Joel, Bailey, and Tyler sit at a conference room table alone. Bailey stares into nothingness. Joel and Tyler look at each other.
TYLER
It’s been an hour.
JOEL
Five more minutes and I say we leave.
Tyler nods.
The door to the conference room opens and Freddy Dobson enters followed by Greg and other LEVEL personnel. They take a seat across from the trio. Joel and Tyler look at each other confused.
TYLER
Greg, you’re, okay?
GREG
Yeah. It’s good to see you guys.
The Programmer wheels into the room and takes a seat across from the trio.
FREDDY DOBSON
The Programmer has told me that the pieces of the antivirus are in good condition and can start being reassembled right away. I want to say congratulations and… my apologies. For doubting that you could complete the mission.
The room is dead quiet. Bailey stares dead center at the Programmer.
BAILEY
(Coldly)
What happened to Daniel?
The Programmer is about to speak.
FREDDY DOBSON
Daniel is gone.
JOEL
What do you mean gone?
FREDDY DOBSON
Well, I guess the best way to put it is that his mind was hacked by the Luddites during your last fight with Boss.
TYLER
So, he's not dead.
FREDDY DOBSON
The Programmer tried to retrieve Daniel’s consciousness back but… I’m afraid the strain of two competing programs destroyed his mind. He’s not dead but… he’s in a coma.
JOEL
Will he wake up?
FREDDY DOBSON
It’s unlikely. Now, back to business. We think we’ve discovered the Lu-
JOEL
Hold on, Daniel fought for that antivirus. Surely there has to be something we can do to help him. We thought the antivirus was gone but look what happened. What if the same happened to Daniel? Maybe he’s still alive somewhere.
THE PROGRAMMER
I thought so too but… I… I couldn’t find him anywhere.
TYLER
So… So, what now?
FREDDY DOBSON
The antivirus will be assembled and the Refugium will be rebooted, and mankind will be saved. Once we complete our final mission.
JOEL
And that is?
FREDDY DOBSON
Defeating the Luddites. Once and for all. We received intel from a reconnaissance drone that The Luddites are in a cave system 96 miles from here. I’ve put together a team to infiltrate their headquarters and eliminate them. Greg, with your military background we’d love to have your assistance.
JOEL
What about us?
FREDDY DOBSON
You are a civilian. Plus, you’ve done your part.
(To Greg)
Report to the hanger in four hours.
Dobson and his people along with the Programmer leave the room.
The group stares at Greg.
JOEL
So, you’re working with him now?
GREG
I don’t know...maybe. Is that a problem?
JOEL
I don’t know. It’s just he’s given up on Daniel just like that.
GREG
Daniel’s gone Joel.
JOEL
No. No he’s not.
GREG
We need to focus on repairing the Refugium and neutralizing the Luddites.
TYLER
Bro do you hear yourself? You're talking like a soldier.
GREG
I am a soldier.
TYLER
You worked on the air units.
GREG
I still had combat training.
JOEL
Look, it seems like you and Dobson are friends now, so maybe you can convince him to allow the Programmer to search for Daniel.
GREG
I’ll try. After the mission. I have to pack.
Greg looks at Bailey.
GREG
I’m sorry. I wish I had been there.
Greg leaves.
JOEL
Four hours later.
INT. HANGER - DAY
Greg walks into the hanger bay where multiple black helicopters lie dormant. Dobson and other soldiers sit in front of a screen. Dobson motions to Greg who joins them.
DOBSON
Ladies and Gents, this is Greg.
The soldiers nod. One stands up and extends his hand. He’s tall and white and bears a sleeve tattoo on his right arm.
TJ
Name’s TJ. Welcome to the team.
Greg shakes TJ’s hand.
GREG
Thanks.
Greg takes a seat next to TJ.
FREDDY DOBSON
Alright… You all know our mission. Neutralize the group known as the Luddites. It took a lot of resources for this mission to be possible, so let’s make it count.
Dobson taps the screen, and a picture of Diana appears.
Freddy DOBSON
Meet Diana Clemmons. She is the co-creator of the Refugium and one of our targets along with Adrian.
GREG
Co-creator?
FREDDY DOBSON
That’s correct. After the war, she disappeared. We believe she joined Adrian and co-founded the Luddites. We need to take her out. TJ will lead the assassination mission while I lead the attack on the Luddites. You can find the rest of the information in the dossier. Alright people let’s move.
The team boards one of the helicopters and it takes off out of the hangar.
EXT. WASTELAND - DAY
The helicopter soars over the wasteland. It passes over destroyed buildings.
INT. THE HELICOPTER - DAY
Greg watches the landscape through the window.
TJ
I know, it’s hard to look at.
GREG
Did you fight in the war?
TJ
No. None of us did. I know some of my friends in the army did. They’re dead of course.
GREG
I’m sorry.
TJ
Thanks. Say, what is the simulation like?
GREG
You’ve never been in it?
TJ
None of us have. We were in cryo. Couldn't let the simulation effect our training. Cryo locks our minds as well as our body.
GREG
Oh, well, it was really convincing, before we knew what it was. After we knew, it was different. It’s a different feeling. You feel a little less… in control.
TJ
Doesn’t sound that great.
GREG
It’s not bad. Of course, my friends and I have seen the worst of what the Green Sky did.
TJ
Green Sky?
GREG
That’s what we call it. When everything went to hell. Ever since then, things have been… crazy.
INT. RECREATION ROOM - DAY
Joel paces around a room and Tyler sits on the floor and Bailey sits on a couch.
TYLER
Wanna play a game?
JOEL
I’m sorry what?
TYLER
A game. Cards? Maybe they have Monopoly.
JOEL
How can you think of playing a game right now?
TYLER
There's nothing else to do.
JOEL
Daniel’s still alive. We can figure out a way to save him.
TYLER
You really think he’s alive?
JOEL
Of course, I do. Cause if Boss can survive all the shit we’ve thrown at him, then Daniel can survive.
TYLER
So, what should we do? Dobson said we’re done.
JOEL
We need to talk to the Programmer. He can find out where he is. We can find Daniel before the antivirus is repaired.
TYLER
Okay. What do you say Bailey?
Bailey doesn’t answer.
JOEL
Bailey?
Bailey breaks into tears and begins bawling. Joel and Tyler look at each other waiting for the other to do something. Joel pats Bailey on the back.
JOEL
We’ll get him back. I promise.
EXT. CAVE ENTRANCE - DAY
The unit along with Greg stands at a cave entrance. Near them are two dead Luddite guards.
TJ
Alright, just got confirmation that Dobson and his unit have entered through the other entrance. We’re good to go. Split up, kill anyone you find, and most of all find Diana and Adrian and kill them.
The soldiers nod.
TJ
Alright, let’s go.
The unit moves in. They walk through the cave network with their weapons raised. Whenever they come across a Luddite, they shoot the Luddite with their silencer weapons. The unit begins splitting up. Greg and TJ reach a crossroad. They split up and Greg walks down a tunnel. At the end, there is a light. Greg stops and takes a deep breath. He examines his chainsaw minigun and takes a deep breath. He proceeds slowly and reaches a vast open area filled with computers and monitors. Sitting at one of the computers with her back turned, is Diana.
Greg raises his weapon and prepares to kill Diana. Diana sees Greg in the reflection of her computer monitor.
DIANA
Greg?
Greg stops.
GREG
Do you know me?
Diana turns around.
DIANA
I know all of you. Ever since you survived the Green Sky. What are you doing here? Unless…
A look of realization flashes across her face and she reaches for a button.
GREG
Don’t.
DIANA
I can’t allow you to do this.
GREG
Fuck you, you killed Daniel.
DIANA
Daniel isn’t dead. He’s very much alive. I can show you.
Diana motions to the computer screen.
GREG
TELL me.
DIANA
Daniel's consciousness had retreated to a desolate part of the Refugium. The only way to get there is to cross Cyberia.
GREG
Cyberia?
DIANA
Yes, it’s…
There is a gunshot and Diana falls to the ground clutching her shoulder. Greg whips around. TJ is pointing his rifle.
GREG
No, wait!
TJ prepares to shoot.
Diana presses a button on the keyboard. There is a deafening sound, and the ground begins to shake. Parts of the cave begin falling. Diana runs toward another tunnel. TJ attempts to follow but is crushed by a piece of rock. Greg runs back the way he came. He runs out of the cave as the entrance collapses. He lies on the ground panting.
Dobson and three soldiers rush over to him.
FREDDY DOBSON
Greg! Greg, are you okay? Where’s TJ?
GREG
He’s… he’s dead.
FREDDY DOBSON
Did you see Diana? Adrian?
GREG
I… I encountered Diana but then TJ shot her, and she set off the explosions.
FREDDY DOBSON
We encountered some Luddites and then the caves started collapsing. The mission’s been aborted. Let’s get back to the chopper. We’ll regroup at HQ. Figure out a different plan.
INT. RECREATION ROOM - NIGHT
Joel and Tyler play cards. Greg enters. He is bruised and has small cuts on his face.
TYLER
What the hell happened?
GREG
The mission went sideways. The Luddites got away. I… met Diana.
JOEL
Who?
GREG
Apparently, she co-created the simulation. She told me she knows where Daniel is. That he’s alive.
JOEL
I knew it! Where is he?
GREG
She said we had to cross some region known as Cyberia.
TYLER
Well, that’s creative. What exactly is it?
GREG
I don’t know.
JOEL
I know someone who does.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT
The Programmer pours himself a glass of whiskey. Joel, Tyler and Greg burst in.
JOEL
What’s Cyberia?
THE PROGRAMMER
Excuse me?
GREG
Cyberia. What do you know about it?
THE PROGRAMMER
It’s a dead region of The Refugium...wait, how do you all know about it?
GREG
I met Diana.
THE PROGRAMMER
You did?
GREG
She helped you create the simulation, didn't she?!
THE PROGRAMMER
Yes, she was a part of the project from the beginning. Until she met Adrian.
GREG
She told me Daniel’s alive. That if we want to save him, we have to cross Cyberia.
TYLER
Is she right? Or is it a trap?
The Programmer types at his keyboard. A map of the Refugium pops up.
THE PROGRAMMER
My goodness, she’s right. It looks like his consciousness has taken refuge in an area outside of Cyberia.
JOEL
Alright, let’s go.
THE PROGRAMMER
Hold on, first of all, we don’t have clearance from Dobson and Second, crossing Cyberia is dangerous. It’s full of dead code and Bots and… who knows what else.
JOEL
I don’t care. Our friend needs us. Now can you plug us in or do we need to do it ourselves.
The Programmer contemplates the situation.
THE PROGRAMMER
Okay. Let's do it.
INT. POD ROOM - NIGHT
Bailey sits next to Daniel’s pod where he lies unconscious,
BAILEY
Come back to me please.
Joel, Tyler, Greg, and The Programmer enter.
BAILEY
What’s going on?
THE PROGRAMMER
I’ve located Daniel.
JOEL
We’re going in to save him.
Bailey nods and stands up. The group climb into their pods and The Programmer hooks them up.
THE PROGRAMMER
I’ll stall Dobson. Good luck.
The Programmer activates the entry sequence, and the group loses consciousness.
END.