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Part 2.
(Location: Canada. It is another cold and rainy day for our three operatives. Shaminos, Z-knight, and Lexicon wait at the airport, watching for their fellow operatives as various planes take off and land. Lexicon is holding a rather large box of transformers. Shaminos is sitting on a chair, scowling at the crowds near the baggage claim, while Z-knight scans for the two operatives they have been sent to meet for transfer of the package. |
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Lexicon: “C-10 case-fresh Gen-1 American Autobot cars. It doesn’t get any better than this, right Z?” Z-knight: “Yea, maybe. But I’ll feel better when it’s out of our hands and safe at Headquarters. Being out in the open like this...why, what happens if the dealer we offed has friends? They could come looking for us if they knew..” Shaminos: “There will BE no problems in that regard. The dealer’s friends burned in the store along with him.” Lexicon: “I hope you’re right. I’d hate to deal with the consequences if the Maple Leaf Consortium found out...” Shaminos: “If what? If I’m wrong? I’m simply telling you what I was told when I picked up this box. No further information was given. Nor is it needed. Do you not trust in the Cause?” Lexicon: “To tell you the truth, I am trusting less and less each day. I’ve been thinking...of getting out of the business. Going back to my writing seems safer these days.” Z-knight: “Talk like that could be considered treason. But have it your way. Besides, the argument is a moot point right now. Here comes the hand-off team.” (Z-knight nods in the direction of two gentleman far into the crowds. As they come closer, they are revealed to be Devvi and Argus. From a glance, it seems as though they are still slightly inebriated, walking slowly and weaving slightly along the way.) Lexicon: “THOSE two are the hand-off team? You’re joking.” Shaminos: “I agree, they hardly seem like the type.” Z-knight: “Like it or not, it’s them. Let’s just hurry and get this over with, allright?” Lexicon: “Agreed.” (The two groups of Special Operatives meet, and exchange stiff greetings with one another. The package is handed off.) Devvi: “So this is it, huh?” Shaminos: “All present and accounted for. Would you care to inspect the merchandise?” Argus: “Nah, it’s ok. We trust y’all.” Z-knight: “I should hope so. We’re all on the same side, right?” Devvi: “Of course, of course. But, um...well, there is...” Argus: “It’s all right Devvi, I can take it from here. Why don’t you take the package onto the plane with you? I’ll catch up.” Devvi: “I’m all over it.” (walks back toward the direction he came, all traces of drunkedness curiously absent from his step now that he has transformers to keep him company.) Argus: “Um, Lex...I’ve been given a message to give to you...from HQ. Is there somewhere private we can go?” Lexicon: “Anything that can be said to me can be said in front of my friends. I have complete faith in them.” Argus: “Maybe so, but...well, HQ said that this was for you only, and frankly I don’t think they trust one of your buddies here.” (Shaminos and Z-knight shout together) “What?!” Argus: “Hey, don’t get mad at me. I’m only following orders here. What do you expect me to think?” Shaminos: “Of all the nerve...” Z-knight: “Why I outta...” Lexicon: “You two will do nothing except stay here and wait for my return. Alright Argus, I’ll go with you. But you can be sure I’ll tell them what you told me when I get back.” Argus: “Hey, it doesn’t matter to me. All I’m supposed to do is tell you. How about we go for a walk?” Lexicon: “Very well.” (The two begin to move away from the others. Shaminos and Z-knight watch them go, then turn back to where they saw Devvi disappear to. He, too, is already out of site.) Z-knight: “Nothing to do but sit here and wait.” Shaminos. “Yes. And that worries me.” Z-knight: “What does?” Shaminos: “Us waiting here while Lexicon goes off with that total stranger. It...worries me.” Z-knight: “Why? It’s just a fellow operative.” Shaminos: “That hasn’t stopped other operatives from...disappearing in the course of our work lately. I don’t trust that Argus fellow. Something didn’t seem right.” Z-knight: “So do you still want to wait here?” Shaminos: “No. I want to find them, and follow behind at a distance. To make sure everything is on the level, so to speak.” Z-knight: “I’m with you. Let’s go!” Shaminos: “No, you stay here. One of us needs to be here, in case I don’t find them, and she comes back. I don’t want her to think we both disobeyed her orders.” Z-knight: “I’ll just say you went to the bathroom.” Shaminos: “That will work. I’m off.” (Disappears into the crowd) Z-knight: (to himself, after Shaminos disappears) “So am I. So am I.” (disappears into the opposite direction.) (The airport proper: Argus and Lexicon are taking a leisurely stroll thru one of the less-used walkways of the area. They spot a small bar, and decide that the combination of few people and the dim lighting would make an excellent place for a converation.) Argus: “Let’s head in there. We won’t be bothered.” Lexicon: “Haven’t you had enough to drink?” Argus: “Madam, I’ll have you know there’s no such thing. (summons the bartender) Barkeep! A mug of guiness for myself, and a glass of your finest for the lady.” Lexicon: “How do you know what I want to drink?” Argus: “I can see it in your eyes. Only the best wine will do for a fine woman such as yourself.” Lexicon: (blushes slightly) “Well, fine...but just one drink. And after that, you simply must tell me what this secret message from HQ is.” Argus: (raising his mug to her) “All in good time, my dear. All in good time.” (he takes a healthy swig of the brew. Lexicon sips her wine.) (Meanwhile, in another section of the airport, Shaminos searches for his missing team-mate. He was sure she went this way with the other operative, but as of yet no sign of her. He has, however, been spotted by Devvi.) Devvi: (muttering to himself)“Looking for Lexicon, eh? Well well, seems like you don’t follow her orders too-well, do you Shaminos? I’ll have to see to this. Argus will need more time.” (Devvi approaches Shaminos, who has himself spotted his other team-mate, Z-knight) Shaminos: (to himself) “Z-knight? I thought I told him to stay put. Dammit, I'll have to catch up to him now instead. This is costing me precious time." Devvi: (with a small gun now in Shaminos’ back) “Actually friend, I think your time is just about up.” Shaminos: (clearly startled) “Huh? Devvi?! What the hell are you playing at?” Devvi: “I could ask you the same thing. However, I think you and I should take a little walk over to your friend Z-knight there. And no sudden moves, please. I’d hate to have to use this.” Shaminos: “This is insane! We’re both on the same side!” Devvi: “I know. That’s what you have to trust me on this. Let’s go get your friend there, shall we?” (Shaminos, with Devvi discreetly hovering behind him, moves to intercept Z-knight, who has until now been completely unaware of the little drama playing out behind him. He has eyes for other matters.) Z-knight: (to himself, upon discovering his boss) “Dang, I thought so. Shaminos headed off in the wrong direction. What is Lexicon doing in that bar with Argus? I don’t dare join them. That would give me away as disobeying her orders. Sigh. Well, maybe I can just keep watch from here. I’ll need...crap, Argus spotted me. And he’s pointing me out to the boss. I gotta hide.” (turns around, spots Shaminos and Devvi moving toward him.) “Oh, oh. That can’t be good at ALL. I’m outta here.” (Z-knight quickly blends into the crowd, losing his pursuers.) Devvi: “Dammit!” Shaminos: “Not as dumb as he looks, eh?” Devvi: “You know, you’re really starting to annoy me.” Shaminos: “So put the gun away, and tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.” Devvi: “Trust me, you can’t. It’s better this way.” (Hits Shaminos over the head with the butt of his gun, then breifly checks for a pulse. Finding none, he half carries, half drags him over to a section of bleachers where some homeless people are huddled, and drops him into one of the seats. He then removes a small bottle of whiskey, splashes some on his face, and tucks the rest of the bottle into his hand. No one questions his movements. No one seems to care. They’ve seen it all before.) “That ought to do the trick. Now to find your friend.” (Meanwhile, back at the bar...) Lexicon: “So what is it that you needed to tell me? Isn’t HQ happy with our work here?” Argus: “Well, that may be a part of it. From what I can tell, it’s more a matter of efficiency. Your team is good, but...not as good as the toybarons. As under-cover dealers, they have a distinct advantage over your team in finding new product here in Canada. And frankly...it’s a matter of trust. From some of your mission reports, it seems that your loyalties might be a little, shall we say, shaky. That doesn’t fill our superiors with confidence. After all, there is an adgenda to follow.” Lexicon: “I know, I know. In order to make sure the market can support all the new toys we make from those recovered molds, we have to remove enough of the original product from the marketplace. The fact that the Warehouse is practically full is a testament to the success of that mission. But I have to tell you...that’s not how the TF Militia started. I came in at the beginning, where the goal was simply to rescue the product from dealers and get it to collectors. But now, somehow, the priorities have changed...and I fear not all of the Special Operatives have changed with them.” Argus: “Well-spoken, but that was before my time. I just joined this organization a few months back. I have no knowledge of how you folks did things in the old days. Nor should I care. I have to support what the goals of the TFM are NOW. I suppose, in the end, that’s why I’m here.” Lexicon: “What do you mean?” Argus: “Well I, ...say, isn’t that fellow over there one of your helpers?”(points off into the crowd) Lexicon: “What, I..” (looks off into crowd) “Yes, I do believe it is. What’s Z-knight’s doing over there?” Argus: “I couldn’t guess.” (while Lexicon is distracted, and looking in the opposite direction, Argus pours a small vial of powder into her drink.) “Why don’t I go over there and see?” Lexicon: “No, he’s my team-mate. My responsibility.” (moves to get up) Argus: (gently pushing her back down) “My dear, I wouldn’t dream of it. Sit, relax, finish your drink. I’ll be back shortly.” (Argus gets up and heads toward Z-knight.) Lexicon: “Well...allright. I am rather thirsty.” (Lexicon raises her drink to her lips) (Meanwhile, Argus, losing track of Z-knight, bumps into Devvi instead.) Devvi: “Mission accomplished?” Argus: “More or less. Lost track of that Z-knight fellow.” Devvi: “Me, too. Slippery fellow. But he’s not part of our mission. Let’s let him go.” Argus: “Agreed. Time to get out of here, if I do say so myself.” Devvi: “Sounds good to me. Say, how about we stop for a drink before we leave? I saw this nice quiet little bar just down the way...” Argus: “No, better we go now. I have a feeling that bar won’t be quiet too-much longer. Is the package stowed?” Devvi: “In the baggage compartment, just like you asked.” Argus: “Good. Then let’s go. We have a plane to catch. With any luck, we can make it back home to the Goose and Gander before last call.” Devvi: “They HAVE a last call?” Argus: “Only one way to find out.” (Together, they skip toward their flight, humming a dainty little tune based on the Touch album.) Epilogue: A little bar in an airport in Canada. Police tape surrounds this normally quiet establishment. The body of a small woman is placed within a body bag, and zipped up. A detective is on the scene, chatting with a uniformed officer about this not-so-bizarre occurance.) Detective: “So you say you spoke to the family?” Officer: “Yes. They said that she had been rather depressed as of late, but they didn’t understand why. They said she kept mumbling about her priorities changing, and how she couldn’t escape.” Detective: “MMmm. Yup. Sounds like depression. Well, I think we can rule out murder here then. I’ll mark it down as another suicide. Sigh. You know, it’s a damn shame, really.” Officer: “What’s that?” Detective: “This girl had so much to live for. It’s too bad she couldn’t find somebody to confide in. Maybe they could have saved her. Now she’s just a hollow shell. Just like that dead bum we found earlier. There’s a fellow with no friends, to let him end up like that.” Officer: “If you say so sir. But maybe like that bum, she didn’t have a friend in the world either. Who can say?” Detective: “You may be right at that, son. You may be right. Just another day. Time to go. Maybe pick up a few doughnuts on the way back. You in?” Officer: “Lead the way, sir.” (The officer and detective walk away from the scene, heading back to file their reports, and all-too-soon forget about yet another suicide in this city. There have been a rash of them as of late. They don’t give a second thought to it. Unbeknowest to them, however, their conversation did not go unheard.) Z-knight: “You’re wrong. She did have a friend. And I swear, I will avenge this death. And those of all the other operatives that have been lost in this purge. You’ve made an enemy today, Argus and Devvi. And mark my words, I’ll make you pay. I’ll make all of you pay. I’ll bring down all of TFM is I have to.” (sobbing, he runs into the airport night.)
The End. For now. |
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