The Strongest Force Alive, Part 2.3

Page 14 Panel 1: Cut to a shot of Orkun reading the data as it scrolls out on the machine's display; a confident and slightly uneasy grin coming over his face at what he's reading.

ORKUN

(to Fran and Reina, translated from German) Bad news: Hi-Hi's running a little late. The good news, though, is that the freeway's clear all the way up to the Netherlands border.

ORKUN

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 1)

Panel 2: A compatriot of human blood from Langenhagen, an extra set of hands to help out with the ship and...other bits.

Panel 2: Two halves of the same general setting, showing a confused and holding chuckle from Fran at the name...

FRAN

(raised eyebrow, to Orkun; translated from German)

Who is Hi-Hi?

Panel 3: In the second half, a handful of feet away, Reina looks on with a more serious set of body language connected to another question.

REINA

(to Orkun; translated from German) On a separate note, Mr. Orkun, I noticed you were reading Binary on the display screen. I didn't know humans had interest in that language.

Panel 4: Action shot of Orkun turning away from the now silent machine back toward the wheel, explaining the situation with a touch of flare as he goes.

ORKUN

I'm quite skilled in many languages outside of the fascinating rhythm of Binary. Also...

Panel 5: Same setting/layout as the previous panel, taken a beat after said panel. He taps the right side of his head with his corresponding hand to hammer the point home.

ORKUN

(Cont.) I would've been completely lost in my youth, interacting with the mecha wanderers that came to the tribe, if I didn't learn that language.

Panel 6: Back at the wheel a short time later, we see him push it further in order to increase the overall speed. You can see the other two in the background looking on at the same time.

REINA

(slight nod, curious) Okay. What's the big plan once we get there, if you have one?

ORKUN

(to Reina) So glad you asked...!

Page 15

Panel 1: A three-part set of panels that lays out the bulk of the plan as it flows out of Orkun's mouth. In the first, we see his ship land behind a nondescript seaside pub.

Caption

(Cont., Orkun; translated from German)

"First, we pop down just south of Antwerp in a place that doesn't elicit too many suspicious eyebrows by the authorities."

Caption

(Fran)

"How do you ensure such an outcome, out of curiosity?"

Caption

(Orkun)

"I helped the owner's daughter reach Great Britain a few years back. Also...she loathes the Brownshirts with a pure, blinding passion."

Panel 2: In the second part, minutes later, we see our group meet up with a faeman by the name of TREV on a street corner, exchanging pleasantries as they get down to business.

Caption

(Cont., Orkun)

"Then we meet up with Hi-Hi's Scottish Fae friend Trev who'll cook up some fake identification papers in case you're caught up in more messiness. And finally, fashionably prompt..."

Panel 3: In the third and final part, driving up in a Imperial German army Volkswagen is HI-HI, a rail thin young man in Army greens with a Cheshire cat-like grin and shoulder length blonde hair.

Caption

(Cont., Orkun)

"Hi-Hi will pop up, and drive you guys up to the Bitty Boat waiting on the dock near the Schelde that'll get you the rest of the way."

HI-HI

(to Fran and Reina, brightly; translated from German) Welcome to the Freedom Train, memmes...!

Panel 4: Action shot of the group in the Jeep heading on down the road to the spot in question; Reina in the backseat, Fran right up front on the passenger side.

FRAN

(curious, to Hi-Hi; translated from German) How many people have you and Orkun got out this way?

HI-HI

We started a few years ago averaging a couple hundred a year. Since the Shite Artist came onto the scene, that's gone up tenfold.

Panel 5: Slight close-up on Reina chiming in with the pessimistic point that bears some asking.

REINA

(to Hi-Hi, translated from German) How many have been unsuccessful?

Panel 6: Cut to a shot of Hi-Hi glancing up at the rearview mirror briefly to address Reina who is visible in the shot from that particular position.

HI-HI

(honestly) About 30, if memory serves me right.

REINA

And of that 30, how many look like Fran and--?

HI-HI

(Bubble 2) More than I wish. But you have my word that you two will not meet that fate.