Jonas:  No time for sightseeing, guys!  We gotta MOVE!  Lou, cut loose the drones!
 
[Lou presses a small green button.  A hatch on the bottom of the Nova opens, and the
odd-looking butterfly drones {Cloaked, yet visible to us through the magic of fanfiction :)}, fly
out, and approach the fortress.  Each one carries a dual set of lasers, and as all twelve of them fire
at once, a chain of explosions rips across the fortress' surface]

Jonas:  That should keep them occupied for a while.  Get us in close, Lou.  VERY close.

[The Nova weaves through the laser crossfire, and latches onto the side of the fortress]

Jonas:  [examining the fortress wall through the Nova's side hatch] Hmm...it's titanium...I
think...and at least four or five inches thick.

Bat Cat:  Can you get through it?

Jonas:  With an acetylene torch...in about twenty minutes.  With a laser welder...about ten
minutes.  Hunter, las-

Guido:  (interrupting) Allow me.  [draws his sword, and clutches it tightly.  He closes his eyes in
concentration, and with four lightning-quick slashes, cuts a piece of the wall out in the shape of
the doorway, which falls to the floor with a resounding, metallic CLANG]

Jonas:  (impressed) Or...we could do THAT.

Guido:  (in a cocky manner) [brushes his hands together] Thank you, come again.  Plush dolls are
available in the gift shop.

Jonas:  [turns back to the others] General, you and Bat Cat stay here with Lou.  The rest of you,
come with me.  Lou, stay attached to this thing until I give you word to cut loose.  And General,
load up those special shells while we're gone.  [turns around, and steps though the hole, followed
by Speedy, Polly, Guido, Francine, GB, Spritz, and Meowzma]

[The interior of the fortress is lit very dimly by a few lights on the hallway ceiling.  The walls are
lined with metal plates and circuitry.  An odd mechanical humming sound can be heard, and
overall, this is a creepy place.  Hey, you'd be freaked out too, if you say a group of six cats, a bird,
and an...unknown, all walking upright, with their eyes glowing, in a place like this]

Jonas:  You know...this kind of reminds me of Star Trek: First Contact.

Speedy:  (anxiety in his voice) That was a good movie.

Jonas:  Yeah...(same) and it scared the hell out of me.

[All laugh nervously.  The group walks along the hallway for several minutes, passing equipment
as they go]

Jonas:  Hmm...wait a minute.

Francine:  Something wrong?

Jonas:  No, but...I have an idea.  Spritz, Meowzma, I want you to turn your weapons on all this
equipment and stuff we pass.  The rest of you, just blast everything in sight.

Spritz:  What for?

Jonas:  This place is so huge, what we destroy probably won't affect the overall performance of
the place.  Still, if we're going to nuke this place anyway, it wouldn't hurt to mess it up a little
along the way.  [charges one of his hands with energy, and fries a nearby control panel]

[And so, the group continues down the hallway, with Spritz blasting things with his water jets,
Meowzma cutting into panels and circuitry, and everyone else just blasting stuff with energy.
Speedy is about to toast some exposed circuit boards, when he stops suddenly, and his charge
disappears]

Polly:  What is it, Speedy?

Speedy:  (quietly) Can you feel that?

Guido:  Feel what?

Jonas:  He senses something...I do too, but it's faint...how did you pick up on that so quickly,
Cerviche?

Speedy:  It's a familiar feeling...one I've had several times before...long before we met you, Miles.

Polly:  He's right.  I'm getting it too.

Guido:  Yeah...I just felt really...hostile.

Spritz and Meowzma:  (in unison) Yeah.

Francine:  (confused) Feel what?  You guys are starting to freak me out.  I don't sense anything.

GB:  It's a feeling that comes with being in battle, Francine.  Since you don't have any experience,
you wouldn't know.

Francine:  (annoyed) And you don't count that brawl a few days ago a battle?

Polly:  He means a real fight, Francine.  Not a training session, but a fight where you're actually in
danger.

GB:  Man, it's getting really strong now.  I remember feeling like this before, but I can't remember
what it MEANS.  It's been so long...

Guido:  It's kind of a bad feeling...when it hits, you feel on guard, and a little angry...

Speedy:  You know GB, if I didn't know for sure that you were behind me, I could swear
that-[stops himself] That's IT!

GB:  (hurt) You feel hostile toward me, Speedy?

Speedy:  Not against you, but against Bad Bird!

All:  (confused) What?

Speedy:  That feeling!  It's a sense of alertness, of anger...because it's the feeling that you're about
to meet the enemy!  And the reason it's so familiar...[unsheathes his Ginzu sword] (quietly) Is
because there are Ninja Crows ahead!

[Upon hearing this, everyone quickly draws their weapons]

Jonas:  (tensely) Are you sure, Speedy?

Polly:  He's right.  It's that same feeling we get when we're about to fight Ninja Crows.

Guido:  We'd fought them so many times, the feeling just eventually seemed natural.  But since we
haven't fought them in so long, it seems new.

GB:  I grew up in a Ninja Crow village.  I AM a Ninja Crow!  I remember that feeling so
well...I'm surprised I couldn't remember what it meant!

Jonas:  You're probably tuned in to this better than the rest of us, GB.  What can you tell us about
what's coming?

GB:  [concentrating] They're in a group...about twelve, I think...but, something odd...

Francine:  What?

GB:  They're strong, for Ninja Crow standards.  At least twice as strong as they should be.  One
in particular...he's a leader, I think.

Speedy:  That feeling...it just keeps getting stronger...

Meowzma:  Why?  We're not moving.

GB:  No...but they are!

[As if on cue, a platoon of Ninja Crows, thirteen in all, marches around the corner.  Their large
yellow eyes shine in the darkness, and the emblem of the Flying Skull upon their chests reflect
what dim light there is.  Leading the group of twelve is a crow almost identical to GB, with the
same height, but with totally black armor instead of olive green, an orange Flying Skull logo on
his chest, orange claws, and a narrower, orange beak]

GB:  <I don't believe it...the Flying Skull ARE responsible!>

Leader:  (surprised) Wha!?  Pizza Cats!?  HERE!?  Get them, quickly!

Speedy:  (yells) SCATTER!

[There is a sudden blur of motion, and our furry feline heroes disappear]

Leader:  What?  <I heard they were swift, but I mean...wow!>

Speedy:  (voice echoing, in prelude to standard entrance) I'm warning you, birdbrain, this is NOT
a good time to mess with us!
 
Polly:  (same) Do yourselves a favor, and get out of our way!
 
Guido:  (same) Or, if you WANT to get hurt, stick around!  It makes no difference to us!

Leader:  (indignantly) I have duties as a Ninja Crow!  I will NOT abandon my post!

[A spotlight comes mysteriously from out of nowhere, illuminating the form of Guido Anchovy,
his face hidden by his umbrella]

Guido:  Have it your way, you walking featherduster!  At least now...[moves his umbrella aside to
reveal a face with an angry stare] (angrily) I don't have to LOOK for you.

[A musical note echoes throughout the hallway, and a spotlight shines on Polly Esther]

Polly:  [removes her flute from her lips] It's time to kiss your tailfeathers...[blows a kiss]
Goodbye!

[A third, final spotlight reveals the kneeling form of Speedy Cerviche]

Speedy:  [stands] We'll show you Ninja Knockoffs what you get when you mess with the...

[Polly and Guido appear next to Speedy in their traditional pose]

Speedy, Polly, and Guido:  (in unison) SAMURAI PIZZA CATS!

Francine, GB, Jonas, Bat Cat, and Meowzma:  [sliding into the frame] (in unison) Don't forget
about us!

Leader:  [laughing] I think you overestimate your chances!  After all, you ARE outnumbered.

Jonas:  The thirteen of you against the eight of us?  PUH-LEEZE!  I was hoping for more of a
challenge!

Leader:  Hold your tongue, newbie!  Simply because you and the cashier over there put on
fighting uniforms, that doesn't make you Pizza Cats!
 
Francine:  (ballistic) CASHIER!?!?  I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S A CASHIER!!!  [Flings her whip
with her right hand, wrapping it around the leader's arm.  She jerks hard, pulling him off his feet.
As he comes flying toward her, she clotheslines him with her left arm, knocking him to the floor]

Pizza Cats:  (impressed) Go, Francine!

Leader:  (dazed) Unnh...(to Ninja Crows) Don't just stand there, you idiots!  Get them!

[As the leader struggles to his feet, the Ninja Crows spread out in groups to attack]

Guido:  [facing four crows] Now, now, guys.  It's not really ME you want to fight...[draws his
patented Samurai Sunspot Umbrella, and uses the hypnotic effect] But each other!

4 crows:  [eyes turn to little red swirls] Yeah!  [They hack at each other for a few seconds, until
they collapse in an injured heap]

Guido:  [sighs] So much talk, yet so little brains.

[Meowzma and Spritz stand back-to-back, with four crows circling them]

Spritz:  Today's forecast:  Heavy showers!  [Uses his water jets to slam two crows against a wall]

Meowzma:  I've heard about Ninja Crow weaponry.  Such shoddy design!  [Swings his blades at
the two remaining crows, slashing their swords in half]

2 crows:  ACK!

Meowzma:  Night-night.  [punches the crows out]

[By now, the leader has regained his senses, and is engaging GB in battle.  His sword closely
resembles GB's]

GB:  [clashing swords with the leader] You're a disgrace to the Flying Skull!

Leader:  Look who's talking, you traitor!

Speedy:  (to the crow in front of him) I'm gonna give you one chance to give up.  Think about it.

Crow:  Um...

Speedy:  Time's up!  [punches the crow in the face, knocking him out]

Francine:  [walks up to the crow she's facing] (sexy tone) You know...we don't really have to
fight...

Crow:  (confused) Uh...

Francine:  In fact...[tickles the underside of the crow's chin with her index finger] I believe we
could really get to know each other...personally...

Crow:  [has his tongue hanging out] (dreamily) Oh, wow...

Francine:  [looking the crow in the eyes] The only problem is...[knees him in the gut] I'm already
interested in someone else!

Guido:  [laughs] Get him, Fran!

Francine:  [giggles]

Leader:  [takes a swing at GB] <This guy looks familiar, but I just can't seem to place that face...>

GB:  [dodges] <I've seen this fighting style before.  That equipment he's wearing means he has my
old rank.  Do I know him...?>

Polly:  [going into her Passion Paws of Power sequence] Why don't you come a little closer,
cutie?

Crow:  [attempting to resist] AHH!  NO!

Jonas:  [eyeing his crow opponent] <This'll be a piece of...eh?>  [notices Polly's actions] <With
her new training...uh-oh.>  (shouts) POLLY!  STOP!

Polly:  [not noticing Jonas, pulls her hand back] You look kinda down.  How about a free facelift?
[bares her claws]

Crow:  [shuts his eyes] AAAAHHHH!

[From out of nowhere, Jonas tackles Polly to the ground]

Polly:  OOF!  (annoyed) What was that for!?

Jonas:  Polly, do you have any idea what you were about to do!?

Polly:  I was ABOUT to incapacitate that Ninja Crow!  It's one of my trademark moves!

Jonas:  Oh, you were about to incapacitate him, all right...PERMANENTLY.

[Before Polly can respond, the crow that Jonas was looking at earlier, and the one Polly was
about to swipe, both sneak up behind Jonas, swords drawn]

Polly:  (screams) LOOK OUT!

[Jonas turns around just as the crows bring their swords down.  He manages to dodge in time, but
the crows do manage to cause two small tears in his cloak]

Jonas:  [gets up, examines his cloak, and then looks at the Ninja Crows]

Polly:  (quietly) Uh-oh.

Jonas:  [grabs the Ninja Crow nearest to him] I just IRONED this cloak!  [Currents of electricity
surge off of his gauntlet, and into the crow.  He then tosses its limp form onto the other one]

Polly:  [mouth open in shock]

Jonas:  Don't worry, he'll live.  [helps Polly to her feet]

Polly:  [looks around] Is that the last of them?

Jonas:  [Sees GB and the leader dueling] Not quite.

Leader:  [swords crossed with GB] I trained under Master Atrick himself!  You cannot defeat me!

GB:  Who do you think used to be Atrick's right hand man!?

Jonas:  GB, could you speed it up a little?  We're on a tight schedule, here!

[GB nods.  He takes his left hand away from the hilt of his sword, losing a little leverage, balls it
up into a fist, and punches the leader right in the face]

Leader:  UNGH!  [falls to the ground]

GB:  [picks the leader up by the collar, holds him against the wall] Now, maybe this guy can give
us some answers.

Leader:  <Only one man I know uses that move...it's what he always used to beat me!  But is it
possible...?>  Bad Bird?

GB:  (surprised) WHAT?  (squints) Who...?  [blinks in shock] Bladewing?  Falcone Bladewing?

Falcone:  [smiles] It IS you!

GB:  [smiles, gives Falcone a friendly hug] My friend, I haven't seen you in years!  How have you
been?

[Everyone else just stares in confusion]

Falcone:  I've done well.  I can see YOU haven't changed.  [rubs his beak] You've still got that
nasty left hook.  You always used it to beat me.

GB:  I've changed more than you know.  But LOOK at you!  You've grown!  You were never the
muscular type before.

Falcone:  ME?  Look at YOU!  You're a beast!  I bet you can barely keep the girls off of you!

GB:  [blushing a little] Actually...I married Carla.

Falcone:  [jaw drops] You married CARLA?  Oh man, now I ENVY you.

Speedy:  (interrupting) Excuse me, but...do you know this guy, GB?

Falcone:  (curious) GB?  Is he talking to YOU, Bad Bird?

GB:  It's Good Bird now, but they all call me GB.  Everyone, this is Falcone Bladewing, one of
my best friends from growing up in the village back home.

Francine:  You're best friends?  Could've fooled me, the way you were going at each other.

Falcone:  I didn't recognize Bad B...er...GB, here.  He used to be a scrawny little fella.  Now, he's
a monster!

GB:  [chuckles] I didn't recognize you, either.  What are you doing here, anyway?

Falcone:  After that comet fiasco, the Flying Skull went into a state of chaos.  Master Atrick had
totally disappeared.  Not knowing what to do, we all went back to the village, to think.  About a
month ago, the Master contacted us.  He had acquired a large amount of wealth in his absence,
and used it to better all of us.  We've trained harder, and at a faster pace than ever before, under
the best teachers.  [looks around at all of the unconscious crows] Unfortunately, you didn't really
give them a chance to show off their refined skills.

GB:  That would explain why it felt like they were stronger than normal.  Go on.

Falcone:  The Master needed a new second-in-command, since you had disappeared.  I was the
strongest among us, so I was selected.

GB:  I could tell by the equipment you're using.  What else?

Falcone:  Even with my rank, I've been kept in the dark about a lot of things.  For three weeks,
I've sat around and done nothing at the small base that was set up in the village.  About a week
ago, I was assigned as the leader of security here.

Polly:  What exactly is "here"?

Falcone:  I don't know much about this place, even though I came up with a few ideas for it
during its construction.  Such as, the device that allows it to turn invisible.

GB:  You always were the brainy one.  What is it?

Falcone:  I believe it to be a large-scale mining platform.  The heavy ordinance would be used to
clear away large sections of rock, exposing raw materials.  The ability to hover allows easy access
to difficult-to-reach areas.

Guido:  If it was gonna be used for mining, why all the defenses?

Falcone:  Some of the most sophisticated technology money can buy was incorporated in its
construction.  If any of it were to fall into the wrong hands, the results could be disastrous.

Jonas:  (muttering) Too bad that's already happened...

Falcone:  What do you mean?

GB:  We'll get to that.  Where did all the money come from?

Falcone:  When the Master and his associate, "The Big Cheese" were exiled, they fled Little
Tokyo by raft, and ran ashore on one of the neighboring islands.  The people there are civilized,
though not quite to the point of Little Tokyo.  As the two of them looked around a bit, they
stumbled upon an auction.  Though the Big Cheese had foolishly spent all of his money during
repeated attempts to destroy Little Tokyo, the Master was much wiser, and had managed to save
a little.

Spritz:  Get to the part about all the money.

Falcone:  You know those "mystery trunks" they sometimes have at auctions, where nobody
knows what's inside?

[Everyone nods]

Falcone:  Well, they had one of those.  The Master had no intention of bidding, but the Big
Cheese grabbed all of the money out of his pocket, and bid all of it on the trunk.  No one else was
going to chance wasting their money, so the trunk was theirs.  When they opened it, they were
stunned.  It contained diamonds, rubies, riches of all kinds.  An emperor's ransom.

Meowzma:  About how much was inside?

Falcone:  In Little Tokyo currency...at least one billion dollars, probably more.

All:  [gaping] One BILLION dollars!?

Falcone:  [nods] It was the only way this place could have been built so quickly.  It was
constructed inside of two weeks.

Speedy:  How do you know all this?

Falcone:  Everyone knows that story.  The Big Cheese has been bragging about "the greatest
financial decision of his career".

Guido:  (berserk) THAT'S WHAT THIS HAS ALL BEEN ABOUT!?  A DAMN AUCTION!?
THAT'S WHAT LUCILLE DIED FOR!?!?  OF ALL THE STUPID,
IDIOTIC...AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!  [punches a wall hard, creating a massive dent]

Francine:  [puts an arm around Guido] Easy, now.  Deep, cleansing breaths.

Guido:  [trembling with rage]

Falcone:  (puzzled) Died?  Who died?  What's going on?

GB:  A few days ago, Little Tokyo was attacked by something.  Something invisible.  A lot of
people were killed, and the Flying Skull insignia was burned into a wall.  My house was flattened.
We're positive that whatever did it came from here.

Falcone:  (shocked) But the Flying Skull could never commit such atrocities!  It must be the Big
Cheese!

Jonas:  Hold the phone.  Say that again?

Falcone:  The Flying Skull have always been honorable.  They would never attack an opponent
that couldn't see them, let alone participate in a mass slaughter of innocents!  Therefore, the one
behind it all must be the Big Cheese!

Jonas:  You mean to tell me that Seymour Cheese is HERE, NOW?

Falcone:  [nods] I've seen him walking the halls several times.  Not many people actually work
here, because almost everything is automated.

Jonas:  Good.  That'll save us the trouble of having to evacuate.

Falcone:  Evacuate?  Why?

Speedy:  We plan to blow this place up.

Falcone:  You WHAT!?

GB:  Falcone, I know the whole situation sounds strange...I STILL don't understand it...but we
were attacked on the way here.  Someone has something to hide.

Falcone:  Our orders were to dispatch intruders, especially Pizza Cats.  We all found it strange
that you were mentioned specifically, but none of us dared to question the Master.  You'll find it
difficult to destroy this place.  Automated defenses are everywhere, and there are multiple engine
rooms and backup generators.  It was designed to protect against intruders.

Speedy:  (mumbling) How nice, Seymour remembers us.  Well, he started this, and we're going to
finish it.

Falcone:  Is there anything I can do to help?

Polly:  You want to help us?

Falcone:  I feel a personal responsibility in all this.  I want to do anything I can.

Jonas:  [thinks for a moment] All right.  Spritz, you and Meowzma head back to the Nova, and
take Mr. Bladewing with you.  Salvage any equipment from the hallway that you can.  I want
something to analyze when we return.

GB:  Why send him back?  Falcone's an excellent fighter.  I can tell you from firsthand experience.

Jonas:  Be that as it may, I don't want any more people endangered than there already are.  Just
get back, and stand by.  When I need you to do something, I'll let you know.

[Meowzma and Spritz nod, and walk back down the hallway, in the direction of the Nova.
Falcone begins to follow, glances back with an unsure look on his face, and continues on]

Jonas:  [speaking into a CB mike that's clipped to his belt] Lou, Spritz and Meowzma are heading
back.  They have a...guest...with them.  When they get back, I want you to disconnect with this
thing, and back off to a distance of about...fifty yards, then stand by.

Lou:  (over the sound of laser fire in the background) You people think you could hurry it up in
there?  I think this thing is figuring out how to target the drones!  We've lost three already!  It's
only a matter of time before it spots us, too!

Jonas:  [turns the radio off] Let's move.

[The group of six continue their trek down the seemingly endless hallway, all of them visibly
nervous and somewhat anxious about what may happen next]

Speedy:  I just don't understand it...Seymour was more annoying than he was dangerous.  He's
never been a cold-blooded killer.

Guido:  I know.  Nothing's made any sense lately.  If Falcone's right, then what caused Seymour
to change so much?

Polly:  Speaking of not making sense...[turns to Jonas] Why did you tackle me?  I had that crow
in perfect position for a close-up of my new nail polish!

Jonas:  Did any of you notice a difference between the general style of that last fight and any
others you've had?

Speedy:  Yeah, those Ninja Crows looked like they were a little...how do I say this...lagged?

Jonas:  You mean, they appeared to be slow-moving?

Speedy:  Yeah.  I mean, they didn't really get to do that much anyway, but when those last two
dove at you, it was like they were moving through water rather than air.

Jonas:  That's because your bodies are slowly growing stronger, and your perception is changing
to match your own abilities.  Since you could easily outmaneuver them, they appear sluggish to
you.

GB:  Won't that really mess us up when we perform everyday tasks?

Jonas:  As time passes, you'll go through a few stages of it.  Give it a week, maybe two, and your
vision will have fully adapted to your body's conditioning, and return to normal.  As for your
question, Polly...[stops walking] Take a slash at this wall right here.

Polly:  Huh?  Why?

Jonas:  To prove a point.  Just give it a shot.

Polly:  [shrugs, unsheathes her sword]

Jonas:  Whoa, hold on.  Not with your sword, with your claws.

Polly:  [looks at the wall, stares blankly at Jonas] Are you nuts!?  That's gotta be at least an inch
of solid steel!  My claws won't even scratch the paint!

Jonas:  An inch and a half, and yes, they will.

Polly:  [sheathes her sword] (unsure) Are you sure about this?

Jonas:  [nods] Trust me.

Polly:  (quietly, mockingly) "Trust me", he says.  If I break a nail, I'll trust him with a knuckle
sandwich.

[Polly bares her claws, takes a step back, reaches her hand back, and slashes at the wall.  He claws
slice into it easily, creating four long, deep claw marks]

Polly:  (shocked) Um...how did I do that?

Jonas:  As I said before, your body has grown stronger in these past few days.  The training has
helped to intensify your fighting skills.  Now, if you can do THAT to one and a half inches of
solid steel...try to imagine what you would have done to that Ninja Crow's face.

Polly:  [gulps, her eyes widen, and she turns slightly pale]

Jonas:  Nothing less than a fatal hit.  I'm sure that's not something you want to have to live with.

Polly:  [nods] You got that right.

Speedy:  [turns the corner] Are you okay, Polly?  You don't look so-[turns his eyes forward, runs
back around the corner] YIKE!

Guido:  What is it?

Speedy:  [leaning against the wall, breathing heavily] Turrets...lining the hallway...

Jonas:  How many?

Speedy:  Six...maybe eight...

Polly:  Did they see you?

GB:  If they had, I think we would have heard about it by now.

Jonas:  [cautiously peeks around the corner] Eight turrets, in two vertical columns, one on each
side of the hallway.  That's a problem.

Francine:  Anything we can use for cover?

Jonas:  No...although...it looks like they're guarding a door or something, along the side...I want
to know what's in there.

GB:  So, how do we take them out?

Jonas:  One at a time.  We don't want to make any mistakes.

Polly:  Any ideas.

Speedy:  I've got one.  [pulls two Ginzu stars out of a hatch in his left gauntlet] Damn, I'm out.
Oh well, I'll just have to make these count!

Jonas:  Whatever you're doing, Speedy, see if you can tell what type of ammo those things are
using.

[Speedy sidesteps into the hallway, throws the two Ginzu stars, and quickly steps back, as the
spot where he stood moments before is pelted by laser fire]

Speedy:  That answer your question?

Jonas:  [muttering] Why can't they ever use PROJECTILE weapons?  Why is it always LASER
weapons?

[A loud explosion is heard, rocking the immediate area]

Jonas:  [peeks around the corner] The top one on both sides is gone.  Looks like you jammed the
barrels, and when they tried to fire, they blew up.

Francine:  So there are six left?

Jonas:  [nods] Anyone else want to give it a shot?

Guido:  I've got an idea.  [unsheathes his sword]

Francine:  Guido?  What are you doing?

Guido:  Testing my idea.

Jonas:  Are you doing what I THINK you're doing?

Guido:  Probably.

Jonas:  Are you sure that will work?

Guido:  Always worked in the cartoons.

[Before another word can be said, Guido steps out into the hallway, holding his sword in a
blocking stance.  Two laser blasts impact against the wall behind him, and he manages to deflect
three back at the turrets.  However, even Guido's skill with a blade is not quite good enough, as a
blast nails him in his right side, searing his armor, and burning his skin]

Guido:  AAARRGGHHH!!!

[As a series of explosions is heard, Speedy reaches out, and yanks Guido back to cover around
the corner]

Francine:  [kneeling down next to Guido] (alarmed) Guido!

[Guido lays on his back, clutching the still-smoking wound at his side.  Beads of sweat form on
his forehead, and he is in a great amount of pain]

Francine:  [growing red with anger] Grr...RRGH!  [She stands, draws her whip, steps into the
hall, and flings it in the direction of the turrets.  She manages to wrap it around the barrel of one,
and then yanks hard, pulling it right out of the wall.  She then quickly sidesteps back to safety]

Jonas:  <Mental note:  Never get Francine mad at me.>  How many are left?

Francine:  [examining Guido's wound] Guido got three...and I took out one...that leaves two.
[places her hand on Guido's wound, as it emits a pale green glow]

Guido:  [grunts in pain at Francine's touch, but slowly, the wound begins to close]

Polly:  [cracks her knuckles] Two, eh?  Stand aside. [opens a small compartment on her right
gauntlet, and removes a single heart-shaped dart] (frustrated) GRR, I only have one!  Oh, well.
Here we go!  [steps into the hallway, throws the dart, and then dives for cover.  A very loud
explosion is heard, and GB looses his footing, falling down]

GB:  OOF!  [slowly gets to his feet] What did you USE, Polly!?

Jonas:  [looks around the corner once again.  There is now a small, smoking crater where one
column of turrets once was] WHOA!  [turns to Polly] What WAS that?

Polly:  [giggles] One of my patented heart bombs!  [turns to the camera] Remember, if I hurt you,
it's only because I...[blows a kiss] Love 'ya! [giggles again]

Speedy:  Polly...sweetheart...who are you talking to?

Polly:  [looks around] Um...just...reminding myself of something...that's all...

Jonas:  Remind ME to put one of those bombs on my Christmas list.  Yeesh!  [turns to Francine]
How's Guido doing?

Francine:  Better, but that wound is still open.  I tried healing him, but it just...stopped.

Hunter:  Interesting, sir.  These weapons appear to hamper not only your powers, but magic
overall.

Jonas:  (sarcastically) Today just keeps getting better and better, Hunter.

GB:  Just one left, now.  Should you, or shall I?

Jonas:  [thinks] We both should.

GB:  What?

Jonas:  Just stand by, and watch.  You'll know what to do, and when to do it.

[Jonas steps into the hallway, and with blinding speed, dashes behind the turret.  It doesn't seem
to notice]

Jonas:  (taunting the turret) Hey you!  Over here!

[The turret rotates around to face Jonas, then does nothing, as if waiting to be provoked]

Jonas:  Yeah, you, you overgrown flashlight!  You want a piece of me?  I'm right here!

[The turret fires rapidly, as Jonas attempts to dodge its shots.  He does a good job of it, but does
take a hit in the arm]

Jonas:  <That was a close one.  Have to be more careful.>  That the best you have, you penlight
on steroids?  Come on!

[While Jonas occupies the turret, GB sneaks up behind it, and with a single motion, slices it off
the wall]

GB:  (to Jonas) You okay?

Jonas:  I got knicked, but it's not bad.

GB:  You mean to tell me you could have done that the entire time?

Jonas:  Yes, but if I were against all eight, one of them probably would have detected me.  If they
were all on me at once, I don't know if I'd be able to handle it.

GB:  Why didn't you just blast it when you got behind it?

Jonas:  Aw, come on, now.  I can't have ALL the fun.

GB:  [sigh] Let's check on Guido.

[GB and Jonas go back around the corner to check on the fallen Guido]

GB:  How is he?

Francine:  The wound's completely closed now, but he'll be sore around there for a while.

Guido:  (dazed) Unnh...someone call me?

Francine:  Guido?  Are you okay?

Guido:  [sits up] Alive, yes.  Okay, uh-uh.  Man, I feel like it's the day after GB's bachelor party.

Speedy and GB:  (in unison) Ooh...

Francine:  [smiles, then slaps Guido across the face] (slightly angry) Don't you ever scare me like
that again!

Guido:  [rubs the side of his face, teary-eyed] Ouch...

Francine:  [hugs Guido tightly] Oh, I'm sorry Guido.  I'm just glad you're okay.

Guido:  [pats Francine on the back] Yeah...I'm glad I'm okay, too.

Jonas:  [examining the door on the right-hand wall, behind the turrets] Okay, we've got a choice.
We can turn here, and go through this door, or keep going through this hallway.  Pick your
poison.

All:  Door.

Jonas:  [nods] Door it is.  Stand back, this thing may be rigged.  [Presses a few buttons on a
keypad next to the door] "Access code required"?  Bah, here's your access code!  [charges a fist,
and blasts the keypad off the wall, causing the door to slide open.  He looks inside] Oh, holy hell.

GB:  What's in there?

Jonas:  I think...you'll want to have a look at this...

[Everyone groups around the door to look inside.  The room is about the size of an average high
school gymnasium, with racks and shelves lining the walls.  Stacked in piles and placed upon
those racks are weapons of every size and caliber, ranging from assault rifles to anti-tank missiles,
to the sleek explosive black orbs]

Jonas:  Reminds me of my closet...only bigger...

Speedy:  [walking around] They're everywhere.  There's no room to put anything along these
walls.  You'd have to put something new in the middle of the floor.

Polly:  Doesn't look like standard mining equipment to me.  How about you guys?

Francine:  Yeah, I bet the labor union picked up the tab for all this.

Speedy:  [realizing something] What could all of this equipment possibly be for?  There's more
than enough here to overpower the Little Tokyo military.

Guido:  You really think Seymour is going to try and take the city by invading it?

Speedy:  It's all starting to make sense.  [turns to Jonas] If you were going to forcibly invade a
given location, and you had a massive budget with which to do it, what would you do?

 Jonas:  [thinks] Well...first, I'd allocate enough resources and equipment to do the job.

Speedy:  [waves a hand through the air] Look around you.  Done.  What next?

Jonas:  Next...I'd try to neutralize any precautionary measures that could be used against
me...[realizes Speedy's point] Which would mean YOU.

Speedy:  [nods] And after the defenses are gone?

Jonas:  [silent for a moment] I'd attack, and without anything to provide reasonable resistance...I'd
win.

[Everyone is silent]

GB:  That means...we're the last line of defense...

Jonas:  We're the ONLY line of defense.  If we don't stop him...then that's it.  He'll take Little
Tokyo, and then...the other world governments will respond, and...oh my God...

Polly:  We could be looking at World War III here!

Speedy:  It wouldn't really last that long.  Little Tokyo has almost no modern weaponry, and I
doubt that even this place has nuclear armament.  Still, other world leaders would consider it a
threat.

Jonas:  [nods] I still haven't picked up any radiation.

Guido:  But...if everyone else fires on Little Tokyo...

[All are silent]

Jonas:  Okay, people!  This has just become a whole new ballgame!  It could be a matter of hours
before whatever Seymour is planning takes place, or it could be minutes.  Either way, it's up to us
to stop it.

GB:  We've got to find him, first.

Jonas:  [nods] Right.  See any other doors leading out of this room?
 
Polly:  [looks around] Doesn't look like it.

Jonas:  Back to the hallway, then.

[The group leaves the room, and begins to walk in the direction they were going, when...]

Francine:  Hey, what's this?

[Francine has stopped in front of a large diagram next to the doorway]

Guido:  What is it, Francine?

Francine:  It's a map...I think...

Jonas:  [squinting at the diagram] I think she's right.  A place this large would need some way for
personnel to find their way around.

Speedy:  Can you tell where we are?

Jonas:  I think so.  Let's see here...if this blue triangle is our present position...and this is the
hallway we're in...then it should fork up ahead, into two paths.

GB:  What do we do then?

Jonas:  We'll blow up that bridge when we come to it.  Hmm...wonder what all these symbols
mean...

Guido:  No map key?

Jonas:  Personnel are probably trained to understand these symbols so intruders-like us-won't be
able to recognize them.  If this is the room we're standing next to, it's marked with a red circle.