[COLD OPEN — VAN HQ ROOFTOP, NIGHT BEFORE]
Tari walks away after her rooftop conversation with Crimsa. The camera lingers on Crimsa, who stays seated, her face unreadable. Her fingers gently press a neural patch behind her ear.
Crimsa (whispering):
"Phase one complete."
[SCENE — VAN HQ GYMNASIUM, NEXT DAY]
Jax spars with Irion in a training circle. Echo-7 oversees the match, offering playful commentary. Veya practices precision targeting with her dual pistols in the background.
Jax (grinning):
"Come on, Void boy! You're fast, but can you take a thunderpunch?"
Irion (dodging):
"You talk too much."
He flicks his hand and vanishes. Jax looks around before getting knocked back by a surprise blow.
Echo-7 (laughing):
"Round goes to stealthy shadow man!"
The mood is light, despite the scars of past battles. For once, the Vanguards feel like themselves.
[SCENE — VAN HQ OPERATIONS BAY]
Yuna is recalibrating the satellite systems with Tari. Kael enters, exhausted from patrolling the rift zones. Crimsa walks in silently, watching everyone from a distance.
Kael:
"No Rift spikes in the past 24 hours. We might actually have a quiet day."
Tari:
"Too quiet. Something's off."
Yuna (glancing at Crimsa):
"Agreed."
[SCENE — HALLWAYS OF HQ]
Crimsa walks alone, stepping into rarely used halls, accessing locked service panels. She presses her palm to hidden scanners. Small charges of fractal-light bombs hum to life in their hidden compartments — barely visible. She walks past each without a flicker of hesitation.
Crimsa (to herself):
"This place was never my home."
[SCENE — VAN HQ WAR ROOM, SHORTLY AFTER]
Kael, Yuna, Irion, Tari, Jax, Echo-7, and Veya gather to begin mission planning. Crimsa enters slowly.
Kael:
"Alright, team. Echo, give us the run—"
Crimsa (interrupting):
"Before that... I have something to say."
Everyone turns. The room dims. Crimsa walks toward the center, slowly removing her gloves.
Crimsa:
"You gave me a second chance. Treated me like family. That's what makes this hurt more."
Jax (confused):
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Crimsa:
"I was never here to heal. I was sent to end you."
Tari's eyes widen. Kael steps forward but Crimsa lifts her hand — and presses a button.
Crimsa (softly):
"Goodbye, Vanguards."
[SCENE — HQ EXPLOSION SEQUENCE]
Suddenly, violent explosions ripple through the base. Walls tear apart. The ceiling cracks. Fire and smoke erupt from below. Echo-7 tries to contain the data loss. Irion shields Veya and Yuna with his void barrier. Jax tackles Kael away from falling rubble.
Kael (yelling):
"Move! Evacuate now!"
Tari:
"She planted them everywhere—multiple levels!"
Veya (to Echo):
"Get the system backups out!"
Fire engulfs the communications core. Sirens scream.
Crimsa (through intercom):
"You should've let me burn out in silence. Now... you'll fall with your kingdom."
[SCENE — OUTSIDE HQ, MID EXPLOSION]
The tower ignites like a beacon. Citizens below scream and scatter. Vanguard HQ begins to collapse in sections. Emergency drones fail to respond. Kael and Irion lead the team out through the wreckage as the foundation crumbles.
Kael (breathing hard):
"Roll call! Everyone alive?!"
Jax (smoke-covered):
"Here. Barely."
Yuna (helping Echo):
"We're okay. Echo took a hit."
Tari (glaring at the flames):
"Crimsa… she played all of us."
[SCENE — NEARBY ROOFTOP, CRIMSA'S POV]
Crimsa watches the burning HQ from afar, her cloak whipping in the wind. Her eyes flicker red as a transmission beams into her visor.
Mother Null (voice only):
"Your signal's clear. Phase Two begins now."
Crimsa lowers her visor. Her face hardens.
Crimsa:
"Let the shadows claim what's left."
[TO BE CONTINUED...]