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Chapter 4 - 3

In Afghanistan, Kala, Cooper, Ramirez, Sweeney, Ford and another soldier, a Vietnamese man, Truie, are scouting while Cooper uses his binoculars to scope out a group of terrorists that are taking a hostage through to a cave.

Cooper: We got these assholes now.

Coopers uses his flashlight to scope out the cave, before he rejoins his team.

Cooper: It's dark. We're going to lose coms in there.

Cooper then speaks into his radio.

Cooper: Base, this is Delta Echo One. We have positive ID on the hostage.

Base: Delta Echo One. Understood. What's the status on the hostage?

Cooper: Still alive. We followed the insurgents to a tunnel system.

Base: Delta Echo One. Stand by.

Ford: You know; it's getting kinda late. Maybe we should back trail and break camp for the night. Wait til night.

Kala stands up.

Kala: That hostage looked like he was in bad shape.

Kala hands Cooper a ammo clip as Cooper sighs.

Ford: It's always freaking night in a cave.

Truie: Why you being such a pussy, Bobby boy?

Kala: Why are you always such a dick, Truie boy?

Truie laughs.

Truie: I like you, Kala.

Cooper cocks his assault rifle.

Cooper: Get ready to move.

The U.S. Marine team moves into the cave as Base speaks through radio.

Base: Delta Echo One, secure hostage and proceed to exfill.

Cooper: Understood.

Cooper then speaks to Ford.

Cooper: Sweeney, on point. One beam, no white light. Everyone go goggles.

The U.S. team puts on their night vision goggles.

Cooper: Ford, I want IR markers at 25 meter intervals.

Ford: Roger that.

The U.S. team moves into the cave. Meanwhile, at Parker Tower, the wedding, the reception takes place as Scarlett and Xiang observe the wedding cake.

Scarlett: I honestly thought the cake would be a little bigger, you know?

Xiang: Yeah, tell me about it. We work for a billionaire and Donnie's one of his best employees. You'd think he'd put enough money towards a bigger cake.

Alex and Jessica approach the two Purifiers.

Alex: Scarlett. Xiang.

Scarlett: Mr. Miller and Ms. Drakos...

Jessica: We appreciate you guys coming for Josh and Trisha's wedding.

Xiang: Of course; we put our differences to celebrate the union of two wonderful young people....even if we tried to kill them several times.

Alex: Surprised the rest of the Purifiers didn't show up.

Scarlett: Well, of course, Snake-Bite and Mongor would've stuck out like a sore thumb so of course, they couldn't make it.

Jessica: What about Lilian?

Scarlett: She's on an important assignment. She sends her regards, though.

Xiang: We were just talking about how everything looks beautiful.

Jessica: Thanks, guys. We put a little work into it. French diliquisy. You don't think we did too much, did we?

In Afghanistan, the U.S. Marine team searches the caves.

Sweeney: Oh, I feel like a big, freakin piñata right now.

Ramirez: Just relax. I got your back, eeyore.

Sweeney: Stop calling me that.

Ramirez: Okay, okay, man. I'll stop as soon as people stop posting on Instagram you full open kissing donkeys.

Sweeney: I..I told you, man....It was an accident....she gave me a wet kiss in appreciation for saving her.

Ramirez: How are you so certain it was a her?

Cooper: Hey, you two cut the bullshit. We're on the job.

The team continues on until Kala spots a green slimelike lichen on the wall.

Kala: Sarge...

Kala removes her night vision goggles and pulls out her knife, scraping the substance and inspecting it.

Truie: Now that is some weird shit.

Cooper: What the hell is it?

Kala: Some sort of...substance....lichen...I don't know.

Sweeney: This doesn't look like the work of Enhumans.

Kala: No....this isn't....

Truie: Is that normal?

Kala: Hell if I know.

The U.S navy team continues searching until they find a skeleton.

Ramirez: Sarge. Body.

Cooper turns to Kala.

Cooper: Donavan.

Kala: Yes, sir.

Cooper: Everyone else set up security.

Cooper, Sweeney, Ramirez, Ford and Truie set up a patrol while Kala inspects the body.

Kala: The flesh marks spell fresh...it's a military aged male. No discerning marks of trauma.

Ramirez: No trauma. Then where'd his goddamn face go?

Kala uses her knife to scrape up dog tags off the body.

Cooper: It's the hostage. Goddammit...

Truie: What the actual shit?

Ford: Sarge, I got two more bodies over here.....

The U.S. navy team rejoins Ford, who points out two fresh skeletons.

Cooper: It's gotta be the insurgents.

Sweeney: That's impossible. We just saw these guys.

Truie: What kind of Enhuman weapon does that to a man?

Kala: I'm starting to think it's not Enhuman....

Ramirez: Man, I say screw this shit.....

Up ahead, guns are heard firing as shouting is heard as the U.S team aim their weapons in the direction of the noise followed by an explosion.

Cooper: We still have a mission so let's get this done.

Ford: Sarge, the hostage was the mission. We should take him home.

Cooper: Donovan, up.

Kala moves forward, as the rest of the team follows. Around them, is more green lichen. As they move forward, a small spider-like alien creature falls onto Sweeney's back. The rest of the U.S. team turns as Sweeney attempts to get the creature off of him.

Cooper: What the hell are you doing?

Sweeney: Something's on me. Get it off, dude!

Cooper: Shut the hell up!

Ford manages to pull the creature off, before looking down at the creature in his hand.

Ford: The hell?

The creature then produces sharp razor teeth, causing Ford to throw it off his hands.

Ford: Holy shit!

The creature crawls at Ford, before Cooper crushes the creature under his boot.

Ford: It had a goddamn face or something.

Above their heads, more small spider-like aliens crawl on the ceiling of the cave.

Ford: Oh my god....

Kala: Shit.

Cooper: Back! Back! Fall back!

Truie: They're everywhere!

Sweeney: To hell with this!

Sweeney opens fire on the alien spider-like creatures.

Ramirez: Shit! Shit!

Cooper: Light em up!

The U.S. navy team opens fire on the pursuing spider-like creatures. The swarm consumes Sweeney and devour him.

Kala: Sweeney!

The U.S. team continues opening fire on the pursuing alien creatures, but they eventually overwhelm and devour Ramirez, who is dying and reaches out for Cooper.

Ramirez: Sarge....

Cooper shakes his head and shoots Ramirez in the head, sparing him a painful death. The U.S. team continues retreating as Cooper, Kala and Ford fall back to an exit. The three then point their weapons at the door.

Ford: Jesus, man! Those things ate Sweeney and Ramirez!

Cooper: Where the hell's Truie?

Truie, severely wounded by the spider-like creatures, stumbles out of the cave. Truie then falls to his knees in pain.

Kala: Truie....

Truie then falls off the cliffside to his death. The three U.S. Soldiers look down the caveside.

Kala: We could've helped him.

Cooper: No, we couldn't....

Cooper looks at the cave.

Cooper: The bugs aren't following us. They must only guards those tunnels.

Ford: What were they guarding?

As if answering their question, the three turn to notice a temple like structure with a giant beam coming out of it.

Ford: What in God's name is this place? What the hell is this place?

The three U.S. soldiers give uneasy looks to each other.

Ford: We gotta get the hell out of here.

Kala uses her rifle to scope out the area, finding a tunnel on the other side.

Kala: There's a tunnel with light. That could lead to an exit out of here.

Cooper: Let's move.

Ford gets on his knees and prays.

Ford: Our father who art in heaven. Thy will be come. Thy—

Kala: Bobby....I don't think God would want to know about this place. We gotta move.

The three U.S. soldiers climb down a set of giant steps. At Parker Tower, the wedding reception continues with Charles stands on stage, tapping the microphone.

Charles: Hello. Is this thing on? Can I have your attention please?

Alex whistles.

Charles: Thank you. Thank you. I like to propose a toast to Trisha and Josh. Trisha, I remember the first day I met you; you were just a teenager, who had just discovered your powers and then you saw me, thinking I would eat you....the memory still makes me laugh to this day.

Jessica is speaking next on stage.

Jessica: Well, I've only known Trisha and Josh for three years now and I can just say that their love for each other is so inspiring....hopefully, this will inspire a certain someone to finally ask a certain girl to finally as Beyonce says put a ring on it.....

The crowd laughs as Josh turns to Alex.

Alex: What?

Xiang is on stage next.

Xiang: See in my country, marriage is a very important thing. It's a cultural phenomenon that's been around the world. It's seen as a symbol of two people who are committed to building life together and these commitments tend to create more stable families, communities and societies.....I'm literally only saying this because I looked on Google before about marriage Chinese culture and figured it'd make a good speech.

Maria is next on stage.

Maria: Josh, I've only known you for a few years, so I'll give you a heads up. I know you'll be a good husband to my little sister, because one I'm a cop. Two; I come from a family who knows how to hunt men who have wronged women. Three; I know how to taze men who have wronged women.

Trisha: Maria!

Maria: I know. I'm just trying to give friendly advice to Josh.

Josh: (quietly) Well, it's certainly working.

Alex is next on stage.

Alex: Honestly, dude, you're my boy so my best advice is treat your wife like your craft. Like a car sort of....also, dress for special occasions. In the Lion King movie, Scar always says "Be Prepared", right? Cause you're kind of like a hungry fierce lion ready to pounce on his prey...I didn't think this through before I came up here.

Eva is next on stage, singing "My Heart will go on". Charles leans into John's ear.

Charles: She's not drunk, is she?

John: No, no, but she did watch Titanic again and she really wanted to sing a song.

Charles: Hmm....not bad.

John: She did tear up a lot watching Leonardo die.....

John is next on stage.

John: So, I was married for some time and this is the best I can say; marriage is an honor. It's a bond between two souls. 

John looks at James and Eva, who think of Sara.

John: The moment you look into the eyes of the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you know that moment is right. You know your future. Seeing Josh and Trisha through so much, I know they'll be just fine as a married couple.

In Afghanistan, the three surviving U.S. team marines continue climbing down the last set of giant steps until Cooper looks behind him to notice giant bigger spider-leg creatures following them down the stairs.

Cooper: Contact! Behind us!

Cooper, Kala and Ford open fire on the bugs while covering and moving down the stairs. Cooper runs out of the ammo and resorts to his pistol. Eventually, Ford is overwhelmed and devoured by the creatures.

Kala: Ford!

Kala opens fire, but runs out of the ammo. She then throws away her assault rifle and powers up her hands with neon energy, blasting at the bugs.

Cooper: Donovan! Come on!

Cooper and Kala retreat to the temple. Back in New York, Scarlett is on stage, holding a bottle in her hand, she then downs the bottle with the a long awkward silence amongst the crowd. She then holds up one finger to Josh and Trisha, before finishing the bottle.

Scarlett: Oh, don't worry. Enhumans genes have suppression system from alcohol...but anyway, congratulation, Trisha and Josh.....even if I did try to kill you several times.

Tombs is on stage.

Tombs: Josh and Trisha...despite our differences. It's an honor to see them grow from children to adults. I've raised seen how John has taught you two and seen them become great people. So I'd like to propose a toast to Josh and Trisha Adams.

Everyone raises their glasses.

Tombs: May the next couple of years be kind to you as you venture forward as husband and wife.

In Afghanistan, Cooper and Kala take a breath. Cooper checks his pockets.

Cooper: Shit. I'm out of ammo. You?

Kala: Just my powers....not sure it'll be enough to get us out of here, though.

Suddenly, a noise from the temple as the two U.S. Soldiers look up ahead.

Cooper: What the hell is that?

Kala: I don't know....

Cooper and Kala walk up ahead and find an ancient alien structure and in the center, is an alien crystal.

Cooper: My God....it's...it's...

Kala: Sarge, wait....Sarge! Sarge!

Cooper unknowingly grabs the crystal, but is instantly disintegrated by its touch. Kala stands back, shocked.

Kala: Holy shit....

Kala then takes a deep breath, and activates her neon hands, then cautiously grabs the alien crystal. As she touches the crystal, it seems like it will not harm her. Kala lets out a breath and depowers, but then suddenly as she does, the crystal glows. Kala screams as horrific visions of an alien diety, fire and ruin, occur. After the visions, Kala goes unconscious.

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