CounterConspiracy Comics: The Divide
Issue #3
“Point Du Real”
PANEL 1 – SPLASH PAGE
Aerial view of a cliff-side beach at dawn. WWII era American soldiers (RANGERS) scramble out of landing crafts towards a rocky beach that runs alongside 100ft tall cliffs as NAZI soldiers shoot at them from above.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 2 – Large Panel
CAPTAIN RICKSON standing with his back against a large boulder. He holds a Thompson submachine gun in one hand. His other hand points towards the cliffs. Behind him, RANGERS run across the beach as NAZIS fire their weapons and throw grenades from the cliffs above.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
Go! Go! Go!
PANEL 3
Four RANGERS huddle behind rocks looking scared. The name badges on their uniforms read: LT. RAWLINS, SGT. KAPOWSKI, CORP. LEVI, & PFC ROGANELLI.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
LT. RAWLINS:
What the fuck?!
PANEL 4
CAPTAIN RICKSON yelling at the 4 RANGERS as NAZI bullets fall down around them like rain.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
RAWLINS! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
GET YOUR SQUAD UP THAT CLIFF! NOW!!
PANEL 5 – Large Panel
Aerial view of the battle. RANGERS move through the water towards the beach under heavy fire. Rockets carrying grappling hooks, launched from the LANDING CRAFT, fly through the air. A squad of RANGERS works to deploy an extension ladder at the base of the cliff. Dead and wounded lay in the sand. CAPTAIN RICKSON fires at NAZIS on top of the cliff using the large rock as cover. LT. RAWLIN’S squad cowers behind the rocks..
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 6
The 4 RANGERS taking cover behind the rocks. All except CORP. LEVI look confused and scared as bullets crash around them. CORP. LEVI has his head cocked to one side, his eyes focused on his hands, mouth tight and pulled to one side like he is thinking about something. One hand touches his chest over his heart, his other palms his stomach.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAHBAH!
LT. RAWLINS (THOUGHT):
What the fuck is going on?
SGT. KAPOWSKI (THOUGHT):
Why does this seem so familiar?
CORP. LEVI (THOUGHT):
My body.. feels strange.
PFC. ROGANELLI:
They’re shooting at us man! FUUCCKKK!
PANEL 7
CORP.LEVI sitting low against a rock staring into a small square sighting mirror. PFC. ROGANELLI lays next to him clutching his helmet in fear.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 8
A close up of the sighting mirror. The reflection is the face of a stupefied young Caucasian American (CORP. LEVI).
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CORP LEVI:
Woah..
PANEL 9
First person view from PFC. ROGANELLI’S eyes. CORP. LEVI holding the mirror out towards him. The image reflected back to him is that of a scared thirty-something Italian man.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CORP. LEVI
CHECK IT OUT BRO.
PFC ROGANELLI:
What the fuck..?!
PANEL 10
The sighting mirror reflecting the surprised face of PFC ROGANELLI.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CORP LEVI:
VALOBENSTOOLS!
PFC. ROGANELLI:
VALOBENSTOOLS!
PANEL 11
BUTCH (wearing PFC. ROGANELLI’S uniform) holds J-WEI (wearing CORP. LEVI’S uniform) by the shoulders.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAHBAHBAH BOOM!! BAHBAHBAH!
BUTCH:
J-WEI IS THAT YOU BROTHER?!
J-WEI:
YEAH! IT’S ME.
BUTCH?
BUTCH:
YEAH! HOLY FUCK DUDE!
WE’RE IN SOME REAL FRUITY SHIT!!
PANEL 12
CAPTAIN RICKSON holding SGT. KAPOWSKI by his fatigues and screaming in his face as the battle rages around them. SGT. KAPOWSKI stares at him dumbfounded.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
I EXPECTED THE NEW LT TO CRAP HIS TROUSERS! B’ NOT YOU SARGE! WHATSA MATTA’ WITH YOU?!
GET UP THERE AND TAKE OUT THOSE GOD DAMN GUNS!!!
NOOWWW!!
PANEL 13
SARGENT KAPOWSKI stumbling out onto the beach, and into the battle, after being pushed out from behind the rocks by CAPTAIN RICKSON. Bullets fly all around him. LT. RAWLINS, CORP. LEVI, and PFC. ROGANELLI watch from behind the rocks in the background.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
SARGENT KAPOWSKI:
OH SHHIITT!!
PANEL 14
PFC. ROGANELLI grabbing CORP. LEVI by the shoulders and pulling his face in close.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PFC. ROGANELLI:
We’ve got to help him!
CORP. LEVI:
WHAT?!
PFC. ROGANELLI:
WE’VE GOT TO HELP HIM!!
PANEL 15
PFC ROGANELLI running towards SARGENT KAPOWSKI, who is pulling himself up off the sandy beach. Bullets make small divots in the beach and send sand flying into the air all around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 16
PFC ROGANELLI pushing KAPOWSKI towards the base of the cliff.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 17
PFC ROGANELLI talking to KOPOWSKI as they huddle close in a recessed area carved out of the rock face. Bullets fly and bounce around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PFC ROGANELLI:
COOP?!! YOU IN THERE?! IT’S BUTCH!!
KAPOWSKI:
WHAT?!!!
PFC ROGANELLI:
VALOBENSTOOLS!!!.
VALOBENSTOOLS MAN!!!
WE ATE THE FUCKING VALOBENSTOOLS!!
PANEL 18
CLOSEUP of a starry eyed and smirking COOP (wearing KAPOWSKI’S uniform) talking to PFC ROGANELLI.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
COOP:
BUTCH?!
WE JUMPED INTO THE MOON VORTEX!
PFC ROGANELLI:
RIGHT!
PANEL 19
A confident BUTCH pushes his finger into SGT. KAPOWSKI’S chest. KAPOWSKI holds his ear close to his mouth so he can hear him over the intense fighting going on all around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
BUTCH:
IT’S ON YOU!
YOU’VE GOT TO TAKE OUT THOSE GUNS!!
IT’S GOT TO BE YOU!
SGT. KAPOWSKI:
ME?!
WHY ME?
BUTCH:
I DON’T KNOW.. OR HOW I KNOW.
I JUST DO!
PANEL 20
J-WEI crouching behind large rocks and addressing PFC. ROGANELLI and KAPOWSKI on the beach.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
J-WEI:
WE GOTTA GET OFF THE BEACH!
PFC. ROGANELLI:
NOT WITHOUT EDDIE.
PANEL 21
KAPOWSKI holding a rope and starting his ascent up the cliff as CORP. LEVI fires his rifle at the NAZIS above. PFC ROGANELLI runs across the sand towards LT. RAWLINS who is still sitting up against the rock taking cover from the gunfire too scared to move.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 22 – LARGE PANEL
RANGERS clamber up rocks and climb ropes and ladders. Some fire their weapons up at the enemy. Grenades tumble down at them from above. Explosions and smoke fill the air. KAPOWSKI is starting his climb. CORP. LEVI fires at the NAZIS from the cover of the rocks on the beach. He hit one and they are falling off the cliff.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
SOUND (EXPLOSIONS)
BOOOOM!! BOOOM!!
PANEL 23 – TALL PANEL
ROGANELLI talking to LT. RAWLINS. In the background CAPTAIN RICKSON gets shot in the side as he climbs a rope. Another RANGER is falling through the air. Others ascend the cliff.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBA!HBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA
ROGANELLI:
HEY!! YOU CAN’T STAY HERE!
WE GOTTA FUCKIN’ GO MAN!!
PANEL 24
BUTCH holding LT. RAWLINS by the shoulders and screaming in his face as bullets fall around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
BUTCH:
EDDIE!! EDDIE!! IT’S ME BUTCH.
WE GOTTA GO BROTHER!
WE HAVE TO HELP COOP TAKE OUT THOSE GUNS!
IT’S THE ONLY WAY!
PANEL 25
Closeup of EDDIE. He looks anxious and confused. Beads of sweat dot his face.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
EDDIE:
No. This isn’t real. It’s just a dream.
PANEL 26
PFC ROGANELLI holding EDDIE up on his feet against the rock.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
EDDIE:
It’s just a dream..
PFC ROGANELLI:
EDDIE IT’S NOT A DREAM! IT’S THE VALOBENSTOOLS!
WE ATE THE FUCKING VALOBENSTOOLS! DON’T YOU REMEMBER?!
PANEL 27 – TALL PANEL
BUTCH points towards KAPOWSKI and LEVI as he talks to LT. LEWIS behind the rocks on the beach.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
BUTCH:
WE HAVE TO HELP COOP TAKE OUT THOSE GUNS!!
EDDIE:
Valobenstools??
BUTCH:
YES!! GO!! FUCKING GO MAN!!
PANEL 28
ROGANELLI pushing LT. LEWIS across the beach towards the cliffs.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
PANEL 29 – BIG PANEL
COOP stands on an outcropping of rock 10 feet up the cliff holding a rope and firing his weapon, veins popping, muscles bulging, and sporting an angry smile. RANGERS (including a very pissed off looking and bleeding CAPTAIN RICKSON) scale the cliff around him. LEVI holds the rope with one hand and fires his weapon with the other. ROGANELLI stands next to RAWLINS on the beach below looking up at the climbers in awe.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
COOP:
GET SOME!
PANEL 30
PFC ROGANELLI drags LT. RAWLINS with his free arm as he talks to LEVI who is holding COOP’s rope and taking his first step up the rocky cliffs.
PFC. ROGANELLI:
WE HAVE TO HELP COOPER!! THAT’S HOW WE GET OUTTA HERE.
CORP. LEVI:
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
PFC. ROGANELLI:
I JUST KNOW.
CORP LEVI:
Well.. SURE! O.K.!
FUCK IT!
LT. RAWLINS:
This isn’t real. It’s just the valobenstools…
We’re tripping. It’s a hallucination. It will pass.
PANEL 31
PFC. ROGANELLI pushing EDDIE with one hand towards the rope he is holding in the other. As he pushes, a bullet grazes his shoulder.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
PFC. ROGANELLI:
MOTHER FUCKER!
CLIMB GOD DAMMIT!
HELP COOP TAKE OUT THOSE GUNS OR WE’RE FUCKED!!
EDDIE:
Huh?!
PANEL 32
BUTCH talking to LT. RAWLINS still holding the rope near the base of the cliff as bullets and soldiers RANGER & NAZI fall down on the sand around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
LT. RAWLINS:
Fuck that! I’m not going up there!
BUTCH:
WE HAVE TO!
DON’T YOU GET IT?! THIS IS THE LABYRINTH!! YOU WANT THE GODSIGHT RIGHT?!
THE PATH LEADS UP THERE!
WE HAVE TO HELP COOP!!
PANEL 33
PFC. ROGANELLI pushing the rope into the chest of a resistant EDDIE as he is shot through the lower left side from above.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
WHIZ! POP!
PANEL 34
LT. RAWLINS holding BUTCH on the beach. Blood covers his teeth and drips out the side of his mouth. There is a large dark red bullet wound in his side and the lower half of his uniform that is soaked in blood.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
LT. RAWLINS:
HOLY SHIT! BUTCH? BUTCH?
BUTCH:
GO! You can’t stay here… Help Coop…
PANEL 35
EDDIE holding a lifeless PFC ROGANELLI in a pool of blood on the beach right next to the cliffs. Bullets and soldiers fall and die all around them.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
PANEL 36
View looking down from over the side of the cliff of a terrified EDDIE struggling to climb the rope. Around him, RANGERS climb, shoot, and get shot, as they fight to ascend.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
CAPTION (WRITTEN IN OLD ENGLISH):
“Endure the Incomprehensible Labyrinth of Flesh and Bone.”
PANEL 37
COOP cresting the top of the cliff as he blasts two NAZI soldiers who are also firing their weapons.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 38
COOP looking over the side of the cliff yelling to the other RANGERS down on the beach.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBABAHBA!
COOP:
HERE! CLIMB OVER HERE!
PANEL 39
SGT. KAPOWSKI taking cover behind a large rock next to the rope and firing his weapon. Behind him, CORP. LEVI crests the ridge of the cliff using the rope.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 40
SGT. KAPOWSKI and CORP. LEVI fight NAZIS as EDDIE comes over the edge of the cliff in the background. KAPOWSKI is being punched in the face by a NAZI SOLDIER. CORP LEVI struggles to break out of a headlock applied by a much larger opponent.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
SOUND (FIGHTING):
POW!
AAARGGGH!
PANEL 41
KAPOWSKI is stabbing his NAZI foe in the heart with a knife. CORP. LEVI bashes the head of his with the butt of his rifle.
SOUND (FIGHTING):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
SOUND (FIGHTING):
Ahh!
Ughh!
Ooof!
PANEL 42
KAPOWSKI kneels near LT. LEWIS who is taking cover behind a large pile of ruble. The right side of his face is red and he is bleeding from his ear. LT. LEWIS clutches his weapon as he scans for attackers.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
KAPOWSKI:
Where’s Butch?!
LT. LEWIS:
WHAT?!
KAPOWSKI:
EDDIE!!
WHERE IS BUTCH?!
LT. LEWIS:
He got shot. I think he’s dead.
COOP:
YOU THINK?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU THINK?!
YOU JUST LEFT HIM THERE?!
PANEL 43
Closeup of EDDIE sitting with his back against the rubble pile.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
EDDIE:
It’s okay COOP. This isn’t real. It just the valobenstools. This is just some sort of shared hallucination. It doesn’t matter if we die. It’s just a dream.
PANEL 44
COOP kneeling behind the rubble pile. He holds his jaw as he talks with LT. RAWLINS.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
COOP:
It sure feels real.
How do you know it doesn’t matter if we die?
EDDIE:
We’re in WWII! It can’t be real.
It’s just a dream.
PANEL 45
COOP still kneeling behind the rubble pile reloading his Thompson machine gun.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
COOP:
Maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe it does.
Butch said I have to take out those guns, so that’s what I’m going to do.
PANEL 46
Aerial view of the battlefield. SGT. KAPOWSKI shooting NAZIS as he leads the charge towards the cannon bunker. Not far behind, CORP. LEVI drags an injured CAPTAIN RICKSON out of the open towards the cover of a cleared NAZI machine gun nest. CAPTAIN RICKSON fires his .45 and kills a NAZI as they go. Far in the rear, LT. RAWLINS peeks out from behind the rubble pile at the edge of the cliff.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 47
EDDIE walks cautiously behind the advancing RANGERS. Soldiers fight and die ahead of him.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 48
EDDIE stands in shock as he is shot in the left arm.
SOUND (GUNSHOT):
BAH!
PANEL 49
EDDIE lays on the ground holding his bloody wound.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
EDDIE:
AHH! AHH! I’ve been shot!
SOMEBODY HELP ME!
PANEL 50
A young RANGER medic (CORP. RORKE) kneels over EDDIE holding a bandage and a roll of gauze that he has pulled out of his rucksack that sits open next to him. EDDIE cringes in intense pain as he clutches his injury.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
EDDIE:
IT HURTS! IT REALLY HURTS!!
CORP. RORKE:
You’re okay Lieutenant. It hit your arm.
EDDIE:
Am I going to die?
PANEL 51
PFC. RORKE examining EDDIE’S wound. EDDIE winces in pain.
PFC. RORKE:
It hit the bone. You’re arm is out of commission. But you’re not going to die. I’ll get it wrapped up and you can soldier on..
PANEL 52
Closeup of PFC. RORKE being shot through the head as he wraps a bandage around EDDIE’s wound.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAH!
PANEL 53
PFC RORKE’S limp body slumps on top of a shocked EDDIE.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 54
A scared EDDIE stands on the battlefield holding his partly bandaged wound as he looks down at the body of PFC. RORKE.
EDDIE:
It’s real. THIS IS REAL!!
SHIT! I’M GOING TO DIE HERE!
PANEL 55
Aerial view of RANGERS taking out a few last Nazi’s as they approach the camouflaged Nazi battlements.
SOUND (GUNFIRE):
BAHBAHBAH! BAHBAHBAH!
PANEL 56
CAPTAIN RICKSON and other RANGERS under the camouflage netting looking up a the cannons which can now be recognized as painted logs sitting on top of bombed out cannon mounts. (DECOY CANNONS).
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
SHIT! THEY’RE DECOYS!
PANEL 57
CAPTAIN RICKSON addressing the RANGERS in front of the massive decoy cannons.
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
They musta’ moved the cannons before our bomas’ got here.
Move out and find ’em!**
CAPTION:
**Translated from chowdarhead. – Will
PANEL 58
A view of the RANGERS from a NAZI SNIPER nest high above. Dark outlines of NAZI COMMANDOS can be seen in hidden positions surrounding the RANGERS. Light glints off of their sniper rifle scopes and gas mask goggles in the darkness.
PANEL 59
J-WEI standing among a large group of RANGERS including KAPOWSKI & CAPTAIN RICKSON. All are tense as they bare their teeth and prepare to fight after realizing they are surrounded.
J-WEI:
Uh guys..
We got trouble.
PANEL 60
A large Nazi commander stands on top of the back wall of the battlements (COL. GRUBER). He is surrounded by NAZI COMMANDOS holding sniper rifles and machine guns trained on the group of RANGERS. They RANGERS stand ready to fight to the death.
COL. GRUBER:
A valiant effort Rangers! But alas! You are beaten.
Now lay down your weapons or be annihilated.
I will not tell you again.
PANEL 61
CAPTAIN RICKSON stands in front of the RANGERS. KAPOWSKI stands next to him pointing is weapon at the NAZIS.
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
We don’t take orders from Nazi scum!
Where are the cannons?
PANEL 62
Closeup of COL. GRUBER. His eyes are hidden under the brim of his hat. A sinister smile across his lips.
COL. GRUBER:
Lassen Sie nur den Kapitän.
CAPTION:
**”Leave only the Captain” – W
PANEL 63
RANGERS fighting and falling under a hail of NAZI COMMANDO bullets. KAPOWSKI & LEVI stand back-to-back firing their weapons.
PANEL 64
Aerial view of KAPOWSKI and LEVI laying on the ground next to each other. LEVI is shot in the upper right thigh, the abdomen, the shoulder, and the neck. His eyes are wide and his pupils dilated and blood drips from his mouth. KAPOWSKI clutches his stomach with both hands as blood pours out around them. There is bullet hole in his helmet and the left side of his face is covered with blood.
PANEL 65
NAZI COMMANDOS drag a beaten and bleeding CAPTAIN RICKSON towards the dark outline of COL. GRUBER. The bodies of the fallen RANGERS surround them.
PANEL 66
A defeated CAPTAIN RICKSON on his knees in front of COL. GRUBER.
COL. GRUBER:
I know what you are thinking! And the answer is, yes! Yes to all of it.
Yes. It’s over. Yes! You failed! Yes! None of your men are going home! Yes! All of the allied assault forces on the other points and beaches are going to meet a similar fate!
And.. finally Yes! This isn’t the way it was supposed to go!
PANEL 67
COL. GRUBER stands tall with his arms outstretched. His head tilts down and his eyes are hidden under the brim of his NAZI officer’s hat. A large open mouth smile stretches across his face.
COL. GRUBER:
Ahh! The disappointment! The shame!
Can you smell it?! Can you taste it?!
So satisfying! Absolutely marvelous!!
PANEL 68
COL. GRUBER stands over CAPTAIN RICKSON. In the background two NAZI COMMANDOS walk EDDIE across the battlefield towards them.
NAZI COMMANDO:
We found this one hiding outside.*
CAPTION:
*Translated from German.
PANEL 69
CAPTAIN RICKSON and EDDIE on their knees. CAPTAIN RICKSON hangs his head. EDDIE stares up at the NAZI commander in terror as he clutches his half-bandaged mangled and bleeding arm. COL. GRUBER is bending at the waist examining EDDIE.
COL. GRUBER:
Who do we have here? Lieutenant Lewis.
Well.. Lieutenant Lewis. How are you enjoying this morning’s festivities?
Have you come to fight and die valiantly defending democracy from the 3rd Reich? Like your friends here?
PANEL 70
Closeup of LT. LEWIS on his knees. A NAZI COMMANDO rifle pointed to each side of his head.
LT LEWIS:
This hasn’t got anything to do with me. I didn’t want to come here…
This doesn’t have anything to do with me..
PANEL 71
COL. GRUBER standing over CAPTAIN RICKSON and LT. LEWIS smiling.
SOUND (EXPLOSIONS IN THE DISTANCE):
BOOOM!
COL. GRUBER:
Wunderbar!
The bombardment of the Omaha Beach has begun!
PANEL 72
COL. GRUBER kneeling next to CAPTAIN RICKSON and LT. LEWIS smiling.
SOUND (EXPLOSIONS IN THE DISTANCE):
BOOOM!
COL. GRUBER:
The jaws of death snap shut on the Allied Forces.
PANEL 73
COL. GRUBER stand tall above the captive RANGER officers. CAPTAIN RICKSON stares up at COL. GRUBER definitely. LT. LEWIS cringes in pain beside him. NAZI COMMANDOS surround them all.
SOUND (EXPLOSIONS IN THE DISTANCE):
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
COL. GRUBER:
Do not fret heroes! You are not the only righteous men destined to fail today.
The courageous airmen did not disable the Nazi defenses. The fearless paratroopers did not split our forces. And the abominable commando raiders, …well you know what happened to them.
PANEL 74
COL. GRUBER’S face floats among images of destruction. Burning buildings, crying women holding dead children, and a burning American flag.
CAPTION (GRUBER):
Today will not be the start of the long march to Berlin. No! Instead.. the Allied invasion force will be splattered across the sand!
Tomorrow London will fall. Followed soon after by the complete and udder destruction of New York City and Washington DC via the latest scientific feat of the superior German intellect! .. The atomic bomb!.
PANEL 75
COL. GRUBER bends at the waist and holds his face close to CAPTAIN RICKSON and LT. LEWIS.
COL. GRUBER:
One of you shall be my prisoner.
The one of you that provides the most valuable information will be allowed to live to see the Master Race take over the world.
PANEL 76
LT LEWIS, still on his knees next to CAPTAIN RICKSON, stares up at the darkened outline of COL. GRUBER, a look of shock on his face. His eyes are wide and his pupils dilated. Sweat pours down his face. CAPTAIN RICKSON hangs his head.
COL. GRUBER:
Where is the top Allied command center located?
Where is the British Prime Minister?
How many battalions remain in America?
PANEL 77
CAPTAIN RICKSON & LT LEWIS on their knees surrounded by NAZI SS COMMANDOS. CAPTAIN RICKSON looks up defiantly. LT LEWIS looks slightly relieved and eager to please.
LT LEWIS:
Sure… Sure.. I’ll tell you whatever you want! Just get me some first-aid over here first before I bleed out!
PANEL 78
CAPTAIN RICKSON & LT LEWIS on their knees surrounded by NAZI SS COMMANDOS. CAPTAIN RICKSON looks up, rage in his eyes. LT LEWIS clutches his bleeding arm and watches him nervously.
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
Fuck you!.. You smug kraut!
I’m not tellin’ u’s a GOD DAMN THING.
You can take that filthy tongue of yours and stick it..
PANEL 79
A NAZI COMMANDO smashing CAPTAIN RICKSON’S face with the butt of his rifle. Teeth and blood fly from his mouth.
SOUND:
CRACKKK!!
PANEL 80
CAPTAIN RICKSON looks up at EDDIE from the ground. His face badly bruised and bleeding from his mouth and a large gash that runs the length of his right cheek. The darkened outline of COL. GRUBER points a Luger pistol at his head.
CAPTAIN RICKSON:
Don’t tell him anything..
PANEL 81
CAPTAIN RICKSON being shot in the head by COL. GRUBER
SOUND (GUNSHOT):
BANG!
PANEL 82
EDDIE on his knees surrounded by NAZI COMMANDOS. CAPTAIN RICKSON’S corpse lays in a pool of blood on the ground next to him.
EDDIE:
Oh SHIT!!
It isn’t real. This isn’t REAL!
It’s just the mushrooms. It just a bad trip!
It’s not real!
PANEL 83
COL. GRUBER stands in front of LT LEWIS
COL. GRUBER:
Not real?!
“Real”. Such an arrogant word when one considers the subjective nature of experience.
PANEL 84
COL. GRUBER kneels next to LT LEWIS. Their faces close together.
COL. GRUBER:
The air hangs thick with disgrace and fear. The bodies of your contemporaries litter the ground like Autumn leaves. Your very lifeblood flows through your fingers and onto the ground. Your life hangs in the balance at the mercy of your mortal enemy!
What could be more real?!
PANEL 85
LT LEWIS turns his head away from COL. GRUBER. His eyes are closed.
LT LEWIS:
It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.
COL. GRUBER:
Tell me..
PANEL 86
COL. GRUBER’S hand squeezing LT LEWIS’ wound. LT LEWIS screams in pain.
COL. GRUBER:
Is this real?
LT LEWIS:
AAAGGHHH!!
PANEL 87
COL. GRUBER standing while holding LT LEWIS by the shoulders as he screams in pain.
COL. GRUBER:
You use the word as if you know what’s real!
When if fact you have no idea!
PANEL 88
COL. GRUBER holds LT LEWIS off the ground by grasping him by the shoulders.
COL. GRUBER:
You are a frail, finite, semi-conscious life-form that perceives it’s reality using the view through a narrow window clouded by ego-pandering fallacies!
You proclaiming something real is akin a wolf that howls at the moon claiming to be an astronaut.
Preposterous!!
LT LEWIS:
AAAGGHHH!
PANEL 89
Closeup of LT LEWIS face. His eyes are wide and COL. GRUBER’S face are reflected in his dilated pupils. In the reflection, COL. GRUBER’s eyes are plumes of purple smoke.
COL. GRUBER:
Just because you can see it, smell it, touch it, taste it, or feel it’s pull on your spirit doesn’t mean you know the nature of a thing!
And..it certainly doesn’t make it real!
PANEL 90
COL. GRUBER and EDDIE face-to-face. Purple plumes of smoke flow out of COL GRUBER’s eyes.
COL. GRUBER:
Let me tell you what is real EDDIE!
You cowered while your friends fought to save the world!
You were willing to sell out your countrymen to stop your pain and save your own skin!
The choices you made. The values you personified.
That’s real!
And that is with what you shall be judged!!
PANEL 91
EDDIE on the ground looking up at COL. GRUBER. Tears pour out of his eyes. Two NAZI COMMANDOS stand behind him pointing. Between them, in the background, one of the bloody RANGER bodies props itself up on one elbow.
EDDIE:
Fine! You’re right!! I’d don’t give a fuck about them! I don’t give a fuck about my country or any country!
The only thing that matters to me is me! I’ll do whatever I have to do to get what I want! This is my life! It’s about me!
Fuck everybody else! You happy now?!
Now tell me what I have to do to get the GODSIGHT!!
PANEL 92
COL GRUBER looks at EDDIE.
COL. GRUBER
Finally some acceptance! Some honesty. Things I respect.
Now you and I may be able to work towards a mutually beneficial relationship.
PANEL 93
Two grenades laying on the ground at COL. GRUBER and EDDIE’S feet.
PANEL 94
COOP lays on the ground in the prone position. A wry smile on his bloody and bruised face
COOP:
Nah.
Not today assholes.
PANEL 95
Explosion. Body parts fly in every direction.
PANEL 96
The four friends hover in TEMPORAL REALITY CAGES above a glass floor covered in a strange purple smoke. A large robed and hooded figure stands in the center of the room (THE DIVIDE). The room seems to float in space. The walls, floor, and ceiling display a view of the cosmos (STARS, PLANETS, NEBULAS etc.)
THE DIVIDE:
This is going to be fun!
Written by Will Kilpatrick
The Divide created by Will Kilpatrick
Copyright 2023 The Divide. Owned by Counterconspiracy Comics. All rights reserved. No portion or elements of this project may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or means, without the express written permission of Counterconspiracy Comics LLC.
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