"Blood Ties" by Claudia Carranza and DJ Clawson Additions by Josh Kaufman and CJ Carranza First draft - 10/14/98 Final draft - 2/19/99 Edited by Rygar 1/3/04 SCENE 1 - HALLWAY, SECOND FLOOR, PALACE ON ALDEBARAN It's dark. A sleepy guard doesn't notice the shadow slip past her and into the Queen's chambers. CASSIE creeps though and lowers the soft silk cowl on her head. She looks around for something. She stops by a doorway, though which she can see the QUEEN deep in meditation. Cassie grins and moves off, continuing her search. At last, her gaze comes to rest on the object of her search: a single large memory stone. She lifts it gently. CASSIE (whispering softly) The Queen's Memory Journal. Cassie glances nervously at the doorway to the meditation room and turns back to the gem. She touches it to her forehead, over her own gem, and whispers the words to a spell. She stifles a gasp as memories flood through her. She drops the stone back onto the nightstand and stealthily stumbles out of the room in a rush, just in time to avoid being seen by the Queen, who was just emerging from her meditation room. Cassie runs blindly to her room, drawing wide-eyed stares from the palace guards. Once in her room, Cassie collapses on her bed and lets the memories flood through her. SCENE 2 - JENNY'S QUARTERS, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION FIRST MATE JENNY is sitting on a small but soft-looking mat that lies against the far wall of a smaller-looking room. The room is lightly decorated with a few pictures, fewer shelves, and a very small hideaway folding bunk. On most of the shelves are small globes in metal stands from which soft eerie light emanates to bathe the room in a steady pink glow. In the light, a small display case sitting on a shelf contains graduation medals from a mammalian pilot academy. Jenny sits with her eyes closed, in mental communication with her Queen. JENNY QUEEN JENNY QUEEN JENNY QUEEN JENNY QUEEN JENNY QUEEN (beat) JENNY QUEEN (interrupting) JENNY (sounding unsure) QUEEN (emotionless) JENNY (shocked) QUEEN JENNY (sighs softly to herself) Jenny severs the link with the Queen, stands, and moves to the door, looking a touch worried. The lights wink out. SCENE 3 - MEETING ROOM, ALDEBARAN The Queen is sitting in the center of the room, in a shaft of light. Around her are the three Heads of the Orders, a full company of twelve silver-eyed SISTERS, and another company of royal GUARDS. The guards shift uneasily as the Queen speaks. QUEEN Something dire has occurred: an invasion into my privacy of the most severe manner. I bring this to you, in hopes you will bring forth the perpetrator so I may question her as to her motives. A Sister speaks up, soft-spoken and small in frame. She wears delicate silken robes, and her gems are green. SISTER #1 Your Majesty, have you any clues as to whom the perpetrator might have been? QUEEN (looks at the speaker) Only that the person snuck past my guards without the use of magic, Aura. AURA (seeming to be bold for her) Is there anything else, your Majesty? QUEEN (gaze shifts to Cassie) Only that my guards report Cassie running from there. I have spoken to her. She assures me, she heard and saw nothing out of the ordinary. The gathered sisters nod, and Cassie stares at the Queen, who, after a brief stare-down, turns to walk off. QUEEN (as she's leaving) I expect results in a few weeks, as I have requested Captain O'Hare and his crew to aid us in the reconstruction of the generator. I do not want my personal affairs to get in the way of the reconstruction efforts. The Queen walks out, and everyone talks softly. AURA (to Cassie) Captain O'Hare? How can he help? CASSIE (staring at the doorway the Queen took) I don't know, but the Queen has been acting strangely -- especially asking for an outsider to aid *us*. Perhaps the strain has been too much? ... The group generally consents and begins to walk out. Cassie stares at the door the Queen walked through. CASSIE (thinking) (turns to walk out with everyone else) SCENE 4 - UNDERGROUND HEADQUARTERS, ALDEBARAN This large cat-made cavern has hallways, rooms, stairs, and more than twenty levels. It is two hundred feet underneath the surface. Moving around the cavern are both males and females. Several people are wearing gems, though it is obvious that there are more men with gems than there are women. Several children can be seen running through the halls, laughing and playing. TOMMY walks from one room, and many people stop to greet him with handshakes and smiles. They treat him like a hero. He grins, enjoying the attention, and moves, sure-footed, to a room. He sits down on a chair by a table and grins mischievously at PONCE, who has fallen asleep at his desk. Tommy leans forward and grabs Ponce's tail lightly, and then suddenly yanks it. Ponce jumps up with a start and bangs a knee on the bottom of the desk). PONCE MMMRRREEOUUUCH! (rubs his knee and cradles his tail, glaring at Tommy) What was that for?! TOMMY (sitting back with a huge grin) You looked like you needed a wake-up call. PONCE Yeah, yeah ... what's up? TOMMY (pulls out a claw and begins to clean it) Mother called. (beat) She sounded worried. Apparently, someone wants some of her personal knowledge, for unknown reasons. I can't say I'm too terribly thrilled to hear it. But, I assured her that I'd get someone on it. PONCE (tidying up) Well, did she say who it was? TOMMY (working on the other paw) That's just it; she can't be sure. Whoever it was, she didn't use magic until she extracted the information, which really doesn't leave a signature, so there's no way to tell. She has her suspicions, though. (looking up at Ponce) You're my head scientist, so I know you've got smarts. I want you to try to find something. PONCE (regards Tommy for a moment) ... all right. Doesn't sound like a suicide mission. Ponce tidies up more, then stops suddenly as Tommy gets up to walk out. PONCE Hey, Tom? ... TOMMY Yeah? PONCE Who does she think did it? TOMMY (tossing over his shoulder as he heads out) Cassie. PONCE (drops everything) WHAT!? SCENE 5 - UPPER BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE has just gotten off the comm-link with CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER and has learned that he and his crew are supposed to go to Aldebaran. Jenny is sitting next to him at the piloting console, working the controls with practiced ease. BUCKY (grinning) Looks like you get some leave on your home planet, eh, Jen? JENNY (shakes her head seriously) There's more to this mission than Fritz told you. The Queen called earlier and gave me an update. She needs you to help with the repairs on the generator. Bucky nods and is quiet for a moment, then turns to Jenny. BUCKY Wait a minute, what about you? You're not excepted to help? Jenny sighs softly and shakes her head, still piloting in an expert and calm manner. JENNY Not really. BUCKY (prompts after a moment) Why not? JENNY (never turning from her controls) Because the generator has become hyper-sensitive to magical energies, and it's dangerous for someone with magical potential to be near it. BUCKY Oh. Bucky turns back to his console, then a moment later turns back to Jenny. BUCKY So magical people can't go into this room with a magical generator? Jenny nods. BUCKY (turns back to his console and chuckles) So, the great magical cats need *our* help, huh? JENNY (turns and gives Bucky an evil look) It's not funny. BUCKY (smiles) Yes, it is. JENNY (turns her chair to face Bucky) It is not. Bucky shakes his head lightly and works at his controls, chuckling through his nose lightly at his first mate. JENNY (blinks hugely and puts her paws on her hips) It's not funny! BUCKY (glances over and points to Jenny's console) Drive. JENNY Hmph! (turns and types furiously to get the ship back on track) ... it is not. Bucky just grins. SCENE 6 - QUEEN'S CHAMBERS, ALDEBARAN The Queen is sitting at her desk, trying to look like she's working on the heaps of paperwork, when a knock is heard. She looks up and sighs. QUEEN Enter. Cassie walks in. She's wearing a light silver robe over a midnight blue jumper, along with her usual crystal blue spell gems. Her calculating eyes have a dangerous glint to them, and she strides in with confidence. CASSIE Your Majesty. (glances at two of the Queen's guards) May I have a word with you ... off the record, and in private? QUEEN (looks Cassie over and thinks to herself) (aloud, calmly) Of course, Head Thought Sister. Guards, leave us. GUARDS (bowing) Yes, your Majesty. The GUARDS leave. Once Cassie and the Queen are alone, the Queen stands to straighten her gown. QUEEN What did you need to speak to me about, Cassie? CASSIE (glaring, with a hint of a sadistic grin) Nothing important, I was just wondering ... how's your son, your Majesty? The Queen stiffens but hides her startled expression by turning to fix her wrist gem. QUEEN My son, Cassie? You know Felicia's mother, Terez, was the only kitten in her litter. CASSIE (snorts, grins, and steps forward) *Her* litter, yes. But you had another litter. Your second kitten. You remember. Tabby was her name? (beat) Or was it Tommy? Cassie grins when the Queen is unable to hide her slight fearful expression. The Queen composes herself quickly. QUEEN Tommy? You must be mistaken. Cassie closes the gap between herself and the Queen's desk, forcing the Queen to look up quickly and take an involuntary step backward, nearly falling into her chair. CASSIE Don't try to skirt the topic. I know all about "Tabby's" litter, and the reason behind "her" death. You could created the greatest threat to the security of Aldebaran that history has ever known. Cassie leans forward, places a paw on the desk for balance, and smiles coldly, enjoying the near-terrified look in the Queen's eyes. CASSIE I don't think a traitor to our planet's security should hold the throne. Do you? (leans closer, and whispers cruelly) I will sit on the throne eventually. It's all a matter of when. You know, as well as I, that your precious granddaughter isn't nearly gifted enough to succeed you. She's barely able to avoid non-magic status. You know she can never ascend to the throne. But I can, and I shall. (sneers) Your only hope *was* Tommy, and his ragged little "rebellion" to gain equal status for males, so that *he* can sit the throne. I assure you, *that* will never happen. (pauses to read the Queen's expression) Oh. But what about Tommy's dear litter mate? The one you threw away? Cassie smiles evilly when the Queen's eyes shoot open and she catches her breath. CASSIE She's been ... taken care of. QUEEN (whispers) You ... bitch ... CASSIE (straightens and laughs) ... and there isn't a thing you can do about it. Try and remove me from Head of the Thought Order, and the whole planet will know you threw away a princess merely to indulge the fantasy of a boy-child. They'll hand me the crown on a platter of gemstones. (turns to leave) Go, warn your dear son. I'll enjoy watching him squirm. Cassie laughs and leaves the Queen in silence. SCENE 7 - CASSIE'S ROOM, PALACE ON ALDEBARAN Cassie walks in and tosses her overcoat on the sofa. She smiles and looks at herself in the mirror. After a moment, she moves to a piano and sits. She is still for a moment, then begins to play with great skill, pulling a powerfully beautiful and alien melody from the instrument. Her eyes drift closed, and she becomes unaware of the shadow creeping into the room behind her. It slinks into the light -- it's Ponce. He's holding a bag to his chest. He sees one of Cassie's Journal Stones and lifts it carefully. He starts to put it into his satchel when a knock is heard. Cassie snaps out of her reverie and turns to face the door, not seeing Ponce drop down at the sofa's side. CASSIE Come in. A young FEMALE with few gems steps into the room and bows. FEMALE Head Master Sister Cassie, you are being summoning to greet the guests Captain O'Hare and his crew to our planet. CASSIE (sighs tiredly and nearly growls) Him? All right. Where must I meet them? FEMALE In the courtyard. They have already docked their ship at the spaceport and are arriving by land-cruiser. CASSIE (standing from the piano and moving toward the sofa) I'll be right there. Who wants me to greet them? FEMALE Her Majesty, the Queen. CASSIE (snorts, pulling on her coat) Oh really? Maybe I should be late, then. FEMALE I don't think that would be wise. CASSIE (walks away from the sofa without a second look) Don't tell me what's wise or not, kitten. (sighs and smoothes her tail) I've just got a headache from all the work, and I'm tired. Please, lead on. FEMALE (bows again and turns to head out) Yes, Head Master Sister Cassie. The two leave, and the door is shut. A few moments pass, and Ponce sticks his head up over the top of the sofa. With a great sigh of relief, he drops the gem into his pouch and rushes away. PONCE (muttering as he leaves) You owe me one, Tom. SCENE 8 - COURTYARD, ALDEBARAN Cassie is in her light silver robes again and seems to be waiting impatiently as a land-cruiser pulls up. Bucky and his crew climb out and stand at attention in front of Cassie, who regards them coldly. Jenny and Cassie exchange glares as Cassie steps forward. Cassie has a soft smile that fails to reach all the way to her eyes. CASSIE (diplomatically) Welcome to our planet once again, Captain O'Hare. I regret that the Queen was unable to greet you herself, so I do hope that you will settle for little old me instead. BUCKY (grins charmingly and walks forward) Charmed as always, Head Master Sister Cassie. CASSIE (affords a smile) Oh, I see you've studied up on our titles. BUCKY (chuckles and offers Cassie an elbow) Not without difficulty, I'm afraid. Jenny is, as always, a tremendous help on these occasions. CASSIE (glances back at Jenny, who hides a growl) I'm sure she is. Bucky merely nods in the moment's silence, and Cassie turns to lead the group into the palace. CASSIE I have to say I'm not really quite sure what it is that you are here for, Captain O'Hare. Reconstruction here has gone slowly, and many parts of the planet need attention. I'm afraid I'm a bit behind on some of my reports. BUCKY (keeping step with Cassie) That's OK. I've had a few days like that myself. (doesn't notice Cassie's sideways glare at him) Actually, I'm not really sure, either. Chairman Warner has asked that my crew and I come to aid in the reconstruction, as the border has been quiet, but Jenny informs me that the Queen got in touch with him yesterday morning with instructions that, to be honest, have left me baffled. I was hoping you'd know more and can explain some of this to me. JENNY (cringing inwardly, thinking) CASSIE (coldly, as always, leading the group around a corner) I was told nothing. BUCKY Hmm. How odd. (turns back to Jenny) Can you tell us anything more? (waits as Jenny shakes her head and sighs) Well, what Jenny did tell me, Head Master Sister Cassie, is that the Queen wants us to help rebuild the generator that was destroyed during the toad attack. She mentioned something about magical people not being able to enter the room with the generator. For a race based on and proud of its magic, I can see how this kind of situation can be difficult. Cassie stops at the observation windows that look out over the generator room. CASSIE (coldly) Yes. Well, here you are. The group stops to look at the room. There are many, many males, all without gems, and a few females, also without gems, working on the generator. Some of them are carrying blueprints. Several Sisters are looking through the windows nervously. BUCKY (as a side thought to Jenny) Call Willy. He's better with technology than the rest of us. He can help, I'm sure. Both Cassie and Jenny give the Captain a wide-eyed expression. JENNY (manages) Aye-aye, Captain. I'll go place the call. Excuse me. Jenny turns and leaves, gaining a confused look to her back from Bucky. He sighs and turns back to the windows. BUCKY According to Jenny, the Queen has asked that we watch the people reconstructing the generator, as they're criminals of some sort, but here's where I'm confused. (turns to Cassie, who regards him coldly) This generator seems to be incredibly important to magic and such, but why have it worked on by planetary criminals? I realize the generator's technology is secret, but don't you have any scientists without magic or something that can do the repairs? Cassie growls audibly, causing Bucky to lay his ears back, startled. CASSIE Don't stick your tail where it doesn't belong, Captain. Cassie stomps away, leaving the Righteous crew in baffled silence. SCENE 9 - JENNY'S QUARTERS, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Jenny walks in and sits at her mediation bed. With a frown, she touches her forehead and is about to cast her communication spell to reach ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT when she opens her eyes. JENNY (aloud, to herself) I could lie. Tell Bucky I couldn't reach him. (shakes her head) I'd figure me out in a second ... come on Willy, give me a good reason why you can't join us today ... Jenny sits back and casts her spell. The gem on her forehead begins to glow. SCENE 10 - EARTH ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT sits in a room that is obviously not his own, staring bored at an unlit fireplace. The voices of his parents and grandparents can be heard incoherently in the background. He sighs, sags lower in the antique chair he's in, and looks at his watch. WILLY (thinking) (beat) (beat) Willy starts to sit up to call to his parents with he freezes and feels the tingle of the Memory Stone that links him to Jenny. Glancing around at his family, he excuses himself quickly and rushes to the bathroom. Once there, he locks the door and crouches in the far corner of the room. WILLY (into the gem) JENNY WILLY (interrupting) JENNY (sounding very relieved) Willy makes a confused face at the stone and turns it over. WILLY Now I'm worried. Willy stands and leaves the bathroom, determined to get home as quickly as possible. SCENE 11 - PONCE'S LAB, UNDERGROUND, ALDEBARAN Ponce is hunched over a memory stone, working. He's wearing his usual white lab coat, but wrapped around his forehead is a black strap. Attached to this, and covering his eyes, are two round lenses, which make his eyes seem to bug out of his skull. His tail twitches with concentration as he fiddles with small delicate tool after small delicate tool. Unknown to him, Tommy strides in and grins mischievously, creeping up behind Ponce. Tommy leans over Ponce and speaks loudly. TOMMY How's it coming, Ponce? Ponce yelps and jumps a bit, clanging his head on the overhead light fixture. PONCE EOOWW! Oh, Tommy! It's just you! Eh ... well, not so good ... TOMMY (moves around to the other side of the table) Oh? Ponce nods and begins a very techno-babble-laden speech about the electric flow of the bipolar magnetism of the stone, which continuously creates an infinite feedback loop to his scanners that is making his research difficult. Tommy pretends to listen for a while. TOMMY (finally) So the gem's got a safeguard that keeps blowing your stuff up, huh? PONCE (looks up) If you want it in layman's terms, yes. TOMMY (grins) Did it ever occur to you to press this button ... (reaches out and presses a depression on the side of the gem's holder) ... and say, "Security measures, deactivate"? The stone beeps and goes silent. PONCE Oh. (beat) Now what? TOMMY (touches another piece of the gem's holder) We get it to play back. The gem glows, and a figure appears, hovering three inches from the gem's surface. The figure in the holo-image is Cassie. CASSIE (smiles) Date, today. Title: "Tommy's Fall." Ponce and Tommy exchange looks while the holo-image smiles Cassie's cold smile. She brings her paws up and together, in the shape of a maser pistol. CASSIE Bang. You lose. Ponce and Tommy exchange looks again as the image fades. They turn back to the gem. Moments later, a loud scream is heard from the hall. Tommy leaps up to check up on it, while Ponce hides under a table with the stone. SCENE SHIFTS TO OUTSIDE THE LAB As Tommy gets outside, a very muscular silver-eyed FEMALE rips a man's throat out and drops the body to the ground. Tommy growls and powers up his gems. TOMMY Oh, now you're asking for it. The silver-eyed female with blood-red gems grins evilly at Tommy. A moment before his spell is finished, six more silver-eyed SISTERS melt from the shadows behind him and attack. His spell, a destructive blast, hits wide and high, destroying one of the many stone support beams holding the cavern's roof up. One of the silver-eyed females, this one with navy blue gems, powers up a spell quickly, as the two others, both with dark red gems, and the first female claw, bite, and kick Tommy. The others stand back, ready to fling a spell into the fray. The female with navy blue gems reaches out and makes a fist. In the middle of the fight, Tommy gasps and clutches at something at his throat. The three Sisters nearby take the opportunity to punch and kick Tommy until he's on his knees. Another female with gems so blue they are nearly black walks forward. SISTER Time for a family reunion, Abomination. Tommy tries to struggle but is asphyxiating, and he soon slumps into unconsciousness. The Sister who spoke smiles and takes a neutral dampener cap from a pouch at her side, then pulls it over Tommy's head gem, knowing that anyone who tries to remove his gems without his consent is liable to end up flying through the walls of the surrounding area. Once the cap is securely placed, one of the females with red gems scoops him up and tosses him over the shoulder. The troop then heads out, being joined by other silver-eyed females, until twelve of them walk out of the cavern. After they leave, Ponce pokes his head up and curses, grabs a blaster, and slinks off after them. SCENE 12 - OBSERVATION ROOM ABOVE THE GENERATOR Jenny walks in to find Bucky looking through the window. The rest of the crew is down in the generator room, helping. BRUSIER's size and strength are being put to good use as he holds large pieces of the generator up for the slim felines to crawl under and snap components into place. Bucky notices Jenny's entrance and smiles. BUCKY Well, is Willy on his way? JENNY (shakes her head) Not for a while. He's visiting family. BUCKY (frowns) OK. We'll have to make do without him. As Bucky turns back to the window, Jenny breathes a sigh of relief. BUCKY (not turning to face her, with a touch of annoyance in his voice) Care to tell me what this is all about, or is it top secret, too? JENNY (sighs and moves to stand right next to Bucky) It's Aldebaran culture. Criminals are forced into manual labor to repent for the sins they made against our people. BUCKY (nods, but doesn't look convinced) They're awfully innocent-looking to be criminals, Jen. (turns to regard his first mate) I don't think you're giving me the full story. But I respect you, and your culture -- no matter how baffling it is sometimes -- so I'm not going to press the matter. Bucky begins to walk away, with Jenny watching him. BUCKY I know you can't go into the generator room either, so I guess you've got yourself a few days of leave. Jenny is speechless as Bucky walks out. She doesn't notice FELICIA walking up behind her. FELICIA Master Jenny, how are you? Grandmother told me you were on planet. Jenny sighs after Bucky, but when she turns around, she wears a slight grin on her face. JENNY Hello, Felicia. I've been OK, and yourself? FELICIA Quite well, Master Jenny. Are you busy? I'd like to know if you can continue helping me with my magic. JENNY (smiles, happy to be doing something) Of course I'm free. Let's go to the gardens. Jenny and Felicia exit. SCENE 13 - CASSIE'S BEDROOM, PALACE Cassie is sitting down, sipping from a beautiful glass goblet holding a clear lavender liquid. Tommy is laying on the bed, the damper still over his forehead gem. Cassie glances up as he groans. TOMMY What a hangover ... Cassie chuckles to herself, which Tommy hears. He sits up, looks around, and brings a paw to his forehead. TOMMY (seeing Cassie) Oh. It's you. CASSIE (genially) Good to see you're awake. TOMMY (feeling the damper) Yeah. Good to be awake. What's with the damper? Afraid to have me at full power? CASSIE (chuckles) Hardly. You are useful. I don't want you hurting yourself. TOMMY For my own good, huh? Why don't you tell me what you want? Before Cassie can answer, there is a knock at the door. CASSIE Come. The Queen walks in. She and Tommy exchange quick glances that Cassie picks up on. Cassie stands. CASSIE Now that we're all here, minus sweet Felicia, shall we begin? TOMMY (defensive, sliding off the bed) Begin what, you toad-mater? Cassie uses her telekinesis to float a glass full of the lavender drink to the Queen and Tommy, each. CASSIE The festivities. I doubt we'll ever have another family reunion in your lifetimes. SCENE 14 - HALLWAY, PALACE Ponce is walking down the hall, looking into the doorways. Hidden in his paws is a small blaster. As he turns to look into a doorway, he fails to notice the two royal GUARDS that walk up behind him. GUARD #1 Excuse me. Have you lost your way? PONCE (spinning quickly and hiding the blaster up a sleeve) Umm ... yeah. GUARD #2 (looking him over, noticing the lab coat) Come with us. GUARD #1 (taking Guard #2's lead) Yes, you shouldn't be out of the generator room. PONCE (falls in step between them) I ... uh... was sent out to find drinks. GUARD #1 There are servants nearby, in the observation room. You had only to go there and ask. PONCE Oh ... eh ... where's the observation room? The guards exchange a look and roll their eyes, leading Ponce to the generator room. GUARD #2 (with a hint of disgust) Males. They nudge Ponce to the door. He bites his lip and looks into the generator room. PONCE (thinking) (beat) Smoothing his lab coat, Ponce stars to walk toward the doorway as the guards begin to gossip and move away. SICCA, a non-magic female supporter of the Male Resistance, sees him and rushes over. SICCA (whispering) Ponce! Don't come in here! Ponce looks back at the guards, who are leaving the room. PONCE (matching Sicca's whisper) Why not, Sicca? SICCA Because you'll cause the generator to explode. PONCE What? Why? SICCA It's hypersensitive to magic. PONCE Oh ... what's wrong with it? SICCA Other than the sensitivity, I don't know. (hands the blueprints to Ponce) Here are the plans for it. PONCE (pouts) Without looking at the generator, I can't do a thing. (reading the prints) Have you trying taking both main power and auxiliary power offline before beginning repairs? SICCA (seems confused) We have main power? PONCE (nods and shows her a spot on the generator) Flip that, then this. That'll make it easier to work with. SICCA (takes back the prints) Thanks. PONCE Listen, we've got a situation. That's why I'm here. SICCA Oh? What's up? PONCE They've taken Tommy, and Cassie knows something. I'm not clear on what it is, though. SICCA I can't help; you know that. (beat) Wait a minute! Let me turn this thing off. If we can make it so magic can fix this baby, there will be no need for Captain O'Hare and his crew to supervise us. I'm sure he'll help you. PONCE (rubs his chin) I don't know. Jenny and Tommy really don't get along. SICCA Well, can you blame them? PONCE No, I guess not, but Jenny's a spacefarer. I guess it's just hard to imagine that she's anything like the females here. SICCA (shrugs) Let me turn this thing off and report in. Lay low, OK? PONCE (thumbs up) You got it! A moment later, Captain O'Hare walks out to the hallway, as the two guards come walking in. He notices Ponce waving at him. As the guards head through the hallway, Bucky moves over to Ponce. BUCKY Are you working on the generator? PONCE Um ... no, but I think you can help me with a problem I'm having. BUCKY Oh? SCENE 15 - CASSIE'S ROOM The three are sitting around, in a not-so-comfortable silence. Cassie is the only one drinking the lavender liquid. She frowns and stands, setting the glass down on a table. CASSIE You know, I always pictured family to be a little ... closer. TOMMY (snorts) You are *not* family. CASSIE (grinning as the Queen glances down and away) Oh, but of course we are, Tommy, dear. We're related through her. QUEEN You cannot use Tommy against me. None of your claims can be proven to the other Aldebarans. CASSIE With your memory stone, they can. (takes a sip) And if you refuse to give it up, of course -- well, that makes you look awfully suspicious, doesn't it? Besides, I doubt if you would stand by silently while your precious son is killed. TOMMY My friends will kill you for this. You won't have the throne for long enough to justify taking it. CASSIE Your ragged group of exiles? I don't think so. Cassie clearly has a point. Her two captives fall silent. CASSIE (confidently) I'll probably be considered a saint for this. TOMMY For what? Kidnapping? CASSIE Getting rid of a Queen who betrays her own people's morals. QUEEN (frustrated) I am only trying to save Aldebaran. CASSIE From who? The toads? The regens? QUEEN From herself. This traditions we hold so dear are putting us in bad standing with the other species of the aniverse. They're holding us back from being a great nation -- from progress. (firmly) The world is changing. We have to adjust, not live in the past and try to escape the future. CASSIE (stands and faces the Queen, staring her down) You realize you have spoken treason. QUEEN I have spoken the truth. The two are about to engage in a staring contest when they hear the shuffle of people outside and a rough knocking on the door. BUCKY Your Majesty, are you OK? QUEEN No! Bucky barges in, followed by Deadeye, Bruiser, and Blinky. All have blasters raised. CASSIE (seething) Outsiders! You have no business here! BUCKY I do if what I heard is going on really is. (looks around) Now, who's the assassin? TOMMY (getting up) What? BUCKY Some cat just told me someone was trying to assassinate the Queen. Tommy and the Queen instantly point to Cassie. BUCKY Then I'm afraid you're under arrest. CASSIE (eyes light up) *You* have no authority here! I am the head of the Thought Order, and you are a miserable space fiend! BUCKY (steps forward) I don't particularly care what *you* are, but *I* am an officer of the United Animals Coalition S.P.A.C.E. fleet, and any suspicious activity on a planet officially registered with the UAC *is* my jurisdiction. CASSIE (points to Tommy) Then arrest him! Tommy, who has been fumbling to remove his neural dampener cap, looks up in surprise. TOMMY What? CASSIE He's the one who's trying to kill her Highness! BUCKY (nonchalantly glancing at Tommy) He doesn't look like he's here to hurt anybody. CASSIE (fuming) This cat is a *male* with unregistered magical abilities -- that alone is a crime! Ask any Aldebaran! Much less hanging out with the Queen! TOMMY (to Cassie) Hey, *you* kidnapped me and brought me here! BUCKY What's that? CASSIE (ignoring Bucky's presence) You abomination! How dare you challenge the head of the Thought Order! BUCKY Now hold up a second ... QUEEN (to Cassie, also ignoring Bucky) Then *I'll* challenge you, Cassie. BUCKY (frustrated at being ignored) What's going on here?! CASSIE I've already proven your inability to lead, *your Highness*. BUCKY I ... aw, forget it. DEADEYE Ach, Cap'n ... let ol' Deadeye handle this one. Deadeye steps out in front of Bucky and pulls out both his blasters. He then fires them at the ceiling several times, causing complete silence in the room. DEADEYE Ha hah! That's better. BUCKY Thanks, Deadeye. DEADEYE No problem. BUCKY (turns to the Queen) Your Majesty, would you please ... Suddenly, a group of muscular-looking Aldebaran female GUARDS storms in. They are obviously under Cassie's command, looking to her for orders. QUEEN The Thought Order Police! TOMMY Dammit! CASSIE (pointing to Righteous crew) Seize the outsiders! QUEEN (pointing to Cassie) No! Seize the usurper! TOMMY Please don't seize me! CASSIE Quiet, abomination! The group looks confused. One of the guards, acting completely on instinct, decides to fire at Tommy, who avoids the shot and darts under the bed. The Righteous crew fires back, leading to a huge and very confused fight. BUCKY (grabbing the Queen and blocking her from fire with his body) What in the aniverse is going on? QUEEN Your intrusion is greatly appreciated, Captain, but I'm afraid no explanation is available at this time. BUCKY With all due respect, I don't have time for your ... Bucky is cut off as the battle moves outside, where the two sides have more room to fight. The guards, wary of using magic in front of the Righteous crew, use blasters as well, destroying the walls of the palace and causing a lot of noise. SCENE 16 - OUTSIDE THE PALACE Jenny, taking a break from training Felicia, looks up from her book to the sounds of maser blasts coming from inside the palace. Looking in through the window, she notices her crewmates having it out with various Thought guards. JENNY What in the stars ... Jenny runs into the palace. SCENE 17 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION All is quiet on the Righteous until the photon accelerator activates and Willy barges through his door as it appears. WILLY Hello? (looking around) Where is everybody? The sounds of maser blasters are barely audible on the ship. Looking through Deadeye's window, he notices the chaos of the Aldebaran landscape near the palace. WILLY Holy ... Not stopping to put on his gear, Willy opens the hatch and darts outside, running toward the palace. SCENE 18 - HALLWAY IN THE PALACE Jenny is making her way to the generator room when she turns a corner and almost smacks right into Tommy, who is making his escape. JENNY Wha ... (straightens herself) *You*! You're behind this! TOMMY No, Cassie is. Sorry there's no time to chat, sis. Maybe next time. JENNY (indignant) How dare you consider yourself part of the Sisterhood! I am not your Sister! TOMMY (grins and runs off) I wasn't talking about the Sisterhood. Jenny is about to pursue when the sounds of battle pull away her attention. She bites her lip, then turns and runs in the direction of the generator room. JENNY Next time, abomination. SCENE 19 - GENERATOR ROOM The two sides have finally accidentally made their way into the generator room, which has the most open space for the battle. The Righteous crew gets closer and closer to the generator as the non-magic cats run out to escape fire. The Aldebaran guards hover near the doorway, wary of being close to the generator. The Queen is with Bucky, watching nervously. QUEEN I am too close! BUCKY (firing from behind a bench) To what? QUEEN The generator! All it needs is a few more magics and ... Just then, Jenny runs in. BUCKY Jenny! JENNY Captain? What in the stars are you doing!? BUCKY Protecting the Queen! JENNY (thoroughly confused) From who? BUCKY The Thought chick! Cassie emerges from the group of guards, approaching Bucky and the generator. CASSIE How dare you call me a ... Cassie is about to attack Bucky when Jenny tackles her. The two Aldebarans wrestle to the ground, ignoring all intrusions. Meanwhile, unnoticed to everyone but the Queen, the generator has begun to shake and light up. QUEEN No! The generator! The battles are still raging on when Willy finally enters. WILLY *Whoa*. What the hell did I miss? ... JENNY (looking up from her fight with Cassie) Willy! NO! GET AWAY! WILLY What's going on ... It's too late. Willy's presence overloads the generator, which bursts with a mighty explosion that fills the room. SCENE 20 - GENERATOR ROOM A little while later. The sound having attracted almost everyone in the vicinity, a large crowd gathers outside the door. Felicia enters, leading the group. From the clearing smoke emerges the Righteous crew, all disheveled and dirty but otherwise OK. FELICIA Was Grandmother ... Bucky removes his torn cape from the Queen, who was protected by it during the blast. QUEEN I'm fine. Felicia smiles and hugs the Queen. They release each other, and the Queen turns to address her subjects, including the guards she was formerly fighting with. GUARD Your Majesty, we thought ... QUEEN I know what you thought. It's forgotten. (addressing the other Aldebarans) There has been an attempt on my life, by Cassie. She has caused all of this. JENNY Where is Cassie? The group looks around, realizing Cassie has not emerged from the blast. JENNY Is she dead? BUCKY (picking up a piece from the generator) There's no body. QUEEN Then she must be still alive. (back to the crowd) Cassie is hereby considered guilty of treason and attempted murder. Anyone who finds her is to arrest her and report to me immediately. (beat) Nominations for the new head of the Thought Order should be submitted to me within the next forty-eight hours. The crowd, apparently dismissed, disperses. The Queen turns to the Righteous crew. QUEEN As I said before to your captain, I am very grateful for your intrusion today. It saved my life. BUCKY Does that mean we get an explanation as to what the hell just happened? QUEEN Some other time, Captain O'Hare. The Queen grins and walks away, leaving Bucky irritated and the rest of the crew dumbfounded. JENNY (wrapping her arm around him) If it helps, I don't have a clue, either. BUCKY (calming down a little) Oh, good. (glances at Willy) Where were you? WILLY My grandparents' house. (shrugs) Sorry. BUCKY Did they bake those really good cookies for you again? WILLY Yeah, I've got some in my room. DEADEYE You willin' ta share, laddie? WILLY Aren't I always? As the last of the smoke clears and the clean-up crew enters, the Righteous crewmembers slowly make their way out of the palace. BRUISER Do they got bananas in 'em this time? WILLY No. Only baboons eat banana cookies. BUCKY I thought you were a baboon. WILLY What, do I have to explain this *again*? BUCKY (chuckles) Yes. Their voices fade out as Willy begins to explain how humans are not exactly baboons. As they go, no one notices a dark figure watching them from a hidden place under a pile of wreckage, hissing madly. THE END