------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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'?!"