“Mirage Of Evil” By Andrew Norris SCENE ONE - A Darkened Room An unseen FIGURE is gazing over a crystal ball that is mounted on a pedestal. The ball glows a pale green and an image of the Righteous Indignation is seen flying through space. A quick change then shows an image of JENNY at the controls. FIGURE: (Sly, velvety voice) Yes, dear sister. Come and face your destiny at my hands! The image fades, and the FIGURE moves to sit on a throne. Though the FIGURE remains completely black due to the shadows, her shape can be made out to be that of a woman, and she moves with the slow movements of a cobra. She sits on a stone altar and begins to ponder. FIGURE: My agents will be waiting for you, my dear. This wretched planet thought it had seen the last of me, but my return is nigh! And you shall pay, as will all of your treacherous little wenches! SCENE TWO - Landing Pad, Aldebaran The Righteous Indignation slowly lands, where QUEEN KATRINA is waiting for them, flanked by two ROYAL GUARDS. KATRINA has a stern look on her face, as does JENNY as she alights. KATRINA: (Bluntly) You recieved my message, Jenny? JENNY: I did, your Highness. I can't say that it hasn't been difficult to keep this from my captain. BUCKY alights from the Righteous Indignation, with DEADEYE and WILLY following suit. KATRINA tries to give a false smile to them, but fails to mask her doubt. WILLY: (Murmurs to Deadeye) I don't like it, Deadeye. I've never seen Jenny as secretive as this before. DEADEYE: Aye, but it ain't our place ta start questionin', Willy me lad. KATRINA: (To Guards) Take Captain O' Hare and his friends to the Guest Quarters. There are things I wish to discuss with Sister Jenny alone. She leads JENNY away, as the GUARDS escort BUCKY, DEADEYE and WILLY away. Once they are out of sight, the two GUARDS suddenly attack the trio. DEADEYE: (Pulls out his blasters) Hey! What kinda two-timin' trick is this?! BUCKY: (Aiming his blaster) Put down your weapons, or I'll open fire! The GUARDS both grin, and drop their weapons. But suddenly, their faces begin to distort and change. In a disgusting transformation, they transform into two FIRECATS, red-furred cats standing at knee-height and covered all over in flames. They hiss and meow angrily as they lunge their attack on the group. WILLY tries to use a water pistol to douse their flames, but a quick fling of a FIRECAT'S paw melts it into a pile of useless plastic. WILLY: Aw, man! DEADEYE: Heh, how are we s'possed to fight somethin' when we don't even know what the hell we're fightin'?! BUCKY: Maybe Aldebaran isn't too good at guarding some of it's secrets. He and DEADEYE both begin blasting at the FIRECATS, but their weapons have no impact. WILLY becomes terrified, and notices the FIRECATS begin to increase in size and stature as these thoughts come to flight. BUCKY: Retreat! The three of them begin running through the maze of paths in the spaceport complex, with the FIRECATS in hot pursuit. Fortunately for BUCKY, he notices a sprinkler system up ahead, as well as an emergency fire-hose. Firing at the sprinklers, a stream of water falls, dampening the fire of the FIRECATS. Using the hose, BUCKY then continues to soak the FIRECATS until they disappear in a puff of glittering smoke. DEADEYE: (Annoyed) Alright, jus' what the heck is goin' on around here?! ELSEWHERE... Oblivious to these events, JENNY and QUEEN KATRINA begin to walk on through the royal gardens. As they walk, KATRINA will occasionally stop to look at the odd flower before proceeding. KATRINA: We are facing dark times, Jenny. Aldebaran may be all sweetness and light to outsiders, but a demon from our past has returned. JENNY: (Eyes widen) You mean that it...she...hasn't returned, has she? KATRINA: (Nods slowly) I fear so. We thought her to be no more when our ancestors exiled her from our kind, and yet she has somehow returned to wreak a horrible vengeance on us all. (Pause) I need all of my children here on Aldebaran to ensure that she doesn't wipe us out. She is powerful, but our combined energies should be enough to equal her. A GUARD runs up and salutes. GUARD #1: Your Majesty, two of the Firecats have been spotted at the Spaceport! KATRINA: Are they still there, Guard? GUARD #1: No, your Majesty. They were seemingly vanquished by Captain O' Hare, whom they were giving chase to. KATRINA: (Shocked) An outsider now knows of the Firecats? GUARD #1: I am afraid so, your Majesty. There was nothing we could do to stop it, though thankfully, only a handful saw the Firecats. KATRINA: Good. But nevertheless, Captain O' Hare must be informed on this. Should they return, no alibi we think of will hold water. SCENE THREE - A Sphinx, Morphea Morphea is a spiritual realm existing somewhere in space, where it's contents are simply a large quantity of asteroids, which are circling an Egyptian sphinx carved to the likeness of the Egyptian goddess Bast. The two FIRECATS kneel at it's doorway as the FIGURE looms in the shadows. FIGURE: I see from my throne that you located Captain O' Hare, and that the Earth child reeks of powers; spent from so much time with the Aldebarans, no doubt. The FIGURE emerges into daylight, where she is seen in full. She is a humanoid female cat named MIRAGE, with grey fur all over and lacking a tail. She is dressed in maroon clothing of an Egyptian queen with gold trimmings, and her black hair is adorned with a gold crown with a serpent headpiece. She also wears blue eyeshadow above her green, cat- like eyes. MIRAGE: But despite your ability to grow and to chase those three stooges down a corridor, you inflicted only minor damage! Her face scowls, and she raises her arms into the air. Immediately, her arms become enveloped in green lightning bolts, which she uses to attack the FIRECATS that cringe and cower before her. MIRAGE: (Angrily) I ordered lacerations! I ordered death! Can you not do such a simple action right?! Have all of my years of planning revenge been in vain?! She calms down as the FIRECATS cower behind some of the stonework of the Sphinx. She marches back inside the Sphinx to her throne room, where the crystal ball lies. Waving her hand over it, an image of WILLY appears within the ball. MIRAGE: But all is not lost. The boy is an outsider, yet he displays the talents of an Aldebaran novice. His fear is perfect for my plans! (Glares icily at Firecats) But because of the failure of my minions, I must bring him towards my side personally. SCENE FOUR - The Throne Room, Aldebaran QUEEN KATRINA enters with BUCKY, JENNY, DEADEYE and WILLY behind her. She dismisses the GUARDS and sits on her throne before proceeding. KATRINA: (Sternly) Captain, what I am about to tell you, you must promise not to repeat to any other outsiders. I am breaking my own laws in informing you of this, but after today's incidents, I have no choice, do you understand? BUCKY: (Unsure) I think so, your Majesty. KATRINA: Our worlds all have saints and sinners, captain. I summoned Jenny because there were signs that our greatest sinner had returned to Aldebaran, and now she has tried to attack you by unleashing her Firecat minions on you. DEADEYE: Err, jus' what are we gettin' at here? KATRINA: Many years ago, Mirage was an artificer, like the rest of us... FLASHBACK SEQUENCE, ROUGHLY 100 YEARS AGO... MIRAGE, who remains the same, has unleashed an army of FIRECATS on a public building. As the ALDEBARANS run out in terror, she mows them down with her own magic, and then drains the corpses of their magic, making her stronger and healthier. KATRINA: Mirage abused her powers by committing many atrocities on our homeworld. She had become a powerful sorceress fuelled by her own lusts for power. MIRAGE is suddenly attacked by an army of ROYAL GUARDS, who use a large device to open a porthole behind MIRAGE that successfully sucks her in. KATRINA: My grandparents succeeded in constructing a Hyperspatial Accelerator that swept Mirage into a world known only as Morphea. END OF FLASHBACK SEQUENCE... KATRINA: We had heard nothing of Mirage ever since, assuming that she had perished as her powers diminished. BUCKY: And you think she may have returned to boost her energy? KATRINA: That and to take her revenge on us all. In more ways than one, she is practically evil incarnate, and she will not stop one task until it has been completed. BUCKY: Pardon me for being rude, your Majesty, but where do we fit in all of this? We are outsiders. KATRINA: (Nods once) Yes, but you still fight alongside Sister Jenny, and Master Willy yields Aldebaran powers nonetheless. Unless we can find some way to defeat her, then I fear that my planet is doomed. WILLY: Don't worry, your Majesty, we'd be more than happy to help! DEADEYE: (Smiles) Aye! There ain't nothing that gets past ol' Deadeye's eyesight! KATRINA: Thank you, I think. My warriors will be at your disposal should you so require assistance, but until then, I suggest we save our strength and retire. Mirage favours the daytime, and has never been seen at night. We are quite safe in our sleep. As they wander off, none of them notice a vision of MIRAGE'S eyes watching them from in the sky. MIRAGE: (Sneers) That's what you think, Witch. SCENE FIVE - Launchpad, Aldebaran, Night WILLY is about to activate the Photon Accelerator and go home, when he hears a noise from outside. Curious, WILLY goes to investigate. WILLY: (Softly) Hello? Is anyone there? He notices MIRAGE, whom he doesn't recognise, standing by the railings and looking down on the city. She turns around and grins at the sight of WILLY. MIRAGE: Ah, young Willy DuWitt, isn't it? The outsider who yields the power of Aldebaran in his hands. WILLY: (Uneasily) Err, yeah. Who are you? MIRAGE: I am called many things, Master DuWitt. The Scourge of the Seven Deserts, the Mistress of Illusions, but you may know me as (purrs) Mirage. WILLY: (Gasps) Y...You mean...? MIRAGE simply smiles and moves towards him with slender, snake-like movements. MIRAGE: Shh. I am simply here to give you an offer, Willy DuWitt. WILLY: But...but what about all those things you did? All those murders, and...? MIRAGE: (Smiles thinly) My offer, DuWitt, is a chance to show you the power you could yield as my apprentice! Think about it! You have the power of the Aldebarans within you, why not turn that to your advantage! WILLY: What? MIRAGE: The Queen means nothing to you, does she? WILLY: (Backing up) I trust her! She gave me these powers! MIRAGE: Only those powers? (Tuts) Think of the powers you could yield yourself if you put your mind to it! You would be just as powerful as the Gods themselves! WILLY: No! He punches MIRAGE hard in the stomach and dashes back into the Righteous Indignation. MIRAGE hisses in anger and chases after him. INSIDE THE SHIP... WILLY quickly activates the Photon Accelerator and steps through. The door disappears before MIRAGE can grab it, much to her anger. SCENE SIX - Willy's Bedroom, San Francisco, Earth WILLY breathes heavily from his experience, still gripping the lever of the Photon Accelerator firmly. Once he is sure all is well, he lets it go and slumps on the bed. At the sound of this a light switches on in the landing, and WILLY hears his mother outside. MOTHER: Willy, is that you? WILLY: (Weary) Hi, Mom. MOTHER: I didn't hear you come in dear. Is everything OK? WILLY: Sure, Mom. I'm just a little worn out. MOTHER: OK, sweetie. Goodnight. WILLY doesn't answer, and falls fast asleep. As soon as he is fast asleep, he mysteriously levitates out of bed and is carried off into the night sky, where a vision of MIRAGE'S face smirks as her plan falls into place. THE NEXT MORNING... WILLY wakes up in what appears to be his bedroom, and looks out at the street below. The day is sunny and all seems quieter than usual. After a quick change of clothes, WILLY rushes downstairs for breakfast, where his MOTHER is cooking breakfast with her face well hidden. WILLY: (Cheerfully) Morning, Mom! MOTHER: (Harshly) Don't give me that, young man! I know all about your little escapades with that Captain O'Hare! WILLY is taken aback by this and looks worried. MOTHER: I am your Mother, Willy. Don't think I haven't heard you talking into this memory stone you carry around with you! This has got to stop, Willy! WILLY: (Stepping forward) Just a minute! My Mom would back me up no matter what! Who are you? She turns around to reveal it is MIRAGE in disguise. WILLY yelps and makes a run for it, as MIRAGE tears off the rest of her disguise and follows him slowly. Upstairs, WILLY frantically reaches for the Photon Accelerator, but his hand goes straight through the lever, as though it was non-existent. Suddenly, the entire room distorts until there is nothing left but the vast stretches of Morphea for miles around. MIRAGE: (Grins evilly) You are in my realm now, Willy DuWitt. There is no way out other than through me. I control this realm and all within it, and unless you agree to serve me, then you shall perish at my hands! WILLY: (Snaps) I'll never give in to you! All you care about is killing everyone else so that you'll be the only powerful person left! I'll never do a thing like that to my friends! MIRAGE: (Hisses) Then sleep with the dead, mortal! She lashes her powers at him, though WILLY dodges and avoids been severed. He then finds himself being chased across Morphea by MIRAGE. WILLY: (Picks up his memory stone) Jenny! Can you hear me? JENNY! SCENE SEVEN - Righteous Indignation, Aldebaran BRUISER has just been aroused and returns to the Righteous Indignation to find a battered BLINKY crumpled unconcious on the floor. Panicking, he runs over and picks up the android in his arms. BRUISER: (Alarmed) Blinky! Say somethin' ta me, buddy! At the sound of his friends voice, BLINKY arouses, looking up at him. BLINKY: Greetings, master Bruiser. (As Bruiser puts him down) Master DuWitt is in danger! BRUISER: Blinky, what happened ta ya? Ya look like someone's tried ta murdalize ya! BLINKY: (Nods) Indeed, master Bruiser. Humble android was attacked by Artificer Mirage after she chased master DuWitt to his dwelling! She left message implanted into humble robot's circuitory. He plays a hologram of MIRAGE to BRUISER. As it plays, JENNY and BUCKY overhear it from outside and quietly walk in, listening to what MIRAGE has to say. MIRAGE: Listen carefully, you arrogant mortals! Your precious Willy DuWitt is in my hands now! And if you ever want to see him alive again, you will bring your beloved Queen to my realm in Morphea. I have programmed your pathetic tin-can of a robot with the co-ordinates, and any trick will mean trouble for your precious Willy DuWitt! The message ends abruptly, and BLINKY shakes nervously at her threat. Suddenly, JENNY'S gems glow as WILLY'S message comes through. WILLY: (Panics) Jenny! Jenny! Help! JENNY: (Calmly) Willy, calm down. We're coming to rescue you! WILLY: But...but there's loads of Firecats here! I'm hiding in a sort of Sphinx, but I'm running out of time! Hurry up, Jenny! Mirage'll find me soon! JENNY: Sit tight, Willy! We're on our way! (To Bucky) Bucky, I've got a plan to get us all out of this safely, but I need your help... SCENE EIGHT - The Sphinx, Morphea WILLY is still speaking into the Memory Stone, hidden behind two sarcophagi, when the Sarcophagi are knocked down by a gigantic FIRECAT, accompanied by several smaller FIRECATS. WILLY tries to make a run for it, but is trapped. The FIRECATS back down as MIRAGE appears before WILLY. MIRAGE: This is my final offer, DuWitt! Even if you decline, you can never leave here, at least not alive. WILLY: Wh...what do you mean? You make it sound like I'll die either way! MIRAGE: (Chuckles evilly) I planted a message inside your Android friend aboard your ship. Captain O'Hare and his little girlfriend will think I'll be handing you over in place of the Queen. But, I'm afraid none of you will be leaving Morphea in a hurry! She clasps a clawed hand over the Memory Stone that WILLY is still holding onto. There is a great flash of light as some of the energy drains from WILLY and into MIRAGE. All the while, WILLY screams in pain whilst MIRAGE simply grins. After removing her hand, she punches the weak WILLY hard and sends him flying into a wall. MIRAGE: A pity. He was such a nice boy, and his fear made such a nice feast for my pets. She gently strokes one of the FIRECATS nearest to her, and she jerks her head upwards at the sound of the Righteous Indignation approaching overhead. MIRAGE: (Smiles) Good. More energy for my powers. Katrina holds the magic of a thousand generations within her, and I can unlock it as easily as blinking an eyelid! She steps outside to the entrance, and notices the Righteous Indignation touching down on a meteorite close to the Sphinx. By clasping an outstretched hand, MIRAGE is able to draw the meteorite close and cause it to "dock" with the Sphinx. MIRAGE then notices BUCKY stepping out with DEADEYE, BLINKY and KATRINA, who has her head hanging low. MIRAGE: Where is your beloved Jenny, captain? Did she stay behind to take her stress on a scratching post? BUCKY: (Firmly) What does it matter? We brought you the Queen, now give us Willy! MIRAGE: (Sharply) Surrender the Queen to me and I shall return your precious Willy! KATRINA walks forward slowly, and MIRAGE clasps her firmly by the arm. MIRAGE then turns to BUCKY, a smile spreading thinly across her face. MIRAGE: I'm sorry to tell you this, Captain, but your Willy DuWitt is being fitted for a halo as we speak! KATRINA: That's what you think. She tears off her disguise to reveal that she is, in fact, JENNY. Quickly, JENNY claws her hand over a spell gem on MIRAGE'S belt, sucking in most of MIRAGE'S remaining energy. MIRAGE squeals in pain, and JENNY lets her drop weakly to the floor. BUCKY and DEADEYE then draw their masers and march into the Sphinx. They are suddenly surrounded by several FIRECATS that are shrinking in size rapidly. DEADEYE: Say, is it just me or are these kitty-cats shrinkin'? Some of the FIRECATS try to inflict damage, but they are easily kicked away by the group as they progress. JENNY: The Firecats feed on fear, but they can lose power by courage. They were so large because of your surprise at seeing them; it was like a cop in a doughnut factory. Eventually, they find the unconcious WILLY and take him back to the Righteous Indignation. As they lift off, the weakened MIRAGE is left on the asteroid roaring angrily as the group gets away. MIRAGE: (Shaking her fist) I'll be back, Willy DuWitt! You haven't seen the last of Mirage! SCENE NINE - Engine Room, Righteous Indignation, Genus, Sometime later JENNY and WILLY are alone, and JENNY is placing WILLY'S magic back into the memory-stone. She gently releases it, and WILLY stares down at it. WILLY: (Softly) How did you do that? JENNY: It's an Energy Suction spell; it's been banned on Aldebaran for centuries, but the most senior artificers are taught it for cases like this. WILLY moves to switch on the Photon Accelerator, and his door appears. As he places his hand on the doorknob, he turns to face JENNY. WILLY: Do you think she'll come back? JENNY: If she does, we'll be ready for her. Mechanics said that Blinky is all set to go, and the damage at the Spaceport's been cleared up. I guess we can try and get back to normal. WILLY just nods and enters his room. It is night, and he slumps down on the bed. As he falls asleep, a slight draft blows in through the window, and a vision of MIRAGE'S face can be seen in the sky, grinning at WILLY. THE END...?