Meta-tribes #5 Self Destruct

Brian Bowhay [email protected] FOR MATURE READERS All characters and civilizations are purely fictional and are in no way allegorical to any groups or individuals, past or present. META-TRIBES #5 SELF DESTRUCT He swears, but he is sick at heart; He laughs, but he turns deadly pale; His restless eye and sudden start-These tell the dreadful tale That will be told: it needs no words from thee Thou self-sold slave to guilt and misery. - Richard Henry Dana, Sr.

PART ONE: BROKEN TOYS PAGE 1: FLASHBACK, IMPERIAL PERSICAÄ A bluish-purple werewolf (not the long snout variety) is jumping through a jungle gym. It has tattered blue and yellow clothes, a spiky mane and Kirby-ish eyes. He is leaping over a pit of bubbling acid as a buzzsaw clips his leg. He lands hard on the floor, there is a giant spiked ball rolling towards him. He gets up and is limping through an obstacle coarse, he ducks under an axe blade pendulum, hurdles a nozzle squirting flames. He sees a red ribbon at the end of the coarse but trips a touchstone and spikes shoot out of the floor impaling the monster-man all over his body. Commentator, “OOOOH!!! That’s too bad, this was almost a new record for the fastest time for a stage one competitor. Let’s take a look at how our other gladiators are doing in the death camp.” PAGE 2 ARCHON IN KREAS, PROBLEMS IN THE CULTURE Archon is painting a still life portrait. His paints are over a small burner to keep from freezing. Archon, “I heard another group went down to Antyhk to eat Meranti Sea Slugs.” Zmai (from the flashback fight, now an adult) is sitting behind him surrounded by floating musical instruments. Zmai is playing all of the instruments telekinetically. Zmai, “Such irresponsibility with such hard earned freedom, risking their lives for a cheap thrill.”

Eurvale is chiseling a statue. Locks of her hair are holding different chisels, hammers, and brushes. “No one taught them how to live with independence. They are used to constant toil, and we have no industry. What else do they have to look forward to? For some of our people this is the only way for them to feel anything.” Archon, “They’ll feel something when I get my hands on them.” Eurvale, “They are punishing themselves enough already.” Archon is cross, “One of them entered a pit fight Eurvale.” Zmai, “Perhaps they feel that the loss of their lives is no great risk.” Eurvale, “If you try to talk about self worth the first thing anyone thinks of is what his or her market price was on auction blocks.” Zmai, “In Persicaä I sold for a very high price, but I had no value as a person. How does that help me succeed as a free Kreasian?” PAGE 3 Archon, “Value is only understood in context, not just in the market but also socially. And the context that we are creating is Kreas.” Close up on Archon’s face, “During the revolution a man dove in front of a frag-ball that was meant for me, that act saved my life and cost him his. I wake up every morning with the knowledge that a man, a Kreasian, paid a much higher price for my life than any slaver.” “If I hadn’t been in the uprising and been saved I wouldn’t have the sense of significance I need to help our people. I had to be involved to reap that benefit. In the context of community Kreasians will withdraw self worth from the investments made by others in lifestyle concessions and the personal sacrifices that relationships require.” Eurvale, “You are turning into a politician Archon. You have reduced the Kreasian crisis to an economic principle.” A young girl is timidly standing in the doorway. Zmai stops playing and looks at Eurvale, “Are those cuts on your arms?” Archon notices the young girl and motions to her. Girl, “Forgive the intrusion Lord Archon. There is something happening in the temple.” PAGE 4 FLASHBACK PERSICAA, GLADIATOR FIGHT CONTINUES (the rest of the gladiators are wearing matching blue and yellow outfits) A woman with light armor and layered leather is backing against the wall of an arena that is about 50 yards long. Commentator, “Currently Azhdaya Zmai is our youngest female gladiator.” A dark female centaur with either a horse head or a stylized helmet is galloping across the field. It draws its bow and shoots a man in the middle of the field.

Commentator, “Zmai has done well and is showing a lot of promise.” The man is more like a rabid dog standing upright

with rough heavy armor bolted into its flesh. Commentator, “Tauros may not be the best at what he does, but he is the goriest, making him a fan favorite.” It pulls the arrow out of its chest and lets out a squeal like a hyena. The puncture in its flesh is filled with worms that begin knitting its flesh back together. Commentator, “This is Tauros’ 31st tournament today.” A dark figure that is perfectly flat squares off with a six-legged beast with a large mane. Commentator, “Melas Daimon may have a small fan-base, but his following is by far the most loyal.” The beast’s head spits down the middle. The head is opening and closing like a paper fortuneteller.

PAGE 5 A long tentacle lashes out of the head and the man dodges it by bending like a piece of paper. Commentator, “Looks like the Norvahli tiger is falling for a classic blunder…” He backs up under a large platform and hits a trip wire. The platform is covered in spikes and crushes both of them. The man wiggles out from under the trap. A froglike humanoid with HR Giger textured skin is on the wall hissing at the woman with a mouth full of quills. The woman holds out her hand and about fifteen swords rise up around her in two defensive swirling patterns against the quills that are shooting at her. The centaur is charging the dog-man. Commentator, “Stick around later for some exciting new contestants and an improved design of the obstacle course.” A giant wrecking ball smashes her against the wall with gunk flying everywhere. Commentator, “Today’s event has been brought to you by Pickle Nuts! They’re about the worst thing in the world for you, but I just can’t stop eating them, they sure do taste great.” PAGE 6 KREAS, A CULTURE OF IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Inside a Kreasian temple a woman is giving birth. Archon’s Narration, “As I gazed upon the horror of the child, I was overwhelmed at the frightening reality that this could happen in our world.” A bear is being disemboweled. “I prayed that the child was without a soul, that the gods were at least that merciful, to spare the child of self awareness.” The baby is being sewn up inside the carcass of the bear. “I raised my hand to end the matter, but I could not act.” The child is being pulled out of the bear’s womb. “After watching the pitiful creature lie helpless, I saw something in it, something that I saw in myself and yet did not hate.” Krustalos walks in, sees what is happening and is outraged. “Perhaps, among the twisted things of this world, the foul thing could be loved.” Two women are guarding themselves from his blows. Another man is alerting Archon to another problem just outside the temple. “Although this beast may seek its restitution in my flesh for the curse of life, I have decided to let it live, and in the gods’ wisdom, determine its own fate.” PAGE 7 FLASHBACK, BREAKING SPIRITS IN IMPERIAL PERSICAÄ

after the gladiator fight is over. The Owner of the arena, the Slave Master, and the commentator are entering the receiving area under the arena. There are rows of wounded on one side and rows of dead bodies on the other. At the end of the corridor is a being with a black wing and a white wing, it is surrounded by short identical brutes. Commentator calls out to some guards, “Okay divide em up.”

Slave Master turns to the owner, “Which ones you want back which ones you want repaired? Kracus?” Owner, “No, his popularity has gone down too much, besides, it was a good death. With Nihk’Laos raising the taxes again we’re going to have to cut some of the surplus.” Slave Master, “Let’s go with the witch, the shadow…and…the dog, they were very expensive to train.” Slave Master motions to the Commentator. Commentator, “Excellent choices sir.” The man motions to some guards. The black feathers of the woman’s right wing stab into a homunculus. Locks of white hair wrap around the dead gladiator. PAGE 8 The gladiator’s skin turns from grey to a livelier shade. The gladiator starts breathing. The feathers release the shrived husk of the homunculus. Owner, “Where’s the one that wouldn’t fight.” Slave Master, “Barog? He’s back in this cell.” Owner, “Get the other slaves to whip him. And keep whipping him till he likes it.” Slave Master, “What about the little ones?” Commentator, “Some of them are ready for pit fights and single coin games, but it’s barely enough to cover their feed and barracks.” Owner, “Alright, just put them all in the next pit fight, even the smallest ones. Charge double and bill it as the last great feeding frenzy.” Slave Master, “Very good sir.” PAGE 9 ARCHON LEAVES THE KREASIAN TEMPLE (Krustalos is running up to two bloodied Kreasians that are fighting. There is a small crowd around them) Archon’s narration, “40 percent of pregnant Kreasian mothers die in child birth most of them killed by the fetus.” “30 percent of Kreasian babies delivered are still born due to a mutation preventing normal life functions” (The two Kreasians are explaining something to Krustalos) “20 percent of live Kreasian births fail to thrive due to mutations that advanced to interfere with critical life functions” (He looks at the bystanders all holding sweaty money in their fists)

“10 percent of thriving Kreasian babies are killed because of the threat they pose to the community.” (Krustalos kills the spectators, their bodies crumble apart as he hits them with sub-zero temperatures) Back lit upshot of Archon standing alone, his hands on his head and elbows forward (a posture of surrender), “(thinking) The experiment is failing. We don’t know how to live with freedom.” PAGE 10 FLASHBACK, THE REVOLUTION IN PERSICAA Long shot of shelves of beautiful broken vases. Four fat old men drinking mojitos are standing under an awning in front of the broken pottery. They are facing the street and watching a massive exodus of mutants leaving a war torn city. Some of them are carrying a giant brain. Man 1, “What a waste, it’s a shame we couldn’t convince them to stay. We could have used them to sniff out Director Nihk’Laos and the rest of the S.T.O.R.M. Squad.” Man 2, “Damaged goods. When things settle down we can commission some S.T.O.R.M. hunters, if that’s how we want to spend our money…” Man 3, “The biggest loss is that big brain. It was maintaining the utility grids, tran-schedules, surveillance and probably engineered the uprising.” Man 4, “Well, once we’re in charge do you really want something around that can rally people against the authorities?” Across the street is another massive crowd gathered in what looks like a town square. People are pushing a pale scrawny fop to the top of a demolished monument. The young man is in his pajamas. The lynch mob has made a make shift gallows. Background Fop, “HOW DAWE YOU!!!” Man 1, “The hostile take over wouldn’t have worked without the slave revolt, but we are going to need a slave caste to keep the wheels turning.” Background, “UNHAND ME YOU BWUTES!!!” They put a head band on him with donkey ears. Man 2, “I don’t think so. After our merger these slaves won’t be able to function in the capitalist oligarchy.” The fop’s head is chopped off. Man 3, “Strange, they fought so hard to throw off the yoke of oppression and when they did many of them killed themselves or just laid down and died. I saw one of them screaming about tyranny waving a nafta bomb… and then he threw it one of their own freighters. Man 4, “So what about the people’s uprising?” A person in the crowd is holding up the severed head and howling. Man 1, “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. In the shock of uncertainty the people will sell us their new freedom at affordable prices and they’ll thank us for it. We’ll have our slave caste in no time, slaves that will be much more functional and profitable.” Man 2, “And none the wiser.” PAGE 11

ANTYHK, A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL A single homunculus is walking into the city of Antyhk. It walks right past the guards of S.T.O.R.M. Headquarters. The guards pay no attention. The homunculus walks into the office of Impator Nikh’Laos. The men sitting in Nikh’s office instantly fall asleep. Nihk is sitting at his desk. There as several odd things in office including the head of the old Persicaän emperor’s head in a jar. Nihk’s left arm is a cybernetic prosthetic, he calmly puts his quill down, “Geez, what’s it been, 8? 9 years? And you finally get around to kill me? Get in my head? Try it and see what happens.” Brain, “My hatred for you no longer burdens me. I am here on another matter.” Nihk, “Well, I’m sure you didn’t marched this mouth breathing travel mug across the badlands to say howdy-doo, what can I do for the brain that brought down my agency?” Brain, “For years your ex-S.T.O.R.M. agents robbed Persicaän supply transits and then you were able to turn your black market safe house into a legitimate enterprise.” Nikh leans back in his chair, “For grud sake, you want a consultant? I don’t owe you fug.” Nikh is pointing to the humunculous, “And if that thing craps on my floor I’m coming for you.” Brain, “Kreas has trained killers with no money and too much time on their hands. Antyhk has money.” PAGE 12 Nikh leans forward, “And we also have guns, better one’s than Persicaä. Send one more Kreasian here and it will be the last Kreasian to ever be seen again. You think I’m going to be intimidated by a ‘PreEminent Acuity’ that’s too much of a coward to show up in person? Brain, “You misunderstand me, Antyhk has customers that want to see killers. Your death camps have not enjoyed much profit since the liberation.” Nikh leans forward, “No, our entertainment comes from robbing Persicaän freighters. I’ve become something of a…” Brain, “You became a profiteer, like the ones that seized Persicaä.” Nikh, “Just the opposite. They privatize profits and socialize losses, Antyhk is a family. Brain, “Kreas is also a family. I have ten veteran fighters just outside the city, you will remember them. I think it could be mutually beneficial to have a reunion. Nikh, “Agreed.” The humunculous collapses. The men wake up, “@#$%! What is that smell?” PAGE 13 FLASHBACK, THE KREASIAN EXODUS FROM IMPERIAL PERSICAÄ Wide shot, there is a caravan of thousands weaving through the country side.

Mid shot, a giant brain is being carried by a dozen drooling and snotty orange skinned homunculoids. Archon walks with his hands clasped behind his back. He is a man made of ice. His body is translucent except for a few frosted areas, “Why would the Aegys want to help us? We can’t afford to cloak our community as a prison or leper colony let alone pay them for a portal big enough for all of us…” Archon, “You’re not going to offer us as labor to them?” Brain, “I am the Pre-eminent Acuity. I know the Aegys, I know how to persuade them. Archon, “You mean you are going to get in their heads and force them help us. We can’t afford to make any more enemies this early in our nation’s infancy.” PAGE 14 Brain, “Defense is just one of our concerns, we must also think of public works and the maternal/child mortality rate.” Archon, “Public works is one of our top priorities? Brain, “In Persicaa the city’s systems were my body. If Kreas is to be free its leaders must be free. Archon looks at him with suspicion. Brain, “Do not worry, I would never do anything to exploit our own people.” Archon, “I suppose the fact that I am able to question you proves that you are not in my head. But still, it is in our nature to act in a way that is contrary to our words, and we are more inclined to do so when we have tasted power over our fellow man.” Brain, “Your experiences have left you with a bias against authority. Too much freedom too fast will kill us just as fast as the death camps. We will find ways for our experiment with self governing to work.” Pan out, one of the humunculoids collapses. PAGE 15 THE KREAS-X VS. THE PERSICAAN AUTOMATONS!!! A robot is shooting flames on Talos heating him white hot and hammering him like putty Talos grabs the torch nozzle and squeezes it. He smashes through the hull of the automaton and emerges from the other side. A second robot grabs the deformed Talos, slaming against a wall and starts welding him to the wall. PAGE 16 Eurvale shoots a beam out of her visor that hits the robot,

turning half of it to stone that crumbles off. The robot pivots and the beam zips up the stands killing a dozen spectators. Zmai is blocking the bullets from its machine gun, A dozen swords are floating in a circular formation around her. The swords all launch into the automaton. They start the automaton emits a electro-sonic pulse. She grabs her head, nose bleeding and the machine guns blow her apart. PAGE 17 The robot chugs down and falls over the chassi cracks open and is filled with ice Archon is standing over it Tauros gets his head impaled against the wall body cut in half by buzzsaw PAGE 18 Daimon snakes up it’s arm and covers it’s face the robot cuts it’s own head in half with the buzzsaw Archon, Daimon, and Eurvale are standing back to back the doors open and there are six more, crazier looking robots coming out “@#$%”

PART TWO FLASHBACK, PERSICAA -NIN’EVA WAR

Tijan, “Vyriss, I can’t get any closer without coming in range of their torsion cannons.” Vyriss and Nidasta decompress on Tijan’s shoulder, “Let’s get the @#$% out of here!” Tijan, “Who the hell is that? Never mind, what is your combat status? We’re in for a hell of a fight to get back to our lines.” Vyriss is a bruised and bloody mess, her armor is destroyed, “Tijan…there’s nothing left.” Two World War I style tanks are closing on their position, each one is as big as a house. Tijan, “My reserves are down to 8%. They’re focusing everything on us.” Suddenly one of the tanks shoots the other tank. The loading ramp opens up and a voice rings out of the tank’s loud speaker, “Even at fifty feet I still have a bigger dick than you!” Tijan, “Rai’los?” Rai’los opens a hatch, he’s wearing a Nivian helmet, “Someone call a taxi?”

RAI’LOS PICKS UP A VYRISS There is a knock at the door,

it is Rai’los, he is wearing a t-shirt that says ‘turd burglar’ and wearing a driver’s hat. His hands are on the top of the door jam and he is leaning forward like an orangutan, Rai’los is chewing something, “Hey. Tij wants to know if you are f@#’n finished with your $#it.” Vyriss looks at him for a second then turns and picks up a bag by the door, “Yes, aaaall done.” Rai’los smacking his lips, “Okay, let’s go.” Vyriss is walking out. She is wearing small oval sunglasses and has her hair pulled back. She wears her military fatigues in a casual style and has a satchel over her shoulder. “So Tijan says that someone has been asking some questions, red flags, wants me to come in.” Rai’los: “I don’t know $#it about it.” She stops short of the Armored Transport Vehicle. “What’s this?” The vehicle bears no Persicaän marks, painted to look rusty, and is covered in dirt, dents, and scorch marks. Rai’los has spray painted, ‘food, meds & ammo’ on the side of the truck. Rai’los, “Yea I modified it to look like a merchant transport, that way bandits won’t be afraid to try and raid us.” Vyriss, “You want to be ambushed?” Vyriss drops her satchel and takes off her over shirt, she has a black tank top underneath. Rai’los looks at her with a squint and is playing with the scruff on his chin, “Hell yea, it’s a 2-3 day drive. We need something to break up the monotony.” Vyriss is reading the plate number, “T-Com 12 sig 9…this is Commander Tijan’s transport.” Rai’los, “Really? Huh, how about that, small world.” FLASHBACK WHERE’S RAI’LOS? Tijan walks in to a reception area, his assistant is sitting at a central desk. Tijan walks past him and into his office and shuts the door. He immediately comes back out, “Where the hell is Captain Rai’los?” Rai’los is standing at the end of the long dark corridor of an indoor firing range. A single light is above Rai’los, he is standing in front of a metal target of a human outline. He is holding a gas powered pistol. He touches the face of the target holds the gun to his temple and pulls the trigger. Rai’los is not injured and makes no reaction. Rai’los takes his glowing fingertip and pushes it through the forehead of the metal target. Rai’los, “bam, I gat’chou…I…got…you.” HOW TO EAT FRIED GRUBS

Rai’los and Vyriss are on the road, not talking. Suddenly Rai’los is passing a shanty village. Rai’los, “Awe hell yeah, they’re open!!! Vyriss, “What are you doing?” Rai’los, “I passed this place on the way down. They’ve got grubs the size of your fist. They sauté them and wrap’em in mint leaves” Rai’los leans out the window. “Hey you, boy, gimmie a plate’a dem bugs.” Boy, “Eb zey, nu-tata’t” Rai’los, “Speaky Q-lag? Du, du-baga.” Boy, “Ja, du-baga.” He turns to Vyriss with a hillbilly smile and asks, “Do like hot or sweet?” Vyriss, “Do not bring those things in here.” Rai’los, “Geez, live a little.” Vyriss, “We’ll be at Antyhk in an hour; you can’t wait till I’m out of the transport?” Rai’los is already eating the bugs covered in sauce; it is all over his fingers and steering wheel. “You don’t know what you’re missing.” He belches, the smell of half digested grubs fills the cab. Vyriss, “$#%*@ing $#%&. I swear to God, if you do that again I will end you.” Rai’los turns to her; he is oblivious and says casually, “sorry…you sure you don’t want some?” Vyriss, “I don’t eat babies.” FLASHBACK TROUBLE WITH THE BOSS Mid shot of Rai’los is sitting in front a desk. Shot from behind him, he is staring at a ribbon hanging by the window; it is covered in dead flies. Tijan walks into the office from behind Rai’los and drops a file on the desk over Rai’los’ head as he sits behind the desk, “What’s the meaning of this?” Rai’los peels the cover back one inch, “My day was great, thanks for asking. How was yours?” Tijan, “If you submit this to the ministry it will mean more than the end of your career. It’s at least a court marshal, probably a dishonorable discharge, maybe some time in the sub-locks. If I didn’t know any better I would say that you were trying to sabotage yourself.” Rai’los gestures with his hands, “It is what it is…it’s the truth.” Tijan, “It’s the truth? At least you spell my name right. None of your timelines match any other report. None of the other units were located anywhere near the positions you recorded.” Rai’los is slouching and just looks around. Tijan, “Rai’los…why are you doing this?”

Rai’los is rocking on the back legs of his chair, arms crossed, “If you want to charge me with something then just be done with it.” Tijan, “I know you hate me and I don’t like you very much either. But you’re a soldier. Whatever your dysfunction is, you deal with it on your own time, right now we’re rewriting this report…together.” Rai’los leans forward with a hand rubbing the top of his shaved head and sighs with annoyance. RAI’LOS AND THE BANDITS Vyriss is asleep in the cab, Rai’los is wearing a bonnet and the ‘thousand-yard stare’.” Rai’los, “Hey wake up, we got bandits on the high ridge. Quick put this on.” Rai’los hands Vyriss another bonnet. Vyriss, “Get that thing out of my face.” Rai’los is eagerly leaning towards the windshield and looking up, “Damn it, why aren’t they coming? Vyriss is holding up the bonnet, “Why the hell do you even have a bonnet? Rai’los, “Okay, lean out the window and shoot one of our tires. Vyriss, “NO!, absolutely not. Just drive the damn vehicle. Rai’los, “Geez…ya know, if it’s not us, then the next people to come along are gonna get pasted.” Vyriss says nothing. Rai’los has a sad ‘matter of fact’ look on his face, “…people that don’t have two of Persicaä’s deadliest warriors…they’ll probably have kids…probably doctors.” Vyriss, “Like you care…(sigh), fine, pull over. There’s some Sushanese gear I picked up that I’d like to try out. Rai’los is wearing the bonnet and holds up a grenade next to his smiling face, he has written ‘The End is Near’ on the grenade, “Woo hoo, let’s get it on!” FLASHBACK ZYRUKAHN AND RAI’LOS Rai’los is on the ground picking up pieces of Indar’s armor, he has a frantic look on his face. “Hold on buddy, we’ll get you patched up, you’re going to be okay.” Astygenes rushes over to Rai’los trying to knock the armor out of his arms, “Rai’los! What are you doing? Get back on the line.” Rai’los is gritting his teeth and puffing his chest at Astygenes. Suddenly Tijan’s voice comes over Rai’los’ com-link. Rai’los holds a finger over his ear and turns his head away from the noise of the front line, “Rai’los, get your ATV to the line. We need immediate EVAC!” Rai’los is pursing his lips, nostrils flaring, still looking at Astygenes with fierce eyes and backing away. He starts running towards his vehicle. “PILE IN YOU WORTHLESS F*@KS! WERE SAVING THE

BOSS’S ASS!” Rai’los jumps into the armored transport. The side of the vehicle says, “the best defense is Rai’los.” As soon as he gets the vehicle in gear there is the high pitched squeal of Nivian projectile getting louder. There is a huge explosion. When the smoke clears Rai’los is sitting in a crater holding a steering wheel. Two soldiers run up to Rai’los, “Captain! Are you okay?” Rai’los spikes the steering wheel, stands up and looks around. Most of his clothes are blown off, he looks like a Chippendale’s dancer (naked except for a tattered collar, cuffs and boots). He points to a giant Nivian tank, “MOBILIZE! WE’RE TAKING THAT SIEGE ENGINE!” VYRISS AND RAI’LOS AT ANTYHK Vyriss and Rai’los are at a tavern Inn. They are drinking. Rai’los, “That was pretty good back there. I thought you were all ‘slight of hand’ in the dark, but that was just the right combination of ferocity and grace.” Vyriss, “Yea…I was showing off a little. I know Tijan gave you the ‘go’ incase I wasn’t where I was supposed to be or tried to take your ATV. I just wanted to give you something to think about.” Rai’los, “Babe, you always give me something to think about.” Vyriss looks at him like she is going to slice his guts open, “let’s go upstairs.” Rai’los, “Whoa, hey I was only kidding.” Vyriss, “If I was going to kill you over a crass remark you would have been gone a long time ago.” Rai’los, “oh…OH, you’re serious?” Rai’los looks away. The sight of him trying to think is pitiful. “I thought you hated me.” Vyriss, “I do, I’m having a self destructive moment. I’m being explicit because I know you are too stupid to pick up the most obvious tells. You should take advantage of it.” Rai’los, “Um, okay.” He starts getting excited, “Let’s go!” Vyriss leans in, “But just so we’re clear, if you do tell anyone, I will poison you, you will be paralyzed and I’ll stick you in my cabinet, your entrails will slowly digest and I’ll use your fluids to fertilize my azaleas.” Rai’los, “So there’s a chance that I could die from having sex with you…that’s awesome.”

FLASHBACK HAND TO HAND It is night, Tijan’s office is dark except for a desk lamp over a steaming cup of coffee. Tijan is writing and doesn’t look up when talking to Rai’los, “and your men still alive when you opened up the canister

fire inside the Nivian armor?” cut scene Rai’los has a shirt wrapped around his waist, he and two of his soldiers are in the Nivian tank in a fan configuration with their carbine rifles scanning every shadow and corner. Suddenly all the men fall to their knees dropping their weapons. Zyrukahn walks casually in from behind them. He goes directly for Rai’los and turns him over and is inhaling ectoplasmic fumes out of Rai’los’ body. Rai’los gives Zyrukahn a powerful sidekick to the torso. Zyrukahn holds Rai’los’ foot and drops his elbow on Rai’los’ knee. Rai’los, “AHG!” Zyrukahn straddles Rai’los. Rai’los raises his right hand and with a glowing finger tries to strike Zyrukahn’s forehead, Zyrukahn grabs his hand and puts his other hand on Rai’los’ face. Rai’los is kicking his legs like a madman grunting. Rai’los tries to pull Zyrukahn’s hand off his face. Zyrukahn’s grips slides down Rai’los’ face down to Rai’los’ neck. The two Persicaän soldiers are on either side of Zyrukahn are trying to pull him off Rai’los. Rai’los’ face is bright read, his eyes are watering and bloodshot, veins are bulging out of his neck and face, his struggle is getting weaker and weaker. Rai’los releases his grip on Zyrukahn’s wrist and his hand falls to his side. ANTYHK INN & TAVERN the two of them are sitting on opposite sides of the bed. Rai’los, “I don’t know...that never happened before…geez, this is embarrassing.” Vyriss, “Great, you can leave now.” Rai’los, “All I could think about was when you were going to stick a dart in my neck. I thought that would be exciting…but it was really distracting.” Vyriss, “Never mind, I’ll leave. Stay here, I need to get a drink.” FLASHBACK CAN OF WHOOP ASS Rai’los’ left hand is at his side. It grabs a canister off of his belt and lifts it over Zyrukahn’s hand to his mouth. Rai’los bites the cap off the canister. Zyrukahn growls. There is an explosion. Rai’los is staggering up in the cloud of smoke. He kneels down over Zyrukahn’s body and starts to slowly push his hand through Zyrukahn’s head.

Rai’los stands up and looks at his two dead soldiers. cut scene Tijan has both hands over his face, “and that’s it? That’s the whole story?” Rai’los is slouched to one side picking at some loose paint on Tijan’s desk, “…told you the first story better.” Tijan, “If you had been killed they would have died anyway.” Rai’los doesn’t move except to raise his eye browns in defeat. Rai’los, “It was 1st Datha* Ledo. We were friends, but I made fun of his kid and he got all pissed off. I guess I found the limit, how much of my @#$% he would take before he cut me loose. I felt bad, made him an egg sandwich, I was gonna give it to him after we got back. I @#$%in’ killed him.” (*a Dathabam leads a unit of 10 soldiers) Tijan looks at him for a second over his finger tips, “…dismissed.” Rai’los looks up with a surprised expression. He shrugs and gets up and leaves. Tijan taps a pen on his desk and presses a button to open a channel to his assistant, “Broddy, I want Rai’los assigned with Astygenes at the defense expo. Tell Astygenes to keep an eye on him. cut scene Wide shot of Rai’los at the end of the dark firing range. He is sitting on the floor hunched forward, almost prostrate with his hands over his face. ANTYHK Vyriss is staring at her beer. She gets up to go out for a while. She freezes, her eyes go wide. The captain of the Persicaän police has just walked in the door, Saimak the super cop. He looks right at her. Vyriss’ eyes are wide, thinks to herself, “@#$%” END OF PART 1