My Last Night on Earth, Part One (Hostile Intent 2022)
May 23, 2022 20:06:55 GMT -5
Dave D-Flipz and Thespian like this
Post by Phoenix Roost on May 23, 2022 20:06:55 GMT -5
BZZ!
BZZZ!
BZZZZT!
Keahi: Bitch!
The scene opens on Keahi. She is no longer confined to a low-rent motel, instead in her own apartment. It’s not very big, and the only bathroom is the bedroom en suite, which could be inconvenient. It’s well furnished but not well decorated, so not much different from her last place, but from the view out the window, you can tell this is not in the same complex as her old apartment. There are several tan-brick apartment buildings that stretch across the land rather than upward. There are a few vehicles in the parking lot visible from the bedroom window, and they all have Louisiana license plates instead of Tennessee.
Keahi is not focused on any of that, instead on a bog standard padlock on the desk in her room. She’s pointing the wand she calls a Sonic Screwdriver at it and activating it somehow. The green gem embedded in the tip lights up and a loud buzzing emits from the room, but nothing else happens. She then twists the ring on the shaft that holds the gem in place, though this doesn’t move the emerald, then blasts again. The lock remains engaged each time.
Outside the bedroom, ready to intervene if necessary, are Sapphire and a young Japanese woman in a pastel pink sundress who is clutching a large floppy hat to her chest.
Naru: Oh, I wish she’d be careful...she nearly started a fire the first time she turned that on.
Sapphire: So there’s some actual power in there somewhere.
Naru: I’m not sure how such a small item discharged so much power, but yes. But she fidgeted with it, twisting things around, and all it’s done since then is buzz and light up.
Sapphire tilts her head, furrowing her brow.
Sapphire: I mean...for most people, that’d be enough.
Naru: I was pretty nakedly panicked. And we were on a ferry to the mainland, so if she’d pointed the thing slightly down or sparked the wrong wire...
BZZZZ--click
Keahi: A ha!
Keahi runs out of the bedroom into the main room, with the Sonic Screwdriver in one hand and the padlock, slightly charred but definitely unlocked, in the other. She looks like she’s proud enough that cracking subatomic particles with a butter knife would feel less impressive. Naru is beaming and claps, but Sapphire chuckles and shakes her head.
Sapphire: That’s all well and good, but you know that there’s more holding the chambers closed than just a lock, right?
Naru: Also I think you have to stop fiddling with it now. Who knows what will happen at the next resonant frequency?
Keahi: That’s a high tech phrase. You sure you don’t want it back?
Naru raises an eyebrow, then shakes her head.
Naru: I don’t think so. For one thing, you asked to hold on to it. But also, you rightly supposed you could more easily defend it.
Keahi: I’m guess you still haven’t heard from your dad?
Naru: He texted me once.
Keahi: It’s been a month!
Naru smiles sadly as she nods.
Naru: Yes. He is often preoccupied with his business, even in the best of times, so it’s not as unusual as it sounds. But once in a month is below average, to be sure.
Keahi furrows her brow, suddenly holding the metal wand in her right hand a little tighter, and a little closer to her chest as she looks around as though someone is going to jump out of the kitchen and come for her.
Keahi: He’s not going to do anything here, is he?
Sapphire: I can’t speak for him, but I think if someone wanted to hinder your ability to get an apartment--
Naru: You are also on the lease, don’t forget.
Sapphire: --then I would think that means they aren’t interested.
Keahi: Or biding their time.
Sapphire: If I had to guess, I would expect that they’re going to leave you alone until you leave for Call to Arms. If I had to make someone disappear and they were publicly going to a deathtrap island soon, I let them come to me there.
There’s a moment of awkward silence as the three women contemplate their fates. Then Sapphire clears her throat.
Sapphire: That’s assuming you even get there. I’ve done some digging, and I’ve got hold of some footage of past 7th Circle of Hell matches to help you prepare.
Sapphire: How’s it look, Lee?
“Lee”: No sign of hostiles, but your point stands. We can protect her stateside, but there’s nothing we--
Sapphire is knocked off her feet with the force that the front door flies inward, as Keahi pulled it open as hard as she could. Her eyes are wide, and the image that’s on the TV probably explains why.
It’s grainy, and far away, and paused at an awkward frame, but it looks like a long-haired man hanging by the neck from the top of an Elimination Chamber as a long strand of steel chain goes from his neck up into the struts of the structure’s roof before falling back toward the Earth a couple feet away.
Keahi: I’m going to die.
BZZZ!
BZZZZT!
Keahi: Bitch!
The scene opens on Keahi. She is no longer confined to a low-rent motel, instead in her own apartment. It’s not very big, and the only bathroom is the bedroom en suite, which could be inconvenient. It’s well furnished but not well decorated, so not much different from her last place, but from the view out the window, you can tell this is not in the same complex as her old apartment. There are several tan-brick apartment buildings that stretch across the land rather than upward. There are a few vehicles in the parking lot visible from the bedroom window, and they all have Louisiana license plates instead of Tennessee.
Keahi is not focused on any of that, instead on a bog standard padlock on the desk in her room. She’s pointing the wand she calls a Sonic Screwdriver at it and activating it somehow. The green gem embedded in the tip lights up and a loud buzzing emits from the room, but nothing else happens. She then twists the ring on the shaft that holds the gem in place, though this doesn’t move the emerald, then blasts again. The lock remains engaged each time.
Outside the bedroom, ready to intervene if necessary, are Sapphire and a young Japanese woman in a pastel pink sundress who is clutching a large floppy hat to her chest.
Naru: Oh, I wish she’d be careful...she nearly started a fire the first time she turned that on.
Sapphire: So there’s some actual power in there somewhere.
Naru: I’m not sure how such a small item discharged so much power, but yes. But she fidgeted with it, twisting things around, and all it’s done since then is buzz and light up.
Sapphire tilts her head, furrowing her brow.
Sapphire: I mean...for most people, that’d be enough.
Naru: I was pretty nakedly panicked. And we were on a ferry to the mainland, so if she’d pointed the thing slightly down or sparked the wrong wire...
BZZZZ--click
Keahi: A ha!
Keahi runs out of the bedroom into the main room, with the Sonic Screwdriver in one hand and the padlock, slightly charred but definitely unlocked, in the other. She looks like she’s proud enough that cracking subatomic particles with a butter knife would feel less impressive. Naru is beaming and claps, but Sapphire chuckles and shakes her head.
Sapphire: That’s all well and good, but you know that there’s more holding the chambers closed than just a lock, right?
Naru: Also I think you have to stop fiddling with it now. Who knows what will happen at the next resonant frequency?
Keahi: That’s a high tech phrase. You sure you don’t want it back?
Naru raises an eyebrow, then shakes her head.
Naru: I don’t think so. For one thing, you asked to hold on to it. But also, you rightly supposed you could more easily defend it.
Keahi: I’m guess you still haven’t heard from your dad?
Naru: He texted me once.
Keahi: It’s been a month!
Naru smiles sadly as she nods.
Naru: Yes. He is often preoccupied with his business, even in the best of times, so it’s not as unusual as it sounds. But once in a month is below average, to be sure.
Keahi furrows her brow, suddenly holding the metal wand in her right hand a little tighter, and a little closer to her chest as she looks around as though someone is going to jump out of the kitchen and come for her.
Keahi: He’s not going to do anything here, is he?
Sapphire: I can’t speak for him, but I think if someone wanted to hinder your ability to get an apartment--
Naru: You are also on the lease, don’t forget.
Sapphire: --then I would think that means they aren’t interested.
Keahi: Or biding their time.
Sapphire: If I had to guess, I would expect that they’re going to leave you alone until you leave for Call to Arms. If I had to make someone disappear and they were publicly going to a deathtrap island soon, I let them come to me there.
There’s a moment of awkward silence as the three women contemplate their fates. Then Sapphire clears her throat.
Sapphire: That’s assuming you even get there. I’ve done some digging, and I’ve got hold of some footage of past 7th Circle of Hell matches to help you prepare.
A large television is set up in the apartment’s living room. Keahi and Naru are watching some old 480p ass video footage of men trying to murder each other, but Sapphire has stepped out of the apartment. She’s leaning against the outside of the front door while talking to a man that manages to be larger than her, with a slightly ginger buzzcut and black fatigues. But she seems to know this guy, so the similarity of his attire to the outfits Keahi would have described to her doesn’t put her off.
(Being able to see his face helps.)
Sapphire: How’s it look, Lee?
“Lee”: No sign of hostiles, but your point stands. We can protect her stateside, but there’s nothing we--
Sapphire is knocked off her feet with the force that the front door flies inward, as Keahi pulled it open as hard as she could. Her eyes are wide, and the image that’s on the TV probably explains why.
It’s grainy, and far away, and paused at an awkward frame, but it looks like a long-haired man hanging by the neck from the top of an Elimination Chamber as a long strand of steel chain goes from his neck up into the struts of the structure’s roof before falling back toward the Earth a couple feet away.
Sapphire quickly stands up and wheels around to face Keahi, noting her facial expression. The surprise at seeing Keahi so shaken means she can’t say anything before Keahi croaks out four words, as haunted as she’s ever sounded.
Keahi: I’m going to die.