REDNER

INT. LYNDON’S OFFICE

In a small office, LYNDON toils away, designing a new kind of cranial adornment. It appears to be an earring, until he steps over to a crying PATIENT opposite his desk, and attaches it to the back of the PATIENT's head. The PATIENT stops crying immediately, and wears a face of utter blankness.

LYNDON If you have any problems with the implants, come right back here. You hear?

PATIENT Uh-huh.

The PATIENT rises to his feet, and exits the office, in a very programmed way.

LYNDON smiles, very happy with himself.

REDNER walks in when the PATIENT has left. REDNER gives the patient an amused look as he passes.

REDNER You’re still miles away, LYNDON. Nothing to be proud of.

LYNDON Progress is always something to be proud of, Red. What are you here for, need some help with your implants?

REDNER waves his hands, denying the very idea of his bionics being worked on.

REDNER No, God no! I’m uh, havin’ some trouble with a friend of mine. There’s this device, and it was making him act all screwy. Know anything about Council devices?

LYNDON I do. Want me to disable it?

REDNER Yeah, if you can. It’s not here, though. Another world.

LYNDON Not a problem.

LYNDON dials in a few numbers.

LYNDON It’s done. Says “Device no longer operating”. Can I help with anything more?

REDNER Hm. Yeah, why did you start working with bionics all of the sudden? You said it was gross.

LYNDON I still think that, but it’s the most profitable career you can have. I have you to thank, Redner. It’s all the most famous Hitmen that are getting these things. It helps them cope.

REDNER Heh. Yeah, I’ll bet it does.

LYNDON So that it? We’re never going to hang out again?

REDNER Hmm. Actually, I’ve got a real nice house a couple’a worlds away. I know it sounds a little absurd, but I’m want to start a city. One where it’s not all controlled by a select few assholes who think everything revolves around them. I bet you could be a great help. Wanna come along?

LYNDON nods his head, looking gleeful.

LYNDON Yeah, okay, I’ll check the place out, at least!

INT. REDNER’S SHIP

REDNER brings LYNDON up the ramp, inside the ship. AVERY is immediately wary.

AVERY Who is this, Redner?

REDNER LYNDON. He’s a friend. My oldest friend. I met him in a theatre production. He’s a good actor, I just got tired of it.

AVERY Ah well, I’m Avery. How are you, then?

LYNDON Fine, thank you. Are you going to Telowe, too?

AVERY Ah, that’s up to Redner, now.

AVERY turns to REDNER.

AVERY To Telowe again?

REDNER Yeah, LYNDON disabled the device. We’ll be fine now.

AVERY bows his head, and gives a noise of affirmation.

AVERY Hm.

AVERY walks off to the controls.

VICTOR stares at LYNDON, looking envious.

VICTOR Oldest friend, huh?

LYNDON I guess so. I didn’t know until he told you guys.

VICTOR Huh. Well, I’m his son.

LYNDON Oh, wow! Really? He must’ve been young. Why didn’t he ever mention you?

VICTOR He kind of recently found out that I exist. He spent a lot of time with uh, slaves.

LYNDON Oh... right.

VICTOR But, he’s a good person. Rough exterior, you know.

LYNDON I do, yes. We got into a fight after he showed me the engraving on his sword. I called it messy, I really regret it.

VICTOR It’s not easy to talk to him, I’ll admit. He’s very smart. But, hard to talk to.

LYNDON grimaces, and nods.

LYNDON I must agree-gree.

INT. REDNER’S SHIP, HELM

REDNER and AVERY pilot the ship from the helm control panels. The ship bumps against something.

REDNER What was that?

AVERY types at his panel.

AVERY I see nothing. No vessels, no debris.

REDNER Don’t give me that shit. We hit something. Find out what it is.

AVERY puts his hands up and stutters. Then, he stands, and tries another panel in the corner.

AVERY Oh, I see, now.

REDNER What?! What is it?

AVERY More Remnants. They found us.

REDNER slams his fist against the panel, cracking it.

REDNER A-a-gh! Goddamn it!!

REDNER jumps to his feet. He strides over to another panel. He fires off every weapon in the ship’s control. Several rockets land on the REMNANTS’ ship, which slows it for a while. They catch up again in a couple of seconds. Their retaliation is much stronger. They blow a large chunk out of REDNER’s ship. Much of REDNER’s ship is electrified, and unresponsive. His weapons still seem functional, but the engines are barely alight.

Inside the ship, REDNER issues orders.

REDNER Everyone, find the nearest planet. We can’t fight them like this!

VICTOR rushes to a panel.

VICTOR Uh, Em-Yensilo. It’s dry, but it’s livable.

REDNER Great, get on it!

VICTOR fumbles with the controls, setting off many warning noises before he finally sets in the right heading.

REDNER Careful!

VICTOR I got it, we’re-we’re landing now!

The REMNANTS’ ship seems to lose interest, seeing them plummet toward the planet surface. REDNER sees them depart from a window.

REDNER Why didn’t they follow us?

AVERY They think we’re done for.

REDNER No, that’s not like them. They would’ve finished the job, if they had to.

Everyone watches the side window as the REMNANTS race off, then the front windows. This landing will not be a comfortable one.

Once it makes contact with the surface, the ship scrapes up the dunes as it slides across them. All in all, a better crash-landing than most. When the ship slows, LYNDON, VICTOR, AVERY, and REDNER stumble out, down the ramp. VICTOR trips, and lands in the dust. REDNER pulls him up, and shakes him.

REDNER Your feet are too big, Victor. Use some better treads.

VICTOR This is my only pair! I didn’t bring all my stuff.

REDNER You had time...

The four vagabonds look out at this new world. Dry as a bone. Absolutely dry. Some enormous skeletons litter the dunes.

AVERY Not very encouraging.

REDNER Doesn’t matter. We’ll make it. We’re good at that sort of thing...

AVERY But, where are we going? Isn’t this ship the best shelter we have?

REDNER starts to walk into the wastelands.

REDNER You can stay if you want. I feel like walking.

LYNDON Red, that’s insane.

REDNER I feel like walking.

The other three say no more. They give him a last look, and head back inside REDNER’s ship. VICTOR pops his head out.

VICTOR Be careful, okay, Red?

REDNER Got it.