EPISODE 102: "THE CROWDED BASEMENT PROTOCOL"

TITLE: SPIDER-INTERCEPT: CONVERGENCE 555
EPISODE 102: "THE CROWDED BASEMENT PROTOCOL"
ACT ONE
INT. THE HIDDEN BASEMENT LAB - NIGHT
The space is high-tech but cramped. JAX is spinning in his chair, trying to track twelve different bio-signals on three monitors. C.I.R.C.U.I.T. is skittering across the ceiling to avoid being stepped on.
The elevator dings. KALEB walks in, still carrying a slightly singed pizza box. Behind him, the PACK files in.
SPI-MECH has to duck to fit through the door, his metal plates clinking. THE SILVER CRESCENT (Willow) is sniffing a stack of server blades. THE RED-RIDER (Paul) is awkwardly leaning his bicycle against a $10,000 3D-printer.
KALEB
Jax, meet the Multiverse. Multiverse, meet Jax. He pays the bills, so please do not break the hardware.
JAX
(Eyes wide)
Kaleb, I said we needed a bigger server, not a bigger species list. There are twelve of you. My oxygen sensors are already flagging a CO2 spike.
THE NEON VIXEN (Vix) leans against a reinforced wall, her black liquid-latex suit reflecting the blue glow of the monitors.
NEON VIXEN
Nice place. A bit... underground.
C.I.R.C.U.I.T.
(From the ceiling)
It is a basement, Vixen. Your observation skills are as bright as your suit. Jax, the Wolf-one is touching the cooling vents.
THE SILVER CRESCENT (Willow) pulls her hand back from a vent, her blonde ponytail swishing.
SILVER CRESCENT
It smells like ozone and burnt pepperoni in here. The "Pack Call" worked, but this den is too small for a hunt.
THE VOLT-SPIDER (Jax Sterling) accidentally brushes against a metal railing. A spark of blue electricity jumps from his wrist-shooters, shorting out a desk lamp.
VOLT-SPIDER
My bad. High-voltage mesh doesn’t play well with low-end grounding.
JAX
(Grabbing a fire extinguisher)
That "low-end grounding" costs more than your suit, Sparky!
THE PRISM WEAVER (Cici) flickers into view next to the coffee machine, her iridescent pink suit shimmering. She holds up a sugar packet.
PRISM WEAVER
(Quietly)
Does anyone know how to work this? I’m... I’m a bit overwhelmed.
KALEB
(Sighs, opening the pizza box)
Everyone, sit. If you can’t find a chair, stick to the wall. We have a serious problem. The Static Ghost we fought at the portal was just a scout.
Kaleb taps his wrist-comm. A holographic map of the city appears in the center of the room. Red "glitch" markers are popping up across five districts.
KALEB
Jax and C.I.R.C.U.I.T. tracked the energy signature. The reality tears are stabilizing. If we don’t close them, the city will look like a corrupted save file by morning.
NIGHTWEAVER (Nyx) steps out of the darkest corner of the room, her glowing moon-lenses fixed on the map.
NIGHTWEAVER
It’s almost midnight. My powers hit their peak in twenty minutes. If we’re going to strike, we do it when the shadows are thickest.
THE PILOT (Luna) adjusts her multi-lens goggles. Her eyes glow purple for a second as she links her mind to the group.
THE PILOT
I’m establishing a psychic tactical link. You’ll all be able to hear Kaleb’s HUD directions in your heads. No more shouting over the wind.
KALEB
(Looking at the team)
Spi-mech, you and Volt-Spider are the frontline. Red-Rider, stay on the ground—you know the alleys better than any of us. Nightweaver and Vixen, stay high and silent.
Kaleb pulls his mask down. The lenses lock into place.
KALEB
Jax, keep the fans running. We’re going back out.
JAX
(Typing frantically)
Just try to bring back the bike in one piece. And Kaleb?
KALEB
Yeah?
JAX
Tell the Unicorn-Spider to stop turning the microwave invisible. I can’t find my burrito.
FADE OUT.