Samurai Pizza Cats UNLIKELY ALLIES Author: G.A. Wildcat Previously, on SPC---the Covert Operations, Part VII.... Quarter and Seymour have traded antecdotes on their past encounters with their respective enemies. And now, they have resorted to what they have termed "Operation Bonzai": the construction and use of a nuclear warhead against Little Tokyo. After some prolonged conversations, investigations, and transportation mishaps, Aldonza and Curtis have discovered for themselves what Quarter intends to do. Curtis has dispatched the Rad-Cats to put a halt to this threat, but now they find themselves in a deep and perilous situation..... ----------------------------------------------------- (Scene opens on what appears to be an almost-finished building. Flashdog, Flasher, and Blackout are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the first part of the grand project. Quarter, Caner, Seymour, and Jerry are standing off to one side, watching this) Jerry: I certainly hope you know what you're doing. Quarter: (nods) We do, Master Atrick. We do. Caner: (sarcastically) Of course we do. Why else would we be building a nuke? Quarter: And like I said, we might not have to actually use it at all if things go the way we have them set up. (There is a clatter of tools on the ground, and the camera zooms out momentarily, giving us a good shot of the silo and the control building attached to it. The control building is about 10 stories tall and has a 400-foot diameter, along with a set of towers along one side, and a chamber next to it where the silo is located. The silo's launch chute currently has nothing in it, but that will be changing soon.) Blackout: Well, the control building's just about done. Now all that's left.... All: (in unison) Is the nuke. Flashdog: (holds up a pad of paper) And I've recovered the instruction booklet showing how to build the nuke. Quarter: (taps his chin momentarily) I forget. How long does it usually take us to build one? Flashdog: If we hurry, then about 12 hours. That would take us to about 9:00 tomorrow morning. Flasher: (remembers something) Hey, it's New Year's Eve tomorrow, isn't it? This'll make a great celebration! Seymour: (grins) Come to think of it, you're right. We can open up the year 2000 with a bang! (Quarter and the other A.L.D. members break in hysterics, then walk away) Jerry: (to Seymour) Do those guys ever sleep? Seymour: (shakes his head) They made their own version of that energy-gaining formula. That's not important to me, though. This is our final stand. Jerry: So, Cheesy? Seymour: If those Pizza Cats stop the launching of the nuclear missile, then I don't know WHAT will stop them. If they do, I figure it would be as good a time as any to step down. Jerry: (surprised) Oh? Seymour: You heard correctly, Jerry. All this threatening the citizens of Little Tokyo with giant robots and blackmailing them and repeating the process is finally getting to me. Do you understand what I'm getting at, here? Jerry: (shrugs) Well, I suppose it's better for you than going through life without eyebrows. Seymour: (nods) Yes, no, maybe so. (walks with Jerry into the finishing building) (Back at our deep little pit, Teasy and the others contemplate a way out of this situation) Teasy: (gets up from a sitting position and looks at the night sky) I don't know, guys. I just don't see a way out of this. You guys have any ideas? Chico: How about your Laser Curve attack? You know, the one that can detect electronics in use? Teasy: (thinks) I haven't used it in years; it may have to be recalibrated, but I don't have that kind of time. (Teasy positions his mace on the laser cannon, creating a weapon with greater power. After charging it for a moment, Teasy fires the ray. The ray shoots through the infrared beams into the sky, then suddenly curves back in the opposite direction, toasting Teasy) Teasy: (coughs) I was right. It DOES need recalibrated. (Chico goes next, raising his sound amplifiers and shooting an explosive sound wave. However, the amplified sound bounces off the walls and pounds him, forcing him to double over in pain) Chico: (screaming) HEAVY SOUND!! TOO HEAVY!!! Daniel: (growls) Stand back, big bros. (Turning on the turbo jets, Daniel races straight up the wall; he still cannot, however, outrun the infrared lasers. The lasers shock him back down inside the pit, where Runner manages to catch him) Runner: (releasing Daniel) Let's see if THIS solves anything. (Raising a fist, Runner slams it into the wall, hoping to crack the whole thing at once, and the lasers along with it. The wall cracks; but the lasers remain in place) Runner: Blast it! (sits back down) Anyone else got an idea? Teasy: (coughs) I had been monitoring transmissions ever since we fell in here. Aldonza's been flying around a lot over us, but I don't think she's seen us. Runner: (raises a hand grenade) Well, then, let's get her attention. (Runner flings the grenade through the pit's entrance and up into the sky) Daniel: Now, what? Runner: (yawns) Now, we wait. In the meantime....(pulls out a deck of cards)....anyone for a game of rummy? Chico: (stretches out prone) Sure. You deal. (Up above, Aldonza is indeed doing some more flying. She holds her transistor radio in one hand, speaking into it) Aldonza: .....No, not a whole lot, no. I was in town around the time they launched the Great Golden Cluck. I was watching out my hotel window and saw a giant golden statue; but the next time I looked---- (There is a blinding explosion as the grenade goes off. Aldonza emerges somewhat toasted, but otherwise okay) Aldonza: (howls in pain, then looks down) Ok, who threw that thing? I'm going to check things out! Talk to you later! (Aldonza moves down a little lower, takes out her binoculars and looks through them) Aldonza: (magnifies the lens) (Furiously, Aldonza pulls the radio back out) Aldonza: Aldonza Karate, calling Carlos Cosmos! I need your assistance, here! (Down below, in some trees bordering the pit, Curtis is hiding. After a moment, looking tired, he pulls out his comlink) Curtis: Al, this is Curtis. Could you get Violet on the line? Al: (sounding puzzled) Of course, Curtis. Just a second. (After a few moments, including some loud yelling from the other end, Vi's loud voice is heard) Vi: WHAT IS IT!!? YOU JUST WOKE ME UP FROM MY BEAUTY SLEEP!!! Curtis: Calm down, Your Idio----I mean, your Excellency. I need you to do a little favor. Vi: (a bit calmer) What? Curtis: I need you to use Big Al's computer to signal the Rescue Team in this direction. Vi: (confused) What? Curtis: (a smirk forms on his mouth) I take it you don't know who the Rescue Team is? Vi: No, not really. Curtis: (begins thinking back) You remember the 2nd annual Little Tokyo Art Festival a few years back? Vi: Yes. That was when I first met your friend Lucille. Curtis: (smiles) Not really MY friend, but we still get along quite well. Anyway, you remember those fireworks that were being shot? Vi: (happily) Are you kidding? Of COURSE I remember! That was the best part of the entire festival! Curtis: (smile becomes wider) Do you remember the person who was shooting the fireworks? Vi: (pause) I believe he was a rather large cat with a pair of cannons on his back. Curtis: That was General Catton, leader of the Rescue Team. His number is inside my phonebook, alongside with 3 other names. I last left my phonebook in my quarters. Dial them up, and get them to where I am right now. I'm at the edge of the forest east of the city. Vi: Aren't you able to handle this yourself? Curtis: (shakes his head sadly) I wish I could, but I need some time alone for a little while. Vi: (pause) Listen. You don't need to be afraid to tell me what's going on. Curtis: (eyes shimmer slightly) Sorry, Princess, but it's kind of personal right now. Vi: (another pause) Okay. I'll call them for you, but remember: you owe me. (phone clicks off) Curtis: (puts his comlink away, and stares at the ground) (Not far from the pit, directly below the moon, Carlos has arrived to talk to Aldonza) Carlos: (smoothing back his hair, which is still flaring wildly) Hey, Aldonza! Aldonza: (rushes up to Carlos) Good thing you're here! We seem to have a problem. Carlos: Something wrong? Something about the Rad-Cats being trapped in a pit? Aldonza: (nods) And trapped in by infrared lasers, even. What do you think we should do? Carlos: (thinks for a moment) The obvious thing to do would be find a way to get rid of those lasers without getting OURSELVES burned. Aldonza: (sarcastic) My, oh, my. That's just SO obvious. Whatever am I supposed to do? Carlos: (growls) You feel like inhaling some chocolate tonight? (Aldonza suddenly falls to one knee, clutching her stomach and breathing heavily) Aldonza: (weakly; between breaths) You....shouldn't have....said that. You....know chocolate....makes me sick.....* Carlos: (moving some hair out of the way of his right eye) Sorry I said that, but we still have some friends to rescue. Now, get a grip on yourself and help me get at those lasers. (Slowly, Aldonza rises, breathing a bit easier) Aldonza: Alright, I'm fine now. Let's do it. Chico: (yells out of the pit) HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO THAT? Carlos: Good question. (looks around) I don't suppose anyone here happened to bring a shovel? (Aldonza shakes her head) Voice: (shouts) No, but we've brought something even better! (Carlos and Aldonza look around, then spot the Rescue Team incoming from the sky. The B-Team makes a 3-point landing 2 meters away from Carlos) Carlos: (shakes Catton's hand) Glad to meet you face-to-face instead of over the communications system. (frowns) Who sent you here, anyway? Spritz: Believe it or not, Princess Violet. She said that Curtis had contacted her 10 minutes ago and asked her to call US. We figured that someone was in some kind of trouble, so we came over here. Bat Cat: So, what's wrong? Carlos: (frowns) You remember Chico Melika? That one guy who helped you out against the Titans several months ago? (Everyone nods) Carlos: Well, he and his brothers had a trap sprung on them by the A.L.D. They won't be able to climb out of that pit unless we find a way to disable those lasers that have them trapped. Meowzma: (thinks for a moment) I think I have an idea. General? Catton: (steps over to Meowzma) You called? Meowzma: Those little backpack combinations we've had over the years? It's time to make a new one. It's time to combine yours and mine. Aldonza: (skeptical) It'll be a neat trick, but what exactly is it supposed to accomplish? Catton: (looks at her sternly and walks over to her) Your rank, ma'am? Aldonza: (angry) What are you--- Catton: (loudly) YOUR RANK, MA'AM? Aldonza: (sighs, irritated) By Curtis's standards, Admiral, but by your standards....(groans)....Major General. Catton: I therefore outrank you by 1. Get ready to blast those lasers when Meowzma and I uncover them. Aldonza: (quietly, trembling slightly with inward fury) Yes, sir. Wait a second, General....you KNOW about my laser-shooting trick? (Catton ignores her and begins the process of combining backpacks with Meowzma) Carlos: (gives Aldonza a friendly slap) Don't worry about it, Aldonza. We're all friends, aren't we? Aldonza: (almost to herself) Yeah. At, least, I THINK so.... (There is a brilliant flash of light, followed a second later by a brilliant flash of an explosion. Taking the cue, Aldonza makes her tail spin. The tail curves between her legs, and Aldonza shoots lasers from her eyes into the whirlwind. From the end of the tail shoots an orange energy beam that widens to 2 meters in diameter. The laser impacts, and causes yet another terrific detonation. However, when the smoke clears, the infrared laser turrets are unscathed.) Meowzma: (sarcastic) Well, the brand-new Drill Bomb ** was certainly a success, wasn't it? Spritz: Let's try something else. Bat Cat? (Bat Cat's backpack detaches and connects to Spritz's backpack, forming a similar weapon to the SRWR. However, when Spritz fires it, it shoots a water beam instead of the normal energy beam. The beam washes over the infrared turrets, but when the beam fades away, no visible damage can be seen) Spritz: (puzzled) Hmm....cases must be waterproof. Carlos: (upset) Well, if your guys' special abilities won't work, then WHAT will? Catton: I don't know....but I DO know that I think we'll need Curtis's help for this. (Abruptly, and without warning, the laser turrets explode. Cut to the Rad-Cats' point of view. A small electric sizzle appears at the top of the pit, then nothing. The Rad-Cats are somewhat confused) Runner: What happened? Teasy: (thoughtful) Not sure.....guys, you stay here. I'll go up and see if it's safe yet. Chico: (growls) Right. And if it isn't, you know where to find us. Teasy: Bro, just chill. (Teasy, like he accomplished earlier without success, begins climbing up the metallic rungs. This time, though, nothing blocks his path, and he is able to climb up and out of the pit unharmed.) Daniel: (joyful) Hey, he's out! Come on, guys, let's blow this joint! (Chico grabs the cards and stuffs them in his jacket pocket, then begins climbing out. Daniel and Runner are right behind him.) Runner: (grins) NOW! (The Toaster Bomb Baseball, the Vladdie Impaler, the Starcross Scatterbolts, and Runner's swirling strike known only as Maelstrom combine into an energy blast shaped like a pair of sunglasses. The attacks impact the bottom of the pit, causing the metal casing to blow open. The earth saves the Rad-Cats some trouble by refilling the pit) Teasy: (grins) Now that we've gotten out of THAT.....(yawns)...Let's head back home and get some sleep. Chico: Best idea you've had in years, bro--- Teasy: (snaps) Scrub it, Chico. (The Rad-Cats depart the scene, heading for home) Carlos: (turning to Catton) What do YOU guys plan on doing? Catton: We'll be staying the night at Bat Cat's place, and then we're going to spend all the next day setting up for the year 2000. Aldonza: (chuckles) I'll bet that sounds like fun. You guys got all the supplies you need? Spritz: Enough water to last all the way into the year after that. Bat Cat: We've still got the air conditioner running. Catton: We have ourselves a working fireplace. Aldonza: (laughs) That's good. That's VERY good. Meowzma: Now, if you don't need us anymore, we'll be going to Bat Cat's place right about now. Carlos: (nods) Thanks for your help. We'll call you if something else turns up. Adios, amigos! *** (The Rescue Team leaves) Aldonza: Well, Carlos? What are YOU going to do? Carlos: (slams a fist into an open palm) I'm going to head back to the Mansion and wait for Curtis's signal. One way or another, it's time to lay our lives on the line for the sake of this city. Aldonza: (thinks) Tell you the truth, I think that's a good idea. Carlos: What, laying our lives on the line? Aldonza: (shakes her head) No, heading home. I'm bushed! Carlos: (chuckles) Tell me about it. (Aldonza and Carlos leave, as well) (Cut to the outside of the pizza parlor. The dim glow provided by the candles are still there. As we look in the window, we see Speedy, Guido, GB, and Ambush Cat still engrossed by their game of Monopoly. The moon is high overhead. Down below, right outside, we see Francine in full winter gear, shoveling the snow off the front steps of the parlor) Francine: (to herself, as she works) No-good lousy tomcats. Won't even lift a finger to help me with shoveling the snow. I asked Guido and GB to help me, but what happens? They get into an argument over that game. (propells the snow on the shovel over her shoulder) Idiots. Voice: (startled) Oof! (Before Francine can react, a snowball flies over her head and takes her earmuffs with it. Francine runs over and retrieves the earmuffs, and turns around to see Curtis standing there. He has on a purple flannel shirt over his usual attire, but patches of snow are clinging to it. He has a rather large duffel bag strapped to one shoulder [the kind that can knock over people a meter behind you when you turn a corner]) Francine: (relieved) Thank goodness. I thought you were someone else! But....(hesitates)....aren't you cold without a coat? Curtis: (shakes his head) Nah. (shakes the snow off his shirt) Francine: (not convinced) Are you SURE? You look cold. And why did you throw that snowball over my head? Curtis: (lets out a deep breath) Regular cats like you don't understand the things us Super-Cats deal with. What with having fur all over our bodies, living in constant fear of split ends....I threw that snowball to get your attention. Francine: But your aim was off? Curtis: (smiles weakly) Let's just say that if it had made contact, YOU would be covered with snow. Judging by the amount you're dealing with, a whole lot of it. Francine: (not getting the point) If you're so afraid of split ends, why don't you wear a coat so the snow doesn't mess it up? Curtis: (patience wearing thin) I believe I just answered that question, Fran.... Francine: Oh. So, what are you doing back here? Curtis: To get a few hours sleep before we strike the nuclear silo tomorrow. Francine: (gasps) You mean....? Curtis: (nods his head slowly) Yes. The final battle is fast approaching. And believe me when I say this: (eyes narrow; voice comes out cold) SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. Francine: (slowly nods, as well) So, in other words, you really don't feel like helping me out with the snow? Curtis: (shakes his head and yawns) Wish I could, Frannie, but I feel like I could sleep on a pile of stone right now. How's Polly? Has she gotten any better? Francine: (shakes her head and continues shoveling) Not very much. She's coughing a lot less, but she's been in bed ever since you left earlier. (Curtis opens up his bag, reaches into it, and pulls out a half-full bottle) Curtis: Give a teaspoonful of this to Polly when she wakes up in the morning. It'll have her back on her feet in no time. This is another reason why I can recover from battles so quickly. (Curtis opens the door, shuffles on in, and closes it. In the meantime, Francine gets a better look at the bottle. First noting the Nutritional values, she turns it around and sees the name) Francine: "Yakko's Golden Elixir?" **** (Cut to inside the parlor. Ambush Cat and Guido are leaning over the Monopoly board, trying to stare each other down, while Speedy, Curtis, and GB watch nearby) Ambush Cat: We'll see if you're still laughing once you land on New York Avenue! Guido: (grins smugly) Whatever, Ambush Creep. (Ambush Cat rolls the dice; a 3, and a 7. He moves his game piece....and lands right on Indiana Avenue, one of the 'red' properties. He turns his eyes and faces Guido.) Ambush Cat: (mutters) You're just too good. Guido: What can I say? You're the one that landed on it. Now, fork over the cash. (Ambush Cat double-checks Guido's Indiana Avenue property card for the price of the property with hotels. Holding back a curse, he gives him his money as well as the money for the hocked properties, tosses the game piece into the box, and stalks away stiffly) Guido: (winks) That's what you get for playing against the master of Monopoly. Curtis: (clears his throat) A-hem.... Speedy: You're not a Monopoly master, Curtis. Admit it. Curtis: (angrily) So what if I lose every now and then? I'm still good at that game! Speedy: (laughing) Yeah, I'll bet you lose all your money before you circle the board twice. Curtis: (sighs, a small smile appearing on his mouth) Not even close. (Guido begins putting all the pieces and money away. At that moment, Francine throws open the door and bursts in screaming) Francine: (screams) ABOUT TIME YOU GOT DONE PLAYING THAT GAME! I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST 45 MINUTES CLEARING OFF THE PORCH AND WALK, AND YOU LOUSY PUNKS WON'T EVEN LIFT A FINGER TO HELP ME OUT!!! (swings the snow shovel at Speedy, who has risked a meeting with a wall and has lost out) Curtis: (slightly taken back by Fran's tantrum) (as calm as possible) Francine.... Francine: (testy) What? Curtis: (growls) Shut up, Francine. (Several moments of uncomfortable silence follow. Speedy pulls himself free from the wall. Curtis and Francine try to stare each other down. After a moment, Francine shakes her head angrily, throws the shovel against the wall, stomps the snow off her boots, and walks upstairs) Curtis: (quietly) Females....always worried about getting blisters on their hands. GB: Is that what got her mad? Curtis: (looks at him) What else? I'm going to sleep. Guido: Sleep WHERE? We don't have any vacancies. Curtis: (yawns) Then I'll just open up a new one. (Curtis kicks off his shoes, climbs into his duffel bag, and closes it partway) GB: (chuckles) Now THAT'S what I call a compact kitty. Curtis: (muffled) Oh, scrub it. Speedy: And you don't need to brush your teeth or anything? Curtis: (muffled) Took care of that before I came here. Carla was kind enough to let me inside. (Curtis closes the bag until there's 1 inch of space left, then sticks a crumpled sheet of paper in place to keep it from closing all the way) GB: (stern) Curtis, you're going to have trouble breathing in there. If you're having trouble falling asleep, you can use the couch in my house, if you want----- Curtis: (warningly; muffled) Have you, perchance, ever heard a calico cat scream? Guido: (stares at the bag) Hmm...we get the point. Curtis: (muffled) Good. Now, stop worrying about me and get some sleep. I've done this before; I can do it again. Speedy: (interested) Really? When? Curtis: (chuckles; muffled) One time a few years ago, I was waiting overnight at the airport for a friend of mine to show up. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed, and I was getting tired, so I cleared some of the stuff out of my bag and crawled inside. Speedy: (shrugs) Just curious. Good night. (GB blows out the candles and walks out the door towards his house. A small amount of time passes. Cut to Curtis's view, inside the duffel bag. There is no way of seeing anything except through the airhole) (There are several whispering noises coming from nearby) Curtis: (opens his eyes and blinks, then strains to hear) Voice #1: Keep it down. We don't want anyone hearing us. Voice #2: (whispers) How do you expect to say this to them? That we've been denied our pay for that expensive job and are out for revenge? Get real! Voice #1: (same) And how else do you propose to say it? We have a better chance of getting our paychecks if we work with the Pizza Cats instead of the Big Cheese. Voice #3: (same) So, in effect, we're joining up with them? Voice #1: (same) Precisely. Voice #4: (same) Hard to believe we're actually going to team up with some old foes! (pauses) So, what are we going to do until then? Voice #1: (same) We'll stay here for the night, and then wait for them to panic. After that, we'll explain our reasons for coming and what our plans are for the future. Curtis: (disbelieving) (becomes weary) (drifts back to sleep) (Time passes. The time: 7:00am. The small view from inside the bag has changed, slightly; rays from the sunrise can be seen. Curtis, already awake, is talking to himself, and snacking on something at the same time) Curtis: The bold cat waits inside the darkness. (crunch) Laughing in the face of danger....(crunch crunch) (Suddenly, the bag opens, and Curtis finds himself dumped out of it. A box of cereal, an orange juice box drink, and a bag of potato chips fall out with him onto the floor) Curtis: (growls to himself) Risking a happenstance meeting with a rabid chip. (snaps at the figure before him) Couldn't you hear I was eating breakfast? (Polly, who is wearing a pink nightgown, stares down at him) Polly: (laughs bitterly) Cereal, orange juice, and potato chips? Get real. Curtis: (sarcastically) Glad to hear you're feeling better. DO THAT AGAIN, AND YOU'RE GOING TO REQUIRE SURGERY. Polly: (laughs) Sorry. (walks into the kitchen) Thanks for the elixir, by the way. Curtis: (sarcastically) No problem. (begins picking up his breakfast) In the meantime.... (There is a knock at the door. Curtis is the first one to reach it, and he opens it to see a silver tabby cat wearing black jeans and a dark gray jacket) Curtis: (recognizing the figure) Atom Cat! Haven't seen you since last spring! How you've been? Atom Cat: (who's very young, and his voice gives it away) Fine. Anyway, Guru Lou wanted me to deliver his letter. (mutters, handing the letter to Curtis) S.----- (Noticing the look on Curtis's face, Atom Cat cuts himself off and chuckles nervously) Curtis: (snarls) For the millionth time, Atom Cat, you're 10 years too young to be using that language. (curious) Just out of curiousity, how'd you join up with Guru Lou? Atom Cat: (clasps his paws behind his back) Lou had an advertisement in the Little Tokyo Times requesting a capable scientist to work with him. I figured that since I hadn't heard any word from you, I'd join up and wait. Curtis: ....And this was...how long ago? Atom Cat: (thinks) A little over 4 months ago. Can I tell you something about Guru Lou? Curtis: (frowns) Go on ahead, kid. Atom Cat: (shakes his head) I just can't describe him without using bad language. That's how bad I think he is. Polly: (from the kitchen) His inventions may need work, but that's no way to describe him. Atom Cat: It's not just that! He's always trying to get a date, but this time he's going for the ultimate prize! Curtis, if I were you, I'd tell him off. Curtis: (folds his arms) Nice try, Atom Cat. I'm not falling for your weak psychology. Atom Cat: (shrugs) It was worth a try. (walks away) See you later. (As Atom Cat leaves, Curtis walks over to the counter and begins reading the letter. Speedy, Guido, and Francine come on downstairs as he's reading) Letter: "Hello, this is your inventing pal Guru Lou. Sylvia Melika is supposed to come over today. Unfortuantely, I forgot her cell phone number. Please contact her and tell her she's to meet me at my home at 5:00 this evening. Signed, Lou" Curtis: (snickers) This is interesting. Interesting, indeed.... Polly: (from the kitchen) What's that? Curtis: Guru Lou wants Teasy's sister to come over to his place at 5:00. Should I call her? Polly: (shakes her head) No, I will. (picks up the telephone and dials the number) (As Polly is talking to Sylvia, Speedy, Guido, and Francine come on downstairs) Speedy: (groggily) Morning. Curtis: (snaps his head in Speedy's direction and screams) WAKE UP!!! (Startled, Speedy falls backward onto Guido, who falls backward onto Francine, causing a minor pileup) Speedy: (sounding more alert; annoyed) Thanks a ton, Curtis. Curtis: (wipes his tongue over his lips) No problemo, Speedy. Polly: (hangs up) Morning, everyone. (smiles) Everyone have a safe trip out of bed today? Guido: If it weren't for Courteous Curtis over there, I would've had a pleasant start to what's supposed to be a pleasant day. Curtis: (shakes his head and continues eating his breakfast) Don't count on it being pleasant. Immediately after Quarter gives his back announcement, we're going to be in for the biggest fight of our lives. Speedy: (frowns) What are you talking about? The comet was by far the biggest incident we were involved in. Curtis: (does the same) Listen to me, Speedy. We will be striking the nuclear silo today. It will not matter what you think now, or maybe even later. If we do not stop the A.L.D. from launching that missile, people are going to wish that the comet HAD struck Earth. Once again, the lives of the citizens of Little Tokyo will be resting on our shoulders. (finishes off his box of cereal) Francine: Excuse me, but I have a question for someone. In particular, for someone who dons a blue helmet after breakfast. Guido: You mean for me? Francine: Yes, Guido. (snaps) Do you want to get off me, or were you just getting comfortable? Guido: (gets a goofy grin on his face) Sorry, Francine. Speedy, let me up! (Everyone gets up off the floor) Voice: (sharply) Amusing. (Everyone, except for Curtis, seems confused) Speedy: (looks about) Who said that? Voice: (chuckles) You don't remember me? I'm surprised. Polly: (growls) Whoever's there, show yourself! Why are you here? Curtis: (sighs) Crow-Magnon, just drop the pretense and let them see you. (The bird does as told. His 3 brothers appear next to him) Speedy: (disbelieving) No....it's the Rude Noise! Curtis: (sighs to himself) Yes, so it is. Would you mind explaining why you're here, Max? Crow-Magnon: It's actually quite simple. The Big Limburger didn't pay us for our last job, so we're going to beat the money out of him. Guido: (skeptical) And you intend to do this HOW? The Big Cheese and Jerry have surrounded themselves with super-powered individuals, each one very dangerous. Mojo: Which is why we're doing it CAREFULLY. We just want to remind you that if you see the Ninja Crowbot on the battlefield, it won't be on their side. (The Pizza Cats burst out laughing. Only Curtis maintains a straight face. He glances at the Cats, who've fallen over on the floor laughing, then faces the Rude Noise) Curtis: Continue. Crow-Magnon: Anyways, we're counting on you and your group to try and force the Big Cheese out of hiding. Once he gets out into the open, we'll be waiting. Curtis: (nods) Yeah. I guess so. Still, though, it's going to be a very tough battle. I'm STILL not sure if we ARE going to win. Crow-Magnon: (smirks) If we didn't think you would win, we wouldn't be here. Right, guys? Rude Noise: Yes! (The hysterics continue. Curtis, clearly agitated, morphs Shape-Shifter into a golf club, steps over to the nearest Pizza Cat, and lines the club up with Guido's shoulder.) Curtis: (yells) FORE! (Curtis swings as hard as he can. Guido impacts into Francine, who impacts into Speedy, who impacts into Polly, who bounces off a wall and heads back towards Speedy. Curtis hastily jumps out of the way, his sword morphing back to normal, as Guido impacts a wall, bounces off, and slams into Francine once again. For several minutes, Curtis watches Polly and Guido slam into their teammates various times, with several shouts of pain being emitted on occasion, until finally everyone loses their momentum.) Curtis: (grins) "I'll never call golf a dull game again." Cannonball: Didn't Casey Jones say that once? Curtis: Yeah. That was the point. Francine: (snaps) Curtis, what WAS the point? Did you really need to do that? Curtis: Simple. I don't like being irritated. You were irritating me with your shrill laughter. Case closed, Sherlock. (Francine looks at him, glaring daggers, but manages to hold her anger in check) Voice: Honestly, Curtis. We don't have any time for games. (GB walks on into the parlor, already in his armor) Curtis: (snide) Well, boo-hoo to you, too. (begins trembling) Yeah, yeah, I know. Knowing Quarter, he'll probably be calling us in 3...2....1... (A loud booming voice distantly echoes its way across the city. Everyone looks up, startled, as Quarter begins to speak) Quarter: (angrily) This is Quarter, leader of the Animal Legion of Doom, calling Curtis, Grand Admiral of the Super-Cats' Infinite Defense. You and the Samurai Pizza Cats have 3 full hours, starting immediately, to stop the launching of one of the A.L.D.'s most devastating nuclear weapons. Speedy: (thinking back to the comet attack) Now, where I have heard that one before? Quarter: (angrily) If you do not come, I will launch the nuke directly at your precious Palace. Even if you DO come, you have 3 hours. One way or another, it's time to face the cold facts: I will win, regardless of the cost, and nothing that YOU, the Pizza Cats, OR the Super-Cats can do will stop me from accomplishing this. (The voice stops rumbling across the landscape. Everyone looks at Curtis, waiting for him to say something. Eventually, he speaks) Curtis: (darkly) It's time. Guido: Alright, then. Should we launch towards the silo, or get there on the hover-jets? Curtis: On the ground. We'll get there faster, and we won't have to worry about pulling ourselves out of the snow. Speedy: (nods) Good. Samurai, get your armor. Max, what are YOU going to do? Crow-Magnon: We'll take the Ninja Crowbot and hide near the silo. When you get the Big Cheese out there, we'll be waiting. (The Rude Noise race out the door as everyone reaches for their armor. In the meantime, Curtis pulls out his comlink and speaks into it for a second, then puts it away) GB: Who were you calling? Curtis: The Rad-Cats. While we take on Quarter and the nuke, they'll race in and snatch the power core of the silo. It should give us a small advantage in the fight. (thinks for a moment) I'll be waiting outside when you get done getting ready. (Curtis walks outside and stares in the direction of the silo) Curtis: (bares his claws) (Everyone rushes outside, already in their armor) Curtis: All set, gang? Speedy: (pumps a fist) Samurai.... All: (raising their fists in the air) PIZZA CATS!!! (The Pizza Cats and Curtis race towards the nuclear silo) (Meanwhile, at the Palace, Big Al is again pacing the floor in front of Curtis's quarters) Al: Everyone, are you sure you didn't see Curtis in the Palace today? Guard #1: No, sir. All I found was a note and a small remote control. (holds a pair of items) Al: Let me see. (grabs both the remote and the note) (Violet, Frieda, and Fred cluster around Big Al as he reads the note) Al: (reading) "Big Al, sorry I can't direct the strike from here. I went to spend the day with the Pizza Cats and assist them in crushing Quarter once and for all. You will know what this remote control is used for. When bright flashes start coming from the silo, press the green button on the control. Best regards, Curtis Wildcat". Frieda: (smiles) Well, the furry dope is actually accomplishing something. Let's go up on the balcony and see if he completes his mission, shall we? Violet: Sounds as good an idea as ever, Mom. Fred: Fa-red! (The Royal Family, accompanied by Big Al and a pair of guards, head towards the balcony) ---------- * ---- I had read somewhere that chocolate is bad for dogs. Aldonza is a fox, and she absolutely HATES chocolate. ** ---- The Drill Bomb is a weapon derived from Megaman 4. *** --- For those of you who haven't figured it out, Carlos hails from Mexico. **** ---- No, this isn't something from the Animaniacs. If you recall "Silver Strength, Golden Glue", I had made a reference to the old movie, "The Inspector General". This was it. That's it for now. Stay tuned for: A Radiating Experience --- Part One Curtis and the gang begin the assault on the nuclear silo. However, once more, not all is as it seems..... G.A. Wildcat