The Dark Pearl Chronicles 1.1: Battle of the Half-Brothers (5 page)

PETE: Are you sure that maybe he didn't get on the bus or something?

COLE: But the team was still out there; they weren't boarding the buses yet.

PETE: Well let's play it safe. You four stay the night here, especially you, Josh, since you live with Austin. We'll see if Zack makes it back here or to his house and if he doesn't by morning we'll come up with a plan.

KARA: Good idea.

SCENE: The next morning. The four are in sleeping bags in the floor. Cole sits up quickly.

COLE: Zack?

(Kara hears Cole and wakes up.)

KARA (sitting up slowly): Is he here?

COLE: No. He's not in here.

(Josh and Jaguar both sit up slowly.)

KARA: Good, you're both up. Zack still isn't here.

JOSH: Maybe he got here after we all went to sleep.

JAGUAR (swaying back and forth out of weariness): Impossible. I didn't get any sleep last night.

KARA: None at all?

JAGUAR (still swaying): No. I didn't have my Superman pajamas.

COLE: Your what?

JOSH: He's serious, guys. He can't sleep without his Superman pajamas.

KARA: Are we in kindergarten or something?

COLE: Okay, guys. Let's keep our eye on the prize, here. Zack is missing.

KARA: You're right. Let's tell Pete. Maybe he found Zack and we're just being paranoid.

(The four go to Pete's room, where he is repairing one of his machines.)

PETE: My condolences; did my noise wake you up?

KARA: No, it's fine.

PETE: So, I guess you guys have noticed Zack hasn't returned.

COLE: Yes, we have. Has he come in here?

PETE: I'm afraid not. That's why I'm repairing this machine.

JOSH: What is it?

PETE: It's the Mesopotamian Jewel Tracker 5000. I used it to find you guys, and I'll use it to find Zack.

KARA: Will it work?

PETE: Of course it will. (He finishes screwing one last screw.) There! The repair is complete!

KARA: Perfect!

PETE: Now we will test it out. (He looks in a giant book for a numerical code for Josh's jewel and then types in 249. The machine shows that the location of Josh's jewel was at Pete's address.) Perfect! It works!

COLE: What was that?

PETE: Well, Mister Parker, each jewel has its own three-digit numerical code. I typed in your friend Josh's here and it showed this exact address. Since Josh is standing right here next to you, it worked. Now I will type in your brother's.

JAGUAR: That's a cool machine.

PETE (looking in the book): It sure is. (He types 019 into the machine. It sits for a minute or two, showing "LOADING" on the screen. Finally it shows the two words "LOCATION UNKNOWN."

KARA: Okay, remember what Jaguar just said earlier? Well I'm taking it back. That's a crappy machine.

PETE: Actually, it is quite the opposite.

COLE: Wait, so does that mean that Zack is lying under the radar?

PETE: Absolutely not. There is not a single place in the entire Milky Way Galaxy hidden from this machine here. (Pats the machine joyously)

COLE: Okay, well, obviously Zack hasn't escaped the Milky Way Galaxy within one night.

KARA: Are you sure?

COLE: I can't believe you just asked that.

JAGUAR: Okay, since everyone else is avoiding the question I'll ask. Is Zack dead?

PETE: Definitely not. Zack had no children, which means that he had no one to pass the jewel to, and the jewel would have died. Instead of saying the location was unknown, the machine would have said the words "JEWEL NONEXISTENT".

KARA: So there is only one thing that could have happened.

PETE: Precisely.

JAGUAR (eating from a box of cookies): I'm sorry, what was that? I missed that last part.

(Josh smacks him on the back of his head.)

COLE: Wait, so it's true.

KARA: Zack was sucked into the Dark Pearl!

PETE: I'm afraid so.

COLE: Well, what are we going to do?

PETE: I already told you guys. The Battle of the Half-Brothers is the only way.

KARA: And what do you expect us to do, Pete? Do you want us to just sit back and watch Josh battle Austin?

PETE: I don't know what you are to do.

COLE: Or maybe we are supposed to get sucked into the Pearl with Zack!

JOSH: What!?

(Jaguar drops his cookies and gasps. He begins to choke. Josh starts hitting him on the back.)

KARA: That's not going to happen.

PETE: It is quite possible that he's right!

KARA: No. I am not going to let that happen to any of us. It may have happened to Zack, but not to the rest of us. We are going to save Zack together. Who is with me?

OTHER THREE: I am!

PETE: I sure hope your plan works.

KARA: Oh, it will. Pete, can we stay here until the battle?

PETE: I'd be delighted. It would help me assure your safety. Plus, you four will need additional training if you want to defeat Austin. He's the most powerful person on earth, you know, especially with that Dark Pearl in his possession.

KARA: Great. We do need to go back to our own houses to pack some things, though.

JAGUAR: I do need my Superman pajamas.

PETE: Okay, but you four should go together, in case of Austin. Josh especially needs you guys with him in case Austin is home when you four get there.

SCENE: Later. The first three have already picked up their belongings and the only person left is Josh. They are just outside Josh's house.

KARA (looking in the window): It looks like we have company.

JOSH: Who, Derek?

KARA: No, it's Austin. He's watching TV in there.

(Cole begins to breathe harder.)

JOSH (to Cole): Okay, breathe slowly, Cole. You have to stop being afraid of Austin.

COLE: I'm sorry, you're right. It was just a reaction. I'm okay.

KARA: All right, Josh. It's now or never. Let's go.

JOSH: No, Kara. If he sees us all together he'll know something is up. I'll go by myself. You three just keep an eye on me through the windows. If anything happens, call Pete.

COLE: Josh is right. Now's not the time to take Austin on.

JAGUAR: Someone is a little scared, aren't they?

KARA: Okay, you guys, stop it. Let's get serious. Are you sure you want to go alone, Josh?

JOSH: I'm sure.

KARA: All right.

(Josh slowly opens the door and walks into the house. Austin doesn't even look at him, so Josh walks down the hallway. He quickly packs his bag and walks back down the hallway.)

AUSTIN: Going somewhere?

JOSH: Why do you want to know?

AUSTIN (shrugging): No reason.

(Josh begins to continue walking.)

AUSTIN: So what's in the bag?

JOSH: Clothes. I'm sleeping over at Jaguar's for a few nights.

AUSTIN: Good. Because I invited a few girlfriends over for the next few nights and I don't need you ruining anything.

JOSH (rolling his eyes): I'm going to ignore that comment.

AUSTIN: So where are you really going?

JOSH: I told you.

AUSTIN: Well, I'm not buying that. Do you want to know why?

(Josh stands quietly.)

AUSTIN: I can see your little gang outside the window spying on me. That's why. Have you guys been camping outside spying on me all night?

JOSH: No, of course not.

(Austin starts reading Josh's mind.)

AUSTIN: Okay, so I know you're telling the truth about the spying, but you are lying about going to Jaguar's.

JOSH: Did you have to read my mind to know that?

AUSTIN: You couldn't do anything if I did. I know where you're going. You're going to Pete's. You're all scared of me. Ha! I love that.

JOSH: You can stop now.

AUSTIN: Oh no, I'm just getting started.

(Josh tries to run out to the door. Austin raises one hand and the TV's entertainment center slides across the room and slams against the door to block it.)

AUSTIN: You going somewhere?

JOSH: Austin, I'm not playing.

AUSTIN: Neither am I.

COLE: Call Pete! Call Pete!

KARA (dialing his phone): I am, hang on!

JAGUAR: Hurry!

AUSTIN (with a hand to his head now): Oh yes, I'm getting some juicy secrets now, Josh.

JOSH: Austin, stop.

(Austin slowly stands and begins walking toward Josh with his eyes closed.)

AUSTIN: The Dark Pearl, huh? Zack is trapped in there. Yes, come on Josh, tell me more.

JOSH: Austin, you're creeping me out.

AUSTIN: But who has the Dark Pearl? (Stops and opens his eyes wide) Who was that again?

JOSH: No one, Austin.

AUSTIN: Really? Because I'm pretty sure I just read that you think I took Zack.

JOSH: Not at all, bro.

AUSTIN: Don't call me that. It's true. I can feel it, Josh. I can feel it. (Angrily) You think I took Zack!

JOSH: Austin, stop!

(Austin gets in Josh's face.)

AUSTIN: You think I'd kidnap my own best friend for his powers?

JOSH: Austin, all the signs point to you. Plus, you said it yourself. You don't need anybody else.

AUSTIN (sneers at Josh): You're right. I don't, but before you go accusing me, you should check up on your friend Shawn.