Night had fallen on the beach, and Antonio was cloaked in
black once again. But this time, he was out for romance.
Little by little, Exodus and Antonio were becoming
completely seperate entities. Exodus wasn't a priest--he
could be whatever he wanted to be...he could love Gabi...
Well, the thought of it was pretty outlandish. After all,
there was an APB out on him from here to Santa Monica, and
Gabi did work for the police. But she wouldn't rat him out,
he knew that. She would never dream that HE was Exodus, but
she would recognize his heart...
He lovingly watched her walk to her car from the trees near
the Police Station. She unlocked the door and stepped
inside...but didn't start the car. Puzzled, he looked
closer, and could see the barrel of a gun pressing against
her head in the backseat!
No.......
Man: Drive.
He felt his heart drop when he saw her tearfully start the
car, and drive away.
No...no, Gabi, no!!
He ran after the car. He felt like fire was going to shoot
out of his eyes! If he hurts her...
A girl at a pay phone dialed 911.
Amy: Yes, hello?? I just saw that Exodus creep! He's like, totally chasing
after a car like a maniac!
Gabi: Please...I don't know what you want!!
Creed: Shut up and keep driving! We're taking a little trip
to Dana Point. And go faster, dammit!!
She was so shaken up, she was only doing 15. Antonio could
still see the car...if he could just catch up!!
The car was coming up to a red light...yes! It stopped!
Antonio had never run so fast in his entire life! If there was ever
a prayer he needed answered it was this...don't turn green!
Please don't turn green!!!
As the jade light flashed over him, Antonio lunged at the back of the car and landed on the trunk! They didn't hear the noise through the thug's impatient scream...
Creed: Go, dammit!!!!!!
Tears ran down Gabi's face as she floored it down the road.
Antonio held on for dear life as the car raced through
the night................
Ricardo wandered into the Deep.
Ricardo: Annie, you had better be here!
Annie: Howdy, Mr. Private Eye.
Ricardo: OK, Annie. I met you here like you wanted. Now,
you got exactly 3 seconds to tell me your brilliant plan!
Annie: It's like this. You see, if you want to find out who
Exodus is, first, you've gotta find his hideout.
Ricardo: Hideout? What, you mean like a Batcave?
Annie: Exactly. And what better place than the subterranean
grotto under the Deep?
Ricardo: Uh-huh. You think he's hiding out under a bar?
God, what kind of dope am I to listen to you??
Annie: Fine, Ricardo. Don't listen to me. Miss a big fat
lead that could be staring you right in the face!
Ricardo: Alright, alright. Hey, bartender! Two Midori
Sours. I gotta talk to Spence a second, I'll be right back,
Annie. Try not to think anymore while I'm gone!
Bartender: Here you go, M'aam. Two Midoris.
Annie: Thanks....(aside) Now all I have to do is get Ricardo
drunk enough so I can go to that grotto alone and take all
the credit for finding Exodus's secret Cave-Lair!! It's
gotta be down there, I know it...let's see...
She grabbed a bottle while the bartender wasn't looking.
Annie: Hmm...Absolut Vodka. A hundred-and-one proof should
be enough to incapacitate Ricardo long enough for me to play
the heroine! Watch out, Exodus...here comes Awesome Annie!
She found herself eying Ricardo from across the room.
Annie: Sorry, babe...you might look awful cute in your
mismatched suspenders tonight, but a girl's gotta do what a
girl's gotta do!
A half hour later, Annie trudged back from the wine cellar.
Annie: OK, so there was nothing in the grotto except sand
and rocks. How was I to know? Oh well...now I have to face
Ricardo. He probably figured me out and didn't drink my
spiked surprise anyway...uh-oh!
Ricardo: *... cuz we're all in the mood for a melodeeee...ou
got ushh feelin' alriiight!*
Annie: Uh...oh my God, Spence, what happened to Ricardo?
Spence: Man! I told him he should loosen up over this Exodus
case, but jeez! I didn't think he'd get plastered over it!
Annie: OK, Ricardo, c'mere, honey...I don't think the
people in here can stand any more of your rendition of
"Piano Man!"
Ricardo: Mee? Oh no I'm okaay...
Annie: What did I get myself into?
Spence: We should've brought Ricardo's brother along tonight. The whole force is on their best behavior whenever that guy's around! Annie: Nah....I really don't think Antonio's the adventurous type....do you?
Creed: What the hell?? What's that...oh my God!!! There's a
guy in a mask on the back of the car!!
Gabi: What??!
Antonio had no idea what had come over him--it was like
something out of a Die Hard movie! He smashed the backseat
window glass, threw Creed's gun out the window and punched
him right between the eyes! The unconcious thug slumped
over, and all Gabi could think of was stopping the car.
She swerved to the breakdown lane at the side of the road,
and as the car slowed to a halt, Antonio fell to the ground, exhausted.
Gabi: Oh my God!! I'm sorry!! You're........you're Exodus,
aren't you? Are you...alright?
Antonio: I think that's what I should be asking you...
Gabi: I'm alright...thanks to you. You saved my life...but
why?
Antonio: What can I say? A lady in distress...I couldn't
help myself. So...what's your name?
He smiled to himself at the sheer irony of this. What's your
name? It was burned into his heart, his soul, his mind. He
saw it on cereal boxes if he looked at them quickly...it was
like asking himself to blink!
Gabi: ...Gabi. I'm with the SBPD...
Antonio: Oh. So are you going to arrest me?
Gabi: Of course not!
Antonio: Well, I hear sirens right about now. They're
coming...I have to go...but first, if you'll excuse me...
Antonio reached into the back seat and pulled out the
stirring Creed. His usual humble notions of forgiveness
were surpressed by rage. When it came to anyone hurting
Gabi, all bets were off.
Antonio: Phew! Here's someone who needs to take the Old
Spice challenge. Now I'm going to ask you once. WHY did
you do this to this woman??!!!!
Creed: Ow, ow, look, I'm-I'm just hired help, man!! I'm workin' for
somebody. And it ain't over...let me just tell you that the
Resort was only the beginning....
Antonio shuddered. The Resort??
Gabi: Oh my God...
The saintly vigilante tied him up and threw him back in the car.
Gabi: It's the embezzlers. They're after me...they want to
kill me!
Antonio: Shh...sh...it's alright. No one's going to hurt
you. I'll make sure of it.
He took her hand and kissed it. She felt tremors through
her spine from his unexpected gesture.
The sirens grew closer.
Antonio: Here they come. They'll take care of this scum.
I've gotta go...
Gabi: Wait, Exodus! I'll tell them what happened. I'll tell
them that you saved me!
Antonio: Don't worry...we'll see each other again....
The wind gathered in his black cape as he dashed away. Gabi
stood speechless, in awe. And couldn't help but think that
there was something very familiar about him....
Spence ran up to her, and pulled her from her reverie.
Spence: Gab, what happened? We got a 911 call on Exodus.
Did he do this?
Gabi: No, no!! He saved my life...please, will you just listen to
me!? And where's Ricardo? I have to tell him to stop the APB
on Exodus!!
Spence: Well...Ricardo's sort of...drunk.
Gabi: Drunk?? You've got to be kidding!
Spence: Nope. This case just gets weirder and weirder...