"The Journal" by Fero McPiglet Thanks to Claudia Carranza and DJ Clawson Final draft - 2/8/02 Edited by Rygar SCENE 1 - MINING COLONY The mixed animal races composing a small mining colony are outside their compound, huddled together in a circle. They are surrounded by an energy holding pen, and TOAD SOLDIERS stand watch over them. One ANTELOPE can be beard. ANTELOPE (praying) Lord Frith who dwells in light, guide our spirits as we prepare to journey by your side ... TOAD SOLDIER Be quiet! The toad soldier slams the butt of his rifle into the antelope's stomach. The antelope keels over. Her companions pick her up and bring her into the relative safety of the inner circle. The toad soldiers on guard watch their mammal prisoners closely. Several more toad soldiers emerge from the nearby mine. One of them runs ahead and salutes the ranking officer, a TOAD SERGEANT. TOAD SERGEANT Report! TOAD SOLDIER All available traces of refined rigidium have been loaded into the carrier ship. The ship itself has just departed. TOAD SERGEANT Good, good! Anything else? The toad soldier stands in attention until his fellow soldiers reach the group, brutally dragging a BADGER that has been severely beaten up. TOAD SOLDIER We also found this mammal hiding in the communications center. He was trying to send an SOS. TOAD SERGEANT We would be long gone before any help arrives, but let's not take any chances. We depart in ten minutes. (nods to the toads holding the badger) Put him in with the others. The soldiers throw the injured badger into the circle. The other captives try to support their friend. The toad sergeant faces the prisoners, then raises his arm. The toad soldiers stationed around the holding pen lift their rifles and aim at the terrified mammals. The antelope continues with her prayers. The sergeant nods to his troops. TOAD SERGEANT Kill them. Maser shots ring out. Several mammals in the circle scream. The ones who shut their eyes don't see the toad soldiers fall from their posts as they are struck by enemy fire. The toad sergeant has time to look above him and see a ship descending before he too is struck down. All the toads in sight have been disabled. The ship descends, and the mammal prisoners sob in relief as they watch their saviors land. The ship's doors slide open. ANTELOPE Bucky O'Hare? BLACKBEAK If yer lookin' for the reliable Captain O'Hare, no such luck, lass! It be the stout an' darin' Blackbeak of the Corsair Canards that's come t' yer rescue! Indeed it is. BLACKBEAK is the first on the scene, shattering the holding cell mechanism with his axe. More four-armed ducks stream out of the pirate starship to assist the traumatized mammals and inspect the damage done to mining colony. Several of them secure the toad soldiers. Pirate leaders LANEL and RED JACK step out and approach the badger, whose wounds are being tended to. BADGER (wincing) The toads ... came out of nowhere ... they swarmed ... everywhere ... LANEL (kneels down to the badger) We know. (puts her hand on his shoulder) Rest easy now. This sector is under the protection of the Corsair Canards. You have my word that your colony will be safe. The badger smiles weakly and is taken away. Lanel stands up as another Canard, BOOTLEG, approaches her. LANEL Any more signs of toad activity, Bootleg? BOOTLEG Nay. Dere be no trace of the green scallywags. All the carrier ships loaded with the rigidium be gone. RED JACK (shakes his head) It looks like the toads got away scot-free once more with their booty. LANEL But what is important is that the captives are safe. The other raiding parties left no survivors. Very strange business. REDJACK Indeed. I suppose that there was no space to be had for slaves on their ships? LANEL Could be. I cannot rightly say. Come, let us alert S.P.A.C.E. of our new encounter with the toads. The seafarers of Sludge would be very interested to hear our tale. SCENE 2 - UNKNOWN "Entry 0019283: This started out as such a weird day. I was just working in the lab when these two stormtoads burst into the room. I recognized them from when Toadborg was punishing them for goofing off one time before. It was Frix and Frax, singing inane rhymes off-key and generally acting like fools; well, more so than they regularly act, anyway. They weren't doing much damage in the lab, but they did want me to join them in their impromptu reenactment of a scene from their favorite show, or something. I'm not even going to try to describe what we did. It was that weird. Anyway, I identified their strange behavior right off the bat, what with the familiar reek on their breath. I waited for them to explain something about their chemical engineer cousins Frux and Frox mixing up a batch of what they called "da guuuud stuff!" Oh yeah, it looks like the toads have finally discovered grass, and I don't mean the swampgrass kind. Needless to say, it was scant minutes later before Toadborg barreled his way through my door and proceeded to viciously castigate poor Frix and Frax. It's a good thing that they were so out of it that they barely paid any attention to Toadborg, right up until big, green, and ugly gave up and just gassed them. It was too bad. I was beginning to enjoy the scene. I'm not sure, but I think Toadborg saw me smirking. I couldn't help it, what with Frix and Frax draped all over his metal frame, snoring their little toad hearts out in unison. At least I didn't laugh. I don't think Toadborg would have appreciated that. It wasn't until later that I found out what his revenge was. I was brought to KOMPLEX. Toadborg was explaining that me being kept in the company of other toads meant that I was being distracted all the time and that I couldn't concentrate on doing my research and finishing my inventions. I was about to protest when Toadborg cited the fact if those idiots Frix and Frax were able to break into the lab without any trouble, then it meant that my security and safety were at risk. It was enough for KOMPLEX to declare that I was to be isolated from everybody else on the homeworld and be kept under 24-hour surveillance. Great. As if I wasn't kept away from everybody else anyway, As I left the room, I could swear Toadborg was smirking at me. Or, at least, I imagined he would. I mean, he doesn't have a mouth, after all." SCENE 3 - HIDDEN BASE, SLUDGE The garbage and muck that covers the dirty planet of Sludge conceals the sophisticated communications center of the United Animals Coalition. The Sludge Intelligence Agency is the hub of spy broadcasts and transmissions. The watery environment helps carry the space signals that the sea denizens decipher and transmit. It does nothing to cool the present atmosphere, though. DEXTER (his tentacles on the transmitter) We've just received word that the Corsair Canards have secured the Mining Colony of Sector Nineteen. BOTTLENOSE (nodding) Good, good. Any news about the Nharnians and the Kanopians? MAJOR BOTTLENOSE the dolphin bobs behind DEXTER the octopus. Dexter has all his tentacles tending to more than one console while the Major looks on. More dolphins man the monitors, keeping watch on the space radar or fielding incoming calls. DEXTER The Kanopians are more than happy to stand guard over their sector, but they have little access to space travel. It's like someone forgot to mass-produce their already patented Ninja Duck vehicles. It's the exact opposite for the Nharnians. They have the means, but those stubborn lion warriors are still debating on whether or not they should dirty their paws on our business! BOTTLENOSE It was a great boon to the UAC that Deadeye Duck called in on old markers and had his fellow Corsair Canards and Ninja Ducks lend a helping hand. Canards have four arms, after all. DEXTER (frustrated) Well, I got eight tentacles, and all of them are tied up at the moment! BOTTLENOSE Pace yourself, old boy. I know this sudden blitzkrieg of toad raids is unexpected, but we must still do our duties and monitor for new sightings of toad activity. DEXTER But those darn toads didn't have to attack all at once! We're really stretched thin over here! BOTTLENOSE Speaking of which, what's the present status of our proud and illustrious UAC fleet? DEXTER We've directed Captain LaFleur and The Screaming Mimi to intercept a suspected hijacking, while Commander Dogstar is still repelling the invasion of Betelgeusia. BOTTLENOSE And what of Captain O'Hare? DEXTER At Aldebaran. I heard Jenny was requesting an audience to have some Aldebaran witches lend some temporary assistance. BOTTLENOSE I do hope they succeed. Major Bottlenose watches the screen as multiple red trouble spots start appearing everywhere. BOTTLENOSE The aniverse needs all the help it can get right now. SCENE 4 - UNKNOWN "Entry 0019842: This has been the first week of my new regimen, and I'm exhausted! I mean, really! I thought I'd never get used to the new schedule. I only get about five hours sleep a day before I'm woken up and put through the paces. First up, they grill me on my knowledge of the UAC stuff. They want to know the mammal defense system, weapons development, plans and strategies, locations of bases, alliances made and up to what extent and all that. They wanted to know what weaknesses they could exploit. The problem is that they expect me to know everything just because I was there. But I'm not a tactician or anything. The captain never really invited me along to those meetings he has with Chairman Warner or to discuss battle strategies with Commander Dogstar or hear news with Captain LaFleur. I was just the frigging frigate engineer! I don't know all that stuff. Sure, I could give info about the state of technology on Genus and the level of warp development, but for everything else, I get brain-strain. Toadborg is particularly hard with me. He insists that I'm holding back some information. I keep telling him that I don't have a photographic memory! I'm not a computer. I keep most of my tech notes in my notebook, and I don't even have those with me. Toadborg doesn't care. He keeps threatening to give me over to that creepy scientist Cravis who has a metal plate in his head. He would, too, except they don't want to mess with my brain. They said it might affect my loyalty somehow. After that, other toad scientists come by and test my magic. They know I have Aldebaran magic, and since they've never had a captive Aldebaran that they could study, I'm the next best thing. This part is even worse that the interrogation. The things they put me through! Physical exercises and mental tests. It drains both my body and my mind. They tell me to manifest all sorts of stuff they've seen from other Aldebarans in action. Psi-bolts, spirit-walks, levitation, telepathy, healing, etc. They play memory games that have shock treatment similar to what I go through with those interrogators before. They try to reflexively trigger my powers with combat. Master Jenny at her worst was never like this. I'm trying to be as helpful as I can, but I don't even know half of what they're saying. I bet they don't know either. They only get their information from rumors and supposed sightings and they want me to confirm everything. They don't care that I'm a just a stupid novice. It's more like the blind leading the blind. But in this case, I'm the one who gets hurt. I would never go through all this crap if it wasn't for KOMPLEX. It's only after I go through that ordeal before I finally get time to myself. It's the only thing that I get to look forward to when they finally lock me up in my lab so I could get to work on making new inventions for the Toad Empire. I finally get to do something I love. It's not a perfect system, though. I don't know why the toads are so paranoid, but they won't let me touch most of their original technology. They'd rather have me try to make new inventions that improve what they already have. I mean, the least I could do was add landing gear to their double bubbles. They seem to be mostly preoccupied with trying to adapt the mark-5 accelerator into their fleet. It's the big puzzle that I'm working on the most. For some reason, mammal machinery won't properly synthesize with toad technology. I'm working on it, though. I work on it all day. No other toad scientist is allowed into the lab. They expect me to work miracles for them alone. I do my best, but progress is slow. I'm still trying to get used to the toad equipment. Toadborg's glowering face that keeps popping up every so often to snap at me is no help either. It gets tedious after a bit, but I do get an occasional break or two before bed. Which reminds me, I'd better hit the hay. I've only got about four hours left before they wake me up again." SCENE 5 - TRADING ROUTE, SECTOR NINE The Mallard Highway is a marked spaceway that trade ships follow en route to the warp intersection. On a particular segment is a firefight over a steel freighter with the competitors being a phalanx of toad double bubbles and a single UAC frigate, The Screaming Mimi. The frigate is hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned as it tries desperately to dodge and weave the through the lattice of enemy blasts coming from all directions. MIMI (grips the handrails tight as the frigate buckles) We just need a few more minutes! Hang tough, crew! JONATHAN (turning the controls erratically) But there's no help coming! You heard the transmission! We *are* the cavalry! CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR frowns at FIRST MATE JONATHAN WEISSMAN as he expertly flies the frigate through the growing web of maser shots while keeping their distance away from the pursuing double bubbles. The comm- links crackle to life as GUNNER HARRY CALLAN calls back from the gunner's port and ENGINEER DILE O'CROCK responds from the accelerator room. HARRY (over comm, panicked) C'mon, Mimi! Whadda we do? My maser cannons're no match for the toads' new artillery! DILE (over comm, trying desperately to keep his voice even) It is true. I have finished analyzing the toad double bubbles from the scanners, as per instructions. It clearly indicates that the toads have replaced their standard plasma weaponry with maser cannons. (pauses as the frigate is jumbles about) The energy readouts show that all the toad double bubbles have been equipped with the maser cannon version similar to that of Deadeye's in The Righteous Indignation! The levels are exceedingly high! MIMI (swearing loudly) Frell! Willy must have finally adapted mammal technology for the toads. I didn't think it would happen so soon! (bites her lip) We're really in for it now ... DILE The toad maser cannon levels are extremely dangerous! Readings show that a single direct hit would breach our shields! MIMI Did you hear that, Jonathan? JONATHAN How could I not? (sweat glistens from his forehead) Pour on the pressure, why don't you? Jonathan puts every ounce of his concentration into steering The Screaming Mimi. The majority of double bubbles draw the frigate away from the spaceway as a small squad of toad ships externally disengages the clamps connecting the trucker ship to its cargo trailer. Mimi watches helplessly as the toads get what they came for. She can do nothing -- not while the toad phalanx keeps them busy. HARRY Mimi! I politely ask again! What ... do ... we ... do ... now?! MIMI Shut up for a minute, Harry! I'm thinking ... HARRY I can't even get a good shot at the toads with the frigate all shaking and stuff! MIMI Wait. I've got an idea. (yells into the comm) Dile! DILE (nervous) Yes, Captain? MIMI From the scans. Do you see any changes in the double bubbles' energy distribution levels? DILE Pardon? MIMI You said that the power levels for the masers are exceedingly high! You see any new power batteries or capacitors that can compensate for the new energy drain? DILE (stares closely at the scans) I ... I ... MIMI (the frigate rocks again) C'mon, Dile! DILE No! No, I do not see anything of the sort! MIMI All right then ... (she steels her gaze as if just making a decision) Divert all available power into our shields! Including our masers! HARRY (howls) What? No way! Why don't you just cut off "little Harry" while you're at it! MIMI (sarcastically) Because "little Harry" is too little, that's why! It doesn't matter! We're no match for them in the weapons department anyway! DILE Diverting all power ... The Screaming Mimi's defense shields strengthen and fortify to the point that it is clearly visible to the naked eye. Jonathan doesn't let the new development interfere with his piloting but gives Mimi a questioning look. DILE Done! JONATHAN Captain, what are you planning? MIMI (frowns into space) I'm guessing that Willy had no time to redesign the toad double bubbles' energy outputs. He must have only fixed the maser ports. With no auxiliary power source, the new maser cannons must be draining all their energy from somewhere else ... such as the double bubble's own shields. I'm guessing that those toads are more vulnerable than a clueless nerd on ladies' night. (pulls at her seatbelt) Strap in tight, boys! And Jonathan, get ready! (stares hard at the pilot) We're going to *ram* those lousy fly-eaters! SCENE 6 - UNKNOWN "Entry 0020743: I don't know what it was with him at that time, but the Air Marshal kept passing by a lot before. At first, he was a mild annoyance, the way he keeps messing with my equipment on the table and distracting me with all sorts of questions. But then I got used to his presence. He breaks up the monotony of my just working in the lab alone. He's absolutely no help in the tech department, but we have pleasant conversations concerning this and that. It keeps my mind fresh, really. Eventually, he invited me along to watch Toad TV. I really enjoyed that. Well, more the fact that I got to go out and experience the joy of KOMPLEX's creation without it being forced on me. I don't get most of the shows, but it keeps the Air Marshal happy. In a way, that makes me happy, too. I get a much-needed break before going back to the grind. We watch on different intervals, depending on the shows he likes. It's all the same to me, but I appreciate the company nevertheless. I think he does too, actually. I'm not sure, but I think he's the one who convinced Toadborg to apply my ideas to the weapons systems. I was just venting to the Air Marshal about how Toadborg won't let me touch the standard equipment and he remembered it. I think he hates Toadborg, too. Anyway, he got Toadborg to implement the specifications I made on The Righteous Indignation's maser cannons. Y'know, the one I made for Deadeye that streamlines the maser radiation to a higher level. Another is the Baboon Counter Bot. Designs had already been made with toad gray matter dictating the droid's functions. Supposedly, the Counter Bot would recycle corpses to keep functioning. I removed that specification and just had KOMPLEX beam direct commands to the Counter Bot itself. It's much better that way, since I sorta theorized that it was the low quality of toad brain cells that slowed down the Bot. A manned Counter Bot would work as well, but since they're designed to combat baboons, well, the stormtoads would just as soon run screaming instead of following orders. I really think the direct link to KOMPLEX was the best way. I'm really glad the Air Marshal did that for me. I think he's just lonely. I must be the only other guy he can talk to who doesn't either cower at him or treat him like dirt. I don't know how the toads keep their hierarchy, really, but the Air Marshal must be near the top position to be able to get away with visiting me all the time. He's the only one with the proper clearance. But it's apparent that he's mostly incompetent. He's barely useful in the Toad Empire as it is. New missions aren't entrusted to him anymore. He's mostly ignored. Why in the world does KOMPLEX keep him around? Even Toadborg barely tolerates him. I thought of asking him that one time but changed my mind. I think the idea that all his precious medals could possibly be worth nothing might unhinge his mind. The medals are the one thing he cherishes the most. I'm not sure what they really symbolize, and I'll ask him about it one day. Just not today." SCENE 7 - FOREST, BETELGEUSIA Betelgeusia is a tropical paradise. Lush vegetation grows where it may. Its large and magnificent trees dwarf its inhabitants, their size providing all the baboons their needs. Food grows from their generous branches, spacious trunks are the roofs above their heads, and strong branches give hand and foot holds from which the baboons may swing from for recreation and sport. But COMMANDER SIRIUS DOGSTAR doesn't have time to appreciate the beauty of the forest as he dives under branches and leaps over roots that block his way. DOGSTAR (getting tangled up in overhanging vines) Confound these things! (uses his gun to cut the vines and glances about) Where in the world is my crew now? Dogstar breaks free just as a hulking metal monstrosity lumbers into view behind him. The mechanical brute runs through the trees in its path in a straight line for Dogstar. Dogstar just runs as the Baboon Counter Bot gives chase. DOGSTAR (firing at the robot while still running) That Dallion fellow should have given more detailed reports! He didn't say how to shut these bionic bullies down! Dogstar glances forward to watch where he's going. He glances back to check on his pursuer. There's no one there. He pauses for a second, staring. Too late, Dogstar realizes his mistake as the Counter Bot drops down in front of him. It had come swinging from the branches above. Dogstar turns in time to see the Counter Bot raise its arms for a hammer blow aimed at his head. DOGSTAR (bringing his maser to bear, knowing it is too late) Damn. A Betelgeusian battle cry suddenly rips through the air. A second figure emerges from the canopy to grab at the metal giant's head. The two tumble into the ground, disturbing the soil and fallen leaves. Dogstar has his maser trained on the pair as they rise up. He is surprised to see a female Betelgeusian Berserker BABOON holding the Counter Bot in an unsteady headlock with absolutely no leverage. BABOON (screaming her battle cry) Whut're ya waitin' for? Run! DOGSTAR (still has his gun up) Hey! That's a Baboon Counter Bot you're wrestling with! They're specifically designed to overcome the strength levels of a Betelgeusian Baboon! Dogstar's warning is rendered useless as the Counter Bot easily breaks the strong hold. It reaches behind itself and grasps the female's back. Grabbing hold of her, it flips her forward and slams her into a tree. The disoriented and injured female lands with a groan. The Counter Bot raises a solid metal fist to pulp the near-unconscious baboon's head. DOGSTAR No! Dogstar catches the Counter Bot's head with a devastating blow from a branch that he picked up. The makeshift weapon shatters on impact, but it accomplishes its goal. The Counter Bot reverts its attention back toward Dogstar. Too close to leap back, Dogstar dives between the robot's legs. He tumbles to the other side and lands upright, maser out. He fires a barrage of shots at the robot's back. The shots seem to give the Counter Bot a reason to pause. Its head tries to look back and moves in a twitchy manner. DOGSTAR (speculating) Could it be? A weak point? Dogstar has no time to confirm his suspicion. The Counter Bot twists about with a sudden jerk, its long arm catching Dogstar's arm with a backhand. His maser is knocked away. Dogstar has only enough time to mumble before the Counter Bot attacks again. DOGSTAR Not enough power. The Counter Bot advances forward with a mechanical snarl, the first sound that it ever makes. But there is another sound above it -- the sound of wings beating quickly and turning into metal segments shifting and sliding to create another form. A new metal-tinged voice yells out. RUMBLEBEE (transformed in midair from flight mode to his cannon mode) Move, Commander! Bzz bzz! PITSTOP PETE (behind Rumblebee, operating the cannon) Yup. Dogstar dives to the side as the formidable firepower from the cannon stinger bombards the robot from the sky. Only able to maintain one mode at a time, RUMBLEBEE opts to use his cannon mode in lieu of his wing adapters. He and his passenger PITSTOP PETE land several feet away, Pete still keeping the concentrated maser blasts focused on the Counter Bot's back. The robot's back explodes in a shower of sparks. The machine howls again as it finally turns and rushes to grapple its attackers. Rumblebee quickly stops firing and transforms once more. His insectile wings blur as they do their work. He flies up with Pete in tow, the now-malfunctioning Counter Bot just barely grazing them. The toad machine lands in a heap below them and explodes. DOGSTAR (looking above and retrieving his maser) Nice work, you two. RUMBLEBEE (still buzzing above) Thank you, Commander. Bzz bzz. We've been looking for you. Bzz bzz. We permanently closed down that mobile war machine factory after you lead the bzz guardzz away. Bzz bzz. PITSTOP PETE (still hanging on) Yup. DOGSTAR So I've heard. The two land, and Rumblebee transforms to his normal robot mode. Pete immediately goes to check up on the female baboon. Dogstar reaches her just as Pete succeeds in reviving her. He is startled to notice that the female was actually a little baboon girl, no more than six years old. The little girl is sobbing into Pete's shoulder, as he is broad enough to accommodate her. DOGSTAR (gently to the girl, as she stops crying) There, there. I didn't know there were female Betelgeusian Berserkers. BABOON (wiping at her face) Dere ain't any. But dis is my world bein' invaded an' all. DOGSTAR More like being harvested. Dogstar holds out his paw to pick the girl up, then gestures to himself and his friends. DOGSTAR I'm Commander Dogstar of The Indefatigable. This is my crew, Rumblebee and Pitstop Pete. What's your name, pretty lady? BABOON (suddenly shy) Betina. Are you guys from the United Animals Coalition? DOGSTAR (with a smile) Yes. Yes we are. You've heard of us? BETINA (nods) My mom told me stories 'bout the Toad War, like the time dey came over here and we scared dem half ta death. I thought fer sure da toads would never invade Betelgeusia again, not wit' dem afraid of us Berserker Baboons. DOGSTAR (makes a face at Betina) Well, those toads are a sneaky bunch. We three scouted the toad landing party before we were ambushed. The Baboon Counter Bots were used to engage the Betelgeusian defense squads, while other machines appeared to be gathering trees. My other crewmembers, Wolf and Digger, have gone to deal with the encroachments from air, while we three were to stop operations from the ground. Betina does not follow everything Dogstar just said but nods just the same. BETINA I've never seen dose Baboon Counter Bot things before in my life. DOGSTAR (laughs) And if we share their weak point with the rest of the Berserkers, I'm sure you won't have to again. (motions to his crew) C'mon! Let's rally the Berserker ground forces! We have a lot of work ahead of us! (tickles Betina) And we have to find this pretty lady's mother, too! Betina giggles. SCENE 8 - UNKNOWN "Entry 0035961: Amadeus was a real help today. Not by design, mind you, but he helped anyway. He was asking about my parents. He was always interested in my stories about my home dimension, but it was the first time he asked about my family. I started telling him about how my mom and dad were always busy with their jobs and stuff and never had time for me. They don't even know that I'm off gallivanting about in another dimension, risking life and death. I come home all tired, sometimes beaten and bruised. They think it's just the occupational hazards with my job. Of course, I felt sad talking about these things. It's not because my dimensional door is in The Righteous Indignation. I'm sure that if I put my mind into it, I could match my home frequency and reconstruct way home. But it's not that. It's just that I won't be able to go back to my family. Bucky, Jenny, Deadeye, Blinky and Bruiser. They were my surrogate family. Bucky and Jenny were like my parents in the way they kept looking after me. Deadeye was like an older brother who takes me to bars and tells me about girls. Bruiser was more like a younger brother to me, as he somehow sees part of his lost brother Bruce in me. Blinky wasn't quite a pet, but he is a good playmate. But they're my enemies. I know now they were just using me to destroy KOMPLEX. I can't see them the way I used to anymore. It finally dawned to me how hollow I felt because I was working and working and not getting the recognition I felt I needed. But there was still something. I do what I do now for the glory of KOMPLEX, but it's not just the same. There's something else missing. That's when Amadeus nods his head and says he understands. Y'know, I don't think I mentioned it before, but the Air Marshal saved my life. When the magical backlash from the anti-surveillance device surged back into me, I collapsed and went into a seizure. Only Amadeus was around to contact KOMPLEX and administer CPR until help arrived. If he wasn't with me, I would have died. When I came to, I thought I had just fainted. The Air Marshal never told me what he did. He saved my life. But he never told me. I had to find out from Toadborg by accident when he was trying to insult me. I owe Amadeus now. This is how the Air Marshal helped me. He made me realize that my work was suffering because my motivations are sorta askew. KOMPLEX is an apathetic machine who just takes everything for granted. Toadborg keeps expecting more and more. But Amadeus just accepts me as I am. And I figured it out too. I kept trying to adapt the mark-5 accelerator into toad machines, but the programs just won't accept it. All I have to do is make a new machine that's a proper synthesis of mammal and toad technology. Something new. Something big. Something worthy of KOMPLEX's notice and Toadborg's expectations. And it'll be enough to get the Air Marshal's appreciation." SCENE 9 - SLUDGE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, SLUDGE The SIA agents are still hard at work. Dexter's tentacles are droopy, and the other dolphins look weary and tired. Bottlenose tries to maintain his steady cheerfulness in the face of seriousness, but, exhausted, the fatigue is getting to him. After all, he's the only one whose shift hasn't been relieved yet. BOTTLENOSE (wearily) Are there any more signs of toad attacks? DEXTER Please don't go looking for them. (groans) We need a break. We haven't had proper rest in two days plus. This is worse than the time Dee Dee actually found the candy you hid in your fridge! BOTTLENOSE Keep the vigil. Lives are at stake here. And I don't mean your hyperactive sister. (checks the sector chart beside him) How's the Mallard Highway contingent? Has Mimi reported back yet? DEXTER Radioed in about an hour ago. Saved the truckers but lost a cargo headed for the Polaris Zone. She escorted the truckers to a safe zone, then headed out again. BOTTLENOSE (gestures at the screen) Really? Then how come it's not indicated in the chart? Dexter takes a bleary look at the sector chart and lets one tentacle punch a button without looking at it. DEXTER Sue me. I forgot to place the marker. BOTTLENOSE (stares at the chart) Hmm ... did you forget to mark anything else? DEXTER (shakes his head) Don't think so. Bucky O'Hare hasn't encountered any toads in his flight path. Dogstar still hasn't called in, so we assume he's still in Betelgeusia. Dexter points to the screen in various places while counting his tentacles. DEXTER These are the ones we've marked. The Ninja Ducks caught some toads trying to siphon water from Kanopis but drove them off. (places a marker) Visiting Aldebarans escorted a luxury cruise ship to Rigel V after they helped the koalas with the new encroachment. (places another marker) The Nharnians finally joined the fray when they bumped into a hijacking in Sector Two and proceeded to assist in repelling raids in Sectors Fifteen and Thirty-One. (places more markers) It's strange, but the Corsair Canards also sighted toads in adjacent sectors. There are other sightings in three other sectors over here. Dexter finishes with all the new red markers on the screen. Bottlenose stares intently at the sector chart. He mumbles to himself. Dexter hears. DEXTER What was that? BOTTLENOSE None of the attacks are close to Genus. DEXTER Of course. Genus's airspace and the surrounding sector are heavily fortified ever since that close call with Willy deactivating the shields outta the blue. BOTTLENOSE Yes, I know. Most of the raids we've had in the last two days are in faraway areas that the UAC couldn't reach. Which was why we had to rely on help from other avenues. DEXTER Yeah. Those lousy toads. It's a sound strategy that we can't defend all the places all at once. BOTTLENOSE Speaking of strategy, we should be tabulating the data we've acquired. Or have you forgotten that we're information analysts as well? DEXTER (covers his head) I'm hoping to wait until my relief shows up. BOTTLENOSE Nothing doing, old chap. Get to it. (smiles) Let's see if we could actually predict where the toads will strike next, depending on how far Bucky, Dogstar or Mimi are from a supposed area. DEXTER Fine, fine. I'll run it through the computer. Dexter processes the information while Bottlenose still stares at the chart. The marks on the sectors all indicate where the toads were sighted. BOTTLENOSE How's the computing? DEXTER Not so sure. It's really just a theory. (grins) But when in doubt, just connect the dots! BOTTLENOSE Why not? (types on the computer to link the sectors with a red line) If we connect each incident sector to another incident sector ... DEXTER (leans over and looks at the chart in amusement) ... we'll get a big fat zero. Heh, how true. Just wait for the computer readout, Bottlenose. Dexter looks at Bottlenose and sees the Major with his mouth wide open staring at the sector chart. DEXTER What? (puzzled) Sir? What is it? BOTTLENOSE (in alarm) The circle! DEXTER Yeah? It's a big fat zero? Right? (getting nervous) Right? But Bottlenose has already activated the alarms for the base. Klaxons have started ringing and the security dolphins have all gone into alert. Bottlenose grabs Dexter by a tentacle to drag him away. BOTTLENOSE We have to get out now! We have to head for the exits! DEXTER Wait a minute! What's going on! BOTTLENOSE I've got a bad feeling about this. Something in my gut. There's something in the sector chart! DEXTER Why? What did you see? BOTTLENOSE The circle! Sludge is at the center of it! Toads have been sighted all around this sector. All around Sludge! DEXTER Yeah? So? Bottlenose speaks very quickly as they step out into the corridor and start swimming fast. BOTTLENOSE I have no scientific basis for this, considering that we base our conclusions on cold, hard data, but something tells me to listen to my dolphin instincts. See, my ancestral enemies are the sea predators, the sharks. Now I know most of them have turned towards the courts as their profession, but they haven't lost their instinct on how they treat their prey. It's the same as how dolphins can't help but try to communicate with other beings. I'm going simply by gut here, but I think, based on my assumption, that we are all in terrible danger. DEXTER Just tell me what it is! BOTTLENOSE (grimly) Dexter. What do sharks do when they see their prey? DEXTER (puzzled) Sharks? Why sharks, uh ... (shivers as it finally dawns on him) Sharks circle their prey ... It's at that moment that the lights go out and the emergency lights kick in. Bottlenose and Dexter look at each other in the barely lit corridor. Dexter reaches for the corridor monitor, but the screen turns on by itself. The face of KOMPLEX flickers on the screen, a digitized version of a gaping maw. The two take an involuntary step back. That's when the water is suddenly charged with electricity pouring from every communications socket in the base. The charge is slight, but enough to cause paralysis. Bottlenose and Dexter are shocked still as KOMPLEX's face on the computer screen grins at them and then disappears. SCENE 10 - UNKNOWN "Entry 0047839: The designs were completed and tested. KOMPLEX approved of everything. There was a lot of work to be done in terms of gathering materials, and I spread it all around. I was really hoping this would at least get the Air Marshal some active duty, but everything was entrusted to Toadborg. I have no idea what his tactics are, but the materials were coming in quickly and construction was starting. It's going pretty well, really. Soon, it will be done. But then I realized that I was really making a weapon of massive destruction. I'm not too sure I feel too comfortable with it. I mean, sure I worked during the war, but I blocked it off, really. I'm going to ask Amadeus what he thinks about it later after I " WILLY What are you doing? The AIR MARSHAL had his back to the door. He had been staring out into the viewport all that time. But now he nervously turns his head to find ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT framed at the doorway with a puzzled look in his face. The Air Marshal puts something behind his back, hoping Willy hadn't seen or noticed it. AIR MARSHAL (suddenly uncomfortable) Oh, hi, Willy. WILLY Your favorite show, "Days of our Flies," is starting, and you weren't in the lounge, so I went looking for you. I thought we were going to watch it together. Willy starts taking steps forward. The Air Marshal moves back self-consciously, still careful not to let Willy see what he has behind him. AIR MARSHAL (beads of sweat starting to fall from him) Uh, yeah, that's why I went to your room. To find you. WILLY Oh, I must have missed you when I was in the commissary trying to wrangle up some snacks. So you were here all the time? AIR MARSHAL Uh, yeah. (shifts on his feet) Say, is it starting already? We'd better go already! The Air Marshal tries to rush past Willy, but he stumbles on his feet because of his nervousness. He slips to the ground, using his hands to cushion his fall. In the process, the object he's holding slips from his grasp. It slides away from him. AIR MARSHAL Ow! WILLY (walking towards him, concerned) Hey, you should be careful there. Let me help you up. AIR MARSHAL (tries to get up quickly) No, wait, I can get up by myself! WILLY (picks up something on the ground) What's this thing you dropped? The Air Marshal does get up, but is too late to stop Willy from picking up the thing he dropped. It's a tape recorder. The tape is out, labeled plainly in Willy's handwriting. It reads "Journal." Willy is struck dumbfounded. WILLY But, this is my ... AIR MARSHAL (stammering) I'm ... I'm sorry Willy. I dropped my fly paste sandwich and noticed it under your bed. I couldn't read what the label said because it was written in your language, but I pressed the right button to play it anyway. WILLY You've been listening to my audio-journal? AIR MARSHAL It was an accident! I didn't know how to stop it. Then after a while, I just couldn't stop. WILLY (getting angry) My journal was private! You had no right to listen to it! AIR MARSHAL I know. It's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. But there's something else too ... WILLY (cutting the Air Marshal off) I trusted you! I thought we were friends! I started the journal because I was lonely and there was no one to talk to. I told everything to it. Why did you listen to it? AIR MARSHAL Wait, listen to me. I know the journal is important to you, but you have to get rid of it! WILLY What? Why? I kept it away for so long. I didn't want to write it in a computer because KOMPLEX might decipher it, and I didn't have pen or paper with me. I was lucky enough to make that mini-recorder. It was the only way to keep my thoughts secret. AIR MARSHAL And that's why you have to get rid of it! What do you think KOMPLEX would do if he finds out you've been keeping secrets from him? WILLY I ... I ... (pauses) But I never wrote anything against KOMPLEX in my journal! It's just personal thoughts. I'm still completely loyal to KOMPLEX. AIR MARSHAL It doesn't matter. The fact that you were hiding something, anything is enough. WILLY (holding the recorder to his chest) But ... all the things I said in it. All my experiences ... AIR MARSHAL (taking hold of Willy's arm) Toadborg's just looking for an excuse to completely lobotomize you, y'know. You have to get rid of it! TOADBORG Get rid of what? Willy and the Air Marshal look at the doorway. TOADBORG's towering metal body fills the doorframe as he steps inside the room. Willy and the Air Marshal freeze. SCENE 11 - SLUDGE AIRSPACE The Righteous Indignation circles over what appears to be a garbage dump. The crew is complete, with the exception of an engineer. GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK remains at the gunner's port, while BRUISER keeps AFC BLINKY company in the engine room. FIRST MATE JENNY is at the pilot's seat, and CAPTAIN BUCKY O'Hare is at the helm listening to the comm. BLINKY (over comm) Humble robot repeats: There is no response from Major Bottlenose of the SIA. BUCKY I thought something fishy was going on when the dolphins stopped transmitting, but now I'm guessing ... JENNY (concentrating on her spell gems) ... toads. Toads have been here! BUCKY You read my mind, beautiful. (over comm) Bruiser! Get the Croaker ready! Seconds later, Bruiser and Bucky are on the ground in front of the secret entrance to the Sludge Intelligence Agency's base. Bruiser rips the steel doors open, and he and Bucky step inside. BUCKY (over comm) Jenny, have Blinky start scanning the base for toad activity. Bruiser and I are going to get to the bottom of this ... what the ... JENNY (over comm) Bucky? What is it? Bucky doesn't answer immediately, as he stares in horror at what he sees. Past the inner dome, the glass flooring shows the inside of the communications center. Bucky and Bruiser see several dolphins floating belly up, twitching and writhing. In the semi-darkness, the electric charge running through their bodies is quite visible to the naked eye, as is the extreme pain that the sea creatures are feeling. BRUISER How long've dey been there? We have ta get them outta dere now! BUCKY (stops Bruiser from smashing the floor) Jenny, I ... I don't know what's happened, but the toads must have put an electrical surge into the SIA's water. The dolphins are all slowly being fried to death! JENNY (over comm) We saw it through Blinky's scans! What do we do, Bucky? BRUISER If Willy wuz here, he'd'a thought of something. BUCKY We can't touch the water or we'll also be shocked ... has Blinky downloaded the base floor plans? BLINKY This humble robot has taken the liberties of doing so, Captain. BUCKY (running outside again with Bruiser) Quick, where's the main valve to drain the water out? Blinky relays the information to Bucky. Bucky and Bruiser follow the directions to a lower level on the garbage dump. Bucky has Bruiser station himself over the huge valve while Jenny pilots the frigate close enough to have Blinky's cable arms grab hold of Bruiser. Bucky instructs Deadeye next. DEADEYE (from the frigate) Ye want me t' blast holes in the ground? BUCKY (from the ground) Just do it, Deadeye! JENNY (while Deadeye starts making holes) Bucky, what are you planning? BUCKY Bruiser's got the valve and Blinky will take him out of harm's way once he opens it. Maybe we can get all the dolphins out in one go if we flush all the water out at once. The holes Deadeye's making should give the dolphins some swimming room provided the electric charge won't carry once the water isn't in contact with it anymore. DEADEYE (finishes blasting) That's a whole lot of holes in the plan, matey! JENNY I hope this works, Bucky. We have no way of knowing how much longer before the toads blow up the base, if that's their intention. BUCKY It's the only thing I can think of. (nods to Bruiser) Turn the valve. BRUISER (grasps the huge valve) OK. SCENE 12 - WILLY'S ROOM, TOAD BASE Toadborg walks toward Willy and the Air Marshal. TOADBORG I will ask again: Get rid of what? The Air Marshal starts cringing away, so Willy steps forward. He holds his hand behind him. WILLY Uh, nothing. The Air Marshal and I were just shooting the breeze. TOADBORG Really? About what? WILLY Uh, about the show we were going to watch. TOADBORG My audio sensors distinctly heard my name being mentioned along with the request that something be disposed of. I repeat: Get rid of what, exactly? Willy's mind goes blank. He suddenly feels slimy, sweating hands grab hold of the recorder behind him. AIR MARSHAL Oh, I was the one who said that! I meant, get rid of the fly paste sandwich I dropped. As Toadborg shifts his optic sensors to observe the Air Marshal, Willy slowly pivots in his place. Sure enough, the Air Marshal's fly paste sandwich is still on the floor, sticking out from under Willy's bed. It had gone stale from lying on the ground for nearly an hour now, ever since the time the Air Marshal first found the journal and forgot about it. The Air Marshal is now bending toward it. Willy's eyes widen as he sees the Air Marshal holding the recorder in his hand and surreptitiously trying to slip it into its original hiding place under Willy's bed. But he's moving too slowly. He's having a difficult time trying to reach for the sandwich by his toes because of his girth. AIR MARSHAL (wheezing from trying to bend over) I was saying that -- wheeze -- my sandwich was so old that not even you -- wheeze -- Toadborg would want to eat it. Toadborg's sensors narrow. He reaches over and grabs hold of the end of Willy's bed. TOADBORG Was that a joke? You know I no longer depend on food to survive. And here, let me ... With little effort, Toadborg lifts the bed and flips it over. TOADBORG There. Now you have better access to that sandwich of yours. I was tried of watching you strain yourself. Willy and the Air Marshal hold their breath. The bed is flipped over, and the Air Marshal can no longer hide the recorder under it. But Willy isn't thinking about that. It is apparent that Toadborg used the Air Marshal's difficulties as an excuse to wreck the bed. Willy is furious. WILLY What do you think you're doing?! TOADBORG Why, assisting the poor Air Marshal, of course. The little fireplug needs all the help he can get. Willy just glowers angrily at the bigger toad, knowing he can't do anything about it. WILLY (pointing) Just get out of my room. TOADBORG Not without informing you that I have completed the list of all materials needed to finish the project. The last component needed was the focusing satellites used by the SIA Agents. Revealing the location of that hidden communications outpost was one of the more useful pieces of information you shared with us about your former allies. Those spies will no longer being eavesdropping on our transmissions after this. (pauses, almost as if he were cracking a smile) The robots have already resumed construction. You should be there to monitor the work. KOMPLEX is waiting for a progress report. WILLY All right, I'll get going. But you get out! TOADBORG (reaching out his hand) Well then, let me just take out the trash for you. Willy is surprised as Toadborg stretches out an arm to grasp at the Air Marshal. While they were talking, the Air Marshal had picked up the fly sandwich with both hands but is still holding the recorder. Willy is suddenly afraid that the Air Marshal might panic and drop the recorder for Toadborg to see. But Toadborg suddenly turns his head and levels his sensors at Willy. TOADBORG (speaking evenly as he stares at Willy) Garbage should be put in its proper place. You should get rid of objects and things that are no longer necessary or have outlived their usefulness. Toadborg's insinuations are not lost on Willy. He stares back at the cyborg until their face-off is disturbed by the sound of the Air Marshal making choking sounds. Willy and Toadborg turn and see the Air Marshal coughing and gagging. He's pounding himself in the chest with one hand while the other hand is holding the fly sandwich with a big bite on it. AIR MARSHAL (still choking) Just as I thought! The sandwich still has some -- ugh -- pep -- erk -- in it, after all. Willy tries to help the Air Marshal, but the Air Marshal waves him away. He hunches over and, with one final gulp, swallows the obstructing piece of food that got stuck in his throat. He starts wheezing and allows Willy to pound his back. AIR MARSHAL (coughing) Don't worry ... I'm OK ... I'm OK. (smiles at Toadborg) That sandwich might be a little crusty, but it's still good. Toadborg makes the mechanical equivalent of a snort over the Air Marshal's apparent stupidity. It looks like he is going to make a retort when something beeps on his wrist comm. Toadborg looks at it. TOADBORG Hmm. It appears that some vermin might have snuck into the system. WILLY (still supporting the Air Marshal) Well, why don't you check it out? You're responsible for security around here. TOADBORG (turning to leave) And you're responsible for the construction, so do your work as well. KOMPLEX is losing patience. Willy and the Air Marshal are finally left alone. Willy steers the nauseated toad to a chair where he can recover. The Air Marshal looks at the stale sandwich in his hand and drops it with a shudder. AIR MARSHAL (staring at the door) I thought he'd never leave. WILLY (also staring at the door) Yeah. (looks at the Air Marshal) That was close. I thought he was going to ... AIR MARSHAL Nah. He's just being overbearing again. WILLY It's a good thing you distracted him with that choking. He plumb forgot about his original question. So where'd you put my journal? We do have to get rid of it. The Air Marshal gives Willy a look. Willy looks back. WILLY What? You were right all along. The sooner I drop it into one of those nasty disposing receptacle, the better. AIR MARSHAL No need. WILLY Huh? AIR MARSHAL I ate it. When Toadborg was reaching for me, I panicked and put it in the sandwich, then took a bite. It's already been ... disposed of. Willy does a double take. He has such an incredibly dumbfounded expression on his face that the Air Marshal begins giggling, then graduates to guffawing. Willy quickly recovers and joins the Air Marshal in one of the longest, heartiest, most side-splitting laughs he's had in a long while. They stop when Air Marshal starts coughing again and Willy has to slap his back. AIR MARSHAL (wiping tears from his eyes) Hey, sorry about listening to your journal, OK? WILLY Nah, it's OK. You were right in saying that I shouldn't have kept one in the first place. AIR MARSHAL If it's any consolation, I didn't understand most of the big words you used. WILLY (grins) Well, that's OK too. SCENE 13 - DUMPS BENEATH SLUDGE There is a smoldering ruin where the SIA underwater base used to be. But down in its outer level, The Righteous Indignation has landed, and the crew is consulting with Bottlenose from the makeshift pool on the ground. BOTTLENOSE ... the toads used the broadcast signal to send the electric charge into the base. We never thought they would know about the base, so we never prepared. (glances at the ruin) And now there's no more SIA. JENNY At least your agents are all accounted for. BOTTLENOSE True. (turns to Bucky) That was a very risky idea, Captain O'Hare. I'm grateful that it worked for the most part. BUCKY Sorry that the pools weren't enough. BOTTLENOSE It's a good thing we dolphins are really sea mammals. We could survive out of out element for a few minutes. Only Dexter really needed the water. DEADEYE I don't get why the toads didn't just blast the whole base like they did in the end? BOTTLENOSE My guess is that they needed the base functioning long enough for them to steal the satellite. We were only paralyzed at first, but the charge kept building and building. Tampering with the toad device through the change in water levels must have set off the automatic destruction protocol. (puts a fin on Bucky's arm as the hare shakes his head) You didn't know, Captain. No one knew. JENNY So what happens now? BOTTLENOSE We have some wetsuits available. My SIA agents and I have to go back to monitoring the spaceways in our auxiliary comm station. It may not be as state-of-the-art as our old base, but it is reliable. I have a feeling that these toad attacks are not over just yet ... SCENE 14 - SECTION OF TOAD BASE Mimi is hiding in the shadows, trying to avoid security cameras. She makes a break toward another safe spot, then signals to someone else on the other side. Harry and Dile soon follow her. They reach a computer console. MIMI Alright, Dile, check out what's what in this base. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. DILE (connecting his pocket comm into the console) Yes, Captain. This should not take too long. MIMI Harry? Go check up on Jonathan. He's still scouting the area. (no answer) Harry? Mimi turns and sees Harry with his arms folded on this chest, his back toward Mimi. MIMI (exasperated) Oh, come *on*! Don't tell me you're still sulking about that "little Harry" jibe? HARRY (hunches up in a huff) I'm not talking to you! MIMI C'mon, Harry, it was just a joke! Besides, the force-field trick worked, didn't it? We put those weaker double bubbles down for the count. Mimi sees that it's not having an effect on Harry and sighs. MIMI All right, fine. I'm *sorry*. Now can you check up on Jonathan? HARRY (turns around smiling and draws his guns) OK. MIMI (pats Harry as he goes off) Go on! Hop to it! Mimi rolls her eyes as Harry leaves, then turns back to Dile. MIMI So, what've you found? DILE (excited and shocked at the information appearing on screen) This is incredible! I am downloading the schematics and I still do not believe it! (points various things to Mimi) It is not just the warp capabilities of the engine and the energy it can store, but the fact that the system will, in fact, be compatible for ... MIMI (scanning the screen) Yes, I see what you mean. Quick, send the download and any other important stuff to Bottlenose. DILE As you say, Captain. (sets up a mike) Ready for transmission. MIMI Thanks. (grabs hold of the microphone) Hello? This is Captain Mimi of The Screaming Mimi. My crew and I secretly tracked a toad transport ship to a hidden base. We know the reason for the toads' sudden blitzkrieg raids! It's Willy. He's built something ... something huge! We're seen the schematics. We're not quite sure what it is completely, but one thing's for sure, it's built to cause major damage! It's capable of incredible firepower, and it's set to be operational in several hours! Dile's sending you the plans for the armaments, but our position may be compromised at any ... The screen dissolves in static. Mimi turns to Dile. MIMI What happened? DILE (confused) The connection. It has been severed! Someone has activated an override! MIMI Oh, no. The computer screen winks out as it powers down. So do the lights. Mimi draws her masers and feels Dile doing the same. They hear maser shots from afar, followed by shouts, then screams, then nothing. Absolutely nothing. DILE (in the dark) Captain. We have to get out of here. Metal footsteps start clanking in their direction. Mimi and Dile go on alert. They have their masers primed but don't know where to aim. The footsteps continue before suddenly stopping. Red lights flare up. Mimi and Dile direct their guns at the light that outlines a tall steel armored machine suddenly standing practically above to them. They nearly let loose at it. But one of its hands is holding living shields -- Jonathan and Harry, both unconscious, being held by their shirts. And the other hand is empty except for the armaments that are built into the cyborg itself. Optic sensors blaze at Mimi and Dile. TOADBORG Hello, vermin. THE END