Polly: [winces] OW! [turns to Speedy] (puzzled) Speedy? What is it? Are you okay?
Speedy: (voice wavering) I just thought of something, Polly.
Polly: What?
Speedy: Jonas...what if...what if he's a MACHINE?
GB: Say WHAT?
Jonas: Think about it. That would explain a lot. Why
he never seems to get tired. His reflexes.
Those energy blasts could have been created by a machine. A machine
could fly. To top it all off,
it's logical to assume that a machine could probably take more punishment
than us.
Guido: I don't think so, Speedy. He has to much personality
to be a machine. Too much
creativity in his fighting style.
Speedy: You know how advanced today's technology is, Guido.
He could be designed to be
ultra-realistic.
Francine: A machine can't read minds, Speedy. Also...[looks
in the direction of the guest room]
I've heard that man laugh. There's no machine on Earth that could
duplicate that laugh. He's
alive, and kicking.
Polly: We need to get our minds focused. Jonas isn't what
we should be concerned with. It's that
THING hovering out there that's making us so nervous. We need
to get our heads screwed on
the right way, and get to work.
[The group does just that. The scene fades to Guido, looking over
a schematic, holding a cup of
coffee in one hand. The area is dimly lit by a single overhead
light. No one else is around, and
Guido is apparently the only one awake. Lou walks in from another
room, wearing a robe and
nightcap]
Lou: [squinting in the light] Guido?
Guido: Huh? Oh, hi, Lou. What's up?
Lou: I got up to get a glass of water. What are you still doing up?
Guido: Just checking these schematics. Strange...are these
butterfly things actually going to be
able to help us?
Lou: [nods] They should, if they work like they're supposed to.
[Looks over to one side of the
room. Several of the completed machines stand in a line] They
take time to produce, though. All
of us working together, and we completed seven of them.
Guido: [nods] I hope they're worth it. You got the time?
Lou: Time for what?
Guido: [blinks in surprise, laughs] Let me rephrase that.
What time is it? I think my watch is a
little off.
Lou: Oh. [checks his wristwatch] 11:58.
Guido: (a little surprised) 11:58? That late? I promised Francine I'd be in bed by midnight.
Lou: You'd best get going, then. Jonas has taken the guest
bed, so take any space you can get in
the rest of the house. Everyone else has.
Guido: [nods] All right. At least my watch is on time. Good night, Lou.
Lou: Good night, Guido.
[Guido gets up, stretches, and slowly walks into the dark dining room
of Lou's home. Through
Guido's light-blue night vision view, we can see clearly. Speedy
and Polly are sitting against a
wall, asleep in each other's arms. Various Rescue Team members
have assumed different
positions throughout the room. Spritz, for example, is sprawled
across the dining table. GB and
Carla are sharing an easy chair, both asleep. Guido cannot help
but chuckle at the sheer humor
captured in this scene. He then spots Francine, sitting against
a wall, alone, and shivering slightly.
He quietly walks over and sits down next to her, attempting to be stealthy.
He puts one arm
around her, and closes his eyes]
Francine: (whispering) Took you long enough.
Guido: (same, surprised) You're awake?
Francine: [sleepy smile] I couldn't sleep. I've been thinking too much.
Guido: About what?
Francine: A lot of things. Jonas, Lucille, this whole attack
thing...[sighs] It's a lot to have on
your mind when you're trying to sleep. [smiles] At least you
made it by midnight.
Guido: [smiles] I made you a promise, Francine. I'm a man of my word.
Francine: You also promised to tell me what's bothering you. Do you feel like it now?
Guido: <Not yet. Now isn't the time.> Almost, Fran. Soon.
Francine: All right. [Rests her head against Guido's chest,
closes her eyes, and begins chuckling
softly]
Guido: What's so funny?
Francine: You're just like a big teddy bear. [soft laugh]
Guido: [blinks] <Never been described as a teddy bear before.> [laughs] Thanks, Fran...I think.
[Unknown to Guido, Francine couldn't hear him, for she was already fast
asleep. The view fades
to the outside of Lou's home, later that night. The sky is clear,
and the stars are shining brightly.
There is no movement for a few seconds, before Speedy Cerviche opens
the front door, walks
outside, and sits on the porch glider. He stares at the stars
for several minutes, his facial
expression indicating deep thought. About a minute later, Polly
walks out]
Polly: I knew I'd find you out here.
Speedy: How so?
Polly: [sits down next to Speedy] You've always loved to look
at the stars. After hours, when
you had nothing better to do, or on those nights you couldn't sleep,
you'd be by the window, your
eyes to the sky.
Speedy: I didn't wake you getting up, did I?
Polly: [shakes her head] No, I woke up from the cold. [silent
for a moment] Strange, it's warmer
out here than it is inside.
Speedy: Lou keeps his place air-conditioned. Probably because
it gets so hot here during the
day.
Polly: [nods] So, what are you doing out here?
Speedy: [removes his helmet, sets it down, and runs a hand through
his hair] Something I don't
do a lot of...thinking.
Polly: About what?
Speedy: Everything that's happened in the last few days.
Jonas' arrival, that bizarre training, the
attack, Lucille's death, Francine's injury, and now this counterstrike.
A few days ago, we were
beaten to a pulp, by the man who's working alongside us! It all
just sounds too insane to be real!
We're bent out of shape about it, but when you think about it, our
lives don't mean anything in the
grand scheme of things. This planet is just a speck in the entire
universe, and means virtually
nothing, but we still care about this world and our insignificant little
lives, and you know why?
Because it's all we've got.
Polly: (surprised) I never thought you to be the philosophical type, Speedy.
Speedy: Times of crisis really make you think, hon. [sighs]
I just wish I could STOP thinking for
a sec so I could sort it all out.
Polly: [lays a hand on Speedy's shoulder] You're not alone
in this, Speedy. No matter how
screwed up, twisted around, or upside-down our lives may become, they're
still OUR lives, and
we're going to get through them together.
Speedy: I know, but-
Polly: (interrupting) No "buts". Speedy Cerviche, you are
my husband. There's a real bond
between us that few people actually have. I will stand by your
side through the end of the world,
or the fires of Hell itself. You know why? Because I know
you'd do the same for me, and that
there's nothing the two of us can't do. So when you feel like
you don't have a friend in the world,
remember that you have me, and that you always will. Remember
that.
Speedy: (strongly) You...you're right, dear. This is who
we are. This is what we were trained
for, both this week and when we first became Samurai. We are
the Samurai Pizza Cats, and there
is NOTHING we cannot do. We're going to BEAT whoever it is that's
been doing this to us, or
die trying.
Polly: [smiles] Don't you feel better now?
Speedy: [nods] Yeah, I do. [leans over, gives Polly a long
kiss] (softly) I know how often I tell
you I love you, but somehow, it just doesn't seem to be enough.
Polly: [smiles] (softly) You don't need to tell me something I
already know. Still, it's nice to be
reminded every once in a while. [rests her head on Speedy's shoulder,
closes her eyes]
[As Speedy Cerviche returns his gaze to the stars, we take a look inside
Lou's home. It looks the
same as before. Guido is still awake, and is stroking Francine's
hair with one hand. Francine is
still asleep]
Guido: [chuckles softly] (whispering) Y'know, Fran, it's funny.
We've known each other since
we were kids, and worked side-by-side for years. In all that
time together, we've had countless
conversations, innumerable memories that we've shared. But now,
after all that time, I can't say
three simple words to your face. I guess it helps a little when
I know you can't hear what I'm
saying.
[Francine mumbles something quietly, but does not awaken]
Guido: Even though I know you can't hear me...I love you, Francine.
[leans down, kisses
Francine on the top of her head]
[Still no reaction from Francine, but she does begin purring softly]
Jonas: You'd probably feel a lot better if you could tell her when she's awake.
[Guido looks up to see the form of Jonas, nearly invisible against the darkness]
Guido: The operative word there is "could". That attack
on the city, Lucille's death, Fran's
hospitalization...[sigh] It all just shattered my nerves. It'll
be a while before I can muster the
courage again to tell her how I feel.
Jonas: [nods] I understand. You're taking this a lot better than most people would.
Guido: Don't I recall Francine telling you to get some rest?
[checks his watch] It's one in the
morning.
Jonas: [nods] If I'm correct, she told you the same thing.
Guido: I've got too much on my mind to sleep. What's your excuse?
Jonas: I've had 6 hours of rest. Flying out to the middle
of the ocean under my own power was
draining, but that was quite a while ago, and I'm ready to resume work.
Care to join me?
Guido: [looks down at Francine, and back up at Jonas] Try and stop me.
Jonas: I don't want you going on some hate-filled blood quest,
Guido. A mind clouded with rage
is a mind that'll get you killed.
Guido: (a hint of anger in his voice) Firstly, it's MY decision
to make. Second, I care about
Francine more than anything else in the world, which leads to three:
Whoever did this to her and
killed Lucille is going to PAY, even if I have to beat them with my
bare hands.
Voice: Not if I get to them first.
[Guido and Jonas turn to see GB walk in, his darkly-colored armor making him difficult to see]
Guido: (curious) Where exactly have you BEEN, anyway?
GB: On the roof with Carla. It's warmer out there, and...[looks
at the piles of Lou's laundry
throughout the room, makes a face] The air is cleaner, too.
Jonas: Don't tell me I'm going to have TWO angry teammates on my hands.
GB: [scowl] Hey, I have a right to be angry! My home was crushed,
my friends hurt or killed, my
body damaged, and...[looks down] If Carla had been there, she might
have died. (angrily)
Whoever did this, their ass is MINE.
Guido: Hey, if anyone gets dibs on the boss, it's ME.
Jonas: Whoa, hold on. Save it for tomorrow, guys.
Now, are you sure you want to help me
tonight?
[Guido and GB nod]
Jonas: Okay, but you're going to feel like crap in the morning.
GB: If we don't do something soon, we won't live to see the end of the week.
Guido: [nods] He's right. We've got to act, and when we do, we've got to be prepared.
Jonas: [nods] Finally, SOMEONE understands. Go to where
the finished models are, and wait
for me.
[Guido gets up, gently propping Francine up against the wall, and walks
out of the room with
GB]
GB: (to Guido) Now, what's this about YOU having dibs on the boss?
Guido: I TOLD you...
[As they walk out of earshot...]
Hunter: Quite an interesting situation, sir.
Jonas: [nods] Indeed, Hunter. Before, I was reluctant to
ask them to assist me in this matter.
That attack left them unstable, and they needed time to grieve.
But now...
Hunter: What, sir?
Jonas: Now they're through grieving, Hunter. Now they're
angry, and ready to fight. [looks
down at Francine, then walks out] May God help whatever gets in their
way.
{You still there? I'll admit, I may have slacked off on the detail
a little bit for that day, but I'll
make up for it in the last one. That's right, the last one.
Crimson Dawn has entered its final
24-hour period. This is the day the bulk of the last 100+ pages
has been building up to. No more
useless jabber, no more intimate scenes. Only action, pain, and
ooh hoo hoo, REVENGE. The
action is going to hit HARD, and it's going to hit FAST, so don't blink,
or you might miss
something. You ready? Let's do it.}
[The scene is the outside of Lou's house. It is very early in
the morning. A gray mist cloaks most
of the area, and a few birds are chirping. Speedy and Polly are
still asleep on the front porch.]
Speedy: [waking up] (drowsily) Huh? [rubs his eyes] <Morning
already?> [gently nudges Polly]
Wake up, honey.
Polly: [waking up] (drowsily) What? [looks up at Speedy] Uh...where is everyone?
Speedy: I think we're the first ones up. Let's check inside.
Polly: [gets up, stretches] Mmm...all right.
[Speedy and Polly walk into the interior of the house. The Rescue
Team is still sprawled out in
their respective positions, but no one else is to be seen. Jonas
walks in, carrying two cups in his
hands]
Jonas: Good morning. [hands Speedy and Polly a cup each] How do you feel?
Speedy: [takes a gulp of the cup's contents] I feel fine. You, Polly?
Polly: [same] A little stiff, but I'm okay. [looks around] Where is everyone?
Jonas: Guido and GB are in the workroom. Lou's in the bathroom,
and I set Francine aside in the
guest room. She's still asleep. I haven't seen Carla.
Carla: [walks in] I'm here. [yawns, stretches] I woke up,
and Birdie was gone. You say he's in
the workroom?
Jonas: [nods] Yes. You might want to let him have a little
more rest, though. He really worked
hard last night.
Francine: [walks in] Didn't I distinctly tell you to get some rest?
Jonas: I rested, and went back to work again. Guido and GB decided to join me.
Francine: Guido? <I TOLD him to get some SLEEP!>
(annoyed) Ooh, sometimes that cat
makes me so angry! Where is he?
Jonas: Easy, Francine. I DID ask them if they wanted to help me. They accepted. Follow me.
[The group walks into the workroom. Guido is asleep at the table,
his face buried in his arms.
GB is leaning against a wall in a sitting position.]
Speedy: How long have they been out?
Jonas: Not long. Two, three hours, tops.
Francine: [shaking Guido gently] Guido, are you there?
Guido: [waking up] (sleepily) Huh? [lopsided smile] Oh, hello, Francine. How are you today?
Francine: [frown] Guido, you promised me you'd get some rest.
Guido: I'm a man of my word, Fran. I rested for an hour,
and then went back to work. [looks
her straight in the eyes] I gotta tell you, you look GREAT.
Francine: [blinks in surprise, blushes deeply] (embarrassed) Um...well...
Jonas: He's not fully awake yet. Still has a few screws loose.
Carla: [holding GB's head in her hands, who has a goofy smile
on his face] (softly) Oh, my poor
Birdie. [turns to Jonas] Is there anything you can do for them?
Jonas: Hmm...lessee here...Hunter, we got anything to fix this?
Hunter: Perhaps your experimentation with genetic engineering, sir?
Jonas: You mean that energy conservation formula? That won't help these men.
Hunter: Not the final product, sir. Rather, an early version of it.
Jonas: [silent for a moment] Oh, THAT. Well, yes, I suppose that would work...
Polly: What?
Jonas: There was a period of time in which I tried to create a
formula that would mutate my
cellular structure, allowing my cells to absorb and hold more energy
from food. Eventually, I
succeeded, but along the way, I stumbled upon a mixture that, when
ingested, would directly
infuse energy into the body, being absorbed through the mouth and throat,
and bypassing
digestion completely. The result was a burst of energy that lasted
for nearly a week. I didn't
sleep for days.
Francine: Will that be able to help them?
Jonas: It's the best shot we have. Hunter, give me two-no,
three vials of that mixture. Dilute it
so the surge will only last 24 hours.
Hunter: Working...
[Three vials containing a purplish liquid appear on Jonas' belt]
Jonas: [removing the vials] I could use a little boost myself.
[hands Guido and GB a vial each]
Here you are.
GB: [still a little out of it] Oh, goody! Soda pop!
[drinks it down]
Guido: [same] Mmm...grape?
Jonas: (nervous tone) Uh...yeah. [drinks his vial] I should warn
you guys, your bodies weren't
meant to receive energy like this, so in a few seconds, it's gonna
hurt like HELL. [drops his vial,
clutches his stomach] YEARGH!
Guido: [falls out of his chair] RRGH!
GB: [clutching his stomach] UNNGH!
Francine: (alarmed) GUIDO!
[Carla is silent, though obviously nervous]
Jonas: <Forgot how much that HURTS.> The pain's subsiding...there.
Guido: [gets up, breathing heavily] Hey...I feel GREAT!
GB: [same] Yeah...me too!
Speedy: How long will this last?
Jonas: It should remain in effect for the next 24 hours. I assume the rest of you slept well?
Francine: [stretches] Like a log.
Jonas: [nods] Good. You'll need all your energy for today. Are we ready?
Polly: Wait a sec. Where's Lou?
Lou: [stumbles in, his eyes baggy, and his hair messed up] Eh? Somebody call me?
Guido: Get dressed, Lou. We're almost ready.
Lou: Oh. [mumbles something to himself, and walks out]
Speedy: So, this is it, huh?
Polly: Yeah...seems like we've been waiting on this forever...
Guido: Anyone got a plan?
Jonas: Plan, no. A reasonable facsimile, yes. [Points
a fist toward a wall. A projection of the
floating fortress comes up] First, I'll hit this thing with an electromagnetic
beam. I'll bet
something this advanced would have countermeasures, but it should knock
out the protective
shield and at least half the weapons. Second, we release those
attack drones we built. We
managed to build a total of a dozen of them, plus we'll be cloaked
during our approach, so that
should allow us to reach boarding distance. We can latch onto
one of the flat surfaces of this
thing, and get inside from there. Once we get in, we find whatever
it is we're looking for, and get
out. [projection switches off] Any questions?
Voice: I've got one.
[Everyone turns to see the collected Rescue Team standing in the doorway]
Spritz: What exactly ARE we looking for?
Jonas: I'm not entirely sure. With any luck, we'll find our old "friend" from downtown.
Guido: [cracks his knuckles] (darkly) Oh, I DO hope so.
[Lou walks in silently]
Catton: What happens once we get out?
Jonas: The only fitting course of action...we blow that blasted thing to Hell.
Bat Cat: How exactly do you plan to do that? Look at the SIZE of that thing!
Jonas: We'll use the firepower from the fleet Vi sent, along with
our own, if necessary. General,
I designed two special shells for your cannons. They're loaded
with several pounds of C-4, and
set to explode on impact. When I give the word, you let that
thing have it.
[Catton nods]
Jonas: One more thing...I'm not asking any of you to come along
for this. If any of you decide to
stay behind, I most certainly won't blame you. It's your decision
to make. Still, let me make one
thing perfectly clear: Whether you're going or you're not, I'll
do this alone if I have to, but I'd
prefer to have someone fighting alongside me. If you want to
stay, speak up now.
[No one says a word]
Jonas: (relieved) Thank you all again.
Francine: Should we be going, then?
Jonas: (uneasily) Actually, Francine, I'd prefer that you and Carla stay behind.
Francine: (shocked) WHAT!?
Jonas: Let me explain, Fran. Carla has NO prior battle experience,
and you're still developing! I
don't want your first mission to be something this high-risk.
Besides, I need someone to stay
behind, ready to receive casualties.
Carla: [nods] Suits me.
Francine: [has a different opinion, poking Jonas in the chest]
(livid) Listen up, mister! In less
than a week, reality as I know it has totally gone down the toilet!
I had a building collapse on me!
I was hospitalized! Some people weren't that LUCKY! Now,
you expect me to stand idly by and
watch the people I care about most in the world go into ANOTHER battle,
probably the biggest
one they've ever had or ever will have, knowing full well that they
might not be coming back!?
NOT A CHANCE IN HELL! I'm going to go out there with you, find
whoever did this, and so
help me, I WILL MAKE THEM PAY!!!
[Everyone is silent, shocked by Francine's sudden outburst]
Jonas: [shrugs] Have it your way. But if you're coming along,
you're not going looking like
THAT.
[Jonas raises a fist toward Francine, and a yellow glow envelops her.
There is a bright flash.
When it subsides, we see that she is now dressed in battle armor that
is almost an exact match for
Polly's, only green in the red places, with a hexagonal glass shape
on the visor, and the Greek
symbol Omega on the forearms. Clasped to her hip is the whip
she created earlier.]
Jonas: [nods in satisfaction] NOW you look like a Pizza Cat.
Francine: [looks down at herself] (surprised) Wow! [notices her forearms] Eh? Why Omega?
Jonas: [shrugs] I've always had a thing for Omega. It is
supposed to represent the end. Or,
something with the power to bring about the end.
Guido: Somehow, I don't think that fits Fran's description.
Jonas: (annoyed) So I have no fashion sense. So sue me.
I'll be waiting on you in the Nova.
[walks out]
Speedy: Finally, we can get some answers. [walks out, followed by Polly, GB, Carla, and Lou]
Francine: (muttering) Just sick and tired of being the "sidekick" around here...
Guido: [a pained look crosses his face] <You mean a lot more to me than that, Francine.>
Francine: (a little surprised) Huh? [turns to Guido] Did you say something?
Guido: [blinks] No. Why?
Francine: <Odd...I could have sworn...> [shakes her head]
It's nothing. Never mind. [walks
out]
Guido: (curious) <Now, what was THAT all about?> [follows Francine]
[Scene switches to the inside of the Nova. Lou and Jonas are seated
in the front, at the controls,
while everyone else sits in other seats, arranged in rows]
Lou: Are we ready?
[Everyone nods]
Lou: All right, let's do it! [advances the throttle, but nothing happens] What?
Speedy: What's wrong?
Lou: [tries again] I don't know. All of the instruments check out, she just won't start.
Jonas: [leans over the controls, his eyes narrow] (sarcastically)
How about the button marked
"On", Lou?
Lou: Oh, yeah. (a little embarrassed) Sorry.
[Lou pushes the button, and the engines kick on with a roar. The entire ship vibrates violently]
Francine: [squeezing Guido's hand VERY tightly, with a nervous
look on her face] (shakily) I'm
not used to this! Mom never let me fly!
Guido: [winces from the pain] Calm down, Francine. When
you've been shot out of the cannon
as many times as I have, you get used to flying. It eventually
becomes kinda fun.
Speedy: I'm waiting on the "fun" part, Guido!
Polly and GB: (in unison) Yeah!
Jonas: (loudly, over the sound of the engines) Are you sure this thing will hold together, Lou?
Lou: (same) I don't have a frame of reference! She's on her maiden voyage!
Jonas: (shouting) SO WAS THE TITANIC!
Francine: [bites her lower lip, trying not to scream, and squeezes Guido's hand even tighter]
Guido: [winces again] Really, Fran, it's not that bad. I'm
right here with you. Besides...you're
crushing my hand!
Francine: [relaxes her grip a little] Sorry...
[Slowly, the ship rises off the ground, and turns in the direction of the ocean]
Carla: [on the ground, waving] Bye! Good luck!
[The ship's engines turn on full blast, and it streaks away into the
distance. The shaking is almost
gone now, and the ship is already moving over the ocean]
Jonas: Jeez, Lou. I gotta hand it to you. Once she
gets in the air, this thing can really move! At
this rate, we'll be at the target coordinates in a few minutes.
GB: [looking out of a window] (softly) Carla...
Speedy: (concerned, to GB) What's wrong?
GB: [sighs] It's just...I forgot to tell Carla goodbye...and considering
what we're up against...I
might not live to see her again.
Polly: Don't say things like that. You're going to get through
this along with the rest of us, and
get home to see her before the day is out.
GB: I hope you're right, Polly...[sighs, looks out the window again]
Guido: See, Fran? Once you're up in the air, it's not so bad.
Francine: [still clutching Guido's hand] Just remember, Guido. If we crash, you don't get paid.
Jonas: [attempting to stifle a laugh]
Francine: (curious) What's so funny?
Jonas: Remember how you said you were going to dock my pay if
I didn't get some rest,
Francine?
Francine: Yeah, so?
Jonas: I just remembered...you don't pay me anyway.
Francine: (surprised) <Oops.> Um...uh...
Jonas: [laughs] Yeah. That's what I said.
Guido: [looking out of a window] (softly) Wow...
Francine: (curious) Huh? [looks past Guido, and out the window] (softly) Whoa...
[The sun is rising over the ocean horizon, with nothing to block the
view. Once again, it is a
reddish color, with the surrounding clouds a deep red]
Jonas: (mumbling, more to himself than anyone else) This began
with a crimson dawn...fitting it
should end with one.
Guido: (softly) You know, Fran...we're always so busy with what
we're doing...we never really
take time out to just sit back and realize how beautiful nature really
is.
Francine: (same) Yeah. It's a pity, really. Sometimes,
I just wish that we could stop fighting, for
once, and lead normal, everyday lives. [shakes her head] But
it never seems to work out that
way, does it?
Guido: (comfortingly) We all feel like that at one time or another,
Francine. All of us. Speedy,
Polly, GB, myself...maybe even Jonas up there. But what gets
us through each day is knowing
that what we do is help people in need, and that if we were ever in
need ourselves, we have
people that we can count on to help us.
Francine: [chuckle] You make it sound so easy, Guido. So
care-free. But in my view, it's
another story. It's missions like these that scare me so badly.
Having no idea what we're up
against, fighting incredible odds...[looks down] (very softly) It's
missions like these that make me
afraid you won't be coming back.
Guido: [getting teary-eyed] Francine, I-
Jonas: [ruining the moment] Eyes forward, people! We're almost there.
[A burst of static comes over the radio]
Voice on radio: Attention incoming craft. This is Admiral
Dennis Jackson of the Imperial
flagship Gemini. Identify yourself, over.
Jonas: [gives Lou a cold look] You forgot to engage the cloak?
Lou: [nervous laugh]
Jonas: [sighs, picks up the radio mike] We read you, Gemini.
This is Jonas Miles of the freighter
Nova. How's it going, over?
Jackson: We read you, Nova, loud and clear. This is restricted
airspace. We have orders from
the princess herself to fire on intruders. Change your course,
please. Over.
Jonas: Ah, I copy that, Gemini, but my name is Jonas Miles, and
I have direct authorization from
the princess to BE here. I'm hauling a...special cargo, over.
Jackson: [silent for a moment] Please stand by.
Polly: [pointing] Look, look! I see them!
[Floating on the ocean's surface, about 150 yards away, is a small gray
cluster. As it gets closer,
we see that it is made up of well over a dozen battleships, differing
in shape, size, and power]
Speedy: (softly) Holy...
GB: [low whistle]
Jonas: (impressed) <Thank you, Violet!> Um...that's good...that's VERY good...
Jackson: Gemini to Nova, we have confirmed your authorization.
Is there anything we can do
for you? Over.
Jonas: Actually, Gemini, I'd like it very much if you would put
your fleet on alert and stand at the
ready. Something big is about to go down. Over.
Jackson: Roger that, Nova. We'll be standing by. Good luck. Gemini out.
Spritz: Well, that wasn't so bad.
[Suddenly, alarms in the ship begin blaring, and multiple lights begin
flashing on the control
console]
Jonas: (sarcastically) Not that bad at all. Lou, what's going on!?
Lou: Something has a radar lock on us! It's gotta be that fortress!
Jonas: <Damn! Went too long without cloaking!> Hunter, what can we do about this!?
Hunter: Working...suggested course of action would be to cloak
to lose radar lock, followed by
evasive maneuvers.
Jonas: If we do that, they'll know we're still out here, and be
on alert! There HAS to be another
way!
Hunter: Sir, they provided us with these coordinates. They are expecting us.
Jonas: Good point. Well, I'm open to suggestions here!
Lou, kill the throttle. I don't want to
run headfirst into anything. And turn off that damn alarm!
Lou: Done. Now what?
Jonas: All right, let's just calm down. We're not dead yet. Why is that?
Bat Cat: That thing is probably scanning us. Trying to figure out just what we are.
Jonas: It'd help if I could see it. Hunter, activate cloak negation view.
Hunter: Working...done.
Jonas: (quietly) What?
Speedy: What is it?
Jonas: That thing's moved since I was here last. It's directly
in front of us, but it's over 300 yards
away.
Polly: Why would they move if no one can see them?
Jonas: They know that fleet didn't just stop at their last position
for nothing. They know
someone managed to spot them. Us.
Hunter: WARNING! INCOMING PROJECTILE!
Jonas: Show me!
[Switch to Jonas' infrared view. It's zoomed in on a spherical, black object, moving rapidly]
Jonas: What in the world is that?
Guido: What's what?
Jonas: There's an object coming at us...looks like a black basketball, and it's about the size of one.
Hunter: Sir, that "black basketball" is carrying enough explosives to level the Palace.
Jonas: How much time?
Hunter: At current speed...ETA thirty seconds.
Jonas: (mumbling) I KNEW I should have put some weapons on this
thing. (normally) Okay,
you heard him! What do we do!?
Catton: [jumps up] I've got an idea! [begins banging on
the ship's side latch] UNGH! It's
jammed!
Meowzma: I've got it! [swings his saw blades once along the door's
edge, causing it to swing
open]
Hunter: Twenty seconds...
Francine: What are you doing, General!?
Catton: Just watch! [leans out the door. A small glass
plate with targeting crosshairs flips from
the side of his helmet over his left eye. The view switches to
Catton's, as the crosshairs lock onto
the sphere]
Hunter: Ten, nine, eight...
Jonas: Catton, whatever you're doing, do it NOW!
Catton: [pushes a button on the triggering mechanism he holds
in his hand. A small missile fires
from his right cannon] Hold on!
[Catton dives back into the ship. The explosion from the impact
of the two projectiles is
immense. Alarms go off all over the ship as it is tossed by the
impact. During the chaos, Jonas
slams his hand down on a large yellow button on the control console.
As the ship finally
stabilizes...]
Speedy: [in slight pain] Everyone all right?
Polly: [same] That knocked the wind out of me.
GB: [getting to his feet] I'm okay.
Guido: [helping Francine up, rubbing his head] Ooh, that brings back frying pan memories.
Polly: (annoyed) HEY!
Francine: I think I hit my head on something...
Jonas: [getting up] Tell me, Hunter...was that or was that not
more fun than any roller coaster
we've ever been on?
Hunter: The roller coasters don't attack you, sir.
Lou: [cough] Reminds me of the time I crawled inside the dryer...[cough]
Rescue Team: (in unison) Ouch.
Jonas: [climbs back into his seat] Okay, boys and girls...we are
now officially cloaked! [reads the
meter by the yellow button he pressed] She's eating up power, though.
It'll last an hour, maybe
two. (mumbling) Hunter, the next time you tell me to cloak, remind
me to listen to you.
Hunter: Yes, sir.
Speedy: Well, that was fun. What now?
Jonas: Considering how close of a call that was...with any luck, the enemy thinks we're dead.
Spritz: How can we be sure they knew that...um...we were...uh...us?
Jonas: That was a LOT of explosives to use on a target this small.
I think they were pretty sure.
Must have picked up on that radio transmission to the fleet.
Polly: [gasp] The fleet! Won't they think we're dead, too?
Speedy: We can't risk letting them know we're okay. Got
to use the element of surprise while we
still can.
Jonas: [nods] Speedy's right. At a time like this, we'll need every advantage we can get.
Meowzma: Does this mean we hit it now?
Jonas: [nods] Let's do it. Lou, take us to within 100 yards, then stop.
Lou: You got it. [hits a few buttons] Why stop there?
Jonas: [cracks his knuckles] Time for a little pre-emptive strike.
[As the ship slowly hovers to a distance of 100 yards, Jonas steps over
to the now blown side
hatch, and stands]
Jonas: Lou, cloak the attack drones. Set their target as soon as that thing appears.
Lou: [hits a few buttons] Ready.
Jonas: [nods, raises his right arm in the direction of the fortress.
A small turret pops out of his
right gauntlet, and a high pitched whirring is heard as it begins to
glow light blue]
Hunter: Electromagnetic beam locked on target, sir.
Jonas: (quietly) Time to rock and roll!
[The beam fires from the turret, and streaks through the air.
At first, it seems that Jonas may have
missed completely, but then, the beam collides with something in mid-air,
creating a distorted
effect as it strikes its target. Slowly, the ominous form of
the massive fortress shimmers into
view]
Francine: [puts a hand up to her mouth] Is that...?
GB: (slowly, in awe) Would you look at the SIZE of...
[Meanwhile, onboard the deck of the Gemini...]
Crewman: (frantic) Admiral Jackson! Admiral Jackson!
Jackson: Yes, what is it?
Crewman: (panting) Sir, we have a visual on the target!
Jackson: What? Where is it?
Crewman: Well sir, it's...it's...[points behind Jackson] It's right there...
[Jackson turns around to see a large, circular object, hovering in the air, over 300 yards away]
Jackson: What!? Have we been in the wrong place!?
<That thing looks big, even from all the
way over here. Judging from our distance, I'd say its size must
be...> (quietly) My...God...[sprints
toward the Gemini's bridge, the crewman following right behind] When
did we first see it?
Crewman: Just a few seconds ago, sir. The captain of the
Zodiac was surveying the area with
binoculars, because he thought he saw something. He says a laser
of some sort just...appeared
out of nowhere, went through the air for a few seconds {Yeah, yeah.
I know light travels at
186,000 miles per second, but where's the fun in THAT?}, and apparently
hit something. A few
seconds later, that THING showed up.
[Jackson and the crewman reach the bridge]
Jackson: <A laser? Could they have survived that explosion...?>
None of our ships use beam
weapons, do they?
Crewman: [shakes his head] No, sir. None of our craft carry
that kind of ordinance, and none
report having fired any weapons.
Jackson: [picks up a radio mike] This is Admiral Jackson to the
fleet. Target has appeared, and
is 200-350 yards away. I want all ships to come within firing
range, and not an inch closer! [puts
down the mike, turns to the crewman] Contact Princess Violet.
Tell her...the Samurai Pizza Cats
are still alive.
[Speaking of the SPC...]
