Lina sits in the corner, wet and shivering, eyes fixed on nothing.
Marcus pulls Lina from Pod 14. She’s limp. Wet. Cold. Her eyes open—but they’re not Lina’s eyes. They’re blank. A doll’s eyes. Lina. Can you hear me? LINA (flat, mechanical) Subject designated L-14. Awaiting final integration. MARCUS No. No, no, no. You’re Lina. You draw dragons. You hate mushrooms. You cry at dog commercials. LINA (no recognition) That data has been expunged. Elena arrives. Sees her sister’s face. Sees the emptiness.
He’s out.
Elena presses her palm against the glass. (breath) I’m here. I’m so sorry I’m late. Marcus checks the control panel. MARCUS The decant cycle starts in 90 minutes. We have to extract her before the neural flush begins. If she’s disconnected mid-cycle, brain death. ELENA So we stop the cycle. MARCUS That requires an admin override from the main security hub. Two floors up. Past the armory. ELENA Divide and conquer. You get Lina physically ready. I get the override. MARCUS Elena. If you get caught, they won’t kill you. They’ll put you in an empty pod. ELENA (tight smile) Then I’ll see my sister either way. She leaves before he can argue. [SCENE 6] INT. NEXUS SECURITY HUB - 4:47 AM
It looks like an operating room from hell. Twenty pods, each containing a person suspended in blue liquid. Tubes run from their skulls to a central server. Strong Desire -Episode 6b-
Corrigan stands before the same window. The sun rises over the city. Red and gold.
The blue liquid drains from the pods. Alarms blare. Red lights flash. Lina sits in the corner, wet and shivering,
She doesn’t scream. She doesn’t cry. She does something worse.
