BOOK 11
BRAD & LING’S APARTMENT – DAY
The door opens.
Lisa, Cherry, and Eve stride in like a mob squad power entrance.
Lisa: Sleek black leather jacket, hair up, commanding.
Cherry: Trendy cropped blazer, soft power radiating.
Eve: Dark tank, jeans, and fingerless black gloves—quietly dangerous.
They freeze.
Center of the living room: A massive glass terrarium glows like a sci-fi jewel. Inside:
A mini metropolis for geckos.
Tiny skyscrapers and streetlamps.
A gecko monorail in motion.
Twenty geckos living their best urban lives.
Lisa (deadpan mob energy):
“…Explain.”
Brad (popping out of the kitchen with a smoothie):
“Centerpiece! For our first client. Lizards need to feel… understood.”
Ling (leaning against the couch, serious):
“We’re going niche. Urban gecko niche.”
The three women just stare.
Cherry (arms crossed):
“You built a lizard Times Square.”
Eve (tilting her head at the terrarium):
“And is that… a gecko Starbucks?”
Brad (proudly):
“You notice that’s their fav place.”
Suddenly, a husky trots out from the bedroom, tail high. He stops in the center of the room, locks eyes with the women, and—
HUSKY (deep, resonant, almost human voice):
“I will now… sing the songs of my people.”
He throws his head back into a haunting howl, does a dramatic lap around the room, then exits through the dog door to the backyard—still howling, like he’s summoning the moon.
A beat of stunned silence.
Cherry
(grinning at the door to the backyard)
I think I heard what your husky is essentially saying to you.
Lisa
(deadpan, mob energy)
He saying fuck you, Brad. Who do you think you are?! Who are these women!!
Eve
(softening)
Aww… he just needs time to warm up to us.
Ling
Yeah, good luck with that. You’re not that special.
Eve
(turns to Ling, showing off her fingerless gloves)
Oh, I hear you like getting spanked!
Ling’s mouth drops open, smiling.
Ling
Oh, this is getting kinkier than ever.
(throws a look at Brad, grinning)
Cherry
(chuckling, stepping in as the adult)
Come on, guys. Focus. We actually need to call our first client, no?
Eve
Wait—you haven’t even called them yet?!
Lisa
First impressions are important. I thought maybe we should consult with each other.
Eve
Geezus. They’re coming to us for help. Give me the damn phone.
Brad
Lisa’s right. We should play this carefully—learn as much as we can from first contact.
Eve
(narrowing her eyes, slowly grinning)
Okay… it’s like that. I get it.
Geez, Brad—I know how to play this shit all too well, you know that.
(leans in, cocking her head)
So… what do you think? A man or a woman for first contact?
INT. CAR – NIGHT – DRIVING HOME
Lisa leans back, watching the road flicker past. Eve drives, hands tight on the wheel.
LISA
So… you’ll be scanning our client, the woman. Like you scanned me.
EVE
(side glance)
I’m a doctor, Lisa. I’ve seen plenty of naked bodies.
We need her frequency to evaluate her experiences correctly.
LISA
Well, I want to be there.
EVE
Why? You don’t trust me?
It’s too weird with three people. Hon, it should just be me and Cherry.
LISA
And if my ass was being scanned?
EVE
(stares)
Who’s scanning you!?
LISA
See? You don’t like it.
EVE
Okay… I admit it. I’m very protective.
It’s just me, okay?
But what does this have to do with me scanning someone else?
LISA
Another woman. It’s different…
(pause, dead serious)
What if she’s pretty?
EVE
(sputters)
Alright, Lisa.
You can be there—but I don’t know what you’re even looking for.
I’m going to see her naked.
What—are you gonna try to scan my mind somehow?
LISA
Nope.
(smiling)
Artimus has me covered.
EVE
What does that mean?
LISA
He’s bringing home one of his lie detectors.
I’ll hook you up and ask what you thought about her.
EVE
(throws hands up)
This is off-the-charts ridiculous!
We’re supposed to be enlightened people.
It’s embarrassing—really!
LISA
Okay… I wasn’t gonna bring this up.
But Evelyn actually wants to start doing regular scans of me.
Eve SLAMS the blinker and pulls the car to the side of the road.
EXT. ROADSIDE – NIGHT
The car idles on the shoulder, headlights cutting through the dark. A humid silence hums around them.
Eve’s chest heaves. Her hands are still gripping the steering wheel before she suddenly slams it into park.
EVE
(voice low, shaking)
Get out of the car.
LISA
(startled)
Eve… don’t. You’re scaring me.
Eve’s door slams open. She rounds the hood, yanks Lisa’s door open, and leans in.
EVE
Get your ass out. Now.
Or I’ll pull you out myself.
Lisa freezes—then obeys, eyes wide with fear. The night air feels alive, electric.
EVE
You think this is a game?
Give me your belt.
LISA
Eve… this isn’t you. Something’s happened.
EVE
(sharper)
Give. It. To. Me!
With trembling fingers, Lisa unbuckles her belt and hands it over.
LISA
You’re going to regret this. This isn’t who you are…
EVE
Turn around. Bend over.
Lisa hesitates, tears brimming, then turns.
LISA
(voice breaking)
I don’t want this… it’ll hurt me… please…
Eve raises the belt—hesitates—and then snaps it across Lisa’s ass once.
Lisa cries out in shock, half pain, half disbelief.
Eve lifts it again—but freezes, trembling.
Then, with a choked sound, she turns it on herself, whipping her own thigh.
Lisa spins, grabs her, pulls her tight.
LISA
(commanding)
No! No, Eve—you can’t!
It’s over! It’s done.
Her voice, fierce with love cutting through the night.
Everything stills. The energy breaks.
Moments later, they sit back in the car, both pale, breathing hard.
LISA
(fumbling with comms)
Artimus… code blue.
Send men to Brad’s—we’ve been attacked by something.
And check on Cherry.
EVE
(quiet, raw)
Let’s go get Cherry.
INT. CHERRY’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
The door is unlocked. Lisa pushes it open, and the two of them slip inside.
The place is silent except for the drip of a faucet somewhere. A soft lamp glows in the living room, throwing long shadows over Cherry’s scattered art supplies and open sketchbook.
EVE
(quiet, tense)
Cherry?
No answer.
They follow the dripping sound to the bathroom.
Cherry is half-submerged in the tub, eyes glassy, skin pale. Steam curls around her like a ghost.
EVE
(rushing in, snapping into doctor mode)
Oh my god. Cherry!
Eve kneels by the tub, touching Cherry’s face, checking her pulse. Lisa hovers behind, hand over her mouth.
EVE
(to Lisa)
She’s breathing. Pulse is steady but slow.
(to Cherry, firm)
Cherry. Can you hear me?
Cherry blinks, dazed, lips moving.
CHERRY
…saw him.
EVE
Who did you see?
CHERRY
…lizard. Not scary.
(her eyes focus on Eve)
He… looked at me like he knew me.
Eve wraps a towel around Cherry and lifts her carefully out of the tub. Water streams onto the tile.
EVE
(soothing, but scanning her eyes)
Okay, you’re with me now. Focus on my voice. Did you feel… anything?
CHERRY
(confused)
It was… like the air hummed. Inside my chest.
(beat)
Then… nothing. Like I wasn’t here for a minute.
Lisa crouches beside them, her voice trembling.
LISA
Eve… is she okay?
EVE
She’s in mild shock, but no physical harm.
(beat, frowning)
This wasn’t just a scare. Someone hit her through the grid.
Cherry clutches Eve’s arm, whispering:
CHERRY
I wasn’t afraid. I think… he’s not here to hurt me.
Eve and Lisa share a look. For the first time, they realize this “case” isn’t just a job—they’re already in it.
INT. SMALL-TOWN POLICE STATION – NIGHT
The automatic doors slide open, and Lisa and Eve stride in. Lisa is in her “mob squad” jacket, gloves still tucked into her belt. Eve looks like she hasn’t slept but still radiates authority.
Behind the counter, OFFICER #1 (mid-40s, grizzled but wide-eyed) and OFFICER #2 (younger, trying to play it cool) look up—and freeze.
OFFICER #2
…No freaking way.
OFFICER #1
(staring)
Lisa Snow. Dr. Eve.
(beat)
You’re—uh… you’re really here.
EVE
(flat, tired)
Yeah. In the flesh. I hear you’ve got our friend Ling in a cell.
The officers glance at each other, suddenly nervous.
OFFICER 2
(looking up)
Look… he, uh… assaulted his partner.
EVE
We know. It’s not his fault. He’s…
LISA
(grinning)
…He’s a Scorpio. And it’s a full moon. Can’t you let this one slide?
OFFICER 1
(stunned)
He said it was… a lizard.
LISA
Oh, well that too.
EVE
We need him released right away. Is that possible?
OFFICER 2
Technically, yeah… but there’s paperwork.
He hesitates, then pulls out a small notebook like he’s been waiting for this moment.
OFFICER 2
Could you sign this first? My daughter loves you both.
EVE
(sighing, takes pen)
Sure.
Eve signs quickly. Lisa takes her time, leaning on the counter.
LISA
What’s her name?
OFFICER 3
Brenda.
EVE
(teasing)
Lisa… really?
Lisa draws a little heart under her signature.
WAITING ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Ling shuffles out, looking rumpled and dazed.
EVE
Come on, big man.
(eyeing him, still in shock herself)
I thought you were, like… the bottom. I’m confused.
LING
(In shock)
We interchange.
LISA
(smiling)
Oh, that’s probably better, huh?
LING
Yeah.
They push through the glass doors, leaving the officers beaming like kids at a comic con.
INT. EVE AND LISA’S BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Eve undresses, catching sight of the dark marks on her thighs where she hit herself earlier.
The reality sinks in. She sits on the bed, shaking.
LISA enters, sees the marks immediately.
LISA
I’ll get the first aid.
She retrieves a small kit from the drawer and hands it to Eve.
EVE
What about you?
Her head drops. A sob escapes.
LISA
Hey… it’s not that bad.
EVE
I’ll never forgive myself. Never.
LISA
Funny… you’d forgive Ling, wouldn’t you?
I know this wasn’t really you.
EVE
I’m too ashamed to even check if I left a real mark.
LISA
I figured it out on the way home.
Whatever that… death ray was—it tried to drag us into our worst fears.
The rage you felt… it’s the rage your stepfather felt when he punished you.
You never forgave him, huh?
Eve trembles, tears streaming.
EVE
It took me over. The feelings were hateful, self loathing.
I’m sure it’s how he felt.
And I did the same to you he did to me.
Lisa kneels and hugs her.
LISA
He did a lot more to you than what you did to me tonight.
But maybe now you really understand…
the power of what drove him.
EVE
(through tears)
tonight, I couldn’t stop myself.
I know what it’s like to be taken over.
But I’ve been over this memory with the Oracle…
Why couldn’t I stop it?
LISA
Because healing is a spiral.
It comes back around—
each time, a little deeper.
It’s ongoing.
One thing’s for sure:
I forgive you.
I don’t feel a thing.
Eve breathes, shakily.
EVE
Please… let me see.
Lisa hesitates, then lowers her pants. Eve gently helps, revealing a reddish mark.
EVE
(deep breath)
There’s a mark… it must’ve hurt. I’m sorry.
Lisa leans in and they hug tightly, both trembling.
The bedroom door opens—Artimus enters, looking weary.
ARTIMUS
You two okay?
I just dropped Brad off. His face is a mess.
EVE
I… left a mark on Lisa’s bottom.
LISA
At least it’s not my face. Poor Brad…
EVE
We think he’s invincible.
But he’s human—like the rest of us.
They sit together, silent, the weight of the night settling in.
Early morning.
The house is still, the sky outside barely hinting at light. Lisa stirs with a sharp inhale, eyes wide, hair mussed from sleep.
Eve is already sitting up against the headboard, watching her quietly.
EVE
Hey… you okay?
LISA
(voice low, shaky)
Just a bad dream.
Eve tilts her head, studying her.
EVE
Was it about… what happened?
Lisa swallows and looks away, pulling the blanket tighter.
LISA
It’s fine. Nightmares aren’t real.
Eve’s voice softens, heavy with meaning.
EVE
I was your nightmare.
The words hang between them in the pre-dawn hush. Lisa glances at her, the weight of it sinking in, and for a moment neither of them speaks—just two souls, awake before the world, feeling the truth settle like fog in the room.
Eve.
Go back to sleep. It’s early. Lisa drifts off and Eve kisses her head. Eve gets up, pulls some thing together and quietly leaves her home.
EXT. BRAD’S STREET – PRE-DAWN
The world is bluish and still. A dog barks softly in the distance.
Eve crouches at Brad’s door, enters with the code they all know, quietly.
INT. BRAD’S PAD – CONTINUOUS
Dark, quiet. A ticking clock and the faint hum of the fridge.
Eve scans the counter. A single sheet of paper:
First Client: Mrs. Halvorsen – “Husband is a lizard?”
She snaps a photo, folds the paper, and slips it into her hoodie.
She boots up the laptop, wipes the file history clean, and ghosts out.
EXT. STREET – PRE-DAWN
The neighborhood is silent. A thin fog rolls across the street.
Eve slips into her car, movements slow, haunted. She grips the wheel, staring ahead.
PASSENGER DOOR OPENS.
Ling climbs in, quiet. No grin this time—just tired eyes.
LING
Let’s get those bastards.
EVE
No… you’re not. Go be with Brad.
From somewhere behind the houses, the husky howls—long, mournful.
It’s the kind of sound that feels like it knows what they’ve done.
Eve flinches.
EVE
He’s gonna wake Brad up.
Ling doesn’t move.
LING
Then let’s just go.
Eve exhales, defeated, and eases the car into motion.
Eve’s car eases down the quiet block, tires whispering against wet pavement. A single streetlight flickers, throwing shadows over the houses.
She pulls to the curb on the next block and kills the engine.
Ling stares straight ahead, jaw tight.
Eve grips the steering wheel, breathing hard, eyes darting toward him—clearly weighing whether to push him out.
For a moment, it’s just the sound of the engine ticking as it cools.
Eve opens her mouth to speak—then shuts it.
Ling doesn’t look at her.
He just adjusts in his seat, folds his arms, and settles in.
The silent message is clear: He isn’t leaving.
Eve exhales through her nose, taps the wheel once, and shifts the car into drive.
The vehicle rolls off into the dark, two figures bound by quiet guilt, heading toward the stakeout together.
INT. CHERRY’S ROOM – MORNING
Lisa pushes the door open. Cherry is half-dressed, tying her shoes.
LISA
Have you seen Eve?
CHERRY
No.
LISA
I’ve called—nothing. She’s gone.
Cherry frowns, grabs her phone, dials. No answer.
Artimus appears in the doorway, grim.
ARTIMUS
That’s not all. Brad called. Ling’s gone too.
They took the first client’s info… and erased the rest.
CHERRY
Oh, no.
They’re on a suicide mission. They don’t understand what’s really happening.
ARTIMUS
Come on. We need to plan next moves.
EXT. SIDE STREET – STAKEOUT – DAWN
Eve’s car sits in shadow, engine low. Eve grips the wheel; Ling slumps in the passenger seat, both of them hollow-eyed.
Ling:
So… why are you here? What happened?
Eve:
It’s hard to even say it out loud. I can’t live with myself.
She was pleading with me not to hit her, and I did anyway. Hard. No mercy.
I took something that was ours—this beautiful, personal kink—and I destroyed all the trust we built around it.
I don’t deserve her anymore. That’s a fact.
She can move on and find someone worthy of her… and me?
I’ve got one last job in me. After that… the darkness can have me. It’s always known my name.
Ling:
Damn. That’s… that’s bad.
But you got a way of talking about it that cuts right to the bone.
(He pauses, letting the weight of her words hang.)
Ling (softly):
You realize… we’re no better than the monsters we hear about.
Guys who hurt the people they’re supposed to protect.
Commit a crime. Lose everything. Prison without walls.
(He looks down, voice breaking.)
Ling:
When I heard Brad’s father used to beat him—really beat him—
I swore I’d spend my life proving he deserved nothing but love.
And then… I became his worst nightmare again.
(A long silence. Two souls staring into the same pit.)
Ling:
So yeah. I’m right there with you.
I only see one choice now.
(He meets her eyes, steel in his voice.)
Ling:
Let’s do this.
EVE
If he comes out, you follow him. I want the girl.
She’s the one who hit us with that death ray.
LING
Deal. Check for my texts.
EVE
Yeah… mine are blowing up too.
They exchange a silent nod.
INT. LIVING ROOM – BRAD’S PAD – SAME TIME
Brad joins Lisa, Cherry, and Artimus at the table. Cherry is pacing, anxious.
ARTIMUS.
Eve was smart; she took some tech. That’s why we can’t trace their phones. At least not yet anyway.
CHERRY
I get it now… why Eve cracked.
Realizing she was your nightmare, Lisa—
she couldn’t integrate that.
She looks to Artimus.
CHERRY (cont’d)
Maybe you can take the terror out of that memory with your tech.
ARTIMUS
Yeah… we can remove the trauma spike or the memory entirely.
CHERRY
If she knew that, it might give her hope.
BRAD
Same for Ling. If he thought there was a way back to me… maybe he’d stop running.
LISA
But it’s deeper than that.
Right now, they can’t fathom forgiving themselves.
EXT. STAKEOUT – CONTINUOUS
Ling stares out the windshield, voice low and bitter.
LING
All that meditation. I’ve connected with higher beings. I’ve lead groups of people into higher mind thoughts.
Actually being the one who does the unforgivable—
I feel stupid now. .
EVE
Smoking on a vape.
I guess we’re supposed to say…
“That’s not who we really are ,” right?
LING
(chuckles, hollow)
Yeah, that’s the line.
Not sure I believe it anymore.
Headlights flash—movement.
EVE
Look. He’s coming out.
They duck lower. A man gets into his car and drives away.
LING
I’ll tail him. You take the girl.
Eve slips out of the car, resolve cold in her eyes.
INT. DEBBIE’S HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
Eve eases the door open and steps inside. The living room is dim, stale. In the corner, Debbie sits curled on a chair, frail and trembling.
EVE
I’m Eve. The one you talked to on the phone?
You sent a death ray, didn’t you.
I want to hear everything—
and I’ll know if you lie.
DEBBIE
I… I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.
That’s why I called for help.
EVE
Your husband. What’s he into?
DEBBIE
He worked at a tech company in Salinas.
He got out… because of what was going on.
If I talk too much… we’re all dead.
EVE
So he’s a good guy. Tried to get out?
DEBBIE
Yes.
Eve exhales, grabs her phone.
EVE
(into phone)
Ling. Don’t hurt him. Just follow.
He might be innocent.
LING (V.O.)
Copy that.
Suddenly—the front door bursts open.
Artimus storms in, Cherry behind him. He slaps tech cuffs on Eve’s wrists in one smooth motion.
CHERRY
(to Debbie)
Are you okay?
DEBBIE
Yeah… why wouldn’t I be?
CHERRY (to Eve)
This is for your own protection—from yourself.
Artimus hauls Eve out, her face a storm of shame and defiance.
INT. SAFE ROOM – NIGHT
Eve sits handcuffed to a chair, tear-streaked, shoulders slumped. Cherry sits close, knees almost touching hers.
EVE
(voice breaking)
You can’t… you can’t possibly feel the shame I feel.
CHERRY
I can let myself feel it. I will—for you.
EVE
No. Don’t.
Cherry presses a hand to her heart, closes her eyes. She breathes deep, then opens her eyes, stands, paces the small space, and comes back to sit in front of Eve.
CHERRY
That was your hardware reacting. Your system trying to process a low-grade energy bomb.
Your heart—your real heart—didn’t know what was happening.
Eve shudders, unable to look up.
CHERRY (softly, firmly)
Think about it, Eve. Of course your kink would surface. That’s what it does when bad energy hits—it looks for somewhere to go.
And yes, the rage your stepfather carried—that came up too.
Eve finally lifts her eyes.
CHERRY
She pleaded with you to stop… and your love did kick in.
You struck her once, and then you turned that energy on yourself.
You chose to carry the rest.
Deep down, you knew she could take one hit—and together, you survived it.
Like you always do.
Eve breaks—full sobs, ugly and cathartic. Cherry leans in and wraps her in a fierce hug.
CHERRY
You danced with the vortex and you made it out. Together.
Eve clings to her like a lifeline, letting it all go.
INT. HEALING ROOM – NIGHT
Cherry leans back in her chair, hair damp with sweat, hand still pressed to her chest. Eve breathes steadily now, the storm inside her finally quiet.
CHERRY
Damn…. how many people go through this?
These gut-wrenching, tangled feelings…
What if we’re meant to—for some reason?
Eve nods faintly, spent.
EVE
I can’t imagine what that was for.
Cherry glances toward the door.
CHERRY
Ling needs you. Maybe we can help him… but sweetie, you’re gonna have to help me out.
Because that took all I had. I’m spent.
A small, fragile smile breaks across Eve’s face.
EVE
I will.
Beat.
But I want to see Lisa first.
…without the cuffs?
Cherry softens, nods.
CHERRY
Of course.
She unclips the cuffs. Eve rubs her wrists, exhales, and heads to the bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM – CONTINUOUS
Lisa sits on the edge of the bed, hair messy, eyes red. When Eve enters, they collide in a hug that nearly knocks them over.
EVE
We handled that low-grade shit bomb
We winged it, huh?
LISA
Yeah. Low sinking fastball.
Didn’t see it coming.
They hold each other, laughing softly through the leftover ache.
EVE
Sit down. I need to ask you something.
Lisa sits.
EVE
You… you stopped the energy when I was hitting myself.
How did you do that?
LISA
I don’t know.
(pauses, searching for words)
This is one of those times I know something…
but my mind hasn’t caught up yet.
EVE
Oh, I know that feeling.
They smile, breathing easier.
INT. LIVING ROOM – LATER
Eve and Cherry emerges from the safe room with Ling, whose face is blotchy from sobbing—but relieved.
Brad meets him halfway, and the two men wrap each other in a hug harder than ever before.
BRAD
(quiet, fierce)
I got you, man.
Ling clings like he might never let go.
Scene: The Meeting and the Oracle
The whole group was gathered, everyone except Eve. She was off with the Oracle.
Artimus
(big sigh)
“So, big surprise—some nefarious crap going down at a tech company in Salinas.”
Cherry
“Their building’s on a Ley Line. They could be feeding low-level energy to the masses—playing with it, studying it.”
Ling
“Lame way to show up in this timeline. Jealous, if you ask me.”
Brad
“Classic. Don’t like humans ascending? Keep ’em dumb, keep ’em fighting.”
Ling
“Population control. Somebody’s gotta die. Too many humans anyway.”
Cut to Eve and the Oracle
Oracle
“I didn’t choose to open an agency for desperate people. You all did. Free will. You could go to the Bahamas instead and quit complaining to me.”
Eve
“Yeah, right. Like it’s not our destiny to deal with these wannabe shit-stormers.”
Oracle
“Your next shit storm will be worse.”
Eve
(grinning)
“Let’s just say I ate something that went straight through me. And I’m about to sit on my lizard throne.”
Oracle
“You sound… almost gleeful.”
Eve
“Have you ever dropped a load of shit before?”
Back at the Meeting
Artimus
“We’ve been through this. I thought we were done with all that.”
Lisa
“Done with it? The lizards disagree. They’re calling us out.”
Brad
“So what? Don’t back down. This is a challenge.”
Cherry
“Not all ‘lizards’ are like that—just like not all humans are.”
Lisa
“And what about us? We say we want peace, but here we are itching to kick their asses.”
Ling
“Send ’em a love bomb.”
Back to Eve and the Oracle
Oracle
“You think you’re proficient at transforming these energies now?”
Eve
(pause)
“Nope. Maybe Lisa. Maybe Cherry. Not me.”
Oracle
“You’re always the first one hit. Don’t you want a vacation?”
Eve
“Logic says yes. But something in my ass keeps dragging me into these missions. And yeah, I usually end up the butt of every joke. Whole worlds are probably watching our crazy asses like a reality show.”
The Meeting Heats Up
Artimus
“How would a love bomb even work? What about lovingly dismantling their whole operation instead?”
Buzz
“Like some Mission: Impossible shit. I’ve got tech for instant face changes.”
Artimus
“And I’ve got detection shielding.”
Buzz
“Yeah, but lizard tech—aren’t they better?”
Lisa
“Honestly, I don’t even think they’re here. They’re in another dimension. Humans touch 4th-dimensional awareness and start seeing shadows bleed through, and bam—conspiracy theories.”
Cherry
“It’s like history repeating. Someone reports abuse or weirdness—people doubt it—then others quietly confirm. But the story’s never fully provable.”
Brad
“Breadcrumbs that lead to nowhere. No underground cult, no smoking gun.”
Ling
“So… the bomb wasn’t real?”
Cherry
“Real, but in another dimension.”
Artimus
“Exactly. Messing with portals always risks bleed-throughs.”
Scene: Eve Crashes the Meeting
Eve slips into the meeting room, silent as a cat, and hands Buzz a folded piece of paper.
The note reads:
Pass this around. They’re probably listening. Meet me outside.
Buzz
(glancing at it, then overreacting)
“Oh, uh… wow. Too much tea. I think I… yeah, excuse me.”
He passes the note to Ling.
Ling
(snickering, reading)
“Well, I’ve always liked lizards. That’s why I keep all those geckos.
Excuse me—Buzz said he, uh, needed help… with the toilet.”
He leaves, trying not to laugh.
Brad
(reads the note, then stretches)
“You know what? I vote we drop this. Take a vacation. Antarctica. We’ve got those underground stations there…”
Artimus
(casually reading the note)
“Yeah… our fortress is there. Loaded with Guardian tech. Could be fun.”
Lisa
(taking the note next, deadpan)
“This is turning into an episode of Get Smart.”
Cherry
(closes her tablet)
“Fine. Meeting adjourned.”
Outside, under the night sky
The whole team gathers around Eve.
Eve
“We really need a Cone of Silence.”
Lisa
(nods)
“Just like Get Smart. I said that.”
Artimus
“Wait. Did the Oracle say someone’s listening in?”
Eve
“Nope.”
Half the team throws up their hands in exasperation.
Eve
“Okay, okay… you newbies don’t know.”
Brad
“Excuse me—I am not a newbie.”
Artimus
“Enough. Listen up. Eve’s right. Tomorrow, we meet at my company. We’re getting every last past-trauma memory erased or dismantled. Next time something goes down, we’ll be ready. No more sucker punches.”
The group nods, murmuring agreement.
Cherry (eyeing the group):
“Congratulations, we all look like kids sneaking out of detention.
And please tell me we’re not about to start holding secret meetings in treehouses.”
Buzz (whispering to Lisa) Don’t tell her I have a treehouse.
Kitchen – Night
The house is quiet except for the hum of the fridge. Eve sinks into a chair at the kitchen table with a cold beer in her hand.
Eve
(sighing)
“If I’m going through all my trauma tomorrow… I might be there half the day.”
Cherry
(softly, with concern)
“Then we should be there with you.”
Lisa
(nods, leaning over to kiss Eve’s cheek)
“Absolutely. Either me or Cherry—probably both—will be right there.”
Cherry sits down across from her, cupping a warm mug in both hands.
Cherry
“So… what are we deciding for tomorrow, ladies? Memory erase or trauma dampening?”
Lisa
“I’m not erasing my memory. I want to remember everything about our journey. The hard parts, the soft parts… and all the messy in-betweens.”
Cherry
(smiles warmly)
“Aww, that’s so special. I can see why you’d choose that.”
(beat)
“But me? I’m choosing erasure.”
Eve
(blinking)
“Really? Are you sure, Cherry?”
Cherry
“Yeah. I don’t want it touching me at all. I want a clean slate.”
Eve
(swirls her beer, conflicted)
“Dang… I don’t know what to do. It’s my history. My scars.”
Cherry
(tilting her head, curious)
“Who are you without them?”
(she pops a peanut in her mouth and crunches)
Lisa
(smiling at her)
“You seem like you already know who you are without them, Cherry.”
Cherry
(stands, stretching)
“We’re all different.”
(she winks)
“See you two tomorrow.”
Artimus Tech – Trauma Session
Eve sits in a sleek therapy chair in a quiet glass room, the soft hum of Artimus tech surrounding her. Monitors flicker with her emotional resonance as she revisits her memories.
Eve
(voice trembling)
“I was a good kid. Obedient. Quiet. I didn’t give anyone a reason to discipline me.”
(swallows)
“But one day, I was just playing with my best friend. She asked me to hold a pack of Virginia Slims for her… right as her mom picked her up.”
(her voice cracks)
“My stepdad saw me.”
Her hands twist in her lap.
Eve
“He dragged me inside and made me kneel on the hardwood floor. If I moved—just a little—he’d hit me hard. And my mom… she just stood there. Watched.”
Eve breaks into quiet sobs.
Cherry and Lisa move to either side of her, holding her shoulders, letting her lean against them.
Cherry
(softly)
“Okay. That’s enough for now. Let’s take a break. Breathe.”
Exterior – Artimus Tech Courtyard
The three women sit at a small metal table outside. The breeze moves their hair; the tech campus is silent except for birds and wind.
Lisa
“This is… a lot. I don’t think doing it all in one day is a good idea. You said half a day, but this… this will take all day.”
Eve
(shakes her head, wiping her face)
“No. I don’t want to come back here and do this again. I want it done.”
Cherry
“Alright. Then let’s break it into two parts. We’ll clear everything up to age ten first. Then you take a swim, let your body reset, and come back for the rest.”
Eve
“After that, I can go home. Any trauma after I was freed… I can live with that.”
Lisa
“Are you sure?”
Eve
“Yes. I just… want this weight gone.”
Cherry
“Good. The technician here is the best. He’ll guide you through it safely.”
Eve
(looking at them)
“What about you two? When are you going?”
Lisa
“I’ll go after your swim. Gives me a chance to be with you first.”
Cherry
“I’m going now. But I’ll be here for your second round.”
Eve
“Okay… sorry I can’t be there for you two.”
Lisa hugs her tightly, voice thick with emotion.
Lisa
“You deserve all the support in the world.”
Cherry hugs her next, smiling through her own tears.
Cherry
“I’m here. Not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. And I can be a nosy bitch if that’s what you need.”
Eve laughs through her tears.
Eve
“I think I’m rubbing off on you.”
INT. ARTIMUS TECH – RESTRICTED COUNCIL ROOM – NIGHT
A sleek conference room hums with energy shields. A long table divides Earth politicians and Guardians, their robes faintly glimmering in the artificial light. A holographic map of Earth flickers over the table, Salinas pulsing red.
The doors slide open. Lisa steps in, calm but unflinching, her boots echoing against the polished floor.
GUARDIAN 1
You are not allowed in here.
LISA:
“Hello. Sorry to break up your little clandestine meeting. But I have a message for you.”
(beat)
“Whatever tech the lizards are playing with in Salinas? It’s not war. It’s… toilet humor. Low-grade. Anyone—human or Guardian—can rise above their bubble of filth if they want to.”
A ripple of disapproval moves through the room.
ANGRY GUARDIAN:
“People don’t like unsanitary messes. Maybe you enjoy it. We do not.”
LISA (smirks):
“No—you’re into bloody messes. Building karma like you’re in some cosmic gang war.”
(she casually flashes a mock gang sign)
“Gang life, homies.”
HUMAN POLITICIAN (mortified):
“She does not represent the council.”
GUARDIAN 2 (icy calm):
“We are a peaceful people. We do not spill blood in our world. You would know this… personally.”
LISA (leans on the table):
“Yeah, I know. And I know you like to feel feelings vicariously through us humans. But here’s the thing—”
(taps the hologram over Salinas)
“You don’t know the first thing about balancing, transforming, or integrating energy… unless it’s tech.”
GUARDIAN 1:
“What is your purpose here, human? To judge our way?”
LISA (shakes her head):
“Not at all. I’m here to warn you. If you start a tech war with the lizards to control us… you’ll lose the friendship of people like me. And I like you, Guardians. I’ve grown to love you. I’d miss you if you burned this bridge.”
A tense silence. Then, from the shadows, EVELYN emerges—arms crossed, reading the room.
EVELYN:
“She’s right. You’ve seen her scans.”
GUARDIAN 3 (alert):
“Wait. She is the one with the scans?”
EVELYN (nodding):
“Yes. Her—and two others. Three queens. And whenever I’ve seen three queens in action… let’s just say destiny is standing right in front of you.”
(beat, eyes like knives)
“Choose wisely which side of history you want to stand on. Decision time is here.”
The hologram of Salinas pulses brighter, like it’s listening.
INT. ARTIMUS TECH – TRAUMA LAB – LATE AFTERNOON
Eve leans back in her chair, eyes still a little red but calmer. Cherry walks her toward the exit, one hand on her shoulder.
CHERRY:
“Hey. Good job today. I mean it.”
TRAUMA TECH (smiling faintly):
“Thanks. That’s high praise coming from you.”
CHERRY (grinning, then lowering her voice):
“So… you did Lisa, right? How’d it go?”
TRAUMA TECH (shakes his head):
“It didn’t. She didn’t show up.”
CHERRY (blinking):
“What? Really?”
INT. ARTIMUS TECH – DINING HALL – MOMENTS LATER
The room is quiet, sunlight cutting long rectangles across the polished floor. Lisa sits at a table alone, a half-eaten salad in front of her. Cherry’s intuition buzzes as she approaches.
CHERRY (light, probing):
“So… how’d it go for you? Feeling lighter?”
LISA (chewing, casual):
“Yeah, I feel… pretty decent. Thanks. How about you?”
CHERRY (smiles, hiding her suspicion):
“I’m good. I’ll see you back at the house later.”
LISA:
“Okay.”
Cherry walks out, her eyes narrowing just a touch.
She knows Lisa skipped the session—she can feel it—but she’s not going to press.
Not yet.
INT. CHERRY’S CAR – LATE AFTERNOON
The road hums under the tires as Eve leans back in the passenger seat, sunglasses on, one arm hanging out the window. Cherry glances over, sipping an iced coffee.
CHERRY (grinning):
“So really? You’re feeling good? Strong?”
EVE (smirking):
“I’m telling you—I feel like I just dropped a load of shit. I’m coming back to myself… full queen mode.”
CHERRY (laughs):
“Okay, well… I caught your girlfriend in a little white lie, I think.”
Eve slowly turns her head, her eyes narrowing behind the sunglasses.
EVE:
“Tell me.”
CHERRY:
“She didn’t go to her appointment. Made it sound like she did, but nope. I don’t know what she’s up to.”
EVE (leaning back, thoughtful):
“You know, it’s interesting. I’ve dropped a load—”
(she grins wickedly)
“—but some things are still very present.”
CHERRY (side-eyeing her):
“What’s present?”
EVE (dead serious, but amused):
“Spank mode, Cherry. Spank mode is rising.”
CHERRY (laughing, shakes her head):
“Girl. Let’s get these houses in order. I’m with you.”
(beat, she raises a finger)
“But not sexually.”
EVE (grinning, satisfied):
“I know.”
The car hums on toward Brad’s, mischief practically bouncing in the air between them.
Brad’s Pad – Evening
The girls hug the boys as they enter, laughter already bubbling in the warm glow of the living room. Ice clinks as drinks are poured.
BRAD
Where’s Lisa?
EVE
She decided to go straight home… where she belongs right now.
LING
Eek—someone’s grounded?
EVE
Possibly more than grounded, if you know what I mean.
LING
Ooh, I like this energy I’m feeling.
EVE
Good. Because I’ve been meaning to tell you both something.
She walks over to the massive, glowing gecko palace—the one with tiny lights, tunnels, and rock fountains. She stares down at the little lizards clinging to the glass.
EVE (firmly)
These geckos need their freedom, guys. I am not going to sit here and watch them live out their lives trapped in this fake little city. I don’t care if it is Times Square—it’s still a cage.
She turns, meeting each of their eyes with queen-level seriousness.
CHERRY
Busted. I’m with her. One hundred percent.
(gestures at the geckos)
They’ve had their little vacation. Time to let them go.
Brad and Ling exchange a stunned, speechless look.
BRAD
If we let you dictate our morals now… that’s not a precedent I want to encourage.
EVE
(stepping right up to him, locking eyes)
That’s fine, Bradley. But are you telling me your morals don’t have a problem with this?
LING
Hey now, this was my idea. Stupid me.
CHERRY
Like I said—special guests. But that day is over.
LING
And you two… what, can you read their thoughts now? (serious)
BRAD
If we let them go, then we have to let Husky go. His habitat is snow.
EVE (angry but righteous)
Good. That was going to be my next point. We can take him to Antarctica. We know people there.
BRAD
Okay, where’s all this coming from?
EVE
It’s coming from this: If we can’t love the life around us, how are we supposed to rise above the… the shit… coming from these lizards?
CHERRY
She’s right. I’m with her.
BRAD
(finally relenting)
We know. One hundred percent.
Drive Home
The night air drifts in through the cracked windows as they head home.
CHERRY
Well… I think that went well.
EVE
Yep. World, watch out. I’m coming out in full queen mode.
CHERRY
Hey, I think I’ve got a remix of that.
EVE
Then play it, Cherry.
Back at the House – Eve and Lisa’s Bedroom
Eve is sprawled on the bed, comfortably dressed but not in nightwear, scrolling on her phone. The soft lamplight gives the room a warm, conspiratorial glow.
The bathroom door opens, and Lisa steps out, freshly showered, wearing cotton shorts and a snug T-shirt. Her damp hair clings to her shoulders.
EVE
Hey, babe. Enough about me—I feel great. How was your day?
LISA
I feel good about it.
EVE
Was it hard… sharing everything with the tech? You’re not used to that.
LISA
(shrugs, casual)
The day was… pretty easy, actually.
EVE
(grinning, stretching like a cat)
Well, dropping that load of trauma’s got me feeling powerful… and a little horny.
(eyeing her)
Your butt looks good in those shorts.
She curls her finger, beckoning.
EVE
Come here, sweetie, Plant yourself over my lap.
Lisa’s eyes sparkle with excitement. She obediently bends over Eve’s lap, and Eve positions her hips just right, taking her time.
EVE
Promise you won’t get up until I’m done. I’m really feeling it tonight.
LISA
(breathless)
I promise.
Eve grabs her phone and sends a quick text.
EVE
Artimus is on his way home. Perfect timing.
She traces a lazy circle over Lisa’s shorts, her palm combing over the curve of her backside.
Suddenly—the door bursts open.
Cherry stands in the doorway, hands on hips, full “caught red-handed mother” energy.
EVE
(without missing a beat)
Don’t move. You promised.
CHERRY
So you’d have us believe you saw the tech today? Wrong. That was a lie.
EVE
Oh, you’re getting a spanking alright.
She lands ten quick smacks, sharp but playful.
EVE
Start talking.
LISA
Aye yai yai! Okay! I… busted in on a clandestine meeting!
EVE
Right. Cherry, give me your shoe. My hand’s already sore.
Cherry slides off a sandal and hands it over, grinning like a conspirator.
EVE
Ten more, and then Cherry gets a turn.
She swats Lisa with the sandal, each pop echoing in the room.
EVE
Start. Talking.
LISA
(squirming)
There were Guardians there… and politicians. They meet every month. I told them what I needed to say. I had to! You know, the birdie thing… sometimes I have to give messages.
EVE
And why didn’t you just tell us?
(hands sandal to Cherry)
Cherry, you ready?
CHERRY
Yep. My turn.
LISA
I’m sorry! I didn’t want to worry you. You were going through so much.
CHERRY
I wasn’t going through anything, was I?
LISA
No…
Cherry gives her three firm smacks with the sandal.
EVE
Good one. Okay, is your bottom sore?
LISA
Yes…
EVE
Then shall we let her up, Cherry?
CHERRY
Yeah. But I expect to hear the whole story in the kitchen.
She exits, satisfied.
EVE
(patting Lisa’s backside)
You got spanked, young lady. I hope you learned your lesson about keeping things from us.
Lisa glances at herself in the mirror, cheeks and bottom flushed—then suddenly swoons and faints to the floor.
Lisa Faints – The Aftermath
Eve quickly grabs a pillow, sliding it under Lisa’s head as she kneels beside her.
EVE
Breathe, baby. Slow, steady… That’s it.
Cherry rushes back in, wide-eyed and frozen in the doorway.
CHERRY
Oh my god! What—
EVE
She’s alright. This happens sometimes. Usually… there’s a message from the Oracle when this happens.
Lisa groans softly, eyes fluttering open. She slowly sits up against the bed as Eve supports her.
EVE
What is it, babe? Any messages? Take your time.
Lisa’s hand rises shakily and points straight at Cherry.
LISA
She’s… holding out on us. Secrets. Cherry has secrets.
(weak but dramatic)
Why would you spank me… when you have secrets?
Eve’s eyes narrow, the energy in the room shifting. Cherry looks caught, lips parting in protest.
Eve stands and closes the bedroom door with a soft click.
EVE
We have a rule in this house. Right, Lisa?
LISA
(nods solemnly)
Moms get spanked too.
EVE
Exactly. God knows I’ve been spanked a few times.
(locks eyes with Cherry)
You’re part of this family now. That means you’re not beyond a spanking either.
It keeps us humble. Keeps us from thinking we’re too big for our britches.
CHERRY
(hands up, backing a step)
Okay, okay, you two… Whatever this is, I am not into—
EVE
This all started when Lisa felt bad that Brad wasn’t brought into our crazy ways. But that was sexual. It’s not that way with you and me. Cherry I know you would be able to spot it if I was crossing some line.
LISA
Yeah me too. I stand down if that’s what you feel. I know what you meant when you hit me with your shoe. You were a little cross with me and made it playful that’s all.
CHERRY.
No I know we’re just friends. I don’t feel that from you guys.
EVE.
It’s weird and you don’t have to play crazy with us. But get it straight I am cross with you and I am in spank mode with you. You deserve it in my mind. I guess I am being mother queen with you like everybody else in this house. I’m being myself. But I can just tell you. I don’t have to spank you.
CHERRY.
You guys I’m okay with it. Your not crossing my boundary. We understand each other.
(grinning slyly)
Eve and Lisa rise in unison, moving toward Cherry in a playful, synchronized pincer move—Eve behind, Lisa in front.
EVE
No secrets. Start talking, Cherry.
She delivers a firm swat to Cherry’s backside—more ceremonial than painful.
CHERRY
(inhales sharply, exhales, voice trembling)
…Okay. Before I get another… the real secret is—
(her voice softens, eyes teary )
I just… I want to be part of a real family.
One that gets me… and one I can’t just overpower or hide things from. This is kinkville central ladies. But somehow I feel safer here than a regular home. It is what it is. So if you think I need another one.
Eve’s expression softens. She gives Cherry one more playful swat, gentler this time.
EVE
Good. Then here’s what’s next. It’s your turn to do the dishes.
After that… we talk about the other stuff.
Cherry nods, half-laughing, half-sniffling, the tension finally breaking. Lisa rubs her back, and the three of them share a quiet, knowing moment of connection.
The three queens were unlike anyone else—different, ridiculous, and bound by a logic only they understood. In this house, humility came in strange forms: a playful swat, a teasing dare, a shared secret wrestled into the open. They didn’t live like other people, and maybe they never would. But in their own chaotic, rule-bending way, they were building something real—a family stitched together with laughter, trust, and the kind of madness only love could excuse
Cherry stood at the sink, running warm water over a plate like it was the most sacred duty she’d ever been given.
Behind her, Eve leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching with a soft little smirk. Lisa curled up on the couch, letting the moment settle in.
The house felt different—fuller somehow.
Not because someone had been “put in their place,” but because a wall had finally come down.
Cherry wasn’t just the prodigy, or the secret-keeper anymore.
She was family.
And in their house, family meant you could laugh, cry, and get swatted in the same night… and still be loved in the morning.
Dining Room – Evening
The four of them sit around the big oak table. Artimus is finishing a plate of pasta, while the “Three Queens” share a decadent dessert—raspberries, cream, and dark chocolate shards. The mood is light but charged, the kind of afterglow only mischief, intimacy, and secrets can bring.
Artimus
(shaking his head, grinning)
I still can’t believe they didn’t just call security on you.
Cherry
(to Lisa, wide-eyed)
You’re such a badass. Seriously.
Eve
They’re both badasses. Don’t let Lisa hog the title.
Artimus
(chuckling)
You’ve got your hands full, Eve.
Eve
I know exactly what they need.
(winks at both of them)
Takes one to know one.
Artimus
Lisa, I’m surprised you can even sit down.
Lisa
(rolling her eyes, wiping her plate)
Ha. Ha. Not funny.
Eve pats her lap, and Lisa obediently settles into it. Eve wraps an arm around her waist, gentle this time, her other hand absently stroking her thigh.
Eve
Alright, sweetness. Cherry’s got something she wants to share. Go ahead, honey.
Cherry hesitates, then leans forward, elbows on the table, all traces of playfulness gone.
Cherry
I’ve been… in telepathic contact with the man who left the Salinas tech lab.
(beat)
And the lizard talking to him from the other dimension.
The table goes still.
Artimus
(flat)
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Cherry
No joke. Him and his wife—they’re terrified for their lives.
Artimus
Then why the hell wouldn’t you tell us this?
Eve
(soft, steady)
Honey, I already dealt with her behavior. She had a reason.
Cherry
I thought… I should carry it alone.
(her eyes drop)
If I handle the telepathic stuff, I can filter what matters.
Less chance of them getting to me through you.
Artimus
(voice softens)
That sounds… lonely.
Cherry
It is. But it’s how I’ve always worked.
Lisa
Not anymore.
Eve
Seconded.
Artimus
Unanimous.
Eve shifts Lisa off her lap and stands, moving around the table to Cherry.
Eve crouches next to Cherry’s chair and pulls her into a hug.
Eve
I love you.
(leans back, eyes locking with hers)
No more secrets, queen.
Cherry nods, holding on a moment longer than usual, like she’s finally letting the family hold her weight.
GUARDIAN MEETING
Guardian 1:
We understand you were the one who made the intuitive leap that led to locating and returning Sapphire—the current wife of Prince Rex.
We welcome any information you consider pertinent.
Cherry:
Congratulations on the marriage. I wish I could have attended.
The information I have involves one lizard named James. His soul was able to enter a human body more fully than the fragment currently inhabiting it.
That body belonged to our client’s husband.
I work with… complicated cases like this. Portal technology can be a real bitch.
(A ripple of laughter moves through the human attendees.)
Guardian 2:
And how did you come by this knowledge?
Cherry:
I’m in telepathic contact with all three of them.
Guardian 2:
Proceed.
Cherry:
James has intel about what they’re doing at the site in Salinas.
But if that information gets out… people will die—and not nicely.
There are contingencies in place.
So I plead the Fifth for any further details.
You’ll have to trust me, the Oracle, and my team to lead this mission.
If you don’t… things will get messy for you.
Guardian 3:
What if we decide to arrest you and make you talk?
Eve:
(leaning forward, voice sharp)
You even thinking it has consequences.
(Artimus puts a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to sit.)
Guardian 3:
Ah, the other Queen.
(low voice to his colleague)
The weak link.
Cherry:
She’s not weak—but go ahead and think that.
Evelyn:
Eve has a temper. And after tasting her, I can say… she’s power-packed and dangerous.
Lisa:
I’ve tasted her too, and I fully agree.
(Laughter breaks the tension. Even Eve cracks a reluctant smile.)
Cherry:
Not sure I’ve tasted her—but I do know she packs a powerful smack.
(The Guardians step aside, conferring in hushed tones. When they return…)
After observing the queen’s scans again, we see the exciting potential of what a triad of them may generate. But it could generate quite possibly a failed mission. So our decision is to run a test in the hollodeck.
The chamber will simulate a living world for you.
You will not remember that it is a test when your inside.
The energy will begin neutral and lower in grade as time passes.
Your reactions will determine whether you are fit to lead the mission.
Evelyn (smirking)
Translation: they’re throwing you into a bad weekend and want to see if you come out married, murdered, or making out.
Lisa
So… a normal weekend for us?
Cherry
So you yourselves will be feeding the chamber low level energies similar to what the lizards are using.
Guardian 2
Yes and it will progressively get worse and you won’t know what’s happening.
Eve
Throw us in a pool; we’ll learn how to swim.
(glances at Lisa and Cherry)
Queens? We hold together.
(Chairs scrape back. Papers shuffle. The air in the room feels lighter, but only slightly.)
Cherry rises first, smooth and unhurried, like she owns the place.
Eve falls in step beside her, jaw set, eyes daring anyone to speak.
Lisa trails with a lazy smile that somehow says we’re untouchable.
The three Queens leave as one—
different, ridiculous, dangerous in their own way.
And for the first time, the Guardians realize:
they weren’t just dealing with a team.
They were dealing with a family.
Scene: Holodeck Trial – Level One
INT. CITY CONDO – PRE-DAWN
The room is dim, washed in cold blue light from the city. Muted sirens echo from the streets below.
EVE sits by the window, wide awake, watching the world shift under martial law. Lisa stirs on the couch, half-wrapped in a blanket.
Suddenly, the building vibrates faintly, like the echo of a distant storm. Lisa blinks.
“Did you feel that?”
EVE
“Yeah. It’s been happening since curfew started. Whole city feels like it’s holding its breath.”
The holo-screen flickers to life with a breaking news banner:
HYBRID RELOCATION INITIATIVE ENTERS DAY 47
All unregistered hybrids are to report to processing immediately.
Failure to comply is treason.
The footage shows protesters clashing with soldiers. Armored trucks roll by. A hybrid teen is dragged from his mother’s arms—his skin glinting faintly before stabilizing human.
Cherry appears from the hallway, hoodie half-zipped, hair wild from sleep. Even in the dim light, her hybrid aura glints at the edges of her irises.
CHERRY
“Another one. Gone.”
(voice trembling with contained rage)
“They don’t even pretend anymore.”
EVE spins to her, sharp.
“No. You’re not going out there. Not now. Not ever. We ride this out.”
CHERRY
“Ride it out? You really think hiding will save me?”
EVE
“I think keeping you alive is the only win we’ve got.”
Outside, a distant boom. The lights flicker. Protesters’ chants grow louder.
LISA (soft, contemplative)
“We get to decide what this is. Hiding… or holding the line. There’s a difference.”
CHERRY steps closer to the window, shoulders trembling.
“No. I already decided. I’m done watching. I’m marching tonight.”
EVE grabs her arm, a fierce whisper:
“I know what I am when I look at you two. I’m some kind of… weaponized love. And I’ll use it to keep you safe, Cherry. Whatever it takes.”
CHERRY meets her gaze, tearful but unflinching.
“And if keeping me safe means letting them take the others? Letting them disappear forever?”
Lisa rises, tension in every move.
“There’s a path that holds us together. Cherry… you’re the one who’ll see it first. But if you walk the wrong one…”
(beat)
“…we might not come back from it.”
CHERRY
(voice breaking, slams her hand on the table)
“Then I’ll walk it. Even if it kills me.”
She yanks her hood up, masking her hybrid glow, and storms toward the door.
Holodeck Test Layer (Unseen by the Queens)
INT. GUARDIAN OBSERVATION ROOM – SIMULTANEOUS
The Guardians watch from a glowing hexagonal console as the Queens move through the simulation.
GUARDIAN 1
“Level One—social pressure. Protest energy. No direct threat.”
GUARDIAN 2
“Observe the triad. Watch their frequency braid under strain.”
On the console, Eve, Lisa, and Cherry’s emotional resonance threads twine and flicker—strong but chaotic.
EVELYN (leaning in)
“They’re holding, but Eve’s protective surge is… borderline predatory. If the energy drops lower, instinct will take over.”
GUARDIAN 3
“And the hybrid?”
EVELYN smirks.
“She’s the key. They’ll either break trying to protect her… or they’ll transcend it.”
The Guardians dial the energy down.
The condo trembles again—this time sharper.
Somewhere in the distance, a scream cuts through the night.
Street Scene – Level Two of the Holodeck Test
The protest has turned to chaos. Sirens wail in the distance, and boots hammer the pavement as officers sweep the streets for hybrids. Eve, Lisa, and Cherry duck into the shadow of a shuttered café, the glow of neon letters flickering over them.
A single officer turns the corner, scanning with a handheld hybrid detector. He’s tall, faceless behind his black visor, and moving slow like he can smell fear.
Cherry instinctively steps back, her hoodie slipping off just enough to reveal the edge of her hybrid marking at her neck. The officer’s visor glints as he locks onto her, taking one deliberate step closer.
Cherry’s breath hitches.
The detector beeps softly.
And then—out of nowhere—Eve grabs Cherry by the shoulders, spins her around, and kisses her full on the mouth.
Not a polite kiss. A deep, claiming, “we’ve been together for years” kind of kiss.
Cherry stiffens, eyes wide, until instinct kicks in and she melts into the role.
The officer hesitates, tilts his head.
The detector falls silent.
Full-humans. Lovers. Nothing to see here.
He keeps walking. The sound of his boots fades into the distance.
Eve breaks the kiss but doesn’t let go of Cherry, breathing hard against her forehead.
EVE (whispering)
“Don’t. Move.”
Alley Behind the Café – Continuous
Eve yanks Cherry into the alley, heart still racing from the close call. Lisa scans the street behind them, ears tuned for sirens.
CHERRY (breathless)
“Eve… what the hell was that?”
Eve pivots and spins Cherry around, pressing her against the wall just long enough to look her in the eye.
EVE
“That was me saving your hybrid ass… and maybe having a little fun while I was at it.”
Lisa steps in, leaning a shoulder against the wall with a teasing smirk.
LISA
“She’s protecting you. And maybe… making you blush.”
Eve tilts her head, eyes flicking between them, the adrenaline making her voice lower, huskier.
EVE
“Blush looks good on her, doesn’t it?”
Cherry exhales, the tension melting into nervous laughter.
CHERRY
“You two are gonna get me in trouble I don’t even know how to name.”
Eve’s smirk turns dangerous. She spins Cherry again, this time with her back to her, and gives her a sharp, playful swat.
EVE
“You were already in trouble. Now let’s get you home before you start a real riot.”
Cherry yelps and stumbles forward, muttering under her breath, while Lisa chuckles and falls in step.
INT. HOLODECK CONDO – NIGHT
Lisa and Eve’s bedroom glows dim in the city light leaking through the condo windows. Distant protest chants echo from the streets below. The Queens’ home is a temporary refuge, but tension crackles inside.
Lisa sits propped against the headboard, arms crossed, her eyes a sharp challenge. Eve paces at the foot of the bed, energy radiating off her in waves.
LISA
If I pulled a stunt like that, you would toss me out of the condo.
EVE
I saved her life!
LISA
You were a ham. And you enjoyed it.
EVE
I never said I was perfect! You wanted me to let her get carted off to… who knows where?
Eve steps closer, leans down, and presses her palm to Lisa’s forehead, pushing her flat onto the bed.
EVE
We’re in crunch time. You get that?
Lisa’s eyes flash. In one move, she grabs Eve’s wrist, rolls her over, and now Eve is pinned to the mattress, her hair a dark halo across the sheets.
LISA
I get it. I just don’t like how you play.
They wrestle, limbs tangling, the line between frustration and desire blurring. Lisa lands ten sharp smacks to Eve’s backside before Eve finally twists around, panting and grinning.
EVE
Okay, okay—you spanked Mommy. You happy now? Careful, you’re gonna hurt your hand.
LISA
Oh, I’ll risk it with a bottom-heavy target like this.
She tugs Eve’s pants down, giving one last playful swat. Eve gasps and then launches herself at Lisa, flipping them again. Their laughter gives way to heated kisses. The fight dissolves into wild, breathless lovemaking—the chaos alchemized into connection.
INT. HOLODECK CONDO – CHERRY’S ROOM – SAME TIME
Frustrated, restless, Cherry grabs her comm and paces.
CHERRY
(getting hotter with each word)
Get your ass over here. I’m fired up in more ways than one. Slip in the back. And you better bring it tonight—full throttle, or don’t bother.
A few minutes later, her male protest partner slides in through the back door. The moment their eyes meet, she pulls him into a raw, hungry kiss, then shoves him toward the bed. Clothes hit the floor. Their bodies collide, driven by adrenaline and rebellion.
INT. HOLODECK CONDO – LISA & EVE’S BEDROOM – LATER
The room is dark and damp with heat. Lisa lies breathless and undone, draped across Eve’s chest. Eve strokes her hair.
EVE
Okay, babe. You did good. Just relax. I’ll get us some water.
Eve slips into the kitchen. The faint sound of Cherry and her lover climaxing echoes from the other room. Eve freezes, eyes wide.
EVE
Oh, hell no…
*She grabs the water and heads for the hall—just as Cherry strides out, flushed and fearless, hair wild. Without a word, she grabs Eve by the face and kisses her hard, tongue teasing until Eve drops the glass with a shatter.
Cherry pulls back, smirking, and slaps Eve’s ass like a punctuation mark.*
CHERRY
I’ve got a plan.
Lisa stands in the doorway. Barefoot. Hair loose. Eyes wide with pure betrayal.
LISA
(voice breaking)
…You two.
Her face sinks, hurt carving deep into her expression. Both Eve and Cherry move at once—instinctive, desperate to hold her—but Lisa thrashes, shoving at them.
LISA
Don’t—don’t touch me!
But the other queens won’t let her go. They overpower her gently, holding her as she trembles and cries. Her knees nearly give out. Eve whispers in her ear, low and urgent:
EVE
Shhh… I got you… it’s okay, baby…
Cherry moves behind Lisa, hands finding her hips and bottom, stroking in slow, deliberate circles. Eve notices and joins her, sliding her hand lower, kissing Lisa’s neck, murmuring soft “shhh” sounds like she’s taming a skittish thoroughbred. Lisa shivers. Her sobs falter into shaky breaths. Her hands rise, almost on instinct, to touch Eve’s face.
Cherry turns her around and kisses her—deep and hungry, just as she kissed Eve. Eve stays close, her mouth brushing Lisa’s shoulder, supporting her as the energy shifts from grief to desire.
They lose track of the room until a voice cuts in:
CHERRY’S FRIEND
(stunned, almost reverent)
…Did I just go to heaven?
The three queens freeze, still tangled together. Slowly, Lisa’s eyes roll back. She faints into Eve’s arms.
EVE
(pulling her close)
She’s got a message from the Oracle… I know it.
The friend just stares, speechless, as Eve lowers Lisa to the couch, stroking her hair, waiting for the Oracle to speak.
INT. GUARDIAN OBSERVATION CHAMBER – DIMLY LIT
The holodeck hums quietly. The condo scene flickers across multiple screens: Lisa fainted, Eve and Cherry holding her, the Oracle’s subtle pulse lingering in the air. The Guardians watch in measured silence.
GUARDIAN ONE
We wait.
(leans forward)
Let’s hear their plan before we make any decision.
Minutes pass. The feed shows Cherry delivering her strategy to the others, the three queens aligning with purpose despite the chaos they’ve just endured. The plan is sharp, intuitive, and actionable. The Guardians exchange glances.
GUARDIAN TWO
Their plan is solid.
And more than that… it’s alive.
EVELYN
(nods slowly)
Pull them out.
They’ve done what most teams can’t:
took the lowest energy we could throw at them,
and turned it into something cohesive—love, strategy, and forward motion.
Give them time to process in their real timeline.
One Guardian hesitates, voice laced with skepticism.
GUARDIAN THREE
I still remember what Evelyn asked them once.
“Why does everything you do come back to sex?”
They had no answer.
GUARDIAN TWO
(half-smiles)
Maybe they don’t need one.
It works.
The decision is made. The holodeck fades. The queens are returned home—bruised, unorthodox, but approved to lead.
THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS
Not just in the little house where the Three Queens held court, but across the team—Ling, Brad, Buzz, Evelyn, Artimus, and the Guardians who still watched from the edges. Every voice that mattered had weighed in.
Do nothing.
Not yet.
The room was tense but oddly settled, like a storm that had chosen to wait. They all knew timing was everything. A wrong move now could close doors that might never open again. The Oracle had been clear in her elusive way: Listen. Prepare. Do not strike until the current shifts.
So they listened.
They went into preparation mode, each in their own way. Ling tinkered with his tech; Brad monitored the city’s undercurrent like a bloodhound on a leash. Cherry listened telepathically, shoulders tense, a silent bridge to the frightened man in Salinas and the whispering lizard across dimensions. Lisa moved like a shadow through human and Guardian politics, while Eve kept the emotional center steady, attuning everyone to the pulse of the unseen.
Every night and every morning, someone touched the Oracle.
Every day, they kept their ears to the ground, the sky, and each other.
They were a patient web now—a network of humans and almost-humans, all breathing in rhythm with the quiet warning of the times.
The world outside went on, unaware.
But inside their circle, every heart felt the same truth:
The moment would come.
And when it did, they would all move as one.
Bedroom – Late Night
The house was dark and quiet, except for a faint, rhythmic sound—distant, pulsing, almost like a heartbeat with a sense of purpose.
Artimus (half-awake, frowning):
“What… is that noise?”
Lisa (groggy, rubbing her eyes):
“Mm? …I hear it too.”
Eve stirred suddenly, eyes snapping open like she’d surfaced from a dream she didn’t want to name.
Eve (low, alert):
“What’s happening?”
Lisa (sleepy smile, reaching for her):
“It’s okay… We both just hear… something.”
Eve (already swinging her legs off the bed):
“It’s fine. Let me check on Cherry. Go back to sleep, you two.”
She padded barefoot down the hall. The sound grew more… specific. By the time she reached the kitchen, she froze.
From Cherry’s room came the undeniable soundtrack of passionate screwing. A rhythm of commitment and Olympic stamina. Eve blinked, her brain processing.
The hallway light caught movement.
A man emerged—shirtless, in nothing but fitted black briefs, glistening like he’d just run a marathon or won a wrestling match against gravity. His abs were sculpted, his smirk lazy. He didn’t even glance toward the hall.
He sauntered into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, then—without hesitation—retrieved a can of whipped cream from the fridge.
Eve stayed in the shadow, holding her breath, somewhere between scandalized and deeply impressed.
The man padded back toward Cherry’s room, and the rhythm resumed almost immediately, now punctuated by a muffled laugh from Cherry.
Eve shook her head slowly as she returned to the bedroom, muttering under her breath with a half-grin:
Eve:
“Wow. Another side of Queen Cherry…”
She slipped back into bed, still shaking her head, unsure if she’d ever look at Cherry—or whipped cream—the same way again.
Kitchen – Morning
Sunlight streamed through the window, catching the steam from the coffee pot. Eve sipped slowly, leaning against the counter, pretending to scroll her tablet.
Cherry strolled in, hair damp from a quick shower, moving like nothing unusual had happened the night before.
Eve (casual):
“So… what’s on your schedule today?”
Cherry (shrugging, pulling fruit from the fridge):
“Eh… might go downtown later, kick it. Definitely gonna see Brad and Ling.”
Eve (raising an eyebrow):
“Oh really? What’s downtown that you like?”
Cherry (grinning, tossing a banana into the blender):
“There are some joints I frequent. See my peeps there.”
She started prepping her smoothie, calm as ever.
Eve (lightly):
“Sounds fun. You know… you never bring anyone around here.”
Cherry (without looking up):
“You said I could.”
Eve:
“I know.”
Cherry (pausing, finally meeting her eyes):
“I don’t tell anyone who you are. I’d like to keep it that way.”
Eve (raising an eyebrow, voice soft):
“That’s your choice.”
Cherry (studying her, a flicker of challenge in her tone):
“What—you don’t think it’s a good choice?”
The blender roared to life, covering the silence. Eve waited, letting the whirring fill the kitchen.
Eve (after the blender stops, measured):
“I didn’t say that. I guess it depends on the person—if you trust them. We don’t want the media around here hounding us.”
Cherry (pouring the smoothie, voice quieter now):
“Ah… trust. No. I haven’t found anyone I trust.”
Eve watched her take a long sip, her expression unreadable. She decided to leave it there—let Cherry come to her when she was ready.
Brad’s Pad – Evening
Lisa flopped onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, twirling a strand of her hair.
Lisa:
“Let’s do something tonight. I’m bored.”
Ling (raising an eyebrow):
“Girly, you raise too much commotion… everywhere you go.”
Brad (grinning):
“Yeah, trouble just… finds you. Always the interesting kind.”
Lisa:
“Uh, that’s not fair! Do I do anything wrong?”
Brad and Ling exchanged a look—silent, but loaded.
Ling:
“That’s… hard to answer.”
Brad:
“Yeah, we’re… speechless on that one.”
Lisa (throwing her hands up):
“Is it my wardrobe? I can dress down if that helps.”
Both of them nodded instantly.
Ling:
“Yeah, that might help. And uh… maybe try not bending over so much. Just saying.”
Brad immediately swatted Ling on the back of the head.
Ling (mocking pain):
“Ohhh, it must be so hard being you, Lisa Snow!”
Lisa (laughing, mock-offended):
“What if I asked you two to just stop with the butt jokes? Like… no butt jokes for a whole year!”
Ling (dramatic gasp):
“A year?! Oh no, not a year. Butt jokes give us life.”
Lisa:
“How?!”
Ling:
“I don’t know, it just does!”
Brad:
“Honestly, we’re just busting your chops. You’re right—it’s just a butt. Nobody’s actually staring. You’re just… so easy to tease.”
Lisa:
“I know! Eve teases me constantly, and now you two make me paranoid. And I’m not a self-conscious person!”
Brad & Ling (in perfect unison):
“We know.”
Ling:
“Alright, here’s an idea: we go out, lay low. You can wear your little ‘famous-girl’ disguise. Maybe dance a little.”
Lisa (softly, wistful):
“I wish I could just… talk to people. That used to be such a joy of mine. Fame sucks sometimes.”
Brad:
“Okay, here’s the plan: me and Ling will find the cool people, the kind who know how to keep their mouths shut.”
Ling:
“Yeah. We’re both excellent judges of character.”
Brad:
“Better than excellent.”
Lisa (grinning, finally relaxing):
“Yeah, I know you are. Alright. That sounds like a plan.”
Late Night – Eve & Artimus’ Bedroom
The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt unusual for a place that usually hummed with chaos. Eve lay sprawled across the bed in her comfy clothes, scrolling on her tablet, while Artimus sat at the edge, unlacing his boots.
Eve (pouting):
“Everybody’s out downtown… Come on, you never take me out anymore.”
Artimus (glancing back at her, amused):
“Hello. I’m the only one in this house that actually works.”
Eve (rolling onto her side, playful):
“Well, this doesn’t work for me—never going out with your man. Take me out… or else.”
Artimus (raising an eyebrow, leaning back on his hands):
“Or else what?”
Eve (grinning, leaning in close):
“Really? After all this time, you need me to spell it out?”
Artimus:
“Yeah. I wanna hear it.”
Eve (sitting up, eyes sparkling):
“Well… you’re gonna miss this body in a tight black dress.”
(She gives him a slow, teasing flash of shoulder, maybe a hint of lace.)
“In fact, I’ll dress up and go by myself. And I promise you—when I come home—”
(sly smile)
“—you won’t be the one exploring what’s under this sexy black dress.”
Artimus (groans, tossing his boots aside):
“Ah, you really know how to motivate a man, don’t ya?”
Eve (snuggling up, purring in his ear):
“Just you, hon.”
Scene: Downtown Club – Chaos in Motion
Exterior – Club Entrance
The line coils down the block, glittering in the streetlight. Bass pulses from inside, muffled and promising.
Lisa, Ling, and Brad have already slipped in through a side entrance, Brad giving the bouncer a knowing nod. They vanish into the neon haze.
Moments later, Eve and Artimus arrive.
Artimus
(eyeing the small line)
This is small but it could turn into a media circus the second they see us. Let’s go around back, tip the bouncer.
Eve
(grinning)
Watch and learn.
She strides to the front of the line, heads turning like dominos.
Eve
Hi. Can you call your manager for me?
Bouncer
(nearly drops his phone)
Oh my god. Dr. Eve… uh, yeah.
He fumbles with his earpiece, hands her the phone.
Eve
Hey, John! How are you tonight?
(beat)
Listen, can you do me a favor? Let me and my husband in, and let the whole line in, then close it to anyone else.
(pauses, smiling)
Yep. Your people can take photos. Everyone wins. We just need a little R and R.
(beat)
Thanks, John. I won’t forget this.
She hands the phone back, and the bouncer gestures them in like royalty.
Artimus
(as they walk in)
Another way.
Eve
Get me a bourbon. I wanna dance.
Interior – Club Dance Floor
Lisa’s table is tucked behind a velvet rope, but she’s already feral on the dance floor, hair catching strobe lights. Brad and Ling watch her like they’re half babysitters, half accomplices.
Suddenly Lisa spots a familiar face—an actress from her early career.
Lisa
Denise?
Denise
Lisa Snow! Oh my god!
They hug, Lisa dragging her back to the table. Brad and Ling scoot over.
Lisa
I thought you left the city!
Denise
I’m actually working here tonight.
Lisa
Oh yeah? Doing what?
Denise
Times have been hard. This agency pays people like me to show up, be friendly.
Lisa
Just… be yourself?
Denise
That’s how it started. Now they want… more.
Lisa’s expression turns sharp.
Lisa
Then quit.
Denise
I can’t. I’ve got another mouth to feed.
Lisa
Tell me where you want to work. I’ll make it happen.
Denise
(blinking)
Really? I just wanted to be a cocktail waitress here. No strings.
Ling
(leaning forward, protective)
What do those bastards expect from you tonight?
Brad
Yeah. Let’s get you out of it and hanging with us.
Denise’s phone buzzes.
Denise
They’re texting me now.
Lisa
Text back: Lisa Snow is here and wants you to dance with her all night.
Brad and Ling exchange a look.
Ling
It’s happening again.
Brad
Then we’d better get moving before the whole city notices.
Scene: Cherry – Dinner Downtown
A low-lit, upscale restaurant. Cherry and David, effortlessly gorgeous, lean across the small table over a shared dessert.
David
You don’t look like someone who spends her nights in chaos.
Cherry
(smiling over her wine glass)
That’s because I clean up well.
David
Are you always this mysterious?
Cherry
Always
David
I promise I won’t hold it against you. .
Cherry
(smiles)
That’s actually a good line
David
How bout this line. Your place or mine. .
Cherry
Your line. Your place.
David
I’ll get the check.
Enter Eve and Artimus
Through the small gathering of dancers, Eve and Artimus emerge onto the floor, drinks in hand.
Eve scans the room—spies Lisa instantly in her orbit of chaos, pulling Denise onto the floor.
Artimus
(into Eve’s ear)
They look like they’re babysitting a firework.
Eve
(laughing, spinning into him)
Exactly why I wanted to see this.
They start to dance and blend in, but they’re both watching the table.
Scene: Downtown Club – Chaos Ignites
The bass thumps. Lights flash over the dance floor. Lisa sways in the center, laughing with Denise, while Brad and Ling keep their watchful distance.
A man slides up behind Lisa—an obvious professional dancer—and starts moving way too close, his hips practically glued to her.
Brad
(stepping in, firm)
Alright, man. She’s good. Move along.
He gently but decisively pulls Lisa away, shielding her with his body.
Across the room, Eve and Artimus have been dancing in the shadows, sipping their bourbons and watching.
Eve
(sighs, to Artimus)
Here we go again. I feel sorry for Brad and Ling.
(beat)
Let’s all get a table and sit down before this blows up.
They make their way toward Lisa’s group.
Suddenly—a woman comes up from behind Lisa, grabs her in a tight, desperate embrace, and won’t let go.
Lisa
(struggling)
Hey—hey!
Eve
(rushing in)
Okay, that’s enough! Let her go!
She tries to separate them, but the woman is wild-eyed, clutching like a fan possessed.
Artimus
(gritting teeth)
I’ve got it.
He pries the girl off while Brad and Ling close in, creating space and breathing room.
Flash! Phones go off. People are shouting.
And then—Lisa collapses, her body going limp.
Eve
(kneeling, urgent)
Lisa! Baby, come on. Stay with me.
Brad crouches to shield her from the crowd. Ling throws his arms wide, yelling:
Ling
Give her space! Move back!
Lisa’s eyes flutter open. Her voice is hoarse but sure.
Lisa
It’s time.
(beat, looking straight at Eve)
The Oracle gave the signal.
Eve
(to the team, instant decision)
You heard her. Move. Now.
They rush for the back exit. The crowd surges, cameras flashing. A drink splashes across Eve’s black dress, streaking down like ink, but she doesn’t even blink.
Outside, the humid night air hits them. Eve pulls out her phone, dials Cherry—no answer.
Eve
(to herself, tense)
Come on, Cherry…
Artimus
(checking his device)
I’ve got her location. apartment, ten blocks.
Eve
I’ll take the car and get her.
(to Brad, Lisa, Ling, and Artimus)
You four go. I’ll meet you at the drop. Might be a little late.
They split—the mission now fully in motion.
Narration.
Cherry’s private life was hers to manage, even if it was a whirlwind of bare skin and bad timing.
What mattered to Eve was the sign from the Oracle, the message that said the world might tilt if they didn’t move now.
She had wrangled chaos before—and it all rolled off her like water.
Right now, all that mattered was getting her youngest queen dressed, out the door, and in motion.
This was her rhythm: laugh at the absurd, move fast, and keep the family together under fire.
EXT. LOFT DISTRICT – NIGHT
Eve pulls up, still in her tight black dress. She slams the car door and strides to the apartment. Knocks—hard. There is music. Her knocks can’t be heard.
EVE (mutters):
Shit. No doorbell.
She pops a pin from her hair and picks the lock. The door creaks open.
Through the hallway, moans and shuffling.
Eve bursts into the den—
Cherry, dress half off, tangled with a gorgeous man.
EVE:
Yeah. Hi. Nice to meet you. Sorry to intrude.
Cherry has to come with me now. Oracle gave the signal.
CHERRY:
Oh, shit!
EVE:
Hurry. Meet me outside.
EXT. STREET – CONTINUOUS
Eve is already popping the trunk, yanking out her mission bag. The black dress slides over her head in one smooth motion as she kicks off her heels.
Cherry sprints out barefoot, panting, dress barely clinging on.
Eve (snapping): “Arms up.”
Cherry: “I got it—”
Eve unzips her in one tug, and the dress puddles at Cherry’s feet.
EVE:
You left your panties inside?
CHERRY (grinning):
I wasn’t wearing panties….What, you judging my generation?
EVE:
Bitch, I’m six years older than you.
Eve shoves a shirt into Cherry’s face. Cherry laughs, muffled by fabric. They wriggle into dark clothes like two spies caught in a strip club.
Cherry finally zips up her boots and slaps the car roof hard.
CHERRY:(Energy Burst)
Let’s go!
Eve slides behind the wheel, tossing her hair like the queen she is.
Tires squeal. The mission is on.