Setting: Back at the Press Conference in Silver Square, filled with News Reporters (See setting to Scene 4). There are now massive (regular) projector screens with slide-shows displayed on them, aiding in the presentation on the stage behind the speakers. The Renegades in Uniform are seen with other city officials standing on the grass surrounding the stage. Sketch is slowly falling asleep on his feet out of boredom. It is about 6:00 pm. As Dr. Anderson continues his presentation, holoprojector devices show samples of what he is talking about. Each projector is housed in a glass or plastic large booth, on a table surrounded by gates and guards from the lab that created the projectors (Quantonium Labs). There are about nine such projectors which are offset through the crowd near the stage.
Dr. Anderson: “ …And that is why The Quantonim Holoprojector is being considered as the greatest invention of the decade. Imagine being operated on by a Holographic Surgeon, programed to work with accuracy down to the nanometer. Think of all the materials and labor saved by generating building materials forged out of pure electricity. And picture if you will, complete tangible objects, tools, instruments, downloaded from the internet and generated before your eyes. The projections can be as solid, or as immaterial as the program prescribes. The possibilities are truly endless.”
Dr. Anderson is elated, and the grandeur of the event is contagious. News Reporters have their hands raised and compete for a chance to capture the Doctor’s attention. One in particular, Vicky Flash, is a spunky red-headed 18 year old.
Vicky: “Vicky Flash with ‘The Daily Compass.’ Dr. Anderson, how exactly can a three dimensional projection have the kind of corporeal essence you have suggested?”
A scientist steps in front of Dr. Anderson and answers for him.
Scientist: “I’m afraid the essential technology behind the holoprojector is still a trade secret, but suffice it to say that the device and projections are fed by a field oscillating battery, and receives the massive specific coding needed to form solid objects through a live feed from our labs’ database, which is continually being improved upon and modified.”
Another Reporter: “You stated earlier that the force-field on the skin of the holoprojection can have the consistency of diamonds. What measures have been taken to ensure that weapons or dangerous items are not downloaded and created? What is to prevent the onset of holographic warfare?
Dr. Anderson: “That is a very good question, however this is only a press conference to demonstrate the cutting edge of the science of holoprojection, it is too early to address public distribution.”
The Doctors and officials on the stage laugh in support of Dr. Anderson’s comments and in mockery to the ridiculousness of the last question. That is when everything goes dark.
All phones, electrical devices, cameras, projections, and lights in the surrounding buildings go off. After a moment of confusion, the devices switch back on. Rennek looks down at her cell phone, with a text message.
Text message: (From Cindy) “Hey, is this a picture of you?” (With a link over the word “you.”)
Rennek answers the link, and suddenly her Father’s phone rings, and all of her other friends’ phones buzz, along with Alloy’s and Sketch’s. They all receive the virus too, and after hitting the link and spreading the virus to all of their contacts, the screens of their phones fill with a strange scrolling glowing blue-green maze pattern. The pattern is eerie and alien looking. The same pattern is seen on the TV cameras, the slide-shows, and every screen in the square.
Mayham fills the square. Cars crash as the traffic lights are scrambled. Every computer system is now infected, and not working properly. The reporters and spectators rush in different directions. The Renegades assemble as they assess the situation. Then a crashing noise is heard.
One of the projectors fizzles with sparks and has burst a projection, shattering the glass box in which it was kept. It falls onto the ground, and slowly materializes into a huge chest, arms, body and legs. Where its neck and head would be, a buzzing ball of electricity houses a face based off of the projector. The rest of the “body” has the exact same eerie maze pattern typical of the virus. Surrounding the massive beast or projection is a buzz of electricity like an unstable force-field. Its arms end in sharp blades, as well as its legs. The projection swings its arms and destroys the table on which it was first housed. It then goes on a destructive rampage, picking up empty cars and slicing them into pieces. People run in terror away in all directions. It catches view of the Renegades, turns and moves back toward them.
Sketch: “Whoa, I snooze for a second and the world goes nuts. What’s with ugly over there?”
Sketch points a thumb to the new virus projection.
Rennek: “It’s some kind of computer virus, it has to be, and it has infected one of the holoprojectors!”
Alloy pulls out two swords from his belt and holds them in each hand at the ready, in a dramatic pose.
Rennek turns to Sketch.
Rennek: “You’re a gamer Sketch, any ideas?”
As Rennek is talking with Sketch, Alloy runs at full speed into the monster. He flips over car wreckage and swings both blades against it, but the swords stop on its skin with a spark. The monster looks at Alloy and swings its arm to slice him, but Alloy ducks in time. Alloy then drops one sword and plunges one blade with both hands into the projection, yet it had become immaterial, and Alloy finds himself plunging through the monster and exiting through its back. Alloy nearly loses his balance in surprise. The Virus turns and slices at Alloy again who holds up his sword to block it. The blade is cut clean in half.
Rennek runs to the rescue and blasts the Virus Projection with anti-energy. The projection begins to evaporate, but darts out of the way, and grows to twice its original size. Sketch forges and throws darts and spears, all of which flies through the projection as if it were thin air.
Sketch: “Um, nope, I have no idea – how do you fight a program?”
Alloy: “We must destroy the projector! Aim for the projector!”
The Giant monster steps onto a statue in the square, destroying it. It then stomps a foot onto Rennek, but she quickly phases into her semi-transparent state before it reached her. She then looks up at the projector floating above her with a determined expression. She jumps and flies up to the Projector, grabs it, and phases through the back of the Creature. She holds up the projector with both hands in the air as the monster dissolves in agonized gestures.
Rennek: “Sketch – seal it off!”
Sketch creates a wad of pite in one hand and hurls it. It splats and wraps around the projector, sealing over it like cement. A well aimed throwing knife from Alloy flies through the air, and pierces the covered projector. The sparking, smoking, broken projector covered in pite then crashed onto the ground.
Sketch: “That was easy.”
Sketch stands proudly over the covered projector, only to find something happening behind him that Rennek and Alloy can already see.
The other projectors were now infected, and an army of Virus projections surround the three heroes.
Abstract: “To Be Continued…”
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