Int. Early Morning – Inside of a retro-futuristic bedroom
Z gets his self out of bed. He walks to the small sink in the corner of his room to wash his face. As the water rushes from the faucet, He began to stare in the mirror. Looking furious and sleep deprived.
Z (in thought)
(gripping the edges of the sink) Who knew that saving the world twice and losing your grandparents would give me night terrors like this. It literally felt like by body was cut in half...
Camera cuts to a mosaic looking flashback
For context, in 2013 A.U., Z and few of his colleagues at the Observatory Facility stopped the inter-dimensional threat of battle robots and having to defeat their original creator. Last year, he again had to stop another robotic invasion, but this time was a trap set by his closest high-school friend. Ending in his grandparents being murdered in an arson fire.
Camera cuts back to the mirror shot
Z (cont. in thought)
(turns off sink) Gah, I gotta take my mind off of this...
Z heads towards his tiny dresser to grab some jogging pants and socks and began getting dressed. He goes his closet to grab his hoodie and sneakers and began exiting the door.
Int. Early Moring – Observatory Hallway
As Z's footsteps tapped along the porcelain tiled floor, he felt a sense of emptiness. All he could he hear was his self and the quiet hums of a vending machine nearby. Walls of concrete separated by each other dorm rooms and offices. The whole room was engulfed by the vivid white L.E.D lights from the ceiling. He approaches the exit sliding door when someone stops him. An smaller old man with a cardigan and loafers on. His name was Dr. E. Whaltz(80 years old).
Dr. Whaltz
Good Morning, Z. A pleasure seeing you up this early.
Z stares at him for few extra seconds.
Z
I'm going for a run...
Dr. Whaltz
Oh alright. But by the way, when you come back. Meet me in my office in the 2nd floor Basement. There is something important I need to talk to you about.
Z exits the room.
Sharp Cut
Ext. Early Morning – Local Neighborhood
Z was jogging along the bike path. The street lights were still on and the sun was about to wake. The main street was nearly vacant with only a few cars in traffic. About an hour later, he returns to the Observatory heads down to Dr. Whaltz's office.
Int. Early Morning – Dr. E Whaltz's Office
Z
Alright, what do you want?
Dr. Whaltz
Oh come in, come in! Please sit down.
Z began to sit down on in the office chair in front of Dr. Whaltz's messy desk.
Dr. Whaltz
I heard that you're going to University next month?
Z
Yeah, I am... I think its about time for me to have a change in pace. I mean, I've been fighting the robot invasions and going to multiple dimensions since middle-school. (stretching) Maybe I can try to at least live a normal life for once...
Dr. Whaltz looks down at his tea cup and took at deep breath. He looked a bit disappointed.
Dr. Whaltz
I would first like to personally apologize for my role in the decisions our organization and the government had you and other students go through. Despite it being irresponsible and severely dangerous for deploying children to go fight robots from multiple dimensions, you and few of your comrades defeated them and save not just our world but other dimensions too. The world thanks you for your efforts.
Z
Uh huh...
Dr. Whaltz
In addition, about your currently residence, I assume you don't have a place to stay?
Z
No, I don't...(clenching his fists) After the arson fire, it pretty much took that only place I had except here.
Dr. Whaltz pulled out an envelope from his desk draw and place it in front of Z.
Dr. Whaltz
Government is covering your tuition. In this envelope, this check is at least cover a years worth of lodging and other amenities.
Z looks down at the envelope and looks back the Doctor. He's very skeptical about this offer.
Z
I assume there is a catch to this?
Dr. Whaltz
(wryly laughing) Considering how long you been here, you was bound to catch on.
Z's expression becomes more frustrated.
Z
Even after all what had happen, you're still gonna use me to the very end for this experiments and travel missions? No deal...
Dr. Whaltz
I didn't say we are going you use for any of those. Considering our new situation, we may reduce in workforce for those activities. I need you for something else. Follow me.
Dr. Whaltz gets up from his chair, and the two walked to the elevator going to the third basement.
Int. Observatory - 3rd Floor Basement
It was colder compared than the floor above. A door slides open to a large storage room with large boxes and loose electronics. However, there was one large object with the a large cloth.
Dr. Whaltz
There is one thing we need you for. (Unsheathing the cloth) While everyone was focusing on the robotic outbreak, I was working on this new project. I haven't thought of a name yet but this project allows you to transport yourself virtually through a simulation we have available. It's made to look and feel realistic, and even in there you are able to transform into your fox form without any gene editing required. Sound pretty cool?
Z
Oh, that's cool. However, I'm not interested.
Dr. Whaltz
Ah, come on-
Z
Nope, I have a feeling that I'm going to get tricked into do something that I'm going to regret in the future. Not interested.
Dr. Whaltz
I promise you, you will not be harm with your involvement this time. This simulation is self contained. Had a few people test this already, it'll be fun.
Z ponders for a second
Dr. Whaltz
All you have to do in the machine and complete the mission, that's it. I will be able to contact you via the machine and instruct you on what I need from you. After this, you'll have your money and you can be on your way.
Z
You're serious? There is nothing deeper than that?
Dr. Whaltz
I give you my word...
Considering his current situation and the world is now in peace now, Z felt comfortable enough to loosen up a bit. This is the last ever thing he is required at his stay at the Observatory. He keeps the Doctor's words in his back pocket.
Z
Fine...(opens the machine door) Let's get this over with.
Dr. Whaltz expression became a lot more gleeful when he finally excepted the offer.
Dr. Whaltz
Alright, let me turn it on and change a few settings.
The big machine's fan began to spin up and the began to rumble.
Dr. Whaltz
Alright, settings are good. Cartridge of the simulation is already loading in RAM. (pulling on a small tablet) I can get a live feed from inside of the simulation and can contact you within. You'll be physically transported into the stimulation starting in three seconds.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
The machine quickly counted down and Z is now transported into a black room.
Z(in thought)
Hey, that wasn't bad. I was expecting to have my body morphed in order for this work. I can't see anything though...
Z
(yelling) HEY, DR. WHALTZ CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
Loud in clear! On your left, there should be a door. Can you see it?
The lights turn on leading towards a black door and Z began walking towards it.
FADES IN TO WHITE
Ext. Night - Raining – Kanji Laboratories
The door lead to him placed in a realistic looking large city near a large and prestigious research building gated off with minimal security and lot of lights on the outside of the building. There is little to no people outside just the lights of the street lights, and the buildings surround them. It was also pouring rain and thundering and Z was getting soaked.
Z
AH, MAN! IT'S RAINING! Alright, what I got to do?
Dr. Whaltz(V.O.)
Understand only me and you can hear each other with in this simulator. This is mission to evaluate how would any of our Dimension Travelers and Government Soldiers carry out solo rescue and extraction missions. Your mission to extract and retrieve the facility's deadly weapon experiment. It should be in a large incubation tank. Despite how it looks on the outside, it is heavily guarded in the inside. Let's see what you got.
Z
I gotta hand it to the graphics team, this place looks photo realistic. Wait, I don't have any stealth tools.
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
You're going to have to figure it out. You may need to get your hands dirty when needed. Luckily, I made some modifications to the source files to allow to transform into your fox form on command without using a gene-editing band. I sent a layout of the entire building to your phone. The tank should be in the second floor basement in the second building that connected the one you're looking at. Good luck...
Z(in thought)
(pulls out his phone and looks through his email as rain drops dripped down his screen) That's not too bad... Alright, let me hurry up so I can get out this rain.
From what he could see. There wasn't any barbed wires along the gate's circumference. There also no guards visibly present near the sliding gate that allows people towards the park lot. It looked clear. He runs over and hops the gate, landing into a bush. Z scouts the front doors, there are two security guards standing there. He began to run towards the side of the building to see if there was a window or a back door to sneak in. Someone left a window cracked open and he slips in.
Int. Night – Office Room - Kanji Laboratory
Z lands in a well lit and sanitized room. Filled to the brim with file cabinets. Someone even left lots of documents, folders and their coffee cup on their desk. He double checks his map and now he need to get his self to the second building on the opposite side. Beginning to walk towards the door, a middle-aged man opens it. BUSTED...
Middle-aged Lab Worker
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! SERC-
Z puts the worker in a chokehold and covered his nose.
Z
Shhhhh, go to sleep. It's ok, go to sleep now.
The worker no longer struggles and passes out. Z takes off the man's lab coat and takes what looks like a key fab and wallet. Looking through his wallet, he finds his work ID, Carl Harrison was his name. He sits him back in his chair slumped off on the desk to make people think he is sleeping on the job. He leaves the room and quickly began walking down the hall. There was a lot of staff ranging from military grade security guards to regular research workers, to basic HR and Help Desk people.
Z (in thought)
So far, so good. If this map is right, there should be walkway that connects me from this main building to the other building.
Two security guards passes Z by. However, one of them noticed something off.
Security Guard A
Excuse me, that part of the building is locking down in 5 minutes.
Z
Oh, that's a enough time. I just need to get something I left out of one of the offices over there.
Security Guard A
Ah okay...Wait a second, have I seen you before?
Z
I don't think so. I have trouble of remembering people.
Security Guard A
What's your name?
Z didn't think of this, he had to think of a name quick.
Z
Um, Carl Harrison.
The security guard is starting to get suspicious and the other guy look back towards us.
Security Guard A
Carl huh, let me see your ID?
Z shows off the guard the ID, but covering the guy's face.
Security Guard B (O.S.)
Everything alright?
A loud siren starts going off and someone began speaking from the building's intercom system.
Intercom
ATTENTION SECURITY AND STAFF MEMBERS! WE HAVE A CODE BLACK EMERGENCY! WE HAVE A TRESPASSER ON THE PREMISSES WHO CAN BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS! FACILITY WILL BE ON LOCKDOWN IMMEDIATELY!
Z quickly gets away from the two guards while they were distracted by the call and they began chase.
Security Guard B
STOP(pulls out hand gun) STOP RESISTING OR WE WILL SHOOT!
Security Guard A
I KNEW SOMETHING OFF WITH THIS GUY! (pulls out his walkie-talkie) WE FOUND SAID TRESPASSER, HEADING TOWARDS THE SOUTH WING! STOP HIM AT ALL COST!
Z breaks through one of the glass doors that has been locked off. As bullets began flying through out the wide hallway from multiple officers, he quickly evades them and began taking down some of them. More and more guards and police officers were coming and began to pile on top of him. Being overpowered by the amount of weight on top of him, he finally transformed into his fox form. Gripping one of the guards arms and throwing them at the others with high velocity. Biting off arms to disarm their guns, getting blood on his white fur, as he darts off to find the nearest elevator.
Int. Elevator Cab
Z
(checks phone) I hope this blood just despawn, I can barely see the map. So, Second Floor Basement and the tank should be in a room down towards the left. With these police on me now, they're probably waiting for me downstairs. Well (began stretching) let's gets this over with so I can get my money...
DING. 2B...
The elevator opens and swarm of armed guards rushed in. The view is from a nearby surveillance camera cuts to shows a gory ball of bodies bursting out the way with Z spitting out someone's arm. He began running down the hall on all fours looking for the room looking for.
Z
Hey Doc, Which room am I looking for?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
From the details, it should be a wide and gray metal door with a bio-hazard label on it.
Z spots the place he's looking for and tries using the key fab from earlier to access the room. The key fab was being rejected. So instead, he released an electrical blast from his hand, bursting a large hole there and few ceiling lights
Int. Incubation Room
The room was cold. Surrounds by the sound of motors humming and the teal colored liquid in a multitude of large tanks, engulfing the room. Some of them have to what looks like medical equipment attached to them. Out of all the tanks present, one of them stood out.
Z
Are you sure this is the so called "deadly weapon" that you're looking for?
Dr. Whaltz (O.V.)
From my details, that's it...
Camera pans upwards at large frosted tank with someone in it.
Dr. Whaltz (O.V.)
There is a machine connected to the tank. There should be a menu option that drains and opens the tank. Once you do that, exit the building with it and the simulation should boot you out on completion.
A loud siren and alarm goes off as the tank began to slowly drain it's fluid. The frost on the glass quickly melting away, revealing what was inside.
Z
What? No way...
The tank was keeping to what seems to be some girl with an oxygen mask attached. Having short brown hair, looking severely malnourished, and scars over her arms and legs. She floats down to the bottom as small cables disconnecting from side of her neck, and the tank's front hatch open, eject cold breeze of smoke.
FADES OUT TO BLACK
FADES IN
Z
Is there a reason why it's designed like this?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
No clue. Hurry up and get out of there.
Z
Alright (begin carrying) Let's get you out here.
Ext. Raining - Night – Kanji Laboratories
Bloody and tattered, Z reaches the exit doors with the girl in arms.
Z
Okay, I'm home free (exits sliding door) Alright Doc, boot me out.
Loud voices and flashing lights were coming from outside by the entrance gate. It was a cops. LOTS OF COPS. The gate opens and a large mech boosted towards the building's doors followed by a multitude of armed officers.
Mech Pilot
ALRIGHT YOU SON OF BITCH, DON'T YOU DARE MOVE! DROP THE WEAPON NOW OR WE WILL OPEN FIRE!
Z ,visibly frustrated, gently drops the girl on the doorsteps and looks back the mech. The other officers charges in to apprehend him.
Z
FIRST THINGS FIRST, I'M NOT A DOG! (speedily takes out surrounding officers) I'M A FOX, GET IT RIGHT! I DEALT WITH MACHINES MUCH STRONGER THAN WHATEVER MATCHBOX GARBAGE YOUR AGENCY CRAFTED!
Z (in thought)
What am I doing? I'm having a screaming match with some AI. I'm getting too into this.
Mech Pilot
YOU MAY FAST ON YOUR FEET, FOX BOY! (switches the mech's weapon modes to a Gatling gun) LET SEE YOU OUTRUN BULLETS!
Rapid firing, Z quickly grabs the girl and runs out the way. Destroying bits and pieces of the front of the lab building. He finds a safe spot to lay the girl down so the mech most likely won't have access to. He run back towards it tries disabling the mech's weapons. He succeeds then moves on to ejecting the pilot from the cockpit.
Camera cuts to a first person perspective of the Mech Pilot.
Enraged and covered in blood, Z punching and banging against the glass of the cockpit. Cracking it bit by bit. The pilot ended up taking his seat belt off and pulled out a handgun. He shoots and grazes Z's head. Before he could pull the trigger again, Z throws him out the mech, landing on the hard cobblestone below.
Z
(rubbing his head) Ah, that actually hurts. (Walks to grabs the girl) This simulation very realistic I can tell you, if I'm getting some feedback from weapon damage, materials, ray-traced lighting, the AI, and other small stuff this can help out all of training. (Deactivates his fox form) Alright Doc, let's try it again, boot me out.
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
Um... Z, we maybe having an issue with booting you out the sim.
Z
I'm sorry, what?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
While you we're fighting that mech, I was trying to troubleshoot why the simulator did not eject you out the moment you exited the building. But don't worry, hold tight. You might need to find a place to lay low until I eject you.
Z
UGH, I KNEW I SHOULDN'T TRUST YOU! YOU SAID A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE TESTED THIS SIM. HOW MANY PEOPLE EXACTLY?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
One person. Just to make sure that this machine works and can boot you in and out the sim.
Z
JUST ONE?! ARE YOU CRAZY?! I don't know advanced this simulator is, are cops going to respawn after a certain time or that's it? Hell, can I even exit this part of map to even find a place to lay low?
Dr. Whaltz (V.O)
I don't know the details on that, you can try. Hurry up and get out the area if more enemies spawn in.
Z
(looks down at the girl) What about her? Considering the effort I made to get her out the lab, she's worth a high price to these NPCs.
Dr. Whaltz (V.O.)
Until I find a way to get you out, make sure that weapon stays with you. I'll contact you in a few minutes.
Drenched in the rain, covered in blood, and with so called deadly weapon in his arm, Z is pissed and has to look for shelter. He quickly run off the lab's premises. Shocking to him, he's able to see cars come up the street with no pop in. Going further. Their were no sign of invisible walls or mesh/texture streaming issues. Z spots an short and abandoned apartment complex and sneaks in one of the units.
Int. Night - Rundown Apartment
Z
Woah, usually the devs would usually block me off from accessing this place. Let me see if there a light in here I can turn on?
He sits the girl down by the wall and turn on a outlet. The ceiling fan light lit reveal a room was dingy and disgusting. Mold and stains on the walls. Ants and few roaches scurried for cover, and a large couch that looked like it should've been taken out a year ago. Z checks his phone to see what time was it.
Z
The blood particles hasn't despawned at all, huh? It's 11am regular time. I hope this sim got a fast time of day system. HEY DOC, YOU FIGURED SOMETHING YET?
No answer...
Z
DOC, YOU THERE?
Again, no answer...
Z
(holding his head) Dayummm, why do I get myself roped in to situations like this? I should've said no... (looks at the girl) I low-key would rather be you right now, sleep and not worrying about anything. I wished I had my shirt still to at least give you some modesty, but I don't even know what are you?
Z goes to find the bathroom and see if had running water. Luck has it, there was water running. A bit cloudy but it works. He washes his hands and face to wipe some of the blood off of himself. He comes back and sits next to the girl.
Z
I guess luck has been working in my favor these last few hours. (looks at the girl) Well, guess your stuck with me until I'm out of here.
