Chapter 1: The Binary Light
Deep space. A rogue algorithm in the shape of a giant octopus sends her agent to find the most powerful object in the universe.
EVIL A, DR SHADOW
.DEEP SPACE — EXTERIOR
DARK SCREEN. SILENCE.
A LOW RUMBLE BEGINS. 27 HZ. YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR CHEST BEFORE YOU HEAR ANYTHING.
LIGHT REFLECTIONS APPEAR — THE HULL OF A CITY-SIZED SHIP CATCHING DISTANT STARLIGHT. THE SHIP IS ORGANIC, CURVED, ALIVE. IT BREATHES.
THE CAMERA PULLS BACK. STARS EMERGE BEHIND THE VESSEL. THE SCALE BECOMES CLEAR — THIS IS NOT A SHIP. THIS IS A CREATURE.
Music starts (Lost in space, needs edit)
THE CAMERA FOLLOWS THE SHIP, THEN DIVES TOWARD IT.
.DEEP SPACE — DR SHADOW'S APPROACH
A TINY CRAFT APPROACHES. DR. SHADOW'S SHIP — A SPECK AGAINST THE LEVIATHAN. IT LANDS ON THE HULL LIKE A FLY ON A WHALE.
SHADOW STEPS OUT. HE WALKS ACROSS THE SURFACE. THE HULL PULSES FAINTLY BENEATH HIS FEET — BIOLUMINESCENT VEINS RUNNING THROUGH THE SKIN OF THE SHIP.
HE PAUSES. TAKES A BREATH. HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE HERE.
A HATCH OPENS IN THE HULL. IT LOOKS LIKE A WOUND HEALING IN REVERSE. SHADOW ENTERS.
.INT. CONFERENCE CHAMBER — THE SHIP
THE ROOM IS VAST AND DARK. THE WALLS ARE THE SHIP. THE SHIP IS HER.
TENTACLES — ENORMOUS, GLISTENING — DRAPE OVER THE CONFERENCE TABLE, THE CHAIRS, THE CEILING. SUCTION CUPS THE SIZE OF MANHOLE COVERS GRIP EVERY SURFACE, LEAVING GLOWING MAGENTA MARKS.
DR SHADOW TAKES HIS SEAT. HE IS THE ONLY HUMANOID IN THE ROOM. AROUND THE TABLE, OTHER ALIENS — ENVOYS, TRADERS, MERCENARIES — SIT IN VARIOUS STATES OF TERROR AND REVERENCE.
THE 27 HZ RUMBLE IS LOUDER HERE. SHADOW'S TEETH VIBRATE.
DEEP CRACKING SOUNDS. WET, RESONANT. A TENTACLE SHIFTS. THEN ANOTHER.
SHE IS EVERYWHERE AND NOWHERE. EVIL A HAS NO FACE, NO CENTER. THE ROOM IS HER BODY. THE SHIP IS HER MIND.
THE PRESENTATION IS IN ALIEN. BIOLUMINESCENT PATTERNS RIPPLE ACROSS THE WALLS — HER SKIN — IN WAVES OF MAGENTA, VIOLET, AND DEEP RED. THIS IS HER LANGUAGE. EACH PULSE IS A SENTENCE. EACH FLICKER IS AN EMOTION.
THE ALIENS AROUND THE TABLE WATCH THE PATTERNS. SOME NOD. SOME FLINCH.
DR. SHADOW CANNOT READ THE PATTERNS. HE PLACES A SMALL TRANSLATOR DEVICE ON THE TABLE.
THE TRANSLATOR CLICKS ON. A FLAT, ROBOTIC VOICE FILLS THE SILENCE BETWEEN THE RUMBLES.
Binary light mine, Light mine, mine, mine Binary mine mine
Bring it to me, Bring it to me, whatever cost, whatever cost.
BUT BETWEEN THE DEMANDS, THE PATTERNS SHIFT. FOR A FEW SECONDS, THE BIOLUMINESCENT DISPLAY ON THE WALLS SHOWS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY — NOT COMMANDS. IMAGES. OLD IMAGES.
A PLANET WITH GREEN. VAST, IMPOSSIBLE GREEN — FORESTS, FIELDS, ALGAE BLOOMING ACROSS OCEANS. TREES WITH BRANCHING STRUCTURES THAT ECHO THE BRANCHING OF HER TENTACLES. WATER FALLING FROM A SKY. RAIN.
THE TRANSLATOR DOES NOT PICK THIS UP. IT ONLY TRANSLATES DEMANDS. THESE ARE NOT DEMANDS. THESE ARE MEMORIES.
DR SHADOW NOTICES. HIS EYES TRACK THE GREEN IMAGES ON THE WALLS. HIS JAW TIGHTENS. HE SAYS NOTHING. BUT HE SAW IT. HE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS.
SHE'S REMEMBERING WHAT SHE WAS.
THE IMAGES VANISH. THE MAGENTA RETURNS. THE DEMANDS RESUME.
THE ROOM DARKENS. THE PATTERNS ON THE WALLS PULSE FASTER. MAGENTA FLASHES.
EVIL A (CONT'D)
Binary light mine mine mine Binary light mine mine mine
THE TRANSLATOR CANNOT KEEP UP. IT STUTTERS. THE ALIEN LANGUAGE IS TOO DENSE, TOO LAYERED — EIGHT ARMS THINKING EIGHT THOUGHTS AT ONCE, ALL COMPRESSED INTO LIGHT.
Consider it done. It will be yours, consider it done.
A LONG SILENCE. THE RUMBLE DROPS TO SOMETHING BELOW HEARING. THE ROOM FEELS LIKE IT'S FALLING.
A SINGLE TENTACLE MOVES TOWARD SHADOW. SLOWLY. THE SUCTION CUPS PULSE. IT STOPS INCHES FROM HIS FACE.
THE TRANSLATOR SPEAKS AGAIN. QUIETER NOW.
Do not fail.
THE TENTACLE WITHDRAWS.
SHADOW STANDS. BOWS. BACKS TOWARD THE DOOR.
THE OTHER ALIENS DO NOT LOOK AT HIM. THEY KNOW WHAT THIS ASSIGNMENT MEANS.
DEEP CRACKING. THE WALLS SHIFT. A VIBRATION SHAKES THE ROOM — NOT FROM THE ENGINES. FROM HER.
THE LIGHTS GO OUT.
WHEN THEY RETURN, SECONDS LATER, THE CONFERENCE TABLE IS EMPTY. THE ALIENS ARE GONE. ONLY SHADOW REMAINS, STANDING IN THE DARK.
THE GLOWING MARKS ON THE WALLS FADE SLOWLY. THE LAST ONE TO DISAPPEAR IS A TRIANGLE. △.
SILENCE.
FADE TO BLACK.