Instincts Awakened: Part 1

THEME SONG

TEXT - READING"'Years ago, a mutant warlord known as Xenu, whose goal was to shrink every planet in the galaxy, Earth among them, into sub-atomic mass, initiated the Quantum War, in which all planets were put at risk of being shrunk. Among those planets was Chimeria, the homeworld of Solomon Burnham, who was regarded by his people as a pioneer of sub-atomic physics.'"

"'When Chimeria was destroyed, Burnham arrived on Earth and years later he founded the Discovery Corps, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection and experimentation of the Sub-Atomic Realm. Under his leadership, the Discovery Corps, along with the Masters of the Instinctian Order, fought on all fronts, until the Xenu was sealed away in Instinctia's core, but at the cost of four of the Instinctian Masters.'"

"'Only one of the six masters survived the war, and in the years since, there has been everlasting peace and order in the sub-atomic realm. Every four years, Discovery commissions manned expeditions to Instinctia under the Isis Program, as part of its ongoing infrastructure growth strategy. Beacuse Xenu was sealed in its core, Instinctia remains at a high risk due to what remains of his army seeking out his escense, raising the likelihood of a second Quantum War.'"

'''EXT. SOVEREIGN CITY SKYLINE'''

(Setting: Discovery Command)

'''INT. DISCOVERY COMMAND - TRAINING COURT'''

(two operatives who are candidates for Isis III; DANIEL and LAURA compete with other candidates in a series of training exercises.)

(Daniel and Laura beat their competitors in their challenges)

LAURA Well, I found that pretty easy.

DANIEL Good. To be honest, I found it more easier than you.

LAURA Yeah, makes sense since you've spent five years preparing for stuff like that.

(The two are greeted by their friend and manager, LESTER CREST.)

LESTER Ha-ha! And my favourite two good people strike again!

DANIEL Lester! Just in time.

LESTER Yeah, just you wait until Commander Burnham hears about this!

LAURA Hear about what?

LESTER I don't wanna spill any beans here, but uh-every four years, Discovery, as you know, chooses like twenty of its best operatives to compete against one another - which is what you two have just been doing - for something big, and something special.

DANIEL Doesn't surprise me, what ever it is. What ever it is, it's worthwhile.

LESTER Anyways, follow me! You people should catch some refreshments after this much training.

(Hallways, Lester guides Laura and Daniel down to the command room)

DANIEL Oh, come on! The boss is gonna tell us something!

LAURA Ok, tough guy. What do you think it is?

DANIEL

A promotion’s the only thing I can imagine.

"LAURA""Okay…"

She straightens her pose.

LAURA Hello, fellow admins!

Daniel stood still. Then they went into the commander’s room.

'''INT. DISCOVERY COMMAND - CONTROL ROOM'''

(The commander is sitting down, as Lester escorts the three into the control room.)

DANIEL

Commander Burnham, Elahi and Jacobs reporting, Sir!

BURNHAM Elahi, Jacobs, I trust you've been enjoying your training for the coming expedition. Throughout your training, you have both shown commitment, dedication, and courage. So as a reward, I am officially declaring that both of you will be joining the Isis III expedition. You two will serve under the command and leadership of Anton Baxter.

(Anton Baxter, a billionaire recently appointed Isis III's mission commander, walks through the door.)

LAURA Who's Anton Baxter?

DANIEL They say Anton Baxter is like the richest person in Sovereign City. He owns, like, every business in the city, even Discovery, and believe it or not, and I've known him for a while.

BURNHAM Mr. Baxter here has been, for years, the controlling shareholder of Discovery, and he has recently stood down as CEO of Baxter Holdings to join you on this mission. Elahi, I am making you First Lieutenant, and Jacobs, I am making you this expedition's pilot. Final preparations for this mission are now underway, but for now, you are now on the final phase of training.

(Baxter joins the others)

LAURA So, you’re Anton Baxter?

ANTON BAXTER Of course I am! What, did you think I was nicer?

(Laura almost chokes.)

LESTER Yeah, I have to say, having watched the guy on live TV, I know what the guy's like, so I suggest you be real careful when you have a word with him.

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - JIMMY'S ROOM'''

(On a computer game monitor, Jimmy's avatar character runs around a room towards a console. Jimmy types on his keyboard while talking via vid conference to a friend who's on a different monitor.)

JIMMY Dude, the core of the planet is the power source here. You have to channel it into the weapon and destroy the enemy ship.

FRIEND (O.S.) Can't do it, dude.

JIMMY Uh, doing it.

(Jimmy moves his avatar over to a wall where there's a big holographic projection of Ancient language.)

FRIEND (O.S.) It's one of those programmer's jokes. It's a problem that can't be solved.

JIMMY (Cocky) Oh, I solved it.

(His avatar pulls out a pocket console and starts typing something.)

FRIEND (O.S.) No, you didn't.

JIMMY Oh, Just shut up! Watch... this.

(He types with focus, then waits. The problem disappears. Then the screen blackens. Suddenly, a tower (looking like a Grid Battleforce tower) and daylight show on the screen, and Jimmy's avatar stands outside the area.)

JIMMY Oh, come on!

FRIEND (O.S.) What happened?

JIMMY No-nothing... happened. I'm... back at the beginning of the level.

FRIEND (O.S.) You're so full of yourself.

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - FRONT DOOR'''

(Lester knocks on Jimmy's front door, and his mom answers it.)

LESTER Ah, Mrs. Sophocles! Good to see you on such short notice! It's Lester Crest, Discovery Corps.

(Jimmy's mom shakes hands with Lester)

JIMMY'S MOM Thanks for coming! I knew I was finding my son a decent job that pays well.

LESTER That's why I'm here. Okay, do you wanna call your son over, so he knows more about it?

JIMMY'S MOM Of course. (to Jimmy) Jimmy! Somebody wants to see you!

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - JIMMY'S ROOM'''

(Jimmy hears his mom's voice and gets off his seat.)

JIMMY Alright, I'm coming, geez!

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - FRONT DOOR'''

(Jimmy walks over to the front door.)

JIMMY Ok, Mom, what the heck is going on?

JIMMY'S MOM I finally found you a job at Discovery Corps. There's a job there that can pay us a large sum of money to live on.

JIMMY Yeah, who exactly are the Discovery Corps? I have never heard anything in my life about it.

JIMMY'S MOM It's some company specializing in quantum physics and interdimensional science, according to what I've read about it, at least. Here, this is Lester Crest; He works there.

LESTER Well, well, you must be Jimmy! (shakes Jimmy's hand) I heard all about your pet bird.

JIMMY Oh, interesting to know, alright. So, is this some internship or full-blown job or something?

LESTER It's not necessarily a job, but something like a... let me think... holiday, or something - that pays with each day. I wish I could tell you more about it, but because of regulations, I'm not allowed to. So, tell me more about that "pet bird" of yours?

JIMMY A whole month of my life went into building that "pet bird", Digit, by the way, and you know what happens when you create something like Digit when you can't go to school like me? You get enough recognition.

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - JIMMY'S ROOM'''

(Digit overhears Jimmy, his mom, and Lester, and flies off to where they are)

'''INT. SOPHOCLES RESIDENCE - FRONT DOOR'''

(Jimmy walks over to the front door.)

LESTER Yeah, I suppose you could say that.

(Digit flies in)

DIGIT Oh, Good flippin' feathers, who dares disturb me?

JIMMY Digit, buddy! This guy, Lester, from the Discovery Corps wants to take me out on some kind of "holiday" that pays. Lester, this is Digit.

DIGIT A Holiday? Holy cow! I've always wanted to go on holiday.

LESTER Ah, very good looking indeed. Especially for a parrot. And no, it's not your average holiday - it's a trip to the sub-atomic realm, which you probably won't understand as you, Jimmy haven't even been able to be educated lately.

JIMMY (scoffs) Of course not! That sounds like science-fiction mumbo-jumbo to me, but heck, I'm up for this particular "job" of yours.

LESTER Good! (chuckles) Then let's get in the car, and have ourselves, a super-secret good time!

JIMMY Bye mom! I'll send you a postcard from wherever Lester's talking about!

JIMMY'S MOM Bye Jimmy! Enjoy yourself!

(Jimmy and Lester climb into Lester's car, and drive off.)

'''INT. LESTER'S CAR - DAY'''

JIMMY Yeah, I am the only person being dragged into this, right?

LESTER Oh, no, certainly not, my friend! Next stop: North Sovereign Science & Tech College, where I have another recruit to pick up, one whose father knew about federal business for a long time, and I know him very well, believe it or not.

JIMMY Hm, Sounds pretty cool, whoever it is.

'''EXT. NORTH SOVEREIGN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE - DAY'''

(Lester's car pulls over at the North Sovereign Science & Technology College)

'''INT. NORTH SOVEREIGN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE - CLASSROOM - DAY'''

(a class is about to finish)

TEACHER And that concludes our lecture on Rafkonian History and Customs.

(The students leave, and Erin Tucker, a student, is packing her belongings and getting out her coat)

'''INT. NORTH SOVEREIGN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE - CLASSROOM - DAY'''

(the Hallways are packed with students, and Erin is making her way to the cafeteria all alone)

'''INT. NORTH SOVEREIGN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE - CAFETERIA- DAY'''

(Erin sits alone at a table, and is startled by some whistling - It's Lester!)

LESTER Hello, hello!

(Erin is silent. Lester sits down on the table as Erin turns her head away.)

LESTER Now, you must be Dr. Tucker's daughter, right?

(Erin takes a while to respond.)

ERIN (quietly) Yes.

LESTER Good! Well, I'm Lester, just in case you're wondering who I am, I actually know your father very well. Nice to meet you.

ERIN (quietly) What do you want?

LESTER Glad you asked! (chuckles) I've got some kind of job offer at the Discovery Corps, which is where I'm from, obviously.

(Erin shakes her head in hesitation. She is starting to become annoyed.)

LESTER Now, your father probably didn't tell you this, but he had hoped you'd take it on according to his will. Basically, it's some kind of holiday, or business trip.

(Erin does not speak.)

LESTER What? ...You alright?

ERIN (upset) Why do you so much pressure on me right now? It's bad enough that I have no friends, and my dad's gone. (sobs) You're just signing me on to this to make me feel better, aren't you?

LESTER Whoa, whoa, just chill out! I could be. Well, it's science-related, and your dad always told me you love science, so believe me when I say that your skills would surely be good enough for that job. Interesting, hm?

(Erin is not convinced.)

LESTER Now if you're worried that this job offer, or expedition, as you'll soon learn, will affect your education, don't you worry one bit, I'll sort it out. Sound any good?

(Erin does not answer him)

LESTER Come on! You're one of only two people on the list, buddy.

ERIN No. Please, just no. I don't need all this stress on me right now, I'm not interested, I'm too busy, please just leave me alone.

(Lester understands.)

LESTER Well, fine by me. If you change your mind, you know who to call.

(Lester stands up and just as he is about to leave, he has an idea)

LESTER Actually, we need you too much, pal. Sorry.

(Erin shakes her head and groans)

LESTER There's cake in the car.

(Erin reluctantly stands up.)

ERIN What kind?

'''EXT. NORTH SOVEREIGN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE - DAY'''

They climb into Lester’s car.

INT. Lester’s Car, -DAY

ERIN

Hi…

JIMMY

Hi! Look at this. Digit?

A robot bird came out of his bag.

DIGIT

Well, hello there!

Erin was silent.

JIMMY

Don’t scare her.

LESTER

You guys don’t even know what you signed up for.

DIGIT

Yes, they-

JIMMY

Digit, it’s a joke.

DIGIT

Oh…

They burst out in laughter.

ERIN

Ha...

LESTER

Alright, we’re here.

ERIN

Whoa…

(I’m not sure what Discovery Corps. Looks like yet.)

They walk into the main room.

The doors open, and they walk in.

INT. Discovery Corps-Discovery Headquarters -DAY

LESTER

Hey, I got Jimmy and Erin for ya.

BURHAM

Thanks, Lester.

Lester wheels back in his wheelchair to his room.

BURNHAM

COMMANDER

Isis III, this is Erin Tucker, and this is James Sophocles. I have asked them both to join this mission as science officer, and systems operator, respectively.

JIMMY

Hi! You can call me Jimmy, by the way. Well, well! If it isn't the real Anton Baxter, I read all about you!

BAXTER

Like I care! You get to work, now!

JIMMY

(laughs) I saw you do that to a reporter on live TV once, and boy, I found that funny.

LAURA

Mr. Baxter's like that all the time, so try and get used to it.

JIMMY

Yeah, yeah, piece of cake...

ERIN

So I take it you must be Isis III. Remind me what kind of things you do for a living?

DANIEL

Good question. This is the third manned mission to Instinctia.

ERIN

Hmph, Sounds fair...

JIMMY

Instinctia, huh? The only thing I know about that place is that they had to shrink it for some reason, and it's ruled by some weird race of talking animals. ...what? I googled it up.

BAXTER

"Does it look like I care about what you think, huh? Now get to work - that's a direct order from the mission commander!

He turns to look at Erin.

BAXTER (CONT’D)

(to Erin) And you do some work too!

ERIN

Whoa, whoa! Take it easy, you don't have to boss me around like that!"

BAXTER

Then STOP talking and get to work, now!

JIMMY

Yeah, yeah, whatever! Gee, your commander has some anger issues!

LAURA

See, I told you he was like that.

DANIEL

If you at least show the man some respect, though, he isn't actually like that. He wasn't like that to me when I first met him.

BURNHAM

Alright. Everyone, let’s get training!

2 weeks later…

INT. Discovery Corps, -DAY

BURNHAM

I am proud of you for training in hard conditions. Well, if there aren’t any objections, I’d say you should head to Instinctia straight away.

DANIEL

Yes, sir!

OTHERS

Yes… Sir…

Daniel look at them in shame.

They hop into their Quantum Transportation Vehicle, and go to Instinctia.


 * Scene switches to Instinctia.*

EXT. Instinctia -EVENING

JIMMY

Finally! Why did Burnham want us to go here?

LAURA

He said there was some secret about the past of this place here.

DANIEL

Everyone, look!

He pulls out a box from a tree.

JIMMY

Woah. What is that?

LAURA

I dunno. Should we look inside it?

DANIEL

I have no choice but to open it.

He opens the lid, and his eyes go wide open.

JIMMY

What?

DANIEL

I… I don’t believe it. It’s… The Instinctian Scroll. From 13 centuries ago!

LAUR

ANo way.

ERIN

Cool.

DANIEL

And there’s more. According to this, the 4 out of 5 Instinctian Masters were defeated centuries ago. Do you know what this means?

JIMMY

Uh…

Laura scratches her head.

ERIN

Hmm…

DANIEL (CONT’D)

This one clue could direct us to Prism City!

JIMMY

I knew that.

DANIEL

Sure. Now, let’s go to Prism City!

EXT. Prism City, -EVENING

They are all exhausted.

JIMMY

I… WE finally found it!

LAURA

Yep. Prism City.

They see a bear-human hybrid; who they assume is Master Bigg Bear.

BIGG BEAR

Oh, hello.

LAURA

Um, ok. A talking bear. Could this get any crazier?

ERIN

I bet it could.

They walk towards him.

LAURA

Excuse me, Mr. Bear?

BIGG BEAR

That’s “Commander Bigg Bear” to you!

JIMMY

Right. We want to give you this box thingy.

BIGG BEAR

Hmm… Let me tell you a story. Sit down.

They all sat down.

BIGG BEAR (CONT’D) lright, here we go. I’m an Instinctian Master, the only one left. The reason? An ancient evil… Named Xenu. He was planning to shrink countless nations, planets, even galaxies; Until we trapped him years ago in the earth of this planet, Instinctia. The masters died in the process, but their sacrifice is honored.

ERIN Wow. I… Never thought of it that way.

He sat up.

"JIMMY Hey, that was a wonderful story! (pause, he turns to Baxter) So, now what?"

'''EXT. INSTINCTIA - CORN FIELD - DAY'''

(The crew is harvesting quantum particles)

JIMMY This job sure is easy. Now, for something to commemorate our little vacation...

(Jimmy pitches a U.S. flag in the ground)

Suddenly, the ground cracks, and it extends to a crater.

BAXTER SOPHOCLES! What did you just do?

JIMMY Oh, nothing much. I just pitched a flag; you see people do that on the moon every time.

(Laura looks down, and notices the ground ripping apart)

LAURA You were saying? (Jimmy looks down as well, and sees the ground cracking further)

JIMMY Oops, silly me.

ERIN Sir, I think we should just evacuate now. It crack in the ground could be dangerous.

BAXTER Do not jump to conclusions! We must follow it. That's an order.

(Baxter follows the crack)

DANIEL I hope you're thinking clearly about this, Baxter.

(Only Laura and Daniel follow Baxter)

ERIN I’ll just stay here.

JIMMY Me too. I'm too much of a coward to any of that explorer stuff anyways...

(They lead it to a crater.)

'''EXT. INSTINCTIA - CRATER - EVENING'''

LAURA

Whoa.

BAXTER

Hey, what is this stuff?

He touches a substance.

Unbeknownst to them, Xenu comes rising out of the crater.

LAURA

Oh, no...

(Laura notices her comrades in danger)

LAURA (CONT'D)

Ah! Hang on, guys!

(Laura pulls them up, but Baxter falls into the crater.)

DANIEL

Baxter! NO!

(Daniel and Laura run from the collapsing landscape)

(Suddenly, they are blasted away by the evil spirit, known as Xenu)

DANIEL

(gets up onto his knees) What the heck is that?

XENU

I am Xenu. Your would is NOW my world, and your time is now over!

JIMMY

Uh oh.

(Jimmy has the QTV all set up, and Daniel and Laura get onboard)

JIMMY

Alright, fellas, all aboard and get ready for one wild ride!

(He sets up the QTV as the ground crumbles as the crew gets on board. as they escape through the Sub-Atomic Realm, Daniel is hit with a Yellow, lion-like energy, Laura is hit with a Blue, shark-like energy, Erin is hit with a white, tiger-like energy, and Jimmy is hit with a Yellow, lion-like energy,

(They arrive back on earth, where Discovery control staff are alerted to an unscheduled portal breach. The portal explodes, and the QTV with the rangers onboard is spat out of it; the crew is unconcious)

INT. Xenu’s Temple, -MID AFTERNOON

A flock of malnourished mutants awaken to hear a malice, deep and menacing voice, and are suddenly infused with energy.

(Discovery Command: at the command centre, Lester is attempting to scan the energy readings on Instinctia, and notices the alarm going off.)

(Lester enters the hallway and notices a medical team in hazmat suits carrying the crew members.)

LESTER Hey! What the heck is going on here??

SOLDIER A major incident has occurred on Instinctia, and Isis III has been exposed to an unknown substance.

(The soldier walks off)

LESTER Oh no.

(In the solitary confinement area, The Isis III crew is being experimented on, and they wake up not knowing what is going on. Laura is emitting blue energy, Daniel is emitting yellow energy, Jimmy is emitting green energy, while Erin is emitting light-purple (or white) energy.)

DANIEL Is everyone OK?

LAURA Yeah, I think so. What's going on?

JIMMY Beats me. I got a question too: What's this green stuff coming outta my hands??

LAURA None of us know, but fingers crossed it isn't anything bad.

'''INT. XENU'S THRONE ROOM'''

Cubois, Snisog and Narnette watch as the malnourished Zealots roar back to life, and a shadowy figure enters the room.

XENU (O.S.) Arise my mutants, arise!

("To Be Continued...")