Part Five - The Beginning of the End - Part Four

People live their lives thanks to circadian rhythms that allow them to function at their best during a certain time of day through stimuli of familiar objects called associative triggers. We are creatures of routine and systems. But there is that third elusive structure that can lead to all sorts of amazing feats: spontaneity.

NOVEMBER 28, 2007

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST, ILLINOIS

THE GARDEN OF THE GODS

Trevor is still staring at Future Trevor.

Trevor - “I hate practical jokes and I’m not above shooting you in the leg to show you my exact level of affection for them. Which one are you, Sterling or Marcusse?”

[Heroes Survival Game - Undaunted members]

Future Trevor - “I’m no shapeshifter. Not an illusion, neither. I am you. A one-eyed, one armed 4 years from the future parallel version of you.”

Trevor - “It’s easier for me to believe you’re a figment of my insanity. Plus, that’s a mouthful.”

Future Trevor - “For us, it was never about belief, not really even purpose, it is about conviction.”

Trevor - “It looks like your conviction got you where you are just fine.”

Future Trevor - “It’s time for both of us to accept the truth. Trevor Tanaka wants to save the world. But what if Trevor Tanaka could save the multiverse?”

[Hiro to Tadashi “Acceptance”]

Trevor - “Bored now, bye bye.”

[Justice League Unlimited - Question to Huntress - “Double Date”]

Trevor raises his gun again.

Future Trevor - “You know that won’t work on us.”

Trevor fires. Close up and slow frame on the bullet as it exits the gun chamber then slowly pan to Future Trevor. He stares at the bullet, counting off in his head, and sidesteps the bullet with ease.

Trevor - “…Because I memorized how long it takes a bullet to travel. That still doesn’t prove anything, only that I have to use a knife or my hands to kill you.”

Future Trevor laughs.

Future Trevor - “This always happens…”

Trevor - “What do…”

Future Trevor - “I mean? I spent 4 years traveling to multiple realities, meeting parallel Trevor’s; I get attacked, I explain everything, and I try to help them rectify one event that will change everything for the better.”

Trevor - “How can you even know what’s better?!”

Trevor drops his gun and tries to punch Future Trevor. Future Trevor sidesteps it, a second punch, a sweep, and punches Trevor as he’s about to deliver another round.

Future Trevor - “Again. Conviction.”

Trevor - “Why now?! You can..you can save her.”

Future Trevor - “Because she always dies.”

Trevor shakes his head in disbelief and strikes Future Trevor and tackles him into the dirt. He punches and punches Future Trevor repeatedly.

Trevor - “Who are you?!! If you don’t tell me now, I’ll have someone rip it out of you!!!”

[Homage to Matt Parkman]

Future Trevor - “My name is Trevor Tanaka. But when I was born, I was named…”

Zoom out. The conversation is inaudible. Trevor is taken aback and adjusts his posture and stands up. His breathing calms down. He offers to help up Future Trevor. Future Trevor is intrigued.

Future Trevor - “They never help me up. Never punched me, for that matter…Could this be the one? Is it true?”

Trevor - “That you’re a glutton for punishment?”

Future Trevor - “I did it. I found the original. Earth-Prime!”

[DC Comics, Dark Tower]

Trevor - “The original universe from which all universes originated from?”

Future Trevor - “Not just that, the keystone!! Change something here and you change the outcome in every universe.”

Trevor - “That’s totally not going to make me self-conscious for the rest of my life.”

Future Trevor - “It was some time before I could find James since I had no resources and was going on memory. We came up with a plan to try and stop this from happening. I’ve tried to save Undaunted 51 times and failed over and over. Then we decided on something more radical…Earth-Prime. This is it. This is my, our chance to make sure no more lives are lost here and anywhere. It takes only one small thing to upset the balance and knock down a line of small dominoes and then big dominoes and then gigantic dominoes, all down the years across time and space.”

Montage of Trevor and James visiting various realities.

[DC Comics - 52 and Ray Bradbury “A Sound of Thunder”]

Trevor - “You being here qualifies for that.”

Future Trevor - “They split an atom and dropped it on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

[World War II - Atom Bomb]

Trevor - “Oh, well now I get it. But I only have dynamite.”

Future Trevor - “Of all the universes, you are the most abrasive.”

Trevor - “Now you’re just buttering me up.”

Trevor turns at the graves and holsters his gun.

Trevor - “My family is shrinking and our graveyard is getting bigger. Are you here to help me stop that?”

[Samuel - “Once Upon A Time In Texas”]

Seal walks out of the clearing looking at a piece of crumpled paper, not noticing the two Trevor’s.

Seal - “Trevor, you see this? We’ve got a big development going on…”

Seal looks up and sees the Trevor’s.

UNDAUNTED - in Heroes title font - graces across the panel.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END - PART FOUR: POINT OF REFERENCE - in Heroes title font -

NOVEMBER 30, 2007

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST, ILLINOIS

THE GARDEN OF THE GODS

Trevor is sitting on a stump, going over data on his hacked e-reader. Seal is sitting near him with a sandwich.

Seal - “What would you have named her?”

Trevor - “I don’t name my computers.”

Seal - “Your daughter.”

Trevor - “…We decided on Elisha. After one of my grandmothers.”

Seal - “Elisha.”

Seal is suddenly raised in the air by an unseen telekinetic. Trevor is unresponsive. Then a large explosion goes off in the background. Seal drops, Trevor catches him. He runs within the forest and brushes off a door. It opens and Trevor is about to throw Seal in, they are telekinetically shoved apart. Seal’s neck is snapped and he drops to the ground. More explosions are set off. Trees are seen falling.

Trevor walks toward the explosion. He sees a woman pinned under a tree trunk. He shoots at her offscreen. He keeps walking and shooting at three others, counting off with his free hand. He stops at a dead man.

He telekinetically shoves Trevor into a standing tree. Trevor wheezes. His ribs are broken. The man rises up slowly. He pats himself down, brushing dirt off of his clothes, and wipes blood off his forehead. He raises Trevor up with telekinesis.

Keith - “Explosive perimeter? How uninspiring, Trevor.”

Keith telekinetically slices across Trevor’s forehead.

Keith - “That was your big plan?!”

Keith telekinetically slices down Trevor’s right face through his eye. Trevor screams out loud.

Keith - “This is one big disappointment.”

Trevor - “Sorry, I just love the classic’s.”

Keith - “Famous last words. I’m going to just finish this fast. I’m not a big fan of the outdoors.”

Trevor - “It’s the smell, isn’t it? I’m not too crazy about it myself.”

Keith is unimpressed and is about to slice him again when another explosion detonates right under him. Trevor goes flying. He lands and tries to stand. He looks down and his arm is missing. He is silent, and then crawls into the forest. The smoke is finally clear, camera zooms out for a wide shot, bodies are everywhere, revealing the enemy faction’s handiwork.

NOVEMBER 28, 2007

Camera angle zoomed up on Seal’s face. He read Future Trevor.

Seal - “Trevor, my Trev..umm…can I talk to you over here?”

Trevor’s nod at each other. Trevor walks over to Seal.

Seal - “Alternate realities?”

Trevor - “Do you believe him?”

Seal - “He believes himself.”

Trevor - “Again, he could just believe in his lies.”

Seal - “But Trevor…he’s a future you.”

Trevor - “Yeah…it may get confusing and I have this gut feeling to call him Steve. It feels right.”

Seal frowns.

Trevor - “My objective is to protect everyone that is a member of Undaunted. He has intelligence that may prove useful toward our survival.”

Seal - “And the whole ‘saving the multiverse’?”

Trevor - “Meh.”

The Trevor’s are conversing alone. Future Trevor is typing on Trevor’s e-reader.

Future Trevor - “This is everything I know.”

He passes the tablet to Trevor.

Trevor - “Their leader is a skilled telekinetic. This won’t be the easiest kill.”

Future Trevor - “Two Trevor’s are better than one.”

Trevor - “Ugh. Can’t believe you just said that. I wish I could shoot you.”

Future Trevor - “When else can I use that phrase?”

Trevor - “Ah, good point. Where’s Future James?”

Future Trevor laughs at the term. Then has a grim look. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a stopwatch, running.

Future Trevor - “I have to find him at certain points and times around the planet. His body…couldn’t perceive the space-time continuum anymore and the only thing that could anchor him for a limited time is the planet’s leylines.”

Trevor - “But if this works, your reality at least, will reset and you won’t have to worry about finding your James. You two won’t even have time to click your heels together…”

Future Trevor - “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Trevor - “Meaning it’s not really about your Earth anymore.”

Future Trevor - “Where is Azuteor?”

Trevor - “I don’t know, probably procrastinating for a physics exam…You thinking A-Squad?”

Future Trevor - “A-Squad.”

TO BE CONTINUED…