Gold Digger: Palentine
by quamp
(Page 1, panel 1. The front porch of Gina Diggers' home. There is a young male with short hair attired in a delivery uniform. He holds in his hands a package about the size of a PC tower. On top of the package is a clipboard-like computer device.)
Caption (N1): The young man hasn't been here before. If he had, he'd be scared stiff. Then again, he'd also want to run away in terror.
Caption (N2): Gina Diggers is away from her home right now. That's why things are calm at the moment.
(Panel 2. The Ginamobile enters from behind the young man on the driveway. He turns around to see it.)
Man: Oh, there she is.
(Panel 3. Britanny and Briana Diggers step out of the car.)
Brianna: Ooh - a present for someone!
Man: I have a delivery here for someone named Dao.
(Panel 4. Brianna takes the package.)
Brianna: He's visiting a friend now, but we'll keep this safe for him.
Man: I got something for you to sign here.
(Panel 5. Brianna signs on the clipboard-like computer device. Britanny unlocks the front door.)
Brianna: You can trust us.
Man: All right...
(Panel 6. Britanny and Brianna enter the place with Brianna holding the box.)
Brianna: It doesn't feel heavy... I wonder what it is?
Britanny: We'll find out when Dao gets back from his trip.
(Panel 7. Brianna gets a naughty look on her face. She and Britanny are in the living room now.)
Brianna: I don't know if I can wait that long.
Britanny: Brianna, we can't go opening up other people's mail! Just leave it in Dao's room.
(Panel 8. Brianna looks downhearted.)
Brianna: Yea... I know... I'll do that.
Britanny (coldly): Don't open it along the way.
(Page 2, panel 1. Brianna exits.)
Brianna: You can trust me, Brit!
Britanny's thoughts: Why do I feel that I've let the proverbial bull loose in the proverbial china shop?
(Panel 2. Later on, Dao appears in the lab in a magical puff of smoke. Gina is there working on something.)
Caption (N): Later on...
Gina: Welcome back, Dao.
Dao: Thanks for letting me go there, Gina. It was good to visit an old friend again.
(Panel 3. Gina turns around and stops working on what she was working on.)
Gina: Well, while you were gone a package came for you.
Dao: A package?
(Panel 4. Gina approaches Dao.)
Gina: I don't really know much about it, except the return address is from another dimension.
Dao: Another dimension?
(Panel 5. Dao walks towards the door.)
Dao: Now you've peaked my curiosity.
Gina: Well, I've had a devil of a time trying to keep Brianna from opening it.
(Panel 6. Dao's room. Dao is looking at the package, and seems interested in it. Gina, Britanny, and Brianna are there as well.)
Dao: I sens something from it, but I don't know quite what it is.
(Panel 7. Dao takes the package and opens it.)
Brianna: Well, don't just stand there, open it!
Gina: Remember the old saying about curiosity and the cat, Bri.
(Panel 8. Dao pulls a clay figurine of a humanoid male that is Korean in origin. It is about the size of a laptop PC keyboard. The figure is male with a goatee attired in a lavish robe of ancient Korea.)
Brianna: A figurine?
Gina: It looks like a variation on Sae Jon King, the legendary creator of the Korean alphabet.
Dao: Come on out, Palentine.
Britanny: Palentine?
(Page 3, panel 1. Dao sets the figurine down as a female djinn comes out of it. The Diggers sisters are surprised at this. She is clouded up with smoke, so we cannot see her features, only a vague outline.)
Brianna: Whoa! Another djinn!
Dao: Ladies, meet an old flame of mine... Palentine.
(Panel 2. Palentine is standing before everyone. She is about Gina's height and figure. She has shoulder length red hair and brown eyes. She is attired in a bikini and see-through bodysuit.)
Palentine: Well, long time no see, Dao. I asked them to mail me to a contact on Earth, but I didn't think it would be you.
Britanny: Would someone tell us what's going on here?
Dao: Palentine and I were lovers, before I met Madrid.
(Panel 3. Palentine smiles.)
Palentine: Ah, yes. I did warn you leaving me for her would lead to disaster. Next time, try listening to the voice of reason.
Dao: You always did like rubbing it in my face when you were right and I was wrong. We're all allowed to make mistakes from time to time, aren't we?
(Panel 4. Palentine comes up to Dao.)
Palentine: We've all made some mistakes, Dao. What's important is that we learn from them.
Gina: so why did you mail yourself to Earth via your focus?
(Panel 5. Palentine looks Gina over.)
Palentine (1): The Djinn Elder had me come here from another dimension. Something about a lost 6th Djinn that has surfaced earth that was rumored to be enslaved in Turkmenistan.
Palentine (2): By the way, I don't think I caught your names...
Dao: These are my friends, Gina, Britanny, and Brianna Diggers.
(Panel 6. Brianna perks up a bit.)
Brianna: Sounds interesting. I think I'd like to come along.
Gina: Bri, we've still got TONS of research here to do. I'm on the verge of a major discovery here.
Britanny: Aw, come on, Gina. This could prove interesting.
Palentine: I'm not sure I want excess baggage on this trip.
(Panel 7. Dao smiles at Palentine.)
Dao: Palentine, they may be young compared to us, but they are well-versed in surviving an adventure. Besides, we need someone in case of any problems that may arise.
Palentine: Hmm... well, since it is probably a package deal, then I'll do it.
Brianna: Great! I'll break out my armor here!
(Panel 8. Palentine looks at Brianna.)
Palentine: Erm... I really don't want to create a scene here. I just want to get a fellow Djinn out of a bad situation. The general population of earth believes that Djinn are mythical creatures - I want to keep it that way.
Brianna: Well... it never hurts to prepare, right?
(Page 4, panel 1. Gina, Dao, Palentine, and Brianna are in the Ginamobile. Gina drives, Brianna rides shotgun, and Dao and Palentine are in the back seat. Dao and Palentine look nervous at each other.)
Palentine: How far are we from this place?
Gina: Several hours. Just relax and enjoy the ride.
(Panel 2.)
Palentine: I'm not sure if I can be happy knowing a fellow Djinn is a slave.
Dao: We'll have them out of there as soon as possible. Rest and save your strength. You'll need it.
(Panel 3. Turkmenistan. The scene is an old castle nestled among some rough, rugged hills.)
Caption (N): Turkmenistan. The place is a castle in the hills of the country. Although built in medieval times, the castle is like new thanks to the spell of a Djinn.
(Panel 4. The Ginamobile enters, flying.)
Dao: I sense a Djinn in there.
Palentine: So do I. It feels like my cousin Templar. Now this guy has made it personal.
(Panel 5. Dao thinks, stroking his chin in contemplation.)
Dao: You know, you are right. It does feel like Templar.
Brianna: So you Djinn can sense each other?
Palentine: Oh yes. It's the only power we have that we can use for ourselves.
(Panel 6. The Ginamobile lands near the entrance of the castle.)
Palentine: Remember, we don't want any hostilities unless it's necessary.
Brianna: Of course.
(Panel 7. They exit the Ginamobile and approach the castle. Palentine pulls on a rope, causing a bell to ring.)
SFX: Ding ding!
(Panel 8. The door opens.)
Voice from inside: Come on in... I've been waiting...
(Page 5, panel 1. Inside the castle, we see the place is one large room. In one corner is a mound of gold and jeweled objects; In another is a simple brass Chinese gong. Next to that is Templar, a Djinn that is chained to the gong; In the center of it all is a large female dragon, that looks very mean.)
Fygaria: Welcome, I have been expecting you. I'm glad you brought me something I've wanted for a while... two more Djinn's and someone whom I hate dearly.
Brianna (To Gina): What did you do to get this dragon mad at you?
Gina (To Brianna): What makes you think it was me?
(Panel 2. Gina and Brianna approach Fygaria.)
Brianna: Uh... who are you?
Fygaria: I am Fygaria, and you killed my brother Dreadwing!
Gina: Dreadwing isn't dead.
(Panel 3. Gina has to dive out of the way to avoid Fygaria's incoming claws. Meanwhile, Dao and Palentine try to sneak over towards Templar.)
Fygaria: LIAR!!
SFX: SWISH!
(Panel 4. Brianna is now in her armor as she points her gun at Fygaria.)
Brianna: I've been wanting to try out my experimental dragonslaying laser... want to give me a reason?
(Panel 5. Fygaria strikes Brianna with her tail as She also hits Gina with her claws. Both are sent downward. )
SFX: POW! WHAM!
Fygaria: FOOL!
(Panel 6. Dao and Palentine start to free Templar as Brianna fires her gun, hitting Fygaria.)
Brianna: Prepare to die!
(Page 6, panel 1. Fygaria reels as Brianna fires again.)
Brianna: Gina, are you all right?
Gina: Uh... I hurt...
(Panel 2. Dao and Palentine have freed Templar from the chains.)
Fygaria: Gah... what is that gun? It hurts deeply...
Brianna: This one's attuned to the DNA of a dragon, and it turns your DNA inside out.
(Panel 3. Fygaria collapses.)
Fygaria: Curse you all.... I'll be back...
Gina: Now would be a great time to leave, guys!
(Panel 4. Outside the place, Gina and Dao load the gong into the trunk of the Ginamoblile.)
Palentine: A little creation of yours, Dao?
Dao: No, this is all Gina's doing.
(Panel 5. Brianna enters, Carrying a large sack (about 10' long) filled with treasure.)
Brianna: Well, we might as well take something for our troubles.
Palentine: Are you sure you want to take that now?
(Panel 6. Brianna loads the bag into the trunk of the Ginamobile.)
Brianna: Well, with the cost of gas these days, that will about cover the price of coming here
and going back.
(Page 7, panel 1. Back at the Diggers place, Gina, Brianna, Dao, Palentine, and Templar are standing in the living room.)
Caption (N): Later on...
Gina: Well, everyone's safe, now I can get back to my research.
Palentine: Be our guest.
(Panel 2. Gina exits.)
Palentine: So why do you hang around her, Dao?
Dao: She challenges me intellectually.
(Panel 3. Palentine smiles at Dao.)
Palentine: That wasn't like you before. Madrid isn't exactly high on the IQ list.
Dao: I learned a lot from the mistakes I made with her.
(Panel 4. Templar takes Brianna by the hand.)
Templar: How about I make you my special Tuna and rice special? I'm a little hungry now.
Brianna: Sure.
(Panel 5. Brianna and Templar exit.)
Dao: Well, we're here alone again...
Palentine: Yes...
(Panel 6. Dao looks deep into Palentine's eyes.)
Dao: I know you can never forget what I did to you, but could you forgive?
Palentine: Well... you did help me free my cousin...
(Panel 7. Palentine smiles at Dao.)
Palentine: All right, I forgive you. But don't let something like that happen again.
Dao: Thank you, Palentine.
(Panel 8. Palentine looks serious.)
Palentine: It will have to be temporary though - I have to get back to Dr. George Diggers in the alternate dimension where I settled. But I may return someday.
Dao: I understand.
-End-