BACKSTORY PAGE
Previously On. Runs along the left side of the page interspersed with downsized panels from the previous issue where/if space permits.
A disaster unlike any other. A meteor has struck a major American metropolitan area directly. The entire Dallas/Ft. Worth region has been devastated, but even as it slowly recovers an infection has begun to spread across the city ruins killing some, and changing others.
Allister Dewitt; Son of a Texas minister, college sophomore, student athlete, and infected. Alister’s body is being corrupted by an alien virus brought to earth. He is stronger and faster than he ever was before, however his arm has been horribly twisted and mutated; his mind and personality may also be in the process of alteration.
After waking up in a nightmarish government research facility, Alister escaped with the help of a mysterious woman referring to herself as Gemini. During that escape, he lost control and slaughtered an entire patrol of soldiers. He left the fight injured by several bursts of fully automatic gunfire. He lost consciousness in Gemini’s arms.
Character Bios. Runs along the right side of the page and each section is matched with a close up of the character’s face.
1. ALISTER DEWITT: Born and raised in a small town outside San Antonio, Alister had a happy childhood and was close to both his parents and his older brother. His father was the reverend of the rural area’s small country church and he a was smart and active youth. He left for Arlington to attend university.
2. GEMINI: A strange woman with a mysterious past. She appears to be in her early twenties with a figure most would consider perfect. She’s also displayed great intelligence and knowledge of computer science. Although she tries to hide it, she speaks with a very light English accent.
3. B.M.C.U.                           The Biohazardous Material Containment Unit is an elite special forces group, trained to handle combat operations involving dangerous biological or chemical weapons which must be kept away from the public. They are selected for callous ruthlessness and to trained to always prioritize the mission rather than individual lives.
4. DR. CASTOR: The CEO of Castor Pharmaceuticals. He holds multiple degrees in biology as well as medicine. In addition to his pharma business, he also has investments in several other major industries and is one of the richest men in the world. He is the official face of the government’s relief efforts.
5. CASTOR PHARMACEUTICALS: Castor Pharmaceuticals the largest bio-medical corporation in the western world. It is known to have many connections to the government of the United States, as well as several other allied nations, due to its work during the Covid-19 crisis.
6. THE CONCIERGE: The Concierge follows Dr. Castor wherever he goes. She was a test subject for Castor Pharmaceuticals most cutting-edge research on genetic manipulation and hormonal effects on human growth. This has given her physical abilities at the peak of human potential.
PAGE ONE (montage)
Panel 1. A frenetic montage of gory, but indistinct imagery. There’s blood, viscera, unidentified meat, but everything is dark, out of focus, or too close to identify. It’s a nightmare and there’s nothing sensible or real to latch onto. Savage and animalistic figures move around the page but only glimpses of teeth and claws are visible.
1. NARRATION: Teeth.
2. NARRATION: Meat.
3. NARRATION: Hunger.
PAGE TWO (one panel)
Panel 1. Intro page. Alister lurches into a waking state. He is lying on a sofa bed in the living room of an apartment. His arm and torso have been covered in bandages. Gemini is in the kitchen brewing coffee and making breakfast.
1. ALISTER: GAAAH!
2. GEMINI: Easy there, tiger.
3. GEMINI: It’s alright, you’re safe here.
PAGE THREE (four panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER remains in bed and holds his head. GEMINI approaches and holds out a cup of coffee to him.
1. GEMINI: Here. I made it very black because you look like you need it.
2. ALISTER: I feel so groggy- like my head is full of cotton or something.
Panel 2. ALISTER takes the cup of coffee and blows on it. GEMINI is returning to the kitchen.
3. ALISTER: Thank-you. Your name is Gemini, right?
4. GEMINI: That’s right. I can only imagine how confused you must be right now, but I’ve got a hot breakfast of rehydrated eggs and rehydrated hash browns on the camp stove so why don’t we tuck in, and I’ll try and bring you up to date.
Panel 3. ALISTER stands up unsteadily, still holding his forehead with one hand. He takes a sip of coffee with his other hand and winces in response. Light is filtering in through an open window in front of him.
5. ALISTER: That’s sounds fine. I- Thank-you for helping me.
6. GEMINI (OFF): Don’t mention it. I think you’ll find that us helping each other works in both our best interests.
Panel 4. ALISTER leans out the window and looks at the street below. The entire city is a disaster area and there is rubble everywhere. The streets are blocked and everyone must walk.
7. ALISTER: God, it all really happened. I can’t believe it. So many people- My parents…
PAGE FOUR (four panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER turns back into the apartment and approaches the small dining table where GEMINI has finished laying out breakfast for them.
1. GEMINI: I don’t want to give you any false hope, a lot of people have died. But a lot of people have survived too, and in all the chaos there are a lot of people who are still missing right now, but are just fine.
2. ALISTER: I hope you’re right.
Panel 2. ALISTER sits down as the table and prays. GEMINI watches him awkwardly.
3. GEMINI: ….
Panel 3. ALISTER begins wolfing down his food. GEMINI eats as well but at a more reasonable pace.
4. ALISTER: Mm. Really good.
5. GEMINI: Well, you haven’t eaten in days. Personally, I’m getting a little sick of powdered eggs and hash browns that come out of a carton.
Panel 4. A close up of GEMINI. She motions with her fork as she speaks.
6. GEMINI: Alright, I guess I’ll start at the beginning. About eighty hours ago a meteor previous rated a three on the Torino scale, that’s the measurement of an asteroid’s size and chance of hitting earth, was suddenly upgraded to an eight. Less than half an hour after that Arlington Texas, and most of Ft Worth ceased to exist. Heads are rolling at NASA, I presume.
7. ALISTER (OFF): Where are we now?
8. GEMINI: My apartment in Dallas. The meteor was heading east when it hit so we were spared the worst of the destruction, but even here we’re not in great shape. The military has taken over and declared martial law across the entire metroplex.
PAGE FIVE (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER finishes off his cup of coffee while piling the last of the food onto his plate. GEMINI is finishing up her own meal.
1. ALISTER: Do you mind?
2. GEMINI: No, go ahead.
3. ALISTER: So, how did you find me? It can’t have been a coincidence that you just happened to be hacking into their security feeds.
Panel 2. Another close up of GEMINI. She has finished her breakfast and sits back with her own cup of coffee.
4. GEMINI: Actually, I’ve been investigating Castor Pharmaceuticals for years. They’ve been the go-to company for unethical government experiments long before the disaster. When I heard Dr. Castor had been made the head of relief efforts, I knew something was up.
5. GEMINI: You’re not the only person they kidnapped to hold in that facility. I started using the backdoors into their systems I’ve been building all this time, and here we are.
Panel 3. A close up of ALISTER. He is holding up his plate and shoveling the last morsels into his mouth.
6. ALISTER: So, you’re- what? Some kind of journalist?
7. GEMINI (OFF): It’s more like anarcho-hacktivist.
8. ALISTER: Hmm.
Panel 4. ALISTER looks uncomfortably across the table at GEMINI who looks awkwardly back at him.
9. GEMINI: Is that a problem?
10. ALISTER: No! It’s just- I don’t want to sound ungrateful but…
Panel 5. A close up of ALISTER looking sheepish.
11. ALISTER: Do you have any bacon? Or sausage? I’m still starving.
PAGE SIX (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI look at each other in a moment of anti-climax.
1. GEMINI: …I’m a vegetarian.
2. ALISTER: Dang.
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI both stand up and begin tiding up the dishes.
3. GEMINI: I suppose this is as good a time to tell you, that if you’re going to be staying here then you need to come with me to a relief distribution point to help me get groceries, because I don’t have enough food for two people.
4. GEMINI: In fact, I don’t even have enough food for one person the way you eat, apparently.
5. ALISTER: Fair enough. But won’t any soldiers we pass on the street be on the lookout for me?
Panel 3. GEMINI opens a drawer and rifles around inside.
6. GEMINI: Probably. Fortunately, you’re kind of a generic looking white guy, which plays to our advantage. I also know a few tricks, so if we stick to crowds, we should be fine.
Panel 4. GEMINI approaches ALISTER looking mischievous with multiple types of hair dye in her hands.
7. GEMINI: So, do you see yourself as more of a blond or a redhead?
8. ALISTER: Oh no.
Panel 5. GEMINI leads ALISTER by the arm towards the bathroom.
9. ALISTER: It’s that, or we shave it.
10. ALISTER: Well, blonds have more fun.
PAGE SEVEN (four panels)
Panel 1. A close up of ALISTER. His hair has been dyed blond, he is wearing a hat and sunglasses, and generally trying to look inconspicuous.
1. ALISTER: What day is it, again?
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI are walking down the ruined city streets together.
2. GEMINI: Monday.
3. ALISTER: And you picked me up last night?
4. GEMINI: Yes. Well- it was early this morning by the time I found you. But, yes.
Panel 3. Another close up of ALISTER. He is disturbed by his own thoughts.
5. ALISTER: I’m missing three days. I… died. I can’t- I can’t…
6. GEMINI: Alister? Are you okay?
Panel 4. A wide shot of the destruction around them. ALISTER and GEMINI are very small and mingled among several other survivors going back and forth from a larger crowd still in front of them.
7. ALISTER: I don’t know.
PAGE EIGHT (four panels)
Panel 1. A wide establishing shot. ALISTER and GEMINI approach the aid distribution point which is filled with people, survivors and aid workers. The shelter is operating out of a large cathedral, the doors are wide open and the area is filled with destitute people who have no other place to go.
1. ALISTER: It’s ironic. I used to take a lot of comfort from church. Not this church in particular I mean, just in general.
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI sit down on the edge of a pew inside the church. ALISTER is holding his chest and trying to calm down. GEMINI looks concerned.
2. ALISTER: It’s- My father used to say that there were two types of Christians. Those who believed because that was what their parents, society, whatever- tells them it’s right, and because it’s easy.
3. ALISTER: And those who come to Christ because they’ve felt the pleasures of this world turn to ashes, and were brought so low, they had nothing left but their faith.
Panel 3. ALISTER and GEMINI huddle together and speak softly so as not to be overheard in the crowded cathedral.
3. ALISTER: I always knew that I was one of the first, and that he was one of the second. But I wondered how I would hold up, if my faith were really put up to the test…
4. ALISTER: …I guess I’m not holding up so well is all.
5. GEMINI: Alister…
Panel 4. A wide shot of the entire cathedral which is filled with people and equipment appropriate to an extremely active emergency aid shelter.
6. GEMINI: Look, I know some people. We’ll get your… condition checked out and find out what to do about it. Your parents are just missing. And I know this city is a mess, but we will rebuild.
7. GEMINI: Don’t give up on me alright?
PAGE NINE (five panels)
Panel 1. FATHER LEO, a kindly looking, middle-aged, Hispanic man in the attire of a Catholic priest, stands nearby and speaks to both ALISTER and GEMINI.
1. FATHER LEO: She’s quite right young man.
2. GEMINI: Alister, this is Father Leo. He runs this shelter.
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI stand up. ALISTER and FATHER LEO shake hands.
3. FATHER LEO: I believe we’ve met before actually.
4. ALISTER: Yeah, we spoke a couple of years ago after your speech at the inter-faith conference on peace activism. I thought this was your parish, but I wasn’t sure you would remember me.
Panel 3. A medium shot of the trio speaking together.
5. FATHER LEO: Of course, I remember you. Your father was quite the firebrand back in those days. We didn’t always see eye to eye on everything but I never doubted his convictions or his sincerity. I respected him a lot.
6. ALISTER: He spoke very highly of you too, sir.
Panel 4. ALISTER bows his head in grief. GEMINI stands beside him and puts a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
7. FATHER LEO (OFF): I overheard you say that he was missing. I’ll keep him and your mother in my prayers.
8. ALISTER: Thank-you, that means a lot… I-
9. ALISTER: …Thank-you.
Panel 5. FATHER LEO leads ALISTER and GEMINI through the chaos, towards the back offices of the cathedral.
10. FATHER LEO: Follow me. Virgo is waiting in my private office.
11. ALISTER: Virgo?
12. GEMINI: Another friend of ours, hopefully one who will be able to get you to a doctor we can trust. Maybe you could already tell from my accent, or lack thereof, but I’m not a local. Virgo is a sort of… regional coordinator.
PAGE TEN (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER, FATHER LEO, and GEMINI enter the back office of the cathedral, which is cluttered with papers and supplies. Behind the desk waiting for them sits VIRGO, a tall athletic woman in short shorts and a tank top. She is working on a laptop.
1. GEMINI: And here she is. Virgo this is Alister, the one I told you about.
2. VIRGO: Great, hold on just a second.
Panel 2. GEMINI sits in a chair in front of the desk while VIRGO continues to work intensely on the laptop. ALISTER and FATHER LEO hang back and speak to each other.
3. ALISTER: Are you a part of this group of theirs?
4. FATHER LEO: I only met Virgo a few days ago when she helped me gather food and medical supplies here at the shelter. Although my name does seem to fit their coded identity scheme rather well, it’s just a coincidence.
Panel 3. ALISTER and FATHER LEO walk up beside where GEMINI is sitting, and VIRGO looks up from her computer at them.
5. VIRGO: Sorry about that, I was just following up on a lead for water supplies.
6. FATHER LEO: Good, we need some. Even rationing, we don’t have more than a few days’ worth left.
7. VIRGO: Yes, well, we can deal with that later. Now, this is rather awkward but- May I see your arm?
Panel 4. ALISTER unravels the bandages revealing his infected flesh and claw like hand. FATHER LEO and VIRGO are both shocked, and even GEMINI is somewhat uneasy.
8. FATHER LEO: Good lord.
9. VIRGO: Yes, that’s certainly- Well… it certainly brings you to the top of my priorities.
Panel 5. ALISTER begins wrapping up his arm again while the others regain their composure. FATHER LEO crosses himself.
10. VIRGO: I have a friend at Southern Methodist University, Dr. Richards. She’s one of the world’s leading experts in biochemistry, and more importantly, I trust her to keep this quiet.
11. GEMINI: When can we go over there?
12. VIRGO: I can take you there first thing tomorrow.
13. ALISTER: Great. Uh… now that we’ve settled that, I’m going to need lunch, because I don’t think I’m going to make it much longer without something to eat.
Panel 6. Everyone is the room jumps up and reacts to a commotion coming from the main area of the cathedral.
14. FATHER LEO: We’ve have volunteers making sandwiches, I’ll get us some-
15. FX: CRASH!
16. GEMINI: What the hell is that?
PAGE ELEVEN (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER leaves the room while the others watch him go.
1. GEMINI: Alister, where are you going?
2. ALISTER: You asked what the sound was. I’m going to find out.
Panel 2. A wide shot of the main area of the cathedral. ALISTER is emerging out of the back. A crowd is gathered around a large pile of supplies where an argument seems to be taking place.
Panel 3. ALISTER pushes through the crowd towards the center of the disturbance where several thugs are sorting through the supplies and preparing to take them. An aid worker has been struck and is laying stunned on the ground, being treated by his compatriots.
3. ALISTER: What are you doing?
4. MAFIOSI: Some goods that belonged to us were mistakenly taken here without being properly paid for. We’re rectifying the situation. Now fuck off.
Panel 4. A close up of ALISTER looking pissed off. A few bystanders crowded near him are looking at him nervously.
5. ALISTER: No.
Panel 5. A close up of the MAFIOSI who is the leader of the goons. He looks disdainful.
6. MAFIOSI: Excuse me?
Panel 6. The thugs have stopped going through the supplies and all of them are facing off with ALISTER. The crowd have backed up to give them space.
7. ALISTER: Leave now, or I’ll thrash you and throw you out.
8. MAFIOSI: Buddy, you are really going to get your ass kicked.
PAGE TWELVE (six panels)
Panel 1. One of the goons tries to punch ALISTER, but he catches the punch in midair.
1. GOON: The fuck?
Panel 2. ALISTER uppercuts the GOON and sends him flying. Another is coming up behind him.
Panel 3. ALISTER elbows the mobster sneaking up on him in the face.
Panel 4. The MAFIOSI tackles ALISTER at the waist and throws them both to the ground.
Panel 5. ALISTER twists over so that he is on top of the MAFIOSI and begins to punch him repeatedly in the face.
Panel 6. A close up of ALISTER’s bandaged hand which is beginning to come loose and show infected flesh.
PAGE THIRTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER continues to thrash the MAFIOSI but the GOON grabs his bandaged arm to make him stop.
Panel 2. The other thug grabs ALISTER’s other arm and together the goons pull him off the MAFIOSI.
Panel 3. ALISTER jerks to the side to cause the third thug to stumble forwards and lose his grip.
Panel 4. ALISTER backhands the GOON and again sends him flying.
Panel 5. The MAFIOSI has returned to his feet and tries to kick ALISTER in the head as he is picking himself up, but ALISTER catches the strike.
Panel 6. ALISTER tears through his bandages with his claws and leaves a long gash along the MAFIOSI’s leg.
1. MAFIOSI: AUGH!
PAGE FOURTEEN (four panels)
Panel 1. The two other criminals grab the MAFIOSI and begin to drag him away while ALISTER tries to rewrap his arm. However, several bystanders have already seen it and are reacting with disgust.
1. GOON: He’s some kind of freak!
2. MAFIOSI: Get me the fuck out of here!
Panel 2. GEMINI wraps a coat around ALISTER to hide his infection. FATHER LEO begins leading them both towards the back while VIRGO prevents any of the bystanders from following them.
3. GEMINI: Put this on, quick.
4. FATHER LEO: I think it would be best if you left out the back, follow me.
Panel 3. FATHER LEO holds open a door to the back areas of the cathedral for them. GEMINI takes ALISTER through it. In the background VIRGO is speaking with the crowd trying to calm them down.
5. GEMINI: That was a really stupid thing to do.
6. ALISTER: These people need those supplies. I couldn’t just let some wise guy wannabes make off with them.
7. FATHER LEO: Your heart is in the right place my son, but perhaps more tact should be called for in the future.
Panel 4. ALISTER and GEMINI step out into a back alley behind the cathedral. FATHER LEO’s voice emanates from the door they just passed through.
8. FATHER LEO: You should be able to get away discreetly from here. I’m going to return to Virgo and help calm the crowd.
9. ALISTER: I’m sorry. I was trying to help. I-
10. GEMINI: Let’s just get some place safe.
PAGE FIFTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI stick to the back alleys as they make their way back through the city. There are only a few other people around and they are all derelicts who give the pair no mind.
1. GEMINI: Alright, we’re nearly home.
Panel 2. GEMINI and ALISTER enter her apartment building’s stairwell through the backdoor. GEMINI moves to climb the stairs but ALISTER slumps against the wall and sits on the ground.
2. GEMINI: What’s wrong?
3. ALISTER: I’m sorry. I messed everything up-
Panel 3. ALISTER looks up at GEMINI who has returned to where he is sitting.
4. ALISTER: I messed everything up. I put you all in danger. I-
5. GEMINI: Look, I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to get so upset at the church. You’re still in a state of shock. You’re not thinking clearly, none of us are, so let’s just cut ourselves some slack.
Panel 4. GEMINI offers a hand to ALISTER and he takes it to pull himself up.
6. GEMINI: We’re still alive, so all we can do is keep moving, okay?
7. ALISTER: Okay… okay.
Panel 5. ALISTER and GEMINI climb the stairs together.
8. ALISTER: Why are you so intent on helping me?
9. GEMINI: This isn’t the first time you’ve asked me that. Isn’t the entire Christian ethos about helping others? What’s made you so cynical.
Panel 6. GEMINI and ALISTER stop in front of the door to her apartment. GEMINI is putting a key in the lock.
10. ALISTER: I don’t know. But I’d sure like to find out.
PAGE SIXTEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI enter the apartment and ALISTER immediately throws himself down onto the sofa bed.
1. GEMINI: Home sweet home.
2. ALISTER: I don’t mean to be a drag but-
Panel 2. ALISTER looks sheepishly from the bed at GEMINI who is shaking her head dismissively.
3. ALISTER: -we never got those sandwiches at the church…
4. GEMINI: You have got a one-track mind. We’ll have to grab those supplies tomorrow. In the meantime, I think I have some cheese and crackers around her somewhere.
Panel 3. GEMINI throws ALISTER a sleeve of Ritz which he catches out of the air. She leaves the box of crackers it came from on the kitchen counter.
5. GEMINI: Here.
6. ALISTER: Yay.
Panel 4. GEMINI hands ALISTER a can of EZ cheese while he tears open the package of crackers.
7. GEMINI: Next time you’re upset I’ll remember all it takes to cheer you up is a sleeve of Ritz and a can of EZ cheese.
Panel 5. ALISTER messily devours the cheese cracker sandwiches while GEMINI turns on her emergency radio.
8. ALISTER: Mm. These crackers are really good.
9. GEMINI: Well, at least make one for me.
Panel 6. ALISTER hands GEMINI a cheesy cracker while she sits on the bed next to him.
10. ALISTER: Not that I’m trying to justify taking all the food… but aren’t you worried about catching whatever it is I have?
11. GEMINI: I have a strong immune system.
Panel 7. A close up of GEMINI eating the cracker and trying to catch the crumbs with her free hand.
12. GEMINI: Also, whatever you have doesn’t seem very transmissible. While you were locked up in that facility, they had quite a bit of trouble taking samples from you because the infection kept dying.
13. GEMINI: I already passed all that info to Virgo to give to her contact at SMU, so we’ll see what Dr. Richard’s comes up with tomorrow.
14. FX: Bing, bong!
PAGE SEVENTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER looks over at GEMINI who is checking her tablet.
1. ALISTER: What is it?
2. GEMINI: Message from Virgo.
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI huddle over her tablet which shows a heavy troop presence in front of the cathedral.
3. ALISTER: Oh man. Those black ops guys are all over the place.
4. GEMINI: Well, we expected there would be some response. According to the Virgo they didn’t find any hard evidence, and most of the troops look like they’re getting ready to leave.
Panel 3. A close up of DR. CASTOR who is shown in a picture on the tablet. He is observing the scene of the fight in the cathedral.
5. GEMINI (OFF): Goddamn.
Panel 4. ALISTER looks over and GEMINI and he points at the picture on the tablet.
6. ALISTER: You know this guy?
7. GEMINI: That’s Dr. Castor. He’s the owner of Castor Pharmaceuticals I told you about. It was his appointment to run the relief operation that brought me to you in the first place.
Panel 5. ALISTER holds his head as though remembering the past is causing him physical pain.
8. ALISTER: He was- I think he was there last night. At the battle I mean.
9. GEMINI: That’s not his usual style. You must be a special project for him to be so hands on.
PAGE EIGHTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI gets off the bed and goes over to a cupboard. ALISTER has finished his crackers and is heading towards the box on the counter.
1. ALISTER: Sound ominous.
2. GEMINI: He is very dangerous; I won’t lie to you. But there’s no point worrying about it now. All we’re doing is lying low and killing time until our appointment tomorrow.
Panel 2. ALISTER stands in the kitchen and continues eating while GEMINI goes through her cupboard which is full of board games.
3. GEMINI: You like board games? There’s no electricity and my little solar panel doesn’t put out enough power to waste on the TV.
4. ALISTER: I’m pretty good at checkers.
Panel 3. GEMINI pulls out a box and ALISTER looks nervously over at the sofa bed.
5. GEMINI: We’ll play backgammon then.
6. ALISTER: Sound great- uh, listen… is this the only bed in the apartment?
Panel 4. GEMINI is opening the box while ALISTER sits down at the table with his cheese and crackers.
7. GEMINI: That’s right.
8. ALISTER: Right- um… I guess I’ll be sleeping on the floor then.
Panel 5. A close up of GEMINI. She is setting up the backgammon board on the table and using the game to avoid eye contact while she speaks.
9. GEMINI: Well, you certainly can, if you really want to that is. But so long as you keep your clothes on and stay on your side, then I don’t mind sharing. If you don’t mind.
Panel 6. A close up of ALISTER. He is trying to look upbeat even though he is still a little nervous.
10. ALISTER: No, I- I don’t mind at all. Sounds fine.
11. GEMINI (OFF): That’s settled then. Now do you want to roll first, or shall I?
PAGE NINETEEN (four panels)
Panel 1. An establishing shot of the research facility from the first issue. The sun is setting and the entire area is filled with military troops on high alert. MR. FOX and MS. KIDD, the government agents from Shadowmancer are disembarking from a military convoy.
Panel 2. Both of the agents are escorted into the building by a soldier. All around them there are signs of massive new troop deployments in the city.
Panel 3. The agents enter a cavernous office where DR. CASTOR is waiting for them. The space was originally a court room but all the furniture has been removed and a desk has been placed on the raised dais where the judge was originally positioned. DR. CASTOR is sorting through several tablets and paper documents. The CONCIERGE is nearby and exercising in what was originally the jury area, which is now set up as a gym, she is bench pressing a ridiculously large set of weights.
1. DR. CASTOR: I’ll speak to you in a moment.
2. MS. KIDD: Whenever you’re ready for us sir.
Panel 4. The agents wait next to the CONCIERGE who has finished weight lifting and is sitting up. She flexes and sneers at MS. KIDD.
3. CONCIERGE: I hope you’re not feeling too intimidated standing next to a real woman, scarecrow.
4. MS. KIDD: I’ll manage.
PAGE TWENTY (five panels)
Panel 1. DR. CASTOR turns his attention towards the agents who both begin walking towards him. The CONCIERGE towels herself off.
1. DR. CASTOR: I trust you were both briefed on the general situation while enroute?
2. MS. KIDD: Yes sir.
Panel 2. Both agents take seats positioned directly in front of DR. CASTOR’s desk.
3. DR. CASTOR: Good, then we’ll be putting you to work right away.
4. MS. KIDD: We’re ready sir.
Panel 3. A close up of DR. CASTOR.
5. DR. CASTOR: Our primary concern is the escaped subject 13. However, our current research indicates that his form of infection is rare, but not unique, so you will also be tasked with leading the effort to find any other ‘alpha type’ infected.
Panel 4. The meeting continues. DR. CASTOR is closely examining the agents. MR. FOX remain implacable; MS. KIDD is doing her best to look professional.
6. DR. CASTOR: The entire resources of the occupation are at your disposal, and you’ll be reporting to me directly. I’m told the two of you are the best and this kind of work, is that the case?
7. MS. KIDD: Yes sir.
Panel 5. DR. CASTOR turns his attention back to his other business and the agents get up to leave.
8. DR. CASTOR: You’d better be. Good hunting agents.
PAGE TWENTY-ONE (seven panels)
Panel 1. The MAFIOSI is lying on a couch in a small dark office. His leg is wrapped in bandages and he looks to be in severe pain. His henchmen are standing nearby and all of them are looking in fear and awe towards the DON, a heavy set and balding man in a very expensive looking suit and holding a cigar.
1. GOON: The guy messed him up real bad. The back-alley patch we brought him to said the femoral artery was severed and if we’d been twenty minutes later, he’d have died.
2. MAFIOSI: He was some kind of- some kind of monster boss.
Panel 2. A close up of the DON, who cuts the end off his cigar.
3. DON: And what were you doing at the cathedral in the first place?
Panel 3. A close up of the MAFIOSI looking nervous
4. MAFIOSI: It was that bitch holed up there. We told her she had to give us a cut of any supplies she gathered on our territory, and she told us to fuck off, so we went there to collect.
Panel 4. A close up of the DON who is lighting his cigar.
5. DON: And did I tell you to go there, humiliate yourself, and smear our organization in front of the people whose goodwill we rely on to remain in business?
Panel 5. The MAFIOSI and his men are exchanging worried looks but the DON continues to act very nonchalant.
6. MAFIOSI: I don’t understand-
7. DON: Did I tell you to go there, humiliate yourself, and smear our organization in front of the people whose goodwill we rely on to remain in business?
Panel 6. The DON is screaming at the men who are cringing in terror.
8. DON: Did I tell you to go there, humiliate yourself, and smear our organization in front of the people whose goodwill we rely on to remain in business!?
9. MAFIOSI: N- no sir.
Panel 7. The MAFIOSI stumbles to his feet with the assistance of his two thugs, and all three of them rush to try and get away from the DON, who is still in an utter rage.
10. DON: Then how about you get the fuck out of my office and don’t do a single Goddamn thing until I tell you to! Do you think you fucking mental retards can manage that!?
11. MAFIOSI: Yes sir! Absolutely sir!
PAGE TWENTY-TWO (three panels)
Panel 1. A small inset panel of the DON smoking his cigar. He is still red in the face from shouting, but has calmed down.
1. DON: -pack of fuckin’ numbskulls
2. DWAIN (OFF): What do you want me to do boss?
Panel 2. Another small panel similar to the first, but there is now a shadow being cast by DWAIN, who the DON is speaking to.
3. DON: I don’t want any trouble started. Not with troops on the streets. Can I trust you to handle this matter with discretion?
Panel 3. A shot of DWAIN. He is and absurdly broad and tall African-American with a build with a bodybuilder. He is clean shaven with a crew cut. He is wearing a tank-top and signs of infection can be seen spreading on his torso, emanating from his chest.
4. DWAIN: Absolutely boss.
5. DWAIN: No question.