Running the Shadows

-or-

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Message Forum

Featuring the songs:

Dunkelzahn Begone

Everybody Ought to have a Mage

There's No Gun like the Gun Beside You

Barin' it in the Barrens

Seattle, Seattle

You're Nobody 'til Somebody Extracts You

and the love song:

I Know Your M.O.

And a scene right before the dramatic climax:

Jade Scorpion You can't be serious! This is an impossible job!

Mr. Johnson It must be done, and it must be done tonight. Tomorrow we will move, and whoever has the pendant will be at the center. [he smiles cruelly] And I know you won't slough it off on some poor schmuck, Scorpion.

J.S. I may not agree with his politics, but since I'm SINless they don't affect me much.

Mr. J Ah, but there's something else, isn't there, Scorpion? He hurt you. You want revenge...

J.S. Not like this!

Mr. J Oh, yes, Scorpion. Oh, yes. The UCAS must not suffer this injustice, this... perversion of the most trusted office.

J.S. I tell you, it's impossible.

Mr. J The more we talk, the less time you'll have to prepare. Our best mages will assist you... [J.S. scoffs] Don't scoff, Scorpion. Also, Alamais will be... available for assistance, though we hope his intervention will not be necessary.

J.S. Alamais?! The great western dragon?!

Mr. J The same, though I would be more discreet with his name in the future.

J.S. Very well. It seems I have no choice. Your cred had better be good.

[Exit J.S.]

Mr. J Don't worry, my Jade Scorpion. The reward shall indeed be great. History will long remember the destruction, though hopefully not the participants, of the President-Elect Dunkelzahn.

[End Scene]

Song names:

Everybody ought to have a mage (Everybody ought to have a maid, from a funny thing happened on the way to the forum)

There's no gun... (there's no one...)

Seattle, Seattle (New York, New York)

You're nobody... (You're nobody till somebody loves you)

I know your M.O. (I know you, from Disney's Sleeping Beauty (I think))