INT. SAFEHOUSE – NIGHT BEFORE LAUNCH
The group is gathered in low light, scattered across couches, cushions, and floor mats. Excitement and nerves fill the air. But Brad stands, his expression more settled than the others.
BRAD
(quietly)
I need to say something. I’ve been feeling different lately… and I think I finally know why. I told you I wanted something of my own—something steady. And now I’ve found it.
(pauses, sincere)
There’s someone. A guy in the city. It’s new, but it feels right. For once, I want to build something real with someone who sees me for all I am.
He looks around the room, then rests his gaze on Eve.
BRAD (cont’d)
So I’m staying. I won’t be getting on that ship tomorrow. But I’ll still have access to you if the Guardians keep their word about the tech. And if anything ever goes wrong… you know I’ll be there.
Eve slowly rises, eyes glistening. She walks over to him, takes his face in both hands, and speaks with surprising gentleness.
EVE
(tearing up)
I’ve been waiting—deep in my soul—for you to say what you wanted. Not what anyone else needed from you.
(small smile)
Even if it takes you away from me, Brad… I want you to have it. For once.
They pull each other into a tight, long hug. Lisa steps in and wraps her arms around both of them.
LISA
(softly, to Brad)
I’m proud of you. You finally chose yourself.
They stay that way for a moment—quiet, breathing together—three hearts aligned for the last time before everything changes.
INT. SAFEHOUSE – CONTINUOUS
The group slowly settles after Brad’s announcement. The mood is tender, reflective. Artimus stands, arms crossed, gaze distant.
ARTIMUS
(low and steady)
I’ve been thinking too.
(beat)
The Guardians—whatever their motives—are moving forward with this exchange. Whether they honor their agreement may depend on how things begin. And I think the best beginning is you two.
He gestures gently to Lisa and Eve.
ARTIMUS (cont’d)
You’re the heart of this team. If you go first and stay true to doing good—and no harm—then we’ve got a shot at something lasting.
(pauses)
As for me, I can get a head start here. Begin putting through the tech they’re allowing. The faster we get it to the public, the less room there is for others to sabotage it.
LISA
(grinning softly)
It’s not like we’ll be gone-gone. You’ve got your cosmic walkie-talkie.
EVE
(smiling at Artimus)
So you’re trusting us with first contact? Big step, Professor.
ARTIMUS
(deadpan)
You two are a handful. But like cats… you always land on your feet.
BRAD
(chuckling)
That’s true. Even when it’s off a spaceship.
EVE
What if we get separated?
BRAD
You already know. This has always had the potential to go sideways. But it’s you two. You’ll improvise. You’ll survive. Hell—you might even enjoy it.
Lisa and Eve exchange a long look, like they’re hearing a dare whispered through the stars.
LISA
Let’s do this.
EVE
(smiling, to Lisa)
But first… we run it by the Oracle.
INT. ORACLE’S SANCTUARY – NIGHT
The group stands in a quiet, shimmering space. The Oracle’s presence is felt before she fully appears—her voice gentle but resonant, like it’s coming from inside their chests.
EVE
So you’re already ten steps ahead of us… and the Guardians.
LISA
We want to do good—here on Earth, and in their world. And no harm. We’re open to hearing the best way to do that.
ORACLE
Go with your plan. The passage will be safe. What comes after… you will shape together. Many paths. Many outcomes.
EVE
Any pitfalls we should be aware of?
ORACLE
Let’s just say—for you two—I wouldn’t recommend flirting with the idea of separating from each other. The results might make your head swim.
EVE (with a grin)
I don’t plan on leaving her alone for a minute.
A gentle ripple of laughter echoes around the space. It’s not just the Oracle—somewhere, the universe is amused.
LISA
I’m sure we’ll have choices to make once we get there… hopefully not on the ship, though. I just need to sleep.
ORACLE
Ask your hearts—not your minds—for those answers.
If I were a tarot deck, I’d say I see love in your future. Complicated. Steamy. The kind of love that might make the Rat Pack blush.
Eve and Lisa glance at each other, wide-eyed. A mix of wonder, confusion—and a spark of mischief.
EVE
Did you ever make the Rat Pack blush?
LISA (thinking)
Maybe that one time my knee accidentally—
EVE
Stop there.
They both burst into laughter. The Oracle simply smiles, fading gently into light.
Narration – Lisa
The team met at a hole-in-the-wall place in the wilderness, right on time. No ceremony, no speeches—just quiet embraces. The kind that say everything.
The girls hugged and kissed Buzz. He teared up. For once, he had no words. That’s how we knew this was real.
We made a pact: one connection a day, no matter what dimension we’re in.
And then it happened. Just like in the movies.
A ship appeared. Silent. Sleek.
Light pulsed around us—blinding and brilliant.
And suddenly, we were gone.
Cut to: Earth – The Guys
The light faded. The clearing was empty.
Brad, Buzz, and Artimus stood there. Still.
The silence was thick—deeper than the forest around them.
Artimus: “What did we just do?”
No one answered. Because the truth was, they didn’t know.
They had just let two women—two hearts that meant the world—go off into the unknown.
And it hit them.
Hard.
Narration (continued):
The first thing we noticed wasn’t the technology. It was the quiet. A kind of peace and order that made our hearts ache a little—like we’d been missing it all our lives but didn’t remember until just then.
We were escorted to our quarters for the journey. Clean lines. Subtle lights. The air had a scent of something we couldn’t name—like minerals and a memory of rain. It felt…right.
We were free to explore the ship. No locked doors. No warnings. Only gentle guidance.
The beings we met came in many forms—some tall and translucent, with eyes like galaxies. Others were small and soft-featured, with voices like chimes. A few had angular, ancient faces that seemed carved from crystal. And about a third looked completely human.
Hybrids.
We remembered that from the download back at the negotiation. Their lineage had crossed with ours. And now here they were, living proof.
One of them—a male hybrid, built like a sculpted poem—escorted us to our room. His voice was warm, and his eyes carried that strange mix of intellect and care. He gave us access to a device we could use to call home anytime.
And just before leaving…
He hugged us.
Scene – Inside the Quarters
Lisa, half-curled in bed, eyes heavy:
“That guardian… he had muscles in all the right places, didn’t he?”
Eve, brushing out her braid:
“Lisa… is that what you notice when someone hugs you?”
Lisa:
“Not usually. I’m not a sex maniac.”
Eve, grinning:
“Mmhm. You think he was flirting? I kind of got a vibe. Not much, just a little.”
(She lowers her voice.)
“Let’s remember where we are. They’re into us. Human women. Especially us. Lisa… Lisa—?”
Lisa had already drifted off.
Narration – Lisa
Both of us woke up the next morning to a quiet stillness that felt… different. Like gravity had softened. Like the rules of the world we knew had been rewritten while we slept.
We had landed.
It was like stepping into a dream that had been waiting for us. The air was impossibly crisp, but not cold. The sky held multiple hues at once—lavender, gold, deep azure—like a living canvas. The structures towered with grace, not dominance. Skyrises built of shimmering stone and translucent metals glowed from within like they were powered by intention.
Our guide brought us to what they called the Central Palace, though “palace” barely touched it. It was sleek and sacred all at once, a space that seemed to listen more than speak.
They told us every being on the planet had access to the same amenities. Every skyrise contained what you’d expect—sleeping quarters, gathering halls, creative labs—but each building held a different specialty. There was one devoted entirely to art. Another to sports. One for culinary innovation. Another for music and resonance healing. And then there was the theatre complex, which, we were told, wasn’t just for performance—it was for full-sensory storytelling, encoded with frequencies meant to stir memory.
And then we saw it—the government building. Majestic. A harmonious fusion of all disciplines. The beings inside radiated authority, not from dominance, but from refinement. Their robes shimmered with threads that looked like constellations. Their presence was hard to describe—like being near a thunderstorm that loved you.
They told us we could choose where we wanted to live.
We stood between the government and the theatre buildings, uncertain. But the Oracle’s last words echoed in our minds:
“If I were a tarot deck, I’d say I see love in your future. Complicated. Steamy. The kind of love that would make the Rat Pack blush.”
That sealed it.
Eve: “Well… theatre it is.”
Lisa: “Yeah. If we’re going to blush, might as well do it in high definition.”
Narration – Lisa
Our living quarters were… not what we expected.
The elevator didn’t just open—it exhaled, like the building itself was aware we’d arrived. The doors parted with a gentle breath and we stepped into our suite on the 74th floor.
The view hit first. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across one entire wall, looking out over a horizon that shimmered—not from sunlight, but from layers of frequencies bending through the air. We could see gliding crafts, tall gardens, and distant towers lit up like slow-moving constellations. It made Earth look like a crayon drawing.
The space inside was minimalist but alive. Everything responded to us. The lights shifted tone based on our mood. The floor was soft and warm—like suede with a pulse. The walls held shapes that weren’t quite art and not quite screens… until they were. If I looked too long, they showed me pieces of memory I hadn’t unlocked yet.
The beds weren’t beds. They were these semi-floating platforms that adjusted shape and temperature instantly. You didn’t lie down so much as surrender. It was like the bed knew your body better than you did.
And then there were the bots.
They didn’t look like robots. They looked like humans had tried to design angels and only got 90% of the way there. Graceful. Gender-fluid. Soft-spoken and slightly amused by everything we said.
They weren’t pushy. But when Eve joked—half seriously—about needing a back massage, one of them turned and said, “Would you like it sensual, therapeutic, or immersive?”
We exchanged a look.
Apparently, there was a fourth setting.
“Exploratory.”
We both declined, for now—but we weren’t sure how long that would last.
SCENE: THE GUARDIANS’ HOLODECK THEATRE
(Lisa narrates)
We didn’t even know the planet had tuned in. We thought we were just exploring.
The Guardian escorts—one hybrid male and one female—told us the Theatre Sector had activated a program just for us. “Tailored to your core frequencies,” they said, like it was a spa day.
But as soon as we stepped into the space, we knew we were in something deeper.
The Program: “The First Memory You Never Had”
The holodeck didn’t look like a stage. It looked like Earth—sort of. A windswept cliff. Ocean crashing beneath. A warm, summer dusk. A fire already burning in a pit made of smooth stone. Clothes different. Time different. Lisa wore a long, silk dress. Eve, a woven tunic with boots.
And standing there with them… was a third person. Not Artimus. Not Brad. A Guardian. Male. Radiant in the way starlight might be if it had skin. His face was too beautiful to describe without sounding drunk.
The program called him “The One You Dreamed of But Could Never Touch.”
The Scenario
The Guardian stood across from Eve.
He didn’t speak. But his eyes asked something ancient. Something primal. He looked at Lisa too—not like prey, not like an object. Like a witness.
Then came the challenge.
Guardian voiceover (echoing through the sky):
“If you were not afraid, what would you do right now?”
Eve turned to Lisa.
Eve: “It’s not real, right?”
Lisa: “It’s real enough.”
The Kiss – Revised with Emotional Depth
Eve moved slowly toward the Guardian—not because she was drawn in by romance, but by recognition. A flicker of something forgotten. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached up to touch his face. He didn’t move, but his eyes—those ancient, aching eyes—gave her permission.
Lisa watched, rooted in place. It wasn’t jealousy. It was something else. Like she, too, was standing at the edge of a memory she couldn’t fully retrieve.
Then it happened.
Eve kissed him.
Not with hunger.
Not with fire.
But with remorse.
It was the kiss of someone remembering what passion once felt like—and grieving that it had been taken.
Because in that moment, she saw it. Saw what the Guardians had done to themselves.
They had love once.
They had passion.
And they had exiled it, sterilized it, buried it so deeply beneath intellect and control that now… they could only watch others feel it. Not touch it. Not live it.
Post-Kiss Reaction
The world didn’t applaud. Not this time.
Instead, a quiet hum vibrated through the scene. Not praise—mourning.
Lisa turned to Eve, softly:
Lisa:
“Was that for him? Or for you?”
Eve (still watching the Guardian):
“It was for what they lost.”
The Guardian lowered his eyes.
He had felt something. Maybe for the first time in centuries.
Scene: The Kiss of Lifetimes – Guardian Observation
Lisa (softly, after the moment settles):
“What did you feel?”
Guardian (his voice low, conflicted):
“It was like… all my programming was saying no—but something deeper, older, kept rising. I couldn’t explain it. I thought I might lose myself… lose control.”
Eve (looking to Lisa, gently):
“We know what that’s like. Passion like that can undo you… but it can also evolve into something—something good. Something sustainable.”
Lisa:
“It’s a choice. On Earth, we make that choice. To feel it. To risk the heartbreak. To love anyway.”
Guardian (stepping closer, almost in awe):
“May I… plug into you while you kiss each other ? I’d like to feel it—without the sadness this time. It’s so exciting.”
Lisa and Eve look at each other. A pause. Not awkward—reverent.
They step close, hearts already aligned.
Fingers meet fingers.
Eyes meet eyes.
And then—
The kiss.
Not performative. Not for him.
But real. Ancient. Electric.
Lips hungry with memory and lifetimes.
Hands grasping, pulling, grounding each other as energy surged.
The kind of kiss that rewrites timelines.
They pulled apart only slightly—foreheads pressed, breath shared, still holding each other with intensity that could bring down walls.
The Guardian stood still, processing.
Guardian (quiet, overwhelmed):
“I… felt it. Not just the pleasure—the commitment. The trust. The cost. The beauty in the surrender.”
He looked changed.
And somewhere in the shadows, a ripple passed through the walls of the palace. As if others were watching. As if something ancient in the Guardians had just… remembered.
INT. GUARDIAN PALACE – LISA AND EVE’S SUITE – NIGHT
The two collapse into their room after the surreal holotheatre experience. Lisa flops onto the couch, eyes wide, still absorbing everything. Eve walks in behind her, equally stunned.
LISA
(rolling her eyes, teasing)
I didn’t realize you were so gifted in the performative arts. Jeez—here I thought I was the actor in the family.
EVE
(smiling)
Just curious… was our kiss anything like the ones you handed out back at the studio?
LISA
(grinning, coy)
Well… let’s just say you’re every bit as talented as they were.
EVE
(mock gasp)
Enough to turn an extraterrestrial human?
LISA
(swats Eve’s behind)
Do. No. Harm.
EVE
(jumping)
Ouch! That was kind of hard. Am I detecting a little jealousy?
LISA
(smug)
I could tell Artimus, you know.
EVE
You wouldn’t!
LISA
(playfully dramatic)
I’m playing a different character tonight. I just might.
EVE
(taking a breath, more sincere)
Alright. You got to spank Mommy today. It’s true we both need to watch it. Obviously the guardians and us have something to share. Outcome? Unknown.
EVE
(pausing, eyes playful again)
For the record, I was hoping we could rehearse our scenes together. I need all the pointers I can get.
LISA
(leaning closer)
Maybe their robot could give us a rundown on Guardian… hardware.
Suddenly, the room lights shift slightly. A subtle chime sounds.
ROBOT VOICE
(chirpy and monotone)
I can demonstrate what their penis looks and feels like. It is quite similar to the human male.
Lisa and Eve scream, scrambling to cover themselves with pillows and blankets, then look at each other wide-eyed.
LISA
(half-laughing, half-panicked)
We’re definitely being watched.
EXT. COFFEE SHOP – NEAR BEN’S OFFICE – DAY. SCENE FROM EVE’S PAST BEING PLAYED IN THE HOLLODECK
A sleek café with a minimalist facade. Eve and Ben sit at a table outside, shaded by an umbrella. The city hums in the background, but their conversation creates its own weather—sharp, charged, tense. Eve meets with Ben in an attempt to get Lisa released after she was taken.
BEN
(sipping his espresso, voice cool)
So… this Lisa tells me you and Artimus are heading out—and never coming back.
(beat)
What did you think I’d do? I thought we had an understanding. You’re free to do what you want—but you work for me.
EVE
(flat)
I am still working for you.
(sharper)
I don’t appreciate you trusting Lisa over me. You’ve known me forever. You know where I stand.
BEN
She said you were out.
EVE
If she read your mail, it’s because she’s a good psychic. As for her reading my mail, well she’s a little cloudy.
(leans in slightly)
You sent me to get her data. I’m doing that.
(pauses)
And yeah—she might be the one you’ve been looking for. But it won’t work unless she gets on board voluntarily.
BEN
And why didn’t you call me?
(beat)
And what’s Artimus doing there?
EVE
(sighs, lowering her voice)
Okay—you caught me.
(smiles, faint and bitter)
I like the girl. Artimus likes her too.
We’ve been working our asses off—we needed a break.
BEN
(raising an eyebrow)
So Artimus tells me you’re off on some romantic weekend.
Since when are you into threesomes with your brother?
EVE
(cold now)
You know we had a fling. You know everything I do.
You don’t think I see your dogs watching my every move?
BEN
(without flinching)
Yeah—for good reason.
You really think I’d believe this cute little story you two cooked up?
(leans forward)
I can find you, and I can find her, whenever I want.
(beat)
I’ve been nice so far. That just changed.
EVE
(tense silence)
BEN
You bring me that data. I don’t care if the city’s in blackout—if she has the secret sauce, then date her. Make it real.
Bring her into the family.
(beat)
That’s the easy way.
(leans back, voice cool again)
If you don’t…
I’ll be asking a lot more from you.
Whatever happened in that performance it got Lisa released.
Lisa gets out of the car free and clear. She doesn’t know where she is or where they just dropped her off and left.
But the car pulled up—the Batmobile.
Artimus got out and said, “Get in.”
She got in, and they pulled away.
What the hell happened to you?” Artimus finally asked, glancing over his shoulder.
“Beats me,” I said. “All I know is I woke up chained to a bed—not for long—and then I got dumped back to you two.”
Lisa turned to face them. “Chatterbox Nursey Sunshine—unicorns and butterflies—told me I probably won’t be fainting anymore, but it’s above her pay grade to say. So yay, I guess.”
I paused, then leaned forward, staring at both of them.
“I think it’s time you”—I looked hard at Eve, then at Artimus—“both of you tell me what the hell is going on with me. And how did you even get me back? Is this déjà vu or what?”
They exchanged a look. The kind that said they knew more than they were letting on.
Eve turned to the window, her voice thoughtful. “The fainting… it’s probably a vibratory shift. A change in frequency you’re going through.”
“I need to examine you again once we’re back in the room,” she added without looking at me.
The thought of that made Lisa’s frequency change a little already.
“But why is it happening now?” I asked. “Why me?”
Eve didn’t answer right away.
“It’s not just you,” she said finally. “It’s happening to a lot of people. Science is trying to get ahead of it—”
“Trying to monetize it,” Artimus cut in, not hiding his disdain. “They want to harvest and sell it.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “Is it something in the area?”
“Yes,” Eve said. “There’s a crystalline grid in Hot Springs. Used to be a place people went to relax and soak up the energy. Now they’re studying the hell out of it.”
“C’mon,” she added. “We can talk more inside.”
INT. GUARDIAN DINING COMMONS – DAY
Lisa, Eve, and Rex—the Guardian who plays Artimus in the holotheatre—sit at a sleek table bathed in ambient light. Their meal is nutritious and subtle, designed to support both body and mood. A quiet sense of intimacy simmers under their conversation.
REX
So… your emotional frequencies actually destabilized the power grid in the upcoming scene?
EVE
(sipping her drink)
Only because Ben had his private lab illegally tied into the city’s grid. He was above the law—allowed to grow too powerful.
LISA
(cutting her food)
So… am I taking off all my clothes in this next one?
EVE
(gently)
No, hon. You don’t have to. We can change it up.
REX
But I thought you wanted it to be authentic.
(beat)
We like it when you feel vulnerable.
EVE
(flatly)
Why?
REX
It makes us feel… excited inside.
LISA
(grinning)
At least he’s honest.
EVE
(sits back, eyes on Rex)
You’ve built more boundaries than we ever did. That’s why you can’t feel vulnerability the way we can.
LISA
Our emotions are messy because we remember not being safe.
(beat)
You erased that from your world, right?
REX
Yes. But we still feel vague echoes of it. And those echoes… they stir something in us.
(softly)
The holotheatre helps us re-experience it, piece by piece.
EVE
We want this to evolve into mutual respect—not just curiosity.
LISA
Like when humans finally started respecting their pets?
EVE
(sighs)
Do you always have to be so blunt?
REX
(smiles)
Actually… I think that’s a perfect analogy.
LISA
Just remember—we’re a rare breed. High value.
REX
Oh yes. That much is understood.
LISA
Anyway… if I’m the housepet here, I don’t care about the clothes. Let’s just do it how it really happened.
EVE
I need a little rehearsal. I’m not an actor, remember?
REX
It’s easier for us. I can tap into Artimus’s frequency in the holotheatre. Makes everything sharper.
EVE
Why didn’t you just simulate him?
REX
(smiling faintly)
Some of us are privileged enough to experience it this way.
LISA
So basically, you’re rich enough to buy the VIP package?
REX
That’s one way to put it.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – NIGHT
Back at their room, Eve and Lisa sink into the minimalist, curved furniture, emotionally spent. The lights hum low. A long silence stretches between them as they absorb everything about the day.
EVE
I think I’m becoming vegan after today.
(pause)
The thought of eating another life form… just because the taste excites me?
LISA
Yeah. I get it.
(softly)
I don’t think I can eat meat anymore either.
EVE
If we ever get back to Earth, that is.
LISA
Please don’t say that.
(laughs bitterly)
Don’t make me think we’re stuck here forever.
This whole thing’s starting to feel like a Black Mirror horror flick.
I swear I might end up telling them to dumb me down so I won’t remember I’m more than a chihuahua.
EVE
(quiet)
Do you ever think… some people actually choose to be pets on Earth?
LISA
Yeah. I do. Which means… we probably chose all this too.
They let that hang. A shared, sobering truth.
EVE
(softly)
Which brings us to the scene.
(sighs)
Really, babe—you think you can teach me how to conjure all that emotion again?
The ones I’d rather forget?
(she looks away)
Having to give Ben what he wanted… to buy us time… to keep you safe…
knowing I was deceiving the person I loved—
LISA
(standing, firm)
You had to. I would’ve done the same.
(beat)
I have done the same. Left things out to protect you.
Eve stands now too. She meets Lisa’s gaze and waits.
LISA
You’ve got your lines memorized?
EVE
(back to her center)
Yeah. Backwards and forwards.
LISA
Okay. But the lines are just noise.
The real thing—the real scene—is this…
She steps closer and gently pulls Eve in.
LISA
Start with telling me to undress.
You need to scan me properly, right?
Focus only on me. And your motivation.
Block everything else out. You’re good at that—remember?
Eve nods, slipping into the role. Her voice shifts, her body steadies. She speaks the lines with clarity and restraint, eyes locked on Lisa. She has to scan her. For Ben. To save them both. But as the scanner touches Lisa’s skin, her composure falters—just slightly. The attraction returns like muscle memory.
Lisa, ever the pro, lets herself feel it. The heat. The conflict. The pull.
Back and forth she wrestles—should I keep it in, or let it ride?
She chooses joy. Chaos. Desire. She lets it ride.
Eve follows. They kiss—intense, honest, unrestrained.
Then Lisa breaks character first, breathless.
LISA
That was good.
(smiling)
How do you feel?
EVE
(grinning)
I’ve learned to let you lead months ago.
I just play off your energy in the moment.
LISA
Which means it’s different every time.
(beat)
So it’s never boring.
Why are you such a quick learner at everything? my god…
Lisa heads toward the shower with a satisfied shake of her head.
Eve, still catching her breath, sits cross-legged and closes her eyes. She takes the Oracle’s cue and begins to connect.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – EVE’S QUIET SPACE – NIGHT
Eve sits cross-legged, eyes closed. The air shifts subtly—the hum deepens, and a gentle glow forms in the room. The presence of the Oracle fills the space, unseen but unmistakable.
ORACLE
What are you feeling, Eve?
EVE
(flatly)
Less.
(pause)
My feelings about everything… they’re muted. No intensity.
ORACLE
And why do you think that is?
EVE
(opens her eyes slightly)
Because you’re going to ask Rex to taste me?
ORACLE
(smiling through silence)
Your always were ten steps ahead.
Narration – Eve (Voiceover)
Our first days in the holodeck were exactly what we expected—just actors playing out history the best way we knew how. We reenacted the past, stayed on script, and tried to stay in character. But it didn’t stay that way for long.
It started shifting—like the holodeck itself was evolving, adapting, upgrading in real time. It didn’t just respond to our performance—it studied us, waited for us to fall into sync.
After two months, something cracked open in me. I became a better actor—or at least that’s what Lisa told me. But it felt bigger than acting. It felt like the holodeck had been waiting for me to let go of control. And once I did, everything changed.
There were no more scripts. No more rehearsals. Rex started feeding it fragments of our real lives, and every day became a new improvisation. He’d appear as someone from our past—or sometimes, someone entirely new—and we’d just… respond. In the moment. Real emotion. Real memory.
Somehow, it worked.
We went in every day not knowing who we’d be or what we’d feel. It was terrifying. And thrilling. And weirdly addictive.
The Guardians watched. And then the whole planet watched.
We became the darlings of their world—living humans, performing ourselves. It was intimate, raw, sometimes uncomfortable… and completely mesmerizing.
It became intoxicating.
Not just to them.
To us, too.
INT. SAFEHOUSE – LIVING AREA – DAY
Rex, playing Artimus, stands with arms crossed. Lisa lounges nearby, chewing a root and smirking. Eve sits with casual authority, watching it unfold like a sitcom.
ARTIMUS (Rex)
So let me get this straight—you chew some mystery root, step outside, and a stranger comments on your sexy little shorts… and your response is to strike a cheeky pose?
EVE
(sighs)
Alright, Daddy—we’re still learning each other. Maybe Lisa has a thing for that kind of attention. If you do, Lisa, then it’s time to come out of the closet, young lady.
(leans forward)
Because if there’s one thing we don’t tolerate in this house, it’s dishonesty.
Lisa looks cornered, caught somewhere between shame and amusement.
LISA
(slowly)
Maybe I’m still figuring myself out… you know?
EVE
Well, until you do, you’re grounded—from us.
LISA
(shocked)
That’s not even fair!
ARTIMUS (Rex)
What’s not fair is that we’re the ones dealing with paparazzi fallout because someone can’t keep her aura zipped.
EVE
(getting up)
Come here. What are you even wearing?
LISA
(defensive)
It’s a skirt.
EVE
(turns her around)
This is too short. I’m scared for you out there looking like this.
ARTIMUS (Rex)
I agree, sweetcakes. That outfit should be for our eyes only.
(grins)
What message are you sending, hmm?
EVE
(swats Lisa, half-mocking)
Go upstairs and change. Now.
LISA
(sighs, dramatic)
I can’t believe I live with two conservative parents.
Lisa exits. Rex turns to Eve, his tone dropping into something deeper, charged.
ARTIMUS (Rex)
Somehow… that got me in the mood.
He approaches Eve, grinning like the devil. He strokes her in all the right places, teasing and confident. Their kiss is electric. He slides a hand across her backside, and lets out a low groan.
ARTIMUS (Rex)
You need to go upstairs yourself, young lady… and wait for me there.
For the first time, Eve feels the full weight of his desire. She doesn’t move, but her eyes flash wide with realization—then curiosity.
Fade out.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – LISA AND EVE’S ROOM – NIGHT
Lisa flops back on the couch, laughing and breathless from the scene they just finished. Eve paces, trying to shake off the heat in her own body.
LISA
Artimus is getting sexy as hell in his role. He came up behind me and kissed my neck.
(pauses)
I don’t know… maybe it was like a phantom limb. Like I missed the real Artimus.
EVE
(flat)
That wasn’t a phantom. That was real. I felt it today too.
LISA
(sits up)
Wait, what did you two do after I left?
(calls out)
Robot, play the last clip.
A brief projection appears. Lisa stares, jaw dropping.
LISA
You let him fondle your ass?!
EVE
(sheepish)
Whoops. I think he wants full-on penetration next time.
LISA
Oh my god…
(beat)
But… I mean, that’s kind of sexy. I can’t say I haven’t dreamed of him behind me.
EVE
(disgusted)
Lisa! Spare me the details!
LISA
(defensive)
Well you didn’t spare me any details! Look at that footage—he got more from you in two minutes than I’ve gotten in days.
EVE
(sits down hard)
We’ve gotta get a grip. He’s becoming Artimus… just, like, sleazier.
LISA
We need a vacation.
EVE
Yes. That’s what we’ll say. We’ll take a break.
LISA
And invite the real guys over. The actual Artimus and Brad.
EVE
(sighs)
Yeah… and we should probably talk to the Oracle too.
LISA
(nods)
Definitely.
EVE
(quietly)
That’s what I’m afraid of. I think she might be on their side.
LISA
(smiling)
Well, she’s never stopped us from being weird.
Eve stares at her a beat, then chuckles despite herself.
EVE
That’s true.
INT. ORACLE’S CHAMBER – NIGHT
Eve stands in front of the Oracle, arms folded, jaw set. The room is quiet, lit only by a pulsing violet glow.
EVE
You know I don’t like pussyfootin’ around.
ORACLE
Like I said—some things are contracted.
I didn’t sign your contract.
EVE
But I did.
ORACLE
And it’s up to you how it unfolds.
EVE
Why can’t I just ask what the damn contract is?
ORACLE
When you’re truly ready… you won’t need to ask.
EVE
Does Lisa know?
ORACLE
Lisa hides very well behind a teenage persona.
Being a teen gives her license to act outside the box.
Where would you and Artimus be without her teenage ass?
Not here, that’s for sure.
INT. ORACLE’S CHAMBER – LATER – LISA ALONE
Lisa steps forward. The Oracle’s gaze softens slightly, as if they’ve been expecting her.
LISA
Is he really falling in love with one of us yet?
I mean… I’d know if it was me, right?
ORACLE
He’s having human feelings.
And he wants to let go.
You’ve been there—you know that edge.
What do you think being in love means?
LISA
Doing everything you can not to let their heart fall.
Even when you’re scared.
ORACLE
Then listen closely—
Eve’s heart is about to fall.
If he doesn’t catch it…
you’ll miss the moment you’re waiting for.
LISA
How do I help?
ORACLE
Plan your own scene tomorrow.
Out of the box.
You know the way.
When it’s done…
he’ll be ready to catch her.
INSIDE THE HOLLODECK
INT. SMALL LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
A crash offscreen.
Lisa (as Young Eve) sits up from a thin mattress in the corner room. Her hair is disheveled. Her face reacts instinctively—fear first, then resolve.
She sprints down the hallway barefoot.
YOUNG EVE (Lisa)
(terrified)
Mom?!
INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
The stepfather (sim avatar—hulking, unshaven) looms over Eve’s mother, who is crumpled near the coffee table. His belt hangs in one hand. Young Patrick cowers behind the couch.
YOUNG EVE (Lisa)
(crying out)
Stop! You hurt her!
STEPFATHER (avatar)
There needs to be some damn discipline in this house.
(turns sharply to Patrick)
You take the money from my dresser?
PATRICK
(voice trembling)
I—I needed it for books.
The stepfather snarls and raises his belt.
MOTHER
Please—don’t. He’s just a child!
STEPFATHER
(to her, venomous)
This is coming to you too if you stand up.
He grabs Patrick and starts bending him over.
YOUNG EVE (Lisa)
(breath catching, then low and firm)
Pick on someone your own size.
She walks up to him, heart pounding, and grabs a baseball bat from the corner.
YOUNG EVE (Lisa)
Give me all you got, you pathetic piece of trash.
Right now. I dare you.
STEPFATHER
(stares—then laughs)
The balls on you.
He throws the belt to the floor. Staggers. Grabs a beer bottle off the table and storms out the door, slamming it behind him.
Silence. The kind that rings in the ears.
Lisa drops the bat. She crumples next to Patrick and her mother.
She strokes her mother’s hair with shaking hands.
HOLODECK – LIGHTS DIM SLIGHTLY
Lisa steps back from the scene, still inside it, but breaking character. She turns to Rex, who’s behind a viewing wall that shifts from opaque to translucent.
LISA
She was sent away days later. To Ben.
They said she needed a stable home.
She never returned to her mother again.
Rex’s POV – CONTROL BOOTH
His face flickers with internal conflict. He looks… unsettled. His breath catches slightly. He places a hand on the glass, unconsciously.
Rex
(quiet, to himself)
They told me she volunteered to go.
He doesn’t realize the mic is on.
BACK IN THE SIMULATION ROOM
Lisa hears him. She doesn’t say anything. She simply watches his reaction.
And in that moment—the guilt sticks.
A long silence.
Then:
LISA
(sincerely, without accusation)
She still wonders if her mom looked for her.
Rex
(softly)
We’ll find out.
INT. GUARDIAN QUARTERS – LISA AND EVE’S ROOM – DAY
The door slides open. Lisa enters quietly, her expression distant.
EVE
Where were you?
LISA
(softly)
I just… needed to get out of the room for a while.
EVE
Rex told me he wants to run a scene today. I told him this is the last one—we’re due for a vacation.
LISA
Oh. Okay…
(Eve studies her.)
EVE
What’s wrong? Are you okay?
LISA
Yeah. Just… need a shower.
EVE
Hey, come here.
(She pulls Lisa in gently. Lisa hesitates, then allows it. Eve gives her a soft kiss—quick, familiar—then wraps her in a deep hug. Lisa melts into it, eyes welling.)
EVE
Hey… maybe later today, we can connect. Just us. Some real time together.
LISA
(nods)
Okay.
Interior – Guardian Holodeck: Private Simulation Room
(Scene is set to mimic a quiet, soundproof library room. A table with three chairs. The air is thick with unspoken purpose. The trio steps in.)
[Lisa, Eve, and Artimus are playing themselves in a reenactment requested by the Guardians. There is no script—only memory.]
Artimus
(closing the door quietly)
Okay. So this is really happening. A clandestine meeting… in a library of all places.
Eve
(sits, calm but coiled)
To take on something bigger than all of us.
Artimus
You really think we can undo a decade of—
Eve
—Money-backed precision control. Yeah. That’s exactly what we’re here to try.
(Lisa stands across from them. Calm. Centered. She studies them like she’s seeing something sacred.)
Lisa
And yet you’re both here.
(stares evenly at each of them)
We’re aligned in some way. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have shown up at all.
(beat)
My frequency might be the very thing Ben’s been trying to harness.
Eve
(flatly)
Let’s not talk about Ben. I didn’t come here to relive that past.
Artimus
(grim)
Then what’s the plan? Do you even have one?
Lisa
That’s the bad news—I don’t.
(pause)
But something is telling me… this is the last and only chance we’ll ever have to get out clean.
Eve
(smirks slightly)
Let me guess. Birdie told you?
Lisa
Yeah. That’s right.
Artimus
(sighs)
Jesus. Bird prophecies.
(beat)
Okay then—how do we escape?
Lisa
We start by being bold. I’ll go see Ben first. Face him.
Then we leave town. All of us.
Eve
(half-smiling, half-exasperated)
You’re in over your head, Lisa.
I admire your guts, but you think just walking in there is going to work?
Artimus
(smiling, soft)
If this is suicide, I’m still in.
Something about this… you showing up out of nowhere. It’s poetry. And we’re the rhyme.
Lisa
Something’s guiding me. I’m on a fast-track through fate, and I’ve decided—I’m not stepping off.
(turns to Eve, gaze steady)
But I don’t go unless you’re in.
(Eve looks at her—really looks at her. Lisa’s presence stirs something buried. A forgotten part of herself.)
Eve
(soft, shaken)
She’s raising the dead… inside me.
God… she’s finding me.
(Lisa slowly extends her hand. Eve stares at it. Takes it.)
Artimus
(quiet, moved)
Then we go. All of us. Like lambs walking out… while the wolves sleep.
(He takes both their hands. The three of them sit silently for a moment—gripping each other’s palms like an unspoken vow. The room fades to black. Scene ends.)
Interior: Holotheatre – Guardian Simulation of Ben’s Study
Rex (as Ben) sits behind a dark desk, radiating power. Eve steps in, already wary. She knows this is a simulation—but her body remembers.
Rex (as Ben):
“You want to protect Lisa? Then you know what it takes. You’ve played this game before.”
Eve (cold):
“This isn’t a game. Not to me.”
He stands and circles her, eyes dark, predatory. Too close.
Rex (as Ben):
“You could walk away. Or you could give me what I want and walk away free.”
Eve:
“I gave you everything once. You don’t get to take it again.”
He touches her cheek. Not softly.
Rex (as Ben):
“You were mine first. Don’t forget that.”
Suddenly, Eve shoves him back.
Eve (furious):
“You think this is about sex? It’s about control. You’re not Ben. You’re just another watcher who wants to feel something without risking anything.”
Simulation glitches as her rage spikes. Lights flicker. The walls crackle with static.
Rex (dropping character, shaken):
“Eve, I didn’t mean—”
Eve (breathless, trembling):
“Don’t ever touch me like that again unless you mean it—with your whole self.”
She walks out. The simulation collapses
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – NIGHT
Eve bursts through the door, only to see Lisa being restrained by two Guardians.
Eve
Hey! Get your hands off her!
Before she can react, two more Guardians grab Eve from behind. She thrashes against them.
Lisa
Eve!
Eve
Let me go! I swear to—!
Rex bursts in, commanding authority.
Rex
Stand down. Let her speak.
The guards hesitate. Rex approaches, calm but firm.
Eve
I’m not going anywhere unless they release Lisa.
Rex
Lisa is not under arrest. Let her go.
The Guardians let go of Lisa, who stumbles forward, wide-eyed.
Rex (to Eve, gently)
I’ll escort you. I just need to put these on.
He fastens a soft-tech restraint to her wrist—then his own. A glowing tether connects them.
Eve (half-grinning at Lisa)
Heads swim. I see the headline now.
Lisa (dry)
Guess I’ll get a life jacket. Don’t worry—we’re cats, remember?
A Guardian growls low, warning her to stop talking.
Lisa (shrugs)
Cats are even lower on the food chain in this world. Go figure.
Rex gives Lisa a faint look of gratitude—then leads Eve out.
INT. GUARDIAN HOLDING ROOM – NIGHT
Cold. Sterile. Eve sits in a metal chair, hands bound in front of her. Her posture is defiant, but her eyes flicker with uncertainty.
The door hisses open. Rex enters with a tray of food and folded garments. He sets them down on the table, then steps closer.
REX
Eve… I’m doing what I can. They can’t hear us—I made sure of that. But they can still see us.
EVE
(eyes narrowing)
Why did the guards obey you?
REX
Because I’m a prince. I came here to learn… but I stayed because I was drawn to something more.
EVE
(skeptical)
How much power do you actually have?
REX
Enough to make this choice—and I choose you.
(softly, unlocking her restraints)
You’re free to move. Put on these clothes. I would turn away, but if I do, I’ll appear weak to them. This way… they won’t question my control.
Eve grabs the clothing, furious and raw. She strips and changes with sharp, efficient motions. Rex averts his gaze for only a second.
He slides the tray of food forward, then steps closer—eyes searching hers.
REX
They expect me to… force you. That’s the role. But I’m not going to. Instead, I’m going to make it look like I did—and while I do, I’ll give you something.
(beat)
A neural link. It’s a key. A code of authority. Hide it beneath your skin once the lights flicker. You’ll know what to do.
EVE
(staring at him)
So… you’re giving me freedom in the guise of control?
REX
Yes. But if you choose to stay… I’ll love you as I do now—with everything I have.
(pauses)
The world will shift. But until then, they’ll believe I’ve simply taken responsibility for my pet.
EVE
What is the neural link, exactly?
REX
It grants full system access. You can return to your prior status… or leave entirely. But if you stay—if we choose this together—it will be real. Not a game.
Eve watches him. Her breath slows. She remembers what she once did to protect Lisa. Her walls soften.
She moves to him, brushing his cheek with her fingertips, her voice a whisper in his ear.
EVE
You’ll stop when I say stop? No penetration?
REX
Of course. This is still your choice.
She nods.
EVE
Then… I consent
The shift is instant. He wraps her in his arms. Their kiss is deep and aching—desire and restraint coiled tightly together.
He positions her, mounting her without entering, caressing every curve of her body. She feels his longing—his full arousal—and trusts him completely.
When the lights flicker, he subtly slips the neural link into the waistband of her pants.
Moments later, he rises, adjusts his posture, and walks toward the door—composed, dominant, cold.
He looks back once, eyes filled with sorrow and something more.
Then he leaves.
Interior – Holding Cell – One Hour Later
The door hisses open. Rex steps inside, quieter than usual.
Rex
It’s time. You’re free to see Lisa. Artimus is with her.
Eve looks up, surprised. He approaches and gently gestures.
Rex (softer)
Take your time with the bigger decision. No rush.
They exit together, his hand resting lightly on her back—just enough to suggest control to those watching, but not enough to make her feel owned.
Interior – Lift (Guardian Equivalent of an Elevator)
The space hums quietly. Eve watches the floor panel flicker.
Eve
Let me get this straight. If I choose to stay…
You command me in public—but in private, you kneel to the real me?
Rex
Yes. That’s exactly right.
Eve (with narrowed eyes)
And Lisa?
Rex
You and she don’t change. That bond stays sacred.
Eve nods, processing. She doesn’t bring up Artimus—not yet. Whatever this is… she senses it will unfold in time.
INT. GUARDIAN GUEST QUARTERS – NIGHT
Eve sits between Lisa and Artimus on the couch, her wrists sore but spirit steady. Lisa gently massages her wrists. The lighting is soft, calm, as if even the room understands something delicate has just occurred.
LISA
You’re sure they didn’t hurt you?
EVE
Not physically. But just the idea—that it was expected Rex would force me—
(she swallows hard)
That’s what stings. That it was even on the table.
Lisa and Artimus both move closer, comforting her, silent but deeply present.
LISA
I’m sorry you had to feel that. You’re safe now.
A quiet moment passes. Eve exhales, her body slowly relaxing into their care.
EVE
So… how’s Earth?
ARTIMUS
The tech’s holding up. Everything we rolled out—frequency irrigation, the learning pods, the self-harmonizing habitats—it’s all working. No major hiccups.
(He looks between them)
Feels like it’s here to stay. Unless the Guardians step in.
LISA
Why would they? If humans are handling the shift?
ARTIMUS
That’s the question. Our culture stayed intact. Sure, some things are evolving—but the essence of humanity is still there.
EVE
They’re learning to see the value in that.
(beat)
Earth’s a tough school. Suffering still exists, but people still choose to incarnate.
ARTIMUS
We just… decreased the suffering. That was the goal. A softer landing for more people.
LISA
You think they’ll let it continue?
ARTIMUS
I think it depends on what we do next.
Another pause. The weight of decisions ahead lingers in the air.
LISA
So… how do you feel about the choice you have to make?
Artimus gives her a look—a mixture of love, weariness, and something he hasn’t said yet.
ARTIMUS
Let’s not go there tonight.
(grinning slightly)
Let’s just be here. Together. We’ll face all that in the morning.
EVE & LISA (in unison, lightly teasing)
Good idea.
ARTIMUS
Besides, if I’m a dog, I’m marking my territory tonight. Starting with the bed.
They all laugh—just enough to release the tension.
LISA (V.O.)
It was fun showing Artimus our bed again.
Cut to soft candlelight. Their bed, full of layered blankets and gentle shadows. The trio moves toward it together, unhurried. There’s no rush—only feeling.
LISA (V.O.) (cont’d)
The lovemaking wasn’t wild or frenzied this time. It was something else.
Like the energy between us had finally found its rhythm…
Like the room itself wanted to hold what we were.
And maybe it had been too long—
too long since Artimus had joined us like this—
because when he did, something realigned.
Not just our bodies—our hearts.
Fade to black, soft breathing, quiet entanglement.
INT. ORACLE’S SANCTUARY – DIMLY LIT, OTHERWORLDLY GLOW
Eve stands across from the Oracle, shadows and light playing across her face. The air feels charged, thick with both truth and pain.
ORACLE
The Galactic Council sees the real benefit of you staying.
But the choice, as always, is yours.
EVE
But according to you, I’ve already made the choice.
ORACLE
Yes.
EVE
And I can make this easy… or hard for myself.
ORACLE
Yes.
EVE
And one more thing.
Lisa could’ve told me she reenacted my childhood scene with Rex, right?
ORACLE
Hmm. Trying to punish Lisa for something…
when you should be thanking her.
You must be feeling out of control.
Powerless.
EVE (eyes welling up)
This feels too much like my past.
My mind is screaming that I’m stepping into the same land mine—
the same one I hit when I was dropped off at Ben’s cage of horrors.
The Oracle steps closer, voice gentler now.
ORACLE
You suffered.
And you learned everything you needed to learn.
So let me ask you something:
You’ve helped build a world with less suffering…
Would you go back and change your childhood?
Would you trade your soul’s mission—just to avoid the pain?
Eve stands still for a long moment. Tears run down her face, but her spine stays strong.
EVE
(Pausing)
Galactic Federation…
One day, maybe I’ll be ready to hear about the missteps that were made.
ORACLE
(softly, with a small smile)
Touché, love.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – NIGHT
Artimus still lies in bed, half-dozing. Lisa steps out of the bathroom in soft clothes. Eve quietly approaches her, her tone tender.
EVE
Can I talk to you, hon?
They move to the living area and sit down.
EVE
How are you feeling? About staying here. About me… becoming a dog-wife to Rex. Are you really okay with that?
LISA
You mean—am I okay with you sleeping with Rex and leaving me out?
EVE
Jeez, Lisa. You wanna sleep with him too? I could probably arrange it.
LISA
How do you really feel about sleeping with him?
EVE
Oh, he’s not going to sleep with me until I want it.
LISA (smiling)
God help Rex. He has no idea what he’s in for.
EVE
Stop. This is serious.
LISA
But you do feel he loves you?
EVE
Yeah… I think so.
LISA
And do you love him?
EVE (pauses)
I don’t know. It takes me a while with men.
LISA
Or… other beings?
EVE (smirks)
Yeah. I guess so.
LISA
But not me.
EVE (grinning)
You were quick. Almost love at first sight.
LISA
Ah, yes. Must’ve been my tasteful lower back tattoo.
EVE
Come here, baby.
Lisa lays on top of Eve on the couch-bed. Eve wraps her arms around her, resting her hands on Lisa’s backside.
EVE
Are you ready for this?
LISA
We’re in this together. Don’t forget it.
EVE
And you need reminding sometimes. (gives her a playful swat)
Artimus steps into the room, hair tousled, catching the scene. He pauses, grinning.
ARTIMUS
What’s going on out here?
LISA (turns toward him with a sly smile)
We made a decision, Houston..
EVE
Lisa—get up.
(to Artimus)
I’m not making this decision without you.
ARTIMUS
So… you’re staying with him.
EVE
I am. But not because I love him. I’m doing it for the mission. I’m doing it for Earth. You talked to the Oracle. You know.
ARTIMUS (quiet)
Then why does it feel like I’m the only one still being faithful?
Lisa freezes. Eve’s jaw tightens. The air thickens.
EVE
I’m faithful to the planet first.
(beat)
What’s your excuse?
ARTIMUS
If Rex becomes your husband in all but name… maybe I should be allowed to find someone too.
LISA
(raising an eyebrow)
Wow. Are we back to planned marriages?
EVE (burning)
Do what you want. Just tell me now—have you already slept with her?
LISA
Eve…
EVE
I want to know who the bitch is.
ARTIMUS (walks over, calm but wrecked)
I haven’t met her yet. But I probably will. And when I do, I’ll tell you.
Eve pulls away. Lisa watches them both with a knot in her chest.
LISA
Let’s sit down. Please. Just breathe.
They all sit, strained silence for a moment.
EVE (whispers)
Why do I feel like I’m never going to see you again?
ARTIMUS (choked)
You will. We’re connected. Always.
(beat)
I’ll visit. You and Lisa—you’re still partners. Any woman I’m with will have to accept that.
EVE (doubtful)
Rex might not. And it’s too soon to ask him.
ARTIMUS
Then you’ve got the better deal. Is this settled?
He looks at Eve—too proud to plead, too loyal to lie. His voice cracks slightly.
ARTIMUS
I just didn’t think it would be this hard to say goodbye.
Lisa wraps her arms around him first. Eve joins. The trio folds into each other, clinging like they’re holding back the end of the world.
HOLOTHEATRE CEREMONY – NIGHT
The stage glows with a soft shimmer. A large crowd of Guardians and human guests fills the amphitheater, eyes fixed on the presenter.
PRESENTER (Guardian voice modulated)
And the award for Best Actress… goes to Lisa Snow.
The crowd erupts in cheers and respectful applause as Lisa stands, startled but glowing. She walks gracefully to the stage, accepts the crystalline award, and steps to the mic.
LISA
Wow. Thank you. This is… quite an honor. I actually worked as an actress on Earth for a while, but I never got a trophy like this—especially not one grown from sentient quartz.
(Laughter)
I do want to thank someone very special. I was going through a rough time—addicted to root. If you’ve never tried it, don’t.
(More laughter)
I started experiencing other people’s lines. Like, if my co-star was angry, I’d shout all my lines. If they were happy, I’d sing them.
(Crowd laughs louder)
But Eve—Eve marched right onto the set during a scene. Told off the director in front of everyone. Said if he let that happen to me again, she’d turn him inside out like a sock.
(Laughter, some cheering)
And honestly? I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t done that. So I thank her first.
(Sincere applause)
Lisa continues her speech briefly, thanking her creative team, Guardians, and supporters. As she steps back—
ELDER (rising from the side stage, voice sharp)
I call Misendorf.
The room goes dead silent.
Gasps. Whispers. A few boo. A few clap.
Lisa pauses mid-step.
LISA
Misendorf…?
ELDER
Yes. By Guardian law, Misendorf may be called at any time by a member of the Elder Circle, especially before the public. It ensures transparency and truth. We ask you questions. We will know if your not telling the truth.
Lisa looks out at the silent audience, then nods, calmly stepping forward again. Her voice steady.
LISA
Ask your questions.
Elder’s First Question:
ELDER:
“Do you still consider yourself part of the Earth delegation—or have you begun to see yourself as one of us?”
LISA (after a pause):
“I came here from Earth. But I didn’t come to stay separate. I came to understand. And somewhere along the way, I realized… maybe I was one of you before I even arrived.”
(Crowd murmurs—both sides impressed)
Elder’s Second Question:
ELDER:
“Have you ever falsified a scene in the holotheatre—used it to manipulate someone’s feelings rather than portray truth?”
LISA:
“I’ve stayed in character through heartbreak, attraction, fear, and silence. I’ve bent myself into stories I didn’t want to relive. But never to manipulate. I have wanted someone to feel something real—but only if they were ready to feel it.”
(The truth resonates—crowd feels the emotion)
Elder’s Third Question:
ELDER:
“Do you love Eve—now—and will that love survive if she belongs to another?”
LISA (visibly moved):
“Yes. I love her. That doesn’t go away because she loves someone else. It might hurt. It does hurt. But love isn’t a possession here. If it were… none of us would be free.”
(The room is breathless—followed by a standing ovation from part of the crowd)
Narration:
Then came the final award of the night—the one everyone had been whispering about since the opening fanfare:
“Best Creator of Desirable Content.”
Clips rolled across the curved holoscreen. One featured a delicate underwater romance. Another showed a comedic musical involving synchronized levitation. But when the third clip appeared—Eve, tethered and trembling, only to rise with unexpected grace and fire—the audience broke into applause that swelled like a wave.
Announcer:
“And the award goes to… Rex, Prince of Gardenia!”
The crowd leapt to its feet.
And there he was—Rex, tall and commanding, his shoulders broad under dark formal robes stitched with emerald sigils. His hair fell just so, his gaze magnetic, steady. He smiled faintly as he stepped onto the glowing stage. More than just a prince, he looked like a god they wanted to believe in.
But before he could speak—
A second Elder, older and more austere, rose from a platform near the front.
Elder:
“I call Misendorf.”
A hush fell. Gasps. A few boos. But mostly silence. The ceremony was now subject to truth law. Rex gave a courteous nod and waited.
Elder’s First Question:
“Prince Rex. Was Eve’s submission in your final simulation entirely voluntary—or did you craft the scene to trigger obedience?”
REX (calmly):
“I gave her the tools to escape me. She chose to stay. That doesn’t make her obedient. That makes her… extraordinary.”
Elder’s Second Question:
“Do you love Eve—or is she simply your most successful character?”
REX (with more fire):
“I could build a thousand characters. None of them would undo the way she rewired me. I didn’t write her. She broke the script—and I fell for the girl underneath it.”
(The crowd stirs—soft murmurs of approval)
Elder’s Final Question:
“Would you step down from your role if it meant protecting her freedom?”
REX (quietly, without hesitation):
“Yes.”
A beat. The room stills.
REX (continuing):
“But I hope I don’t have to. I’d rather show you how freedom and devotion can live in the same breath.”
The Elder gazes at him a long moment. Then bows slightly.
Elder:
“You may keep your award.”
The crowd roars.
INT. GUARDIAN LIVING QUARTERS – NIGHT
Rex and Lisa enter through the main doors. Eve is curled up on the couch, casually dressed, watching the ceremony replay with a bowl of fruit.
EVE
(smiling, rising)
Hey, look at you two—stars of the show!
She hugs them both, laughing.
LISA
I’m heading to an afterparty. I’ll leave you two to it.
Eve raises an eyebrow, a bit concerned.
EVE
You better be home at a decent hour, Lisa. I mean it.
LISA
(playful)
Okay, Mom.
They hug, but Eve notices Lisa holds back a little. Lisa leaves. The door slides shut.
Eve turns to Rex. He looks stunning in his ceremonial jacket, still half undone, his hair slightly tousled. The energy between them shifts immediately.
EVE
Hey.
REX
Hey.
EVE
It’s late. I assume you already had dinner. I was just about to turn in.
Rex steps closer and gently takes her hand.
REX
I was hoping we could have some quality time.
His presence is intoxicating. Eve feels herself pulled in, undone by him. She tries to keep her cool, but the air crackles between them.
EVE
(slowly)
I’m not sure…
REX
What are you afraid of?
EVE
(smirking)
Well, whatever you’ve got hidden under there—I’ve never seen it.
Rex steps back with a mock salute, arms raised.
REX
You’re the expert at strip searches. Be my guest.
EVE
(grinning)
Okay, now you’re talking my language. Prince Rex—off with the shirt.
He strips off his jacket and shirt with theatrical flair. She walks around him like a curious scout.
EVE
Pants and shoes too. But do it quick—less ballet, more battlefield.
Rex kicks off his shoes in a clumsy rush and nearly stumbles pulling down his pants. They both laugh.
EVE
(laughing)
Elegant as always. Cute butt though—definitely a plus.
Now standing in front of him, she crosses her arms.
EVE
Alright. Let’s see it.
REX
(deadpan)
You mean… now?
EVE
Don’t worry, I won’t scream—unless it jumps out and attacks me.
He reveals himself. Eve leans in curiously.
EVE
Huh. Can you… move it around a little?
Rex complies with playful confidence. She nods, intrigued.
EVE
You’re on birth control?
REX
Of course, your highness.
EVE
I like that—“your highness.” I don’t think you’ve ever properly kneeled before me.
Rex drops to his knees without hesitation.
EVE
Get closer. But stay low.
He slides forward on his knees, touching her feet and calves gently, reverently. Then he kisses her—deep, slow, full of devotion. She exhales softly.
EVE
Well, you showed me yours. How do you want to see mine, love?
Rex slowly unfastens her sash. He sees the edge of her panties, then—suddenly—lifts her over his shoulder like a prize.
EVE
(shouting, laughing)
Rex!
REX
(to her body, playful)
Permission granted. We’re clear for landing.
He carries her into the bedroom as she squirms and giggles.
INT. AFTERPARTY – NIGHT
Lisa, barefoot now, is tipsy and dancing under glittering lights. Music pulses. She’s glowing—free, radiant. A Guardian woman with luminous eyes watches her from the edge of the dance floor.
WOMAN
You’re… different from the others.
LISA
(grinning)
You mean drunk?
WOMAN
I mean alive.
Lisa stumbles into her arms. They laugh. The woman steadies her, then kisses her. Not just a peck—something honest and surreal. People gasp. Lisa kisses back, just long enough for the room to shift.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – MORNING
The sun filters in through sleek, translucent curtains. Eve sits rigid on the couch, arms crossed, jaw clenched. She hasn’t slept. Her eyes dart to the door every few seconds.
The door opens. In struts Lisa—sunglasses on, leather-like jacket hugging her frame, radiating “morning after” confidence with just a hint of chaos.
EVE
(standing, voice tight)
There you are.
Lisa pauses, then removes her glasses. Her expression is… sheepish but not ashamed.
LISA
Sorry things got weird last night. I guess I had a little too much to drink.
(beat)
Met a Guardian woman. We kissed. We danced. I woke up in her quarters and she gave me these rad clothes. Pretty sure I didn’t marry her, though. So… win?
Eve doesn’t smile. Her concern outweighs her jealousy.
EVE
You just disappeared, Lisa. I didn’t know if you were safe.
Lisa looks down, guilt flickering behind her cool exterior. She exhales slowly.
LISA
I know. I didn’t mean to scare you.
(quietly)
It wasn’t about you. I think… I needed to not feel anything for a minute.
A silence. Eve softens just slightly. Then Lisa deflects, playful again—
LISA
So… how was your night? Did you finally do the deed?
(grinning)
Was it interstellar?
Eve stares, unamused. Lisa senses it. She backs toward the spare room door.
LISA
Okay. I’ll just be… over here. Possibly nursing a cosmic hangover.
(she opens the door)
Knock if you’re ready to yell… or hug. I’m honestly not sure which one I deserve.
She closes the door behind her. Eve stands there, alone again, torn between anger, worry… and affection.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – SPARE ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Lisa sits on the edge of the bed, hunched over, hands in her lap. She hears a gentle knock, then the door creaks open.
EVE
(softly)
Come on. Let’s get in the shower. Together.
Lisa looks up, eyes glassy. She nods, stands slowly. Eve steps in and closes the door behind her.
LISA
(voice low)
You sure?
EVE
Yeah. I’ll help you with your clothes.
Eve moves with care, unzipping Lisa’s jacket and easing it off her shoulders. She unbuttons the shirt, watching Lisa’s expression. Lisa avoids eye contact, but her breathing shudders. Pants next, then slowly, Eve kneels, sliding down Lisa’s panties.
That’s when Lisa breaks. Her knees wobble, and she starts to cry—not loud, but sharp and sudden, like something cracked inside.
LISA
(choked)
I’m sorry.
Eve stands and pulls her close, forehead to forehead.
EVE
I know.
A beat. Lisa exhales, wipes her tears quickly, almost forcefully.
LISA
Okay. Let’s go.
She undresses the rest of the way, fast now, as if urgency will spare her feelings. Eve does the same. They step into the steam-filled shower together.
INT. SHOWER – CONTINUOUS
Water streams down their bodies. There’s no urgency, no flirtation—just raw, simple closeness. Eve washes Lisa’s hair. Lisa cries again, silently this time, her hands on Eve’s waist. They hold each other for a long while under the warm spray, letting it all rinse away.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – KITCHEN – LATER
The two girls are wrapped in towels, hair wet. Lisa sits on the stool, subdued but calmer. Eve cracks eggs into a shimmering pan.
EVE
I’ll make us something like eggs. Don’t ask me what kind of bird it came from—just eat it.
A tiny smile from Lisa.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – MORNING LIGHT
Eve stands by the window, arms wrapped around herself. Her voice cracks before the words fully come.
EVE
I thought I could do this. Lisa, help me—I can’t. I don’t think I can do it.
LISA
(softly)
What happened last night?
EVE
We had fun. He was kind, passionate… but I think I love him—I’m just not in love with him.
Lisa walks closer, listening with her whole body.
LISA
Then I’m here. I’m here to help.
EVE
(tears brimming)
My people… are you and Artimus. I didn’t choose Rex. I didn’t feel it that way. Lisa, this could break me.
Lisa crosses to her and folds her into a full-bodied hug. Eve collapses into it.
EVE
What was I thinking? You don’t just leave someone like Artimus. He’s part of my soul. You are too.
(chokes back a sob)
How could the Federation ask me to do this?
Lisa holds her tighter.
EVE
Could you do it? Leave me for someone else?
She pulls back, looking Eve in the eye.
LISA
No. No way. I couldn’t. I know exactly what you mean. I’m with you.
(pause)
Let’s take this to the Oracle. Together. Let’s go on strike.
EVE
Eek—they’ll send the National Guard.
LISA
(grinning)
We’ve faced worse.
EVE
Yeah… we have.
They hold each other. Not broken. Just getting stronger.
INT. GUARDIAN SUITE – DAY
Lisa and Eve sit cross-legged on the floor, their hands clasped. A soft hum fills the air as they make contact with the Oracle.
ORACLE (voice resonant, playful)
Are you two ganging up on me?
EVE (serious)
I thought I could do this. But it doesn’t feel right.
ORACLE
And you, Lisa—how do you feel?
LISA
I couldn’t do it either. I feel the same way.
ORACLE (sighs)
Well. I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
LISA
Uh oh… what does that mean?
ORACLE
There’s only one path forward that doesn’t unravel what you’ve both built—for Earth, and for the Guardians.
EVE (tense)
Which is?
ORACLE
Connect Rex to his former flame. Then… take a child back to Earth.
EVE (deadpan)
No. This isn’t a sitcom. We’re not conniving bitches.
ORACLE
Then tell him the truth. About how you feel.
And believe… it’s all going to work out.
LISA (suspicious)
Wait—is this reverse psychology? What is happening right now?
The connection crackles.
ORACLE
(mischievous)
Wouldn’t you like to know…
The Oracle blinks offline. Silence. Lisa and Eve stare at each other.
LISA
Did we just get spiritually gaslit?
EVE
Yep.
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
The room is cozy but energetic. Lisa, Eve, and Rex are playing a game on the bed. A glowing ball hovers in the air, pulsing with mischief. The rule is simple: dodge it or obey a command.
EVE
(grinning)
Alright, I think I can outwit it this time.
She lies flat on the bed and tosses the ball straight up. It drops fast—but she rolls at the last second.
EVE
(laughing)
Missed me, jerkoff!
LISA
(chuckling)
Show off.
Lisa takes her turn. She throws the ball hard against the wall and jumps to dodge it, but it ricochets and smacks her right on the butt.
LISA
Oh damn.
REX
(amused)
It always goes for your ass. You’ve got complicated energy back there.
EVE
(mock-inspecting)
Oh yeah. That’s a whole novel. Possibly a book series.
LISA
(sarcastic)
You swatting me every other day probably isn’t helping.
EVE
Oh please. You love it. Don’t play victim.
REX
Alright, Lisa lost. We get to tell her what to do.
Rex and Eve huddle, whispering like scheming kids. They turn back to Lisa, grinning.
EVE
You’ve gotta put the blindfold on… and try to tickle us.
What begins as a simple dare escalates quickly. They’re all dodging and tickling each other, wrestling, laughing, limbs tangled in chaos.
Afterward, they collapse onto the bed, breathless and glowing.
There’s a beat of calm. Then Lisa speaks, serious but playful.
LISA
Okay, enough games. I wanna know—who did you love before us?
EVE
Yeah. Old flame. We call… Misendork.
They look at Rex. Silence falls. The mood changes. The air thickens with anticipation.
REX
Once upon a time I met my first love. Her name was sapphire. The color of her eyes. I actually met her on earth. She was a hybrid human guardian.
Eve. You must have a thing for humans.
Rex. Very true.
We were both young and her family liked the idea of her marrying a young prince. We came here to be engaged as you would say. But the next time she traveled to earth, she got lost. We couldn’t find her. I spent a year trying to find her but nothing. I guess it’s a legend now in the book of my life. My first love, terrible heartbreak.
INT. GUARDIAN QUARTERS – EVENING
Lisa, Eve, and Rex sit together in a soft-lit room. The energy is intimate but tense. Lisa suddenly speaks up with quiet certainty.
LISA
We can find her.
REX
(firmly)
No, Lisa. We tried. We did everything. There’s nothing more we could do.
EVE
(staring at him)
Lisa doesn’t say something like that unless she can do it.
REX
(looking between them, confused)
Wait—what is this? I’m with you now, Eve.
EVE
(softly)
And I love you. But first loves… they’re important.
(pause)
If she showed up right now—how would you feel?
LISA
Artimus is our first love. And he’s still here.
REX
(taking a breath)
I thought we were giving this a chance—to grow into something real.
EVE
We are. And it is real.
But let’s not pretend this didn’t start out of politics… and survival. We didn’t choose it with our whole hearts.
LISA
You probably think I’m crazy, but I’m serious. Let’s make it a challenge.
If we do find her—your first love—would you consider letting first loves take precedence?
EVE
If we find her… you can’t deny it’s meant to be, Rex.
REX
(studying them both)
And if you don’t?
EVE
(smiling gently)
Then… my perspective on this whole thing might change.
She leans in and kisses him softly, lingering just long enough to blur the lines of certainty.
It was epic. The gang was finally back together.
Rex had taken a few days to think things through. After hearing the raw, unfiltered stories—especially about Lisa and the birdie—he took a leap of faith. He gave us safe passage back to Earth, along with all the Guardian tech we’d need to find her.
We had each other. And we had a mission again.
It felt so good to be with the old crew, grounded in laughter and purpose. We danced our asses off in the city, wild and free, dodging paparazzi and soaking in the electric pulse of Earth beneath our feet.
Somewhere between a rooftop bar and a late-night noodle stand, Buzz pinged us.
He’d been on top of this for a week before we even arrived.
“Swing by one of my spots,” he said. “I’ve got news.”
And just like that, the night cracked open with possibility.
INT. BUZZ’S HIDEOUT – NIGHT
A dim, tech-laden space hums with layered frequencies. Screens line the walls, glowing with data streams. Lisa, Eve, Brad, Artimus, and Buzz gather around a central console. The atmosphere is a mix of nerves and anticipation.
BUZZ
(serious, energized)
Okay. You remember the old Guardian memory banks we smuggled back? One of them was corrupted—until yesterday.
He pulls up a holo-display. A grainy but recoverable visual crackles to life. A young woman appears, maybe late teens, early twenties. Her eyes shimmer a deep sapphire blue. Her hair catches the light like spun glass. She laughs, half-playfully, half-defiantly, as she sends a transmission.
SAPPPHIRE (on screen)
Rex, if you ever see this… I made it. I survived. I couldn’t contact anyone—not safely. But I’ve been living here. Hiding. Healing.
(pauses)
I wasn’t lost. I was protecting something.
The transmission cuts. Static flickers.
LISA
(gasping softly)
That’s her.
EVE
(staring, stunned)
She’s alive.
ARTIMUS
(eyes narrowed)
Where was this recorded?
BUZZ
(quietly)
Near the Crescent District. Off-grid. Southern Hemisphere. Earth.
A beat.
BRAD
So she’s been here… the whole time?
LISA
(to Eve, shaken)
We were right. First loves don’t just vanish.
EVE
(looking at the screen)
She’s not just a memory anymore. She’s a piece of Rex’s story. And she might be waiting for him.
A heavy silence.
BUZZ
I sent a secure pulse to his channel. When Rex sees this… he’ll come.
LISA
Then let’s be ready.
They all stand there, staring at the frozen frame of Sapphire’s smile. A sense of fate, of gravity, fills the room.
FADE TO BLACK.
.