Act 2, Scene 1
Narrator: Fresh from the streets of Manzikert, the Imperial capital city, our Hero, Theo Eistros, is on her way to the War Room for the first time. She doesn’t know what to expect. All she knows is a handful of her world’s history and that she can read minds. Will that be enough??
[crowd chatter]
[door creaks as Theo walks in]
[silence falls]
Marsh: Welcome, Theo.
Everyone present: Welcome.
[Theo looks around awkwardly]
Theo: Marsh, where would you like for me to sit?
Marsh: Next to General Belisarius is open.
Theo: Oh..Okay.
[loud footsteps over to Bel]
[Theo flops down and smooths out her outfit.]
[Bel is flat out staring at Theo]
Theo, noticing the tall man’s stare: Excuse me, don’t you know it’s not polite to stare?
Bel: Ahem. Do I look like I care?
Theo: You do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be staring. Is there something in my teeth? A stain on my shirt?
[Bel clears throat and FINALLY stops staring]
Bel: No.
Theo: Then stop staring.
Bel: I’m not staring anymore.
Theo: Good.
Marsh: Welcome, everyone. Today’s meeting is a very important one. We have our contingent from the planet of Home with us for the first time. Our Hero has graced us with her presence, as well. They are here for us in our hour of great need. Hanno, first slide, please.
[Hanno puts on the first slide, a clicking noise.]
Marsh: The photographs on this slide were taken this afternoon on a routine drone patrol of the Western Desert, some thirteen miles east of the town of Consequences. There’s been a significant increase in Imperial activity around this area, and we have reason to suspect that they are close to finding the first jewel fragment. Hanno, second slide, please.
[click of next slide]
Marsh: Take a look at the upper-left hand corner of this image.
[nervous murmurings]
Marsh: Based on this and the images found on the next slide –
[slide clicks]
Marsh: – it seems that the Empire is building a makeshift base near Consequences.
[gasp]
Marsh: Settle down, please. The Empire has been moving out of their Alpha Base in the south of the world for the last two years now.
Theo, raising her hand: What’s the plan?
Marsh: Good question. I was getting to that. Chaplain, you and your Reapers did bring your planes, correct?
Chaplain: Yessir.
Marsh: The Reapers are going to fly over tomorrow and scout out the base. They have more sophisticated equipment than we do. They can take better photographs and run better scans. They are authorized to use deadly force if necessary. While all of this goes down, one plane will land at Trinity River and take Balasi Ochoa home.
Theo: What about the rest of us?
Marsh: We wait.
Act 2, Scene 2
Narrator: Theo’s room in the tunnel city. She gets her own room because she’s special. She’s talking with Simon through her Reaper comm pin.
Simon, tired: Just got out of my meeting. Jeez, I’m tired.
Theo: I’ll bet. Which plane are you on?
Simon: Me? I’m grabbing Balasi. How’re you, hero?
Theo: I’m okay. Sat next to Bel…Bel what’s his face in the War Room. He wouldn’t stop staring at me.
Simon: General Belisarius? Staring at you?? What’d you do? Step on his ego?
Theo: Must have, or something. I told him to stop and he got super grumpy..
Simon: It’s probably because you weren’t acknowledging his importance properly. It could also be because of the pin I gave you.
Theo: What?
[rush of male voices enter the bunk room]
Voice 1, muted: COAL! WHO’S THE GIRL??
Simon: I don’t know what you’re talking about –
Voice 1: Your spare pin is missing! Who’s the girl??
Simon: [groans] I’m sorry about that, hero. My buddies are back. Can I talk to you tomorrow?
Voice 1: Hiro? That’s not a girl’s name!!
Theo: Sure. See ya.
[Simon hangs up]
[Theo sighs]
[knock on the door]
Terra: Hey, Theo, you in there?
Theo: Yeah, what’s up?
Terra: Can I come in?
Theo: Yeah. [unlocks door]
[door creaks as Terra walks in]
[Terra sits down on bed]
Theo: Lavender…who’s dying??
Terra: You’re not going to like this.
Theo: Who’s dying, Terra?
Terra: We need to warn the Chaplain. Ambush.
Theo: You sure they’ll listen?
Terra: Doubtful. Your boy will be fine, though… [sighs]
Theo, tapping pin: Simon!
Simon: …yeah?
Theo: Your team is gonna get ambushed – my cousin can tell the future and she’s never wrong – you need to tell the Chaplain to abort the mission – you’re going to be fine – but please listen –
Simon: I’m listening, hero, that was never up for debate. Let me track the Chaplain down. Chaplain! The Hero and her cousin want to speak to you.
Chaplain: Hero? Cousin? Give me the comm.
[Simon unclips his pin]
Chaplain: This is the Chaplain, what’s going on?
Terra: I’m Terra Thompson Selene. I’m Theo Eistros’ cousin. Your squad will be ambushed by the Empire on your second flyby. They don’t know you’re coming, but they will have the airspace heavily guarded. Pull out of the mission or lose everything.
Chaplain: Terra…I know what you mean. I, too, have seen ruin. How will the mission to rescue Balasi Ochoa go?
Terra: Send your squadron to rescue Ochoa. That will go far better. Don’t fear Marsh’s anger. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about in this case.
Chaplain: The entire squadron?
Terra: Yes. Simon Coal, while he may be a hotshot flyboy, is going to need backup.
Chaplain, hushed: Thank you, Ms. Selene. Coal, take your comm.
[Simon clips comm back on]
Simon: Ms. Selene, I think you just saved us. Thank you. Thank you, too, hero. Let me know if you need me. We leave early tomorrow.
Theo: Will do, sidekick.
[Simon laughs, hanging up comm]
Terra: Sidekick?
Theo: What? He calls me ‘hero’!
Terra: He’s got a crush on you.
Theo: Really? We just met each other..
Terra: You’d have to be blind and deaf to not see that from 14 miles away.
Theo: Is this a horrible thing?
Terra: Depends..
Theo: What do you know?
Terra: Too much. Be careful.
Theo: …will do.
Terra: I promised Basil I’d meet him in 30 minutes. He has something to show me.
Theo: Alright.
[Terra walks out and shuts door as quietly as possible]
Act 2, Scene 3
Narrator: Jason Belisarius is eavesdropping on Simon and Theo with the “help” of Kalah Call.
Bel: Damn it.
[Call walks in]
Call: What is it this time, Jason?
[audible flinch]
Bel, growling: Reapers. Damn, meddling Reapers.
Call: Which Reaper? All of the above?
Bel: Simon Coal.
Call: Don’t know him, nor would I care to.
Bel: He’s got his eye on the Hero.
Call: Sounds like an idiot.
Bel: Could very well be…
Call: Why does it concern you, anyway?
Bel: I’m assigned to be the Hero’s mentor.
Call: What? You?
Bel: Unfortunately, yes.
Call: What did she ever do to you?
Bel, swallowing hard: She looks like Agrippina.
Call: Your wife? Really? Didn’t she die 50 years ago?
Bel: Fifty-two. Doesn’t make it any easier.
Simon, over radio: General Belisarius? Staring at you?? What’d you do? Step on his ego?
Theo: Must have, or something. I told him to stop and he got super grumpy..
Simon: It’s probably because you weren’t acknowledging his importance properly.
Bel: What in the world is this little runt talking about?
Simon: It could also be because of the pin I gave you.
Bel: What in the hell is he playing at? He gave the Hero a comm pin? He may as well have proposed marriage…
Call: What? He did what? Please tell me this isn’t real. I don’t know what he’s doing, but I don’t like it. Did she actually take the pin?
Bel, sighing: Yes…
Call: If I meet this boy, he’s going to end up on a stretcher.
[Chaplain comes in]
Chaplain: What are you saying about my best soldier?
Call: Your best soldier just practically got engaged to the Hero.
Chaplain, chuckling: Ah, Coal..
Call: ‘Ah, Coal’, what? Don’t you know what he’s doing?
Chaplain: Yes. Yes, I do.
Bel: Then kindly explain to us what your plan is.
Chaplain: He’s doing the right thing. And Bel, you falling in love with her sister isn’t going to change anything.
Bel: I’m not going to fall in love with her sister!
Chaplain: Let’s go with that. Her cousin just saved our team, by the way.
Call: Oh, no. What did that woman do?
Chaplain: Confirmed what I already knew. We’re not flying over the Beta Base tomorrow.
Bel: Then where are you going??
Chaplain: To pick up an important package.
Bel: Marsh won’t be happy.
Chaplain: I don’t care. See you in the morning.
Act 2, Scene 4
Narrato: Theo wakes with a start in her room after a nightmare.
[taps pin]
Simon: Hero, you okay?
Theo: Bad dream…kinda need a friend right now.
Simon: Lemme get out of this bunk room. Shhh, okay?
Theo, very quietly: I’m shushed.
[Simon leaves the bunk room silently]
Simon: Alright, I’m all ears.
Theo: It was about my dad. He left years ago, never came back. I had a dream that I was at his funeral, that I never got to say goodbye…
Simon: Oh, hero..
Theo: I still think he’s out there. But that dream – that dream was final. Like it was over. Can you come and sleep in here? I’m scared now..
Simon: …sure. I just have to be back in a few hours. Is that okay?
Theo: Absolutely.
Simon: I’ll be there in five.
Theo, choking back a sob: Okay.
[Theo cries]
[Knock on door]
Theo: Come in.
Simon: Hey, it’s me.
Theo: Thank you so much for coming.
Simon: Us newbies need to stick together.
[Theo laughs]
Simon: You got a blanket for me?
Theo: There should be some in that closet over there.
[Simon goes for the closet, finds six blankets and probably a spider]
Theo: You can turn the lights on, you know.
Simon: Don’t worry, I can see well enough.
Theo: Oh…really?
Simon: Yeah, night vision is great. [chuckles]
Theo: Can you tell me a story?
Simon: I’ll do you one better – want a secret?
Theo: Sure.
Simon: I’m what my kind calls a Morph. People thought I was a girl when I was born and I thought so, too, for a time. As I got older and I learned more about myself, I realized that it didn’t fit me, so my body started to change to match who I really am.
Theo: Okay, lemme get this straight – are you saying you were born female and then became male?
Simon: Not quite…I’ve always been male, it just took some time to learn that about myself.
Theo: I gotcha!
Simon: I can see how it might be weird to you..
Theo: What? No.
Simon: Really?
Theo: Yeah! You’re you, and that’s incredible. You’re awesome, sidekick.
Simon: [awkward laugh] Thanks, hero. Tell me a story about your dad?
Theo: Okay…A long time ago, my dad ran a sort of homeless shelter for kids with superpowers. My dad himself has special powers – he can fix everything, everything except himself. He was badly burned by the God Emperor’s Khairos Device, something that makes their kind immortal and all powerful. It turns out that only those with God-blood in them could touch it. In a flash, my dad’s body was covered in burns that would never heal and his aging was stopped. Instead of becoming bitter about things, he became a mentor to all in his sphere.
Simon: What happened to him?
Theo: We…don’t know. The last we heard of him was a note on his desk that read “Gone fishing” 5 years ago and we never heard from him again. One of the kids at the shelter, which is still running, monitors the airwaves for any sign of him.
Simon: So you never gave up hope?
Theo: No, never entirely. Flunk, the radio kid swears he sends up “audio flares” sometimes letting him know he’s okay, but nobody else has heard them. It’s enough that he keeps looking, though.
Simon: Do you want to see him again?
Theo: Of course. He’s my dad.
Simon: Did you know your mom?
Theo: No.
Simon: Nor did I. I didn’t know my dad, either. In many ways, the Reapers and the war raised me.
Theo: Damn..
Simon: Yeah…it was weird for some. But that’s how I became an official Reaper so early.
Theo: Do you ever wish for anything different?
Simon: No, never.
Theo: Nor did I. I wouldn’t change a minute of it. [pause] I’m glad you’re here, Si.
Simon: As am I, hero.
Theo, yawning, settling into bed: I’m beat. Do you like to sing??
Simon: Only in the shower.
Theo: Think you can sing me to sleep?
[Simon goes silent, laughs, then starts humming]
[Theo sighs]
Theo: Goodnight, sidekick.
Simon: Goodnight, sweet girl
Theo, sleepily: What’d you say?
Simon: Nothing.. [hums again]
Theo: You have a nice voice.
Simon: Thank you.
[Theo starts snoring quietly]
Narrator: It isn’t here that Simon Coal knew he had it bad for Theo. That moment came shortly after the first time they met, but this is when he starts to fall in love with her. He sits in the bedroom quietly, making sure she doesn’t have another bad dream, humming and telling her things that cross his mind quietly enough to not wake her.
Simon, in a very quiet whisper: You know, hero, you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I can’t believe you aren’t weirded out by my story. Hell, I can’t believe that you exist, you tiny ball of energy. I can’t believe that you took my comm pin. I want to hold you so badly right now, but I want you to be okay with it. Does that sound okay, sweet girl?
[Theo laughs and sighs in her sleep]
Simon: You’re too precious for your own good. Someday I’ll take you back Home when all of this is over. I mean that. Then I’ll be able to answer all the questions you could possibly ask. [He laughs] I like your questions, hero. I’d be hard pressed to find something I don’t like about you, but if I do, I won’t give up on you. Nobody’s perfect. I just hope you feel the same about me someday. If life takes us there, I promise you that it’ll be an adventure the likes of which you’ll never forget for as long as we live and after that, too. I loved hanging out tonight. Sleep well, love.
[Simon hums again as the scene fades out]
Act 2, Scene 5
Narrator: Theo wakes the next morning in Cormand’s Tunnel City to find herself disoriented.
[Theo wakes with a start]
Theo: Wh-where am I?? Si-simon? Wait…who’s Simon? …oh.
[taps comm pin]
Simon: Hey, hero, I was just about to ping you.
Theo: You back yet? [yawns]
Simon: Yes. We touched down about ten minutes ago. Wanna grab breakfast? I’m starved.
Theo: Sure thing.
Simon: I’m in the launch bay, but I can head your way if you want.
Theo: Sure, that’d probably be better – I still don’t have the hang of this whole tunnel system.
Simon: And I don’t have the hang of your blasted planet. You’re lucky you got to sleep in, at least.
Theo: Don’t ask me how that happened. I’m staying just around the corner from where you found me the first time. See you soon, sidekick.
Simon: Over and out.
[comm pin hangs up]
[Theo gets out of bed and starts hunting through the room for a hairbrush]
[Simon knocks on her door]
Theo, flustered: Alright, sidekick. Come on in.
[Simon comes in]
Theo: Okay, don’t be weird. I know I’m in these pajamas they gave me and I can hear you making a big deal out of it in your brain, but gimme a break, I just woke up.
Simon: Haven’t even seen you yet, hero – whoa…
Theo, chuckling awkwardly: What…something wrong?
Simon: It’s just…nothing.
Theo: Come on, we’re friends, you can tell me…
Simon: You look really nice. [awkward laugh]
Theo: Thanks! So do you.
Simon: Really? Thank you. [long pause]
Theo: So…breakfast?
Simon: Ah, yes. What are you feeling?
Theo: Whatever they have in this place..
Simon, tapping pin: Hey, comp. What’s there to eat?
Comp: There are two things on the menu here – take it or leave it. Anyway, there’s a dining hall down the tunnel to the right. Have a good time, lovebirds.
Simon: COMP, NO. JUST NO.
Theo: Sounds like “comp, yes!”
Simon: To her, at least. Wanna head out?
Theo: Sure.
Simon: How are you always so cheery, hero?
Theo: Me? Cheery? I’m not.
Simon: Trust me, you are.
Theo: What makes me “cheery”, sidekick?
Simon: You smile…a lot.
Theo: Is that all?
Simon: You have this smile in your voice and it makes me smile, too. It’s adorable.
Theo: Oh, I most certainly am not adorable. I am a ball of rage.
Simon: Oh, really. What are you angry at?
Theo: The universe. That I’m the hero. That they seem to expect a lot from me and treat me well at the same time. It’s like they’re trying to train me for something. I wish they’d just tell it to me as it is – I’m a prisoner.
Simon: Those are valid things to be angry at. Let me just ask one thing of you, Theo.
Theo: Why are you kneeling, Simon?
Simon: So I can see you better. I’m 8 feet tall, remember?
Theo: Yes. What’s your request?
Simon: Never lose that smile, no matter what happens. Please. It’s the ultimate act of courage to be happy in sad times. And your smile..it’s beautiful.
Theo: Thanks, sidekick. I’m – I’m blushing..
Simon: I can see that! And smiling, too. I’m glad I can make you blush like that.
Theo: Simon!
Simon: What?
Theo: What do you mean by that?
Simon: You look gorgeous with color in your cheeks, is all.
Theo: Are you hitting on me?
Simon, laughing to himself: Have been since last night, hero.
Theo: Oh, Originals..I’m sorry…
Simon: What? Why are you sorry?
Theo: I didn’t mean to –
Simon: Theo. This isn’t your fault. I can stop if I’m making you uncomfortable.
Theo: No, no, you’re not. I just…don’t know anything about this sort of thing.
Simon: Nor do I… I’m 52 years old and I’ve never even had a crush on anyone until now.
Theo: You’re fifty-two?
Simon: Yeah? How old are you?
Theo: 21, I turn 22 in a couple months.
Simon: Cool, we’re both young.
Theo: Young? Fifty-two is not young..
Simon: For us, it is. If we’re looking at relative age, I’m a little younger than you, 19, 20-ish.
Theo: What?
Simon: We’re considered adults when we’re 50, the human equivalent of 19 years of age, roughly. Some of us live indefinitely – we have elders who live to be thousands of years old.
Theo: Okay. So lemme get this straight – you’re older than me, but younger than me?
Simon: Yeah, you could call it that.
Theo: Alright, that’s cool. Hey, Comp!!
Comp, tiredly: Yes?
Theo: Take us to that dining hall!
Comp: Will do.
Theo: Si, can I ride on your shoulders?
Simon: Sure?
[Theo giggles]
[Simon kneels again and Theo hops on]
Theo: This okay?
Simon: Definitely.
Comp: In 200 feet, turn right.
[Theo laughs again]
Act 2, Scene 6
Narrator: Simon and Theo make their way to the Dining Hall, Simon carrying Theo on his shoulders. Theo is having the time of her life. Simon hasn’t been this happy in a very long time. The Dining Hall is packed with people. Jason Belisarius, Balasi Ochoa, and Kalah Call are sitting with the Chaplain at a table and they see Simon and Theo enter. Bel begins staring at them.
[crowd noise]
[silence falls]
[thunderous applause]
Theo: What in the world…?
Simon: I have no idea..
Crowd, chanting: ALL HAIL COAL! ALL HAIL COAL! ALL HAIL COAL!
Simon: What…? What are you guys talking about?
Random person: Simon Coal, you’re my hero!
[Chanting continues]
[Bel whistles]
Bel, bellowing: Everyone, quiet down. Let the boy speak.
Crowd: Speech, speech!
[silence falls]
Simon: …first off, I have no idea what you guys are cheering about. Secondly, if this is perhaps about the comm pin…no. Just no. Leave us alone.
[crowd groans]
Random person #2: What’s the Hero have to say about this?
Theo: I dunno. I like him!
[Crowd cheers]
Simon: Really?
Theo: Yeah. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re famished.
[They join the lunch line accompanied by cheers]
Balasi: That’s who we’re mentoring?
Bel: Yeah.
Balasi: At least the City likes her.
Bel: I could care less what the masses think of her. If she doesn’t know how to stay alive in a battle, all the charisma in the world won’t matter.
Call: Jason…
Bel: Kalah, you know I’m right.
Balasi: I think we should get to know them. Yes, you heard me right. Them. Both of them.
Bel: I have no interest in getting to know some coddled Reaper squad member. I wouldn’t even let him polish my boots, much less have me as a friend.
Balasi: I’m not asking that you become the best of friends, General.. He’s obviously of interest to her, so in order to get to know her, we should get to know her Reaper bodyguard.
Bel: [spits out juice] Bodyguard?
Balasi: Chaplain, can you assign Coal to be Theo’s bodyguard until she’s trained?
Chaplain: Yes. I was going to do that anyway.
Balasi: I met the boy on the flight over. He was my pilot. He’s young, but very bright. I can tell that he cares about Theo deeply.
Narrator: Here, Balasi remembers the flight over rather fondly.
Balasi: What do you know about the hero?
Simon, flustered: Um, we’re friends.
Balasi: Tell me more.
Simon: She’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met.
Balasi: And she could break you in half and you’d still love her…..?
Simon: What, uh, no!
[Balasi laughs]
[Simon grumbles]
Simon: Maybe….
Balasi: I knew it.
Simon: Stay out of my head. That’s for her and her only.
Balasi: I couldn’t resist. My apologies. Tell me more about her. Why do you like her so much??
Simon: You ever seen someone smile and it’s like all of life seems better??
Balasi: Yes. My wife’s smile is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, so I understand.
Simon: Exactly.
Simon: It’s that. And she’s very curious and cute.
Balasi: What would you do if she starts getting on your nerves? If suddenly she seems less lovable?
Simon: The same thing my battle family does. Continue to choose and love them even harder. Chaplain taught me early on that love is a choice and that in order to truly love, you must choose that person over and over because feelings come and go.
[plane sounds fade out]
[long, angry silence]
Call: Jason. You’re going to break that glass if you don’t stop squeezing it so tightly.
Balasi: If you’ll excuse me, I need to visit my daughter and nephew now.
Chaplain: I’m off, too. See you later.
[Balasi leaves table]
[Chaplain leaves, too]
Bel: I can’t believe it. I just can’t.
Call: This is your reality, General. Better believe it.
Act 2, Scene 7
Narrator: Simon and Theo are eating breakfast at a far table. The Chaplain and Balasi approach them and ask to sit
Balasi: Hey, you two!
Simon: Hey, Mr. Balasi! Good morning, Chaplain!
Balasi: Mind if we join?
Theo and Simon: Sure!
[They pull up chairs]
Theo: Chaplain, you’re tall!
Chaplain: Yeah, just a bit. We’ve come over here to introduce ourselves. Coal reports to me and is my finest soldier.
Balasi: And I’m Balasi, Elba’s dad. I think I’m just gonna be known as “Elba’s dad” from now on.
Theo: And I’m going down in history as ‘Ms. Eistros’. I understand where you’re coming from.
Chaplain: I’m also here to reassign Coal myself. Coal, you are henceforth assigned to be the Hero’s bodyguard.
Simon: What? Really?
Chaplain: Only the finest for the Hero. Now, a heads up – Jason Belisarius is going to be your second mentor. Balasi is your first. Both can be found in the command warren just off the atrium. You might want to ping General Belisarius first. He doesn’t like guests.
[Theo sighs]
Theo: Alright. Thank you.
[The Chaplain and Balasi leave]
Theo: Well, hello, bodyguard..
Simon: Hi, hero. Wanna get out of here?
Theo: You bet I do.
Act 2, Scene 8
Narrator: Simon and Theo are in Theo’s room. Theo is sorting through Simon’s stuff and Simon is in awe of this tiny human.
Simon: Hey, hero. Try this on.
[tosses clothes at Theo]
Theo: You know it won’t fit, you’re several feet taller than me.
Simon: You look cute wearing my clothes, though.
Theo: Shush.
[puts shirt on]
Simon: You’re blushing again.
Theo: Yeah, probably…
Simon: Lemme take a look.
[Theo twirls]
Simon: You look beautiful, hero.
[Theo sits on bed]
Theo: Can you tell me more about Home?
Simon: Sure. I don’t remember anything before the war, but it’s beautiful in its own way.
Theo: In its own way?
Simon: Large parts of it have been laid waste due to war, but the twin suns look beautiful over the East Sea.
Theo: I want to go there someday.
Simon: You will. I’ll take you.
Theo: That’s a big promise.
Simon: One I’ll make good on.
Theo: C’mere, sit with me.
Simon: Okay.
[Simon sits next to Theo on the bed]
Theo: If you wanna hug me, you can.
Simon: Did you read my mind?
Theo: Not necessary! You’re pulsing the thought outward.
[Simon laughs, wrapping around her]
Theo: This is nice.
Simon: Agreed. This bed is a little uncomfortable, though..want me to pick you up?
Theo: Yes! Go ahead.
Simon, to himself: Up you go, sweet girl. Put your arms around me.
Theo: You really are tall, Si..
Simon: 8’2” and you know it.
[Theo kisses him]
Simon: You need to stop reading my mind.
Theo: But why?
[They kiss again.]
Simon: You’re too cute for your own good..
Act 2, Scene 9
Narrator: Bel is in the command warren with other higher ups when there’s a disturbance. Theo is passing by the command warren with Simon and is going to give Bel a second chance when she starts hearing his thoughts.
[indistinct conversations]
[rustling]
Bel: Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen.
Theo: It’s us.
Bel: What do you want?
Theo: I want you to quit being an imbecile with our army. This mission is suicidal. Why in the hell are you moving the army to the north? This is the first time much of our army has left the desert, they’ll freeze to death.
Bel: What are you talking about?
Theo, in a hushed whisper: I get you’re sad, Bel. I get that you miss Agrippina, but you don’t get to commit suicide with our army because you don’t have the guts to kill yourself.
Bel: You-
Theo: I’m nothing like your wife, just so you know. I will take up arms to defend this Empire and become better than she ever was. So quit thinking that I’m like her, because looks are where the similarities end, Bel.
[Bel is floored, so there’s silence]
Theo: And one more thing – you’re not fit to polish my bodyguard’s boots, much less be his friend.
Bel: Be careful, mind-reader.
Theo: You need to be careful who you insult, General. My whore of a cousin [said mockingly] can see, taste, and smell every move you make hours before you make it. And I’ll make her smell your death if you even think about insulting her ever again.
Bel: I said to be careful.
Simon, terrified: Theo..
Theo: Do not cross us ever again, Bel, or I will make you relive your wife’s death over and over in excruciating detail. I will make you relive your brother’s suicide. I will make you relive the great massacre at Half Angel. I will become everything you fear and more.
[Kalah Call enters]
Theo: Don’t say a word, Kalah.
Call: How did you know about my son…?
Theo: I said to not say a word. Silence. Goodbye, Bel. I’ll see you tomorrow.
[Simon and Theo exit]
Bel: Curse that girl! There’s no way she could have known about my brother..
Call: You have a brother?
Bel: Had. He died thirty years ago. I’ve told no one – she’s good –
Call: She knows all of us, perhaps better than we know ourselves..
Now all you have to do is teach her to use her powers for good, Bel.
Bel: Believe me, I will. Don’t – don’t call me that..
Act 2, Scene 10
Narrator: Theo and Simon’s room. Simon is holding Theo tight and Theo is sobbing uncontrollably
Theo: I…I didn’t mean to..
Simon: I know, hero..
Theo: He’s gonna hate me.
Simon: You scared the daylights out of him. I think he’ll respect you now.
Theo: But I didn’t…I didn’t –
Simon: It’s not your fault, love. You didn’t know what you were doing. He was pissing you off, I don’t blame you.
Theo: I threatened to kill him.
Simon: He insulted your cousin, your cousin who saved all of us, probably. I don’t think it was entirely unwarranted.
Theo: Did I scare you?
Simon: Yes, but you were also very impressive.
Theo: Thank you.. The other general, though…Call, has been through a lot, a lot that has made her angry. I feel horrible for bringing that to the surface..
Simon: Emotions should be dealt with, not suppressed. It’s not your fault.
Theo: I want to help her.
Simon: And you will, I’m sure of it. You’re going to do a lot of good things, love.
Theo: He had some choice things to say about my comm pin.
Simon: Like what?
Theo: Well, there was a memory of him eavesdropping on us…he said that you giving me the comm pin was like you proposing marriage. Is that true?
Simon: Maybe…
Theo: Simon…be honest.
Simon: On our world, when a soldier gives someone they care about their spare comm pin, it’s considered very serious, especially if they accept the comm pin. There’s a sort of understanding there that both parties want the relationship to last.
Theo: Damn..
Simon: Are you…are you upset?
Theo: No..just in a bit of shock.
Simon: I wanted us to be friends at the very least, hero. In that sense I wanted our relationship to last.
Theo: But then?
Simon: [sighs] I admit that giving you my spare pin was a spur of the moment decision, but I knew that I couldn’t just let you walk away. These tunnels are huge, I knew there was a chance I’d never see you again if I didn’t give it to you.
Theo: That makes sense.
Simon: I care about you deeply, Theo. I’d like to marry you if that’s where life takes us. If you’d like to, too, of course..
Theo: Sounds like a deal.
Simon, blurting out: I’ll get you a ring beforehand.
Theo: I’d like a stone from Home, if you must get me a ring.
Simon: I can make that happen.
Theo: Simon??
Simon: Yeah, hero?
Theo: When did you start caring for me?
Simon: You had me at “where are you tall people from, anyway?”
Theo: It’s still fascinating. I want to learn all about it.
Simon: But I think what really cemented it for me was when you faced down two of Home’s most powerful individuals wearing my t-shirt that goes past your knees and looks like a dress on you.
Theo: I like this shirt.
Simon: I know. You wear it well.
Theo: I do?
Simon: You could wear a paper sack well, love.
Theo: I like it when you call me that.
Simon: Good.
[They kiss]
Act 2, Scene 11
Narrator: While Simon and Theo are hanging out, Basil has discovered something interesting and Terra has come to see it.
Basil: It’s over here.
Terra: If it’s another tabloid about you being kidnapped by terrorists, I’m gonna lose my mind.
Basil: No. Trust me.
Terra: Trusting. Take me to the…underground garden?
Basil: Yes. Now, can you turn your long sight off, please?
Terra: Unintentional. I’m sorry.
[Basil walks through the nearest wall]
[Terra sighs and walks into the wall]
Terra: Damnit, that hurt.
Basil: That’d do it, come on.
Terra: Hey –
[Basil grabs Terra and tugs her through the wall]
Terra: Why’d you get in and I didn’t?
Basil: I’m the prince. I have universal clearance. Follow me. Be very quiet.
Terra, in a whisper: Okay.
[They walk through the dark]
[Machinery whirring and chugging]
[They stop short]
[Terra gasps]
Terra: What’s in those tanks, Basil….?
Basil: Things Marsh doesn’t want us to know about.
Terra: This isn’t a garden… Cormand…I see him screaming…they’ve killed him many times in this very room and taken bits of him to regrow into an undying army.
Basil: Yes. I’ve seen it many times myself.
Terra: I never thought I would feel sorry for that man, but I do. I’m very afraid of what this means for our guests. And Theo… Oh, Theo…
[Terra falls to her knees and cries out in grief]
Basil: Terra! What do you see?
Terra: A world-ending weapon. Before that, a child of two worlds. A never ending cycle. I don’t think we can stop this.
Basil: We need to find Johana Eistros. Give her her voice once again. That’s the only hope we have. To do that, we need to find your uncle..
Terra: What’s he got to do with anything?
Basil: They were lovers. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it.
Terra: I suspected it. Wasn’t sure.
Basil: I’m sure of it.
Terra: Are you willing to bet the fate of the world on it?
Basil, smile in his voice: Yes, absolutely.
Act 2, Scene 12
Narrator: Alpha Base in the south of the world, Kira Eistros is discussing possible locations of the Tunnel City.
Aide: Supreme Commander! Supreme Commander! Wait, please!
Kira: Better make it snappy…
Aide: I have breaking news.
Kira: Tick, tock.
Aide: Following your raid on the Imperial Ball last week, the capitol city is a place of confusion and chaos. The Prince was captured in the raid. There’s speculation that he was captured by terrorists, others think we got him.
Kira: The Rebellion is just a bunch of terrorists, we all know that, aide. Run propaganda spinning the Rebellion as evil. Do you have any news about the whereabouts of my sister?
Aide: The Hero? She vanished along with the Rebels, well, we think they were the Rebels, and Cormand MacDowell.
Kira: Tell me something I don’t know, aide.
Aide: The Beta Base people managed to intercept one of their drones the other day.
Kira: Now we’re talking.. What did we learn?
Aide: Tagged it, haven’t learned anything per se. It should be en route home as we speak…wherever home is.
Kira: Inform me immediately when the drone lands. I want that place so clean that it shines like the Chrysler Building.
Aide: What’s that?
Kira: Never mind. My point stands, though.
Aide: Yes, Supreme Commander.
[Aide leaves]
Kira: My lost sister..home at last. Then to find our traitor mother. Theo must choose our side. She must.
Second Aide: Supreme Commander!
Kira:..yes?
Second Aide: Our physicists have decoded the signature of the totality disturbance.
Kira: And it is…?
Second Aide: Off world technology. A lot of it, and it’s very old.
Kira: You mean to say that the Rebellion knows how to deep jump?
Second Aide: This is only a theory, ma’am.
Kira: “Only a theory”? Theories imply insufficient evidence, aide.
Second Aide: We don’t think it’s them that made the deep jump, ma’am.
Kira: Who the hell else would it be?
Third Aide: Supreme Commander!
Kira: What is it, aide? You’d better have good news.
Third Aide: An unknown aircraft did a high-altitude pass over Trinity River this morning. Radio chatter was indecipherable, but the aircraft created a similar disturbance to the one at eclipse totality.
Kira: …what? Both of you, go. NOW.
[they leave]
[comm device clicks]
Kira: Calypso Olsen, please.
Comm device: One moment…
Calypso: Yes’m?
Kira: Has that damned drone landed yet?
Calypso: Yes, just in.
Kira: Where are they hiding?
Calypso: You’re gonna wanna see this…
Act 2, Scene 13
Narrator: Kira is with Calypso in a dark room, hunched over a computer.
Kira: What the hell is this?
Calypso: It’s a fake, it seems. It flew into a tree.
Kira: Coordinates? I need coordinates..
Calypso: Coordinates put it near Sunday, a field just outside.
Kira: Why Sunday? That’s in the middle of nowhere.
Calypso: They’re likely in the middle of nowhere, Supreme Commander.
Kira: Move! Give me the computer.
Calypso: Yes, ma’am.
[Kira clicks around]
Kira: Check the aquifer.
Calypso: Aquifer?
Kira: Sunday and the surrounding area is built on top of a massive, drained aquifer. The last drops of that aquifer were squeezed out 50 years ago. I read about it myself. I want my spelunkers down there NOW.
Calypso: Yes, ma’am.
Narrator: Calypso sends out the order and the spelunkers are teleported from Alpha Base to the town of Sunday. Everything is normal until they find a cave entrance. Then bad things start happening.
[Kira is listening intently]
Spelunker 1: Sunday cave to Alpha Base, we’ve found an entrance.
Kira: Excellent. Proceed.
Spelunker 1: Yes, Supreme Commander.
[sharp crack]
[Spelunkers scream]
[Static]
Kira: Spelunkers? Do you copy?
[more static]
Kira: Do you copy?
Deep voice: Kira Eistros…I do copy. Don’t send your Imperials here again.
Kira: To – to whom am I speaking?
Deep voice: Nobody.
Kira: Don’t give me that. What’s your real name?
Deep voice: Nobody…don’t test me, Kira. I know you. I knew your grandfather, too. You’re just like him. Weak, pathetic, fragile. The worst part is that you don’t know it yet.
Kira: My grandfather was a visionary –
Deep voice: Your grandfather had as much vision as a blind man does. You only think you’re evil.
Kira: I’m not evil. I’m right.
Deep voice: Child’s play, my friend. You won’t know who’s right until you’re older. But allow me to give you some information.
Kira: Okay.
Deep voice: December.
Kira: The northern city?
Deep voice: Ancient cave system. Your old flame and his seventy sons wait for you..
Kira: How can I trust you?
Deep voice: [chuckles] You can’t. Trust no one, my friend. Come see me after December falls.
[Calypso enters]
Calypso: Who was that?
Kira: Nobody..