FADE IN: INT. LAB

Hel, Mauser, and Cleo are all going about their business when Sarge comes out. She's obviously still troubled by the dream. Hel takes a moment and notices this.

HEL
Sarge...are you all right?

SARGE
Huh? Oh, yeah I'm fine.

HEL
Nice try. Something's bothering you.

SARGE
It's nothing really.

HEL
Sarge.

SARGE
I told you it's nothing.

Hel gives Sarge a look as if she's trying to see through her.

SARGE
(giving in)
All right, all right. I had a bad dream, it happens...a lot.

Cleo walks up to her, a little worried.

CLEOPATRA
What was it about?

SARGE
It was just a memory of my Watch days. Really, I'm fine. What's on the agenda for today?

Hel hesitates before continuing.

HEL
Systems Check.

VOICE
Hel, that will have to wait. There's another team under attack.

HEL
Where?

VOICE
Level 29, Shaft 8.

HEL
We're on it. Let's go team, we got another Voice Team to save.

Hel, Sarge, and Cleo leave the lab.

CUT TO: INT. SHAFT 8

A fire fight between 4 men and 5 Betrayers has obviously been going on for a while. The leader is GORDON, an aging man who has seen better days. SHAX is in his late thirties, with red hair and a bleak outlook on life. BENDAR is a pacifist by nature, but has joined the fight for unknown reasons. LINK is a kid barely out of his teens, who wants to fight the good fight.

The Voice team is holed up behind fallen debris, which may or may not have been a result of this battle. The Betrayers are out in the open.

SHAX
We're out numbered!

GORDON
We're not retreating, Shax.

LINK
If we don't, we're already dead!!

GORDON
I'm the leader here, and I say we do not retreat.

BENDAR
Gordon, you really need to work on that ego.

Blasts from the Betrayers bounce off the shields of the team. Suddenly the shields blast away in a burst of light.

BENDAR
Shields are gone!

But Gordon is still being stubborn. Link fires, hitting a Betrayer in the face, melting it. The Betrayer’s circuitry is revealed. The Betrayer fires, and Link is hit in the shoulder.

BENDAR
Gordon, we have to retreat!

GORDON
(looks at Link)
Okay. Let’s go!

Gordon starts blasting crazily, making a diversion for his men to retreat. But Hel, Sarge, and Cleopatra show up, and shove the men to the ground.

HEL
Down!

They all duck as Hel and Sarge fire at the Betrayers.

The combined firepower is starting to push the Betrayers back. By a little. One blast tears into some debris, sending it flying. Shax is cut on the arm by it.

Cleo makes her way to Link, who is propped up against the wall. She smiles at him. He is pretty cute.

CLEO
Hey!

LINK
Hi!

CLEO
I’m just gonna check out your wound, okay?

LINK
Yeah.

She peels back his shirt, and she sees that the blast reduced Link’s shoulder to sausage.

LINK
How is it?

CLEO
It’ll be fine!

Meanwhile, the Betrayers have gotten some kind of second wind, because they’re firing better than they were before.

The teams are hunkered down behind the debris, letting the blasts soar above them. The occasional one slams into the debris itself.

A blast tears into the wall by Cleo, and she screams.

HEL
Cleo!

Cleo gets a mean look on her face and fires her gauntlet, hitting the Betrayer. He answers with double blasts.

CLEO
Sorry!

Hel looks at the Betrayers. They’re getting ready to jump over the teams makeshift encampment.

HEL
Uh oh.

SARGE
Hel, let's do that thing we did with Marla's Betrayer guards.
(Hel gives her a blank look)
You know, where we put the blasts together.

HEL
Huh? Oh...yeah.

She gives Sarge a thumbs up, and they jump up, firing.

Their blasts rip into the Betrayer, tearing pieces of him off. He finally collapses into a pile of rubble.

Some of the Betrayer’s wire spark, sending an electrical current upwards, slamming into the two remaining Betrayers. They begin to overload.

SARGE
Whoa...

It looks like they're about to blow up, when...a shield appears over them.

HEL
(sarcastic)
Oh, great. They’re still alive.

SARGE
What now?

HEL
Fire like there's not tomorrow.

Hel jumps up and over the Betrayers to land on the other side. She begins firing. The fight starts to spread out. The two remaining Betrayers have to spread their fire power out between two targets.

Sarge jumps over too, and begins firing. Gordon, Shax, and Bendar pump up their fire, blasting away at one Betrayer.

Sarge and Hel find themselves shooting in different directions as the Betrayers spread out. Hel notices Sarge begin to get out of control with her firing. She begins to fire at anything moving around her.

She takes out a piece of debris that begins to move. But Sarge’s tactic is working. The Betrayer she is fighting seem to be tiring out.

Hel kicks her Betrayer in the head, causing it to turn around. As it does, Gordon and his team open fire. The Betrayer is shot in the back multiple times before it turns around. When it does, Hel kicks it again, then jumps back and fires.

Meanwhile, Sarge is doing battle with her Betrayer. She slams her foot into its chest, making it hit the rubble. She fires above him, causing the already unstable ceiling to collapse on the Betrayer.

Sarge smiles, thinking she’s won. But the Betrayer bursts up from the rubble, and opens fire. His blasts slam into her shield, causing Sarge to lose ground. She screams and begins to fire relentlessly. She’s not going to move, not going to try and conserve shield power.

Hel gets a running start and leaps into the air, kicking the Betrayer behind the blockade. He lands on his back. Gordon and his team open fire, close range.

But the Betrayer manages to get off a shot, at Link. Cleo pushes him out of the way at the same time she jumps. Link rolls over the debris, and comes to a stop behind Sarge.

The battle of strength is almost over between Sarge and the Betrayer. Sarge’s shields are almost gone. But the Betrayers is wearing done too. Suddenly, Sarge jumps in the air, flips, kicks the Betrayer in the head, and fires all the way down. The Betrayer’s chest blows open, and he falls dead.

Sarge smiles. But her victory is short lived. There’s movement behind her. Her senses on high alert, Sarge turns around and fires. The blast leaves her gauntlet, and travels through the air to its victim.

Link.

CLEOPATRA
No!

He goes down with a look of fear and betrayal on his face. Everyone watches in shock has he falls down dead.

Sarge is frozen. Link's teammates come to the aid of their friend. They kneel down beside him. Gordon, anguish on his face, looks up at Sarge.

GORDON
You...killed him. Why?

SARGE
I.......I...

Nothing comes out.

Hel comes up to them.

HEL
We may be able to heal him at our lab.

Hel uses her gauntlet and scans the body.

SHAX
It's too late for that. He's already dead! Why don't you just get out of here?! Take that murderer with you!

GORDON
Shax! This was an accident.

SHAX
Yeah right. Just plain stupidity. I thought you guys were supposed to be the great Voice team?! And yet you can’t even tell the difference between a boy and a Betrayer.

No one has anything to say to this. Bendar closes Link’s eyes. He crosses himself in a strange way.

BENDAR
Oh Nexa, Goddess of All Light, please take his soul into your warm heart and give him peace.

Hel glances at Sarge, who’s just standing there, staring at Link’s dead face.

HEL
I think we should go.

Hel gets up and grabs Sarge. They leave with Cleo tagging behind.

INT. LAB

Sarge and Hel sit at a table. Sarge doesn’t make eye contact with Hel.

HEL
Sarge, talk to me.

Sarge looks at Hel. She opens her mouth, but stops. She can’t form the words. Finally, she speaks.

SARGE
I didn't mean to shoot him. It was an accident.

HEL
I know.

SARGE
That doesn't make it any easier for his team. How would we feel if someone that we trusted accidently shot Cleo?

HEL
Sarge, I know you're going to need some time for this, but you have to know that there's nothing you can do about it now.

SARGE
Hel, you've never taken a human life in cold blood like that. You don't know what it feels like.

HEL
No, I don't. But we still have a war to fight, we're going to have to focus on Creegan's next move.

SARGE
Creegan. I'm sick of hearing about Creegan.

HEL
If things work out the way we need them to, you won't have to worry about him for too much longer.

Sarge glares daggers at Hel.

SARGE
No, then someone else will take command of the Bailies. I'm sick of this. Too many people are dying for an exercise in futility.

Sarge gets up and goes to her room. Hel watches her go.

VOICE
She'll need some time, Hel.

HEL
I know. But it hurts me to see her hurt.

VOICE
Me too.

INT. SARGE'S BEDROOM

Sarge lays on her bed, an inch from crying, when Cleo enters.

Sarge sits up and Cleo sits next to her.

CLEOPATRA
How ya holding up?

SARGE
You'd know better than Hel would.

CLEOPATRA
Yeah, I guess I would. You know it'll be okay.

SARGE
How can it? I killed an innocent man right in front of his friends. He had so much life in him, and now he’s a cold corpse.

CLEOPATRA
It was an accident, a gut reflex.

SARGE
Tell that to that team.

CLEOPATRA
In time they will understand that it was an accident.

SARGE
I'm not sure that I will.
(quietly)
I’m not sure it was an accident.

Cleo looks at Sarge, saddened.

CLEOPATRA
You thought it was a Betrayer.

SARGE
I knew all the Betrayers were dead. I knew I was fighting the last one. Still I turned around and fired my weapon before I even saw who was behind me. What if you were the one who came up behind me?

CLEOPATRA
(trying to be funny)
Well, first of all I wouldn't come up behind you with the way you were firing that gauntlet.

Sarge glances at Cleo. She realizes that it wasn’t funny. It was the truth.

SARGE
Look, Cleo. I know you're trying to help, and thanks. But, I'll be okay. I'm just tired.

CLEOPATRA
Okay...get some rest.

Cleo touches Sarge's shoulder. Sarge touches her hand. Cleo gets up and exits the room.

FADE CUT TO:

INT. SARGE'S BEDROOM - LATER

It's dark and Sarge is sleeping.

SARGE'S DREAM SEQUENCE

INT. LEVEL

Sarge is there alone. She's unarmed, just walking around, when she bumps into Link and Blauda. Link has blood coming from the wound in his stomach. Blauda has blood coming from a wound in her throat.

BLAUDA
Why, Rose? Why?

SARGE
No.

Sarge starts to back away. Blauda and Link come closer.

LINK
My death was no accident, Sarge. You know you wanted blood on your hands. You're nothing but a murdering bitch!

BLAUDA
What about me? She killed me on purpose. I had only been thawed out for a few hours before she killed me.

SARGE
I'm not the same person.

LINK
Oh yeah? What about this?

Link points to his wound.

SARGE
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kill you.

LINK
Doesn’t help me now. But thanks.

Sarge lowers herself to the ground, crying.

BLAUDA AND LINK
(Chanting)
Murdering Bitch! Murdering Bitch! Murdering Bitch!

END SARGE'S DREAM SEQUENCE

Sarge wakes up with a start.

SARGE
Lights on.

The lights come on. She notices Mauser standing in the doorway.

MAUSER
Sarge...you all right?

Sarge runs up to Mauser. He holds her in his arms.

SARGE
They came to me in my dream. Link and a girl I killed years ago.

MAUSER
It was only a dream, Sarge.

SARGE
It felt so real. I know what I have to do now. Something that should've happened a long time ago.

Sarge goes over to her closet and pulls out her clothes. She quickly puts them on as Mauser watches, expressionless.

MAUSER
Where are you going?

SARGE
I'm turning myself into detention. Don't try to stop me, and don't tell Hel and Cleo.

Mauser looks concerned. He moves over to Sarge, looks pleadingly in her eyes. But Sarge returns his gaze with an icy glare. Mauser gives up.

MAUSER
They will ask where you've gone.

SARGE
Tell them you don't know.

Sarge leaves. But she comes back and kisses Mauser on the lips. Then she leaves.

INT. LAB - TOMORROW MORNING

Hel and Cleo interrogate Mauser.

MAUSER
I do not know where Sarge has gone.

HEL
(threatening)
Mauser.

MAUSER
I do not know where Sarge has gone.

Hel throws her hands up in disgust.

HEL
That's it.

Hel grabs a laser scalpel and pushes a button behind Mauser's ear. He slumps over. Hel uses the laser to open up the back of Mauser's head.

She gets a gun-like tool from the console and hands it to Cleo.

HEL
Here. Scan it over his brain. When you get the information, press the decode button and tell me what it says.

CLEOPATRA
Why, where are you going?

HEL
I have to....I'll be back.

Hel walks off.

Cleo proceeds to scan Mauser's head.

INT. HEL'S ROOM.

Hel enters and the door closes behind her.

HEL
Voice...something's wrong.

Hel doubles over and falls to the floor.

VOICE
Hel, what is it?

HEL
I don't know. Why would I be feeling so much pain like this?

VOICE
I can't explain that.

HEL
Why not? You explained all the other things!
(no answer from Voice)
Are you feeling any pain?

VOICE
None. At the moment.

HEL
Do think what you have..spilled out of you and into me?

VOICE
That's highly unlikely, Hel. But it is possible.

The pain fades away.

HEL
I think I'm okay.

VOICE
Good. Now go out there and put on a good show for Cleo. She can't know what's going on.

HEL
I know.

Hel gets up and walks out.

INT. LAB

Hel walks up to Cleo.

HEL
What do we know?

Cleo turns around, worry in her eyes.

CLEOPATRA
Sarge turned herself in, she's in prison.


END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

INT. LAB - SAME AS BEFORE

HEL
We have to go get her!

CLEOPATRA
Wait. That's not the way to do this. Sarge is feeling some major guilt right now, and the only way we can help her is to let her--

HEL
What? Rot in jail?!

CLEOPATRA
She'll see the error of her ways. She just needs time.

HEL
And we need her. Cleo, we can't take on Creegan minus one.

CLEOPATRA
What are we going to do?

HEL
We're going to have to go in and work this out.

CLEOPATRA
I hope this works.

Hel and Cleo leave.

INT. PRISON FACILITY.

Sarge is behind bars. She paces around, having nothing better to do.

Hel and Cleo, accompanied by a guard, enter the cellblock and go up to Sarge's cell.

Sarge just rolls her eyes.

SARGE
He told you.

CLEOPATRA
Actually we opened up the back of his head and scanned his brain.

SARGE
(seething with barely contained anger)
Nice.

HEL
Sarge, this has gone on long enough. Come home.

SARGE
It's not going to be like that Hel. I'm facing punishment for things that I never had to answer for, I know I'm doing the right thing.

HEL
Sarge, we need you. We can't defeat Creegan without you.

SARGE
You weren’t defeating him with me, either. I’m the one responsible for that kid’s death! Me!

CLEOPATRA
You had no way of knowing that you were gonna shoot him.

SARGE
The battle was over.

HEL
So what if it was? You still had no way of knowing that the person behind you wasn’t another Betrayer.

SARGE
But I shot first. I didn’t think. I didn’t look. I just fired.

CLEO
Okay, so you screwed up. Are you happy now? We all screw up. That’s no reason you should have to be put in jail.

SARGE
Yes, it is. He’s not the only one. I’ve killed lots of people.

Hel sighs, shakes her head.

HEL
Sarge, we need you.

SARGE
No. I’m through with it. I’m through with Voice. I’m through with the mission.

CLEO
Sarge, please.

SARGE
No.

She turns and sits down on the floor.

INT. SHAFTS

Cleo and Hel walk down the shaft.

CLEO
So, what do we do now?

HEL
I’m not sure. I’m hoping that Sarge will come to her senses. But she’s pretty adamant about staying in there.

CLEO
Yeah. But maybe it’s a good thing. Maybe she’ll work out her inner demons in there and then come out a new Sarge.

HEL
I doubt that will happen.

They walk on.

INT. LAB

The two enter, and see Mauser still sitting there. Cleo makes her way past the debris over to him.

CLEO
Okay, we have to start rebuilding this place. It’s completely trashed. Anybody could just walk in here.

As if to prove her point, in walks Raina.

CLEO
See?

Raina looks a little confused, but it quickly passes.

RAINA
Hello, teammates.
(looks at the lab)
Gee, what happened here?

HEL
I woke up one day and just decided that I hated everything.

RAINA
Ah. I have those moments.

HEL
I bet you do.

CLEO
So, what brings you here?

RAINA
Well, I used to drop by all the time, and I haven’t in a while.

HEL
So you’re here to socialize?

RAINA
Pretty much.

Her gaze falls on the deactivated Mauser.

RAINA
What happened to him?

HEL
Another one of the things I hated.

RAINA
Too bad. He was cute.

Raina bends down and picks up one the chakram that almost cut off Blade’s head. She walks over to Sarge’s wall of weapons and places it back in its proper place.

RAINA
That’s better.

She turns around, and the wall collapses down.

HEL
Thanks.

RAINA
Oops.

CLEO
(pointing at Mauser)
Should I reactivate him?

HEL
Not yet. I’m really not in the mood.

RAINA
So, where’s Sarge?

HEL
Oh no. I’m not going there. Right now, all I want is a relaxing sonic shower. And that’s what I’m going to have.

She walks away. Raina and Cleo exchange glances.

INT. SARGE’S CELL/CELL BLOCK

The hall is dark. Only a few lights illuminate the bare corridor.

Sarge lays on the floor, asleep.

A figure appears at the end of the hall, wearing a crimson cloak with a hood drawn up tight, masking his/her face.

The figure stops at Sarge’s cell and taps on the wall. Sarge doesn’t move. The figure taps louder. Still, nothing.

FIGURE
Wake up!

Sarge bolts upright, bring her hand up, ready to fire. Then she remembers she has no gauntlet. It’s part of the reason she’s in here.

SARGE
Who are you?

FIGURE
Someone who knows of your troubles.

SARGE
Oh, yeah? How?

FIGURE
I have followed you for some time, Rose.

SARGE
How do you know my real name?

FIGURE
I know many things about you. Let’s just say I’m a big fan.

SARGE
So what do you want?

FIGURE
I can take you away from all this. Away from the pain. Away from your past.

SARGE
How?

FIGURE
I can’t tell you. First, you must make the choice.

SARGE
Thanks, but no thanks.

The Figure shrugs.

FIGURE
I’ll be back. By then, you might be singing a different tune.

The Figure turns and leaves.

INT. CORRIDOR

The Figure exits the cell block, passing by three unconscious Guards on its way out.

INT. LAB - LATER

Raina sits on a broken console, eating a banana. Cleo is trying to fix Mauser.

RAINA
Do you know what you’re doing?

CLEO
Kinda. I just need to connect a few wires, I think.

RAINA
Why don’t you just leave him to Hel?

CLEO
Because Hel has been acting strange lately, and I’m not sure what’s up.

RAINA
If only I could read minds again...

CLEO
It’s a good thing you can’t. Then you’d probably be causing trouble again.

Raina throws her banana on the floor.

RAINA
Why does everyone assume that I’m a harmless kitten just because I’m not telepathic anymore?

CLEO
Because that makes you just another run of the mill villain that we can handle. No offense.

RAINA
None taken, I guess. I have become accustomed to helping you guys out now and then.

Cleo pushes a button, and Mauser sits up.

Cleopatra smiles.

But then Mauser’s arms turn into Betrayer cannons.

RAINA
Uh...Cleo? I don’t know what you did, but undo it!

Cleo reaches behind Mauser and hits a button. His arms return to normal and he falls back.

CLEO
Okay, I think I will let Hel deal with this.

RAINA
Good idea.

Cleo leaves Mauser alone and walks over to the food wall. She opens it up and pulls out a bottle of water. She takes a drink.

RAINA
You know, it seems like everything is falling to pieces. And I don’t just mean this lab.

CLEO
Yeah. I know what you mean. Creegan has stepped up his attacks, Sarge is in prison, and I don’t know what’s going on with Hel.

RAINA
It’s always darkest before the calm.

CLEO
I guess. But I just have this feeling that nothing is going to be the same for a very long time.

INT. SARGE’S CELL

Sarge is up, pacing back and forth. Footsteps echo in the hall. Sarge looks up to see Shax walking towards her, his face set into an expression of anger.

SHAX
Hey, there killer.

SARGE
Shax, don’t.

Shax stops in front of her cell and points at the bars.

SHAX
Don’t or what? Huh? You’re behind bars.

SARGE
Shax, there’s nothing I can say or do that will bring back Link.

SHAX
Oh, I know that. But there’s lots of stuff I can do that will make me feel better.

SARGE
What are you talking about?

SHAX
Gordon doesn’t want to do anything about Link’s death. He’s content to let you rot in here. But I’m not. See, Link was like my brother. The kid had a good future ahead of him. Until you killed him. So now, you’re gonna pay.

Shax activates his gauntlet and shoots the cell control panel. The bars fritz out. Shax aims his gauntlet and Sarge’s hands and shoots his webbing, creating effective handcuffs for Sarge.

SARGE
Shax, don’t do this.

The alarm is going off. Three Guards rush down the hallway. Shax shoots all three of them. He grabs Sarge and they walk off.

INT. CORRIDOR

The security door at the end of the corridor is lowering. Shax shoots his webbing, hitting the outside wall. He and Sarge propel past the door.

INT. SHAFT

The two fugitives escape into the shaft. Shax looks around, makes sure they’re not being followed.

SHAX
Now, this is how I like it.

He slaps Sarge hard across the face. He grabs her by her hair and slams her into the wall.

INT. LAB

Porter and Lara are there, helping fix the place up. Even Raina is lending a hand. Hel is still nowhere to be seen.

LARA
I feel so bad for Sarge. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must be. To take an innocent life like that.

PORTER
I know. I mean, I’ve killed before, but that was in the name of Voice. Never out right...

RAINA
You get used to it.

They all look at her, horrified.

RAINA
Sarge isn’t the only one with a bad history. I’ve done my share of evil things. We all have. We all have to deal.

INT. HEL’S ROOM

Hel sits on her bed, trying to control the quakes.

HEL
(through clenched teeth)
Voice, they’re getting worse.

Slowly, the shakes stop.

VOICE
I know, Hel. I have my team of doctors working on a solution to the problem.

HEL
I’m not sure I can keep going like this. I’m not sure I can hide the truth from them any longer.

VOICE
You must! The doctors are so close to a cure. So close to achieving their goal...

HEL
But I can’t keep lying to them on your behalf! Sarge and Cleo need to know the truth. About me, about us.

VOICE
They wouldn’t understand.

Hel gets up, moves over to a holophoto of all three of them, laughing.

HEL
They might understand, Voice. You don’t know. No one knows how they might react.

VOICE
I do. It would only cause them pain, grief. They must never know my secret.

HEL
They’ll find out, eventually. I’ve done my best to make sure they stay in the dark, but they’re smart.

VOICE
I know. I know them better than they know themselves. That’s why I know they mustn’t find out. Especially at this crucial juncture. With Sarge in prison, and Creegan upping his attacks, it would add too much pressure on them.

HEL
What about me? What if the quakes seize me in the middle of a battle?

VOICE
I would know, and I would send help.

HEL
That’s not good enough. I think I’m going to tell them. I am going to tell them.

VOICE
I won’t let you. It would destroy all the work we’ve accomplished. It would give Creegan the upper hand.

HEL
I don’t--

She stops as the quakes besiege her again. She falls to her knees, groaning in pain.

INT. SHAFT

Sarge lies on the ground, various cuts along her body. Shax stands over her, smiling.

SHAX
You haven’t even put up a fight, Sarge. I’m disappointed. I really wanted to fight you.

He kicks her in the kidney. Sarge groans, but makes no move to defend herself.

SHAX
Stories of your strength and battle skill have spread throughout the resistance. You’re a legend. Did you know Link looked up to you?

He grabs Sarge by the hair and picks her up. He pushes her against a wall, and looks into her eyes.

SHAX
Sometimes that’s all he would talk about. How you killed an enemy, saved the day. When you were accused of murdering those two Watch members, he knew you were innocent. Turned out he was right. But now you murdered him. Not some clone. A real person!

Shax head butts her, then slams his fists into her face, over and over again.

SHAX
I want you to suffer for what you did, and not just in a jail cell. And not by be beating you up. Oh no. I have something very special planned for you.

SARGE
(weakly)
If you kill me, you’re no better than me.

SHAX
(smiles)
I have no intention of killing you. Oh no. I’ve found a secluded little place far away from the mainstream shaft traffic. No one will ever find you there. And you’ll stay there, rotting away as the rats slowly nibble on you.

He smiles.

SHAX
Talk about a dream vacation, huh?

He slams his fist into Sarge’s gut, then shoves her roughly to the ground.

SHAX
Did you really think that everything would be fine if you put yourself in a cell? Please! I knew you could get out whenever you wanted. This way, you can never escape.

He grabs her and drags her along the floor.

INT. SEWER PIPE

A dank, smelly sewer pipe. It looks like the remnants of a metropolis’s great sewer system. New York, perhaps?

Shax and Sarge enter, and Shax throws Sarge against the wall.

SHAX
Welcome to your new home, sweet pea.

He grabs her hands, breaks the webbing, and places them on a beam that juts out from the wall. He shoots his webbing, and her hands are effectively tied.

He fires more webbing, encasing Sarge’s feet.

Sarge lays there, tied up, beaten up, bloody. She’s a shell of her former self. The fight has gone from her.

Shax stands above her, admiring his well executed plan. He slaps her one time for good measure.

SHAX
Hope you enjoy the rest of your life.

He turns and leaves. We hear a heavy metal door being moved. Slowly, all light within the pipe is vanquished, until Sarge is left in darkness. That’s when the rats begin to squeak.

BLACKOUT
END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

INT. LAB

The gang sits at the table, taking a well deserved break. They eat and talk.

PORTER
So, Raina, what’s it like being on the good side?

RAINA
I’m not on the good side. I simply go where my interests lie. And, in this case, it’s with you guys.

LARA
I’m just glad you’re not trying to kill us.

RAINA
For now.

They all look at her, ready to pounce.

RAINA
Just kidding.

They all relax.

CLEO
I wonder what’s keeping Hel?

LARA
She probably just needs time to think everything over.

CLEO
I hope so.

INT. SEWER PIPE

The rats are hungry. They move close to Sarge, sniffing with their little noses. Sarge doesn’t do anything. She’s ready for her fate.

The rats scurry on her, burying their teeth into her flesh. Sarge lets out a small scream, but then nothing.

But it seems that fate isn’t going to leave Sarge to her fate. The metal door is blasted open, casting light into the pipe. The rats scurry away.

The Figure that came to Sarge in the cell comes to her now. H/she frees Sarge and picks her up. Together, they move out of the pipe.

INT. LAIR

The place looks like a dungeon from a 14th century castle. It’s built in a cave. Very spacious, with a large pool in the center. A cage hangs over it.

But intermixed with the old stuff is 2525 technology. It looks like something out of a sci-fi show.(Wait, this is a sci-fi show).

The Figure enters with Sarge, and lays her down on a table. Slowly, she sits up and takes in her surroundings. She’s still groggy, and not quite coherent.

SARGE
Where am I?

FIGURE
My home.

SARGE
What kind of home is this?

The Figure turns to face her.

FIGURE
The only home that will take a freak like me.

Sarge slowly nods.

SARGE
Then it’s nice, I guess.

FIGURE
You and I are a lot alike.

SARGE
How is that?

FIGURE
We both lost our innocence at early ages. We’re kindred souls.

SARGE
Is that why you rescued me?

FIGURE
Part of it.

The Figure walks over to Sarge, offers a hand. Sarge takes it.

FIGURE
I have lived my whole life in shame, in despair. I never thought that I would be able to experience true happiness.

SARGE
(not sure what to say)
I’m sorry.

FIGURE
Don’t be. I’m not.

SARGE
Why have you brought me here?

FIGURE
To explain everything. See, you were robbed of your innocence because of the decisions you made, and I was robbed of my innocence because...of the decisions you made.

This stops Sarge dead. She tries to pull her hand away, but the Figure keeps a strong grip on it.

FIGURE
Because of your decision to join the Black Watch, I will never be a regular person again. I wanted to enjoy all that the future had to offer, but you took that away from me.

The Figure doesn’t seem angry, just disappointed. A little sad.

SARGE
Who are you?

FIGURE
I’m not surprised you don’t remember me. You killed so many people in your Watch days. And even now, you still kill people.

The Figure reaches up and pulls back the hood to reveal... BLAUDA!

SARGE
Oh my God.

Blauda’s face is scarred and one side is covered by a black faceplate. She breathes strangely, in great gasps.

BLAUDA
Surprised to see me?

And she slams her fist into Sarge’s face.

BLACKOUT!

INT. LAIR - LATER

Sarge wakes up, but now she’s in the cage. Blauda, still wearing the cloak, sits in a chair. She smiles as Sarge sits up.

BLAUDA
I was wondering if you were ever gonna wake up.

SARGE
What have you done?

BLAUDA
Put you in a cage, silly. See, you put me in a cage all my life. I was too ashamed to show my face in public. I hid for years, never meeting anyone. I don’t even know who fixed me. I know they were doctors, but I’m not sure why they fixed me.

Blauda stands up, goes over to a console.

BLAUDA
Then I finally decided to find you. I searched and searched. It took me years, but I finally identified you. It was the greatest day in my life. The last time I looked in your eyes I was afraid. But at that moment, I wasn’t.

SARGE
So why didn’t you take me out then? Why did you wait?

BLAUDA
Because I was waiting for my moment. The moment. I knew it would come. And it did. When you killed that one boy, I knew it was my time to strike.

SARGE
You came to me in my cell, and told me that you could take me away from the pain, my past? This doesn’t seem like it.

BLAUDA
Oh, but it is. See, I’m going to make you a freak of nature like me. That way, you’ll have to hide for the rest of your life. You won’t even want to look in a mirror. That way, you’ll never have to face the pain of your past again.

She begins laughing.

SARGE
You’re whacked.

BLAUDA
(stops laughing)
I am from the 21st century, you know. I know what that means. I bet that arrogant little bitch Cleopatra told you it. She was a lucky one. She actually survived being thawed. A lot didn’t. For various reasons. One being that the Health Bureau tracked a lot of us down and killed us.

SARGE
And why were you frozen?

BLAUDA
I was a techno geek back than. My friends and I knew this one guy who said he had a way for us to see the future. Bye frozen. I was stupid enough to believe him. The other guy you killed that day was the scientists’s descendant, who waited for the day to release us. Your buddies killed the rest of my friends. Then you came along and killed me.

SARGE
But you’re alive.

BLAUDA
A small detail.

SARGE
So, what do you do now? Make me a freak like you? Fine. Just get it over with.

Blauda moves away from the console, over to the wall.

BLAUDA
See, I know what you’re going through. I’ve seen it a lot. You just don’t care anymore. All the killing and the hate has made you impartial. You really wouldn’t care if all I did was just scar you horribly. That was why I made that cage.

SARGE
(sarcastic)
Ooooh, a cage. I’m so scared.

BLAUDA
It’s not the cage itself, it is what’s below the cage.

Sarge looks down into the muddy looking water.

SARGE
Water. So what?

BLAUDA
It’s not water. It’s a type of liquid that I hear is excruciating. It’s like acid. The only difference is that this doesn’t eat through anything. It just burns like hell. Have fun.

Blauda hits a button on the wall, and the cage starts lowering into the pool.

SARGE
Blauda, don’t.

BLAUDA
Hmm, isn’t that what I said before you shot me in the head!?

The cage dips into the pool. It sloshes onto Sarge’s shoes, and she screams. The cage sinks even lower, submerging Sarge up to her waist. She screams in agony. Finally, the water is up to her neck. Blauda hits the Stop button, and the cage comes to a rest. Sarge cries out in agony, fury.

BLAUDA
(smiles)
Have fun.

INT. LAB

Hel is trying to repair Mauser. The rest of the gang hangs back a little.

HEL
Dammit, Cleo! You never should have tried to fix him yourself. I have no idea what you did.

CLEO
Sorry. I was just trying to help.

Hel sighs, relaxes.

HEL
I know. I’m just a little worked up. Too many things happening at once. You understand, right?


RAINA
Maybe you should take a break?

LARA
Yeah. That’s a good idea. Have something to eat.

HEL
Thanks, guys, but I’m not in the mood. I want to get Mauser on-line, then beat some sense into Sarge.

CLEO
A-always a good idea.

PORTER
Here, let me help you.

He walks over to Mauser and begins tinkering.

PORTER
I used to build small animatronics all the time. It was fun.

HEL
Mauser’s a big step up from ‘small’.

PORTER
I know, but everything’s the same. It all boils down to the basics.

Hel lets him continue working, and sits down at the table. She gives the lab a good look over.

HEL
You guys did a pretty good job. I mean, now you can actually see patches of floor.

LARA
Well, we got some of the internal defenses working, but they’re still pretty crappy. Three consoles are now up and running, kinda. A lot of the wires in the ceiling don’t actually do anything, which is kinda strange.

HEL
It’s still a good job.

INT. LAIR

Sarge has quit screaming now, and just whimpers. Blauda sits in her chair, drinking a glass of wine. Enjoying the show.

BLAUDA
This is the life. I never knew it could be so much fun to watch your enemy suffer. But, all good things must end.

She gets up and presses a button. The cage rises out of the pool.

Sarge drops to the cage floor, whimpering.

BLAUDA
How do you feel, Sarge?
(no answer)
It’s okay. You’ll be able to talk soon. I made sure of it. It’s no fun when you don’t have anyone to talk to.

She walks over to a curtained off section of the dungeon.

BLAUDA
Even in my years of exile I had people to talk to. Granted, not for long, but they were still there.

She pulls back the curtain to reveal a horrifying site. Torture devices sprawl across the expanse, and each one of them has a rotting corpse on it.

BLAUDA
They tend to stop talking after a while. Not sure why. But they do whisper to me now and then. Sneaky little buggers.

She walks away from the corpses and back over to her chair. She sits down.

BLAUDA
But soon they’ll be talking again. I’ve discovered how to reanimate them. It’s simple, really. Then I’ll have all the friends I need, and I won’t need your company any longer. I’ll send you off into the yonder, with a cloak like mine to hide your ugliness. Just as I did. Just as how it should be.

Sarge stares at her, still in pain. She tries to say something, but nothing comes out.

BLAUDA
Sorry, honey. Can’t talk yet. Which is making this really boring. But I know what I can do! I can get you a little surprise. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?

She giggles insanely and throws her hood back on. She walks towards the exit.

BLAUDA
(calling over shoulder)
I’ll be back soon! Don’t go anywhere!

She walks through the door and disappears, leaving Sarge alone with only the dead corpses for company.

INT. RAINA’S APARTMENT

Raina enters, walks towards the spare bedroom.

INT. BEDROOM

Nathaniel lays on the bed, hooked up to various machines. Raina smiles at him sadly.

RAINA
Don’t worry, little brother. I will take revenge for what happened to you. It will just take time.

She sits down next to him and caresses his forehead. She leans down and kisses him on the cheek.

RAINA
I will make them pay.

INT. FUNERAL PARLOR

Cold, steel walls. No windows. No color. The doors are gray and metal. The whole place is devoid of any type of life.

COLLINS, the gritty old man who runs the place, stands in the middle of the Crematorium, watching as a body slowly makes it way towards the fire.

COLLINS
Bye, bye.

The body hits the flames. Collins smiles with glee.

Blauda appears at the doorway, cloak pulled tightly over her body.

BLAUDA
Excuse me.

Collins turns, stares at her.

COLLINS
What do you want?

BLAUDA
I was wondering if you have a certain body.

Collins looks at her like she’s crazy(there’s a stretch).

COLLINS
I cremate the bodies once they get here. Unless someone tells me not to.

BLAUDA
Then there’s a chance you might still have the body I’m looking for?

COLLINS
Yes. It’d probably be in my checklist.

BLAUDA
And this is where?

COLLINS
In my office, down the hall. I can go get it, if you tell me what’s your business.

BLAUDA
I want the body.

COLLINS
Are you a relative?

BLAUDA
Bored now.

She reaches out and grabs Collins. She pulls him close and smiles.

BLAUDA
I’m sorry, but I can’t let anyone stand in my way.

She twists his head all the way around, breaking every bone. The skin tears, the muscle stretches, and his head comes off. Blauda gasps, and throws the head into the fire. It burns.

INT. OFFICE

Blauda looks over a piece of paper, then smiles.

BLAUDA
Still here. Good. Sarge is going to like this surprise so much.

BLACKOUT
END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

INT. LAB

Porter is finishing up with Mauser, while Cleo, Hel, and Lara sit at the table.

PORTER
Almost done.

LARA
You said that an hour ago.

PORTER
And now it’s true.

He pushes something, and Mauser sits up, freaking Porter.

MAUSER
What a rush.

He looks around, then his gaze locks on Hel.

MAUSER
Gee, Hel, sure did take your sweet time reactivating me.

HEL
Mauser, I’m sorry. Things have been pretty hectic lately.

Mauser shrugs.

MAUSER
Whatever.

Cleo and Hel exchange a look. “Did Mauser really just say that?”

MAUSER
So, how’s Sarge?

HEL
Still in a cell, I guess. She hasn’t changed her mind.

MAUSER
You haven’t checked up on her today?

HEL
No. I figure if something happens, Maria will contact us.

MAUSER
Given our track record with Maria, I doubt it.

He walks over to a console and starts typing buttons.

CLEOPATRA
Mauser, I bet Sarge is fine.

A hologram pops up with the Guard logo. After a minute, a GUARD appears.

GUARD
What may I help you with?

MAUSER
I’m curious about a prisoner there. Goes by the name Sarge.

GUARD
One moment.

He does something off screen.

GUARD
Oh, this isn’t good.

MAUSER
What?

GUARD
Someone kidnaped her from her cell earlier today.

HEL
What?

GUARD
An investigation has been launched, but nothing has turned up yet.

Mauser clicks of, and looks at Hel.

MAUSER
We need to get there.

INT. CELL BLOCK

Hel, Cleopatra, Mauser, Lara, and Porter enter the cell block with William, the Guard from “Cry of the Bestial.”

WILLIAM
I’m surprised no one contacted you.

HEL
So am I.

MAUSER
How did it happen?

WILLIAM
Someone jammed our signals, so we didn’t get it recorded. Then they came in here, weapons firing, and got Sarge. It also happened last night.

LARA
Someone tried to take her last night?

WILLIAM
Not take. They came in here, incapacitated the Guards on duty, then from what we gather talked to Sarge.

CLEOPATRA
Why weren’t we notified?

WILLIAM
Do we notify a prisoner’s family broke in here? No. It’s simply none of their business.

HEL
But when that person comes two times, and kidnaps Sarge on the second--

William cuts her off with a flick of his hand.

WILLIAM
We have no solid proof that the person here last night was the same person that took Sarge. The Chief has a theory that the person came in last night to case the place, and made a plan with Sarge to bust out.

MAUSER
That’s a preposterous theory.

CLEO
Yeah! Sarge would never do anything like that. She wanted to pay for her crimes. She wouldn’t just say all that then escape.

WILLIAM
Maybe she would. Maybe Sarge wanted a way out, so she faked her guilt and put herself in prison. Then she had someone make it look like she was kidnaped so she could escape with a clean alibi.

PORTER
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Sarge wouldn’t do anything like that. She’s an honorable woman.

LARA
You guys are just coming up with lame excuses to save time and paperwork.

WILLIAM
Hey! The Guard have made the shafts a safer place. We deal with hundreds of cases each day. We try to treat each one equally.

HEL
Did a bad job with this one.

Behind her, Mauser clenches his fists into balls. He’s furious.

INT. LAIR

Blauda has been a busy bee. She’s attached tubes into each of the corpses. The tubes run up into the ceiling, where a large machine resembling a door, sits. The door is translucent, and we see colored liquids floating about.

One corpse is hidden under a blue tarp. We see a tube running under it. Blauda finished sticking a tube into a corpse, then turns to Sarge.

BLAUDA
(like a mad scientist)
All I have to do is hit one button, and my army of corpses will rise!
(pauses, thinks)
Well, after an hour or so. It takes the juices a while to work. So, I guess I better get started now.

She aims a remote control up at the machine and the liquid begins to pump through the tubes and down into the corpses.

Sarge sits with her feet pulled tightly against her chest. She looks at Blauda, scared. Not terrified yet, but scared.

SARGE
You’re crazy.

BLAUDA
Yes, I’m well aware of my mental state. You ever heard the saying, “What will drive a sane man mad will drive a mad man sane?” It’s kinda what I’m doing to you, in a really freaky way.

She laughs.

SARGE
How did you get like this?

BLAUDA
I thought I went over this. Years of solitude, being treated like an outcast, and oh yeah, BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD!

Sarge cringes. Blauda regains her composure, smiles.

BLAUDA
Sorry. Got a tiny bit worked up there. Won’t happen again.

INT. LAB

The gang is gathered around a hologram of the shafts.

LARA
It’s too bad they took Sarge’s gauntlets off. It would be easier to track her with them on. Of course, it’d also be easier for her to escape...

MAUSER
She has to be close to the prison.

HEL
Not really. If I had kidnaped someone, I would take them as far away from the scene of the crime as possible.

MAUSER
Exactly. The kidnapper probably knows this, and will stay close.

HEL
What kind of thinking is that? Porter, I think you may have crossed a few wires.

MAUSER
It’s perfect reasoning. The kidnapper will want to be in the place the authorities will be least likely to check. Which will be close to the prison.

HEL
That’d be the first place they would check. It’s an okay idea, but flawed.

MAUSER
Please, Hel. At least my idea gives us a place to check. Your idea could be anywhere in the shafts,

HEL
Exactly! She could be anywhere. That’s why we have to commit other Voice teams to the search.

MAUSER
Good idea. Place everyone on Sarge duty, giving Creegan a perfect chance to attack. I want to find Sarge, but not at the expense of everyone’s life. That’s why my idea is best. It gives a narrow field to search, limiting the amount of manpower used.

HEL
Mauser, that is stupid--

MAUSER
Hel, you never listen--

HEL
Sometimes I think you have the brain of a--

The two begin to argue, and you can’t even understand what they’re saying.

CLEO
Guys!!!!

They all turn and looks at her.

CLEO
There’s only one way we’re going to find Sarge. We have to find out who kidnaped her. And I think I know who did.

PORTER
Who?

INT. VOICE LAB

SHAX
Me?

We pull back to reveal that we’re in Gordon’s lab. Shax, Bendar, and Gordon stare in disbelief at Cleo. The others stand behind her.

SHAX
How can you accuse me of kidnaping Sarge?

BENDAR
It is a stretch, little one.

CLEO
Not really. I mean, we already know that Shax has a temper. Plus, he had a strong bond with Link.

GORDON
We all did. Are you going to accuse us all of kidnaping her?

HEL
Let her speak.

CLEO
Thanks. To answer your question, Gordon, no. I do not believe all of you were involved in the kidnaping. Only Shax. You’re a team leader, Gordon, and have too much respect and wisdom to do it. Bendar is a Nexian, and they’re devoted to truth and peace. He wouldn’t do it. And if he knew Shax did it, he would tell.

SHAX
It’s a nice theory, little girl, but it just doesn’t fly.

He takes a drink of his juice that was resting on the table.

CLEO
You express no sympathy towards Sarge, which your colleagues do. They’re somewhat saddened by her kidnaping. You’re not.

SHAX
Damn right! She killed Link, and I don’t care what happens to her. Serves her right.

GORDON
Cleo, I’m sorry about Sarge. But you have no real proof that Shax did it.

Cleo’s eyes suddenly brighten. She has a plan.

CLEO
Oh, did I forget to mention? I do have proof.

Shax puts down his juice, stares at Cleo.

BENDAR
What proof?

CLEO
See, Shax here tried to disrupt the prison’s security cameras, but it didn’t work. Well, it did, but only for a short while. They captured him shooting down those three Guards and taking Sarge.

BENDAR
If you have this proof, then why did you not say so in the first place?

SHAX
Yeah?

CLEO
I wanted to see if Shax would willingly divulge the location of Sarge. I wanted to give him a chance. He didn’t take it. Now, I must demand that Shax show us where Sarge is.

Shax grips his juice, about ready to break the glass. All of a sudden, he throws it at Cleo and fires his gauntlet.

Porter and Mauser jump out of the way, and the blast slams into the wall.

HEL
Shields!

They all activate their shields.

Shax jumps behind a table, knocks it over, and begins firing.

SHAX
You’ll never take me alive!

Bendar rushes over to a console, and begins typing buttons.

BENDAR
Please forgive me.

He hits a button, and the lab’s defenses come on-line. A stunner appears out of the ceiling, and fires.

The blast of energy slams into Shax’s back, sending him flying across the floor. He lays there, unable to move. The team slowly surrounds him.

MAUSER
Where is Sarge?

SHAX
Even if you find her, it’ll be too late. She’ll be dead.

He laughs. Mauser growls and picks him up. He grabs his crotch.

MAUSER
I can rip your “gun” right off, right now. So, tell me where Sarge is?

Shax whimpers.

INT. SEWER PIPE

The gang enters, but find no Sarge.

PORTER
She isn’t here.

MAUSER
I doubt she ever was. Shax lied to us.

HEL
No, wait.

She shines her light on a pole. Webbing hangs there.

HEL
She was here, but somebody else took her.

CLEO
She could be anywhere then.

HEL
I bet you’ll find her. That was a pretty good move in there, making Shax believe you had proof.

CLEO
Well, it was the only thing I could think of. But now, there’s no one to question.

Hel sighs, looks around for any small clue.

LARA
There has to be a way to track her.

PORTER
I don’t see how. There’s no trail to follow.

MAUSER
(almost shouting)
Yes, there is.

They all turn and stare at him.

MAUSER
Whoever took Sarge left behind a trail of chemical that I detected using my sensors. It looks like some kind of energy chemical. Maybe from a Betrayer.

CLEO
A Betrayer took her?

MAUSER
Or something with Betrayer parts. We all leave behind this chemical, but it’s always in small amounts. Whoever this person is, they’re using a lot of this chemical. Which will make it easy to track.

PORTER
Unless they’ve been moving around a lot.

LARA
And if we bump into a trail left behind by a Betrayer and we follow that one by mistake, and by the time we get back here, this trail’s gone.

Everyone stares at her.

CLEO
Gee, talk about depressing. Keep up that attitude.

LARA
Sorry.

HEL
Let’s just follow this trail and hope it leads us to Sarge.

The group moves out, following Mauser.

INT. LAIR

Blauda stands next to a corpse, staring at it. The corpse’s fingers begin to move.

BLAUDA
Finally! I was getting a little tired of waiting.

She looks up at Sarge.

BLAUDA
The fun’s about to begin.

She walks over to the tarp covered corpse.

BLAUDA
Now to show you my little surprise.

But before she can, there’s a loud pounding noise. She looks over to see her door collapse inward, and Mauser come rushing in.

He takes a look at Blauda, then at Sarge up in the cage. Sarge sees him too.

SARGE
Mauser!

The others pile in behind him.

BLAUDA
Ah, the rest of the gang has arrived. Makes the party more fun.

HEL
Who are you?

BLAUDA
My name is Blauda. Sarge killed me during her Watch days. Now I’ve come back for revenge.

She grabs a rifle and fires. The gang scatters.

The corpses begin to stir. It’s a horrifying sight to behold. The corpses sit up, pull the tubes out of their bodies, and growl.

They’re now full fledged ZOMBIES.

BLAUDA
Okay, my little friends, kill them.

The zombies begin to move, getting off the table and shuffling over to the gang.

HEL
Fire!

They open fire, raining death upon the already dead. Their blasts blow off limbs, punch holes in the zombies, yet they continue to come. Nothing stops them.

CLEO
Hel, what do we do now?

HEL
Keep fighting!

Blauda glances at the team, then at Sarge. She shrugs.

BLAUDA
What the hay? I’ll just kill Sarge now and get it over with.

She lifts her rifle and fires. The energy sphere slams into the wire holding the cage up, splitting it in half. The cage begins to plummet.

MAUSER
No!

He takes off running, heading right for the pool. He passes by Blauda.

BLAUDA
Have a nice swim!

Mauser dives into the pool, and is submerged. The cage slams into the water and begins to sink. Sarge shrieks in fear.

Suddenly, the cage is lifted up and out by Mauser, who glares at Blauda.

BLAUDA
How pathetic.

She fires her rifle, and the blast hits Mauser in the chest. He goes flying back, and sinks below the waves. The cage begins to follow suit.

Cleo slams her fist into a zombie’s chest, collapsing it. She makes a disgusted sound and shoves the zombie back. She turns as she hears Sarge scream.

CLEO
Hel!

Hel kicks a zombie away, then turns and shoots off one zombie’s arm. Another one takes a swing at her, knocking her to the ground. She looks over at the pool.

HEL
Go, Cleo!

Cleo begins to run for the pool, but two zombies step in front of her. They each grab an arm and begins pulling her.

CLEO
Hey, this isn’t tug of war!

Lara slams her foot into a zombie, then turns and fires at another one. The blast hits the zombie in the head, causing it to explode. The zombie collapses.

LARA
Go for head shots!

Hel takes this advice and fires at a zombie approaching her. The thing’s head is obliterated. She makes a dash for the pool.

In the pool, Sarge is submerged up to her chest

UNDERWATER

Mauser, on his knees, is straining to hold the cage up. Parts of his circuitry is being exposed by the vicious liquid.

Hel is close to the edge of the pool when Blauda jumps in her way, pointing the rifle at her.

BLAUDA
No. No one is going to save her. She deserves to die.

Porter is pushed back by a zombie. He lands on the table holding the tarp covered zombie. It springs to life and wraps its arms around Porter. He screams and manages to break free.

He turns as the zombie stands up, and the tarp slips away.

It’s LINK!

Porter stares at him, unable to believe his eyes.

PORTER
Link?

Link punches Porter, and he goes down.

Meanwhile, Cleo is still being torn in two by the zombies. She screams from the pain.

CLEO
Could you guys please let go!

The zombies only grunt in response.

CLEO
I was afraid you’d say that.

Quite unexpectedly, she jumps into the air, ripping the arms off of the zombies. She takes aim and fires, turning both of the zombie’s heads into mush.

She lands between their falling bodies and rips their arms off. She runs toward the pool.

Hel slowly backs away from Blauda.

HEL
Blauda, you don’t want to do this.

BLAUDA
Of course I do! What, are you crazy?

She laughs at her own stupid joke.

Hel takes this opportunity to grab Blauda’s rifle and slam it into her face. Blauda stumbles back.

BLAUDA
That wasn’t nice.

She kicks Hel in the stomach, then gives her two quick jabs to the kidney. She grabs Hel by the hair and throws her against a wall.

Across the way, Porter slowly backs up from Link, who shuffles after him.

PORTER
Link, it’s me. Do you remember me? We’ve met.

Link groans.

PORTER
I’ll take that as a no.

A zombie appears behind Porter. Not missing a beat, Porter slams his elbow into the zombie’s chest, grabs him by the shoulder, and throws him down to the ground. He aims his gauntlet and fires. The zombie is no more.

During that time, Link has moved closer. Very close. He grabs Porter by the shoulders and prepares to take a big bite out of him.

PORTER
(groaning)
Sorry, man. Can’t let you do that.

He shoves his gauntlet under Link’s chin and fires. Link’s face collapses, and his body tumbles to the floor.

Meanwhile, Sarge’s cage has sunk even lower. Mauser can’t hold on much longer.

Cleo runs for the pool, but a cry from Hel stops her. She looks over and sees Blauda kicking Hel’s ass. Cleo looks back at the cage, then Hel. Then the cage. Then Hel.

She makes a decision.

Hel lands on the ground, rubbing her sore head. Blauda bends down and grabs her rifle. She aims it at Hel.

BLAUDA
It’s been fun, but it’s time for you to leave the stage.

Or not. Cleo slams into Blauda, knocking her to the ground. Cleo jumps on top of her.

CLEO
Go! Save Sarge!

Hel doesn’t have to be told twice. She stands up and sprints. Zombies try to stop her, but she either dodges them like a football player, or she blows their heads off.

She finally reaches the pool and dives in. Once she hits the water, she begins swimming. But she doesn’t stop. She continues swimming towards the cage.

Hel finally reaches it, and blasts the lock. She throws open the door. Hel reaches inside and grabs Sarge.

Underwater, the mud under Mauser’s knees shifts, and he begins to sink in on one side.

Above, the cage twists, and Hel slips out. Sarge screams and grabs Hel’s arm, the only part of her that’s above water.

Sarge has a deathgrip on it, but the gauntlet begins to slide off. Finally, it does. Hel slips underwater.

SARGE
Hel!

On land, Blauda slams Cleo face first into a wall, and turns to face the pool. She groans when she sees Sarge climbing out.

BLAUDA
I’ve got to do everything myself.

She picks up her blaster and begins to fire.

Sarge, slipping the gauntlet on, looks up as the blasts tear into the cage. On instinct, she shoots the webbing up at the ceiling and zooms out of there. On the fifth blast, the cage falls apart.

Underwater, a beam falls on Hel, trapping her. Mauser tries to shove the remnants of the cage off of him.

Sarge swings to land and looks out at the pool.

SARGE
Hel!! Mauser!!

Lara fires her gauntlet, destroying the last zombie. She and Porter rush over to Sarge’s side.

Across the lair, Blauda laughs. She tosses the rifle down and claps.

BLAUDA
This is so much better than killing Sarge!

Underwater, Mauser frees himself from the cage and swims over to Hel. Her eyes are closed, and she’s not moving.

On land, everyone watches with anticipation. It seems like eternity.

LARA
We have to go in and save them.

SARGE
We can’t! The water would make you drown too. It’s some kind of acid.

PORTER
We have to do something!

Sarge, dripping wet, simply shakes her head.

It seems like all hope is lost, but then Mauser explodes from the water, holding Hel in his arms. He wades through the water, and meets the gang at the edge of the shore.

Lara and Sarge grab Hel and places her on the ground. Lara checks for a pulse.

LARA
There’s no pulse....she's not breathing.

SARGE
(panicing)
No. No! No! No, she can't be...

Lara runs her gauntlet over Hel, then begins CPR.

MAUSER
Please, Hel. Be okay.

Across the way, Blauda lets loose a giggle.

BLAUDA
Splendid! This is so much fun.

The team glares at her, hatred in their eyes.

Behind Blauda, Cleo stands up, bleeding from her forehead. She has the rifle in her hands.

CLEO
Hey, Blauda.

Blauda turns, gasps.

Cleo fires, and the blast sends Blauda back. Cleo fires again, and again, each blast ripping into Blauda. The last one sends her into the pool, where she sinks.

Cleo drops the rifle and rushes over to the others.

CLEO
Is she...

Lara finishes CPR, checks her gauntlet.

LARA
(tears welling up)
I'm sorry...she’s dead.

FADE TO BLACK

TO BE CONTINUED...

Executive Producers
Davin Nation
&
Cody Steinman

Next Week

ON AN ALL-NEW CLEOPATRA 2525...
(Shot of Hel's body, Lara feeling for a pulse.)
Lara: ...She's dead.
HEL IS GONE...
(Shot of Sarge dumping Hel's ashes down the shaft.)
Sarge: Now we commit these ashes of a brave warrior to the eternal depths of the shafts, where she truly thrived.
Cleopatra: Amen.
AND THE UNDERGROUND MOURNS.
(Shot of Lara mourning in the bathroom, then Raina mourning in her living room.)
(Fade shot of the gold plaque dedicated to Hel.)
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON TO TURN TO.
Sarge: I'm going to tell Voice what I think of her.
(Shot of Sarge in Voice's Lab.)
Sarge: Voice!!
(A figure emerges from a doorway. Sarge sees the figure and is in shock.)
Sarge: It can't be.
ALL SECRETS REVEALED!
CLEOPATRA 2525...
COMING NEXT WEEK!