DEAD STAR

[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.

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[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!

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[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.

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[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.

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[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.

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[VISUAL]In the living room, Rika is curled on the couch, clutching her plush. She peeks up nervously as Rain walks past.

[NO DIALOGUE]

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[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.

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[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.

PAGE 21

[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.

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[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 23

[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.

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[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?

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[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?!

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[VISUAL]Rika blinks innocently, then quietly repeats it again, confused.

RIKA:...Bitch?

LUNA (thought bubble):That's it. We're doomed.

PAGE 27

[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!

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[VISUAL]Vee's avatar smirks, folding her glowing arms.

VEE:Language assimilation successful.You're welcome.

DAWN:You little—!

PAGE 29

[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!

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[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 31

[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.

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[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 33

[VISUAL]Luna hops onto the console.

LUNA (thought bubble):Great. Just when we were getting comfy.

PAGE 34

[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.