Episode 3 "Not An Option Pt 2"

FADE IN:
EXT. ARCADIA - BUTTERFLY BUILDING - RIGHT WING FRONT GATE - AFTERNOON
SUPERIMPOSE: "17 years earlier"

                    MALE GUARD (O.S.)
          Open the gate!

SIRENS ring over megaphones on top corner of the towers as giant steel gates swing open.

A man, bloodied and scared, staggers through. His clothes torn from head to his bare feet. Soaked from his own sweat, he shakes and mumbles to himself.

One of the guards approaches. None are brave enough to touch him.

                    MALE GUARD
          Hector? Hector?

HECTOR HAYTER's, 42, ears are covered in blood. His face is covered by the long brown hair coming undone from the ponytail.

The guard hesitantly grabs Hector's shoulders. He tries to snap Hector out of his delusions.

                    MALE GUARD
          Hector? Hector?

                    MARY (O.S.)
          Hector!

A beautiful honey blond, MARY HAYTER, 38, beats the rest of the medics to Hector as she jumps out of the truck pulling in.

In tears she tries to comfort him. She disregards the filth and blood dripping on her pink scrubs. They both drop to their knees. As she looks up at Hector.

His green eyes are bloodshot red and his face scratched straight across from ear to ear over his nose.

                    MARY
           Hector?... My God, what happened to you?

Hector speaks, but his words are barely understandable. All that can be made out is

                    HECTOR
          Armada... Armada... Armada...

Mary tries to hug Hector. She pulls her arms away from shock and disgust.

The back of Hectors shirt is completely gone. His skin has been scarred from burns, cuts and slashes.

Mary can't bring the words, but the terror on her face says it all.

                    MALE GUARD
          Let's get him inside, now!

Hector is quickly loaded on a stretcher in back, with Mary by his side. The guard watches them ride off into the white butterfly shaped building.

INT ARCADIA - BUTTERFLY BUILDING - UPPER RIGHT WING - MEDICAL WING

From Hector's POV as he fades in and out:

The lights on the ceiling are too bright to look at; they blur everyone's faces. A woman shouts.

                    MEDIC #1 (O.S.)
          Make a hole!

Blurred figures scatter to either side of the hall. All whisper to one another.
Mary's words are faint. She leans over him. Her face glows like an angel in the light.

                    MARY
          You're going to be okay, I promise. I
          wont let anything happen to you, baby.
          Just stay with me, okay. Stay with me.

A loud BANG

The double doors are forced open by the stretcher. Against the wall stands a 12 year old boy, his hands clenching a big red book to his chest.

                    MARY (O.S.)
          Chase, get Linus out of here!

Everything fades into darkness. A young boy's voice echos.

                    LINUS HAYTER (V.O.)
          Dad?

FADE IN:

INT. ARCADIA - BUTTERFLY BUILDING - HEAD - SECURITY ROOM - MORNING
SUPERIMPOSE: "Present Day"

The room is silent, full of tension, as if waiting for a bomb to drop.

                     ELIZA (O.S.)
               (in radio)
          No sign of him at all.

Commander Chase leans in over Linus' shoulder.

                    COMMANDER CHASE
               (softly)
          Sir, he was injured in the last attack.
          If he was alive I'm sure he'd be there.
          There was no one left in the village. And
          if he had lagged behind with a group of
          warriors, Eliza's men would have spotted
          them already.

Linus smiles. He looks once again at Chairman Richard on the monitor, now on the phone, then back to the Radio. There is no stopping now. It must be done for all of Arcadia.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Take them all.

Chase covers the microphone on the radio with his hand.

                    ELIZA (O.S.)
               (in radio)
          Transmission was interrupted. Repeat
          Mother Bird.

Linus stares Chase down. He turns to face the clearly superior man in strength. Neither budge. No respect is given to a leader that backs down from his own men, even if it is his brother.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          What the hell do you think you're doing,
          Commander?

Chase speaks in Linus' ear.

                    COMMANDER CHASE
          Viceroy, why attack now? We've waited
          for this moment for years. Why not
          savor every life they lose? Why not make
          them suffer, like they've done to us so
          many times over? Their people took
          everything from us. We can't even go
          outside for a walk without being cut
          down at our own doors.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          You doubt me now, Chase? After all these
          years, I thought you of all people would
          know me better than that.

Chase steps back, He removes his hand. Linus hides his secrets well behind a heart of stone and fearless façade.

                    ELIZA (O.S.)
          Mother Bird respond.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          You are cleared for crowd control
          Lady Death. Take them all.

EXT. FOREST - NEAR RIVER'S BANK
The air in the forest is still, not even a cricket sings in its stillness.

Amadeus marches his people along on a cleared path between the tress, just a few feet along the river.

One of the bulky warriors beside him, ELAN, 42, whispers in his ear.

Amadeus acknowledges him and sends him off.

The warrior slows his pace until he is in the back of the group with Selene.

                   ELAN
          Lady Selene.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Elan Xeno.

Selene keeps her head high and her eyes on the children before her.

Troy is close by her side, ready to defend her if necessary.

                    ELAN
           It has been brought to my attention
          that Artemis Xeno has wondered off.

                      SELENE REYGO
          Is that so? I hadn't noticed.

Knowing she is protecting her brother, Elan tries to negotiate with Selene anyway. He looks at Troy who quickly turns his head.

                    ELAN
          It would be a shame if he has gotten
          lost as we travel.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Artemis knows this forest as well as
          any of us, maybe even more so. He
          is well trained. He will track us if we
          get to far from him.

                    ELAN
          Artemis Xeno is a skilled warrior
          indeed. He is one of the best we have...
          which is why it is so important that
          he stays close.

Selene turns on a glare towards Elan that makes the hair on Troy's neck stand. Her tone is firm. She gives up nothing of her brother.

                   SELENE REYGO
          Yes he is. Artemis is a grown man. I will
          not hold is hand like a child and Amadeus
          shouldn't either.

Elan holds her icy stare a moment before walking away.

                    TROY
          For such an flower, you scare me
          sometimes Lady Selene.

                    SELENE REYGO
          My brother is my lifeblood. He does what
          is necessary to keep us all alive. I will not
          betray that devotion.

                    TROY
          Devotion.

Troy takes a glance back at the wounded and the other medics on their heels. Over twenty of their warriors are unable to fight.
                    TROY
          Artemis is well trusted by our people,
          but it does not mean he is without flaw.

The two stop for a moment, holding each others stare.

                    SELENE REYGO
          You of all people know what he has
          sacrificed for us. What he has done
          for our people. The man he becomes
          in the heat of battle is what has kept
          many of our warriors and hunters alive.

                    TROY
          And we are all grateful, I assure you.
          I mean no disrespect to Artemis Xeno.
          All I am saying is that our people would
          feel safer if he was actually here with us.

They continue on. Selene grabs at the small hole in the waist of her dress. Squeezing tightly the knife she has stored away.

                    SELENE REYGO
          If feeling safe is what you're after, I
          suggest you stay in Rejuvenation Pass
          when we get there. Artemis is to be our
          next Overseer. I trust he will keep us safe.

                    TROY
          Let's hope so. Against the Arcadian's
          weapons of metal and body armors,
          Artemis has only his flesh.

Selene lets a tear roll down the check of her blank face. She can't be weak in her brother's absence, but she can't help worrying as well.

Troy opens his mouth to comfort her, but one of the medics calls to him. An injured child's wounds have opened. Troy heads back to help.

Selene alerts one of the young men.

                    SELENE REYGO
          You there. Let Overseer Amadeus know
          our wounded need attention. We're stopping.

The young man nods and runs ahead.

Selene is quick to issue orders to the medics. They waste no time checking the injured, replacing bandages, giving out water, and rationing food. Selene watches with a hand over her heart. Closing her eyes she whispers to herself as if in prayer.

The strong and beautiful Esscha, nuzzles Selene's cheek with her nose, neighing softly.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Oh Esscha.

Selene snuggles the giant black beauty. She notices the white rose wrapped in her long braided black mane by her ear. She immediately breaks into tears. She takes the flower, twirling it between her fingers.

                    SELENE REYGO
          I know you're still here. I don't need you
          to remind me, yanda (brother).

INT. ARCADIA - BUTTERFLY BUILDING - UPPER LEFT WING = HECTOR'S OFFICE - MORNING

SUPERIMPOSE: "15 years earlier"

Physically and mentally broken, Hector limps from the glass desk to the center of the floor with a stack of papers in hand. Collapsing on the navy blue carpet, Hector drops the papers. They scatter across the floor as he reaches down at his broken right leg. Shaken and afraid, Hector looks at the mess of papers, books, and maps across the floor. He searches for some sort of answer.

                    HECTOR
          It's not possible. It's not possible.

Hector mumbles to himself. He scatters the papers around, briefly scanning each one.

The glass double doors slowly open as the young Linus hesitantly enters, stepping an Atlas opened to the map of Mount. Helios. Linus hugs the red book tightly in his arms.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad?

In Linus' POV:

The sun shines bright through the crack of the long red curtains hanging above the large window. The rest of the office is dark. The glass coffee table in front of the black leather couch is full of plates of spoiled, untouched food. The medals and certificates were thrown to the floor against the walls. All of the books carelessly lay all over the floor. Both bookshelves on their sides, on both sides of the desk. The only thing untouched is the grand piano in the corner by the door. A single picture of the Hayter family rests on it.
Linus steps forward again.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad?

Hector's hair a mess over his face as he flips through one of the books labeled, Immortals. His blue shirt wrinkled and unbuttoned. His sleeves are rolled just above the bandages on his forearms.

Linus stares at the blood seeping through his father's shirt just under his ribs.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad, you're bleeding...

Hector completely freezes in place. His mouth open, but no sound is freed.

Linus hesitantly sits before his father on the floor with tears ready to roll down his eyes.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad... I brought you something.

Linus holds out the red book. The words on the cover are too faded to read.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          You gave it to me when I was scared. It's the...

                    HECTOR
          The Armada...

Linus jumps at Hector's out burst. He swallows hard.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          They can't hurt you here. Nobody
          can. It's safe behind the walls.

                    HECTOR (O.S.)
          Don't!

Linus reaches out to his father to comfort him, but Hector snatches him up first. He squeezes Linus' shoulders so hard, the boy can barely move.

Linus' eyes are wide open as he sees his father's face for the first time in over a year.

Hector shakes him as he speaks. His breath foul and his eyes are a deep red. Tears run over the scars across his face.

                    HECTOR
          Don't trust them. Don't trust them.
          The Armada... The Armada...

Linus, terrified, bursts into tears.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          You're hurting me...

                   HECTOR
          They will lie. They will deceive you.
          Don't let them. Artemis...

Hector's eyes begin to wonder in every direction.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad please!

Linus falls back as Hector releases him and begins searching through the papers and books again.

                    HECTOR
          We have to find him...

                    MARY (O.S.)
          Linus?

Mary stands at the door a worried mother and frustrated wife in her dark blue scrubs. She hurries to Linus and helps him up.

                    MARY
          Are you okay?

                    LINUS HAYTER
          Dad's hurt. I just wanted...

                    MARY
          I told you not to come in here without me. Never!

Linus stares at Hector.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          But

                    MARY
          Hey! Never. Do you understand me?

Linus remains quiet as his mother takes hold of his hands.

Hector rocks back and forth, shaking his head. He cries.

                    HECTOR (O.S.)
          No. No one is safe...

Both Mary and Linus watch Hector.

Hector stares at his hands in horror.

                    MARY
               (to Linus)
          Go to your room.

Mary picks up the red book and hands it to Linus.

                    LINUS HAYTER
          I want to stay with dad.

                    MARY
          I know. Trust me I know, but right now
          he needs time to heal. Okay?

They hold each others stare for almost an eternity. Linus nods and heads for the door.

Mary comforts her husband, pulling him close.

Linus catches wind of Hector's last words as he walks through the doors.

                    HECTOR (O.S.)
          Not my son. They can't have my son.

Mary pulls Hector close, hushing him. Hector pulls back from her, locking his eyes with Mary. She is afraid. Her husband looks like a mad man.

                     HECTOR
          We have to find him! We have to find Artemis first!

EXT. FOREST - RIVER'S BANK - NIGHT
Amadeus stands just outside the temporary camp, watching the woods.

                    ELAN (O.S.)
          We shouldn't have stopped here.

Amadeus turns around. Disappointment covers his face. He turns back.

                    ELAN
          You were expecting Artemis.

                    AMADEUS
          I expect no one.

Elan stands beside Amadeus.

                    ELAN
          It wasn't a question.

Amadeus glances at him out the corner of his eyes.

                    AMADEUS
          He has returned?

                    ELAN
          Not yet. He's sure to be close.

                    AMADEUS
          I know he is. He won't go far without
          Selene and Alta. And the two of them
          remain here.

Amadeus sighs. He crosses his arms. Turns to face camp.

                    ELAN (O.S.)
           Amadeus.

Amadeus faces Elan.

                    ELAN
          Why are we held up here?

                   AMADEUS
          The wounded

Elan places a hand on Amadeus' shoulder.

                   ELAN
          Why are we held up here? Rejuvenation
          Pass is only a day and a half from where
          we were. Had we continued on, we would've
          been there by now. Why do keep you keep
          our people held up here?

Amadeus looks away from Elan, his face full of concern. Looking towards the camp, Amadeus lets his arms drop.

                    AMADEUS
          I won't leave my brother's son alone to die.

                    ELAN
          You sacrifice all of our people for one?

Amadeus inhales deeply as he steps face to face with Elan, keeping his head held high.

                    AMADEUS
           I sacrifice myself for my son. The
          people will be led on without me if
          necessary...

Elan stands at attention. His hands clasped together behind his back.

                    AMADEUS
          ...by Alta.

Elan nods. Amadeus leaves.

Elan glares at Amadeus as he departs.

                    AMADEUS (o.s.)
          If you catch wind or spy of anything

                    ELAN
          I will eliminate it, Overseer.

Amadeus heads back. He notices Selene, restlessly trying to sooth a crying child and feed two others by the small campfire.
                    SELENE REYGO
          Everything's going to be fine, you'll see.
          Our leaders are working themselves hard
          to keep all of us safe.

The young farmer boy, JONTUS, 12, holding his little brother SCOFFS at her.

                    JONTUS
          You don't know that. Rejuvenation Pass
          is still another day out. Arcadia could
          attack us at anytime.

Selene tries to smile through her sweat and exhaustion, but she knows what the boy says is true.

                    AMADEUS (O.S.)
          So.

Selene and the children all acknowledge Amadeus' authority and immediately silence themselves. Even the crying child stops. Jontus lowers his head in shame.

​                    AMADEUS
          Will you give up just because they
          may come again tonight?

Amadeus places a hand on Jontus' shoulder as he crouches next to him.

                    AMADEUS
          What of him? Is he not your brother?

Jontus nods as Amadeus points at the young child in his arms, squeezing his shirt.

                    AMADEUS
          Will you give up and leave him alone? Will
          you make him surrender to Arcadia? Or
          will you press on for him and show him
          that this is not the end?

Jontus stares into his brother's eyes. It is a question that needs no answer.

                    JONTUS
          My brother is my lifeblood. Of course,
          I will fight for him.

                   AMADEUS
          Then why do you teach him doubt and fear?

Jontus' face relaxes as his eyes wonder.

                   AMADEUS
          You are his Xeno. His life will be molded
          based on your actions. It is unfortunate
          that we lose the ones we care for, but
          there many left that still need us. If you
          could teach them a better way to live,
          would you not?

Amadeus briefly looks at Selene and the rest of the children.

                   AMADEUS
          If you won't fight for yourself, than fight for
          those around you. Live for your surviving
          family and friends. We need all of you. You
          are the hope for a better life, a new world. We
          can not build again our villages without
          children to live in them.

                    TROY (O.S.)
          Selene.

Troy hustles over covered in blood. He whispers in Selene's ear. Tired and sweaty, he turns to Amadeus.

                   TROY
          Overseer Amadeus.

With a nudge of the head Amadeus stands, patting Jontus on the back. Selene passes off the child to one of the older children. Selene, Troy, and Amadeus make their way over towards the river, out of ear shot.

                    AMADEUS
          What is it?

Troy looks to Selene before speaking, his face drained and his body weak. He rubs the back of his neck.

                   TROY
          This isn't going to work.

                    AMADEUS
          What?

Selene holds her breath, biting down on her thumb with her arms crossed.

                    TROY
          There's too many wounded for what little
          medicine we could carry. We will lose at
          least half our wounded warriors by morning.
          And most of the wounded children wont even...

                   AMADEUS
          Save the children.

Selene and Troy are both surprised by Amadeus' quick decision.

                    SELENE REYGO
          What of the warriors? And the
          women? Our elders?!

                    AMADEUS
          Let them die.

Troy swallows hard as he nods and turns to leave, but Selene steps in front of him. Tears begin rolling from her eyes.

                    SELENE REYGO
               (to Troy)
           We should try to save everyone.

Troy silently looks behind Selene at the broken souls. A beat. Selene goes from Troy to Amadeus, cutting him off.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Rejuvenation Pass isn't that far.

                    AMADEUS
               (shouts)
          It is now!

Some of the people in the camp look back at the three. Amadeus steps closer to Selene and Troy.

                    AMADEUS
          It was you who demanded we stop for them.
          If some of them should die for our children,
          so they that they may live to see tomorrow...

Amadeus glances at his people, sad and worn out. He returns his glare to Selene.

                   AMADEUS
          So be it.

Selene shakes her head. She opens her mouth, but no words come. Amadeus looks from her to Troy, who avoids his stare. Amadeus heads back towards the camp.

                   SELENE REYGO
          Artemis would spare them.

Amadeus stops, but doesn't face either medics.

                    AMADEUS
          Artemis is not the Overseer.

Amadeus leaves and Troy quickly follows suit.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Troy?

                    TROY
          We can't save them all, even if we wanted to.

Troy walks back over to Selene almost whispering to her.

                    TROY
          I know its painful, but its a weight that
          we don't have to bare.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Letting them die is a weight we have to
          bare. We are the ones killing them.

                   TROY
          No, Amadeus is...

Selene shakes her head in disbelief.

                   TROY
               (contd)
          and he knows that. He could have
          said no and kept our people moving.
          In fact he should have... but the
          wounded would, then die along the
          way and be left where they are. Alone.
          This way their loved ones can sit with
          them and say goodbye. This way we have
          a moment to bury them when they pass.

Selene turns to the river, looking at her reflection. She drops to her knees and silently cries, hugging herself.

                    SELENE REYGO
           We can't just kill them.

                    TROY
           Leading our people is not an easy
           task. Artemis would know this as well.
           We have to trust our leaders, all of them.

Selene turns her head away from her reflection.

                    TROY
           You and Artemis have to let go of your
           hatred. Amadeus only does what he
           believes is best for us.

Troy sits next to Selene with his arms around his knees.

                    SELENE REYGO
           My family is dead and he did nothing
           to help us. He did not heed Kronticous' words.

                    TROY
           Selene.

                    SELENE REYGO
                (angry)
           He sent my father to be executed
           and did nothing to save Dregada.

Troy puts his arm around Selene and pulls her close, kissing her forehead.

                    SELENE REYGO
           I'm tired of losing people.

                    TROY
          We all are, Lady Selene.

INT. AMADEUS CAMP
Artemis stands outside, staring at the broken walls of his former home. He heads inside, stepping over the remains of their fences. The bodies of his people lay wasted across the ground. Artemis stops over the body of a young girl in the middle of the camp. The girl is completely burned from head to toe. Artemis drops to his knees and takes her hand. As he closes his eyes, he pictures

Children playing tag around the camp

Hunters training teenage warriors how to fight with spears and swords

Artemis sits around a campfire in the night laughing with several young men his own age

Selene laughs at Artemis as he intentionally loses a sparing match against a small group of children.

Kronticous lies lifeless in Artemis', 9, arms in the middle of the forest, covered in blood with a sword in his heart.

Artemis opens his eyes and inhales deep. He looks at the girl one more time, squeezing her hand.

                    ARTEMIS REYGO
          I'm sorry.

INT. HEALING HUT
Artemis snatches the tarp of the healing hut down and rolls it up in his arms. He lays it on an empty bed as he looks around. Taking one of the knifes tucked away at his breast, Artemis cuts the tarp and spreads it flat across middle of the floor. He quickly gathers any medicine and bandages left behind from the floor, beds, tables, and anything left on the remaining bodies. He places them in the center of the tarp. Tying the tarp into a sack Artemis makes heads out.

EXT. FOREST - NEAR RIVER'S BANK - ELIZA'S CAMP
Eliza takes a seat in the chair folded out before her by one of the soldiers just outside the camp. She takes a sip from the steaming mug in her hands. Eliza closes her eyes as she enjoys the smell of her drink. The soldier unfolds a small table and sets it before her, laying out a map of the land.

                    AARON (O.S.)
          Is that all you drink?

                    ELIZA
          Chocolate is good for the soul. It's much
          healthier than what you drink, Major Green.

Eliza waves a hand at the soldier and he disappears.

                    AARON
          Has anyone ever told you that you have the drawl
          of gorgeous red-headed warrior descended from
          the goddesses womb herself that can only be tamed
          by the son of a god?

The incredibly lean and boyish AARON GREEN, 29, kneels beside Eliza, gently squeezing her knee. His perfect teeth glows in the moonlight. Eliza can't help, but smile back.

                    ELIZA
          Has anyone ever told you that such a grand
          ego is not appealing?

Eliza pushes Aaron's hand away.

                    AARON
          My ego didn't seem to bother back in Arcadia.

A beat as they gaze into each others eyes, Aaron slowly moves his hand back up from Eliza's ankle toward her knee.

                    AARON
               (contd)
          When you called for me in your office,
          remember? Something about you
          needing my use of excessive force and
          savage nature.

Eliza crosses her legs, holding Aaron's hand in place between her thighs. He presses his lips against her leg.

                    ELIZA
          In reference to killing savages, Major Green.

                    AARON
          Right. Savages. And the several times before that?

Eliza leans in to Aaron. They come almost nose to nose.

                    BURLY (O.S.)
          General Fields.

Disappointed, Aaron quickly slides his hands down to his side as he stands and faces the approaching soldier, SECOND LIEUTENANT BURLY ALLEN, 44. They salute each other as Eliza stands, crossing her hands behind her back.

                    ELIZA
          Have my scouts returned?

                    BURLY
          Yes, Ma'am.

Eliza squints at him as she steps forward. Aaron smiles to himself, running his fingers back through his short black hair. Burly clears his throat.

                    BURLY
          The Armada have set up camp at the
          river's bank like you said, Sir. They're
          attempting to treat their wounded. They
          have a few standing watch just outside their camp.

                    ELIZA
          And the leader? Is he still with the camp?

                    BURLY
          Yes, Ma'am. Sir.

Eliza looks to Aaron.

                    AARON
          Can they be quietly taken,
          without alerting any of the others.

                    BURLY
          No, Sir.

Eliza tilts her nose up at Burly and turns away. A soldier approaches her, handing her a sheet of paper. She glances at it, then passes it to Aaron.

                    ELIZA
          Why not?

                    BURLY
          They are positioned to close to each
          other. Anyone we take out in the
          perimeter will be seen by the others.

                    ELIZA
          You mean to tell me of all the soldiers
          we have, of all the snipers, it is absolutely
          impossible to take out their guards?

Aaron shakes his head, still with his eyes on the paper. Keeping his head down, he shoots a quick glance at Burly.

                    BURLY
               (stammering)
          No, Ma'am. Sir. I just meant that...

Confused, Burly looks to Aaron for an answer. Aaron grins and lowers his head. There is an air of uncertainty in Burly's words.

                    BURLY
          We would have to kill them all at
          once to be undetected.

Eliza approaches Burly, standing too close for comfort. Burly starts to sweat.

                    ELIZA
               (playful)
          Then I guess that has to be the plan, huh?

Eliza gently slaps Burly's rosy cheeks.

                    ELIZA
          Be gone now.

As Burly leaves, Aaron takes Eliza's hand.

                    AARON
          Why can't you play nice?

                    ELIZA
          I am nice.

Aaron scoffs as he rolls his eyes.

                    ELIZA
          Hey. I didn't kill a single Arcadian today.

Aaron frowns at her.

                    AARON
          The night's still young, Lady Death.

Eliza giggles as she shrugs.

                    ELIZA
          Get my men ready for battle.

Eliza brushes Aaron's shoulder as she passes and sits back in her chair. He walks away. Eliza opens her umbrella and holds it over her shoulder.

EXT. FOREST - RIVER'S BANK
The farmers, young and old, try to sooth the few restless pigs, chickens, sheep and wolves. Esscha prances back and forth, not allowing any of the farmers to touch her. She cries out loudly, waking many of the sleeping Armadanites. Amadeus and Alta take notice. Selene passes the mug of water to a nearby medic to take her place handing out water and goes to the horse.

                    SELENE REYGO
          What is it Esscha?

                    ALTA
          It is time.

Alta looks on at the horse behind Selene. Amadeus inhales deeply.

                    AMADEUS
          Send her off.

Alta and Selene take the bags from Esscha, that Artemis had placed on her before. She dashes off into the darkness.

                    AMADEUS
               (to hunters)
          Wake the people. We move now.

                    SELENE REYGO
          Alta.

Selene takes Alta's hand.

                    ALTA
          He knows what he's doing.

Alta brushes a strand of hair from Selene's face.

                    ALTA
          The wounded are slow. This will buy us time.

Troy runs over to Selene, pulling her arm.

                    TROY
          Lady Selene, we need to get the wounded up.

Selene nods as she heads off with Troy. She allows her eyes to wander back into the darkness where the horse disappeared.

EXT. FOREST - NEAR RIVER'S BANK - ELIZA'S CAMP
From the shadow of the trees an assassin appears in the branches. All of his body covered by black rags and a scarf around his mouth, his black hair sitting on his forehead and hazel eyes. He paints his face with three black lines across his left eye. The assassin makes not a sound as he swings from tree to tree, watching Aaron walk past the tents beneath him with two other soldiers. The soldiers follow Aaron into one of the tents.

INT. ELIZA'S CAMP - COMMAND POST TWO
Aaron enters the tent, joining Second Lieutenants Burly and ALICA CAMP, 19, at the table in the middle of the tent. The rest of the soldiers in the tent salute Major Green.

                    ALICA
          Sir.

Aaron nods at Alica as the two soldiers with him, SECOND LIEUTENANTS MARCUS PORTER, 36, AND ASH GREY, 52, take their place around the square table.

                    AARON
          Where are we?

Aaron rests his massive hands on the table as they go over the marked areas on the map.

                    BURLY
          The scouts are in position for first strike.

Alica points to an area marked with a red X on the map.

                    ALICA
          The enemy is here. Sniper team one
          is in position here, across the river.
          They're set up on the hill, looking over
          our camp and theirs. Team two is here...

She circles another area with her red nails.

                    ALICA
          From this vantage, we'll be able to
          cover the scouts in their preemptive
          strike with silencers.

                    AARON
          Porter?

                    PORTER
          Sir. Four tents have been set up
          around the area for maximum
          response time in regards to any
          number of casualties. There are a
          total of twenty medics in base camp,
          ten for each tent. Ten at nest two...

Porter nods at Alica.

                    PORTER
               (contd)
          ... and five at nest one.

Burly crosses his arms. He looks at Porter with confusion written across his face, as he shakes his head.

                    BURLY
          Why? Sniper Nest one is across the
          river. Even if they resist, their arrows
          shouldn't be able to hit from down hill
          in the middle of the night.

                    PORTER
          Have you ever known these people to
          go down without some sort of resistance?
 
                  ALICA
          It's understood that the savages shouldn't
          be capable of reaching team one, but in the
          off chance that they have warriors set up
          across the river, a small medical unit should
          suffice in regards to any injuries sustained.

                    AARON
          Right, that's good thinking. Although the
          scouts haven't spotted any break offs from
          the group, we still want as few casualties as
          possible. There's no telling what they have up
          their sleeve or why they stopped at the river
          where they did.

Burly lowers his head, blushing from embarrassment.

                    AARON
               (contd)
          Grey, what's the condition of our assault
          unit?

                    GREY
          Unfortunately, due to Chairman Richard's
          precautionary measures...

                    AARON
          Former Chairman.

Grey clears his throat.
 
                  GREY
          Former Chairman Richard's precautionary
          measures, the number of trained units we
          have to man the frontal assault is low. On
          the upside we've pulled plenty of volunteers
          from the Lower Left Wing to compensate.
          The first forty we send are a diversionary unity.
          They will cause an uproar that will bring all of
          their warriors out from the camp. Their women
          and children will run the opposite direction,
          where our shooters will cut them off. They will be
          taken first and used as leverage against the hostiles.
          Since we were only able to secure a limited amount
          of guns and ammunition, we can only afford to
          send ten armed men.

Eliza quietly enters the tent. The soldiers standing guard salute her.

                    AARON
          Perfect.

                    ELIZA (O.S.)
          It better be.

Aaron jumps, startled by the unnoticed voice in his ears. He plays it off well in front of the Lieutenants.

                    ELIZA
          For all your sakes. I wont tolerate
          anything less than.

Aaron stands straight, crossing his arms.

                    ELIZA
          Don't hesitate like it's your first time.
          When you get in, you hit them hard.

Aaron stares at the table as Eliza addresses the Lieutenants.
 
                  ELIZA
          Don't hold back. This isn't the time to
          worry about what type of protection
          we have. Be firm. Be quick. Let the
          passion of our cause pierce through
          their bodies like a mighty spear. Let
          their screams drive you to press on. Burly.

                    BURLY
          Ma'am. Sir. Ma'am.

                    ELIZA
          Your men are the head out there. Get
          those savages riled up and ready. Give
          them a little warm up before we make
          them sweat.

Burly nods.

                    ELIZA
          Alica.

                    ALICA
          Ma'am.

                    ELIZA
          You give them everything you got and
          then some. Don't let them tap out until
          the end. Knock them down and if they
          try to get back up... pin them to the floor.
          Grey.

                    GREY
          Yes, Sir.

                    ELIZA
          When you get in there, make them beg
          for mercy and when they do, beat them even harder.

Eliza walks around the table and leans over Grey's shoulder.

                    ELIZA
          Make each and every one of those weak,
          pathetic, cowardice, animals scream.

                    ELIZA
          We are the mighty. We are the new world.
          And we will not hide behind Arcadia's walls
          any longer. The Armada will perish tonight.

                    ARTEMIS REYGO (O.S.)
          Qwuen-ha jaygo (Says who)?

Masked and armed, Artemis stands closely behind Aaron.

                    PORTER
          How the hell?

All eyes widen. Aaron clenches his fists.
 
                  ELIZA
               (furious, shouts)
          Kill him! Now!

Aaron spins around swinging hard. Artemis doges, back flipping out of the tent. Aaron, the Lieutenants, and Eliza follow.

INT. ELIZA'S CAMP
Eliza and her men stop outside the tent, surprised by the ten soldiers that lay in a pool of blood before them. Each head lined up, facing the tent. Artemis hangs upside down from a tree with his arms crossed staring at them.

                    ELIZA
          Aaron!

                    AARON
               (to lieutenants, pushes Porter)
          You need an invention? Go!

Grey and Alica pull their guns to shoot.

Artemis drops and dashes behind the tents.

Aaron is the first after him.

A furious Eliza snatches Burly by the collar. They are nose to nose.

                    ELIZA
          Didn't I order you to set up scouts on the outer perimeter?

                    BURLY
               (frantic)
          Yes Ma'am. Sir. Ma'am I--

                    ELIZA
          How in the depths of hell did that animal get in my camp?

                    BURLY
          I don't know.

Eliza kicks Burly's knee and pushes him to the ground. She puts a gun to his head, breathing heavy.

                    ELIZA
          What was that?

                    BURLY
          I'll find out! Now.
 
                  ELIZA
          Oh really? Now?

Eliza stands above Burly. Her gun still focused on him.

                    MAN #1 (o.s.)
               (shouting)
          General!

Eliza turns to a sweaty MAN with a bulletproof vest. The Man stops. He stares at the bodies before her.

                    ELIZA
          The hell do you want soldier?

                    MAN #1
               (gagging)
          We've received transmission from Mother Bird.

The man turns away. He vomits between tents.
                    ELIZA
          It's about time.

Eliza looks to Burly. Pulls the trigger. She walks off.
                                                                                       FADE OUT