Plotted by Jim Shooter, Janet Jackson and Joseph James
Scripted by Janet Jackson
Pencilled by
Inked by
Colored by

Characters:
Fatale aka Desiree Hopewell
Mercy
Michael Alexander
Duke and Lucy
Donny

Page 1 Splash page 5/6

Fatale is standing at a counter in Lord & Taylor and the clerk, a woman, is handing her a small paper shopping bag with handles. She turns the heads of passing men, having the usual effect on the populace around her. She has a small stylish purse slung across her body under the open coat she is wearing.

Caption: Christmas Eve, 1995, 3:40 PM, NYC, Lord & Taylor Department Store.

Woman: Gift wrap is on three, Ms. Hopewell. It may be a bit hectic up there, though.

Fatale: That's life in the big city… Everybody waits till the last minute.
Me included.

panel 2 1/6 Horizontal flapjack panel

Walking away from the counter past racks of clothing Fatale stops short as she spots something in the store.

Fatale: Ohh! That's it! That's what I've been searching for.

Page 2

panel 1 2/9

Fatale is trying on a coat in the designer boutique section of the store. A clerk who is holding the coat she was wearing looks on as she fastens a button at the bodice. The small shopping bag is in evidence on the floor.

Fatale: I've never seen anything like this. I love it. And it fits! How unusual.

Clerk: It's a one of a kind piece, too. All of this designer's work sells out as fast as we get it into the store. Very popular.

panel 2 1/9

Close-up of Fatale holding up her credit card flippantly between two fingers and smiling.

Fatale: Well, now this one's sold out too. My little Christmas present to me.

panel 3 2/9

The doorman at Lord & Taylor is speaking to Fatale as he opens the door for her. She smiles at him. She is carrying two shopping bags now. A larger one and the smaller one. Her coat is still open and she is wearing gloves. Way in the BG up the sidewalk we can see Mercy talking to nothing, waving her arms. Passing pedestrians are giving her a wide berth.

Doorman: Merry Christmas, Miss. May I call you a cab? It would be a pleasure!

Fatale: That's so sweet, but I suppose I'll walk for a while. The exercise will be good for my figure.

panel 4 1/9

Closer up on the pair as Fatale is passing by him.

Doorman: No offense ma'm, but your figure is about as good as they get.

Fatale: None taken. Thank you very much.

panel 5 1/3

Fatale walks up the street enjoying the ambiance of Christmas in NY. The sidewalks are somewhat crowded with last minute shoppers carrying bags and packages. Many of the male pedestrians are enjoying the ambiance of Fatale. In the FG is Mercy talking to the air and waving her arms.

Mercy: It is written that thou shalt not tempt this old servant of the lord.

Page 3

panel 1 1/6

Fatale is nearing Mercy and has noticed her. She is giving her a slightly sad sideways look. Mercy has not noticed Fatale and is still waving at something we cannot see to go away from her.

Mercy: You better watch it, 'cause he'll casteth out devils and th' prince of devils.

panel 2 1/6

As Fatale is even with Mercy on the sidewalk, not walking really close to her (in fact everyone is looking at Mercy and giving her a wide berth) Mercy stops talking and stares hard at Fatale. Fatale is looking a little uncomfortable under Mercy's scrutiny, not knowing what to expect.

panel 3 1/6

Fatale is still walking a little past Mercy looking at her with surprise at what she is saying.

Mercy: Lord! You got a dragon in you!

panel 4 1/6

Closer up. Fatale has stopped in shock and stares incredulously back at Mercy who speaks as though in wonder.

Fatale: What did you say?

Mercy: Never seen anything like that! A Dragon!

panel

Close up on Fatale frowning a little at Mercy.

Fatale: Who are you?

panel

Fatale has turned to face Mercy. She is calm, but feeling very strange at having her darkest secret known by this old homeless woman. Mercy is still staring hard at Fatale.

Mercy: I see things. The dark places are made light unto me, Oh Lord.
What does that thing do to you, poor girl?

Fatale: This is really weird.

panel

Mercy is struck by an idea, Fatale is dumbfounded.

Mercy: Yea, I see what I must do! When the dragon saw that he was cast out onto the earth, he persecuted the woman.

Fatale: Um… I'm really all right, lady. I'm not persecuted, at least not by the dragon.

I can't believe I'm saying this.

Page 3

panel 1 1/6

Mercy is gesturing at Fatale, trying to explain and convince her.

Mercy: Come with old Mercy. Got a friend you need to see. He'll know what to do.

Fatale: Ma'am, I'm fine. Really. Nothing needs to be done.

panel 2 1/6

Fatale is following Mercy, rolling her eyes as she lets herself be talked into going with Mercy who is walking away and imploring Fatale to follow. They do not touch. The homeless in NY know there place.

Mercy: No, no... please. you must come see him. Oh Lord, let the scales fall from her eyes.

Fatale: Well if it means that much to you. I suppose it won't hurt. I have a couple of hours before I have to be at dinner.
I can't believe I'm doing this.

panel 3 1/6

Mercy and Fatale are approaching the McDonalds in Times Square.

Caption: Soon.

Fatale: So this friend of yours... why do you think I need to see him again?

Mercy: Like the Good book says "many righteous men have desired to see the things he sees and haven't." He knows things, does Michael.

panel 4 1/6

Fatale and Mercy are at the door of McDonalds. Fatale is in the doorway and has turned to look back doubtfully at Mercy who is staying outside.

Fatale: Hmm, sure, that explains it. Aren't you coming in?

Mercy: They don't want me in there. The righteous will be cast out into the wilderness but the stone which the builders rejected will become the cornerstone.
He's at his usual table over there. Go on. I'll wait for you right here.

panel 5 1/6 or 2/9

Fatale is standing next to Michael's table feeling, perhaps, a little foolish. Michael stands genteelly in the presence of a lady and indicates the other seat for her to take. He has a cup of coffee on the table.

Fatale: Are you Michael Alexander? My name's Desiree. I don't mean to bother you but this lady on the street who says she's a friend of yours asked me to speak to you and I didn't want to upset her…

Michael: That would be Mercy. Please sit down, Desiree.

panel 6 1/6 or 1/9

Michael looks at the somewhat disconcerted Fatale appraisingly across the table.

Michael: I can see why Mercy thought you should come see me. I have never seen anything quite like that dragon spirit within you.

Fatale: Have I just stepped into the Twilight Zone? What are you people seeing?!

Page 4

panel 1 1/6 thin horizontal flapjack panel

Michael &Fatale settin' in McD's. Way in the BG behind Fatale there is one "loner guy" that has just come in and is looking around angrily. The place has a few other customers, too.

Michael: You are more correct than you know.
There is more to reality than most people can perceive. A kind of "Twilight Zone" in a way.

panel 2 1/3 horizontal

Switch to a similar POV of Michael and Fatale sitting in the restaurant in quantum. Michael is indicating the surroundings with a wave of his hand. We can see the form of the dragon spirit rising above Fatale. She glows with a beautiful pink light. We see all the other people walking around with their demons and stuff. In the BG the loner guy is walking toward the counter frowning at a Christmas decoration. His silhouette is colored darkish green.

Michael: It's taken a lifetime but I've learned to perceive things that are just out of the reach of our normal senses. And I've discovered that I'm able to help people in certain ways.

Fatale: (skeptically) Uh huh. And you think I need your help?

panel 3 1/6

Fatale & Michael settin' talkin' some more in regular reality again. In the BG the loner guy is at the counter looking around angrily.

Michael: No, I can see that you don't. But I understand why Mercy thought you might.

I am curious, however, how did you… acquire this dragon of yours?

Fatale: Well, it's a long story but, basically, I was born with it.

panel 4 1/6

Michael is getting up from the table. In the BG the lonely guy is getting an order of food on a tray. He is froning at a bright Christamas decoration on the tray.

Michael: I see. Some sort of summoning and sacrifice involving your mother gone wrong, I expect. And you were born with the summoned spirit trapped inside of you.

Fatale: Ye-es… but how could you know?

panel

Close up of Michael.

Michael: I've studied the occult as it relates to the Quatum Plane. And I've read obscure ancient texts that mention something like that dragon being used in certain ceremonies.

It's supposed to confer the capacity to absorb strength and ability from others.

panel

Closeup of Fatale. The loner guy is in the BG still staring angrily at the tray gripped tightly in his hands.

Fatale: It… does, but only temporarily. This is all very strange, Mister Alexander.

panel

In thr FG the loner guy is throwing his tray at the counter and shouting.

Michael: I understand exactly how you feel.

Excuse me for just a moment.

Loner Guy: I hate Christmas! Everybody pretends that they care and no one really does!

panel 6 1/6 horizontal flapjack panel

In Quantum - Michael is headed for the man and he goes quantum and starts to appear on the quantum plane. The loner guy has a bunch of nasty looking demon things plucking at him. Behind him Fatale's silhouette is looking around confused. The dragon spirit mirrors her head movement.

Fatale: Mister Alexander?

Where did you go?