INT. PALADIN – BRIDGE

Madsen steps up to a console along the port wall, keeping his pistol trained on Gibson.

MADSEN: And now, for our next trick...

Madsen reaches under the console and presses a hidden button. A section of floor slides open in front of the center viewscreen. Angle view down to see the open cockpits of three small escape pods nestled snugly in their compartments.

MADSEN: The disappearing act. Sifu, don’t let him touch anything, please.

Madsen prods the two remaining techs from their chairs and herds them to the rear wall.

GIBSON (disdain): Time to tuck tail and run. Real heroes.

MADSEN (withdrawing zip ties from his belt): To some, yes.

Paul steps in front of his father, meeting his fiery stare.

PAUL (quietly): Would you have me shot out of the sky, sir?

GIBSON: Without a moment’s hesitation. You’ve proven a calamitous diappointment.

PAUL: As a weapon, or as a son?

GIBSON (tears welling, mouth twitching): Flip a coin.

Paul hauls back and punches his father clean across the jaw. The man sprawls on the deck, dazed.

Paul stands over him a beat, his expression dark.

PAUL: Please, father, take your very best shot. It’s the least you can do.

Paul turns on his heel and strides toward the front of the Bridge.

Paul, Madsen, and Powell slip down into the escape pods, the doors sliding shut behind them.

EXT. PALADIN – TOPSIDE

Angle view up to command tower to see three ports slide open. Three sleek escape pods burst forth, wings swinging out from their undersides and snapping into place.

INT. ESCAPE POD

Paul lies back in the half-reclining seat, his hand on the control stick between his knees, eyes on the screen before him.

MADSEN (VO Radio): I’ll take the lead. You two stay on my wing, no matter what.

POWELL (VO Radio): Copy.

PAUL: Copy.

INT. PALADIN – BRIDGE

Captain Gibson has picked himself up off the floor. He glances at his two techs, who are tied up against the back wall. He stumbles to a