DEAD STAR

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.

[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.

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."