troop.
Inside the dome city entry, Clara is standing just inside the shelter of the
entry way, viewing the scene. Her eyes fill with tears and her hand flutters
to her mouth, but she says nothing, holding her breath and knowing she can't
influence the outcome. Netty puts her arm around Clara's shoulder, gripping
it. Red is standing behind the pair. Accustomed to taking action during any
emergency, but unable to do so in this case, he has a consternated look on his
face.
We hear a shot ring out, and see Clara drop in a faint, as several other arms
move forward to grip her, trying to break her fall. Clara falls back on top of
Red and they both sink to the floor in a heap.
Oh my, oh my.
Inside the helicopter, General Flood bellows arrogantly into the bullhorn.
The rest of you have five seconds to raise your hands
and let my inspection team come forward, or we'll blow
your little nest and all the little birdies inside sky
high! Five seconds! Five, four, three, two, one.
General Flood pauses, his face muscles working in rage, his face florid with
rage at having been defied.
.. All right men, let 'em have it!
The group standing in front of the dome city remains unmoved, unflinching.
They had expected that both the men held by General Flood had been killed, so
this is no surprise, and they are aware of the shield and whether they trust
it to hold or not, they have no alternative in their minds. Death, for them
and their families, is better than being overtaken by this group. This is why
the entry door has been left open, so that if the shield fails, all will die
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suddenly, as a group. Big Tom, speaking softly to his comrades, shows their
resolve.
Better this way than living under tyranny, eh, boys?
The missile makes a humming sound, and then with a flash at the jet end, moves
forward so suddenly that the eye cannot follow it. Just as suddenly it hits
an invisible shield and the explosion sprays backward over the men and the
trees, a fireball fanning out, frying all within range. There is a shriek or
two, but death is quick. As the flames quickly die down over the metal shards
from the shattered missile, the chopper blades can still be heard overhead.
The muscles on General Flood's face are working. The General snaps at the
pilot.
Take it down and land on top of them!
The pilot glances nervously at the General's face, and seeing that no argument
will do, moves the joy stick to aim the chopper down. The chopper descends,
hits the invisible barrier, and explodes into a flaming wreck.
The group standing in front of the dome city allows themselves to breath
again. The citizens of the dome city are coming forward, tentatively at first.
They look to the right and left, agape at the wreckage. Martha is rushing
forward to embrace her husband, followed by the oldest son of Colonel Cage,
who throws his arms around his dad from the back, essentially hugging his
butt. Ian has a look of relief on his face. He quickly turns to the side and
vomits, allowing himself to feel his fear now that the danger is past.
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-New Neighbors-
Danny, Netty, Billy and the hybrid boy are standing in a circle in the center
of a circular room without windows, the main room of a Zeta craft. There are
also a couple large Zetas and some small beige colored Zetas, that are about
as large as a child. The large Zetas are grouped with the adults, chatting
and gesturing. The children are grouped and chatting with the smaller Zetas.
The small beige colored Zetas are tittering like birds among themselves now
and then as they chat among themselves. Billy is face to face with the hybrid
boy, having an animated conversation. Billy says,
Heck! I seed them squirm all around so's you didn't
know where they were headed, but I weren't scared!
The hybrid boy puts his hands on his hips and leans back a bit.
They weren't squirming, silly! They were walking!
Don't you know anything?
_______________________________
It is evening in the dome city, and the lights coming from the edge of the
dome are being dimmed slowly to simulate evening. The residents are moving
slowing as they take their evening strolls around the pram area on the roof of
the top level. Children are being called in from play in the center grassy
area near the fountain, complaining slightly as children will about having to
give it all up and go to bed. Danny and Netty are walking slowly along the
pram, hand in hand.
Netty glances up at Danny’s face.
Don't you want to go see it? Not everyone gets an
invitation.
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Danny replies, softly, almost under his breath as though talking to himself.
Hell yeah!
_______________________________
Later that evening, after night has fallen both inside and outside the dome
city, Danny emerges from the entrance of the dome city. He is walking alone
toward an observation ship that is hovering just above the ground a few feet
from the entry of the city. He is striding purposefully. As he nears the
ship, Netty and Billy emerge in their pajamas and nightgown, jogging after
Danny. They close the gap, so that as they arrive at the ship they are all
together.
A walk-up ramp drops from the side of the ship, the light from the center of
the ship flooding the area. The three walk quickly up the ramp, unafraid.
There is a faint light coming from the top center of the ship, as one-half of
the top area is a brown glass that allows viewing in and out.
Inside the ship, Danny and Netty emerge from a corridor that wraps around the
central room of the ship, through a doorway arch that goes directly into the
circular room in the center of the ship. Individual rooms are along the very
outer edge of the ship. Danny and Netty are hand in hand, with Billy walking
eagerly just ahead of them. They all take seats side by side around the
observation circle, Netty still holding Danny's hand, as she senses he is
nervous. Billy is pointing toward the floor and then the ceiling, talking
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excitedly as the ship turns on its side, showing a horizon view through both
the ceiling and floor observation glass.
It’s so cool!
Danny looks up and just stares upward, silently, not moving for a moment.
Then he asks, wonderment in his voice.
How do they do that?
Netty turns to face him.
The ship is turned sideways.
Billy is chirping, in his child's high voice, excited as always by these trips