03/14/2017: It's a mad world indeed.

Mad World is my zombie/apocalyptic story.

Zombies were only one part of the world going mad, there were cannibals and cults and strange things happening that had no real explanation.

Reynolds is a survivor and has helped many others survive.

Reynolds learned to trust certain people a long time ago when the world had started to go mad.

     The Highwaymen were some of those people he trusted.

     The man who approached him on the highway was another.

     “Ditto,” Reynolds said. “This is Gail.”

     Ditto’s smile was missing two teeth but was welcoming.

     “Gail?” Ditto said. He smoothed his black and grey moustache.

     “Yes, sir,” she said. His rough, thick hand engulfed hers.

     “A pleasure, dear.” Ditto said.

     “Come out to meet us,” Reynolds asked.

     “Yep. Missed you, boss.”

     “I’m sure you did.”

     Ditto was a rugged older Hispanic man with an oval face and strong jaw.

     “Where did ya find this young chica?”

     “Just outside of Edmond.”

     “Did he save your life,” Ditto asked Gail.

     She nodded.

     “Si, Si, welcome to the club,” Ditto said. “How far did ya get this time, boss?”

     “412 outside of Enid,” Reynolds said.

     “You went to Enid?” Gail asked.

     “No, Enid is Skinner central.”

     “The Highwaymen don’t even go into Enid,” Ditto said.

     “Highway 412 goes from Enid to I35 and onward to east to Tulsa,” Reynolds said. “The Skinners turned it into a hunting ground between Enid and I35. You heading back home, Ditto?”

     “Nah. I’m going to get some fishing in while the boys make their Strong City run.”

     Ditto and Reynolds spent a lot of time fishing in the newly expanded Lake Overholser.

     “Wish I could stay but I’m ready to be home.”

     “Si, Si. No problemo.”

     Gail stopped in her tracks. It is a common reaction to the sight.

     “You ok?” Reynolds asked.

     “Is that a glacier,” Gail pointed to large gray thing in the distance.

     “Yep. It’s a glacier,” Reynolds said.

     “I had heard but never imagined.”

     “Yep, it’s a big chunk of ice,” Ditto said rather duly.

     “Where did it come from,” Gail asked.

     “Where ever glaciers come from,” Reynolds said.

     “How has it not melted away,”

     Oklahoma summers were very hot.

     “It was bigger,” Ditto said.

     “This world is really mad, isn’t it,” Gail said.

     The Settlement the Reynolds calls home is housed in an old computer hard drive company building. It now houses two hundred survivors in and around the facility instead of hard drives.

     The large parking lot on the west side of the facility is walled off with semi-trailers tipped over and lined up to provide protection to the market that has sprouted up on the parking lot.

    

     

03/13/2017: Bogged down in the past, Write in the present.

I get bogged down in the bigger picture of my writings sometimes.

I get too entangled in the history of my worlds that I lose focus of when I should be writing about: the present and its characters.

For example:

Veda Monuet: Vampire Slayer. I spent a couple of weekends ago coming up with where the Elder Gods originated. 

     By where I mean how did they come to the Known World.  I had determined that witches were responsible. And I delved deeper into the history. 

     So when civilization in the Known World was just beginning there were merely tribes of humans running around laying claim to their own little parts of the world. Each tribe had a powerful witch that led them, taught them how to survive and thrive.

     Well, as the tribes grew they came in contact with each other and as you can imagine conflicts started.

     Before long all the tribes were fighting and the witches began to see their tribes being killed off. So the witches came up with a grand scheme to unite the tribes to fight a common foe: The Elder Gods.

     They summoned these demons from beyond and the plan worked. Until the demons became too powerful and not even the witches could control them.

     Soon the tribes began to be killed off by the Elder Gods and those that survived were enslaved. The tribes blamed the witches and hatred against witches grew.

     The Elder Gods created Vampires and other monsters to terrorize their subjects.

     After a few generations the humans began to revolt and the Great War began.

     The humans, with knowledge provided them from the witches and other rare races, fought a long and hard war against the Elder Gods. Many lives were lost but ultimately the humans were able to reclaim the Known World for themselves.

     You see, none of that had to do with Veda Monuet, the main character.  It was all back-story and history.

Another example:

Pendant Saga: The pendants have been a secret organization of warriors and scholars given the task of protecting Arsa from an evil spirit known as The Passion.

     For countless generations the Pendants have been passed down to the designated protector.

     Well, the Passion is actually a spirit who came to Arsa with the other spirits after being driven off their homeworld by the physical world inhabitants or Lesser Races that are comprised of Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Ork, Trit, Goblyns, Trolls and Half-Giants.

     The Passion has a long held grudge against the physical world beings. 

     When the old world was dying the physical world beings fled in space ships and came across the world that the Passion and the other spirits settled on thousands of years before.

     When the Lesser races arrived the Passion convinced the other spirits to scatter the new arrivals across Arsa and destroy their technology and ships.

    

     See no mention of the main characters.

I think that’s why I like the Aging Superhero story.

Ten percent of the world’s population are Awakened and have superpowers. No explanation where they come from or how. And I don’t want to know how they got them. God, Radiation, High Fructose Corn syrup, it doesn’t matter to me. I just want to write it in the present, not getting bogged down in the past.

03/12/2017: The Atomic Corp

The death of Captain Atomic affected the world in so many ways that it would fill a book or series of books. He was the first superhero and he organized other superheroes into the Atomic Corp.

     At first it was all just rumor and heresy. But that didn’t last long as people began to learn who was living on the isolate farm so far from everyone else.

     Then it was confirmed.

     Sword of Justice, the face of the Atomic Corp, gave a press conference outside of the Atomic Corp headquarters.

     “I can confirm that the explosion seen outside of Marrion, North Dakota was the result of Captain Atomic defending himself and losing his life.”

     The cameras clicked and flashed. The reporters and onlookers all responded in shock.

     As far as they knew Captain Atomic had lost his powers.

     Her piercing blue eyes did not tear up. She brushed a stray blond hair from her face.

      “At this time we can confirm that no civilians were killed in the explosion and all lose of property in the blast radius and subsequent shockwave will be compensated by insurance. A hotline has been set up to take any reports of damage or loss of property.”

     They already had a few requests and all were legit.

     Captain Atomic took great care to ensure if he did lose control no one would be killed. He spent years buying up land around that farmhouse.

     Sword of Justice continued.

     “The area that was destroyed will be restored to farmland and all food produced will be donated to food banks and homeless shelters across the country.”

     “There will be a memorial service held and it will be open to the public so everyone can pay their respects.”

     Sword of Justice brushed away a strand of her blond hair. Her piercing blue eyes did not tear up at all.

     “I will take questions now.”

     Reporters shouted questions at her.

     “Tim Sparrows,” she pointed to a man in the front row.

     “When did you find out it was Captain Atomic who was responsible for the explosion?”

     “We knew right away. We were unable to comment until we verified that he had lost his life in the explosion.”

     “Sally Whitman,” Sword of Justice said.

     “If Captain Atomic was losing control of his powers why was he not put into stasis? And if the Corp knew why did they not do something to stop him from becoming a danger to everyone else?”

      When the Corp learned of his weakening body and control of his powers many members of the Corp wanted to put the Captain in stasis. But Sword of Justice and a few other members talked them out of it.

     “Captain Atomic made us all aware of his health and we considered it. We allowed him to go about his plan to retire far away from people because he had earned it. The Corp felt he was not a danger to anyone.”

     Captain Atomic had planned it out for years. He bought land around the farm and ensured no one was living in the area. It pissed a lot of locals off but it saved lives.

     “Gene Reynolds,” Sword of Justice said.

     “Does the death of Captain Atomic affect the Atomic Corps plan to disband?”

     Sword of Justice chuckled.

     “Gene, as far as I know, all rumors of the Corp disbanding are just that, rumors. We will continue to uphold all the principles of justice and law and order in the Atomic City and the world.”

     “One final question, Deandra Nelson.”

     “Do you miss Captain Atomic?”

     Sword of Justice was taken aback by the question.

     Captain Atomic left over two years ago.

     Sword of Justice was heartbroken when he left and she got over it.

     They were close but after his departure they stopped talking.

     “We all miss him, have missed him since his retirement. But we all knew he was ready and he knew he was ready.”

03/11/2017: The Death of Captain Atomic

So Captain Atomic dies at the end.

     “You have been a thorn in my side since that first day,” Mr. Dark said. “Even after your retirement those annoying Atomic Corp heroes have been keeping me from attaining what you have been denying me for so long.”

     Mr. Dark punched Captain Atomic multiple times in a split second.

     “Leave some for us,” Brother Frost yelled.

     “You will all have your turn,”

     “I would hate to deny them,” Captain Atomic said through coughs.

      A roundhouse kick from Mr. Dark sent his nemesis skidding to the feet of Crimson Storm.

     Red lightning flashed from Storm’s outstretched hands.

     It danced across Captain Atomic’s body causing every muscle to tighten and spasm.

     Captain Atomic could feel it now. Something he had deep inside.

     The lightning stopped and the Brother Storm began to weave a ball of energy.

     His brother’s hands became huge icicles.

     He stabbed where Atomic lay writhing in pain.

     The icicle impaled Captain Atomic in the shoulder.

     The smell of blood drew the Crazed Cannibal into the fight.

     With an animalistic scream the Cannibal was on Captain Atomic.

     Sharp teeth sank into the Captain’s other shoulder.

     Captain yelled in pain.

     “See, the old Captain Atomic would never have been this easy to take out,” the Mad Professor said.

     “Perhaps it is true,” Mr. Dark said. “He has lost his powers.”

     “NO!” Firebug yelled.

     He came running from the burning house.

     “He is mine!” Firebug launches two fireballs at the group.

     Both fireballs land short of others.

     “Right now we’re taking turns,” Mr. Dark said.

     “No! I am owed this!”

     As Firebug reached his fellow villians the Crazed Cannibal’s head suddenly exploded covering Brother Frost and Firebug in brains and gore.

     “What the?” Majesto said.

     Brother Frost began to pull his hand of ice from Captain Atomic’s shoulder but was too late.

     A blast of energy came from the wound disintegrating Frost’s arm up to his shoulder and blowing off half his face.

     “Get him!” Mr. Dark commanded.

     “BROTHER!” Crimson Storm unleashed his ball of red lightning. It hit Captain Atomic as he rose from the ground and was absorbed harmlessly.

     Captain Atomic levitated off the ground. Atomic energy swirled around his body.

     “Anytime now, Mad Professor,” Mr. Dark said. He was slowly making his way back to his car and driver.

     “Droids, full power assault.” Mad Professor yelled.

     The hovering droids let loose a full barrage of bullets and missiles.  All hit on target. But Captain Atomic showed no pain or reaction.

     The Captain felt nothing at all.

     “Mr. Dark, as you can see I am not powerless like many believed.”

     Mr. Dark was getting into his car and turned to see Captain addressing him.

     “I am out here in the middle of nowhere not because I lost my powers.”

     The house was no longer the brightest thing in the dark countryside.

     Captain Atomic glowed as bright as the sun.

     The villains below shielded their eyes from the blinding light.

     “I am out here because I cannot control my powers,” Captain Atomic said. “And now you will join me in death.”

     The energy within Captain Atomic was finally let loose and his body vanished. The villains below him disintegrated before they could react. Mr. Dark yelled briefly before his ashes were blown into the winds that the explosion created. 

03/10/2017: Tomorrow Captain Atomic Dies

     Today, here is a picture of the dog that Agent Vermillion is stuck in.

     This is Achilles.  He is a chihuahua/pomeranian mix, maybe. Not really sure. We adopted him 7 years ago and he is a very bad dog.

     He is a big dog in a little dog body just like Vermillion.

     Vermillion's dog is outfitted with a harness that bends to his will and provides him with an array of weapons and shielding.  It also has a clasp so Agent Magenta can hook up a leash if need be. Although Vermillion has said if she does that he will never forgive her. It's basically a fusion powered harness.

03/09/2017: Descent: returning to the sea to save ourselves.

     From space to under the sea. This is a screenplay for a television series about mankind having to return under the sea to escape the harsh conditions on the surface.

     After a couple of generations they begin trying to explore the surface again but then quickly learn they are no longer alone.

TEASER

FADE IN.

EXT./INT. E.S.S.A. ORION.

The E.S.S.A. research vessel ORION is in high orbit above Earth.  Small stabilizing thrusters ignite around the ship, as it prepares to reenter earth’s atmosphere.

COCKPIT.

CAPTAIN AKIHITO, 54, sits with LEUTENANT BRIGHTMAN, 27.  Both are preparing the ship for reentry. 

AKIHITO

Well, Lieutenant, what do you think of your first trip up here?

BRIGHTMAN

I am ready to get home, sir.  Two weeks up here felt like an eternity, especially with all these scientists and lab techs. 

Akhito laughs and sits back.  He buckles himself into his chair and grips the control yolk. 

AKIHITO

If you’ll make the announcement I’ll take us home.

Brightman lifts a small lapel microphone to his mouth. 

BRIGHTMAN

Ladies and Gentlemen, If you would so gladly take your seats we are about to begin our descent back to earth.  Thank you very much.

Akhito nods to Brightman and he begins to stir the ship down back to earth.

CUT TO.

EXT. ORION

The ship begins to enter the atmosphere.  As it progresses further the entire underside begins to glow light orange. 

When the glow reaches the rear wings a large section of the wing’s tip breaks off.  The ship shakes violently as it continues down into the earth’s atmosphere.

INT. COCKPIT

Akihito struggles to keep the ship under control.

BRIGHTMAN

                         (alarmed)

What the hell was that sir?

AKIHITO

I don’t know.

(glances at flashing display)

We’ve lost a rear stabilizer.

INT. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

Passengers all look around startled.

EXT. ORION

As the ship drops lower into the atmosphere the remaining portion of the rear wing breaks off.  The ship dives off to one side as it enters the clouds of the upper atmosphere. 

INT. COCKPIT

Akihito’s sweaty face is contorted in struggle. 

AKIHITO

Turn on our distress signal! When I get this down it won’t stay on the surface for long. 

Brightman begins imputing data into a small console next to his copilot seat.

EXT. ORION

The ship rocks side to side as it continues to drop below the clouds.  Spreading beneath it is vast blue ocean. 

The ship slams onto the surface.  It skips across the surface of the water.  A huge wave erupts in its wake after every impact.  The ship slowly skids to an awkward stop.

INT. COCKPIT.

Akihito unbuckles himself and shakes the Lieutenant who reeling from a head wound.

AKIHITO

Hey LT!  You need to tell everyone to get to the life pods now before this ship starts to sink. 

BRIGHTMAN

Ah, What? What happen?

Akihito leans in and speaks into the Lieutenant’s lapel microphone.

AKIHITO

This is Captain Akihito.  The ship has experienced a minor mechanical malfunction and all passengers need to proceed to the escape pods.  Please calmly follow the yellow guide lights to the pods.  Thank you and I hope you enjoyed your flight.

Captain Akihito opens the cockpit doors and Doctor ELIZABETH SANCHEZ, 35, stands on the other side. 

SANCHEZ

Nice landing, Captain.  Just when I thought these last two weeks couldn’t get anymore boring. 

AKIHITO

Just the person I needed to see right now.  Wake his ass up and get him to Ops.  I’ll be waiting for him there.

Akihito pushes pass Sanchez as she enters the cockpit. 

SANCHEZ

All the passengers are fine by the way!

AKIHITO (O.S.)

I’m sure they are.

EXT. ORION.

The large ship floats on the surface of the water with its tail submerged.  Steam bellows from the rear of the ship. 

A few small portals open on the side of the ship. Four cylindrical man-size pods are launched out. The pods jump along the water like skipping stones. When they stop they shoot upright and float briefly. Slowly each begins to sink.

INT. ORION OPS ROOM

Akihito stands behind a rough looking black man, MACKEY HORN, 40, he is smacking on a piece of gum as he studies the images on the display screens.

A young Asian girl, NIOKU YO, 24 enters Ops. 

NIOKU

Hey, Mackey, Life pods 1-4 are launched.

MACKEY

Are they sinking yet?

NIOKU

Not yet. . . Oh wait, yep, there they go.

Mackey looks back at Akihito with a smile on his face.

AKIHITO

What?  You know what you’re doing.  I’m just here to make sure you two get off the ship before me.

Mackey shakes his head and looks back to the displays. 

AKIHITO

Although if you don’t mind me asking: What exactly happen to my ship?

MACKEY

The rear stabilizer wing locked up shortly after reentry, something was actually bound to happen considering all the times we’ve made it back with no problems. 

Brightman enters the room with a small bandage on his forehead.

AKIHITO

It’s nice of you to join us, Lieutenant. 

MACKEY

                    (tapping a finger

     on his fore head)

Maybe next time you can borrow one of the engineer’s maintenance helmets.

Brightman nods to Akihito and Mackey. 

MACKEY

Life pods 15 through 19 are away.  Let’s see how long it takes them.

They all watch as the pods appear as green blips on a screen.  The blips move away from a facsimile of the ship on the display.  They stop and turn from green to blue.

BRIGHTMAN

What does that mean?

NIOKU

It means they are sinking, sir.

EXT. ORION

The life pods float briefly on the surface then begin to sink. 

Three of the four life pods are drawn together as they sink.  The fourth begins to drift off alone.  As the pod sinks the occupant looks around. 

INT. POD

The window of the pod illuminates with information of the pods systems.

POD COMPUTER

Submersion program activated.  Pod 16 integrity and life support monitored.  All systems operational at 100%. 

EXT. POD

The Pod quickly sinks until the ocean around it becomes dark and the only light is from the inside of the pod. 

INT. POD

The occupant of the stray looks around nervously as the darkness envelopes everything.  Suddenly the pod stops sinking with a THUMP. 

POD COMPUTER

Pod 16 has reached ocean bottom.  3,045 meters.  Rescue beacon functioning properly. All systems at 100%.

The pod sits on the bottom of the ocean.  The vast emptiness of white ocean bottom spreads around the pod in the pale lights cast from the rescue beacon and outer lights of the pod.

The occupant becomes a little more nervous as the pod sits in the darkness.

POD COMPUTER

Movement has been detected within the vicinity of Pod 16.  45 meters and closing.  Please be aware, movement has been detected in the area.

A small LIGHT ignites the darkness 30 meters in front of the pod. 

The light slowly moves closer.  As it nears a human form can be seen holding the light. 

Suddenly a webbed hand SLAPS down onto the pod window from above.  It startles the occupant.

POD COMPUTER

Contact has been made with POD 16.  Structural Integrity is maintaining at 100%.  Please be aware that contac . . .

The Occupant reaches up and turns the computer voice off.

A head appears in the window.

Its eyes are large and black.  A thin stripe of hair crests its bald head.  Its nostrils and ears are covered by flaps of skin. On the sides of the man’s neck are gills.

He is a Genetically Altered Human.

As the small light approaches the life pod a second person is seen walking on the bottom of the ocean toward the pod.   

Both men only wear wet suits.  The walking one gives the occupant of the life pod a big wave with his webbed hand as he comes closer. The occupant waves back with a big smile on his face, he activates the pod communication system. 

OCCUPANT

Damn; I sure am glad to see you two.  I was beginning to think they had forgotten me.

One of the gilled rescuers gives a thumb up sign.  He reaches up with a webbed hand and speaks into a wrist microphone. 

DEVONS

                    (series of squeaks

                    And whistles. Subtitles)

This is Devons, calling the Viona, do you copy Viona.  

The area is DOUSED with bright light.  The rescuer’s eyes quickly dilate and their brilliant colors can be seen. 

A rescue ship designed like a Sea Ray is over the pod and the two rescuers.  A mechanical tentacle, from the rear of the ship, picks the life pod from the ocean floor. The pod is placed on the bottom of the ship where other life pods are hanging like eggs. 

The two men swim up to the ship and disappear into alcoves on the back of the ship.  The ship joins other similar vessels that are collecting the other life pods from the Orion crash landing. 

Genetically altered individuals can be seen swimming around the ships.  They and humans in deep sea diving suits all disappear into the alcoves on the backs of the vehicles.

END OF TEASER

ACT I

INT. RESCUE SHIP V9-32 “VIONA”

The two genetically altered rescuers emerge from two small alcoves in the side of the cargo hold.  Both of the genetically engineered rescuers are drenched. 

On one of the wet suits is stitched the name DEVONS.  He reaches up with his webbed hand and squeezes his nose.  When he lets go of his nose, his nostrils reopen with a burst of air.  He runs his fingers down his neck and the gills on his neck SNAP closed.

A small group of normal human techs stand watching as the two men go through their ritual of opening ears and nostrils and closing gills and stretching away the webs between their fingers.   The rescuers then hang up their equipment.

CARGO TECH #1

                         (teasing)

Hey, Devons!  The boss is looking for you.  

DEVONS

I’m sure she is.  She just can’t get enough of me, boys.

All the techs laugh and go back to work.  Devons turns to his partner who is putting away his own equipment.

DEVONS

You want to come see the boss with me, Ferguson?  She might not kill me if there’s a witness.

FERGUSON

No way, man!  If she’s that pissed she would probably kill us both just so that there were no witnesses.

INT. VIONA OPS ROOM

JASMINE REYNOLDS, 32, a young attractive blond haired, strong willed captain, stands behind two Operation Techs.  They watch the systems as the rescue continues. 

JASMINE

Is that the last one?

OPS TECH #1

Yes, ma’am.  We have 12 pods underside and all rescue personnel are accounted for.  Cargo Techs are working to get the pods empty and everyone settled.

JASMINE

Good.  Contact the ‘Poseidon’ and tell them we’ll see them in dry dock. 

Jasmine leaves Ops and

VIONA HALLWAY

runs into Devons who is waiting just outside the door.

JASMINE

Damn it, Devons.  What the hell are you doing?

DEVONS

O’shea down in Cargo said you wanted to see me.

Jasmine rolls her eyes and walks around Devons.  He follows her.

JASMINE

You really think I have time to bother with you right now.  I have more important things to do than worry about you.

DEVONS

Whoa, hold on there hot shot, I was just checking.  If O’shea was mistaken then I’ll go back to saving lives and being under appreciated.

Jasmine and Devons walk through a passenger compartment.  The passengers from the life pods try not to watch the two fighting.

JASMINE

Devons, I’m going into the cock pit now and there’s not enough room in there for me, my co-pilot and your ego, so just go back to being under appreciated somewhere else.

Jasmine hits the cockpit door controls.  The door WHOOSHES open.

COCKPIT

JAKE ‘ZIP’ MORRIS, 27, a young country looking man, looks over his shoulder as Jasmine steps into the cockpit.

DEVONS(O,S.)

Whatever.

Jake quickly turns back to the controls. 

JASMINE

     (under her breath)

Little, egotistical shit.

Jake smiles and suppresses a chuckle.

JASMINE

Ready to get these back to the settlement, Zip? 

JAKE

Yes, ma’am.  All pods are empty and secured.  ‘Poseidon’ has located the Captain and co-pilot of the Orion and are on their way to get them. 

JASMINE

Good.  Take us home, Zip.

EXT. VIONA

The sea ray shaped vessel retracts its mechanical tentacles and illuminates its wing and forward lights.  A faint blue light shines from the tips of the wings and rear of the vessel as the engines push the ship through the dark waters.  

A second sea ray ship, ‘Poseidon’ can be seen in the darkness.

The Viona quickly gains speed as it rises into the lighter water of the ocean.  The vessel’s lights go out as the water becomes light enough to see through. 

In the distance an object can be seen. 

It’s a huge series of huge domes spread on the bottom of the ocean.  Other ships of various designs come and go from the settlements. 

VIONA COCKPIT

Jasmine watches as the settlement becomes closer.

Jake concentrates on the many displays and controls of the ship.

JASMINE

Dry Dock Alpha Zero Tango this is Rescue vehicle Victor Niner Three Two, requesting permission to land. 

Jasmine waits for the reply, still agitated from the run in with Devons.

JASMINE

Damn, come on.

JAKE

They have to authenticate the ship’s i.d. signal. 

DRY DOCK TECH

          (over radio)

Rescue vehicle Victor Niner Three Two, you have been granted permission to enter dry dock Alpha Five Charlie.       (beat)

Sorry, Reynolds, the Authority Security Forces has Alpha Zero Tango cordoned off.  They arrived shortly after you left this morning.  Welcome back, Viona.

Confused Jasmine looks over at Jake.