~ three

The seed ships launch from the grid, Apex at lead.  He adjusts his view to examine the asteroid (it looks normal).

Apex - "We've got it ... it ... seems to be accelerating.  Possibly on a course arc."
__

Nemesis stands in the field directing the soldiers as they prepare gear to port.

Lucretia - On comm, "Nemesis. Grav-cores and systems injection.   It's altering course.  Kill it.
__

Lucretia walks to the edge of her tree plateau, looking over the field as Nemesis order the requisites.
__

Apex turns as the gear from the field ports behind him, configuring with the engines.  He checks the cargo bay scanner, observing as the drop ships port in.
__

Cartoon ~

Daphne and Cassandra dance with disco lights in the candy wrappers ... a booty bump from Cassandra sends Daphne laughing into the controls.  Her eyeball stops inches over a button which says 'Go Faster'.

She stares forming a wide smile, her finger pushes the button ...

('Too Funky in Here' by James Brown, live version specific)

They slam into the back wall.

Then covered in candy wrappers.

Outside the Skullsteroid's eyes open, it's jaws grins and starts snapping as a fiery trail forms behind (looking vaguely like hair).
__

Tank like treads mounted over the tires of Kurukulla's chopper roll over the tire spikes, her front wheel wedges between the blocking police cars and she kicks them apart with her feet as she passes.

The pursuing SUV launches a grenade from the sunroof to part them in pursuit, helicopters launching to miss as she casually turns the off ramp.
__

Andromeda and Asherah chase the gnome down the hall, he turns and flings the squid, landing it on Asherah's face with a grip.  She tears it off and throws it down, Goremouse running down the arm flung into a tackle.

They roll then separate with a stare, Goremouse growls, the squid hisses ...
__

Cartoon ~

They cheer and roll around in the wrappers against the far wall.
__

Tanks line the freeway in front of Kurukulla, blocking her path. Soldiers ready guns, helicopters hovering over, preparing to launch, agents still behind.

Kurukulla - To herself, "Now what do they want ... ?"

She increases speed and leans forward, reaching for the saddlebags and pulling them over her shoulders.
__

Goremouse stabs the squid repeatedly with her tail held rigid as it tries to strangle her.  Hissing and growling, they hear a cat meow ...

They stop, turn to look ...
__

Andromeda and Asherah chase the gnome to the end of the hall, he jumps for a doorknob before it's sliced off by Andromeda's thrown knife.

He catches it and flings it fast.  Ducking it, it glides painfully off her back shoulder-blade.

Stretching her shoulder round she glares, "Ooo." 

He growls showing sharp heavy fingernails.
__

Goremouse and squids are chased in terror down the halls by a feral looking black cat.
__

One squad of seed ships fires drop pods on the Skullsteroid, sending a shock through.  Another squad deploys drops creating a mass.

Flipping on, they warp the starlight behind, altering the Skullsteroid's course then returning as it passes, followed by the injection seeds departing the asteroid.
__

The front of Kurukulla's bike hits a tank hard, sending it into a spin over, Kurukulla sailing over in a curled ball.

A three point hero landing (oh yeah ...) shakes the earth, while two massive cannons one her back extend, bike crashing behind her.
__

In Venus' shop Kurukulla stares at the cannons on the wall ...

Kurukulla - Staring almost sad, "... what do you want ..."

Venus - Her mouth, "What have you got ?"

... a mushroom cloud on the freeway ...

(end of song)

Apex watches the course arc on monitor, seeing it corrected with the original safety course plotted, last pods returning

Apex - A sigh ... "We're good.  Perfect run, assailant unknown."
__

Cartoon ~

They slam from the wall to the ground, disco lights go out as the systems groan and bang off.

Daphne - "Fuck !"

Cassandra roars.

Outside the now quiet Skullsteroid they walk in space suits over the scalp, showing the space bird hidden on back.

Daphne - Brooding, "That was going be the best entrance ever.  Boom !"

Cassandra roars her disappointment as they enter the bird's open mouth.

('Pleasures of the Flesh' by Pain Teens)

The paper the cartoon is drawn on starts burning at the edges as the space bird dives into steep re-entry
______

Uncloaked, Eve approaches the huddled agents, they stare frozen.
__

A shadow across the hall ~

Andromeda and Asherah kick the hell out of a gnome.
__

The page burns to a bird in the true night sky in re-entry, sonic booms, singing feathers.
__

Eve reaches into her side bag and fills her hands with a paint.

She reaches for the sunglasses of the agent in front.  He recoils a moment, then calms staring with wide eyes as she removes them, gently beginning to paint his face.
__

A shadow in the hall ~

Asherah grabs the stool out his hands and starts beating him with it as his arms and legs flail.
__

One by one Eve paints their faces as she removes glasses and earpieces, some start to loosen their ties and removing jackets, dropping them.
__

A city below, the bird struggles to control descent. Pulling up enough it spreads its wings to control.
__

She gives them cloaks, they begin putting them on as she puts on hers.  When they're indistinguishable Eve is gone among their number.

They look for her, then around as all the rest ignore them in their celebration. Lost in a passing crowd of parading celebrants as the shadow of a massive bird passes over from above with a gust of wind, the clear street but spiraling dust.

(end of song)

The grid fades away with the landing of the last ships.

______________________________________

Andromeda and Asherah stare at the gnome's book, Andromeda holding a spear with the gnome's head on it.

Goremouse and squid walk up behind, Goremouse wearing large cat paws, the squid with a cat-head hat and a tail pulled over one arm.

Goremouse - "We're a cat."

They look at the squid.

Squid - "Evil spell !"

They nod, "Mm hm, mm hm ..." and look back to the book.

Andromeda - "You should take it.  I got a dragon last time."

A giant dragon eye slams against the window.  A rumbling coo ...

Andromeda looks at the eye with a concerned grimace.

Asherah - Looks at her and smiles, "Thank you."

Andromeda - Still watching the eye looking back, "Yeah ... she ... just keeps growing ..."  Nodding with concern.

Asherah - Putting her hand on her shoulder, "Good luck with that."

She scoops up Goremouse and the book.   Walking down the hall it explodes into destruction before her, swirling into a violent vortex swallowing the palace wing and the earth past as she walks through.

Brick by brick and bit by bit, it reconstructs with her departure while Andromeda watches until gone, all calm.  She glances down, the squid glances up.  She winces her eyes.
______________

The keeper lays staring at the night sky, holding the book close.  The air swirls with her creations dancing, a slight gust of wind moves her hair.

A light in the distant sea ...

She opens the book and breathes across the page, a wind tumbles out across the water.  In a moment it returns igniting an image in the book, she stares.

A view across the sea to the Eden (airship), Nautilus, and Arena approach with white flags and decks lit and decorated for celebration, a massive black singed bird flapping over.

Morgan spots her with her scope from the Eden's deck and waves.

Miranda splashes from the water and lands behind her.

Miranda - "Do you mind ?"

The keeper smiles back at her and waves to Morgan.  She runs for the beach, swirling creation in tow like balloons.

('Good Day' by Nappy Roots)

Pipsiveya and the bus driver knock on marketplace doors collecting candy, a filled sack over his shoulder. They walk past a kiss between Nemesis and Apex at the cafe and disappear into the crowd again.

As the parties go and through the credits.

! The End !

~ after credit ~

Gathered suits around a table in the dark, world map behind, lit with motion surrounded by muted active monitors.

A Zippo sound, lighting the room.

Doe - Voice unseen, "Wanna talk about the weather ?" 

A flick burning inhale while the startled heads turn from the map to look.

Doe - "We could fix that for you."

Darkness but the map and monitors with the closing sound, Nocturne's form seen in front of the map, her grin lit.

Doe - "If you want."

('Good Day' chorus returns)