SERIES TWO - Weapon (B3)

[A large, two-tiered reception chamber. The upper tier in the background is connected by a flight of stairs to the main level. Panels serve as a low wall supporting the upper tier. Travis stands on the main level. Blake Clone 1 enters on the upper tier and walks down the stairs. He stands across from Travis, who raises his gun arm and takes aim. The wall panels, which have been yellow and green till now, flush red]
CLONE: No! [Drops to his knees] Please!
[Travis shoots. Mist pours down the stairs and the walls turn white. Clonemaster Fen descends the stairs amid mist and music. She stops by the dead Clone]
FEN: Why did you kill him?
TRAVIS: That's no concern of yours. You've been paid.
FEN: Not for this.
TRAVIS: For whatever I choose.
FEN: You're a sad man, Travis. Life must have reverence.
TRAVIS: Now. I want the other one.
FEN: No.
TRAVIS: Get the other one.
FEN: You know better than this.
TRAVIS: Do I?
FEN: The Federation does not protect us out of altruism. They know our value and our threat.
TRAVIS: You flatter yourselves.
FEN: Do we?
[Clone 2 enters on the upper tier, sees dead clone]

[Reception chamber]
SERVALAN: Travis, you are pathetic.
TRAVIS: If you say so.
SERVALAN: Of all the cripple-brained idiots.
TRAVIS: Me -- or you?
SERVALAN: What did you say?
TRAVIS: You're angry, Supreme Commander. Surprised by what I did. [Grasps Servalan by the throat] You devious- You always have been devious. You knew what would happen.
SERVALAN: Take your hand off me.
TRAVIS: You knew if it was Blake I'd kill him. I'd have to kill him.
SERVALAN: You'll rot in a slave pit on Ursa Prime, Travis.
TRAVIS: We didn't need two, but you insisted. That's why: so you could test one of them on me. You used me like some automatic fault tracer.
SERVALAN: [Hits away his hand] And you functioned beautifully. There are no faults. The remaining clone is perfect. Even Blake himself couldn't tell the difference. Our problem now is to persuade the Clonemasters to let us use him.
TRAVIS: And the slave pits?
SERVALAN: When you're of no further use to me, Travis.
TRAVIS: Honesty, at last. A mark of contempt?
SERVALAN: Or respect. A man might see it as respect. You would have -- once.

[Reception chamber]
TRAVIS: When?
SERVALAN: You don't hurry a Clonemaster.
TRAVIS: Out of respect, Supreme Commander?
SERVALAN: They are a little awesome.
TRAVIS: Reverence? I wouldn't have thought you capable of it.
SERVALAN: I'm capable of taking the one thing you have left if you persist with your impertinence, Travis.
TRAVIS: My visits to the retraining therapist have left me ... I don't know. Is there anything of value that remains to me?
SERVALAN: [Runs her hand up his chest] Blake's death.
TRAVIS: I meant no impudence, Supreme Commander.
[Fen descends the stairs amid mist and music as Servalan and Travis talk]
SERVALAN: The Clonemasters are awesome, Travis, because they have ultimate power. They can create life, and in whatever form they wish.
TRAVIS: As can a number of Federation biologists even today. Cloning's been known for centuries, but was abandoned because it was inefficient and tended towards genetic stagnation.
FEN: [Stands across from them] I fear you are both mistaken.
SERVALAN: [Bows] Clonemaster Fen.
FEN: [Inclines her head] Servalan. It was never abandoned, Travis. The leaders feared its potential as a weapon. But a weapon once created cannot be abandoned. It can only be contained. And so they entrusted it to us. And we cannot create life in any form we wish. That would violate the Rule of Life.
TRAVIS: Power usually makes its own rules.
FEN: My predecessor believed in the Rule of Life. When the time came, a single cell was taken from her and stimulated into growth. The child was identical in every way to the child that she had once been. She brought it up, taught it, trained it -- so that when that child became a woman, she not only looked like my predecessor, she thought like her. And like her, I believe in the Rule of Life.
SERVALAN: You were cloned. I did not realize that.
FEN: All the Clonemasters are themselves cloned. All are identical to the original group that came to this planet.
SERVALAN: And are trusted for the same reasons they were trusted.
TRAVIS: Belief in the Rule of Life .... What about an enemy who doesn't believe in it? What's to stop him cloning a whole army of fanatics to move in against us?
FEN: Nothing. But if it happened the Rule of Life is clear. We would help you.
SERVALAN: The weapon is ours, and safe because it guards itself.
FEN: Precisely so. [The room darkens and the color of the light vascillates] It responds to mood.
TRAVIS: Whose in particular?
FEN: Like most of our city, this room lives; a vegetable biologically adapted but living and growing -- and all life, Travis, is linked. [Laces her fingers] That is the basis of the Rule of Life.
SERVALAN: Clonemaster Fen, I must ask you about Blake.
[Fen raises a hand and Clone 2 enters on the upper tier]
CLONE 2: [Bows to Fen] Master. Lady. Sir.
SERVALAN: He's very polite.
FEN: He is not a clone in the true sense.
SERVALAN: But he is a man?
CLONE 2: Oh, yes, he is.
FEN: You sent us Blake's DNA identity profile. From that we deduced a full genetic pattern and created this man, whole and adult as you see him.
TRAVIS: Doesn't that violate your Rule of Life?
FEN: We may copy life. We may not create new forms. This man is a copy of Blake, a physical copy only, because he was not grown from a cell taken from Blake. And since he has not Blake's experiences, he cannot be Blake. We have given him some background knowledge, the beginnings of identity, and the basis of understanding.
TRAVIS: I see. [To Clone 2] What's your name?
CLONE 2: Roj Blake. What's yours?
TRAVIS: How old are you?
CLONE 2: Thirty-four.
FEN: When were you born?
CLONE 2: Five hours ago, Master. [Bows to her]
SERVALAN: Diverting idea. [To Clonemaster Fen] The Federation needs this man.
[A Federation guard signals from a doorway on a sunken tier and Travis goes over to talk to him]
FEN: I know. That is why we agreed to create them.
SERVALAN: Space Commander Travis bitterly regrets what happened. It was the action of a dedicated officer taken by surprise.
FEN: Does he always kill when taken by surprise?
TRAVIS: Supreme Commander.
SERVALAN: [To Fen] Forgive me. [To Travis] What is it?
TRAVIS: This just came in on the command ship security band. [Shows her the message brought by the guard]
SERVALAN: Take one of the escort ships and get back to Headquarters immediately. I want to know how this happened and why, Travis. And I want the man Coser found.
TRAVIS: Right.
SERVALAN: When I've dealt with this tiresome female, I'll follow. I shall expect you to have the answers by the time I return. Now go.
TRAVIS: Supreme Commander. [Leaves]
SERVALAN: You are right, Clonemaster Fen. Travis's behavior was unpardonable. I have ordered him back to my headquarters with instructions to place himself under arrest pending immediate court martial proceedings. I trust this is in accordance with the Rule of Life.
FEN: You understand the Rule of Life, Servalan. Almost as thoroughly as you understand -- trust. [Leaves]

[Servalan's office. Servalan's temper rises throughout the exchange with Travis]
SERVALAN: Dead?
TRAVIS: All dead. Everyone connected with the project. And judging by what's left of them, he used IMIPAK to do it.
SERVALAN: Well, that's some consolation, I suppose. At least we know it works.
TRAVIS: At the moment, that's all we do know.
SERVALAN: What?
TRAVIS: He destroyed all recorded data and took the prototype with him.
SERVALAN: And security?
TRAVIS: Taken by surprise.
SERVALAN: "Taken by surprise"?
TRAVIS: It seems this man Coser is brighter than his grade classification would suggest.
SERVALAN: I assume the security commander is under arrest.
TRAVIS: He was.
SERVALAN: "Was"?
TRAVIS: He died -- under interrogation. You said you wanted quick results!
SERVALAN: Was he implicated?
TRAVIS: No.
SERVALAN: Unfortunate.
TRAVIS: Why?
SERVALAN: He might have told us where Coser is.
TRAVIS: The computers have narrowed it down. There are only four planets he could have reached.
SERVALAN: That's not quite narrow enough, Travis.
TRAVIS: I've assigned aerial survey teams. We'll find his ship soon. And when we do, I shall need more men.
SERVALAN: Regular troops?
TRAVIS: Yes, as many as possible.
SERVALAN: To search for a dangerous psychopath with a highly effective secret weapon?
TRAVIS: Some losses are inevitable!
SERVALAN: Losses?!? Travis, have you no sense of proportion at all?
TRAVIS: What?
SERVALAN: If he's cornered, he might destroy the weapon.
TRAVIS: I should have realized.
SERVALAN: I don't find stupidity amusing, Travis.
TRAVIS: No.
SERVALAN: Are we certain he wasn't met by any other ships?
TRAVIS: As certain as we can be. I've had the four planets seeded to make certain it doesn't happen now.
SERVALAN: Not TOO obviously, I hope. If there are others involved, I don't want them frightened off.
TRAVIS: Small proximity mines in random orbit. Virtually undetectable until they explode.
SERVALAN: Very well. [Picks up a red plastic flower] Keep me informed.
TRAVIS: You do have Blake's clone, Supreme Commander?
SERVALAN: Of course, Travis.
TRAVIS: Well, if he's to be of any use to us, his training should begin as soon as possible.
SERVALAN: It already has, Travis.
TRAVIS: Of course, Supreme Commander. [Leaves]

[Servalan's office. The intercom chimes]
SERVALAN: [Into intercom]: Yes, Travis?
TRAVIS: [Face appears on intercom screen visible next to Servalan] We found his ship - it looks to have crashed and blown up.
SERVALAN: Wait. [Clicks off the intercom and turns to Carnell] Carnell?
CARNELL: [Playing with a hand-held chess computer] It's a ruse. He landed first, then blew up the ship.
SERVALAN: Leaving himself no means of escape?
CARNELL: Guilt. Symbolic suicide.
SERVALAN: What?
CARNELL: It fits his personality. Checkmate. Six times in a row I've beaten it. Supposed to be the best chess computer available. Cost me a fortune. I don't suppose you'd care to discuss my fee at this particular point, would you?
SERVALAN: [Smiles] No.
CARNELL: Oh.
SERVALAN: Why are you so certain he isn't dead?
CARNELL: He's too good a pilot to have lost control that close to the ground.
SERVALAN: You don't know how close to the ground he was.
CARNELL: They identified the remains of the ship. If he'd lost it in the descent from primary orbit, there'd be nothing left to find, let alone identify. Therefore, he was close and slow when it happened. Therefore, it didn't happen.
SERVALAN: You're very plausible.
CARNELL: I'm very good, Supreme Commander, believe me. I've taken everyone and everything into consideration. It's all as predictable as that very expensive chess machine.
SERVALAN: [Into intercom] Travis, I want three pursuit ships ready for immediate launch. And I want all in the vicinity of that planet recalled.
TRAVIS: [Visible on screen] Recalled?
SERVALAN: That's what I said.
TRAVIS: [Visible on screen] May I ask why? SERVALAN: No, you may not. [Clicks off the intercom and turns back toward Carnell] You'd better be right.
CARNELL: By now Coser is completely psychotic. It won't strike him as remotely odd that a folk hero he admires so much arrives out of nowhere. And when a second Blake turns up, he probably won't even notice. He's a very sick man. He shouldn't be totally alone as he is. It's awfully bad for his health.

SERVALAN: [Enters] A lofty ambition. [Accepts IMIPAK from Clone 2] Thank you.
COSER: [To Clone 2] You betrayed me.
TRAVIS: Blake is a reformed character. There are only two traitors here.

[Messroom. Travis enters]
SERVALAN: Are the guards in clear view?
TRAVIS: Three of them, as you ordered, Supreme Commander.
SERVALAN: And the fourth is concealed?
TRAVIS: With instructions to report back what he sees. What exactly do you expect him to see?
SERVALAN: All in good time, Travis. Coser. [Coser looks up and Servalan marks him]
COSER: No.
SERVALAN: [She advances on him and he cowers away] Let's see, the range would be about eight feet.
COSER: No. SERVALAN: No, let's make it four.
COSER: No.
SERVALAN: Not quite within range.
COSER: No! Please! Please! I didn't mean it!
[Clone 2 and Rashel witness Coser's death]

[Messroom]
TRAVIS: [Inspects Coser's corpse] Very effective weapon. [Servalan marks Travis unbeknownst to him] Good thing his ambitions were small. What about the girl?
CLONE 2: No! [Encircles Rashel with his arms] All life must have reverence.
TRAVIS: I knew that Clonemaster wasn't to be trusted.
SERVALAN: It's all right. Take her to another room. Keep her there until I send for you.
RASHEL: [As she is shepherded out by Clone 2] Why? What are you waiting for?

[A guard speaks to Travis just outside the open messroom door and is marked on the back by Servalan]
TRAVIS: [Enters] Blake! How did he get here?
SERVALAN: Orac picked up the original message to our command ship.
TRAVIS: This is what you were waiting for.
SERVALAN: [Hands him the projector] Mark them, Travis. We'll kill them at our leisure. Travis, when you know an enemy's strengths, and can use them against them, they become weaknesses.
TRAVIS: [To the guard on his way out] Show me.
SERVALAN: I may not kill you after all, Carnell.

[Travis marks Blake, Gan, and Avon as they search the compound]

BLAKE: What sort of trap is it, then?
SERVALAN: Guard. [He moves forward. She presses the key. He falls down] That sort. He was marked for death, as you three have been, with that gun. [Avon moves for the projector] Leave it. You're in range now. I press this, and you're all like him.
GAN: Is she bluffing?
AVON: She's not bluffing, is she, Travis?
TRAVIS: Do something reckless and find out.
AVON: Well now, I might just blow your head off.
BLAKE: How would you like to die, too, Supreme Commander?
SERVALAN: IMIPAK gives me the edge, Blake. You know it does. But if you want to throw away your only chance ...
AVON: What chance?
SERVALAN: The chance to run. I'm not sure exactly how far the range on this is. It's long, but you might outrun the signal. Now, I'm prepared to give you a small start.
BLAKE: Why?
SERVALAN: Research?
BLAKE: [Into bracelet] Get us out of here, Vila. [They teleport]
TRAVIS: Why let them go?
SERVALAN: Everyone will assume that they have taken IMIPAK.
TRAVIS: Taken IMIPAK but -
SERVALAN: But I've got it. Exactly. And I haven't let them go. I'm allowing Blake time to give his final order: a partial orbit which will ensure that our ships witness the Liberator's escape. When he's done that, you can kill him.
[Rashel enters quietly]

[Messroom]
SERVALAN: That should be long enough, I think. All right, Travis, your time has come. Enjoy it. [Hands Travis the key] It's what you've waited for.

[Messroom]
RASHEL: [Holds the IMIPAK projector] No. Don't press it. You're both marked. [Travis aims his gun arm at her]
CLONE 2: [Enters with a Federation gun trained on Travis] Please don't do that.

[Messroom]
RASHEL: You can go now. There's nothing for you here.
SERVALAN: I'll see you never leave this planet.
RASHEL: I know. But make sure you do it from at least a million miles away.
CLONE 2: And don't send anyone to look for us.
RASHEL: She won't. There'd be too many questions. And besides, she can't afford for this [Holds up the key] to fall into anyone else's hands.
TRAVIS: The weapon guards itself.
SERVALAN: Thank you, Travis.
TRAVIS: I was merely quoting you, Supreme Commander.
SERVALAN: Contact the ship. I have an appointment with a man named Carnell.
TRAVIS: [Regarding the clone on his way out] My compliments.

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