FOREST REFUGE ANIMUS

By Josh Lazarus Brodersen

Issue One, Part One

And so it came to pass...

(A chipmunk is running through a forest.)
Narrator (Shade): This is our forest, our home, / in it we lived in peace, under the protection of the One Tree. / Some say that the tree controls the great barrier of thorns. / Some believe that it was responsible for our increased intelligence. / I never gave it much thought. / Till that day when our world changed.
(Chipmunk approaches tree with a door and windows.)
Narrator: If I had known about the immense magnitude of what was going to happen,
(Chipmunk opens door and walks in. Shade is hanging upside-down, sleeping.)
Chipmunk: (Acting reverent.) Uh, sir?
Narrator: I would have said something more appropriate.
Shade: Can’t this wait till evening? It’s the middle of the day for crying out loud.
Chipmunk: No, sir. It’s my brother, he’s been injured, I think.
Shade: (Sigh.) Why didn’t you just get Creede?
Chipmunk: It’s something odd. I think he was attacked. Please, sir.
Shade: (Flipping to his feet.) Ok, I’ll go. Where is he?
Chipmunk: By the Barrier. (Pause.) Um, Shade?
Shade: What?
Chipmunk: Bring your sword.
(They run/fly towards the barrier. Several animals onlook.)
Shade: So what happened?
Chipmunk: I found him a few minutes ago. He said he was bitten by a strange rat. The wound wasn’t that serious, but he seemed sick.
Shade: Sick? How?
Chipmunk: It’s a little hard to explain.
(The brother is curled up in a ball about 100 yards from the barrier. He’s lying against a tree. He turns to face Shade as Shade approaches.)
Shade: (Taken aback.) By The Tree! (Referring to the One Tree.)
(I’m not sure what the brother would look like. Probably halfway between a normal chipmunk and a fully infected one.)
Shade: Are you all right?
Brother: (You might want to letter this a little weird.) I’m just fine.
(First chipmunk circles off to right.)
Chipmunk: He was like this when I found him.
Brother: What do you mean, ‘Like this?’ I feel perfectly fine.
Shade: You really look unwell. Who did this to you?
Brother: He bit me.
Shade: Who?
Brother: Bit me. (Changes to full infection.) Let me show you.
(Brother bolts toward Shade and catches him off guard, backhanding him a good distance onto the ground. Brother grabs chipmunk by arm and gets him in a chicken wing, pulls his head to the side and bites him on the neck.)
Shade: {How can he be that fast? Caught me off guard.} (Draws sword) Hey, let him go!
Brother: As you wish. (Drops chipmunk to ground.)
(Big fight, Shade does not get cut or bit. After being knocked around a bit he manages to kill brother.)
(Shade collapses against a tree.)
Shade: {What the heck was that? A new strain of rabies?} (Looks up. Flash images of brother biting chipmunk, claws bleeding, mouth bleeding, any wound on Shade.) {Is it contagious?} (Examines extent of injury.) {I need help.}
(Shade assumes a meditative pose and the scene changes.)
(Meditative pose: Shade should be upside down and have his wings wrapped around himself.)

(New scene, Mondriant in meditation.)
(Shade appears, he looks ghostlike.)
Shade: Mondriant, I need your help. (Mondriant looks up.) I need your help. (Fades away.)

(Back to Shade, Mondriant’s projection appears.)
Mondriant: You look hurt, should I get Creede or just come myself?
Shade: I think I might have contracted something. (Flash images of Brother.) Get Creede, tell him we need to get samples.
Mondriant: No, the infection isn’t within you. (Looks over at chipmunk.) But it isn’t gone. (Looks back.) I’ll get help, hold on.

(New scene: Creede’s workshop. Alchemical tools are everywhere. Creede is currently working on something very complex. Note: This will NOT collapse at any point in the comic.)
Mondriant: (From off camera.) Creede?
Creede: (Stops what he’s doing and looks at Mondriant.) What do you want?
Mondriant: Shade’s been injured, and there’s this chipmunk-
Creede: This wouldn’t be your doing, would it?
Mondriant: (Shouts.) That was two years ago, I’m much stronger now! (Regains composure.) Shade needs your help, I’ll show you where he is. He said it involved a new virus strain. You know the drill.
Creede: A new virus? This better be important, and not some new strain of that cursed flu.

(Follows Mondriant back to Shade)
Creede: (Whistles.) What in the forest happened here? (Goes to help chipmunk.)
Shade: That chipmunk attacked me, it looked like some new form of rabies. Watch out, it might be contagious.
Creede: Don’t worry, I’m always careful. (takes blood sample, bandages neck) (To chipmunk) You’re going to be fine.
(chipmunk enters combat form, grabs Creede)
Chipmunk: (Letter oddly.) I know that.
(Creede breaks free. Gets cut while being thrown. Drop of blood lands on leaf above him. This should slowly drip down until the end of the fight. A single half drop should almost land in a very small cut, but Creede moves at the last minute. Creede uses the tree next to him, which has some of chipmunks blood on it, to brace himself as he stands up. As Creede gets to his feet, he pulls his hand back, he has received a splinter from the tree bark, and it does have blood on it.)
(Fight scene. Mondriant collapses from the negative emotional surge. Mondriant manages to recover as Shade kills chipmunk.)
Shade: Are you all right?
Mondriant: (huddling near a tree) Yes.
Shade: Do you need help? (Lays hand on Mondriant’s shoulder.)
Mondriant: (Pulls away.) I’ll be fine.
Shade: (looks around) That’s odd. (To Mondriant.) Do you get the feeling were being watched?
Mondriant: (Looking around) Yes. It feels like it’s coming from … (Points out of comic) There!

(Scene change. Aaron wakes up with a gasp.)
Aaron: The same animals, again. What’s with that? (Pans back)
(Scene: Looks like a children’s room. Animal wallpaper, stuffed animals, posters, animal clocks, etc.)
Aaron: There haven’t been any animals around here in years.
(Looks at clock. Reads 8:17)
Aaron: Oh, perfect. I slept through the alarm!
(Scene: Running out of apartment. Moderately polluted, no vegetation or anything.)

(Approaches base, base is near barrier. sees another person)
Person: Don’t try to stop me. I’m going to cross the barrier.
Aaron: Hey, if you want to get yourself killed and save me the trouble, that’s fine by me.
Person: You New Eden employees are all alike, you can’t see the forest for the trees. I’m 98 percent cyborg and a master of Muay Thai, stand back. (Different martial art?)
Aaron: You are absolutely nuts. But go ahead and try. You’ll never make it.
Person: When I get through, I’ll be sure to come back here and kick your ass.
(Person proceeds to charge the barrier. Manages to dodge for all of two frames before being totally impaled by no less than five thorny vines. This should be impaling and constricting, while cutting with thorns. Pain level is off the scale.)
Aaron: Cybernetics pollute the purity of martial arts, fool. Besides, I’m eighth Dan Jeet Kune Do, and I wouldn’t even think of going in there.
Aaron: (Starts to walk toward the base.) Oh well, better get to work.

(Scene: Boss walks into office. Sits down. Presses a button on a intercom.)
Boss: Ms. Walters, has there been any sign of Aaron yet.
(Shadowy shape behind Boss. Glint of gun.)
Boss: Ms. Walters? Ms. Walters?
(Boss get pegged in center of forehead with suction dart.)
Boss: Aaron, I thought you were supposed to do this test at eight.
Aaron: If you knew the exact time I was going to sneak in, it wouldn’t be a realistic drill, now would it? Besides, none of the people here saw me enter. Except Ms. Walters. She’ll wake up in a few minutes, but she’ll have a nasty headache.
Boss: Well, I look forward to reading your report on our security. It still amazes me how you can break in so easily without cyberware.
Aaron: (Shrugs) Pure body and spirit allow for pure style.
Boss: (Turning toward a window.) Did you hear of the agent who tried to penetrate the barrier today?
Aaron: {No, but I saw him on my way in.} I heard a little. Did he succeed?
Boss: Of course not. He wasn’t even a full cyborg. What the heck was the poor fool thinking.
Aaron: You know … With all of your cyberware and high tech approaches, none of the megacorps have managed to even dent the barrier, let alone breach it. Maybe you should try a different approach.
Boss: (Looking away, whispered.) We are.
Aaron: Sir?
Boss: Nothing.

(Scene: Aaron walking outside with Rebecca.)
Rebecca: You know Aaron, if you got a internal clock installed, you wouldn’t have to make up excuses why you’re late so much.
Aaron: We’ve gone over this, no cyberware. Period.
Rebecca: Oh, I forgot you’re crazy ideals. "Purity of body and purity of mind breeds purity of style." Is that right.
Aaron: (Grins) You’re so mean.
Rebecca: Sorry. Then again, you must have something in your philosophy. You’re the youngest North American champion in years.
Aaron: If I don’t need cyberware to defeat cybered contenders, and I can sneak into the most heavily guarded corporate base without being noticed, I think I can do without cyberware.
Rebecca: Of course you can, I apologize for bringing it up. I guess I’m just a new tech girl.
Aaron: Speaking of dodging subjects, can you tell me anything about the new project your working on?
Rebecca: What new project?
Aaron: The new approach your father mentioned … for breaching the barrier.
Rebecca: You know that’s classified, but it might come up at the meeting. So, I’ll see you then. (Begins to walk off.)
Aaron: Bye (Waves, walks off.)
(Go one or two frames. notices body of intruder being torn apart by animals)
Aaron: What in the world? Animals!
(Zoom in on an animal.)
Aaron: (taken aback) ...I think. This isn’t a natural occurrence.
Aaron: (Turns toward the base.) {That’s it. Let’s see what your hiding.}

(Scene: Middle of woods. By a stream.)
(Timothy is flung through a (dimensional)gate. Falls face first on the ground, in the mud.)
(Tim gets up and starts washing his face off in the stream.)
(Tim finishes, and sees another reflection of himself in the water.)
Tim: (Turning around and dropping into a combat stance.) (Upright stance with legs together, one arm up, the other at waist, both hands held loosely with the forefinger pointing) What are you doing here?
Tim2: Do you honestly think that fleeing to this dimension will erase your guilt?
Tim2: You had power, control, you ruled with an iron fist.
Tim: (removes the amulet from around his neck. He should become, somehow, less colorful or vibrant.) * Power? Control? I just killed one of my best friends, and the other will die from that last technique. *
Tim2: * They just didn’t see your vision. *
Tim: * My vision! You said power was the most important thing in the world. It’s not. * (Throws amulet away.)
Tim2: * And who’s voice am I? *
Tim: (Putting his finger through the apparitions neck, as it disappears.) * Shut up! *
Tim2: (From nowhere) * You can’t get rid of your dark half so easily. *
Tim: (walking off) * I have got to stop talking to myself. *

(Scene: Creede’s laboratory. Creede is analyzing the blood sample. At some point he sees his reflection in a glass, and notices his gums are bleeding. He quickly reaches for a small handkerchief.)
Creede: (Wiping mouth) No, no. Not now.
(Wyndle walks in.)
Wyndle: Creede, I wanted to see how you were doing.
Creede: (Snaps.) Fine! (Turns away.) I- I’m fine.
Wyndle: Are you sure? You don’t look so good.
Creede: Yes, I’m sure. I just need to finish this test. (Turns back to his equipment.)
Wyndle: If you need help, you know you can- (reaching out)
Creede: (Grabs Wyndle’s hand, and pulls her close. Creede’s fingers are starting to bleed.) (Letter this a little odd, but not as much as any of the others.) I said I was fine. If I need your help, I’ll let you know. Now, GET THE HECK OUT OF MY LAB!
Wyndle: Creede, you’re hurting me.
Creede: (Uses her wrist to push her back.) Get lost.
Wyndle: (Notices blood on wrist. Note: It’s Creede’s blood, she isn’t cut.) {What’s going on. Better talk to Shade.} Uh, bye.
Creede: (Setting up a vial in a apparatus.) This should cure it. (Mixture starts flowing through apparatus.) Just an hour or so. Just hold on an hour or so. (Doubles over.) (Fade out.)

(Scene: Back in the base. Aaron is sneaking around several corridors.)
Aaron: {They’ll expect me to be at least ten minutes late for the meeting, so I should have enough time to check in Rebecca’s office.}
Aaron: (Breaks into Rebecca’s office.) Hmm, (Walks around a little.) It wouldn’t be in the desk, or the bookshelf, unless … (Types on the computer.) Password … (Pause) New Tech (Screen: Access granted.) Always a new tech girl, huh Rebecca? Now where should I look? Animals? Negative. Forest? Barrier? Negative. Negative. New technique? Negative. Projects? Eighty two of those. What the heck could it be. (Thinks.) (Flashback to Shade fighting chipmunk) Blood … 3 matches … Blood Test - Aaron Hey!, Blood Transfusion Storage No, Bloodfury?! Bingo.
(Several screenshots of virus.)
Aaron: A virus that infects animals, causing a berserk rage that is transmitted by direct blood contact. (Pause.) That’s corrupt. Secondary effects, causes natural weaponry to be enhanced, bleeding of the mouth and claws, enhanced strength, enhanced speed. Humans immune. Experimental attempt to instill obedience toward humans. Varied results. That is the sickest thing I have ever heard of. (Turns away from computer.) But it does mean that my dreams have some basis in reality. Animals do still exist. That has to be what the barrier is hiding.
(Alarm buzzes.)
Aaron: (Cradles head in hand.) Oh great. Well, no time like the present to test a theory.

(Scene: Hallway, two guards are walking up to Rebecca’s office.)
(Aaron busts out of office.)
Grunt 1: Halt. This is a restric-

(New scene: Security room.)
Grunt 1: (Just bleed the previous speech bubble into this frame, adding static at the end.)
Extra 1: What’s going on?
Extra 2: (who is sitting by a monitor) Intruder in zone 4. No, zone 3. Eight guards unconscious. Twelve cameras off-line. How the hell can he be moving that fast?
Extra 1: Who?
Extra 2: I think it’s Aaron, that special agent.
Extra 1: (Scratches head.) I thought he wasn’t cybered.

(Scene: Aaron running through corridors. Several "blast doors" close off various hallways. One of them he manages to duck under.)
Over a com: Give up Aaron, you’re headed towards the barrier.
(A Grunt rounds a corner. Aaron punches the grunt with his left hand, turns the punch into an elbow to the face, spins to his right, circling around to the Grunt’s left, and connects with a backward elbow with his right arm, then finishes the spin and keeps running. Grunt is quite out.)
Aaron: (One word per strike.) That’s … my … plan.
(More running, ends up facing a blast door with a Grunt on either side.)
Over a com: Aaron, this is your boss, stop this immediately.
(Aaron ducks under the first spray of gunfire, jumps, does a forward flip and kicks the one on the right into the wall. Then, he rips the keypad panel off the wall, jumps back to avoid two gunshots, throws the keypad into the grunt on the left’s gun. Landing, he vaults forward, grabs the grunt on the right, and throws him into the other Grunt. Aaron then grabs two of the wires that are sticking out of the wall (where the panel was) and pushes them together. the blast door opens a foot or so and Aaron rolls under it.)
Aaron: (Space this in the above fight.) Sorry, but I have to try something.
(Outside Aaron faces two lines of grunts one on each side, forward is the barrier.)
(The video display on the outside keypad buzzes to life.)
Rebecca: (Over the keypad video.) Aaron, please don’t throw your life away. Whatever is bothering you, we can work it out.
Aaron: (Looks at the video display) Rebecca … (Turns around, a tear forming in one eye.) I’m sorry, I have to know. (Bolts toward the barrier.)
Over a com: Stop him! Don’t let him get through.
Grunt X: You’re kidding, he’s an employee.
Grunt X2: He couldn’t possibly make it through.
Over a com: I said: KILL HIM!
(Grunts open fire. Guess what? They miss.)
(Aaron makes it to the barrier.)
(Major dodge scenes.)
(Aaron manages to make it through the barrier, the vines still trying to spear him. Aaron makes it about ten or fifteen feet away, and after dodging a vine, he slips on a loose rock.)
Overlay: Calm, see with your minds eye. Organic, fluid, natural motion. This is what cybers don’t understand. Pure body and spirit allow for pure sty- (trips at this point.)
(The vines shoot for him, he cringes and brings his arms up to block.)
(Aaron notices that he’s not dead yet.)
Aaron: {What the?}
(When he looks up, the vines pull back.)
(Aaron scuttles away from the barrier, then notices the forest.)
Aaron: (Stands up.) Trees? Like in the history books. (Cradles a leaf) Leaves? Interesting.
(Aaron looks around.)

(Back inside the base. Rebecca and her father, the boss, are standing around a view screen.)
Rebecca: (Slams he fist down on the controls.) Son of a bitch. He made it.
Rebecca: (Turn to a subordinate.) You, get together five of our least cybered employees. Tell them I want a conference in five minutes.
Boss: Do you think it was the fact he wasn’t cybered?
Rebecca: I’m going to find out as soon as I can get all the cyberware out of some of our goons.
Boss: Meanwhile, I think we should start phase three of the Bloodfury project.
Rebecca: (Smiles.) That sounds like fun. I’ll put it in motion the second I get done with the briefing.

(Outside, Wyndle finds Shade, who is looking at the barrier)
Wyndle: There you are, Shade. (Walks up) Did something happen to Creede?
Shade: (Looking at the barrier.) Do you ever wonder what happened to all the humans?
Wyndle: What does that have to do with Creede?
Shade: (Ignoring her.) Some say that they live on the other side of the barrier.
Wyndle: What would that matter? No one has been able to figure it out.
Shade: But what if the barrier was created to keep the humans out? Would they try to cross it?
Wyndle: (Lays a hand on his shoulder and spins Shade around.) Look, this is a simple question. What is wrong with Creede?
Shade: He’s been kind of moody since we encountered a new virus strain.
Wyndle: Was he infected?
Shade: I don’t think so, I wasn’t and Mondriant wasn’t.
Wyndle: Great, Mondriant. I’m going to go jump off a high branch now before things get worse.
Shade: Hey, leave him alone. It wasn’t his fault.
Wyndle: So what’s this about humans anyway.
Shade: Just a dream. Nothing of substance. But that new virus strain wasn’t natural.
Wyndle: Are you suggesting that this virus is of human origin? Aren’t you a little old to believe in humans?
Shade: What- (Notices several animals coming through barrier) ev- (More animals show up) er. (Close up on one animal. Infected.)
Shade: By the Tree.
Wyndle: (Same Panel) (Looks surprised.) You fought those?!
Shade: Yes. Get Creede! Now!
Wyndle: (Takes off)

(Scene: Aaron walking. A group of animals, fleeing the oncoming horde, run past him. The group doesn’t notice him, except for a cat, white with orange stripes.)
Aaron: (Startled.) An- animals.
Cat (Josh): A human.
Aaron: {I can understand him. Is that a good sign or a bad sign?}
(Rest of the group doesn’t stop.)
Cat (Josh): Hello. Sorry I can’t talk, but I really need to get going. Are you really a human?
Aaron: Yea. Um, what’s going on?
Cat (Josh): You don’t know? Shade is fighting a group of sick animals.
Aaron: {Shade?!? The bat from my dream? Here? He’s real?} Thanks for the information. (Runs off in the direction the animals came from.) Bye.
Cat (Josh): If you go that way you’ll run into the infected animals!
Aaron: I know!
Cat (Josh): (Runs in original direction.) I wonder if all humans are that odd.

(Scene: Shade fighting a group of infected animals.)
Shade: You can help anytime you know.
Mondriant: (Who’s running away from some infected birds.) Help!
(Wyndle and Creede show up.)
Wyndle: (Spikes one of the birds chasing Mondriant.) Get some combat training you dope.
Creede: (Looks normal) The cavalry has arrived. (Pulls a packet out of a pouch and throws it. Small scale explosion.)
(Fight.)
Aaron: (Good distance in the background. Mouth agape.) Shade? and that sparrow. From the dream.
(Good animals get overwhelmed.)
Wyndle: There’s too many of them. (Gets clawed.) Aaaa.
Creede: Wyndle!
Aaron: {I’ve got to help them. Wait, I’m human. They just might ...}
Aaron: (Running up.) Stop!
Shade: Aaron? It can’t be.
(Infected Animals hesitate.)
Aaron: (Interposing self) Humans can’t be infected. I’ll hold them. Now run!
(Animals retreat, Aaron managing to hold them off for a few frames. He then begins to get overwhelmed.)
Aaron: Uh oh. (Bolts.)

(Running montage scene.)
Aaron: (To Shade.) Hi, I’m Aaron. We’re toast, aren’t we?
Shade: There’s still hope. Maybe the One Tree can help.
Wyndle: (Collapses.)
Creede: (Stopping to help her.) She’s been cut.
Shade: Let me-
Creede: No, I can manage.
Aaron: I’ll carry her. (Goes to pick her up.)
Creede: (Backing off. Eyes a little wide.) Of course.
Wyndle: (Clearly delirious. You may want to space this between the rest of the conversation.) Human, no. Infected. Animals. Get … away from … me.
Shade: (To Wyndle) I don’t think he’s dangerous.
Mondriant: No, he feels - safe. (To Creede.) Are you all right, you seem to be taking this lightly.
Creede: (Shakes head.) I’m all right.
Aaron: She’s been cut, I think she’s infected. She needs some kind of treatment.
Creede: I have something back at my lab that might help. I’ll meet you at the One Tree.
(Split up.)

(Creede busts into lab, looks at the apparatus.)
Creede: ("Sinking" look.) Only enough for one and a half doses.
Creede: (Strapping arm with a band.) Fine, (Taps needle, squirts air out.) one half-dose for me. (Injects self.)
Creede: (Preparing second syringe.) One complete dose for (Collapses, eyes turn red.) her. (Eyes turn normal.) I can - do - this. I’m - okay.
Creede: (Stumbles out of door.) Got - to - hold on.
Timothy: (From somewhere on a tree.) Something’s going on.
Tim2: (From behind him.) So what. It’s none of your business.
Timothy: Maybe I can help. (Starts after Creede.)
Tim2: You’re going to regret this.
Tim2: (Notices Tim has left.) You’re nothing without me. (Pause) Get back here. Hey!

(Rest of group retreat to the One tree.)
Aaron: So, what do we do now?
Mondriant: We find out why you’re here.
Shade: But you said he was "safe".
Mondriant: (To Shade) We still don’t know what’s going on. Did you see Creede back there?
Shade: What are you talking about?
Mondriant: Three words from human over there and he zones out.
Aaron: Was he infected?
Shade: I don’t think so, but he has been acting strangely lately.
Aaron: Violent tendencies? Bleeding of the mouth and claws?
Shade: He hasn’t done that, but a few others have.
Aaron: It’s a virus, called Bloodfury. It’s transmitted by direct blood contact. If that rabbit was reacting to what I said, it’s because he’s infected.
Wyndle: (Weakly) His fingers were bleeding.
Mondriant: Your wrong, if he was infected, I’d be able to tell.
Creede: (Walking up from off camera.) Human’s right. I’m infected.
Creede: (Walking over to Wyndle) I started noticing symptoms a few hours ago.
Creede: Luckily I had time to make enough for her and me. (Begins administering treatment.)
Mondriant: (Begins to say something in response.) (Knows Creede is lying.)
Aaron: How is it that a rabbit can find a cure for a bioengineered disease? For that matter how come you’re all speaking English?
One Tree: (These speech bubbles should seem to come from everywhere.) They’re not.
All: (Except Creede who is helping Wyndle, and Wyndle, who’s losing consciousness.) ?!!?!!?!!!
One Tree: Haven’t you noticed you haven’t been speaking in English?
Aaron: What? (Pause.) I guess you’re right. Who are you?
One Tree: A mother. From me all of nature flows.
Aaron: So what does that have to do with us?
One Tree: You five are my chosen. You are to be charged with defending this place from forces that would destroy it.
Creede: Can’t you do that by yourself?
One Tree: My barrier seems to have become ineffective.
Aaron: Is that how I got through?
One Tree: No, as one of my chosen, the barrier will not harm you.
Creede: But what if we’re not able to defeat them?
One Tree: You have to. You five are the only creatures on this world who can receive the gifts I wish to give you.
Creede: (Starting to look worried.) (He knows he might still be infected.) But what if one of us dies?
One Tree: There will be another five chosen in the next generation. Do not worry, no force in nature will harm you.
Creede: But-
One Tree: (Cutting him off.) It is time. All of you posses the knowledge of where a single shard of my power is stored. You may have seen it in a dream or vision, or just have a hunch. Go, retrieve them, then return here.
Creede: (Quietly as he walks off.) Damn.
(Split up.)

Timothy: (Still spying from far off.) * Does that rabbit look sick to you? *
Tim2: * No. Why should we get involved? *
Timothy: * He seemed really worried. *
Tim2: * He said he was ill , and implied he might not be able to assume the power he was chosen for. * (Looking at Tim and smiling) * You think you might be able to usurp that power. Don’t you? *
Timothy: * What? No! * (Swinging at him) * I just want to see if he needs help! * (Follows Creede)
Tim2: * Repentance is still out of your grasp. * (Laughs, fades from view.)

(Shade walks with a purpose.)
(Walks up to a simple grave, one stone, shouldn’t be able to read it.)
Shade: Should have known you would have it.
Shade: It was meant for you, wasn’t it.
Bat: (Walks up from behind stage.) It wasn’t your fault.
Shade: Yes, it was. If I hadn’t wandered near the barrier you wouldn’t have followed.
Bat: You couldn’t have known what would have happened.
Shade: You wouldn’t be dead if it wasn’t for me. It’s your shard, you should be using it.
Bat: You’re wrong. It was always meant for you.
Shade: You’re the elder. This should be your honor. Not mine.
Bat: Don’t you understand? You posses a determination that I never had. Right now, you have a higher level of skill than I ever had. My death propelled you to reach your full potential. It has meaning because of that.
Shade: But I could have done that without you dying.
Bat: Yes, you could have. But at the time you couldn’t have known what would happen. You just didn’t have the skill then. You couldn’t have prevented it.
Shade: You’re right about one thing. I’m not going to let my guilt prevent me from assuming my responsibility.
Bat: Then the testing can begin.
Shade: What?
(Panel fades to black.)

(Standing on a featureless black plain.)
Shade: Where are we?
Shade: (Looks around frantically.) Hello? Someone?
Shade: (Turns around. Scenery changes, outside, forest setting. Looks horrified.) Oh no.
Shade: (Shown from behind. Is facing the barrier.) Please, not here.
Bat: (From somewhere in the barrier. Very weak.) Help.
(I think this next part would be most effective as a large picture with several pictures ‘floating’ in it.)
Shade: (Searches the barrier. Bat still calling for help.)
Shade: I’ve been looking for hours. Where could he be.
Shade: (Yelling.) Not again. You can’t die-
Shade: (Quieter.) again.
Shade: (Looks up.) I’ve been chasing a ghost. (Walks off, trying to ignore the calls for help.)
(Scenery fades back to the featureless plain. Bat is standing in front of Shade.)
Bat: Are you done? You almost found me there.
Shade: I was chasing my own obsession, wasn’t I?
Bat: Yes. You can’t allow it to consume you.
Shade: So maybe I couldn’t save you.
Bat: (Looks at Shade.)
(No transition, just go one frame here, one frame there.)

(Back at grave.)
Bat: But it still wasn’t your fault.
Shade: (Tears forming.) That doesn’t matter, it’s still going to hurt.
(Bat disappears into a glowing crystal shard. Shade touches it and absorbs it.)
Shade: See you around,
Shade: brother.