| Stilton
|
[The Mars Spaceport; Stilton starts another broadcast following recent events.] "My dear Martians. I sense your fear, your uncertainty. And I must ask... why?"
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| Carbine
|
Remain orderly!
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| Civilian
|
Please! I lost everything!
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| Carbine
|
I know everyone is scared, but we need to be calm!
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| Stilton
|
"Yes, what happened to Crater Rock and Brimstone is tragic. Horrifying. Poetic, even... But must we dwell on the past..."
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| Mace
|
[Brimstone; Mace and Stoker continue to look for survivors.] If there's any survivors, we would have found them by now.
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| Stoker
|
Keep looking, Mace. We can't give up hope...
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| Stilton
|
[overlook of the Biker Mice transporting the freed mice through Desert Valley.]"...when the future looks so much brighter? Do not look at Plutark as your enemy. After all..." [Cut to Stilton Castle as Stilton wraps up the broadcast.] ...the real dangers may be closer than you think.
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| Karbunkle
|
An absolute masterpiece of a broadcast, Mister Stilton, your dastardly amphibian eminence.
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| Stilton
|
Yes, quite inspiring, was it not, Doctor Karbunkle? I rather enjoy my little musings.
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| Limburger
|
Um... greatest of commanders? May I have a word?
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| Stilton
|
What is it now, you mollusky nitwit? Can't you see I was in the middle of gloating?
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| Limburger
|
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but, um... I come bearing... bad news. [Limburger opens a hologram featuring a distressed message from Slobber.]
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| Slobber
|
"--were ambushed! Those Biker Mice took our slaves! Our convoy was nearly lost in the desert--*" [*: It happened last issue!]
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| Stilton
|
[Stilton throws his bowl of worms at Limburger.] Limburger! Explain!
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| Limburger
|
Gah!
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| Harley
|
[Cut to Sweep's Farm; Harley approaches Stoker, who is repairing a bike.] You're worried about them, Stoker. I can tell.
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| Stoker
|
Sweep tell you where to find me, Harley?
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| Harley
|
She told me you were asking about Modo and his buds.
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| Stoker
|
Sure you weren't just asking about Vinnie?
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| Harley
|
You know I think he's cute.
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| Stoker
|
I do. Have half a mind to be annoyed.
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| Harley
|
Nah... you know what we are. No need to act silly about it.
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| Stoker
|
Shouldn't have let them go after that lead. We need them here. We're losing a lot of ground in this war with the Plutarkians while we play aid workers.
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| Harley
|
You know why they had to go. And you know as well as I do Throttle's girl, Carbine, wouldn't be blowin' smoke if she didn't think the Plutarkians weren't behind the volcanic eruption at Brimstone.* [*: In BMFM #1.]
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| Stoker
|
That's what I'm afraid of.
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| Harley
|
Come here, ya big lug. [Harley comes to Stoker's side; the two embrace and watch the sunset.] I know being a leader ain't no picnic, darlin'. And you've lost more than anyone deserves. Don't worry, you won't lose them, too.
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| Stilton
|
[Cut to Stilton Castle.] You macrocephalic moron! Did those swamp rats you hired actually manage to lose the asset?
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| Karbunkle
|
Let the rodents have her, your rottenness. We can power the device--
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| Stilton
|
Bobble-headed imbecile! What if they get her to talk? What if our plans are revealed?
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| Karbunkle
|
Your fishness-- [He is hit by a bowl of worms.]
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| Stilton
|
Is your job solely to make every bit of my life that much more difficult?
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| Limburger
|
Ahem. If I may, your exemplary evilness... perhaps this little hiccup may work in our favor? It's proven quite fruitless to try and track down those Freedom Fighters, but I do believe this is good fortune for us.
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| Stilton
|
You would believe that, you measly lump.
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| Limburger
|
Allow me to explain. If we move up our eruption timetable... then I believe there will be no need to chase our friend... [Cut to an overview of the Biker Mice escorting Hawwki.] "...The Biker Mice will bring her right to us."
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| Throttle
|
Keep the line tight, citizens, we'll get to civilization soon!
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| Vinnie
|
That's right, enjoy the sights! Sunset is beautiful in the desert this time of year!
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| Modo
|
You think Ms. Mystery Mouse is telling the truth? That she knows something about the eruption?
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| Throttle
|
Had to be a reason they were holding her, right?
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| Modo
|
Plutarkians don't need a reason to be fish-wads, Throttle.
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| Hawwki
|
Vinnie, right? Don't suppose there's time for a bathroom break?
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| Vinnie
|
Sweetheart, right now the only thing you're breaking is my heart! We asked before we got going.
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| Hawwki
|
I didn't have to go then!
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| Vinnie
|
I hate saying no to a pretty lady, but we gotta keep moving... [A creature rises out of the sand.] ...before we attract more attention then we already have! [Sabre squids rise and ambush the caravan.]
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| Modo
|
Wha--?
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| Throttle
|
The transport!
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| Hawkki
|
Ahh! [She is launched into the air and is caught by Modo.]
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| Modo
|
I gotcha!
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| Hawwki
|
What is that?!
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| Modo
|
Hold tight! [He brakes, skidding to face the sabre squid.] Sabre squids! Sand predators attracted to insects, the loud sounds of engines, rock 'n' roll, and whipping tail! [to himself] I might have gone a bit overboard with the squid-bait earlier!* [*: Also last issue.] [He uses a hand blaster and shoots 3 times into the squid, neutralizing the threat coming his way.]
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| Throttle
|
You gotta admire their gumption!
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| Vinnie
|
Not to mention their teeth!
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| Throttle
|
Let's ride! [A squid cuts through a plant; Vinnie and Throttle activate their grappling hooks.] Remind me to thank Harley for the upgrade!
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| Vinnie
|
How about I thank her for the two of us! [They launch the spears into an upcoming rock. Spinning around the rock a couple times, they create giant lassos.] Hey, squiddies! Catch! [The squids are captured and struggle to break free.] Now that's a squid game I never wanna play again!
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| Modo
|
[Cut to Swamp Junction, where the citizens are organized.] I think we all earned a breather.
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| Throttle
|
I usually like my man-eating monster attacks after dinner.
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| Hawwki
|
I'm so sorry for all the trouble.
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| Vinnie
|
It's all in a day's work, sweetheart.
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| Hawwki
|
My name is Doctor Hawwki, not "sweetheart."
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| Throttle
|
You said you had vital information...
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| Hawwki
|
I do. But you need to promise you'll keep me safe from the Plutarkians.
|
| Throttle
|
Why is a little mouse like you so valuable to our enemies? [A quake interrupts their conversation.]
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| Vinnie
|
Whoa! I've been known to make a gal dizzy, but not like this!
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| Modo
|
...a quake? At this time of year?
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| Throttle
|
No... not an earthquake, bros... [Cut to a distant, erupting volcano.] ...a volcano!
|
| Modo
|
Isn't the Spaceport that way?
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| Throttle
|
We gotta ride. Now!
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| Vinnie
|
I'll call Harley for backup!
|
| Carbine
|
[At the Spaceport] Everyone, try and calm down! It's just a few tremors! [She scolds a nearby civilian playing guitar.] And excuse me, sir? Can you find some other place to do that?
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| Hard Rock
|
My bad, luv. Just tryin' to kill me some time on my guitar here until my rendezvous. I'll be on my way. [He walks away; Scabbard approaches Carbine.]
|
| Carbine
|
What is it now, Scabbard?
|
| Scabbard
|
We've got an emergency, Carbine! We're reading some incredible, seismic activity...
|
| Hard Rock
|
♫ Hmmm, hmm, hmmm... ...Got nothing for my baby but some hard rock 'n' roll... ...My hard rock guitar... ...and my hard rockin' heart... ...I'll strum the pain away... ...and tear you apart. ♫ Oi! Limburger! Wanna explain yourself? There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on-- and it ain't come from me.
|
| Limburger
|
Hard Rock! Old friend! Enjoying the little, um... vibration upgrade we gave your instrument of choice?
|
| Hard Rock
|
Yeah, it's all right. Last gig really brought the house down. Literally.
|
| Limburger
|
How utterly catastrophic. Happy to hear it. I must ask for a favor returned. You see that device down there?
|
| Hard Rock
|
In that pit of hot lava? Be a blind fool if I didn't.
|
| Limburger
|
Yes, well, we had it working perfectly... ...but I'm afraid it's rather delicate... there's been a bit of a difficulty getting it back up to speed after its first test run. Perhaps you could help... nudge it along? Think of yourself as a... charger of sorts. But not in here, you head-banging numbskull! Outside! In here you're liable to bring the entire operation down on us!
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| Hard Rock
|
Got it. Let's rock and roll... [Hard Rock steps outside and strums his guitar hard, sending electric vibrations down on the Martian Spaceport.]
|
| Limburger
|
Outstanding! It's working!
|
| Scabbard
|
What's happening?!
|
| Carbine
|
The whole Spaceport is collapsing! We have to evacuate the civilians!
|
| Hard Rock
|
♫ ...my music's a twisty tornado of slam... ...never know what'll hit ya until I-- ♫ [His pick is shot out of his hand.] Huh?
|
| Throttle
|
Hey, crater-face! We're here to put you on mute!
|
| Hard Rock
|
Everyone's a critic! Name's Hard Rock-- you mice ready to broaden your musical horizons? [He lets out another strum of electricity.]
|
| Throttle
|
This guy's really intent on putting on a show!
|
| Vinnie
|
Throttle-- I'll make him sing a different tune! You find Carbine! And while you knock him off-key, I'll locate that disruptor!
|
| Throttle
|
Thanks, bros! Be sure to bring the curtain down hard on that bozo!
|
| Hard Rock
|
Oh no , you don't! [He continues to assault the port.]
|
| Vinnie
|
Hey, cherry-head! I'm usually a big fan of rock 'n' roll... ...but your music will really rot my brain! [He ejects a missile, directly hitting Hard Rock.]
|
| Hard Rock
|
Ahhh! You'll pay for that, vermin! [He attacks Vinnie with another strum.]
|
| Vinnie
|
Sorry, but I'd rather avoid that cover charge altogether! [A rockslide begins to occur.]
|
| Hard Rock
|
Uh-oh-- [He crashes down the hill with the rocks.]
|
| Vinnie
|
Ha! now that's what I call being stuck between a rock and a hard place! [He realizes he is alone.] Aw, man... no one heard that.
|
| Limburger
|
What! No! That heavy metal half-wit couldn't even do this job correctly? And someone's coming!
|
| Hawwki
|
[Hawwki directs Modo through the castle.] Down this ...I can't find Carbine.way!
|
| Stilton
|
[Via broadcast] Citizens... we have received word of another terrible seismic quake-- this time leveling our beautiful spaceport.
|
| Throttle
|
Carbine!
|
| Stilton
|
So many lives lost...
|
| Throttle
|
No!
|
| Stilton
|
...So many unanswered questions. In the wake of such tragedy, it is very easy to lose hope. But you must not despair, my dear Martians. [Vinnie picks up Hard Rock's abandoned pick.] With my help...
|
| Hawwki
|
...It's gone!
|
| Stilton
|
...Mars will rebuild.
|
| Throttle
|
[Hawwki and the bros meet at the spaceport ruins.] ...I can't find Carbine.
|
| Vinnie
|
I'm sure she's okay.
|
| Modo
|
We'll find her, bro.
|
| Stilton
|
And we will be more united than ever. [The rest of the Freedom Fighters join.]
|
| Stoker
|
Hawwki, is it? I got questions-- and you better have answers.
|
|
|
To be continued...
|
