continuing this

EPILOGUE — MISSIONS 1–2

“Trust Is a Luxury.”

(The undercover base is quieter than it’s ever been. No alarms. No klaxons. Just the low hum of systems and the faint echo of suspicion.)

A projection flares to life. The Tiger Cub sits atop a crate, tail flicking irritably. She clears her throat—loudly, dramatically, cutely.

Tiger Cub:
“ATTENTION! IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, OBSERVATION, AND A LOT OF PAW-SCRIBBLED NOTES—”

(She slams a paw on a button. A list of names scrolls.)

Tiger Cub (shouting):
“ALL FIRST TWENTY-SIX ENTRIES ARE UNTRUSTABLE.”

(The room erupts.)

Cassie:
“…All of us?”

Kitsune:
“You’re joking.”

Rewrite (grinning):
“Oho? Blanket paranoia? That’s my favorite flavor.”

Jotaro (arms crossed):
“Tch.”

Tiger Cub:
“THE MOLE IS STILL ACTIVE! WHICH MEANS EITHER YOU’RE REALLY BAD AT SPOTTING THEM—OR THEY’RE REALLY GOOD AT HIDING! EITHER WAY—NO MORE INSIDE RECRUITMENT.”

(She hops down, pacing.)

Tiger Cub:
“SO! I’M SENDING ZAP, ATLAS, BIBLIOX, SKRUNKLY, AND DIOLSON OUTSIDE THE BASE!”

Zap (blinking):
“Wait—me? Like… outside-outside?”

Atlas (calm, nodding):
“If it helps protect the rest, I’ll do it.”

Bibliox (muttering):
“Outside the in… or inside the out… recruitment… rootment… mumble…”

Skrunkly (excited):
“FIELD TRIP!!”

Diolson (phone-head clicks, prerecorded voice crackling):
“Th1s 1s… acc3ptabl3.”

Tiger Cub:
“YOU WILL FIND AND RECRUIT NEW ENTRIES. THEY WILL BE VERIFIED. THEY WILL NOT BE MOLES. IF THEY ARE—I BITE.”

(She bares tiny teeth. Somehow it’s terrifying and adorable.)

THE RECRUITS RETURN
RECRUIT 1 — BIG D RANDY

(The blast doors open.)

The temperature drops. Footsteps echo—heavy, confident. A massive figure steps in wearing a red tracksuit stretched to its limits, smiling far too comfortably.

Big D Randy:
“Well I’ll be damned. Secret bases still exist.”

(Several entries tense immediately.)

Cassie (low):
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Zap (whispering):
“Bro why is he smiling like that.”

Rewrite (eyes lighting up):
“Oh. Oh I like him.”

Tiger Cub (arms crossed):
“THIS ONE IS NOT THE MOLE.”

(Dead silence.)

Kitsune:
“…Excuse me?”

Atlas (quiet):
“You’re sure?”

Tiger Cub:
“POSITIVE. HE’S MANY BAD THINGS. NOT A TRAITOR.”

Big D Randy (laughing):
“Damn right. I’m honest about what I am.”

(Uneasy silence.)

RECRUIT 2 — SPONGEBOB & SQUIDWARD

(Water splashes inexplicably across the floor as two familiar figures wander in.)

SpongeBob:
“HI EVERYBODY!!! IS THIS A NEW JOB?? I LOVE JOBS!!”

Squidward:
“I already hate it here.”

Skrunkly:
“YELLOW FRIEND!”

Squidward:
“Please don’t touch me.”

Tiger Cub:
“THEY ARE ALSO NOT MOLES.”

Squidward:
“Oh good. Another place where I’m trapped.”

RECRUIT 3 — FELLOW-D9

(A red-tinted, silent figure steps forward, anchor device humming faintly.)

Zap:
“…He doesn’t blink.”

Fellow-D9:
“Good. Neither should you.”

(The room goes very still.)

Tiger Cub:
“VERIFIED. PARANOID BUT LOYAL.”

RECRUIT 4 — GEBRIX

(A turquoise-shirted fox teleports in with a soft pop.)

Gebrix:
“Hey. Uh. This place feels… tense.”

(His earrings hum. Something unseen laughs softly.)

Cassie:
“…Something’s haunting you.”

Gebrix:
“Yeah. Long story.”

Tiger Cub:
“SAFE. MOSTLY.”

RECRUIT 5 — GIANT COCK!!

(The ceiling cracks. Alarms briefly blare. Something enormous blocks out the lights.)

Zap (screaming):
“WHY IS IT SO BIG—”

Tiger Cub (hands on hips):
“FRIENDLY! JUST HUNGRY!”

GIANT COCK:
“COOOOOOOOO—”

(Everyone covers their ears.)

RECRUITS 6 & 7 — KAIBI & VIRIAN

(A calm psychic presence enters, followed by a star-patterned, energetic creature.)

Kaibi:
“We’ll help. Quietly.”

Virian:
“IS IT NIGHT YET?? I LIKE THE MOON HERE.”

Atlas (smiling faintly):
“You remind me of someone.”

RECRUIT 8 — KRIS

Kris:
“WHY DOES EVERY BASE LOOK LIKE A DUNGEON LOL??? THIS SUCKS”

Cassie:
“…Why are they yelling.”

Tiger Cub:
“THEY ALWAYS DO THAT.”

RECRUIT 9 — DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:
“DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Everyone:
“…DAMN.”

RECRUIT 10 — MOMO

(A quiet black cat steps forward, wand in hand.)

Momo (soft):
“I’ll protect who I can.”

Jotaro (nods):
“Good.”

THE INTERRUPTED TENTH

(A final figure steps forward, adjusting posture, drawing breath—)

???
“I am—”

(A sudden, brutal motion.)

Diolson steps forward in a single, decisive movement. A sharp jab. A clean strike to the throat. The figure collapses instantly.

No words. No hesitation.

Diolson stares down—unblinking.

The phone-head crackles.*

Diolson (recorded):
“Unacc3ptabl3.”

(The Tiger Cub slowly nods.)

Tiger Cub:
“GOOD CALL.”

(No one argues.)

FINAL SCENE

The base is fuller now. Louder. Stranger.

But safer.

Cassie (quietly to Kitsune):
“We still have a mole.”

Kitsune:
“Yes. But now we have variables they don’t understand.”

Rewrite (grinning at Big D Randy):
“Oh this is going to be fun.”

Tiger Cub (climbing onto her throne):
“REST UP! MISSIONS CONTINUE SOON! AND REMEMBER—NO KILLING EACH OTHER!”

(She pauses, eyes narrowing.)

Tiger Cub:
“UNLESS I SAY SO.”

Fade out.

Holy coincidence