Chapter 1 - "Neonprint"
INT
A desolate New York apartment. It is the future, only not as we know it.
Our imaginings were wrong. The colors are gradient based, like a computer application.
The walls are alive with neon glowing animation and computer read outs. Local news,
Back stories, random fragments off random social sites.
It is a single large room, with a couple of doors leading elsewhere. The fourth wall, holds a gaint oval window, gently reflecting the living fabric of the room. and behind it a giant fan, hovering via anti-grav, spings what you might call magic air, into the room. it is artifically produced and treated to go through equally treated surfaces.(I.e, the window)
The sunlight is bright and spiteful. Laying down a giant spinng parade of light beams into the room, cut only by the shadow of the spinning fan.
It reaches out over to a highly highly sophisticated sofa, that has all the hallmarks of the century.
A man, simply known as Icarus, sits upon it. The shadow descending over his naked chest. a smoking capsule, as technological as anything of their era, dangles out of his mouth. He is not amused.
We sit here for a few moments. The fan spinning, the light rotating and cascading around the turning fans.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
They say the world is a series of systems. Networks. Interchangeable high speed data exchange.
Money gained and lost quicker than light travels. Lifes bought and sold for the dollar.
They say the world is a vast network of organizations. Baying for power. At each other's throats.
Dying to be kings. Or just dying.
They say we're all expendable. Tagged. Positioned and fought against in a world of shadow cooperation who make it their business to keep the status, qou.
He flicks the smoke across the room, it evaparoutes before it hits the ground.
He gets up and faces the camera.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
In this world, they're not wrong.
He walks over to a communication hub, highly decorated with dynamic animations.
ICARUS
I am Icarus. No last name. I am the product of a world of terror. A world where life is secondary
to big business and end profit. I am also the leader of Jet Sky. We are not terrorists, but there are plenty
who fear us. We signal change. In a world that subsides on static virtues. We built this world on a foundation of hope and prosperity. We threw it to the dogs.
He waves his hand over the device and a holographic list of faces appears. he waves over one.
ICARUS
Nice dreams?
ROBIN
(half laughs) No.
ICARUS
Is this line secure?
ROBIN
We're atop a star.
ICARUS
We change things today. We show the world who they're dying for.
ROBIN
I'm hardcoded to this cause, You don't have to sell it to me.
ICARUS
I'm selling it to myself. It's always good to feel the weight of your own vigour.
ROBIN
We're too good at this shit, it's a relatively simple job once you put aside the ramifications.
ICARUS
The job's the job.
ROBIN
Exactly. Ping Ray, the sun is setting.
ICARUS
He'll be nervous.
ROBIN
He's always nervous before a job.
ICARUS
This is not just another episode. Bring some levelers. Calm him down some.
ROBIN
Stim'ed on the job?
ICARUS
That guy's always flying, no state of sober could put his feet back on the floor.
ROBIN
He's a blue eyed rebel, that's for sure.
ICARUS
He'll be sound. Good head on his shoulders.
ROBIN
No problem. Best ping him now, the night is here.
ICARUS
I'll talk to you later. Keep the faith.
ROBIN
Always.
He makes a hand gesture and the call ends.
He is about to make another ping when the system auto-activates on the emergency band.
RAY (Out of breath)
Jesus Icarus, they are fucking crazed and wild!
ICARUS
They found you?
RAY
Found me!? They're outside with a G.K Seven. I'm toast!
ICARUS
You're no such thing. Find the escape vent and make your way to the roof. I'll be there.
RAY
What am I going to open the fucking thing with, my dick!?
ICARUS
Calm fucking down Ray. Use your weapon.
RAY
Right! Right... *gunshot noise* It worked! Alright hurry fucking up!
The line goes dead as ray hangs up.
Icarus pings Robin urgently.
ICARUS
They've got Ray. Meet me at the wasting grounds.
ROBIN
Awww fuck. Gear'ing up. Shit never gets easier.
ICARUS
Bring a calm head.
ROBIN
Don't worry.
He hangs up again. He begins to pack for the occasion.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
Tonight our band of brothers go on a mission to prove the hypocracy of this puppet regime.
We could be the last group of people on this planet, still fighting for the right way of life.
Yes, we walk into the open arms of uncertainty. But we do so with belief in our cause.
He has finished gearing up, and heads towards the door which automatically senses his presence and opens for him on a quick hand gesture.
ICARUS
Lights neutral.
The lights dim to neutral levels.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
No mission is perfect. But tonight...tonight went bad. Real bad.
Ray was dead before I reached him. Robin got arrested. I was nearly in the same wagon with him.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - YEARS LATER
Icarus is walking through a scattered crowd of night dwellers. It is 2am. He is dressed in a long trenchcoat with neon arm bands animated as most of the street signs and store windows are also.
We are following him closely as he weaves in and around the crowd, he has a certain sense of purpose about him.
We keep following him closely.
TWO BEATS
He reaches his mark. A tall politican of the United States Race to Arms Movement.
He pulls out a very hi tech looking weapon.
ICARUS
Walk.
DAVID
Who the fuck are you? Get lost you asshole.
ICARUS
Look down.
He looks down and sees the semi-concealed energy based weapon.
DAVID
You're mugging me? Do you have any idea who I am? You sorry little maggot.
ICARUS
I get my looks from my father's side. Move. Now.
DAVID
Are you a moron? Do you watch the news like at all? Get fucking lost before I have you arrested and fucked up the ass.
ICARUS
I'm running out of patience. Move now or I'm going to do something you regret.
DAVID
Jesus fucking...Alright you spineless fuck. I'm moving.
ICARUS
You got in bed with the wrong people my friend.
DAVID
What? This isn't..you're not mugging me?
ICARUS
Money means nothing to me. Five years ago you took something away from me.
DAVID
What the fuck are you talking about?
ICARUS
Look into my eyes. It will come back to you.
David
You're fucking nuts.
ICARUS
This isn't a question of sanity. It's a question of justice. You are a very bad man David.
DAVID
So what, you're after your slice of the pie?
ICARUS
What me and my people want, you can not offer. Because what we want, is a world without people like you.
DAVID
We keep this world steaming.
ICARUS
You keep this world in a hole. Shed us a little light when the sun isn't in your way. This isn't life my friend, it's slavery.
DAVID
What are you some fucking freedom fighter?
ICARUS
I havn't thought of it. I think you know what I'm after.
DAVID
My U-Tier key? The fuck you think I am, stupid? I'd be eating out of a trash can they found out.
ICARUS
David....don't push me.
DAVID
It's at the congressional apartments. What do you think it will buy you?
ICARUS
A better tomorrow.
DAVID
We are tomorrow.
ICARUS
You're dreaming David. Give me you apartment key. Now.
DAVID
I'll call the cops the second you leave.
ICARUS
No you won't. You're a coward David. All your kind are.
DAVID
When they lock your ass up. I'm going to personally throw away the key.
ICARUS
Have a nice day David.
He puts away the piece and walks away, taking the apartment key with him.
DAVID
Shit...
INT - DAVID'S APARTMENT - LATER THAT NIGHT
ICARUS (NARRATING)
I saw the world I loved turn from a peaceful prosperity, to a corporate-run jungle. Business is all. Money is their religion.
Sick little men grabbing their handful of coin. They'ed cut your throat for the silver that lined it.
The door blows open.
He looks down at his hand, holding a key.
ICARUS
Oh yeah...
He shrugs and walks in. The place is lit a dark amber hue. He begins to search through David's belongings.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
They drove us to the brink of oblivion. And they would have happily held our hand as we took the final step.
What they don't get, what none of their kind could ever hope to understand...is just how strong we are. Just how far we'd go
to stop them destroying our people and their land.
He stops looking. Holding up a holographic projector. VE-64 series. State of the Art.
He activates the device and places it on top of the table.
A projection of a man appears. at first low resolution but as the reality matrix locks in the picture becomes crystal clear, with fuzzy edges as the projection meets reality.
The man is Senator Johnstone.
SENATOR
It's done. Account number five five nine seven eight five five four seven six. Do not contact me again.
The message ends abruptly.
ICARUS
David, what have you been up to?
He pockets the device and continues to rifle through the desk and personal artifacts.
ICARUS (NARRATING)
What I was about to find next, was going to change everything.
He continues to search.
Another holographic device, this one of an unknown design to Icarus.
ICARUS
Nice to meet you.
He plants it on the table and activates the device.
A holographic projection plays. perfectly instantly this time. no fuzzy edges. Icarus has never seen such a clear rendition of the tech.
The figure is a unknown man. He is holding a lighter.
MYSTERY MAN
Ah, David. You really are quite the prodigy. First you rig an election,
and then you get me this diamond ring! If only they knew the life we must endure *laughs*
Well David, it's been my pleasure as ever, we'll be in touch.
The projection disappears.
ICARUS
They bought the election....
He pockets the device.
As he does there is a sound of a car door shutting outside. and the voice of several inter-state peace keepers. The cops of the time.
PEACE KEEPER #1
Report of breaking and entering.
ICARUS
Fuck.
He looks around the room, looking for a fire escape or roof hatch.
The cops are at the stairs door.
He spots a hatch in David's room. It is locked.
ICARUS
I'm a bad house guest.
He pulls his energy gun and vapourizes the hatch.
The peace keepers hear the fire.
PEACE KEEPER #1 (Shouting)
Stop! in the name of the state!
ICARUS
Bye bye ladies.
He pulls himself up. We follow him as he gracefully jumps from roof top to roof top, until he reaches a fire escape.
He climbs down to street level. It is still night but the vast array of electronica illuminates the street vividly.
