30 Worlds: Royal Megaforce, Episode XXV: "Cats Can Dance, Part II"

CHAPTER TWO

The next morning, as William and Sofia were eating breakfast in their quarters aboard the Enterprise, when a chime came over the comm. "Bridge to King William," a voice said. "King William. Go ahead," William said.

"William, this is The Doctor," the voice from the Bridge said. "We have an incoming message from Challenger Base via the Dindal Anomaly." William stood from the table and made his way to the computer terminal nearby. "Put it through," William said.

William gasped when he began to read the text file from the Scarlett Army's Office of Special Projects. It mentioned that Sawyer Dumas would be assassinated by a weapon of unknown function on the day the first film to star the animal actors would begin production...two days from that day. According to the temporally-secure data file, Danny would be so distraught after Sawyer's death that he would kill himself as well.

"Nick, Mal, Sito, Ferb, report to Transporter Room 2 immediately! I'll explain there!" William said. Sofia followed William out of their quarters.

William and the away team resolved from the Enterprise's transporter beam in the alley next to the Mammoth Studios lot. A janitorial team was tearing down any and all billboards and other signs making reference to Darla Dimple, following the events of the previous night.

Robin Venturi, head of the Mammoth Pictures publicity department, smiled when he saw William and the away team. "Hey, guys!" he said. "Mr. Venturi, how are things going for you today?" William said. "Amazingly," Venturi said. "The animals were amazing at the screening last night."

"So, Mr. Mammoth terminated Darla's contract?" Ferb said. "More that that," Venturi said. "Follow me." William and the away team followed Venturi to a car, which drove to the desert outside of the city. A huge pile of film canisters, scripts and other film paraphernalia laid in the sand. Venturi held a lit match to the pile. The pile burst into flames led by the volatile nitrate film.

"Mr. Mammoth ordered all traces of Darla Dimple destroyed, as—in his words—Darla's entire career was based on a lie," Venturi said. "Mr. Venturi, I must inform you of a threat against the life of Sawyer Dumas," William said.

"What do you mean?" Venturi said. William then begun to describe the threat on Sawyer. "We've gotta get back to Mammoth Pictures. Mr. Mammoth must be informed," Venturi said. "The faster the better," William agreed.

As if on cue, Nick, Sofia, Ferb, Mal and Sito moved to stand in a circle. William led Venturi to hold Mal's hand while he held Sofia's. "Hold on tight," William said. In the blink of an eye, William made the entire away team plus Venturi return to Mammoth Pictures, the car they rode out to the desert in appearing alongside them.

"Mr. Mammoth's office is this way," Robin said. "Follow me." William and the away team followed Robin to the studio's administration building, where behind a door marked "L.B. Mammoth, Chairman and C.E.O. of Mammoth Pictures Corporation," Mammoth and Flanigan were discussing the type of film that would best showcase the animal actors' talents.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Mammoth said. The door opened, revealing Robin, William and the away team. "Mr. Mammoth, there is a serious situation regarding Sawyer Dumas," Robin said. "She's not pregnant, is she?" Flannigan said. "If she is, then..."

"She's not pregnant, as far as I know, Flanigan," Robin said. "However, there is a threat against her—possibly tied to the incident at the Lil' Ark Angel premiere last night." Robin gestured for William to step forward. "It was brought to my attention thanks to this young man."

William nodded at Mammoth. "Mr. Mammoth, I am King William of the Kingdom of Cinnabar," William said. "I have come back in time to protect Danny and his friends from a threat on their lives."

William described the threat of the A.I.C. "I highly recommend that a 24-hour security guard be placed on Danny, Sawyer and their friends until the threat against them is eliminated," William finished. "I will promise you this, however: if you do not agree to provide the guard...I will."

Mammoth nodded gravely. "All right, King William," he said. "I will get in touch with the FBI and ask for a 24-hour guard on the lot and on Danny, Sawyer and the other animals. However, the FBI may not agree to sending agents. So, I highly advise that you put some of your people on standby."

"Actually, you may not have to involve the FBI," William said, activating his communicator. "King William to Enterprise. Chad, do you have the DNA signatures of Danny, Sawyer and the other animals?"

"DNA?" Flanigan asked, confusedly. "Yeah, we do," Chad said. "Then, lock on to each of them one by one and beam them to the ship. Use the cargo transporters if you have to," William said. "Understood," Chad said.

Ship's Log, supplemental, Chad Danforth recording.

At the order of King William, we've beamed all of the Mammoth Pictures animals aboard the Enterprise. Some are getting rather ornery, so King William and the rest of the away team have also returned to the Enterprise. As a time-traveler herself, William has asked Charlie Duncan to discuss the dark future she came from—the dark future that will happen if the Grand Key is nullified.

"That's the story, everyone," Charlie Duncan said. "I can't believe we've stepped into one of those Flash Gordon pictures from over at Universal," Woolie Elephant said. "This is very, very real, Woolie," William said. "All of time and space is threatened by the A.I.C."

Danny looked at his friends and colleagues. "Guys, I happen to believe William," he said. "Last night, William and his people risked their lives to protect Pudge and I from Max." Sawyer smiled. "I believe Danny," she said.

"Well then," William said. "I'm afraid that until the A.I.C.'s threat is nullified, you're gonna have to remain aboard the Enterprise. "Whatever we need to do in order to stay safe," Danny said.

::TBC::