BACKSTORY PAGE
Previously On. Runs along the left side of the page interspersed with downsized panels from the previous issue where/if space permits.
Dimitri Sokolov makes bad decisions. Fleeing from a failed drug deal he encountered the Shadowmancer, a sorcerer capable of manipulating the essence of shadows and drawing knowledge from the darkness. In a fit of desperation, Dimitri grabbed a mysterious ritual knife and buried it into the old warlock’s heart. The blow let off an explosion of magical energy and left Dimitri baring the mantle of the Shadowmancer.
Since gaining his powers, Dimitri has been hunted by gangsters who blamed him for the police interrupting their drug deal. After seeing his abilities, they hired a fire mage to kill him, but even that was not enough. Their final battle occurred during a complete eclipse of the sun and was a slaughter.
Since then, Dimitri has laid low. However outside of the city, someone has been planning their revenge. After deliberately springing a trap and turning the tables on his ambushers, Dimitri is ready to go on the offensive once again….
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. DIMITRI SOKOLOV: Dimitri is a graduate student of English literature at Portland State University. He’s the child of a family of Russian immigrants and gangsters originally from the east coast. After his mother died in childbirth, his father let Dimitri be raised by his Uncle Vlad, who installed the boy with a strong Mafiosi sense of honor.
2. DAVID HUGHES: David is a graphic artist who lives next door to Dimitri and Nikki. They were only generally acquainted until recently, when Dimitri confided in him that he had begun to hear voices. He has a soft-heart for charity cases.
3. JAMES STALLWORTH: James is a detective in the Portland Police Bureau. A lifelong resident of the city, he joined the force out of a genuine (some might say naive) desire to protect his community. He frequently has hunches which help him close cases, the result of latent psychic abilities.
5. ROSA MENDOZA: Rosa is an ambitious young detective on the Portland police force, and James’ new partner. A recent transplant from Los Angeles, she’s anxious to keep her career on the fast track, and is aiming to eventually work her way into city hall.
5. MR. FOX & MS. KIDD: This odd duo are government agents. Their pasts are clouded in a bureaucratic nightmare, and inquiries are blocked by red tape at every turn. What is clear is that they have authority delegated by the highest levels of the federal government.
6. JUSTIN AVERY: Justin is a reporter for the Oregonian who can be described either as an experienced veteran, or a washed-up old timer, depending on who one talks to. He keeps an open mind and pursues his story no matter where it leads him, and never lets his assumptions get in the way of the truth.
7. JEFF KLINE: Jeff is a disgraced soldier with a dishonorable discharge. After leaving the military, he became an enforcer for a drug dealing business run by his childhood friend. His previous battles with Dimitri have left him crippled, but still alive.
8. THE BROTHER: The Brother is the captain of a company sized paramilitary organization. He’s come to Portland seeking revenge on Dimitri for murdering his sibling. As a commander he is both ruthless and cunning, and more than willing to accept extraordinary casualties as long as the mission is accomplished.
PAGE ONE (four panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI sits on a rooftop downtown in his shadow armor. A murder of crows surrounds him and he is addressing himself to them. MUNINN is perched on his finger while a smaller and very frail looking crow, her brother HUGINN, stands nearby pecking at some torn up pieces of bread which are scattered across the roof with a few other crows.
1. DIMITRI: You’re going to be my eyes and ears. If you see anything else return here to me. Understand?
Panel 2. The crows launch into flight and let of a cacophony of caws in response. The title runs along the panel.
2. NARRATION: They understand.
Panel 3. MUNINN lands next to HUGINN while the other crows fly off. She seems to be checking after him.
3. DIMITRI (OFF): Is this your brother sweetheart?
4. MUNINN: Caw. Caw.
Panel 4. DIMITRI kneels down and speaks to HUGINN while his sister affectionately fusses over him.
5. DIMITRI: How would you like to ride with us tonight little buddy?
6. HUGINN: Caw!
7. MUNINN: Caw, caw?
8. DIMITRI: Don’t worry. A lot of people are going to get hurt tonight…
PAGE TWO (five panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI leaps off the roof with the two birds in flight behind him.
1. DIMITRI: …But he won’t be one of them.
Panel 2. A neo-Nazi gang member is running through the street in a blind panic. A vague shadow is following him.
Panel 3. The neo-Nazi ducks into an alley and climbs through a window. Ominous shadows hang out of his sight up the wall.
Panel 4. The neo-nazi leans back against the wall with his eyes closed and breathing heavily. He is beginning to relax.
2. DIMITRI (OFF): I hope you don’t mind…
Panel 5. The room is the neo-Nazi’s apartment which is dirty, filled with drug paraphernalia, and has a large Nazi flag on the wall. DIMITRI is sitting in a throne-like easy chair wearing his full shadow armor. HUGINN is nestled in his arms and MUNINN is standing on his shoulder.
3. DIMITRI: …I let myself in.
PAGE THREE (eight panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI had the neo-Nazi in a headlock and is choking him out.
Panel 2. In a mirrored shot JAMES is looking around the same room in the daylight. ROSA’s friend JULIA is leading the neo-Nazi away in handcuffs. He has a black eye and several other bruises. ROSA is in the background looking at the large flag while JAMES is texting on his phone looking irritated. There are captions which look like cellphone texts coming from the phone.
1. ROSA: I mean it is a little tacky I’ll admit.
2. JULIA: I just wouldn’t hang it up in my apartment is all I’m saying.
3. TEXT MESSAGE: 3:14 AM: where are you?
4. TEXT MESSAGE: 3:17 AM: WTF is going on?
Panel 3. DIMITRI is still in shadow armor in a different but similar neo-Nazi’s hideout. Several more gangster have been laid out flat on the ground. They had been in the middle of a poker game and DIMITRI is gathering up the cash. It’s night time.
Panel 4. In another mirrored shot during the day with the same police officers are examining this new crime scene. JAMES is still on his phone and is looking more upset. ROSA is looking at a pile of meth and cheap guns which have been piled up on the poker table where the money was.
5. ROSA: Lots of drugs, guns, and bad guys but no money.
6. TEXT MESSAGE: 4:54 AM: we need to talk!
Panel 5. An action shot of DIMITRI fighting a trio of Nazis.
Panel 6. A shot of the Nazi’s unconscious bodies being handcuffed by JULIA. ROSA is overseeing the operation.
7. JULIA: Whoever this is, he’s making our job easier.
8. ROSA: Except that this is real life and the defense attorneys are going to have a field day with a case where we go into court and tell the judge a super hero caught them for us.
9. TEXT MESSAGE (OFF): 5:44 AM: call me back! NOW!!!
Panel 7. DIMITRI looks out the window at police cars approaching with their lights flashing.
10. DIMITRI: Time’s up.
Panel 8. A mirrored shot where ROSA looks out the window at the G-men’s black Cadillac.
11. ROSA: Time’s up
PAGE FOUR (seven panels)
Panel 1. The BROTHER is sitting in a hotel conference room where he is talking to JARED through a video call on his laptop. He’s scrolling through information on a separate tablet.
1. JARED: That’s everything Jess sent over to us on this Shadowmancer guy.
2. BROTHER: It says here that she hired a specialist to deal with him.
Panel 2. A shot of JARED in the commander’s office back at the compound. He has the BROTHER on a video call through his desktop.
3. JARED: Yeah. Some sort of a fire wizard. Police report says that an unidentified Middle Eastern man was found dead at the mansion. Good bet it’s him.
Panel 3. A close up of the BROTHER is taking a swig from a flask.
4. JARED (OFF): If the D&D hitman Jess hired couldn’t take him out even with fireballs in all his third level spell slots, how are we going to tackle him captain?
5. BROTHER: Jessica was a simple-minded slut who’s only outstanding feature was the rapidity with which she wrapped herself around my brother’s cock.
6. BROTHER: This situation doesn’t call for wizards or spells. It calls for proper military strategy and logistics.
Panel 4. The BROTHER is still reading from the tablet but is using one hand to tap a button on the laptop.
7. BROTHER: I’ve sent you a manifest of the items I need you delivered from the compound’s stores.
Panel 5. JARED is reading through a list on his computer.
8. JARED: I will have them dispatched at once captain. But they could be acquired faster by using the Portland chapter to finance local purchases.
Panel 6. The BROTHER is holding his flask up to his mouth but he is frozen for a moment with his eyes closed.
Panel 7. The BROTHER has opened his eyes and finishes taking his drink.
9. BROTHER: The enemy has targeted the economic base of our operations in the city. We’ll make use of our reserves in the compound to compensate.
PAGE FIVE (five panels)
Panel 1. A wider shot of the whole conference room. A four militia men are on guard by the doors and the STAFF SARGEANT is behind the BROTHER waiting for instructions.
1. JARED: Can we count on any further support from the locals?
2. BROTHER: The Portland chapter is a spent force. The worms that remain have chosen to hide under their beds rather than fight.
Panel 2. A close up of the BROTHER looking matter-of-fact.
3. BROTHER: I’m also sending you a casualty report. We’ve lost two fire teams and Sergeant Wilkes. Handle any family members and have a list of candidates ready for immediate promotion to refill the ranks waiting for me when I get back.
Panel 3. JARED paces back and forth across the commander’s room.
4. JARED: All of this will seriously alter our strategic timetable.
5. BROTHER: I am aware of that lieutenant. I intend to finish this soon. We will revise the strategic timetable upon my return.
Panel 4. The BROTHER is filling his flask from a bottle of whisky.
6. BROTHER: Until then maintain your defensive posture and keep everyone in the compound, especially mydaughter.
Panel 5. A close up of JARED saluting.
7. JARED: Nothing will happen to her while I live. I swear it captain.
PAGE SIX (five panels)
Panel 1. ROSA is approaching a door which is slightly ajar, leading into a dark room. JAMES voice comes from past the door.
1. ROSA: Hey James, the men in black are here. We gotta go.
2. JAMES (OFF): Dimitri if you keep ducking me, I swear to God…
Panel 2. JAMES is in a dark room ranting into his cell phone. Light enters the room through a door which is slightly open and ROSA can be seen just slightly on the other side.
3. ROSA: James…?
4. JAMES: I know you’re involved in this. Call me back this instant.
Panel 3. A shot following ROSA as she comes into the room. JAMES is transitioning between anger and nervousness.
5. ROSA: The feds are kicking us out.
6. ROSA: Who is that you keep trying to get in touch with?
7. JAMES: Oh no one. Just some personal business, you know. Don’t mention this to any tax payers, will ya?
Panel 4. JAMES and ROSA are walking out together.
8. ROSA: Are you sure? You keep running off the second we get to another crime scene.
9. JAMES: Sure, I’m sure. I told you forget about it.
Panel 5. A close up of ROSA watching JAMES leave. She looks uneasy.
10. ROSA: Alright then…
PAGE SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1. A shot from above looking down. ROSA and JAMES are leaving a rundown building in an East Portland slum as the two federal agents leave their car and head inside. Some other uniformed police are milling around.
1. MS. KIDD: You could save all of us a lot of trouble by not rushing here a few minutes ahead of us just to make us come and personally throw you out.
2. JAMES: Yeah, yeah.
Panel 2. The two pairs have passed each other. ROSA has stopped to look back at the agents while JAMES has continued on past the viewer.
3. ROSA: Hey you go on ahead. I’m going to give them a piece of my mind for a second.
4. JAMES (OFF): It won’t do you any good but knock yourself out.
Panel 3. The two agents are standing in the main doorway of the building but they have stopped as ROSA runs up to them.
5. ROSA: Agents! Wait a moment!
6. MS. KIDD: What is it detective? Unlike the city of Portland the federal government objects to their employees wasting time.
Panel 4. The three of them are all speaking with one another. MR. FOX is stretching out an arm to stop MS. KIDD. He’s also in the process of removing his sunglasses.
7. ROSA: Do you believe there’s a leak in the department? Is that why you’re keeping us out?
8. MS. KIDD: We can’t comment on an ongoing-
9. MR. FOX: Wait a moment.
Panel 5. A close up of MR. FOX. He is looking at the viewer directly with a maniacal grin and pupils which are all black.
10. MR. FOX: Tell me everything in your heart child.
PAGE EIGHT (six panels)
Panel 1. JAMES is sitting in his car waiting. ROSA is standing just outside staring at him blankly like she’s been hypnotized.
1. ROSA: Mr. Fox wishes to speak with you.
2. JAMES: Rosa? Are you okay?
Panel 2. A close up of ROSA. She is shaking off the mind control.
Panel 3. Another close up of ROSA. She is back to normal and looking confused.
3. ROSA: Yeah, I am. What was I saying again?
Panel 4. JAMES gets out of the car and hands ROSA a bottle of water as he does so.
4. JAMES: Nothing. Sit down for a few minutes and have some water.
Panel 5. Inside the crime scene the two agents are waiting watching the door. MR. FOX’s sunglasses are back on.
5. MS. KIDD: Are you certain about this, Mr. Fox?
6. MR. FOX: I never do anything without being certain, Ms. Kidd.
Panel 6. JAMES has just come through the door and has a hand on his gun in its holster.
7. JAMES: What the hell did you do to Rosa!?
PAGE NINE (five panels)
Panel 1. MR. FOX takes off his sunglasses again and turns his gaze on JAMES. JAMES is stumbling in response as the mind control staggers him.
1. MR. FOX: Calm down detective.
2. JAMES: What… are you…?
Panel 2. A shot from behind the agents. JAMES has thrown off the mesmerism and has pulled his gun but the agents are staying un-phased.
3. JAMES: Stay out of my head! Goddamn you!
Panel 3. The agents are still watching JAMES, who is off panel behind the viewer, but the agents have slightly inclined their heads towards one another to confer.
4. MR. FOX: Interesting…
5. MS. KIDD: I take it he is one of the exceptional considerations.
6. MR. FOX: Yes… Very interesting…
Panel 4. A close up of JAMES holding his gun at the ready. His finger is on the trigger.
7. JAMES: Are you listening to me!? What are you?!
Panel 5. MR. FOX has put his sunglasses back on and is looking upwards pondering while MS. KIDD deals with JAMES. She is waving his gun away dismissively.
8. MS. KIDD: Put that away detective. We’re both looking for the same rogue magus.
PAGE TEN (six panels)
Panel 1. MS. KIDD advances on JAMES who is still suspicious but is putting his gun away.
1. JAMES: What the hell are you talking about?
2. MS. KIDD: Don’t test my patience with your feigned ignorance. Perhaps you thought your arcane contacts made you special.
3. MS. KIDD: But you didn’t really think that the modern American surveillance state was ignorant of, or unprepared to respond to, the illicit use of the occult within our borders did you?
4. MS. KIDD: This country was founded by Freemasons for Providence’s sake.
Panel 2. A close up of JAMES. He is upset.
5. JAMES: You two are crazy.
Panel 3. MS. KIDD and JAMES are staring each other down while MR. FOX is lost in his own musings.
6. MS. KIDD: We’re already well aware that you’ve falsified evidence. But at the time perhaps you wanted to report what you really saw to the proper authorities but didn’t know how to find them.
7. MS. KIDD: Well, here we are: the proper authorities. If you were to show your genuine desire to do the right thing now then we could avoid the necessity of pressing charges.
8. JAMES: Charges? Who are you kidding? People like you don’t come anywhere near something as public as a trial.
Panel 4. A close up of MS. KIDD. She is still impassive.
9. MS. KIDD: Estranged from parents. No children. No significant other. No one to make a fuss. I assure you detective; your trial can be very private.
10. MS. KIDD: But why are we talking about trials when we both want the same thing, to bring this vigilante to justice.
Panel 5. A close up of JAMES’ text messages to DIMITRI on his phone. They have not been responded to.
11. MS. KIDD (OFF): Or do you trust Mr. Sokolov so implicitly that you feel he needs no oversight?
Panel 6. A close up of JAMES. He is now resigned.
12. JAMES: What’s your plan?
PAGE ELEVEN (six panels)
Panel 1. JUSTIN is reclining back in his driver’s seat. He was reading a copy of Men Who Stare at Goats but had set it down folded open on his chest. He is yawning.
Panel 2. JUSTIN looks out through the window at four men walking up the sidewalk nearby. He is still drowsy but is dawning into surprise.
1. JUSTIN: What the hell…?
Panel 3. A close shot of the two men’s torsos. Their jackets are open and guns in shoulder holsters are clearly visible.
2. JUSTIN (OFF): Alright this is too much.
Panel 4. JUSTIN gets out of his car and avoids the men’s gaze.
Panel 5. JUSTIN storms into DIMITRI’s apartment building.
Panel 6. JUSTIN is slamming on the door to DAVID’s apartment.
3. JUSTIN: Now you listen to me. There’s some kind of gun toting thug convention outside. Now I’m not leaving until I get some answers!
PAGE TWELVE (five panels)
Panel 1. JUSTIN stops pounding on the door but waits impatiently on the other side. He is pulling out a notebook and pencil.
1. DAVID (OFF): Stop shouting. They’ll hear you.
2. JUSTIN: I’ll stop shouting when you talk to me.
Panel 2. DAVID stands in front of his door looking nervous.
3. DAVID: I am talking to you.
4. JUSTIN (OFF): It would be a lot easier if there wasn’t a door in the way.
Panel 3. DAVID opens the door and JUSTIN steps inside his apartment which is laid out like DIMITRI’s but inverted. DAVID is has also decorated more sophisticated and tastefully.
5. DAVID: What do you want?
6. JUSTIN: Something has come to the city. Whatever it is it’s big and it’s been using Nazi’s as target practice. Normally I wouldn’t mind that but whoever’s behind this has all the discretion of a tornado.
Panel 4. JUSTIN sits down on the sofa while DAVID gets two mugs of tea from the kitchen for them.
7. DAVID: I hope you’re not suggesting that it’s me doing all this.
8. JUSTIN: I would guess not, but you know who it is. I’ve talked to everyone in this building but one and that’s your mysterious neighbor who’s never home.
Panel 5. DAVID hands over a mug to JUSTIN and takes a seat himself.
9. JUSTIN: Is he your boyfriend or something?
10. DAVID: I should be so lucky, no.
PAGE THIRTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. A close up of JUSTIN taking a sip of tea.
1. JUSTIN: But you do know him.
2. DAVID (OFF): Yes, I know him.
Panel 2. DAVID sits in a chair with his mug in his lap. He looks tired.
3. DAVID: Look, I don’t know what you think you’re going to get out of this but it won’t work out.
4. DAVID: This thing you’re looking for is trouble, and not the ‘sells newspapers’ kind of trouble.
Panel 3. JUSTIN has put down his mug and is preparing to take notes.
5. JUSTIN: What other kind of trouble is there?
Panel 4. A close up of JUSTIN. He looks taken aback.
6. DAVID (OFF): The ‘get committed to an asylum’ kind of trouble.
Panel 5. A wide shot of the entire room. JUSTIN and DAVID look back at one another.
7. JUSTIN: …Even so… I want to know.
8. DAVID: Do you believe in magic?
9. JUSTIN: I believe in rational explanations.
PAGE FOURTEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. A close up of DAVID smiling and taking a sip of tea.
1. DAVID: Then you’re not even close to ready.
Panel 2. A wider shot of the whole room. DAVID has stood up and is walking back to the kitchen.
2. DAVID: Yes, those skinheads are after my friend. If you keep following them, you’ll eventually find him but believe me it’s not worth it.
Panel 3. JUSTIN has also got up and followed DAVID into the kitchen where he is washing his mug and trying to avoid the reporter’s gaze.
3. DAVID: Tornado doesn’t begin to describe this thing my friend has gotten himself into. Please listen to me…
Panel 4. JUSTIN turns DAVID around to face him and finds he has tears in his eyes.
4. DAVID: I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt.
Panel 5. JUSTIN pulls DAVID into a close embrace.
5. DAVID: I’m sorry… I’ve just been so stressed and…
6. JUSTIN: It’s okay.
7. DAVID: Oh, hell with it.
Panel 6. DAVID kisses JUSTIN who looks surprised in response.
Panel 7. JUSTIN closes his eyes and kisses back.
PAGE FIFTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. A close up of a cellphone text message which reads: ‘Stay away frm Portland brothers. Cut of all contact.’
Panel 2. DIMITRI, in his shadow armor, scrolls through the cell phone and it’s messages with his left hand while MUNINN perches on the index finger of his right hand which he holds up for her. He is located in another neo-nazi drug den.
1. DIMITRI: I guess this guy wasn’t the best at following instructions.
Panel 3. HUGINN is pecking at one of a pair of bodies. The one he is on top of is a militia member outfitted as a technician while the other looks like a gang member.
2. DIMITRI: They’re not dead, you can’t eat them.
3. DIMITRI: Well you can eat them I suppose, it would just be really gross.
Panel 4. DIMITRI continues to read from the cellphone. MUNINN has moved to perch on his shoulder and is bent forward as though she is reading along with him.
4. DIMITRI: This is interesting. “Report to duty unloading supply convoy at following address”. What do you think? Should we pay them a visit?
5. MUNINN: Caw. Caw.
Panel 5. DIMITRI leaves through a door while the crows fly behind him.
6. DIMITRI: I couldn’t agree more.
PAGE SIXTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. DAVID and JUSTIN are lying naked in bed together. DAVID has his head pressed against JUSTIN’s chest who in turn has an arm around him.
1. DAVID: I think I really needed that.
Panel 2. A shot of the room from the door. JUSTIN sits up along the side of the bed facing the window while DAVID turns to look at him.
2. DAVID: What about you? You make it a habit to seduce beautiful men you meet during your investigations.
3. JUSTIN: I wouldn’t call it a habit.
Panel 3. A reverse shot showing JUSTIN taking a piece of nicotine gum out of its wrapper. DAVID has moved to hug him around the waist.
4. JUSTIN: Maybe this thing your friend has set off is finally starting to get to me too.
Panel 4. A view through the window of JUSTIN looking out while chewing his gum.
5. JUSTIN: That’s strange.
6. DAVID (OFF): What?
Panel 5. A view from JUSTIN’s perspective. The militia men are getting into a jeep on the street.
7. JUSTIN (OFF): I gotta go.
Panel 6. DAVID watches blankly from the bed as JUSTIN pulls on his unbuttoned shit while climbing through the window onto the fire escape.
8. JUSTIN: I’ll be back.
9. DAVID: If Dimitri comes back do you want me to ask him to wait for you?
10. JUSTIN: I have a feeling I’m going to find him first.
PAGE SEVENTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. An establishing shot of a street downtown from above. JUSTIN is in his car following the vehicle the militiamen got into.
Panel 2. From behind him in his car JUSTIN is carefully watching the militiamen who are a few cars ahead of him but still visible.
1. JUSTIN: Where are you going?
Panel 3. JUSTIN spies the militiamen getting out of their parked car as he passes by them.
Panel 4. A shot from directly overhead of JUSTIN quickly parallel parking nearby.
Panel 5. JUSTIN walks with determination towards an alley which the militia men parked in front of.
2. JUSTIN: I guess we’ll just see then.
PAGE EIGHTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. An establishing shot showing MR. FOX looking out the window of a building. He is overlooking JUSTIN entering the alley which is directly adjacent to the building he is in. JAMES’ voice is coming from inside the apartment.
1. JAMES: What the hell is he doing here!?
Panel 2. A wide shot of the entire apartment which is mostly unfurnished but set up like a stakeout. MR. FOX looks back from the window disinterestedly towards JAMES who is arguing with MS. KIDD and pointing at JEFF who is leaning back in a chair and cleaning a sniper rifle.
2. JAMES: He’s a murderer.
3. JEFF: Hey!
4. JEFF: When you kill people for your country it’s called being a veteran, not a murderer.
5. JAMES: Not when they’re civilians. And I was talking about the man you killed in cold blood after your dishonorable discharge.
Panel 3. JEFF is in the process of rising from his seat in anger. MS. KIDD stands between them and JAMES watches unimpressed.
6. JEFF: You’ll be swallowing my dishonorable discharge in a minute.
7. MS. KIDD: Gentlemen please. Control yourselves.
Panel 4. A close up of MS. KIDD.
8. MS. KIDD: Corporal Kline-
9. JAMES (OFF): He’s not a corporal anymore.
10. MS. KIDD: Jeff, is a fully qualified marksman. He will be providing over watch while we make the arrest.
Panel 5. A close up of JAMES looking angry.
11. JAMES: There are a lot of fully qualified marksmen in the Portland PD, the FBI, the state police… Why is hehere?
Panel 6. MR. FOX continues to look out the window. He is cleaning his sunglasses with a handkerchief. Behind him in the background the other three are still arguing.
12. MS. KIDD: The whole point of this operation is to limit the amount of people involved in this affair. Jeff has already encountered the subject before so he is already involved.
13. JAMES: I still don’t like it.
14. MS. KIDD: Then you are free to leave. You’ve already done your part. No one is requiring you to stay.
PAGE NINETEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. JAMES and MS. KIDD square off against one another.
1. JAMES: Oh no you don’t.
2. JAMES: It was my hunches that led you here. And now they’re telling me that you two aren’t really on the level. Not by a long shot.
Panel 2. A close up of JAMES looking very determined.
3. JAMES: We’re here to convince Dimitri to turn himself in peacefully. If anything goes wrong, I’m going to have every civil rights attorney in the state crawling up all your asses with flashlights.
4. JAMES: And this is the west coast. We have a lot of civil rights attorneys.
Panel 3. A wide shot of the entire room. JEFF has gone back to tinkering with his weapon. JAMES and MS. KIDD are still facing off. MR. FOX stands by himself in the corner watching everyone else.
5. MR. FOX: Fucking precognitives.
6. JAMES: What was that?
7. MR. FOX: Nothing.
8. MS. KIDD: Listen detective. Your abilities told us that he’ll be here but not why or who he’ll be with. We would be negligent not to take precautions in case hostilities become inevitable.
Panel 4. JEFF gets up from his chair holding his rifle.
9. JAMES: Hostilities are never inevitable. I-
10. JEFF: You ladies can keep arguing if you must…
Panel 5. JEFF pushes past JAMES to leave the room.
11. JEFF: …But I’m going to get set up to take my fucking shot.
PAGE TWNETY (six panels)
Panel 1. JUSTIN is crouching in cover behind a dumpster in the alley and trying to sneak closer to a large central area in the center of the city block. Behind him DIMITRI is casually striding forward. He’s not wearing his shadow armor but the darkness is pulling itself together around his feet.
Panel 2. JUSTIN notices DIMITRI walking up to him.
1. JUSTIN: Hey man, you probably don’t want to go this way. There are some crazy gun nut types up there.
Panel 3. A close up of DIMITRI’s face.
2. DIMITRI: I know.
Panel 4. A close up of JUSTIN craning his neck to try and see ahead of him. He is turned away from DIMITRI who can just barely be seen on the side of the panel with shadow armor forming around him.
3. JUSTIN: I’m serious. These guys are bad news.
Panel 5. JUSTIN looks around the alley where he finds that he can no longer see DIMITRI.
4. JUSTIN: Wait… you’re…
Panel 6. In his shadow armor DIMITRI continues down the alley and looks over his shoulder at JUSTIN who is trying to find him and looking back and forth in confusion.
5. JUSTIN: Come back! I need to talk to you!
PAGE TWENTY-ONE (six panels)
Panel 1. JEFF is waiting in an open doorway which leads out onto a roof. He is looking through it at MUGINN flying overhead.
Panel 2. A view from the perspective of MUGINN which shows the open door but JEFF cannot be seen. On the ground below the roof there are several armed militiamen who seem to be in the process of moving pieces of equipment from a large box truck with a generator set up beside it. They are in a large open area in the center of the block of buildings with a maze of several alley’s leading into it.
Panel 3. MUGINN swoops down to the alley where DIMITRI is waiting for it in shadow armor.
1. DIMITRI: What did you see sweetheart?
Panel 4. DIMITRI advances down the alley with his revolver in his hand. MUGINN takes off again to continue her search.
2. NARRATION: There are at least a couple dozen of them. Armed to the teeth.
Panel 5. DIMITRI has his back against a building and he peeks around the corner at the militia men who are all still at work.
3. NARRATION: Sounds like fun.
4. NARRATION: Also sounds like it could be trouble. I guess I’d better…
Panel 6. A close up of DIMITRI’s foot crossing the beam of a motion detector.
5. NATTATION: …watch my step.
PAGE TWENTY-TWO (one panel)
Panel 1. A full page spread. DIMITRI is standing in the midst of powerful searchlights which strip away his shadow armor. He is almost being pushed down by the lights and is crouching down trying to use his hands to shield his face. All around him are militiamen with AR-15s and on a fire escape above him is the BROTHER and behind him the STAFF SARGEANT. A pair of technicians and a medic are in the background standing guard over the generator beside the truck with handguns. The BROTHER smiles down menacingly at him.
1. BROTHER: There he is!
2. BROTHER: If he moves an inch…
3. BROTHER: Kill him!