"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 the