The Nexus of It All

Location: Nevada Desert, United States of America

    Harlan and Jasmine walk. As they walk, they find an abandoned warehouse. Harlan taps Jasmine on the shoulder to ask if that is it.

    Harlan: That it?

    Jasmine looks at it with dread.

    Jasmine: Yes.

    Jasmine overtakes Harlan and speeds to the abandoned warehouse. As Jasmine approaches the door, there is a keypad. Jas puts the four digit code 1106 and it opens.

    Harlan opens the door for Jas, who hands him back his coat. Harlan puts his coat back on and walks in the warehouse with Jasmine. Inside they see an abandoned office. Cobwebs, dust and burn marks fill the walls, the floors, the tables, the chairs and computer monitors.

    Harlan: This is ancient. Abandoned for at least ten years. How do you know about this?

    Jasmine looks at Harlan, with a look of dread and guilt.

    Jasmine: All will be revealed. Come on.

    Jas leads Harlan to a locked door. Jas puts in the code 1025 and the door opens. We reveal Jasper's office.

    Harlan: Wow.

    Jasmine: I know.

    Harlan and Jas walk to the office, which is full of boxes covered in dust. Jas turns on the lights, which activates a faded but still functioning light bulb.

    Harlan: Come on. The plans should be here.

    Harlan takes a box, and removes his coat and holster suspender. He opens the box and sees folders of files. Harlan goes through them and Jas grabs a box, sits on her father's chair and does the same.

    Harlan goes through different files. Some about agents, some about different projects.

_.-

    Hours have passed by. Harlan slams the folder labelled "Project Genesis" back into the box. He looks at Jas and sees her asleep. Harlan walks to her, takes off his coat and puts it on her as a blanket. Harlan notices a folder hidden. Harlan takes it and looks at it. He opens it to see a photo of young Jasmine.

    Harlan goes through the files. Jas wakes up. Harlan sees her.

    Harlan: You didn't tell me about this.

    Harlan shows Jas the files. The documents on Jasmine, and photos of her in SERPENT. Jas looks at them.

    Jasmine: Harlan I-

    Harlan: Explain. NOW!

    Jasmine puts Harlan's coat on the table. She then takes a deep breath.

    Jasmine: My father as you know was a SERPENT agent. So when I was born, he hoped for me to continue his legacy.

    Jas reaches out her arm, and Harlan hands her the folder. Jasmine looks at Harlan as she takes out photos of her in the academy.

    Jasmine: While I trained, my father worked closely with his best friend, Billy Atienza, on various projects. The two created a lot of great ideas, but they were all foiled by T.H.E.P.A.

    Jasmine takes another breath.

    Jasmine: However, while working on a project, my father had second thoughts about exposing me to this side of the world. He questioned what kind of father would expose their daughter to his hellish world.

    Harlan: And so he defected.

    Jasmine: My father and I fled to Korea. We kept a low profile, stayed off SERPENT's radar. We were free.

    Jasmine starts tearing up. Harlan puts his arms around her, to comfort her, but Jas pushes him away.

    Jasmine: C'mon, we got something to do.

    Harlan nods. He stands, but notices something. He takes out his gun and aims it at a rat.

    The rat turns at Harlan, then runs off. Harlan follows the rat as it goes into a wall. Harlan approaches the wall and Jas follows from behind. Harlan taps the wall to feel its thin structure. Harlan then punches the wall. He punches it over, and over, and over. Jas turns to the table and sees a button. She presses it and the wall slides open.

    Harlan looks at Jas.

    Harlan: Couldn't you have pressed it earlier?

    Jas chuckles and walks in the room. A more dusty and dirty work space is inside, with an old computer. Jasmine picks up a box with VHS tapes. She finds one with Jasper's name on it, with the date going back to 1993. She wipes a tear from her face and gets to work.

    Jasmine reboots the computer and it turns on. Jas puts in Jasper's name, and the password 1122. The computer then opens the Jasper's empty desktop. Jas puts the VHS in the VHS player connected to the computer. A video of Jasper pops up.

    Jasper (video): Hello. My name is Jasper Aaron Olsen. I am the Head of Operations for the Scientific Espionage Research Private Entity, or SERPENT. I have been working with SERPENT for twenty-three years as of now. I have a daughter, Jasmine Leigh Olsen, she is in the academy.

    Harlan approaches Jas, who is starting to break down.

    Jasper (video): I am videoing this as part of my defection. If anyone is watching this, then it means that SERPENT has some unfinished business with me. It means that this has something to do with Project Nexus.

    Harlan holds Jas' hand, and Jas doesn't fight it. She holds on to him.

    Jasper (video): Project Nexus was an idea by me and my frequent collaborator, and personal friend Billy Stavro Atienza. Project Nexus was supposed to give SERPENT the ultimate weapon. A weapon that can wipe out any threat immediately. A weapon to make us invincible.

    Jasper pauses.

    Jasper (video): However, what kind of father will do that to a world his daughter lives in? It is my deepest regret, and I'm afraid it's bigger than you think.

    Harlan notices the lights flicker.

    Jasper (video): Project Nexus should never get in the hands of SERPENT. NEVER! All records of Project Nexus have been destroyed, except for this tape.

    Jasper looks dead serious.

    Jasper (video): JASMINE, DO NOT GIVE THIS TO ANYONE. DO NOT. DO THIS AND THE WORLD IS IN DANGER. DO NOT-

    The screen starts to glitch. Harlan grabs the VHS tape while Jas, in shock, fidgets her ring. Harlan gives the tape to Jas.

    Harlan: We gotta go. NOW.

    Jasmine: Why?

    Harlan and Jas run out of the secret office. Jas gets Harlan's coat, and puts the VHS tape inside the pocket before putting on the coat.

    Jasmine: HARLAN WHAT'S GOING ON?

    The door is then slammed open. SERPENT agents in military gear and riffles come in. A man with dark blond hair, gloves on his right hand. walk in. He grins and removes his shades. Jas looks at the man in fear.

    ?: Harlan Brandle, so nice to finally meet you.

    Harlan: I'm sorry, who the hell are you?

    The man smiles.

    ?: Jasmine dear, why not introduce me to your friend?

    Harlan turns to Jas, who looks at him with fear.

    Jasmine: Harlan, meet Billy Stavro Atienza.

    Billy smiles and laughs.

    Billy: Knock them out.

    SERPENT agents slam a rifle on the back of Harlan and Jas' heads, knocking them out.