Chapter 3 - Subtitle Pending

Cover

Title

The Technosexual
Sequence 1
Chapter 3 | [Subtitle Pending]

Scene

[Pending]

Page 1 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa is frowning. Max has straightened himself up but crossed his arms. He is not blocking her in any way, but he does come across as mildly threatening, despite his small stature.

Dialogue

Melissa: "And you are?"
Max: "Maximilian Ultimata, although most just call me Max."
Melissa: "And you're looking to ask me questions? You a cop or something?"
Max: "Used to be, still an investigator though."

Panel 2

Scene

Max uncrosses his arms and gestures towards Melissa's front door. Melissa takes up a somewhat defensive posture, her keys still in her right hand, portable terminal in her left.

Dialogue

Max: "I moved in a few years ago, and I have never seen anyone enter or leave this apartment."
Melissa: "Yes... I've been out fighting in the Western Republic..."
Max: "Ahh, that farce of a civil war. I surmised as much."

Panel 3

Scene

Max has pulled out what looks like a small leatherbound notepad. Having thumbed through it he finds the page he wants.

Dialogue

Max: "Melissa Kjeller. Type-C Combat Cyborg. Drafted some... 5 years ago now. Former systems engineer at Micronic System Components..."
Melissa: "How do you..."
Max: "I told you, I'm an investigator."

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa looks confused, and a bit distressed at having all this information just read off of a notepad in front of her.
Max thumbs through the pages a bit more.

Dialogue

Max: "Anyway, Imagine my surprise when I hear someone trying to force your door open..."
Melissa: "And you didn't call the police because?"
Max: "I'm an ex-cop... I know what they're like. Especially about break-ins and, uh, cyborgs."

Page 2 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max has put his notepad away and has returned to leaning against a wall, the opposite one this time. Melissa has not relaxed at all, but makes slow progress towards her door, eyes locked onto Max.

Dialogue

Max: "When it became pretty clear you weren't there to ransack the place I decided to do some research."
Melissa: "Sounds more like snooping to me..."
Max: "I'm an investigator, it's what I do."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa has made it to her door and placed her key in the lock. Her eyes still locked to Max. Max doesn't seem particularly perturbed at her piercing gaze.

Dialogue

Max: "Look... your power is out, you have no net access, and you've had a long day. Do you want to come to my flat and we can have a chat?"
Melissa: "You couldn't have opened with that?"
Max: "I prefer to lay all my cards on the table. I still have some questions to ask you."

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa has clicked her door open and briefly taken her eyes off Max to throw her jacket into her apartment, he hasn't shifted an inch, continuing to lean against the wall behind her.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Sounds like you know everything already."
Max: "Not everything."

Panel 4

Scene

Max has turned to walk back to his apartment, 11/E.
Melissa clicks her door shut behind her again and picks up her portable terminal. May as well accept the offer of power and net access. She could always leave.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Ok, I'll trade knowledge for coffee and power."
Max: "Deal."

Page 3 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max's apartment is not dissimilar in layout to Melissa's.
He has several whiteboards and corkboards on the walls, various scribblings and pinned news paper clippings cover them.
Across the panoramic window is a large wooden desk littered with papers. His chair tucked nearly into the desk, his triple array display setup for his terminal showing a mess of coloured pipes.
A low grey sofa sits in the middle of the room, in front of it a coffee table in matching wood to his desk.
Max is gesturing at the sofa.

Dialogue

Max: "How do you take your coffee?"
Melissa: "Splash of milk, no sugar."
Max: "Make yourself comfortable."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa sits down on the sofa and places her terminal on the ground next to her legs. She leans back, relaxing. Over her shoulder Max can be seen busying himself in the kitchen.

Dialogue

Max: "So, what got you drafted?"
Melissa: "Apparently my existing augmentations were 'compatible' with the Cyber-Soldier program."
Max: "How'd that work out?"

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa has twisted round on the sofa, her left arm hanging over the back of it as she looks over at the kitchen. Max is facing away from her, fidgeting with a rather fancy looking coffee machine. A wide selection of coffees and teas seem to take up a large part of Max's kitchen shelf space. He seems incredibly fond of his teas and coffee.

Dialogue

Melissa: "The program? Utter shitshow. The implants? Top notch kit..."
Max: "And now they're making you pay for them, right?"
Melissa: "Seems that way... my whole account got wiped out in an instant."

Panel 4

Scene

Max hands Melissa a mug of coffee on his way past her to the sofa on the opposite side of the coffee table. The Mug is black and has the NBCPD Shield on it.

Dialogue

Max: "Shitty policy... Popular policy... Shitty policy."
Melissa: "Shitty is right... Especially as there was literally no warning."
Max: "Worse than they made it out to be huh... I shouldn't be surprised."

Page 4 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max sits on the sofa opposite Melissa, his own mug has an image of a woman laying on the beach wearing very little clothing.

Dialogue

Max: "So... you come home from war... find your utilities to be cut off... and the first thing you do is go to a strip club? Pretty irresponsible, if you don't mind me saying."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa frowns at this statement, how very presumptuous of this badger...

Scene

Melissa: "Ignoring the fact that means you've been watching me... I went there to get net access to try and get my utilities turned back on..."

Panel 3

Scene

Max's face is one of mild confusion as he takes a sip of his coffee...

Dialogue

Max: "... at a strip club?"
Melissa: "Well. It seemed like the only specifically cyborg friendly place in the area."
Max: "I suppose that is, indeed, true."

Panel 4

Scene

Max sits his mug back in his lap and looks a little concerned...

Dialogue

Max: "So... what are you planning on doing for a job now?"
Melissa: "I have an offer... but I'm not sure if I'll take it."
Max: "The Technosexual?"
Melissa: "The Technosexual."

Page 5 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa puts her mug on the table and reaches down for her portable terminal. Max is leaning back in his chair and taking another sip of his coffee.

Dialogue

Max: "You know, I think you'd suit hanging upside down on a pole."
Melissa: "I'm not sure that's what the owner had in mind..."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa has her portable terminal sitting on her lap, Max has stood up and is walking towards his router which sits blinking on a side table nearby.

Dialogue

Max: "I'll get you the access code..."
Melissa: "Thanks, I want to see if Rachel made any progress in her investigations."

Panel 3

Scene

Max has picked the router up and is reading off the label on the back of it, Melissa is tapping away on her terminal.

Dialogue

Max: "Rachel Gates right? DN_Link-91318, Perfect-Blue-Duck-9 by the way..."
Melissa: "Thanks... and yeah, that's her. You know each other?"

Panel 4

Scene

Instead of returning to his seat Max walks towards his window and gazes out of it, Melissa gets connected and opens up her banking site again, it still reads 0 Credits.

Dialogue

Max: "Not really, more that I just know of her. Her name comes up from time to time in some old cases."
Melissa: "Should I be worried?"
Max: "She's just a skilled information gatherer... and manipulator... stay on her good side."

Page 6 (4 panels + 1 wide)

Panel 1

Scene

Max puts his hands behind his back and gazes out across the city, Melissa is sitting back on the sofa, terminal idling on her lap whilst she gulps down the last of the coffee in her mug.

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa looks over at Max who is still staring out the window.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Something catch your eye?"
Max: "This place is a shithole..."
Melissa: "That's a given..."
Max: "I still like it here."

Panel 3

Scene

Max has turned his head and is looking over his shoulder at Melissa. Melissa is just looking at him in mild bewilderment.

Dialogue

Max: "Do you not agree?"
Melissa: "I've lived in New Bright most of my life, it's never been the nicest place..."
Max: "So why stay here?"
Melissa: "I don't know... I don't really feel like I can leave, for whatever reason..."

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa stands and walks towards the window where Max has returned to looking out over the city.

Panel 5 (Wide)

Scene

Melissa and Max both stare out of the window at the city below them.

Dialogue

Max: "It's because it's home."

Page 7 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

The two stand and continue to stare out of the window, they remain silent for a bit.

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa turns her head to look at Max. Camera remains in position behind them.

Dialogue

Melissa: "How about you tell me a bit about yourself?"
Max: "Ask away, if I can answer you, I will..."
Melissa: "If?"
Max: "Technically, some things are Classified..."

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa turns fully to face Max and Max looks up at her.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Classi... you know what, I probably don't want to know..."
Max: "Even if you did, I couldn't tell you."
Melissa: "Haha, funny guy."

Panel 4

Scene

Max has spun round and is leaning backwards against the window, his head tilted downwards he gazes at the carpet. Melissa has turned to face out the window again.

Dialogue

Melissa: "So... you said you were a cop?"

Page 8 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max is now looking up at his ceiling, Melissa has turned her head to look at him.

Dialogue

Max: "Were, yes... I was bounced out after it was discovered I was augmented."
Melissa: "You don't read as one..."

Panel 2

Scene

Max hoists his breasts up and looks up at Melissa.

Dialogue

Max: "Well these certainly didn't grow on their own, or overnight."
Melissa: "Genetic augment... right..."
Max: "People seem to forget that we exist a lot of the time."

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa returns to looking out of the window at the city below. Max drops his breasts and eyes up Melissa's figure.

Dialogue

Melissa: "You're kind of lucky in that regard, at least in my opinion."
Max: "I suppose that's true. To a degree."
Melissa: "So, what kind of genetic alterations did you have done?"

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa doesn't move, Max returns to looking at the carpet.

Dialogue

Max: "You mean 'had forced on you', also, 'technically classified'."
Melissa: "Sorry..."

Page 9 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max pushes himself off the window and starts to walk back into the room, Melissa turns to watch him walk.

Dialogue

Max: "All I can really say is, that I was born with a genetic defect they'd not caught during a fetal scan."

Panel 2

Scene

Max walks towards the kitchen, Melissa turns away from the window and follows to the other side of the breakfast bar.

Dialogue

Max: "So, my parents, under pressure from the doctor to get me 'fixed', allowed an experimental treatment to be performed on me."

Panel 3

Scene

Max turns the Coffee machine back on and Melissa leans against the bar, following along intently.

Dialogue

Max: "Of course, it worked, luckily for me. I'm still alive today. But there were also a load of complications that I am not allowed to go in to."

Panel 4

Scene

Max turns to Melissa as the coffee drips through the filter into the pot.

Dialogue

Max: "Turns out I was just a big experiment to him, testing some new genome altering drug he'd invented. Everything was buried, his research was too important to actually punish him... of course, you heard none of this from me."

Page 10 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Max picks the pot off the coffee machine and looks around for his mug.

Dialogue

Melissa: "You left it on the coffee table, I'll go get it for you..."
Max: "Thanks."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa walks back to the sofas, and the coffee table... her terminal sitting quietly on her banking page.
"YOU WILL BE LOGGED OUT FOR INACTIVITY SHORTLY". She does a double take however.
Balance: 1,381,213 Cr.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Holy shit..."
Max: "What is it?"

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa drops herself down onto the sofa and leans forward tapping away at her terminal, there is a single deposit into her account for the full balance, reference code "RG_DNTASK".
Max is leaning over the sofa behind Melissa, looking at the screen along with her.

Dialogue

Max: "Looks like you're on her good side..."

Panel 4

Scene

An email pops up from LAViXEN//UNDERNET

This should let you get your lights and DataNET back on tonight.
Please come by tomorrow evening for coffee.
Lavender

Dialogue

Melissa: "And I should probably stay on her good side..."

Page 11 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa is keying away on her terminal, Max is sitting on the sofa opposite her his full mug of coffee just sitting in his lap, he appears to be examining it.
Melissa's terminal shows the net page of NewBright Utilities and a message box stating "Outstanding debt paid, power will be reconnected in 1 hour".

Dialogue

Max: "1.38 million credits... where did she find that?"
Melissa: "As it said in the reference, I do not intend to ask..."

Panel 2

Scene

Max decides to take a sip of his coffee and pulls a face, it's gone cold.
Melissa is now on the page for "BrightNET Infrastructure", it again shows "Balance paid, DataNET access will be restored shortly. Thank you for choosing BrightNET."

Dialogue

Melissa: "And that's my utilities getting turned back on..."
Max: "What's that got you left over?"

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa returns to her bank page and checks the balance. Max puts his mug on the table.
Balance: 639,920 Cr.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Just over half a million credits..."
Max: "Yikes, they really screwed you in late fees, didn't they?"
Melissa: "Not the cheapest service as it is..."

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa flops backward into the sofa and Max sits back as well, one panic over.

Dialogue

Melissa: "Everything should be back on some time in the next hour, hopefully..."
Max: "Fancy staying the night, just in case?"
Melissa: "I think I'll pass, thanks."

Page 12 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa is powering off and packing up her terminal, Max has taken the mugs through to his kitchen to get washed.

Dialogue

Max: "Sure I can't offer you a nightcap?"
Melissa: "No offense, because you have been incredibly helpful, but I still barely know you."

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa turns to see Max leaning against the wall at the entranceway to his kitchenette.

Dialogue

Melissa: "And don't think I've not noticed you checking me out all night..."
Max: "Can't blame a guy for trying though right?"

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa visibly sighs and shakes her head. Max has a wide and cheeky grin across his face.

Dialogue

Melissa: "No, no. I suppose I can't."
Max: "It's fine, I get you. You probably want your own bed as well... it's been a hell of a day for you, right?"
Melissa: "Right."

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa steps out into the hallway, Max stands in the doorway behind her.

Dialogue

Max: "You have a good night ok? I'll see you around."
Melissa: "Doubtless... Good Night, and thanks again."
Max: "Any time."

Page 12 (4 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa unlocks her front door and steps inside.

Panel 2

Scene

Melissa taps on the panel on her wall and her lights come on. She smiles.

Panel 3

Scene

Melissa drops her portable terminal into a docking station on her desk on the way past it towards her bedroom.

Panel 4

Scene

Melissa walks into her bedroom and the lights in the living area go out. The camera does not follow her on this panel.

Page 13 (6 panels)

Panel 1

Scene

Melissa taps a panel on the wall of her bedroom and the light comes on.
Her bedroom is plainly decorated, the majority of the space taken up by a cleanly made bed with dark plain bedclothes.
A handful of plushies sit on a low dresser at one side of the room, next to it is a tall cupboard. (Plushies can be cameos or references).