Daria(thought VO; Hmmm.. What was that Jane said?  Something about a Plan?  Now that would be a good thing to have when you're chasing after a giant, invisible, killer.): (to herself) Now where did it?

(Unfortunately, our leading lady has mis-judged the load bearing capacity of the dried out cliffside, without warning, the part she is standing on gives way)

Daria(Thought VO: not good...): (Her expression changes to absolute horror as the cliff edge falls apart in a shower of loose dirt and she ends up in near free fall above the next level of the quarry, it happens so fast she doesn't even have time to scream. The camera angle shifts to directly behind and underneath her as she falls, tracking downward with her a solid thirty feet in your usual action-movie slo-mo sequence, luckily for her, a relatively deep pool of algae fouled water breaks her potentially painfull fall.  The viewer is treated to Daria's decidedly surprised impression of a reverse entry into the shadowy, disgustingly lukewarm stuff as the abrupt stop knocks the wind out of her.  Luckily, however, the swimming she did at the Highland Pool pays off as she surfaces through the muck and uses a few quick freestyle strokes to make it to the edge of the pit.  Once her Doc Martens touch the warm, muddy bottom, it takes her another second to crawl halfway out of the slime vat after which she pauses to gasp for air. The roiling turbulence in the water generated by Daria's impromptu cannonball is already beginning to subside even as she tries to spit out the taste the polluted water left in her mouth, from our view she looks totally trashed.  Residual slime from the surface of the pond has stuck to her long hair and the feel of the mosquito larvae infested, quarry tailing infused water is indescribable, not to mention the smell.  A full five seconds later, the syrupy stuff has already resumed it's normal, un-disturbed configuration, the only indication of Daria's accidental plunge being the entry hole and subsequent trail she cut through the surface scum. Finally, Lady Dar recovers enough from the landing to begin examining her situation.)

Daria(sardonic thought VO: Smooth move, Morgendorffer.) : (coughs again to clear her throat, she's still on her stomach half out of the run-off puddle) Well... that would pretty much fill my humiliation quota for this week, (spits again, the taste is still with her) what the hell is in this stuff!?  (Deadpan thought VO to herself) And will it kill me quicker than that thing...

(Suddenly, Daria's attention is drawn back to the pool behind her as a massive impact sends wavelets racing across the scummy surface, something big and unseen has just plunged in.  As the splash wavelets again subsides, a moving trail of bubbles marches directly toward Daria's position at the pond's edge, she scrambles back on her hands and butt as a massive and by this time familiar form emerges, criss-crossed with oddly sparking energy discharges.  Finally, feet still partly submerged in the watery pit it just entered, the fully seven foot tall whatever it is does something to it's left wrist, shutting down the shorting-out invisibility screen and giving Daria her first full-bore look at her adversary.  The up to now invisible head appears to be covered with some kind of smooth, dun-colored mask, framed by what look for all the world like plaited dreadlock's on each side of the visage, though at second glance the matted, thick stuff might be composed of some kind of inhuman tendril's.  Below, a sort of armored set of shoulder pads (matching the helmet) flex under the pressure of massive, mottled, lizard colored muscle as the tall entity looks at the pitiful human staring up at it with shocked awe.  What appear to be some form of ultra-tech wristbands on each massive, humanoid arm are held poised and ready for attack or defense at the creatures herculean sides and the remainder of it's body is covered in what appears to be a sort of open metallic mesh (part of the invisibility screen?) terminating only in a sort of armored groin protector and hardened leg grieves adding to the total alienness of the hunter.  Finally, Daria's amazed eye's alight on the finishing touch to the barbaric ensemble, a linked chain of skulls (some of them human) encircling the things chest.  This is the creature that could have torn her throat out with a flick of its wrist a few hour's earlier, the warrior, the ultimate hunter, the Predator.  Daria is paralyzed by what she is seeing.)

Daria(shivering a bit, and not just from the now cooling water dripping off her): Who....what the hell are you!?

Predator(mimicking her voice from much earlier): TOO DRY?

(With an imperceptible inclination of the left hand, the lethal-looking wrist cutting blades extend as the creature takes a massive step towards a still shocked Daria.   Suddenly, from behind, a perfectly aimed regulation basketball thrown from the cliff above nails the creature right in the back of the head, causing it to pivot away from it's prone target and search for the source of this new annoyance.  The aforementioned is Andrea looking down at the alien warrior with a calm expression on her face.)

Andrea(smirking slightly) Hey scumbag, why don't you mess with someone who's familiar with your plane?

(Even as the turret the creature carries on it's shoulder swivel's to track the new target, Andrea is already dodging and sliding down the cliff face giving Daria enough time to get a hold of herself and sprint for the nearest available cover, a large pile of fill dirt a few meter's away from the pond's edge. She just barely makes it ahead of a blast of high-energy plasma from the Pred's shoulder weapon that on contact with the dirt mound leaves a glowing swatch of fused silica in it's wake.  Andrea manages to make it down the rest of the way while the alien is focusing on Daria again and she joins our still water-logged misery chick in cowering behind the marginal cover provided by the dirt heap as further plasma bolts carve molten glass runnel's in their de facto sanctuary.  The Predator is either slightly annoyed at missing the two targets in the first place or concentrating on playing with its prey a bit before closing in for the kill, either way, not a good situation for the two ladies to be in. Daria directs a surprised look at her unexpected deliverer in between flinching at the impact of successive packets of hot death while Andrea regards her silently in return.)

Daria(dirt and debris smeared as well as wet now): Where the hell did you come from!?

Andrea(taking all this in stride): Basketball court, I sensed something wasn't right. I guess you could say, I went where I was needed.

Daria(ducks again, her sense of irony kicks back in): And you couldn't maybe have brought a machine gun along with you when you answered the call?

Andrea(looks up at Daria): Such weapons would be of little use against that being.  It is not of this world.

Daria(not ready to argue with her at this point): It really would have been a good idea to have a plan before I came down here, huh?  You have any ideas?

Andrea(resignedly): We're running out of hiding place, I suggest we both run like hell in different directions bearing in mind it had a hard time hitting two simultaneous targets earlier.

Daria(flinches again at another impact, but still deadpan): Good plan, potentially suicidal, incredibly risky, probably futile.....I know I'm excited to be a part of it.

Andrea(grinning): You have a better idea?  (Daria shakes her head no) Well then, on three.

(Another burst sprays molten debris over the two girl's heads as they both get ready to run for their lives.)

Andrea: One....

Daria(flinches as another burst chips away at their cover): Two...

Andrea(taking a sprinters crouch to the right of Daria): THREE!!!

(Daria is already gone, dashing from the left of the pile as Andrea sprints from the right, she manages to get a solid yard away from where she started before a plasma burst explodes nearly right at her feet throwing her forward into the air and over the rock outcropping blocking off the bottom-most level of the Quarry...She lands hard on her chest, slithering down the dust and rock surface before impacting against a bigger boulder and ending up lying on her back, the explosion and the violent landing have managed to render her unconscious.)

(Meanwhile, at the top of the access road leading down to the Quarry a familiar blue car turns in and stops.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's the Trentmobile to the rescue and Daria's good buddy Jane (carrying her bag with the Glock in it) has already jumped from the shotgun seat and headed for the upper section of the access road while her youngest brother and his friend (and rhythm guitarist) Jesse take slightly more time to get out and follow her (you know these guys).  Eventually, though, all three end up on the first section of access road right next to (you guessed it) the car where "Thunderback" and "Lighthead" are still going at it (for your intestinal comfort we won't elaborate).  Jane is already looking for the path Daria followed after the creature but before she can come to a decision, Trent taps her on the back. He and Jesse are obviously a bit behind the curve, information wise.)

Trent(frowning): Janey, you mind running what we're doing out here by us again?

Jane(obviously tired of trying to explain): Trent, listen to me. Basically, we're here because Daria went after the thing that put the dent in that car!!(She points to the massive, oddly shaped, depression in the car hood.  This gets the guys attention.)

Trent(impressed): Damn.

Jesse(equally impressed but with his usual, quiet, laid back diction) Heavy.

Jane(relieved she's starting to get somewhere): And that was just because something happened to be in the way!  I think Daria was going to try and confront it.....the crazy(shakes her head)!!  Come-on, we have to find her and get her out of here!

Trent(finally sees how serious this is even if he doesn't totally understand): For Daria...anything.  You have some kind of plan?

Jane(smiles wrly despite the tension): I asked her the same thing, but I guess the fastest way to find her is to head for the bottom level of this place and then work our way up if she isn't there.

Jesse(low-key as ever): Cool.

Trent(looking determined): Let's do it.

(All three head off at a fast walking pace which quickly takes them down around the next bend in the access road and farther downward towards the quarry pit.  To the West, the sun is getting ever closer to setting and the clouds which were moving in earlier definitely appear to be forming a major black mass several miles distant, if nothing else, the heat wave looks like it might break.  As the would be Daria-rescuer's make it around the bend they see something very interesting, something that accounts for the massive new wheel and track scars ripped in the dirt road that they hadn't noticed before.  A massive black-painted Marine NCB (Nuclear, Chemical, Biological) mobile laboratory is parked on the overhang back from the next section of road leading down. The big vehicle is flanked by two M-2 Bradley Armored Fighting Vehicles equipped with standard weapons packages but no crew appear to be present.  Then once again, things get worse.  From behind our three hero's, what looked before like harmless shrubbery takes on inimical movement as two man-sized shapes spring from each side of the road and neatly flank the rescue party with practiced ease, we're looking at two men wearing full sniper "Ghillie" suits and armed with massive, scoped, rifles.  Jane doesn't even have time to react before the ambush has her and her back-up surrounded.)

Sentry 1: Hold it, do not move!

(It's difficult for even Jane to argue with two guys holding extremely mean looking rifles on her, she puts her hands up quickly and Jess and Trent follow suit.)

Sentry 2(talking into a headset): Hunter to Game Warden, we just picked up some uninvited guests, advise?  10-4...

(The first sentry motions for Jane to hand over her pack and she complies before the second soldier signal's the first to get their prisoner's moving. At gun-point, Jane and company are marched over to the mobile lab where they are brusquely pushed to the side of the vehicle and efficiently but not brutally made to spread their arms and legs police arrest style.  Another soldier (apparently dispatched from inside the carrier) then professionally frisks each prisoner focusing on Jane especially because she appeared to be in the lead, Jane may be in no position to make trouble but she's not going to give up that easily.)

Jane(nasty smile): You're being kind of forward for a first date, fella.  (Get's no response as the trooper in urban assault camo BDU's leaves no stone unturned [no, no body cavity stuff, you people have sick minds])

Trent(like brother like sister): You guys don't talk much, do you?

Jesse(still not sure what the story is): We come in peace, man.

(Still no response, the sentry with Jane's bag hands it over to the guy in standard BDU's along with the weapon he found inside.)

Sentry 1: That's all they were carrying, sir.

Soldier: Good work Lieutenant, carry on, the Colonel wants to talk to these three.

Sentry 1(forgo's saluting in a potential combat zone): Sir, yes, sir!

(Both soldiers head off back the way they came as the guy in BDU's [Battle Dress Uniform..for the uninitiated] unslings the submachine gun he had on his back and directs his three captives up the loading ramp behind the vehicle and through a sort of airlock in the back.  On the inside, a massive interior door cycles to allow them inside and we finally get a glimpse of the interior of the vehicle, a huge bay occupied by two other soldiers working at communications console and another man dressed in BDU's identical to the guy in charge of the prisoners off to the side, apparently checking several security camera's and read-outs.  As the soldier behind Daria's three friends directs them into the quiet, computer intensive bay, the man off to the side turns, revealing a familiar superior grin.)

Colonel Vaught(usual Southern drawl): Well...Well, isn't this a welcome ray of sunshine, I had a feeling I'd be seeing you again Ms. Lane.

Jane(visibly unimpressed again): I know running into you again makes my day.

Trent(not getting it): Who the hell are you people?

Vaught(shaking his head tiredly as he leans against the computer terminals): You just couldn't leave it alone, huh?  You just had to wade into my business with your suburbanite tunnel vision and oh so moral and tidy teenage world-view didn't you?  Well frankly, I'm not even going to bother with the IRS, as soon as this operation is concluded my dear, you will not pass go, you will not collect two-hundred dollars, you and your boy wonders here are headed straight to Federal Prison, sans due process.  The shit you have just stepped in girlie is what the airhead's on television call a "Black Op" totally deniable and you are up to your eyeball's in it, do you understand me?

Jane(disdainful look slips a notch, she wants to draw Vaught out): Okay (shrugs), you got me, but what exactly are you trying to hide here Colonel?  What is this thing and what does Dutch have to do with it?  (She's lying about how much she knows, hopefully she'll get him to tell her more.)

Jesse(along for moral support as always): Yeah!!

Vaught(laugh's with disgust, then smiles that winning smile): You know what, since I'm going to be rid of you once this is over and you went to so much trouble to get in my way in the first place, I think I'll tell you.  (Looking at the two men manning the consoles in the bay) Captain Harrison, Captain Wilson, head on out to the M2's and finish briefing the mop-up team's as to final target assignments, Major Keyes and I will join you shortly. (The two men move out smartly and with efficiency walking past the prisoners and the man the Colonel referred to as "Major Keyes" and out of the airlock. Jane's eyes momentarily alight on a set of storage spaces to her side as the two soldiers go by, one is dominated by a gun rack loaded with massive Pancor Assault shotguns looking blunt and deadly in their secured individual foam storage shells, she immediately faces back towards the Colonel before he notices her sideways glance.)

Trent(still trying to figure out what's going on): How do you know my sister?

Colonel Vaught(Oblivious): Frankly that isn't important, what is important is the thing that's been tearing people apart for the past month and which has your yokel police department chasing its tail.  The thing that Dutch told you "comes with the heat" am I right?  (Smirking again.)

Trent(beginning to understand): Oh man.

Vaught(Dripping contempt for Jane's brother): Not a man, oh no, not a man Mr. taxpayer.  You want a name...we don't have one.  You want a place.... we can't even begin to imagine.  The most we have is what the natives down Nicaragua way named it, "The Demon that makes trophies of men."  Real poetic, don't you think?

Jane(concentrating on Vaught): Why?

Vaught(meeting her gaze head on): Philips let that one slip to you earlier, they like the sport, little girl.  (The Colonel punches up a display on the terminal and directs Jane's stunned eyes to it, it's composed of images of massive amounts of destruction, Vietnam, Cambodia, Desert Storm, finally a ghostly fast moving shadow illuminated using doppler imaging makes it's time-lapsed way across the screen in black and whites through the upper part of the quarry Jane and her friends were just walking on.)  These things are hunter's and we're Bambi's mom.  Anywhere there's heat and conflict, hell our scientists theorize back to the dawn of human warfare, these things show up for the party.  The Earth is one big safari park for these good old boys and we're the lions and tigers and bears...(pauses a moment)...Oh my.

Jane(looking disgusted): You admire these things, don't you, you sick.....

Vaught(isn't going to take any crap): YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I DO YOU LITTLE PUNK!!  (The Major glances over worriedly, however, the Colonel composes himself and starts lecturing again.)  But not just because they're tough, smart, bastards, that's not really it, what's important here is the technology these things have.  Do you have any idea how much this country would benefit if we could get a hold of the powers sources and materials these things have?  I'm talking about a whole new standard of living just waiting for us if we can figure out a way to take down just one of these things, just one.  And now that and a whole lot more is waiting at the bottom of this quarry and as a dedicated, loyal, soldier of my country, the greatest country on Earth, I am certainly not going to let some bunch of smartass dead-beats screw that up.

Trent(not looking at all impressed): I know I'm impressed.

(Jane flashes him a dirty look, this is just gonna put Vaught even further over the edge):

Vaught(gives him a dangerous look): No.....worthless, hash-sucking, welfare cases like you don't get impressed do they boy?  Hell, people like you are the reason we've had to keep this operation secret ever since Dutch and his boys ran into one of these things way down South. It's sorry, gutless, momma's boy's like you who elect other coward's to public office so they can lie and tell you everything's all-right because honestly, deep down, you don't want the responsibility of dealing with real problems!!  That's why people like me have to lie and cover up and fight battles no one ever hears about because candy-ass, punks like you can't handle the truth!  But tonight, I am personally going to do my duty to this country and even people like you. Why? Because I am a patriot.

Jane(desperate to figure out what Vaught's planning): And what about Philips?  Why isn't he here?

Vaught(smirking again): I'm afraid the good General is on his way to Washington right now to give a project update to the Pentagon, in fact, this entire operation you might say falls under what we in the military call "personal mission initiative" and therefore I'm in command.  Anything else you'd like to know before we lock you down and start this little party?

Jane(looking a little desperate, she obviously wants to stall him a bit more): Just one other thing, what are you going to do here tonight?

Vaught(Incredibly smug, he's obviously really proud of himself and he's taking his time to mock her): Well, I'm glad you asked dear heart.  In approximately fifteen minutes a group of fighter/bomber's loaded with enough firepower to turn this whole white tax-shelter you call home into charred rubble will be making a bombing run right on top of this hole in the dirt and those monster's down there, along with whatever they're using for a base, will be so much charred meat!  Then the troops waiting outside in the fighting vehicles and I will personally secure the strike zone and recover as much of their technology as possible, all and all, a textbook surprise attack using overwhelming firepower.

Trent(a bit incredulous): Don't you think someone's going to notice the explosions?

Vaught(smirking and nodding his head at Trent's naivete): Please, the official story will read as a Top Secret Air Force spy plane having crashed during a classified training mission, no one around here is going to ask questions and even if they did, the town government and the police are far to complacent and friendly with us to look any further, everything turns out nice and tidy.

Jesse(listening with a dawning sense of disgust at the Colonel's machinations): Figures.

Trent(face lights up as he remembers something important): Janey, what about Daria?  If she's out there when this goes down!

Jane(she's been too absorbed in the whole discussion to remember why she originally came down here): Jesus.....

Trent(cutting to the chase): Listen Colonel, Jane's friend Daria went down the gorge after one of those things about a half-hour ago, you can't just let those planes......(trail's off as he sees Vaught couldn't care less.)

Vaught(ruthless look): The hell I can't, your girl here's little friend should have known better than to walk into a potentially dangerous area all by herself (shakes his head in mock sadness).  What a tragedy...but you never know, sometimes miracles do happen..

Trent(wrath of God in his eyes all of a sudden): You Son of a bitch!!  (Steps towards the Colonel before the Major makes a slight movement toward his slung submachine gun.  Trent is as pissed off as we've ever seen him.)

(Jane isn't the center of attention anymore, Trent has stepped in front of her blocking the Major's view of her left arm and she slowly raises it towards the rack with the shotguns, it's become obvious to her that she's out of options.)

Vaught(still focused on Trent): It's a little late to be a hero now, don't bother. (Nodding to the man standing next to him) The Major here can hit a dime five feet away with an off hand shot.

(Jane's got the pistol grip of the massive riot gun in her left hand, deftly she nudges Trent with her left foot sending him stumbling forward and drawing enough attention for her to swing the gun out of it's rack and into her hands.  The action clicks authoritatively putting a round in the chamber and catching the Colonel and the Major totally off guard.  The Major is a full second behind, he's only able to get his submachine gun up to waist level while Jane has him totally covered.)

Jane(dead serious): Okay, change of plan.  You shitheels are going to let us out of here right now so we can get my friend the hell out of this mess!!

Vaught(looking angry, but glacially calm, responding to the implied threat): Or what?

Jane(staring him down): Or I splatter you and your pretty boy bootlick all over the walls!

Vaught(not looking at all impressed): Major, disarm her!

(The Major is sweating, he obviously doesn't like being in this situation, his gun isn't exactly pointed at Jane but it isn't pointed away.)

Major Keyes(he's going to try reason): Come on kid, you're no killer, if you fire that in here...

Jane(finger tightens on the trigger, safety off): I could pick up some ricochet, but you and Vaught are a fine, red, mist...Now back off!  Right NOW!

Vaught(yelling at the Major): Major, that was a direct order!!

Jane(smiling evilly, shifts her point of aim down to the Major's crotch): Give it some thought pal. Is the last thing you ever want to feel the total annihalation of your family jewel's?

(The Major stops dead, he can see in Jane's eyes that she'll do anything to get out of there.)

Major Keyes(dread in his eyes, he lowers his gun): Colonel, I can't obey that order.

Vaught(outraged now): Bobby, you worthless chickenshit!

Jane(all business, her eyes never stray from Vaught or the Major): Trent!  Get the Glock!  Jesse! Open the door!

(Jane carefully, starts walking backward covering the two soldiers as Trent pick up her discarded bag and the pistol and trains the recovered gun on Vaught who is apoplectic with rage.  Jesse is already at the door, looking for a way out.)

(Jane and Trent both move backward nice and slowly in order to give their adversaries no chance to recover.)

Jesse: Jane, it's an electronic lock!

Jane(again training the massive shotgun on the Colonel and his aide): Give us the code for the door!

(The Colonel obviously wants to go for his side-arm but the Major knows he's beaten, he isn't willing to die for this.)

Major Keyes(calmly): It's 6252.

(Trent takes a second to help Jesse with the keypad and the massive airlock door cycles open, the two guys rush through and then cycle the outer door as Jane backs through never straying from covering her two targets, the inner door then cycles cutting Jane off from the interior bay and she breaks and runs for it with her two cohorts.  Meanwhile, the Major is already picking up a discarded headset to call for help but the Colonel stops him.)

Major Keyes: Uh, sir, we're not just letting them go are we?

Vaught(smiling evilly): Forget it, I've had it with all of them, they want to go join their friend at ground zero, that's their choice, one less problem.

(The Colonel looks grimly satisfied while the Major sits down again with a slight shiver.)

(Meanwhile, outside, Jane and company dash past the idling armored vehicles and down the hill towards the very bottom of the quarry, while already at the bottom....)

(Our scene changes, we're back over the quarry floor watching the sun already at half-set as the massive storm clouds role in from the East, from above we see the prostrate form of our heroine, Daria, as her eyes abruptly flutter open, her glasses are askew and her impact after nearly getting blasted by the Pred has shaken her up quite a bit.  Shocked she sits up too fast and feels her head swim as blackness threatens to overwhelm her, her hard landing has obviously resulted in a light concussion.  Finally, she manages to sit up and take stock as far away lightning thunders.  Suddenly, a light flashes in front of her and a wavering shape snaps in and out of focus, it takes Daria a second to properly reset her glasses on her face and get a look at the massive shape that seems to have appeared out of nowhere... things have just gotten weirder yet again.)

Daria(amazed tone of voice): Okay, I admit it, I'm impressed.

(The huge object taking up most of the quarry floor is a massive alien ship of startling design and complexity, parts of it look nearly organic and the dominant color is a sort of dark bronze, here and there, vapor trails seem to issue from massive ports and engines.  Apparently, the ship was using the same kind of invisibility device the Predators carry with them or Daria would have seen it before her surprise landing, she regards the vast, silent, bulk with a mix of wonder and disbelief before starting to come to a decision.)

Daria(Thought VO, "Oh hell"): Why not?  I've been dropped on my butt, nearly drowned, shot at and blown up, might as well get something out of all of this!

(Wearily she starts up the side of the construct towards a dark, cave-like opening that seems to lead into the interior of the ship.  Once inside, she pauses to catch her breath and shake her head again to get rid of the pounding in her brain she's experiencing, the inside of the ship is incredibly hot and if she wasn't sweating before she's really perspiring now.  As Daria heads farther down the corridor into the alien environment, a sort of thick, white, mist or fog seems to cover the oddly textured ground.  Finally, the corridor ends in a massive, open area, lit with a weird yellowish light, several pillars around the "courtyard" like space connect the bronzish material of the floor with the ceiling, the whole effect is totally alien.)

Daria(looking around her for any sign of movement): Richard Dreyfus, eat your heart out.  (Refering to "Close Encounter's of the Third Kind")

(Finally, Daria notices something totally different from the oddly high-tech bas-relief  "stuff" that makes up the curving walls and ceiling, walking over she stands in front of a massive alcove in one of the walls which appears to be a trophy collection of some kind.)

Daria(looking at the contents of the alcove): Puts my collection to shame.

(The interior of the alcove is occupied with a number of skulls, monstrous and alien things mounted on the interior wall and stuck on protruding spikes of material, some are dinosaur-like while other's are smaller and more blunt, other's bear no resemblance to anything on Earth and one huge bleached white skull would be familiar to fan's of a certain Sci-fi series [you know this one, if not, see Predator 2, and you'll know what I mean].  Finally, Daria's gaze comes to rest on a series of human skulls, two of which appear to be oddly deformed and elongated and look vaguely silly with their whitened teeth locked in ghastly eternal grins [see the cover of B&B's "Ensucklopedia" to see what this looks like.] Unbidden, a memory surfaces.)

Daria(Thought VO, the voices of Beavis and Butthead, distorted and ghostly, "Diarrhea, cha, cha, cha!!  Diarrhea, cha, cha, cha!!" She looks pensive for a moment before shaking her head):  Nahhh, what kind of sport would those two idiots be.  If someone gave them guns, they'd end up shooting each other.

(Daria turns away from the grisly trophy collection before that feeling she got when all this began resurfaces..She looks around quickly and worriedly.)

Daria(A little scared and questioningly): Anyone there?

(Meanwhile, Jane and the guys have just made it down to the bottom of the access road when Lady Lane comes to a screeching halt with the shotgun still clutched to her chest, moments later, Jesse and Trent, being the relatively out of shape future rock stars that they are [Trent anyway], catch up with her.)

Jane(looking at the massive alien shape dominating the quarry floor as the incoming storm stirs up dust and debris around it): Oh good, like I haven't had enough X-files weirdness for one day!

Trent(catching his breath): You think Daria is in that thing?

Jane(letting the business end of the shotgun drop to the dirt): I think we're going to have to get closer.  Listen, Trent, get rid of the gun, we'll be history if we try to get any closer armed.

Trent(He respects her even more than before): Whatever you say, little sister.

(Trent pulls the Glock pistol out of his pants pocket and hits the clip release, with apparent ease he discards the weapon's magazine and pulls the slide back to drop the round already in the gun out of the chamber, then he throws it away as Jane does the same thing with the riot gun.)

(Suddenly, Jane gets "that feeling" again, something is coming towards them from the level above and it ain't human, quickly she turns and grabs a handful of Trent's shirt dragging him after her while yelling at Jesse to follow, but Jesse remains where he's at...waiting.)

Jane(looking back towards the unmoving rhythm guitarist): JESSE!  COME ON!!  JESSE!

Jesse(An odd kind of fearlessness in his eye's, he slowly shrugs out of his leather vest revealing his dark and muscular build): Go Jane.  Get Daria out.  I'll buy you some time.

(Jane looks like she wants to argue but Trent's seeing something he's never seen before in his friend and he pulls her with him as the two break and run for the area under the ship.)

(Jesse, meanwhile, has calmly let his leather vest drop to the dirt by his feet, still staring straight ahead he slowly reaches up and with a powerful jerk of his arm rips the pendant around his neck off.  With great care he wraps the severed strands of the necklace around his right fist before taking an open fighting stance, waiting.)

(Perspective shift, we're now looking at Jesse straight on in the shades of heat difference of a Predator's vision, it's coming right at him.)

(Jane and Trent have made it to where Daria was standing outside the ship not to long ago.  From where they left Jesse a loud shout is heard and then silence.)

Jane(looking scared): Oh no, Jesse..

Trent(looking worried but he's obviously in tune with the overall picture): He wasn't armed, he ought to be okay. Janey, we have to hurry, this place is gonna be Dante's inferno in a few minutes!

Jane(spotting where Daria landed): Look!  (She sees the footprints Daria's boot's left in the rock dust all over the surrounding area) Great...she's in there all right!

Trent(showing definite resolve): Then we'd better get her out in a hurry!

(Both Lane's start out onto the ship's hull and then into the apparent entrance with Trent in the lead)

(Again we're back inside the massive ship where Daria is looking around trying to localize the feeling she got moments earlier, she knows something is in here with her and she's done running.  Suddenly, she's distracted by a noise, from where she came in earlier, Jane and Trent suddenly emerge into the open space and is she ever glad to see them!)

Jane(spotting her friend): Daria!

Daria(actually smiling): Jane!  Trent!!  Am I glad...Damn!!

(To Daria's dismay, as Trent heads towards her he is suddenly sent flying into the nearby wall where he hits hard..  Mystic Spiral's lead guitarist is caught in something that looks like a spider's web, apparently some kind of alien net launched from thin air. The landing has obviously knocked the wind out of him and even if he could breath he's totally immobilized, Jane, seeing what happened, sprints over to help her brother.)

Jane(trying to pull out the imbedded anchors of the heavy net): Trent!  Hang-on!  (Suddenly she turns as a noise draws her attention in the hot, yellowish chamber.) Oh hell...

(Daria can do nothing to prevent what happens next, from the far right side of the room a massive silvery spear cleaves the air at an unbelievable speed slamming into the top of Jane's right shoulder and pinning her to the wall like a butterfly being mounted.  Daria's partner in crime has the time to let out a shriek of mortal agony before the electrical charge in the collapsible Predator "combi-stick" makes her convulse horribly before it mercifully renders her unconscious.  Daria is stunned as a massive familiar form appears out of the ether and admires it's catch before looking at Daria again, the masked visage shows no feeling at all.)

Daria(This is it, what just happened is to much for her): NOOOOO!!!  (Sprinting right at the interloping Pred screaming in absolute terror and anger, she lets the creature have it with a right hook to the masked face.  Even though she got a running start, her best effort only knocks the creatures head to one side slightly.  Daria's hand feels like she just rammed it into a brick wall and she stops dead in her tracks.)

(Slowly, the creature again faces her with a deliberance born of shear menace.)

Daria(her anger is snuffed out like a match in a hurricane, she's about to learn one of those universal truth's you only arrive at once in a life time, in this case, you should never, ever, make a Predator angry.  Quietly as absolute fear blooms in her chest): That was, really...stupid.

(Daria never even sees the blow coming, in a heartbeat, the impact of a powerful, clawed fist sends her flying into one of the interstitial columns where she lands with a sickening "thwack" before falling to the floor.  The massive alien warrior lets out a roar like a hunting lion before stalking towards potential prey that dared to challenge it.)

(Our heroine is crouched on the mist shrouded floor of the hothouse. Gasping for air as the creature comes towards her, she manages to cough up a streamer of blood onto the floor before the Predator appears, towering over her.  Instead of finishing her off, the creature reaches up to it's shoulder where the miniature cannon it shot at her with before rests, with practiced ease it detaches it from it's position and lets the device drop to the floor. Next, the creatures clawed hand removes several tubes that appear to connect the mask it wears with the high tech mechanisms on it's back, these come loose with puffs of hissing gas.  Finally, with both hands, the alien removes the flat inhuman helmet to reveal an insane parody of a face, more alien than Daria has ever imagined.  Four white, glistening, fangs frame a complex and obviously carnivorous mouth with an interior set of teeth farther in, there is no visible nose.  Two sunken, striped eyes regard the wounded human with amusement?  Hatred?  The visage is far too different for Daria to know.)

Daria(Looking up with fear combined with a horrible fascination, she spits out more blood before adding in a raspy whisper): Boy....are you ugly!

(The Predator cuts her off as the outer flaps of it's complicated mouth split in a feral, resounding roar, before she can move, a kick to her shoulder sends her flying out into the middle of the chamber.  Daria tries to rise, but can't.  Another powerful punch to her chest sends her stumbling back away from her assailant looking for some way out.  Finally, yet another punch sends Daria's head rocking back on her neck as her glasses go flying off in a spray of blood.  Trent watches the one-sided battle with horror, unable to help.)

Trent(horrified and struggling with the net): No, dammit, leave her alone!

(Blood from the side of her head is trickling down into Daria's eyes as she collapses to her knee's almost unable to see and crying out from the pain up and down her body, trying to get some air into her lungs as the creature comes for her.  The two deadly cutting blades on the creatures wrist extend out as it lunges forward for the kill but the death blow is suddenly stopped by an unseen force!  As Daria's now impaired eyes try to focus on the creature in front of her she can see an odd barely visible shape holding the attacking creatures arm back, it's another Predator!  The attacking Pred is obviously angry about being checked but as the other creature shuts down its invisibility screen it appears to be in command of the situation.)

Head Predator(looking at the one it stopped from attacking and in a ferocious semi-alien voice): ENOUGH!!

(The creature now before Daria has skin that is a much darker shade of mottled green and wears no mask, un-like the other one. Abruptly, it looks down at her before violently releasing the attacking Pred's gauntlet covered arm, sending it back a step.  Tensely, the two warriors regard each other for a second before the one standing over Daria makes a disgusted spitting motion and brings it's own fist up, the attacker bows it's head slightly, as if accepting a rebuke before it turns and falls in with a whole crowd of seven or eight of the creatures who have appeared out of no-where while Daria stared up at her savior.  Daria can only gape in total amazement before recovering enough of her strength to stumble to her feet raggedly and face the one near her, the look on it's face might almost seem apologetic as it watches her.)

Daria(fighting to stand up straight after the damage she's taken): Okay....now what?

(Almost in unison and again to Daria's surprise all of the creatures as if on cue execute formal oriental bows, not low, but obviously as a sign of respect.  They apparently wish to apologize for the attack upon her by the one Predator and perhaps recognize her bravery in trying to help her friends.  This done, the creatures turn away and each disappears as their invisibility fields are turned on, all except for the one that stopped the attack.  As Daria looks on, the apparently "head" alien reaches down to the floor and retrieves her glasses which were knocked off during the fight, it looks at them with a definite aura of curiosity before regarding Daria again expectantly.)

Daria(not really understanding anything that's happened, questioningly): Why? Why are you?  What are you?

(Reaching down to the massive belt encircling its waist, the alien hunter removes something and tosses it with amazing accuracy.  It lands right at Daria's feet and she bends over to pick it up off the mist covered floor so she can examine it.  Even through her now more than slightly blurry eye's, Daria can see that the object given her is a short sword, possibly Japanese and extremely sharp, she hefts it gingerly as the Predator takes her damaged glasses and adds them to it's belt, it then looks at her for the last time.)

Head Predator: TAKE IT!

(The creature then turns and disappears after it's fellows.)

Daria(still in shock and not understanding, her deadpan voice and sarcasm are finally back, however): Wait!  What is this?  Ginzu knives of the God's!!

Trent(Trying to get her attention): Daria, we gotta go!  Help!

Daria(finally coming to her senses after the whole ordeal): Trent!

(Daria stumbles over to where Trent is still pinned against the wall, using the short sword it takes her about a second to cut through the fine net strands holding Trent and he's free in short order.)

Daria(looking up with genuine relief in her eyes): Are you okay?

Trent(still all business): Forget about me, we gotta help Janey!

(Trent rushes over to the wall where Jane is still pinned down by the massive spear, her red jacket is stained with a much darker red splotch of flowing blood.  Quickly, Trent pushes up on the lethal looking "combi-stick" in an effort to release his sister, the thing just barely moves as Jane moans slightly and coughs.)

Jane(weakly and coughing, she mimes Daria): Oh Trent my darling (cough) are you okay?

Daria(glares at her): Jane, if this thing doesn't kill you, I will later!

Trent(doesn't get it, thinks Jane is just talking to him): Janey I'm fine, but we gotta get out of here!  That psycho Colonel said he had an air strike on the way in fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes ago!

Daria(Thinking about how the Pred's rarely seemed surprised by anything): That's probably the least of our worries but I definitely don't want to stick around here no matter how far these guys would take me from Quinn!  (Thinking fast) Trent!  You push up on that spear while I pull down on Jane's shoulder, maybe that'll work!  Jane, this is probably going to hurt!

Jane(wincing in pain): Like this doesn't hurt now?  Go for it.

(Trent waits for Daria to sidle up to Jane's side and then he pushes up while she pulls down while trying to avoid the wounded area, Jane's jacket tears out from under the spear leaving some skin as well but she's loose, with a low moan Jane nearly slides all the way to the floor before Trent grabs her under her good arm.  Daria's having a hard time breathing all of a sudden as Trent grabs her up as well and starts for the exit.)

Daria(breathing raggedly): I think I might have busted a rib or something..ow.

Trent(struggling to support both ladies as he heads down the corridor to the outside): Just hang on, we're almost there..

(Finally, all three make it out of the massive ship as it starts to rumble and shake, it's obviously not going to stick around much longer.  Outside, the storm that was just coming in is now right on top of the quarry, trees thrash back and forth in the wind as the first droplets of rain begin falling, Trent struggles mightily to get the girls back up to the road before a familiar face shows up, it's Jesse!)

Jesse(yelling to be heard over the approaching storm and the sound of the giant alien vessel): Are you guys okay!!

Trent(shouting as well, he's still pulling Jane and Daria along): Daria and Janey are both hurt!  What happened to you anyway?

Jesse(grabs a nearly unconscious Daria from Trent so he can finish pulling Jane up the hill seperating the quarry floor from the next level): They weren't interested in me!  Come on, let's book!!

(Both guys proceed to hall ass up the next rise past the pool Daria fell in and up the slope, Trent supporting Jane and Jesse with Daria under his shoulder outright.  With a massive roar, the alien warship takes off in a blast of loose dirt and debris and rises majestically into the sky, then it's gone as our brave band hits the top part of the access road and just keeps running for it.  Trent is looking pretty ragged with Janey hanging on as best as she can while Jesse, despite his run in with the Pred's earlier, is looking fairly unfazed even though he's half-carrying Daria up a decent size incline.  Just as Daria and company reach the top of the switchback, the fury of the storm is blotted out by what sounds like a thousand human screams followed by a massive series of detonations on the quarry floor as the missiles hit, everybody is knocked flat by the ensuing shockwaves, then it's over.  It takes several minutes for the flattened member's of team Daria to re-orient themselves but everyone appears okay.)

Jane(feeling the damaged bone in her shoulder as she lies on the ground with the rain falling lightly on her): Everybody...(cough)..In one piece?

(Unfortunately, no one hears Jane because of the noise of the explosions, it's going to be a while before their hearing comes back, possibly longer for the musicians among them.)

Daria(pointing to her ears, she can't hear anything even as she speaks): I think I'll just pass out here for a while.. (which she proceeds to do before Jesse and Trent can finish getting back up, our last view of the whole aftermath is from Daria's VO as her eyelid's flutter from where we saw Jesse let her fall to the ground, then blackness)

End Chapter 4, Epilogue Upcoming