ROAD ROVERS: RETALIATION

Stage 2

The Fire Breathes, Part 3

Written by Pyrover

...And for you non-conformitists, revoryP yb nettirW

Season: 2

Episode: 5

---

Once again, the scene begins with a view of the Road Rovers logo. Panning back, it becomes evident that the logo is emblazoned on the shoulder of Pyro. A cut across his face bleeds a bit. Aboard an aircraft of sorts, he is looking at a laptop across from his seat. A closer look reveals the computer shows a picture of a Cano-Sapien. It is Shara, the Labrador from his flashbacks. Colleen walks up from behind him, out of uniform and bandaged here and there. She gives him a tap on the shoulder.

COLLEEN: Hey, mind if I have a seat?

PYRO: Huh? Oh, sure. Go ahead.

COLLEEN: Listen...thanks a lot for helping me out back there.

Pyro smiles and breathes a laugh.

COLLEEN: And well, I haven't exactly been giving you a chance lately, and I feel pretty bad about it...actually really bad about it, so...

PYRO: (looks up with a friendly smile) No hard feelings.

COLLEEN: (smiles back) ...Say, you don't have to wear that suit around, you know.

PYRO: Oh, I can't take it off.

COLLEEN: Come on! Hunter doesn't care. He's probably not even wearing his.

PYRO: No, it's, uh, kinda melded to my spine.

COLLEEN: Oh...right. Sorry.

PYRO: No problem.

COLLEEN: (catches a glimpse of the screen) Who's that there?

PYRO: Oh, her? An old friend of mine.

COLLEEN: (wryly) Ohhhhh...

Pyro smiles and stares at the image for a moment. His smile disappears as he slowly closes the laptop.

COLLEEN: ...You loved her, didn't you?

PYRO: (getting up) Something like that.

---

The noonday sun is eclipsed by the monstrous figure of Raven6. Somewhere inside, Dreadclaim is seated in a dark room. He watches an image of the Malary Biochem plant crackle on a monitor. His fist clenches.

DREADCLAIM: You think you're smart, don't you, William? But in teaming with a washed-up military leader, you do not avert your destruction. You merely delay it. And you know that, don't you? And this is what you fear. You try to brace my closing grip with a toothpick. (a beep is heard) Enter!

An assault-class trooper enters and pulls off his helmet. He is a solemn rotweiler purebred.

TAERON: (salutes) To power, mighty Dreadclaim!

DREADCLAIM: Dispense with the stale complements, Commander Taeron. How did the SA-80 perform in the "field test?"

TAERON: It...was destroyed, sir.

DREADCLAIM: What?! Incompetent fools! Why can they not produce a satisfactory prototype?

TAERON: They ignored my initial advice, sir. The unit was barely modified from SA-79 specs.

DREADCLAIM: No more mistakes! I am sending you down to the research base on a troop transport before we stray too far off course. This project will be a success or the next head I take off will be yours.

TAERON: As you wish, mighy Dreadclaim.

---

A domed section of the Road Rovers Mission Control opens and a small craft hovers in. Inside the building, the Rovers exit the ship. The Master's voice is heard from speakers in the hangar.

MASTER: Welcome back, Rovers. I'm glad you made it back safely. Please report to the medical room for examination.

Hunter walks with Colleen down one of RRMC's many halls with Colleen.

HUNTER: Well, that was quite the interesting adventure, wouldn't you say?

COLLEEN: Close, all right. Reeeeally close. (heaves out a breath of air)

Pyro is heard in the distance.

PYRO: Hey guys, wait up!

They turn around to see Pyro catching up with them.

PYRO: Hey, Hunter. Just wanted to apologize for getting us in so much trouble back there.

HUNTER: Ah, don't worry about it. We all made it back okay. That was some pretty intense fighting, man. Where'd you learn all that?

PYRO: Oh, I guess it comes naturally. The suit makes me pretty slow, but I try to make up for it.

COLLEEN: You didn't seem so sluggish against that cyborg.

PYRO: Yeah, I had to use an energy surge to speed me up. It leaves me pretty drained.

HUNTER: Drained?

PYRO: Yeah, I feel like I've got a ton of bricks on my back. I'll perk up in a few minutes. Did Shag want us in the medical room or something?

HUNTER: Yeah, didn't you hear the Master announce it a second ago?

PYRO: No, Blitz and Exile were yelling about something. Where is the medical room?

COLLEEN: Down a few doors.

HUNTER: This better be in and out, I've gotta get out of this suit!

A door swooshes open and the three enter the medical room. The Master is present, along with Shag, who is getting instruments ready. Muzzle is bouncing around the room excitedly. There is a semicircle of examination tables, one for each Rover. Blitz and Exile enter in a heated arguement.

BLITZ: How could you not hear of Rammstein?! They're nothing but the greatest German metal band in existence!

EXILE: Yes, yes, but German metal band seems to mean less to someone who is RUSSIAN!!!

BLITZ: Ah, that's no excuse for...oh, hello, sir.

MASTER: Hello, Rovers. Welcome back. I'll update you while you get evaluated. Pyro, I'm afraid we don't have a facility for you yet.

PYRO: I don't really need one, thanks.

HUNTER: I don't know, you look pretty beat up.

PYRO: No, my suit can patch me up automatically. Watch. (to suit) CYbio cellular regeneration, commence now.

At his word, small plates extend from his suit and cover damaged and dented areas. Similar plates slide over his beaten face. When they remove themselves, the areas are restored.

COLLEEN: Blimey!

PYRO: What?

HUNTER: Hey, how come we don't get to wear big metal Band-Aids? I want a big metal Band-Aid!

MASTER: That's an amazing technology, Pyro.

PYRO: Dreadclaim's sick, but he's a genius. I'll give him that much.

MASTER: All right, everyone else on the beds.

Shag heads over to Hunter, shines a light in his eyes, looks him over and gives him a thumbs-up.

MASTER: I realize that you are all very tired, and...

BLITZ: Wanna go home?

MASTER: But there is still a very real danger of Dreadclaim attacking.

Shag gives Exile a thumbs-up.

MASTER: And from this last skirmish, we have seen signs of an evident teaming of General Parvo and Malary Biochem. The chemical imbalance once present in Parvo's Cano-Mutants no longer seems to be a problem.

BLITZ: (to Colleen) So you can quit your sissy sobbing now...

Colleen backfists Blitz into the bed without looking.

MASTER: So I am sorry to say this, but I have to keep you around Mission Control for a little while longer.

Shag steps up to Blitz's table.

BLITZ: If you ask me to turn my head and cough, I swear I'll kill you!

Shag whimpers and skips him entirely.

MASTER: However, I do recognize your need to get away for a while. Therefore, I'm granting you leave once the inspection is over. Just be able to get back at a moment's notice.

Shag is re-bandaging the cuts on Colleen's face.

COLLEEN: Thanks, Shag. Did I hear leave?

HUNTER: Sweet leave! Where's it gonna be, guys?

EXILE: I believe is comrade Colleen's turn to pick this time.

BLITZ: (whispering) Rammstein concert! Rammstein concert!

COLLEEN: Well...it would be nice to go back to London, and there's this one little shop I'd like to visit there, and it's really small so nobody'd see us...

Blitz's jaw drops.

BLITZ: I'm not spending my leave in some mall!

HUNTER: She picked it. Fair's fair. Everybody to the hangar!

---

Upon entering the hangar, the Rovers find the Sonic Rover fully prepped and awaiting their departure.

PYRO: Hey Hunter, didn't this thing just crash and burn?

HUNTER: Yeah, well there's a funny thing involved with that. Remember how we used to be with the WB?

PYRO: Yeah, sure.

HUNTER: And then we got kicked off?

PYRO: Okay...

HUNTER: We've still got the company cards.

Everybody whips out a Warner Brothers Visa and flashes a big smile at the camera.

PYRO: Ohhhhh...

COLLEEN: This doesn't leave Mission Control, got it?

PYRO: Right.

The domed roof splits open, and the Sonic Rover screams off.

---

The Sonic Rover hovers to the ground in London, England. A wave of wind blows leaves and small debris as the powerful airship touches down. In the distance, someone watches the landing. He is bald with a skinny, pale face. A long brown coat covers the rest of his body. His eyes glow dimly red, and an empty smile crosses his face.

The team, in street clothes, exits the Sonic Rover. Pyro still wears his armor but covers it with a black trench coat. He walks on one side of Colleen, Hunter is on the other.

PYRO: So this is London. Pretty.

COLLEEN: I like it. Wow, it's been a while since we've all been out. Sure is relaxing to get away from Mission Control.

PYRO: Are we gonna cause a commotion among the citizens here?

COLLEEN: It all depends on who you talk to.

HUNTER: Keep a low profile and we'll be okay.

EXILE: Hey Hunter! Is busload of tourists!

HUNTER: Everybody smile!

The pale man watches motionless in the distance.

---

The Rovers stand outside a small shop. Beautiful glass figures are arranged in the window.

COLLEEN: Anybody coming in with me?

EXILE: Go ahead, comrade. We wait here.

COLLEEN: Suit yourselves, I'll only be a minute.

Colleen walks in through the front door.

Pyro has been taking a walk alone. On his way back to the group, he bumps into the pale-faced man.

PYRO: Excuse me.

The man quickly continues on his way. He trips on the sidewalk and falls. Pyro gets a quick glimpse of his red eyes as he stumbles up and runs into the side door of the shop.

Colleen walks around inside the store, which is filled with shelves of magnificent glass figures. Most of them are in the shapes of animals. Each detailed figure bears the result of hours of toil. She admires each one with a childish wonder. Something suddenly bumps into her, startling her. She looks down and sees a small girl.

COLLEEN: Hello there!

ANGIE: Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking...(looks up) ...wow...are you Colleen?

She speaks with an American accent.

COLLEEN: I sure am, how did you know?

ANGIE: Oh, my grandpa's told me all about you. You're even prettier than he said.

COLLEEN: (with a smile) Thank you, you're quite pretty yourself. What's your name?

ANGIE: I'm Angela. I'm on vacation visiting my Grandpa Ricky.

COLLEEN: Is your grandpa here?

RICK: Colleen! Is that you?!

Colleen looks up to see a warm old man approach in a wheelchair. His arms are open. Colleen runs up to him and hugs him warmly.

COLLEEN: It's good to see you, Rick.

RICK: How come you never visit anymore?

COLLEEN: Business before pleasure. I've got so many commitments now.

RICK: Ah well, it's great to see you anyway. I see you've met my granddaughter Angela. She's come overseas for a few weeks. Oh, I just remembered something. Angie, can you get me that box off the shelf by the cash register?

ANGIE: Sure, Grandpa. Be right back.

RICK: So how's the Road Rover life been lately?

COLLEEN: Always something new. We just got a new team member, in fact.

RICK: No kidding?

COLLEEN: Yeah, he's really giving it his all.

RICK: Good for him. (pause) How's Hunter?

COLLEEN: (with an embarrassed laugh) Oh come on, Rick!

RICK: What? I was just asking.

COLLEEN: He's fine.

RICK: Oh, thanks Angie. Colleen, I wanted to give this to you the last time you came, but you remember what happened. Anyway, I want you to have this.

Collen opens the box. It is a glass figure of a male collie, considerably larger than the other statues. The collie seems proud and heroic, sitting straight up and at attention. Colleen is touched by it.

COLLEEN: He would have loved it. Thank you so much.

The pale-faced man steps in from the side door.

RICK: Hello, can I help you?

The man stares back with glowing eyes.

---

Pyro rushes up to Hunter, out of breath.

PYRO: Hunter! Something's going on. I just saw this weird guy run into the store.

HUNTER: Weird like how?

PYRO: His eyes were glowing. We've got to...

The store window tears into pieces, soundlessly. The Rovers shield themselves from the flying glass.

HUNTER: Whoa!

PYRO: Take the others and go in the front. I'll go in the side and we'll try to trap him.

The front door bashes in and Hunter, Blitz, Exile and Shag enter. Smoke and dust now fill it, strewn and broken glass statues lie everywhere.

HUNTER: Is everyone all right?

A shelf is lifted and Rick, Angie and Colleen emerge.

COLLEEN: He shot something at us. I saw it coming and got us out of the way. I think he's still in here somewhere.

HUNTER: Okay. Exile and Shag, get these two out of here. I'll...

Out of nowhere, a crushing blow is dealt to Hunter's face. He hits the ground but leaps back up, lunging a fist in the direction he was hit from. Nothing. Another heavy bash comes from behind. Hunter roundhouse kicks but cannot hit the invisible combatant. Pyro runs in from a doorway leading into the back room.

PYRO: Hunter, I see him! Duck!

As Hunter drops, Pyro raises his SCaR and fires three AutoMaG shots. The pale man appears from thin air and falls to the floor. He slowly raises himself up.

PYRO: Hunter, this thing isn't human...

The man raises his arms and his trench coat falls off. The bottom half of his torso has been removed, replaced by a spinelike cable. His arms have been removed at the elbow, making way for steel forearms hand robotic hands. His human legs extend to the knee in a similar fashion. He stands silently with an empty grin on his face.

HUNTER: Aw, I'm sorry man, but you're just gross.

The gruesome cyborg's left arm splits in half and begins changing shape.

PYRO: Hit him! Hit him now!

Colleen jumps for the cyborg. It quickly grabs her with its right arm and readies to throw her. Blitz tears into its chest with razor claws. There is no blood, no facial reaction. It throws Colleen and kicks Blitz in the face. A swift punch comes from Hunter. The cyborg staggers and Hunter barrages it with a series of speedy punches and kicks. The cyborg spins its torso in a complete circle and sends Hunter to the floor. Its arm has finally finished its conversion, now a long cylinder-shaped barrel with three protruding spikes at the end. The barrel is aimed down at the fallen Hunter. Electricity dances from one spike to another. As the deadly cyborg prepares to fire, a blast of static shock pounds into its chest. It fires off-target. A bright blue beam is sent from the barrel into the ground. The tile floor shatters like glass, soundless. Pyro stares down the barrel of his SCaR in disbelief.

PYRO: Get up!

Pyro launches another blast into the cyborg. It falters a bit, but recovers quicker than last time. It focuses its red eyes on Pyro's weapon. The SCaR begins shifting to Napaalm-Discharge firing mode. Pyro attempts to disarm the weapon, but it fires on its own. A constant stream of liquid fire is released on the surrounding wooden shelves. They are set ablaze. Pyro swings the spray of flame up and into the cyborg's face. It drops away and the weapon disarms.

The whole room has caught on fire. Exile, who has returned from escorting Rick and Angie out, cannot control the blaze with his freeze vision.

EXILE: Comrades? Are you hearing me?

HUNTER: Exile! In the back!

Exile runs through the doorway. Pyro, Blitz, Hunter and Colleen watch as the cyborg rises. Metal plates attempt to cover its once-recognizable face. It stands silent, staring at Pyro. Its burned mouth opens and it speaks in a deep, metallic tone.

CYBORG: You will die. It has been forseen. Dreadclaim will grasp your body by the neck and hold you up for all to see. ...Just as he did to Shara.

PYRO: No!

Pyro leaps at the cyborg in a rage. It lifts its arm and fires a small, spinning disc at him. The disc penetrates Pyro's armor at the shoulder. Pyro lands and slashes sideways across the steel spinal cable. The cyborg ceases moving. Pyro gives it a shove. It splits in half, upper body falling to the fiery ground with a thud.

PYRO: Lets get out of here!

---

The group runs to rejoin Rick and Angie, who are being watched by Shag. Before reaching them, Colleen's eyes widen. She turns and re-enters the front door of the burning shop.

HUNTER: Colleen! Wait!

Flames surround Colleen and threaten to consume her. She rushes through the fire, leaping over fallen shelves. She catches eye of a box lying on the floor. Opening the box, she once again pulls out the majestic collie statue Rick had given her. A distant memory returns to her. Fire. Motionless bodies. Fear. And a small collie pup huddled in a corner.

A heavy wooden beam falls on her. She crumples under its weight. Smoke fills her lungs. As her vision blurs, she hears a distant voice.

HUNTER: Colleen! Where are you?! Colleen, answer if you can hear me!

She tries to reply, but chokes on the smoke-filled air. She passes out.

---

Outside, the group looks anxiously into the open doorway from a distance. Motion is seen, and a shadowy figure draws closer. Hunter emerges from the entrance, a limp Colleen in his arms. Pyro focuses his eye on the still body.

PYRO: She...she's alive!

They cheer excitedly. Pyro clenches a profusely bleeding shoulder. Dark blood covers the logo emblazoned in his suit.

TO BE CONTINUED...

All material © 2000 Pyrover, used only with written permission.