(WE SEE A LABORATORY AND INSIDE WE SEE A MAN RUNNING DOWN A HALLWAY WITH MULTIPLE ADJACENT DOORS ON EITHER SIDE. THE FIGURE IS VAGABOND WEARING HIS USUAL CLOTHES BUT ALSO A LABCOAT AND GLASSES.)
VAGABOND(POV): FINALLY MADE IT OUT OF THAT CROWD, THOSE SCIENTISTS ARE A REAL PAIN IN THE ASS.
(HE THEN HEARS REINA'S VOICE IN HIS HEAD)
REINA: MASTER, THE ROOM SHOULD BE TO YOUR LEFT.
VAGABOND:THANKS.
(HE STOPS RUNNING STANDING IN FRONT OF TWO LARGE DOORS WITH THE WORDS ''CONSULTED STAFF ONLY'' INSCRIBED UNTO A SIGN.)
VAGABOND: MUST BE IT.
(HE OPENS THE DOOR STEPPING IN TO REVEAL A SMALL,DARK,EMPTY ROOM)
VAGABOND(POV): EMPTY? (OUT LOUD) REINA,WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
REINA:THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROOM WHERE THEY ARE KEPT RIGHT AFTER THIS ONE.
VAGABOND: ANALYZE THE AREA, QUICKLY.
(A LOW PURPLE GLOW ILLUMINATES ROUND THE ROOM BEFORE DISSIPATING)
REINA: FOUR STEPS AHEAD, TURN TO THE WALL AND PUSH AGAINST IT.
(VAGABOND DOES AS TOLD AND THE WALL OPENS UP)
(IT REVEALS STAIRS GOING UPWARDS,HE BEGINS WALKING UP THE STEPS AND HE REACHES ANOTHER OPENING,HE GOES IN AND SEES ANOTHER EMPTY ROOM LEADING TO A DOOR)
VAGABOND(POV): ANOTHER EMPTY ROOM.
(HE HEARS VOICES COMING OUT OF THE DOOR IN FRONT OF HIM).
VAGABOND: REINA,HIDE ME.
( A LOW PURPLE HUE SURROUNDS VAGABOND'S BODY AND THE VOICES GET CLOSER. THE DOOR THEN OPENS AND A MAN AND A MUCH YOUNGER LOOKING SCIENTIST WALK OUT DISCUSSING.)
MAN: SO YOU NEED ME TO FUND AN ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO YOU?
SCIENTIST: UMM...YES SIR...
MAN: WHAT AM I EXPECTING IN RETURN?
SCIENTIST: THE...UM... ORIGINAL COSTS PAID IN FULL AND TWENTY FIVE PERCENT ADDED INTEREST...
(THE MAN LOOKS DOWN AT THE SCIENTIST FOR SOME TIME BEFORE TURNING AWAY)
MAN: THE MONEY WILL BE SENT TO YOU IN DUE TIME.
(THE DISCUSSION HAPPENS AS BOTH MEN ARE OBLIVIOUS TO VAGABOND'S PRESENCE BEING CONCEALED BY REINA'S POWER).
(THE MAN THEN BEGINS WALKING AWAY AND LEAVES THE ROOM. THE SCIENTIST STANDS AND BEGINS TO JUMP IN SELF-CELEBRATION.)
SCIENTIST: YES,YES, I DID IT!(VAGABOND WALKS BEHIND THE SCIENTIST AND THE PURPLE HUE DISSIPATES)VAGABOND: HANDS ON YOUR HEAD.
(THE SCIENTIST FREEZES IN SHOCK AND FEAR,BEFORE SLOWLY COMPLYING TO VAGABOND'S DEMAND WITHOUT TURNING AROUND.)
SCIENTIST: W-WHO ARE YOU...AND WHAT DO YOU WANT?
(HE SAYS THIS WITH FEAR EVIDENT IN HIS VOICE)
VAGABOND: I NEED THE KEY AND PASSWORD TO THE ROOM BEHIND US.
SCIENTIST: F-FINE...HERE'S THE...(HE THEN PULLS OUT A POCKET KNIFE) KEY!
(HE TRIES TO STAB VAGABOND BUT VAGABOND HOLDS HIS WRIST TWISTING IT THE SCINTIST WINCES AND DROPS THE KNIFE, VAGABOND THEN HITS THE SCIENTIST'S FACE IN WITH HIS GUN KNOCKING THE SCIENTIST TO THE FLOOR, VAGABOND USES HIS LEG AND SLIDES THE POCKET KNIFE AWAY)
(THE SCIENTIST WHIMPERING ON THE FLOOR LOOKS UP AT VAGABOND WHO LOOKS DOWN ON HIM)
SCIENTIST: I-I'M SORRY, PLEASE DON'T KILL ME, I-I'LL DO ANYTHING...
(VAGABOND SQUATS FACING THE SCIENTIST WHO'S BREATHING HITCHES FEAR EVIDENT IN HIS SHIVERING).
VAGABOND: THEN OPEN THE DOOR.
( THE SCIENTIST NODS QUICKLY STANDING UP RUSHING AND QUICKLY PUTS IN THE CODE TO THE DOOR AND THE DOOR OPENS).
VAGABOND: WHAT'S THE CODE?
SCIENTIST: 496077.
VAGABOND: GOOD, NOW LEAVE THIS PLACE.
(THE SCIENTIST BEGINS TO WALK AWAY AND WITHOUT TURNING BACK VAGABOND SHOOTS HIS HEAD AND THE SCIENTIST FALLS TO THE FLOOR AND DIES.)
VAGABOND(POV): WOULDN'T WANT TO RISK GETTING CAUGHT.
( HE ENTERS THE ROOM WHICH IS SCATTERED WITH PAPERS. HE BEGINS SEARCHING THE ROOM BUT FINDS NOTHING USEFUL).
VAGABOND: THERE'S NOTHING USEFUL H-
REINA(INTERRUPTS): SOMEONE IS HERE.
(VAGABOND SWIFTLY TURNS TO FACE THE DOOR PUTTING HIS HAND TO HIS HOLSTER STRAPPED TO HIM TO PULL OUT HIS GUN AS THE DOOR CREAKS SLOWLY).
VAGABOND: SHOW YOURSELF.
(THE DOOR OPENS REVEALING A LITTLE GIRL)
VAGABOND(POV): WHO IS THIS?
REINA: MASTER IT'S A MU-
(IMMEDIATELY THE GIRL'S MOUTH OPENS AND A TENTACLE SHOOTS OUT ALMOST HITTING VAGABOND BUT HE REACTS QUICKLY DODGING IT, HE GRABS THE TENTACLE WRAPPING IT ROUND HIS HAND AND PULLS THE GIRL TO HIM SHOOTING HER IN THE HEAD).
VAGABOND: IS THIS A MUTANT?
REINA: IT SEEMS TO BE A MECHANIZED MUTANT.
( HE DROPS THE LIFELESS BODY AND WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM BUT THE GIRL'S HEAD DETACHES AND ANOTHER METAL TENTACLE SHOOTS OUT THROUGH HER FOERHEAD AT VAGABOND, BUT HE TURNS GRABS ITONCE AGAIN AND USING HIS OTHER HAND TO SHOOT AT HER AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES).
REINA: YOU NEED TO LEAVE THIS PLACE, SOME GUARDS ARE COMING UP THE STAIRS SURROUNDING THE DOOR.
VAGABOND:(MUTTERS) SHIT.
( HE SHOOTS AT THE WALL FORMING A CIRCLE AND PUNCHES AT THE WALL,THE WALL CRACKS BREAKS AND FALLS)
(VAGABOND STAND AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOLE LOOKING DOWN)
VAGABOND: THAT'S A LONG DROP.
( HE PICKS UP HER HEAD WRAPPING THE TENTACLE ROUND HIS FIST, THEN OUTSIDE THE DOOR THE GUARDS BEGIN HITTING ON IT.)
GUARD 1: OPEN UP! WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!!
( THE DOOR BREAKS DOWN AND THE GUARDS BEGIN FLOODING IN SHOOTING AT HIM, BUT VAGABOND JUMPS OUT THE HOLE AS HE FALLS HE SPINS AND USING THE HEAD AS A HOOK SWINGS INTO A WINDOW CRASHING THROUGH IT HE LETS GO OF THE TENTACLE LANDS AND KEEPS RUNNING TOWARDS AN ELEVATOR).
VAGABOND(POV): THIS IS GETTING TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
(HE ENTERS THE ELEVATOR AND PUSHES A BUTTON BUT THE ELEVATOR SHAKES SLIGHTLY AND A CHORD SNAPS)
VAGABOND(POV): F-
(THE ELEVATOR BEGINS FALLING AT A HIGH SPEED AND VAGABOND BREAKS THROUGH THE SHAFT GETTING UNTOP OF IT, HE JUMPS AND HANGS ON THE WALL AS THE ELEVATOR CRASHES TO THE FLOOR. HE LOOKS UP AND NOTICES AN OPENING HE CLIMBS UP AND SEES A PASSAGE WAY)
VAGABOND: REINA, YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PASSAGE HERE. I THOUGHT YOU ANALYSED THE ENTIRE BUILDING.)
REINA: MASTER, I DID THERE WAS NO PASSAGE WAY UNTIL YOU CAME INTO IT.
VAGABOND: MAYBE SOMETHING IS BLOCKING YOUR POWER FROM SEEING THROUGH, LIKE A BARRIER.
(VAGABOND BEGINS WALKING INTO THE PASSAGE)
REINA: POSSIBLY ANOTHER MUTANT, MASTER PLEASE BE ON HIGH ALERT.
VAGABOND: SURE.
( HE KEEPS WALKING UNTIL HE REACHES THE END OF THE PASSAGE AND IT REVEALS A LARGE ROOM WITH GLASS TANKS ON MULTIPLE ROWS FILLED WITH A SORT OF BLUE LIQUID EACH HAVING A PERSON INSIDE)
VAGABOND: GOOD, REINA TRY ANALYSING THE AREA FOR ANY THREATS.
(NO ANSWER).
VAGABOND: REINA...(POV) MY LINK MUST'VE BEEN CUT OFF SO THERE'S AN ACTIVE MUTANT.
( HE STARTS WALKING INTO THE ROOM AND PULLS OUT HIS GUN READY FOR AN ATTACK)
VAGABOND(POV): ALL THESE PEOPLE...BEING USED AS LAB RATS.
( THEN A SPIDER LIMB TRIES TO HIT VAGABOND FROM BEHIND BUT HE BARELY DODGES ROLLING AWAY AND AS THE DUST SETTLES HE SEES IT'S A HUMAN SIZED,THREE-HEADED SPIDER )
(THE SPIDER REMOVES IT'S LEG FROM THE GROUND READY TO STRIKE AGAIN BUT VAGABOND QUICKLY RUNS FROM IT AS IT CHASES HIM.)
VAGABOND: NEED SPACE TO SHOOT...
(HE TURNS TO FACE THE SPIDER AND SHOOTS AT IT'S HEAD BUT THE BULLET IS DEFLECTED).
VAGABOND(POV): THING'S PLATED WITH IRON.
( IT SHOOTS A WEB FROM IT'S MOUTH AT HIM BUT HE JUMPS BACK AND ONCE HE LANDS IT LEAPS TO HIM SWINGING ONE OF ITS LEGS HE DODGES AGAIN AND KEEPS RUNNING).
VAGABOND: IT'S GONNA KILL ME RATE.
( THE SPIDER JUMPS AND AS IT LANDS ABOVE HIM HE DIVES AWAY)
VAGABOND(POV): HUH...THERE'S NO IRON UNDERNEATH IT.
( HE STANDS UP AND RUNS TO THE SPIDER AND PULLS OUT A DAGGER FROM HIS HOLSTER . THE SPISER KEEPS SPITTING WEBS BUT HE KEEPS DODGING ONCE HE REACHES THE SPIDER HE INSTANTLY SLIDES BENEATH IT CUTTING IT IN THE PROCESS AND ONCE HE'S DONE HE STANDS DUSTING OFF HIS CLOTHES AS BLOOD SPILLS FROM THE SPIDER IT SLUMPS AND DIES.)
(THEN A CHILDISH VOICE CALLS OUT)
VOICE: YOU KILLED MY PET, WHAT THE HELL?!
( VAGABOND FOLLOWS THE VOICE AND SEES A BOY WITH GREEN HAIR SITTING ON TOP OF ONE OF THE TANKS).
VAGABOND(POV): I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE HIS PRESENCE...(OUT LOUD) SO I'M GUESSING YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S GUARDING HERE.
BOY: YUP, I ALSO CUT YOUR LINK WITH WHOEVER IT WAS YOU WERE TALKING TOO...ANYWAY I'M GONNA TELL MY DAD.(HE GRINS) BUT FIRST I WANNA SEE HOW FAST I CAN MAKE YOU BLEED AND I'M VX BY THE WAY, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
VAGABOND: IT WOULD BE DUMB TO GIVE YOU ANY OF MY INFO.
( IMMEDIATELY VX APPEARS IN FRONT OF VAGABOND AND THROWS A PUNCH BUT VAGABOND BARELY DODGES IT.)
VX:(GRINS) SO YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ME, I LIKE YOU ALREADY.
( VAGABOND LEAPS BACK MAKING SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM)
VAGABOND(POV): HAVING ZERO KNOWLEDGE OF HIS ABILITIES PUTS ME AT A DISADVANTAGE HERE. THEN THERE'S FINDING HIS CORE-
(VX LEAPS AT VAGABOND PUNCHING THE GROUND BELOW HIM BUT VAGABOND LEAPS BACK JUST IN TIME TO DODGE)
VAGABOND(POV): BUT HE'S ONLY A KID SO MOVEMENT OF HIS CORE SHOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR HIM...MOST LIKELY AREAS; HEART,BRAIN OR NAPE.
(VX BEGINS RUNNING TO VAGABOND AS HE STANDS HIS GROUND HOLDING HIS GUN IN ONE HAND AND DAGGER IN THE OTHER)
(VAGABOND SHOOTS AT VX BUT HE DODGES AND INSTANTLY CLOSES THE GAP INSTANTLY PUNCHING VAGABOND IN THE FACE BUT HE BLOCKS IT WITH HIS ARMS THE IMPACT SENDING HIM CRASHING INTO A WALL)
VX: AWW, DON'T TELL ME YOUR DEAD ALREADY.
(VX BEGINS WALKING TO VAGABOND AND AS THE DUST SETTLES WE SEE VAGABOND SLUMPED AGAINST THE WALL BLOOD DRIPPING FROM HIS HEAD. VX THEN CARRIES HIM PLACING VAGABOND ON HIS FEET AND DUSTING HIS CLOTHES)
VX: GOOD YOU'RE ALIVE...
(NO RESPONSE)
VX: OH WELL.
(HE THEN SHRUGS AND PUNCHES AT VAGABOND BUT HE DODGES AND STABS VX'S NAPE AND HEADBUTTS HIM. VX STUMBLES BACK AS BLOOD SEEPS FROM THE STAB HE PULLS OUT THE DAGGER TOSSING IT TO THE FLOOR)
VX: YOU STILL GOT FIGHT LEFT...
(HE LOOKS REALISING VAGABOND ISN'T THERE ANYMORE)
VX: WHERE'D YOU GO?
( WE SEE VAGABOND HIDING BEHIND A TANK)
VAGABOND(POV): DAMN...HIS ABILITY MUST BE ENHANCED STRENGTH...ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW I TANKED THAT.
VX:(CALLS OUT) Y'KNOW HIDE AND SEEK IS FOR KIDS, RIGHT?
VAGABOND(POV): I'VE GOT TO END THIS QUICK OR ELSE I'LL DIE FIRST.
VX: FOUND YOU.
( VX IS BESIDE VAGABOND AND RAISES HIS FIST AND TRIES TO PUNCH VAGABOND WHO DIVES AWAY)
VX: I GUESS I HAVE TO KILL YOU NOW.
( HE THEN STARTS PUNCHING AT VAGABOND WHO IS DODGING MOST OF HIS ATTACKS THEN VAGABOND QUICKLY GETS BEHIND HIM AND SHOOTS AT VX'S CHEST MULTIPLE TIMES.)
VAGABOND: IT'S GOTTA BE HIS HEAD.
(THE HOLES CLOSE UP AND VX STARTS RUNNING TOWARDS HIM,HE PUNCHES AT VAGABOND WHO PARRIES IT AND ELBOWS VX'S HEAD THEN POINTS THE GUN POINT BLANK RANGE SHOOTS AT VX'S HEAD. A SHARP CRACK SOUNDS AS HE SLUMPS TO THE FLOOR DEAD.)
VAGABOND:(PANTING) DAMN...TOUGH BRAT.
(HE WIPES THE BLOOD FROM HIS FACE AND BEGINS WALKING AROUND)
VAGABOND: NOW FOR WHAT I CAME FOR...
(HE STOPS STANDING IN FRONT OF A TANK WITH A BOY INSIDE THEN HE HEARS REINA'S VOICE)
REINA: MASTER I'M SO SORRY OUR LINK WAS CUT OFF, I WASN'T ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU.
VAGABOND: NO PROBLEM...BUT I THINK I FOUND AN ASSET.
CORE-THE SECOND HEART OF A MUTANT MANIFESTED DURING TRANSFORMATION ALLOWING THEM TO REGENERATE AND KEEPS THEM FUNCTIONING EVEN DURING LOSS OF MAJOR ORGANS. IT CAN ALSO BE MOVED ACROSS THE BODY TO AVOID DAMAGE ALTHOUGH NECESSARY TRAINING IS NEEDED.