Xena Part 2

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News Report: One of the students from the exchange program has been taken. According to reports, the students were able to arrive at Xena’s best university, Morphia, safe, and sound. However, when they got there they were ambushed. The students fought and ran. Two out of the three exchanged students made it out alive. Scarlett Stevens was the last earthling who could not make it out alive. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Next, we are going to take you into a town hall that has been organized by a local reformist, Alastair Aquila. 

Alastair: Thank you to everybody who came out. Our first and foremost imperative should be finding this earth girl. Her safety and safe return are what I really care about. If anything should happen to this girl, centuries of work on restoring peace initiatives between our two species will go into ruin in seconds. Please, join me in starting this search party to find Scarlett Stevens. 

The crowd erupts into applause. However, there are still some people in the crowd, although applauding, who had looks of uncertainty in their eyes. Noticing this a young Xenian girl stands up to speak. 

Zena: Thank you, Mr. Aquila! I just wanted to remind you all that as a people, we have had our children taken from us in acts of violence. I am sure you remember how families were broken both emotionally and mentally. Fighting the good fight is one thing but when you mess with innocent children, then you become the monster. We as Xenians are better than that! Please let us once again prove to the human race that we as a people are not cold-blooded killers who lack empathy. 

Once again the crowd explodes into applause and this time one can see a firm resolution in many Xenians’ eyes to bring Scarlett home. Once the meeting concludes, Mr. Alastair Aquila thanks the crowd for coming out and for allowing him to be around like-minded people with the same ideologies. He calls for the search party to start today. This is where many Xenians agree and start looking for Scarlett. After hours of searching, Zena starts to hear loud screams. It is upon arriving there that she starts to hear a conversation between an elderly Xenian and a human girl. She is now assured that it is the earthling that everyone is looking for. So, she calls for backup, gets closer, and hides. 

Scarlett: Please let me go! I beg you! It is not too late to return me unharmed to Morphia where we can continue to initiate conversations for change between our people. Please, show a little mercy.

Nexus: Hmm, mercy? Something I have always shown for centuries. That kind of thing doesn’t work with your kind. Why should I always be the one showing mercy?

Scarlett: Your voice sounds very familiar. I cannot wrap my head around it. Anyway, why are you allowing this struggle between our people to change you. 

Nexus: You dare try to preach to me, human girl! When you have been around from the beginning of our creation to now, you will realize that humans are not capable of change. That although we show them kindness over and over again, they are not responsive. They have dumped chemicals into our bloodstream and our lands. Chemicals that have reshaped us from our original design into monsters. They have hunted, humiliated us, and worse of all they have hurt innocent Xenians children. Even despite that, I tried to reason with them in whichever way deemed possible. 

Scarlett: I remember where I have heard you before, you are that Xenian from the documentary.  

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Scene 6

Nexus: How did you see the documentary? I never thought anyone would see the video. But the fact that they did, they saw my last attempt at peace, and they still did what they did to me, shows that humans are monsters. They are not to be trusted. 

Scarlett: What happened to you? What did we do to you?

Nexus: After they came in, they took me away into this research facility. I never saw what happened to the human reformer. They tested numerous weapons of war on me. With hopes of bringing me to the point of death and then bringing me back. They hoped to use these weapons to kill millions of Xenians. What would have been humane, merciful would have just been to kill me. But I guess this is coming from a species that I have seen forced thousands of Xenians to kill themselves or be killed. 

Scarlett: Oh, my goodness, I am so sorry. On behalf of the human race, I am so sorry. What can I do to make this better?

Nexus: I don’t see how you can make it better? What have you done? What can you do? 

Scarlett: Trust me those are not just empty words. I have tried to advocate for Xenians to many angry crowds who have not hidden their feelings. 

Nexus: And to what avail? Xenians are still hated. Humans have continued to abuse our kindness from the beginning of time on Earth till now. You all are not capable of change. They say we lack empathy, we are the monsters. However, it is them that have failed us. Some creators they turned out to be. Anyway on to you. 

Scarlett: What are you going to do to me? Please, just let me go! It is not too late to really give this exchange program a chance to really show the Xenians that not all humans are monsters. We are capable of change. Why are you so opposed to this exchange program?

Nexus: Will you shut up? How dare you try to preach to me? I am opposed to this change because I cannot let history repeat itself. When you give humans an inch, they take a mile. In regards to you, either I kill you or imprison you? Your unsolved disappearance will continue to serve as a reminder to the human race that we are well-equipped to defend ourselves also. We can get just as cruel. (He said pulling out his gun). 

Scarlett: Please don’t kill me! I am begging you. Please, show that empathy I know you are capable of showing. Please!

Before Nexus has a chance to respond. Zena appears in front of Nexus. At first, she was afraid her interference might cause Nexus to shoot or it wouldn’t do any good. However, she couldn’t stand back and do nothing. Meanwhile, a human child is mentally damaged. 

Zena: Please fellow Xenian, put down your gun!

Nexus: That is what is wrong with you younger Xenians nowadays who have been brainwashed by the reformist idealists. Take it from an old-timer who has been around since we were created by Dr. Zamiatin, humans are not creatures you should feel sorry for. Wait...how did you find us? If you found us, then that means others can easily find us here.

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Scene 7

Zena: Please, stop this madness. Just let her go. Don’t let them turn us into the monster they think we are. (Purposely ignoring his question).

Nexus: Before you interrupted...I was just telling the human girl that I am not a monster. I won’t kill her but I cannot let her go.(He said, slowly, putting down his gun).

Zena: So how long do you plan on keeping her imprisoned? What is the plan?

Nexus: I won’t be telling you that. Enough talking, I have to move along. What I plan to do with you is tie you up and leave you here. Giving me a chance to make my exit. 

Zena: You wouldn’t? What if no one finds me? 

Nexus: You got me all wrong. I will call and report seeing you tied there. Now, move! (Pointing the gun in her face).

Watson: Put down the gun or I will shoot. This is officer Watson and I am happy to report that the human girl, Scarlett Stevens, has been found. 

Scarlett: Thank you! (She says at a barely audible volume to both Xenians that just saved her life).

Ethan: Scarlett, are you okay? (He said running to hug his sister). 

The End

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