Crossfire Pilot

SCENE 1

EXT. CITY - NIGHT

The city streets are mostly empty, except for a lone girl sprinting down the pavement. Behind her is the sounds of an angry mob. This is JIN, a dark-skinned girl of about 18 with short brown hair and noticeable rabbit ears. She turns a corner into a back-alley to catch her breath.

As she stops, a woman in her early 20s steps from the shadows and offers her a hand. The woman is pale with long dark hair. Her black and red dress looks bizarrely formal compared to Jin's more sports-oriented clothes.

WOMAN

Come with me.

JIN

(catching her breath)Who...who are you?

WOMAN

My name is Mona. I'm here to help you. Now, come with me.

Mona gestures to the darkness, where a faint crackle of purple light can be seen. Jin considers the offer for a moment.

JIN

Why would you want to help me?

Mona

Why wouldn't I?

JIN

Because I'm...because I'm a freak! (pause) I'm not supposed to exist.

MONA

Is that what they all told you? That you didn't belong?

JIN

They're...they're not wrong...but I don't want to die.

Mona

I was told the same things. But you know what? They were wrong, and these people are wrong too.

JIN

What?

MONA

Listen...there's a place for people like us. A place for us to belong.

Mona turns to the purple light and with a couple of hand gestures, it splits open to reveal a beautiful garden.

MONA

This is the Lost Paradise. People from all sorts of realities live here because they weren't understood where they were born.

JIN

Realities? What're you talking about?

MONA

(sighs) Sorry, but I don't have much time to explain. Are you coming with me or not?

JIN

It's a lot to take in.

The shouts of the mob become louder. Mona grabs Jin and pulls her into the dark. The mob charges past the alley, completely oblivious to the fact that Jin is there.

MONA

They'll figure it out soon. If you're coming, we have to go now. Just...just please, for just this one moment, trust me. I want to save you.

JIN

(long pause) Ok. Let's go.

Mona smiles, but the smile fades when she hears a voice from behind her.

MALE VOICE

Sorry, ladies, but you're not leaving just yet.

SCENE 2

Opening credits

SCENE 3

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EXT. CITY - NIGHT

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Continuing from the opening scene, the owner of the voice is revealed to be a red-haired firecracker of a young man, LEO, in a formal suit and tie. He smirks.

LEO

I need that girl. Boss's orders.

MONA

(to Jin) I'll deal with this. Just wait a minute.

Mona closes her hands together, closing the portal. She sighs, takes a deep breath, and scowls as she turns to face the stranger.

MONA

And who the hell do you think you are?

LEO

Name's Leo. I don't have time for long introductions, so if you could hurry it up a little-

MONA

Why do you need her?

LEO

(shrugs) Science or something. Boss didn't say.

MONA

(sarcastically) Oh, then of course I'll hand over this girl. I'm totally going to disregard what she wants and hand her over to some creepy guy in a suit. Because science or something.

LEO

You make it sound so ridiculous.

MONA

I'm already taking her somewhere safe.

LEO

And what makes you think she's safer with you?

MONA

She's coming with me to the Lost Paradise. Giles will look after her and-

LEO

Giles? Lost Paradise?

Leo frowns, then grins as he steps forwards.

LEO

Oh, I know you. Boss said something about some girl working for a two-bit con-artist calling himself a God. That must be you.

Mona's glare intensifies. She kneels on the ground, opening a portal on the floor.

LEO

Huh? What're you-

Mona launches her fist through the portal on the floor. It comes out a portal beside his face, effectively allowing her to punch Leo in the face. He staggers, nose bleeding.

LEO

What the hell?!

MONA

Nobody talks about Giles like that.

LEO

Geez, I was just kidding.

Leo wipes his face, noticing blood on his sleeve.

LEO

How'd you hit so hard anyway?

MONA

Well, I could explain the scientific principles of momentum, but I'll put it simply just for you. 'Speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out'.

Leo snaps his fingers and his hand is suddenly ablaze. With his other hand, he pulls a gun from his pocket.

LEO

Ok, that's enough fun and games. Boss needs that girl and I can't leave without her.

MONA

Just you try and take her.

JIN

C'mon, let's just go. He's not worth the-

MONA

No, it's fine. I can handle this punk.

Mona pulls a pair of daggers from a small portal, changing to a more aggressive stance. Leo smirks, aiming squarely for Mona's heart with the gun.

Leo pushes forwards with his flaming hand, sending fire rocketing towards where Mona is standing. Mona dodges through a portal and appears in front of him, attempting to slash at his chest. Her knife catches his shirt as he dodges, tearing it a little. Jin is staring at all this, in awe of Mona's skill as a fighter.

The pair continue fighting, matching each attack with an almost perfect dodge. Eventually, Mona opens a portal on the ground, dropping down from above and latching onto Leo from behind. In seconds, her blades are at his throat and his gun is at her head.

The two stare for a moment, daring each other to make the first move. Beneath that dare is a spark, a spark of something between admiration and adrenaline. Both are grinning wildly.

LEO

Heh. You're pretty good, Sunshine.

MONA

You're...not bad, I guess.

Leo twists his head slightly so he can whisper in Mona's ear.

LEO

How about I let you have this one and we can finish this later, hm?

Mona's face betrays embarrassment for a split second, before resuming her sour expression. She hops down from his back, hooking a blade under his tie to cut it free. Before he can react, Mona grabs the tie from in front of him.

MONA

I'm keeping this.

LEO

...You're weird. It's cute.

MONA

I-I'm not cute! I almost killed you.

LEO

(chuckles) Whatever. You'd better go.

Two other figures in similarly formal attire to Leo appear behind him out of the darkness. The shorter of the two is MAX, Leo's blonde and scruffy little brother. The other is ELLE, a blonde woman with a cruel face.

MAX

What's keeping you, bro? Boss is waiting.

LEO

Had a little problem to deal with. She's earned the win here.

ELLE

Earned the win? That's not how we do things, Leo.

Elle pulls her gun out and shoots Mona in the shoulder without hesitation.

ELLE

Hand over the girl or the next bullet's going in your brain.

Mona stumbles backwards. She clutches her arm, gritting her teeth in an attempt to bear the pain.

LEO

Jesus christ, Elle!

Jin pulls lightly on Mona's good arm.

JIN

We have to leave now.

MONA

R-right. Better quit while we're winning.

Mona opens a portal to the Lost Paradise and, with Jin's help, steps through.

CUT TO:

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

The Lost Paradise is a large garden, stretching out further than the eye can see. The grass is a lush green and the flowers vary from exotic and bright to more subdued and typical. At the top of a hill is a mansion.

A small boy with a fox tail is talking enthusiastically with an older boy with bright red eyes. A man throws a frisbee and a woman transforms into a dog, sprinting down the field along side the stretching arms of another woman to compete to catch it. Other various people, both normal and unusual-looking, are talking, laughing and playing together.

Mona stumbles through a portal, along with Jin. Mona's trying to smile to hide her pain.

JIN

Is there an infirmary here?

MONA

It's fine, really. I've had worse.

JIN

I'm not letting you suffer. Infirmary, now.

MONA

We...we don't really have one. I have first aid kits in my room.

JIN

(sighs) That'll have to do. Lead the way.

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