"A Toad In Mammal's Clothing" Part 2 by Kooshmeister and WatsonSword First draft - 3/16/09 Second draft - 8/18/10 Third draft - 10/2/10 Final draft - 10/10/10 Edited by Rygar SCENE 1 - SPACE A maser blast strikes a toad double bubble. It explodes in a shower of green and yellow metal. The pilots drift helplessly through space in their pods. Four more double bubbles fly in a diamond formation toward The Screaming Mimi. They exchange plasma and maser fire. The Screaming Mimi's shields flicker as its maser cannons quickly destroy three double bubbles. The fourth double bubble, piloted by the SQUADRON LEADER, consistently evades the maser cannons. SQUADRON LEADER (into comm) Squadron! Regroup and engage! Let's keep some order here! They're picking us off like, well ... flies! The squadron leader's copilot briefly looks at him with a raised eyebrow. GUNNER HARRY CALLAN sits in the gunner's bay of The Screaming Mimi. He grits his teeth and his breath flutters as he swivels his seat around, firing at double bubbles. He destroys several. HARRY (shouting) You'll never get past me, you maggot suckers! You want some more?! A blast rocks the ship. Harry clings to his guns for stability. He hesitates, then activates the comm attached to his seat. HARRY (into comm) Mimi, what was that? CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR sits in her chair in the cockpit. She holds a paw to her bleeding temple. Several panels spark and smoke. HARRY Are the shields out? Mimi activates the comm on her terminal. MIMI (into comm) Negative, Harry, they're holding. But I don't know for how much longer! (to herself) Toads got damn aggressive all of a sudden. It hasn't been like this for months. Mimi clings to her armrests as another blast rocks the ship. Down below, ENGINEER DILE O'CROCK frantically works a number of sparking and smoking conduits with esoteric power tools from his utility belt. MIMI (over comm) Engineering! Report! DILE (into comm) The shield conduit's insulation is melting, and its relay is burning out fast. The shields will fail unless I can reroute the power supply! MIMI Less talk! More fix! DILE Aye, Captain! The Screaming Mimi's guns resume fire, destroying several more double bubbles, but new ones keep coming. Each passing wing loses several double bubbles, but the remaining ships pound The Screaming Mimi's shields with plasma blasts. In the gunner's chamber, Harry stops firing as something comes into view. He gasps and slams the comm. HARRY (shouting) Mimi! We've got to get out of here! It's a mothership! Distracted, Mimi looks through the viewport. Her ears droop as she sees the enormous toad mothership looming in the distance. Aboard the bridge of the mothership, toad crewmembers are calm and confident as they work at their stations. The AIR MARSHAL stands atop a platform overlooking the viewport. FRIX and FRAX lurk in the background. In spite of his virtually guaranteed success, the Air Marshal seems forlorn. He looks down with half-open eyes, his hands clasped behind his back. AIR MARSHAL (beat) Any moment now ... In the cockpit of The Screaming Mimi, Mimi grits her teeth as another volley of plasma fire barely misses the ship. Just then, the comm panel lights up, showing FIRST MATE JENNY. JENNY (over comm) Sorry we're late ... MIMI (into comm) You're forgiven! Just help us out here! The double bubbles turn back and regroup to make another pass at The Screaming Mimi. SQUADRON LEADER Keep it up, boys, we're beatin' 'em! The Righteous Indignation suddenly drops out of hyperspace amid the double bubbles. Its masers fire rapidly, destroying several double bubbles and forcing the others to break formation and withdraw. SQUADRON LEADER (blinks) What the hell?! The Righteous Indignation, shields on full, rams through several more double bubbles, sending them tumbling through space. The remaining bubbles, including the squadron leader's, turn and pursue the Righteous. Jenny sits in the seat normally occupied by Bucky. JENNY We got held up repairing our hyperdrive relay. What's your situation? MIMI Port engine's destroyed. Shields holding but could fail at any moment. Thanks for the help. Jenny smiles. JENNY Well, that's what we're here for. Deadeye? Seated at his maser cannon, GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK laughs and wriggles his fingers around the grips of his guns. DEADEYE (into comm) Right ye are, Jenny me lass! 'ey, Harry boy, what say we fry us some froggies? The Righteous Indignation flies past The Screaming Mimi and comes back around to stop at her port side, facing the opposite direction. Both ships' guns fire rapidly, swiveling every direction and destroying many double bubbles, showering scrap metal everywhere. Double bubble escape pods fly in random directions. Observing from his platform, the Air Marshal closes his eyes and sighs. He opens them and feigns a confident expression. AIR MARSHAL Now. Two toad cruisers suddenly drop out of hyperspace on either side of the mothership. Both are helmed by stoic-faced toad CAPTAINS with perfectly pressed uniforms. CAPTAIN #1 Ramming speed! Shields on full! CAPTAIN #2 All gunners, fire at will! Blast them into mammal mush! The cruisers accelerate toward the UAC frigates. Harry sees the oncoming ships from his seat. He points at them as his jaw quivers. HARRY (panicked) Mimi! Jenny! We're in deep shit! Having destroyed or disabled all remaining double bubbles, the Righteous turns to face the toad cruisers. JENNY Open fire, Deadeye! Deadeye is already firing at the cruisers. DEADEYE Way ahead of ye! Them slow-movin' hunks a' toad trash're sittin' ducks! (under his breath) No pun intended. The masers of both The Righteous Indignation and The Screaming Mimi do little against the shields of the toad cruisers. The cruisers fly away from each other and speed forward. They fire at the UAC frigates that pass between them, scorching their hulls and cracking their viewports. Deadeye clings to his seat with all four paws as the ship shakes and his viewport cracks. The frigate settles. DEADEYE Uh, maybe not. Deadeye takes the grips of his gun and turns his seat to the ship's aft. He fires continuously at the cruisers until red warning lights blink on the gunmount. In the distance, the mothership accelerates toward the UAC frigates. DEADEYE (shouting) Me masers ain't doin' no good 'gainst the cruisers! And me guns're overheatin'! And the big one's gettin' closer! JENNY I'm taking evasive action. The Righteous banks to port, away from The Screaming Mimi. The toad cruisers fire a volley of plasma blasts at the Righteous. Several strike the port engines, burning them into frayed black tubes. With only the starboard engines functional, The Righteous Indignation spins out of control. On the Righteous's bridge, unsecured objects fly about. Jenny clings to her seat and braces her legs against her terminal. AFC BLINKY flies through air and strikes the back wall. BLINKY Oh, misery and wretchedness! Jenny grits her teeth and hits the comm switch on her terminal. JENNY (shouting) We're hit bad! We lost the port engines *and* the inertial dampeners! MIMI This whole damn thing was a trap! The Screaming Mimi turns to pursue the toad cruisers. Aboard the mothership, the Air Marshal cannot look at the viewport showing the unfolding battle. He instead stares at the floor. Frix and Frax climb the stairs to his platform. FRIX Brilliant attack, Air Marshal! The Air Marshal sighs and turns toward Frix, feigning his best smile. AIR MARSHAL Military strategy is nothing more than reading the enemy's mind, Frix. I knew that once we had The Screaming Mimi at our mercy, then The Righteous Indignation would come to her aid. (clenches a fist) And with that, we will finally kill Bucky O'Hare! The Screaming Mimi dives below the toad cruisers and loops above them, firing its masers as it passes. The cruisers receive only slight damage, while The Screaming Mimi's shields take several more hits and flicker frantically. Mimi holds her face in her paws and heaves. MIMI (whispering) This might be it. Jenny squeezes her eyes shut and slowly shakes her head. JENNY (whispering) There's no way out now. The Air Marshal grimaces and stares quizzically at his hands. AIR MARSHAL (whispering) They're doomed for sure. (to himself) And I don't know who's on board. A toad CREWMEMBER works his panel and turns his seat toward the Air Marshal's platform. CREWMEMBER Air Marshal, sir! Another ship is dropping out of hyperspace right behind us! The Air Marshal looks at the crewmember with a furrowed brow. AIR MARSHAL Another ship? What is it? The Screaming Mimi's sensors pick up the newcomer first. Mimi squints in confusion. MIMI It's a toad shuttlecraft! Also perplexed, Jenny leans toward her sensors. JENNY Why's a shuttle suddenly showing up? The crewmember addresses the Air Marshal. CREWMEMBER I don't know, sir. It must've gotten the wrong transmission or something. The Air Marshal crosses his arms. AIR MARSHAL (whispering to self) No, it must've been captured. I can use this. (uncrosses arms, shouting) Order the cruisers to regroup alongside the mothership and put our shields on double-front to protect the shuttle! CREWMEMBER They're already beside us, sir. Aboard the toad craft, CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE mans the controls, ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT beside him. They both stare quizzically at the mothership and the two cruisers parked on either side of it. Willy points to the sensors. WILLY Why are their rear shields down? BUCKY Who cares? Let's just hope this thing has weapons. Bucky works his terminal. A pair of plasma canons emerge from the craft's nose. BUCKY Bingo! The escape craft opens fire. Plasma blasts burn through the unshielded engines of the port cruiser until the engines explode, sending the cruiser tumbling through space with smoke and flames pouring from its rear. The craft turns and fires on the starboard cruiser, which meets the same fate. Mimi points to her sensors. MIMI Why's the shuttle attacking the cruisers? Aboard the mothership, the crewmember addresses the Air Marshal. CREWMEMBER That ship's an enemy combatant! It was captured, not misdirected! That's the only explanation! Soft thumps echo through the hull. The toad bridge crew looks about in curiosity. CREWMEMBER Now it's attacking us! The Air Marshal sighs with half closed eyes, then feigns anger as he flails his arms about. AIR MARSHAL (shouting) Rear shields up, you hairbrains! Warp us out of here now! I don't care where to! CREWMEMBER And leave the cruisers? AIR MARSHAL (shouting) We've got a bajillion more cruisers docked in toad space. The mothership's more important! CREWMEMBER Sir, I'm pretty sure we can handle a small shuttlecraft. AIR MARSHAL Not if both of those frigates recover and attack us, too! Let's go! Its engines starting to spark, the mothership turns on its axis and jumps into hyperspace. The Air Marshal looks up at the ceiling. AIR MARSHAL (thinking) The shuttlecraft approaches the UAC frigates. Blinky climbs back into the first mate's seat as Jenny sighs with relief and activates her comm. JENNY (into comm) This is the UAC frigate The Righteous Indignation to unknown toad shuttle. Please identify yourself. BUCKY (over comm, jokingly) I take out two toad cruisers just like the old days, and you can't tell who it is? Jenny just grins. BINKY Great fortune and prosperity! Captain O'Hare has saved us all! WILLY (over comm) Nice to see you too, Blinky. Let's just get the hell out of here. JENNY No can do, Willy. The Righteous has no port engines, and the Mimi's conduits are melting. MIMI I'll send a distress call and request tow ships. BUCKY In the meantime, I guess I can chip away at the cruisers' systems to get them ready for boarding parties. O'Hare out. Jenny falls back into her chair and sighs. She runs her fingers through her pink hair as she relaxes. SCENE 2 - COMMAND CENTER, TOAD HIDEOUT, GENUS COMMANDER CREELEVARD VALTJHOU and SERGEANT KRUG stand around a table in the dimly lit toad hideout, looking over documents delivered by a very tense RENFIELD BILLINGS, who stands nearby, paws shaking. Stormtoads flank him. Krug flips though the documents as if confused. Creelevard, however, glares with interest and deep thought at some of them. CREELEVARD You are certain this is accurate? RENFIELD As certain as I am that beneath these bunny pajamas, I am a toad, sir. Creelevard takes a pen from one of his pockets and writes on the back of one of the papers. Krug motions his head toward the exit. KRUG All right, then. You can go. I'll handle things from here. Hurry before your bunny boyfriend starts missing you. Renfield turns toward the door but then pauses, looking back. RENFIELD What ... what about Plan O, sir? KRUG Creelevard here loaded our target up with enough explosives to blast it right out of the aniverse. At this time tomorrow, the Genus sky will be filled with some of the prettiest fireworks you ever did see. Krug giggles as Renfield leaves in disgust. Creelevard leans over and gets in Krug's face, halting the Sergeant's laughter. He shoves a paper into Krug's face. CREELEVARD I need these. Krug grabs the paper and growls at Creelevard, who remains deadpan, unblinking. KRUG (irritated) I call the shots around here, remember? CREELEVARD Apologies. (beat) I need these. Sir. Krug turns aside and unravels the paper. KRUG (grumbling) That's better. (reads) What the frell is all this? An S.P.A.C.E. terminal with a secure comm line, and a children's voice changer from a toy store? A forged Inspector General's ID? A gangster costume? A sewer map?! CREELEVARD And a recording of Vice Chairman Griff. Sir. KRUG Well, most of that's fine. The comm'll be tricky, but I can get it. But who'll forge the ID? Creelevard's eye narrows slightly, displaying a hint of contempt. CREEEVARD If you cannot get it, I can. SCENE 3 - ALDEBARAN EMBASSY, GENUS A few hours later, the sun shines over the Aldebaran embassy, which is a giant and a fortress among the smaller, egalitarian embassies all around it. Skybridges connect the two massive cylindrical buildings, themselves once single embassies, at every other floor. Alloy scaffolding and sheeting coat the buildings, leaving few of its former windows present. An army of white-armored Aldebaran soldiers patrols the interior of the embassy grounds, itself enclosed by a fifty-foot, sword-edged electric fence. It presumably has magical security features as well. Renfield, in an idiotic-looking pinstripe suit with pointed shoulders, stands in front of the embassy gate, clutching an alloy briefcase. His breath flutters, and his paws shake. RENFIELD (whispering) Why did I agree to do this? Creelevard's voice comes through a comm chip under the skin behind Renfield's ear. CREELEVARD (over comm) I'd have beheaded you had you refused. RENFIELD (nervously giggling) Oh, yeah! Makes sense. CREELEVARD Go. Renfield winces at a brief static in his ear as the connection deactivates. The embassy gate slides open, and two rows of ten Aldebaran soldiers with blood-red spell gems and maser scepters surround Renfield. The hare gulps and droops his ears. A tall, full-figured female BENGAL in an ornate gold and platinum tunic and robes approaches Renfield. A short and lithe male MANX in a purple overcoat flanks her. BENGAL I am Envoy Ophelia. He is Custodian Felix. How may we help you? Renfield adjusts his choking, cheap tie and clears his throat several times before speaking. RENFIELD (nervous) H-hi. I'm, um, I'm Art Hopper. I'm from the Genus Inspector General's office. We got readings of a strange energy source coming from the embassy. Ophelia raises a single eyebrow. RENFIELD (nervous) Um. Er. Well, more strange than we usually get. The Inspector General just wants to be sure it won't be a threat to Genus. OPHELIA What is the nature of your reading? RENFIELD (nervous) Well, uh, that's kind of hard to describe. It seems to emit some kind of *negative* energy -- that is, contrary to energy. It has negative inertia, and generates negative gravity. OPHELIA Oh, that. (suspicious) May I see your credentials, Mr. Hopper? RENFIELD (nervous) Yeah! They're right here, along with the inspection order. Renfield hands the briefcase to Ophelia, who hands it to Felix. OPHELIA (to Felix) Verify their authenticity. FELIX (nodding) Yes, ma'am. Felix hurries into the embassy. OPHELIA (to Renfield) Follow me, Mr. Hopper. SCENE 4 - LABORATORY, ALDEBARAN EMBASSY, GENUS This dark cylindrical room, with its computer-lined walls and four rows of esoteric Aldebaran devices that lead to the center, has only one occupant. She stands in front of the glass cylinder that holds the pure black gem of the Armored Artificer. Renfield enters the dark room and approaches the occupant. She is a tall and stout Abyssinian in black armor with red highlights set with blood-red spell gems. Red dreadlocks flow to her thighs. She glares at Renfield with emotionless eyes. He gasps as he realizes that it is AMBASSADOR ARTEMISIA. RENFIELD (gasps) Ambassador Artemisia! Wh-what are you doing, uh, here to see me? ARTEMISIA (stoic) All matters involving the power you spoke of are my personal concern. Artemisia steps aside. Renfield approaches the glass cylinder and gazes at the pure black gem, as does Artemisia. ARTEMISIA (stoic) I warn you against getting too close. It is highly reactive, and we still do not understand how or why. RENFIELD What is it? ARTEMISIA (stoic) A gift from a terrorist. A taunt and a means of demonstrating his alleged power. It seems he knows we cannot fathom it. We know only that it draws its power from the death and despair of sentient beings. RENFIELD Why is it here? ARTIMESIA (stoic) A combination of Aldebaran and UAC methods is being used to study it. It must never leave this vault. There is no knowing the scourge it may cause should it be ... misplaced. When you leave the embassy, you will go the Security Council building and be sworn to secrecy before Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Griff. Only together can they grant clearance to see the gem. RENFIELD Then why'd you let me in here? ARTEMISIA (stoic) It was safer for you to be inside the embassy while we verified your credentials. That way, we could execute you if they failed inspection, which we *can* do so long as you stand in Aldebaran territory, Mr. Hopper. Renfield gulps. RENFIELD Well, that sure makes me feel welcome. SCENE 5 - SNACK BAR, ORWELL STATION Bucky, Willy, Jenny, Deadeye, and Blinky, as well as Mimi and her crew, sit at a booth as Bucky finishes telling of his and Willy's adventure on Planet Punk. BUCKY ... and we just barely made it out of there. JENNY Then the duplicate of you came from that laboratory? BUCKY (nodding) And it means there's still another disguised toad in the UAC ranks. It's Renfield. Bucky makes a fist and pounds it angrily against the tabletop and then stands. BUCKY I've got to find him. Jenny? You come with me. We've got to contact Muller and then Fritz. The rest of you, get to work repairing the damage to the ships. MIMI (raises an eyebrow) I'll order myself to fix my ship, thanks. DEADEYE Cap'n, ye sure ye won't need us? WILLY Yeah, there's no telling what that toad'll do when he's cornered. BUCKY Thanks, but I need to deal with him myself. You guys are better than I am at fixing the ship anyway, and who knows when we might need it next. Bucky heads off, Jenny following him. Mimi watches as Bucky leaves. HARRY You gonna follow him? MIMI Nope. Bucky's got a lot of anger to work through, and I don't want to be there when he works through it on another toad dressed up as a hare. SCENE 6 - MAIN POWER ROOM, ORWELL STATION In the lower portion of the space station stands a locked but lightly guarded room. In the center are numerous power generators. Recently planted explosives wired up to the largest generator lie in wait. On the detonator, emblazoned with the insignia of the Toad Empire, a digital countdown silently proceeds. SCENE 7 - CHARMAN WARNER'S OFFICE CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER sits at his desk going through paperwork with half-closed eyes and a glower. The room is dark save for Fritz's desk lamp. He flinches as his comm beeps. He turns it on. Artemisia, in uniform, stares back at Fritz through the screen. FRITZ (into comm) Is something the matter, Ambassador? ARTEMISIA (over comm, stoic) A green hare calling himself Art Hopper just visited us. He claimed to be from the Inspector General's office and wanted to see the source of a bizarre energy reading. FRITZ (concerned) You didn't show him *it*, did you? ARTEMISIA His identification and orders passed inspection. I had no choice. But when I later called the Inspector General's office, the secretary told me no one had been dispatched to the embassy. FRITZ So what do you think is going on? ARTEMISIA The toad cell must be behind it. You said they were able to make themselves look like mammals, correct? FRITZ Yeah, but they can't forge credentials like that ... (beat) I'm calling the Inspector General's office. You call Detective Muller and describe this green hare to him. He may be the other traitor. ARTEMISIA First, I'm locking down the embassy and barricading the laboratory. No one comes in or out until further notice, Chairman. Not even you. Artemisia cuts the signal. Fritz rests his head in his paw, elbow propped up on the desk. He narrows his eyes in thought, then activates his comm. An ELK appears on the screen. ELK (over comm) Who is this? This is my private number! (realizing) Oh. Uh, hi, Chairman. FRITZ (into comm) Inspector General Pardek. May I have a moment of your time? PARDEK Yes, of course. FRITZ Look into all the ID badges generated in the past few days. Dig deep if something might be hidden. Find one made out to Art Hopper. PARDEK (confused) I'll ... do that. FRITZ Good. Thank you. SCENE 8 - OFFICES, UAC HEADQUARTERS, GENUS Business is proceeding as usual. DAWSON MACKENZIE and Renfield's female COWORKER are going over some kind of report. Dawson keeps nervously eyeing his watch, making the coworker look concerned. COWORKER Is everything all right, Dawson? DAWSON I hope so. It's just ... it's been a more than a few hours since Renfield went on his snack break, and he hasn't been back yet. COWORKER (shrugs) Well, I'm sure that wherever he is, he's fine. Now then, let's finish this report. Morgenstern is in one of his moods today. Dawson nods and absently returns his attention to their paperwork. At that moment, Bucky and Jenny arrive with DETECTIVE MULLER and head straight for Renfield's office door, which is closed. They knock. MULLER Renfield Billings, open up. It's the police. We're here with a warrant for your arrest. I'd suggest you surrender quietly. No response. Muller eyes Bucky and then tries the doorknob. It won't turn. MULLER Locked. Bucky draws his maser and blasts off the doorknob before kicking the door open. Dawson and the coworker, startled, stare at them. BUCKY Now it's unlocked. MULLER I always forget that subtlety is one of your strong points. Concerned about the commotion, the coworker hurries away, but Dawson stays put. Bucky, Jenny, and Muller enter the office and find it empty. BUCKY Do you suppose someone tipped him off? MULLER Possibly. I have men on his apartment. It's only a matter of time before we get him. Muller looks around, spotting a picture of Renfield. He picks it up and looks at it. MULLER Yep, that's who Artemisia described to me, all right. No question about it. Everything points to this guy. Dawson can no longer stand this invasion of Renfield's privacy. He growls and drops what he's doing, looking very miffed. He rushes over and skids to a halt in the office doorway. DAWSON Excuse me! Just what the hell do you think you're doing? A few of the other office personnel have begun taking note of the drama unfolding in Renfield's office doorway. Bucky approaches the furious-looking Dawson. BUCKY Mind telling us who you are, first? DAWSON (straightening) Dawson Mackenzie. I work here. This is a private office. You can't just come barging in here and do whatever you want. BUCKY This is Detective Muller, and his warrant says we can. DAWSON Warrant? Warrant for what? MULLER For the arrest of one Renfield Billings. DAWSON (irritated) Arrest? Why do you want to arrest him? MULLER (suspicious) You seem interested in this. Exactly what is your relationship to Billings, Mr. Mackenzie? Dawson swallows and fidgets a little. DAWSON Personal. We, uh, we date. Bucky blinks, but then shakes his head and sighs, seeming to feel very, very sorry for Dawson. Nothing in his voice seems to betray this, and he is very stern and cold with the other hare. BUCKY (firmly) Mr. Billings is being investigated under suspicion of being a toad spy, Mr. Mackenzie. Dawson takes a step back, seemingly shocked, but then begins laughing. DAWSON Renfield, a toad spy? Oh, that's rich! BUCKY It's true, kid. Now, where is he? I need to know. Right now. Bucky takes a step toward Dawson, who backs up, looking intimidated. Suddenly, Renfield's voice stops him. RENFIELD I can save you the trouble, Bucky. Here I am. Leave Dawson alone. He isn't involved in any of this. Bucky turns to find Renfield standing in the broken doorway, changed back into his regular greenish brown suit and dark green tie. RENFIELD I just came back from a ... business meeting. Bucky is on Renfield in an instant. He seizes the fake hare by the tie and shoves him against the back wall. Renfield gasps as Bucky snarls into his face. BUCKY Say it, you miserable little fly-muncher! Come on, say it! Tell everyone what you really are! Detective Muller hurries to Bucky's side, along with Jenny. JENNY Bucky, not here! MULLER Let him go, O'Hare! BUCKY (growls) I just want him to admit it! Say it, damn you! Bucky slams Renfield against the wall again and holds him there as the false hare gags and shakes his head, panting. Dawson scowls and is about to intervene when Renfield speaks up. RENFIELD (desperate) All right! All right! It's true! I'm a toad! (looks over at Dawson) I'm sorry, I ... Renfield trails off. Dawson covers his mouth. DAWSON Toad? He said toad *spy*, not ... not ... Dawson suddenly looks sick. Jenny attempts to place a sympathetic paw on the young hare's shoulder, but he jerks away and then runs off down the hall, disappearing around the corner, making loud retching noises. Renfield watches him go, then looks back at Bucky, whose hate- filled gaze burns into Renfield, making him go weak-kneed. RENFIELD (pleading) Look, please, don't hurt me! I'll tell you anything you want to hear! Bucky keeps his hold on Renfield, keeping him firmly against the wall. BUCKY Start talking. Now. FRITZ Later. Startled, they all turn to see Fritz standing there with KADAF WARNER and several bodyguards. No one heard their approach; it's as if they materialized from thin air. It isn't immediately obvious how long Fritz and his entourage were even there listening to Renfield's confession. FRITZ We have much bigger problems than him. Bucky releases Renfield, who slides down to the floor. Muller helps him up and begins cuffing him as Bucky walks over to Fritz, still angry. BUCKY Like what? FRITZ Renfield's just one part of this scheme. I think the toads are planning on attacking the Aldebaran embassy. JENNY (shocked) What?! RENFIELD It's true! I was just there under a false pretense. They showed me some sort of deadly black rock kept in a secured lab. Jenny's breath flutters, and her eyes widen in terror. JENNY (whispering) The pure black gem. BUCKY Who else is on Genus, Renfield? Who are you taking orders from? Renfield looks down and to the side. RENFIELD His name's Creelevard. He's really creepy. JENNY (gasps) Creelevard?! He's still alive? Renfield nods. FRITZ That would explain the badge processor at the Inspector General's office with superficial blade wounds ... JENNY (angry) What do you know about this? When's he going to make his move? RENFIELD Creelevard doesn't procrastinate. Ever. He'll strike as soon as he has the supplies he asked for. He might even be acting right now. SCENE 9 - SEWERS, GENUS Creelevard stands, wearing a large satchel, in a sewer junction next to a ladder leading to the surface. On the concrete platform above the flowing sewage, he has set up an array of devices. A large workstation computer with an attached terminal sports the S.P.A.C.E. logo. A small portable generator powers it. Creelevard holds a chip in his hand that plays a speech by Vice Chairman Griff into a rotund, brightly colored pocket computer held in his other hand. GRIFF (recording) Dogstar served the UAC well because he loved the UAC. As Chairman, he has ushered us into a bold new age of offense. Toad attacks have decreased in number and in ferocity. Our children are safer. Our lives are safer. Thanks to Dogstar, we may finally be in a position to end this horrible war. Creelevard turns off and pockets the chip. He plugs the bright pocket computer into the S.P.A.C.E. terminal. He removes a comm from a pocket and speaks into it. CREELEVARD (into comm) All troops in position? It is late afternoon in the streets above the sewers. The sky has just begun to turn maroon. A platoon of thirty stormtoads in tattered armor and taped-up plasma carbines sidles against the brick wall of a shadowy alley. They look at the Aldebaran embassy across the street. Sergeant Krug speaks into a comm. KRUG (into comm) Yeah, but the embassy's crawling with guards! Hundreds of them! The place is like an army barrack or something. How are we supposed to storm this? CREELEVARD Their powers make the Aldebarans overconfident. They may seem invincible, but surprise can easily defeat them. Charge in, guns blazing. KRUG I'm taking an awful risk going along with your plan, Creelevard. This had better work. CREELEVARD It will. The stormtoads emerge from the alley, carbines poised. KRUG (shouting) For the glory of KOMPLEX! The toads clamor loudly as they dash toward the Aldebaran embassy, firing volleys of plasma blasts at the compound. Several Aldebarans are struck dead before they can react. The Aldebarans immediately rush to the gate. Gems glowing, each fires spell blasts from the palm of one paw, and maser blasts from the scepter held in the other. The spell blasts and masers strike and kill several stormtoads. The other toads back away and take cover by the corners of alleys, still firing at the Aldebaran embassy. Beneath the battle, in the sewer, Creelevard twirls his pen-like comm in between his fingers while listening to broadcasts on the S.P.A.C.E. computer and terminal. An unknown voice speaks to Fritz Warner on the channel. FRITZ (over comm) Could you repeat that? VOICE (over comm) Stormtoads are at the gate of the Aldebaran embassy. They're exchanging fire with the Aldebarans. CREELEVARD (whispering) Die like the good diversions you are. VOICE Why would Creelevard do something so suicidal? Creelevard betrays a small hint of surprise as he squeezes his comm in his paw. CREELEVARD They know? FRITZ Creelevard's smarter than you can imagine. The stormtoads are only a distraction. Creelevard raises an eyebrow. CREELEVARD (whispering) No matter. The plan can proceed. Creelevard plugs his comm into his pocket computer and speaks into it. His voice is altered by the machinery, making him sound like Griff. CREELEVARD This is Vice Chairman Sanzer Griff! Creelevard's planted a bomb in the sewers beneath the Aldebaran embassy. He must be using the stormtoads to ensure they don't evacuate before it explodes! I repeat, Creelevard's planted a bomb beneath the Aldebaran embassy! FRITZ (concerned) Griff, are you sure about that? Where are you getting your info from? CREELEVARD I'm on the other line with the Sanitation Department. They picked him up on their video feeds. FRITZ (unsure) Dammit, this isn't a chance I can take. Fine, order an evacuation, and order the SWAT team and bomb squad to the embassy. And make sure they take that black gem with them! CREELEVARD What's the ETA? VOICE Say ten minutes for the evacuation, and another ten for the police to arrive. CREELEVARD (whispering) Ten minutes. Hopefully those imbeciles can buy me a few more. Above the sewers, more than half the stormtoads lie dead from spell and maser burns. The Aldebarans have taken only a few casualties. Suddenly, the Aldebaran soldiers' gems glow brighter. They stop and briefly look around in confusion. One Aldebaran SOLDIER points to the embassy buildings. SOLDIER (shouting) You all heard the message! Evacuate! The Aldebaran soldiers deactivate their maser scepters, dim their spell gems, and turn and run toward the embassy building and the ships inside. The stormtoads emerge from their cover and observe the Aldebarans' actions quizzically. Krug activates his comm. KRUG Hey, Creelevard! The Aldebarans are evacuating. CREEELVARD I arranged it. When they are gone, open the front gate and secure the outer perimeter. KRUG I take it back. You *do* have brains after all. (pockets his comm) Well, boys, looks like this job'll be easier than we thought! The remaining stormtoads raise their carbines and cheer. They smile happily as they see shuttles fly up from the Aldebaran roofs and into space. KRUG (smirking) Creelevard? The Aldebarans are gone. We're going in. Krug pockets the comm and motions his head toward the gate. The remaining stormtoads follow. They fire plasma blasts at the gate as they close in, eventually breaking its supports and knocking it down. They enter the embassy grounds, carefully stepping in between the grates of the gate to avoid electrocution. A manhole beside the walkway to the embassy opens, and Creelevard climbs out into the embassy grounds. The stormtoads run to greet him. KRUG We've taken the embassy, but what about the police? Creelevard regards Sergeant Krug with an unblinking stare. CREELEVARD The police cannot enter the grounds without Aldebaran permission. And there are no more Aldebarans to give it. KRUG (smirks) Then we've already won. CREELEVARD Continue to secure the perimeter. I'll infiltrate the embassy myself. KRUG But how'll you get inside? Creelevard throws his cape back, revealing a small, hip-fired rocket-propelled grenade launcher. He takes it and loads a grenade from his satchel. He fires at the embassy doors, destroying them in a massive explosion of green plasma and smoke. The stormtoads and Krug cover their eyes. Creelevard stands like a statue, never flinching or blinking in the face of the explosion. He runs into the embassy as the stormtoads watch in awe. SCENE 10 - ALDEBARAN EMBASSY, GENUS An alloy door leading to a concrete hall with alloy floors bursts into blackened fragments from an explosion of green plasma. Creelevard stands poised at the other end, holding the grenade launcher at his hip. Creelevard runs down the hall as he loads another grenade from his satchel. He makes several turns until he faces an alloy double door twice as tall as himself. CREELEVARD Here. Creelevard fires the grenade at the double door. The explosion blackens the alloy and bends the door inward. Creelevard loads another grenade and fires again. The second explosion finally knocks the doors off their hinges. Creelevard runs into the dark cylindrical laboratory, toward the glass cylinder that holds the pure black gem. When he is ten feet away, Artemisia swoops into view, landing gracefully between Creelevard and the gem. ARTEMISIA (angrily) You toads shall never have this gem. CREELEVARD (seething) Aldebarans. As Artemisia charges up a spell, Creelevard fires a grenade at her. She quickly configures her spell into defensive magic, containing the brunt of the explosion without damaging her surroundings. Creelevard acts on the second of time he's bought himself, darting toward Artemisia and swinging at the spell gem on her forehead. Artemisia barely dodges Creelevard's blow. Creelevard uses his own momentum to spin around, making a second swipe. This one manages to nick one of the spell gems on Artemisia's left arm. Artemisia's magic flows wildly, just barely out of control. Artemisia begins to glow red. In a quick effort to contain her energy, the Aldebaran casts a charm upon herself. It works, though it has the unfortunate side effect of knocking her nearly unconscious. She falls to the ground, groaning. Creelevard steps over Artemisia as if she were not even there. He approaches the glass cylinder housing the gem. He briefly regards his prize before he shatters the glass with a punch and grabs it. ARTEMISIA (weakly) You fool ... Creelevard shrieks and drops the gem to the floor. He looks quizzically at his paw, now boasting a black-rimmed ulcer in its center. He tears a strip off his cape and wraps his hand before picking up the gem and dropping it inside his satchel. ARTEMISIA (weakly) Damn you toads ... Creelevard sprints out of the room. SCENE 11 - VICE CHAIRMAN GRIFF'S OFFICE VICE CHAIRMAN SANZER GRIFF wears rimless, rectangular reading glasses as he types a report on the terminal of his black-stained hardwood U-shaped credenza desk. The comm on his desk beeps, drawing his attention. Griff activates the comm and sees the German Shepherd POLICE CHIEF of Genus Capitol City on the screen. GRIFF (into comm) Vice Chairman Griff. How may I help you? POLICE CHIEF (over comm) I just wanted to let you know our SWAT team and bomb squad have arrived at the Aldebaran embassy. They're fighting off the stormtoads as we speak. Griff blinks in confusion. GRIFF What are you talking about? POLICE CHIEF You wanted to know when they'd arrive so they can disarm the bomb beneath the embassy. GRIFF Bomb? I don't know anything about a bomb. POLICE CHIEF But you told us about the bomb beneath the Aldebaran embassy. GRIFF I told you no such thing. I don't know what you're talking about. POLICE CHIEF Well it *was* your voice, and it came through a secured S.P.A.C.E. channel. But ... if you didn't tell me that, who did? Griff snarls and slams the comm, cutting the signal. He presses another button on it. GRIFF Get me Chairman Warner right now! SCENE 12 - ALDEBARAN EMBASSY, GENUS The remaining stormtoads take cover next to trees as they exchange fire with the heavily armored bulldogs and Rottweilers of Genus Capital City SWAT. The SWAT officers take cover by a UAC shuttle as they shoot into the embassy grounds. A maser beam strikes a stormtoad in the chest, who drops dead on the spot. Only a handful of stormtoads remain. Creelevard stands hidden from view in the embassy's shadowed doorway. He calmly opens the flap of his satchel. A single grenade lies beneath the pure black gem. CREELEVARD (whispering to self) One left. Creelevard loads the grenade into his launcher, careful not to touch the gem, and fires at the shuttle. The explosion blackens a large section of the hull and throws numerous SWAT officers through the air. Creelevard sprints out of the embassy and leaps down the still- open manhole into the sewer. Krug, the last toad standing, reaches toward the manhole. KRUG (shouting) Creelevard! What are you doing?! You bastard! A maser beam strikes Sergeant Krug in the back, killing him. Creelevard lands gracefully on the concrete platform in the sewer junction holding his devices. He rises slowly, his cape sliding down his body until it falls draped once more. He suddenly sprints through the sewer into darkness. SCENE 13 - SPACE NEAR UAC BORDER Toadborg's battle cruiser sits on the dark side of a planetoid not far from the UAC border, hidden from view. On board, TOADBORG stands impassively at the front of the bridge, the FIRST OFFICER beside him. The toad crewmen go about their various tasks, while CAPTAIN STRACKWITTS lounges in his command chair, looking bored. STRACKWITTS (irritated) How much longer must we wait? TOADBORG Patience, Captain. First officer, any further contact with Sergeant Krug on Genus? FIRST OFFICER No, sir. Nothing. The signal's just dead. The sensor array must've been damaged. TOADBORG Or destroyed. And our man on the inside? FIRST OFFICER (shakes his head) Negative. He isn't answering his communicator. Toadborg grumbles, thoroughly annoyed. TOADBORG Useless, all of them. The main viewscreen fizzles, and Creelevard appears on it. CREELEVARD I have news. SCENE 14 - ALDEBARAN EMBASSY, GENUS The sun has now set, and the Aldebarans have now repopulated the embassy. Fritz, Griff, and the crew of The Righteous Indignation walk about the embassy grounds, surveying the destruction of the battle. The bodies of all the stormtoads lie strewn about inside and outside. Fritz frowns, looking severely put out. He nudges a dead stormtoad with his foot, rolling him over. Envoy Ophelia stomps up to Fritz. OPHELIA (shouting) Chairman Warner, this is an outrage! FRITZ (solemnly) I apologize, Madam Envoy, for this deplorable incident. OPHELIA (shouting) You knew that phony inspector belonged to the toad cell, and you didn't even tell us! And now the Capital City PD is saying there never was a bomb? You're not even pretending to care about Aldebaran! FRITZ That is untrue, Envoy. We've been expending every effort to locate the toad cell headquarters. And I didn't know anything about that phony inspector until after you showed him the black gem. A YOUNG ARTIFICER comes running up. YOUNG ARTIFICER Madame Envoy! OPHELIA Yes? ARTIFICER The Armored Artificer's black gem has been stolen! OPHELIA (screaming) *What*?! Ophelia turns to Fritz, baring her teeth and hissing. She shoves a paw, claws extended, in Fritz's face. OPHELIA (furious) You did this! You knew this was going to happen, and you did nothing about it, just to spite us for our being so protective of our embassy! You wanted the toads to get that gem just so you could laugh in our faces. ARTEMISIA (stoic) That is ... highly irrational. Surprised, Ophelia turns to find Artemisia standing weakly behind her. Artemisia has replaced her damaged spell gem. She braces herself against a wall, clearly still wounded from her encounter with Creelevard. She cocks her head at Ophelia. ATREMISIA (stoic) Think, Ophelia. Now that we know exactly what happened, would it have made a difference if we knew an attack was coming? No one thought to secure the sewers, and Creelevard has proven a most resourceful foe. Ophelia stares wide-eyed and speechless at Artemisia. Though fuming with anger, she cannot rebut the Ambassador's argument. She weeps silently and turns her anger toward Fritz. OPHELIA (angry) Chairman Warner, if you do not find the black gem and retrieve it from the toads ... FRITZ Do not worry, Madame Envoy. I can assure you that every effort ... OPHELIA (interrupting) You don't even know where their lair is! Fritz looks annoyed at being interrupted that way but keeps his temper in check. Bucky suddenly steps up to Ophelia. BUCKY Not yet. But it just so happens we have someone who may be able to help us find it. SCENE 15 - BIOCHEMISTRY LAB, SECRET UAC STATION, GENUS Renfield, one sleeve rolled up, sits on an examination table as he is looked at by DR. EDWIN JUTTSON, the squirrel biochemist. Juttson has a mechanical pincher in place of his missing left paw. With his good hand, he sticks a needle into Renfield's arm and draws blood. Bucky, Jenny, and Fritz sit in an adjacent observation room and watch from the opposite side of some one-way glass. Finishing, Juttson takes a test tube of green blood and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. JUTTSON We'll know for sure after the blood test results come back. (looks at the vial) Though unless our Mr. Billings has the most wicked case of jaundice I've ever seen, I would guess that O'Hare's on to something. Juttson hands the test tube to an assistant. Sometime later, Fritz waits, bored, in a chair. Finally, Juttson returns, holding a clipboard with his mechanical hand. JUTTSON The results are back. FRITZ And? JUTTSON He's a mixture of toad and mammal DNA, just as Captain O'Hare indicated. Exactly the same as the last one. (looking uncertain) What do you want us to do with him? FRITZ (seeming distracted in thought) Hmm? (realizing) Oh, nothing. Not this time. Fritz pats Juttson's shoulder, and the squirrel looks relieved. FRITZ This one we need to keep around. There's still the matter of that toad cell and the black gem the Aldebaran embassy is harping on us about. BUCKY Are you going to talk to him? Because if I go in there, I'm probably going to rip his face off. FRITZ And I wouldn't blame you. But I don't think you will. Go find out. BUCKY You want *me* to talk to him? Seriously? FRITZ He's got a lot more to fear from you than from me. Let's go get the information we need. Bucky casts a steely gaze at Renfield through the glass. Finally, he stands up, and he and Fritz step into the room. Renfield sits up on the table as they enter. Fritz quietly closes the door behind him, and they both walk over to where Renfield sits. The fake hare swallows nervously. Bucky steps forward in an intimidating manner. BUCKY It was all a lie. RENFIELD (scared) What? BUCKY You told me you came from Warren. You made me think you were a hare, like me, and you had been dragged into this war, just like me. (beat) I liked you. You reminded me of myself, just a little bit. And it was all a lie. A scheme. RENFIELD No, it wasn't! I wanted you to like me! I wanted to help! BUCKY (angrily) Don't push me, or by the Great Mother, you'll only barely live to regret it. (calming down) Why are you even here? Why you? RENFIELD I ... the toads needed someone to pretend to be a mammal. They wanted to make sure their new technology worked, and they wanted to use it to frame you. But they figured having a man inside the UAC could be helpful. (beat) I was an actor. Like Drollard. I wasn't a fighter. I volunteered so that I could be useful. All I ever wanted to be was useful ... BUCKY An actor, huh? So that's how come you fooled all of us. Your easygoing manner, your glib lies ... our friendship. It was all an act. RENFIELD No! Don't say that! It wasn't an act! I really wanted to be friends with you, Bucky. BUCKY (shaking his head) You toads are even more messed up than I imagined. (beat) Who did you replace? Is "Renfield" even your real name? Tell me who had to die so you could infiltrate the UAC. RENFIELD No one. Not as far as I know. Unlike Drollard, I wasn't designed to resemble anyone in particular. That's what they told me, anyway. And no. That isn't my real name. It's Zaysen. BUCKY OK then, Zaysen. Start talking. RENFIELD Please, call me Renfield. Bucky rolls his eyes. Fritz nods. RENFIELD Thank you. Like I said, I can tell you everything you want to know about the toad cell. BUCKY (sarcastic) Sure are eager to help, aren't you? RENFIELD (smiles wanly) Call it a bad case of going native. I've rather gotten used to this lifestyle. Renfield's expression darkens and his smile fades, and he looks away at the floor. RENFIELD (mournful) Besides, I've grown rather tired of my brutish fellow toads' way of doing things. The attack against the Aldebaran embassy is a good example of what I mean. Especially since ... I was the one who made it possible. But I swear I only did that because Creelevard would've killed me otherwise. Bucky steps closer and gets right in Renfield's face, planting his paws on the sides of the table. Renfield leans back in surprise. BUCKY So how come you never came forward sooner, if you're so good and decent and like living among us so much? RENFIELD (scowls) Because I know what you did to Drollard, that's why. At this, Bucky backs off a little. But only a little. Fritz, standing nearby, has no visible reaction. RENFIELD That's the only reason I chose to stick with those meathead wart-brains Krug was commanding. And I won't help you unless you promise not to kill me. Surely that's a reasonable offer ... FRITZ (piping up) Fair enough. All right, then, Renfield, your life in return for the location of the toad cell. Bucky looks at Fritz but can't seem to argue. He nods. FRITZ Bucky, I leave this in your capable paws. With that, Fritz turns and walks out. Bucky continues to stare icily at Renfield. He speaks more gently, but still coldly. BUCKY All right, Renfield. Let's hear your story. And then the location of your pal Krug's little hideaway. RENFIELD First of all, there's something you ought to know. One last thing. One more atrocity. If we don't stop it, Orwell Station is going to be destroyed at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. BUCKY What? RENFIELD Creelevard wired it to blow. I don't know where the explosives are, but you better get a bomb team up there. Or evacuate the station. Bucky scowls, not sure whether to trust Renfield. BUCKY We thought there was a bomb in the embassy, too. RENFIELD Please! I know you have no reason to trust me. But I don't want any more blood to be on my hands. Bucky looks Renfield over. Deep down, for some reason, he trusts him on this subject. BUCKY Fine. I'll get Fritz to order an evacuation. Twelve hours should be enough time for the teams to disarm the bomb. As for you and me ... where's that toad cell? SCENE 16 - FACTORY FLOOR, ABANDONED STEEL MILL, GENUS It is just after midnight. Bucky stands with his crew and Renfield in the middle of a deserted, dilapidated factory. There's dirt, debris, cobwebs, and hunks of twisted, broken machinery scattered about. A layer of dust covers the floor, displaying recent footprints. Bucky and Deadeye crouch down to examine the footprints. They talk quietly to one another. BUCKY These prints are from are stormtoad combat boots. DEADEYE Aye, Bucky, me lad. A whole mess o' them fly-munchin' scuzzbuckets've been through pretty recently. Renfield stands nearby, holding a black briefcase and looking exceptionally nervous. He is back in his gangster suit and tie. Bucky and Deadeye stand, and Bucky walks over to Renfield, clapping a paw on his shoulder. He jumps. RENFIELD Ahh! BUCKY Calm down. You better be ready for your big performance. RENFIELD No. But I suppose I don't have much of a choice, do I? BUCKY Nope. (beat) Don't worry. We'll be listening in through the comm in your pocket. If they try to hurt you, we'll come running in. Renfield nods, then turns and starts walking off. Bucky grabs him by the arm, stopping him. Renfield turns to look back at him, blinking. BUCKY That cuts both ways, you know. RENFIELD Meaning? BUCKY Meaning if you so much as drop a hint to them and try to warn them that we're out here, the deal's off. Got it? Renfield gulps and nods. BUCKY Good. Now, remember. Just make sure that camera gets disabled so they come out to repair it. We'll handle the rest. Now get going. Renfield turns again and resumes walking off. He disappears through a doorway where the door has come off its hinges and has fallen off to one side. The basement is dark, dank, and dreary. Renfield's feet make an unpleasant crunching sound on the floor as he walks. The sound of water dripping from overheard pipes fills the large room. Renfield crosses the room to the opposite end and approaches the wall. A small video camera is affixed to it. It swivels to examine him as he reaches up and grabs a false pipe attached to the wall. He pulls, causing the wall to pull inwards and then slide away, revealing a brightly lit alcove with a huge steel door. Renfield steps in and knocks on the door. A slot opens, and the eyes of a stormtoad SENTRY peek through. SENTRY Warts Galore? RENFIELD (reciting) Is the only wart cream guaranteed to give you gorgeous new warts, or your money back. SENTRY That's the password, all right. The door opens outward, and the stormtoad stands there expectantly. There is a narrow hallway curving to the right behind him. SENTRY Well, come on. The sentry turns and goes down the hall. When his back is turned, Renfield smoothly reaches up and unplugs a wire from the security camera. Renfield takes a deep breath, adjusts his tie, and walks in. The door closes behind him, and the trick wall then slides back into place. SCENE 17 - COMMAND CENTER, TOAD HIDEOUT, GENUS Three TOAD TECHS are monitoring a bank of monitors. Creelevard stands at one of the collapsible tables in the middle of the room, eyeing the black gem, which currently resides in a metallic carrying case. His one eye gleams. One of the two STORMTOADS left behind walks up to him, but he doesn't seem to notice. STORMTOAD (looks at the black gem) Is that it? CREELEVARD Indeed. STORMTOAD Kind of a puny little thing, ain't it? Creelevard looks at his bandaged hand. He still feels the pulsing pain from the ulcer beneath the bandages. CREELEVARD Immense power is often to be found in small things, soldier. The stormtoad frowns, looking incredulous, watching as Creelevard returns his gaze to the gem and then gently shuts the case. CREELEVARD It must go to Toadborg. STORMTOAD The Sarge keeps an escape ship in back. You can use that, if you can make it through the defense satellites. CREELEVARD They will pose no problem. One of the monitors flickers and goes out, displaying static. TOAD TECH #1 What the? ... (irritated) Aw, come on, gimme a break! The toad tech hits the monitor. TOAD TECH #1 Stupid piece of junk! TOAD TECH #2 What's wrong? TOAD TECH #1 The basement monitor just died on me again. Creelevard overhears them. CREELEVARD Trouble? TOAD TECH #2 Uh, yes, sir, it looks like the camera monitoring the basement entrance isn't working. We're not receiving any images from it. CREELEVARD Fix it. TOAD TECH #2 (grumbling) Right, right. The tech gets up and grabs a toolbox, then leaves the room. As he goes, he passes Renfield, who walks in carrying the briefcase. Creelevard looks over at him and smiles. CREELEVARD The toad in mammal's clothing. RENFIELD Rub it in, why don't you? Just then, Creelevard notices a flickering light on his monitor. CREELEVARD It seems the bomb has been discovered. RENFIELD (nervous) The bomb on Orwell? That's not good. CREELEVARD Not for them. SCENE 18 - MAIN POWER ROOM, ORWELL STATION A bomb squad surrounds the main generator of the Orwell Station power room. They hover over the black plastic crate full of explosives, the detonator on top still counting down and showing the toad insignia. None of the squad members dares to touch the bomb. They all pass different forms of scanning instruments over it while reading the results on their panels. Looking at the readings, the squad goes to work, carefully analyzing their findings. Finally, a LEMUR takes a deep breath, re-checks his readings, and cuts two of the wires leading to the bomb. The timer stops, and an audible sigh of relief escapes from everyone in the squad. An AARDVARK in thick glasses continues to scan the bomb but suddenly steps back. AARDVARK (shaking head) That's not right. LEMUR What's not right? AARDVARK This timed detonator is only one of two circuits running from the main relay. LEMUR Where does the second go? AARVARK If these readings are correct ... the second circuit is connected to a second detonator ... (eyes widen) It's a remote detonator! The screen with the toad insignia flickers, catching the bomb squad's attention. Creelevard suddenly appears on the screen. CREELEVARD You thought I lacked insurance? On screen, Creelevard holds up a trigger. He presses the button, and the bomb squad take a collective step backward. In Genus's lower orbit, Orwell Station is relatively quiet. After the evacuation, only the bomb squad's transport vessel is docked. Out in space, the UAC frigate The Insurmountable slowly approaches Orwell Station after patrol. CAPTAIN JAKE ZEBULON, a bulldog, and FIRST MATE KARRIE MCRAE, a leopard, look a little sleepy in the cockpit. They don't immediately notice that all the docking bays on Orwell are closed. ZEBULON (yawns) I hate this shift. KARRIE At least it's over. What've you got planned for tomorrow? ZEBULON Besides sleeping all day? KARRIE (hesitant) You aren't ... going out tonight? With Mimi? ZEBULON (chuckles) I haven't seen Mimi in a while. She's got a little too much baggage for my taste. KARRIE (tail swaying nervously) Well, you know, *I'm* free tomorrow night ... ZEBULON (suddenly noticing) Wait. Something's wrong ... A bright light illuminates Orwell Station as a golden, ring- shaped explosion engulfs the entire structure, completely incinerating it. The Insurmountable is caught in the explosion as well. The blast rocks buildings and deafens mammals in the vicinity as it hits Genus's atmosphere. Millions of pieces of smoking, blackened metal shower Genus's atmosphere, creating a flurry of shooting stars visible even in daylight. SCENE 19 - FRITZ'S APARTMENT, GENUS Fritz, awoken from his sleep by the noise, stares out his window and at the sky, watching Orwell Station become no more. The fiery wreckage is reflected in his large eyes. FRITZ (low) Oh, shit. SCENE 20 - FACTORY FLOOR, ABANDONED STEEL MILL, GENUS Oblivious to the fate of Orwell Station, Bucky and the others cautiously come down the stairs. Deadeye walks up to stand beside Bucky. DEADEYE You sure we can trust 'im, Cap'n? He *is* a toad, after all. BUCKY At the moment, we have to trust him, if we want to clear out this toad cell and get that black gem back. He's our only way of gaining access to their hideout without bringing every single one of them right down on us. Suddenly, the wall pulls inward and slides away. Everyone leaps to either side as the toad tech and the stormtoad sentry emerge. Bucky hits the tech on the head with the butt of his maser pistol. The stormtoad yelps in surprise. Deadeye shoots the sentry in the head. He collapses onto the unconscious tech. After a moment, the door closes automatically. BUCKY Frell! SCENE 21 - COMMAND CENTER, TOAD HIDEOUT, GENUS Creelevard watches his monitor with only a trace of glee as he witnesses the destruction of Orwell Station. Renfield, unaware that there was a backup detonator, goes weak in the knees, and he feels sick to his stomach. CREELEVARD What do you want? RENFIELD I-I-I ... (composing himself) I just wanted to swing by and tell you how the attack went. Krug and most of his men ... CREELEVARD (interrupting) All of them, actually. RENFIELD (swallowing) ... Krug and all of his men were killed in the attack, but it seems someone stole that black stone anyway. Creelevard rests a paw on the silver carrying case and pats it gently. CREELEVARD Indeed. Renfield nods and stands. Meanwhile, the other toad tech bangs on the monitor again. TOAD TECH #1 It's still broke! What's takin' that idiot so long?! CREELEVARD Investigate. Renfield heads down the hallway with the two other toad techs trailing along. One of them hits a button on the wall, and the door opens up, revealing the bodies of the dead sentry and the unconscious tech lying there. The toads react with shock. TOAD TECH #1 What the? ... Bucky jumps into view. BUCKY Hi! Bucky quickly fires off two shots, hitting the tech in the chest. He flies backward as Renfield winces. Yelping, the other tech turns and flees back down the hallway. Bucky fires after him but misses. BUCKY Come on! Bucky, Deadeye, Jenny, and Willy charge in. Bucky pauses long enough to point at Renfield. BUCKY You wait here. RENFIELD Right. The tech runs into the command center, screaming. TOAD TECH #3 We're under attack! It's ... Deadeye shoots the tech in the back before he can finish. The mammals storm in. Creelevard grits his teeth. The remaining stormtoad whips his plasma rifle up and fires, as Creelevard grabs the metal case containing the black gem and then turns and runs deeper into the base, down a dark utility tunnel. A heavy metal door slams shut behind him, blending in with the wall. The stormtoad turns to watch him go, looking surprised at this seeming cowardice, leaving himself open. Jenny kicks him in the head, knocking him out. Bucky enters the room. He looks around. BUCKY Dammit, Creelevard's gone! (turning around) Willy, establish computer access, change the passwords, and download as many files as you can. This little base is ours now. Jenny, Deadeye, we've got to catch Creelevard! Renfield waits at the entrance with Blinky. Bucky and the others come charging out the door. Confused, Renfield and Blinky follow. Elsewhere in the hideout, Creelevard enters a darkened room with a small escape ship in it, reserved for the recently departed Sergeant Krug. Opening the cockpit, he gets in, setting the metal case in the empty copilot's seat beside him, then fires up the engines. Outside, a section of the ground behind the steel mill slides away, and Creelevard's escape ship shoots out to safety, followed by a belch of fire. Bucky, Jenny, Deadeye, Blinky, and Renfield emerge from the mill. They look up and see the escape ship disappearing into the clouds. BUCKY Dammit! He's too far ahead. JENNY He could get past the defense system with such a small ship. BUCKY But if it slows him down, we can still catch him. Come on! SCENE 22 - SPACE Creelevard flies his escape ship through Genus's upper atmosphere, his eye narrowing in determination as he draws close to the defense satellites. However, they are pointed outward, away from the planet. Suddenly, they begin to slowly turn toward him. Creelevard's eye widens in surprise, and with a growl, he grits his teeth and punches the throttle forward, the little ship zipping by the bulky satellites before they've completed their turns. Glancing back, Creelevard smirks in self-satisfaction. The guns are already beginning to turn back, but by the time they complete their pivot, Creelevard is nearly out of their range. They fire a few shots, one just barely hitting Creelevard’s escape ship before it jumps into hyperspace. SCENE 23 - TOAD BATTLE CRUISER Just outside the UAC border, Toadborg's battle cruiser still waits hidden on the side of the barren planetoid. The toads aboard mill about in various states of boredom. Captain Strackwitts is half-asleep in the command chair, and Toadborg stands beside him, still as a statue. A beeping sound draws their attention. Strackwitts snorts and sits up. CREWMEMBER Captain Strackwitts, incoming ship! STRACKWITTS Onscreen! The screen fizzles to life, and the escape ship, trailing smoke from the hit by the defense satellites, comes hurtling out of hyperspace towards the battle cruiser. STRACKWITTS That's a toad escape shuttle! TOADBORG Bring it aboard at once. Captain, you have the bridge. I'm going down to meet our guest. The smaller toad ship is brought onboard with a tractor beam. As the bay doors slam shut and the ship lands on deck, Toadborg approaches, flanked by two columns of stormtoads. Smoke pours from the damaged areas of the small ship. The hatch pops open suddenly, making the stormtoads jump. Toadborg, however, remains as inflexible as ever, watching as Creelevard emerges, the silver case in hand. The guards relax at the sight of another toad. With his usual deadpan expression, Creelevard marches up to Toadborg and stands before him. The giant cyborg stares down, equally impassive. CREELEVARD A prize for the Empire. Creelevard holds up the case and places it gingerly into Toadborg's metallic hands. Toadborg's thumbs pop the latches, and the lid flips up to reveal the black gem. CREELEVARD The energy source you detected. The Aldebarans claim it draws its power from death and despair. (looks at his bandaged hand) It is deathly to the touch. TOADBORG (eyes gleaming) Years I have waited for this. A source of Aldebaran power for us to use as we see fit. As we deserve. (to Creelevard) Well done, Commander. You have performed exactly as I anticipated you would. Creelevard nods as Toadborg snaps the case shut. They return to the bridge, and Toadborg hands the case to a stormtoad. TOADBORG Lose this, and I will slaughter your entire battalion. The stormtoad nods nervously. The battle cruiser flies out from behind the planet and begins to turn to fly away. Alarms suddenly blare throughout the bridge. The first officer, standing at the helm, looks positively terrified. FIRST OFFICER Captain, a mammal frigate is coming up on us, fast! It's The Righteous Indignation! Behind the toad ship, The Righteous Indignation bursts forth from hyperspace. Bucky and Jenny grit their teeth in determination. Renfield stands behind them, looking perpetually uncertain. On the battle cruiser, Captain Strackwitts shouts orders. STRACKWITTS Open fire! Open fire! TOADBORG Belay that! Do not engage, I repeat, do not engage! Helmsman, get us out of here! On the Righteous, a look of determination crosses Bucky's face. BUCKY We've got to destroy it! We can't let the toads get their slimy paws on that gem! (into comm) Deadeye, get your masers ready! Deadeye prepares to fire upon the toad ship. DEADEYE (over comm) Aye-aye, Cap'n! Let's croak us some ... Suddenly, the toad battle cruiser ahead of the Righteous vanishes from sight into hyperspace before Deadeye can even get his fingers on the triggers. He blinks his one good eye in disbelief. DEADEYE Stinkin' cowards! Bucky groans. BUCKY We're too far from UAC space. We'll never be able to take them on alone. (beat) Fritz is not going to like this. JENNY (extremely concerned) Nor is Artemisia. RENFIELD This is my fault. If I hadn't visited the embassy ... even if Creelevard would've killed me ... JENNY (interrupting) Creelevard would've come up with some other way of discovering what we kept there. He still would've gotten it. And with you dead, we wouldn't have been able to find the toad hideout. Bucky turns and looks at Renfield. He still doesn't trust the toad-turned-hare completely, but he knows anger won't solve anything right now. BUCKY You going to be OK? RENFIELD I think so. I don't know. (pauses) So am I still a piece of toad filth? BUCKY I'm not sure. Time will tell. For now ... thank you for your help. Renfield simply nods. SCENE 24 - KOMPLEX'S INNER SANCTUM, TOAD HOMEWORLD The doors slide open, and Toadborg strides in, followed closely by Creelevard, his hand now professionally salved and bandaged. The one-eyed toad officer has changed into a new uniform and now has his trademark sword sheathed at his side. Toadborg gingerly holds the silver carrying case in his hands. They approach the massive blank wall-screen and stand. After a moment, a spotlight falls upon them and the screen fizzles to life, displaying KOMPLEX. TOADBORG Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. I bring you the black gem of the Aldebarans, now at last in the hands of the supreme toad race. KOMPLEX Show it to me. TOADBORG Yes, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. Toadborg stoops down on one knee and opens the case, turning it toward the screen. KOMPLEX's computerized visage registers uncharacteristic barely contained excitement. KOMPLEX My sensors have never detected such a thing before. (grinning) The black gem of the Aldebarans. All that power. And it's now mine to harness as I see fit. (to Creeelvard) And is this the proud warrior who obtained it for me? Creelevard stands a little straighter. CREELEVARD Yes, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX You will be rewarded far beyond the dreams of avarice for this. CREELEVARD I desire only a ship. KOMPLEX is silent for a moment. KOMPLEX Very well, *Admiral* Creelvard Valtjhou. You will be given command of a mothership immediately. Creelevard bows with his arms to the sides. CREEELVARD Thank you, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX (to Toadborg) Have our scientists begin working on this immediately. (his eyes gleaming) At last, we may have a way to eradicate the mammals and win this war forever. THE END