Chasity-Nori Key, now four years old has taken up growing plants as a hobby under her mother's guidance. Amazingly Chase's plants mature three times faster than normal. Chase is unaware of her gift and her parents don't recognize the first signs of powers manifesting in their daughter. For several months Chasity's gifts are overlooked as her busy parents lobby for the peacekeepers and participate in other functions.
[One week Chasity is cared for by the now 17 year Olds Polo, Anoki, Crystal, and Ezel in her home outside Paris while her parents are away on a trip/vacation to a remote part of Northern Japan. Other Peace Keepers come to visit during the day and spend the night to plan and build a Gazebo in the back yard of the Key home the next day as a surprise for Mr. and Mrs. Key.
That night there is a nasty electrical storm and the teens stay inside and work to finalize plans and have fun.]
Tempo
Well we can get a nice stain for it or paint it white, like old gazebo's were done in!
Polo
I don't know about white, seems like it would be too bright. This is Paris, not Maryland. I think a nice nude stain to seal against the weather and show off the natural color of the wood would be nicer.
Utopia
I was thinking of a Cherry stain to pick up the color of the bricks of the house.
Rhythm
Yeah! and if it is translucent enough that the grain would show through the stain!
[Crystal, Anoki, and Ezel look to each other quickly and grin, because they all instantly remembered a chest that Mrs. Key kept that was a beautiful, shiny, Cherry finish. Anoki speaks up]
Anoki
It would be fantastically, lovely like a chest Mrs. Key has and loves that was a present from Mr. Key's mother when they got married.
Ezel
And we should have time to put a couple coats of clear gloss on it before they get back in three days!
Epic
I beat that would look great!!
[There is a bright flash outside the windows and a loud crash above the house. The teens and Chase who was half asleep already all jump at the noise. The lights flicker momentarily then cut off completely.]
Fire
Ooh Great!!.....where are some flashlights?
[Chase begins gasping for air as panic settles over her]
Chase (crying)
I'mmmmmm....scarrrrreeed!!!
[The peace keepers tel her to sit still as they wander off looking for sources of light. Chasity sits still and pulls her knees up to her chest and silently cries from the fear of the dark, much like when she was kidnaped and locked in a dark room for a couple days. Suddenly Chasity begins to emit a faint light from herself, and she grows calmer but is still hiding her face and unaware of what she is doing.
Union is first to notice Chase as she comes back into the Living room and drops the unlit candle she was holding. The candle breaks upon the floor and Union stands there looking at Chase, awed. Next Polo and Fire come in with a lantern already dimly lit and a candle flickering. Both Polo and Fire are stunned but, Fire manages to call to the others]
Fire
Hey, Get in here quick!!
[The others come into the room. Some empty handed, Anoki and Crystal come back with a flashlight, glow stick and a big unlit candle.]
Anoki
I figured if we found matches we could light this but, we could always get Ox to igni--! (looks up to see Chase seated on the floor, still with her face hidden and glowing) Oh my Gaya!
Polo
She's a Peacekeeper!
[Chase looks up with tears streaming down her face. Crystal rushes across the room to Chase who just notices that she is glowing.]
Crystal
Chase, Chase, it's okay we have light until the power comes back on!
Chasity
I don't understand, Crystal what is wrong with me?
Crystal
You are like us (she picks Chase up in her arms and hold her in her lap)Don't worry, you have a gift like us....So you don't need to be afraid !
[Chase calms down some as she hugs Crystal and faintly smiles to the others]
[Later. Chase is calmed down and the Peace keepers all sit around the living room on the floor and in chairs, the room is lit by candles spread throughout the room.]
Chasity
How did it happen, I'm not a multiple like you?
Ezel [whispers to Equinox and Union]
I think why would be a better question!
[They nod. Anoki who is seated next to Chase and Crystal tickles Chase]
Anoki
I just suppose your our little firefly! (tickling Chase, and laughing)
[Chase stirs and giggles on Crystals lap. Anoki stops and Chase still a little giggled speaks]
Chase (calming down)
What will mama an daddy say?
Utopia
Probably tell you to turn off the 'Night light' and go to sleep.
[Equinox looks at his watch and to Ezel]
Equinox
Oh boy is it late, might be time for young Peace keepers to go off to sleep so us older kids can finish the plans for her parents surprise!
Chasity
I'm tired, and I need to sleep (yawning)
[Chase slides off of Crystal's lap and walks down the hall to her bedroom. Then turns and smiles]
.....I need no flashlight!
[The P.K.'s laugh and chase disappears into her room. As soon as Chase is gone Rhythm turns to the others perplexed looking]
Rhythm
How would she be a Peacekeeper? She's not one of the original 16! ( almost whispering)
Epic
Wasn't she born 'naturally'?
Polo
Yes!
Equinox
The jelly formula was destroyed after Willamina's death.
Anoki (with straining anger)
Obviously NOT!
Ezel
Someone in the N.A.E. must have continued work on the Jelly formula (FYI: the "Jelly" which causes enhancements in an embryo and makes it a Peacekeeper)
Crystal (also visibly upset)
In 8 years time they may have been able to alter it in some way, even changed how it is administered to the developing embryo!
Union
I wonder how many other Peace keepers might there be out there in the world that we don't know about!
Anoki
Hundreds.....Thousands.....Maybe none other than Chase. We may never know the truth!
Polo
Oh..We'll find out. It was done by the N.A.E. or someone within and they will have to 'fess up as to who did this, why and how many more are their.
Crystal
The N.A.E. didn't tell us of SCAR's existence until we came into conflict with them.
Epic
I'm sure it is traceable to someone. We'll have to question our guardians and the Key's upon their return. Dr. Zelmal probably knows something since she was the head of the project when we were born.
Tempo
Maybe it was her!
Union
We shouldn't point fingers to any particular person until we dig up all the facts surrounding Chases conception and leading up to her birth.
ALL
Yes!
********************
[NEXT MORNING: the teens get up and build the Gazebo hastily and put on the first layer of Cherry stain while silently considering what they learned the night before. They had all agreed to wait until the Key's come back to start the investigation. They try to act normally.]
***********
[THAT NIGHT: The Key's come home early, Chase is already asleep and the P.K's are up doing research into the "Jelly" in open N.A.E. archives they can access by computer. They are started and try to cover up their work.]
Ezel
Hello...Your back early
Mr. Key
Oh, we aren't checking up on you. We just needed to get back to work before the weekend rush on the highways and in the airports.
Mrs. Key
I'll admit that I missed my children very much!
Crystal
Well, Chase is asleep. We wore her out today!
Mrs. Key
What did you have her do that would cause her to go to bed before 9 o'clock?
Union
..Might as well show them!
Polo
Okay, Come with us....it's in the backyard!
Mr. Key
What did you do to our backyard!?
[They all step out onto the back porch and Union flips on the lights and the new gazebo is seen to the left side of the yard with rose bushes planted in front of it. The couple smiles as the sight of the gazebo with it's cherry stain and white and red rose bushes around it. Mrs. Key hugs the teens]
Mrs. Key
Ooh it is soooo beautiful....Thank you!!, I love it! (Walks up to a gazebo and smells a rose from a bush)
Mr. Key (grasps onto one of the rails)
You did a fine job constructing it, and the color is fantastic.....Cherry finish! This must have taken the whole time of our lapse.
Equinox
Only a few days, but what counts is that you like it .
Rhythm
You can sit out on nice days and it overlooks the rock garden!
[Mr. Key smiles and nods.....Mrs. Key looks to the teens.]
Mrs. Key
But you look like you have something other than the gazebo on your minds.....even when we came in.
Anoki
We'll discuss it tomorrow when you are rested.
Mr. Key
We are fine, what do you want to talk to us about?
Ezel
It's about Chase
Mrs. Key
What about her?
**************
[Next day. Calls are being made to investigate who was allowed access to the jelly formula after P.E.A.C.E. was born and the time before it was supposedly destroyed. Zelmal identifies having no knowledge of the recipe to the formula still being in existence. she points to her assistant who took over after her assignment to PEACE.]
[A 30 something year old man is seen with a younger Zelmal in a laboratory conducting experiments. P.E.A.C.E. is seen in the background, they are still fetus' in the artificial wombs. Fades to scene of same man in a laboratory with several cats in cages and a highly frustrated look upon his face. Then the scene shifts to a scene of the back of an older man slashing vines in some jungle with a small hatchet]
Zelmal (voice over to shifting scenes)
Doctor Raymando Luthar Clinton-Diaz, was my assistant as I worked on the development of the 'Jelly' formula. He was put in charge of 'Jelly' research after I was appointed to be a guardian for PEACE.... After Willamina died, and 'Jelly' research was banned Diaz was sent to the N.A.E. medical research division to study sleeping disorders in cats. Only a few years ago Diaz was retired from service in the N.A.E..... Supposedly, he was becoming emotionally unstable, his current whereabouts are unknown to me.
***************
[Later. Zelmal and R. Key are speaking to General E.L. Patel, a firm older man in his Paris view office. PEACE sit quietly on two couches as the adults speak. Patel is dodging many of their questions.]
Mr. Key
You were apart of the elite N.A.E. circle that oversaw the Peace Keeper project.
Patel (nods)
Yes.
Key
You ordered our supplies, and managed project security ?
Patel
Yes.
Zelmal
Then you would know about continued "Jelly Formula" research performed by Clinton-Diaz, wouldn't you?
Patel
I don't know of ANY continued research. The "Jelly Formula" was destroyed on February 8th 2050, the recipe as well.
[Zelmal and Key become frustrated. Zelmal turns to PEACE who have been suppressing their frustration, and sitting quietly on two couches in the office and allows for them to step in. Polo gets up and comes forward.]
Polo
We know that can't be true! That doesn't explain Chase's powers!
Key
Was Diaz continuing work on the formula?
Patel
The "Jelly Formula" was destroyed a well as the...
Anoki
You have said that before, I know you are hiding something!
Patel
But you cannot read my mind, can you?.... What things I know don't concern you!
Crystal
You hide dark secrets behind your walls!
Patel
Only those that are necessary for me to keep.
[Mr. Key storms at Patel's desk and stomps down his fists]
Mr. Key (angry)
Cut to bull and ell me the name of the person who violated my wife and altered our child without out consent!
Patel (angry)
LEAVE!! Or I will have you arrested for harassment!
Mr. Key
Lie while you can! But be warned that when the truth emerges, you will be punished for your involvement!
[Patel stares Key straight back in the face]
Patel (angry)
OUT!!
[The peacekeepers and guardians leave]
*************
[Later that night while studying for the summit the next day, a call comes to the peacekeepers private study room. Fire answers the view phone, it is a text message.]
"Put this onto a secure line or I will break transmission"
Fire
Hey, look at this! (turning to the others)
Ezel
I think we found the person with the truth!
[Anoki inserts a encryption card into a frequency changer for the phone line and activates it.]
Fire (speaking into microphone)
Line is secure.
[Black wall appears on view screen and then a tanned, bearded & graying man steps in front of the screen. He looks very stern, and natural.]
Man (soft spoken)
My name is Dr. Clinton-Diaz. I was told that you are looking for me by several of my informants....You may record the following which I will state only once then break transmission.
Anoki (presses a couple of buttons)
We are recording now !
[Tempo sneaks out of the room]
Diaz (mused)
Smart boy (chuckle)...I Dr. Raymando Luthar Clinton-Diaz, was affiliated with the N.A.E.'s research of the Jelly formula from 2042 until the death of Willamina of Group 2 in 2050. At this time I was transferred to the pharmaceuticals Research section of the N.A.E., there I was allowed to continue my research of the Jelly formula with funding illegally supplied by General E.L. Patel. The secret fund skimming from other projects used millions of International dollars a month, this lasted for eight years. In that time, I was able to significantly alter the formula so that it didn't need to be injected into the embryo. My new version of the Jelly formula could be absorbed by the embryo while it was developing inside it's mother....[Tempo reenters with Dr. Sarah Zelmal] The Jelly formula was molecularly bonded with vitamins and proteins so that they would enter the blood stream and be absorbed into the embryo undetected by the mother... [Crystal and Union both get a worried look upon their faces. Zelmal stands out of site of Diaz. Anoki charges Diaz]
Anoki
The Jelly was in the vitamin shots Mrs. Key took before and during her pregnancy.
Diaz
Yes, the supplemental vitamins were mostly the new Jelly formula in disguise. Mrs. Key's pregnancy was the first human test of wether or not my innovation would work.
[Zelmal steps in front of the viewing screen, angry]
Zelmal
Fetal absorption was always out of the question, the side effects to the mother are unknown!
Diaz
Well, hello Sarah....You look well !! (smiling)
Zelmal
I forbid fetal absorption!!
Diaz
Isn't Mrs. Key's health perfect, have you ever detected anything wrong with her or the child that you might now blame on the formula?
Zelmal
Her health was always normal to excellent....and Chasity seemed resilient to most illnesses since birth.
Diaz
That is because I perfected YOUR formula... I first ran my experiments on pregnant lab mice. Their offspring where highly intelligent and very energetic with no appearance of the "Risk" in the offspring. My new Jelly formula only caused sterility in approx. twenty percent of the offspring mice.
Zelmal
Sterility, how did that happen?
Diaz
It seemed that in some of the mice, the switch for sexual maturity never turned on. A small price when one considers the value of the ability to create a second generation of peacekeepers to continue where the first left off....I breed six generations of "Jelly" mice, all the offspring of enhanced parents were also enhanced and had no genetic defects.
Union
That may be fine to try with mice, but is entirely wrong to do with people against their knowledge.
Crystal
You said that Mrs. Key's pregnancy was the first human test, then you mean that there are even more children like her?
Diaz
No, but there might have been...The N.A.E. had plans to create an entire army of Peacekeepers. While I worked on the Jelly formula I was approached by members of the Australian Confederation and lured into betraying the N.A.E. ....I stole the formula and took it to Australia. There I was told of their ideas for the formula, they wanted to produce a "Doomsday Army". They intended to administer the formula to every pregnant woman in the confederation, with or without their consent and impregnate thousands more....I found the thought frightening and totally wrong, I never wanted the children to be used for evil purposes and treated as machines...
Zelmal
But you were already a traitor to the N.A.E.!
Diaz
I am a traitor to ALL...When the Australians told me of four peacekeepers they already possessed and who were going to be the leaders of their "Great Army" and crush the N.A.E. I fled into hiding.
Rhythm
You can't be serious!
Diaz
Haven't you already meet the four generals of their "Army" ? Two males and two females of tremendous power and fathomless evil, I saw them as children, this was four and a half years ago though.
[Crystal turns away angry]
Crystal
If you knew of the four lost peacekeepers several years ago, why didn't you warn the N.A.E. ?
Diaz
Young lady, the N.A.E. has known of the four lost peacekeepers existence for over a decade. The dirty little secret has simply been kept within the high ranks.
Polo
The N.A.E. lies again!
Utopia
Why all the lies, all these years, even to us?
Diaz
They are using you, wether you realize it or not, you are nothing more than a "Tool" for the high ranks to accomplish their tasks. They will cast you away when you lose your value.
[Diaz breaks transmission. The mouths of the P.K.'s drop. Zelmal intercedes.]
Zelmal
Don't get the ideas of the elite circle of the N.A.E. confused with those of the organization. The N.A.E. is the greatest promoter of peace and democracy in the world. The fact that corruption exists in the N.A.E. doesn't lessen this, corruption exists within all organizations, it is what keeps the rest of the organization on it's toes.
Ezel (holding her head)
My head hurts!! This is just too much revealing information for one day!
Union
It is time we all get some rest!
