Episode 9: The Execution

"The Execution" is the ninth episode of the Project Infinity web series.

Plot Summary
Lying on the floor of her cell, Princess Annabelle reflects on life and what a gift it is. She considers how she never thought about little things such as seeing and breathing. She realizes she didn't know how much she actually wanted to live until it was time for her to die. Then, Princess Annabelle is greeted early in the morning at her cell by Val Winthrop and his closest followers. The first thing he says to Annabelle is, "Happy Birthday." Annabelle playfully asks if he brought her a present to which he responds her death is a present in itself for the world. He also informs her she will be decapitated. However, he would be more than happy to fulfill any final wishes she may have. She takes him up on his offer and asks to go down looking like a proper princess.

Camera crews and a large crowd are seen at the airbase being used for the execution. Blythe asks Octavia if she thinks the Rebels will really show up. Octavia is confident and believes they will be successfully terminated with this concentrated effort.

Flying on the Adonais towards the air base, the Rebels go over their rescue plan. Milo surprises everyone when he presents them with a detailed map of the base. He reveals that since his father works as an architect for the Union he has old blueprints lying around. The others spot several areas that were hidden on the previous map. It is decided that Gun will be escorted by L.I.A. to retrieve the Princess and Violet will guard the doors Gun is to use. She takes Lars' stun gun. Meanwhile, Josephine, Lars, and Elise will attack in their Fighter Bots to cause a distraction while Gun goes in for Annabelle.

At Acland Academy, many students are seen gathered to watch the execution on TV as if it is a sporting event. Conner watches quietly in the back of the room and hopes Josephine doesn't end up going.

At the execution site, Princess Annabelle is seen wearing an impressive, red and white dress with a crown. Val bows to her, and she proclaims she is ready for her death. Val is a bit surprised at her cooperation. As Val begins to walk towards the podium, Annabelle stops him and tells him that killing her means taking his only means of peaceful negotiation. The "others" won't be as understanding as she is. Val remains silent and steps up to the podium to announce the beginning of the execution to the crowd. Harrison hands him a sword, and Val begins to walk towards Annabelle. Just as he raises the sword, an explosion occurs several hundred yards away from the execution platform.

Then, Rebel Fighters storm into the area. Blythe is pleased that Val's trap worked, and Octavia sends Union fighters into battle. Annabelle is seen staring in awe at what is happening. The Rebels struggle against Union Fighters and LIAs. Octavia asks Blythe (who is in the battle) if Gun Lambton is up there. Hearing he is not, Octavia becomes frustrated and wonders where he could be.

Morris observes that there will be no guard-free opportunity to snatch the Princess and decides to tell Gun to go for it. At the execution platform, a large explosion catches everyone's attention. Then, Gun and LIA are seen as the smoke clears. Gun chuckles and greets Octavia. Overcome with fury, Octavia draws her weapon and charges toward Gun. LIA pushes her to the ground and demands she stay away from Gun Lambton. LIA protects Gun while he scoops Annabelle in his arms and leaves with her. He meets Violet at a door and together, they all continue through a hidden passage. Gun spots someone in the dark room ahead of them and tells them to stop. As his eyes adjust, Gun and Violet realize this unknown person is actually Val. Val confesses he had hoped this might happen. Rage and emotion takes over Gun as he rushes at Val and begins fighting him. Val strains Gun's arm and overpowers him. Gun falls to the ground. He screams for Violet to leave Val to him so he can kill him himself. Val maintains his composure but admits that this pains him after he has worked so long to keep Gun safe. It is revealed that Val is in fact the one who programmed LIA to protect Gun. He says there was nothing he could do for Gun while he was inside the concentration camp, but after he escaped, Val used a cloaking device and changed LIA's programming. Violet and Gun both are completely puzzled as to why he would do this. Then, Val says Gun was only a baby the last time he saw him. "We look alike, my son." Gun screams in distress and calls Val a liar. Gun is certain his father died before he was born. According to Val, Gun's mother Apolline told Val she would leave him, and he would be dead to her if he followed through with his plans of building the Union. Val begins to urge Gun to change his name and move to a different city leaving his Rebel ties behind. No one can know Gun is his son. Gun cries in disbelief. Val becomes quiet as he watches his son cry. He then acknowledges that Gun must hate him, but he still wants him safe.

They are interrupted by the laughter of a familiar voice. A woman wearing a scientist's robe comes into view. She greets Val and says he hasn't aged a day. "Have you missed me?" Val is clearly speechless and afraid of her. Val thought she was dead, and she even says by all accounts she should've been killed in "that accident." However, her "project" was already well underway by then. Val calls her a witch, and she cackles with pride claiming he was always afraid of her. She turns to Gun and says she has missed him so. Val pulls out a weapon and begins shooting at the mystery woman. She somehow blocks his bullets with green colored force fields. During the fight, Violet runs to Gun's side and pulls him up so they can escape.

Outside at the execution platform, LIA is send fending off Octavia, Harrison, and guards. She leaves the scene to join Gun and the others after her "target moving" alert is seen. Josephine, Lars, and Elise are still engaging in combat against the LIAs and Fighters. They are able to flee after an enormous, unknown ship descends upon the area. Milo meets a lifeless Gun outside the Adonais before they board and take off.

On the Adonais, Morris notices Gun's somber expression. The others celebrate their victory. Princess Annabelle kisses Gun on the cheek and thanks them all for rescuing her. She is moved to tears and compares them to angels sent from heaven. Lars tells her that there is still hope for the world with her alive.

Back inside the hidden passage, Val is seen lying on his stomach as the result of his fight with the mysterious woman. She walks up to him and tells him not to worry about his son. She has big plans for him.

Important Events

 * Princess Annabelle wears her red dress for the first time.
 * Princess Annabelle's execution is interrupted by the Rebels in Fighter Bots and a battle ensues.
 * Gun successfully retrieves the Princess.
 * Gun meets Val and learns that he programmed LIA to protect him.
 * Val reveals he is Gun's father and wants him to leave the Rebels.
 * Calanthe reappears for the first time since her supposed death and fights off Val with Infinity shields.
 * The Orion is seen for the first time.
 * The Rebels safely escape the area with Princess Annabelle.
 * Calanthe tells Val she has big plans for Gun.

Trivia

 * The scene inside Princess Annabelle's maximum security cell was deleted by accident and had to be filmed again. This was a challenge due to the location having since been filled with a multitude of items. It had to be reorganized for this brief scene to be redone.
 * A crowd was never actually present during the execution scenes.
 * The execution sequences were filming outdoors during very hot weather. A heavy amount of digital effects were applied to these scenes.
 * Annabelle's crown would prove to be difficult to maintain throughout the entire series as it tended to fall off and fall apart.
 * Calanthe's laugh was inspired by Bellatrix from Harry Potter.
 * Although many of the character dolls can be made to stand on their own, it is usually difficult. Annabelle, surprisingly, is one of the easiest dolls to stand independently.
 * The execution area is the most complicated and difficult set MLA has made to date.