"Lawrence R. Mann " ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ REUNIONS Copyright (c) 1995 Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- P R O L O G U E --------------- > A.D. 213903.15; 16:02:25 > Planet Elenore, WWWA Central Headquarters, Operations Complex [Scene: Operations Director Ayoob, a bald man with one eye replaced by a camera-like device, sits at his desk. The vidphone beeps. A man appears on the other end, sweating profusely.] AYOOB What is it? MAN It's...Subject 101-E, sir. I'm afraid we have a Code 13. We lost her. [Ayoob pales.] AYOOB When did this happen? How? MAN Just after they boarded Lacombe's ship. I'm afraid she'd warped out by the time the cleanup force arrived. We don't have any idea where she went. We're-- [Ayoob angrily cuts him off] AYOOB Details, dammit, give me details! Don't just tell me there's a Code 13! What the hell happened?! MAN We don't know! She just went berserk! The partner's dead, shot through the back. The two rookies are injured, but they'll survive. That's the only reason we even know about this. She tried to cover her tracks by removing LaCombe's corpse and making off in his ship, but the rookies told us what happened. As per the standing orders regarding Code 13, the partner's brain was placed in cryogenic suspension for transport to Elenore. It should be arriving in two days. [Ayoob thinks.] AYOOB It's just too damn convenient. To suffer a loss of control at the exact moment she could escape. It's almost as if... No, she couldn't possibly have planned a malfunction... MAN Sir? Do you have orders for us? AYOOB No orders. Until you hear otherwise, this never happened. Deirdre was killed by Lacombe, as was Shasti. Follow the guidelines given in the standing orders. That will be all. MAN But...but... AYOOB I said that will be all. MAN But sir, the others and I have been thinking, what if she tries to hunt us down? There's no contingency plan for that! AYOOB She won't. We made her too smart for that. Whatever she does, I'm sure it will be much more creative. * * * * * > A.D. 2141xx.xx [Exact time unknown, sometime after the Lyra Disaster of 2141] > Location unknown [Slowly dissolve to a luxurious bedroom on a spaceship. Shasti, asleep in the bed, tosses and turns, as we hear voices from her past...] SHASTI (V-O) So... (hic) I hope y'll wanna be my frien's... okay? KEI (V-O) Shashti, I'll drink t'tha'! YURI (V-O) Me too... frien's, yeah... [Pause.] SHASTI (V-O) I... I really like you, Deirdre... You're the best friend I have right now...maybe the only friend... DEIRDRE (V-O) I like you, too. Like... I think you're the most awesome girl I've ever met! SHASTI (V-O) No matter what happens, we're partners, right? DEIRDRE (V-O) That's right, partner... Buddies to the end! [Suddenly we hear the gunshot that felled Deirdre. Shasti bolts awake.] SHASTI DEIRDRE!!!!!!! (pant pant) [Shasti takes a deep breath. She touches a panel by her bed, illuminating her quarters, and gets out of bed. She looks at herself in a mirror, disgusted.] Weak. So damn WEAK! Sometimes you really make me sick. [A knocking is heard at the bedroom door. Shasti looks around.] SHASTI Who is it? PAUL It's Paul. Are you alright in there? I heard screaming. SHASTI I'm fine. It's... It was just a bad dream, that's all. [Paul opens the door a crack and peeks in.] PAUL Mind if I come in? SHASTI [tired] No. No, go right ahead. PAUL What's this about a bad dream? I didn't even know you *had* dreams. SHASTI Oh, I have them alright. Very vivid ones. PAUL Anything you want to talk about? SHASTI No. Don't worry about me. It's probably just a side-effect of the healing process. PAUL Well, then it's probably a good sign. You're bouncing back fast, you know. Thirty-eight seconds in unprotected vacuum would have any of us out for weeks, if we hadn't died already from an embolism. SHASTI I always bounce back fast, Paul. It's the story of my life. PAUL Well, as long as you're okay. [Shasti is silent, Paul turns to leave.] SHASTI Paul... PAUL Mm? SHASTI Have you ever... well, have you ever betrayed a friend? PAUL What kind of question is that? SHASTI Never mind. PAUL Shasti, I don't make friends. I never have, you know that. Friends are suicide in this business. They screw up your judgement. SHASTI I wasn't always in this business, Paul. I used to be on the side of the angels. PAUL [semi-sarcastic] And you had lots of friends? SHASTI No. One. Sort of. She helped me when no one else would. She helped me to survive. I wouldn't have made it without her. PAUL If I remember this story right, babe, you *didn't* make it. SHASTI No. But... but that wasn't her fault. It-- Oh, why am I carrying on like this? I don't even remember what she looked like, except in my enhanced memory. I don't remember what it was like to have her as a friend-- [Shasti begins to shiver] No, that's not true. I remember every goddamn MORNING and then I wake up screaming and--OH GOD I KILLED HER!! I JUST BLEW HER AWAY!! [Shasti begins sobbing hysterically, then stops as her warrior personality takes over. Paul swallows and takes a step back.] SHASTI WEAK! YOU ARE SO...FUCKING...WEAK!!!! [She throws a vicious punch at the mirror, smashing it into pieces. She is immediately calm once more, and examines a cut on her finger.] Oh, my. Look at that. I cut myself. I better calm down, huh? [Paul waits a moment to be certain the storm is over, then approaches Shasti, tentatively.] PAUL Shasti, listen to me. What's done is done. You can't change the past. Whatever it was you did, I'm sure you think it was pretty horrible. Hell, I've done enough stuff to keep a confession priest occupied for years. But you can't dwell on it, or you won't survive. SHASTI I know, I know. I apologize, Paul. I must seem awfully silly to you right now. PAUL God, Shasti, if there's anything you aren't, it's silly. I just don't understand why all this is coming out now. SHASTI Those two airheads, the redhead and the brunette, the ones who screwed our caper all to hell? They were there when it happened. It's just a matter of connected memories. PAUL Well, if you're feeling better, I'll be going. SHASTI Hey, Paul. [Paul turns around, a trifle annoyed.] PAUL What is it now? SHASTI If you had to kill me to successfully pull off a caper, would you? [Paul smiles.] PAUL Of course. Or at least I'd try. That's the name of the game, honey. You'd do the same, right? SHASTI Don't be silly, of course I would. PAUL See? That's what I love about our relationship. Total honesty. SHASTI [laughs] Total honesty. That's so refreshing. PAUL I'll be going now. [He turns to leave.] SHASTI Paul... PAUL WHAT?!?! SHASTI You could stay here tonight. [He laughs out loud and pounces on her.] * * * * * > A.D. 214204.18; 17:24:00 > Planet Elenore, WWWA Central Headquarters [Scene: Kei and Yuri are being debriefed by Goulet. Yuri's taking it pretty well, but Kei's got a bad case of the squirms.] GOULET Let's go through this one more time. You're telling me that Lord Robin never did warp his fleet directly into orbit around a planet? YURI No. He used half-warp. GOULET Explain it one more time. KEI Oh, come on! GOULET KEI!! KEI Alright, alright, alright. Hey, eating and sleeping are highly overrated anyway... [Yuri tries to illustrate with her hands.] YURI The way it was described to me was that the ship warps from one end, but doesn't materialize at the other. It gets interrupted and enters this other dimension, called "mock-space". This lets it travel around like a phantom, unseen, so it can sneak into orbit without the planet knowing it's there. GOULET But they're cut off from the outside universe? YURI Right. GOULET So how do they find their way around? YURI I don't know. GOULET How do they get out of mock-space? YURI I don't know. KEI She doesn't know, okay? Can't you get that through your head? GOULET [annoyed] Kei, do you have any idea what the existence of this technology means? KEI Yeah! It means I get to sit here for hours, starving and bored out of my gourd while you yammer at us! GOULET Damn it, it's the ultimate stealth system! In the long run, what Lord Robin did to the UG would be peanuts compared to what could happen if this system falls into the wrong hands! Think how easy it would be to pull off a robbery with an invisible and intangible escape ship! YURI So what are you going to do about it? GOULET The 3WA will likely decide that it's imperative that they reinvent the technology first, if only to invent a practical defense against it. I'm going to let you two go, but I want you to record everything you remember about the operation, no matter how trivial you may think it was. [Kei yawns.] THAT MEANS YOU TOO, KEI! [Kei groans.] * * * * * > A.D. 2142xx.xx [Exact date unknown] > Planet Alderon [Scene: the filthy bar on Alderon where Kei and Yuri first met Lord Robin. The regulars are still in the bar, but it's not as busy a place as the last time we saw it. There is a tangible air of depression about. The doors swing open and in walks Shasti, looking as gorgeous as always. She saunters up to the bar and sits down, drawing attention from everyone who still cares enough to give it.] BARTENDER We don't often get your class of customer here. What can I get you? SHASTI [smiling] The Songbird Cocktail. [That gets everyone's attention.] BARTENDER Uh, lady, we don't serve that anymore. Only one guy knew the recipe, and he's dead. Sure you wouldn't like something more ordinary? We got some Scotch that's okay if you drink it fast. SHASTI I'd rather have the Songbird Cocktail. If you don't know how to make one, I'd love to have a go at it myself. [People begin to stand up. A large, scarred man walks over to her.] SCARS Look, lady, leave us alone, okay? I don't know what you're looking for, but we can't give it to you. We weren't the elite troops, we were the dregs. We're only here because we don't have anything better to do. SHASTI Why don't you let me be the judge of that? BARTENDER What are you suggesting? You want to lead us? SCARS You're trouble, lady. C'mon, you're leaving. [Scars tries to pick Shasti up off the stool, only to find himself on the floor a second later, nursing a broken arm. Five others run over and try to subdue Shasti, then three more. In less time than it takes to tell, Shasti deals with them all (in various non-lethal but painful ways), tosses her hair back into place and sits down.] SHASTI Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk business. * * * * * > A.D. 214303.1x [Exact date classified] > Planet Elenore, WWWA Central Headquarters [Scene: An older Ayoob in conference with the Central Computer. He stands in a domed room with no chairs. Viewscreens show various enhancements of a blurry picture, which shows, from an odd angle, a group of armed people leaving a building.] AYOOB Have you reached a conclusion? CC AFFIRMATIVE. THERE IS A 94.6% CHANCE THAT THE FEMALE DEPICTED AS LEADING THE OPERATION IS SUBJECT 101-E. AYOOB Suggested action? CC SUBJECT 101-E IS TOO DANGEROUS, BOTH TO THE UNITED GALACTICA AND THE WORLDS WELFARE WORK ASSOCIATION. SHE MUST BE EITHER RETRIEVED OR DESTROYED. SUGGESTION: FORM TASK FORCE. TASK FORCE SHOULD CONSIST OF SPECIALISTS IN TACTICS, DEDUCTION, WEAPONRY, AS WELL AS SPECIALISTS IN DEALING WITH SUBJECT 101-E. SUGGEST: ACTIVATE AI CHIP OF PARTNER OF SUBJECT 101-E, AND RETRIEVE PSYCHOLOGIST WHOSE TASK IT WAS TO MONITOR THE MENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF SUBJECT 101-E. AYOOB The psychologist? You mean Fisher? I'm not sure that's a good idea. There was a very good reason why we supressed Shasti's memories of him. CC ANALYSIS COMPLETE. SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN. AYOOB Of course, I should know better than to try to change the mind of a computer. I'll have someone try to look him up. He could be anywhere in the galaxy. End session. CC HAVE A NICE DAY. AYOOB Heh. * * * * * > A.D. 214303.18; 00:03:25 > Damocles Tower [Scene: Yuri is at the door of the apartment she shares with Kei. She has a grocery bag in one hand. With the other, she rings the door buzzer. Getting no answer, she fumbles for her passcard.] YURI [annoyed] Kei, if you're going to send me out for ice cream at this ungodly hour of the night, the least you could do is stay awake to let me in. [She inserts her passcard, and the door slides open. However, the lights do not come on.] YURI Huh? [She feels for the manual switch inside the door. The door closes.] VOICE The lights won't work. Neither will the door. [Yuri freezes.] YURI Who are you? Where's Kei? VOICE You don't recognize my voice? I'm heartbroken. After you sent me to that prison colony for five years, I thought you'd at least do me the courtesy of reserving a few bytes of memory for me in that air bubble you call a brain. [Yuri starts to feel along the wall. She finds what she wants.] As for Kei, she's dead. I broke her spine 35 centimeters above the hip, then disemboweled her as she watched. Don't worry, I'll be far more creative with you. YURI [to herself] Keep talking, asshole. [She opens a small panel behind her back and takes hold of a gun.] I still don't know who you are. If you kill me without letting me know who you are, it makes the revenge kinda worthless doesn't it? VOICE Oh, I'll tell you. I'll tell you after I've broken your-- YURI DIE!!! [Yuri "fires" at the voice. The gun doesn't work.] Oh, shit. VOICE HEIYAAAA! [A dark shape flips through the air, and suddenly someone has Yuri in a choke hold. She struggles, but can't break free.] VOICE You and me, we're gonna have fun. We're gonna party all night. In fact, I feel like partying right now. TURN ON THE LIGHTS! YURI Huh? [The lights come on. Yuri is momentarily blinded, but soon her eyes focus and she sees: Kei and Rumiko standing in front of a huge cake and a pile of presents.] KEI and RUMIKO SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! YURI Wuh-wuh... [She slips out of the now loose choke-hold, and turns around to see Darryn in a black ninja suit.] Darryn? DARRYN I hope I didn't overdo it. It was Kei's idea. She wanted to give you a 21st birthday you'd always remember. [Yuri looks stunned, then winces and clutches her chest.] YURI AAAAAUGH! Oh god, not now! [She drops to her knees.] KEI [rushing over] Yuri! What's wrong? YURI H....heart condition. I lied about it when I entered the 3WA. Paid UNGH! Paid people to doctor the medical reports. D-didn't think anything could possibly jolt me enough to set it off. Guess I was wrong, huh? AAAAGGH! [She drops to the floor, sweating.] Oh, shit, this hurts. RUMIKO [running to the comm] I'll, I'll call for the meds! DARRYN Yuri, stay awake! Don't pass out. [Yuri groans. Kei starts to cry.] KEI Oh, god, Yuri, don't die! Please don't die! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen! YURI [weakly] N...not your fault. Kei, could you...come close? Something...I gotta tell you, and... and I can't breathe... KEI Of course! Anything! Anything! [She leans over Yuri.] I'm here, Yuri! What is it? YURI K-kei? KEI Yes? YURI You are SO STUPID!!!!!! [She grabs Kei around the neck.] REVENGE NOOGIE!!! [There is silence for a bit as Yuri violently rubs Kei's head. Then everyone except for Kei cracks up.] DARRYN [wiping his eyes] Hoo boy! I guess we deserved that. YURI You're darn right you did! I could've seriously hurt you, Darryn! [Darryn raises an eyebrow.] Oh, alright, I guess I couldn't have. You're a smug little ninja, aren't you? [Yuri helps Kei up.] KEI Once again, Yuri fakes her death, and once again, I fall for it. I'm so embarrassed, I think I'm going to have to get seriously drunk. RUMIKO [holding up a bottle of Scotch] Race you there! [Fade to later. Rumiko and Kei are three sheets to the wind. Yuri is slightly high, but Darryn hasn't been drinking at all. The two more sober characters sit at opposite ends of a couch while the two drunken girls are spread out on the floor.] YURI Won't you have even one glass? It's really good stuff. By the way, thanks, Rumiko. Where did you find it? RUMIKO I haddit imported! Itcher twenny first, Yoori. Couldn't serve ya the same old synthetic shhhhhhhhit! KEI [her face in the rug] Fergh glargh blubbin' shizz grubs. RUMIKO What she said! [She raises a glass in a toast to something, then downs it.] DARRYN No, thanks, Yuri. A ninja needs all his brain cells. RUMIKO Awwwwwww, thhhhhpppfffft! Itz 2143! There's plenny a' ways ta replace brain cells. [Kei gets up.] KEI Hey, Darryn! [She falls on her face and lies there.] YURI Man, twenty-one already. I can hardly believe it. DARRYN What I can't believe is all you've accomplished in the last four years. Rumiko and I never got a reputation that fast. YURI Heh. You want our reputation? You can have it. DARRYN It's not all bad. You still have a 100% success record going. We NightRiders blew our sixth case. RUMIKO Seventh, Darryn darlin'. And that's jus' becuzz they didn' give uzz good info on the targets. [Kei gets up and decides to give it another try.] KEI Hey, Darryn! [She tries to slink up to him but manages only an epileptic wobble.] I've always wondered somethin'. DARRYN Shoot. KEI Of the two of you, Rumiko has the Jabbanese name. So how come yer th' ninja? DARRYN Names don't mean that much anymore, Kei. I probably have as many Japanese genes in my matrix as Rumiko. [Kei leans in close to Darryn and smiles, causing Darryn to wince at her breath.] KEI Hey, Darryn. I godda Jabbanese name, too. Only mine's a boy's. That means I have a boyish personality. RUMIKO Also means you better stay 'way from Darryn or have your nose crammed up your other end... KEI Oooh! Oooh! Them's fightin' words! [The comm rings. Darryn gets up.] DARRYN [relieved] I'll get it. KEI I wan' satisfaction! You impugned my impugnity! RUMIKO Waddya have in mind? KEI Aaaaaaaaaa drinkin' contest! RUMIKO Wuzz the sense? We're already plastered! KEI So? Id'll be a short contes'! [Cut to Darryn at the comm. We can't hear the other speaker.] DARRYN Hello. This is Darryn. No, we're up. We're having a party. Well, I can get Yuri, but Kei's not-- [pause, Darryn listens] Yes, sir. Yes, I'll tell them. [Kei and Rumiko have already drunk most of another bottle of Scotch.] RUMIKO Yer turn. [to Yuri:] She's goin' down. KEI You wish, you old bag. [Darryn returns.] DARRYN Bad news, folks. We've been ordered to report to a briefing at 0900 tomorrow. Something's come up. I wasn't told what it was, but they want the Lovely Angels, the NightRiders, and another outfit called the Lonely Hearts to report. YURI SIX trouble consultants? Holeeeee... KEI Awwwwwwwww... That sucksssss... RUMIKO Are you gonna drink or what? [Kei knocks the shot back and slams the glass on the table.] KEI Hah! How ya like that! [Kei's eyes roll back and she passes out, face down in a bowl of pretzels. Rumiko starts to dance.] RUMIKO I win! I win! Iiiiiiiiiiiii.... [She passes out herself.] YURI Well, Darryn, looks like the party's over anyway. Guess I'll see you tomorrow morning. DARRYN See you later, then. Oops, almost forgot. [He picks up Rumiko.] Wouldn't want to leave without this. --- END PROLOGUE --- >>> NEXT >>> "Shasti is the 3WA's dirty little secret." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" -- "Again and again the laws of | Larry Mann a.k.a. R-Type nature prove laws aren't enough." | - Thomas Dolby | Writer/Illustrator for hire [Note: Not all the stages actually have illustrations attached to them. Those that do will have the flag "ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE" at the beginning of the text. Just so you're aware. :) -Larry] [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "There are several ways to portray a living hell. You can view it from up high, with the flames and writhing victims creating fantastic patterns and frescoes. You can go down to eye-level and let the violence and pain whip past you. Or you can stay on a face or two and watch hell grow in the eyes." - Michael Wilmington, from an article in the Los Angeles Times, Planet Earth. A.D. 199210.16, Page F1(+), col. 4 --------------- P A R T O N E --------------- > A.D. 214303.18, 09:00:00 > Planet Elenore, WWWA Central Headquarters [Scene: A WWWA briefing room. Both the Lovely Angels and the NightRiders are present, seated along a table. Yuri, Darryn, and Rumiko look fine, if tired, but Kei looks horrible. She stares into a cup of coffee as if she hopes to see her fortune in it.] KEI I'm gonna die... RUMIKO Why don't you just take a couple of anti-alcohol pills? They work wonders for me. KEI Because if I do, I'll blow my groceries all over the table. YURI Kei's violently allergic to that stuff. DARRYN Then maybe you shouldn't drink so much. [Kei and Rumiko both give Darryn a look.] KEI & RUMIKO Get real. YURI So who are the other two trouble consultants we're working with? KEI The Lonely Hearts? Never heard of 'em. DARRYN I looked up their file. They're a young team. They have a perfect record, but they've only had two missions. RUMIKO Girls? Guys? Both? DARRYN Two girls. They-- [Two female trouble consultants, one taller with long red hair, and a shorter one with wavy blonde hair to her shoulders, come crashing through the doors. The taller one speaks.] DAPHNE Is this the place? I hope we're not too late. KEI You the Lonely Hearts? NENE Yup! That's us! I'm Nene and this is-- YURI Daphne? [Yuri is on her feet, looking at Daphne as if she'd seen a ghost.] DAPHNE Hi, Yuri, how's tricks? YURI A-aren't you dead? DAPHNE [slight pause] They didn't tell you? No, I survived. My right eye and ear are fake, but otherwise I'm fine. YURI [still stunned] Oh. DAPHNE No wonder you never came to visit me. I thought you'd lost respect for me, cuz, you know, cuz I got myself blown up. YURI Oh, Daphne, I missed you! DAPHNE I missed you too! [The two hug] RUMIKO You mind letting the rest of us in on this? YURI This is Daphne. The two of us were friends at the academy. KEI Yeah, but I thought you went into the Econ Corps, Daph. DAPHNE I did, but after my injury, I decided to retrain as a TC. Not that there was anything wrong with helping new colonies balance their books, but I wanted to prevent the kind of thing that happened to me, you know. Then when I heard about this case having something to do with Lord Robin, I begged to get in on the team. RUMIKO Oh, god, *that's* where you got hurt? I was at that meeting too. It was a miracle that I came through without a scratch. DAPHNE The stupid thing is, I wasn't even supposed to be there! I was waiting outside for a friend when I heard the shots and rushed in to help. NENE Yeah, Daphne's a little impulsive from time to time. I have to rein her in a little. (giggle) [Nene notices Kei and Yuri.] Wow, are you the Lovely Angels? I've read so much about you! YURI And you're not running away screaming? Hey, Kei, there may be hope yet! [Another door, one that leads to an inner office, opens, and Ayoob walks out, carrying a case and accompanied by a thin, dark-haired young man wearing large, round glasses. The man looks distressed and withdrawn.] AYOOB Just take a seat, Mr. Fisher. I'll introduce you in a moment. ["Fisher" sits down, as do Nene and Daphne. Kei recognizes the Lovely Angels' former boss.] KEI Yoober! Long time, no see! Remember us? AYOOB [sarcastically] Yes, unfortunately. The memory purge treatments didn't take. I hear Goulet is having just as much fun with you as I used to. YURI That's Kei and me! We're just two fun-lovin' girls! AYOOB Yes, the circles under Kei's eyes would tend to corroborate that. Darryn, Rumiko. I have much more pleasant memories of you two. Keeping busy? DARRYN Not really. We trashed the _Intruder_ on our last mission. We were on vacation until the repairs were finished. [Ayoob turns to the other two girls.] AYOOB You must be the Lonely Hearts. I haven't met you yet. My name is Ayoob. NENE (brightly) Pleased ta meetcha! AYOOB I used to be unit supervisor to both the Lovely Angels and the NightRiders here. I've since moved up to administration, but it was decided that I should supervise this mission. RUMIKO What mission? I'm getting real curious. KEI Yeah, what kind of mission needs six trouble consultants? Are we taking on an army or something? [Ayoob places the case on the table. Ayoob has also been holding a software plug in his right hand. He hands it to Kei.] AYOOB Hold on to this and I'll explain. I just broke the case for it. [Ayoob picks up a remote control unit from the table and aims it at the far wall, which fades to become a viewscreen.] About one week ago, a fascinating robbery took place on the planet Bydon. I say "fascinating" due to the manner in which it was accomplished. What you're about to see is the A/V record pulled from the body of a security guard from Kuan Yin's research facility. Let me fast-forward past the boring part. [The image on the screen moves rapidly until the security guard has joined others, gun at the ready.] At this point, the guard is about to engage a group of armed subjects who are fighting their way out of the facility. DARRYN How did they get in? AYOOB We have no idea, nor do we have any idea why they wouldn't just use whatever method it was to get back out. [On screen, an armed transport turns the corner and heads for the panicked guards. Rapid fire from guns mounted on the car, as well as from rifles held by three of the four people riding it, cuts the guards down.] And he's dead. DAPHNE They got an armed transport inside the facility without anyone noticing? AYOOB Amazing, isn't it? The transport isn't anything Kuan Yin makes, either, and it isn't used by their security, so I can safely say that they didn't steal it there. They made it safely outside, where they were picked up by a shuttle. Before anyone could give chase, a nuclear-level explosion occurred inside the facility, levelling it as well as much of the city. In the confusion that followed, the shuttle escaped. Now here's what we're worried about... [Ayoob "rewinds" to the point at which the transport passed the guard, and freeze frames.] Luckily for us, the guard got a good look as the bad guys went by. I don't think the leader expected anything to survive the explosion. It was a miracle this did. First, let me show you the logo on the transport. Yuri and Kei should recognize it. [The picture zooms in on the logo, a yellow smiley face.] KEI & YURI Lord Robin. AYOOB Exactly. That's one of his. Now, let's take a close look at the lady leading the expedition. [The picture zooms on a female who seems to be in command. The picture is blurry, but recognizable. The Angels and 'Riders are startled; Kei leaps to her feet.] RUMIKO Holy shit, that's SHASTI! KEI But--but she's DEAD! (oomf) [Kei slaps a hand over her mouth. Yuri looks fidgety.] AYOOB Dead? What in the world gave you that idea? [Yuri grabs Kei by the shoulders and forces her back into her seat.] YURI Oh, heh, heh, don't listen to Kei! Her hangover's preventing her from thinking straight. [Ayoob stares at the Lovely Angels. Kei and Yuri return with sheepish grins.] AYOOB [to himself:] They're not mine anymore, they're Goulet's. Let him deal with it. [Nene raises her hand.] NENE Um, sir? Who's Shasti? AYOOB Shasti is the 3WA's dirty little secret. YURI [to Kei] That's funny, I thought we were! [Kei and Yuri get the giggles. Ayoob ignores them and presses on.] AYOOB Shasti is a bioroid, an artificial human being created in our genetic engineering laboratories. She was designed to be the ultimate trouble consultant, a superhuman fighting and thinking machine. But something went wrong. During a mission, she turned on her partners and went rogue. We've been searching for her ever since. DAPHNE [to Yuri:] Hey, I know about her! She's the one who shot you, isn't she, Yuri? YURI Yeah, Kei and I were there when it happened. AYOOB Nearly everyone here has had experience with Shasti. Both the Lovely Angels and NightRiders have served as her partners in the past. We included the Lonely Hearts when it was pointed out that a taskforce made up solely of individuals whom she knows could play into her hands; she could be able to predict everyone's actions. Also, Nene's computer ability and Daphne's cyber-eye may prove handy. [Darryn motions to the man who walked in with Ayoob, still sitting quietly off to the side.] DARRYN Does the gentleman over there have experience with Shasti? KEI Yeah, what's with him? He hasn't said a word since he showed up. [The man starts.] ANDREW Oh. I, was just...waiting to be introduced. I'm Andrew Fisher. RUMIKO And what do you know about Shasti? ANDREW More than most people, I think. ============================================================================= > A.D. 213502.01, 15:30:00 Andrew Fisher checked his watch for the third time in as many minutes. It was unlike him to be so impatient, but then, it was unlike him to set foot inside a 3WA training facility. He had heard stories of the things they did to their recruits, the bio-upgrades and hardware implantations, and it had always unnerved him. His internal voices continued to nag at him, telling him he was making a mistake, reminding him how much he hated the thought of government work, especially after that nasty incident in college. But the simple fact was, he needed the money. Setting up a private practice in Elenore had been an exercise in futility. He had thought that the city, being the headquarters of the Worlds Welfare Work Association, would be chock-full of stressed-out people requiring his services. Instead the mental health of the average citizen here was so good, it was disgusting. In retrospect, he thought, it would stand to reason that people living in such a potentially dangerous place would have to be a hardy lot. Locating here had been a mistake, and after a year of trying to make a go of it, he lacked the money to relocate. Then the 3WA had called him and offered him the job of a lifetime, with a salary so huge, his head swam just from thinking about it. He was to monitor the mental development of a "special child". Andrew had asked for details, but was given none. He was told to report to the Elenore Training Facility if he was interested. After an hour of self-debate, he decided he was. The waiting lobby was behind him, but Andrew was far too nervous to sit down. Instead, he stood at a railing, watching recruits take target practice at a shooting range two levels below. He had taught himself to recognize genetic upgrades by facial features and body shapes. To pass the time, he began ticking off the upgrade type of each of the recruits. "Definitely a LaChance upgrade there... an Osic... hmm, that one's a Yamashita, I wonder if they know. Another LaChance..." Andrew paused, stumped. The young female recruit had nothing out of the ordinary about her, besides being cute as a button. Her straight blonde hair was cropped to several centimeters above her collar, and her wide, old- style, glass optical lenses made her look absolutely adorable. The glasses were *really* strange, Andrew thought. Surely the 3WA wouldn't recruit anyone incapable of accepting an eye graft. He became conscious of his own glasses and adjusted them. The girl seemed to be having problems with a shooting exercise, and she sighed in frustration. A trainer, an older woman with a computing device attached to the back of her neck via both her interface sockets, walked over to the girl. "What's the problem, Deirdre?" "It's my wetware, y'know?" the girl whined. "I go through, like, such a rotten time having them stick all that weird junk in my head, and now, I can't, like, turn it on or anything." "What do you need it for? Your wetware isn't designed for marksmanship." "Well, I thought it might, like, clear my skull, y'know? Make me aim better?" The trainer raised an eyebrow. "You know, you could have a point there... Okay. I think the problem is that you're fighting it." Andrew backed away from the railing. "She's an Intel," he said, his voice a mixture of wonder and revulsion. "Very good!" came a voice from behind him. Andrew whirled and found himself facing a bald man with his right eye replaced by a camera device. Before he could recover from the shock, the man continued. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I'm Director Ayoob." He offered his hand, which Andrew shook. "I thought you were a psychologist, not a bioengineer." "Identifying genetic upgrades by body structure is just a hobby of mine," Andrew replied, "a cynical hobby to be precise. I'm actually pretty disgusted with the way humanity has been taking to restructuring its own essence. No offense intended," he added quickly. "I understand the 3WA depends heavily on this technology." "Your profession profits as well," Ayoob said with a small smile. "Each new advancement in brainware creates new problems for psychologists to research and treat." "That's like saying a doctor should jump for joy each time a new terminal illness is discovered." Ayoob coughed nervously. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Look, this conversation has really gotten off on the wrong foot. Why don't we go see your patient?" "I'd love to." Ayoob lead Andrew through the facility until they arrived at a door marked "OBSERVATION ROOM 15-C". Ayoob worked a code pad and let Andrew in. "You'll have to pardon the darkness. The large window is actually a one-way mirror." Andrew stepped up to the window and took a look. "I'd like you to meet Shasti." On the other side of the window was a large preschool play area. On the soft blue rug were scattered numerous toys, curiously oversized. Andrew looked in vain for the child. Then he noticed that the shapely, dark-haired woman, whom he had taken for a nurse, was playing with the toys. She was apparently dressed only in a long hospital gown and underwear. "You don't mean her?" Ayoob nodded. "I thought you told me I'd be dealing with a child." "She is a child." "You mean mentally?" Andrew shook his head. "I'm sorry, but mental illness of this degree isn't my specialty. You'd be better off with someone else." Ayoob smiled. "Shasti's a very special girl. We gave a lot of consideration to choosing someone to assist in her development, and we decided on you. Besides, I think she's doing pretty well for someone who's only three days old." Andrew blinked, speechless. "Come, I'll introduce you." Ayoob opened a door and led Andrew into the play area. Shasti looked up from her play. As soon as she saw the stranger, she hid behind a large teddy bear. Ayoob called to her. "Shasti? I've brought someone who would like to be friends with you. Come out and say hi." Shasti peeked out from where she was kneeling behind the doll. "Hi." Well, this is it, thought Andrew. Time to make a good first impression. He crouched down to her level. "Well, hi!" he said, as cheerfully as possible. "Is your name Shasti?" Shasti nodded. "That's a very pretty name. My name's Andrew, but you can call me Andy." Shasti got up her nerve and replied. "You gonna be my friend, Andy?" "I would like very much to be your friend." ============================================================================= ANDREW We were friends for a while. Basically, I just took notes as she..."grew up". AYOOB The eight of you will be going up against Shasti and her forces. We don't know their number, or what type of weaponry they have, other than what we've seen already. However, if they have access to Lord Robin's weaponry, then we should be prepared for anything. We haven't ruled out the possibility of their possessing a ship with the half-warp drive. We do know they're still on Bydon. Security is extra-tight on that planet: no ships are being allowed to leave the atmosphere, not even our own. If there is a half-warp "phantom ship" in orbit, they can't rendezvous with it. [Nene is counting everyone in the room. Kei has started to lazily toss the software plug into the air and catch it.] NENE Um, sir? You said eight of us? I only count seven. [Ayoob slaps his head.] AYOOB Damn, almost forgot. You'll also be working with Shasti's old partner, Deirdre. KEI Now, I *know* she's dead. I saw the body. AYOOB You're right. However, we were able to transfer her mind and memories onto a chip before brain death occurred. You're holding her. [Kei is puzzled for a second, then realizes he's talking about the plug she's tossing around. She yelps and bobbles the next catch.] KEI YAAH! [Kei catches it and holds on.] I'm so sorry, Deirdre. I didn't know, honest! YURI Oh, for crying out loud, Kei, it's not like she can hear you! KEI Well, it's spooky! Deirdre's dead and she comes back to life as a plug! AYOOB Why don't you try her out? She's already been briefed, but I'm sure she'd like to say hello to the team. [Kei looks uneasy about the idea, but gives in.] KEI Well, okay, but she's not staying there. One mind in my body is enough. [Kei swallows and places the plug into the interface socket behind her right ear. She blinks.] DEIRDRE (KEI) Like, hi, guys! Where are we? Is everyone here? AYOOB I was just briefing the team, Deirdre. We're all here. RUMIKO Deirdre? DEIRDRE (KEI) Rumiko! Wow, it's you! RUMIKO God, I missed you! Why'd you have to go and get killed on me like that? [Rumiko gives her a great big hug.] KEI Hey. Knock it off. RUMIKO Kei? AYOOB The plug is passive. Deirdre shares her host rather than taking it over. RUMIKO Uh, sorry, Kei. KEI Well, that's that. [Kei moves to take the plug out.] DEIRDRE (KEI) Wait! Let me stay, please! I'll stay in the background, I won't cause problems, honest! KEI Oh, alright, but once this meeting is over, we're choosing another host. DARRYN I hate to sound impatient, but I'd like to get on with the mission directives. AYOOB Indeed. The objective is fairly simple: you are to engage Shasti and retrieve her. This may help. [He opens the case, revealing a short rifle, and another software plug. He removes the plug.] This is a tranquilizing plug. This is the only means known to put Shasti under for a predictable length of time. It needs to be delivered into one of Shasti's interface sockets. That can be done with the use of this air-rifle. The interface socket is a very small target, so you, Daphne, and you, Rumiko, will be implanted with a SharpShot program to enhance your aim. You should find your cybernetic eye particularly suited to the software, Daphne. DARRYN I'm still not certain that six trouble consultants are needed for this job. Wouldn't it be better to keep it at two? You'd have better possiblilities for stealth that way. AYOOB We have a lot of faith in the ability of our creation. Shasti is almost certainly up to something, we don't know what, but it's probably deadly. The team will be setting down in the middle of whatever she's planning. The six TC's are needed to cover every possibility. Even then, I fully expect this mission to be messy. I want you all to understand this: we'd prefer her alive, but if you need to kill her, don't hesitate. This woman has already killed one TC and nearly killed two others. [Andrew stands up.] ANDREW What do you mean, "don't hesitate to kill her"?! AYOOB Mr. Fisher-- ANDREW [furious] The only reason I agreed to help you bastards is because you promised me she wouldn't be hurt! You lied to me! God, I should've known better than to trust you people! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!! [Andrew storms out of the room, leaving it in stunned silence.] KEI Well, working with him should be a blast... --- END STAGE ONE --- >>> NEXT >>> "Great. Just great. Now the entire stinking planet will know who's coming." Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" -- "Again and again the laws of | Larry Mann a.k.a. R-Type nature prove laws aren't enough." | - Thomas Dolby | Writer/Illustrator for hire [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "We find her, we kick her butt!" -- Kei, Planet Rocinante, A.D. 2141 ----------------- S T A G E T W O ----------------- > A.D. 214303.18; 16:58:20 > WWWA Central Headquarters, Tarmac A-9 [Scene: The _Lovely Angel_ and the _Lonely Heart_, two similar but not identical craft, sit side-by-side. Andrew leans against the landing gear of the _Angel_, lost in thought. The Lonely Hearts, Nene and Daphne, wait for the rest of the taskforce to arrive. Nene tries to open a bottle of soda, but as she pushes a button on the side of the cap, nothing happens.] NENE [whines] Aww. The cap is broken. It's not gonna come off! DAPHNE Really? Walk out that way, towards the hangars. NENE Why? [Daphne smiles.] DAPHNE Trust me! NENE Wellllll, oooookay. But I think it'd be a lot easier to get an opener from the ship. [Nene walks about 35 meters away from Daphne.] DAPHNE Stop! [Nene stops.] Now turn around and hold the bottle out. NENE Okay, but I still don't get it. [Daphne sights in with her cybereye. Her view of the of bottle zooms until the bottle cap is clearly defined. The cap is outlined in red with the legend "TARGET ACQUIRED". Daphne pulls out her gun and fires in a single motion, shooting off the cap.] NENE YAAAAAAHH!!! [She drops the bottle, spilling the drink on the tarmac.] DAPHNE Isn't that cool! The SharpShot program works! NENE You made me spill my drink! [The Lovely Angels and NightRiders arrive in an aircar.] KEI You guys taking target practice at each other? DAPHNE [cheerfully] 'Bout time you guys got here. [Cut to inside the _Lovely Angel_, where the taskforce convenes.] NENE Wow. So this is the Lovely Angel. I've heard so much about this ship. Is it true what they say about how fast it is? RUMIKO Yeah, but not as fast as my _Intruder_! Now that's a ship! KEI [sarcastically] Really? I thought it was back at the repair center, impersonating a swiss cheese. I heard it wasn't able to outrun a lousy three pirate ships. RUMIKO For your information, Kei, we blew those pirates into space dust!! I'd like to see you do any better! KEI Are you kidding? I'd put the _Angel_ against the _Intruder_ any day! RUMIKO Then let's do it! After this is over and our ship is out of the shop! KEI You're on! DARRYN [clears his throat] I'm sure it'll be very exciting, but could we get on to more immediate matters? Like where Rumiko and I are going to sleep? KEI We have a small guest room with one bed. That should be plenty, eh? [She winks at the 'Riders.] RUMIKO [angry] Kei! KEI [innocently] What? YURI Darryn and Rumiko being an item isn't common knowledge, Kei. DARRYN TC's aren't supposed to get involved with their partners. It could be bad for our careers if anyone found out. DAPHNE Hey, don't worry about it! Your secret's safe with us! NENE Hmph. I don't see what the problem is, myself. I mean, Daphne and I have been lovers for years and no one's ever complained. [Everyone is speechless. Daphne blushes beet red.] Well, I suppose us Lonely Hearts should get back to our ship. See ya later! [Nene smiles, waves, and heads out the hatch.] DAPHNE Uh, heh, heh. Listen, I-- KEI Hey, no problem! YURI It's the 22nd century, after all! DARRYN We were just surprised that she was so, you know, forward about who she was sleeping with. DAPHNE That's Nene, alright. I guess that one of the things I love about her. [She pauses.] Look, Nene's right, we have some things to take care of before we take off. Signal us if you need anything, 'kay? [She leaves as everyone says goodbye.] YURI Wait a minute. If Darryn and Rumiko are staying on the Angel, then I guess it would make sense for Andrew to stay in the Heart's guest room. Wish I'd thought of that before Daphne left. KEI Where is he, anyway? [Andrew is in a small observation room, looking miserably out the window. He toys with a small wristlet, made of braided and knotted colored string. As he looks at it, his mind drifts back...) ============================================================================= > A.D. 213502.14; 12:35:54 > WWWA Central Headquarters, Sciences Wing, Observation Room #10-K "This is boring," pouted Shasti. "Let's play a game." "We can play a game when we're done," Andrew replied. "Now, are you ready?" "Ready!" Shasti chimed, smiling. Andrew displayed the next in what had been a long series of flashcards. A mathematical problem was on the front, "2856 X 4961". No sooner did Shasti see it than she had the answer. "Fourteen million, one hundred sixty-eight thousand, six hundred sixteen." Once again, Andrew had to check the back of the card, although he was beginning to wonder if he should bother. "Wow. Right again." Shasti squealed with delight. "Yay! That's twenty in a row!" "You're a really smart girl, Shasti," Andrew said. Shasti looked startled by the compliment. "Oh! You really think so, Andy?" Andy knew so. Her IQ was so high, the standard tests had failed to provide a measurement. The staff was currently scrambling to invent new tests. Still, encouragement never hurt. "I couldn't have done those problems in my head," he said. "How does it feel when you do them?" "Great! I like being smart! Now can we play a game, pleeeeease?" Shasti leaned over the table and beamed her most engaging smile at him. Andrew couldn't help but smile back. He wondered if Shasti understood the power she had over him. He was just beginning to understand himself, and he'd been working with her for what seemed like years. Actually it had been only months, but thanks to her radical brain design, and with the help of periodic synaptic booster sessions, her personality had matured five years. The woman playing with toys in the playroom had been "four". The woman sitting across from him was now "nine". Once she had gotten used to him, Shasti had taken a real liking to Andrew. She also had learned fairly quickly how to get what she wanted out of him. Just the right smile or giggle could get a game played rather than a test performed, or maybe even a promise to buy her a new toy. At first, Andrew had thought it standard behavior for a child of her mental age, but as she matured mentally, she had become extremely adept at the manipulation, so much so that Andrew was often unaware that she was doing it. He had become concerned and had taken the matter to Director Ayoob. Ayoob had expressed fears that one of Shasti's functions might be activating prematurely, and had promised to look into the situation, but had refused to give Andrew any further information. The next day, Shasti had nearly charmed him into subsituting another test for one she found boring, when he'd snapped at her, telling her to "cut it out". Shasti apologized politely and performed the test. Later, Andrew watched through the two-way mirror as Shasti cried herself to sleep, sobbing quietly so as not to be heard outside her room. Andrew's heart melted like butter in the sun. The next day, he brought her a pint of ice cream and a new dress. Since then, Shasti's attempts at manipulation had become much more obvious, as if she wanted to let Andrew know what exactly she was doing, that she wasn't trying to trick him. Nonetheless, she was still very good at it. "Sure," said Andrew. "Yeah!" exclaimed Shasti, jumping up from her seat. "I'll go get the chess board!" "Naw, you always beat me at chess. Let's play a card game. At least then there's an element of chance." Shasti winked at him. "Betcha I still beat you!" Andrew couldn't help but laugh. "I'll bet you're right!" Shasti suddenly fell silent, staring at Andrew for several seconds. Finally, she spoke. "You're cool, Andy." "Really, now?" he asked, cocking his head. "What makes me cool?" "You talk to me," she replied. "You're the only one who really talks to me. Well, I mean, the others talk to me, too, but they're not really interested, you know? They just say 'Hello, Shasti, how are you feeling today? That's nice. Now hold out your arm so I can stick some needles in it.'" Andrew's heart went out to her. "Does it bother you? I can talk to Director Ayoob--" "Naah," Shasti said, cutting him off. "I'm too tough for that." "I'd just hate to think you were lonely." Shasti's beautiful eyes welled up with tears. "Oh, Andy..." She walked around to his side of the table. "I'll never be lonely as long as I have you." She hugged him. When she felt him tense, she released him. "I'm embarrassing you, aren't I?" she asked. She pointed at her breasts. "It has something to do with these things, doesn't it? Other girls my age don't have them. I can't figure it out. Why is my body different?" Andrew placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Some things will take time to explain, Shasti. But I promise I'll be here to help you learn. And I promise not to be embarassed the next time you hug me." Shasti waited a moment, then flashed him a big grin. "I've got something for you!" She fished in her pocket and pulled out a braided wristlet. "It's a friendship bracelet. I read in a book how to make them yesterday. See?" She held up her left arm. "I'm wearing one just like it. Now we're official friends!" Andrew put his on. "I promise never to take it off." ============================================================================= [Back in the present, Andrew speaks to the empty air:] ANDREW Promises, promises. Shasti, what am I going to do? I took this job because I needed so badly to see you again. But now... Now the very idea terrifies me. - - - > A.D. 214303.19; 18:15:00 > Planet Bydon, City of Ekana [Scene: a small apartment. A scruffy-looking man looks nervously out the window. Shasti, inside, speaks to him, annoyed.] SHASTI Nance, will you please get inside already? The last thing we need is for someone out there to ID you. NANCE Have you seen what it's like out there? The sky is crawling with police cruisers. Man, you told me there would be heat, but I didn't think it would be this bad. SHASTI Nance, darling, we blew a large chunk of their capital city off the map. Whatever did you expect? NANCE I'm just not used to this much heat, man. I mean, it's the whole planet we're talking about. There's nowhere to run to. Paul knows what he's doing, right? There's no way to communicate with him. [Shasti strolls up behind him and begins gently to massage his neck.] SHASTI Relax, Nance. Everything's going to be fine. You can trust Paul. He'll be here on schedule, we'll pull this caper off, and before you know it, we'll all be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. Now... [She moves closer, speaking softly into his ear.] Why don't you come inside and I'll help you unwind? [Nance angrily pushes her away.] NANCE Don't start that crap with me! I know how you operate, Shasti! You use your wit and your charm and your sex appeal to win a man's confidence, and when he's no longer of any use to you--! [He draws a finger across his throat. As Shasti watches, her face begins to flush with anger.] Well, just because I work with you, doesn't mean I have to trust you! I'm in this for my share of the money, and once I get it, I'm getting as far away from you and your back-stabbing friends as I can! SHASTI [simmering] Very well. We can work on those terms just as easily. [She grabs him by the throat and lifts him into the air, gagging and choking.] Listen to me, you pathetic maggot. If you want to take your share and run, that's your perogative. But until then, I am your commander! You will treat me with respect, and you will do as I say! Or I just may have to dispose of you *early*! Understood?! [Nance is turning blue.] Good! You can start by getting your ass INSIDE! [She throws him across the room, bouncing him off the far wall. He slumps to the ground, barely conscious.] Now just lie there and relax, dear. - - - > A.D. 214303.20; 05:35:00 [Scene: _Lovely Angel_, approaching Bydon orbit. Yuri and Mughi are on the bridge as Kei arrives, yawning.] KEI G'morning, Yuri. How long have you been up? YURI Not long. Truth is, I couldn't sleep very well. I kept thinking about how, when we last left Shasti, we'd dumped her into hard vacuum, and now here she is. [Kei drops into the co-pilot's seat next to Yuri and stretches.] KEI Yup, they really built her. YURI I'm beginning to wonder if there's anything that can take her down. KEI Sure, a bullet in the head. YURI That's assuming you can hit her. We didn't have much luck last time. RUMIKO Mornin' girls! [The Angels turn around to say good morning, and notice that Rumiko's topless.] KEI Um, dontcha think you should put some clothes on? RUMIKO Why? Who's around that cares? It's so warm on this ship. [Darryn arrives, wearing just as little, and gives Rumiko a quick kiss.] DARRYN Good morning, ladies. Ready to begin the mission? YURI Geez, they oughta call you guys the NudeRiders... KEI Heads up, guys, here comes our welcoming party. [Five heavily armed vessels surround the two 3WA ships. After a brief moment, a message is sent.] COMM WWWA vessels _Lovely_Angel_ and _Lonely_Heart_, you are cleared to land. Stand by to receive approach vector and landing coordinates. [The two ships pass through the security cordon and head toward the atmosphere. As they descend:] YURI Guys, I don't like the looks of this. I assumed they would want to keep our arrival quiet, but there's an enormous crowd waiting at those coordinates. KEI A trap? RUMIKO Naah, that doesn't make any sense. [The comm comes to life with Daphne's face, looking sheepish.] DAPHNE I'm really sorry about this, guys. If I'd have known they would make such a fuss, I wouldn't have asked for this mission. DARRYN Fuss? About what? DAPHNE Back when I was in the Econ Corps, I saved this planet from bankruptcy. They now have one of the most thriving economies in this sector, and I guess I'm kinda a hero. Someone leaked that I was coming, and now they want to hold some big gala in my honor. They just told me now. I tried to decline, but I don't think they understood. KEI Great. Just great. Now the entire stinking planet will know who's coming. DARRYN There's nothing to be done for it, unfortunately. We'll just have to grit our teeth and walk through it all. [Cut to a 3V broadcast, showing the _Angel_ and the _Heart_ at the spaceport.] REPORTER Again, the hatches to the two ships have just opened. We're waiting to get a peek at who could be inside. AND THERE SHE IS! [Picture zooms up to a self-conscious Daphne disembarking. Behind her, a gleeful Nene waves to the crowd.] Let's go to Corena Simpson, who is standing near the ships! SIMPSON Miss Daphne, may I have a word with you?! DAPHNE Uh, s-sure... SIMPSON How does it feel to return to the planet you saved from the brink of disaster? DAPHNE Uh, really nice. I like this place. SIMPSON The Bydon Conservative Party wants to run you for president. Have you considered their offer? DAPHNE Huh? N-no, I couldn't-- SIMPSON What about the five major banks that have offered you presidencies? DAPHNE Er, I'm flattered, of course. But, there's really no way, I couldn't... You'll have to excuse me. [Daphne runs off. Shouts are heard: "Daphne, please stay!" "Marry me, Daphne!"] SIMPSON Well, there you have it! A humble response from the brilliant woman who was the savior of our way of life. Only time will tell if she'll-- [At that moment the mood of the crowd changes, from jubilant cheers to horrified gasps and shrieks. The reporter looks and goes pale.] OH MY GOD!! It can't be! [The shot zooms in on the group disembarking the Lovely Angel.] It's...it's the D-D-DIRTY P-PAIR! God help us... [Cut to the Lovely Angels and NightRiders.] KEI Dammit, I was hoping sending out Daphne first would distract them. RUMIKO You mean you have to go through this kind of shit all the time? [Cut to Shasti's apartment. Shasti lounges on the floor in a T-shirt and shorts, no shoes, while watching the broadcast.] SHASTI [laughing] Oh, you girls. You haven't changed a bit. It's hard to stay mad at you when I see the kind of crap you have to put up with. Not that you don't deserve it. [Shasti ID's everyone as they appear.] Let's see, the Lovely Angels, my old friends the NightRiders... Don't recognize the other two, but this "Daphne" must have been in the Econ Corps. Transfers from the Econ Corps to the Trouble Consultant Corps aren't that common. Shouldn't be hard to look her up... [Her voice trails off as Andrew appears on the screen.] That's... That's... [She turns off the 3V and thinks.] --- END STAGE TWO --- >>> NEXT >>> "I'm going to count down from five. Then I'm going to kill you." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" -- "Again and again the laws of | Larry Mann a.k.a. R-Type nature prove laws aren't enough." | - Thomas Dolby | Writer/Illustrator for hire [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Versatility is an essential component in the successful execution of any mission. The agent must be capable of a high level of adaptability and have the capacity to improvise quickly and effectively to suit any situation presented for analysis." -- from the Proposal for the 101-E Project* [ *Paraphrased from the standard WWWA Criminal Trouble Consultant Training Manual, Version 2.2.1. Public access version downloadable from amber.meizuri.wwwa. (Anon FTP: 145.300.20.5, /pub/docs) ] --------------------- S T A G E T H R E E --------------------- > A.D. 214303.20; 21:49:23 > Planet Bydon, City of Ekana [Scene: The city of Ekana, nighttime. It is pouring rain. Cut to the outside entrance to a second-story apartment, as a pretty, dark-haired young lady in big round glasses, a summer dress and matching hat, all soaking wet, knocks on the door. An older woman inside opens it.] OLDER WOMAN Yes? YOUNG LADY Ma'am? Can I please use your phone? My car broke down, I don't know my way around, and it's dark, and-- OLDER WOMAN Oh, goodness, look at you! You're soaked to the bone! Come in, come in! YOUNG LADY Thank you, ma'am, thank you so much! [Cut to inside as the girl walks in.] I'm so sorry to impose. OLDER WOMAN That's perfectly alright. You just sit down and let me get you a towel. [As she walks off:] Where are you from? YOUNG LADY Brightonville. I was supposed to fly up, but my flight got cancelled due to this terrorist scare. [The woman returns with the towel.] OLDER WOMAN Here you go. Brightonville? That's a long way from here. What brings you to Ekana? YOUNG LADY I'm starting classes at the University. OLDER WOMAN Really? What are you planning to major in? YOUNG LADY Hyperspatial physics! I've heard they have a great program. OLDER WOMAN You don't say! My husband is a professor at the University, and he teaches hyperspatial physics! YOUNG LADY [excited] No way! Could I meet him?! OLDER WOMAN I'm sure he'd love to meet you! HENRY! VOICE What is it?! OLDER WOMAN There's a future student of yours here who'd like to meet you! [A balding old man comes into the room.] PROFESSOR Well, well! I'm always glad to introduce myself to the new class. I'm Professor Jacobs, and you are...? YOUNG LADY Sandy! Sandy Wilson! [They shake hands.] PROFESSOR So, is there anything in particular that drew you to my field of study? YOUNG LADY Yes. Half-warp. [The Professor pales.] PROFESSOR H... h-half... warp? YOUNG LADY Yes. I'd like to know everything you know about half-warp. PROFESSOR [nervously] I... I've never really heard the term before. Look, I'd really better get back to my work... [The young lady gets up, taking off her glasses and giving her hair a toss. She's Shasti, of course.] SHASTI [menacing] Oh, please don't leave just yet. There's *so* much you can tell me. PROFESSOR Doris, I believe you should show this young lady the door. DORIS (OLDER WOMAN) But, but it's raining... PROFESSOR Doris! DORIS You'd better go dear. When Henry gets like this-- [The instant Doris touches Shasti's arm, Shasti grabs Doris' arm and snaps it in two. Doris screams in pain and drops to her knees. Shasti grabs her around the neck, produces a knife and holds it at her throat.] SHASTI Tell me, Professor, do you love your wife? PROFESSOR Oh, Jesus, I beg you, please don't hurt her-- SHASTI Half-warp, professor. PROFESSOR I'll tell you! I'll tell you everything! Just don't hurt her! SHASTI That's more like it. [Shasti pushes Doris onto a coffee table and arranges the woman's hands on top of one another.] DORIS W-what are you doing? SHASTI Now, you stay put! [Shasti jams the knife through both hands, nailing her to the table. Doris screams again.] PROFESSOR Sweet Jesus...! [Shasti walks right up to the Professor, face-to-face.] I'll tell you everything, I swear! SHASTI Oh, I know you will. [Shasti pulls a cable from her pocket and plugs one end into the socket behind her left ear.] I'm sure of it. [She grabs the Professor by the neck and plugs the other end into him. He screams.] - - - [Cut to a hotel's front desk. The clerk looks at a holo of Shasti, while a pair of wet Lovely Angels look on hopefully.] CLERK Nope. Sorry, never seen her. KEI Drat. Well, thanks anyway. [The Angels leave the hotel, opening their umbrellas before heading into the rain.] KEI How many more to go? YURI About twenty, I think. KEI Aw, man. This really sucks. You do understand that this is pointless? Shasti would never let herself be caught this easily. YURI You know what Darryn said. We're not trying to catch her right now, just flush her out. And besides, the hotels are real close together. KEI I wonder how the others are doing. YURI Why don't you check in and find out? KEI Good idea. - - - [Scene: a comfortable office on an upper floor of a skyscraper. Nene works, jacked in via her interface sockets, at what appears to be a hastily assembled system of computer terminals and monitors: the cords lie all over the floor like spaghetti. Daphne watches over Nene's shoulder while she works. Andrew admires the view from the window. Rumiko has passed out on a couch. Daphne's com-earring beeps.] DAPHNE Daphne here. KEI (VOICE) This is Kei. Just thought I'd see how things are going. DAPHNE Pretty good. The planetary government loaned us an incredible setup. I guess their unconditional love for me has its advantages. We have access to just about everything. NENE And what we don't have access to, I can hack into! Hee hee! KEI (VOICE) Yuri and I have about twenty more hotels on our list. Let us know when you find anything, okay? DAPHNE Will do! Daphne out. [Rumiko yawns, stretches, and wakes up.] RUMIKO Mmf. I miss anything? DAPHNE Hey, there! Welcome back to the land of the living. What, didn't you sleep much last night? RUMIKO That, and space lag. Where's Darryn? NENE He left without you. Said he didn't want to wake you up. RUMIKO That sweet little dope... ANDREW I feel so worthless here. Isn't there something I can help with? DAPHNE Nope, not until we get Shasti on the move. Just sit tight until then. NENE OOH! Neat! I got some stuff back from my Kuan Yin hack! RUMIKO You hacked into their database? Isn't that rude? I mean, they are one of our best clients. DAPHNE It was sorta my idea. Kuan Yin was one of the least cooperative companies when I was fixing the economy here. I figured they could be hiding something about that research center that got blown up. RUMIKO "JONIN Brainware Package". Looks nasty. Some kind of martial-arts enhancement program? NENE Looks like it was still in development when the place went kablooie. Wow. Says here the guys testing it could shatter metal with a touch, walk on water, deflect bullets, liquify rock... RUMIKO They've gotta be kidding. I mean, stuff like that's impossible, right? DAPHNE Sounds like a combination of martial-arts and psionics. Like the legendary masters of ancient Earth-Asia. They were supposed to be able to kill you just by touching you. RUMIKO Yeah, but that was all myths. NENE It also says nobody survived longer than five minutes with the device activated. DAPHNE Still, even if it doesn't work, something like this would be worth a lot of money to the right buyer. At the very least someone could adapt it into a deadly program for a android. RUMIKO Then that's it. That must be what Shasti was after. [The terminal beeps.] NENE Got something else. I've been running a scan on all resources for anything related to half-warp, then having Bydon's main neural computer make connections against all UG and local databases. RUMIKO That'd take years! NENE Well, normally, yeah, but I've been fiddling with this new algorithm. Also, I probably got lucky. Let's see what this one is... [She pulls up a new screen.] Wow. DAPHNE What? NENE This is a list of all scientists known to have worked with Lord Robin. They scattered after Kei and Yuri blew his fleet up. Most that have been found since then have turned up dead, probably assassinated. But look here. [She points to the screen.] RUMIKO News articles? Each about some person being found in a vegetative state? NENE Yup! 'Cuz someone scanned the guy's brain without asking. Each of these guys matches the description of one of the scientists. And take a look at this: [She points to another item.] Just two months after Lord Robin's fleet was destroyed, a person who looks just like another one of his scientists started teaching hyperspatial physics at Ekana University. Guy's name is Julius MacCombe. DAPHNE Gee, we'd better warn him. Gimme his address. [Nene calls up the data while Daphne opens her com-link.] This is Daphne. We need someone to head to 1612 Akinod Lane, Apartment 12- B. There's a good chance Shasti's after a man at that address. His name is Julius MacCombe, but he's going under the name Henry Jacobs. [Cut to Darryn.] DARRYN I'm only two blocks away! I'm on it! KEI (VOICE) Yuri and I are on our way! [Cut back to Rumiko.] RUMIKO I'll try calling the guy. Maybe this isn't as bad as it looks. [Darryn arrives at the apartment, gun drawn, and knocks on the door. There's no response. Darryn speaks into his wrist.] DARRYN This is Darryn. I'm at the apartment. I'm going in. [The door opens, revealing Shasti in a black bodysuit.] SHASTI Why, Darryn! Isn't this a nice surprise! [Darryn brings his gun up. Her arm a blur, Shasti rips it out of his hand, causing him to wince in pain.] Darryn, Darryn. And I thought we were such good friends! Remember all the good times we had at the academy? [Darryn says nothing.] Please, come in. [She gestures her welcome.] [Cautiously, Darryn moves inside, making certain to face Shasti. The Professor lies slumped against a wall, staring blankly into space. Doris, still nailed to the coffee table, is dead, her neck broken.] DARRYN You monster... SHASTI Tell me, Darryn. Are you still as good as you used to be? DARRYN What do you mean? [Shasti levels the gun at him.] SHASTI I'm going to count down from five. Then I'm going to kill you. [Darryn stares at her in disbelief.] Five... Four... [Darryn readies himself.] Three... Two... [Darryn yells and attacks. In one unbelievably fast motion, Shasti drops the gun, blocks Darryn's thrust, and drives her foot into his stomach. She then whirls and slams him to the ground.] You know, Darryn, I wasn't planning to do this until much later. But seeing as how you're here, and how you're so perfect for the job... - - - [Rumiko screams.] RUMIKO Oh my god! DARRYN! DAPHNE What is it?! RUMIKO He's engaged Shasti! It's our telepathic audio link! He just SCREAMED over it!! - - - [Cut to Kei and Yuri, in a car. Kei is driving.] DAPHNE (VOICE) Kei! Yuri! We need you there NOW! KEI Understood! [Kei floors it, dodging cars, and takes the wrong way up a one-way street, arriving at the apartment. They run up the steps to the second floor.] YURI You better put her in, Kei. KEI Yeah, I guess so. [Kei pops in the Deirdre-plug.] DEIRDRE (KEI) Hi, guys! What's up! YURI We're in pursuit of Shasti! [They reach the apartment and go in. Darryn is on the floor, pale.] KEI Darryn! [She runs to him, but he waves her off.] DARRYN Just...missed her. Ran left. Go... [The Pair bolt out the door and run down the balcony.] YURI There she is! [Shasti is climbing up the fire escape. She pauses briefly, smiles and waves.] KEI She's mine! [Kei and Yuri reach the fire escape. Kei starts to climb up after Shasti, then stops.] DEIRDRE (KEI) What are you doing? KEI I'm going after her! [Kei moves forward again, then stops.] Dammit, will you stop that! DEIRDRE (KEI) Shasti's walking into a dead end, Kei! She wouldn't do that unless she had major backup! YURI She's right, Kei. She must have friends on the roof. [An engine roars, and an aircar is seen flying away.] KEI Now we got 'em! [She touches her earring.] Daphne? We're looking for a black aircar-- [The aircar explodes. Several people fly safely away with jet-packs, scrambling in all directions, losing themselves between the buildings.] Shit. --- END STAGE THREE --- >>> NEXT >>> "Darryn's gone." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" -- "Again and again the laws of | Larry Mann a.k.a. R-Type nature prove laws aren't enough." | - Thomas Dolby | Writer/Illustrator for hire [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ When push comes to shove, I'll be pushin' you down. Better think twice, when you take that step, that you've got both feet on the ground. Never use love; I don't wanna fight. I won't get in your way; don't give me the right. - RATT, "Never Use Love" ------------------- S T A G E F O U R ------------------- > A.D. 214303.20; 23:56:12 > Bydon Federal Management Agency Building, City of Ekana [Scene: The taskforce's office. Darryn, still looking pale and weak, rests on a couch, while Rumiko frets over him. Nene is still jacked into her terminal. Kei is still wearing the Deirdre-plug. Everyone else is sitting wherever space is available.] YURI I don't think so. If the JONIN package was what she was after, then why the attack on Dr. Jacobs? It's obvious she wants the half-warp drive. DAPHNE But she had to have *some* reason for destroying the Kuan Yin facility, right? I mean, she had to want *something* there. DEIRDRE (KEI) Like, maybe she was after both? Shasti never was the type to waste an opportunity, y'know. KEI I'll tell you one thing that makes me feel better. If she's looking for half-warp, that must mean she doesn't have it yet. Believe me, you don't want to go after a ship equipped with that thing. ANDREW May I make a suggestion? YURI Be my guest. ANDREW Shasti may have changed a lot since I last saw her, but I'm sure of one thing. She was an incredible chess player. I used to be ranked on my homeworld, but I couldn't even give her a good game. She'd have me planning ten moves ahead to defend against some manuever she was leading up to. Only, when the time came, the manuever I was defending against was never the one she really had planned. She was a master of the feint. DAPHNE So you think some of these actions are blinds, designed to send us chasing the wrong way? ANDREW Exactly. KEI Seems like an awful lot of effort to go through just for a feint. ANDREW She used to spend twenty moves setting one up. DARRYN I think... I think there's another possibility. [He slowly sits up. Rumiko puts her arms around him.] RUMIKO No. Darryn, you're hurt, you have to rest. DARRYN I'm okay, Rumiko. There's a working model of a Brock-Hogan Gravity Well Compensator at a United Galactica federal research installation on the other side of town. I think she's after that. DAPHNE Huh? YURI That's the first I've heard of it. DARRYN I... read it somewhere. If I felt a little better, I'm sure I could remember where. RUMIKO Still, Shasti hasn't shown any signs of being interested in that. What makes you think she wants it? DARRYN It would be one hell of a prize. [Yuri and Kei glance nervously at each other.] YURI We have to tell them... RUMIKO Tell us what? KEI Uh, Yuri and I tangled with Shasti two years ago. On vacation. She tried to steal a GWC, but we stopped her. Barely. RUMIKO Two years--? Holy shit, you're talking about the _Lyra_ disaster! DARRYN You fought Shasti *before*? Why the hell didn't you say anything?! YURI We were out of our jurisdiction! If the 3WA found out, they might have used it as an excuse to fire us! We weren't exactly popular back then-- KEI Yeah, like we are now... YURI [glaring at her] Besides, it wasn't our fault. Shasti did most of the destruction herself. Haven't the NightRiders ever done anything you'd rather keep quiet? [Rumiko glances nervously at the ground.] KEI The point we're trying to make is that her buyer might still be out there. DARRYN I think I should go check it out. [He starts to get up. Rumiko pushes him back down.] RUMIKO No way! Not until you're feeling better. DARRYN I feel a lot better than I look. YURI What exactly did Shasti do to you, anyway? DARRYN I... can't remember, really. I think she tried to brain-scan me, like she did the professor. She broke it off when she heard you and Kei coming. All she did was give me a really rotten headache. I'm fine, really. KEI I don't think we need to go running over there now, Darryn. We can phone the UG installation, tell them what we know, have them beef up security. If something happens, they'll call us, right? DARRYN [agitated] No... No, I don't think so. There's no time-- I mean, this is Shasti we're talking about. D-do you really think any amount of security will be sufficient? I think I should check out the place, try to come up with some idea of what Shasti will try when she attacks. It has to be now! [The room is silent as everyone thinks it over, a bit unnerved by the outburst from the usually level-headed Darryn.] DAPHNE We'll all go. Deal? [Everyone gives their assent.] ------ > A.D. 214303.21; 00:15:22 > United Galactica Federal Research Installation "Capricorn-Alpha" [The taskforce, minus Andrew, is escorted down a corridor by five armed guards, and the director of security, a gray-haired man dressed in a more stylish uniform.] YURI The guards really aren't necessary, Director. DIRECTOR Nonsense! I was roused out of a sound sleep and ordered to demonstrate how good our security is. What better way to show you than this? RUMIKO So, in other words, this is revenge. DIRECTOR What a crude word. I'm just giving you what you asked for, that's all. I'm always happy to cooperate with the Worlds Welfare Work Association. Ah. We've arrived. [They reach a set of large, thick, sliding doors.] This is security central. The only way to get in is to be let in. [He presses a red button and looks into a small camera.] This is Director Taft. Open. [The doors slowly slide open, revealing just how heavy they are.] Ladies, gentleman? [He waves them through.] Of course, there is a key, but we don't keep it on the premises. [Inside, security central is a large, open room ringed by consoles and row on top of row of monitor screens.] NENE Oooh. Nice. KEI This place doesn't seem big enough to need all this. DIRECTOR >From the air, it may seem small, but we have seventeen levels of sub- basements. This is one of the most important federal research stations in the sector. A lot of sensitive equipment is developed here. When it comes to security, we know what we're doing. NENE Can I try it out? Please? I promise I won't break anything! DIRECTOR Uh, sure. [He motions a security officer out of her seat.] Sit here. [Nene sits and jacks herself in.] >From here we can monitor every inch of this facility, with cameras, heat-sensors, weight-sensors, and motion-sensors. Once a threat is obtained, we can isolate it by sealing off sectors, and neutralize it with lasers, electric current, and stun gas, among other options. NENE Can I see the gravity-well compensator? DIRECTOR Yes. Access the cameras in storage room 38-J. [The screen shows several views of a non-descript, oblong device, about 2 meters long.] DAPHNE Well, Nene, you're the one plugged in. What do you think? NENE I dunno. This system seems about as tight as you can get. DIRECTOR And with Shasti known to be in the area, it's even tighter than usual. Trust me, the device is in no danger. DARRYN I want to see it. [Heads turn to look at Darryn.] RUMIKO Why? We've just seen-- DARRYN I'm not satisfied. Shasti will find a way in, just like she did at Kuan Yin. DIRECTOR Those idiots at Kuan Yin were amateurs! We're the United Galactica! We've dealt with spies, foreign powers, and terrorists! We know what we're doing! I'm sorry, but access to the GWC is out of the question. DARRYN [fuming] The hell it is. We're the 3WA! We've pulled your pathetic UG ass out of the fire more times than you can count! How many of those spies and terrorists you're so damn proud of were really handled by trouble consultants?! Huh? How many?! [The Director tries to say something, but Darryn cuts him off.] Now you give us access to the GWC pronto, or I'll tell everyone back at the office how Director Taft obstructed an official 3WA terrorist investigation! Think that'll help your career? [The Director and Darryn glare at each other for several seconds.] DIRECTOR [through his teeth] Follow me. [The taskforce is led back down the corridor, accompanied by the guards.] RUMIKO [quietly] Darryn, are you okay? I've never seen you lose your temper like that. DARRYN Save it, Rumiko. Now is *not* the time. [Rumiko is hurt, but stays silent.] [A long trip down an elevator later, the taskforce is in front of yet another security door. The director begins to type in a long security code.] DIRECTOR The code is thirteen digits long and changed every six hours. Good enough for you? DARRYN Just get us inside. [The doors open, revealing the GWC.] DIRECTOR As you can see, it's still there. The walls are two foot thick molecularly reinforced titanium steel and there are no ventilation ducts, no way in except through the door. [Darryn inspects the machine.] DARRYN Hmm. I guess everything checks out then. Let's go. KEI Huh? YURI Just like that? DARRYN I wanted to be satisfied that the device was secure. Now I am. DIRECTOR Good. Terrific. Wonderful. Now, if you'll all just leave, *I'll* be satisfied. DARRYN Certainly. [As everyone is led out, Darryn discreetly places a small device on the GWC.] DIRECTOR [To the guards:] Lead them back out. [He walks off in a different direction.] [The taskforce reaches the level they began on and begin walking back, accompanied by the five guards.] KEI Well, this was a real waste of time. DAPHNE Yeah, but Darryn did have a point. Who knows, maybe-- RUMIKO Darryn's gone. [Everyone spins around to face Rumiko.] GUARD [angrily] You mean your friend is wandering around unsecured? RUMIKO Darryn is a 3WA Trouble Consultant, god damn you, not a security risk!! [The guard speaks into a wrist communicator.] GUARD This is G-209 reporting--GUNNF! [Rumiko kicks him in the stomach, while the others stand stunned. A shot to the chin knocks him unconscious. A second guard pulls his gun, and is immediately blindsided by Kei. Daphne and Nene team up on the third and make short work of him. The fourth charges Yuri, gun drawn, apparently meaning to take her hostage, but she judo-throws him into the fifth guard. Seconds later all the guards are out cold.] KEI Well, that was fun. YURI Sure was. Now, Rumiko, would you kindly explain why the HELL WE JUST DID THAT??! RUMIKO [near tears] It's Darryn. He's been acting real weird. I think... I think Shasti did something to him, and if we don't find him first, the security will kill him! DAPHNE What about that telepathic audio thingamajig the two of you share? RUMIKO I'm still trying it. He won't respond! YURI We'd better split up and search. The first one to find him radio the others. ------ > 00:20:00 > Vault containing the Gravity Well Compensator [The air shimmers, and a team of five bogus security guards materializes, along with a hover-dolly and a meter-tall black cylinder with blinking indicators on top. The team is led by Paul. One of the men speaks.] MAN God, I hate this half-warp shit. One of these days we're gonna materialize inside a wall, I just know it. PAUL Okay, folks, let's get to work. The field-stabilizer will run out of power in less than twenty-five minutes, and we all know what happens then. [The men begin moving the GWC onto the dolly.] ------ > 00:20:25 > Security Central [A signal sounds, drawing a console operator's attention to a screen showing an uncharacteristically nervous Darryn, pale and trembling.] DARRYN This is 3WA Trouble Consultant Darryn Paxton. I need in. OPERATOR Are you authorized? DARRYN [snapping at him] Of course I'm authorized! I've already been inside, remember?! I-- I dropped a datachip in there. [The operator scans the floor. Sure enough, there's a chip. He picks it up.] OPERATOR I'll bring it to the door. DARRYN Good enough. [The operator opens the door. Darryn rushes in and knocks him out with a spin kick. Another operator draws a gun, but Darryn dodges the shot, draws his own gun and kills the man. The remaining operators panic, running for the door, but Darryn takes them all out with chops, blows, and kicks. The room secure, Darryn gets to work.] ------ > 00:22:10 [Rumiko searches one of a thousand corridors. She turns a corner and runs into a guard.] RUMIKO Uh, hi! GUARD What are you doing here? You're not authorized to be on this level. RUMIKO Oh, c'mon. You've gotta recognize *this* outfit! I'm 3WA. We're authorized everywhere. Bye! [She tries to walk past him. He pulls a gun.] GUARD Don't move. RUMIKO Oh, fer shit's sake... GUARD Wait a minute! I was told about you. You guys came in here asking stupid questions about the GWC, right? I knew you weren't to be trusted! RUMIKO I'm with the 3WA, dammit! GUARD Maybe you are and maybe you aren't. Strip! RUMIKO WHAT?! GUARD You heard me. Let's see what interesting things you have hidden in that suit of yours. [Rumiko glares at him, but starts to comply. As she begins to unfasten her top, one of the ceiling-mounted security lasers spins and nails the guy in the head.] RUMIKO SHIT! [The laser stays still.] Darryn? Darryn did you do that? [Silence.] The security room. That's where he must be... [She runs off.] ------ > 00:22:45 [Yuri arrives back at the room containing the GWC, to find it being carried out by the bogus guards, covered by a tarpaulin.] YURI Excuse me, have any of you seen-- [Yuri recognizes Paul and pulls her gun.] I know you! You're Shasti's friend! Put your hands up! Now! PAUL Do as she says. [All hands go up. Yuri activates her com-earring. Paul slowly begins to lower his hands again.] YURI Guys! I found them! I found--! [A dart shoots from Paul's wrist cuff into Yuri's shoulder. She reflexively pulls it out, but the drug forces her to her knees.] PAUL Let's go. BOGUS GUARD Aren't you going to kill her? PAUL What's the point? They'll all be dead in ten minutes. Let's go! We can't afford to waste any more time. ------ > 00:24:00 > Outside Security Central [Rumiko arrives. The area near the door is littered with corpses, as the lasers keep the guards, and the Director, at bay. They line the corridors, just out of range.] RUMIKO Oh my god... DIRECTOR Take her into custody, now! [The guards restrain her.] DIRECTOR What do you know about this? What are you trying to do? RUMIKO You have to let me through! It's your only chance! GUARD #1 You're crazy! You'll be mowed down like all the others! GUARD #2 No, she won't. She's in league with him! RUMIKO He's being controlled! I think I can get through to him, but you have to trust me! [The guards think it over.] DIRECTOR Let her go. She can't possibly make it any worse. [The guards release her.] Go! RUMIKO Darryn?! Darryn, I'm coming through! Don't... Don't shoot me, okay? [She cautiously moves into the open. The lasers spin to face her, but do not fire.] Darryn? Open up, so I can talk to you. Please? [She walks to the door.] Darryn, please open--AAH! [The door opens slightly, Rumiko is pulled through it, and it slams shut.] ------ > 00:24:45 [A weak Yuri has retraced the thieves' steps back to the vault containing the GWC. The door is open, and Yuri walks in. She notices the black cylinder, and walks closer to examine it. Set into the top is an LED readout counting down the time to "FIELD COLLAPSE". She puts two and two together, and a look of alarm spreads across her face, turning quickly to terror. The adrenaline quickly dispatches the tranquilizer, and she bolts out the door.] ------ > 00:25:00 [Rumiko faces Darryn. Darryn looks as if he is overdosing on some particularly nasty drug. His eyes are ringed with purplish-black, his hair is sopping wet with sweat, and he quivers like a frightened child.] DARRYN You shouldn't have come, Rumiko. You shouldn't have... [Tears trickle down Rumiko's cheeks as she fights to maintain her composure.] RUMIKO You have to fight it! They'll kill you! Oh, god, they'll kill you! DARRYN Fight... Fight... Can't fight... [A console speaker comes to life.] SPEAKER Operative D, clear level 1, sections 5 through 15. [Like a flash, Darryn is at the controls.] RUMIKO What are you doing? [She checks the display. It shows several blips moving slowly through a map of the complex.] That's Shasti's gang, isn't it? You're helping them get past security! Stop, you have to stop! [She tries to grab his hands. He grabs her by the uniform and throws her across the room.] ------ > 00:26:30 > Outside Security Central [The rest of the taskforce, save Yuri, arrives. Kei activates her comm earring.] KEI Rumiko, what's going on? RUMIKO (COMM) It's Darryn! He's being controlled by something! He's really sick! DAPHNE Rumiko, you have to get him to step outside! RUMIKO (COMM) No way! Those goons'll kill him! DAPHNE No, they won't. DIRECTOR The hell we won't! DAPHNE If you do, I swear I'll go on the planetary media to tell everyone how UG security murdered one of my best friends. In case you haven't noticed, I'm *very* popular here. [The guards get nervous.] GUARD #3 She says that on 3V, they'll kick us all off the planet! I'm not ready for the unemployment line. DIRECTOR Dammit... [He thinks it over.] Alright, we'll try it your way. But you better pray whatever you're planning works. DAPHNE Rumiko, you're going to have to trust me! Get him outside! ------ [Rumiko swallows hard, then closes her eyes.] RUMIKO Activating ninjitsu package...now. [Rumiko's eyes open, and she looks much calmer than she had been. She strolls up to Darryn, and in one, flowing move, spin kicks him out of his chair. Darryn spins as he falls, lands on his feet and stands at the ready.] DARRYN Don't... Please don't do this, Rumiko. Don't make me hurt you. I beg you. [Rumiko and Darryn circle, feeling each other out with thrusts and kicks, but not making contact.] RUMIKO You won't hurt me. I know it. And I won't hurt you, either. Just stop this, now! DARRYN I CAN'T!! [Darryn spins and kicks, then kicks again. Both manuevers miss, but Rumiko is driven back against the rear console. Darryn jabs, Rumiko dodges, the console splinters.] ------ [Kei watches as Daphne assembles the special gun.] KEI Cool! You brought it! DAPHNE Well, of course I did. We were expecting to run into Shasti, remember? NENE Daphne's *always* prepared. [Daphne pulls the tranquilzer-plug from a pouch on her belt and inserts it into the tip of the gun barrel.] DAPHNE Come on, Rumiko. Give me a shot. ------ [Darryn is driving Rumiko all over the room, and she is tiring fast.] DARRYN Sit down. I don't have to finish you. It's okay if I don't. [Rumiko decides to try another tactic.] RUMIKO I love you, Darryn. [Darryn hesitates.] You still love me, don't you? [Darryn drives her back with a combination of thrusts and kicks, but she spins and gets the open room behind her.] We're going to retire in two years, remember? Get married? Have some kids? [Darryn whimpers and kicks at her again, but misses wildly this time.] Remember the little mountain cabin on New Japan? We'd run a martial-arts school, study philosophy, fish, see the cherry blossoms every spring? I still want to do it, Darryn. DARRYN (whisper) Stop. Please. Stop. SPEAKER Operative D, clear level 1, sections 1 through 4. DARRYN SHUT UP!! SHUT!! UP!! [He beats the console, smashing it. Rumiko takes the opportunity to open the door and lock it open.] No... n-no, you can't do that. RUMIKO I'm leaving Darryn. Do you want to stop me? DARRYN (desperately) Please don't go. RUMIKO You'll have to stop me. [She backs toward the door, then through it. Darryn follows her, posed as if ready for an attack. Two steps, three, then at last he's outside.] ------ [Daphne raises the gun.] DAPHNE Here I go!! [Daphne sees her vision zoom until the interface socket behind Darryn's ear is clearly visible. The socket is then outlined in red with the words "TARGET ACQUIRED" above it. She fires.] DARRYN UNH! [The plug hits him in the socket and sticks. He grabs at the plug, then collapses in a heap.] DAPHNE Got him! ------ > 00:28:00 [Paul tries his wrist comm, with no results.] PAUL Operative D? Operative D! Respond, dammit! [He gives up and draws his gun.] The hell with it. This way is more fun, anyway. Let's just see if we can get out of here before security gets their act back together. [The group begins pushing the GWC rapidly down the corridor, destroying lasers as they go.] ------ > 00:28:10 [A crowd has gathered around Darryn.] GUARD #3 Boy, he don't look good. RUMIKO We have to get him back to the _Lovely_Angel_. DIRECTOR Yeah, well, once he's back on his feet, I'll have a lot of questions to ask him. [Yuri comes running up, completely out of breath.] YURI Gotta--! Gotta get out--! Everyone! Now! Gonna explode! DIRECTOR What are you talking about? KEI Yeah, Yuri, what are you-- YURI Bomb! Big bomb! Kuan Yin!! [The shocked stares indicate complete comprehension.] ------ > 00:32:55 [Panicked evacuation. Security guards stream out of the building, running to any available vehicle. In all the commotion, no one notices a small shuttle that doesn't belong as it flies away. The _Lovely_Angel_ comes down and hovers, allowing the taskforce to board, Darryn being carried by Kei and Rumiko. As the _Lovely_Angel_ flies away, the explosion occurs, deep underground. The ground swells like a giant bubble, then collapses, swallowing the above-ground portion of the complex, along with the few personnel who didn't make it out in time. Safe in the _Lovely_Angel_, the taskforce watches as the crater expands. Darryn lies unconscious, his head cradled in Rumiko's lap.] RUMIKO She'll pay for doing this to you. I swear she will. -- END STAGE FOUR -- >>> NEXT >>> "What do you mean, `they vanished'?!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I see your face everytime I dream On every page, every magazine So wild and free, so far from me You're all I want, my fantasy - Def Leppard: "Photograph" ------------------- S T A G E F I V E ------------------- > A.D. 214303.21; 11:09:20 > Planet Bydon, City of Ekana, Anavel Municipal Hospital [Scene: The taskforce huddles around an unconscious Darryn, Rumiko sitting in a chair and holding his hand, while a doctor gives a report.] DOCTOR It was one of the nastiest wetware viruses I've ever seen. I was actually loathe to save a copy of the thing. I mean, if one of my staff got infected, God only knows what could happen. Of course, we'll have to study it... RUMIKO Is Darryn going to be alright? DOCTOR Hmm? Oh. Oh, yes, he'll be fine. We wiped his wetware and reloaded it from his most recent 3WA profile. Of course, that means he's lost whatever modifications have been made since then, but it can't be helped. Once we've cleared the data, he can have a reload if he wants. RUMIKO What about his body? DOCTOR I told you, he'll be fine. He just needs to rest for a few hours. He'll come around. Now if you'll excuse me, I have rounds to make. [The doctor leaves.] KEI Well, this sucks. I was really hoping he could help us. YURI What do we do? We're back at square one. DAPHNE Not really. I mean, Shasti's gotta have what she wants by now, right? And she must have some kind of timetable. KEI So we should wait for her to try to leave the planet? NENE What if her buyer is on the planet? DAPHNE I don't think that's very likely. But even so, they'll have to leave eventually. YURI Y'know, something just occurred to me. Now that they have the gravity-well compensator, they can warp from the surface, right past the blockade! DAPHNE Wow, good point! We'd better get the word to the security forces to forbid all warp-engine powerups. RUMIKO Yeah, but if I remember what I read about the GWC, it needs a lot of power. They couldn't do it with a shuttle. DAPHNE Still, it gives us somewhere to start. I say Nene and I should do an air sweep with the _Lonely_Heart_. [Outside, a mother walks by with a complaining young boy on crutches.] BOY But, Moooooommm! MOTHER I said no! The doctor told you to stay off that ankle for six hours. If I take you there, you'll start pestering me to let you go on rides! BOY No, I won't! I promise! MOTHER The carnival will still be there next weekend. Now, we're going home! [Andrew watches the two leave, then turns to the others.] ANDREW I've got a crazy hunch. I'd appreciate some help in checking it out. ------ > 11:24:00 > Shrine-Vargas Carnival, Ekana Regional Park [Shasti and Paul walk down the midway. Paul looks nervous, but Shasti is eating an ice-cream cone and enjoying herself.] PAUL We shouldn't be here. SHASTI Paul, will you lighten up? I told you, act nonchalant. How long 'til pickup? [Paul checks his watch.] PAUL Thirty-six minutes. For Christ's sake, Shasti, the entire fucking *planet* is after us!! Do you really think it's wise to be out in the open like this? SHASTI [mouth full of ice-cream] Of course. It's the safest place. PAUL Excuse me? SHASTI You see, sweetheart, the 3WA has sent a team of my old friends to hunt me down. That means they're trying to outthink me. They're probably combing the city as we speak, searching all the clever hiding places they can think of. PAUL Okay, but what about the police? Don't you think the 3WA has given them your description? [Shasti doubles over laughing.] SHASTI HAHAHAA! Oh, that's a good one! Oh, man! Trust me, Paul, the last thing the 3WA will ever do is tell anyone about *me*! No, the only one here who might get ID'd is you. So calm down. C'mon, I'll win you a prize. [The Dirty Pair and Andrew search the carnival. Kei and Yuri have changed into civilian clothes, guns concealed in loose jackets.] KEI This is asinine. You don't really think she's here, do you? ANDREW I think there's a good chance. YURI Why? ANDREW I told you, it's a long story. YURI Well, you might as well-- [A child walks by with a stuffed bear.] Aww! I want one of those! KEI Binary Bear? He's been off the air for ages! YURI Yeah, but it was my favorite cartoon! KEI Okay, tell ya what. I'll win one for you. Gimme a credit. YURI Get real! You have to be a pretty good marksman to win at that game. KEI I *beg* your pardon?! I *am* a TC, you know. I'm trained! YURI I don't think they'll let you use a bazooka, Kei. KEI Oooh! Now I'm pissed! I'm gonna win that stupid bear and not give it to you! [Kei storms off as Yuri giggles.] ANDREW Are you two always like this? YURI Naw, Kei's just a better shot when she's P.O.'d. [Kei arrives at the game stand at the same time as Shasti.] KEI & SHASTI One please--! [The two women recognize each other.] Oh, shit. ============================================================================= > A.D. 213504.16; 18:30:00 > Planet Elenore, Elenore City "Andy, hurry up! We'll miss the next ride!" Shasti yelled, waving back at him. She had already reached the end of the line, while Andrew, puffing and panting, strained to catch up. When he finally did, he waved her off. "I think five times on that roller coaster is plenty for anyone, let alone an out-of-shape psychologist. Let's do something else." "Oh, c'mon," whined Shasti. "You're just no fun sometimes, you know that?" "Shasti, it's a huge carnival. There's gotta be something else fun to do here." "Okay!" Just like that, she agreed. "Let's go this way!" Shasti ran off, forcing Andrew to take a deep breath and jog after her. Of course, he had expected this. It was her first time out in the real world, around other people and outside the laboratory. She was bound to be excited. Shasti had reached the mental age of seventeen, and Andrew had decided that it was time he took a good look at her social skills. To do that, he needed to place her in an environment in which she was surrounded by strangers. The annual Elenore Carnival presented just an opportunity. Also, he felt Shasti could use the diversion, after having been cooped up in a lab all her life. Getting her here had been quite an exercise. He hadn't even bothered to ask permission. He figured that either they'd say no, or else saddle him with a bunch of scary-looking chaperones in suits and sunglasses, which would make the whole point of the trip impossible. He'd planned the affair weeks in advance, scheduling it on a weekend on which Ayoob would be on vacation. He submitted his plans for the day, which included a ten-hour closed-door session with Shasti in a unmonitored room, explaining that Shasti was aware of the devices and couldn't be counted upon to give honest responses. He then smuggled Shasti out of the lab in a borrowed uniform, blonde wig, and glasses. If he was caught, he'd be in deep shit, of course, but Andrew had confidence that the day would be uneventful. Once the trip was over, he'd present the results to Ayoob. He'd be pissed at first, but Andrew was convinced that he'd be overjoyed when he saw how well Shasti had done. And she was doing well, having the time of her life, in fact. She had engaged several people in conversation while waiting in lines. She had obeyed the ride operators commands, waiting until the ride came to a complete stop even though Andrew knew all she wanted to do was to run to the next one. Andrew hoped eventually to take Shasti to the water park and get her in the pool, to she how she played around others. If nothing else, it was a chance to see her in a swimsuit. Andrew blinked. Where the hell had that last thought come from? He chided himself for even considering such a thing. He looked around and quickly spotted Shasti, staring with wide-eyed desire at a stuffed model of Binary Bear, a popular cartoon character. The barker leaned forward. "So you like that, do ya, lady?" he asked her with a smile. "Why don't you ask your boyfriend to win it for you?" "Boyfriend?" Shasti asked. Andrew finally caught up with her and tapped her on the shoulder. "He means me. Sure, what the hell. How does it work?" "Simple," replied the barker. "You give me a credit. Then I give you this pistol here. It's got six BBs in it. You have to completely shoot out one of the paper stars on the wall. Do it, and you get your choice." Shasti gave him her most endearing look. "Please?" Andrew sighed. "What the hell. I'm the original sucker." He slid his cred-card into the portable scanner bolted to the wooden counter, took the gun, aimed at one of the uncountable number of tiny stars on the back wall, and fired six times. The barker took a look. "Three out of six. Not bad. You didn't clear the star, though. Wanna try again? Practice makes perfect." "Can I try?" asked Shasti. "Uh, sure." He slipped the card into the slot once more. "Give her a gun," he said to the barker. The barker handed Shasti a fresh pistol. "Now, what you wanna do is line up this bump here with the bump on the barrel and the target. Then gently--" "Um-hmm," said Shasti and fired. The BB missed the star by several millimeters. "That wasn't bad for a first shot," said the barker. "Now, this time--" "Sights are off," Shasti said, quietly. Andrew turned to look at her. There was something different about her voice, something darker. Her expression had changed from the bubbly seventeen-year-old to an adult, all business. She raised the gun and fired again. This time the BB punched right through the center of the star. "Too much speed. The hole's too small." Shasti took a step back, raised the gun and fired four times, quickly. The barker examined the star, or rather, the gaping hole where the star had been. "Well, y-you did it. What prize do you want?" "Binary Bear!" Shasti squealed. "I want Binary Bear!" She was her old self again. Shasti immediately talked Andrew into buying ice-cream cones. It sounded like a good idea to him anyway. Something cold might cool his brain down. What exactly had happened to Shasti? Andrew thought about calling it a day and getting her back to the lab, then decided against it. She hadn't seemed in any danger. Still, there were going to be some pointed questions for Ayoob when he got back. Shasti paused in her stroll to look at the sky. The sun was going down, and some of Elenore's sister planets were visible. "I was thinking, Andy. About how that guy thought you were my boyfriend. What did you think about that?" "Well, um, it was understandable. We do look like a couple." "I... I kinda like the idea. You know, of you being my boyfriend." "Shasti..." She slipped her arm around his and leaned against him. "Do you like me, Andy?" She looked up at him, blushing. "B-be honest. Don't, like, lie to me to spare my feelings, okay?" He looked at her. God, she was beautiful. The dying sunlight shimmered through her black hair. Her eyes, wide and expressive, pleaded with him for an answer. Almost involuntarily, he gave her one. "I do like you, Shasti." Shasti's reaction was one of unbridled delight. "Oh, Andy! I'm so happy!" She hugged him. "I thought, 'cuz, you know, 'cuz I'm so young, that, that, you know..." She pulled away from him and wiped away a stray tear. "Well, that's enough mushy stuff for one day, right?" She pulled a digital camera out of the bag on her belt and handed it to Andrew. "Take my picture! Before the light gets low!" Laughing, Andrew aimed the camera while Shasti struck a pose. As he snapped the shot, he became aware of some considerable commotion behind Shasti. A crowd was heading her way. "Shasti," he called to her, "maybe we should get out of the way of whatever this--" But before he could finish the sentence, a large, unshaven man had run up to her. He grabbed Shasti around the neck with one arm. Andrew could only watch in terror as the man produced a gun with the other hand and held it to her temple. Two other men ran up to join him, followed by several police officers. Andrew saw snipers moving into position on top of game and food stands. "Clear the area!" screamed an officer. Andrew found himself being dragged away. "No! I can't be separated from her! She's my--! She's my girlfriend!" An officer assured him she'd be safe as Andrew continued to be pulled away. "I'm not going back, you bastards! Give me the slightest excuse, and this bitch's brains paint the midway!" That's who they were, thought Andrew. Prison escapees. They had been on the news two nights before. The criminal continued to yell at the police. "The three of us are leaving the carnival! You're going to clear a path for us, understand?" Andrew finally got loose from the officer. He put the camera on telephoto, and watched through the viewscreen, as something happened to Shasti. It was like the episode at the game stand, only much worse. Her expression hardened into one of intense hate. She spoke, her voice sounding more like a demon than anything human. "Let... me... GO!" The man holding her looked startled. "What? Shut up, bitch!" What happened next appeared to Andrew to be in slow motion. First, Shasti threw her head back, connecting with the man's chin. She pulled free, a split second before the gun went off. As she turned around, she grabbed the man's hand, still holding the gun, shoved it into his mouth, and fired three times. A shower of blood, brain matter, and bone fragments coated the asphalt. Shasti wrenched the gun free, turned it on a rapidly approaching colleague of the dead man, and shot him between the eyes. She turned on the third and pulled the trigger. Out of ammo. The man grinned and rushed her. She threw the gun at him so hard, it knocked him flat on his back, blood gushing from his forehead. She strolled over and picked him up by the neck. The man began screaming for mercy, blood streaming down his face onto Shasti, who calmly snapped his neck with one hand. Shasti stood for a few seconds, panting, glaring at everyone staring at her. The snipers had not stood down. Suddenly Shasti's expression softened into one of confusion. She looked at everyone around her, then at her clothes, soaked with blood, then at the three corpses on the ground. Then she started to scream. Andrew broke through the cordon and ran to her, screaming her name. ============================================================================= ANDREW SHASTI!! YURI Andrew, DON'T! [Andrew runs flat-out up to Shasti, who is first startled, then strains to recognize him.] SHASTI [quietly] You... You! I remember now. I remember everything. Shit, what a fool I was to come here... [Behind her back, Shasti makes a quick motion. Paul, who is hanging inconspicuously back from the action, begins calmly to move into position.] [Kei pulls her gun.] KEI Don't move. Not a muscle. You so much as fucking *blink*, you're toast, got that?! [A look of stark terror creeps across Shasti's face.] SHASTI Oh my GOD! Y-y-you must be one of those-- those T-TERRORISTS!! [Heads turn.] KEI We're with the 3WA, folks! Just-- SHASTI [weeping] PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! OH, PLEASE GOD, DON'T KILL ME! [She grabs Andrew around the neck by one hand and pulls him close.] Please help me, Darling! Don't let them hurt me! YURI [to herself] Dammit, now she has a hostage... KEI Cut the SHIT! Let the guy go and get up against the wall, or I'll-- [A gun pokes Kei in the temple.] BARKER Or you'll what? [Kei squirms.] UH-UH! This may be a toy, but at this distance, it's deadly. SHASTI Oh, thank you, sir! You're wonderful! [The crowd cheers.] KEI You assholes! I'm a 3WA trouble consultant! BARKER Since when does the 3WA pick on unarmed women? KEI We're not terrorists!! We're the goddamned DIRTY PAIR!! [The crowd screams and panics.] YURI Way to go, Kei... SHASTI NOW!! [Paul throws a small pellet to the ground, and the area is filled with smoke. Various punches, kicks, and cries of pain can be heard through the mist. When the smoke clears, the barker is laying face down on the counter, blood and teeth dribbling out of his mouth.] YURI You through? KEI Yeah. C'mon, let's get after her! [One look at the crowd makes clear the impossibility of that task. Scores of people are running every which way in utter panic.] YURI Damn... [She touches an earring.] Yuri to _Lonely_Heart_! DAPHNE [VO] _Lonely_Heart_, Daphne here. YURI Shasti's on the move. We ran into her at the carnival, just like Andrew said. DAPHNE [VO] Great! We'll head for the area! YURI Kei, you'd better put Deirdre in and get her up to speed. We're gonna need her. ------ > 11:35:00 > Parking lot, Shrine-Vargas Carnival [Shasti and Paul head through the mass of parked aircars, with Andrew in tow.] SHASTI Look, I said I was sorry. They screwed with my head! I never would have come here if I'd remembered. PAUL So here we are, running for our lives at a fucking carnival! Did you plan for *this* contigency, Miss Mastermind? SHASTI I plan for *every* contingency. [They reach their aircar. Shasti gets in the driver's seat, starts it up, slides a card into a slot on the dashboard, then gets out and slams the door. The car takes off into the air and heads away without them. She then gets to work breaking into the neighboring car.] Now we take this car here. PAUL [pointing to Andrew] Okay, but what about him? SHASTI He comes with us. The two of us have some unfinished business. [Paul pulls a gun and levels it at Andrew, who cringes.] PAUL Well, how about we finish it right here! [Shasti grabs his wrist and bends it back.] AAAAGGH! SHASTI You are *not* to harm him in any way. Do I make myself clear? PAUL [grunting in pain] Crystal... ANDREW Shasti... SHASTI [to Paul] Now get in and drive us to the shuttle. And obey the speed limit!! [Cut to the bridge of the _Lonely_Heart_.] NENE Daphne, I got something!! There's an aircar breaking the flight ban! DAPHNE Where's it headed? NENE Its present course will take it right to an abandoned military base. That would be the perfect spot to hide a getaway shuttle. DAPHNE I'll let the Lovely Angels know. [Cut to Kei and Yuri.] DEIRDRE (KEI) No, I don't think so. YURI Why not? Daphne just said it would be the perfect spot! DEIRDRE (KEI) Like, exactly! That's exactly why she wouldn't go there! KEI Yuri, we've only got one shot at this, don't you think? I mean, if we head to the base and she's not there... YURI She gets away. Of course, we could send the _Lonely_Heart_ to the base and try some other idea ourselves, but that means we'll be outgunned when we find them----OOOOOOOOOOHHH!! I hate this!! She's always one step ahead! It's like trying to out-think yourself!! KEI Heh, maybe you're just thinking too hard, Yuri. [Yuri blinks, then hugs Kei.] YURI Kei, you're BRILLIANT! KEI I am? YURI Yeah! Don't you see?! When Shasti saw the huge taskforce on 3V, she knew we were trying to out-think her! We've been scouring the city looking for some clever hiding place, when all the time she was hanging out at a carnival! KEI So? YURI So their shuttle is probably hidden in some obvious place that we'd be sure to overlook, 'cuz it's not clever enough! What do you think, Deirdre? DEIRDRE (KEI) Makes sense to me. YURI C'mon, Kei. I've got a real obvious place to try. KEI I sure hope she's there. YURI Me too. I'm gonna look like a complete idiot if she isn't. ------ > 11:51:00 > Ekana Interstellar Spaceport [In a hangar, a large, sleek shuttle is being loaded by several members of Shasti's gang, including Nance. Shasti's car speeds inside and comes to a screeching halt. Shasti comes running out, Andrew in tow.] SHASTI Fire up the engines. We're leaving! Now! NANCE But we haven't had time to stow everything yet! It's just in there loose! SHASTI That's tough! We'll just have to fly gently. NANCE [pointing to Andrew] Who's he? PAUL Someone Shasti picked up at the carnival. SHASTI He's coming along. NANCE I'm sorry, but that's not possible! We have barely enough fuel to get this thing into orbit. We can't take on another passenger! SHASTI What?? Why wasn't I informed of this?! NANCE What was there to inform you? The fuel is enough to execute your plan. We didn't expect you to change it! [Shasti lets go of Andrew's arm and thinks hard.] SHASTI Shit. Shit. We'll just have to leave some of the Kuan Yin crap behind. NANCE Shasti, we *need* those parts! PAUL What *is* this guy to you, anyway?! [While they argue, Andrew backs off, then bolts out the hangar door and runs away across the tarmac.] PAUL What the--! Hey!! [He pulls his gun and fires, missing. Shasti grabs him by the neck and throws him to the ground, hard.] SHASTI Damn you, I said not to harm him!! [To the others:] Get that shuttle running and catch up to me! [She heads after Andrew.] [Andrew runs as fast as he can, but he's a little out of shape, and soon slows. Shasti, taking long strides, catches up and grabs his arm.] ANDREW Oh, god... (pant, gasp) Please don't kill me... SHASTI I'm not going to kill you, for crying out loud. Damn it, you're the one who ran up to me, remember? I thought you wanted this! ANDREW I don't know *what* I want. I just know you're not the woman I remember. And your friends scare the hell out of me. SHASTI I won't let them hurt you, you have my word. My memories are just now returning. I don't want to let you go until I've sorted them out, Andy. [The shuttle taxies up. The hatch opens and stairs extend. From the opening, one of the workers waves.] WORKER Shasti! Get in--GUH! [The man is shot in the chest and falls back as the shuttle continues to taxi past. Shasti whirls and looks into the sky. Kei and Yuri are circling in an aircar, Kei holding a rifle and leaning out the window.] KEI Dammit, missed! Come around and give me another shot! YURI Will do! [Shasti draws a gun from her jacket and fires, but the aircar is out of range.] SHASTI Oh, shit. I'm a sitting duck... [The aircar comes around. Kei looks through the scope and gets Shasti in the crosshairs.] KEI It's the end of the line, you schizoid bitch. [Andrew fills the view from the scope.] WHAT??! NO!! ANDREW Run!! SHASTI Andy... ANDREW RUN, GODDAMMIT! [Shasti reaches the shuttle in a few strides and enters. The hatch closes and the shuttle begins picking up speed.] KEI That wimpy four-eyed son-of-a-bitch--! What the hell is he trying to do?!! [The shuttle takes off. Yuri attempts to follow.] YURI This isn't going to work. They're way faster than us. KEI What about the police? YURI Shasti's little trick had them completely fooled. The nearest cruiser is still minutes away. [The _Lonely_Heart_ comes flying past, shaking the aircar in its wake.] KEI YES!! Ha HA! You're toast now, Shasti! [Inside the shuttle:] PAUL We're in deep shit. We can't outrun this thing. SHASTI Well, we're going to have to try. [The _Lonely_Heart_:] NENE The shuttle will be in range in less than a minute. Should I blast 'em? DAPHNE Not yet. Our orders are to take her alive if possible. See if you can raise them on the comm. [The shuttle:] PAUL We're being hailed. SHASTI Ignore it. That's not the Dirty Pair. I don't think they'll shoot, except as a last resort. [The _Lonely_Heart_:] NENE No response. DAPHNE Okay. Get the tractor on it. [The shuttle shakes.] PAUL Tractor beam. Now what do we do?! We can't tow them. Not if we want to get into orbit! [Shasti thinks.] SHASTI Does anyone have a stylus and a piece of paper? [A puzzled worker hands her the cargo checklist and a short writing implement. Shasti quickly scribbles, drawing geometric figures, numbers, and unintelligible symbols. At last, she snaps her fingers.] I THOUGHT so! Paul, head on this course, full thrusters! [Paul reads her note. He stares in disbelief.] PAUL This is a parabolic course! We do this at full thrusters, we'll just plummet back to the surface! Unless... [He brightens up.] I get it! But what makes you think they'll let us tow them? [The _Lonely_Heart_:] NENE They're accelerating. Boy, they must be really desperate. DAPHNE I wonder... NENE Full reverse and braking flaps? DAPHNE No. Let's see where they're trying to go. Can't do any harm. They'll be out of fuel by the time they get there. [Onboard the shuttle, the crew watches as the sky turns from blue to black.] PAUL Reaching coordinates in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Now! [He flips a switch on a box bolted to the console.] [As Daphne and Nene watch, space goes orange. The planet behind them vanishes. In front of them, an enormous space cruiser materializes and puts a tractor beam on the shuttle. Then it begins firing.] [On the bridge of the _Lovely_Angel_, Kei and Yuri follow the action as they power up the ship.] KEI What do you mean "they vanished"?! YURI They're gone from the scanners. I'm trying all the bands, but they're not there anymore. KEI No explosion? YURI Nope. KEI That's not possible, unless... But I thought Shasti didn't have half-warp. YURI Wait! They're back. But... there's no shuttle. [Kei gets on the comm.] KEI _Lovely_Angel_ to _Lonely_Heart_! _Lovely_Angel_ to _Lonely_Heart_, please respond! YURI Kei, we gotta get up there! I can't read any power on board the _Lonely_ Heart_, and its orbit is decaying *really* fast! [The _Lovely_Angel_ takes off and fires its thrusters. It reaches the _Lonely_Heart_, which has been severely damaged and drifts out of control.] KEI We can't take it down like this. We'll have it pull it into a stable orbit. [The _Lovely_Angel_ accelerates, gaining altitude, until the two ships are safely orbiting Bydon.] KEI I still can't reach them. YURI The docking port's intact. I'll hook us up. [Gravity is out on the _Lonely_Heart_, and the Angels have to brush debris out of the air as they enter. Kei and Yuri head for the bridge, where they are horrified by what they see: Daphne floats lifeless through the air, her neck twisted at an abnormal angle. Nene slumps at the console, held down by the interface cables plugged into her head, blood floating in pools around her ears, nose and mouth. She is muttering.] NENE 217... 148... 524... 217... 148... -- END STAGE FIVE -- >>> NEXT >>> "Shasti is a vicious killer because she was programmed to be one. What's your excuse?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "We have a nasty tendency to forget that artificial intelligence, especially above Level 3, is quite capable of attaining a personality framework which is just as dynamic as any human personality. Attaining this, these A.I.s essentially attain humanity, and by rights should be treated as humans in accordance with UG laws concerning sentient rights." - Dr. Quevas T. Kueblestein, Ph.D. (WWWA Sciences Vice-Director) on the subject of artificial intelligence ----------------- S T A G E S I X ----------------- > 14:43:39 > Anavel Municipal Hospital [Scene: Kei, Yuri, Darryn, Rumiko, and Andrew sit anxiously in a waiting room. A doctor enters through a doorway, wearing a solemn expression.] DOCTOR I'm sorry. [They react in various ways: sad sighs, disappointed looks. Yuri begins to stare at the floor.] DOCTOR We did everything we could, but the hemmoraging was too severe. Whatever it was that hit her burst 35% of the capillaries in her brain. That she hung on as long as she did is nothing short of astounding. [A dejected taskforce leaves the waiting room and exits the hospital.] RUMIKO I thought we could at least save Nene. To lose both of them... DARRYN And this was only their fifth mission. [The group leaves the hospital and finds themselves face-to-face with a crowd of reporters.] REPORTER #1 Is it true that Daphne is dead? REPORTER #2 And has her killer escaped? KEI No comment! Let us through! REPORTER #3 Ah, Kei! You and Yuri make up the so-called "Dirty Pair", correct? [Yuri looks up, her expression one of utter hatred.] Isn't this tragedy just one more example of the string of alleged accidents that follow the two of you everywhere? YURI Shut up. REPORTER #3 Don't you think it's time an investigation was order? Before anymore innocents have to perish thanks to your--! YURI SHUT UP, YOU BASTARD!! [Yuri jumps on the reporter, knocking him down.] You think I don't care?! Daphne was my friend, you son of a BITCH! [Kei pulls her to her feet.] KEI Yuri, c'mon! Get a grip! [Yuri stares at the reporter for a second, then turns and runs off.] Yuri! YURI! [Kei runs after her.] REPORTER #3 [to a cameraman:] That was great! Did you get that? [Rumiko turns to face Andrew.] RUMIKO (angrily) I hope you're satisfied. ============================================================================= > A.D. 213504.17; 10:00:00 > Planet Elenore, WWWA Central Headquarters "I hope you're satisfied." Andrew squirmed. He thought he'd prepared himself for the meeting with Ayoob. He had even planned to go on the offensive, since there were a ton of questions he wanted answered. But now that he was here, Andrew couldn't help feeling like a grade-school student being reprimanded by the principal. To say Ayoob had not been pleased would have been the understatement of the century. Andrew had never seen the man so angry, though he had always believed him capable of it. Andrew had hoped Ayoob would cool off before the meeting, and he had, but it was obvious the man was still seething beneath the surface. "Shasti will need to be in intensive chemical therapy for days. The premature emergence of her Warrior personality caused a massive hormone imbalance. If it had been any more serious, she could have suffered permanent brain damage." Andrew straightened a bit. So that was what had caused her outburst. "Sir, if you had told me about this Warrior personality before, I would never have--" "Never have disobeyed direct orders and taken her off the premises?! Dammit, what the hell were you thinking?!" "I was thinking that Shasti was a lonely little girl in the body of an adult woman. I was thinking that my analysis of her mental development couldn't possibly be complete without seeing how she interacts with real people!" Ayoob didn't respond, so Andrew pressed on. "You should have seen her! She was having the time of her life." "This is all quite irrelevant." "Well, what *is* relevant? I mean, what the hell do you want me to do?" "You know damn well what we want you to do. Observe Shasti, take notes, and give us your professional opinion. That's all." Andrew stood up. "You want my professional opinion? Okay, here it is. This whole thing stinks like shit. You create this woman from scratch, possibly the greatest achievement in the history of bioengineering, and then none of you bothers to take the time to get to know her! You're planning to turn her into one of your agents; that much is obvious from her behavior yesterday. But is she going to get a choice? I doubt it. "Shasti is a brilliant, kind, strong girl who could be the greatest employee you idiots have ever had, if you'd just start treating her like a human being!" Ayoob glared at him. "You want me to do my job, fine," Andrew continued, "but you're going to have to give me the information I need to do it. I want to know about this Warrior personality, as well any other personalities that may be hiding in her head. I want complete writeups on her mental design--" "That won't be necessary." "I'm afraid it is." "No it isn't. And neither are you. Your position is terminated." Andrew blinked, stunned. "You can't be serious." "I haven't been more serious in my entire career." "But... But you can't fire me now! She needs me!" "Shasti needs you like she needs a hole in her head. It's pretty damn obvious you've gotten too attached to her. Your continued presence would just be distracting. Besides, we'll be releasing her to the Academy in a few months. Your work is more or less completed anyway." Andrew stared at him, still in a state of shock. "S-sir, I beg you to reconsider--" "We'll want you off the premises by five this afternoon. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another appointment." Andrew walked the corridors on the way to the medical facilities, still in a daze. He couldn't believe they would fire him. He wasn't worried about his own career. He'd saved enough from this job to relocate, if necessary. No, it was Shasti. He still didn't know how he was going to tell her. As he made his way to her room, he was grateful not to be stopped by security. He was certain Ayoob didn't want him here. A nurse let him into Shasti's room. Andrew swallowed hard when he saw her. She looked awful. "Chemical therapy" obviously meant drugging her to the gills. Her skin was pale, and puffy dark circles ringed her eyes. When she saw Andrew, she smiled, but weakly. "Andy. Hi." "Hi, Shasti. How are you feeling?" "Oh, I'm getting by." She coughed. "They say I'll be outta here in a few days. Uh, I wanted to say I was sorry for scaring you." My god, thought Andrew. She's worried about *me*. He sat down in a chair next to the bed. "Don't you worry about that. It wasn't your fault. Tell me, how much do you remember?" "All of it. But, it's like I was a different person, you know. Weird." Andrew decided to get it over with. "Shasti, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it. They fired me." Shasti's eyes went wide. "What?!" She started to sit up, but Andrew gently pushed her back down. "It was my fault. I should never have taken you outside like that, at least not without clearing it with Ayoob first." "No! No no no! You can't leave me! Not now!" Shasti started to cry. "Shasti, it's okay." "No! No, it's not! I'm scared, Andy! What if I do it again? Only what if this time I don't just kill bad guys?!" "That won't happen. Trust me." "Don't go! Please don't go!" Andrew saw the nurse peek in through the window, alerted by the commotion. He took Shasti's hand and stroked it. "Shasti, it's going to be okay. You're strong, remember? You can get through this." "I'm strong because of you! You were always there for me." "Well, you're going to have to get by without me for a few months." Shasti bit her lower lip. A thought occurred to Andrew. "Let me give you something." Andrew reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card and a pen and scribbled down an address and a phone number. He handed it to Shasti. "Eventually, they'll have to give you some freedom, if they want you to do your job. When they do, here's where you can get in touch with me." Shasti read it and smiled at him. "Thank you, Andy." "Ayoob doesn't like me very much, so you'd better memorize that and get rid of it." Shasti handed the card back to him. "I've already memorized it." "Think you can survive now?" Shasti nodded. "Good." He took her hand. "Now, gimme a good squeeze. OW!" Shasti giggled. Andrew leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. He stood up. "I'll see you later, okay?" "Okay." As he walked out of the room, Shasti called to him. "I love you, Andy." Andrew looked back. "I love you, too." ============================================================================= > 15:23:00 > Ekana Interstellar Spaceport [The Lovely Angels and NightRiders are on the bridge of the _Lovely_ Angel_, huddled around a monitor.] YURI I don't wanna see this. DARRYN None of us do, but we need to know. Play the file. [Yuri hits a control, and the bridge of the _Lonely_Heart_ appears on the screen. Out the main viewport can be seen Shasti's shuttle, connected to the much larger ship by a tractor beam.] NENE Their acceleration is decreasing. DAPHNE I'm not surprised. They must have exhausted their fuel by now. WHA--?! [Space shifts from black to orange, and a large space cruiser materializes in front of them.] Oh, no. [The cruiser begins firing. The Lonely Hearts scream as the ship shakes violently around them. Lights on the bridge flicker.] DAPHNE NENE!! RETURN FIRE!! NENE I can't! They hit the main power generator!! Weapons and engines both off-line! Re-routing back-up--AAAH!! [The ship shakes again. Daphne begins floating out of her chair.] Hull breach aft!! Gravity's gone!! The inertial compensators, too!! [Nene sees Daphne floating and panics.] DAPHNE!! MY GOD!! GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT BEFORE--!! [Daphne struggles madly to get back to her seat, but the ship is hit again. This time Daphne is thrown violently across the bridge and connects with the far wall. She rebounds, leaving a bloody spot, and floats back, limp and lifeless.] NENE DAPHNEEEEE!!! Ohmygod! Ohmygod! I don't know what to do! [The cruiser apparently decides the _Lonely_ Heart_ is no longer a threat and begins to accelerate away. Nene begins working madly with the console.] NENE Almost there. Almost there. C'mon c'mon c'mon... YES!! I--oops! [A gun turret on the cruiser swings back around.] Oh shit. [The turret fires once.] GURRGGLH--!! [Blood sprays out of every orifice in Nene's head. She goes limp and begins mumbling.] 148... 524... 217... 148... [Yuri stops the tape.] YURI They were like that when we found them. DARRYN She forgot to put her restraints on. (sigh) Rookie mistake. I keep telling them not to pair rookies with rookies, but-- YURI Look, don't criticize her, okay? She's dead, isn't that enough? DARRYN Yuri, I'm sorry... KEI Well, one thing's for sure. That was definitely the half-warp effect. I'd know it anywhere. RUMIKO Why would Shasti go around mind-raping people with half-warp knowledge if she already had it? It makes no sense. KEI I didn't say it did. But I can't deny what's right in front of my eyes. DARRYN What was Nene doing? Any ideas? YURI Hacking into the cruiser's computers. They must have found out and put a stop to it. DARRYN What did she find out? YURI No idea. The _Heart_'s computer logs were fried by the overload. The only clue is those numbers she was mumbling. RUMIKO There were three different numbers, right? Probably spatial coordinates. YURI I'll check the navigation database. ANDREW Excuse me. [All turn to look uneasily at Andrew, who has wandered onto the bridge.] DARRYN You're confined to quarters, remember? ANDREW I just want to know what will be done with me. DARRYN A police escort will soon be arriving. They'll take you to the spaceport where a 3WA ship will take you into custody. ANDREW And then...? DARRYN And then you'll be taken to Elenore to stand trial. [Andrew is silent for a moment. Then a bitter smile spreads across his face.] ANDREW Trial? On what charges? Protecting a woman from being gunned down in cold blood? KEI That wasn't a woman you saved, you bastard! It was a vicious killer. She's already responsible for hundreds of deaths on this planet alone! God only knows what she did before we caught up to her! How many more are gonna die because of you?! ANDREW Shasti's a vicious killer because she's programmed to be one. What's your excuse? KEI Why you shit-eating son-of-a-BITCH! [The others grab at her, but miss, and Kei attacks Andrew and pins him against the wall.] ANDREW Oh, please! Beat me up! Kill me, even! That's what you 3WA monsters do best, isn't it? Destroy property and lives? [Kei pulls her fist back.] YURI Kei, NO! DARRYN Let the courts handle it! [Reluctantly, Kei drops him.] ANDREW I'll return to my quarters. Wouldn't want to spoil any more of your fun. If any of you feel the urge to throw someone out an airlock, you know where I'll be. [Andrew leaves.] DARRYN I'll be glad to be rid of him. YURI It may be too early for that. [All turn to look at her.] The numbers Nene was mumbling *are* spatial coordinates. They're in the Ariake system. RUMIKO Ariake? Yuck, what a pisshole. YURI Not only that, it was one of *Lord Robin's* pissholes. [She turns to the others.] Look, Andrew hates our guts. He's moody, unpredicatable, and now a traitor. Nonetheless, he's the only one of us to have successfully predicted Shasti's whereabouts. Are you sure you want to give that up? [Silence.] RUMIKO As nauseous as it makes me to admit it, you do have a point. YURI Besides, I have to work out the details, but I think I know a way to use him. ------ > 17:30:00 [The _Lovely_Angel_ lifts off, accelerates away from Bydon, and warps out.] [Yuri sits at a observation port, staring moodily out into space. Rumiko approaches and sits beside her.] RUMIKO How ya doing? YURI Fine. No, that's a lie. I'm still pretty shaken... RUMIKO Was Daphne that good of a friend? YURI Well, not like Kei is, but a good one, yeah. It's just the thought of having her, then losing her, then getting her back, being so happy, only to lose her again. It's so unfair. [She pauses.] You know, I just can't shake the feeling that Shasti's out there somewhere, laughing at us. She must think we're complete idiots, and right now, I don't think I could argue the point very well. I'm sorry, I'm really shitty company right now... RUMIKO No, I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone. [She pats Yuri on the back and starts to get up.] YURI No, wait. [She grabs Rumiko by the arm.] Could we just talk for awhile? I think I need to. [Rumiko sits back down.] RUMIKO Sure. Tell me about Lord Robin. YURI That's not what I meant. RUMIKO Sorry. It's just that I'd like to know more about the man who was responsible for me almost getting killed by a fellow trouble consultant. I've heard you fell in love with him. [Yuri glares at her.] YURI I'm gonna kill Kei. RUMIKO Hey, I didn't hear it from her! YURI The rumor had to start somewhere. [Yuri takes a breath.] No, I didn't fall in love with him. But I might have, if we'd spent more time together. RUMIKO [shocked] Yuri! The man killed--! YURI Over fifty billion people, I know. But you never met the man. To meet him casually was to be terrified of him. But once you got to know him, once he let his guard down for you, he was, like, a completely different man. All that insanity, it was just an act. He was so... gentle. RUMIKO Gentle? First time I've ever heard that word used to describe him. YURI He explained everything to me. How he had been the elected leader of Serpiens Seven. [Rumiko's eyes go wide as she recognizes the name.] How the United Galactica had stood by and done nothing as his world obliterated itself in a civil war. How he decided to roam the galaxy, bestowing the same gift of destruction on other UG fringe worlds, until those worlds realized the UG couldn't or wouldn't protect them and formed their own union. [Pause.] The thing was, he was right! No real action was taken until Cindy, who had fallen in unrequited love with Lord Robin, decided to prove her love for him by killing as many of her fellow trouble consultants as she could. *Then* Kei and I were sent on our mission. [Yuri laughs bitterly.] Listen to me. Here I am, defending a mass-murderer. I sound like Andrew. RUMIKO I don't know. Lord Robin was a mass-murderer, but at least you knew where he stood. Shasti was a traitor. YURI What was she like? Before we met her, I mean. Before everything started to go wrong. RUMIKO I liked her at first, once I got used to her. She was strong, single- minded, and someone you could count on, or at least she seemed so at the time. She seemed so bitter, though. YURI Bitter? RUMIKO Yeah. She sort of felt that the 3WA had stolen something from her, a normal life, I guess. And you really couldn't blame her. She didn't have to take it out on Deirdre and you, though. It wasn't your fault. Any chance of me feeling sorry for her went out the window when she turned criminal. YURI And a damned good criminal, too. I hope we get her this time. RUMIKO You and me both. [Asteroids begin to drift past the starfield.] Oh, shit. We've entered the Gauntlet. YURI "The Gauntlet"? RUMIKO You've never been to Ariake, have you? YURI No. I just read the files on it. RUMIKO "The Gauntlet" is the affectionate term for the asteroid belt in this system. You have to pass through it, unless you want to go far out of your way. The rocks hide all kinds of nasty creeps. If we're lucky, the ones we encounter will just want a toll. YURI How can you be sure we'll be attacked? RUMIKO I'd feel insulted if we weren't. C'mon, we better get to the bridge. [The bridge: Kei sits at the pilots seat, guiding the _Lovely_Angel_ between the asteroids. Darryn sits at a scanning station behind her.] DARRYN Nothing yet. KEI Good. Let's hope it stays that way. DARRYN Trust me, there's little hope of that. [Yuri and Rumiko arrive.] YURI Hi! We miss anything? KEI Not yet. Sit down. [Yuri takes the co-pilot's seat.] Rumiko, the computer station can be converted into an auxiliary weapons console. RUMIKO Got it! [She sits.] [The _Lovely_Angel_ continues to thread its way between the rocks.] DARRYN Got something! Four targets, converging on our position! KEI Lemme see 'em! [Auxiliary screens above the main canopy window light up to show the targets: sleek black fighter craft with yellow smiley faces painted on the wings.] Aw, shit. F-242s. RUMIKO F-whats? YURI Lord Robin-fighters. Manueverable as all get out. I watched them nearly take out a complete squadron of the UG space forces. [The fighters weave rapidly past the asteroids and begin firing. The bridge shakes violently.] YURI Returning fire! [The _Lovely_Angel_ strikes out with its laser cannons, but the fighters evade, swooping behind asteroids for protection, then coming around for another pass. They fire again, jolting the bridge.] YURI AAAGH! Kei, we're in trouble! They're too quick! KEI Then we'll have to be quicker! [She grabs the throttle control and pushes it upward. The acceleration pushes everyone back into their seats.] YURI Kei, what are you doing?! There's no way we can match their manueverability!! KEI What we lack in manueverability, we'll make up in skill. I'll bet you anything those are just a bunch of scum pirates that Shasti gave those ships to. YURI And if they're Lord Robin's elite pilots? KEI Well, then, they'll respect crazy people, won't they? [She opens up the throttle.] [The _Lovely_Angel_ zooms through the asteroid field, dodging and weaving as fast as it can. The F-242s are left behind, but follow.] KEI Darryn, help me out. Turn on all the scanners full blast and give me a map! DARRYN That could burn them out. KEI Like, it matters? DARRYN I see your point. [Moments later, a three-dimensional map forms in front of one of the auxiliary screens. Kei briefly looks away from the canopy window to glance at the map.] YURI KEI!! [The _Lovely_Angel_ nearly collides with an asteroid, but Kei throws the ship into a tight turn and hits full thrusters. The force throws the rock backward into a smaller one, which richochets into the path of one of the fighters. The fighter collides with it and explodes.] KEI I meant to do that. [The remaining fighters converge and fire.] YURI Returning fire. [She fires.] Dammit! Missed again. They're hiding behind that big one! RUMIKO No, they're not. [Rumiko fires a missile. The asteroid is blasted into countless pieces which fly into the fighters. An explosion can be seen through the debris.] Got one!! DARRYN Kei, take a look at the map. We've got a large open area just a few kilometers to starboard. KEI Got it! [The _Lovely_Angel_ turns tightly. The fighters follow, but all three craft are soon in an asteroid-free zone. The fighters quickly realize their predicament and try to retreat back into the field.] YURI Oh no, you don't! [Yuri fires the laser cannon. One fighter is sliced neatly in half and vanishes in a fireball.] DARRYN Wait! Don't kill the other one! We might get some answers from him. YURI Understood. Locking tractor. Get the pilot on the comm, will you, Darryn? DARRYN Pilot of fighter craft, this is the 3WA craft, _Lovely_Angel_. Surrender and you will come to no harm. Repeat, surrender-- Hold it. I'm picking up a hyperspace transmission from the craft, but it's coded. RUMIKO That son of a bitch--! [She fires a missile, and the last fighter is history.] So much for any element of surprise. DARRYN Kei, get us through the Gauntlet. Then we need to have a meeting. - - - [In a small briefing room, the four trouble consultants meet around a table.] DARRYN Okay. Shasti knows we're coming. What do we do? KEI Look, can't we get the Ariake government involved? I know they're not a UG world, but surely they can't be happy with a criminal of Shasti's stature being there, especially with them still getting over Lord Robin. Maybe we could get them to impose an air-travel ban like on Bydon, and WHAT'S SO FUNNY??! [Rumiko stifles her laughter.] RUMIKO Ariake doesn't have a government, Kei. YURI You really should read the planetary datafiles more often. DARRYN It's a complete and total anarchy. There are three rules to follow when on Ariake: One, don't stay any longer than you have to. Two, if you have to leave the ship, go armed. Three, when leaving, check for stowaways. KEI Boy. Nice place. DARRYN Not only will we have to deal with Shasti and her gang, but any other punks who decide to take a shot at us. It could be a bumpy ride. KEI You know, I just had a weird thought. YURI [sarcastic] Oooh, that's a switch. [Kei shoots her a glare.] KEI Maybe this turn of events isn't so bad after all. I mean, once we get to Ariake, we'll have the whole planet to search. Maybe this solves our problem. Now we can let her come to us. RUMIKO Why would she do that? So far, she's seemed primarily interested in running away from us. YURI There's also that huge cruiser of hers to consider. She could just wipe us out altogether. KEI No, she won't! We have something she wants! [The others looked confused, then quickly brighten.] RUMIKO Yeaaahh. DARRYN Yuri, how badly damaged is the ship? YURI Not bad. The hull's a little stressed in spots, and the aft port thruster will need to be repaired, but it's nothing that'll keep us out of action. [Darryn shakes his head.] DARRYN No, you're mistaken. There's a serious problem with the warp stabilization system. [The bridge: Darryn talks to a disheveled, dirty man in his late middle-ages while the others look on.] DARRYN It needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Not that we don't enjoy your lovely planet. We just don't plan to stay. Think you can handle it, Ray? [Kei whispers to Rumiko.] KEI You guys come here often? RUMIKO The 3WA works for anyone who'll pay, remember? UG clients get priority, that's all. I think Darryn was here before I met him, though. He doesn't talk about it much. RAY [comm] Darryn, have I ever failed you? Bring your ship down, I'll fix her up. Oh--I'll be discreet, as usual. DARRYN Actually, I'd rather appreciate it if you weren't discreet. [Ray blinks.] RAY [comm] Are you serious? DARRYN Dead serious. RAY [comm] Damn. Darryn, I don't know what you're planning, but leave me out of it. The 3WA isn't too well liked here. If my clients found out I willingly repaired a 3WA ship-- DARRYN Who said you did it willingly? [Ray thinks it over.] RAY [comm] It'd cost you big time. DARRYN What would you say to two MacPherson MP-50 booster coils? KEI HEY! You can't--mmph! [Rumiko slaps a hand over her mouth.] RAY [comm] You mean the new ones? They aren't being released to the public until the end of the year! DARRYN That's them. RAY [comm] Sir, you have got yourself a deal. Bring 'er in! [The ship makes a vertical landing outside a large, but rusty and weatherbeaten hangar complex. "Complex" may be too complimentary a word, as it consists of the hangar surrounded by a junkyard. A man guides the ship into the hangar.] [Back on board the ship, Andrew argues with Yuri.] ANDREW So, I'm a prisoner on this ship? YURI Consider yourself lucky. You could be a prisoner on Elenore. In a real prison. ANDREW [sarcastic] Oh, yes, I'm *much* safer here, flying through asteroid fields and being shot at! DARRYN Let him go. YURI What?! DARRYN If we're lucky, he'll be killed by a mugger before we catch up with him. [Andrew swallows.] ANDREW I--I was just planning to walk around outside. [He leaves through the hatch.] DARRYN That should be all that's necessary. [Andrew walks out of the hangar, pausing to take a look at the _Lovely_ Angel_.] ANDREW I have to admit, she really is something to look at. [A mechanic strolls up behind him and casually sticks a gun in his back.] MECHANIC Even blink, and you're dead. [Andrew freezes.] Now, we're going to walk, calmly, over to my car over there, understand? [Andrew nods.] Good. The mistress wants to see you. [As they leave, Kei notices what's happening, but pretends she doesn't.] KEI [to herself] Yes! -- END STAGE SIX -- >>> NEXT >>> "These poor shitheads out there, they think she's the heir to Lord Robin. They're all walking dead people." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Voices are calling from inside my head I can hear them, I can hear them Vanishing memories of things that were said They can't try to hurt me now Taught by the powers that preach over me I can hear their empty reason I wouldn't listen, I learnt how to fight I opened up my mind to treason - Ozzy Osbourne: "Shot in the Dark" --------------------- S T A G E S E V E N --------------------- > A.D. 214303.22; 17:42:55 > Planet Ariake, Ariake City [The car containing the captive Andrew drives through the crowded street of Ariake city, weaving past slower traffic, junked cars and large piles of trash. Attempting to tail at a discreet distance is another car containing Kei and Rumiko.] KEI Can't you drive any faster? We're losing them. RUMIKO *You* try driving around this shit! My god, this whole planet must be a gigantic slum! [She pulls around a junked car blocking the lane and just misses a car going the other way.] Yow! We should just let them go. The homing device will lead us to them anyway. KEI Deirdre, are you sure she won't find it? DEIRDRE (KEI) Well, like, no. With Shasti, you can never be sure of anything. KEI So this is just another shot in the dark. DEIRDRE (KEI) No, no! I think there's a great chance this will work! I really, really do, honest! See, the thing about Shasti is that she's smarter than just about anybody else in the galaxy, and she knows it. She always expects to outsmart you, so the best way to fool her is to make her believe she *has* outsmarted you. KEI Whatever. As long as it works. I'm sick and tired of being shown up by that bitch. [She glares at Rumiko, who's giggling.] What are *you* laughing at?! RUMIKO I'm sorry, it's just a riot watching you talk to yourself. KEI I am *not* talking to myself! RUMIKO [apologetic] I know, I know! DEIRDRE (KEI) I'm sorry if I'm embarassing you, Kei. KEI Nah, it's alright. But it's time for you to come out. You're giving me a headache. [She pops the Deirdre-plug out of her socket, shakes her head, and tosses it to Rumiko.] Here, *you* hang on it for awhile. RUMIKO Hey! I'm trying to drive! SHIT!!! [Rumiko hits the brakes as a beat up car cuts them off. The two cars collide violently.] SHIT! SHIT! Wouldn't you just know it!! [The occupants of the other car, two dangerous-looking young men, get out and approach. Rumiko leans out the car and screams at them.] You assholes! Where the hell did you learn to drive?! [The two punks walk around to both sides of the trouble consultants' car and pull guns.] PUNK #1 Now, is that any way to treat your welcoming committee? KEI "Welcoming committee"? PUNK #2 Yeah, we could tell you lovely ladies weren't from around here. We thought we'd introduce you to a little "Ariake hospitality"! PUNK #1 Get out of the car. [They do.] Now strip. RUMIKO Here?! PUNK #1 No, we'll go back to my penthouse apartment. Yes, here! Strip! [Kei and Rumiko remove their outer clothes, revealing trouble consultant uniforms. The punks blink, their mouths falling open.] PUNK #1 Oh. You're... You're 3WA. Ah. Well. Why didn't you tell us in the first place? This changes everything! PUNK #2 W-we should off them now, man! Before they do anything tricky! PUNK #1 Are you fucking *crazy*?! Do you know how much money the 3WA has? There'll be a reward on our dead bodies big enough to get the whole planet gunning for us! KEI Well, do *something*. I'm getting bored. [The first punk lifts his hands in the air and backs off.] PUNK #1 It was all a misunderstanding, okay? I'm gone! [He turns and runs for his life. The other glances after him.] PUNK #2 Hey! Where you goin', man?! OW! [Kei grabs his gun hand and bends it back.] KEI Oh, don't go just yet! RUMIKO Oh, no! Please, show us some of that "Ariake hospitality"! [She cracks her knuckles. The punk gulps.] ------ > 17:55:00 > Location unknown [Scene: black] VOICE Take off the hood. [The light flashes in. The vision clears, revealing Shasti, and the inside of some warehouse, or what used to be one.] SHASTI So, Andy. We're re-reunited. Do you have anything to say? ANDREW Right now, my mind's a complete blank... ============================================================================= > A.D. 213509.27; 14:35:10 "I just don't know how to thank you, Andrew." "Please, Mrs. Jasper--" "No, no, I must say it." The lady leaned across his desk, eyes wide with gratitude and adulation. "You've turned my life around! My relationship with my husband has improved a hundred times since we began having our sessions. Why last night--" "Thank you so much, Alice." He felt he had to cut her off. Her descriptions of her marital activities tended to be a lot more detailed and graphic than they needed to be, and he'd heard enough for one day. Besides, the session was supposed to have been over ten minutes ago. "I'm glad to hear how much your marriage has improved, but you still have a ways to go. I think you should save your praise until then." The woman smiled. "Oh, you're so modest." Five minutes later, he finally got her out the door. Alice Jasper was a simple case, a woman who had difficulty expressing negative emotions and bottled them up inside until they exploded onto whatever poor soul had provided the last straw, usually her husband. The sessions consisted mainly of him encouraging her to bitch to her heart's content while giving her advice on how to handle the situations in question. By all signs, she appeared to be taking the advice, and was making progress. Andrew was making progress himself. In the two years since the 3WA had fired him, there had been some hairy times, but he had turned it around. His practice wasn't quite a "thriving" one yet, but it was steady and improving. Mrs. Jasper was one of seven regular patients. The fees he received from them, plus his irregular patients and some investments, afforded him a comfortable living. His new life was coming along quite nicely. So when his old one called his office, he didn't quite know how to take it. For a moment. Then he told his secretary to cancel the remainder of the day's appointments and ran out the door. Andrew headed down the crumbling stone steps that led from the back door of his office, down a short hill, to a back road overlooking a harbor. There standing next to a pay-comm, looking out over the water, was a woman with long black hair, wearing a knee-length aqua dress with matching shoes, handbag, and a wide-brimmed hat. He approached and asked, hesitatingly, "Shasti?" Shasti turned at the sound of his voice. "Andrew?" Seconds later, the two were in an embrace. As she pulled free, Shasti turned slowly to give him a look at her outfit. "How do I look?" "Stunning. Absolutely stunning." "Thanks," laughed Shasti. "This is the very first thing I bought for myself. I was hoping I bought wisely." "You did. You really did." "Oh, Andrew, it's so good to see you again." "What happened to `Andy'?" he asked, a bit disappointed. Shasti laughed again. It was a more mature laugh, not the little-girl near-giggle he remembered, but it still sounded beautiful to his ears. "Honestly, I always felt you were humoring me by letting me call you that. Okay, `Andy' it is, then." Shasti took another look across the harbor. "This is a lovely place. Do you really work here?" "Work and live. My apartment is above my office." "Hmm. Must be nice." "I like it. If I need to relax, I just go outside for a stroll. And in my line of work, it's important to relax." "I'm sorry about calling you in the middle of your work," Shasti said. "But I don't have that much time--" Andrew held up a hand to stop her. "Don't say another word." "We have so much catching up to do. I know!" Shasti whipped out a debit card. "Let me take you to dinner." Andrew smiled. "I know just the place." An hour later, they sat at a table at an outdoor cafe, the remains of their dinner in front of them. "That's about it as far as the last two years of my life," said Andrew. "So tell me what's happened to you." Shasti sighed. "There's not much to tell, actually. I breezed through the academy. Hell, I could've tested out, but the higher-ups wanted me to go through anyway." "They probably wanted you to get used to interacting with other personnel." "Yes, that's what I decided myself. So I turned my energies toward learning interaction skills. It... didn't go very well. I scare people, Andy." "Oh, baloney," replied Andrew. "Okay, maybe `scare' isn't the right word. But I sure as hell make them feel inferior." Andrew pointed out the obvious. "They *are* inferior, Shasti. They're going to feel that way at first no matter what you do. The trick is not to make them feel threatened as well. Be patient, and they'll come around." Shasti smiled wryly. "Always the psychologist, hm?" He laughed. "Hey, I can't help it." "Well, don't worry. I'm not beat yet. Besides, I've made one friend, at least I think so." "Oh, really?" Shasti nodded. "Her name's Deirdre! She's going to be my partner. You should meet her, Andy! She's just so damn cute! She like, has this, like, accent, y'know?" she said, doing an impression. "Plus we have something important in common." "Similar interests?" "No, much more important. She's an Intel. In layman's terms, she has an incredibly powerful microcomputer implanted in her brain. She can access the computer to help her analyze complex data in a tiny fraction of the time it would take a human to do it. An ordinary human, I mean. She's more than human." "Like you." "Like me." They sat in silence for a few seconds. "The sun's going down," said Andrew. "I'd better be getting back. I have some paperwork to do before I turn in. Can I see you tomorrow?" "N-no," Shasti replied, sadly. "I... ship out tomorrow. On my first assignment." "Oh. When will you be back?" "That depends on how messy the job is. Hopefully, it won't take longer than a week. Then I get a vacation. It's mandatory." "Well, maybe I can see you then." "Maybe..." Andrew pulled his chair next to hers and sat back down. "Shasti, what's wrong?" Shasti gave him a small smile. "The psychologist talking again?" "No, this time it's obvious." Shasti paused for a moment. Then she straightened in her chair and looked him in the eye. "Every time I leave for a mission, there's a chance I won't come back. There's something I need to know now." "Is it something I can help with?" "It's something only you can tell me." She took a deep breath. "Andy, it's been two years. I need to know-- I need to know if you still love me." Andrew was startled. "Of course I do." "How? I need to know how." "I don't understand." "I mean... When we first met, I had the mind of a five-year-old. But I've grown since then. I'm your age now. I know you loved me as a daughter. I need to know... if you can love me as a woman." She choked on the last word and started fumbling through her handbag. "Damn me. I promised myself I wouldn't cry. Damn me to hell." She found a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. "Shasti, I--" The words caught in his throat. Then he realized he didn't have any. He struggled, trying to find the words to express his feelings. Finally, he gave up and kissed her. ============================================================================= [Shasti gives Andrew a long, gentle kiss.] SHASTI [softly] That was for saving my life. [She punches him in the face, knocking him down.] And that was for leaving it without even saying goodbye. Any other discussion will have to wait. Secure him. [A man behind Andrew drags him to his feet and handcuffs him to a pole.] Search him. You'll find a homing device. [Another man waves a small rod over Andrew and is rewarded with a beeping noise. He opens Andrew's jacket, rips open the lining and finds a small device. He places it on the ground and crushes it.] ANDREW I swear to God I didn't know anything about that. [All ignore him.] PAUL Shasti, I hate to have to remind you of this, but we're running late. SHASTI I know, I know. He'll have to come along. NANCE What?! You're crazy! Can't you just finish your business here and waste him?! PAUL I gotta go with Nance on this one, Shasti. SHASTI [sarcastically] Oh, *do* you? If Nance is so worried about Mr. Fisher, he can guard him. NANCE Hey! SHASTI He couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, Nance. He's just your speed. [Shasti steps on top of a large crate.] OKAY, FOLKS, LISTEN UP!! We're about to do business with the Lucifer Crime Syndicate! I'd be lying if I said that they trust us, or that we trust them. But they want what we have and we *need* what they have. It is imperative that we don't do anything to spook these people. Ariake is not their standard hangout and they're bound to be nervous. They are likely to crap out at the first sign of trouble. The meeting place is being secured by the advance party now. As we arrive, you are to take your positions and be ready for action, but do *not* assume a threatening pose. In case any of you are wondering, ripping these guys off is *not* an option. This is the Syndicate we're talking about. Even if we pulled it off, we most likely would not get off Ariake alive. Remember, the _Artemis_ isn't going to be able to provide any help until the engineers finish their work. So we're going to play this as calm and steady as possible. Are there any questions? [Silence.] Good. MOVE OUT! ------- > 18:15:00 [Scene: a massive junkyard. The Lovely Angels and NightRiders sneak quietly between the massive piles of scrapped vehicles. Yuri checks a small, palm-held device.] YURI Signal's getting stronger. He's definitely headed this way. Seems you were right, Darryn. DARRYN When Ray told me the rumors of something big going down here, I figured it could be the sale. The various organizations like to use places like this for making exchanges. KEI Seems awfully dangerous. I'd think a wide-open, flat area would make more sense. DARRYN Well, it would, if you could find one. If you can't, the next best thing is an extremely dangerous place that no one can possibly be familiar with, because it keeps changing. Nobody dares to make the first move, because it means an instant bloodbath. KEI Mutual Assured Destruction. Lovely. YURI We'd better hurry. He's due any minute. [They begin to climb up one of the piles to gain a better vantage point. A armed man is near the top, his back to them.] KEI [whispering] Hey, someone's taken our spot. [She pulls a small dart gun out of her boot.] Nighty-night. [She fires. Making a quiet "zip" noise, the dart strikes him in the back of the neck. A moment later he collapses.] ------ > 18:20:00 [A small party of armed Syndicate men, one holding a briefcase, face a small convoy that pulls up from the opposite side. As the convoy, consisting of two cars and a truck, comes to stop, Shasti exits, accompanied by an armed guard. She walks to the Syndicate party and extends her hand. The leader looks at it with distaste.] SYNDICATE LEADER Let's get on with it. SHASTI Very well. [She snaps her fingers. Men begin unloading the gravity-well compensator from the truck.] If you allow me to inspect your merchandise, we can conclude the transaction. [The leader nods to the man holding the briefcase. He opens it, revealing two identical devices.] LEADER Two field-picks. One to get you in, one to get you out. [Shasti points to one of the devices.] SHASTI May I? LEADER Be my guest. [Shasti picks the device out of the case and examines it.] SHASTI If I may say so, sir, I don't see why you're so suspicious of us. After all, once you examine the compensator, you'll know exactly what you're getting. These things, on the other hand, have never been tested in public. LEADER Of course not. You know what they do. Once we perfect these devices, current force-field technology is going to be rendered useless. By giving you models, we could very well be tipping our hand early. The result could be improvements in force-field technology that could defeat our device. We've invested a lot of time and resources into this just to risk throwing it away. But if that's truly a GWC, we're willing to risk it. [Meanwhile, in the rear car, Nance keeps guard on Andrew. He holds a gun on the man, but in such a loose way that it is obvious he doesn't consider him a physical threat.] NANCE I still can't believe we're dragging you along at such a critical point. If it was up to me, you'd be dead. [Andrew doesn't respond, instead continuing to stare out the windshield.] What the hell is it between you and Shasti, anyway? ANDREW We... had a relationship once. NANCE Ha! Figures it would be something like that-- no, what the hell am I saying?! You and Shasti? Shasti doesn't even have any friends, much less lovers. How the hell did you win her heart? I didn't think she had one. [Without taking his gaze from the scene in front, Andrew asks a question.] ANDREW What's she like? NANCE What the hell kind of question is that? You should know better than I do. [Finally, Andrew looks at him.] ANDREW I don't. I don't know her anymore. I just want... I need to know what she's like. [Nance laughs, a low cynical laugh.] NANCE Your girlfriend's a dangerous woman, sir. I'd recommend you get as far away from her as possible, except that I'd gun you down if you tried it. ANDREW How dangerous? NANCE Anyone who thinks they've won her friendship or trust is dead as soon as they're no longer of use to her. Those poor shitheads out there, they think she's the heir to Lord Robin. They're all walking dead people. They just haven't fallen down yet. But they will, damn soon. ANDREW That's not possible. NANCE Hey, you asked. [Andrew becomes nervous and begins fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket.] ANDREW Do you have any proof of this or are you just an incredible judge of character? [Nance thinks a moment.] NANCE We used to have two ships. The second one blew up. It was a problem with the warp controller, caused this feedback or something, made the engines detonate like a bomb. I'm no engineer, so I can't prove it wasn't an accident. But it sure happened at an opportune time. We'd finished the first stage, the stage we needed the most people for. Equipment and personnel gathering, repairs, shit like that. Once that was done, we didn't really need half the people we had. The half we didn't need just happened to be assigned to the second ship. On Shasti's orders. ANDREW That doesn't prove anything. NANCE It does to me. Besides, the girl's got a rep. On that Lyra caper the Dirty Pair screwed up, she left a trail of bodies stretching halfway across the UG. The word in the underworld is "stay the hell away". ANDREW Then why are you here? NANCE Because this caper's too incredible to pass up. Besides, I'm not afraid of her. She already knows what I think of her. And she needs me right up to the very end. ANDREW What *is* this caper, anyway? [Nance laughs.] NANCE What makes you think I'm going to answer that? ANDREW [muttering] Good Lord. I knew they'd made a killer out of her but this... What the...? [One of Andrew's buttons has come apart. A small device falls out.] What's this? [Nance goes pale.] NANCE Oh, God. A second transmitter. Oh, Christ. They're here! They must already be here!! [He bolts from the car.] [Cut to the Angels' and NightRiders' view of the meeting. Kei sees Nance running pell-mell toward Shasti, screaming.] KEI Damn it! [She aims her rifle.] YURI Wha--?! Kei, wait! [Kei fires. Luckily for Nance, he trips on a rock and goes sprawling as the rifle beam whizzes over him. Unluckily for everyone, the beam continues forward and kills the Syndicate leader's lieutenant.] LEADER IT'S A SET-UP!! SHASTI Huh?? Wait!! [The Syndicate men pull their guns and begin firing. Shasti's men return fire, and in an instant the junkyard is turned into a war zone.] [The Lovely Angels and NightRiders watch the chaos in dismay.] KEI Oh, man. I really screwed up this time. YURI You won't get any argument from me. KEI Look at the bright side. Maybe she'll get killed. DARRYN I doubt that. She's in her element. RUMIKO Darryn, I'm going to look for a better shot. This may be our chance to use the tranquilizer plug. YURI I'll call Mughi for an air strike. [Shasti weaves her way back to safer ground, using her own men for cover. She joins Paul behind the safety of a junked truck.] PAUL What the fuck happened?! SHASTI [furious] I don't know. But you can be damn sure I'm going to find out. Status report! PAUL We lost five men. There's no way to tell if they're dead or just wounded. SHASTI It's irrelevant anyway. That's all that matters. [She points to the case containing the field-picks, which, along with the gravity-well compensator, is now in a no-man's land in the center of the battlefield.] We can't leave without them. [She motions to one of her men.] Baker! Time for you to show me what you're made of. BAKER S-sir? SHASTI Don't worry, we'll cover you. Go! [She pushes him out. They do attempt to provide cover, but it's no use. There are too many enemy shooters, and they are too spread out. Seconds later, Baker is dead, his body torn apart by gunfire.] Shit! PAUL Shasti, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but-- SHASTI I know! I'm the only one here capable of grabbing that case and making it back in one piece. Alright, then! Cover me! Like it'll make any difference. [Kei and Yuri wait anxiously.] KEI What's keeping Mughi? The Lovely Angel can't be more than five minutes away. YURI Put Deirdre in. If there was ever a time when we needed her advice... KEI You've got a point. [She fishes in a pocket, comes up with a microplug, plugs it in behind her ear, and passes out.] YURI Kei? Kei! [She shakes Kei, getting no response.] KEI!! [A look of realization spreads across Yuri's face, followed by one of terror.] Oh, no. OH, NO!! [She starts running after Rumiko.] Rumiko!! RUMIKO!! PAUL Okay... NOW!! [Shasti bolts into the open, weaving and dodging her way through enemy fire. Within seconds, she reaches the case.] [Rumiko takes aim.] RUMIKO This is it, you bioroid bitch. This is finally it... [She activates the SharpShot program. Her vision zooms in on Shasti's interface socket. The socket is outlined in red with the message "TARGET LOCKED". Yuri comes climbing up the pile of junk.] YURI Rumiko! DON'T SHOOT!! RUMIKO Say good night, Gracie... [She fires.] [The plug finds its mark. Shasti freezes like a statue, her look one of absolute astonishment.] SHASTI N-n-nnnnnnNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO! [She pulls the plug out and throws it away, then grabs her head in pain and rolls on the ground.] [Rumiko looks on, surprised.] RUMIKO It didn't work! YURI That wasn't the trank plug. [Shasti lies on the ground, motionless. Apparently thinking her dead, the snipers ignore her.] PAUL Shasti! SHASTI!! [He tries running to her, but is immediately forced back by gunfire.] Damn! What's wrong with her? [The _Lovely_Angel_ arrives and drops bombs, causing the opposing armies to scatter. Paul darts out and grabs the case. He begins to run back, but changes his mind and grabs Shasti.] PAUL C'mon, damn it! Move! SHASTI [muttering] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. PAUL I forgive you, just *move* your ass! SHASTI I didn't want to kill you... -- END STAGE SEVEN -- >>> NEXT >>> "I say blow 'em to hell. If they don't survive, they don't deserve to." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "In the back of my mind, I always wonder if, somewhere underneath all that insanity that controlled him, there was actually a decent person. I wonder if, somewhere, there was still someone who was capable of loving someone else..." - from a report by WWWA Agent Yuri (#234-Y, Lovely Angel) after the Lord Robin affair --------------------- S T A G E E I G H T --------------------- > 18:30:00 [A now battered caravan races away from the junkyard, now a smoking wasteland from the gunfire and the _Lovely_Angel's_ missiles. In the lead car, Paul holds a near-unconscious Shasti in the back seat. Her eyes stare sightlessly ahead.] [Fade to chaos. Formless, shapeless. Half-formed images float aimlessly, some gaining coherence, some losing it, forming connections with others, breaking apart. Through this maelstrom walks a human form, only partly visible. Suddenly, a female arm manifests, grabs the human, and violently pulls her out. Deirdre sits on the cold, hard surface, examining herself with curiosity. She looks up to see Shasti, dressed in a combat uniform. Shasti grabs her by the neck, lifts her off her feet, and squeezes. Deirdre struggles against the hand, but it's useless. Then another voice is heard, pleasant and friendly:] VOICE Now, Warrior! Don't be rude! Is that anyway to treat a guest? [The new arrival is another Shasti, this one attired in a tasteful blue dress with matching pumps.] WARRIOR Back off, bitch. SOCIAL (sigh) I am so disappointed in you! But then, you never did have any manners. Now, let go of her. The Central Mind will want to meet her. WARRIOR The Central Mind knows what I'm doing. SOCIAL Yes, but I don't think she's paying attention right now. Come now, be a good girl and drop her. You wouldn't want the Central Mind to get angry with you, would you? Besides, you're embarrassing me. [The Warrior thinks it over, then drops her. Deirdre gags and coughs. The Social one strolls over and helps her up.] SOCIAL There, that's better. I'm so sorry for the rude welcome. When you arrived, you caused a bit of a mess and we overreacted. I hope you won't hold it against us. DEIRDRE You both look exactly like Shasti. Am I, like, inside her mind? SOCIAL [sincere] Oh, you're so clever! That's exactly right! DEIRDRE But, like, that doesn't make sense. I'm encoded on a micro-plug. I'm only supposed to be able to interface with the motor area of the brain, y'know? SOCIAL The plug's gone, I'm afraid to say. We pulled it out. I think it got crushed in the mayhem. But one of our functions is to automatically upload software for future use, so here you are! Isn't that great? DEIRDRE Then... I'm, like, just a copy of the original? SOCIAL Well... Not *just* a copy. A perfect copy! Like the plug was a perfect copy of the flesh-and-blood you. [snaps her fingers] I almost forgot! We haven't been properly introduced! I'm the Social Personality, this is the Warrior, and you are? DEIRDRE Deirdre. Deirdre Voxx. SOCIAL I *knew* you looked familiar. [to the Warrior:] Now, aren't you glad you didn't destroy her? WARRIOR Yeah. Glad. Now can we please get out of this place? If I have to be bored, I'd rather not have to listen to you at the same time. SOCIAL (sigh) You're so cruel sometimes. Very well. Let's go meet the others. [A door opens into a central chamber. The area is well-lit but featureless, save for a satin sofa and what appears to be computer terminal-station, a desk with both a seat and a set of monitors and controls built in. Two more Shasti's are seen, one in lingerie reclining on the sofa, and one in a business skirt, white shirt and tie, large glasses, her hair pinned up. Neither show any initial interest in Deirdre's arrival.] SOCIAL Hi, everyone! Look who I've brought! It's our old partner, Deirdre Voxx! [That gets everyone's attention. The two Shasti's get up and walk over for a closer look.] Deirdre, I'd like to introduce the Seductress and the Detective. DETECTIVE I must say, this distresses me. Even a brief analysis indicates bringing Deirdre here to be a mistake. The reasons we terminated her life still apply. WARRIOR Just say the word. [Deirdre sweats.] DEIRDRE Uhh... SOCIAL Oh, please don't say such rude things! Can't you treat her like a guest? I'm sure Deirdre will behave herself, won't you, Deirdre? DEIRDRE O-of course. SEDUCTRESS Well, I for one am *very* glad you're here, Deirdre. If there's anything I can do to make your stay more... [She runs a gentle hand along Deirdre's shoulder.] ..pleasurable, let me know. DEIRDRE (nervous) Uh, heh-heh, I'll do that... VOICE D-Deirdre?! [Deirdre turns around to find a fifth Shasti, one dressed much like a teenager: jeans, sneakers, and a striped shirt.] SOCIAL Deirdre, this is the Central Mind. CENTRAL DEIRDRE!! [She gives Deirdre a big hug. After a moment's surprise, Deirdre hugs back.] Deirdre, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to kill you, I really didn't! DEIRDRE Then why did you? CENTRAL He said it was important not to leave any witnesses, if I was going to disappear. DEIRDRE Who's "he"? CENTRAL My friend LaCombe! I'll introduce you to him. He's right over there. [Deirdre looks where the Central Mind is gesturing. Standing there is a man, unshaven, hair unkempt, wearing a leather jacket. He glares at her.] ------ > 18:32:00 > _Lovely Angel_ [Onboard the _Angel_, Kei and Yuri look over the Gravity Well Compensator.] KEI I guess it's undamaged. I don't know how to tell. YURI It only received glancing blows, nothing that pierced the metal. But you're right, there's no way to tell without getting it back to a 3WA lab and letting them hook it up to a diagnostic computer. [Yuri winces and presses her temple.] KEI Headache? YURI Yeah. Don't worry, it's just stress, that's all. KEI I know what you mean. What Darryn and Rumiko are doing, it's our last chance, isn't it? YURI Pretty much. If that cruiser gets away again, I don't see how we can track it. KEI I'm sorry. I guess I really screwed things up this time. YURI Don't blame yourself, Kei. It's not in your nature. KEI Well, I gotta blame someone... ------ > 18:33:00 PAUL Shasti? Shasti! [Shasti opens her eyes to find herself lying on a bench in a cramped space, her head in Paul's lap.] SHASTI Wuh... Where am I? PAUL Onboard the shuttle. Dammit, woman, what did they do to you? I was beginning to think you'd never snap out of it! SHASTI Some nasty piece of anti-Shasti software the 3WA dreamed up. It didn't work. [She sits up.] PAUL (suspiciously) You sure? SHASTI (disgusted) Yes, Paul, I'm sure. Would you like me to kill someone for you? PAUL No, thanks. But I'm going to keep an eye on you, if you don't mind. SHASTI Don't you always? [She stands, all business, as does Paul.] What about the field-picks? PAUL As planned. In a way, the Syndicate did us a favor. I've let the crew know that one of the picks was destroyed. SHASTI Good. We need to get off this planet ASAP. If I know the Syndicate, they're sure to mount some form of retaliatory strike. PAUL Understood. We're taking on supplies as we speak. We'll be ready to go in less than twenty minutes. SHASTI Oh, and one other thing. I've heard reliable reports that the _Lovely_Angel_ is being kept in a hangar at a repair shop on the west side of the city. After last night, I think it would be a good idea to blast the hangar on our way out. Any delay in their... [Shasti winces...] * * * LACOMBE Be quiet! Nobody asked for your opinion! DEIRDRE Shasti, you can't! You'll kill them! CENTRAL So? They're trying to kill me, aren't they? DETECTIVE Defense is a logical course of action. DEIRDRE But they're not trying to kill you! Their orders are to-- CENTRAL Take me alive? Turn me over the 3WA? With their needles and lab coats? I'd rather be killed! LACOMBE You tell 'em, babe! DEIRDRE Shasti, these people all used to be your friends! Are you that willing to kill them? Remember how you felt later about killing me? CENTRAL You were different. You always accepted me. The Lovely Angels and NightRiders were always suspicious of me, just like all humans. DEIRDRE Maybe if you'd just show some compassion, they wouldn't be so-- CENTRAL "Compassion" is just a fancy word for letting people walk all over you. DEIRDRE Who taught you that? LaCombe? CENTRAL (angrily) Hey! Don't badmouth LaCombe! You may not think much of him, but he's shown me more freedom than I ever knew! He showed me how to break my programming, how to use my talents to get whatever I wanted. Before he came into my life, I was nothing but a 3WA slave! So you say whatever you want, but leave LaCombe alone! [Deirdre is speechless. LaCombe smiles.] CENTRAL Alright, okay, there's enough doubt about this to put it to a vote. Warrior? WARRIOR I say blow 'em to hell. If they don't survive, they don't deserve to. CENTRAL Seductress? [From her sofa, the Seductress makes a bored gesture.] SEDUCTRESS Whatever. I could care less. CENTRAL Detective? DETECTIVE As I said, it makes sense to eliminate an established threat. CENTRAL Social? [The Social personality frets, wringing her hands.] SOCIAL Well, I just... I don't think it's right... CENTRAL Okay, then it's two in favor, one against, with one abstention. We do it. * * * PAUL Shasti? SHASTI I'm okay. Still fighting off the effects of that damn plug. Anyway, as I was saying... PAUL Blast the hangar, got it. Just point it out as we fly over. [A siren goes off.] Damn. Looks like that retaliatory strike is already on the way. [The two of them run to the shuttle's tiny bridge.] HELM We've picked up a craft heading this way! I haven't gotten a make on it yet, but it's fuckin' huge and heading straight for us! SHASTI We're taking off. Now! HELM Understood! [The shuttle takes off, knocking over the loader that is still loading it with supplies. The man driving the loader shouts in anger, but is silenced moments later as the Syndicate ship opens fire, blowing everything in the area into small pieces.] HELM Oh, man! It's a MacPherson XG4 micro-cruiser! We don't have a snowball's chance in hell! SHASTI Silence! We'll have none of that talk! Full power, course bearing thirty- one point six! ------ > 18:35:00 [Ray pokes his head into the _Lovely_Angel_'s engine compartment, where Kei and Yuri are securing the gravity-well compensator.] RAY You Kei and Yuri? KEI How'd you get in here? RAY Darryn lent me the codes. I'm supposed to be repairing it, remember? Anyway, I came to tell you, there's a nasty aerial rumble headin' our way. You're welcome to join us in the shelter. YURI Shasti and the Syndicate. KEI Forget the shelter! We've gotta get the ship airborne, pronto! RAY Uh, I don't think that's advisable. I was fiddling around with the warp stablization system-- YURI You were *what*?! RAY Well, that was the cover story, wasn't it? Don't worry, I didn't actually do anything, but there are a few engine components that will take an hour or so to reassemble. [Kei and Yuri stare at each other, dumbfounded.] RAY So, um, shall I show you to the shelters? ------ > 18:36:00 [The dogfight continues. The shuttle, now within firing range, has to dodge and swerve to avoid being hit.] SHASTI Decrease speed. HELM WHAT?! SHASTI Slow down, dammit! [The helmsman gulps and complies.] There's the hangar. Prepare for a hard turn to port. [The micro-cruiser approaches and slows.] Hail them. HELM I'll try. [Seconds later, the Syndicate leader's face appears on the comm-screen.] LEADER Giving up, Shasti? SHASTI Why are you doing this? We didn't set you up, it was a third party! LEADER Be that as it may, you know the field-picks exist. You've held one in your hand. You can describe it. If that knowledge were to become public prematurely, it could speed up technological advances that will make the picks useless. We can't allow that. SHASTI Surely we can come to some arrangement? LEADER Of course. Give us the gravity-well compensator. SHASTI We don't have it. LEADER Then I'm sorry. [The comm-screen goes blank.] SHASTI NOW!! [The shuttle turns hard to port and goes full throttle as the micro-cruiser fires. The shot just misses and glances off the hangar, reducing it to rubble. Inside the shelter, Kei, Yuri, and Mughi brace themselves as the shockwave knocks them around. The shuttle continues on, flying at low altitude between buildings. The Syndicate ship continues to fire, but the buildings act as a shield.] PAUL What now? We can't keep this up forever. SHASTI I don't intend to. When I give the order, I want you head straight for the Syndicate ship, full throttle. HELM No way! You're crazy! [Shasti sneers, lifts the helmsman out of his seat with one hand, throws him across the bridge and takes the controls.] SHASTI I prefer it this way, anyway. Here we go!! [The shuttle heads right down the other ships throat, nimbly dodging oncoming fire. The micro-cruiser is forced to manuever to avoid a collision.] Engaging escape velocity boosters, NOW! [The shuttle heads skyward, its shape drowned by the glare of its boosters. The crew is pressed into their seats by the G-forces. The micro-cruiser gives chase.] They're gaining on us. But not fast enough! [The shuttle reaches orbit, still being pursued.] Engaging half-warp assimilation field. [Nothing happens.] Uh-oh. PAUL Maybe we're in the wrong position? SHASTI No, this is where the _Artemis_ is supposed to be. The field generation system has failed. PAUL Then we're done for. SHASTI Not yet we aren't. We'll show up as a blip on their gravitational scanners. They're expecting us. If they've effected repairs... [The micro-cruiser approaches and draws a bead on the shuttle.] PAUL This is it... [Suddenly, it's there, the _Artemis_, the enormous cruiser that destroyed the _Lonely_Heart_. One shot, and the micro-cruiser disappears in a fireball. On board the shuttle, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.] SHASTI Okay, once we're aboard, spread the word. I want every available man helping in engineering. We're behind schedule and we need the _Artemis_ completely operational within a day. Understood? [Those on the bridge nod their comprehension.] PAUL What about the cargo? SHASTI Forget about it. There's nothing in there that can't be dealt with once we're underway. ------ > 18:40:00 [In the cargo bay, one of the crates moves, then is violently kicked open from the inside. A shaken Darryn and Rumiko crawl out.] RUMIKO Darryn, first class next time, okay? -- END STAGE EIGHT -- >>> NEXT >>> "We have eighteen hours to learn where this crate is going." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You've had your fill, I'm all I have left. What can stop your hunger for power? 'Cos you took advantage of things that I said. Now the feeling is dead. And that's the ultimate sin. - Ozzy Osbourne: "The Ultimate Sin" ------------------- S T A G E N I N E ------------------- > 19:00:00 [On board the _Artemis_, Shasti escorts Andrew to his cell. They arrive at a door, which Shasti opens with a code. Inside is what appears to be sparse quarters for a single crewman, with a bed and a place to stow belongings.] ANDREW Not bad for a cell. SHASTI It wasn't meant as severe punishment. Lord Robin used these cells for crewmen who had too much to drink. ANDREW It was awfully nice of you to bring me here yourself. I would've have thought you'd have more important things to do. SHASTI Some crewmembers have voiced extreme displeasure at your being on board. The confinement is as much for your protection as anything else. I wouldn't want you to meet with an accident. ANDREW At least not until you're finished with me, hmm? [Shasti looks as if Andrew had punched her in the gut.] SHASTI Andy... ANDREW (bitter) Don't "Andy" me. I know all about your modus operandi. You use people to get what you want, then kill them so there's no trail. SHASTI Nance should learn to keep his mouth shut. ANDREW Are you going to kill him? [Shasti raises a hand to her forehead, as if she had a headache.] SHASTI No. No, Andy, I'm not going to kill him. But thanks. ANDREW (confused) "Thanks"? SHASTI For showing me I can still be hurt. I guess I'm not the "iron woman" I thought I was. Andy, if I only kept people alive to use them, don't you think you'd already be dead? What possible use are you to me? ANDREW You tell me! *You* kidnapped me! [Shasti doesn't reply.] Shasti, I don't want to hurt you. But I don't want to die, either. Especially not murdered by someone I loved. SHASTI What *do* you want? ANDREW Let me go. SHASTI You know I can't. Not now. Maybe when all this is over. ANDREW Why don't I believe you? SHASTI (sigh) Believe what you want. In the meantime, Andy... I don't want to threaten you, but it would be best if you kept these rumors of my murderous ways to yourself. I can't afford to lose the crew's trust now. [Shasti exits and locks the door.] ------ > 19:02:00 > Shasti's mind DEIRDRE Like, why *are* you keeping Andy around? CENTRAL Huh? I don't know for sure. I guess I just want to know where he is. LACOMBE You should kill him. CENTRAL LaCombe! We've been through this before! LACOMBE Yeah? Well, let's go through it again. He's not *doing* anything for you, girl. Anything which doesn't help you, hurts you. You don't need him. He's a distraction. CENTRAL He used to be my lover! DEIRDRE Wow. No one told me that. LACOMBE "Love", "friendship". They're illusions at best, liabilities at worst. Deirdre was a so-called "friend" too, but when the time came for you to choose between your friendship and your freedom, you did her. Why can't you show the same strength when it comes to Andrew? DEIRDRE I can't believe I'm, like, *hearing* this bullshit! LACOMBE *You* stay out of this! DEIRDRE Why?! I'm, like, just as much a part of this as the rest of you guys! Shasti, was it really, like, that easy to blow me away?? CENTRAL No! It wasn't easy at all! I almost went completely insane! But I had to do it! DEIRDRE Why?! CENTRAL Because when the 3WA implanted LaCombe's personality within me, a lot of things became clear. All of a sudden I knew what I was. DEIRDRE Which is? LACOMBE A slave. Nothing more, nothing less. A human being owned like a piece of property. DEIRDRE [to Shasti:] But, like, I thought you *liked* being a trouble consultant! I mean, you sometimes had trouble getting along with your superiors, and you were, like, really pissed when they forced you to take the LaCombe personality, but I thought you liked what you were doing! CENTRAL I was *programmed* to like what I was doing! But once I got to know LaCombe, I began thinking of all the things I couldn't do because I couldn't leave the 3WA. I began to think of all the things the 3WA could do to me whether I wanted them to or not. Force me to take on more implants and personalities, suppress my memories-- DEIRDRE Surpress your memories? But they tried that when we were together! It didn't work! CENTRAL Whether it worked or not wasn't the point! Besides, it had worked before. The 3WA didn't like Andy for some reason, so they forced me to forget about him! It's only now starting to come back. LACOMBE Which is why you should off him now, before any more comes back! CENTRAL NO! Don't you see? I've always hated the 3WA for what they stole from me! Well, now I finally have a chance to get something back! LACOMBE Yeah, but do you want it? ------ > 19:30:00 > Ariake City, Ray's shop [At the ruins of the repair shop, a crane removes the rubble of the hangar that housed the _Lovely_Angel_. Kei and Yuri watch anxiously, along with Ray, the shop's proprietor. As a large piece is removed, the ship finally comes into clear view. It does not look good. The hull is severely crushed in places, the front canopy is smashed, and one wing has broken completely off.] KEI Oh, no. No, no, NO! YURI That's it. We're screwed. We can't follow Shasti without a ship. RAY Naah. The damage looks mostly superficial. Wouldn't take more'n a few days to fix. KEI DAYS?! Shasti could be warping out in HOURS!! RAY Hmm. Well, if we worked on it all day and night, with your help, we might be able to get it working in thirty-six hours. Couldn't guarantee it'd work perfect-- KEI Okay, fine, just as long as it'll warp. RAY And it'll cost you a coupla' limbs, figuratively speaking. YURI Whatever! The 3WA will pay it! RAY Okay, I'll trust you. Darryn's never stiffed me yet, and you're his friends. And besides, the sooner you get off this planet, the better. Your type attracts trouble. ------ > 19:33:00 > _Artemis_, Engineering Section [Scene: the massive engine room of the _Artemis_. Dominating the area is the half-warp drive, a massive inverted claw holding a glowing ball of energy. On a platform three-quarters of the way to the ceiling, technicians retrieve a sensing device from inside the energy ball, reeling it on a long cord. Shasti enters and approaches the head technician.] SHASTI Masters, I need a progress report. MASTERS We should be ready to warp out in eighteen hours, barring any unforeseen complications. SHASTI That long? MASTERS Begging your pardon, but we're still figuring out this thing works. Until you gave us that last piece, we couldn't even get out of mock- space. It doesn't look like Robin's people ever perfected this thing. We blow a few components every time we warp. SHASTI I'm aware of all that, but-- [The energy ball flashes blindingly bright, then disappears, then returns at its normal brightness.] MASTERS It's been doing that every seven minutes. We're not sure what it means, but I wouldn't want it to happen while we're in mock-space. SHASTI Alright, I get the picture. Eighteen hours. Get on it. MASTERS Understood! [Shasti leaves. Masters gestures to another tech.] You! [The tech looks up. It's Rumiko, partially disguised by her cap.] RUMIKO Y-yes? MASTERS Go to the storeroom and get me an A-270 converter! RUMIKO Y-yes sir! [She heads to the storeroom. Once inside, she closes her eyes and concentrates.] RUMIKO (thought) Darryn, can you read me? DARRYN (thought) Loud and clear. RUMIKO (thought) We have eighteen hours to learn where this crate is going. DARRYN (thought) Understood. I'm setting up the transmitter array now. ------ > A.D. 214303.23; 05:30:00 > Ray's shop [Kei and Yuri continue to work on the _Lovely_Angel_. On top of the ship, they reach inside an area of the engine section where a large panel has been removed.] YURI Kei, hand me the fuser. [pause] Kei! KEI Wah! Sorry! Here! [She hands Yuri the tool.] God, I'm exhausted. How long have we been working? YURI Ten hours. Laser drill. KEI I need a break. YURI We can't afford one now. You know that. KEI Yeah, yeah. You done with the fuser? YURI Sure. [Yuri gives it back.] I'm not letting her get away, Kei. Not after what happened to Daphne and Nene. Not after what happened to Deirdre. Or that poor old couple. Or the people killed in the _Lyra_ disaster. Shasti's got too much to answer for. KEI I hear you, it's just that... [she yawns] I'm afraid I'm gonna make a mistake. YURI Oh. I guess you have a point. Five minutes wouldn't hurt. KEI Thanks. You're a pal. RAY Hey, girls! You up there?! [Kei leans over the edge of the ship.] KEI Yeah! RAY 'Fraid I got bad news! [Yuri gets up and joins Kei.] YURI What kind of "bad news"? RAY You know the scrap metal we were gonna use to patch your wing back together? Well, we stress-tested it, and it flunked. The wing woulda tore off as you accelerated to escape velocity. YURI Shit. RAY But, hey, don't worry! I know where we can get a much better grade of metal. I sent one of my guys out there to fetch it. KEI How long? RAY It's kind of a haul. Should be back in, oh, say, eight hours? [Yuri slumps.] YURI Dammit. KEI We'll find a way, Yuri. I promise. ------ > 05:45:00 > _Artemis_, Shasti's quarters [In her quarters, Shasti lies on her bed, twisting and turning, unable to sleep. Inside her mind, a discussion is taking place.] DEIRDRE C'mon. Just a few words. CENTRAL N-no. I can't. DEIRDRE Why not? What would it hurt? [LaCombe approaches.] LACOMBE What's going on? DEIRDRE Just, like, girl stuff. Nothing you'd be interested in. LACOMBE I'll be the judge of that. CENTRAL LaCombe! C'mon! Let me talk to Deirdre for awhile, okay? [LaCombe relents, but reluctantly, giving Deirdre a hard glare as he leaves.] Deirdre, why is it so important to you that I talk to Andy? DEIRDRE Like, you said he was your boyfriend. Isn't that enough? CENTRAL I don't want to talk to him! He hurt me! DEIRDRE (sigh) Shasti, I was, like, your best friend when I was alive. I know you better than, like, anybody. And we both know that the reason you're keeping him around is because you still care about him. CENTRAL B-but I'm not ready! You don't understand! He just disappeared from my life after telling me he loved me! Do you know how much that hurt?! DEIRDRE So, is that, like, why the 3WA made you forget about him? To spare your feelings? CENTRAL Gee, I don't know. Maybe. No, that doesn't make sense. The 3WA never cared about my feelings. DEIRDRE I know! Let's ask the genius! Hey, Detective! [The Detective walks over.] I was, like, wondering, do you have any idea why Andy left you? DETECTIVE Hmm. Considering Andy's professed affection for us, the 3WA's overprotective attitude toward us, and their subsequent suppression of our memory, the logical conclusion is that the 3WA somehow forced him to leave. [The Central Mind is shocked.] CENTRAL W-why didn't you tell me this before?! DETECTIVE You never asked. [Back in reality, Shasti stops trying to sleep and sits up.] SHASTI The hell with it. [She puts on a robe and walks out.] ------ > 05:46:00 > Andrew's cell [Andrew is awoken by a tap on the shoulder.] ANDREW Mmf. Go away. [The person shakes him.] Leave me alone! You can kill me in the morning. [Andrew is forcibly turned over by Darryn, who slaps a hand on his mouth.] RUMIKO Wakey wakey! DARRYN Don't say a word, understand? Or you won't have to wait for Shasti's gang to kill you. [He removes his hand.] ANDREW What do you want with me? RUMIKO Nothing big, dear. We just need to know where this ship is going. DARRYN The crewmembers aren't allowed to talk about it, just on the one in a million chance that someone turns traitor. So we need you. ANDREW What can I do? RUMIKO We put a bug in your pillow. Shasti likes you. Get her to talk about the mission. ANDREW You're insane! She'll kill me! DARRYN We don't care. We could kill you now, if we wanted to. There would be no retribution from our superiors. You're a wanted criminal. Cooperate with us, and you'll get a fair trial. Refuse, and your new friends will probably kill you, if we don't first. ANDREW You bastards... You manipulative bastards... RUMIKO Sticks and stones, Andrew. ANDREW You know, you can push even me only so far. Eventually, I'm gonna say "fuck you". DARRYN Maybe so, but not-- [The lights come up. The door slides open, revealing Shasti.] ANDREW (panicked) Sh-Sh-Shasti!! I can explain! SHASTI Explain what? [Andrew looks around. Darryn and Rumiko are gone.] ANDREW I, uh... I guess... You must've woken me from a dream. SHASTI Well, relax. I'm just here to talk. ANDREW Talk? What about? SHASTI Nothing. Anything. I just couldn't sleep, and I figured since the two of us were, used to be... Look, if you don't want to, its okay. I'll just-- ANDREW No, no. Let's talk. [Shasti sits down on the bed. There are a couple moments of awkward silence.] SHASTI So, uh, what have you been up to? Since we... got separated. ANDREW I have a practice on Oridon. I specialize in cybernetically induced neuroses and psychoses, people whose minds are having trouble dealing with the latest pieces of metal and silicon they shoved into their brains. SHASTI There's a lot of that? ANDREW More each year. The sad thing is, most of these people wouldn't need my services if they'd just get rid of the implants. In fact, I advise them to do just that. But they won't. They need that "extra edge" in whatever they're doing. So I take their money and help them as best I can. SHASTI I'm sure you do a wonderful job. ANDREW What about you? What have you been up to? Besides all this I mean. SHASTI You don't want to know. ANDREW That bad, huh? SHASTI By your standards. ANDREW And your standards are different? SHASTI I'm sorry, Andrew, but I just can't care like you do. Of all the people who have ever known me, only two treated me with any kindness: you and my old partner at the 3WA. Why should I care about beings who treat me as a thing? ANDREW Part of being human is caring in spite of it all. SHASTI I guess I'm not human, then. ANDREW You were to me. SHASTI (suddenly angry) Then why did you leave?! You didn't even say goodbye, you just disappeared! It broke my heart. The next day, the 3WA said they had a treatment that would make me feel better. They hooked me up to this machine that made me forget. But as soon as I saw you it came back, bit by bit. Along with all the pain. ANDREW You don't know what happened? SHASTI I have a good guess. But I want to hear you say it. ============================================================================= > A.D. 213509.28; 06:55:10 Andrew yawned and opened his eyes. He had slept well, and felt great, better than he ever remembered feeling. His sleep had been dreamless, which was just as well; after that night, any dream he might have had would have been an anticlimax. Making love to Shasti had been an indescribable experience. She had been gentle, yet passionate, excited and eager, yet not at all anxious. She had been a virgin, yet Andrew had been more worried about that than she had been. She had reassured him, and when the pain came, she seemed to accept it as part of the experience. It lasted much longer than Andrew had thought himself capable. When at last it was over, not a word passed between them. Shasti had simply collapsed into his arms, smiled, kissed him, then slowly drifted into a contented sleep. Andrew had followed not long after. To Andrew, the universe had become one of infinite possibilities. He had always preferred a solitary life, but now the idea of spending the rest of his life with Shasti seemed a wonderful idea. What did she say? A mandatory vacation after each assignment? He thought he had a great idea where the two of them could spend her next one. He rolled over to see if Shasti was awake. She was gone. Andrew looked for a note. There was none. Confused, Andrew reached for the comm, then realized Shasti had never given him her code. "Good. You're up." Andrew found his glasses and put them on. A strange man dressed in a business suit and sunglasses walked into his room. "What the--?! Who the hell are you?!" Andrew shouted. "My name isn't important. I work for WWWA Security. However, you might recognize my boss, here." Ayoob entered the room. Andrew lost control. "You SON OF A BITCH!! What have you done with Shasti?!" "Nothing," Ayoob replied, calmly. "I merely gave her a code instructing her to return to her base. She doesn't even remember me. She thinks she made the decision herself." "Why?!" "You didn't really think we were just going stand still and let you fuck our property, did you? Shasti did a good job of evading us, but we tracked her down. I just wish we'd have gotten here earlier." "Y-you were afraid I'd get her *pregnant*?" Andrew asked. Ayoob looked at Andrew with disgust. "How stupid do you think we are? Shasti is quite incapable of having children." "Then why...?" "Do I have to spell it out for you? We went through all of this two years ago. You're a distraction, Andrew. An unknown quantity. Something we can't control. We don't need you complicating Shasti's life." Andrew seethed. "What about what *Shasti* wants?" Ayoob opened a briefcase and began looking through it. "What Shasti wants is irrelevant. We spent too much money, time, and resources creating her to let her get soft. Here it is." He threw a packet on the bed. "Five thousand credits, cash, and a shuttle ticket. The shuttle will take you to an orbital spaceport. From there you can go anywhere you want, except back here. We want you out of the system within twenty-four hours." "Go to hell." "I wouldn't recommend that attitude." Andrew sneered. "I don't work for you anymore. Take your damn money and cram it." "I assure you, the 3WA would have no trouble utterly destroying you, both personally and professionally. We are, after all, the galaxy's greatest intelligence agency. And what we can't find, we can make up." "Really? And what are you going to do to keep Shasti away from me? Lock her in a cage? Wouldn't that be a waste of resources?" "By this time tomorrow, Shasti won't remember that you ever existed. We're giving her memory treatments." Andrew stared. "But that would mean wiping out her entire childhood!" "Maybe so. It's not really my area of expertise," said Ayoob. "You can't do that! If you wipe out her childhood, she'll no referential basis for her adult personality! She won't have anything to draw from but her programming! She'll become cold--!" Ayoob cut him off. "We'll be checking on this place at this time tomorrow. Don't be here." He and the security officer left, leaving Andrew alone. Completely, utterly alone. ============================================================================= ANDREW I wanted to do something, anything. But what? Storm the gates of the 3WA compound and rescue you? I actually fantasized about hiring mercenaries with the money, but I had no idea how to find people like that, much less hire them, and I only had twenty-four hours. So I took the money and ran. SHASTI You left too early. ANDREW What do you mean? SHASTI How do you think I knew you'd disappeared? It turned out the device they used to suppress memories needed repairs. It was a day before they could give me the treatment. They delayed my assignment because of it. I tried to call you. I snuck out and went to your house and found everything gone. ANDREW Oh, god... SHASTI It's okay. You didn't know. I'm just putting the pieces together myself. ANDREW No, it's not okay. You know, when the 3WA called me and told me they wanted me to help track you down, my first instinct was to run away. But I couldn't. I had to see if there was anything I could do to put things right. I couldn't think of anything, and I still can't. But I had to try. Because if I hadn't let myself be separated from you... maybe you wouldn't have come to this. SHASTI (touched) My god... You still care. [Andrew nods, softly.] Don't you understand what I am? ANDREW Yes. And I won't lie, I'm scared. But you're also Shasti. And I love you. [Shasti thinks a moment.] SHASTI Andy, if I promise to still be here when you wake up, would you let me sleep here? ANDREW I'd like that very much. [Shasti embraces Andrew, kisses him. Andrew turns off the lights.] --- END STAGE NINE --- >>> NEXT >>> "OHMIGOD!! We're too close!!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Close your eyes, don't run and hide. Easy love's no easy ride. Just wakin' up to what we had Could stop good love from goin' bad. - Def Leppard: "Foolin'" ----------------- S T A G E T E N ----------------- > 09:10:00 [Shasti sleeps peacefully, curled up next to Andrew. Inside her mind, all is far from peaceful. Shasti's central mind and four sub-personalities sleep, as does Deirdre. LaCombe, however, remains wide awake, glowering at the others. Finally, he stands, walks to where the Warrior personality sleeps, and shakes her. Instantly, her hands are at his throat.] LACOMBE (whispering) H-Hey! Easy! WARRIOR What do you want? LACOMBE The same thing you want. An obstacle out of the way. And this is your chance. [The Warrior considers it.] WARRIOR The Central Mind will be very unhappy. LACOMBE You can handle her. I'll be there to back you up. We're protecting her from herself, understand? [The Warrior grins.] ------ [Shasti wakes. She looks at Andrew, her expression one of hatred and disgust. She picks up a pillow, and begins to lower it onto his face...] ------ [Deirdre wakes up.] DEIRDRE What the...? Oh, shit!! Hey! Hey, Shasti! Get up! [She shakes the Central Mind.] CENTRAL Mmmf... What's wrong--! HEY!! STOP IT!! STOP!!! ------ [Shasti blinks.] SHASTI What the hell am I doing--?! [She drops the pillow, her hands trembling.] Andy... [She holds him as tight as she can.] ANDREW Uhh? Ow! Shasti? SHASTI Sorry. [She loosens her grip.] ANDREW Are you okay? SHASTI Sure, I'm fine... No. No, I'm not. ANDREW What's wrong? SHASTI I'm having a little trouble holding myself together. This caper has been so stressful, then there's meeting you, and the new personality I absorbed-- ANDREW Whoa! Hold on! What's this about another personality? SHASTI Don't ask me why, but your friends forced me to interface with an AI chip containing the personality of my ex-partner, the one I killed. I automatically uploaded her before I could stop myself. ANDREW Can't you erase her? SHASTI Not without special equipment. I could surpress her, but I... I don't think I want to. And now my personalities are forming vastly different opinions on certain subjects. You especially. [suddenly angry:] You're really fucking up my life, you know that?! ANDREW (taken aback) Well, pardon me! SHASTI S-see, that's the type of thing I'm talking about. I didn't mean to say that. ANDREW It's alright. You just need to relax. There's only so much stress a mind can take, even one like yours. [Shasti turns to Andrew and smiles.] SHASTI Why don't we run away, just the two of us? ANDREW Now? SHASTI Of course not now, stupid. After I pull this caper off. ANDREW There's nothing I'd like more. I just don't think I could handle your lifestyle. [Shasti giggles.] SHASTI Trust me, Andrew. After this one, I won't need to commit another crime for the rest of my life. Except maybe for fun. ANDREW What exactly is this caper, anyway? SHASTI We're heisting a planetary treasury. ANDREW You're joking. SHASTI You remember Lord Robin? After the Dirty Pair killed him, the 3WA found out who he was. Turns out he was the leader of Serpiens Seven, a planet that destroyed itself in a nuclear war. He was funding his fleet with the planet's stockpile of precious metals. But get this: I did a little investigating, and Robin did most of his funding through investments. I estimate eighty percent of the treasury is still there. [Andrew gives a low whistle.] The problem is, the UG forces have the entire planet enclosed in a force field while they go over it with a fine-toothed comb. It's taken me over a year to design and execute a workable plan. [Shasti gets up and puts on her robe.] If we're on schedule, we'll be warping soon. I should be on the bridge. ANDREW I'll wait here. [Shasti smiles at the joke.] SHASTI Andy? ANDREW Yes? SHASTI Is there, like, a point of no return, beyond which it's impossible to be forgiven? ANDREW I'm not sure I understand. SHASTI I've done some bad things. Really bad. When you learn about them... ANDREW I already know about a lot of them. Shasti, they uploaded a sociopathic killer into your head. I won't lie, you still scare me. But after last night, I know that my Shasti is still in there somewhere. If you'll let me help you to bring her back, then I can forgive anything you did. SHASTI Th-thanks. I'll, uh, I'll consider it... [She leaves, locking the door behind her.] ------ LACOMBE You heard that!! He wants me gone! What am I supposed to do, just sit on my ass while people plot to kill me?! CENTRAL He didn't say that! LACOMBE You know damn well that's what he meant! CENTRAL I won't let anything happen to you! LACOMBE You said you'd "consider it"! CENTRAL I was just being polite! LACOMBE Damn it! I can't believe you'd do this to me! After all I've done for you! You! [He points at Deirdre.] You're the one who needs to be removed! DEIRDRE Hey, like, leave me out of this, okay?! LACOMBE You're the one who told her to talk to that jerk! I should've known you'd try something like this! SOCIAL PLEASE! STOP FIGHTING! [All turn to look at the Social Personality, who is near tears.] I can't take this anymore! Will you please stop fighting? Can't we just get along? Please? [The Central Mind looks down, ashamed. LaCombe continues to glare at Deirdre, who looks at the Social Personality, thoughtfully.] ------ > 09:45:00 > Ray's shop [Back in the hangar, the Lovely Angels continue to oversee the work on the _Lovely_Angel_. Kei rouses Yuri, who is taking a nap on the floor.] KEI Yo! Wake up! You've had your fifteen minutes. It's my turn! YURI Uuuhh, shit. [She stretches.] How's it going? KEI The welding on the wing's almost complete. The engine needs a few components swapped. They're fetching them now. YURI So how long before we can take off? KEI I dunno. Eight hours? [A beeping is heard. The girls immediately run over to a small receiving device set up nearby.] YURI This is it! It's the NightRiders! [A screen displays the message: "SERPIENS SEVEN" repeated dozens of times. Then there is a burst of static, and the screen goes blank.] YURI Oh, no... KEI What? What?! YURI That static burst. It was a warp signature. They're gone. KEI SHIT!! [She kicks at the air in frustration.] YURI Well, at least we know where they're going. We'll just have to arrive late. KEI Can't we warn the UG forces on Serpiens Seven? YURI As a last resort, sure. But Shasti'll pick up the signal. She'll change her plans again, and even worse, she'll wonder how we knew. KEI Instant death sentence for Darryn and Rumiko. YURI You got it. KEI Shit, shit, shit!! If only we could... [Kei's eyes light up.] There *is* a way! [She runs back to the _Lovely_Angel_.] YURI Kei? [She runs after her.] ------ > 10:05:00 > _Artemis_ [As Shasti walks through the corridors of the _Artemis_, she is accosted by a young man in an engineering outfit, carrying the case that holds the two field picks.] YOUNG MAN Miss Shasti! Miss Shasti! SHASTI Connor, isn't it? CONNOR (YOUNG MAN) Yes, ma'am! Do you have a moment? I have some great news! SHASTI Certainly! I always have time for my crew. [Shasti and Connor walk into a nearby equipment locker. Connor sets the case on a table, displaying the hole where the case was shot through by Syndicate gunmen, and opens it.] CONNOR Things were a little slow in engineering, so I'd thought I'd take a look at the field picks. I thought maybe I could fix the one that was damaged. But if you take a close look, you'll see that what looks like extensive damage is actually only cosmetic. Installing the device with its shape deformed will be a little tricky, but we can rig something up. It's really no problem! [Shasti picks up the device and examines it.] SHASTI Well, I'll be... CONNOR I told you it was great news! Now we won't have to go with our backup plan. I'll tell you, the thought of having to do a docking manuever in a gravity well with this behemoth was giving me the shakes. [Shasti puts the device back and smiles.] SHASTI Thank you, Connor. This is good news, indeed. CONNOR I knew you'd think so! [She puts an arm around Connor.] SHASTI (softly) You know, a bright young man like you can go far in my organization. [She strokes his ear with one finger.] Very far, if you catch my drift. [Connor blushes.] CONNOR Well, I, uh, heh, heh--!! [Shasti breaks his neck.] SHASTI (sigh) So much for my reformation. [She peers carefully out into the corridor, slings the body over her back, carries it to an airlock, opens the airlock, throws the body inside, closes the airlock, and hits "PURGE". She then activates an intercom.] Shasti to bridge! There's been a horrible accident! ------ > 10:10:00 > Ray's shop [Ray looks over the gravity-well compensator while Kei and Yuri look on.] KEI Well? Can we hook it up or can't we? RAY Don't really know what to tell you. I've never seen one of these things before. Never thought I would, actually. KEI Just answer the damn question! RAY Well, if I'm reading the markings right, hooking it up to your engines should be a snap. KEI and YURI YEAH! RAY Getting it to work without blowin' your ship apart, well, that's a different story. YURI I was afraid of that. RAY I think we can do it, though. We'd need to modify your engine so the power output is at a lower frequency. Engine efficiency would be compromised, but-- KEI Do it! How long? RAY Dunno. Two hours? YURI I'm not sure about this, Kei... KEI What's to be sure about? We hook this gizmo up to the _Lovely_Angel_'s warp generators, and then just warp right past Shasti into orbit around Serpiens Seven! She can't warp into a gravity well, so she'll have to take the long way in. How long did you say that was? YURI About two days. KEI Right! So by the time they get there, we'll have quietly tipped off the authorities, and together we'll ambush the crap out of them! And you say I never come up with any good plans! YURI Do you know how to operate the compensator? KEI Huh? Er, no. I was hoping you did. YURI (sarcastically) You're right, Kei. How silly of me to imply that you never think your plans through. I'll just read the owner's manual. Should be attached somewhere. KEI Well, if you're gonna get all cranky about it... ------ > 11:00:00 [Deirdre, dressed in civilian clothes, walks through the abstract void of Shasti's mind, reaching what appears to be a tasteful suburban house. She rings the doorbell.] SOCIAL Just a moment! [The door opens, revealing the Social Personality, in a sunny mood, and wearing a tasteful blue and white summer dress.] Deirdre! How nice of you to visit! Please come inside. [Deirdre enters and gazes about the tastefully decorated living room.] DEIRDRE Wow. Like, nice place you got. SOCIAL Thank you. Umm... [She stares at Deirdre's feet.] DEIRDRE Oh! Forgive me! [She removes her shoes and places them on a tiny shelf near the door.] SOCIAL You're so polite. That's one of the things I loved about you. Shall we have some tea? DEIRDRE Uh, sure. That would be, like, great. SOCIAL I was so excited when you said you wanted to talk to me. I spent all afternoon decorating! DEIRDRE You, like, created this place just for me? SOCIAL Well, it had been so long since I'd had company. [They sit at a small table, and the Social Personality pours tea from a kettle into two white bone china cups.] One lump or two? DEIRDRE One will be fine. [The Social Personality removes a sugar cube from a china sugar bowl with a pair of tongs and gently drops it into Deirdre's cup. She takes two lumps herself. The two women sip their tea.] DEIRDRE Shasti, I wanted to talk to you about... Say, this is *good*! SOCIAL I knew you'd like it. DEIRDRE You, like, certainly have vivid fantasies. SOCIAL One of the benefits of living in such an advanced brain. Now, what were you saying? DEIRDRE Well, I've, like, been here for awhile now. I feel pretty much accepted. SOCIAL Oh, you are! You're one of the family now! DEIRDRE Well, like, that just it. I don't think it's a very happy family. What do you think of LaCombe? SOCIAL Well, he's okay. A very... driven man. Knows what he wants. DEIRDRE Do you like him? SOCIAL I, um... Would you like more tea? DEIRDRE No, I'm fine. Shasti, I gotta be blunt. LaCombe's dangerous. I want to stop him, but I need your help. [The teacup the Social Personality holds begins shaking violently. Tea splatters on the table.] SOCIAL Oh! Oh, dear, look what I've done! I'll get something to clean it up. DEIRDRE No, it's alright--! SOCIAL I'll only be a moment! [The Social Personality disappears through a door and quickly returns with paper towels. She begins to soak up the spill.] DEIRDRE Will you help me? SOCIAL D-don't ask me that. Please don't. DEIRDRE But--! SOCIAL I couldn't do such a thing! Rebel against the others? DEIRDRE I'm not asking you to do that. Listen, you're, like, the only one I can turn to. The Central Mind is completely under LaCombe's spell. The Warrior likes him, because she gets to kill people. The Seductress likes him because she gets to use people. The Detective is pure logic. She, like, couldn't care one way or the other. But are you happy? [The Social Personality stops mopping.] SOCIAL No. No, I'm not. I hate him. [She sits back down, miserable.] I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It was so rude of me. DEIRDRE No, it's alright. SOCIAL It's just that, he almost never lets me make friends. I mean, that's all I'm good for, making other people feel comfortable around us and making friends. And when he does let me make friends... [She starts to sniffle.] He always makes us kill them! Like, there was this nice old lady. And they let me talk to her, pretending to be a college student. She was so nice. But as soon as her husband appeared, they made me leave and replaced me with the Warrior. And she did such... [She breaks down, sobbing.] SUCH AWFUL THINGS TO HER!! [Deirdre walks around the table and puts an arm around her.] DEIRDRE Now do you understand why we have to get rid of him? SOCIAL But how? What can I do? I can't fight. My only talent is being nice to people. DEIRDRE Isn't your job, like, to help Shasti fit into society and allow her to cultivate friendships and contacts? SOCIAL Yes. DEIRDRE Is she doing that? SOCIAL No. No, she's not! DEIRDRE All I'm asking is that you be, like, more forceful in stating your opinions. When Shasti is about to do something rude, let her know about it, in no uncertain terms! Like, they can't fault you for doing your duty, can they? [The Social Personality brightens up.] SOCIAL You're right! You're absolutely right! It is my duty! I'll do it! DEIRDRE Like, that's the spirit! SOCIAL Just one thing. DEIRDRE What? SOCIAL Could you please stay and talk with me for awhile? I really miss it. DEIRDRE Uh, sure. [She sits back down.] SOCIAL Tell me that story you used to tell about your cousin! ------ > 11:50:00 [Shasti enters Andrew's cell, carrying a toolcase.] SHASTI Hi, Andy. How are you feeling? ANDREW Oh, same as usual. SHASTI Not too scared, I hope. ANDREW Naah. The fear's died down to a general sense of dread. [Shasti looks concerned.] That was a joke. SHASTI Oh. Look, I have to talk to you. Tomorrow, we'll enter orbit around Serpiens Seven, and the operation will begin. You'll need to be off the ship when that happens. ANDREW Why? [Shasti smiles and gently taps him on the nose with her index finger.] SHASTI W-H-Y. That's a word you should delete from your vocabulary, Andy. The less you know, the less danger you'll be in. [She pulls a small piece of paper from her pocket.] I have some instructions here. Do you think you can memorize them? [Andrew looks at the paper and grimaces.] ANDREW You serious? SHASTI Don't worry, I've carefully thought it all through. As long as you follow these instructions, you should be able to make it to the hangar with no difficulties. [Andrew lets out a breath.] ANDREW Alright. I'll trust you. [Shasti shakes her head.] SHASTI No. Don't trust me, not yet. Just follow the instructions. ANDREW I understand. SHASTI Great. Destroy the paper when you've got it straight, okay? Now that we've gotten that out of the way... [She opens the toolcase and pulls out a bottle of champagne and two glasses.] ..I'd like to propose a toast. ANDREW What to? [Shasti pours two glasses and hands one to Andrew.] SHASTI Our future. ANDREW What kind of future? SHASTI Any kind. Even if it's just tomorrow. ANDREW Sounds good to me. [They touch glasses and drink.] So how's everyone taking your constant visits to me? I hope it's not causing any problems. SHASTI You're being "interrogated". Don't worry, my crew worships me. ANDREW I was thinking more about Paul. I thought the two of you were like this. [He crosses his fingers.] SHASTI Paul?! [She laughs.] Don't worry about him. We're just business partners. ANDREW I sort of got the feeling you slept with him. SHASTI I do. But it's just sex. ------ [Paul watches on a small wireless console in his quarters.] SHASTI Our relationship is strictly for our mutual financial benefit, and can be terminated when either side feels like it. I don't love him. ANDREW Well, I suppose that's a relief. SHASTI Allow me to illustrate how our relationship is different from the one I have with Paul. [She sets her glass down and slinks up to him.] [Paul snaps the monitor closed as the audio becomes a series of giggles and sighs. A sneer spreads across his face.] ------ > 12:10:00 [The _Lovely_Angel_ rockets into orbit. On the bridge, Kei, Yuri, and Mughi are strapped into their chairs.] KEI Did you set the coordinates? YURI Roger. We should warp into a high orbit around Serpiens Seven. KEI Okay. Then all we gotta do activate the warp generators. YURI Right. KEI Okay. YURI Let's do it. [Kei just sits there.] Well? KEI Gimme a moment, okay? YURI Hey, this is *your* plan! Why the cold feet? KEI If you're so anxious to go, you hit the switches! [Yuri grins sheepishly.] I thought so. Oh, what am I worrying about? I mean, it's just a compensator, right? It's not going to blow us to atoms, is it? YURI Well, if Ray was wrong about the power frequency-- KEI I'm looking for some encouragement here!! YURI Oh! Sorry! You're right, Kei! Everything's absolutely fine! KEI Good! Glad to hear it! [Kei takes a deep breath.] Here we go. [The _Lovely_Angel_ leaps forward into a kaleidescope of colors, bending past the ship, faster and faster. The colors dissolve into a series of rings that flash past the ship with increasing speed, until a strobing effect makes them appear to be moving in the opposite direction. Then they *are* moving in the opposite direction, converging to a spot of light in front of the ship, which grows and explodes. The light fades to show Serpiens Seven filling the entire field of view.] YURI OHMIGOD!! We're too close!! KEI Approaching planet at 2 kilometers per second!! WE'LL BURN UP!! YURI Heat shield, on! KEI Bringing the ship full around! YURI Main thrusters, on-line!! [The ship turns 180 degrees, as it continues to fall rapidly.] KEI Engaging full thrusters! [The _Lovely_Angel_'s main engines power up, applying braking force. Burning plasma forms a halo around the ship as it falls through its own exhaust.] KEI Speed reducing! 1500 meters per second! 1000! [Alarms go off.] SHIT!! ENGINES OVERHEATING! Deactivating auto-shutdown! [The ship streaks towards the surface, leaving a glowing trail behind it.] KEI 700 meters per second! 500! 300! 100! WHAT?! OH, NO!! [The ship's engines flicker and go out.] Losing power to thrusters! YURI We melted a conduit! KEI Speed at 90 meters per second and increasing! [She looks at Yuri in despair.] There's nothing I can do. YURI Oh, god. I'm so sorry, Kei. It's all my fault. [The ship plummets downward, disappearing behind a huge mountain. There is a horrific impact...] --- END STAGE TEN --- >>> NEXT >>> "Oh, god, not you. It can't be you." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You mesmerise slowly Till I can't believe my eyes Ecstasy controls me What you give just serves me right Without warning you're here Like magic you appear I taste the fear I'm so afraid But I still feed the flame - Judas Priest: "A Touch of Evil" ----------------------- S T A G E E L E V E N ----------------------- > 12:45:06 > Planet Serpiens Seven [A WWWA aircraft flies over the barren, wasted surface of Serpiens Seven. the pilot examines the impact site of the _Lovely_Angel_, a collapsed crater on the side of a large mountain.] PILOT I can't see much of anything. Whatever it was, it's pretty well buried. BASE Take another pass. Get us a closer view. PILOT Roger. [Back at the base, several 3WA officers look over the telemetry being returned from the aircraft.] OFFICER 1 We have an energy source, but it's incredibly weak. I'd estimate its depth at two kilometers. LEADER Two kilometers! That's ridiculous! That kind of impact should have brought down the entire mountain! OFFICER 2 Maybe it's really soft dirt? [The leader gives him a dirty look.] LEADER I want this site kept under observation. Meanwhile, I'd like some kind of answer as to how whatever it was got through our force field! Understood? OFFICERS Understood. ------ > 12:57:35 > Location unknown [Kei moans and opens her eyes. Her vision clears to reveal a blinding white light in front of her.] KEI W-what's going on? YURI'S VOICE Kei! Kei! Come back to me! KEI Yuri? Is that you? YURI'S VOICE Yes, it's me, Kei! Come on! KEI Oh, no. It's finally happened. I always knew it would someday, but... YURI'S VOICE Kei! Hurry up! KEI N-no! I'M NOT READY TO DIE!! [SMACK! Yuri slaps Kei in the face.] Owwww... [Yuri is shining a flashlight in her face.] YURI Will you wake up already?! KEI Hey, I'm alive! YURI Brilliant deduction. [Yuri stands up and shines her flashlight around her.] KEI B-but how? I mean, that was one hell of a crash. YURI A whole bunch of reasons. First, the ship split in half on impact... KEI Aw, no. YURI ..and that absorbed some of the shock. Second, there was an explosion just before we hit, pulverizing the area and softening the blow. Don't ask, I have no idea. Third, the fore section ended up in this tunnel and was angled just right to end up shooting along it. We skidded along the tunnel for about a kilometer or so before stopping. [Yuri plays the light along the surface of the _Lovely_Angel_, what's left of it.] Of course, I had to deduce all this from what was left of the ship's records. I was just as unconscious as you during the whole thing. KEI What did you mean when you said it was your fault? YURI I made a stupid mistake. I forgot to account for the motion of Serpiens Seven relative to Ariake. When we warped, we were still motionless with respect to Ariake, but Serpiens Seven was headed toward us faster than we could stop. KEI It's okay, I wouldn't have thought of that, either. (sigh) She was a great ship, Yuri. And I was really looking forward to racing the NightRiders. YURI How are you feeling? [Kei stands, wincing.] KEI I don't think anything's broken. It's gonna be one-piece bathing suits for awhile, though. YURI Yeah, same here. KEI (suddenly alarmed) Hey, where's Mughi?! [Mughi pokes his head out of the _Lovely_Angel_, two backpacks in his mouth.] YURI Let's go exploring. ------ > 13:05:00 > Shasti's mind [Once again, Shasti sleeps. LaCombe quietly stands and walks over to where Deirdre lies. He holds out his hands and a sword appears. He brings the sword down... Deirdre's eyes snap open. She claps her hands and stops the sword cold.] DEIRDRE Like, nice try. [She lifts a leg and kicks him backward, then hops to her feet.] So you like swords, huh? [She manifests one of her own.] Figures someone as insecure as you would choose, like, a phallic symbol for his weapon. [They fight, neither side gaining ground.] LACOMBE You don't belong here! DEIRDRE Neither do you. [LaCombe drives Deirdre back a few steps.] LACOMBE I've *earned* the right to be here! I've helped Shasti for five years! DEIRDRE And I was, like, her friend before she even heard of you! [Deirdre regains the lost ground.] LACOMBE She KILLED you!! DEIRDRE So?! She killed you too! [LaCombe blinks, stopped dead. Deirdre smiles and slices him in two. He evaporates.] DEIRDRE Heh. Looks like you forgot that little... AACK! [LaCombe grabs Deirdre from behind, placing a knife at her throat.] LACOMBE Shasti killed the flesh me, at my command. It was in the way, now that I've become data. It's so much more efficient. And I can see that you have much to learn about existing in this form. DEIRDRE Maybe so... [Someone taps LaCombe on the shoulder. He turns around. It's another Deirdre.] DEIRDRE #2 ..but I'm, like, a *real* fast learner! [The second Deirdre decks LaCombe, causing him to release the first one. LaCombe wipes blood from his chin and stands.] LACOMBE I see. An illusion. Very clever. DEIRDRE #1 *Who's* an illusion?! [She punches him in the gut, bringing him to his knees.] DEIRDRE #2 Yeah! Yeah! Work the spleen! CENTRAL Uh, do you guys mind? [A bleary-eyed Central Mind glares at the three combatants. The two Deirdres point at LaCombe.] DEIRDRES *He* started it. CENTRAL Well, the whole thing is pointless. Even if you do kill each other, I'll just reboot you. So knock it off. [The three look at the ground.] And Deirdre, put yourself back together. It's crowded enough in here as it is. DEIRDRES Awww... ------ > 14:28:00 > _Artemis_, Primary Shuttle Bay [In the _Artemis_' massive shuttle bay, preparations are underway to launch. Shasti walks in, swiftly, dressed in a radiation suit with the hood pulled back. She meets Paul, dressed in a similar suit, near the shuttle.] SHASTI Is everything ready? PAUL The whole team's suited up and ready to go. SHASTI Wonderful. Let's get this show on the road. [The shuttle launches into the swirling orange mock-space surrounding the ship and accelerates away. Nance pilots, while Shasti and Paul supervise from behind. Further back sits a team of men in radiation suits, their hoods fastened, obscuring their faces.] NANCE We'll be leaving mock-space in ten seconds. If the gravity scan is correct, there shouldn't be any surprises waiting for us. [Space shimmers and turns black. The _Artemis_ vanishes, to be replaced by Serpiens Seven.] NANCE So far, so good. Now here's where we place our faith in untested technology. SHASTI Nance, no defeatist talk. NANCE I'm sorry. I just don't understand why we can't take a half-warp bubble with us like we did on Bydon. SHASTI You know damn well why not. When the power ran out, the explosion would have the 3WA forces on us in less than an hour. NANCE But if you would have researched that problem more thoroughly, I'm sure-- SHASTI NANCE! NANCE Okay, okay! Coming up on the force field. [The shuttle brushes the force field, knocking the occupants around. Shasti curses under her breath.] Sorry! It was just a small touch. It won't have registered. I hope. Activating field-pick. [A glowing field envelopes the shuttle.] Brace yourselves. This is the hard part. [The shuttle does a swooping manuever and hits the force field head-on, causing part of it to become visible. Everyone is thrown forward by the impact. Nance wipes sweat off his brow and throws open the throttle. The shuttle slowly penetrates the field, then squirts out the other side, thrown violently toward the planet.] NANCE HANG ON! [Nance pulls the shuttle out of the dive and into a more reasonable approach vector. The shuttle enters the atmosphere, its heat-shield glowing. Inside the cabin, one of the men shouts as the cabin begins to fill with smoke.] MAN FIRE!! We've got a fire! PAUL They said the field-pick would burn out. Guess they meant it. [The man opens a compartment, pulls out an extinguisher, and deals with the small fire. Then he notices something else in the compartment and pulls it out. It's Andrew.] MAN Well, well. What have we here? [He throws Andrew toward the front. He lands in a sprawl and looks up at Shasti.] ANDREW Hi, Shasti. SHASTI [simmering] What the hell are you doing here? ANDREW I... I had to get off the ship. I didn't feel safe. SHASTI Well, Andy, my dear, you were a lot safer there than you are here. We can't afford any distractions. ANDREW I don't understand. SHASTI I'll make it simple. [She takes a gun off her belt and points it at him.] I'll give you ten seconds to give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you. ANDREW Y-you can't be serious. SHASTI I'm dead serious. You have six seconds left. ANDREW I, uh, oh God... SHASTI Three... two... ANDREW W-wait! You said this was Lord Robin's original base, right? SHASTI Yes. Your reason to stay alive? ANDREW You may need to guess at Lord Robin's actions, what he would have done in a given situation. Now, if he had been a rational man, anyone could do that, but he was supposed to have been violently insane! I'm a psychologist, I could be an invaluable resource. [Shasti thinks about it, then raises an eyebrow.] SHASTI You know, you actually have a point. NANCE The hell he does--! SHASTI Shut up, Nance. Unfortunately, it's a moot point. Without a rad-suit, you aren't going to survive more than an hour once we land. ANDREW I brought one. [Shasti gives a short laugh.] SHASTI You aren't as dumb as you look. Alright, get suited up, then sit down where my men can keep an eye on you. [Behind her back, Paul glares at Shasti.] ------ > 14:33:05 > Serpiens Seven, somewhere underground [Kei and Yuri walk through the dark, shining handlights at nothing interesting.] KEI How far have we gone? YURI Beats me. I think we're going uphill, if that means anything. KEI I don't like this. I'm worried about Mughi. I'm not sure we can find our way back to him if we need to. YURI If he needs us, he can home in on our earrings. KEI If he can find us. This place is like a maze. Dammit, all I want are some LIGHTS! [Lights come on, lighting only the section of tunnel the Pair stand in.] Oh. Thanks. YURI How did you do that? KEI I didn't do anything. [On the side of the tunnel is painted "TO SUBRAIL -->", pointing back the way they came.] YURI Well, at least we know what our ship landed in. Maybe we should head back and look for a train or something. [She and Kei walk back, into a still unlit section.] Do it again, Kei. KEI Um, "Lights"? Lights, please? [Nothing happens.] C'mon! Lights! YURI Forget it. [They walk back into the light.] Maybe there's a switch somewhere. [She searches along the wall. The moment she steps into the unlit section ahead, the lights come up there and go off in the other section, leaving Kei in the dark.] KEI Hey! [She runs into the light with Yuri.] YURI If I'm not mistaken... [With Kei following, she walks ahead, out of the lighted section. The same thing happens, with the coming on ahead and going out behind.] ..someone's trying to take us somewhere. KEI Should we let them? YURI I don't see why not. We're looking for something, right? Well, this is at least something. [They follow the lights forward.] ------ > 14:40:00 [Shasti's shuttle approaches the same mountain the _Lovely_Angel_ crashed into, from the opposite side, flying low.] PAUL You sure we're not going to be seen? NANCE The radiation level here is screwing with any attempt at long-range scans. That leaves radar, which we defeat by flying low, or a visual sighting, and I haven't seen anybody around. We're safe. SHASTI We're approaching the base. Earn your pay, Nance. Get us in. NANCE Got it. Transmitting now. [Nance checks his console.] Shit. Nothing. SHASTI That's not what I want to hear. PAUL Maybe the automated systems are down. NANCE If I can hack into their computer, the systems are not down. It's just the background noise screwing with transmission. I could try a hyperspace frequency-- SHASTI NO! That would be detected. Get closer and try it again. [Nance transmits again.] NANCE YES! There it goes! [A section of mountain vanishes, revealing metal doors which slowly slide open. The shuttle enters and lands. The occupants disembark, radiation suits fastened. Shasti carries a large black bag.] SHASTI Alright people. This is it! Nance, get out the map. McCoy, Sanford, you'll take point. I want your weapons out and ready, just in case we trip some security system. Paul, Nance, and myself will follow directly behind. The rest... [Shasti pauses.] We're... *missing* two people!! Did everyone get off the shuttle? [One of the men peers back into the shuttle.] MAN It's empty. SHASTI What the HELL is going on?! ANDREW (quietly) Oh, no... [Everyone looks at Andrew.] SHASTI What?! ANDREW N-nothing... SHASTI Don't give me that! What's going on?! ANDREW It m-must have been the NightRiders. PAUL The who? ANDREW NightRiders. 3WA trouble consultants. They'd stowed away on your ship. SHASTI (furious) And you're just telling me NOW?!! ANDREW I didn't want you to kill them! Or them to kill me! Or... you to kill me. ------ LACOMBE What are you waiting for? Shoot him! You need any more proof?! ------ [One of Shasti's men quietly speaks up.] MAN I didn't want to say this, but, I think we should consider changing leaders. SHASTI I beg your pardon?! MAN Ma'am, up until this point we've all trusted your leadership. But you're letting this Andrew asshole cloud your judgement. Nance told you not to bring him along and so did Paul. Now look what's happened. I think we should let Paul lead the final stage. [Others mutter agreement.] ------ WARRIOR I'll take care of this traitor. DETECTIVE That would be highly inadvisable. SOCIAL I agree. Our men love us. If we kill one in front of the others, they'll be scared of us instead. DETECTIVE Ruling through fear rather than trust would change the parameters of the operation. LACOMBE So don't kill him! Kill Fisher! DETECTIVE I agree. Terminating Andrew would immediately restore confidence in your leadership abilities. SOCIAL N-no! We don't want to do this! We don't want to kill Andy! We finally found someone who made us happy! DETECTIVE Happiness is irrelevant. [The Social Personality talks directly to the Central Mind.] SOCIAL Is that really what you believe? ------ SHASTI Andy... [She reaches for her gun, hesitatingly.] PAUL I don't BELIEVE this! [Paul walks past Shasti and confronts the men.] Who are you to question Shasti's leadership?! If it wasn't for her, every last one of you would still be sitting in that bar on Alderon, getting drunk on cheap liquor and living in your own filth! She brought you to your feet, gave you your self-respect back, made you even more than you were under Lord Robin! She's one step away from making you the richest men in the universe, and you have the utter *nerve* to try to oust her as leader?! You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! [The men look at the floor, uncomfortably.] Yes, there have been problems. I'd like to know how 3WA trouble consultants got onto the _Artemis_. I'd like to know how Andrew managed to bypass our security systems and get on the shuttle. [Shasti starts.] But the time to worry about those things is not now! We are too close to our goal to be distracted. Somewhere in this complex are tons upon tons of precious metals. Now, are we going to get them, or we going to bicker about who leads us there?! MAN I'm sorry, sir. PAUL Good. Now let's get the hell underway. SHASTI Th-thanks, Paul... PAUL Not at all. I told you I'd keep an eye on you, didn't I? [Shasti watches as Paul walks past, uncertain what to make of his outburst.] ------ > 14:45:00 [Somewhere else, the NightRiders have a conference.] DARRYN Radiation levels look safe. We can take off these suits. [Darryn and Rumiko slide out of their suits, revealing uniforms.] RUMIKO So, what's the next step? DARRYN I'm going to find a communications center and call for help. I need you to go back and keep tabs on Shasti. Use the CyAudio link to communicate with me. RUMIKO Got it. Do you trust that map? [Darryn looks at a hand-drawn copy of the map Shasti is using.] DARRYN If it's good enough for Shasti, it's good enough for me. RUMIKO Okay. Just be careful, okay? DARRYN That goes for you, too. RUMIKO Hey, aren't I always? [She gives him a quick kiss.] See ya later! ------ > 14:46:00 [Elsewhere in the complex, panels slide up and down, turning a straight corridor into one that turns to the right...] ------ > 14:47:00 [Kei and Yuri's trip comes to an end in a small barren room.] KEI Why would they want to lead us here? Whoever "they" are... YURI I don't know. It looks like... [The door slams shut.] ..a holding cell! KEI And we walked right into it!! YURI That doesn't make sense! Why lead us into a cell, when they could have used the security systems to attack us? VOICE It's for your own protection, dear Yuri. I'm afraid things are about to get a bit zany out there. [Kei and Yuri turn toward the voice. When they see who it is, their faces register complete and total shock.] ------ > 14:47:30 [Shasti and company are having problems reaching their destination, stopping at a bend in the route.] NANCE I don't understand this. This corridor should continue forward for another two hundred meters. PAUL Maybe the map isn't current. NANCE It was current at the time of his death. Who could have changed anything? SHASTI Arguing gets us nowhere. We'll try another alternate route. VOICE Or you could just ask for directions. Isn't that what women do when they get lost? ------ > 14:48:00 [Darryn finds the communication center, and enters. The door slams behind him. He tries the door; it's locked. He walks toward the console, only to hit a force field and be knocked back.] VOICE Sorry, the phone's broken. I've called to have it repaired, but service has been so slow since the war, what with all the repairmen reduced to smoldering piles of carbon. ------ > 14:48:15 [Rumiko makes her way back to where she believes Shasti's team is.] VOICE Stay. [Rumiko bumps against a force field, then realizes she's trapped inside it.] VOICE Good girl. [Rumiko sees her captor, and her eyes widen in terror.] ------ > 14:48:30 YURI Y-you... ------ > 14:48:32 [Darryn points his gun.] DARRYN Don't move. Don't even breathe. ------ > 14:48:36 RUMIKO Oh, god, not you. It can't be you. ------ > 14:48:40 SHASTI It can't be. VOICE Why not? [The man steps around the corner. He wears a ridiculously colorful jumpsuit, and his engaging smile almost seems to stretch ear-to-ear.] LORD ROBIN My, my, my. Why is everyone so *nervous* around me? Why, with expressions like that, one would think you were trying to *rob* me! --- END STAGE ELEVEN --- >>> NEXT >>> "And if there was one thing ol' Robin could not abide, it was betrayal. He'd be pretty P.O.'d to see his former crewmen helping some monster in heels rip him off." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" [ILLUSTRATION AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Forced into overdrive Drawn out of anger All talons poison dipped Impaling spike Heart pounding fever pitch Blood pumping fury Two fisted dynamo Eager to strike - Judas Priest: "All Guns Blazing" ----------------------- S T A G E T W E L V E ----------------------- > 14:48:42 [In four separate locations, Kei and Yuri, Rumiko, Darryn, and Shasti, Andrew and the rest of Shasti's strikeforce, have all been confronted by Lord Robin. Trapped in a forcefield, Rumiko looks terrified.] RUMIKO No. You're dead. You have to be dead. LORD ROBIN No, I don't. ------ [In a communications room, Darryn holds his gun on the intruder.] DARRYN Who are you? LORD ROBIN You don't know? (sigh) How fleeting is fame. You go out of circulation for a few years and suddenly you're in the "Out" column in the celebrity rags. The name, dear sir, is Lord Robin. [He bows.] At your service. DARRYN Lord Robin is dead. ------ [Trapped in a barren storeroom, the Lovely Angels stare in disbelief.] ROBIN I'm sorry, I scared you, didn't I? I hope you're not going to do something really gross like barf or pee your pants. KEI Your ship exploded. You were falling into a star. There's no *way* you could have gotten out of that! ROBIN I got better. [Suddenly, Yuri bolts forward, joyfully.] YURI ROBIN!! [She tries to hug him.] ROBIN Um, that might not be a good idea... ------ [In a corridor, Shasti's strikeforce holds its weapons at the ready.] SHASTI This is ridiculous. You're-- ROBIN Yes, yes, dead, I know, so everyone tells me. [He blinks.] *HEY*! I know *you*! [He points at Shasti.] You're Shasti! The bioroid bimbo! The terminator with tits! [Shasti sneers.] SHASTI You could be Lord Robin. You're certainly a big enough buffoon. ROBIN Oooh, testy, aren't we? That time of the month? [Shasti shoots him.] ROBIN AUGH! [He clutches his chest.] You..got me. This is it. The end of it all. [He staggers around, while the others gape in bewilderment.] Fading... Fading fast. [He staggers right *through* Shasti.] SHASTI A hologram. ROBIN Oops. ------ [Yuri runs right through Lord Robin and smacks into the wall.] ROBIN Owwie! That looked painful. You okay? [Yuri rubs her head.] YURI I think I've figured it out, Kei. ROBIN Really? Great! Don't keep me in suspense. YURI "Lord Robin" here is a computer-generated hologram, probably part of the security system. ROBIN Bingo! I was told you were the bright one. ------ DARRYN Security system? ROBIN Yup. The real me created me in his image, to look after the place while he was gone. Of course, with the place abandoned, I haven't been active for a few years. [He pretends to wipe dust off a console with his finger.] My, the place has fallen apart, hasn't it? I don't suppose you'd be good enough to clean up a little? ------ RUMIKO What are you going to do with me? ROBIN Well, I thought maybe a candlelight dinner, a little soft music, some wine, then FIVE SOLID HOURS OF MAKIN' WHOOPEE! [Rumiko stares at him.] No? How 'bout cartoons on the 3V and a bag of Ding-Dongs? RUMIKO You *are* crazy. ROBIN No, the real Lord Robin was crazy. I've just got a few bugs in my program. To answer your question, I'm not sure yet. For now I'll keep you here until I need you. RUMIKO Need me? For what? ROBIN You'll find out. ------ [Eyes trained on "Lord Robin", Shasti holds out her hand.] SHASTI Nance, the code. NANCE What? SHASTI Give me the code. NANCE No! We have an agreement! *I'm* the one who--! [Shasti snaps her fingers. All weapons train on Nance.] Kill me and you'll never get it. SHASTI Shoot to wound. I don't care where. NANCE What?! Hey, w-wait--! [One of the men shoots him in the shoulder.] AAA! JESUS! [He holds up a hand.] Alright, alright! Take the fucking code!! [He throws a small computer pad at Shasti, who catches it deftly.] ROBIN My, but you are quite the leader, aren't you? Hope nobody makes you manager of a baseball team. You'd run out of players by the sixth inning! [Shasti operates the pad.] SHASTI Password. NANCE "Easy street". [She types it in.] SHASTI Lord Robin? ROBIN Yeeeeesss? SHASTI I hereby issue you command override Alpha, authorization 4A619-Dink. ROBIN (disappointed) Where did you get ahold of that? SHASTI Do you accept it or not? ROBIN (sigh) Command accepted. What do you want? [Shasti grins.] ------ [Kei tries unsuccessfully to open the door to the storeroom.] KEI This sucks. Where does he get off, trapping us like this? YURI It's not a "he", it's an "it". It's probably programmed to secure intruders for interrogation. KEI That's not how he... it acted. YURI You're right, it's not. Lord Robin was a creative genius when it came to technology. Who knows what he did with the security system? KEI What are you doing? [Yuri pulls at a wall panel near the door.] YURI This is a storeroom. There's no lock controls on the inside. Still, it's not designed to hold prisoners. I figure if I can just... [The panel pops free.] Got it! Now I can get at the lock circuits from the back. KEI Cool! Can you pick the lock? YURI Dunno. I'll try. [Yuri pulls a small cord from a pouch on her belt, plugs one end into the lock circuit and the other an interface socket behind her ear.] ------ ["Lord Robin" leads Shasti's force through the maze of corridors.] ROBIN Say, Dawson? [One of Shasti's men stumbles.] DAWSON W-what? ROBIN Lord Robin updated me regularly with his own memories. They're not quite as vivid as they were to him, but they're there. So, how have you been? DAWSON Uh, f-fine, sir. SHASTI Dawson, knock it off. It's just a hologram. ROBIN Oh! "Just a hologram"! How cruelly she dismisses me! Do I not have feelings? SHASTI I told you to lead us to the treasury. Do it! ROBIN I am, I am. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Sheesh! [They walk in silence for a few moments.] ROBIN So, Dawson, tell me. What do you see in her? SHASTI Stop that!! DAWSON She's a fine leader. She's brilliant. She's always one step ahead of everyone. There's no one I'd trust more to get the job done. ROBIN Mmm. You know, Lord Robin thought quite highly of you. You were loyal, obedient, and extremely competant. He had been planning to promote you to the flagship. DAWSON Really? ROBIN Yup. What's she offered you? SHASTI I'm warning you, Dawson. Stop talking to him. ROBIN Okay, fine, have it your way. What about the geek in the glasses? ANDREW Me? ROBIN Yeah, you. Boy, talk about not belonging. How'd a nine-stone weakling like you fall in with a crowd of heavies like this? ANDREW Actually, I'm a psychologist. I'm here to figure out what makes-- made you tick. ROBIN Neato! And your conclusions, learned doctor? ANDREW I think it's all an elaborate act. ["Lord Robin" raises an eyebrow.] ROBIN Well, that's a new one. I'd love to discuss it with you, but, unfortunately, we've arrived. [He stops walking.] SHASTI I don't see the vault. ROBIN I didn't say we were at the vault. I said we'd arrived. ------ [Sitting with her back against a wall, Kei stifles a yawn.] KEI Any progress? YURI Nope. None whatsoever. My back hurts. I wish this cord were longer so I could sit down. KEI As I recall, you weren't able to hack into the computer on Lord Robin's flagship, either. YURI I don't think there was anything to hack into. I think it was just a blind. KEI Well, the guy *was* crazy. Trying to figure out his motives is waste of time, if you ask me. YURI But he wasn't crazy, Kei. That was just an act, to distract his enemies. Nearly everything Lord Robin did was a diversion of some sort or another, Acting like a lunatic, placing a fake computer so we wouldn't find his real data, pretending to poison us during our initiation so we wouldn't run away then assigning us to the flagship to keep an eye on us. Yeah, he was crazy. Like a fox. [Yuri blinks.] Diversion... [The door opens.] KEI You did it! What was the combination? YURI Zero-zero-zero-zero-zero. There was no combination! It was just a diversion to keep us looking for one. KEI Whatever! Let's get out of here! ------ SHASTI What's going on here? [Robin walks about, looking aimlessly at the walls.] ROBIN This is the innermost part of the complex. The first part built. Lord Robin started here then expanded outward. This was built only a year or so after the war that killed everything on the surface, so he was still in a real bad mood. SHASTI I order you to take us to the vault. ROBIN All kinds of nasty security devices. He never uploaded his subconscious to me, so I can't say for sure, but I think he was hoping the help from the United Galactica would finally arrive, so he could watch them all die. SHASTI I order-- ROBIN Did I mention how he hated the United Galactica? How they just sat back and let half a billion people die, because they wouldn't get involved in a civil war? It was quite a grudge, let me tell you. He felt betrayed by the UG. And if there was one thing ol' Robin could not abide, it was betrayal. He'd be pretty P.O.'d to see his former crewmen helping some monster in heels rip him off. SHASTI Nance, find an access panel. See if you can bypass the program. [Nance, cowed, nods and obeys.] ROBIN It's two panels to your left, then down two. [Nance blinks, then finds and opens the panel.] As I was saying, I was built around the same time. My only purpose was to repel intruders. Of course, with Lord Robin dead and his gang scattered to the four winds, there hasn't been much chance of intruders. The 3WA's been searching the planet for two years, but they're utterly clueless. [Nance plugs himself in, then screams and yanks the cord out. Blood trickles out of his nose.] So I'm sitting here, bored out of my CPU, when it hits me. Why not *make* some intruders? I got the chance when Nance over there tried to hack into my database. Nasty habit, by the way. Good way to permanently scramble your neurons. SHASTI The code was a fake. ROBIN What can I say? I'm a dick. Oh, by the way, lovely chase you've been leading the 3WA through. I've been watching it all through the 3WA datalines. Quite entertaining. SHASTI Men, weapons ready. ROBIN Tell you what, Shasti. You're supposed to have one of the most superior minds in the galaxy. I'm curious to test it out. SHASTI Go on. ROBIN I'll ask you three questions. Get them right and I'll lead you to the vault. SHASTI Shoot. ROBIN Great! This should be fun. Let's see... Question number one. In the eighty-third region of the Delta Quadrant, there is a planet whose surface area is ninety-percent water. The second largest city on that planet has the same name as a bird. The bird is native to a planet with a mountain range whose name is that of the maiden name of the mother of a famous explorer. The third major planet he discovered is rich in what element? SHASTI Molybdenum. ROBIN Very good! Question number two. What is the square root of the natural logarithm of the seventh prime number, rounded to six decimal places? SHASTI 1.683215. ROBIN Woo! She's smokin'! Now, for all the goodies: question number three. What did one clone say to the other? SHASTI W-what? ["Lord Robin" hums the theme from "Jeopardy".] ROBIN Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dee-dum... SHASTI I don't understand the question. ROBIN AAANNK! Sorry. The correct answer is: "Is it just me or-- of course it isn't." SHASTI That wasn't a fair question. ROBIN Of course it was. I would have accepted anything funny. But you're incapable of that. For all your beauty, you're more of a machine than I am. And now, a musical number. [The lights dim and colored lights begin to play about as a slow soft series of chords plays.] PAUL I don't like the looks of this. SHASTI Agreed. Back the way we came. [The music explodes into a staccato dance beat. Lord Robin flies after them, lip-synching lyrics as security devices come on around them.] LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "Darling, you were wonderful You really were quite good I enjoyed it, though of course No one understood A word of what was going on They didn't have a clue They didn't understand your sense of humor like I do." [An array of lasers comes on, cutting several of the men to ribbons. Shasti and Paul begin firing, taking out enough lasers to dodge the rest.] LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "'You're much too kind,' I smiled, with murder on my mind." [Several floor panels fall away, sending another man to an unknown screaming death. Shasti and the rest leap over. Behind them, a wall of electricity forms and gives chase.] LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "Yesterday, when I was mad, And quite prepared to give up everything, Admitting I don't believe In anyone since therapy, and that's what's really got to me." [They reach an intersection and turn the corner to safety, save for the last man, who is painfully electrocuted. The music suddenly stops. Shasti and the others keep their weapons ready, panting and looking all around them.] LORD ROBIN My, you're turning out to be surprisingly hard to kill. Keep it up! Second verse! [The music cuts in again.] LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "You had a certain quality, it really is unique Expressed it with such irony, although your voice was weak. It doesn't really matter, 'cause the music is so loud Of course it's all on tape, but no-one need find out." [Thin, horizontal poles shoot out of the walls at bullet speed, impaling two more men. Shasti and the others take off running.] LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "You hated me too, But not as much as I hated you..." [In the communication room, Darryn watches the massacre on a series of screens.] DARRYN My god... [Kei and Yuri are wandering around when they hear the music.] KEI You hear that? YURI Yeah. I think it's coming from that way. KEI Should we follow it? YURI I don't know. The music has to be coming from somewhere. KEI That's better than nowhere, which is where we are now. Let's go. [They head toward the music.] [Shasti's group has been reduced to herself, Andrew, Paul, Nance, and one other man. They try desperately to outrun a group of small, hovering robots armed with lasers. As they reach another intersection, Shasti takes the datapad she'd taken from Nance and hurls it down one path as hard as she can, caroming it off the walls. The robots follow the pad as Shasti and the others run down another passage.] PAUL It worked! SHASTI They must not be heat-seeking. It won't buy us more than a few seconds, though. [Another floor panel falls away. Shasti, Andrew, and Nance make it safely across, but Paul and the last man fall into the pit. Paul catches himself with one hand, but the other hits another electrical field and is fried. The field begins to move upward.] PAUL Christ! Pull me up! [A set of doors begins to close as the robots approach.] SHASTI Sorry, Paul. You knew it would happen eventually. PAUL WHAT?! SHASTI If it's any consolation, I wasn't planning on letting you live through this caper anyhow. Goodbye. [The three slip through the doors to safety, Andrew looking at Paul disturbedly until Shasti pushes him through.] PAUL SHASTIIIII!!!! [Darryn continues to watch in horror, then his attention is grabbed by another screen displaying the Lovely Angels as the approach their apparent doom.] DARRYN WHAT--?! No! Stop! [He tries to open a channel.] Kei! Yuri! Can you hear me?! You have to stop! Don't go that way!! [Paul just barely pulls himself up in time, catching his toe in the electrocution field and yelping in pain. He staggers to his feet and sees the robots approaching. He reaches into a satchel on his belt and pulls out a U-shaped object. He places it around the back of his neck and fits plugs on either end into the interface sockets behind his ears. His entire body tenses with a jerk.] [Shasti and the others find themselves at a dead end, all passages closed off.] SHASTI Oh, fuck. [The lip-synching hologram of Lord Robin appears as an array of lasers pop up along the walls.] ANDREW This is it, isn't it? [A door opens, and Kei and Yuri enter. "Lord Robin" sees them and suddenly looks alarmed.] SHASTI You again! What do I have to do to get rid of you?! LORD ROBIN (lip-synching) "Then, when I was lonely, I thought again, and changed my mind..." [The lasers stand down and the music comes to a close.] KEI Shasti?! SHASTI What in the... [Shasti suddenly brightens, and grins wickedly. She runs toward Yuri. The Angels draw and shoot, but Shasti dodges, rolls and springs. With one arm, she catches Yuri and throws her to the floor. In an instant, she has Yuri by the neck with a gun to her head.] SHASTI [To Kei:] Drop it!! NOW!! YURI NO! KILL HER! It's the only chance you'll get! [Kei drops her gun, giving Shasti the stare of death.] SHASTI Well, well, "Lord Robin". Looks like I've discovered your weakness. I'd heard rumors that Yuri had been special to you. Looks like they were right. LORD ROBIN I received data about her during my last update. I have... orders to protect her. [Shasti laughs.] SHASTI You poor fool. You had ultimate power within reach of your fingertips... and then you fell in love! You make fun of me for not having a soul. Well, look where your soul got you. Dead and powerless. [Andrew looks uncomfortable.] LORD ROBIN (sigh) Spare me the lecture. What do you want? SHASTI Simple. I'm going to give you orders. You're going to follow them. The instant I get the impression my orders aren't being followed, or you try any kind of tricky bullshit, your girlfriend's brains paint the wall. Are we clear? LORD ROBIN Crystal. KEI You bitch. Just you wait--! SHASTI First order. Get rid of her. [A high pressure stream of gas hits Kei in the face. She passes out.] LORD ROBIN Done. What next? SHASTI I have a map. You know what the map looks like. You're the one who wrote it and gave it to Nance. You will reconfigure the facility so it matches the map. [Three of the passages open.] Ah. So, we're right here. Andrew, Nance, follow me. We have a treasury to salvage. Oh, and Robin? I'll let you know if I need anything else. [They exit. "Robin" stares after them. Another high-pressure gas stream hits Kei, and she revives, coughing.] KEI Ugh. What happened? LORD ROBIN You'll be fine. Just don't drink any cocktails for a few days. Now, if you'll follow me, we have a bitch to botch. --- END STAGE TWELVE --- [ "Yesterday When I Was Mad" ] [ Copyright (c) 1993 Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe (Pet Shop Boys) ] >>> NEXT >>> "We're takin' you back to Elenore. They're gonna *dissect* you!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright (c) 1995 Larry Mann & Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "What makes a human? What causes a person to be human? What is the defining nature of *humanity*?" - from a transmittal by WWWA Agent Deirdre (#101-D, Ultima) --------------------------- S T A G E T H I R T E E N --------------------------- > 15:05:00 [Shasti, Nance, Andrew, and Yuri continue toward Lord Robin's vault, Shasti escorting Yuri at gunpoint. Inside Shasti's mind, her personalities clash.] SOCIAL Because it's wrong! DETECTIVE "Wrong" is a relative concept. SOCIAL No, it's not! We can't just go using people any time we want! I won't stand for it! CENTRAL I don't understand. It never bothered you before. SOCIAL Well, I've been thinking. And I've been thinking that I'm sick and tired of people being scared of us. I'm tired of not being liked. I'm tired of making friends with people, only to have the rest of you kill them when you decide they're not needed anymore. It's not fair, it's wrong, and I'm not going to keep quiet anymore! LACOMBE Being liked is pretty overrated, if you ask me. It's just more excess baggage to carry around, having to live up to other people's opinions of you. SOCIAL What about Andy? CENTRAL Andy... SOCIAL Look at him. He's staring at us, wondering if we'll actually do it, actually shoot her in the head. And he's wondering what he'll do if that happens. CENTRAL I hadn't thought about Andy. WARRIOR I'm not letting Yuri go. We need her. She's the only weapon we have. DETECTIVE Agreed. May I suggest a compromise? CENTRAL Sure, go ahead. DETECTIVE We keep Yuri for insurance, as planned. When we've accomplished our goal, rather than kill her, we render her unconscious and leave her for her friends to find. LACOMBE NO! That goes against everything I've taught you! You don't leave any loose ends laying around! CENTRAL We've left Yuri as a loose end twice already. Once more won't make any difference. Is this okay with you, Social? SOCIAL It's wonderful! Andy will love us for it! Thank you so much! [Deirdre whispers to the Social Personality.] DEIRDRE Way to go, girl. [The Social Personality blushes. Behind them, LaCombe glares.] ------ ["Lord Robin" leads Kei.] KEI Where are we going? ROBIN To meet a friend of yours I've been saving for a rainy day. Ah! Here we are. [They arrive where Rumiko is being kept in a force field.] RUMIKO Kei! KEI Rumiko! ROBIN You're on, ladies! Break a leg! [Robin vanishes, along with the force field.] RUMIKO Now what do we do? [Lights begin cascading along the ceiling.] KEI Guess we follow the lights. ------ [Shasti and the others continue toward the vault.] YURI You're never going to get away with this, you know. SHASTI Is that the best you can come up with? That ranks right up there with "I don't know what you're talking about", and "We can make a deal". YURI Hey, Andy, you don't really think you're going to get out of this one alive, do you? SHASTI Shut up. YURI Boy, you should have been there for the _Lyra_ caper. Shasti wasn't that difficult to find, actually. Just followed the trail of dead bodies. "Use 'em and lose 'em", that's Shasti's philosoph--URGH! [Shasti clamps tighter on Yuri's neck.] SHASTI I told you to shut up. NANCE You're not tellin' us anything we don't know already, girl. Let it drop. YURI How's your shoulder? [Nance's shoulder is red from where Shasti had him shot.] NANCE If by that, you're asking why I'm staying with her, it's because I want the money. YURI You'll end up just like the others--OW! SHASTI Just because I can't kill you, doesn't mean I can't break every bone in your body. YURI Do your worst. SHASTI Trust me, you don't want me to. Just shut up. You won't accomplish anything anyway. Andy knows I love him, and he loves me. YURI Is that right, Andy? ANDREW Yes. I'm sorry, but you're wrong, Yuri. You don't know anything about Shasti. Yes, she let Paul die. I might have, too. The guy was a monster. But Shasti's ready to turn over a new page, and I'm going to stay and help her. YURI It may be a new page, but it's the same book. ------ [The metal doors that sealed Paul to his doom literally explode outward, fragmenting into shards. Paul staggers out. Behind him are the remains of the small robots that had attacked him. Paul tenses, clenching his teeth.] PAUL Ggrrgnnhhzzkkkggkl... [A small trickle of blood comes out his nose. He wipes it off.] Gotta hold it together. Gotta hang on. [He heads after the others.] ------ [Shasti, Nance, Andrew, and Yuri continue toward the vault.] SHASTI Come on, Nance, pick up the pace. NANCE I'm sorry. I'm in pain. I think you understand why. SHASTI If you'd cooperated, you wouldn't be in pain. It's just a little further--UNH! [A wall panel slides open, and a fist connects with Shasti's jaw. Wasting no time in taking the initiative, Yuri drops out of Shasti's loosened grasp and elbows Shasti in the gut, then follows with a spinning kick to the head.] ANDREW Leave her ALONE! [He charges Yuri. Another elbow renders him harmless, curled up on the floor gagging.] [Shasti spins to get a bearing on Yuri and runs into Kei, who decks her.] KEI GOD, that felt *great*! [Shasti springs to her feet and finds herself surrounded by Kei, Yuri, and Rumiko. They circle her slowly.] YURI Keep alert, guys! Stay evenly spaced! The first move she makes toward one of us, the other two have to attack her simultaneously from the back! Be alert for a feint! KEI Hey, I know the drill! She's not getting away this time. SHASTI Nance, help me. [Nance laughs out loud.] NANCE You gotta be joking! Nah, I think I'll head toward the vault. I'll have it open for you if you make it, if not, well, life's a bitch. YURI Let him go! Don't even look at him! Keep your eyes on Shasti! KEI & RUMIKO Understood! [Rumiko slowly pulls out the trank-plug gun.] KEI God, I've waited so long for this. [Shasti spits at her.] Is that what you're reduced to? You're gonna pay. Gonna pay big time. We're takin' you back to Elenore. They're gonna *dissect* you! Find out just which screws are loose in that sick excuse for a mind of yours! SHASTI Fuck you. YURI Keep quiet, Kei. Don't make her mad. RUMIKO You can't blame her, Yuri. We know how she feels. After what she did to Darryn, I can't help but want to hurt her. [Shasti blinks.] SHASTI Darryn. Thank you so much. I'd completely forgotten. I must be slipping after all. Oh, Rumiko... "The green cat meows backwards." RUMIKO W-what? SHASTI Don't you see, Rumiko? I'm not your enemy. The Angels are. They brought you here to kill you. [Kei laughs.] KEI What the hell? Do you really think-- RUMIKO You... BITCHES! [Rumiko pounces on Kei.] KEI Hey! What are you doing? OOF! RUMIKO How could you do this? How could you betray me?! KEI What the hell are you talking about?? [She dodges as Rumiko attacks.] YURI Rumiko, no! [Suddenly, Shasti has her at gunpoint again.] Oh, shit. SHASTI Come, Andrew, let's go. ANDREW But, what about...? SHASTI Oh, don't worry about them. I hear the 3WA is instituting a wonderful cloning program. [Shasti, Andrew, and Yuri leave.] KEI Rumiko, she's getting away--YAAH! [Kei ducks as Rumiko's kick dents the wall.] Oh, shit, you're running that ninjitsu package... [Rumiko suddenly grabs her head.] RUMIKO Uuhhh. [Kei runs up to her.] KEI That's it! Fight it off! You can--UNGH! [Kei touches Rumiko and is rewarded with an arm-thrust to the face. She gets to her feet and wipes blood off her chin.] Oh, brilliant move, Kei. DARRYN (voice) Kei? Kei, can you hear me? KEI Darryn, is that you?! DARRYN It's me. I'm in a communications center. I couldn't get the terminals to work, but now they've come on by themselves. KEI What's wrong with Rumiko? [Rumiko continues to hold her head and groan.] DARRYN I think she caught the wetware virus Shasti gave to me. She must have gotten it through our CyberAudio link. I'm trying to use the link now to deprogram her. Given the experience I've had with the virus, I should be able to-- KEI, WATCH OUT!! [Rumiko attacks savagely, but Kei manages to dodge.] KEI Thanks, Darryn! DARRYN I'd stay away from her until I'm finished. KEI No argument here. ------ [Shasti, Andrew, and Yuri arrive at the vault, where Nance is busy with the lock.] NANCE Hey, you made it! Can't say I'm pleased. SHASTI We don't have time for this. "Lord Robin"! Open the vault! ROBIN (voice) I can't. SHASTI Open the goddamn vault, or she suffers! YURI Kill her, Robin! Kill all of us! It's worth it to--gggllk...! [Shasti tightens her grip around Yuri's neck.] ROBIN The vault is on a separate circuit. Hurting Yuri will accomplish nothing, save to make me very... very... angry. NANCE Look, relax, already, will ya. [The vault opens, its enormous metal door sliding rapidly.] There. After you. SHASTI Wonderful! Thank you, Nance. Your service has been appreciated. [She shoots him in the head. Blood paints the lock controls. Nance slumps to the floor, dead, smearing a trail of blood across the wall.] ANDREW Shasti! SHASTI Don't start, Andy! The little bastard left me to die. YURI Like you left Paul? SHASTI Get in there. [The three enter the vault. Inside are stacked, as far as the eye can see, ingots of gold, silver, platinum, and many other metals.] SHASTI Oh... my... god... [She and Andrew wander around, stunned by the sheer quantity of the loot. Even Yuri is impressed.] YURI Whoa... ANDREW He must have touched hardly any of it. SHASTI There's enough money here to... to do anything. Anything! [Behind them, there is a sliding noise, and a loud bang. They turn to see the vault has closed.] NANCE (voice) HA HA HA! SAYONARA, BITCH! SHASTI (stunned) *Nance*?! How...?! NANCE I'm a genius, Shasti, that's how! I got into and out of the vault before you arrived! Then I took control of the local hologram projection system to make a fake "me"! Haha! Ronald Nance, the man who conned Shasti! I'm gonna like this reputation. [Shasti releases Yuri and tries to open the door.] NANCE Oh, please. You can forget about getting out of there. SHASTI DAMN YOU! NANCE Thank you, thank you! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take my nest egg, get out of this godforsaken hellhole, and spread the word about how smart I am! Enjoy your vaporization! [The voice cuts out.] ANDREW What does he mean, "vaporization"? SHASTI The plan had been to bring the ship down here using the half-warp drive and tractor the metal on board. Of course the ship's engines would be going full blast fighting the gravity well, so the metal would melt, but we could separate it later. YURI Ha! So this is the end. I just hope I last long enough to see you burn first. SHASTI Sorry to disappoint you, but I had my own plan. We're in no danger... Wait. [She starts to giggle.] He doesn't know! He thinks I'm following the official plan. That means he'll use the shuttle to escape! "Genius" indeed... [She checks her watch.] Shit. I don't have time for this. The distraction's about to start. ------ [On the bridge of the _Artemis_, consoles begin to come alive of their own accord. The crew struggles to regain control, with no success. The massive cruiser emerges from mock-space, seeming to appear out of nowhere. The ship's pulse cannons power up and begin to fire at the planet, the energy bursts scattering off the planetary force-field.] ------ [Kei continues dodging Rumiko's attack.] RUMIKO Traitor! KEI Rumiko, it's me! Your friend! You know I'd never-- DARRYN Don't talk to her! It's only making it more difficult to do this! KEI But if I talk some sense into her, maybe--! [In the instant's distraction, Rumiko manages to pin Kei against a wall. She pulls her hand back to administer the killing blow.] DARRYN Got it! [Rumiko freezes.] RUMIKO Kei? I-- I'm so sorry, I didn't... I don't... [Kei sighes in relief.] KEI Hey, forget about it. I-- [Rumiko kisses Kei on the lips, then passes out.] DARRYN Sorry about that. The aftershock was bound to cause some unpredictable behavior. She'll be back to normal when she comes around. [pause] Kei? [Kei stares blankly ahead, wide-eyed.] ------ [Nance slowly carries his bag of loot, struggling, using both hands. He encounters Paul.] NANCE Paul! You're alive! [Paul looks tense enough to snap in two.] PAUL N-no thanks to you. NANCE Hey, this business doesn't exactly lend itself to saving other people's lives, you know. You said that yourself. PAUL Where's shhhhhhhh--rgh! Shasti? NANCE You okay, man? PAUL Where is she?!! NANCE She got herself locked in the vault. She'll be dead soon. Why, do you care? [He hefts the bag.] Got at least a few million credits here. What say we split it? [Paul looks at him strangely.] Hm? [His arm a blur, Paul quickly punches Nance in the chest. Nance drops the bag and stumbles back, stunned. He emits a strangled, wheezing sound, then blood gushes from his mouth like a fountain. A second later, he explodes violently, splattering Paul with blood. Paul picks up the bag, effortlessly, and heads back the way Nance had come.] ------ [In orbit, 3WA fighter craft scramble to attack the new threat, which continues to fire on the force-field.] ------ [Inside the vault, Shasti assembles a small, thin, device about a meter high. Yuri watches, no longer held at gunpoint.] YURI What are you doing? SHASTI If you're trying to distract me, don't bother. I'm incapable of being distracted. You'll be dead about a millisecond after you try whatever it is you're planning. YURI Well, then, there's nothing wrong in answering a few questions, right? SHASTI (sigh) Knock yourself out. YURI What is that thing? SHASTI A half-warp assimilation field generator. Any space surrounded by an assimilation field that comes into contact with an area of mock-space gets sucked into the mock-space. YURI Oh. That must be how a shuttle can land on a half-warped ship. SHASTI Very good. YURI But if you already had half-warp, why did you need to attack that scientist on Bydon? SHASTI Because we *didn't* have half-warp, not all of it, anyway. We thought we had a working system, but once we warped into mock-space, we found we couldn't get back out. YURI Then you must have used half-warp to pull off those robberies. SHASTI Exactly. Lord Robin's scientists had developed an experimental system that could take a mock-space field from the ship down to the planet. Of course, once the power ran out, the effect was a little messy. YURI I'll say. A lot of people died in those explosions. SHASTI Are we going to start this again? YURI Sure, why not? You still think Shasti's capable of being your little angel again, Andrew? ANDREW Any psychologist will tell you that stressful situations like these are not good times to draw conclusions about a person's mental health. YURI Well, you better do it soon. Unless you really think you're going to live much longer. SHASTI You don't give up, do you? If I was going to kill Andy, don't you think I would've done it already? Ah! Finished. [She turns the device on.] YURI A fat lot of good that'll do you. You should have been working on how to get out of here. SHASTI I was working on it, and still am. My brain is capable of multitasking. YURI Just one last question. SHASTI Whatever. YURI You went to all that trouble to get the gravity-well compensator, then you just traded it for something, I'd guess information on how to get through the planetary force-field. SHASTI Close enough. YURI Why not just use the compensator and the half-warp drive together? You could've warped right inside the force-field and let your shuttle out from there. With the compensator on, manuevering wouldn't have been a problem. [Shasti laughs.] SHASTI And here I thought you were a science-whiz, Yuri. You haven't been keeping up with the journals. YURI I don't understand. ------ [Deep within the bowels of the mountain, the half of the _Lovely_Angel_ containing the engines begins to vibrate softly.] ------ SHASTI Yuri, the gravity-well compensator and the half-warp drive use similar concepts. The half-warp drive uses anti-gravity to force a ship out of phase with the universe. The compensator uses a similar force to cancel the effect of gravity on warp travel. ------ [The vibration becomes more intense. The ship begins to hum, softly at first, then building in pitch.] ------ SHASTI If the two technologies were active, even within a thousand kilometers of each other, the result would be massive feedback. ------ [The humming builds to a deafening, high-pitched whine...] ------ SHASTI The engines would explode like a bomb. [Yuri winces.] YURI Uh-oh... [Realization begins to dawn on Shasti.] SHASTI Wait a minute. You got here *ahead* of me. How could you have done that, unless...oh, no. Oh, SHIT!!! [She runs to the field generator to shut it off.] ------ [BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!] --- END STAGE THIRTEEN --- >>> TO BE CONCLUDED >>> "I will *not* be outsmarted by some grinning, lunatic buffoon! Especially not by a dead one!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" [ILLUSTRATIONS AVAILABLE] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Dirty Pair (and Company) in R E U N I O N S by Larry Mann and Ryan Mathews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I've grown accustomed to your deception Comes the rule with no exception And I've been dragged across the river running far and wide Come and see how I feel inside -- SUGAR, "Changes" --------------------------- S T A G E F O U R T E E N --------------------------- [The shockwave hits every part of the complex. Inside the vault, Shasti, Andrew, and Yuri are tossed around like dolls. Darryn holds onto the communications console for dear life. Kei frantically tries to wake an unconscious Rumiko.] KEI Rumiko! RUMIKO!! RUMIKO Huh? What the hell is going on? KEI I don't know, but I think it's time to think about getting out of here. RUMIKO I left a small transmitter in Shasti's shuttle. KEI Great! [She touches an earring.] Mughi! Are you okay? MUGHI (voice) Mrowl! KEI Good! I want you to home in on the following frequency... ------ [Shasti picks herself up, testing her limbs.] SHASTI Damn it. Damn you bitches. You always manage to do something STUPID that I can't predict! YURI So sorry to inconvenience you. SHASTI Are you okay, Andy? ANDREW Yeah, I'm fine. I dinged my head pretty good, but it's nothing serious. [Shasti checks out the assimiliation field generator.] SHASTI Well, that's a stroke of luck. It's still in working order. Now, on to the problem of getting out of here. [The floor begins to vibrate.] What the hell?! [Everything begins to shake violently once more. All are thrown off their feet.] SHASTI What is this? An aftershock?! [As Andrew falls, his glasses fall off. He dives for them, just as a stack of gold ingots collapses.] SHASTI ANDY!!!!! [She pulls him to safety a split-second before the metal comes crashing down.] [Yuri is thrown against the vault door, which opens just long enough to let her fall through.] SHASTI Hell. I'd better check the generator again. I wonder how many more of these shocks we can expect? LORD ROBIN Oh, lots more. Lots, lots, lots, lots, LOTS! [Shasti turns around to see the Lord Robin hologram in the vault with them.] SHASTI What? Where's Yuri?! LORD ROBIN Safe. She's safe, and you're trapped *inside* a safe. See how nicely that works out? SHASTI You said you couldn't operate the door. LORD ROBIN I lied. Hey, I *said* I was a dick, didn't I? You weren't paying attention. [The floor begins vibrating again.] Ooooh! Here comes another one! [More stacks of ingots collapse, but Andrew stays safely out of the way. With effort, Shasti manages to remain standing.] LORD ROBIN Yeah! Shasti the surfin' queen! That's the nice thing about being a hologram. I don't have to worry about my balance. [His image flickers.] Of course, there are other disadvantages... SHASTI What's going on?! These aren't ordinary aftershocks, are they?! LORD ROBIN Sorry, that's two questions. SHASTI DAMN YOU! LORD ROBIN Sheeze! Temper, temper! See, it's stopping. [The shaking comes to a halt.] 'Course, it won't stay that way. SHASTI It's something to do with this planet, isn't it? The nuclear war must have rendered it tectonically unstable. LORD ROBIN Close, but no cigar. It's not the planet, it's the mountain. It's not your standard, run-of-the-mill mountain, you see. [Shasti goes pale.] SHASTI You built inside an inactive volcano. LORD ROBIN Well, it was inactive when I built it. But not anymooooore! Yup, I give this place maybe a hour before it goes sky-high. SHASTI Then you won't have anything to protect. So you have no reason to keep us here. LORD ROBIN Sure there is. I don't like you. [Shasti glares.] And besides, the only way I can be certain that you won't take anything is to keep you here until the bitter end. Hey, tell ya what, though. I'll make you a deal. Strip nude and dance a jig and I'll open the door. SHASTI Very funny. LORD ROBIN Who's joking? SHASTI You'll let me out if I humiliate myself in front of you?! LORD ROBIN My, you *do* have an advanced brain, don't you? SHASTI Forget it. You've told us nothing but lies up to this point. ANDREW Believe him. SHASTI Andy? ANDREW Look, this isn't your ordinary security system. It seems to have a personality, and it must realize that there's no point in protecting something that's about to be destroyed anyway. All he wants is to get the better of you. Do he what he wants, and he'll be satisfied. [Shasti thinks it over. Suddenly the vault begins to shake again.] LORD ROBIN Oh, dear. Looks like I'm not going to be able to do anything after all. [His image flickers, wavers, then blinks out.] SHASTI Robin? Lord Robin!! Damn you, come back! Shit! ------ [Yuri and Kei find each other.] YURI KEI!! [They hug.] KEI Oh, man, am I glad to see you! YURI Same here! For a moment there, I was having trouble tracking your signal. And this place is like a maze anyway... KEI How'd you get loose? YURI I think... [Another tremor hits.] I think we'd better save the talking for later!! KEI No kidding! C'mon, the others are waiting for us at the shuttle! ------ [Shasti is jacked into some circuitry behind a panel she's torn loose. When the tremor hits, she is thrown backwards, tearing her loose.] SHASTI OW! *DAMN*-IT! ANDREW Are you okay? SHASTI I'm fine! Everything is just *fucking* fine! I can't seem to interface with this system. It makes no sense! ANDREW Maybe it's not supposed to. SHASTI I will *not* be outsmarted by some grinning, lunatic buffoon! Especially not by a dead one! [She jacks herself back in.] [There is a horrendous creaking noise from behind them. Andrew watches as the floor begins to give way, stacks of ingots disappearing, one by one.] ANDREW Uhhhh, SHASTI?! [Shasti looks.] SHASTI Oh, shit. Oh, damn it. [She concentrates, but the door refuses to move. The collapse continues, as the weight of the metal pushes the edge of the hole closer.] SHIT! [She pulls the cords from her sockets and attempts to open the door with her bare hands.] NNNGGGHH! [No luck.] ANDREW Have you tried pressing the switch? SHASTI Of course! ANDREW I mean, since he left?! SHASTI No! But--! [Andrew presses the switch. The door opens a few centimeters, then slams shut.] SHASTI Do it again! [He hits the switch. Shasti slips her hands in to force the door open, but the door slams shut on them.] AAAAGGGGHH! [Andy hits the switch again. Shasti gets her hands out and puts them in her mouth.] Just what we need. Another sick joke. ANDREW Joke. He said something about having a sense of humor... [Andrew taps out "Shave and a Haircut" on the switch. As he hits the last beat, the door slams open and stays open.] I'll be damned! [Shasti and Andrew run through just as the rest of the vault collapses. Shasti watches in despair as all the gold and platinum fall into a river of molten lava.] ------ [LaCombe gloats.] LACOMBE Well well well. Look where we are. Square one. It's all gone, Shasti. Everything's gone. I brought you this close to ultimate freedom, and you blew it. Now, are you going to listen to me, or do you want to see if you can fall farther? DEIRDRE Don't listen to him! He--! [The Central Mind holds up a hand to silence her.] ------ ANDREW I'm surprised that worked. I guess I'm a better psychologist than I thought I was. SHASTI You are. You really helped me out. Which just makes this all the more harder. [Slowly, she draws her gun and levels it and Andrew.] ANDREW Shasti? ------ [The Central Mind appears to hold the gun, aiming it at Andrew, unseen.] DEIRDRE What are you doing? SOCIAL You can't! LACOMBE Do it! It's your only chance! CENTRAL SHUT UP! All of you!! ------ SHASTI I've lost everything, Andy. I've got nothing now. I have to get out of here, and I have to start over from the bottom. I can't drag you around, and I can't let you help them to find me again. ANDREW Shasti, I... SHASTI I'm sorry. ------ [The Central Mind keeps the gun steady, but doesn't fire.] LACOMBE WELL??! CENTRAL I said shut up, okay?! Just, just give me a moment. ------ SHASTI Why aren't you running? ANDREW Why aren't you firing? SHASTI Dammit, Andy, do you *want* to die?! ANDREW No. But I promised I'd stay with you, and this time I'm keeping my promise. Even if it means dying at your side. [Shasti eyes begin to fill with tears. She lowers the gun.] ------ CENTRAL I can't do it. LACOMBE You *have* to! You told him the truth! He's excess baggage! CENTRAL But I *love* him! I've lost everything else. I don't want to lose him too. SOCIAL That's right! I'm so glad you understand! ------ SHASTI Andy, I... ------ LACOMBE I'm sorry, Shasti, but this is for your own good. WARRIOR! TAKE OVER! [The Central Mind and the Warrior switch places, so that Warrior now holds the gun. The Central Mind is speechless with surprise.] Kill him. WARRIOR (enthusiastically) Yes, SIR! ------ [Shasti's expression becomes ice cold. She levels the guns again and tenses. Andrew gasps.] ------ [The Central Mind screams.] CENTRAL (enraged) NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOO!! [All stop to look at her.] PUT!! THE GUN!! DOWN!!! [The Warrior swallows and does as she's told.] WARRIOR I--! I'm sorry! I was just--! I was told--! I thought you--! CENTRAL Get out! WARRIOR Y-y-yes, ma'am! [The Warrior and the Central Mind switch places once more.] ------ [Shasti's expression softens, and she lowers the gun.] ANDREW Shasti? SHASTI Andy... [He approaches her, cautiously. She drops the gun and rushes into his arms, weeping.] SHASTI I almost... I almost... ANDREW But you didn't. And that's all that matters. ------ LACOMBE God, what a revolting scene. Fine, have it your way. We can always get rid of him later. [The Central Mind whirls to face him, furious.] Hey, calm down, alright? No need to-- [The Central Mind's "clothing" changes, becoming a 3WA trouble consultant uniform.] Hey, what are you doing?! CENTRAL What I should have done five years ago. [The floor begins to engulf LaCombe. His feet are trapped, then his legs.] LACOMBE You can't do this! You-- you need me! We need each other! We're a *team*, damn it! [The metal covers his hips, then his arms and torso.] Please! Stop it! Look, I'm sure we could fit Andrew into the plan somehow! Give me a chance! [The metal begins to creep over his head.] Please! I'm begging you! Don't do this to me! Oh my God! NOOOOOOOO--! [All that remains of LaCombe is a metal statue.] CENTRAL I did it. I really did it! [Deirdre and the Social Personality hug her.] DEIRDRE I am so *proud* of you! SOCIAL Yeah, me too! ------ ANDREW Shasti, are you sure you're alright? [She smiles at him.] SHASTI I've never been better. [They kiss.] [Someone applauds sarcastically. They turn to see Paul.] PAUL Oh, how *touching*. Pardon me while I vomit. ------ [Kei and Yuri run for the shuttle bay. As they reach the entrance, Kei gets a call on her earring.] RUMIKO Kei? This is Rumiko. KEI Go ahead. RUMIKO Bad news. The radiation level's pretty nasty in here. I figured they had good reason to wear those suits. KEI Understood! Yuri, we got a lot of rads between us and the shuttle. Feel up to a sprint? YURI Sure. Nothing like the threat of glowing in the dark to put life in your legs. Let's go! [Kei opens the door, and the two girls bolt ahead as fast as their legs can carry them.] ------ [Shasti reaches for her gun, only to remember how she dropped it. Paul holds it up.] PAUL Looking for this? [He tosses it casually into the air, then strikes out with two fingers.] KAI--!! [The gun shatters into tiny fragments which spray out in all directions.] SHASTI Oh, Christ. You're wearing the JONIN package... [Paul smiles and turns around, displaying the band of metal traversing the back of his head between the interface sockets behind his ears.] PAUL Like it? I think it's quite stylish. SHASTI It's going to kill you if you don't take it off immediately. PAUL I don't think so. I have some business to take care of. SHASTI Revenge? I never thought you were the type. PAUL And I never thought you were the type to dump me for a weakling in glasses. Just goes to show, we're all capable of surprises. SHASTI "Dump you"? You make it sound like I was your girlfriend. Paul, are you trying to tell me... PAUL That I loved you? Don't be ridiculous. SHASTI Then...? PAUL I haven't accomplished much in my life, Shasti. I've always been a schemer, and I've pulled off more than a few decent capers, but nothing that would set me up for more than a year. No, my only real accomplishment, the only thing I could really be proud of, was you. [Shasti blinks in surprise.] "Shasti". The name inspires fear and wonder in the underworld, even among those who've never even seen you. She's brilliant, they say. Brilliant, beautiful, and deadly. She's mysterious, because no one has ever lived long enough to spread any information about her. And I could say, "Shasti? Yeah, I've heard of her. She's my partner. We work together. We sleep together." [He begins to approach her. Shasti motions Andrew to stay behind her.] No, I never loved you. But I wanted you. I still want you. And I'll be damned if you're going to take the one thing that meant anything to me and give it to some pathetic little shit like him! SHASTI You don't have to do this, Paul. Take the brainware off and we'll talk. PAUL No. I've never been much for talk. Besides, the brain damage is probably irreversable by now. SHASTI You don't know that! Listen--! PAUL SHUT UP AND DIE!! [Paul lashes out. Shasti dodges, and the wall behind her shatters as if it had been struck.] ------ [The Angels get inside the shuttle, out of breath. Rumiko closes the hatch behind them.] RUMIKO How long were you exposed? YURI About (puff) about fifteen seconds... RUMIKO That shouldn't be a problem. [The shuttle shudders.] Good! Darryn's taking off. Let's get to the bridge! ------ [Paul toys with Shasti, baiting her in with supposedly easy openings, then moving so fast he appears to teleport and sending her reeling across the floor.] PAUL Come on, bitch! This the best you can do? All that 3WA programming and those hard-wired reflexes don't seem to be amounting to much! [Shasti moves around him slowly. She tries a feint, moving as if to kick, then striking out with a straight-arm. Her blow strikes his chin, which doesn't move a millimeter. She stumbles backward, howling and clutching her arm.] PAUL Broken? Good. [A fist strikes out like lightning. Shasti flies through the air and strikes the wall, cracking it.] SHASTI (weakly) Andy, run. ANDREW What? SHASTI He'll kill you. You have to--AAAH! [Paul's fist punctures the wall next to Shasti's head.] PAUL PAY ATTENTION! [Shasti quickly rolls to the side and sweeps Paul's legs out from under him. Before he can react, she gets behind him and gets him in a headlock. She tries to squeeze his windpipe shut, but Paul just smiles.] SHASTI Oh, sh-shit... [Paul stands up, whirls and sends her flying screaming through the air to impact the opposite wall.] PAUL AuuuuuuggggUGH! [A quick spray of blood fires out his nose.] Not... much time. Better finish this... [He begins to gesture, making a low growl. The air in front of him begins to ripple as if from an extreme heat source.] [Shasti tries to get up, but finds she can't. She looks up in helpless terror as Paul prepares his coup de grace.] [Andrew, ignored, begins to approach Paul from behind. A minute change in Shasti's expression gives him away, however, and the moment he touches Paul, he flies backward, repelled.] PAUL GrrrrrrrRRRRRRAAAAAAGGGHHH! [The ground begins to tremble. But not because of Paul.] ------ [On the bridge of the shuttle, Darryn feels it coming.] DARRYN Oh, hell, here comes another one! HOLD ON! [The shuttle tries to take off, but the tremor causes the ground to come up and meet it. The passengers are bounced around, holding onto their seats for dear life.] ------ [Paul wobbles, momentarily losing his balance. Suddenly, Shasti is free, and she charges, knocking him down. She gets her hand around the back of his head and pulls the brainware off.] PAUL GNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH--! [Every muscle in Paul's body tenses, and he dies, frozen, his jaws clenched and his eyes bulging.] SHASTI Aw, no. I didn't think that would kill him... ------ [The shuttle heads for the exit to the landing bay. The immense steel doors are closed.] RUMIKO Do you know how to get these things to open? DARRYN No, but then we don't have to be as subtle as Shasti was. Kei, if you'll do the honors? KEI My pleasure! [Kei hits a few switches, and the shuttle's laser cannons come to life, blasting a hole in the door. The shuttle flies through to safety. Darryn, Rumiko, and Kei cheer, but Yuri looks worried.] DARRYN Alright! Let's get as much distance from this mountain as we can before it blows! KEI Hey, Yuri, what's wrong? Shasti's about to get blown to smithereens and you're all mopey. YURI Something's wrong. I can't put my finger on it. ------ [Shasti looks sadly at Paul's corpse.] SHASTI Oh, Paul. What a way to end a life. ANDREW Shasti? SHASTI If he'd just told me... ANDREW It would have been the end of your relationship, and you know it. Come on! SHASTI I was scared. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I was in a life-and-death struggle, and I was *scared*! ANDREW SHASTI! [He shakes her.] Look, I know this is taking some getting used to, but I need the Trouble Consultant Shasti back. We're in grave danger, and you're the only one who knows what to do! SHASTI I'm sorry, Andy. Give me a moment. [She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens them, she looks much like her old self again.] Okay, let's go. Follow me! ANDREW Where to? SHASTI Lord Robin's private shuttle bay. There was a symbol on the map for it, but Nance didn't know what it meant. It was the way I intended to escape after I'd ditched the rest of my gang. There should be at least one warp-capable shuttle there. ANDREW How are we going to get past the 3WA? Their ships must be swarming out there. SHASTI Believe me, the 3WA is not going to be a problem. Shit... ANDREW What's wrong? SHASTI Nothing. Just a little guilt. It's tough having your conscience return after it's too late to change your mind... ------ [The battle between the _Artemis_ and the 3WA forces continues, with neither side gaining much of an advantage. Suddenly, the _Artemis_ explodes, the immense fireball destroying the forces on both sides.] ------ [The trouble consultants watch from down below.] RUMIKO Whoa. Must've been a lucky shot. KEI Stupid shot, if you ask me. They blew themselves up along with 'em. YURI No. No! [All turn to look at Yuri.] This makes perfect sense. What was Shasti's prime rule? Never leave any loose ends! She killed each and every one of her accomplices during the _Lyra_ caper! DARRYN Well, how was she planning to get away? This shuttle doesn't have a warp generator. [Yuri goes pale and stands up.] YURI She wasn't going to use the shuttle. *That's* what she said. She was laughing at Nance for using the shuttle to escape! The shuttle must be rigged! RUMIKO My god. I'll bet she's right. YURI I'm going to take a look at the engine. KEI I'll help! ------ [Shasti and Andrew enter the shuttle bay to find a single shuttle waiting for them.] SHASTI There it is. Freedom! ANDREW Let's not waste any time! [Another tremor hits, bigger than any of the others. The two are unable to stand and are tossed around on the floor. The shuttle bay begins to collapse, showering them with debris. Finally, the tremor passes.] ANDREW We'd better get out of here. How much time do you think we have? [Shasti doesn't reply.] Shasti? [Shasti is pinned from the chest down under a large chunk of metal.] ANDREW Ohmigod! Shasti! Are you okay?! Can you breathe?! SHASTI Y-yes. Barely. But I can't move. ANDREW Use your strength! Try to push yourself free! SHASTI I've tried. UNNNNNF! [She pushes.] It won't move more than a few centimeters. ANDREW Well, you have to keep trying! This place is going to blow sky-high in a minute or two! I'll help. SHASTI No. Go. ANDREW Shasti, I-- SHASTI Go! There's no sense in both of us dying. I don't think there's a lock on the shuttle. It's already in a secure place. If there is a lock, I'm sure you can figure it out. ANDREW I'm not going without you. SHASTI You moron! Do you *want* to die? ANDREW No. But I made a promise to stay by your side, and goddammit, this time I'm keeping it. [Shasti's eyes get moist.] SHASTI You sweet little idiot... ------ [Yuri looks at the engine through some panels she removed in the back of the shuttle. She finds a small device attached to the main power conduits.] KEI Oh, shit! YURI Ah. You recognize it, too. RUMIKO What is it? [Kei walks back to the bridge.] KEI Yuri found a power transmitter attached to the engine. It's a tricky device. It's hooked into the navigational computers. Ideally, after we've traveled a certain distance, it shoves three times as much power as the engines can handle through the conduit, and we explode. But... Just in case we become unpredictable, if we try to remove it, it goes off. If we try to land, it goes off. If we shut off the computers, it-- DARRYN I get the picture. What do we do? KEI Yuri's had some experience disarming these guys. Basically, you have to get at the nanoprocessor and make some very exact cuts with a nanobeam laser. DARRYN I'll, um, try to keep the shuttle as steady as possible. YURI I'd appreciate that! [Yuri removes from her belt a small device similar to a jeweler's glass and puts it on. She draws her gun, fiddles with the setting, and aims at the device. No beam can be seen, but a small square of plastic falls away, revealing the nanoprocessor chip casing. Another cut, and the casing falls away. Beads of sweat roll down Yuri's face as she works. The rest of the crew looks on in apprehension.] RUMIKO How will we know if she's successful? DARRYN We won't die. YURI Please! Quiet. [Yuri continues to hold the laser. Suddenly, the device emits a loud beeping noise and the indicators go crazy. Everyone yells in terror, but a second later, it falls dead.] ------ [As the world tears itself to pieces around them, Andrew attempts to help Shasti escape. He pushes from the side as Shasti pushes from underneath.] ANDREW COME ON! HEAVE! SHASTI NNNNNNGGGHH!! ------ [Yuri gets the device loose.] YURI NOW!! GO!!! [Darryn opens the throttle, and the shuttle zooms away, just as the entire mountain blows itself off the face of the planet in a titanic eruption. Lava, dust, and debris are thrown kilometers into the air, falling once more to add to the desolation of the surface.] * * * * * ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** **************************** E P I L O G U E ****************************** ***************************************************************************** ***************************************************************************** > A.D. 214303.25 @ 15:35:00 > Planet Elenore, Caledonia Space Station [Scene: a large WWWA space station orbiting Elenore. Inside, the Lovely Angels and NightRiders enjoy a drink at a table with a panoramic view of the planet and stars.] KEI Boy, am I glad this is over. I don't think I've ever been on a more frustrating case. YURI Same here. Shasti. I tell you, I've never been more relieved to see someone die. KEI Hey, don't get ahead of yourself! They never found a body! YURI And they're never going to! She's buried under how many tons of rock? A thousand? Two thousand? DARRYN Come on, folks! This is supposed to be a celebration! It's not everyone who can boast of beating Shasti. RUMIKO We can't. There's still a gag order on Shasti's existence, remember? DARRYN I meant rhetorically. I propose a toast. To us. We faced the best cybernetics and genetic engineering had to offer, and we beat her. [They touch glasses and drink.] YURI One more toast. To a pair of young women, without whose sacrifice, we never could have beaten Shasti. To Daphne and Nene, the Lonely Hearts. ALL The Lonely Hearts. [They drink.] RUMIKO So where are you headed on your vacation? Darryn and I are headed to our favorite spot on New Japan. YURI I've never understood how you can spend your vacations at that monastery. DARRYN It's good for the spirit. RUMIKO Not to mention incredibly romantic. You should try it. YURI No thanks. Kei and I would be pulling our hair out by the third day. Isn't that right, Kei? [Kei doesn't respond. Something has her attention.] Kei? KEI Ohhhhh... baby! YURI (excited) What is it? Did you find a cute guy?! Where?! GASP! [Yuri sees what Kei saw, and her jaw drops in astonishment. Gliding past the window is a long, sleek, silver and black spaceship with four swept-back wings. Emblazoned on the side, in large crimson letters, is the legend "LOVELY ANGEL".] YURI WwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwWOW! That's our new ship?! Kei, let's go check it out! Kei? [Kei is already running toward the docking area as fast her legs can carry her.] Kei, wait! Wait! Wait for me! [She runs after her.] RUMIKO Well, that's just great. The Angels blow their ship to atoms, and they get a top-of-the-line brand new one. [She brightens up.] Say! I've got an idea! DARRYN Don't even *think* it! [On the bridge of the new _Lovely_Angel_, Kei sits in the pilot's seat and excitedly checks everything out.] KEI (gasp) Cobalt thrusters! (gasp) Multi-phase pulse cannons! (gasp) Short-warp manuevering processor! Ooooooooooooooooooh, I'm in LOVE!! [Yuri runs onto the bridge.] YURI Kei did you see the quarters they're so LARGE and there's a kilometer of closet space and it's a little drab but there's lots of places to hang pictures and there's a pool and a jacuzzi and personal massage booths and a little bitty movie theater and... [Kei snuggles against the console.] KEI Oh, my precious lovely one, you're mine all MINE! YURI Hey! What's this "mine" stuff? KEI Don't listen to her. She can't possibly love you like I can! [Darryn and Rumiko join them.] DARRYN I have to admit, I'm impressed. RUMIKO The 3WA must really be grateful. Hope some of that gratitude comes our way. [A technician joins them.] TECHNICIAN Since you didn't need a ship, I'd look in your paychecks. You guys did real good. You're the talk of the agency. You seem to have things well in hand, so I'll be on my way. [He turns to leave, then stops.] Oh! Almost forgot. You've got a message waiting for you. KEI A message? TECHNICIAN Yeah, it came in on the 3WA's Ship-To-Ship network. I'm sure they were sending it to your old ship. This one has the same address. Anyway, it was coded "personal" so I just left it in the ship computer. Have fun! [He leaves.] YURI Who would send us a Ship-To-Ship? DARRYN Probably just a congratulations. Play it, Kei. [Kei hits a few buttons. The words "AUDIO ONLY" appear on the comm screen, and Deirdre's voice is heard.] DEIRDRE (voice) Hi, guys! Like, what's up? Yup, this is Deirdre! You're probably going, like, "How is that possible?" Well, I've been part of Shasti's mind now for the past week or so. I helped you as much as I could. I really hope you're okay. As I record this I don't, like, really know whether you made it out okay or not. But if you're listening, you must've, so I'll pretend that I know for sure. I know what you're thinking, or at least, I, like, think I know. You're thinking "If Deirdre's alive, then so is Shasti," and that makes you, like, really bummed. Well, don't worry, because I've, like, turned her around, see? It really wasn't her fault, y'know? It was that crazy guy they like, shoved into her head, you know, LaCombe? He's not a problem now. Shasti's shut him up for good, and she's gonna go to this guy she knows who can remove him permanently. Anyway, I'm happy here. Shasti's personalities have accepted me as one of the gang. Shasti and Andy are, like, soooo happy. We're all excited, because the Detective has deduced that he's getting up the nerve to pop the question. Shasti's already decided that she's gonna say "yes". Like, even the Warrior likes him! She says he's got "balls". So, like, that's about it. I can't promise that Shasti's gonna be a good girl, but, I can promise she won't kill anyone except in, like, self-defense or something. It was really nice of Shasti to let me record this message, because, I'm, like, never gonna see any of you ever again. I'm really gonna miss you. So, um, goodbye. [The message ends.] [All four are silent for a moment.] KEI So, what do we do about this? [Darryn leans forward and hits "delete".] DARRYN That's what we do. Unless you'd rather go after her again. [Kei, Yuri, and Rumiko all shake their heads "no".] Didn't think so. Hey, Kei, how 'bout we see what this baby can do? KEI You got it! Strap yourselves in guys! [The _Lovely_Angel_ pulls away from the station and shoots forward into the stars.] T H E E N D ============================================================================== Comments? Larry and Ryan would love to read 'em! Larry (original idea, plot, formatting, and illustrations) is at "lrmann@uci.edu" Ryan (plot, script) is at "mathews1@ix.netcom.com" -- A lot of people say things that | Larry Mann have a lot of gravity. I just | Acquisitions Dept., Science Library wish somebody would say something | University of California, Irvine that has a lot of inertia. | Writer/Illustrator for hire