#ttpweek

TTP Appreciation Week

Day 7: Free Choice Most hated character

[GOVERNMENT BUILDING - Department Of Defense PRESENTATION ROOM-- (think any disaster movie where they put all the ‘in commands’ during the crisis to monitor, like a war room, large round table, computer screens everywhere monitoring.) JEDIKIAH stands infront of a screen, projecting DNA strands and the basic chemical compounds that differentiate HOMOSUPERIORS from HOMOSAPIENS. JOHN stands off to the side, almost unnoticed, looking more like a body guard than anything spectacular. He is using TELEPATHY to monitor the thoughts of those in the room. THE AUDIENCE is made up of miliary personnel, suited head honchos and a few people typing up transcriptions of the presentation.]

JEDIKIAH:

----And so, gentlemen, you can see that the world is changing. With the advancement of human evolution, we have experienced Darwinism at it’s finest hour, producing a new species of human, that we’ve decided to dub ‘Paranormal’.

DOD HONCHO - MICHAELS:

I’m sorry, Dr. Price, I’m not sure I quite follow. Your presentation seems to suggest that currently there are a new species that have magic powers and you believe they are these mutants-- I’m sorry, but I thought that sort of nonsense only existed in comic books. And you say they can’t kill until they are given your ‘super serum’?

JEDIKIAH:

I know, it’s a lot to take in, but you have to allow me a chance to--

DOD HONCHO 2- GENERAL SANCHEZ:

Dr. Price, how did you gain clearance to gather us all here to give us a speech on superheroes?

[A brief pause, murmurs of agreement from around the table. JEDIKIAH glances at JOHN who gives him a grin.]

JEDIKIAH:

Well, funny you should ask, General Sanchez. You may be more inclined to believe I’m less of a mad man--

[JOHN TELEPORTS INFRONT OF SANCHEZ, COMPOSED, ARMS BEHIND HIS BACK, NO LONGER JUST A BODYGUARD. SANCHEZ’S CHAIR LIFTS OFF THE GROUND AND HOVERS DRAMATICALLY BEFORE HE IS PUT BACK DOWN. JOHN USED TELEKINESIS on it.]

JEDIKIAH:

Allow me to introduce John Young, my assistant, and one of my first specimens of study.

JOHN:

A pleasure, I’m sure.

[THE AUDIENCE IS SHOCKED. HOLY SHIT-- DID HE JUST--]

JOHN:

Yes. I did just teleport. Yes, I did just read your mind. No, Mr. Oliver, I am not available, I think your wife would quite agree with that.

[JEDIKIAH chuckles, stepping forward and patting John on the shoulder]

JEDIKIAH:

John was one of the youngest breakouts in history. Merely 11 years old. There’s a theory I’ve been working on that correlates the stress and anxiety level of breakouts, relative to age. John is my prime example of that. He was in the system, with an abusive care giver and the sole provider by stealing food since the money his caregiver was taking was blown on… other things. His powers developed and he used them to steal food for his foster siblings. That’s when the organization once known as Ultra found him. With training, and his conditioning through the Annex project-- not a super serum-- He is one of the most advanced of his species. And he can kill.

[JEDIKIAH TAPS HIS REMOTE, VIDEO FOOTAGE OF JOHN POPS ONTO THE SCREEN-- It is undated, but it is JOHN against an UNKNOWN PARANORMAL who is violently fighting against JOHN.]

JEDIKIAH:

This particular paranormal, Tobias Jackson, was the infamous rapist of Tribeca. You probably remember the news coverage. Vanished into thin air after attacking his victims. John here, well, he doesn’t like those who abuse their powers.

[CUT TO THE VIDEO; JOHN THROWS, USING TELEKINESIS,THE UNKNOWN PARANORMAL TO THE GROUND AND FIRES A SHOT FROM A GUN, KILLING HIM INSTANTLY]

[C.U. JOHN’S FACE WATCHING THE SCREEN, HIS FACE EMOTIONLESS.]

JEDIKIAH [OFF]:

As you can see, with John’s conditioning, paranormals can police themselves, and quite effectively. Gentlemen, the threat of those who abuse their powers is dangerous to humanity. With paranormal super soldiers, such as John here, that threat can be eradicated as the paranormals in our program can keep their kind under control.

[JOHN LOOKS AWAY FROM THE SCREEN, STEPPING BACK BEHIND JEDIKIAH, UNOBTRUSIVE.]

SANCHEZ [shocked]:

You say that you have a list of recruits to test your serum on? How do you know they will be willing to help?

JEDIKIAH [amused]:

John will be the one approaching them. I believe he will be a better advocate for our project than myself. The paranormals we wish to recruit respect him. I think they will jump at the opportunity to co-exist alongside humanity, as most have taken to hiding underground to avoid being the victims of a witch hunt.. Most just want to be left alone.

[FADE OUT ON THE AUDIENCE LOOKING BEWILDERED, JOHN LOOKING MOMENTARILY CONFUSED AT JEDIKIAH]

[FADE IN-- WHAT WAS ONCE ULTRA--DEBRIS OF HUMAN LIFE EVIDENT. TRASHCANS FULL OF CHINESE BOXES, COMFORTABLE COUCHES, COMPUTERS, VIDEO GAME SYSTEMS-- CARA AND STEPHEN ENTER, CARRYING BOXES. CHARLOTTE FOLLOWS, LEVITATING HER OWN BOX.]

CARA:

And that’s it. We’re officially out of the Lair… And moved into Ultra… [sigh]

CHARLOTTE [sadly]:

I’m going to miss it…

CARA:

I know sweetie, but this is going to be our home, just for a little while.

[she glances at STEPHEN who is unpacking a box, JOHN’s old items.]

STEPHEN:

If I just lugged his crap around and he doesn’t come back, I will beat him.

[STEPHEN jumps as something in the box reacts to his hand, tipping it and a small robotic device whizzes out, twirling across the table.]

--Oh damnit John, what the hell is that!

CHARLOTTE [giggles]:

Stephen owes 2 dollars to the jar!

[STEPHEN REACHES INTO HIS POCKET AND HANDS CHARLOTTE THE TWO DOLLARS WITHOUT HESITATION, LOOKING RESIGNED, LIKE just shut up and take my money.]

CARA [amused as hell]:

That is John’s original concept of a spider. He made it to work inside TIM whenever he couldn’t get to the part with his own hands---- [Her face falls, she misses JOHN]

[ENTER ASTRID, HUMAN, HER OWN BOX IN HER ARMS.]

ASTRID[annoyed]:

So, I don’t want to go shopping with Russell ever again. Can I just go by myself next time?

RUSSELL [telepathically-notated in /Text/]:

/She is SO RUDE./

[CARA AND STEPHEN BOTH ROLL THEIR EYES, CHARLOTTE GIGGLES AGAIN. ASTRID FROWNS.]

ASTRID:

Just because I can’t hear you doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re talking about me!

[RUSSELL TELEPORTS IN, SMIRKING.]

RUSSELL:

Alright, I’m sorry. Kiss and make up?

[ASTID ROLLS HER EYES AND SHOVES THE BOX IN HIS HANDS, IT IS FULL OF CANNED GOODS]

RUSSELL- ctd:

--You know, one day, that line is gonna work. [More seriously, staring at the spider] Oh great, that thing is still around. [looks like he is having War Flashbacks.]

CARA:

John also made it to play chess. Russell tried to cheat it. We found out it also can bite.

RUSSELL [glaring at the robot; mutters]:

One day, I will get my vengeance.

CHARLOTTE:

I miss John.

[HER STATEMENT TAKES EFFECT ON THE FOUR ADULTS. ALL LOOKING AT THE LITTLE GIRL, AND SADLY.]

Where is he? He wouldn’t stay away if he had his powers back, and Cara said she felt him, like he was breaking out. Why is he not back yet? [she becomes frantic, wringing her hands and looking on the verge of tears. ASTRID wraps her arms around her, hugging tightly. No one can answer her. They can’t find him either.]

The Tomorrow People Appreciation Week

TTP Appreciation Week

Day 7: Free Choice Fan Video