SCENE 2: ACT 1: ARMORY

FADE IN:

ESCORT is striding down the hallway. He doesn't spare a glance at the people he passes. His jaw is set and eyes are locked on a distant target.

Stationed in front of the ARMORY are several armed guards. Escort pays them no heed and attempts to pass.

GUARD#1 puts his hand on Escort's chest, stopping him.

GUARD#1:

I'm sorry, Major. Dr. Weir has ordered that no one can enter the Armory.

Escort looks at the hand on his chest and stares coldly at the guard.

ESCORT:

(Blankly)

This unit needs weapons.

Guard#1:

(Worriedly)

I think you should go see Dr. Beckett, sir. (Taps ear piece with free hand) Dr. Beckett?

ESCORT swiftly grabs Guard#1's thumb and yanks it back. The guard screams and Escorts elbows him in the face. Red mist sprays as the guards nose breaks and he falls unconscious. GUARD#2 raises his P-90 at ESCORT.

GUARD#2:

(shouting)

Freeze!

Escort doesn't hesitate. In a single motion, he whips out his hand gun and fires. The bullet hits the guard in the heart. He falls to the ground, dead. Escort scuttles over to the body, scavenging its P-90 and pocketing the extra ammunition.

ENTER Lt. Ford and a security contingent. They are breathless from running. They stop the unmoving form of Guard#1 and the corpse of Guard#2. Escort doesn't look at them, playing injured.

FORD:

(Concerned)

What happened here, sir? Are you alright? (No response. Ford is instantly suspicious, gripping his gun tightly.) Major Sheppard?

VISUAL FX: PROGRAMMING

Escort jerks around, cold fury burning in his lifeless eyes. He fires off a shot with his newly acquired P-90. It strikes Ford in the upper arm, sending him spinning to the ground.

There's a small firefight. Escort incapacitates three more men before SECURITY#1 shoots him in the chest. Escort folds, collapsing limply to the ground.

All is silent. The Marines take stock of the damages. Security#1 kneels next to Ford.

SECURITY#1:

(Worried)

Are you alright, sir?

Ford:

(Shaking his head)

I will be. (Ordering SECURITY#2) Contact Dr. Weir. Tell her everything, and get Carson down here. Let him know we've got wounded.

MARINE#2:

Right away, sir. (Taps his earpiece and murmurs into it)

FORD:

(Looking at the seemingly dead body of Escort)

Is he…

MARINE#1:

There's only one way to make sure.

While the other Marines are checking the injured, Marine#1 slowly approaches Escort as Ford watches warily.

CAMERA PANS and the audience can see Escort's back. Though the rest of him is still, his hands are slowly snaking back, reaching for the knife on Guard#2's belt.

Marine#1 inspects him, keeping his finger near the trigger of his P-90. He gently stretches out his booted foot to poke at the body.

Escort blurs as he takes out the military blade and stabs it deep into Marine#1's inner thigh. His cry of pain alerts everyone. Escort stands and pulls out the knife in one swift motion.

Crimson blood gushes from the wound. Marine#1's legs buckle, but Escort wraps his arm around his neck to keep him standing. The other Marines fire at Escort, only to fill Marine#1's dying body with lead. When his flesh has become bloody Swiss-cheese, Escort drops the body and throws the knife.

The flash of silver embeds itself in a Marines eye, killing him instantly. The other Marines dive for cover.

For a split second Ford makes eye contact with his CO. Eyes as black as the void stare back at him, but they are not empty. Ravenous, sickening blood lust fills those dark holes with a malice that humans are incapable of.

VISUAL FX: PROGRAMMING

The contact is broken and Escort speeds away and EXITS RIGHT.

The two uninjured Marines approach Ford.

MARINE#3:

(Growling)

Should we follow him, sir?

Ford looks around at the injured and dead. He shakes his head.

FORD:

(Wearily)

No. We have too many wounded. I need you to help get these people to Sick Bay. (Looks are Marine#2) Did you contact Weir?

MARINE#2:

(Hesitantly)

Yes, sir. She has ordered you to debrief her in her office. (Confused) Corporal Johnson shot the Major in the chest. He shouldn't have been able to move like that.

FORD:

(Emphatically)

Whatever that thing is, it's not Major Sheppard.

Marine#2:

Sir?

Ford waves his hand, brushing away the question.

FORD:

(Sighing)

Help me up. (They help him stand. Ford instinctively keeps a hand over his wound.) Got any field bandages?

Marine#2 nods and pulls out some gauze from his vest, just as the medics appear. Ford frowns, noticing Carson isn't among them.

FORD:

(To MEDIC#1)

Where's Dr. Beckett?

MEDIC#1:

(As they treat one of the injured)

He's in the Infirmary. Someone attacked him. He's unconscious with a nasty head wound. They'd usually scan for a concussion, but the attacker destroyed it.

FORD:

(Muttering)

Damn. (To Marine#2) While I'm with Dr. Weir, I want you to tell every Marine on this base that Major Sheppard isn't who he seems. Have everyone use stunners on sight. If that doesn't work use whatever measures necessary to incapacitate him.

MARINE#2:

(Nodding)

Yes, sir. (Speaks into radio)

Ford nods and starts to leave, wrapping the bandage around his arm as he walks. Medic#1 tries to stop him.

MEDIC#1:

(Calling)

Wait! Let me help you!

FORD:

There isn't time. (EXITS RIGHT)

END SCENE 2