I was working on this a long time ago. Decided to share it. On the violence tag: the comic is no more violent that "Star Wars" or "Pokemon Adventures."
(Outside. Verenas stands by the house. Allo, his wife, in the door.) Verenas: Well, my jet's ready; we're leaving for the hunt. Allo: I hope you bag a big one. Verenas: I hope we bag several; the don't pay much per head. Allo: You'll do fine; you always do. (They hug.) Verenas: I love you honey. Allo: I love you too. (He leaves, & allow pets Queenie, their pet.) Allo: Well, Queenie; he's going.…
Tyran & Verenas work on Verenas' old plane. Tyran hands Verenas a sheet of paper. "Ok, so the senate's set up some guidelines, including the prices they're willing to pay for various Giants." Tryan says. Verenas looks it over. "Seems kinda low... Do they know the effort it takes t kill a Giant?" Tyran nods. "The right wing handles the budget, & they always support the military." Verenas frowns.…
Allo: Are you sure you want to go through with this? Verenas: I've already registered; I can't go back now. Allo: But buying your old plane? Hunting down giants with Tyran? Verenas: It's what I did in the military; why not as a mercenary? Allo: It just seems risky, that's all. Verenas: I know, but I'm a pilot; I live for risks. Allo: Our daughter... Verenas: Will be fine; this will work.
Verenas & Tyran look at Verenas' old jet. V: There she is! All we need to do is fix the wing. T: There could be structural damage, microfractures... V: She'll be fine. T: I'm not s sure; I'd hate to see my wingman's plane break apart mid-flight. V: That won't happen. Besides, we need fighters, & we don't have money for new.
Tyran is asleep... *RING* He answers the phone. "Uh... Hello?" "Tyran?" "Yeah..." "It's me, Verenas. I'm in." "In? In what?"
(Verenas runs into the General's office.) Verenas: General! General: Verenas? Why are you here? Verenas: I need a new psychologist. General: Why? Verenas: This one won't help. General: I'm sure he's doing his best. Verenas: But he says I'll never fly again! That's not true... is it? General: Verenas, leave.
Verenas is in the psychologist office, laying on a couch. V: There's something I've been wondering, when will this end? P: Let's...not focus on that right now. V: No, now. This has gone one too long; longer than the general said it would I want to know how long it'll take to get me in the sky again. P: Honestly? V: Honestly. P: You don't, Verenas. You're lucky. You deserve to be hanged, but you…
Tyran: Verenas, have you heard what the senate voted for? Verenas: Everyone's heard, & it's the stupidest idea they've had in years. T: A private military won't work. People won't exchange their lives for money, unless their insane. We'll get a bunch of coawrds or psychopaths. This is not going to protect us. It's dumb. Just dumb! (Awkward pause.) T: So... you wouldn't want to be my wingman? V:…
(Verenas & Taran are playing cards.) Verenas: Taran, I'm surprised. Taran: Let's be honest; I'm not going to get to fly another way. And you won't either. I heard about the cave. Seeing a shrink may have spared your family, but command'll never let you fly again. Besides, with all the idiots this'll attract, we're sure to clean up. We've trained, We've fought before! Verenas: I don't want to talk…
(In a chamber. The general faces a council.) Council: General, I don't want excuses. You failed. You failed to protect our city; you failed to even detect those Giants under your main base. General: I don't disagree; we've had problems, but you can't just hire a bunch of mercenaries & expect to get a well-oiled military machine. Council member: We need protection, General. You can't provide it.…
Alo: I'm not mad. Why would I be? Come on; this'll chear you up. There's someone you need to meet. (Opening door.) Ber very quiet; she's just now falling asleep. Verenas: Can I hold her? Alo: I don't see why not. (Verenas holds his baby girl.)
V: I was afraid I'd never see you again; that I'd never see our daughter at all. After 3 days down there, being chased by those things, hundreds of them. I needed to escape, to try to get us out alive. I...was wrong, & the option was this or a firing squad. A: I see. (Gets up) So... that's that. You've done it, & I can't change it. V: Please... Don't be too mad.
V: Honey! A; You're home! (Alo hugs Verenas) A: What's wrong? (He tells her about his mistake in the cave.) A: I don't understand. You did what? Why?
V: Not a medical leave, a psychological leave. Take this & I'll need a shrink to approve me for service. The stigma will follow me forever! G: Don't take it & the stigma will follow your family forever. This will let you serve again, preserve your pension; the other won't. V: Can I think it over? Ask my wife? G: I need an answer now. You can leave this office in chains, or walk out, see a…
"This is a hard situation... You're a hero, Verenas; everyone knows that, and you have a family... ...but taking that granade, attacking Tyger, that deserves a court marshall & probably a firing squad. But I think I have an alternative..." "What's this?" "A medical leave."
