This situation poses a grave and serious threat.
The secrecy of the project must be protected at all costs.
Dear Tom...
I write not knowing if this will ever find or reach you.
I was contacted by someone.
A woman I know nothing about...
but whose appearance has given me hope that you are somehow still very much alive.
Prompt and uniform denial.
How do I begin to explain?
I feel my life has been taken away from me, as you have.
That nothing is as it seems.
I have no one to turn to, Tom, except this woman I speak of...
who has told me to pursue the truth...
in spite of all the official evidence of your death.
It seems crazy, like chasing down a phantom.
But what choice do I have if you're out there?
The army issues only denials, and though this woman gives me little to go on...
it is enough.
I have so many questions, Tom...
and trust she wouldn't put me through this if there weren't a reason.
I want so badly to believe what she's telling me.
That you were taken from me and are being held somewhere.
That our own government is involved.
That an official lie is being passed off about you.
A lie only I seem to have knowledge of.
Ripped By mstoll
I don't know where.
I don't know why.
But I know I will never stop searching until I find out.
I will continue to write, Tom, sending my letters through her...
waiting to hear from you.
I will try to be patient.
To begin again. To wipe the slate clean.
Wouldn't Jefferson or Hamilton...
or Madison do the same if they could see their legacy now?
What their beloved country has become?
Long live the new monarchy.
Did we find the leak?
- How this woman knows about Hobbes? - No.
We will.
A world exists exactly like ours.
You live in this world...
your family and friends...
and though you may not know it...
I was sent to save you.
It's just a game.
Every minute of every hour. Every hour of every day...
Survive.
I've been running for weeks, traveling with two strangers who've become my friends.
Though I use this word cautiously...
nothing is certain in Harsh Realm...
Not even your next breath.
Though we run, I'm no closer to my destination...home.
My friend Pinocchio says there's no sure way out...
except for a rumored portal by which General Santiago passes between worlds.
Though he says it may be impossible to reach it alive...
I'm willing to take my chances.
- What is this place? - Zip fights.
- What? - Zip fights.
I thought we were looking for the guy who could help us.
- Freddie the Forger. - You want him for what?
You move around Santiago City, you gotta have an I.D. Chip.
You wanna find that portal, you're gonna need one. Freddie forges 'em.
- This guy Freddie's here? - That's what we're gonna find out.
All right, all you bloodsuckers and perverts.
Grab a lady and start pumpin', 'cause we got action, action and more action.
Step right up to the money man in the bow tie and place your bets.
Place them good. Take your hand with Lady Luck and maybe you'll get lucky!
For those of you lookin' for fortune, pass it over...
and give it up for Miss Nancy!
Bonita! And up in the rafters we got Angel, Sugar, Spice.
All our princesses of passion, they aim to please, or if you're broke, only tease.
All bubble gum and G-strings, ready to dance for your desire!
So give it up for our lovely ladies of love!
All right, all you lovebirds and lunatics...
if I can direct your attention to the center of our fine establishment...
feast your eyes on our octagon of oppression where our two contestants...
who, straight from the heart of our stupid legal system...
where they could not resolve their matters, have agreed to pummel each other...
into oblivion for our viewing pleasure...
in an attempt to settle the score once and for all!
- So get ready, all you flesh-pounding worshippers... - What are they?
- Zip files. Fight to the death. - A Zip file?
- Two hundred and fifty pounds of digitally compressed testosterone. - What?
Without further ado, I give you in the yellow corner, wearing none other than yellow trunks...
from parts unknown, weight unknown, height unknown.
He likes long walks on the beach and quality time at home alone with his cat...
The Man in the Yellow Trunks!
And his opponent in the red corner, wearing none other than red trunks...
from parts unknown, weight unknown, height unknown.
I don't know what else to say other than I bet against him... The Man in the Red Trunks!
So ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat belts because we are ready...
to get it on!
- Wait here. - Pinocchio. Hey.
Troops are mobilizing as I speak.
Operation begins at 2200 hours.
When it's done, we'll add to our borders 60 miles of eastern seaboard...
with the entire state of NewJersey completely under siege.
That's a total of five states now under our dominion.
Well on our way to a United States of Santiago.
Are we expecting any resistance?
We've hit this area before, but there's an entrenched hard core.
Who'll be in charge of this assault?
I'm leaving this briefing directly to lead my men, sir.
Strike quickly and brutally.
The mighty sword of justice knows no scabbard, Major.
Great empires are built on the wisdom of sages... and the blood of heroes.
Yes, sir.
Major Waters.
You were bold in there.
Good. That ambition will take you places.
Great places.
Just don't fail.
I'm looking for Freddie the Forger.
Freddie. Hey, Freddie!
You hear me call you? I'm talking to you.
We can do this here or someplace else. Fine.
Where do you think you're going?
- For a walk? - You didn't ask for my permission.
I didn't know I had to ask.
I know you. Major, isn't it?
Major Optican. I love a man in a uniform.
Stay here.
Heavy artillery.
We're under attack.
- Let's go! Move! Move! - You're under arrest!
- Drop your discs! - Florence, stop Freddie! He's got the chips!
You are under arrest! Drop your discs.
Come on! Let's go!
Chin on the ground! Down! Down!
It's stuck! Won't move!
- If you unleash me, I can show you a way outta here. - Go!
This way! Over here!
Soldiers. I saw them. There's a glitch here.
Find it. I want those soldiers alive.
Hands on your head.
Move along.
Get on the truck!
Secure the weapons over here for destruction.
Come on. Come on! Let's move it, hose bags!
Grab her!
I know you. I've seen you.
They're here, aren't they? Pinocchio and Hobbes?
Process her with the rest of the coin slots.
Whiskey-03 reports objective secure.
All units clear surrounding areas. Over.
I can't see anything.
This is some way out.
- Where are we, Freddie? - I don't know exactly.
- It's just someplace the ladies used to hide. - This is Freddie? The man...
- who's supposed to help us? - Great. Now you look disappointed.
His name's Hobbes. He needs a chip to go inside Santiago City.
Oh, gee. Well, let me tell you what... I'm fresh out.
And if you haven't noticed, Santiago City has come to us.
I'm looking for the portal to get back to the real world.
Well, join the crowd, Little Nell.
- Do you have the chip or not? - It wouldn't help you much right now, would it?
I think we're in some kind of a digital void.
Some kind of unprogrammed game space.
Now look what you've done.
No.
- He can't see us. - He's looking right at us.
It's the latrine.
Oh, yeah. So it is. I...
Don't! Hobbes, we can use him.
- If you kill him, he'll digitize. Disappear. - He killed Sophie.
- Hobbes, listen to me! - He killed my girl!
He didn't kill her. He killed her virtual character.
She's still alive in the real world. He can lead you to her.
Don't move.
- Don't even flinch. - All right. I'm not moving.
You wet yourself, Major. For God's sake, button up.
- He told me not to move. - Well, I don't like looking at your shortcomings.
Let's go. Up!
You're a murderer, Waters.
I didn't mean to kill her, Hobbes. I didn't.
Who were you shooting at, me?
I.D. Chip, Hobbes. Your ticket home.
You work with this, Freddie?
You bet. What about anesthetic?
General.
I can... Wait a second.
I can help you.
I owe you. You got my word.
- The boy just wants to go home. - Santiago has a portal.
- That's impossible. - Where is it?
Where is it? Ask him.
- What? You know where it is? - I used to work for Santiago, okay?
Central Security, 14th floor. But you need security clearance.
It's encoded on his implant.
- Freddie, cut 'im. - Done.
- They got the damn city fenced. - Which side are we on?
- The wrong side. - We're on Santiago's side.
It's screwed up. It ain't supposed to be like this. The place is crawling with 'em.
- Yeah. But we know where the portal is. - And we only got one I.D. Chip.
We've come too far to turn back. I'm going in.
Where you gonna get directions... chamber of commerce?
- I'll get him there. I'm goin' with him. - You can't.
I wanna see this real world. I wanna see for myself what all the fuss is about.
- Why can't he go? - Because he can't. He's a virtual character.
He's just a concept. Part of a game. He doesn't really exist.
Oh, really? Who saved your fuzzy butt back there, anyway?
Hey. Forty miles from here to Santiago City. Light of day, you'll never make that portal.
Unless you got another way in or a wormhole up your sleeve.
Hobbes! Hey!
- You're gonna get him killed. - Oh, yeah. Since when did you start caring?
I wanna go home, don't you?
Major Waters.
General Santiago's asked for you.
I believe it's to commend you.
Tell him I'll be right there.
I wanted to commend you myself.
On achieving your objective.
And yours.
No. I've only just begun.
- You know what we're risking? - It can all be ours.
You're bleeding. You're hurt.
How did this happen?
Setting a trap.
The streets of Santiago City are clean and orderly.
Its office towers proud and tall.
There is no suffering here. No privation.
But this is a utopia for which a terrible price has been paid...
the lives of all those who live outside the fence.
- What are we doing? - What you asked me to do. I'm getting you to that portal.
- This is a residential building. - You won't get far dressed like that.
Told you, I used to work here.
- What the? - Biometric iris scanner...
wired to a tungsten alloy dead bolt in the door.
- Impossible to bypass. - Oh yeah?
Ten-hut, Major.
E-ticket.
Santiago City, a place of freedom.
A place of family. More than just a city.
It's an ideal, built on the rubble of the past...
working toward a safe and prosperous future.
A future of liberty and justice.
As Santiago City expands its borders into the new frontier...
making way for a growing population made strong by its love of freedom...
The Santiago Channel.
And commitment to equality and democracy.
- All Santiago all the time. - We will always be one people...
one nation, one Santiago.
Just don't change the dial.
Oops.
Dare we forget that life's just a big bowl of cherries here in Omar's world.
Yo, Gilligan. Mary Ann. Get naked, we got work to do.
Who is this guy?
Freddie's black market connection for these I.D. Chips.
Wonder what Santiago would do to an officer dealing in Harsh Realm.
Probably the same thing this officer's been doing to Freddie. Isn't that right?
Oh, yeah. He's been a bad, bad boy.
Where's our ride?
Damn it.
We came all this way just to get towed.
- Doesn't make any sense. - Anyone want me to try clicking my heels?
- How do we get there? How do we get to the portal? - Let's let Santiago drive us.
Come on.
- Go Hobbes. All aboard. - There's no driver.
Tell her where you're going. Hold still, let her read the chip.
Central Security.
- Come on. What are you waiting for? - I got other business.
- What are you talking about? You're practically home. - I'm not going.
- Get on the bus, Pinocchio. - I got my reasons. They got nothing to do with you.
You may only get this one chance, Hobbes. Don't screw it up.
Hey.
Hey, Pinocchio.
You knew Pinocchio... from before.
In my line of work, you meet people.
- Why wouldn't he wanna go home? - I don't know.
Freedom, maybe? Harsh Realm is like a jungle.
But, hey, at least you don't die of old age.
But he used to live here... inside the fence working for Santiago.
Oh, yeah. He had it real good inside here.
Till he pissed off Santiago.
Word is he wouldn't do his bidding.
But, hey, that's the way it is in here.
You question His Majesty, and it is off with your head, Marie Antoinette.
So what makes you think the real world's any better?
I hear there's a place in the real world where no one shoots at you...
tries to make you into something you're not.
- Is it true? - I hope so.
Next stop, Central Security.
Get up, Pinocchio.
Never were much good at taking orders, were ya?
Nah, I always had some spine.
Just couldn't do the job.
I just wouldn't do it, Mel. The difference between you and me.
I couldn't kiss the ass you kiss.
- Couldn't stomach all the killing. - You wanna see what it takes?
You won't do it, Mel. I'm all you got.
All you got to show Santiago when Hobbes escapes from Harsh Realm.
- Hobbes won't escape. - You taking bets on that?
I got somebody making sure of it.
See, I not only got your old job, Pinocchio, I got your old lady too.
- Let him go. Let him go back. - Why?
Let him go back to the real world. We'll both get rid of a problem.
You are now approaching the Santiago Central Security building.
Please be prepared with proper identification.
You are now approaching the Santiago Central Security building.
Please be prepared with proper identification.
- Wait. - What?
- What are we waiting for? - I don't know. It's too easy.
That portal's only 14 floors up.
Fourteen floors, and you're home.
Come on, Hobbes. Let's go!
You're the one with the access chip. Come on!
I'd step away from there.
You've come a long way, Tom, but you're about to walk into a trap.
- Who the hell is she? - I know you.
- Yes. - You were there.
The day they sent me here into Harsh Realm.
- You were sent for a reason. - I don't wanna hear it.
- I just wanna go home. - The chip you have is stolen.
The system has been reprogrammed to recognize you as an intruder.
It will set off an alarm.
You'll never escape the building.
It won't work. You need a chip with the access data.
- Open it. - I'm trying to help you, Tom.
Open it.
- I'm here as a friend, Tom. - Then try staying out of my way.
I've been to see Sophie.
- She's gonna get us caught. - Shut up.
She's gonna have a child, Tom. Your child.
Open it.
She needs you, Tom. We need you... to stop Santiago.
- Look, if you're not gonna go, then let me. - He wants to destroy the world.
- Not the way I see it. - The real world, Tom.
By planning the ultimate terrorism so that Harsh Realm is all that exists.
Security violation. Detected double entry.
Security violation. Attempted double entry.
You're making a mistake!
We're dead.
He has men who believe in him.
Influential men in the real world.
- I've heard their plans. - Then let me go there.
You can't find him in the real world. No one can, Tom.
- They've tried. - I can't help you.
You can, Tom. Only you.
Stop Santiago here in Harsh Realm...
or there may be no home to go back to.
No Sophie. No child.
No! No! No! Come on!
No! No! Help me! Please, please! Please help me!
Go on. Help him.
Then help yourself.
The people here are without hope.
Defeated.
Unaware their fate is inextricably bound with ours.
Santiago must not prevail here if our world is to survive.
I will find a way to lead these people, Sophie.
To help them save their world so that we can save ours.
- What are you doing? - Getting you out of here.
- You were home free, Hobbes. - Not as long as Santiago's alive.
You sorry bastard.
She got to you. Inga.
- Didn't she, Hobbes? - She gave me a letter and a key...
to get you out.
I trusted her once.
Let the devil put her tongue in my ear.
I couldn't run fast enough.
You pretend that's what you're running from.
Hey.
What? What is it?
I came close. Way too close.
- To what? - To getting caught.
I had Hobbes and Pinocchio dead to rights...
- set to deliver them to Santiago. - What happened?
They escaped.
You had them and you let them get away?
Hobbes has an ally.
- Who? - Someone on the inside.
He got all the way to the portal and turned back. Someone got to him.
How much does he know?
Whatever he knows, if Santiago finds out, it points to me.
Hobbes could know everything. All Santiago's plans.
- He doesn't. - What if he does?
Those plans are vital to us.
They cannot fail, or we fail.
- He's one man. - One man...
that's who they say he is.
The man who will save Harsh Realm. Who will defeat Santiago.
You and I are the ones.
We can't risk this. It's too dangerous.
You're vulnerable now.
I write you, Sophie.
My courage strengthened by the faith that my words have at last found a way to reach you.
That this woman, Inga Fossa, possesses influence...
not just in the game that is Harsh Realm, but in the real world.
She says she has the power to travel back and forth.
That she will use her position to help us.
And although I have been warned against her, I want to believe her.
I want so much to find someone else in this frightened world I can trust...
as I have come to trust a man who saved my life here.
Another soldier who hates the world Santiago has created as I do.
He's a brave and resourceful man...
but still a mystery to me in many ways.
He does not admit it, but it's clear to me now that he does not seek to return home.
His reasons he keeps to himself.
I will come home, Sophie.
You are my light. My star. My one true path through two worlds.
Keep these words deep in your heart, my darling.
I will fight my war. I will come home.
I'm sorry. I followed you.
How long have you been waiting here?
Since, um... a long time.
- I was afraid I'd miss you. - You're freezing cold.
I need to know about Tom, if you were able to reach him?
I'm sorry. We must keep trying.
I made this!
Ripped By mstoll