DISCLAIMER: Apologies to the people of Renaissance Pictures and Studios
USA whose world and characters I borrowed for this story. This was done up
for amusement only, no copyright infringement was intended.
RATING: PG (for violence)
(Trumpet Fanfare)
BACK 2 BACK ACTION
presents
A Gloriosus Production
of
A Renaissance Picture
FADE IN, CLOSE-UP of a dead man, a small blackened burn scar is in evidence
just under his ear, along the jawline, two or more black burn marks adorn
his tunic. The body is nudged by a boot-toe.
"Dammit, he was my best tech," said the black-clad leader.
CAMERA PANS up the muscular frame to reveal a handsome, full-lipped face
with a neatly trimmed goatee.
He looked up from the body to his companions. "Now, does anyone have any
idea who he might be with."
Around him, his gray-clad goons shake their heads, and "No, Valdis," is
heard.
"Zorya?" asked Valdis of his petite lieutenant.
She shook her head. "He seemed interested in that module we picked up a
couple of weeks ago."
"Hmmm ? what is it?"
"That's just it, we don't know," Zorya answered, running her fingers
through her close-cropped hair. "I think he may've had some idea ?."
"And we just killed him," her leader finished for her. "Well, let's pack
up and move out, then I suggest we find out just what is we have here.
Communication scans on everyone, understand?" Zorya nodded as her chief
continued to spell it out for the rest of his men. "See if there are
anymore outside agents in our ranks. The last thing we need is someone
taking this thing away from us before we can find out how much it's worth."
"Yes, Valdis." The Blackwatch members dispersed to pack up the equipment
while Valdis and his lieutenant continued to stare at the body.
Valdis chewed his lip for a moment. "Is there any word on Manon?"
The petite lieutenant shrugged. "It's slow going, but we've narrowed down
the sector where she's at, we're just trying to find the level without
tipping them off. Shard's handling it, so it's just a matter of time
before we have her back."
CUT TO The Laboratory, with the dusky team leader, Hel, standing apart from
her compatriots as the young Cleopatra walks in.
"What is it?" Cleo asked quietly.
"Hel is getting an assignment briefing," answered Mauser, noting Hel's lips
tightening in disapproval.
"So let me get this straight, you want us to go into a Blackwatch lair, and
retrieve this device?" Hel asked, bringing the rest of her team into the
picture.
"Yes, Hel," Voice responded, "but this is purely a voluntary mission, I
will understand if you wish to refuse it."
"Give us a moment," Hel said, and turned to her companions.
"A Blackwatch lair? She's not asking for much, is she?" commented Sarge
sarcastically.
"I know," said Hel, "but apparently they have managed to get their hands on
what we think is an intact Bailey Encryption Module."
Mauser nodded, impressed, then seeing Cleo's incomprehension he explained.
"With this module we'll be able to intercept and decode Bailey
transmissions to each other, and maybe to their Betrayer robots."
"Unfortunately," Hel continued, "the Blackwatch uncovered the deep cover
agent Voice had managed to insert into their ranks."
"Great, do we have any idea which lair they're at? Or even which chapter?"
Sarge asked, growing more and more disgusted with what was being required.
"Voice?" Hel asked.
"Not precisely, Hel, it could be one of any number of locations that we're
aware of, or even one that we're not."
"Voice isn't sure," Hel relayed beginning to share in her Lieutenant's
pessimism.
"Then how do we even know about this device?" Cleo asked.
"A member of their group, Manon, was captured by one of our teams, and
under interrogation clued us into the object's existence. This was
confirmed by our man inside who was killed making his final transmission."
Sarge frowned, "I don't like this, too many variables. The only thing
we're certain of is the existence of this module and that the Blackwatch
has it."
"So," Hel finally asked, "think we can do it?"
Sarge looked up at her team leader. "The Blackwatch is notoriously
paranoid, they've been tipped off as to someone's interest, and I'm known
to them as a deserter, so chances are I won't be able to get back into
their good graces. I'd say this mission's impossible."
Cleopatra's eyebrows quirk up, her eyes shining as she begins to grin.
(cue Mission: Impossible "Lighting the Fuse" riff) FADE TO BLACK
********************
Cleopatra 2525 Title Sequence:
500 years into the future,
she will enter a world where machines rule the Earth.
Mankind has been driven underground,
and Cleopatra is about to discover:
There is no place like home.
Starring:
Gina Torres - Hel
Victoria Pratt - Sarge
Jennifer Sky - Cleopatra
Patrick Kake - Mauser
***********************************
ACT ONE
FADE IN on CLOSE UP of Hel and Mauser speaking as subtitles roll.
~~~~~~~~~~
"ENIGMA"
by
Charles "Gloriosus"Gilliland
Guest Starring:
Angela Dotchin - Manon
Tamara Gorski - Zorya
Michael Hurst - Shard
Kevin Smith - Valdis
~~~~~~~~~~
"We can electronically map Cleo's face here, but I'll need a map of Manon's
as well as extensive Vid-recordings." Mauser was telling Hel.
"Voice ?"
"I'll transmit them with the rest of the information. But I still think
your plan is extremely risky."
Hel smiled, looking her young companion who was being briefed by Sarge,
"But it's just crazy enough to work."
CUT TO Cleo and Sarge, as the athletic lieutenant was explaining the basic
layouts of the back tunnels to Cleo, so she could better make sense out of
the information that was fed into her mind.
"They all follow that pattern, but some levels have their own variations,
so keep your eyes open." Sarge squeezed Cleo's shoulder as she looked into
the ex-stripper's eyes, "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked
worriedly, "once you're in there, we won't be able to cover you until you
get out."
Cleo gave her blond comrade an encouraging smile and gripped her hand,
"Hey, no problem. Looks like those classes I took are finally going to pay
off, after all."
Sarge returned Cleopatra's smile. "And Hel thinks I'm insane."
Cleo gave a short laugh as a holographic image of Manon's face popped up.
Turning to the image, the pair of them began studying the playback.
CUT TO CLOSE UP of Hel.
"Okay, Hel, I'll set things up at this end for you, but I hope your plan
works."
"So do I, Voice, so do I."
CUT TO Shot of Corridor, pristine white, with six guards in their White
uniforms with red and black trim, carrying heavy weapons.
One of the Guards goes up to the wallpanel, where a light flashes on his
eyes as the panel takes a retina scan. "Newkirk, for prison transfer of
Manon from cell-block C-640 to cell-block R-168."
The guard enters and comes out with a shackled Manon, who was then
surrounded by the Guards who activate their containment shields. She
glances up at them as the party made its way down the corridor, two of the
guards walked in advance of the party to make sure the path was clear.
CUT TO View from empty side corridor, as the rear-guard just finished
passing, the walls of the side corridor waver revealing a group of armed
men who had just dropped their holographic cloaks. They wore pale gray
fatigues with slate gray tailcoats and matte-black accoutrements, and were
mostly equipped with blaster guns, a few had the weapons gauntlets.
With a quick gesture from the leader, the dozen Blackwatch minions charged
into the main corridor with the quietness of well-disciplined commandos.
Their short leader whipped out a blade from his vambrace, plunging it into
one of the guard's neck. As the rest of the guards began to turn around
the raiding party let loose with a fusillade of withering fire, causing
Manon to drop to the floor with a barely contained shriek. The other three
guards were immediately dropped as the advanced two came back at the sounds
of the laser fire. They were ultimately too late to reclaim their prisoner
and were dropped in their turn, but not before an alarm was sounded.
"C'mon," Shard said, pulling the shackled Manon to her feet.
"What took you guys so long?"
"Had to get a little insurance for our getaway," explained Shard to Manon,
as he undid the shackles on her wrists. "Let's get out of here before help
arrives!" The raiding party reactivated their cloaks and disappeared down
the side corridor with Manon in tow.
CUT TO Mauser in the Lab.
(cue Mission: Impossible "The Plot" theme)
"We have a solid trace on her, their vector indicates Sector Seven, Shaft
Three. I'm feeding the telemetry to you, now."
VOICE OVER (Hel) "Sector Seven, Shaft Three, we're on our way."
CUT BACK to the Prison corridor. The guards who were shot, suddenly spring
back to life and examine their knifed companion as muffled explosions are
heard. One whispers into his collar.
CUT TO Hel and Sarge running through a dingy maintenance corridor.
"I read you, Voice," Hel said as the pair continued running. "Sarge, one of
the guards was knifed."
Sarge turned towards her dusky companion, "Probably a ceramic blade, which
means Shard is still around."
The two ladies reach a sub-shaft and jump down, plummeting five levels
before they snapped off a shot with their web-lines to bring them onto
Maintenance Level 37. Hel activated her gauntlet's holo-display which was
tracking the Blackwatch raiding party. "Okay, they are three levels down,
eight corridors over. Let's move."
CAMERA FOLLOWS the women as they race down the ramp, through the hallway
and around the corner disappearing from view.
VOICE OVER (Sarge) "I don't remember this being here."
CUT TO Hel and Sarge looking at a concrete wall. Sarge gives the wall some
experimental taps as Hel turns around.
"Voice," Hel demanded, "Why doesn't this wall appear on our schematics?"
"It's apparently a local job, Hel. I suggest you make a note of it for our
records and go around."
"Easier said than done," sighed Hel.
"Backtrack?" Sarge asked.
"No choice," Hel said, still eyeing the wall. "Damn, this just keeps
getting better and better."
CUT TO Shard handing Manon a pair of web-shooters, while his men keep watch
for pursuers.
"Here you go," Shard said. Manon looked at the gauntlets. "I know they
aren't yours, but this is the best we could do on short notice. Ready to
go?"
Manon gave herself a shudder and tightened the clasps on her gauntlets.
"All set."
CUT TO The party heading down a corridor, racing for the shaft entrance,
and like lemmings plummet off the landing.
CUT TO Sarge and Hel still backtracking and checking the telemetry.
"Sarge! They're going down," Hel said, and Sarge took a look at the
display, grabbing a hold on the team-leader's arm. The athletic
lieutenant's eyes followed the plunging cursor, noting what level they were
getting off on.
"Mauser, what Base Tube trains are scheduled leave soon?" Sarge asked their
tech-support.
"Wait one," came the reply, "there is a white train going to Gallery D in
twelve minutes, and a green train to Gallery B leaving in 30," Sarge's
eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
"Cathedral" Sarge murmured, and started back to sub-shaft 6, with a
bewildered Hel following.
"Cathedral? Sarge, what are ?"
"They're leaving this Gallery. See if you can get voice to vouch us some
passes on the 'El' to Gallery D."
"Voice ?"
"I heard, Hel, I'm making the transfer to your voucher now."
CUT TO The Blackwatch entering the Bunker-like Base Station, Shard looked
around and made his way to one of a row of cashiers in the crowded station.
The Base station was illuminated by flourescents and neon as blocky columns
support the flat ceiling. Lying beyond the columns were the train cradles,
arranged at right angles to each other, one set suspended over the other.
Security guards, some of whom wore Blackwatch uniforms, patrolled the
station.
Waiting in line, Shard finally saw a cashier's window flash indicating she
was available. "Hi, thirteen for Gallery D," he said handing over a
plastic card that the cashier swiped and examined it's contents on her
Holo-Display. Satisfied, she handed his card back along with thirteen
passes.
"On Lower Tube 2. Please remember to remove your weapon's power-cells
prior to boarding the train."
Shard smiled, taking the passes. "Thanks, we will." He turned to rejoin
Manon and his crew, distributing the tickets as they hurriedly made their
way to the indicated tube.
CUT TO Sarge and Hel arriving at Shaft 6.
The two women fired their web-lines and began their ascent arriving at a
bustling terminal, with a giant holo-display listing Arrivals and
Departures hovering over the Magnetic Levitation Tubes, and embarkation
platforms. The station was less crowded than the Base station, and the
indirect lighting threw the molding of the arcing concrete walls and
ceilings into high relief. From the elevated platforms columns seemingly
poured like some milky liquid, tapering down to a slender base to support
the platforms from the space between the suspension tubes. Sarge and Hel
worked their way over to an 'El' cashier. "Two for Gallery D," Hel said,
handing over her voucher chit. The cashier slid the chit into her reader
and scanned the information. Nodding, she handed the Voucher back along
with the two passes, and indicated the upper tube for Shaft D, with a
waiting train hovering suspended in its boarding cradle.
CAMERA PANS following the two woman up.
CUT TO Hel and Sarge embarking onto the cylindrical train that sat
suspended in its berth. The two move forward to some vacant seats as they
removed their blasters from their gauntlets.
"Hard to believe that humanity could build something like this," Sarge
remarked wistfully, gazing out the window. "I remember when I first made
it to the Underground, I used to come into this station just to watch the
trains come and go."
"Uh-huh," Hel remarked flatly, drawing Sarge's sharp stare. "Would you
care to tell me what 'Cathedral' is?"
Sarge shrugged, "It used to be a giant depot, with over a dozen entrances
and exits making for easy distribution of supplies. Several years ago we ?" Sarge stopped and corrected herself, "THEY had driven the Cubs out, and
the Blackwatch used it as a swing space when they moved from one lair to
the next. Or else it acted as a staging area if multiple chapters planned
to hit a secured level."
"And you think they're there?"
"It would make sense as a rendezvous point," the lieutenant remarked,
"especially if they were looking for Manon before our agent was discovered.
It's a space that all Blackwatch members generally know about."
The last of the passengers boarded the train before the ramps drew up and
the train doors shut and sealed themselves. The air whispered as the train
pressurized, and then smoothly began to slide forward, gently propelled by
the tube's electro-magnets.
Blue clad conductors begin to roam the aisle asking to see the passenger's
passes. Hel and Sarge handed theirs over when he came by, and the passes
were slipped into the base of the conductor's baton confirming that these
two belonged on this train. The conductor then handed them back and made
his way down the aisle. When he came to the lone, female passenger in the
back of the car, Manon handed him her pass.
FADE TO BLACK
***********************************
ACT TWO
FADE IN Interior of a large warehouse style facility, complete with
gangways, suspended lights, and empty shelves. The remaining boxes are
arranged to act as pseudo-partitions in the cavernous space. The
Blackwatch chapter finished entering the space, dropping off the hauled
equipment they had brought with them from their recently abandoned lair.
ZOOM IN on one member who deposits a large metallic ovoid onto a hastily
set up table.
CUT TO Valdis and Zorya.
"What word on our raid," Valdis asked.
"They successfully raided the facility, liberating Manon," the petite
lieutenant reported, "and are taking the Tube back to this gallery."
"Excellent, and our men in the station are instructed to keep their eyes
open for them, and provide whatever assistance they need?"
"Yes, Valdis," Zorya said, turning away to address her microphone.
Valdis studied the module for a moment. "Bring a torch. Let's crack this
baby," he barked at his minions. He then leaned forward to examine the
casing more closely.
ZOOM IN on Valdis' reflection on the brushed metal Ovoid surface. Etched
lines forming various sized squares, rectangles, rhomboids and
quadrilaterals criss-cross the module's surface. In the background Zorya
asked for survey status of their search for a new base of operations while
her muscular boss quietly asked the mysterious module, "What are you?"
CUT TO Tube Station, Gallery D, as the train slides into its embarkation
cradle. The platform ramps lower as the doors align themselves, and with a
slight gush of pressurized air the doors open to disgorge streams of
passengers, among them is the Blackwatch party with Shard and Manon.
CUT TO "El" Station as Manon disembarks from the train and heads towards
the camera. CAMERA ZOOMS past her shoulder to focus on the figures of
Sarge and Hel stepping down a ramp and turning away from the retreating
form of Manon. CAMERA FOLLOWS as they make their way clear of the
terminal.
"Okay, Sarge, where do we go from here?"
"We've a number of options," replied the athletic lieutenant pulling up a
holographic map of Gallery D that was provided by Mauser. "I think our
best bet is to go up two levels and then over to Shaft 17."
"Are you crazy?" asked the dusky team-leader. "That's going way out of our
way."
"Yeah, and chances are it won't be covered by Blackwatch so it'll be
faster. This way." Sarge said pointing as they turned the corner to
approach a shaft. Firing their spinnerets, the two women ascended off the
landing.
CUT TO interior of the cavernous Cathedral. Light plays against the walls
from the arc-welders being fruitlessly applied to the module casing.
CAMERA PANS to reveal Valdis standing back from the laboring welders,
watching their progress.
"Anything?"
A welder looked up, dowsed his torch and shook his head.
VOICE OVER (Shard) "Hey, Boss, lookee what we got."
Valdis turned around to see Shard walking in with his team and Manon in
tow. "Shard, I knew I could count on you. Welcome back, Manon," Valdis
said, gesturing to one of his men to examine the young woman.
Manon gave a shaky smile, "Good to be back ? Boss." She gave a slight
twitch as the henchman ran a scanner over her. After the scan the henchman
looked at Valdis and shook his head indicating the lack of a transmitter on
the Manon while Shard looked on in bemusement.
"Yeah," agreed the Blackwatch leader with a smirk. "We got something here
that should be right up your alley."
"What?" Manon asked.
"Consider this a test," Valdis explained, "we've been infiltrated once, I'm
not in a hurry to have it happen again. Prove that you are our tech." He
then gestured towards the smudged module. "Open it."
"Ummm ? right." Manon said hesitantly, and with a wary eye on Valdis, she
moved towards the unit as the Blackwatch leader drew his blaster when she
passed.
CUT TO Hel and Sarge running down a darkened corridor. Drops echo down the
empty hallway as condensation dripped from the overhead pipes.
"Hel," Voice said. "We've got a problem."
CUT TO Sarge glancing over when she noticed her team-leader slowing down,
intent on understanding what was being conveyed to her.
"What?!" Hel exclaimed, stopping.
"What is it?" Sarge asked as Voice continued.
"During the jail-break, the Blackwatch set off some explosives which freed
the other inmates. We managed to account for them all, but one."
"Damn," cursed Hel, and at Sarge's silent query, she explained, "Manon's
escaped."
CUT TO Manon sitting before the module, spinning it around and noting the
patterns while Valdis waited impatiently behind her with his drawn blaster.
Shard and Zorya silently looked on, for despite themselves they were
curious about the process Manon would use to open this package that had
thus far balked their efforts.
After a few tense moments, Manon smiled, and placed her hands at the
extreme ends of the ovoid, slinding her fingers over the etched figures
until she felt some give under her fingertips.
"Thank you, Mr. Rubik," she said under her breath as she began to
manipulate the casing.
CUT TO CLOSE-UP of her hands and the mechanism. The etched quadrilaterals
under her fingers depressed and Manon then twisted her wrists, managing to
slide the rings in opposite directions until they stopped. With quiet
clicks, the surface re-aligned itself, with the squares, rectangles and
quadrilaterals sliding into a new patterns before the casing blossomed, and
the module extended the connectors and revealed the mysterious device that
was hidden within the impenetrable shell.
"Impressive," remarked Valdis, shoving the blaster back into its holster.
"How did you manage it?"
"It's a puzzle-box," Manon explained, "you just have to find the right
place to press and it'll open up as nice as you please."
Zorya smiled and remarked to her leader, "Well, Manon always did love her
puzzles."
Valdis laughed and squeezed Manon's shoulder. "Good to have you back." He
then turned to Zorya, "Any word on a new base."
Zorya nodded, and her comment "We should be on the move inside of an hour,"
is heard in the background, when Shard leaned forward, "I never doubted who
you were for a second."
"Thanks," Manon said, smiling in her relief, until her eyes settle on
something beyond Shard's shoulders, and her smile fades.
i>CUT TO Manon's POV: Escorted by Blackwatch guards is Manon.
CUT TO Sarge and Hel running down the abandoned corridor to a large shaft.
"Is this it?" Hel asked as they approached the landing. At Sarge's
affirmation, the team-mates leapt off the ledge.
CUT TO the two Manons staring at the other while the minions of the
Blackwatch looked on in puzzlement. The camera begins circling the girls
and the Blackwatch leaders as the argument ensued.
An irritated Valdis turned on Shard, "You did grab the right one, correct?"
"Yes, Valdis, I'm sure of it. You scanned her yourself, and she did manage
to crack that thing," Shard pointed out, looking at the bickering
lookalikes. "And I swear to you, the one I grabbed was where and when my
sources told she'd be."
"Oh right!" Manon yelled at her counterpart. "You just happened to escape
when I was rescued? A bit of a coincidence, don't you think."
"And I suppose when you were rescued, the team just waltzed right in and
snatched you, no problem."
"Hey! It's not my fault Shard knows how to plan a raid."
"Actually," Shard attempted to intervene, "I do recall thinking that
mission went off particularly well."
"Are you saying that you might not have rescued our tech?" Valdis growled.
"C'mon," pleaded Manon, "certainly you can see that she's a plant."
"I'm not the plant." Manon protested and pointed an accusing finger, "She
is."
Zorya ran the scanner on both the Manons and declared, "There's nothing,
neither has a holo-projector or a vocalizer."
"You mean one might be a Betrayer?" Valdis asked, drawing his blaster
again. Even Shard looked shaken at that possibility.
"That's right," said Manon, "she must be a Betrayer."
"Yeah, right," said the other Manon sarcastically, "and what are the
chances of the original person escaping from a Betrayer factory?" Valdis's
eyes darted between the two of them, clearly unhappy with this dilemma.
CUT TO Hel and Sarge alighting on a landing, hearing the argument echoing
down the hallway, they start running towards the commotion.
VOICE OVER (Valdis) "Enough!"
VOICE OVER (Manon) "Hey did I, or did I not, manage to open that thing?"
CUT TO the feuding Manons
(Cue Mission: Impossible "The Plot" riff)
"A bit too easily if you ask me." Valdis snarled.
"So you admit she's a fake," the other Manon seized on his statement.
"I'm not stating anything of the sort ?"
"But it has to be obvious ?" Manon stated.
"Hey," the other Manon interrupted, "you were the one who came in late, I
had to prove my ?"
"Enough!" cried Valdis, attempting to make himself heard over the bickering
of the women.
"But, Valdis" they both cried, and then looked at each other, "I'm the real?"
"ENOUGH!" Valdis yelled, drawing a bead with his blaster. "No one plays me
for a fool," and he fired.
CUT TO Sarge and Hel arriving at their final destination. CUT TO CLOSE UP
of their faces as their eyes widened in horror. CUT TO their POV of the
two Manons as one falls dead after being blasted.
(Cue Mission: Impossible Theme)
"NO!" Hel and Sarge shouted in unison. Startled, Manon looked up from her
dead counterpart and spotted the pair, with a quick glance at Valdis she
snatched up the module by a connector and clasped it to her chest as she
started running towards the duo. The Blackwatch fired at her retreating
form while Hel and Sarge shielded up and provided cover fire for the
fleeing girl to give her a head start while carrying the device.
"C'mon, Sarge! We can't get to her!" Hel exclaimed as her lieutenant shot
her a venomous look. Under the heavy fire of the Blackwatch, Sarge and Hel
reluctantly retreated after Manon.
"GET THEM!" Valdis commanded.
The Blackwatch pursued, firing, while Manon was already ascending with Hel
and Sarge shooting their web-lines to follow her. Sarge paused to fire a
couple more blasts before she began her own ascent after her team-mate.
Multiple "Thwaps" are heard from the Blackwatch's own lines being cast.
The black clad members began their pursuit, opening fire up at the
retreating trio. Sarge and Hel fired back down as the Blackwatch lasers
continue to coruscate off their shields.
"We can't take much more of this!" Hel said.
"I'm on it!"
"Wait, what're you ? SARGE!" shouted Hel, as her comrade disengaged her
web. Sarge fell backwards arcing into a dive and firing at the Blackwatch
goons, dropping a couple, while she plummeted past them. She then righted
herself, firing the web-spinner to resume her ascent, and took out the last
of the pursuers as his comrade is felled by Hel's fire. The bodies tumbled
down the shaft to either side of Sarge's ascending form.
CUT TO Cathedral entrance to the shaft, as two figures watch the dark forms
of their comrades fall past them. The shorter one leans out to observe the
chase.
"Damn, damn, damn," muttered Valdis, surveying the damage.
"That was Sarge," remarked Shard, still leaning out to observe the flight
of the heroines. "I'd swear to it. Hmmm ? She's improved," he remarked
with professional admiration.
"This means it was that disembodied Voice who wanted the module. " Valdis
chewed is lip in frustration. "Well, at least we got her agent back there.
Put the word out to all the chapters, Manon's a traitor, shoot on sight."
CUT TO our heroines on the upper landing.
"Hel, did you get the module?" Voice asks.
"Yeah," Hel said resignedly, "we got it."
A visibly upset Sarge nodded towards Manon. "What're we going to do with
her?" she asked Hel.
"I don't know," Hel said, eyeing the startled Manon who laid down the
module, reached for the back of her neck (cue Mission: Accomplished theme)
and peeled the off the mask revealing a grinning Cleopatra.
Hel and Sarge gape, and Sarge caught and wrapped the laughing Cleo in a
bear hug while Hel let loose a laugh of relief. "Uh ? Sarge, can't breathe
?" Cleo managed to gasp. Sarge laughed and released Cleo.
"How the heck did you convince them the other was an imposter?" Hel asked
with a big grin, hugging Cleo herself.
"Talent, pure, unadulterated talent." Cleo remarked with a cocky smirk, the
trio laughed and began making their way back to the lab, knowing that this
time they had gotten lucky. Sarge was carrying the module, Cleo still had
her mask, and Hel checked their rear to make sure they weren't followed.
FADE TO BLACK
FINI
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