The Fall of the Nekross - Part Two Wizards vs Aliens

That? That couldn't be hurting a fly!

-There's a computer virus in there

-That's it? That's the virus?

-A message?

-Transmitting from Earth.

Don't open it!

It's knocking out the extractor They'll have to go home.

We must leave!

You've actually gone and done it!

The main drive is gone.

What have I done?

'Revel in your conquest, and we the conquered will not go easily!'

We have to do something. We have to help them!

Arggggghh!

What's done is done.

So we're just going to let them...?

No! We've got to help them! We've got to find a way!

I didn't mean for this to happen!

Please, Mrs Crowe.

Perhaps Ursula's right.

And even if we could help them, where does that get us?

Will they just pack up and go away? I don't see it.

But not helping them makes us as bad as the Nekross.

What about the wizard code, I thought wizards can't kill?

Of course we can't!

But you can let me do it for you?!

It was an accident, you said it yourself.

There can be no going back.

Tom?

I'm sorry I egged you into this.

Perhaps...if we helped them they would leave?

Yes! We can't just ignore them!

No! We leave them to their fate. That's an end to it!

I'm getting out of here!

Tom. You stay where you are!

But he's my friend.

And you're a wizard. The thing has been done.

For good or for bad. The thing has been done!

Tom!

I forbid you to leave this house!

Whoa! Hold on there, Ursula.

This is my house, and any forbidding, I'll do it.

You don't talk to Tom like that, all right?

I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Dear. I know Benny is your friend,

and we'd all do anything for our friends.

That's what Benny was trying to do, help his friends.

But he didn't want any of what's happening up there.

And I can't turn my back on him.

Tom's right, this was never Benny's fight.

All right, go after him.

-Thank you.

-But bring him straight back here.

Maybe, maybe there's a way I can help, after all.

Benny!

Benny!

Benny!

PHONE RINGS

Lexi!

'Tom.

'You do not lift a finger to help me, victim of this cowardly attack.'

That's not true!

'Remember how we worked together? Our "friendship?"

'But then your life was in danger also.'

This was an accident, we can't reach you, we can't do anything.

'You tell yourself that, Tom Clarke.

'But the Hag Crowe speaks through you.

'You could find a way to save us, if you wished it.'

Lexi, it's the truth. I'm sorry.

'The warmth of your words will not protect me as I freeze.'

I was wrong to think you different.

You are truly human, Tom Clarke, truly worthless.

SHE PANTS

Please, Tom.

I don't want to die.

SHUT DOWN NOISE

No, no, no!

KNOCK ON DOOR

Benny! Benny, you in there?

Where else am I going to be?

Come back with me. Back to the Chamber.

-Maybe there's a way to stop all this.

-What? With Magic?

-Maybe. Yeah.

-Your gran's going to let you do that, is she?

I loved her, but when did she turn into Conan the Barbarian?

Careful. She's still my gran.

And she's way too short, more like Conan the Barbie Doll.

It isn't funny, Tom. I'm 16. I've never even been in a fight.

And look what I've just done. Wiped out a whole ship of aliens.

-But it was an accident.

-I'm still responsible.

Remember when your gran got left on the Nekross ship?

It wasn't your fault, but you said you were responsible.

You were going to get her back, to save her.

Whatever it took. Even though you didn't know how.

Well, that's what I want. I just want a chance to put things right.

Boy, does that feel like a long time ago.

Till then the only time you talked to me was to wind me up.

I was a plank.

Remember when you and Quinn nicked my bag?

You started texting me pictures of it from all over the school.

I was running around looking for it, but whenever I got there,

it had always gone.

Yeah, then you did a graph

and worked out where we were going to put it next.

-And there you were waiting for us!

-I'd call that a nerd-win.

Yeah. Benny the Brain wins every time.

Not this time.

20 minutes until total failure of life support systems.

Always so precise, brother. Finally.

My apologies, exquisite excellencies.

Technician Jathro 15 of Subsection Alpha Grex Nine is unfit for duty.

Rest, Technician Jathro 15. There is little to be done.

There's still a chance. The humans can be soft.

Seeing us like this, they may take pity.

Not the Hag, she will never turn.

SHE GROANS

Sister. Constant warrior.

Conserve your energies.

Why? Soon...it will be the end.

Then let it come with dignity.

I've never seen Gran like that before.

She was scary.

She thinks she's doing the right thing.

She's seen what the Nekross do to wizards.

She doesn't want the same thing happening to you. Neither do I.

So come on, you're the techno genius,

think of a way that we can put this mess right.

It's not just the virus on here.

There's a patch to repair the damage, reverse the virus.

So you could send it to them, like last time?

I can't. See. It's hopeless!

There has to be another way.

The only other way is direct access.

Aboard the Zarantulus, plugging it right into their computer systems.

But their matter transporter is going to be bust

like everything else.

-Then we'll find another way to get you up there.

-What about your gran?

You're going to go against her,

against all wizardkind to help the Nekross?

No, idiot. I'm not going to help them, I'm going to help you.

Ursula?

You left the door open. Ursula?

Sssshhh!

The Mistress Crowe will be too busy to be talking with you,

Michael of the Unenchanted.

There'll be important work afoot.

Get out of my way, Moon.

Oh, Moon, let him through, you silly whatsit.

Ursula, this situation is a complete mess.

I know. That's why I'm trying to put it right.

How? With potions?

It's a Charm of Blissful Forgetting.

And what do you intend to do with it?

Benny shouldn't have to live with the awful knowledge of what he's done.

This way he won't have to.

I've got an idea.

I think.

Burnt Hill, the stone circle.

-What about it?

-The Nekross used their teleport there, remember?

We brought them to the circle and the Nekross teleported us

onto the Zarantulus.

The Wizards used the Burnt Hill circle

because the stones stored magic.

If magic is energy, like you say and the stones can absorb that,

maybe they've done the same with the power of the teleport.

You can talk to the stones.

Bring out the memory, recreate the magic.

So you're saying, if they can remember the magic...?

Maybe they can remember science, too.

If Magic is an energy that can be stored in the stones and accessed,

that means the teleport beam is also an energy..

I use a spell to talk to the stones, and the stones teleport us

-to the ship...and we'll go.

-You can talk to stones?

Yeah, but it's really...really dangerous.

Then you're not doing it.

I've got to do it. Let's go.

I know you're doing this for all the best reasons.

But you can't decide what's right for Benny.

You can't control his life like this.

There was a time before, you know, when I made this.

When Helen died.

You were going to use it on me?

No. On myself. You were so strong.

I just wanted the pain to stop.

And what if it goes wrong?

What if you slip that in Benny's tea,

and he ends up like a goldfish, forgetting everything.

That won't happen.

Meesch-fardach-dah!

It's perfect. And it's ready.

You stand in the middle. And stay there.

Isn't this a bit advanced?

Don't you need your gran's big book of spells or something?

-I need you just to shut up.

-Sorry. But is it going to take long?

Cos we're running out of time.

What did I just say? Shut up. You can do this.

Sky speaks to earth.

Earth speaks to stone,

RUMBLING

Stone speaks to wizard.

LOUDER RUMBLING

Ayrta-shaan-zah-dah!

Tom!

Isn't there anything I can say to make you change your mind, Ursula?

RUMBLING

-Great Mistress!

-What on earth was that?

-It felt like a magical tremor.

-Which means what, exactly?

There'll be powerful magic a-stirring in the earth.

Show me, Moon, quickly!

Tom! What's he doing? Ursula?

No! No, he wouldn't be so stupid!

Stupid? What do you mean? That's Burnt Hill. What's he doing there?

He's communing with the stones.

It's powerful magic and he's nowhere near ready for this.

Michael, we have to get to him. He's in such danger.

Can you hear me?

'Little wizard. You have disturbed our sleep.'

I...I'm sorry.

Tom! Are they talking back? I can't hear anything.

Yes, quiet, Benny!

Listen, I need...

'We know what you need. You need us to remember.'

Yes.

'The unworld ones.'

Their teleport, that bright light that took us

from here up to the sky? I need you to bring it back.

To send my friend back to the Nekross. Can you do that?

'We can. But it will take much from you.'

I still have two spells left.

'No. You have used all three in summoning the Strength of Stone.

'We will need more from you.'

There isn't any more.

'There is always more, if you are willing to give it.'

Stay there!

'Will you give of yourself for your friend, little wizard?'

What does that mean?

'There is no time left for talk. You must answer.

'Will you give of yourself?'

Give what?

'Yes or no, boy. Will you give of yourself? Yes or no?

'Answer! Yes or no?'

Yes!

BUZZING

Tom!

HE GROANS

Tom!

Tom!

He did it!

'The bargaining is done.'

Tom!

Oh no!

-Got to get Benny back.

-What's happened to him?

The stones, he spoke to the stones. I warned him!

Ursula, explain! What's happened?

Oh, my goodness! They tricked him, Michael. The stones.

They're older than wizardkind, some say older than time itself.

He must have made a bargain. That's what they do.

They make bargains. But he can't have known what that meant. Tell me!

The stones don't care anything for Creatures of Breath.

Tom bargained with his life.

What? But why, why would he do that?

-HE SIGHS

-For Benny.

CREAKING AND GROANING

HE STARTS

IT COUGHS

Human!

So you wish to join us in death!

-We've got to get him to hospital.

-A hospital can't help him.

The stones have drained his life energy.

Oh, my poor Tom. It's all my fault!

I am so sorry! Taking life is always wrong, I was wrong!

He's still breathing, Ursula. Use magic, help him!

I can't think. I'll get it wrong, I always get it wrong.

And no wizard has ever defeated the stones. They're older than Magic!

He's your grandson, and he's here because of you!

Now, save him!

I'll do whatever I can.

She's still breathing. There's still time to save her.

To save you all!

You have come to help us? So my sister was right.

How pathetic, at least the Hag-Crowe had the stomach for war.

So you'd rather lie down and give up than let me try this?

Listen!

I'm telling you, the cure for what I did is on here.

If you'll let me input into your system.

Proceed.

There we go! Come on.

COMPUTER BUZZES

What happened? Why's it not working?

No more tricks!

Now be disintegrated!

Hold on!

Hear me, Stones of Burnt Hill.

'Ursula. Of the Magical Line of Crowe.

'The spell-dabbler.'

Hold on!

The virus, when I sent it up here, it changed, it mutated.

With this copy of the original virus,

I can track the mutation point!

Then we send the anti-virus on the same path,

containing the same mutation!

To cancel it out, yes! We've got to work together.

'We know what you want, Ursula of Crowe.

'The wizard boy agreed to give of himself.'

Please, he didn't understand!

What are they saying?

Watch that screen. I must know the precise route the virus takes,

system by system!

I can't read Nekross!

Primitives. Begin!

The extractor.

Where now, where now?

Plasma tanks!

'The creature of breath agreed to give of himself.

'It is a contract as old as stone itself, the agreement is binding.

'We remember the creature of breath said yes.'

You remember! Of course you do!

'We forget nothing.

'Ursula! Hurry! Do something!'

The Stones remember, but I, Creature of Breath,

defy the Strength of Stone!

You will forget!

With my charm of forgetting.

THE STONES MOAN

What's happening?

I used the Charm Of Blissful Forgetting.

The stones are forgetting their bargain!

I got it right!

I have it, the mutation point!

Then send it! Send it!

We did it! We did it!

Yes. We succeeded.

Not again!

Guards, on your feet.

I'm sorry.

Oh, my sweet, sweet, precious boy. I thought I'd lost you.

Are you OK, son?

Benny! He's on the Nekross ship!

We have to get him back!

Maybe we can...

I've used up all my magic!

Plasma tanks secure, life support at optimum,

teleportation systems online.

What of the halfling?

Our saviour and would-be executioner.

I think saving you trumps the execution bit,

which to be fair was a mistake.

Silence!

You showed bravery in coming here.

Er...thanks.

You showed compassion and mercy.

Thank you.

-We are prepared to show equal mercy.

-Oh...good?

We shall throw you to the Skorpulus!

IT LAUGHS

This is your idea of mercy?

Your attack on us was slow, and cowardly.

Throw him to the Skorpulus!

IT LAUGHS MANIACALLY

This is Nekross mercy. Your death will be swift.

-You've forgotten something.

-We forget nothing!

Varg gave me access to the systems.

With Nekross tech I rigged a delayed reverse teleport keyed to this.

You did what?!

I'm a genius. Which means I might be compassionate, I'm not stupid.

Bye!

Guards!

Aaaarg!

Benny!

Tom, it worked! We did it!

-Are you OK?

-Now I am.

Oh, you clever, clever boy.

You're safe, you're safe.

Blessed be the Source!

I saved them, Mrs Crowe. I saved the Nekross.

I had to.

I know, Benny. I know.

You and Tom are safe. And that's all that matters.

Don't blame Tom for what he did.

He only went against you for my sake.

I don't want him kicked out of the Magic Circle or whatever.

Don't you worry.

From now on this family stays strong and it stays together.

And, Benny, as far as I'm concerned you're a member of that family.

And I was wrong. I'm sorry.

That's all right. I know you were trying to keep Tom safe.

And on that note, can we get out of here?

-Somewhere with less stones.

-No arguments from me about that.

And we keep away from this place.

The stones know more than they ever say.

More than anyone should ever know.

'You will need to be strong, little wizard, for what is to come.

'She is returning...soon.'

I dream about her. Dad says that's good,

that no one's ever really gone as long as we still dream about them.

Are there really such things as ghosts?

A pale shadow, the essence of a departed wizard.

And it was her, it was my mum.

Sometimes it's not just a dream, sometimes it's that night.

Pale shadows will be travelling from beyond the pale to deliver a warning.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd