The two armies collide.
Joel and Jacqueline slice through bots with their katanas. Joel shoots some with his Glock. Tyler shoots a blast of blue energy from the tip of his staff vaporizing Bots. Bailey twirls her spear stabbing and slicing Bots. Sugar Mama shoots golden energy from her hands. Hudson swings his double-sided battle-ax. Ultimus stomps on several Bots while simultaneously shooting with his tank gun.
In the midst, Bailey and Claire make eye contact.
CLAIRE
Hey girl. Sorry, it has to end this way.
BAILEY
Me too.
Bailey throws her spear but Claire dodges. She fires an arrow and Bailey ducks. Claire rushes to notch another arrow. Bailey charges towards Claire and lands a punch on Claire’s jaw. Claire knees Bailey in the stomach knocking her down. Claire materializes a knife and prepares to stab Bailey. A katana blade pierces through her chest, and she begins pixelating. She screams and vaporizes. Jacqueline lowers her blade and helps Bailey up.
JACQUELINE
Hope you don’t mind. She and I had unfinished business too.
BAILEY
Not at all, thanks for saving me. Besides, I’ve got unfinished business with someone else.
Gary makes his way through through the fighting and stops in front of Bailey.
GARY
Hey babe. Last chance for us to be together.
Bailey extends her hand, and her spear returns to her hand.
JACQUELINE
I’ll let you two talk.
Jacqueline continues killing bots.
BAILEY
Gary, it’s over.
GARY
Fine.
Gary charges at Bailey and swings his scythe. Bailey deflects it and kicks Gary in the groin. Gary yelps and falls to his knees. Bailey raises her spear and pierces Gary’s groin. Gary pixilates and vaporizes.
EXT. LEVEL - DAY
Adrian, Diana, and some Luddites begin planting explosives around the building.
INT. LEVEL - DAY
Freddy Dobson and the soldiers watch the screens.
SOLDIER
Not detecting any survivors.
The Programmer wheels in followed by Greg.
FREDDY DOBSON
How are they doing?
THE PROGRAMMER
They’ve been busy. Looks like Boss has an army of his own.
FREDDY DOBSON
Let’s give them a hand.
Adrian, Diana, and the Luddites stand back, and Adrian presses a button on a remote pad.
There are multiple explosions around the building. Most of it is obliterated.
INT. LEVEL COMMAND CENTER - DAY
Dobson, The Programmer, and Greg are thrown to the ground.
INT. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - DAY
The Other Daniel sits casually at a study table. Daniel paces around him.
DANIEL
Look, we hate each other.
THE OTHER DANIEL
Something we can both agree on.
DANIEL
You know what else we agree on. Bailey. We both care for her and right now she needs us. If we don’t merge, then she dies. Are you willing to let that happen?
THE OTHER DANIEL
Of course not! I would never let anything happen to her!
Daniel extends his hand.
DANIEL
Then prove it! Help me save her! Because right now, she’s going to die without OUR help.
The Other Daniel contemplates. He stands up and takes Daniel’s hand. Both begin glowing blue. They begin melding into each other.
THE OTHER DANIEL
Take care of her.
DANIEL
WE will.
Both Daniels grasp each other’s forearms.
INT. WHITE DESERT WASTELAND
The battle rages on. Boss fights his way through the chaos towards the core building. Joel sees him and tries making his way towards him. More Bots rush in between him and Boss, stopping him in his tracks.
JOEL
Damn it!
Joel raises his katana and prepares to fight. Ultimus appears behind him.
ULTIMUS ELITE
Need a hand.
Ultimus begins mechanically decompressing and turns into a tank.
ULTIMUS ELITE
Get in!
Joel jumps on top of Ultimus and he rolls forward crushing and destroying Bots. Joel slices and stabs any Bots that climb onto Ultimus. The Bots begin tearing pieces of Ultimus apart. The rest of the group climb onto Ultimus and use their weapons to help Ultimus clear a way through.
Boss escapes the chaos of the battle and runs towards the Core building.
The Bot army begins overwhelming Ultimus. The group jumps off into a clearing. Ultimus transforms into his humanoid self. He’s missing multiple parts and he can’t stand.
ULTIMUS ELITE
I- I can’t go on.
JOEL
Thank you. For everything.
TYLER
Guys, there’s still a lot of them!
ULTIMUS ELITE
May I lighten the load.
Ultimus transforms into a broken tank and rolls straight into the Bot army.
ULTIMUS ELITE
Initiate self-destruction.
The Bots begin swarming Ultimus and there is a large explosion.
Half of the Bot army is vaporized. The remaining Bot army charges at the group. They raise their weapons.
JOEL
There’s still more…
BAILEY
We’re running out of time. One last pu-
Thunder.
It rings across the landscape.
Clouds swirl in the sky. Blue flashes in the clouds.
Then…
Blue bolts of lightning strike from the sky and hit the Bots. They vaporize one after the other.
There is a flash of intense blue light and Daniel appears hovering in the sky. His eyes and body glow blue.
He extends his hand and blue energy emits towards the remaining Bot army.
The blue energy hits the last of the Bots and vaporizes them.
Daniel lowers to the ground and the group approaches him.
JOEL
Nice timing.
DANIEL
Sorry, it took so long. We just needed some convincing. Now we’re ready to end this.
Bailey hugs Daniel
JOEL
Is no one going to address Daniel talking in a We/Us style?
Tyler
Not now Joel.
DANIEL
Where’s Boss?
TYLER
He’s at the Core building.
DANIEL
Then we don’t have much time. Let’s finish this.
INT. LEVEL BUILDING - DAY
The building is in partial ruin. Lights flicker and wires dangle from the ceilings and walls. Chunks of concrete litter the wall along with the bodies of dead LEVEL Personnel.
Greg’s eyes open and he sits up. Dobson stirs awake and so does The Programmer.
GREG
What happened?
FREDDY DOBSON
Damn Luddites!
THE PROGRAMMER
The pod room?
GREG
That’s where they're heading.
Dobson looks over one of the last remaining computers.
FREDDY DOBSON
Other than them, it’s just us. We need to move.
Dobson helps The Programmer in his chair and pulls out a pistol. He picks up Greg’s Chainsaw minigun and hands it to him.
FREDDY DOBSON
I’ll push him, you watch our 12.
Greg nods and the three make their way through the slowly collapsing buildings.
INT. THE CORE OF THE REFUGIUM
In the vast metallic building, there is a giant white digital sphere. Boss enters the structure and looks around at the vastness. He sees the sphere and approaches it. He examines the sphere and raises his hands towards it.
DANIEL
Hey!
Boss turns around. Daniel stands at the entrance.
BOSS
I was wondering where you were.
DANIEL
Had some stuff to deal with.
BOSS
Well, I’m glad you made it. The end wouldn’t be the same without us two. One last clash. Before it all crumbles into oblivion.
DANIEL
We’ll see.
Daniel’s hands glow blue.
BOSS
That’s new.
DANIEL
I thought I’d even the odds.
BOSS
Won’t do you much good.
Boss glows green and Daniel glows blue. They soar towards each other and collide. They both fall to the ground. Boss punches Daniel, sending him into a wall. He flies towards Daniel but Daniel steps to the side and Boss runs into the wall. Daniel grabs Boss and lifts him into the air. He punches Boss to the ground.
Daniel lands on the ground. He materializes a digital rod in his hand. The Antivirus. He runs to the core. Boss gets up and shoots a strand of green energy. It wraps around Daniel and pulls him towards Boss.
BOSS
I have one purpose. ONE! I won’t fail. I can’t fail. You think just because you have some fancy new powers, means you can stop me.
DANIEL
No. I think I can stop you because I have THEM.
A spear soars through the air and hits Boss in the shoulder. The green energy strand disappears, and Daniel falls to the ground. The spear dislodges itself and flies back into Bailey’s hand. Standing next to her are Joel, Jacqueline Tyler, Susan, and Hudson.
BOSS
Now it’s a party.
Boss glows a bright green. He shoots bursts of energy at the group. Tyler raises his staff and creates a shield along with Susan while Bailey, Joel, Jacqueline, and Hudson attack Boss with their weapons.
INT. LEVEL - DAY
Greg, Dobson, and The Programmer make their way through the crumbling building. They reach the Pod Room and peek in. Diana and Adrian look over a computer screen while four Luddite guards look over the pods.
Dobson enters and shoots all four of the Luddites; he points his gun at Adrian and Diana. Greg and The Programmer enter.
FREDDY DOBSON
It’s over Adrian. As we speak Daniel is implanting the antivirus which will reboot the entire system and allow everyone to stay in the sim.
ADRIAN
Without ever knowing huh. That there’s a real-world out here waiting to be saved.
THE PROGRAMMER
Diana, please… stop this.
DIANA
I’m sorry.
Adrian raises his gun. Dobson shoots him but Adrian is able to get three shots off. One of the bullets hits Dobson in the heart and he falls to the ground dead and the other two bullets hit Greg in the chest. Adrian falls to his knees and raises his gun towards The Programmer. Greg revs his chainsaw with difficulty and decapitates Adrian. Greg falls and collapses to the ground. A pool of blood begins forming.
THE PROGRAMMER
Greg!
The Programmer wheels over to Greg. Diana kneels next to Greg and checks his pulse.
DIANA
He’s barely hanging on.
THE PROGRAMMER
We need to get him into the sim.
Diana stares at The Programmer.
THE PROGRAMMER
Diana please, it's over.
The two stare at each other. Diana begins tearing up and nods.
DIANA
I’ll get him in the pod, you initiate the programming.
The Programmer wheels to a computer monitor and begins typing.
Diana drags Greg to a nearby Pod and lifts him. She places a helmet on his head.
DIANA
He’s ready.
The Programmer taps a button.
THE PROGRAMMER
He’s in. We should go.
Diana begins walking towards The Programmer. An explosion from above knocks The Programmer out of his wheelchair.
INT. THE CORE OF THE REFUGIUM
Boss deflects the attacks of the group. Daniel shoots blue energy at him. Boss punches the ground and knocks everyone down. Joel lands next to Daniel.
JOEL
Whatever you need to do, do it now.
DANIEL
Cover me?
JOEL
Always man.
The two friends nod at each other and get up. Daniel begins running towards the digital sphere.
Greg materializes next to Joel.
JOEL
Hey, what happened?
GREG
Dobson and Adrian are dead. I… I don’t know about The Programmer or Diana. What’s going on here?
Boss begins running towards Daniel.
JOEL
No time to explain!
Greg materializes his chainsaw and Joel raises his Katana.
Boss materializes his mace and swings it. Joel and Greg both deflect with their weapon. Tyler taps Hudson’s battle ax with his staff, and it glows blue. Hudson throws it and it hits Boss in the shoulder. Boss lets out a battle cry and emits a green light pulse that sends everyone back. He turns to Daniel and throws his mace. It flies through the air and hits Daniel in the back knocking him down. Bailey runs to Daniel and helps him up.
Susan shoots her golden energy at Boss but he blocks it. Jacqueline throws her katana and hits him in the leg.
Boss begins limping towards Daniel and Bailey while deflecting the group’s attacks.
Daniel and Bailey reach the digital sphere.
DANIEL
I don’t know what will happen once I inject the antivirus. If we don’t see each other again.
BAILEY
Don’t. We WILL see each other again.
Daniel nods. The couple kisses. Boss inches closer to them. Bailey raises her spear towards him. Daniel turns around and raises the antivirus rod. He brings it down and injects the antivirus into the digital sphere. It glows blue. Everything reaches a standstill. Boss stops in his tracks. Slowly, he began pixelating and vaporizing.
BOSS
No…no..NOOOOOOOOOOOO!
There is a flash of green light and Boss vaporizes. Dead.
The group smiles at each other. The digital spear glows bluer. A blinding blue. There is an immense flash of light.
INT. POD ROOM - DAY
The Programmer looks up from the ground and sees a large metal beam that landed on Diana.
THE PROGRAMMER
Diana!
The Programmer crawls over to her. She’s on her back, the metal beam crushing her. She spurts blood from her mouth.
The Programmer attempts to lift the beam but can’t.
THE PROGRAMMER
Hang on.
DIANA
G-Gideon, stop.
Diana places her hand on Gideon’s face.
DIANA
I’m sorry. I… I just wanted to save the world.
Gideon holds her hand.
GIDEON
I know. So did I.
DIANA
Go.
GIDEON
No. I’m staying here.
DIANA
Y-you’ll d-die.
GIDEON
I know.
The building is in flames as it continues collapsing around the pair.
Gideon and Diana embrace each other as the LEVEL building collapses around them.
INT. THE REFUGIUM
Nothing. Just bright pure whiteness. Daniel stands in the middle of it. He looks around.
DANIEL
Hello?
SUSAN
You did it.
Daniel turns to his side and sees Susan.
DANIEL
What happened? Where is everyone? I thought the antivirus worked.
SUSAN
It did. You rebooted the Refugium.
DANIEL
The Programmer?
SUSAN
I’m sorry.
Daniel bows his head.
DANIEL
So. So what now. Do we just wait?
SUSAN
That’s for you to decide.
DANIEL
Huh?
SUSAN
You rebooted the simulation. You are its Programmer.
DANIEL
Are you saying I can control it?
SUSAN
You can make whatever reality you wish to make. Medieval, sci-fi, or… something normal.
DANIEL
When I… rebuild the sim, will everyone return?
SUSAN
Yes.
DANIEL
How. How do I-
Susan takes Daniel’s hand, and they kneel. She places it on what seems to be a solid floor.
SUSAN
Think. Just think.
Daniel closes his eyes and concentrates. Where his hand is, plants begin growing. Flowers, moss, and grass. A small creek begins forming.
SUSAN
It’s up to you now.
DANIEL
What about you?
Susan begins dissolving.
SUSAN
I’ll be around. This is your world now.
Susan dissolves in a golden light.
Daniel stands up. He extends his hands outward. He closes his eyes.
Around him, a sky appears. Clouds begin forming. The grass expands and the trees grow. Daniel begins glowing a bright blue. There is a flash of blue light.
INT. COLLEGE LIBRARY - DAY
Daniel sits with his friends Joel, Jaqueline, Tyler, Hudson, Greg, and Susan in the university library. Joel, Tyler, and Greg are having a conversation. Daniel is staring at Bailey. Bailey is a sorority girl and is sitting, talking with her sorority sisters at another table in the library.
Daniel is looking at Bailey longingly. Bailey sees Daniel and smiles at him.
JOEL
Dan... Dan... Dan!
Daniel focuses back on his friends sitting in front of him.
DANIEL
What?
JOEL
What do you think?
DANIEL
Think about what?
JOEL
Who’s stronger, Hulk or Thor?
DANIEL
Huh?
TYLER
Thor is obviously the strongest.
JOEL
No, Hulk is. His name says it all.
TYLER
Thor is a literal god ,and he has a hammer that only he can lift up.
GREG
Guys, Captain Marvel is the strongest. Right babe?
SUSAN
Of course.
JACQUELINE
I don’t know, Hulk has those… muscles.
JOEL
So do I.
JACQUELINE
Oh yeah? Maybe I can see them later tonight?
HUDSON
Get a room for you two.
TYLER
Yes, please.
JOEL
Dan. Settle this.
Daniel is still looking at Bailey. He gets up and begins walking over to Bailey.
JOEL
My goodness, he’s doing it.
Daniel reaches Bailey.
DANIEL
Hi.
BAILEY
Hi.
DANIEL
My name is-
BAILEY
Daniel, right?
DANIEL
(Smiling)
Yeah. Listen, I was wondering… if maybe… you’d wanna hang out sometime.
The two stare at each other. Bailey’s eyes light up almost as if she’s having Deja Vu.
BAILEY
Yeah, I would. How about tonight?
DANIEL
Sounds great.
They smile at each other with a familiarity that this… is the beginning of the rest of their lives.
End.