**LAS VEGAS, NEVADA**
Our scene opens up with Frank, sitting at a bar in Las Vegas. The bar is
situated within an incredibly small room, just large enough for the bar and
four stools, and somewhat dimly lit. The bar itself is constructed out of
unpolished wood, with a sign reading “OCELOT’S RETREAT” hanging overhead. Frank
is sat on the middle of four stools, pint glass in hand as he listens to dim
music in the background, muffled through the walls and the door just a few feet
behind him, which slowly creaks open. In walks Bob, wearing a white polo-shirt,
jeans and black sneakers. Upon seeing Frank, he shakes his head before walking
to his right and sitting on the bar stool next to him.
Bob: Enjoying the Ocelot’s Retreat, Frank?
Frank [Quietly]: Viva las
Vegas.
Bob: Why am I not surprised that this is what your vacation
entails?
Frank: What can I say? I like drinking.
Bob: Guess you drink to forget, eh?
Frank: What can I say? I like drinking.
Bob: Guess you drink to forget, eh?
Frank: Well, to be honest, I forgot what I was supposed to
forget. If I was supposed to forget anything.
Frank slowly raises his glass to his lips as the sound of
heavy footsteps fills the air. Bob spins around, watching as none other than
Coach Lynch storms forward through the open door, wearing a garish red Hawaiian
shirt, blue Bermuda shorts and white high-top sneakers.
Lynch: HELLO, FRANK!!!
Frank’s eyes roll into the back of his head as he collapses backwards, off of the barstool and onto the floor.
Bob: ….Lynch?!
Lynch [Looking down at Frank]: Ah fuck, I think I killed him.
Bob: What are you doing here?
Lynch: Having a fuckin’ vacation! Gambling, poon, what else would I be here for?!
Bob: Maybe you missed us--
Lynch [Cackling]: MISSED YOU?!?! SON, I DIDN’T MISS ANY OF YOU!!!!....Well, maybe a little bit. Anyway, what are you idiots doing here in Ocelot’s casino? Pretty dangerous to be fraternising with the enemy!
Bob: He doesn’t really own this place..
Frank’s eyes roll into the back of his head as he collapses backwards, off of the barstool and onto the floor.
Bob: ….Lynch?!
Lynch [Looking down at Frank]: Ah fuck, I think I killed him.
Bob: What are you doing here?
Lynch: Having a fuckin’ vacation! Gambling, poon, what else would I be here for?!
Bob: Maybe you missed us--
Lynch [Cackling]: MISSED YOU?!?! SON, I DIDN’T MISS ANY OF YOU!!!!....Well, maybe a little bit. Anyway, what are you idiots doing here in Ocelot’s casino? Pretty dangerous to be fraternising with the enemy!
Bob: He doesn’t really own this place..
Lynch: It’s got his name on it, that’s good enough for me.
Why aren’t you gambling at Caesar’s? The MGM Grand? Anywhere but HERE?
Frank [Slowly coming to]: Too…expensive..
Frank [Slowly coming to]: Too…expensive..
Lynch: I earn sixty G’s a year. What the fuck do you lot
earn?
Bob: About twelve thousand.
Lynch: ….Huh.
Bob: You seriously didn’t know?! Why do you think we’re always ambushing supply lines in the Sinai!
Lynch: I thought you were just contributing to the war effort!
Bob: Bull. SHIT.
Bob: About twelve thousand.
Lynch: ….Huh.
Bob: You seriously didn’t know?! Why do you think we’re always ambushing supply lines in the Sinai!
Lynch: I thought you were just contributing to the war effort!
Bob: Bull. SHIT.
Lynch: Well, as long as you don’t unionise, we’ll have no
problem.
Bob: We can’t unionise: You’d shoot us all.
Lynch: Yep, that’s what I was getting at—
Lynch: Yep, that’s what I was getting at—
The door behind Lynch slowly creaks open. Bob turns his
head, looking at the door.
Bob: Well, shit.
Bob: Well, shit.
The bald, scarred head of Fabien, grinning brightly, peers
around the door before he shoves it open, standing in the doorway with his arms
spread.
Lynch: Aww shi--
Fabien locks his hulking arms around Lynch, lifting him off the ground and hugging him tightly.
Lynch: Aww shi--
Fabien locks his hulking arms around Lynch, lifting him off the ground and hugging him tightly.
Fabien [Ecstatically]: LEENCH!!!
Lynch [Mumbling]: Oh fucking hell, the Frenchman is here.
Frank: What are you doing here?!
Fabien: I need a vacation too, oui? And I thought I’d follow Lynch!
Lynch [Mumbling]: Oh fucking hell, the Frenchman is here.
Frank: What are you doing here?!
Fabien: I need a vacation too, oui? And I thought I’d follow Lynch!
Lynch: I’m…flattered. I guess.
Fabien: Oui! Now, let us have FUN!
Lynch: When you say that, I get slightly terrified.
Lynch: When you say that, I get slightly terrified.
Fabien slowly sets Lynch down, looking at his outfit and
then his own, which consists of a blue Hawaiian shirt, jean shorts and black
combat boots.
Fabien: Ve have similar tastes, non? I like it!
Fabien: Ve have similar tastes, non? I like it!
Lynch: Yeah, it’s………something.
Fabien: So, shall ve go and do something better than drinking our lives away? How about a gamble on ze machines?
Frank: Gamble?
Lynch: Well, yeah, we ARE in a casino.
Frank: This is a casino?
Bob: …You didn’t know?
Frank: I didn’t care. Gambling’s for assholes.
Bob: …You didn’t know?
Frank: I didn’t care. Gambling’s for assholes.
Lynch: Woah, seriously?
Frank: Yeah. Complete waste of money and time. Why?
Bob: Just never expected there to be a vice that you didn’t like.
Frank: Drinking’s my thing. Gambling ain’t.
Frank: Yeah. Complete waste of money and time. Why?
Bob: Just never expected there to be a vice that you didn’t like.
Frank: Drinking’s my thing. Gambling ain’t.
Fabien: Vell, it is my thing so I shall go and gamble!
Fabien spins around on his heels, walking out of the door.
He is followed by Lynch, leaving Bob and Frank at the bar. Frank sighs,
draining the last of his beer and slamming his glass on the table.
Frank: May as well tag along.
Bob: We don’t have to..
Frank: May as well tag along.
Bob: We don’t have to..
Frank: Nah, come on, I know Lynch will just pester us if we
don’t.
Frank and Bob follow Lynch and Fabien outside, emerging in a
huge circular room which is bustling with foot-traffic from various gamblers,
making their way to the various games that line the outside of this circular room.
To the left of the room, one can make out a misshapen doorway leading to
glittering fruit-machines in darkened confines, but Fabien appears interested
in a Wheel of Fortune ahead of them.
Fabien [Happily]: Ah, oui, ze wheel…OF FORTUNE!
Fabien [Happily]: Ah, oui, ze wheel…OF FORTUNE!
Frank: It’s pointless!
Voice: So is your face.
Lynch: Aw fuck.
The four men turn around: Walking over to them, squeezing between the crowd, is Will Studlin, complete with a glittering mauve suit, black shirt and white tie. Fabien winces slightly at the gaudiness as Will stops, dusting off his collar.
Voice: So is your face.
Lynch: Aw fuck.
The four men turn around: Walking over to them, squeezing between the crowd, is Will Studlin, complete with a glittering mauve suit, black shirt and white tie. Fabien winces slightly at the gaudiness as Will stops, dusting off his collar.
Will: Sup fuckers?
Lynch: You too, Will?!
Will: What do you mean “you too”?! I’ve been here with these two ugly motherfuckers all along!
Lynch: You too, Will?!
Will: What do you mean “you too”?! I’ve been here with these two ugly motherfuckers all along!
Fabien: I vould have thought you would be at a better
casino!
Will: Well..think again.
Will: Well..think again.
Fabien: Indeed, zis is a sad little casino..
Will: It’s all we can afford on our wage--
Lynch [Scoffing]: Stop complaining, will you?!
Lynch [Scoffing]: Stop complaining, will you?!
Frank: Well, all I’ve been doing is drinking. Gambling is
one vice I don’t want any part of!
Will: Come on, Frank: As long as you don’t go overboard, it’s perfectly good fun. Just make a low bet, play a few times and walk away.
Frank looks gingerly over at the Wheel of Fortune, sighing and throwing his arms up in defeat.
Will: Come on, Frank: As long as you don’t go overboard, it’s perfectly good fun. Just make a low bet, play a few times and walk away.
Frank looks gingerly over at the Wheel of Fortune, sighing and throwing his arms up in defeat.
Lynch: He’s been like this for the entire visit?
Will: It’s almost like he wants to brag that this specific thing hasn’t brainwashed him!
Will: It’s almost like he wants to brag that this specific thing hasn’t brainwashed him!
Frank [Snapping]: Fine! I’ll make a few bets, alright?!
Frank stomps towards the Wheel of Fortune, reaching into the
pocket of his jeans and pulling out his wallet.
Lynch: Well, hopefully, he won’t go too crazy…
**BEALE STREET, THE
SINAI**
Over in Beale
Street in Egypt, the sun is blaring down,
creating a vicious midday heat that is visible to the eye. Walking down the
street through the haze is Stephen, the sugar glider-anthropomorph, his t-shirt
tied around his waist as he walks forward, rubbing his arms in a feeble attempt
to remove the sand from his fur. He walks past Dave who is clutching his head,
a cigarette dangling from his lower lip as he stumbles forward in a presumably
hungover state.
Stephen: Hey Dave.
Dave: Go away.
Dave walks past Stephen who simply shrugs, continuing to walk down the street. He stops outside ReLoaded, spinning on his heels and strolling calmly into the shop, pushing the door open.
Stephen: Hey Tavi! I’m here!
Dave: Go away.
Dave walks past Stephen who simply shrugs, continuing to walk down the street. He stops outside ReLoaded, spinning on his heels and strolling calmly into the shop, pushing the door open.
Stephen: Hey Tavi! I’m here!
From the rear door behind the counter emerges Tavi, bouncing
forward and slapping her hands on the counter, smiling slightly.
Tavi: Is everything alright? How’re you finding it here?
Stephen: Hotter than Ireland.
Stephen: Hotter than Ireland.
Tavi: Yeah..i’m feeling hot too..
Stephen [Chuckling]: You’re looking hot, too.
Tavi scowls slightly before smirking.
Tavi: Don’t start me..
Stephen [Chuckling]: You’re looking hot, too.
Tavi scowls slightly before smirking.
Tavi: Don’t start me..
Stephen: ..But, y’know, it’s fairly nice here. I mean, even
the inhabitants: They’re nice in a weird and hostile kind of way. Like you can
tell they care a bit about you by how much they dedicate to despising you.
Tavi [Laughing]: I’ve never even thought of it that way
before!
Stephen: Whereas in Ireland it’s all “Republic” this and “Republic” that. It’s boring.
Tavi: So…will you be joining in with the fighting when the time comes?
Stephen: Hell yeah. That’s one of the reasons I stayed here when the other Irish guys buggered off!
Tavi [Stroking her chin, smiling slyly]: And what were the other reasons?
Stephen [Smirking]: Oh, there are a few..
Stephen: Whereas in Ireland it’s all “Republic” this and “Republic” that. It’s boring.
Tavi: So…will you be joining in with the fighting when the time comes?
Stephen: Hell yeah. That’s one of the reasons I stayed here when the other Irish guys buggered off!
Tavi [Stroking her chin, smiling slyly]: And what were the other reasons?
Stephen [Smirking]: Oh, there are a few..
Stephen gives a small chuckle and Tavi’s face drops slightly, her arms dropping by her side.
Stephen: Are you alright?
Tavi [Quietly]: I feel..so fucking weird…
Stephen: Why?
Tavi [Squirming slightly]: I just feel..warm….
The bell rings in the shop as Phil walks in, clutching his Colt M1911.
Phil: Need ammo!
Phil looks around the shop.
Stephen: Got’cha.
Phil: Hey, Sweet Stevie, does it smell weird in here?
Stephen: What do you mean?
Phil: Like……..I dunno, it’s weird to say.
Tavi [Squirming slightly]: I just feel..warm….
The bell rings in the shop as Phil walks in, clutching his Colt M1911.
Phil: Need ammo!
Phil looks around the shop.
Stephen: Got’cha.
Phil: Hey, Sweet Stevie, does it smell weird in here?
Stephen: What do you mean?
Phil: Like……..I dunno, it’s weird to say.
Tavi slowly walks backwards through the door behind her,
slamming it shut.
Stephen: Yeah, I smell it too. Real strong.
Phil: And boy is it warm in here! Fucking hell man, put on some air conditioning!
Stephen: It IS on!
Stephen: Yeah, I smell it too. Real strong.
Phil: And boy is it warm in here! Fucking hell man, put on some air conditioning!
Stephen: It IS on!
Phil: Fucking hell, man! TURN IT UP!
Stephen: I HAVE!!
Stephen: I HAVE!!
Phil: ..Just fetch me my magazines, mate!
Stephen reaches under the counter, grasping five pre-loaded M1911 magazines and placing them on the counter.
Stephen: I hope you know how many blisters I get just loading these things.
Stephen reaches under the counter, grasping five pre-loaded M1911 magazines and placing them on the counter.
Stephen: I hope you know how many blisters I get just loading these things.
Phil: Duly noted.
Phil shoves the magazines into the plastic bag.
Phil: I’ll be taking my weekly order on Monday. Just a heads up, mate.
Stephen: What the hell do you do with those five magazines in seven days? There’s nothing to shoot around here!
Phil: Sal.
Stephen: ………Good point.
Phil: I’ll be taking my weekly order on Monday. Just a heads up, mate.
Stephen: What the hell do you do with those five magazines in seven days? There’s nothing to shoot around here!
Phil: Sal.
Stephen: ………Good point.
Phil: Oh, and seagulls. So many seagulls.
Tavi slowly sidles out of the door, letting out a deep
breath and fanning herself.
Stephen [Looking at her]: Are you alright?
Stephen [Looking at her]: Are you alright?
Tavi [Quietly]: I just feeeeellll…..hm.
Stephen: Hm?
Tavi: Hm.
Phil: Hm.
Tavi: Why are you still here?
Phil: Good point.
Tavi: Why are you still here?
Phil: Good point.
Phil spins around on his heels, strolling out of the shop
and slamming it shut behind him, turning right and walking up Beale Street. He
walks past the front of The Oasis where Dion, wearing a bright mauve suit with
a black dress shirt, is busy throwing black trash bags onto the street.
Phil: Morning Dion.
Dion [Waving]: Good morning, Yeti!
Dion whistles to himself, throwing out the last trash bag before turning around and walking back towards the doors of The Oasis. He stops, slowly stepping backwards and walking between the alleyway that separates Kebaborama and The Oasis, watching through a chainlink fence that fences off Kebaborama’s back yard. Dean, with the sleeves of his red and blue plaid shirt rolled up, is busy digging a large hole, a bodybag behind him. Karab walks out of Kebaborama, staring at the bodybag.
Dion [Waving]: Good morning, Yeti!
Dion whistles to himself, throwing out the last trash bag before turning around and walking back towards the doors of The Oasis. He stops, slowly stepping backwards and walking between the alleyway that separates Kebaborama and The Oasis, watching through a chainlink fence that fences off Kebaborama’s back yard. Dean, with the sleeves of his red and blue plaid shirt rolled up, is busy digging a large hole, a bodybag behind him. Karab walks out of Kebaborama, staring at the bodybag.
Karab [Narrowing his eyes]: DEAN.
Dean: What?
Karab: What are you burying?
Dean: What?
Karab: What are you burying?
Dean: Health Inspector.
Karab [Sighing]: Did you kill him?!
Dean: No, he ate here. So he committed suicide.
Karab: For crying out loud, can’t we have SOME pride in the food we serve?!
Dean: PRIDE?! What’s that?!
Karab [Nodding]: Yep, that’s the answer I was expecting.
Dean steps backwards, over the bodybag and uses his right foot to slowly push it into the hole before grasping the shovel and starting to bury the bodybag.
Dion: So, neighbours, committing crimes?!
Dean: No, he committed suicide.
Karab: From our mystery special!
Dean: There’s nothing wrong wi--
Karab [Angrily]: IT FUCKING GREW TENTACLES, DEAN!! I SAW IT!! AND I’M PRETTY SURE IT CHANGED ITS LABEL TO YOG-SOTHOTH OR SOMETHING!!
Karab [Sighing]: Did you kill him?!
Dean: No, he ate here. So he committed suicide.
Karab: For crying out loud, can’t we have SOME pride in the food we serve?!
Dean: PRIDE?! What’s that?!
Karab [Nodding]: Yep, that’s the answer I was expecting.
Dean steps backwards, over the bodybag and uses his right foot to slowly push it into the hole before grasping the shovel and starting to bury the bodybag.
Dion: So, neighbours, committing crimes?!
Dean: No, he committed suicide.
Karab: From our mystery special!
Dean: There’s nothing wrong wi--
Karab [Angrily]: IT FUCKING GREW TENTACLES, DEAN!! I SAW IT!! AND I’M PRETTY SURE IT CHANGED ITS LABEL TO YOG-SOTHOTH OR SOMETHING!!
Dean [Not looking at Karab]: Nothing wrong with Elder God meat. Rich in protein.
Karab lets out a guttural, angered cry of despair, twisting around and walking back into Kebaborama. Dean slowly looks up before glancing over his shoulder.
Dean: What are you doi—
The sound of flames, followed by hacking, is heard.
Karab’s Voice [Enraged]: AAYO GURKHALI YOU ELDRITCH MOTHERFUCKER!!
Karab’s Voice [Enraged]: AAYO GURKHALI YOU ELDRITCH MOTHERFUCKER!!
Dean [Angrily]: THAT’S OUR SPECIAL, YOU DUMB FUCK!!
Dion watches, somewhat amused, as Dean rushes into
Kebaborama..
***LAS VEGAS, NEVADA***
Back in Ocelot’s Retreat, Lynch, Fabien, Bob and Will are
now sat creaky, dilapidated bar that is separated from the actual casino.
Notably conspicuous in his absence is Frank as all four men take it in turns to
pass a bottle of champagne across to eachother, pouring it into shot glasses
and taking quick gulps of it.
Bob: This isn’t how you’re supposed to drink champagne..
Lynch: I don’t give a fuck//
Bob: This isn’t how you’re supposed to drink champagne..
Lynch: I don’t give a fuck//
Fabien sighs, looking at the bottle of champagne.
Fabien: Zis is shit.
Lynch: Just think: This is most people’s idea of the best time of their lives.
Fabien: Zis is shit.
Lynch: Just think: This is most people’s idea of the best time of their lives.
Fabien: Non, I mean zis champagne is shit. But so is this casino, admittedly.
Will: Those people haven’t spent most of their life in the military, being burdened by the overwhelming guilt of killing many people.
Lynch: Y’know, that’s some of the deepest shit I’ve heard you say. Ever.
Will: Well, I have just drank an entire bottle of whiskey.
Lynch: Yep, that’ll do it.
Fabien: Maybe we can get drunk, and then get into all sorts
of funny hijinks like that movie “The Hangover”?
Lynch: I would, but then we’d have to add two more horrendously unfunny sequels and this script is already pushing it.
Fabien: Script?
Will: He’s breaking the fourth wall.
Lynch: I would, but then we’d have to add two more horrendously unfunny sequels and this script is already pushing it.
Fabien: Script?
Will: He’s breaking the fourth wall.
Lynch [Waving at the camera]: How you doin’, Colt Cabana?
Will: Stop that.
Will: Stop that.
Lynch: No.
Bob: You’re scaring the pit boss.
Lynch waves up at the security camera again.
Lynch waves up at the security camera again.
Lynch: Maybe I’ll go to Ri--
Will: Don’t.
Lynch: Why? It annoys you. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a good enough reason to do it.
Will: Look, we need a plan. We’ve already spent three days in Vegas and money’s running low. Not to mention it’s getting awfully boring in here.
Will: Don’t.
Lynch: Why? It annoys you. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a good enough reason to do it.
Will: Look, we need a plan. We’ve already spent three days in Vegas and money’s running low. Not to mention it’s getting awfully boring in here.
Fabien: Ve could go to Atlanteec City?
Lynch: Atlantic City is just a shit Vegas!
Will [Interjecting]: ShitTER.
Lynch: Atlantic City is just a shit Vegas!
Will [Interjecting]: ShitTER.
Lynch: We could go home..
Will: That’s just a fucking awful idea.
Will: That’s just a fucking awful idea.
Lynch: We need to head back anyway. There’s a mission with
our name on it.
Will: Snake’s name on it. Well, Big Boss’s.
Lynch: No, we need to find a piece of microfilm containing the location to a fuckton of money for Mother.
Will: Snake’s name on it. Well, Big Boss’s.
Lynch: No, we need to find a piece of microfilm containing the location to a fuckton of money for Mother.
Fabien: Sounds fun.
Lynch: It will be. It really will be.
Lynch: It will be. It really will be.
Will: ….Where’s Frank?
Lynch: Aw goddammit….First alcohol, now gambling: Does this boy just hoard addictions?
Will: Do you really think he’s gambling again?
Lynch: Want to put a bet on it?
Lynch: Aw goddammit….First alcohol, now gambling: Does this boy just hoard addictions?
Will: Do you really think he’s gambling again?
Lynch: Want to put a bet on it?
Will: …No.
Lynch [Sighing and rising to his feet]: Well, we better stop
him.
Bob: Why?
Lynch: Well…..I don’t know, I just feel like we have to for
moral reasons.
Will: Who needs morality? We kill shit for a living.
Fabien: Oui.
Lynch: Fuck you and get up.
Will sighs, hesitantly sliding off of the bar stool and getting to his feet. Bob and Fabien, somewhat reluctantly, do the same. Lynch wordlessly walks out of the bar, only to notice that a fairly large contingent of gamblers is now surrounding the roulette wheel. With an all-knowing sigh, Lynch steps forward towards the contingent who are laughing loudly.
Will: Oh boy, what’s the bet it’s one of ours?
Bob: I’d place a bet on it but we all know the returns are minimal..
Lynch: Fuck you and get up.
Will sighs, hesitantly sliding off of the bar stool and getting to his feet. Bob and Fabien, somewhat reluctantly, do the same. Lynch wordlessly walks out of the bar, only to notice that a fairly large contingent of gamblers is now surrounding the roulette wheel. With an all-knowing sigh, Lynch steps forward towards the contingent who are laughing loudly.
Will: Oh boy, what’s the bet it’s one of ours?
Bob: I’d place a bet on it but we all know the returns are minimal..
Lynch shoves aside several gamblers, revealing Frank
standing in front of the table, arms spread. Still wearing his pale pink
Hawaiian shirt, it appears to be covering his underwear as his jeans have
simply vanished, revealing pale white hairy legs clad only in white socks and
black sneakers.
Frank [Angrily]: IF I DON’T WIN, I’M GOING TO GO FUCKING APESHIT!!
Frank [Angrily]: IF I DON’T WIN, I’M GOING TO GO FUCKING APESHIT!!
Lynch: Frank, put your pants back on!
Frank [Hysterically]: NEVER! I NEED TO WIN, DAMMIT!!
Frank [Hysterically]: NEVER! I NEED TO WIN, DAMMIT!!
Lynch: You don’t need to win! It’s Vegas, nobody wins unless
you’re rich or corrupt!!!
Frank [Hysterically]: LET ME FEEL SOMETHING!!
Frank [Hysterically]: LET ME FEEL SOMETHING!!
Will [Impatiently]: You’ll feel my boot in your throat if
you don’t move!!
The croupier sighs, spinning the wheel and shaking his head.
Croupier: Very well, sir. Ten dollars on red twelve.
Croupier: Very well, sir. Ten dollars on red twelve.
Lynch: Where the fuck are your pants, Frank?
Croupier: Those were Levi’s! So I let him gamble ‘em. He lost.
Will: Unsurprising.
Frank [Angrily]: I’LL BUY THOSE FUCKERS BACK WHEN I WIN!!
Croupier: Those were Levi’s! So I let him gamble ‘em. He lost.
Will: Unsurprising.
Frank [Angrily]: I’LL BUY THOSE FUCKERS BACK WHEN I WIN!!
The roulette wheel grinds to a halt, the ball rattling
over..
Croupier: Green Zero.
Frank [In disbelief]: GREEN ZERO?! GREEN FUCKING ZERO?!?!? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?
Lynch: Uh, Frank--
Frank [Bawling]: WHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!
Frank [Bawling]: WHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!
Dealer [Sighing darkly]: Wow, he’s a fucking crybaby.
Lynch: He certainly is.
Frank falls to his knees but Fabien walks over, grasping his left arm and hauling him to his feet.
Lynch: He certainly is.
Frank falls to his knees but Fabien walks over, grasping his left arm and hauling him to his feet.
Fabien: Up. We leave now.
Frank stumbles forward dramatically, falling onto the
roulette table with his arms splayed across the felt.
Frank: NOT YET!!
Lynch: Frank, be sensible.
Frank: I SHALL GAMBLE MY SHIRT!!!
Frank: I SHALL GAMBLE MY SHIRT!!!
Croupier [Sighing]: Sir, is it expensive?
Lynch: It’s a one dollar special!
Croupier: We can’t accept that, sir. We take cash only. Or, failing that, one of your organs.
Frank: Wait, organs?!
Croupier: Well, it IS Las Vegas.
Will: And before you think of it, don’t even try and gamble your liver. That thing’s only worth a cent these days.
Lynch: It’s a one dollar special!
Croupier: We can’t accept that, sir. We take cash only. Or, failing that, one of your organs.
Frank: Wait, organs?!
Croupier: Well, it IS Las Vegas.
Will: And before you think of it, don’t even try and gamble your liver. That thing’s only worth a cent these days.
Lynch: His blood’s worth at least five dollars a pint, at
least.
Frank: Wow, outdated alcohol jokes? Call me when you get some new material..
Frank: Wow, outdated alcohol jokes? Call me when you get some new material..
Frank sighs, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a
handful of crumpled dollar bills.
Frank [Mumbling]: Ten on three red.
Frank [Mumbling]: Ten on three red.
Fabien reaches into his pocket, pulling out several folded
notes and placing them on the table.
Fabien: Thirty on ze two black.
Frank: Pff, good luck! This entire shit is rigged!
Fabien: Vell, I feel lucky.
Frank: Pff, good luck! This entire shit is rigged!
Fabien: Vell, I feel lucky.
The croupier spins the wheel, the ball rattling rhythmically
as the wheel slows down before grinding to a halt, the ball landing on..
Croupier: Two black!
Frank: WHAT?!
Fabien [Grinning]: Oui!
Croupier: Two black!
Frank: WHAT?!
Fabien [Grinning]: Oui!
Frank [In angered disbelief]: OH COME ON!!
Fabien: Ze luck of ze…French!
Fabien rakes his chips into his arms, dragging them towards him as Frank tears off his shirt, throwing it onto the table.
Frank [Enraged]: BULLSHIT! THIS GAME IS RIGGED!
Fabien rakes his chips into his arms, dragging them towards him as Frank tears off his shirt, throwing it onto the table.
Frank [Enraged]: BULLSHIT! THIS GAME IS RIGGED!
Lynch: Well, it IS Las
Vegas.
Croupier: I did warn you.
Frank: OH, COME ON! YOU’RE NOT EVEN PRETENDING THAT THIS IS FAIR!
Croupier: I did warn you.
Frank: OH, COME ON! YOU’RE NOT EVEN PRETENDING THAT THIS IS FAIR!
Will: Well, it IS--
Frank [Pointing at Will]: Don’t say it.
Will: …Las Vegas.
Frank screams, grasping the collar of his shirt and ripping it open, three buttons hitting the table as he spins around, clawing at his beard.
Frank: I’M CRAZY! I’M GOING CRAZY!!
Frank [Pointing at Will]: Don’t say it.
Will: …Las Vegas.
Frank screams, grasping the collar of his shirt and ripping it open, three buttons hitting the table as he spins around, clawing at his beard.
Frank: I’M CRAZY! I’M GOING CRAZY!!
Fabien: You certainly are.
Lynch: And he’s lost it.
Frank screams, running through the lobby of the casino and barging out of the doors.
Will: You want him to be a soldier? Really?
Fabien: And he’s ze second in command!
Lynch: Well, he has his good days and his bad days. It’s just this is a bad day.
Frank screams, running through the lobby of the casino and barging out of the doors.
Will: You want him to be a soldier? Really?
Fabien: And he’s ze second in command!
Lynch: Well, he has his good days and his bad days. It’s just this is a bad day.
Frank’s screaming fills the air again as he barges through
the doors. This time, it stops immediately as his arms fall by his sides and he
walks over to Lynch.
Frank: …Alright, I’m done.
Frank: …Alright, I’m done.
Lynch: Good because it’s time to leave.
Frank: I’ve lost all my money..
Frank: I’ve lost all my money..
Will: And your pants.
Lynch: Vegas’ll do that to you. Lucky for you, Mother’s
giving us holiday pay.
Frank [Suddenly brightening up]: SWEET!! I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!!
Frank spins around to the roulette table, but Lynch swiftly locks his right arm around his neck, dragging him into a headlock and dragging him towards the doors..
Frank [Suddenly brightening up]: SWEET!! I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!!
Frank spins around to the roulette table, but Lynch swiftly locks his right arm around his neck, dragging him into a headlock and dragging him towards the doors..
***BEALE STREET, THE
SINAI***
Back in Beale
Street, the mood is significantly less neurotic
and much more lazy. In Steve, Ivan, Phil and Jericho’s
house, Jericho
and Phil are slumped back on their tattered, moth-eaten couch. Jericho’s feet are on the cardboard box
acting as a coffee table as he taps away at keys, while Phil is busy stroking
the head of his bulldog Winston, Born of Winston’s lazily. Steve stands in
front of the dirty oven, shaking a pan of Jiffy Pop popcorn whilst Ivan sits at
the table, fiddling with a switchblade.
Phil: So. Jerry. What’s up in the world?
Jericho: I’m just on Twatter..
Phil: And?
Jericho: I’m just on Twatter..
Phil: And?
Jericho:
Imagine being so upset by something on the internet that you take fifteen
minutes out of your life to type up something on how much you hate it.
Phil: It’s the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your
ears and yelling to block out the other persons noise. Which is what Twitter is
best at.
Jericho:
That and the mob mentality.
Ivan: Zat too.
Jericho
slowly shuts the lid on his laptop, looking around the room.
Jericho: Just another boring day otherwise, eh?
Jericho: Just another boring day otherwise, eh?
Emilie: Are we truly settling here?
Phil: Any money we make goes towards television, booze and poon, not other accommodation.
Jericho: We could try and
find a better house--
Phil: Look, if you want to fuck off to Cairo: Fuck off to Cairo. I’m staying here and will stay here until Mother tells me herself that the war is over.
Phil: Look, if you want to fuck off to Cairo: Fuck off to Cairo. I’m staying here and will stay here until Mother tells me herself that the war is over.
Jericho:
I never took you as a dedicated soldier, Phil.
Phil: I’m not, I’m just incredibly fucking lazy and don’t want to move.
Phil: I’m not, I’m just incredibly fucking lazy and don’t want to move.
Jericho:
That’s better.
Emilie: And when will this war be over?
Phil: Soon!..........ish.
Emilie: And when will this war be over?
Phil: Soon!..........ish.
Jericho:
We actually have to fight it first.
Phil: That would certainly help.
Steve: But why try and force it?
Phil: That would certainly help.
Steve: But why try and force it?
Phil slumps back into the couch, yawning loudly.
Phil: Think I might pop into Kebaborama for something to eat.
Phil: Think I might pop into Kebaborama for something to eat.
Jericho:
Get me some cheesy chips, will you?
Phil: Yeah, sure. Steve? Ivan? Ghost lass?
Emilie: I’m not a ghost anymore..
Phil: You’ll always be a ghost to me, sweetie.
Emilie: I want nothing.
Phil: Steve? Ivan?
Phil: Yeah, sure. Steve? Ivan? Ghost lass?
Emilie: I’m not a ghost anymore..
Phil: You’ll always be a ghost to me, sweetie.
Emilie: I want nothing.
Phil: Steve? Ivan?
Steve: Nothing for me.
Ivan: I’m fine.
Phil: Alrighty then, just me and Jerry.
Ivan: I’m fine.
Phil: Alrighty then, just me and Jerry.
Phil pulls himself up from the couch, turning around and
walking out of the house, kicking the door shut behind him and jogging down the
stairs, watching as Dave stumbles down the street past him.
Dave: Head hurts..
Phil: Dave, man, I’ve been watching you walk up and down this street since this morning. What’s up with you?
Dave: Head hurts..
Phil: Dave, man, I’ve been watching you walk up and down this street since this morning. What’s up with you?
Dave: Ever stared at a flashbang?
Phil: No--
Dave [Hysterically]: WELL I HAVE AND IT FUCKING STILL HURTS!!!
Phil: I imagine there’s a story behind it. But I’m fucking hungry.
Phil walks past Dave, who continues to stumble down the
street aimlessly with his hands over his eyes, and turns right into Kebaborama.
He walks over to the white counter that separates the kitchen from the rest of
the shop, slapping his hands on the counter. Dean, who is stood behind the
counter with his arms folded, grunts in greeting.
Phil: Sup Dean. Get me two servings of cheesy chips.
Dean: Cheese-covered fries it is.
Phil: Chips.
Dean: Fuck off, English.
Phil: That’s the customer service I was waiting for!
Dean turns around, relaying the order to Karab as Phil stands at the counter, hands clasped on it as Karab begins frying two orders of fries. The door behind Phil opens and Stephen walks forward into Kebaborama, standing a few feet behind Phil.
Dean: Cheese-covered fries it is.
Phil: Chips.
Dean: Fuck off, English.
Phil: That’s the customer service I was waiting for!
Dean turns around, relaying the order to Karab as Phil stands at the counter, hands clasped on it as Karab begins frying two orders of fries. The door behind Phil opens and Stephen walks forward into Kebaborama, standing a few feet behind Phil.
Phil: And suddenly, an ominous feeling fills the air.
Stephen: Nah, it’s just me behind you.
Phil: Really? You can’t feel that? That deep chill that is hitting your bones right now?
Stephen: What are you talking about?
Phil: Ah, yeah, you’re a newbie, you don’t have…THE SENSE.
Dean turns around, having shoved the chips and cheap cheese
grated on top into two polystyrene containers into a plastic bag before
slamming it on the counter.
Dean: Shut the fuck up and take your food.
Phil: You mean you can’t feel it either, Dean?
Dean: No, I can: This fucking place is haunted. That’s what it is. I’m used to it. Now….fuck. Off.
Dean: No, I can: This fucking place is haunted. That’s what it is. I’m used to it. Now….fuck. Off.
Phil snatches up the carrier bag, turning around and walking
past Stephen, who turns around and follows Phil out of the door.
Stephen: What do you mean ‘the sense’?!
Phil: You’ll feel it shortly.
Phil turns to the right, walking down Beale Street, but stops suddenly. Stephen walks into his back, bumping into him and stopping suddenly.
Stephen: Sorry ma—What’s up?
Phil [Narrowing his eyes]: The sense….was right.
Tavi is stood in the middle of the street, arms folded across her chest as she glares ahead at both Phil and Stephen. Stephen peers over Phil’s shoulder before sidestepping from behind him, raising his right hand slightly.
Stephen [Calling over]: Hey Tavi!.....What’s wrong with her?
Phil: Something. I can’t quite tell what.
Stephen: She seems…….angry?
Phil: That’s not anger, man. That’s the desire for something else. Here, hold this:
Stephen: What do you mean ‘the sense’?!
Phil: You’ll feel it shortly.
Phil turns to the right, walking down Beale Street, but stops suddenly. Stephen walks into his back, bumping into him and stopping suddenly.
Stephen: Sorry ma—What’s up?
Phil [Narrowing his eyes]: The sense….was right.
Tavi is stood in the middle of the street, arms folded across her chest as she glares ahead at both Phil and Stephen. Stephen peers over Phil’s shoulder before sidestepping from behind him, raising his right hand slightly.
Stephen [Calling over]: Hey Tavi!.....What’s wrong with her?
Phil: Something. I can’t quite tell what.
Stephen: She seems…….angry?
Phil: That’s not anger, man. That’s the desire for something else. Here, hold this:
Phil hands Stephen his carrier bag, turning around and
walking up the street. Stephen stands there for a few seconds as Tavi begins to
walk forward before looking at the bag.
Stephen: Hang on..
Stephen looks over his shoulder, watching as Phil jogs around the corner of a building and into an alleyway towards Beale-Walker Square.
Stephen: DICK!
Stephen: Hang on..
Stephen looks over his shoulder, watching as Phil jogs around the corner of a building and into an alleyway towards Beale-Walker Square.
Stephen: DICK!
Stephen twists around, sprinting after Phil who has since
swiftly disappeared. Quickly moving through the alleyway and into the open Beale-Walker Square,
Stephen looks around, then to his right at a large stone building where the top
half has been completely demolished, leaving only the skeletal remnants of
window-frames. Stephen notices Phil quickly move onto the top floor and jog
past a window into hiding, so quickly follows him into the building.
Stephen quickly bolts up a set of dust-covered stairs and
onto the top floor, which is completely exposed to the elements. He rushes
forward and turns to his right, running through a doorway to find Phil huddled
in the corner, hugging his knees to his chest as he watches the doorway.
Phil: Fuck off! Find your own damn hiding spot!
Stephen: Phil, I’m scared!
Phil: What the fuck are you telling me for?! DON’T YOU THINK I’M TERRIFIED?!?!?
Phil: What the fuck are you telling me for?! DON’T YOU THINK I’M TERRIFIED?!?!?
Stephen: Hang on, why is she after you?! YOU’RE NOT EVEN
BIOLOGICALLY COMPATIBLE!!
Phil: We’ve done things before. Things that have involved
candles, chains, pepper spray and hours of tears.
Stephen [Smirking slightly]: Hotdamn….[Shaking his head]…NO,
NO THAT’S WRONG!!
Phil: It sure is. Now, shut the fuck up.
Stephen: What do we do?!
Phil: We hide here. Right here. For however long it takes.
Stephen: What do we do?!
Phil: We hide here. Right here. For however long it takes.
Stephen: But she’s relentless!
Phil: We can’t run, though.
Stephen: Why?!
Phil: She’s fast, she’ll fucking catch us!
Stephen: And she won’t find us?!
Phil: How could she possibly find us?!
Stephen: She has a very good sense of smell.
Phil [Looking down at his shirt]: I haven’t washed this thing for at least two days.
Stephen: Well, that’s not good!
The door is suddenly booted open. Tavi calmly strolls in, hands on her hips as she gazes at Stephen.
Tavi [Quietly]: Hello, Stephen…
Stephen: Uh…hi…Tavi…
Tavi: Here…all alone…are we?...
Tavi bites her lower lip as Stephen gets to his feet.
Stephen: No, I’m wi—WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO?!?!
Phil: We can’t run, though.
Stephen: Why?!
Phil: She’s fast, she’ll fucking catch us!
Stephen: And she won’t find us?!
Phil: How could she possibly find us?!
Stephen: She has a very good sense of smell.
Phil [Looking down at his shirt]: I haven’t washed this thing for at least two days.
Stephen: Well, that’s not good!
The door is suddenly booted open. Tavi calmly strolls in, hands on her hips as she gazes at Stephen.
Tavi [Quietly]: Hello, Stephen…
Stephen: Uh…hi…Tavi…
Tavi: Here…all alone…are we?...
Tavi bites her lower lip as Stephen gets to his feet.
Stephen: No, I’m wi—WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO?!?!
Phil’s Voice [Laughing]: Gotta be quick, mah boy!
A loud thud, followed by a crack, is heard below the window.
Tavi [Grinning]: So…live prey…or wounded prey?...
A loud thud, followed by a crack, is heard below the window.
Tavi [Grinning]: So…live prey…or wounded prey?...
Stephen: …Wounded prey’s easier to catch?
Tavi: Good point.
Tavi turns around, walking through the doorway as Stephen simply sits there, wide-eyed.
Stephen: Y’know, that was much easier than I expected.
Tavi: Good point.
Tavi turns around, walking through the doorway as Stephen simply sits there, wide-eyed.
Stephen: Y’know, that was much easier than I expected.
Outside, Phil is busy crawling across the road dividing
Beale Street, painfully inching his way, one fingertip at a time, towards the
three concrete steps leading up to his house.
Phil [Slowly crawling towards the steps of his house]: I
NEED HELP!!! JERRY!!! FUCKING HELP!!!
Jericho
opens the door. He takes one look at Phil, then at Tavi who is quickly
approaching him, before turning around and shutting the door.
Tavi [Quietly]: It’ll be over quickly..
Tavi [Quietly]: It’ll be over quickly..
Phil: This is such an overused plot point!!! Why can’t
something positive happen?!?!
The door to the house opens as Crazy Ivan calmly strolls down the steps, squatting beside Phil and hoisting him onto his shoulders.
Crazy Ivan [Quietly]: Ve go inside.
Phil: Da.
The door to the house opens as Crazy Ivan calmly strolls down the steps, squatting beside Phil and hoisting him onto his shoulders.
Crazy Ivan [Quietly]: Ve go inside.
Phil: Da.
Crazy Ivan slowly walks up the steps, kicking the door shut
behind him and locking the door with a resounding ‘click’. Tavi simply stands
there, placing her hands on her hips.
Tavi: Well…shit. THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!!!!
Tavi: Well…shit. THAT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!!!!
Stephen slowly sneaks down the street behind Tavi as she
throws her arms into the air before turning around, quickly spotting Stephen
who stops suddenly.
Stephen: Iiiiiiiiii’m a figment of your imagination.
Tavi: Your screams won’t be.
Stephen quickly sprints down the street, followed closely by Tavi. Unbeknownst to them, watching from a wooden watchtower placed atop a nearby sand-dune is the South African sniper Krige and his spotter Cloete, now wearing a beige and yellow ghillie suit despite the searing heat. Krige is aiming down his rifle, watching as Tavi manages to hurl herself at Stephen and knock him to the ground.
Stephen: Iiiiiiiiii’m a figment of your imagination.
Tavi: Your screams won’t be.
Stephen quickly sprints down the street, followed closely by Tavi. Unbeknownst to them, watching from a wooden watchtower placed atop a nearby sand-dune is the South African sniper Krige and his spotter Cloete, now wearing a beige and yellow ghillie suit despite the searing heat. Krige is aiming down his rifle, watching as Tavi manages to hurl herself at Stephen and knock him to the ground.
Krige: Well, Cloete, I’ve seen some weird shit but this is
the weirdest fuckin’ shit I’ve ever seen.
Cloete: What is it?
Krige: The bloody furry tryin’ to fuck the hairy cunt. And the other furry.
Cloete: Want me to spot?
Krige [Slowly lowering his rifle]: Nah, fuck it, let’s head to Cairo. The penguin can snipe on his own.
Cloete: Does saying that get any easier for you?
Krige: No.
Krige [Slowly lowering his rifle]: Nah, fuck it, let’s head to Cairo. The penguin can snipe on his own.
Cloete: Does saying that get any easier for you?
Krige: No.
Krige swings his rifle around and onto his back, climbing
down the ladder of his watchtower..
**THE MERCENARY ACADEMY OF THE MIDDLE EAST**
A Chinook Helicopter’s blades slice through the sky as it
begins its descent towards the lone helipad of the Mercenary
Academy of the Middle
East, at the Northern edge of the compound, just past the
expansive training grounds which are currently filled with new recruits. Watching
its descent is Mother Mercenary with Captain Callahay of Ghost Company, who
remains dressed in solid black, including his balaclava despite the heat of the
afternoon sun bearing down on Egypt.
Mother clasps her hands behind her back, watching as the Chinook touches down.
Captain Callahay: I can’t believe you hired that bloody Zeke
fellow.
Mother: He’s a fine pilot. Headstrong, but skilled.
Captain Callahay: I’m sure I saw him drinking aviation fuel before he set off for Japan.
Captain Callahay: I’m sure I saw him drinking aviation fuel before he set off for Japan.
Mother: He has his quirks. They all do.
Captain Callahay: Drinking aviation fuel is a QUIRK?!
Mother [Calmly]: If you worked as closely with Reject Company as I have, you’d realise that it’s a fairly harmless quirk.
Captain Callahay: Harmless. Alright, harmless.
Joel Sykes jogs forward, head bowed as the Chinook displaces the air roughly around the helipad. Clutching his baseball cap to his side, he rushes to Mother’s left.
Joel: Mother! Just got word from Spartan Company: They’re ready to fight!
Mother: Tell them to launch the operation now. The Ghosts should arrive in a few hours.
Joel quickly rushes away to the right as the Chinooks engine stops, the blades slowly grinding to a halt as the rear ramp opens and hits the ground, allowing a group of Japanese soldiers to quickly jog down the ramp. Bringing up the rear, however, are none other than Johnny and Tim, still wearing their holiday clothes with their cameras around their necks.
Mother [Calmly]: If you worked as closely with Reject Company as I have, you’d realise that it’s a fairly harmless quirk.
Captain Callahay: Harmless. Alright, harmless.
Joel Sykes jogs forward, head bowed as the Chinook displaces the air roughly around the helipad. Clutching his baseball cap to his side, he rushes to Mother’s left.
Joel: Mother! Just got word from Spartan Company: They’re ready to fight!
Mother: Tell them to launch the operation now. The Ghosts should arrive in a few hours.
Joel quickly rushes away to the right as the Chinooks engine stops, the blades slowly grinding to a halt as the rear ramp opens and hits the ground, allowing a group of Japanese soldiers to quickly jog down the ramp. Bringing up the rear, however, are none other than Johnny and Tim, still wearing their holiday clothes with their cameras around their necks.
Mother: Johnny? Tim? Why did you catch a flight with the
Divine Winds?
Johnny: We were in Japan, just seeing the sights. And we figured we’d come home now that everybody else is as well!
Johnny: We were in Japan, just seeing the sights. And we figured we’d come home now that everybody else is as well!
Lynch: Are they allowed to tag along with a foreign academy?
Mother: Of course: They are under my command, after all.
Tim: We’re not going to get in trouble for this, are we?
Mother: Of course not.
Mother: Of course: They are under my command, after all.
Tim: We’re not going to get in trouble for this, are we?
Mother: Of course not.
Tim and Johnny breathe a sigh of relief in unison, walking
past Mother who looks at Callahay.
Mother [Calmly]: Go.
Mother [Calmly]: Go.
Captain Callahay: Yes, Mother [Turning to Ghost Company] YOU HEARD MOTHER! MOVE YOUR FUCKING ARSES! NOW! WE HAVE SOME MUTANTS TO SLAY!
Ghost Company [Yelling in unison]: FOR MOTHER!!
Mother gives a quick roll of her eyes, twisting around and
walking past Ghost Company as they march towards the Chinook helicopter,
carrying their suppressed G36 assault rifles over their shoulders. Mother turns
left, walking towards a small concrete building that is situated in the shadow
of the Academy itself, marked by a red pneumatic door: The door slides open and
the moustachioed, grandiose form of Winston Tenpenny strolls forward, notably
without his faithful servant Jeeves at his side.
Winston: Mother!
Mother [Sighing]: Didn’t I give you a job to do?
Tenpenny: Well, I found the cyber warfare division! And it is…………uh..…working, ma’am.
Mother: Winston, what are you even doing here? You don’t even know what a PSU is!!
Winston: I do! It’s….Pretty Stupid…User?
Mother [Coldly]: How cute, you’ve learned self-recognition. NOW GET OUT!
Mother [Sighing]: Didn’t I give you a job to do?
Tenpenny: Well, I found the cyber warfare division! And it is…………uh..…working, ma’am.
Mother: Winston, what are you even doing here? You don’t even know what a PSU is!!
Winston: I do! It’s….Pretty Stupid…User?
Mother [Coldly]: How cute, you’ve learned self-recognition. NOW GET OUT!
Tenpenny: How can you expect me to know this ruddy tosh when
you haven’t even shown me what it does! All I see are a bunch of spotted
teenagers desperately tapping at keyboards!
Mother sighs, walking past Winston and towards the pneumatic
door.
Mother: Follow me then, you bloody child! I’ll show you!
Tenpenny: THANK YOU, MA’AM!!
Tenpenny: THANK YOU, MA’AM!!
Mother [Sighing]: Do be quiet, Winston.
The door slides open, revealing a simple square room with
minimal decoration. The only sound, aside from the humming of fluorescent
lighttubes overhead, is the rapid tapping of keyboards and the sound of fan-blades
slicing through the air which, though hidden, blow a pleasant breeze up through
the interspersed grids placed across the metal floor. A large, square desk,
with monitors hooked up to the variety of computers in the middle of it, sits
in the middle of the room, with four teams on each side of the large desk.
Winston: So, is it anything like that movie--
Mother: If you say Swordfish, Winston, I’m going to hit you quite hard.
Tenpenny: Sorry Ma’am. I thought hacking involved a lot more green text scrolling down screens.
Mother: If you say Swordfish, Winston, I’m going to hit you quite hard.
Tenpenny: Sorry Ma’am. I thought hacking involved a lot more green text scrolling down screens.
Mother: Actual hacking, Winston, is a lot more slow and
tedious than that. For example, let me introduce you to our premier team: The
flaw team.
Tenpenny: Flaw team?
Mother: Dedicated to finding faults in programs and websites in order to exploit them and gain access through a variety of means.
Tenpenny: Flaw team?
Mother: Dedicated to finding faults in programs and websites in order to exploit them and gain access through a variety of means.
Mother walks to the desks in front of them, consisting of
six wooden tables manned by six individuals. Mother stands behind one
individual, a young woman with a blonde Mohawk, who is busy tapping away at her
keyboard whilst slumped back in a leather office chair.
Hacker: No…Nope..Nope………………….Nnn….Nope.
Tenpenny [Rolling his eyes]: How exciting.
Hacker: I think I’ve found o—Nope. Sorry. My mistake.
The hacker sighs, rubbing her eyes and continuing to search
through pages of code.
Hacker [Muttering]: Nope…Nope….Nope….Nope….Nope…
Mother: Trying to find security faults to exploit is a very lengthy process.
Mother: Trying to find security faults to exploit is a very lengthy process.
Winston: I see.
Mother spins on her heels, walking to the left towards a row
of five metal desks, each manned by two different individuals to make a team of
ten. Whilst five tap away rapidly on the keyboards, five more are stood behind
the desks in the middle of the tables, rapidly fanning at the titanic computer
and server towers stood opposite them.
Mother: This is our brute force team. They are running programs that…..well, basically, input a new password several hundred times a minute in an attempt to guess it.
Hacker [Angrily, at fan waver]: FAN THAT FUCKING THING
FASTER, JOE, THIS THING’S SO HOT THAT IT’S ABOUT TO SELL IT’S BODY FOR CRACK ON
THE SIDEWALK!!!
Joe [Angrily]: I’M FUCKING TRYING, HERNANDEZ, YOU PIECE OF
SHIT!! IT’S GODDAMN USELESS!!
Mother: Sadly, brute force hacking tends to put an enormous
strain on even advanced equipment. So it needs to be kept..cool.
Hernandez: I’M SEEING SMOKE, JOE!!!
Joe [Angrily]: WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP?!?!
Mother: Moving on…
Mother walks past the line of desks, turning right to the top of the square, constructed of six desks. Each desk has an individual sat on it, with a key difference being wooden dividers blocking each individual to their desk and to keep them concentrating on their own monitor. Mother stands behind a Middle Eastern male with spiky black hair and a thin, wispy goatee, watching as he stares blankly at his own reflection on the screen as he watches Facebook and, specifically, a message box to the lower right.
Mother walks past the line of desks, turning right to the top of the square, constructed of six desks. Each desk has an individual sat on it, with a key difference being wooden dividers blocking each individual to their desk and to keep them concentrating on their own monitor. Mother stands behind a Middle Eastern male with spiky black hair and a thin, wispy goatee, watching as he stares blankly at his own reflection on the screen as he watches Facebook and, specifically, a message box to the lower right.
Mother: This is arguably our most successful team: The
social engineering team.
Winston: Sounds interesting!
Mother: We have special users whose job it is to befriend or seduce high profile targets with a goal to get them to fork over their passwords or other personal info. The record time for such info has been three months. We’re hoping to get it down to one.
Winston: Espionage! Good lads!
Mother: How is the social engineering proceeding, Abdullah?
Abdullah [Quietly]: I’m..moving up to second base, Mother.
Mother: May good fortune be with you, child.
Abdullah [Quietly]: I’m..moving up to second base, Mother.
Mother: May good fortune be with you, child.
Abdullah [Sighing]: Thank you, Mother. Please leave so you don’t have to see me lose my dignity for the sake of this company.
Mother: Duly noted. As you can see, people are stupid and
you wouldn’t believe how little it takes to make them give us their
credentials. Abdullah here is a very successful young man: Being quite
handsome, he is admired by females and males alike, and has almost mastered the
art of social engineering.
Abdullah: It’s a curse. I don’t even know what love is anymore.
Abdullah: It’s a curse. I don’t even know what love is anymore.
Mother: Onto our final team: This team deals with general
information technology rather than hacking or anything similar. Encrypted
communications are their key speciality.
Mother walks over to the desks on the right, with Joel Sykes sat on the middle desk, wearing a radio headset and talking into it. The desks only hold two others, who are busy tapping away on their keyboards as they, presumably, communicate with the other Academies.
Mother walks over to the desks on the right, with Joel Sykes sat on the middle desk, wearing a radio headset and talking into it. The desks only hold two others, who are busy tapping away on their keyboards as they, presumably, communicate with the other Academies.
Tenpenny: A-ha! Finally, something that’s useful!
Mother [Sternly]: It’s all useful to us, Winston.
Mother [Sternly]: It’s all useful to us, Winston.
Tenpenny: And what about those ruddy buggers in the
masks?...What about hacktivism?
Mother: We leave the outside world to that task. They do a very good job of it as it is.
Mother: We leave the outside world to that task. They do a very good job of it as it is.
The smell of acrid smoke fills the air as Mother and
Tenpenny look over at the brute force desks, where Joe is busy trying to put
out a small fire now visible in the tower
of Hernandez’s computer.
Hernandez: AW SHIT IT’S ON FIRE! THAT’S THE THIRD ONE THIS
WEEK, JOE!!
Joe: MAYBE IF WE INVESTED IN WATER-COOLED PC’S, YOU IGNORANT
FUCK!!!
Hernandez leaps up from his seat and grabs Joe in a headlock
before slamming his head against the desk. The social engineering team watch
on, cheering wildly as Joe tries to strangle the gigantic Hernandez.
Tenpenny: Well, I think I’ve seen enough.
Mother: Same here.
Mother and Tenpenny walk through the automatic door as Joe slams Hernandez onto the desk, strangling him violently..
Mother and Tenpenny walk through the automatic door as Joe slams Hernandez onto the desk, strangling him violently..
**THE BELLEDONNE**
In the Belledonne Mountain Range, Antiope and the Spartan
Company are now dealing with one last mission in France. They are located midway up
the Croix de Belledonne, one of the largest peaks of the Belledonne, where the
snow is thick beneath their feet and the oxygen thin, burning the soldiers
lungs as they breathe. Despite this, they remain focused, watching as
Lieutenant Adler is busy setting up a series of small satchels around a white
painted steel blast door that is hidden within a crag within the mountain
itself. Antiope watches, arms folded.
Antiope: One last mission…for now.
Private Robertson [Nearby]: I hope so. Too goddamn cold up here.
Private Robertson [Nearby]: I hope so. Too goddamn cold up here.
Lieutenant Adler: Well…this is the last of the thermite I’ve
got. Hopefully it’s one last door to melt through.
Antiope: The last one, huh?
Lieutenant Adler: So it seems, ma’am.
Lieutenant Adler: So it seems, ma’am.
Antiope: Well, this shall be fun. And by fun, I mean a
fucking nightmare.
Lieutenant Adler: Will we die, ma’am?
Antiope: There’s a distinct possibility for it, yes.
Antiope: There’s a distinct possibility for it, yes.
Private Robertson: Is anybody else concerned?
Private Robertson looks around at the surrounding soldiers, who merely stand resolute in front of the door.
Private Jameson: Who gives a shit?
Private Robertson looks around at the surrounding soldiers, who merely stand resolute in front of the door.
Private Jameson: Who gives a shit?
Antiope: Adler, breach the doors. We’re going in. One last
time.
Lieutenant Adler steps away from the doors and calmly walks
over to the detonator, kneeling in front of it and flicking several switches.
Lieutenant Adler: BREACHING!!
Lieutenant Adler: BREACHING!!
A muffled explosion sounds, followed by the hissing of white
hot thermite as it melts through the door and its locks. Within mere seconds,
the door collapses backwards, revealing the darkened interior of a metal
coridoor leading into the mountain.
Private Jameson: Ah, here we go again.
Private Robertson: Exciting, huh?
Antiope: On me. Let’s go.
Private Robertson: Exciting, huh?
Antiope: On me. Let’s go.
Antiope leads the elite soldiers of Spartan Company through
the doorway and into the corridor. The lights have been completely cut out,
with only a dull orange glow from the emergency light guiding them ahead
through the winding corridor.
Private Robertson: I don’t like this.
Antiope: Does anybody?
Antiope: Does anybody?
Lieutenant Adler: It’s better than being sat at home.
Private Robertson: ….Yeah, but Adler’s fucking insane.
Antiope leads them to a pneumatic set of double doors, the
right door already opened to reveal the interior of the room ahead bathed in a
deep orange glow. Antiope shoves the left door open, walking inside: The room
appears barren and empty, with three rows of metal desks ahead of them,
completely stripped clean. On the middle desk of the second row sits a lone PC
which appears to have been accessed recently but, alas, the screen and keyboard
are spattered with blood. As Antiope steps into the room, she looks around:
Opposite her, to the left of another set of double doors, are three empty sets
of containment tubes to the right of the door itself. Her boots slide slightly
on the metal floor which is slick with blood and matted fur: Aside from the blood,
nothing else appears to be here, save for a few scraps of flesh stuck to the
walls and ceiling.
Lieutenant Adler [Gazing upwards]: Wow, these furry freaks don’t leave leftovers, do they?
Lieutenant Adler [Gazing upwards]: Wow, these furry freaks don’t leave leftovers, do they?
Antiope looks to her right at another set of double doors,
which appear to be locked tight with a control panel to the left blinking red.
She vaults over the row of desks in front of her, looking down at the PC and
reaching under the keyboard, pulling out a small plastic keycard and twisting
around, throwing it over to a female soldier with a blonde pixie cut who
swiftly catches it. A male soldier with a black ponytail leaps over the rear
row of desks and stands beside Antiope, leaning over the computer.
Antiope: Private Russo, can you get anything from this PC?
Private Russo: Assuming they haven’t wiped anything and blood hasn’t fucked with the circuitry? Sure.
Antiope: Private Russo, can you get anything from this PC?
Private Russo: Assuming they haven’t wiped anything and blood hasn’t fucked with the circuitry? Sure.
Russo begins tapping away at the keyboards, looking through
the computer’s files as the female soldier with short blonde hair walks over to
desk, snatching up a small notebook that was resting against the monitor,
flicking through it.
Antiope: Hopefully we’ll find something.
Antiope: Hopefully we’ll find something.
A young female soldier, Egyptian in origin and wearing a
black beret alongside the black fatigues and red combat vests of the Spartan
Company, steps beside Antiope, clutching an unscoped Mosin Nagant sniper rifle
in her hands as she looks ahead at the door.
Young Soldier: Is everything alright?
Antiope: Mm. Seems too quiet, though.
Antiope: Mm. Seems too quiet, though.
Female Soldier: Hm. Apparently there’s some files located in
the desk of a Joseph Robinson. Just through the doors to the right and down a
series of corridors.
Lieutenant Adler: Why didn’t Robinson take them with him?
They’ve gotta be useless.
Female Soldier: Apparently, they were preparing to completely empty the entire complex before our assault, but somebody decided to release the test subjects early..
Female Soldier: Apparently, they were preparing to completely empty the entire complex before our assault, but somebody decided to release the test subjects early..
An ominous silence fills the room as Antiope stops before
the containment tube.
Antiope: Well….That is certainly not a good sign.
Antiope places her hand against the empty containment tube before pulling it away, shaking her head.
Antiope places her hand against the empty containment tube before pulling it away, shaking her head.
Lieutenant Adler: What do you reckon, ma’am?
Antiope: This is going to hurt.
Private Robertson: You don’t say?!
Antiope: Hush, Private. Corporal Darcy! Can you get those files?!
Corporal Darcy: ….Can I have an escort, ma’am?
Antiope: Certainly.
Corporal Darcy: Then I shall certainly try. If I don’t come back…blow up this entire goddamn mountain range with my body inside of it.
Antiope: I’m sure Zeke will take up the challenge. Fallon, Hegg! Take your squads along with Darcy and get those files!
Fallon and Hegg [Saluting in unison]: MA’AM!!
Fallon and Hegg lead their squads, comprising of ten soldiers, ahead of Darcy through the double doors to the right of the room which slide open with a swipe of the keycard. The doors quickly slide shut, locking automatically as Antiope looks around the room.
Young Soldier: So, ma’am, it appears that the creatures were released early. Intentional sabotage?
Antiope: No idea, Corporal.
Corporal Darcy: ….Can I have an escort, ma’am?
Antiope: Certainly.
Corporal Darcy: Then I shall certainly try. If I don’t come back…blow up this entire goddamn mountain range with my body inside of it.
Antiope: I’m sure Zeke will take up the challenge. Fallon, Hegg! Take your squads along with Darcy and get those files!
Fallon and Hegg [Saluting in unison]: MA’AM!!
Fallon and Hegg lead their squads, comprising of ten soldiers, ahead of Darcy through the double doors to the right of the room which slide open with a swipe of the keycard. The doors quickly slide shut, locking automatically as Antiope looks around the room.
Young Soldier: So, ma’am, it appears that the creatures were released early. Intentional sabotage?
Antiope: No idea, Corporal.
Private Greenwald: Oh come on, Amari: This was clearly
sabotage. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was on Ocelot’s orders.
Corporal Amari: You believe Ocelot had a spy amongst
scientists loyal to the Patriots?
Private Greenwald: It’s not out of the question, is it? This whole Perfect Soldier Project is just completely fucked up and it wouldn’t surprise me if even Ocelot looked at it and thought it was too much.
Lieutenant Adler: And now Mother wants the paperwork related to it. She better be burning it..
Private Greenwald: It’s not out of the question, is it? This whole Perfect Soldier Project is just completely fucked up and it wouldn’t surprise me if even Ocelot looked at it and thought it was too much.
Lieutenant Adler: And now Mother wants the paperwork related to it. She better be burning it..
Antiope: That’s classified, Lieutenant.
Corporal Amari: It would be a bad idea NOT to burn it.
Corporal Amari: It would be a bad idea NOT to burn it.
Antiope: It’s Mother’s decision, at the end of the day. I
have no idea what she is going to do.
Private Robertson: Is no-one else concerned that we’re
probably stuck in a laboratory with a bunch of blood-hungry mutants?
Lieutenant Adler: Well…hopefully, they’ve had their fill
with the scientists.
The soldiers fall silent, hearing a distant rumbling and
banging of metal pipes.
Private Robertson: That was a fucking lie, wasn’t it?
Antiope: Steel yourselves, men and women. It’s not over yet. RUSSO! GET THOSE FILES DOWNLOADED!
Private Russo [Tapping away at the keyboard]: Working on it, ma’am. There’s not exactly much here.
Private Robertson: That was a fucking lie, wasn’t it?
Antiope: Steel yourselves, men and women. It’s not over yet. RUSSO! GET THOSE FILES DOWNLOADED!
Private Russo [Tapping away at the keyboard]: Working on it, ma’am. There’s not exactly much here.
Antiope: I don’t care. What Mother wants, Mother gets.
Corporal Amari slowly raises her rifle towards the northern doors of the room.
Lieutenant Adler: Ma’am, we should hold and fortify this position.
The banging grows in fervour as Antiope looks at Greenwald
and Robertson.
Antiope: Overturn the tables and mount your SAWs. I want them all on that door.
Corporal Amari: And the other door?
Antiope: I trust Darcy. She’ll keep them at bay.
Antiope: Overturn the tables and mount your SAWs. I want them all on that door.
Corporal Amari: And the other door?
Antiope: I trust Darcy. She’ll keep them at bay.
Private Robertson: I fucking hope so.
Robertson and Greenwald overturn the metal desks of the front row, sliding them together and mounting their machineguns on the side. Two soldiers join them at their sides, clutching boxes of what appear to be spare ammunition for the weapons. Antiope reaches into her pocket, quickly pulling out a pair of earplugs and stuffing them into her ears, a move which is followed by every soldier.
Antiope [Loudly]: CAN YOU HEAR ME?!
Robertson and Greenwald overturn the metal desks of the front row, sliding them together and mounting their machineguns on the side. Two soldiers join them at their sides, clutching boxes of what appear to be spare ammunition for the weapons. Antiope reaches into her pocket, quickly pulling out a pair of earplugs and stuffing them into her ears, a move which is followed by every soldier.
Antiope [Loudly]: CAN YOU HEAR ME?!
Private Greenwald: Can’t we just use sign language?!
Antiope: NO!
A loud banging, audible through the earplugs, rattles
against the door, followed by a violent punch which dents the door inwards
towards the soldiers. Lieutenant Adler walks to the side of the doors,
clutching the keycard tightly and looking over at Antiope who narrows her eyes.
Corporal Amari: Are you ready?
Antiope: Ready. OPEN THE DOORS!
Antiope: Ready. OPEN THE DOORS!
Antiope and Amari step backwards as Robertson and Greenwald
keep their machineguns steady. Adler wrenches the doors open as five mutants
pour forward, gnashing their teeth. In a murderous hail of gunfire, the initial
mutants are cut down in a deluge of blood and lead. Unfortunately, Robertson
and Greenwald have to keep tapping the triggers of their machine guns: The
walls of the corridor seem to throb before them as more and more mutants pour
forth. Five more of Spartan Company stand close to the sides of the makeshift
machinegun nest, opening fire with their assault rifles in an effort to stem
the tide of mutants heading their way.
Lieutenant Adler: Fuck me, that’s a lot of furballs.
Lieutenant Adler: Fuck me, that’s a lot of furballs.
Private Robertson: HOW MANY OF THESE FUCKING THINGS ARE
THERE?!?!
Antiope [Angrily]: YOU KEEP THAT DOOR LOCKED DOWN RIGHT
NOW!!
Private Robertson: We’ve only got so much ammunition!
Private Greenwald: WE’RE GONNA NEED SOME HELP!!
Antiope [Angrily, glaring at Russo]: PRIVATE! ARE THOSE
FILES DOWNLOADED YET?!
Private Russo: IT’S STILL TAKING ITS TIME! THERE’S A LOT TO
DOWNLOAD!!
Antiope [Pacing around]: AND WHERE IS DARCY WITH THOSE
FILES?!?!?
Corporal Amari: Give her time.
Antiope: We don’t have time!
Private Robertson [Somewhat desperately]: YOU’RE RIGHT!!!
Corporal Amari: Keep calm, Private, and keep firing.
Private Robertson [In pain]: I CAN FEEL THE CALLOUSES FORMING!!
Private Robertson [In pain]: I CAN FEEL THE CALLOUSES FORMING!!
Antiope: That’s what happens!
Private Greenwald: How many of these furry freaks are
there?!
Antiope: Looking at this room? Enough to kill. Keep firing.
Antiope: Looking at this room? Enough to kill. Keep firing.
Private Greenwald: These guns’ll fucking overheat if we keep
firing for too long!
Corporal Amari: That will be a problem, Antiope.
Antiope: Understood…….Keep firing.
Corporal Amari: That will be a problem, Antiope.
Antiope: Understood…….Keep firing.
Private Robertson lets out a guttural cry of despair,
continuing to fire into the throng of bodies trying to burst through the
doorway. The doors to their right open and Corporal Darcy quickly rushes into
the room, holding the folders.
Darcy: Found ‘em!
Antiope: Go! And I want a fifteen person escort with her!
Fifteen soldiers, somewhat too eagerly, quickly follow Darcy out of the room as she begins to escape the complex, leaving twenty-one of the Spartan Company’s handpicked soldiers to hold back the onslaught of the abominations. Private Robertson’s gunfire stops suddenly, allowing six soldiers to rush forward, ready their assault rifles and fire into the throng of corpses before them.
Private Robertson [Desperately, hitting the machinegun]: IT’S FUCKING JAMMED!!!
Darcy: Found ‘em!
Antiope: Go! And I want a fifteen person escort with her!
Fifteen soldiers, somewhat too eagerly, quickly follow Darcy out of the room as she begins to escape the complex, leaving twenty-one of the Spartan Company’s handpicked soldiers to hold back the onslaught of the abominations. Private Robertson’s gunfire stops suddenly, allowing six soldiers to rush forward, ready their assault rifles and fire into the throng of corpses before them.
Private Robertson [Desperately, hitting the machinegun]: IT’S FUCKING JAMMED!!!
Corporal Amari: This is what happens when you just hold the
trigger.
Antiope: Get it UNjammed as quickly as possible.
Antiope: Get it UNjammed as quickly as possible.
Corporal Amari: I fear we may be becoming overrun.
Private Robertson [Drawing his bowie knife]: ……Nah, fuck
that.
Antiope: Robertson..
Private Robertson [Grinning and twirling his knife]: If I’m gonna go to the grave, I’m gonna ride it on a tidal wave of blood.
Private Robertson charges forward, slicing through the throat of the first mutant with considerable ease, pushing it backwards and through the door. Several mutants mob Robertson as Greenwald continues reloading, but the arcs of blackened blood are evident that Robertson is not dying quite easily. Amari aims down the scope of her rifle, firing off several shots at a mutant with its back to her, causing it to collapse forward and revealing Robertson mounted on a second mutant, stabbing downwards into its muzzle and throat with great furore.
Antiope: Do not go gentle into that good night.
Private Russo: He’s going like a motherfucking madman into that night.
Antiope [Glaring at Russo]: ARE YOU DONE YET?!
Antiope: Robertson..
Private Robertson [Grinning and twirling his knife]: If I’m gonna go to the grave, I’m gonna ride it on a tidal wave of blood.
Private Robertson charges forward, slicing through the throat of the first mutant with considerable ease, pushing it backwards and through the door. Several mutants mob Robertson as Greenwald continues reloading, but the arcs of blackened blood are evident that Robertson is not dying quite easily. Amari aims down the scope of her rifle, firing off several shots at a mutant with its back to her, causing it to collapse forward and revealing Robertson mounted on a second mutant, stabbing downwards into its muzzle and throat with great furore.
Antiope: Do not go gentle into that good night.
Private Russo: He’s going like a motherfucking madman into that night.
Antiope [Glaring at Russo]: ARE YOU DONE YET?!
Russo holds up the memory stick.
Antiope: Then. Fucking. MOVE!
Russo quickly turns around, sprinting out of the room and quickly followed by twelve soldiers as his escort. Antiope slowly steps backwards, letting loose a shrill whistle.
Antiope: FINISH THEM OFF AND GET MOVING!
Private Robertson [Strained]: BUT I’M NOT DEAD YET!!
Antiope hangs her head, chuckling slightly as Robertson jogs
backwards out of the carnage. Greenwald quickly begins to open fire, cutting
down several more mutants in the hallway which is now awash with slickened
black blood. Robertson calmly walks over to Antiope, sheathing his knife at his
waist and wiping his eyes free from blood.
Private Robertson: Can I have a promotion?
Antiope: You can have two.
Private Robertson: Yay!
Private Robertson: Can I have a promotion?
Antiope: You can have two.
Private Robertson: Yay!
Corporal Amari: We should leave. We have everything that is
needed.
Antiope: Hopefully Mother can make use of it..
A low growling slowly rumbles from deep within the corridor, stirring beneath the bodies. Corporal Amari quickly raises her rifle, aiming down the scope.
Corporal Amari: Get back!
Private Robertson [Unsheathing his knife]: How the fuck are they not dead yet?!
Antiope: Hopefully Mother can make use of it..
A low growling slowly rumbles from deep within the corridor, stirring beneath the bodies. Corporal Amari quickly raises her rifle, aiming down the scope.
Corporal Amari: Get back!
Private Robertson [Unsheathing his knife]: How the fuck are they not dead yet?!
Private Greenwald: Not enough bullets?!
Private Robertson [In disbelief]: HOW MANY FUCKING BULLETS DO WE NEED?!
Private Robertson [In disbelief]: HOW MANY FUCKING BULLETS DO WE NEED?!
Antiope steps forward, throwing her arm up to stop her
soldiers advancing.
Antiope [Coldly]: Fall back. Now.
Antiope [Coldly]: Fall back. Now.
Corporal Amari: Ma’am--
Without warning, a mutated German Shepherd morph lunges forward, twisted muzzle gnawing violently at Antiope as it tackles her to the ground. Antiope yelps loudly as Private Robertson leaps onto the creatures muscled and twisted back, but is thrown off with relative ease. The creature stumbles up onto a pair of stumpy, gnarled legs, looking around as Antiope gets to her feet. Amari aims down her scope, but the creature lunges forward, locking both hands around her neck and hoisting her off of her feet. Amari punches the creature repeatedly between the eyes as Antiope leaps onto the creatures back, locking her arms violently around its neck. The soldiers step back, watching cautiously as the creature slowly falls backwards with Antiope’s arms still around its neck, Amari falling to the floor.
Corporal Amari [Choking, stumbling to her feet]: MA’AM!!
Without warning, a mutated German Shepherd morph lunges forward, twisted muzzle gnawing violently at Antiope as it tackles her to the ground. Antiope yelps loudly as Private Robertson leaps onto the creatures muscled and twisted back, but is thrown off with relative ease. The creature stumbles up onto a pair of stumpy, gnarled legs, looking around as Antiope gets to her feet. Amari aims down her scope, but the creature lunges forward, locking both hands around her neck and hoisting her off of her feet. Amari punches the creature repeatedly between the eyes as Antiope leaps onto the creatures back, locking her arms violently around its neck. The soldiers step back, watching cautiously as the creature slowly falls backwards with Antiope’s arms still around its neck, Amari falling to the floor.
Corporal Amari [Choking, stumbling to her feet]: MA’AM!!
The creature quickly reaches up, sharp claws slicing through
Antiope’s left forearm in an attempt to get her to relinquish the hold.
Antiope [Screaming, angrily and in pain]: FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!!!
Antiope [Screaming, angrily and in pain]: FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT!!!
Antiope braces herself, locking her legs around the
creatures waist before twisting her arms with all the strength she can muster. Antiope
snaps the creatures neck, holding it close as its legs scuttle violently
against the floor, its life ebbing from its body before Antiope lets it go,
letting out a deep breath.
Antiope [Quietly, rolling out from under the corpse]: I don’t get paid enough for this shit…
Antiope [Quietly, rolling out from under the corpse]: I don’t get paid enough for this shit…
Lieutenant Adler: Ma’am? Are you alright?
Antiope [Giving a thumbs up]: Never fuckin’ better..
Antiope [Giving a thumbs up]: Never fuckin’ better..
Adler holds her hand towards Antiope, who grasps it. Adler
hauls Antiope up to her feet and Antiope clutches her left arm, holding the
sizable wound.
Corporal Amari [Wincing and rubbing her throat]: That looks painful..
Antiope: It is. It fucking is.
Corporal Amari [Wincing and rubbing her throat]: That looks painful..
Antiope: It is. It fucking is.
Antiope turns around, accompanied by Amari, Adler and
Robertson, strolling through the doors which slide open. Standing in the
corridor, as predicted, are Ghost Company, with Callahay standing in front of
the group.
Antiope [Sighing]: Oh for the love of God..
Corporal Amari: I see the wraiths have awakened and have come to clean up the scraps.
Corporal Amari: I see the wraiths have awakened and have come to clean up the scraps.
Callahay [Enthusiastically]: GHOST COMPANY, COMING IN FOR
THE CLEANUP!!
Antiope rolls her eyes as Callahay steps forward, the Ghosts
stepping aside to line the walls of the corridor as she walks forward,
clutching her left arm.
Antiope [Mumbling]: Fucking Callahay, coming in to reap the rewards..
Antiope [Mumbling]: Fucking Callahay, coming in to reap the rewards..
Lieutenant Adler: Keep calm, ma’am. We’ll bring you home.
Lieutenant Adler continues past Ghost Company, who immediately take up the position that Robertson and Greenwald held before opening fire rapidly. Antiope looks over her shoulder, snorting derisively as Adler carries her out..
Lieutenant Adler continues past Ghost Company, who immediately take up the position that Robertson and Greenwald held before opening fire rapidly. Antiope looks over her shoulder, snorting derisively as Adler carries her out..
**BEALE STREET**
Back on Beale
Street, the mercenaries are back together. Or are,
at least, getting back together. The usual hangout of the Lamb and Flag is,
once again, thronging with people, the circular tables filled and chatter
flooding to the wooden rafters. Dick stands behind his dusty oak bar, looking
around before turning his head to the door as Phil walks through the
white-painted double doors.
Phil: Fucking hell, this place is full.
Phil: Fucking hell, this place is full.
Dick: Yep.
Phil walks over to the bar, slapping his hands on the counter.
Phil: I’ll have……
Phil walks over to the bar, slapping his hands on the counter.
Phil: I’ll have……
Dick: Don’t say “the usual”.
Phil: Not today, Dicky. Just gimme a double whiskey. The
good stuff, not the paint stripper that Jon sells.
Dick: Two glugs of Glenfiddich coming right up.
Dick: Two glugs of Glenfiddich coming right up.
Jericho
walks over, standing beside Phil.
Jericho:
Y’know, Jon shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that shit.
Phil: Well, if people drink it, he’ll serve it.
Jericho: Remember that time Frank drank drain cleaner on a bet?
Phil: How didn’t he die?!
Jericho: Some believe it’s nanomachines.
Dick [Setting the whiskey down on the bar]: He’s just a walking nanomachine hive is what he is.
Phil: Well, if people drink it, he’ll serve it.
Jericho: Remember that time Frank drank drain cleaner on a bet?
Phil: How didn’t he die?!
Jericho: Some believe it’s nanomachines.
Dick [Setting the whiskey down on the bar]: He’s just a walking nanomachine hive is what he is.
Jericho:
You’ve got that right.
Dick: Although some say that he’s just too stupid to die.
His brain doesn’t understand the concept of death and, as such, will continue
existing for millennia.
Phil: That’s…unsettling.
Phil: That’s…unsettling.
Jericho:
Yet probably true.
Phil takes his drink, turning around and coming face-to-face
with Ivan whose eyes appear somewhat glazed over.
Phil: Thanks for earlier, Ivan.
Ivan [Suddenly cackling]: KABOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
Dick [Taken aback]: Uh, guys, Ivan forgot to take his
medicine!
Phil: Hold him down, boys.
Dean, Karab, Bob, Johnny and Tim quickly pile onto Ivan, holding him to the floor as Phil reaches into Ivan’s pocket, pulling out a syringe and jabbing it into his left hip before rubbing the area into which he stuck the syringe.
Phil: Hold him down, boys.
Dean, Karab, Bob, Johnny and Tim quickly pile onto Ivan, holding him to the floor as Phil reaches into Ivan’s pocket, pulling out a syringe and jabbing it into his left hip before rubbing the area into which he stuck the syringe.
Dean: Y’know, it’s been a while since Ivan had an outburst.
Is he…healing?
Ivan [Cackling]: KAAAAAAAABOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
Ivan [Cackling]: KAAAAAAAABOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
Karab [Desperately]: DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A MAN WHO IS
HEALING?!
Bob: IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAN WHO IS MAD!!!
Ivan’s cackling slowly and gently subsides as his eyes
flicker back into life. He quickly sits up, looking around.
Ivan: Vell, zat happened.
Johnny: It certainly did, you bloody loon!
Ivan: Vell, zat happened.
Johnny: It certainly did, you bloody loon!
Ivan rises to his feet, dusting himself off as Johnny and
Tim walk over to their table closest to the bar, at which Billy, Sal and Vince
are already sat.
Sal [Taking a drink of vodka]: And the Russian remains insane.
Sal [Taking a drink of vodka]: And the Russian remains insane.
Billy: So does…whatever the fuck you are.
Sal: You’ve seen my grandfather. Can you blame me?
Billy: There’s nothing wrong with Keenan.
Sal [Angrily]: HE’S TAKEN YOUR FATHER TO DION’S OASIS!!
Sal: You’ve seen my grandfather. Can you blame me?
Billy: There’s nothing wrong with Keenan.
Sal [Angrily]: HE’S TAKEN YOUR FATHER TO DION’S OASIS!!
Billy: Exactly.
Vince: At least we have two people to take care of the mansion while we’re gone--
Billy laughs sharply.
Sal: What he said.
Billy: Mate, me pa can barely take care of ‘imself. There’s no way your mansion’ll survive.
Sal’s face drops as Ivan, Phil and Jericho squeeze past their table, sitting at their own table with Steve and Emilie. Dean and Karab also squeeze past, sitting at a table with Samuel.
Samuel: So, is everybody coming back?
Dean: Looks like it.
Dean: Looks like it.
The doors to the pub fly open, revealing the bulbous form of
the Emperor Penguin sniper himself: Mr. Dibbley. SVD on back and goggles over
eyes, he slowly waddles in.
Mr. Dibbley: Chaps!
The mercenaries scream in unison.
Mercenaries [In unison]: DIBBLEY!!!!
The mercenaries scream in unison.
Mercenaries [In unison]: DIBBLEY!!!!
Mr. Dibbley: It's good to see you all!
Billy: How the hell have you been?
Mr. Dibbley [Sighing, waddling over to Billy’s table]: Dealing with some bastard rapscallions..
As Dibbley sits down, the doors fly open and Bill Sykes stumbles in, looking around, his hair unkempt and wearing nothing but a pair of jeans.
Bill [Mumbling]: I heard this was the place to get a drink..
Phil [Calling over]: Mate, I think you’ve had a few too many.
Billy: How the hell have you been?
Mr. Dibbley [Sighing, waddling over to Billy’s table]: Dealing with some bastard rapscallions..
As Dibbley sits down, the doors fly open and Bill Sykes stumbles in, looking around, his hair unkempt and wearing nothing but a pair of jeans.
Bill [Mumbling]: I heard this was the place to get a drink..
Phil [Calling over]: Mate, I think you’ve had a few too many.
Bill: This? Nah, I was…..at the Academy.
Dean [Looking over]: Cleaning the helicopter?
Bill: Cleaning the helicopter—[Angrily] I FUCKING HATE MY BROTHER!! HOW COME JOEL CAN WALK IN AND BECOME MOTHER’S OWN ASSISTANT FOR CYBER WARFARE AND I’M STUCK CLEANING A DEAD RACCOON OUT OF A CHINOOK’S WHEEL-WELL?!?!
Dean [Looking over]: Cleaning the helicopter?
Bill: Cleaning the helicopter—[Angrily] I FUCKING HATE MY BROTHER!! HOW COME JOEL CAN WALK IN AND BECOME MOTHER’S OWN ASSISTANT FOR CYBER WARFARE AND I’M STUCK CLEANING A DEAD RACCOON OUT OF A CHINOOK’S WHEEL-WELL?!?!
Jericho:
Isn’t that called “meals on wheels” where you’re from?
Bill: VERY FUCKING FUNNY!
Jericho
[Smirking]: I thought it was.
Dick: Mate, the answer to your question is that it’s what you’re qualified for.
Dick: Mate, the answer to your question is that it’s what you’re qualified for.
Bill [Walking over to the bar]: How did Zeke even managed to
land on a fucking raccoon anyway?! There are none out here!!
Dick: He’s a mysterious lad, that one.
Bill walks over to the bar as the doors open once again:
Filing in, somewhat solemnly, are the Hispanic mechanics, led by Eligio who
appears to be displaying a somewhat forced grin, looking around with his arms
spread.
Eligio: Familia! Familia!
Bill [Looking over his shoulder]: Fuck, he’s already been at the tequila.
Eligio: Fuck you, cabron.
Eligio: Familia! Familia!
Bill [Looking over his shoulder]: Fuck, he’s already been at the tequila.
Eligio: Fuck you, cabron.
Bill shrugs it off as Eligio leads Bobby, Mustafa, Joseph
and Marcos towards an empty table.
Joseph: Do you think they know?
Mustafa [Hissing]: Shut the fuck up, Joey!
Joseph [Somewhat happily]: I used to be another random guy. Now I have a name. Isn’t it--
Eligio [Sharply]: Shut. The fuck. Up.
Joseph: Do you think they know?
Mustafa [Hissing]: Shut the fuck up, Joey!
Joseph [Somewhat happily]: I used to be another random guy. Now I have a name. Isn’t it--
Eligio [Sharply]: Shut. The fuck. Up.
Marcos [Getting up from the table]: Whatever. I’m going to
need a drink.
Marcos squeezes past Dean’s table as he looks over at Eligio, his eyes darting around the table.
Marcos squeezes past Dean’s table as he looks over at Eligio, his eyes darting around the table.
Dean: Where’s Melvin, anyway?
Eligio: Out somewhere.
Dean [Shrugging]: Cool.
Eligio: Out somewhere.
Dean [Shrugging]: Cool.
Samuel: That sounded ominous.
Eligio: He’s in a better place.
Samuel: That’s even worse!
Bobby: He’s in Cairo!
Samuel: For fucks sake!
Eligio: He’s in a better place.
Samuel: That’s even worse!
Bobby: He’s in Cairo!
Samuel: For fucks sake!
Eligio rolls his eyes as the doors open once more and,
finally, Frank quickly bounds into the pub and over to the bar, slamming his
hands against it and causing Dick to jump slightly.
Dick: Fucking hell!
Frank [Excitedly]: JIM BEAM! NOW!
Dick: Fucking hell!
Frank [Excitedly]: JIM BEAM! NOW!
Dick: Alright, alright! Calm down!
Bob, Fabien and Will walk into the bar, sitting at a table
where Robbie with Lupa and Dave are sat. Robbie looks up, looking at them.
Robbie: What?
Bob: ….Hello?
Robbie: Oh. Hello.
Will: What’s with him?
Robbie: What?
Bob: ….Hello?
Robbie: Oh. Hello.
Will: What’s with him?
Robbie: I’m busy trying to figure out what to do with my
U-boat crew while we’re out on the mission.
Will: Sell ‘em.
Will: Sell ‘em.
Robbie: I wish we could fucking sell you.
Fabien [Clapping his hands]: WELL! It’s nice to see such
happy faces!
Lupa growls slightly.
Dave: Please tell me you’ve fed her. I don’t want to be picking scraps of Will out of her shit.
Dave: Please tell me you’ve fed her. I don’t want to be picking scraps of Will out of her shit.
The doors fly open yet again, revealing none other than the South African sniper Krige and his spotter Cloete, having returned from Cairo.
Krige: Well fuck. The pub’s full.
Marcos [Walking over to the bar]: So it goes.
Marcos [Walking over to the bar]: So it goes.
Krige slowly walks over to the bar, looking at Bill
critically who simply stands there, drinking from a bottle of Budweiser.
Krige: Dick, give me some vodka. Now.
Dick: Say ‘please’.
Krige [Through gritted teeth]: Please.
Dick: Say ‘please’.
Krige [Through gritted teeth]: Please.
Dick: Atta boy.
Dick begins pouring the whiskey as Bill turns his head slightly, looking at Krige.
Bill: The fuck do you want?
Dick begins pouring the whiskey as Bill turns his head slightly, looking at Krige.
Bill: The fuck do you want?
Krige: Hello, schlub.
Bill [Badly imitating a South African accent]: Wehll, ello there boykie. Yeh got ehny krugerrands so ah can hunt a gahzahlle?
Bill [Badly imitating a South African accent]: Wehll, ello there boykie. Yeh got ehny krugerrands so ah can hunt a gahzahlle?
Krige [Narrowing his eyes]: Fuck you.
Bill [Laughing]: Somebody’s gotta take you down a peg.
Cloete: He’s right, y’kn--
Krige: Shut up, Cloete!
Krige: Shut up, Cloete!
Krige takes his drink, turning around and squeezing through
the tables towards an empty one close to the side of the room, next to the
wooden panelling and sitting at it with Cloete. Dean looks over from his table.
Dean: Krige, why don’t you try acting friendly?
Krige: Fuck you.
Dean [Turning back to his table]: I thought South Africans were supposed to be nice?
Samuel [Raising an eyebrow]: What…gave you that idea?
Dean: Don’t they all surf and shit?
Karab: It’s a country that is also filled with crime, extreme poverty--
Dean: Alright, alright!
Dean: Krige, why don’t you try acting friendly?
Krige: Fuck you.
Dean [Turning back to his table]: I thought South Africans were supposed to be nice?
Samuel [Raising an eyebrow]: What…gave you that idea?
Dean: Don’t they all surf and shit?
Karab: It’s a country that is also filled with crime, extreme poverty--
Dean: Alright, alright!
Robbie squeezes through the tables towards the table where
Dave, Bob, Frank, Will and Fabein are sat. Squeezing past Phil’s, Lupa growls
angrily at Winston, Born of Winston’s who simply lays there, completely and
totally unfazed by the wolfdog.
Robbie: Calm, Lupa. Calm.
Phil: Your wolf better leave my bulldog alone.
Dave: Mate, your bulldog is so fucking inbred that I’m surprised it can even walk on four legs and isn’t scraping its stomach across the floor while drooling.
Dave: Mate, your bulldog is so fucking inbred that I’m surprised it can even walk on four legs and isn’t scraping its stomach across the floor while drooling.
Phil: Don’t you think I know how horrendously inbred English
Bulldogs are?!?!
Dave: So why do you have it?
Phil: It reminds me of home! The Royal Family, to be precise. Yes sir, this horrendously inbred dog that can barely function and cannot have a natural birth reminds me of England. Well, the Royal Family.
Dave: So why do you have it?
Phil: It reminds me of home! The Royal Family, to be precise. Yes sir, this horrendously inbred dog that can barely function and cannot have a natural birth reminds me of England. Well, the Royal Family.
Dave: No, you were spot on with England.
Phil: Reminds me of Tennessee, too.
Dave: And Arkansas.
Robbie [Interjecting]: What about Texas?
Phil: Nah, Texas is the good Southern state. Like..nobody gives a shit about North or South Carolina, or Tennessee, or Arkansas, or Alabama, or Kentucky……..Or the rest of them.
Dave: And Maryland.
Phil [Laughing]: Maryland’s such a shit state that neither North nor South wants it. Same with Florida.
Dave: What about Delaware?
Phil: What’s Delaware?
Phil: Reminds me of Tennessee, too.
Dave: And Arkansas.
Robbie [Interjecting]: What about Texas?
Phil: Nah, Texas is the good Southern state. Like..nobody gives a shit about North or South Carolina, or Tennessee, or Arkansas, or Alabama, or Kentucky……..Or the rest of them.
Dave: And Maryland.
Phil [Laughing]: Maryland’s such a shit state that neither North nor South wants it. Same with Florida.
Dave: What about Delaware?
Phil: What’s Delaware?
Dave: Hang on, what were we talking about again?
Phil: My horrendously inbred dog?
Dave: Ah, yeah…..Mate, you’ve got to leave it behind.
Phil: I’ll find somebody to adopt it when we leave.
The doors of the Lamb and Flag fly open as, finally, Coach Lynch walks into the pub. The pub suddenly falls silent, their heads turning towards the doors as Lynch sighs.
Phil: My horrendously inbred dog?
Dave: Ah, yeah…..Mate, you’ve got to leave it behind.
Phil: I’ll find somebody to adopt it when we leave.
The doors of the Lamb and Flag fly open as, finally, Coach Lynch walks into the pub. The pub suddenly falls silent, their heads turning towards the doors as Lynch sighs.
Lynch: Well, tomorrow: We leave for the Sixties.
Will [Shuddering]: That most dreadful of time periods.
Dave: Hey, there’s nothing wrong with afros.
Will [Shuddering]: That most dreadful of time periods.
Dave: Hey, there’s nothing wrong with afros.
Lynch: Until then, let’s do what we’ve always done: GET
SHITFACED!!
A huge cheer goes up from the entire street as Lynch storms
over to the table where Dave, Robbie, Frank, Bob, Will and Fabien are sat.
Lynch: Wassup, fuckers?
Robbie: Lynch, you’re a Coach, right?
Lynch: That’s my title. Apparently.
Robbie: I need to know what the fuck to do with my U-boat crew while we’re out on the mission.
Lynch: Do what I do: Send ‘em to the Academy and let Father deal with them.
Lynch: Wassup, fuckers?
Robbie: Lynch, you’re a Coach, right?
Lynch: That’s my title. Apparently.
Robbie: I need to know what the fuck to do with my U-boat crew while we’re out on the mission.
Lynch: Do what I do: Send ‘em to the Academy and let Father deal with them.
Robbie: …Good point.
Tavi walks through the doors of the Lamb and Flag, looking
around.
Dick: Hey, Tavi. Can I get you a drink?
Dick: Hey, Tavi. Can I get you a drink?
Tavi: Nope, just checking this place out cause I thought I
heard cheering.
Dick: And you thought you’d pay a visit?
Tavi: No, I was worried there’s be mud-wrestling again. Took me days to clean ReLoaded’s walls after that.
Dick: And you thought you’d pay a visit?
Tavi: No, I was worried there’s be mud-wrestling again. Took me days to clean ReLoaded’s walls after that.
Dick: Nothing like that here: Just mirth, merriment and
alcohol.
Tavi: Mm. I see.
Dick: Lighten up and get a drink, will ya?!
Tavi: Mm. I see.
Dick: Lighten up and get a drink, will ya?!
Tavi: Sorry, I’ve got things to do.
Dick: Like breed your race back into existence?
Tavi [Taken aback]: What?
Dick: I’m onto you, Tavi.
Dick: Like breed your race back into existence?
Tavi [Taken aback]: What?
Dick: I’m onto you, Tavi.
Tavi gives a flustered snort, turning around and walking
straight out of the Lamb and Flag, slamming the door shut behind her. Lynch
walks over to the bar, watching as she does.
Lynch: What’s her problem?
Dick: Denial.
Lynch: Fuck, has the river burst its banks again?
Dick sighs loudly as Lynch laughs at his own pathetic joke. His laughter is cut short as the phone in the back pocket of his jeans vibrates and he quickly pulls it out, answering it.
Lynch: Yeah?
Mother: Hello, Marcus.
Lynch: Is everything alright, Mother?
Mother: As you know, you are heading out on a mission fairly shortly.
Lynch: It’s been too long since we were last on one--
Mother [Impatiently]: Indeed. Anyway, I am calling to let you know that, given the high risk that Ocelot now poses to our operations, Beale Street will soon be home to several temporary inhabitants to keep it protected whilst you’re away.
Dick: Denial.
Lynch: Fuck, has the river burst its banks again?
Dick sighs loudly as Lynch laughs at his own pathetic joke. His laughter is cut short as the phone in the back pocket of his jeans vibrates and he quickly pulls it out, answering it.
Lynch: Yeah?
Mother: Hello, Marcus.
Lynch: Is everything alright, Mother?
Mother: As you know, you are heading out on a mission fairly shortly.
Lynch: It’s been too long since we were last on one--
Mother [Impatiently]: Indeed. Anyway, I am calling to let you know that, given the high risk that Ocelot now poses to our operations, Beale Street will soon be home to several temporary inhabitants to keep it protected whilst you’re away.
Lynch: What kind of inhabitants?
Mother: Oh, you’ll see.
Mother hangs up. Lynch slowly slips his mobile phone back into his pocket, looking at Frank who slams his now-empty pint glass down, belching loudly.
Frank: DICK! GIVE ME MORE!
Mother hangs up. Lynch slowly slips his mobile phone back into his pocket, looking at Frank who slams his now-empty pint glass down, belching loudly.
Frank: DICK! GIVE ME MORE!
Dick [Pointing at Frank]: Either you pay or I’ll fucking gut
you.
Frank reaches into his pocket, pulling out a wad of cash.
Frank: Will this suffice?
Dick: Quite.
Frank: Will this suffice?
Dick: Quite.
Johnny: How did he get that?
Lynch: He made an actual successful gamble. About five years ago.
Frank: Saved the money in a secret bank account I never even knew about! Or forgot. I forget which one.
Johnny: …Yep, that sounds about right.
Lynch: He made an actual successful gamble. About five years ago.
Frank: Saved the money in a secret bank account I never even knew about! Or forgot. I forget which one.
Johnny: …Yep, that sounds about right.
Frank grins, taking his pint and looking over at Lynch who
remains somewhat stoic after Mother’s phonecall.
Frank: Is everything alright, Marky?
Lynch: I think so.
Lynch: I think so.
Lynch smashes his pint glass onto Frank’s head as the scene
fades to black.
