Catton:  Good idea, Polly.  [hands Speedy the photo, then walks into Francine's room, followed
by the rest of the team]

Rescue Team:  (in unison) FRANCINE!

[Francine can be heard laughing hysterically]

Polly:  [giggles, sits next to Speedy] They haven't changed a bit.

Speedy:  [smiles] Yeah.  How are Francine and Guido?

Polly:  Francine's doing well, but poor Guido needed some coffee.  He hasn't left her side all night,
and I don't think he plans to.

Carla:  [sighs] How sweet...

GB:  Well, if you two don't mind, Carla and I are going to find someplace to sleep.

Speedy:  [nods] Go ahead.

[GB and Carla go up the hall a little, and sit in two empty chairs next to each other]

Polly:  (concerned) You should try and get some sleep too, dear.  Staring at that photo all night
won't help you any.

Speedy:  [sighs] I know.  I just feel so helpless.  We were caught totally off guard with this.
Never saw it coming.  Makes me feel...well...(almost inaudibly) scared.

Polly:  (shocked) SCARED?  YOU?

Speedy:  [nods, too embarrassed to say anything]

Polly:  [hugs Speedy tightly] I'm sorry, Speedy.  I just don't really see you scared that often.
You're always the one reinforcing ME.  But you know something?  There's no one else on Earth
I'd rather be with at a time like this.  [kisses Speedy gently, rests her head on his shoulder, and
closes her eyes]

Speedy:  [smiles] (softly) Thanks, Polly.  I just wish I was as confident about this as you are.

Polly:  [mumbles something softly, already fast asleep]

Speedy:  [smiles] Good night, sweetheart.  [kisses Polly on the cheek, and is soon asleep himself]

[Scene switches to a close up of a digital clock on a wall.  The display reads 2:00 AM.  The
hospital is very dark, with the only light coming from dimly lit wall lights and some moonlight
coming in through the windows.  Switch to Francine's room.  Francine is asleep in her bed.  Guido
sits asleep in a chair, snoring quietly.  The Rescue Team members are in sitting positions on the
floor, propped up against a wall, asleep.  Switch to the hallway.  GB and Carla are asleep, with a
blanket draped over them.  The view slowly pans over to Speedy and Polly, and a dark figure is
draping a blanket over them, as well]

Jonas:  (softly) Sleep well, my friends.

Hunter:  Do you not wish to report to them what you've found, sir?

Jonas:  They've had a very hard day, Hunter.  They won't be of any use to me if they're too
fatigued to fight.

Hunter:  But you DO plan to wake them?

Jonas:  Eventually, YES.  But not yet.  Pull up a map of the Earth for me.

[A small beam of light emits from one of Jonas' gauntlets, projecting a 3-D globe of the Earth]

Jonas:  Give me a location based on the information we found.

[A blip pops up somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean]

Jonas:  (puzzled) What?  Hunter, recheck your calculations.

Hunter:  Working...calculations confirmed.  Location is correct.

Jonas:  But that doesn't make any sense...you up for a little road trip, Hunter?

Hunter:  Always, sir.

[Jonas silently disappears.  Scene switches to Francine's room, later that morning.  It's still early,
but sunlight is shining in through the windows.  Francine is still asleep, but the Rescue Team is
nowhere to be seen.  Guido walks in with a tray of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and orange
juice, and sets it down on the bed]

Guido:  (softly) Francine...Francine?

Francine:  (drowsily) Huh?  [smiles] Oh, hi Guido.  [yawn] What time is it?

Guido:  About 8:00.  How do you feel?

Francine:  [thinks] Let me check.  [sits up quickly, throws her arms around Guido] I feel GREAT!

Guido:  [laughs, pats Francine on the back] Glad to hear it, Fran.  I brought you some breakfast.

Francine:  Oh, thank you.  [takes a bite of the eggs] Where did the Rescue Team go?

Guido:  They're downstairs in the cafeteria.  I thought you might like some breakfast in bed.

Francine:  [smiles] You'd be right.  [takes a drink of the orange juice] Would you like some?

Guido:  [shakes his head] I already ate.  I'm not hungry.

Francine:  [nods, silent for a moment] Guido...tell me something...did you stay here all night?

Guido:  Yeah.

Francine:  Awake?

Guido:  I stayed up until...12:30, 1:00 maybe.  Then I fell asleep.

Francine:  (concerned) Guido, you really shouldn't have.  I know you're concerned, but you
shouldn't sacrifice your health for me.

Guido:  [holds Francine's hands, sighs] Francine, you know you mean a lot to me.  I couldn't get
any rest without making sure you'd be safe, first.

Francine:  (softly) Guido, I...

[Jonas walks in]

Jonas:  (hurriedly) There you are, Guido.  Glad to see you awake, Francine.  How do you feel?

Francine:  [nods] I'm fine.  Is something wrong?  You look out of breath.

Jonas:  I found something.  I need to get everyone together downstairs as soon as possible.

Guido:  We're ready now, if you need us.

Jonas:  Good.  Follow me.  [quickly walks out]

Guido:  [helping Francine up] Easy does it.

Francine:  [smiles] I'll be fine, Guido.  You can go on ahead.

Guido:  [shakes his head] Not a chance.  I'm not letting you out of my sight.

Francine:  (touched) Well, if that's the way you want it...[jumps up, dashes out the door] You'll
have to catch me, first!

Guido:  (surprised) Huh?  Hey, wait up!  [chases after Francine]

[Scene changes to the hospital cafeteria.  Speedy, Polly, GB, Carla, and the Rescue Team are all
gathered around a table talking about something.  Guido and Francine walk in, holding hands
tightly]

Speedy:  [notices Guido and Francine enter] Eh?  [gets up, gives Francine a gentle hug] You
okay, Francy?

Francine:  [nods] I feel much better, Speedy.  Thanks.

Guido:  [looks around] Where's Jonas?  He told us to come down here.

Polly:  [walks over] We were kind of hoping you could tell us the same thing.

[The ventilation grate above the table clatters to the ground, and Jonas drops from the ducts onto
the table, sword drawn.  Everyone in the room stares in shock]

Jonas:  [sheathes his sword]  (darkly) If I had been hostile, none of you would still be
BREATHING.

Speedy:  Why exactly are we down here, anyway?

Jonas:  [jumps off the table, walks over to Francine, removes the gauntlet on her arm, and returns
it to his satchel] I found something you'll all want to see.  We'd best get back to the parlor.

GB:  What parlor?  The whole place caved in.

Jonas:  I didn't deny myself sleep last night for nothing.  Let's go.

[Within ten minutes, everyone arrives at the parlor.  It and GB's house have been totally restored]

Polly:  [touches a parlor wall in disbelief] How...?

Jonas:  Wasn't that difficult with the blueprints stored in memory.  Come on.  [Walks inside.
Everyone follows]

Speedy:  So, what'd you find?

Jonas:  [flips off the lights] Just a second.  [Points an arm toward a wall.  A light on his gauntlet
projects an image onto it.  It appears to be the surface of the ocean, late at night] I found
something else other than that emblem burned into a wall.  On another wall, I found a set of
latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates.  They corresponded to this position, approximately 100
miles away from the Hawaiian Islands.

GB:  [squints at the image] I don't see anything.

Jonas:  Conventional scans didn't turn up anything, and I was ready to begin an underwater scan,
when I saw this.  [A small white dot appears in the image.  The view zooms in to reveal a
commercial jetliner] Little Tokyo Air, Flight 920, round-trip to Hawaii.  Including the 2 pilots, it
has a capacity of 322 people.  The majority of them consist of children and tourists, just looking
for a good time.  [The plane flies along for about ten seconds, then suddenly bursts into flames,
and crashes into the water] All of them are dead.

Polly:  [turns away] Unnh...

Guido:  (shocked) 322 people...

Jonas:  Combined with those that died yesterday, that brings our fatality total up to 425.  That's
when I tried running different scans.  Look at this.  [View brightens to the point where you'd think
it was midday] Now, what do you see?

Speedy:  [squints, points to the image] What's this?  [The area Speedy is pointing to has no visible
objects, but appears distorted, as if next to an incredible heat source]

Jonas:  [nods] That...is light being bent and warped.  The effect can create...[Raises his other
hand, which turns invisible, creating the same distorted effect] artificial invisibility.  It can be done
with technology or your body's energy, but either way, it takes an enormous amount of energy.
That explains why no one saw anything actually attack yesterday.  The attacker was cloaked!  The
power source that kept the field stable was the cause of all that signal interference.  The amount
of power it was giving off to maintain the cloak was distorting the signals.  [makes his hand
visible] It's difficult to stay cloaked for long, because the power drain is just too high.  If you use
your body's own energy, you can only stand the strain for a few minutes.

Spritz:  So, what exactly are we looking at?

Jonas:  After I figured out what was causing that distortion, I modified my sensors to compensate.
Take a look at THIS.

[The image changes to an infrared type view.  In the area that was once distorted, a huge,
sphere-shaped fortress shimmers into view, hovering in the air.  Turrets of several shapes and
sizes cover the surface]

Catton:  (in awe) What in the world is THAT?

Jonas:  That...is our target.  I took a good look around this thing.  It's nearly the size of the
Palace.  That blast that blew up the plane?  The same type that was used downtown.  This is
where our mystery attacker is from.  I ran every scan I could think of on this place.  It's generating
an almost incomprehensible amount of power, but no radiation was picked up.  It's littered with
defenses, from laser turrets to some kind of force field.  If we're going to take it out, we're going
to need HELP.  We'll spend today preparing, and strike at dawn tomorrow.  We've got to try and
end this as soon as possible.

Bat Cat:  We don't even know who's behind this.  How are we going to prepare?

Jonas:  We'll be going up against some heavy ordinance, here.  We should try and allocate some
resources of our own.  We should try and get help from the immediate area, first.  Any ideas?

Meowzma:  We should try Big Al, first.  If we make him understand the city's in danger, he'll help
us.

Jonas:  [nods] Good idea.  Let's go.

[Scene switches to Big Al's room at the Palace.  Everyone is standing in front of Big Al]

Al:  [shakes his head] I'm sorry, but I can't help you.

Speedy:  (shocked) WHAT!?  Al, you've gotta be KIDDING!

Al:  I'm truly sorry, Speedy, but all of our efforts are being put into reconstruction of the city.  We
just don't have any material to spare.

Guido:  Al, whoever this is, they've already killed over 400 people, including Lucille.  They almost
killed GB and Francine.  They'll kill again unless we stop them.

Al:  [thinks] Hmm...you can ask Princess Violet for help yourself, but there's nothing I can do.

Polly:  Where is she?

Vi:  (off-screen) I'M SENDING YOU TO PRISONER ISLAND!!!

GB:  [winces] That would be her now.

Rescue Team:  (in unison) [gulp] Uh-huh.

Jonas:  How bad can she BE?

Carla:  You'll see.

Vi:  (off-screen) AL!!! GET IN HERE, NOW!!!

Al:  [sighs] Well, here's your chance.  Come on.

[Everyone enters the throne room.  Vi is sitting on a pillow, with Emperor Fred and Empress
Frieda on both sides, sitting on their thrones.  Everyone enters the room and bows down]

Vi:  AL, I WANT YOU TO-[notices everyone with Al] (puzzled) Huh?  What are THEY doing
here?

Al:  They'd like to make a request, your highness.

Vi:  Oh.  Well then, out with it.  I don't have all day.

[Speedy gets up, and begins to walk toward Vi]

Vi:  What are you doing?

Speedy:  (puzzled) Um...making a request, your highness.

Vi:  Not YOU.  Let the new guy do it.

Speedy:  (confused) New guy...?

Vi:  [points to Jonas] Him, parmesan brain.  The one with the cloak.

Jonas:  Me?

Vi:  Yes, YOU.  Come up here.

[Jonas gets up, and walks up to Vi]

Vi:  What's your name?

Jonas:  Jonas, your majesty.  Jonas Miles.

Vi:  Jonas, eh?  State your business here.

Jonas:  Well, your highness, we're preparing to launch a large-scale assault on a target we believe
poses a threat to Little Tokyo and the surrounding area.  The target has already been the cause of
several deaths, the latest incident with a plane early this morning.

Vi:  [nods] Yes, I heard about that.  Terrible tragedy.

Jonas:  We're allocating supplies in preparation for a counteroffensive.  On behalf of the team, I'm
asking you to give us any materials you can spare.

Vi:  [nods] I understand.  [turns around] However, I'm afraid that what you're asking may not be
possible.

Jonas:  But-

Vi:  (cutting Jonas off) I'm not being cruel, but you must understand what the city is going
through right now.  That comet devastated us.  We're focusing nearly all of our resources on the
reconstruction effort.  We have almost nothing to spare.

Jonas:  I understand, but-

Vi:  (interrupting again) Hey, wait a second.  You look familiar...[turns to face Jonas] Weren't
you involved in an incident with a crane a couple of days ago?

Jonas:  Yes, Princess, but-

Vi:  (interrupting yet again) That was deliberate destruction of Little Tokyo government property,
involved in the reconstruction effort!  What is your defense?

Jonas:  (getting angry) I was saving-

Vi:  AL!!! SEND THIS MAN TO PRISONER ISLAND!!!

[A crash of thunder resounds throughout the Palace]

Jonas:  (enraged) ENOUGH!!!

[The force of Jonas' voice knocks everyone down]

Jonas:  [begins to glow a bright yellow] (ballistic) DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE
HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST 24 HOURS!?  DO YOU!?!?  WE HAVE BEEN
THROUGH A PERSONAL HELL THAT A SPOILED BRAT LIKE YOURSELF CAN'T
EVEN IMAGINE!!!  425 PEOPLE ARE DEAD, SOME OF THEM GOOD FRIENDS!!!  BUT
DO YOU SHED ONE DAMN TEAR IN REMORSE!?!?  NO!!!  WELL, I'M GOING TO
TEACH YOU A LESSON IN RESPECT YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!!!

[A bluish beam of energy shoots out from the confines of Jonas' hood, striking Vi in the forehead.
The impact knocks her against a wall]

Jonas:  (under his breath) God forgive me for what I just did.

Emperor Fred:  FA-RED!

Frieda:  GUARDS!!! GET HIM!!!

[Two guards near the doorway get up and unsheathe their swords]

Jonas:  [Unsheathes Crusader.  An ear-splitting sound is heard as the blade cleaves the air] (has
completely lost it) YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!?  COME ON!!! TRY ME!!!

[The Pizza Cats can only watch in stunned silence.  The stunned guards stop dead in their tracks]

Vi:  [getting to her feet] No, wait.  It's all right.

Frieda:  [helps Vi to her feet] (concerned) Are you okay, snugglebunny?

Fred:  (same) Fred?

Vi:  (recovering) I'm fine, mother.  In fact...[stands] I think I've never seen things quite so clearly.
[walks up to Jonas, hangs her head] I...I'm sorry.

All except Jonas:  (shocked) WHAT!?

Jonas:  [shakes his head] Please, don't apologize, Princess.  I'm the one who's sorry.  What I did
was uncalled for.  I just haven't had much sleep lately, and, well...

Vi:  [nods] I understand, now that I've seen what you've been through.  You will have at your
disposal any resources I can spare you.  Still, you must understand that attention has to be
focused on city repairs.

Jonas:  [nods] Indeed.  Thank you, Princess.

Vi:  [same] Good luck.

[As Jonas leaves the room, followed by a group of stunned Pizza Cats...]

Speedy:  What did you DO to her?

Jonas:  [hangs his head] Something I had no right to do.  I really overreacted back there.  I
mentally injected her with memories from the last 24 hours.  Those explosions, the collapsing
buildings, the hospital...everything.

Polly:  [winces] Ouch.  That must have been awful.

Jonas:  [nods] Vi's always been pampered by her palace attendants.  She's never known anything
like what we went through yesterday.  I effectively gave her a crash course in reality.  I was just
so angry...I had to make her realize how important this really is.

Guido:  I doubt she'll ever forget that little moment.  What do we do now?

Jonas:  [shrugs] Anyone else know of a place where we can get supplies?

GB:  We should try Guru Lou.  He always has some surplus lying around.

Spritz:  That's pretty far away.  Lou lives near the base of Mount Coochie.  How will we get
there?

Jonas:  Hunter?

Hunter:  Large amount of interference detected in desired target area, sir.  Teleportation is
inadvisable.

Polly:  (alarmed) Interference?  Do you think that thing got Lou!?

Jonas:  [shakes his head] That would be illogical.  Why hit now, when we're all awake?  Why not
last night, when we were vulnerable?  Uh-uh.  Whoever is doing this is playing it like a game of
chess.  It's our move.  Our opponent is so confident of victory, they've dropped their address right
into our laps.  That was a mistake on their part.  It's time for us to put them in checkmate.

Catton:  We should get going as soon as possible.  It'll take an hour or two to get to Lou's if we
walk.

Bat Cat: The General's right.  We need to get moving.

Meowzma:  Can you make it that far, Francine?  In your condition?

Francine:  I don't really have much of a condition anymore.  I feel fine now.

Jonas:  [nods] Good.  Once we reach Lou's, we'll get supplies, and stay the night.  We finish this
tomorrow.

[The team begins the long walk to Guru Lou's.  The blazing sun passes overhead, making travel
all the more difficult for our distressed heroes.  About half way to their destination, Speedy gets
something off his chest]

Speedy:  (to Jonas) You're really taking this hard, aren't you?

Jonas:  (curious) How do you mean?

Speedy:  By all rights, we should be far more upset than you.  This hit OUR town, OUR home,
hurt people WE know...or knew.  But throughout it all, you've spearheaded an effort to strike
back, while we've still been recovering from the sheer shock of it all.  You've been working like
you're possessed.  The way you spoke to Vi today.  If you were well-rested, you wouldn't have
done that.  You don't even know us that well.  Why?

Jonas:  [sighs] I suppose it is a little strange.  But you have to look at it from my point of view.
In the last 2 days, 425 lives have been snuffed off the planet.  Gone.  It's almost certain that
without my presence here, at least one of you would be among them.  That realization has lit a fire
inside me.  This is what all those years of training were for.  [clenches his fists] Ooh hoo hoo,
someone is going to PAY.

Speedy:  [nods] It's just very odd.  Even through all this chaos, you've maintained a leadership
role.  You've gone out of your way putting effort into this, and, well...[hangs his head] We haven't
done anything except follow you around.

Jonas:  (surprised) Don't tell me you feel GUILTY?

Polly:  [nods] Speedy's right.  You've been working yourself to exhaustion, but what have we
done?  Nothing.  We can't help but feel like we're not doing our part.

Jonas:  [stops walking] I don't want you to feel that way for another second.  I don't blame you
for being unable to help me out.  You don't even know what the hell I've been doing to find out
what I have.  You have a right to grieve for those that were lost.  One of the reasons I've been
able to do so much is because I haven't been personally affected by this.  Your home was crushed,
your friends killed.  Lesser people would have gone INSANE.  But you've held on.  That's a sign
of your integrity.

Speedy:  But-

Jonas:  (interrupting) Pull yourselves together!  You're Pizza Cats!  Just because you haven't been
able to do anything doesn't mean you don't care!  That's all about to change!  By tomorrow, you
all know as well as I do that someone is going to get their ass kicked, Pizza Cats style!

[Everyone nods, a bit rejuvenated by Jonas' comments]

Jonas:  Then this subject stops here?

Speedy:  [nods, smiles] You got it.

Jonas:  Good.  Let's get moving then.

Francine:  Can you guys go ahead for a minute?  Guido and I have to talk.

Guido:  (puzzled) We DO?

Jonas:  [nods] Just don't take too long, all right?

[The rest of the group slowly walks off]

Guido:  (curious) What is it, Francine?

Francine:  Tell me what's wrong with you, Guido.

Guido:  (puzzled) Pardon ME?

Francine:  Guido Anchovy, for the last few days, your mind has been totally out of order.
Someone could be talking to you, and you wouldn't even notice.  I know Lucille's death has hit
you hard.  It hit me hard, too.  But this started before she died.  I want to know WHY.

Guido:  <Oh, man, I can't ask her right now.  My nerves are shot as it is!>  [sighs] You're right,
Francine.

Francine:  (surprised) Huh?  <Wasn't expecting that.>  I am?

Guido:  [nods] You deserve an explanation, but it's just very personal, and, well...

Francine:  I know you have a right to privacy, Guido, but this isn't healthy.  [hangs her head] I'm
really worried about you.

Guido:  [Gently lifts Francine's head up with his index finger.  Tears are forming in her eyes] I'm
sorry, Francine.  I'm just not ready yet.  But soon, I promise.  [gently kisses Francine on the
cheek]

Francine:  [forces a smile] You promise?

Guido:  [smiles] Trust me, Fran.  As far as this is concerned, you'll be the first to know.

Francine:  (curious) Really?

Guido:  [nods] Yeah.  [puts an arm around Francine] Now, what do you say we join the others?

Francine:  [blushes slightly] You got it.

[Up ahead...]

Spritz:  They coming?

Jonas:  [stops for a moment, looks back, then continues on] They're coming.  Just keep going.

[The group finally arrives at Guru Lou's at around 12:00-1:00 PM]

Lou:  [standing in the doorway] I've been expecting you!  [squints at Jonas] Eh?  Who's this?

Speedy:  Later, Lou.  Let us in, will ya?  It's hot out here!

Lou:  [steps aside] I heard about what happened yesterday.  Are you all okay?

Speedy:  Physically, yes.  Emotionally...[shakes his head] We'll never be the same.

Lou:  What took you so long to come here for help?  I expected you sooner.

Polly:  We've been busy, Lou.  Francine was hurt badly.  She needed medical attention.  We spent
the night at the hospital.

Lou:  Are you all right, Francine?

Francine:  [nods] I'm fine, Lou.  Just a headache, that's all.

Carla:  You can blame the headache on this HEAT!  Can we get something to drink?

Lou:  [nods] Cups are near the sink.  Help yourselves.

[Polly begins getting cups of water for everyone]

Jonas:  I think I've figured out why there's so much interference up here.

GB:  Why is that?

Jonas:  Isn't there some kind of shrine up here or something?

Lou:  [nods] The Catatonic Robot was encased in a statue at the top of Mount Coochie.  Why?

Jonas:  A magical field would account for the interference.   Hard to compensate against that kind
of field.

Lou:  Who are you, anyway?

[Time passes as Speedy explains Jonas' story to Lou, as well as the information they've gathered
on their new foe]

Lou:  Hmm, interesting.  A fellow inventor, eh?

Jonas:  You could say that.

Lou:  Well, I can probably rig up something to mask you from being scanned, but it sounds like
this thing has impressive weapons capabilities.  How do you plan to get close enough to board it?

Jonas:  That'll be up to you and me.  We'll also need transportation.

Lou:  [smiles] Already done.  Follow me.  [Walks out of the house and into the back yard.
Everyone follows.  There is a large object hidden underneath a white sheet.  Yanks off the sheet]
TA-DA!

[The object resembles a rectangular cargo trailer that would hitch to the back of a semi-truck, and
is roughly the same size.  It has been modified with large wings, a cockpit, and two large engines
on the back.  It is impressive, but looks very odd]

Speedy:  Um...

Polly:  Er...

Guido:  Yeah...

Lou:  [knocks on one of the sides] Been working on it for a while now.  Titanium coating.  Dual
engines.  No weapons, though.  It's designed to get you where you need to go, not for fighting.

Jonas:  [carefully examines the craft] Hmm...crude design, but it fits our needs.  What do you call
it?

Lou:  What do you mean?

Jonas:  [turns to Lou] You HAVE named it, haven't you?

Lou:  It never occurred to me to name it.

Jonas:  [shakes his head] Can't go on a mission without naming the ship.  Might hex the whole
thing.  [turns to Speedy] Why don't you give it a shot, Cerviche?

Speedy:  (a little surprised) Huh?  Me?

Jonas:  [nods] Yes, you.  You're the leader, name this thing.

Speedy:  <Am I really still the leader around here?>  [scratches his chin] Hmm...[eyes widen as he
thinks of something] How about...the Nova?

Guido:  Where'd you come up with Nova?

Speedy:  Dunno.  Just seems to fit it.

Polly:  [smiles] It suits it just fine, dear.

Jonas:  Nova, eh?  Not bad.  [checks the time:  1:30 PM] (a hint of fatigue) Might as well get
started.  [walks back into the house]

Catton:  What's with HIM?

Speedy:  [sighs] He must be exhausted.  He's been working nonstop for nearly a day now, without
sleep.  Time for us to pay him back.

Bat Cat:  Is it just me, or is anyone else here nervous about this whole thing?

Meowzma:  [nods] Tell me about it.  Who knows what we'll find in that thing once we get inside?

GB:  The question isn't exactly what, but WHO.

[Everyone turns to GB]

GB:  Think about it.  Who could this possibly be?  We never had any enemies, except for
Seymour, and he's probably lying dead in a gutter somewhere.  Jonas found a modified version of
the Flying Skull insignia burnt into one of the parlor's walls, but they don't operate like this.  The
Rude Noise?  They're so desperate for money, they play at weddings!  So, who is it?

Spritz:  Guys, here's something we never thought of:  What if this is somebody NEW?

[Everyone stands silent for a moment]

Guido:  He's right.  We only have experience against Seymour and his goons.  If this was a new
player to the game, we'd be totally unprepared.  No prior experience, no reference, no
expectations.

Carla:  Whoever they are, they're trying to frame the Flying Skull for it.  We never had any mortal
enemies, though.  Do you have any ideas, Birdie?

GB:  [shakes his head] None.  Almost none of this makes sense.  Who would want to attack us?
WHY?

Speedy:  I'm willing to bet our answers are inside that floating fortress.  Once we crack it open,
we'll have our answers.

Polly:  If we can get close enough.  You saw what happened to that plane.  We could be
vaporized before we got close enough to board it.

Lou:  [laughs] Leave that to me.  I'll be able to rig something up to scramble their readings on
you.

Jonas:  (yelling from the house) You guys gonna help me out here, or what?

[The next several hours pass almost like minutes.  We see several scenes of everyone working,
such as Polly carrying around a load of metal, Speedy hammering on something, and Jonas
flipping down a welding mask, followed by a shower of sparks.  As the sun begins to sink below
the horizon...]

Jonas:  Okay, everyone!  Break time!

GB:  [sets down the sack of scrap metal he's carrying, leans against a wall] WHEW!  What's all
this metal for, anyway?

Lou:  You'll need something to divert that thing's attention away from you while you try to get
close, in case the stealth mode fails.  Jonas and I have come up with something.  Come look at
this.

[Everyone gathers around a table, which has some kind of blueprint on it.  The plans show the
front and side views of something resembling a mechanical butterfly]

Guido:  Hate to tell you, Lou, but it doesn't really look that fierce.

Lou:  The finished models will be approximately 3 feet tall, with small laser cannons.  Individually,
they won't do much damage, but in large numbers, if they aren't dealt with, they can be very
dangerous.  They should be highly maneuverable, and able to withstand a few direct hits each.

Jonas:  [walks in from the back yard, holding a wrench in one hand] (breathing heavily) Okay, the
Nova now has cloaking capabilities!  It's not much, but it was the best I could do with the
materials at hand.  You got those plans drawn up, Lou?

Lou:  [nods] Right here.

Jonas:  [looks over the blueprints] Hmm...these should do the job.  I'll get started right away.
[picks up a sack of scrap metal, and heads into another room]

Lou:  Does that man EVER rest?
 
Speedy:  [shakes his head] He's going to see this through to the end, even if it kills him.

Carla:  At the rate he's going, it might do just that.  [looks around] You got a TV, Lou?  I'd like
to check the news, if you don't mind.

Lou:  I've got one in here SOMEWHERE, underneath all this junk.  Just look around for it.
 
Carla:  [sifts through a pile of clothing, finds a small TV set] Here we are.  [turns it on]

TV Newscaster:  In other news, Princess Vi made a shocking announcement earlier today,
proclaiming that any citizens of Little Tokyo exiled to her islands of incarceration, such as the
infamous Prisoner Island, are now free to return home.  Council members say that a change has
come over the Princess, and that she is not the same person she once was.

Bat Cat:  Well, I'll be...

Jonas:  [overhearing the TV, chuckles] <Good for you, Vi.>

TV Newscaster:  This network has also learned from a reliable source that the Princess has, for an
unknown reason, mobilized all ships in the Royal Navy not currently on assignment.  This makes
up a fleet of over a dozen battleships.  No one knows where the ships are headed, or for what
reason.

Spritz:  (surprised) Say WHAT?

Jonas:  [pokes his head in the room] Did I hear right?  Did he say over a dozen battleships?

Catton:  Yeah.  Any idea where they're headed?

Jonas:  <Man, when Vi wants something DONE...> I think she's sending them to the coordinates
of that flying monstrosity.
 
Meowzma:  How would she know where it is?

Jonas:  When I blasted her earlier...that would have included that thing's position!

GB:  Won't they be in danger there?

Jonas:  [shakes his head] Destroying that fleet would have every decent military force in the world
after that thing.  It's in our opponent's best interest to remain covert...for now.  [sighs] If you'll
excuse me, I have work to do. [starts to walk out]

Francine:  Just where do you think you're going, mister?

Jonas:  (puzzled) To work...

Francine:  [shakes her head] Uh-uh, no way.  YOU are going to get some rest.

Jonas:  (confused) What?

Francine:  Look at yourself, man!  You've been running yourself ragged!  You're the one who's
always telling us to rest before a fight.  Follow your own advice!

Jonas:  I appreciate your concern, Francine, but I'll be fine.  I assure you.

Francine:  Oh, this isn't a request.  This is an order from your boss.

Jonas:  [blinks in surprise, laughs] Well, when you put it THAT way...(uneasily) But what about
all this work?  It has to be finished by morning.

Francine:  [lays a hand on Jonas' shoulder] Then let us handle it, for once.  You've done so much
for us, we can never thank you enough.  The very least we can do is try to repay you.

Jonas:  (unsure) I suppose...but you must follow those designs to the letter.  Don't change
ANYTHING without notifying me.

Francine:  [nods] We will, we will.  Now go to bed before I dock your pay!
 
Jonas:  [laughs, glances at Speedy] Just a second.  [walks over to Speedy] Just so you know,
Speedy...I'm not trying to replace you as leader of the Pizza Cats.

Speedy:  [blinks in surprise, then scowls] It's not nice to mess with other people's minds, Miles.

Jonas:  I'm NOT!  You people are just so open minded, you're practically throwing your thoughts
at me.  The point is this:  I'll admit, I have been a little...commanding lately.  That's only because
this is what I was trained to do.  What I spent years readying myself for.  Now that the time has
come, I plan to use what I've learned.  Up until now, you were all temporarily incapacitated.
You've recovered, though, and I must say...I'm glad to have someone fighting alongside me.  No
matter what happens, you are still the leader of this group.  Remember that.
 
Speedy:  (a little surprised) Uh...okay...

Francine:  [supports Jonas on one shoulder] Come on, now.  Let's get you into bed.  You have a
guest room or something, Lou?

Lou:  [nods] To your right, there.

Jonas:  [walking with Francine] But it's only a few minutes after 7:00...(whispering to Francine)
You should worry about Guido more than me.

Francine:  (whispering to Jonas) Guido? [glances back at Guido, who is flipping channels on the
TV set] What about him?

Jonas:  Haven't you seen how he's been these last few hours we've been working?  Silent, tireless,
efficient.  I'm in this to end it as quickly as possible, but I think he's in it for REVENGE.

Francine:  (surprised) Revenge?  GUIDO?

Jonas:  [nods] He blames himself for what happened to you, for not being there when the attack
hit.  He blames himself for Lucille's death, as well.  You and I both know that there's nothing he
could have done, but in his own eyes, he believes he has failed as a Pizza Cat.

Francine:  [stunned silence]

Jonas:  The ones with vengeance on their minds are by far the most dangerous.  Nothing, and I
mean NOTHING matters to them except getting even.  He'll work until he drops if you don't stop
him.  That cat wants some payback.

Francine:  [worried look crosses her face] You get some rest.  Let ME handle Guido.

Jonas:  [nods] All right.  See you at dawn.  [walks into the guest room]

[Meanwhile...]

Speedy:  Wow, never seen Francine assert herself like that.

Polly:  [nods] Yeah.  [turns to Speedy] You thought he was replacing you as leader?

Speedy:  [sighs] I'll admit, the thought did cross my mind.  It just seemed like we weren't in
control of our lives anymore.  HE was.

[Before anyone else can voice their opinion, Francine returns]

Francine:  Come here, Guido.

Guido:  [glances at Francine and Polly, then walks over to Francine] What'd I do?

Francine:  [blinks in surprise, then smiles] You haven't done anything, silly.  I just need to talk to
you.

Guido:  (curious) I'm listening.

Francine:  If it's all right...I'd like you to get some rest as well.

Guido:  (puzzled) But I feel fine.

Francine:  I know, but...I just don't want you pushing yourself like this.  (softly) I don't blame you
for what happened to me.

Guido:  [blinks in surprise, then sighs] You almost died back there, Francine.  I can't just let this
go.  I'm going to stay with it.

Francine:  [shakes her head] I'm not asking you to let go, just to slow down a little.  If you're not
careful, you're going to end up working like Jonas, and I KNOW that isn't healthy, physically or
mentally.

Guido:  Or what?  You'll order ME to go to bed too?

Francine:  [shocked look] No, Guido, I won't.  If you choose to keep this pace, that's your choice,
but please...[lays a hand on Guido's shoulder] If not for yourself, then for ME, try to get some
rest.

Guido:  [Silent for a moment, in thought, then grasps Francine's hand] I'll be in bed before
midnight.  I promise.

Francine:  [nods] All right.  I'm going to hold you to that.

Speedy:  [has a distant, thinking look on his face, when he suddenly reaches out and grabs Polly
by the arm tightly]  (tensely, through clenched teeth) GHK!