Merry Christmas Memories

Scene 22: Reckoning

A proper description of the Shadow's Heart has been lacking up to this point.  The exterior is black with a purple tinge, which is hidden when out of direct light.  There are two turbine-style engines at its head, which possess internal maintenance corridors apart from the living space.  The cargo hold is the only entrance to the ship on the starboard side.  Living quarters reside to the port.  With three rooms side-by-side at two bunks each this crew is already too large to all sleep to one bunk each at the same time.

Aaron sets the ship to autopilot.  He pivots his seat and pauses a moment to glance and reflect upon the faint red stain pool on the floor.  He rises and walks the spine of the ship that leads directly from the cockpit to the common area.  The crew sit around the center table with surrounding lights dimmed and a strong overhead spotlight casting down on the table.

Valory absently strokes her arm while staring at the floor.  Ross and Sweets are present.  Aaron begins to sit only to momentarily look up and rise again at Tulia's approach. Her face is red from tears though they have stopped.

TULIA:  Someone has to kill him.  

SWEETS:  How's Rune?

TULIA:  I want him dead, Sweets.  

Sweets rises and holds her close.

TULIA:  He tore Rune up real bad.  

I don't think I can help him.

She thumps Sweets' chest.

TULIA:  You all keep getting hurt!

SWEETS:  And we're all still here.

Aaron takes a step toward them.

TULIA:  Don't you talk to me, soldier boy.  

This is my crew we're talking about.  

You had your chance to put a bolt in him.  

You had him dead to rights.  

I won't forgive you for that.

AARON:  I want something from him.

TULIA:  You want something from him?  

Oh, so long as you want something from him.  

Don't let our bodies stand in your way.

AARON:  I'm not saying he doesn't have it coming to him.  

But he got us here and we're on our way.  

Now we have to decide what to do with him.

VALORY:  Decide?

TULIA:  And I suppose you'll use the 

kid to make me out to be in the wrong.

VALORY:  Hey, I ain't a kid.

TULIA:  Get a new catch fraise, sweet heart.

AARON:  I didn't say it was going to be like that.

TULIA:  You haven't done anything.

AARON:  All I need is to talk with him.  

After, we do how the vote goes.

SWEETS:  Tulia... (turns her) Aaron is 

responsible for saving both Ross and me.

AARON:  For one thing, I need to know if Clemence 

told Vincent about Spencen before we can think about 

even risking drawing attention to him.

TULIA:  But that's not really what 

you want to ask Nick is it?

AARON:  No.

TULIA:  You just use all your friends up 

and dump them, don't you, soldier boy?

AARON:  I'll honor the vote.  I'll even follow through if 

that's what's decided.  But I got to talk to 

him first.  That's not negotiable.

TULIA:  Go to Hell.

SWEETS:  I want to know if Spencen is in trouble.

AARON:  I know I can't convince him to leave 

unless there's a direct threat to his life.  

And he is my friend.  I will go 

back for him if I need to.

VALORY:  Esben liked Spencen.  

I think he would say the same thing.

TULIA:  You just don't want to get your hands dirty.

VALORY:  I get a vote.  This isn't just about your 

crew anymore.  We got a new ship.  That means this 

is a new crew.  We get to care what happens to Rune too.

Growls over the coms.

VALORY:  That's Esben.  He says Nicodemus wants to talk.

TULIA:  We can have it out.

VALORY:  He says he'll only talk to Aaron.

TULIA:  You're a little too popular for comfort.  

What makes him think he gets to dictate?  

Isn't that hairy friend of yours set to cut his throat?

VALORY:  I don't know what to tell you.  That's what he said.

AARON:  We go together.

TULIA:  How generous of you to offer.

She draws and turns around holding her weapon pointed up.  Sweets grabs it up in a single swipe and she attempts a much angrier punch to the chest.  She hurts her hand on his scales.  He hands the gun back to her.

AARON:  We can't have him running the show 

by giving into his demands.  But you should let me talk.  

There's a lot we don't know.  And there won't be any 

secrets in there.  You already know mine.

VALORY:  Do we?

TULIA:  Yeah.  What else are you hiding?

AARON:  I was only hiding the uniform.  

Everything else... simply doesn't matter anymore.

Roaring.

VALORY:  Esben says that if somebody's going 

to come down he wants a break from guard duty.

ROSS:  We're going right now.

They enter the hold.  Nicodemus is bound and sitting on the floor across from Esben who sits on a crate, which has caved somewhat under his weight.

NICODEMUS:  He keeps growling about something 

and pointing at his sword.  I keep telling him 

I never met his kind in Janriel before.

SWEETS:  Probably something about 

inviting you to a ritualistic sacrifice.

Esben glances sideways at Sweets.  

He makes a long series of growls to Valory.

VALORY:  Do you want the long or the short?

NICODEMUS:  Short.

VALORY:  He's been trying to explain to you how 

your blood would make a stain on his blade 

with your dishonor.  The gorier details include how 

he would make sure it didn't dry before he drew 

new designs on the blade to announce to all the 

other warriors the blade has struck down dishonor.

NICODEMUS:  You could sound less sweet while you 

were saying it.  That would make it all less disconcerting.  

I need to have a word with our closet imperial.

AARON:  Anything you have to say 

can be said in front of everyone.

NICODEMUS:  Your choice.  I don't think you want 

the rest to hear what you've been keeping from them.

ROSS:  I'd love to.

AARON:  I know I'm curious.

NICODEMUS:  Well gather around then.  

AARON:  What did you have to say to me Nicodemus?

NICODEMUS:  Why didn't you kill me?

AARON:  That's it?

SWEETS:  It's a popular question.  

Valory elbows him.

NICODEMUS:  You and I are after the same mystery. 

I know what you saw in Vincent's black vault.  

And I suspect you were the only one that could stand 

to look at it when the rest of them had to - 

I mean had to - look away.  I know what happened 

to you because the same thing happened to me.  

Only, I wasn't just exposed to a sample in a vial.  

I saw the genuine article.

ROSS:  What?

NICODEMUS:  I saw gods living among us.  

There were whole armies swept away with a stroke 

of their hand; achieving as much would take me days to do.  

The Empire could have never fallen while they were at our side.

AARON:  Then why did it?  Why tell me this fairy tale now?

NICODEMUS:  It's no fairy tale.  You saw it.  You know what 

just a little bit of their blood can do.  And I know where one 

of these angels is being kept right here in Janriel.

TULIA:  You can't be buying this.

NICODEMUS:  There's an asteroid.  The vial was proof 

of the goods.  It's just one.  They draw less attention that way.  

She's being held prisoner there.

SWEETS:  So turning aside armies ok, 

but can't handle a bunch of miners.

NICODMEUS:  My information says she's still a 

servant of the Order.  They found a way to trap her.  

How they did it they won't say.  But someone told 

Mr. Vincent how to store the blood sample.

AARON:  Blood, though?

NICODEMUS:  Yeah.  Mr. Vincent was bidding, but those 

asteroids are too far out for taxis.  Our mysterious 

benefactor is paying us to deliver her.

AARON:  Another job.

NICODEMUS:  But I say to hell with that.  

We break her out.  We blow the blockade.  

And we head straight for the Order's headquarters.

TULIA:  Why?

NICODMEUS:  Maybe they'll be grateful for 

their servant's return and reinstate the Prestmoors.  

The Order are the true rulers of the Republic.  

The Republic is but a shell of a government.

AARON:  I don't believe that.

NICODEMUS:  Believe what you want.  

But everything goes to hell unless we get 

the Order and the Prestmoors on the same page.  

SWEETS:  What is that supposed to mean?

NICODEMUS:  I'm done talking.  You can either go to 

that asteroid, save the angel, and get in the good graces 

with the Order or you can run the blockade, 

leaving her behind, and take your chances 

that they won't hunt you down for it.  

Your choice.  I'm here if you want it done right.  

Aaron bows his head in contemplation
and then addresses Nicodemus again.

AARON:  The rest of them are going to have 

a word with you about what you did to Rune.

NICODEMUS:  He had it coming.  That idiot pulled 

a gun on me while I was prepping for launch.

VALROY:  We all saw the ramp close.  Rune fought 

you to keep us from being left behind.

NICODEMUS:  I beat him is all.  

If he wasn't too weak to take-

Tulia surges forward.

TULIA:  Finish that thought.

Pause.

TULIA:  Please?

NICODEMUS:  Let me give him a transfusion.  

She cocks her head and squints.

TULIA:  What now?

NICODEMUS:  That's all he'll need.

ROSS:  How do you know?

NICODEMUS:  Because I was touched.  

The same as you... and the same as him.

Ross looks around to see
Aaron standing near the exit.

NICODEMUS:  Your bodies will heal at an accelerated rate; 

if given half a chance.  I don't think you were exposed 

long enough to grow back limbs.  So don't get any ideas.  

But open wounds will close faster and burns will disappear.  

I got enough latent regeneration to be able to heal 

your friend if you let me.

He scans over their faces.

NICODEMUS:  Go ahead.  Hook me up to him.

Further hesitation.

NICODEMUS:  I can't kill him.

Nicodemus and Rune lie on parallel beds already hooked up.  Ross and Sweets stand with rifles extended while Tulia monitors the vitals.  Rune's face begins to move a little.  Tulia steps away from the readouts to meet with Aaron, waiting just outside in the hall.

AARON:  How's it working?

TULIA:  The bastard was right.  Rune's vitals are 

recovering three times faster than they should.  

He's out of critical support.  He still can't be 

moved without everything going south.  

AARON:  So maybe we hold off on 

making a run for the blockade just in case.

TULIA:  Can I trust you to tell me if 

you ever heard about these angels of his?

AARON:  Yeah.  How about what he said about 

being touched.  I never heard of that before, either.  

TULIA:  So you, with your all-access pass 

to robots on off-the-books space stations, 

have never heard of these beings before?

AARON:  No.  I did ask an old friend to look into it.  

Maybe that's another reason not to leave 

yet until we find some answers.

TULIA:  You're not seriously considering

about going to that asteroid?

AARON:  It's what you might 

call tempting.  Wouldn't you say?

TULIA:  You know what you're going to find 

on that asteroid?  Not a damsel in distress for 

you to rescue.  Those are probably his friends waiting

there and they're going to help him take back the ship 

because they want out of Janriel just like everyone else.

AARON:  How do you explain our 

little miracle in the infirmary?

TULIA:  Maybe I gave up on Rune too 

soon and he's finally pulling through.

AARON:  And the vial?  Ross?

TULIA:  Nick said that stuff did 

something to you too.

AARON:  I had a vision of a woman.

TULIA:  Am I supposed to believe visions are real?

AARON:  Look at it this way.  

Do you see any other leads?

TULIA:  I didn't have the mysteries of the

universe on my hands before I met you.

AARON:  Maybe you did and you just

didn't know there was anything 

you could do about it.

TULIA:  I still don't think that.  There's no such thing as fate.  

There's people that just look for trouble and those 

who aren't smart enough to get paid for it.

AARON:  We're on the last ship out.  

That's not lucrative?

TULIA:  Not if we wait too long to get out.

AARON:  Alright.  Never mind the asteroid.  

We can start probing the edge of the blockade 

for the thinnest part.  I just have to ask something.

He steps into the infirmary and
leans over Nicodemus.

AARON:  Did you tell anybody about Spencen?

NICODEMUS:  (sleepy) No.  I always told me guys

the doctor's place was off-limits.  And they don't 

know you and him have history, that he fought.  

Mr. Vincent doesn't know.  

Nobody does, except, me.

Aaron departs.  Aaron and Tulia head for the cockpit.  Passing through the lounge, they discover Safe opening a door in the corner.  With a spark of circuits the lock releases and the door slides open revealing a dilapidated foe.  A rusted scarecrow of one of the assassin robots leans back against the interior wall.  Safe rolls forward and extends a wand to the machine's midsection.

AARON:  No!

Safe replaces a circuit and the eyes glow dimly to life.
It takes a step forward on unsteady legs.

DESTINE:  Greetings.  Would you know

my master's whereabouts?

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Scene 21: The Greatest Lie Ever Told

(And Never Heard)

The tower.

ABBESS:  We are abandoned, Samael.  

The Shadow's Heart moves away from us.

SAMAEL:  So I was right for suspecting 

Vincent.  He has betrayed me.

ABBESS:  The Heart rested on the surface of Janriel.  

You might have gone to it yourself.  Had you employed 

your will there, none could have stood before you.  

Instead, a small rabble claim it for themselves.  

And by the barest margin, as I heard it.

SAMAEL:  Their difficulties are of no 

consequence so long as they succeed.

ABBESS:  You are betrayed, again.  

We are left.  Have we fallen so far?

SAMAEL:  I shall employ them further.

ABBESS:  End this madness.

SAMAEL:  I intend to.  

ABBESS:  You make too much of your proxies.

SAMAEL:  The Shadow's Heart cannot leave Janriel.  

It is a valuable instrument to be used.  And it requires a crew.  

They are now forged into one and I have dispatched 

an important task with them.

ABBESS:  More machinations.  But these are flesh.  

Not unwieldy, but decidedly unpredictable on occasion.  

And that occasion might come at that most critical of times.

SAMAEL:  I do as well is required of me 

with the other denizens of Janriel.

ABBESS:  Tell me, Samael.  You who stand in dominion of Janriel, 

what was the greatest lie that the Order ever told you?

SAMAEL:  I remember well, teacher.  But even if I were to tell 

her she could hear the words and not understand.  

ABBESS:  We are but crude flesh and yet I 

know your own desire.  Let us take possession 

of the Shadow's Heart.  It is yours.

SAMAEL:  It was never mine.  That was 

the lesson, if you remember.

ABBESS:  In part.

SAMAEL:  Yes, in part.  But you trust my understanding, teacher.  

We can speak easily between us.  In another, such a small 

amount of knowledge could prove all too dangerous.

ABBESS:  And so you do not have to quibble with me 

when I say take possession of it.  We could still do 

what has been left undone.  And we can leave Janriel.

SAMAEL:  I am doing it, teacher.  I have chosen where I will stand.  

My enemy merely forces me to wait; for the taunting.  

He hopes so desperately that I shall be moved.  

I will remain.  And when the time comes I know 

that you will slip away from me, teacher.  I forgive you.

ABBESS:  Thank you for forgiving me what I have not 

yet done.  But if my teachings forsake you then I am hardly 

your teacher.  But I will see this journey to the end 

with you, Samael.  I only hold out hope that 

you might take the opportunity that has 

come before you.  The Shadow's Heart is an 

incredible gift that shall not return once departed.

SAMAEL:  The Shadow's Heart remains employed 

in my behalf.  I merely set it on its course.  

Now we will see what comes of the 

events that have been set into motion.

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Scene 20: The Heist (Part 2)

The crew is crammed into Nicodemus' quarters.  He overturns his mattress and produces a heavy footlocker with the door facing up to him there.  He turns the combination lock, opens, and proceeds to hoist a portable minigun.

AARON:  Projectile based?

NICODEMUS:  Ha, ha!  Armor-piercing.

Packs a bigger punch than what anyone

else is going to be carrying in this whole place.

RUNE:  Don't you have to carry all that?

TULIA:  It'll work.

She reaches in to remove an ammunition
backpack and starts helping him with it on.

TULIA:  He just needs to get us

all the way to the Shadow's Heart.

NICODEMUS:  Yeah.  This will take

care of your Noclysis problem.

TULIA:  Guys, load up.  There's more rudimentary

guns in here.  We could use everything we can get.

RUNE:  I'm good.  My rifle's one of

the only heavy gear we came in with.

TULIA:  You'll take another

sidearm and extra cartridges.

AARON:  You got any more of those?

NICODEMUS:  Take everything you can carry.

Those pistols of yours will run dry

real quick running on full power.

ROSS:  So I'm seeing you're more of an

offense over defense kind of guy.

NICODEMUS:  I haven't met a wall or piece of armor

that can hold up.  Better to be the guy shooting and

not waiting to get shot back at.

Sweets removes a sword off a display stand.

NICODEMUS:  Leave it.  It's a trinket.

We won't have time for those.

SWEETS:  Esben will want this.

NICODEMUS:  One less gun in your hand,

but I'm not going to be responsible

for you.  You don what you want, Noclysis.

They all file out.

The crew strike an odd sight to the other guards regarding their casual demeanor while heavily armed.  When a second pair of guards passes them Rune offers a brief smile and wave.  Tulia grabs his arm to hold it at his side when they are safely passed.

TULIA:  I've never seen you look so guilty.

I didn't even know you could.

RUNE:  That's because I've

never been this nervous before.

TULIA:  Well get it together.

They seem to be leaving us alone.

They leave an intersection behind them
and one guard who is passing through the
adjoining hallway stops and sees them.
He is particularly young, probably latter mid-teens.

GUARD:  Hey.  All mercenaries check their

heavy weapons at the first gate they enter

the estate by.  Those are the regulations.

RUNE:  (whisper) You had to

know you were jinxing us.

Clemence turns to face the boy, which
stuns the young man that  it's him.

NICODEMUS:  And who you think 

it was that wrote those regulations?

GUARD:  Why, you did, sir.

NICODEMUS:  That's right.  So why don't you just run along

before I put you up on report for neglecting the minimum required

tandem movement through the estate.  I seem to remember

that being in the regulations as well.

The boy swallows his throat and
hurries off back the way he came.

TULIA:  Put him up on report?

NICODEMUS:  He's one that will run when 

it starts.  Let the rest be heroes.

Clemence turns to continue up the hallway.

Valory has fallen asleep and Esben keeps a constant scan of the room.  The room was dimmed, but now the lights gradually rise to the standard illumination; seemingly of their own accord.  Valory recoils into Esben's arms with another nock at the door.  Both of them continue to sit in silence.

MR. VINCENT: Please come to the door,

Ms. Adhama.  I wish to speak to you.

She sits up in surprise.

VALORY:  How did you know I was here?

MR. VINCENT:  It's my estate.

She cranes to look up at Esben
who shakes his head vigorously.

VALORY:  (whisper) Go over there.  (door) Coming.

Valory re-dims the lights.  Esben flattens himself against the wall and stands a few feet from the door.  Two figures stand in the pupil of his eye.  One is himself and the other Mr. Vincent.  This vision before him reveals Esben smashing through the door and crushing Mr. Vincent beneath it in the same fluid motion.  So much for the need of complex interpretation.

However, Esben's thoughts take a turn.  As he stands over the now-pulverized Mr. Vincent, the hairy beast turns his head and sees the faded outline of Nicodemus bearing down upon him with a large gun he had yet to see.  He is brought back to the moment with the flood of light from Valory sliding open the door.  He draws further back to where there is only the faintest reflection of his eyes.

VALORY:  (yawns) I'm sorry,

Mr. Vincent.  It's very late.

MR. VINCENT:  I apologize if I have disturbed you.

I have ordered the confirmation that I mentioned

earlier and I am already taking steps to protect

my property.  I am confident that

everything is well in hand.

VALORY:  Well, that's... good news Mr. Vincent.

I'll sleep better tonight knowing that.

MR. VINCENT:  I trust these

accommodations are to your liking?

VALORY:  Everything is just... luxurious.

Everything.  Umm, I think the bed might

even be too comfortable for me to sleep in.

MR. VINCENT:  Really?  Hmm.  Well I'm afraid

you have arrived at one problem that

I am simply not equipped to solve.

VALORY:  Oh, oh- don't- don't worry.

You have an incredibly nice floor, Mr. Vincent.

Best in all of Janriel!

MR. VINCENT:  The floor?  No, no, no.

That will simply not do for one

of my guests.  Please allow me to

inspect your furnishings.

He steps passed her into the room.
There is only the light of the hall.

MR. VINCENT: Turn up the lights, Miss Adhama.

VALORY:  I'm sorry?

MR. VINCENT:  You have your back to it.

You'll find it directly behind you.

She glances to where she knows Esben is.

MR. VINCENT:  What seems to be the problem?

VALORY:  I... are-

MR. VINCENT:  Yes?

VALORY;  Are you... interested in me, Mr. Vincent?

Standing in the direct light,
she seems him smile broadly.

MR. VINCENT:  Forgive an old man's frailty.

I have not been seeing clearly.

Good night, Ms. Adhama.

He leaves.

VALORY:  Good night, Mr. Vincent.

She closes the door.  She raises the lights.
Esben stands tall with a  sideways expression
on his lips.  She releases an exasperated sigh
and slides down against the door frame.

Just as Mr. Vincent is leave the crew is arriving.  He stands a short distance beyond the door and monitors their approach.

MR. VINCENT: What is the meaning

of this, Nicodemus?

NICODEMUS:  Unconventional, 

I admit, Mr. Vincent.

MR. VINCENT:  Try antiquated.

NICODEMUS:  Illegal, Mr. Vincent.

I put it to you, why should the 

Republic make these illegal over 

other weapons?  In the past, I would 

only trust other Prestmoors to carry 

these into battle.  But times being what 

they are, I'll take whatever advantage 

I can get over the Republic.

MR. VINCENT:  In that case, you and your 

mercenaries can come with me, Mr. Clemence.

The crew follow without argument, but exchange concerned glances as they pass beyond the place they had concealed their friends.  Sweets falls the furthest behind while stopping to consider the sword in his hand.  He slides it on his belt and lets it hand freely there.

Mr. Vincent leads them to his office where here the walls are also wood paneled and one wall of windows behind his desk looks down on a hanger bay where the Shadow's Heart is being kept.  Mr. Vincent has the others stop at the door and sits down at his desk with Mr. Clemence standing at his side.  Nicodemus allows a glance down into the hanger bay before he is addressed by Mr. Vincent.

MR. VINCENT:  I have verified a portion of the 

events you related to me.  There was, indeed, a severe 

firefight - over what has not been confirmed - between 

your bounty hunters and a drone attack in a popular 

market place where there were many, many witnesses.

I will have to compensate you for your loses.

Many of your mercenaries died.

NICODEMUS:  That was hardly any concern to them, sir.

MR: VINCENT:  Indeed.  In any case, there still 

remain some questions that need answers.

NICODEMUS:  Absolutely, sir.

MR. VINCENT:  Quit it.  You know that it doesn't 

look good on you.  Why did you bring the girl?

NICODEMUS:  I hired the crew, not the girl.

She's one of them.  I never thought anything of her.

MR. VINCENT:  I see.  Up to this moment you have 

been about reproach, Mr. Clemence.  But I believe 

now you must be found to be lacking.

NICODEMUS:  I don't understand.

What could I be missing?

MR. VINCENT:  What do you know about her?

He makes a point of standing at attention.

NICODEMUS:  Nothing, sir.

MR. VINCENT:  Well at least I can still rely on you to be 

honest with me.  Her brother was a former employee of ours.

He absconded with some intellectual property around the 

same time the blockade was imposed.  Am I supposed to take 

it as mere coincidence that she just happens to follow a 

band of mercenaries into my company?

NICODEMUS:  I could not say, Mr. Vincent.

MR. VINCENT:  Indeed, you cannot.  That will be all, Mr. Clemence.

Miss Adhama is confined to her quarters.  Merely inform her that 

she ought to leave the occupied light on in her pleasure sweet 

so that none of the other guests disturb her.  And remove that 

hairy beast from her company.

NICODEMUS:  Yes, sir.

MR. VINCENT:  Dismissed.

Nicodemus storms out of the office and shoves passed the crew.  By the time he reaches the pleasure sweet he pants with exhaustion from the weight of the ammo pack.  He beats on the door by way of nocking.

NICODEMUS:  Open the door!

It slides open and he is 
met with Esben's snarl.

NICODEMUS:  Back!  Back!  Get in there!

Esben retreats at the point of the gun 
and Nicodemus slams up the lights.

VALORY:  What's going on?

NICODEMUS:  Vincent found you out.

The job is blown!

AARON:  Only if you keep shouting like this.

NICODEMUS:  You compromised my place here.

Now he'll make sure I never get near the Shadow's Heart.

TULIA:  You compromised yourself the moment you 

conceived the plan.  You wanted to stab Mr. Vincent 

in the back?  What good is a Prestmoor 

that's afraid to get bloody?

NICODEMUS:  We're deep inside.

We got loaded up.  We move now.

AARON:  Sounds good.

NICODEMUS:  Expect him to be ready for us.

Sweets pushes into the room to approach Esben.
Riled, he snarls at Sweets' advance.

SWEETS:  Wo, now.  I brought you something.

He presents him with the sword.  It is a single-handed broadsword with a  finely stained wooden hilt.  The blade is dark with silver-colored pictographs in a series running down the spine.  It is a sequence of what appears to be the same figure with the vague impression of inhabiting a number of scenes.

Esben takes it with upheld fingers and 
recognizes it instantly.
Sweets continues, thoughtlessly.

SWEETS:  We found it in Nicodemus' quarters.

Esben's eyes flash with flames licking at his vision.  And he is upon Nicodemus in an instand and slams him into the wall and pins him there.  He bombards the warrior with a series of incoherent roars and Nicodemus can't recover his footing with the badly proportioned weight on his back.

NICODEMUS:  I don't know what you're saying!

SWEETS:  He wants to know where you got it!

NICODEMUS:  A Noclysis.  He tried to use it against 

me in a fight and I took it from him.  I later learned 

he killed another Noclysis for it.  It's just a trophy.

Esben roars one solid roar.  This has 
nothing to do with language barrier.

SWEETS:  He didn't mean that, he didn't mean that.  Alright?

Esben is spent and pants heavily in 
Nicodemus' face to catch his breath.

SWEETS:  We're leaving right now.

And we're all going together.  Agreed.

Esben is now controlling his breathing 
through his nose, but holds Nicodemus 
at the edge of the blade.

AARON:  He's a Noclysis hunter the same as you.

You heard him yourself.  He's never worked with them before.

Esben lifts the blade off of Nicodemus and turns 
to rejoin Valory on her side of the room; but not 
before delivering a couple meek swats to Sweets' shoulder.

NICODEMUS:  The sooner I get away from you people the better.

Runes takes point at the door, looks both ways, and trains his rifle down the hall where they had come from Mr. Vincent's office.  The rest pour out and head the opposite direction.  Valory pauses at the next pleasure sweet door and removes the key panel.

SWEETS:  What are you doing?

VALORY:  Esben said the Noclysis in here 

would try to fight even if they should 

know better.  I'm locking them in.

Aaron is the last to leave the room 
and pats Rune's shoulder at the door.

AARON:  Valory, we need to go.

VALORY:  I'm finished.

She replaces the panel and joins the others.

Aaron catches up to Nicodemus who is waiting 
for a couple of guards to walk further away 
before crossing a corridor intersection.

AARON:  Alright, so where to first?

NICODEMUS:  First are the alarms, like I said.

Remember, we have to open the hanger doors 

and hit the guards at the same time.

AARON:  Then Ross cuts the power.

ROSS:  Ross does what?

No one ran that by me.

NICODEMUS:  Good to see this 

is a professional operation 

we're all running here.

AARON:  Alright, I'll cut the power.

You'll miss me during the fighting.

ROSS:  Hey.

Beep.

Aaron looks across the way to see Safe.

AARON:  Wasn't he with us?

ROSS:  I don't remember seeing 

it since we entered the estate.

Safe makes a rude chirp and slowly rolls over to a door on his side of the intersection.  An arm rises out of the top of his head to interface with the keypad of the door and the door slides open.  The guards hear the door and start to come back.  Safe rolls into the room and the door closes behind him.  Nicodemus steps out and confronts the guards who seize up standing at attention.

NICODEMUS:  I want security doubled 

on all entrances to the estate.

GUARD:  Again?

NICODEMUS:  Do you want to leave 

the Republic an open invitation?

GUARD:  No, sir.

Both guards turn and double time up the hall.

Aaron crosses the intersection and goes to the 
door and it opens for him when he gets there 
with Safe waiting for him at his feet.

AARON:  What are you up to?

Safe turns and leads Aaron inside.  He stands before a monitor and Safe plugs in.  On the display there appears a corridor of blast doors showing green indicators.  Everything else is in red.

NICODEMUS:  I don't believe it.

AARON:  You see it, too?

NICODEMUS:  We have a path straight to the hanger.

These doors have been rerouted from the main power 

supply.  Now we can cut the power and the hanger bay 

doors will open at the same time.  And everywhere else will

go into lockdown.  Someone would have had to disconnect each 

of the green-line doors manually without being seen.

AARON:  That's some good work, little guy.

Nicodemus regards the comment with suspicion.

A new set of guards comes up on Rune's end and they raise their weapons.  He fires on both of them with a single shot each and the hall lights shift to an emergency red.  The alarm sounds.  The blast doors of the intersection on either side of them and behind them close, but the hallway ahead remains open.  Aaron and Nicodemus rush out of the maintenance station.  

NICODEMUS:  We still need to hit the power.

AARON:  I'm on it.

Further up the hall, one of the sealed blast doors is overridden and half-a-dozen guards open fire on sight.  Nicodemus rains down on them and marches forward behind his sustained volley.  He reaches the mouth of the door, turns into the adjoining hallway and fires a short burst after the couple guards who fled and then presses a hand scanner to re-seal the door.  It doesn't close.  Upon closer inspection he realizes that he has damaged the controls.

NICODEMUS:  This should close again 

when you cut the power.  Keep going.

Aaron moves on ahead.

NICODEMUS:  We need someone to cover 

this position while we move up.

RUNE:  Well I was already covering your back.

NICODEMUS:  I thought you were the pilot.

RUNE:  Then you're not leaving 

without me, are you?

The loading door to the hanger bay explodes open and Nicodemus steps out from the smoke with his minigun at full bore.  Human guards and the stray Noclysis alike scramble for cover and return fire.

The soundproof glass appears to conceal the battle raging behind him, but Mr. Vincent casually continues work at his desk beneath the red emergency lights.  His intercom whirs.

SCARED GUARD:  The Republic 

have breached!  They're everywhere!

MR. VINCENT:  Nonsense.  It's a trick.  All units are 

to report to the restricted hanger bay at once.  Abandon the 

entrances to the estate.  All units report to the restricted hanger bay.

One explosion is enough to rock a cup on his desk and a small crack forms in the window glass.  Mr. Vincent turns his head with an annoyed eye and turns back to his desk with a shake of his head.

A stream of guards suddenly appear down at the other end of Rune's bottleneck and he shoots dead the first half-dozen who attempted to rush him up the hall.  But the rest he can only manage to keep pinned down.  He is forced to fire blind beneath the punishing rate of fire they collectively deliver.

RUNE:  Aaron, what was I THINKING!

AARON:  I'm almost there, I'm almost there!

He bursts into the generator room,
breathless, and finds only technicians.

AARON:  You don't need to be here.

They all quickly leave.

He starts throwing switches.

The guards at the bottleneck start coming up the hallway again and this time move in a line so that they can all fire together.  Rune puts aside his rifle and starts blasting away with the sidearm.  This time he only kills a couple and the rest still keep coming.  He retreats from the mouth of the open hallway and takes up position a short distance up the hall, attempting to shoot them as they come out.

RUNE:  My position's overrun!

Absolute darkness and sudden silence.

RUNE:  (terrified whisper) Damn.

Rune is lit up by his adversaries opening fire again.  He returns blindly with the rifle shooting under one arm and the pistol in the other hand.  Under the beams of light, Rune witnesses the blast doors seal, but there are still a dozen or so guards that have already poured through to the other side.

Mr. Vincent remains at ease in his office, but then he too is plunged into total darkness.  After a moment, a horizon of white light breaks across his windows and bathes him in the morning sun.  A soft orange glow is cast upon the hanger bay below and Mr. Vincent's eyes grow wide with terror.  And as if looking unprotected into the heart of a nuclear explosion, he thinks he has gone blind as the light kisses him and sets his skin to glow gold with its warm.

Rune engages a crouched retreat under fire and Aaron runs up behind him.  He lays down fire with both barrels and orders Rune to run for the hanger.  Aaron then quickly follows.

They arrive at the hanger.

AARON:  We got company coming up behind us.

NICODEMUS:  The fight's pretty well out of them 

in here.  They're just stalling.

TULIA:  Ross, Sweets cover the back door.

Rune, take the ship.  We'll keep them pinned down.

NICODEMUS:  I got him.  I'm nearly out.

Rune runs headlong for the loading ramp and Nicodemus follows with a steady stream of fire.  He walks backwards up the loading ramp and once there he shirks off the ammo pack, drops the minigun, and draws his sidearm to help Rune clear the ship.  No one is aboard.  They make their way to the cockpit, seal it off, and each sit down at a set of controls.

RUNE:  Why did you just close the loading ramp?

NICODEMUS:  You want to let one of them try to take back the ship?

You're supposed to be getting ready for launch.  Get to it.

RUNE:  Our friends will be coming right behind us.

NICODEMUS:  Your friends.

RUNE:  Step away from the controls.

NICODEMUS:  Shut up you idiot.

RUNE:  I meant it.

He glances over to see Rune has stood up from his station with his sidearm extended at Nicodemus' head.  Nicodemus lifts his hands off the controls and holds them in the air.  He rises and moves toward the cockpit door.  He reaches down to punch the button to open it and steps out into the hallway there.  Rune steps forward to press the button for the door and as it begins to close Nicodemus reaches out and pulls Rune's arm beyond the doorframe so that it is crushed and Rune is forced to drop the gun.

The cockpit door opens again and Nicodemus marches forward to waylay Rune with brutal hits to the head.  Bloodied all over, Rune falls back against the controls.  Nicodemus towers over him again and Rune delivers a strong kick to the gut.  Rune then only has the strength to turn on his side and he flips a few switches with tremoring fingers.

Aaron witnesses the loading ramp lower again and rushes the no man's land between cargo crate barricades.  Inside the cockpit, Nicodemus pulls Rune up by the collar and delivers more blows to the face.  Then he feels a barrel against the back of his head.

AARON:  Off.

Nicodemus moves to the side with 
his hands raised to the back of his head.

RUNE:  (muffled) Just shoot him.

AARON:  Step into the hall.

He does.

AARON:  Now close it.

Nicodemus frowns and punches the button.

RUNE:  (muffled) What gives?

AARON:  I know you're not feeling up to it 

right now, Rune.  But I'm going to need you 

to talk me through this.  What's the safest 

quick way to launch?

Sighs.

RUNE:  (muffled) Pick one.

Outside, Ross and Sweets have been forced back 
to the blown loading door of the hanger bay.

ROSS:  We ran into a little trouble.

SWEETS:  Some old friends.

TULIA:  Wish I could help.

Maybe ask Esben.

She looks over and sees Valory 
alone, looking at her sadly.
She absently pets safe.

TULIA:  Where...

In that moment she realizes the shooting across the hanger bay has stopped.  She steps out and sees a tall figure cross the distance and stop in the middle of the bay.  Esben's fur is damp with something dark on the underside of his arms.  He takes his sword and waves everyone forward to come board the ship, which he then turns to and lumbers up the loading ramp.

TULIA:  Come on.  We're leaving.

The Shadow's Heart roars to life and the loading ramp closes.  A glowing white aura envelops the ship and it immediately gains a gentle levitation.  Its would-be defenders arrive at the hanger bay loading doors and open fire upon it.  The weapons merely deflect and fly in unpredictable directions.  Still, they keep on firing.

Mr. Vincent looks on in depressed silence.  As the Shadow's Heart rotates in order to depart it causes the whole Steelgazer to tremor and the small crack in the window proceeds to expand.  Having turned, the thrusters ignite to a hard burn and shatters every last office window.  He loses sight of the Shadow's Heart in the sun.









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