. A bright flash of light can be seen in the distance. After a short light show and a loud roar, {Cue Final Fantasy 9's "Hilda Garde Airship Theme"} Jake's airship rematerializes and fires like a missile toward the "Guardian". The ship cuts right across the bow, scraping against a wall and leaving a huge hole.)
DIERDRE: What the hell was that?! (Everyone scrambles up out of their chairs except Lisa, who still sits as if in a daze.)
SAGE: Turn on the outside monitors! (Domenic runs to the computer, presses a few buttons and an outside view appears. Jake's airship is circling back and everyone gasps as they realize what it is.)
GERARD: (turning to Lisa) You damn liar! You didn't really kill him! You just made up that story to keep us off guard! (glows and draws his swords)
LEANA: Stand down Gerard! (glows and her scepter appears)
LISA: (stumbles, looking incredulous and shaking her head) But...it blew up. I don't believe this.
DIERDRE: I told you to bring back proof! (turns) Fire the cannons! All of them!
(A huge explosion interrupts her. Cut outside showing Jake's airship firing several lasers into the hole torn into the ship in its initial pass. The ship careens in front of the bow and off to the port side. Several shots from the "Guardian" miss completely.)
JAKE: (over the comm) I expected differently from you Dierdre. Sending Lisa to do your dirty work was a bad idea.
(Everyone exchanges shocked looks. Lisa gasps and falls over. Leana helps her to her feet and they both go toward the ladder.)
DIERDRE: She blew up your ship and you exploded in a pillar of flame! How do you avoid that!?
JAKE: (loud laugh) That was a clever ruse I learned from Kevin. You see that was a double of myself, although I think my voice sounded a little too nasaly. And as for the ship, Lisa saw an outline of it disappear before it blew up. That outline was the real ship. I simply blew up the decoy. Pretty clever, huh?
SAGE: My God, he is powerful...
DIERDRE: (in a rage) Lisa! (draws her staff) You failed us! You will pay for this! (Gerard, Becki, and Domenic begin to glow, angrily drawing their weapons. Lisa gasps and Leana stands in front of her.)
LEANA: Go now! Run! (Lisa teleports up the ladder as all four "Guardians" blast the spot where she used to be, they all hit Leana and she thuds against the far wall, smoke rising from her still form.)
DIERDRE: (turning) Don't let her escape! (Domenic runs back to the console.)
(Lisa uses her power to gain extra running speed. Jake's airship is flying off into the distance in the background and she leaps into her ship, crashing against the far wall. Regaining herself, she runs into the cockpit and starts up the engines as quickly as possible. She takes off, but a solid green field stops the ship in its tracks, she screams in surprise.)
DOMENIC: (pumps a fist) Got her!
DIERDRE: Bring that bloody ship back! (Becki and Gerard begin to glow)
(Lisa angrily hammers the controls and pushes the throttle lever back and forth in a desperate attempt to break free. Finally, she focuses her rage and glows a bright red. The engines roar with white-hot smoke pouring out of the exhaust. The ship breaks through the barrier and flies off like a torpedo. Becki and Gerard fall violently forward, whacking their heads on the desk and dropping to the floor in a heap. Dierdre glows with rage. {Music fades} She walks over and kneels in front of an unconscious Leana.)
DIERDRE: (grabs her wrist) You're actually still alive. You'll be sorry that you helped her get away. (Glows, scene fades.)
(Lisa's airship catches up with Jake's as the Gateway Arch of St. Louis becomes visible.)
(Camera in Lisa's cockpit)
LISA: (over the comm, yelling) Stop Jake! Please!
JAKE: Why? So you can kill me again? No thanks.
LISA: Listen! I'm really really sorry I didn't believe you before. Don't let me make the same mistake again. Let me come with you.
(Camera shifts to Jake's cockpit)
JAKE: (pauses, sighs, then shakes his head) I'm going to Los Angeles. (presses the throttle forward and the ships lurches away)
LISA: (softly, to herself, almost crying) Thank you...(Scene fades)
(Sign reads Marty's Pizzeria. Kevin, Jake, and Lisa are all inside discussing things over lunch.)
JAKE: That clone trick really worked. You've got the talent Kevin, you just need to use it more often.
KEVIN: I prefer to keep myself out of the line of fire.
JAKE: (not even looking at Lisa) I think it's funny that none of them had a clue. Amazing how they were so quick to write me off. (Turns to Lisa) Even you.
LISA: (throws her fork down) How many times can I say "I'm sorry"?! So I was wrong for not believing you. We're past that point. I want to know what we're doing next.
KEVIN: Leana's still on that ship.
JAKE: I don't think she will be for long.
LISA: Why is that?
JAKE: Because either she's going to escape or they've already killed her.
LISA: (shakes her head vigorously) Don't say that.
JAKE: Regardless of what's happened to her, that ship and everyone else on it is going up in flames. Otherwise there won't be any Humans left, present or future.
KEVIN: We can't exactly just let ourselves back onboard. And even our combined firepower can't shoot that behemoth out of the sky.
JAKE: We need to stick together. You can dock your airships onto mine, just like we did on the "Guardian".
KEVIN: But you're ship isn't even half the "Guardian's" size. Both of ours won't fit!
JAKE: (stares down at him) Trust me. (He continues eating, Kevin sighs and absorbs himself in his soda, Lisa looks downward, contemplating. The scene fades.)
(Jake, Lisa, and Kevin are all standing on the port side of Jake's airship, which is on the ground just off a highway leading out of Los Angeles. Kevin's ship and Lisa's ship are on the ground nearby.)
KEVIN: Ok, now what happens?
JAKE: Observe. (Closes his eyes and begins to glow several different colors. Energy swirls around Kevin's and Lisa's ships and they begin to slowly shrink. Jake shifts his arms and the two ships slowly glide toward his own, not leaving a single mark in the dirt. Two ramps extend from the ship and latch onto the two ships. All the glows subside, and the two semi-shrunken ships remain suspended and attached to the side.)
KEVIN: Unbelievable...
LISA: Never had a doubt. (slight grin)
(Jake looks at her strangely but lets himself grin slightly. All three walk inside the ship and take off.)
KEVIN: Shouldn't be too hard to find the "Guardian".
JAKE: Don't expect them to sit still and wait for us. (Mashes the throttle forward and the ship takes off like a rocket, scene fades.)
(Scene quickly fades back in. One large stationary dot and two blinking dots appear on the radar, they are heading up the United States' east coast.)
KEVIN: Somebody's out for a little joyride.
JAKE: One of them is chasing the other. They're heading towards New Jersey.
LISA: Well who is it?
JAKE: Only one way to find out. (Narrows his eyes and glows, the ship suddenly has more energy and launches forward, scene fades.)
(Camera from the top of a building at the Jersey shore. Domenic's ship is chasing another odd-looking ship {which is really Leana's} very low to the ground)
(Camera in Leana's cockpit {cue Metallica's "Enter Sandman"})
DOMENIC: (over the comm) There's no escaping us so easily Leana! You'll pay for disabling the "Guardian"!
LEANA: (looking scared) I can run forever Domenic. You'll have to catch me.
DOMENIC: Damn right I will!
(The ships hurtle along, Domenic occassionally fires at her but misses completely. The chase continues as both ships even have to dodge radio towers. The camera goes inside both cockpits at intervals, showing Leana very scared and Domenic very angry. Leana even dives into a lit-up Giants Stadium where a MetroStars game is in progress. Finally, after another series of twists and turns, Domenic finally scores a few hits, and smoke rips through the large hole in the back of Leana's ship. She screams as the ship begins to plummet toward the earth. Domenic slows and watches her crash. Leana crash-lands and tumbles end-over-end several times before skidding to a halt on a football field. A nearby sign reads "Great Falls High School".)
DOMENIC: (lands his ship and exits the vehicle) Come out Leana! You're not dead yet! {a soft glow appears under the wreckage and Leana bursts through, rolling down the remains of the ruined craft, blood on her legs, gasping in pain, and beginning to cry} Oh look at you now...(Scene fades with Domenic's laughter {music ends}.)
(Jake's airship lands just outside the town of Great Falls {there is a nearby sign}. Jake, Kevin, and Lisa exit the craft and meet briefly under a tree.)
JAKE: (glows briefly) Damn, they've landed at my old high school.
KEVIN: What a coincidence.
JAKE: At least I still remember how to get there. Hold hands, quickly. (Kevin and Lisa grab hold of one of his hands. He glows and all three take off in a flash of light appearing behind another tree with a view of the school's football field) Wait here. He'll be alarmed if we attack him together. (Kevin and Lisa both nod.)
LISA: (grasping his hand as he walks away, concerned look in her eyes) Be careful ok?
JAKE: (nods) I will. (Walks off toward the field, scene fades with a shot of Lisa folding her hands, looking very concerned.)
(Domenic is standing over Leana, his spear in his right hand, and an evil grin on his face.)
DOMENIC: You should not have defied us Leana. (Looks at the sudden crowd of high-schoolers who have made their way to the parking lot and the edges of the field.) Looks like you'll have a public execution.
LEANA: (cries out) No! (she shakes but is too injured to get up or fight)
STUDENTS: What's going on? Who is that? Is he gonna kill her?
(Domenic glows and raises the spear, gasps can be heard from the crowd.)
JAKE: (yelling from afar) Stop!
DOMENIC: (turning abruptly, still glowing) Who's there?!
JAKE: {Cue Metallica's "Master of Puppets"} (Jake's shirt has the United States' flag on it, he teleports to within ten yards of Domenic, eyes glowing fiercely) Fight me Domenic. If you win, then you kill us both.
DOMENIC: You want me to fight you huh? Well, what a bonus this is. Dierdre, Becki, and Gerard are on their way. Looks like I'll be able to finish Lisa's job before they get here. (glows and grins evilly)
JAKE: (cracks a smile, glowing brighter and drawing his sword) To the death Domenic.
DOMENIC: (glowing fiercely) You're on.
(The fight begins as both fighters parry with their weapons in a ridiculously fast sword-fight across the field. Jake is able to shoot energy beams from his hands while their weapons are locked, knocking Domenic down several times.)
JAKE: I said fight me Domenic! (he snarls and resumes the fight)
LISA: (Lisa and Kevin have gone under the bleachers. She clasps her hands to her heart.) Jake...please...don't die.
(Domenic takes the initiative and several blasts halt Jake's progress and one of them sends him leaping backwards, but he lands on his feet in front of the crowd.)
DEAN: (stepping forward) Jake?! Is that you?! (Jake turns, glows brightly, and grins evilly. Several students gasp upon recognizing him.)
(The light show intensifies as both combatants rip holes in the ground and lightning bolts rain down from a darkened sky. Most of the students scatter and faint police sirens can be heard. Camera cuts to Dierdre's airship, which is on the way to New Jersey.)
DIERDRE: (looking troubled) Something's wrong. Domenic should have contacted us by now.
GERARD: Jake must have found him.
BECKI: And if Jake is there, than Lisa and Kevin must be too.
DIERDRE: (glows evilly) Then they are all going to die...(The ship hurtles along the Jersey coastline towards the high school.)
(Jake suddenly seizes the initiative after sidestepping several blasts and knocks Domenic off his feet. He lands near Leana, who screams and takes refuge within the battered remains of her ship. Scene cuts back to Kevin and Lisa under the bleachers.)
KEVIN: (looking up to the south quizzically) I sense something. I think Dierdre and the others are on their way.
LISA: (wide-eyed look) Then we're not taking any chances. Let's go back for the ship. (Kevin nods and they both teleport out.)
(Jake slashes Domenic across the chest and lands a devastating blow that sends him flying across the endzone and landing hard, nearly knocking him out. The spear has been knocked out of his hand and is burning less than five yards away from him.)
JAKE: (intensely evil look as he walks up to a prone Domenic) Looks like you've lost...(He raises a hand and Domenic floats up off the ground, groaning and thrashing in surprise and pain.)
JAKE: (looks up and sees Dierdre's airship arrive, his expression is positively evil) Damn them! (He growls inhumanly and with the sword glowing extra-bright, he slashes Domenic through the mid-section causing him to fall back the ground screaming in agony and suddenly consumed in a ball of flame.)
DOMENIC: (unearthly scream) Nooooo! (His voice is drowned out as the fire consumes him and the glowing stone suddenly appears over his head.)
(Camera to the bridge of Dierdre's ship)
BECKI: No! He killed him! Domenic's dead!
GERARD: Damn him! (He storms out, Dierdre looks intensely angry.)
JAKE: (watching as Domenic's stone dissolves along with his body) Game over. {Music ends} (he runs over to Leana and sits her up) Can you stand?
LEANA: (groaning weekly, much less blood is visible) I...I think so.
JAKE: We need to get out of here now! (He helps her to her feet and stares up at Dierdre's airship, which now hovers over the field, but Jake's ship suddenly appears from the other side, and without hesitation, Jake teleports himself and Leana aboard.)
(The two ships hover over the field, within point black range. All seven "Guardians" stand on the outside of the ships staring each other down.)
BECKI: (fiery glow in her eyes, she slams her fists on the rails) You're a dead man Jake! I swear to God I'll kill you for murdering Domenic!
JAKE: (cruel smile) Did you see that interesting little fire pillar? That's how we die! The stone rips your body apart as it dissolves itself. You can't collect all your precious stones if we're dead. (slight pause) But we don't have that limitation. None of us will hesitate to end your short, pointless lives.
DIERDRE: (angrily glowing) You may have won the battle Jake, but the war is far from over. Your kind are dying by the thousands in 2150, and soon there will be nothing left of you or the rest of the Human race. You can be sure that I am going to be the one responsible for sending you to the grave.
JAKE: (evil grin, scoffing) I'll be the judge of that...
(Lisa and Kevin begin to glow, Leana steadily gets to her feet with Jake's help and looks enraged. Jake then raises his free arm and glows fiercely. The ship's engines roar and it shoots off into the distance, leaving nothing but a trail of smoke in it's wake. {Cue Ozzy Osbourne's "Ironman"} The movie ends with a shot of Dierdre at the bow of the ship, with her murderous unspoken intentions in her eyes.)
End Credits
(Ozzy Osbourne's "Ironman" and Class of '99's "Another
Brick in the Wall")
FINAL NOTES: Ok, that ends Episode I. How many are there you ask? There are a total of 3. I have the plot for Episode II outlined, but since I dreamed this whole thing up on summer vacation a long time ago (and didn't write it down until recently), the details for Episode III are still a bit foggy. But if I get enough positive reviews I'll post the other 2 when I finish. Any kind of review is fine, but please...don't go overboard and call me the scum of the earth if you didn't like it.