"Assassins" by Claudia Carranza Additions by Josh Kaufman and CJ Carranza Edited by DJ Clawson Edited by Rygar 12/31/03 SCENE 1 - ALDEBARAN Three female FELINES are sitting in a semicircle facing the QUEEN in a large room mostly bare of furniture, though a few potted plants line the walls. There are no windows or guards. The Queen is watching the three women closely, composed, though she is obviously tense. One of the women stands. She is a pale gray cat with green eyes. FELINE #1 It is unacceptable! First, he is a male. Second, he is not even our species. Third, he is an *Outsider* and, as such, has no right to know of the dealings of our Sisterhood. QUEEN (sighs) That is narrow-minded, Cassie. Think. If we teach this human to properly use his powers, we will know his exact power level and thus be better able to control him. CASSIE No, your Majesty. (she looks at the other two Sisters) I call for an Assassination Squad. We must rid the aniverse of the threat, Willy DuWitt. All for? Cassie waits for a heartbeat. The other two felines nod and stare at the Queen. CASSIE It is agreed. The squad will be sent out tomorrow morning. Before the Queen can reply, Cassie turns and leaves, leading the others from the room. The Queen watches the three leave and narrows her eyes. QUEEN In the hand-dug cavern underneath the city, TOMMY looks up from some paperwork of his own. He stands and immediately walks out. Moments later, a section of the wall slides aside, revealing a secret passage from which Tommy enters the room. TOMMY You rang? QUEEN Cassie has sent out an Assassination Squad after the human, Willy DuWitt, who is a member of O'Hare's crew. Take a team and go to Genus, and ensure his safety at all costs. He will be a valuable asset to the Resistance. TOMMY (smirks) Getting a little forward, are we? The Queen gives him a withering look, crossing her arms. TOMMY (raises his paws to protect himself) OK, OK! I'm going. And I know just the cat for the job. Tommy turns and leaves, leaving the Queen with a slightly confused expression. SCENE SHIFTS TO CAVERN BENEATH THE PALACE TOMMY (strides in and calls out to a long-haired chocolate-point Siamese male cat) Get your stuff together. We've got work to do on Genus. PONCE (looks up from scattered notes, blinking) Genus? Why are we going there? TOMMY We're going to stop an Assassination Squad. PONCE We're *what*?! How big a team are we taking? TOMMY (shoulders a pack) Just you and me. PONCE gets a frightened expression on his face. SCENE 2 - UPPER BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGINATION FIRST MATE JENNY is in her chair. It is swiveled to face ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT, who is sitting in CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE's chair. Her forehead gem glows softly, and Willy's neural damping cap is lying on the console in front of them. JENNY Now, calmly. Slowly increase the power. Don't rush it. A data chip on the console floats up slowly and stays there. The strain of the exercise can be seen on Willy's face. BUCKY (outside the bay) Jenny? Willy? The data chip suddenly rockets off and embeds itself into part of the hull, two inches from Jenny's head. She gulps and answers unsteadily as Willy scrambles to replace the cap. JENNY Um ... up here, Bucky. Willy barely gets his cap hidden by his hair when Bucky climbs up into the upper bay, smiling. BUCKY (holding papers, which he flips in Jenny's face) Two weeks' leave. Finally! JENNY (grinning at Bucky) Got any plans for us, Captain? BUCKY Let's go to Genus. From there we can split up and go our separate ways, if you like. We can discuss it more on the way. Willy, get to engineering and give me mark-4. Willy, relieved that Bucky didn't seem to notice anything amiss, rushes out quickly. WILLY Aye-aye, Captain. Willy leaves. Bucky sits down, then notices the chip in the wall behind Jenny's head and raises an eyebrow. He turns to his console. BUCKY Remind me *not* to get you mad at me. JENNY (blinks in confusion) Pardon? BUCKY (nods to the chip, an ear pointing slightly) That. JENNY (blushes lightly) Uh ... yes ... angry ... Bucky regards Jenny quizzically for a moment before they jump to hyperspace. SCENE 3 - GENUS SPACE PORT Behind the check-in counter sits a brown fox RECEPTIONIST. She is typing into a computer while an elegant silver-furred FELINE watches on, glancing around the spaceport. She is wearing a set of light green Aldebaran spell gems. Over one shoulder is a tote bag, and in the opposite paw is a briefcase. RECEPTIONIST Everything is checked in, Miss Chelli. (hands Chelli a small stack of papers) Your rental car is ready. Enjoy your stay on Genus. CHELLI (regards the receptionist and answers coolly) Thank you. Chelli moves toward the exit, stopping to glance out a window. The gem on her forehead glitters softly. CHELLI CASSIE CHELLI Chelli blinks a few times and focuses on the ships landing. The Righteous Indignation can be seen among them. She narrows her eyes slightly and moves closer to the windows to watch. SCENE SHIFTS TO LANDING BAY 32-B The Righteous Indignation lands. The hatch opens, and the ship's crew tumbles out, laughing and joking with each other. DEADEYE Hey Willy, me mate, how 'bout ye join me fer a li'l' glass o' swampgrass? WILLY (waves his hands before himself) Heh ... no thanks, Deadeye. I remember the *last* time I had swampgrass. (makes a face and sticks out his tongue) Yuck! DEADEYE (slaps Willy on the shoulder) Ha hah! It's a shame ye weren't born a Canard, Willy! Come on, Bruiser, I'll buy ye a banana shake! BRUISER and GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK head off, with Willy waving goodbye. Bucky chuckles at the antics of his crew and moves up to pat Willy on the shoulder. BUCKY C'mon, Willy. Why don't you join me and Jenny? We're going to go grab a bite to eat. JENNY (glances at Bucky, putting her paws on her hips, grinning) We are? BUCKY (teasingly, with a smile) Yes we are, First Mate. That's an order! JENNY (holds her paws up, giving a long mock sigh) Then throw me in the brig ... we're off duty. I'm not taking orders. BUCKY (takes Jenny's paws and looks in her eyes) Jenny, will you please join Willy and I for lunch? JENNY (blushes a bit, and giggles softly) OK, Captain. Willy smiles, and the three head out to a restaurant. SCENE 4 - PATIO CAFÉ OVERLOOKING THE SPACEPORT Bucky is eating a CLT (carrot, lettuce, and tomato sandwich) and drinking carrot juice, while Jenny nibbles on fish sticks and drinks milk. Willy is eating a thick burger and has two large orders of fries and a huge soda. A few tables away sits Chelli, idly munching on fish sticks, watching the three. At another table a bit away, with her back to the trio, is a stout white-furred female feline, SANDY. Over one eye is a large grayish-tan spot that bleeds up into her hair. She wears a full suit of pale blue spell gems, the same color as her eyes, and her grayish-tan tail is curled up in her lap, where it twitches idly. CHELLI SANDY CHELLI (glances at Jenny) Bucky, Jenny, and Willy finally finish eating and leave the café. Chelli stands and follows them. A few moments later, Sandy follows. Two other female FELINES in the crowd outside watch the trio leave, then the two Sisters. A few moments after Sandy leaves, they also follow. SCENE 5 - OUTSIDE A DISCO Later that evening, Bucky is out of uniform, as is Jenny, although she still wears her spell gems. Willy is out of his berserker armor and is wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Music pulses loudly from the open doorway of the disco. JENNY Are you sure you don't want to come in, Willy? WILLY Yeah, I should get some work done on the mark-5. That, and I really should be getting home soon. I have school in the morning. BUCKY OK, Willy. Don't stay up too late fine-tuning the capacitors. Bucky and Jenny enter the club. Willy waves and heads off down the street toward the ship's docking bay. None notice the half-dozen Sisters who now shadow them through the crowded streets. Five sisters move off to follow Willy. CHELLI (eyes glitter softly, menacingly from a shadow that no one notices) A pair of glittering silver eyes pierces the dark. A shadow of reddish brown can be seen behind them, as can the glint of green gems. SCENE SHIFTS TO INSIDE THE DISCO Bucky and Jenny are sitting at a table for two, a drink in front of each of them. By their slightly disheveled looks, they've spent a long time dancing ... and drinking. A petite, young female rabbit named BUNNY with auburn hair and fur in a green dress watches the two. When Jenny excuses herself to the ladies' room, Bunny swoops in and takes Jenny's seat. BUCKY (blinks, surprised) Can I help you, ma'am? Bunny leans over the table, smiling winningly, chewing on a fingernail, and speaking in a sultry whisper, barely heard over the music. BUNNY Can I ask you something? BUCKY (looks around, seeing no one else she could be talking to) Uh ... yes? BUNNY Are you Captain O'Hare? BUCKY (looks around again, still tipsy enough to be looking for someone else) Um ... yes? BUNNY (smiles and reaches over to put her paw on his) I *thought* so! Why, you're even more handsome in person than in the newsfeeds! As Bunny speaks, Jenny returns, to overhear that last comment. Bucky's expression goes from mildly confused and tipsy to "uh-oh." JENNY (crosses her arms and clears her throat) Excuse me, but that's *my* seat, and *my* date. BUNNY (without turning to look at Jenny, as if refusing to acknowledge her) Buzz off, kitten. I'm *sure* he's more interested in one of his *own* species. Bunny walks her finger up Bucky's arm to his shoulder. BUCKY (blinks and drunkenly watches Bunny's finger) ... um ... you shouldn't ... Jenny's gems glitter softly, and she growls lowly, sneering. She grabs hold of Bunny and tosses her out of the chair and onto the floor and, with the same movement, loops her arm through Bucky's and stands him up from the table. JENNY I think it's time we returned to the ship. We should make sure Willy go to bed, like you told him to. BUNNY (sitting on the floor, now, blinking wide eyed, rubbing her bottom) Hey ... that hurt! Jenny leads Bucky, who's more drunk than she is, out of the disco. A few moments later, Bunny stands, her whining stopping suddenly, and she follows them out and back toward The Righteous Indignation. As she walks, she changes from rabbit to feline, her features melting smoothly from one to the other. Her eyes, a solid steel gray color, stare coldly into Jenny and Bucky's backs as she follows them along the now-deserted streets. SCENE 6 - LOWER BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Willy is sitting on the floor with several panels open as he works on the engine. Gizmos and gadgets are set on the floor nearby in ordered chaos. Blinky is plugged into his recharging port, shut down for the night. A knock is heard on the hatch, and Willy moves to answer. WILLY (as he opens the hatch) Hello? CHELLI (looks up and smiles) Excuse me, I'm new on the planet. I was wondering if you could help me find the nearest hotel? Willy hops down out of the Righteous and seals the hatch, running a hand through his hair. WILLY Uh ... sure. As Willy runs his hand through his hair, the shiny wires of the cap the Queen give him are seen, and Chelli narrows her eyes a bit. WILLY (leads Chelli out of the bay, toward some buildings) Let's try over here ... Chelli stops as they leave the docking bay, falling behind so smoothly that Willy doesn't notice she's not walking next to him anymore. A steel-gray color washes over her eyes, as ten other sets of eyes, all the same gray color, can be seen in the shadows. All of Chelli's spell gems begin to glow, as she gathers power. Soon, her power reaches its peak, and she lifts her paws, aiming them at Willy. WILLY (as he turns to see Chelli preparing to attack) I think that's one over ... huh? Bucky and Jenny turn the corner, arm in arm, giggling softly, just as Chelli cuts loose with a powerful bolt of magical energy, which streaks toward Willy, who is obviously not going to be able to avoid getting hit. Jenny looks up, snapping her eyes open, too late to react in time to save Willy. JENNY (shouting) WILLY!! The bolt of magical energy streaks at Willy, and just before it hits him, it seems to splatter harmlessly around him, as if a bubble of force kept it from hitting him. From a nearby rooftop, a chuckle is heard, drawing everyone's attention. Standing on the rooftop is Tommy, arms crossed, a grin on his face, and the glitter of his spell gems fading. Jenny turns to looks at Chelli, growling, her spell gems glowing brightly as she readies an attack. Bucky, meanwhile, draws his blaster, nearly fumbling it because he's still tipsy. The Sister behind Jenny and Bucky, however, is already prepared and fires off a low-level bolt at Jenny's back, while the other Sisters scatter into the shadows. The bolt splatters harmlessly off yet another protective bubble, as Willy dives for cover. Jenny, surprised by the attack from the rear, turns to face her assailant, who vanishes into the shadows. She then turns to look up at the rooftops to find the source of the protective bubble that just saved her from harm. Tommy's spell gems are dark and inactive. On a rooftop to Tommy's right is Ponce, cowering as far from the edge of the roof as he can, while still able to watch the action. Jenny's eyes narrow as she recognizes the leader of the Male Resistance. JENNY (hissing) The Abomination! Tommy grins ferally, eyes glittering. He turns and bounds away across the rooftops, followed by his accomplice, Ponce. JENNY (as she and Bucky rush to Willy's side) Are you OK, Willy? WILLY (nods) Yeah, I think so. What happened? JENNY (sighs) It's a long story ... BUCKY (somewhat angrily, still tipsy) Well, you'd *better* get ready to tell it, First Mate! (turns to Willy) Once Willy gets checked out at the hospital, you're ... you're telling me the whole thing! Jenny looks nervous, and Willy looks confused. SCENE 7 - HOTEL ROOM, GENUS Jenny is sitting in a chair that has been pulled away from the table, facing the middle of the room where a more sober Bucky is standing. The cape from his uniform is tossed over the table, where his gloves sit. He has his arms crossed and is fixing Jenny with an icy glare. BUCKY I'm only going to ask once more as your friend, Jenny. After that, I'm ordering you. If you still refuse to explain this whole mess, then I'll be forced to arrest you until I can get some answers from the Queen herself, if I have to, as to why people from your planet attacked my engineer. JENNY (drops her head) Bucky, you know I ... BUCKY (cuts in, advancing on her) I'm not about to hear the word "can't," Jen. Something, or someone, from your planet has endangered the life of one of my crewmembers. I intend to find out who or what. Now ... Bucky leans over her, placing a paw on the table on either side of Jenny as she gulps and stares him straight in the face. BUCKY ... you can help me, by telling anything and everything that you can, or I will have to have you removed from the scene until I can find out on my own. (grabs her paw gently and bends at the knees to look her eye-to-eye) I need you to tell me what is going on here. Jenny opens her mouth to speak. SCENE 8 - ENGINEERING, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Jenny enters engineering silently, where Willy is hard at work at exposed wiring. He looks up at her entrance, momentarily putting down his work, and sits on his stool, waiting patiently. WILLY What'd you tell the Captain? JENNY I fed him a story about you accidentally doing something to upset some Aldebaran extremists, and that I would report it to the Queen and they would be rounded up. WILLY Uhm ... OK. (beat, looks at her) So what *really* happened? JENNY (avoiding his gaze and sighing) You remember when we were last on Aldebaran and Felina was ... upset to find you were a male? WILLY Yeah. JENNY Well ... there are some Aldebarans who feel as she does ... only more strongly. You're a threat to them, being an Outsider *and* a male who gets to know all of our secrets. So, they must have decided to eliminate you. WILLY (worried) So ... what do I do? JENNY Avoid Aldebarans at all costs until I talk to the Queen about this. Jenny stands abruptly and turns to leave. WILLY Wait! What about that guy on the roof? JENNY (playing dumb) What guy on the roof? WILLY The guy who protected me from the blast! JENNY It was your imagination, Willy. WILLY (standing) No, it wasn't. I saw ... JENNY (firmly, in an irritated voice) Engineer DuWitt, you were *seeing things*. *Forget* about it. She leaves in a huff. Willy stands in his place for several seconds, scratching his head, and then sits back down and returns to his work. SCENE 9 - DOCKING BAY The Righteous is still in the docking bay, and many hatches and panels are propped open, exposing wires and doohickeys. Several robots, along with Bucky and Deadeye, are working on the bowels of the ship. Brusier is sitting on a box marked with the picture of a bunch of bananas while he munches a banana, looking content. Chelli walks smoothly to the ship. As she nears Deadeye, Bucky looks up, then hops down to join his gunner. Neither recognizes her, as Bucky still has a hard time distinguishing one Aldebaran from another, and Deadeye wasn't nearby for the fight with her earlier. CHELLI Good morning, Captain O'Hare. I'm the weapon system technician. I'm here to check on the bug you reported. Bucky smiles, slightly relieved and glad an Aldebaran is seemingly giving him a straight story. BUCKY Ah, good morning. You're late, you know. I put in that request when we landed. CHELLI (blushes lightly) Sorry, Captain, but there are other ships here that need someone to look at their weapon systems. BUCKY (grins softly) Sorry. Don't mean to be mean to you. I'm just frustrated with my pilot, who's also an Aldebaran, and it seems I'm trying to take it out on the rest of your species. Bucky nods his head toward the ship while looking down at Deadeye, who has spent the time untangling himself from wires. BUCKY Take her in to look at the weapons console, please, Deadeye. I'll start having the maintenance robots close her up so we can test when's she's done. DEADEYE (nods and moves toward the ship's hatch, waving Chelli to follow) Aye-aye, Cap'n. Right this way, lass. Chelli follows Deadeye into the ship and up to the gunner's console. She kneels and opens the paneling under the control panel. She starts poking through the wires. A few minutes later, she holds a few out. CHELLI (to Deadeye) Here's your problem. You've got the auxiliary power switch locked to off. That means you'll have to pop this baby open manually to turn auxiliary power on. If you lose power to your weapons during a fight, that could be really bad. (pulls out some wire cutters and starts cutting, seemingly at random) Here's what I'll do. I'm going to rewire this baby, so you can have half of your auxiliary power, fueled into main power. That should increase your range and punch capability. Chelli starts twisting wires of conflicting colors together, adding in a few new pieces. She puts down the wire cutters when she has only a few wire ends left exposed and takes out a handheld drill. She begins drilling a hole in the top of the control panel. CHELLI Then I'm going to give you a control switch so you can turn auxiliary power on and off. It's possible, with this set-up, to turn auxiliary power on while main power is still running, giving your weapons a boost. But I don't suggest you do that for long periods of time, as some of your circuitry could get fried. Chelli twists more wires together, connects the switch to all the wires and things, looks up at Deadeye, and nods. CHELLI Tell your captain we're ready for a test run. I suggest the asteroid field. SCENE 10 - SPACE The Righteous is out in space flying toward an asteroid field. As it flies, only Bucky can be seen in the bridge windows. BUCKY (over comm) Deadeye, power up the main weapons array. DEADEYE (over comm) Aye-aye, Cap'n. Weapons array powered up. As the weapons hum to life, eleven toad double bubbles fly out of various hiding places in the edge of the field and start to fire on the ship. Bucky seems to have been caught by surprise, and the ship gets hits a few times. Deadeye launches a counterattack, but a volley or two later, the gun-rack takes a direct hit. SCENE SHIFTS TO INSIDE THE RIGHTEOUS'S WEAPONS CONSOLE The console in front of Deadeye explodes, and he screams, covering his face with his arms. The explosion knocks him out. Chelli, who is standing behind him, smirks slightly and lays a slim paw on his forehead. Her gems glitter softly, and Deadeye seems to fall into a deep sleep. BUCKY (over comm) Deadeye! Status report! CHELLI (touches the comm unit) I'm afraid your gunner has been knocked out, Captain. I'm placing him aside and starting up auxiliary power. Chelli lifts him and dumps him on the floor. Sitting at the console, she flips the switch. CHELLI (to the eleven double bubble pilots) Chelli fires several shots, hitting one double bubble. Moments later, and after one shot to engineering, the squad fly away to lick their wounds. Bucky, seconds later, comes running into the weapon's console from the upper bay, to find Chelli kneeling over Deadeye. He rushes to her side. CHELLI (looking saddened, shakes her head) He's been badly injured, Captain. We should take him to a hospital. BUCKY (nods and clamps his jaw) All right, let's get going. SCENE 11 - HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM The crew of the Righteous, minus Deadeye, are sitting around in hospital waiting chairs. A dark blue-gray WOLF walks in, wearing a white doctor's coat. WOLF (looking around) Captain O'Hare? BUCKY (lifts his head from his paws) Yes? The wolf steps further into the room, approaching Bucky as the crew stands. WOLF I'm Doctor David Brillo. Your crewman, Deadeye Duck, has stabilized. Unfortunately, he's in no condition to go anywhere. He'll have to stay in the hospital for at lest two weeks. Bucky sighs and runs a paw through his hair. DR. BRILLO (smiles softly) Now, I have a job for you, Captain. BUCKY (cocks his head and looks confused) And what would that be, Doctor? DR. BRILLO Go to room 213 and give your crewman a boost in morale. Bucky grins and moves for the door. Everyone follows, Willy ducking his head under the doorframe as he leaves. SCENE 12 - DOCKING BAY After an hour-long visit with Deadeye, the crew are sitting around, minus their gunner, waiting for Bucky. He finally walks in, talking to Chelli, who is now wearing a standard Aldebaran Sister armor/gem outfit. Jenny gives Chelli a strange look. BUCKY Fall in. (pauses as everyone snaps to attention) I'd like to introduce Chelli. She will be replacing Deadeye until he feels well enough to join us once again. I'd like everyone to make her feel welcome. The crew, in general, say hi. BUCKY (claps his paws once) OK. We've got a mission. Sector Ten is under suspected toad attack, but sensors can't pin it down. We've got to find out what's happening and how to stop it. (moves to the ship) Let's go. As everyone files out and Jenny tosses her another strange look, Chelli smirks to herself, and her eyes flash steel gray after Jenny turns to walk into the ship. SCENE 13 - SPACE PORT NEAR TOAD BORDER The Righteous is in orbit. Bucky and Jenny are in the upper bay. Bucky is typing at his console. BUCKY (still reading) We've got a fix on that toad activity. This time on a planet. Jenny, ETA on Pleid VII? JENNY (looks at Bucky) Ten minutes, Captain. BUCKY (nods) Good. Set a course for Pleid VII. (presses an intercom button) Engineering, I need the accelerator in five, copy? Bucky waits for a minute, as Jenny turns and starts programming the jump coordinates. BUCKY Jenny, contact Willy and tell him to get to engineering, if he can. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. Bucky touches an intercom. The scene switches to show Chelli closing up the gunner's panel. BUCKY (over comm) Chelli, I may need you to give us mark-4. Get to engineering and await further instructions. We're heading for Pleid VII. CHELLI (over comm) Aye, Captain. (concentrates, her head gem sparkling softly) Bucky settles himself in his chair and starts checking over systems as Jenny closes her eyes in concentration. Her head gem sparkles. JENNY SCENE SHIFTS TO EARTH Willy is in class, taking a test. He glances up and he bites his lip slightly. He asks to go to the bathroom. Once there, he pulls out the gem and whispers. WILLY (hunched over the gem sitting on a toilet) No, I'm sorry. I'm in the middle of a test. Is it that important? JENNY (from the gem) WILLY (whispering, not noticing another student walking in) Have Chelli do it. She's a capable engineer. JENNY (from the gem) The student glances at Willy's stall. WILLY (whispers) Tell me later, please, Jenny. This test is real important, and I can't leave. I'll be home in half an hour, OK? JENNY (from the gem, sighs) WILLY (sighs slightly) Thanks, Jenny. See you soon. Willy pockets the gem and walks out. The student is washing his hands, and he glances at Willy. Willy blushes lightly, moving to the sink. As he washes his hands, he chuckles nervously. WILLY (grinning sheepishly as he lies) Cellular phone. The student nods, slightly wide eyed, and walks out. Willy looks slightly bedraggled. SCENE SHIFTS TO THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION JENNY (opens her eyes and leans forward to type at her console) He can't make it for half an hour. He's taking an important exam. BUCKY (grumbles) I guess we'll have to have Chelli give us warp drive until he gets here. Jenny groans as Bucky reaches for the intercom. BUCKY (into comm) Chelli, give me mark-4 on my command. CHELLI (over comm) Aye-aye, Captain. Bucky doesn't notice Jenny's expression of uneasiness as he gets the ship cleared for take off. He nods to Jenny, who flies the ship out of the dock. Bucky turns to the intercom again. BUCKY (into comm) Chelli. Mark-4. The Righteous speeds away. SCENE 14 - PLEID VII The planet is a smallish, purple, cloud-covered sphere orbited by a small squadron of toad fighters. The Righteous flies in, and after a brief exchange of fire in which the Righteous makes some stunning rolls and flips, the toads scatter, allowing Bucky and his crew to make a smooth landing on the planet. SCENE 15 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky and Jenny are working furiously at their consoles. BUCKY (not looking up) Find us a quiet spot, Jen. I'll keep the toad scanners from picking up on your signal. JENNY (not looking up either) Aye-aye, sir. (working, her console beeping softly) Found one, Buck. BUCKY Land us quickly. We have to get below the tree line before the scanners find us. Jenny nods and lands the ship expertly, then she and Bucky jump down to the lower bay, where Bruiser, Blinky, and Chelli stand waiting. BUCKY (with authority, to Jenny, Bruiser, and Chelli) We've got a toad base half a kilometer from us, with mammalian prisoners, perhaps slaves. There's a landing strip on the base with two full squads of toad double bubble fighters. I'm going to cause a distraction on the guard post of the base, while you three disable the communications array and keep the fighters from lifting off. (beat) Remember that they have backup up there, so keep it quiet. We have to find what and who, exactly, is being kept here, then report back to the council. We are, in no form, to try a rescue mission of any prisoners we may encounter. They're probably safer with the toads, for now. (turns to Blinky) Blinky, stay on the ship and wait for Willy. When he gets here, he is not to leave the ship, for any reason. Have him try to boost power to the rockets so we can use them when we need them. If we're not back in three hours, he is to take the Righteous and blast his way off planet and back to Genus. He is to report to Chairman Warner and await further instructions. (turns back to his crew) Any questions? JENNY (speaks up) Are you sure you won't need backup? BUCKY (shakes his head) I'll move faster on my own. Besides, they'll need your knowledge of the ship's controls to keep the fighters from taking off. JENNY (glances at Chelli, who smiles warmly at her, and almost sneers) Aye-aye, Captain. BUCKY (nods) Good. Report back to the Righteous in three hours. (beat as he rests a paw on one of his maser pistols) Let's move. SCENE 16 - LANDING STRIP, PLEID VII Jenny, Brusier, and Chelli sneak toward the landing strip where about twenty toad double fighters can be seen. Several toads are milling about the ships, fixing things. The three crouch in some bushes. CHELLI (whispers to Jenny) When will we know when the captain is at the guard post? JENNY (whispers back, watching the toads) We'll know. As if on cue, a small explosion is seen in the distance. The toads scramble and run on foot toward the explosion. JENNY (waves her arm and stands) Now! The three rush out from their cover and hide under one of the double bubbles. JENNY You two watch for guards; I'll take out the gyros. Chelli and Brusier nod, and Jenny climbs nimbly up the side of the ship and opens a small hatch on the side. She starts to stick her paw in when a VOICE is heard. VOICE Hold it right there, mammal scum! CHELLI Toads! Brusier gives a war cry and launches himself into the small toad force. Chelli stands back, looking around. She notices that Jenny is busy trying to get the gyro, and Brusier is busy fighting toads. She slinks back against the hull and darts from ship to ship toward the tree line. JENNY (working furiously) Give me a few more seconds, Brusier! I've almost got it! Chelli, give him some backup! (glances up when she gets no reply) Chelli? Chelli! That coward! SCENE 17 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDINGATION Willy closes the door to his dimension and looks around. The ship appears to be deserted. WILLY (calling out) Bucky? Jenny? A figure can be seen walking up behind him. It is at least a foot shorter than he. As it nears, it reaches out a paw. It touches his shoulder, and as he spins, light falls on its face. WILLY Chelli? What happened? Where are we? CHELLI (her eyes a slightly more grayish shade than earlier) We're on Pleid VII. The crew went on a mission a few hours ago and left me in charge of the ship. I was waiting for you. The captain said that if he didn't return in an hour and a half, then we were to take the ship to Aldebaran. WILLY (seems confused) Aldebaran? That doesn't sound like something Bucky would say ... CHELLI It was Jenny's suggestion. Since I would be on the ship with just you, Aldebarans would be more likely to help us if the ship was damaged. We still have to blast our way off planet. WILLY (sighs, not noticing Chelli's slightly hungry look) All right. You get to the bridge and fly this thing. I'll man the guns ... I guess ... CHELLI (shakes her head) I can't fly frigates. Can you? WILLY Uh, I've done it once ... CHELLI Then you can do it again. (shoves Willy toward the ladder) I'll play engineer and gunner. Willy seems uncertain but nods and climbs the ladder. CHELLI (grins and turns to a shadow) Has the AFC been properly disposed of, Rika? RIKA, a tortoiseshell brown and orange tabby with gray-green eyes, steps forward, holding a slightly smoking Blinky up by the arm. RIKA And properly damaged so as to look like there was an engine explosion. CHELLI (nods, her eyes turning more and more gray-silver) Good. Are Claire and Manda in position on the bridge? RIKA (nods) Aye, Squad Commander. CHELLI (turns toward the gun rack) Good. Put the AFC in position, and be ready for the accelerator explosion. Rika nods and walks toward engineering with the smoking Blinky as Chelli moves toward the gun pit. Meanwhile, in the upper bay, Willy sits on Jenny's chair and starts powering up systems. WILLY (pouts slightly) I wonder if Jenny's OK ... maybe I should try to contact her ... (pulls out his memory stone) It worked once ... Willy pulls off his cap and sets it on the console next to him. Behind him, two shady FIGURES, gray eyes glinting softly, can be seen. Willy presses the gem to his forehead. FIGURE #1 (gems glittering and eyes sparkling) CHELLI MANDA CHELLI Manda looks over at the Claire. She nods, and her head gem sparkles. WILLY (into the gem) JENNY (from the gem) Claire's gem glitters brightly, almost a flash. Willy's gem, unnoticed by him, goes a dark shade of gray and stops glowing. WILLY (into the gem, speaking aloud) I'm on the ship ... Jenny? Jenny? SCENE SHIFTS TO PLEID VII Jenny looks up from another ship. Brusier can be seen behind her, fighting off toads. Her head gem glitters, and she gasps. SCENE SHIFTS TO THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION WILLY (scratches his head) That was weird. (removes the head gem) She was there a minute ago. Maybe she's been attacked ... (starts to stand) I have to help her! CHELLI (from the doorway) No! We don't have the time. We have to get the ship to Aldebaran and report in. Captain's orders. Willy hesitates but sits back down. He reluctantly starts to power up the ship. He waits for Chelli to leave. He then sighs and looks around the empty bridge. WILLY (to himself) Something is definitely not right here ... MANDA (gems glitter) CHELLI (sighing) MANDA (grins from the shadows, stepping forward) Hey, handsome. What's your name? WILLY (blinks and spins around) Huh? Chelli appears in the doorway, her eyes silver, with four more sets of silver eyes behind her. CHELLI (hungrily) NOW! Manda and Claire step out of the shadows and power up their gems. Chelli walks into the upper bay and grins, allowing the other four behind her to step in and power up. WILLY (sinks back in his chair) Holy ... CHELLI Now, my dear friend. You are charged with crimes against the people of Aldebaran, the unlawful possession of magical talents, and the spreading of the Teachings of the Sisterhood to unauthorized persons. How do you plead? (not giving him a chance to answer) Human DuWitt, you have been found guilty. Prepare yourself for punishment. BUCKY (from the doorway, maser pistol in paw) I don't think so, kitten. I don't know what this is about, but I do know that you're endangering my crew, and that means you're under arrest. Chelli, not fazed by Bucky's sudden entrance, laughs at Bucky and fires a small magic bolt at him, which knocks him against the hull. CHELLI Stupid rabbit! You'll never stop us! (turns to her squad) Kill them both! There must be no witnesses. Fear washes over Willy's face. SCENE 18 - FOREST Jenny is running full tilt toward the ship. JENNY I knew there was something wrong with Chelli. I knew she couldn't be trusted! The forest speeds around her as she nears the ship. All is quiet as she approaches. Her gems sparkle, and she growls. JENNY They're in the bridge! I'll have to use an access tunnel. SCENE 19 - UPPER BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky is getting to his feet, surrounded by members of the assassination squad. Willy is still sitting in Jenny's chair, his cap laying forgotten on the console. CHELLI (chuckles as she casts a paralysis spell) Watch, Captain, to what happens to those who pry too far into Aldebaran business. The sisters then turn toward Willy and start casting a spell. Willy takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. BUCKY (straining) Willy! Run! WILLY (calmly) No, Captain ... I can do this ... The spell is finished, and Chelli opens her eyes, ready to fire a high-level blast at Willy. Just as Chelli is throwing it, a vent gets kicked open, and the duct cover flies in the way of the blast and gets destroyed. Chelli growls at Jenny as she lands by Bucky and removes the paralysis. Bucky falls forward. JENNY (looks at Chelli) Who ordered the removal, Chelli? CHELLI (laughs at Jenny) There's nothing you can do, *Sister*. The human must die ... or are you helping him? Jenny growls and stays quiet. Bucky looks at her confusedly. JENNY Assassin scum. I won't let you hurt my friend. CHELLI Then you are aiding the criminal. Jenny, you are charged with crimes against Aldebaran, and the Teaching of the ways of the Sisterhood to unlawful persons. You are found guilty. You must die. The sisters attack, and Jenny fights back. Some consoles get smashed, and it eventually rolls down into the lower bay, where Bruiser is waiting to help. Willy casts a few weak attack spells, much to Bucky's surprise. The sisters get knocked out. Bruiser dumps them all into an empty supply closet and locks the door. Jenny casts an anti-magic shield around the room. BUCKY (sighs at Jenny, paws on hips) I know, I know... you can't tell me a thing about what just happened. So let's just go home. Jenny hangs her shoulders as she watches Bucky climb the ladder ahead of her. JENNY (sighs to herself) I wish I could tell you, Buck. I really do ... SCENE 20 - THE PALANCE, ALDEBARAN Cassie is glaring at the failed assassination squad, standing to the right of the Queen, who is also looking at the assassination squad. QUEEN Your mission failed? CHELLI Yes, your Majesty. QUEEN (nods, as Cassie glances at the Queen nervously) The punishment for failure of a removal attempt is death. (beat) However, I am not so callous as that. You are part of my children. I don't want any of my children to die at my hand. So I banish you and your squad from Aldebaran. You will turn in your black gems and will be given a new set of gems, to start a new life. These gems will be tagged. Should you cast any spell that would harm another being, your gems will crack, and you will be lost in spell state for eternity. The squad gulps, and Cassie growls softly. QUEEN Be gone. The squad files out, and the Queen turns to leave. QUEEN Cassie, I'd like a word with you in my chambers. Cassie licks her lips nervously but follows the Queen silently. Once in her chambers, the Queen sits calmly at her desk. Cassie stands at attention in front of her, her face unreadable. QUEEN (looking at Cassie) What are you going to do, Cassie, now that your attempt has failed? Granted, the people may fear Willy more now than ever, but the crew's protection of him is complete enough to stop one full squad. (eyes narrowing) You know more than that will never be allowed. Cassie is silent. QUEEN (stands) Be warned, Cassiopeia ... Cassie gasps and is taken aback by the use of her full name. QUEEN ... now that you have drawn so much attention to the human, the Resistance will not rest until he joins them. (turns to face Cassie) You have opened Cloudchaser's Toy Box. The Queen leaves her office, leaving Cassie to think on her actions. SCENE 21 - UPPER BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky and Jenny have finished setting course to Genus. A heavy silence hangs between them, which Bucky finally breaks. BUCKY (without looking at Jenny) So, now that I'm harboring two criminals on my ship, think I should ask Deadeye where I should land this boat? Jenny looks confusedly at Bucky, then turns back to her controls, angry. JENNY This isn't a laughing matter, Bucky. BUCKY (turns to face Jenny) You're right, it's not. (pauses as Jenny looks at him confused) You and Willy might be taken off my crew, and I'm not going to let that happen. Even if it means hijacking the Righteous and becoming a rogue, I'm keeping this crew together. JENNY (sighs and smiles slightly) The Aldebaran council has nothing on us, Bucky. They can't go after us legally, the UAC doesn't have laws for what they deem unlawful, and I don't think the views of those Sisters reflect the views of the majority of the council, anyway. (smile broadens) So, your dream of becoming the aniverse's most feared and famed pirate will just have to wait. Bucky chuckles and shakes his head. Things seem to be forgotten when he asks suddenly. BUCKY So you've been teaching Willy magic? Jenny's expression changes from a smile to an "uh-oh." THE END