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.
Dr. Richards at SMU has been helping to study the infection, but recently she has begun to act strangely. She wandered out of her laboratory, and her research assistant called Alister and Gemini for help. What they don’t know yet, is that the doctor has been mesmerized by a strange blood drinking creature, which resembles the traditional description of a vampire…
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:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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. ALISON RICHARDS:          Dr. Richards is one of the world’s foremost experts bio-chemistry. Although she’s barely in her thirties, she is science wunderkind of the first order. She could have had a position at any university in the world, but chose Sothern Methodist University to be close to her ailing mother, who passed away before the impact event.
6. ERIKA MOORE: A classmate of Alister’s. She came from a pampered upper middle-class upbringing, which saw her attend college despite being not particularly gifted academically. She quickly became well known as a party girl around campus. After her infection she began a cult dedicated to worshiping the infection.
7. 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.
8. THE CONCIERGE:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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 (four panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI climb down into the fire escape beside their apartment. The sun has set. GEMINI has a baseball bat with her.
1. ALISTER: How long has she been gone?
2. GEMINI: Sam says he saw her this afternoon, that must have been just after she left us.
Panel 2. ALISTER is on the ground and prepares to catch GEMINI when she lets herself drop.
3. GEMINI: But he says she just ignored him when he tried to talk to her. And she never came back to the lab that evening.
4. ALISTER: He’s tried to get in touch with her?
Panel 3. A close up of ALISTER holding GEMINI in his arms.
5. GEMINI: Everyway we still can in this disaster area, and nothing. If that monster is still after her…
6. ALISTER: Don’t worry.
Panel 4. ALISTER and GEMINI run off, hand in hand.
7. ALISTER: We’ll find her.
PAGE TWO (one panel)
Panel 1. Intro page. DR. RICHARDS sits on the sofa in horror, looking at the dead bodies of a man and a woman at her feet. KRISTOF approaches her from behind holding a glass of red wine.
1. KRISTOF: I’ve fetched a glass of wine for you, my dear. I think it might help steady your nerves.
2. KRISTOF: Don’t worry. Our hosts won’t say anything.
3. DR. RICHARDS: Y- you- you- you’re a v- vam…
4. KRISTOF: Vampire…?
PAGE THREE (seven panels)
Panel 1. DR. RICHARDS bolts towards the door. KRISTOF remains calm and calls after her.
1. DR. RICHARDS: Stay away from me!
2. KRISTOF: Stop.
Panel 2. DR. RICHARDS freezes in front of the door. She tries to reach towards it but for some reason she can’t bring herself to do so.
3. KRISTOF: Come back and sit down.
4. DR. RICHARDS: N- no.
Panel 3. DR. RICHARDS is forced by hypnotized commands to return to her seat.
5. KRISTOF: I said. Sit down.
6. DR. RICHARDS: I- Yes. As you command.
Panel 4. DR. RICHARDS sits back down and KRISTOF hands her the glass of wine.
7. KRISTOF: I find dominating the minds of others distasteful. Please control yourself, so I won’t have to do so again.
8. DR. RICHARDS: Who- What are you?
Panel 5. A close up. DR. RICHARDS suspiciously sniffs the wine.
9. KRISTOF (OFF): What am I? You’ve already guessed.
10. KRISTOF (OFF): Don’t fret my dear, it’s only wine. I wouldn’t waste precious vitae sangris on one who has not yet developed a taste for it.
11. DR. RICHARDS: Not yet-?
Panel 6. KRISTOF pulls up a chair in front of her, and DR. RICHARDS sips the wine.
12. KRISTOF: Your fear is understandable, but if I wanted to kill you, then you would already be dead. I give you my word that I won’t harm you for the time being.
13. DR. RICHARDS: You’ll forgive me if I don’t take your word for it, Mr…?
Panel 7. A close up of KRISTOF trying to appear charming to put the doctor at ease.
14. KRISTOF: Doctor actually, Doctor. Kristof Vult.
PAGE FOUR (seven panels)
Panel 1. DR. RICHARDS seems shocked. KRISTOF leans back and begins to tell his story.
1. DR. RICHARDS: Dr. Vult, the famous Romanian geneticist?
2. KRISTOF: The very same.
3. DR. RICHARDS: But he vanished in the 90s, just after the iron curtain came down.
Panel 2. A sepia toned close up of KRISTOF, a looking slightly younger version of himself standing outside in daylight. His features are still sallow even as a human.
4. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I worked for Ceausescu for years, and it was there I produced by best work.
5. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Austerity never troubled me. I worked on my own, my wife scavenged the equipment I needed from the black market, and I was given broad authority to do as I saw fit.
6. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Don’t look at me that way doctor. I’m not blind to the atrocities committed by the regime. And I certainly wasn’t personally involved in anything… grotesque.
Panel 3. A wider shot, still a flashback. KRISTOF and KATRINA are disembarking from a helicopter and the lush green lawn of a mansion. KATRINA is a beautiful woman in her 30s and dressed very conservatively. California desert terrain is visible in the distance, away from the landscaping.
7. KRISTOF (CAPTION): When the communist government began falling like dominoes in Eastern Europe, rich men in America began swarming like vultures looking for former soviet geniuses in the rubble to add to their own personal empires.
8. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I was one of them, in a way.
9. KRISTOF (CAPTION): My Katrina and I were plucked from the post-revolutionary chaos by a consortium of Silicon Valley technocrats.
Panel 4. Flashback. KRISTOF meets with a board room of early 90s tech billionaires. The faces are obscured.
10. KRISTOF (CAPTION): These were men who had made their fortunes through technology. It’s only natural they should look to science, pushing technology even farther, to solve all their problems.
11. KRISTOF (CAPTION): They may have been young men then, but they knew that it was only a matter of time before they would begin to age. This was the problem I was sought out to solve. I was to create clinical immortality.
Panel 5. Flashback. A close up of a handshake.
12. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I was intrigued.
Panel 6. Flashback. KRISTOF is at work in a 90s high tech laboratory with multiple assistants.
13. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Suddenly, I had everything. Money was lavished on me, I had the best equipment, the best men. The best women too.
Panel 7. KRISTOF lays in a California king bed in a lavish suite. He is staring up at the ceiling. KATRINA is lying next to him. They are both much fuller and healthier looking.
14. KRISTOF (CAPTION): And yet I made no progress.
15. KRISTOF (CAPTION): You may well think my task was impossible. But I am not a man accustomed to accepting limitations. I would defeat death, no matter what the cost.
PAGE FIVE (six panels)
Panel 1. Flashback. KRISTOF stands silhouetted in daylight at the entrance to a crypt.
1. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I was not the first mortal man to pursue immortality.
2. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Nor do I believe that I will be the last.
Panel 2. KRISTOF oversees the removal of coffins from an ancient crypt. Men in paramilitary gear do the work.
3. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I am a man of science. I do not believe in the supernatural.
Panel 3. KRISTOF and a large group of researchers and soldiers document and remove artifacts from a large ancient cemetery.
4. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Factually, however, I can tell you, there were once vampires in Transylvania. I have plundered their tombs.
5. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Where did these ancient creatures come from? And where are they now? I cannot say, for I never met one still extant.
Panel 4. KRISTOF is back at work in his lab studying the artifacts intently.
6. KRISTOF (CAPTION): And yet the tissue samples I found proved to be enough. The final barriers began to fall.
Panel 5. KRISTOF and KATRINA are embracing and celebrating while shadowy figures watch them from outside the lab.
7. KRISTOF (CAPTION): You can imagine our joy when the first projected results of my new formula came back. Success!
8. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I should have known what would happen, but I was proud…
Panel 6. A group of soldiers stand outside in the hall with their weapons ready.
9. KRISTOF (CAPTION): And the gods punish pride…
PAGE SIX (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and GEMINI arrive outside of the building KRISTOF and DR. RICHARDS are in.
1. ALISTER: Here it is.
2. GEMINI: What are we going to do? It’ll take forever to search this whole place.
Panel 2. ALISTER leads GEMINI inside the building and grimaces.
3. ALISTER: I’ll sniff her out.
Panel 3. Flashback. Soldiers spray the lab with bullets, hitting both KRISTOF and his wife and destroying the equipment.
4. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I don’t know which one of my benefactors chose to betray the others. Or even perhaps if I was betrayed by all of them.
5. KRISTOF (CAPTION): Immortality is a great prize. And great prizes make men do mad things.
Panel 4. Flashback. Soldiers look through the wrecked lab. KRISTOF and KATARINA’s bodies are stacked on top of each other beneath a counter dripping with red liquid.
6. KRISTOF (CAPTION): The soldiers were stupid and brutal, anyone who knew the worth of the prize couldn’t be trusted, so it was almost destroyed completely by men in their ignorance.
Panel 5. Flashback. The experimental formula drips from a smashed container on the counter and drips down onto the two dead bodies.
7. KRISTOF (CAPTION): I was dead at the time, so I cannot know for certain, but I believe the experimental formula somehow entered our bodies. It changed us.
Panel 6. ALISTER and GEMINI regroup outside the French doors leading into the penthouse.
8. ALISTER: She’s inside… she’s not alone.
9. GEMINI: Are you sure?
10 ALISTER: I’m sure.
PAGE SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1. A close up of DR. RICHARDS, she appears suspicious, but also interested.
1. DR. RICHARDS: The formula infected both of you?
Panel 2. ALISTER kicks open the door and GEMINI follows him inside. KRISTOF and DR. RICHARDS jump up in surprise.
2. KRISTOF: Yes, when I woke-
3. ALISTER: Get away from her right now creep!
Panel 3. KRISTOF moves to confront ALISTER, but DR. RICHARDS stands between them.
4. KRISTOF: Do not threaten me, boy!
5. DR. RICHARDS: Wait! He’s promised not to hurt me!
Panel 4. GEMINI indicates the two dead bodies on the ground with her bat.
6. GEMINI: He make the same promise to those two?
Panel 5. ALISTER grabs DR. RICHARDS and shoves her back towards GEMINI so his way is cleared towards KRISTOF. GEMINI moves to grab the doctor
7. ALISTER: Get her out of here, Gem!
PAGE EIGHT (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER tries to punch KRISTOF who easily dodges the blow.
1. KRISTOF: It is true. I would not have harmed the doctor.
2. ALISTER: I’d find that more believable if you weren’t standing over two innocent people’s bodies, murderer!
Panel 2. KRISTOF continues to fight defensively, but is becoming angrier.
3. KRISTOF: Hardly innocent.
4. KRISTOF: And I would not have harmed the doctor because I need her help you stupid fool.
Panel 3. GEMINI wrestles DR. RICHARDS to the ground, while she the doctor struggles ineffectually.
5. DR. RICHARDS: He could be telling the truth! Let’s talk to him!
6. GEMINI: He’s got you under some kind of hypnosis, this is for your own good.
Panel 4. A close up of KRISTOF who has entered a state of bloodlust.
7. KRISTOF: I tried to settle this matter peacefully.
8. KRISTOF: But now it seems I must give you answer in the only language you can understand-
Panel 5. KRISTOF strikes ALISTER and knocks him across the room
9. KRISTOF: -FORCE!
PAGE NINE (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER rises to his feet, but clutches his arm.
1. ALISTER: I’m not out yet.
Panel 2. ALISTER tries to draw his claws, but his arm just contorts in pain.
2. ALISTER: AUGH!
Panel 3. KRISTOF knocks ALISTER down again.
3. KRISTOF: I have wasted enough time with you.
Panel 4. KRISTOF leans over ALISTER. DR. RICHARDS and GEMINI both try and pull him away unsuccessfully.
4. KRISTOF: Now, I thirst! Now-
5. DR. RICHARDS: Kristof! Stop!
Panel 5. KRISTOF viciously bites into ALISTER’s neck.
5. KRISTOF: -I must drink!
PAGE TEN (five panels)
Panel 1. KRISTOF wrenches away from ALISTER in disgust.
1. KRISTOF: Poison!
Panel 2. KRISTOF begin to vomit blood onto the ground. The girls check on ALISTER, who is dazed.
2. KRISTOF: Your blood is foul! It has been tainted!
3. DR. RICHARDS: Please, Kristof! Stop this right now!
Panel 3. While KRISTOF is still recovering GEMINI smashes her bat over the back of his head.
4. GEMINI: Stay down, bastard!
5. DR. RICHARDS: Stop it, both of you!
Panel 4. KRISTOF shoves GEMINI and DR. RICHARDS away from him and heads towards the window.
6. KRISTOF: I depart for now, but I will return for the doctor, I swear.
Panel 5. GEMINI takes one last swing at KRISTOF with her bat but he leaps out the window.
7. GEMINI: Like hell you will!
8. KRISTOF: I will not forget this, woman!
PAGE ELEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1. DR. RICHARDS shouts at ALISTER who is just coming around. GEMINI looks out the window.
1. DR. RICHARDS: What were you thinking!? He was just about to tell me what he wanted from me!
2. ALISTER: Are you kidding me?
Panel 2. ALISTER shouts back at her and points at the two dead bodies.
3. DR. RICHARDS (OFF): No, I’m not! He was talking to me; we could have handled this peacefully.
4. ALISTER: ‘Cause those two look real peaceful!
Panel 3. ALISTER and DR. RICHARDS argue.
5. DR. RICHARDS: You can’t solve everything with your fists, you maniac!
6. ALISTER: He’s a murderer! I was trying to catch him!
7. DR. RICHARDS: Well, you stuffed that up too!
Panel 4. GEMINI moves to intervene between them.
8. GEMINI: She’s under some form of mesmerism. She’s not in control of herself.
9. DR. RICHARDS: He’s the one who’s not in control of himself! The infection is driving him crazy, like a rabid dog!
10. ALISTER: There’s only one dog around here, crazy lady.
Panel 5. ALISTER leaves, still reeling from his injuries. DR. RICHARDS tries to follow him and continue to argue, but GEMINI holds her back.
11. ALISTER: I need some air.
12. GEMINI: Go back home and look after yourself with the first aid kit. I’ll take care of our brainwashed doctor.
13. DR. RICHARDS: He’s the one who’s dangerous! We’re the ones you should be worried about!
PAGE TWELVE (six panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER walks down the hall away from the penthouse. The voices come from inside.
1. GEMINI (OFF): Come on doctor, I’m taking you home.
2. DR. RICHARDS (OFF): He’s the one who’s dangerous! The infection is spreading through his brain!
3. GEMINI (OFF): Uh-huh.
Panel 2. ALISTER walks out onto the street.
4. ALISTER (CAPTION): It’s not her fault, she’s being mind-controlled. Just cool off.
Panel 3. ALISTER looks over to the opposite side of the street where a team of soldiers are questioning an old man.
5. OLD MAN: I’m just going home.
6. SOLDIER: It’s past curfew. Show me your ID please, sir.
Panel 4. ALISTER hurries away before the soldiers notice him.
7. ALISTER (CAPTION): Cool off.
Panel 5. ALISTER walks through the back alleys to avoid notice.
8. ALISTER (CAPTION): There’s no reason it’s up to me to solve all the world’s problems.
Panel 6. ALISTER looks up at the night sky.
9. ALISTER (CAPTION): Except I know that monster is still out there. If he kills anyone else, I’m also partly responsible.
PAGE THIRTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER approaches the cult headquarters. There are still cult members on guard outside. It’s near sunrise.
1. ALISTER: Alright, if we’re going to do this…
Panel 2. ALISTER approaches the entrance.
2. ALISTER: I’m here to see Erika.
3. CULTIST: Mother said you would return. Follow me please.
Panel 3. The CULTIST opens the door, but ALISTER brushes past him to enter ERIKA’s room. She rushes to meet him, trailed by her handmaidens.
4. CULTIST: Mother, may I present-
5. ALISTER: I need to talk to you.
6. ERIKA: The Father has returned!
Panel 4. ERIKA embraces ALISTER, who tries to extricate himself.
7. ALISTER: Let go of me please, Erika. This is important.
8. ERIKA: Of course.
9. ERIKA: I need to speak to the Father in private.
Panel 5. ALISTER keeps ERIKA at arm’s length as all the cult members leave the room.
10. CULTISTS: Yes, Mother.
PAGE FOURTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ERIKA leans forwards and kisses ALISTER on the cheek.
1. ERIKA: What is it, my love?
2. ALISTER: I wish you’d stop with that stuff.
Panel 2. ALISTER and ERIKA sit down to talk.
3. ALISTER: There’s a monster loose in the city.
4. ERIKA: Besides us you mean?
Panel 3. A close up of ALISTER looking upset.
5. ALISTER: I don’t consider myself a monster.
6. ERIKA (OFF): The soldiers you tore apart would probably disagree.
Panel 4. ALISTER turns away from ERIKA.
7. ALISTER: I still don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never killed anyone! Why do you keep-
8. ERIKA: -Enough. That’s not what you came here to talk to me about. What monster?
Panel 5. ALISTER and ERIKA talk. ALISTER still seems uncomfortable, but ERIKA tries to put him at ease.
9. ALISTER: It’s a- this going to sound crazy- but it’s a vampire thing.
10. ERIKA: That doesn’t sound crazy to me at all.
11. ALISTER: It doesn’t?
PAGE FIFTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. ALISTER and ERIKA continue to talk.
1. ERIKA: No, it doesn’t.
2. ERIKA: I just discovered I’m the next stage of human evolution, I’m open to accept lots of ideas I used to think were crazy.
Panel 2. ALISTER stands up and tries to leave, but ERIKA puts a finger over his mouth to shush him.
3. ALISTER: Listen, I don’t think this-
4. ERIKA: Hush. It’s no good running off. It’s clear you came here because you need help, so let me help you.
5. ALISTER (CAPTION): Head’s buzzing. She’s trying to influence me…
Panel 3. ALISTER and ERIKA talk seriously.
6. ALISTER (CAPTION): …Doesn’t matter. She’s right, this time at least.
7. ALISTER (CAPTION): I tell her everything, and when it’s over…
Panel 4. ALISTER and ERIKA leave her room together.
8. ERIKA: I have an artist here. If you give her a description, she’ll draw up an image we can give to all our followers. It’s only a matter of time before one of them spots him and reports to us.
9. ERIKA: Then you need rest.
10. ALISTER: I don’t want to head home until we catch this guy.
Panel 5. ALISTER gives a description to a female cultist and she draws a sketch of KRISTOF. ERIKA stands by and observes.
11. ERIKA (CAPTION): And I don’t want you to.
12. ERIKA (CAPTION): You can sleep here, then I can wake you the moment news comes in.
PAGE SIXTEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. ERIKA takes ALISTER back to her room.
1. ALISTER: Are you sure-
2. ERIKA: Yes, I am. You’re going to have to fight that thing again, and I want to make sure you’re in top shape when you do.
Panel 2. ALISTER heads into the room and walks towards the bed. ERIKA turns around at the door to look at him.
3. ALISTER: Erika…
4. ERIKA: Yes…?
5. ALISTER: Thanks for your help.
Panel 3. ALISTER prepares to take a pill from his bottle. ERIKA watches him from the doorway.
6. ERIKA: You’re welcome. Alister…?
7. ALISTER: Yes?
8. ERIKA: If you’re going to fight this vampire again, do you think it’s a good idea to take those antibiotics?
Panel 4. ALISTER pauses with a pill in his hand.
9. ALISTER (CAPTION): Do I think it’s a good idea…?
Panel 5. ERIKA watches ALISTER, who keeps his back to her and the reader.
10. ALISTER: Why do you ask?
11. ERIKA: He beat you before. I think we both know why. Maybe it’s a good idea not to take another one until we’ve stopped this thing.
Panel 6. ALISTER puts the pill back into the bottle and gets into the bed.
12. ALISTER: Maybe you’re right. Good-night Erika.
Panel 7. A close up of ERIKA smiling as she leaves.
13. ERIKA: Sweet dreams.
PAGE SEVENTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI’s apartment. It’s dark and empty.
1. DR. RICHARDS (OFF): I feel like such an idiot now that it’s over. I don’t know what Alister must think of me.
2. GEMINI (OFF): He’s just overflowing with Christian charity; I wouldn’t worry about it.
Panel 2. A close up of the portable electric lantern being clicked on.
3. GEMINI (OFF): Alister? We’re not waking you; I hope.
Panel 3. GEMINI and DR. RICHARDS look around the apartment.
4. DR. RICHARDS: It looks like he’s not here.
5. GEMINI: Strange. I told him I’d meet him back here.
Panel 4. GEMINI looks out the window at the morning sky.
6. GEMINI: I hope he hasn’t gone back out hunting that vampire again.
Panel 5. DR. RICHARDS shivers and sits down.
7. DR. RICHARDS: Oh! Don’t mention that thing, please.
8. GEMINI: Hey, are you alright?
PAGE EIGHTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. GEMINI puts a supportive hand on DR. RICHARDS’ shoulder as she holds herself.
1. GEMINI: What’s wrong?
2. DR. RICHARDS: When I think of the way he was inside my head…
Panel 2. GEMINI hugs DR. RICHARDS.
3. DR. RICHARDS: I think- What if it happens again…?
4. GEMINI: It won’t. I promise, I won’t leave you alone for a second.
Panel 3. GEMINI helps DR. RICHARDS up.
5. GEMINI: Now, let’s get some sleep. Things will look better after some rest.
6. DR. RICHARDS: Are you sure Alister won’t mind me staying here?
Panel 4. GEMINI and DR. RICHARDS climb into bed together.
7. GEMINI: No, he sleeps on the floor anyway.
8. DR. RICHARDS: Really?
Panel 5. An exterior shot of the apartment. A helicopter flies over it.
9. DR. RICHARDS (CAPTION): I never would have guessed.
PAGE NINETEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. MR. FOX, MS. KIDD, the CONCIERGE, and DR. CASTOR are riding in a helicopter together. MS. KIDD holds out a flash drive to DR. CASTOR.
1. MS. KIDD: This is everything we’ve put together on the alpha strain infected so far.
Panel 2. A view of DR. CASTOR and the CONCIERGE on one side of the helicopter. The CONCIERGE takes the drive for him.
2. DR. CASTOR: Give me the cliff notes. I’ll read the report later.
Panel 3. MR. FOX looks out the window and appears disinterested. MS. KIDD remains professional and begins giving her report.
3. MS. KIDD: We’ve investigated the strange cult activity, and tracked the group to a former community center they’ve taken over. They’re being led by an unidentified alpha infected they refer to as ‘Mother’.
Panel 4. The CONCIERGE looks holds up a tablet for DR. CASTOR with a picture of the cultists on guard outside their base.
4. MS. KIDD: They’ve heavily armed and very paranoid, attempts to recon inside the facility quietly have not been successful. It’s already been targeted as a prime opportunity for our new ‘loud’ approach.
Panel 5. A close up of a picture on the tablet of ALISTER entering the facility.
5. MS. KIDD (OFF): Alister DeWitt has also been seen coming and going from the facility.
PAGE TWENTY (seven panels)
Panel 1. A close up of DR. CASTOR. He’s showing little emotion, but is clenching his jaw, lost in his own thoughts.
Panel 2. A sepia toned panel of ALISTER tearing apart soldiers in a berserker state, after escaping from the research facility.
1. DR. CASTOR (CAPTION): Alister DeWitt.
Panel 3. Another close up of DR. CASTOR, he has returned to the conversation.
2. DR. CASTOR: Why hasn’t he been recovered yet?
Panel 4. The helicopter lands on a field outside the city. A huge military buildup is going on all around them.
3. MS. KIDD: Because of the situation in the disaster area, we’ve been forced to rely on independent informants rather trained agents. We don’t know where he’s staying.
Panel 5. The CONCIERGE scrolls through more images of LEO, VIRGO, and GEMINI at the church on the tablet, while the others take off their seat belts.
4. MS. KIDD: We do know that he has been spotted in the company of a Catholic priest, Dr. Leo Ortiz-Mendoza. As well as at least two unidentified women.
Panel 6. A close up of GEMINI on the tablet.
5. DR. CASTOR: Polly…?
Panel 7. MS. KIDD looks confused at DR. CASTOR who ignores her.
6. MS. KIDD: Do you know one of them, sir?
7. DR. CASTOR: Continue with your presentation, agent.
PAGE TWENTY-ONE (five panels)
Panel 1. The four of them climb out of the helicopter and continue their conversation.
1. MS. KIDD: Mr. DeWitt has also been seen in conflict with another alpha infected, an African American male in his mid-thirties we have yet to identify.
2. MS. KIDD: We do know that this third subject seems to be affiliated with the Dallas mafia crime family.
Panel 2. The group walk through a massive military buildup in progress.
3. MS. KIDD: Finally, we’ve also been receiving reports of a slender Caucasian figure of indeterminant gender.
4. DR. CASTOR: Is this the one responsible for the university attack?
Panel 3. A close up of MS. KIDD whose hair is being mussed by the wind.
5. MS. KIDD: Unconfirmed sir, some reports do match, but this individual has been definitely tied to a string of arsons.
Panel 4. They approach a temporary building hooked up to large generators and communications gear.
5. DR. CASTOR: The university is my biggest concern. We have to keep the tight control over information related to the infection, we can’t risk independent lines of inquiry.
Panel 5. Inside the building is a radio studio. DR. CASTOR approaches the microphone while the others stand back.
6. DR. CASTOR: After tonight’s operation, finding the individual responsible for breaking into the SMU lab will be your top priority.
7. MS. KIDD: Yes sir.
PAGE TWENTY-TWO (four panels)
Panel 1. DR. CASTOR sits in front of the microphone and speaks into it.
1. DR. CASTOR: This is Dr. Castor, director of relief efforts within the disaster area.
2. DR. CASTOR: I am now informing you that we have evidence of a possible unknown infectious disease in proximity to the impact zone.
3. DR. CASTOR: There is no need to panic.
Panel 2. A view of the military sealing off access to the city.
4. DR. CASTOR (CAPTION): The military is currently sealing off access to the metroplex area to prevent the spread of this disease outside of the region.
5. DR. CASTOR (CAPTION): The city is still under martial law, do no attempt to leave your homes after curfew. Do not attempt to leave the city under any conditions, or you may be injured.
Panel 3. VIRGO and FATHER LEO are listening to the broadcast on the radio. They look worried.
6. RADIO: We have the situation well in hand, and there is no evidence this infection is any more dangerous than the common cold.
7. RADIO: There is no reason to panic.
8. RADIO: This message will repeat.
Panel 4. DR. CASTOR stands up from the microphone and speaks to the others. His cool demeanor is slipping slightly and he look authoritative.
9. DR. CASTOR: The unrest will begin immediately, but the serious rioting shouldn’t start until it gets dark. Give the chaos a couple of hours until no one knows what’s happening-
10. DR. CASTOR: -And then hit them with everything we’ve got!
11. MS. KIDD: Yes sir.