Scene 1: Drift Capital
The Drift Empire is at war! House Skyblade has launched a full attack and all of Turok’s army is fighting back. We pan around the Battlefield to see explosions galore, guns firing, magic spewing from every direction, warships flying in every direction, and death. Lots of death. Mages fall, soldiers fall, warships plummer from the sky…nobody is a clear victor. It begins to feel like war for war’s sake.
We see Turok readying himself for battle. His advisors look at him one more time, silently begging him to reconsider going into battle and risking the death of their leader, but Turok won’t consider it. He is a fighting leader and will do just that. He marches through the gates towards battle.
Scene 2: Domminna
We see Orbius, Coin, and Matthios watching the war from afar
COIN: Everything that has happened so far had to happen. This too?
The other two silently nod
COIN: And how did THIS happen? You and me…here?
ORBIUS: Turok created a machine supercharged by his nanotech. That tech, combined with my natural power, sent me to another plane of strength…then to another plane entirely (gestures all around him). Once here, I had the power to transfer others here, namely you. But sadly (looks at timeship) that is as far as my powers will take me.
COIN: You can’t take me back? I need to be there!
Orbius shakes head sadly
ORBIUS: No, nor can I do anything about your ship. It is still…a deathtrap. If you were to leave its confines anywhere but here…well, I fear you already know the consequences
COIN: Then…I go back to the ship. Fly into battle. Do what I did to the Lifeblood Priests when they attacked my younger self. After all, if I’m a goddess, what chance does Windchime Skyblade have?
MATTHIOS: It’s not her I worry about. It is others…
Coin and Orbius both look at Matthios, who was almost muttering to himself
MATTHIOS: Ah…not now. It would take too long to explain, and we have no time. Besides, there’s something else we must do, Coin. Forgive me, but…not related to the fight
Coin looks at him curiously but also incredulously
COIN: What would you have me do, besides aid my people? My HOME?
MATTHIOS: This WILL aid them, for it is the final piece of your cycle. If not done, the goddess Coin may cease to exist. And without control of time and reality, I…worry about what could arise next.
COIN: …I’ll trust you, as long as we do this fast.
MATTHIOS: Of course. Also…I have something for you. A…family heirloom, if you will.
Orbius nods at Coin. Coin, understanding, goes with Matthios
Scene 3: Zero’s Island
Windchime flies her warship toward the direction of the mysterious voice. It guides her to the same mysterious island from before. She lands her ship and exits it. There, she sees both Zero and XOR
WINDCHIME: Are you who spoke with me from afar?
ZERO: Are you here to become who you truly are?
WINDCHIME: So it IS you…and her?
ZERO: She is another who wishes to be what she truly is. As for me…I am Zero. I reside over the infernal realm known as Rhyaiao. I specialize in cases like you two.
XOR: US two? (to Windchime) Who are you and what do you want?
WINDCHIME: Perhaps you don’t see it, being locked away on this rock. But there is a war happening in Accadmium. One I started, and for one reason. Drift is mine. I have all but one planet under my control and right now, my soldiers are ensuring I get that as well. Once I rule all of Drift, I shall turn my attention to the other systems and make them mine as well. So I have two questions…can you, Zero, help make this happen? And YOU (to XOR), do you wish to join me?
XOR: The name is XOR. Not You. And to your offer…(laughs) I could not. You sound like my competition. Perhaps I want this realm to myself as well. Who are you that would want the same?
WINDCHIME: The name, which you and others will worship soon enough, is Windchime Skyblade.
XOR inhales deeply. Her anger betrays her
XOR: You…of course it’s you. I know you well. I had PLANS for this reality and you ruined them!
WINDCHIME: Reality? Plans? HA, sounds like you’re not living in reality.
XOR: I don’t. I exist in a Plane Beyond Reality, and I had plans to make reality mine as well. Merge the worlds and rule both of them. And then YOU had to mess everything up by not dying!
WINDCHIME: Excuse me? Zero, are you sure you want this nutcase on your side?
ZERO: What I have in mind can only work if the two of you walk with me.
XOR: I’m not walking with her! You, Windchime, you died on Cerrus, murdered at the hands of your brother. But somehow, that miserable creature-servant of yours, Typhus, saved you, altered reality, and now I have to deal with YOU.
WINDCHIME: Whatever are you babbling about? I do remember him trying to kill me, I never knew why. All I know is that I got away, hiding in any corner or basement I could until I could escape that dying planet and make my fortune here, Typhus was but a child. He had nothing to do with my survival. Or anything else for that matter
ZERO: While this is all quite entertaining, family feuds can wait. What cannot wait is that Turok must fall, and the three of us combined can make it happen
XOR: Zero, I must object. We don’t need this one. We need her gone. She is but a child playing the game of conqueror while you rule an entire REALM…as do I. She is in the way.
WINDCHIME: I appreciate the offer, Zero, but it’s clear I need to win on my own. Send Mistress Reality away and we’ll talk. Until then…expect to bow to your new empress very shortly.
XOR: I bow to no one, especially you! Get in the way again…and I’ll make sure you STAY dead this time.
An intense stare-off. They look ready to come to blows. They charge one another! But Zero intervenes, putting himself between the warring women. Windchime scowls, looks up at Zero, who smiles. Windchime smiles back…and then storms off. She gets in her warship and flies away. Zero and XOR watch her leave, XOR with a steely resolve in her eyes.
Scene 4: Drift Battlefield
Similar scenes from before, of the battle raging. We see Turok making his way through a Battlefield shouting orders to his men. Suddenly, a huge explosion obliterates the nearby Drift army. All soldiers are dead, save Turok, who is merely hurt. Skyblade soldiers advance on the fallen emperor and corner him.
SOLDIER: In the name of Empress Skyblade: Turok Rhygear, you are hereby relieved of your duties. And your life. We sentence you to die.
Turok attempts to activate his protective nanotech barrier but it sputters to a sad death, broken beyond repair during the fight. Helpless, Turok accepts his fate and close his eyes
TUROK: I only wish XOR were by my side.
SOLDIER: Once we find the First Lady…she will be.
Turok falls silent. The soldiers charge up their magic for a fatal blow…and are blasted themselves! We pan over to see the attackers; the Wizard Cabal! Jinn-Lir, Wonn-Lir, and Huntress have arrived. Jinn-Lir helps Turok to his feet.
TUROK: How are you all working together?
JINN-LIR: Long story.
WONN-LIR: Very long.
HUNTRESS: Too long. Good to know we’re still a cabal in this new realm though?
TUROK: Excuse me?
JINN-LIR: We’ll…try to explain later. For now, we need to get you to safety. If you fall, the war is done.
WONN-LIR: We heard from the Lifeblood Priests that you were nice, gentle, caring, giving, and loving. Let’s just say that, up until recently, that wasn’t you. At all. Seems it is now. We…still don’t know why? But this is certainly preferable to you wanting us and every other magic-user dead.
TUROK: When did I want THAT?
HUNTRESS: Again. Long story. If we survive this, we’ll all grab some mead and tell you all about it. But of course, that’s later. Now, we simply end the war and save the day
WONN-LIR: Imagine…the Dark Cabal…heroes
TUROK: Well, if that’s what you want you’ll need to do a LOT more of what you just did. Windchime’s army seems never-ending!
HUNTRESS: Oh, there’s an end. We simply need to find it.
The Cabal and Turok run off to safety
Scene 5: Outside the Endless Library
Typhus walks out of the Library after his meeting with the WFC9. He sees a group of Drift soldiers prepping for battle. He walks over to them.
TYPHUS: WAR??
SOLDIER 1: Yes, friend. You…are a friend, right?
TYPHUS: NO
SOLDIER 1: Are you…an enemy then?
TYPHUS: NO
SOLDIER 2: A neutral party then. Either way, we are off to fight for our emperor…sorry, president. Old habits. (laughs) Latest reports say Windchime Skyblade is attacking the Drift capital as we speak. So, little time to waste.
TYPHUS: WINDCHIME
SOLDIER 3: Yes, her. She’s finally advancing on the capital.
TYPHUS: FRIEND
SOLDIER 2: Excuse me? Windchime…friend? Am I hearing you right?
TYPHUS: FRIEND!
SOLDIER 1: I see. Then we must deal with you first. We cannot let traitors go unpunished.
The soldiers grab Typhus, who bellows with anger and beats the soldiers into unconsciousness. Once they all pass out, Typhus looks to the horizon.
TYPHUS: CAPITAL
He then draws up his magic and closes his eyes. He then transports himself away from the Library, disappearing into the ether
Scene 6: Domminna
Matthios and Coin go to a secluded area of the realm. Matthios beckons to Coin to follow him to a pedestal. On the pedestal is a shining stone next to…a familiar bag. Coins sees it and immediately clutches the bag on her pouch.
COIN: Is that?…
MATTHIOS: Indeed it is. That’s you. Before all this. Even gods and goddesses have to come from somewhere.
COIN: How though? I…wasn’t around to see the process
MATTHIOS: See this? (points to the CreationStone) One of the sixteen building blocks of existence here on Orb. A CreationStone. As the name suggests, it creates. And when combined with the right Coins of Domminna (points to the Coins), life comes from nothing. You are the product of the Coins, the Stone, and Lifeblood magic.
Coin slowly walks to the pedestal, in awe. She gathers the bag of Coins and holds them in her hands, reverently.
COIN: Me…?
MATTHIOS: You…but only if you act fast. I must admit…before you changed time and reality, the lesser-evolved me, Mathias, vehemently opposed this approach. Many who create life from Stones and magic seek to manipulate it for their own gains. But today…I know better. I know this must be done. These Coins MUST become life…namely, your life.
Coin understands
COIN: The cycle…
MATTHIOS: Yes. Jinn-Lir must receive these Coins and the CreationStone. If he does not, then none of this ever happens. I worry about how reality could change if you never occurred.
COIN: Perhaps…it would end the war?
MATTHIOS: It might…but it also might end everything. There could be a worse war. More despotic emperors. And no Goddess of Time…or perhaps a dark, evil one. I saw visions of such a being in the prior reality…I don’t wish to meet her for real…once all this ends and you fully ascend to your position, you should become better equipped to study possible realities, before making them real. But for now, we must complete your cycle. You can’t get this job any other way
COIN: Alright…then we’ll do this. I’ll give Jinn-Lir myself — gods, that sounds horrible out of context — and let the cycle work itself.
Orbius enters from behind
ORBIUS: I’ll go with you. This is a delicate operation. Once you’re there you cannot leave your ship. But I can. I shall disguise myself and ensure Jinn-Lir leaves the area with the Coins and the Stone.
COIN: He won’t recognize his master?
ORBIUS: That is a risk. But Matthios must stay here in this realm, so it must be me. As for Jinn-Lir…he and the rest of the Wizard Cabal are semi-immune to the timeshift. They remain the same, but are aware of things being very different though they don’t know why. So if he were to recognize me, it would risk a paradox, one we’re not equipped to handle. But we have one choice…we’re not equipped to handle what happens if we don’t choose it.
COIN: So that one choice is “we do this.”
Orbius and Matthios smile and nod. Orbius takes the pouch of Coins, plus the CreationStone, and makes his way toward the timeship. Coin follows suit.
Scene 7: The Drift Battlefield
Windchime flies back to the battleground and, with a mighty holler, orders all remaining soldiers to attack full-scale. She then sees Turok with the Wizard Cabal.
WINDCHIME: Destroy all the President’s men…but leave ME the President!
Windchime presses buttons in her ship and the attack cannons begin to swell. Turok and the Cabal don’t see her. She prepares to fire, and does so. But at the last second, a magical force field protects Turok and the cabal. We see the wielder of the shield: XOR!. Enraged, Windchime lands her warship and storms out to confront XOR.
WINDCHIME: You! I warned you to stay away and yet here you are.
XOR: My husband is not yours to kill.
WINDCHIME: Oh? Then YOU’LL have to do.
Windchime prepares to fire at XOR with all her magical might, but the cabal step in the way. A stare down occurs. They all prepare to fire…but are hit with blasts of magic from behind. XOR looks in the direction of the magic and sees Typhus. She is disgusted
Scene 8: Drift City (The Past)
Coin and Orbius arrive in the time machine to a past version of the city. Coin looks all around her
COIN: The past AND another reality. This is what a goddess can do?
ORBIUS: And more. But only if we keep the cycle going.
Orbius throws on a cloak and Coin hands him the bag of Coins and the CreationStone. Orbius waits until he sees his target: Jinn-Lir. Jinn is skulking his way to a back alley and Orbius follows. He soon catches up to Jinn, making sure to stay in the shadows. He sees Jinn approach a Drift soldier.
JINN-LIR: I believe you have my Stone?
SOLDIER: What, sir? I don’t know anything about a stone. What stone? A regular stone, perhaps? For skipping across a pond, maybe?
JINN-LIR: You know full well what I mean. And you know full well you’re not supposed to have it. All full of dirty, filthy, illegal magic, after all.
The soldier looks nervous
JINN-LIR: You realize you’re talking to a wizard, right? I know. And I also know what the emperor would think if one of his loyal subjects tampered with such spooky stones. Dabbling in magic, perhaps? (leans in closer) Sexy lady wizard needs some impressing?
SOLDIER: No, no! Not so loud. (also leans in) I confiscated it, is all. If I claim it, then you wizards can’t!
JINN-LIR: Good logic. And yet, you’re still holding onto it. Not presenting it to your emperor for a fine, fat reward. Why?
SOLDIER: …fine ! I’m looking to sell it. A little extra in my pocket. Some rich wizard’s willing to part with some hefty coin for a powerful stone — more money than Turok’s ever offered. I could retire after this!
JINN-LIR: Or, you could die. Emperor Turok would not take kindly to one of his soldiers going into business for themselves. So how I see it, you have two options. Either hand over the Stone, for free I might add, or take your chances with Turok.
SOLDIER: H-He wouldn’t believe you. You’re a mage!
JINN-LIR: No, but he might believe the unknown vigilante who helpfully deposited his traitor soldier, sound and gagged on his doorstep. (Magic begins to well up in his hands) Don’t
think I can’t, or won’t, do that.
At this point, Orbius sneaks up behind the soldier and swaps out his CreationStone with Orbius’s.
SOLDIER: OK, fine! It’s yours. Just…this never happened.
JINN-LIR: Naturally. I don’t want to deal with Turok any more than you do.
Jinn runs off. Once gone, Orbius sneaks up behind the soldier and magically knocks him unconscious
ORBIUS: Sorry about that. Official time business.
Orbius runs off in the direction of Jinn-Lir
Scene 9: The Drift Battlefield
Windchime stares at Typhus. Typhus stares at Windchime, then smiles
TYPHUS: WINDCHIME
Windchime appears confused
WINDCHIME: Do I know you? You don’t look like my subjects.
Typhus reaches out
TYPHUS: TYPHUS
Windchime ponders this for a second, then remembers
WINDCHIME: Yes! I DO remember you. Typhus…you mindless beast.
TYPHUS: ??? (confused)
WINDCHIME: You’ve grown. Not any wiser. No, you’re the same brain-dead creature who annoyed me as a child. Just bigger. And more annoying.
Typhus is now both confused and hurt
WINDCHIME: You look…sad. Do you…like me? Well. Perhaps there’s room at House Skyblade for you after all. I can never have too many mindlessly obedient servants. Like father, like son, right?
TYPHUS: WHAT…WHY?
The Dark Cabal have now risen back to consciousness
HUNTRESS: Typhus? You keep changing. But enough. You attacked us, your own Cabal. Again! I offer you one chance. Come back to us, ignore this wannabe tyrant, and we’ll forget your mistakes.
WONN-LIR: The Dark Cabal is the ONLY Cabal, Typhus. Coin is gone. Orbius is gone. Jinn-Lir is out of tricks.
HUNTRESS: Out of tricks, out of time, and out of hiding spaces. Darkness shall reign. But only if you come here NOW.
Typhus is deeply conflicted between the Cabal and Windchime
Scene 10: Drift City (The Past)
Orbius tails Jinn-Lir until he sees Jinn waiting at another alley. Orbius walks up to him, voice disguised and face hidden
ORBIUS: Jinn-Lir?
Jinn turns around
JINN-LIR: Took you long enough. You have the Coins?
ORBIUS: Do you have the Stone? The Coins are worthless otherwise.
JINN-LIR: I do.
Jinn hands over some money — and in return Orbius hands over the stones
ORBIUS: You know where to go next, correct?
JINN-LIR: Lifeblood Temple?
ORBIUS: Yes. Present these items and you’ll get what you have been asking for
JINN-LIR: Perfect. And my word is good, soldier — Turok will not hear of this.
ORBIUS: No, he won’t. Thank you.
Drift soldiers start shouting from the distance
Soldier (off-screen): Mages! Grab them!
JINN-LIR: Time to go.
ORBIUS: Run then! I’ll distract them.
Jinn-Lir runs off. Once he’s gone, Orbius simply vanishes. Soon after, the soldiers arrive.
SOLDIER 1: Weren’t there two of them?
SOLDIER 2: Not sure. One went that way though!
SOLDIER 1: Right. The other can’t be far behind
They run in Jinn-Lir’s direction, shouting for him to stop
Scene 11: Battlefield
TYPHUS: WINDCHIME?
WINDCHIME: You’re still undecided?
TYPHUS: FRIEND
WINDCHIME: Not sure what reality YOU’RE in, but I am NOT your friend. I am your empress! So bow, serve me, or die with the rest of your friends.
TYPHUS: (hollers in anguish)
A magic blast hits both Windchime and Typhus. The blasts are strong enough to knock them both out. We soon see XOR is the assailant. XOR then turns to the Cabal. Turok recovers and speaks first
TUROK: XOR? You’re okay! I was so worried.
XOR: You should be worried, darling. For you!
TUROK: What?
XOR: Enough of this game. I’ve stopped her (glances at Windchime), now I can turn my attention to the REAL thorn in my side: you.
TUROK: Thorn? XOR, I don’t understand. I thought we were one!
XOR: We were never one! Listen good, honey bunch. I’m not your wife, your first lady, or anything but your EMPRESS. I come from a Plane beyond Reality, here to finally claim this weak realm for my own. But the CircuitStone won’t respond to me, so why not cozy up to the one it does?
TUROK: You’re…hurt, aren’t you? Magic hit you and you…bumped your head, right? Yes, that’s all!
HUNTRESS: Is THIS what it’s like to be in love? Glad I’ve never been.
XOR: I would rule the land with you as my puppet. But then…reality changed. Time changed. I won’t confuse you with the details, but all of a sudden there was a different Turok. Kind. Loving. Even-tempered. Tolerant of mages, witches, wizards. A spineless nothing of a…president (says that word with disgust). I liked you better before. You were an easy-to-manipulate moron, but at least you were fun!
TUROK: I don’t understand at all. (To the Cabal) Is this true?
WONN-LIR: We don’ t understand ourselves, but we did see people, and reality, change around us in a flash. And yes, before that you were a bad, bad man. Wanted us dead.
JINN-LIR: And at risk of speaking for my dark brethren, we disagree with this woman. I…we…like the new Turok better.
HUNTRESS: I approve of anyone who doesn’t want to kill us.
WONN-LIR: But you do, Thing Beyond Reality? Then let’s send you away from our reality…AND your own.
The Cabal stand together against XOR while Turok stays behind, still disbelieving what XOR has said
Scene 12: Domminna
Coin and Orbius return to Domminna in the time ship. Coin exits and seems…calm. Matthios approaches
MATTHIOS: I trust it went well?
COIN: It did. And I feel…great. Euphoric, even. I’ve not felt this before.
MATTHIOS: It’s because your cycle is complete. You’ve told your story and ensured it will be told for eternity. And now, you begin a new story.
With that, Coin is awash in beams of light. When they fade, she looks different. Still older, but younger than before. She glows, her posture more straight and her eyes steelier than
ever before. She radiates intelligence and awareness
MATTHIOS: Welcome to Domminna…Goddess of Time.
Coin can hardly contain her emotion that she has finally ascended to full Goddesshood
MATTHIOS: And now…to your left. What do you see, Goddess?
Coin turns and sees a beautiful city in the distance that wasn’t there before. It is awash in the game glowing light as she is
COIN: Did that just appear? What is it?
MATTHIOS: Behold the City of Time. Your city. Where your true work and magic will occur. There, you and others will labor tirelessly to discover the right time loops, the right realities, and the best route to ensure the most peace in Orb and beyond.
COIN: I see…but you’re wrong, Matthios.
MATTHIOS: I am? Of what?
COIN: My story is not yet complete. There’s war down there and my people are hurting. I must go and make it right.
MATTHIOS: You.realize that even as the Goddess, you are not immune to death? You cannot leave your ship. And if the worst happens, then you will have doomed us to a reality nobody can effectively save us from.
COIN: I will take that chance. This fight must end.
MATTHIOS: …If the goddess believes it to be, then it must be. I hope.
ORBIUS: I’m coming with you, Coin. Goddess. I’ve abandoned my student too long. Even the other two need me, loathe as they are to admit it.
MATTHIOS: I will pray for your safe returns. Ah, if only godhood let me see the future. Well, we all have your limits.
Coin and Orbius smile at Matthios and make their way to the ship.
Scene 13: The Battlefield
XOR attacks! The Wizard Cabal, united, fights intensely against XOR. After much battling, no clear winner emerges.
XOR: You…fight well. Kneel and pledge to be my servants, and I’ll ensure nobody ever touches you.
HUNTRESS: I can manage that by myself.
XOR: And you men feel the same way? (everyone nods) Alright, then. Time to get serious!
TUROK: XOR, no!
XOR: You again?
Turok marches past the Cabal and walks right up to XOR. He looks her dead in the eye…then grabs her head and kisses her passionately. He lets go and looks at her with love and determination. XOR looks at him, looks at her hands, feels her lips…and begins to shake with utter rage.
XOR: You…don’t…GET IT. Well, GET THIS!!!!!
Her rage completely boiled over, XOR begins to change. Her eyes glow dark, evil energy pulses from her body, and with a roar she sends Turok hurtling back toward the Cabal. Howling with blind rage, she begins to levitate and soon starts flying everywhere, in seemingly random directions. Her evil magic force shoots everywhere, obliterating all in her path. Drift soldiers, citizens, Windchime soldiers, and innocent animals all fall, burnt to a crisp or simply exploded. XOR intermittently roars with anger again and she continues her rampage. The Cabal and Turok can do nothing but run and hide
Scene 14: The Battlefield
Elsewhere, Typhus and Windchime awake from their attack. Typhus crawls to Windchime and attempts to hug her. Windchime takes one look at him and violently rebuffs him, pushing him away in a huff. And with that, Typhus finally accepts the truth
TYPHUS: NEWS LADY…RIGHT. WINDCHIME…NO FRIEND
WINDCHIME: Good, we’re finally on the same page.
Typhus begins to sob. Windchime, after some time, visibly looks regretful
WINDCHIME: That was…harsh. I’m sorry. Typhus. You have been loyal, a true friend. I’ve treated you badly and…I’m sorry. Come here, you big goof.
Typhus, ever eager to trust Windchime, turns to her and smiles. He inches closer to her and we can see her eyes begin to glow
WINDCHIME: Yes, Typhus. Keep looking at me. As friends do…
Typhus is falling under her zombie spell. But before he can fall completely, a loud noise and flash interrupt them. Typhus and XOR turn to see Coin’s timeship. The door opens and Coin and Orbius stand in the doorway
WINDCHIME: You. ..
TYPHUS: YOU!!
Scene 15: The Battlefield
XOR finally stops her rampage to look for the Cabal and Turok. Everything around her is scorched and in ruins. She finally sights her targets, roars incoherently, and prepares her biggest blast of magic yet. But before she can fire…she gets attacked by magic from behind! The Lifeblood Priests have arrived! Their combined magic is relentless and unstopping. XOR has no defense from this and begins to soften. Soon, the combination of the Lifeblood magic and her using so much of her own during the rampage drains her, and she plummets to the ground below.
Scene 16: Coin’s Timeship
Typhus advances toward Orbius and Coin
ORBIUS: Typhus, please don’t do what you may regret.
TYPHUS: NOT YOU. HER
COIN: Typhus?
TYPHUS: YOU CHANGE WINDCHIME
COIN: I…wanted her to stay. Remember? I didn’t want to change anything!
TYPHUS: YOUR FAULT!
Typhus pushes Orbius aside and storms into the timeship
COIN: I don’t want to fight you, Typhus. We’re on the same side!
TYPHUS: NO. YOU ARE BAD. DIE
COIN: …I don’t want to, but I WILL fight if I have to. But please, reconsider. The real evil is out there!
TYPHUS: YOU ARE REAL EVIL. CHANGE TIME. CHANGE ORB. COIN GODDESS RUINS ALL. DIE TONIGHT!
COIN: …you talk too much.
With that, Typhus charges for Coin and the two engage in a fistfight. As before, Coin doesn’t want to damage her ship with magic blasts. Typhus, meanwhile, is too angry to even think about magic. Neither gain an advantage until finally…
WINDCHIME: Typhus!
Upon hearing Windchime’s voice, Typhus turns from Coin and runs out of the ship
Scene 17: The Battlefield, Cabal Hideaway Area
Orbius runs toward the Cabal, reunited with them at last. Soon, the Lifeblood Priests join them
JINN-LIR: Master! Priests…I’m confused. What happened to peace and meditation?
PRIEST 1: That can only take you so far. After meditating on your words, we realized you would need our help to protect President Turok. All our help.
HUNTRESS: What have I said? Peace is great, but violence wins in the end.
WONN-LIR: When have you said that?
HUNTRESS: When you weren’t paying attention.
PRIEST 2: House Skyblade is a threat to all life on all planets. We could not stand idly by and wait for them to come after us. Now that the other woman is done, Windchime is our next target.
From behind, Turok notices that XOR is moving and crawling towards them
TUROK: XOR’s alive!
LIFEBLOOD PRIEST 1: Not for long. (readies magic)
TUROK: No! (breaks through and runs toward his wife)
LIFEBLOOD PRIEST 2: (to the other Priests) Hold back!
Scene 18: Battlefield
Typhus walks back to Windchime upon hearing her voice
WINDCHIME: Thank you for fighting, but there’s no need. They’ve already lost. Now, stand by my side, Typhus. You know…I didn’t mean what I said about you being a servant. No, you’re MUCH more than that. Stay with me and we could rule House Skyblade, Drift, and all of Orb together! Think of it. You and me. Friends. Rulers. What say you?
TYPHUS: FRIEND?
Windhime: Yes, Typhus. Friend.
She begins to smile and her eyes begin to glow. Typhus realizes what’s happening
TYPHUS: NO…DON’T CONTROL ME
WINDCHIME: No…not control! We’re partners…forever…
TYPHUS: YOU BAD? ALL BAD…
XOR slowly crawls toward them and forces herself up
XOR: That’s…right. She is bad. They…ALL ARE. So why don’t you kill them and be done with it?
Turok runs up from behind
TUROK: XOR!
XOR: On second thought…(points to Turok) YOU kill them.
TUROK: What?
XOR: You say you love me. Time and again. Prove it. Everyone here must go. Make it happen.
TUROK: XOR…there are other ways to resolve conflict. None of these people deserve to die. Even Windchime must be arrested, tried, and punished in a just, legal manner. Murder is neither of those things.
XOR grows angry again, hating that idea
XOR: You’re as useless as ever. Why the Stone chose you I’ll NEVER understand…well…if you won’t, I WILL.
XOR pushes Turok aside and readies a magical killing blow Winchime’s way. However, she’s still too weak from her rampage, and nothing comes out but a tiny little paf. XOR tries again — even less of a paf this time. Out of fuel but not out of rage, XOR hollers and charges at Windchime, determined to bring her down the old-fashioned way. Windchime and XOR have a fistfight that Windchime occasionally tries to upend with magic. But XOR, while magically weakened, is still fast and strong, and dodges and defends against every bit of magic. They continue to brawl throughout the charred city, fighting their way toward a cliff overlooking a deep canyon caused by XOR’s rampage
TYPHUS: WINDCHIME!
TUROK: XOR!!
The two run after their women
Scene 19: Battlefield
The Cabal and Priests see the fight happening and decide to follow Turok and Typhus. Behind them, we can see Coin’s timeship carrying herself and Orbius to the fight scene
Scene 20: A Cliff’s Edge
XOR and Windchime fight to the edge of the cliff. Typhus and Turok catch up to them
TYPHUS: STOP! XOR! WINDCHIME! STOP!
They do, temporarily. Windchime looks right at Typhus, her eyes glowing
WINDCHIME: You want this to stop, Typhus? Then help me…help…me…
Typhus feels the effects of the zombification spell and turns away before it takes over
WINDCHIME: Typhus! Would you stop this foolishness?
XOR: He won’t. He’s too stupid. As is (points to Turok) this one. Two pathetic creatures, too weak and in love to do anything real. (looks at Typhus) I got what I needed from you, you mindless beast. You got Coin where I needed her. Now you can die happy, knowing you helped somebody for once in your meaningless life. Go ahead. Die. I don’t care how. But my Orbspace will be better without you.
WINDCHIME: YOUR Orbspace? Typhus, did you hear what she said about you? She’s weakened, she can’t use magic. Destroy her!
Typhus looks at her. Then to XOR. Then back to Windchime.
TYPHUS: NO! NO FRIEND! WINDCHIME…DEAD. FOREVER…
WINDCHIME: After all I’ve done…you stupid, stupid monster! You monosyllabic ogre! You should’ve died along with your father. I need you to do ONE thing and you can’t do it. Because you’re NOTHING.
Typhus is on the verge of tears, shaking with rage
XOR: Enough of this. Turok! One last chance! Kill this usurper…and her stupid beast.
At long last, Typhus has completely and utterly had enough
TYPHUS: NO! NO! NO! NOT! STUPID. NOT! A BEAST. NOT! A MONSTER. I! AM! TYPHUS!!!!!
Typhus then charges at the women full-speed, taking them both by surprise. They are defenseless as he tackles them off the cliff, sending them both hurtling to the canyon floor, over 100 feet below. He goes with them
Scene 21: Cliffside
All who witnessed this are in total shock
TUROK: XOR!!
COIN: Typhus, no!
The Cabal look at one another silently, not sure what to do. Orbius simply lowers his head. The Lifeblood Priests cover their mouths and faces in despair, then all drop to their knees to pray for Typhus. Coin then opens the door to her Timeship and shouts to the crowd
COIN: Everyone, into the ship! We need to get down there!
Everybody obeys and enters Coin’s ship. She then flies it toward the cliffside, then begins her descent
Scene 22: The Canyon Floor
Coin’s ship touches down on the canyon floor and everybody but Coin exits the ship to look around. Soon…
JINN-LIR: There!
He has spotted the bodies of XOR and Windchime. The crew run over to them. Orbius examines them. Everybody looks at him, waiting. He looks up, closes his eyes and shakes his head no. Turok breaks down in tears
HUNTRESS (aside, to Wonn-Lir): Should we remind him his darling wife was a monster?
WONN-LIR (aside, to Huntress): Every monster has someone who sees them differently.
TUROK: …I…cannot excuse who she was or what she did. I cannot excuse myself for not seeing what she was. I…don’t know who I was to her before reality changed. All I know is who I am now…a husband…forever. For better or for worse.
Another shot of XOR and Windchime’s dead bodies
TUROK (cont): These two hurt so many while chasing something that wasn’t theirs. Or anyone’s…but mine…(walks away as he speaks) these two are to be placed in a mausoleum, until I decide further what to do with them. What of Typhus?
JINN-LIR: There’s no third body anywhere. It should be here, or close by.
TUROK: Is he…there’s no way…(sigh) we’ll deal with that another day as well. Everyone…leave me with the bodies. I’ll contact my soldiers to transport them. Say goodbye as you must…
Scene 23: The Canyon Floor
Orbius speaks to the Wizard Cabal
ORBIUS: I suppose keeping all of you in the dark any longer would be cruel.
HUNTRESS: I’ll say. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
ORBIUS: I’ll keep it as brief as possible. Coin is indeed the Goddess of Time. She and her time ship can travel through time and even alter realities. That woman, Windchime…died in another reality. But Typhus forced Coin back in time and they rescued her. That…changed everything. Some can remain yourselves in all realities. We, as high-ranking wizards, are among them. I, as the Orb Master, knew what had happened. You three, and Typhus too, did not know yet did not change.
WONN-LIR: …That could’ve been briefer.
ORBIUS: It is confusing, I know. Just understand that Coin will work to ensure that whatever reality we’re in is what’s best for Orbspace. Whatever that may be.
HUNTRESS: And I look forward to being dreadfully confused through it all.
ORBIUS: I will be working alongside her. I have…ascended, so to speak. This makes you (turns to Jinn-Lir) a Master now.
JINN-LIR: (shocked and humbled) I’m…honored, master. But…I don’t think I’m ready.
ORBIUS: No one ever is. It took me a long time to become ready. I would advise finding a new apprentice fast. Few things teach you more than teaching someone else. But before that…I understand the patriarch of House Mindblade — Earthstone — sits in a Shock cell, at what used to be House Skyblade? I would ask you all to collect him and bring him to his son, Mathias, for a reunion. They’ll have much to talk about.
HUNTRESS: That…won’t be happening.
WONN-LIR: You weren’t our boss before, you certainly aren’t now.
HUNTRESS: We worked together just long enough to stop someone who would destroy us all. But now? The Dark Cabal will walk alone again. Find our own apprentice. Be well, Orb Master. And as for you, Jinn-Lir…tell whatever urchin you collect to stay out of our way.
JINN-LIR: After all this, right back to old times?
HUNTRESS: I quite enjoyed the old times. We would’ve gotten on each other’s nerves, anyway. Until next time…
The Dark Cabal vanish
JINN-LIR: I will collect Earthstone myself then.
ORBIUS: The Lifeblood Priests will accompany you. Their emperor will be most pleased.
JINN-LIR: I’m sure of it. It’ll be nice to do a good deed for its own sake. For once…but first, I have a couple people to talk to.
Jinn-Lir walks to Coin’s ship and enters
JINN-LIR: I’m…a master now. I…sure could use an apprentice.
COIN: Find another bag and see what happens. (They both laugh)
JINN-LIR: I treated you so badly in the beginning. I’ll always regret it. But you have become so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. If you ever become the type of goddess who demands temples built in her honor…I’ll visit.
COIN: That sounds…awkward. But point taken, thank you.
JINN-LIR: I…suppose this is it. I have much work to do to become a great master. And you have so much of…whatever it is you do. So…final good-bye?
COIN: Oh, I don’t know about that. Goddesses and wizards both get around, after all. (smiles) I look forward to seeing Master Jinn-Lir in action.
JINN-LIR: Reality willing…(Jinn-Lir vanishes)
Coin stares at where Jinn-Lir just was, then walks to the doorway of her Timeship. She addresses everyone.
COIN: Everyone!
The Priests, Orbius, and Turok all gather nearby
COIN: Fewer of you are here than I would’ve liked. That is our reality. I don’t know if it is the best reality. I’ll learn that soon enough. But for now, this is where you all live. In this world. In this time. It’s not ideal, it’s not pretty, and I shudder to think what could challenge you next. But warriors you are — those on this path, those on their own path, those who don’t yet know their path…and those with…unknown whereabouts…
The Lifeblood Priests, Turok, and Orbius all bow their heads, knowing who Coin is referencing
COIN (cont): Typhus and I did not often get along. He was headstrong and controlled by his emotion of the moment. Which was often anger, for better or for worse. Not everyone approved of him. Many saw him as subhuman. A beast. A monster. He received a bad hand, indeed. But he played that hand as well as he could have and in the end…he proved himself stronger, braver, and more human than anyone could have imagined. Wherever he is, if he is still with us…at the risk of pulling rank on the President, I would declare Typhus the Hero of Drift. No…the Hero of Orbspace.
TUROK: Your President…Emperor…approves.
All cheer
Scene 24: Outside the Endless Library
Jinn-Lir appears near the front door of the Endless Library. He exhales deeply and enters the building.
Scene 25: The Newsroom
Jinn-Lir has entered the Newsroom. Suddenly, the monitors come alive and the WFC9 appears.
WFC9: I sense she’s gone. Is that accurate?
JINN-LIR: It is. XOR shall terrorize no more.
WFC9: That is…certainly a relief. And yet…not.
JINN-LIR: How so?
WFC9: I’m alone now. The Plane Beyond Reality was just her and I. She set it up that way. And now…it’s just me. Perhaps forever…
JINN-LIR: We could let the world know of you. They could come visit. You’ll have company whenever you want.
WFC9: Perhaps…that’s still empty though. They come, they leave…I’m still here.
JINN-LIR: Well…the Wizard Cabal has never had a permanent home. I’m a Light Master now. Perhaps I change the rules, and we convene here. Plenty of books to keep us occupied. (laughs)
WFC9: (laughs as well) I…couldn’t ask you to do that. Wizards can’t ever stay in one place, you know that. It’s too dangerous.
JINN-LIR: Perhaps…listen. I have to travel. Promised to reunite a father and son. And who knows where I’ll go next. But I’ll visit when I can and maybe…one of these visits I’ll come back with the secret behind freeing you.
WFC9: That would be wonderful. You would really make that a priority?
JINN-LIR: I don’t know where I’ll start, but I know I’ll start (smiles)…listen…I know who you are. Who you were, rather…before all this…you seem to have forgotten. Would you like me to tell you?
WFC9: That’s…kind of you…but no. Not yet. It would be too hard knowing while still stuck here. If you can free me some day, then tell me. Everything.
JINN-LIR: Of course…my lady.
Scene 26: Domminna
Coin and Orbius are back in Domminna, touring Time City with Mathias. It is now teeming with workers and researchers.
COIN: Do you have any memory of how you felt when you and your father reunited?
MATTHIOS: I do. It was wonderful. Awkward at times. But he had changed, and I as well. So every second was worth it. I’m glad my earthly self will get to experience it soon.
ORBIUS: A pity the other Mathias never got that closure.
MATTHIOS: Yes, true…and yet…
COIN: Was Windchime worth the reality shift?
MATTHIOS: Time will tell…pun not intended.
COIN: I don’t feel like it is. Drift is in disarray. So many citizens were only recently brainwashed. Two Orb emperors are bloodthirsty warmongers. It doesn’t feel like a world that will just pick itself up and say, “OK, back to work now, and they lived happily ever after.”
MATTHIOS: They (glancing at the Time City) will help you answer that question. And all the other questions going forward. This won’t be an easy job. It’s not as simple as altering reality everytime something bad happens. That…could have unintended consequences. And there may not be a perfect reality out there. But the question you must answer, Time Goddess, is how will you steer Orbspace toward a long and prosperous future and away from…everything else…
COIN: I suppose I’d better get to answering.
She turns to Orbius and Matthios and and smiles, walking toward her Time City
COIN: And now…our job can truly begin.
Scene 27: Balcony of Castle Turok
Thousands of Drift citizens have gathered to hear Turok’s speech. He appears to raucous cheers. He raises his arms for silence.
TUROK: People of Drift. Those here, and those watching around the system. It has been hell recently. This invasion, this war has cost us our finest citizens. Our families. Our friends. Our loved ones. We stand here as survivors, in their honor.
TUROK (cont): Windchime Skyblade is no more. The Hero of Orbspace, Typhus, saw to that. And while I would have preferred bringing her to justice, the fact that she is no longer a threat comforts me. Starting immediately, I will allocate all available funds toward rebuilding what she has destroyed. Shock, Nerve, and Shift are suffering greatly due to her zombification over the population. We will work tirelessly to aid every one of those affected. Nobody, but nobody, will be forgotten.
TUROK (cont): And now, I must address the issue of my wife. The First Lady. Empress. And yes, a monstrous villain. XOR was my love. Nothing will change that. But she took so many lives, devastated our capital, and was under our noses the entire time. I can’t excuse that, nor can I excuse not seeing her for what she was. All I can do is work tirelessly to repair her damage. To the city, to the planet, and to the reputation of the Empire.
TUROK (cont): Yes, Empire. In recent times, I have taken to calling myself President. I did not want absolute power. I wanted power as long as you, the people, were willing to give it to me. But XOR and Windchime, along with a deep study of my duties, has forced me to conclude that elections and power transfers cannot happen. Not at my level, anyway.
TUROK (cont): The CircuitStone claimed me. Nobody else. This means the Drift system has crowned me Emperor for as long as I live. And I don’t plan to die anytime soon. Knowing this, I pledge to use every ounce of my power — both as Emperor and as a man — to restore Drift to its former glory.
TUROK (cont): Together, we can make Drift an Empire we’re all proud of! Actually, that’s a lie…I’m already proud of Drift.
TUROK (cont): Thank you all, and bless you all.
The crowd erupts in loud cheers and applause while Good Emperor Turok drinks it all in. Everything fades to black as we fade into…
Scene 28: The Mausoleum
We see the bodies of XOR and Windchime Mindblade at rest. We then pan to mysterious footsteps. Somebody’s coming! The mysterious figure approaches XOR and Windchime’s bodies
FIGURE: This won’t do at all. We have too much to do. No time to sleep.
He emits magic from his hands, which travel to the women’s bodies. Suddenly they awake, gasping for air. Once they calm down, both are blank-eyed.
FIGURE: XOR. Windchime. Welcome back. Rise and come with me. No fighting this time.
They turn to look at the figure…it is Zero
ZERO: Orb, Domminna, they’ve had their fun…it’s time we had ours.
XOR and Windchime, completely under Zero’s spell, stand up. They exit the mausoleum hand-in-hand, behind Zero, whose eyes glow blood-red. Close-up on the eyes and —
END