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 and 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.
Now that they’ve escaped from the military, Alister and his new ally Gemini have been trying to lay low until they can find out what the government wants. However, while picking up supplies from a local distribution point, Alister confronted a group of gangsters trying to rob the place. In doing so, has brought himself to the attention of the mob, and another infected who works for them…
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. FATHER LEO: Father Leo is an ordained Catholic minister holding a Ph.D. in Theology from Notre Dame. Although initially considered to be on the fast track for promotion within the catholic hierarchy, Leo has been hesitant to leave his local community where he is an important civil rights activist.
4. VIRGO: Virgo was born in rural Texas, but left home as a teenager when her conservative parents objected to her transsexuality. She spent time in Austin as a street artist, before becoming involved in Socialist activism and other far-left causes.
5. 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.
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.
7. THE DON: The Dallas Mafia is one of the oldest and most dangerous criminal organizations in the United States. They are led by a mysterious ‘Godfather’ like figure. However, the old crime family has begun losing ground to the new Mexican cartels.
8. DWAIN: Dwain grew up on the wrong side of town and was forced to become involved in gangs in his youth just to survive. Unlike many gang members, however, he was smart and competent as well as trustworthy. These traits brought him to the attention of La Costa Nostra, who made him one of their chief enforcers.
PAGE ONE (four panels)
Panel 1. A close up of GEMINI’s sleeping face. There is a sizzling sound in the air.
Panel 2. Another close up of GEMINI, but she is beginning to wake up. The sizzling continues.
1. GEMINI: Mmnnn.
Panel 3. A wide shot of the entire apartment. ALISTER is in the kitchen, already dressed, and making food. GEMINI sits up in bed and stretches.
2. GEMINI: What’s for breakfast?
3. ALISTER: Dehydrated potatoes, dehydrated eggs, dehydrated cheese, dehydrated coffee, dehydrated bread…
4. GEMINI: You’re making me thirsty.
Panel 4. A close up of GEMINI rubbing her eyes and yawning.
5. GEMINI: Oh well… Could be worse…
PAGE TWO (one panel)
Panel 1. A full-page splash of the military checkpoint which has been established in front of the cathedral shelter. A long line of survivors has formed and is waiting to get aid. Despite the destruction and misery on the ground the sky is clear and beautiful. The title and credits are shown.
PAGE THREE (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI are eating breakfast together at the table. GEMINI is looking at a tablet which is drawing power from a small solar panel in the window, one of the straps of her nightgown has fallen down her shoulder.
Panel 2. A close up of ALISTER. He gestures towards GEMINI’s shoulder with his fork.
1. ALISTER: You… your-
Panel 3. GEMINI fixes her clothes and ALISTER turns back to his plate where he’s scooping up the final remains of his meal.
2. GEMINI: Are you feeling okay?
3. ALISTER: Fine, yeah. Feeling good, actually.
Panel 4. A close up of GEMINI smirking.
4. GEMINI: Glad to hear it.
Panel 5. A medium shot of the pair. ALISTER has finished and stood up. GEMINI is beginning to eat more quickly.
5. ALISTER: C’mon let’s get going, we got stuff to do. Let’s get to it.
6. GEMINI: I’m telling you now- If you insist on being a morning person, then this just isn’t going to work.
PAGE FOUR (five panels)
Panel 1. An establish shot of ALISTER and GEMINI on the SMU campus. A man in a red improvised robe is handing out leaflets.
1. ALISTER: Who the heck are those guys?
2. GEMINI: Children of the Comet, this weird cult that’s started showing up around the city. They worship the meteor or something.
Panel 2. ALISTER and GEMINI walk down the sidewalk together.
3. ALISTER: Are you serious?
4. GEMINI: Sure am! Look some people are nuts, what do you want from me?
Panel 3. The CULTIST approaches the pair with a hand-drawn leaflet.
5. CULTIST: Friends! Did you know that this disaster was truly a message from God?
Panel 4. The CULTIST tries to give ALISTER the leaflet but ALISTER slaps it to the ground in disgust. GEMINI tries to pull him away by the arm.
6. ALISTER: Do you know how many people died- are dying. You think God did this? Are you crazy!?
7. GEMINI: Easy there, tiger.
Panel 5. ALISTER and GEMINI walk away arm in arm. The CULTIST picks up his leaflet from the ground behind them.
8. GEMINI: We’re trying not to lose our cool today, remember?
9. ALISTER: You’re right, you’re right.
10. ALISTER: When you’re right, you’re right.
11. CULTIST: God blinded NASA’s eyes! God hardened pharos’s heart!
PAGE FIVE (four panels)
Panel 1. A wide shot of ALISTER and GEMINI approaching the science building, still arm in arm. VIRGO and DR. RICHARDS are waiting for them, VIRGO is shaking her head.
1. VIRGO: I can’t leave you two on your own for five seconds, can I?
2. GEMINI: I don’t want to hear about it.
Panel 2. A medium shot of VIRGO and DR. RICHARDS, an attractive middle aged blond woman in conservative lab attire who wears a pair of glasses.
3. VIRGO: This is Dr. Alison Richards.
4. DR. RICHARDS: Hello.
Panel 3. GEMINI shakes hands with DR. RICHARDS. ALISTER holds up his bandaged hand in lieu of a handshake.
5. GEMINI: Gemini. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve read some of your work.
6. ALISTER: Hi, I’m Alister. I er- haven’t read… anything really. But I’ve heard good things.
Panel 4. The four of them go enter the building together. GEMINI and ALISTER are holding hands again.
7. DR. RICHARDS: Sorry, things are still kind of a mess around here.
8. VIRGO: Things are a mess everywhere, it’ll be fine.
9. DR. RICHARDS: I have a lab room set aside for us.
10. ALISTER: Sounds great.
11. DR. RICHARDS: You’re not afraid of needles, are you?
12. ALISTER: Er…
PAGE SIX (six panels)
Panel 1. The four are in a lab set up like a doctor’s office. ALISTER is in an examination chair and looking intently at GEMINI, who has a hand on his normal shoulder. DR. RICHARD’s is taking a blood sample from his other arm, which is still mostly bandaged, and ALISTER is deliberately avoiding watching. VIRGO leans against a nearby wall smirking.
1. DR. RICHARDS: Just a little prick now.
2. VIRGO: Bet you’re usually on the other side of that line.
3. DR. RICHARDS: Which one of us?
4. VIRGO: Both.
Panel 2. ALISTER is still looking intently at GEMINI, but she is smirking at VIRGO.
5. GEMINI: He’s not that sort of guy.
6. VIRGO: Don’t sound so disappointed.
Panel 3. GEMINI and VIRGO playfully face off against one another with ALISTER between them.
7. VIRGO: Unless maybe you’re suggesting it’s not so small.
8. ALISTER: Ladies, please. I’m a person. A living thinking human, not a piece of meat for your amusement. And besides that-
Panel 4. ALISTER turns on DR. RICHARDS who is looking concerned and trying to stab the needle into his arm.
9. ALISTER: -Are you still not done yet?
10. DR. RICHARDS: I can only keep the hypodermic in for a moment before something pushes it out. Can you unwrap the whole thing please?
Panel 5. ALISTER sighs and begins unwrapping his arm. GEMINI stands nearby.
11. ALISTER: Well, you asked for it.
12. GEMINI: He’s not feeling sick like some of the other people who were near the impact point. But his arm is sort of…
Panel 6. ALISTER holds out his arm and extends his claw. The necrotic flesh on his arm has now been covered by an exo-skeleton in places. DR. RICHARD reacts with a mixture of surprise and fascination.
13. DR. RICHARDS: Jesus Christ.
14. ALISTER: That’s who I’m going to have to count on to bail me out of this mess, it looks like.
15. DR. RICHARDS: We’re going to have to do a lot of tests. I mean I was already prepared to have to do a lot of tests. But…
16. DR. RICHARDS: …We’re going to be doing a lot of tests.
PAGE SEVEN (six panels)
Panel 1. VIRGO and DR. RICHARDS leave the room together. VIRGO is holding the door open for DR. RICHARDS, who is carrying a tray of samples.
1. DR. RICHARDS: I’m going to get work started on these. I’ll be back in a bit.
2. VIRGO: I’m going back to the shelter, check in with me when you get back home.
3. GEMINI: Sure.
Panel 2. A close up of VIRGO as she closes the door behind her.
4. VIRGO: Stay out of trouble now you two.
Panel 3. ALISTER leans back on the examination table and GEMINI mills around the room.
Panel 4. ALISTER sits up. GEMINI is still wandering around absentmindedly.
5. ALISTER: So, Gemini. Not your real name I take it.
6. GEMINI: No?
7. ALISTER: I’m not trying to be pushy. I’d just like to know more about you now that we’re…
8. GEMINI: Now that we’re what?
Panel 5. A close up of ALISTER try to be diplomatic.
9. ALISTER: -friends?
10. GEMINI (OFF): Friends…?
Panel 6. A close up of GEMINI smiling dreamily.
11. GEMINI: Sounds nice.
PAGE EIGHT (six panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI sits down next to ALISTER.
1. GEMINI: No, Gemini isn’t what my father named me, but I already left that name behind.
2. ALISTER: Didn’t get along with your family?
Panel 2. A close up of GEMINI with her eyes closed, lost in memory.
3. GEMINI: Lots of money, no love. Not an original story.
Panel 3. GEMINI stands up and paces back and forth. ALISTER watches her.
4. GEMINI: I left England for the United States to attend MIT before I dropped out.
5. ALISTER: To become a cyber-terrorist?
Panel 4. ALISTER and GEMINI continue to talk, but are interrupted by DR. RICHARDS reentering the room.
6. GEMINI: That’s right-
7. DR. RICHARDS: Alright I’m back.
Panel 5. ALISTER hops to his feet and approaches DR. RICHARDS.
8. ALISTER: Well, let’s get this over with. What are the results?
9. DR. RICHARDS: Results? Oh, we’re nowhere near that part. Those were just some initial samples; we’ve got a whole day ahead of us.
Panel 6. DR. RICHARDS leads ALISTER and GEMINI out of the room.
10. DR. RICHARDS: C’mon I’m going to put you in a little coffin and blast you with loud noises. You’ll love it.
PAGE NINE (six panels)
Panel 1. Another establishing shot of the science building from outside. It is now late afternoon.
1. DR. RICHARDS (OFF): We’ll know more in a few days, but right now we are sure of a few things.
Panel 2. ALISTER, GEMINI, and DR. RICHARDS are now sitting in her office which is still in a state of disorder after the disaster.
2. DR. RICHARDS (OFF): It’s a bacterium, similar in some ways to leprosy, but for the most part, it’s completely unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. At this point we have no idea where it came from, but given the recent disaster…
Panel 3. A close up of ALISTER. He looks upset.
3. ALISTER: The meteor? I’ve been infected by some kind of alien!? How do we get rid of it?!
Panel 4. DR. RICHARDS stands up and begins to pace. GEMINI tries to keep ALISTER calm.
4. ALISTER: There must be some way to kill it, isn’t there?
5. DR. RICHARDS: Oh, we can kill it no problem. As I said, it’s a bacterium and antibiotics will kill it just like any bacteria. In fact, if it is extraterrestrial, that just means it would have any immunity to penicillin or any other earth medicine. That’s not the problem.
Panel 5. DR. RICHARDS prepares some X-rays to present to the others.
6. GEMINI: Then what is the problem?
7. DR. RICHARDS: If we cure the disease, then we’ll kill the patient.
Panel 6. The X-rays show the progress of the infection which has spread all along his right arm and into his lower brain.
8. ALISTER: Well, I don’t want that to happen.
9. DR. RICHARDS: This bacteria isn’t just eating your flesh like leprosy, it’s replacing your body with itself. Your arm has already been totally replaced. It’s already spread into your right lung, which is bad, but there’s probably enough healthy tissue left that you would be able to survive.
10. DR. RICHARDS: Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about your head. The infection has spread to your hind brain; it’s now responsible for you eating, breathing, making your heart beat. Lots of other functions you just can’t live without.
11. ALISTER: Oh God.
PAGE TEN (five panels)
Panel 1. An establish shot of the cathedral. FATHER LEO is leading a pair of cultists to the door. VIRGO is approaching from the street.
1. FATHER LEO: You’re free to speak your mind, but there are people inside who lost loved ones in the disaster and you’re upsetting them, so I’m afraid you’ll have to leave.
2. VIRGO: Hey, father!
Panel 2. The cultists stalk off ominously. VIRGO and FATHER LEO watch them go.
3. CULTIST: You blind your own eyes. But soon you will be made to see. We relent for now, but you will hear God’s message, I tell you now.
Panel 3. VIRGO and FATHER LEO head inside the cathedral together.
4. VIRGO: What a bunch of freaks.
5. FATHER LEO: They’re just scared. This so-called message from God is just a way from them to contextualize what happened. To give the destruction some meaning, so they don’t feel helpless.
Panel 4. VIRGO and FATHER LEO walk across the cathedral towards the back office.
6. VIRGO: Odd thing for a priest to say.
7. FATHER LEO: There’s a difference between superstition and spirituality, my dear. Please bear that in mind.
Panel 5. A wide shot of the entire cathedral shelter. VIRGO and FATHER LEO are looking back at the main entrance where DWAIN has entered with a gang of mafiosi.
8. VIRGO: I will-
9. VIRGO: Who the hell is that?
PAGE ELEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1. VIRGO and FATHER LEO approach the intruders who are intimidating some of the civilians present. DWAIN stands aloof from the others.
1. FATHER LEO: Language, mi hija
2. VIRGO: Sorry father.
Panel 2. DWAIN steps in front of VIRGO and FATHER LEO with his arms folded. Behind him the mafiosi are continuing to harass the people at the shelter.
3. FATHER LEO: This is a house of God. If your intentions are to do violence then you must go.
Panel 3. A close up of DWAIN looking completely stoic.
4. DWAIN: You know who we want. Call him and tell him to get his ass over here, or we bust up the joint. That simple.
Panel 4. FATHER LEO tries to approach closer, but stops short when DWAIN takes off his jacket and throws it at him. He’s wearing a tank top and signs of DWAIN’s infection are visible on his shoulders.
5. FATHER LEO: I’m not going to let you-
6. DWAIN: You can’t stop me. Now get the one we’re looking for over here before someone calls the military back here again.
Panel 5. VIRGO rushes to help FATHER LEO and they consult with one another.
7. VIRGO: We have to call the cops.
8. FATHER LEO: No! If the military is called back here again, they’ll close the shelter.
9. VIRGO: Then what do we do?
PAGE TWELVE (six panels)
Panel 1. DR. RICHARDS hands ALISTER a prescription bottle. He’s still in shock after what he’s been told.
1. DR. RICHARDS: Here, it’s penicillin and a few other generic antibiotics other people here at the university had left over in their medicine cabinets.
2. ALISTER: In case I want to end it all?
Panel 2. DR. RICHARDS returns to her seat behind her desk. ALISTER pops one of the pills.
3. DR. RICHARDS: Of course not. It would take a heavy course to completely eradicate the infection, but what we want to do is just retard it’s spread until we can find a way to remove it safely.
4. ALISTER: I’m not sure that solution will be forthcoming, but it’s something to hope for, I suppose.
Panel 3. ALISTER slumps with his head in his hands. GEMINI rubs his back.
5. GEMINI: Is this infection related the mystery sickness that’s been going around?
6. DR. RICHARDS: Not sure, the government is keeping everything very hush hush. From what I’ve heard, all anyone else has reported are flu-like symptoms, nothing like this.
Panel 4. A close up. DR. RICHARDS rubs the bridge of her nose and appears very stressed.
7. DR. RICHARDS: Of course, if we are dealing with some kind of alien life form, then who knows what mutations it could have. We’re damn lucky this thing dies the moment it leaves the human body. If it were adapted to our atmosphere, we’d be looking at another world-wide epidemic, at least ten times as bad as covid, maybe worse.
Panel 5. ALISTER and DR. RICHARDS talk across the desk. GEMINI checks her tablet.
8. DR. RICHARDS: It’ll all make a hell of a paper, once I finish writing it.
9. ALISTER: Look doctor, should I be-
10. GEMINI: -Alister!
Panel 6. A close of GEMINI she is getting up urgently.
11. GEMINI: We’ve got to go!
PAGE THIRTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI watch the church from an alley across the street. The sun is setting and everything seems calm from the outside.
1. ALISTER: So, how do we do this?
2. GEMINI: You’re asking me?
Panel 2. A close up of ALISTER and GEMINI whispering to one another, while trying to stay hidden.
3. ALISTER: I know we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves like I did last time. Only I can’t think how we’re going to pull them out of there without anyone taking notice.
4. GEMINI: These guys don’t want the army down here anymore than we do. Presumably, they’ll come to us.
Panel 3. ALISTER points to the door of the cathedral where a mafia thug emerges with VIRGO.
5. ALISTER: Look there.
Panel 4. ALISTER and GEMINI watch as VIRGO is being led around behind the cathedral, out of sight.
6. ALISTER: What is this?
7. GEMINI: An invitation.
Panel 5. ALISTER and GEMINI bolt across the street after them.
8. ALISTER: Let’s accept it.
PAGE FOURTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. VIRGO is thrown to the ground in a back alley. DWAIN is nowhere to be seen, but she is surrounded by mafia thugs holding melee weapons.
1. VIRGO: You don’t really think you’ll get away with this do you?
2. THUG: Shut up bitch!
Panel 2. ALISTER leaps into action and punches the THUG who had threatened VIRGO across the jaw. The THUG was holding a baseball bat, which he drops
3. ALISTER: Leave her alone!
Panel 3. ALISTER holds his hand, which he seems to have injured. The THUG lies unconscious at his feet. GEMINI retrieves the THUG’s weapon
4. ALISTER: Ow! Dang it!
5. GEMINI: You okay?
6. ALISTER: Gosh darn it that hurts, man.
Panel 4. The mafiosi charge towards ALISTER and GEMINI.
7. GEMINI: Looks like we go business to take care of.
8. ALISTER: Freakin’ heck.
Panel 5. ALISTER and GEMINI pummel the gangsters in sequence.
Panel 6. DWAIN appears and strikes ALISTER in the center of his back.
9. ALISTER: Is that all-
10. DWAIN: Not quite.
PAGE FIFTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER is on his hands and knees while DWAIN towers over him.
1. DWAIN: I came all the way out here for this?
2. DWAIN: You don’t look so tough to me.
3. ALISTER: We’ll see about that.
Panel 2. A close up of ALISTER’s arm. He tries to open his claws but nothing happens.
4. ALISTER: Uhhh.
5. DWAIN (OFF): I’m sorry, were you doing something?
Panel 3. DWAIN begins to thrash ALISTER.
Panel 4. GEMINI and VIRGO work together to finish off the mafia thugs, who have already been mostly knocked out. In the background ALISTER and DWAIN continue to fight.
Panel 5. DWAIN smashes ALISTER into a massive metal dumpster, making a huge dent.
PAGE SIXTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI tries to save ALISTER by attacking DWAIN, but he catches the bat with his hand.
1. GEMINI: Get off of him!
Panel 2. DWAIN tosses GEMINI aside and VIRGO rushes to check on her.
Panel 3. ALISTER begins to pick himself up and goes into a berserker state.
2. ALISTER: You shouldn’t have done that.
Panel 4. ALISTER rushes DWAIN with a flurry of offense that momentarily gives him the upper hand.
3. ALISTER: AAHHH!
Panel 5. A close up of DWAIN’s hands securing a hold around ALISTER’s waist.
4. DWAIN (OFF): Not bad.
Panel 6. DWAIN catches ALISTER and suplexes him to the ground.
5. DWAIN: But not enough.
PAGE SEVENTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER stumbles to his feet while DWAIN watches him from a kneeling position.
1. DWAIN: Little spark plug, ain’t cha?
2. ALISTER: Grrrr.
Panel 2. ALISTER lunges forwards and slashes DWAIN across the chest with his claw, which finally extends.
Panel 3. ALISTER stares dimly at his claw. DWAIN’s shirt has been shredded revealing a rhino like hide protecting his vital organs, only a thin trail of blood is visible across his chest. DWAIN is laughing maniacally.
3. ALISTER: Rrrrr?
4. DWAIN: Ha! That– that actually hurt! Good!
Panel 4. ALISTER and DWAIN charge towards one another. ALISTER is animalistic, DWAIN is smiling broadly.
5. DWAIN: I hate beating on people who can’t fight back.
Panel 5. A long panel. DWAIN is hammering ALISTER down to his knees with his fists. ALISTER desperately claws upwards at DWAINS face, forcing his head back and his mouth open, incidentally. DWAIN is on the offense and ALISTER is desperate.
Panel 6. A small inset close up of DWAIN noticing something, with ALISTER’s fingers in his face.
PAGE EIGHTEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI forces the antibiotics from the prescription bottle down DWAIN’s throat.
1. GEMINI: Eat it!
2. DWAIN: Mmnf.
Panel 2. DWAIN knocks GEMINI aside and holds a limp ALISTER in a chokehold with his other hand.
3. DWAIN: AUGH!
Panel 3. DWAIN whips ALISTER into a wall.
4. DWAIN: FUCKERS!
Panel 4. DWAIN begins to cough and clutch at his chest. ALISTER lies totally unconscious on the ground.
5. DWAIN: Wha- Auck- What did you-?
6. FATHER LEO: Get out!
Panel 5. DWAIN has collapsed onto his hands and knees and is shaking. The mafiosi stumble towards him clutching their own injuries. They are being shepherded by GEMINI who is bleeding, VIRGO, and FATHER LEO who is armed with a skeet shooting rifle.
7. DWAIN: Bi- ah- Bitch! What did- did you do!
8. FATHER LEO: Pick him up and get out of here right now!
Panel 6. The goons carry DWAIN away as he begins to shake uncontrollably. GEMINI, VIRGO, and FATHER LEO watch them go.
9. DWAIN: Dead- Auck- you’re fucking dead!
10. VIRGO: What does a priest use a rifle for?
11. FATHER LEO: Skeet-shooting.
Panel 7. GEMINI and FATHER LEO pick up ALISTER off the ground.
12. FATHER LEO: How is he?
13. VIRGO: Alive. But he’ll need to get patched up. Let’s take him inside.
14. GEMINI: No! Someone might have called this in to the military. We need to get him back to my apartment. I can treat him there.
PAGE NINETEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. A shot of the exterior of GEMINI’s apartment at night. The voice comes from the window.
1. ALISTER (OFF): Ow.
Panel 2. ALISTER is sitting on the bed. GEMINI has a first aid kit open on the table and is applying iodide to his injuries.
2. GEMINI: At least we know the antibiotics work.
3. ALISTER: All I know is I got my butt whipped.
Panel 3. GEMINI re-bandages ALISTER’s arm.
4. GEMINI: Hey, we still won.
5. ALISTER: You won; I was unconscious at the time.
6. GEMINI: Ah, I see. You’re looking for someone to sooth your male ego again.
Panel 4. ALISTER smiles playfully. GEMINI holds his hand up to her cheek in mock passion.
7. GEMINI: I could never have done it without you and your brilliant leadership. You inspire me, give me the strength to press on.
8. ALISTER: Well, thank-you. That’s very sweet.
Panel 5. ALISTER and GEMINI lean close to one another and it seems like they might kiss.
9. GEMINI: Is that enough? Do you need more? Shall I tell you how handsome you are?
10. ALISTER: I like the sound of that to be honest with you.
11. RADIO: This is a civil alert.
PAGE TWENTY (montage)
A montage of soldiers deploying across the ruined city.
1. NARRATION: This is Dr. Castor, director of impact relief efforts.
2. NARRATION: I am here to inform you that due to rioting the national guard is being deployed to the city and the entire metroplex is now under martial law.
3. NARRATION: Anyone on the streets after sundown without a valid reason will be returned to their homes. Repeat offenders will be taken into custody.
4. NARRATION: When you leave the house during the day keep any form of identification you have on your person, you may be asked to present them to an officer at any time.
5. NARRATION: Relief efforts are proceeding.
6. NARRATION: That is all.
PAGE TWENTY-ONE (six panels)
Panel 1. A shadowy figure on a rooftop watches soldiers patrolling the SMU campus.
1. KRISTOF (CAPTION): A cruel twist in my fate line.
2. KRISTOF (CAPTION): But I am not a stranger to such things.
Panel 2. The shadowy figures leaps from rooftop to rooftop, while the soldiers on the ground fail to take notice.
3. KRISTOF (CAPTION): No… fate has ever been a cruel mistress to me.
Panel 3. The figure crawls along a wall to hide from a military helicopter with a spotlight on patrol.
4. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I had hoped that the chaos here would give me shelter, a place to research a cure for my damned condition in safety.
Panel 4. A close up of the figure from behind. He has shoulder length black hair and is wearing a flowing cape coat. He clings to the wall with talons coming out of his hands and bare feet. Troops and vehicles are moving all over the place in the distance.
5. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I had only emerged from my first day’s rest in this city, like a proverbial children’s story, to find my exits barred, and vicious guard dogs loose about me.
Panel 5. The figure climbs through a broken window into a dark room.
6. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Still, this disaster has brought many things to this city to aid in relief efforts. They need them badly, and yet so do I. Is my need the greater? Is my life the more valuable?
Panel 6. The figure stalks through a laboratory towards a large freezer.
7. KRISTOF (CAPTION): And yet you go on, don’t you? Go on, and on, driven by the hunger. The damned hunger… The lust…
PAGE TWENTY-TWO (one panel)
Panel 1. KRISTOF has torn open the refrigerator unit and is gorging himself on the blood bags stored within. He is ashen faced with gaunt features and red eyes. His vampire fangs are clearly evident.
1. KRISTOF: …for BLOOD!