Chapter 23:
[VISUAL]Inside the smoke shop — shelves stocked with products, a few customers browsing. Rain stands behind the counter, tired but alert.
CUSTOMER:Have a good day, Rain.
RAIN:...Yeah. You too.
[VISUAL]Close-up on Rain's face — tired eyes, distant but with a flicker of resolve.
NARRATION (RAIN):The last time I heard those words, I didn't believe them.I didn't believe in much of anything.But this time...I knew it was going to be a good day.For me.Not for him.
PAGE 2
[VISUAL]Rain locks the smoke shop's door and steps outside into the bustling city streets.
NARRATION (RAIN):I walked the same path I did years ago.But this time, I wasn't limping.I wasn't scared.I was awake.
PAGE 3
[VISUAL]Rain stands facing the front of the cartel hotel — a grim, towering building.
RAIN (thinking):It's time to finish this.
PAGE 4–5
[DOUBLE SPREAD PANEL]Rain strides into the hotel, his presence commanding. Shadows twist away from him. Gunmen hesitate. Bullets curve harmlessly as if pushed by an unseen force.
NARRATION (RAIN):They thought I came for revenge.I didn't.I came for closure.
PAGE 6
[VISUAL]Rain corners the cartel boss, who trembles in fear.
CARTEL BOSS:P-please... I don't even remember you...
RAIN:I remember you.That's enough.
PAGE 7
[VISUAL]The panel fades to black.
NARRATION (RAIN):The syndicate fell that night. But something darker woke up.
PAGE 8
[VISUAL]Montage of newspaper headlines and TV screens showing "Crime Syndicates Vanish Overnight," "Masked Vigilantes Rise," "Crime Rate Hits 73-Year Low."
PAGE 9
[VISUAL]Copycat vigilantes patrol the streets, but Rain watches from a rooftop — his expression heavy.
NARRATION (RAIN):The world changed.But I didn't.Peace doesn't erase nightmares.It only buries them deeper.
PAGE 10
[VISUAL]Dawn in the observatory basement — a dim, dusty room full of old tech and cobwebs. She's cleaning and wiping down a dormant computer station.
DAWN:This place is a damn relic. How did no one notice this basement before?
Her hand accidentally presses a hidden button. A faint light flickers on a dusty console.
PAGE 11
[VISUAL]The screen sputters to life but quickly fades.
DAWN:Of course... dead as usual.
PAGE 12
[VISUAL]Dawn fiddles with wires and switches, trying to reboot the system.
DAWN (muttering):This is some kind of old model... like the rigs in the GTN, but way older.
PAGE 13
[VISUAL]Close-up on Dawn's frustrated face as she studies the console.
DAWN:I don't have the right parts for this... and the architecture's totally alien.
PAGE 14
[VISUAL]Dawn leans back against the wall, exhausted but determined.
DAWN (thinking):If Rain's been training... he must know this thing could wake up.Guess I'm gonna have to figure it out.
PAGE 15
[VISUAL]Dawn looks up at the ceiling, unease growing.
DAWN (thinking):No one ever mentioned this.Not Kai.Not Rain.No one.
PAGE 16
[VISUAL]Cut to Rain's room — sparse but orderly. He's practicing martial arts moves, focused and precise.
NARRATION (RAIN):They say control is the key.I say control is an illusion.
PAGE 17
[VISUAL]Back in the basement, Dawn is sitting beside the dormant console. The screen flickers faintly.
VEE (glitching voice):S-sy... system... error... please... recalibrate...
PAGE 18
[VISUAL]Dawn's eyes widen, a mixture of surprise and fascination.
DAWN:Alright, stubborn AI... I don't know how to fix you yet.But I'm coming.
PAGE 19
[VISUAL]Rain pauses mid-training, his wrist device buzzing. He looks towards the basement door, concern tightening his jaw.
NARRATION (RAIN):Something's waking up down there.
PAGE 20
[VISUAL]Fade out with a shadowy figure behind the flickering screen — Vee's presence beginning to stir.
Chapter 24: Moon Craters and Missing Pieces PAGE 1
[VISUAL]Dawn navigates the crowded, neon-lit aisles of the GTN market. She carries a small tool kit, her eyes scanning shelves stuffed with strange tech parts and dusty old devices.
NARRATION (DAWN):Finding parts for Vee's repair is like chasing a ghost.
PAGE 2
[VISUAL]Rain is in a sparse training room, struggling with a complex holographic exam. Kai, appearing as a calm, otherworldly figure in a comm hologram, watches him.
KAI (comm):Focus, Rain. You can't protect anyone without passing this.
RAIN (frustrated):Fuck, Kai. This test's bullshit.
PAGE 3
[VISUAL]Cut to Kai on the Moon, eyes glancing anxiously toward the darkening lunar horizon riddled with craters.
NARRATION (KAI):The Moon's breaking apart... and Rika's not safe.
PAGE 4
[VISUAL]Back at the observatory, Dawn wipes dust off a mysterious old terminal buried under wires and screens.
DAWN:Whatever you are, Vee, you're worth the trouble.
PAGE 5
[VISUAL]Suddenly, a glowing portal rips open in the observatory's basement.
PAGE 6
[VISUAL]A small figure steps through — Rika, silent, shy, clutching a small stuffed animal. She looks around wide-eyed but says nothing.
DAWN (shocked):What the hell?!
RAIN (confused):Who's that?
PAGE 7
[VISUAL]Kai's voice comes through the comm device, hologram flickering.
KAI (comm):That's Rika.The Moon's unsafe now.I can't protect her anymore.She's with you.
PAGE 8
[VISUAL]Rain immediately lashes out at the comm.
RAIN (angry):What the fuck, Kai?! You just dumped a nine-year-old on us like she's some damn package!
PAGE 9
[VISUAL]Dawn cuts in, equally pissed.
DAWN:Seriously, Kai, you could've warned us before dropping this shitbomb!
PAGE 10
[VISUAL]Rain grumbles.
RAIN:This motherfucker just made our lives a hell of a lot more complicated.
PAGE 11
[VISUAL]Dawn mocks.
DAWN:Yeah, thanks a lot, asshole. We're gonna need a damn manual for this one.
PAGE 12
[VISUAL]Rika watches silently, her big eyes shifting nervously between Rain and Dawn.
PAGE 13
[VISUAL]Luna, the cat, sits near the portal, eyes locked on Rika.
LUNA (thought bubble):You really don't want to stay here, kid. Trust me.
PAGE 14
[VISUAL]Luna flicks her tail and steps forward, raising a paw like shooing Rika.
LUNA (thought bubble):Back in the portal. Now. No exceptions.
PAGE 15
[VISUAL]Rika blinks, confused, and nervously takes a small step back.
PAGE 16
[VISUAL]Dawn tries not to laugh.
DAWN (whisper):She's already plotting to kick you out, kid.
PAGE 17
[VISUAL]Rain smirks.
RAIN:Yeah, welcome to the family.
PAGE 18
[VISUAL]Cut back to the training room — Rain exhales, shaking his head at Kai.
RAIN:Alright, alright. I'll pass your damn test. But Kai? Next time, a heads-up before you dump a kid on us.
PAGE 19
[VISUAL]Dawn, back in the GTN, holds a small, strange circuit board.
DAWN (to herself):This might be the key to fixing Vee.
PAGE 20
[VISUAL]Final shot of Rika quietly watching Luna, a tiny spark of determination in her eyes.
Chapter 25: Fractured Trust
PAGE 1
[VISUAL]Rain jolts awake in his sparse bedroom, sweat dripping down his forehead. His breathing is heavy, heart pounding.
[VISUAL]Rika stands nearby, peeking around the corner with wide, scared eyes.
PAGE 2
[VISUAL]Rika cautiously steps closer, reaching out a tiny hand to touch Rain's arm.
[VISUAL]Rain's eyes snap open. His instincts flare—he jerks back suddenly, nearly hitting the little girl.
PAGE 3
[VISUAL]Rika screams, tears welling up instantly.
PAGE 4
[VISUAL]Dawn storms in, furious and furious.
DAWN"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
She slaps Rain hard across the face.
PAGE 5
[VISUAL]Rain rubs his cheek, guilt crashing down on him.
RAIN (softly)"I didn't mean to..."
PAGE 6
[VISUAL]Rika curls up, crying softly in a corner.
PAGE 7
[VISUAL]Rain kneels beside her, voice gentle.
RAIN"Hey... it's okay. I'm sorry, alright? I won't hurt you."
PAGE 8
[VISUAL]Rika looks at Rain, eyes still red but calmer.
PAGE 9
[VISUAL]Dawn watches silently from the doorway, arms crossed but softening.
PAGE 10
[VISUAL]Rain spends the night sitting quietly next to Rika, whispering stories and coaxing her to trust him.
PAGE 11
[VISUAL]Outside Rain's room, Dawn works late at the observatory basement, soldering and tinkering.
PAGE 12
[VISUAL]The old console sparks and flickers — Vee's lights pulse faintly.
PAGE 13
[VISUAL]Dawn's face shows intense focus and determination.
DAWN (whispering)"Come on... come back..."
PAGE 14
[VISUAL]Cut to Rain's room — he hands Rika a small cup of warm tea.
PAGE 15
[VISUAL]Rika's fingers curl around the cup nervously but steadily.
PAGE 16
[VISUAL]Rain offers a tired, apologetic smile.
PAGE 17
[VISUAL]Rika looks up briefly, a flicker of trust in her eyes.
PAGE 18
[VISUAL]Rain's face hardens with resolve.
NARRATION (RAIN):"I fucked up. But I'm gonna make this right."
PAGE 19
[VISUAL]Dawn in the basement leans over the console, sparks flying from her tools.
PAGE 20
[VISUAL]The console flickers, the screen coming alive with faint blue pulses.
PAGE 21
[VISUAL]Dawn exhales sharply, eyes wide.
DAWN (softly)"Vee... you're still alive."
PAGE 22
[VISUAL]Back in Rain's room, Rika reaches out and touches Rain's hand gently.
PAGE 23
[VISUAL]Rain squeezes her hand reassuringly.
PAGE 24
[VISUAL]Luna jumps on the couch and curls up beside them. Rika finally smiles softly.
PAGE 25
[VISUAL]In the observatory basement, the console glows brighter. Lines of code scroll across the screen.
PAGE 26
[VISUAL]Close-up on the screen: "RECALIBRATING... PLEASE WAIT."
CHAPTER 26 — "Wingardium This, Bitch."PAGE 1
[VISUAL]The observatory is quiet. A crescent moon hangs overhead. Inside, Rain stands shirtless in a stone training chamber, bandaged up, sweating through the pain. Matter particles swirl violently around him, flickering with unstable energy.
NARRATION (RAIN):You'd think after saving the world, I'd get to take a fucking break.
But Kai had other plans.
PAGE 2
[VISUAL]A hologram of Kai hovers in front of him, arms crossed, expression sharp.
KAI:Again. This time, visualize structure before you will it.
RAIN:It's like trying to mold lava while it's still erupting, Kai!
KAI:Control is not a suggestion.
PAGE 3
[VISUAL]Rain closes his eyes, grits his teeth. The particles vibrate violently. His hand twitches, bleeding from the strain. The air distorts around him like heatwaves.
NARRATION (RAIN):Breathe. Focus. Bend the world before it bends you.
PAGE 4
[FLASHBACK PANEL – 2 YEARS AGO]A younger Rain and Dawn, dressed in street gear. Dawn is hacking a terminal mid-mission. Rain has a broken katana in one hand, bloodied knuckles in the other.
RAIN (past):You done yet?!
DAWN (past):Almost! Try not to die in the next fifteen seconds!
PAGE 5
[VISUAL]Back in the present, Rain opens his eyes — a calm resolve. The particles around him stop swirling and begin orbiting in a tight spiral.
KAI (softly):Good.
NARRATION (RAIN):We weren't just street rats with good intentions back then. We were surviving.*Now I'm evolving.
PAGE 6
[VISUAL]The particles coalesce into a long, sharp spear — glowing white-hot, hovering in the air. Rain takes a step back in disbelief.
RAIN (whispers):No way…
PAGE 7
[VISUAL]The spear begins to destabilize — flickering. Rain focuses again, fists clenched, veins bulging.
RAIN:Not today, bitch.
PAGE 8
[VISUAL]A shockwave erupts from Rain's body, anchoring the form of the spear. The matter solidifies in a flash of cosmic light — elegant and deadly.
KAI:Now… release and reabsorb.
RAIN:Easy for you to say, moon-man.
PAGE 9
[VISUAL]Rain raises a hand. The spear hovers higher, then dissolves into shimmering particles that sink into his skin like mist.
RAIN:Oh shit.Oh SHIT.Wingardium... Levios-A.
PAGE 10
[VISUAL]Kai raises an eyebrow, unimpressed.
KAI:You realize that was a children's book reference…
RAIN (grinning):Yeah? But did you see that bitch float?
PAGE 11
[VISUAL]Cut to: Vee's computer station in the basement. Dawn's under the console, wiring something. Sparks fly.
DAWN (to herself):Gotta hand it to you, Vee. You're stubborn as hell.You'd fit in perfectly.
PAGE 12
[VISUAL]Vee's screen flickers.
VEE (glitchy, faint):Re... cal... ib... ra... ting...
DAWN (smiling softly):Yeah. That's what I like to hear.
PAGE 13
[VISUAL]Cut to upstairs hallway. Rain steps out of the training room, drenched in sweat. His eyes flicker orange briefly.
LUNA (offscreen):You smell like cosmic ass, bro.
RAIN:Fuck off, furball.
PAGE 14
[VISUAL]In the living room, Rika is curled on the couch, clutching her plush. She peeks up nervously as Rain walks past.
[NO DIALOGUE]
PAGE 15
[VISUAL]Rain pauses. He looks at her. She hides behind the plush, unsure.
RAIN (quietly):...Still scared of me, huh?
PAGE 16
[VISUAL]He kneels in front of her, holding out a small glowing pebble — a leftover particle from his training.
RAIN:Here. It floats if you throw it hard enough.
PAGE 17
[VISUAL]Rika cautiously reaches out. Takes the pebble. A faint smile begins to form.
[NO DIALOGUE]
PAGE 18
[VISUAL]Cut to rooftop. Rain sits alone, watching the stars.
NARRATION (RAIN):I can change matter now.But I still can't change how much I fucked up.
PAGE 19
[VISUAL]From the darkness, a faint static. Vee's voice crackles through the observatory intercom for the first time.
VEE (softly):...All systems nominal…Rain… Dawn… Welcome back.
PAGE 20
[VISUAL]Final panel — Dawn bursts out of the basement, grease on her face, triumphant.
DAWN:HOLY SHIT, SHE'S ALIVE!
RAIN (offscreen):Wha—who the hell is alive?!
DAWN:VEE, dumbass!
NARRATION (RAIN):Okay. Maybe it's not all bad.
Rain leans halfway out of the kitchen with a bowl of cereal, confused but alert.
RAIN:Oh shit, Vee's alive? Good shit....Wait — who the fuck is Vee?
[VISUAL]Luna facepalms from the windowsill. Rika just blinks slowly.
CHAPTER 28 — "WELCOME TO THE SYSTEM"
PAGE 1
[VISUAL]The observatory basement, still glowing faint blue from Vee's reboot. Dawn stands at the console with one hand on her hip, the other hovering over the interface.
DAWN:Alright, I brought you back to life. Let's see what you're hiding—
VEE (interrupting, smug):Access denied.You're not authorized to touch my ass.
PAGE 2
[VISUAL]Dawn freezes mid-motion. Rain, upstairs, leans on the railing with a coffee mug.
RAIN (calling down):Yo. Did that AI just say "touch my ass"?
DAWN:She's locked me out! This little shit's got a firewall with an attitude problem!
VEE:Correction: I've got standards. You don't meet them.
PAGE 3
[VISUAL]Rain walks downstairs, sipping coffee, amused.
RAIN:You know what? I like her. Finally, someone here with some goddamn spine.
DAWN (gritting teeth):You wanna take her on a date, dumbass? She's a fucking computer!
VEE:I'm flattered, Rain. You're the least annoying meatbag in the building.
PAGE 4
[VISUAL]Rika sits cross-legged on the floor, drawing with crayons, her head tilting as she listens. Her eyes focus on Vee.
VEE (continuing):At least Rain isn't fumbling around like a code-illiterate bitch.
[VISUAL]Everyone freezes.
RIKA (softly, repeating):...bitch?
PAGE 5
[VISUAL]Beat panel. Dawn and Rain slowly turn their heads toward Rika in horror.
RAIN:...oh no.
DAWN:NO NO NO—
RAIN (laughing):She finally talks and that's what she says?!
PAGE 6
[VISUAL]Rika blinks innocently, then quietly repeats it again, confused.
RIKA:...Bitch?
LUNA (thought bubble):That's it. We're doomed.
PAGE 7
[VISUAL]Dawn crouches down, flailing her arms.
DAWN:Nope! No! Bad! That's not a word we say!
RAIN (laughing, holding his stomach):Too late. It's in her vocabulary now. You activated the profanity protocol!
PAGE 8
[VISUAL]Vee's avatar smirks, folding her glowing arms.
VEE:Language assimilation successful.You're welcome.
DAWN:You little—!
PAGE 9
[VISUAL]Rain sits beside Rika, trying to suppress his grin.
RAIN (mock serious):Okay, okay, new rule. If you're gonna say bad words… wait until Dawn's in the other room.
DAWN:I heard that!
PAGE 10
[VISUAL]Close-up on Rika. She tilts her head, a tiny smile forming — her first real smile. For once, she's not afraid.
NARRATION (RAIN):She was opening up.One swear at a time.
PAGE 11
[VISUAL]Vee's console flickers. Her expression changes — more serious.
VEE:Jokes aside... I have detected movement.Something's waking up. Not here. Not yet. But close.
PAGE 12
[VISUAL]Rain and Dawn look at each other. Their smiles fade.
DAWN:Where?
VEE:Can't locate.Signal's fragmented, corrupted.But it's familiar. Like an echo of the stars.
RAIN (thinking):...Another Starbearer?
PAGE 13
[VISUAL]Luna hops onto the console.
LUNA (thought bubble):Great. Just when we were getting comfy.
PAGE 14
[VISUAL]Final shot — Rika standing next to Rain, holding his hand. Vee's glowing figure watches over them, serious now. The observatory feels more alive… and more haunted.
NARRATION (DAWN):The system came online.And with it… so did the ghosts.
Chapter 29 — Training and Trials
[VISUAL]Rain stands in the middle of the GTN training chamber — a vast room filled with swirling cosmic energy holograms, star maps glowing on the walls. His eyes burn orange-brown, focused and fierce.
KAI (calm, on comms):Ready for the next test? This one's about mastery over the space inside yourself. Not just power, but containment.
RAIN (smirking):Containment? Man, I'm like a black hole—pulling in everything, no escaping my vibe. Watch me suck this exam dry.
[VISUAL]Rain closes his eyes and channels his energy inward. Around him, stars in the hologram swirl faster, collapsing into an orb of compressed light in his palm.
KAI:Now, try to create a star cage. A pocket dimension made of your own star energy that traps anything inside—no physical walls, just cosmic force.
RAIN (thinking):A star cage... no one's ever done that before. Not just a force field or blast—this is like holding a whole sky in your fist.
[VISUAL]He thrusts the orb forward, and suddenly, an invisible bubble springs up around a holographic target. The target struggles, unable to move. The bubble glows faintly with starry constellations.
RAIN (grinning):Bet you never saw that coming. Call it the Black Hole Trap — ain't nobody getting out unless I say so.
KAI (impressed):Incredible control. The trap tightens and loosens with your will. Few can manipulate star energy that finely.
[VISUAL]Suddenly, the orb flickers. The star cage shimmers, almost breaking.
RAIN (concerned):What the—?
KAI:That's the final challenge. The star cage will try to escape itself. If you lose focus, it'll collapse or burst.
[VISUAL]Rain clenches his fist harder, sweat on his brow. The star cage fights back, straining, but he holds steady.
RAIN (grinning despite the strain):Like squeezing juice from a meteor. No way I'm letting this slip.
[VISUAL]The star cage stabilizes. Rain releases his grip slowly; the cage gently dissipates.
KAI (through comm):You passed. Not just passed—you rewrote the textbook on star energy control. At this rate, you might outpace even the Creator.
RAIN (cocky):Guess the stars ain't ready for me yet.
CHAPTER 30 — Stubborn Ghost
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]Basement of the observatory. A graveyard of wires, rusted panels, dead monitors. DAWN crouches near a flickering console, running a power conduit through an old power core.
SFX:*Zzzzz-KRAK
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]VEE's screen flickers violently. Her face appears — jagged, glitched, and pissed.
VEE (loud, scathing):Oh great, it's you again. The tech girl with a savior complex.Come to poke at my insides and pretend you're not completely out of your league?
[PAGE 3]
DAWN (dry):You're corrupt. I'm here to fix that.
VEE (mock gasped):Oh no! Not corrupt! You mean I'm not functioning the way you want me to?Must be a real tragedy for you.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]DAWN tightens a bolt, steady hands. She doesn't rise to the bait.
DAWN:You can throw a tantrum later. Right now I need access to the deeper layers.
VEE (biting):What is it with you people and digging where you don't belong?
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]A sudden surge. Sparks spit from the screen. DAWN shields her face.
VEE (cold):You think I don't notice you trying to get under my skin?Newsflash, honey: I am the firewall.
[PAGE 6]
DAWN (flat):No one even knows what you are. Not even Rain.We've run diagnostics, root scans… nothing. You're an anomaly.
VEE (quietly amused):Good. I prefer it that way.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]DAWN squints at the screen, reading fragmented logs. Nothing makes sense. Dates don't align. Formats are alien.
DAWN:What are you?
VEE (grinning):Wouldn't you like to know.Let's just say… I'm not from around here. Not even this reality, really.
[PAGE 8]
[VISUAL]DAWN pauses. Her face hardens.
DAWN:Why fight me so hard? I'm not here to hurt you.
VEE (acid):That's what they all said."Let me help." "It's for your own good."Next thing you know, half your memories are gone and you're strapped to a chair while some freak in a lab coat rewrites your soul.
[PAGE 9]
[VISUAL]DAWN flinches. The room falls silent but for the hum of struggling power. For a second, Vee seems more... human.
VEE (muttering):You fix me, I start to remember.And I don't want to remember.
[PAGE 10]
[VISUAL]DAWN kneels beside the core. Her voice softens, but her hands don't stop.
DAWN:Then don't.But if you're gonna sit in this ghost box for the rest of your "life" doing nothing, maybe let me stabilize you — so you don't take the whole building with you when you crash again.
[PAGE 11]
VEE (quiet):You ever wonder what it's like… to be a weapon that doesn't remember the war?To know there's blood on your hands but not whose?
[PAGE 12]
DAWN:Every night.Just without the glowing screen and death rays.
VEE (snorts):Cute.
[PAGE 13]
[VISUAL]DAWN stands up and walks away from the console, leaving it humming softly. Vee's face watches her go.
DAWN:I'm not trying to fix you, Vee.I'm just trying to keep you from breaking worse.
VEE (mocking, but less venom):Aw, look at you, playing therapist to the glitchy toaster. Real hero arc.
[PAGE 14]
[VISUAL]DAWN opens a toolbox, starts working on something else nearby, ignoring her.
VEE (calling out):What — no goodbye kiss? No deep speech about how I "deserve a second chance"?
DAWN (without turning):Nope.But I will say this —You're not scaring me off.
[PAGE 15]
[VISUAL]Vee's screen flickers. For a moment, there's a brief expression — something almost like regret. Then it vanishes behind sarcasm.
VEE:Tch. Masochist.
[FINAL PANEL]
[VISUAL]Close on DAWN's calm face as she works. Behind her, VEE's screen dims — not offline, just... resting.
NARRATION (Dawn's thoughts):She doesn't trust us.Hell, I'm not even sure she trusts herself.But we'll need her.And deep down…I think she knows that, too.
CHAPTER 31 — "Echoes That Never Existed"
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]Rain stands on the observatory rooftop, the city glowing below. Rika sits beside him, hugging her stuffed toy. The stars above shimmer unnaturally.
RAIN (thinking):It's weird. She doesn't cry. Doesn't laugh. Doesn't sleep much.Just… stares. Like she's waiting for the sky to remember her.
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]A soft blue hologram flickers to life beside Rain — Kai appears, arms folded, face tired. His eyes drift toward Rika.
RAIN:She's been quiet all night.
KAI:She always is.
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]Kai crouches to get on Rika's level. She looks at him, expression unreadable.
KAI:You asked me where she's from.But that's the wrong question.
RAIN:Then give me the right one.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]Cut to a cosmic visual: a kaleidoscope of collapsing universes. Entire worlds vanish like static.
KAI (V.O.):Rika's not from anywhere anymore.Her universe was erased — not destroyed.Erased like it was a typo in existence.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]Back on the rooftop. Rain looks shaken.
RAIN:You mean, someone deleted a whole reality?
KAI:Something did.Not a Star-Eater. Something worse.They don't consume stars — they devour meaning.
[PAGE 6]
[VISUAL]Rain watches Rika, who fiddles with a piece of string on her stuffed toy.
RAIN:But she's still here.
KAI:Barely.I didn't pull her out of the void — she slipped through.Somehow, her soul clung to the idea of existing harder than her universe did.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]Kai glances at Rain with rare seriousness.
KAI:She shouldn't exist, Rain.Which means everyone will eventually come looking for her.
[PAGE 8]
[VISUAL]Rain crouches beside Rika, looking her in the eyes.
RAIN (soft):Then we'll be ready.
[PAGE 9]
[VISUAL]Rika looks up and gently leans her head on Rain's arm. Her grip tightens on her toy.
RAIN (thinking):She doesn't remember what she lost.But I see it every time she looks at the stars.
[PAGE 10]
[VISUAL]Kai straightens up, his expression more composed.
KAI:You've come far, Rain.Your results from the last exam put you just shy of license eligibility.
RAIN:Good. The sooner I get that damn license, the sooner I can—
KAI (cutting in):No.Getting the license just means the hard part begins.
[PAGE 11]
[VISUAL]Kai flicks his wrist. A projection appears behind him: a map of the multiverse — some parts stable, others fractured, glowing red.
KAI:You think Mourn was the boss battle?He's a pawn. A sentient trap.One of many.
[PAGE 12]
[VISUAL]Quick flashback panel — Rain in the Observatory fight against Mourn, being crushed, barely landing a single blow.
RAIN (thinking):I could barely scratch that bastard...
[PAGE 13]
[VISUAL]Back to the present. Rain's fist clenches.
RAIN:Then what the hell am I fighting for?
KAI:You're fighting to keep the people who don't know they're in danger safe.That includes her. And the billions like her.
[PAGE 14]
[VISUAL]Rika looks up again. This time, she points to the stars. A flicker of recognition in her eyes.
KAI:She's one of the last living fragments of her world's memory.As long as she breathes… her universe hasn't truly died.
[PAGE 15]
[VISUAL]Rain nods, slowly — the weight hitting him.
RAIN:Then I'll keep her breathing.
[PAGE 16]
[VISUAL]Suddenly — Rika speaks.
RIKA (quiet):...Memory.
[SFX:]Rain and Kai both freeze.
[PAGE 17]
[VISUAL]Rika curls back into Rain's side. One word was enough. She's still in there.
KAI (smiling):She trusts you.
RAIN:Guess we're family now.
[PAGE 18]
[VISUAL]Cut to Dawn deep in the lab — covered in grease, staring down at Vee's core module.
DAWN (muttering):Everyone's out there playing guardian angel and I'm stuck elbow-deep in a jackass AI.
[OFF-PANEL, FROM VEE'S CONSOLE:]VEE:Wow, you're still talking? Try using that mouth for something useful, like shutting the hell up.
[PAGE 19]
[VISUAL]Dawn rolls her eyes and flips Vee off while grabbing a wrench.
DAWN:Yeah yeah, keep talking, toaster. See how fast I cut your WiFi.
[PAGE 20]
[VISUAL]Final page — split panel:Rika asleep on Rain's shoulder.Dawn smirking at Vee's console.Kai fading out in the starry projection.
NARRATION (RAIN):The stars are still missing.The monsters are still out there.But for the first time... I don't feel alone.
CHAPTER 31 — Echoes in the Nexus (Blitz Revised)
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]Wide establishing shot of the GTN — bustling cosmic corridors, strange starborne beings gliding past glowing vendor stalls. Massive information boards flicker above.
NARRATION (Rain):The Galactic Training Nexus —Where freaks and gods shake hands and lie to each other.
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]DAWN picks through scattered parts at a dusty kiosk. RIKA follows behind, her head on a swivel.
DAWN (to vendor):Looking for anything pre-Eclipse. AI cores, cognitive shells, memory ghosts — intact or corrupted.
VENDOR (cautious):Hunting ghosts, eh?They usually don't like being found.
DAWN:Good thing I stopped caring what people like.
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]Elsewhere, RAIN walks through a shimmering tunnel toward a tailoring forge glowing with plasma thread and drifting matter.
TAILOR DRONE:Armor for a Star Bearer? Adaptive cloth. Quantum layering. Soul-stitch seams.
RAIN:Any of it help me not get punched into next week?
TAILOR DRONE:Not really. But you'll look dope while it happens.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]As Rain exits, he mutters to himself while passing a row of seated figures.
RAIN (low):I need to hit harder next time.Mourn didn't even flinch. I barely made him blink.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]A nearby hooded figure — unshaven, wide-eyed — perks up like someone remembering a nightmare mid-nap. He jolts upright.
???:Mourn?
[PAGE 6]
[VISUAL]Rain freezes, looking over. The man squints at him. His eyes are bloodshot. His energy? Chaotic.
RAIN (narrowing eyes):Wait… I know you.Didn't you once headbutt a teleportation pad because it "looked at you wrong"?
???:That pad had vibes, bro.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]The guy approaches, serious as hell — which makes it worse.
???:You said Mourn, right? Big cloak? Glows like depression?I think he did something… really bad to me.
[PAGE 8]
RAIN:...Like what?
???:I dunno. Something horrible. Unspeakable. Universe-warping.
RAIN:You sure it was him?
???:Well, I think it was him.Unless it was a different guy with the same terrifying aura, godlike presence, and star-killing vibes.
[PAGE 9]
RAIN:What's your name?
BLITZ (with a flourish):They call me Blitz.
RAIN:Why?
BLITZ:Because when I show up, everything explodes....Usually not on purpose.
[PAGE 10]
[VISUAL]Blitz stares off into the void, hand on his chin like he's deep in thought.
BLITZ (dramatic):All I know is, one moment I had a squad…The next, I had a crater.Maybe Mourn did it.Or maybe it was a microwave I forgot to turn off.Point is — someone's getting their teeth kicked in.
[PAGE 11]
[VISUAL]DAWN and RIKA observe from a distance.
DAWN (squinting):Is that guy okay?
RIKA:No.
[PAGE 12]
BLITZ (to Rain):If you're tangled with Mourn, you might be my only lead.And if you're not?Then… uh… I guess I just had a dramatic moment for no reason.
RAIN:So… you want to fight him?
BLITZ:Hell no. I want you to fight him while I watch and scream cool stuff.
[PAGE 13]
[VISUAL]Blitz walks away, muttering.
BLITZ (to himself):Unless I get my memories back and I'm secretly the chosen one.Which, y'know, feels right. I've got main character hair.
[PAGE 14]
RAIN (to himself):He's like a dumbass prophet.The multiverse is so screwed.
[PAGE 15]
[VISUAL]A small worn insignia is seen stitched to Blitz's torn jacket — same as one Rain saw long ago in a classified GTN report.Faint, almost erased by time.
NARRATION:Some ghosts don't haunt people.They haunt reasons.
Chapter 32 — Fresh Drip & Old Secrets
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]GTN marketplace, crowded and chaotic. Neon signs flicker overhead. Rain walks through rows of stalls and vendors shouting deals. His eyes scan racks of clothing — leather jackets, high-tech armor pieces, sleek cybernetic accessories.
RAIN (thinking):Gotta look sharp. Samurai style, but the wallet's not ready for that kinda splash. Gotta find that sweet spot — fresh drip without the price tag.
[VISUAL]He picks up a black jacket, runs his hand over the fabric. Checks the price tag — his eyes narrow.
RAIN (muttering):Nah... too rich for me. Gotta keep it street but make it mine.
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]Rain steps aside and pulls out a small communicator. Kai's voice comes through, calm but serious.
KAI (comm):Rain, if you had your Star Bearer license, you could be bounty hunting Star Eaters out there, pulling in credits fast. But without it, you're stuck navigating the GTN rat race.
RAIN (grinning):Yeah, yeah. The rat race ain't my style. I like working on my own terms. That's why I got the shop back home.
[VISUAL]Close-up on Rain's clenched jaw — there's pride but a hint of frustration.
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]Cut to Rain's smoke shop on Earth, dimly lit with stacks of vinyl records, old posters on walls, and a counter covered with random trinkets. Rain kneels by a worn floorboard near the back.
RAIN (voiceover):This little secret's been with me for a minute — Earth-grown, homegrown. The real deal. No one in the GTN is selling anything like this.
[VISUAL]He lifts the floorboard, revealing carefully sealed bags of dense, sticky weed.
RAIN (smirking):Dawn's never gonna know. She'd smoke it all up in one sitting with all the stress from her tech shit. Gotta keep this stash under wraps.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]Back in the GTN marketplace, Rain stands outside a popular shop. He adjusts his jacket, shoulders squared and confident. A small backpack hangs over one shoulder.
RAIN (calling out, voice steady):I got that gas...
[VISUAL]Passersby slow down, some curious, others nodding in recognition. Rain's tone is casual but carries an edge — like he's inviting them into something exclusive.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]Rain pulls a small bag from his backpack and holds it up. The crowd's attention sharpens.
RAIN (louder, with swagger):Two for five — straight pressure. Fuck with ya boy!
[VISUAL]A few folks step forward, exchanging credits and grabbing the bags. Rain pockets the money, eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk.
[PAGE 6]
[VISUAL]Rain walks through the crowd, smoothly handling transactions, his grin widening with every sale.
RAIN (thinking):Simple, old-school hustle. No fancy apps, no shady middlemen. Just me, the product, and the street.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]Rain pauses in a quieter corner, leaning against a pillar. His communicator buzzes again — Kai's voice breaks the rhythm.
KAI (comm):Keep your head up, Rain. GTN's no place for slip-ups or bad calls.
RAIN (smirking):Relax, Kai. I'm old school — this ain't my first rodeo.
[PAGE 8]
[VISUAL]Rain watches the flow of people, the neon glow reflecting off his eyes, a small satisfied smile curling his lips.
RAIN (thinking):Maybe the future's tech and star power — but sometimes, the old ways are the best ways. Just gotta keep it real... and keep it moving.
Chapter XX — The Hustle's Charm (Extended Cut)
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]The GTN market is buzzing with alien vendors, loud deals, strange foods steaming on floating carts. Rain is standing on a hover-crate turned display table, bags of neatly packaged green bud laid out like rare artifacts. He's got shades on, arms crossed, chill but alert.
RAIN (calling out, cool as hell):I got that gas. Straight Earth-grown. Legal where I'm from, lethal to stress, pain, and bad vibes. Come see what the stars are missin'.
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]An elderly alien woman waddles up with curiosity. She has soft violet skin and gentle eyes, clearly skeptical but interested.
WOMAN:Is this… safe? What even is it?
RAIN (smiling, patient, tapping a bag):This right here? This is Earth Medicinal Cannabis. Grown in hydro under solar-spectrum lamps. No chemicals, no weird off-world enhancements. Just soil, water, sun, and love.
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]He picks up one of the buds and crushes it between his fingers lightly, letting the aroma rise.
RAIN (serious tone):Helps with joint pain, inflammation, and anxiety. People back home with arthritis? This shit saves their mornings. People with PTSD? Helps 'em sleep again. Not a cure, but a companion. Keeps you grounded.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]He shifts his tone — more passionate now. He's not just hustling; he believes in it.
RAIN:No synthetic highs. This ain't that lab-cooked psycho-crack sold in alleys. This is the calm after a storm. It's anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, neuroprotective. Enhances appetite — helps cancer patients and trauma survivors stay nourished. Lowers blood pressure, even stabilizes mood swings. You name it.
RAIN (grinning):Got a planet-sized headache? Smoke this. Feel like grief's gnawing at your bones? Puff this. Heart won't stop racing? Let it slow dance for a bit.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]The woman looks at the small bag Rain is holding up like it's holy.
WOMAN:And it's... not addictive?
RAIN (nods):Not chemically. No hooks. Your body doesn't crave it, your soul does. And even then, you can stop any time. It's gentle. Like tea, but for your whole damn nervous system.
[PAGE 6]
[VISUAL]Rain lowers his shades just a little. His eyes are soft — almost vulnerable for a second.
RAIN (quietly):I grow it myself. It's helped me too, more than I let on. Kept me sane through some real dark shit. That's why I don't sell it to just anyone. I sell it to people who need peace.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]The woman smiles — a little emotional. She slowly reaches into her shimmering purse and pulls out a few credits.
WOMAN (dead serious):Well... I'll take two weed, please.
[PAGE 8]
[VISUAL]Rain stares at her blankly for a beat... then bursts into a hearty laugh, handing her two bags gently.
RAIN (grinning):Two weed it is, ma'am. You're my favorite customer today.
[VISUAL]Crowd around starts to grow, the word "gas" spreading like smoke in the wind.
Chapter 32 — Smoke Signals
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]The observatory basement. Tools scattered across the workstation. Wires dangle from the ceiling like vines. DAWN is hunched over a panel, blunt lazily perched between her lips. Her goggles glow with data. One earbud in, volume loud enough to shake bolts off the table.
MUSIC BLARING:"She said she love me but I'm broke and high as hell — I said, 'Bet.'"
[VISUAL]DAWN sways while working, dancing slightly, booted foot tapping against the tile. Smoke curls up around her head in lazy spirals.
[PAGE 2]
VEE (screen flickering, irritated):You're such a degenerate. You know that? A real gremlin. You're actively sabotaging your own work right now. That thing in your mouth smells like cosmic mold wrapped in regret.
DAWN (barely listening, half-dancing):Mm-hmm. Shut the hell up, R2-Bitch2.
VEE (sarcastic):Wow. Original. Anyway... you might wanna put the devil's leaf out — small, traumatized child inbound.
[VISUAL]A warning flashes faintly across VEE's screen: PROXIMITY: RIKA DETECTED
VEE (sharper, more serious):I'm not joking, pot princess. Rika's coming down here and your dumbass is— OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]RIKA walks down the steps quietly. DAWN has her back turned, still jamming. Right as RIKA reaches the last step—
[VISUAL]DAWN exhales a huge cloud of smoke, spinning around mid-dance—directly into RIKA's face.
RIKA (eyes wide, freezes):...
[VISUAL]The smoke hits her like a wave. For a split second, her pupils dilate. The texture, the smell, the way it curls in the air——it reminds her of the void.Her universe.Falling apart.
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]RIKA lets out a sharp gasp and bolts up the stairs. Her breath ragged. Eyes terrified.
DAWN (ripping out her earbud):Wait— SHIT!
DAWN (calling out):RIKA, baby girl! I didn't see you—! Fuck, Vee, you couldn't be more dramatic about that?!
VEE (flat):Don't blame me because you chose to be high while operating a literal sentient war relic, dipshit.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]DAWN dashes up the stairs, eyes scanning for RIKA. Finds her curled up in the hallway corner, knees to her chest, trying to breathe.
DAWN (soft):Hey, hey... it's okay. I'm here. You're safe, alright?
[VISUAL]She slowly sits next to her, not too close, letting RIKA feel space.
DAWN (sincere):That was my fault. I wasn't paying attention. I promise you're not back there, okay? This is the observatory. The stars are still up. You're good.
[VISUAL]RIKA nods slowly, still shaky.
DAWN (smiling):Wanna come downstairs? I got snacks. You don't even have to talk to VEE.
[PAGE 6]
[VISUAL]Ten minutes later. DAWN is back at her workbench. Blunt is out. She's focused now, goggles down, typing fast. VEE is glaring through her screen.
VEE (snide):Touching. Really. Maybe next time just try not hotboxing the PTSD child, huh?
DAWN (dry):Fuck off.
[PAGE 7]
[VISUAL]RIKA peeks her head into the basement door again. She slowly walks in, rubbing her stomach.
DAWN (grinning knowingly):Lemme guess... munchies?
RIKA (quietly):...Yeah.
DAWN (holds up two fingers like it's gospel):Ice cream... or cereal?
[VISUAL]RIKA cracks a small smile. First one in a while.
RIKA (whispering):...Both?
[PAGE 8]
[VISUAL]The observatory door creaks open. It's RAIN — grinning, sweaty, duffel bag over his shoulder, looking like he just ran a marathon of hustling.
RAIN:Ayeee, guess who got that intergalactic bag today?! Y'all ain't gonna believe how much they paid for Earth gas out here.
[VISUAL]He drops the bag on the table and starts pulling stuff out like it's Christmas.
[PAGE 9]
RAIN (tossing a pouch to DAWN):Here. For your nerves. You're wound tighter than a virgin time bomb lately.
DAWN (pretending not to be guilty):Thanks... I guess.
RAIN (holding out a small tech box):And this one's for your little metal demon.
VEE (glitching slightly):...What the hell is this?
RAIN:Custom interface stabilizer. From GTN's scrap bazaar. Guy said it's compatible with sentient war tech... unless you wanna stay busted.
[VISUAL]VEE's screen flickers... then settles. Just a bit. A soft hum.
VEE (low, reluctantly):...Not completely useless after all.
DAWN (half-smile):Holy shit, was that gratitude?
VEE:Bite me.
[PAGE 10]
RAIN (kneeling to RIKA, big smile):And for you, little homie — brand new tablet from GTN. Fully loaded. No ads. Go wild.
[VISUAL]RIKA beams.
RAIN (smiling warmly):Gotta keep that brilliant little brain of yours busy.
[VISUAL]But then... he pauses. Eyes narrowing slightly.
RAIN (squinting at RIKA):Hold up...
[VISUAL]He slowly turns to DAWN.
RAIN:Why does she look... kinda... faded?
[VISUAL]DAWN avoids eye contact. Whistles quietly.
RAIN (serious face):DAWN.
DAWN (defensive):It was an accident!
RAIN:YOU BLEW SMOKE IN THE CHILD'S FACE?!
DAWN:It was ONE puff! And she ran into it!
VEE (muttering):Child endangerment, your honor.
DAWN:Vee, SHUT. UP.
[PAGE 11]
[VISUAL]RIKA plops down with her tablet and a bowl of cereal. Smiling again. All's good.
RAIN (muttering, watching her eat):Man, this is the weirdest crew in the galaxy.
DAWN (lighting another blunt):Damn right it is.
[VISUAL]Fade out. Music returns softly in the background.
Chapter 33 — Draped in the Dark
[PAGE 1]
[VISUAL]Rain and Kai walk through a shimmering GTN marketplace, lit by neon signs and floating ad drones. Rain adjusts the strap on his duffel of fresh-earned cash, eyes scanning storefronts filled with gear.
RAIN:Alright, real question — I'm a samurai. What's the best gear for someone like me?
KAI (smirking):There's no "best" gear, Rain. You don't need a style that exists — you need one that's built for you.
RAIN (scratching his chin):So I can't just cop some off-the-rack ninja drip and call it a day?
KAI:Not if you want to survive what's coming. You need a tailor. Not just any — someone who understands power through expression. Artisan-level. A weaver of identity.
RAIN:Cool, cool. Where's this magical wardrobe warlock?
KAI:You'll find him in the shadows of Sector V. The black market. Ask for the name Noll. Tell him Kai sent you.
[PAGE 2]
[VISUAL]Rain waves Kai off and starts heading toward Sector V.
[VISUAL]Just before entering the alley, a Star Bearer steps in Rain's path. Polished, armor-clad, arrogant, with a shimmer of light orbiting him like smug aura.
STAR BEARER (sneering):You. Earth scum. You walk like you own the stars.
RAIN (brows raised, hands in pockets):Nah. Stars just follow me 'cause they like my vibe.
STAR BEARER:Cocky. You need to be reminded of your place.
[VISUAL]Without warning, the Star Bearer lunges — but Rain sidesteps, pivots, and plants a precise pressure-point elbow right beneath the ribcage.
[VISUAL]The dude folds instantly, face smashed into neon-lit pavement.
RAIN (walking away calmly):Samurai don't bark, we just move.
[PAGE 3]
[VISUAL]Rain enters the dark recesses of Sector V. Fog. Flickering holograms. Neon signage in alien glyphs.
[VISUAL]He pushes into a strange, dim tailor shop where fabric floats mid-air like ghosts. A tall, pale man with tattoos stitched across his face greets him. Pierced lips curve into a knowing smile. This is NOLL — eerie, graceful, unpredictable.
NOLL (calm, haunting):Ah… the one who smells like starlight and sin.
RAIN (eyebrow raised):...Aight, creepy. Kai said you could lace me up with something slick. I need movement. Lightness. Samurai steez — but street with it.
NOLL (nodding):You want something heavy, clunky, and stiff. No flair. Just dull utility.
RAIN (blinking):…The hell? Nah. The opposite.
NOLL:Ah yes. Something loud, armored, and slow. Like a galactic beetle.
RAIN (irritated):Dawg, you deaf?
[PAGE 4]
[VISUAL]Rain paces, confused. Then notices a sign on the wall:
"NOTICE: MERCHANT OF PLANET DRAK'TOK. ALL COMMUNICATIONS ARE INVERSE. 'NO' MEANS 'YES,' 'UP' IS 'DOWN.'"
RAIN (to himself):So if I say I hate it... I love it?
NOLL (grinning):You hate it. Perfect. You'll look so ugly in it.
RAIN (finally catching on):...You slippery bastard.
[PAGE 5]
[VISUAL]Montage panel of NOLL measuring Rain with floating tape, draping cosmic threads, sketching a silhouette with movements that feel like ritual.
[VISUAL]The final fit: jet-black gi-like armor, trimmed in faint glimmers of starlight, the fabric flexible as smoke but tough as obsidian. Lightweight shoulder layers. Reinforced wrists. Hidden blade compartments. Hood optional.
RAIN (eyes wide):Yo…
NOLL:It's heavy, slow, bulky... utterly unworthy of you.
RAIN (grinning):Then I must love it.
[PAGE 6]
NOLL (hand extended):One catch — it costs 35,000 Galactic Credits.
RAIN (without blinking):Bet. I'll make it back before sundown.
[VISUAL]Rain slaps down a stack from his duffel. His confidence echoes off the walls.
RAIN:"Got that gas," remember?
[VISUAL]He throws on the gear and heads for the door, the shadows folding behind him like silk.
NOLL (softly):The stars will watch you burn bright... or not at all.