Strikeforce

ASTRA's Jeep (last seen on her driveway at the end of ISSUE 32) drives up a twisting road through forested hills. It's night but a high, full Moon illuminates the scene and although this isn't a close up we can see the occupants of the open-topped Jeep: ASTRA driving, JAMES next to her, CHI-YUN, FRED, SARA, and JEROME in the back.

1. CAPTION:

1.30 A.M., Wednesday 26 November 2014

2. CAPTION:

Santa Monica Mountains, one hour north of Los Angeles.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

They're quiet when I finish the story. It's a lot to take in.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Half of them won't believe a word of it.

The Jeep pulls off the road onto a dirt track, where high, ornate, wrought-iron gates block their access.

5. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

But they can't deny the reality of the monster they've chased across the continent for the last two days.

6. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I just hope they're up to dealing with that reality.

Close-up on ASTRA pointing a remote-control device at the gates.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Because they're all I've got.

2. SFX:

beep

The Jeep's occupants watch while the gates swing open.

3. SFX:

vmmmmmmmmmm

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Well, at least that still works.

5. JAMES:

Why here?

The Jeep drives through the gates.

6. ASTRA:

Because when the demon reaches us in—

7. JAMES:

Less than half an hour.

8. ASTRA:

Less than half an hour, I don't want the fight to tear up my neighborhood.

The Jeep continues along the tree-lined dirt road.

9. JAMES:

But how do you know it will come here?

10. ASTRA:

Because your guess was right. It's drawn to me as a source of magic. It will find me wherever I am.

They drive past a big, gothic mansion. There is no sign of life -- windows are shuttered, no lights show, and it looks kind of creepy. Imagine something like the Addams Family mansion.

1. ASTRA:

And I choose to face it here.

2. CHI-YUN:

What's that?

3. ASTRA:

It used to belong to Hugh Howard, a millionaire movie maker in the forties. Now it belongs to—ah—well, that's not important.

With the gothic mansion behind them, the Jeep approaches the crest of a low ridge. The track continues over the crest (though we can't see over the crest from our POV).

4. ASTRA:

In his later years, Howard became a recluse. Bought up all the land round about. Wouldn't let anyone on except—

The Jeep is at the crest of the hill and everybody looks ahead. This view is of them looking down -- we don't see what they see yet.

5. JAMES:

Oh.

6. SARA:

Wow.

7. FRED:

Yeah? And?

Full-page picture of the view before them. There's another building at the bottom of a shallow incline and, as FRED's reaction suggests, it's a fairly boring one. A long, single-storey structure in three sections -- a central section facing us, with wings angled back away from us. In the moonlight, the building material is uncertain, though it appears to be some smooth grey stone. Even the gently-sloping roof seems to be of the same stone. The building has a large, arched door facing us, currently closed, and many shuttered windows. It is surrounded by open ground, maybe the size of a football field on each side, and is ringed by what looks like thick redwood forest. There is no sign of life.

For future reference, we are looking from the west. (This will become relevant when we consider that AVATAR is flying in from the east.) Because the north and south wings slope backwards, this will produce a kind of sheltered back yard at the rear (east) of the house.

1. ASTRA:

The Strikeforce mansion.

The Jeep is stopped in front of the house and they are climbing out.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

It won't mean anything to Fred, Jerome, and Chi-Yun of course.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

But to James, and Sara, who know the history, it's got to count for something.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

We need every edge we can get, and if I can give James a cheap morale boost by putting him on the site of Major Democracy's old headquarters—

Close up of ASTRA, grimacing.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

God, I'm getting cynical in my old age.

JAMES confronts ASTRA. The others stand further back but are watching and listening.

5. JAMES:

Ms. Kirby—

6. ASTRA:

Astra.

7. JAMES:

—Astra. You haven't given us the full story. I get that the Avatar is a demon, but how did it get here? And why? And—

Another close-up of ASTRA while she talks. In the panel background the silhouettes of the demons ARANA and MAGADA (see ISSUE 33 PAGE 4) hover -- not literally, but as a symbolic depiction.

8. ASTRA:

How is a good question. Draining the world's magic in the Event should have stopped anything like this from happening.

9. ASTRA:

But the barriers aren't perfect. There are weaknesses and loopholes.

10. ASTRA:

Diana found one of those loopholes. She had her reasons, which aren't important now, but the side-effect of her meddling was a gap which a demon could force itself through.

Back to a wider view of ASTRA still addressing the group (without the symbolic demon forms this time). JEROME is stepping away from her, towards the building.

1. ASTRA:

The longer it stays in this universe, the more the barriers crumble. Like a hole in a dyke. If we don't stop it now, what follows it will be too big for anything on Earth to stop.

2. JAMES:

And it wants to absorb your magic? But — you don't have magic any more.

3. JAMES:

Do you?

4. ASTRA:

No. But it can sense that I did.

JAMES has stepped close to ASTRA and bent his head down to hers (he's only a few inches taller) to speak quietly.

5. JAMES (softly):

There's someone else it can absorb power from, isn't there?

6. ASTRA (softly):

Yes.

7. ASTRA (softly):

And we can't let it realize that.

JEROME is by one of the windows, testing the strength of the shutters. JAMES stands next to him.

8. JEROME:

Can we set up a defensible position within?

9. JAMES:

We should face it in the open. On the east. We'll see it coming in and we'll have cover at our backs. Plus the best light.

JAMES regards the mansion.

10. JAMES:

We'll fall back to the building if we really need to.

11. JAMES (softly):

I don't want it damaged.

ASTRA walks next to the wall, running the palm of her hand along it.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Damaged.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

We patched up holes in this place so often—

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Right here is where the Octarine Man blasted through—

Close-up on ASTRA, rubbing her eyes with the thumb and forefinger of her left hand.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Damn.

JAMES and JEROME still stand by the wall. We can see that the others have continued ahead (in the background, from this perspective) towards the corner of the building. JEROME leans his head close to JAMES for a private conversation.

5. JEROME:

James, can we trust the sorceress?

6. JAMES:

She was a member of Strikeforce.

7. JEROME:

But she has confessed witchcraft—

8. JAMES:

I'm not comfortable with magic myself. But we're facing a demon. Ms. Kirby's human. That's good enough for me.

JAMES looks past JEROME to where SARA has paused and is looking back at them.

9. JAMES:

Jerome, I don't want Sara to fight the demon.

10. JEROME:

Aye. I understand.

JEROME and JAMES grip hands. SARA is walking back towards them. The others have vanished around the side of the building (though we don't necessarily need to establish that in this panel).

1. JEROME:

We two shall bear the brunt of the attack.

2. JAMES:

Thanks, Jerome.

3. SARA:

Something up?

JAMES and JEROME face SARA.

4. JEROME:

We are discussing strategy.

5. JAMES:

When it attacks, I want you to hang back—

6. SARA:

Hey!

They are walking towards the corner of the building.

7. JAMES:

With Astra.

8. JEROME:

To protect her.

9. JAMES:

Yes! We can't let it get to her.

10. JEROME:

You will be the last line of defence.

They have stopped just before rounding the corner. JAMES faces SARA.

11. SARA:

Well—

12. JAMES:

You're the best one of us to do it.

13. SARA:

I guess—ok. Sure.

They round the end of the wing and look into the "back yard". The others are already here, looking around the area. This will be the main panel on the page so that the scene is properly set. It's a large paved area and it is brilliantly lit by moonlight. Grass and weeds grow between the flagstones -- it hasn't been maintained for some time. At the east side of the paved area, away from the house, a large metal shutter covers the ground. It's the kind of rolling security shutter that you see over shop fronts, but much larger. Some kind of manual crank stands at one corner.

No dialogue.

Close-up on JAMES and ASTRA.

1. JAMES:

Ms. Kir—Astra—

2. JAMES:

You still didn't tell us is how to beat it.

3. JAMES:

Do you have a plan?

4. ASTRA:

A plan? Sure—

Everybody looks at ASTRA. She smiles brightly.

1. ASTRA:

I brought a team of superheroes!

Everybody looks at ASTRA (except for CHI-YUN, who's looking around for the "superheroes").

2. FRED:

We're screwed.

JAMES is answering FRED but looking at SARA.

3. FRED:

It tore us apart last time. How are we going to do any better today?

4. JAMES:

Because this time we'll know what to expect. And we'll be fighting as a team. With a strategy.

5. JAMES:

Right?

6. SARA (softly):

Right.

7. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Tell them the real plan, Astra.

JAMES is talking to ASTRA. In the background, FRED is walking over to the big metal shutters.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Tell them they're just a distraction to stop it seeing what you're doing.

2. JAMES:

So, what can we expect? It's superhumanly strong, fast, can fly...

3. JAMES:

Will it use magic?

4. FRED:

"Magic". Huh.

5. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Tell them they're going to throw their lives away because you can't think of any better plan.

Same view. In the background, FRED is stamping on the shutters.

6. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Again.

7. ASTRA:

I think the same post-Event laws which stop me using magic will stop the Avatar, too.

8. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

...

9. JAMES:

You think?

10. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I hate this job.

11. SFX (stamping):

Clang! Clang!

12. FRED:

What's under here? Swimming pool?

JAMES and ASTRA walk over.

13. ASTRA:

Space shuttle launch bay.

FRED walks away in disgust, waving his hand in a "forget it" sort of gesture. JAMES is standing by the winch handle.

14. FRED:

Fine! Don't tell us!

15. JAMES:

Is the shuttle there now?

16. ASTRA:

No, it's empty. And there'll be no power to the shutters—

JAMES is braced against the handle, straining to push it round.

1. JAMES:

Then let's open them the old-fashioned way.

2. JAMES:

<uhhhhhh>

3. SFX (winch):

squee eeeeee EEEEEE

JEROME and CHI-YUN stand side-by-side, staring into the eastern sky. CHI-YUN's eyes are very large and round, like a bird's.

4. JEROME:

Do you see it?

5. CHI-YUN:

Nope.

6. JAMES (off-panel):

Jerome, a hand please?

7. JEROME:

Keep watching.

CHI-YUN remains alone, watching the sky.

8. JEROME (off-panel):

What are we doing, James?

9. JAMES (off-panel):

Maybe we can use this to trap it.

Same view. CHI-YUN is motionless.

10. JEROME (off-panel):

A cunning plan, my friend.

11. JAMES (off-panel):

On three. Three!

12. SFX (off-panel):

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Same view of CHI-YUN.

1. CHI-YUN (softly):

It's coming.

A wide view of the battlefield. Our heroes form a rough semicircle between the "shuttle hangar" and the house. JAMES and JEROME near the winch, then SARA, ASTRA, FRED, and CHI-YUN. All look up to the east. Note that the metal shutter into the hangar has been opened but only by a couple of metres (the gap is on the house side of the hangar) and all we see is a black pit.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Feels weird going into battle without the Major, Fennec, Serval... without Strikeforce.

In a wider view, we see what they are looking at. AVATAR hovers a dozen metres above the ground in front of them, looking down at them.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I guess the world will have to make do with just me.

Close up on ASTRA. She looks up into the sky.

1. ASTRA:

2. TRANSLATION:

This world is under my protection. Leave this plane and never return.

Close up on AVATAR, whose outstretched hand points down at her.

3. AVATAR:

4. TRANSLATION:

I shall take your world over your lifeless husk.

5. ASTRA (off-panel):

6. TRANSLATION:

You and whose army?

Close up on AVATAR. From its pointing finger multi-coloured streams of energy corkscrew towards the ground.

7. AVATAR:

SARA has leaped at ASTRA, crashing into her and knocking her sideways and off her feet. The vortex of energy strikes the ground where she had been standing (doing no noticeable damage).

8. SARA:

Move!

9. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Don't show off in front of the demon, Astra.

SARA and ASTRA are entangled on the ground.

1. SARA:

I think that counts as magic!

JAMES has his SHIELD in his right hand, arm drawn back to throw it. JEROME looks on helplessly.

2. JAMES:

We need to bring it down to the ground.

3. JEROME:

Aye.

Looking at AVATAR again. And (presumably) before JAMES can throw the SHIELD, CHI-YUN strikes! She has wings and her legs end in large, solid-looking hooves. With these hooves, she has crashed into AVATAR from above and behind, driving him downwards.

4. SFX:

THOOM!

AVATAR crashes to the ground, just in front of the open shutter. CHI-YUN is on top of him.

5. SFX:

CRUMP!

But he is instantly on his feet and smashing CHI-YUN with a straight arm, hard enough to fling her away from him.

1. SFX:

THUD!

2. CHI-YUN:

Your wish is my commaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

But this has evidently been enough for JAMES and JEROME to get into position, as they are both now in-panel and attacking AVATAR. JEROME kicks out one leg as JAMES punches it in the face.

3. SFX:

SMACK!

4. SFX:

THWACK!

AVATAR reels from this double attack. He's teetering on one leg, right at the edge of the open pit.

No dialogue.

JAMES and JEROME simultaneously punch AVATAR.

5. SFX:

KA-THUMP!

...and he falls into the pit!

No dialogue.

JAMES and JEROME look down the hole.

1. SFX (from pit):

Thud

2. JAMES:

Close it!

3. JEROME:

We will not be fast enough.

4. FRED (off-panel):

No need—

Close-up on FRED's face. His eyes are black, and within each one is an image of AVATAR.

5. FRED:

I'm making him think he's sealed in.

JAMES and JEROME peer cautiously into the hole.

6. JAMES:

How long can you fool him?

7. FRED (off-panel):

Don't know... his mind's... alien...

In a full-page splash panel, AVATAR erupts from the centre of the metal shutter, fists raised above his head as he smashes through. Yes, he's actually smashed his way out by brute force. I'm giving a full page over to this panel (even though I'm already way over my limit) because it's important to convey a sense of the HUGE physical power that AVATAR commands. The metal has completely shattered, twisted pieces flying in all directions. The shutter is no more -- sufficiently destroyed to leave the pit almost entirely uncovered. (It's a bare concrete pit, no more than eight metres (25 feet) deep, though we can't see into it properly in this view.)

1. SFX:

KAR-RANGGGGGG

Close-up on ASTRA and SARA. ASTRA holds her hand out, forefinger and little finger extended in a "mystical gesture".

1. SARA:

What are we supposed to do?

2. ASTRA:

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Well, it was worth a try.

4. ASTRA:

I got nothing.

Back to AVATAR, who has remained hovering near ground level but in the centre of the hangar-bay opening so that he's out of arm's reach. He extends his palm and a straight orange beam streaks from it.

5. AVATAR:

SARA has grabbed ASTRA's arm and swung her out of the way -- and to do that, she's had to pivot so that she's now standing where ASTRA was, with her back to AVATAR.

6. SARA:

Look Ou—

The orange beam strikes SARA directly in the back! But she shows no ill effects.

7. SARA:

Ow!

8. SARA:

Huh?

Same view of SARA and ASTRA. SARA is looking over her shoulder, trying to see her back.

1. SARA:

A dud? I'm not that lucky!

2. ASTRA:

A spell is keyed to its target. It won't hurt anyone else.

Back to the fight at the pit. (The reader will hopefully realise that a lot of this action is happening simultaneously and we're just switching from character to character to make the panels manageable.) JAMES has hurled his SHIELD at AVATAR. We see it spinning through the air, on course to take AVATAR in the throat.

No dialogue.

AVATAR gestures with one hand and a shimmering disk of energy is in the SHIELD's path. The SHIELD has struck it and is ricocheting harmlessly away. (This energy disk is here for this panel only -- it will have faded by the time we next see AVATAR.)

3. AVATAR:

4. SFX:

Clunk

JAMES is having to stretch to snatch his SHIELD out of the air (normally he bounces it right back to his hand, but normally he never misses). Meanwhile, JEROME is sprinting past him towards the edge of the pit.

5. JEROME:

Distract—

JEROME leaps, hurling himself over the pit towards AVATAR! Behind him, JAMES is holding the SHIELD awkwardly, certainly not ready for another throw yet.

6. JEROME:

H-i-i-i-m-m-m-m

7. JAMES:

Wait!

Close up on FRED's face, with AVATAR reflecting in his eyes.

1. FRED (thought):

You will not notice the insane Englishman trying to kill himself.

AVATAR hovers oblivious in mid-air as JEROME has actually reached him, crashed into him, and wrapped his arms around his waist.

2. SFX:

Thud!

Somehow, JEROME has manoeuvred himself so that he's behind AVATAR and holding on to one of the demon's arms and one of its legs, which he has twisted up and back, probably with a knee in the small of the back or something. AVATAR is evidently trying to fly, but seems off balance and not totally in control of where he's going.

3. JEROME:

Now fly, damn your eyes!

And, still in JEROME's grip, AVATAR flies face first into the wall of the pit. It's a pretty massive impact, cracking the concrete all around him.

4. SFX:

SMASH!!!

JEROME and AVATAR face each other on the floor of the pit (there's nothing down here to suggest it was a space shuttle hangar -- it's just an empty pit). AVATAR is standing upright and looks unharmed. JEROME was down but is rising to his feet.

1. JEROME:

Now, let us finish this.

JEROME barely dodges a punch from AVATAR.

No dialogue.

JEROME counter-attacks but his punch to AVATAR's solar plexus has no obvious effect.

No dialogue.

JEROME attacks again, a jab to the throat which AVATAR ignores.

No dialogue.

JEROME is forced to hurl himself bodily backwards as AVATAR's arm -- blurring with speed -- passes through the spot his head was occupying.

No dialogue.

JEROME is helpless on his back as AVATAR raises both fists high above his head, preparing a crushing blow.

No dialogue.

On the edge of the pit JAMES is crouching, gripping the edge, and evidently ready to vault down to JEROME's assistance. Before he can leap, ASTRA's hand falls on his shoulder.

1. ASTRA:

Wait.

JAMES glances back at ASTRA.

2. ASTRA:

I have a way to beat this. But I need you here.

3. JAMES:

He needs me down there.

Down in the pit, before AVATAR's blow can fall, a big grizzly bear drops down behind AVATAR, landing heavily...

1. SFX:

THOOM!

...and has AVATAR in a (literal) bear hug. JEROME is rolling to his feet.

2. JEROME:

My thanks, Chi-Yun.

3. BEAR:

Rrrourrrr Rrrrelrrrrom.

Back to JAMES and ASTRA. He hasn't moved one way or the other.

4. ASTRA:

Trust me.

JAMES is standing, looking at ASTRA. SARA hovers nearby, watching JAMES. We can't see into the pit.

5. JAMES:

What do I need to do?

ASTRA holds her hand out. Behind her, SARA is wide-eyed with surprise or alarm. JAMES remains impassive.

1. ASTRA:

Give me your shield.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

The last time I said those words it was to a different Major Democracy.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I asked him to trust me with the future of every superhuman on Earth.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Me, the timid, unsure, never-quite-worthy junior member of Strikeforce.

5. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

And he trusted me.

6. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

James is the only man on Earth who knows what went through the Major's mind that day.

7. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I find that I'm holding my breath—

JAMES, holding the SHIELD by the edge, places it in ASTRA's outstretched hands.

8. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

But he trusts me.

In the pit, AVATAR has JEROME backed against a wall and has punched at his head -- a punch which misses by inches and buries itself up to the wrist in the concrete. Fragments of stone cut JEROME's cheek. Behind AVATAR, the BEAR is bashing the demon with a long piece of metal (part of the smashed shutter) but AVATAR doesn't seem to feel it. We'll skip the sound effects on this panel and let the image speak for itself.

No dialogue.

ASTRA cradles the SHIELD in her arms while SARA and JAMES look at her expectantly.

1. ASTRA:

Thank you.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

It's true that I don't have my magic. But there's one trick I can still do. It's not a spell, it's more of a... knowledge.

Identical view -- but ASTRA has vanished. JAMES looks startled, and SARA is on the verge of apoplexy.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

I can still find my way to Haven.

4. SARA:

What the—

An all black panel -- no detail at all except for the captions.

5. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Haven. A place outside of time and space. One of the keystones of the multiverse.

6. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

A place of neutrality. Perfect tranquility and perfect safety. A place where you can wait for eternity and never be harmed — or cause harm.

Same view as PANEL 2. SARA is shaking her fists at JAMES in helpless frustration.

7. SARA:

How could you just give her that?

8. JAMES:

She's a member of Strikeforce.

9. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

In fact, the perfect place to hide—

Identical view again -- and ASTRA is back, as if she had never left. She is holding out the SHIELD, offering it back to JAMES. It looks no different from the SHIELD he handed to her a second ago.

10. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

—The most dangerous weapon in the universe.

Close-up of JAMES's gloved hand reaching for the SHIELD, his fingertips an inch away from touching it.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

James understands. He must have always suspected that the Shield wasn't left lying in his father's attic.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

And now he's questioning all over again whether he's worthy of carrying It.

JAMES has the SHIELD and is spinning round like a discus thrower to hurl it down into the pit.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

But he's a man of action.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

And his friends need him.

Now we see into the pit, and it's awash with magical energy streaming from AVATAR in all directions. JEROME and the BEAR are driven back against the wall, shielding themselves as best they can. And the SHIELD... has failed! A splash of orange energy has intercepted it and swatted it away.

5. AVATAR:

JAMES is leaping to snag the ricocheting SHIELD.

6. JAMES:

Can't get through his defenses!

He's readying himself for another attempt. SARA grabs the SHIELD as his arm brings it back for the throw.

1. JAMES:

Maybe if I bounce it off—

2. SARA:

Throw me!

SARA is pulling the SHIELD towards herself. JAMES looks at her as if she's gone insane. Behind them, lurid orange streaks light the sky.

3. SARA:

Come on, I'm only 100 pounds. You can throw me twice that far!

4. SARA:

Spells only affect what they're aimed at!

5. SARA:

If I hold the shield, he'll have to aim at me!

Close up of their faces, inches apart. The entire panel background is a wash of orange.

6. JAMES:

You'll be—

7. SARA:

I promise he won't hit me.

Another view down into the pit, where CHI-YUN and JEROME are making another combined rush at AVATAR -- only to be thrown back by splashes of energy.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

They throw themselves against the threat again and again. Never giving up.

JAMES holds SARA by an arm and a leg and is pivoting on the spot to spin her around -- like an ice dancer spinning his partner round. She clutches the SHIELD against her body with her free arm.

2. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Attempting the impossible.

He releases her, hurling her with a huge effort, and she flies like a aerialist, angling down into the orange pit.

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Not accepting that it is impossible.

4. JAMES:

Yahhhhhh!

5. SARA (softly):

This is Major Democracy's Shield. The most powerful weapon in the world.

She flies down, SHIELD extended in front of her, directly at AVATAR. Our POV is from behind her, so we're looking down the length of her body. We can see AVATAR looking back up at her. Orange streams pour from his fingers, creating a maelstrom of energy. But none of it touches her. If anything, it's deforming away from the path of her flight. And there's something else -- only a hint, possibly just an optical illusion, possibly a coincidence of light and shadows -- spreading out on either side of her body is a pattern of multi-coloured energy shaped somewhat like the wings of a butterfly.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Because there's a world to save.

2. SARA (softly):

And what you've got to ask yourself, punk—

SARA smashes full-on into AVATAR with the SHIELD raised in front of her head so the flat surface takes the impact.

3. SARA:

Is are you feeling lu—

4. SFX:

CRASH!

5. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

And nobody else who can do it.

In a HUGE explosion, orange and black and silver flares burst from the space that used to be occupied by AVATAR. It's like watching flares erupting from the surface of the sun -- and each flare is arcing back and striking the SHIELD, and apparently being absorbed by it. SARA is barely visible in the glare. She's half kneeling and half curled up on the ground, head down behind the SHIELD, gripping its straps with both hands.

No dialogue.

The last of the energy flares are striking the SHIELD and vanishing. SARA is in the same position.

1. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

So they do what has to be done.

In a wider view, we see JAMES standing at the edge of the pit and looking down at a scene of cracked and broken concrete and twisted metal. In the centre of it, SARA lies face down, motionless, the SHIELD next to her.

2. JAMES:

Sara!

3. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Against all the odds.

JAMES is leaping down into the pit.

4. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

At any cost.

JAMES kneels by SARA and gently rolls her over. Her eyes are closed.

5. JAMES:

Sara?

Her eyes are open and she smiles up at him.

6. SARA:

Good throw.

7. JAMES:

Nah... just lucky.

8. CAPTION (ASTRA's MONOLOGUE):

Oh yes. They'll do.