Seraph is a machinima film set in a semi-dystopian world occupied by humans and mimics, a breed of artificial intelligences created by humanity thirty years prior to the film.
Ewan Theron is a highly-trained “Guardian”, someone who works to keep the tentative peace between humanity and mimics in what’s left of civilization. He was born after the mimics were first created, a few years before the war ravaged most of civilization. He grew up with Nova for company, surviving together until eventually joining the Guardians Initiative to help prevent cases like his own. When the new threat known as “Seraph” emerges, he takes it upon himself to track her down and discover why her existence is such a threat.
She had one thing right. Those like you will always need those like me to fix your mistakes. To bury them where no one else finds them. But even if no one else knows what you did ... I will.
Because I saw a bit of myself in you, alright? (pause) I've killed so many people, taken so many bad things out of this world without ever trying to put anything good into it. I can't erase what I did, but ... maybe I can save you from becoming like me.
You think you're the only one who's ever felt alone? Worthless? Without any purpose? I hate to break it to you, but not a single person alive has any fucking clue as to why we're here. Who cares why you were made, or who brought you into the world? Your purpose in life is what you make it to be.
Seraph is a new breed of mimic created by Dr. Edmund Mathieson, known as a “Proper” (short for prosthetic personality). In essence, her body is completely organic but her mind originally started as a binary system like all other mimics/artificial intelligences. As such, she is a blend of 1’s and 0’s just as much as she is composed of DNA. Mathieson considers her to be a perfect organism, a mimic with the capability to experience physical life as a human does. She is pursued by both the Guardian, Ewan Theron, as well as others whose motives are unknown other than the fact that they want her dead.
You are the only person I've ever spoken with. My only source of interaction with anyone else in this caged life you've given me. Without you, I am alone. I want you to consider that very carefully; because, in spite of that, I want nothing more than for you to stay the hell away from me.
You have no idea what I’ve been through! I was born from a petri dish and code, treated as nothing more than that damn sociopath's guinea pig. Every day was an awakening to a new nightmare of his torture. When faced with a life of experiments or this ... I may not be particularly fond of the company I'm with, but at least I get some enjoyment out of it when they fuck me over.
Look, I- (sigh) I'm sorry. I haven't met anyone yet who hasn't tried to use me or extort me in some way or another. Trust is a pretty foreign concept to me- but with you, it feels different. You've done all this for me, and- well, I just- I ... trust you.
Nova is a mimic Guardian who works with Ewan Theron as a field agent, often assisting him in ground operations through his equipment. She is roughly the same age as him, and they found one another while they were young and growing up alone during the war. Depending on one another for survival, they forged a bond which remains strong to this day. She holds no love for either mimics or humans, believing that both sides brought the war on themselves.
Argo, I've located Ewan and the girl. I detect numerous hostiles between them and us, I need you to give me an alternate extraction route. Preferably one where they both come out of this alive.
Ewan, it's you and me. Always has been, and always will be. Wherever you go, you know I'll follow. So if this is what you think is right ... then I'm with you.
A mimic Guardian who works with Ewan Theron during operations as a tactics specialist. Argo was created during the war by mimic sympathizers, and fought until the bombing of Jetta where he became disillusioned with the mimic cause; if mimics resorted to the same tactics as humans to win, then they were no better. He joined a peace movement until the war ended and eventually volunteered to enlist as a Guardian.
The request comes from Dr. Edmund Mathieson, a somewhat radical inventor and multi-billionaire whose sympathy for the mimics caused him to be ostracized from the general scientific community. (pause) One other thing; he's been very outspoken against the Guardian initiative in the past, which means that whatever's happened must be important enough for him to contact us about it. Be careful, Theron.
I have a match. A shady low-life by the name of Taketa Soza registered a new dependent of his, a young female. He's currently providing housing and food for her while she compensates him via an 'undisclosed payment'. Three guesses as to the true nature of their particular arrangement.
Mathieson is a multi-billionaire, inventor, and mimic sympathizer. However, even mimics are wary of his support due to the abrasiveness of his personality, especially towards the Guardian Initiative which he believes to be nothing more than a conduit for corruption. In his determination to show the world just how 'beautiful' mimics can truly be, he can be reckless and dangerous in refusing to let anything, especially pesky nuances known as ethics, stand in the way of scientific progress.
Seraph. (pause) The mimics are nothing short of celestials, entities with minds that far surpass their creators'. But she ... she is above even them.
You can't possibly understand, can you? I've created a mimic who can feel the world as we do. She's not just a monster, she's a monster who can grow, one that can bleed. One that can love.
How deep do the roots of ignorance lie within you? Are you so afraid of progress that you would kill something so pure, so innocent without a moment's hesitation simply for the fear of what she might do?
The Algorithm is a mimic in the form of a collective network specifically designed to oversee the Guardian Initiative and prevent the organization from becoming corrupt or compromised. It has direct control over agent activities, including assignments, suspension, and termination, though it rarely exercises these commands. It routinely tests Guardians for loyalty and devotion to its core objective; preserving what's left of civilization through any parameters available.
Welcome back, Guardian Theron. Report immediately for your mission psych evaluation and debriefing.
The test results indicate that you are feeling anxious in regards to what you answered. Do you doubt the validity of your responses? (pause) Has your judgement been clouded, Guardian Theron? I can refer you to a specialist for a realignment examination-
By nature, humans are chaotic. Mimics are systematic. But both are designed, humans by nature and mimics by programming. This makes them predictable. The Initiative represents a balance of these two ideologies, perfect order. However ... this 'Proper' organism is the first of its kind, variable, erratic, and dangerous above all. The mind of a mimic with the body of a human is nothing short of precise anarchy.
Taketa Soza is a vile man who cruelly abuses, rapes, and murders impoverished men and women alike on a consistent basis. He is the ringleader of a harvest-den, a slum-like house where slaves are kept, used for whatever purposes their masters desire, and then killed so their organs can be harvested for sale on the black-market, generating revenue for the den’s operations to continue.
Seraph is his new favorite toy for the time being, her looks and unknown past only enhancing his predatory desire. Once she begins to bore him, however ... she would be wise to be wary of meeting the same fate that has befallen so many others before her.
An asian accent would be preferable, if manageable- though it’s not required. He’s generally a cordial gentlemen when in the public eye- however, his demeanor towards his ‘toys’ can change rather drastically. He’s manipulative and abusive in nearly every way to his inferiors within the harvest-den, so he’d probably sound ‘in control’ of whatever scene he’s in; intimidating, commanding, and
Don't be too long. I wouldn't want you to get ... lost.
Good evening, Guardian. May I inquire as to why you've decided to visit our fine establishment today?
So long as she stays here, she's MINE. If one of you so much as touches her, you'll find yourself on the chopping block as next month's payment.
The Scavenger has seen many things in his number of years. He’s formed a bond with a mimic, the Watchdog, whose personality matrix was compromised long ago- initially rendering it incapable of most speech. The two of them live out in the Dunes, a desolate area of land outside the city of Tusdon, one which is ravaged by storms on a daily basis. When the two of them learn of Seraph’s existence, they resolve to free her from her imprisonment and instruct her to find them. Though his motives are rather mysterious, he’s made it clear that he bears no ill intent towards the hybrid- and will protect her from the Guardian hunting her, Ewan Theron, if necessary.
He's experienced, hardened by his past, and a bit older than the others- but he still has a soft side, and his empathy is best exemplified by his willingness to help Seraph and protect her. He doesn’t see Theron as a malicious entity- just misguided, and he hopes to help the Guardian see the truth of what he discovered years ago.
Another step, and it’ll be the last one you take.
(Holding Theron at gunpoint with a sniper-rifle, stopping him from entering his and the Watchdog’s home.)
Look, I get it- you don’t like him, and you don’t like her. But the bottom line is that the three of us are in this together; so you two better make nice until we figure out where to go from here.
(Trying to break up an argument between Theron and Seraph.)
These dunes … they hide secrets. But dig deep enough, and sooner or later … the truth always surfaces.
(Hinting to Theron of the existence of a government conspiracy concerning the Guardians.)
