PERSEUS: "Accession" part 6
Copyright (c) 1991 Larry Mann, Ryan Mathews

[Scene of the Shrike landing in the strangely paused battle.]

			MICHAEL (CAPTION)
It was incredible.  Everywhere the fighting had simply stopped.
Soldiers on both sides had lain down their weapons and were talking to
each other casually.  I landed the Shrike in front of the Imperial
Palace with no resistance.

No one stopped me as I entered the palace.  A few even gave me
directions to where it was happening, whatever it was.

[Michael enters a room, elbowing past spectators.]

			MICHAEL
What in the galaxy--??!

[In the center of the room, Kanaan and Nadar are locked in psychic
combat.  Their hands are closed about each other's throats.  Their
eyes are closed and they are grimacing.  Visible pulses of energy
shoot between their foreheads.  Spectators circle them but do not
interfere.  Cut to Michael, next to Rastaan.]

			MICHAEL
Why is everyone just standing here?  Why don't they help--
	[He runs forward and hits a force-field.]
--OOF!

			RASTAAN
That's why.

			MICHAEL
But the war outside, it's stopped dead too!

			RASTAAN
Of course it has.  Only one of these men will walk out of this room
alive.  If it is Lord Aikata, all the lords will swear allegiance to
him as Emperor.  If it's Nadar... Well, whatever you might have heard,
the main reason the other lords are participating is out of a sense of
debt to Lord Aikata.  He's the only thing keeping them in cooperation.
If he dies, they will cut their losses and withdraw.  Either way, the
war is over.  And thanks to telepathy, everyone knows.

			MICHAEL
Then all we can do is wait?

			RASTAAN
Yes.  I wonder what they're going through.  Psychic combat is
never the same twice.

[Cut to an alien landscape.  Kanaan and Nadar face each other.]

			KANAAN
<Let's get this over with.>

			NADAR
<Agreed.  I've let you live far too long.>

[The two each place their right wrists over their left and manifest
swords.  They fight.  (I'll let you choreograph the battle, Larry.
You're better at it.)]

[Nadar gets the upper hand.]

			NADAR
<You're a fool, Kanaan.  I was always better at this than you.>

			KANAAN
<And you're blind!  I've been plotting this rebellion for years and
you never noticed!  You're blind, stupid, and you're leading our
nation into war!!>
	[He throws Nadar off.]

			NADAR
<You're cursed right I am!  Humans are pathetic!  If I have to share
the universe with them, they must be put in their place!  DIE!!>

[They continue to fight.  Nadar cuts one of Kanaan's wings off.]
[Cut to the real world again.  Kanaan screams!]

			RASTAAN [expression of resignation]
<Oh, dear goddess.  I think he's losing.>

			MICHAEL (CAPTION)
As I watched Kanaan writhe in pain, I decided I had to do something,
anything.  If Nadar won, I was a dead man.  It was that simple.  It
was a matter of survival.

[Michael strains and starts to pass through the barrier.]

			RASTAAN [stunned]
<That's... that's impossible!>

			Someone in the crowd
<HEY!!  Someone stop him!>

[As Michael makes it through, he collapses.]
[Cut back to the landscape.  Michael is now present as well, and he
watches the combatants from a distance.]

			MICHAEL
Where...  Where am I?

[Nadar has the severely wounded Kanaan down and is about to apply the
killing stroke.  Michael runs toward them.]

			MICHAEL
Hey!  HEY!!  Get away from him!!

			KANAAN
M-Michael...?

			NADAR
<Human scum??  Invading MY mind??  You dare?!>

			MICHAEL
Get away from him, you... <you feig-eater!!>

			NADAR [to Kanaan:]
<You can wait, my friend.>
	[He kicks Kanaan]
<Your presence here is a cancer, human.  Prepare to be excised.>

			KANAAN (THOUGHT)
Michael!  You must use your essence against him!

			MICHAEL (THOUGHT)
Kanaan?

			KANAAN (THOUGHT)
Here, you are what you wish to be.  You...

			MICHAEL (THOUGHT)
Kanaan?  Kanaan!!

[Nadar screams and rushes Michael with the sword.  Michael dodges the
blow and hits Nadar as hard as he can in the chest.  Michael's arm
punches right through the astonished Nadar and out his back.]

[Cut to the real world.  Nadar screams as blood gushes out his mouth,
nose, ears, and eyes.  He collapses, dead.  Michael and Kanaan shakily
get to their feet.]

			MICHAEL
Ladies and gentlemen, the Emperor is dead.  Long live the Emper--
	[Michael passes out as Kanaan drops to his knees.]

			RASTAAN
<Someone get medtechs!  NOW!!>