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Message: <blockquote data-quote="LostSoul" data-source="post: 4059067" data-attributes="member: 386">INT. SPACE STATION - LORD TOVOL'S OFFICESKofer Pyatt, Interstitial.Lord Tovol sits at his desk.  It's piled high with papers and reports.  He flips through a stack of them and sets them down.There is a knock at the door.  "Come in," he says.Kofer Pyatt enters.  "Lord Tovol, your Grace - what happened to you on Zágaš?  You have turned your back on the Pali!  What did the Duke do to you?""Kofer Pyatt, I am sovereign of Boldaq and beyond questioning by the likes of you.  From now on, concern yourself only with carrying out my orders to the best of your ability.  And now, I am ordering you back to Boldaq.""Is it Lord Goss?  If it is, just say the word and I will kill him for you.""I gave you an order!"Kofer Pyatt snaps out an Iron-hard salute.  "Sir!"  He turns and steps to the door, which slides open for him.  He pauses in the threshold."Kaeli was right - you have changed."The door shuts behind him.  Lord Tovol seethes.INT. SPACE STATION - MAIN DOCKING BAYLord Tovol, Building.The main docking bay is filled with shuttles, men, and the din of heavy activity.  Kofer Pyatt towers above the workers loading and unloading the shuttles, an island in the chaos, Kaeli at his side.A runner approaches Kaeli.  He snaps off a salute and delivers his message.  Kaeli gives Kofer a worried look, and she leaves for the interior of the station.Kofer Pyatt watches her leave and boards the shuttle bound for Boldaq.INT. SPACE STATION - LORD TOVOL'S OFFICESSame.Kaeli enters Tovol's office.  She sees the full-scale holo-image of her and Kofer Pyatt embracing on the badlands of Boldaq."Tovol-" she says."Address me as befits my rank, officer," he commands.She snaps a salute and stares two inches above his head.  "Sir!""I am ordering you to take up your position here with me as my XO.  You've spent enough time on Boldaq.""My Lord, I believe that I could best be used on the planet.  I've learned much while you were away-""Do not question my orders!  My word is final.  You will remain here until I order otherwise.  Understand?""Yes, my Lord."  She leaves.  Tovol seethes.EXT. BOLDAQ - RUINS OF BORTEI'S SHUTTLEPali, Colour.Bortei rides to the old ruins of his downed shuttle, now covered in red dust.  He dismounts his pale horse and approaches the craft.He opens a hatch, exposing the reactor core to the elements.  He activates it and the power core hums to life.  He unwraps a bundle of swordsmithing equipment and carefully places it down.Sweat covers him as he forges himself a wicked sword.  When he is done, he covers the sword with powedered lazuli and gul janat."You will draw the blood of my rivals," Bortei whispers to his sword.  "I will have Kaeli all to myself."INT.  THE PODALAH PALACE - PSYCHOHISTORY CHAMBERPali, Building.The Pali sits in a meditative trance when Bortei walks in."Bortei," he says.  "I have not seen you for a long time.""I still serve you, my Pali," Bortei says.  He kneels."Rise, brother.  What has brought you here?""I wish a boon from you - a blessing on my sword."  He pulls out his sword, swaddled in rich woven cloth."As you wish."  The Pali's Bright Mark ignites.  Blue light covers the sword.  Bortei's own Bright Mark burns.The sword glows brighter and brighter, a red flame covering it, as Bortei raises it above his head.EXT. AHOYDIA - THE RUINS OF KADAATH'S HEADQUARTERSFat Chaz, InterstitialKadaath looks at the debris caused by Fat Chaz's fusion cannon.  His men are digging through it, his whores are cleaning what can be salvaged, and every one of them has a question for him."Kadaath, we're running short on boas.  My girls need more than this if we are to get the right 'mood'.  I'll need more money to buy a new supply."Ezran approaches them.  "Boss, another message.  Fat Chaz again."Kadaath nods to Ezran, and turns to his madam.  "Boas?  This is what you're bothering me about?  I've got bigger things to worry about.""I'd say so," Fat Chaz says over the transmitter."Fat Chaz.  Why should I be talking to you?  You're the one who gave me this big headache.""That was Draz Tolo.  He fired the shot before I could stop him.  Something about trying to kill him, I think.""Oh.  So what do you want?""I'm still upset that you didn't make a move against Tovol.  You know we wanted him killed, and you had the perfect chance to do it.""If I'd have pulled the trigger, I'd have been dead.""We'll never know, will we?  Look - there's too much bad blood between us now to be partners.  But we can still work together.  You want to climb the rungs of power on Boldaq?  That's what I want to.  Now if you remove the top dog, we all climb up a spot.  That means taking out Lord Tovol."And Lord Tovol doesn't care much for the kind of business we do.  Trust me.  You wouldn't like his rule.""So you want me to kill Tovol.  Got it.""No - I have something else in mind.  He's come here with one of the Duke's Inquisitors, a Lord Goss.  What I want is for you to take out Lord Goss and frame Tovol for the killing.  That way we can cut out the Duke's support of his son, and we won't be facing a dozen hammer cruisers.""Sounds like a plan.""It's good business - for both of us."INT. SPACE STATION - LORD TOVOL'S OFFICELord Goss, Interstitial.Lord Goss to Lord Tovol: Let us use Kofer Pyatt and turn him against the Pali.  Summon him here, command him.Lord Tovol: Very well.INT. AHOYDIA - KADAATH'S WHOREHOUSE - NIGHTPali, Interstitial.Bortei heads to a whorehouse of Kadaath's.  He finds him sitting proudly, looking over his operation."Kadaath: I want your help.""Hmm?""I need to kill Tovol.""Go after Lord Goss instead.""No - Tovol's the one I want.""Help me take out Goss, and I'll help you.""Okay."INT. KADAATH'S WHOREHOUSE - SURVEILLANCE ROOM - NIGHTKadaath, Building.Kadaath is watching a viewscreen.  The image: Lord Goss, flagellating himself.  "I am not worthy of you, my Duke," he says, drawing blood.  "I will not fail you again."He throws a spice onto a burning brazier.  Smoke fills the room.  Lord Goss inhales deeply, lost in trance."What is that - some kind of drug?  Get me someone who knows about it.  Maybe we can use this against him.""I think I've seen it before," Ezran says.  "I'll be back with someone in a minute."Ezran leaves.  Bortei crosses his arms.  "I don't think we're looking in the right place.  This man is too pious, if anything.""That could be our angle - vicious, dangerous, a tyrant, blinded by faith.  We can turn the people against him that way.  And if the people are against him, he's a liability to Tovol.""Maybe you're right."Ezran returns, out of breath, with a dazed-looking man, wearing rags, unshaven.  The brand of fire on his bare arm.  "This man - one of the ??? [we had a word for it, I forget what it was], kicked out of the church - knows what it is.""Yeah," he says, coughing.  "It's ???.  Comes from the Karsan League.  Helps clear the mind when you pray.  Good <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />.""That's nothing we can use," Kadaath says.  He looks at the man, who is waiting.  "What the <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> are you still doing here?"  The man leaves.  Kadaath turns his attention back to the screen.  "Great, just great.  Let's see what we can drum up.  Get those filmtapes running and the graffiti urchins on the streets.  Let's screw this Lord Goss over."Suddenly, the viewscreen fills the static."What-""Boss, we got cops all around us!""<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />.  Someone must have noticed our whisperer.  Bortei, get yourself out of here."  Kadaath draws his twin CEBWs.  "Everyone else, scatter."Policemen in ballistic vests burst into the room and it fills with fire.CUT TO:Kadaath slipping out of the brothel, melting into the night.EXT. AHOYDIA - ANVIL GARRISON SPACEPORT - DAYConflict, Kofer Pyatt.Kofer Pyatt preps his anvil assault shuttle.  Bortei approaches him."I wish to see the Forged Lord," Bortei says."Let there be peace between us then, brother and seeker.  Come with me."  He eyes Bortei warily.INT. SPACE STATION - LORD TOVOL'S COURTSame.Kofer Pyatt and Bortei enter.  Lord Tovol is sitting on a throne.  The Duke's crest hangs proudly behind him now, exchanging its place with the Burning Wheel woven into the carpet on the floor.  Lord Goss is behind him, and Kaelie is at his side."Tovol, release Kaeli to me.  She's learned much on the planet, the tides of the marsh-basin, the pattern of dust storms, the ways of the pal-wan butanah - she belongs on Boldaq.""She is a noble and does not belong with peasant scum like you, backwater inbred cousin-marrying hill squatter.""I, too, am noble born - it was not my ancestors who fled before the worm.  I have carved out my title in the only real noble way: with my own bloody hands.  I was not simply born into a life of luxury and coddling like youself.""I have fought the worm in space in battles too big for your little brain to comprehend.  You are my servant and nothing more, little man."Lord Goss: Lord Tovol, what are you doing?  We need him to work against Edrene."Kaeli comes with me, or I will take her.  Try and stop me.""Kaeli stays."Kaeli looks at both of them, then crosses the floor and stands beside Bortei.MANEUVER:INT. SPACE STATION - LORD TOVOL'S COURTConflict, Kofer Pyatt."Enough!"  Kofer draws his pistol and begins firing.  He moves into the doorway.Bortei draws his sword and it explodes in red flame.  Kaeli moves out of the room.Lord Tovol draws his force sword and charges at Kofer.Kofer pins down Tovol and rushes across the room.  Bortei meets him.  Kofer dives out of the way of Bortei's sword as it draws a red line of crimson across his chest.  Kofer fires, grazing Bortei with a slug.Kofer withdraws, moving backwards, firing at Bortei.  The monk draws down upon him, taking a slug in the gut, still pushing forward.  He raises his sword and swings, hitting Kofer heavily, blade cutting through flesh and viscera.  Kofer falls, a red pool of blood gathering around him.Lord Tovol watches as Bortei leaves with Kaeli.INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAYColour, Pali.Bortei, aided by Kaeli, board her shuttle.  Its jets fire and it blasts into space.INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAYColour, Lord Tovol.Lord Tovol comes a moment later.  He boards his own shuttle, chasing them.EXT. SPACESame.Kaeli races away towards Boldaq.  Tovol breaks off his chase and heads back to the station to gather reinforcements.INT. SPACE STATION - DOCKING BAYLord Goss, Interstitial.Lord Goss approaches Lord Tovol.  "I have had the doctors look at Kofer Pyatt.  They seem to think he'll pull through.""Gather some sodalites, Goss.  We're going after her."EXT. AHOYDIA - KADAATH'S NEW HQInterstitial, Kadaath.Kaeli's shuttle descends towards Kadaath's new place - an old merchant's villa, once converted to a marketplace, now a whorehouse.  An iris in the middle of the round building opens up and Kaeli's shuttle descends.INT. KADAATH'S NEW HQSame.Kaeli leaves the shuttle, nearly carrying Bortei.  Blood stains both their clothes.  Whores and johns and Kadaath's men watch from balconies above."Looks like you've got some trouble, Bortei.""Uuugghh..."One of Kadaath's prostitutes - Jinna, poisoner of Archcotare Sibil - rushes out to Kaeli.  She embraces her.  "Kaeli, are you hurt?  Have you left Tovol?  I'm so glad to see you here!"EXT. ABOVE KADAATH'S NEW HQColour, Lord Goss.Suddenly, Lord Tovol's shuttle appears in the sky, raining fusion beams down on Kaeli's shuttle.  It explodes in fire.INT. KADAATH'S NEW HQBuilding, Kadaath.Bortei looks at Kadaath.  The criminal smiles and draws his pistols.  "Let's do this!" he shouts.  "Everyone!  Get out here and start firing!"  Whores flee as his men rush to positions on the balcony, drawing jack lasers and pistols.INT. SAMEConflict, Lord Tovol.A dozen Sodalites in Anvil armour rush out of the shuttle, Lord Tovol at their front.  Lord Goss shouts out commands from behind.  "Charge them, men!  Grab the woman and get back here!"As the Sodalites push forward, they are met by a hail of laser fire, pinning them at the shuttle entrance.  "Good, men, keep firing!" Kadaath yells, sending blast after blast from his own pistols.Lord Goss is nearly hit by a laser beam, and rushes up into the safety of the shuttle.  Lord Tovol looks around and takes control: "Covering fire!" he yells, and lasers burst forth from cover of the shuttle.  Kadaath's men put their heads down.Lord Tovol makes his move.  "Charge!" He leads his men across the open courtyard into bloody melee with Kadaath's.Lasers fly and swords hack apart bodies.  Tovol cuts two men apart with one swing.  Bortei is caught by a beam and falls, unconcious and bleeding out.  Kadaath aims at Lord Goss in the rear and wings him.  Lasers reflect off anvil and tear through Kadaath's unarmoured men.  More of his crew leap into the fray, pinning down the Sodalites in a press of bodies.  Lord Tovol swings, cutting a wide swath, but soon is surrounded with only two of his allies left.The battle abates.  Everyone takes a breath and looks around - Lord Goss and Kaeli are gone.MANEUVER: Not done yet.</blockquote>

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