Breakwall - 7.0.1 - Only Waves as Witness
Against the Tide
Breakwall - Episode 7.0.1 - Part one of a two part mega episode as Jonny tries to escape not only the Inter-call building... but other forces as well. Part 2 launches 2/28/20. Follow us on Twitter for news and updates. Join us on discord to hang out with cast and crew! Want to support the show? Please check out our Patreon as Cybernautica is 100% Fan Supported!
Cybernautica is intended for mature audiences on account of mature language, theme and violence. Please be advised.
CREDITS:
Abigail Turner as Jonny
Veronica Pierce as Estella Morgan
Katy as Guard Captain
Damian Szydlo as Andrew
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Dan Boud as the Narrator
Written, Designed and Edited by Damian Szydlo
Script Editing by Jupiter Sanders
Show theme by Doug Maxwell
Music and Sound Effects from Syrinscape & Audioblocks
Transcript
FADE IN
[The stairwell door slams behind Jonny and Estella, the tromping of combat boots down stairs bring us into the scene.]
JONNY
[hushed tone]
“Well, at least they’re predictable. Sounds like ten, maybe twelve pairs of boots coming down the stairs, carrying along the arseholes that are wearin’ ‘em.”
ESTELLA
[oblivious to any need for silence]
“This doesn’t need to come to violence. Technically they’re still my employees. I can have them stand down.”
JONNY
“Like fuck you can. They’ve got one priority right now and that’s to make sure you’re recovered in one piece. No hostage situation on our horizon I’m afraid. That’s the beauty of non lethal ammunition. You don’t have to be liberal in it’s application… nor do you have to spare the hostage their fair dose if things get hairy. Don’t you worry though, this is the part where it gets fun! Now be a good girl and find yourself some cover, yeah?”
Ms. Morgan obliged the request with the sort of reluctance one might expect from someone not used to taking orders; crouching down behind the nearby cover of a concrete banister. With a step back, Jonny fell to a knee before setting her pistols down on the floor in front of her. Reaching into the folds of her long coat she produced a handheld flash pack; a smirk finding her lips as she bounced the device in the palm of her hand before snatching it out of the air.
One of the disadvantages of relying on an adrenal pump to augment your reaction time was that it not only couldn’t be re-engaged too soon after use; but that it was also kind enough to leave behind a sort of numbing fatigue in its wake. It was something she was used to dealing with… but in the absence of that powerful advantage, she’d need to count on this flash pack to scramble the digital optics of the incoming security team. It was the only trick she had left to swing the odds in her favor.
Without any more notice or delay, the security squad trampled down the final flight of stairs only to be confronted by the cylindrical grenade sliding across the floor and in among their many booted feet; accompanied by a sly wink from the merc who’d deployed it.
TROOP
“Grenade!”
[sound of explosion and electronic distortion, squad cries out as digital feedback from their optics scrambles their vision]
Sweeping up her pistols Jonny began to unleash a barrage of steady, controlled shots in response to the wild, disoriented spray of automatic fire coming from the blinded guards. The riot gear they wore might have been ample enough to shrug off most light ordinance but when confronted with the sheer power of a Moray pistol; the bulky armor stood as nothing more than a means of restricting the movement of the soldier it sought to shield. In a desperate response to the electronic attack, the leader frantically tore her helmet off, letting it fall to the ground amidst the bloody bodies of the guards who had taken point.
TROOP
“Helmets off! For god sakes, Shoot her!”
[Sounds of Estella panicking amidst the gunplay]
Quickly rolling out of the way, the mercs lightning quick reflexes weren’t enough to save her from the tail end of the captain’s retaliatory burst. With gritted teeth she noted the tell-tale sting of what were commonly referred to on the streets of Arcadia as taser or ‘snare’ rounds. Fortunately enough, her long coat offered some means of absorbing this otherwise very effective means of subdual. That protection wouldn’t hold up under a sustained barrage, though. She’d need to act fast.
Leveling her pistols once again, a retaliatory shot separated the captain’s arm at the elbow while a second blew out her knee. [pained screaming from the captain]. Springing up to her feet Jonny leapt, taking to the air in an effort to quickly close the distance between herself and cover. The landing was indeed hardly a graceful one, cybernetic shoulder slamming first into the wall before sliding down hard to join Estella behind the bannister.
[Gunfire continues]
JONNY
[breathing heavy]
“Are we havin’ fun or what!? You alright?”
ESTELLA
“You’re shot. I thought that it was over… that I’d never get this chance again…”
JONNY
“It’s a piss poor merc that doesn’t prepare to take a bullet or two. Hold on a stitch, need to return fire so as not to lose their interest.
[Jonny fires back wildly while maintaining cover]
Needy fuckers, aren’t they? Alright! So as much as I’d fancy a little chat about the joys of getting shot; those Hightower badges aren’t going to let up any time soon. We’re going to need to make a break for it.”
ESTELLA
“A break for it? You don’t mean to say you expect me to…”
JONNY
“Run. That’s exactly what I mean. Better still, I want you to take the lead on it. You should make no mistake, they’re probably going to shoot you… but I’m hoping the surprise of a charging heiress might still their trigger fingers just long enough that I might drop a couple more of the bastards before I follow you. Not sugar-coating it, those snares hurt like a son of a bitch but that jacket you’re wearing will protect ya from the worst of it. No matter what you do though, I need you to keep moving. Have you unpacked all that?”
ESTELLA
“Keep moving. I understand. Despite what you might think of me, I assure you that pain is something I’m intimately familiar with.”
JONNY
“Oh, now that’s an attitude I can get behind. Literally in this case. I guess there's no time like the present; let’s make a thing happen.”
Estella surged forward, bullets impacting around her as desperation pressed her to action. From the moment she’d set to motion it was clear that the squad had been taken aback to see the high profile hostage charge out into live gunfire, just as Jonny had expected. It wasn’t long before she was tangled in the midst of the security team as they sought to fall in to restrain the apparently panicked target. The distraction and subsequent break in fire was seemingly all Jonny needed to take advantage and make her own advancement. The thunderous shots of the twin pistols shattering the air and allowing the heiress opportunity enough to finally struggle past her would be captors and start up the stairwell.
[ESTELLA - cries out as taser rounds strike her armored vest]
Pain. She almost couldn’t believe they’d actually turned their fire onto her in the hope of immobilizing what had clearly now been assessed as an escape attempt rather than a hostage situation. The bite of the snare rounds was every bit as true as Jonny had made it out to be… but it wouldn’t be enough to stop her. Not now.
Run. Rise. Free yourself from your gilded cage. These were the thoughts that sped Estella Morgan past the frightening reality of her situation with the same fierceness that had propelled her former life to greatness. She would overcome this, just as she’d overcome everything else that had ever dared get in her way.
ESTELLA
[out of breath]
“This is it. Floor 130! Come on!”
JONNY
“I’m right behind you! Keep goin’! I’ve a little present I’d like to leave ‘em. Something to remember me by-”
[Sound of Jonny tossing a grenade down the stairs, movement sounds, door opening and slamming shut, explosion from the other room, running before reaching a car. - Sound design note, pace this scene - don’t rush it but let it feel frantic - let the audience figure out what’s going on for the first time without the narrator]
JONNY
[now also a little out of breath from all the action - spots someone getting into their car]
“Hey you! You! Get on the ground! Now, or god help me I’ll put a bullet in you.”
EXECUTIVE
“Okay, okay… no need to get carried away. Wait… Ms. Morgan? Is that you?”
ESTELLA
“Andrew. I’m terribly sorry for all of this. We’re going to require your compliance… and you’re vehicle. I’ll ensure you’re reimbursed appropriately.”
JONNY
“Not exactly how I’d planned on doing things…”
ESTELLA
“Yet here we are. You’ll need to drive. I’m afraid I never learned how.”
With wide, excited eyes it took no further urging for Jonny to get behind the wheel of the luxury Caldwell Century Flightcar. Part of her wanted to take a moment, to wrap both hands around the ‘True Leather’ grip of the steering wheel and truly ‘feel’ this vehicle . It’s sleek profile the perfect harmony of deco elegance and modern sensibility. To acknowledge that this car alone was probably more expensive than anything she’d ever owned. Keep your sports cars, Jonny thought; the Century was the soul of Neo-Atlantis in a can. Appreciation would have to wait though as she fired the unit up, the vehicle already taking to flight as the passenger door closed behind Ms. Morgan.
ESTELLA
“We actually did it… We got away.”
JONNY
“I’d hold off on getting too excited about that just yet. Not to sound cliche; but that was the easy part. We’re going to have zone security up our asses any second now. Hightower was pretty quick to tag us on our way in to see you and I’m sure we won’t be getting a courtesy call this time around. Listen. When the shooting starts, I want you to keep your head down. The second go around they won’t be using snares.”
ESTELLA
“They wouldn’t dare fire at us while I’m in the vehicle. You should concentrate on out-running them.”
JONNY
“Oh so you’re the expert now? Well, I certainly hope you’re as valuable to them as you think you are.”
As if on cue, the silhouette of a single Hightower branded Caldwell Interceptor fell in behind them. It was a sleek, intimidating armored charger more than capable of a dogfight and plated enough to easily ram most commercial vehicles out of the air. A look of determination etched itself upon Jonny’s face as she urged the Century to breakneck velocity, despite the flashing holo-display urging an immediate reduction of speed and a return to sanctioned flight paths. With irritation she swiped the warnings away before banking deep into the guts of Megaris.
The decadent skyscrapers of the district seemed to zip past them as the luxury car and it’s pilot went in search of improvised obstacles in hopes of shaking the unflinching pursuer. Clenching her teeth she let desperation take the wheel; flying in low to strafe the underside of an idling Cruiseline Pleasure-barge with the intent of creating some distance between herself and their tail, if not it completely losing them in the process. Clearing past the mast of the resort ship with little more to show of it then a scraped undercarriage the stunt bought only a split second of relief as the Interceptor once again fell in behind them without any sign of stress or difficulty.
JONNY
“Persistent little shit. Didn’t even give them a sweat for all that work! They’re a better pilot than I, so I guess it’s a damn good thing you’re too important to risk -
[Sound of railgun fire]
Shit, shit shit. So much for them not opening up on us?! [pauses to gather herself]
We’re in a spot now, aren’t we? No way around that. This little beauty we’re sitting in is meant to stave off light arms fire at most. It isn’t going to stand up against an Interceptor. So new plan it is. Take the wheel.”
ESTELLA
“Did I not express myself adequately when I plainly stated-”
JONNY
“That you were so bloody privileged to have never touched a steering wheel for not one but two lifetimes? You made that very clear. Consider this your first lesson, then. Just hold the wheel steady and keep us from running into any buildings, alright?”
ESTELLA
“What are you going to… You’re going to shoot back, aren't you?”
JONNY
“I’m not thrilled about it… but yeah, I’m going to send some bullets back their way. Remember what I said...
ESTELLA
“Keep it steady.”
[Sound effects of the wind picking up, door opening.]
The door slid up and with it, so did Jonny. Determination erased any hesitation as she extended her cybernetic arm, as well as the pistol it held; to the following Interceptor. With each pull of the trigger she watched the powerful shots of the Moray impact into the fighters’ armor without any noticeable effect. Ducking back into the Lux-car to eject her spent ammo cartridge, she took a moment to slide a new one into place while formulating a new plan. If that armor was too thick she’d need to go for glass instead. The sloped windows of the chasing car made that a tough shot… but one that she was going to have to make if she hoped to put this job behind her.
With a grunt she returned to a standing position, the iris of her cybereye sliding into place to zoom and shift it’s focal range before finally locking onto her target… and the familiar face of the enemy driver as well as the predatory smirk she wore.
JONNY
“Derby Bell. Fuck.”
It was as if the assassin could sense the coming danger, raising the car’s nose at the last minute to put her out of Jonny’s vision; the bullets harmlessly pinging off the armored underbelly of the vehicle. With a speed that proved she could have overtaken the Century at any point, Derby powered into a position above them, eclipsing the hijacked car in her shadow.
ESTELLA
[calls out from inside the car]
“What’s happening? Did we lose them?”
JONNY
“That’d be a gift. She’s... above us. Give her here, I’ve got the wheel. You ‘might’ want to hold on -”
[Impact sound as Derby rams the car from above]
“And she’s ramming us. From above. Or is it belly flopping at this point? Do you think you can belly flop with a car?”
ESTELLA
“Are you sure that this is the best time for amateur comedy?”
JONNY
“Not really. [another big impact] But I’m just about fresh out of ideas. If it was a cop, I’d have left them eating our wake a long time ago, but it isn’t. Do you remember that big money assassin I’d mentioned earlier? Seems she found a ride of her own.”
[another big impact with some cracking/fragmenting of the vehicle]
“And that was the rear fender. Another drop like that and she’ll have a thruster. After that, we’re gonna drop out of the air, spinning like a top… [pauses as an idea occurs to her] You know, maybe that’s not such a bad idea given our current situation…”
ESTELLA
“What!? Can’t you do something!?”
JONNY
“Well… you can bet your ass I’m going to try.”
Raising her hand to the vehicles holo-menu, Jonny deftly scanned through the available options before landing on an emergency shutdown. After acknowledging and quickly accepting that it was indeed unsafe and not recommended to shut a flight car down when in motion; the engines of the vehicle suddenly switched off just in time for the vehicle to drop out of range of Derby’s next ram. With hands tightly locked on the wheel in front of her, that momentary sense of weightlessness greeted them before giving way to the gut wrenching G-force that soon followed as the battered car plummeted from the sky. The panic of her passenger was a distant concern as she raised a shaking hand to reboot the vehicles engines as they squealed against the forces of gravity.
JONNY
“HOLD ON! We’re going to be landing hard on-top of the breakwall! Engaging emergency landing protocol… NOW!”
[Sound effects of the car landing hard on top of the breakwall after a dramatic pause]