INT. LABORATORY HALLWAY - NIGHT
FLASHBACK - EIGHT YEARS
Eight boys and a girl stand single file, from oldest to youngest. Grace, the oldest (11), stands at the front. Maximus is next in line, standing tall in a hoodie and khakis. BRYCE and NOAH (7) stand behind Maximus (8), in sequence, sharing telepathic thoughts, while the triple threat, Joshua, Lucas, and Grayson (6), mainly keep to themselves. Wesley and Johnathan (5) are the youngest. They stand sobbing, almost blowing the operation.
Alexander Knight turns and silences the two sobbing boys. He quiets them, handing one a packaged Twinkie from his pocket, and peeks around the corner at the four security guards patrolling the doorway exit.
Alexander
Trip the security cameras.
Maximus rubs his palms together. He focuses momentarily, his eyes shut as he concentrates on the security system inside a small nearby room where two security guards gnaw on stale sourdough sandwiches. The exact order they always made every day to the nearby sandwich shop. Maximus can only imagine what a meat and cheese sandwich tasted like. He's never had one before. He and his siblings are severely famished, almost skin and bones, but they look practically toned with muscle because of their superhuman strength, like "the world's strongest kid."
As guards #1 and #2 glance at the two monitors centered on the hallways, one of them catches Maximus standing in the open doorway, his eyes drifting in their direction as guard #1, bulk to the very bone, nearly drops his sandwich.
Guard #1
Hey, little buddy. What are you doing out of your room?
He challenges Maximus with his eyes, ready to pounce, as his grin suddenly tightens as if this is some game. Suddenly, sirens sounded in the distance, and their rooms exploded with guards as they rushed out, calling for backup. They run up and down the hallways searching for the missing bunch of kids in rooms partially looking like padded prison cells and psych-ward rooms.
Three security guards rush around the corner, catching all eight kids huddled together, ready to pounce, while Alexander sits back and watches in silence. Suddenly, they inch closer, their guns drawn and a laser pointer aimed at Noah's chest. That pisses him off. Noah throws his hands forward, lightning pushing from his fingertips, tasering the closest officer. Then, bullets fly.
All eight kids jump into Super Soldier combat mode. Grace shoots energy beams from her palms, melting through a shoulder pad and burning the flesh officer's shoulder.
Wesley plucks a weapon from another officer's fingertips, returning fire as a group of officers takes shelter behind their bulletproof shields. Meanwhile, Maximus is head-to-head with another eight officers.
INT. MALL — TURKEY — Flashback
FIVE YEARS AFTER
In the heart of Turkey, Maximus, Noah, and a girl are standing in a shit mini-mart. Shattered glass fragments blanket the well-kept red satin carpets in a tiny mart. It was just as big as a seven-eleven you see in America, but the items sold inside were nothing close to the American mini market.
Maximus
Everyone get on the bloody floor now! This is a robbery!
The MANAGER taunts the kids with laughter as customers scream and run out of the entrance.
Manager
(in Turkish )
You ARE JUST UNARMED CHILDREN. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Maximus
(In Turkish)
Don't test us.
Maximus steps forward. Grace grabbed a chocolate bar in the background, shoving the whole thing in her mouth, and chewed it quickly. The man reaches under the table, and an alarm sounds nearby.
Noah
Bloody hell.
Noah pulls his fingertips to his temple and an aisle of junk food lifts from the shelves and dances around the room.
In a split second, a swarm of officers encloses the building from the front and back of the store. The door swings open, and a dozen officers enter with guns drawn on the three kids.
Noah
Sorry, mate.
Noah chucks a case of floating glass colas, knocking one officer out cold. Then, chaos erupts as bullets fly in slow motion.
Cop #1
(in Turkish)
Don't be fooled! These kids have superpowers... Kill them!
As bullets fly her way, Grace shoves a cleared shelf at a row of officers. Noah knocks a few officers down like pins while Maximus takes off after the store clerk, who flees to the back. Surprisingly enough, the manager turns around with a gun as Maximus enters the spacious room with many pallets of unopened snacks.
Manager
Don't move a muscle.
Maximus raises his hands to the sky.
Maximus
I'm not bloody moving, am I?
Maximus spits at the concrete floor. Maximus reaches down, lifting a heavy pallet with his mind in the background, watching it float towards the man, knocking him to the ground.
Manager
Wait, wait! I can help you guys. What do you want? Money? Food?
Maximus
I don't want your business or your mercy.
Manager
How old are you, son? Why did you choose such a life?
The man kneels before Maximus, his hands raised to the sky.
Maximus
Eleven and a half.
Manager
Forgive me, and I will forgive you--
The man lifts his weapon in one last effort to get Maximus to stop. Then, Maximus drops the pallet on top of the manager, crushing his body like a bug.
Maximus
I'm sorry.
Maximus winces, signing the cross in the deceased man's direction, and returns to the room with Noah and Grace. There's blood everywhere, all over the floors and walls. Noah is gnawing on a bag of potato chips while Grace guzzles a diet of Dr. Pepper.
Maximus
What the bloody fuck did you guys do?
Noah
What the fuck did YOU do, Maximus?
Noah rolls his eyes, gesturing to the squished man behind him. More sirens whale nearby. Maximus, Noah, and Grace race to the backroom, past the manager, and out the back.
Maximus hurries past Grace and Noah, popped open the register, yanked a handful of cash from the machine, and stuffed it in my jeans pocket.
Maximus
Let's go!
Grace
Uh, Maximus? Did you forget we just massacred a bunch of bloody cops?
Grace gestures to the bloodied crime scene around them.
Maximus
I'm not bloody stupid, Grace.
Maximus studies the painted room in blood from floor to ceiling. Shelves are messy, and the food is a hazard to consume.
More sirens wail in the distance. Maximus leads them to the doorway. He checks the front entrance, which is swarmed with armed law enforcement.
Noah
Fuck!
Grace
Now what, genius?
Maximus
Don't get bitchy with me, or I'll tell Alexander all about your kiss with that boy.
Grace
You're just like Alex—stubborn, bloody manipulative—should I go on?"
Noah
She's not wrong, mate.
They assess the number of cops outside the mart. Maximus shoots them both a daggered glare. Grace and Noah both quickly backed down for their safety.
Maximus
Head to the back. I'll take care of them.
Noah
What are you going to do? Kill them?
Grace tugs Noah's hoodie.
Grace
Come on.
Noah takes one look at the crowd outside and sighs.
Noah
Don't kill them, Maximus. We did enough damage in here.
Noah gazes into Maximus' eyes, pleading with him. Then he leads Grace away from the chaos, out the back door. Maximus steps out the doorway with my hands raised in the air.
Officer One
(in Turkish)
He is a child.
One officer lowers his weapon. A bunch of officers followed him.
Officer Two
(in Turkish)
Don't be fooled, guys. He killed a dozen of our men.
Maximus drops to his knees and places his hands on the back of his head.
Maximus
Don't bother.
The cops slowly exchange confused glances before they lower their weapons. The ground rumbles. The men are tossed backward by an invisible force, disarming them simultaneously. They set their guns in a pile off to the side. Then, Noah and Grace appear by Maximus's side.
Noah
Let's go!
Maximus
I'm bloody coming.
The men pulled to their feet. The ground rumbles as Maximus sends out another power surge, knocking the men to their feet again.
Grace
Now, Maximus! Alexander wants us on a flight to Mexico in an hour.
Maximus
Fine.
Maximus glares at the men, intimidating them with one look, before Noah, and Grace, disappear from view.
INT. MALL — GLENDALE GALLERIA — NINE YEARS LATER
TIME-LAPSE - Two YEARS LATER
Chaotic screams echo within a small mall. Civilization races out while trampling over dead bodies lining the mall floors. A single gunman fires into a crowd of people as the chaos spreads. Noah and Maximus hide in the bathroom stall, waiting for the crowd to disperse or for them to all drop dead fully.
Noah
What will we do about the guy with the automatic weapon? He's ruining the bloody operation.
Noah's squeaky voice protrudes from the stall beside Maximus's.
Maximus
Alexander said to stay put.
Noah peers out from the crack in the stall.
Noah
Is it me, or is it getting bloody quiet?
Noah's door screeched open.
Maximus
NOAH! Can you bloody follow orders for once?
Maximus rolls his eyes at Noah as if he can see him.
Noah
It seems like everyone disappeared.
Maximus shrugs.
Maximus
Or they're dead.
Maximus pulls open my door and listens for a long creek. They rush through Macy's into the middle of the mall, finding it entirely deserted, besides the dead bodies smelling up the entire place.
Noah
Where do you think the shooter went?
Maximus
Geez, Noah. You are a bloody idiot.
Noah whispers louder, listening to his echoing voice.
Noah
Echo...
Maximus
Shut up, Noah.
Maximus shoves Noah, watching him trip over a dead body.
Noah
Great. Look what you did.
Noah reaches out, pushing himself from the ground, unfortunately, grabbing a dead man's fingertips instead. Noah jumps to his feet in surprise, crushing the man's glasses by mistake. Noah looks down near the dead bodies, scanning them, as his eyes land on a shiny object catching his attention.
Noah
I think I found what we're looking for, Noah. Now we can get the bloody fuck out of this hell hole.
Noah picks up the giant golden diamond-like rock, tossing it in the air, feeling weightless in his palm.
Suddenly two loud bangs from the other end of the mall make them turn their heads. A shadowy figure stands in the outline of a store. The gunman points the revolver at Noah.
Noah
Are you seriously going to shoot the poor guy? I mean, I'm the one who has your...
(Noah holds the rock to eye level)
Whatever you call this.
Maximus pushes in front of Noah. The gunman chuckles.
Gunman
Senior Tigres son sends his condolences.
The gunman's weapon pointed directly at my chest.
Noah
For what?
Noah sarcastically counts on his fingers and looks up at the man with a shrug. The gunman scowls.
Gunman
For vengeance.
The gunman adjusted his hold on the firearm. He checks his aim and puts his finger on the trigger. Noah rolled his eyes.
Noah
Oh, you mean, that guy we killed in Mexico? He has a son? Hmm...
Maximus
Shut the bloody fuck up, Noah.
Gunman
Okay, kid, I'm going to count to three. If you don't give me the diamond by that time...
Noah holds up the giant diamond.
Noah
This thing?
The gunman points his weapon at Noah again.
Noah
One... Two...
The gunman pulled the trigger. The bullet smashes against Noah's arm and bounces off like a rubber ball, not even leaving a scratch.
Noah
The son of a bitch bloody shot me.
The gunman laughs, driving the revolver towards Maximus.
Gunman
Let's try this again.
The rock in my hand glows as electric energy illuminates the empty mall. The gunman turned, pointing the weapon at Noah again.
Gunman
What the hell was that?
The gunman shot rapid fires at Noah and Maximus, the bullets bouncing off their chests. Noah quickly tears the gun from the gunman's fingers from a distance, watching it float over to him, and rips it in half. The gunman cowardly drops to the floor with his hands raised in the air, surrendering.
Gunman
What the hell are you?
Maximus
I'm not entirely sure what he is...
Maximus plucks the diamond from Noah's grip.
Maximus
But this is mine now. Noah, kill him. The bloody cops will be here soon. Don't even bother coming after us. We're fast too.
Noah
Super...fast.
Noah winks at the gunman Maximus disappears. The gunman starts to back away while Noah inches forward. The gunman leans against a fragile glass railing, held up with metal bars, as Noah pushes his hand forward, engulfed with lightning, and melts the metal until the man falls to his death.
INT. HOTEL — NOON
Noah lounges on a big sofa on the opposite side of the room while Maximus sits at the desk, scrolling through his cellphone.
Noah
Any news from Alex or Grace from dad.
Maximus
Shut up, Noah. I'm reading.
Noah scoffs.
Noah
You're reading?
Noah stares at his brother with a surprised, raised eyebrow.
Maximus
Yeah, about that super in the next city over.
Noah suddenly sits up, intrigued.
Noah
Do you think he's connected to dad?
Maximus
Oh, I bloody know he's connected to him.
Maximus turns off his cellphone and tosses it on the desk towards Noah. Noah turns on the cellphone and looks at the article.
Noah paces back and forth and sits down in front of his food while Maximus waits for Grace to answer the phone. After a few moments, Gray answers.
Noah stops pacing, listening intently to their conversation, eating chips and a sub sandwich.
Noah
Gray, do you think Dad knows about this guy?
Grace (V.O.)
It's hard to say, Noah. Dad keeps his cards close to his chest. But it's possible he's aware of this individual's activities. Just be prepared for anything.
Noah pops the last chip in her mouth, and crushes his wrapper.
Maximus
We will. Keep us posted on any information you find.
Grace (V.O.)
Don't I always?
Maximus
(mutters)
Moody bitch.
GRACE
Asshole.
They end the call, and Noah looks at Maximus with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Noah
So, what's the plan? Are we going after this guy?

Maximus takes a moment to gather his thoughts before responding to Noah.

Maximus
We need more information before we make a move. Grace will dig deeper and find out everything she can about him. Once we have a clearer picture, we can decide on our next steps. But one thing is certain, Noah, I call dibs.
INT. NURSES STATION - MORNING - PRESENT DAY
James flips through a stack of files off to the side.
MIA
So, are you invincible or something?
James looks up from the file he's reading.
James
It depends. Other supers can still hurt me, but I'm bulletproof.
MIA
Why does your file say O negative?
She raises an eyebrow, thrusting James' high school file.
James
It's to protect my identity. I have a rare, unknown blood type - Samual tested it after he gave me one of his cures. He calls it the super chromosome or S+. Think of it as an enhanced blood type, S+ or AS+, a unique supergene.
MIA
Hey, Superboy.
She smiles, gently tapping his cheeks and brushing her lips against his.
James
Someone took the cure earlier.
James notices Mia's tight-lipped expression, suspicious of Max.
MIA
On a similar note, I have two new piles for you to read once you're finished with those.
She grabs a stack of papers from the nearby shelf.
MIA
Get to work, Super boy.
She playfully breaks up the words in a sing-song voice, puckering her lips as her fingertip presses into the tip of James' nose.
James
Alright.
James starts at the top of the stack and works through the files. Marina enters the room and Mia's expression changes. James quickly shifts the file to his right.
MARINA
Hey, James.
James smiles.
James
Hey, Marina.
MARINA
Are you coming to the blood drive?
James shakes his head.
James
I don't think so. I have a fear of needles.
Marina sighs. Meanwhile, Mia peruses through papers until she looks up and locks eyes with James, her long nails shivering down his spine.
MIA
He means he's considering it.
James scoffs. Mia side-elbows him.
James
That works for me.
Mia grins. James wraps his arm around her shoulders and kisses her forehead.
I/e. Car - noon
James floated high, carrying a cat next to a tree. The cat scratches James, and bolts when James lands on solid ground, leaving him with a few hairline scratches on his arms that fade fast.
Whoosh. James appears next to Derek's car, parked along the road. Derek is on his phone, oblivious to the cars passing by. James taps on the window, and Derek sits up, startled, and rolls it down. James stands with a smug grin.
James
License and Registration?
Derek
Don't sneak up on people like that. How long have you been standing there?
James
Only a few minutes.
Derek shifts and huffs.
Derek
Where's the cat?
James
About a block from here. I let it go already.
James points off into the distance.
Derek
Good, get in the car.
James walks over to the other side of the car and slides into the passenger seat, slamming the door and crushing the handle. Derek scowls at him.
Derek
Damn it, James.
James shrugs.
The radio crackles to life and Garrett Reignson informs over the radio.
Garrett
Ten-four. Is there someone who could check on a ten-ten down at Grand-mart?
Derek rolls his eyes and activates the sirens, speeding down the street.
INT. mini Mart - - parking lot - - same time
Derek whips open his door and heads over to the boys while James opens his door.
Derek
Why are we fighting?
Derek interrogates a broad HAZEL EYED BOY, 13, brown curly locks, and a BLONDE BOY, 13, with deep gray eyes, sitting against the concrete wall near the store entrance. The boy pulls a gun from his waistband, and Derek grabs his gun.
Hazel eyed boy
Relax. One of the supers left this behind, and we were fighting over who would turn it in. We heard there was a reward.
Derek scoffs.
Derek
Who did you hear that from?
The blonde boy raises his hand, pointing to the board behind him.
Blonde boy
There was a flier there until it blew away minutes ago. It didn't give a good picture or description, but it said F.B.I. in big letters.
Derek groans.
Derek
You believed it?
The boys nod.
Hazel Eyed Boy
It gave numbers to call if there were any sightings of a super. He was here, watching from a distance, gazing at the blurred photo of himself, hours ago, with this gun.
The boy gestures to the weapon.
Derek
What were the numbers?
Blonde boy
Something like 2812, 2801, and something else, but I can't remember.
Hazel eyed boy
I think it was 2810 and 2804 or something like that.
Derek takes notes on his digital police pad and plucks the gun from the boy's hands, pulling the safety latch shut. James slumps against the back of the seat.
Derek
You shouldn't be playing with guns, boys. Firearms are dangerous and are only legal to the authorities. There is no warrant issued for anyone and no reward. I need you boys to leave before I call your parents.
The boys' chins melt into their palms.
Blonde boy
Aren't you young, too?
Derek's eyes wander.
Derek
I'm old enough.
The two boys look disappointed.
Hazel eyed boy
So, we're not under arrest?
Derek
No, you're not.
Hazel eyed boy
Is he under arrest?
The hazel-eyed boy gestures to James.
Derek
Have a nice day, boys. I have to get back to my job.
Derek ignores the boys, walks back to his car, and listens to the boys fight over something else.
Derek
I got numbers, but it's not a cell phone number.
James
What happened?
Derek's eyes widen as he turns on the engine and shows James the locked gun.
Derek
This was Max. There was a flier, and the numbers were perhaps codes or something. Whatever it was, we need to speak to Noah again...
James sighs.
James
That's if he wants to. Since his arrest, he has said little to me, but he's tried. So, Maybe Samual knows something about this?
Derek
Good point. If we can get Samual to talk, we can get some information from him. My shift should end in an hour, so we have time to mull over questions.
Int. Samual's laboratory - House - day
Derek, dressed in uniform, leans against the basement opening of the laboratory steps. James stands against the wall.
Derek
What do the numbers mean, Samual?
Derek's pad is open he promises no notes.
Samual
They are serial numbers given to the supers. The first two digits stand for the year, and the last two for their number. A group called the 'Superhuman Prodigy Project for Youth' focused on young children and turned them into superhuman soldiers.
Derek
You were a part of this?
Samual
It was a job, and I didn't want to work for them. The group threatened you, your father, and your mother if I didn't work for them.
James
What stopped you from working for them?
Samual looks up from his computer.
Samual
It was you. When your accident happened, the government freed me from my work so that nothing else could go wrong, and their secret findings were safe within the government walls. I didn't tell them about you because I didn't want them to take you from your mother and father.
James
(mumbling)
That's great. Is there anything else you left out, Samual?
Samual
I told you I would explain it when the time comes.
Derek sighs, typing something on his pad.
Derek
How many more kids were in the facility?
Samual folds his laptop in half.
Samual
There were at least twenty before they shut down the program. The other scientists branded the supers on their upper chests with invisible, raised ink.
James
If they branded Max and Noah's chests, could one number Derek wrote be their number?
Samual sits back.
Samual
I'm not sure. I oversaw research and the development of the supergene. I rarely saw my kids, but I believe Max, Noah, and Bryce were older than the other boys. They didn't get branded during that time.
James
Your kids?
James stares Samual down from a distance.
Samual
They were born from artificial insemination. I was young and forced into contributing.
Derek
Well, that was a big, unexpected, 'or something'. So, you're saying Max and Noah might be your kids?
James sits on the floor.
Samual
Yeah, the three boys I mentioned are my kids.
James
Why didn't you say anything about this before?
Samual
I told you I would explain everything to you when the time was right.
Derek pulls away from the wall.
Derek
(irritable)
Come on, James. I have to get back to work.
Derek ushers James up the steps.
Samual
Go with your brother, James.
James pushes off the floor, following Derek.
INT. GYMNASIUM - Night
Shocked to see Mia standing in the gymnasium, wearing a scandalous nurse's outfit, which she pulls off with a pair of fake fangs, James watches her work a needle into a student's arm.
Mia
Hey.
James
Hey, Mia.
Mia
I'm almost finished. Take a seat.
Mia skillfully inserts a needle into a student's arm, collecting their plasma in a blood bag. To keep James from feeling overwhelmed, he tucks his face in his sleeve.
Mia
James, just take a deep breath.
Mia presses a cold bean bag against James's forehead, looking into his eyes for a few seconds before she moved to the far corner of the room. She removed a needle from another patient's arm and applies a bandage while the relieved boy settles back into his chair. Marina enters the room carrying more blood bags, which she places on a nearby counter. James exhaled once again. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Marina helps the boy to another room.
James
Do you mind if I leave?
Mia glares at James. James shifts.
Marina exits the room carrying a stack of documents. Mia and and James' gazes lock. For a second, Marina is there. Then, she is gone. James kisses Mia, and Mia jumps in James's arms. Mia pulls out of the brief kiss.
Mia
James, I have something to tell you.
Mia sighs while James kisses her jawline, inhaling deeply.
James
Yeah?
James murmurs against her neck, his tongue lightly tracing her delicate collarbone. Pulling away, he locks eyes with her, captivated by her intense blue gaze as she moans and steps back, breaking the kiss. Their heavy breathing fills the silence of the gymnasium as they continue to watch each other. She leans in close, pressing her tongue to his earlobe and teasingly licking it.
Mia
I haven't been honest with you.
Mia abruptly pushes James back into a chair.
Mia
Max, Mark, he's ready.
Mia steps back, wiping her lips. Mark appears around the corner, munching on a bag of cheese puffs. He tosses the bag aside, dusting off the cheese residue from his dark hoodie. Max forcefully pins James from behind, restraining his chest and arms against the bench, seemingly unfazed that his hood had fallen back.
Mark
James-JAMES-James.
Mark clicks his tongue, holding a vial of Samual's experimental treatment at eye level.
James
So, this was your plan? It's never going to work.
James squirms in his grip, but Maximus's strength is overpowering.
James
You knew about my powers? You've been playing me this whole time.
Max tightens his grip on James' wrist, securing him to the seat.
Mia
Yeah, I played you, Alpha. You're cute, like a little orphan puppy. The saddest part is that I liked you, Super boy. Too bad your powers are about to disappear.
Mia bursts into laughter while Max pulls James forward in the chair. James struggles to resist, but he's no match for Max's super strength.
Max hisses.
Max
Stay still, James, or this will hurt.
With a sheer exertion of his will, Max forces James' mouth open. James looks to Mia for help, but she stands there, giggling like a maniac.
Mark
Mia, come here.
He places the vial into Mia's hand. Mia dumps the vial into James's mouth.
Mia tosses the vial aside and grabs a grimy needle from the counter's edge. Chuckling to herself, she presses the syringe's tip into James' flesh, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscles. For a moment, his vision flickers, shifting from purple to blue before everything...
...Fades to black.
To be continued...