THE ALPHA CENTAURI PROJECT SCRIPT (8 page)

Nihil is placing some explosive on a lock. When the
hatch bursts open, he throws himself to the floor rolling beyond
the threshold, the nearest ones with him.

The others catch just a glimpse of a dark cloud in
the distance.

An instant later, BANGS, flashes and smoke. The
spheres return from the end giving the final blow to the
survivors.

Next to the door, is a red button, the emergency
closing. Now the marbles are halfway, they will reach him within a
minute.

The button is few steps away, but the way is covered
with bodies. He may waste precious moments.

Nihil jumps to his feet, hurls himself against the
wall. A BANG. The switch breaks into pieces. The door closes with
violence, flinging the bodies aside.

He crashes to the ground, his arm aching. The spheres
have not reached him! Nihil counts the survivors, a dozen in
total.

NIHIL

We are enough to win!

They stand up and reach an impressive titanium
door.

The bridge is a few meters farther, full of floating
spheres.

C573Y and the small group of Security soldiers have
withdrawn into a corner.

He doesn't feel easy. From the screens, he inspects
the attackers, concentrates on Nihil.

C573Y

What's that rucksack?

addressing the computer

Activate the radar.

The image of the content appears in the main screen.
An invisible eye magnifies its surface and examines it.

It stops in front of the identification code. The
answer is in very large letters: ATOMIC BOMB MODEL AB1521-X.

C573Y

What's the power?

computer

Enough to trigger the explosion of helium 3, the
nuclear fuel.

C573Y

What about the other spaceships?

COMPUTER

Would be annihilated in the thermonuclear
explosion.

C573Y

Move them away!

COMPUTER

They will reach the safe distance in ten minutes.

C573Y

Too late. When will the android program be
accessible?

COMPUTER

Impossible to forecast.

Meanwhile Nihil is inspecting the surface of the
armored door, looking for weak points. He checks his fellows.

All lined up, aiming their guns, ready to pour a hail
of fire onto the enemy lines.

Nihil dips his hand into his pocket, extracts some
plastic.

With care, he starts placing it along the opening
mechanism. His eyes are sparkling.

He stops for a moment, leaning against the door. Now
he can move his arm hardly. It gets blocked, his sight become
blurred.

He sends a message appearing in his visual field:
REQUEST... REQUEST IMMEDIATE TRANSFER TO... ALPHACITY HIDEOUT.

Black.

EXT. alphacity skyscraper -- DAY

A blinding brightness. Nihil shields his eyes with a
hand and looks around.

He has ended up on a terrace, beyond there is nothing
but the sky. The highest skyscraper in the town.

Leaning against the security rail, Nihil looks
spellbound at three skyscrapers standing against the light like
black giants.

On the opposite side, others reflect the flaming red
of the sunset in their windows.

A few kilometers below, wide streets and elegant
buildings, parks and sheets of water follow one another.

In the distance a flock of birds alights on a roof.
He forgets his anger.

On the horizon, a row of black dots appears: the
Security ovoids!

He rushes to a low wall and crouches down behind it.
He keeps still, holding his breath.

A HISS. Five shadows are running across the roof. The
aircrafts disappear in the distance.

He stands up and looks at the town again, but this
time in a different mood: in his eyes there is grudge, nothing but
an immense grudge.

NIHIL

speaking to himself

All this was to have been mine...

Nihil goes to the security rail again. With
outstretched arms, he stares into space. Then he turns.

In the middle of the terrace, towers a structure with
a ladder, ending with a balcony, from which the majestic mast with
the flag of Alpha Centauri soars into the sky.

He climbs the steps up to the balcony. Now he is
really at the highest point of the town.

The sun has set and its purple train is fading away.
Above, the sky is getting dark, but the stars are not twinkling
yet. A gust of wind.

He grasps the railing and climbs over it. Then he
sits on the edge dangling his legs in the void.

He takes a little box out of his pocket and strokes
its shiny surface.

NIHIL

My children, I am entrusting you with an important
task.

Nihil opens the lid. He stares at its contents before
pouring gently on the ground thousands of viral programs.

They spread in all directions on the terrace.

NIHIL

Go forth and multiply. Most of all, when in
twenty-four hours you outnumber the inhabitants, infect them!

He closes his eyes and smiles, imagining his programs
covering the terrace with a black velvet layer, then, while
becoming progressively invisible, descending the walls of the
skyscraper.

NIHIL

Against my army no defense exists.

He remains on the edge, while the icy wind lashes his
face and makes his garments flutter.

INT. EARTH ARMY HEADQUARTERS first floor --
AFTERNOON

The gynoid's body lies on the couch. When Eve
recovers consciousness, General Marcus Rand is next to her.

RAND

As soon as I was told about your arrival, I rushed
here.

Eve slowly gets into a sitting position on the
couch.

EVE

Marcus, I need to embark on the Caravels.

RAND

What for?

Eve explains the situation. Rand listens. Voices
cannot be heard.

RAND

Only the Staff can take this decision.

The man steps aside and starts speaking to his
superiors. Then he turns toward Eve.

RAND

We are meeting in half an hour.

EVE

I knew I could count on you.

RAND

We have to hurry up.

Eve jumps to her feet. They enter a corridor and then
an elevator.

RAND

We are descending to a depth of two kilometers.

They fasten their seat belts. A small object rises
from the floor and begins hovering. The elevator starts
decelerating.

RAND

The electromagnetic brakes have started working.

INT. EARTH ARMY HEADQUARTERS bunker -- MOMENTS
LATER

The door opens in front of the entrance of a nuclear
bunker. At the end, a robot is guarding a door. They enter the
hall.

Behind a majestic table, five staff officers are
waiting for them.

Eve stops a few meters away, and even though she has
not belonged to the army for many years, she springs to
attention.

Rand remains a few steps back.

From the center, the CHIEF OF STAFF gazes at her. He
is white-haired and has a dark blue uniform with medals.

CHIEF OF STAFF

General Marcus Rand informed us about your proposal.
You deserve the greatest attention, because of your brilliant past
in the army and the help you have recently provided us.

He looks through a dossier.

CHIEF OF STAFF

You distinguished yourself in the Red Helmets by
foiling a terrorist attack which used nuclear weapons. You were
decorated for bravery and awarded several citations. You were
destined to reach the peak of a military career. Instead you
resigned.

beat

You are probably wondering why in all these years, we
never stopped being interested in you.

Eve maintains an impassive gaze - just a blink.

CHIEF OF STAFF

After the military academy, you accepted to undergo a
treatment able to improve your mental and physical characteristics.
A very secret experiment, that Defense was trying for the first
time on a human being. Your memory of the cure was erased, in order
not to influence your behavior.

When you resigned from the Defense, we had a moment
of hesitation. Finally, we set you free; surely your behavior in
other fields would be very interesting as well. This regularly
happened. You worked in AISI, distinguishing yourself by the
quality of your research.

His face darkens.

CHIEF OF STAFF

While belonging to the Certification Committee, you
were charged with corruption. The scandal was a surprise to us. We
didn't want your life to have anything hidden from us, so we put
General Marcus Rand in charge of an enquiry. It was all a plot.

With the brain digitization, you became a virtual
being with unique characteristics. You got in touch with the
Elects, an organization we appreciated for its participants'
merits. You started transferring your characteristics to its
members. Thanks to you, the Elects succeeded in escaping Security,
but most of all they began transforming into a new race.

giving a piercing look

Let's get to the point. You want to recover the
population and stop Nihil. How can you manage it?

EVE

Once Nihil showed me a new virus. He wanted me to
study it, but when I asked how he had got it, I didn't receive any
answer.

A few days later he asked me to erase it from my
computer. However I had enough time to study it.

CHIEF OF STAFF

How are you going to develop a treatment?

EVE

I need the Defense's simulator.

The high-rank officer puts on a solemn
expression.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Our computer is engaged with important projects and
to meet your proposal, we would have to delay the activities in
progress. Nevertheless we are willing to listen to your
reasons.

EVE

As you know, the virus is lethal. We cannot restore
the population, because the backups have been erased. We must
develop a treatment, but if we fail, no one will survive.

I applied to you for three reasons.

First of all the Defense supercomputer is the only
one that can perform such complex computations in a few days. The
other machines would require months.

Secondly, this computer uses unique simulation
programs.

CHIEF OF STAFF

How do you know what software we have at our
disposal?

EVE

I was the one who developed them. The Defense
entrusted AISI with this project.

The officers talk in low voices.

CHIEF OF STAFF

You mean that you not only have a deep knowledge of
the infection, but also of the tools necessary for a cure. In
conclusion, you can judge the need for the simulator better than
anybody else.

EVE

So far I have explained two reasons. The third one is
that I have already worked with the scientists of the Defense. They
are the best team I have ever met. With their help, I am sure I
will succeed.

CHIEF OF STAFF

In exchange for your help, you ask to continue the
voyage to Alpha Centauri with the Elects. Explain to us the
reason.

EVE

The Alpha Centauri Project marks the beginning of a
new era. We want to contribute. You know what I mean.

CHIEF OF STAFF

ending the meeting

Thank you, captain.

The sitting is adjourned. When it is resumed half an
hour later, the most senior officer stares at the young woman who
is standing at attention.

A proud bearing and resolute expression,like the best
officers.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Captain Dirac, you are an excellent soldier, you know
Nihil better than anybody else, so much that you worked with him on
some secret projects. We are sure your contribution on the Caravels
will be decisive.

He gives a deep sigh.

CHIEF OF STAFF

The Alpha Centauri Project will take the digital
people to another solar system. But there is a second and even more
ambitious objective, that we have kept secret till now. We believe
that, far from human influence, the digital beings will be able to
express their potential at best.

We are looking for people that can help us to reach
this objective.

Therefore the President of the Confederation, having
consulted the Net representatives, has decided to accept your
proposal.

Our simulator is at your disposal, Captain.

He points to the officer behind Eve.

CHIEF OF STAFF

From now on you can address your requests directly to
General Marcus Rand. The Alpha Centauri project has top
priority.

Eve and the young officer take their leave. They
reach the elevator.

RAND

You made a hit with him!

EVE

Thank you for your help, Marcus. You had me put on
board and in charge of so important tasks...

RAND

You know this work better than anybody else.

On the tips of her toes, Eve kisses him on a
cheek.

INT. EARTH ARMY HEADQUARTERS FIRST FLOOR -- MOMENTS
LATER

They reach the room where Eve had waken up. She lies
down on the couch.

EVE

If a solution exists, I will find it. In a few days
it will all be over.

RAND

I will be here.

Her programs are sucked into the computer.

INT. earth defense simulator -- continuoUs

Eve finds herself in a space without walls, filled
with an intense brightness.

She protects her eyes with a hand. Ten individuals in
spotless uniforms are standing around her: the Defense
scientists.

CHIEF SCIENTIST

Welcome back, Eve! We can start.

EXT. ALPHACITY -- MORNING

THE WHISTLE of the engines. The aircraft is darting
among the skyscrapers and over the palaces. Eve looks at the town
through the transparent cockpit.

The streets and the squares are covered with mass of
bodies.

The ovoid reaches the white building of the Computer
Science Institute, in the middle of a lawn and lands near a
fountain, in front of the main entrance.