Logline: In a neon-drenched Neo-Los Angeles choked by smog, a down-on-his-luck smuggler and a brilliant but ostracized scientist join forces to steal a legendary prototype: a car powered by the volatile element mercury, a vehicle with the power to break free from the tyrannical energy corporation that controls the city.
Setting:
- Neo-Los Angeles, 2077: A sprawling metropolis choked by smog and controlled by the tyrannical Aethon Corporation, which holds an iron grip on the city’s energy supply.
- The wealthy elite cruise in sleek, electric Aethon vehicles while the underbelly relies on sputtering combustion engines and black-market fuel.
Characters:
- Milo “Quick” Silver: A charismatic smuggler with a shady past and a knack for getting things done. He survives by ferrying contraband through the city’s labyrinthine underbelly.
- Dr. Anya Petrova: A brilliant but ostracized scientist ostracized for her unorthodox research on harnessing the power of mercury. She believes her engine could revolutionize clean energy, but Aethon has deemed it too dangerous.
- Lazarus Thorne: The ruthless CEO of Aethon Corporation. He maintains order through a network of enforcers and advanced surveillance technology.
Plot:
- Milo is hired by a mysterious figure to steal a heavily guarded prototype from Aethon – a sleek, aerodynamic vehicle unlike anything he’s seen. He reluctantly agrees, unaware it’s Dr. Petrova’s revolutionary mercury-powered car.
- During the heist, Milo and Petrova encounter each other, their goals colliding. A chase ensues through the neon-lit streets, with Aethon’s enforcers hot on their tail.
- Forced to work together, Milo and Petrova discover the true potential of the “Quicksilver.” The car is not only clean but incredibly fast, powered by a miniature mercury reactor Dr. Petrova designed.
- As they evade Aethon’s clutches, Milo and Petrova uncover a conspiracy: Aethon is suppressing clean energy to maintain their control over the city. The Quicksilver could be the key to breaking their stranglehold.
- They must navigate the treacherous underbelly of Neo-LA, seeking allies among smugglers and rebels. However, Aethon is relentless, unleashing a cyborg assassin with a vendetta against Milo and a thirst for the Quicksilver’s technology.
- In a heart-pounding climax, Milo and Petrova use the Quicksilver’s speed and agility to infiltrate Aethon’s headquarters and expose their corruption. They face Thorne in a showdown, with the fate of the city hanging in the balance.
Themes:
- Environmentalism vs. Corporate Greed
- Innovation vs. Stagnation
- Trust and Redemption
Visual Style:
- A blend of gritty cyberpunk noir and sleek, futuristic tech.
- Neon-drenched streets contrasted with the sterile, white-walled headquarters of Aethon.
- The Quicksilver itself would be a marvel of engineering, sleek and aerodynamic with glowing blue accents reflecting the mercury reactor within.
Mercurated combines action, suspense, and a healthy dose of environmental commentary. It’s a story about defying oppression and finding redemption through innovation, all wrapped in a high-octane chase through a neon-drenched dystopia.
