Buck Rogers in the 26th Century Episode 215x "By Any Other Name" Written by: Erin Weinstock I don't hold any of the copyrights in this story, and this story was made without profit. This episode is written with thanks to W.B. Yeats for the ending words of poetry. Teaser: ext: Defense United Complex: In the air hangs a building that looks to be many closely grouped together spears of various jagged sizes. These spears shoot up towards the space beyond the planet, to a mile before the ground. Some are tipped with windows, some with lights while others appear to be hollow tubes. Down on the ground is a vast city that's buildings reach no higher than three stories in height. All looks peaceful and inviting but the complex. V.O. Burash: "I swear, swear to you that isn't what I meant!" V.O. Major Vay: "Our weapons will soon be in your Defense Directorate's hands, on Earth!" Cut to: int: Defense United Complex / Section Admittance Area: The whole look of the inside to this place from what we can see of it from this corridor appears to be having its gravity under the same type of control we last saw used for the Strange Building back in Episode 16. Of what we see for gravity in effect it's just holding people to the ground at a vertical stance that by the normal laws of physics say one must fall at. Elsewhere not in this corridor people, or I should state better the alien life native to this world, are walking on what we would normally see as the walls and ceiling, but really are acting as floors thanks to the distorted gravity. As this scene starts, Burash is being chewed out by the native life. A "Dirtwo," Major Vay is six feet tall, bald all but for patches of short hair that only are growing on most of the spots of darkened skin on the very top of his head and moving towards its back. More darkened spots can be seen on the head with no signs of hair from on his forehead to by his cheekbones. His eyes are deep in their color, which makes Burash'es exotic orange eyes look very out of place, which at this moment she very much feels. This look that Major Vay sports is typical of his species, which unless noted otherwise in this story account for everybody in it. Accompanying Major Vay are four soldiers who look like they're ready to play the role of security guards instead. Burash: "After trade, after trade, we'd never take anything from you unless you allowed it. Earth is an ally of Kolt-Na, remember?!" Major Vay, looking even more ticked off now: "TAKE ANYTHING!" Burash, more frustrated and fearful due to the soldiers advancing towards her: "Oh dear!" Cut to: ext: Space: A Defense Directorate shuttle has just emerged from a Star-Port near the atmosphere to Kolt-Na. V.O. Twiki: "Why do I have to come!" Cut to: int: Shuttle: Buck is at the shuttle's controls while Twiki site in the passenger seat to Buck's side. Buck, grinning: "Now you complain?" Twiki: "But I had plans back on Earth!" Buck: "Twiki, tricking new recruits into signing up for mining on Mercury for extra credit points doesn't count." Twiki: "But what about Fox, why isn't he here! She's his girlfriend!" Buck: "Fox has gone off to help his grandfather on some project he refuses to give details about but swears I'll enjoy. He's not available right now, sorry buddy." Twiki: "So they need to see me!?" Buck, looking over to Twiki briefly: "You're Terran technology that can talk for itself. Once these people see what the Defense Directorate provides tech that's friendly [ beat ] hopefully all will be right with the world again and they won't think we're on the verge of an invasion." Cut to: ext: Space: The Defense Directorate shuttle is entering the atmosphere. V.O. Twiki: "I'm not going to have any fun." V.O. Buck: "Tough" Cut to: int: Living Area: A Dirtwo who looks to be getting up in his years is being restless in bed. This area, this room at an earlier time once looked to have served as a living room in this home, but now it's been converted into a station nurses and doctors can easily move in and out of at access their patient, with machines nearby the bed to take readings, IV drips filled with chemical sacks on standby, trays with medicine bottles. There is only one nurse in the room right now with Iros, the aged Dirtwo, and she's trying to get him under better control in movement. Iros: "I want to see 120; it should be here right now by my side!" Nurse: "120 is out at the moment, scanning site images for the trip; it will be back here soon." Iros: "If I die before 120 returns I'm holding you to blame for it and 119 will carry out my death wish to -." Cutting him off as the camera moves in on her, Nurse: "I assure you, 120 will return in time." Iros: "Find that robot, and bring it here now!" Pre-Credits: End of teaser: Beginning of Act One: ext: Sky: Over the city but below the Defense United Complex, two teams are engaged in playing a game of grav-ball. We hold on this sight for a few beats before ... Cut to: ext: City Street: It's crowded mixed with the planet's natives and robots. These robots are all of the same type, a cylinder head with two small eyes, no noise and a line of light cutting down halfway through most of the face. Their mid-sections slant forward, once more cylinder-shaped only larger, with a lit-up interface panel in front and to either side three closed-off holes that when open reveal arms that at the end have hands suited to perform different tasks. The base is yet another even larger cylinder with three short insect legs sticking out to either side. The camera is focused on one robot in particular moving forward slowly. Down at lighting speed, the grav-ball we saw in play during the game, strikes the robot hard over the head, smashing it in, smack over the bar code on top labeling it JX120. The camera pans quickly through the crowd to Nurse. She has witnessed this event with horror. With the camera following her, she runs through the crowd to the damaged robot that is collapsing to the ground, unable to support itself anymore. A couple of grav-ball players descend from the air to meet Nurse just as she's reached 120 to inspect it. Grav-ball Player One: "Sorry, the bot wasn't [ beat ] ready for service was it?" He says with worry at looking her over. Nurse (worry and anger mixed): "Its master, Iros, is ready." Turing to Grav-ball Player One, Cont. (same tone): "120 was just coming back from having scanned the pictures!" Grav-ball Player Two: "My dad is rich, he could replace 120 for you but -." He looks to his side with worry. Cont: "The nearest shop." Nurse: "I know, is over eight hundred miles away! Your little fliers - ?!" Grav-ball Player One: "Can only travel short distances, their fuel tanks can only hold three liters. [ beat ] Do you or Iros have government connections?" Nurse: "No, neither of us own shuttles." The players look to each other in grief, wondering about what to do next. Cont: "Could you get Iros another host?!" Grav-ball Player Two: "He may be rich, but he doesn't believe in the pilgrimage. We don't have any bots at home." Nurse: "Then I'll take care of this on my own!" Walking away, Cont: "Some help you two have been." Cut to: int: Defense United Complex / Connections Office: The room moves up about fifty feet before the ceiling is reached, but that can't be seen here, for in oddly formed layers are force field cells hovering that contain prisoners. Down below that, at normal eye level, is a desk at which sits the officer in charge of this place along with Major Vay near his side. Buck and Twiki stand before the desk with a few soldiers watching the four from various places at the same level of view. As this scene begins Burash'es cell is floating down to the ground. Buck to Burash: "Comfortable?" Burash, not in the best of moods: "What do you think?" Officer: "We're sorry for the misunderstanding, but even now things aren't over between us." Buck: "What do you mean by that?" Officer: "Your statements have to be brought forth to those higher than us, more familiar with your Human language to truthfully confirm a lack of possible conflict from you. [ beat ] You're not allowed to leave the complex before that time." Burash'es cell has just now lightly struck the floor. Buck: "Can I inform my superiors that I might be here a while longer?" Officer: "I will be present during your transmission. Does that bother you?" Twiki: "How long do I have to be here!?" Officer: "Are you Rogers' host?" Twiki: "Not in close to two years." Office (with concern): "I don't understand?" Buck to Officer: "What you mean by host here might have somewhat different meaning than it does on Earth. I doubt Twiki has ever played the role you're asking him of." Officer: "But that is all a bot can be its whole time running." Buck: "Not that gnome." Twiki: "Hey!" Officer: "It can leave but not beyond the confines of this planet." Twiki: "Bummer." And then Twiki quickly heads towards the door. Buck: "First tell me where you're off to." Twiki: "Gnomes don't talk." Major Vay as Twiki taps the door's access panel: "Should guards be alerted to the bot's presence?" Buck shaking his head: "No, he'll be alright; I doubt he could get into any kind of trouble here." The camera cuts to focus on Twiki leaving the room. Cut to: ext: City Street: Not the same area we were in last, but it has a similar feel to it. As this scene begins Nurse is in a tiff with an old woman accompanied with her bot. Old Woman: "What do you think I am, nuts?" Nurse: "You don't look like you'll be making the trip to Naa any time soon." Old Woman: "That's sweet of you to say but I've been with ol' 079 here for over 30 years; it's always been my constant companion and always will be." Old Woman at the point when saying "ol' 079" lightly slaps the back of her bot. Nurse: "It's urgent." Old Woman: "I'm sorry." The Nurse hurries off looking around herself in search of a robot, any. And then as luck would have it for her, moving past her line of sight in the foreground, Twiki is passing the camera. In a snap she starts off for him. Nurse: "Bot! Robot!" She flags for Twiki off camera. The camera cuts to showing both the Nurse and Twiki in the same scene. Twiki at hearing Nurse has stopped in his walk at the sound of her voice. Cont: "Bot!?" Twiki: "The name's Twiki." The Nurse whose now reached him: "Do you belong to anyone?" Twiki: "Not anymore, Buck says I'm free to do as I choose." Nurse, smiling: "Would you like to come with me?" Twiki: "Anything for a pretty doll like you." She bends down to look at the back of Twiki's head. Cont: "Biddi what's the matter?" Satisfied with her finding she gets up again. Nurse: "Nothing, just making sure you're perfect for what I need you for." Twiki offers up a hand to her which she takes. Twiki: "Excellent." She giggles as she leads him off camera. Cut to: int: Defense United Complex / Extraterrestrial Imports: Another office, only this one has a ceiling that is more normal in height. Both Buck and Burash are sitting in seats before a very heavy man who doesn't look very happy. This is due to Buck who doesn't look too wild to be here. Heavy Man: "This could be why we don't deal with Earth very often." Buck (slowly): "Yeah, well we're going to be working together more often soon if these guys are as big a threat as we're sure they are. This isn't just the Defense Directorate, it's the TDA too; you need our technology." Heavy Man: "Your technology isn't worth much even to you." Buck: "What do you mean by that?" Heavy Man: "You let your host leave you." Buck: "Host?" Burash to Buck: "That's what that one man earlier called Twiki." Buck turns his attention back to Heavy Man. Buck: "He'll be back here later or I'll find him later." Heavy Man makes an annoyed huff. Cut to: int: Final Journey's Start Institute: People asleep are strapped down to tables with holes that let some of the back of the head poke out. These tables surround the room in a circle and medical equipment sits in between each bed. One bed is empty. As this scene begins a woman wearing a tight-fitting white outfit is approaching a bed Iros is strapped to. In big bold numbers we can read "119" written at her belly. The camera follows her now as she's reaching the bed Iros is on. She shakes him, 119: "120? 120 Iros?" Iros turns towards her with his eyes only at a slit; the number 120 is across the outfit he's wearing at his belly too. She smiles at seeing his eyes open and cheerfully, Cont: "It's me, Chas, I'm with 119 but Chas has chosen to let me have full lead! Can you feel Iros?" In a very groggy manner, Iros: "Humm?" 119: "Rough transfer of input?" Iros: "Wwwhat?" Iros'es eyes widen with a small look of shock. Cont (softly): "Short of input?" 119 turns her head around so Iros can see the back of her head. She points as best she can at an engraved metal circle center on it. 119: "When your memory module was implanted so it could interface with Iros'es body and memories." She turns back around to him. His eyes are almost bugging out now with shock. He curves one arm back behind his head, never losing the freaked expression on his face. The camera cuts to being close up behind Iros'es head as his fingers feel a delicate circle, once more in its dead center. The fingers quickly drop out of sight. The camera cuts to being before 119 and Iros again. Iros has passed out in shock and 119 is shaking him. Cont: "120? 120 Iros?" End of Act One: Beginning of Act Two: int: Final Journey's Start Institute: As this scene begins 119 is holding on to a now conscious Iros to lift him to his feet to stand from off the table. 119: "Your Yur, is it more advanced than you let on to your caretakers?" Iros: "Yyyyuur? Disease not native to Kolt-Na. It's fatal, I have it?" Iros is now on his feet but can't seem to keep his balance and in a fall leans back towards the bed. 119: "You caught it when you went to the space station orbiting Nera; JX120 has known since you were informed. Iros, is something wrong?" Iros: "[ beat ] Wwhy do you keep calling me Iros? [ beat ] What has happened to me?" 119: "You are Iros and you've awakened here in the Final Journey's Start Institute, you're now ready to begin your pilgrimage, well our pilgrimage. Remember we're doing this journey together?" As she says that line to waves outwards from herself indicating the room they're in. The camera cuts in close on Iros, Iros: "My name is Twiki and I have no idea what you're talking about." Cut to: int: Medical Examination Room: A doctor, half whose face is completely robotic, is turning his attention back and forth between Iros and a computer that's monitor he's watching. 119 is also here. Doctor: "Yes, the staff involved knew, but there wasn't a choice in the matter." Looking at both Iros and 119, Cont: "JX120's data drives were too damaged to be transferred to a mind clip." 119: "How come Twiki doesn't remember Iros?" Doctor: "His data -." The Doctor gives a sideways glace to Iros, Cont: "Drive was never meant to interact with mind clip technology." Iros glares at the Doctor. Noticing the glare, Cont: "Earth technology isn't very complex by our standards." Iros: "Put my data drive back in my body, this is too strange." 119: "You can't do that, can you? Please don't." Doctor: "I can but I can't believe the disrespect to Iros if it was done." Iros: "How is it disrespect if I don't remember Iros'es mind? He doesn't know about anything that's going on." Doctor: "He does, he can see and hear everything that is taking place right now, [ beat ] even feel, but your minds aren't connecting." 119: "Please don't leave me." She's now crying lightly. Iros: "You're important to Iros or 120, aren't you." Doctor slowly turning to Iros, Doctor: "[ beat ] You're not familiar with our death ritual are you?" Iros: "I was programmed with what little information is known of Dirtwo culture. Your death rituals along with those of 78 other species are unknown to me." Cut to: int: Defense United Complex / Shuttle park Burash is getting ready to enter her shuttle which is parked next to another Defense Directorate shuttle: Buck's. This area of the complex is pointed straight towards the sky. As this scene begins Buck is running lightly towards Burash. Buck: "I know you want to leave as much as I do, but we can't leave." Burash looking bummed: "More questions?" Buck: "I couldn't find Twiki." Burash: "Then he must be on the planet below." Reaching Burash, Buck: "And that's just as bad as misunderstandings with questioning. Finding Twiki on that planet might take just as long, he could be anywhere." Leaving from being beside the shuttle and walking up to Buck, Burash: "Not true, only the government owns long distance transportation craft." The two are now face to face. Buck: "Still with Twiki you never know." Cut to: int: Darkroom: OK, this isn't a "darkroom" used for developing film, but darkness is its key description for all we can see right now is the moving of a lit candle with a hand holding it. The flame touches the tip of another candle which lights instantly at the touch. This new candle is held by a different set of hands. Iros holds the candle close to his face. Iros: "What do I do with it?" Candle Holder One: "You haven't studied what comes next?" Iros: "[ beat ] I'm learning, what comes next?" Candle Holder One: "Carry it close to you until you've reached the first marker." Iros: "What does the first marker look like?" Candle Holder One: "There are more people I have to deal with today than you. I've heard the lady I just met with is your companion on the pilgrimage, she can fill you in." Iros: "I understand." Cut to: ext: Small City Street: In the foreground 119 proudly is moving forward with her candle held at chest level. In the background Iros is leaving the Final Journey's Start Institute looking around himself. With the camera following 119, Iros looks unsure how to walk and tries to follow after her. He falls to the ground and people who notice this gasp at the sight but don't help him. His candle has lost its flame. 119 stops walking and turns around to look at Iros. The camera cuts to 119 approaching Iros on the ground. She looks him over, 119: "You're helpless aren't you?" Iros: "I never thought anything could ever top being gold." 119: "What would a casing have in common with this?" Iros: "It was the last time something as odd as this happened to me." 119: "Can you get up?" With great struggle Iros picks himself off the ground and then picks up the candle which is no longer lit. Holding his candle near to hers, Iros: "Would you?" After a beat of showing patience, 119 holding her candle to Iros'es, she lights his again. Iros: "Why do you do this? Go to the extreme of putting the presence of an ambuquad's mind into an organic one for some religious trip." 119 gives Iros a cold look and turns away from him 'n begins to walk swiftly from him. With the camera following the pair, Iros rushes after 119. In the background Buck and Burash can be seen searching the city street. Iros doesn't notice them. 119: "We take their pain from them to ensure they can pursue their journey. We soften the harsh blow of death and let them ease into it." Iros: "You're dying?" 119: "Just as you are." Iros: "What happens to me? Will my data drive be put back in my body?!" 119: "Normally one bot to one host; once we've reached the Naa, I'll wait for my end: 119's end, the further journey of this body, this body will end here. You, you're not of this world or of its people, our culture, [ beat ] I don't want to think about your fate." After a beat, Iros: "You hate me don't you?" 119: "I HATE it that some outsider robot's data drive has repressed the great Iros Cerona's soul so we can't be together in our final hours." Iros: "I chose to be with you; they could have put my drive back in ME in that institute but I knew without knowing this Iros person I'd be doing you some great wrong. I want to help you." As Iros says the first part of that he motions back towards the Institute, which is some good distance behind them at this point. At approaching a stone pillar that looks to have some word carved on it in an alien tongue 119 blows out her candle. After a quick beat, Cont: "The first marker?" She walks on and out of camera range as Iros stares after her. Iros blows out his candle and follows after her, once more going out of frame. Cut to: ext: Near the Final Journey's Start Institute: Burash to Buck who has the look of he's given up: "Is it possible he went back to the Defense United Complex looking for us?" Buck grabs a transmission bud from a pants pocket to show to Burash: "They would have informed me if he did that. Burash, I'm sure he's nearby, I know him." From off screen, Doctor: "Visitors?! Excuse me, visitors, are you Human?!" Both Burash and Buck turn to the voice which came to them from behind. After a beat the Doctor comes into view. It should be noted the whole time this scene is taking place, he's acting as cool as a cucumber about everything. Cont: "I don't recognize your species, are you Human?" Burash points to Buck, Burash: "He is." Doctor: "Are you Captain Buck Rogers?" Buck: "I am, are you from the Defense United Complex or is this about some other matter?" Doctor: "How soon do you need back your host, your companion robot, Twiki?" Buck grabs the Doctor, Buck: "You know where Twiki is!" Doctor: "He's on his way to the Naa, to die." Buck tightens his grip on the Doctor, Buck (angry): "Who is holding him hostage!" Doctor: "This isn't being done against his will [ beat ] well, at least now. He wants this. Please remove your hand." Buck stares at him in shock and takes away his grip from the Doctor. End of Act Two: Beginning of Act Three: ext: Forest: In this area of the forest fruit trees can be seen with oddly colored fruits that best described look like mini apples; a path twists through here. Cricket chirps can be heard in heavy dominance in the background. The camera pans down from the trees and swipes to the side of Iros and 119 walking on the path. 119 is in the lead, Iros: "These trees [ beat ] are they important?" 119: "Only if you're hungry." Iros picks one fruit and 119 looks back towards him when she hears the snap. Iros: "I've never eaten before, might be neat to try something new, doubt I'll ever get the chance again." The camera cuts in close on Iros who lifts the fruit to his mouth but doesn't open his mouth. He takes on a questioning look and then with a look of realization opens his mouth and sets the fruit in between his teeth. He just holds it in place and 119 laughs at him. Iros tries to respond but quickly realizes he can't with the fruit and he takes it out of his mouth. Iros: "What's so funny?" 119: "You're not used to being around organic beings are you?" Iros: "I am too; I'm used to being around lots of them." She returns her attention to the path they're walking. 119: "Earth's traditions aren't like Kolt-Na's are they." Iros: "No and I miss my buddy Buck." 119: "Your host?" Iros: "My friend and owner of sorts." 119 (questioning): "Of sorts?" Iros: "He doesn't want to be my owner but I still like to think of him that way since I was assigned to him." 119: "Interesting tradition." Iros: "It's not a -" Something off-screen catches his attention and he looks down. The camera cuts to being by his feet in following movement. A small animal is jogging alongside him. Without wings it looks like a furry bird with a long beak that's bottom half has a pelican-look to it in drooping. This type of animal is what has been making the cricket chirps, as we watch it making the sounds. Iros bends down to the animal, Cont: "Now what are you?" 119: "Leave it alone." Iros: "Is it dangerous?" 119: "It's food to the Binwmas, larger animals we should be weary of." Iros picks up the furry-bird, Iros: "If we're going to move on anyway and this place we're traveling towards is a safe heaven and place of religious peace for your people, then maybe this thing will be safe there." 119: "Alien robot with no respect or understanding, Iros would never do something as foolish as what you're doing now, and neither would 120." Iros: "Deal with it; I am who I am." A noise sounds from a place out of sight, howling of an unearthly creature. Growling that sounds like a lion crossed with a zebra in rage and fear. 119 (calmly): "This isn't a walk to our final destination here anymore." Iros: "Because of that noise?" After a beat and quickening her pace, 119: "It's a RUN to our final destination here!" Breaking into a run in a snap with Iros taking the cue, Cont: "You took the Binwmas'es prey, you took the bait for it to have a BIGGER MEAL!" The camera follows Iros and 120 as they dash as quickly as they can down the path, Cont: "Drop it! Drop it now!" All the while this scene is taking place we hear the Binwma's approach grow even louder. Iros: "That's would not be right!" 119: "If you don't drop that animal we'll die!" Iros: "Old news, besides that might be an interesting sensation!" 119: "Dying!?" Iros: "Metal doesn't feel pain; it should be interesting to find out what it's like, but I really don't want to!" 119: "Hypocrite!" Iros stumbles to the point of almost falling as he stops his run. Gripping the furry-bird to his gut, Iros: "Something is wrong, recharge?" 119: "It's your illness, we have to keep moving!" Iros: "It - it -it hurts. This is pain?" The furry-bird in its own attempt to comfort Iros, nuzzles him in the gut with its break. 119 stops running, 119: "Come on, we have no time for this!" The Binwma finally comes into view behind Iros, who turns around at the sound of footsteps. The Binwma, on all fours, heavily built with fat paws that with the front and hind leg set look like they can grasp objects like hands with short claws protruding from them. A head that looks to be half the size of its body and a fanged grin that goes on for just as long on it. The Binwma: "You are daring to take my lunch and make yourself part of it." The creature's little eyes near the snout blinked as it talked, along with a long swipe of its tail. Iros: "Our more painful death talks?" The Binwma (growling): "And eats." 119: "We need to go!" The furry-bird twists around violently in Iros'es grasp and Iros in response to the animal's action: "Keep still!" 119: "Are you mad!?" Iros: "I was talking to the -." The furry-bird breaks free of Iros'es grasp. The furry-bird hops to the ground and the trio, this is counting the Binwma as well, stare at the little thing. The Binwma looks to 119 and Iros, Binwma: "I have your scent." Then the animal runs off out of camera view. Iros (still in pain): "I don't like this." 119: "We're lucky, don't complain." Iros: "I can't go on! This isn't normal, this isn't right!" 119: "You said you'd go through with this! Don't you have any respect for your host?!" Iros: "I didn't ask for one! You go on! Leave me be, someone will fix this." 119: "You don't really respect anything do you?" Iros sits on the ground in pain. Iros: "I respect, I respect, [ beat ] I didn't know living beings had this!" 119: "Do you know what loyalty means?" Iros looking straight into her eyes from the ground: "Yes." 119: "Every bot on this world, among my people, know why they were created and work with their hosts for the whole of the lives of both. 120 is no more and you were picked to replace it. Iros'es lifelong companion who he entrusted to help him fulfill the pilgrimage we all must take in the end. [ beat ] You say you respect him and my people and yet you don't want to help him in something he's been waiting for his entire lifetime. [ beat ] You don't care for anyone besides yourself in what goes on around you." The camera cuts in close on Iros'es face as he's thinking. Cut to: int: Final Journey's Start Institute: Buck and Burash are looking forward at something off camera. Their demeanors look the same in facial expression and the positioned body language. They're both angry. V.O. Nurse: "Your planet's governments won't look too harshly on this will they?" Burash: "We both work for the same people." The camera cuts away from us only seeing Burash and Buck, to us seeing the Nurse as well. Her demeanor says "this isn't good, I've been caught." Nurse: "Um Earth's Defense United?" Buck (rather bluntly): "Just tell us if his data drive can be returned to where it should be." Nurse: "No one has ever returned a used data drive back to its bot. I don't know," she says lightly panicking. Buck: "Where could we find Twiki's drive at the end of his mission?" Nurse: "You wouldn't?!" Burash: "You did and that broke your tradition." Nurse: "What I did I had to, Iros expected it of me." Buck: "No, Iros expected JX120's drive. Not Twiki's, who barely has anything in his drive about this culture." Cut to: ext: Distance from Naa: About a half a mile from the Naa, the end of 119 and Iros'es journey, their pilgrimage. It can be seen on the side of a hill. Trees and bushes surrounding the area appear to be swaying away from it in their growth as if in fear. It looks to be ancient by hundreds or maybe thousands of years: an altar with four pillars that connect to one another with the open sky above. Stairs that lead up to it and a metal iris in the center that's open. Vines, long dead, coat the pillars and the area that closely surrounds this place. But this isn't what has caught Iros'es attention ... The camera is focused close on Iros and 119. Iros almost looks afraid. 119: "That is our destiny." 119 turning to Iros, Cont: "You're going to respect this?" What has caught Iros'es attention in fear, Iros: "Is it safe, because it sure doesn't look it," he says pointing. Because in the center of the Naa, the air looks to be in flames not made by nature. Shades of red, orange, blue with black defining and ever changing shape. 119: "It will not harm us. What you're seeing is someone is taking the journey." Iros: "But I thought it was the end of our journey?" 119: "For Dirtwos life never ends. It just moves to a place of peace beyond all we can ever know here." Iros (dryly): "For many beliefs across many worlds that does mean the end." End of Act Three: Beginning of Act Four: ext: Naa: With 119 in the lead and with Iros following a short distance behind, the two of them head at a slow steady pace up to the Naa on its stairs. Iros: "Are we supposed to meet someone here that will know it's our time to take the journey?" 119 (pleasantly toned and it should be noted the same way with her for the rest of this act): "The Altar, the Naa knows we're here and knows what we've come for." Iros: "I hope Iros knows what's about to happen." 119: "Iros always knew his end here would come to this and you know too. Iros will be accepted." And heard from a distance off camera, V.O. Buck: "Twiki?!" As Iros turns to see where Buck's voice came from the camera view cuts to a wide shot and not only do we see Iros and 119 at the Naa, but Buck and Burash off a small distance with Buck's Defense Directorate shuttle a few yards behind them. Both Buck and Burash are in a fast walk towards the two. Cont: "Which one is you?" Burash: "The institute has found a bot ready to give up its data drive for this. You can come back; you don't have to do this." From the pillars, pink energy bolts begin jumping out to lick over 119 as she reaches the second to last step to her destination. Iros'es attention breaks from Buck and Burash to look at 119. Now fully inside the Naa, the energy bolts are almost covering her completely. They're giving her a glow that looks to be the brightest aura one could ever imagine. Buck puts a hand on Iros'es shoulder. Buck: "You must be him; you looked to me when I called. You don't have to go through with -." In a snap a strong energy bolt strikes Buck sending him flying back a few feet and onto his back. Iros looks to Buck with some concern. Iros: "Are you OK, Buck?" As Burash is helping Buck back to his feet. Buck: "Except for the landing, [ beat ] that didn't hurt." Buck looks to Burash in confusion. And then he looks to Iros. Iros: "Forgive me, Buck but I have to do this." Then Iros returns his attention back to 119. 119 at this point looks to be made up of only outlines and she's smiling. Every strange color of the rainbow is dancing wildly throughout her. The camera cuts in close on her face. 119: "Everything will be fine." And with that having been said her outline begins to fade away quickly and her data drive drops out of her head into the iris that while closed when they had come to this place, is now open. 119 bursts into the odd fire in the air that Iros had witnessed at half a mile away. And even with some flames touching him, they don't appear to be hurting him or burning for that matter. Buck, Burash and Iros watch the scene in pure fascination for a couple beats before it fades away. Iros, sighing as he says this: "It's my turn now." Then Iros proceeds further up the steps and the bolts of pink energy begin to lick him over too. Buck: "Your data drive?" Iros stops at the edge of the platform the makes up the main surface of the Naa and looks to Buck. Iros: "If you can save it, I'd like that." Burash: "What did this thing do to that woman? You know it's going to do the same thing to you or rather the host you're in." Iros: "He expects it of me and I don't intend to let him down. I don't know what exactly this thing does, but I feel it will send him to a better place. " Iros moves to the center of the platform and the bolts bathe him the same way they did to 119. The camera cuts to us seeing Buck and Burash react to the sight of what is consuming Iros like 119. The camera cuts to us knowing some time has passed and we're now looking at the iris. V.O. Burash: "Do you think it will strike again?" V.O. Buck: "Well, the light show is over, so I'm thinking it's safe." Buck's hands come into view as he begins to pry open the iris. V.O. Burash: "That's a pretty naive attitude." Buck: "I think I'm gonna need your help getting this thing open." Burash'es hands join Buck's in opening the iris which they finally do thanks to the extra muscle. Inside the iris we see countless data drives; all of them look the same but one. Buck grabs out the different-looking data drive. Cut to: ext: Space: Taking up most of our view is Earth. V.O. Goodfellow: "I've reinstalled his drive; he should be good as new." Cut to: ext: Defense Directorate: It's the early evening and the building is nearly a silhouette but its lit rooms that gleam outwards towards the city. V.O. Buck: "Twiki, speak to me so I know you're OK?" Cut to: Research Lab One: Buck and Goodfellow are by Twiki, but Buck is crouched down to meet Twiki at eye level. After a Beat and focusing the camera on his face, Twiki: "Had I heavens' embroidered cloths, enwrought with gold and silver light, the blue and the dim and the dark cloths of night and light and the half-light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: but I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly -." The picture fades to black. End of Act Four. The End. Roll Credits.