"Trapped" by DJ Clawson and Rygar Special thanks to Tom First draft - 10/2/05 Final draft - 10/9/05 SCENE 1 - WAR ROOM, UAC HEADQUARTERS, WARREN It is early morning, and COMMANDER DOGSTAR and PRESIDENT MORELAND are sitting at the end of a long conference table. They both look quite harried. There is a knock on the door. MORELAND Come in. A uniformed TECHNICIAN comes in. TECH Sir, we've got the report. MORELAND Let's see it. The tech gives Moreland a datapad and excuses himself. Dogstar activates the datapad, and the paragraphs of a report come up on the screen. MORELAND (uneasy) So the earthquake caused it. DOGSTAR What? How could that minor rumble possibly have caused *this*? MORELAND (reading) It looks like it activated some underground shield projectors. It says there are a dozen of them or so, creating a perimeter around this city and projecting a photon shield that's keeping us domed in. DOGSTAR But where did it come from? Did the toads build it when they occupied this planet? MORELAND That's what they think. There aren't any toad markings on the projectors, though. Moreland reads a bit more, then closes his eyes. MORELAND Frell. I *knew* it would get worse. DOGSTAR What's that? MORELAND The dome is shrinking. It's closing in. Dogstar gets a very alarmed look on his face. DOGSTAR (remaining proper) So, let's assess the situation, shall we? We've got a photon shield keeping us trapped in this city. None of our weapons can get through it. And it's going to slowly crush us to death. MORELAND (reads) In about a day, yes. DOGSTAR Can't we just destroy whatever's creating the dome? MORELAND Not until we have an engineer look at them, no. It's not worth the risk. They could be rigged. DOGSTAR Hmm. Wouldn't surprise me, I suppose. MORELAND But we need to deal with this. *Immediately*. (looks at his watch) Now, if the rest of the famous UAC fleet would do us the pleasure of arriving *only* fifteen minutes late ... As if on cue, the door swings open, and CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE and CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR walk in. His uniform is impeccably straightened; hers is ever slightly so ruffled. They salute. Moreland is a little uneasy acting as their superior, but he hides it for the time being. MORELAND Captains. BUCKY Sorry. Now, do we have any idea what's going on here? The streets are a mess. DOGSTAR It seems the toads left us a little surprise from when they had control of this planet. BUCKY (disgusted) I thought so. What are we going to do about it? MORELAND We need an engineer to look at the source. You said your engineer is back, right? BUCKY Willy? Yes, he is. But we don't have any way to contact him. MORELAND (rubs his temples) Please be kidding me. BUCKY He reports for duty every day at noon. DOGSTAR That's not for another three hours. Perhaps that new lad, Mike, could help. MIMI Actually, with Willy back, is Mike still your engineer? BUCKY (realizing) I actually hadn't thought of that. Huh. I guess not. (clearly not minding) Darn. DOGSTAR Well, let's keep him around for the time being, at least. He's a decent enough chap, and we need all the men we can get. BUCKY Either way, we've got Blinky. He's all we should need. MIMI Then it's settled. Let's go check out whatever's causing this. DOGSTAR I suppose there isn't much else to do in the meantime, now is there? MORELAND We need most of our troops to keep the populace from panicking any further. Captain O'Hare, you and your crew should scout this out. (hands the datapad to Mimi) And you too, Captain LaFleur. MIMI (accepting it) Thanks. Bucky and Mimi rush out. SCENE 2 - WARREN The Screaming Mimi lands on the outskirts of Warren's main city. Bucky, Mimi, AFC BLINKY, GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK, and BRUISER step out. They approach a large, boxy green structure about eight feet tall. It has cylinders on its roof that are projecting a pinkish light. Those beams mingle in the air with beams coming from all other directions, forming a translucent dome high above Warren. BUCKY There it is. Blinky, interface with it and tell us everything you can. BLINKY Yes sir, Captain O'Hare. Blinky walks up to the bizarre cube. Looking around, he finds a port on one side and inserts his fingers. His bulb glows softly as he extracts data from the machine. After a few seconds, he beeps and retracts his wire. BLINKY AFC Blinky, prepared to report. BUCKY Let's hear it. BLINKY Structure is part of a collective, all combining to form a slowly retracting energy dome above Warren. BRUISER (looks up) Even I coulda told ya dat. BLINKY Structures were designed approximately three years ago and implanted into the ground. They were designed to create a malevolent response to any possible mammal attempt to violently recapture Warren from the toads. BUCKY (confused) But we took back Warren. Why didn't it go off then? MIMI Didn't you just have Bruiser growl into a camera and broadcast that to all the toads? BRUISER (beams proudly) Hehe, yeah. MIMI Sure, that was effective, but not really violent. Must not have been catastrophic enough to trigger anything. BUCKY So, can we deactivate this thing? BLINKY Each structure is rigged with multiple high-grade explosives, set to detonate in response to any attempt at deactivation. BUCKY Figures. Can you hack it? BLINKY Negative. Code is written in an unknown language this humble android is not familiar with. BUCKY I thought you knew toad programming. BLINKY Blinky knows two toad programming languages. Others may exist. WILLY Whoa! Everyone turns around, surprised, to see ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT climbing out of The Screaming Mimi. WILLY What's that thing? BUCKY (sternly) Willy, what are you doing here? It's nowhere near noon. MIMI Bucky, we *need* him. BUCKY (calmly) I know. But still, Willy, I told you to report every day at noon. You just went against a direct order. WILLY (scratching his head) I wasn't gonna stay, actually. I just wanted to give you this. Willy walks up to Bucky and hands him a small device, about the size of a deck of cards. WILLY It took me forever, but I think I found a way to transmit data between our worlds without using a photon accelerator. I can't get more than one bit of data through, but, well, that's all this needs. BUCKY (looks at the device) And this does what? WILLY Contacts me. I've got a receiver in my room. Just flip that switch to "on," and I'll know to come running. BUCKY (inspects the device) Not bad. MIMI Not that this isn't thrilling and all, but Willy, we need your help. WILLY (looks up at the dome) I can tell. Where'd this come from? BUCKY The toads. WILLY (confused) No way. This isn't toad technology. BUCKY What? Are you sure? WILLY Positive. (walks up to the green projector) This was definitely not made by any toad. I know what they're capable of, and this isn't it. MIMI Well, if it wasn't not the toads, then who did this? Willy walks around the structure, stopping around the back, away from the others. WILLY Hey, can any of you guys read this? Bucky, Mimi, and crew walk around. Willy points to a few lines of small text written on the back of the structure. Bucky leans in and peers at it. BUCKY Holy crap. MIMI What? BUCKY That looks like *Brine*. Before anyone can verbalize their confusion, Bucky has pulled out his intercom and is talking to President Moreland. BUCKY (into comm) We've got a situation here. MORELAND (over comm) So what else is new? BUCKY We found some writing on the structures. It's Brine. The comm is silent for a moment. MORELAND You're *kidding*. BUCKY This is not something I would kid about. MORELAND I need all of you to report back to my office immediately. I just realized something. BUCKY What's that? MORELAND Just get back here, Captain. BUCKY (annoyed) Yes, sir. (pockets the comm) We're heading back. MIMI What? This doesn't make any sense, Bucky! BUCKY (waving everyone toward The Screaming Mimi) I'll explain later. Deadeye shakes his head as everyone gets back on board the frigate, which takes off and flies toward UAC Headquarters. SCENE 3 - MORELAND'S OFFICE, UAC HEADQUARTERS, WARREN Bucky, Mimi, Willy, and Blinky enter Moreland's office, where they find him almost literally buried under piles of papers and surrounded by harried assistants. Dogstar is there, too. MORELAND (clutching a document) I've got it. BUCKY Got what? MORELAND The schematics for those toad things. MIMI You have the *schematics*? MORELAND When we took back Warren, we found a bunch of documents that the toads left behind. Some of them were in Brine. We didn't bother with them because we didn't think they were relevant. (beat) Obviously, we also didn't have any rabbits on staff to help translate their language. WILLY Why would a rabbit have built these things for the toads, though? MIMI He was probably forced. DOGSTAR Perhaps we can get in touch with the rabbit embassy ... MORELAND There is no rabbit embassy. They don't have any official status here. MIMI Mr. President, they *live* here. MORELAND I'm just telling you what's been government policy since before any of us were born. The rabbits are an underground race. They have nothing to do with any other mammals on Warren. They have no official status here. If you want to contact them, I know various people who know various people, but it's not going to happen overnight. DOGSTAR What about just Brine-speakers? MORELAND I know a lot of people with conversational skills, but nobody with technical abilities. Hell, I have two years of college Brine. Doesn't mean I'm going to be able to translate this thing. Moreland looks at the document he's unearthed. MORELAND OK. Wow, this is complicated. (traces his paw along the legend) Unless this station is made of hats and fish, I'm reading this wrong. We need an expert. (hands it back and turns to an assistant) Let me give you all of my contacts. Hares who know hares who know rabbits. BUCKY That'll take time. We don't have time. (turns to Willy) Willy, can you ... WILLY Come on, Captain. I don't even speak the language. I don't expect you to be able to operate my microwave. BUCKY Great. I'd say this definitely calls for a miracle. Moreland looks out the window, at the slowly shrinking dome above and the panicking populace below. MORELAND (frustrated) Well, Captain O'Hare, you're the one who manages to pull miracles out of his ass. Now would be a good time. This is apparently a dismissal. As they leave the office, Bucky shakes his head. BUCKY Believe it or not, his opponent had even *less* charisma. (shakes his head) This is going to take forever. I'm going to try something else. MIMI What? BUCKY I know a rabbit. He's not high up on the ladder of whatever their society is, but I know him and he doesn't hate me. MIMI So we're going where? BUCKY I need to do this alone. Mimi and Willy both give Bucky a look. BUCKY Sorry, but I have to. He doesn't take kindly to visitors. SCENE 4 - WARREN Alone on a Toad Croaker, Bucky flies across the horizon. Though the swamp this land used to be has been drained, the fauna is still showing signs of damage, as the scars have not fully healed. Bucky tries to keep his mind off it as he pulls up to a cave in the marsh, its entrance dark and foreboding. Someone is there, seemingly waiting for Bucky. Bucky hesitantly approaches a white rabbit wearing simple brown robes. THE MENTOR is an aged rabbit with a long white goatee that goes down nearly to his waist. Despite this, he seems to have a considerable amount of energy about him, and he is sitting on a plastic lawn chair. BUCKY Mentor ... Bucky kneels respectfully. THE MENTOR A hare kneeling to a rabbit. This has always been a source of amusement to me. (chuckles) But I'm mocking you. Come in, Buckminster. BUCKY Mentor ... THE MENTOR You seek my sage advice. BUCKY There is something I'm seeking. (points to the sky) The machines creating this dome were designed by a rabbit. Now the toads are using it. The Mentor appears thoughtful. THE MENTOR There is only one of us who would be able to build such things. His name is The Builder, somewhat obviously. But he won't be easy to convince, if you want his help. BUCKY If we don't, the toads may kill us all and retake this planet. THE MENTOR That will not be a major concern to us. It is, after all, just a change in landlords. Bucky knows better than to fight him on this one. BUCKY Where can I find The Builder? THE MENTOR I will make the contact for you. If it suits Kwen, then you may get your wish. Beyond that, I cannot aid you. BUCKY This is very important to us. Is there anything that appeases Kwen? THE MENTOR (angered) Kwen is not the Great Mother! BUCKY (bows) I'm sorry if I offended you. The Mentor quickly softens at the sight of his quivering student. THE MENTOR Kwen teaches us forgiveness. (beat) I will arrange a meeting for your fleet with our leader. He will decide, with Kwen's guidance. BUCKY Thank you, Mentor. THE MENTOR I can't guarantee anything, but I'll do my best. You need all the help you can get. SCENE 5 - UAC HEADQUARTERS, WARREN Back at headquarters, Bucky fills everyone in on what he knows. MIMI (not completely following) So who is Kwen? BUCKY Kwen is their god. Or, I think he's their god. They talk about him so casually sometimes, like they can leave messages on his voicemail and he'll call them back. MIMI So they don't believe in the Great Mother? BUCKY No, I think they do. I think they believe in a whole pantheon of gods. But Kwen is their patron deity. They worship him alone and ignore the Great Mother. (trying to remember) He's a death god. Part of the proto-Warrenian pantheon. I wrote a paper on him in high school. He got in some feud with the Great Mother, and she won. So the hares worship her, but the rabbits have stuck with him. WILLY Wow. And I thought religion was messy on my planet. BUCKY The point is, the rabbits refer to him for everything. They're probably going to want his blessing or something if they're going to help us. DOGSTAR (taking it in stride) Captain, you and your crew report to that meeting. Offer whatever we have to offer. MIMI That's not much. BUCKY We're all headed back to the cave, then. Mimi, are you coming? MIMI I don't want to sit here on my paws. Commander? DOGSTAR I'm needed here more than I am there. (salutes) Good luck, Captains. They salute each other. Bucky grumbles as he walks out. BUCKY Why do I get the feeling I'm never going to see him piloting a frigate again? SCENE 6 - WARREN The Screaming Mimi lands outside the cave. Bucky and Mimi step out, followed by Willy, Blinky, Bruiser, and Deadeye. The Mentor is standing at the entrance to the cave, unmoving. THE MENTOR I see you brought your whole entourage. BUCKY They have helped me before. I hope they can do so again. THE MENTOR We shall see. Come. The Mentor fades into the darkness of the cave. Bucky strides forward, after him. The others are a little hesitant but follow. From the darkness eventually springs light, though dim. What greets the crew next is a wave of thin smoke. MIMI Where is this smoke coming from? BUCKY (coughs) A smoke machine? WILLY It's very atmospheric, but it's fogging up my glasses. As the smoke clears, they notice they are now in a large area of the cave, surrounded by rabbits of varying sizes and colors, but all wearing the same simple brown robes as The Mentor. On the cliff towering above them is a gray RABBIT flanked by two supporters holding torches. He looks down at them with some reservation. RABBIT I am the elder, The Most. Mimi gets to one knee, taking Bucky down with her. His crew follows his reluctant lead. THE MOST I've been told of your mission, and your quest to see The Builder. He is, unfortunately, in solitude now and cannot be disturbed, but at Kwen's behest ... BUCKY (whispering) It's always something ... MIMI Shush! (to The Most) Is there any way for you to speak to Kwen on our behalf? THE MOST Kwen is the Lord of the Underworld, the Death that comes to each of us when we are ready, and speaks to us our true names, and comforts us during our passage. With the great things he will do for you and has done for your ancestors, you must show the same courtesy and address him yourselves. WILLY We can do that? THE MOST (to Willy) You can't. Nor may the soulless robot. (to the others) If there are no heretics among you, then you may, and he will answer. (beat) But there are, of course, rituals to go through. Unless you wish to do it the easy way. BUCKY There's going to be a huge catch to this, I can tell. MIMI Bucky, you're not helping. (to The Most, cordially) What is the easy way? THE MOST One of you is killed, and when He comes, this person makes the plea. But I imagine you won't be doing that. BUCKY (sternly) No. THE MOST Very well. Since no one can deny you his presence, I will meet with you in the private chambers. The Most leads them into a smaller cave, deeper into the complex. There, the floor is covered by simple rugs, and there is a mat for sleeping, along with various scrolls and books shoved into piles. The Most enters with The Mentor, looking more serious than he was when Bucky first saw him. The Most points to Willy. THE MOST He must leave. WILLY Didn't you just say ... THE MOST There are those who belong to Kwen and those who do not. It is a matter of jurisdiction. THE MENTOR You're Aldebaran, are you not? WILLY No. I mean ... not exactly. THE MOST Artificers of Aldebaran have pledged themselves to things of which we do not speak. WILLY Wait a second. (connects the dots) Kwen is a death god, but I'm not under his jurisdiction? THE MOST That is correct. WILLY Does this mean ... I can't die? THE MENTOR (smiles a little) No, it means when you die, the creature of the Nebula will eat your soul and spit it back out as a ball of light. It's not really any better or worse, but still. Now go. WILLY (alarmed) Wait, what?! BUCKY (defensively) Willy stays with us. THE MOST This is not a journey he can take. MIMI (diplomatically) We don't understand. THE MOST (annoyed) I've explained it as much as I can explain it. This is something we can't change. THE MENTOR One of you should go watch over him. Kwen will not mind the smaller group. WILLY (still a little stunned) It's OK, Captain. I'll leave. Bucky looks around. He wants his crew here with him. He also trusts Mimi to handle Willy more than he trusts Bruiser or Deadeye to do the same. BUCKY Mimi, go with him. MIMI What? (whispering to Bucky) I'm clearly the only one who knows how to talk to these people. BUCKY (motioning to his crew) Do you trust Willy alone with either one of them? MIMI I trust Willy alone, period. BUCKY (sternly) I can handle it. Go. Mimi opens her mouth to protest, but doesn't bother. She just turns, grabs Willy by the arm, and leaves. Blinky scurries after them. The Most then climbs onto a chair cut straight from the stone. THE MOST This is normally a ritual that takes years for our young apprentices, but you are all so tainted by death, I may be able to abbreviate it. First, give me your true names. BUCKY Buckminster. BRUISER Bruce. Bucky and Deadeye turn and look at him. BRUISER Don't start thinkin' somethin' funny. All my brothers're named Bruce. Bruce just didn' like nicknames. DEADEYE How many brothers ya got, matey? BRUISER Six. The Most clears his throat impatiently. DEADEYE Deadeye. The Most regards him coldly. DEADEYE 'Tis my real name! THE MOST I see another one. DEADEYE Ach, lousy frelling rabbits ... it's Deadeye! BUCKY C'mon, we're gonna be here all day. Enough with the pirate honor. DEADEYE ... fine. Cecil. (glares back at them) It's not funny! But their stifled laughter is telling another story. BUCKY You're just lucky Willy isn't here. BRUISER That ain't fair. I'm gonna tell 'im. Dis is too good. DEADEYE No one's callin' me that! 's not my name! THE MOST Shall we continue? (when the laughing finally stops) As I've said, all of you have looked death in the eye, whether by your own experiences or by being close to someone during their passing. As soldiers, your lives are not exactly sheltered. Kwen shall select one of you to go through the trials. BUCKY (to himself) Why are there always trials? The Most looks over his shoulder for a moment and is very silent. Then he turns, slowly, and raises his paw at Bucky. THE MOST You. BUCKY Is this because I'm a hare? I'm just guessing here. THE MOST Kwen demands it. Step forward. Bucky steps forward. The wall opens up for him, beckoning him into the darkness. It doesn't look inviting. Deadeye slaps him on the back. DEADEYE Ach, Cap'n, I don't envy ya. BUCKY It's because I'm a hare. (swallows) Fine. BRUISER We're all rooting for ya, Cap'n! MIMI Good luck. One paw on his blaster, Bucky steps into the cave. SCENE 7 - OUTSIDE THE CAVE, WARREN Mimi leads Willy outside, with Blinky following them. WILLY Do you really think what they said is true? About Kwen and my soul and everything? Mimi just shrugs. MIMI It seems like every planet in the aniverse has at least one religion. If you try to reconcile every single one of them, you'll go crazy. Don't worry about it. Just then, Mimi's comm beeps. She pulls it out and answers it. FIRST MATE JONATHAN WEISSMAN's voice comes over the comm. JONATHAN (over comm) Hey, Mimi. MIMI (into comm) Jonathan, what's up? JONATHAN I know you're all occupied, but I thought you'd want to know that Dile just woke up. Surprised, Mimi almost drops the comm. MIMI (relieved) Really? Oh, that's good news. (bites her lip) I should probably go see him. JONATHAN I told him you were on a mission and would come by later. MIMI No, I should go now. I want to apologize to him. (looks back at the cave) I can't do anything more here. I'll be right over. JONATHAN If you say so. Mimi hangs up and turns to Willy. MIMI I'll bring the ship back as soon as I can. WILLY (smirks) You sound like Jenny. Mimi gives Willy a look. MIMI I'm not taking that as a compliment. WILLY (friendly, but with a smirk) I didn't mean it as one. MIMI I'll be back soon. Mimi jogs over to The Screaming Mimi, closes the hatch, and takes off. Willy watches the ship rise a few hundred feet into the air and zoom away. WILLY Thanks for leaving me alone and all. BLINKY Blinky is still here for friend Willy. Willy smiles. WILLY I know. Just saying. To further dispel Willy's loneliness, The Mentor walks out of the cave and approaches them. THE MENTOR Your friends are indeed glad that you have returned, even if their attitudes and actions at times suggest otherwise. WILLY It's no big deal, really. Everyone's always got something crazy going on. How's Bucky doing? THE MENTOR It may take some time. WILLY How long is "some time"? THE MOST Perhaps hours. Perhaps days. If he survives. WILLY (concerned) We don't have days. We barely have hours. Silence hangs in the air, allowing something else to emerge in Willy's thoughts. WILLY I'm not an Aldebaran. (beat) I mean, I had Aldebaran powers. They're gone now, far as I can tell. The Mentor gives him a visual once-over. THE MENTOR While I am not familiar with the nature of your powers, I sense that it is something that cannot be taken from you. WILLY Are you sure? They haven't worked in a while. THE MENTOR This may also be a matter of time. WILLY Well, at least I've got more time than Bucky does. (glances toward the cave) Is he going to be all right? THE MENTOR My pupil needs to learn patience, but all young people do. Beyond that, he'll be fine. He just doesn't know it yet. WILLY Did Kwen tell you that? THE MENTOR Kwen didn't have to tell me. SCENE 8 - FOGGY CAVE The cave is almost entirely dark, but the mist has a strange white light that provides partial illumination. The walls seem endless, the air very cold. BUCKY It's because I'm the hare. (beat) Oh, come on, it's not like I went to the temple regularly! Nothing. The mist brightens, temporarily blinding Bucky. When he can open his eyes again, it has cleared, and he is standing on a green field beside a dirt road. There is one tree and a bus stop. It resembles Bucky's home on Warren, but in a generic sort of way. It's so real he can smell the grass and the pollen in the air. Bucky steps out onto the road, blinking in the sunlight. BUCKY Hello? Anyone around? In the distance, Bucky can hear the hum of a vehicle. He turns and squints to see an emerging blob on the horizon. It's a Toad Croaker, speeding down the road. BUCKY Hello? (waves his paws) Hey! Over here! The Croaker doesn't slow down. In fact, it seems to pick up in speed as it zips past him, inches away from smashing into him entirely. He flies off the road and into the cold plastic of the bus stop. BUCKY Frelling ... hey! The Croaker stops and turns around, as if circling its prey. Bucky now notices that it has no visible driver. BUCKY Oh, sh ... Bucky leaps over the bus stop, which provides some shelter as the Croaker crashes into it in an attempt to reach him. Shards of twisted plastic fly everywhere, and he rolls into the high grass, covering himself with his cape. BUCKY Why do I always wear red? SCENE 9 - MONKEY WRENCH BAR, BANZAAR The mood on Warren may be a mixture of fear and panic, but here, everyone is in good spirits -- well, almost everyone. AL NEGATOR, TINKER, SLYLY ZOD, and NEWTON are sitting at their usual table, downing drinks and trading stories. Only Al seems preoccupied. NEWTON (speech a little slurred) Hey Al, why the long face? (grins) 'Cause you're a sleazasaur, that's why! Newton laughs at his own joke. TINKER Really, though, you don't seem too happy, Al. You should be thrilled! With the UAC in anarchy and every man for himself, business is booming! I haven't had this much money since the time I robbed the Sector Fourteen Intergalactic Bank! ZOD Correct me if I am mistaken, Tinker, but did they not catch you and retrieve their money? TINKER (less jovially) Yeah. (shivers) Man, solitary was rough. NEWTON Come on, Al, spill it! What's bugging you? NEGATOR (reluctantly) It's my family. NEWTON Aw, you've got family troubles! Look, guys, Al's gettin' soft on us! Al frowns. Slyly Zod gives Newton a mean look that shuts him up. ZOD If any member of our team is disheartened, it will affect us all. Can we be of any assistance? NEGATOR I don't think so. I tried to wire them money this month, like I always do, but they didn't accept the transfer. They're still not talking to me, after they found out about what I do. TINKER That's rough, man. I'm sorry. Have you tried talking to them? NEGATOR They won't accept my calls, and there's no way I can visit them on Reptilia. The cops'll nab me in an instant. ZOD What about your nephew? Dile? Have you spoken to him? NEGATOR Nah. I don't think he ever wants to see me again. (peers into his full mug) I haven't even talked to him since Genus got invaded by the toads. I hope he's OK. NEWTON (still tipsy) Oh, crap. TINKER What? What is it? NEWTON I forgot to tell you! (slaps his forehead) Oh, man, you're gonna be mad ... NEGATOR (alarmed) What is it? Is it about Dile? NEWTON Well, I was going over the security footage from when the toads took over Genus -- I still have cameras all over that place I installed when I was Chairman, ya know ... NEGATOR Get on with it! NEWTON (quietly) Dile got shot during the invasion. Al almost falls backward out of his chair. NEGATOR (angrily) *What*?! What happened? NEWTON I couldn't tell; it was dark. Whoever shot him took his security card, and a few minutes later, the satellites around Genus failed. Al is so furious he can barely speak. NEGATOR (clutching his mug tightly) The toads shot Dile just so they could invade Warren?! I could've gotten them those codes again! They didn't have to bring him into this! TINKER Y'know, Al, Dile works for the UAC. He sorta brought himself into this. Al squeezes so hard that his mug breaks, sending beer and glass everywhere. His tablemates duck. NEGATOR (shaking with fury) Those toads ... those damn lousy toads ... AFC LASHES appears and begins cleaning up the shards of broken glass. LASHES You should be more careful, Captain. Shall I add this to your tab? TINKER (under the table) Yeah, do that. NEGATOR Is Dile all right? NEWTON I dunno. They took him with them to Warren. I don't have any cameras there. NEGATOR (stands up) I'm got to go see him. Right now. ZOD Can you infiltrate Warren? NEGATOR Who do you think I am? Of course I can! (angrily) The toads are gonna pay for this. I know *exactly* what I'm gonna do. A determined look on his face, Al storms out of the bar. Tinker, Newton, and Slyly Zod all look at each other. Tinker shrugs, and Newton raises a tiny paw. NEWTON Waitress! Another round! I think we need 'em! SCENE 10 - A FIELD Back in the field, Bucky has managed to lose the menacing Croaker. He stops to rest in a clearing, leaning against a tree. Before he can get a moment's peace, the gnarled tree's long branches reach down, as if trying to entangle themselves with him. Bucky rolls out of the way and reaches for his blaster, but it's gone. He reaches for his lightsaber and draws it. He swings for the braches but misses them wildly. One knocks him flat on his feet. FRITZ Are you OK? BUCKY Yeah. I just knocked my head. Bucky stands up with the help of CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER. BUCKY (reacting) Fritz?! What are you doing here? FRITZ (calmly) Helping you up. Fritz takes Bucky's lightsaber out of his paws. FRITZ You're going to kill yourself with this thing one day. Chop your limbs right off. I should take this away from you. But Fritz hands the lightsaber back anyway. BUCKY What are you doing here? FRITZ You keep asking that. BUCKY (thinking) I mean, I'm going through a death ritual here. You've been shot a couple times, but you're not dead. FRITZ You're so sure about that? Bucky looks down. His head is still pounding. BUCKY Fritz ... But when Bucky looks up, Fritz is gone. Bucky is back in the cave. DONALD Bucky. Bucky spins around to face his father, GENERAL DONALD O'HARE. BUCKY (softly) Dad. When Bucky's father speaks, his voice is like an old recording, full of static and distortion. DONALD When I was in the service ... BUCKY (to himself) I really don't need this. (out loud) Dad, I've heard this story. DONALD When I was in the service ... BUCKY Dad! DONALD When I was in the service, we had to patrol out on the frontier, and we came up on a ... BUCKY I don't need to hear this story again. I need your help. DONALD Why? You're the big space hero. BUCKY That doesn't mean I know what to do. DONALD I'm not here to give you encouraging advice. BUCKY (smiles warily) It would be nice. DONALD When I was in the service ... BUCKY You're not helping! DONALD Are you afraid? BUCKY What? DONALD Are you afraid? BUCKY No! (beat) Yes, I guess. A little. DONALD (nods once, knowingly) You should be. Donald pushes him, and Bucky falls into the fog. VOICE Buckminster. BUCKY Who are you? The figure slowly comes into focus. He's tall, almost twice Bucky's size, and cloaked all in black. He carries a scythe. BUCKY ... am I dead? Yet? Mist enshrouds the figure. He raises one hand -- a hand made of bone, a hand lit in blue flame -- and points at Bucky. BUCKY I don't want to be dead. KWEN Then rejoice. KWEN pulls back his hood. A kindly human face hides behind it, tufts of white hair out of place on his head. KWEN Because you're not dead. Well, almost human, except for the purple marks on his temples. Bucky is overwhelmed. KWEN Usually people are happier when I say that. BUCKY I'm sorry. Bucky sits up and turns around so that he's bowing low to the ground. BUCKY It's just -- I feel like I know you. KWEN You do know me, which allowed you to come this far. BUCKY I'm here ... (takes him a second) I need your blessing. KWEN Usually people don't ask a death god for his blessing. BUCKY I need his help. The Builder's. KWEN Yes, I know. BUCKY I need to dismantle that equipment. KWEN You need more than that. BUCKY Will you help me? (beat) Is this where I apologize for my religion? KWEN There's nothing wrong with worshipping the Great Mother. You are a noble soldier, and from what I understand, only an occasional temple- goer. The drama between myself and her has merely spilled over onto Warren, and I blame myself. Bucky has nothing he can think of to say to this. BUCKY So you'll help me? KWEN I must request something in return. BUCKY (stunned) Sure. KWEN My children, the rabbits, have given you the power to fight the toads, and now, they may assist you yet again. You are in their debt. BUCKY Of course. KWEN You are also in my debt. Some day, Death may ask a favor of you, and you are obligated to answer it. BUCKY What kind of favor? KWEN Something within your abilities, I imagine. Wake up, Captain O'Hare. BUCKY What? KWEN Wake up. Bucky's on his back again. VOICE Wake up. Bucky opens his eyes. The shapes before him are fuzzy and unfamiliar. The voice is feminine. BUCKY Jenny? VOICE (a little upset) Keep trying. Things come into focus. Mimi is holding him up. Deadeye and Bruiser are standing over him, casting their shadows across the cave. BUCKY Mimi. (confused) Where am I? MIMI Back in the cave. It's been hours. BUCKY Where's Willy? WILLY Here. Willy appears in Bucky's peripheral vision, carrying a blanket. WILLY Here you go, Captain. Willy wraps it around him as Bucky first notices that he's unnaturally cold. He can barely get to his feet. BUCKY What are you all doing here? MIMI The Mentor told us the ritual was nearing completion, and that we should be here for you. BUCKY (shivering) And it's been how long? MIMI About six hours. I had time to run to the heart of the city and back. BUCKY Why'd you do that? MIMI Dile's awake. BUCKY Oh. (pulls the blanket tighter) That's good. MIMI Yeah. I told him everything. He took it well. BUCKY He does that. WILLY How'd it go? With the ritual thing? VOICE He obtained what he sought. Everyone turns toward the sound of the voice. They notice that they are alone in the cave, except for one tall black rabbit in tattered robes standing at the far end of the room. This is THE BUILDER. He steps forward. THE BUILDER I am he whom you seek. I was not to be disturbed, but Kwen requested that I meet with you. DEADEYE So ye'll help us shut down them stinkin' toad machines? THE BUILDER I built those "stinking machines," thank you. And no, I will not. BUCKY (shocked) Why not? THE BUILDER Kwen requested that I meet with you. He said nothing about assisting you. BUCKY You're not giving us that. Not after all I went though! THE BUILDER (angry) After all you went through? A hare dare speaks to a rabbit of suffering?! This silences Bucky. THE BUILDER Your race has kept us underground for centuries! You hunted us nearly to extinction, in the name of your precious Great Mother! BUCKY (quietly) I had nothing to do with that. THE BUILDER But you worship the Great Mother. You ascribe to the same beliefs as those who wished to see us obliterated. And now you ignore the sins of your fathers and request my help. WILLY (realizing) You built those stations willingly, didn't you? THE BUILDER (smiling, wryly) The only one with any insight among you is the Aldebaran. How telling. (beat) Yes. The toads threatened to destroy us unless we assisted them in building technology for them. I convinced them that it would be in their best interests to devise a means of retaliating, were the planet taken from them. (beat) And now, my device will bring upon the hares what they brought upon us: utter ruin. BRUISER You can't do dat! THE BUILDER Oh, please. Don't even pretend like you can enter into a conversation with me. BUCKY (frustrated) Well, this asshole isn't going to help us. MIMI (firmly) Yes, he is. THE BUILDER (intrigued) I am? Do go on. MIMI You're going to help us because you're better than they are. (points to Bucky) You're better than the hares. BUCKY Hey! I had nothing to do with this. MIMI (ignores Bucky) You can stoop to their level, and bring destruction to this planet, and thereby to both your races. (takes a step forward) Or you can use your talents to save, not to destroy. You can prove that your race truly is better than theirs. The Builder considers this. THE BUILDER I was mistaken. You, too, are wise. Your argument is compelling, if not convincing. BUCKY Kwen asked something of me. He said I owed Death a favor. THE BUILDER (raises an eyebrow) Is that so? BUCKY Yes. And I don't think I can return that favor if I'm dead. WILLY And besides, if you help the hares survive this, maybe they'll be willing to recognize you. Give you official status. A look of protest appears on Bucky's face, but he says nothing. MIMI (softly) Will you help us? The Builder stands silent, looking over the motley crew in front of him. He weighs their arguments and finally reaches a decision. THE BUILDER Fine. I will deactivate the shields. I can do it from here. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. BUCKY Thank you. THE BUILDER Do not thank me. Thank Kwen. And be prepared to return the favor. (motions toward Mimi) And thank her, too. You should listen to her more often. Mimi smiles a little, knowing The Builder is right. THE BUILDER I will go do as you have asked. Now, if you don't mind, you're trespassing. THE MENTOR I will lead them out. The Mentor walks in from the other side of the cave. THE BUILDER Excellent. The Builder turns and leaves. BRUISER Man, whatta jerk. THE MENTOR Most of us don't like talking to him, either. (begins walking out of the room) Come on, let's go. Everyone follows The Mentor's lead out of the cave. THE MENTOR And, I must say, well done. They eventually reach the exit of the cave, where they see the sky is clear and cloudless, as if nothing had ever happened. SCENE 11 - OUTSIDE MORELAND'S OFFICE Bucky and Mimi step out of the office, clearly tired but relieved. BUCKY Did he just compliment us on a job well done, or was I hallucinating again? MIMI We *did* a job well done. And besides, Moreland's in over his head. He compensates by trying too hard. Bucky and Mimi begin to walk down the hall. BUCKY I can't wait to ask him to officially recognize the rabbits, though. MIMI Yeah, I don't want to be here for that. Bucky and Mimi reach the elevator. Bucky presses the down button. The door swings open, and the two of them enter the empty elevator. The door closes behind them. As soon as it's shut, Mimi spins around and grabs Bucky's shoulders. MIMI (suggestively) So, my place tonight? Bucky looks away. BUCKY (almost apologetically) No. Not tonight. Mimi lets go of Bucky and places her paws on her hips, but she doesn't look upset. MIMI What's on your mind? BUCKY We can't wait any longer. It's only going to get worse on Genus, and it's clear that if we don't act now, it'll be too late. (firmly) The UAC almost died today. We have to take Genus back, and we have to stop KOMPLEX once and for all. The elevator stops. Bucky turns to face the door as it slides open. BUCKY Besides, my place is bigger. THE END