The Souls of Cyber Folk, Part 1 of 4

"Caught in the Cybernet"

Page 1

Panel 1. 2/3 page splash. A junkyard at night. Their backs to a dumpster, guns up and ready for action are FORGE (in his X-Men duds, but also wearing an open overcoat on top of it He's carrying some hi-tech super gun of his own design) and MISTY KNIGHT (dressed in turtleneck sweater, shoulder holster, jeans and boots as per usual, but please lose the afro hairdo or cut it to a contemporary length of less than an inch long, nobody's worn this hairdo since about 1976 for Christ's sake. How about a leisure curl or something?). In the background, in the air, we see the headlights of two flying CAPTUREBOTS (We can't make them out yet, but these are flying tanks, with powerful WALDOs in front, several mounted weapons all over the place, and a panel that dispenses metallic tentacles. They should be large enough to carry two people inside). They are heading towards the heroes fast. "They're making another pass, Misty. You ready?" "Nope. Let's do it." 2. Misty and Forge lean out from behind their cover and fire at the camera. 3. New angle reveals that the shots were ineffective. The Capturebots fire back.

Page 2

1. Misty and Forge leap out of the way of the exploding dumpster. 2. One Capturebot closes on them. Forge pushes Misty back as TENTACLES emerge from the Capturebot. 3. He tells her that she has to escape and get help as the tentacles wrap themselves around him (he drops his gun). 4. Misty picks up the gun as the first Capturebot flies away from her with Forge in tow. The second Capturebot flies down towards her. "Not yet," she thinks. "Not yet." 5. "Now!" She fires into the open compartment that the tentacles are beginning to snake out of. The Capturebot EXPLODES. 6. The force of the blast slams Misty into the ground. Her last thought before blacking out is, "get help..."

Page 3

Splash. Poster shot of DEATHLOK, who is in Cyberspace (the computer network we've seen before. He is hopelessly searching for clues to the whereabouts of his human body. Captions are again in the form of a letter to Tracy. Computer interrupts his internal monologue. Someone is trying to contact him. How? Modem link.

Page 4

1. Deathlok looks up at the sky in Cyberspace. A stream of "1's" and "0's" are going by up there. Computer offers to translate input to audio equivalent. Deathlok agrees. 2. Tight on Deathlok "sitting" thoughtfully as he listens to Misty. She needs his help. He doesn't want to break from his search but his curiosity is piqued. He agrees to meet her. But where? 3. Outside of Jesus' place, Misty is typing into a laptop computer, hooked up to a cellular phone in her car. "Try outside of your front door. I am a detective, after all." 4. Deathlok (with Jesus behind him), dressed in overcoat and hat, towers over Misty. She reacts to his looks. "Yeah, well. You should have seen the guy who lost the fight." 5. Misty smiles, and apologizes for her insensitivity. She should be used to this sort of thing by now. "Yeah?" says Deathlok. "Well, I'm not."

Page 5

1. Deathlok introduces Jesus to Misty, explaining that he is his roommate. Jesus points out that it is his place they're living in. Deathlok introduces Misty as his electronic pen pal. 2. Favoring Misty. She refuses to talk in front of Jesus. He's "fully" (as in fully human, not part of the community). Community? Deathlok wonders what's going on. 3. Misty is adamant. Not until he's gone. Jesus goes reluctantly. 4. "Now", says Misty, "I'll show you." Misty opens an access panel on her Bionic arm, revealing her mechanical works. 5. Tight on Deathlok reacting in surprise. Another cyborg? "Okay. You've got my full attention."

Page 6-7

1. Exterior Misty's car. Deathlok captions are more of his letter to Tracy. "My first thought was that another Cyborg might be able to help me find a way out of Deathlok. Maybe if I do her a favor, she'll do one for me." 2. Inside Misty's car. Deathlok, "So what's the deal, you passin' or something?" Misty ignores the shot, instead telling Deathlok about herself. She is a former policewoman turned adventurer who has a bionic arm. Right now she's working on a case involving Cybernets and she needs Deathlok's help. 3. Big panel. Deathlok is puzzzled, "Cybernets?" Misty explains. "Cybernet" refers to anybody who is either a cyborg or a sentient robot. Cybernetic organism or Cybernetwork. It's a term of derision co-opted by some of the more politically-minded members of our little group. If we make the word our own, it takes the sting out of them using it to describe us. 4. Deathlok nods. Control the language, control the terms of the discussion. He's familiar with the tactic. (Chicken ain't nothin' but a bird...") How did they know about him though? 5. Tight on Misty. Deathlok's swimming through computer systems (the other guys who can do that call it "Cyberspace" by the way, it's from some book.) had alerted many of the other Cybernets to his existence some time ago. Eventually some of them would have contacted him for their own reasons. 6. Exterior car from above. It turns out that he is needed now. 1. Back in the car, Misty continues. Dozens of Netters have disappeared in the past few weeks. Misty intends to find out what happened to them. She has already contacted or left word for several other cyborgs, both to warn them and to ask for their aid. 2. Deathlok doesn't want to break off his search for his own body, this stuff isn't really his problem. Misty aggressively points out that it is his problem; she found him, they'll find him too. 3. Two shot of Michael and Misty. Maybe true. For that reason, and (in caption) since Deathlok is interested in hearing from Misty about the experiences of another cyborg, he decides that he's in, for now. And if he's going to spend time with her, she's going to stop calling him Deathlok. His name is Michael. 4. Close on Misty's face from behind, she is looking at an attacking Capturebot in the rear-view mirror. "Well, Michael. I think you're about to find out what you signed on for.." "What do you mean?" Computer scan picks up unidentified craft in attack profile. 5. Interior car. Misty is reaching for the door. "I've seen what those things can do, bail out!" Computer agrees that the action is advised. An energy emitting weapon is powering up on board the hostile craft.

Page 8-10

1. Misty and Deathlok leap out of opposite sides of the fast-moving car. 2. The Capturebot fries the car with an energy weapon. It explodes. 3. Misty rolls into the concrete Median. Hard. 4. Deathlok rolls to his feet as the computer spits out tactical, including the fact that the attacking craft is unmanned.. He calls to Misty. She's all right. Deathlok orders the computer to plan a defense with minimal risk to passing cars. 5-6. Deathlok heads for the side of the road, away from the passing traffic. The Capturebot doesn't buy it. It turns from pursuit and fires at Misty.  1. Misty shields her face from the shattering concrete Median that the beam pulverized. She shoots back at the same time. 2. The Capturebot swerves from the path of Misty's gun's beam (she's still carrying Forge's ray pistol). "Target locked", informs Computer. 3. Deathlok fires. 4. The plasma beam strikes and damages the Capturebot. Computer informs D'lok of damage. 5. Capturebot makes a strafing run at D'lok. Deathlok is running straight towards it. 1. Deathlok leaps at the Capteturebot, twisting in midair to avoid it's barrage. 2. And smashes into it, grappling with its Waldos. 3. Misty, weapon cocked, yells up at D'lok to come down. She doesn't have a shot at it. 4. Deathlok, struggling with the tentacles that pull at him from every direction answers by pointing his pistol at the Capturebot. "I do." 5. Misty's shocked face looks up at the fireball of an explosion in the sky.

Page 11-13

1. Misty runs up to the site of the crash. Deathlok is standing unharmed in the downed, smoldering wreckage of the Capturebot. Computer tells him that, though they are unharmed, it is ill-advised to discharge his weapon at source of flight support. "You're telling me?" 2. Misty has caught up to him. She's glad he's unhurt, but doesn't look too good her own fine self. Deathlok suggests that they catch a cab to her office. 3. Misty looks askance. A cab? No offence, but have you looked in the mirror lately? Do you know how hard it is for a netter to get a cab in this city? Deathlok is trying to flag one down. "Yeah. It's cause the cabbies think we all want to ride up to the Hall of Presidents exhibit at Disneyland. That's where we all live, you know. It's nothing personal, but you know what the crime is like there." 4. Exterior, the offices of NightWing Restorations. "How's the shoulder?" 5. Deathlok is cutting a bandage he just applied to Misty's shoulder inside the offices of Nightwing Restorations. "Better, thanks." 1. Misty gets a tray of coffee and donuts and offers Deathlok some, apologizing for "the lack of real food around here." Deathlok demurs, "That's okay. I can't eat real food anyway." 2. He pulls out a can of liquid formula (he can't digest anything else). "I'd offer to share but you don't want any. Trust me." 3. While she eats, Deathlok sees a picture of Misty with COLLEEN WING and asks about her. She's Misty's partner, but Misty would prefer to keep her out of this. Not that there's any real problem between them, but this is cyborg business. 4. Misty stands up. She doesn't want to talk about this anymore, she's somewhat embarrassed about this area of distance between her and a woman who is like a sister to her. Michael understands, before he was a cyborg, he was a black man. In college, his roommate and best buddy was white, as close as they were, there were places their friendship couldn't go. 5. Misty (now in the next room, changing into an untorn turtleneck as Deathlok averts his gaze) has been down that road too. Hell, she's gone so far down that road that now some people accuse her of being more comfortable with mutants and cyborgs than she is with her own people, whoever they might be. She feels trapped between two worlds. At least two. 1. Misty re-enters the room. Deathlok is looking at the picture., reciting something, "It is a peculiar sensation, this double consciousness, this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity." 2. Tight on Deathlok's face as he continues, "One ever feels his twoness...two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings, two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder." 3. Pull back to show Misty looking at a self-absorbed Deathlok. Misty, "That's exactly it. Where is that from?" "W.E. B. DuBois. 'The Souls of Black Folk.' My father made me read that book a half-dozen times. I'm not sure I ever understood why until just now." 4. Deathlok has turned to face Misty. Don't beat yourself up over this, Misty. When I was human, I was pretty damned assimilated myself, the only black at work, one of the only two families in my neighborhood, other than those cutting little reminders I would get every now and then, I was pretty comfortable in my illusion. 5. I don't plan to ever get that comfortable as a cyborg. Misty's quite happy to "pass", but then, she's got the option. 6. She promises Deathlok that if they survive this mess, she'll aid him in his search for his human body.

Page 14-17

1. While they wait for some of the aid that Misty has called for to show up (allude to the X-Men ) Misty and Deathlok go to the junkyard where she and Forge were attacked earlier. 2. Deathlok scans the wreck. Inset of cutaway SENSORVISION view of the Capturebot. Computer informs Deathlok that it can restore many of the machines functions to near-normal levels. 3. As he pulls a high-tech repair kit from his backpack, Deathlok tells Misty that he's got an idea. 4. Deathlok kneels over the damaged Capturebot. Computer tells him to reconnect primary power-supply-- "Okay." 5. the Capturebot springs into action, tentacles grabbing Deathlok, Waldoes reaching for him. Computer concludes, "--only after re-writing operating system." 1. Deathlok uses his incredible strength to throw the entire Capturebot over his head 2. And into a wall. The Computer tells him to be careful or he may damage it again. 3. Deathlok dodges a "punch" from one of the Waldoes and tells Computer that hurting the Capturebot isn't exactly his biggest worry. 4. Misty appears, she's got her gun aimed at the Capturebot. Deathlok, held aloft by the tentacles, shouts, "No! You'll Damage it! " 5. The tentacles jam Deathlok into a brick wall, Misty dives clear as the whole thing comes down on Deathlok. 1. The Capturebot turns towards Misty, warding off her weapon fire with a chunk of wall it uses as a shield. 2. Misty is diving again, gritting her teeth from the pain of her injured shoulder, as she avoids a blast. 3. A tentacle is wrapped around her throat. She's choking. 4. Misty uses her bionic right hand to crush the tentacle. 5. Misty is discarding the smashed bit of tentacle as she realizes she is directly in the sights of one of the Capturebot's energy weapons. 1. Misty reacts as one of Deathlok's plasma bolts vaporizes the weapon. 2. Deathlok stands in the rubble he dug himself out of, holding his smoking gun. 3. Capturebot grabs Deathlok with one of the Waldoes. 4. Deathlok rips the Waldo from the Capturebot in a shower of sparks. 5. Deathlok rips through the side of the Capturebot, making a hole to climb in. 6. Deathlok is half inside the Capturebot, jamming a wire into a mass of control circuitry. Computer informs him that the Capturebot's operating system has been overridden and is now a slave to Deathlok's systems.

Page 18

1. Deathlok ushers Misty into the now open top of the Capturebot. "It's going back to its home base, let's hitch a ride and do some reconnaissance. When your friends get here, we can go back and clean house." 2. The Capturebot rises from the ground 3. And flies over the city near the river. 4. It dives into the water. 5. And flies into a secret entrance underwater. 6. Finally landing in an underground docking bay, beneath the Latverian-owned skyscraper (a long-forgotten Doombase). Computer says its safe to come out.

Page 19

1. Deathlok and Misty climb out of the ship. It's a gigantic chamber. Computer tactical is alert for remote scans. So far, so good. 2. Misty and Deathlok carefully make their way through metal corridors. Misty hope they can find some of the missing cyborgs. Deathlok reminds her that they are only there to look the place over. 3. Deathlok's Computer has detected human life patterns, and several separate power sources. Michael orders a course plotted to the area. 4. Misty follows Deathlok through another corridor. The computer says that the data source is just around the next bend. 5. Deathlok and Misty react in shock and horror to whatever it is they are looking at.

Page 20

Splash. A cybernetic torture chamber. MACHINE MAN, FORGE, JOCASTA, ULTRON, BUSHWACKER, RUBY THURSDAY and some other cyborgs you can create (but make sure the well known ones are prominent) are partially disassembled and wired into the various high-tech devices that litter the room. They are suffering, screaming in pain and rage. This should be a knockout of a page. We're shooting for an audible gasp from the reader.

Page 21

1. Deathlok follows Misty, who runs to Forge's side. Forge is blinded by pain and does not even recognize her. 2. Deathlok scans the room. The damage to these machines is beyond Computer's ability to repair. 3. Misty is talking to Deathlok, She names all of the Cyborgs she recognizes. They're an incredibly powerful group. Whatever did this to them is too much for them to fight. They better get while they can, round up the Avengers and the X-Men and come back. 4. Deathlok wants to know who is powerful enough to take out this group. 5. Deathlok and Misty whirl in reaction to an off-panel speaker. "You dare ask? Only one man on earth wields enough power to achieve this--"

Page 22

Splash. Deathlok and Misty's heads in extreme foreground. Panel center is a powerful shot of a regal-looking Doctor Doom. "--And that man stands before you. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Doctor Doom. And you are as good as dead.

Next: Doom by the Dozens...