• A woman wrapped in white angel wings is holding a small gem in her hand. She smiles at it and holds it to her.

    Naomi: It seemed to simple then when I was young, now I don’t know which way the tides will take me. I’m pulled in ways I’ve never seen. Will this be it? Is this what life is? I only wonder…

    Ames is in a car and opens his eyes to see a large building coming closer towards them. The car turns and goes into a parking space. He gets out of the car and hands the driver some money and walks towards the busy building. He is dressed in fine clothing and walks towards a building, which seems to be at a bustle with many people working. There is a guard checking cards that the employ’s hand them. Thinking he can walk passed without being asked he is surprised to be stopped by another guard.

    Guard 1: May I help you sir?

    Ames: Aye, of course you gents can let me go in and see an old friend of mine.

    Guard 1: We can’t let you in unless you made an appointment or you’re an employ.

    Guard 2: Which I doubt he made either.

    Ames: Come on I know the owner. Him and my dad are good chaps ye know.

    Guard 1: Oh I guess but telling by your accent you aren’t even from around here.

    Ames: Nay I came far to deal with my father’s business with the boss here. (Moves back and puts out his hand.) Come gents I think we got off on the wrong foot. Me names Ames, Ames James Trigger.

    Guard 2: We care less who you are. We care more about why you’re here and bugging the workers.

    Ames: I’m not buggin’ the workers. I’m here to talk with Ryo Conner!

    Ryo: Ames? Is that you boy? (Walks up with two other guards following him.) It is you. What brings you here?

    Ames: Well I was goin’ to ask what’s with the high security but the last time I was here I was knee high.

    Ryo: That’s why it came as much as a surprise. (Waves the guards away from Ames.) Come, come now inside to my office where we can talk without worry.

    Ryo has his hands folded and seems concerned and somewhat saddened.

    Ryo: Sorry to hear your father is gone boy. We were good pals you know.

    Ames: Aye sir he’s spoken the stories to me.

    Ryo smiles: I guess… so you come to me for a weapon?

    Ames: Aye sir.

    Ryo: I guess because the war still comes.

    Ames: It follows like the storms. Some day’s worse then others. (Closes his eyes.) Its hard to keep a man’s own land safe and not to mention how unsafe it is to travel these days.

    Ryo: That’s what I worry about you see. (Sighs and looks at a picture on the wall.) I always thought it would be over before my granddaughter would be born but I don’t see that happening now that it has been 10 years after her birth.

    Ames: I see yer worry sir. (Looks at the picture on the wall of a small little girl wearing a hat in her mother’s arm.)

    Ryo laughs: She’s much older now then that picture. Sara is 5 in that one. She’s been living with me since her mother passed away.

    Ames: And her father? (Unsure to ask)

    Ryo: A useless b*****d if I ever met one. (Smiles as he stands.) He’s the only one I’m happy to say is dead. Now I’ll have those weapons delivered to my new business in the new settlement.

    Ames: I’ll make sure to pick it up there sir. (Hands his hand to Ryo.) Thank you.

    Ryo: No it’s my pleasure. (Waves to the door as Ames starts leaving.) You should come by again. I enjoy these conversations. Don’t have them much anymore.

    Ames: Aye sure I’ll come again I’m sure. (Leaves the room.)

    The image fades to the docking port and he smiles seeing a large box being loaded onto the ship. Ames watches people loading onto the ship and he follows. After working his way up to the top deck he watches the people down below. He looks down at a piece of paper with a number on it.

    Ames: Number 2671. Ryo has made himself a busy man. (Sighs and turns around. He walks over to where food is being survived. Music is playing in the background. He walks over to the counter.) Can you get me some kind of soda please? Any type. (Takes a sip of his soda after the waiter brings him one. He stands up and walks over to the railing and sees a large group of military people down below. A man walks up beside him and smiles.)

    Man 1: Lieutenant Commander Brigs will be coming onto the ship to go to the new SCKTU headquarters. She’s one of the best Naval fighters they have. Ms. Brigs is one of the only females to be offered a job as a leading Admiral in the next Scratch Coast operation.

    Ames: You know a lot about this woman. (Smiles.)

    Man 1: Well everyone has a person they wish to see exceed in their rank. A group of my friends believe that she’s going to make the biggest difference. (Turns to look at Ames.) Ms. Brigs has the best weaponry experience this world has to offer. As long as she’s on the ship no MORT bastards would have enough balls to take it over.

    Ames turns and sees the group solute Naomi and then she shakes hands with the captain of the group. He turns back and sits back near the bar. A few moments pass and he sees Naomi coming onto the ship. The people try to talk to her and ask her questions while others try and introduce themselves. She smiles and waves at them as she makes her way towards the bar. Taking off her hat she sits at the bar and the waiter brings her something to drink. Bartender hands her a drink and she chugs it down.

    Naomi: Thank you, sir. That was very much needed.

    Bartender: No need for thanks lass. If it weren’t for ye we wouldn’t be out on the waters today. It’s my thanks to ye.

    Ames: Ye lead the Scratch Coast project on the east line? (Surprised.) I heard that it was Captain Brigs.

    Naomi: Yes it was my father’s choice to let me go through with it but because of my weapon the east coast is cleared of MORT vessels.

    Ames smiles: Ye not only have a good personality but ye have a brain to. That’s good to have.

    Naomi: Thanks. (Looks at the glass as the bartender refills it.) You sir, know my name but I have no idea who you are.

    Ames: Ha true. (Puts out his hand.) Me name lass is Ames James Trigger. I’m the captain of the SCKTU ship The Royal.

    Naomi: It’s an honour to meet someone of my kind. Same rank as my father to. (Smiles.) You must be traveling with weapons for your ship.

    Ames: Aye. Number 2671. An old friend supplies them for me.
    Naomi: That’s good to have friends at this time I hardly have any with the job I have. (Smiles.) Do you mind if I take my wig off? Its making my head itch.

    Ames surprised: No not at all. Why do ye wear a wig? (Naomi takes off her black wig and then shows her whitish green hair.) Oh! You’re a… an… umm

    Naomi: Meka it’s not hard to say.

    Ames: I know I’m sorry it’s just that I’ve heard of your kind before but I’ve never seen one of ye up close.

    Naomi smiles: Well let me be your first. (Unbuttons her shirt and shows a necklace stone hanging around her neck.)

    Ames: No offence to you but isn’t there only not even 100 of ye left on this world.

    Naomi: Less then that. (Pulls out her gun and checks it over.) They thought we were a threat so they wiped us out with the Isaac Bomb. Then they found out we were just like you but more evolved. (Tucks her hair behind her pointy ears. It twitches as she turns her head.) I suggest you go to your room soon. (Glances over her shoulder at a group of men.)

    Ames: Why?

    Naomi: It’s about to get ugly on this ship. (Looks at him and mouths MORT.)

    Naomi stands up and puts her gun away. Then she walks up the stairs to the control room. Ames follows her and grabs her arm before entering the control room. She turns around and has her gun at his chest.

    Ames: I can help! (Hands up over his head.) Tell me how and I’ll try to help. (She lowers the gun.)

    Naomi: Keep them busy while I deal with the control room. We have to be further out to sea before we can sink this ship. (Goes back to the control room as Ames looks back at the group of men. Naomi watches Ames approach the group and he starts to talk to them.)

    Ames: Isn’t it a lovely day. I thought that going on a trip would brighten it up even more. So are ye fellows on a break to or no? All friends?

    Mort1: Piss off!

    Ames: Oh come, come man no need to be all upset. All I want is to have a friendly conversation with ye all.

    Mort3: Why should you care?
    Mort2: We’re here on business. Do you know anything about that woman you were talking to?

    Ames: No, just that she looks like a solider… is she one of your friends?

    Mort3: Hardly!

    Mort1: Us friends with a SCKTU solider!

    Mort2: Social suicide!

    Ames: So why did you ask about her if you aren’t her friends?

    Captain over the announcements: May all passengers return to their rooms please. I repeat may all passengers return to their rooms please. We have seen a Cellar Cloud approaching and may cause harm to passengers. So please, may everyone return to their rooms. (Ames sees Naomi leave the control room and watches as she locks the door tight. She nods to him to keep it up.)

    Mort2: We should return to our rooms now. (Says to the other people in the group.)

    Ames: Ah I wouldna. That little cloud is nothin’ compared to the one that hit here yesterday. Now that was a Cell’r Cloud. Big and black not to mention boomin’ with tones of electricity! Oh it was a beautiful sight… (Looks down at the water to make his story seem real.) No the Cell’r cloud is a babe. No harm will come of it, the colour is more grey then black anyways. Not a threat at all.

    Mort3: I’m leaving. You can stay with the group if you’d like but I’m not going to listen to this lunatic! (Starts walking and Ames sees a flash of light then something surrounds the man. It looked like a bubble. Then another two came from above and falls around the little group as they are placed in a bubble. The bottom turns black and then the whole thing. When it was done all that was left was ashes inside the bubbles.)

    Naomi: Stupid fools should have heeded the captain’s warning and went back to their rooms or the Cellar cloud wouldn’t have gotten them. (Smiles as she hands Ames a gun.) Take it you’ll need it. (Walks by and picks up the devices as she attaches them back onto her belt. She kicks the ash and continues to walk.)

    Ames: Ye’ve changed! Ye have wings now! (Sees her look at him.) Sorry, it’s just that I’ve never seen…

    Naomi: A Meka before. I know you’ve told me. (Smiles.) Thanks for you’re help.

    Ames: No problem I havena had me heart in me throat in ages. (Laughs as they open the door.)

    Naomi: There’s still a few left. I told the captain to evacuate the ship in ten minutes. There’s a thick enough fog for them not to see the ship. Plus we’re close enough to land that they will be brought back in good time.

    Ames: It was smart thinkin with the Cell’r cloud. (She nods.) I’ve never seen a weapon like that though. Ye invented it most likely. (Smiles at the thought.) No wonder ye’re becoming an Admiral for the next Scratch Coast mission. (She stops and turns to look at him.)

    Naomi: Who told you I was going to be an Admiral?

    Ames: Some guy on the ship I don’t know who. I know he was an old gent though with a beard.

    Naomi: Well I’m not becoming an Admiral. (Turns back to the hall and hears the announcement come over the P.A saying: Please evacuate the ship.) I’m going there to become a weaponry professional. Even though I don’t have a choice in the matter. (Walks down another hallway and stops as she looks around a corner into a room.)

    Ames: Why’s that? (Goes on the other side of the door to cover Naomi’s back.)

    Naomi: Because I’m no ordinary Meka. (Kicks open the door and start to shoot.)

    A man in a MORT suit stands up and kicks over his desk as he blocks the shots from Naomi’s gun. He shoots at her as her wings turn into a metal and she shields herself with them. Continuing to walk forward Ames enters the room after hearing the gunshots stop. When he gets inside he sees Naomi with her hand around the neck of a high ranked MORT solider.

    Naomi: Terre Mac, you out of all the people on this ship should know that shooting me from the front is a stupid thing. (Lifts her gun to his head.) Normal bullets can’t pierce Meka’s wings.

    Terre: Aw come on Naomi you know me. I’m as stupid as a door knob. (Laughs nervously.)

    Naomi: I can’t argue there. So answer me this then because I know that you have info I can use. (Pulls him close to her by his tie and presses her gun to his head.) Passwords to the weapon Soul Clops what is it?

    Terre: Ah you know I don’t know that Naomi… (Tightens her grip on his tie as he starts choking.) Ok! Fine! I tell you!

    Naomi drops Terre on the floor: Okay then what is it?

    Ames keeps his gun up and watches the man go for his gun. Ames shoots the ground where Terre was going.