------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ----------------- S T A G E 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 replace 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."