It's a normal house. One you would find in a suburban neighborhood. Daniel is laying on the couch. He opens his eyes and sits up. In front of him, in a chair, is Diana.
DIANA
Hello Daniel. How are you feeling? I understand that you’ve experienced some neurological stress recently. The simulation can do that to you.
DANIEL
Who are you?
DIANA
My name is Diana. I’m the founder and leader of the Luddites.
Daniel stands up.
DANIEL
You’re working with Adrian!
DIANA
Yes.
Daniel looks around.
DANIEL
Where am I?
DIANA
You are still in the simulation. I modified this section to look like the world before the war.
Daniel walks over to the living room window and looks outside. Nothing but green lawns and flowers.
DIANA
The world isn’t like this anymore. But it can be. LEVEL thinks the future lies within a fool’s paradise.
DANIEL
You think the real world can be saved?
DIANA
Of course, I do. Anything can be saved. You just have to believe in it. LEVEL wants the easy way out.
DANIEL
How did I get here?
DIANA
I accessed your neural pathways through the sim. I was trying to stop you from fighting Boss. I actually intended to kill you, but I saw potential within you. The potential to stand with us, to save the human race. The right way.
DANIEL
So, my body is still at LEVEL HQ.
DIANA
Yes. Don’t worry, your physical body is safe.
DANIEL
Return me then.
DIANA
You want to leave already? I was hoping we could talk.
DANIEL
You’ve talked plenty. There is nothing you can say that will convince me to help you. You and your buddy Adrian attacked defenseless people. Do you two even realize how many you have killed?
DIANA
We were trying to free them from imprisonment. As for the deaths, we never intended for that to happen. We are peaceful people. All we want, is-
DANIEL
To save the real world. Yeah, you’ve made that clear. Now return me to my body.
The room is silent.
DIANA
You know, I worked with him. The Programmer. I helped him create the damn thing. In the beginning I thought it was our only hope. And then I meant Adrian. A refugee. He lost everything and yet despite all the horrors that the world witnessed. He still believes in it. It was at that moment that I realized that I wasn’t building a haven for humanity. I was building a prison for it.
Diana stands up and walks up to Daniel.
DIANA
I don’t want to hurt anyone. I need your help. You are our only hope.
Daniel hesitates for a moment. He glares at Diana.
DANIEL
You put on a good act.
Diana steps backwards.
DANIEL
I’m not stupid.
DIANA
No. You're not.
DANIEL
You just want the antivirus.
DIANA
We can’t allow them to repair the simulation.
DANIEL
You mean you won’t allow them to save the human race.
A light flashes on Diana’s watch.
DIANA
I need to go. I can see you’re going to need some time to yourself. Maybe some time with a friend will help change your mind.
Diana taps her wrist, and the room transforms into a white space. Sitting in the center is Boss.
DIANA
I’ll return in a few minutes. You two behave yourselves.
Diana vanishes in a flash of light.
Daniel looks at his wrist and flicks it. The chrome gauntlet does not appear.
BOSS
Don’t bother. Our powers won’t work here. Something about the code that makes up this place.
DANIEL
I don’t need weapons to kill you.
BOSS
Do you really want to fight right now? Honestly, what's the point anymore? You won, I lost. I was… made… for one thing and I failed. You know, when Adrian first told me what I was, I was angry. I was created for one purpose. To destroy. I am nothing but numbers and letters put together to form a single being. And then… I began to realize that I wasn’t angry because of what I was. I was angry because I failed at doing it. One purpose. That’s all I had and because of you, that purpose is no longer mine.
DANIEL
If you're looking for pity, you won’t get any from me. I can’t wait for the moment when you die.
BOSS
You’re so convinced that you’re the hero in the story. Adrian and Diana… they’re the real heroes. They still believe in a world. Not… whatever the hell this is.
DANIEL
THIS may not be ideal, but from what I’ve heard, the real world is beyond saving. And you’re right, I’m not a hero. There are no heroes in this story. Only survivors.
BOSS
You know for once; I think we can agree on something.
DANIEL
I’ve been wondering, why do you try to destroy something that could keep you alive.
BOSS
Either way I’m dead. Might as well do what I’m meant to do.
DANIEL
Fair point.
BOSS
Pity, I thought you and I would have at least one last fight. Something cinematic.
DANIEL
Sorry to disappoint.
BOSS
Oh well, knowing Diana and Adrian, they might just find a way to make that happen.
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
Diana sits up in her medical pod. Adrian stands next to the pod.
ADRIAN
Well?
DIANA
I don’t think he’ll help us.
ADRIAN
I’m not surprised. We got confirmation that LEVEL has all the pieces of the antivirus.
DIANA
How’s Boss?
ADRIAN
I fixed his damaged code. He’s good to go when we need him. Of course, LEVEL has the antivirus.
DIANA
It will take the Programmer time to reassemble the antivirus. During that time, we can make our next move. One that hopefully involves Daniel.
ADRIAN
I still don’t see what you see in him. He works with LEVEL. All he wants to do is save the simulation just like them.
DIANA
I used to believe in the simulation. I believed it was our only hope. And then I met you. You showed me this world was worth saving.
ADRIAN
He’s not you.
DIANA
No. No he’s not. He’s someone else. Someone who’s done a lot of fighting. Someone who would want to end a conflict with as little bloodshed as possible. I have to believe in him just as you believed in me. As I have believed in you. I’m going back in.
Adrian nods.
Diana lies back in the pod and slips in unconsciousness.
INT. THE WHITE SPACE
Diana appears in front of Daniel and Boss.
DIANA
I’m glad you two behaved.
DANIEL
Look, I’m not going to help you.
DIANA
Listen, that’s all I ask. Your friends retrieved all the pieces of the antivirus. Now, your physical body is still at LEVEL. If I return you, you can stop the Programmer from piecing together the antivirus. Please Daniel, you are humanity’s last hope.
Pause.
DANIEL
No.
Daniel punches Diana to the ground. Boss charges at him and throws a punch. Daniel deflects it and punches Boss. Boss falls to the ground. Diana and Boss get up.
DIANA
Daniel please!
Daniel raises his fist.
Suddenly...
Daniel begins to pixelate violently. He cries out in agony.
DIANA
Adrian, what’s going on?
ADRIAN
(From Above)
The Programmer has hacked our system. He’s trying to retrieve Daniel.
DIANA
Stop him!
Daniel begins to pixelate harder. He lets out a cry of agony and disintegrates in a flash of light.
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
Diana awakens and exits the pod. She rushes over to Adrian who is looking at a computer.
DIANA
What happened?
ADRIAN
I lost him.
DIANA
The Programmer got him?
ADRIAN
No.
DIANA
So, what?
ADRIAN
Daniel… he’s gone.
END.