The End of the SWAT Kats: The Screenplay - Part 3

SCENE 14

INT. FEAR SHIP - ALCHEMY LABORATORY

Dark Kat stands within his alchemy laboratory. It looks similar to the one from Darkhaven Manor, and with good reason: it is the exact same lab, ripped right from the house itself and rebuilt piece by piece.

The main difference between this room and the one at its original location in Darkhaven is that in place of the conjuring pit is a giant glass cylinder that rises from floor to ceiling. Identical cylinders line the walls. Bubbling liquids fill each. And something else. An indistinct but visibly large form moving slightly amidst the bubbles. Dark Kat stares into the cylinder and gives the glass a gentle, paternal pat.

DARK KAT
(coos)
Soon, my young one. Soon you and your brothers will be born unto a brave new world and you will lead my Creeplings, your cousins, to victory against the Enforcers, just as soon as the SWAT Kats are taken care of.

MARLOW
Dark Kat!

Dark Kat turns and sees Marlow at the top of the stone steps leading up into the control room.

MARLOW
We have a situation! The Enforcers are tracking the Fear Ship!

DARK KAT
(growls)
Impossible!

He grabs his cane and comes up the steps.

DARK KAT
They cannot track what they don't even know exists!

MARLOW
Maybe they can't, but they are anyway!

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Zeckis is working at a console as Dark Kat enters, Marlow hurrying after. Dark Kat makes Zeckis get up and examines the instruments himself.

DARK KAT
(stroking his chin)
It seems the Enforcers have detected the signal channel intended for the Stealth Creeplings' homing beacons and are piggybacking on it to try and determine our location. Quite clever. But easily stopped.

MARLOW
(to Zeckis)
Bounce it back and increase the signal. Intensify it. Destroy the homing beacons. And do the same for the goggles.

Zeckis nods and sits back down. He prepares to push a green button, but Dark Kat grabs his wrist and stops him. He gulps.

DARK KAT
Not yet. First let us see if they completed their mission. Type up the transmitting code for the goggles' cameras to begin sending the images of what the Creeplings are seeing.
(annoyed)
You should have thought of that, Marlow.

Marlow scowls angrily. Zeckis types up the code for the goggles and the big viewscreen flickers to life, showing a red-tinted image of Chance and Jake laying immobile on the floor of their prison cell. Dark Kat clenches his fist in evil glee, then freezes a bit.

DARK KAT
Something seems off.

MARLOW
Well, the point of view is correct. The lenses are only a couple of feet off the ground judging by this angle. Clearly, the Creeplings are still wearing them.

DARK KAT
Something just seems wrong, and I can't quite put my finger on it.

He studies the screen more intently.

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - HOLDING CELLS

Feral, Callie and a confused-looking District Attorney Mills are standing stooped over holding the red-lensed goggles, holding the eyepieces close to the ground at "eye level" for a Creepling.

MILLS
(whispering)
How long do we have to keep doing this?

FERAL
(whispering)
As long as we have to.

CALLIE
(whispering)
Wiggle them more. Creeplings are always jittering around like they've had too much caffeine.

Feral and Mills obey, shaking their goggles to simulate the excited jitteriness of the little pink creatures. Chance and Jake, meanwhile, are lying sprawled on the floor of their cell, trying not to move. Chance is having a difficult time of it. His face is turned away from the prying goggles, so Dark Kat hasn't seen him speak. Nevertheless he speaks softly and slowly, moving his mouth as little as possible.

CHANCE
(whispering)
My nose itches!

When Jake speaks, it's out of the corner of his mouth.

JAKE
(whispering)
Just keep still.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Dark Kat is finished looking at the screen and steps back.

DARK KAT
I've seen enough to satisfy myself that this is genuine.
(to Zeckis)
Destroy the beacons quickly. And the goggles, as well, before the Enforcers think to piggyback on this signal as well.

Zeckis nods and pushes his little green button.

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - HOLDING CELLS

The goggles in Mills' hands begin vibrating wildly.

MILLS
Uh-oh. I think something's wrong with mine.

Instinctively, the District Attorney flings them aside. Callie gasps.

CALLIE
Hey, you're ruining the illu--

She is stopped midsentence as the goggles explode in midair before they even hit the ground. The explosion is miniscule, but enough that it would've killed the Creepling who'd been wearing it. Quickly realizing what's happeniong, she throws hers down as well. Commander Feral follows suit. Their goggles blow up just as Mills' had.

With the coast clear, Chance and Jake sit up. The first thing Chance does is furiously scratch his nose. He sighs in relief.

CHANCE
Whew, well, that's a relief!

SCENE 15

EXT. BASE CAMP - DAY

Two Enforcer choppers fly over the trees and land outside of the geological society camp. As the rotors power down, Felina, Gavin and O'Herlihy get out and approach the waiting Enita Ignimbrite and her assistant. Felina's annoyance with her uncle vanishes as she puts on her best smile and adopts a professional attitude for her meeting with the scientists.

FELINA
I'm Lieutenant Feral of the Enforcers.
(to Enita)
Dr. Ignimbrite, I assume?

ENITA
(smiles)
Call me Enita.

They shake hands. Felina turns and looks up at the mountain looming over them.

FELINA
So what are we looking at here? Is the volcano going to erupt?

ENITA
I can't say for certain, Lieutenant. We need to have a look down inside the crater, but your uncle, uh, I mean the Commander has forbidden anyone to go near it without an Enforcer escort.

FELINA
Which would be us.

She smiles and spreads her arms to indicate Gavin and O'Herlihy behind her.

ENITA
I'm grateful. When can we take to the air?

FELINA
In a few minutes, if you like.

SCENE 16

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - COMMANDER'S OFFICE

Commander Feral is at his desk, hands folded in front of him, thinking. A relieved Callie and District Attorney Mills are sitting in the two comfortable chairs provided for visitors, while Chance and Jake stand nearby. They're not handcuffed, but the presence of an armed commando looming behind them signifies that they're still very much in Enforcer custody. Chance scratches his nose again.

CHANCE
Do you think Dark Crud bought it?

JAKE
Only time will tell.
(crosses his arms)
For now, we just have to hope he thinks his little assassins succeeded. Luckily for us, he opted to eliminate his own Creeplings. Would've sucked big time if they'd reported back to him that he was still alive.

District Attorney Mills gets up from his seat.

MILLS
I still don't understand what that was supposed to have accomplished. If you two think you're lulling Dark Kat into a false sense of security so you can attempt some kind of sneak attack against him, wherever he is, you're sorely mistaken. You're not going anywhere. The charges against you are still pending.

JAKE
(sighs)
We realize that! This was just to prevent him from sending any more of those lousy little things to kill us. We'd prefer to sit out our trial peacefully, without constant assassination attempts.

MILLS
(embarrassed)
Oh.

He sits back down.

CALLIE
Now all we have to do is actually locate Dark Kat.

JAKE
Well, even though we can't trace the signal anymore, we should at least be able to figure out its point of origin based on which direction it came from.

Feral rises from his desk.

FERAL
We're already working on that. And no, we don't need your help anymore.
(to the commando)
Escort them downstairs and put them in a side office. The cells are too risky right now.

He picks up his telephone and dials a number as Chance and Jake scowl at him.

CHANCE
You guys couldn't handle a convenience store robber, let alone Dark Kat! Let us handle Dark Kat, Feral!

The commando grabs Chance and tries to restrain him. Mills looks on worriedly from his seat as Callie jumps up from hers, hands clenched at her sides.

CALLIE
Commander, I protest!

FERAL
Protest all you want, Briggs, if they get unruly, they go back in the can.
(to the commando)
Now get them out of here!

He pushes a button on his desk, summoning more commandos who quickly overwhelm the two SWAT Kats and begin to drag them out of the room struggling. Callie shoots Feral an angry look, but he ignores her and resumes his phone call.

FERAL
(into the phone)
This is Feral, I want that signal's origin traced!

ENFORCER'S VOICE
(over the phone)
We've already got a good idea of where the signal originated from Commander.

FERAL
(into the phone)
You have?

He waves his hand, motioning for the commandos escorting Chance and Jake to stop for a second. They wait with bated breath, all eyes on Feral. He looks at them uncertainly before returning his attention to the call.

ENFORCER'S VOICE
(over the phone)
It came from the Megakat Mountains, east of the city.

FERAL
(into the phone)
What?

Realization hits him and the phone falls from his hand.

FERAL
Felina! Felina is there!

SCENE 17

EXT. BASE CAMP - DAY

The Megakat Geological Society helicopter starts up and lifts up from the camp, accompanied by the two Enforcer choppers.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

An alarm sounds. Dark Kat looks at the radar which shows three blips fast approaching their position. Pushing a button, he brings up a remote image of the impending intruders. Marlow and Zeckis are with him.

DARK KAT
It seems our friends from down below have finally decided to fly up and investigate what they think is just an ordinary volcanic disturbance. And with the Enforcers for backup, I see.

ZECKIS
(nervous)
Did they trace the signal already?

DARK KAT
No. The presence of that Megakat Geological Society chopper tells me this is just a routine flyover to satisfy their curiosity.

MARLOW
I'll activate the targetting program.

DARK KAT
Don't be too hasty, Mr. Marlow. What have I told you about acting before thinking? A large blast will reveal our presence to Megakat City before I'm ready to invade it. We shall invite them inside.
(smirks)
Activate the tractor beam.

INT. VOLCANO CRATER - DAY

The helicopters now swoop up over the rim of the crater. In the first Enforcer chopper sits Gavin. O'Herlihy is in the second. Inside the Geological Society chopper, Felina sits with Enita and her assistant in back surrounded by high-tech sensor equipment. Up front, a GRAD STUDENT with a video camera rides with the pilot. Enita sets to work.

ENITA
Activating the gas analysis computer.

She flips a switch and studies the readouts on the screen. Felina observes intently.

ENITA
Hmm, well, the smoke is certainly volcanic. Nothing in its composition is at all unusual.

FELINA
(to the pilot)
Take us in. Stay high above the crater. The thermal imaging scope should do the rest.

HELICOPTER PILOT
Right.
(into his headset mic)
Follow my lead.

GAVIN
(over the radio)
Roger. Right behind you.

The Geological Society chopper banks into the crater with the two Enforcer choppers following at a safe distance. In the lead copter, Enita consults her thermal imaging scope. Suddenly the device begins beeping loudly. Something - hot and absoluely gigantic, yet smaller than the volcano itself - registers ahead.

ENITA
There's something up ahead!

ASSISTANT
(terrified)
It's huge! It's absolutely gigantic!

The computer starts beeping wildly, flashing the message "Collision Alert!" Realization dawns on Felina and she grabs at the pilot's shoulder.

FELINA
Pull away! We're going to hit it!

HELICOPTER PILOT
Hit what?

He squints ahead and still sees nothing. Neither does the grad student seated beside him. Just the smoke.

GRAD STUDENT
There's nothing!

FELINA
(hollering)
Get us out of here anyway!

The pilot begins to obey and pull back on the stick when the smoke suddenly clears revealing the FEAR SHIP, a gigantic stone and metal airship that resembles a huge flying volcanic island and is bristling with weaponry all over. At the top is the command center, crested with demonic-looking skulls holding metallic shields emblazoned with a stylized letter "D." Huge segmented tubes run from the bottom of the ship down into the molten lava far below. It appears to be sucking the lava up into itself.

The pilot slows to avoid hitting it and the helicopter hovers there as the kats inside it stare in awe at the massive aerial fortress suspended over the lava. Behind them, the two Enforcer choppers halt and hover to either side of the Geological Society copter. O'Herlihy is the first to react.

O'HERLIHY
Holy kats! Look at that!

FELINA
(seeing the "D" symbol)
It's Dark Kat! Take evasive action!

Before they can however a sparkling greenish beam fireds forth from the front of the Fear Ship and strikes the Megakat Geological Society chopper, enveloping both it and the two Enforcer helicopters to either side of it. They're jostled and suddenly frozen in place. Then, with a surprising swiftness, the craft are pulled towards the ship, their rotors spinning fruitlessly.

FELINA
A tractor beam! Get off a distress call!

HELICOPTER PILOT
(panicky)
I can't! The radio is jammed! The tractor beam must be doing it!

Felina grits her teeth.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Marlow and Zeckis watch as the three choppers are drawn towards them by the tractor beam. Dark Kat stands behind them with his arms folded behind his back.

DARK KAT
Make yourselves presentable, you two. We have guests.

They turn and look at him as he leaves the room, his Creeplings following.

INT. FEAR SHIP - HANGAR

Like the control room, this "hangar" is essentially just a huge cave. The tractor beam deposits the choppers, their engines winding down, neatly onto the stone floor as Dark Kat and the Creeplings enter. With a simple wave of his hand, Dark Kat has his Creeplings surround the craft and aim their little guns up at them, ready to fire if his prisoners attempt to try anything.

After its rotors have stopped spinning, the side door of the Geological Society chopper slides open and Felina leans out, blaster in hand. Behind her, Enita Ignimbrite and her assistant sit looking on worriedly. Felina glowers down at Dark Kat. He looks surprised to see her and mostly ignores everyone else.

DARK KAT
Why, Lieutenant Feral, what a pleasant surprise! I do apologize for the inconvenience of being brought aboard my Fear Ship so forcibly, but it was unfortunately necessary. I couldn't have you and your companions running back to Megakat City and spoiling the big surprise.

FELINA
You slime!

Dark Kat holds up one hand in a placating gesture.

DARK KAT
In case you haven't noticed, you're quite surrounded. You can shoot me, but then you yourself would be killed just as quickly. My Creeplings may not be the best marksmen in the world, but with so many of them aiming their weapons at you, one of them is bound to get lucky, wouldn't you say?

Felina hesitates, looking down at the assembled Creeplings, around ten or eleven in all. The jittery little creatures look quite trigger-happy.

DARK KAT
Surrender or die, it makes no difference to me. The only reason I didn't blast you out of the sky outright is because the explosions would've attracted too much attention. I'm perfectly prepared to kill you now, though.

FELINA
(relenting)
All right.

DARK KAT
Good decision. Throw me your weapon, and instruct your Enforcers to do the same.

Felina throws her blaster out. It clatters noisily at Dark Kat's big purple feet. Nearby, Gavin and O'Herlihy get out of their choppers and hesitantly turn their sidearms over.

DARK KAT
(crooning)
Now, please, come out from there and accept my hospitality. I don't offer it to just anyone.

SCENE 18

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL OPERATIONS ROOM

A large control center with a spotlessly polished metal floor and rows upon rows of computers. A line of consoles sit facing the biggest floor-to-ceiling screen showing a map of Megakat City. Various Enforcers work tirelessly at desks and workstations. Feral and Sergeant Talon enter, followed by Callie. Feral looks determined, and Callie looks anxious.

FERAL
I want a whole squadron sent to that location, on the double, Sergeant! Put our finest pilots on it!

TALON
Yes sir.

The Sergeant goes over to one of the workstations and puts on a microphone.

TALON
Attention, Squadron Six! Scramble immediately for the Megakat Mountains! Locate and retrieve Lieutenant Felina Feral and her escort! Engage and destroy any hostile targets!

EXT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - RUNWAY

Enforcer pilots rush to their waiting JETS and climb in. Their engines thunder to life and they take off in groups of three, totalling nine jets in all.

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL OPERATIONS ROOM

Feral watches on a big screen as the jets take off. Callie walks up to him and tugs on his sleeve.

CALLIE
Commander, might I advise that you let the SWAT Kats handle Dark Kat? Just this one last time?

Feral scowls at her.

FERAL
Never! Like I said before, the Enforcers are handling this!

She throws up her hands and trots out in a huff.

SCENE 19

INT. FEAR SHIP - LAVA TUNNEL

Dark Kat walks out from a narrow corridor and onto a sturdy metal bridge spanning a river of molten lava. Behind him, the Creeplings herd Felina, Enita and the other prisoners along with their tiny laser rifles. Enita is fascinated despite their predicament. She looks over the railing at the lava as the group crosses the bridge. Felina joins her.

FELINA
(under her breath)
His entire ship is filled with molten lava.

ENITA
(under her breath)
Fascinating! That explains why the volcano became active again! He's been triggering the volcanic activity so he can harness its geothermal energy to power this flying volcano.

Dark Kat chuckles as he overhears her.

DARK KAT
Very astute, Doctor. I see the Geological Society was wise to send their very finest. Indeed I am harnessing the lava's geothermal power to run my Fear Ship.

ENITA
But how do you keep it stabilized?

DARK KAT
A highly specialized heating system keeps the lava molten, while a coolant system keeps it cooled enough to safely flow through the ship.

The group crosses the bridge fully and goes through another corridor at the opposite end.

INT. FEAR SHIP - ANTECHAMBER

Dark Kat leads the way into an antechamber adorned with demonic-looking kat-monster statues to either side, flanked by enormous, ornate banners bearing his huge stylized "D." His seven prisoners are herded in by the Creeplings. Dark Kat singles Felina out and points dismissively at Enita and the others.

DARK KAT
Take Dr. Ignimbrite and the others away.
(smirks at Felina)
The Lieutenant is staying with me for the time being.

Felina looks worriedly at Enita. She, her assistant, the helicopter pilot, the grad student and Gavin and O'Herlihy are led away by the Creeplings, leaving Felina alone in the room with Dark Kat except for CREEPLING #1 and CREEPLING #2 to guard her.

FELINA
Where are you taking them?

DARK KAT
Someplace where they won't be a nuisance.

He walks across the chamber to a pair of enormous carved stone doors.

FELINA
What are you going to do with them?

Dark Kat pauses and glances back at her.

DARK KAT
(amused)
My, aren't we full of questions?

FELINA
(glares at him)
I said what are you going to do with them?

DARK KAT
Nothing for the moment. But I think you ought to be more concerned about yourself.

He throws open the doors.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Marlow and Zeckis are so engrossed in their work they don't look up as Dark Kat enters, followed by Felina and the Creeplings.

DARK KAT
Welcome to the nerve center of the entire Fear Ship! From here, I can run the entire ship, and coordinate my armies.

FELINA
Your armies?

She glances at Creepling #1 and kicks it, sending it flying with a scream. Marlow and Zeckis glance up and Dark Kat chuckles.

FELINA
Forgive me, Dark Kat, but you may have armed your Creeplings with lasers and equipped them with the finest tactical gear in the world but they're still Creeplings. Stupid, useless Creeplings.

DARK KAT
(grins broadly)
Quite right, my dear. Come with me.

INT. FEAR SHIP - ALCHEMY LABORATORY

Dark Kat walks down the stone steps into the transplanted Darkhaven lab. Felina follows, prodded along by the Creeplings. Felina looks at the glass cylinders and approaches the one in the middle. Dark Kat looks over but makes no move to stop her.

DARK KAT
By all means, have a look, Lieutenant.

She squints, putting her face up against the glass and peering inside. The vague form seen floating inside it before is revealed to be a creature somewhat similar in appearance to a Creepling but larger, evidently the size of a full-grown kat.

DARK KAT
Look upon my new, improved Stalkers. Twice the size of a normal Creepling, with triple the strengh! And more intelligent, as well.

The STALKER in the tank twitches, making Felina wince and pull away in disgust as the assembled Creeplings giggle and point at her.

DARK KAT
My Creeplings have indeed long since outlived their usefulness, and even with the advanced weaponry I've given them, the foolish little beasts can barely even deduce how to use them.

One Creepling, giggling, fires off a shot from its weapon because it squeezes the trigger too tightly. The laser blast whizzes past Dark Kat and strikes the wall. Growling, comes over and grabs the Creepling up, making it drop its weapon. He lifts up one foot and stomps on the gun, crushing it.

DARK KAT
It is for this reason that I am working on this new breed of creature which will replace my Creeplings.

He tosses the Creepling down on a large wooden worktable nearby, where it sits dazed, and then grabs a large pair of tongs. He uses them to pick up the Creepling and holds it over a large beaker containing a bubbling greenish acid. The Creepling cries out.

DARK KAT
Soon my army will awaken and with the help of my Fear Ship they will overrun Megakat City!

He lowers the squirming Creepling inside the beaker. Immersed in the acid, it begins to slowly dissolve alive. The other Creeplings laugh at it. Felina shudders. As the doomed Creepling finishes dissolving, she notices a large, arcane-looking knife sitting on the table. Dark Kat's back is to her.

FELINA
(probing)
When will these "Stalker" things wake up?

DARK KAT
In less than an hour.

She lunges, grabbing the knife, and charges at Dark Kat. He sees her in the reflection of one of the various ornate flasks which litter the table. Turning, he bats her away one-handed. She flies over and thuds against the wall, sliding down. Walking over, Dark Kat stands over her.

DARK KAT
Such an unfortunate lack of vision you have, Lieutenant.

Bending down, he picks her up by one arm and hauls her to her feet as she struggles weakly.

DARK KAT
Now then, you're probably wondering why I invited you here instead of imprisoning you with the others. I assure you it wasn't simply to show off my latest experiment.

He sets her down on her feet.

DARK KAT
Instead, I have some questions I'd like to ask you about Enforcer Headquarters.

FELINA
(scowls)
Never!

DARK KAT
Oh, you'll talk... once I hook you up to a special machine I've created.

As he moves towards her and seizes her by the arm, Marlow romes running in.

MARLOW
Dark Kat, we have multiple enemy craft approaching!

DARK KAT
What?

Letting go of Felina, he runs up the stairs, seizing Marlow by the front of his uniform, throwing him out the door, back into the control room. There's a muffled thud. Dark Kat looks back down at Felina. She tries to get up, but can't manage. She is pounced on and seized by the Creeplings.

DARK KAT
(to the Creeplings)
Bring her! Let her come and see the destruction of her precious Enforcers!

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Dark Kat storms in followed by Felina who half-walks and is half-dragged in by the Creeplings. Marlow lies on the floor, dazed but okay, and displayed on the big viewscreen is the approaching group of nine Enforcer jets.

DARK KAT
It would seem that your Enforcer colleagues are attempting to rescue you.

Zeckis walks over as Marlow sits up. Dark Kat turns and growls down at them.

DARK KAT
I think it's time we finally moved the Fear Ship away from the volcano and did away with this smoke and mirror nonsense. Is the ship fully powered?

ZECKIS
(nods)
Ready and awaiting your command, Dark Kat.

DARK KAT
(points)
Then move us forward.

EXT. VOLCANO CRATER - DAY

The Fear Ship begins to rise up with a deep rumble. The tubes running into its underside detach one by one, spewing lava, and fall down into the depths of the crater. The volcano starts to rumble and quake ominously.

EXT. VOLCANO - DAY

As the Enforcer jets fly towards the volcano, the LEAD ENFORCER PILOT, in the foremost of the three lead jets, frowns as he surveys the scene.

LEAD ENFORCER PILOT
(into his radio)
Squadron leader to Headquarters. We've arrived but there's no sign of Lieutenant Feral or the choppers. I see the camp at the base, but it's deserted.

Suddenly from within the smoke a vague shape begins appearing. The lead pilot blinks and squints ahead.

LEAD ENFORCER PILOT
(into his radio)
Wait, I see something ahead in the smoke rising from the crater.
(gasps)
Holy kats! Look at that!

He reels back as the Fear Ship emerges from the smoke column directly ahead of the shocked Enforcers.

LEAD ENFORCER PILOT
Mayday, mayday! Evasive action!

They begin to bank away, but the Fear Ship's appearance was so sudden that they fly directly into it. The lead pilot and one of his wingmen crash into the base of the ship. The third jet manages to avoid a direct collision, but its wing clips a rocky outcropping and it goes spinning out of control and crashes in the forest below. The remaining six jets successfully evade and fly around the Fear Ship.

As the Fear Ship leaves the crater, the volcano begins erupting, spewing hot ash into the sky and raining fiery chunks of rock and lava down upon the empty base camp. Cirling back around, the remaining six Enforcer jets move in to engage the Fear Ship. It fires on them with its battle rigs.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

As Dark Kat and Felina watch, lasers fly wildly towards the approaching jets. Three of the Enforcer aircraft are struck and blown to molten chunks. Felina is horrified.

EXT. FEAR SHIP - DAY

A fourth Enforcer jet takes a hit in its wing. Trailing smoke, and begins spinning wildly out of control. It bypasses the gigantic ship entirely and crashes into the rim of the volcano behind it, flipping up and over it, and plummeting out of sight. The remaining Enforcers are shaken.

ENFORCER PILOT
(into his radio)
We've lost almost our entire squadron! We're falling back!

The final two jets dodge the Fear Ship's lasers and begin retreating.

INT. FEAR SHIP - CONTROL ROOM

Felina struggles fiercely against the Creeplings holding her. Managing to break free, she rushes and tackles Dark Kat, however he manages to shake her off, hurling her aside. She lands hard against the floor, hitting her head and blacking out completely.

DARK KAT
Take her back into the lab.

The Creeplings scurry to obey. They drag Felina's limp form out of the room. Dark Kat grins as he watches the retreating jets.

DARK KAT
The Enforcers are helpless before me, as usual! They've seen the full power of my Fear Ship and only a fool would dare oppose me now! And with the SWAT Kats dead, nothing will stand in the way!

SCENE 20

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - CENTRAL OPERATIONS ROOM

Feral looks incredibly depressed and angry as he listens to the surviving pilots' report over the radio. District Attorney Mills stands nearby.

ENFORCER PILOT
(over the radio)
We're sorry, Commander, but we had to bug out! That thing caught us completely unprepared! It was a slaughter!

FERAL
(into the radio)
Understood. Return to headquarters.

Flicking the radio off, Feral moves away and slumps against the wall, looking conflicted and distressed. The various Enforcers in the room look up from their tasks and look at their Commander. A stern look from Sergeant Talon makes them all turn back to their business. He goes over and consults a radar screen.

TALON
Sir, Dark Kat's flying whatever-it-is is on a direct course for Megakat City. Shall we dispatch another squadron?

Hearing approaching high heels, they turn as Callie Briggs enters the room. She tries being sympathetic.

CALLIE
Commander, I...

FERAL
What do you want? If you don't mind, make it quick. My Enforcers and I have a job to do.

CALLIE
I have a suggestion to make about the SWAT Kats.

FERAL
Don't bother explaining. I already know what it is you're going to say.

He hangs his head, staring at his reflection in the floor. Nearby, Mills looks suddenly concerned. Finally, Feral raises his head again and eyes Callie.

FERAL
All right, Miss Briggs. You have yourself a deal.

Callie beams. Mills looks surprised.

MILLS
What?

Turning, Feral marches firmly out of the room.

INT. ENFORCER HEADQUARTERS - SMALL OFFICE

A small, disused office mostly used for storage. It's got a desk, a couple of plastic chairs, and stacks upon stacks of cardboard boxes and various dusty files. Chance and Jake are sitting in a chair each. Commando #1 is sitting on the desk, his laser rifle in his lap.

Chance fidgets in his seat, utterly bored out of his mind and impatient, eager for some action. He keeps changing positions, unable to get comfortable. At one point, he eyes Commando #1's weapon, but thinks better of another escape attempt.

CHANCE
Kats alive, how long are they gonna keep us cooped up in here!

Jake has found his own way to pass the time. He's opened one of the cardboard boxes and is looking through stacks of files and reports with great interest. He's not really paying much attention to his partner's complaining.

JAKE
(absently)
As long as they feel the need to, I guess.

He holds up some of the papers. Chance looks at them glumy, then turns away, frowning as he feels the tears in his flight suit from where the Creepling attacked him.

JAKE
Well, hey, are least there's reading material.

COMMANDO #1
You know, you probably shouldn't be looking at those. I could get in trouble.

Jake sighs and begins putting them back in the box.

CHANCE
(grumbles)
I just wish something would happen!

The door opens, and Commander Feral is framed in the doorway. Behind him out in the hall is District Attorney Mills, who he is mostly ignoring. Chance smiles sarcastically.

CHANCE
Well if it isn't Feral. To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?

Feral growls at him. Behind him, Mills looks distressed.

MILLS
Commander, I really must protest! I have explicit instructions from Mayor Manx to...

FERAL
(over his shoulder)
Shut up. You'll still get your day in court with these two clowns, so just pipe down and sit tight.

This shuts him up, and he turns and leaves angrily.

FERAL
(to the SWAT Kats)
As you know, Lieutenant Feral has gone missing and we suspect the involvement of Dark Kat. As much as I hate having to ask you two for help...

He trails off. Chance and Jake look at each other in shock.

FERAL
...I want you two to go and get her, and possibly find out what it is Dark Kat is up to.
(he winces)
It sickens me, but I'm not entirely confident that my Enforcers can properly deal with this situation.

He recovers from the pain of having to say that.

FERAL
In return for speaking favorably on your behalf at your trial, I'll allow you to go free for as long as it takes to deal with this situation.

Chance and Jake couldn't be more surprised. But Chance's surprise quickly turns to anger as he jumps up from his chair, startling Commando #1.

CHANCE
Speak favorably at our trial? What kind of offer is that?

His face is twisted into a mask of barely contained rage. Jake rises and tries to calm his partner.

JAKE
It's the only one we're likely to get right now, buddy. Remember, our duty was always to protect the city. We come second.
(smiles weakly)
So whaddaya say, T-Bone? You ready for one last ride?

Chance mulls things over. Finally, he grins and balls up his fist.

CHANCE
All right, buddy. One last ride. Let's do it.
(looks at Feral)
Give 'em one last taste of what they're gonna be throwin' away when they stick us in the slammer.

Feral is unmoved, but visibly relieved that they've agreed. Chance goes up to him.

CHANCE
We want our masks back, and our jet!
(crosses his arms)
We're not doin' any heroics without our wings, got that!

Jake grabs his partner's arm. Chance looks back at him.

CHANCE
What?

JAKE
Chance, we can't use the Turbokat! As far as we know, our ruse worked and Dark Kat thinks we're dead. So we've got something resembling an element of surprise. One which will be blown bigtime if we go charging in there in the Turbokat.

FERAL
He's right.

The two SWAT Kats stare at Feral, shocked that he agreed with Jake. Feral seems plenty shocked by it, too.

FERAL
You can use one of our jets, instead. Once you're out on the runway, you'll be provided with whatever you need.
(softly)
Just bring my niece back to me.