Officer Torres enters the men's bathroom at the police station. She knows that Captain DeLuca is inside, and she enters without knocking. The Captain is surprised to see her.
OFFICER TORRES (Whispering) Captain, we need to talk in private.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Confused) Here?
Officer Torres locks the bathroom door from the inside and then turns to face Captain DeLuca.
OFFICER TORRES Not here. We must meet again in the parking lot. We must go somewhere early. Finish your business here and follow me in the parking lot. I will wait in my car.
She turns and hurries out of the bathroom, leaving Captain DeLuca alone. He sighs and looks around. He can't believe that he's just been given a secret message in a police station restroom. But he knows that Officer Torres is a smart and dedicated officer, so he trusts her.
He finishes his business quickly and then heads out to the parking lot. He sees Officer Torres' car parked in a corner and gets in.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Getting into Officer Torres' car) What's going on?
OFFICER TORRES (Starting the car) I'll tell you when we're somewhere safe.
The car pulls out of the parking lot and heads off.
INT. CAR - DAY
OFFICER TORRES is driving fast down a winding road that leads out of town and into the woods. CAPTAIN DELUCA is sitting in the passenger seat, not wearing his seatbelt.
OFFICER TORRES (Making a shushing gesture) Please, Captain. We need to be quiet.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Confused) Why?
OFFICER TORRES (Still making a shushing gesture) Just trust me, okay?
Captain DeLuca looks at Officer Torres for a moment, then nods. He doesn't know what's going on, but he trusts her.
OFFICER TORRES (Smiling) Good.
Officer Torres glances in the rearview mirror and then speeds up. The car races through the evening, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
Captain DeLuca is putting the seatbelt on. Then he looks out the window at the passing scenery. He's still confused, and he knows that Officer Torres is a bit of a loose cannon. He's not sure what to expect.
They have been driving in silence for several hours. Officer Torres has turned off the police radio. She is looking at the road ahead of her.
Captain DeLuca turns his head and looks at Officer Torres. Her expression is worried.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sighing) How much longer?
OFFICER TORRES (Not looking at him) Almost there.
Captain DeLuca nods. He knows that Officer Torres is investigating Space-Corp, and that she should be with Mark. But he hasn't heard from Mark in a while, and he's starting to suspect that something has happened to him.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
OFFICER TORRES pulls up to a small cabin near a lake in the woods. She turns off the engine and looks at Captain DeLuca.
OFFICER TORRES (Smiling) We're here.
Captain DeLuca looks at the cabin, then back at Officer Torres.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Confused) What is this place?
OFFICER TORRES (Getting out of the car) It's Samantha's safe house.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Getting out of the car) Samantha? Who's Samantha?
OFFICER TORRES (Leading him to the cabin) She's an informant. She's been helping me with my investigation into Space-Corp.
Captain DeLuca follows Officer Torres to the cabin door. She knocks on the door, and a moment later, it opens.
SAMANTHA (Smiling) Officer Torres. It's good to see you again.
Captain DeLuca looks at Samantha. She's a young woman, in her early twenties, with long red hair and green eyes. She's wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Confused) I'm DeLuca. What's going on?
SAMANTHA (Sighing) Come inside, and I'll tell you everything.
Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres follow Samantha into the cabin.
Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres follow Samantha into the cabin. It's a small, cozy cabin with one room and a kitchenette. The walls are decorated with wood paneling, and the floor is covered with a thick rug.
There's a fireplace in the corner of the room, and a sofa and two chairs arranged in front of it. On the coffee table is a stack of books and magazines.
Captain DeLuca looks around the cabin. He's impressed by how clean and well-organized it is.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Smiling at Samantha) Nice place you have here.
SAMANTHA (Blushing) Thank you. I try to keep it clean.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Nodding) It shows.
Samantha smiles again and leads Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres to the kitchenette. She offers them coffee, and they accept.
As Samantha makes the coffee, Captain DeLuca continues to admire the cabin. He notices that there are a lot of personal touches, such as the framed photos on the walls and the flowers on the windowsill.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (To Samantha) This place must mean a lot to you.
SAMANTHA (Nodding) It does. It's the first place where I've ever felt truly safe.
Captain DeLuca smiles. He's glad that Samantha has found a place where she feels safe.
Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres are sitting in Samantha's cabin, drinking coffee and tea. Captain DeLuca is eager to find out what's going on.
OFFICER TORRES (Taking a sip of her tea) We can talk here. The police station is infiltrated by Space-Corp. They listen everywhere.
Captain DeLuca's eyes widen in surprise.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Leaning forward) Are you serious?
OFFICER TORRES (Nodding) Yes. I've been doing some digging, and I've found some evidence that they have bugs planted all over the station.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Shaking his head) I can't believe it.
OFFICER TORRES (Sighing) Me neither. But it's true.
Captain DeLuca leans back in his chair and takes a deep breath. He's trying to process what Officer Torres has just told him.
CAPTAIN DELUCA So, what do we do now?
OFFICER TORRES (Smiling) We wait.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Frowning) Wait for what?
OFFICER TORRES (Looking at SAMANTHA) For Mark. He should be here soon.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Nodding) Good. I'm worried about him.
SAMANTHA (Reassuringly) Don't worry, Captain. He's a smart man. He knows how to take care of himself.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sighing) I hope you're right.
Captain DeLuca, Officer Torres, and Samantha sit down at the table and wait for Mark to arrive. They all have a sense of foreboding, but they try to stay positive.
After a few minutes, they hear a knock at the door. Samantha gets up and answers it. It's Mark.
MARK (Smiling) Hey.
SAMANTHA (Smiling back) Hi. Come on in.
Mark enters the cabin and closes the door behind him. He looks at Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres.
MARK (Seriously) I'm glad you're both here.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Standing up) Mark, what's going on?
MARK (Taking a deep breath) Space-Corp is up to something big.
Captain DeLuca, Officer Torres, and Samantha look at Mark expectantly.
MARK (Seriously) Space-Corp is using VR to train children in secret, then kidnapping the best children all over the world to send them on long space missions.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Shocked) What? That's illegal!
OFFICER TORRES (Disgusted) And unethical.
MARK (Nodding) It is. But Space-Corp doesn't care. They're only interested in profits.
SAMANTHA (Frowning) What kind of space missions are they sending these children on?
MARK (Sighing) I don't know for sure. But I've heard rumors that they're sending them to mine asteroids and work on space stations.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Shaking his head) This is outrageous. We have to stop them.
MARK (Nodding) I agree. But it's not going to be easy. Space-Corp is very powerful.
OFFICER TORRES (Determined) We'll find a way.
MARK (Standing up) Well, I have some work to do.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Standing up) Can I help?
MARK (Smiling) Sure.
Mark and Captain DeLuca go outside. Mark opens the trunk of his car and starts rummaging through it.
EXT. CABIN - NIGHT
MARK (To Captain DeLuca) I'm looking for some sensors and tools.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Looking in the trunk) Sensors? What kind of sensors?
MARK (Pulling out a box of sensors) Motion sensors. I need to install them around the cabin.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Nodding) Why?
MARK (Sighing) I'm worried that Space-Corp might be spying on us.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Frowning) Do you think they're that good?
MARK (Nodding) They're very good. They have access to the latest technology.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sighing) Well, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.
Mark and Captain DeLuca installed the motion sensors around the cabin. Mark also uses a signal detector to check if his car or Captain DeLuca's car is bugged.
MARK (To Captain DeLuca) You never know.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Nodding) I guess not.
Once the motion sensors are installed, Mark and Captain DeLuca return to the cabin.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sitting down at the table) So, what's next?
Mark and Captain DeLuca are standing on the roof of the cabin, looking up at the sky.
MARK (Smiling) Now we must install a small satellite dish. I need you to keep the light.
Captain DeLuca nods and takes the flashlight from Mark. He shines it up at the sky, illuminating the area around the roof.
Mark takes the satellite dish from his trunk and begins to assemble it. He works quickly and efficiently, and soon the satellite dish is assembled and ready to be installed.
Mark carefully positions the satellite dish on the roof and tightens the screws. He then connects the satellite dish to the receiver inside the cabin.
Once the satellite dish is installed, Mark and Captain DeLuca return to the cabin.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Mark and Captain DeLuca are sitting at the table, looking at the laptop computer.
MARK (Smiling) It's working. We can now communicate with Anya and Jax without Space-Corp knowing.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sighing) That's a relief.
MARK (Nodding) Now let's start to make our plans.
Mark and Captain DeLuca begin to discuss their plans to stop Space-Corp. They talk about the challenges they will face and the strategies they will use.
INT. CABIN - NIGHT
Mark sits at the table, his laptop open in front of him. He is connected to the Toby VR headset, and the green light of the VR camera scans his body.
MARK (To Captain DeLuca) I'm building my avatar for the VR set.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sitting down at the table) Why do you need an avatar?
MARK (Smiling) Because I'm going to go undercover.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Frowning) You're going to infiltrate Space-Corp?
MARK (Nodding) It's the only way to stop them.
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Sighing) I know, but it's dangerous.
MARK (Nodding) It is. But I'm willing to take the risk.
Captain DeLuca nods. He knows that Mark is right. It is dangerous, but it is the only way to stop Space-Corp.
MARK (To Captain DeLuca) Can you keep an eye on me while I'm in the VR world?
CAPTAIN DELUCA (Smiling) Of course.
Mark puts on the Toby VR headset. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He is ready to begin his undercover mission.
Samantha explains to Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres what they have achieved so far. She admits that she doesn't know for sure who the president of Space-Corp is, or even if the president is a real person or an AI. She explains that Space-Corp is organized into cells, each with its own AI, and that every space mission is led by an AI. She also reveals that the Earth government is infiltrated by Space-Corp agents.
Samantha's explanation shocks Captain DeLuca and Officer Torres. They realize that Space-Corp is a much more powerful and dangerous organization than they had previously thought.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Wide-eyed) Space-Corp is organized in cells? And each building has its own AI?
SAMANTHA: Yes. It's a decentralized organization, which makes it very difficult to infiltrate and take down.
OFFICER TORRES: And every space mission is led by an AI?
SAMANTHA: That's correct. Space-Corp is heavily reliant on technology.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Shaking his head) This is incredible. I had no idea Space-Corp was so powerful.
OFFICER TORRES: Me neither. But it makes sense. They've been able to operate in secret for so long because they're so well-organized and well-funded.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Slamming his fist on the table) I'm not going to stand by and let them get away with this. We have to stop them.
OFFICER TORRES: I agree. But we need to be careful. Space-Corp is dangerous. And they have their tentacles everywhere.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Standing up and pacing the room) We'll find a way. We have to.
Samantha also reveals that Mark has been promoted to a new position at Space-Corp, and that she has been given access to sensitive information. She also explains that Anya has managed to hack the most influential AI in the organization. Finally, she drops a bombshell: Tores will be working undercover for Space-Corp as a security officer for the top floor of the main building.
TORRES: (Shocked) Undercover? At Space-Corp?
SAMANTHA: (Nodding) Yes. It's a risky mission, but it's also an opportunity to gather valuable intelligence and disrupt their operations.
TORRES: (Shaking her head) I can't believe this. I'm going to be working for the enemy.
SAMANTHA: I know it's a lot to ask, but I need you to do this, Tores. You're the best person for the job.
TORRES: (Sighing) Okay. I'll do it. But I'm going to need all the help I can get.
SAMANTHA: You'll have our support every step of the way.
Tores is understandably shocked and hesitant to accept Samantha's assignment. However, she is also a loyal and patriotic soldier, and she knows that it is her duty to do whatever she can to help defeat Space-Corp.
I am eager to see how Tores fares in her undercover role. I am also curious to see how Mark, Samantha, Anya, and Tores will use their new positions and information to defeat Space-Corp and build a better future for everyone.
Mark takes off his headset and joins the conversation. He brings news about Anya and Jax. They were chased by an interceptor, but they are safe now. Mark explains that the children are using VR again and that he met some of them. They are safe on board a spaceship, but they can't return to Earth. They are hostages of the AI that drives the spaceship.
DeLuca reacts in shock and disbelief.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Standing up and pacing the room) Hostages? On a spaceship? This is outrageous! We have to do something to get them back.
MARK: (Nodding) I know. But it won't be easy. The AI is in control of the spaceship.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Slamming his fist on the table) I don't care how difficult it is. We have to save those children.
OFFICER TORRES: (Nodding) I'm with you, Captain.
Mark explains that they can't bring the children back because Anya and Jax have struck a deal with the AI. The children have no way to return and nobody can catch them. They're too far away in space and are traveling to Ceres. Besides, nobody knows exactly where they are. Mark and his team have to focus on bringing down Space-Corp.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Frustrated) We can't just abandon the children!
MARK: (Shaking his head) I know, but there's nothing we can do right now. Anya and Jax have made their decision. We need to respect that.
OFFICER TORRES: (Nodding) Mark's right. We need to focus on bringing down Space-Corp. Once we do that, the children will be safe.
SAMANTHA: (Putting her hand on Mark's shoulder) We'll find a way to save the children, but we need to be careful. Space-Corp is dangerous.
CAPTAIN DELUCA: (Sighing) I know. But we can't give up. The future of humanity depends on it.
DeLuca is frustrated, but he understands that Mark is right. They need to focus on defeating Space-Corp. Once they do that, they can save the children.
Samantha excuses herself and comes back with snacks. It is almost morning, and they need to rest. Later, she invites them to sleep on inflatable mattresses. Mark checks the fire and then turns off the lights. They have little time to rest.
The fire is crackling merrily in the fireplace, casting warm shadows on the walls of the cabin. The flames dance and flicker, illuminating the room with a soft, orange glow. The logs are burning brightly, and the scent of wood smoke fills the air.
Mark stands in front of the fireplace, his hands outstretched to the flames. He feels the warmth on his skin and smiles. He is grateful for the fire, for the warmth and the comfort it provides.
Mark turns off the light and joins the others on the inflatable mattresses. They all close their eyes and try to sleep, but it is difficult. They are worried about the children and about what the future holds.
The fire crackles and flickers in their hearths, a reminder of hope and strength in the face of adversity. Even when things seem hopeless, the fire whispers that there is always a chance for a better tomorrow.
To be continued ... will the plot to bring down Space-Corp succeed?