I N C U B U S

CHAPTERS: The chapters of this story are published live for collaboration development purposes, with a sequence derived from the Chapters below, supplemented with other (unpublished) writings as we progress. The final order for the proposed screenplay may be the subject of additional drafts to suit production of the final movie (producers/directors/actors). As a potential investor, and to be in a position to gain an idea of style and commercial value, please request a copy of our Kulo-Luna (draft) screenplay. See our terms and conditions. The script version of these Chapters will not be published, but will be available as with Kulo-Luna, on request.

INCUBUS CLONING TECHNOLOGY - 470 N, 130 E - FLASHBACK, ROME

It was his life’s work and what dedication it had taken. Unlike many other scientists Franco Francisco’s dream had taken eighteen years before yielding any definite proof of success. The vision had been to create a machine to alleviate the dangers inherent in pregnancy and childbirth. He’d figured if reptiles and birds had evolved a unique way of multiplying embryo development outside the womb, then man could do the same. The egg we all take for granted is a miracle of biological engineering, and even then it needs external warmth. Could he improve on it?

Franco’s wife Isabella had died giving birth to their son twenty-two years ago. It had taken him two years to recover from the tragedy; to pick himself up again and look for a reason to carry on. The irony of it all was that he’d been a paramedic, but he was 5 miles away on the other side of the city on an emergency call when his wife went into labour, in a busy hospital in Rome. There was no hint of anything wrong, but as happens occasionally, there were complications. 

His son Daniel survived for eighteen months, but was crippled, adding to the widower’s grief. Daniel had died painlessly in his sleep, mercifully put to rest, after which Franco resigned his paramedic job, by way of a sabbatical, during which he didn’t do very much except take long walks to the graveyard and back, by way of a drugstore. Eventually the fog of depression lifted, he stopped weeping at nights. He began to notice normal everyday things again and could eat without feeling ill. He stopped drinking spirits and started appreciating a good vintage wine.

Franco had always been fascinated with gadgets. He took apart his washing machine one day to see if he could repair it. Inside he was amazed to find very little. The heart of the machine was a mechanical timer comprising a small bank of rotary switches powered by a small electric motor. These switches turned on and off the main drum motor and reversed it as well. There was a water pump to remove dirty water and solenoid operated valves to allow fresh hot and cold water in. Even this everyday kitchen appliance took years to develop. His next washing machine was microprocessor controlled with much more sophisticated sensors. Yet this device had freed women up from a labour and time intensive task, to replace that with a measure of washing powder and the twist of a selector.

Reflecting on his wife’s complications one day, while watching his washing machine churning away, Franco thought it would be wonderful if women could be freed up from carrying their child for nine months, avoiding complications and pain into the bargain. An amateur inventor, Franco soon realised that he could build an incubator for human eggs. He would need to incorporate some sophisticated controls and develop a synthetic amniotic fluid, oxygenate blood in the placenta and feed nutrients through the blood to the placenta. The artificial womb would need heating and careful temperature controls. But it could be done. He filed a patent application, long before he’d put his theory into practice, or worked out all the details. Then one day there was a phone call at the hospital.

“Good morning Seńor Francisco,” said a deep gruff voice. ………………. “It’s the patent office. We’ve noticed your patent is not complete with diagrams, etc. Have you a working model for the judge?”

“I’ve put in as much detail as is necessary so that any capable engineer can build the device. Is that not so?” Franco said defensively. He could almost hear the man on the other end of the phone thinking.

“Is that as far as you want to go,” said the voice.

Franco thought about this for a while. “That depends. What are you suggesting?”

“Have you everything you need,” said the voice, “or would help speed things along?”

“What kind of help?” 

"Why don’t you meet me? Are you busy at the moment?” 

Franco had been at the Giacomo Hospital along the Via Del Corso for about two hours. Then it dawned on him that he’d been contacted at work. How did they know where to find him? Then before he could think to question his caller.

“How about lunch in an hour, the Piazza della Liberta just across the Margherita crossing? There’s a nice restaurant I know”

“I know it,” said Franco. “The Branziarro. How will I know you?”

“I’m wearing a white hat.” 

It had rained in the early hours but was now fresh and dry after the Mediterranean sun had been at work since sunrise. Franco decided to taxi the kilometre to stay fresh. The Branziarro was popular due to the combination of superb Italian cuisine and speedy service. Large as life his caller was sitting at a corner table wearing his oof-white hat matching a cream suit. A black silver banded walking stick rested against the table. He had grey hair and mottled complexion. Franco guessed he was around sixty.

The man stood up and lifted his hat. “Roberto Ferrara at your service.” Franco shook his outstretched hand and they say down.

Immediately a waiter appeared. “We might as well enjoy ourselves,” said Ferrara looking at Franco. “Two house specials and a martini?”

Franco nodded pleased with the choice. “And a Cola for me, do you have the one with cane sugar?”

“Naturally,” said the waiter setting out fresh cutlery.

Ferrara smiled at Francisco. “I’ll come straight to the point. We’d like to help kickstart your project and you don’t have the time it deserves, do you?” That was true, but Franco needed to work to pay his bills. Ferrara continued. “You’ll need funding and space for experiment. Am I right?” Franco just nodded, his host was saying all the right things – no need to interrupt him. “The question is, if we bankrolled the project would you give up the hospital?”

“I’d need complete freedom and control.” Franco finally broke silence, knowing he was onto a good thing."

"Naturally. And now, and sorry to be so direct, but assuming you have no ties in Italy ..."

Francisco looked uncomfortable.

"Apologies, but if I am right, the other important question is..." Ferrara hesitated.

"Go ahead ask," said Franco, thinking he may as well get it over with, whatever is was.

"Well, er, okay then here it is. Would you mind relocating to a laboratory overseas?"

Franco mulled this one over, with a furrowed brow.

A waiter came over balancing two House Specials. "Spaghetti alla bolognese." The portly, middle aged restaurateur, deftly laid one plate in front of Ferrara. "Signore." 

"Grazie."

"Prego," said the waiter, as he smoothly changed position to serve the still ponderous scientist. "Signore." 

"Molto apprezzato," Franco offered on autopilot.

"Sei più che benvenuto, signore". The waiter set a parmesan cheese grinder down, and bowed out. "Buon appetito." 

Both customers looked at their impressive portions. And for that the waiter departed, satisfaction written all over his face.

"I'd have my own laboratory?"

"Signore Francisco, you'd have all the facilities you need. No expense spared. I can assure you. You'd have air conditioned apartments and house servants. All with the highest levels of security."

Franco nodded thoughtfully.

"You'd be working with other experts in their field, should you need anything developed outside of your specialization."

Franco lifted his glass of cola, Ferrara lifted his water glass. They chinked.

"Okay" said Franco, "One other thing. Where am I going?"

"A tropical paradise in Brazil, replied Ferrara"

That brought forward a huge sigh of appreciation from Franco Francisco, much to the relief of Roberto Ferrara.

And so Franco's research took on a whole new turn of speed.

PROLOGUE    INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Nazi funded medical human research laboratories Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich escape to Brazil reserve plan.

CHAPTER 1.   THE POISON ASP - 

CHAPTER 2.   WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria

CHAPTER 3.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy

CHAPTER 4.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect.

CHAPTER 5.   INCUBUS - 

CHAPTER 6.   SPLICE - 

CHAPTER 7.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries. Until a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria.

CHAPTER 8.   PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN -

CHAPTER 9.   THE AMAZON - 

CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures.

CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD - 

CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace.

CHAPTER 13. KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner 

CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice.

CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories.

CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered.

CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation.

CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators.

CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant.

CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught.

CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned:  FINALE FOR NOW

GRAPHIC BRIEF - SUGGESTED LAYOUTS/ FORMAT

CHAPTER 1.   THE POISON ASP - Overwhelmed by grief, Cleopatra poisons herself with a cobra bite in her mausoleum

CHAPTER 2.   WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria

CHAPTER 3.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy

CHAPTER 4.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect

CHAPTER 5.   INCUBUS - Franco Francisco accepts offer of employment from Roberta Ferrara

CHAPTER 6.   SPLICE - Klaus von Kolreuter perfects a method of gene manipulation

CHAPTER 7.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries, until shift in the tectonic plates trigger tremor off the coast of Alexandria

CHAPTER 8.   PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - Marjorie Boyle videos exceptionally fast athlete, Sam Hollis investigates

CHAPTER 9.   AMAZON QUEEN - Elizabeth Swann navigating river and docking at Manaus

CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures

CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD - London's secure DNA database is stolen

CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace

CHAPTER 13. KIDNAPPED - Charley is taken prisoner, John, Dan and CIA rescue her

CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice

CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence, implanted memories

CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - To Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered

CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation

CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators

CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant

CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - Military detain Cleopatra for stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught

CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned

  THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STORM: CLEOPATRA & THE MUMMY

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