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¦ Fiction ¦ Tales
from Mega City 1: The Sharp Shooter
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16th
May 04 |
The
Sharp Shooter
by
Iain Nixon
PAGE 1
CAPTION:
I was there at the birth of the war of independence, giving red coats a taste
of lead.
(The shooter’s
eye view- his arm, clad in traditional American war of independence garb, just
shot a British soldier- British solider arms up, dropping rifle “Arrgh!”)
CAPTION:
I was there during the civil war ready to fight Lincoln’s cause.
(Shooter’s
eye view- union uniform, with blunderbuss three confederate soldiers hit by the
gun’s shrapnel- "My God!" etc.)
CAPTION:
I was in the trenches of the firsts world war, teaching the Hun a lesson they
wouldn’t forget.
(Again shooter’s
eye view, firing a machine gun and mowing down a load of Germans climbing over
the top of the trench.)
CAPTION:
I was there in 2069, to assassinate President Booth and stop the Atomic wars.
(View of the
White House talker’s gun by his side)
CAPTION: But
I failed.
(Mushroom cloud.)
CAPTION: I
must go back and try again, I must…
(Shooter’s
eyes scrunched up- determined.)
CAPTION: How else will I be able to face my colleges, my friends knowing
that I failed
(View of shooter’s
face. - 25-30 spiky hair. Eyes closed slightly, looking down.)
PAGE 2
CAPTION:
My title as the greatest gamer in Sonny’s VR station will be gone.
(Picture of
Sonny’s VR station - looks really seedy, by lots of other seedy run down
joints, - bottom level of Lara Croft block.)
CAPTION:
I know I'm the one with the most accurate aim here- unless the judges hear of
it and close it down.
SONNY: (fat,
ugly and seedy behind the counter shooter on over side. Poster behind him: "Close
your eyes when VR helmet is turned on, ya don’t wanna be blind do ya?"
) Why, if it isn't the VR champion!
SHOOTER:
Can I have another go at Assassination Booth?
SONNY:
Nah, I got this new game, way better. It's set in the present an' ya gotta obey
the commands what comes from the helmet.
(Just show
Sonny and Shooter's face)
SHOOTER:
I dunno. I really wanna complete Assassination Booth.
SONNY:
Seeing as youse the champeen gamer an’ all, you can have a go at the new
game fer free.
SHOOTER:
Okay then.
Sonny puts the
VR helmet on Shooter's head, Shooter has a gun in hand. Sonny points to a door.
SONNY: Jus'
close ya eyes while I turn the helmet on an' enter that VR booth over there.
SHOOTER:
I never knew that was a booth.
SONNY:
Yeah. Well it's, new. I got a load a’ new equipment. Don’t forget
ta close
ya eyes.
PAGE 3
Black- shooter’s
eyes are closed
SONNY (voice):
Youse can open ya eyes now. The helmet's on.
SHOOTER:
Are you sure? I didn't feel nothin’.
SONNY:
Didn't I tell youse I got all new equipment?
Shooter's eye
view of a low-level street in Mega City 1 at night crowded with scum.
SHOOTER
(thinking): By Grud! Whoever made this did their research.
Still Shooter's
eye view - walking amongst the crowd
COMPUTER VOICE:
Your mission is to eliminate members of the Black Shark gang. They can be identified
by a tattoo on their right arm.
Shooter spots
one in the crowd He shoots him and the Black Shark member falls back
SOUND EFFECT:
Phut! Phut!
PASSERS BY:
Oh Grud! Arrgh! Help!
Shooter Searches
body with one hand, gun in other to make sure people stay away.
SHOOTER
(thinking): First rule of VR games: always check the body for clues.
He finds a beer
coaster: Renno's Inn. Strictly no under 21s. Strictly no mutants.
SHOOTER:
All right!
Shooter holding
coaster. All in shadow.
SHOOTER:
Grud's Sake! It's even got the address on the back. Sonny's gone an' given me
a game for juves.
Shooter standing
up in the shadow
COMPUTER VOICE:
Go to Renno's inn.
SHOOTER:
Ahh, my year old niece could play this game!
PAGE 4
Over the next few
panels, he shoots more Black Sharks - very casually. Renno's bar is clean of Black
Sharks. The clientele look shocked.
SHOOTER:
Just to let you know that I am bored, very bored – I'm supposed to shoot
some Black Sharks, but I might as well kill all of you and drokk to lost points.
COMPUTER VOICE:
No! No!
Gun prodded
into gut of a fat man- can't see rest of Shooter
SHOOTER:
Did you just hear that? Pathetic!
Gun blazing
- Phut! Phut! lots of people dead or dying
SHOOTER:
This is fun, oh yeah!
COMPUTER VOICE:
No! No! No!
Two judges -
one could be female - burst in.
SHOOTER:
Yeah, more targets!
JUDGE 1:
Not so fast mister.
PAGE 5
Judge 1 holds
Shooter's arm arm to stop him shooting. Judge 2 is on the other side reaching
up for the helmet.
SHOOTER:
Hey why aren’t you shooting at me?
Judge 2 puts
the VR helmet in front of shooter's face.
SHOOTER:
You mean all of this was real?
Shooter's face:
Green, looking ill.
JUDGE 1:
(Voice-over) Yes, it's all real. At least you know why VR is illegal now, Ehh?
JUDGE 2:
(Voice-over) Don’t worry. You'll have plenty of time to think it over in
your very own Iso cube!
Later at Sonny's
VR Station. Sonny is forced onto the floor by a judge.
JUDGE 3:
And here's a tip for you, Sonny. Next time you want to bump off your loan sharks
cause you can't pay them back, it's best not to use such a obvious calling card.
Shot of VR helmet
- looks like, and probably is a modified Judge helmet - wires along the back and
other crude alterations . Text is written on back: "Property of Sonny’s
VR station. Lara Croft block. Northern Sector. Mega City 1"
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