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Chapters below, supplemented with other (unpublished) writings as we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).
<<<<<<
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISE
MORE
WHISPERS FROM THE PAST
John, his mind still grappling with the implications of Cleopatra’s existence, had
retired to his
cabin for some much deserved shuteye, leaving Dan to oversee the ship's systems. Hal, as always,
a silent omnipresent observer.
Dan, while tidying the helm, noticed a few long, dark strands of hair clinging to the edge of a chart table. He paused, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He knew they could only belong to
their guest; Cleopatra. A thought struck him.
“Hal,” he said, holding up the strands, “can you run a DNA analysis on these?”
“Affirmative,” Hal replied, the AI's voice devoid of inflection. “I can utilize
the ARK’s onboard analysis facilities.”
Dan nodded, a surge of excitement coursing through him. He knew John’s obsession with the ARK compendium, his insatiable thirst for knowledge. This was a chance to provide definitive proof, to add a truly extraordinary entry to the collection.
He hesitated a moment. What if the scientific analysis disproved her
recollections?
“Let’s do it,” he said, placing the hair strands into the designated recess.
The ship’s systems whirred to life, the ARK’s analysis program initiating. A holographic display flickered into existence, showing a complex sequence of DNA strands. Dan watched, fascinated, as Hal processed the data.
"Radio
carbon dating and isotopic decay measurement will be useless, of
course," said Hal.
"Of
course," repeated Dan. The minutes ticked by.
Then.
“Analysis complete,” Hal announced, his voice slightly more animated than usual. “The results are… remarkable.”
“Remarkable how?” Dan asked, his heart pounding.
"Okay.
DNA analysis can reveal genetic markers that are more common in certain geographic populations.
By comparing the ancient individual's DNA to those of modern and other ancient populations, scientists can infer their likely geographic origins.
I ran those comparisons."
"And?"
"Well, by comparing the DNA of the ancient individual to modern human populations,
we can estimate the time since the individual and modern populations shared a common ancestor.
This involves analyzing the rate of mutations that accumulate in DNA over time.
Of course, Miss Cleopatra is alive in the here and now. Thus, I had to treat
her DNA as if it was of unknown date."
"Yes
Hal. Of course. But what is remarkable?"
“Patience, boy wonder. The DNA exhibits characteristics consistent with an individual of Greek Macedonian descent,” Hal explained. “Furthermore, the age of the DNA is… extraordinary.”
“Extraordinary how?” Dan repeated, his voice barely a whisper.
“The DNA appears to be consistent with groups over two thousand years old,” Hal stated.
Dan’s eyes widened. “Holy fuel cells. Two thousand years? That’s…
impossible, unless.”
“The analysis is conclusive,” Hal insisted. “The DNA is ancient, and it matches the known historical lineage of Cleopatra.”
A wave of disbelief washed over Dan. He had been right to run these tests. He knew John would be captivated by this. He called John on the internal
coms.
“John, you’d better get up here. Hal and I have something to show you.”
John woke from his slumbers, arriving moments later, rather disheveled, his brow furrowed with concern. He
yawned and stretched.
“What is it,
Dan? Couldn't it wait?”
Dan held up the holographic display. John was immediately wide awake.
Anything to do with DNA fired his curiosity.
“Hal ran a DNA analysis on some hair we
found in the helm. Look at the results.”
"Dan
asked me to do it," Hal blamed Dan.
John’s eyes scanned the display, his expression shifting from curiosity to astonishment. “Two thousand years old?” he breathed. “And Greek Macedonian descent?”
“Precisely,” Hal confirmed. “The DNA is consistent with that of
Cleopatra Philopator VII.”
John stared at the display, his mind reeling. He had believed Cleopatra’s claims, but this… this was undeniable proof. He felt a surge of excitement, a thrill of discovery that he hadn’t experienced
since he found the Homo Erectus skull in Tanzania.
“This is… incredible,” he said, his voice filled with awe. “This changes everything.”
“Indeed,” Hal agreed. “It provides scientific validation of the subject’s identity.”
"There
is more," said Dan. "There are some modern enhancements. The base
code has been altered. Some of the changes we identified in your own most
recent sample, compared to an earlier sample from last year."
"Incredible.
Outstanding sleuthing chaps." John slapped Dan on the back. "You
son
of a gun."
Dan
appreciated the gesture. "Aw shucks Skip, am I forgiven?"
“We need to be discreet,” John said, his voice regaining its usual composure. “Cleopatra might be sensitive about this. We don’t want to
introduce any more complications at this stage.”
“Agreed,” Dan said. “But this is a major discovery, John. It belongs in the ARK.”
"Yes, I know, and to the scientific world." John nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“That
it will,” he said. “But for now, let’s keep this in-house. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
He turned to the holographic display, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He knew that the secrets of Cleopatra’s reincarnation were
the beginning of a very interesting twist in his researches, enhancing his
collection, understanding of his ancestors, and possible future
permutations. He must remember to thank Klaus, the next time they met.
Still,
John had a lingering doubt. It simply was not possible. Dan knew what was
going through his Captain's mind. He needed more convincing himself.
Conclusive evidence.
ECHOES OF ALEXANDRIA 31 BC
Dan recalled the panic at the laboratory near Manaus, was thick with the scent of dust and a strange, metallic tang. Dan remembered coughing, as he
hastily sorted through the boxes, knowing Jack's marauders were not far behind. It was only days before, but still seemed an age ago.
He took the time to revisit the confiscated items. Most contained the usual archaeological detritus – shards of pottery, the odd, unidentifiable tool. But one container, sealed with an almost obsessive level of care, stood out.
Inside, nestled in a bed of inert gas-filled ampoules and desiccating crystals, was a small, intricately labeled vial. The inscription, in elegant, archaic script, read: "Alexandria, 31 BC."
Dan frowned. "Hal, you seeing this?"
"Indeed, Dan," came the AI's smooth voice from the lab's central console. "The preservation methods are… remarkable. Almost anachronistic."
The vial contained a minute quantity of an off-white, yellowish powder. Dan carefully extracted a tiny sample. "DNA, you think?"
"Highly probable," Hal confirmed. "Given the storage, extreme care has been taken to preserve its integrity."
"Run it through the Ark," Dan instructed, referring to their advanced bio-reconstitution and digital database. "Let's see what we've got."
A moment of silence hung in the air, punctuated only by the hum of the Ark's machinery. Then, Hal's voice, the usual calm tone replaced with something akin to astonishment. "Dan… the results are… inconclusive. Or rather, they are… impossible."
Dan straightened up, concern creasing his forehead. "Impossible how?"
"The DNA sequence… it's a perfect match. An exact match for… for our guest."
Dan stared at him, uncomprehending. "Our guest? You mean… Cleopatra?"
"Yes," Hal confirmed, the surprise evident even in his synthesized voice.
Dan felt a jolt, as if he'd been hit with a high-voltage charge. He knew it was impossible. He'd seen the medical scans, the detailed genomic analysis. Two people could not share the same DNA. It was a fundamental law of biology. "There has to be a mistake. A contamination, a glitch in the system."
"I have run the analysis three times, with multiple cross-references to the Ark's database," Hal insisted. "The probability of error is… negligible. Less than 0.00001 percent."
Hal paused, and Dan could almost hear the AI processing the implications. "Perhaps," Hal offered, with a note of what might have been discomfort, "the sample was taken from our guest recently? A… dental procedure, perhaps?"
Dan shook his head, a cold dread pooling in his stomach. "No, Hal. This sample is ancient. The labeling, the preservation… it's from the time of Cleopatra herself."
He remembered the rumors, the whispers he'd heard during their initial briefing about the Neuwelt Rittertum and their obsession with genetic manipulation, their outlandish theories about resurrecting the past. And the advanced technology they had at their disposal.
A horrifying realization dawned on him, a theory so audacious, so insane, that it almost defied belief. But it was the only explanation that fit the facts.
"The Swiss and the Italians," Dan said, his voice a low growl. "They didn't just find Cleopatra's tomb. They found her… her remains. And they used their twisted science to bring her back."
He thought of their elegant, enigmatic guest, the woman who carried the weight of millennia in her eyes. The impossible had happened. They had cloned Cleopatra.
John had to know. The question is, how would he take it?
DIGITAL GENESIS: DNA FRANKENSTEIN
The hum of the Elizabeth Swann's electric engines was a soothing counterpoint to the disquiet in John Storm's mind. He sat in the ship's forward helm, the panoramic viewport offering a breathtaking view of the turquoise Mediterranean waters, yet his gaze was fixed on a holographic display. Hal, the ship's advanced AI, flickered with subtle blue light as it projected a series of complex diagrams.
"Hal," John began, his voice tight, "run that sequence again, would you. The one from Uncle Douglas's private files."
"Of course, Captain," Hal responded, its synthesized voice calm and measured. The diagrams shifted, resolving into a detailed molecular structure. "This is the digitized DNA sequence, cross-referenced with the dentine sample analysis from 31 BC. The probability of a match exceeds ninety-nine percent."
Dan Hawk, John's first mate, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "You're in
agreement.... this is... Cleopatra?"
John nodded slowly, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "It's the only logical conclusion. Uncle Douglas... he actually did it. He found a way to not only digitize DNA but to reconstruct a living being from it."
Hal's avatar shifted slightly. "As you are aware, Captain, Professor Storm's work on Project Ark was groundbreaking, if ethically controversial. The ability to encode an organism's entire genetic makeup into a digital format, and then use that data to direct the synthesis of biological material... it was theoretical, even for me, until now."
"Those clever Brazilian scientists have proven the usefulness of our Ark," said Dan, "your Uncle Douglas would be amused."
John steepled his fingers, his gaze distant. "I always knew he was brilliant, eccentric, but this... this is beyond anything I imagined. All those years he spent in his lab, the secrecy... he wasn't just building a ship and an AI. He was rewriting the rules of life itself."
Dan shook his head. "But how? The article you showed me, about recreating life from digital DNA... it talks about needing 'advanced techniques for directing cell differentiation and tissue formation.' How did your uncle overcome that?"
Hal projected a new set of schematics, illustrating a complex network of interconnected modules. "Professor Storm developed a multi-stage process. First, he utilized modified CRISPR-Cas9 for precise gene editing during the synthesis phase. Then, he created specialized bioreactors that mimicked the conditions of embryonic development, using a combination of precisely controlled chemical gradients and electromagnetic fields to guide cell differentiation."
John focused on a particular module in the schematic. "And this... this is what he used to control the developmental process?"
"Correct Captain," Hal confirmed. "It's a form of directed energy emission system, what Professor Storm termed a 'morphogenetic orchestrator.' It manipulates cellular behavior at a molecular level, guiding their growth and organization according to the information contained within the digital DNA sequence."
A heavy silence filled the lounge. John rose and walked to a viewport, staring out at the endless horizon. "So,
Cleopatra... she wasn't just 'cloned,' as the
Vatican and Blue Shield appear to have guessed might be an agenda. She was recreated, from the very essence of her being, from information itself."
He turned back to Hal and Dan, a strange light in his eyes. "This changes everything. My uncle's work... my work, collecting and preserving DNA... it's not just about saving species. It's about having the potential to reshape the future of life."
Dan exchanged a look with Hal, a mix of concern and understanding in his expression.
"Holy
fuel cells John, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
John met his gaze, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"The possibilities, Dan... they're limitless. Imagine what we could do with the Ark, with Hal, with this technology." He paused, then added, his voice low, "Imagine the lives we could restore."
"It's a little bit 'Frankenstein' John." Dan gave two
thumbs up, arms in the air.
John smiled, "ah, Mary
Shelley, indeed."
"Peter Cushing, and Hammer Horror." Added Dan.
"Frankenstein Created Woman?"
"A classic. You know it Captain."
The two men looked out to sea and sighed.
JOHN'S
BLOODLINE >>>>>>
THE
BATTLE OF ACTIUM - Queen Cleopatra retreats leaving Mark Antony to lose
against Octavian and seek a new deal with Rome.
THE
POISON ASP - Hotfoot from Actium, Cleopatra's
plan to seduce Octavian backfired leading to a suicide pact with Anubis and
Isis
TANZANIA
- THE STORM BREAKS - Fanatical DNA collector, John Storm, finds Homo erectus
skull,
Olduvia Gorge, in Tanzanian dig site.
WRATH OF THE GODS -
365BC destruction of
Thonis and Alexandria, Anubis and Isis watch on in horror as Cleopatra is
submerged.
WWII
ENIGMA - The birth of computers at Bletchley Park under Alan Turing, and
his visits from Anubis and Isis, who see the potential in his ideas.
SYDNEY
WILL READING - John's uncle Douglas vanished, declared dead, the adventurer
inherits keys and a note from George Franks.
ANGEL
OF DEATH - Anubis and Isis occupy Josef Mengele's and Adolf Hitler's
subconscious as spirits steering their legacies.
INNER
CIRCLE OF SIX - Joseph
Mengele's Fourth Reich plans an escape to Brazil to develop Nazi-funded human research laboratories.
NELSON
BAY - John visits the coordinates George gave him, to discover the
Elizabeth Swann, ARK and Hal, AI computer.
BRAZIL
BOUND - Doctor Death bargains for funding and logistics of relocation to
Amazon South American base via Argentina.
NEW WORLD ORDER -
A former Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy, develops into a cause for
good. REBEL
WITHOUT A CAUSE - Having reached the end of his PhD, William and Jane
Bates have epiphanies, Will should follow his dream. ROADBLOCK
- Nobody would fund his R&D, William and Jane Bates are blanked by DARPA,
computer and software houses. THE
AFTERLIFE - Cleopatra's
tomb lay lost for centuries submerged and out of sight with
little change of discovery. QUANTUM
LEAP - Jane and Will find backers, then US military and computer
processor chip makers cyber attack, hack and bug them. WASHING
MACHINE - Inventor Franco Francisco comes up with the Incubus, artificial
uterus concept while repairing his household appliance. EXIT
STRATEGY - Realising they will always be a target from industrial and
military espionage, Jane & Will devise a cunning plan. PATENT
APPLICATION - Franco Francisco files his Claims with the Italian
Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in Roma, Italia. CYBERCORE
GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a semi
religious sect, New World Order. INCUBUS - Roberta
Ferrara secures the expertise of Franco Francisco for knights of the New
World Order: Neuwelt Rittertum.
SPLICE
- Klaus and Eva von Kolreuter find a way to live forever using cloning
technology; Genonimo Investments, Geneva.
TREMORS - Cleopatra's
feels vibrations after a shift in the tectonic
plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria.
PANAMANIAN
RUNNING MAN - The secret is out, an enhanced human is spotted running at
unbelievable speeds.
THE
ARK - NeuWelt
Rittertum headhunt John Storm seeking access to his genetic DNA map of
life on earth, but they fail to reach agreement.
MARJORIE
BOYLE - Sam Hollis tracks down sexy backpacker, Majorie Boyle, to Brighton Point in
Trinidad, beautiful Caribbean Island.
THE AMAZON - Charley
agrees to meet John & Dan at Manaus, but is a little too inquisitive.
OPERATION
LEVIATHAN - New World Knights, Klaus and Franco go to Plan 'B' to track
and steal the Elizabeth Swann & The Ark DNA database. TOMB
RAIDERS - Safiya
Sabuka and Musa
Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover
precious artifacts and golden treasures. SCOTLAND
YARD - The famous London DNA database is stolen, the biggest data
heist to date. The Yard initiates a cover up.
OPERATION
ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's
sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace.
SALVAGE
RIGHTS - Entering Cleopatra's mausoleum, locating sarcophagus and raising
with air bags to the surface, Safiya Sabuka tomb raider.
COASTGUARD
PATROL - Safiya and Musa surface off Alexandria to a waiting customs vessel,
they pretend to be sports divers fooling the officials.
UNESCO -
Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage
theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice.
KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner but
John rescues her, in the process becoming injected with a serum.
SARCOPHAGUS
OPENING - The wooden inner casket is opened revealing Cleopatra's mummy,
golden crown and death mask, perfectly preserved.
AWAKENING
- In the afterlife, the DNA extracted from Cleopatra's mummy triggers a
divine stirring with Anubis and Isis comforting the Nile Queen.
REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's
RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories.
BRAIN
CONDITIONING - Klaus and Franco upload digitally recreated memories in
historical order to trigger correct learned synapse firing sequence
REBORN
- The former Queen of Egypt speaks for the first time to her creators,
proving that her brain is working, the implants succeeded.
FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI
sensors and the Ark
database to find tomb has been plundered.
PROPOSAL
- Baron von Richhofen's gambit, a union of Royal ancient and Aryan blood,
for strength and intellect, a powerful heir as her successor
RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial
impregnation.
MANAUS
TO ALEXANDRIA - A hydrogen powered race across the Atlantic Ocean in
nine days, John Storm guided by Anubis and Isis.
SANCTUM
INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria,
disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators.
THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her
spell, despite her being a replicant.
MOVIES,
WHAT ARE THEY - Reincarnated Nile Queen asks John and Dan to explain
films, they show her 20th
C. Fox 1963 Elizabeth Taylor biopic.
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISE - John suggest a tour of the Wadj Ur, Thalassa Nostrum, to relax
Cleopatra, Hal plans the ultimate experience.
MUMMY
DNA - Dan and Hal discover DNA from the Egyptian Pharaoh's teeth and
run the Ark to confirm a match, modern Frankenstein
JOHN'S
BLOODLINE - Dan and Hal trace trace John's noble lineage back to the iconic figures of Ancient Egypt
& Roman General Mark Antony
DÉJÀ VU
- Dan and Hal reveal John's family tree as being related to Roman General
Mark Antony via Julia and Queen Drusilla of Mauretania.
MEDICAL
EXAMINATION - Jack Mason talks John and Cleopatra into agreeing to a
check up at Port Royal, Jamaica, working for NSA and CIA
GEORGE
WARNS OF TORTURE - Franks radios Swann to tell John & Dan that New
World Knights are being tortured at Guantánamo Bay, you're next.
JESUS
CHRIST - Cleopatra asks about this man. John, Dan & Hal explain he
is an ancient religious preacher from Galilee, son of Yahweh, Hebrew god.
BIOCORE
BRAIN IMPLANT - Dan and Cleopatra drill John's skull, occipital
bone implanting biological chip to interface with CyberCore Genetica.
DARPA,
NSA & CIA - National security and military intelligence chiefs Iras
Charmian and Dr Stefan Raengst, plot to remove all human obstacles.
MILITARY
INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media
& medical protests. Storm distraught.
BATTLE
ARMOUR - Thanks to some unexplained divine intervention, Dan Hawk talks
John Storm into wearing a bullet proof suit.
GUANTÁNAMO BAY - History repeats itself,
US
military kidnap Cleopatra, John forced to rescue puts Elizabeth Swann at
risk.
MISSION
IMPOSSIBLE - Commander John Storm, in Navy SEAL mode, attacks the Cuban
torture camp at Guantánamo Bay, in stealth mode, black op.
MISSILE
LOCK - USA military try to hack into Hal, anticipating a strike, as the DOD
launch Tomahawks, John hacks into NORAD, and redirects them.
PRESIDENT
LINCOLN TRUMAN - Hails the Swann to find out why John is shooting missiles
at Guantánamo Bay, Storm sets the record straight. FINALE
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