Taking the risk - ep3

Episode 3: Upgrades

INT. ANA'S BASEMENT LAB - MORNING - THREE DAYS AFTER PREVIOUS JUMP

The lab buzzes with renewed energy. Tools are scattered across workbenches, wires snake across the concrete floor, and the ring device is partially disassembled, its inner components exposed.

Dimitri, still adjusting to her female form, works intently on a large metal box connected to the ring machine. Her movements are becoming more fluid, less awkward than before, though she still occasionally fumbles with smaller tools. Her hair is tied back in a messy ponytail, grease smudges on her face.

The door opens and Ana enters, carrying two coffee cups and a paper bag.

Ana

"Breakfast of champions. Or mad scientists. Whichever we are today."

Dimitri

"Bit of both, I'd say."

Ana sets down the coffee and peers over Dimitri's shoulder.

Ana

"How's the power supply coming?"

Dimitri

"Almost done. Just need to connect the final capacitor array."

(taking a coffee)

"Please tell me that's the strongest they had."

Ana

"Triple shot. Death wish levels."

Dimitri

"Perfect."

Ana pulls up a stool and sits, watching Dimitri work.

Ana

"Got the gold converted yesterday."

This gets Dimitri's attention. She looks up.

Dimitri

"And?"

Ana grins and pulls out her phone, showing Dimitri a banking app with a substantial balance.

Ana

"Eighty-seven thousand dollars. Turns out their 'common computing material' is 99.9% pure. No impurities to remove."

Dimitri

(whistling)

"That'll fund a lot more jumps."

Ana

"Already ordered those specialized capacitors you wanted. They'll be here tomorrow."

Dimitri nods, returning to her work with renewed vigor.

Dimitri

"With these upgrades, we should be able to reduce the recharge time from seven days to three."

Ana

"And the duration extensions?"

Dimitri

"If my calculations are right? Up to two hours per jump."

Ana smiles, but there's a hesitation in her expression.

Ana

"I have to leave for a couple days."

Dimitri pauses, screwdriver in hand.

Dimitri

"Family stuff?"

Ana

(nodding)

"Mom's birthday. Can't miss it or I'll never hear the end of it."

Dimitri

(trying to sound casual)

"Right. Of course. Tell her happy birthday from... well, me, I guess."

An awkward silence hangs between them.

Ana

"You know you could come. They'd love to see you—"

Dimitri

(interrupting)

"Looking like this? No thanks."

(gesturing to herself)

"Hey Mrs. Chen, remember your daughter's lab partner? Well, surprise!"

Ana

"They'd understand if we explained—"

Dimitri

(firmly)

"I'm not ready for that. Besides, I need to finish these upgrades."

Ana nods reluctantly.

Ana

"I'll be back in two days."

Dimitri

(already returning to her work)

"I'll be here."

INT. BASEMENT LAB - NIGHT - TWO DAYS LATER

Dimitri sits alone on the floor surrounded by components, a half-eaten pizza box nearby. She's been working nonstop, looking exhausted but determined.

The SOUND of the door opening. Ana appears, carrying a small suitcase.

Ana

(taking in the scene)

"Have you slept at all?"

Dimitri

(shrugging)

"Here and there."

Ana sets down her bag and walks to the machine, examining Dimitri's work.

Ana

"This is... impressive."

The ring device has been substantially upgraded. New circuitry, reinforced frame, additional monitoring equipment.

Dimitri

"I've been motivated."

(standing up, stretching)

"How was home?"

Ana

"Good. Normal. Mom asked about you."

Dimitri

(tensing)

"What did you tell her?"

Ana

"That you were busy with research. Not a lie."

Dimitri nods, relieved.

Ana (CONT'D)

(gently)

"You know, at some point—"

Dimitri

(cutting her off)

"I don't want to talk about it."

Ana sighs but doesn't push.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

(changing the subject)

"I've got the new power relays installed. We can test them tomorrow."

Ana

"You should sleep first. Real sleep, not passing out on the lab floor."

Dimitri

(reluctantly)

"Maybe you're right."

Ana hesitates, then:

Ana

"Sometimes I forget that you're going through all this alone."

Dimitri

(quietly)

"Not alone. I have you."

They share a moment of understanding.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

"But yeah, I'll crash soon. Promise."

INT. BASEMENT LAB - FIVE DAYS AFTER PREVIOUS JUMP

The lab has been transformed. New equipment lines the walls, the ring device gleams with new components, and multiple monitors display complex data readouts.

Ana works at a computer while Dimitri makes adjustments to the watches they wear for jumps.

Ana

"Power levels at 98%. That's three days ahead of schedule."

Dimitri

(proudly)

"Told you the new capacitors would work."

Ana

(impressed)

"You did all this while I was gone?"

Dimitri

(shrugging)

"Not like I had social engagements to attend."

There's an edge to her voice that Ana notices.

Ana

"Have you been out of the lab at all?"

Dimitri

(defensive)

"What for? To hear whispers about who the 'new girl' is? To try explaining to our classmates why Dimitri hasn't been seen in weeks?"

Ana turns from her computer to face Dimitri directly.

Ana

"You can't just... disappear from the world."

Dimitri

(bitterly)

"I already have. Dimitri Kalenkov the man is gone. This—"

(gesturing to herself)

"—is just temporary. Once we fix it, I'll rejoin the world."

Ana looks like she wants to say more but thinks better of it.

Ana

(changing the subject)

"Let me see the watch modifications."

Dimitri hands over one of the watches, clearly relieved to refocus on work.

Dimitri

"I've added an emergency signal booster. Should give us more range for the recall function."

Ana

(examining it)

"Speaking of which, I've been thinking about our biggest vulnerability."

Dimitri

"Being stuck in another universe?"

Ana

"Exactly. With both of us jumping, there's no one here to operate the recall."

Dimitri

(nodding)

"I've been worried about that too."

Ana stands and walks to a new device installed near the main control panel.

Ana

"So I've been working on this—an automated recall receiver."

The device resembles a small satellite dish connected to the main computer.

Ana (CONT'D)

"In theory, it should detect our emergency signals even across dimensional barriers and trigger an automatic recall sequence."

Dimitri

(skeptical)

"In theory?"

Ana

"We need to test it. Today, before our next jump."

Dimitri

(understanding)

"That's why you wanted the watch upgrades."

Ana

(nodding)

"One of us stays here, one jumps through. Test the signal, see if the automated system picks it up."

Dimitri

"I'll jump."

Ana

(firmly)

"No, I will. You're better with the equipment if something goes wrong on this end."

Dimitri looks like she wants to argue but finally nods in agreement.

Dimitri

"Just a quick test jump. Five minutes max."

INT. BASEMENT LAB - LATER THAT DAY

The ring device powers up, humming with energy. Ana stands in the center wearing one of the modified watches. Dimitri is at the control panel.

Ana

(nervously)

"If this works, we'll have a safety net for our next real exploration."

Dimitri

"And if it doesn't?"

Ana

(with forced lightness)

"Then you pull me back manually after five minutes."

Dimitri

(checking systems)

"Power at 100%. Coordinates set for a short-distance dimensional shift. Should be minimal environment change."

Ana takes a deep breath.

Ana

"Ready when you are."

Dimitri

(looking up from the controls)

"Be careful."

Ana

"Always am. That's usually your department—being reckless."

Dimitri manages a smile and initiates the sequence. The familiar black void opens within the ring.

Ana (CONT'D)

"See you in five."

She steps through and vanishes.

Dimitri immediately starts a timer and watches the monitors. Readings fluctuate wildly then stabilize.

Dimitri

(to herself)

"Signal holding steady. Location locked."

She paces anxiously, checking her watch repeatedly. Three minutes pass.

Suddenly, one of the monitors BEEPS. An incoming signal.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

(excited)

"That's it!"

She rushes to the automated recall device, checking its status. Lights flash, but nothing happens.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

(frustrated)

"Come on!"

The device continues to register the signal but doesn't activate the recall sequence. Dimitri frantically checks connections, types commands.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

"The signal's coming through, but the automated recall isn't triggering!"

Four minutes have passed. Dimitri makes a decision and rushes to the manual controls, initiating the recall sequence herself.

The ring powers up again, the void reappearing. A moment later, Ana stumbles through, looking disoriented.

Ana

(catching her breath)

"Did it work?"

Dimitri

(frustrated)

"Half-worked. The receiver detected your signal, but the automated recall sequence failed."

Ana steadies herself against a table.

Ana

"Where did I end up?"

Dimitri

"Readings showed minimal deviation. Same earth, just... slightly different."

Ana

"It was weird. Everything looked almost the same, but all the colors seemed... off. Bluer. And there was this smell, like ozone but sweeter."

Dimitri

(checking data readings)

"Atmospheric composition must be different there. Subtle, but enough to notice."

Ana sits down, removing the watch.

Ana

"The signal transmitter worked, though. That's something."

Dimitri

"But without the automated recall..."

Ana

(finishing his thought)

"We're still vulnerable if something goes wrong while we're both away."

They sit in silence for a moment, considering the implications.

Dimitri

"We'll need to work on the receiver more, but—"

(looking at the readings)

"—we don't have time before the next jump if we want to keep our schedule."

Ana

"You want to go anyway? Without the safety net?"

Dimitri

(determined)

"We have to. Jade and Morgan are expecting us, and I need those materials for their machine."

Ana looks uncertain.

Dimitri (CONT'D)

"Look, we'll be extra cautious. Set strict time limits. And we have the manual recall if we're together."

Ana

(reluctantly)

"Two days from now. That gives us time to triple-check everything else."

Dimitri

(nodding)

"Two days."

INT. DIMITRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Dimitri sits alone on her couch, staring at a photograph. It shows Dimitri in male form and Ana at some academic event, both smiling, arms around each other's shoulders.

She sets down the photo and picks up Morgan and Jade's material list, studying it intently.

A KNOCK at the door. Dimitri tenses, then relaxes when Ana's voice calls through:

Ana (O.S.)

"It's just me."

Dimitri opens the door. Ana holds up a bag of takeout food.

Ana

"Figured you might be hungry."

Dimitri

(grateful)

"Thanks."

They sit at Dimitri's small dining table, eating in comfortable silence for a while.

Ana

(cautiously)

"Can I ask you something?"

Dimitri

(wary)

"Depends."

Ana

"What if we can't reverse it? What if this is... permanent?"

Dimitri sets down her fork, face darkening.

Dimitri

"It's not an option I'm considering."

Ana

"But maybe you should. Just as a contingency."

Dimitri

(irritated)

"Why are you pushing this? I thought you were on my side."

Ana

(earnestly)

"I am. Always. I just... I worry about you putting all your hope in one solution."

Dimitri

"I have to believe there's a way back. Otherwise... what am I supposed to do with this life?"

Ana reaches across the table, taking Dimitri's hand.

Ana

"Whatever happens, you're still you. Still brilliant. Still my best friend."

Dimitri swallows hard, squeezing Ana's hand before pulling away.

Dimitri

(changing the subject)

"We should get some rest. Big day coming up."

Ana nods, understanding the conversation is over.

INT. BASEMENT LAB - TWO DAYS LATER

The lab is pristine, equipment checked and double-checked. Ana and Dimitri stand before the ring device, dressed in improved jumpsuits with multiple pockets and attachment points for tools and samples.

Ana adjusts settings on her watch.

Ana

"Two-hour window this time."

Dimitri

(nodding)

"More than enough to meet with Jade and Morgan and start searching for the first materials on their list."

Ana

(checking her pack)

"Sample containers, scanning equipment, and some more gold for trade if needed."

Dimitri

(determined)

"Ready?"

Ana

(with a small smile)

"As I'll ever be."

They step into position. Dimitri initiates the sequence from a remote control. The machine powers up, energy crackling more intensely than before. The void opens, larger and more stable-looking.

They step through together and vanish.

The lab falls quiet except for the soft hum of the automated systems. The screen monitoring their vital signs shows steady readings, then begins to fluctuate wildly. The signal starts to break up.

On a secondary monitor, a warning flashes: "SIGNAL DEGRADATION: 47%"

The automated recall receiver lights blink erratically, trying and failing to establish a connection.

CLOSE ON: The monitor as the signal weakens further, the warning now reading: "SIGNAL DEGRADATION: 78%"