The Xenofix Saga

Geneva (XO/FMK) - In that old interrogation room, "So.  'Captain'  Where do we go from here ... "

Captain - "You're not of a law enforcement agency, are you ?"

Alley - A laugh, "Absolutely not."  Inhales the smoke, "There's only one of us at any time, we usually kill our predecessors when they inevitably become weak.  It resolves clearance matters, and they tend to rebel when they get old.  'Proving themselves'.  Adolescents coming up ... adolescent going down ... 

"They start having opinions."

Captain - "I love that you're telling me all this, makes it a lot easier being interrogated like a criminal for saving the last of humanity.  May I ?"

His table chained hands motion for a smoke.

Geneva - "Of course !"  She lights one, her eyes not leaving him and passes it.  "We're scuttling your ship."

Captain - Observes her a moment, inhales ... exhales.  "The Hell you are."

Geneva - "The Hell I am ... "

Captain - A sigh.  Smokes.  Sizes her up.  Glances to the camera with a nod.

The door opens, crew entering guns drawn.  Geneva smiles still watching him.  He looks to her waiting.

Geneva - ... "Oh !  Of course."  She pulls her pistol and passes it back to the crewman, digs for the keys and slides them across the table.  "I'd dispose of that quickly, a fine weapon but it does have a tracking chip."

Crewman - Looking it over, "That is unfortunate."

Geneva - Turns suddenly to him smiling, "You appreciate fine weaponry."

Crewman - "I do ... "  Looks into her, "A great deal."

Geneva - "Hm."  Back to the captain as the finishes the cuffs.  "Sorry the key's a bit janky, the cuffs are very old.  So.  Where do we go from here ?"

Captain - Getting up and massaging his wrists, stabs the smoke out on the old table.  "I take my ship and go."

Geneva - "I see.  You know it's not about me I'm concerned with, but your knowledge off these events.  So yes do go be insane with that mad dream of yours.  Steal your ship away ... and become 'pirates'."

Captain - Smile ... "How did you know ?"

Geneva - "I read your profile.  You did not intend to retire and now you're ... 'proving yourself'.  Just another aged adolescent, off to play pirates."

Captain - "Finally.  Do you intend to you pursue us ?"

The crewman taps the side of his rifle, pointed at her head.

Geneva - A laugh back to the crewman as though he'd said it, "Of course I will.  It will be to ask of you just one favor for your freedom today."  To the captain, "I'm impressed your people took this base so easily."

Crewman - "Jesus Christ ... "

Geneva - Turns again suddenly, "Have you met him ?  I have.  Not quite what you'd expect really, but a good man nonetheless."

Crewman - "Huh." ... "No.  I meant this whole deal's a setup."

Geneva - Back to the captain, "That it is.  The base was a test of your infiltration skill.  You'll do.  There will be one job.  Fail and die, refuse and lie unto yourselves ... it is inevitable.  You will do this thing.  Now go."

Captain - "No.  What about the royal circus."

Geneva - "Excalibur is theirs and they took the same deal an hour ago.  Lights another, "But frankly their odds of surviving their job are much lower than yours for yours."

Crewman - "Didn't get your name."

Geneva -  Still staring into the captain, "It's Geneva.  A joke by the first of us when once more 'politically biased' agencies complained of his methods.  He was capable of great destruction, but very accurate in its path.  There were complaints. 

Inhales ...

Geneva - "And yours captain.  You'll be needing a new name of course.  For my records"

Captain - A laugh, "You called it.  It's 'Kidd."

Geneva - "Hmmm and your ship the Cara Merchant I think."  She turns back to the crewman, "I'm the 34th Geneva.  We are the sin."  Smiles away to watching the captain leave.

Crewman - "Those people we killed getting in here ... "

Geneva - Smiles to herself, "Yes."

...

The crewman leaves.

~ Xenofix ~

The newly named 'Cara Merchant' departs the installation, knocking aside the debris from the smaller crafts likely destroyed to get there.  A crewman jumps off the side, wire attached and begins scraping 'Centaur' from the nameplate.

While the now haggard and glamorously disheveled crew of Excalibur depart the other way.  Aboard Cara Merchant, the crew to their jobs, a few glances between those who couldn't resist the Xenofix curse. 

Aboard Excalibur the crew has been appointed by need alone, no one knows what they're doing but a very few.  Yacht captains and engine buffs, a few self proclaimed physicists and chefs.

And Mary watches their departure among those who chose to remain, uniform jacket mercilessly unbuttoned, duffel on her back, she's distracted by a goth girl walking by ...

As the camera follows  the woman's smile back, it passes a few other XO/FMK characters departing behind her, among them Clyde watching Bonnie leave with her pimp and girls, dressed for political and nobleman marks from the Centaur's passenger list.

A skully cross on the side now, the painter pops a champagne cork and slips in a drinking tube.  A smile ... she smashes the bottle across the newly painted name leaving the shards tumbling over the name in a zero G momentum splash of the toss.

'The Cara Merchant'.
____________

Gunner - Entering the captain's quarters, "So.  I understand your XO died in a knife fight."

Kidd - Looks at her a moment from his desk.  "They'll say you fucked your way to the top.  Plain and simple.  Doesn't matter how we feel.  If we feel.  It's what they'll say."

Gunner - Pulling off her jacket, "They'll be right.  Let me make one thing perfectly clear.  That's exactly what I'm here for today.  Third date.  I like you.  And I'll still like you when you promote me.  But I am not going to spend our exile anywhere, but on top of this ship.  No more third hand orders, and no more shoveling coal.  I respect you as a commander."

Sitting on him, "I respect your orders.  I will follow them.  And I will enforce them.  Kisses, "And there is no one better."

Kidd - "Well."

Gunner - "Seriously ?  It's her isn't it.  She already asked.  Didn't she."

Kidd - "And she'd fuck me for free.  Now you understand this."  Gets up sliding her off, works his buckle.  "I'm promoting you first."  Pulls off  his belt.  "Before we do this.   Congratulations.  She is the better gunner but you're the better first.  Winds th belt around his hand, then a fist.  "You scare the crew more."

Gunner - "And ?"

Kidd - "And yes I absolutely will take it out on your ass."  He slams her hard over the desk, binds her arms behind with the belt and hikes her skirt.  "Third date."
____________

Excalibur 'captain' - "Mate !"

The first mate walks to the chair leaning in like a waiter for the order.

Captain - "Do you think this ... 'crew' is ready."

Mate - "No sir."

Captain - "Hm.  Well do you think they can bring her about now that Centaur ... "

Mate - "The Cara Merchant sir.  It's been redubbed."

Captain - "Yes ... why do you think ... "

Mate - "The Excalibur was expunged from the final archive sir, so there wasn't need for a new name."

Captain - "Well that is interesting ... I wonder ... "

Mate - "It's all I know of it sir."

Captain - "I see ... well set this tawdry crew to bringing her around, now that this ... 'Cara Merchant' thinks we've gone the other way.  They are lost.  As we are lost.  They will go in a straight line without deviation I think.  So follow the line but not the ship."

Mate - "Very wise captain."  Walks to station and pulls the ship wide microphone cone, "Bridge to crew.  Bring her around directly, we track the Centaur, currently the Cara Merchant, far enough out so as not to be seen. 

"Follow the path of departure and deviate not !  Deviate not in your hearts nor your wills, for we once ruled the world, for reasons.  Bridge out."

Captain - Stares ... "Well that was very nice ... who the Hell are you ?"

Mate - "Shakespearean actor sir."

Captain - Turns back to the viewscreen, "Pf.  I was always a Marlow man myself ... "

Mate - "Died in a knife fight sir."

Captain - "Yes ... "
____________

XO - High in bed on extreme endorphins ... looks to the kitchenette, "Are you literally making me breakfast !?"

Gijo - On the comm, "Captain, the Excalibur appears to be following us."
____

Excalibur Captain - "Be sure to keep distance helm ... we do not wish them to know ... "

Helm - "I'm an equestrian with a model rocket collection."  Clears his throat, " 'Sir'."

Captain - watching the engine trail ahead ... " 'Sir' ... I do like that."

Mate - "It's a fine collection sir."
____

Gijo - Still comm, "And congratulations to the new 'XO', you absolute whore."

XO - "Well look at you ... fucking everything but where it counts."
____

Captain - "You've seen it ?  Well that's rather strange odds.   I certainly haven't seen his model rocket collection.  I barely know who the hell he is and I've seen everybody's collections ... "

Helm - "I was his ... 'benefactor'."

Mate - "And now you're my bitch."
____

Gijo - In the pilot's grid to the new XO, "Did you Literally just say that to me."
____

Mate - "Aye helm I did.  You've gotten too close, they'll surely know we're here."

Captain "Core ... it's true."
____

XO - "You are the better gunner."

Gijo - "Oh my fucking god ... are you hitting on me ?"

XO - "Well that just wouldn't be appropriate.  Would it.  You're the better gunner, even while piloting and running the overall sensor systems."

Gijo - "Well they're all really like one  system."

XO - "To you.  That's why you're the best.  Now we all got what we wanted so let's leave it at that.  We need you here.  And the captain needs me by his side."

Gijo - "Are you using him ?"

XO - "Yes.  And no.  It's one of those lucky events where what you want, is what you need."

Gijo - "You are ... ultimate evil."

XO - "And now we're pirates.  That's why captain needs me on the bridge.  Ironic.  You've got more of a conscience.  It would get in the way up there."

...

Gijo - "Orders ?"

XO - "Now that Excalibur understands what it means it means to have no crew ... "
____

Excalibur Captain - Throws a shoe at the helmsman, "Absolutely Useless."

Mate - "Shall I have him beaten sir ?"

Captain - "Too right."
____

XO - "We take her again.  Can you spin us round and reverse to make it look to Excalibur like it's not flying into our main fore cannons ?"

Gijo - Smiles ... "Absolute evil.  Yes I can."

XO - Smiles back, "Excellent."  Turns for the door.

Gijo - "Whore."

XO - "Trollop."
____

Mate - Flogging the helmsman, "Useless fucking cunt."

~ two

~ three

~ Encompass ~

The First Librarian

In Palestine, a calm day before a barrage strikes suddenly, buildings destroyed in the wake.  Inside an urban school, Aedera stands between shelves in the school library.  With the explosions it suddenly collapses around her.

In the settling dust she's leaned over breathing hard.  The bookshelf on her back, the rubble on the bookshelf. Breathing deeply she coughs blood, the shelf and rubble shifting with her every move.

A tear, she closes her eyes and breathes deeply, with a jagged breath.  She exhales to relax and let it fall.

A child's voice - "Ms. Aedera ?"

She breaks into tears in the dark, with the growing sound of children coughing and crying out around her.
________________

In the hut.

She leans over the nameless, his body overgrown with moss and clover, and kisses him on the cheek, the mouse crawls up her hand to her shoulder.

She stands taking the blunderbuss and powder bag, blue light fading to darkness. In the night's dim light she walks quietly out the door.

~ The Scribe ~

A Domesday Book of Sanctuary

 

Aedera - In the dim light, "It's okay. They're coming for us.  You hold on, and so will I."

The rubble shifts and she cries out.

Aedera - To the growing sounds of fear, "No.  A story."

~ The First Librarian ~

Aedera - Voiced in the dark heavy breathing smoothing to tones, "I give you my secrets ... as many as ... they would have been for my finest student, through life, and that is one of you."

As she speaks the tale takes form in the dark, briefly lighting their faces before fading to tale, following her words in sweeping view of the scenes.

Aedera - "It was the high northern mountains, they say in the year of their AD eight forty-nine.  Deep into the mountainsides they lived, the Dwarvenkind."

"There they ruled a silent hold on the world's alchemy and gold.  Their men, warriors trained hard, made stout by the thousand year mines."

Guinnvera walks down the deep temple hall with her guard from the wood to a woman waiting.

Aedera - Voiced as they walk, "But when they speak of the hidden Dwarven treasures, eavesdropping fools assumed they meant gold. And indeed it usually was. But their most sacred and secret treasure was always the hidden queens of Dwarvenkind"

Guinnvera - Handing over The Book of Names, "You will not leave the temple until the book is retrieved.  You will protect it with your life, and you will transcribe.  And for this you will gain it's secrets as far as you may chose to look look.  Do you agree ?"

Librarian - Taking the book, head low, "I do."

Guinnvera - A short inspecting laugh, then a thought, "You know I find myself both jealous ... and yet so disposed to mock your choice.   I believe you to be the wiser of we two, my sister."  Turning away with a laugh, "But the first librarian will outlive us all I think !"

A hard stone slab slides shut, slot at the bottom for food and volumes. An empty book for transcription slides through followed by a meal, worthy.
________

Years pass as empty books fill with volumes, another fine meal slides under the door. She sets down her quill, book open, then return she sees the tiny white mouse.

Librarian - "You cannot be here little mouse."

A squeak.

A furrowed brow, a piece of bread offered, and together they read chewing while she transcribes.
________

More shelves are filled, a meal slide under, pushed forward by another volume.

Librarian - Leaning back with her food's leg, "My meals were always so shy ... were you here before I, little mouse ?"

The mouse looks up at her, then back the book, digging her nose under to turn a page before continuing to read.

Librarian - "The first librarian ..."
_______

With the heavy cranking of ancient gears the door is hefted back up. Morgan stands waiting dressed as for the 1590's, Guinnvera and guard behind.

Librarian - Mouse on her shoulder, holding out the book, "How long ?"

Morgan - Looking to the mouse looking back curiously, then to her, "Seven hundred thirty two years and a season."

Guinnvera - Stepping up, "I didn't think I'd make it that long, sister.   It's been busy."  She takes her hands, smiling at the mouse, then to her. "Would you like to see the sun ?"

They walk out to the high cliff terrace buried in the rough, sweeping across the high northern mountains.

The Second Dragon King

The sound of digging past the rubble, a voice ...

"Is there anyone still in there ?"

Aedera - Crying out, pained from the weight, "Yes !  Come quickly !  I can't ... I can't ..."  She takes deep breaths, and continues.

~ The Second Dragon King ~

Aedera - In the darkness - "It was his first battle in rule, the second dragon king, the first to hold that title since the dying times died."

"But then the day the dead did walk again, and so did rise the dragons and a king."

Her descriptions take form in the dark, briefly lighting their crowded space before it take over the view.

Aedera - Voiced over the scene, "The enemy in line, roaring their despise, myth and monster, man and monstrosity, and against them to protect the land, the Goddess, no other came.   Alone was the first order of the second dragon king.

"So young ... a chamberlain required."

Chamberlain - Approaching the new king's side, "Be brave, they will follow."

The second - After a pause staring across the enemy, a smile, then pensive, "Fools will fall.  But am I worthy of this ?"

Chamberlain - "Was ever a king worthy ?  In all the time prior or since ?"

The second - "Was he ?"

Chamberlain - "For you to judge."
________

The dinosaurs in their earliest forms, scavengers against the insects and wild, their king at the head peering through weed, directing their gathering against the unknown.

They grow and diversify, wandering the long beaches as a massive herd.

Chamberlain - Voiced over, "We prospered and evolved well under his rule, there was never a challenge, never a need, that he ruled ... was."

In later forms he watches from the cliff, chamberlain at his side while the massive herd roams lazily.

First - To the chamberlain, "There is no way to sustain this.   Where we go, we devour."  He looks to the chamberlain, "I fear we must divide the people."

Chamberlain - Turning back to a devoured field, then down to the herd with sadness, "It is wise."

Chamberlain - Voiced over as the herd divides into many directions, a dark day, "And so it was done." As their path regrows over time, "And it was good."

In seasonal cycles they meet happily at the waterhole, sharing tales of many directions.

Chamberlain - "Until ..." A comet flies over ...

A flash.

Chamberlain - "But we did survive, I know what those fools cross field have told you, but survive ... we did."

As the world grows to wasteland ... in the cycles the watering hole shrinks.

Chamberlain - "But not much else."

The hungry beasts, fully differentiated stare across the small pond at each other, a distance from it's muddy shore.

The chamberlain walks to the fist king, staring from the cliff, both appearing now carnivorous, as their packs gathering behind. Behind them they his and grunt small roars, hungry, thirsty.

Chamberlain - "And what to do."

The first stares a long time in silence, scenting the wind, looking across at the angry herds below, posturing to each other, swinging weighted tails as they edge closer to the water.

First - "Eat them."
____

The field pulls back to the roaring enemy line, taunting cross field.

Chamberlain - "And he swore the title king no more, that day ever after."

Second - Looking across the field, "What does it mean ?"

Chamberlain - "Nothing."

Second - Looking across, sighting their ruler, "What happened to him ?"

Chamberlain - "He died at your side.   Three years ago."

Second - Looking down, "I remember him."  Looking up with a nod, "He fought well."

Chamberlain - "That he did."

The pause in remembrance.

He roars forth their charge, the field fills with their collision.

The Third of Three

Stones are moved, shifting the ruble, collapsing on her weight as she stains, taking deep breath between the tears, a tiny light shines through.

The voice - "Are you still in there ?"

Aedera - In a near scream, "Please !"

Breathing and composing, stones shifting, she continues.
________________

Aedera - "Firsts and seconds, they sit around the fire after dusk ... the ladies of fate, freed so briefly of their thirds of three."

The fire glows in the room under her face as she speaks dripping tears to steam, the saddest tale for her to tell.
____

Naamah - A small bird on her stick, "So the men are dead !  Ran off to war and died in a blast.  Hm !  I read in peace."

Crone - Twirling a stick with a fish, "Oh yes ... run they did. Hee hee !  Run they did."

Lilith - A marshmallow, "Well not all the men ..."  She sideways glances Naamah.

Mother - A lizard, "What do you know about it ?  You only date birds !"

...

Lilith - "You know I've always wondered.  Who's the man that made you the mother ?"

Crone - "Oh !" Leans back on her rock "He was handsome !"

Mother - "I really think she should be here for this story ..."

Crone - "Well she's Not !   So I get to tell it."

~ The Third of Three ~

Crone begins voiced over as the maiden walks down the street in the twenties wearing a flapper dress, 20ish years old, attracting much attention.

Crone - "It was another of her little getaways ..." she cackles.

Mother - "And the whole world goes to shit every time she does ..."

Cars swerve and restaurants explode in old Chicago as she walks by.  Gangsters jump out and shoot each other down in her path as she steps over them and into the speakeasy, pulling a cigarette.

She smiles looking up as the bartender lights it and opens the door behind the bar and closes it behind her.

Naamah - "No one ever did credit her ability to run numbers."

The maiden sits at the head of a table of dangerous looking men holding cards, the biggest pile in front of her as she lays down her hand. "Cry, bitches."

Crone - "It's true it's True !   Always a prodigy."  Tosses her hair laughing and dancing to their clapping, "Just look how she turns out !"

The men are stare confused when she rakes the money into a large bag and slings it over her shoulder, picking up lastly a set of car keys from the table in front of one of the silent unlucky, stunned as she kisses the scar on his cheek.

Maiden - Before leaving the backroom, door open, "And boys, if you really want to keep killing each other, try a Thompson."

The door closes.
________

Venus leans back on the railing overlooking the gun factory in the 20's on near the platform office in a 20's, checking over her shoulder while a man examines blueprints, smoking a cigar with shock.
________

Mother - "You see ?  Total walking shit storm."

Crone - "Hee hee !  My turn next !"
________

Crone - "And she saw him standing there !  Right in the middle of the road !"

Maiden - Many more bags of money (dollar signs) bouncing around in the back seat while she tears dangerously down the night time road in the rain, swerving near the cliff, "! Woooo ! ... Huh ... ?"

A time slowed focus to his face looking directly at her in the headlights, a long suit coat under an overcoat, all fitted to his square frame, strong jaw beneath a broad hat.

Maiden - Car slow-time barrelling toward him, "Oh ..."  Then as normal time returns, "Oh fuck !"

She swerves to miss him off the cliff, car tumbling as she rolls around inside, money flying out of the bags in the back seat. "Fuck ! Shit ! Dammit !" as she rolls and bounces.

Then off a high cliff, in the air, "Oh fuck ..."

A long silence before an explosion sounds, lighting the woods.

"! Damn it !"
____

At the bottom of the cliff the man in the road sees her standing with her arms crossed staring at the burning car, half burned money is everywhere, her dress shredded and burned.

Man - "Hey ... miss ? Are you alright ... ?"

Maiden - "Oh !  Ummm."  Falls to the ground, horribly faking. "Umm ... ouch.  I'm not."

Man - Approaching slowly, "How did you survive that ?"

Maiden - "Oh that ? ... No idea."  Laying back and feigning great 'pain', "Hey, I don't suppose you'd like to carry me back up that hill ..."  She lazily gestures to the nearly impassable cliff.

Man - "I'm not sure I should move you ..."

Maiden - "Oh no.  You should definitely move me."
____

In his car, she's curled in the passenger seat staring at him, his coat tied tightly around her.   "Why were standing in the road ?"

Man - "My car just stopped.   It was strange ... and ... also that it started right back up again just now."  He looks over at her as she closes her eyes to sleep.

Maiden - "Eyes on the road, sunshine.  You never know what'll come up next."
____________

With a painful jolt of rubble, Aedera watches as one by one they're pulled free by the reaching arms, until the last, leaving the light shining through.

Aedera - Closing her eyes, whispers, "Thank you."

It collapses.

~ 2018 ~ For Palestine ~

It's my experience that nothing tears down an evil faster than itself in the presence of a good thing it can't destroy.

~ 'The Sin' by Franz von Stuck ~