Episode 2: When Spider-Knights clash...
In an elevator shaft in Skree's space craft the gallant Drakone captain himself is travelling down into the boels of his ship. he is smoking a foul tobacco-like substance which he inhales deeply before breathing out in thick clouds. The com-link buzzes as he receives another transmission from emperor Xaan.
Xaan: Well Skree? Why have you neglected to report for so long?
Skree stubs out the cancer popper nervily.
Skree: I have been preoccupied with other things my emperor. You see I intervened too late and the princess was able to figure out how to activate the power of her amulet.
Xaan: I see. And now I have a Spider Knight to worry about. You have dug yourself a very deep grave this time captain. But can you retrieve this situation I wonder?
Skree: My emperor I swear that Zen will be in the hands of the Drakone empire soon. In fact I have a plan.
Xaan: Well?
Skree: Do you remember a Spider Knight named...Cloud Genzo?
the emperor does. The link is silent as he thinks it over.
Xaan: Hmm. A drastic course of action I think. But if a Spider Knight is involved then maybe it would be wise to fight fire with fire. And it is imperitive that princess Zen is recovered. Vital to my future plans. Very well you have my permission to use him in your plan. That is all. But if you fail...
Xaan does not need to complete that sentence. He signs off.
Skree's lift arrives in the ship's teleportation centre. In the centre of the great empty chamber there is a tele-pad identical to the one Zen used to get to earth. As Skree watches light beams down onto the pad from above and a figure begins to form in the centre piece by piece as it is transmitted from across the universe. Then all is silent and the darkness returns.
Then a pair of white murderous eyes open in the darkness.
Meanwhile in vincents home on earth things are far less intense. Vincent sits in front of his coffe table in the living room. Well actually he is kneeling infront of it as he studies one of the webbing cartridges from Zen's web-bands under a microscope. Zen enters. She has undergone a radical change. She has traded in her bikini for a black jacket a white shirt and denim jeans. Her hair is also tied back by a blue ribbon.
Zen: (Brushing a strand of hair behind her shoulder) Good morning.
Vincent: (Looks at her) Aiyaiyaiyai! Is that YOU? Anyway that was a long night Zen. Sleep well?
Zen: I am refreshed and my vitaility has returned.
Vincent: I shall take that as a yes. this stuff is incredible by the way. Non-flamable adhesive which hardens on contact with the air but fits into small cartridges! By the way how did you...?
Zen: The Spider Knight power exists within me. All my amulet does is send it a message to emerge.
Vincent: I see. Well Nil desparandum. Anyway I'm off to get some groceries. You might as well come. I'll show you around planet earth-style!
In a compound area of Skree's space-ship the shadowy figure that was teleported onto the ship is making short work of a platoon of Spider Slayers using the same uncanny agility that Zen used. Skree watches from an enforced window.
Skree: (thinks silently) yes oh YES! Formidable to the point of invulnerability! And right now Zen has no experience with the Spider Knight power. He will annihalate her!
back on earth Vincent has brought Zen to the mall. The place bustles with activity it being a weekday. Zen stares around. The princess is overwhelmed by the hive of activity.
Zen: What a strange culture. What does it mean?
Vincent: What does WHAT mean?
Zen: You know. THIS.
Vincent: (Thinks hard about it) Well...basically the economy trading...and money mostly I suppose.
Zen: 'money'...
Vincent: yeah. We use it to get stuff. Cash. Green. Big ones.
Zen is baffled by the concept.
Vincent: Dont you have it on Zen-La?
He then realises what a stupid thing this was to say.
Zen: (lowers her head sadly as she thinks of home. A place she can never return to.) That ought to have been 'didnt you have it on Zen-La'. Get you're tenses right please Vincent.
Vincent: I'm sorry Zen. I really am. I cant think of how strange it must be having to adjust to this planet after what you were used to on your own.
Zen makes an effort to get over it.
Zen: (Grinning) I'll tell you one thing...it sure is a lot colder!
They laugh. Then WOOOOOMPH! One of the teleportation jumps that Zen at least is becoming familiar with by now blazes over the area. Yet another Spider Slayer appears in the air. This one is a large four-limbed monstrosity. The shoppers flee apart from zen and Vincent. The Slayers head moves and its sights fixate on the princess.
Slayer: Target located.
the mech makes for Zen clacking its metal claws together.
Vincent: (backs away) Another one those robots? And I didnt even bring my piece...
Zen: (thinks silently) It's been sent for me! They must really want me...but this is my responsibility. It's because of me that is has been sent. (She speak out loud) Vincent get back!
From her bodice Zen takes her amulet. She closes her eyes and concentrates on it. Willing its power to emerge. It glows it response to her mental summons. In harmony with it Zen transforms. She becomes a Spider Knight again as she did the last night and her costume materialises on her body. Just as it is done the slayer reaches her and she reacts jumping right up. At the top of her incredible leap she turns over in the air and lands on all fours on the wall behind her. And against all the laws of logic she stays there!
Vincent: (thinks silently) She's actaully clinging to the wall! Guess they arent called Spider Knights for nothing.
Zen points at the slayer far below. She fire a webbing strand at it and covers its eyes in a sheet of sticky web. However this is only a temporary victory. the slayers eyes glow red and a red hot beam of ray burns through the webbing and hits the pots just below Zen on the wall making her fall.
Vincent: ZEN!!!
he rushes forward and holds out his arms to catch her. Zen however has twisted around to land on her feet and as a result they fall tangled up in each other. the rubblefalling from above buries the slayer though.
Vincet and zen disentangle. Vincent kneels over making 'oof' oof' sounds.
Zen: Vincent you silly fool I'm flattered that you put yourself in danger to save me but it realy wasnt necessary!
A voice: Oh no?
they both turn to see a figure emerge from an alley. he is a Zen-Lan!
Zen-Lan: Princess Zen you are truly admirable. In a very short time you have mastered the poer of your amulet without guidance. But here it comes to an end. Watch.
His eyes glow an evil red. He transforms just as zen did a moment ago. A minute later he wears a suit just like Zen's.
Zen: I dont believe it! ANOTHER Spider Knight!
Spider Knight: I was once but now...
Zen and vincent watch in sickened horror as he GROWS a fanged mouth on his mask! A serpent-like toundue emrges from it licking the fangs.
Spider Carnage: I was once Cloud Genzo. I was also a Spider Knight for a time. Now I am...Spider Carnage!
Zen: Then the stories are true? They say that a spider Knight called Cloud was disgraced and expelled from the Knights. he was found by an alien sentience which guided him to an asteroid on which their dwelt a life form that lived only to feed from the body of another life-form...
Spider Carnage: That's me! Now lets go shall we? I dont have all day!
With no warning he raises a hand and lets loose a strand of webbing which wraps around Zen and pinds her arms to her schest before she can react.
Spider Carnage: get over here!
he yanks her forward but as she reaches him Zen kicks out and sends him back through a window. A second later though he is back and flings himself at her full force.
Spider carnage: DIE!!!!
He grabs her by the throat and crashes her against the wall.
Spider carnage: good-bye little girl.
Vincet: NOOOOOO!!!!
he tries to interven but several tendrils snake out of Carnage's body and wrap around his body squeezing...Zen succeedes in freeing herself from the webbing and throws Carnage over her shoulder and into another wall. HARD.
Spider Carnage: That's it! You little...
Out of nowhere a dark shadowy figure springs forth and lands on Spider Carnages back bearing him down.
Stranger: that is enough for now. off with ya!
Spider Carnage looks up and seems to recognize his attacker.
Spider carnge: YOU! very well. Remember princess of Zen-La. You I and your new benefactor are the last of a dying breed. One day I will be the sole survivor. Remember that!
He is surrounded by a white light and is teleported from the mall and vanishes from sight.
Zen and Vincent face the newcomer. he wears a red costume with a blue shirt which has a spider insignia on it. he also has the same wrist-bands as Zen.
Vincent: If I asked you who the hell you are...would I regret it?
The ominous silence prevails as the two Spider-Knights - one the former Princess of a now annihalated planet and the other whose identity is deeply enshrouded in mystery - gaze deeply into each others eyes and almost pierce each the others souls.
Vincent: Just checking...
In an elevator shaft in Skree's space craft the gallant Drakone captain himself is travelling down into the boels of his ship. he is smoking a foul tobacco-like substance which he inhales deeply before breathing out in thick clouds. The com-link buzzes as he receives another transmission from emperor Xaan.
Xaan: Well Skree? Why have you neglected to report for so long?
Skree stubs out the cancer popper nervily.
Skree: I have been preoccupied with other things my emperor. You see I intervened too late and the princess was able to figure out how to activate the power of her amulet.
Xaan: I see. And now I have a Spider Knight to worry about. You have dug yourself a very deep grave this time captain. But can you retrieve this situation I wonder?
Skree: My emperor I swear that Zen will be in the hands of the Drakone empire soon. In fact I have a plan.
Xaan: Well?
Skree: Do you remember a Spider Knight named...Cloud Genzo?
the emperor does. The link is silent as he thinks it over.
Xaan: Hmm. A drastic course of action I think. But if a Spider Knight is involved then maybe it would be wise to fight fire with fire. And it is imperitive that princess Zen is recovered. Vital to my future plans. Very well you have my permission to use him in your plan. That is all. But if you fail...
Xaan does not need to complete that sentence. He signs off.
Skree's lift arrives in the ship's teleportation centre. In the centre of the great empty chamber there is a tele-pad identical to the one Zen used to get to earth. As Skree watches light beams down onto the pad from above and a figure begins to form in the centre piece by piece as it is transmitted from across the universe. Then all is silent and the darkness returns.
Then a pair of white murderous eyes open in the darkness.
Meanwhile in vincents home on earth things are far less intense. Vincent sits in front of his coffe table in the living room. Well actually he is kneeling infront of it as he studies one of the webbing cartridges from Zen's web-bands under a microscope. Zen enters. She has undergone a radical change. She has traded in her bikini for a black jacket a white shirt and denim jeans. Her hair is also tied back by a blue ribbon.
Zen: (Brushing a strand of hair behind her shoulder) Good morning.
Vincent: (Looks at her) Aiyaiyaiyai! Is that YOU? Anyway that was a long night Zen. Sleep well?
Zen: I am refreshed and my vitaility has returned.
Vincent: I shall take that as a yes. this stuff is incredible by the way. Non-flamable adhesive which hardens on contact with the air but fits into small cartridges! By the way how did you...?
Zen: The Spider Knight power exists within me. All my amulet does is send it a message to emerge.
Vincent: I see. Well Nil desparandum. Anyway I'm off to get some groceries. You might as well come. I'll show you around planet earth-style!
In a compound area of Skree's space-ship the shadowy figure that was teleported onto the ship is making short work of a platoon of Spider Slayers using the same uncanny agility that Zen used. Skree watches from an enforced window.
Skree: (thinks silently) yes oh YES! Formidable to the point of invulnerability! And right now Zen has no experience with the Spider Knight power. He will annihalate her!
back on earth Vincent has brought Zen to the mall. The place bustles with activity it being a weekday. Zen stares around. The princess is overwhelmed by the hive of activity.
Zen: What a strange culture. What does it mean?
Vincent: What does WHAT mean?
Zen: You know. THIS.
Vincent: (Thinks hard about it) Well...basically the economy trading...and money mostly I suppose.
Zen: 'money'...
Vincent: yeah. We use it to get stuff. Cash. Green. Big ones.
Zen is baffled by the concept.
Vincent: Dont you have it on Zen-La?
He then realises what a stupid thing this was to say.
Zen: (lowers her head sadly as she thinks of home. A place she can never return to.) That ought to have been 'didnt you have it on Zen-La'. Get you're tenses right please Vincent.
Vincent: I'm sorry Zen. I really am. I cant think of how strange it must be having to adjust to this planet after what you were used to on your own.
Zen makes an effort to get over it.
Zen: (Grinning) I'll tell you one thing...it sure is a lot colder!
They laugh. Then WOOOOOMPH! One of the teleportation jumps that Zen at least is becoming familiar with by now blazes over the area. Yet another Spider Slayer appears in the air. This one is a large four-limbed monstrosity. The shoppers flee apart from zen and Vincent. The Slayers head moves and its sights fixate on the princess.
Slayer: Target located.
the mech makes for Zen clacking its metal claws together.
Vincent: (backs away) Another one those robots? And I didnt even bring my piece...
Zen: (thinks silently) It's been sent for me! They must really want me...but this is my responsibility. It's because of me that is has been sent. (She speak out loud) Vincent get back!
From her bodice Zen takes her amulet. She closes her eyes and concentrates on it. Willing its power to emerge. It glows it response to her mental summons. In harmony with it Zen transforms. She becomes a Spider Knight again as she did the last night and her costume materialises on her body. Just as it is done the slayer reaches her and she reacts jumping right up. At the top of her incredible leap she turns over in the air and lands on all fours on the wall behind her. And against all the laws of logic she stays there!
Vincent: (thinks silently) She's actaully clinging to the wall! Guess they arent called Spider Knights for nothing.
Zen points at the slayer far below. She fire a webbing strand at it and covers its eyes in a sheet of sticky web. However this is only a temporary victory. the slayers eyes glow red and a red hot beam of ray burns through the webbing and hits the pots just below Zen on the wall making her fall.
Vincent: ZEN!!!
he rushes forward and holds out his arms to catch her. Zen however has twisted around to land on her feet and as a result they fall tangled up in each other. the rubblefalling from above buries the slayer though.
Vincet and zen disentangle. Vincent kneels over making 'oof' oof' sounds.
Zen: Vincent you silly fool I'm flattered that you put yourself in danger to save me but it realy wasnt necessary!
A voice: Oh no?
they both turn to see a figure emerge from an alley. he is a Zen-Lan!
Zen-Lan: Princess Zen you are truly admirable. In a very short time you have mastered the poer of your amulet without guidance. But here it comes to an end. Watch.
His eyes glow an evil red. He transforms just as zen did a moment ago. A minute later he wears a suit just like Zen's.
Zen: I dont believe it! ANOTHER Spider Knight!
Spider Knight: I was once but now...
Zen and vincent watch in sickened horror as he GROWS a fanged mouth on his mask! A serpent-like toundue emrges from it licking the fangs.
Spider Carnage: I was once Cloud Genzo. I was also a Spider Knight for a time. Now I am...Spider Carnage!
Zen: Then the stories are true? They say that a spider Knight called Cloud was disgraced and expelled from the Knights. he was found by an alien sentience which guided him to an asteroid on which their dwelt a life form that lived only to feed from the body of another life-form...
Spider Carnage: That's me! Now lets go shall we? I dont have all day!
With no warning he raises a hand and lets loose a strand of webbing which wraps around Zen and pinds her arms to her schest before she can react.
Spider Carnage: get over here!
he yanks her forward but as she reaches him Zen kicks out and sends him back through a window. A second later though he is back and flings himself at her full force.
Spider carnage: DIE!!!!
He grabs her by the throat and crashes her against the wall.
Spider carnage: good-bye little girl.
Vincet: NOOOOOO!!!!
he tries to interven but several tendrils snake out of Carnage's body and wrap around his body squeezing...Zen succeedes in freeing herself from the webbing and throws Carnage over her shoulder and into another wall. HARD.
Spider Carnage: That's it! You little...
Out of nowhere a dark shadowy figure springs forth and lands on Spider Carnages back bearing him down.
Stranger: that is enough for now. off with ya!
Spider Carnage looks up and seems to recognize his attacker.
Spider carnge: YOU! very well. Remember princess of Zen-La. You I and your new benefactor are the last of a dying breed. One day I will be the sole survivor. Remember that!
He is surrounded by a white light and is teleported from the mall and vanishes from sight.
Zen and Vincent face the newcomer. he wears a red costume with a blue shirt which has a spider insignia on it. he also has the same wrist-bands as Zen.
Vincent: If I asked you who the hell you are...would I regret it?
The ominous silence prevails as the two Spider-Knights - one the former Princess of a now annihalated planet and the other whose identity is deeply enshrouded in mystery - gaze deeply into each others eyes and almost pierce each the others souls.
Vincent: Just checking...