"Drastic Measures" by Anthony Bannon First draft - 1/12/04 Final draft - 2/13/04 Edited by Rygar 2/6/04 SCENE 1 - ALCATREK SPACE PRISON Alcatrek is a huge fortress where captured toads are kept, as are mammal criminals. The corridor of the maximum-security wing is lined with cells. From within one come the sounds of someone thrashing around in his sleep, with the occasional moan. The occupant is CAPTAIN EDWARD GREEMAN, a toad in a prison uniform. A sheen of sweat covers his face, and his sheets are damp as well. He has been held here for several months, awaiting trial. GREEMAN (mumbling) No ... no ... get away! Greeman suddenly experiences a subliminal flash of DALLION's face. DALLION May there be mercy for your soul, for I will have none for your doomed carcass! Greeman lets out a bloodcurdling scream and sits up on his bunk as he wakes from his nightmare. He shakes uncontrollably. GREEMAN (mumbling to himself) Damn that wolf! Should have killed him on his planet! Should have killed all the blasted mammals! It's a waste of time trying to enslave them. KOMPLEX couldn't do it. Never! But I can. Greeman puts his head in his hands and continues mumbling to himself. SCENE 2 - SECURITY ROOM, ALCATREK SPACE PRISON Greeman is visible in his cell on a security camera. VICE CHAIRMAN SANZER GRIFF and DETECTIVE MULLER are watching the screen. Various security personnel sit at consoles, monitoring prisoners and giving reports. GRIFF He should have gone on trial months ago. MULLER I couldn't agree more, sir. But his mental health since he was captured hasn't been good. I don't know what happened to him on Ultess before O'Hare captured him, but it's sure as hell left him traumatized. GRIFF Has the psychiatrist prescribed any medication? MULLER Yeah, but he's refusing to take it. He attacked a guard a few weeks ago, and we had to move him up here to maximum security. Griff turns to look at the screen. Greeman is still mumbling. GREEMAN (on screen) You think I'm scared of you mammals? Your time is almost up! Muller turns and addresses a DEER security officer sitting at a console. MULLER You have records of his behavior? DEER Yes, sir. He usually just mumbles to himself. One name comes up a lot: Cravis. GRIFF (overhearing) That sounds familiar. Cravis was the name of a toad scientist -- the kind who thinks inflicting pain on others is scientifically justified. MULLER Charming. Would that be important, sir? GRIFF I doubt it. We can't take anything this lunatic says seriously. MULLER If you say so. He has one last psych evaluation tomorrow. Then I'm turning him over to the courts. SCENE 3 - SPACE ABOVE ALCATREK SPACE PRISON Several prison ships are going in and out of the station. A brief flash is visible as one ship comes out of hyperspace. It's some kind of cargo vehicle, with an unfamiliar design. A VOICE comes from within the ship. VOICE OK, engage cloak and get us within range. The ship turns transparent as the cloak is engaged. It moves carefully through the waves of prison ships and heads right for Alcatrek. Inside his cell, Greeman is sitting on his bunk, humming to himself. Two guards, a HAMSTER and a BADGER, come to the door and unlock it. HAMSTER OK, Greeman. Time to see the doc. GREEMAN If you insist. Not that it's going to matter anyway. BADGER Come on, now. It's for your own good. Greeman gets off his bunk and holds out his arms. The badger shackles his wrists, and the two guards lead him out. Two RABBITS stand guard in the corridor outside. A bright flash suddenly comes from somewhere behind them, accompanied by a slight crackle of electricity. The two guards turn around to see what's going on. Suddenly, plasma blasts are fired, and the two guards are hit. Four HOODED FIGURES, their faces obscured by their garb, rush past. One of the fallen guards frantically speaks into his comm-link. RABBIT #1 Corridor fifty-four! Intruders in the prison! Alert all posts! In another corridor, the guards leading Greeman look around in confusion as alarms start to blare. Greeman seems confused, too, but then smiles. Moving quickly, he uses his fists to smash the hamster on the back of the head, knocking him out. Before the other guard can react, Greeman brings his paws over his head and starts to garrote the badger with the chain of his shackles. After the guard is incapacitated, Greeman drops him and takes the keys to his bonds from the unconscious hamster's belt and frees himself. He runs down the corridor. Elsewhere, the hooded figures continue to blast any guards that get in their way. They move very quickly and have little trouble making their way through the prison. In the Alcatrek security room, two security OFFICERS are watching the monitors frantically. OFFICER #1 Who the hell are those guys? OFFICER #2 Whoever they are, they've got to be stopped. Send in every unit we've got! A GUARD comes running up. GUARD The prisoner Greeman is loose! OFFICER #1 Those guys must be trying to spring him. Mobilize the special troops! SCENE 4 - CORRIDOR, ALCATREK SPACE PRISON Greeman is running along when he sees a shadow up ahead. He stops to look. GREEMAN It can't be! Coming down the corridor is a special TROOPER. He's a large dog, wearing battle armor and a helmet. The dog is a normal terrier, but the armor makes him look not unlike Dallion. The trooper sees Greeman and draws a blaster. TROOPER Prisoner, halt! There's no escape. Just make things easy on yourself and surrender. Greeman's eyes widen. He sees the trooper and then pictures Dallion in another subliminal flash. Greeman screams. GREEMAN (backing up, waving his arms in a panic) Stay away! TROOPER Now, just calm down. I don't want to have to hurt you. VOICE Captain Greeman! Greeman turns to see one of the hooded figures. The figure throws a stasis shocker grenade, which lands near the trooper. HOODED FIGURE #1 Get out of the way! Greeman composes himself enough to jump away. The trooper goes to move but is caught in the blast and falls to the ground, paralyzed. Greeman and the hooded figure get up, and the figure hands Greeman a plasma rifle. HOODED FIGURE #1 Come on, sir! We have to go. The hooded figure runs away, but Greeman turns to face the fallen trooper. He sees the image of the trooper change to a vision of Dallion lying on the ground. Greeman starts to laugh maniacally. He raises his rifle and fires at the trooper. GREEMAN (insanely) Die, you bastard, die! The trooper is hit in the back several times. Greeman fires more and more shots. GREEMAN (louder) You're dead! I'll kill you and all your kind! HOODED FIGURE #1 (farther down the corridor) Sir, come on! Greeman follows his rescuer, still laughing. SCENE 5 - EXIT TO ALCATREK CELL BLOCKS The remaining hooded figures are shooting it out with the guards and troopers when Greeman and his rescuer turn up and start shooting, too. HOODED FIGURE #2 Contact the ship! A third hooded figure takes out a comm-link and presses a button on it. A red light on it flashes as it sends a signal to the waiting ship. When the prison GUARDS start to make one last advance, a flash appears as Greeman and the intruders are teleported away. GUARD #1 What the frell?! GUARD #2 They can't have gotten far. Tell all patrol ships to be on the lookout. SCENE 6 - SPACE ABOVE ALCATREK SPACE PRISON The ship accelerates away from the prison, once again evading the patrol ships. The cloak wears off, and the patrol ships start to give chase. VOICE #1 (from ship) Power to the cloak has failed! VOICE #2 (from ship) Then get us the hell out of here! The ship leaps into hyperspace again. SCENE 7 - BRIDGE OF THE SHIP Greeman and his rescuers are present. The four remove their hoods to reveal that they are toads. They resemble Frix and Frax but are very muscular. GREEMAN (to the tallest toad) Lieutenant Madison. I see that the training I gave you and your unit did not go to waste. MADISON (salutes) Thank you, sir. Everything went according to plan. Madison looks proud, as do the three other toads, Matthews, Hauser, and Reinhardt. Greeman looks around at his surroundings. The ship is very impressive. There are various computer monitors reporting on the status of the engine, the ship's speed, and more. It is very high-tech for a toad vessel. There are a few other toads scattered here and there, performing various duties. GREEMAN You planned to free me? Was this an operation KOMPLEX ordered? MATTHEWS Not exactly, sir. The Homeworld doesn't know about this operation. GREEMAN (angered) So what I thought was right. KOMPLEX was content to just leave me to rot after I got captured! After all I did for the Empire! (turning to Madison) You know that acting without orders is an offense punishable by death. MADISON Sir, we've all been honored to serve under you. We felt it was a risk worth taking. GREEMAN Very well. In the end, KOMPLEX will probably make me a hero, for my time in prison was not wasted. I have thought of a plan that could end this war once and for all, with our side the victors! Another TOAD approaches Greeman, carrying a clean uniform. TOAD Your uniform, sir. GREEMAN (taking it) Excellent. REINHARDT So, what's your plan, Captain? GREEMAN (calmly) All in good time. But first, I must know. Is Cravis still in charge of research and development? HAUSER (grimaces) Well, sort of. Ever since Ultess, his health comes and goes. He's on a life-support monitor at the moment. GREEMAN Damn! (thinks to himself, then smiles) As far as I remember, in addition to the facility on Ultess, he also has a laboratory on planet Bogg. Set course for Bogg. As Greeman's ship prepares to set course, some of the Alcatrek patrol ships catch up with them. PATROL LEADER (voiceover) Unidentified ship, you are ordered to surrender! Acknowledge! Inside Greeman's ship, toads take up positions at various plasma gun stations. MADISON Eliminate our pursuers. A brief battle ensues as the toad vessel fires upon the patrol ships. Greeman's ship has heavy firepower. TOAD GUNNER (voiceover) Eat this, miserable fleabags! PATROL LEADER (voiceover) Toads! I should have known! The patrol ships continue to put up a valiant fight, but their masers just bounce off the toad ship's shields. The toad ship continues to bombard the patrol with plasma fire. PATROL LEADER (voiceover) It's no good! Retreat! The patrol ships start to pull out. Inside his ship, Greeman grins. GREEMAN Open comms a minute, Lieutenant. MADISON Yes, sir. Greeman gets on a microphone at the main control panel. GREEMAN (into comm) Now hear this, mammals! This is Captain Edward Greeman of the Toad Empire. I advise you all to treasure the time you have, because soon, the aniverse will be rid of your kind! You shall all die by my paw, and no quarter will be given. Your doom awaits you! Greeman starts to laugh maniacally. SCENE 8 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE Later, CHAIRMAN FRITZ WARNER, Griff, and Muller are watching a video of Greeman's message. KADAF WARNER stands at the back, smoking a cigarette. As Greeman laughs on the video, Fritz stops the tape. FRITZ What do we know? GRIFF We know that toads busted him out, sir. FRITZ Hmm. They've never gone to that sort of trouble before. Could be renegades. GRIFF Doubtful. KOMPLEX's brainwashing almost never fails. FRITZ Well, a few always slip through the cracks. They may be more loyal to Greeman than to KOMPLEX. (beat) Either way, we have to get Greeman back. MULLER Is it really that important? I know this isn't really my area of expertise, but the surveillance footage from Alcatrek shows that Greeman seems to have gone, well, completely mad. Isn't this just some meaningless lunatic threat? FRITZ We can't afford to take that risk. I'm making the capture of Captain Greeman a top priority. The only problem is that The Indefatigable is on assignment, and The Screaming Mimi is in for repairs. GRIFF (frowns) And O'Hare's frigate stands next to no chance of catching them, let alone taking them in battle. FRITZ (thinking) I have an idea. Desperate times ... Fritz's voice trails off as he walks over to his desk. SCENE 9 - SPACE A ship called The Wraith flies through the sector. It is a sleek, black pursuit ship with several gun turrets. It appears very menacing. The ship's occupants are three mean-looking mammals. All three wear long leather jackets and have several holstered blasters. They're bounty hunters. Seated at the pilot station is the leader, VINCENT ROEDECKER, a gray wolf with some patches of black on his fur coat. To his left, at the helm, is JOHN BLADE, a large tiger. Sitting in the background, fiddling with his blaster, is LANCE MAXWELL, an angry- looking Irish wolfhound. Blade is looking at a computer readout. BLADE No new offers are coming in, boss. Looks like things are very quiet. ROEDECKER (angrily) Quiet? There's a war on, and mercenary jobs are scarce? Frelling disaster, that's what it is! MAXWELL Most of the jobs that should be ours get taken by that scumbag Al Negator and his crew. Or worse, by regens. Friggin' coldbloods. ROEDECKER So what do you suggest we do? A light starts to blip on the control panel. BLADE (surprised) Incoming message, boss. MAXWELL I suggest we answer that. ROEDECKER Patch it through. The comm-link screen comes to display Fritz's face. FRITZ Not catching you at a bad time, am I, Mr. Roedecker? ROEDECKER (warily) What do you want, Warner? FRITZ Now, is that any way to greet a guy offering you a job? ROEDECKER I've already told you, we're not interested in working for the UAC. We work for money, and you never seem to have any. FRITZ That may be, but if you and your boys would be interested in helping the Council out a little, you will get lots of money, guaranteed -- if you succeed, of course. ROEDECKER What do you mean, "if"? We've never failed. FRITZ Except on your last job, that is. ROEDECKER (narrowing his eyes suspiciously) Are you spying on us, Warner? FRITZ (smiles mischievously) I consider it more keeping an eye on you than spying. (beat) Don't worry. I know it's because you were delayed at customs on Kinnear that you couldn't catch up with your quarry. Be that as it may, I believe that we could use the help of someone with your abilities -- especially with the way things are going right now. ROEDECKER (thinking for a moment) Roedecker glances at the other members of his team. They look very interested in Fritz's offer. ROEDECKER (thinking) (into comm) OK, Warner. You've got yourself a deal. What's the salary for this job? FRITZ Twelve thousand simoleans. ROEDECKER (raises an eyebrow) And the job itself? FRITZ I can't tell you on this channel; there may be someone listening. I need you and your boys to come to Genus for a brief. ROEDECKER (angrily) You know we can't show our faces in the Capitol. FRITZ I know. I've arranged for us to meet on board Orwell Station, orbiting the planet. ROEDECKER (cautiously) All right, we'll be there. FRITZ Excellent. SCENE 10 - PLANET BOGG The planet is practically a huge swamp. A huge steel door is visible on one of the cliff faces. It leads to Cravis's secret lab. Various high-tech equipment fills the place, which has several different chambers. In one lab room, Greeman sits at a workbench and examines something under a microscope. Madison and Hauser are watching him. GREEMAN (thinking) Greeman looks up and activates a computer monitor, which displays genetic codes. HAUSER If we may ask, sir, what exactly is your plan? GREEMAN (turning to face his subordinates) Isn't it obvious? I said I intended to kill all the mammals, and so I shall! Cravis conducted some genetic research. I believe that he intended to make a virus that could wipe out all mammals. I intend to finish his work and bring about the end of the warmbloods! MADISON (both surprised and impressed) Is that possible? GREEMAN We'll soon see. (starts to laugh again) I will especially enjoy the death of that cursed cyborg, Dallion. He will beg me to kill him by the time I'm through with him! (beat) This formula I examined was designed to affect mammals, but it didn't get much in the way of results. But it can be altered. (beat) First, I'll need some more research material to examine -- and a sample of mammalian DNA. MADISON I don't believe there's any more material, sir. But there may be some at the facility on Ultess. GREEMAN Then we must obtain it! MADISON We can't do it ourselves. They're always on the lookout for toads nowadays, and none of us is really trained for stealth. But we can probably get some mammal help, sir. GREEMAN (contempt in his voice) Mercenaries? HAUSER Yes, sir, but that's better than nothing. GREEMAN Well, I don't care, as long as you get what we need. Do it. MADISON Yes, sir. SCENE 11 - OUTSIDE ORWELL SPACE STATION Sometime later, Bucky's replacement frigate, The Valkyrie, is just dropping out of hyperspace, returning from patrol. The Wraith is starting to approach dock three at the station. CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE and FIRST MATE JENNY sit in their respective seats in The Valkyrie's cockpit. BUCKY (glumly) Well, that completes yet another boring patrol mission. (pounding the control panel softly) It would have taken less time if we had a better ship. JENNY It's not so bad, Bucky. It hasn't given us any real problems yet. Bucky takes a casual glance out of the window and notices The Wraith docking at Orwell Station. His jaw drops. BUCKY (angry) I don't believe it! JENNY What is it? BUCKY It's Roedecker's ship. He's got guts coming this close to Genus! JENNY Roedecker, the bounty hunter? BUCKY (eyes narrowing) Yep. He and those goons of his would just as soon kill you as look at you. GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK has climbed up from the engine bay and has overheard some of Bucky and Jenny's conversation. DEADEYE Roedecker, you say? Ach! That scurvy scumbag's got t' be up to no good t' come round these parts. At least pirates like meself have some sense of honor, but those scalawags ... (beat) Ye think we should see what he's up to, Cap'n? BUCKY I think we'll do just that. Bring us into port, Jen. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. Jenny pilots the ship toward the station and prepares to dock. SCENE 12 - ORWELL SPACE STATION Roedecker and his crew exit the port and make their way through the station. CAPTAIN MIMI LAFLEUR and her crew are relaxing in the commissary. FIRST MATE JONATHAN WEISSMAN is telling a joke to GUNNER HARRY CALLAN and ENGINEER DILE O'CROCK, or at least trying to. JONATHAN So, this horse walks into a bar, and the bartender says ... HARRY "Why the long face?" JONATHAN Hey! HARRY Come on, Jonathan, that's an old one! MIMI (smiles) I'm glad you guys can keep a sense of humor at a time like this. Mimi casually glances around the station and suddenly freezes. She spots Roedecker's back as he walks along the hallway. MIMI (shocked) No way. DILE What is the matter, Captain? MIMI (stands up) I don't know. For a moment, I ... I'll be back in a second. Mimi leaves her crew looking confused. JONATHAN Wonder what got into her. (beat) Anyway, so this mime walks into a bar ... Harry groans and orders a drink. A moment later, Bucky, Jenny, and Deadeye enter. HARRY (waving to Bucky) Bucky! Great to see you, buddy. You finally on leave, too? BUCKY Hey, Harry. We should be. Is Mimi not with you? DILE The captain left us a few minutes ago. She seemed troubled by something. JENNY (thinking) Have any of you seen any suspicious-looking characters? JONATHAN Not really, but Mimi might have. That would explain why she ran off. BUCKY (nods) We'd better try and find her. Thanks for your help. SCENE 13 - CORRIDOR, ORWELL STATION Kadaf stands outside a door. He looks at his watch impatiently. Roedecker and his men approach him. KADAF Took ya long enough. (points backward over his shoulder to the door) Go inside; he's waiting for you. ROEDECKER (paying little attention to Kadaf) Good. Kadaf lets Roedecker and his crew inside. Fritz is sitting at a desk. He looks up as Roedecker and the others enter. A projector screen has been set up. FRITZ (friendly) Glad you could make it, Vincent. ROEDECKER (waving his paw) Let's forget the introductions, Warner. What's the job? FRITZ (reaches for a few papers) Quick to get to the point. I appreciate that. A maximum-security prisoner was busted out of Alcatrek yesterday. BLADE And you want us to bring him back? FRITZ That's right. ROEDECKER (upset) I thought I told you, Warner, no penny-ante missions! FRITZ This is no ordinary prisoner. It's this toad. Fritz turns on the projector screen, and an image of Greeman appears. FRITZ This is Captain Edward Greeman, a rather dangerous toad commander who was captured on Ultess last year. MAXWELL (gruffly) Doesn't look so tough. FRITZ No, he doesn't, but it turns out he was a troop commander before being given command of a ship. Considering the viciousness of some toad battalions we've encountered in the past, we consider him a threat. Plus, he appears to have had a mental breakdown in prison and has been rambling on about destroying all mammals. ROEDECKER (still upset) So? That's just crazy talk. FRITZ Maybe, maybe not. He worked closely with Cravis, a top toad scientist. He may be planning to continue some of Cravis's research. ROEDECKER But this guy's a soldier, not a scientist, right? FRITZ We can't afford to take the chance. That's why we have to bring him back into custody. Besides, our Alcatrek scouts reported that he was broken out by toads, so it's possible that this is all a plan by KOMPLEX. Outside, in the corridor, Kadaf glances at his watch. KADAF How much longer are they going to be in there? Here's a psycho, go get him, done deal. (beat) Might as well take a break. Need to get this buzzing out of my head. Kadaf heads away, getting ready to light up. Mimi comes down the corridor as he leaves. She's still looking around. She pauses at the door to hear the conversation inside. Hearing Roedecker's voice, she starts a little and then growls. She opens the door. Fritz and the bounty hunters turn around as the door opens. FRITZ (annoyed) Daffy, I thought I told you ... Fritz breaks off as he sees Mimi. FRITZ (surprised) Mimi! What are you doing here? Mimi glares at Roedecker. MIMI (furious) What's *he* doing here?! ROEDECKER (sighs) I was afraid this would happen. (looks up at Mimi) Mimi. Good to see you again. Mimi quickly walks up to Roedecker and decks him across the jaw. Roedecker barely flinches from the blow. Blade and Maxwell go for their maser pistols. ROEDECKER (to Mimi) Feel any better? MIMI (pulling her fist back) Not yet. Maybe another one would ... MAXWELL (raising his blaster and pointing it at Mimi) Try that again, lady, and you're toast! ROEDECKER Shut up, Lance! Put your guns away, both of you. Blade and Maxwell pause for a second, then reluctantly holster their guns. Kadaf enters from the corridor, having heard the commotion. KADAF (loudly) What the hell happened? Fritz spots the lit cigarette in Kadaf's paw. FRITZ (annoyed) You were on a cigarette break? Behind Kadaf, Bucky and his crew enter. BUCKY What's going on here? Fritz, what are these guys doing here? Fritz just rolls his eyes and sighs. FRITZ This got ridiculous pretty fast. BLADE What are *we* doing here? What are *you* doing here, O'Hare? We were having a private meeting, and you and this harlot gatecrash it. MIMI (incensed) *Harlot*?! Why, you ... FRITZ Well, isn't this a fun little party. (loudly) All right, everyone, calm down. (beat, as everyone turns to look at Fritz) Captain O'Hare, Captain LaFleur, I'm afraid that I have to ask you to leave. MIMI (pointing to Roedecker) I'm not leaving until I find out what this slimeball is doing here. ROEDECKER What? You don't call me by my first name anymore? MIMI (forcefully) I trusted you back then. Before you left me behind on Warren to be captured by the toads! ROEDECKER I didn't know the toads were going to invade! (mockingly) Besides, I knew what a great fighter you were. I figured you could take care of yourself. BUCKY You two know each other? MIMI (calming down, just a little) Unfortunately. I *used* to think he cared about me. But you and I both know, Bucky ... (turns and glowers at Roedecker) ... that his only love will always be money. ROEDECKER (righteously) As if you were any better than me! Did you ever tell any of your new friends why you were on Warren when you were captured? You were an arms dealer, just like me. Bucky and his crew look a little surprised. MIMI (quietly, almost a little ashamed) That was then. This is now. ROEDECKER (getting the upper hand and enjoying it) Oh, so now you play the big hero with the UAC to try and ease your guilty conscience? Is that it, Mimi? MIMI (angrily, looking away) You wouldn't understand. FRITZ (impatiently) Captain LaFleur, please. Whatever there is between you and Mr. Roedecker can be sorted out later. Now, please, we have a meeting to conduct. Kadaf starts to usher Mimi and Bucky's crew out, but Bucky stays behind. BUCKY Fritz, what's going on? Are you hiring these guys? FRITZ (desperately wanting to get back to the meeting) Look, Bucky, something came up, and you know we're a bit shorthanded. Since we're still trying to find funding for a proper replacement ship for your crew, we need to save some simoleans. ROEDECKER *Save* some simoleans? You better not be holding out on us, Warner! FRITZ (turns to Roedecker) Can I *please* handle this one person at a time? BUCKY (angrily) Fritz, these guys are total scum! They'd work for coldbloods if they were given a high-enough offer. MAXWELL (taunting) Got a problem with that, long-ears? FRITZ (stepping in between Bucky and Roedecker) Enough, please! Bucky, this isn't your problem. If you want to speak to me, I'll be finished here in a few minutes. KADAF (grabbing Bucky by the arm) Come on, Captain, let's go. Bucky allows Kadaf to escort him out, giving the bounty hunters a nasty look as he goes. FRITZ Now, as I was saying, this job is worth a substantial amount to you. I don't care how you do it, but if you accept this job, I want Greeman brought back -- alive, if possible. ROEDECKER OK, Warner, you've got yourself a deal, but I don't want Mimi or O'Hare getting involved in this. And I don't want you holding out on us, either. FRITZ (reassuringly) Don't worry. None of that will be a problem. ROEDECKER (placated) All right. Roedecker and Fritz shake paws. SCENE 14 - COMMISSARY, ORWELL STATION Later, Bucky, Jenny, and Deadeye are sitting at a table. Bucky is looking downward, lost in his thoughts. JENNY It's probably nothing, Bucky. He probably wants them to retrieve some stolen codes or something. We shouldn't dirty our paws with it. BUCKY Well, whatever it is, I don't like it. Fritz is up to who knows what -- again -- and he expects us to just sit on our tails, doing nothing! JENNY (calmly) Look, Bucky, I'm no happier about this than you are. But there's no sense in getting upset about it. We're due for leave soon, after all. BUCKY Yeah, but in the meantime, we're stuck on patrol, while Fritz hires mercs to do our job. Mimi comes over to join them. MIMI Hi, guys. BUCKY Hey, Mimi. Have a seat. Mimi sits down opposite Bucky. BUCKY I probably shouldn't ask, but what's the story with you and Roedecker? MIMI (sighs) It was a long time ago, Bucky. Before I was captured. Before I knew what was really worth fighting for. (gets a far-off look in her eyes) You never asked why I was on Warren, did you? I was an arms dealer. Roedecker and I were a team. Bucky tries hard not to display his disappointment. Mimi notices him trying to catch himself. MIMI I know, I know. It was a different time, then. I was a different person. It all seems so long ago now. (beat) We were going to get ... (bites her lip) We were going to be together. But when the toads invaded Warren, he cut out on me. He left me to be captured, and he became a bounty hunter. Don't know why. Maybe to forget me, to put me behind him. (sighs) It all seems so silly now. So stupid. Bucky is about to respond when Fritz enters the commissary and walks over to the table. FRITZ (peacefully, before the others can speak) Captains, I'm here to let you all know that I've hired Roedecker for a special assignment. Lost in her thoughts, Mimi doesn't pay much attention to Fritz, but Bucky certainly reacts. BUCKY (angrily, but not aggressively) What assignment? It's got something to do with the escape from Alcatrek, doesn't it? FRITZ I appreciate both your concern and your keeping up with current events, Bucky, but you have other things to worry about. BUCKY Like what, patrol? You give an assignment like this to Roedecker, and you expect me to just ... FRITZ (cutting him off) I expect you to follow orders, Captain O'Hare. Be realistic. Your ship can't handle a heavy battle, and this could involve a lot of trigger- happy toads. This is a dangerous mission, and I'd rather not risk any UAC personnel. Bucky still looks pissed off. FRITZ (sternly) Just let them handle this. They'll get it done. Now, after your ship gets fueled up, I want you to return to patrol. That's an order. BUCKY (grudgingly) Yes, sir. SCENE 15 - DOCK THREE, ORWELL STATION Bucky and crew head back to their ship. Roedecker and his crew are waiting for them outside The Wraith. ROEDECKER Captain, I believe that you wanted to say something to me. BUCKY (trying to keep his cool) Why did Fritz hire you? ROEDECKER If you must know, we're gonna capture the guy who escaped from Alcatrek a few days ago. BUCKY I knew it! Nobody told us who exactly escaped. Who was it? ROEDECKER (grins) That's on a need-to-know basis, and you don't need to know. BUCKY Yes, I do. Things aren't so bad that the UAC needs to hire mercenaries. BLADE (nodding toward Bucky's docked frigate) Judging by the look of your so-called ship, I'd say that they *are* that bad. That's the best replacement you could get? DEADEYE Hey, now! She handles right nicely, boyo. An' wit' me at the guns, them toadies'll still end up suckin' bilge water in a battle! MAXWELL (gives both Jenny and Deadeye a look) So what's the deal, O'Hare? You'll trust a witch and a pirate, but you won't trust us? That's not very fair. At least we're honest about our intentions. BUCKY (starting to lose his cool) Watch your mouth when you talk about my crew. We have a loyalty to each other and to the UAC, not to whoever pays us the most. ROEDECKER (turning away) If you'll excuse us, Captain, we have no time for this childishness. We have an escaped felon to catch. Enjoy yourself on patrol. MAXWELL (snorts) The hero of the UAC stuck doing patrol! Life's a bitch, ain't it, boss? ROEDECKER (smiling) Well, maybe if he hadn't been stupid enough to attack the Toad Homeworld head on, maybe he'd still have his old ship and not be stuck doing crap assignments! Roedecker and his men laugh as they board their ship. BUCKY (seething) That arrogant bastard! If he thinks I'm going to just sit by and do nothing, he's got another thing coming. JENNY (putting her paws on her hips) Here we go again. All right, Bucky, what do you have in mind? BUCKY I say we try and find out where this escapee is. DEADEYE But we don't even know who it is, Cap'n. An' it sounds like the Chairman sure ain't gonna tell us. JENNY True, but the warden of Alcatrek always helps out the fleet. He'll probably give us information. BUCKY Good idea. Let's wait until Roedecker leaves, then get going to Alcatrek. The crew watches The Wraith pull out of the station and head off into space. SCENE 16 - BRIDGE, THE WRAITH Roedecker, Maxwell, and Blade are at their posts. BLADE So, where do we start? ROEDECKER Well, Greeman would need a place to hide out, and we know who helps fugitives hide out. MAXWELL Wrenches's, right? ROEDECKER Yep. Set a course for Banzaar. That's as good a place as any to start. SCENE 17 - WRENCHES'S BAR, BANZAAR It's late evening. The usual sleazy clientele are around. WRENCHES, the orangutan bartender, stands behind the bar, polishing glasses. At a table are Madison and Hauser, wearing their cloaks to disguise themselves. HAUSER (quietly, to Madison) There's got to be some stupid mammal that'll take this job. MADISON (quietly, to Hauser) That baboon behind the bar told us he could get hold of someone who'd do it. HAUSER (nervously) You actually talked to a baboon? MADISON Don't worry. Wrenches isn't as wild as some other baboons. I don't even think he's Betelgeusian. (calling out to Wrenches) Wrenches! Is that guy here yet? WRENCHES He's coming. HAUSER He'd better be. Time's a-wasting. A tall fox with a scar on the left side of his face approaches Wrenches. He's wearing a long black trench coat. This is RICO DAGGER, a professional mammal thief. DAGGER Wrenches. You said there was a job offer for me here? WRENCHES (pointing) Go and talk to those guys over there. Dagger looks at Madison and Hauser suspiciously, then goes over and sits down at their table. DAGGER Is this offer legit? MADISON It's five thousand simoleans legit. DAGGER (pleased) Well, in that case, I guess I'll accept. So, what's the job? HAUSER Do you know the Drayke Corporation on Ultess? DAGGER (intrigued) Indeed I do. MADISON Our employer would be most grateful if you could obtain for us some computer data from one of their laboratories. Madison pulls out an electronic device. He presses a button, and a 3D map appears. MADISON This shows you how to get in. The main computer will have the data on it. Make no mistake -- it won't take long before the security system is alerted, so get in, get the data, and get out as fast as you can. DAGGER (impressed) You've really planned this out, haven't you? I'll get the data. Where do I take it? HAUSER (hands Dagger a piece of paper) This is our frequency. We'll be in Cayton City. Contact us when you're ready to go, and we'll rendezvous at the harbor on Ultess. DAGGER Piece of cake. Dagger gets up and leaves the table. After he's gone, Madison takes out a comm-link and speaks quietly into it. MADISON (into comm) Captain, we're in business. Some lowlife mammal mercenary is going to retrieve the data. Secure in the lab on Bogg, Greeman smiles. GREEMAN (into comm) Excellent. Greeman turns off the comm-link and resumes his work. He's standing at a large table filled with lab equipment -- mostly big gray machines, though there are a few bubbling beakers and flasks as well. He sits down in front of a computer and begins typing. GREEMAN The latest tests should have run by now. Let's see the results. (types for a bit longer, then stops) No! This isn't what I need! The virus is still too susceptible to antibodies! I'll never get this stupid thing to work! Greeman stands up and waves his fists angrily, then calms down. GREEMAN Wait, I know what I'll do! Greeman, you're a genius! Greeman laughs hideously as he walks up to another piece of machinery and begins changing the settings. SCENE 18 - WARDEN'S OFFICE, ALCATREK SPACE PRISON The WARDEN, a bear, is talking to Bucky. Jenny, Deadeye, BRUISER, AFC BLINKY, and ENGINEER MIKE MARISON are all present. WARDEN I'm surprised that Chairman Warner didn't tell all the ships in the fleet. It was that Greeman fellow who escaped. BUCKY Greeman. I remember that name. JENNY Do you have any idea who busted him out? WARDEN Well, our patrol ships reported that it was toads. Strange, because they've never rescued captured comrades before. BRUISER Well, dem toadies is gonna be in trouble when we catch up to 'em! BUCKY Is there anything you can tell us? Greeman must be up to something. WARDEN Hmm. The only thing I can really show you is the security cam footage of Greeman in custody. There might be some clues there. SCENE 19 - ALCATREK SECURITY ROOM The crew is watching some of the footage of Greeman mumbling in his cell. They're mostly talking to each other, but Deadeye is intently listening to the footage, which doesn't have the best audio quality. WARDEN He seemed to have gone mad shortly after being incarcerated. He kept mumbling about revenge on some wolf. JENNY (thinking of Dallion) We know who he's talking about. WARDEN No offense, but I really don't know what you can expect to find here. BUCKY You're right. It looks like we won't ... DEADEYE Hold it, Cap'n! I think I heard somethin'. BUCKY What? DEADEYE Just a sec. (turns to Blinky) Blinky, can ye hook up to th' monitor and amplify that last wee bit? BLINKY This humble robot certainly can, Gunner Deadeye. BUCKY (anxious, to the Warden) Rewind the footage a little. The Warden rewinds the tape a little and pauses it. Blinky walks over to the console and extends a cable from his hand that connects to the console. Two speakers protrude from the holes on either side of Blinky's head. BUCKY OK, play back. Through Blinky, Greeman's voice comes through clearly. GREEMAN Cravis ... of course! He had that stuff he cooked up in his lab. It could end the war. Yes! I can do it! If I get out of here, I'll wipe every last one of these fleabags out! And I'll watch that wolf squirm before me! BUCKY (concerned) OK, Blinky, that's enough. Blinky disconnects himself from the console. BUCKY Good ear, Deadeye. DEADEYE Ha hah! Thanks, matey. Just 'cuz one of me eyes is missin' don't mean me other senses're bad! (beat) Wait. Cravis. Wasn't he that scurvy toad scientist Greeman was workin' with on Ultess? They was trying t' turn mammals into cyborgs or somethin'. BUCKY Yeah, and he's the same guy who tortured Mimi and her crew. If what Greeman said wasn't just ranting, it's possible that Cravis created something terrible that he just never used. JENNY (pensively) I doubt Greeman's much of a scientist, but he's no fool. He must have cooked up a plan in prison. BUCKY Our best starting place would be Ultess. Let's head over there and see if anything's going on. (turning to Warden) Thanks, Warden. We'll have this lowlife back before you know it. SCENE 20 - THE VALKYRIE As the crew step into their frigate, Bucky pulls Mike aside. BUCKY So what do you think? MIKE Huh? I mean ... it sounds like a good plan. Let's go get him! BUCKY (looking Mike over) Mm-hmm. Ready for your first mission? MIKE I guess so. I really just have to man the photon accelerator, right? BUCKY (rolling his eyes) Do you even have a blaster? MIKE Why would I need a blaster? BUCKY Get yourself one the second we get back to Genus. I'll try to keep you out of the line of fire this time around, but I can't guarantee anything. (beat) Oh, and one other thing. MIKE (feeling a little bad) Yeah? BUCKY Keep your eye on the ship, not on the pilot. MIKE (nervously) Heh heh ... will do, Captain. Frustrated but knowing he's as satisfied as he's going to be, Bucky turns around and climbs the ladder to piloting. MIKE (thinking) (begins walking toward engineering) SCENE 21 - WRENCHES'S BAR, BANZAAR It's nighttime. Roedecker, Blade and Maxwell enter the bar. Wrenches notices them and looks nervous. He presses a red button under the bar. As the bounty hunters approach, a group of bears enters from a back room. Roedecker's crew notice them but approach the bar anyway. WRENCHES Hey, Vince, how are you? Can I get you guys a drink? ROEDECKER Skip it, Wrenches. What we're here for is some information. WRENCHES Come on, fellas, give a guy a break! I don't know anything. BLADE But we think you do. Some toadie just escaped from Alcatrek, and we think you know where to find him. MAXWELL Even a toad is just a paying customer as far as you're concerned, Wrench. WRENCHES Now look, fellas, I wish I could help you, but I haven't seen any toads. ROEDECKER What about suspicious characters? That is, more suspicious than usual. WRENCHES What do you mean? Roedecker impatiently grabs Wrenches by his shirt. As he does, the goons at the back move in. ROEDECKER I mean that I think that toad, or his buddies, came here looking for something, and I get the feeling that you know more about it than you're telling! Blade notices the bears getting closer. He draws a blaster. BLADE Look out, boss! One of the bears goes to hit Blade, but he quickly sidesteps to avoid the punch and smacks the goon on the side of the head. Roedecker releases Wrenches, and he and Maxwell join in the fight. The bears basically get pummeled by Roedecker and his crew, and a lot of the furniture is damaged. When it ends, the goons are all either unconscious or badly wounded. Roedecker goes back over to Wrenches. ROEDECKER Well now, where were we? WRENCHES Look, I did see a couple of suspicious characters, but I don't know if they were toads or not. ROEDECKER When were they here? WRENCHES A couple of hours ago. They were talking to Rico Dagger. BLADE Dagger? They must have wanted something stolen. ROEDECKER Do you know where he went? WRENCHES I'm not sure, but I heard something about the Drayke Corporation. Roedecker gets really close to Wrenches. ROEDECKER You'd better not be lying to me, because if you are ... WRENCHES I swear, Vince, I'm telling the truth! Don't you trust me? ROEDECKER You set a group of thugs on us, Wrenches. I would trust a toad before I'd trust you! (looking at the bears on the floor behind him) By the way, I suggest you hire some competent goons next time. These guys were pushovers. The bounty hunters turn around and leave. Wrenches sighs and goes to get a broom from the storeroom. WRENCHES Lashes is never around when I need her. SCENE 22 - SPACE OVER ULTESS The Valkyrie approaches the planet. It moves not too fast, but not too slowly, either. BUCKY (voiceover) Cayton City control, this is Captain O'Hare of the S.P.A.C.E. fleet, requesting permission to land. An image of LIEUTENANT DONOVAN REYNOLDS, a panther, appears on a monitor. REYNOLDS Lt. Reynolds here. It's great to see you again, Captain. What's up? JENNY We think something's going to happen at the Drayke Corporation. We need to investigate the premises. REYNOLDS Hmm, that could be a bit tricky. Security there has tightened up a lot recently. But sure, you can come in to land. I'll give you what support I can. BUCKY Roger that, Lieutenant. We're coming in now. Jenny pilots the ship toward Ultess's capital. SCENE 23 - LANDING AREA, CAYTON CITY The frigate touches down, and after it stops, the crew disembarks. Reynolds is waiting for them on the stairway, lit by the evening lights. REYNOLDS So, are you on official UAC business? BUCKY Not exactly. We're conducting our own investigation into a recent occurrence. DEADEYE We think them toads is gonna try somethin'. Remember, we caught Greeman there. REYNOLDS I'll do what I can for you. But if you're not on UAC business, security will probably stonewall all the way. SCENE 24 - HARBOR, CAYTON CITY In the shadow of the city, the harbor is quiet. The toads' ship is parked out of plain sight. Madison and Hauser are hanging around outside it. HAUSER He should have contacted us by now. Do you think he could have run out on us? MADISON Don't worry. A job like this takes time. HAUSER But if we don't have results soon, the Captain will kill us. Madison's comm-link beeps. He answers it. MADISON (into comm) Madison here. DAGGER (over comm) Glad you're on the planet already. MADISON Where are you? DAGGER (over comm) Just across from the Drayke Tower. Dagger sits in a in a huge hotel across from the Drayke Tower. It's dark, but a hare is visibly bound and gagged in the corner of the room. Dagger is at the window, looking through a pair of electronic binoculars and speaking into a comm-link he has set up on the windowsill. DAGGER Security's a bit more relaxed on the top floors than below. Probably got security cameras and electric eye beams in the place. MADISON That sounds about right. So, can you do it? DAGGER (snorts) I've never had a problem with this sort of thing before. This will be no exception. MADISON All right. Get going. SCENE 25 - LANDING PLATFORM, CAYTON CITY The Wraith touches down and comes to a stop. As Roedecker, Maxwell, and Blade leave the ship, Maxwell notices The Valkyrie and snarls. MAXWELL That damned hare's here, too! ROEDECKER What? BLADE He's right, boss. ROEDECKER (upset) How could he have known to come here? (beat) Well, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that we get over to the Drayke Tower before they do. Lance, get the van out. MAXWELL Check. Maxwell takes out a remote control and uses it to open the cargo door of The Wraith. He goes inside. As he does, Roedecker takes out his comm. ROEDECKER (into comm) Warner, this is Roedecker. FRITZ (over comm) It's been nearly twelve hours now, Vincent. Any results for me? ROEDECKER Not yet, but I thought our agreement was that O'Hare not get involved. FRITZ I honored that agreement. ROEDECKER Well then, can you explain why he's on Ultess? FRITZ He's what? ROEDECKER That toaster he calls a ship is on this planet, unless there are two of those rust-buckets being used for space travel, which is highly unlikely. FRITZ (over comm, audibly annoyed) I can assure you that if he is there, he's acting directly against orders from me. ROEDECKER Well, he'd better not get in my way. And there better not be any more surprises, or you can find yourself another guy to do this job! Fritz starts to protest, but Roedecker shuts off his comm-link. Back in his office, Fritz is not happy. FRITZ Shoulda seen it coming. (presses a few buttons on his comm-link) Bucky? BUCKY (over comm) This is Captain Bucky O'Hare, saving the UAC money and keeping it from having to rely on mercenaries. Over. FRITZ You realize I could take away your ship for this. BUCKY I realize you won't be able to buy me a new ship if you have to pay this lowlife. FRITZ (not in the mood to argue) Bucky, get back here, right now. That's an order. BUCKY Well, Chairman, you know me and orders. (beat) You can thank me later. The comm dies. Fritz curses under his breath. FRITZ Why I put up with that brat, I'll never know. (beat, looking worriedly out his window) Even Donald could have some sense talked into him every now and then. SCENE 26 - HOTEL ROOF Dagger, dressed in black commando gear, including a mask covering his face, climbs onto the roof of the hotel. He carries a black bag full of tools. He sets the bag down and reaches into it, then takes out a large harpoon gun, complete with tripod. He aims at a wall above a service hatch on the roof of the Drayke Tower and fires. The harpoon shoots out with a strong steel wire attached to it. It hits into the wall and stays there. Dagger starts to pull the tripod of the harpoon gun back until the wire is stretched taut. He then presses a button, and steel spikes shoot out of the legs of the tripod, attaching it firmly to the floor. DAGGER OK, here we go. Dagger hauls himself onto the Drayke Tower roof and puts his feet on the ground. Disconnecting himself from the wire, he takes out a small laser cutter and begins blasting the lock on the service entrance. SCENE 27 - STREET, CAYTON CITY A police vehicle is driving along, carrying Bucky and his crew. Reynolds is driving. BRUISER Dis is a pretty big risk, Cap'n. You heard da Chairman. He could have us all court-martialed for goin' against his orders. BUCKY He's never done it before. JENNY Maybe, but we might have pushed him too far this time. BUCKY We'll just see what he says when we bring in Greeman. REYNOLDS (not paying attention to the conversation) Here we are. The Drayke Corporation. MIKE I still don't see why I had to come along, guys. I mean, I'm not chicken, but ... BUCKY You're part of the fleet, Mike. Get used to it. (thinking) Reynolds brings the vehicle to a halt outside the building. The crew get out and approach the building. As they go, a black van stops about two hundred feet away from them. Inside are Roedecker and his crew. ROEDECKER Well, well. Looks like O'Hare could actually be doing us a favor. BLADE Yeah. While he keeps security busy, we sneak in through the service door and intercept Dagger. MAXWELL If he's here yet. Roedecker looks upward through a pair of binoculars. ROEDECKER Magnify 200%. Roedecker sees a small image of Dagger cutting away at the lock. ROEDECKER Oh, he's here, all right. No point in trying to get him now. When he makes his escape, I'll place the tracker dart on him. MAXWELL What's he after, anyway? We don't even know for sure if he's working for the toads. BLADE Well, it's a lead, isn't it? Besides, he must be working for the toads. Otherwise, O'Hare wouldn't be here. SCENE 28 - LOBBY, DRAYKE TOWER Bucky and his crew approach the goose RECEPTIONIST, who looks up, surprised. RECEPTIONIST Captain O'Hare? This is a surprise. Is something wrong? BUCKY Sort of. We're just following some leads. Can you run a security check? RECEPTIONIST I can do that, no problem. But I doubt that you'll find anything. JENNY Well, we appreciate the help. RECEPTIONIST If I don't find anything, though, you'll have to leave, or I'll call security. Standard procedure. SCENE 29 - CORRIDOR, TWENTY-NINTH FLOOR, DRAYKE TOWER Dagger has entered the building and is snooping around. He descends down a flight of stairs and stops before entering the corridor. DAGGER (thinking) Dagger takes out an aerosol can and sprays it around a little. Some radar beams become visible, and Dagger looks up and notices a flashing box on the ceiling. DAGGER (thinking) Dagger aims his maser pistol at the box and blasts it. The beams shut down instantly. Dagger heads farther down the corridor and approaches a thick metal door. Taking out the scrap of paper the toads gave him, he types in the access code, and the door opens. As Dagger enters the lab, he notices some security cameras. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a grenade. He removes the pin and throws the grenade. As it detonates, metal fragments fly into the air, making the cameras malfunction. SCENE 30 - LOBBY, DRAYKE TOWER The receptionist is checking her computer readout when a red light appears on her control panel. RECEPTIONIST (checking it) That's odd. The radar beams on level twenty-nine have shut down. (checking a TV monitor, alarmed) The cameras in the lab aren't responding! BUCKY What's on level twenty-nine? RECEPTIONIST It was one of our labs, but it hasn't been used since that incident last year. Lots of crucial computer data is in there! BUCKY How do we get up there? RECEPTIONIST Take the express elevator over there. Bucky nods in thanks, and he and his crew rush over to the elevator. SCENE 31 - LAB, TWENTY-NINTH FLOOR Dagger is at one of the computers. He smiles as some files are transferred onto a floppy disk. The process completed, he removes the disk. DAGGER Here we go. Dagger rushes out of the lab and down the corridor toward the back staircase. As he goes, an elevator ding sounds, and Bucky's crew get out in time to see the door to the staircase close. BUCKY They're making a break for it! Come on! Bucky and his crewmembers draw their blasters and take off after Dagger. Mike, obviously a little out of shape, lags behind the others. They reach the staircase and dart down it, in pursuit of Dagger. At one point, the fox takes out his blaster and fires a couple shots, then keeps on running. Reaching the service door at the bottom of the staircase, Dagger kicks it open and runs out. He nearly runs into Blade and Maxwell, who are waiting. BLADE Hi, Rico. How are you? Growling, Dagger lowers his head and charges forward, knocking both mercenaries out of his way. As Dagger runs off, Bucky's crew emerge from the building. Bucky notices the two mercs. BUCKY What are you two doing here? MAXWELL (sarcastically) Visiting some family! Dagger runs across the street, heading for an alley. As he goes, Roedecker leans out of the window of his van and aims a gun at Dagger. He fires and hits the fox in the arm. Dagger howls in pain but keeps going. A dart with a flashing head is embedded in his arm, though the fox doesn't notice. Roedecker steers his van over to Blade and Maxwell. ROEDECKER Get in, you two! The tracker dart's in place. BUCKY (calling) Roedecker! We want that guy alive! ROEDECKER You think the toads are gonna let him live? They'll put a hole in his head as soon as he meets up with them. JENNY He's got some classified data! The toads could be up to something! MAXWELL Oh, and we're supposed to care? What that scumbag got from the company is a matter of supreme indifference to us, lady! ROEDECKER Look, O'Hare, you want to catch toads so bad, then get in the back. But if they lead us to Greeman, he's ours for the taking. Understand? BUCKY (determined) Yeah, I understand. ROEDECKER Then get in. This should be fun. Everyone gets into the van, and Roedecker drives off. MAXWELL (protesting) Boss, why did we just ... ROEDECKER Quiet. I want to see how this plays out. Maxwell and Blade look uneasily in the rear view mirror at Bucky's crew, who look uneasy themselves. MIKE (sweating a little) Um, do you guys always hop in vans with scary-looking strangers? BUCKY (annoyed) Quiet. This is our only chance to catch Greeman. SCENE 32 - HARBOR Madison and Hauser are still waiting near their ship. Hauser is keeping an eye out with his binoculars. HAUSER (spotting Dagger) Here he comes. MADISON Is he being followed? HAUSER Doesn't look like it. MADISON Well, just in case, the others are on standby. The breathless Dagger comes up to the two toads. MADISON Have you got the data? DAGGER (taking out the floppy and handing it to Madison) It's all there. Now where's my money? Madison takes out some simoleans and hands them to Dagger. MADISON There you go. And no one is to know about this. DAGGER Hey, who am I gonna tell? Hauser has been standing behind Dagger. He quickly pulls out a syringe and injects Dagger in the side of the neck. DAGGER What the? ... Dagger spins around to face Hauser but quickly falls down, sedated. MADISON Excellent. The data *and* a test subject for the Captain. HAUSER (chuckling) Mammals aren't too bright, are they? MADISON Get him onboard. We're out of here. Suddenly, the black van appears on the dock and swerves to a halt. Both toads look up. Bucky's and Roedecker's crews get out of the van and start to charge down the stairs toward the toads. MADISON Damn it! Get the rest of the crew! Now! HAUSER Yes, sir! ROEDECKER (running up) They're toads, all right! I recognize the stink! BUCKY Take them alive! We need them to lead us to Greeman. As they near the ship, a group of at least twenty toads, the rogue ship's crew, come out, ready to engage the mammals. HAUSER Show no mercy! The toads advance down the boarding ramp of their ship, firing shots from their plasma guns as they go. Bucky's crew return fire, as do Roedecker's crew. Soon, the fight escalates as the toads keep firing and occasionally physically attacking some of the mammals. Maxwell effortlessly throws a toad off himself. Another toad approaches from behind him but is dispatched by Deadeye. Maxwell turns around and notices. He looks at Deadeye in surprise. MAXWELL Thanks. DEADEYE Don't mention it. Bucky and Roedecker end up fighting side by side. ROEDECKER You're pretty good, O'Hare. BUCKY You're not bad yourself. All you need now is morals. ROEDECKER Don't push it, bunny. Bucky and Roedecker both fend off two toads who advance on them. Bruiser makes short work of some more of the toads, as does Jenny. HAUSER What do we do? MADISON I have an idea. (yells to the remaining toads) Throw down your weapons! We surrender! The toads look at Madison like he's gone mad. MADISON That's an order! Surrender! The toads reluctantly throw down their weapons. Bucky and Roedecker look suspicious, and Maxwell and Deadeye smile. MAXWELL Hah! Not so tough, are ya? Lousy fly-eaters. Bucky goes right up to Madison, his blaster pointed directly at the toad. BUCKY You surrendered pretty fast. What are you up to? MADISON You had us beaten, so we surrender. Besides, it's not us you want, is it? You're after Greeman, and we can lead you to him. He's not very well defended. He's ripe for the taking. ROEDECKER You'd lead us to Greeman? Just like that? How stupid do you think we are? MADISON Come on! We'll give you the directions and just follow behind you. Afterwards, you can take all of us back to Genus for trial. Bucky turns to his crew. BUCKY I don't like this at all. What do you guys think? JENNY It does sound a bit suspicious. DEADEYE I say we do it, Cap'n. Ain't no easier way ta get t' Greeman. Roedecker is also talking to his crew. BLADE They're handing him to us on a silver platter, boss. Let's go! ROEDECKER I don't like it. Something stinks. MAXWELL If we don't take the chance, O'Hare will get Greeman, and we can kiss the money goodbye. ROEDECKER Maybe. But I don't trust these toads. They're up to something. BLADE Well, we need the money! ROEDECKER (sighs) All right, let's go. Get the ship ready, John. BLADE Check. BUCKY (turning to Roedecker) So, you're going? ROEDECKER So what if we are? There's a reward for Greeman, and I intend to collect. BUCKY We'll see about that. (calling) Roedecker, give Jenny a ride to our ship. ROEDECKER (snorts) And where is this coming from? What makes you think I'm gonna take orders from you? BUCKY You're the one that wants to see how this plays out. We're racing for Greeman, you and me. Now help Jenny go get our ship. ROEDECKER Hah! Greeman'll probably die of old age before that junk heap reaches his hideout! (motions to Blade) Blade, go get the ship. And take the witch with you. No reason not to have a little fun with this. Blade is obviously unhappy with this, but he nods and motions toward the van. Jenny, after shooting Bucky a look, runs over and gets in, and Blade hops in after her. MAXWELL (whispering) You sure you know what you're doing, boss? I gotta admit, the hare and his crew are good in battle, but without them, Greeman's ours for the taking. ROEDECKER (whispering) Greeman's ours anyway. This'll just make it easier to show them who's boss if they get in the way. (beat) Besides, I can't wait to see the look on Mimi's face when we succeed. That should bring her down a peg or two. SCENE 33 - SPACE The toad's ship is flying along, on the way to Bogg. Behind it are The Wraith and The Valkyrie. Both mammal ships are trying to keep up with the toads. ROEDECKER Huh. Moving pretty fast for a rust-bucket. Bucky and Jenny are pushing The Valkyrie as fast as the ship will go. BUCKY I can't wait to see the look on Fritz's face when after we pull this off. Onboard the toad ship, Madison picks up his comm-link. MADISON (into comm) Madison to Reinhardt. Come in. REINHARDT (over comm) Reinhardt here. What's going on? We're detecting two other ships following you. MADISON I know -- some test subjects for the Captain. They think we're taking them to him. You know what to do as soon as they land. REINHARDT (smugly) Affirmative. You got the data? MADISON Yes. Be ready. REINHARDT Roger. Over and out. The ships approach Bogg and get ready to land. SCENE 34 - VALLEY, BOGG The three ships come in to land near the lab. It's hard to see anything with the fog and the insects buzzing around. Several toads sit on a ridge, wearing protective clothing and brandishing what appear to be rifles armed with tranquilizer darts. MATTHEWS OK, get ready. As soon as the mammals step out, let them have it! The ships land, and the toads are the first to disembark. Shortly afterward, the two mammal crews come out, all armed. Some of them swat the insects away. BLADE Damn bugs! ROEDECKER (to the toads) OK, show us where he is! Suddenly, Roedecker's and Bucky's ears both twitch as they senses something. BUCKY Incoming! ROEDECKER I knew it! It's a frelling trap! Both crews turn around and fire some shots at the toads on the ridge, but it's too late. The toads fire, and Bucky and some of his crew are hit by the powerful darts. Roedecker and his crew fight back, but Blade and Maxwell are both hit. BLADE Boss, get out of here! ROEDECKER Yeah, like I'm really leaving you guys here. The crews get a few more shots off before they collapse, unconscious. Roedecker manages to avoid the darts being fired at him, and he dives into the nearby swamp, disappearing underwater. MATTHEWS Leave him! We've got enough test subjects. The toads come down the embankment and get ready to take the mammals to their base. MADISON How long does the tranq last for? MATTHEWS About two hours. HAUSER Good. The toads drag the unconscious mammals away. As they go, Roedecker's head rises briefly out of the swamp water to see where they toads are going. ROEDECKER (to himself) Dammit! (beat) What did they mean by "test subjects"? Roedecker swims along a little bit on the water, making sure to keep out of the toads' sight. The toads and their captives come to the doorway in the cliff face. Matthews takes out a remote control and taps in an access code. The door slides open, and the toads enter with their prisoners. As Roedecker watches, the huge door slides shut and locks. SCNE 34 - GREEMAN'S LAB Sometime later, Greeman examines the computer data from the Drayke lab. He laughs triumphantly. GREEMAN That's it! Did you get a blood sample from your mercenary? HAUSER On the way here, we did just that, sir. GREEMAN Give it here. I want to see what happens when it's infected. Outside, Roedecker is now standing in front of the door. ROEDECKER There's got to be another way in. (glances around and notices a duct cover nearby) Bingo! Must be the ventilation system. Roedecker goes over to the duct cover and yanks it off with all his strength. He crawls into the ducts and starts to make his way around. He is a little hampered by his size, but he keeps going. At one point, he comes to another vent cover above a room. Roedecker looks down into the room. It's a large holding cell. Bucky, his crew, Blade, and Maxwell are still unconscious. They're all shackled to the wall by their wrists. ROEDECKER (to himself) There they are. What the hell is Greeman up to? Roedecker crawls on a little bit. About two hundred feet down the ducts, he hears a loud laugh, which echoes through the vents. GREEMAN (cackling) I've done it! Roedecker presses on until he comes to the vent above the lab. He spots Greeman, who is looking at a slide in the microscope and laughing triumphantly. GREEMAN The mammal's red blood cells are pathetically weak against this respiratory virus. MADISON So, it's like a cold then, sir? GREEMAN At first, yes. But it's been developed even further. As the virus enters the body, it is carried by the blood to the rest of the body. At first, symptoms like headaches and fever will occur, but the virus will also go to work on the brain, making the victim's senses slowly shut down, and eventually, the victim will become comatose. After that, death is certain, but not right away. And since there's still no cure for the common cold, you can bet there's no cure for this virus! HAUSER And you're certain it will only affect mammals, sir? GREEMAN Of course it will. Only mammals are susceptible to this kind of virus. I made doubly sure of that. The toads all laugh. Roedecker's still watching them. ROEDECKER (thinking) GREEMAN Now to make certain it will work. Have the subjects recovered yet? MADISON Not yet. It'll take them another half-hour or so. GREEMAN Good. Then there'll be little resistance. Bring me the Aldebaran first. I want to see if the witch can cope with this. The toads salute and leave the room. Roedecker looks behind himself, in the direction of the cell. ROEDECKER (thinking) SCENE 35 - CELL Unlike the others, Jenny has started to stir a little, but she is still very disoriented. She groans a little. As she does, the cell door opens, and Hauser and Madison enter. MADISON Time for a little walk, kitty. Hauser unlocks Jenny's wrists, and the two toads carry her away. She's still too confused and weak to resist. As the toads leave and lock the door behind them, Roedecker pulls off the cover to the grate and drops into the room. Roedecker heads over to Blade. With one paw, he makes Blade's head look directly forward, and with his free paw, he slaps Blade a couple of times. Blade finally comes to. BLADE (blinking) Boss, what ... ROEDECKER Shh! Roedecker uses his blaster to cut Blade free. ROEDECKER (whispering) Get Maxwell out. Blade nods and takes Roedecker's blaster. As he cuts Maxwell free, Roedecker looks out through the slit in the door to see if anyone is around. There's no sign of anyone. Blade shakes Maxwell a bit, and he finally wakes up. Roedecker reaches into his jacket and pulls out a lock pick. He goes to work on the lock to the cell. MAXWELL What should we do? ROEDECKER Stop Greeman, for one thing. He's gone mad. He's got some crazy virus that only kills mammals. The lock undone, the door opens. ROEDECKER John, you come with me to find the weapons. Lance, wake up O'Hare and his crew. MAXWELL What for? ROEDECKER Just do it! MAXWELL If you say so. SCENE 36 - GREEMAN'S LAB The toads have finished putting the semi-conscious Jenny on a gurney and are closing metal bands around her wrists and ankles. An alarm sounds. GREEMAN What's going on?! MADISON (checking a readout) The cell has been breached! It must be that wolf who got away! Greeman looks scared when he hears the word "wolf." GREEMAN It can't be ... HAUSER No, it isn't the cyborg, sir! Just a mammal mercenary! GREEMAN (relieved) Well, go and take care of the mammals! Seal the lab! I don't want any interference! MADISON But how will you get out, sir? GREEMAN I can take care of myself! Now go! MADISON and HAUSER Yes, sir! The two soldiers unholster their blasters and run out of the lab. As they go, Madison pulls a lever, and a heavy shield door closes over the entrance. Greeman smiles and goes to prepare a syringe. Jenny is now completely conscious. She notices Greeman and hisses. JENNY Greeman! GREEMAN Correct, my dear, and welcome. I don't know much about your powers, but you're still pretty weak from that sedative you were shot with. Jenny closes her eyes and tries to focus her energy enough to cast a spell. Her forehead spell gem glows a little, but nothing happens. Jenny curses in her own language. GREEMAN Now you know how it feels to be helpless. The same way I felt when your wolf friend nearly killed me. Greeman finishes pouring a mixture into a vial. He then puts the syringe into the vial and fills it. JENNY What are you doing? GREEMAN Surely by now, you must have worked out what I was up to. JENNY Just some crazy talk, from what we heard. Greeman looks angered and whirls around to face her. GREEMAN This is no "crazy talk," witch! I have found the means to bring KOMPLEX the ultimate victory. And you will be the first to feel its power! Jenny looks nervously at the syringe. GREEMAN That's right. In this syringe, there's a virus which affects only mammals. And your precious captain and his crew will be the first to be infected, after coming in contact with you! SCENE 37 - CELL Bucky's crew are now free and armed. Roedecker and his men are also ready for action. BUCKY So why'd you free us? ROEDECKER So you can try to take Greeman from us and fail. (beat) Plus, you aren't too bad in a fight. BUCKY Where's Jenny? BLADE (looking out into the corridor) Explanations later! We've got trouble coming! Footsteps reverberate through the corridor, signaling that the toads are approaching. BRUISER Let me at 'em! The crews rush out, ready for action. Madison and the whole company of toads are charging down the corridor, plasma rifles at the ready. They all stop when they hear a bone-chilling yell. BRUISER (menacingly) Ayooga! The toads scream as they see Bruiser running down the corridor. Some of the toads turn and flee, but Madison stands his ground and fires several shots at Bruiser. Before he can react, Bruiser lifts him off his feet and throws him against a wall. SCENE 38 - GREEMAN'S LAB Laughing madly, Greeman approaches Jenny. She struggles to get free of her bonds, but to no avail. She tries to focus enough energy to cast a spell, and her left arm starts to come free from its restraint, but it's too late. Greeman grabs her arm and injects her. She winces in pain as the virus flows into her body. GREEMAN There we go. I look forward to your crew trying to rescue you and becoming the first carriers of my virus! SCENE 39 - CORRIDOR The toads, Bucky's crew, and the bounty hunters are engaged in a heated battle. Deadeye and Maxwell are once more looking out for each other. Bruiser throws some toads around. Bucky leaps around to avoid plasma blasts. Blade and Roedecker manage to fight off some toads. The toads are soon defeated. Bucky takes one TOAD by the scruff of his neck. BUCKY (angrily) Where's my first mate? TOAD In the lab, but you'll never get in! BUCKY We'll see about that. SCENE 40 - GREEMAN'S LAB Greeman opens an escape hatch at the back of the room and prepares to leave. GREEMAN (to Jenny) Goodbye. I suggest you enjoy the short life you'll have left. You should feel honored, you know. You're the first of the last! Ground zero! Greeman laughs and exits. Jenny looks angrily at the injection wound. She also looks frightened. SCENE 41 - CORRIDOR, OUTSIDE GREEMAN'S LAB Bruiser bangs at the shield door repeatedly. The door dents a little but does not give way. ROEDECKER That's not gonna do any good! Out of the way! Roedecker pushes Bruiser aside and reaches into his overcoat. He pulls out a wad of plastic explosive and sticks it to the door. ROEDECKER This should do the trick. Roedecker adds a detonator to the explosives and sets it. BUCKY Take cover! Everyone quickly runs around the corner to be away from the blast. There is an explosion, and the shield door is breached. BRUISER Hey, dat wuzn't a bad idea. Bucky's crew enters Greeman's lab first. Spotting Jenny, Bucky immediately heads over to her and starts to free her. BUCKY Jen, are you OK? JENNY I don't know. Jenny sneezes. BUCKY What did he do? JENNY Gave me some kind of virus. I don't know what it'll do. BUCKY (worried) We'll get you to the hospital as soon as we get back to Genus. MIKE (running up) Jenny! What happened? JENNY I ... Jenny sneezes again, and then again. Bucky holds her steady. BUCKY Easy, Jenny, easy. (turns to Mike) Make yourself useful. Get Blinky and see if you can get any data off Greeman's computers. MIKE Yes, sir! Mike runs up to the computers and begins typing. Roedecker starts to sniff around, looking for a sign of Greeman. He comes across the escape hatch. ROEDECKER He went this way! Let's go! Roedecker opens the hatch and dives through it. Blade and Maxwell follow. DEADEYE Hey, Cap'n, they're gonna ... BUCKY Let them go, Deadeye. We've got the rest of the toads, and we have to get Jenny back to Genus. MIKE (calling) I can't understand a word of this toad gibberish, Captain! BLINKY Yes. Toad captain's encryption scheme most ingenious. BUCKY (to himself) Great. Carrying Jenny gingerly, Bucky exits the lab. Deadeye, still craving action, follows, and then come Blinky and Bruiser. Mike grits his teeth and follows. MIKE This coulda gone better. SCENE 42 - SECRET PASSAGE TO HANGAR Greeman is running along near the end of the passage. As he rounds a corner, Roedecker, Blade, and Maxwell appear in the distance, catching up with him. ROEDECKER Greeman! Greeman kicks open the hidden door and charges into the hangar. He makes his way down the stairs toward the docked toad ship. On his way, he trips and falls. This delays him long enough for Roedecker to enter the hangar. Roedecker aims his blaster at Greeman and fires, hitting him in the kneecap. Greeman roars in pain and falls to his knees. ROEDECKER OK, Greeman, that's as far as you go. Greeman looks around. As he sees Roedecker, he has another subliminal flash of Dallion. Greeman looks like he's about to scream, but instead, he breaks into demented laughter. GREEMAN You fool! Do you think I'm afraid of you now? You will soon die! All the mammals will die! Roedecker slowly comes down the stairs toward Greeman. GREEMAN How does it feel to know that the Luporians will become extinct once and for all?! ROEDECKER I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Doesn't matter, though. As soon as we get you out of here, I'm blowing this place sky high. Your virus won't survive. Blade and Maxwell enter and see Roedecker push Greeman onto the floor. Roedecker forces Greeman's paws behind his back and takes out a pair of electronic cuffs. GREEMAN It doesn't matter! The witch is infected! It'll spread, and you'll all die! All of you! All of you! Greeman laughs even harder -- a truly psychotic sound. SCENE 43 - SURFACE OF BOGG The Wraith lifts off from the surface of Bogg. As it goes, there is a huge explosion as the lab is destroyed. The ship jumps into hyperspace. SCENE 44 - CHAIRMAN WARNER'S OFFICE Later, Bucky and his crew, minus Jenny, are standing before Fritz. FRITZ Well, I suppose I should thank you for your part in this. You did more with your ship than I thought you'd be able to. (beat, sternly) However, Bucky, if you continue to disobey my orders, I may not be able to protect you. Some Council members are already calling you an unpredictable menace, and I can't say I blame them. BUCKY With all due respect, sir, I'll let the Council think what they like. It's not going to change the fact that I still intend to do my duty. Fritz sighs. FRITZ You always were a stubborn hare, Bucky. BUCKY How's Jenny? FRITZ Dr. Ankler's looking after her now. I advise you not to ask him when she can return to active duty -- Dr. Lurie's tired of you asking the same question about Willy. DEADEYE What happened t' Greeman? FRITZ You don't know? BUCKY We came straight here to deliver the other captured toads and bring Jenny in. FRITZ Roedecker dropped Greeman off back at Alcatrek. He'll probably be put before a mental health tribunal, not a military court. BUCKY (disapprovingly) So, Roedecker earned his pay, then? FRITZ Don't be so negative. By blowing up the lab, he destroyed the virus Greeman cooked up. He could have saved us all. (beat) Speaking of which, I want all of you to go for checkups, to make sure you're not infected. SCENE 45 - CHECKUP ROOM, WATERSHIP HOSPITAL, GENUS DR. ANKLER, a deer, has just finished examining Bucky. ANKLER Well, you seem all right. So does the rest of your crew. Greeman didn't get it quite right. This virus isn't infectious. Or at least, it's not airborne. But we don't know yet how it may affect your first mate. She hasn't gotten worse, but there's just no telling. BUCKY How is she? Can I see her? ANKLER All right. But not for too long. SCENE 46 - JENNY'S HOSPITAL ROOM, WATERSHIP HOSPITAL, GENUS Jenny is sitting up in bed. Bucky is holding her paw. BUCKY How do you feel? JENNY (sniffling a little) Not too good. I hope that what Greeman was saying was just raving. BUCKY Come on, Jen. You've survived so much before. I have no doubt you can survive this. JENNY Just in case ... BUCKY Yes? JENNY I want to go to Aldebaran. BUCKY Not while you're sick. I don't care what's going on there. You're staying here until the doctors can get you well. JENNY (sneezing) We don't know what this virus is like, Bucky, and we don't know if the doctors here can heal me. If I go to Aldebaran, though, I'm sure there's a way. BUCKY You can't tell me about it, though, right? Jenny just smiles, then sneezes again. An idea suddenly hits Bucky. BUCKY If they can heal you, do you think they could heal Willy? Jenny thinks for a moment, then frowns, concerned. JENNY No. Most of our healing spells are designed for female Aldebarans. There's absolutely no telling what they could do to a male human. Bucky sighs, knowing that Jenny wouldn't stand in the way of Willy's recovery unless she was certain it wouldn't do him any good. BUCKY OK. I'll talk to Dr. Ankler, and I'll set a transport up first thing in the morning. (releases Jenny's paw) I'll leave you now. Get some rest. Jenny smiles. Bucky exits the room. SCENE 47 - CORRIDOR, WATERSHIP HOSPITAL, GENUS Bucky closes the door as he comes out. He turns to go down the corridor and sees Roedecker leaning against a wall. Bucky is initially angry, but it quickly passes. BUCKY Why are you here? ROEDECKER Just wanted to see what the story was. I overheard Greeman saying what the virus could be capable of. I got your crew out because I thought no one deserved to die like that. Bucky looks surprised. ROEDECKER (noticing his look) I *do* care about other things besides money. BUCKY Yeah, that's how it used to be, I heard. ROEDECKER Mimi told you what used to be between us? Bucky nods. ROEDECKER Doesn't surprise me. Roedecker turns to leave. BUCKY So you know, the virus isn't infectious. We're safe. (beat) Do you still have feelings for Mimi? Roedecker pauses, then slowly turns to face Bucky. ROEDECKER You really care about Jenny, don't you? Bucky nods again. ROEDECKER Well, that's how I feel about Mimi. Like it's gonna do me much good. BUCKY What do you mean? ROEDECKER Mimi always was rather hotheaded. Did she tell you that before I left Warren that time, I told her I didn't think our relationship would work? BUCKY Actually, she just told me you deserted her. ROEDECKER (snorts) Figures. Well, she was angry, and I agreed that I would talk with her about it when I got back from getting our next shipment. I was devastated when I heard the toads got her. (beat) I was really glad when I heard she got free. But I knew she'd hate me for not being there for her. I knew she'd think I had no intention of coming back. And it looks like she's made up her mind about me. (sighs) I was such an idiot. BUCKY (feeling a slight twinge of pity) It may not be too late. ROEDECKER Yeah, like the great respectable Captain LaFleur would hang out with a lowlife mercenary like me. (beat) Gotta go now. My boys'll be getting impatient. I've got to hand it to you, Captain, you and your crew live up to your reputations. Roedecker offers his paw, and Bucky shakes it. BUCKY You were pretty good yourself. ROEDECKER Before I go, just one piece of advice. BUCKY Yes? Roedecker nods toward Jenny's room. ROEDECKER You've got yourself a great woman there. Don't make the same mistake I made. You'll regret it. Roedecker turns and walks away. THE END