600 years later...
Nothing here? Check the other one!
- Gently! - Still nothing?
- We need more sap. - Look out below!
- Now what? - Look higher up.
Towards the left!
We don't have much time left.
- I found some - Good.
Lift all of that up to me!
I have it.
Is there enough of it?
- There's not any more here - None here either
Hey, Enode! Are you working hard?
What do you know about hard work?
All you do is play.
I do not play, Enode, I explore.
You waste your time.
We must serve the gods, Kaena.
So that they will protect us.
Let's not be late for the offering!
The protection of the gods is worthless.
Here they are!
The monster.
It steals our sap and our souls.
It made our planet a desert
My queen, your attacks will end up killing us
Our world is dying
You must save our people from extinction.
Axis protect me!
Well, well...
Ilpo. Don't move.
Don't move, or the marauder will see you.
Don't move.
Ilpo is in danger.
I told you...
I warned you...
Ilpo is broken
Very broken.
Ilpo, it is me, Kaena.
Don't be afraid
Ilpo is still broken today
Three times.
Ilpo has been broken for a long time.
You are not broken, Ilpo.
The insect can take many forms.
Here.
They don't grow any more like before.
It's weird, I keep finding
more and more dessicated branches.
- What is that? - Oh, that?
I came too close to a sharken.
Kaena goes too far.
Much too close to the Great Nothing.
Ah, the Great Nothing!
The sharkens are not afraid of it. You can see them playing in the clouds.
Kaena will break. Never to return.
You returned,
what did you see over there?
That.
Lots of those, everywhere.
You already saw this thing?
Behind the sea of clouds?
An attacking marauder.
Ilpo didn't move.
Never moved.
Then Ilpo fell, and was almost killed.
The worm caught up with Ilpo.
The worm? Did a worm catch up with you?
And then, Ilpo slept.
And then saw a man
Not really a man...
More like pure evil.
Afterwards, there was too much light.
It was incredibly bright.
- Blue light. - What?
In my dreams, there is a blue sun.
You saw a blue sun under the clouds?
- The bottom, all on top. - What?
The bottom on the top. The top on the bottom.
Please explain!
The High Priest!
Kaena must leave quickly!
I know, I know. It's time for the offering.
Let me go!
You were saying?
I heard you. Speak!
Fine, pretend you can't talk
My brother will be able to make you speak.
Kaena, where were you?
Did you make any new drawings?
- Show them to us! - Of course.
But don't speak about this with anybody!
Especially not with the High Priest.
OK, I promise.
- You saw a sharken near here? - Yes, very near.
Did it fly very quickly?
- Very quickly. - If I had wings...
I could be free.
You don't need wings to be free.
Imagine another world,
a beautiful world,
overflowing with sap, where a blue sun is shining.
Where is it? You saw it?
No. But I dreamed about it and...
My children...
the sap is our vital force,
but with the passing of time,
it appears that we are exhausting our resources.
It's true. What do you make of this?
I know your sufferings
They are also mine.
But we should not doubt the gods.
Who gave us the gift of Axis?
Who protects us from the Great Nothing?
And its guards?
The gods!
Who, in the hour of our eternal rest,
Will open the doors of paradise to us?
The gods!
Who gave us life?
The gods!
Yes, our gods!
Let us pray!
Kaena, guess what I caught!
What is it, Essy?
A talking worm. It's in the cage.
I want to see it.
Why are they holding us?
They plan to eat us.
We have to escape from here. Follow me!
Well, of all the nerve!
I'm going to go back and get my armor, my wings...
and get out of here!
I'll give the Master a detailed report.
- This worm doesn't seem very smart. - He's not any fun!
I bet he speaks better than you.
- well, he's still not very smart. - Hey, Kaena...
- You like this, my sister? - It's ok. A little boring though.
Is our faith justified?
Yes!
Haven't we been very obedient to our benevolent gods?
Let us bring our offering to the Well of the gods!
The gods are angry.
No! Not the Great Nothing!
No, my children!
It's a sign, don't you see?
The gods are testing us.
They test our faith.
Don't be afraid to trust them with our lives!
Don't move! If you flee,
you defy the gods.
Stay where you are! Bow down!
Please, I ask of you!
Obey the will of the gods!
Kaena, wait!
Kaena, what are you doing?
Zehos, the High Priest moved.
The gods saved him.
They don't favor him over us.
That's true, but why did they destroy the temple?
Go back over there!
- But she's right... - Go back!
Don't be so foolish.
I saw you moving
like my parents, who you treated like sinners!
- you dare to blaspheme in the temple? - You're crazy.
You wanted to save your life.
The gods directed me.
They decided to save me.
The gods did not save my parents.
Your parents did not believe in the gods.
Why would they have been saved? Your parents made a choice.
I ask that you choose a different path.
You ask?
How can you ask such a thing?
Your gods are deaf. I don't believe that they exist.
Our lives are difficult.
When your parents died, I raised you.
I fostered your intelligence, your spirit.
Today, you trample these gifts while ridiculing
our gods instead of honoring them.
Think of our lives beyond Axis!
I do think about it!
- All the time. - Ah, of course...
I am aware of the stream of lies you tell to the other children
and of your drawings of imaginary worlds.
I saw another world...
- In your dreams. - It exists.
- I saw a blue sun at the bottom of Axis.
Why do you keep deluding yourself?
You're crazy, like that poor Ilpo
Do you want to end up like him?
To sit around killing insects all day?
Ilpo is not insane! Beyond the clouds, I saw...
The Great Nothing, and that made you insane!
No!
Look! This is harder than our weak blades.
Its creator does not fear your gods.
Don't provoke them!
Give me that!
You wanted to kill me.
- No, what I wanted... - You are insane.
You are a danger to us all.
Go after Kaena, she is dangerous.
She provokes the anger of the gods
and she puts our lives in danger.
She must not be allowed to leave the village.
I saw her! Over there.
Even a tough girl like you can cry?
I knew that you would be here.
I haven't been here since childhood.
We're not children anymore.
I'm sorry.
Zehos, what will I do?
This is the blade?
The High Priest wanted to tear it off me, I resisted and...
I know that you're innocent.
I will speak to him. You'll return to the village.
I prefer to disappear into the Great Nothing.
- Let's go, Kaena! - Listen!
The other world exists.
I will find it.
Alas, High Priest! She has disappeared.
How can we appease our gods?
Glory to you, god of my people!
Do you accept this offering?
No!
This is unacceptable.
Is this worthy of your gods?
Forgive me, Almighty!
Times are hard.
The sap is running out and...
a young heretic ridicules you.
- What? - She is fleeing to the east.
She wants to enter the Great Nothing...
Don't you have any control over your people?
Almighty, she is only...
- She always was... - a heretic...
strong enough to mislead all of the people.
The consequences would be severe.
The girl is already dead. Don't think of her anymore!
Devote yourself to the next harvest.
I warn you not to offend us any more!
I promise, Almighty.
Do you remember
when we used to play outside of the village?
I always loved it.
You were never afraid?
Yes, of course. But I hid it from you.
And I knew that Axis would guide me.
"Axis, protects me !" you say.
As if it were alive.
It is alive. It speaks to me.
You're not a child anymore...
You're an "adult" now, is that it?
How can you collect the sap, and eat the worms like everyone else...
without wondering what hides behind the clouds?
I didn't say that I'm not curious.
But it is necessary to have people to collect sap,
and raise the worms...
You were a comfort to me, at first.
But now, you're becoming tedious. You waste your time on the worms.
There is nothing else to eat.
Also, I have my little brother to worry about.
- I cannot... - Dream like me?
Damn your worms!
My children...
the gods appeared to me tonight.
They spoke to me.
They want to punish Kaena.
Her disobedience has provoked their anger.
The gods require a new harvest of sap.
Before the end of the day.
This offering must be more generous than our previous one...
or we will all perish.
Bring our offering to the Well of the gods!
The sap.
I must have more.
Soon, there will not be any more, my queen.
It is almost gone.
The villagers are all talking about it.
I don't listen to the slaves!
Death!
Once the monster is dead, the sap will run.
Majesty,
for centuries, we've tried to kill it.
The slaves are starting to doubt us.
A revolt could start soon.
I beg you,
let us work together now.
And our descendants?
Do you want them to be robbed of their sap by this monster?
We must destroy it!
We must find a way to destroy it.
It will be done according to your wishes, my queen.
I understand, Zehos.
You must go to Essy.
Forgive me.
Find her!
A marauder!
Oh no! I hope that she's ok.
No villager could have created the armor of this worm.
An invader must have survived.
Gently.
Master, if I may,
this is a waste of time.
She is a primitive.
She's a strange specimen.
Is she the one you spoke to me about, Assad?
- You are sure? - Yes, Master. This is definitely her.
She's the opposite of the others, she is curious.
She has a kind of intuition.
She seems to know each branch.
During both of her escapes,
She jumped with closed eyes, as if she was guided
- Not a very scientific approach. - Agreed.
Did she speak about a blue sun outside of Axis?
A common girl claims she's seen a blue sun
and you think she's a prophet? Excuse me, Master!
This is complete foolishness. It's giving me a migraine! Ow!
A very bad migraine.
But what if V?ano?survived the crash landing?
It is highly unlikely, Master.
V?ano?was destroyed with the rest.
Only metal scraps are left, scattered around Axis,
some of which were used to build this place.
Then did she imagine seeing V?ano?
Yes! She probably saw a blue egg.
A beautiful, shining blue egg.
If V?ano?had actually survived...
What's this?
She's awake!
Stay back, creatures of the Great Nothing!
Back yourself!
You don't have anything to fear from us.
Why have you brought her back here, Gommi?
Ask the little genius Assad instead! Why?
Our Master wanted to help her.
And what do they do with the worms?
They devour them.
That's disgusting!
And they enjoy it.
Barbarians!
The Master
wishes to speak with you.
What's going on here?
Final preparations before takeoff.
Takeoff?
This base is an intergalactic vessel.
Come again?
Typical humanoid reaction! You're incapable of understanding.
Assad, the Master
requests our presence.
Take it!
It belongs to you.
Are you gods?
No. My name is Opaz.
I am mortal, like you.
We do not wish you any harm.
You were wounded.
We looked after you.
- And my blade? - Later.
My followers will mend your clothing.
Are they worms?
"Worms"?
Worms?
Of the super-advanced family of the oligocantes,
we exceed any artificial intelligence.
As for myself, I speak 1200 languages,
I know 10,000 galaxies,
and can repair any form of technology based on silicone.
"Worms"? I think not!
- You're really only a worm. - We're not only worms!
- You're of the worm family! - Stop speaking to me about worms!
I hear you speaking that gibberish "worm" language with everyone else.
They are ashamed!
They're reluctant to associate with you!
But it is our language.
I do not speak in "worm".
I prefer our worms, they are less talkative.
Let me explain to you, primate: Your worms are underdeveloped.
And I, I am superior to you.
But I can still eat you.
I hope not.
I would be lost without Gommi and the others.
I could not have survived without them.
nor built this vessel to return to my home.
Where is your home ?
Very far from here.
My queen,
this thing resists your attacks.
What if it outlasts us?
If we disappear...
our race will die out.
A queen must protect her people.
I know what you want, Voxem.
You are the last male.
You burn to mate with me.
But what about our future?
There is no future for us as long as the monster is alive.
We can overcome this obstacle, my queen.
I think that an invader survived.
It lives on top of Axis.
Let us find it, it will carry the item we need.
I make the decisions!
Your world is not as you imagine it to be.
Its name is Astria, and here
is its twin, Tal?.
You discovered it yesterday evening.
Centuries ago,
a V?arien vessel transporting my people
exploded in space, close to your planet.
I was the sole survivor.
Axis!
It is your world, Kaena.
My escape pod landed in its branches.
Axis saved me.
Your people live in the center of Axis. Here.
Where the gravitational forces
of two planets cancel themselves out.
We are thus here.
I believed I was descending towards the roots of Axis.
In reality, I went up.
The bottom is on top, the top, below!
Ilpo said that. You saved him.
I bandaged his wounds.
As I did for the other creatures of Axis.
- Thus, the blue sun is there. - The blue sun?
I often dream of it. It is at the base of Axis.
Look!
- It is V?ano?br> - V?ano??
Its brain contains all our knowledge
transmitted to V?ariens since childhood.
- It is our memory. - So, it exists.
Master!
Nothing good can come out of the brain of a primitive creature!
Do not underestimate her.
The vessel will soon be ready.
We will finally leave this pitiful, small...
world. As you always wished, Master.
Speak for yourself!
We can recover V?ano?
and the knowledge that it has yet to transmit to me.
Instead of letting her be eaten,
you had to go and save her!
How about we go to the foot of Axis and see what's really there?
Perhaps, Assad.
And you, do you miss her?
She will return, won't she?
Soon, I hope.
Is she on another world?
I don't know. It's possible.
You should've gone with her!
You are undoubtedly right.
Help!
- Ilpo ? - The ground trembles!
Now!
Have you seen my brother?
The gods are testing us.
We must pray.
I had a nightmare.
Please...
Here is the proof of their mental confusion.
The blue sun, V?ano? is attacked
by a maleficent force.
The gods are angered.
Do not ridicule the gods!
On your knees!
- No! Stand upright! - Please!
The place will break down.
We must obey the will of the gods!
Was that your nightmare?
V?ano?was destroyed?
No, but it suffered. And if it suffers, Axis suffers.
- They are linked, aren't they? - I don't know.
Axis is in danger. The village...
Zehos, Essy, the children...
- I must go there. - Wait!
Let's go to the village together...
and then find V?ano?
Go, my friend! I know that you must.
- Will this last much longer? - Calm yourself!
Gods of my people, my gods...
we need you.
Our village is destroyed.
We do not have anywhere else to go.
Answer us, please.
Answer me!
Is everything okay?
Come, Enode. I have good news.
The gods spoke to me.
Will they help us?
Better than that. They will deliver us.
Our sufferings will be rewarded.
They destroyed our village
For what purpose?
So that we can join them.
The gods have called us,
and offered us a refuge.
We have succeeded the ultimate test!
Let the people know. We leave tomorrow.
I am ready. Perfect!
Hold on... That's not quite right!
Complete the preparations!
On my return, we will be able to take off.
This expedition is risky.
Please reconsider!
V?ano?exists, Gommi.
Kaena and I must attempt to recover it.
I don't approve of this armor.
It will protect you.
Not as much as my blade.
Let's go!
A girl with a worm?
- Avoiding the take off? - The take off?
Faster, Assad! Faster!
This idiot has the brains of a slug.
Is everything okay, Zumo?
Look out!
Poor Zumo!
- I am sorry. - You'd better be!
This mission is useless.
To risk our lives over dreams?
The success of this mission is more important than our lives.
We must face our destiny.
Time is running out.
I still say this is a bad idea!
A very bad idea.
Let's go back before we're killed.
The faster we turn around, the sooner we can be home.
The harvest is finished! We are free!
Let us join the gods!
They open their doors to us.
They have all gone insane.
But the gods said...
There are no gods. We must leave.
Let's find Kaena!
That is not the way to paradise.
The gods call us.
I saw you at the temple
beseeching the gods in vain.
Capture this heretic!
Save yourself, Essy!
You have just sent your brother
to his death.
But which branch!
It's very quiet.
Too quiet.
- It's close. - What's close?
- What's she saying? - Quiet!
My bionic ear doesn't hear anything.
How could she...
Don't move!
Otherwise the marauder will see.
Don't move!
- Master, let's go! - Gommi, stay here!
Let's leave now!
So, the invader is finally here!
It is time to use you to destroy what you left behind.
Do not kill him!
Kill her!
My brothers and sisters, we fly
to meet our gods.
I must reveal my intentions to her.
There's no hurry, Master!
If V?ano?and Axis are bound,
what will happen if I take V?ano?
Won't Axis be destroyed?
Master, this world is dying.
But it is her world, Gommi.
She has a right to know.
- You're right. - Nobody asked you.
I must convince her to come with us.
If you were given the opportunity...
to leave Axis, would you leave?
It is my world.
You could create another one.
A less hostile world,
a world of abundance, of knowledge,
where you could dream peacefully.
You could build a civilization.
Got you!
Essy, what are you doing here?
Ilpo took care of me.
Kaena is not broken.
Don't be afraid. They are friends.
They saved my life, and protected me.
what other pitfalls await me today?
Essy, where is Zehos ?
Everyone left for the Well of the gods.
Everyone flew away inside. They left the village.
A horrible thing awaits them.
I dreamed it. I must find them.
There is no time for that. And V?ano??
You speak! I knew it!
I was right.
Stay here with Ilpo until I return!
I'm coming with you. I want to see Zehos.
It is too dangerous. I will bring Zehos back to you.
I promise.
Assad, you stay here to protect Ilpo and the child.
It would be my honor.
But Master...
You are going alone with Kaena? That is utter foolishness.
It is useless to resist, Master, I'm coming with you.
I expected as much.
Wait, I will explain this to you.
There is "floating" and then there is "flying".
"Floating", you're powerless to steer. "Flying", you choose your destiny.
You need to slow down.
Careful, Kaena!
Hold tight, Gommi!
I'm not designed for stunt flying.
- Thank you, Gommi. - Don't mention it.
Our queen is obsessed with the destruction of the monster.
With each of her attacks, one of us dies
in order to regenerate the queen's power.
Who will be the next one?
The queen fears the "ultimate fusion"
because she knows that she will have to sacrifice her own life
to generate new lives.
A new generation of S??ites.
Join me
so that we can live.
I have something important to tell you.
What is it?
You, your people, Axis...
you are in danger because of me.
You asked if V?ano?and Axis were dependent.
It is more than that. They are one.
The loss of my vessel, the birth of Axis
took place at the same time.
V?ano?created Axis.
And if I recover V?ano?..
What do you mean, "recover" ?
I must bring it back to my world.
What will happen to my people?
- Axis will die. - And us with it.
You foresaw so many deaths?
I thought your people were too primitive to comprehend the future.
But then I met you.
Come with us. A place awaits you in my vessel.
And my people?
You are unaware of the quantity of energy...
You knew that from the start?
Kaena, your world is dying.
You must understand the importance of V?ano?
I rue the day we met!
Here! It could be useful to you. My people need me.
Axis, protect me!
Take pity on me!
The gods will help us, they promised aid.
Your gods are only sap-eating creatures!
Their anger is momentary.
- We just need to pray. - We had faith in you.
Let's not waste our time!
Let's find an exit!
So, puny thing!
You are the one who killed my little pet.
You're so fortunate to finally see your gods!
You are not gods.
- What did you do with my people? - They are only slaves.
Before the arrival of the blue monster, they did not exist.
Your species is a cheap aberration.
It's a pity that we are not compatible.
To meld with this small body
would be more pleasant than what awaits me with my queen.
Where is the old man?
- Where is the invader? - I don't know.
You lie, slave.
Why would a powerful god be concerned with a sick old man?
It's no concern of yours!
We know where to wait for him.
He will come to us. Put her with the others!
It's Kaena. She's alive!
Zehos, you survived.
But Essy... I don't know what happened to him.
He's safe, he is at the village with Ilpo
I knew that you would save us.
- Follow the worm! - A worm that speaks!
- Where is Opaz ? - In the search party for the V?ano?
The monsters are waiting for him.
- They want to destroy V?ano?br> - I don't care about V?ano?
Only the Master matters to me.
I should have stayed with him.
Bring them all back to the Well of the gods.
- You're not coming? - I must find
V?ano?and Opaz.
But what about us?
I must go to protect our future.
- I must leave. - And me?
I refuse to leave you.
You will never lose me.
I'm coming with you. To find the Master.
No. Show them the way!
I will find him. I promise you.
I need you to help them.
The primitive worms need you.
Very well. But after they are safe...
I will return for the Master.
Here!
Good luck, Kaena!
Thank you, my friend.
That goes straight to the village. Keep going!
- It's the only way. - Good, they're safe,
- I'm leaving. - Wait, I'm coming with you.
I won't leave without Kaena.
V?ano?
I came to recover you.
V?ano? speak to me! Open for me!
Your monster...
Your monster destroyed my planet.
- Our vessel was crushed... - It stole our precious sap!
We didn't mean you any harm.
It starved my people.
You created it,
you will destroy it.
That's not possible.
It doesn't listen to me.
It does not open.
It has forgotten me.
Then...
you will die!
Let us meld, my queen!
It exists!
I'll get you out of here, Opaz.
- Hold on! - You have...
succeeded, Kaena.
It's all thanks to you.
I didn't do anything.
Opaz, tell me what to do! You must tell me what to do!
Monster!
I finally see you.
Now, you will die.
Slave!
My children...
not yet.
I must destroy it first.
Kaena, wake up! Please, Kaena!
Opaz, where are you?
Kaena, listen to me!
My people are no more.
I was the last.
The others died here in the vessel centuries ago.
Only V?ano?survived.
It created an immense reservoir of life,
Axis, so that you could exist,
you, and the humans.
V?ano?created you.
I do not understand.
It chose you to carry on the memory of the V?ariens.
It chose you, Kaena.
The future depends on you.
You must guide your people.
But how?
How will I know what to do?
Please wake up, Kaena!
Stay with me!
The Master?
Wake up!
She is dead.
Kaena is dead.
Who will lead us?
She's alive!
There's no more sap, no more water.
How will we survive?
It chose you.
To guide your people.
Stand up!
That is nothing. There is much to learn.
Beyond the clouds a vast universe awaits us
where a million suns illuminate
unknown and inhabited worlds.
I am not your master.
My knowledge is yours.
No one thinks for you!
From now on, we are all free.
Come, friends! We are safe!
Look!
Will it be beautiful there, in our new world?
Subtitles: Grace & Steve 1/2004