"The Fourth Creator" by Tom Final draft - 1/12/02 Edited by Rygar 5/4/09 SCENE 1 - TOAD MOTHERSHIP TOADBORG is resting in a shadowy room where the only light is a tube of green energy being fed into his chest cavity. His arm is also plugged into a green fluid-filled intravenous machine. His darkened eyes hint that he is offline. KOMPLEX (moving into frame) Awaken, my Toadborg. TOADBORG (sitting up in worn out voice) What is your command, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX? KOMPLEX Pay attention. I have a mission for you -- one of great importance that you cannot allow yourself to fail. It is a dark time now. Turn your attention to the monitor to your left and all will be explained. Toadborg turns to a large flat-screen TV in the wall. It blinks to life and displays the image of a ruined ship zipping away from the Toad Homeworld. KOMPLEX Long before the campaign for toad supremacy began, a group of amphibious prisoners fled to the moon of Rigel II. It is there that they established a base to combat our efforts but failed miserably. The TV monitor shows a gang of ragged toads in pauper clothing arguing among themselves in a massive engine room. One of them fires off a blast from his maser and hits the engine. It explodes with the toads next to it. The camera is then destroyed. KOMPLEX (continues) I want you to journey to Rigel II and destroy all documentation of their insidious existence. TOADBORG It shall be done, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX (forebodingly) Then go. Destroy *everything*. SCENE 2 - ASTEROID FIELD The Righteous Indignation is locked down inside the safety of an asteroid field for the time being. Things are slow, exemplified by the shore leave of BRUISER, GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK sleeping in his gunner's chair, AFC BLINKY is examining a book labeled "Toad Methods of Prisoner Interview," and FIRST MATE JENNY making her scheduled rounds. She reaches the bridge and walks over to CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE, who is reclining in his captain's chair. JENNY Bucky? BUCKY (not taking his eyes off the monitors) Jenny. JENNY (sitting down) How're you doing now that Fritz has taken you off of house arrest? BUCKY (smiles and gestures at the screen) Great! Can you believe I actually missed monitor duty? JENNY Any changes with the radar scan? BUCKY Nope. Hasn't had a blip on the boards since yesterday. With luck, it might stay this way long enough to go over our rescue arrangements. JENNY (displeased) I was thinking ... about Willy. What if he can't be saved? BUCKY (shaken) What? JENNY (noticeably serious) It's happened before. The toads have captured delegates and soldiers many times. They killed them without a second thought and still used them as hostages until we discovered what had happened. (beat) Willy's life means nothing to them. BUCKY That is a possibility. It's also probable that they're questioning him. Interrogating him. He's more useful to them than any UAC officer. JENNY And if that's true, we're at a greater disadvantage now that the toads have a library of UAC technology and activities. There may come a time when you'll be forced to make a decision call that may endanger Willy. The toads will use him to their benefit until they see us dead. BUCKY (determined but a little worried) I'll cross *that* bridge when I come to it. JENNY You must be prepared for when you do. We all must be. BUCKY Do I? I'd think you'd understand the weight of responsibility I'm under more than anyone. (beat) I allowed him to fight in our war. I should have sent him home the day he came through that door of his, but instead I claimed ignorance and let him accompany us on missions. Every one was a danger to Willy, but it was his *capture* that makes it obvious he didn't belong. (turns to Jenny, sternly) So, *yes*, I will make the proper judgment call when it comes to it. I know how to perform my duties under these conditions. JENNY I understand the pressure, Bucky. You're not the only one who is worried -- I also feel the guilt of Willy's capture. He's my friend, and due to the circumstances he went through recently, we are bonded by tradition. His capture puts a strain on Aldebaran, giving birth to all sorts of sedition that risk endangering the society. (beat) Now that the toads have Willy, a map to our methods and abilities are open to them. There is no telling what will happen -- to any of us, anymore. There is a long pause while Jenny takes in her own words, then continues in an unsteady voice. JENNY And every day now, the threat of a complete toad invasion of Aldebaran increases. BUCKY Jenny ... Bucky reaches out his paw for his first mate's shoulder but swiftly recalls it. BUCKY We'll get Willy back, along with all the information he might have lent the toads. JENNY (calming) How can we pull that off? BUCKY Gamble. And hope the risk turns to our benefit. Bucky takes Jenny's paw in his own gloved one. The two squeeze tightly and draw some relief from each other. A silent moment passes, only to have the tender moment broken by the Righteous's computer buzzing. BLINKY (over comm) Captain, might this humble robot show you something in the brig for a moment? Also, have you seen absent-from-duty officer Jenny? BUCKY Yes on both counts. I'm on my way. (turns off comm, to Jenny) When I get back, we should put top priority on our rescue plans. Bucky exits the cockpit. Jenny lets out a hefty sigh and slides into her bridge station. SCENE 3 - BRIG, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky massages his chin. One eyebrow is raised in an inquiring fashion. BUCKY Hmm. What might this be? Blinky is sitting cross-legged on the floor of the brig, fiddling with a little metal disc at his feet. The disc is silver-colored about the rim with a clear glass dome in the center. There is a red switch Blinky had just fastened on before he peered up at Bucky. BLINKY Disc is called "RECO." (in a gloomy voice) Friend Willy and this humble robot had been working on an upgrade for my holoprojector, but decision was made to build a stand-alone portable version. Project would have been finished earlier ... however ... BUCKY I know. (turning his attention) It looks interesting -- and quite the constructive accomplishment ... if not for the fact that portable holoprojectors are a mass-produced commercial item and are pretty cheap. DEADEYE (drowsy) Why don'cha invent me up a glass o' swampgrass, matey? Ha hah! BLINKY Friends do not understand, and such misinterpretation is excusable. But creation is still upgrade from preceding model. Understand, modern holograms are prerecorded image or movie files, useful for display but not much else. *This* construct possesses integrated artificial intelligence ... Blinky wipes his eye clean of a grease stain. BLINKY (continuing) Device can respond to stimuli. (beat) Excellent instrument for decoy and entertainment, and lasts longer with better performance! Ideal for certain upcoming missions. BUCKY Now *that* is promising. Please, show us what it can do. BLINKY (instructively) Artificial intelligence character number three ... identify self. A holographic image of a BERSERKER HOLO-BABOON appears. It is interrupted by static that swiftly clears itself up. The baboon lumbers back and forth, looking at the crew. BLINKY Respond, please. HOLO-BABOON Hollywood codfish. BLINKY Pardon? No. Identify self. HOLO-BABOON Whose banana cannon is there all day long? Ooga Booga? BUCKY (quickly returning to his unenthusiastic state) What does it mean? DEADEYE I dunno, but it sure makes a convincing Berserker ... intelligence- wise. BLINKY (stronger voice, more intense) IDENTIFY. HOLO-BABOON We get signal! What you say ... BUCKY (laughing) Thanks Blinky, I needed that. I like the idea though. Keep it up. BLINKY (disheartened) Aye-aye, Captain. Bucky and Deadeye exit the brig. Blinky remains behind to examine the holo-image. BLINKY (effortlessly) ... secondary attempt -- how is friend hologram? HOLO-BABOON (clearly) I find myself to be quite well, AFC Blinky. And yourself? Blinky observes the sudden change in behavior on the AI's part. He scans the room to find no one is left to see his triumph. He turns back to the holo-baboon and slaps his hand over his face in a pouting spasm. Bucky returns to the bridge to see Jenny working at her crew station. BUCKY Anything new? JENNY Possibly. There is a low-yield energy signature approaching the Rigel cluster of worlds. It would have been completely missed if I hadn't calibrated the sensors at the right moment. BUCKY (softly) I see. If it's large enough to register on our sensors at this distance at low yield, it's got to be worth investigating. JENNY Is that wise? It could be nothing. BUCKY It doesn't have to smell like a fish to be one, Jenny. We're shoving off. Are any of ours in the area? JENNY (pauses while she checks) Just a patrol barge. The other two frigates are on assignment along the border. BUCKY Looks like we'll be going it alone from here. Radio the chairman and let him in on the search ... JENNY (taken aback) Bucky, the signature has disappeared. BUCKY Over what? JENNY It appears to be the off-limits sector of the cluster ... Rigel II. BUCKY Rigel II, my old playground. Unbelievable. I should go fill in Deadeye on this development personally. Plot the appropriate course and let's be on our way. This has to be over with before it starts if we're dealing with Rigel II. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. Bucky exits. Jenny is relieved as he leaves and she performs her duties as instructed. SCENE 4 - BRIDGE, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky walks back in to find Jenny still at the console. BUCKY What did Fritz say? JENNY He suggested you wait for the proper support when dealing with unknowns in the bordered-off Badlands of Rigel. He also mentioned two of the crewmen being potentially unstable in the enclosing environment. BUCKY Did he, now? JENNY Yes. Well, for the most part. Our transmission equipment experienced major interferences when we passed by the rings of Moonarde Thirr. BUCKY Rigel II is nowhere near Moonarde Thirr. You'd have to go out of our navigation course to ... (realizing) You didn't. JENNY I'm just a pilot. It's not my fault the communication equipment jams as it does. BUCKY You're a sneaky pilot, that's for sure. It's for the best that we're on a mission though. Keep our minds sharp. As Bucky loses his tense stature, there is a sudden clamor of metal from below the bridge. DEADEYE Cap'n! Bucky me boy, you there? BUCKY (irritated) What is it, Deadeye? DEADEYE I be needin' to speak with ya, post haste! BUCKY (tired) On my way. Bucky steps down off the ladder to meet with Deadeye in the main bay of the Righteous. He is dressed up in a space suit, with a red duffle bag in two of his four arms. He acknowledges the captain with a nod and steps in so that they are face to face. BUCKY Yes, Deadeye? DEADEYE I'll be needin' ta part ways with ye somewhere before we reach Rigel II. Anywhere'll float me boat, really. BUCKY Your reason? DEADEYE I'yaaah ... I got some business to attend to. Pirate business that can't be spoken about wit' non-pirates. An' accordin' to the Genus Cultural Tolerance scripture, ya gotta lemme go, Cap'n. BUCKY (soothingly) I understand. And I give you full permission to leave the ship when you're ready -- under the guidelines of the GCT scripture, of course. DEADEYE Much obliged, Cap'n. BUCKY Not a problem. Bucky turns around and makes his way to the ladder back to the bridge. As he places his paws on the bars he pulls back and snaps his fingers. Deadeye turns around to see Bucky looking back at him from the ladder. BUCKY Oh, wait. Pirates aren't considered a cultural society. So the GCT doesn't regard you. Let's not mention the "Rank Priority" clause to that scripture, either. DEADEYE (beaten) "Rank Priority?" BUCKY Yep. The fine print says that in case of emergency, a commander can keep any officer he wants under his commands despite cultural claims. (pauses for thought) And I just declared this situation an emergency. DEADEYE But Bucky, ye don't even know what's out there! It could be a party cruiser, for spit's sake! BUCKY If you're so adverse to joining us, Deadeye, feel free to enact the GCT request for exclusion on cultural terms again. DEADEYE Ennh. OK, Cap'n, fine. You've always been a sharp blade, I'll grant ye that. But you know how I get on Rigel II! BUCKY No more bugged than I get, Deadeye. Bucky exits. Deadeye remains still for a second and then throws his duffle bag into the wall. DEADEYE I don't like that place, not one bit. Deadeye's four hands fidget between each other, whipping behind his front and back, locking fingers for a second and then releasing. SCENE 5 - MOON OF RIGEL II A small toad cruiser lands on a crumbling spaceship-docking pad. Five TOAD TROOPERS in atmosphere suits pile out and are followed by the enormous body of Toadborg. TOADBORG This is incorrect. This docking bay does not correlate with the information KOMPLEX gave me. And I am out of his comm range, as he told me I would be. (beat) No matter. I will find my targets and eliminate them one by one if I must. TOAD TROOPER #1 Be careful, sir. I hear this place is cursed. TOADBORG Are you disturbed? (dismissingly) There are no curses, only reality and its facts. TOAD TROOPER #1 (looking around with shifty eyes) No, sir. There is, I know it. Mammal spirits haunt this moon. TOADBORG (irritated) With that being the case, *you* get to take point if you know so much. Lead the way through this facility, trooper. TOAD TROOPER #1 (stepping back and waving his hands) B-b-b-but I do-don't ... TOADBORG Do not waste my time -- move. TOAD TROOPER #1 Aye, sir. TOADBORG (to troopers) Come along. Toadborg notices that the four remaining troopers refuse to follow, out of fright. TOADBORG If there *are* ghosts, they will be busy tearing the point man apart. Now, follow me. The four toads nod agreeably at one another and enter the docking bay. Once they disappear from sight deeper into the base, the distinct sound of metal scraping across metal can be heard outside. A large black mass scuttles into view, gives off a feral hiss, chuckles, and then vanishes. SCENE 6 - BRIDGE, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION The Righteous is heading toward Rigel II's moon. Bucky and Jenny sit on the bridge, still checking the sensors. BUCKY Have you managed to determine the energy signature's origin? JENNY (a little uneasy) I have. It matches that of a D-Class Toad Cruiser. I picked up a secondary energy ping a few moments ago. Output matches recorded meetings with Toadborg. BUCKY (tensely) Great. SCENE 7 - GUNNER'S BAY, THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Deadeye paces nervously in the bay when Bucky's voice comes over the comm. BUCKY (over comm) We'll be docking on the dark side of the moon in two minutes. I suggest we suit up for the trek across. Take the suitable armaments for a run- in with Toadborg and a likely toad force. Blinky walks up to Deadeye and hands him a silver and blue spacesuit. Deadeye shows his appreciation with a dip of his hat and moves to put on his outfit. BLINKY Friend Deadeye, allow me to ask a question of you. Blinky hops up onto the bench that Deadeye is on, for fairness. BLINKY Why do certain crewmembers experience heightened body functions within proximity of current destination? Moon of Rigel II does not seem that bad. DEADEYE That's because it ain't so bad -- not any more. (forced steadiness) Y'see, the ghosts of a thousand aniversians haunt this rock. Yep, died some five years back at the end of the Great Clone Uprising. First time the UAC got its hands dirty, it was. Deadeye pauses. His normal fixed expression of anticipating a fight is changed to distinct sorrow. He looks out his gunning dome and whispers. DEADEYE (continues) Shame, really. A lot of good folk died in that time. Clones and norms, as we was called ... some were me friends. A lot of Corsair bases were in the Rigel Sector. Before Blinky can make any considering gesture, the ship rocks violently. The duo is not affected harshly, however. DEADEYE Gangway, Blinky. We gots ourselves a job to do. Deadeye exits with Blinky close behind. SCENE 8 - INTERIOR, MOON OF RIGEL II The Righteous crew has entered through the airlock tube of the moon's docking bay. Light is almost nonexistent, as thin beams from headlights scan the floor. BUCKY Are there any light fixtures, Blinky? BLINKY Scans say yes. One moment, please. Blinky dashes into the darkness but soon reappears in the distance as light fills the chamber. The room is like a mining tunnel, with a constructed metal floor and carved rock walls and ceiling. Blinky returns to the crew. BUCKY I don't like this. Not one bit. What's here that anyone would want? JENNY (suddenly) Bucky, I sense something on this moon. BUCKY What is it, Jenny? JENNY I'm not certain. it's the same feeling I got when I first met Toadborg. DEADEYE That makes sense, on account'a the big tinker toad *bein'* here. JENNY No ... this is stronger ... larger. It feels just like him, though. Not dead and yet ... not quite alive. Quickly, this way. Jenny points to a tunnel shaft, and the crew instinctively follows her. The crew run for a brief moment and soon find themselves in another tunnel chamber, with elements of machine wreckage and fabric debris littered about. JENNY I don't know why ... but I was drawn to this place. BUCKY It could have been natural instinct. Maybe there really is someone out there. DEADEYE Maybe somethin', eh Cap'n? Bucky looks back at Deadeye without replying to him, but there is a mutual understanding. BLINKY (in a frantic tone) ALERT! The crew turns toward Blinky instantly, seeing him standing in the corner of the chamber. He is inspecting the physical cause of his shock. BUCKY (walking over) What's wrong, Blinky? BLINKY Please make time to observe most grotesque discovery, Captain! Bucky leans over Blinky's shoulder and spots a very frightening sight. Molded into the wall is a large fabric cocoon of silver and purple thread. The top is broken off, revealing a skeleton. The skeleton's head is smashed in, but he is dressed in a worn, unfamiliar military uniform. JENNY (reaches out and rubs the threads between her fingers) It's a skeleton, or at least what remains of one. It must have been encased in this wrap years ago. But what could do this? BLINKY Scans verify remains are of ... (somberly) ... toad. Estimated time of death ... time exceeds fifteen years. BUCKY (commanding voice) This is too much to be coincidence. A toad cruiser outside and a toad base inside complete with a mummified corpse. Look around for some clues, and then let's get a safe distance away from here. DEADEYE (at opposite end of the room) Bucky, me boy ... I think I got enough clues for ye to last a lifetime. Deadeye opens a door at the other end of the room that leads into a finely built office. It has been vacant for years, by the looks of things, but the evidence of what went on here is apparent. Bucky steps in and looks around him. He is stunned. BUCKY Whoa. The walls of the room are scribbled on with thick red and blue chalk -- phrases like "Empire to victory," "Mammals cause all our problems," "Loyalty is dead," and -- the largest -- "KOMPLEX is POWER." JENNY (entering the room) Oh my stars. It's a veritable shrine to KOMPLEX! BUCKY (pointing) But *this* toad died over fifteen years ago. That was just when KOMPLEX began his strike against the aniverse. A militant storm toad couldn't have been out this far at that point! Bucky, Jenny, and Blinky begin searching the room. They sift through papers, though most have been torn by the passing of time. Deadeye keeps a watchful eye on the door. Bucky slides his paw across a desk. His fingers streak the dust out of the way, leading him to a blue sheet of paper. He looks on with indifference, examining the paper briefly. He sets it down on the table and begins to leave. He then performs a double take, turning back to the desk and snatching the blue paper. The others notice his charge and turn to him. BUCKY (realizing) No ... JENNY What have you found? BUCKY This ... can't be true. (pauses, breathing heavily) That toad out there ... he *made* KOMPLEX. After a short gasp, the trio looks at one another as Bucky stares at the file in his paw. SCENE 9 - SMALL SPACESHIP BUOYS, DEEP SPACE The ALIEN occupant of the mysterious ship is sleeping within his craft when his computer brings him to consciousness. He sits up, but the internal lights are off; only the small rectangular and circular knobs of the control deck light the cockpit. COMPUTER Status alert. Status alert. Unidentified units have entered Rigel II Sector Double-Three. ALIEN (awakening) Hm ... *snort* Ah, yes. Seems someone has shown interest in my little chunk of real estate. Computer, identify units. COMPUTER Two energy signatures match that of UAC space frigate The Righteous Indignation and D-Class Toad Cruiser. ALIEN Well, well, well, a showdown. Far be it from me to miss an opportunity to lend a neutral hand to those in need ... computer, employ secondary thrusters. Let's visit Rigel II. COMPUTER Engaging ... complete. SCENE 10 - MOON OF RIGEL II Bucky has taken a seat at the desk where he found the files relating KOMPLEX to the newly revealed toad body. He has slid his spacesuit helmet off his head, as the room has an atmosphere satisfactory for breathing. He is hunched over the table, with a small twisting light fixture placed over the paper. JENNY Are you certain that toad outside the door was behind KOMPLEX's change twenty years ago? It's quite unbelievable. BUCKY There's little evidence against it. These papers are proof enough that he had been at it for years. Programming alterations, editing KOMPLEX protocols ... it appears he even had accomplices on the development team. (pauses, reeling back in the chair) This guy was obsessed. Everything he wrote was based on mammals, how we "steal the toad's destiny by spying on them through the UAC" or how we "attempt to eradicate the species by populating the habitable planets in their quadrant." JENNY That's not true. BUCKY (looking over another set of documents) No kidding. It also doesn't help that this toad was a trusted officer in the toad defense army. No one would question him until it was too late. (massages his chin) Do you see anything with his name on it? JENNY No. (miserable) He must have gone mad ... Bucky turns around to see Jenny staring him down. He quirks his eyebrows and casts a soft smile as if to say "very subtle" with the utmost sarcasm. BUCKY You're right. He apparently managed to get inside KOMPLEX's program ... alter it and make it serve his agenda. JENNY The complete conquest of the aniverse. (beat) But *how*? Bucky bites his lip in thought. Jenny leans on his shoulder and begins to read the paper herself. Elsewhere, Deadeye is sitting alone in the doorway to the toads' file room. Blinky approaches and sits next to him. BLINKY Is friend Deadeye not interested in unraveling current mystery? DEADEYE Nay. I want t' get back on duty double fast, get it? I hate the feelin' o' bein' here. BLINKY Understood. What role did friend Deadeye possess in Great Clone Uprising? DEADEYE (appreciating the interest) I served seven plank-perched tours, I did. Worked freelance for the banana biz, mostly. But we all knew the danger goin' in. But y'never really know *real* danger till ya got a hairy-legged gunmetal *bug* suckin' the charge from your engines. BLINKY Conditions sound most harsh. (beat) And enemies of Great Clone Uprising were not bugs, friend Deadeye. Were in fact arachnids. Although fear of ghosts or spiders is strong, friend Deadeye has obviously never experienced second-level neo-protonic impartiality buffering. Most dreadful as well. DEADEYE (annoyed) ... look 'ere, me bucko. I ain't afraid of no bottom feedin' space crab bug! I just don't *like* 'em! Deadeye huffs in frustration and makes his way down the tunnel shaft to the Righteous. BLINKY *I* am afraid that I upset *him*. BUCKY (over comm) Blinky, get in here! BLINKY Aye-aye, Captain. Blinky enters the abandoned office. His eye-bulb pivots around as he walks through, observing every corner of the chamber. He notices Jenny rummaging through the rotten wood desk at the far wall. JENNY Bucky, I've found a data disc in here. It looks like the only salvageable one in the lot. BUCKY Blinky, see if you can interpret it. It's an older model disc. BLINKY Aye-aye, Captain. Blinky takes the disc and sets it into a reader in his chest. A few moments go by before anything happens. A hostile voice begins to come from Blinky's speakers, sounding far off. It is akin to the average toad vocal tone in its rash harmonization and uncomfortably guttural pitch. It's almost generic but seems uninhibited, more like a toad with nothing to fear. A slight static buzz airs along with the voice but makes it no less audible. TOAD VOICE Damned fools, all of 'em. The high command just drops me out of the service like I'm nothing special? Just like that, without any notice whatsoever, and I'll bet they expect me to just fade away! They think *I'm* out of touch? No, they've all gone soft, that's it. An' softhearted politics isn't what we need nowadays! The mammals are getting out of hand, an' the brass just let 'em continue, so long as their pockets are lined with simoleans. I'll show 'em all! Why, back in my day ... BUCKY That toad we found in the cocoon must have made this recording. JENNY Or one of his friends. BUCKY (dully) I don't think this guy had friends, Jen. Blinky, fast forward to the last moments of the recording. A whirring sound emanates from Blinky, and then the voice resumes. TOAD VOICE ... it's been done, at last! The global TADNET will circulate my secret upgrade program until it finally reaches the core of that disgraceful automaton KOMPLEX. When it reads my military codes and passes the files through his system ... hee hee hee! We won't have to worry about any mammals ever again! Or those disgraceful toad politicians ... KOMPLEX 'imself will handle everyone from here on out. The year 3209 will have new meaning for all toadkind! JENNY (whispering) Oh my stars ... BUCKY (stunned from the discovery) It *is* him. That toad is responsible for the whole war ... BLINKY Audio track nearing end. TOAD VOICE (calmed but still arrogant) Now to just wait out the storm here. When I return to the homeworld, KOMPLEX should have everything under control and wrapped in a neat little package. Then I will assume my rank, as it should've been from the start -- Supreme Overlord! Hee hee ... once I reach orbit and feed him my second set of clearance codes, he'll shut down and turn all commands over to me. It'll be glorious! (beat, with a metal-scraping sound coming from the audio disk) Drats, it's that racket again. (shouting) I don't know what nasty, germ-ridden vermin stole its way into my hideout, but it'd better get lost! (scraping becomes louder) Just what I need, *big* vermin. Nothing a maser from my trusty Toad & Wesson won't solve. BUCKY (looking over at toad skeleton in cocoon) ... then again, maybe not. JENNY (slowly turning to revulsion) That toad kept records of his entire coup ... and retells it with such egotistic self-importance! Like he doesn't care what will happen, even to his own people! BUCKY I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't. From the looks of this place, that toad spent most of his time screaming his rages at the walls. (beat) Solitude like that will change you, especially if you've got that big a chip on your shoulder ... BLINKY Audio track has ended. JENNY Any ideas what that sound from the disc was? BUCKY No, just some vague suspicions. Blinky, report to the ship. We'll be along shortly. BLINKY Aye-aye, Captain. Blinky exits. He reaches the hallway and looks left and right -- toward the Righteous's docking bay and a shadowed hallway -- as though he were expecting traffic. He continues his trek back to the mammalian vessel. VOICE What are you doing here?! BLINKY Who is there -- *aieee*! The massive arm of Toadborg rushes up and swipes across Blinky's tiny body. The blow throws the robot into a wall, putting him offline. Hearing the noise, Bucky and Jenny enter the tunnel shaft. They see a group of stormtoads and Toadborg. BUCKY (seeing the enemy) Toads! TOAD TROOPER #1 Dey're comin' outta the wood-woik! TOAD TROOPER #2 Fire on the mammals! The five troopers blast the mammals, who narrowly avoid the fire by ducking back into the file room. The sound of clattering boots can be heard outside as Jenny helps Bucky up. JENNY There's no way out! BUCKY Don't give up just yet! I've got a plan. Outside the file room, Toadborg gives new orders. TOADBORG On my word, fire a cluster charge into that area! We'll eliminate them all. As Toadborg raises his hand to give the signal, Bucky leaps out of the room into the center of the tunnel and the toad squad. He turns his head to Toadborg, who notices the fleeing hare. Bucky sticks his tongue out and give Toadborg a raspberry. The green hare dashes away, with Toadborg and his troops close behind. TOADBORG (growing distant) You cannot escape! The toad squad exits. Bucky and Jenny exit the room to find Blinky lying on the ground, back online. BLINKY Captain? Explain presence! This humble robot saw you run down passageway! BUCKY (chuckles) In fact I did -- courtesy of your "RECO" gadget. Although I doubt the toads will find it as amusing when they discover they've been duped. Let's go. Across the way, Toadborg has seemingly cornered Bucky in a dead- end tunnel. The small hare shakes nervously as the giant robot raises his fists together. TOADBORG Now I end you, at long last! Toadborg's fists come down on top of Bucky's head, knocking him down. Bucky's unconscious body fades in and out of sight until he is totally gone. In his place is a small metal cylinder with a broken glass dome in the middle. Small air jets on the bottom act up one last time, blowing the device over onto its dome. TOADBORG It was an illusion! In frustration, Toadborg snatches one of the toad troopers by the throat and raises him to eye height. TOADBORG He wasn't real! *Agh*! Toadborg tosses the trooper into his brethren, who catch him. The enraged purple machine turns on his heel and starts back to where he found Bucky and crew. SCENE 11 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky, Jenny, and Blinky have just returned to the Righteous's docking bay. Deadeye is waiting there for them, polishing a maser gun. He looks up and rushes over to them. DEADEYE What happened? BUCKY We had a toad-related incident. But that's not the worst of it. (takes Deadeye aside and puts his arm around his shoulder) On our way back up the tunnel, I got a better look at our surroundings. I think I know now what Jenny sensed when she got here. (beat) Cyber Spiders. From the Great Clone Uprising. The UAC was rumored to have destroyed them all, but apparently a few made this moon their home. I'd recognize the cuts in these walls anywhere. Winding down at the ends, indented middles. It's from their claws. DEADEYE YE MEAN -- (calmer, whispering) Ye mean them spiders is still here?! BUCKY It looks like it. But we can't risk a run-in with them, not with our numbers. So I want you to get everyone on the Righteous at once. We'll send a clear team when we get back to Genus. DEADEYE What about the toadies? BUCKY (smirking) Let 'em stay. With any luck, they'll run into some old friends of ours. DEADEYE Heh. Aye, matey, aye. But, eh ... I gots me a better idea ... Bucky looks at Deadeye intently, as he whispers into his ear. A smirk grows across the hare's face. SCENE 12 - EMPTY DOCKING BAY The toad troopers and Toadborg enter the docking bay, guns drawn. The entrance to the tunnel is a simple tube carved into the rock. They remain in the entryway and can see the Righteous from their vantage point. TOAD TROOPER #2 Steady now. The mammals must be in their ship. We can take 'em by surprise! Toadborg nods and scans the bay. He steps forward and raises his arm at the Righteous. The sound of his energy gauntlet powering up is heard. TOADBORG (hissing) It's time to end the games, Captain O'Hare. JENNY, BLINKY, DEADEYE, BRUISER, and BUCKY: Hey Toadborg! You're nowhere near warm! Toadborg spins around to find the remaining crew of The Righteous Indignation staring at him with energy rifles aimed and ready to fire. Toadborg is surprised, but only for a second. TOADBORG *You*! Toadborg raises his hands into the air and lowers them, unleashing a vibrant blast of green energy from his wrists. Just before the blast reaches the crew, the image of the mammals and Blinky disappears in a cloud of static, revealing the five toad troopers. They try to shield themselves from the blast, but it is futile. They are dissolved against the wall, the only remains being an outline of scattered ash. DEADEYE Ha hah! Avast, ye cowardly swab! Toadborg looks up. Above the entryway is Deadeye, clinging to a small pedestal of rock. In one of his hands is another "RECO" projector, inactive. DEADEYE Ye did a fine job o' polishin' off yer own hands! Care t' go fer another try? TOADBORG Yes I do, pirate. Toadborg raises his hands for another blast. Suddenly, Bucky's large feet land on Toadborg's back, throwing him down. As he falls back into the tunnel, his energy cannon goes off. Toadborg disappears. Deadeye franticly leaps out of the way. The energy blast meets with the rock wall, blowing it to chucks. When the rubble clears, the dark shape of an arachnid can be seen. Its body turns; the sound of pistons and electronics can be heard. Eight ready eyes, varying in dimension, are visible through the dust. DEADEYE N ... nhhh ... *not that*! The creature behind the broken wall is a CYBER SPIDER. It is a large beast, part arachnid and part robot. More than half its legs are robotic and portions of its hairy shell are covered in metal sheets, while multi-colored wires run from the back of its head to its first set of shoulders. It has a unique scar across its face down the right side and is missing three eyes because of the cut. BUCKY (shocked, but quickly regaining his posture) Deadeye! Handle the situation, *now*! I'm going after Toadborg! DEADEYE Ye said ye didn't care what happened to 'im! BUCKY (panicked) I don't, but I can't let him get those files! If he takes them back to the homeworld, we lose the evidence that KOMPLEX is a fraud! Bucky runs up the dock bay room and leaps through the tunnel shaft. As he does, the Cyber Spider drops down and turns towards Deadeye. It emits a broken squeal at the duck, who stands in place. DEADEYE (gravely) ... arrr. SCENE 13 - TUNNEL SHAFT Bucky trails down the tunnel shaft of the Rigel II moon. He flashes a light on the floor and wall ahead of him in search of Toadborg. His attention is on the secret room at the end of the path BUCKY Stay in the dark, Toadborg. That satisfies me plenty. Bucky makes his way toward the secret room and finds the door closed. A cloud of smoke has filled the area, as Bucky notices. The green hare reaches out for the doorknob and senses intense heat as he touches it. BUCKY (gasping through his teeth) Sss! (his pain turning to realization) Oh, no! Bucky kicks in the door to find the room consumed in flames. Papers glide across the fiery air, the old desk is cracked by the heat, and black smoke billows to the ceiling. Bucky moves to rush in and attempt to save something, but he cannot. The flames have met the doorway. He turns to the darkness of the tunnel. BUCKY (furious) WHY THIS?! WHY DID YOU DO ANY OF THIS, TOADBORG?! NOW THE TRUTH IS LOST TO BOTH OF US! TOADBORG (emerging from the darkness) What I do is not your concern, mammal. This dust ball will be destroyed, as will you along with it. Whatever truth you sought is gone! Toadborg swipes his hands across the floor, failing to catch Bucky. The hare leaps upwards, slamming his feet into Toadborg's face. The robot is thrown into the wall with a loud crash. Bucky turns his attention away from Toadborg and talks into his wrist-comm. BUCKY Deadeye, come in! The toad files are lost -- I'm returning to the Righteous. Prepare to take off! Screams echo from Bucky's wrist communicator in reply. One is noticeably Jenny's; the other is the squeal of the Cyber Spider. SCENE 14 - DOCKING BAY Deadeye's wrist communicator is on the floor. The strap that would hold the communicator on Deadeye's arm has broken. The cries continue to sound as if the spider is doing serious damage to the crew. Bucky's voice echoes from the device. BUCKY (over comm) Deadeye! Sit-rep! *Deadeye*! SCENE 15 - TUNNEL, MOON OF RIGEL II Bucky stops shouting into his comm, a look of unease washing over his face. BUCKY (frightened) What's happened? Bucky drops his paw and turns to leave for the Righteous. A large green hand comes down on him and grabs his shoulder. It is Toadborg. The toad reels back and throws Bucky down the opposite end of the shaft. The force is so strong that Bucky breaks through a thin rock wall into another room. TOADBORG (stepping through the hole Bucky created) There is no escape, O'Hare. For you or your friends. They are doomed. BUCKY (beaten, pushing himself up) You don't know what's going on, do you? You're not the only reason we want to get off this moon. TOADBORG And what might the *other* reason be? BUCKY (chuckling) You really are thick. Could be it's all those toad gears inside you -- or could be you really are just a dim-witted toady from the bottom of the imperial barrel. (beat) You've never heard of the Cyber Spiders of the GCU? This is their home! TOADBORG *That* mammal propaganda? Do you expect me to fall for a furball fairy tale? What will be next, *ghosts*? BUCKY Suit yourself; run away or stay to find out, whatever makes you a happy toad. But I haven't got the time to dance with you anymore. Bucky puts his fingers in Toadborg's chest vents and bounds up, over his shoulders. As he crosses over, he kicks the cyborg down, into the dirt. Bucky steps out through the hole in the wall to escape. TOADBORG (weak, sadistically) Before you leave, O'Hare ... know that the human child ... Willy, is it? Yes. He is doomed, as well. Once he betrays the trust *you* granted him. Bucky's face tenses. His teeth gnash and his eyes wince. His gloved paw balls into a fist and he turns back to Toadborg. SCENE 16 - DOCKING BAY The Cyber Spider has advanced onto the Righteous. Jenny is passed out on the side of the Righteous, obviously thrown against the hull. Deadeye is missing, and Blinky is currently in the claws of the giant spider. Blinky is brought closer to the spider's mouth. With every wiggle and thrust at escape he makes, Blinky succeeds only in enticing the appetite of the robotic arachnid. A metal plug shoves itself out from the spider's mouth and divides itself over Blinky's head. In seconds, an obvious transfer of energy can be seen. The small AFC begins to experience seizures, when the Cyber Spider's face is hit from off to the side and is consumed in flames. The beast drops Blinky and quickly begins patting out the flames burning across its face. Once the fire is extinguished, the Cyber Spider looks up to see the source of the attack. Deadeye is sitting in the Toad Croaker, maser cannons smoking. The duck is cut deep across the chest and arms. Blood is smattered on his uniform, but that's not the only unique change to his person. His body is cluttered with artillery, more than ever seen on him before. Weapons that are clearly visible include maser guns, shotguns and knives. DEADEYE (weakly) Get inside, lass and laddie. Me an' ugly got some unfinished business that's been waitin' a while t' get done. BLINKY Yes, Deadeye. Blinky helps Jenny up and into the Righteous, as Deadeye steps off the ship and onto the docking pad. The door seals behind them, and it is just the two enemies now -- a showdown. CYBER SPIDER (in a very broken voice) Kheee-tk-tk-tk! Remember you, yes. Tasty were your friend's insides. Again I will savor, yes. Through you! DEADEYE (smiling) I've been a pirate me whole life -- "live bravely and fear nothin'," I always say. (swallowing hard) But I'm afraid of *you*. Ye ate me mates, for mallard's sake! (beat) But that was ages ago. An' I figure you're a might hungry since we last crossed bows. So, rattle me bones if I don't seem to have a morsel for ye to chew on! Deadeye kneels down on one leg and pulls a rocket launcher over his shoulder. He positions himself, aims, and fires. The streak is quick and hits the Cyber Spider in the gut. Metal armor tears, and a green liquid pours out. The beast screams but continues its approach. DEADEYE (mocking) I take it ye don't care much for that, aye? Luckily for ye, my pirating days took me all over the aniverse ... try this for some -- ha hah -- added spice! Deadeye rips the two shotguns off his chest and uses them in succession on the spider's face. Metal plating tears off its head, revealing broken skull fragments with tiny computer instruments soldered into it. DEADEYE Mighty impressive. But I've scraped barnacle off with a butter knife nastier'n you. To be honest, ye used t' scare the mess outta me. Deadeye pauses to put a maser gun in each hand. The Cyber Spider is now only a few feet from him. DEADEYE Now yer just a big, broken relic! Deadeye fires rapidly from each blaster and then drops his guns. The Cyber Spider is upon him now, salivating and wheezing through the wounds he's taken at Deadeye's hands. The black duck removes one last weapon from his boot pouch -- a knife with the word "Corsairs" etched into the blade. The metal plug that took Blinky as its victim extends from the beast's maw toward Deadeye. The feeble feeding device is slit open as it approaches by the black duck's blade -- the shock does not reach the beast in time for a reaction. Deadeye thrusts the blade into the Cyber Spider's forehead. The beast drops dead at Deadeye's feet. Deadeye removes his hat from his head and places it over his chest. The Cyber Spider groans one last time before it dies. The black-feathered Canard sighs. SCENE 17 - UNCOVERED TUNNEL CHAMBER Bucky and Toadborg battle each other in the poorly lit room. Toadborg comes down on Bucky with his fists, who easily evades with a roll to the side. Stabilizing, Bucky fires a few maser shots at the robot. They don't even stifle him. BUCKY (fixing himself) It's just you and me again, robot. TOADBORG If that is the case, I'll let you go get help from your mammal friends. BUCKY You're not that lucky. Toadborg extends his robotic arm in an attempt to catch Bucky, but he misses and grabs a large piece of rock in the wall. He retracts his arm, tearing a large piece of rubble out with him. TOADBORG Would you stop running? You cowardly wretches disgust me! BUCKY (mocking) You're one to talk! I fight my battles face to face, not from behind the dials and buttons of KOMPLEX's nursery! TOADBORG Mongrel! Toadborg makes one last leap at Bucky. The springing of his legs echo throughout the chamber, as Bucky narrowly avoids his metal-clad tackle. The robot slams into the rock wall, turning it into pebbles. When the dust clears, Toadborg appears. He is slightly damaged but passable. Bucky stands a few feet from him, paws on his hips and looking very tranquil. TOADBORG (darkly, lumbering over to Bucky) Prepare to be mangled. BUCKY Why, you took the words right out of my mouth. TOADBORG What? Bucky confidently points behind Toadborg, to the broken wall. The robot half turns to see a large CYBER SPIDER scuttling in from a tunnel Toadborg had opened. It hisses at him and grinds its slobbering maw. TOADBORG Oh, now what is *this*? (stepping closer) Another one of your cowardly holo-actors? Another smokescreen to cloak your retreat, O'Hare? Toadborg suddenly thrashes at the assumed false beast, only to find it is tangible and now furious with him. Toadborg realizes what he's done and is struck with fear. TOADBORG N-no! Stay away from me! Toadborg punches the spider in the face, knocking it away. Another CYBER SPIDER swoops in from behind its assaulted brethren and attacks Toadborg. It sweeps the robot's feet out from under him with its claws and quickly snatches Toadborg's legs in its mouth. With the toad robot flailing his arms and screaming in anger, the Cyber Spider drags him down the tunnel shaft, while his assaulted brethren fills in the hole initially created by Toadborg's leap. BUCKY Now *that* was gratifying. DEADEYE (over comm) Bucky, me boy! Ye oughta get t' the Righteous on the double! SCENE 18 - DOCKING BAY Deadeye is shooting smaller Cyber Spiders crawling through the hole in the far wall. DEADEYE We've got company o' the eight legged variety that I can't keep down forever! SCENE 19 - UNCOVERED TUNNEL CHAMBER Bucky hears the sounds of battle emanating from his comm. BUCKY Understood, Deadeye, I'm almost there! Bucky runs out of the rock chamber. He makes his way toward the docking bay and stops for a second at the burning office where the toad files once were. His face sneers. He shakes his head and dashes off. He reaches the docking bay to see Deadeye -- now in the Righteous at the gunner's station -- firing on a steady flow of Cyber Spiders at the far wall. BUCKY (into comm) This is Bucky, hailing the Righteous Indignation Bridge! Commence evac procedures. I'm on my way! JENNY (over comm) Aye-aye, Captain. Did you get the KOMPLEX files? BUCKY (pauses, solemnly) We'll talk later. SCENE 20 - DOCKING BAY Bucky sees the Righteous being released from safety clamps at the docking port. The hiss of pressurized locks can be heard as well. Bucky is shocked into action and charges at the Righteous faster than ever. His feet pound at the floor, and the Toad Croaker launch pad opens to receive him. JENNY (from the bridge) Faster, Bucky! BUCKY I'm ... Bucky jumps onto the Toad Croaker launch pad. The green hare slips backwards on the pad, and it appears he won't be able to close the door in time. Suddenly, a black hand emerges from within the ship, grabs Bucky by the collar, and pulls him into the Righteous. BUCKY ... in! JENNY I hear you loud and clear, Bucky! The Righteous pulls out of the docking bay. The opening between the moon station and space remains, and the vacuum tears through the ship bay. Groups of Cyber Spiders gasp and scuttle back into their holes, though many are pulled into space. Bucky runs to the bridge's entrance ladder and yells to Jenny. BUCKY First Mate, get up three clicks away from this moon! (turning to Deadeye) Chief Gunner, clear that *recognized* enemy compound! DEADEYE Aye-aye, Cap'n! Yeh-heh-heh-heh! Deadeye scampers over to his gunning station. He mans the controls and aims. The targeting computer displays two crosshairs getting a bead on the Cyber Spiders, who frantically try to gain their footing in space. DEADEYE So long, ye web-headed goons! A number of maser beams rain down from The Righteous Indignation into the docking bay. The depressurization mixed with the mechanical Cyber Spiders causes a great explosion, wiping out the entire docking bay. Deadeye wheezes in his chair. He smiles weakly and leans against the cannon controls. Bucky steps up and stands in a strict officer's manner. BUCKY I saw you picked a fight with a nightmare. DEADEYE Yep. Fought and won. I settled everything that needed settlin'. BUCKY Satisfied? Deadeye examines the "Corsairs" knife he had put inside the scarred Cyber Spider's head. DEADEYE We all are. BUCKY Good. Bucky walks away to the bridge ladder. BUCKY (in a gentle, upbeat tone) Jenny, get us within Genus communication range. We have an urgent mission that needs to be addressed and approved. Jenny sits at the bridge controls. She allows a soft smile and nods. JENNY (subtle enthusiasm) Right away, Captain. SCENE 21 - WEB CHAMBER In one of the many dark, freezing dens of the Rigel II moon, a pair of Cyber Spiders wrap Toadborg in purple metal threads he cannot break out of. The cyborg is irate and struggles to free himself, but it is futile. The Cyber Spiders finish their web casing just below Toadborg's shoulders. There is a sharp hiss heard around the web chamber, and the two Spiders scuttle away in fear. Toadborg looks around nervously and sees eight green eyes in the darkness. They are huge, and as the body of the beast emerges, so is it: ten times the size and disgust factor of his ilk. Saliva drips from the Cyber Spider's mouth as two pincer claws clamp onto each other back and forth. Its eyes glance all over the room but make certain to keep Toadborg in sight. Unlike the rest of the arachnids, there are bony, spiked growths all over its body -- legs, body shell, and head. The Cyber Spider's body is burnt and cracked, with smooth metal filling in gaps. The monstrous Cyber Spider laughs heartily at Toadborg. CYBER SPIDER (broken, delayed speech) Greetings, tasty metal flesh. Robot Spider chieftain am I and glorious leader of Norm Aggression War! Yes. Familiarize myself with you now, so weeklong digestion will not be uncomfortable for food's soul! Hee-Hee- haw-Haw-Haw! TOADBORG (ever serious) You are granted one opportunity to release me, arachnid. CYBER SPIDER Doubtful, delicious iron-clad treat! But do not fear much -- devouring your body will only take five minutes! TOADBORG Fool, that is *four* minutes more than you have to live. Toadborg gives one sturdy grunt and tears his right arm out of the spider web cocoon. A small antenna rises from the back of his hand and emits a shrill noise. SCENE 22 - ALTERNATE DOCKING PAD The engines and control deck of the immobile Toad Cruiser come online. Toadborg's signal instructs numerous jobs for the ship's computer -- specifically, the activation of the armory. In the gut of the ship, there are five black crates marked "Solution Producer." The lids open themselves and inside the black boxes are dozens of metal squares with glowing red lights. An obvious countdown timer begins as pink blocks start to disappear from the red lights. The Toad Cruiser's engines begin to thrust the ship forward, to crash through the protective docking pad doors and down into a mining tunnel. SCENE 23 - WEB CHAMBER The large Cyber Spider looms over Toadborg. Its mouth slobbers and, without warning, sinks its fangs into Toadborg's leg. The cyborg seizures inside his cocoon but doesn't scream. Toadborg's leg bends inside the Cyber Spider's mouth and begins to tear at the waist. The Cyber Spider looks up with a gloomy expression. CYBER SPIDER Please help process, silver spare rib! Has been so long since I tasted one of you, I must hear the cries to truly savor flavor! TOADBORG I will not give you such pleasure, monster. I will, however, see to it that you and all your kind are destroyed! CYBER SPIDER Hee-hee! What can you do!? Nothing but snack is you! Snacks are for eating, not for troubling! Now I'm going to y- The web chamber rumbles. A frenzy of falling rocks and shattered mounds spread throughout the room. The Cyber Spider looks around in panic as his home breaks down. His claws clatter against each other, and he swiftly turns his attention back at Toadborg. CYBER SPIDER Food! *You* did this!? (a falling rock bashes the Cyber Spider in the head) Now I will not even devour you -- simply kill you slow! TOADBORG Your dulled mind is too sluggish even for that. (deep, relieved sigh) Mighty KOMPLEX's will be done. The Cyber Spider howls with rage as more of the moon comes undone. Toadborg leans back and looks at the ceiling with glee. The mad Cyber Spider fervently raises his sharpened claw to lay the deathblow at the center of Toadborg's chest, but the arachnid is viciously interrupted. The ground itself splinters like a spider's web and releases deadly fires from the bombs in the Toad Cruiser. The Cyber Spider screams horribly as a wave of green flames eat him alive. Toadborg is thrown off but is eaten away by the heat as he vanishes from sight. SCENE 24 - EXTERIOR, MOON OF RIGEL II The moon appears normal and devoid of harm. Suddenly, fissures spread across the globe, and beams of light shine from the resulting splinters. Large chunks of rock burst off of the moon, which is followed by one fierce explosion. The blast leaves nothing left except for charred debris. SCENE 25 - UNKNOWN SPACE A heavy, boot-covered foot slams into the debris. The screen pans up to see the alien in a purple and bronze space suit, with obvious attachments for a tail and reptilian snout. His face is covered with a black visor, but he can clearly see through it as he scans the area with a sensor device. The alien plods his way around the asteroid, surveying the damage from the explosion with his instrument. He waves a slab of metal out of his way and tosses a small sensor device into space with as much annoyance as he can muster. ALIEN (angrily) Of all the spark-blowing bad luck! What did those no-good mammals do to my base?! As if his voice didn't give him away, the alien slaps his visor out of the helmet's field of view. It's Al Negator. NEGATOR Now I'm going to have to find me a new home! Not like I don't have enough hideaways already, but this little sector was kind of cozy ... hmmm? A piece of metal floats toward Negator, but it is distinct -- it is a box with a thick folder sticking out of the flap. The paper is singed on the edges, but it is still legible. Negator snatches the file from its buoying case and flips through it. NEGATOR Well, well, well! "KOMPLEX Imperial Upgrade Flaws." Program faults, loopholes in design, and a ... *complete binary code*? Never mind my base -- this is more valuable than the aniverse itself! Al Negator looks left and right cautiously, to make sure there are no sneaky eyes watching him. The sleazasaur pockets the folder into his suit and zips up. His casual act is as transparent as ever. Suddenly, heavy, synthesized gasps come from behind the sleazasaur spy. The vision of Negator comes closer and closer with every breath. When Negator is closest, a distorted purple claw reaches out and grabs him. He yelps and turns around to express even stronger astonishment. NEGATOR Graceful Sleozza! What happened to you, fella? Toadborg's left leg is totally gone, his right leg is now just a thigh, his arms are burnt into immobile tubes, and his torso armor is melted. Only one of his eyes glows a harsh red. TOADBORG Noth ... thing happened to me, merc ... cenary. I am simply at a dis ... advantage. I need you to bring me back to the home ... home ... (strained) Homeworld! NEGATOR You're not really in a position to make demands right now, but ... (shrugs) Eh, why not? All I ask is that you tell me what the heck happened here. TOADBORG Under ... other conditions I'd hav ... ave *taken* the ship from you ... but very well. We go now. AL NEGATOR (smiling sneakily) Aren't you the dedicated little warmonger? TOADBORG (entering Al Negator's two-man space shuttle) War is all I know. And our war with the mammals has been going back and forth for too long! Once I return to KOMPLEX ... the greatest victory will be ours. And then *we* will decide the fate of the aniverse. AL NEGATOR Hm-mm-mm. We'll see, 'Borg old boy. You never know *what* will develop during these dark times. Al Negator pats the section of his suit in which the "KOMPLEX Flaws" folder is hidden. He casts a wry grin at the unsuspecting Toadborg and nudges him aside as he steps into his ship and takes control. AL NEGATOR Cheers to those who come out on top, then. Let all else fall where they may. Al Negator twirls his index finger in the air and punches a command into the control deck. The ship's black tinted canopy drops into frame and hides the ship's occupants from view. THE END