"Stagnation" by DJ Clawson and Dawvitch Night-Fall First draft - 8/25/00 Final draft - 8/31/00 Edited by Rygar SCENE 1 - UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS In the large conference room with the crescent-shaped desk of the Security Council, the two crews of The Screaming Mimi and The Indefatigable are gathered, standing in front of the council. The whole room is in an uproar until CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER bangs his gavel. FRITZ Order! Order! No one's going to get to hear any news until ... The room quiets, albeit slowly. FRITZ ... I get order. Thank you. (sits) Commander Dogstar, you have the floor. COMMANDER SIRIUS DOGSTAR visibly straightens himself before speaking. DOGSTAR I demand to know the meaning of this. If O'Hare was sent on a mission of such great importance as to call for radio silence, why wasn't my crew ... MIMI (interrupting) And *my* crew ... FRITZ (sternly) Mimi. DOGSTAR ... informed of this mission ... FRITZ *This* mission implies that it involved you, which it didn't. Respectfully, Commander, the decision only to involve the crew of The Righteous Indignation was not a personal judgment on either of you as captains, but a matter of strategy. Extreme secrecy was needed for the appropriate execution of ... Fritz halts in his speech as the large oak doors swing open, and the obviously emotionally battered Righteous crew stumbled in, minus their engineer. There is complete silence in the room for several moments; none of the crewmembers seems eager to speak, despite the fact they have the attentive audience of everyone in the room. FRITZ (with as much cautiousness as possible) Captain O'Hare. CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE looks up, seemingly from another world. He doesn't look in the mood to give his report. BUCKY Chairman, I ... (his eyes get a faraway look again) Jen, you give it. All eyes widen. Bucky has never failed to give a full report. The idea that their treasured engineer is dead is on the tip of everyone's tongue. JENNY (after some hesitation) Chairman Warner ... FRITZ Yes. JENNY Engineer DuWitt has ... been brainwashed by the toads. The room breaks out in hushed murmurs. Even the chairman seems to be a bit taken aback. He bangs on his gavel again for silence. FRITZ Are you positive? JENNY His allegiance is to KOMPLEX. I heard him say it. (beat, gaining some strength) The toads have apparently advanced their brainwashing technology to affect mammals. FIRST MATE JENNY doesn't look eager to say more with the same audience. Fritz seems to understand. FRITZ (to everyone, banging once on gavel) Meeting adjourned. Captain O'Hare and rest of the crew of The Righteous Indignation will give a full report in private to an investigative committee to be formed immediately. All others, please return to your stations. There is some disagreement, but all have to admit it seems the most appropriate way to handle it. The other crews shuffle and leave. SCENE 2 - SMALLER CONFERENCE CHAMBER, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS It is much later. Bucky and Jenny now sit on one side of a round table, across from certain members of the Security Council and several other mammals, including DETECTIVE MULLER. The chairman sits to the side of the main questioning group, acting as moderator. Though both officers have had a chance to collect themselves better, they still look rather worse for wear. MULLER And then you decided not to attempt to return DuWitt to Genus? BUCKY (more collected, but sadly) I made that decision. It would have been kidnapping -- Willy wasn't going to go willingly. (beat) Looking back, I realize I should have done it, but I ... wasn't ready to accept what was really going on. JENNY (supportively) None of us were. One of the group, a wolf in a lab coat named DR. LURIE who is a psychiatrist, speaks next. DR. LURIE Now, Captain O'Hare, you saw the entire brainwashing process ... BUCKY Yes. LURIE How long did the entire thing take? From when you last heard DuWitt resist to when he announced his defection? BUCKY (painfully) The zapping took about thirty seconds. He was unconscious for a couple minutes, maybe five. I wasn't looking at my watch. LURIE And when he woke up? BUCKY He was a little out of it at first, but he still answered their questions. LURIE And when he was fully conscious, what type of person was he? Was his personality changed at all? BUCKY (thinking about it) Not really. He talked about how great KOMPLEX was and referred to me as the enemy, but he was still really the same Willy. (beat) It was hard to tell. I was only there for a few minutes. LURIE (to Jenny) And did you get a chance to observe anything? JENNY He was entirely closed off to me. It wasn't mean, it just was cold. Like something he had been forced to do. LURIE But you still believe the brainwashing was legitimate? JENNY Yes. He gave every indication that it was. Muller then decides to speak again. MULLER Do you have any idea why Toadborg didn't attempt to brainwash either of you after the attempt with DuWitt was so successful? BUCKY Willy's brainwaves are different than ours. They're on a different frequency because he's from another dimension. That's why he was immune to the effects when the toads sent out those hypnotic TV signals three years ago. The toads must have figured that out. MULLER So you don't think this new technology would work on us? BUCKY No. There is a sigh of relief. Bucky looks annoyed that their own safety seems to be the thing concerning them most. BUCKY (stands) Chairman. Fritz, who's been on the sidelines for most of the conversation, snaps to attention. FRITZ Yes? BUCKY I'd like request the help of the rest of the fleet. We're going to need the full strength of the UAC for this mission. FRITZ What mission? BUCKY To rescue Willy, sir. FRITZ (not overly surprised) That's suicide, Bucky. And besides, you just said yourself Willy won't go willingly. BUCKY I'm willing to deal with that. I figure once we get him to Genus, I'm sure we can figure out *something* ... VICE CHAIRMAN SANZER GRIFF stands and bangs his fist on the table. GRIFF That's preposterous! We're not risking our entire fleet on a pipe dream. BUCKY (anger growing) Willy is not a pipe dream! He's a member of my crew. FRITZ (softly) Was. GRIFF (stands and paces) We understand your concerns, Captain O'Hare, but even if we *were* to authorize this mission, like the Chairman said, it would be suicide! Chances are they've taken DuWitt to the Toad Homeworld. No mammal has been to that planet since KOMPLEX took over and lived to tell about it, not even *you*. BUCKY Actually, I ... GRIFF (ignoring him) And even if you could break in past the entire toad fleet, you'd have to find DuWitt on a planet covered in seven layers of factories, sedate him in some fashion to get him to come with you, and then escape successfully! This is not breaking into some mothership, O'Hare, it's like breaking into a thousand motherships! We simply can't afford to risk it. BUCKY (to Fritz) Fritz, help me. FRITZ He's right, Bucky. I'm not saying we won't attempt to rescue Willy, but if we're going to do it, we have to wait until someone can come up with a *feasible* plan. BUCKY This is insane! (frustrated) Fine! Don't give me any help. But you can't stop my crew from going. Bucky stands and turns to leave. FRITZ Yes, we can. Bucky stops in his tracks and turns slowly to face the committee. BUCKY You can't take my crew from me! FRITZ (calmly) But we can take your ship from you. The Righteous Indignation is UAC property, and if you refuse to show the necessary self-control of someone of your rank in following the orders of this investigative committee, we will confiscate it until you agree to do so. For your own safety. Bucky's eyes widen in rage. He looks like a balloon getting ready to burst. Jenny stands and takes his paw, trying to calm him down. BUCKY You wouldn't do this. FRITZ I will if I have to. Before anyone can react, Bucky lunges at the Chairman, grabbing him by the throat and toppling the chair back onto the ground. The rest of the committee backs away as Griff calls for security. It takes both Jenny and KADAF WARNER, Fritz's bodyguard, to pull Bucky off Fritz before he chokes him. Bucky responds by letting loose the longest string of curses in his native Warrenian tongue that anyone has ever heard as he is further restrained when a baboon security guard enters. BUCKY (to the Chairman) You don't care about anyone! You just care about your own damn security and your damn investments! Is that all we are to you?! FRITZ (as neutrally as possible) Consider yourself under house arrest. I'm putting a guard on your apartment. BUCKY (enraged) YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE MONEY AND THE ... Bucky's voice drones out at he is carried off. Jenny, still shocked, turns to Fritz. For once, she can read his sadness clearly on his face, but it lasts only for a moment before he collects himself and his face clouds over again. FRITZ (with emotion) Jenny, take care of him. JENNY What about Willy? FRITZ We're doing everything we can. (beat) I mean it. Not sure whether to believe him, Jenny glances at Fritz cautiously before turning and leaving. Fritz sighs heavily, rubbing his bruised neck. The committee looks at him expectantly. FRITZ You're all dismissed, except Griff and Dr. Lurie. They get up, whispering to themselves, as Fritz slumps down into a chair. When they are gone, he turns to the two remaining mammals. FRITZ (to Lurie) What do we have in the way of anti-brainwashing technology? LURIE Very little. The base on Sludge has some documentation of the toad brainwashing technology, and the remaining toad creator living on Earth might have more. But it would take us a while to develop something workable. FRITZ I'm permitting you to use Lucas MacArthur as a test subject. LURIE Will he agree? FRITZ I'll make sure he will. Talk to my secretary about getting in contact with Dr. Green on Earth. You're dismissed. Dr. Lurie nods and leaves. GRIFF What about the Righteous crew? FRITZ They'll understand. Deadeye and Bruiser will be angry, but they're idiots, and they'll get over it. Fortunately, with Bucky under house arrest it leaves Jenny in charge, and she's got a cool head if I've ever seen one. Bucky's the only one who presents any real danger. He might ruin whatever chance we have of getting Willy back. GRIFF So you're just going to leave him cooped up in his apartment? FRITZ Or send him to Warren, if I have to. There are various ways to calm him down. He'll come around, but it'll take some effort. (beat) You're dismissed. I'd like to be alone for a little while. Griff looks like he has more to say, but doesn't. He wisely leaves the room, leaving the Chairman alone with his bodyguard, who sits down next to him and takes out a cigarette. Fritz puts his head in his paws and doesn't speak for a while. FRITZ Christ, I'd kill for a bud right now. KADAF You quit. FRITZ I'm aware. There is another long silence. Fritz appears to be thinking hard about something. FRITZ Call Dallion. I want to meet with him. KADAF (smiles) I was wondering when you were going to say that. SCENE 3 - TOAD HOMEWORLD In the AIR MARSHAL's office, he and TOADBORG are having a discussion with KOMPLEX, who is on a screen that covers the whole wall. TOADBORG The results from the computer indicate the machine worked perfectly. KOMPLEX Can he be trusted? TOADBORG I believe his loyalty to you is as solid as any toad's, but I will keep him under constant surveillance. AIR MARSHAL This could just be one of O'Hare's dirty tricks! We all know mammals can't be trusted. KOMPLEX The pathetic mammalian government on Genus has already contacted us about our defector. AIR MARSHAL They want a trade? KOMPLEX Of course. But if this mammal is as familiar with warp drive technology as they say he is, he is essential to the toad cause. There will be no negotiations with the mammals. AIR MARSHAL What about Bucky O'Hare? TOADBORG If that mangy rodent is foolish enough to even try to penetrate our defenses, we'll blast him out of the solar system! AIR MARSHAL I still don't think it's worth the risk ... KOMPLEX Enough! (to Toadborg) Send him in. Toadborg turns and pushes a button on the Air Marshal's desk. ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT enters. Instead of his baboon uniform, he is wearing a shirt with the toad symbol and a white lab coat, but he still has his jeans on. Otherwise he looks relatively the same, except for a small burn mark on his forehead where the laser went in. He stands before KOMPLEX and gives the toad salute -- a punch to the side of the head -- like clockwork. TOADBORG A perfect example of obedience. AIR MARSHAL We'll see. KOMPLEX So, mammal, are you ready to tell us Genus's defense secrets? WILLY Whatever I know, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. I just regret I don't know more. KOMPLEX What about warp drive technology? WILLY (with his usual analysis tone) Well, toad technology is pretty incompatible with mammalian technology, so it'll take me a while to figure out how to covert the accelerator over, but the basic theory is still the same. KOMPLEX Good. That will be your first assignment. (to Toadborg) I must speak with you in private. Toadborg bows and leaves the room as KOMPLEX disappears from the screen, leaving Willy and the Air Marshal to salute to his fading face. Willy manages to hit himself a little too hard in the head. WILLY Ow. AIR MARSHAL Yeah, you get used to that. I pad my hat. WILLY What a stupid salute. AIR MARSHAL (picking up paper from hiding spot behind desk) Well, what KOMPLEX says, goes. Want some flies? They're dipped in chocolate. WILLY No thanks. Yuck. AIR MARSHAL Right. Mammal. So what do you eat? WILLY Mainly plants and dead animals. AIR MARSHAL You mammals *eat* each other? That's disguising. WILLY It's OK when you don't think about it. (spies the paper) Hey! Crossword puzzle! AIR MARSHAL Take it. Willy takes the paper and looks at it. WILLY Seven-letter word for "our glorious leader"? AIR MARSHAL KOMPLEX. WILLY Seven-letter word for "the best thing to ever happen to the toad race" ... hey, I'm sensing a pattern here ... SCENE 4 - BUCKY'S APARTMENT, GENUS Bucky is pacing his apartment furiously. He clearly still has not calmed down. He stops in his tracks when he hears a knock at the door. Expecting it to be Jenny, he collects himself and sits down on the side of the bed. BUCKY Come. CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR enters. Bucky looks a little crestfallen but hides it. MIMI I heard about the house arrest. I'm sorry, Bucky. BUCKY Don't patronize me. Did you come here to guard me? MIMI Yes and no. BUCKY Why the "no?" MIMI Because I also came to talk some sense into you. BUCKY That committee's the thing you should be talking some sense into. MIMI The committee did not attack the Chairman of the Security Council. BUCKY Is that what this is about? MIMI Bucky, we know it's hard on you to lose Willy, but you're not exactly taking it well. BUCKY I admit that my outburst was a little ... extreme. And I'm sorry. But I still don't agree with the committee. MIMI Do you really think it would help Willy to get yourself killed just trying to penetrate the Toad Homeworld? Why not wait while we come up with a real plan that might not get everyone killed? BUCKY You sound like Fritz. (beat) He sent you, didn't he? What did he tell you to do? MIMI (coldly) I make my own decisions, thank you very much. My relationship with Fritz has nothing to do with you. BUCKY This again? I told you, Mimi, he feeds on people! He's just using you! Before Bucky can react, Mimi grabs him ferociously and slams him up against the wall, taking out her blaster and putting it to his head. MIMI You listen to me, *Captain* O'Hare. First of all, my relationship -- and yes, I mean "relationship" -- with Fritz is absolutely none of your business, and if you don't step out of it, I will promptly blast every green hair on your body into oblivion. Second of all, you're just angry at the toads for doing this to Willy, and since the toads aren't around, you're taking it out on the rabbit trying to help you. You and I both know that attacking the Chairman of the Security Council is a punishable offense and that any other member of Council would have your hide thrown in the brig for what you did. So as far as I'm concerned, Fritz has given you enough slack to play with, so I don't have to give you any. Are we clear? BUCKY (weakly) Yes. MIMI (backs off, holstering her blaster) Good. SCENE 5 - THE TOAD HOMEWORLD Later, Willy is in a toad laboratory, hunched over a desk and sitting in a chair much too small for him, as he scribbles notes on the side of a big blueprint. There's a beep at the door, and he doesn't look up from his work as the Air Marshal enters, carrying a tray of some indistinguishable matter. AIR MARSHAL How's it coming? WILLY Not well. Your energy system is entirely different from the mammals'. (looks at the tray) What is that? AIR MARSHAL Dead mammal. WILLY Is it *cooked* dead mammal? The Air Marshal shrugs. WILLY Well, I'll need my strength. This is an all-nighter. AIR MARSHAL Yeah, KOMPLEX is a real stickler for schedules, so you'd better be on his. He puts the "dead" in deadline. (beat) There was this one time we were really behind on this crystal shipment because Bucky O'Hare showed up and I got fired and had to ... (blinks) Oh, right. I kidnapped you. Sorry about that. No hard feelings, right? WILLY No, it's OK. I understand. AIR MARSHAL You do? WILLY I'd be pretty upset if KOMPLEX fired me. Besides, I was fighting for the wrong cause. AIR MARSHAL Wow, they really did a number on you, didn't they? WILLY (dumb) What do you mean? It then first occurs to the Air Marshal that the machine would destroy Willy's memory of being forcibly brainwashed. AIR MARSHAL Uh ... I mean the mammals. WILLY It's OK. We'll straighten them out. AIR MARSHAL So it'll just sort of happen? WILLY (shrugs, scribbling more notes) Everything meant to happen does sooner or latter. AIR MARSHAL You mean you just like to let things be. WILLY Yeah, that's why I'm a Taoist. AIR MARSHAL What's a ... Dow-ist? WILLY Someone who just lets things be. AIR MARSHAL So if I was a ... Dow-ist, I wouldn't have to worry all the time? WILLY Yeah. AIR MARSHAL Would I have to work? WILLY Yeah. AIR MARSHAL Damn. SCENE 6 - DOCKING BAY, GENUS The crew of the Righteous is waiting anxiously as Jenny approaches, looking tired. They salute. BRUISER What's goin' on, Jenny? JENNY Bucky's not well. He's ... at his apartment. The committee appreciates our information and promises to get back to us when they have a feasible plan to get Willy back. DEADEYE I don't see what plannin' needs to be done. We go and we get 'im. An' if he doesn' wanna come, Bruiser knocks some sense into 'im. JENNY (rolls her eyes) It's not that simple. We can't invade the Toad Homeworld looking for one human! We'd never be able to even get through the first level of their defenses before we were blown to pieces. BLINKY In statistical terms, this humble robot calculates that our mission would have a .00003% chance of success. JENNY Blinky's right. We need to give the Council time to figure a way to draw Willy out. Maybe the toads will agree to some kind of trade. GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK unclenches his fists. BRUISER All right. If dat's what the Cap'n says. Jenny chooses to not respond to that comment. JENNY We're all to stay on Genus and await further orders. I suggest you all do whatever you have to to calm down, and that means no going off on crazy missions to save Willy, especially *alone*. Understood? They nod hesitantly and salute. JENNY Good. (turning away) At least *some* people are handling this. SCENE 7 - ROOF, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Fritz is on the roof of the council building, staring impatiently at the sky. Kadaf is leaning on the rail and smoking, apparently not paying much attention. A large figure shoots into the atmosphere, covered in metal body armor. It's DALLION. He swoops low and lands about ten feet from where Fritz is standing. His armor retracts, and what little flesh and fur that's left of the wolf is visible. He's obviously in a bad mood. DALLION (mockingly) You called? FRITZ Yes, this is serious. DuWitt has been brainwashed by the toads. Dallion does a visible double take. DALLION Willy DuWitt, the engineer on The Righteous Indignation? Fritz nods. Dallion recoils in horror, and Fritz detects a shudder of sadness amid the mass of flesh and metal. DALLION (distantly) Where is he? FRITZ Our guess is the Toad Homeworld, which makes him practically untouchable. In fact, no mammal has escaped from deep within the Toad Homeworld since KOMPLEX took over ... except you. The cybernetic wolf's metal claws clamp angrily. The mention of Dallion's capture and escape are causing memories to surface he doesn't need to deal with at the moment. But he calms himself. DALLION (thinking) (to Fritz, with hesitation) Is he ... being studied like a strange alien like the toads did to me ... is he being tortured? FRITZ We don't see why they would. They're after his brains, not his body. But we honestly don't know. DALLION What do you want me to do? FRITZ You're the only mammal who's fought capture, brainwashing, and mind control, and escaped successfully. We need to know how you did it. DALLION (thinks for a moment) Well, the toads never really used a form of brainwashing on me. It was all mainly body control provided by the neurocontroller that was implanted in my brain. FRITZ And how was that used against you? DALLION It has ... *had* two functions. Typically, the first thing that the toads would use would be a pain-inducer function. The neuro device would emit pulses of energy that would cause severe pain throughout my entire body. Almost how a whip would be used on a disobedient slave. The other function was to take control of my body. FRITZ How? DALLION The neuro device would send commands to other implants that are attached to almost every major muscle in my body. The signals would instruct the other devices to cause my body to move how the toads wished it ... almost like a puppet having its strings pulled. FRITZ If the toads had such control over you, how the hell did you even have the free will to escape? DALLION The neurocontroller used the living nerves in my body to send messages to the muscle-controlling implants. These signals put a lot of strain on the nerves. If the device were used constantly, my entire nervous system would be destroyed in a matter of weeks. FRITZ So, your implant was only used as a last resort to control you? Was there anything else that the toads used to control you? DALLION No. FRITZ So you have no clue or knowledge of their mind-control technology. DALLION I'm afraid not. The toads never tampered with my mind ... Dallion opens both his paws and extends his arms to both sides, giving Fritz a clear view of his cybernetic body. DALLION ... only my body. FRITZ Damn. There is silence for a moment. DALLION Well, I do have this ... Dallion reaches down to his waist and opens a small compartment on his right side. He then pulls out five miniature round disks. FRITZ What are those? DALLION These are some microdisks that I stole from the toad labs as I was escaping from their planet. They contain information on my cybernetics that I used for upgrading myself, but they also contain various other projects and experiments. (beat) Perhaps there just might be something of use on them. FRITZ Well, it's a start, but no sense in being pessimistic. (beat) OK, so how about your ability to get away from the toad world? DALLION It took months of planning during my slavery there. After being labeled as a failed experiment, the toads figured that since they had invested so much cybernetics in me to keep me alive for the experiments, I had to, how should I say, "pay back the bill" for my cybernetics through slavery. So they gave me a right arm and legs so that I could work for them. (beat) I was put to work in the labs where I was studied. I was used as a simple drone droid whose only purpose was to fetch and deliver items throughout the labs. (beat) However, while I worked, I also learned. I learned many things about the experiments that the toads were working on. That's how I found out about my cloaking device, my scanner, my thrusters, and other things that make up this body of mine. (beat) Over time, I had hidden artifacts from the labs in a way to be unnoticeable by the toads. Finally, one day, I was able to get my claws on a special, armored space suit and a working prototype of a cloaking device. With those items, and the others that I had stolen previously, I was able to escape from the toad world. FRITZ This lab that you mentioned ... were there any specific areas of study that they conducted? DALLION It depended on which part of the labs you were in. I don't know much about the area that I was in during the experiments on me since I wasn't conscious very often. Once I was revived and made to work, I never went back into that side of the labs again. I was only in the weapons development area after that. FRITZ (thinks for a moment) (to Dallion) How about your stealth abilities? DALLION My cloaking device can keep me in stealth for about half an hour before its power is drained. The power cell is a self-recharging unit. However, it takes about ten hours to recharge from dead to full power again. FRITZ Sounds like for every minute of stealth, you need twenty minutes of recharge time. DALLION That's right. FRITZ So you can really only use your stealth when it really matters, since you have such short periods of time along with a slow recharge phase. Fritz remains silent, and clearly has an expression of deep thought across his face. After a moment, he turns back to Dallion. FRITZ Well, this conversation seems to be getting deeper and deeper. Let's go inside, where there will be fewer ears about. I also would like to get these disks analyzed as soon as possible. Fritz motions for Dallion to enter the stairwell that leads back into the building. Dallion enters into the stairwell with Fritz right behind. SCENE 8 - COUNCILLOR'S LOUNGE, GENUS CAPITOL BULDING Dallion stands alone in the lounge, looking out the large windows overlooking the city. His left gauntlet is detached from his arm and is hung on his belt. In his bare claws, Dallion holds a glass of water. In order to drink from the glass, he has to tilt his head back and let the water fall into his mouth, since he has no lips on his metallic jaws. After a few moments, Fritz enters into the room. Dallion turns to make eye contact with him. DALLION You don't seem pleased, Warner. FRITZ (more to himself) Things can never be easy, can they? (to Dallion) Your data disk held a lot of interesting technological information ... Fritz's voice trails off. DALLION But? FRITZ ... but nothing on any form of mind control technology. I guess that we will have to go about this the hard way, as usual. (focuses attention on Dallion) I have an assignment for you. Dallion appears to stand straighter from Fritz's words. FRITZ There are only a few persons who have been to and back from the Toad Homeworld during these years of war. Unfortunately, most of those persons are not expendable to be sent on such a mission to the toad world, and others are in no condition to give me confidence of success at this point. So, I'm not left with many choices. Fritz walks closer up to Dallion. FRITZ Dallion, I need you to infiltrate the toad world to gather the data we need. Dallion appears to be taken aback by Fritz. DALLION Infiltrate? FRITZ Yes. I know that it is a whole planet that you have to search through, but you already know of the best place to start with. You should start your search with the labs where you were studied ... if they are still there. You can access toad computers, can't you? DALLION Yes, so far. FRITZ Good, most likely the easiest way for you to gather data is through the toad's computer network. DALLION (cutting in) Why just go for information? Why not go for DuWitt as well? FRITZ DuWitt can't be the focus of the mission. The data comes first. If you have the chance to get DuWitt, do it, but not at the cost of the data. (beat) To rescue Willy without the mind control information is almost pointless. The toads would still have control over him and we would have no choice but to treat him as a prisoner of war. We need that technology to aid us in getting Willy back to normal as easily and painlessly as possible and to prevent any future situations with this problem. (beat) The data is the goal, not the victim. I hate to sound cold-hearted, but ... Dallion holds a paw up in front of Fritz. DALLION I understand completely, Warner, and I totally agree with you. But you do realize that by sending me to the toad world, DuWitt will be the least of my distractions for this mission. FRITZ Dallion, you're one of my last options, not one of my favorites. I realize that with you being on the Toad Homeworld, you will have an endless supply of toads to ... take your past frustrations out on, to say the least. (beat) You are the best option for me to go on right now, regardless of the disadvantages that you bring into this. The toads will be expecting Bucky to fly into their grasps like a bat out of hell ... hell-bent on getting Willy back. That's one of the reasons why Bucky is not to have anything to do with this ... (rubs his throat) ... among the other reasons. (beat) If we take Bucky and Willy out of the equation and put you and the data in their places, that will give us the best advantage for surprise that we can hope for. Plus, your stealth abilities, however limited, will be a definite plus. (beat) Well, can I count on you to do this for me? Dallion turns away from Fritz to face back out the window. DALLION (thinking) Dallion's mind races. He sees images of a horribly injured wolf on a laboratory table. The wolf is a bloody mess, with one arm missing and many wires, tubes, IVs, probes, and electrodes stabbed into his body. Dallion's eyes appear to twitch. He shakes his head in an attempt to drive the memories out of his mind. SCENE 9 - ASTEROID BELT, EDGE OF TOAD-OCCUPIED SPACE A group of toad supply transports with fighter escorts slowly makes its way through. From a large, distant asteroid, Dallion watches the group of ships. Dallion looks down to his right forearm and checks the display panel. It reads "Cloaking Power: 100%." DALLION (thinking) Dallion closes the display on his arm and activates his stealth mode. He then quickly makes his way toward the toad ships. The toads show no sign of being aware of Dallion's presence. Dallion attaches himself to the underside of a transport's thruster wing. Shortly after doing so, he deactivates his stealth to save its power. DALLION (thinking) SCENE 10 - TOAD MILITARY CHECKPOINT The group of toad supply carriers comes to a stop in the middle of a medium-sized fleet of toad fighters. On one of the carriers, Dallion's form can barely be seen. Once the carriers have come to a complete stop, a group of seven scanners begin to comb across every carrier. After figuring out what is going on, Dallion places a claw on his cloaking device's activation button. Every time a sensor comes close, Dallion switches on the device to hide from the sensors. As soon as they pass, he turns the device back off, not wasting a second more of his cloaker's power than he has to. However, one sensor catches him just before he can trigger his cloaker. The sensor acts like a person who has seen something out of the corner of his eye. It zeroes in on the general area of Dallion's position but does not focus in as if it knew what was there. The sensor sweeps back and forth over and over, looking for the image of Dallion that it picked up earlier. Dallion begins to tense up, as it appears that the sensor will detect him. The sensor then stops moving and positions itself right in front of Dallion's face, then flies away to continue to scan the rest of the ship. Dallion releases a giant sigh of relief as he relaxes. DALLION (thinking) The group of sensors eventually flies away from the carriers as a voice can be heard. VOICE Supply fleet, you are clear to proceed into inner toad space. SCENE 11 - TOAD HOMEWORLD ORBIT The supply fleet enters into a stable orbit about the Toad Homeworld. Dallion is still attached to the underside of a carrier. He looks upward at the looming metallic planet just above him. DALLION (thinking) The same quick scenes flash through Dallion's mind that did back in the lounge of the Genus capitol building. Dallion's mechanical eye flares into a burning red light as he growls deeply. However, he quickly shuts his eyes tightly. DALLION (thinking) Dallion runs a quick check over his body and armor, as he appears to be waiting for something. When a group of PTO planet-to-orbit transports approaches the supply fleet, Dallion switches to stealth mode and moves his way up to the bay doors of his carrier. He uses only short, controlled bursts from his thrusters to keep from compromising his stealth. Just as he arrives at the bay doors, they open up to let the PTOs into the carrier. As they enter, so does Dallion. His ghost-like image then moves to a far side of the bay. Dallion's mechanical eye scans some computer printouts layered over the live images are visible. A menu opens up and an option for "Ship Schematics" is selected. The menus then progress through options "TE-SC435," "Electronics," and "System Maintenance Terminals." The screen then brings up a map of the carrier and shows the location of the ship's maintenance terminals. One just happens to be in the back of the hangar bay. Dallion quickly makes his way to the back of the hangar where some terminals are located. Fortunately, no one is stationed at the terminals at the moment, since everyone in the bay is loading the PTOs. Dallion extends his computer interface probe out of his right wrist and inserts it into the interface port on the terminal. The screen flashes through a few menus, then brings up a menu titled "Communication Maintenance." From here, Dallion brings up the status on the ship's communication frequencies. He sets his comm unit to receive the frequencies. Dallion then navigates through another set of menus until he comes to "Scanner System Maintenance." He selects an option to run the system's test program. The program asks Dallion to select a target to test the scanners on. He selects the planet. The program then asks Dallion for the number of cycles the scanning tester should run. Dallion inputs "100." "Confirm execution of test program?" the screen reads. Dallion answers, "Yes." Upon that execution, Dallion disconnects himself from the terminal and quickly makes his way out of the hangar. However, before he can get out, he runs into a group of about six TOADS that are carrying some boxes, knocking almost all of them to the floor. Dallion's ghostly figure slowly backs away in fear that he has blown his cover. TOAD #1 Dammit, Melvin! You stupid, clumsy tadpole! You're always tripping everyone up! MELVIN (at a loss) What? It wasn't me this time, I swear! Something ran into me! TOAD #2 And you're always making excuses to blame someone else, too! MELVIN But ... but ... I ... TOADS #3 - #5 (in unison) SHUT UP, MELVIN! Seeing that all is well, Dallion leaves the hangar of the ship. Once back outside, Dallion situates himself back into his hiding spot on the underside of the carrier and deactivates his cloaker. The device reads "87% - recharging." He then places his right paw against the side of his helmet while he listens in on the ship's comm frequency. After a few moments, a voice seems to address the ship. VOICE (over comm) Carrier 589, come in. This is control. Over. VOICE #2 (over comm) This is Carrier 589, go ahead, control. VOICE Carrier 589, we are detecting a scanning signal coming from your ship to the planet, can you confirm this? Over. VOICE #2 Please stand by while we check. (beat) That is affirmative, control. I show that maintenance is running a systems test on the scanners. Over. VOICE Confirmed. Over and out. Once the conversation is over, Dallion drops his right paw from his helmet and activates his own scanner from his mechanical eye. DALLION (thinking) The surface of the planet is visible though Dallion's electronic eye. A small window opens up in the view to show an image of a group of structures on the toad world. Beside the picture are the words "Scanning For Match." DALLION (thinking) The picture remains in the frame while the background scans across the surface of the planet. After a few moments of scanning, three other windows appear with pictures that are similar to the original. Under the three new windows is a phrase that says "Possible Matches." Dallion looks closely at the three images to try to tell them apart and to see which one is the right one. Each one is very close to the first picture, with some subtle differences. DALLION (thinking) The middle picture's frame highlights, while the other two drop out of the display. The original window drops its image to show the position on the planet where the middle picture came from. SCENE 12 - TOAD HOMEWORLD The sky is filled with transport ships. Some are going from one place on the planet to another. Others are traveling from surface to orbit or vice versa. As Dallion rides a transport toward the planet, he keeps his attention on the surface below. The transport is at a very low altitude, so he is able to see things with great detail. From Dallion's point of view, the structures can be seen coming up from the horizon. Just before Dallion's transport begins to bear off from the buildings, Dallion cloaks himself again and drops off of the transport. Using only the bare minimum amount of thrust to keep himself from falling too fast, Dallion lands down on top of a train car on a track that leads into the cluster of buildings. Through the windows of the cars, Dallion can see many TOADS in different types of working clothes and some with soldier uniforms. Some look up to the ceiling of the car after they hear the banging noise Dallion made when landing onto the roof of the car. SOLDIER TOAD (looking upward) What the? ... Looking up ahead, Dallion sees a tunnel that leads into the lower levels of the buildings. The train is heading toward them. DALLION (thinking) Dallion lies himself down flat onto the top of the train car, digging all his claws into the steel to secure his grip. Looking at his stealth power meter, it says "63% - On." The train enters into the darkness, taking Dallion with it, with only a few inches between the tunnel and Dallion's back to spare. SCENE 13 - TRAIN STATION, TOAD HOMEWORLD The train comes to a stop in the overcrowded station. The doors of the train open up, and the masses of toads on the outside of the train fight their way in, while all those inside fight their way out. A group of four TOAD SOLDIERS makes its way out of the train and into view. TOAD SOLDIER #1 I'm serious about this! Go up to the control car and make sure that this train stays put! TOAD SOLDIER #2 (shrugging) All right, but I think it's a waste of time. TOAD SOLDIER #1 Your opinion wasn't a part of my order to you. (to the other two toads) I want to get a look at the top of this train before we can let it leave. Having the natural ability to jump high, the three toads jump up to the top of the train. Each looks about for a few moments. TOAD SOLDIER #3 There's nothing up here. TOAD SOLDIER #1 There has to be something. Something hit the top of the train. Something that loud had to make a mark, a dent, or something. TOAD SOLDIER #4 (waving to the other two) Hey, look at this. The two toads walk over a few feet down from their position to meet up with the other, who is pointing down to the roof of the train. Four sets of deep gashes are visible in the top of the train. Just off in the background, an open grate to a maintenance service duct is being closed from the inside by a metallic paw. Dallion climbs up a ladder in the duct that is almost too small for him to fit in. At some points, he struggles to squeeze himself through. DALLION (thinking) Dallion comes up to the top of the ladder that brings him into a four-way intersection. Out of the four, Dallion chooses the darkest one to continue his way. SCENE 14 - METALLIC CORRIDOR The corridor is filled with toads bustling about -- toads with hover carts carrying various machine parts, others with extremely dirty clothing, the occasional soldier patrolling the area, and one TOAD in particular. This toad is dressed in a blue work suit that has pockets on every part of it, with the exception of the back. On the back of his suit is the symbol of the toad empire. Strapped around his waist is a large tool belt. TOAD (to himself) Ah, here we are. The toad comes to a stop just below a vent-like structure. On the wall just below the vent is a small control pad where the toad hits a few keys. Afterward, the vent above his head opens up, and a ladder slides down out of the exposed duct. The toad immediately ascends the ladder into the duct. TOAD (to himself) I hope this is a quick fix. I was taken off of my lunch break to fix this. The toad reaches the top of the ladder and proceeds down the duct, walking with his legs bent and head slightly lowered to keep from hitting it on the top of the duct. The duct is filled with tubes, wire clusters, and service boxes on each wall. He turns on a flashlight as he leaves the light from the opening in the duct where he came in. After a few moments of walking and taking a few turns down other ducts, he comes to a stop in front of a particular service box. TOAD (to himself) Hmmm ... box number 2G548O? The toad looks over the cover of the box. TOAD (to himself) Yup, this is it. Now, let's see what the problem is. The toad opens up the box and sits down in front of it. He reads the display for a few moments and then pulls out a few small tools out of his belt. Using his tools, he removes the cover off of a device in the box. Under the cover is a series of horizontal wires, each with a soft, bluish glow, except for one. TOAD (to himself) There you are, you worthless piece of crap that cost me half of my lunch break. Using another tool, the toad removes a small cylindrical device that is hooked up in line with the dead wire. The toad continues to work on the device with it in his lap. From behind him, large razor-sharp claws begin to close in on the toad's head. Just when they are inches away, the claws stop and quiver for a moment, clench into a fist, then jerk away, out of view. Just as the claws are gone, the toad whips his head around to look behind him. TOAD (aloud) Is someone there? The toad sits still, listening. He then shrugs and goes back to his work. He then brings the cylinder back into view as he reconnects it to the wires. Once this is done, the wires come to life with a blue glow. TOAD (aloud) Damn, I'm good. (beat) Actually, I'm hungry ... very hungry. The toad quickly puts the cover back on the device and closes the service box. TOAD There, that should restore the network feed to the west labs. After gathering his tools and putting them back into his belt, the toad leaves. Shortly after, Dallion crawls his way up to the service box. DALLION (thinking) Dallion reopens the service box and looks into it for a moment. DALLION (thinking) Still looking at all of the displays, devices, and plug-in ports, Dallion finds one that pleases him. Holding up his right arm, his data interface probe extends out from his wrist. Dallion then plugs himself into the port. A small display lights up just above the port where some computer syntax gibberish scrolls by, followed by a line reading "Access Granted. Downloading Information Requested." A wire-frame map of the building cluster appears with the words "Capitol Research Center." The map runs through the different levels of the research center, each one with a title beside it. Of them, a few are: Bioengineering, Terraforming, Environmental Engineering, Quantum Research, and Metallurgy. The titles continue to flash by until the screen stops on one: Cybernetics. A growl begins to emanate from Dallion's throat. With his eyes narrowing, he probes deeper into the cybernetics files. SCENE 15 - KOMPLEX CORE ROOM The room is filled with multitudes of computer screens, each one with lines of processes whizzing by. One screen stops its pattern and goes blank for a moment before lines of text appear. >>Irregular Requests From Maintenance Terminal >>Probing Client... >>Client Probed The screen wipes away all text, and an image of a small device with a long rod coming out of it is displayed. The screen prints out just below the image: >>Class 3 work droid data interface probe >>Obsolete and no longer in service >>Scanning for matching devices still in service The image of the device moves up to the top of the screen, while another window opens up in the middle of the screen. This window flashes though outlined images of what appear to be various types of droids. The images then stop on one outline with the words "Serial Number Match" beside it. The window with the outline in it then enlarges to fill the whole screen. A white line scans from the top of the outline to the bottom, filling in the details of the image. The picture looks very similar to Dallion, but much more primitive. There are no claws on him, his left arm is bare, his legs are just simple hydraulic-driven stilts, his right arm is also very simple, and there are no thrusters on his body. It is the state that Dallion was in when he was a slave droid to the toads. Ominous laughter fills the room as the great screen in the middle of the room lights up with the image of KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX (with a devious tone) Welcome home, wolf. You're snooping around my data network. You must be here for that human. I could just simply terminate your network access right here, but that would let you know that I'm aware of you. Since you're here for the human, I guess that I had better give him to you. And when I do, you will become mine once again. KOMPLEX continues to laugh. SCENE 16 - SERVICE DUCTS Dallion continues his searching. He also looks at his cloaker's power display, reading, "68% - recharging." DALLION (thinking) Dallion continues to probe when suddenly, he jerks his probe out of the terminal, presses his back firmly against the wall behind him, shuts his eyes, and turns his head away from the screen. On the screen, there is an image of Dallion's mangled body lying on an operating table with the words "Subject SP398027469384 - Experimentation Aborted." Dallion's breathing becomes very deep and rapid as he opens his eyes and stares back into the screen. After a moment of seeming to be paralyzed, Dallion inserts his probe back into the interface and continues. The images of Dallion's pre-cybernetic state are quickly wiped away. DALLION (thinking) Dallion continues his downloads of information. He finally comes up to a screen that reads "Mammalian Mind Control." DALLION (thinking) Just as he starts to probe, the display fills with big red letters: "Information currently not available on general circuits. Please access from direct lab area terminals." DALLION (discouraged, thinking) The screen returns to the map mode, then flashes through many sets of floor maps. DALLION (thinking) The map scans through the intricate network of service ducts that leads to the area of the facility that he must get to. It indicates that Dallion must pass through the cybernetics level before he gets there. DALLION (thinking) Dallion downloads the directions into his data banks, disconnects himself from the terminal, and then proceeds away. SCENE 17 - SERVICE DUCTS, LOWER LEVELS Dallion makes his way through the small spaces, still just barely fitting in some spots. As he press on, he hears the sounds of an argument coming from farther up the duct. He continues onward until he comes to the source of the noise. Through another vent-like opening, Dallion looks through to see a group of toad soldiers pulling on a Corsair Canard -- DRAYKE. Drayke and five toads are in an operating room. Four of the TOADS are trying to secure Drayke to a table while another LAB TOAD in a white coat watches on. DRAYKE What is the meaning of this? I have pledged my full services to the toad empire! TOAD #1 Yes you did, but things have changed. We now have full control of your company's assets. So now that we don't need you anymore, we've decided to make use of you in another way. TOAD #2 (cocky) Yeah, consider this to be your vote off of the executive board! The toads laugh at the comment, while Drayke curses as loud as he can. DRAYKE What about my family? What are you going to do with them? LAB TOAD Don't worry, we're taking good care of them. Since we lost all of our test subjects for our cybernetic research when your building was raided, we desperately need new subjects. The door to the lab room opens up, letting the screams of three female voices flood into the room. TOAD #4 Ah, here they are now. Another four toads enter in with three other Corsair Canards. One is a grown female -- DRAYKE'S WIFE. One appears to be a teenaged girl, and the third is a very small female about five years old. Each one is screaming in horror as they are dragged into the room. DRAYKE (screaming) YOU BASTARDS! DON'T YOU DARE HURT THEM! LAB TOAD Well, when we drug them up, they won't feel a thing, I promise. All of the toads in the room laugh aloud. In the ducts, Dallion continues to listen to the cries of the Canards. He grits his teeth. DALLION (thinking) Dallion begins to head on his original course down the ducts. A loud scream from the youngest Canard causes him to stop. DALLION (thinking) Dallion continues down the duct again, this time out of view. SCENE 18 - LAB ROOM Each member of the Drayke family has now been strapped down onto a separate table. The only toad left in the room is the lab toad. The room is now quiet, since the four ducks have had their beaks tapped shut. Only their faint, muffled screams can be heard. LAB TOAD (picking up some cutting tools) Let me see, which one should I start with first? The toad paces back and forth in front of the four tables. LAB TOAD (pointing) You. The toad points toward the youngest duck. Drayke begins to thrash about franticly in a futile attempt to stop the toad. The toad activates a small rotary blade as he approaches the little girl. Drayke's movements become even more violent. The other two females, appearing to be completely exhausted, can only cry at this point. LAB TOAD Now, this is going to kill my hearing, but I need to start with your mouth. The toad rips off the tape holding the little girl's beak shut, and a glass-shattering scream floods the room once again. LAB TOAD (putting arms around his own head) Argh! The toad reaches over and picks up a syringe, then injects its contents into the little duck. Her screams begin to fade away. LAB TOAD There, that shut you up! Just as the sound of the spinning of the toad's blade is heard, another loud noise erupts. The toad drops the blade and turns to see an open vent in the ceiling of the back corner of the room. A steady tempo of stomping noises is heard coming from the back corner of the room, but there is no one there. The stomping travels around the tables and to the front of the room where the door is. The stomping noise stops at the door. LAB TOAD (confused) What in the name of KOMPLEX is going on? Suddenly, the door to the lab room is shut, and the stomping noises are heard again. This time, they are moving in the direction of the center of the room where the tables are. LAB TOAD (very confused) What in the ... The toad chokes on his words as he is lifted up into the air. Blood begins to flow out of the toad from the center of his stomach. The blood seems to flow over nothing to form the arm of something that couldn't originally be seen. The toad's body twitches for a bit, then stills. Once it has, the body is dropped down to the floor. With a few waves of electricity around the air of the ghostly arm, Dallion's body appears. Dallion quickly removes the tape from around Drayke's beak. DRAYKE Dallion! What are you doing here? DALLION (unbinding Drayke) No time to talk. I need to get you and these others out of here as quickly as possible. DRAYKE (getting up off of the table) Yes. This is my family, my wife and two daughters. This is the reason why I was serving the toads. Drayke helps Dallion remove the restraints on Drayke's wife. DRAYKE They held them hostage to force me to make my company work for them. After releasing the three females from their restraints, Dallion escorts them all to the back of the room where the entrance into the ducts is. He lifts each one of them up and into the ducts, and then goes back to the center of the room. Dallion picks up the dead toad, puts him onto one of the tables, and then drapes a sheet over him. After doing so, he himself enters into the ducts, closing the vent behind him. In the duct, Dallion is positioned on one side of the duct opening, and Drayke and his family on the other. Drayke and Dallion face each other, while Drayke's wife remains behind her husband, clutching her daughters tightly. DRAYKE What now? DALLION Now I must carry on with my mission. I wasn't sent here for you. DRAYKE Then why are you here? DALLION I'm searching for data on any mind control experiments that the toads are working on. I have to get to a direct terminal in those particular labs that are further down. DRAYKE So, you just happened to be passing by, is that it? DALLION Correct. DRAYKE (with a slight gasp) Well, I must be the luckiest bastard in the aniverse right now. DALLION Do you think that you can escape from here on your own? It would greatly hamper my mission to be dragging you all around. DRAYKE I'm sure that we can. I'm willing to bet that many of the toads in this building still think that I work for them. (turns to look at his family) I have no reason to serve the toads now that I have my family back. This is the first time that I've seen them in years. (back to Dallion) I was always free to come and go as I pleased from this planet, just as long as the only two places I went were here and my corporate headquarters on Ultess. (beat) Plus, my escape might keep your cover intact by blaming this incident on me rather than on you. DALLION (agreeing) Quite right. (beat) Well, then I wish you luck in getting you and your family to safety. DRAYKE And I to you for your mission. The two nod at each other, then go their separate ways. SCENE 19 - ANOTHER LAB ROOM The lab room is filled with many research tables where various species of mammals are bound down with circuitry attached to their heads. The big machines that they are attached to appear to be reading their brain waves. Also in the room are four toad lab TECHS. A panel in the ceiling opens up and then closes back with nothing apparently going in or out of the portal. One of the toad techs walks by leisurely while looking at and recording a few of the readouts from the various displays. The toad then takes a sudden turn and runs into one of the machines. He hits the machine headfirst and drops to the floor, unconscious. The other toads in the room turn to see what had just happened. TECH #1 What happened? TECH #2 Walter just hit his head on one of the panels. He must have been more busy reading data than watching were he was going. TECH #3 Well, he's not bleeding, but I'll call for a medic anyway. Just as the technician reaches for his communicator, he also runs into a machine headfirst. While the other two have a dumbfounded look on their faces, they too hit the machine. However, they appear to have been thrown into it rather than running into it. Once all four are unconscious, a red beam of light comes out of the air above the toads, shining in all directions. Shortly after, Dallion's form appears. DALLION (thinking) Dallion walks about the room, looking for a data port that he can plug into. He also looks at the test subjects on the research tables. Each one appears to be completely oblivious to the world outside of his or her body. DALLION (thinking) Dallion finally finds a port and plugs into it. The screen above the port displays "Access Granted." Dallion begins downloading the information out of the computer. While doing so, he periodically scans the area to see if any toads are approaching. All is clear still. The downloading continues for a long period of time. From the display of Dallion's eye, the massive amounts of data can be seen streaming into him. Then a message appears saying "Data Banks Full." Soon after, another set of messages appear. >>Purge unwanted data to make room? - Yes >>Select data to purge >>Purging 'Capitol Research Center Maps' >>Continue Downloads? - Yes The downloading continues. >>Data Banks Full >>Purge unwanted data to make room? - Yes >>Select data to purge >>Purging 'Cybernetics Research' >>Continue Downloads? - Yes Among the streaming data, an image pops up and remains on the display. It is an image of Willy. Dallion then probes down through the files that concern Willy. The following messages come up: >>Subject: Human >>Current Status: Subject being researched in lab B3876 >>Obtaining Location of lab B3876... A map pops up to show the location of the lab. The lab is just down the corridor from the one that Dallion is in. DALLION (thinking) Finally, a message comes up saying "Download Complete." Dallion removes himself from the interface and leaves the lab, this time through the doors. SCENE 20 - LARGE LAB ROOM This lab room looks as if it were made to study hundreds of subjects at one time. The number of operating tables is staggering. Each one is empty, save for one. That one has Willy strapped down to it. He is shouting at the top of his lungs. WILLY (shouting) HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME! LET ME OUT OF HERE! Willy's voice is somewhat hoarse, indicating that he has been there for a while. A pair of doors open up, and Dallion enters into the lab. DALLION (in amazement) Willy! WILLY (looking towards Dallion) Dallion! Get me out of here, please! Without wasting any time, Dallion rushes across the large lab to Willy's side. He immediately begins to unbind Willy from the table. DALLION (helping Willy off of the table) Come on, I'm getting you out of here. WILLY Thanks, Dallion. But before we leave, I need to do something first. (shouting suddenly) *Now!* A group of three toads pop up from hiding places in the lab from behind Dallion. Each one has a strange kind of gun. All three fire their weapons, which spew out a grayish muck that splatters all over Dallion's back. The goo then turns into a clay-like substance that remains stuck on the back of the cyborg. Out of instinct, Dallion turns around and attacks the three toads. All three are slashed down in the blink of an eye. Dallion turns back around to see that Willy is gone. Just afterward, the doors that Dallion entered into the room with close, with two other layers of blast doors closing over it. DALLION (angrily) It's a trap! An ominous laughter fills the room as several terminals in the lab light up with the image of KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX How perceptive of you to notice, wolf. If I were you, I wouldn't plan on using your thrusters any time soon. That substance that covers your back is a highly explosive compound. The slightest flame would ignite it. And with the amount on your back, there would be nothing left of you or anything else within thirty feet. As KOMPLEX laughs more, Dallion swells with anger. Dallion turns and tries to open the doors, but they are too strong for him to move. He begins to bash and claw at the doors, causing minor damage to it. KOMPLEX There's no escape for you now, my little cyborg. The room begins to rumble just a bit. Dallion turns to look in the direction of the noise. He sees the far wall of the lab begin to bend and crack as if something were bashing its way into the room. The wall finally explodes open to reveal a massive robot. It has a Toadborg-like shape, but with enormous arms and fists. The robot is almost twice the size of Dallion. KOMPLEX Allow me to introduce you to one of my latest creations, the BCB, or Baboon Counter Bot. Just after KOMPLEX's words, the BCB charges into the room toward Dallion. It knocks every obstacle in the room out of its way. Dallion stands with a strong defense as he stares into the approaching robot. Just as it is within range, the BCB swings one of its huge fists at Dallion. The cyborg just barely moves out of the way of the attack as he rolls around to the back of the BCB. Staring at the massive back of the robot, Dallion swings his claws and slashes down the spine of the BCB. Sparks fly in all directions from the contact of the claws and the metal. To Dallion's astonishment, no damage is done to the BCB. DALLION (surprised) What? Taking advantage of Dallion's state of wonder, the BCB swings a back-fist that connects with Dallion. Dallion is thrown through the air and hits the wall on the other side of the lab. Everything on the wall where Dallion hit is completely smashed. Dallion is slow to get to his feet, as he is dazed by the strength of the BCB. KOMPLEX (cocky tone) Don't worry, wolf. The compound can't be ignited by anything other than fire. Just as Dallion is able to return to his feet, the BCB is once again upon him. It reaches down, grabs him, and then throws him to the other side of the lab. Once again, everything is destroyed by Dallion's impact. Getting to his feet quicker this time, Dallion is able to back away from the BCB. While keeping the distance between him and the robot, Dallion looks about for a way out of the lab, but there is none. The BCB lunges toward Dallion again. Dallion dodges the attacks by the BCB and counters it with attacks of his own. Still, Dallion is unable to inflict any damage on the massive robot. DALLION (thinking) Dallion continues to dodge the attacks by the BCB. However, he no longer bothers to attack it, since he knows it would only be a waste of energy on his part. He constantly backs away from the BCB, seemingly unaware that he is backing himself up to the front of the lab. On occasion, Dallion does swing his claws at the BCB. When Dallion is almost backed up against the wall, he growls loudly and slashes as hard as he can. He completely misses the BCB, throwing himself off balance. His claws eventually come to a stop by embedding themselves about three inches deep into the solid metal of the blast doors. Dallion struggles to remove his claws from the door, but they are stuck. KOMPLEX laughs loudly as Dallion pulls as hard as he can to free his right arm from the door. KOMPLEX This is the end for you, my little cyborg. The BCB rears its right fist back. A loud hum is heard as the robot charges as much energy as it can into its next attack. Dallion franticly tugs at his right arm, still unable to free himself. The BCB thrusts its fist forward with tremendous velocity. Just as the fist is thrown forward, Dallion easily moves out of the way. The robot's fist hits the doors and goes completely through them. The entire wall buckles and shakes due to the impact. The BCB pulls its arm back; it hangs limp by its side, obviously devastated by the blow it just delivered to the metal doors. The screens showing KOMPLEX turn red. KOMPLEX No! No! Dallion sprints forward and escapes through the destroyed doors before the BCB can grasp him. The robot then tries to follow after Dallion, but it is too big to fit through the hole that it had made. Outside the lab, Dallion jumps into the corridor with several toad soldiers there waiting for him. All have blasters pointed at him. KOMPLEX's voice fills the scene. KOMPLEX Don't shoot him. He's covered in an explosive. I want him alive. The mass of TOAD soldiers begins to mutter among themselves. TOAD #1 What does he mean, "Don't shoot him?" TOAD #2 Yeah, how are we supposed to take him? From behind Dallion, the BCB begins to bash its way through the remains of the lab doors. Without another second, Dallion sprints off down the corridors, slashing any toads in his way. SCENE 21 - OUTSIDE OF RESEARCH FACILITIES A door is busted open as Dallion makes his way outside of the building. Just as he is outside, he is blinded by a multitude of spotlights that are cast on him. Dallion is completely surrounded by the toads. There is nowhere for him to go now, since he can't fly away. Flurries of large, metallic nets are cast out onto Dallion. With little struggle, Dallion is able to free himself from the first few, but the nets keep coming. Dallion is soon brought to his knees, fatigued from his fight with the BCB and the nets. In a last bit of strength, Dallion rips the remaining nets off of him. Just as he returns to his feet, the BCB explodes its way out the door. It stares down Dallion. DALLION (thinking) Just as Dallion is about to activate his stealth, a large transport swoops down. It rams into the BCB, knocking it down. The transport pulls back upward and prepares for another dive. Dallion, using his scanning eye, looks at the transport and realizes that Drayke is at the controls. As the transport dives back down again, Dallion runs toward the crowd of toad soldiers, jumps on top of a ship, then jumps as hard as he can off of it. At the peak of his jump, the transport catches him and takes off. The crowd of toad soldiers open fire on the transport, with a few of the toads ordering them to cease fire. Drayke's wife opens the door to the transport, and Dallion claws his way in. The door is then shut. Just as he is in, the ship is rocked by the impact of maser fire. DRAYKE (yelling) Damn! They hit our main thrusters! We won't be able to get off of the planet without them! DALLION (coming up from behind) Then we have to get another ship. Do you know where we can get one? DRAYKE (after a moment) Yes, there is a spaceport near here. I guess we have no choice if we want to escape from here. The ship flies off, a trail of smoke behind it. SCENE 22 - TOAD SPACEPORT A group of toad soldiers stand guard in front of one of the larger toad transport ships. They quickly scatter, though, when Drayke's ship comes down, skidding across the ground. Just as it comes to a stop, Dallion and the Drayke family exit the ruined ship and step up to the toad ship. The door leading into the ship is closed and locked. DRAYKE I don't think that I have the access codes for this! DALLION (stepping up) Allow me. Dallion walks up to the door and inserts his data probe into the control panel. The door opens up. DALLION Everyone in, quickly! The group enters into the ship just as the toad soldiers come back. Inside the ship, the group of five enters into the control room. Drayke's wife quickly straps her children into chairs before strapping herself in. DRAYKE Well, if you can open the door to this thing, can you get it going? DALLION I guess we'll find out. Dallion once again plugs himself into the ship. After a few moments, all the terminals on the deck come to life as the ship rumbles from the engines igniting. DRAYKE Let's get out of here! The ship roars to life and takes off toward space. Toad fighters immediately give chase to the stolen ship. Drayke and Dallion, still with his probe inserted into the ship's computer, look into the ship's main display. They see the fleet of approaching toad fighters. DRAYKE Here they come. (to Dallion) Can you get the warp drive engaged on this ship? DALLION There is a problem. DRAYKE (brow tightening) What? DALLION There is no warp drive on this ship. DRAYKE You've got to be kidding me! The ship rumbles as the toad fighters begin to fire upon the ship. DRAYKE Let me guess: There are no weapons on this thing, either? DALLION That's right. DRAYKE Dammit! There's no way the shields on this ship can last long enough for us to escape! DALLION But they'll give us a little time to think of an alternative. DRAYKE What other alternatives could there be? DALLION There is an escape ship in the bay of this ship. But it only has enough room for either me, or all of you. Without question, you and your family should take the ship. DRAYKE What about you? DALLION Help me get this stuff off of my back. It prevents me from using my thrusters, because it will explode if I do. Drayke looks at the clay-like substance on Dallion's back. He digs his fingers into it and pulls hard to remove a handful of it. DRAYKE This is going to take some time. DRAYKE'S WIFE (unbuckling her daughters) We'll help. The four Canards gather around Dallion's back, pulling away at the muck. A lot of it is also stuck in Dallion's hair. Drayke takes out a pocketknife and cuts out the parts of hair that has the clay stuck in it. The ship is constantly rocked by the maser blasts from the toad fighters. Dallion checks the shields to see that they are holding at 59%. DALLION Shields are almost half gone. DRAYKE We're almost done here. Drayke and the others pull away the last few specks of the clay. DRAYKE There, that should do it. DALLION Thank you. Now, let's get down to the ship's bay. Dallion sets the ship on autopilot before he disconnects from the terminal. SCENE 23 - SHIP'S BAY The five enter in and gather around the single escape ship. The ship begins to jolt about more violently now. DRAYKE I still don't see how this little ship is going to save us. DALLION Just get in. There's not much time left. A computer voice fills the bay. VOICE Warning, shields at 20% and dropping. Dallion scans with his electronic eye. From the display showing the ship, a window opens up and finds the matching model of the ship. The window then quickly flashes over some schematics of the ship and stops on the shield generator plans. While Drayke helps his family into the small ship, he notices Dallion approach the other end of the ship and open up a panel. Drayke then walks up to Dallion. DRAYKE What are you doing? Dallion drops a small device to the floor that he pulled out of the ship. DALLION I'm taking out your shield generator. DRAYKE Are you nuts!? We won't survive a single blast without any shields! Dallion, not paying attention to Drayke's words, opens up a compartment near his right bicep. He then pulls out a small red device and inserts it in place of the device that he had just removed. Dallion then closes the panel. DALLION I'm replacing it with my cloaking device. DRAYKE (taken aback) Your ... but ... will it work? DALLION According to my understanding, it works in the same way as a shield does. Instead of surrounding a ship with a shield, it hides it. Of course, it has no defense value whatsoever, but no one will be able to see you anyway. DRAYKE What about you? Drayke is cut off by Dallion grabbing him by the arm. Dallion then forces him into the ship. Dallion then pulls another small device from his right arm and gives it to Drayke. DRAYKE What's this? DALLION That is my memory bank that contains all of the data that I downloaded from the toads' research computers. I ask, no, I beg of you to make sure that it finds its way back to the UAC, back to Chairman Warner to be more exact. The ship rumbles so hard that the smaller escape ship slides across the floor. VOICE Warning, shields inoperative. DRAYKE Don't worry, I will do as you ask. Drayke shuts the door to the small ship as Dallion secures his helmet around his neck. Afterward, Dallion opens the bay doors of the ship. Drayke brings the ship to life and presses the button that would activate its shields. With an array of arcs, sparks, and lightning, the ship becomes invisible. Dallion, along with the hidden ship, exits the bay. The bay doors of the ship open up, and Dallion is visible exiting the ship. Just as Dallion is away, the ship breaks apart and explodes. Dallion then immediately engages the toad double bubbles, destroying them in his usual style. After taking out a few, Dallion turns to fly away. However, without his stealth, the toads are able to lock their maser cannons onto Dallion. Dallion has to dart from side to side in order to avoid being blasted. Looking in front of him, Dallion sees another fleet of toad fighters cutting off his escape path. DALLION (tired, thinking) Dallion notices a carrier ship among the fleet of fighters. DALLION (thinking) Dallion takes off, heading straight for the carrier, still avoiding blasts from the double bubbles. Inside the toad carrier, the TOAD crew is focused at their stations while the CAPTAIN shouts orders. CAPTAIN Remind all fighters to only use low-level power with their cannons! KOMPLEX wants this thing alive! TOAD #1 Captain, that thing is heading straight for the carrier! CAPTAIN What? The captain looks up to the main view of the ship to see Dallion hovering just in front of the window. He immediately begins to pound away at the view shield, which begins to crack. CAPTAIN (shouting) Everyone out of the bridge! All the toads in the control room get up to exit the bridge, but the view shield shatters, sucking all of the pressure, air, and toads out of the control room. Dallion then enters into the bridge, floating up to the main control panels. Bringing out his data probe once more, he inserts it into the ship's controls. Dallion's access codes stream by and are then met with a big line saying "Access Denied." DALLION (surprised) What? An image of KOMPLEX then fills the screens on the bridge. KOMPLEX I've had it with you, you miserable cyborg. I no longer want you alive. Now you will perish! All of the screens fade from KOMPLEX's image to fill with numbers that count down from twenty, with a computer VOICE speaking. VOICE Self-destruct sequence has been activated. Self-destruct in twenty, nineteen, eighteen ... Dallion again tries his codes. >>Access Denied >>Access Denied >>Access Denied >>Access Denied >>Access Denied >>Access Denied >>Access Denied VOICE ... eleven, ten, nine, eight ... With a loud growl, Dallion smashes the terminal in front of him. He then ignites his thrusters and propels himself out of the ship as quickly as he can. VOICE ... two, one, destruct. The entire toad fleet has moved away from the carrier. Dallion thrusts himself forward, away from the ship as quickly as he can. Just as he is away from the ship, it erupts with a blinding flash. Dallion's body is tossed about violently just before he is consumed by the light of the explosion. SCENE 24 - UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Days later, Kadaf walks up to Fritz's office door. He opens it and then steps into the office. Once inside, he closes the door behind him. Fritz, who is sitting in his chair, turns around to face Kadaf. FRITZ Any news yet on Dallion? KADAF None. FRITZ Dammit, it's been too long. I need to know something. I don't care if it's about success or failure, I just want something. I can't try to contact him, because if he's still in hiding around the toad's homeworld, that would definitely give the toads a chance to track him down. (with a hard expression on his face) Dammit all, this is grating on my nerves. (calming slightly) Well, I guess we have to treat this as a failure and focus on other plans. We can't waste too much time on being stagnant. SCENE 25 - RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION, GENUS ORBITAL STATION Aboard The Righteous Indignation, Jenny is working on the ship's sensors on the command deck, Deadeye is making adjustments to the ship's main cannons, and AFC BLINKY is working in engineering. They appear to be the only three on the ship. Jenny finishes her work and then heads down to the lower deck. JENNY (walking over to Deadeye) How's your work coming? DEADEYE (slightly distracted) Just fine, lass. I think I got that slight offset out of me crosshairs. (turns to face Jenny) Speakin' o' "hares," have they let the Cap'n out of that confounded house arrest yet? JENNY I'm afraid not, and I don't think that they will soon, either. DEADEYE Fritz might have well thrown Bucky right into a padded room by the way he's treatin' him. Not that I'm defendin' Bucky's actions towards Fritz, but ... VOICE (cutting in) Excuse me? Deadeye and Jenny turn to see a female CROW enter the ship. She holds out an envelope toward Deadeye. CROW Mr. Deadeye? DEADEYE Aye, that's me, lassie. (points at the envelope) Is that fer me? CROW (handing over the envelope) Yes, it is. After Deadeye has taken the envelope, the crow leaves. He immediately opens it, with Jenny looking on with her own curiosity. Deadeye pulls out a letter and begins reading it. A frown comes over his face as he reads that Jenny notices. JENNY What is it, Deadeye? DEADEYE It's a message from Drayke. JENNY (thinks for a moment) The owner of the Drayke Corporation on Ultess? DEADEYE The same. JENNY (slightly angered) What does that toad sympathizer have to say? Deadeye reads on without responding to Jenny. JENNY Well? DEADEYE He says he has some stuff t' explain and that he has an item to give t' me in person. He wants me t' meet him on Ultess. JENNY What kind of a fool does he take you for? DEADEYE He says he only served the toads 'cuz they held his family hostage. JENNY (frowns) It still stinks of a trap. I don't believe we can trust him. Jenny looks into Deadeye's face, which holds a very serious expression. JENNY You're thinking of going to see him, aren't you? Deadeye gives her a simple nod without saying a word. JENNY You can't be serious. DEADEYE I know it sounds crazy, Jenny, but I can feel it deep down in me bones that I c'n trust 'im. I knew him fermany years, and I don't think he'd willingly serve them toads. This all makes sense t' me. Jenny opens her mouth to further protest the subject, but she silences herself when she sees the sincerity in Deadeye's face. JENNY (sighs) All right, but you're not going alone. I'm coming with you. We'll have to get there by public transportation, since the Righteous is grounded here. SCENE 26 - CAYTON CITY, ULTESS Deadeye and Jenny walk out of a transport station into a crowded street. Both of them are dressed in casual street clothes. They follow the sidewalks for a few blocks until they come to a street that runs beside the tall office building of the Drayke Corporation. They both make their way up the street, weaving themselves through the masses, until they reach the lobby doors of the Drayke Building. Just as they enter into the building, SHARD is there to greet them. SHARD Deadeye! I'm so glad ye decided to come. Thank you for puttin' yer trust in Drayke again. DEADEYE He don't have me trust just yet, Shard. SHARD I can't blame ye fer that, mate, but I do swear to ye that you can trust us again. JENNY We'll see. SHARD Aye, and so you shall. If ye'll follow me, please. Shard leads the two over to the elevator area, where they enter into one and proceed to the top of the tower. The doors open up to let the three passengers out into Drayke's large office room. In the room are Drayke and his younger brother ERIC. Both of them are hard at work removing the remains of Drayke's destroyed conference table. SHARD Deadeye here to see ye, sir. Drayke stops what he is doing and turns to face the group. DRAYKE Deadeye, thank you for coming. I have much to tell you now that I'm able to do so. DEADEYE (semi-harsh) Tell me why ye serve the toads. DRAYKE I *served* the toads because they held my family hostage. They threatened to kill them if I didn't do as they pleased. Drayke walks up to Deadeye's face. DRAYKE But I don't serve them anymore, now that I have my family back. JENNY How were you able to free your family? DRAYKE It's all thanks to our common friend, Dallion. He's the one who rescued my family and myself from the toads. Unfortunately ... DEADEYE Unfortunately what? Drayke remains silent for a moment. DRAYKE Perhaps I had better show you ... (voice trails off) JENNY Spit it out, Drayke. What are you trying to tell us about Dallion? DRAYKE (walking to the back of the office) Please, just follow me to the labs. DEADEYE Labs? The ones deep under this building where you had all of those innocents experimented on? DRAYKE The same, only now my scientists concentrate on undoing what the toads had done to those poor people. Drayke opens up the hidden door in the wall behind his desk to reveal his secret elevator that runs down to the labs. He steps in, turns to look at Deadeye and Jenny, and waits for them. After several moments of hesitation, Deadeye steps into the elevator with Drayke. With an expression of total discomfort and distrust on her face, Jenny also steps into the elevator. SCENE 27 - LABS A pair of elevator doors open up, bringing Drayke, Deadeye, and Jenny into a space where many workers can be seen repairing the damaged labs. The labs appear to have been somewhat restored to working condition after the ion missile attack that devastated them. Among the workers are several people dressed in scientist uniforms that appear to be deep into their own work around the many large tanks of blue liquid where the toads' experimental subjects are submerged. DEADEYE (tone slightly softened from earlier) Looks like ye've got a lot of cleaning up to do around here, Drayke. DRAYKE Yes, these labs must be brought back to full working order so that my personnel can help these people. JENNY But what about Dallion? Drayke stops in front of one of the tanks and gestures toward it. DRAYKE See for yourself. Deadeye and Jenny turn to look into the tank to see Dallion inside, with wires hooked up to almost every cybernetic part on his body. From what they can see, underneath the web of wires, Dallion's body and armor appear to be severely damaged. He is unconscious, floating motionlessly in the tank. In a rage of anger, Deadeye grabs Drayke and slams his back to the tank. DEADEYE What are you doing to him? Jenny notices that a few of the workers begin to walk up to the three, apparently intending to help Drayke. She takes a defensive stance. DRAYKE (yelling out to all in the room) Everyone, back off! Let me handle this! The group eases its tension just as Jenny does the same, though not completely. DEADEYE Tell me what you're doing to him! DRAYKE I'm trying to save his life! JENNY Why should we believe you? DRAYKE Please, you must believe me! He was seriously damaged in our escape from the Toad Homeworld! All I'm trying to do is help him! Please elieve me! Deadeye begins to press his elbows harder into Drayke's chest, ausing him to groan a bit. Then, Deadeye releases him. Drayke drops away from the wall, taking deep breaths to regain the ones he lost under Deadeye's pressure. DRAYKE (still gasping somewhat) Deadeye, please, I swear to you that my only intentions here are to undo all of the toads' work that they conducted here. JENNY I still don't quite buy all of this, especially the part about you, your family, and Dallion escaping from the toad world. DRAYKE It wasn't easy, but we managed to get out. Once we had made our way out of the toads' labs, we stole one of their ships to get us off the planet. While the toads were busy trying to blast through the ship's shields, Dallion rigged his stealth device into a small escape ship that my family and I used to escape. The ship was too small for Dallion to fit in, so he took his chances with the toad fleet. (beat) We both exited the toad ship together just as the toad fleet destroyed it. While we were cloaked by Dallion's device, we were able to slip right out of the toads' grasp. I last saw Dallion engaging a few of the toad fighters. (beat) The stealth device didn't last long, though; once it had deactivated, the toads picked us up on their scanners and began to chase us. Knowing that the toads would catch up to us long before we could reach safety, I began to transmit a distress signal on a special frequency that our fellow pirate mates would respond to. Just when the toads were in range to fire upon us, Lanel and Red Jack showed up with their ships and managed to run off the toads. (beat) Once we were brought onboard Lanel's ship, her crew picked up a signature from another small object that was drifting at high speed out of toad space. Under the assumption that it was Dallion, we followed after the signature to indeed find him. He was barely conscious and drifting helplessly when we found him. Guessing by how badly damaged he was and by how fast he was drifting, he must have been caught in an explosion of some kind that propelled him into space. JENNY (after a moment) That's quite a story, Drayke. (turns to look into the tank) How is he? DRAYKE He has suffered major damage to nearly every cybernetic system on him, including his life-support system. That's the reason why we have him in this tank. His life support isn't operational enough to keep him alive for much longer on its own. The good news is that he doesn't seem to have suffered any injuries to his natural body. Once we get his life support back in working order, he should be fine. DEADEYE All I can say is I hope yer not lyin' t' us. DRAYKE I swear, Deadeye, it is all the truth. JENNY Didn't you mention in your letter that you had something important to give us? DRAYKE Yes, I do. Drayke turns to walk over to a corner in the lab. He stops at the counters against the wall, where he picks up a large device, along with Dallion's databank. DRAYKE (holding up Dallion's databank) This is what Dallion was sent to the toad world to collect. He said it contains data that pertains to the toads' experiments on brainwashing and mind control. This other device is an interface converter that should allow most computers to access the databank's information. JENNY (in disbelief) Dallion went to the toad world to get information on the brainwashing? That's wonderful! DEADEYE Aye, it is! Maybe we can find a way t' get our little matey back! DRAYKE (handing over the databank to Deadeye) Well, I hope that it aids you and the UAC in combating the toads. We have copied its components here so that we too can research the toads experiments. (beat) I know that I still have to do a lot more to earn back your trust, Deadeye, but I hope that this shows you that I'm doing exactly that. DEADEYE (silent for a moment) Aye, Drayke, it is. The two Canards shake hands, then Deadeye and Jenny turn to leave. Once they are gone, Drayke turns to look back at the tank with Dallion inside. DRAYKE (to himself) And you, my friend, will be repaired to the best that my resources can produce. THE END