There was nothing for it. Bugs was constantly feeling a sharp pain in his chest as if someone was attacking him with tiny knives. Very soon the knives would burrow into his heart. Bugs had no other choice but to stick his hand inside his shirt and locate Jerry.

Instantly his hand felt like it was being fed through a paper shredder. But Bugs persevered, ignoring the pain, and he grabbed the small mouse and threw him a far distance away.

Unfortunately while he was doing that he was also dodging Tom's attacks. Since he wasn't putting his full concentration on that activity Tom managed to inflict two deep cuts, one on Bugs's arm and another on his neck.

Bugs jumped back yet again, and looked down at his blood soaked suit.

'Damn,' he said. Blood was spurting out of his neck and he stopped the bleeding by untying his tie and using it was a bandage.

'You pretty doomed, Bugs,' Tom grinned, Jerry silently taking up position beside him. 'Any last words before you die?'

'What a clichéd line,' Bugs sighed.

'You won't be so calm now when we cut you up!'

Tom moved forward, but at that moment there was a loud boom, which knocked both Tom and Jerry away. Bugs turned. The boom had come from a triple barreled shotgun. One owned by Elmer Fudd.

'You bloody fool,' Bugs said to him, 'there's no time. Get to the shuttle.'

'Not without you,' Fudd grunted, and loosened off another blast. But this time Tom and Jerry dodged the blast.

'Christ, they're as fast as you.'

'Never mind that,' Bugs narrowed his eyes. 'I am suspicious of your motives.'

'What?!' Fudd exclaimed, watching Tom and Jerry advancing slowly. 'Can't we talk about this later? You're bleeding to death!'

'I suppose you're right,' Bugs agreed. 'Now that you're here, it will give us the extra edge. I'll take Tom, you take Jerry.'

'Funny how the two are working together, eh?'

'Strange,' Bugs agreed.

And then Tom launched himself forward, unleashing a furious battle cry. Jerry did the same.

Several minutes later, Bugs wiped his brow with a handkerchief. His suit was still bloodstained and he was weakened, but he had survived.

Jerry lay dead on his feet. Even the greatest powers had some weaknesses, it seemed.

There was a scuffle and then suddenly Tom was flung down in front of him. Elmer Fudd dropped down behind him.

'Heh. That was a close one,' Fudd panted.

'Indeed.'

'Hey, aren't you at least going to thank me?'

'Thank you? You weren't really coming back just to save me, weren't you?'

Fudd's grin fell. 'I was.'

'Coming from a man such as you? I doubt it.' Bugs looked down at his watch. 5:42. 'Whatever your hidden motives were, it cost us some time.'

'By the way, I left Tom alive. He might be able to tell us something.'

On cue, Tom groaned and stirred. Opening his eyes, he saw Jerry on the ground. His eyes widened.

'No! Jerry!' he cried, moving his arm weakly. A single tear dripped out from his eye, and Bugs and Fudd exchanged glances. Tom actually grieving for Jerry? That was like saying Coyote and Double R were best friends.

Bugs planted his foot on Tom's throat. 'Tell us how the Martian brainwashed you.'

'He didn't – '

Bugs pressed harder. 'I am giving you one last chance.'

'I will tell you nothing!' Tom's eyes blazed. Bugs drew his Eagle, stuck it inside Tom's mouth and fired. The cat died in a spray of blood.

'Why the hell did you go and do that for?' Fudd demanded angrily. Bugs ignored him.

'There's no more time to waste. Let's head back to the police station. You got Coyote's body?'

'I got his leg.'

'Good,' Bugs replied, and suddenly his cellphone rang. The Global Mayor was calling. Funny, he always had a knack of showing up at the right time.

Porky ignored Bugs's disheveled appearance and got down to business. 'Bugs, Fudd, you too, I am going to give you two very specific instructions. Number one, do not let each other out of your sight from now on. Obviously one of you might be the traitor.

Secondly, I am sending a third assassin from Venus. He will meet you at the police station and will come with you on board the shuttle. Once you reach the Martian ship, you three will split up. You will each find your own way of assassinating the Martian, but you must go as far as possible away from the others. I presume you know why?'

Bugs understood the logic, and he nodded.

'Sir,' Bugs ventured. 'There's another thing…' he told the Mayor about the strange brainwashing incident.

'This is serious,' Porky replied. 'I never knew Marvin had such technology…but never mind that for the moment, it's already 5:44! Get your asses moving!'

And they did.

Lola Bunny looked up from her desk and gasped when the bloodied Bugs Bunny entered the station.

'You look pretty banged up,' she said in concern, rushing over to him.

'I just ran into unforeseen trouble,' Bugs coolly replied. Despite all his injuries throughout all this time he still wore a blank expression.

Fudd entered next. He hadn't been unscathed either – the whole of his right hand was bloodied and a bit of bone could be seen. He reached inside his jacket with his left hand and brought out another bloody object. Coyote's foot.

'I told you not to kill him,' Lola frowned.

'It couldn't be helped.'

'Now, gentlemen, why don't you get yourselves cleaned up? There's a medical station and I'll let you use it free of charge – '

'No time. Where's the shuttle?'

'The Invisibility drive has to be booted up. You might as well do something until it's ready.'

'Works for me,' Fudd grinned, and went over to a Mutt standing nearby. 'Hey, Bugs, you coming?'

'Just need to work a few loose ends,' Bugs replied.

'Oh, come on, wabbit!'

Ten minutes later Bugs and Fudd were fixed up. And there were still a few minutes till the shuttle was ready.

5:53. Time was running out.

Fudd wandered off to look for something to eat. Bugs lay where he was, and appeared to be brooding. The door opened and Lola entered.

'You alright?'

'My current state could be better.'

'Strange behavior from Fudd,' Lola commented.

'Strange,' Bugs agreed, 'but not entirely truthful, I suspect.'

'He's not the only one who's changed,' Lola turned to look at her former lover. 'I knew you Bugs, you were once an honest man. Then you changed. Became a cold-hearted assassin.'

'Didn't we all?' Bugs's face showed no emotion as he reminisced. 'Once we were all just happy-go-lucky creatures playing games with one another. Then we woke up. Accepted the truth. Accepted the world for the way it is.'

'But you didn't change at first,' Lola persisted. 'The madness that gripped the whole world…you resisted it.'

'That was a long time ago,' Bugs sighed. 'Do you remember the friend I was telling you about? The one who got killed?'

'Yes.'

'He was very dear to me. In fact he was my son.'

Silence settled over the room.

'It was then when I realized that there was no room for morals or kindness in this world. Once you adopt that stance, you are most certainly at risk of dying. It's a looney world, and there's nothing you can do to change it.'

Silence.

'I suggest you head my advice, Lola,' Bugs said.

A Mutt appeared at the door. 'Mam, the shuttle will be ready in one minute.'

'Y-yes,' Lola stumbled, visibly discomforted. 'Get Fudd, meet at the hanger'

'Yes Mam,' the Mutt disappeared.

'I'm afraid I have spent too much time rambling,' Bugs mumbled. 'Which brings me to a question. You are opposed to the assassination of the Martian. Why then, are you giving us the shuttle?'

'Because I know you'll find it in your heart to do the right thing,' Lola said sadly.

Bugs frowned. It was a pathetic excuse – but on the other hand, Lola had been that ridiculously sentimental in the past. Besides, Bugs couldn't see a catch anyway.

He left without another word, and arrived at the hanger. Elmer Fudd was already there. And he was locked in verbal combat with the third assassin, who had just arrived.

Daffy "Duck" Dodgers.

Bugs sighed and separated the two before things got violent.

'Can't handle the heat?' Daffy taunted with a slight lisp. Then he saw Bugs. 'Well hello again, Bugsy Wugsy.' He collapsed laughing at that stupid joke, if it could be classified as one.

'I suppose the Global Mayor has told you the appropriate instructions?' Bugs said when the laughter subsided.

'What you think that he gave me inappropriate instructions?' Daffy gasped, then subsided into raucous laughter again. Bugs knew Daffy wasn't actually thinking his jokes were funny, he was just doing it to annoy Bugs.

'Let me at him,' Fudd growled.

'Not now,' Bugs said, and steered them both towards the shuttle. He wondered whether he would get past the journey.

Someone touched him on the shoulder. Lola.

'Be safe,' she whispered.

Bugs nodded and continued towards the shuttle. He didn't look back. The three of them boarded the shuttle.

Several Mutts took position and with all the 'clear to land' stuff, the shuttle took off. The cloaking device was automatically enabled and the shuttle disappeared into the air.

The time was 5:56.

Porky Pig sat back in his chair. He had selected these three assassins for a reason – they were all incorruptible, and hopefully resistant to the Martian's brainwashing techniques. But they were incorruptible in a bad way.

Everyone in Looney World was damned, but some people were more damned than others.

.