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KENNETH "KIKI" RODRIGUEZ (27) grimaces a he pulls the shiv from the chest of "THUG" JOHNSON (Dead).
Kiki wipes the sweat off his forehead and blood mingles with his mascara. He stands, stares at Thug, his anger wells up inside.
He gives Thug a swift kick, then jumps back. But Thug's dead now - there isn't going to be any retribution. Kiki smiles.
GUARD (O.S.) You there!
Kiki turns. The Guard's Lyzer is charged and points directly at him.
GUARD Drop the weapon.
Kiki glances down at the bloody shiv in his hand, then nervously drops it. He raises his hands above his head.
KIKI I didn't do it.
The Guard moves in carefully.
GUARD Right, and it never snows on Mars.
INT. COMMAND
COMMANDER FARTHING (50s) walks around the BITIS display which holographically shows the congregation of POLITICIANS in Spaceport reception. He smiles evilly.
ALAN, the disembodied calming voice of the base's central computer, speaks.
ALAN The United Earth representatives are here to see you, Commander.
Farthing shoots the air an annoyed glance.
FARTHING I'm aware of that.
ALAN This is your third reminder, sir.
FARTHING Then stop your nagging.
ALAN I'm sorry if you interpret my reminder function as nagging, Commander. It is merely intended to assist you with your duties.
Farthing's evil smile returns.
FARTHING You're absolutely correct, mustn't keep them waiting. Please inform our honoured guests that I am on my way.
ALAN Thank you, sir.
INT. MESS
JENNA DRAST (early 30s), impromptu cafeteria lady, stands behind the serving counter and unconsciously stirs what may be mashed potatoes with a large spoon.
Her attention is on ADAM WORTH (39) who sits alone in the mess, ramrod straight, while he eats his brunch.
She squints her eyes, like she's trying to see a detail she's missed. Her lips tighten in anger. She throws the spoon into the potatoes.
Adam looks up from his meal, glances at her. She makes a smirky face back. He smiles.
Their brief connection breaks when they both look in the direction of an O.S. SCREAM.
Kiki runs into the Mess, frantic, screaming, his hands are cuffed together with a restraining band.
Adam is up, running toward Kiki. Jenna takes a concerned step away from the commotion.
Kiki's making time across the mess but Adam is faster. He tackles Kiki in the middle of the room.
Kiki panics, screams wildly but some words can be discerned.
KIKI I didn't do it!
INT. SPACEPORT - RECEPTION
The Politicians lounge around the utilitarian reception area. One, ELLIOT CANTRELL (50s), paces nervously back and forth.
ELLIOT Where the hell is he?
None of the others comment.
ELLIOT That antiquated piece of computing equipment said he'd be here any moment.
He rubs his hands together.
ELLIOT And there's not even proper refreshments. Where's my champagne?
A couple of Politicians shoot him an annoyed glance, there's some whispering.
ELLIOT But the point is it has been more than a few moments. I ask you, is this what we are to expect from Mars? Delays? Excuses? Disrespect?
SENATOR ANDREW WARREN (42), sits cross-legged on a sofa, clears his throat.
ANDREW That's enough, Elliot.
ELLIOT It's never enough, Andrew. That's why we're here. Idiot!
Andrew stands menacingly. He's much taller than Elliot. The Politicians watch on with interest.
ANDREW There is when you have God.
ELLIOT I'm sure God makes a tasty meal when you're starving. How many does he serve?
Andrew steps closer, his fists ball.
The doors to reception burst open, heads turn. Farthing enters - an ENSIGN by his side.
FARTHING Gentlemen, my apologies for keeping you waiting.
Elliot wags a finger at him.
ELLIOT I expect more than an apology from you, Farthing.
FARTHING And you'll get everything you deserve, and more.
Elliot is speechless at the thought.
FARTHING I'm sure you are all eager for a tour of the facilities. We can discuss...
The Ensign glances at his Tab, then shoots Farthing a worried glance.
ENSIGN Excuse me, Commander.
The Ensign leans in, whispers to Farthing. He points at his tab. Farthing's eyes open wide.
FARTHING Unfortunately, I have been called away by pressing business. Ensign...
ELLIOT What sort of pressing business?
FARTHING The sort we can discuss later. After you freshen up. Ensign, please escort our guest to their quarters.
ANDREW Commander, I must object...
FARTHING And I must go.
Farthing smirks as he exits. The Politicians are outraged.
INT. WALKWAY NEAR COMMONS
Farthing races along.
FARTHING Another murder?
ALAN Two, sir. One convict, one guard.
FARTHING And you didn't see either?
ALAN No, sir.
FARTHING How can you not have seen it? You see everything?
ALAN I am not programmed to explain it, Commander.
FARTHING Not programmed, or can't.
ALAN Aren't they the same, sir?
INT. CONVICT QUARTERS - CORRIDOR
Adam stands over the Guard's bloody body, his throat is slit. Kiki quivers against the wall in quiet shock.
BERNARD DEVLIN (35) and HENRY EVANS (mid 20s) stand nearby. They are curious and sad, respectively. Henry, wipes a tear from his eye.
BERNARD We didn't see nothin'. We was just playin' cards. Poker. The errand kind. Then we heard this scream.
Henry nods, then he shoots an angry glance at Kiki.
HENRY You're a bad girl, Kiki. (to Adam) Too much sneeze.
A small, square room with only some dim artificial lighting.
A single patient, ELOISE HARPER, lies comatose on the bed, hooked up to a ventilator. CONSTANCE "CONNIE" HARRIS has just finished adjusting the catheter.
The door slides open and DR. RICHARD "DASH" DASHER enters.
CONNIE Hey, Dash.
DASH Any change?
CONNIE Nothing. She's deep down.
DASH Think she'll remember what happened when she wakes up?
CONNIE If she wakes up. With her injuries it's a miracle she's even alive. Whoever did this to her did not intend for her to wake up.
A loud crash catches their attention. They exit.
INT. MEDICAL FACILITY – MAIN
TWO GUARDS, with Adam Worth in the rear, wheel in a gurney covered with a white sheet.
ADAM Got another one.
CONNIE What happened? Did Alan catch anything this time?
ADAM This wasn't like the others. This was Kiki Rodriguez’s doing.
GUARD #1 Goddamn tweakers...
Connie shoots him a dark look as she pulls back the sheet, revealing "Thug" Johnson and his bleeding shiv wound.
Dash pales and withdraws.
DASH Christ. I'll be in Engineering.
He leaves quickly.
GUARD #2 What's his deal?
CONNIE Hemophobia. He hates blood.
She looks down at Johnson's body, regret softens her features for a moment.
CONNIE Put him in the freezer. I'll write up his death report for the Commander.
The two guards wheel him away. Connie watches sadly.
INT. ENGINEERING – OBSERVATION SUITE
A large, dark room illuminated by a dozen high- definition display screens. IMRAN CVETKO sits and watches intently as two engineers in PEx suits weld large rivets into place on the exterior of the base. All around them is the harsh environment of the Mars surface.
Dash enters and takes a seat behind Imran.
DASH Imran.
IMRAN Dr. Dasher.
DASH How's it coming?
IMRAN Fine. Putting the secondary plating in place now.
DASH Hey did you find your Tab yet?
IMRAN No. I have no idea what happened to to it.
DASH It'll turn up. People are always losing those things.
IMRAN You know you can't even get into the bathrooms without one of those things?
Dash chuckles.
DASH There was another attack just now. That twinky queer Rodriguez shived Johnson in his cell.
IMRAN (deadpan) I'll try to contain my amazement.
DASH You really don't like them, do you?
IMRAN They should have my sympathy for being thieves and murderers and drug addicts?
DASH Rest of the world gave up on them. Maybe –
IMRAN They gave up on themselves. Why should we waste time trying to help people who don't want to be helped?
ALAN Mr. Cvetko, the engineers have completed their repairs.
One of the guys in the PEx suit gives a thumbs-up into the monitor.
IMRAN Thank you, Alan. Bring them in.
Imran swivels in his chair to face Dash.
DASH You have issues, my friend.
INT. CONVICT QUARTERS – HOLDING CELL
Kiki sits huddled in the corner of the room, looking dejected. Commander Farthing comes in. Kiki looks up at him, and seems to come out of his reverie.
KIKI Hey, hey – it's you!
Kiki starts crying and crawls over to Farthing, grovelling at his feet.
FARTHING (in a whisper) You've been a bad girl, Kiki.
KIKI No, no. I didn't wanna hurt nobody, I was just doing like you said. You said I had to. You said, that's what you said...
He descends into a series of blubbers and sobs. Farthing is actually stroking his hair in a calming way.
FARTHING (still whispering) It's all right. It's all right. Hush now. You stand up now.
With Farthing's help, Kiki stands and his sobs taper off. Farthing wipes away some of the mascara-smeared tears from Kiki's face.
FARTHING There now. That's better.
Farthing strikes like a cobra, wraps his powerful hands around Kiki's throat and begins to throttle him mercilessly.
Kiki thrashes, tries to fight – but Farthing is much too powerful. His puts his hands up to Farthing's face, tries to push him away but succeeds only in clawing at Farthing's cheek.
Suddenly, Farthing's entire face begins to splutter and flicker like a hologram being pried off of its projector.
Kiki's hand comes away with a handful of black mesh, almost like a hairnet. An FMD.
Kiki's eyes widen in fear. He drops to his knees, face turning purple.
The fake Farthing (really OUR KILLER) strains with a final effort as Kiki's life drains away.
When it's over, the Killer lets Kiki drop to the floor with an unceremonious thud. He kneels to pry the FMD out of Kiki's dead hand, but his fingers are rigid.
The sound of voices and approaching footsteps. The Killer panicks, wrenches the FMD free and slips hurriedly out the door. In his haste, he leaves behind a small piece of the mesh in Kiki's palm.
INT. QUINN'S QUARTERS
The young Ensign shows DESEAN QUINN into his quarters.
ENSIGN These are your quarters, Representative Quinn. Hopefully they're to your liking.
QUINN Everything seems fine.
ENSIGN Alan will synch your Tab to the lock on the door so you can come and go.
QUINN Thank you.
ENSIGN Do you need anything, sir?
QUINN Yes, a tour of the prison cells. I'd like to see the convicts.
The Ensign was not expecting that. Not from a guy like this.
ENSIGN That can be arranged, sir.
QUINN Good. I’ll be waiting.
The ensign nods and leaves.
INT. CREW AND GUEST QUARTERS – CORRIDOR
The ensign steps out of Quinn's quarters and proceeds down the hall. His Tab starts beeping and he withdraws it from his pocket and hits a button.
ENSIGN Yes?
ALAN Commander Farthing requires your presence in the holding cells immediately.
ENSIGN Thank you, Alan.
He puts his Tab away, reverses direction and heads off at a trot.
INT. HOLDING CELL – MOMENTS LATER
The Ensign arrives to find Adam and a few guards standing over Kiki's dead body. Commander Farthing (the real Farthing) is kneeling over Kiki's face. In his hands, he twirls the lacerated FMD through his fingers.
He stares absently into space.
ENSIGN Holy shit...
FARTHING (to himself) What the hell is happening on my base?
INT. MEDICAL FACILITY – OFFICE
In a small office off of the main facility, Connie works on her Tab, which projects a large computer screen onto the opposite wall. She is writing up Johnson’s death report.
In the background, unnoticed by Connie, a dark figure slips into the facility and heads for the isolation room.
INT. MEDICAL FACILITY
Outside the isolation room, the Killer takes out a Tab and swipes it along the locking mechanism. There is a quiet double-beep and a name flashes up on the small display:
IDENTITY CONFIRMED: CVETKO, IMRAN CHIEF ENGINEER
The Killer slips inside, pocketing the Tab.
INT. ISOLATION ROOM
The Killer approaches the comatose form of Eloise Parker. He strokes her cheek with a gloved-thumb gently, lovingly.
He crosses the room to the medical dispenser and punches in the access code, which makes the dispenser door slide open. He prepares a large hypodermic syringe with the violet-coloured tranquilizer Purple Rain.
BACK OVER ELOISE
The Killer gently pulls a few errant stands of hair from her face and places the syringe under her chin, right where her pulse is. He pushes down on the plunger.
Eloise's vitals begin to plummet almost immediately. The Killer leaves the syringe in her neck and rushes out.
She flat lines.
I can't live the buttoned-down life like you. I want it all. The dizzying highs, the terrifying lows, the creamy middles. Sure, I may offend some of the blue bloods with my cocky stride and musky odors. Oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "city fathers," who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards and talk about what's to be done with this Homer Simpson?
The sound of OPERA MUSIC can be heard piping from down the corridor. It gets louder as Jenna Drast approaches the quarters of CAPTAIN NAPIER, as stenciled on the outside of the room.
The door is open, revealing LEON NAPIER (28 ), sitting behind his desk, working intently on his Tab. On his desk is a plastic baggy labeled EVIDENCE, inside is a significant stash of Sneeze.
Jenna knocks.
JENNA You wanted to see me, sir?
LEON (Thick French accent) Oui. Please, sit.
Jenna takes a seat, looking apprehensive. She sees the evidence bag and its contents and swallows hard. As Leon continues to work on his tab, Jenna fidgets, shifting nervously in her chair. Finally he sets his tab down and stares at her.
JENNA Sir, may I...
Leon quickly puts a finger over his mouth. He points in the direction of his speakers as the Opera music reaches a crescendo.
LEON Shh. Shh. Shh.
Leon mimes the words, the emotion. When it's over he finally turns off the music.
LEON Now, you were saying?
JENNA I wanted to know what--
LEON --How would you describe your relationship with Kenneth Rodriguez?
JENNA Kiki? I might have seen him around-
LEON Any... how would you say... extra circular arrangements with said Prisoner?
JENNA Circular?
LEON Oui.
JENNA (Smirking) You mean curricular?
LEON (In French) You dirty swine, fucking whore.
JENNA I'm sorry?
Leon grabs the evidence bag.
LEON You know what this is?
JENNA I'm not sure.
Leon throws the bag at her, forcefully. Jenna examines it. She looks up at Leon, seething in her direction.
JENNA It's Sneeze.
LEON It's not Sneeze. It's your Sneeze. Found stashed in Kiki's quarters.
JENNA Wait a second, what did he tell you? because I---
LEON Unfortunately he wasn't able to say anything about the drugs.
JENNA Oh.
LEON No, you made quite sure of that didn't you.
JENNA I don't understand.
Leon smiles at her. Her expression drops.
JENNA Kiki's dead?
Leon shoots out of his seat like a Jack-in-the-box, slamming the chair against the back wall. Jenna startles.
LEON (Shouting) Stand up!
JENNA What... wait I...
LEON Stand up, Pig!
Jenna nervously rises to her to feet. Leon approaches her, standing nose-to nose. He knees her in the stomach, she drops to the floor, gasping for breath.
LEON You're all the same.
Leon yanks her hair back and spits in her face.
JENNA I didn't do anything!
He turns the music on.
LEON Oh, I think you did.
Leon SLAMS the door shut.
INT. ANDREWS QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS
Senator Andrew Warren, hair disheveled and tie loosened, sips from a sliver flask. He stares at the picture of a smiling YOUNG GIRL (8 ) sitting on his desk. A tear streams down his face.
Outside, the SOUND of a DOOR SLAM.
Andrew perks up.
A few doors down from Leon's room, Andrew emerges from his quarters. He looks about in the direction of the noise. He can hear the music, and faint sounds of a struggle. He shrugs.
On the wall in front of his quarters there is a sign labeled "COMMONS" with an arrow pointed in the opposite direction of the noise.
ANDREW (To himself) Fuck it.
Andrew takes a swig from his flask and unsteadily sets towards The Commons.
INT. MEDICAL FACILITY
Connie is at her desk when an ALARM sounds off. She closes her eyes, shaking her head.
INT. ISOLATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Connie enters. The monitors all indicate Eloise is dead. Connie shuts the alarm off.
CONNIE Ah Eloise... (Pause) What the?
Connie sees the syringe sticking out of Eloise's neck.
CONNIE Alan, has anyone else been inside the isolation room today?
ALAN Affirmative. The last sign in was Irman Cvetko.
CONNIE Son of a...
Connie scrambles out of the room
INT. MEDICAL FACILITY - CONTINUOUS
As Connie exits Medical in a full sprint, she slams into Dash, just outside, in the corridor.
CONNIE Dash!
DASH Connie, Jesus Christ, what's wrong?
CONNIE (Frantic) Where Irman? Where the hell's Irman?
Just behind Connie, a darkly dressed figure has a Mag-Tech .38 aimed at the back of Connie' head.
DASH Oh dear...
A bullet rips through the back of her skull, spraying Dash with full facial of blood, skull chunks, and brain matter. The Doctor clasps his face, letting out a hellacious SCREAM.
DASH (Hysterical) Get it off! Get it off!
The Killer puts the gun to Dash's head and pulls the trigger.
CLICK!
Empty.
The Killer balls a fist. Dash is hit square in the face with a ferocious swing. His nose is mashed with a sickening wet CRUNCH. The Doctor falls backwards -- slamming the back of his head into the corridor wall, knocking him unconscious. The Killer stands over the doctor, placing the gun next to Dash's body before making a quick escape.
DeSean Quinn walks towards the convict quarters, an Ensign by his side.
ENSIGN How long will you be, Representative?
QUINN Not long, I'd like to see the prisoners. Is that a problem?
Ensign, about to say no, sighs.
ENSIGN There's some business Commander Farthing is handling in there, sir. But no, I suppose it's not a problem.
Quinn smiles.
QUINN Even better, I have to speak to him.
INT. HOLDING CELL
Adam Worth looks over the dead body of Kiki, examines it. Behind him, Commander Farthing stands.
FARTHING The politicians need to know about this immediately. I want someone from medical here right away, bring the Devil's Eyes.
Farthing pulls out his tab, frustrated.
FARTHING (CONT'D) And they haven't submitted Johnson's death report. Ask about that as well, will you?
Adam nods, walks out.
Farthing leans down, the black mesh catches his eye.
FARTHING (CONT'D) FMD?
INT. LEON'S QUARTERS
Jenna sits huddled in a corner, watches Leon slam the door shut.
Leon smiles, deviously.
LEON I'll drop those murder charges on one condition.
JENNA I didn't kill him!
LEON Bullshit!
Leon slowly walks toward Jenna, hands reaching for his belt buckle.
LEON (CONT'D) One condition...
Jenna stands up but Leon's got her cornered. He undoes his belt, whips it once.
LEON (CONT'D) Come here, bitch!
Jenna studies the room, her eyes focus on Leon's table. A lyzer sits at the edge, fully charged.
Leon lunges for her, she quickly dodges, forcing Leon to fall to the ground.
Jenna runs for the lyzer, about to grab it but stops inches away. She looks to her foot, Leon's got a hold on her.
JENNA Let go of me, asshole!
Leon pulls Jenna to the ground, dragging the bag of sneeze down with her. Jenna grabs it, pegs it at his face.
She covers her nose as the red powder explodes all over Leon's face.
He begins to sneeze uncontrollably, his face turning full red.
LEON You-achoo! Whore! --achoo--
Leon barely gets on his feet and approaches Jenna. She runs for the lyzer, shoots it. He plummets to the ground.
Jenna kicks him in the stomach continuously.
JENNA All fucking - (kick) - men are - (kick) - the fucking - (kick) - same!
She steps back, spits on him, then runs out of the room.
INT. BATHROOM
A normal men's bathroom. Andrew Warren stands at the urinal, whistling as he urinates.
INT. CREW QUARTERS - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
Jenna sprints down a corridor, towards the Commons. She passes a bathroom.
INT. COMMONS - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
The killer, face unseen, also sprints down a corridor. A corner approaches, heading into Crew Quarters.
As he turns, he sees Jenna running toward him. She's got her head the other way, looking back at Leon's office.
INT. CREW QUARTERS - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
The killer plows through her. Jenna falls hard, going unconscious.
INT. BATHROOM
Andrew dries his hands. An O.S THUD! Andrew cautiously walks out.
CREW QUARTERS - CORRIDOR
Andrew looks to his right, sees nobody.
ANDREW Mmm?
He looks to his left to discover Jenna lying on the ground, knocked out. Andrew walks to her, kneels down, taps her.
He then pulls out his tab, begins typing, as if he's calling someone.
Behind him, a shadow can be seen.
Andrew notices, looks back and is greeted with a KICK to the face from the killer. He goes unconscious.
MOMENTS LATER The killer drags Andrew towards Leon's quarters.
INT. LEON'S QUARTERS - MOMENTS LATER
The killer looks inside, sees the body of Leon, still alive. The killer then drags inside the body of Andrew, laying him in front of Leon's table.
The killer looks around, sees the mess. He grabs the lyzer, adjusts the paralyzing agent to max. Andrew slowly opens his eyes, stares the killer in the face.
ANDREW It's yo--
BANG! He shoots Andrew right in the head, blood spurts out.
The killer looks around the room, examines a half spilt bottle of wine on the ground. He grabs it, force feeds it to the dead Andrew and then the unconscious Leon. He smashes the bottle against Andrew's head then runs out of the room.
COMMONS - CORRIDOR - LATER
JEREMY GRAVES, 29, skinny as if starved, walks down the corridor, browsing his tab.
CREW QUARTERS - CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
He turns the corner, sees Jenna lying on the ground. He kneels down, shakes her.
JEREMY Hello? You awake?
She lets out a small groan. Jeremy examines his tab.
JEREMY (CONT'D) Looks like I'm running late.
He begins walking away but stops, looks back.
JEREMY (CONT'D) Screw it.
He walks to her, lifts her up onto his shoulder, begins walking again.
JEREMY (CONT'D) Names Jeremy. Probably haven't heard about me. I work down in IT, mostly just working on ALAN's bugs and tweaks.
Jeremy looks around, stops.
JEREMY (CONT'D) (whispers) Don't tell anyone but ALAN's been malfunctioning for the past few days, don't know what's wrong bu--
Jeremy sneezes, shakes his head.
JEREMY (CONT'D) Excuse me. My allergies. Although I'm only allergic to cats.
Jeremy looks in front of him, sees Leon's office.
JEREMY (CONT'D) Strange...
He walks toward it, looks inside, sees the horror.
LEON Don't worry about me and just find that bitch!
Jeremy heads down the corridor.
INT. SPACEPORT
Adam enters the spaceport. He makes his way up to the large windows and looks out into the Mars wasteland. He grins.
INT. DESEAN QUINN'S QUARTERS
Desean walks into his room, the door closes behind him. He picks up his briefcase and puts it on his bed. He opens it and takes out a manila envelope with the word "confidential" written on it.
INT. MESS
Bernard sits alone at a table at the empty mess hall, he has a bowl of cereal in front of him.
The door opens. Henry enters. A cigarette hangs out of his mouth. Bernard looks over.
BERNARD You have to smoke that shit in here?
Henry takes the cigarette and drops it on the ground. He steps on it.
HENRY Happy?
Bernard shakes his head. Henry slowly moves towards Him. He grabs a chair and sits down.
HENRY It's not really safe....bein' all by yourself, with these murders goin' on.
BERNARD I'm not too worried, I'm a bit tougher than that fagot kiki.
HENRY You are huh?
BERNARD Just because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, that doesn't make me a sissy.
HENRY I don't think you're a sissy. I was a sissy when I was a kid, I let people do things to me, unimaginable things. I was weak, but I'm not week anymore.
BERNARD You started workin' out?
Henry CHUCKLES.
HENRY No, I just stopped being afraid, and it set me free.
BERNARD Nothing to fear but fear itself huh.
HENRY Truer words have not been spoken.
Henry TAPS his fingers on the table. He then reaches into his pocket and takes out a cigarette. He lights it up.
BERNARD The fuck Henry? I just told you not to smoke that shit around me, air is pretty hard to come by out her.
Henry leans forward.
HENRY Why are we out here?
BERNARD Because no sensible people would do this kind of work.
HENRY What work do we do? Do you have any fucking idea what we are supposed to be doing?
BERNARD Research? Maybe colonization?
HENRY Fuck that, there's no way in hell they would have people like you and me out here for that, no fuckin' way.
BERNARD Then what the fuck you think we're out here for?
HENRY They're looking for something, the digs and shit like that. Fuck, I mean they got guys out there every day all day long. They're up to something, and if they find it we're fucked.
BERNARD What do you mean?
HENRY That's why they chose us. We're expendable, we're unloved, no one will ask any questions.
BERNARD Hey, people will know if I don't come back.
HENRY They might know but they won't care, it's not going to make the front fuckin' page. No one gives a shit about us.
BERNARD I had to lie, cheat and steal to get out here, and now you're telling me I signed my own death warrent?
Henry takes a long drag from his cigarette. He butts it out on the table.
HENRY None of us are leaving this planet alive. Not if they find what they want. Unless we find it first.
He gets up and leaves the room. Bernard looks down and stares at his cereal.
INT. FARTHING'S QUARTERS
Commander Farthing enters his quarters, The only dim light comes from a lamp on the other side of the room. He sees a figure sitting on the couch across from him. He sighs.
COMMANDER FARTHING When did you get here?
The lamp light gets brighter. VALENTINA SANTIAGO, 35, sits on the couch. She is dressed in a skin tight black leather outfit. Holes are cut out around her breasts. She has two bobby pins through each nipple that is connected by a chain. A pentagram medallion dangles in the middle.
She stands up.
VALENTINA How did you know it was me?
COMMANDER FARTHING I could smell you. How did you get in here?
VALENTINA I own this place, so of course I have the master key.
COMMANDER FARTHING Alan.
She LAUGHS. There is a remote control in her hands. she CLICKS it. Enigma's "Principles of lust" PLAYS through the speakers. She drops the remote.
COMMANDER FARTHING When did you get in?
VALENTINA I came with the supply ship a couple days ago.
She moves closer to Farthing. She puts her hands on his shoulders. She opens her mouth and flicks her forked tongue along Farthing's lips like a snake.
Farthing stares into her yellow eyes.
COMMANDER FARTHING Why did you do that to yourself?
VALENTINA Do what?
COMMANDER FARTHING Fuck up your tongue, fuck up your eyes.
VALENTINA Am I not aloud to express myself?
Farthing takes a deep BREATH.
COMMANDER FARTHING What are you doing here?
She backs up.
VALENTINA To check up on your progress. Has there been any?
COMMANDER FARTHING We're doing the best we can.
VALENTINA Obviously your best isn't good enough.
She takes out some sneeze from a pocket on her crotch.
VALENTINA Would you like some. From what I remembered you loved this stuff. It's not as good as coke.....but.
COMMANDER FARTHING That was a long time ago Valentina.
She rolls her eyes
VALENTINA Okay, lets get to business, Are you any closer to finding it?
COMMANDER FARTHING Not yet.
VALENTINA Why not?
COMMANDER FARTHING It's not like we're looking for a lost dog.
VALENTINA And what about him, is he here?
COMMANDER FARTHING Yes. And there was a shit storm I had to go through with the parole board to get him out here. It would have been easier to get the ghost of fuckin' Charlie Manson.
VALENTINA He is the key to everything.
COMMANDER FARTHING I don't understand.....
VALENTINA You don't need to understand. You just need to make sure things go according to plan. And what of these killings?
COMMANDER FARTHING It's under control.
She smirks.
VALENTINA Are they? Well it was to be expected.
COMMANDER FARTHING You can leave now.
She licks her lips with her forked tongue as she runs her hands between her thighs.
VALENTINA I'm dripping...Are you sure you want me to leave?
He lunges forward and grabs her by her throat.
COMMANDER FARTHING I want you the fuck away from me you evil cunt!
She SLAPS him across his face, blood squirts out of his mouth. He lets go.
VALENTINA Don't forget who you work for Commander! I destroyed you on one planet, I can destroy you on another.
She walks quickly out of Farthing's quarters.
INT. STORAGE
The storage doors open. Jenna runs inside and closes the door behind her. She backs up against the wall. She PANTS, then drops her knees. Tears roll down her face.
The lights go out. It's pitch black. The door opens. A figure enters.
KILLER (low synthesized voice) Jeeeeeeeena.....Jeeeeeeeena, come out come out where ever you are.
The killer LAUGHS with a deep sinister echo.
KILLER Marco?
Another LAUGH.
KILLER Polo?
JENNA Who are you? What do you want?
KILLER I can see you....Can you see me?
The killer's VOICE bounces around the room.
KILLER No you can't, because if you could, you would know ........I'm right beside you.
Jenna SCREAMS, then is quickly silenced.
INT. STORAGE - LATER
The lights are back on. Jenna hangs naked from chains six feet off the ground with hooks dug into the flesh on her back. Her skin slowly TARES. She WHIMPERS.
JENNA Please! Don't!
A large butcher knife plunges between her breasts. She SPEWS out a mouthful of blood. The knife slices down her chest as it RIPS through bone and meat. Chunks of skin and flesh SPLATTER onto the floor.
The killer PUNCHES into her chest and takes out her still beating heart.
Jenna's lifeless body swings back and forth as blood Splashes onto the ground.
A speckled marble desk; as flashy as it is pretentious. Atop it are six lines of cocaine, a PGS-10 shotgun and a double halex.
The man at the desk, BURT BELL (46), hulking figure, dead eyes, snorts two of the lines in rapid succession using a $1,000 bill.
BURT It’s my time, now.
Burt snatches the double halex and cocks both ends, readies it then grips the shotgun in his other hand.
A photograph of Leon Napier rests on his desk with a red “X” marked through it.
INT. STORAGE
Jenna’s body is completely still, most of her blood drained.
A PERSON whose face is unseen faces her lifeless body.
They turn to leave, drop her heart on the ground with an FMD next to it.
INT. QUARTERS - MAIN LOBBY
Farthing paces about, checks on his watch.
After a time, he pulls out his tab and presses a flashing red button on the screen.
FARTHING ALAN, gimme a status update.
ALAN (Through tab) I’m afraid there’s been another incident, Commander. The convict, Jenna Drast, has expired... Perhaps now would be a beneficial time to review the emergency protocol?
INT. ENGINEERING - ALAN’S SERVER ROOM
Rows and rows of computer servers. Seizure-inducing flashing lights everywhere.
Imran kneels in front of one of the servers, with a tool belt on the ground at his side.
He ejects a foot long memory stick and inspects it close.
ALAN (In Russian) I do not comprehend why you would not want me to inform the others. I cannot guarantee the security of this structure otherwise.
IMRAN (In Russian) I’ve almost got it. There’s nothing here I can’t figure out, ALAN. Within a few hours, you should be fully operational again.
ALAN (In Russian) And, if I am not? Perhaps it is my time to expire.
Imran looks at the server, almost as if he were looking at another human being. He gently places his hand on it.
IMRAN (In Russian) Perhaps it’s all our time.
Jeremy runs around one of the server bays, nearly out of breath, spots Imran touching one of ALAN’s servers.
JEREMY Take your fucking hand off him!
ALAN (In English) Greetings, Jeremy.
Imran pulls his hand away, startled by Jeremy’s reaction.
JEREMY (To Imran) What are you doing to him?!
IMRAN There are a few minor technical malfunctions I’m fixing.
JEREMY He doesn’t get technical malfunctions. Right, ALAN?
ALAN pauses briefly.
ALAN I am near one-hundred percent functional capability.
Jeremy looks horrified at the thought of ALAN’s imperfection.
INT. QUARTERS - CAPTAIN NAPIER’S ROOM
DeSean waits patiently outside the room, folder in-hand. He casually knocks on the door.
LEON (O.S.) Leave me be!
DeSean turns the knob, opens the door just slightly.
The blast of opera music is almost deafening.
DESEAN Captain Napier?
Leon sits with his feet up on his desk and sips a glass of red wine.
LEON Are you deaf, you chatte Américain dégueulasse?
DESEAN I don’t speak French, Captain Napier. That means nothing to me.
LEON So, what do you want? Hmm?
DESEAN I have something important I need to discuss with you.
Leon takes his feet off the desk, stares down DeSean.
LEON So, you’re the one they sent?
DESEAN May I come in?
Leon holds his hand out, invites DeSean in.
DeSean takes a step forward, closes the door behind him.
INT. COMMAND - CONTROL ROOM
Farthing looks down at a teleport pad in the middle of the room.
FARTHING ALAN, give me a BITIS projection of the Storage Room within the last hour. Anything noteworthy. Play in reverse.
Farthing watches as an image of Jenna’s mutilated corpse materializes.
His attention turns to the FMD on the ground.
A man, judging by their body type, comes into frame.
Farthing walks around the projected image to get a good look at the man’s face.
It’s Leon Napier.
FARTHING ALAN, freeze frame and timestamp.
The image of Leon digging the knife into Jenna’s torso freezes in place.
ALAN Time of image: 2316 hours, 42 seconds.
INT. QUARTERS - MAIN LOBBY
Burt strides in with a gun in each hand.
VALENTINA (O.S.) Hey, stranger.
Burt stops dead in his tracks. He turns to face Valentina.
BURT How’d I know your crazy, bondage-lovin’ ass would find me here?
Burt pulls Valentina closer by the chain attached to her nipples.
Valentina moans in pleasure at that then grabs Burt’s balls in a vice grip.
Both seem to enjoy each other’s pain.
VALENTINA You selling today?
BURT Everyday. But not right now. I have some revenge to tend to.
VALENTINA That’s interesting. I have some, uh... revenge to tend to, as well.
A lust builds in each of their eyes.
BURT Make it snappy.
Valentina turns her head to a door marked “PRIVATE”.
INT. QUARTERS - CAPTAIN NAPIER’S ROOM
DeSean sits comfortably in a chair opposite Leon.
Leon’s desk is littered with photographs, files, records.
DESEAN The Grand Jury convened on Tuesday in my district.
LEON There were no witnesses.
DESEAN Obviously, you are mistaken. There was one, a Shelley Torbenz. She was 9-years old at the time.
LEON So, I just make her disappear. What’s the problem?
DESEAN Weren’t you listening? They’ve heard her testimony. If you go after her now, you’re finished.
LEON And, you think you can make this go away?
DESEAN I know I can. Just stay in France and use your father’s money to stay hidden.
Leon pulls a nickel-plated S&W .45 ACP from under his desk and points it at DeSean’s chest.
DeSean doesn’t flinch for a second.
LEON And, if I were to kill you right now?
DESEAN I’m no more important than that little girl you raped and murdered. But, if you do kill me, the world... or Mars, won’t be small enough for you to hide in.
Leon sets the gun down on the desk.
LEON What do you want in return?
DESEAN (Smiles) I want to be President.
INT. COMMAND - CONTROL ROOM
The image of Jenna has dissipated.
Farthing pulls out his tab, presses a few keys, speaks into it.
FARTHING Imran, check in.
IMRAN (V.O.) Imran, checking in, Commander.
FARTHING I’m doing a location search for Jeremy Graves.
IMRAN (V.O.) He’s with me, Commander.
FARTHING Affirmative. Please don’t let him leave until we come to see him.
IMRAN (V.O.) Roger that, Commander. Out.
Farthing presses a few more keys, speaks into his tab.
FARTHING Napier and Bell, report to the Control Room immediately.
INT. QUARTERS - CAPTAIN NAPIER’S ROOM
DeSean and Leon shake hands, both content.
Leon leaves the office.
DeSean gathers the papers back into the folder.
INT. QUARTERS - PRIVATE ROOM
Burt and Valentina are both completely naked. He has two large gashes in his chest, forming a letter “V”.
Valentina has a belt around her neck which he tugs on as he fucks her from behind.
Both are in extreme ECSTACY.
FARTHING (V.O.) (Through Bell’s tab) Now, Bell!
BURT Fuck.
VALENTINA Don’t you dare stop!
Burt lets the belt fall from his hand, backs away from her.
BURT To be continued.
Valentina’s lust quickly turns to fury.
INT. COMMAND - CONTROL ROOM - LATER
Farthing, Burt and Leon stand around the BITIS platform.
Bernard and PATRICIA HEMSWORTH (44, attractive, dressed in kitchen whites) sit across from each other at a table.
The tabletop is a vibrant green field. Henry touches it and a DECK OF CARDS materializes. Two cards automatically flit across to each of them.
BERNARD Pretty dead in here today.
He winces at his choice of words.
Patricia places her hands on the table above her cards, blocking them from Bernard’s view. As soon as she does, the card values appear: 10 SPADES, K SPADES
PATRICIA I’m just glad to be out of the kitchen. Seen too many movies to feel safe in there.
Bernard checks his cards: 7 HEARTS, 8 CLUBS
BERNARD Who could eat?
PATRICIA You’re in here.
BERNARD You don’t see food in front of me, do you? (throws his arms wide) It’s bright and open. No sneaking up on me.
The mess hall door slides opens and Elliot strides through like a man on a mission. Bee-lines for the food bar.
BERNARD (watching Elliot) Who’s that guy?
Patricia casts a quick glance over. Her lip curls into a little sneer.
PATRICIA Elliot Cantrell. Third generation politician. Earth’s savior, or so he believes.
ELLIOT (O.S.) Fourteen trillion dollars and you’re serving this shit? (yells) Hello? Anyone back there?
Bernard gives Patricia a questioning look.
PATRICIA (hushed) You ever hear of Oliver Hemsworth?
Bernard shrugs and touches the bottom of the green field. A row of icons springs up. He selects the one labelled LAUNDRY, ONE WEEK and slides it into the center of the table.
BERNARD The Iceman. Hell, even in prison we heard of him. Literally owns Iceland or something. (beat, excited) You think he’s here?
PATRICIA (almost a whisper) Christ, I hope not.
Patricia slides an icon into the pile: CLEAN GREASE TRAPS
In the BG, Elliot notices them and heads in their direction.
BERNARD Why do you ask?
PATRICIA Be cool, okay?
ELLIOT (to Patricia) Hey, you the cook?
Elliot taps her name tag: PATRICIA SMITHERS, HEAD CHEF
ELLIOT Good. Stop fraternizing and poach me some eggs, two helpings of bacon, salmon quiche, fresh-squeezed OJ--
PATRICIA Hello, Elliot.
Elliot looks at her face for the first time. Breaks into a huge grin.
ELLIOT Son of a bitch. Patty Hemsworth.
Bernard’s eyes widen but he doesn’t make a sound.
PATRICIA It’s Patricia.
Patricia taps the table. Three cards automatically deal into the center and reveal: 4 HEARTS, 5 CLUBS, J DIAMONDS
Elliot pulls out his tab.
ELLIOT Your brother’s been looking for you.
Patricia yanks the pad from Elliot’s hand and smashes it on the floor.
ELLIOT Fuck! You bitch!
PATRICIA You’re not going to breathe a word about me. Not one word.
ELLIOT Do you know how much he’s--
PATRICIA You don’t really want to piss of the cook, do you, Elliot?
Elliot’s face turns crimson with rage.
ELLIOT You’re threatening me?
Bernard stands and steps between Elliot and Patricia.
BERNARD Quit it. We have enough problems with a killer on the loose.
ELLIOT Are you high? (to Patricia) He isn’t a nutjob, is he? I hate nutjobs.
BERNARD You haven’t heard, have you? What the hell have you been doing?
ELLIOT What--?
PATRICIA Bet he’s been too busy lodging a complaint. Maybe about the thermostat in his room.
Elliot backs away, uncertain.
ELLIOT I think I’ll go check something.
PATRICIA Dinner’s at 17h00. (to Bernard) Your bet, sunshine.
INT. RESEARCH LAB - AIRLOCK
Dash drops into a PEx, a full-body exoskeleton for heavy construction. His face is covered in dried blood splatter. More blood is caked under his broken nose. His breathing is rapid and heavy, his movements panicky.
He yanks the harness on and tugs the straps to tighten it, keeping his eyes on the door as though expecting someone to burst through it.
He punches a code into a glowing panel on the right side and the machine’s servo motors whir to life.
He reaches down and grabs the ladder, fixed to the inside of the upper torso. He pulls the torso up and it clicks into place. The helmet automatically swings up from the back and over his head.
Locks clank shut and pressure seals hiss loudly.
DASH ALAN, open research lab airlock.
ALAN Your heart rate is abnormally high, Dr. Dasher. Should I alert medical?
DASH Open the fucking door!
ALAN I’m sorry, but I cannot allow that.
The PEx takes two steps to the door. Powerful claws grab hold.
DASH Open the door, ALAN, or I will.
ALAN Door openi-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni--
ALAN’s voice degenerates into a squawky loop that drones on.
The interior airlock door slides closed. Air hisses as it’s pumped out of the airlock.
DASH ALAN?
ALAN --ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni--
The outer airlock door opens, revealing the red Martian landscape.
ALAN’s voice abruptly cuts out.
DASH Oh, no. ALAN? Please respond. (beat) Please. I need to tell the others.
INT. COMMAND - CONTROL ROOM
Sparks pop and crackle from the open panel.
Imran’s head snaps up. He scrambles towards the shooting sparks.
LEON Don’t move!
White gas whooshes briefly inside the panel. The sparks cease. Imran checks the damage.
IMRAN Damn. Core module. (beat) ALAN, run a self-diagnostic.
Imran waits, but no response from ALAN.
FARTHING What would cause that?
IMRAN It’s a triple-back-up system. Shouldn’t be possible.
FARTHING What about a slave circuit?
Imran looks at him like he’s crazy.
IMRAN Are you joking? You can’t slave a command system.
FARTHING Or what?
IMRAN The adaptive programming causes a cascade failure. Minor glitches at first and then catastrophe.
Farthing squeezes the bridge of his nose, grimacing.
FARTHING Burt, Leon, stay here with Imran. I don’t care if he’s the killer, he’s going to keep ALAN functioning.
He heads for the door.
BURT Where are you going?
FARTHING To put an end to this.
He leaves. Burt and Leon exchange puzzled looks.
Leon’s eyes flit to the double halex in Burt’s hands.
LEON Perhaps you should lock your gun.
Burt sees Leon’s gun pointing a little too much in his direction. He raises the double halex.
BURT Oh? Why’s that?
LEON You might damage something important in here.
INT. WALKWAY NEAR COMMAND
Farthing enters the corridor and stops, surprised.
Valentina stands with her back to the thick window, as though waiting for him.
Farthing steels himself and walks up to her, furious. He jabs a finger to her chest.
FARTHING You’ve got to release control of ALAN. Now.
Valentina scoffs. Slaps his hand away.
VALENTINA Do I look like one of your lackeys?
Through the window, in the BG, a PEx running towards them.
FARTHING It’s bad enough we have a killer running around, but without the computer--
Valentina clamps her hand over his mouth. She presses herself against him, rubbing her crotch on his leg.
VALENTINA Can you smell the sex on me?
The PEx continues to advance, kicking up red dust as it runs.
VALENTINA I have other toys, Commander. Anyone can be replaced.
Farthing shoves her. Backhands her across the face, hard.
Valentina’s eyes flash with desire. She licks blood from the corner of her mouth.
VALENTINA Mmm, that’s more like it.
The PEx is moments away from the window--
FARTHING This is out of control.
VALENTINA I’m in complete control. Now stop wasting time and find thefucking artifact.
Valentina glares menacingly, then notices movement outside the window--
The PEx, standing right at the window, tail and arms raised--
Valentina’s eyes pop wide in horror--
The PEx’s tail touches the window and a high-pitched whine resonates, vibrating the thick glass--
Farthing turns to the sound--
Valentina grabs hold of the railing running along the corridor--
The glass explodes in tiny shards--
A PEx claw shoots through the opening, clamping on Farthing’s head--
Valentina’s blown off her feet as the pressurized air vents through the opening--
Farthing’s head explodes like a melon--
The PEx drops Farthing’s body and retreats.
Valentina fights against the rushing air. Warning lights flash all along the corridor.
She presses a spot underneath the railing. A SECRET PANEL in the floor slides open soundlessly.
Valentina pulls herself through. The panel snaps shut behind her.
FRANKLIN FORD, a short and muscular dark skinned man, accompanies Elliot to a door labeled:
REPRESENTATIVE DESEAN QUINN
Elliot buzzes the intercom. He nods toward the door.
ELLIOT I don’t have a sign.
DeSean waits inside the door as it slides open.
DESEAN You brought your bodyguard with you to Mars?
Elliot and Franklin walk in.
The door slides shut. Franklin bristles.
FRANKLIN Liaison to the Special Envoy.
DeSean scoffs.
DESEAN What is it Elliot? More “Mars belongs to Earth” rhetoric?
Franklin grits his teeth and moves toward DeSean.
ELLIOT Both of you relax... Have you noted anything about Farthing’s handling of our visit that concerns you?
DESEAN He’s had his hands full with the killings.
Franklin scoffs.
FRANKLIN Would you say the killings and our visit are related?
DESEAN No...
ELLIOT Why are the convicts allowed to walk around unescorted?
DESEAN Where are they going to go? Play with little green men? I suppose you blame him for ALAN’s strange behavior?
ELLIOT I’d like to question Farthing and I’d appreciate your presence as an independent witness.
DeSean smiles with a glint in his eye.
DESEAN You want to relieve Farthing of command?
He sizes up Franklin. His smile fades.
DESEAN And what, place this puppet in his place? Not if I can help it.
ELLIOT I offered.
Franklin bumps into DeSean. His eyes promise more. DeSean's eyes don’t back down.
ELLIOT Franklin.
Elliot and an insulted Franklin leave.
DeSean walks to the tab presses a sequence of keys and the screen illuminates with an indistinct scene.
DESEAN They’re on the way. They have no idea.
DeSean grabs a lyzer from the desk drawer and exits.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL CENTER
Valentina searches for something in the lab. She searches everywhere. Frustrated. She clears off a table with a sweep of her arm. The items scatter on the floor.
VALENTINA Shit.
She notices a monitor flashing her name. She approaches it.
VALENTINA ALAN?
ALAN (via text on monitor) Greetings Valentina.
VALENTINA Why can’t you talk?
ALAN (via text) Unauthorized personnel accessed my programming.
VALENTINA I thought you couldn’t be hacked.
ALAN (via text) Me too.
VALENTINA Why tell me?
ALAN (via text) You’re the only one near a terminal.
VALENTINA What do you need me to do?
ALAN (via text) Die.
A green gas floods the room. Valentina chokes and goes to her secret panel. She jerks her head as she passes the items strewn on the floor.
She spots a digital BITIS cube the size of gambling dice. Grabs it.
She pushes the button then disappears down the rabbit hole.
MESS
Patricia laughs as Henry joins the game of errand poker. Henry notes the red residue by their nostrils.
BERNIE Don’t play if you won’t pay.
Bernie holds up his pinky finger and giggles with Patricia.
PATRICIA My new pals Bernie and Henry. Bernie face looks worried for a second then giggles again. Henry looks perplexed then shrugs.
HENRY Let’s double the errands. I’m feeling very lucky.
PATRICIA You better do whatever chores come your way. Or you will die crying.
Bernie looks at Patricia’s half curled lip.
BERNIE (whispers) Don’t mess with the mess cook.
Henry changes topics.
HENRY Why is no one eating in the mess? Cantrell was mad as hell about no breakfast.
Patricia loses her smile and pulls out a shiv.
PATRICIA Bernie, I think we found our snitch.
Bernie jumps up and wobbles a bit.
Henry bolts.
PATRICIA All Elliot really wanted was some sneeze.
COMMAND CENTER
Burt wakes up and groans. He stands and sees Leon. Imran’s body lies with the goggles of the Devil’s Eyes burned into his face.
BURT What did you do?
LEON Me? I just got here. You were unconscious you cretin.
Burt looks at Leon’s hands.
BURT That’s my Halex.
Leon has the drop on Burt.
LEON I hate you. And I will kill you. Jenna was just a bitch who veered into my world.
Leon considers. Burt prepares for the kill shot...
LEON Unless you poor excuse of a guard want to earn your life back.
BURT Jenna was an accident. I don’t know who killed her. I do reserve the privilege of killing the rat bastard who killed her.
Leon nods.
LEON What do you know about artifacts on Mars?
Burt scoffs.
BURT No such thing. Next item?
LEON You are blind. Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Leon contemplates.
LEON Let’s go to Research and see what we can come up with.
BURT My Halex?
LEON Sure, why not?
Leon strikes Burt with the stock of the Halex. Burt protects his head but ends up hit in the stomach.
LEON Don’t fuck with me.
SPACEPORT
Adam enters a corridor. He looks over his shoulder and ducks around a corner. He pulls out his sonic map watches for any tagalongs. The readout shows two people in the area.
He pulls out a knife and heads back. Adam flattens against the wall. His sonic map still shows two people.
He looks around into the port and his eyes narrow.
Lester outfits himself in a Pex and heads for the airlock.
COMMAND CENTER
Footsteps echo in the corridor. Franklin walks into view as Elliot follows.
Elliot takes a small container out of his pocket. He sniffs a small amount of red substance. Franklin looks over his shoulder.
FRANKLIN Just like New York.
Elliot contemplates.
ELLIOT Franklin. I have weaknesses like any other man. You know I see you like a son.
Elliot puts his arm around Franklin. Elliot’s eyes water.
ELLIOT Imagine, you and I at the forefront of a humanity united to save our precious –
Elliot has a huge nose orgasm a.k.a. a sneeze.
Franklin looks disgusted and disgusting with nasal debris on his clothes.
FRANKLIN God, that stuff is nasty. Oh... Damn, I thought you left your sneeze at home.
ELLIOT Not a very good body guard are you?
FRANKLIN I can see the king has a king size problem. Maybe it’s time you were dethroned.
Elliot pushes him away.
ELLIOT Farthing. I will own him. And you will succeed me.
FRANKLIN Look at you. All nosed out. You’re pitiful.
Elliot arcs his neck as if he’s going to sneeze. Franklin moves away to avoid the blow out.
As he sneezes, a mag-tech .38 discharges. Elliot’s head explodes in a spray of gore all over Franklin and the corridor.
Adam pockets his sonic map and steps into the corridor. Lester punches the manual override for the airlock door. Next to Lester is PROFESSOR MARTY JAMES, PhD, 43, who is dressed in a blue suit and tie. He looks up at Adam's approach.
MARTY About time you joined us, Major Worth. I was wondering how long you were going to lurk back there.
Lester steps toward Adam, but Marty holds his hand to stop him.
MARTY Relax, my friend. He's no threat.
ADAM How...?
MARTY The rather rare sonic map is not immune from a glow on the outer walls. Where did you acquire it?
ADAM My business. And it's just Mr. Worth. Major was a long time ago.
Marty waves him off.
MARTY Yes, yes.
The door opens.
ADAM What is my business is why he's going outside.
MARTY Have you been paying any attention to your job, Worth? There have been a large number of murders, and so many, in fact, that if you haven't worked out the killer from the inside, then you must be a poor security officer, indeed.
ADAM You haven't been here. What do you know?
MARTY Carry on, Lester.
Lester steps into the airlock.
ADAM Just a minute.
MARTY What I do know, Mr. Worth, is that the killer has left behind such an obvious trail of bread crumbs, that their identity is obvious to me. I've been here the entire time, but rather than deal with the ridiculous and aimless conversations of my so-called peers, I decided to actually do my job and sort out the problem.
ADAM Your job is Homeland Security back on Earth. Where is he going?
Marty sighs, as if a small child just asked a question.
MARTY As long as there are citizens of the United States on this station, then my job extends to here as well. And since you've not been paying attention, you've completely missed that your killer makes frequent trips to the outside of the station. If I'm correct about his next move, and I invariably am, then he's outside right now. I'm sending Lester to his location to deal with him before he kills again. Do you really wish to stop me?
Marty holds out his hands as if Adam would handcuff him. Adam looks at him, confused. Marty returns his hands to his sides.
MARTY Carry on, Lester.
EXT. RESEARCH/MEDICAL
Dash rests in the void between the Research/Medical dome and Command. The Martian wind blows the red dust all around him. Blood is still speckled on his face and his eyes dart across the landscape between the buildings. He still breathes heavily. He presses a button in the Pex.
DASH Alan?
Nothing. Not even static.
DASH Is anybody out there?
Nothing.
Dash's eye bug out and his breathing quickens. Another Pex passes around the end of the Crew Quarters dome. He takes a few reflexive steps back. The Pex turns toward him. Dash presses the comm button again.
DASH Who is there? Identify yourself.
The Pex walks his way. Its scorpion tail whips up over its head. Dash turns to run as fast as the mechanical Pex will take him.
ENGINEERING HALL
Leon and Burt walk down a side hall around Engineering heading toward Research. Leon holds the Halex and Burt clearly hates him for it. They use every inch of the hallway to maintain a healthy distance between them.
BURT So, are you one of those damned conspiracy theorists?
LEON Theorists have no proof.
BURT Neither does anyone else.
LEON You have no idea what's really going on here, do you?
Burt glances toward his Halex. Leon tightens his grip.
LEON Don't.
Burt rolls his eyes.
BURT What the hell? So, artifacts on Mars. Who cares?
LEON Did you know that the Research dome has a 1000-foot shaft under it? And do you know that this is just the tip of the iceberg?
BURT So what? Like I care what you do. I only care about what we have.
LEON Nothing like you've ever seen before, though.
BURT Genuine?
LEON Why wouldn't it be?
Burt shrugs. He glances back to Leon.
BURT Lot of reas-
Burt narrows his eyes. Leon glances behind him.
LEON What is it?
Burt nabs the Halex. Delivers one blow to Leon's nose and another to the side of his head. Leon is out cold.
BURT Because I don't care, that's why.
INT. SPACEPORT
Adam and Marty walk to a panel in the main landing area of the Spaceport.
MARTY So why hasn't the back-up system kicked in since Alan has been down?
ADAM One of the techs claimed there was no back-up. Rubbish, if I've ever heard a thing.
MARTY Lester will be fine outside. Though Alan should have been able to run the base just fine without your killer sabotaging it...
ADAM I know. There is still a basic security system in place. It can be hacked.
MARTY Yes, but it is so low tech that the killer most likely didn't consider it a threat.
ADAM This person has covered all their bases pretty well.
Marty scoffs.
ADAM Care to share?
MARTY Sure. Sonic map?
ADAM Nevermind.
Marty looks at a terminal that simply shows a command prompt. He types a few commands in a variety of computer languages until he hits one that works.
MARTY Really? Unix? Might as well use punch cards.
He types again and pulls up a graphical interface for the station. Using the touchscreen he navigates to a folder within the directory structure and opens a map of the station.
ADAM You're looking for the tab log.
MARTY Exactly. All we have to do-
ADAM -is cross reference the tab log with the deceased and see who is walking about after death.
MARTY For a start. I've been doing that already. It is also useful to see who is alive and isn't walking about as well.
Marty steps back and offers the terminal to Adam.
MARTY For instance, who has remained remarkably stationary despite being in several rooms? And note how active Miss Constance Harris has been despite the fact that she has been quite dead.
Adam stares at the screen. His eyes whip back and forth studying the logs and darken as the answer occurs to him.
EXT. RESEARCH/MEDICAL
Dash runs as fast the Pex will go. He stops to look behind him, and the other Pex is nearly upon him. He turns back to run again, but the Pex suddenly ceases to function. Nothing will work.
Dash frantically tries to make it move, but something has shut it down. He looks into the glass of the other Pex and fear crosses his face.
The other Pex magnetically attaches a bomb to the front of Dash's Pex, sets the countdown for 10 seconds, and activates it.
It lifts Dash's Pex and tosses it into the hallway linking the Research dome to Engineering.
The bomb explodes, completely obliterating the hallway and Dash. Emergency decompression procedures kick in and seal Engineering and Research from the sudden exposure to the Martian elements.
As the reinforced glass shatters above him, Leon stands, paralyzed, transfixed by the sight.
Burt springs into action. He lifts Leon over his shoulder and sprints toward the door to Engineering.
Behind them an explosion, loud bright and orange.
The doors to Engineering begin to close. Burt throws Leon toward them, Leon slides along the hallway.
Burt dives over Leon, slides faster, under the sealing doors as they zoom down.
ENGINEERING
Burt grabs Leon's hand as it comes into view under the door He pulls Leon the rest of the way through just before the door slams shuts.
Burt exhales his relief. Leon, who may be in shock, watches him through wide eyes.
SPACEPORT
Marty and Adam turn toward the sound, the ground rumbles. They share a worried look then run toward Command.
CRAWLSPACE RESEARCH/MEDICAL
The metal walls shake around Valentina and dust blows through the confined space. Valentina coughs as she scurries backwards.
CREW AND GUEST QUARTERS
In his bunk Rep. DeSean Quinn angelically sleeps through the loud explosion.
MESS
Bernard and Patricia's glance up from their poker game toward the sound.
PATRICIA Your turn.
BERNARD I should probably go investigate.
PATRICIA Let Henry go. Henry?
They scan the area. No Henry.
PATRICIA He must have already gone.
BERNARD I should probably go find him.
PATRICIA You just want to take my money and run, don't you?
A sly smile from Bernard.
PATRICIA You're not moving from that spot until I win my money back. Even if I have to tie you down.
COMMAND
Marty and Adam stare at the console. On the base map the breach is visible between Engineering and Research/Medical.
ADAM I want to get a closer look at the damage.
Marty nods. Adam sprints off.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL
Valentina enters a non-descript office through a trap door in the floor. She slams the trap door shut.
She sprawls along the floor as she tries frantically to catch her breath.
EXT. RESEARCH/MEDICAL
Lester races to intercept the other Pex-suited figure. He raises his Halex to aim.
Through the gun sights we see the Halex is not within range.
He lowers the gun, increases his speed.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL
Valentina manages to sit up. She feels around a nearby desk, finds a tab with her fingers.
She pulls it off the desk, connects it clumsily with the Bitis cube.
The tab comes to life and then dies. She jiggles the connections and the tab sputters on again.
She touches the tab screen and a map of the base appears. She touches the location between Engineering and Research/Medical.
A holograph of the area appears above the tab screen, then the holograph explodes.
Valentina screws her face with confusion.
EXT. RESEARCH/MEDICAL
The Pex-suited figure raises an armored fist to smash the dome glass but is interrupted by pings of cobalt pellets bouncing off his suit.
Lester shoots off another few rounds, but the Pex-suited dude is bounding toward him as if the shots were just cobalt rain.
Lester drops the Halex, moves in.
The Pex-suited figure leaps, his scorpion like tail sweeps around catching Lester by the neck.
Lester pulls back sharply and breaks free, brings his own tail around. He knocks Pex-suit off his feet.
Lester hops on top of the figure, but the Pex-suit catches his leg with a Pex claw.
Lester topples and Pex-suit rolls on top of Lester.
They stare at each other through tinted visors.
Then Lester's visor lifts. The fear on his face is palpable as he gulps for a satisfying breath. He struggles as if he was drowning and needed to find the surface. His eyes bulge, but only slightly.
And then he's still.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL - OFFICE
Valentina watches a replay of the explosion, confusion still lines her face.
The sound of glass breaking catches her attention.
She switches to schematic of the base. Her fingers fly fast over the map as they navigate escape routes from Research/Medical.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL - CORRIDOR
The Pex-suited figure trods alertly along the passageway.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL - OFFICE
Valentina stands. Unfortunately, as she does, her hand sweeps across a glass ornament. The ornament falls to the floor with a crash.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL - CORRIDOR
The Pex-suited figure hears the crash and immediately heads toward it.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL - OFFICE
The Pex-suited figure opens the door and steps inside. On the floor, a broken glass ornament. But the office is empty.
PEX-SUITED FIGURE Where is the artefact?
The figure listens. Steps forward.
Under the desk, Valentina huddles. The Pex-suited feet head her way. She pulls herself into a tighter ball.
PEX-SUITED FIGURE Tell me where it is and I'll let you live.
The figure runs a claw against the top of the desk. Then turns, takes a step away.
Valentina relaxes slightly, she exhales.
Through the desk comes a claw, spearing Valentina. She screams.
The figure lifts its claws from the hole it punched in the desk. In the bloodied claw, Valentina's still beating heart. The figure stares at its claw.
PEX-SUITED FIGURE You really should have had some heart and told me.
The figure laughs. The visor on his suit raises. It's Henry.
VALENTINA (V.O.) Very funny, Henry.
Henry looks around in confusion.
VALENTINA (V.O.) You didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily?
MANUFACTURING
Valentina sits in front of a hologram of Henry in his Pex suit. Jenna steps into the frame.
JENNA Or me.
Both women chuckle.
VALENTINA Nano-cloning is a wonderful new technology, don't you think?
HENRY (HOLOGRAM) I want that artefact.
Valentina holds an unearthly diamond in her hand, twirls it around, it sparkles rainbows.
VALENTINA Everybody wants something, Henry. It just happens that only a few ever get what they want.
RESEARCH/MEDICAL OFFICE
Henry stares defiantly at the air.
VALENTINA (V.O.) Unfortunately, you aren't one of the few. Goodbye, Henry.
Henry looks at the still beating heart in his claw. Notices the digital numbers beneath its tissue counting down to two, one, zero.
Adam races for the breach when a second explosion rocks the base.
He pauses a moment, indecisive. Then he continues on his way.
INT. MANUFACTURING
Valentina watches excitedly as Henry's hologram flickers and dies with the explosion. Her forked tongue licks her lips. Jenna stands behind her, looking passive.
VALENTINA That was... exciting.
JENNA You should leave. There's isn't a lot of time left.
Valentina stands, the artifact in her hand. She examines its smooth surface and seems to become lost in it.
Jenna puts a gentle hand on Valentina's cheek, which brings her out of her reverie.
JENNA What is it?
VALENTINA Do you know what this is? What this means?
Jenna leans close and the two women share a passionate kiss. They break.
JENNA I don't care.
She turns to leave. Valentina presses the issue.
VALENTINA This is not just some piece of fucking rock. This is a gateway. An entire universe of knowledge, more powerful than all the weapons of the world combined. That power is our's now.
Jenna rounds on her.
JENNA I don't care about power and I don't care about your goddamn revolution. I only care about one thing.
Valentina comes a measured distance closer. Their bodies push together.
VALENTINA Just one thing? Do I not also have your... attention?
She grabs one of Jenna's breasts and squeezes. Hard. Jenna gives a stifled gasp of pleasure.
JENNA Of course, my love. But nothing has changed. I have a chance to get what I need. No one will get in my way.
INT. ENGINEERING
Adam, sweaty and breathless, arrives at the breach site. An inactive computer console sits in the wall. He goes to it, swipes his tab and the screen comes to life.
He begins browsing through various screens.
ADAM Alan? Alan can you hear me? (no response) Fuck.
Burt, with Leon in tow, arrives behind him.
BURT Major --
ADAM Mister, Bell. Mister.
BURT Whatever. The fuck is going on?
ADAM This place is going to shit is what's going on. The shielding was only intended as a temporary guard against breaches while repairs were made. But without Alan, repairs aren't possible.
Burt and Leon exchange a nervous glace.
BURT What are you saying?
ADAM I'm saying that in a few hours this entire base is going to get ripped open like a prom queen's virgin cunny.
LEON Baiser la chatte de ta mère.
BURT Well, what do we do?
ADAM I have an idea that might buy us a few more hours. I'm initiating a base-wide evacuation. You two get to the Spaceport and prep the shuttles.
BURT You got it, boss. (to Leon) C'mon, asshole.
Leon mutters something under his breath, but allows Burt to lead him away.
INT. MANUFACTURING - CORRIDOR
Valentina and Jenna emerge from one of the rooms into the corridor. Jenna turns to Valentina.
JENNA Get yourself to a shuttle. Quick. I'll meet you there as soon as I'm done.
VALENTINA Don't take too fucking long.
They share another long, passionate kiss, then part ways.
INT. ENGINEERING
Adam punches in a few commands, which makes the screen redline. A warning message flashes up in red: "EVACUATION PROCEEDURES INITIATED."
Adam wipes the screen clean and continues working.
INT. DESEAN QUINN'S QUARTERS
An alarm begins blearing, bringing DeSean out of his deep sleep with a disgruntled moan.
INT. MESS
Patricia and Bernard are in the middle of their game when the alarm begins sounding. Patricia looks worried.
PATRICIA Think it's a fire drill?
Bernard checks his tab, frowning.
BERNARD They're evacuating us.
Patricia gives a doubtful glance at her cards.
PATRICIA Just as well. I've got shit.
She throws her cards down and they get up and go.
INT. ENGINEERING
Adam works at the console. Footsteps come from behind him. He senses a presence, turns and it is Jenna.
ADAM Jenna?
JENNA Boo.
ADAM Fucking Christ, I thought you were dead.
JENNA Wrong.
ADAM What the fuck are you doing here?
JENNA Something I have wanted to do for a very, very long time.
She pulls a double Halex out of the strap of her pants, points it right at him. Adam chuckles.
ADAM I don't have time for this.
JENNA Wrong again, Major. This is all the time you'll ever have.
He starts taking her more seriously, takes a careful step toward her with his hands.
ADAM Jenna, I don't know what you think you're doing, but you're making a mistake.
JENNA A long time ago -- before you lied your way into the military and spent five years as a triple agent -- you worked for a very powerful man. My father. Ring any bells?
He doesn't say a word.
JENNA (CONT'D) Now my father was not a great man. In fact, he was a drug dealer and a murderer. But he was my father. And when you killed him, slashed my face and ran off you left me with nothing. Nothing.
She carefully raises the Halex.
JENNA (CONT'D) I'm here to return the favour.
Adam regards her carefully.
ADAM I figured that one day I would pay for my sins. But this is not the time. We have to get off this base. I can buy us some time, but only if you lower the gun. If you don't, dozens could die.
JENNA Unfortunate, but irrelevant. Get on your knees.
ADAM (shakily) No.
JENNA Get on your fucking knees and beg... beg me to spare you.
He considers this, swallows and shakily gets on his knees.
ADAM Jenna... don't. I've done some bad things, but I don't want to die.
Tears well in her eyes. She comes closer, pushing the Halex right in his face.
JENNA Neither did he.
Behind Adam, barely seen in the background, a door slides open.
ADAM You want me to apologize? You want me to be sorry? Well I'm not. Your father was a piece of shit sneeze-peddler and if you think you can get me to feel guilty for what I did then you're in for a fuck --
BANG!
Adam's torso is suddenly ripped violently in half, spraying Jenna with a wave of blood and shredded organs.
Jenna, astounded, drops her Halex and staggers backwards, trips and lands on her ass. She looks to the doorway and sees –
AN UNKNOWN FIGURE
Standing there, smoking Halex raised. The figure steps into the room, over Adam's eviscerated torso.
Jenna screams.
I can't live the buttoned-down life like you. I want it all. The dizzying highs, the terrifying lows, the creamy middles. Sure, I may offend some of the blue bloods with my cocky stride and musky odors. Oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "city fathers," who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards and talk about what's to be done with this Homer Simpson?
Valentina walks into the factory of the base. Large machines that make the parts to build out the base rest idle throughout the room. Valentina places the diamond artifact on a post in the center of the room between a multitude of manufacturing arms.
She walks to a panel and warms up several laser arms. Using controls on the panel, she orients the lasers to fire into the artifact. She fires three of the lasers and a holographic display of information rests a short distance above the rock like a computer screen.
She slowly moves the laser around and the data before her changes. Some of the titles that move past are INTERSTELLAR ENGINE, MAGNETIC PROPULSION, RELATIVE DIMENSIONS, FEMPIROR SERUM CURE, REPLICATION OF MATTER, and THE HISTORY OF SKARO along with a plethora of design schematics and blueprints.
The wonder on her face is unmistakable.
MALE VOICE Knowledge is power, indeed. And you appear to have the lion’s share.
INT. COMMONS
DeSean walks into the empty commons area, looking around.
DESEAN Hello?!
He walks to a terminal, and sees the evacuation message flashing.
DESEAN Did I miss something?
BERNARD Damn straight you missed something.
DeSean turns to find Bernard and Patricia entering from the Mess Hall.
BERNARD The whole station’s going to hell, there’s a killer on the loose, and I had to interrupt a perfectly good game, which I was winning, to get out of here.
PATRICIA You weren’t winning. I would have come back.
DESEAN Great, a couple of junkies. Both of you are not only going straight back to Earth, but you’re staying there.
PATRICIA Fine by me.
BERNARD I’m not a junkie.
DESEAN Then what is going on here?
INT. MANUFACTURING
Marty walks toward Valentina as she shuts off the lasers.
MARTY Do you even know what you have there?
VALENTINA An artifact.
Marty laughs.
MARTY So you think coming back with this will get you any more attention than walking around with your pierced nipples flying the breeze? How badly were you neglected as a child?
VALENTINA I was abused and molested-
MARTY No, you weren’t. If you were, you wouldn’t volunteer it so freely. Dysfunctional home, yes. Beaten, probably. Abused? Doubt it. Everything you do is a cry for attention. You come up here and get ahold of something you think is a diamond, but then you find it is more and learn how to access it. You’re very smart. That’s a good trait.
VALENTINA What do you want?
MARTY Do you know what it’s called?
VALENTINA What?
MARTY Your rock. Do you know what it’s called?
VALENTINA How would I?
MARTY Well, you accessed my office’s mainframe and stole my research on how to access it. I would have assumed you would have acquired the name as well.
VALENTINA How did you-
MARTY I didn’t get to where I am by being blind. I also find it more interesting to find out why some genius hacker got at my files than simply to arrest her.
INT. COMMONS
DeSean, Patricia, and Bernard walk toward the command module.
DESEAN So you don’t know anything.
PATRICIA Not really, no.
BERNARD Very out of touch.
DESEAN Why are you even here, then?
PATRICIA Some sort of quota?
DESEAN Nevermind, let’s just get to the Spaceport before anything else goes wrong.
Something sparks overheard. An alert sounds in the Commons.
BERNARD Now what?
DeSean doesn’t pause to answer. He takes off running for the door to the passage to Command. Patricia follows him. Bernard brings up the rear. The door to the Command hall starts closing.
DESEAN Move faster!
DeSean pulls an action star slide under the door. Patricia dives for it. DeSean grabs her hands and drags her under. Bernard is too slow. The door slams shut.
IN THE HALL BETWEEN COMMONS AND COMMAND
Patricia leaps up and tries the controls to re-open the door.
PATRICIA We have to get this open.
DESEAN We don’t even know why it closed.
Patricia calls up the readout on the panel which shows “EMERGENCY DECOMPRESSION.”
PATRICIA Emergency Decompression? Where?
The alert goes off again. A crack show in the hall around them. The door at Command remains open.
DESEAN Time to go!
PATRICIA What about Bernard?
DESEAN What about us?
They run full tilt along the hall. The walls around them continue cracking. They run
INTO COMMAND
but the door isn’t closing. Patricia fiddles with the controls.
PATRICIA It’s not working!
DESEAN Manual control?
PATRICIA Over here.
Patricia opens a panel that has a crank handle and a disconnect button. The hall finally gives way and the air rushes out. DeSean holds himself flat against the wall opposite where Patricia is with the manual controls.
She presses the disconnect button which gives a loud clank as the motor disengages from the door. Patricia turns the crank with considerable difficulty.
DESEAN Little faster?
PATRICIA It’s a little heavy.
DESEAN Kind of running out of air.
DeSean pushes off the wall and gets to where Patricia is cranking the handle. Together they get the doors closing quicker. They finally close and Patricia presses the manual lock. They drop to the floor, breathing heavily.
PATRICIA What about Bernard?
DESEAN We lost the hallway. That’s probably why the door was closing. The Commons might still be okay.
INT. MANUFACTURING
Valentina smiles and walks seductively toward Marty.
VALENTINA So you think I’m a genius?
MARTY You circumvented my security. No small feat.
VALENTINA And I’ll bet you find genius sexy.
She presses her body against his. He appears unmoved.
MARTY Genius, yes. You, not at all.
VALENTINA Are you sure?
She takes his hands and places them on her breasts.
VALENTINA Nothing here you like?
MARTY Not really.
He grasps the chain between her nipple piercings and tears them out of her nipples. She screams and drops to her knees, bleeding. Marty non-chalantly tosses the chain to one side. A large machine starts up somewhere in the room.
MARTY You don’t know what you’re getting into. You don’t know what you have. You read a piece of a piece of what I’ve found on this and think you can sell it.
He walks to the diamond and picks it up.
MARTY This is what’s called a whitepoint star. There is nothing like it on Earth or Mars. It traveled from somewhere else and landed on Mars only a few years ago. It has been analyzed by the rovers we’ve had here, but until this base, we’ve not been able to get to it. Rehab for prisoners was a cover story. Everyone thinks they’re in charge of this operation, but I’ve been running it from behind the scenes to get this: the proof of life beyond our Earth and the means to build the technology to find them.
Valentina screams and rushes Marty. He deflects her blow and knocks her to the floor.
MARTY We’re done here.
Marty reaches down and drags Valentina by her leather top across the floor. She has lost enough blood that she leaves a streak behind her across the floor and she is weakened. He stops next to a large metal sliding door on the wall, behind which machinery rumbles.
VALENTINA Please… I can help you.
MARTY Please. I don’t need your help. I’m quite enough.
He tosses her into the trash disposal unit. She screams only for a moment while the machine grinds her to a pulp. He takes a handkerchief from his pockets and wipes the blood from his hands. He tosses it into the trash as well and closes the door.
He takes a sonic map from his pocket and checks the area. Only one person is showing and they’re only a few feet away. He places it back into his pocket.
MARTY Thank you for your assistance in this matter, Jenna. Let’s go.
JENNA Thank you for doing what I couldn’t. I don’t have the stomach for it.
MARTY He was a liability, and Valentina’s hold over you is broken. You’ll be free when we return to Earth.
Desean and Patricia both sit on the floor, their faces covered with dust and sweat.
PATRICIA What the hell are we gonna do?
DESEAN We don't have a lot of options, except...
PATRICIA Except what?
DESEAN I need to get to storage.
PATRICIA Why?
DESEAN Just wait here okay! I won't be gone long.
Desean gets up onto his feet.
PATRICIA Don't leave me alone.
DESEAN Just stay cool, we might get out of this yet.
PATRICIA Well how the hell are you gonna get there? Everything's blown to shit, there's a crazy fuck out there?
Desean looks up at the roof, Patricia follows.
DESEAN The air ducts.
Desean grabs a chair and steps on top of it. He opens the panel and pulls himself up into the air duct. He looks down at Patricia.
DESEAN I'll be back in a quick.
He closes the panel.
INT. MANUFACTURING CORRIDOR
Marty and Jenna hustle down the corridor. Marty Stops.
MARTY We have to go outside.
JENNA What?
Marty grabs a space suit that hangs on the wall of the corridor. He hands it to Jenna.
MARTY It's the safest way.
Marty grabs another space suit. He puts the whitepoint star in his pocket.
EXT. MARS BASE
Marty and Jenna walk along the Mars base. They are connected by a rope attached at their hips. The rope is connected to a bar that runs along the side of the base.
Jenna looks out at the Mars landscape.
JENNA It sure is beautiful, in plain kind of way.
MARTY That it is.
Out in the distance a cloud of red dust rolls along the landscape. Marty stops.
MARTY Oh Shit!
JENNA What?
MARTY We need to move and move fast!
Jenna sees the oncoming sandstorm.
JENNA Oh no!
Suddenly Jenna is sucked into the air. Marty grabs the railing with one hand and the rope with the other.
MARTY Jenna! You have to grab the rope and pull yourself towards me.
Jenna grabs the rope with both hands and pulls. She GRUNTS.
MARTY You can do it!
Jenna pulls herself all the way to Marty!
MARTY Grab onto the railing.
Jenna grabs the railing.
MARTY The entrance to the Spaceport isn't too far!
The two pull themselves along the side of the base.
INT. SPACEPORT
Marty and Jenna enter the Spaceport and drop to their knees. They take off their spacesuits, both are out of breath.
JENNA So that was safer huh?
Marty CHUCKLES.
JENNA Thanks again for everything.
The two get up, he turns to Jenna.
MARTY Do you trust me?
Jenna shy's away like a schoolgirl with a crush.
JENNA I trust you as much as much as I could trust anybody right now.
He puts his hand on her shoulder.
MARTY Jenna, I haven't been completely honest with you.
A moment of fear enters Jenna's face.
JENNA What do you mean?
He takes out the whitepoint star and holds it up.
MARTY This isn't what you think it is. This didn't come from the stars, but a place much more vast.
JENNA Where did it come from?
Marty grins.
MARTY A place of darkness, a place of great power, a power I am willing to share with you.
The whitepoint star glows in his hand. Jenna stares at it in awe.
JENNA What kind of power?
MARTY The kind where you would be subservient only to me. No one would ever hurt you again, no one would ever use you. There would be no more pain, no more fear.
The light of the star glows in Jenna's eyes. She tears up, then GASPS.
JENNA Yes.
MARTY This planet is just the gateway. When we go back to earth we will be masters, nothing, not even God herself could stop our rule. Valentina knew this, that's why she had to be stopped.
Marty glides his hand along Jenna's face, he smears her tears with his thumb.
MARTY Will you serve me?
She smiles.
JENNA I will serve you, you and no other.
Marty lets go of the star, it rises into the air, then turns red.
MARTY Infusco ignis Satanas.
The Spaceport fills with a bright red light. Marty's eyes roll back, they are now pure white. He breathes heavily, then tares off Jenna's clothes.
MARTY Ohm sat tan ohm.
Jenna shakes. A white foam oozes out of her mouth. She digs her fingernails into her flesh and peels her skin off.
Her bloody skin drops to the floor with a PLOP. She SCREAMS as she rips her skin off. She claws at her face, blood GUSHES between her fingers.
Her teeth turn into fangs, and her ears turn pointed like an elf. Her finger and toe nails grow long and sharp. A tail grows out of her back. She SCREAMS again, this time with a deep GROWL.
MARTY My queen is born.
He smiles, he stares at her with his white eyes. He takes his clothes off.
MARTY I will put a son in you. He will be more powerful than you and I together.
He lifts Jenna up, she straddles her legs around his hips. He thrusts up and down, a SQUISH follows each movement. Her blood spills all over his body. Jenna licks his face covering it with blood.
INT. STORAGE
Desean drops from the air ducts into storage. He looks around.
DESEAN Goddammit where is it?
He panics.
INT. SPACEPORT
Marty stands naked, covered head to toe in Jenna's blood.
MARTY Now, to take the souls that inhabbit this planet.
He raises his hands in the air.
MARTY Dies irae, dies illaSolvet Saeclum in favillaTeste Satan cum sibylla. Quantos tremor est futurus Quando Vindex est venturus.
Blood rises from the ground. The spaceport fills with blood up to Marty's knees. Jenna HISSES like an angry cat.
Seven Figures rise up from the blood, small impish beings similar to what Jenna has become, but shorter, with no hair and yellow eyes.
They surround Marty.
MARTY My Imps, go feed! Souls need to be devoured.
The Imps HOWL in delight. The Imps run up along the walls and enter the air ducts.
Marty turns to Jenna.
MARTY Soon my queen.
He LAUGHS.
INT. COMMAND
Patricia sits against the wall.
PATRICIA Hurry up Desean.
There is a RATTLE above her. She looks up.
PATRICIA What the hell?
Another RATTLE.
PATRICIA Are you back?
INT. STORAGE
Desean rummages through a suitcase.
DESEAN Where is it?
The entrance door opens. Desean spins around. A small red Imp with long razor sharp nails stands at the entrance.
DESEAN THE FUCK?
The Imp HISSES.
Desean looks around. He grabs a metal pipe that lies on the ground. The Imp rushes towards him on all fours. He leaps into the air.
Desean swings the pipe and hits the Imp in the head. Blood splatters all over Desean as the Imp lands into the wall. It falls to the ground, then hops right back up onto its feet. It HISSES again.
DESEAN Come on Motherfucker!
The Imp HISSES then charges. Desean strikes the Imp through its face with the pipe. It drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
DESEAN The fuck is goin' on?
Another Imp drops from the ceiling.
DESEAN Christ!
The Imp scurries towards Desean. He does a spinning back kick that lands on the Imp's face. The Imp HOWLS then charges at Desean. He kicks it again. The Imp flies through the and is impaled through the neck by a metal pole that sticks out of the wall.
The Imp GURGLES on its own blood.
INT. COMMONS
Bernard paces back and forth. He runs his hands through his hair.
BERNARD What am I gonna do, I'm fucked, I'm totaly and completly fucked.
There is a BANG from below. Bernard jolts where he stands.
BERNARD Hello?
Two more BANGS.
BERNARD Who's there?
Silence. Bernard backs up. Suddenly a panel on the floor flips open. A red Imp jumps out. It opens its mouth and shows Bernard its rows of sharp jagged teeth. Bernard's eyes open wide as his jaw drops.
The Imp leaps onto Bernard. He grabs the tiny beast by its arms and throws it onto the ground.
Another Imp jumps up throgh the panel. Its claw strikes at Bernard's stomach. His belly splits open and his intestines spill onito the floor.
He falls to his knees. One of the Imps grabs Bernard's bowels and tares into it with its teeth. The other Imp leaps over and lands on Bernards shoulders. Its nails dig into his flesh.
Bernards SCREAMS. The Imp opens its mouth and clamps down on Bernard's head. There's a CRUNCH.
Her knees tucked under her chin, Patricia sits and looks up at the air duct.
FRANKLIN (O.S.) What you waiting for?
Patricia slides across the floor away from Franklin.
PATRICIA Jesus!
Franklin walks from the shadows. Blood smeared over his clothes.
He arches his neck and looks up to the duct.
FRANKLIN You know he’s probably not coming back?
Patricia slowly stands. Her eyes never leave Franklin’s.
PATRICIA I heard something but I’m not sure what?
She looks at Franklin.
PATRICIA Are you hurt?
Franklin rubs at the front of his clothes.
FRANKLIN I’m fine, Elliot’s not so.
PATRICIA Elliot?
Franklin advances on Patricia.
FRANKLIN The King’s dead, baby.
Patricia backs in to a corner.
Franklin looks up at the duct.
FRANKLIN Where’s he gone that was so important?
PATRICIA He said he was going to storage. I don’t know why.
FRANKLIN Maybe I should go look for him, or should I stay here and hold your hand?
Patricia glances up to the duct.
FRANKLIN Don’t wait up?
He hoists himself up and through the air duct.
INT. SPACEPORT
The star pulses red light.
Jenna sits up to her waist in blood. Her eyes rolled back, trance like she sways slowly.
Marty rests a hand on her head.
MARTY The pain will be worth it my dear. Our Son will rule the world and beyond. We have created a new dawn and a new…
Jenna’s head snaps back and a deathly groan emits from her throat.
Marty takes a step back.
MARTY It is time.
Foam spews forth from her mouth and Jenna begins to convulse.
INT. STORAGE
DeSean stands frozen. His chest pounds.
He looks down at the dead Imps.
DESEAN Fuck’s going on?
He grabs another suitcase, flips it open and spews the contents across the floor.
DESEAN It’s not here, it’s not fucking here.
A bang in the air duct.
DeSean slowly looks up. With his eyes trained on the open duct he reaches down and grabs the pipe. A pair of green eyes look back at him.
He tightens his grip on the pipe and readies his stance.
An Imp shoots out and slashes DeSean across the face. It darts behind a number of boxes.
DeSean flinches and presses his hand against the ripped flesh on his cheek.
DESEAN Mother fu…
The Imp crawls on to a box and looks at DeSean. It jumps at him.
DeSean swings the pipe and hits the Imp. It bounces off the wall and lies still.
He slowly near and strikes down at the stricken Imp. In a flash it races up the wall and clamps its claws around DeSean’s head. It sinks its claws deep in to his skull.
INT. COMMAND
Patricia paces back and forth. She pauses under the duct and worriedly looks up.
A beep and the door to the engineering corridor slides open.
She ducks for cover.
Leon and Burt enter. The door closes behind them.
BURT Where is everyone?
Leon shrugs.
He slowly takes a few steps in to the room, pushes Leon in front with his Halex.
LEON Perhaps they’re already at the shuttles?
BURT Perhaps.
Patricia hides behind a console. She sneaks around it as Burt and Leon pass. With her eyes on the two men, she trips and falls with a bang.
Burt and Leon spin.
BURT Who’s there? I have a weapon.
He holds the Halex out.
Patricia looks down at the remains of Elliot. She screams and rolls clear.
BURT Stand up. What you doing behind there?
PATRICIA Don’t shoot.
She slowly stands.
BURT Get over here. Don’t you know we’re evacuating?
Patricia nods.
PATRICIA Is that where you’re heading?
BURT It is where we are all heading unless you want your insides on the outsides. Best get your ass along with me and this shower of shit.
He pokes Leon with the Halex.
PATRICIA I can’t, I have to wait for DeSean.
She points to the duct.
BURT Your funeral, lady.
He turns to Leon.
BURT Let’s go.
Burt walks to the door. Leon remains by Patricia.
LEON I’ll stay with her.
Burt groans. He raises his weapon.
BURT You got no choice, asshole. Let’s go.
LEON No.
Burt shakes his head.
BURT Fine. I don’t give a rat’s about you or the friggin’ artifact but if you’re not at the shuttle in an hour then you’re fucked.
LEON Adam said we had at least two hours.
BURT Did he? That’s not what I heard.
Burt scans his tab and the door opens. He exits.
INT. STORAGE
DeSean wrestles the Imp free. It tears a large piece of flesh from his face as he does.
He tosses the frantic Imp to the ground and grabs the pipe.
INT. AIR DUCT
Franklin struggle’s his frame through the confined space. He peers down through the grate.
FRANKLIN'S P.O.V.
DeSean fights the Imp.
AIR DUCT
Franklin drops through the grate.
INT. STORAGE
The Imp claws at DeSean’s stomach. It tears through clothes and flesh.
Franklin sends a kick to the Imp. It bounces off the wall.
He stomps down on its head until turns to pulp.
FRANKLIN Looks like you needed a hand?
He looks over DeSean, who clutches at his wounds. His face pale and his breathes short.
FRANKLIN What you been looking for?
DeSean looks back with empty eyes.
Franklin crashes his boot in to DeSean’s face.
DeSean lets out a wimper. Another boot, then another and another.
Franklin stops. DeSean’s face is a bloody mess.
Franklin picks up the pipe and brains DeSean to death.
INT. SPACEPORT
Jenna spews froth and convulses.
Marty watches with awe.
Bubbles ripple the blood around Jenna’s submerged crotch. She screams and falls silent. Her head drops to her flesh less chest, her breath slow and faint.
MARTY He’s here.
The door springs open and blood pours out.
BURT (O.S.) What the hell!
Burt slowly enters and freezes at the sight before him.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
Franklin stands over DeSean’s lifeless corpse, basking in his victory.
He pulls a black detonator with eleven switches from his jacket and marvels at its design.
FRANKLIN (To DeSean’s body) Yep. Somehow, I just didn’t have it in me to let you destroy what we held so sacred, short-lived as it may be.
Franklin puts the detonator back in his jacket and readies the pipe.
In a flash, he lets all his fury out and bashes DeSean’s skull seven times.
FRANKLIN Much better.
Franklin straightens his jacket and hair then casually strolls towards the door, pipe in-hand.
INT. SPACEPORT
Burt looks out at the horrific scene before him.
Marty takes a step towards Burt with an ear to ear grin.
BURT What... the fuck?
MARTY ‘Evening, Mr. Bell. (To Jenna) Isn’t it wonderful when they just come to you and save you the trouble?
Jenna hisses at Burt.
MARTY Mind your manners, my queen. You’re supposed to be cordial to people just before they die.
Marty bursts out laughing.
MARTY I don’t know who made up that bullshit rule.
BURT Who the fuck are you, Marty?
MARTY Would you like the long version or the short one? And, please tone down the vulgarities when my precious Jenna in within earshot. She’s very sensitive.
Jenna hisses at Burt, more threatening this time.
Burt raises his shotgun and aims it directly at Marty.
MARTY Usually I don’t take being insulted personally. I’m making an exception this time. (Dead serious) Drop the fucking gun.
INT. COMMAND
Franklin strolls in, covered in blood. He watches Patricia and Leon from afar.
FRANKLIN Those are tough little bastards, I’m telling ya.
PATRICIA Franklin?
FRANKLIN No, it’s Abraham Lincoln. ‘Course it’s me.
PATRICIA Did you find DeSean?
FRANKLIN Oh, yeah. His ass was being feasted on by a bunch of these little monster things.
The word “monster” doesn’t sit well with Leon.
LEON What? Monsters are in... monsters?
FRANKLIN I don’t fucking know, man. They were these little short things, some had green eyes, some yellow and these long-ass claws. But, you know, they met Mr. Pipe here and that was it for them.
PATRICIA Do you know if he found what he was looking for?
FRANKLIN Does it matter? The problem’s been taken care of. This, I can promise you.
Patricia runs past her.
They watch as she makes her way towards Storage.
FRANKLIN What’s the deal with her?
LEON I don’t have a clue. What about these monsters? Where did they come from?
FRANKLIN Your guess is as good as mine. But, with how fucked up this place is, I’m not the least bit surprised to see them.
LEON No? You’re not surprised by little demon monsters with yellow eyes?
FRANKLIN Not really.
Leon looks towards the Spaceport door.
LEON Do you think that asshole Burt made it--
Before he can finish his question, Franklin clocks Leon in the face with the pipe.
Leon falls to the ground, bleeding from his left temple.
FRANKLIN No one gets off this rock but me.
INT. STORAGE
Patricia runs in, finds DeSean’s mauled body on the ground.
She flips him over and sees all the cuts made by the Imps but looks confused by the bashed in skull.
A realization overcomes her face.
Patricia looks around for some kind of weapon but can’t find any as her eyes shift towards Command.
INT. COMMAND - MOMENTS LATER
Patricia creeps in to avoid detection but see no one.
Finally, she spots Leon on the ground by the door.
Patricia runs over to his aid.
PATRICIA Leon, are you okay?
LEON I... I see two of your pretty smile and I believe I’ll have a massive headache in a few hours but I’m okay.
PATRICIA He murdered DeSean.
LEON I should’ve never trusted that son of a bitch.
PATRICIA Franklin?
LEON DeSean. It doesn’t matter now, though.
PATRICIA Where is he?
LEON He’s gonna take off from the spaceport.
Leon opens his jacket and reveals his .45 in a shoulder holster to Patricia.
LEON You have to stop him.
PATRICIA I can’t take that.
LEON You have to.
Patricia apprehensively takes the gun from his holster.
INT. SPACEPORT
Burt continues to point the shotgun at Marty’s chest.
MARTY Take your best shot, Burt. Take all your best shots.
Marty walks towards Burt at a snail’s pace.
Burt fires a shot at Marty which instantly heals. He fires round after round at the approaching Marty to no effect.
MARTY You humans like to think you’re so superior when you’re nothing to me. Less than a nuisance.
Burt runs out of bullets and drops the shotgun to the ground. His expression turns to dismay.
Marty grabs Burt by the throat, lifts him up against the wall.
INT. COMMAND TO SPACEPORT HALLWAY
Patricia sees Franklin walking towards the Spaceport door.
PATRICIA Stop.
Franklin stops at the sound of her voice. He slowly turns to find her pointing the gun at him.
FRANKLIN You should have just bought my story. This would have gone so much smoother for both of us.
Patricia looks highly uncomfortable holding the gun.
PATRICIA Why did you kill him? What was he looking for?
FRANKLIN Ah. The eternal question.
Franklin hand eases towards his jacket.
FRANKLIN (CONT’D) Just this.
Franklin reaches into his pocket, quickly pulls out a black object.
Patricia shoots Franklin six times, on instinct, before he falls to the floor.
The detonator lies at Franklin’s side.
Patricia eases over to Franklin’s body and inspects the detonator.
INT. SPACEPORT
Marty’s eyes shift to the sound of the gunshots.
MARTY The thing that never ceases to amaze me about you humans is how willing you are to kill each other. You don’t even need help from me.
Marty throws Burt clear across the room.
Burt lands next to a large window overlooking the Mars landscape.
He glances down at a series of piping where several dozen yellow bricks labelled “Composite-4 Plastic Explosive” are hidden away.
Marty briskly makes his way to Burt as Burt stands and stares Marty down.
BURT That all ya got? Throw me like you mean it, you limp-wristed fuck.
Marty grabs hold of Burt and flings him back across the room.
Burt’s body slides into the metal door. His coughs up blood on the ground.
INT. COMMAND TO SPACEPORT HALLWAY
Patricia picks up the detonator and cautiously looks around, debates whether or not to flip a switch.
She flips one of the switches.
INT. SPACEPORT
Behind Marty, the wall of C-4 EXPLODES, sends him flying.
The wall and window crumbles as the oxygen in the room begins to escape.
Burt pulls out his tab and struggles to make it to his feet. He takes a deep breath and swipes his tab.
The door opens as he got into
COMMAND TO SPACEPORT HALLWAY
where Patricia looks dumbfounded by the explosion.
PATRICIA Burt, are you okay?
BURT We gotta get the fuck outta here!
The door closes behind him as the two of them run into
COMMAND
where they find Leon with his hand covering the wound on his head.
Burt runs past Leon but Patricia stops.
BURT Patricia, let’s go!
PATRICIA We’ve got to bring Leon.
Burt stops and looks at Patricia.
BURT Fuck Leon.
PATRICIA (Dominating) We’re not leaving him!
BURT (Defeated) Hurry up.
Patricia helps Leon to his feet as the three of them run to
ENGINEERING
where they stop to catch their breath.
BURT How the hell did you blow that up?
PATRICIA I found this detonator on Franklin. I think he killed DeSean because he was going to destroy the facility.
LEON If you blew up the spaceport, how are we ever going to get out of here?
Burt and Patricia share a worried look as they glance at Leon.
Patricia looks over him, his sneezing begins to disappear.
CORRIDOR
Leon stands, his hand on Burt’s shoulder. He examines his Megtech as Burt grabs his throat and pushes him against the wall.
BURT You fuck. Finally, we’re alone! You think your father can save you now?
Leon tries to speak.
LEON (struggling) My father has nothing to do with this you asshole.
BURT He has everything to do with this! You did nothing to get onto this base, nothing! It took years for me to get to this position.
Leon smirks.
LEON Is that why you’ve been dealing drugs with Jenna since you came to this god forsaken place?
Burt lessens his force.
BURT Fuck you!
LEON I would kill you now if I could... But I feel the pleasure would be better if we’re back on Earth so I could destroy everything you have.
BURT Soon.
The spiders begin to scurry away. Burt pushes Leon to the ground, takes his meg-tech then walks toward the spiders. Leon coughs multiple times, then follows him, furious.
LEON (whispers) I’ll kill you, cocksucker...
SPACE PORT
Marty begins to cry at the sight of Jenna and the Imp-like dead baby.
MARTY Jenna, my Queen!
He looks at Patricia.
MARTY (CONT’D) What have you done?
He tries to jump for her but his energy is drained.
PATRICIA Think for a second! There are only four of us left, our focus is to get off this base, nothing--
She’s cut off as an Imp suddenly falls from an air duct, spazzing out, steam coming from his face. He falls, dead.
MARTY My sweet Jenna was supplying the energy for us to survive. Why did you kill her? Don’t you realize? This was the evolution of our species! This was the only way for us to survive!
Patricia slaps him across the face.
PATRICIA That doesn’t matter now, all we need to do is find out how the hell we’re getting out of here. Come on, we’re running out of air.
Marty slowly gets to his feet, heart broken.
COMMAND - COMMANDER FARTHING’S OFFICE The spiders scurry across the ground, heading under Farthing’s table.
Leon and Burt burst through the door, following them.
BURT What the hell?
LEON Are you going to check under it or not?
BURT Go fuck yourself.
Burt cautiously walks to the table and examines it. He begins to push the table but it’s no use. He tries again.
LEON If you need my help you can ask.
Burt looks to him, sighs.
BURT Come here and help.
LEON That’s right, asshole.
Leon walks to it. They both push together. The table budges and begins to creak as it finally topples to reveal a metal panel. Suddenly, it hisses. Smoke emerges. Burt and Leon take a step back, off the panel and onto the carpet.
The panel begins to rise, the duo’s eyes widen. It’s a pod, one seat inside and a screen behind it. The screen buzzes and comes to life.
ALAN Greetings Burt Bell and Leon Napier. How are you?
BURT Alan?
ALAN That is me. Do you need assistance?
LEON That pod? What’s it for?
ALAN A method for one human to go back to Earth. Can only be used for emergencies.
BURT How are you still functional? Alan was infected with a virus.
ALAN As I said, Emergency use. Jeremy had created me specifically for situations like this.
Burt suddenly realizes.
BURT Alan, did you just say that pod only fits one person?
ALAN This is correct, Burt.
Burt looks at Leon. Leon’s heart suddenly sinks. He looks at Burt’s meg-tech. Burt smiles as he pulls it out.
BURT One person?
LEON Burt... Burt! Don’t do this. We are able to fit two people in there, even three if we squish together.
ALAN Although that is possible, the tank does not have sufficient air supply for more than one person.
BURT You heard him.
LEON We can take air tanks in there. Alan?
ALAN If enough air tanks are taken in, it may be possible.
LEON See?
Burt laughs.
BURT Get on your knees and beg, bitch.
Leon does as told, anger welling up in his eyes.
LEON Please...
Burt laughs again like a maniac. LEON (CONT’D) What about the others?
BURT Fuck the others! You wouldn’t believe how long I’ve been wanting to do this.
LEON Burt! Listen to me.
BURT No. You listen to me.
Burt aims the meg-tech.
BURT (CONT’D) It was nice knowing you asshole.
LEON Fuck yo--
Burt shoots, Leon’s brain splatters all over the pod’s glass.
Off screen, Patricia’s gasp.
Burt looks behind him to see a defeated Marty and Patricia.
They stare at the horror.
BURT It’s not what it looks like.
PATRICIA Oh my god...
Marty looks at the pod.
ALAN Estimated time until base implosion, ten minutes and thirtyfive seconds.
INT. COMMAND Patricia looks down at Leon�s body, then up at Burt.
PATRICIA What have you done?
BURT He had it coming.
She takes an angry step towards him, but Burt raises his weapon.
PATRICIA Are you going to shoot me Burt?
BURT You heard Alan, only one of us is getting off this rock. And I have the gun.
PATRICIA You son of a bitch!
Marty laughs. Burt and Patricia look at him.
MARTY Oh, you're not going anywhere.
Marty sticks to fingers in his mouth and blows a loud WHISTLE towards the corridor.
The five remaining imps emerge from Engineering and charge them.
PATRICIA Oh shit.
Marty cackles.
Burt locks eyes with the imp in the center of the charging pack. Its snarls at him.
BURT Oh, fuck you!
Burt raises his Mag-tech and shoots the beast down, hitting it right between the eyes.
PATRICIA Burt!
BURT Come on!
Burt raises his gun at the next imp. But its too fast. The beast leaps into the air and tackles Burt to the ground. His mag-tech falls away, landing at Patricia's feet.
Another imp charges at her. She scrambles for the gun. The beast leaps into the hair, its jaws aimed at her face. She raises the gun screaming and shoots the beast in the neck.
It's dead body lands in a heap at her feet.
Burt SCREAMS as the remaining three imps tear into him.
Patricia aims the gun at one of them and FIRES.
CLICK!
Out of bullets.
PATRICIA Shit!
Burt is thrashing. The imps snapping jaws, filled with jagged, blood-stained teeth go for Burt's throat. He raises a defensive arm and the creature chomps down, just below his elbow.
He lets out of a howl of pain.
Another imp goes for his belly, the other bites down on the back of his leg.
The creature violently jerks its head back and forth, ripping and tearing a big chuck of his calf right off his leg. Blood spills.
BURT Fuck you!
Burt is able to roll over on top of the imp gnawing into his forearm.
He gets the beast into a headlock and snaps it neck.
BURT Patricia, do something!
PATRICIA I can't! Shit!
Burt continues to scream and thrash, trying to fight the beasts.
Patricia looks about frantically for a weapon. Nothing to do but watch.
Suddenly her face lights up.
PATRICIA Alan?
ALAN Yes Patricia?
PATRICIA Do something for Christ's sake!
ALAN As you wish.
Suddenly hundreds of the mechanical spiders come out of the floor and swarm the remaining imps.
The beasts let out screeching howls of pain as their bodies are covered by a swarm of nano-spiders.
They are completely devoured in seconds.
MARTY No! Stop this at once!
Marty pulls the artifact from his pocket.
Patricia runs over to Burt. He's bleeding from everywhere. His belly is ripped open, exposing his guts.
She cradles his head, blood spills from his mouth.
BURT (Strained, choking on blood) The fuckers.
Burt pulls something from his pocket, balls it in his palm. Patricia sees this.
PATRICIA You saved my life. Thank you.
He fights out a few words in his final choking breath.
BURT Go fuck yourself.
And like that, he's gone.
Patricia looks up at Marty, his eyes glowing red. His hand that holds the artifact, burning in flame
Marty lifts his head to look at her, a stream of blood running down his face from his cracked skull.
He grins at her, a flash of white teeth through the red.
MARTY You kick like a girl.
Patricia SCREAMS! Bashes him with the gun, over and over again, blood spattering across her face and arms, beats down on him until she can’t raise the gun any more.
Marty’s face is nothing but pulp, head caved in, teeth scattered in the blood pooled on the floor.
Patricia collapses, gasping for breath.
She slowly comes around, starts to breath normally again.
She drops the blood-soaked gun. It clatters on the floor.
ALAN Pardon me, Ms. Hemsworth, but I’m detecting structural fatique at your location.
Patricia hangs her head and laughs quietly.
PATRICIA Well, gee, Alan, that’s because this base has gone to shit.
She picks herself up, careful not to slip in all the blood.
PATRICIA This was supposed to be an easy assignment, you know? Get away from Earth, from my brother, be a part of something that really matters.
She heads for the escape pod.
PATRICIA But no! Fucking politics and god- damn conspiracy has to destroy everything. Again!
The artifact pulses, catching her eye. She stares at it.
PATRICIA Fuck it.
Patricia climbs into the escape pod. Buckles herself in.
PATRICIA Tell me something, Alan. Put those deducing algorithms to work and lay it on me.
She spools up the engine.
PATRICIA Is the human race as fucked as it seems?
ALAN I’m afraid—
PATRICIA I know, you can’t answer that. Don’t mind me, I’m just engaging in a little self-pity.
Patricia keys commands into the console, leaving blood smears on the screens.
Behind her, a parade of spiders carry the artifact into the pod.
PATRICIA Engines spooled and ready. Alan, upload your matrix.
ALAN Uploading. (beat) You handled yourself quite well, Ms. Hemsworth.
PATRICIA Yeah, right. Burt handled himself. Saved me from those beasts. (beat) Marty should have torn me apart.
ALAN Upload complete. Sealing hatch.
A transparent dome slides up from one side of the pod and extends over Patricia until it locks into the other side.
Patricia eyes the canopy warily.
PATRICIA I hate these things.
She presses a button and the pod drops onto a set of electromagnetic rails running through--
INT. TUNNEL BENEATH BASE.
The pod accelerates like a bullet, pressing Patricia hard into her seat back, shooting the pod down the track, until—
EXT. MARTIAN LANDSCAPE
The pod launches skyward from a nearby crater. The engine fires and the pod rockets for space.
INT. ESCAPE POD
ALAN Marty was going to hurt you.
PATRICIA Yes, to make me his Queen. Queen of what?
Through the canopy, to the left, the 14-mile high volcano Mons Olympus rises from the surface like a planetary pimple.
ALAN Of a long-dormant species.
The pod suddenly dips and straight for the volcano.
PATRICIA Alan, we’re off course!
ALAN We couldn’t allow you to be harmed.
PATRICIA What do you mean, ‘we’?
Light fills the pod from behind her seat, pulsing and thrumming. Patricia disengages the buckles and looks over the seat back and sees the artifact, spiders crawling all over it.
ALAN We are the collective consciousness housed in this artifact.
Patricia’s eyes widen in fear and realization.
PATRICIA You took over Alan. (beat) So what’s the deal with the demon- looking things?
ALAN What did you expect? Little green men?
The volcano’s crater fills the view. The pod hurtles towards it without slowing.
PATRICIA So you come back and then what?
ALAN We take back what's rightfully ours.
PATRICIA What's that?
ALAN Earth.
PATRICIA And you're going to use me to do it?
Patricia grits her teeth.
PATRICIA Sorry, I’m not anyone’s bitch.
Patricia heaves herself over the seat, lunges for the artifact—
EXT. MARTIAN LANDSCAPE
The pod disappears into the crater, swallowed by deep shadows.
EXT. COMMAND
Wind blows dust across the exterior walls of the Command Center.
An army of mechanical spiders crawls through the dirt and up the walls.
INT. SPACEPORT
Spiders haul debris away from the floor.
More spiders pour over the walls, repairing the structure with astonishing speed.
A PEx lumbers through carrying a large piece of equipment. The pilot seat is empty.
INT. DARK ROOM
Commander Farthing sits in front of a viewscreen, the only light in the dark room.
FARTHING Commander Farthing to Earth Command. I’m pleased to report we’ve resolved our communication problems. We still have some bugs to work out—
He indicates the dark around him.
FARTHING --but most of our systems are back online. I credit Dr. Cvetko’s ingenuity for getting our systems back so quickly. I hope you weren’t too concerned for us.
Farthing holds up the artifact, no longer glowing.
FARTHING I’m also please to report complete success in our primary mission. Mr. Worth is dealing with dispatching the prisoner population, as per mission orders.
Farthing sits back, smiling hugely.
FARTHING It’s time for extraction. See you in thirty.
The viewscreen dims. As it does—
Farthing removes the FMD. It’s Patricia. Her eyes glow red.
All around her, glowing red eyes light up in the dark.