(Cut to the jeep, driving down the street. Inside, Veeken is leaning back in the front passenger seat, rons_gurl is sitting in the back, thinking something, while Ron, Des, and Rufus are peering out the window. Syd and Ratigan are asleep on the other side of the car, back to back. Suddenly, Syd grabs Ratigan's opera cape, pulling it over her like a blanket, and waking up Ratigan, who glances at her, his eyebrow raised in a "What's with this girl" kind of look. Kim is driving, concentrating on the road.)

Kim: So, how are we supposed to find this "Neo", anyway?

Veeken: I don't know. We'll just have to keep driving.

(Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the car starts to slow down, running out of gas. Kim parks it in front of a New York-styled apartment building {like the Oracle's from The Matrix}.)

Kim: (sigh) We ran out of gas.

Des: Maybe we can get some help.

(Cut to the interior of the top floor of the apartment building. A anthro-meerkat, styled like Neo, from the Matrix, opens the curtains slightly to look down at the parked Jeep. This is Neo. Cut to Ratigan, who briefly glances up in the direction of the building, his face momentarily taking on an air of recognition.)

Kim: But we don't know where we-.

Neo: (Off-screen; Liam Neeson voice) Excuse me?

(Cut to Neo, leaning in the now open doorway. Apparently, he knows who they are.)

Neo: (cont) Can I be of some assistance?

Kim: Um… Who are you?

Neo: (turning) Come with me. There's not much time and a lot I have to explain.

(Kim and Des look at each other uneasily, while Syd turns over and blinks, waking up.)

Syd: (groggily) Are we there yet?

(Cut to the interior of what appears to be your basic, average living room. Syd, Des, Ratigan, Ron, and rons_gurl are sitting on similar couches facing a coffee table, while Kim is standing next to Ratigan, and Veeken looks at Neo.)

Veeken: So you're Neo?

Neo: Yes.

Ron: Y'know, I was expecting someone a little more… human.

rons_gurl: Ron, from what I've seen, I'd think you'd have learned not to expect everyone here to be human?

Ron: Well, I was wondering….

Neo: Anyway, I received a message from the S.R.C.D, telling me you might be coming, so I wasn't surprised that you were coming.

Veeken: You knew? But how-?!

(Neo holds up his hand for silence.)

Neo: Veeken, rons_gurl, come with me.

(rons_gurl and Veeken start into the next room.)

Des: Wait a minute! What about us?

Veeken: Kim, call your parents and tell them we're gonna be late, and to not come and pick us up. The rest of you wait here, okay?

Kim: But I… Fine.

(Neo pulls a book on a bookshelf like a lever, revealing a secret room. Neo enters, and Veeken and rons_gurl nervously follow. Cut to the interior of the room, which greatly contrasts the normal living room. It looks more like an ancient Egyptian Temple than a normal room. In the center is a strange gem, ruby-red and glowing faintly. It is almost complete except for a chunk that looks like it was removed.)

Neo: Listen, time is brief, so I must be brief and to the point. Ratigan is only a former shadow of who he once was. Ever since he escaped from the Rogue Dæmon Capture Society, he has been terrified of them. You will have to protect them until I can locate the Gem of Memories and safely deliver it to you.

Veeken: Wait, what's the Gem of Memories?

Neo: Oh, let me explain. You see, when the Rogue Dæmon Capture Society captures a dæmon that's gone, well, rogue, they magically remove its memories of who it is and its past and its emotions, placing them in a Gem of Memories, and placing a Soulstone where it should be.

Veeken: Ah.

Neo: Anyway, it's up to you to protect him until the time comes. When the moon is full, you have to take him to the sacred temple of the Med-Jai.

rons_gurl: I just have one question.

Neo: What?

rons_gurl: Why does Basil hate Ratigan so much?

Neo: You want to know why?

rons_gurl: Well, yeah.

Neo: I'll tell you why: Because Ratigan was responsible for his wife's death.

Veeken: Basil had a wife?

rons_gurl: That I didn't know.

Neo: Actually, he did. You see, back when Basil and Ratigan were just arch-foes with not much hatred between them, Basil agreed to help one Elizabeth Starling. You see, she was on the run from Ratigan, and she wanted his help. Over time, they eventually fell in love, and were planning to get married.

rons_gurl: But it didn't work out that way.

Neo: Nope. Ratigan kidnapped Elizabeth, hoping to have her married to him instead of Basil, and brought Basil with,

rons_gurl: But Basil escaped.

Neo: (nods) And in the process, Elizabeth was badly wounded in an attempt to kill Basil. They escaped, and Basil married Elizabeth before she died from the wounds… Personally, I think it was to make up for all the danger he put her in.

rons_gurl: Wow.

Veeken: That is so Disney.

rons_gurl: Actually, I think that was a fanfic idea.

Veeken: Right. (to Neo) So that's why he hates Ratigan so much?

Neo: Precisely.

Veeken: And you want us to keep Ratigan out of the Rogue Dæmon Capture Society's hands until you get that gem?

Neo: And you might need him to help you.

Veeken: But how… (realizing) Oh, I get it.

Neo: But you must remember that the way he might turn out is unpredictable. However, one thing is certain. You must keep him out of the clutches of his old henchmen. Who knows what consequences could happen, especially if he goes back to the way he use to be?

Veeken: Yeah, I guess. But he might be different, although that may require a miracle.

Neo: Yes. Well, I'll try and get the stone to you by midnight on Tuesday. After that, I expect you may know how to find your way.

(Cut to the living room.)

Syd: What's taking them so-?

(The door opens, and Veeken and rons_gurl walk out, followed by Neo. All eyes are on them, scared. Finally-.)

Ron: Well-? (has his mouth covered by Syd and Des)

Veeken: Come on, guys. Let's go.

Des: But what about Ratigan?

rons_gurl: He'll have to stay at Kim's house for the time.

Kim: Uh… okay…

(When Ratigan is out of the doorway, followed by Syd and the others except for Kim, Veeken, and rons_gurl, Kim turns to Veeken.)

Kim: (cont) You expect me to keep an eye on a rodential criminal mastermind?!

Veeken: Until we get the Stone of Memories and get his memory back. After that, I don't know…

rons_gurl: Neo?

Neo: Yes?

rons_gurl: Can I ask a question?

Neo: Go ahead.

rons_gurl: Why is Basil… well… evil?

Neo: It's like I said before. Time and circumstances together have a way of altering one's heart and mind.

(Veeken gets a thoughtful look; This is good advice…)

To Be Continued…