"Ronin Steel" by Dawvitch Night-Fall First draft - 9/26/98 Final draft - 10/11/98 Edited by Rygar 12/28/03 SCENE 1 - AIR MARSHAL'S MOTHERSHIP The AIR MARSHAL is on the main commanding deck of the mothership, directing a training routine for double bubble fighter pilots. AIR MARSHAL (into comm) All ships, execute alpha sneak maneuver. TOAD PILOT (over comm channel) Sir, we have been doing that maneuver all throughout the training and ... AIR MARSHAL (interrupting and shouting) But you still haven't done it right! You're supposed to hyperjump in unison into an unsuspecting sector, lock onto one target, concentrate all fire on that target, and hyperjump back out. PILOT But, sir ... AIR MARSHAL (interrupting again) Unison means that you all go in at the same time, not seconds apart! And that's not even counting the idiots that don't even jump into the right sector. And the firing is so random that I ... I ... (places his paws over his head, grunting very loudly) Do it again! PILOT But, sir, we can't stay out here much longer. AIR MARSHAL (interrupting once more) Do it again! I don't care if you're running out of air; you're going to keep doing this maneuver until you get it right! PILOT Sir! We can't possibly ... The Air Marshal angrily terminates the comm-link. Many of the toads on the deck look up in disbelief. One TOAD walks up behind the Air Marshal. TOAD Sir, is it worth sacrificing a quarter-sized strike force just for one maneuver? The Air Marshal's paws begin to quiver with anger. He grinds his teeth, then spins around and grabs the toad by the throat. AIR MARSHAL Are you questioning my orders? The Air Marshal raises his fist to strike the toad when the display indicates an incoming message. He releases the toad and walks up to the comm. Two other toads run up to assist the one on the floor. AIR MARSHAL (low voice, to himself) What are those tadpoles going to complain about now? He activates the comm, only to hear the deafening sounds of maser blasts and explosions. All toads on the deck suddenly direct their attention to the comm. AIR MARSHAL (confused) What's going on out there? Are you actually doing something right? Or are you just ... The noise starts becoming more and more static, and some hysterical screaming can be heard. AIR MARSHAL (uneasily) Leader one, two, or three, come in. What's going on? TOAD COMM CONTROLLER (over comm) Sensors indicate that they're in Sector Thirteen, and there's a lot of chaos out there. LEADER #1 (over a very static channel) ~ pop ~ We're ~ skirk ~ der attack! Need ~ squark ~ reinfor ~ pop ~ AIR MARSHAL Attack? By who? Is it O'Hare? Someone talk to me! PILOT ~ scree ~ ident ~ pop ~ unknown. Can't ~ skirk ~ pop ~ AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! The comm falls silent. TOAD COMM CONTROLLER Sir, we've just lost all connections with them. Sensors indicate that all of the ships have stopped moving. AIR MARSHAL (worried) Have they been vaporized? TOAD COMM CONTROLLER No, sir. All of the ships still appear on the screens, but they just aren't moving. AIR MARSHAL (starting to sweat) Did the sensors pick up any S.P.A.C.E. frigates? TOAD ON DECK The sensors got something, but it isn't recognizable. It wasn't large enough to be an escape pod, much less an S.P.A.C.E. fighter. An ominous voice fills the whole command deck as an image of KOMPLEX fills the largest display screen on the mothership. KOMPLEX Air Marshal, what has just happened? AIR MARSHAL (wide-eyed and somewhat panicking) Something strange has happened to our training force, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX (angry) What, exactly? AIR MARSHAL Some ... some ... unknown force ... KOMPLEX Unknown is a word that I do not accept, Air Marshal. Find out what happened. AIR MARSHAL (nervously) But KOMPLEX, what if that something is still there? KOMPLEX (aggravated) Air Marshal, what are you *supposed* to do with anything that acts against the glorious Toad Empire? AIR MARSHAL (sweating) E-eliminate it? KOMPLEX Precisely. KOMPLEX's image fades away. The Air Marshal removes his officer's hat to wipe the sweat from his head. Placing the hat back on and clearing his throat, he walks up to the main comm. AIR MARSHAL (in a high-pitched voice) All ships ... (stops, catches his breath and tries again, in a more stable voice) All fighters in the mothership, leave docks, arm for battle, and proceed to Sector Thirteen. The toad fighter pilots scramble throughout the mothership, getting to their double bubbles, and taking off. As they exit the bay doors, they jump into hyperspace. AIR MARSHAL (grumbling) *Now* they all jump in unison. SCENE 2 - SECTOR THIRTEEN The toad fleet comes out of hyperspace on the edge of a dense asteroid belt. AIR MARSHAL (over comm) Search groups two and five, scan the area for any signs of battle. SEARCH GROUP LEADERS #2 and #5 Yes, sir! Two groups of three leave the fleet and begin combing in multiple circles around the asteroid belt. SCENE 3 - MOTHERSHIP COMMAND DECK The Air Marshal is pacing around the deck impatiently, waiting for a report from his searchers. His facial expressions slowly change from angry to nervous. SEARCH GROUP LEADER #2 (over comm) Sir, we found what's left of the training group. AIR MARSHAL (anxious) What do you mean "what's left"? Report! SEARCH GROUP LEADER #5 There don't seem to be any survivors. But the remains of their ships don't make any sense. AIR MARSHAL (confused) What? What are you talking about? SEARCH GROUP LEADER #2 Well, sir, the remains show no signs of maser damage. All that's left of the ships is twisted hunks of metal and debris. It's almost as if they were just ... ripped apart. AIR MARSHAL (in disbelief) Ripped apart? SCENE 4 - SECTOR ADJACENT TO SECTOR THIRTEEN The Righteous Indignation flies steady on patrol through the sector, carrying out its current mission to locate toad training sectors. It has been a lazy two days, with no hostilities and no encounters with toads. The crew of the Righteous grows weary. DEADEYE (polishing his blasters, into comm to Bucky) Cap'n, if we don't find any toads soon, I'm gonna croak from not croakin' any toadies. (clenches fists) I can't stand this! BUCKY (from the upper deck) Deadeye, you've been saying that for the past two hours. How's Bruiser? DEADEYE (looking down at Bruiser, asleep in the middle of the floor) He fell asleep. BUCKY (upper deck, rubbing his eyes and mumbling to himself) Destroying a few toad fighters sounds good right now, but so does sleep. (thinking) CAPTAIN BUCKY O'HARE looks to his left at FIRST MATE JENNY, who is still perfectly focused on her pilot controls and sensors. BUCKY (thinking) (to Jenny) Anything yet? JENNY (sighing, with a little faintness in her voice) Still nothing, Bucky. Nothing but cold, empty space. BUCKY (sighing, thinking) (into comm) Engineering, report. WILLY (from engineering) Everything's OK here, Captain. I guess I'm the only one thankful for the peace and quiet. BUCKY (over comm) How do you figure that? WILLY I actually had time to make some minor modifications down here instead of repairing everything from battle damage. Both Bucky and Jenny laugh softly at ENGINEER WILLY DUWITT's comments. Just then, a small blip appears on Jenny's sensors. JENNY Well, well. I think we may have found something after all. BUCKY (suddenly becoming alert) It's about time. Lock onto it, Jenny, and see if you can identify it. JENNY (a sudden burst of enthusiasm) Aye-aye, Captain. Jenny works with the sensor devices for a few moments, then raises an eyebrow. JENNY It's a toad double bubble ... all by itself, and nearly stationary. DEADEYE (eagerly) Ye want me ta blast it outta the stars, Cap'n? BUCKY No, it might just be a scout. Maybe we can capture it and squeeze some information out of the pilots. (to Jenny) Lock onto its position and close in. JENNY Already done. The Righteous starts its approach to the lone toad ship. They soon make it up to the ship to find it severely damaged. BUCKY (scratching his chin) They must have escaped some battle or another. One of their blaster wings is totally severed, both thrusters seem to be inoperable, and there are gashes all over their hull. JENNY The pilots may still be alive. (looking at the damage) Those gashes almost look like claw marks. BUCKY (thinking) (out loud) Jenny, see if you can hail them on a comm channel, so we can order them to surrender. Jenny operates the comm, when the sound of a panicked TOAD PILOT comes over the speaker. TOAD PILOT #1 (over comm, screaming) It's coming ... it's coming for me! All alone ... the rest are dead, and I'm next! Help, someone help! No thrusters, no cannons! Help me! Bucky and Jenny both look at each other, concerned. BUCKY Something's not right. JENNY Do you think that this could be some kind of decoy to catch us off- guard for a sneak attack? BUCKY It's possible, but ... Bucky pauses to listen to the unending frantic rambling of the toad pilot. BUCKY ... not too many toads are good actors, and this one sounds like he's freaked out of his mind. Am even louder scream comes over the comm, causing both Bucky and Jenny to jump slightly. BUCKY *Way* out. DEADEYE (getting antsy) We still gonna capture 'em, or do ye want me to put 'em outta their misery? BUCKY I still want the pilots alive, if possible. This is too good of an opportunity to pass up -- two toad fighters stranded in a disabled ship. Take the Croaker and see if you and Bruiser can pry them out of that ship. DEADEYE (kicking Bruiser) Aye-aye, Cap'n. BRUISER (snapping awake) Hey! What're ya doing? What's going on? DEADEYE Ha hah! Come on, matey, we finally gots somethin' ta do! We came across two stranded toads just floating through space, and me and you get the honor o' capturin' 'em! BRUISER (getting up eagerly) Oh goodie. I just love torturing them toadies! Both GUNNER DEADEYE DUCK and BRUISER prep to exit the ship and take the toads. Just as Deadeye is about to open the outer airlock door of the ship, Jenny's voice comes over the comm. JENNY (over comm) Deadeye, wait. BUCKY (surprised) What is it, Jenny? JENNY I'm picking up another signal. It's very faint and small, but moving fast. BUCKY Can you make out its position and direction? Jenny studies the readings for a moment, then looks up to Bucky with her eyes slightly widened. JENNY It's heading straight for us! TOAD PILOT #1 (over comm, hysterical) Here it comes! It's heading straight for us! TOAD PILOT #2 (over comm) Are you sure it's him? TOAD PILOT #1 It's the same reading on the sensor! It's coming! It's coming! BUCKY (quickly flipping switches) Deadeye, get back to the cannon. All decks, prepare for evasive maneuvers! JENNY Are you sure all this is necessary? It's just a small reading. BUCKY Well, these toads are obviously afraid of it. I'm not going to take any chances. JENNY (nods) Aye-aye, Captain. Preparing all engines for full power. BUCKY Thanks, Jen. Now, let's see what's got those toads all riled up. The toads still ramble frantically as the mysterious blip on the sensor screen closes in. A bright flash of thruster flames comes from just over the Righteous, then in front of it, landing on top of the helpless toad ship. The flames then die off to reveal a large black and silver FIGURE. JENNY What is that thing? BUCKY I don't know. (thinking) The mysterious figure stands with its back to the Righteous. It raises one of its arms, revealing large razor-like fingers. It begins to claw and slash at the toad ship, tearing off huge chunks of metal. The toads are now screaming even worse than before. BUCKY (confused) What in the aniverse ... JENNY (studying the sensor readings again) The sensors indicate it's partially organic -- warm-blooded. Either it's a mammal with some very advanced armor, or it could be some kind of cyborg. The figure continues to demolish the ship, then it approaches the bubble on the right side. The figure raises its fist once more, then drives it down into the bubble, puncturing it. The inside of the bubble is almost instantly covered in blood, the toad explosively decompressing. The crew of the Righteous hears an unpleasant squishing sound over the comm from the toad that just died. Bucky and Jenny cock their upper lips in disgust, while Willy places a hand over his mouth and starts gagging. BUCKY Jenny, see if you can establish any kind of communication link with that thing. We can't let it kill both of those toads. We need at least one of those toads alive. JENNY (quickly operating the comm controls) Already on it, Captain. They all watch as the figure pulls its blood-covered arm out of the cracked bubble, blood beginning to float out of the hole. The figure then turns to its left to face the other bubble, wherein the toad has hunkered as far down as he can. The figure just glares down at the toad as it raises a bloody fist. BUCKY Hurry, Jenny! I hope that thing has a communicator. Jenny works the controls as fast as she can when a beep confirming a comm link is heard. JENNY I think I got it. BUCKY (instantly, over comm) I order you to cease and desist! The crew looks toward the figure to see that it has stopped and lowered its fist. It then slowly turns around to face the Righteous for the first time. The figure's face is hidden behind a helmet visor. A red light is then emitted from the visor. The light scans from side to side of the Righteous, then shuts off. FIGURE (deep male voice, over comm) I take it that you are a mammalian crew. I would advise you to let me go about my business. BUCKY I order you to surrender that toad to me! FIGURE (aggravated) And what authority do you posses to order me? BUCKY (with authority) I am Captain Bucky O'Hare of the United Animal Coalition. FIGURE (silent for a moment) O'Hare? ... Bucky O'Hare? BUCKY The same. The figure ignites his thrusters and propels himself toward the Righteous. JENNY Do you want me to forward more power to the shields? BUCKY (nods) Just in case. The figure stops and hovers with his arms crossed over his broad chest just short of the ship's shields, blood still seeping from his arm. The crew of the Righteous takes the opportunity to finally get a good look at the figure. He appears to have a thruster coming out of each heel and two larger thrusters coming somewhere out of his back. He wears silver armor plating that covers his shins, thighs, waist, chest, forearms, and shoulders. He has an armor plate on his left bicep, but something strange looking that covers his right one. He also has three large steel claws that protrude from each foot. FIGURE Bucky O'Hare, hmm? (sarcastically) I have heard such wonderful things about you from almost all the toads that I have killed. Jenny doesn't take her narrowed eyes off of the figure, as if she is expecting the figure to turn and attack them at any time. BUCKY (to the figure) What is your business here? FIGURE Very simple. I track toads, I wait, I strike, I destroy, and I kill. Nothing brings me more peace than the death of a toad. JENNY (whispering to Bucky) I don't know. There's something about this thing that I don't quite trust. FIGURE What is *your* business here, if I may ask? BUCKY Our business is UAC orders. And I want that toad for questioning. I would appreciate your cooperation in delivering that toad into our ship. Jenny suddenly looks up at Bucky. JENNY (whispering) You're not going to let that sadistic thing in here, are you? BUCKY (whispering) Why not? It obviously hates toads as much as we do. JENNY (whispering) But we don't know if there are more things that it hates. Buck, don't be so quick to judge like you did with Negator. Almost timed as if to prevent the conversation from heating up, the figure cuts in. FIGURE (over comm) If you want this toad captain, I suggest that you get it yourself. You see, I have a problem about holding toads in my grasp. BUCKY What kind of problem? FIGURE (total seriousness) A problem with not squeezing. BUCKY (assuring, yet in a commanding tone) It would be appreciated. FIGURE (after a moment) Very well. I will carry out your request, in respect for a fellow warrior against the toads. The figure propels himself back to the toad ship, where the toad has apparently fainted. The crew watches as the figure takes both paws and literally digs the toad bubble out of the ship. Holding the bubble in both arms, the figure makes his way to the shuttle bay door of the Righteous. BUCKY Jenny, lower the shields and open main outer doors. Jenny just sits there, staring back at Bucky, obviously disapproving of the whole situation. BUCKY (sternly) Jenny, that is an order. Open the doors now. After a long hard stare at Bucky, Jenny presses a few buttons, then looks away from Bucky, gritting her teeth. The shields drop and the outer doors open, and the figure, along with the toad, makes his way into the Righteous. SCENE 5 - TOAD MOTHERSHIP The commanding deck of the mothership is busy; toads are rushing everywhere on deck processing the data that was collected from the destroyed fleet. After a moment, TOADBORG makes his entrance onto the deck. TOADBORG You requested me to this ship, KOMPLEX? Just then, the main display screen is once again filled with the image of KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX Yes. There is a situation that has arose that requires more than what the Air Marshal can do. The Air Marshal stands silently, yet frustrated with his arms crossed, while listening to KOMPLEX. TOADBORG What exactly is the situation? KOMPLEX Air Marshal? AIR MARSHAL Um ... not too long ago, I was directing a training routine. During the routine, we lost contact with the pilots. When we found them, there were no survivors, and their ships had been destroyed. TOADBORG The normal outcome of a sneak attack on a group of tadpole trainees. KOMPLEX What the Air Marshal has failed to mention is the fact that the ships were not destroyed by blaster cannons of any kind. The ships appeared to be nearly torn apart. TOADBORG Maybe they were all caught in some kind of new mammalian trap? AIR MARSHAL (pointing at Toadborg) Actually, we salvaged sensor readings out of the destroyed fighters and found that the only reading foreign to the fleet was about as big as you. TOADBORG (more serious) Have there been any visuals recovered from the fighters? KOMPLEX Some visuals have been recovered, but none of any use. Just then, a toad SOLDIER rushes on deck with a black cube in his paws. SOLDIER Air Marshal, sir! This is the best sensor module we've found so far! AIR MARSHAL Excellent! Plug it into the computer interface, so KOMPLEX can retrieve its information. The soldier runs over to the terminal and inserts the cube into a slot on the top panel. The cube lights up as KOMPLEX begins to extract the information from the cube. KOMPLEX At last, a visual confirmation of our enemy. A secondary screen displays a choppy yet defined video of a silver figure. There's not much, but KOMPLEX loops the video over and over. Sounds of computer processing become more dominant as the video begins to play faster and faster. KOMPLEX So, the wolf has emerged from its lair. How intriguing. AIR MARSHAL (totally lost) What? TOADBORG I do not understand, KOMPLEX. KOMPLEX Almost two years ago, we stumbled across an interesting species of wolf. They were extremely hard to capture for study and there were very few of them, but we did manage to get one. TOADBORG This one was captured? KOMPLEX Yes. He was severely damaged during its capture, so we had to add cybernetics to assure that it would live for testing. It did prove to be highly resourceful. It was able to escape from the home world with many weapons from one of our research labs. AIR MARSHAL How can you be so sure that this thing is that thing? KOMPLEX Because the armor it wears perfectly matches the one that was stolen from the labs. TOADBORG KOMPLEX, you said that it was cybernetically reconstructed. Was a neurological control device implanted into it? Another wave of computer processing is heard. KOMPLEX Yes. TOADBORG Then he is as good as ours. AIR MARSHAL (still lost) A what? TOADBORG A device that is used to control a cyborg. It is implanted directly in the subject's brain. I have one as well, but it has never been used, because I know where my loyalties lie. KOMPLEX But with that creature, it had to be used many times over, since he had no loyalty to us. AIR MARSHAL Why not just constantly keep the device running? TOADBORG If the device is used nonstop over a long period of time, damage to the subject's nervous system will eventually occur. So it is only used to whip the subject back in line. AIR MARSHAL But if we can control it at any time, how did it manage to break free? KOMPLEX That armor it wears was a prototype alloy. Later research after the wolf's escape yielded that the alloy shielded off all frequencies sent to its control device. TOADBORG So, in order to place it back under toad control, we must remove the armor. KOMPLEX Removing just the headgear should be sufficient. I want that cyborg. Bring it to me, intact. The image of KOMPLEX fades away. TOADBORG (to crew) Return this ship to Sector Twelve. SCENE 6 - THE RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION Bucky climbs down to the lower deck to meet up with Deadeye, Willy, Bruiser, and AFC BLINKY just outside of the inner airlock door. The air pressure indicator lights green, and the door opens to show the toad bubble on the floor, with the toad still unconscious. Behind it is the mysterious figure, down on one knee, placing a paw on the bubble. With a bright flash of light from its paw, the bubble disintegrates, and the toad lies flat on the floor. BUCKY Bruiser, shackle our prisoner. BRUISER Yes, sir! Bruiser picks the toad up and carries him off to another section of the ship. The figure, still on one knee, turns to face the outer door, as if waiting to be released back into space. BUCKY Wait! I want to talk to you. FIGURE (still facing outer door) You need not concern yourself with that. BUCKY (compromising) Well, at least stay for introductions. The figure turns to face the crew. Then after a short pause, the figure then stands, but not totally, due to the insufficient height of the ship. He then makes his way through the inner door onto the lower deck of the ship, dropping to one knee again. Even though he is crouched down, he is almost still at eye level with everyone. FIGURE Very well ... I am Dallion, and I'm listening. BUCKY As you know, I'm Captain O'Hare of The Righteous Indignation. (extends an arm toward Deadeye behind him) This is my gunner, Deadeye Duck. Deadeye steps forward, adjusting his hat. DEADEYE I like yer way wit' toads, matey! A bit brutal, per'aps, but efficient! DALLION (nods toward Deadeye) I have heard that you yourself have terminated many a toad in combat. Deadeye grins at the compliment. BUCKY The baboon that you saw was Bruiser. (motioning toward Willy and Blinky) This is our Android First Class, Blinky, and our engineer, Willy. Dallion looks at Willy for several moments. Then the red light from his visor once again appears, scanning Willy up and down. The light then shuts off. DALLION You are a strange creature. Never seen your species before. BLINKY There is a long story concerning friend Willy. DALLION (waving it off) That is all right. That information need not be known by me right now. WILLY (looking at Dallion's cybernetics) This is all ... really impressive. DALLION (looking to the floor) Not in my eyes. BUCKY (looking up, in a louder voice, obviously directed toward someone) There is also one other member of my crew. Bucky begins to tap his foot on the deck while waiting for Jenny to appear. Finally, she begins to climb down the ladder. Bucky notices that she has strapped a blaster to her thigh. He just glares at her as she makes her way down to the deck. She then turns and walks a few steps in the opposite direction of Dallion, then props herself against the wall. BUCKY (a little anger becoming apparent) And this is my First Mate, Jenny. Jenny keeps her gaze away from the rest of the crew. DALLION (looking at Jenny) Ah ... an Aldebaran, I presume. Never thought that I would ever come across one of your species. Jenny turns to meet Dallion's gaze. JENNY (in a somewhat sharp tone) Well, now you have. So, what are you? DALLION In order to be specific, I can give you two answers: one for what I am and one for what I was. I was a wolf ... but now ... A series of latches joined between Dallion's neck and shoulders begin to disconnect. After all have come undone and disappeared under his shoulder guards, a burst of steam is released from under the helmet. Dallion then places his claws over the visor and lifts the helmet off of his face. The eyes of every crewmember slightly widen as long silver hair rolls down Dallion's back, down to his waist. A few more small panels around his neck slide open to reveal gray fur. But the fur only goes up to his jaw, which is totally metallic. There is absolutely no flesh on his face -- even his large teeth and fangs are metallic. His eyes are solid black, with a small white pupil. His ears are also metal, with a series of folds and joints allowing the ears to adjust positions, just like natural ones. On one ear are some strange markings. Another click is heard, and a thick black tail comes into view. DALLION (continuing) ... what I am is an abomination of flesh, metal, and technology. BUCKY A cyborg? DALLION Yes. All of a sudden, a loud alarm blares. Everyone turns to see Blinky waving his arms around. A beam of light shines from his large eye to the strange markings on Dallion's ear. BLINKY Warning! Toad technology branding code! Product of toad technicians present! Bucky, Jenny, and Deadeye draw their blasters and aim them toward Dallion, who just sits motionless on the deck. Bruiser runs in and takes a defensive stance behind the cyborg. Willy, grabbing Blinky, runs and dives into the engineering room. Then, there is a long moment of silence. JENNY (breaking the silence) I knew there was something about that thing! BUCKY (aggressive) All right, Dallion! Exactly who are you, and what is your purpose? Were you sent by the toads to kill us?! DALLION I will not deny that I was, how should I say, "reconstructed" by toad technicians. It was not my choice to become this. They didn't want me to die. JENNY (sounding insulted) You expect us to believe that? Why would a toad save a mammal's life? DALLION In order to have a live specimen of my race to study. DEADEYE An' what makes *your* race so special to the toads? DALLION We are a dying species. Almost extinct. BUCKY What species? DALLION (solemnly) The Luporians. At that moment, Bucky and Jenny freeze, slowly lowering their blasters. Deadeye looks at them, wondering about the sudden mood change. Bruiser's eyes begin to cross as he ponders the situation. Jenny drops her blaster and approaches the figure. DEADEYE (to Jenny) Lass! What're ye doin'? Get away from it! Jenny stops right in front of Dallion, looking closely at his shiny, silver hair. Willy slowly sticks his head out of the door to see Bucky edging Deadeye's blasters down and motioning to him that it is safe. JENNY Are ... are you truly a Luporian? DALLION Yes ... (lower voice) Well, I was. (a little surprised) You know of my race? JENNY I know some details, but they're all from legends. Bucky nods in agreement with Jenny. BUCKY Same here. DALLION (looking at Jenny) Ironic, isn't it? For a Luporian to be made into a cyborg? JENNY Yes. BRUISER (frustrated) What's goin' on? First we invite this thing in here, then everybody wants ta attack it, an' now everyone's goin' gaga over it. DALLION (to Bruiser) If you want to be accurate, refer to me as "he," not "it." BUCKY (to Bruiser) Is the toad secured? BRUISER (adjusting to the change in subject) He ain't goin' nowhere. BUCKY Jenny, set a course for Genus. We'll turn this toad in and see what kind of info we can get out of him. JENNY (rushing to the ladder to the upper deck) Aye-aye, Captain. BRUISER (complaining) But I thought I wuz gonna question 'im! BUCKY You will. I just want him to speak in front of the Council. BRUISER (relived) Oh, OK. (pointing toward Dallion) But what about him? BUCKY (explaining) It's ironic for him to be a cyborg because, from what I heard, his race disapproved of technology. They only relied on the forces of nature. (to Dallion) Isn't that right? DALLION That is correct, even though there were a few instances where some technology was useful to us. BUCKY Oh, really? What kind of technology? DALLION Space exploration. We used it to move our race as far away from technologically advanced worlds as we could -- hiding ourselves, hoping not to be disturbed. DEADEYE (holstering blasters) So how did ye fall inta the hands o' them slimy toadies? DALLION A long story that all started when some strange flying objects were seen in the skies of our current home world. BUCKY Toad fighters? DALLION Yes. They began to fire on almost anything that moved, so we destroyed them. DEADEYE Destroyed 'em? Matey, ye just said yer race didn't approve of technology, so how could ye destroy space fighters? DALLION We had ... our ways. JENNY (coming back down the ladder) Is it because of these "ways" of yours that the toads wanted to study you? DALLION (low voice) yes. JENNY (to Bucky) The course is set, Bucky. BUCKY Good, thank you. WILLY So how did they capture you? DALLION After the first wave of ships was destroyed, others came. Each time, they grew in numbers. Then, there were just too many. All I remember is, I was fighting them, then there was a bright flash. I had been caught in an explosion of some kind. It gave me severe damage from head to toe, and I completely lost my right arm, along with most of my sight and my ability to speak. JENNY And they weren't able to capture any other Luporians to study? DALLION I suppose that they didn't, since they went through all of the trouble to keep me alive. I must have been their only specimen, or else I am sure that they would have just let me die. BUCKY What sort of tests did they perform on you? DALLION I can't really recall much in that point in time. The toads just gave me a low-grade life support system -- just barely enough to keep me alive. All I remember is darkness and pain. JENNY What came of the experiments? DALLION Apparently not much, because I remember being labeled as a failed experiment and was slated for disposal. DEADEYE An' how did ye get away from the toads? (low voice) Ach, we be askin' this wolf a lotta questions. DALLION The toads figured that it would be a waste to destroy me. So, they improved my cybernetics, to give me back my ability to walk, see, speak, and, most of all, work. I would also guess that they wanted to keep me around in case new experimental procedures were developed to use on me. I spent quite some time working as a drone in the toad research labs. WILLY (interrupting) Wait a minute! (everyone turns to face Willy) How can you call yourself a drone when you're this huge ... cybernetic ... war machine ... thingamajig? DALLION There is still much to my story. WILLY (a little embarrassed) Sorry, I'm just getting confused. DALLION It was during this time that I was planning my revenge against the toads. Although I despised the technology around me, I despised the toads even more. I guess that forced me to look favorably on the new technologies the toads were making. BUCKY You were thinking of things you could use to escape. DALLION Things to use for escape, to destroy toads ... (looks to Willy) ... to make me a war machine against the toads. WILLY So you just grabbed everything you could and made a break for it? DALLION I guess you could say that, but it wasn't that easy. As I learned in my earliest days as a drone worker, the toads had complete control over me. BUCKY (warily, realizing they could be controlling him now) How? DALLION Among the many cybernetics that were planted into my body, there was a behavior inhibitor that was planted deep in the back of my brain. It was used as a last resort to control me when I became otherwise uncontrollable. I still had a free will, so they did this to me in order to keep me in check. BUCKY And how did you break free of this control? DALLION (holding up his helmet) With this. The alloy used to create this space helmet proved to be a perfect shield against the signals sent to the implant. It was a discovery that I merely stumbled upon by luck. JENNY So, you found an answer to that problem. Then what? DALLION It was that discovery that boosted my optimism for escape. I spent weeks upon months preparing for it, taking weapons and other items and hiding them in an abandoned part of the labs that I walked through while performing certain jobs. The only thing I was waiting for then was a prototype of a personal cloaking device that was being created. Once the toads had a successful test of the device, I would make my escape. (beat) Finally, one day, all of the elements fell into place. I had to pass through the abandoned section once more, so I grabbed everything I could and put them in a sack, disguised as materials I was supposed to be transporting to the labs where the prototype was undergoing final tests. It was all too perfect. WILLY (eagerly) So, what happened? DALLION I walked into the labs, got close to the prototype, threw on the helmet, and pulled out a blaster rifle. Most of the scientists ran to get security, while a few stayed to try the behavior control on me. (beat, enjoying the memories of what came next) I laughed at them as I gunned down every one of them. I then grabbed the prototype and began to attach thruster devices to me. When security finally came, I was already on my way out of the Toad Homeworld's atmosphere. (beat) Just shortly after leaving it, toad fighters began to pursue me. It was now or never for me to use the cloaking device. I did so, and they lost all track of me. I was finally free. BUCKY (slightly impressed) Where did you go? Back to your world? DALLION (looking at his paw) I knew that my people would never look upon me as one of them anymore, so I fled to a quiet planet and went into hiding. Using all of the technology and knowledge that I had gained during my slavery, I rebuilt and modified myself in all the ways I could think of, using every last bit of information off of every toad technician's log disks that I had taken. JENNY What about the implant in your brain? DALLION (touching the back of his head) I can feel it back here. But it is attached to my brain, making it impossible for me to remove it. That's why I have to rely on this helmet. I believe that the cybernetic toad surgeons are the only ones who would know how to remove it safely. BUCKY (holding a paw to his chin) A Luporian cyborg ... SCENE 7 - STATION, ORBIT OF GENUS The Righteous Indignation docks, and the crew finally has a chance to stretch their legs. Too true for Dallion, who can now stand totally erect in the corridors of the docking tubes, towering over the others. Bruiser carries the toad off down the corridor, along with Deadeye. Bucky, Willy, Blinky, and Jenny remain at the ship, along with Dallion. BUCKY (to Dallion) What are you going to do now? DALLION I think that I will wait to hear about any information that might come out of that toad, while I am here. JENNY (motioning between her and Bucky) We're going to go with them to the interrogation. Would you like to come as well? DALLION No. For now, I would like to exist to as few people as possible. Be sure to let Bruiser and Deadeye know that. BUCKY (raising a brow, considering) Well, I'm sure you have your reasons. (beat) Very well, I'll inform the rest of my crew of your request and will relay any information back to you. I'll also deny any mention the toad makes of you. DALLION Thank you, Captain. Dallion steps back into the ship. Jenny and Bucky begin to walk down the corridor when Willy comes out of the ship. WILLY Could one of you stay and help me out with something? Bucky and Jenny both turn to face Willy. BUCKY What's the problem, Willy? WILLY I'm ... having some trouble getting into our ... databanks. JENNY Bucky, why don't you go on ahead? I'll stay here and help Willy. BUCKY All right. Bucky turns to continue down the hallway as Jenny returns to the ship. She enters to see Willy motioning her into engineering. She also sees Dallion sitting perfectly still on the floor, looking down. JENNY (entering engineering) So, what kind of trouble are you having with the computers? WILLY (whispering) I'm not really having any trouble. It's just that I didn't want to be here alone with Dallion. Jenny turns to look back out the door to see Dallion still sitting down. JENNY (whispering) I don't blame you. After all, I was about to come back here myself, anyway. (beat) I still don't like him. But his story ... I don't know, Willy. I don't know what to think yet. SCENE 8 - STATION, ORBIT OF GENUS Later, Bucky, along with Deadeye and Bruiser, returns to the Righteous. Jenny, Willy, and Blinky stand at the door of the ship to meet them. JENNY Anything useful? BUCKY It took forever before that toad made any sense. (trying to sound flippant) We couldn't get him to stop raving on about a silver demon. JENNY (slight grin, then serious) Did the council try to pursue details about Dallion? BUCKY No, they just waved it off, saying that the toad was a lunatic. But he did say a few things about sectors Twelve and Thirteen. JENNY What about them? BUCKY He didn't make much sense, but it seemed like he meant that thirteen is where he and his fleet were attacked by the demon. Then, he mentioned something about a mothership in twelve. We've been ordered to investigate the two sectors, and ... Bucky is cut short by the sound of the inner air lock door on the opposite side of the ship being slammed shut. The crew runs in to see that Dallion is gone. BUCKY (to the crew) Everyone to your stations, now! Check the ship for sabotage or data leaks! The crew scrambles to their posts. Bucky and Jenny make their way up to the upper deck. As they make it to the front windshield, they see a streak of light racing away from them. BUCKY (jumping into his seat) What is that cyborg up to? JENNY (bringing all systems up) There are no signs of any tampering with the ship. (looks out at the streak of light) Do you suppose he's heading for one of those sectors? BUCKY (relaxing) Probably. He left right after I mentioned them. JENNY Should we follow him? BUCKY No, our job is to investigate those sectors. I don't care where he's going. Set a course for Sector Thirteen. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. SCENE 9 - SECTOR THIRTEEN The Righteous arrives in Sector Thirteen, not too far from the asteroid belt. Jenny instantly brings the sensors online. JENNY I'm picking up some readings on the edge of that asteroid belt. BUCKY Good work, Jenny. Let's take a look. Bucky pilots the ship over to the point Jenny directed him to. They come across the remains of toad training fleet. They continue to navigate through the field, looking at the destruction left behind. BUCKY So, Dallion did all this? JENNY (in an uneasy tone, pointing to her left) I suppose that he did that as well. BUCKY (staring in that direction) What? They came up to one of the larger asteroids. On it are multiple long trails of blood. At the end of some of the trails are toad uniforms, indicating that Dallion must have smeared the remains of the toads all over the asteroid. BUCKY (scrunches up his face) I'm starting to see what he meant about having a problem with holding toads. Jenny just stares out at the asteroid with her mouth slightly open. JENNY At least he feels that way towards the toads and not us. (suddenly looks up to Bucky, horror in her eyes) Bucky, what would happen if the toads did regain control over him? BUCKY (suddenly fully realizing the situation) He's going to go straight after that mothership now. If the toads recognize him ... JENNY (interrupting) We have to stop him from going after the toads. It's too risky to let him near the toads with that device in his head. BUCKY And we can't rely on that helmet to keep him from being controlled. I don't even want to think about that thing being under KOMPLEX's control. JENNY Sector Twelve, Captain? BUCKY On the double. SCENE 10 - BARREN PLANET, SECTOR TWELVE Dallion lands down on a barren planet of rock with no atmosphere, looking up to see a fleet of toad fighters encircling a mothership. He then runs and dives into a small cave, to be sure not to be noticed by the toads just yet. He stands at the very edge of the cave, focusing on the ships in space above him. The red light from his visor scans his own body, as if checking himself before going into battle. After a few moments, his thrusters ignite, propelling him as fast as possible toward the toad ships. A reflection of the toad ships appears in Dallion's eye. The eye then narrows. SCENE 11 - MOTHERSHIP COMMAND DECK Toadborg and the Air Marshal watch a display showing Dallion coming toward the mothership. KOMPLEX (sounding amused) Isn't this convenient? The wolf is coming to us instead of us going after him. TOADBORG Yes, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. AIR MARSHAL (frantic) But it's too soon! The plan hasn't been fully formed yet! KOMPLEX (angry) Silence, you sniveling coward! Put the plan into motion, now! AIR MARSHAL Y-yes, Oh Mighty KOMPLEX. TOADBORG (amused) This will be most enjoyable. SCENE 12 - SECTOR TWELVE The crew reaches an empty part of the sector with nothing but a barren planet of stone -- the same Dallion just landed on. Jenny's readings indicate a mass of chaos on the other side of the planet. JENNY Something's happening on the other side. There's one large body, nearly stationary, and several smaller ones moving about it like flies. It must be a mothership. BUCKY Then that's there we're going. (over comm) Deadeye, get your masers ready for some action. DEADEYE (over comm) I been ready fer action fer days now, Cap'n! BUCKY (into comm) Willy, brace yourself for battle. WILLY (over comm, sighs) I guess this means I'll be repairing stuff for a while again. The ship flies toward the planet, then begins to curve around it. Then, over the planet's horizon, a war scene comes into view. The ominous mothership sits motionless as a swarm of fighters fly around it randomly. Streaks of green blaster fire erupt from all angles. There is also a solitary beam of golden light streaming in all directions, explosions occurring all around it. BUCKY That has to be Dallion. We have to pull him away from the toads. JENNY Aye-aye, Captain. DEADEYE Here comes Deadeye, ye slimy bug-suckers! The Righteous races toward the chaos. Once within range, Deadeye wastes no time in blasting several toad ships. The fighters are forced to scatter more with the addition of the Righteous to the fight. The toad fleet then becomes very disorientated and quickly falls victim to Deadeye's cannons and Dallion's claws. The remaining ships retreat and make a jump into hyperspace. All is now quiet on the outside of the mothership. BUCKY (concerned) This is all wrong. That was far too easy ... and there are no blasters coming from the mothership. And where's Dallion? This whole thing stinks of a trap. JENNY (pointing below them) There he is. They see a streak of light that heads toward the mothership and enters its open doors to the main bay area. BUCKY (infuriated) That damn wolf! He's going inside. After him! Jenny steers the Righteous after Dallion, into the mothership. SCENE 13 - MOTHERSHIP BAY Dallion, slightly singed from maser blasts, makes a few rounds inside the main hangar bay to find it totally deserted. He lands and instantly emits his red scanning light all over the hangar. Just then, the Righteous enters and lands behind him. Not too long after its entry, the bay doors close. The Righteous lands near Dallion, and the crew comes out to him. BUCKY (very severely) Dallion! Do you realize that ... Bucky is silenced by the sound of laughter coming from somewhere in the hangar. Dallion shuts off his scanner and simply looks about with narrowed eyes. JENNY (recognizing the laughter) Toadborg ... In that instant, three bolts of lightning come out of nowhere, striking Dallion, who releases a loud roar. Then, gas bombs are launched toward the group. The gas catches the crew of the Righteous unawares, causing them to faint and drop to the floor, semiconscious. The gas is so thick that nothing can be seen. Suddenly, a loud clash of metal is heard, and Dallion's roar softens, then falls silent. Bucky, barely conscious, hears a metal clank in front of him. He looks up to see nothing but a thick, white mist. However, the mist begins to thin, and Bucky sees Dallion's helmet, twisted and crushed, lying before him. As hard as he can, Bucky forces himself to look up higher to see something else that is still hidden by the gas. After a few more moments, the mist clears, and there, in front of Bucky, stands Dallion, with his arms crossed and eyes closed, alongside Toadborg. Dallion then opens his eyes, showing them to now be red instead of white. BUCKY (weakly) No ... Bucky passes out. SCENE 14 - PRISON CELL, MOTHERSHIP Jenny slowly becomes awake and aware. She stands up and looks around, hoping to find some way of getting out of the cell, but then sits back down. A pair of guards walks by, muttering to themselves as Jenny listens in. The toads are bragging about the toad army having a new weapon. JENNY (thinking) Jenny realizes that she needs help, and there is only one way she can get it. She moves and sits down in a back corner of the cell and closes her eyes. The gemstone on her forehead begins to glow as she reaches out to contact her home world. A familiar voice then fills her mind. QUEEN JENNY QUEEN JENNY Jenny lays the story out for the Queen, telling her about Dallion, his past, what he was and is, about his abilities, and about the device controlling him. QUEEN JENNY QUEEN JENNY QUEEN (quiet for a moment) Jenny remembers Dallion rubbing the back of his head back on the Righteous. JENNY QUEEN JENNY Jenny slips into a deeper trance as the QUEEN fills Jenny with the knowledge to use the spell. After several moments, the queen speaks again. QUEEN (beat) JENNY (questioning) QUEEN JENNY QUEEN The Queen fades from Jenny's mind as she comes out of the trance. She looks down at her fist as a wave of magical light slides across it. JENNY (unsure of what she should do, thinking) (beat, resigned) SCENE 15 - COMPUTER ROOM, MOTHERSHIP Toadborg stands in front of several display screens that hold KOMPLEX's image. TOADBORG The escaped cyborg could prove to be a valuable asset to the empire. He has been modified very far beyond what he was when he was a slave. KOMPLEX Yes. For once, you have not failed me. Little did that specimen know that he was only strengthening himself for the glory of the Toad Empire. And how fortunate for us that Bucky O'Hare attended his capture. Where is he and his crew? TOADBORG They are all isolated in the holding cells. KOMPLEX I want them all executed immediately. And make the cyborg do it, to make sure that he knows who his master is. The image of KOMPLEX disappears, and Toadborg walks over to a comm terminal. TOADBORG (thinking) (over comm) Cyborg, bring me that Aldebaran. (thinking) SCENE 16 - JENNY'S CELL Jenny snaps alert as the sound of her cell door being unlatched. The door opens with two toad GUARDS standing behind it. GUARD #1 Let's go, lady. GUARD #2 Yeah, Toadborg wants to have a word with you. Jenny gives the guards a very harsh look, as she knows too well the reason why Toadborg would want her. One of the guards steps into the cell to place shackles on her wrists. The toad walks behind her and grabs one of her paws. Just then, Jenny spins around, grabbing the toad's own wrist and flipping him over her, slamming him to the floor. She turns to see the other guard running up to her. Jenny just stands still, then thrusts her heel up, planting it deeply into the toad's chin. The toad is sent back a few steps, then falls to the floor. Jenny pauses, expecting other guards, but no more show up. She reaches down and takes a blaster rifle from the guard and cautiously steps out of the cell. Just as she leaves the cell, a large paw grasps her by the throat, lifting her high into the air. Dropping the rifle and gasping for air, she looks down to see Dallion staring back up at her. The other two toads get back up to their feet and pick up their blasters. Dallion then drops Jenny to the floor. She lands on her feet but collapses to her knees, coughing and heaving for air. The two guards each grab an arm to drag Jenny down the hallway, with Dallion following behind them. SCENE 17 - COMPUTER ROOM The two guards lay Jenny in the middle of the floor, at Toadborg's feet. Dallion is still following. TOADBORG (to the guards) That will be all. Dismissed! The guards salute Toadborg, then proceed out of the room. Dallion also turns to follow them out. TOADBORG (to Dallion) No, cyborg, you stay here with me. Secure that door. Dallion stops, turns, and faces Toadborg, then looks down at Jenny, who is just now getting to her feet. He then turns back to the door to shut it. JENNY (rubbing her throat, in a raspy voice) What do you want with me? TOADBORG Must you ask? Surely you should know by now what I want from you. I want to know all about your little species' powers. JENNY (harshly) You know I'll never tell you. A Sister would rather die than release our secrets to an Outsider -- especially to you! TOADBORG Death for you is not a problem at all, being that is the other reason why you are here. Normally, I would torture the information out of you, but I've waited far too long for this already. (to Dallion) Cyborg, put this pathetic little pink hairball out of her misery. Jenny turns around to see Dallion lowering his gaze to the floor, hesitating. TOADBORG (starting to lose patience) Cyborg, you will obey my commands! Or there will be consequences -- consequences that involve pain. A small antenna comes out of Toadborg's shoulder, emits a few pulses of light, and then retracts back down. Dallion cringes and places his paws on the sides of his head, grunting lightly, then stands tall once again. Dallion stands still for a short moment, then begins to approach Jenny. Jenny backs away from Dallion, who suddenly sprints forward, grasping her right wrist with his left paw. Jenny struggles and kicks hard at Dallion in a hopeless attempt to break his powerful grip. However, Dallion does nothing more, looking down at Jenny. TOADBORG (commanding) Kill her! Dallion looks to the floor and then to his quivering right paw. The red glow in his eyes begins to slowly fade. Jenny notices his hesitation and realizes that he is struggling against the toad control. JENNY Fight it, Dallion! Dallion then lifts Jenny up to bring her eye level to him. Jenny, just dangling by her right arm, looks down to see Dallion's right paw coming up to her face. His claws slowly encircle her head. She feels his thumb claw under her chin as his other three claws grip against the back of her head. JENNY Dallion, don't ... Jenny closes her eyes as Dallion's claws begin to clamp down harder. Blood begins to trickle from under her chin, and his razor- sharp claw begins to cut into her. But then his grip is suddenly released. Jenny opens her eyes to see that Dallion has removed his paw from her face and has placed it over his own. JENNY Dallion? DALLION (in a low voice, garbled with deep growling) N-no ... will not ... TOADBORG I'm losing patients with you, cyborg. You will obey me or perish! The small antenna comes out of Toadborg's shoulder and begins to flash again. Dallion removes his paw from his face and clenches a fist as his eyes begin to glow red once more. Fear begins to pulse through Jenny's body as Dallion places his claws over her chest, as if to tear her heart out. Dallion, however, once again pulls his paw off of Jenny. Dallion turns his head, shuts his eyes, and begins growling once more. Jenny then sees her only chance to reach the back of Dallion's head. JENNY (in a low voice) Forgive me ... Jenny reaches and places her paw on the soft fur on the back of Dallion's head. Suddenly, there is a bright flash of light from her paw. Dallion releases a deafening roar of pain as arcs of electrical and magical energy streak across his face. Jenny falls to the floor as Dallion places both of his paws on the sides of his head, still screaming. The bolts of energy then disappear as Dallion falls silent. There is a moment of silence that seems to last an eternity; then, Dallion falls backward, crashing down onto the floor. Jenny stares at him in grief as he lies there, motionless, with small puffs of smoke rising from his body. TOADBORG (infuriated) You miserable feline! You can't touch anything without destroying it! For that, I will have the pleasure of killing you and the rest of your crew myself! Jenny rises to her feet and stands defensively as blasters come out of Toadborg's arms. Toadborg fires at Jenny who, with her great agility, dodges every one of them as they hit and destroy parts of the room. JENNY (cocky) If you keep trying to blast me, you're only going to destroy your equipment. TOADBORG (agitated) Worthless mammal! Toadborg holds his arms back up to fire once more but then lowers them as he looks to the floor. TOADBORG (surprised) What? Jenny looks down as well to see Dallion's body, halfway between Toadborg and Jenny, twitching. Both stop to watch the crippled cyborg. Dallion manages to roll over onto his stomach, his head toward Toadborg and his feet toward Jenny. He then struggles to push himself up on all fours, head down. Suddenly, Dallion whips his head around to face Jenny. His eyes burn redder than ever before as he begins to growl loudly. Jenny just freezes as her eyes widen. Dallion begins to slowly stalk toward Jenny, still on all fours, as Toadborg begins laughing. Without warning, Dallion pounces on Jenny, pinning her, on her back, to the floor. She looks up to see Dallion's large fangs just inches from her face. Dallion opens his jaws and slowly slides his tongue across Jenny's neck as she tightly shuts her eyes and grits her teeth. Dallion licks the blood off of her throat like a predator that tastes the blood of its prey. Dallion then begins to place his jaws around her face. Jenny turns her head away from him as bursts of hot air flow out of his mouth. Toadborg's laughing becomes even more maniacal. TOADBORG (in a triumphant tone) Destroy her! DALLION (plainly) No. Dallion suddenly jumps off of Jenny, rushing toward Toadborg. He rams his shoulder into Toadborg, sending him crashing into a large computer terminal. Jenny, now free to move, folds her arms tightly across her chest, shivering slightly, almost as if she had just woken up from a horrible nightmare. TOADBORG (trying to get to his feet) You will regret your actions. I will melt your brain because of this! Dallion just stands tall with his arms crossed as Toadborg gets to his feet. The antenna comes out of Toadborg's shoulder, flashing once again. Dallion begins to walk slowly toward Toadborg. TOADBORG (confused) WHAT?! The antenna begins to flash more rapidly and more brightly, yet Dallion still approaches Toadborg. Jenny, sitting up, begins to smile as she realizes that her spell was a success. Dallion then sprints toward Toadborg, slashing off the antenna, along with some of his shoulder. Toadborg jumps out of the way of another slash from Dallion that would have struck his chest. Toadborg lands, gripping his injured shoulder. He turns to a terminal and punches in a series of commands. Alarms begin to sound as Toadborg laughs once more. TOADBORG If that's how you want it ... I have just set this ship to self- destruct. You will never be able to make it to the hangar bay from here. (points to Jenny) Much less be able to free your crewmates! DALLION Then that leaves you helpless as well. TOADBORG I need no ship or spacesuit to survive in space. I can just jettison myself out right here. Toadborg opens a hatch and jumps into it, disappearing. DALLION (clenching fists) Damn you, Toadborg! JENNY (getting to her feet and running up to Dallion) What can we do? Dallion rushes over to a terminal that doesn't seem to be damaged. DALLION I hope I can still access toad computers. Dallion holds up his right arm, and two small rods protrude about five inches out of his wrist. He then inserts them into the terminal, causing it to activate. The screen flashes through different scenes of the ship, showing toads rushing to their ships and escape pods. JENNY What are you doing? DALLION The cellblocks are closer to the hangar than we are. If I can open the cell doors from here, they could escape with plenty of time to spare. After a few seconds, the terminal display shows all cell doors opening. DALLION (thinking) (to Jenny) The comm channel is open to them; inform them of the situation. I don't think that your crew would trust my voice. Jenny nods in agreement as she steps up to the comm. JENNY (over comm) Bucky? Willy? Is anyone there? BUCKY (over comm) Jenny, where are you? We need to get out of here now! JENNY (relieved) Bucky! Don't worry about me; just get to the ship. I don't know if there's enough time for me to make it. BUCKY (furious) Jenny, I'm not ... The comm begins to fill with static, drowning out Bucky's voice. JENNY (frantic) Bucky? ... Bucky! DALLION The comm is no longer in order. JENNY (looking at Dallion) What about us? We can't make it, can we? DALLION The toads have forced me to do terrible things. (motioning toward the wound under Jenny's chin) They had forced me to endanger your life and the lives of the others. If it was just me here, I would gladly stay here and accept my death. JENNY (objecting) But those things weren't your fault! DALLION No, it was my own recklessness that allowed me to be put back under toad control. That is why I would wish to die. Jenny looks down and turns her back to Dallion. DALLION However, I am not alone ... Dallion reaches down and lifts up Jenny, who yelps in surprise, into his arms. DALLION ... and I am forced to do otherwise. (he looks down into her eyes) Hold on. Jenny puts her arms around his neck as his thrusters ignite, propelling them at a high rate down the corridors. Just then, fires break out in the computer room. SCENE 18 - HANGAR BAY, MOTHERSHIP Bucky and the rest of the group fight through the commotion of toads running to evacuate the mothership. Bruiser is tossing toads left and right when he looks up toward the Righteous. BRUISER Captain! Some toads're tryin' to take our ship! BUCKY Get over there and scare them away from it! Willy, go with him, and get on the ship as soon as you can. Deadeye, you ... Bucky stops speaking as he realizes that Deadeye is nowhere around. BUCKY Blinky, how long has Deadeye been gone? BLINKY Deadeye separated from the group just outside of toad detention center. BUCKY (frustrated) Dammit, Deadeye ... (to Blinky) Get to the ship, now! BLINKY Yes, Captain! Behind Bucky from out of the commotion, Deadeye comes running up to him. DEADEYE Wait for me, Cap'n! BUCKY (whipping around) Where have you been? We need to evacuate, now! DEADEYE Sorry 'bout that, Cap'n. Couldn't leave without these! Deadeye holds up his twin blasters. DEADEYE I was able t' find yours, too. Deadeye tosses Bucky his blaster. He catches it and quickly holsters it. BUCKY Good work, Deadeye. Now, let's get to the ship! DEADEYE With pleasure, Cap'n! Bucky and Deadeye take off for the ship. Most of the hangar is clear of toads, but the ship begins to rumble. Loud explosions can now be heard as the framework of the hangar begins to fall apart. Bucky and Deadeye meet up with the rest of the group as Bruiser runs off the last few toads from the ship. WILLY (concerned, speaking loudly over the noise) Where's Jenny? BUCKY She's coming. (turns to face behind him) I hope ... From the distance, a burst of light appears, catching everyone's attention. At first, it appears to be just a ball of fire, but as it moves closer, more detail can be made out. BUCKY (recognizing the form) Everyone, watch out. It's Dallion! Both Deadeye and Bucky draw their blasters as Bruiser picks up a thick metal bar. Dallion's thrusters then shut off, and more of him, along with Jenny, can be seen. Dallion then digs the claws on his feet into the floor to slow them down. They come to a stop just in front of the others. Dallion places Jenny on her feet. Bucky and the others still remain on the defensive. Bruiser swings the bar at Dallion, who catches and holds the other end in his right paw, inches from his chest. JENNY It's OK, Bucky. BUCKY Are you sure? He could still be ... JENNY No, he isn't. BUCKY There's no way to be sure; he could just be waiting to double-cross us! Jenny places her paw on Bucky's blaster, pushing it down. JENNY (reassuringly) Bucky, trust me. I know for a fact that the toads will no longer be able to control him. Bucky looks at Dallion, then looks into Jenny's eyes to see nothing but sincerity. He then remembers the time when it was he trying to convince her to trust Dallion. Another loud explosion is heard, and the crew and Dallion feel a strong breeze. A computerized VOICE is then heard all throughout the ship. VOICE Warning. Hull of mothership has been breached. Losing air pressure rapidly. Warning. BUCKY (holstering blaster) Everyone in the ship, now! We're leaving! The crew rushes inside the Righteous as quickly as they can. Jenny, the last one to enter, gets inside and turns around to see Dallion still standing in the same spot. JENNY Hurry, there's not much time! DALLION I do not deserve to be saved. JENNY (angered) Don't give me that! Besides, wouldn't it be a victory for the toads if you did die right now? Dallion looks down at the claws on his paws, then looks back up to see Jenny and Deadeye looking back at him. DEADEYE C'mon, matey! A huge explosion, this time inside the hangar, causes Dallion to be thrown to the floor. He rolls over, then jumps just in time to dodge debris falling from the top of the hangar. Dallion then runs and jumps into the Righteous as the door shuts right behind him. DEADEYE (securing the door) Go, Cap'n, go! Bucky brings the engines to full power and takes off as Jenny makes it to her seat beside him. He flies to the far side of the hangar, where he finds the break in the hull. BUCKY (over comm) Deadeye, concentrate all fire on that hole, and widen it out a bit! Without a word, Deadeye begins blasting at the wall, blowing large fragments away and widening the crack. DEADEYE Ha hah! That oughta do it. BUCKY Hold on, everyone! Bucky pushes the ship as fast as it can to go through the break. The ship is jolted to one side as the ship barely clips the side of the hole. The Righteous screams away from the mothership, which has bursts of fire all over its surface. Then, in a blinding flash, the ship detonates. JENNY Bucky, shockwave approaching fast! BUCKY (over comm) Willy, do we have enough power for a hyperspace jump? WILLY (over comm) Go for it, Captain! BUCKY Punch it, Jenny! The Righteous, among the debris of the destroyed toad double bubbles, makes a jump into hyperspace. The shockwave then makes it through, vaporizing the debris. BUCKY (thinking) (beat) SCENE 19 - WARREN The Righteous sets down on an open, hilly, grassy field. The entire crew sits on the ground around Jenny, who is explaining all that happened in the computer core room with Dallion, Toadborg, and her. JENNY The device in Dallion's head must have short-circuited because of Toadborg overloading it when Dallion was trying to resist. The crew then looks toward Dallion, who is standing by himself about fifty feet away, overlooking the countryside. BUCKY So, he's now totally free from toad control? JENNY It seems so. Toadborg couldn't stop Dallion from attacking him. DEADEYE Y'know, Cap'n, he'd be a great asset to the UAC. He could be anythin' with his skills. A soldier, an assassin, a bodyguard, a marine ... anythin'. JENNY You need to remember, Deadeye, that under all that power and metal is a Luporian. Everything we've seen from him is, by what has been told about them, not what he really is. I highly doubt that he would join the UAC. DEADEYE Lassie, I don't know nothin' about them wolves. All's I know is, Dallion hates them toadies, and he sure has a way o' dealin' with 'em. Jenny looks up to see Bucky walking over to Dallion. She gets to her feet and heads toward them just as Bucky reaches Dallion's side. DALLION Nature here is well taken care of by your people. It has been a long time since I have been on a planet full of life. BUCKY How long? DALLION Since I was captured. JENNY (just coming into earshot) Really? It's been that long? DALLION Yes, for on the toad world, nature is dead. There is nothing but metal and pollution filling its void. BUCKY What about when you escaped? DALLION I hid on the most desolate planet I could find. JENNY What are you going to do now? DALLION Make amends for all that I have done and caused. And also do as much as I can to put an end to the toad menace. BUCKY (encouragingly) Will you fight with our fleet, then? DALLION No, this is a personal matter for me. It is something which I must see through on my own. I would prefer to work alone. BUCKY (nodding understandingly) Well, if you do ever need any help or anything ... DALLION Yes, I would know who to go to. And that is mutual. I consider myself indebted to you and your crew and will do anything for all of you. (thrusters opening) But I must be going now. BUCKY (salutes) Very well, then. Take care, and good luck. DALLION (nods) You as well, Captain. Bucky turns to head back to the ship. Jenny stands with Dallion for just a few more moments, then turns as well. Dallion, however, reaches down and takes her by her right paw. Jenny quickly turns back around to face him. Dallion drops to one knee and places his other paw over hers. JENNY (surprised) Dallion? DALLION And to you, Jenny, I owe more than I can ever repay, for finally, truly freeing me from the toads. JENNY (stuttering) But, Dallion, I ... I could have killed you. DALLION Even so, you would have still freed me. I don't know how you did, but you did. Dallion reaches up with his right paw to gently touch the patch of dried blood on Jenny's neck. DALLION (regretfully) This stain on your throat will forever be a stain on my soul. Jenny opens her mouth to say something but remains silent. She takes her free paw and rubs off the splotches of her own blood off of Dallion's thumb claw. Dallion releases her paw and stands back up. Jenny notices that there is now a small disk in her paw. DALLION On that disk is the comm frequency that I will respond to. It also contains an encryption pattern that I can decode, to be sure that no one else will pick up your summons to me. Dallion backs away to create a safe distance between Jenny and his thrusters. DALLION Goodbye. With a loud blast and a single jump, Dallion is gone. Jenny watches on as the streak of light disappears into the clouds. She then turns and heads back to the ship. THE END