David's palm GLOWS.
TATTOOS INTERLOCK — scorpion runes, purple veins, pulsing like lightning.
David stares — wide-eyed.
"Did I… connect with my zodiac sign?"
SKORN CHARGES.
Giant fist — anti-matter swirling, rage incarnate.
THEY COLLIDE.
BOOM.
SHOCKWAVE — rips air, shatters windows 1km away.
David HOLDS Skorn's fist.
Purple tattoos SPREAD — up arm.
Skorn:
"IMPOSSIBLE."
David TWISTS.
HIGH WATER JETS — speed of sound — BLAST from thin air.
Skorn FLIES — CRASHES INTO GROUND.
Crater 50 meters wide.
Skorn GRUMBLES — rises.
"You are… no, it can't be."
David WALKS CONFIDENTLY.
Purple glow intensifies.
"That's right. A ZODIAC WARRIOR."
Skorn:
"NOOOOOOO!"
GIANT AXE — manifests from void, anti-matter edge.
SWINGS — to cut David's head.
David DOESN'T MOVE.
Axe TOUCHES NECK.
Skorn:
"WHHHHAAAAAAT?!"
David's GLOWING PALM — PUNCH.
STRAIGHT INTO SKORN'S STOMACH.
HAND BURSTS THROUGH BACK.
Purple energy EXPLODES INSIDE.
Skorn:
"AARCCCCKKK AAAAHHHHHHH!"
Eyes GLOW — anti-matter UNSTABLE.
Body CONVULSES — about to EXPLODE
AND Suddenly David's hand — purple tattoos blazing — clamps Skorn's neck.
Skorn CONVULSES, anti-matter core unstable.
David's eyes — pure purple fury.
"This ends NOW."
THEY BLAST OFF.
Ground CRATERS.
Favour looks up — eyes wide.
"Where are they going?!"
SKY.
David CARRIES Skorn — rocketing upward.
Atmosphere SCREAMS.
Clouds PART.
SPACE – EDGE OF EARTH'S GRAVITY.
Sun's radiation — searing.
Skorn's body — overloaded.
EXPLODES.
ANTI-MATTER BURST — SILENT, WHITE-PURPLE.
Pieces disintegrate — void shards melting in solar fire.
David RELEASES — pushes off.
Falls back toward Earth.
Re-entry HEAT — body glowing red.
ABUJA –
Favour LEAPS — tidal boost.
CATCHES David mid-air.
Spins — LANDS SOFTLY.
Lays him on ground.
David turns — sees Chika's body.
Nods once.
Tears ROLL — silent.
Favour kneels — hand on shoulder.
"I'm here…"
Warriors ARRIVE.
Prince, Ojo, Gabriel, Emmanuella, Paul, Peter, Tijani — battered, staring.
Ojo:
"Who's he?"
Favour:
"Scorpio."
Ojo:
"WHAAAT?!"
HELICOPTERS DESCEND — IDC Lagos insignia.
Soldiers rappel — help civilians from rubble.
AMBULANCE VAN — IDC markings — screeches in.
Favour guides David — sedation needle FLASHES.
"It's gonna be okay. I promise."
David's eyes CLOSE.
IDC HOSPITAL CENTER – ABUJA – 11:15 P.M.
David WAKES.
White room.
Monitors BEEP.
IV in arm.
Favour sits beside — holding his hand.
David whispers:
"Chika….. is that you?"
David's eyes flutter open.
Ceiling lights blur.
Face leans in — close.
Vision clears.
Favour — braids framing, eyes soft, lips inches away.
David BLUSHES — hard.
"Ohhhhh…it's you!!!!"
Memory SLAMS.
"Wait — CHIKA… is he dead?"
Favour's voice cracks.
"Yes… but don't worry. You have me by your side."
David's heart MELTS.
Smile — small, broken, warm.
"Hey… what's your name again?"
Favour smiles back.
"Favour."
David:
"Wow. Okay."
Door OPENS.
Prince STRIDES in — bandages on his right arm, lion tattoo glowing faintly.
"HEYYYY DAVID! You're okay!"
David:
"Fine. Feel better."
Prince grins.
"Good. Welcome to the Inter-Galactic Division Corp, Scorpio."
David's eyes widen.
"Wait… am I in?"
Prince nods, grinning.
"Yeah. After what you pulled yesterday? They had to accept you."
Prince clears throat.
"I'd like you to meet… Superior One. Or as they call him — The Deluge."
Door HISSES open.
SUPERIOR ONE ENTERS.
Water humanoid — mermaid-shark hybrid.
Dark-blue skin — scales glinting.
Fins — stretch from head to long, powerful tail.
Forearm fins — razor-edged.
Shark teeth — sharp, white.
IDC jumpsuit — tailored, golden badge + medals pinned.
Voice — DEEP, like ocean trenches:
"David… welcome to the Inter-Galactic Division Corp."
David — sits up.
"Wait… seriously? Am I in?"
Superior One — fins rippling, deep voice:
"Yes. After you defeated Skorn yesterday… we recruited you. And we promised to take care of you… after your stepfather's death."
David's face FALLS.
Memory HITS — Chika's body, blood spilling out of chika's chest.
"Ohhh… thanks for reminding me."
Voice SAD, small.
Superior One notices.
"Why don't you have breakfast at the cafeteria? You might meet others like you. Mingle with each other and become ecome friends."
David looks up.
Superior One continues:
"So you won't feel lonely. I'll take my leave now. I've got Important things to do. See you out there, Scorpio."
Superior One turns — tail swishes, two guards flank.
Door HISSES shut.
Prince — grinning — ruffles David's hair.
"You're not so little anymore, little cous."
Playful.
Favour smiles — soft.
"Let's go to the cafeteria. I'll introduce you to my friends."
David BLUSHES.
"Okay… alright."
He stands — rips IV out.
Steps toward door.
Mind:
"Oh wait… I'm wearing new clothes."
Grey jumpsuit — Scorpio emblem glowing faintly and attached on the right side of his chest.
"I can't believe I didn't notice… hehe."
Giggles in his mind.