#e98

[Opening in blackness, we hear the Wildmother’s message from e76...]

WILDMOTHER (v.o.): These waters are your home, and always have been.

(beat of silence)

WILDMOTHER (v.o.): But this seed of darkness... this seed I cannot heal. 

A rushing sensation/sound swells as the camera zooms abruptly forward, at first in total darkness - then, a small figure appears in the distance. As the camera draws closer, the figure in the darkness resolves into FJORD. The camera stops directly behind him with his whole person in frame. He is turning around slowly, looking uncertainly and warily at his surroundings. He summons his sword - the falchion - in his hand. As he turns fully towards the camera, a yellow eye at least four times his height blinks open behind him.

UKO’TOA (in a massive, yet whispered tone): Return.

Instantly, several things happen. In one beat, the falchion clatters to the ground as Fjord grabs at his chest, blood blooming through his fingers, as hundreds of smaller eyes blink open in the darkness. In the next beat, before he has a chance to straighten up or recover, upwards of 20 fishlike/amphibious hands appear around him, grab, and yank backwards, just as the giant eye and all the others blink closed.

[INT.- Captain’s quarters, night; sounds of heavy rain]

We open on a close-up of FJORD’s eyes blinking open, with pupils slitted at first. They immediately dilate in alarm. We pan around and out to see why - a hulking silhouette in the darkness is standing over him and pushing a blade into his chest. FJORD struggles to sit up and put even a little distance as the figure pulls back its blade. As it does, lightning flashes, and we see the person: a horrifying bluish, fishlike humanoid, UKO’TOA’s CHOSEN warlock - and we pan down to see the falchion in its grasp. It lunges forward, teeth first.

[Smash cut to EXT. High up view of the Balleater]

It is still and silent in the rain- it would be impossible to know what is happening on board.

[INT.- Captain’s quarters]

FJORD is already looking rough - the CHOSEN has penned him in the bed with advancing attacks. He summons the Star Razor in the small space between him and the CHOSEN, and looking around, spies the heaving, pitch-black ocean outside his window. He looks back at the CHOSEN, then throws himself in the direction of the window, vanishing from the room as he does so.

[EXT. just above the surface of the water.] 

Fjord appears suddenly, disappearing under briefly before popping up again, gasping from pain/shock. Panning around, we can see he’s only 30 or so feet from the ship.

FJORD (bellowing, looking up to the deck): HEY! MAN OVERBOARD!

There is a tense beat as no reply comes. The lightning flashes, and suddenly illuminates the CHOSEN, leaning out the window FJORD left by, looking down the side of the ship. Thunder cracks; FJORD follows its gaze, and sees six grotesque SEA SPAWN slowly crawling up the side, some climbing into gunports and others heading to the deck. 

FJORD: Oh my god...

Suddenly, ORLY appears at the railing.

ORLY: Captain?!