"Justification" Part 1 by Claudia Carranza Special thanks to Psykorabbit2000, Kaffeene, Josh, CJ, and DJ Clawson First draft - 9/6/04 Second draft - 10/31/05 Final draft - 11/6/05 Edited by Rygar 11/5/05 SCENE 1 - ALDEBARAN It is night. Many sectors away, the toads have just begun their invasion of Genus, but that matters not to Aldebaran. Nothing stirs near the main communication station on the planet. Not far off is the only commercial airport on Aldebaran. It's the dead of the night, and all is quiet until there is a grand explosion. A female BROWN TABBY with silver eyes and black-blue spell gems stands hidden in the woods nearby. BROWN TABBY (his gem glowing) SCENE 2 - THE PALACE, OFFICE SUITE OF HEAD OF THE THOUGHT ORDER Past the extraordinarily neat and organized office is a bedroom. All lights are off, but the room's occupant is not asleep. TRISHA is sitting on a thin mat, surrounded by dripping, low-burning candles and darkly sparkling blue gems held up in silver wire pedestals. They match the single dark blue gem held against her forehead by a nondescript headband. The gems glow in unison, flickering brightly as her eyes slide partway open. The candle light reflects off the flat silvery surface of her eyes. A voice echoes through Trisha's head but is heard by no other. CASSIE TRISHA (nods) SCENE 3 - NEWSROOM, ALDEBARAN The room is a typical busy newsroom, complete with rows of computer terminals and 2D vidscreens. Amid the activity, feline REPORTERS all around the room seem to be having problems with their computers. REPORTER #1 (bangs side of monitor) Oh, great. Net's out. REPORTER #2 (pulling a gemmed device from her ear) What's wrong with this thing? REPORTER #1 (not looking up from monitor) The system is down. REPORTER #2 (rolls eyes, annoyed) And that affects my personal comm how? Complaints grow more widespread and more indistinct. As the communications blackout seems to affect more and more systems, one feline sitting in a side office suddenly gasps. She glances about to make sure she's alone and then brings a hand up to her blue gem. It sparkles. REPORTER #3 TRISHA REPORTER #3 SCENE 4 - SPACE PORT, ALDEBARAN As the communications post goes up in a flaming ball, all the computer displays in the spaceport drop for a moment before the flights get listed as delayed. Meanwhile, in orbit, the cargo and freight ships awaiting landing instructions stop receiving information from the planet and begin to drift off course. Ships that had just been given permission to leave planet enter the scene, and when one smashes into another, chaos erupts over non-Aldebaran frequencies. MALE VOICE #1 Warren Cargo Freighter Tumbleweed to Aldebaran Spaceport, co- FEMALE VOICE #1 ... please respond. FEMALE VOICE #2 This is Aldebaran Medical Supply ... MALE VOICE #2 -peat, there has been an atmospheric explosion. Do you cop- FEMALE VOICE #3 ... witnessed the collision of ... FEMALE VOICE #4 ... the frell is going on down ... MALE VOICE #3 ... you're moving in too close! Repeat, adjust your course before we col- FEMALE VOICE #1 Oh stars! There's been another ... FEMALE VOICE #4 ... been hit! Losing power. Hyper drive is malfunctioning! Repeat, core breech in proce- MALE VOICE #1 ... core breech detected! Evasive maneu- Several large explosions brighten the sky near the Aldebaran Quark Nebula. SCENE 5 - BUTTERFLY GARDEN, NORTHEASTERN HEMISPHERE, ALDEBARAN In the garden walk two Aldebaran FEMALES, paw in paw. They are talking softly and seem to be enjoying the quiet sunrise that turns the sky a brilliant fuchsia with searing orange streaks of clouds. Suddenly, the calm sky is broken by a sparkling trail of fire raining down from the heavens. FEMALE #1 (points up) What is that? FEMALE #2 (looks) I ... I don't know. The two watch as more balls of flame trickle into the sky, leaving behind ominous black lines, like scars in the sky. SCENE 6 - MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS, UNDERNEATH ALDEBARAN The underground base has become more fortified. Armed males and females guard and patrol the various entrances, while down below, a dozen or so kittens work on magic with a slender female wearing yellow gems. On a railed walkway several levels up, TOMMY and PONCE are watching them. PONCE Good group this year. Tommy does not answer. PONCE What's up, Tom? Again, no answer. PONCE You saw the news report last night, I take it? TOMMY Yeah. (beat, fist closes) She's planned this. From the moment she was locked up, she's been playing us. PONCE Tom, officials haven't confirmed who ... TOMMY The officials are covering it up. PONCE But your mother hasn't told us ... TOMMY Like she really wants this to go public! PONCE I just thought that ... TOMMY That's the problem! You just thi- FEMALE VOICE #5 TOMMY (aloud, looking up) What? PONCE What, what? TOMMY (aloud) Not you. (thinking) FEMALE VOICE #5 TOMMY FEMALE VOICE #5 TOMMY FEMALE VOICE #5 TOMMY (aloud) Aw, shit. PONCE What? TOMMY (annoyed, aloud) Call Squad. (thinking ARI TOMMY ARI A chanting whisper echoes in Tommy's mind. VOICES My ears do hear, My eyes do see, Come and observe through me. SCENE 7 - ALDEBARAN CENTRAL SPACEPORT The room is a typical airport control tower, with vidscreens of aircraft positions and rows of computer terminals for tracking their progress. The main vidscreen, with the real-time locations, seems to be frozen, each little spacecraft graphic red and blinking slowly. Through the large windows, the not-so-distant Communications Hub Tower can be seen, engulfed in flames. The view, however, seems partially obscured by the rubbernecks and felines nose-to-glass trying to get a better view. The DISPATCH MANAGER on duty is clearly struggling to get people refocused so communications can be reestablished. She motions toward her helpers. DISPATCH MANAGER Dee, Ari, see whom you can contact magically up there and find out what Is going on up there. Jo, Beth, see about getting one of the auxiliary commstations online. Jess, contact the Palace. (beat) Move, people. ARI and DEE (aloud) Right! TOMMY SCENE 8 - MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS, UNDERNEATH ALDEBARAN Tommy's eyes open, and he finds himself looking up at BRIAN and Ponce. They appear anxious and nervous. Brian's gems are glowing. TOMMY (pushing away paws) I'm fine! I'm fine! Let me up. PONCE (helps Tommy up) What happened? TOMMY (shaky) Ari lent me her eyes. (stronger) We've got trouble. Brian and Ponce's wide-eyed expressions show their concern. SCENE 9 - ROYAL CHAMBERS, PALACE, ALDEBARAN The sun has risen fully over the palace, and while the scene outside is calm and serene, the atmosphere inside is more tense. In the bedchambers proper, various palace aides and secretaries are rushing back and forth. On a plush sofa sits the QUEEN. Her fur and hair are rumpled and sticking up every which way. Clearly, she has just woken up and has not been given the chance to get dressed. Despite the tension, the room grows eerily silent when a young PALACE RUNNER pants her way through the doorway. Sitting about the Queen are AURA, head of Healing; Trisha, head of Thought; ATHER, head of Combat; and RIN, head of General. PALACE RUNNER (panting) It's been confirmed, Your Majesty. A preliminary investigation found a handful of eyewitnesses near the scene. They saw a group of seven males lurking about, and a magic sweep turned up a number of unregistered magics, too. Experts believe this to be the work of the rebels, and an attempt to terrorize the crown into action. ATHER Terrorists. Rabble! We must retaliate. We must retaliate now. TRISHA While I agree, we do not yet know where to strike. Those that would know are currently ... unavailable. ATHER (annoyed) Unavailable? TRISHA (eyes narrowed) Yes, unavailable. The Silvered Sisters have only just been reinstated. Resuming their honored duties will take some time. ATHER Hairballs, Trisha. Can your Order do anything without taking ... AURA (cuts in softly) The Silvered have not been on active duty for some time, my Sister. I fear that any insight they might have provided may be outdated. I'm not altogether certain it can be trusted. ATHER You're such a priss, Aura. Outdated or not, intelligence is intelligence. (to Trisha) My Order will support yours. We should check the rebels' last known base of operations. If they aren't there, perhaps we'll be able to find some clues as to their current whereabouts. TRISHA (with a sneering smirk) We greatly appreciate your assistance, Sister. Call your squads to the Palace Courtyard. We will be waiting. RIN Hold up. Excuse me, but didn't Her Majesty decree that she would be the one to decide when and where the, ah, Silvered Sisters should be used? ATHER (briskly) With all due respect toward Her Majesty, the rebel males have thrust our planet headlong into a civil war. Her Majesty is not part of the Combat Order. It would be unreasonable to believe a Healer could know anything of military strategy or tactic. Besides, we now know that the rebel leader is the Queen's ... child. She, as well as her Order Alma Mater, are the last ones we want dealing with this issue. The insurrection of the males must remain a military matter, to protect all involved. A tense moment of silence passes before anyone speaks. RIN You've got a point. SCENE 10 - CAFETERIA, UAC HEADQUARTERS During the toad invasion of Genus, Bucky's crew is trying to maintain order in the rapidly crumbling UAC Headquarters cafeteria when FIRST MATE JENNY suddenly tenses, feeling something different in her mind. JENNY (clutching her head) I ... (thinking) SCENE 11 - DEAN'S OFFICE, MAGICAL ACADEMY CASSIE, resplendent in her gems of power, sits in the high-backed office chair behind the desk as if it were a throne. Flanking her are two tall, powerfully built Combat Sisters with dark blood-red gems and silver eyes. Standing on the rug in the middle of the room are seven THOUGHT ASSASSINS, each one with dark blue gems and silver eyes. One bows before Cassie, waiting for a silent nod of acknowledgement before speaking. THOUGHT ASSASSIN #1 (while bowing) We have come to report, Your Majesty. Cassie nods and straightens herself. THOUGHT ASSASSIN #1 It is done, as you requested. Witnesses were left to bear testimony to the destructive irresponsibility of males. CASSIE (cold grin) Excellent. Make yourselves grudgingly available should the Palace call. The group bow in unison and depart, leaving Cassie alone with her silent guard. She turns her chair toward the painting behind the desk. Studying it in silence, her mind reaches out. CASSIE SCENE 12 - BROADLEAF DUCHY, THE OTHER SIDE OF ALDEBARAN USA, a feral-looking female tabby, is perched on a balcony rail and is wearing blue gems. USA (with sinister glee) SCENE 13 - TOWER AT GOLDEN OASIS, SOUTHERN CONTINENT DEMI, an Egyptian Rex, looks up from her mediation and prayers. She too wears blue gems. DEMI (soft and serious) SCENE 14 - FAIRVIEW BREEDING HOUSE, PALACE DISTRICT JANI, a plump ginger tortoise shell, glances up from overseeing the grooming of a very handsome male. Like the others, she too is wearing blue gems. JANI (smirking) Jani studies the male, then walks away, smiling. She stops by a door, knocks, then pushes it open. The room beyond is dimly lit, and the air seems heavy and thick. On a bed, a male lays strapped down on his back. Another FEMALE sits on him. The sheets are rumpled about them. The male's fur is matted to his chest, and his eyes are glassy and unfocused. Gleaming in stark contrast to his dull gray fur, a wire mesh cap can be seen. It is clearly a magical dampener. FEMALE (annoyed, her claws in the male's chest) What? JANI (equally annoyed) When you're done playing with the merchandise, we've got work to do. FEMALE All right, I'll be there in a minute. JANI (snorts) I know you. It won't take a minute. (beat) Now, Luce. Upset, the female pushes at the male and starts to get up. LUCE Fine. Let me get dressed. SCENE 15 - THE VALKYRIE, ENTERING ALDEBARAN SPACE Jenny sits at the piloting bay, working on the controls. As she draws near Aldebaran, the nebula comes into view, as well as the planet. Debris came be seen floating in the darkness of space. JENNY (looks between display on console and view port) By the stars ... what happened? Jenny flies past the edge of the nebula, turning her attention from the monitors and sensor panels to look at the debris. JENNY (making out writing on a piece of hull) Seven, seven, oh, four ... six? Looks like a massive battle. (pause, looks at another piece) Carbon scarring. I don't think anyone survived this. Meanwhile, behind the ship, the large Quark Demon emerges from the wispy tendrils of gas, surrounded by flickering lights. As the demon fully leaves the nebula, Jenny's sensors begin to sound, alerting her of a contact off her starboard aft. She flicks a few buttons, turning on the comm. JENNY (into comm) This is First Mate Jenny of the UAC Frigate Valkyrie to unknown vessel, please identify. There is no reply. JENNY Valkyrie to unidentified vessel, please respond. Outside, the demon sneers at the ship and reaches out a clawed hand. From around its arm, a myriad of flickering balls of lights, the tiny quark demons that once helped to power the sensors of the now- destroyed Righteous Indignation begin to approach the rear of the ship. Jenny's sensors flash, indicating an energy surge moving toward the ship, and she takes evasive maneuvers, fighting to get the old and unresponsive ship to barrel roll and avoid the pinpricks of light. SCENE 16 - MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS, UNDERNEATH ALDEBARAN Tommy, Ponce, Brian, Ari, and a handful of other felines, mixed in gender and gem sets, sit or stand in a loose circle around a table in the center of the room. Tension runs through the gathered felines as Ari speaks. ARI ... and the rumors around work said that just before the explosion, a group of suspicious felines were seen gathering near the comm station. TOMMY (cutting in) How many? ARI Seven. Maybe eight. BRIAN (cutting in) Could be a squad, some hiding and playing backup? TOMMY Maybe. ARI Regardless, it sounds like whoever was behind the explosion wanted people to think it was us. Rumors are flying about a purple cat leading the group. The room falls silent, all eyes turning to Tommy. TOMMY (brings paws up defensively) Hey! The fur dye was Mom's idea! The cats in the group cross their arms or put their paws on their hips. TOMMY Honest! (beat) No, really. PONCE (eyeing Tommy sideways) Her Majesty told you to color your fur purple? TOMMY (changes subject quickly) Err ... so, what's the plan again? BRIAN We should hit some of the breeding houses. Not one of our "sneak in, talk to the guys, then hope they understood" runs, but rather take one and hold it, like a surface headquarters or base of operations or something. TOMMY (after a moment) Normally, I'd be all over this idea, but it feels too much like what Cassie would want us to do. She's trying to goad a reaction out of us, trying to get us to do her dirty work and prove to the world that she's right about us. (beat) Well, it's not going to work. We're not going to succumb to this newest temptation. FEMALE (angrily) So, we're just supposed to sit back and take it? TOMMY Hell, no. (smirk) We should hit her right back. Only we're going to do it smarter, better, and harder. FEMALE (crosses arms over chest) And how are we going to do that? Tommy flashes a roguish grin. SCENE 17 - QUEEN'S CHAMBER, PALACE A few hours after the meeting with the heads of the order, the Queen and her lady-in-waiting, MARA, are in the Queen's changing room. The Queen finally has the chance to change. They talk in hushed voices. MARA I still don't understand. Tommy would never ... QUEEN He didn't. MARA Are you certain? He's young, brash, and has disobeyed you before. QUEEN This is not his style, Mara. You know it's not. (beat) It's a setup; I'm certain of that. I just don't know who, exactly, is behind it. (beat) Though I have my suspicions. MARA Cassie. QUEEN (nods, sad) Naturally, and the explosion has all but erased her recent jailbreak from Aldebaran's collective consciousness. MARA Will you be addressing the populous? QUEEN As soon as my mind is still, I will be. I'm worried that should I try to touch too many minds right now, my emotions may get the better of me. MARA Perhaps a thought sister could ... QUEEN (interrupts, softly but urgently) No, Mara. (beat) My mind is my own. (beat) Besides ... (falls silent a moment) It is something I, alone, should do. MARA (not convinced, but leaves the matter alone) As you wish, Your Majesty. SCENE 18 - PARKWAY DRIVE, RESIDENTIAL SECTOR Everything appears normal and calm. Across the street from a two- story house, a group of females have gathered. Their tail tips quiver as they share the most recent news events they've heard. Their chatter is mostly indistinct. A moment later, a scream sounds from the two-story house, and the shattering of glass can be heard as a body flies through a window. The limp and lifeless body is that of a female, seen before purchasing silks in the marketplace for her male pet. She hits the railing, breaks through the wooden rails, and falls down into the flowerbed below. Her MALE pet leaps through the window a moment later. He is covered, jaw to waist, in blood -- clearly his owner's. He surveys the fallen body, then lifts his gaze to those across the street. Gone is the slack-jawed and docile expression. Though his eyes remain glassy, there's a feral glint to the way they focus in on the females across the street. His tongue flicks out and smears the vicious ruby liquid along his whiskers. In a nearby house, the curtain falls closed as a young female sinks wide-eyed against the wall, panting in fright. With shaking paws, she lifts them to her temples and closes her eyes. Amid the carnage outside, the echoing screams of the females is barely audible inside the house. A splash of red blood lands upon the glass of the window. YOUNG FEMALE Someone! Please help! A male's gone crazy! He's attacking everyone! Please! Help us! The blood on the window grows bright. SCENE 19 - PATROL CAR, EN ROUTE TO DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE Two females have just gotten into their vehicle. Driving is PEACEKEEPER DIA, an orange and brown tabby with yellow gems, while in the passenger seat, eyes half lidded, is PEACEKEEPER AYNA, a calico with blue gems. AYNA (speaking as if to someone not in the vehicle) Unit 4762Bravo to base, we are currently en route to 57 Parkway Drive, responding to a domestic disturbance. (beat, voice shifts to more harried) Acknowledged, Unit 4763Bravo. Report back with details. (best, voice shifts back to normal) Acknowledged, Base. (beat, eyes blink open) How much further, Dia? DIA (eyes on road) A few blocks, yet. Think you can get anything from witnesses before we get there? AYNA (nods, eyes closing) I'll try. As Ayna closes her eyes, flickering images flash before her. It's all red and agony. She gasps as each flash brings with it the pain of the victims at their destination, each mind crying out for help, but their thoughts cut short by their attacker. DIA (stealing glances at Ayna) What? What is it? AYNA (tense) So many ... dying. DIA (floors it) Report in. Ayna nods and closes her eyes once more. SCENE 20 - CLIFFSIDE HANGER BAY, MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS Inside the large, natural-looking rock cavern, several males, alongside a few females, are working on the resistance's fleet of spacecraft: three heavily modified, very old two-man fighters. It's obviously a class of some sort, for many of the MALE STUDENTS look more than a little confused. Ponce is among the students, acting as a student-teacher and helping the males hands-on. A female TEACHER speaks. TEACHER So, once you've disassembled the outer casing, you're left with ... A loud, low whistle pierces the cavern. MALE STUDENT #1 Do you hear that? MALE STUDENT #2 Yeah, what is it? TEACHER It sounds like ... PONCE (shouts, pushes fellow student down) Incoming! As the students and few technicians in the hanger bay scatter out of the way, a badly damaged and heavily smoking Valkyrie slides to a thunderous stop up against the far wall of the hanger. Everyone peeks out from hiding. MALE STUDENT #1 It's a ship! (to the teacher) What kind is it? TEACHER (studying the battered hull) It looks like a frigate fighter. PONCE (starting to move toward ship) A UAC frigate fighter? TEACHER If their war program went a few decades back, then maybe. MALE STUDENT #2 (alarmed) Did he say UAC? MALE STUDENT #1 (alarmed) How did they find us? TEACHER (suspicious) That landing was too controlled to have been a chance crash. PONCE It wasn't chance. (moves toward ship) The pilot knew how to find us. MALE STUDENT #2 (frightened) Who knows we're here? TEACHER (wary) Captain O'Hare? The bay doors open and smoke billows out. Coughing, weak and disoriented, Jenny limps out, stumbling. PONCE No. Jenny! Ponce rushes to Jenny's side, supporting her. PONCE (to the others) Get Brian and Tommy. Now! SCENE 21 - QUEEN'S CHAMBERS Almost to the door, the Queen's steps are stopped by a quick knock. Continuing on, the Queen pulls open the door herself, startling the poor MESSENGER. MESSENGER Y-Your Majesty! QUEEN Yes? MESSENGER (recovering, bows) My mistress, the Head of the Order of Combat, is requesting the right to send a squad of her troops into various residential districts to quell the riots that are breaking out. QUEEN (frowns slightly) Run ahead and tell her I shall be in the Circle's Center. I will give her an answer from there. MESSENGER (bows) Yes, Your Majesty. The Queen watches the messenger depart, muttering over her shoulder when the other feline is out of earshot. QUEEN (softly to Mara) Tell my son not to make a move. SCENE 22 - DEAN'S OFFICE, MAGICAL ACADEMY Cassie sits at the desk, still flanked by her guards. The door opens to admit an ASSASSINATION SISTER. CASSIE Target Heaven's Gate, and make sure her neighbors are involved. ASSASSINATION SISTER (bows) As you command. The Sister leaves. SCENE 23 - FACULTY BREAKROOM The same Assassination Sister enters, and eleven other silver- eyed females look up at her. ASSASSINATION SISTER We are sent. Dark grins spread across those gathered. SCENE 24 - HEAVEN'S GATE BREEDING HOUSE As if oblivious to the troubles of the world outside, the felines inside are sitting about and relaxing in each other's company. Scattered among the females are beautiful males -- their furs looks soft and silken, with the colored patches and markings seeming rich and elegant. There's soft indistinct chatter, laughter, and gentle music. The pleasant atmosphere is disturbed by the discordant sound of a harsh, militaristic, many-voiced female chant from outside. Inside, the felines stare about in confused shock until a stone crashes through a window. One of the males screams in fright, while the rest skitter backward, away from the rock. MADAME (with authority) Everyone, please, calmly move yourselves to the private sitting rooms on this floor. The MADAME pauses as a delicately dressed male steps up behind her. He sets a paw on her shoulder, a worried look on his face. MADAME (to the male) Organize things, Avid, please. Lene and I will see what's going on out there. AVID (nod) As you wish, Arace. As AVID begins helping everyone into other rooms on the ground floor, LENE moves off to Arace. She lifts her chin in a bit of a questioning gesture. ARACE (very softly) We need to contact His Highness. LENE (nod, firmly) I'll go astral. ARACE No. It's too dangerous. Someone might be watching. LENE (rolls eyes) Someone's always watching, and before you ask, no, there isn't anyone really skilled enough to hear telepathy. (presses on) I'll be careful, as always, Madame. SCENE 25 - HEALER'S CAVE, MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS Jenny is sitting on a medical bed. Brian is standing in front of her, finishing up a healing spell. Her fur is less singed and her breathing is less labored than before. Leaning on his elbows across the bed is Tommy. JENNY (glances down and sideways at Tommy) So, do you want to tell me what the frell is going on? TOMMY (studying his claws) No, not really. (lifts gaze to Jenny) In fact, I'm not even really sure why you're here. JENNY (eyes widen, upset) I suddenly felt my connection to Aldebaran disappear. TOMMY (calm, return to studying his claws) It's really none of your business. JENNY (snap) What?! BRIAN (eyes glazed, mid-spell) Stay calm, Jenny. TOMMY (smirking) It's *none* of your business. (straightens) Go back to your rabbit and his little war. (leans toward Jenny, low dark tone) Your help is neither wanted nor asked for ... (beat) ... witch. As Jenny's temper flares, Tommy walks out, leaving Brian behind to fight Jenny calm enough to finish healing. SCENE 26 - JUST OUTSIDE THE HEALER'S CAVE Tommy steps out of the healer's cave, and his grin fades to a worried frown as he crosses his arms. Ari moves up to him, noticing the expression. ARI Tommy? TOMMY (looks up and grins weakly) What's up, Ari? ARI I was going to ask you the same thing. (beat, glance at doorway) Is she OK? TOMMY (glance over shoulder) Who? Jenny? (beat) Yeah, she's fine. (moment of silence) What? ARI I was just wondering ... TOMMY (after a pause) ... if she's fighting with us? ARI Yeah. TOMMY (pushes past Ari) No. Ari opens her mouth to reply when her gems flicker. A heartbeat later, Tommy staggers and brings a paw toward a wall for support. ARI Did you feel ...? TOMMY (quickly composing himself) Yes. I need to get outside. ARI (still appears concerned) I'll go with you. SCENE 27 - SILENT SANCTUARY, PALACE Inside a large, silent room, several THOUGHT SISTERS sit in motionless, soundless meditation. The only indications of life are the subtly flickering lights of dozens of blue gems. One sister's expression shifts as she becomes aware of something. THOUGHT SISTER #1 SCENE 28 - TRISHA'S PRIVATE ROOMS, PALACE Once Cassie's rooms, little has changed under the inhabitance of Cassie's successor. Trisha was holding a meeting with three assassins when the voice came. Trisha holds up a paw to silence her guests. TRISHA (grinning) Two voices are transmitted into her mind. TOMMY (echo) <... a risk! Deliver your message, and quickly!> LENE (echo) TOMMY (echo) TRISHA (eyes open, glow fade, laughing) Too late, princeling. (to assassins) They're moving on the Gate, as predicted. You know what to do. ASSASSIN It will be done. Trisha grins. SCENE 29 - PARKWAY LANE Dia and Ayna have arrived on the scene. It is worse than the flashes predicted. The male pet has gone on a killing spree. AYNA (as if gagging) There's a stench in the air! DIA (draws blaster) Magical? AYNA (nods) Magic that's festered uncontrollably. DIA (nods head toward the male) He the source? AYNA (closes eyes, concentrates) I think so, but it's hard to tell. Other than us, I don't sense any other sources that could generate this level of magical residue. DIA (steps around open door of speeder) All right, cover me. As Dia steps out onto the street and toward the male, Ayna stays behind the speeder door. Her blue gems glow softly in preparation. The male, busy chewing on something while crouched over the body of a fallen Aldebaran, looks up at the motion of Dia's approach on an otherwise deserted, house-lined street. He growls, eyes red and bloodshot. Dia approached with care, but the closer she gets, the more agitated the male becomes until, when they're a few meters apart, he suddenly moves. It's almost a blur. He lunges up from his crouch, teeth bared and claws out; blood drips from his chin and onto his chest. Dia lifts her blaster, leveling it at her attacker's chest. The red-gemmed law enforcer squeezes off four shots into the oncoming feline before getting tackled. Paws clamp tightly about her neck, quickly cutting off her air supply. Seeing her comrade fall, Ayna steps free of her cover. Her gems flare brilliantly to life. The feel of Ayna's magic attracts the male's attention. He looks up from a struggling Dia. Their gazes lock for a moment, giving Dia a breath of respite. MALE (in a whispering growl) DIA (with difficulty) Call ... for ... backup. Ayna struggles under the mental assault -- unspeakable images of carnage fueled by mindless bloodlust. With the male distracted, Dia takes as big a breath as she can. Her gems flare to life, and a wave of energy ripples from her. DIA (thru clenched teeth) Get your smelly, ignorant, worthless paws off me! SCENE 30 - HEAVEN'S GATE Lene opens her eyes to the worried face of Arace. ARACE Well? LENE (tired) Message delivered. ARACE Any eavesdroppers? LENE Not that I noticed. (beat) Our visitors? Arace motions toward a window, through which come the continuing chants and sounds of bottles, rocks, and other thrown projectiles hitting the walls of the brothel. The occasional glass window shatters under the assault, punctuated by a startled scream. LENE Still hanging out, I see. ARACE What did he say? LENE "Sit tight." He's on his way. SCENE 31 - PALACE The Queen enters her conference room, and everyone quickly rises to their feet. She settles into a chair on the far side of the room. QUEEN Where are we with reestablishing lines of communication? TRISHA No closer, Your Majesty, but the Sisters of my Order are doing everything in their power to set up an Oracle's Web. QUEEN An Oracle's Web. I understand it could be dangerous to those holding the strands together, more so now that our technological network is down. TRISHA If any one Strand is connected for too long a time, yes. We are currently running in shifts. I have no wish to overtax anyone. The provinces that haven't the numbers to run a full rotation will be sent as many as can be spared. I hope to have global communication reestablished within a month. AURA (soft whisper) A month ... I've heard rumors of violence and riots even here in Palace City. The people many not have a month. ATHER (firmly) It's not rumor, but they'll have the month. (beat, looks to the Queen) If we keep them safe. Your Majesty, I request permission to ... QUEEN (holds up a paw) Yes, I know, Ather. Your messenger told me. I want to explore all other options before I agree to march an army on hapless citizens. ATHER With all due respect, Your Majesty, you not have civilians left if something isn't done soon. TRISHA I concur, Your Majesty. There is a deep pulse of terror and anger running through the city. It is undoubtedly worse in the more lawless areas of the planet. AURA There is pain as well, Your Majesty. Though I have sensed no mass deaths, the flavor of it threatens to linger in the air. ATHER Something must be done. SCENE 32 - HEAVEN'S GATE Amid the gathered crowd, twelve females position themselves. Each glance at each other, a flash of silver obscuring their natural eye colors for a mere heartbeat. The RIOTERS have smashed in windows, and one adventurous feline has flung a burning book into the side of the building. RIOTER #1 (yelling, spurring on the crowd) Literate males should burn! They are a blemish on our perfect society! The rest of the rioter's speech is drowned out by the enthusiastic roar of the crowd. Behind the crowd, in an alley, Tommy, Ari, and a handful of other resistance members finally arrive on the scene, wearing hooded cloaks. ARI (overwhelmed) By. The. Stars. (glances at Tommy) I thought you said it was a "minor" situation. TOMMY I thought it was. (beat) Well, we're not getting through this way. MALE RESISTANCE MEMBER We could try the sewers ... ARI This building doesn't have main pipes running to it. We won't get so much as a kitten out through the tunnels. TOMMY We'll try a distraction. ARI Not entirely smart, but what do you have in mind? TOMMY (pulls off hood) You all get Arace and the rest back to headquarters as fast as you can. I'll give them something to throw books at. Ari nods worriedly. SCENE 33 - HANGAR BAY, MALE RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS Jenny, now fully healed, enters the hanger bay, looking for Ponce. She finds him tail-deep in the Valkyrie's underbelly. Still upset with Tommy, Jenny stomps over. JENNY What the hell do you think you're doing to my ship? PONCE (startled, bangs head on inside of panel) Ah! Ow! Eh? Oh! I'm, ah, checking the damage, seeing what's repairable. JENNY (crosses arms over chest) I didn't ask you to. PONCE Um, no. But Tommy asked me to ... JENNY Asked you to what? PONCE See how fast I can get this ship going. (beat) No offense, but it's a piece of junk. JENNY (annoyed) I know. PONCE Where's the other ship? The, uh, Righteous Indigestion? JENNY (not amused) Indignation. PONCE Right. Indignation. Sorry. Yeah, well, that was a good ship. This one's ... UAC's hard up for cash, huh? JENNY (stiffly) Where's Tommy? PONCE He said you'd ask. (beat) Topside, but I can't give details. He doesn't want you involved. JENNY He knows I disapprove. PONCE (shrugs) Maybe, but he was adamant. JENNY (sighs) Fine. If you'll just get her running enough to get to the Palace ... PONCE (interrupts) Sorry. Can't do that. JENNY Excuse me? PONCE I'm under direct orders to get this ship operational enough for you to return home. JENNY I *am* home. PONCE Er ... Genus, I mean. JENNY (flatly, with disbelief) You're joking. PONCE I'm really not. JENNY Let me guess ... JENNY and PONCE (together) Tommy. JENNY (resigned) Fine. I'll wait for Tommy. (looks to ship) So, repairs. PONCE Right! Repairs. There's a moment of silence as Jenny watches Ponce start to root around the damaged portion of the hull. JENNY (a mix of trepidation and curiosity) Tell me, Ponce. How did you learn to repair spacecraft? SCENE 34 - HEAVEN'S GATE Outside, the crowd is impressive and now starting to fracture into camps, subgroups, and factions. It's among a camp of mostly healers that Ari and her small group of resistance fighters take refuge, using their position as a staging point into the back access alley of the building. The healers seem unhappily tolerating the males in their presence, males either dressed as females or hooded and clothed so as to appear androgynous. VIKKI While I'm not convinced about your particular choice in lifestyle, Sister, I agree that the emotions running thought this crowd are quickly becoming uncontrollable. ARI Thank you for agreeing to help, Sister. VIKKI (nods) Males are the seed of our future generations. Without them, we cease to exist. ARI We haven't time to get into that particular conversation right now. (beat) There's going to be a commotion soon. That'll be our only chance to secure the back entrance. Chris'll slip in and get everyone moving. VIKKI Where do we come in? ARI I need you to make sure the crowd's attention stays off that alley. (beat) And I don't much care how you do it. SCENE 35 - FELICIA'S SUITE, PALACE FELICIA sits at her vanity, brush in hand. Standing at her balcony doors, looking outside, is a stout and serious looking combat sister GUARD. Another stands in the doorway to the room. FELICIA (to reflection of the guard outside) Why can't I go to class again? We're having a test today, Theory and Application. The professor made it very clear that I wasn't allowed to make this one up. GUARD #1 Sorry, Your Highness. We're under orders. FELICIA Orders for what? To see how badly I can fail the Academy because of random emergencies of state? (tosses brush to table, frustrated) What is it this time? Caroll Region's Stewardess's birthday is today, and if I don't spend time with her brainless daughter, the crown loses the region's support for the space budget? GUARD #2 Nah. It's more the number of terror attacks your granny doesn't want you near. FELICIA Attacks? GUARD #1 You need not concern yourself with the details, Your Highness. Know that your grandmother has your safety and best interests in mind. FELICIA I'm sure she does. (beat) I'm staying in, then? GUARD #1 While this blows over, yes. FELICIA Right. Think we can get my tutor up here on such short notice? SCENE 36 - DEAN'S OFFICE, MAGICAL ACADEMY A SECRETARY is lead into the Dean's office by an Assassination Sister. Cassie seems to be pondering a spot on the carpet, her chin perched delicately on a paw. As the secretary fidgets, awaiting Cassie's acknowledgment, the guards' unwavering silver eyes stare at her. CASSIE Well? SECREATARY (jumps) Uh, the palace just called. CASSIE (slides gaze to Secretary) And? SECRETARY The princess has called for her tutor. CASSIE Has she? (beat) Interesting. (Leans forward, eyes on Secretary) Tutor of what? Cassie smiles an evil grin. TO BE CONTINUED