Remnant Goes to the Movies 6
Disclaimer; I do not own RWBY or the movies within. Wish I did, though.
Universal Soldier
Before 'Racer' starts the next movie, he turns back to the audience.
"Okay, before we fully get underway, let me see if I can adjust things for Adrian a bit, given how messy the next movie's going to be." A bluish-white light appears over Adrian's head, leaving it bare. "There we go. Anytime anything messy appears, it'll become a black block and foul language will become bleeps. Jinn, Tock, Ms. Calavera? Would either of you care for something?"
"How wonderful of you to ask and have my powers be idle, 'Racer'. I'll have a cup of hot chocolate if you'd be so kind." Jinn's ethereal voice is melodic as she goes on. "I've always been curious about it."
"Okay. Tock? Ms. Calavera?"
"I'll have a spot of tea if you'd be so kind, Gov. Along with a shot of finishing the job." Giving Maria Calavera a side glance, Tock bares her sharp teeth as the elder retired Huntress shrugs.
"I'll just have some cashews. Though I don't suppose you can do something about these goggles, can you?"
"It may be out of my reach… but I can probably streamline them for you." Stepping lightly toward her, 'Racer' muses softly. "Mmm, perhaps much like… this." A bluish-white glow appears around her face before fading, leaving a sleek matte silver-bodied visor with a blue lens over where her eyes would've been. "I'm not sure, but it's the best I can do. However, like I said earlier, it's just for while you're here."
"Oh, pish-posh, this is great. I can even see better somewhat. Pietro, are you taking notes?"
"I am, Maria. I am. Very impressive work, 'Racer'. Very impressive indeed." At that, 'Racer' can only rub the back of his head and chuckle sheepishly. Getting Weiss' attention before she smirks.
"Are you related to Jaune, by any chance? Because you rub the back of your head like he does."
"No, though I wouldn't mind it one bit if I was." Weiss blinks at that before 'Racer' waves it off. "Not important, Miss Schnee. Not important at all. Any other questions?"
"Yes, in fact, 'Racer', I have one." Ironwood's words get his attention as he goes on. "Just what is 'Universal Soldier' about?"
"It's about a program with a strict requirement to create an anti-terror task force that… goes terribly awry." Ironwood can't help but frown.
"That's not very descriptive. Unlike the previous movie, its premise is… vague. But, the strict requirement… what exactly is it?"
"Sometimes, General, vague helps with the shock value. The requirement you're about to see. Also, this doesn't take place on Remnant, so there's no Faunus."
The Faunus of the audience can only blink before Racer goes on.
"Yet those of you here that are Faunus, you can be assured that you'll still be in some of the movies that take place off of Remnant as regular humans. There's also no Grimm, powerful dust or SDC." The Schnees all gasp, Jacques the loudest, the 'White Fang' and other Faunus in the audience gasping as well as 'Racer' goes on.
"But it takes place on another planet named… Earth. Earth vehicles and weapons will be identified by bubbles over their type. However, it starts during one of the most… turbulent times on that planet."
"That's certainly ominous." Roman's remark gets a nod of agreement from Neo. With that, the movie begins.
Vietnam; 1969
It's a rainy night in one of the many jungles of Vietnam. Explosions, rapid gunfire and screams abound all over the place. A fleeing soldier is without his weapon and comrades. Until he, revealed to be a young white-haired male when his helmet falls off, is grabbed by one of them, a young blond male, that quickly sees he's scared out of his wits.
Ruby's eyes go wide in glee.
"It's Jaune! He's trying to help Whitley!"
Whitley blinks at his other's highly agitated state. Jacques, however, reacts differently.
"Whitley, Schnees don't fight in wars! Especially those that are heir-apparent to the SDC!"
"Oh, come on, Jacques-ass. Don't you remember what I just said?" As Jacques turns toward 'Racer', the latter goes on. "The SDC doesn't even exist here. Isn't that right, Mr. Nicholas Schnee?"
"Indeed." Turning to look at Jacques, Nicholas adds, "I now have no idea what I was thinking, letting you wed my little girl, Gele. You took my family name and caused it to, much like 'Racer' said, become pariahs. If not targets for horrid actions as a result of your actions." Looking to Whitley, he asks, "Are you alright, my grandson?"
"I am, Grandfather. It must be pretty bad if I'm acting like that."
"Hey! Look at me! Calm down! Calm down!" As Whitley does so, Jaune peers deeply into his eyes as he asks, "What happened to the others? Look at me."
Whitley, his regathering composure re-cracking, gives his answer as another soldier, Nadir Shiko, his 7.62x51mm M14 in hand, watches from behind Jaune.
"Fucking dead! The whole fucking platoon! The Sarge totally lost it! Went nuts! Killed everyone! Get off me! Let me go!" Whitley forces his way free from Jaune and runs off, screaming, "They're all dead! All fucking gone!"
"That's… pretty bad. I think I'd want to get as far away as possible from the Sarge that went nuts as well. As for the uncouth language… I'd probably say it as well. Though I'd also wash my mouth out just to get the filth out afterward." Whitley's comment gets nods of agreement from everyone else.
"I'm not…" Whitley doesn't get far before an explosion claims him. "Aah!"
Whitley can't help but grimace at what'd happened to his other. Adam can't help but blink before looking to Whitley.
'So young, his other was.'
Both can only gape in horror at what Whitley had screamed out before Nadir speaks back up.
"Let's get the fuck out of here!" Moving away from Jaune and avoiding where Whitley had perished, he yells out as Jaune watches him flee. "Come on, man! Jaune, come on, man! Come on!"
At the glow of a red flare, Jaune looks up before seeing it descend to the ground. He then decides to make his way back to the village that'd been cleared earlier by his platoon.
His 5.56x45mm M16A1 rifle, bayonet affixed, in hands, he slowly walks through the brush until the sight of the massacre enters his eyes. A hut aflame provides illumination, allowing him to see a mix of dead soldiers and civilians.
"That's a war crime! Slaughtering innocents and personnel assigned to you after going nuts is not an acceptable action nor is going nuts an acceptable defense!" Ironwood grits his teeth as he adds, "If that Sergeant had been one of my men, I'd have shot him on the spot."
"I'd have helped." Qrow's words get Ironwood to blink before the latter recalls what he likes most about the core responsibilities of being a Huntsman. Protecting the innocent and, when possible, stopping the wrongdoers and Grimm.
"I'd have appreciated it. Still, 'Racer', what was the village cleared of?" At that, 'Racer' pauses the movie.
"North Vietnamese Army troops. You see, the Vietnam War was, like I said, a very turbulent time in Earth's history. The NVA was using guerilla tactics and was aided by the Communists."
"What caused it, 'Racer'? What caused it to start?" Ruby's soft queries are barely audible, yet 'Racer' heard them easily enough.
"Basically, it happened in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The US, along with several other anti-Communist nations, was supporting the Southern parts of Vietnam when South Vietnam was at war with the Communist North. The Commie North, China and the rest of the Commie nations didn't like that. So, the Commie North directed that willing South Vietnamese form a group of insurgents, the Viet-Cong."
"How… How long did it last?"
"Altogether, General, it lasted almost 20 years. Here. I'll send you a file to look over." At that, 'Racer' does so, a digital tablet appearing in Ironwood's hands, before adding, "I'm sure you'll find some appalling behavior by both sides on there."
"I'll… look it over during an intermission."
"Understood, General. But, just so you know, no matter how much experience you have…"
"I understand, 'Racer'. All too well."
"Thank you, General." For an instant, they can swear they can see tears dripping down before 'Racer' stops them. "Any other questions? Moving on." With that, he resumes the movie.
Edging his bayonet toward one of the deceased soldiers, Jaune knocks the soldier's helmet off, revealing the soldier's ears had been cut off.
"Ewww. What kind of a sick deranged freak would do that to someone?" Weiss' disgusted query gets nods from most of the others.
Horrified, Jaune moves on. Edging his way along, he passes the bodies of soldiers and civilians until he hears crying and begging in Vietnamese.
A hand soon appears, the word 'HONOR' tattooed on it, reaching down to a bowl filled with ears as soft Vietnamese music plays.
"Oh Oum…"
Unable to stop it, Jaune empties his stomach, Pyrrha and Jacques following suit. Pyrrha because she's always been squeamish. Jacques because his squeamishness is worse than Pyrrha's. Instead of scolding them for the mess, 'Racer' can only sigh in sympathy before Jaune weakly speaks again.
"Sorry for the mess." Pyrrha and Jacques both nod, although the latter's is reluctant.
"It's understandable, Jaune, Pyrrha, Jacques." Snapping his fingers, the mess quickly vanishes like it'd never happened.
Picking an ear up from the bowl, the hand then rises before it meets with the other hand. The hand is holding a needle with thread. The ear is then impaled onto the needle before it's run down the thread. A young Vietnamese couple comes into view, their hands tied behind their backs. The young woman sobbing and the young man watching warily. The face of the hands' owner comes into view as the music keeps playing.
Tyrian's eyes go alit at the sight of his human other. Watts, however, looks back and forth before shrugging.
'It certainly fits him.'
As Tyrian dangles the 'ear necklace', Jaune comes into view. Silently as possible, he passes another dead, earless, soldier as the couple enters his view and Tyrian puts the 'ear necklace' on.
"Sarge?" As Jaune's voice chimes in, Tyrian looks aside at him as he asks, "What the Hell happened here?"
Smiling as he rises, bringing his hands from the back of his neck to his chest, Tyrian turns slightly toward him.
"They were listening." Jaune gives a firmly gentle rebuttal at that reply.
"The village was cleared. These people are innocent." Incensed expression on his face, Tyrian turns even more to Jaune.
"They're all fucking traitors. You turn around and they stab you in the back."
"Sarge… my tour is up. I just want to go home." Tyrian starts seething with anger as Jaune extends his hand to him. "Come on, now. Let's go home. Let's go home."
"He knows full well he'll be court-martialed for his actions and Jaune will testify against him. I know I'd use that type of cajoling myself if I came across a war criminal like that."
Winter's voice, ever prim, has musing within as she looks toward Jaune. Which gets Weiss' attention.
"Winter?"
"Mr. Arc, would you possibly consider joining the Atlesian Military if you're to decide against being a Huntsman?" Weiss gapes at Winter extending an invitation to Jaune for joining the Atlesian Military before blushing deep red as she thinks of Jaune wearing an Atlesian Military uniform.
'He'd certainly look dashing!'
"Thanks, but no thanks, ma'am. I'm not even from Atlas, so it wouldn't even work." Winter slightly and slyly grins at that.
"Who says you have to be from Atlas?" As Jaune blinks, Weiss giggles and Winter resumes watching.
"Just like the others… you just want to leave… like none of this shit ever happened." Tyrian's voice is cracking as he goes on. "It happened! And it doesn't just go away! You just can't walk away!"
Jaune's horror is steadily increasing as he recalls what Whitley had 'relayed' before he died.
'The Sarge totally lost it! Went nuts! Killed everyone!'
"Do you hear me?" Bringing up the 'ear necklace', Tyrian mockingly jangles it before asking, "Do you hear me?!" Jaune can only gape in horror at his NCO's doing before Tyrian speaks again. "You're a traitor, too, aren't you, farm boy?"
"No." Tyrian smiles widely at that.
"Prove it." Grabbing Jaune's M16 by the rifle's handguard, he points it toward the couple that starts panicking and yelling. "Kill them, motherfucking traitor." Moving away from Jaune, he adds, "That's an order!"
"It's an unlawful order, as such you don't have to, Jaune." Weiss' voice is quiet, yet 'Racer' hears her quite well as she goes on. "You can save them so they can testify against that 'Sergeant' for his actions toward the villagers and his own men."
Tyrian then draws his 1911 .45 ACP and aims it at the young woman before the young man nudges her aside as Tyrian pulls the trigger. As the gun goes off, the bullet flies into the front of the young man's head, blowing his brains out the back.
As he falls back to the ground, dead, the young woman screams and Jaune kicks the hand holding the gun away from her before striking Tyrian with the stock of the M16. As Tyrian falls away, Jaune grabs up the distressed young woman as she frantically nudges the young man with her knees. Screaming at him in Vietnamese.
"Get up. Come on. Come on!" As he bustles her away, she screams. "Come on!"
Tyrian regains his wits and gets up, 1911 still in hand, before running after them. When they come into sight, Tyrian takes aim at the back of Jaune's right knee and fires. As his leg crumples beneath him, Jaune falls to the ground and looks up. He then sees her screaming frantically before yelling.
"Run!"
The young woman screams, speaking in Vietnamese even more before doing so. Tyrian comes back into view, pulling an M67 fragmentation grenade from his combat harness and pulling the pin before throwing it. The young woman is still running before the grenade detonates, killing her. Jaune grits his teeth in agony at his failure to save her.
"No!"
Fully incensed, Jaune reaches for his rifle and musters the strength to get back up as Tyrian starts moving toward him. Bringing his rifle to bear, Jaune limps toward Tyrian and thrusts the bayonet right into Tyrian's abdomen before twisting it in place. Tyrian, in turn, looks down, brings the 1911 up and shoots Jaune with it. As he falls back, Jaune pulls the M16's trigger, sending bullets into Tyrian. Both then fall to the wet, muddy ground, dead.
"JAUNE!" Ruby shakily looks over at Jaune before bolting over to him and wrapping her arms around him. With him wrapping his arms around her to reassure her. While some of the other females in the audience feel jealous, they can't find it in them to be upset with Ruby as they're distressed as well. Cardin, however, scoffs.
"So much for Jauney-boy being a Universal Soldier."
"Actually, Mr. Winchester, that's the requirement." The words from 'Racer' gets Cardin to blink before Ironwood speaks up.
"Is that right, 'Racer'? Soldiers have to be dead to be considered?"
"Yes, General Ironwood. Of course, reasonably intact is mandatory. Can't have a UniSol without a brain in the ranks."
"So, as long as the soldier isn't shot in the head, they can be brought back to be a UniSol." At the nod from 'Racer', Ironwood grits his teeth as Nora's eyes go wide.
"Oh wow! 'Fearless Leader' is going to be a zombie!"
"Something like that, Miss Valkyrie. Only without the need to eat brains." At the words from 'Racer', the Brother God of Light speaks up.
"This is definitely a violation of the sacred order."
"Take it up with the creators of the project, Brother God of Light."
"I believe I will."
"I won't tell you your chances, but I sincerely wish you the best of luck." At the reply from 'Racer', the movie goes on.
As the olive-drab Medical UH-1 flies low to the ground in the fog/smoke mix, its searchlight is seen in the mix before it lands close to a yellow smoke grenade.
"It seems a patrol had found the carnage and called it in." Winter's words get a nod from 'Racer' as the movie goes on.
A tall Colonel, black beret on his head, exits the 'Huey' and makes his way to where other soldiers are gathering and assessing the bodies before putting them into body bags.
Rhodes' eyes go wide at his other making an appearance for the very first time, Cinder giggling slightly as she looks toward him.
"It fits you, 'Papa'. It really does." Rhodes lightly rolls his eyes before lightly ruffling her hair.
"Come on. Let's move."
"Okay, next."
"Excuse me, sir." Rhodes lets a helmeted soldier go by, knowing full well how busy and hectic their day's been so far.
Ironwood can't help but frown at the lack of a salute before puzzling it out.
'Of course. There could be snipers in the area that would love to take out an Officer.'
"All right. Here we go."
"What the…" One of the soldiers, a coverless brown-haired Caucasian bespectacled male, a Private, however, sees the 'ear necklace' on Tyrian's corpse before recoiling in shocked disgust. "Oh, cripes!"
"Nice touch." Turning to see Rhodes at the words from another nearby soldier, he turns back before the other coverless Caucasian soldier, a red-haired Sergeant, speaks more. "I'd hate to be the poor schmuck who has to explain this shit back home to Ma and Pa, huh." The revulsed soldier then looks back to Rhodes.
"Adam… it's us."
"Yes, Perry. Huh… so that's what we look like as regular humans. Interesting." As Perry looks over at Adam, the latter lightly smirks. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I think so."
With that, the two rise, step to in front of Rhodes, and give him a salute. Which gets him to roll his eyes and return the salute as Cinder erupts into fresh giggles.
"Sir, how do we write this one up?" As Adam rises, Perry goes on. "What do we say happened here?" Rhodes waves it off before speaking while moving to a nearby Jeep with a radio setup.
"Nothing. Nothing happened here at all. M.I.A. We didn't find anyone. You understand me?" At those words, Adam looks to Perry and speaks.
"They're going to call this M.I.A.?" When Rhodes reaches the radio, he calls in.
"Lincoln, this is Eagle. Come in. I've got a code Zebra. Do you copy? Only a few hours ago. At least 10 bodies. Yes sir." Ending the call, he puts the receiver down before speaking again. "Pack them in ice." The two soldiers look back to each other before Perry smiles sardonically.
"Brilliant." At that, he steps away as Adam gets to work before speaking.
"Ice." Jaune's face disappears from view as the black body bag is zipped. Tyrian's face following suit before the title comes up.
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
The scene changes before desert mountains can be seen.
NEVADA DESERT-PRESENT DAY
A large chrome-plated four-prop engine Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy with black and red striping appears in view, its landing gear down. As it lands and rolls to a stop, military vehicles are moving to greet it as its engines power down, 5.56x45mm M16A2 holding soldiers scrambling all around it.
"Let's move it!"
"Go, go, go!"
Ironwood eyes the aircraft keenly in interest before looking to 'Racer'.
"What sort of aircraft is that? The bubble said 'Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy', but there's nothing 'mini' about it. It's… gargantuan."
"The 'Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy', General, is capable of carrying large loads. Such as large tractor-trailers." At Ironwood's blink, 'Racer' adds, "You'll see."
The view changes to the inside as sunlight appears as the rear of the cargo bay opens. Revealing soldiers and other vehicles. One of the soldiers is a Colonel.
Hazel blinks at his appearance as Gretchen squeals excitedly before hugging him.
"I knew you'd make it big, Hazel!"
"Yes… I just hope my other doesn't… die too soon in this one." Gretchen can only roll her eyes.
"Don't be so silly!"
"I'm not being so silly. I'm being realistically practical. You saw what happened with my previous other, Gretchen. And that was during an arms transaction of sorts." Gretchen rolls her eyes again before hugging him close.
A large olive-drab armored tractor-trailer within the cargo bay starts up, its lights coming on, before it exits the cargo bay. As it rolls down the ramp, meets the ground and pulls to the front, Hazel gets into the back seat of his car and his driver wheels it to in front of it. As he exits, cold mist exits the trailer's ports as the trailer expands sideways in two segments on either side. As the trailer expands, a large Sikorsky S-58T helicopter lands on the ground before soldiers start carrying black duffle bags to it.
As they do so, a young African American male moves along the front of the truck as the UniSols, clad in desert tan camouflage, start exiting. Wearing a white lab coat with red tie and a com-headset, he greets them by waving them to him.
"All right." As the first UniSol steps up, the scene changes to a monitor inside the trailer.
Cardin blinks at his other being a UniSol before shrugging.
"I guess I was too deep in the shadows to be seen properly." Blinking, he adds, "I get the outfit, but what am I wearing over my left eye? I can easily see a camera and a microphone on the headset."
"That would be a readout display that's viewable only to the UniSol. It aids in targeting. It also has a com-link for receiving orders and giving updates and replies to queries. Also, your designation is GR74." Cardin nods at that while Flynt blinks at his other being a lab assistant of sorts.
"How's the picture?"
"Pretty ugly." Watts' reply is semi-good-humored as he comes into view.
Cinder smirks at the sight of him.
"That fits you as well, Watts."
Back outside, Flynt goes on as he waves GR74 on.
"Very funny. Very funny." Waving the next UniSol up, Flynt groans out as the picture changes again. Watts giving a sardonic grin of sorts at the size difference between Flynt and the UniSol in front of him.
Sky looks to 'Racer' before getting a reply.
"GR86." Sky arches an eyebrow at that before shrugging.
"I need a ladder. Can you see me? How's my hair?" Back outside, Flynt nods his approval.
"Let's go." Flynt lightly slaps GR86 on and it moves before Jaune comes up. Tyrian right behind him. One other behind Tyrian. "Somebody my size. Yeah."
"Systems checked." Flynt nudges Jaune on before speaking again.
"Next." As Tyrian comes fully into view, they see he has a severe expression on his face as Flynt stands on the tips of his shoes. "How's the focus?" After listening briefly, Flynt slaps Tyrian on. "Good. Let's go." As Tyrian moves, the next to last one moves up.
Dove can only blink at his being a UniSol before Russell frowns.
"I don't see me there, 'Racer'. Did my… brains get blown out?"
"Nope. You're one of them. You're just behind GR55 there. Your designation is GR61."
"Okay, go." As GR55 moves to the helicopter, Flynt checks GR61 in the line. Hazel watches before GR61 rushes to join up with the others on the helicopter before Flynt speaks again. "All right. So we got them all." Hazel gets back into his car as Flynt gets back into the truck.
"We don't have much time."
The scene changes to over water as it transitions to Hoover Dam. The scene is eerie as there are cars parked on the roadway. Some with smoke rising, some not. There are also dead bodies in some places. Mostly civilians, but some Police casualties as well. Police snipers, holding their 7.62x51mm H&K SR9 rifles, are observing the scene through their scopes as a civilian is brought out of the tourist attraction by one of the terrorists, 7.62x51mm CETME aiming at the civilian.
"Position 7, status?"
"They're bringing the next one out." The snipers can only watch helplessly as the civilian is gunned down in cold blood.
"The snipers have the shot, why won't they take it and end it?!"
"It may not be that simple, Miss Rose." Ironwood's voice is tempered as he goes on. "It may possibly be they considered doing so, but without an idea of how many hostiles there are, or what equipment they have, all they can do is watch, wait and see." Frowning, Ruby then kinks her head to the right.
"Say, 'Racer', since when is a dam a tourist attraction?" At her query, 'Racer' pauses it.
"Ever since its construction was completed, Miss Rose."
"Ohh. How long did it take to build?"
"Roughly six years. September 1930 to March 1936 when the US accepted control of it and started generating electricity. Later, they started tours. However, there were times when tours of the dam were curtailed." Ruby nods before shrugging as the movie resumes.
As Hazel's car reaches the staging area, reporters are clamoring for a statement. However, after he exits the car, he passes by them as he goes toward the Command tent.
"Excuse me. Excuse me, please. I'll have a statement for you later on, okay?" As he enters, a waiting soldier chimes in as an FBI Agent tries to assert jurisdiction over the matter by showing his badge and credentials. Only for Hazel to slightly brush him off.
"Colonel, they just killed another hostage." Hazel goes to the soldier before speaking.
"Current status?"
"Can't even take one of them down. They're all linked to an intercom system."
The S-58T then enters view as the UniSols prepare to jump out of it and into the water, one by one, duffle bags first.
At the thought of an intercom system, Ruby blanches before smirking.
"Sounds like they've a trick up their sleeve for that."
"They very well could, Ruby. They very well could." Yang looks over at 'Racer', eager for details. "What do they have in mind for the schmucks' intercom system?"
"You'll see, Miss Xiao Long." Yang can only lightly pout at that.
"Not even a little, teeny, tiny hint?" His silence tells her all, getting her to cross her arms before watching.
Back in the tent, another soldier pokes his head around before speaking.
"They're in the water." As Hazel checks his watch, the Agent speaks up.
"Colonel, where did you drop them off?"
"A mile and a half away." The soldier that'd informed Hazel after he'd entered can only be incredulous.
"Mile and a half? We got 13 minutes."
At the barricade, a long line of vehicles is sitting. With a lone light blue Ford Crown Victoria station wagon pulling up in the oncoming traffic lane, horn blasting out repeatedly. As the driver comes into view, she has a lit cigarette in her mouth, round gold-rimmed sunglasses over her eyes and a fedora on her long straight brunette-haired head.
Vernal can only blink at the repeated theme of her smoking. Along with her wearing a fedora. Raven smirks before looking aside at Vernal.
"That fedora does look good on you, Vernal." Frowning, she adds, "Not quite sure how I feel about you smoking, though."
"You're not the only one." Blinking at her other driving a station wagon, she adds, "I never saw myself as driving one of those, though. I mean… that's a family car. Not a single car… right?"
"Actually, Vernal, single people do tend to drive station wagons for carrying capacity alone." At the reply from 'Racer', Vernal mulls it over before shrugging.
"Ah, you…" As Vernal's station wagon nears the mark-offs, an Officer speaks up as he strides to the station wagon.
"Hold up, ma'am. Hold up." As he slightly moves the mark-off aside, Vernal speaks up.
"I'm with the Press. VMA." Holding up her 'Press' credentials, she goes on. "They're waiting for me right there."
"Right through there."
In the Press Area, Jacques Gele is watching his watch while the cameraman preps his camera before the former speaks.
"I'm canceling the remote."
"Jacques, will you relax?" Jacques can only give the cameraman a glare.
Jacques can only sputter at his other working as a Journalism Supervisor. Under his unmarried name, at that. Shay D Mann, however, blinks before remembering what happened to one of the previous camera-workers in the previous movie and gulps.
'I hope I don't wind up dead in this one.'
"We're supposed to go 'Live' in one minute."
Back in her car, Vernal's agitated at her delay.
"He's going to kill me. He's absolutely going to kill me."
As her station wagon nears, as other reporters from other news stations move aside, she sees Jacques and Shay waiting for her. Shay sees her station wagon and grins.
"See? There she is." Jacques, however, is not so happy as the station wagon rolls to a stop. As she exits, wearing brown shorts and a t-shirt, sans the fedora, she picks up a blue blazer from the seat before Jacques gives her a herding whistle.
"I know. I'm running a little late." Jacques can't help but be in disbelief as she starts putting her blue blazer on.
"A little?"
"You know. Traffic." As Vernal works to finish getting her blazer in order, Shay speaks up.
"Vernal, we're 'Live' in 20."
"20?" Once her blazer's situated, Vernal starts quickly buttoning as Jacques speaks again.
"Where the Hell were you? I've been calling your hotel for hours." Shay checks his watch before chiming back in.
"Got your mark?" Vernal nods before chiming back in.
"I've got my mark." Putting his left eye in the camera's eyepiece, Jacques can still only be in disbelief.
"Come on." As Shay points the camera lens at her, Shay calls out.
"Glasses." Vernal whips off the sunglasses before he adds, "Mike." Tossing a microphone her way, she catches it.
"Mike. Okay." Taking another inhale of the cigarette, she hears the countdown as Shay points the camera downward toward her feet.
"So… my other wears sneakers instead of boots…"
"10, 9, 8…"
"Nice shoes." The sight of her wearing sneakers enters the frame before the Director at the other end speaks again.
"Stop screwing around." Jacques then notices one other detail before whispering to her.
"Cigarette." Plucking the cigarette out of her mouth, she's just barely in time as the countdown finishes.
"And Live."
"With nearly 30 hostages held inside the power station of the base of the structure, the gunmen claim that they will not release any of the hostages until various other comrades are released from Federal Penitentiaries across the United States." As she speaks, one of the terrorists enters view, black ski mask covering their head, intercom on the outside.
Inside the power station, a bomb suite is active as the leader's men check in.
"Checkpoint three, all clear."
"Keep your eyes open." The leader of the group looks over the upset hostages. Some sobbing, others doing what they can to not break down themselves. The noise gets to where he can't stand it.
"Shut up!" As he rises to his feet, he yells, "I said shut up!" Another terrorist cocks his CETME rifle before speaking up.
"Hey, do as you're told and you won't get hurt. Quiet down!" Outside the base, two CETME-holding terrorists are standing watch.
"Checkpoint three, all clear."
A Police sniper, through the scope of his H&K SR9 sees the UniSols prepare to ascend their ropes before ascending. Back inside the tent, a soldier makes the report as the disbelieving soldier from earlier checks his watch.
"Colonel, they're at the tower."
"A mile and a half in under four minutes?" The Agent can't believe it himself as he looks back to Hazel as he checks his own watch before speaking.
"They're eight seconds behind schedule."
Vernal then comes back into view.
"This is Vernal Branwen reporting live for VMA."
"And we're out." Grin on his face, Shay starts breaking down the equipment before Vernal chimes back in.
"What did I tell you? No problem." Wide smile on her face, Vernal starts walking away. An irritated Jacques right behind her.
"No problem? This network does not revolve around you."
"Oh? I'm not the center of the universe? Is that it?"
"Don't crack wise with me." Shay can only watch as the interplay between Vernal and Jacques goes on.
"Oh, come on. Lighten up, Jacques. I mean… okay. I don't play the game by your rules, but I always get you the scoop." Vernal has the grin still as Jacques makes his response.
"You think that just because you broke a few stories, you're indispensable? Well, I had a little chat with the network today. And you know what, Vernal?"
"No. What, Jacques?" Jacques reaches down, picks up her cigarette and throws it back down to the ground in front of her.
"You're fired." With that, he storms off, leaving her to think one thing.
'Such a Jacques-ass!'
"He sure is." Vernal looks aside at Jacques and smirks. "At least my other views you the same way." Jacques glares at Vernal, yet she happily ignores him. Intent on seeing what her other does next.
Another Police sniper's still observing the scene through the scope of his .50 BMG Barrett M82A1 as the UniSols prepare to act.
"Team's assembled. They're entering the drain-off tunnels."
As one UniSol rappels down, another terrorist comes into view at another place of the dam. Tyrian following suit as his com comes up with Watts' voice.
"GR13, take aim and hold fire."
Ironwood and Ruby both blink before the former looks to 'Racer', the latter following suit.
"They bring dead soldiers back to life to use them to combat terrorists, but not use their names? Instead assign numbers and lettering?"
"That's right, General. As far as the UniSol is concerned, their only purpose is to eliminate terrorists." Ironwood can only be even more curious.
"What does 'GR' mean, anyway?"
"It means 'Graves Registration', General." Ironwood can only groan.
"No wonder it went awry. If that Tyrian Callows is anything like this one…" Tyrian cackles madly as Ironwood looks toward him. "You're not exactly helping your case, Tyrian." All he gets is a cackling shrug before he rolls his eyes and 'Racer' chimes back in.
"That's actually one of the factors that cause it to go awry." Ironwood blinks at 'Racer', hoping he'd elucidate further. Only for 'Racer' to go on. "You'll see what I mean, General."
GR13 takes aim with his suppressed .357 Magnum Desert Eagle as his target speaks.
"Checkpoint one, all clear."
"Checkpoint two, all clear." As Jaune takes position, his own com chimes in with Watts' voice.
"GR44 is in position. Take aim." After GR44 takes aim, the command comes. "Fire."
Pulling the trigger on his own suppressed .357 Magnum DE, he sees the target collapse from the bullet to the head. GR13 receives the same order.
"Fire." Once their targets are down, Watts speaks again. "Move in and secure the objective." They then quickly advance to where the terrorists' corpses are.
Inside the trailer, the picture lightly frizzes before Watts speaks.
"Clear that image up." As Flynt goes to work, Neptune Vasilias right beside him, Watts calls out. "Clear it!"
"Got it." The image comes up crisp, allowing Watts, Flynt and Neptune to examine the scene. The number of casualties is staggering.
As GR13 steps around his dead terrorist, GR44 steps around the other dead terrorist and crouches down, putting a large item nearby before grabbing up the intercom's headset and putting it over the item. GR13 doing the same with his as Watts speaks again.
"Interceptors are secured and powered." Back in the trailer, Watts goes on. "Begin playback."
"Playback." As Flynt enters the commands, Neptune chimes in himself.
"Rolling."
The interceptors do their work, having recorded the voices of the dead terrorists perfectly, getting the 7.62x51mm CETME holding terrorists at the base to respond with their 'all clear'.
Ruby starts salivating heavily at the sight of the weapons while remembering the weapons she'd seen earlier. Her sister and teammates can only facepalm. Adam, however, lightly smirks while shaking his head.
"They're buying it." Watts' grin is arrogant.
On the outside, GR13 and GR44 are fast-roping down, Australian-style, running down the sheer face of the dam to their targets. The SR9-holding Police sniper and his spotter can only be in disbelief as the spotter chimes in.
"Who the Hell are these guys?"
Inside the trailer, Flynt, Watts and Neptune are all watching the screen as Flynt goes on.
"Okay, okay. Here we go. Here we go." Watts then issues the command.
"Terminate objectives." With that, as Watts, Flynt and Neptune watch on the monitor, GRs 13 and 44 move in.
As GR44 closes on his target, he hears the terrorist speak.
"Checkpoint three, all clear." The terrorist then turns around just in time for GR44 to kill him cleanly. Moving his rifle-holding hand away, GR44 punches the terrorist in the left kidney, forcing the terrorist to his knees and wraps the terrorist's left arm around the terrorist's own throat.
GR13 kicks the terrorist's rifle hand before putting his hands on either side of the terrorist's head. Almost as if in sync, 44 and 13 both break the terrorists' necks. GR44 looks toward 13 as Watts' voice comes over his headset.
"Activate interceptors now."
On the monitor, GR44's visual transmission shows 13 striding casually to the corpse before the view switches to 13.
13 lifts up his right boot and viciously kicks the dead terrorist in the head as the view changes back to the monitor. Flynt can only be in disbelief.
"I think somebody's starting to like this shit." Watts subtly sneers down at him.
"Don't be ridiculous." Not having taken his eyes off the monitor, he adds, "Continue playback."
Tyrian cackles in delight as Watts sighs.
'I guess my other didn't even consider the possibility of that Tyrian being as viciously deranged as ours. Certainly one would think the "ear necklace" would've been a hint. Unless, of course, it'd been disposed of before my other received the bodies.'
At the base, another interceptor with the terrorist's intercom headset in place comes into view, with GR44 moving away before the recorded voice plays.
"Checkpoint three, all clear." GR13 uncaringly throws the terrorist's CETME to the ground before going inside. GR44 following suit before opening the dual gates of another entrance and going in as well. Starting to breathe heavily as he runs through the tunnelway.
The view switches back to the monitor before Flynt speaks again.
"Okay, we're inside."
"Begin phase two." Neptune's comment gets Flynt to type it in.
"Phase two initiated."
Inside the holding area, GR74, clad in a tan electrician's uniform and carrying a red toolbox, steps into view and starts walking toward them. One of the terrorists looks back and sees GR74 before getting the attention of the leader and his cohort.
"Look at this guy." As GR74 maintains his walk, the cohort calls out.
"Hold it there, buddy!" Upon GR74 not stopping, he tries again while the leader brings a 9mm Taurus PT92 pistol out from concealment. "Hey, hold it, pal!"
A close-up of the toolbox reveals the embedded camera before the view switches to a monitor inside the trailer.
"Two gunmen. Semiautomatic. Fully loaded. Main target- two rear." The view switches back to GR74 as Watts' voice continues. "Loaded pistol and explosives detonator."
Upon seeing GR74 is not stopping, the leader yells out.
"Shoot him!"
As the CETME holding terrorists open fire, the already frightened hostages scream as a bullet riddled GR74 falls back to the floor. Once GR74 is down, the leader is smugly satisfied before he turns to the bomb and activates it as the other two terrorists warily go toward GR74 as the bomb beeps.
Back in the tunnel, Watts' voice comes back as GR44 opens the grated hatch nearest to him while GR13 does the same.
"You are cleared. I repeat—you're cleared to proceed." Both UniSols go down the ladders of their respective hatches.
Back in the holding area, one of the terrorists prod GR74's still form for any sign of life before both go past him. Not seeing his right hand go to the toolbox, lift the lid and bring out a 9mm H&K PS9 pistol before tilting upward and shooting the leader right between the eyes. As the leader's brain matter exits and the hostages scream even more, GRs 44 and 13 emerge from the walkway and open fire with their DEs. Both CETME-holding terrorists get their brain matter blown out and fall to the floor dead.
As GRs 86, 55 and 61 come into view, some of the hostages start untying themselves and others before GR13 speaks.
"GR13…" The view then switches to in the trailer as he goes on. "…All clear."
"No injuries." Flynt's voice gets Watts to sigh in relief before he goes on. "Gentlemen, I think everybody's okay." Neptune smiles in elation beside Flynt.
Back in the holding area, as GRs 13 and 44 move forward, some of the hostages slightly recede away from them before 44 eyes a young couple sitting beside each other. Their hands tied behind their backs. Unbidden, a flash appears before him. A flash of a similar-looking couple at rainy night. As 44 blinks, the scene goes back to Watts in the trailer.
"Arizona team." With that, Flynt speaks again as the scene goes back to 44.
"GR44, status report." Another flash of a panicked soldier running through the same rainy night appears before 44 comes back into view as Flynt speaks again. His voice sounding far away. "GR44, do you read me?"
Back in the trailer, Watts goes back to Flynt's side.
"Problem?"
"He's… He's not responding."
"Try another frequency." Reaching over, Watts types in as well before speaking. "GR44, status report, now!"
Another flash of the young couple in the rainy night appears, rifle aimed at them before a voice comes back. With the scene moving up to GR13's face.
"Kill them, motherfucking traitor." The scene goes back to 44 as his jaw starts to drop, his DE lowering as the flash goes on. "That's an order!"
44 then looks back toward 13, horrified, as Watts' voice goes on.
"GR44, respond!"
Back at the command tent, as Hazel exits and moves to his car, reporters are clamoring before he speaks. Vernal and Shay watching intently.
"I'll address your questions accordingly. As you all know, this marks the third successful mission for the Universal Soldiers again without any casualties and without any injuries."
Cardin can only scoff and roll his eyes.
"I got shot up! How can that possibly be classed as 'no casualties or injuries', dummy?!"
"As to the identity of the UniSols, that still remains classified."
"But, Colonel…" Hazel cuts her off before speaking again.
Cinder blinks at her other's voice and rolls her eyes.
"So… I'm a reporter again."
"These men have families and I will not do anything to jeopardize their lives. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." Vernal and Shay are both still watching as Hazel goes around the back of the car as the reporters clamor even more.
"A statement, please!" Following Hazel, Cinder tries again by sticking her microphone toward Hazel as he gets in. Only for the driver to close the door and speak.
"There will be a complete briefing this evening." As he enters his car, Cinder looks toward her cameraman.
"If we can't shoot these guys, what the Hell are we doing here? We need pictures." Turning back to the driver, she adds, "Lieutenant, please. Just one statement." However, the driver wheels the car away. Cinder shouts after the driver, "Lieutenant!"
As they watch the reporters be frustrated, Vernal grins widely.
"Shay, I've got an idea." Shay looks back to her.
"No, you don't." Already, he can tell it's a bad one even if he'd never even heard it first.
"Yeah, I do." As she gets into her station wagon, Shay can only groan.
"I hate it when you do this."
The scene goes to night. The lights of Vernal's station wagon are on as it approaches a heavily neglected airplane, Shay's voice chiming in.
"Vernal, what are you doing? This is too close! They're going to see us." As Vernal's comes into view, the station wagon comes to a halt, its lights turning off. The two eye the staging area, Hazel's car entering the perimeter as Shay goes on. "We shouldn't be here."
"All these guards. They must still be in there, huh?"
"Yeah." Surrendering, knowing full well how Vernal's forceful when she smells a big story, Shay brings his video camera up to his shoulder.
"You getting this?" Vernal's query gets a quick reply from Shay as the car stops beside the trailer.
"Those guys have one Hell of a mobile home." The two watch as Hazel exits the car.
The scene then changes to Hazel going into the trailer. Inside the trailer, five of the UniSols are gathered inside a containment room, with Neptune inside the room, clad in a white insulated suit.
Ironwood's eyes can only go wide before he looks to 'Racer', query in his eyes before 'Racer' speaks.
"The UniSols have be kept at below freezing temperatures to keep them alive. If they overheat without any cooling, they can die. For keeps."
"I'm turning now and lowering to the final stage at 60 sub-zero." As Watts and Flynt watch Neptune at work from the outside, Hazel walks up to them. Flynt, clad in blue scrubs, starts speaking up.
"He just froze up. We can't figure out what happened." The scene switches to 44 before Hazel speaks.
"What do you mean, 'froze up'?"
"At the end of the mission, he became completely unresponsive." Watts' reply gets Hazel to look toward him before back to 44.
"Did he overheat?"
"Colonel, he hardly broke a sweat." During Watts' reply, Hazel maintains his gaze at 44 before bringing an intercom mike up.
"GR44." As 44 leans upright, Hazel goes on. "Why did you not respond? What happened?"
Inside the cold room, 44 gives his reply.
"Innocent." Hazel can only be puzzled by the response.
"Innocent? What do you mean by innocent?"
"The village was cleared. The girl was innocent, Sarge."
Ironwood grins smugly toward Tyrian.
"With his statement of your other's war crime, Tyrian, they'd have no choice but to permanently discard you." A slight cough from 'Racer' gets his attention, getting Ironwood to blink. "What is it?"
"Sarge?" Releasing the mike button, he looks toward Watts and Flynt. "Who in the Hell is he talking about?"
"It could be an old memory." Watts' reply is somewhat unsure before 13 idly looks toward 44 as Watts goes on. "I think we should take him out of the program until we can run some tests on him and find out what's going on with him." Hazel looks back at Watts at that.
"GR44 stays with the program." Watts and Flynt both turn to Hazel before the former speaks.
"Look, Colonel…" Hazel cuts him off.
"He just got a little mixed up. Just give him the serum."
"He's offering testimony of a war crime and you want to give him a serum?!" An irate Ironwood clenches his jaw before he asks, "What is this… serum supposed to do?"
"Basically… suppress memories." The reply from 'Racer' gets Ironwood to clench his jaw as the scene plays out.
Flynt goes to the control panel before speaking again.
"Okay, guys, memory clearance." 13's face comes back into view as Flynt goes on. "Take your positions." 44 reclines back in his seat. "Activate injection." 44's right thumb reaches down to a green button on the console and presses.
The lighting inside goes blue before injectors move into position on the backs of the UniSols' chairs. The syringes, filled with green liquid, are aimed right at their brain stems. 44's thumb then presses on the red button below the green one. The needle then shoots right into their brain stems before the green liquid flows into them.
Back out with Vernal and Shay, they watch one of the other vehicles move to the front as Vernal speaks.
"They're moving something else on the tarmac." Bringing her binoculars down, exhaling a wisp of cigarette smoke, Vernal goes on. "We're not going to get anything from out here." Realizing what she's getting at, Shay speaks up.
"What, are you nuts? It's a classified military operation. You're not going to get within 10 yards of that truck." Vernal, however, just smirks at him.
"I'll be right back." As she exits, Shay facepalms. As she walks toward the staging area, she shrugs into a green jacket.
Back inside the trailer, 44 is again leaning upright as Hazel speaks.
"You were confused."
"I was confused."
"You must follow orders at all times."
"I must follow my orders."
Outside the cold room, a smug Hazel puts the mike down.
"He's fine." An unsure Watts looks aside at him.
"Well, if you say so. You're in charge." With that, he walks away as the scene switches back to outside.
Vernal moves, as silently as possible before she sees Flynt, clad in surgical garb, open a large case. Within it, a 'dead' body.
"Ohh. It's pretty bad. Looks pretty bad." Watts then walks up to him as he goes over the torso before he speaks.
"As soon as the flotation chamber's filled, we'll have to put him in." As Watts walks away, Vernal angles herself ever closer before Flynt speaks again.
"Great." Closing the case, Flynt notes the blood on his garb and hands. "Ughk. I always have to do this part." Walking away, he adds, "I hate this part." As he walks, Vernal watches as he goes on.
"I need an assistant. Hey, Dr. Watts! Dr Watts, can I get a little help on this?" Once he's out of eyesight, Vernal moves toward the case. Upon reaching it, she looks around before lifting up on the lid. Allowing her to see the 'dead' body of GR74.
"Cripes. No casualties or injuries, huh?" As she reaches back, the scene goes back to inside the trailer as Watts speaks while coming into view.
"Power up the cooling generators on the flotation chamber. He's almost ready."
"Got it." Watts picks up the intercom before speaking again.
"Bring him in. Thank you." Had he been looking at the monitor, he'd have seen an unauthorized person within the perimeter. Camera in hand and snapping pictures. "Prepare for flotation chamber entry."
Back outside, Vernal's taking picture after picture of GR74 before the flash on the camera gets 74 to open his eyes, giving Vernal a start. As 74 looks her way, she backs away, lowering her camera as he starts sitting upright. In her moving backward, she makes contact with a barrel, knocking it slightly before a surveillance camera zeroes in on her.
Inside the trailer, a technician notes the monitor before speaking.
"Colonel, we've spotted an intruder." Hazel moves toward the monitor as Vernal hastens her departure as the alarm blares. Hazel goes to the monitor and rewinds the feed before speaking.
"Who the fuck is that?" Upon the sight of the camera's flash working, he adds, "She's taking pictures."
Out at her station wagon, Shay notes her running form before hearing her voice.
"Shay!"
"Oh, shit! What the Hell's she done this time?"
"Start the car!" Opening her passenger door for her, he slides to behind the wheel just as she arrives and gets in. "Now would be a good time to leave." As he starts the car, he looks toward her and sees her holding up a roll of film as a military SUV speeds their way.
"What'd you get?"
"Redemption." She then kisses it, with Shay adding on.
"Let's get out of here." As he wheels the car away from the SUV, with the SUV in pursuit, he goes on. "What the Hell did you do?!" Not looking forward, intent on evading the SUV, he hears Vernal yelling.
"Shit! Shay, Shay!" The station wagon makes contact with a leaning support of an old shack and flips. "AAAHHH!"
The SUV skids to a stop just ahead of them before 13, 44 and 86, clad in their uniforms, exit. 9mm H&K MP5s in hand. As both walk toward the station wagon, they go to either side of the vehicle.
Inside the upside-down vehicle, its windshield wipers moving, Vernal looks out the windshield.
"Think we lost them?"
Vernal lightly rolls her eyes at her other's query.
"Pretty hard to lose someone after your vehicle flips over."
Vernal looks out and sees tan boots coming her way and looks up. Upon seeing the face of 44, holding his MP5 upright, she pipes up.
"How you doing?" When he doesn't reply, she goes on. "Uh, Vernal Branwen. Uh, uh… VMA." Bringing out her 'Press' credentials, she holds them up toward him. When he still doesn't say anything, just stares at her, she then asks, "You want to help me out?"
Switching hands for the MP5, he reaches down and roughly takes her hand. Getting her to grimace.
"Hey, hey! Easy. Take it easy, man." As he extracts her from the car, Shay is being extracted from the car as well by 13.
"Aah! Ohh." Vernal tries wrenching free from 44 before speaking again.
"Let go of me." Looking aside at Shay, she says, "Shay…" She's then forced down to her knees. Shay following suit.
"Okay, okay!" As 13 moves to in front of them, she looks his way.
"You alright?"
Back inside the trailer, Flynt calls out.
"They got them. Bingo." On the monitor, Vernal's expression is indignant before she speaks.
"I want to speak to someone in charge here." Holding her credentials up still, she looks around before asking, "You guys speak English?"
"Awaiting instructions." 13's response is followed by Hazel and Flynt at the monitor.
"Tell them to find that film and bring those civilians back to base."
Back outside, Vernal's still trying to plead their case.
"I'm sure we can handle this whole situation. Phone call?" Not getting a response, Shay lightly leans toward her.
"What's wrong with these guys?" 13 then steps toward them before speaking.
"The film." Vernal smiles 'sheepishly' before speaking.
"Uh, fellas, I don't know what…" 13 then reaches down to his thigh holster, brings out the DE and aims at her, prompting Shay to move to shield her.
"Hey, hey, she didn't do anything!" 13 then fires into Shay's head. As Shay falls back, dead, Vernal screams.
"No!"
Shay blinks his eyes at what'd happened to his other before Mercury gives him a nod.
"Welcome to the 'Dead Cameraman Club', man." Shay rolls his eyes as Emerald lightly swats Mercury for his words before he goes on. "Maybe we should have jackets for members."
"Merc!"
"I'm just trying to cheer him up, Em! Let him know he's not alone in being a dead cameraman."
"Somehow, Merc, I don't think you can have a club with just two 'dead' cameramen."
"Okay… maybe five?" Emerald can only roll her eyes at Mercury's query as Marcus snickers.
'Sure you two aren't like that!'
Back inside the trailer, Watts shouts out.
"Cripes! GR13, cease fire! Cease fire! Do you read me?" Back outside, his voice is audible as 44 looks on as Vernal screams. "Cease fire!" More imagery enters 44's mind consisting of another young man getting his brains blown out. As 44 drops his jaw, he looks back toward 13 as more imagery is seen.
"That's an order!" The kick of the gun away, rifle butt stroke to the head… reflexively, 44 kicks the DE away from Vernal before smacking 13 with the body of the MP5, getting a grunt from 13. "Unh!"
44's mind goes into overdrive as he sees himself assisting the distraught young woman away from the scene. Reaching down, he hefts Vernal away from Shay's dead body, with her protesting as he bustles her away.
"No, no, no! Let go of me! Ohh!" Not paying GR86 any mind, he makes a run for the SUV, her in tow.
Back inside the trailer, Flynt calls out.
"GR86, visual." As 86 turns toward them, the monitor shows 44 and Vernal get into the SUV before Hazel speaks.
"Wat the fuck is he doing?" Bringing up the mike, he adds, "Stop the girl. Shoot if you have to." As the SUV speeds away, 86 opens fire, the rounds making contact with the back of the vehicle. Hazel then says, "GR44, stop the car. That is an order."
Inside the vehicle, 44 stops the vehicle, getting Vernal to blink.
"Hey, what're you doing?!"
Back in the trailer, Hazel marvels at it.
"He stopped the car." Watts then speaks into his headset.
"Cease fire, cease fire."
Back inside the vehicle, Vernal's still upset at 44 stopping the vehicle.
"What the Hell are you doing? Come on. Hey! Go!" 13 and 86 reenter the picture as Vernal goes on. "Cripes!"
Back in the trailer, Hazel speaks again.
"GR44, turn the car around." Back in the vehicle, 44 looks toward Vernal as she yells out.
"Are you deaf?!" The scene switches back to Hazel as he goes on.
"You are simply confused." The scene goes back to 44 as he speaks again.
"I'm confused."
"What the Hell are you talking about, man? Let's go! Hit it!"
"Do not listen to her." A still-upset Vernal hears the voice easily before making her query.
"What the Hell is that thing?!" Reaching with both hands, she removes the headset while Hazel speaks as the monitor comes into view.
"GR44, can you hear me?"
"Unplug this stupid piece of shit!" Having gotten the headset off, Vernal tosses it out of the vehicle, not caring that it hits the ground.
Back in the trailer, Hazel grits his teeth angrily.
"Shit! That bitch cut me off!"
Back in the vehicle, Vernal yells out.
"Go!"
"I must follow orders." Vernal has the perfect response to that.
"Bullshit! Hit the road!" She then stomps her foot onto his, slamming the accelerator down, getting the vehicle to speed away.
As they watch the vehicle speed away on the monitor, Hazel can only say one thing.
"Shit!" The picture goes back to the headset as Hazel's voice goes on. "Watts, do something, will you?"
The picture goes to 13 as he watches the vehicle speed away before he speaks.
"Traitor."
As the SUV speeds under a railway bridge, a still-upset Vernal is ranting.
"He didn't even do anything." Lit cigarette in her hand, she goes on. "They're not getting away with this shit. I swear, they're not gonna get away with this shit."
Back in the trailer, with 74 inside the chamber, Neptune notes Flynt walking by before speaking.
"You ready?"
"Just about." As Flynt walks on, Watts is talking to Hazel.
"We have to take him out of the loop. He shot a man!" 13 appears in view as Hazel gives his coldly pragmatic reply.
"Don't tell me what to do. Right now, I need every soldier I've got." Hazel then comes into view as he adds, "We're going after them." Striding away, he stops and looks back when Watts speaks again.
"Colonel Rainart, we killed an innocent man."
"What do you suggest we do, Watts? Let that reporter run off with one of our UniSols?"
"We can't just cover this up. We have a moral obligation to tell the truth about this."
Watts can only blink in surprise at his other's words before scoffing.
'Rubbish.'
"I thought you were more clever than that, Watts." Hazel strides back to Watts as he goes on. "This whole damn program is off the shelf. Do you really think for one second those wimps at the Pentagon would allow the regeneration of dead soldiers… American soldiers?" 13 comes back into view before switching to Watts.
"I don't think I can be a part of this anymore." Hazel's next words are coldly blunt.
"If this is uncovered now, we're all going to jail. Do I make myself clear?"
The scene switches back to the SUV as it barrels along the gravel road, dust cloud billowing up behind it before a somewhat calmed, but still grieving, Vernal's face comes up.
"Why did you do that?" Looking over at him, she asks, "Why did you help me out?"
"My tour's up. I just want to go home. But I can't until you're safe." Vernal can only be puzzled before she looks at him.
"What do you mean? I don't…" Her eyes go wide before she goes on. "My Oum. You've been shot!" As 44 looks down, Vernal goes on. "Oh, cripes. We've got to stop the bleeding." 44 eyes the vehicle's cigarette lighter and pushes it in. "Oh, cripes. It's got to hurt you, man." The lighter pops back out and 44 brings it out before stoically pressing it to the wound.
Ruby's face goes pale before she shakily looks over at Jaune.
"I don't… know what's creepier. You using intense heat to stop the bleeding or your stoic demeanor while doing so!"
"You're not the only one."
Vernal looks back in time to see 44 bring the lighter away from the wound and put the lighter away before hearing him speak again.
"The bleeding has stopped." Vernal can only stare, stunned at his surreal casualness in cauterizing the wound. Without any kind of anesthetic, screaming or flinching.
Back at the truck, as exhaust flows upward, the scene goes inside as technicians scramble for departure. Hazel yelling out orders.
"Get in here! Secure your position!" The scene goes back outside as the truck's lights turn on. Back inside, Hazel yells out, "All right, secure and lock!"
After the door slides closed, the truck rolls out. Soldiers standing guard around the staging area as it rolls along the roadway in the direction their quarry had fled in.
As 44 and Vernal's SUV rolls along the roadway, it begins stalling until it comes to a halt. Vernal can only blink.
"What? Why are we stopping now? What happened?" 44 looks toward her and opens the door before replying.
"Out of gas." With that, he gets out and closes the door before going to the back.
"Oh? Is that all? What a relief." Vernal's sarcasm is evident as Yang and Raven both snort before she goes on. "He's probably going to get a spare gas container and put more in. Nothing to worry about."
"Not quite, Vernal Branwen. Not quite." The words from 'Racer' get her to blink before shrugging and returning her attention to the movie.
"We're out of gas. Why not?" Putting a cigarette into her mouth and lighting it, thinking he'd gone for an auxiliary fuel supply in the back, she feels a sharp jostle from behind. Causing her to drop her cigarette. "Shit! Oum!"
The scene changes to 44 pushing the vehicle before it shows Vernal again as she slides over to the steering wheel and looks behind her. Upon seeing 44 running at a steady pace, she can only blink before looking back to the front and to the speedometer. The needle goes right to 30 mph. Vernal can only be in disbelief.
"Oh, Oum." To her, it's the biggest story of her lifetime and she's caught right up in the middle of it.
"Yeah… I'd feel the same way myself if I was in a vehicle being pushed from behind by one person. But, 'Racer', just how did that happen?" Vernal's query is quietly shared by the others before 'Racer' gives his reply.
"Strength enhancers. A form of steroids, if you will." Pausing the movie, 'Racer' stretches his arms before going on. "Time for the first intermission for this movie, folks. Five minutes before the movie resumes."
"Great. Because I do need to visit the washroom anyway." Whitley gets up from his seat and goes to do so.
"I do need to go over this file on the Vietnam War. It'll pass the time until the movie resumes. Specialist Schnee, would you care to look it over as well?"
"Yes, sir. Perhaps we can gain some insight along with see mistakes made, if any. Maybe even some tactical ideas for our own forces."
"Are you kidding me?" Qrow's query gets them both to blink at him as he goes on. "From what I can tell from earlier, Vietnam got way out of hand. Soldiers going nuts, killing anyone or anything that moved or because they looked like targets… best to stick to your own tactics and look for parallels in between." Shrugging, he adds, "Of course, that's just me." Winter can only sigh at him before speaking again.
"No, Qrow, it's not just you. General Ironwood and I feel the same way from a Military perspective."
