PERSEUS: "Accession" part 2
Copyright (c) 1991 Larry Mann, Ryan Mathews

[Caption :  "INTERLUDE:  Sciranas"
The scene is a park, built around a canyon with a river flowing at
its bottom.  Young Kamu stands at the railing and takes in the view.
A guard is with her.]

			GUARD [gesturing]
<I'll be back there if you need me, Miss Aikata.>

			KAMU
<Sure.>

[From behind, Mira approaches, yelling at an unseen someone behind
her.]
			MIRA
<Go on then!  See if I care!!  You and that airbrained tramp can go
hump each other horns!!  YOU FEIG-EATING SLIMEWORM!!!>
	[Mira joins Kamu at the railing.]
<Males.  They stink!  One moment they're telling you you're a goddess
and the next they're dumping you for some bimbo with bigger breasts or
slimmer wings.  Am I right?>

			KAMU [surprised]
<Huh?>

			MIRA
<But that's okay.  He was a jerk.  I don't need him.  (sniff)>
	[pause or next frame]
<Oh, goddess, why am I telling you this?  I'm sorry.>

			KAMU
<That's okay.  This is the most excitement I've had all day.  I'm
Kamu.>

			MIRA
<Mira.>

[They grasp left hands in something similar to a handshake.  Kamu
notices a tattoo going around Mira's wrist:  Soronian script.]

			KAMU
<Oh!  You're in the military!>

			MIRA
<Yup!  Lieutenant, Air Infantry.  I'm here on a three-day pass.>
	[pause or next frame]
<What a crappy way to end a vacation.>

			KAMU
<So did he, uh, mean a lot to you?>

			MIRA
<He used to.  I guess I was just too independent.  So he traded me for
someone less wild.>

			KAMU
<I wouldn't understand.  I've never had a boyfriend.>

			MIRA [surprised]
<Wha--!  Boy, you must lead an isolated life!>

			KAMU
<My life's fine!  I've got two loving parents, a wonderful home, all
the money I need...>

			MIRA
<You're bored, aren't you?>

			KAMU
(sigh) <Terribly.>

			MIRA
<Let's go do something!  We could both use a little excitement!>

			KAMU
<Uh...>
	[She looks at her bodyguard, asleep on a bench a ways back.]
<Sure, why not?>

[Cut to a cliff overlooking a deep, cylindrical pit, at the bottom of
which is a spring.  Kamu and Mira stand at the top.]

			MIRA
<Ever surfed the spring before?>

			KAMU
<No, what's that?>

			MIRA
<The spring down here is spewing out boiling water.  The heat creates
these updrafts you can ride!>

			KAMU
<Isn't that dangerous?>

			MIRA
<Sure, it's dangerous!  C'mon!>

[Mira dives off the cliff, spreads her wings about halfway down,
catches the updraft, and balances on it.]

			MIRA
<Come on up!>

[Kamu laughs and dives off.  The two are soon swooping and hovering
and having the time of their lives.  Until...]

			POLICEMAN
<Hey, you kids!  Get down from there!>

			KAMU
<"Kids"?>
	[They both break up laughing, rolling in midair.]

[Cut to the ground.  Mira, Kamu, her bodyguard, and the policeman are
present.]

			POLICEMAN
<This man was looking all over for you, Miss Aikata.  You had him
worried sick.>

			MIRA [stunned]
<Aikata?  K-Kamu...Aikata?!>
	[she kneels (optional)]
<My--my lady...>

			KAMU
<Oh, *please* don't!  You're the first person who ever treated me as a
person instead of a title!>
	[pause or next frame]
<Would you like come over to the estate tomorrow?  Maybe you could
think of something else for us to do.>

[Mira gives a mischievious grin.]

[Title page for this part.  Cut to Michael in his room.  Rastaan
enters.]

			MICHAEL (CAPTION)
As nice as the room was that Rastaan set me up in, after about twelve
hours I was getting jittery.  And this didn't help...

[Michael is arguing with the guards just outside the door.]

			MICHAEL
What do you mean, I can't leave?!

			GUARD #1
Am sorry, sir.

			MICHAEL
Dammit, I'm a citizen of the Co-Op!  We have a treaty!  I get the same
rights as--

			GUARD #2
Am sorry.  Have orders.

[Rastaan enters with a bottle.]

			RASTAAN
I believe I can explain.

			MICHAEL
Rastaan!  What's going on here?  Am I being held prisoner?

			RASTAAN
Well, that's a cruel way of putting it.  Would you like a drink?

			MICHAEL
Uh, no, thanks.  You know, huh?
	[Rastaan pours himself one.]

			RASTAAN
That you know about the weapons you delivered?  Yes.  I read your
thoughts at the spaceport.  For an esper, your shields leave a lot to
be desired.

			MICHAEL
Look, I don't want to be involved in this.

			RASTAAN
But you are involved, Mr. Perseus.  You can't change that.  And that's
what we have to talk about.

			MICHAEL
You're planning an Imperial coup, aren't you?

			RASTAAN
Let's just say--
	[Kanaan speaks.  He has entered unnoticed.]

			KANAAN
Yes, we are.

			RASTAAN
<M-m'lord...>

			KANAAN
<I'll take it from here, Rastaan.  You may go about your duties.>

			RASTAAN
<Yes, m'lord.>
	[He leaves.]
			MICHAEL
Uh, my lord--

			KANAAN [smiling in a friendly way]
I see no wings on your back.  If I may call you Michael, you may call
me Kanaan.

			MICHAEL
Kanaan... What's going to happen to me?

			KANAAN
That's pretty much up to you.  With what you know, we can't very well
let you out of our sight.  Now, either you can remain imprisoned here,
or you can help us obtain our goal.

			MICHAEL [absolutely stunned]
Y-you want me...to help you...overthrow the Emperor?

			KANAAN
You're going to be fighting him sooner or later.  Haven't you been
reading the news?  Nadar is planning to start a war with the human
Co-Op.  Myself and my allies among the regional lords have decided
that such a war is not in our best interests.

			MICHAEL
Because your territory borders the Co-Op?

			KANAAN
Because I don't like war, Michael.  And because I rather like humans.
Many sorons see humans as inferior because you can't fly and most of
you have no esper ability.  Nadar has been encouraging this.  But it's
wrong.  Most humans are honorable beings, worthy of our respect.  If
you help us, you can prove that.

			MICHAEL
What if you lose?

			KANAAN
I won't lie to you.  If we lose, you're in deep trouble.  But Michael,
if we lose, your entire race is in trouble.

[One frame of Kanaan looking at Michael, who is lost in thought.  Next
frame:]

			MICHAEL
What do you want me to do?

			KANAAN
For the most part, just to act as a human observer.  Though with your
abilities, you could be our ace in the hole.

			MICHAEL
I don't know what you're talking about.  I can do some telepathy and
telekinesis, but that's about it.

			KANAAN
That's all you've learned, yes.  Please, Michael, think it over.  I'd
like your answer in the morning.

[Kanaan leaves.]

			MICHAEL
...

			MICHAEL (CAPTION)
I was glad Rastaan left the bottle in the room.  I had never needed a
drink worse in my life.

[Michael pours himself a drink and knocks it back.]