Written by Stormtoad87636 First Draft - 5/07/05 Finished 14/08/05 SCENE 1 - EMPTY SPACE VOICE Everyone believed that the destruction of KOMPLEX would end the Toad Wars, which, in turn, would bring peace to the Aniverse. But everyone was wrong. KOMPLEX was destroyed, but the Toads kept advancing Flashes of KOMPLEX's face and stormtoads stomping on things before returning to empty space. VOICE Many knew the toads had been brainwashed but the advancing forces quashed this belief. So when the brainwashing finally wore off, and the toads started to question what they were doing, there were some who believed the toads were naturally dominating. The toads, not being the most rational thinkers, decided to destroy the toad home world… Flashes of the toad home world exploding before returning to empty space. VOICE …and move to an un-occupied planet to start again as a symbol as good faith to the rest of the Aniverse. Flashes of toad Mother ships and double-bubbles heading to a planet, and toads building homes on the desolate planet before returning to empty space. VOICE The chairwoman of the U.A.C believed that this was a major deception, and that the toads had a huge military instillation on the planet. After setting up an observation program, her paranoid thought turned to frogs. She believed they were conspiring against her for their toad cousins. She soon became paranoid of all cold bloods banning them from public places during the night. It wasn't long before cold bloods were banned from walking around in public period. Flashes of a town centre with a mix of mammals and cold bloods, which decease in number after every other flash. VOICE Most of the cold bloods fled from their multi-species cities to the same sector of space as the toads just wanting a peaceful existence. Yet the chairwoman, having witnessed this, knew she was right and declared war on the cold bloods. A lot of the mammalian forces disagreed with this course of action, but those who disobeyed were court marshalled. Flashes of different mammals being executed by firing squad. VOCIE Most of the cold bloods believed that when the chairwoman 'dies' they could reintegrate into society again, but that was 103 years ago and we are still unable. It's not that the chance hasn't come up yet; it's just that she hasn't yet. So that's the Aniverse I lived in. The Aniverse I died in. And, ultimately, the Aniverse I changed A green frigate, that looks like an over evolved double-bubble, zooms past. The scene shifts to the pilot bay with a close up on a grey toad. VOICE That's me, Ashley McFly, captain of The White Streak, or I was until a few months back, when… The door to engineering opens up behind him and in walks a female frilled lizard. She shakes her head with a sigh and Walks up to Ash. FRILLED LIZARD Hey, you're supposed to be down below under the heat lamp. ASH (VO) That's the pilot, Elizabeth Shard. (To Liz) Hey, yeah I was but… LIZ (In a very normal tone of voice) Yeah, yeah, I know, you've got more important things to be doing right? ASH (VO) How does she make someone change their mind like that? (To Liz) All right I'm going, I'm going, damn. Liz smiles as Ash opens the trap door main leading to the main bay. The scene shifts to the main bay, which has a large trap door in the bottom, for the 'Fur Surfer', which is a small two animal craft hanging from the main ceiling. There is also a small chamber at the back with a heat lamp in the ceiling. Ash slowly walks towards it, caressing the fur surfer on his way. ASH (VO) Ha, fur surfer, how biased. (He sighs as he reaches the small chamber) (Still VO) Haven't used one of these since, haven't needed one since… He shakes his head as he turns it on and lies down in it. SCENE 2 The scene starts as if a pair of eyelids are opening revealing a ceiling with a large bright light. There are a few mammal scientists leaning over, faces distorted by those masks. There is a steady beeping in the background as a heart monitor does its job. SCIENTIST 1 Ten minutes since injection and still no change. SCIENTIST 2 Well, at least he hasn't died like the… The beeping in the background soundly speeds up causing the scientists to panic. SCIENTIST 3 He's going into cardiac, quick get the defib ready. The eyelids close slowly and the beeping flat lines in the background. SCIENTIST 1 He's dead but captain? Captain? The eyelids open again revealing a robot. ROBOT Captain, wake up, we've arrived. Changes to a wider view of the main bay, Ash woke up with a start to the robots calling. ASH Oh, what? (Notices what's standing over him) Oh, hey Indy. Arrived where? INDY Why, Ryvik of course. We're here for your thorough check up, to see if you're still fit to captain a frigate. ASH Ah, ok. (Standing up) Lead on. The robot turns and leads them outside... ASH (VO) That's the engineer, Indiana Pythos. Don't be fooled by the robotic suit, as underneath there is a snake with many bits of wire sticking into him, connecting with his nervous system making the suit almost an extension of himself. Indy and Ash leave the ship and the scene shifts to outside where the rest of the crew are waiting on the hospital-landing pad. Along side Liz are another two lizards. ASH (VO) Kyle and Samantha Drygon, twin komodo dragons, they are also excellent gunners. (To the crew) Hey guys how have you all been? There is a murmer of approval from the crew as they all head into the main building where the scene switches. Ash is standing at the main desk talking to the receptionists, while the rest of the crew converse amongst themselves. KYLE He doesn't look well does he? LIZ (Shaking her head) No, I thought a quick spell under the heat lamp would do him good but… INDY A quick spell? He was under that thing for five hours! SAM (Shocked) Five hours!? He still looks as cold as a cucumber! INDY Indeed, and waking him was like trying to wake death himself. ASH Hey guys, I've got to go to my, erm… (Thumbs the corridor over his shoulder) …evaluation, so I'll see you all later. He turns and leaves down the corridor he directed, and the crew got back to their conversation. KYLE We're gonna have to face the probably possibility of having to find a temporary captain. The crew nod together for a few moments. LIZ (Happy to break the silence) Well I've got to give my report to the chair, so I will also see you all later. SCENE 3 - HOSPITAL CORRIDOR Ash is slowly walking towards the medical room pointed out to him by the receptionist. ASH (VO) I walked down that corridor for, what felt like, an eternity. Dreading what the doctor was going to discover. I knew I wasn't well. I knew something was very wrong, grey isn't a normal colour for a toad. Yet I couldn't risk being forced onto sick leave, I had to discover what had happened to me, so I came up with a plan. Ash finally reached the medical room and looked inside. Seeing it was empty he walked in and hid himself in a deep shadow. After a few minutes the doctor walked in and, after closing the door, sat at his desk and started to read his notes occasionally added to them. He was an intelligent looking toad, but Ash was going to this. Ash took this moment to creep up behind the doctor and, after taking out his hunting knife, grabbed him and dragged him behind the door where they wouldn't be seen by passers by. ASH Hello Doctor. DOCTOR (Terrified) Ah, ah, ah, who are you? ASH I'm the monster that lives in your closet. DOCTOR Ah, ah, Ashley? Ah, ah, are you going to kill me? ASH Only if you say the word monkey. DOCOTOR I, I, I won't do that then. ASH Good, and here's something else you won't do, you won't touch me with a stethoscope, and you won't probe me with a thermometer. Yet you are going to give me a clean bill of health, ok? DOCTOR Ah, ah, why would I do that? ASH (Sighing) It's a matter of principle, I've got a knife to your throat, and you've soiled yourself ok? DOCTOR Ok, ok, just don't kill me. ASH As long as you don't go prancing about with tales of me threatening you then you're fine. (Letting go of the doctor) Now go write your little report. The doctor doesn't move for a bit so Ash waves his knife in the direction of the doctors desk, and the doctor moves and gets the report written in double quick time. SCENE 4 - THE COLD BLOOD COUNCIL ROOM There is a circular desk with a gap towards the door. Sitting at this desk are one member from each cold blood species with the elected chair opposite the door. In the middle of the desk is Liz giving her report. Unknown to the occupants of the room Ash is standing in the doorway just out of sight. CHAIR And what of this… craft you came across? Ash winces at this question. ASH (VO) The craft? How did I end up on the craft? LIZ It was a small mammalian craft with only one very faint life sign. Ash winces again. LIZ Some of the more optimistic members of the crew were hoping against hope. CHAIR Were you one of the… optimistic members? Liz looks down and shuffles her feet. Ash's expression softens at this statement. LIZ Yes, sir, I was. CHAIR So you compiled a search and rescue mission on the basis of hope? LIZ (Looking down again) Yes, sir. The Chair is visibly irritated at this but calms himself down. CHAIR And what of Captain McFly? What was his condition upon discovery? LIZ When we entered the craft, we assumed that, if he were there, he would be knocking on deaths door due to the very, very slim life sign reading we got. Yet we found him wandering around mumbling to himself. Ash winces once more. LIZ He didn't seem to respond to anything we said, but he did follow us back onto the ship, and it wasn't long before he was conversing with us as if he'd never gone, he just couldn't remember the last three months. Ash winces again. ASH (VO) Three months? What the hell happened to me? What did they do to me? CHAIR What of his current state? Why do you think he is ready for active duty so soon? This shocked Ash enough to step forward. Liz jumps when he speaks. ASH (Holding up a few sheets of paper) Well I have my doctor's report here for you to read. CHAIR (A little uncertain) Bring it forward. Ash steps up to the Chair and places the report in front of him. The Chair picks it up and gives it a going over. After a few minutes he puts it back down. CHAIR (A little less uncertain) Well it seems that you are in good health, and not a moment too soon either, as there has been reports of a lot of mammalian activity in sector 17 and, frankly, you're the only crew who is anywhere near it at the moment. Ash does a theatrical bow. ASH I will be most honoured, sir. CHAIR (Sighing, waves his hand) Dismissed. (After the pair had left) Pretentious son-of-a-. SCENE 5 - THE PILOT BAY OF THE WHITE STREAK Ash and Liz are sitting in their respective seat. Liz is fiddling with the controls. ASH (VO) So there I was, captain again, after… how long? I wasn't sure. But it was the same crew, the same, badly built, craft. The scene shifts outside the craft. ASH (VO) But I was on my first mission, my first mission to discover my lost months. The White Streak jumps into hyperspace leaving only a white trail of overcharged ions. SCENE 6 - SECTOR 17 What looks like empty space apart from a few asteroids floating around. The White Streak falls out of hyperspace with its usual trail. The scene shifts inside the pilot bay. LIZ (Checking the monitors) Well there's nothing here accept for a (The monitor beeps once then once more and carries on beeping) Spoke too soon, there's a large mammalian ship out there heading away from "". Ash looks at the ship when the scene flashes to the surface of an unknown planet where a body disfigured beyond recognition can be seen on the floor as a large ship slowly descends into view. The scene flashes back to the bridge. ASH (VO) I looked at the ship and knew it held some answers for my previous few months and I knew I had to get onto it. (To Liz) Have they spotted us yet? LIZ Nope, they are unaware of us. ASH Great. Get us as close as you can with out alerting them to our presence. LIZ Ayr captain. Ash gives a smile. The scene then shifts outside as the white streak slow gains on the bigger ship and very quietly attaches its self to the hull. The scene shifts inside the mammalian ship where Indy, Kyle and Sam are being briefed by Ash. ASH Right, Kyle, Sam, I want you two to check the cargo bays, check what they're transporting, if anything. Indy, go check the engineering bays, see how advanced this ship is. (He turns to leave but turns back to add) Oh guys, try to keep it as covert as possible, they're still unaware of our presence and lets try to keep it that way, so only drop the C as a last resort. The others nod in agreement, and walk off in different directions. Ash picks a bland looking corridor and heads down it. ASH (VO) I needed to find out as much as I could about that ship and to do that I needed the help of a local. At which point a brown hare turns into the corridor causing Ash to jump and cling onto an overhead pipe, cursing quietly. The hare ambled slowly towards and under him making him pull himself up more as to avoid the hare's ears. He then remembers the doctor, and knows exactly what to do. After the hare passed under him he quietly dropped down and crept towards him taking out his knife. He quickly grabs him and drags him into an alcove. ASH Pick a number between 1 and 10 HARE Ah, ah, ah, 7. ASH (Sighing) Lucky guess. The hare seems relieved and tries to walk away but Ash tightens his grip. ASH Ah ah, not so fast, I need some information from you. HARE (Even more scared than he was) Wha, what do you want to know? ASH Tell me where the bridge is and how to get there. The hare imparted to him, in great detail, how to get to the bridge. HARE Ah, are you going to kill me now? ASH Pick another number. HARE Ah, ah, 5. ASH Damn. Ash hits the hare and knocks him unconscious and leaves the body so it won't be seen and heads to the bridge. ASH (VO) I followed the hares instructions to a tee, yet I was terrified of what I would find in the ships computers, I was even more worried about how I was going to access them on the bridge. Ash then come up to, what would be the right side of, a cross road, with the corridor carrying on, and another going to his left, the way to the bridge. He can hear voices coming from that way. He sticks to the wall and takes a very quick look round. At the other end is the door to the bridge, but its being guarded by a pair of heavily armed foxes. Ash has one last peek and a plan has formed. ASH Psssssssst The two foxes jump into their attack stance with their assault blasters at the ready. One of them halts the other one and advances on his own. He's just about to reach the corner when Ash makes his move. What happens next almost happens in slow motion. Ash jumps out and hits the blaster with his left hand hard enough to spin the fox in a clockwise direction. Ash grabs the foxes trigger hand with his own right hand and places his left around the fox's neck. He then shoots the other fox and then snaps the neck of the fox he has a hold of, all in one fluid motion. Ash then shakes his head and heads for the door. SCENE 7 - THE MAMMALIAN BRIDGE ASH (VO) The first thing I noticed upon entering the bridge was how deserted it was, there was only a duck in there, and even he didn't look like he belonged. It was a few moments before it hit me, the whole ship is automated, and people only need to be on the bridge if there's a change of plan somewhere along the line. I took a few steps in and realized the duck was staring at me in horror, and I realized that I had seen him somewhere before. There's a quick flash and the scene changes. The scene starts as if a pair of eyelids are opening revealing a ceiling with a large bright light. There are a few mammal scientists leaning over, faces distorted by those masks. There is a steady beeping in the background as a heart monitor does its job. SCIENTIST 1 Ten minutes since injection and still no change. SCIENTIST 2 Well, at least he hasn't died like the… The beeping in the background soundly speeds up causing the scientists to panic. SCIENTIST 3 He's going into cardiac, quick get the defib ready. One of the doctors removes his mask, revealing a duck, before the eyelids close again, the beeping flat lines in the background. SCIENTIST 1 He's dead but captain? Captain? The scene changes back to the bridge of the mammalian ship, with the duck looking terrified. Ash takes a few steps in. ASH Do I know you? DUCK It's you, but you're, you are… The duck pulls out a pair of blasters and fires at Ash, who ducks and rolls under the blasts towards the duck. Ash lashes forwards with incredible force and pulls back. A few moments later the duck falls over backwards and Ash is horrified to find he has just ripped out the ducks heart and is still holding it in his paw. He drops it in disgust and walks over to the computer. His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard, unsure what he was looking for. He suddenly stops as the words FTA Project appear on the screen. ASH (VO) Project FTA. I had heard that name before, but where? I wasn't sure. I opened the file to find out more, but all that was there were selected personnel files, including the, now heartless, doctor. This unnerved me. He must have known I was here and deleted the files. I read the other personnel files and I committed them to memory. Somehow I was involved in this 'FTA Project' and these doctors knew how and why and most importantly: what. Ash left the bridge and went to meet up with the rest of the crew on the White Streak. SCENE 8 - MAIN BAY THE WHITE STREAK The crew have assembled after silently disengaging from the mammalian ship. Ash is standing there patiently while his crew describe what they've discovered. INDY It turned out that they have a mark-12, which isn't as far ahead as we thought they would be. I also stored some pictures in my hard drive. Ash nods at this, the cold-bloods have just got their mark-9 on line, so this is helpful news indeed. ASH Good job. How about you two, what did you find? Kyle and Sam look at each other then back at Ash. SAM There wasn't anything out of the ordinary… KYLE …except for one solitary crate… Ash rolled his eyes, twins, he'd been warned about them, yet these weren't even identical. SAM …that looked completely unrelated to the rest of the cargo, KYLE …it had only a couple letters on the side… SAM …the letters FTA. Ash struggled to keep his composure. He knew it had to have something to do with the Project of the same name. ASH Did you manage to get a look in side? KYLE Yeah, there was a lot of packaging… SAM …with a couple of syringes containing… KYLE …a strangely clear liquid. Ash pondered a moment when suddenly alarms start to go off. Everyone automatically goes to their stations. Ash joins Liz on the bridge. ASH What's the prob Liz? LIZ Bats incoming 7 o'clock. ASH (Hint of hate) Bats. The scene shifts out side where bats are coming in on the White Streaks position. ASH (VO) Bats. The scavenger freaks of the Aniverse. The only species that has evolved the ability to withstand the harsh nothingness of space for short periods of time. They live in cities made of scrap built in asteroids. I say scrap, what I mean is pieces ripped from passing ships. The scene shifts back inside the ship. ASH (Into comms) Kyle, Sam, take as many of those bats out as you can. KYLE+SAM (From the comms) Yessir. The scene shifts outside where shots can be seen firing from the two gunpods on either side of the ship. Most of them are taking down bats, but there are two many of them and the start to swarm the ship. ASH (Into the comms) If you have time, get your oxygen masks on. Ash walks over to the supply unit and puts his own oxygen mask on and connects it to the life support and shook his head. A few of the bats were assembling bombs near the two gun-pods. He looked away just as a pair of explosions send the two gunners flying into the main bay. INDY (From comms) They're ok cap, alive, but unconscious, thanks to their sealed suits and masks. Ash sighs in relief, but then the most discouraging sound emanates from the main bay. The sound of metal ripping. He walks back over to the supply unit and takes out a blaster and weighs it in his hand and chucks another to Liz, who catches it in her hand and stands opposite the main hatch ready for the bats to emerge. Suddenly the hatch explodes in a mass of smoke, out of which fly just over 13 blades. One of which slices Ash's hand down the middle causing him to drop his blaster. Another one manages to hit Liz, handle first, in the middle of her forehead knocking her out cold. While Ash holds his gaping wound a few bats, one of them obviously the leader, enter the bridge. ASH (VO) So there I was, standing on the main deck with a sliced hand, the rest of my crew unconscious and probably most of the bats in this sector converging on my ship. I was, how you would say, in a spot of bother. To be continued.