X
EXT. JAY'S HOME - PRESENT DAY
INT. LIVING ROOM
Interviewer Stylinski: What do you mean by a new chapter?
Jay: More like a whole other story, if you want to think of it like that.
Interviewer Stylinski: What happened to the opponent after the fight?
Jay: You mean what happened to both of us?
Interviewer Stylinski: (laughs) Right… My apologies. Mind telling me more of what happened to the both of you after the fight went down?
Jay: Yeah, fuck it, why not.
FLASHBACK – 60 YEARS AGO
INT. MEDICAL ROOM
(Both Jay and his opponent lay in separate beds, a few feet apart. The room smells of antiseptic and blood.)
(The opponent opens his eyes, looks over, and sees Jay staring at the ceiling with an angry expression.)
Opponent: The fuck you looking at the ceiling for, dumb fuck? Lighten up, man. That was a good fight, plus we both survived.
Jay: Yeah, I guess you're right, but still… I've never had a close fight like that. That shit just feels so new... And I fucking hate it.
Opponent: Yeah, same here… but it was fun, lowkey.
Jay: Yeah, true dat… Also, the hell is your name anyways? I'm tired of all that "NetZero" bullshit.
Opponent: My name? Huh… it's Xen.
Jay: Eh, I'll just call you X.
Xen: (chuckles) That's fine.
BACK TO INTERVIEW – PRESENT DAY
Interviewer Stylinski: Oh, Xen, yeah. I remember my dad telling me a lot of stories about him when I was really young. I always thought his name was pretty cool, especially his other name, Nightfall.
Jay: What about my name, man? (he says jokingly)
Interviewer Stylinski: (laughs)
Interviewer Stylinski: But what did you think about Xen at that time…
(Suddenly, the door slams open, interrupting Stylinski.)
Xen: YO WASSGOOD, FUCKBOY! BEEN AWHILE! (with a big smile on his face)
Jay: XEN, WHAT THE FUCK! You piece of shit, do you even know how to fucking knock? (laughs) The hell are you even doing here, dumbass? (smiles)
(Xen walks over to Jay, daps him up, and pulls Jay into a shoulder hug.)
Xen: (laughs) Didn't know I needed a fucking invitation to see my best man!
(Xen makes eye contact with Stylinski.)
Xen: Who the hell is this random?
Interviewer Stylinski: My name is Stylinski, and I'm a report—
(Xen cuts him off.)
Xen: Yeah, I don't give a fuck where you come from, you frit.
(Xen pulls up a chair and sits next to Jay, opposite to Stylinski.)
(Minutes pass as Stylinski explains his business to Xen.)
Xen: So you're a reporter…. Huh?
Interviewer Stylinski: Yes, I wanted to know about your guys' past…
Xen: Well, that's new because we never take interviews… How did you even convince Jay into talking?
Jay: He somehow found me, dude.
Xen: Now that's just fucking weird, but I respect that you were able to find one of us. Or maybe Jay is just losing his edge with old age. (laughs)
Jay: Oh, fuck off, man. You know I can still move, bitch. But this dude is really good because no one is able to find me… trust me.
Interviewer Stylinski: (nervous laugh) Yeah, thanks… But, can we continue?
Jay: Instead of me explaining this shit, how 'bout you do it this time, X?
Xen: Might as well. So, where did you guys leave off?
Jay: Back at the medical room after the fight. When we first met.
Xen: Heh, fuck… feels like a lifetime ago.
FLASHBACK – 60 YEARS AGO
Jay: Also, I'm sorry for all the shit I said about NetZero.
Xen: Eh, it's ight. I kinda fucked around and ticked you off anyways. Didn't know you was a lil bitch n got easily provoked. (laughs) But it was a kick-in-the-balls kind of a move, so no worries, bro. And I see that you're genuinely sorry… so yeah.
Jay: (laughs) Yeah, I just got a big fucking ego. Like, I've never lost… ever. So I guess my anger took over or some shit.
Xen: Yeah, I never lost either. You know, I'm definitely different from all the other bitches here, and now I can tell that you are too… like me.
Jay: What do you mean we're different? Are you cracked off some Reality Mods or something, man?
Xen: All honesty bro but I need your damn help, bro. I've never found anyone as strong as me before you. So I ain't gonna lie, we might be able to get out. Won't be easy, but only if you're willing to risk your life.
Jay: (confused) Wait, wait, what the fuck are you even talking about, man? Tell me for real what's going on here, and calm down. You look like you're about to fuck around and explode.
Xen: (breathes in and out calmly) You're right. I'm sorry. It's just, I've been here my whole life damn near with no friends and shit. I was about 7 when I got here, wondering where the hell I was. And let me tell you, I've seen so much fucked up shit and stuff I wasn't supposed to see here, it's not even funny. But it wasn't until I was 8 when I found out about what really is going on here, the truth.
Jay: Yeah, I've had a similar shitty encounter. So, what's this fucking truth you're talking about, though?
Xen: (chuckles) I finally have a motherfucker who won't die so easily on me knowing the truth.
Jay: Okay, man, stop holding the damn truth. Just tell me already.
Xen: Okay, damn. But first, what do they say their plan and goals are when you get here?
Jay: They told us that we're here to run some life-changing tests for some sort of bullshit healing for Mem Slots and Reality Mods for the world or some shit like that. But I don't know all the details.
Xen: Yeah, that's just a cover for what's really going on here.
Jay: Shit what is it Lay it on me.
Xen: You sure? (he says hesitantly)
Jay: Yes, I'm fucking sure. Just fucking tell me already! (he says, clearly in an impatient tone)
Xen: Alright. (he sits up in a serious manner)
Xen: You know how they say this shit is for "healing" and shit like that, right? Yeah, fuck no, it's the opposite. Bodies hang like fucking ornaments down there, drenched in blood and oil. It's the most fucked up, gut-wrenching shit you'll ever see. Test subjects like tweakers off Mem Slots or Reality Mods they find at DataShade, they strip off their humanity, those poor frits scream out in vain every damn second as cybernetic implants are forced into them. It's like the violent dances of death man. The failed experiments are discarded like fucking scrap metal, their flesh and circuits indistinguishable in the carnage. Shit looks like a goddamn war Mem Slot. Not only that, you know how they have us fight to see if the Mem Slots or Reality Mods are working through their healing formula? Yeah, no, that's all bullshit. The only reason they want us to fight is to find out who's the strongest so they can bring us in as a test subject for the implants. Even the staff joke that the only thing that escapes this hellhole are the ghosts of those who couldn't die properly.
Jay: (stares at Xen horridly in shock and disgust) You're kidding me, right? Like, youre being dead fucking serious right now… We're basically some fucking lab rats.
Xen: I know, and thats why we need to get the fuck out of here… Like now…
TO BE CONTINUED...
Directed and Published by. Anthony Jay Neri
Co-Directed by. Xavier Flores-Rodriguez