Mindwarp Page #3

---

Dreadful though it is, I've

given them a structure.

A religion, hope.

They're blind, Judy,

and I see for them.

They've survived.

I'm sorry you don't see it as I do.

But you will, soon.

No!

They'd been living in the landfill

for some time before I came,

but they'd forgotten what

any of this was for.

I've helped them to remember,

to use it as a foundation

for the future.

Now they have a purpose

with each new day.

They don't exactly look

happy in their work.

Oh, sometimes it takes a

bit of encouragement.

The carrot and the stick?

In a manner of speaking.

And the stick?

Sometimes as literal as that.

We have a number of

short-term problems, Judy,

that I'm trying to address.

A solution to one in particular

could solve most of the

others in the long term.

Your people must love you.

Skilled labor is at a premium,

sometimes OutWorlders are

a help in that area.

Willingly?

You must know that a few must

sacrifice for the greater good.

For your greater good.

You learn quickly.

I have nothing to learn from you.

Really? Is this as far

as you're willing to go?

I'll go as far as I have

to, but with Stover.

He didn't sink under. He

survived without all of this.

You think he's going to fit

into your little future world?

So far, he's fitting

in very nicely.

Stover! Stover, I love you.

What have you done to him?

Nasty little creatures, really.

Recent mutations with

an unusual life cycle.

The females swim into

the orifices of a host

to lay their eggs on

membranous tissue.

The males lodge in

the nervous system

to keep the host calm

during incubation.

The larvae are parasitic.

In the early stages, they

feed on nervous tissue.

The host organism starts to twitch

as its dendrites are consumed.

It's said to be pleasurable, like

being tickled on the inside.

Please let him out.

Get him out!

I'm afraid it's too late for him.

No!

I thought you were strong, Judy.

I thought you could face reality,

not as you want it

to be, but as it is.

It doesn't have to be like this.

It does, but not in the future.

We can change it, Judy, you and I.

We can remake this world.

What are you talking about?

You and I, Judy,

we're from InWorld.

We've not been exposed all our lives

to all the poisons and diseases

that the Crawlers and the

OutWorlders have carried for years.

We're of pure stock.

We could rule for decades, and our

offspring, for generations after us.

No!

We can. You must.

No!

I've got to get out of here.

Cornelia?

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

You monster!

No, I do what's necessary.

The Crawlers are like mules.

Males and females unable

to breed successfully.

You can see from the offspring.

Cornelia is barren.

We're limited in what we can do

for them to improve procreation.

But you, Judy, you and

I still have a chance.

And you even have a choice.

A life with me in my

chambers, ruling beside me,

or remaining here

with her, like her.

Either way, you will

bear my children!

No!

No!

Good night, Cornelia.

Come on, Stover. Wake up!

Stover! Please wake up, please.

Yes. That's right.

I'm willing to do what

has to be done. Are you?

Oh, yes. And I'll make sure one of

us is dead before you ever touch me.

That won't be necessary.

God. No!

I never imagined I could devour

my own child, but I can.

Here, I can do anything.

It's wonderful.

Start it!

Oh! No!

Now you can see it all.

No!

No!

Oh!

Oh, no, Stover.

Here. Take it. Drink it.

Help me, please.

We have to get out of here.

Leave? Oh, no, we can't leave.

We belong here.

No!

No, Judy.

I love you.

Judy, come back!

They need you here!

Judy, wait! Judy! Come back!

- Don't go up there.

- No! Stop it!

Stop it! Stop!

Let go!

- Stay here with me!

- Let go of me! No!

Judy!

No! Look, we're over the Deadlands!

But it's the only way out!

Judy!

Judy!

Judy!

I love you!

Judy.

Judy!

Judy.

Please come back. I need your help!

Oh, my God, Stover.

What should I do?

The Deadlands... We have to

get out of the Deadlands.

Stover?

Stover!

What's wrong, Judy?

Why aren't you hooked in?

Take a deep breath. Relax.

Sometimes it takes a

moment to recover.

None of it...

None of it was real?

That' depends on

what you mean, Judy.

Is it really like

that on the outside?

I wouldn't know.

I've never been there.

I can't believe it was all just...

Yes. It can be any shape

you want it to be.

Reality? It's up to you.

There's no place like home.

Good.

I didn't think this lesson

would be wasted on you.

There's a reason you had

to go through this, Judy.

You're exceptional, and I can't

continue in this job forever.

Someone, of course, must

take responsibility.

You've inherited my

strengths, my powers.

You've passed the test.

You've proven it.

You never left.

You were right here. You

were always with me?

Yes. Yet, for all our lives,

we have only these few

real moments together.

The new Systems Operator.

It's for you to run Infinisynth.

To absorb all the dreams, all

the hopes and fantasies.

All the minds online.

It will seem frightening at first.

But then you'll realize

it's everything.

What is it?

Nothing. I have no more questions.

Good.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes