Shrapnel and Rubble

Planet Lona 4C514A

Lona, is a tidally locked planet inhabited mainly by Space Mice. Almost half of the planet is covered by a large city that extends to the edge of the cool zone; then comes the Green Ring National Park, followed by the Great Frozen Ocean covering the entirety of the dark side. It has two large moons that cause eclipses from time to time.

The inhabitants of the planet first arrived after the Gnawing Wars many cycles ago. They are a prosperous and well-organized society that has achieved great technological, scientific, and political advances. The great Council of Organized Exoplanets has its headquarters right in the center of the big city.

R.O.E.S. H.Q. is located on the edge of the cool zone, right on the shore of the Sorelia Sea. In this complex there are military, scientific and medical facilities. In the latter is where Neve is attended in the intensive care area while her colleagues wait impatiently for a report.

Doctor Pahari, leader of the hospital and friend to Chief Maustash, finally shows up in the waiting room with some news.

Maple: ¡Doctor!

Doctor Pahari: We managed to stabilize Neve, she has some fractures and hasn't woken up, but she's out of danger now. Apparently the toxin only paralyzes the body and leaves vital functions intact.

Maple: Do you know how long she'll be unconscious?

Doctor Pahari: We don't know, but as long as it stays stable, there's nothing to worry about; we are already working on an antitoxin that can counteract the effect of the poison. Now if I may...

Chief Maustash: Thanks Doc.

The Doctor leaves the room, and Maple and Chief Maustash begin to walk through the corridors of the hospital.

Maple: This is all my fault...

Chief Maustash: We're all afraid of snakes, Maple. It is in our nature.

Maple: That Gorgonia is going to pay! The next time I see her, I'll be ready.

Chief Maustash: I know, that's why I trust you, now, go rest before something else hap...

Voice: COME IN CHIEF MAUSTASH!

Chief Maustash: I'm here. What's wrong?

Voice: SOMEONE IS ATTACKING THE POWER PLANT IN SECTOR 7.

Chief Maustash: Gorgonia?

A shiver runs down Maple's spine, causing her to freeze.

Voice: NO, IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEY LOOK LIKE 2 MICE IN DISGUISE.

Maple relaxes with a deep sigh and listens more closely.

Chief Maustash: Disguised? Are you sure?

Voice: COME QUICK. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!

Chief Maustash: Looks like break's over, Maple.

Maple: Yes, Chief!

The power station is shaped like a large dish drainer. A thin metal structure surrounds large disk-shaped artifacts and several table-knife-shaped poles that produce and transmit the energy that powers a large portion of the area.

Some of these disk-shaped artifacts have damage that appears to have been caused by explosives.

Maple and Chief Maustash arrive at the scene, where other agents and rapid response teams are already waiting for them.

Chief Maustash: Somebody tell me what's going on here!

Agent: We received a report of explosions in the perimeter of the plant. We thought it was an accident, but when we arrived, we saw... them...

The agent points to two mice that are near the disc-shaped structures, playing with hand grenades and plastic explosives. One of them is wearing a kind of suit in the shape of a hand grenade and the other is wearing a series of tubes that have the initials T.N.T. on the side.

Chief Maustash: THEM? you must be kidding.

Both mice throw explosives at each other, as if they were playing catch.

Chief Maustash: They're going to kill each other!

Suddenly, the mouse who is dressed in like a granade accidentally drops the explosive, and it immediately blows, covering him in flames and shrapnel.

Chief Maustash: Well, there he goes.

Agent: Wait...

When the smoke from the explosion dissipates, the grenade mouse appears sitting and smiling on the floor without a single scratch, ready to continue playing.

Chief Maustash: This can not be...

Maple: You have to be kidding me.

The mouse dressed as a stick of dynamite laughs out loud, while his partner sits up slowly.

Chief Maustash: How long have they been doing this?

Agent: They haven't stopped throwing bombs at each other since we got here. When one of them misses and explodes, they just laugh it off and start over. It has been impossible to get near.

Chief Maustash: I can't figure out how they resist blasts, though after seeing what Dr. Gorgonia did, I'm not so surprised anymore. OK, give me a megaphone.

Agent: Yes, Chief!

Chief Maustash: HEY, YOU. IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

The skinny mouse puts his hand on his partner's chest and pushes him away and stands in front of him.

Shrapnel: My name is Shrapnel and this is my brother Rubble, we work for the Great Serpent Goddess, who has chosen us as her servants.

Chief Maustash: Rubble? Shrapnel? Serpent Goddess? What madhouse did these two escape from?

Maple: Do you want me to handle them, Chief?

Chief Maustash: No wait. They may have a large amount of explosives in there. Let me talk to them a little more.

Chief Maustash approaches the mice, who are still on the defensive.

Chief Maustash: What is it that you want?

Rubble: Tell them, Shrapnel.

Shrapnel: We want twelve Kesorium 8 batteries, a meter-mass specter, and a light cargo ship.

Rubble: And a million credits, and a million credits.

Shrapnel: AND TWO MILLION CREDITS!

Rubble: And... and... Quick! Our Goddess is waiting for us.

Chief Maustash: All right, we'll do our best.

Chief Maustash meets with Maple and other agents to discuss the situation.

Chief Maustash: A meter-mass specter? Where the nuts this guys came from? Does anyone have any background on these lunatics?

Agent: Nothing, Chief. They are John Does. Either of them appear in the system, in fact, they are not in any system.

Chief Maustash: There must be something...

BOOOOM! It is heard behind the Chief, who immediately turns around.

Chief Maustash: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? WE ALREADY TOLD YOU WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN!

Shrapnel: Until our demands are met, we will continue to do as we please.

The Chief pulls his beard and goes back to talking to his people.

Chief Maustash: As if we didn't have enough already.

Maple: What's the plan, Chief?

Chief Maustash: Okay! We need a security perimeter, evacuate all civilians from the area and prepare a decoy. Bring some big box that resists explosions.

Maple: I think I got it, I like the idea...

¡BOOOOM!

Chief Maustash: Hurry up, before these shellheads destroy every...

A familiar voice is heard coming from the Chief and Maple's communicator.

Mauzarella: Come in, R.O.E.S. Mazuarella reporting.

Chief Maustash: Mauzarella! Where have you been?

Mauzarella: Ah.. spiritual retirement?

Chief Maustash: I hope the Zen master can join the fight, we need you, NOW!

BOOOOOM!

Mauzarella: Don't worry Chief, I'm dying to get back in action!

Chief: HURRY UP THEN!

Mauzarella cuts off communication.

Maple: Okay, now this is going to get interesting.