Our scene picks up where we left off with Roxi having returned home after an unwanted reunion with Amelia. She has a look of disgust on her face as she returns through the door and fakes a smile to Keira, who gets up, walking up to Roxi and whispers to her.
Keira – What happened? Where have you been?
Roxi – … The asylum.
Keira – What? What for?
Roxi – Amelia.
Keira growls under her breath.
Keira – That bitch...
Roxi – I know how you feel.
Keira – What could she have possibly wanted.
Roxi – To talk.
Keira – Talk? Talk about what?
Roxi – I don’t know. She just wanted to bring up the past and make me remember when she broke in.
Keira clenches her fist and her knuckles crack.
Keira – Don’t remind me.
Roxi – I didn’t want to remember either, but that’s basically what it was.
Keira – You mean... she just made small talk, about our encounters?
Roxi – Yes. I mean, it’s as if she just... wanted someone to talk to.
Keira – It’s never like that with her. There’s always something. Some plot. Some motive. Some kind of plan.
Roxi – The only thing that struck me the entire time was she... I don’t know she seemed to just accept this whole thing like it was just something normal people do. She seemed fine and content. Hell, the last time we even encountered her she gave up without so much as a fight. She’s been there this whole time, not doing anything.
Keira – Come to think of it, you’re right. It’s like she’s right where she wants to be. She hadn’t done anything in months. She’s got to be planning something.
Roxi – I don’t know what it could be though.
Keira – Wait, that guard that you took down...
Roxi – Coleman?
Keira – Yeah, did she try and escape when he was there?
Roxi – Not that I know of.
Keira – Didn’t other try to escape?
Roxi – The Peek Twins did escape. There were some other attempts but the Twins were the only one to get out.
Keira – That worries me more than anything. She has opportunity to escape. She had to have been at least thinking about it.
Roxi – Maybe, I’m not sure. But if she was, and maybe she was abused by Coleman, but she didn’t care. But then again... she’s never feared death, or any consequence for her actions.
Keira – No, she knows YOU won’t kill her. Anyone else... not so much.
Roxi – You’re not going to do it either.
Keira – So long as she stays far away from me, and far away from here. I’m sorry, Roxi, but if she does anything to try and hurt you, and especially Nate, I will not be held responsible for turning her into a greasy smear under my boot.
Keira has a serious look on her face. Deathly serious as she folds her arms, staring back at her wife.
Roxi – That’s not what we do.
Keira – It’s not what YOU do, Roxi. I’m not talking about killing anyone else. I’m not talking about Haven, or Hammer, just her.
Roxi – I know how you feel. Trust me I do, but that’s not who we are, and that’s not how we do things. She’s in the asylum, and with any luck, that’s where she’s going to stay.
Keira – If she called for you, if she talked to you, she’s going to do something. You know it, and I know it. I can feel it in my bones, and I’m not one to take any threat lightly. You know what she said when we both talked to her last time.
Roxi – That if she was planning something, she’d make sure we knew.
Keira – Exactly, I consider this a warning, and I refuse to walk around, living my life, looking over my shoulder. Especially given how I feel now. If she makes one move, I’m not going to hold back.
Roxi – Look, we don’t know, and she’s in the asylum right now. She is of no threat to us.
Keira – Yet...
Roxi – We cannot think like that. She didn’t do anything and she’s got you on edge.
Keria still stares at Roxi intently.
Keira – Because I know when I’m being threatened, Roxi. I know what she’s done and I know what she’s capable of. So no, I’m not just going to take this random outburst lightly. Not on your life.
Roxi sighs, and pulls Keira in and hugs her tightly.
Roxi – You know I love you, and you know I will always stand by you, and I will do everything I can to keep you, and this family safe. But even if we want to, or we could even justify it, we don’t take lives, and we don’t live in fear. If anything, ANYTHING happens to you, or anyone else I care about, I will never forgive myself.
Keira – And I feel the same way about you, I’m just not going to let it happen.
Roxi – Look.. I... I just want to forget that that ever happened. Don’t worry about it. Don’t let it get to you. We have plenty of other things to concern ourselves with, rather than someone who can’t do anything to us right now.
Keria signs and she looks away and shakes her head.
Keira – It’s not the only thing I’m worried about.
Roxi – What are you talking about?
Keira – Roxi, I... I don’t know how to say this, but, ever since the end of Sin... things have just been so different that... I think I’m getting weaker.
Roxi – Weaker?
Keira – Yes, I’m training just as hard, but I’m getting tired quicker than I normally would. I’m just not feeling as strong as I used to. I think something may be wrong with me.
Roxi – Hmmm... We might need to get you checked out then.
Keira – Maybe, I don’t know what’s going on. I...I don’t want to be a liability in a battle.
Roxi – You’re not. You may just need to learn to adjust, but you should also not train as hard as you do. There is a such thing as overtraining, you know.
Keira – I know the difference. I’m barely getting warmed up anymore and after a solid hour my arms are like Jell-O and I don’t feel like I’ve made any progress. The combat bot actually got a hit in on me the other day. Maybe... maybe... I’m just getting too old.
Roxi – Age is a number, Keira. Nothing more. We’ll see about your physical health, but you know, the last few transformations you’ve undergone, you’ve barely been able to handle them. I think your body may just be getting tired of carrying the amount of energy and power in your body, but that’s just my opinion, I’m not a doctor.
Keira – Sorry if I gave you something else to worry about.
Roxi – You didn’t. I’ll always worry about you, you’re my wife, and I love you.
Keira – I love you too. It’s getting late, and your food is getting cold.
Roxi – Alright, I’ll grab a quick bite and I guess we have some alone time.
Keira winks and does the kitty claw at Roxi.
Keira – Rawr.
Roxi – Not like that.... behave yourself.
Roxi shakes her head and she and Keira share a kiss as the scene fades.
The new scene opens the next night, after Nate had been put to bed. Roxi and Keira are in their bedroom and Keira sits in the edge of the bed, clearly thinking about things as Roxi opens the closet and pulls out her costume. Keira looks at her and lays back in the bed sighing.
Roxi – What’s wrong?
Keira – I feel like sooner or later you’ll be the only one doing that.
Roxi – You can still go on patrol with me, you know.
Keira – I don’t know anymore, I feel like I’d just get in the way.
Roxi – Nonsense, you’re more than capable of handling anything I can. You still have more than enough strength if the situation calls for it.
Keira – But for how much longer?
Roxi – Until you decide to do things like this.
Roxi sighs as she starts putting on her costume.
Keira – I just don’t want to be a liability.
Roxi – Don’t you remember your first night doing this?
Keira – Yeah, I remember you yelled at me for trying to do too much.
Roxi – Right, and you see now, that you don’t make those mistakes anymore? Last time all that was protecting you was a magic sash. You don’t even need it anymore. You’re far stronger than you were then. You’ve learned a lot, you’ve applied it.
Keira slowly sits up and nods, a small smile crossing her face.
Keira – Yeah, I guess I have.
Roxi – Look, if you want to come and do a patrol with me, we can, if you’re okay and you’re that worried about it, I’ll do it myself.
Roxi goes and opens the window to her room, and Keira stands up, a nervous, but confident smile on her face.
Keira – What’s the worst than can happen? If anything, we can take anything down together.
Roxi – There ya go.
Keira slips on her costume and the two soon are flying over the city headed on their regular patrol, checking to make sure everything is running smoothly around it. They fly around, high above and taking in the lit-up city at night, even though things are closing down and there is curfew, and there’s still not too many people out and about at this point. Roxi and Keira make it to the Sunshine skyline bridge, both taking a moment to sit on the bridge and look over the water, and the skyline.
Keira – I forgot how beautiful this all is.
Roxi – Yeah, life gets pretty crazy sometimes, but if you stop and look around, you find things like this.
Keira – Everything just looks so peaceful. It’s been a while since it even looked like this.
Roxi – But seeing it like this now, makes it all worth it.
Keira – Yeah.
The two superheroes are cuddled up on the bridge, until both of their wrist communicators go off.
Roxi – Because of course that happens now.
Keira – Would you ever expect anything different?
Roxi – I guess not.
Roxi answers.
Roxi – Go ahead, Vision.
Vision – Rox, is it just you?
Keira – No, I’m here too. Hi Vision, it’s nice to see you too.
Vision – I was going to say, we may need both of you.
Roxi – Why? What’s going on?
Vision – I wish I knew. We have surveillance footage of Mr. Distinguished near the old waterfront warehouse.
Roxi – Okay?
Keira – The guy who wants literally everything to be fancy? So what’s the deal now?
Vision – I... I don’t know. The footage just shows him as being there, nothing happening. It’s as if he waiting for something.
Roxi – This doesn’t sound like a major emergency.
Keira – I mean, maybe he’s getting set up with something.
Roxi – Or set up for something...
Vision – That's exactly my thought, he’s not doing anything. He’s just... there. Maybe some kind of meeting has been set up.
Keira – I mean, if this is scouting out Mr. Distinguished, I don’t see why we both need to be there.
Roxi – If you want to go, you can go, I’ll check out the waterfront.
Keira – Oh no, I came all the way out here, I’m not leaving when it gets a little interesting.
Roxi nods, smiling under her mask as Keira can see it and smiles back.
Roxi – We’re on it, Vision.
Vision – Right.
Roxi ends the communication and She and Keira head off to the waterfront, and sure enough, they can see Mr. Distinguished, in his easily recognizable top hat, cane, and coat and tails. He is simply checking his pocket watch until Roxi and Keira just land in front of him.
Keira – Okay Mr. Fancy-Pants! What are you doing there?!
Mr. Distinguished is startled at first, but the appears relieved.
Mr. Distinguished – Ah, it’s about time you two tomato’s showed up! Thank the lord you did and I can be done with this mess!
Roxi – What mess? What are you talking about?
Keira – And did you say you have tomato’s?
Mr. Distinguished – No, you troublesome Vamp! I only have this! I have been instructed to give this to you!
Mr. Distinguished reaches into his coat pocket and produces an envelope. He simply hands it to Roxi, who examines it.
Roxi – What is this?
Mr. Distinguished – It's a letter, you wretched ragamuffin!
Keira – Can I hit him?
Roxi – I know it’s a letter, what’s in it?
Mr. Distinguished – I don’t have the sharp claws on that one. I was just supposed to give it to you.
Roxi – Who gave it to you?
Mr. Distinguished – Some other Vamp, I tried to make my play but she gave me the wind I tell ya! But they... they got the the scoop on me... Applesauce!
Keira – Okay... Am I the only one who is just lost, right now?
Mr. Distinguished – You should really get to know your onions, I tell ya!
Keira – And hungry...
Roxi – Why did the give this to you?
Mr. Distinguished lowers his head, turning away in shame.
Mr. Distinguished – They've sent the Bruno. They played me for a mark. I don’t need anyone spilling on me and being a wet blanket for my business.
Keira – WHAT? SPEAK ENGLISH!
Roxi – I think he’s saying he’s been blackmailed.
Mr. Distinguished – And how!
Keira – So who’s the person blackmailing you?
Before Mr. Distinguished can answer, he is knocked back at the loud crack of a gun explodes. Roxi and Keira duck and take cover, but Mr. Distinguished it hit. He’s already laying in a blood of blood, unmoving. His body slumped against the wall.
Roxi – Sniper?
Keira – Did you see anything?
Roxi – No.
Roxi and Keira wait for a few tense moments before Keira begins to peer out of her cover, and slowly makes her way over to Mr. Distinguish’s body, and carefully checks for a pulse.
Keira – He’s dead.
Roxi – Stay down... our shooter may not be finished.
Keira – We don’t have to worry about bullets!
Keira stands up and flies off, looking all around for any sign of anyone being in the area. A quick glance and nothing catches Keira’s eye, she comes back down at Roxi is looking around for any clues as to what just happened.
Roxi – Great... I’m gonna need a light.
Roxi goes into her utility belt and pulls out a very powerful flashlight and begins examining the bullets entry wound on the chest of Mr. Distingusihed.
Keira – That’s a big entry wound.
Roxi – Yeah... armor piercing most likely.
Keira – Let me check around the area.
Keira heads off, looking around the area for clues to try and figure this out. Keira checks for any audio or video equipment, or perhaps any sort of timer or anything that could have triggered the event to occur. She returns shortly as Roxi studies the area and the bullet’s final impact against the wall.
Roxi – Yeah, armor piercing. Judging by the wound and the bullet hole, a very large caliber round, maybe... a winchester or 30.06. Trajectory looks to be....
Roxi traces with her finger and then points where she thinks the line is.
Keira – It was behind us, that’s for sure.
Roxi – Yes, who,ever was shooting could have taken the time, but if I’m right.... hmmm..
Roxi starts walking towards the roof of surrounding buildings.
Keira – You want me to the call this in?
Roxi – If you could... I have a very bad feeling about this.
Keira – I’ll get to it.
Roxi continues to look and study the area, eventually flying upwards onto one of the roofs, and then looking down, but she can’t see Keira due to other buuldings blocking her view.
Roxi – Higher...
Roxi flies up and continues to look around, onto one of the taller buildings that appears to be tall enough, but there are several objects like a glass ceiling, roof balconies in the way again.
Roxi – It came straight through; it can only be.... higher?
Roxi turns and looks up and not much is higher up that isn’t several hundred yards away, which would make the shot a ridiculously difficult one. Keira soon joins Roxi on the roof.
Keira – It’s all called in and the police and the ambulances are on the way.
Roxi – Good.
Keira – Any luck with the shooter?
Roxi – No. This spot at the first one there’s too many things in the way, or blocking the view. So, unless they were shooting from that tower way over there.
Roxi points off into the distance.
Keira – All the way over there?
Roxi – Yeah.
Keira – Why wouldn’t you take an easier shot?
Roxi – That’s the point. That middle tower right down the road over there is about the same size as this building, but the trajectory I’ve mapped would mean it would just hit this building.
Keira – Hmmm... Well, we should check out the building off in the distance at least, but... did you ever look at the letter?
Roxi – No... I guess we can check it out.
Keira – Careful...
Roxi pulls the letter out of her belt and examines it. Checking for any substances the letter could be laced with, and tracing with her finger for anything out of the ordinary. Satisfied, she carefully opens the letter and it’s a computer font letter.
Roxi – Dear heroes, Welcome to open season. I’m going to solve all your problems, my dear hero friends. I’m going to do what you won’t. Turn the animals against each other. I’m going to be a hero just like you. You can choose to be the real hero and join me, or you can become the villains and try to stop me. The choice is yours. I’ll see you at the end of the game. Good luck. Signed, a friend.
Keira – What the hell does that mean?
Roxi – It means someone is playing a sick game. Mr. Distinguished was a bad guy through and through, but he didn’t deserve to die.
Keira – Wait...
Roxi – What?
Keira – The letter said turning the animals against each other. Meaning... another bad guy killed Mr. Distinguished! This person is manipulating the villains of this city of take each other out.
Roxi – And from what Mr. Distinguished said... he was being blackmailed.
Keira – You understood that?
Roxi – I like history, it’s just early 1900’s slang.
Keira – Well... now he’s... been bumped off, I guess.
Roxi – Yeah, but we need to find out who did it.
Keira – To the large tower then.
Roxi and Keira head over to the large tower, the distance is incredibly far from where Mr. Distinguished was shot, but sure enough, when Roxi and Keira land, there is large casing near the edge.
Roxi – This... is where the shot came from.
Keira – And the shooter is probably long gone.
Roxi – We can’t let this go cold.
Keira begins to look out towards the waterfront warehouse.
Keira – Do you have binoculars?
Roxi – Yeah, here.
Roxi reaches into her belt and pulls out some binoculars and hands them to Keira. Keira looks and focuses, shaking her head.
Keira – It doesn’t make any sense how the shot came from here. There are too many things in the way.
Roxi – I doubt this bullet casing is up here via coinsidence.
Keira – The shot is nearly impossible...
Roxi – Let’s look around.
Roxi and Keira begin looking at the area, Roxi using a UV light on her flashlight and finding some finger prints.
Roxi – There.
Keira – Someone was up here, and looks like they were trying to use this railing to steady themselves.
Roxi – Hmmm..
Keira stands and mimics the shooters body position, but shakes her head.
Keira – Even if they were perfectly centered, the shot wouldn’t work. It would have to go through several objects.
Roxi continues using the UV light, and sees a boot print off to the side on the railing.
Roxi – Not if they were standing on the railing.
Keira stands on the railing and steadies herself. She looks through the binoculars again.
Keira – Maybe, but there’s only one boot print. And there’s really very little room to adjust... We’re talking one high level sniper.
Roxi thinks for a moment, and she nods to herself.
Roxi – Quickscope.
Keira – 360 No-scope is more impressive.
Roxi – No... Quickscope, the sniper. He’s a vigilante, hitman for hire. He’s the only one who could possibly have pulled this off. One boot print, and the little amount of room...
Keira – You think he made this shot standing on one foot on this balcony? That’s is a trick shot.
Roxi – Not on one foot... he jumped.
Keira – Jumped?
Roxi – The fingerprints indicate he tried to steady himself, but he didn’t have the angle. But if he was either standing on one foot or... took a jumping shot, he could have done it.
Keira – That would be ridiciulous.
Roxi – He’s that good.
Keira – Even if he was... we’ll never find him now, if he jumped off this roof, or fell off, he’d be a greasy spot on the pavement.
Roxi looks around, and the door to the roof access is ajar.
Roxi – There, he may have left back into the building.
Keira – Great.
Roxi and Keira head over to the door and look inside, and it’s nothing but a dark hallway, leading to the some stairs. Roxi shines her flashlight in, and catches a glimpse of another body. This one is laying on the ground, arms folded.
Roxi – Oh damn it.
Keira holds the door open and Roxi shines the light, looking for a light switch. She finds one and turns that light on, revealing the body in fact belongs to Quickscope himself. His torso, arms and legs have several bullet wounds. The walls and ground are littlered with bullet holes and shell casings.
Keira – Damn...
Roxi – Well... that confirms that Quickscope shot Mr. Distinguished.
Keira – But who killed him?
Roxi and Keira slowly approach the body, his high caliber sniper rifle near his body. His arms folded over his chest, and two pennies covering his eyes.
Keira – Charon’s Obol...
Roxi – Payment for the Ferryman.
Keira – He could have been murdered by a religious cult.
Roxi – There aren’t those around here, that I know of.
Keira –Wasn’t there that one with the guy who wrote the book?
Roxi – Jones... We’ll have to consider it a possiblity.
Keira – This just keeps getting better and better.
Roxi begins to search Quickscope, taking no pleasure in doing so.
Roxi – I’m sorry.
Roxi opens up Quickscope’s Jacket and begins patting him down, inside the coat, is a manilla folder. Roxi pulls it out and hands it to Keira. Keira quickly opens it and begins reading.
Keira – This is the profile of Mr. Distinguished. This looks like the hit order itself.
Roxi – So somebody made arrangements for Mr. Distinguished to be hit.
Keira – Looks like it. Wait, the game... This was all arranged. Someone was blackmailing Mr. Distinguished to give us the letter, and ordered Quickscope to kill him right after the job was done.
Keira quickly goes through the files inside the envelope, and finds a picture of a woman.
Keira – You ever seen this person before?
Roxi – No.
Keira – Why would this be in here it wasn’t related to Mr. Distinguished? There wasn’t a... Mrs... Distinguished was there?
Roxi – Not that I know of.
Keira continues to flip through the thick folder, finding more pictures of people she doesn’t recognize. She looks confused for a moment.
Keira – Who are all these people? Why would...
Keira’s eyebrows raise.
Roxi – There weren’t for Mr. Distinguished.... They were for Quickscope.
Keira – Pictures … of his family... more blackmail.
Roxi – Someone has a lot of dirt, and a lot of leverage on these people.
Keira – Did you find anything of note?
Roxi – Well, looks like Quickscope walked right into this. This was an execution. He’s probably got 50-100 bullet wounds.
Keira – This sick bastard is blackmailing these people into killing each other. So now... what do we do?
Roxi – Well, there’s two suspects to look at, at this point... That Taylor-Jones guy... or Louie.
Keira – The Louse that runs that underground crime ring?
Roxi – The very same.
Keira – Why him?
Roxi – Well, you know that Charon’s Obol is a religious thing. Greeks, Irish, and Sicilians more commonly use this today... Louie is Italian. I don’t think Taylor-Jones is either.
Keira – Meaning Louie may have ordered the hit, because they told him to, and he might be in danger.
Roxi – Exactly.
Keira – Well, we better get going.
Roxi takes a moment to call in to the police and report the next body, before Roxi and Keira continue on and the scene fades.
The scene is now inside Louie’s underground production area, where he overlooks his loyal followers preparing to box and ship weapons and drugs around the city. Louie wears a smile on his face and a nice 3-piece suit, but it’s quickly wiped away when Roxi and Keira bust in through the ceiling.
Louie – Oh dammit, it’s the damn super bitches.
Roxi – Shut up.
Louie – Whoa, what’s gotten into you?! You can’t just come breaking through my walls and my ceilings! I got right you know!
Roxi growls herself as she uses her super speed to race up to Louie and grab him by the collar.
Roxi – You killed the sniper.
Louie – Hey! Hey! What are you talking about! I ain’t do no-UGH!
Roxi quickly slugs Louie in the stomach. She watches him cough and gasp for air in her grip.
Roxi – Don't lie to me, Louie. I know you had him killed.
Louie held his hands up, still coughing.
Louie – Okay! Okay! It was an order! I wouldn’t do it if they didn’t make me!
Roxi – WHO?!
Louie – I don’t know. I got an envelope
Roxi – Where?
Louie pointed to his desk.
Louie – It's on the desk.
Roxi – Check it...
Roxi motioned to Keira, who calmly walked to the desk and looked at the folder.
Keira – Same thing as Quickscope.... a file on the target and the location they would be. It’s a domino effect.
Roxi – Which means you’re next...
Louie – What? What are you talking about?
Roxi – Quickscope has the same type of envelope you do. And he killed Mr. Distinguished.
Louie – Oh... the fancy boy? He got it too?
Roxi – And this is chained together correctly, you are the next target.
Louie – Ain’t nobody getting in here.
Keira – We did, and that means someone else can.
Louie – Who could possibly...
From the outside, two guards walk in with their guns, but soon enough they fall down, both having knives jammed into their back. Stepping forward is Lei, who was Amelia’s bodyguard.
Roxi – Lei?
Lei – I have come to kill this man. Do not stand in the way!
Roxi – Wait... we need to talk.
Lei - THERE IS NO TIME FOR TALKING.
Keira – Hey!
Lei looks over and Keira is already powering up.
Keira – You're going to listen, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this, because we don’t need anyone else dying, tonight!
Lei – If I do not complete this mission, My mistress will die.
Roxi – Amelia?
Lei – Hai.
Roxi – Wait, they won’t kill you?
Lei – They have threatened to kill her.
Roxi – Nobody else needs to die tonight.
Lei – I will not let my mistress die, I will complete my mission.
Louie – Keep her away from me!
Roxi – You must have a folder too...
Lei looks confused as she nods.
Lei – Hai.
Keira – Let me see.
Lei reluctantly pulls the folder from her gear as Keira begins to look through it.
Keira – Exactly the same. Target location of here, and personal information.
Roxi – But the only difference is... you weren’t a target, Lei. Amelia was.
Lei – She is being held in the asylum. They know I am loyal to her to death. I do not fear death.
Roxi – But you fear hers...
Lei sighs and puts her hands on her hips, angrily scowling as she lowers her head.
Lei – I must complete my mission.
Roxi – No, we’re going to pay Amelia a visit.
Lei – But I must!
Roxi – No... I have a feeling your mistress or whatever, is behind all this to begin with.
Lei – You lie!
Roxi – Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think so.
Roxi releases Louie and points at the crates.
Roxi – I'll be back for those.
Louie – You ain’t shutting me down!
Louie snaps his fingers and several guards run into the room, guns drawn.
Louie – I took out the sniper, I can have you all taken out too!
Keira finally has had enough of the talking and marches forward, her hand extended, at the crates.
Keira – No more negotiations. You might want to tell your men to move.
The energy grows in Keira hands and the men who were preparing the crates all scatter. Keria the shoots her energy blast and the weapons and drugs explode. Louie screams as if he has been shot himself.
Louie – NOOOO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS!
Keira then grabs Louie herself and jerks him to his feet.
Keira – Pray that I don’t ever come back here and find stuff like that again. Otherwise, you will need the pennies.
Roxi – Come on, we don’t have much time to waste.
Lei – I must go with you! What if they have killed her?
Keira – She makes a valid point. What if the game doesn’t stop with Amelia. What if someone kills her, and this just continues?!
Roxi – Alright, fine. But no funny business, Lei. You make one false move and you will be in jail and you’ll never seen Amelia again.
Lei – Do not threaten me.
Keira – Lady... just give me a reason.
Roxi – That's enough. It’s time we put an end to this little game before anyone else dies.
Roxi leads Lei outside, followed by Keira, who is keeping a close eye on her. Keira holds onto Lei and to Roxi and Roxi teleports them all to the asylum.
Roxi, Lei and Keira end up at the Asylum and march quickly down the halls, leaving to the high-risk cells. Roxi walks up to the guard stationed there.
Roxi – Amelia Lambert.
Guard – She's in the day room.
The Guard walks them down the hall of the cells and past them to the a more open area, complete with a television, several board games and comfy looking chairs. There are two guards in close proximity, along with an orderly. All be herself, sitting alone, is Amelia, playing chess. Roxi, Lei & Amelia, approach her.
Roxi – Why?
Amelia turns and a big grin crosses her face.
Amelia – Oh, hey! I was hoping you might show up!
Roxi – What was the purpose of the lives you help cost tonight? Why did you do this?!
Amelia – I'm so glad you brought Lei.
Lei immediately bows in respect.
Lei – Mistress, I am sorry for this mess.
Amelia – Don't worry Lei, you don’t have anything to be sorry about.
Roxi – Answer the question, Amelia!
Amelia gets a confused look on her face.
Amelia – I didn’t do anything, Lady Bedlam. Not in the slightest. I’ve been here, waiting for my time to expire.
Roxi – Then if you didn’t set up the game, who did?
Amelia – What game?
Roxi – Don't play games with me, Amelia.
Amelia – But I like them... see? Chess is a thinking person’s game, right? You have to be two or three steps ahead.
Lei – Mistress, what is our plan?
Amelia – Lei, I know we’re a team, but we have to be apart for a little while longer.
Roxi – If you aren’t behind this, then who is? Who is pulling the strings?!
Amelia – It's not me. What have I always told you, Lady Bedlam?
Roxi cocks her head, confused.
Roxi – That I...
Amelia – Yes?
Roxi starts to think about what Amelia has said.
Roxi – You're right, it’s not you, Amelia.
Amelia – See! I knew you’d see it my way.
Keira looks confused.
Keira – Wait what?
Amelia – I'm not the one you’re looking for, but I do appreciate you bringing Lei here so we can have a little time together.
Lei walks forward and bows again, as Amelia stands up and hugs Lei tightly.
Amelia – I miss you, Lei.
Roxi’s eyes widen as she figures out what’s going on. She instantly tries to break it up, but it’s too late, Lei begins to groan and spit up blood. Amelia callously begins stabbing Lei multiple times. Roxi breaks it up as Lei stumbles and falls back, clutching her stomach and chest.
Roxi – Get the doctor!
Roxi and Amelia struggle over the knife and Roxi knocks it out of her hand and it falls harmlessly as the Guards rally around Roxi to subdue Amelia. Keira tends to the fallen Lei, who reaches out for Amelia.
Lei – I am... sorry... mistress...
Roxi is able to subdue, Amelia, until Amelia grabs the fire exstinguisher and sprays it all around Roxi and the guard. Roxi backs away, trying to keep the stream of nitrogen and carbon dioxide away. Amelia is able to make a run for it.
Guard – Don’t let her get away!
The guards chase after Amelia as Roxi coughs for a few seconds, her breath taken away. Keira holds Lei as the medical staff arrive. And begin to work on her. Keira then rushes over to Roxi.
Keira – Are you okay?
Roxi – Fine...
Keira – What did you mean when you said Amelia didn’t do it? She just stabbed her bodyguard!
The guards who were chasing Amelia slowly come back in, looking around for her.
Roxi – Where is she?
Guard – There's no sign of her. We can’t let her escape, we thought she might have doubled back.
Roxi – Put this place on lockdown.
Roxi goes to the window and opens it, getting air, but preparing to step out, until Keira stops her.
Keira – You need to explain this to me.
Roxi – Amelia isn’t behind this... She’s just part of it.
Keira – What?
Roxi – That's wasn’t Amelia.
Keira shakes her head.
Keira – What?
Roxi – Amelia knows who I am, she’s never called me Lady Bedlam. Ever. She knows who you are, and you didn’t even get acknowledged. And Lei... obviously we saw what happened there. That... was not Amelia.
Keira – So... where is Amelia then?
Roxi turns and looks back at Keira, even through the mask, Keira can see the worry in her eyes.
Roxi – Go home.
Keira – What about you?
Roxi – I'll be fine. But I need you at home in case anything happens.
Keira – ….
Roxi – Please.
Keira nods and she teleports away. The guards are scrambling around.
Guard – The lockdown... it’s not working.
Guard #2 – Is it a glitch? This is a bad time to need tech support.
Roxi – Have someone keep an eye on the cameras. I need to get to the roof.
Roxi walks through the corridors and notices the elevators are now not operational, and so she races up the fire escape stairwell, the only one leading to the roof. She kicks the door in and heads out onto it. And there, standing on the edge, is Amelia.
Roxi – The game is over.
Amelia – The game is just beginning Lady Bedlam. You have no control over when, or where it ends.
Roxi – I know you’re not Amelia. Knock it off.
Amelia – Why would say something like that?
Roxi – Fine... I guess you’ll need to prove it.
Amelia – This isn’t enough?
Roxi – Not for me.
Amelia – You’re just mad I won the game.
Roxi – You didn’t win anything. Now you have to prove who you are.
Amelia – Pfft. That is a dumb game.
Roxi – It’s easy. What’s my name?
Amelia is visibly flustered.
Amelia – Lady Bedlam, why are you trying to play this game.
Roxi – No, I’m not asking you that. What is MY name?
Amelia – I already told you!
Roxi – You’re not Amelia. Now it all makes sense.
Amelia – You think you figured out the game?!
Roxi – Yeah, I have. The chain started with Mr. Distinguished, but he’s not a killer. Never has been. So, you used him as the start. And the whole chain was based on gathering personal information. Amelia wouldn’t have access to that kind of information. You scared all of those people into doing your dirty work, because you wanted to be a hero. It said so in the letter. And there’s only one person that ever wanted to do that.
Amelia – What are you talking about? Of course, I did.
Roxi – And now, the lockdown of the building, the easy disappearance... You are not Amelia. The game, is over, Cypher.
Amelia stands, hands on hips, and then the angry growl turns into a smile, and Amelia shape-shifts into Cypher, the true form.
Cypher – I have to give you credit Lady Bedlam, you managed to figure it out, a little faster than I had anticipated.
Roxi – People died tonight because your sick game.
Cypher – Only bad people, Lady Bedlam. Only bad people. People cheer when bad things happen to bad people. You must know that. I believe people call it “karma”. It’s an odd belief, but tell me, who is going to miss those men who died tonight? A fool who still believes it to be the 1920’s? A vigilante sniper? A mob boss dealing weapons and drugs? And this insane woman’s bodyguard who will go to extremes to defend her? These are people that this world will not miss. I have, effectively neutralized many of the very same criminals and villains you must be tired of dealing with by now. I have made your life easier, Lady Bedlam. You must see this.
Roxi – There’s nothing but death. The people you have killed tonight could have been rehabilitated.
Cypher – You don’t even believe that, Lady Bedlam. How many times have you fought with these criminals, sent them off to jail, sent them to this asylum, and they escape and the whole pattern starts over again. This is a fool’s errand and your statistical probability of survival drops each time you face theme criminals. Eliminating them now frees up time and manpower your guild could easily use more effectively.
Roxi – And you think that those people dying makes you justified? That is proves some kind of point? This is what you never understood. You have all that knowledge and information, but you’re more machine than human.
Cypher – I simply have the will to do what you do not.
Roxi – You used information to manipulate people, because you calculated that this was a good thing. You turned people against each other for some sick game. You are just a cold, calculating, machine. Whatever human that may have existed once, you have erased. You took lives tonight, and that simply takes a part of your humanity.
Cypher – That is illogical.
Roxi – Maybe, but it’s something that makes me, me, you are as fake as you Amelia impersonation.
Cypher – Enough! I have done the world a great service tonight! I have ended reigns of terror! And if you cannot see that and objectively see the good, you are just as big a problem as anyone else.
Cypher then charges Roxi and the two begin to grapple for a dominant position, but Roxi simply tosses Cypher down.
Roxi – You are outmatched and you’re not going to win. Tell me, how much did Amelia promise you?
Cypher – She simply promised me that chance to be the hero. And I took it.
Roxi – She played you for a fool.
Cypher – You know nothing.
Roxi – I know that she would have gladly left you in this place in hers. She doesn’t care about you. Whatever deal you made, you’re not getting anything out of it.
Cypher – I already have what I wanted.
Cypher charges again, throwing punches that Roxi dodges and then tosses him back again. Cypher then gets up and slips, falling off the edge of the building and catching himself, holding on for dear life. Roxi rushes over and looks down, and extends her hand.
Roxi – Grab my hand.
Cypher – What?
Roxi – Grab my hand, I’ll pull you up.
Cypher – Why would you do such a thing? You have no reason to save me.
Roxi – You’re right, I don’t. But despite all the terrible things you’ve done tonight, this is what I do. Now grab my hand!
Cypher – This is... so... illogical.
Roxi – Come on!
Cypher looks up and grabs Roxi’s arm, and she pulls him up and to safety.
Cypher – Why would you save me?
Roxi – It’s my job.
Cypher – I will never understand you, Lady Bedlam.
Roxi – People are complex. You don’t become a hero by killing the bad guys, or those you deem bad. You become a vigilante. We don’t get to decide who and how and when people should die, simply because they are bad people and do bad things. We are not above the law, and not above judgment.
Cypher – You must see the positive aspects of this...
Roxi – I see people having died to make you feel justified. Killing is easy. And even now you don’t feel for those people. You see what they’ve done, and believe yourself to be right. I could walk into this asylum and kill everyone. I could do that. But then what? Sooner or later, there is no one to fight, there is no one to quench that new found thirst, and then... you begin to justify why you are right in taking lives. And soon, you just start doing it to make yourself feel better. That’s not a path I’m EVER going to walk on.
Cypher – This is – UGH!
Another bullet is fired, this one from the same roof, Roxi looks over and Cypher is hit, down and bleeding. The gun, is being held by the actual Amelia.
Amelia – Congratulations, LB! You figured it all out!
Roxi – Amelia! You were behind this!
Amelia – uh, duh! I told you, you needed to think about me more. And then you very rudely left before we could finish talking. All you had to do was talk to me, and we could have avoided all of this.
Cypher – Why....
Amelia – Oh come now computer boy, It was all part of the game.
Roxi – Cypher was the real final target...
Amelia – Yay! You are so smart, LB! What do you think I’ve been planning this whole time? You think I was silent because I had reformed? You just think you know me.
Roxi – All of this... senseless murder...
Amelia – I know...is it fun?!
Roxi growls as she charges Amelia, but Amelia fires off shots, causing Roxi to dodge. Amelia then rushes to the edge of the roof and waits. Roxi rushes over and grabs her by the collar.
Roxi – You monster!
Amelia – At least I can admit it.
Roxi hears something in the distance, and then looks over to see a helicopter heading straight for them. Gunfire reigns down as Roxi let’s go of Amelia and has to take cover. The helicopter gets closer to the roof and a rope ladder is sent down. Roxi looks up and can see Lei piloting the chopper.
Roxi – One step ahead...
Amelia – Well... it’s been fun, But I’ve got to go... Game....OVER!
Amelia steps onto the rope ladder, and it flies off, Roxi looking to give chase, but turns back to Cypher.
Cypher – I am... sorry...
Roxi – Not as sorry as you’re going to be. She loose now! All because you wanted to play hero! Ugh... We’re going to get you fixed, and then... you’re going to spend every waking movement you have... to help me track her down... Anyone else dies after tonight... it’s on YOUR head.
Cypher – I didn’t know...
Roxi – Dammit....
Roxi helps Cypher up to take him back for medical attention as the scene fades.
“The most important weapon in your arsenal will be your ability to adapt.”
- Batman (Batman and Robin Vol 1 24)
Hello again SCW,
I come to again, a week of preparation under my belt and the confidence to know that I can make history in a few days, and that is great. I also come to you with a new understanding of what I have to be able to do. I have to be able to beat someone on a roll. This is not something new to me or anything like that, but it is a sudden change, and well... really, it’s something I seem to struggle with. When I sat back, I made so many crazy mistakes back in the day and I tried too hard to be something I wasn’t. Maybe I was putting too much pressure on myself, I do that a lot. Maybe I just felt I was bigger than I really was, and that ending up costing me. I remember when Delia was the hottest thing since sliced bread and she had that Bombshell’s championship for a long time. Right before that... I tried to stop the Mean Girls right before it started, and I didn’t quite get the job done.
I should have beaten Alicia Lukas the first time, but I didn’t. I lost, and I had to regroup and even then, I also had to deal with 4 other people plus Alicia. It was crazy. I should have even Prudance's undefeated streak, but I didn’t. I have missed a lot of opportunities in my career, and I get that, and I’m not going to hide from it. I took those losses maybe a little too personally, because maybe, even in those times, I felt like I was maybe better than I was. I felt that maybe I was just too good, and rushed into every challenge headlong, eager to prove myself, and it led to mistakes, and my downfall. I had to learn to adapt to these situations because quite frankly, I couldn’t rely on just being the “good one” as they say, alone. That was always the need. I needed to live up that “Superhero” status I put on myself, and when I didn’t, I felt like I let the world down, mainly because it was what I expected.
I’ve learned now, and over time, to temper those expectations now. I know who I am, and I know what I can do. It just took me this long to realize that. I know that sometimes, I may lose a match here or there, and I’m still struggling with some of those losses, but for the most part, I know that there’s more along the horizon. I know that there’s more that I have left to do, and winning isn’t everything. It’s okay to fall down, you learn from it. I’ve tried my best to learn from those mistakes.
But, the point is, history is clearly not on my side for this right now. I am the underdog, and Myra Rivers appears to be unstoppable. And given my history, I don’t know what to expect at this point. I am not doubting myself, because I know what I’m capable of, I’m just saying if we’re looking at this whole match within the context of history and current situation, I’m not looking good, I’ll tell you that much, right now.
But thankfully, we do not go by simply “what’s on paper”
If we went by what’s on paper, maybe I would win all the time, I dunno. Maybe I would have won all those big matches I lost or something. But we don’t live in that kind of world, and nothing about this is an absolute certainty. All I can really tell you is that I’m certainly going to try my best to become the Internet champion. And I know that Myra Rivers will give me everything she’s got in order retain that championship, and that’s cool. That’s what I want, that’s what she wants, and that’s the main goal here. We both have to go out there and give it our all. And hey, maybe some people believe on paper that I have this match in the bag, but I can tell you that that is not a theory I subscribe to. I have no delusions that I’m just going to walk into Into the Void and just win without one heck of a fight. There is a reason that Myra has broken, heck, shattered the record for being Bombshell’s internet champion. She’s good. No, she’s very, very good.
I’d go as far as to say she’s great. From what I have seen, she is fully capable of beating anyone at any time. And yes, I will include myself in that statement. But the things is, I am capable of doing just the same. I have shown it time and time again. And you know, despite the fact that I’ve rushed in headlong to many situations, I always seem to find myself in the big situations over and over. I will tell you right now, I feel that pressure. It’s that good pressure, the type that makes you stand up and go, well... it’s on now. I have been feeling it all this week, because I have an opponent that is unlike many others, but an opponent that while in name and physical appearance are different, I’ve faced ring veterans many times in my career.
Amy Jo Smyth is one of my best friends and she is a very savvy veteran in and out of the ring. She’s done so much and I know she’s always been amazing in the ring, even when the appearances were not as frequent as they once were. Winning the Olympus Trios Championship with her and Keira was amazing. But she was able to teach me a lot even though I have been in wrestling for going on a decade. She’s never stopped teaching and being a mentor. I’m very proud to have her as my friend. She has been doing this for a long time, and when I stepped into the ring with her, it was a huge learning experience. I learned about grit, and sometimes, you have to go above and beyond what you think your limits are in order to win at the end of the day. Sometimes you have to reach down in places you didn’t think ever existed, and pull out that last little bit and keep going. She’s been one of the people that taught me that you can’t give up when the work gets hard. Because the work, will ALWAYS be hard. She always said the only easy day was yesterday. She may have stolen that from somewhere, but still, she says it a lot.
Now, I’m not staying that AJ and Myra are the same, because they are not. I’m saying they are veterans who know what they are doing and I clearly will have to be on my toes. But hey, I have been doing this for almost 10 years, so it’s not like I need to be told that, though sometimes just hearing it makes it stick. So yes, Myra has been doing this long enough that if I am not careful, my night can end very quickly. I’m not trying to give away a strategy or anything, but let’s face it, this match, more than likely will not be won on a fluke. At least, that’s not what I’m shooting for. I’m not trying to have some wacky roll-up win the match or anything like that. No, I want a good match, with a clear winner, and either way, history is made. And either way, everybody wins.
Well, I guess that ending is with me winning. At least I’d feel that way. I would still consider and do consider beating Myra to be a major accomplishment and I hope that she feels the same way about beating me. But I’m not saying everything is perfect if I win, because while Myra would still have the single greatest run with the championship to this point, the fact is, it would be over, and obviously, Myra doesn’t want that to happen. But I’ve said it before about streaks, once they end, the fun seems to be sapped, and I mean, good luck trying to match that again. Losing a streak can take it out of you if you’re not careful. It can make everything seem like you are a failure because you get to that one point and you feel so good and everything is clicking and then... you just don’t anymore. Then you can get the opposite and that’s a slump and then you feel like you’ll never win again. A lot of things can happen if I beat Myra. My hope is that she is proud of what she accomplished and understands that I wasn’t ever trying to just beat her to end a run and make her look bad. I’m not trying to just step in and ruin things for her. That’s just not what I do.
I just know that once that pain of loss fades, Myra can look back and then... who knows, maybe she’d be in line for an actual shot at the Bombshell’s championship. I’d personally love to see Myra get another chance to dance with those lights on bright. Probably just as much, if not more than me. And no, I’m not trying to push Myra into a spot, because I’m afraid of Amber or anything. Amber knows if the match gets made, it’ll be on again, I’m not ducking that fight by any means.
This is the match that I earned, and I intend to make the most of the opportunity. It means I have to end a very long streak and title reign, it means I have to be at the top of my game to do so, and it means it’s going to be a fight to the finish. But it’s a fight to the finish, I truly believe I can win. It’s is going to be tough? Sure, grueling? Maybe. But it’s going to be a heck of a match, no matter what.
I very much look forward to seeing Myra at Into the Void, and let’s just see who comes out the winner.
I will be ready.
I will see you all there.[/i]