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The Diomedian Chronicles: Interitus is a Novel/Transcript following the events of Dr. Archaon Thrax and Dr. Lorelei Mobious, both members of Prometheus squad.
This event takes place after The Diomedian Chronicles: Memento Mori.
Shore leave has come to the Aegina and everyone is excited to go home and spend some time with their family. Not having any relatives, Gwen decides to accompany Kayris to Palavan to meet his mom. Archaon on the other hand gets invited for a science convention and nervously asks Lorelei to join him.
Archaon returns to Earth with Lorelei to witness the triumph of his rival, who believes he has solved the problem of global warming. However, the new technology goes horribly awry and Archaon must help shut down the deadly weather device.
Prologue[]
[Aegina’s mess hall, Gwendolyn and Kayris arrive at the food table and start loading trays with their lunch.]
Kayris: You sure you don't want to spend your leave going back to Earth with the others?
Gwendolyn: No. Earth’s nothing special anymore since the reaper incursion, so I'd like to save mine for someplace more special.
Kayris: So we're going to Palavan instead?
Gwendolyn: Yeah, might be time to finally meet your parents?
Kayris: The only relative still alive is my mom. For the best maybe, my dad would've hated you... Probably would've hated me too…
[She turns to Kayris with a sad expression.]
Gwendolyn: Because… I’m human.
Kayris: Dad just wanted me to making him proud and all I did was just disappoint him time after time.
[She hugs Kayris with one arm, holding her tray up with the other, placing her head on Kayris’ chest.]
Gwendolyn: Hey, the only thing that matters is that we are happy together, right?
Kayris: I couldn’t imagine a better girlfriend.
[While hugging, Gwen looks across the room and sees Archaon and Lorelei sitting at a table together, eating lunch and talking.]
Gwendolyn: Hey. Check it out.
[The hug breaks.]
Kayris: [Turning around] What?
Gwendolyn: D'you think he's ever gonna make a move?
Kayris: Him? I don’t know.
[He turns and passes Gwen. Gwen looks thoughtfully at the other two for a moment.]
Gwendolyn: He should…
[She looks around to find Kayris is already gone, and hurries off after him.]
[At the nearby table, Archaon and Lorelei are chatting.]
Archaon: Say, I know we only get fourteen days shore leave a year and you miss your parents and all…
Lorelei: [confused] But?
Archaon: See, one of my old, uhm... Well, this guy who was doing his doctorate the same time as me, he's giving a big secret presentation about some new thing that he's working on and everyone and anyone in the physics community's gonna be there and... Well... See the thing is, there's this perception out there that, uh, I'm, um... [he looks down, embarrassed]... like a washout recluse.
Lorelei: [Confused] Why?
Archaon: Well, ‘cause I do this for a living. I mean, super double tip-top secret alliance stuff. I mean, I haven't published a paper in nearly a decade – not one that could be read by the general public – and I'm kinda hard to get ahold of, what with living in on this ship and all.
Lorelei: Yeah, I know what that's like!
Archaon: Exactly! They think I'm a shut-in. So I was thinking that, um, if I was to, say, show up with a woman...
Lorelei: [coyly] Uh-huh.
Archaon: [looking at her shyly]... a-a beautiful woman ...
[Lora smiles, flattered.]
Archaon: [awkwardly] ... that, um, they would maybe not think that I was... like, a complete loser. It'd be, like, one day – the first night we were there and afterwards you could be off to Moscow. [He looks at her hopefully.] I mean, it could be fun.
Lorelei: [thoughtfully] Hmm. Now, let's see; Well firstly, I’m not from Moscow, I’m for Lipetsk and Secondly; a room full of physicists; a long-winded presentation I probably won't understand. Yeah, doesn't really sound like my kind of fun.
Archaon: Well, there'll be drinks, probably, and maybe those little sandwiches... [Shyly] And... me. I'll be there.
Lorelei: [Shakes her head] Archaon, you don't have to fabricate all these reasons on why you need me to be with you. You could just ask me out on a date.
Archaon: Hey, I didn't wanna ... I mean, I know ... you ...
Lorelei: [interrupting] What? That I'd probably say yes?
Archaon: [trying to look casual] Well, you wanna go to this thing with me?
Lorelei: Sure! [She smiles at him.] I'd love to go with you.
Archaon: What? I love ... I mean, that's good! Good! Great! That's ...
Lorelei: [smiling] It's a date!
Archaon: [surprised and relieved] That's a date!
Lorelei: So, what's the presentation?
Archaon: I don't know. He doesn't wanna tell anyone until we all get there, but if I know this guy, it'll be a, you know, first class presentation ... with, like, second rate science.
[They pick up their trays and leave the table.]
Archaon: Probably some minor adjustment to someone else's work, but the food'll be good!
Lorelei: [smiling at him] And the company.
[Archaon smiles back at her.]
[Earth. ExoGeni Corporation. A large complex in the middle of nowhere in a desert in North America. In a room inside the complex, Doctor Tom Foley is working at a console as the head of the company, Michael Coleman, walks in reading a document.]
Coleman: Tom, have you read this?
Foley: [without looking up] Yes.
Coleman: Your staff thinks it's reckless to turn this thing on tomorrow.
Foley: Some of my staff.
Coleman: [annoyed] Tom!
[Sighing, Foley stands up and turns to him before going over to another console and typing on that.]
Foley: They're just getting cold feet, that's all. D'you remember all that stuff they came up with before CERN turned on the L.H.C. back in the 21th century? You know, miniature black holes, exotic particles, strangelets, the instantaneous destruction of the planet? All unfounded histrionics. We are gonna be just fine.
[Done typing, Foley positions himself near Coleman.]
Coleman: So you're saying none of these potential catastrophes is gonna happen?
Foley: [Slightly Annoyed] Well, there is always the slight possibility that something might go wrong.
Coleman: The cause has a lot riding on this.
Foley: [Smiles reassuringly] Don't worry about it. Your precious cause will come out of this squeaky clean tomorrow.
Coleman: Some of these worst-case scenarios are terrifying.
Foley: [Annoyed] Of course they're terrifying! They're worst-case scenarios! They are the worst possible thing that could ever happen ever! [Calms down] Tomorrow's gonna come off without a hitch. We've done hundreds of tests; there is zero possibility for failure. [Smiles] Trust me.
Chapter One[]
[In a private jet flying over the desert of Nevada. On board the airborne jet, Lorelei picks up a glass of champagne. The bottle is on ice on the table in front of her and next to it is a bowl of large fresh strawberries. She is wearing a pretty black cocktail dress and her hair is nicely done. She takes an appreciative drink from her glass, puts it on the table and smiles across the table, where Archaon is sitting.]
Lorelei: [Smiling] This is exciting!
[Sitting opposite her, Archaon is wearing a smart black suit with a white shirt, and a black bowtie. He smiles back at her, trying to hide his grimace.]
Archaon: Well, it's just a plane.
Lorelei: [excited] Yeah, but I've never even flown on a private jet before, let alone first class. I mean, this is amazing! Have you tried these strawberries?
Archaon: [Grimaces] When I was ten I ate a bowlful of strawberries and threw up. Haven't been able to stomach them since.
Lorelei: How does this guy afford all this? I thought he was just a physicist.
Archaon: [a little bitterly] Well, he was always able to dupe guys with deep pockets into backing his research, you know? It's amazing what a nice smile and a PowerPoint presentation will get you.
Lorelei: Isn’t that how you duped the Illusive man into funding your Lazarus Project?
[Archaon lets out an annoyed sigh.]
Lorelei: Anyway, I am impressed.
Archaon: Yes, I can see that.
Lorelei: Oh, come on. You should be happy for your friend's success.
Archaon: Well, he's more of an acquaintance than a friend.
Lorelei: Acquaintances don't pick you up in private planes.
Archaon: He didn't send the jet to be nice; he sent the jet to rub it in my face.
[Lora sighs resignedly.]
Archaon: Look, I was always one step ahead of this guy during school and now that we're in the real world he wants to show me that, as far as most of the planet is concerned, he's a lot more successful than I am. And what is with the evening attire?! We're going to a science talk, for God's sake! Who the hell does he think he is?!
Lorelei: [slightly annoyed] Is this what the whole day's gonna be like? Are you gonna be in a bad mood?
Archaon: [looking embarrassed] No.
Lorelei: [disappointed] ‘Cause we're back on Earth in a private jet, drinking expensive champagne, and your date's wearing a fancy dress. Most people would be having a good time, Archaon.
Archaon: You're right. You're right.
[Smiling, Lorelei picks up her champagne glass. To prove that he's going to make an effort, Archaon picks up one of the strawberries and holds it up for Lora to see.]
Archaon: Hmm?
[He bites into it and starts to chew, apparently genuinely enjoying it, but then he looks up at the wall ahead of him where there's a framed photograph of Foley laughing with the new Dalai Lama. He grimaces, stops chewing and looks down at the strawberry unhappily.]
Chapter Two[]
[ExoGeni Corporation. Archaon and Lorelei approach the reception desk where a male receptionist is looking at a clipboard.]
Archaon: Thrax. Doctor Archaon Thrax. [He gestures at Lora.] This is the lovely and talented Doctor Lorelei Mobious.
Receptionist: [without looking up] Yes, welcome.
[He puts the clipboard down.]
Receptionist: I'll just need you both to sign this non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement.
[He picks up two thick documents and drops them onto the desk in front of them.]
Archaon: [Annoyed] Oh, you're not serious.
Receptionist: Is there a problem, sir?
Archaon: [looking at the document in front of him] This whole thing is a confidentiality agreement?!
Receptionist: Yes, sir.
Archaon: What could he possibly be doing back there that needs to be kept two hundred pages secret?!
Receptionist: [belligerently] If you want to go inside, sir, you need to sign the agreement.
[Lorelei is already signing her document. Archaon looks at the receptionist stubbornly.]
Archaon: Dinosaurs?
Receptionist: [confused] Excuse me, sir?
Archaon: Do they have living dinosaurs back there? Because I'll sign this if he's brought dinosaurs back to life, but short of that he's out of his mind if he thinks I'm gonna pretend that whatever discovery he has made is so important and so secret that I have to sign the unabridged works of William Shakespeare here.
Lorelei: [holding up her pen to Archaon] Just sign it.
[Embarrassed, Archaon reaches for the pen.]
Lorelei: Here you go.
[Taking the pen from her, Archaon looks at the receptionist.]
Archaon: Well, you're just lucky the lady's here, aren't you?
[He starts to sign the document as Lorelei smiles fondly.]
[Later, in the lobby. A large group of scientists are milling around and talking, all wearing evening attire. Waitresses are circulating with trays of drinks. Near the buffet table, Archaon is standing with Lorelei and holding a plate of food. Archaon notices something in the distance.]
Archaon: Oh hey, look. A Krogan scientist. That's not something you see every day.
[The Krogan is wearing black armor and a top hat with a monocle over his left eye. Smiling with a Cuban cigar between his teeth and talking to other fellow scientists.]
Krogan Scientist: And then I said; “How do I get out of this wet varren pit and into a dry martini”!
[The scientists near the Krogan laugh. Lora turns back to Archaon.]
Lorelei: Where do you think we are?
Archaon: I don't know. Arizona; Nevada. I didn't think people even built secret facilities any more. Seems so 2150’s.
[A voice calls out to him from behind.]
Voice: Doctor Thrax?!
[Recognizing the voice, Archaon's eyes widen before he turns around as Gavin Archer and a Salarian named Saeden Orsis walk over. For the uninitiated, Gavin Archer became a mechanical engineer after leaving Cerberus while Saeden Orsis is a Salarian theoretical Physicist who owns his own Extranet show called “For science!”.]
Gavin: [smiling] I haven’t seen you since Cerberus, I had it on good authority that you were… Well, dead!
[Archaon laughs in a forced way. Saeden looks at Lorelei appreciatively.]
Saeden: And this would be your sister, right?
Archaon: No, no, Orsis, you know, she's not my sister. This is doctor Lorelei Mobious. [To Lora] Lorelei, This is doctor Gavin Archer and... [mumbling]... Saeden Orsis.
[Lorelei shakes hands with Gavin and then with Orsis.]
Saeden: You know, from the extranet.
Lorelei: [Oblivious] Uh, yeah, uh, of course. Very nice to meet you.
Saeden: [Smiles] Oh no-no, the pleasure's all mine.
Archaon: And she's taken, Saeden.
Saeden: [Defensive] Oh no, I didn't mean it that way, no!
Archaon: [to Lora] Orsis likes to steal things from me – things like women and theoretical physics ideas.
Saeden: [sarcastically] Yeah, but who hasn't stolen an idea from the great Archaon Thrax, right?!
Archaon: Oh, so we admit it now!
Gavin: [to Lorelei] See, back in the day, before we joined Cerberus, whenever any one of these people... [he gestures around the room]... came up with a new idea or published a new paper, Doctor Thrax here would swear that he was already working on something very similar; just hadn't gotten around to publishing it yet.
Saeden: He'd say things like, "I was about to say that very same thing," or "I was just about to have that same idea"! Actually, come to think of it, when was the last time you even published a paper? It was, like, the seventies?!
Archaon: [awkwardly] It ... hasn't been that long.
Gavin: [mock-thoughtfully] I think I was listening to that band “A Flock of Seagulls” while I was reading it!
Saeden: [Mockingly] Actually it might have been your civilization’s pre-spaceflight era!
Archaon: [Angrily] Well, it has been great running into you guys. We should, maybe, get our seats.
[He walks away at a brisk pace. Lorelei runs after him.]
Lorelei: [to the other two] Bye.
[She follows Archaon. The men watch her go and Gavin whistles appreciatively.]
Saeden: They can't possibly be dating!
Gavin: I know! Well, you know, you're married, so... dibs!
[Rubbing his hands together, he walks off in pursuit. Saeden laughs and gestures him onwards.]
Saeden: Go get her, Tiger!
Chapter Three[]
[Lecture Hall. The guests are taking their seats. Archaon and Lorelei are already seated about halfway up the tiered seating.]
Archaon: I think maybe this was a bad idea.
Lorelei: Why?
Archaon: Well, I just ... I remembered I don't really like these people.
[Lorelei chuckles.]
Lorelei: Is it that you don't like them, or maybe they don't like you?
Archaon: Both, possibly. I mean, I used to be a little... [he searches for the right word]... abrasive?
Lorelei: Oh. "Used to be".[!]
Archaon: Yeah.
[Lora looks away, biting back a smile.]
Archaon: Well, it's hard to explain. My field is very competitive.
Lorelei: [sarcastic] Yeah, I went to med school for six years. I wouldn't know anything about that.[!]
Archaon: Oh. Right.
Lorelei: Not everything has to be a competition, Archaon. They know how smart you are.
Archaon: I'm not sure they do!
Lorelei: Of course they do. You don't have to keep reminding them. It's called being humble. You've heard that word before?
[Snorting, Archaon looks at her.]
Lorelei: [Annoyed] Look, we're on our first date and I've come to a physics talk, OK?! You have to bend a little bit too.
Archaon: Humble, eh? I guess I can try anything once.
[Smiling, Lora takes his hand just as the lights dim in the hall. Dramatic native American-style music begins to play and a rotating image of the Earth as seen from space appears on the large screen at the front of the hall. Foley's voice comes over the speakers.]
Foley's voice: Earth – our home, our planet; the very vessel of human life. Our world – unique, irreplaceable.
[Various images begin to scroll over the screen: destroyed forests, trucks digging up the landscape, a polar bear on a small ice floe; cars belching out exhaust fumes etc.]
Foley's voice: And yet, at times, it seems like we are unrelenting in our quest to drive our ecosystem into catastrophic failure. Gone unchecked, global warming will transform this once lush world we know today into a lifeless and arid rock.
[The picture of Earth begins to change, showing it in the future as the landmasses begin to dry out and turn from green to a sandy yellow, and then the oceans dry up.]
Foley's voice: Friends, the stakes couldn't be any higher – the situation no more dire.
[Archaon and Lora turn to each other and roll their eyes at the ludicrous poetry.]
Foley's voice: It's time to act.
[The image of Earth fades and the word "Foley" appears on the screen. Foley walks onto the stage wearing a headpiece microphone.]
Foley: Hello. I'm Tom Foley.
[The audience applauds.]
Archaon: [to Lora] If he's so worried about global warming, why'd he fly us here in a private jet? It spews out more CO2 than Sweden now-a-days!
Lorelei: [laughing] Shh!
Foley: [as the applause fades] Thank you very much. You're very kind. As many of you know, I am not an environmental scientist, nor do I pretend to be one. For instance, I shower regularly!
[The audience laughs. Foley chuckles and looks down at a scruffily-dressed man with a long straggly beard sitting in the front row.]
Foley: No offence, Larry!
[Larry stares back at him, unamused.]
Foley: [to the audience] I'm just a concerned citizen – one who realizes that the Earth has carried us for so long…
[Behind him on the screen, the image of Earth reappears, then shrinks down to a smaller size. Foley lifts up his hand palm upwards and holds it under the image as if he is supporting the planet.]
Foley: … Maybe it's time that we carried her.
Archaon: [to Lorelei] The ratio would be accurate if his body was the size of his ego.
Lorelei: Yeah. It's a little much…
Archaon: Mmm!
Foley: Solving a problem like global warming may seem impossibly complex. So many nations, so many corporations and John Q Public will have to agree on a dizzying number of issues. So, then, what can one person really do to make a difference?
[A photograph of Foley appears on the screen behind him.]
Foley: What can I, with my particular and unique skills set, do to help?
[Lora looks at Archaon.]
Lorelei: They think you're the arrogant one?!
Archaon: [amused] Hm!
Foley: I've been working on a number of projects over the last decade and I realized that if I were to combine them, I just may be able to achieve something unexpected. So, ladies and gentlemen, with major funding from my friends at ExoGeni Corporation, I have been able to devise a means to cool our planet in a safe and controlled way.
[The audience start to murmur. Lorelei smirks at Archaon.]
Lorelei: This guy wouldn't know "cool" ...
[She trails off as Archaon, frowning and intrigued, leans forward in his seat.]
Foley: Now, the science behind this is immensely complex, but there will be detailed briefs handed out to you as you leave the lecture hall, but for right now, let me just give you the Cliff Notes.
[An image of the device he has invented comes up on the screen behind him.]
Foley: It begins with a massive heat sink – one of my own design – which steadily draws heat from the surrounding environment.
Archaon and Lorelei: [In sync] But where does the heat go?
Foley: "Where does the heat go?" you may ask. Well, my friends, that is the hard part.
[A new image appears on the screen. On the left are the words "Our Space/Time". The heat from Earth can be seen channeling along a sort of tunnel to the other side, labeled "Alternate Space/Time".]
Foley: I give you the Foley Space/Time Matter Bridge.
[Archaon stares in shock as he recognizes the concept.]
Archaon: Wait. What?
Foley: Now this isn't just some theoretical math proof. This is a functioning piece of technology – one that literally moves heat from our space/time and vents it out into another space/time.
Archaon: Yeah, but, that's my bridge! My sister and I came up with that!
[The man sitting beside Archaon looks round at him.]
Lorelei: [whispering] Shh!
[She pushes him back and smiles apologetically at the man.]
Lorelei: [whispering] Sorry!
Foley: And it works. We've been testing the system for a few months now and it has proved to be remarkably stable.
Archaon: [indignantly] It's my idea!
Lorelei: [whispering] Archaon, now's not the time.
Foley: For the purposes of the demonstration today, I've surrounded this facility with an kinetic barrier grid that will contain the reach of the heat sink. It will draw heat only from this facility.
Archaon: [Horrified] Wait – he's gonna turn it on with us here? I mean, that's – this – this is a bad idea.
Lorelei: [whispering] Archaon, please!
Foley: And to prove the effectiveness of the system, I will lower the temperature within this facility by ten degrees.
[Behind him, the screen shows the temperature dropping from 74 degrees to 64 degrees (Fahrenheit that is).]
Foley: Oh, and don't worry – I've turned off the air conditioning, so there'll be no cheating, I promise.
[Archaon turns to Lora.]
Archaon: Oh, I'm sorry. I can’t let him do this.
[He starts to get to his feet. She grabs at his arm in a desperate attempt to stop him.]
Lorelei: [whispering] Archaon, no...
[Archaon stands up and calls out.]
Archaon: ‘Scuse me! Tom!
Foley: [smiling at him] Doctor Thrax! Thank you for coming!
Archaon: This is a bad idea.
Foley: Well, we're not quite ready for the Q and A session just yet, so if you could just wait ‘til then ...
Archaon: Let's just take a look at the data you've come up with and talk about this, because turning the device on with all these people here could be very dangerous.
Foley: Respectfully, Archaon, I disagree.
Archaon: OK, you can't do something like this without our consent.
[An annoyed audience members shouts at Archaon.]
Annoyed voice: Ugh, sit down!
Foley: You did sign the document when you entered, didn't you?
Archaon: Well, yeah. I thought that was just ...
Foley: Then I have your consent.
Archaon: Yeah, but ... Look, I've been doing work that is very, very similar to this ...
Foley: Really?!
[In the audience, Saeden rolls his eyes and shakes his head at Archaon going off on another "I thought of it first" rant.]
Foley: I don't think that's possible.
Archaon: Look, these bridges to other space/times can be very unpredictable.
Foley: D'you have any research you'd like to put forward right now? A paper, perhaps – anything to back up your claim?
[Lorelei looks embarrassed for Archaon.]
Foley: Doctor Thrax, please tell me this isn't just petty jealousy.
[Lorelei reaches up and takes Archaon's arm, trying to pull him back into his seat.]
Lorelei: [whispering] OK.
Archaon: Well, no, no, I – I ...
[Looking down at Lorelei, he starts to sink back into his seat.]
Archaon: I ... just ...
Foley: No, I didn't think so. Don't worry, everyone. This is completely safe. And ...
[He nods down to an assistant sitting in the front row with a laptop. She types and, from an external viewpoint, the kinetic barrier grid begins to surround the facility. The assistant looks at her screen, then points to Foley, nodding.]
Foley: We're up and running, and I'll be happy to answer all your questions once you've had a chance to read the brief, but for now, why don't we all go back out to the lobby where hot cocoa is waiting! ‘Cause it's about to get chilly in here. Thank you.
[As he leaves the stage and the audience starts to applaud – if a little uncertainly – Lora puts a comforting arm around Archaon’s shoulder.]
Archaon: I ...
Lorelei: [whispering] Come on. Let's go get some hot chocolate, OK? Come on.
[Standing, she takes his hand and leads him out.]
Chapter Four[]
[The Lobby. The scientists are standing around reading the brief that has been handed to them and discussing it. Waitresses are circulating with mugs. Archaon and Lorelei stand near a cardboard cut-out of a life-sized photograph of Foley grinning and holding a round cardboard cut-out of the Earth. In the centre of it is a thermometer which drops from 74 degrees to 73 degrees. Archaon stares at his copy of the brief in disbelief.]
Archaon: [disbelieving] Well, this is ... this is ... How'd he even get ahold of my work?!
Lorelei: You're sure this is your work?
Archaon: [angrily] Absolutely! You believe me, don't you?
Lorelei: [Sympathetic] Of course I do.
Archaon: [Angrily] There is no way that he came up with this on his own. We've gotta ... we've gotta ...
[He looks around and sees a roped-off area behind him leading to a corridor.]
Archaon: We've ... Come on.
[He runs over to the ropes and hops over them, dumping the brief into a nearby rubbish bin as he goes. Looking around nervously to ensure that nobody's watching, Lorelei follows him.]
[a little later. Archaon has found the door to Foley's office, and goes inside. As he goes over to Foley's computer, which has a desktop picture of the man himself, Lorelei stands nervously at the door.]
Lorelei: We shouldn't be in here.
Archaon: Shh! Just stand guard there.
Lorelei: Why?
Archaon: It'll take me a couple of seconds to hack into his computer.
Lorelei: What are you doing?!
[Back in the lobby. The thermometer drops from 65 to 64 degrees. The scientists burst into a round of applause.]
Foley: Thank you! Thank you! [He turns to the two scientists that he has been talking with.] Thank you – but I don't think that an achievement of this magnitude can truly be credited to one man.
[His assistant walks over to him.]
Assistant: Doctor Foley, sir.
Foley: Oh. [To the scientists] Excuse me.
[He turns to his assistant as the scientists walk away.]
Foley: Yes? What is it?
Assistant: Well, you told us to shut the device down once we reached sixty-four.
Foley: Yes, that's right. We can shut it down now.
Assistant: Well, that's the problem, sir. We've tried. We've tried everything, in fact. The device won't shut off.
[Foley's smile fades and he looks across to his cardboard cut-out. The temperature reading drops to 63 degrees.]
Chapter Five[]
[Foley hurries into the computer room. Coleman is in there and calls out angrily to him.]
Coleman: [angrily] Tom!
Foley: I'm sorry, can you just give me a moment here?
[He hurries over to a console where a woman is working.]
Foley: Let me in here, let me in here.
[The woman vacates the seat and he types, then looks at the screen.]
Foley: All right, who's been in here?
Assistant: Just us, sir.
Coleman: What is it?
Foley: Well, the bridge won't deactivate. I don't understand why it shouldn't.
[He goes to another console as Coleman turns to the assistant.]
Coleman: Shut down the power to the facility.
Foley: Uh, that won't do anything. The system self-generates its own power once it's up and running.
Coleman: Well, then, shut down the containment field. We need to get these guests out of here.
Foley: That won't work either.
Coleman: Why not?!
Foley: [slightly annoyed] "Why not?" Well, it's impossibly complicated, but the containment field is tied into the basic operations of the device, all right? It literally can't shut down until we collapse the matter bridge. It's a safety protocol – one that I can't reprogram until we've powered down the device.
Coleman: So we're trapped in here until you can get this thing fixed?!
Foley: [exasperated] Yes!
Coleman: Well, what happens until then?
Foley: The bridge will continue to draw heat from the heat sink.
Coleman: [calms down] We've just dropped ten degrees in ten minutes. In an hour we're gonna be below zero. We're gonna freeze to death.
Foley: Well, I have activated the facility's heating system. That should buy us a little bit of time.
Coleman: You said "without a hitch." You'd run hundreds of tests.
Foley: [angrily] Someone must’ve messed with the system!
[Back in the lobby, Archaon and Lorelei have returned and are standing at a table with Gavin Archer. They all have mugs of hot drinks. They are discussing Archoan's burst during Foley's lecture.]
Gavin: That was out of line, Archaon!
Archaon: He stole my work!
Gavin: Hey, come on. It was in the middle of his presentation!
Archaon: He was about to start the thing up! It couldn't wait!
Gavin: He brought you here as an olive branch. He wanted to bury the hatchet.
Archaon: Yeah, in my back!
[The snarky male receptionist walks over.]
Receptionist: Doctor Thrax, Doctor Mobious.
Archaon: Yes?
Lorelei: Yes?
Receptionist: Mr. Foley would like a word with you.
Archaon: Ah-ha! Well, I'm guessing that that word is, "I apologize."
[He walks away, followed by Lorelei and the receptionist. Gavin calls after him.]
Gavin: That's two words there, genius!
[Taking a drink from his mug, he picks up his copy of Foley's brief and starts to read it again, frowning.]
Gavin: He's one odd duck, that guy.
Chapter Six[]
[In a small conference room. Archaon and Lorelei are seated on one side of a table. The door opens and Coleman walks in, followed by Foley. They sit down on the other side of the table.]
Archaon: [gloating] Ah. Well, it takes a big man to admit that he's wrong and – much as I appreciate it – I really would prefer that this whole apology thing took place a little more publicly.
Foley: Are you kidding?! You are the one who should be apologizing to me.
Archaon: [confused] What the hell for?
Foley: I invited you here as a courtesy; out of kindness. You know, most people think you've lost your mind – that you've gone… Howard Hughes.
Archaon: [Through his teeth] Just because I don't call anymore doesn't mean I'm keeping my urine in jars! Look, I don't need you to ...
Coleman: [interrupting] Shut up. I don't have time for this. What have you two done?
Lorelei: What have we done?
Foley: We can't shut the device down.
Archaon: I told you not to turn it on. I practically begged you. But would you listen? No!
Coleman: Tell us what you did and how to undo it and I'll consider not pressing charges.
Lorelei: We didn't do anything.
Coleman: Oh, really? Explain this, then.
[Foley activates a computer on the table and it begins to show CCTV footage of his office as Archaon comes in and goes over to Foley's computer while Lorelei stands nervously at the door.]
Lorelei: [on screen] We shouldn't be in here.
Archaon: [on screen] Shh! Just stand guard there.
Lorelei: [on screen] Why?
Archaon: [on screen] It'll take me a couple of seconds to hack into his computer.
Lorelei: [on screen] What are you doing?!
Archaon: [on screen] If that son of a bitch thinks he can humiliate me in front of my peers and get away with it, he's got another thing coming.
[In the conference room, Lorelei turns to Archaon with an "I told you so" look on her face. The CCTV footage continues.]
Archaon: [on screen] I will destroy him.
Lorelei: [on screen] Now is not the time, Archaon!
Archaon: [on screen] There's gotta be something in here I can use to discredit the pretentious tool.
[The footage shows Lorelei looking out of the door, then turning back to Archaon.]
Lorelei: [on screen] Hurry up, hurry up. Somebody's coming. Come on, come on, come on!
[The footage shows she beckons him away from the desk and they hurry out of the room. The footage stops. In the conference room, Archaon tries not to look too embarrassed.]
Archaon: Now look, I can see how – out of context – that could seem incriminating.
Foley: "Out of context"?!
Coleman: What were you doing in there?
Archaon: I was looking for a paper I published a little over two years ago – one that dealt with a matter bridge.
Foley: Archaon, you have not published a paper in a very long time.
Archaon: You probably didn't even know it was my work.
Foley: [disbelieving] Oh, you're publishing under a nom de plume now?!
Archaon: [annoyed] Alright, here's how I think it went down: you were working with the government. Someone there trusted you, a lot, and let you see something you weren't supposed to see. Or maybe you were sent something by accident. Who knows? You saw a paper about a matter bridge – a project that was shut down due to the adverse effects of exotic particles. You read it; you realized that if the bridge was used merely as a transfer of energy – say, heat – there would be no exotic particle creation and thus no adverse effects. So, you co-opted the science as your own, made a few changes to make yourself feel better and got to work, dismissing the original author's warnings about the inherent instability of time/space bridges. How'm I doing so far, hm?
Coleman: That's preposterous. Doctor Foley's been working on this for years.
[Ignoring him, Archaon looks at Foley, a hurt expression on his face.]
Archaon: That was my work, Tom. I wrote that paper.
[Foley looks at him for a long moment, his guilt obvious on his face. Eventually, without looking away from Archaon, he speaks to the man at his side.]
Foley: Michael, these people may be able to help us.
Chapter Seven[]
[In the computer room. Archaon walks around the room looking at various readouts. He walks back to where Foley is sitting at a console while Coleman and Lorelei stand on the other side of it.]
Archaon: This is bad.
Coleman: The sabotage?
Archaon: [scornfully] "Sabotage"! Please!
Coleman: [to Foley] You said there was ...
Foley: [interrupting] I may have rushed to judgment.
Coleman: [to Archaon] Can you shut it down?
Archaon: These matter bridges are the very definition of "unpredictable."
Lorelei: [sarcastically] You know, I think I remember you saying something about that before.
Coleman: Yes or no, Doc?
Archaon: Look, I don't know yet. [To Foley] Have you turned up the heat?
Foley: Yes.
Archaon: [pointing to the screen] Have you noticed this?
Foley: [annoyed] Yes!
Lorelei: What is it?
Archaon: The bridge isn't drawing a consistent load from the heat sink. Instead, it's wavering.
Lorelei: Why is that bad?
Foley: Well, I wouldn't necessarily call it bad. It's definitely not good, but I don't know that I'd go so far as to call it bad ...
Lorelei: You're kidding me, right?
Archaon: A regular bridge should draw the same amount of energy from the heat sink at all times. This one is fluctuating greatly.
[He thinks for a second.]
Archaon: Maybe we can use that. Wait for it to peak, and overload it and crash.
Foley: That's a good idea.
Archaon: Yeah, I thought you'd like it ... what with it being my idea an' all.
[Glaring at him momentarily, Foley gets to work.]
[In the lobby. All the scientists are shivering and rubbing themselves to try and keep warm. Gavin pulls his jacket tighter around himself.]
Gavin: It's freezing in here!
[In front of him, Saeden is sitting on a chair.]
Saeden: We get it. It works. Shut it down already. I'm starting to freeze to my chair.
[Suddenly a beam of blue light spears quickly across the room, zapping between Gavin and Saeden. Everyone cowers back, then look around as the beam dissipates. It has brushed past one of the scientists and his entire left side is now frozen. The man stands unmoving as the glass he was holding drops from his hand.]
Gavin: What the hell was that?!
Chapter Eight[]
[The frozen man has been lowered to the ground, although his left hand is still raised, frozen in place. Lorelei and Gavin are kneeling either side of him while Archaon and Foley stand nearby. The other scientists are standing around behind them.]
Archaon: A sudden dramatic cooling beam – the irregular power from the bridge.
Foley: Oh, so when the bridge makes a sudden demand on the heat sink ...
Archaon: ... the heat sink reacts by drawing power from a single localized place inside the containment field ...
Foley: ... and that beam would freeze anything in its path. Oh, I did not see that coming.
Archaon: It's freeze lightning!
Foley: "Freeze lightning"! Ooh, I like that!
Archaon: Well, you can't have it. It's mine. It-it's copywritten. Patent pending.
[Lorelei stands up and walks over to them.]
Archaon: How's he doing?
Lorelei: He's in very bad shape. It's like his whole left side has been flash frozen. I have never seen anything like this before.
Foley: [shaking his head sadly] Oh. Oh, man.
[Archaon looks at him sympathetically.]
Archaon: Look, this isn't entirely your fault.
Foley: I really hope he signed his waiver.
[Archaon stares at Lora, appalled. She shakes her head in disbelief, but then turns to Foley.]
Lorelei: Do you think this is the first time this has happened?
Foley: Yeah, or maybe just the first time anyone's been around to notice it.
Archaon: What, so this thing could be wreaking havoc all over the facility.
Lorelei: So this is gonna keep happening?
Foley: Yes, and probably with greater frequency the colder it gets.
Archaon: OK, this little side effect is going to really hamper our attempts to shut this thing down.
Lorelei: And, by "hamper," you mean "get us all killed."
Archaon: Yeah. Something like that…
Chapter Nine[]
[In the computer room.]
Archaon: We need to call in the military.
Coleman: I prefer not to do that just yet.
Lorelei: You're lucky that guy out there isn't dead.
Coleman: I'm sure these two can get the device back into its proper operating mode.
Archaon: It's a little late for that!
Foley: Michael, things have gotten out of hand. We need to make that call.
Coleman: You make that call and the government shuts us down.
Archaon: Yeah! That's the idea!
Foley: I don't understand. When the device started to malfunction, the first thing you wanted to do was get everyone out of here safely.
Coleman: To avoid the project being branded as too dangerous to move forward.
Lorelei: Well, the cat's out of the bag now.
Archaon: What, are you worried about all the money you've sunk into this? ‘Cause that's gone.
Coleman: [angrily] No, I'm not worried about the money. We're close to coming up with a solution for global warming. We could save the planet. It's bigger than me, and it's bigger than you – and if we can get the device under control without calling the military, they're gonna let us continue our research.
Archaon: I've got news for you: you can't control it, and you shouldn't continue with your research.
Coleman: Well, figure it out. I have the utmost faith in both of you.
[He walks away.]
Archaon: This is ridiculous! [He turns to Foley.] Give me your cell.
Foley: It won't work – not with the containment field up. There's too much interference.
Lorelei: You have a landline in your office, right?
[They hurry away and go to Foley's office, where he picks up his phone and holds it to his ear.]
Foley: It's dead.
Archaon: Give me that, you idiot.
[He yanks the phone and listens.]
Archaon: It's dead!
[Foley nods sarcastically.]
Lorelei: Coleman must have killed the phones.
Archaon: [to Foley] I don't suppose you have access to the communications room?
Foley: It's an ExoGeni Facility. I just work here.
Archaon: Great!
Foley: Looks like it's up to you and me.
Archaon: [leading him towards the door] Well, we'd better get back to the control room – we'll figure this out ourselves and ...
Lorelei: Wait! W-w-w-wait. Isn't there, like, a room full of geniuses out there?
Archaon and Foley: [in sync, smirking] That's debatable!
Lorelei: If that freeze lightning thing happens again, people could die.
Archaon: They'll slow me down.
Lorelei: Hey! What happened to that "humble" thing we were gonna try today?
[Archaon stares at her as Foley turns and looks at him with a "What?!" expression on his face. Archaon lowers his head, knowing that she's right.]
Chapter Ten[]
[In the lobby. Archaon, Foley and Lorelei are standing on some stairs looking down at the assembled scientists. Foley has been explaining the situation.]
Foley: The result is what I am calling "freeze lighting."
Archaon: [under his breath] Unbelievable!
Foley: It is the sudden and immediate transfer feed from a localized area and it is potentially very lethal.
Archaon: Look, we need to figure out how to collapse the matter bridge – stop it from drawing energy from the heat sink, otherwise it's going to get unlivably cold in here.
Female scientist: Why don't we just turn this containment field off and get out of here?
Foley: Well, for one thing, it's tied into the basic function of the matter bridge, so we can't just shut it off.
Archaon: Even if we could, it houses so much cool air now that it would create a sudden massive cold front as soon as it drops. I mean, we're talking high-speed winds, tornadoes... an instant mega-storm.
Foley: Not to mention the fact that the heat sink would start to draw heat not just from this facility, but from the entire planet. We cannot allow that to happen.
Krogan scientist: Why don't we just destroy it, just bash it apart?
Archaon: [patiently, as if explaining it to an idiot] Because that could create a tear in our space/time?
Krogan scientist: Never mind, then.
Archaon: Yeah.
[A burst of "freeze lightning" zaps across the lobby behind the scientists. Everyone cringes.]
Lorelei: Look, you guys are the best of the best. I'm sure if you work together you'll come up with something.
Chapter Eleven[]
[Several whiteboards have been brought into the lobby and groups of scientists are clustered around each one, writing complicated equations on the boards and arguing amongst themselves. At one board, Gavin is writing on the board while Archaon and Foley stand nearby.]
Gavin: [to Archaon] Whoever built this, it's all wrong!
Archaon: [frustrated] Watch who you're correcting here, Archer! Unlike you, my PhD is not honorary!
Gavin: Hey, look! I'm an mechanical engineer! I can do math! Just-just listen to my idea!
Archaon: I have been listening to you, and that is what led me to believe that you are a complete and total moron!
Foley: If it's any consolation, you're both wrong.
Archaon: What, and you're right?!
[Foley nods.]
Gavin: We're supposed to listen to you? You're the jerk that got us into this mess!
Archaon: I have a workable theory!
Foley: Yeah, a theory.
Archaon: [getting more and more high-pitched in indignation] Maybe take into account the fact that I have some experience with this; that I have been doing work that is years ahead of anything that you guys have even been dreaming of!
[All three of them start shouting at each other. Lorelei, who has been standing nearby and listening to all this in growing frustration, finally calls out.]
Lorelei: Hey!
[They continue arguing. Angrily she claps her hands together repeatedly and the boys, together with the other scientists, all fall silent.]
Lorelei: This is embarrassing! Look at you! The greatest minds this galaxy has to offer and, if I didn't know any better, I'd think there were a bunch of sixth graders in here. You guys need to suck it up and get along.
Gavin: It's like I've always said. You see, our races are more alike than they are different ...
Lorelei: Not now, Gavin.
Gavin: [embarrassed] OK…
Lorelei: Our lives are at stake here.
[Foley, Archaon and Gavin all hang their heads like chastised schoolboys.]
Lorelei: We need a solution, and we need this fast. Please. Come on – the rest of us are counting on you.
[Nervously, Archaon raises his hand.]
Lorelei: Yes, Archaon?
Archaon: I think I'm onto something. I ... Just needs some ironing out.
Lorelei: OK, great.
[She gestures the other scientists towards him.]
Lorelei: Guys?
Foley: Yeah, well, yeah, let's have a look at it.
Gavin: With fresh eyes… Fresh eyes.
[They turn back to the whiteboard as the other scientists start to gather around and they get back to work. Lorelei watches them for a moment, then turns and sees Coleman standing nearby, also watching the group. She walks over to him.]
Coleman: They'll figure something out.
Lorelei: I'm sure he will. [She looks at Archaon] Let's just hope it's before someone dies.
[He looks at her hopelessly. She relents a little.]
Lorelei: You know, my Uncle Gregory – he always hated the phrase "save the planet."
Coleman: [confused] What?
Lorelei: Well, he just thought it was a little backwards, you know, ‘cause the planet's gonna be here no matter what happens. It might be a giant unlivable rock, but it's gonna survive.
Coleman: So you're turning this into a discussion on semantics?!
Lorelei: [sympathetic] What I mean is, Mr. Coleman, the work you're doing isn't about saving the planet – it's about saving lives, and that's a noble pursuit, trying to save billions of people. But it's no less noble to save a hundred. These guys, no matter how smart they are, they could use some help. One phone call could get that help here. Now, please – please let me make that call.
[Coleman nods.]
[Shortly afterwards, Coleman and Lorelei trot through the complex towards the communications room. As they approach the door, they see a large "splat" of ice on the wall and partly covering the door.]
Lorelei: Oh, don't tell me ...
[Coleman forces the door open. There is a similar "splat" on the inside of the door and, as they look across to the opposite wall, there's another "splat" covering the electrical system which is still sparking out.]
Coleman: [under his breath] Oh, God.
[He goes across to look at the damage.]
Coleman: Oh, I'm so sorry, miss Mobious.
Lorelei: Can you fix this?
Coleman: No. We're completely cut off.
Chapter Twelve[]
[Computer room. Lorelei and Coleman have returned to the room, where the wall monitor shows that the temperature has now dropped to 36 degrees. They have just told the others what has happened.]
Archaon: Well, that's terrible news.
[He takes off his jacket and helps Lorelei put it on.]
Coleman: It's my fault. I should have ...
Archaon: [talking over him] Yes, you should have.
[Nearby, Foley is hugging himself, hands under his armpits to try and keep them warm while he looks at one of the computer screens.]
Foley: You need to see this.
[Archaon goes over to look at the screen.]
Archaon: Oh, the cold temperatures are affecting the containment field emitters. I mean, they're weak – they're on the verge of failing.
Lorelei: That's great! We can get most of the people out of here, no? Make a call to the military?
Archaon: We're surrounded by desert air. I mean, the temperatures inside the containment field have gotten very, very cold. Introducing a sudden and immediate blast of icy air is gonna create one hell of a vortex storm. I mean, there's no way troopers could make it through, let alone actually get people out of here safely.
Coleman: We can ride out the storm.
Foley: [Shakes his head] No. If we can't shut down the device, the heat sink's gonna keep feeding cold air into that desert air. It'll never stop.
Lorelei: Well, that's not good.
Foley: [Sarcastic] No, I'd rather that didn't happen.
Archaon: No-no-no-no, this might be a good thing.
Lorelei: What? What is it?
Archaon: Well, the containment field is dying a slow, but consistent death. It might be weak enough to actually punch a cell phone signal through now.
Foley: Oh, you know, you might be right.
[He picks up a computer tablet with a schematic of the complex on it and shows it to Archaon.]
Foley: OK, this is probably our best bet.
[He points to the south east corner of the complex.]
Foley: These two emitters are the weakest. It's a bit of a run from here, so I'd better get going right now.
[He starts to leave, but Lorelei stops him.]
Lorelei: Wait, wait, w-w-wait. Give me your cell.
Foley: [confused] Huh?
Lorelei: We need you here to help Archaon dismantle the bridge. I'll make the call.
Foley: I ...
[Nodding, Lorelei holds her hand out.]
Lorelei: [interrupts] Come on!
Foley: All right, all right, fine.
[He gets his cell phone out of his pocket and hands it to her.]
Lorelei: Thanks.
[Taking the computer tablet from him, she trots over to a table containing a couple of walkie talkies and picks one of them up.]
Lorelei: I'm gonna radio once I get through.
Archaon: Good luck.
Lorelei: You too.
[She turns and trots away.]
Foley: She seems like a very capable woman.
Archaon: [admiring] Indeed, she is!
Foley: It's your sister, right? Is she single?
[Archaon rolls his eyes in frustration.]
Archaon: All right. [He turns back to the consoles.] Where were we?
[Gavin is nearby, also without a jacket which he has given to one of the women in the room. Most of the men in the room have given their coats to the women, the notable exceptions being Foley and Coleman.]
Gavin: Your idea of overwhelming the bridge to the point of collapse – it's a good one. It's right on track.
Archaon: But ...?
Gavin: Everybody here thinks that it means we've gotta dial up the heat sink. It's gonna get even colder.
Foley: And that could result in an unpredictable amount of freeze lightning ...
Archaon: ... which could kill us all.
Foley: Right.
[Gavin nods his agreement. Coleman calls out to them, having just received a report from someone.]
Coleman: The facility's furnace just went down.
Archaon: [confused] What? Well, how did that happen?!
Coleman: We've been running at a hundred and twenty per cent for the last hour and a half to compensate for falling temperatures. We're in the middle of a desert – the facility's not meant to be heated like this.
Archaon: [annoyed] Well, we're gonna get below freezing pretty darned quick now!
Foley: All right. Well, we can't power down because it generates its own power ...
Gavin: ... and we can't wait for the containment field to collapse because the storm'll probably kill us.
Archaon: All right, guys, we don't have a choice, OK? We've gotta wait for the bridge to peak, dial up the heat sink, see if we can overwhelm it. I know it's dangerous, but that's all we've got.
[Gavin and Foley look at him unhappily, but have no other suggestions. Archaon calls out to the room.]
Archaon: [loudly] OK, look, there's too many people in here. I have important work to do. I do not need you in the way, so everybody, out!
Chapter Thirteen[]
[Corridors. Following the map on the computer tablet, Lorelei opens a door into another corridor, checking Foley's cellphone and waving it around to see if she can get a signal yet.]
Lorelei: Oh, come on.
[She walks slowly down the corridor, still waving the phone in front of her. Finally its screen changes as it gets reception.]
Lorelei: Oh, thank God!
[She dials and holds the phone to her ear.]
[At a police station, a policeman picks up the phone.]
Policeman: Captain Landry's office.
Lorelei: Yes, this is Doctor Lorelei Mobious. I need to speak to the captain immediately. It's an emergency.
[At the P.D., the policeman frowns as the line fritzes with static.]
Policeman: Hello?
[Lorelei frowns.]
Policeman: [via cell] Hello?
Lorelei: Hello? This is Doctor M...
[At the P.D., the line continues to fritz and the policeman can't make out a word the caller is saying. He hangs up.]
Lorelei: Hello?
[She takes the phone from her ear and looks at the screen. The signal has gone again.]
Lorelei: Son of a bitch!
[At the computer room.]
Gavin: Should we warn everyone we're about to do this?
Foley: No, no, that would just cause a panic.
Archaon: It's probably better they don't know. I mean, we have no way of moving people to a safe area, plus we have no idea where the next freeze lighting strike could hit.
[As he continues to type, Gavin frowns.]
Gavin: "Freeze lightning." You know, that's a bad name.
Archaon: Well, don't look at me. [He jerks his head towards Foley.] It's his idea.
Foley: What? Hey, wh...? I ...
Archaon: [talking over him] OK! Here we go!
[He types. In the lobby, a burst of freeze lightning zaps across the room, fortunately not hitting anyone as they duck out of the way. In the computer room a second burst whizzes across the room behind the men.]
Foley: All right, shut it off!
Archaon: I can't – it hasn't collapsed the bridge yet.
[In Lora’s Corridor. Lorelei is still waving the phone around.]
Lorelei: I had a signal before – come on!
[A blast of freeze lighting bursts through the door behind her and whizzes down the corridor. Lora ducks down as it brushes past a water pipe running up the wall and water begins to spurt out of it, soaking her with its spray.]
[In the computer room.]
Foley: It's not working!
Archaon: We just need a little more time – just a little more time.
[Another burst of lightning zaps across the room and they duck again.]
Foley: The lightning strikes are freezing up whole sections of the facility. Everyone is getting isolated.
Archaon: Look, it doesn't matter. It'll melt eventually if we can shut this thing down.
[Foley walks away from them.]
Gavin: You are gonna kill us all!
Archaon: OK, look, I just need to keep doing what I'm ...
[He stares as the readout on the primary thermal output monitor begins to drop. Archaon turns to Foley who is just standing up from typing on another console.]
Archaon: What did you do?
Foley: I turned it down.
Archaon: What?! Why?!
Foley: It was too dangerous.
Archaon: Yeah, but we were almost there. It was peaking out! It was gonna work!
Foley: Yeah, and we would all be dead. Look, we just have to come up with something else.
Archaon: Yeah, something fast ‘cause the containment field's about to fail!
[In Lora’s corridor. As water continues spraying out of the broken pipe, Lora looks at the door she came through. It's frozen shut with a big "splat" of ice. She turns to the opposite door and looks at it.]
Lorelei: [worried] Great!
[That door too is frozen shut.]
Lorelei: Oh, not good.
[She reaches into her jacket pocket, pulls out the walkie talkie and activates it.]
Lorelei: Archaon, can you hear me?
[In the computer room, Archaon picks up the other radio.]
Archaon: Please tell me you got through to the P.D.
Lorelei: [via radio] No.
Archaon: Well, you've gotta keep trying.
Lorelei: [via radio] I'd love to, but my phone got a little soaked. It's... It's not even turning on.
Archaon: What?
Lorelei: [via radio] My hallway got hit by that freeze lightning thing.
Archaon: Are you OK?
Lorelei: [via radio] I am now, but I won't be for long.
Archaon: What happened?
Lorelei: [via radio] I'm frozen in and the pipe's busted open. My body temperature's dropping fast.
[Archaon turns and stares at Foley.]
Foley: OK, I'll radio security and we'll get someone out to her right away.
Archaon: [into the radio] Look, security's on the way. I need you just to sit tight and try to stay warm, OK?
Lorelei: [via radio] OK. Sorry I didn't get the call through.
Archaon: Hey, you did your best.
Lorelei: [via radio] Did you shut that thing down?
Archaon: Not yet. We're working on it.
Lorelei: [via radio] Please… Hurry…
Archaon: Yeah.
[Gavin calls out to him.]
Gavin: Archaon.
Archaon: [into the radio] OK, look, I gotta go. Someone's on the way, all right?
[Shivering, Lora deactivates her radio. In the computer room Archaon runs across to see what Gavin is looking at.]
Archaon: What is it?
Gavin: Containment failure in three ... two ... one ...
[From an external perspective, the field around the facility fritzes and then fails. Immediately, as the cold air rushes out into the warmth of the desert, the wind begins to rise and the building is soon obscured by swirling sand and dust. Tornadoes are manifesting in the background. Inside, Gavin looks at the screens.]
Gavin: Winds awaft. Reaching dangerous levels.
Foley: If it continues like this, we're gonna have a mess of tornadoes on our hands.
Archaon: [turning to glare at him] Great – even less time before we die.
Chapter Fourteen[]
[Outside the complex, one of the many tornadoes begins to swirl across the desert, ripping up the ExoGeni Corporation sign and whisking it away. Inside, the boys are still trying to solve the problem.]
Archaon: Look, this device is capable of generating its own power, right?
Foley: Yeah. A small percentage of the energy that we're transferring through the bridge is siphoned off to power the device, so once it's running, it's self-sustaining.
Archaon: Which is why we can't just pull the plug.
Foley: Exactly.
Archaon: But it's only capable of powering itself to a certain extent, right? I mean, it has a finite amount of power diversion capability.
Foley: Well, yes, of course.
Archaon: Maybe we've been approaching this the wrong way. We've been trying to force so much power through the bridge that it overloads it. I mean, maybe we should be trying to starve it – I mean, suck so much power from its generator that it stalls it out.
Foley: Well, technically we could do that, but you'd have to draw an insane amount of power. The heat sink could never do that.
Archaon: No – but another space/time bridge could.
Foley: [chuckles] You wanna open another space/time bridge?!
Archaon: The device was rigged to power a single bridge. We open another one ...
Foley: [thoughtfully] ... it overwhelms the system and it fails.
Archaon: [smiles] It'll work!
[He hurries towards the consoles.]
Foley: [following him] Yeah, but d'you have any idea how difficult it's gonna be to configure the system to open two concurrent space/time bridges?
Archaon: I never said it was gonna be easy.
Foley: It's gonna be impossible.
Archaon: [spreading his arms wide] Hey, I'm Doctor Archaon Thrax, all right? Difficult takes a few seconds; impossible a few minutes.
[He starts to type. Outside, at least three tornadoes are swirling around the complex. One of them roars across the front of the complex and whisks away the cars parked out there.]
[In the corridor, Lora is standing as far away from the spurting pipe as she can, but is still soaking wet. The floor is covered with water and bits of ice. She activates her walkie talkie.]
Lorelei: Archaon, can you hear me?
[In the computer room, Archaon snatches up his radio.]
Archaon: Have they got you out of there yet?
Lorelei: [via radio] No.
[Archaon turns to Foley.]
Archaon: Foley, what's the deal? I thought you sent security?
Foley: They can't get to her.
Archaon: What? Why not?
[Foley shows him another computer tablet with the facility schematic on it.]
Foley: That last round of freeze lightning sealed off a lot of the corridors. You see, they're making their way to her, but it's gonna take some time.
Lorelei: [via radio] It's getting hard-harder to stay awake. I'm going into hypothermic shock.
Archaon: [into radio] Lorelei, just-just hang in there, all right?
[He looks at the schematic again and points at it.]
Archaon: Right, we're here, right?
Foley: Uh-huh.
Archaon: [pointing to Lora's location] So we can get to her. It's a straight shot. I mean, they should have come this way, through the lab!
Foley: They're cut off from us too.
Archaon: OK, I've gotta go get her.
[He starts to hurry away, but Foley calls him back.]
Foley: No, wait a minute. We're a little bit busy right now.
Archaon: She'll die!
Foley: Yeah, but you know what? If the storm keeps up like this, it's gonna rip the building apart and we'll all die.
Archaon: [annoyed] Last time I checked, you were claiming to be a genius. I already gave you the plan.
Foley: Yeah, a plan full of holes.
Archaon: [annoyed] So fill them.
Foley: [high-pitched in terror] Wha-what if I run into a problem?
Archaon: [annoyed] Work around it!
[Foley grimaces, then finally, reluctantly, he admits the truth.]
Foley: [Through his teeth] You're smarter than me, Archaon. You’re the best!
[Archaon straightens up.]
Archaon: I know.
[He turns and runs from the room.]
Foley: [yelling after him] Archaon!
[When Archaon doesn't stop, he groans and walks towards Gavin.]
Foley: [talking very rapidly in a panic] Oh, this is outrageous! I mean, right when we need him the most he puts it on me and I'm supposed to be the one who's gonna do this?! I can't ...
[Gavin stands up, puts his hand on his shoulder and slaps him hard around the face.]
Foley: Oh!
Gavin: [shaking him by the shoulders] Man up!
Chapter Fifteen[]
[Archaon races down the corridors. He runs down the stairs, makes his way to the frozen door at the end of the corridor and begins to aggressively knock on it. When he doesn’t hear a reaction, he starts to breath heavily and gets emotional. He walks back a few steps and glows with a blue hue. Three biotic blows open up a small hole and he peers through it. Lora is lying unconscious on the floor inside, her skin pale, her lips blue. Half her body under the cold water.]
Archaon: [yelling] Lorelei!
[She doesn't respond. He steps back and begins throwing more biotic blows into the door.]
[In the computer room. Foley is working on a console as Gavin stands beside him watching what he's doing.]
Foley: OK, I think that's it. Before I run it, just check my math.
Gavin: I have been! Why do you think I'm standing here?!
[Outside, the tornadoes swirl closer to the complex. One comes close enough for its edge to impact the front of the building and electrical circuits start to spark out as bits of the building are ripped away.]
[In the corridor, Archaon gets impatient, stretches his arms and slams them together to create a shockwave that breaks the frozen door off its hinges. It flies halfway across the room as the cold water washes over Archaon’s feet. He scrambles in and runs over to Lora's unconscious body.]
Archaon: [yelling] Lorelei!
[He bends down to pick her up.]
Archaon: Come on.
[In the computer room, Gavin yells out.]
Gavin: DO IT!
[Grimacing, Foley types. Instantly all the wall panels in the room start to explode. He and Gavin cringe.]
[In the corridors, Archaon has got Lorelei out of the wet corridor and lays her gently on the floor. Kneeling beside her, he leans down and blows a breath into her mouth, then puts his ear to it.]
Archaon: [whispering] She's not breathing. Oh my God, she's not breathing.
[Panting frantically he puts his fingers to her throat, feeling for a pulse.]
Archaon: [whispering tearfully] Please, don't be dead. Please, don't be dead.
[He starts to apply chest compressions.]
Archaon: Lorelei. Come back to me, baby, please. Please, come back to me.
[In the computer room, Foley has his eyes tightly closed. On the screen, the graphic showing the time/space bridge changes to show heat no longer travelling along it. Gavin raises up from where he's been cowering under the desk and looks at the screen.]
Gavin: It worked! The second space/time bridge blew the power supply! Both bridges collapsed!
[Foley laughs, relieved.]
Foley: I did it!
[Outside the facility, the tornadoes melt away and the dust begins to dissipate. The sun begins to shine on the complex again.]
Chapter Sixteen[]
[In the corridor, Archaon is still pumping Lorelei's chest.]
Archaon: [in time with the compressions] Please. Please.
[Finally Lora drags in a breath, pukes out water and then raises her head and coughs. Archaon helps her to sit up, then wriggles into a sitting position himself and holds her.]
Archaon: Oh, thank God. You're OK, you're OK.
Lorelei: [shivering] I'm really cold.
Archaon: [rubbing her arms] Me too.
[They gaze into each other's eyes.]
Lorelei: You saved me.
Archaon: Guess that makes us even. I used my biotics – big shockwave! I mean, I was going nuts, I thought you were dead and I’d never see u again...
[Smiling, Lorelei leans forward and kisses him deeply, stopping him mid sentence. He gazes at her as she pulls back.]
Archaon: Oh, I don't know what I would have done if I'd lost you.
[She looks into his eyes.]
Lorelei: I love you.
[His eyes widen in amazement.]
Lorelei: I have for some time now. Just wanted you to know.
[Archaon smiles gently.]
Archaon: I ...
[He doesn't finish the sentence as she leans forward and kisses him again.]
Epilogue[]
[Private Jet. As the plane flies them away from the desert, Archaon and Lora sit opposite each other, both wrapped in blankets.]
Lorelei: Well, at least your friends don't think you're a washout anymore.
[Archaon looks miserable.]
Archaon: Stupid Gavin Archer is telling everyone who'll listen that Foley's the guy who turned the device off.
Lorelei: Because he was the one that shut off the device!
Archaon: Yeah, with my coding! It was my idea!
Lorelei: Honey, does it really matter?
[Archaon takes a moment, then answers.]
Archaon: Yes. Yes, it does. I'm sorry – I know I'm supposed to be humble, I know I'm not supposed to care, but I do, I really do and that's ... well, that's something you should know about me.
Lorelei: Well, quit then. Join the private sector, start doing work the whole world can see.
Archaon: Well, I've been thinking about it.
Lorelei: [disbelieving] What? No you haven't.
Archaon: Hey, my contract with the Alliance’s up this year. Maybe it's time for me to move on; time for me to do other things.
Lorelei: Please! I don't know anyone who loves their job more than you.
Archaon: [nods thoughtfully] Hmm.
Lorelei: D'you think the military's gonna let them keep experimenting?
Archaon: I think it's highly unlikely. Besides, geo-engineering's a dumb pursuit anyways. I mean, no one person's gonna solve global warming. We all have to do our part.
Lorelei: Like not take private jets.
Archaon: Well, they were going our way anyway.
[She smiles, then looks at him flirtatiously.]
Lorelei: You know, it is kinda nice, just me and you back here… in a private jet… all alone…
Archaon: [smiling] Right.
[She raises her eyebrows suggestively at him. His eyes widen as he gets the message.]
Archaon: Right! [He looks at her.] But you were legally dead a few hours ago; you’re still practically frozen. You really wanna...?
Lorelei: [rolling her eyes] Well, it's either that or you keep telling me how you and only you saved the day.
[Smiling, Archaon stands up and moves to the seat beside her.]
Archaon: nah, I've trying this whole "humble" thing out; seems to be quite a hit with the ladies!
[Laughing, Lora leans towards him and they start to kiss. One last look around and Lora smiles flirtatiously as she stands up and sits astride on Archaon’s lap.]
Behind the scenes[]
- Interitus is Latin for "Brainstorm".
- The early working title for this novel was "snowglobe", it was later renamed to Brainstorm and afterwards renamed to the latin version of Brainstorm as a continuation of Latin titles associated with novels centered around Archaon Thrax.