For your consideration....

2D3D: DROID RUNNER
written by Zarban
story by Beldar and Zarban

A long time ago, in a naked city far away, "droid runner" 2D3D rolls to a late-night rendezvous with a dame in a white dress and 1940s hair who calls herself Lena Morgan. She says she's being followed and hires him to deliver a packet and her holorecording to one Ben Kenworthy, who she warns is also being watched. 2D puffs a little smoke—he's got a bad motivator—and takes the job.

2D3D arrives at Kenworthy's brownstone and is quickly shadowed by thugs who crack him on the dome with a blackjack. They fail to find the packet in his usual receptacle and conclude they've made a mistake.

2D awakens thru a blurry haze to meet teen motorcycle messenger Lucky Skyles, who helps him deliver the hidden packet to Kenworthy, a dapper ex-cop with a neat white beard. The packet contains detailed information about a Nazi spy ring that has infiltrated the police force. Lucky's uncle is the police captain. "You don't think he's mixed up in this?" Ben assures him that his uncle is a "swell guy."

2D3D tunes into police band radio to reveal that Lena was arrested after their meeting. The three go post her bail with the help of scoundrel lawyer Hank Soles ("You never heard of Millener & Falcolm, Attorneys at Law? We got Kessell off with 12 parsecs."), while a shadowy figure places a mysterious phone call. Lena asks Hank to take her home—"Your place or mine, sweetheart?"—but they're snatched by thug Bobby Fettle, and Hank is sapped.

Ben, Lucky, and 2D see this but are confronted by police captain Darryl Vanderberg—Lucky's uncle—who demands the spy ring information. 2D pops out a revolver to hold him off, but there is a shootout, and Vanderberg kills Ben. He tries to get Lucky to stay with him, but Lucky calls him a Nazi, and they fight with police laser truncheons before Lucky runs away. They elude the police, thanks to 2D's tricky interference with the police radio calls.

Fettle takes Hank and Lena to his boss, "Hustler" Jablonski. Jablonski, who speaks only German, explains thru his interpreter-droid Trey-Naught-Deuce that if she doesn't hand over the info on the spy ring, Hank will "sleep with the fishes tonight"—while she remains his "very special guest."

After some time, 2D and Lucky arrive at Jablonski's nightclub on the messenger motorcycle (with sidecar). In the back of the club, 2D knocks out a waiter droid and reappears in his white coat, carrying a tray of drinks. Lucky pretends to have a message for Jablonski. The captive Lena, dressed in a scandalously revealing gown, is forced to sing "That's No Moon River" on stage while Lucky claims that Captain Vanderberg wants Hank and Lena delivered to him. 2D frees Hank and slips away, but Fettle intervenes when Jablonski calls Lucky's bluff.

While Hank and Lucky are taken for a ride to the wharf, 2D frees Lena, and the two zoom off on the messenger motorcycle. They are spotted, and two motorcycle cops get the call to pursue. In a harrowing chase thru the warehouse district, with 2D shooting back, Lena makes the cops crash.

Arriving at the wharf, 2D holds his pistol on Fettle and his goons while Lena unties Hank and Lucky. But Vanderberg arrives with some cops, and a fight ensues. Hank protects Lena and takes out a couple of heavies before getting injured; Lena protects him and takes out Fettle. 2D takes out a couple heavies as well but gets shot.

Lucky confronts his uncle as the leader of the spy ring in an epic laser truncheon fight. Just when Vanderberg has Lucky down, 2D recovers enough to shoot him in the back of the head—which causes sparks! Vanderberg shakes and cries "Heil Hitler" and other Naziisms in warped audio until his face pops off, revealing him to be a Nazi droid replacement for Lucky's real uncle!

The remaining cops and goons scatter. Lena and Hank kiss. 2D replays Vanderberg's meltdown, which he holorecorded. Lucky works out that his real uncle was a good guy murdered and replaced by a robot. They all make plans to go the State Department with their information.

And everyone thanks 2D3D, droid runner extraordinaire.

Last edited by Zarban (2011-01-09 16:09:00)