Protecting the Ockuties

Dr Braun takes them to a cold, dank cave where there is a battered cot, some scientific equipment that has seen better days and some notebooks with scribbles. The three of them sit wherever they can while the Doctor tells them his story.

Dr Braun: Following ancient texts I managed to decipher the location of this planet, but when I tried to obtain resources for my research I only received rejection and laughs. I became so obsessed with the discovery that I relied on the underworld to achieve my goal.

When we arrived on the planet, we began to explore and discover its wonders. I objected to their plundering of natural resources so CatNip ordered my execution on the spot.

I was left for dead near this valley. That's when these beautiful creatures rescued me.

Mauzarella: Let me guess, instead of eating you, they cured you, right?

Dr Braun: So you know their powers; well yes, they cured me and took me in.

Once here, I discovered that these extraordinary creatures were not only intelligent life forms, they have capabilities that no one has ever seen, so I decided to protect them from Catnip and his minions while also studying them.

Mauzarella: Wait! You know where Catnip's men are?

Dr Braun: Yes, Their camp is not far away and as long as they are here, the Ockuties are in grave danger.

Hazel: Ockuties... Is that their official name or...

Mauzarella: Don't worry, Dr Bronze, Mauzarella is here to defeat all evil.

Dr. Braun: You alone?

Mauzarella: They don't call me the best Ranger in the galaxy for nothing, trust me.

In a matter of minutes, they arrive at Catnip's camp, which is a series of domes interconnected with each other, surrounded by some vehicles, military and research equipment.

From afar Mauzarella, Hazel and Dr Braun see through binoculars.

Hazel: According to the heat signals, there are 15 Purrcats, some armed.

Mauzarella: Piece of cake, help me count them while I put them out cold.

Dr Braun: Good luck Mauzarella!

Mauzarella approaches without making a sound and begins to knock out the Purrcats one by one, first 2 who are sitting on some boxes just talking,

Hazel: One, two.

The next one is a Purrcat that walks casually while carrying some boxes with samples and some plants.

Hazel: Three.

A Purrcat is on a truck talking to other two who are outside, those two suddenly disappear which makes the driver get off and also disappear into the back of the truck.

Hazel: Six!

Two more Purrcats stand guard at a door and vanish one after the other.

Hazel: Eight!

Mauzarella enters a dome where three Purrcats are lying on cots sleeping.

Mauzarella: This is too easy.

Mauzarella dusts off her hands as the Gaturros are now all tied up and unconscious next to the cots.

Hazel: Eleven!

In the next dome, Mauzarella finds several cages with animals, they are unknown creatures but none of them seem to be intelligent.

Mauzarella: Don't worry, I'll release you soon enough.

The critters startle and start making noise which attracts the attention of a Purrcat who comes in to inspect.

Purrcat: What's going on here?

The Purrcat flies out of the dome and falls unconscious on the floor. Three other Purrcats who were standing outside immediately go on alert, two of them reaching for their weapons while the last one runs away as he yells.

Purrcat: INTRUDERS!

Mauzarella comes out with a challenging smile on her mouth.

Mauzarella: Intruder, please!

The Purrcats try to shoot at Mauzarella but she dodges the shots and puts them one in front of the other causing them to shoot at each other and then she throws the wounded, knocking them both out.

Mauzarella: And that makes 15!

Hazel: Erhm... Mauzarella?

Mauzarella: They were no rival for the great...

Hazel: MAUZARELLA!

Mauzarella: WHAT!

Hazel: We have motion readings behind the camp.

Mauzarella turns and sees how from behind the domes, a giant mechanic Purrcat's head appears.

Mauzarella: HOLY NUTMEG!

The mechanical Purrcat stands up, it is a menacing robot that is four times bigger than Mauzarella, its body was wide and it seemed to have a strong armor.

Mauzarella materializes her weapon and shoots at the robot a couple of times with no effect.

Mauzarella: Hazel?

Hazel: RUN!

The robot cat poses like a wrestler and begins to chase Mazuarella through the camp. As it hits the floor it causes small tremors that make her lose her balance.

The robot is relentless. It destroys domes, boxes and vehicles while trying to crush the Ranger.

Mauzarella: Hazel, INTEL!

Hazel: I detect some explosives in that truck.

Mazuarella enters the back of the truck and finds some boxes marked for explosives.

Mauzarella: This will do.

She tries to lift a box but it is too heavy for her.

Hazel: MAUZARELLA GET OUT OF THERE!

Mauzarella jumps out of the truck just before one of the Robot's fists crushes the cargo causing a huge explosion.

BOOOOOOOM!!!

Mauzarella rolls on the floor and ends up unconscious. The robot loses its balance and takes a couple of steps backwards while the attacking arm stays on the ground. The damage from the explosion is also considerable in the body and cockpit, but the Purrcat continues to function.

Hazel: MAUZARELLA! MAUZARELLA!

Dr Braun: Help her, you're a Ranger right?

Hazel: I'm... I'm just a bookworm!

Dr Braun takes off his lab coat and prepares to help the Ranger.

Mauzarella: Don't come! I can... handle this!

Mauzarella sits up slowly as the robot prepares to attack again. She quickly scans the robot's body with her wrist computer indicating some exposed parts that the explosion uncovered.

Mauzarella: THERE!

The robot attacks Mazuarella with his remaining arm trying to crush her, Mauzarella dodges it and climbs up the giant hand, then runs through the arm until she reaches the elbow joint from where she jumps to land on the chest where there's a big hole and gets inside. Now, she looks around until she finds some cables marked with high voltage signs.

Mauzarella: A-HA!

Mauzarella grabs the cables and puts them between her teeth and bites with all her strength

Sparks come out of the cables, Mauzarella get's shocked and thrown against the inside walls of the robot that loses energy and begins to fall. As it hits the ground a big rumble can be perceived and the Purrcat pilot blows out the cockpit landing unconscious.

Hazel: MAUZARELLA!

Mauzarella crawls out of the robot and then drops to the ground. Hazel gets to where she is and lifts her up.

Mauzarella: I'm fine...

But she can't take it anymore and faints.

For Mauzarella, only a few seconds pass, before suddenly waking up and discovering that she is surrounded by Ockuties; Blup, who is biting her shoulder while Hazel and Doctor Braun hold her by the arms.

Br, Braun: Incredible, right? these creatures are able to cure anything

Mauzarella: Ouch! Don't they have another way to do it other than biting?

Dr Braun: The curative agent is in their oral secretions, direct inoculation into the bloodstream is needed for epimorphosis and morphalaxis to occur immediately

Mauzarella: Ok, Ok, I'll pretend I understood that.

The Ranger stands up slowly.

Mauzarella: What happened after I blacked out?

Hazel: After getting you to safety, we locked all the Purrcats in the main ship and freed all the creatures.

Dr. Braun: I must admit that you have great strength and courage, now I understand why Blup trusted you...

Blup: Bluuup!

Mauzarella: Thank you so much girl, I owe you one.

Dr. Braun: Ehrm, Blup is a "He", not a "She".

Mauzarella: A.. A "He"? You little rascal! You managed to fool me with your charms!

Hazel: And what do we do now Doc.

Dr Braun: These wonderful creatures must not be disturbed if we want them to continue to exist...

Mauzarella: I have something that might work, but if we use it, we may not be able to return to this world ever again.

Dr. Braun: It would be for the best.

Mauzarella turns to see Hazel who makes a sign that he is not opposed to the idea.

The three of them dismantle the camp and load everything to Doctor Braun's ship, previously captured by Catnip's henchmen, and take off, leaving only Mauzarella on the ground next to her ship.

Mauzarella: This is where we say goodbye Blup, from now on nobody will ever bother you again.

Blup: Blup Bluuuup!

Blup puts a seed on Mauzarella's hand.

Mauzarella: For me? But I'm not supposed to take anything from here.

Blup insists.

Blup: Blup!

Mauzarella: Okay, okay, I'll take it as a souvenir, but don't tell anyone.

The ship takes off and the Ockuties can be seen getting smaller, until they completely disappear when the ship enters the sea of clouds.

Mauzarella's ship stops in the vicinity of the planet alongside the Doctor's ship. From the cabin Mauzarella releases a capsule that places itself on the north pole of the planet. The capsule begins to move quickly causing an optical effect that makes the planet disappear as if a static distorted an image on a screen, leaving only space and some stars in sight.

Mauzarella: Thanks Blup!

Both ships open a cosmic portal and disappear.

As soon as she gets home, Mauzarella talks through her wrist computer with Chief Maustash who looks a little upset.

Chief Maustash: Mauzarella! Where have you been?

Mauzarella: Ah.. spiritual retirement?

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

Some explosions are seen behind the chief.

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

Chief: HURRY UP THEN!

Mauzarella cuts off the communication, adjusts her uniform, dematerializes her gun and leaves the room in a hurry.

As she closes the door, a small pot on a table moves slightly. With the movement, a bit of soil from the upper part moves away to reveal the sprout of a plant that has just emerged from its seed...