Conflicts of the last progenitors

Neredth glances at Sven’s star and then back at Lo-Cheun.

NEREDTH (CONT'D)

He’s Bluebranch-- save your

reprimands for your own.

Lo-Cheun’s lips press together in silent irritation; his eyes flicker to Sven for an intense second before he strides away.

Neredth glances at Sven.

NEREDTH (CONT'D)

Don’t be an imbecile. Elysabeth

tells you you’re overexerting

yourself, listen to her. Biobranch is busy enough without ehrgeizig

people injuring themselves.

SVEN

Fine.

Neredth glances at Sven for a moment; the young man looks away from her, down at his feet...glum.

NEREDTH

You know anybody here?

Sven shakes his head, but does not look up.

SVEN

I was a substitute.

NEREDTH

I’m Neredth Peters.

Sven looks up at the scientist. Neredth inclines her head and leans forward, bowing ten degrees toward him. Sven returns the bow, his angle forty degrees. He then stands upright.

18.

SVEN

Sven Bjorlsson.

NEREDTH

Are you-

SVEN

Yes.

NEREDTH

I worked with him a few times-- I

didn’t know he had a son.

SVEN

Neither did he.

Neredth looks at Sven for a moment, her green eyes and austere face softened with sympathy.

NEREDTH

Join me in the Comestible Hall

tonight-- I’ll tell Lo-Cheun to

behave.

INT. COMESTIBLE QUADRANT - LATER

Sven enters the busy eating area; the moment the sun disappears from the ellipsoidal windows (the ship spins to maintain gravity) magnetic lights overhead snap to life. The young man looks around the hall and then descries Neredth, her red hair anomalous in the crowd; beside her is Lo-Cheun.

Sven scratches his large, crooked nose and then walks across the hall toward the couple. Lo-Cheun turns his head, sees the approaching young man, grimaces...and then smiles in a blatantly false manner.

LO-CHEUN

Please join us. We- Neredth and I-

are so very, very happy to see you.

Neredth elbows Lo-Cheun.

LO-CHEUN (CONT'D)

What? Was I supposed to say

something else? I forgot what you

coached me to-

NEREDTH

Quiet.

(to Sven)

Please sit.

19.

Neredth gestures to the seat beside her; Sven sits down at the foam-covered table.

NEREDTH (CONT'D)

Which kind of paste do you prefer?

SVEN

The purple one isn’t so-

ELYSABETH’S VOICE

An X White Level 2 Incident is in

progress in Lower Sternum G.

Lo-Cheun jabs his protein vial into a hole in the table. He stands up; Neredth looks up at him...worried. Lo-Cheun scans the Comestible Quadrant.

SVEN

Do you need help?

Lo-Cheun does not respond; he strides away from the table.

SVEN (CONT'D)

(to Neredth)

What’s that code mean?

Neredth apprehensively watches her husband exit the quadrant.

NEREDTH

(shaking her head)

I’m not exactly sure-- it’s

military. But I know anything

beginning with an X is serious.

SVEN

Elysabeth can’t handle whatever it

is?

NEREDTH

(distractedly looking off)

Likely not. Biobranch refused to

engineer any internal weapons for

her, in case she malfunctioned...or developed too much personality.

INT. SPINAL TRAIN - MOMENTS LATER

Straps hang from the ceiling of the turquoise train, currently stopped and peopled by twenty-six PASSENGERS. Lo-Cheun enters through the open door.

20.

LO-CHEUN

Bluebranch and Biobranch get off.

Bullets stay put.

The Passengers look at Lo-Cheun’s three-star rank; most of them clear out through the open door. Two people, a short-haired, stocky FEMALE BULLET with two stars (one red) and an athletic INDIAN BULLET with one red star, remain aboard.

The doors close. The Bulletbranch soldiers bow before Lo-Cheun (the Indian more deeply); the Chinese Senior bows shallowly in return.

LO-CHEUN (CONT'D)

(to the ceiling)

Elysabeth, this is Lo-Cheun Wai

Lee. Reroute to Lower Sternum G, 5

speed.

Lo-Cheun repositions his feet on the floor; the Bulletbranch soldiers grab hold of white straps hanging from the ceiling.

The train surges forward, jerking the three occupants.

LO-CHEUN (CONT'D)

Why aren’t you two at exercises?

They look at each other. The train VWIRRS through the Spinal Tunnel, lights flicker by like yellow and green fireflies.

FEMALE BULLET

The two-stars were given early

leave, Sir.

INDIAN BULLET

I twisted my ankle.

LO-CHEUN

Can you manage a sortie?

INDIAN BULLET

I can.

LO-CHEUN

You two armed?

INDIAN BULLET

I am.

The Indian Bullet withdraws a dark blue cylinder; silver filigree spirals decorate the sides of the device.

FEMALE BULLET

I left mine in my cube.

21.

LO-CHEUN

Your second star just became

hollow.

The Female Bullet is shocked. From his leg pocket, Lo-Cheun withdraws a black cylinder with a skull bevelled in it in golden filigree. The Bulletbranch soldiers glance warily at the lethal device.

INDIAN BULLET

Is that...necessary?

LO-CHEUN

One of the final transmissions

Elysabeth received from Earth

warned us that there were saboteurs frozen in the vaults.

Terrormongers, identity unknown.

Likely New Puritans.

ELYSABETH’S VOICE

Approaching Sternum Section.

Lo-Cheun punches a three-number code into the rear of his black cylinder. Nine SNAPPING noises sound within the device.

LO-CHEUN

Punch on.

Wobbling with the motion of the speeding train, the Indian soldier types in his code; five SNAPPING noises sound within his dark blue tube.

ELYSABETH’S VOICE

Sternum Section G.