THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
-------------------------------------------------------
A thunderstorm is brewing around the church. Underground, dozens of Resistance members are running
out as Lili talks on a global.
LILI: Everyone's been evacuated. I'm heading back down.
She puts away the global and grabs a man going by.
LILI: Could you keep an eye on Rayna? I'm concerned about the way she's been acting.
The man goes over to Rayna, a pretty dark woman in a Taelonesque jumpsuit. He draws her out of the
building.
MAN: Rayna?
Lili looks after them as they exit, then runs into the elevator.
-------------------------------------------------------
Doctor Parks is looking at a sonogram of an unborn baby. Augur and a pacing Doors are nearby.
DOORS: It was conceived AND born in nine hours! It can't POSSIBLY be human!
AUGUR: (lightly) Well at least she won't have to suffer morning sickness.
Siobhan Beckett is lying on a medical table in a gown, her stomach expanded. She is fully pregnant, and
currently in labor with her part-alien baby. Lili is hovering nearby while Parks checks the readings.
BECKETT: Ooh!
LILI: Her CVI is breaking down.
PARKS: It must have overloaded in the joining with the alien.
LILI: Can you give her something for the pain?
PARKS: I can't do that, it might harm the baby.
BECKETT: (frantic) No! Don't wanna hurt the baby! I'll be all right! Please!
Parks moves away. Lili leans closer to talk.
LILI: It will not harm the baby, I promise.
BECKETT: (gasping) I know everything... the joining... Ha'gel showed me everything.. ooh...
Another contraction hits Beckett. Parks is now at the end of the bed.
PARKS: When I give you the word, PUSH, but not before.
BECKETT: Ohhh...
-------------------------------------------------------
In an alley outside the church, Rayna starts moving more quickly. The man races after her.
MAN: Rayna, wait! Where are you going?
He grabs her arm.
MAN: Rayna?
She glares at him, then slams him backwards against a wall with no visible effort. He slumps down in a pile
of garbage as she moves away.
-------------------------------------------------------
Lili is rubbing Beckett's hand as she pushes.
LILI: It's going okay!
Beckett groans and pushes again.
PARKS: PUSH! As hard as you can!
BECKETT: Ohhh! Ohhh!
PARKS: That's it! Keep pushing!
LILI: It's okay! You're gonna be okay! I promise you that!
Beckett screams in agony.
LILI: Good girl! You're gonna be just fine!
Doors is staring at Beckett harshly. Augur is peering over his shoulder, now genuinely spooked.
DOORS: What is it?
BECKETT: Ooooohhhoowwwww...
DOORS: What the hell is it?
AUGUR: Does "Rosemary's Baby" ring a bell?
BECKETT: Ohhhww...
She slumps back, exhausted. At her feet is a tiny, wet, squalling baby. Parks picks the baby up and smiles
at him.
PARKS: It's a boy...
Beckett smiles up at Lili, who smiles back. Augur is trying to get a peek at the child.
PARKS: It's a lovely little-
DOORS: (interrupting) Human.
PARKS: -Boy.
Beckett's gasping becomes more pained. Parks lays the baby down on a blanket.
PARKS: There we go, there we go...
Beckett grabs Lili's hand and speaks to her nemesis intently.
BECKETT: Liam... you must... you must take care of him... promise me...
LILI: I don't think that's necessary! You're gonna be just fine!
BECKETT: NO! Promise me... no matter what... no matter what happens... you'll take care of him...
promise me!
LILI: (disturbed) I promise.
BECKETT: No matter... no matter what...
Doors and Augur have been listening intently.
AUGUR: "No matter what"?
Beckett gasps and passes out, twitching with the pain of her wrecked CVI. Lili stares at her, worried.
Augur peers into the blanket-clad bundle as a nurse carries baby Liam past them.
AUGUR: Well, I guess we don't have to worry about finding a name for you, kid. Looks like your mother
already has...
DOORS: To hell with the name. I want to know what she meant by "no matter what."
Augur shrugs. The nurse lays down baby Liam on a blanket, smiling. Suddenly she gasps and steps back,
as a shimmering noise fills the room. Every gapes as Liam, now sitting up, rapidly matures into a
four-year-old boy.
LIAM: Liam... my name is Liam.
-------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL BREAK
-------------------------------------------------------
Lili and Augur are at a sofa with Liam, who is fiddling with his towel. He has evidently been solving
puzzles, one of which Lili is holding. Augur is trying to solve an advanced one.
LILI: THANK you! Thanks! Is this kid amazing or what? I bet Rodin couldn't have done this when he was
FOUR!
AUGUR: We could sell that!
LILI: Stop it.
She notices his lack of luck with the advanced puzzle.
LILI: You know, I betcha Liam could help you with that.
AUGUR: Oh yeah, right!
LILI: Give it to him.
AUGUR: (teasing) Yeah, I'd like to see you figure it out.
He holds it out to Liam. The boy takes it and rapidly clicks pieces into place. Augur grins mockingly.
AUGUR: I'm sorry, kid, I figured it was too tough for you.
He glances at Lili, but she suddenly looks astonished. Liam has solved the puzzle, except for one piece
which keeps slipping from his fingers.
LILI: Oh yeah. Way too tough.
Liam hands the almost-finished puzzle to Augur, who clicks the last piece in with a look of wonder. Doors
and Parks are watching the little scene from the next room.
DOORS: He hasn't said anything more since he was born. You think the first few words were a fluke.
PARKS: I doubt it. Da'an told me that the Taelons are born with full genetic knowledge of their
parents.
DOORS: So if Liam's race is like the Taelons, that means that he knows everything Beckett and
Sandoval knew...
PARKS: And Ha'gel. His father.
DOORS: But he LOOKS so human...
PARKS: Well, he is. Two thirds of him anyway.
She points at a diagram on a computer.
PARKS: This is Liam's DNA. The blue strand running through it is forming a triple helix.
DOORS: And you think that's the cause of this?
PARKS: I don't know, I only have a double helix. LIKE THE REST OF MANKIND.
DOORS: Which means we have no idea what he's capable of...
Liam suddenly stands up, groaning a little. There's a sudden whooshing noise, and Lili and Augur stare in
shock. Liam is aging rapidly, shooting up to six feet.
LILI: Oh my God...
Liam shimmers a few more times, gasping and crying out, then stops. He is now a handsome young man of
about thirty. He is also naked. Augur snatches up a blanket and throws it around Liam.
AUGUR: Whoo! Don't worry... you didn't miss a thing. Take it from me, puberty sucks!
Lili's global goes off. It's Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: Captain Marquette, I need to see you. Boone's office.
Lili slaps it shut, scared.
-------------------------------------------------------
Rayna wanders through the corridors of a government dish array. A man steps out and blocks her.
GUARD: Excuse me, ma'am, can I help you?
She stops.
GUARD: Sorry, ma'am, I'm afraid... are you all right, ma'am?
RAYNA: The output of this array... do you know what it is?
GUARD: Yeah. More'n enough for ET to phone home.
Rayna sets off.
GUARD: Ma'am, you can't go! Halt!
He grabs her and pulls her back.
GUARD: Look, lady, I don't know what the hell your problem is, but there is no way I'm gonna let you-
She grabs his throat and chokes him to death, then leaves.
-------------------------------------------------------
Lili comes into Boone's office, where Sandoval is.
SANDOVAL: I thought you might want to know. Lieutenant Beckett suspected you of being a
Liberation spy. I didn't believe her for a moment.
He smiles. Lili stares at him blankly.
SANDOVAL: Sit down... please.
Lili sits, awkwardly.
SANDOVAL: I have some rather bad news for you, Captain. Commander Boone... is dead.
LILI: (shocked) Dead?
SANDOVAL: He died from his wounds.
Lili begins to tear up.
LILI: I... I'm sorry, I don't understand. A few hours ago, they said that he was holding his own...
SANDOVAL: His internal injuries were just too extensive. I'm sorry... In any case, I don't want you to
worry.
LILI: (miserable) Worry about what?
SANDOVAL: Your position with the Companions. I've always been impressed by your abilities and your
loyalty. That's why I'm immediately assigning you to another Companion protector.
LILI: Who?
SANDOVAL: Me.
He leaves, and Lili closes her eyes in shock.
-------------------------------------------------------
In the array base, a white-haired scientist is working. Rayna appears in the door.
RAYNA: Are the Taelons still blocking off communications aimed into deep space?
SCIENTIST: What are you doing here?
RAYNA: Are the Taelons still blocking off communications aimed into deep space?
SCIENTIST: This is a restricted area!
She grabs the scientist's head and throws him back. She goes to a computer and begins typing in
commands. One of the dishes outside begins to swivel around.
-------------------------------------------------------
Da'an approaches the blue tank and rests his hand on it. Suddenly he has a vision of Boone, strapped in
inside it and comatose. Zo'or and Sandoval's reflection can be seen through it. Zo'or touches the tank,
and Boone dissolves into tiny glowing particles.
Da'an snaps out of the trance and blushes. He sees Zo'or standing on the opposite side of the tank.
DA'AN: Did you think you could escape our psychic link? That I would not see that you had killed
Boone?
Zo'or comes around the tank.
ZO'OR: It was the only merciful thing to do.
DA'AN: I was not aware that murder was in the lexicon of mercy.
ZO'OR: Only when what is gained outweighs that which is lost.
DA'AN: That was not your decision to make!
ZO'OR: How strange that you would say that... seeing that it was you who was responsible for the
murder of Boone's wife.
Da'an looks stricken. Zo'or moves away with a satisfied smile.
-------------------------------------------------------
Rayna continues typing. She stops, and rays shoot out of her eyes and flow into the computer screen.
Outside, the rays shoot out of the dish.
-------------------------------------------------------
Parks comes out of the medical room to Doors.
PARKS: The way I see it, we have three options: kill her, hold her captive forever, or return her to the
Taelons.
DOORS: Return her? After what she's seen?
PARKS: I can repair her CVI and reprogram it to suit our needs.
DOORS: So she won't remember a thing. Not the birth, Lili, this place.
PARKS: Not if she lives through the operation.
DOORS: Do it.
Doors walks off to where Augur is smoothing the front of Liam's denim jumpsuit.
DOORS: You gotta get him away from here.
AUGUR: (laughing) Oh, babysitting is not a part of my current business plan.
DOORS: I'll make it worth your while... with a piece of art.
AUGUR: Duchamps "Fountain."
Doors nods, pained.
DOORS: All right, but get him out of here, NOW.
AUGUR: What's the rush?
DOORS: What the RUSH? He could be a part of the Taelon Commonality, he could lead Sandoval right
here!
AUGUR: I'll arrange for delivery of "The Fountain."
He whacks the confused Liam on the chest and grins.
-------------------------------------------------------
Rayna stops shooting the white beams as she hears voices.
MAN: Secure the area!
She pushes away the desk and transforms into a probe.
-------------------------------------------------------
Quo'on is on Da'an's datastream, speaking to Sandoval, Zo'or and Da'an.
QUO'ON: The transmission is emanating from the Pentagon's communications center in Alexandria,
Virginia.
SANDOVAL: And it's getting through our planetary block.
QUO'ON: Into deep space.
DA'AN: And the nature of this transmission?
QUO'ON: The same configuration as the alien probe.
ZO'OR: That's impossible. I destroyed the probe in Russia.
DA'AN: Obviously not.
-------------------------------------------------------
Guards run in to find the probe. Suddenly it reforms itself into a hulking green replicant. The guards fire
at it, but the bullets ricochet. Suddenly the replicant fires at all three, killing them. It starts tracking all
Taelons on Earth, then cloaks itself. It slips out as more soldiers pour in.
-------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL BREAK
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On the mothership, Quo'on is looking at a picture of the cloaked replicant.
QUO'ON: I have asked the president for a blackout on the situation. There will be no discussion of the
true origins of the replicant.
ZO'OR: It is a mistake to keep this matter secret. We must present the situation to the humans in the
gravest light possible... and embrace it, for the opportunity it is.
DA'AN: I am afraid I must agree with Zo'or, in disclosing the existance of the Jaridians to humanity...
but NOT to entrap humanity into fighting the Jaridians, but rather to allow them the freedom of choice.
QUO'ON: I have made my decision.
ZO'OR: To ignore this chance to prepare the humans is reprehensible.
DA'AN: "Prepare"? Do you not mean "enslave"?
ZO'OR: The distinction is irrelevent. Our survival is all that matters.
-------------------------------------------------------
Augur pushes Liam back from the computer. The younger man is staring around with wide eyes and smile.
AUGUR: Liam, please, don't touch! I've got the combined knowledge of mankind and the entire Taelon
mainframe on this baby. Now yes, you may be good at your little Taelon cubes, but this sort of thing is
way out of your league, okay? So, why don't you sit, and I'll scrounge us up something to eat, okay? In
the meantime...
He pushes Liam back to a chair and pulls "Gulliver's Travels" from a nearby bookcase.
AUGUR: Why don't you take a look at the pictures? I'm sure the author had you in mind when he wrote
it? Oh, I don't have any mother's milk, but I'll improvise!
He heads for the fridge and pulls out a bottle and two glasses. Liam gets up to touch the computer.
AUGUR: Ah, nectar of the gods! What do you say, Liam?
He hurriedly sets the things down and pulls Liam away.
AUGUR: I told you, don't touch, okay?
A hologram springs up: Holo-Lili, who looks exactly like Lili, wearing sexy lingerie. Liam and Augur gape at
her for a moment.
HOLO-LILI: Name it and claim it, baby doll.
Lili's face appears on the screen.
AUGUR: Lili, what's the matter? You look-
LILI: Boone didn't make it.
Augur is shocked. Liam drifts back, looking disturbed.
AUGUR: They said he was stable...
LILI: He was. The funeral's on Thursday, let everybody know...
She signs off. Augur looks grim.
LIAM: Boone...
AUGUR: Yeah... the man your father killed.
Liam has a sudden vision of Boone being vaporized by Zo'or.
LIAM: Boone was killed by a Taelon... not my father.
As Augur stares, Liam goes over to Holo-Lili.
LIAM: Show me everything you've got on William Boone.
HOLO-LILI: I'm sorry, big guy, but I'm strictly a one-man girl. Voice recognition abort in ten seconds.
Ten... nine... eight... seven... six...
LIAM: (to Augur) Are you gonna help me or what?
HOLO-LILI: Five... four... three... two...
AUGUR: Do it. Give him everything you've got.
HOLO-LILI: Oh, bother. Your wish is my command.
She blows a kiss and winks out, as Liam speed-reads the data on the screen.
-------------------------------------------------------
Lili comes out of the elevator and into the Resistance HQ. Doors meets her.
DOORS: What did Sandoval want?
LILI: (unhappily) Augur didn't tell you?
DOORS: Tell me what?
LILI: Boone didn't make it.
DOORS: He'll have to be replaced--we need someone on the inside.
LILI: That's all you have to say? Jonathan... Boone's DEAD!
DOORS: That's right, and we're alive. And our chances of survival just got a hell of a lot slimmer.
LILI: Well, uh... today must be your lucky day, Jonathan.
DOORS: What do you mean?
LILI: I've been promoted.
DOORS: To what?
LILI: I'm now working directly for Sandoval!
She stalks away.
-------------------------------------------------------
A man plays the bagpipes at the funeral, where Lili, Da'an, Zo'or and Quo'on are all present. Boone's coffin
is over his grave. Lili turns as a tall figure comes over to stand beside her. It's Liam, wearing an army
uniform.
LILI: (hissed) What the HELL are you doing? Where did you get-
Liam shushes her. Sandoval comes over to the coffin with a funeral wreath.
SANDOVAL: The great Shaolin monk Li-Chang once said, "It is a rare occasion to be born a human
being." If this is so, then William Boone was one of the rarest of the rare. For he died true to the spirit
with which he lived, with a sword in one hand, and an olive branch in the other. We will miss him. "The
laurel is green for a season, and love is sweet for a day, but love grows bitter with treason, and the
laurel outlives not May."
Nearby Army officers ready their guns.
ARMY OFFICER: Honor guard, attention! Port arms! Ready, arms! On my command... AIM, FIRE!
They fire. Da'an winces sadly.
ARMY OFFICER: AIM, FIRE!
They fire, and Sandoval winces.
ARMY OFFICER: AIM, FIRE! Present, arms!
They lower their guns. Lili is crying. "Taps" is played on a bugle as the flag on Boone's coffin is removed
and folded. It is handed to Sandoval, who turns to hand it to Da'an.
The replicant comes through the bushes, and watches as Sandoval hands the flag to Da'an. Quo'on steps
forward to drop a rose onto Boone's coffin. As the rose hits the coffin, Liam has a vision of Quo'on dying.
He leaps over the coffin and tackles Da'an to the ground. Lili pulls out her gun just as the replicant fires,
vaporizing Quo'on. Sandoval skrills the replicant as people panic. It's visible for a moment, then vanishes.
Liam rises and pulls Da'an up, but a blue flicker passes between their hands. Da'an is stunned. Lili and
Sandoval run over.
LILI: Da'an, are you all right?
DA'AN: Yes... thanks to this man.
SANDOVAL: We have to get you out of here!
DA'AN: He saved my life!
LIAM: Major Liam Kincaid, sir. I served under Captain Boone in the SI War-
SANDOVAL: Da'an, your life's in danger.
DA'AN: Until we meet again, Major...
LIAM: Until then...
Lili is dragging Da'an away. Sandoval looks suspicious.
SANDOVAL: Lucky for us you showed up when you did, Major.
LIAM: Liam.
SANDOVAL: Liam?
Liam shakes hands with Sandoval, then glances at his hand. Meanwhile, the replicant scans Sandoval and
his skrill.
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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A reporter is in the graveyard, talking on Zo'or's datastream on the mothership.
REPORTER: And the world has reacted with shock and horror today at the assassination of the leader
of the Taelon Synod. The Synod has refused to comment on the identity of the alien attacker. President
Thompson has dispatched Secretary of human-Taelon relations Joshua Doors to the mothership to
confront the Taelon leaders.
Zo'or waves away the datastream.
DA'AN: We cannot abandon humanity during this crisis. We must return to Earth.
ZO'OR: I will not allow any Taelon to return to Earth until the replicant has been destroyed.
DA'AN: (smiling) What you will allow is irrelevent. Until the Synod names a successor to Quo'on, we are
equals.
ZO'OR: Not only do you recklessly endanger yourself, you put ALL Taelons at risk.
DA'AN: Not if my presence draws the replicant out.
Zo'or starts to smile devilishly. Da'an notices it.
ZO'OR: Yes. That may work...
DA'AN: Boone's death leaves me with no security. I will appoint Major Liam Kincaid as my new
protector.
ZO'OR: The Synod requires both of us to approve any human entering service to the Taelons!
DA'AN: Then, conduct your interviews... my safety demands it.
Zo'or is irritated but can't say no.
-------------------------------------------------------
Liam, Lili, Doors and Augur are all in the Liberation HQ. Liam is still wearing the uniform.
LILI: What the hell were you thinking? Do you have any idea the kind of danger you could have put us
in?
LIAM: I had no choice...
DOORS: How did you pull off this masquerade?
AUGUR: (irritated) Three guesses other than God and Houdini!
Lili ignores the two of them.
LILI: I suppose you have a plan?
LIAM: Look, you're just going to have to trust that I know what I'm doing.
DOORS: Based on what, your twenty-four hours life experience?
LIAM: (smirking) You may want to withhold judgement...
Lili's global chirps, and she opens it. It's Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: Track down Major Kincaid and escort him to the mothership.
Liam smiles in satisfaction.
LILI: Major Kincaid may demand an explanation. What should I tell him?
SANDOVAL: You won't need to tell him anything. But in case YOU'RE wondering, Da'an has requested
that Major Kincaid be Da'an's new protector...
Lili looks over at Liam, astonished. Doors goes over to Parks.
DOORS: I can't control him...
-------------------------------------------------------
Joshua Doors is pacing around the mothership bridge, near Zo'or and Sandoval. He sounds agitated.
Sandoval is listening to his pocketwatch.
JOSHUA: Well then, maybe you can tell me who attacked Quo'on at Boone's memorial service!
SANDOVAL: Your worst nightmare, Mr. Doors.
JOSHUA: No, see, my worst nightmare, Mr. Sandoval, began the day the Taelons arrived on our planet!
SANDOVAL: To borrow a phrase from your book, Mr. Doors, that's only the beginning.
Sandoval clicks the watch shut. Joshua starts to leave.
JOSHUA: Yes. Yes, it is.
ZO'OR: The probe that was sent to Earth did not come from the Taelons.
Joshua stops and turns back.
JOSHUA: Well then, who did it come from?
SANDOVAL: It was sent by a race of beings called the Jaridians. They've conquered star systems
across the universe. The Taelons are the only race evolved enough to resist them, Mr. Doors.
JOSHUA: And the assassin?
SANDOVAL: It was a replicant, generated by that Jaridian probe...
JOSHUA: What do you intend to do about it?
ZO'OR: Prepare humanity to meet the invasion which is sure to follow.
JOSHUA: No no, I've got a better idea.
Zo'or turns around sharply.
JOSHUA: Why don't the Taelons leave Earth and take the alleged Jaridians with you?
SANDOVAL: The Jaridians are aware of us through the probe they sent. They will come to Earth
regardless of the Taelon presence, Mr. Doors.
JOSHUA: Then why aren't they already here?
ZO'OR: The Jaridians do not have interdimensional technology.
JOSHUA: Then how did the probe get here?
ZO'OR: It is the celestial version of your land mines... launched millions of years ago into deep space.
JOSHUA: I say... we wait them out.
ZO'OR: You don't have that luxury! Once the Jaridians develop interdimensional travel themselves, or
steal it from us, they will come to Earth.
He sits down.
ZO'OR: En masse.
-------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL BREAK
-------------------------------------------------------
Sandoval is quizzing Liam, while Zo'or watches with interest. Liam seems extremely confident and relaxed.
SANDOVAL: What qualifies you to become a Companion protector?
LIAM: I assume you've reviewed my record. I believe it speaks for itself.
SANDOVAL: No one is doubting your SKILLS, Mr. Kincaid. I'm simply asking you why you want to serve
the Companions.
LIAM: Sowelo, Mr. Sandoval. The Irish rune of inevitability.
Sandoval stares at the mention of runes.
LIAM: The fate of mankind and the Taelon Commonality are intrinsically linked. But of course, you know
that.
Sandoval ignores him and pulls open a global.
SANDOVAL: You served as Boone's lieutenant for three years during the SI War.
LIAM: That is correct.
SANDOVAL: Lucky for us you showed up when you did.
LIAM: You mean, lucky for Da'an.
Sandoval shoots a strange look at him.
SANDOVAL: Tell me about the march into Tai-pei.
LIAM: Our intelligence was faulty, we were led straight into an ambush.
SANDOVAL: And the entire platoon was killed.
LIAM: That is correct.
SANDOVAL: Except for you and Boone.
LIAM: What's your point?
SANDOVAL: (shouting) My POINT, Mr. Kincaid, is that you want to become a Companion protector! Yet
you and Boone couldn't even protect the lives of your men!
Liam snaps around angrily.
LIAM: I will not allow you to insult the memory of Captain Boone or any of our MEN!
Zo'or stares at him. Sandoval is mocking now.
SANDOVAL: Do you always lose your cool this easily, Major Kincaid?
Liam realizes he's been tricked. He chuckles.
LIAM: That's what you wanted, wasn't it? Mr Sandoval?
SANDOVAL: I have no idea what you're talking about.
LIAM: Of course, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. A Companion agent would never allow
such an insult to go unchallenged.
ZO'OR: Why have you been drawn to serve Da'an?
LIAM: I would be honored... to serve any Taelon.
SANDOVAL: And you are prepared to be implanted with a CVI?
Liam stops short. He wasn't prepared for such a question, and a CVI could be dangerous. Sandoval looks
satisfied.
SANDOVAL: Then it appears you've wasted both our time, Mr. Kincaid.
ZO'OR: A CVI will not be necessary.
SANDOVAL: But Zo'or-
ZO'OR: (hurriedly) We will be in touch, Major Kincaid.
LIAM: I trust you will.
Liam leaves. Sandoval is clearly upset by the idea of a non-implant guarding Da'an. Zo'or rises out of his
chair.
SANDOVAL: Da'an's safety will be severely compromised if a non implant is allowed to protect him!
ZO'OR: You mean... with Da'an... acting as bait for the Jaridian?
SANDOVAL: Exactly...
ZO'OR: Which means if the replicant kills Da'an... I will be elected Synod leader by default.
SANDOVAL: And I... will rise along with you.
ZO'OR: If and when, Agent Sandoval. If... and when.
Zo'or walks away with a satisfied smile, leaving Sandoval thinking.
-------------------------------------------------------
Da'an is leading Liam around his office and talking. Technicians are installing a forcefield and portal.
DA'AN: And nothing short of destruction will stop the replicant. It is programmed to kill Taelons, and
will continue to pursue that end until it can no longer do so.
Sandoval comes in.
SANDOVAL: The degenerator field is operational. When the replicant enters this office the shield will
encase it in a forcefield and disable it with a series of electromagnetic pulses. Captain Marquette and I
will be monitoring events from across the way.
DA'AN: Thank you, Agent Sandoval.
Sandoval pulls out a gun and holds it out to Liam.
SANDOVAL: It's yours.
Liam takes it and holds it gingerly.
SANDOVAL: If there's any problem, the interdimensional portal is your only escape route. Stay close
to it.
Sandoval leaves.
LIAM: Like a leprechaun to his pot of gold...
-------------------------------------------------------
The needle is retracting from Beckett's chin, as Doors and Parks watch the operation end.
PARKS: If this procedure is successful, Lieutenant Beckett will have no memory of anything that could
hurt us.
DOORS: To what degree of certainty?
PARKS: One hundred percent.
DOORS: Nothing's a hundred percent, doctor. Except death.
PARKS: Exactly. Which is why I programmed her CVI to self-destruct the instant one of her erased
memories resurfaces.
DOORS: Would that include recognition of Liam?
PARKS: Yes. If memories of Liam resurface, Beckett's CVI will kill her, the moment they return.
Doors nods approvingly. Then Beckett moans and jerks a little, starting to wake up.
PARKS: She's regaining consciousness.
Doors nods at a pair of large men. They come over and pick up Beckett by her legs and shoulders.
DOORS: If you have any difficulty, eliminate Beckett first.
The two men carry the unconscious woman out.
-------------------------------------------------------
Lili lets the blinds looking out toward the Embassy fall. She is angry and frustrated. Sandoval sits serenely
at a desk, watching the security camera footage of Liam and Da'an playing Foovlasha.
LILI: We should be stationed MUCH closer than this! There's no way we can make it to Da'an's office in
time if there's a problem.
SANDOVAL: You're right. But Da'an insisted. He wants to limit the risk of human casualties.
On the screen, Liam smiles up at the camera before going back to the game. Lili slumps down beside
Sandoval.
LILI: I guess we better settle in for the long haul.
SANDOVAL: It won't be that long.
-------------------------------------------------------
In Da'an's office, both players are moving their Foovlasha pieces on the various rings. Da'an watches
carefully as Liam places his pieces. Suddenly the rings go dark.
LIAM: Foovlasha.
Da'an walks around the game and looks shrewdly at Liam.
DA'AN: I have never seen Foovlasha played on this level. How long HAVE you been playing?
LIAM: (happily) This is my first time. I'm good at games.
Da'an catches his wrist. Sandoval watches intently.
DA'AN: Not as good as you are at hiding the truth.
LIAM: The truth?
DA'AN: As written in your palm...
He turns Liam's hand with a game piece in it over, revealing a small reddish mark on his palm. Liam is
beginning to look alarmed.
DA'AN: You deceived me.
In the office, Sandoval starts out of his chair.
SANDOVAL: I knew it...
But as he starts up, Liam's reply stops him.
LIAM: What can I say? You got me.
Da'an glances up at the security camera, then takes the piece from Liam's hand.
DA'AN: Only a lasha master could triumph over me at my own game.
Understanding what Da'an is doing, Liam smiles a little. Suddenly an alarm goes off in Sandoval's office.
SANDOVAL: We may have found the replicant.
Da'an looks afraid, as Liam slaps his global shut. Lili and Sandoval are still studying the screens.
LILI: Access Taelon database, confirm identification of energy signature.
SANDOVAL: The replicant's in the Embassy, heading straight for Da'an.
A roaring is heard in the Embassy.
SANDOVAL: Once the replicant hits the degenerator field, it will be disabled.
LILI: Only if the Taelon programmed proves effective.
Da'an stares as a huge, hulking shape hits the forcefield and halts, stiff. The replicant scans Da'an and
Liam wildly, but it is not shutting down. Lili shouts in Sandoval's ear.
LILI: This is NOT working! Liam and Da'an have to access the portal right now!
The replicant juts its arm through the forcefield at Da'an. Liam grabs him and throws him to the ground.
LIAM: DOWN!
The replicant fires a blast just as Liam tackles Da'an, firing over them and hitting the portal.
LIAM: What's the fastest way out of here?
DA'AN: Follow me!
They get up and run up the ramp, Liam aiming his gun back the way they came. A moment later, the
degerator field shuts down, and the replicant starts after them.
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COMMERCIAL BREAK
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Sandoval and Lili race into the office. Sandoval opens his global as they reach the burned-out portal.
SANDOVAL: (into global) Have Da'an and Kincaid left the Embassy?
MAN: (in global) No, sir!
LILI: The subterranean tunnels! It's the only other way out of here!
They run up the ramp. Meanwhile, down in underground tunnels, Liam and Da'an are still running, although
Da'an isn't going quite as fast. They go down a flight of stairs, but the replicant is still coming, and
tracking Da'an's path through the tunnels.
Then, in a steamy underground room, Da'an is hiding in a small alcove, a fairly bad hiding place. His eyes
open as he hears a rumble, and the replicant uncloaks and begins to walk toward him. He looks terrified.
Suddenly the replicant staggers back as laser bolts hits it in the chest, until it vanishes in a cloud of
steam. Da’an steps out into the open as Liam slides down from his perch up on a higher platform. But
suddenly the replicant lurches out of the steam. Liam fires at it again, but the gun does no damage. He
tosses the gun away in frustration, picks up a metal pipe, and begins whacking at the replicant as hard as
he can.
Sandoval and Lili are running toward them.
Liam keeps hitting the replicant until it throws him back against the wall. Da’an watches helplessly as the
replicant’s arm reforms itself into a weapon, aims, and fires.
Liam holds up his hands and catches the blast between a pair of shakarava. He is as surprised as the
replicant when he gets up and inadvertantly throws the blast back at the replicant, blowing it apart.
Da’an smiles happily at Liam as the young man walks over to the replicant, and stares worriedly at his
shakarava as they vanish. Sandoval and Lili run in. Lili stares at Liam in shock, as Sandoval trips over the
gun. He picks it up.
SANDOVAL: I see the weapon proved effective, Major.
LIAM: (bitter) Yeah. Just like you intended.
Lili looks at Sandoval. Liam and Da’an look at each other.
-------------------------------------------------------
In the mothership, Da’an and Zo’or are speaking to the glowing figures of the Synod.
ZO’OR: And as soon as the Jaridians achieve interdimensional flight, they will come to Earth to destroy
us. We require a leader who will do whatever is necessary to prepare this human species to oppose the
Jaridians.
DA’AN: Our arrogance has led us to bioengineer other races in a vain attempt to oppose the
Jaridians. No more! Our only option now is adjoining with the human race.
ZO’OR: And slide back one million years in our evolution?
DA’AN: Sometimes, one must take a step backward in order to take two steps forward.
SYNOD MEMBER: To what end?
Da’an seems almost dreamy.
DA’AN: To create a new species... Taelon, and human. To recover what we have lost, in our quest for
perfection.
ZO’OR: This human species has shown us nothing to suggest that it will evolve to the point where we
can even consider adjoining.
Da’an squeezes his eyes shut and has a vision of a flicker passing from Liam’s hand to his, of the
shakarava spot on Liam’s hand, of Liam looking at him, of Liam tackling him out of the replicant’s fire, and
Liam firing his shakarava at the replicant. Da’an snaps out of the trance with a smile.
DA’AN: Perhaps... You need to look more carefully.
-------------------------------------------------------
Sandoval comes into his office, then looks shocked. Sitting next to a cop is Beckett, rumpled and
sick-looking. He gets behind his desk.
SANDOVAL: Where did you find her?
COP: Uh, she was wandering in an alley off Martin and Lansdale’s. She was dazed, and unresponsive to
our inquiries.
SANDOVAL: Any injuries?
COP: Other than some minor abrasions, the doctors can’t find anything wrong with her.
SANDOVAL: Leave us.
The cop leaves, and Sandoval’s tone turns into one of tender concern.
SANDOVAL: How are you feeling?
BECKETT: I’ve never felt such pain before... I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.
SANDOVAL: What happened, Lieutenant?
BECKETT: I... remember... searching for Ha’gel... And after that everything’s a blank, until the police
found me in the alley.
SANDOVAL: Captain Marquette said you’d been killed by Ha’gel.
Beckett shows a flicker of memory.
BECKETT: Captain Marquette...
Her thoughts are interrupted as Liam comes into the room. She stares at him as if she’s seen a ghost.
LIAM: (to Sandoval) You wanted to see me?
SANDOVAL: Zo’or was pleased by your victory against the replicant.
LIAM: Thank you.
They both realize that Beckett is staring at Liam.
SANDOVAL: Major, this is-
LIAM: Lieutenant Siobhan Beckett. It’s an honor.
BECKETT: (confused) I’m sorry, I don’t-
LIAM: Oh, I’m Major Liam Kincaid. Da’an’s new protector.
She stares at him, astonished. As they continue talking, she pressed her fingers to her head, as if she
has a headache.
SANDOVAL: How were you acquainted with Lieutenant Beckett?
LIAM: The first thing I did was acquaint myself with all Companion protectors worldwide.
BECKETT: Have we met?...
Liam sees a dribble of blood coming from her ear. He looks worried.
LIAM: No... Not in this life, anyway.
Sandoval looks at him suspiciously as Beckett stares at him distantly.
