K I D N A P P E D

 

 

 

 

CHAPTERS: The chapters of this story are published live for collaboration development purposes, with a sequence derived from the Chapters below, supplemented with other (unpublished) writings as we progress. The final order for the proposed screenplay may be the subject of additional drafts to suit production of the final movie (producers/directors/actors). To be in a position to gain an idea of style and commercial value, please request a copy of our Kulo-Luna (draft) screenplay. See our terms and conditions. The script version of these Chapters will not be published, but will be available as with Kulo-Luna, on request.

 

 

 

 

 

WEST OF MANAUS

Charley Temple was always curious as a girl, and though now a grown woman, and some, had never lost that inquisitiveness that sometimes landed her in hot water.

 

She continued heading upriver, when some fifteen hundred yards north-west of the dockside, she spotted a group of buildings nestled in the jungle, hardly noticeable, unless you were looking hard. She ducked down instinctively.

 

Charley crept forward crouched low, crawling the last ten meters on all fours, until she thought the coast was clear. Then she dashed to one of the doors. It was locked. She tried a number of other doors. All locked. It seemed the installation was deserted. But she'd triggered an invisible infra red security sensor, from one of the many wildlife cameras hidden if the trees.

 

She found a window that was loose fitting and a little rotten. Using her jungle survival knife, the adventuress prized the opening upwards, making quite a lot of noise in the process. Then realizing her mistake, remained motionless for a while.

 

She heard nothing, except the sound of the Amazonian jungle, a cacophony of insects, birds flying as they chirped in tune and plants rustling in the gentle rainforest breeze. The sweet smell of aromatic plants almost lulled her into a sense of well-being, despite the fact her heart was racing.

 

With no sign her intrusion had been noted, Charley levered herself onto the window ledge, then went arms first into the opening, realizing how vulnerable she was, as she squirmed forward, angling down as the bulk of her body was through, but her arms had still not found the sill on the inside. Too late, she fell forward, her legs following, landing on the wooden floor with a thump.

 

Ouch, that hurt, thought Charley, rubbing the bruised areas of her body. Must be more careful next time.

 

Charley inched forward, now with a torch to illuminate her passage. She was in a room filled with filing cabinets. They were mostly locked, but she manage to open a couple with a fine hairclip, where the locks were that worn. Unfortunately, the papers inside did not reveal much, listing the names of people and suppliers, but coded. The room smelled musty, like many document archives subjected to high humidity.

 

Charley moved into the next room. The door was stiff and noisy on the hinges, and some of the flooring creaked.

 

Jeez, she thought to herself. She wanted to call John and Dan to tell them where she was. They must be arriving soon. But dare not make any noise just yet. She had a feeling she was being watched.

 

She was, the trip had triggered an intruder response. A group of three locals, paid handsomely to guard the laboratory complex, were closing on the building. The shortest man was leading two taller men, both quite stocky and carrying titanium steel M24E6 machine guns. While the lead was sporting a 9mm Glock.

 

Charley's position was monitored by infra-red sensors within the complex, showing on a security application modified for an ordinary smartphone, as position by room. The lead used hand signals and radio walkie-talkies to direct his two heavies to intercept the intruder at 'L 5.' That was Laboratory five.

 

Charley did not know it but she was about to enter a corridor leading to a laboratory identified as 'L4.' She tried the door carefully, trying not to make a sound. This door would not budge. It was locked. She shone her torch into the keyhole. Hmmm, only a 3 lever mortise, she thought to herself. Charley unrolled a pouch from a discreet pocket, revealing a pick set. She'd not used this before. But, this was getting interesting. After a few minutes of botched attempts, the lock finally clunked open.

 

Further into the complex, the short security guard had entered Laboratory number five, and unlocked the internal door to the adjoining L4. He let in the two taller guards, who hid behind large medical machines on either side of the lab. They were sweaty and breathing heavily but managed to stay silent. The lead stayed behind the adjoining door.

 

Charley carefully pulled on the door, with her foot at the base, to control the opening. It did not creak. With a sigh of relief, she opened it wide and entered a white corridor, easily lit with her small LED pen torch. The corridor had cameras, the first she'd seen. She felt exposed, so moved swiftly to the far door at the end of the corridor, switching off her light. The next door was unlocked, it opened almost silently. She allowed herself a quick scan from her pen-light. It was well worth the risk. The room contained an amazing array of medical equipment, like the lab in Jurassic World. All signs and documents were in German, with some Nazi insignia evident.

 

The reporter floated deftly through the laboratory on virtual tip-toes. Her curiosity peaked, she could not wait to see what was in the next room. The She reached for the door handle. Behind the door, the short guard stood ready with his Glock. Charley tried the handle. The door was open. She inched into the darkened room, switching on her penlight for a quick scan, catching a faint waft of body odour. The short guard raised his pistol, striking Charley on the back of the neck hard, as she moved into the room. She collapsed from the shock, the guard just managing to break her fall a little, but not enough to prevent a head injury.

 

When Charley finally came to, she was handcuffed to an operating table in Laboratory Five. The lighting was now on in this room, hurting her eyes a little as she got used to the levels. Her head was aching. She was surrounded by some very sophisticated equipment. With various body parts represented by what looked like plastic mesh, in sealed glass display cabinets, lining one side of the room. Despite her situation, she was fascinated, wondering how these items may be connected to the Panamanian Running Man.

 

She was still bleary eyed, when a door opened and the short security guard entered with one of the taller guards, speaking to each other in Portuguese. The shorter man began in broken English, "what's a pretty lady like you doing sneaking around in the rain forest?"

 

Charley responded, "hi guys, I could do with an iced tea and some pain killers, if it's not too much bother."

 

The tall guard passed his boss a syringe filled with a milky liquid. "You will tell us. Better for you if you do."

 

"Why?" said Charley.

 

"If you want to depart painlessly tell me now - before it's too late."

 

"Where's the fun in that?" Charley was praying John would track her down, as soon as he realised she was missing. If only she'd waited. She needed to buy some time. She pushed her chest forward and spread her legs provocatively, as she beamed an inviting smile at her captors. 

 

The tall guard was immediately interested. His boss less so. Charley opened and closed her legs slowly, provocatively. "Oh, come on, aren't you allowed to play." She knew this man was dangerous, but clearly, whoever was coming next would do her a lot more harm. Charley needed them to engage. Where was John?

 

THE AMAZON, WEST OF MANAUS

 

About six kilometers west of Manaus, moored in the Rio Puraquequara, backwater, John and Dan were wondering where Charley was. The Swann was just fifteen hundred or so meters away.

 

LABORATORY L4

 

Back in the laboratory, one of the tall guards enjoyed searching through Charley's pockets. He found a leather card holder, and passed it to his boss. The short security guard rifled through the holder, finding Charley's press card. He called Klaus von Kolreuter, the syringe of milky fluid dripping as he spoke. Charley feared this was her end.

 

"Herr Kolreuter?"

 

"Ya."

 

"Perez here. We have an intruder from the media, by the name of Charley Temple. Do we ..."

 

"Nein. She is a known associate of John Storm. His DNA archive will advantage our programme. Bind her. We'll use her as a lure for Mr Storm, and deal with her shortly."


 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside, John and Dan were creeping along the wall of the longest building, staying low, until they could hear Charley inside. They were both panting slightly, from their hack through the jungle. They came to a doorway entrance. John made to kick the door in, but Dan stopped him. He tried the handle, and the door swung open.

 

John shook his head in disbelief. They both paused for a moment to stifle a chuckle. The distinctive sound of Charley's voice could be heard as she objected violently to being tied up. Other male voices could also be heard. John and Dan guessed two male voices, from the grunts. Obviously, Charley was putting up quite a fight.

 

The duo moved cautiously down a corridor, heading for the ruckus. Then from a side door a gun was pointed at John's head.

 

"John Storm I presume."

 

A third guard beckoned them forward and through the door into the room where Charley was now roped up. Reluctantly, John and Dan entered what was clearly a well equipped laboratory. It was dimly lit, with a lamp for operations aimed at the reporter.

 

The boss recognised John Storm. "Hello Mr Storm. We were just talking about you."

 

Charley could not contain herself, "Geez guys. I was hoping for a bit of help."

 

Dan was scanning the lab, distracted. He could not take his eyes off the fabulous equipment. Wasted on these chumps.

 

"Charley. I'd shake, but I see you are a bit tied up." Charley nearly laughed.

 

The third guard hit John on the back of the neck.

 

"I see you have a sense of humour Mr Storm. I too appreciate a little irony. For example, is your interesting ship near by?"

 

Dan knew from the equipment surrounding them, that they were experimenting with DNA. That could only mean one thing, and that explained how these gorillas knew who John was. And why Charley was in on the jaunt.

 

"We left our ship tied up about a mile south, said Dan, for all the good it will do you."

 

"Why don't you let me decide what is good for me," said the boss man. He motioned to the security guard beside Charley to cover John, and the guard behind John to go and check it out.

 

Dan rugby tackled the third guard as he went to go through the doorway, knocking him to the ground. John dived for the guard beside Charley. 

 

Dan continued to fight the third guard in the corridor. The guard punched Dan hard in the stomach. Dan hit him square on the jaw, but the guard barely flinched.

 

A shot was fired in the laboratory and the light above Charley shattered. The second guard was getting the better of John, now in darkness. John pulled a taser from a trouser pocket, and zapped the guard. The guard grabbed for a weapon in the darkness from a worktop, picking up a hefty metal instrument, that tuned out to be a loaded syringe. He hit John with it. Once, twice. The third strike pierced John's shoulder, injecting him with the contents. John desperately zapped the guard again. He went down. John zapped him again, to be sure.

 

The boss man had triggered an alarm, and scurried out of Lab 4. The building lit up and a siren sounded.

 

John rushed to help Dan, who needed it. The third guard had him in a headlock. Dan's face was red. John piled in with a few punches to no avail. So, he zapped the man with his taser. And that did the trick. He released Dan. Dan whacked the guard again on the jaw. But the guard did not feel it. 

 

"Quick Dan, untie Charley."

 

"No, you untie Charley, I'm going to grab some of this amazing gear - and look  - DNA samples."

 

Charley chimed in, "yes John untie me. Let Dan get as much of this tech as he can. And some DNA for your collection."

 

John began to feel rather odd. "Okay. If you insist, but please hurry it up Dan. Get all the DNA evidence you can find."

 

Down at the dockside, a couple of hired thugs had found the Elizabeth Swann.

 

Back in L4, Dan was stuffing equipment into a cardboard box he'd found. As Charley was freed, she helped Dan, filling the box with manuals, note books and a mountain of DNA research. Soon, they needed another box. There was a strange looking watch and headset in a glass security case. Dan struck the glass, but it did not break.

 

"Smash it," said Charley, "This is human enhancement stuff."

 

Dan smashed it again and again, until he was hot from the full power exertions. The glass was cracked, but still intact as a security door.

 

"Let me." Charley used a light stand end on, pounding the glass door until finally, the laminated glass and frame was so deformed, the cabinet could be forced open with a pocket knife.

 

"I think this is important, " said Dan as he grabbed the gold watch and headgear.

 

"You've no idea," said Charley.

 

"Okay," said John, "time to leave."

 

The guards were coming to. John treated them to another 100,000 volt electroshock. Charley looked on in horror.

 

"Don't worry Charley, these are only stun weapons. Non-lethal. Not like some police tasers."

 

Charley was relieved. Then thought to herself;

 

John would never harm anyone if he didn't have to - and - they were going to kill her. Probably all of them. It was self defence.

 

The trio stumbled out of the building, taking with them two boxes of high-tech treasure trove.

 

"Where is Jack, John. I thought he was in on this caper?"

 

"Good question Dan."

 

On the way out John hit the fire alarm, triggering a sprinkler system.

 

"That should confuse them for a while."

 

It was a long way back to the Swann, and they might be chased. They went as fast as they could carrying two boxes. Charley insisted on taking a turn carrying.

 

John was now feeling even more out of it.

 

Eventually, they came to the dockside, expecting a welcoming committee of sorts. But instead, two locals were passed out on the jetty beside the Elizabeth Swann, with Jack Mason and a small black-opps team trying to revive them.

 

"Hello Jack. You made it then."

 

We could have done with a hand back there," said Dan, as he boarded the Swann.

 

Charley came in, "we were nearly toast."

 

A bruised and battered Dan enjoined, "I'll drink to that." Dan had stashed the two boxes of stolen gear onboard the Swann. Jack had noticed the boxes, but said nothing.

 

John almost collapsed, now feeling quite weak. Charley rushed to his aid.

 

"Jack, will you scout the buildings and round up any strays for questioning. Tidy things up."

 

Jack could see John was in a bad way. "Sure buddy. Get some rest. By the way, you went in earlier than we agreed."

 

John grimaced. "My mistake, four coffins."

 

"My bad, said Charley. Curiosity or impatience will get me one day."

 

Jack circled his arm in the air, then pointed to the jungle. He and his men disappeared into the undergrowth.

 

Hal welcomed the trio aboard.

 

"Your work Hal?" John managed, pointing to the unconscious locals on the dockside.

 

"Yes John, those men made to come on board without permission. I had no choice but to zap them. I did warn them first."

 

"Shocking Hal. Let's get out of here, warp factor." With these words, John collapsed.

 

Dan and Charley heaved him into one of the rear cabin bunks. He was out for the count.

 

The Elizabeth Swann cast off and cruised back down the Amazon, in autonomous mode, with Captain Nemo at the helm. The zero emission ship headed out into the Atlantic, traveling through the north American basin using the trades. Awaiting further orders from their absent skipper.

 

John was now in a deep rhythmic sleep, like a baby. Dan and Charley grabbed a bite to eat, reliving their time in the jungle, over and over again. It was the first time Charley had been kidnapped. It was Dan's first life or death fight.

 

Hal kept a watching brief on John's vital signs.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES: Charley is rescued & Dan takes high tech research. CIA, Jack Mason, raid jungle hideout, retrieving papers and IT that suggest warlords are planning something big in Washington, but more urgently, that plans for replicant are relocated to Egypt. Accidental archaeological discovery as incidental excursion – not any more!!

 

 

PROLOGUE    INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Nazi funded medical human research laboratories Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich escape to Brazil reserve plan.

CHAPTER 1.   THE POISON ASP

CHAPTER 2.   WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria

CHAPTER 3.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy

CHAPTER 4.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect.

CHAPTER 5.   INCUBUS

CHAPTER 6.   SPLICE

CHAPTER 7.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries. Until a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria.

CHAPTER 8.   PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN -

CHAPTER 9.   THE AMAZON

CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures.

CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD

CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace.

CHAPTER 13. KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner 

CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice.

CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories.

CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered.

CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation.

CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators.

CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant.

CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught.

CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned:  FINALE FOR NOW


 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

GRAPHIC BRIEF - SUGGESTED LAYOUTS/ FORMAT

 

CHAPTER 1.   THE POISON ASP - Overwhelmed by grief, Cleopatra poisons herself with a cobra bite in her mausoleum

CHAPTER 2.   WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria

CHAPTER 3.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy

CHAPTER 4.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect

CHAPTER 5.   INCUBUS - Franco Francisco accepts offer of employment from Roberta Ferrara

CHAPTER 6.   SPLICE - Klaus von Kolreuter perfects a method of gene manipulation

CHAPTER 7.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries, until shift in the tectonic plates trigger tremor off the coast of Alexandria

CHAPTER 8.   PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - Marjorie Boyle videos exceptionally fast athlete, Sam Hollis investigates

CHAPTER 9.   AMAZON QUEEN - Elizabeth Swann navigating river and docking at Manaus

CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures

CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD - London's secure DNA database is stolen

CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace

CHAPTER 13. KIDNAPPED - Charley is taken prisoner, John, Dan and CIA rescue her

CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice

CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence, implanted memories

CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - To Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered

CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation

CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators

CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant

CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - Military detain Cleopatra for stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught

CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned

 

 

 

 

  THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STORM: CLEOPATRA & THE MUMMY

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Cleopatra - The Mummy - A John Storm adventure with the Elizabeth Swann

 

 

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