PAGE 1
Setting: Kei and Nana's guest room. Elliot had just entered the room.
Elliot: "Changes everything? Wh-what do you mean?"
Kei: "Well…"
Nana: "You're gonna live so far away from us in jail!"
Nana runs to Elliot, using both hands to grip one of Elliot's hands. Elliot is taken by surprise.
Nana: "People are gonna think you're a bad person! You don't deserve to be in jail!"
Elliot: "Wha? N-no, Nana. You've got it all wrong. This isn't a jail."
Nana: "Really? You're not in trouble? But you hit that man. And then we took a police car to bring you here."
Elliot: "No, it's not like that. I promise."
She backs away from Elliot, rubbing her eye with her forearm. Kei is behind her, looking down and away from Elliot.
Nana: *sniff* "Okay."
Elliot: "Kei, what about you? You good?"
Kei: "…"
PAGE 2
Kei looks at Elliot. He looks upset, but calm.
Kei: "You were gone, El."
Elliot: "Huh? Bruh, I'm not dead or nothing. I'm right he-"
Kei angrily gets in Elliot's face.
Kei: "Clearly! But how was I supposed to know that? You never came home the day of the explosion at the mall! We hadn't seen or heard from you in weeks! What was I supposed to think?"
Elliot freezes, not knowing how to respond.
Elliot: "…"
Kei backs up a bit.
Kei: "Like…you could have called or something. Or were you having too much fun with your new friends?"
Nana: Please don't yell at him!
Elliot: "Hold up. How can you even think that? We're literally siblings! What the heck makes you think I'd leave you out of the loop on purpose? Or did our distance make you forget?"
Kei: "…no, I didn't forget. The sacrifice you made…"
PAGE 3
*FLASHBACK*
Kei flashes back to some time ago. The flashback displays the image of a younger Kei, Elliot, and Nana. Kei and Elliot are younger kids while Nana is a toddler. The image displays Kei and Nana walking away towards a door while holding the hands of an older couple. Kei looks back with sadness in his eyes and sees Elliot, who's giving Kei and Nana a thumbs up, as if he were seeing them off.
Kei: I'll never forget.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Back in the present setting. Kei kind of turns away from Elliot, holding his forehead.
Kei: "Sorry. I just…I just didn't know what to think back then. And now I know you're alright, but you're held up in this place as an irregular. It's a lot to process."
Elliot: "Look, I get it. It's a lot to take in. It all kinda makes things more complicated."
Elliot walks towards the door as they speak.
Elliot: "Hey, I'm gonna grab something from the vending machine. Wanna get something with me real quick?"
Kei: "Wait,you guys have vend- never mind. Sure."
Nana: "Can I stay here and watch a cartoon?"
Kei follows Elliot out the door.
Kei: "Sure. We'll be right back."
Elliot: "Yeah, we'll bring you back some snacks."
PAGE 4
Scene change. Wendy, Iris, and the rest of the gang are already outside of Kei's room when Kei and Elliot walk out.
Elliot: "What the! Why y'all standing right outside the room like that?"
Devlon: "Relax. We wanted to let you know how things will go tomorrow before you go to sleep."
Elliot begins walking away.
Elliot: "Slap it! Walk and talk, I'm hungry. C'mon Kei."
Kei: "Uh, yeah."
Iris: "Who's that? New friends?"
Elliot turns around for just a moment.
Elliot: "Oh, this is my brother, Kei. He's cool peeps."
Wendy: "Devlon, can you go with him to fill him in? And grab me a snack?"
Devlon: "Uh, sure. What do you want?" Why doesn't she just grab a snack herself?
Wendy: "Anything's fine."
PAGE 5
Elliot, Kei, and Devlon make it to a vending machine. Devlon looks very unsure of himself.
Devlon: "Soooo, any idea what Wendy likes?"
Elliot: "Beats me. I'm just glad she asked you and not me."
Devlon: "Why's that?"
Elliot: "Man, look. I heard her say 'anything's fine'. But when chicks say 'anything', they really mean there's something very specific she wants, but she can't quite make out what that is. So it's your job to figure it out."
As the conversation continues, Devlon grows frustrated.
Devlon: "WHAT!? That makes no sense! I don't even know her taste! Nor can I read minds!"
Elliot: "Bruh. You better start learnin' to read minds."
Kei: "Great words of wisdom, El. Hehe."
Devlon regains his composure, facing the machine again.
Devlon: "Eh, it'll be fine. I can do without your exaggerations."
Elliot rolls his eyes while Kei lets out a light laugh.
Elliot: "Whatever you say."
Kei: He'll learn.
Elliot: "Oh yeah, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"
PAGE 6
Devlon lets out a sigh.
Devlon: "We gotta go back into town tomorrow."
Elliot: "Huh? Why?"
Devlon: "After we told Master Forte about those faceless things and how you said they're after irregulars, he wants us to look around for abnormalities."
Elliot: "Like what, more irregulars in the area?"
Devlon: "Yeah. They attacked us, but they may have been in town before we got there. If that's the case, there could be irregulars in the area that are in danger."
Elliot: "I get it now. People were disappearing some weeks ago, too. Maybe they were irregulars getting snatched up?"
Devlon steps away from Elliot.
Devlon: "Don't know. But we're hoping to find something to give us a clue. Oh and one other thing. We gotta leave you here."
Elliot: "What? Why?!"
Close up on Devlon with a serious, yet calm look on his face.
Devlon: "You gotta train and get a hold of your abilities. Plus, we need you here with your siblings."
Elliot: *sigh* "Fine. Let's just go back for now. Nana's probably hungry."
PAGE 7
Scene change. Setting: Back to the rest of the gang, who're still standing outside of Kei's and Nana's room. Iris paces around, appearing upset. Chase is behind her and to the side.
Iris: "Okay. He has a brother. But who is this other chick trying to come between us?"
Chase lets out a sigh, placing a hand on Iris's head.
Chase: "I…highly doubt it's anything like that, lil sis. She's around your age." You shouldn't be worried about things like that at your age, anyway.
Iris stands in front of the door to Kei's room, where Nana is.
Iris: "I'm gonna check her out myself."
Chase: "Hold on. Just chill out here with us. Devlon's coming back with snacks."
Iris: "Nope."
And just like that, Iris vanishes.
Inside the room, Nana sits on the bed watching TV. Iris appears at her side.
Iris: "Hey. I've got a couple questions for you so I can be clear about what your intentions are!"
Nana: "Oh, hi!"
Nana smiles at Iris with closed eyes.
Nana: "Wanna watch Circle Jim Round Shirt with me? And later we can play with some toys?"
With pure excitement, Iris's eyes turn to stars.
Iris: "DO I!?"
PAGE 8
Outside of the room, Elliot, Devlon, and Kei make it back from the vending machine. Devlon gives Wendy the snack she requested.
Wendy: "Thanks, but I can't eat this."
Devlon becomes worried.
Devlon: "Huh? Why not? Are you allergic?"
Wendy: "Nah, there's just a variety of stuff to choose from and you get me this crap."
Devlon's concern quickly turns to frustration.
Devlon: "But you said anything was fine! This is anything!"
Wendy: "Yeah, anything but that!"
Devlon: "Uh-okay. Tell me what exactly you want and I'll get it for you."
At a distance, Elliot elbows Kei as they both chuckle.
Wendy: "I already told you; anything's fine."
Devlon: "But, you just…Okay. I'll be right back." She's making no sense.
PAGE 9
20 minutes later. Outside the room, Devlon returns to the gang, handing Wendy another snack.
Devlon: "Crunchy, sweet, yet healthy and creamy." So much back and forth.
Wendy: "Thanks. Though next time, it might help to get the right thing the first time so you don't waste your energy, ya know?"
Sweat shooting out, nerves of frustration appear on Devlon's head. He turns red as a tomato, but doesn't say anything.
In the midst of this frustrating conversation, Iris appears outside the door, leaning against the door with her arms crossed in a very cool fashion. She's acting as if she wasn't just stoked to play with toys with her new friend.
Terry: "You're back. Get what you needed outta meeting her?"
Iris: "Yeah, she checks out okay."
Chase: "No need to be ashamed, lil sis."
Off screen voice: "You're all here."
Forte has joined the conversation.
Forte: "You've had time to talk about tomorrow's plan. So let me give details as to who's going where. Please hold all forms of questions until I finish."
Forte: "We need more info on these…creatures. We have an idea that they're after irregulars, but we don't know why. Nor do we know their purpose."
Kei leans over toward Elliot and whispers in his ear.
Kei: "Should I be hearing all of this? Like, should I leave?"
Elliot: (Also whispering) "Bro, didn't you hear him? That's a form of a question." Quiet.
PAGE 10
Forte: "It has also been reported that Elliot, Devlon, and Wendy have encountered another one of us; an irregular who has experience with these faceless things. But we don't know where he stands in all of this, or whether he's a friend or foe."
Kei nervously looks at Elliot, but doesn't say anything.
Kei: Seriously, am I supposed to be here right now?
Forte: "So I'm sending some of you into Maple City to see what you can gather. I'm going to split you into two groups tomorrow."
Forte pulls out a notepad.
Forte: "Wendy and Chase will be team 1. With Wendy's authority as a cop and Chase's ability to scope out the land, it'd be a good idea for him to get a feel for how these things look."
Wendy: "Makes sense."
Chase: "I'll treat this mission with the utmost care."
Forte: "Iris will accompany you as your daughter to blend in. If things happen to get bad, she'll be of good use to teleport you away from a scene. Since she isn't an officer, keep her close."
Iris jumps up with pure joy.
Iris: "Cooooooool!"
Forte: "Team 2 will be Devlon and Jasmine. Devlon will be able to recognize these creatures, as well as the other irregular mentioned earlier. Jasmine and Devlon's teamwork and abilities are some of the best we've seen."
Jasmine smiles and rolls her eyes.
Jasmine: "How difficult could it be to spot someone without a face, though?"
PAGE 11
Forte: "Terry and Elliot will remain here. Terry will help Elliot with his training. This time, you will stay put, right Elliot?"
Elliot: "Yeah yeah. Sure thing, Fortz."
Forte turns his attention to Kei…as if he's being assigned a mission.
Forte: "And you, Kei, you will…wait a minute."
Forte's head enlarges as he becomes infuriated.
Forte: "WHY IS HE IN THIS MEETING!? HAS HE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME?"
Kei: "Um…"
Elliot: "Chill, chill. He's good peeps. He won't mention anything to anybody."
Forte: "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO LET PEOPLE OUTSIDERS HEAR OUR PLANS. NOW WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KILL HIM AND HIS SISTER!"
Kei's eyes almost bulge out of his head because of what he just heard.
Kei: "WHAT!?"
PAGE 12
Forte closes his eyes and begins to sob as he pulls out a shotgun and aims it at Kei.
Forte: "I'm so sorry I have to do this. We just can't have you spreading info to a potential enemy that we'll be in town. Please forgive me." *sniff sniff*
Wendy dashes towards Forte.
Wendy: I can't believe this! "Forte, stop!"
Devlon also dashes in, gripping his sword handle.
Devlon: I have to incapacitate him before he…
Elliot reaches out to Kei in a panic.
Elliot: "Kei, RUN!"
Chase's eyes begin to glow while Iris runs around in a panicked state.
Iris: "WAAAA!"
Kei clasps his hands together with his head bowed, begging Forte.
Kei: "Oh God! No. I promise, I won't say a thing! That wasn't my intention! I didn't even wanna be here for this meeting! Please!"
PAGE 13
Forte's tears suddenly turn to smiles, reverting back to his casual self. He raises the shotgun over his shoulder with one arm.
Forte: "Okay, that's fine. I was only kidding about the killing part. What kind of monster do you think I am?"
Everyone else looks confused.
Kei: "Wha-huh?"
Forte: "This is nothing more than a recording device. I just customized it to look like a weapon. See?"
Forte holds the side of the gun up for Kei and the others to see. There's a round speaker embedded in the gun. The speaker plays back Kei's plea, when he stated that he promised not to tell anyone.
Kei: "Did it just play back my words?"
The gang all let out a sigh. Though, instead of relief, they all appear tired and frustrated.
Forte: "Yep. Now I have audio proof that you promised. So Wendy, you can put your gun away now."
Wendy: "…" I'm literally afraid to go to sleep tonight.
Elliot: "What kind of joke was that?"
Forte: "Oh, and Jasmine, you can let your guard down. Go on."
PAGE 14
Jasmine was behind Forte, ready to incapacitate him with an ice pick.
Forte: "I can't believe I even got you. But it's good to know you care about others more than you let on."
Jasmine: Seriously. That prank was too much!
Elliot looks around in confusion.
Elliot: "Wait, when did she get behind Forte?"
Forte calls everyone back to attention.
Forte: "It's also good to know that you all were ready to jump your dear Forte when it looked like I was gonna turn on a human visitor. I'm quite surprised. But that lack of hesitation was concerning." Talk about loyalty.
PAGE 15
Upset and tired of the nonsense, the group begins to disband.
Devlon: "You can't play such a prank like that on him! He's a visitor!"
Kei: "Elliot's a jokester as well. I-I can take it." I gotta get outta here!
Jasmine: "That's a cruel joke, even for me."
Terry: "I thought he really lost his marbles for a moment."
Chase: "I'm goin to bed now. Get some rest, sis."
Forte: "Guess I got carried away with the prank. Well, I'll see you all in the morning! Be ready; you'll verify if there are other faceless creatures in the area."