Half-Mask Series
By Hytac
SECOND FOREWORD
In case you’re wondering why there are two stories with the same
title, this will stop your wondering. I’ve decided to write my Half-
Mask stories in two formats, Novel Format and Script Format. Maybe
some people out there do not like reading in Novel Format, so I
thought I’d do a little extra something to make things nicer. Thanx
all.
-Hytac
Episode 1: “Phase One”
Script Format
(First shot is that of a courtroom. The colours are
muted, in black and white, signifying this is something that happened
in the past. A line of prisoners, whom we quickly identify as the
V.E.N.O.M., is having their prison sentences read out by the judge.
In the background we see the M.A.S.K. agents and Duane Kennedy in the
background. They are all in format attire (i.e. suits). Duane, Matt,
young Scott, Bruce, Alex and Brad are sitting in the front bench.
From behind them we catch glimpses of Dusty, Buddy, Gloria and the
other agents.)
Judge:
Miles Mayhem. Guilty on all counts. Sentence, life imprisonment with
no chance of parole.
Maximus Mayhem. Guilty on all counts. Sentence, life imprisonment
with no chance of parole until twenty years of time served.
Sly Rax, Guilty on all counts…
(goes on reading out the names of the other V.E.N.O.M. agents and
their sentences. Finally, he reaches the last sentence.)
Vanessa Warfield. Guilty on all counts. Sentence, life imprisonment
with no chance of parole until twenty five years of time served.
(A sigh runs through the courtroom. The prisoners are then led out of
the courtroom. As Miles Mayhem is led past Matt, he glares at him.
Matt gazes grimly back, and Scott sticks his tongue out at him.
Camera then focuses on Scott. We see Matt’s elbow nudge him and Scott
puts his tongue back in its proper place.
Next, we see Vanessa (if you recall, the last prisoner) being led
out. As she passes Brad, their eyes lock, and then, all the romantics
sigh-Umm… I mean, she is led away by the guard. Brad looks after her
wistfully, but the expression is hard to tell behind those dark
glasses.)
Judge:
The court is adjourned. (Bang, bang goes the hammer.)
(Everybody gets up and exits the courtroom. Matt stops at the stairs,
and then turns to Bruce.)
Matt Trakker:
Well, Bruce, I guess thats it. It’s done.
(In the background we see Scott run toward the car (and T-Bob?).)
The last meeting of the M.A.S.K.
(Looks sad)
Bruce Sato:
Your father would have been proud of you, Matt. You’ve accomplished
what you sought for. But the truth is, I’m going to miss the M.A.S.K.
(Matt nods, looking thoughtful. Then, flashback. The scene changes to
that of an office. Duane Kennedy and Matt are sitting at opposite
sides of the desk)
Duane Kennedy:
I’m sorry, Matt. Most of the P.N.A. (looks bitter) think that the
M.A.S.K. is needed no longer. They think we can hold the peace
ourselves now that the V.E.N.O.M is gone.
(Flashback is over and scene changes back to the courtroom steps.
Matt looks sad, shrugs and heads for the car. The camera backs away
from him and fades to black)
(Scene is of a dark alley. Caption on screen says, ‘New York, Six
years later’ The picture is in full colour, indicating this is of
present day. A man stands just outside the alley, looking uneasy. The
shadows of the alley hide this man’s face, so we cannot see who it
is. His hair might be brown, but we cannot be certain, under the hat
he is wearing. A figure appears out of the shadows. It is a woman
with blond hair in a ponytail. A pair of blue eyes and an ever-
present smile completes the picture.
Woman:
(speaks with a southern accent.) That you, sugah?
(The man spins around. We get a brief glimpse of his face, just
enough to tantalize us but not enough to for us to identify him. The
man gazes at the woman for a few moments, as if recollecting
something that has happened.)
Man:
(exclaims) Great Thunder, Tanya Catkin! You don’t look any different
since I last saw you.
Tanya Catkin:
Hi’ya Clutch. (pauses) It’s been’ah long time.
(She exchanges greetings with Clutch. The shadow has fallen from the
man’s face, and indeed we see it is Clutch a.k.a Buddy Hawks, looking
a bit older than we last saw him.)
Buddy Hawks:
It’s great to see old friends, Cat, but we’d better get out of sight.
(pauses)
Where’s the E-man?
(Cat is evidently a nickname for Catkin.)
Tanya Catkin:
John’s back at the base. (gestures at the alley) Follow me.
(she disappears into the shadows. Clutch/Buddy follows and Tanya
opens a hidden door located in the brick wall at the end of the alley.)
Get in, Clutch.
(They enter a room. Two men besides Tanya Catkin and Buddy Hawks can
be seen. The first man is of medium build, dark hair and a grim
countenance. The second is a slender man. His eyes and hair is
brown/black, and his skin is the colour of chocolate cream. His long
hair is tied back in a ponytail, and a short beard occupies his chin.
The first man notices them at once and comes forward to greet them.
The second man follows suit.)
1st man:
Clutch Hawks. (pauses) There you are at last.
Buddy Hawks:
John Canmore. (pauses) Well, I’m here and I’m ready. (It seems that
the E-man is John Canmore. Points at the second man.) Who is that?
John Canmore:
Clutch, meet Rene Tajuddin, codename Runner. He’ll be helping us
tonight.
Buddy Hawks:
Does he know about everything?
Rene Tajuddin:
(Joins in) Not really. I just know things are not what they seem, and
an evil light must be countered by the good shadows before the light
can blinds all. (pauses) A great evil threatens us, and even those
who have protected us shall fall if they do not have the help of the
arcane.
Buddy Hawks:
(Reminisces) Man, you remind me of Bruce Sato. He used to talk like
that.
John Canmore:
(To Buddy) It’s very brave of you to help us, Clutch. You don’t have
to, you know. (In the background, we see Tanya Catkin move next to
Clutch.)
Buddy Hawks:
Look, John, I’ll do anything to get back at the creeps who ruined my
life. And if I can stop them, it’s even better.
Tanya Catkin:
(shakes her head) Poor Tess. It’s her death anniversary today.
(Buddy nods, and looks thoughtful. Apparently, ‘Tess’ is someone dear
to him.)
Rene Tajuddin:
This is all strange to me. (Turning to E-man.) John, I trust you with
my life, but I would feel most grateful if you could explain it to
me. What is it that we are to do tonight?
John Canmore:
We are going to provide the a reason for the existence of the
M.A.S.K.. It’s been disbanded, but we’re going to restart it. We need
all the help we can get. The Acolytes move fast and they’ll destroy
all opposition if they can.
(The Acolytes seem so be some sort of enemy)
Rene Tajuddin:
(Puzzled) What for?
John Canmore:
Ours is an illegal operation, remember? We’ll need someone who can
work openly. Our operation needs allies, and the M.A.S.K. is as good
as anyone we can get.
Rene Tajuddin:
I don’t see why we should continue doing this the hard way. Why can’t
you just work with the government openly? The P.N.A will surely help.
John Canmore:
(shakes his head) Tried that. Didn’t work. I went to see the
president of the P.N.A. seven months ago… Duane Kennedy has resigned
and his successor, an Elisabeth Cathandra, was not very supportive.
She threw me out of her office when I tried to convince her the
Acolytes were a real threat.
Buddy Hawks:
(winces) Ouch.
John Canmore:
(Seriously) There’s something going on with the P.N.A., but I don’t
know what. That’s why I had to set up our little organization here.
The Acolyte threat is great, and we must start on the building of our
defenses as soon as possible. If we wait for the P.N.A., it will be
too late. And even if it wasn’t, they wouldn’t be strong enough.
Those androids can’t be defeated only by technology. We need
something else besides that.
Rene Tajuddin:
(Queries) And what would that be?
Tanya Catkin:
He just told ya’h...Allies.
John Canmore:
Not just any allies. (Lowers voice) Like Runner said, they need to be
arcane as well.
(Close up of E-man’s face and then fade to black)
(New scene is of some impressive looking building. Caption on screen
reads ‘P.N.A. Headquarters, one month later’. A young man about 20
years old, with curly brown hair is sitting in front of a computer.
Next to him is a giant of a man (in his mid-thirties), whose build is
comparable to that of Arnold you-know-who. The young man is, of
course, Scott Trakker, looking Very much different from what he used
to look like. On the screen of the computer, the words ‘Access
Denied’ are written in red letters that fill half the screen.)
2nd man a.k.a. Estefan Bailey:
See? I told you, our new security system is impassable. (Beams
proudly) I’ve tried to get every hot shot with a computer to crack
it. No successes.
Scott Trakker:
Nothing is impossible, Est. (Est is evidently short for Estefan.
Scott sends some commands to the computer while Estefan looks on
skeptically, with arms crossed. Apparently, he doesn’t believe Scott
can crack the system. Scott attempts to do it a few times, but they
prove to be failures. Estefan grins even more broadly.)
Estefan Bailey:
(Still grinning) Scott, just admit it. You can’t crack that system.
Scott Trakker:
Yes I can. (Tries another line of attack, looking very determined
indeed. Estefan looks on, ready to point out his first mistake.)
Estefan Bailey:
I know you cracked Pentagon and all. (Looks smug) But this will be
different. This is now the most sophisticated security system
existing.
Scott Trakker:
(Grins) Not anymore.
(On the computer screen, we see the words ‘Entry Authorized’
displayed. Estefan’s mouth opens wide as his jaw drops. So much fore
his security system. His mouth stays open for a while, and finally,
he shuts it. )
Estefan Bailey:
(shakes his head) You win. How did you do that I have no idea, but
you certainly deserve that reputation of yours.
Scott Trakker:
(grins) I’ll help you patch up the holes in your system. It’s not a
really bad system, but there are a few flaws in it. Here, let me show…
(In the background, we see a figure appear at the doorway of the
computer room. It is a woman. She is much older than both Scott and
Estefan, around 40 or so.)
Jane Reynolds:
Trakker! Bailey! Orders from Cathandra. We’re to report at her
office. Something’s come up.
Scott Trakker:
(Looks curious) What for?
Jane Reynolds:
Don’t know. Let’s go and we’ll find out. C’mon. Alan said this was
extremely urgent.
(Scott gets up and follows Jane out of the room.)
Estefan Bailey:
(Gets up) If our vice-president says it serious, it’s serious.
(Scott, Estefan and Jane head for the office. They reach it, and
through the glass door, we see two people, a young man and an elder
woman. They appear to be arguing.)
Alan McHymn:
(Alan is a young man, between thirty to forty years of age. His hair
is blond and he is of medium build.)
(To Elisabeth Cathandra) I tell you, this is serious. We need to
restart the team right away.
Elisabeth Cathandra:
(Elisabeth ‘Beth’ is an aging woman with grey hair. A bit plump all
over but still looks domineering. At the present, she looks
displeased. She is about to answer Alan when she catches sight of the
three outside the door.)
(Relieved) Reynold, Bailey, Trakker, come in.
(The three enter and seat themselves. Alan, who looks annoyed,
changes his countenance and smiles wryly at the trio.)
Beth Cathandra:
I’m glad you got here on such a short notice.It seems we have some
problems that require your help.
Alan McHymn:
We’ve called you here on a matter of great importance. It seems that
we have a problem. We have a new enemy, and he is getting to be more
of a problem than our standard forces are able to handle.
(Scott, Estefan and Jane all look surprised.)
Scott Trakker:
And what is it, sir?
Beth Cathandra:
(Cutting in) A certain organization has been prying into our
computers and facilities. Several of our computers have been broken
into. (At this, Estefan looks shocked. Beth sees his face and
continues.) Not the main P.N.A. computers, of course. But some of our
other branches. Important data has been stolen.
Alan McHymn:
(Interrupts) And all of them regarding the Mobile Armored Strike
Kommand. We fear a return of the V.E.N.O.M.. Therefore, we are
restarting the M.A.S.K.
(At this, all three look even astonished. Beth looks extremely displeased now.)
Beth Cathandra:
(Interrupts) Correction, Mr. McHymn. We are not restarting the
M.A.S.K. We are merely assembling a small specialized strike force to
take out this threat. It is not serious enough to warrant a full
scale reaction like what you have suggested.
Alan McHymn:
(Looks cross. In a low voice) Serious… hah! You wouldn’t know serious
if it hit you on the head.
Beth Cathandra:
We chose you three as we know you to be reliable and suitable for the
task. You will be joined by two other agents I have selected. Alan
will brief you on this.
(Alan picks up several files from Beth’s desk and they exit the
office. Outside, Alan stops them.)
Alan McHymn:
To the briefing room. I’ll explain all this more thoroughly.
(All nod and follow him to the briefing room, which looks
suspiciously like the one in Boulder Hill. Alan heaves a sigh of
relief and puts his files down.)
Alan McHymn:
(Looks serious) First of all, I’d like to let you know all that I say
must not leave this room. And second, I want you to know this is
important, despite our president’s lack of concern over this matter.
I’m afraid she is rather prejudiced over this matter as it is too
closely related to… (looks uneasy) …certain matters.
Jane Reynolds:
(Arms folded and leaning against the table) The Mobile Armored Strike
Kommand.
(Scott looks surprised. Alan nods.)
Alan McHymn:
Beth Cathandra has never liked the M.A.S.K. When it was active, she
was one of the several people who protested against its existence. If
fact, she played a hand in it being shut down.
Jane Reynolds:
(Nods) That explains all the ruckus six years ago. I worked under her
then. There was a lot of bad blood between Beth and Duane Kennedy.
Especially over Matt Trakker and the M.A.S.K.
Scott Trakker:
What?! You mean…
Jane Reynolds:
Beth never liked your father, Scott. If fact, I was surprised she let
you work here.
Estefan Bailey:
(shrugs) I wouldn’t know. I joined the P.N.A. after all that happened.
Alan McHymn:
But back to business, ladies and gentlemen. I wish we could
officially restart the M.A.S.K., but I am only Beth’s subordinate,
and I can’t go against her orders unless something or someone can
convince her to do that. Anyway, I have here all the information I
have managed to gather about our enemy.
(picks up a folder and opens it)
I did a bit of researching and hypothesizing. I think I know who is
responsible for the espionage attempts.
(Takes several sheets of paper out of the folder, revealing it to be
a report of some sort. A photo of the suspected ring leader is
clipped to the report. The report is given to the agents and passed
around.)
His name is John Engelmann Canmore. Underground, he is usually known
by the nickname E-man. Whether that’s short for Engelmann, we don’t
know. He’s extremely gifted in espionage and combat. He is reputed to
have very great powers of persuasion, his main ability being able to
convince people to join his cause. He has a talent when it comes to
deception, but this man is not mentally sound.
(Looks very serious) He came to the P.N.A. office about eight months
ago, trying to get us to give him help on a certain project he was
running. He insisted that certain beings known as Acolytes were about
to mount a war against us and we had better prepare for them. There
was not enough evidence to back up his claim and we were forced to…
remove him when he refused to leave the building.
(pauses, as if reminiscing) Now he must be running this ‘Acolyte
Defense Team’ or something of a similar vein underground. We suspect
he has other ends of his own, but we can’t say without being certain.
(Scott looks at the report. The others have finished reading theirs.)
Jane Reynolds:
I suppose we get to work at once? And what about those two other
agents?”
Alan McHymn:
They will be arriving shortly. Their names are Jacob Harridan and
Inaya Vendun. The latter is a rookie, but she has had very good
reports from her trainer. Harridan is an expert in culture, history,
and languages. Vendun is more of a biologist, but she is trained in
stealth and infiltration as well.
Estefan Bailey:
(wryly) Scott’s a computer genius, I’m the brawn and Jane’s the
brains. They’ll compliment us.
Jane Reynolds:
(Ignoring Estefan) I suppose we check out the Canmore home. I dare
say we’ll find some things of interest.
Alan McHymn:
(Nods) Good idea. Please keep in mind while John Canmore is not
mentally sound, it does not mean he is a fool. This man is extremely
dangerous. He is capable of killing you all. (shakes his head.) And
he won’t hesistate to do it either.
Estefan Bailey:
I’ll take care of the weapons.
Alan McHymn:
(Looks smug/proud/sly) There’s no need. I have arranged for certain
things to be uh…taken out of retirement.
(Presses button on a console. A rack descends from the ceiling (déjà
vu) and there are several masks on it, all of which hard-core
M.A.S.K. fans will recognize.)
Scott Trakker:
(Turning to Alan) Those things were in Boulder Hill…you brought them
here?
Alan McHymn:
(Nods) The vehicles as well. I have ordered them repaired and they
should be quite functional. You are entitled to chose which mask you
would prefer to use.
(In the background, we see Jane selects Aura and Estefan selects
Blaster. Scott walks over and hesitates between Lifter and Spectrum,
and finally decides on Spectrum.)
Alan McHymn:
The vehicles are in the hangar. You’d better try them our before you
go rushing off to war in them.
Estefan Bailey:
(Nods) We will.
(The three leave the room. Scott is the last to leave. Alan stays behind.)
Alan McHymn:
(Suddenly calls out) Scott!
Scott Trakker:
(Turns around) What?
Alan McHymn:
I’m sorry to say this, but remember what I told you. No one else is
to know of this. (Emphasizes) Not even your father.
(Scott stares at Alan for some time, and finally nods, signifying
agreement.)
Scott Trakker:
I will.
(Leaves the room, but looks disturbed.)
(End of scene. A short 30-second scene shows the Strike team
practicing using the vehicles, masks, and weapons of all sorts. Then
we change scene again. The new scenario is one of an urban
neighbourhood. Most of the buildings look like they belong to the
middle-upper class. A lone man is walking along the street, heading
home from some errand. As the camera zooms in, we see that it is John
Canmore. He suddenly slows down, as if having heard something. Then
he goes on, but he had evidently detected something wrong.)
John Engelmann ‘E-man’ Canmore:
(To himself) Hmm… Someone’s watching.
(Goes on walking as if nothing is happening.)
Here am I, in trouble and on foot. (Grows silent and appears to be
thinking as he walks. Suddenly, he smiles to himself.)
(A red pickup passes him. E-man seems to recognize the vehicle. It
is, of course, Firecracker, in normal mode. E-man seems to know it.)
John Engelmann ‘E-man’ Canmore:
(Softly to himself) The M.A.S.K. is active again, but why is it
tailing me?
(Looks through the rearview mirror of a parked car he passes. As the
camera zooms into the mirror, we see the Thunderhawk tailing him. At
the bottom part of the mirror, we see the words ‘Objects in the
mirror are closer than they appear.’)
(E-man goes on walking, but he is now straining to hear or something
like that. On cue, we heard the droning of a motorbike. I don’t have
to tell you what vehicle that comes from. He now looks forward and
spots a jeep in front of him, which is, of course, the Gator.)
John Engelmann ‘E-man’ Canmore;
(Shaking his head) Congratulations M.A.S.K., You’ve surrounded me.
(Continues walking until he passes his house. There is an address
plate in front, with his address and the words ‘Canmore residence’ so
that the viewers may see it is his house. He walks on, leaving his
house behind. He heads for a park farther on.)
(Here we can hear the sound of the motorbike get louder and then
stop. Evidently, someone has shut the engine off. The Thunderhawk
cruises past the park, but it slows down a little as it passes. From
our point of view, which is the same as E-man’s, we see Scott’s face
and a spilt second glimpse of a grey and red object in the passenger
seat. Guess what it is.)
(E-man stops and loiters, pretending to be waiting for someone. There
are several children playing in the playground section of the park. A
close up of E-man’s face, and we see that in the background, Jane
Reynolds and Jacob Harridan are watching him without seeming to. As
the camera zooms in on them, we note Jane is pretending to put on
makeup, and using the compact mirror to watch him. Jacob, a middle-
aged man with greying brown hair, pretends to look bored.)
(A jogger appears are the other side of the park. E-man pretends to
walk towards the man (pretending to perhaps to greet him). Jacob and
Jane pay attention to this, thinking perhaps that the jogger is an
enemy agent. E-man grins to himself as he runs past the jogger and
sprints for the woody end of the park, where the jogging tracks lead.)
John Engelmann ‘E-man’Canmore:
(To jogger as he passes him) Hi! (Grins and breaks into a run.)
(Jogger looks after E-man with a hilarious expression on his face.
Taps his temple, meaning he thinks E-man is crazy.)
(The Gator roars to life as Jane and Jacob realize they’ve been
tricked. The roar of a motorbike can be heard, and the Condor leaps
out of the bushes, hot in pursuit. Inaya Vendun is riding it. She is
a young woman but her face is unseen as she is wearing Hocus-Pocus.)
John Engelmann ‘E-man’ Canmore:
(to himself while running) The chase is on, M.A.S.K.!
(We switch to the Gator’s point of view. Jane and Jacob, a middle
aged man are sitting in the Gator, heading somewhere, but their
destination is unknown, even to themselves, I suspect.)
Jane Reynolds:
(Really angrily) The sly worm!
Jacob Harridan:
(through the radio) Gator to Condor, Gator to Condor! Where did that
bloody man go?
Inaya Veundun:
(Unseen, only her voice heard through radio) I’ve got him in my
sights! He’s heading for the river! Cut him off and be quick about it!
Scott Trakker:
(In the Thunderhawk) Keep him in sight Condor, I’ll cover from the
air.
(Transforms Thunderhawk into flying mode and goes off by air.)
Estefan Bailey:
(Through radio, in Firecracker) I’ll be on the other side of the
park. If he tries to get out from there, he’ll have me to deal with!
Inaya Vendun:
(Camera zooms in on her riding Condor.)
(Impatiently) Helloooo? Gator, will you please hurry? He’s trying the
escape by the water and the Condor’s not a Penguin! The trees are too
close for me to try flying.
(Jane maneuvers the Gator to the edge of the water and launches the boat into it.)
Jacob Harridan:
(Points) over there!
(Camera focuses on the bank and we see E-man Canmore on the edge of
the jogging tracks with the Condor close behind. E-man runs for the
river and plunges in before the Condor or Gator can intercept.)
Jane Reynolds:
He’ll have to come up for air!
(Overhead, we see the Thunderhawk circling.)
Where is he?
(Inaya, on the bank, pulls off her mask and plunges into the water in
pursuit of E-man Canmore. We can see she is a fairly attractive with long brown hair.)
Scott Trakker:
(Through radio) Gator, do you have him?
(From the Gator, we see Inaya’s head break the surface of the water.
She shakes her head, then dives again. Minutes later, she come up
again, and shakes her head once more.)
Inaya Vendun:
(Short of breath) That guy…must have been… fish…in past life…can’t
find him.”
(Shakes head)
Jacob Harridan:
(Looks bewildered and angry at the same time.)
What the hell…
[Note to all readers out there. I try to avoid profanity, but I
needed to put this one in to make Jacob seem more realistic]
Jane Reynolds:
(Shaking her head) I don’t believe this.
Jacob Harridan:
(Exclaims) Blast it!
(To Scott and the rest of the team through radio)
That bugger got away!
Inaya Vendun:
(Heaving herself onto the riverbank, still gasping. Sarcastically.)
Aw gee…I had…no idea.
(End of scene. New scene opens, and we see the out side of the
Canmore residence. A man, Jacob Harridan, keeps watch outside. After
three seconds of that, the picture changes to one of the interior of
a sparsely furnished house. Estefan, Scott, Jane and Inaya are
looking around.)
Estefan Bailey:
(Searching the room) He’s left nothing of value in his house. He
obviously prepared himself in case he might have to clear out in a
hurry.
Inaya Vendun:
(Looks extremely displeased, to put it mildly. Her hair is plastered
against her face and she is still wet.)
(With a frown.) I guess that’s what we get for assuming he’s stupid.
He knew we were following all along.
Scott Trakker:
(Glumly and grimly)
If I were in a better mood, I’d laugh at us.
Inaya Vendun:
(Dryly, and without humour.) Hahahaha.
(Crosses her arms) That was all very exciting. Now what do we do?
Jane Reynolds:
We find out where he went.
(thinks) He must have taken an underwater passage or something. I’ll
look through maps of the city sewage systems and see if there’s one
exit near where we lost him.
Scott Trakker:
I’ll help you.
Inaya Vendun:
I’ll go get some diving equipment.
(Gives a wry grin) I have a feeling we’re going to have another swim
before long.
(Goes off)
Estefan Bailey:
But we’ll have to report to Alan. He won’t like this.
Scott Trakker:
If I were him, I think I wouldn’t either. (Looks unhappy)
(Scene changes. Scott is standing on the riverbank with Jane beside
him, holding a map.)
Jane Reynolds:
(Points) Over here.
Scott Trakker:
(Wearing Spectrum) All right, I’ll scan. Spectrum on.
(Spectrum is activated and Scott scans the ground. We can’t see what
he sees though)
(Excitedly) I got it! It’s there!
(Scene changes again. We see Alan McHymn’s face in the
communications screen of Thunderhawk. The back of Estefan’s head is
also seen.)
Alan McHymn:
(Looks incredulous) But how could you loose a man when you had him
surrounded?
Estefan Bailey:
(Looks sheepish) We don’t know ourselves. There must be underground
tunnels leading away from the river.
(Scott joins him)
Scott Trakker:
Actually, there are. I scanned the area with Spectrum. There’s and
old sewage tunnel under the park. According to Jane, it’s not used
now and sealed off because it was rendered unstable by seismic
activity in the area.
Alan McHymn:
(looks interested) Send me the coordinates of your location and the
abandoned tunnel’s. Then go after Mr. Canmore. I’ll send P.N.A.
commandos to reopen the sealed end of the tunnel. We’ll catch him at
both ends.
(Leans forward) But be careful, he may be armed.
Estefan Bailey:
(Grimly) so are we.
(Scott and Estefan leave the Thunderhawk and head for the Gator,
which is still in the water. The others are waiting for them. Inaya
is standing next to a pile of diving gear.)
Inaya Vendun:
Here’s the stuff. But we can’t wear our masks while diving. We’ll
have to leave them behind.
(Shrugs) Whoever designed them forgot to make them more portable.
More inconspicuous, while we’re at it.
Jane Reynolds:
(To Estefan) You brought those particle blasters?
Estefan Bailey:
(Shakes his head.)You know me well, don’t you?
(continues)Yeah. They’re at the back of the Firecracker. There are
enough for all of us.
(They put on their diving gear. Jacob stays behind to guard the masks
and keep an eye on the entrance.)
Inaya Vendun:
Ready?
(All nod and dive into the water. From underwater, we see the four
move toward a grated tunnel which is underwater. The grating of the
tunnel is broken. The camera changes point of view and we see the
inside of the tunnel, which has only shallow water. Suddenly, the
four appear from the tunnel exit, get out of the water and take off
their diving masks.)
Jane Reynolds:
He’s in here somewhere. This tunnel is sealed off further on. There’s
only one way out and that’s the entrance.
(considers) We’ll split up into two groups. The seismic activity has
caused some parts of the tunnel to be damaged. There are several side
tunnels or crevices leading nowhere, and he could be hiding in one of
them.
Estefan Bailey:
(To Scott and Inaya) Jane and I will go ahead until we reach where
the tunnel is supposed to be sealed. We’ll meet the P.N.A. commandos
there. You two search the side passages and keep an eye on this side
of the tunnel.
Inaya Vendun:
(looks displeased again) Whatever you say.
(to herself) Though I think splitting up is a bad idea.
(Jane and Estefan go off)
Scott Trakker:
(Finds the first crevice) I guess we’ll take this tunnel.
(Takes out his torch and switches it on)
Inaya Vendun:
(Follows him) I’m right behind you.
(Scott checks out the crack, but it is empty.)
Scott Trakker:
(Shining his torch around) All clear. There’s no one in here. You’d
better look ahead for other openings.
Inaya Vendun:
I’ll go ahead. (Leaves Scott)
(Scott checks the tunnel one more time and leaves it as well.)
Inaya Vendun:
(Some distance off) Over here!
(She is standing in front of another crack, a very narrow one this time.)
I’ll wait outside. This one’s too small for both of us to get in at
the same time. Call if you need help. I’ll watch the main passage.
Scott Trakker:
Right.
(Goes in the crevice. It is extremely narrow but it is very deep.
Scott looks back and finds he can’t see the main tunnel from where he
is. Scott goes on, until he reaches the end. No one is present.)
(Yells to Inaya) There’s no one here!
(We hear a faint voice respond, but we cannot hear what is said.
Scott turns around and goes back.)
Scott Trakker:
(As he nears the tunnel entrance) Inaya, what did you sa… (Stops in
shock. Inaya is nowhere to be seen.)
(Anxious) Inaya?
(Scott hurries out of the crevice. No one is in sight.)
(A resounding ‘boom’ shakes the screen. Scott is thrown off his feet.
He gets up and looks back just in time to see a fiery red glow light
the tunnel. Scott runs for the water and jumps in.
The glow brightens and we see fire sweep through the tunnel,
incinerating everything in sight. From Scott’s point of view, which
is underwater, we see the fire ‘whoosh’ over him and die down.
Scott gets out of the water once the fire had died and looks around,
a very worried expression on his face.)
Scott Trakker:
(Yells) Estefan? Jane? (pauses and listens for answers. There are none.)
Inaya?
(In the background, we see a figure wading towards Scott. It is
Estefan.
Scott looks relieved, but his expression changes as Estefan get
closer. Estefan is limping, and we can see his clothes are scorched
and ripped.)
Estefan Bailey:
(Clutching his side.)
Scott! It’s a trap!
(Drags himself forward)
Where’s Inaya?
Scott Trakker:
I don’t know (shakes head)
She disappeared.
Estefan Bailey:
We must get out! There are… aurrgh!
(Estefan suddenly falls forward and lies in the water face down. In
the distance, we can see silhouettes of assassins. A bullet hits the
wall behind Scott.
Assassin 1:
(Running towards them)
There they are!
Assassin 2:
(Taking aim)
Kill them!
(Scott wades forward and grabs Estefan. His other hand reaches for
his particle blaster.)
Scott Trakker:
(To control himself) Gotta get out.
(Scott drags, or rather, tows Estefan away towards the entrance. We
see the red fire of tracers and bullets whizz past him, but none
score hits.)
Scott Trakker:
(Turns around)
Arrgh!
(Fires particle blaster. A stream of orange laser-like fire shoots
out.)
Assassins 1:
(Narrowly dodge’s Scott’s blast and shields his eyes)
(To others through transmitter) This one’s armed.
(Scott, seeing the assassin’s reaction, suddenly looks like he has a
plan of some sort. He shuts off his flashlight.)
Assassin 2:
Keep shooting. (Pulls on a pair of goggles and then takes aim at
Scott.)
Scott Trakker:
(Tries to escape and suddenly reels as assassin shoots. He clutches
his arm, obviously hit there.)
Gnngh…Night-vision goggles…
(Looks angry and suddenly thinks of something. Turns on his
flashlight and shines it directly at the assassins. The flashlight is
a powerful one and it blinds the assassins, as they are wearing night-
vision goggles.)
Assassin 1:
Arrgh!
(They stop shooting.)
Assassin 2:
(Clutching eyes)
Can’t see!
(Scott reaches the exit tunnel, puts on his diving mask and dives,
towing Estefan behind him. He makes him way out of the tunnel. Above,
we see the bottom of a boat. It is the Gator. Scott heads for the
surface.)
Scott Trakker:
(Pulls of his mask, one arm under Estefan’s chin.)
(Gasps) Jacob!
(Paddles to the Gator and hangs on to the side of the boat.)
I need help!
(Our point of view changes to that of the Gator’s. We see Scott’s
hand clinging to the side as he heaves himself up. The camera moves
downward, and we see that the Gator is completely empty. )
Scott Trakker:
(Looking into Gator)Oh no…
(Caption at bottom of screen reads:
‘To be continued…’
