Opening: a dark night in Nova Montana, cool and a slight mist is hanging in the air. We see an average city block common to most major cities. A couple of the lights on this particular block are flickering on, as others alternate flickering off. While not a bad block, if the cars parked on the street are any indication, not the upscale part of the city either. The buildings are a collection of 2 and 3 story brownstones in decent to slightly worse condition. Trash cans and bags are out on the sidewalks, the next day is pickup. An old sofa is on the far side of the street, a bit worn from use but otherwise in good repair. The time would seem to be roughly 11pm, though the street is oddly quiet for that time of night even on a weekday. Walking from the intersection down the block are a man and woman, possibly newly married or dating from the way they are strolling casually.

Cut to: point of view from about 2 stories above looking down and diagonally at the couple, but centered on the intersection.

Eyes: Damn, they have bad timing. What do you want to do? Over.

Steel: Well this is what we've been waiting for. Hold position and be ready.

Cut to: Point of view – from the building looking at the back of the couch on the street, a man in all black is sitting/kneeling. He is almost obscured from site as the overhead lamp is broken. Reflections of small pieces of glass can be seen occasionally in the street and on the couch as the other 3 lamps continue their strobe light dance.

Steel: Bug, give me a recon.

Cut to: P.O.V. – in the doorway of a building on the corner, which the couple have just casually past. Another man in black also hiding in shadows from a porch light bulb that has been unscrewed.

Bug: (whispering) Nothing here. The street is empty… Wait… a van just started down from the middle of the block north of me. This may be them. Over.

Steel: Everyone get set. No collaterals. Wait for them to make their move first. And Eyes keep looking for backup.

Cut to: P.O.V. – End of block. The oblivious couple may have intended to reach this point and travel further, but they are only in the middle of the block at the moment. The couch and its hidden schemer are on the opposite side of the street and closer to the corner by 10 feet. The part of the street they are on is darker than the rest of the block and suddenly realizing this, the man quickens his pace a bit, slightly pulling the lady with him. At the same time a large van, possibly blue or another dark color but looking black in the dim light, approaches the couple at a slow, and very silent speed, with the headlights off. As the van comes even with the couple, the side door is thrown open! With shock and fear on the faces of both of the couple, their heads turn and their legs seem to become heavy as stone, though they know they should run.

POV – from behind the couple and slightly above their heads, 4 medium sized men jump out of the van. The men are dressed in blue jeans and [color?] oversized sweatshirts with a [emblem?] emblazoned on them. The men from the van rush toward the couple who are still caught in shock.

POV – front of van, centered in between the couple and the 4 men. A sound like a large bottle of soda being opened is heard, quickly followed by that of broken glass. As 2 more of the soda sounds go off, in the background the man in the porch shadows emerges, and aims what is probably a gun at one of the men from the van. As he fires, his weapon also emitting the same non-bullet sounding noise, a figure from above the men drops down from an overhanging tree branch. The reflection of polished steel catches the flickering light of the barely working street lamps.

POV – middle of the street looking at the couch. The man hidden behind the couch jumps up and over the couch, one hand supporting himself over on the back cushion rest. He sprints for the front of the vehicle, and around to where the stunned attackers are suddenly finding themselves the nights prey.

POV – from the couples eyes. One of the blue jean men jerks sideways a step and falls forward, his sweatshirt turning a red tinged black in the poor light. At the same time the figure from the tree springs forward at the blue jean man, his arms moving in a wide upturning arc. The polished blade he holds remains undimmed, though the target of the attack spins to his right with a half formed scream caught in his throat. This man too drops over, backwards, as Steel arrives from the couch.

Closeup -The 2 remaining sweatshirt clad figures grit their teeth with the wave of surprise now gone and replaced with a wave of desperate determination to survive, reach for guns concealed underneath their sweatshirts.

Pull back – Steel continues to move past the man closest to the figure from the trees, looking into the interior of the van, odd gun drawn and ready. The figure from the tree, sword held high above his head, lunges forward and sweeps his sword down as the blue jean clad man raises his .45 up to fire upon him.

Reverse angle - Bug arrives besides the couple and shields them with his black clothed body as he raises the odd noisemaker he used to drop the first man from the van from up the block. Simultaneously the last would-be attacker fires wildly towards both Bug and the couple with his .38 revolver. The revolver fires 3x, each shot ringing loudly on the suddenly rancorous street. One more Fszzt is issued from Bug's weapon as he is struck twice, the 3rd shot narrowly missing both his head, 3 inches to the right, and that of the woman, 1 inch to the left, mostly behind him.

Cut to: Ground looking up – The sounds of the mixed gunfire has muffled and almost covered the short lived scream of the van man standing in front of the sword wielding man. His arm drops to the ground, finger on the trigger and .45 firmly in the grip of a hand without a mind to direct it. Before the effects of shock, blood loss, or despair can overcome his senses, prior to his lungs running out of air to finish his scream, the swordsman continues his motion from the downward amputation to a pirouette that decapitates his head, and leaves the sword in the swordman's right outstretched hand.

Cut to: POV – over the left shoulder behind Steel. Steel looks in the van. As he turns his head to the left, on the vehicles floor next to the rear doors are 2 bodies. Both are bound and shivering, though whether from fear, or cold can't be understood. As he enters the van, another eruption from Bug's weapon goes off, followed shortly by a soft thud. The echoes of stuttered crying can be heard in the van, but if it emanates from the "passengers" within or from outside it is too hard to tell.

POV - from the center of the dark interior of the van. Steel has reached the end of the van and kneels with his back to the doors. He checks the "passengers", looking equally for weapons as well as seeing if they are injured. Satisfied they pose no immediate threat, he flicks his hand and a 3 ½" blade emerges from the top of his gloved palm.

POV – Steel's eyes. Steel cuts the gags from each of the women, and as they finally look up to him they scream, eyes fixed upon the blade protruding from his glove.

Steel: Shhh. I'm sorry. It's ok, I won't hurt you. [as he places his right arm behind his back, blade still extended] Look we want to help you get out of here. But we need to ask you some questions first. Please bear with us and we all can get out of here fast. I promise.

To be continued...

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