Scene 1: Planet Cerrus (Past)
Camera pan around to the planet Cerrus, where the refugees to Orbspace originally resided. The planet is nearly abandoned. We zoom down to see XOR — younger, vulnerable and afraid. She is alone and looking for a way out of Cerrus. Or a friend. Either or. We watch her panting, hyperventilating, and shaking. Finally, on her path she sees two people walking through the forest: a young WIND-WALKER and a young MATHIAS MINDBLADE. WIND_WALKER is much younger than Mathias, and carries 16 arrows with no bow. XOR hurries up to them but, feeling anxious, hides behind bushes to listen in on their conversation
MATHIAS: You know…the world is a big place. You could get lost in it if you’re not careful.
WIND-WALKER: Master Mathias…if I ever got lost…how long would it take for you to find me?
A pause. Then MATHIAS turns, looks to Windwalker and smiles
MATHIAS: A heartbeat
WIND-WALKER smiles, and the two kiss.
WIND-WALKER: …are we all who’s left?
MATHIAS: close enough anyway. A large set of soldiers left into the stars not so long ago. If the armies are leaving, that tells me there’s nothing left here to defend.
WIND-WALKER grins a devilish grin.
WIND-WALKER: An entire planet…all to ourselves. You know…we don’t HAVE to leave just yet.
WIND-WALKER runs her fingers down MATHIAS’S chest. He appears distracted, but not by that.
MATHIAS: Let us go now. The mountains call
MATHIAS and a somewhat frustrated WIND-WALKER make their way toward a mountain. XOR, intrigued, follows behind them.
WIND-WALKER: When will you teach me what you learned to do before?
MATHIAS: Before what?
WIND-WALKER: Before the council, when those soldiers left into the stars last month. I saw you working with them.
MATHIAS: Ah yes. I was teaching them, not the other way around. And I’ll be teaching you the same when we reach the top of the mountain
They silently walk for a bit longer, until the silence is broken by a hole cut into the air by a large blade. A BOY struggles to make his way through the hole. An OLD MAN yells from beyond the hole.
OLD MAN: LYNXBLAAADDEEEE!
LYNXBLADE quickly pulls back into the hole, clearly frightened. The hole shuts as the blade completely re-enters the hole. WIND-WALKER and MATHIAS both stare at the area where the hole briefly appeared. XOR watches as well, from the shadows. She is intrigued. MATHIAS realizes the time is now.
MATHIAS: NOW…beautiful Wind-Walker…I will teach you. OVUM!!
WIND-WALKER gasps as she is jerked upwards into the air. The air around her changes to dark red. WIND-WALKER gasps in pain and pleads for MATHIAS to stop. Magically, WIND-WALKER’S 16 arrows fly from her quiver and shoot in every direction. Each one opens a hole to another world somewhere in the stars.
MATHIAS: Now the true work begins…
XOR is mesmerized, but quickly realizes what she must do. Unbeknownst to either MATHIAS or WIND-WALKER, XOR jumps into the nearest hole. Shortly thereafter, MATHIAS jumps into another hole. Once he’s in, all holes shut and WIND-WALKER collapses to the ground, alone and in pain.
Scene 2: The Drift Lifeblood Temple (present)
JINN-LIR makes his way toward the LIFEBLOOD TEMPLE, seeking assistance but anticipating an attack. He sees the TEMPLE door open. Curious, he enters. He soon sees nobody there
JINN-LIR: Hello?…Anyone?…HELLO??
Finally, a lone LIFEBLOOD PRIEST slowly walks toward JINN-LIR
PRIEST: Just as I was getting used to the quiet. What do you want, wizard?
JINN-LIR: You remember me.
PRIEST: It’s not easy to forget the man who turned a bag of coins into an unstable, dangerous being who wiped out a good number of my brethren
JINN-LIR: I am…truly sorry to hear that
PRIEST: I’m sure you are. Your life was easier and happier before you heard that.
JINN-LIR: Not particularly. My cabal and all of wizard-dom is in danger thanks to Emperor Turok.
PRIEST: And this concerns me how?
JINN-LIR: Turok wants all magic beings dead. That includes you. That includes your brothers. That includes this temple. So what if you’re not a strict wizard? Turok won’t think about that when condemning you to die
PRIEST: A lone Priest is more powerful than a dozen Cabals! Let this mad emperor come for me, I will crush him and his army. And I won’t need any coin-operated girls to do it!
JINN-LIR: Lone? What do you mean, Lone? It’s just you?
PRIEST: If you must know, yes. The other Priests have returned home, and I am to protect this temple against all outsiders. Which, I may add, includes you.
The PRIEST’S magic begins to swell up
JINN-LIR: Wait! I don’t wish to fight. I’ll leave. But I must know one thing.
PRIEST: Dying men can’t make demands.
JINN-LIR: I wish to fight Turok, and require help! If you won’t help, at least point me in the direction of your brothers. Perhaps I can ask them and they will cooperate.
The PRIEST swells up with more magic. JINN-LIR prepares his magic as well, as a battle appears ready to commence But then, the PRIEST stops. His magic simmers down. He gets a smug, amused look on his face.
PRIEST: My brothers…you wish to know…where they are…very well. They have gone home. To the planet Taeerrannor in the Loporian Empire. If you truly seek their help, you’ll need to go there. I am sure they will happily help you if you only explain your situation.
JINN-LIR is suspicious of the PRIEST suddenly being so nice, but he has the info he needs. He too simmers down his magic and begins to back away.
JINN-LIR: I…thank you. And now…I will take my leave…as promised. You…might want to lock the door.
PRIEST: What? And ruin the fun of greeting trespassers with THIS?
The PRIEST suddenly swells up with magic and JINN-LIR, realizing the situation, runs off. The PRIEST simmers his magic down again. He chuckles to himself.
PRIEST: THAT…will never get old
Scene 3: Planet Djinn
COIN and TYPHUS touch down on DJINN. A pan-around reveals a world much nicer and more free-feeling than ACADMIUM. A woman approaches their ship — it is EMPRESS WIND-WALKER. COIN and TYPHUS disembark the ship to greet her.
COIN: Greetings. You seem…regal. Are you in charge here?
WIND-WALKER: Indeed I am. But don’t worry. I can assure you that, whatever ruler you previously dealt with, you will enjoy dealing with me much more. I am Empress Wind-Walker. I rule over the Akashmiran System. But then…you knew that, Coin.
COIN is confused
COIN: …Should I? I don’t recall. And how do you know me?
TYPHUS: TIME
WIND-WALKER: Your friend is correct. We have met, though if you have not yet visited the past to when we met, you would not have a memory of that time. You helped me become Empress.
TYPHUS: STONE
WIND-WALKER: Right again. You don’t need many words to hit the mark, do you, um…?
TYPHUS: TYPHUS
COIN: Of course…I might’ve known that. That’s…why I’m here. To go back to that moment and help you find the Stone. That way it keeps happening. The book I apparently wrote about the Noble Stones says as much.
WIND-WALKER: The Galestone opened up new abilities and parts of me I never knew existed. With it, I briefly became something different, something vicious. A Fire-Walker. It wasn’t pretty at all. Many died, many more suffered. But in the end, the brutality of Old Akashmiran fell and Fire-Walker died down. Wind-Walker remained to pick up the pieces and turn them into New Akashmiran. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place…as long as Fire-Walker doesn’t return. She hasn’t yet. I pray it stays that way.
COIN gulps, knowing she is about to help someone else — as nice as they are — gain destructive powers and that there is nothing she can do about it.
COIN: Where do we go?
WIND-WALKER: Back to your ship and to the planet Hurricanus. There, you will approach the Castle in the Sky. You can’t miss it — unless you don’t look to the sky (chuckles). Once there, set your time coordinates to when you helped me — I suppose your book says exactly when — and then…do so.
COIN looks at TYPHUS, who simply grunts. She looks back to WIND-WALKER, who smiles. COIN breathes deeply and turns toward her ship.
Scene 4: Castle Turok Dungeon
We pan from outside CASTLE TUROK to the DUNGEON inside. TUROK and XOR approach a cell, TUROK opens it. The camera pans around them to reveal the prisoner is ORBIUS. TUROK stares at him, grimaces, then slaps him hard.
TUROK: That’s for not saying good morning.
ORBIUS, breathing heavy, simply stares back
TUROK: Now look. Orbius. I’m very busy. I know you’re not, but I am. So I don’t wish for this to go much longer. I’ll ask you once, and hopefully you’ll take the hint. Where are you Cabal buddies? Where are Jinn-Lir and Coin??
ORBIUS: I…do not…know…
TUROK: Well. You talked. That’s new. And yet, you speak nonsense. I know you know. You wizards always know where the others are. It’s this magical feeling you get that keeps you in touch.
ORBIUS: What would…you know…about magic?
TUROK glares at ORBIUS and punches him this time
TUROK: You are in no position to ask anything! Magic is the enemy, and like any good warrior, I know my enemy! Right now…I’m looking at an enemy. One who better start telling the truth!
ORBIUS heavily breathes and heaves through his next speech
ORBIUS: …the truth…you want the truth…I cannot tell where they are. I am…too hurt. Typhus started it but you…made it much…worse…so much for…knowing your enemy.
TUROK remains angry, but is now attentive
ORBIUS (con’t): Jinn might still be…on this planet…but I have not felt…Coin…in some time…she may be…too far for anyone…to detect…but I do sense something else…something much closer…
TUROK: What? What do you detect?
ORBIUS: Magic…not mine…far more…brutal magic…like the magic…of old Orbspace…
XOR mainstains her poker face aside from a tightening of her jaw. A FLASHBACK to the past…YOUNG XOR is in OLD DRIFT and surrounded by brutal, unrestrained magic-users. She ducks for cover — when her cover is destroyed by an errant magic blast, she quickly runs for another hiding place. That too is quickly destroyed. Nobody is out to harm her, she is simply caught in the crossfire of other people’s magic war. Finally, a blast of brutal magic strikes her. She is hurt, but manages to escape. She soon runs into a CITIZEN and points back at the battling magic-users.
YOUNG XOR: Ma’am! What is this? What are they fighting with?
CITIZEN: It’s…magic?
YOUNG XOR appears confused
CITIZEN: Everyone has it. Don’t you?
YOUNG XOR: I…just got here…no. Can I…learn it?
CITIZEN: You’re an outsider. No magic? I…precious few learn magic if it’s not in them. But some have…so, it’s…improbable, but possible, yes.
YOUNG XOR looks back at the battling magic-users
YOUNG XOR: Good.
FLASHBACK ends and XOR stares straight ahead at ORBIUS and TUROK
ORBIUS: …the brutal magic…is near…trust no one around you…
ORBIUS falls unconscious. TUROK appears worried, and turns to look at XOR. Her eyes quickly glimmer as she stares at TUROK.
XOR: He’s a delirious, demented old fool. People like that, they’ll say anything. But IF there’s brutal magic in our kingdom? We will find it and squash it.
TUROK: Our…?
XOR’s eyes flash again. TUROK suddenly goes silent.
XOR: There’s much work to be done
Scene 5: Coin’s Timeship
COIN and TYPHUS are flying toward PLANET HURRICANUS
COIN: We go from one planet and then right to another. Sometimes I wonder if Orbspace has too many planets. Perhaps I could go extremely far back in time, when all was dust, and manipulate the dust so each star receives one big planet. That would make travel so much easier.
TYPHUS: …STUPID IDEA
COIN: Just a joke, is all. It’s a long trip, conversation and humor might make it shorter
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: Right…listen, I just want to…reiterate, that I have not forgotten my promise to you. Yes, these Noble Stones are taking up a lot of my time but I will find your truth. Where did you come from? Why are you…you? And why did you magically grow when I did? There is a reason, and as long as you stay with me and don’t try to kill me, we will find it.
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: …I’ll take that as a “thank you.”
TYPHUS simply grunts. The two then travel in silence as the camera pans to show PLANET HURRICANUS in the distance.
Scene 6: The Drift Village Bar
JINN-LIR makes his way to the same BAR he and COIN visited so long ago. He needs advice on how to get to PLANET TAEERRANNOR, and who better to help than the wise bartender? JINN-LIR enters the BAR and finds it abandoned and in tatters. Fearing the worst, he rushes to the back of the BAR and finds a pile of rubble and garbage with a human leg sticking out. He frantically removes the rubbish and finds the BARTENDER’S dead body. JINN-LIR is visibly shocked. He takes a deep breath to call for help, but stops before any noise comes out. He sees the BARTENDER’S cash box on a bottom shelf. Getting an idea, he grabs the cash box and helps himself to all the Turokians inside. It is a significant amount. He stuffs the Turokians into his cloak and rushes out the BAR.
JINN-LIR (as he power walks away): Somebody help! Bartender is dead in the bar! Notify their loved ones! I can’t raise the dead, so don’t ask!
Scene 7: Planet Hurricanus, the Castle in the Sky
COIN and TYPHUS touch down in front of the CASTLE IN THE SKY and observe it from the ship’s window. We then see COIN turn the ship’s coordinates to 20 years in the past. A FLASH, rumbling, and suddenly everything stops. COIN and TYPHUS venture outside — it looks almost exactly the same, only now they see a young woman near the CASTLE, looking lost.
COIN: That must be her
COIN and TYPHUS approach the woman.
COIN: Wind-Walker?
YOUNG WIND-WALKER turns around, shocked that someone knows her.
WIND-WALKER: Who wants to know?
COIN: Don’t worry, we’re not here to hurt you. We’re here to help
WIND-WALKER: Really. I’ve heard that before, some many years back. Somebody said they’d help. Somebody said they’d find me if I got lost. And then do you know what happened? Betrayal, that’s what! Pain, abandonment, loss, and loneliness that continues to this day. So maybe I don’t want help. I’ll find the —
COIN: Galestone? All by yourself?
WIND-WALKER: …you know of it?
COIN: And I know of your quest. My name’s Coin. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’m the Time Goddess. In training, anyway. I come from the future. And the past. And the present.
WIND-WALKER stares at COIN, flummoxed
COIN: Don’t…think too hard about it. I’m the Time Goddess, and I’m still wrapping my head around it all. Bottom line is, I’m here to help you find the Galestone.
WIND-WALKER: Or perhaps snatch it from me. Time Goddess AND Empress of Akashmiran? Now THAT’S power!
COIN: I don’t want that! And even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. The Stones bind to the one destined to rule, and that’s you. Not me.
WIND-WALKER: And who’s he?
TYPHUS: NO MATTER
COIN: What he MEANT was, his name is Typhus and he’s glad to meet you.
TYPHUS: WRONG
WIND-WALKER: Nice fellow…my gut says to believe you’re not going to hurt me. You probably would’ve done it by now, anyway. Let’s…table the Time Goddess thing though, and focus on the Galestone. Do you know where it is?
COIN: All I know is that it’s in that castle, and the two of us will find it together.
WIND-WALKER: “Will.” How optimistic. OK…let’s go. And your friend?
TYPHUS: NO
WIND-WALKER: That’s probably for the best. Wouldn’t want anyone to make off with that lovely ship of yours.
COIN: Right. OK, Typhus, stay here. And remember, only my Time Magic will bring us back. So don’t try anything!
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: Thank you. Maybe
COIN and WIND-WALKER make their way to the CASTLE IN THE SKY
Scene 8: Inside the Castle in the Sky
COIN and WIND-WALKER wander the CASTLE IN THE SKY, making no progress. We see them continually going into and out of the same rooms they already saw. Sometimes, they run into each other as they enter the same room through different doors.
Montage ends. The two continue to explore the CASTLE while conversing. WIND-WALKER is exhausted
WIND-WALKER: Are you SURE it’s here?
COIN: I am. You told me so.
WIND-WALKER: …
COIN: Future you. On another planet.
WIND-WALKER: Yes, of course. Her.
COIN: Do you want to know your future?
WIND-WALKER: Right now my future seems to be eternity inside this stupid castle.
COIN: Once we find the Galestone, the exit should become much easier to find. So it is written.
WIND-WALKER: And YOU wrote that?
COIN: I suppose. Perhaps Future Coin did. I have no memory of this book. I simply know I wrote it.
WIND-WALKER: Let’;s change the subject, my head hurts. With the power of the Galestone, will I be able to exact revenge on people?
COIN: I…suppose. Why?
WIND-WALKER: A man betrayed me years ago. On a distant planet, far from Orbspace. He used me to escape that desolate world, leaving me there cold and alone. What’s worse? That man is still here, and very powerful indeed.
COIN: Powerful?
WIND-WALKER: You no doubt know of Emperor Mathias Mindblade of the Loporian Empire.
COIN: Him? He is your betrayer?
WIND-WALKER: Yes. He was my master, and me his apprentice. He claimed he would show me how to escape our world and live among the stars. Oh, he showed me, alright.
COIN: …the Galestone will grant you much power. Some of it is beneficial to Akashmiran, some of it far less so. I can help guide you to the Stone, but I can’t control what you do with its power.
WIND-WALKER: Perhaps I can turn this brutal world into something…better? More civilized? More organized? I know you won’t tell me what to do, but something tells me when I find this Stone and become one with it…I’ll know.
COIN: I’m…sure you will.
They silently explore for a short while
WIND-WALKER: And what of your friend?
COIN: Typhus? I don’t know if i would call him a friend. He needs help and I’m helping him.
WIND-WALKER: Sounds like a friend to me
COIN: He’s tried to kill me over and over again and the only reason he isn’t trying right now is because I said I’d help him
WIND-WALKER: Friends…fight sometimes.
COIN chuckles sadly. She struggles to explain the following story to WIND-WALKER
COIN: He and I were both children, until some…magic-infused coins turned me into an adult. At the same time he turned into an adult too. But he didn’t have magic coins. We don’t know why he grew, but I’ve promised to find out.
A long pause
WIND-WALKER: He’s…not a talker, is he?
COIN: He is not
WIND-WALKER: He seems simple. Anger and violence and not much else. If I had to guess, he was manipulated. By someone quite powerful. Though he’s simple enough that it likely didn’t take much effort.
COIN: Who?
WIND-WALKER: THAT…is for his friend to find out
COIN contemplates this. Suddenly:
WIND-WALKER: Coin! I think that’s it!
COIN looks ahead. We see the GALESTONE in all its glory
WIND-WALKER: Wait…weren’t we already in this room? Several times?
COIN: Yes…I think we were…the Stone wasn’t…ready…
WIND-WALKER stares at the GALETONE and walks toward it. She touches it and EMBLEM occurs. In a flash, the GALESTONE enters WIND-WALKER and becomes one with her. Shortly thereafter, the EXIT appears
WIND-WALKER: Master Mathias…I do hope you remember me…
COIN: …he will.
Scene 9: Outside the Spaceship to Taeerrannor
JINN-LIR makes his way to the SPACESHIP. As he waits in line to enter, HUNTRESS and WONN-LIR appear next to him.
JINN-LIR: This is NOT the time
HUNTRESS: Quite right. Untense those muscles, Jinn. We’re not here to fight
WONN-LIR: Regrettably.
JINN-LIR: Why should I believe you?
HUNTRESS: Why are you here?
JINN-LIR: Why should I tell you?
HUNTRESS: Turok is why. His little speech is why.
JINN-LIR: Speech?
WONN-LIR: (sigh) Are you SURE we can’t at least hurt him?
HUNTRESS: Let it go, Wonn. (whispering, to JINN-LIR) You were elsewhere, I suppose. Emperor Turok issued a planet-wide proclamation that anybody with magic is public enemy #1. So they’ve got us all in our sights and THAT’S why we’re not fighting you now. We…need to work together for once. We need to find Coin, Orbius, and any other magic user out there and focus our anger on one target: Turok.
JINN-LIR is uneasy, but clearly understands HUNTRESS is telling the truth
HUNTRESS (cont): So I’ll ask again: why are you here?
JINN-LIR: …same reason. I — we — need the Priests of Lifeblood to band with us and stand up to Turok. But they’ve all gone home to Taeerrannor. So…(points to SPACESHIP) that’s where I’m going.
WONN-LIR: Then we will go too. If there’s to be a truce we might as well start working together now.
JINN-LIR: It’s an expensive flight. I only have enough Turokians for one ticket. Don’t ask me how I got them
HUNTRESS and WONN-LIR flash large amounts of Turokians JINN-LIR’S direction
HUNTRESS: Don’t ask us where we got these, either.
JINN-LIR inhales, impressed. They all wait in line together.
Scene 10: Castle Turok Throne Room
TUROK is on his throne, surrounded by his GUARDS. He is about to greet a CITIZEN, who steps forward
TUROK: I trust you have good news?
CITIZEN: I do, my emperor. On my daily walk I noticed a…Priest of Lifeblood. He was closing the doors to their temple, clearly afraid of your wrath. I do not know how many are in the Temple, but I thought you would like to know at least one remains.
TUROK: I WOULD like to know that. Thank you. I’ll see to it that you, and your family, are handsomely rewarded for this information.
CITIZEN: Thank you, my emperor. You are most generous.
TUROK: (looking threatening) Well, with all that magic flowing through your veins, how could I not?
CITIZEN: Um…magic…sir? E-emperor? B-but I have…none. None!
TUROK glares a hole through the CITIZEN. After several seconds of making the CITIZEN sweat, TUROK relaxes and laughs
TUROK: Exactly! You’re pure! Now go, have fun, be free. Your reward is coming!
CITIZEN can barely catch his breath in relief. Forces himself to laugh while still shaking
CITIZEN: Yes, yes, of course. Good one, my emperor! Be well!
CITIZEN runs off. TUROk addresses his GUARDS
TUROK: Ahhh, we have fun here. But enough of that. This Priest — and however many others are left — must be wiped out. Many of you will be part of a Task Force designed solely to smoke out the Priests. Render them extinct. Then return to me with their bodies, I want them dead. I already know they won’t talk except to mock me…
XOR: You…will be accompanying these fine soldiers, correct?
TUROK stops and looks at XOR, shocked she would call him out like this.
TUROK: Well…normally, yes. But there is a lot of ruling to do here, much decision-making, and I have full trust in all of you to get the job done. (turns to XOR, angry whispering) You are not in charge, I AM. Do NOT make me look weak, do you understand??
XOR simply stares at him, her eyes glimmer. TUROK slumps in his throne, relaxed and cooperative.
TUROK: On second thought…the Drift Capital can run itself while I’m leading you all into battle. It shouldn’t take…more than a day or so anyway. We march toward the Temple at once!
The GUARDS look at each other, confused. Finally, they shrug and move to get ready for battle. Pan to XOR, looking satisfied
Scene 11: Coin’s Timeship
COIN and TYPHUS are flying away from HURRICANUS.
COIN: Two Stones forged, two to go.
TYPHUS: WANT COOKIE?
COIN: …yes, actually. Stone-forging is hungry work. And guess where we’re going next?
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: Back to Djinn. Past Me helped forge the Redstone at the sight of a major battle. All we need to do is find the battlefield.
TYPHUS: WHO
Coin consults her book
COIN: According to…me…I am to help Razus Razorblade forge the Redstone. What a name. That’s like me calling myself…Coin Coinerson.
TYPHUS grunts disgustedly
COIN: …Tough crowd. You know, Typhus —
TYPHUS: HMMM??
COIN: Wind-Walker said something about you. In the Castle
TYPHUS: WHAT
COIN opens her mouth to speak further, but pauses, thinks, and decides not to just yet
COIN: She…said you have a nice voice and you should use it more
TYPHUS: …NO
COIN: …I…told her you might say that
COIN and TYPHUS silently ride the rest of the way. Camera pans over to reveal PLANET DJINN
Scene 12: Planet Taeerrannor
The SPACESHIP touches down and the UNITED WIZARD CABAL exit. They survey the scene. It is a seemingly peaceful world, though something uneasy bubbles below the surface. Knowing they can’t waste any time, they find the first CITIZEN they can.
JINN-LIR: Excuse me, sir. Can you help us, please?
CITIZEN: Move off, you lot! I’m busy.
HUNTRESS: Ugh, so useless. Jinn, watch how it’s done
HUNTRESS saunters over to the CITIZEN, zips her top down ever-so-slightly, and bats her eyes
HUNTRESS (cont, to the CITIZEN): I DO apologize for my friend’s behavior. He doesn’t know how to talk to men. But I do…I would be ever-so-happy if you would help us. We are looking for the Temple of Lifeblood. We have such important business to tend to, we simply must speak to the Priests immediately.
CITIZEN (flustered): Um…well…uh…that’s…quite all right…about your friend…the Temple? Right down that path (points in the direction of the TEMPLE). Just a few miles away, you can’t miss it.
HUNTRESS: Oh, thank you kind sir. You’re ever in my debt. (walks to JINN-LIR) From now on, I talk. (She walks away)
WONN-LIR can’t help but smile and chuckle. To JINN-LIR:
WONN-LIR: If it makes you feel any better…I couldn’t do that either.
WONN-LIR and JINN-LIR follow HUNTRESS to the Temple. Pan back to the CITIZEN, who calls over a SOLDIER.
CITIZEN: See them, sir? I don’t know them, but they were asking about the Priests of Lifeblood. They’re on their way to the Temple.
SOLDIER: Interesting. The Priests will deal with them while I inform Emperor Mindblade of these intruders. Good work, my friend.
Scene 13: The Drift Lifeblood Temple
TUROK and his TASK FORCE march on the LIFEBLOOD TEMPLE. Seeing the door locked shut, the TASK FORCE readies to blow the door down with a battering ram. They stop when the door opens and the lone LIFEBLOOD PRIEST comes out to greet them. There is a long, silent standoff until…
TUROK: I am Emperor Turok Rhygear. With the power invested in me, I hereby sentence you and your brethren to death, as enemies of the Drift Empire. However many of you there are, surrender quietly and we will make your deaths quick and painless.
PRIEST: I hate to disappoint you, but there’s only me here.
TUROK: You lie!
PRIEST: You’re right. I lied. I actually loved disappointing you. (PRIEST laughs uproariously)
TUROK: And THIS is why there will be no trial. Attack!
The PRIEST begins to swell with magic and the battle commences. It is one against many, and the one is holding his ground. He deflects many attacks and actually kills several members of the TASK FORCE. He barely seems tired at all! TUROK is enraged
TUROK: Good thing I came after all. Enough!
TUROK presses several buttons on his armor and unleashes his nano-weapons on the PRIEST. The PRIEST attempts to fight them off, but he is soon overpowered and overwhelmed by the sheer number of nano-weapons. TUROK, sensing victory, calls off his weapons and TASK FORCE and approaches the fallen, dying PRIEST himself. He kneels down.
TUROK: Perhaps, in your final moments, you understand why magic is a loser’s path. And why it must be extinguished.
PRIEST: You have killed…one priest…many more remain. And wizards…with them…when they return…they will bring…HELL WITH THEM (dies)
A period of silence
TUROK: That’s right…to Hell with them
TUROK rises
Scene 14: Planet Djinn, Scene of Historical Battle Site
COIN and TYPHUS touch down at the battle site scene. COIN enters her coordinates for the past. The usual time travel effects happen and once they stop, COIN and TYPHUS peer outside. The battle is over. There are bloody bodies everywhere.
COIN: Did we not go back enough? Maybe we set coordinates for a couple hours before this?
TYPHUS looks around, sees a survivor writhing on the ground. Points him out to COIN
TYPHUS: HIM??
COIN looks at the man TYPHUS pointed to and recognizes him. Confirms with a photo in her book
COIN: Razus, yes! Let’s go!
COIN and TYPHUS make their way to the fallen RAZUS RAZORBLADE. He is alive, but barely.
COIN: Razus Razorblade? Can you hear me?
RAZUS weakly looks up, slowly nods, groans
COIN: My name is Coin, and I don’t think we have much time. I’m here to help you forge the Redstone, which is somewhere here. Do you know where?
RAZUS wheezes out a barely-coherent “no.” COIN realizes he has little time left, and begins helping him crawl around, looking for the Redstone. Quickly, TYPHUS grows impatient.
TYPHUS: ENOUGH
TYPHUS grabs RAZUS and carries him from place to place. COIN runs behind them and loudly protests this, as TYPHUS could be hurting an already wounded man. Finally, they come across a dead soldier with something shiny sticking out of his body
TYPHUS: THAT??
COIN: Yes! Yes, I think so. Let’s remove it from that soldier and get it near Razus.
TYPHUS lays RAZUS down as COIN moves to the dead soldier. She removes the Redstone from his body and brings it to RAZUS
COIN: This…should work…
It does! Very quickly, the Redstone binds itself to RAZUS and Emblem occurs. Afterwards, RAZUS, completely recovered, rises to his feet
RAZUS: My goodness…I thought I was finished. Thank you, dear lady, I…didn’t catch your name…too busy dying
COIN: I’m Coin. Let’s just say it was my job to help you and the Redstone become one
RAZUS: If only you had come earlier. Hundreds, if not thousands of lives lost. In one battle. Everyone thought they could forge the Redstone and gain divine rights as Emperor. That poor soul (points to the fallen soldier who had the REDSTONE sticking out of him) attempted to force the Redstone into him. The Stone…clearly didn’t appreciate that.
COIN: You’re its master, no one else.
RAZUS: So I am to be Emperor of Karetoretos. I…don’t know if I’m ready.
COIN turns toward TYPHUS
COIN: Neither do I…
RAZUS turns to follow them, sees TYPHUS. He quickly becomes enraged.
RAZUS: YOU!!
TYPHUS: ME?
RAZUS: How DARE you show your face here!
RAZUS lunges for TYPHUS, who attempts to diffuse the situation by yelling and lunging for RAZUS. COIN is in a panic
COIN: WHAT?? NO! Stop this! What is this? WHY?
Neither man responds to her, they’re too busy fighting. COIN attempts to pry them apart, taking care to harm neither one — particularly RAZUS, as she does not yet want to risk changing time in any way. Finally, she grabs TYPHUS and drags him away.
COIN: TYPHUS??!! We can’t do this! Let’s go!!
TYPHUS hollers angrily, but follows COIN to the TIME SHIP. Just as Razus realizes he now has extra-powerful magic and emits a large burst of it toward the TIME SHIP, it vanishes. RAZUS stares ahead, breathing heavily and angrily.
Scene 15: Castle Turok War Room
TUROK returns to his WAR ROOM triumphantly, only to find XOR on his throne, conducting his business and ordering his SOLDIERS around
XOR: You! Send out another round of warnings to all wizards and magicians. They haven’t yet gotten the point. You! Round up the new Castle Guard recruits, time to see what they’re made of. And you! Bring me the head of whoever wrote that infernal “History of Cerrus” book. I lost count of the inaccuracies.
TUROK: WHAT IS THIS????
XOR looks at him and smiles
XOR: You weren’t entirely correct, my dear. The Drift Capitol can’t run ITSELF. Luckily, I’m here to help it…chug along.
TUROK is enraged
TUROK: YOU. ARE. NOT. EMPRESS!! And if you ever want to BE Empress, you’ll stop this nonsense immediately! This is MY empire, not yours. The CircuitStone chose ME, not you! I alone make the decisions, and right now I am THIS CLOSE to deciding that I want YOUR HEAD. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT??
XOR rises and walks over to TUROK, eyes glimmering more than ever. TUROK appears resistant, his anger strengthening him. But eventually, he relaxes as before, slumping down into a chair
XOR: There…isn’t that better than throwing a big old tantrum?
TUROK looks up at her, confused.
XOR (cont): Forces are coming for you, my Emperor. Magic forces. They are strong, they are numerous, and they are brutal. You are strong, so very strong, but even you can’t fight them alone. You need help. You need support. You need…an Empress
A pause
TUROK: …I…simply don’t know…not after…this…not yet…I can fight…the wizards and…priests…by myself…
XOR’S eyes shimmer during and after TUROK says the above. Finally, he completely melts into submission.
TUROK (cont): Together. (to his GUARDS) We are to be wed immediately. Find a chaplain and bring him here. Announce the wedding to all Drift. All citizens are ordered to attend or send their regards. And following the wedding, the coronation…of Empress XOR.
They embrace as the GUARDS scurry to carry out their orders. Camera pans away as TUROK continues to embrace XOR long after XOR has let go of TUROK.
Scene 16: Coin’s Timeship
COIN and TYPHUS, now back in the present, are flying in space.
COIN: Razus knew you.
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: How?
TYPHUS: DON’T KNOW
COIN: Are you sure?
TYPHUS bares his teeth
TYPHUS: I DON’T LIE
COIN: …Very well. Maybe we’ll learn more when we learn about why you got big
TYPHUS simply grunts
COIN: One more Noble Stone to forge. Sabbeaeo. Karetoretos Empire. And then, the job is done. After that, we’ll figure you out
COIN sets a course for PLANET SABBEAEO. Camera pans away as the TIMESHIP zooms away. Camera then turns and slowly, then quickly pans across the star systems, zipping past planet after planet, finally arriving back at ACADMIUM. It then pans onto the planet, zooming down, down, down, until it settles on…a random house.
Scene 17: A Drift Citizen’s House
We see a DRIFT CITIZEN sitting on his couch, watching TV. He flips to Channel 9 News, and the ANCHORMAN speaks. Camera pans to the TV.
ANCHORMAN: …as many of our viewers can surmise, today is a somber day here at Channel 9 News. Thirty-five years ago today our beloved anchorwoman, West DeLainey, disappeared while carrying out her final assignment. She had vowed to investigate strange goings-on at the Endless Library and…nobody has seen her since. West, if the worst happened that day, then may you rest in peace. If you are still out there, somewhere, and you hear this, know that we all love and miss you. We pray every day for your safe return —
The CITIZEN changes the channel. On the TV we see TUROK’S wedding about to commence.
END