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Conflicts of the last progenitors

Abacus looks at the clear, green-lidded cylinder of water in his lap; within it floats the dead squidfish (springblade removed). The Biobranch assistant looks from the dead fish to the quartet of soldiers.

ABACUS

(to Neredth)

Why do they need to be here? I’m quite sure this thing is dead.

Abacus glances at Neredth; her pale face is very grave.

INT. RESEARCH SANCTUARY - MOMENTS LATER

Lo-Cheun opens the green door to the wide, foam-covered room; magnetic lights on the ceiling illuminate and glide toward corners of the enclosure; three drift toward the door, shining upon the cabinets and consoles and microscopes and gurneys of the sanctuary en route. Fastened by orange elastifabric to a gurney, is Isabel, the Spanish saboteur; two BULLETS stand beside her, at attention.

Lo-Cheun enters; the waiting guards bow to him, forty degrees; he returns ten.

Neredth and Abacus enter, the latter carrying the cylinder with the fish. (Zria, Jenfer and Rectangle stay outside.) The moment Abacus’ eyes light upon the unconscious prisoner, he becomes very alarmed. The door is shut behind him...and locked, CLACK.

ABACUS

Who’s she?

LO-CHEUN

A New Puritan saboteur.

ABACUS

Saboteur? What possible point

would there be in that? Now? And

why’s she in the research

sanctuary?

40.

Nobody responds to the inquiry. Abacus sickens the moment he understands the silent implication.

ABACUS (CONT'D)

Neredth...?

NEREDTH

We’ve got tests to run-- this is

the most efficient way to do them.

Take the specimen-

ABACUS

You’re a scientist! You can’t do-

NEREDTH

This woman tried to set off a

bleach bomb in one of Elysabeth’s

brains. She is part of the

organization that made the human

race an endangered species. I can

do this. If you can’t, I’ll hire

on another assistant.

Abacus looks at the unconscious woman fastened to the table and then back to Neredth.

NEREDTH (CONT'D)

We’ll be as humane as possible--

she won’t even be conscious for

half of the tests.

Abacus SIGHS heavily and nods.

ABACUS

Okay.

Neredth nods to Lo-Cheun.

LO-CHEUN

Bullets exeunt.

(to Abacus)

Her existence- and the New Puritan

presence aboard Elysabeth- is not

commonly known. We’re covertly

searching for other threats. For

now, this information is

confidential.

Lo-Cheun waits for Abacus to respond; the Bio, still numb, looks up blankly at the three-star Bullet.

LO-CHEUN (CONT'D)

Understood?

41.

ABACUS

Yes.

The two guards walk toward the door; it opens- CLACK- from the outside. Lo-Cheun looks at Neredth and then points to the needle-adorned squidfish.

LO-CHEUN

Feel free to press that thing into

all her most sensitive areas.

The Bullets and Lo-Cheun leave; the door is shut and locked behind them, CLACK.

Titlecard: Three Option-1-Standard Days Later EXT. OPEN PLAIN / OPTION-1 - EARLY AFTERNOON

Three CRUCIFORMS (seven-Bullet units) SPLASH in tandem across the steamy surface of the plain; one is commanded by Lo-Cheun, one is commanded by Zria and one is commanded by Rectangle. Neredth, Abacus and three BIOBRANCH two-stars accompany them.

The first sun hangs high in the sky; the second sun- a giant orange-red orb- has just transcended the mountains. Everyone is bathed in sweat and casts two shadows.

Neredth looks at her thermometer: 89 Degrees Fahrenheit...90

Degrees Fahrenheit.

Abacus is bleary-eyed, PANTING and quite clearly miserable from the hot, wet trek.

ABACUS

This planet is lousy.

He leans over and SPLASHES water on his face.

ABACUS (CONT'D)

(to Neredth)

Is it too late to say squidfish are lethal and threaten all mankind?

A nearby Bullet in Zria’s cruciform looks at and addresses Abacus.

42.

FIRST FRENCHMAN